A Tour of Mariemont’s Best Playhouses
By Elizabeth Wood
To celebrate summer’s arrival, we searched the neighborhood for some of Mariemont’s most unique and adorable playhouses. Here’s a sampling of what we found:
The Dorn Family: Pleasant Street
Lucy Dorn only wanted one thing when her family moved into their new home in April 2013: a playhouse. The then-seven-yearold made the request to her grandfather, who gladly became the lead architect in making Lucy’s dream a reality.
Together with Lucy’s parents, Warren and
Ginny Dorn, they scoured the internet for inspiration, found the perfect model, and built the playhouse from the ground up—without a kit.
Ginny says they wanted a “cottage-y” feel to the design, so they painted the exterior blue with black shutters and white trim to match their home. Long white curtains frame the entrance, and darling little flower boxes (with flowers!) and a bell give the playhouse a homey presence.
Inside, the playhouse is outfitted with a sitting area, a coffee table, a rug, and charming little string lights that light up on a
timer each night to set the playhouse aglow.
When the playhouse isn’t being used by the kids as a stage, a safe place during tag, or a hiding spot during hide-and-seek, Ginny says the adults sometimes use it to enjoy with friends. Someday, if the kids stop using it, they might even turn it into a hot tub house.
The Marchal Family: Grove Avenue
Twenty-five years ago, Richard Marchal designed and built a two-story playhouse for his three now-grown children. Today, it’s still standing sturdy and gets plenty of use by the Marchals’ grandchildren, as well as the
cont'd on page 4
The Marchal Family's playhouse on
The Dorn Family's playhouse on Pleasant Street
Dear Readers,
When I started writing for the Town Crier in 2000, I had no idea how amazing the journey would be. After learning the ropes from Randy York, who served as Editor for 16 years, I took over the helm in 2008. Through my association with this publication, I have made many new friends, learned so much about our wonderful village, and had a blast!
All of which makes it difficult for me to say good-bye, but I am moving on to a new chapter in my life which means leaving the Village. Mariemont has given me more than I can repay, and I will always feel connected to the people and places that make this town so special.
The Town Crier will be in the extremely capable hands of Matt and Suzy Weinland. Matt has handled layout for the last three years and has done a great job keeping the look inviting
and readable. His work on the graphic design of the recent 75th Anniversary publication was outstanding. Suzy, who grew up in Terrace Park and is a Mariemont High School graduate ('85), has worked as editor on several businessto-business publications and will contribute strong organizational and content skills. They are both enthusiastic about taking over the Town Crier and promise to keep the small-town elements we all love while broadening its reach through digital media.
I would encourage Mariemont residents to get involved with this amazing town in some way. There are numerous organizations to fit a variety of interests. The rewards are endless! Thank you all for your loyal readership, story ideas, and friendship.
Warmest Regards,
Claire Kupferle
The
The Town Crier would like to thank our supporters! Funding for production of The Town Crier comes solely from our advertisers and your contributions. Individuals contributing throughout the publishing year will have their names included in each remaining issue. Those donating more than $25 are indicated in bold type. Your contribution can be mailed to: Mariemont Town Crier c/o Matt Weinland, 3812 Indianview Avenue Mariemont, OH 45227
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Carriers D avi D a n D rews s cott H ollan D J ackson H ouse a lly an D Z ac H M aier a lex M antle M ax an D F inn M arque Z c olin M ikesell a bby M iller o wen P ro FF itt b en r eiter H enry t eg H t M eyer n oa H v anags e rin w il D er b ray D en w olu J ewic Z
(Siblings listed together share routes; siblings listed separately have their own routes)
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Playhouses (cont'd from page 1)
children who participate in Mary Marchal’s in-home preschool.
“There’s been a lot of love and a lot of playtime in it,” says Mary, who keeps the upper quarters stocked with toys and books for the kids to play with.
The playhouse originally had a rope ladder leading up to the second level, but it was converted to a wooden ladder for extra safety when Mary opened her preschool in 2005.
The Wymore Family: Grace Avenue
Brad Wymore found a happy medium between building a playhouse from scratch and buying one already completed. He bought a kit from Costco that came with about 200 pieces.
“It was definitely one of the best projects I’ve done,” says Brad, who assembled the playhouse over the course of a day with his dad.
The playhouse (made by Cedar Summit) is made of authentic, pressure-treated cedar— no plastic—and comes with a working doorbell, window boxes, and a service window, which Brad’s five-year-old daughter, Molly, loves to use as a pizza delivery window for her pretend pizza parlor. “The neighborhood kids love it,” says Brad.
Looking to build a playhouse?
According to Mariemont Building Commissioner Don Keyes, backyard play structures are considered “accessory structures” and can consume up to 25 percent of a backyard. Only one accessory structure is allowed per yard, so if there’s already a garage or other structure on the property, residents must go before the Planning Committee to get approval.
Village
The Wymore Family's playhouse on Grace Avenue
Village
The Steam Plant is Coming Down
By Rex Bevis
Constructed in the 1920s as the central steam heating system for the developing Village of Mariemont, decommissioned in 1956, the Steam Plant is finally coming down in 2017. Tucked away in the very southeast corner of Mariemont, abutting the Mariemont Landing subdivision and nestled beside the Little Miami River, the Steam Plant has become an eyesore and a liability for the Village, sometimes referred to as an attractive nuisance. It has long ago outlived its usefulness and is a safety concern for the Village when curiosity seekers attempt to enter into it. Previous articles in the Town Crier have documented the unique history of the Steam Plant and its service to a large portion of the Village as a central heating system. When natural gas service arrived in Mariemont in the 1950’s, the Steam Plant became no longer viable.
Having gone through several ownership changes since the 1950’s, the Steam Plant and the surrounding acreage are now owned by real estate Developer Mr. Michael Heines. Mr. Heines has been working to ready the site for residential home development and of course a major step in this process is the demolition and removal of the Steam Plant. Even prior to the demolition, however, the facility must be cleared of asbestos. As of the writing of this article, the asbestos has been removed, the area surrounding the Steam Plant has been cleared and leveled, and the stage is set for demolition. Heavy equipment is onsite and the Steam Plant leveling is imminent.
The plans for the site include a private lane to be constructed as an extension to the existing Mariemont Landing Miami Run street. The lane will be known as Central Steam Row and will house a dozen new single family residences. On the north side of Central Steam Row six townhomes will be featured, each two stories in height plus basement, two car garage, and natural gas (not Steam!) heat. The townhouses will be approximately 2,000 square feet in size. On the south side of Central Steam Row there
will be six single-family homes featuring first floor master bedrooms, basement, two car garages, and natural gas heat. These homes will be 2200 – 2600 square feet in size. The homes will be offered for sale by Mr. Michael Jordan of Jordan Realtors. Buyers of these homes will receive a 15 year 50% real estate tax abatement identical to the abatements offered to purchasers of the Mariemont condominiums along Miami Road and Madisonville Road.
Developer Mr. Heines has also donated
the hillside above the subdivision to the Village of Mariemont to be park area and a bird sanctuary, and to insure there is no further development on the hillside just below Mt. Vernon Avenue and Pocahontas Avenue.
Home construction of the Central Steam Row property will bring twelve families into the Village of Mariemont. Additionally, a portion of the Village that has been unused and abandoned for 60 years will spring to life beginning in 2017.
The steam plant in operation in the '30s. The steam plant as construction begins.
Schools
The Importance of Community Input
By Steve Estepp
As an educator for more than 20 years I know that great schools involve their residents in the decisions and happenings of the school district. From advisory councils, to senior citizen’s groups and even a facility taskforce, it is imperative residents understand the ongoing issues impacting their schools. This is how both the community and school district grow stronger.
For example, Mariemont City Schools is currently looking at possible solutions to significant problems with our high school facility. The school structure is presenting us with many challenges as it ages and regardless of which solution the district chooses to address these challenges, more money will be needed to address the structural, mechanical and academic issues in the current space.
The district has done a significant amount of research; we’ve engaged experts in architecture as well as mechanical and security systems. We are exploring options that range from basic mechanical updates all the way up to a full building replacement. Yet we are also engaging our community. It is important that we understand their voice in this process.
As an educational leader, I know schools are the heart of many communities. Beyond the tax dollars paid to schools, residents take pride in their schools. From Friday night football games, to choir concerts, theater performances and art shows, the public is an integral part of the school community.
Also, research shows schools are a driving force in maintaining strong property values and are a high priority for families moving to a new community. The only way to ensure residents understand what is happening in their school district is for the school leaders to engage directly with the public. Newsletters, social media posts, websites, blogs, podcasts, community chats, online discussions and
just having a conversation with members of the community are all great examples of how schools reach out to local residents. Regardless of which options your school district uses, the important thing is to make sure you are getting the information you need to be up to date about what is going on in your schools.
As for Mariemont City School’s high
school facility project, we continue to seek community input through design workshops and online surveys. If you are interested in learning more about this process or sharing your opinion regarding the proposed solutions, please be sure to visit the school district website, www.mariemontschools.org.
Steven Estepp, Superintendent Mariemont City
Schools
District residents view a presentation by architects for the high school renovation project.
By Rex Bevis
Town Meeting Selects Village Council Candidates
The Mariemont Town Meeting convened its Annual Meeting on Sunday, March 26 as Town Crier Bob Keyes called the meeting to order at 2:00 pm. Adorned in his full Town Crier uniform, Mr. Keyes welcomed all to this year’s Annual Meeting held at the Mariemont Elementary School auditorium. The Boy Scouts presented the colors and led the assembly in the Pledge of Allegience.
Town Meeting Chairman Clem Luken presided over the Meeting and introduced the speakers as follows:
Kathy Chapman-Dick, Exec. Director of the Marielders, provided an overview of the Marielders organization, highlighting the broad array of activities available to area seniors and thanking the residents for their continued support. Ms. Chapman-Dick also reminded the assembly of the upcoming April 21 Italian Dinner, an important Marielder fundraiser.
Mariemont High School Principal Dr. James Renner provided an overview of recent activities and accomplishments at the Mariemont Schools. Dr. Renner also discussed the current needs assessment underway with respect to the high school facility, which is now approaching 50 years of age. The school system is reaching out to all community members to assist in evaluating options for the aging high school facility.
Village Mayor Dan Policastro delivered the State of the Village address which strongly praised the volunteer spirit of Mariemont residents. The Mayor thanked the many individuals who volunteer their time to improving the quality of life in Mariemont. The Mayor explained the need for the first new Village tax levy in 20 years. A 1.98 mil levy has been recommended by Village Council and supported by Village Finance Officer Tony Borgerding. The levy will be on the May 2017 ballot.
Town Meeting Chairman Luken reminded the assembly that this year the Town Meeting would be submitting a slate of candidates for Village Council Districts 2, 3, 4, and 6. Prior to the Annual Town Meeting, the following candidates expressed their desire to seek the Town Meeting endorsements:
District 2 Bill Brown (incumbent)
District 3 Eric Marsland (incumbent)
District 4 Avia Graves
Chairman Luken asked if any others wanted to be considered for these Districts. None were interested so the District 2, 3, and 4 Town Meeting slate was approved by voice vote.
Chairman Luken stated that no one had expressed interest previously in the District 6 Town Meeting Endorsement. He asked if anyone in the assembly wanted to be considered. Resident Troy Hawkins stated his intention and was approved by voice vote so he is also added to the Town Meeting endorsements:
District 6 Troy Hawkins
The meeting was adjourned at 3:20 pm.
Village Crier Bob Keyes traditionally opening the meeting.
By Amy Weiss
Girl Scouts Give Back
The Mariemont Girl Scouts continue to make the world a better place! Four girls from Troop 41262 have earned their Gold Award. The Gold Award is the highest achievement within the Girl Scouts of the USA. Only 5.4% of eligible Girl Scouts successfully earn the Gold Award. Open only to girls in high school, this prestigious award challenges girls to change the world—or at least their corner of it. We are very proud of Corinne Fanta, AnnaClaire Lackney, Taylor Powers, and Nathalie Weiss. Please see the description of their projects that made a difference in our community!
You: Health, Fitness, and Wellness
Corinne addressed the issue of teen health and wellness awareness in her high school by designing a platform to teach students different methods to take care of their bodies and minds. She reached a wide audience of her peers through a website she developed as well as setting up various events and assemblies which she promoted through different social media channels. Her project was recognized at a community event called Mariemont Warriors Breakfast. Corinne continues to inspire her peers, by sharing her personal wellness journey and health tips through her blog, “Wellness and You.”
Infant Hunger Solution
Passionate about preventing food waste, AnnaClaire addressed food
insecurity in the city of Cincinnati, by partnering with La Soupe, an organization that donates a bowl of soup each time one is sold in their restaurant. She rescued apples in abundance from local grocers to make applesauce and baby food, which she delivered to the Interfaith Hospitality Network. La Soupe made AnnaClaire’s applesauce a permanent item on their menu and plans to continue to share it with nearby shelters. AnnaClaire shared her success story with younger scouts to encourage them to pursue their higher awards—she even made them a batch of her applesauce to try!
Book Worms Tutoring
Taylor wanted to address and prevent the literacy gap for children that live below the poverty line, who attend underfunded inner-city schools and have little access to books. She partnered with the Bethany House to inspire a love for reading in children living in poverty by providing both access to books, as well as individualized help for children. Taylor trained volunteers to work with one to three children at a time to best support the small group’s needs and connect with each
child on a personal level. She integrated her educational programming into the childrens’ extracurricular time and developed a curriculum “kit” so volunteers can continue running the program. She hopes to expand her project when she goes off to college, starting with bringing her programming to the Interfaith Hospitality Project.
South 80 Transformed
While doing research for her Gold Award project, Nathalie discovered 1/3 of all adults are obese. To combat this issue, she wanted to create a way for adults and children to lead healthier lives. She learned about the South 80 Trails in her community and thought they could be better utilized to make a difference. With a plan in mind, she redesigned and built part of the South 80 Trail to include exercise guides along the way. She educated others through a flyer campaign, postings on her neighborhood blog and announcements at school sporting events. To encourage others to use the new trail, she reopened it with a free “Fun 2B Fit” run that over 100 people attended.
back row - Corinne Fanta, AnnaClaire Lackney, front row - Taylor Powers, Nathalie Weiss
Mariemont Preservation Foundation Presents Well-Deserved Awards
By Rex Bevis
Mariemont Preservation Foundation (MPF) was pleased to present a variety of awards to deserving individuals for 2016. The Mary Emery Award has only been given a few times over the history of the Mariemont Preservation Foundation. This year’s MPF Board of Trustees agreed to recognize Barbara Policastro with the Mary Emery Award for Barbara’s outstanding efforts in support of the 75th Anniversary of the Village of Mariemont Incorporation. Barbara was a key contributor to the success of the Fourth of July Celebration held to commemorate the 75th Anniversary. She also worked tirelessly on the 75th Anniversary Big Band Beer Bash which was held in September on the lawn and
under the tent in the open grassy area next to Mio’s Restaurant. The Big Band Event was ‘sold out’ early on and attracted 300 residents to a very fun evening of food provided by the National Exemplar and the swinging sounds of a 17-piece band. Congratulations to Barb Policastro on this well-deserved recognition!
The organization also awarded Certificates of Appreciation to five individuals for their work during 2016. Louise Schomburg, Nancy Stelzer, and Joan Vago were recognized for their landscape beautification work throughout the Village and most noticeably for their work at the Concourse. Resident Janet Cleary was awarded a Certificate of Appreciation for her many hours of volunteer work at the MPF Office. Additionally, Matt Ayer was awarded a Certificate of Appreciation for conducting escorted tours of the historic Mariemont Church during 2016.
Congratulations to all five of these recipients!
The Mariemont Inn graciously hosted the Mariemont Preservation Foundation Reception in the lobby at which time the awards were rpesented. The National Exemplar Restaurant provided complimentary hot and cold hors d’ oeuvres to the approximately 50 attendees.
Barbara Policastro receives the Mary Emery Award from MPF Board President Claire Kupferle.
Louise Schomburg, Nancy Stelzer, and Joan Vagor were awarded Certificates of Appreciation .
Claire Kupferle presents Matt Ayer with a Certificate of Appreciation.
Talks Will Explain Condo Building Names
“WHAT’S IN A NAME? ENVISIONING AN IDEAL COMMUNITY”
John Nolen, Mary M. Emery, Charles J. Livingood and E. Boyd Jordan have been honored in the naming of condominiums.
The Mariemont Preservation Foundation (MPF) will be presenting four short lectures exploring the lives of these Mariemont visionaries for whom the Greiwe Development Mariemont Condominiums are named. Learn
who these individuals were and the impact they had on the founding of Mariemont.
The event will be held Wednesday, June 7 at the WACC Barn, 6980 Cambridge Avenue, from 6:30 – 8:30 pm. Wine and cheese refreshments will be served, so mark your calendars1
This event is free – however registration is limited!
Please rsvp with name and number of people attending to:
Email: administration@ mariemontpreservation.org or Telephone:
Blue and Gold Banquet Honors Cub Scouts
By Rob Curran
Cub Scout Pack 1 recently held their Blue and Gold Banquet at the Fairfax Recreation Center. During the event four local scouts earned their Arrow of Light award – The Arrow of Light award is the highest rank in Cub Scouts – and made the decision to cross over into Boy Scout Troop 149 in Mariemont. Troop 149 is excited to welcome these scouts as they begin their journey to Eagle.
Arrow of Light Scouts (L-R Michael
Curran, Ethan Wood, Connor Cross and James Marsland).
At the Banquet many other Cub Scouts
were awarded rank advancement and were recognized for all their hard work over the past year.
If you have a son interested in joining Cub Scouts or Boy Scouts you can contact the following leaders.
Cub Scouts – Pack 1 - K-5th grade up to age 11 -Chuck Hatch hatchchuck@gmail. com or Sean Blessing snblessing@gmail. com.
Boy Scouts – Troop 149 – 11 years or older (up to 18) Darren Wilner darren. wilner@gmail.com.
Village
Cub Scouts Cake Competition a Treat For All
Cub Scout Pack 1 has been shaking, baking and celebrating. The Pack’s February outing was our big chance to sleep overnight with the fish. “Shaking hands” with sea stars and horseshoe crabs, along with petting sharks and touring the Newport Aquarium, was followed by a campout inside the Aquarium beside the tanks. Breakfast the next morning was especially yummy and no, fish was not on the menu!
Our annual Blue and Gold Banquet was March 19. We not only celebrated the birthday of Cub Scouting, we also recognized the Scouts’ many accomplishments for the year as well as rank advancements. In addition, we had the privilege of experiencing the ceremony for 4 Scouts who crossed over into Boy Scout Troop 149. All of them achieved Cub Scouts’ highest rank, the Arrow of Light. Seven Lion Scouts were welcomed into the Pack when they received their Tiger Cub scarf and slide. Lion Cubs, an introduction to Cub Scouting, was new this year and we had 11 boys participate and earn their badge.
what foods were utilized. A Cub Scout hat, a tent, a volcano, a drive-in movie theater, and even a race car were among the 16 entries. Not only a treat for the eyes, the cakes tasted great too.
Our adventures continue through spring with more events planned. As part of a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering & Math) initiative for April, Scouts will participate in an Egg Drop Challenge. Boys will work
together in teams to create the perfect contraption to protect their egg from a ten foot drop. Our Rain Gutter Regatta is in May. Scouts craft a sailboat from a kit and go into head-tohead competition as they propel their boat to the finish line using nothing other than the power of their own breath. We’re planning a cookout, along with a carnival created and managed by the Bear Den, as part of the Regatta. June will find us on an overnight to Cub World in Loveland. We’ll spend the night in the castle, enjoy dinner plus a campfire, shoot BB guns, try archery, and fire off rockets.
Pack 1 is open to boys in grades K-5 for the 2017-18 school year and we’d love to have them be part of our Pack. If your son is interested in joining us or you would like more information, please contact Cubmaster John Cathcart (cathcartjt@gmail.com).
A highlight of the Blue & Gold Banquet was the Cake Bake competition. This was the sixth year Scouts have worked with a nonbaking adult in their life to create a cake to not only enter into the competition, but also serve as dessert for those in attendance. Categories were Cinema/TV, Scouting, Nature/Outdoors, and Sports/Gaming as well as Flattest Cake, Tallest Cake, and the cake with the most edible materials. Judging was performed by our invited guests. New this year was the “Scouts’ Choice” award which went to the entry receiving the highest number of votes from the Scouts themselves. The cakes showed creativity not only in their designs, but how the category was interpreted and
Children
What’s Happening at the Mariemont Branch Library ─ May
Movers & Shakers — 10:30 am & 1:30 pm Wednesdays
Bring the little ones in for stories, songs, and dancing as they learn about the Library. Ages 1-4.
Library Babies 11:30 am Wednesdays
Have fun, meet other parents and babies, and promote early literacy! Ages 6-18 months.
Tales to Tails — 4 pm Thursday, May 11
Read a story to Odie the therapy dog. Ages 5-10.
Crafty Kids 4 pm Thursday, May 25
Make and take a fun craft. Ages 5-10.
Teens
Anime and Pizza – 4:30 pm Thursday, May 18
Join us for an anime movie and pizza. Ages 12-18 Registration required.
Adults
Which Craft? Needle Craft Club — 10:30 am Saturdays, May 6 and 20
Stop by with your current work in progress for pointers or just to have fun with co-enthusiasts. Knitting, crochet, needlework — whatever you like to do.
DIY Greeting Cards — 6:30 pm Thursday, May 4
Design your own cards, supplies provided. Registration required.
Book Club — 6:45 pm Thursday, May 25
A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles will be discussed. Copies are available at the branch.
The Library will be closed Monday, May 29, for Memorial Day.
Library hours are noon to 8 pm Monday, Tuesday and Thursday; 10 am-6 pm Wednesday, Friday and Saturday
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WHAT WARREN BUFFETT SAYS
Village Trends to Make Gardens Grow and Glow
By Carolyn Tuttle, Garden Club President
May is the month for folks looking forward to visiting the local garden nurseries to see what new tools and trends are on the horizon for spring planting. There is much that is new, and many returning favorites are more popular than ever to enhance your gardening experience.
Edibles: One can incorporate edibles for harvest or just as a garden accent. Some popular edibles to add into a landscape include cabbage, purple leaf basil, kale, artichoke and Swiss chard. For a unique combination of both edibles and plants in your summer garden, try sage and succulents or Swiss chard and sweet alyssum.
Container Gardens: Many garden centers offer pre-planted pots with a mixture of plants that grow well together. Be creative and design your own “WOW” planter. One common way to start designing is to use the thriller, filler, spiller concept.
Thrillers are plants with height that add drama and a vertical element to the combinations. Thrillers can either be flowering or foliage plants. Some examples of thrillers are: spikes, coleus, grasses, and cannas which are generally placed in the center or at the back of the container. This depends on the placement of the container as to who sees the plants.
Fillers are shrubby and include begonias, lantana, petunias, shorter coleus, or ageratum. The fillers are essential for making the containers look full. More than one filler can be used. The fillers should surround the “thriller.”
Spillers cascade over the edge of the container. Some examples include: Superbells Calibrachoa, Supertunia Petunia, Superbena verbena by Proven Winners, sweet potato vine, and ivies. Ring the perimeter with these plants.
Plan color combinations that focus on one or two flower colors and then add an accent color.
Choose compatible plants with the same sun, shade and water needs in each container.
Raised Bed Gardening: This type of garden is great for small areas and tight spaces. More people are going away from large gardens and installing raised gardens. Anyone can grow strawberries, leafy greens, cucumbers, peppers, zucchini or tomatoes in a raised bed. “Families who garden grow $677 worth of fruits and vegetables a year. (March 2017 BHG)”
Succulents and Fairy Gardening: Succulents are lowmaintenance plants that are being used in bouquets and boutonnieres for events, as well as vertical wall and wreaths. Fairy gardening continues to grow with garden centers (Burgers and Pipkins) selling accessories as well as pre-made fairy gardens. This is a great way to get children
and adults involved in planning a unique fairy garden.
May this planting season help you and your family create a garden that is bountiful, beautiful and beneficial throughout the summer. Happy Gardening!
The Annual Kiwanis Spring Golf Outing is Approaching!
Make plans now to join us Saturday, May 13!
This annual event helps us raise nearly $15,000 each year for scholarships for graduates of the Mariemont School District! To date, we’ve raised over $200,000 and helped nearly 70 students graduate college, all because of the generous support of those in our community! Get your foursome together today!
Unable to attend? Consider supporting our event as a hole sponsor!
Forms are available at MariemontKiwanis.org/Golf
Garden Club of Mariemont ANNUAL PLANT SALE
Saturday, May 13
9 am – 3 pm Dilly Patio
Shop for Mother’s Day gifts and for your own garden!
Selections include:
Flowering hanging baskets, herbs, geraniums, other annuals, garden vegetables, plus our selection of member-grown perennials proven to grow!
Proceeds from the Plant Sale contribute to the civic planting in the Village.
We hope to see you May 13.
Support local businesses in Mariemont!
Kickoff Party for Second Annual Spring4Life Event
A kickoff party was held in March for 1N5’s second annual spring fundraising event, Spring4Life. The kickoff event, hosted by Stir in Old Montgomery, was a thank you to the hosts, hostesses and committee members of the event for their support of 1N5.
1N5, named to bring attention to the startling statistic that one in every five teens will experience a mental health issue in their lifetime, exists to expand mental health education programs at Greater Cincinnati high schools and universities. Its aim is to start conversations about mental health as
a means of stopping the stigma. Founded in 2008, 1N5 has experienced significant growth and recognition as an organization that is making a real difference in the lives of teens and young adults in Greater Cincinnati.
1N5’s Spring4Life fundraising event, scheduled for May 20 at Memorial Hall, will be an evening of celebration, a silent, live, and paddle auctions, music by Anna and the Deeper Well, and inspirational messages from Darnell Benjamin and Katie Bergman. Guests will also enjoy the premier of 1N5’s new marketing video, a tool designed to help the organization reach even more at-risk youth. Amy Tobin will serve as emcee for the event.
For more information about 1N5, to donate or purchase tickets to the event, go to 1n5.org and click on the Events & Tickets tab.
Contact: Nancy Miller, Founder Warrior Run/1N5 513-607-7434
nancy_miller@1N5.org
Pictured from L to R: front row – Deanna Orr, Nancy Miller, Kim Beach, Nikki Utt, Jenny Ferguson. Back row – Abby Messner, Doug Orr, Devyn Griesser, Andrew Griesser, Jim Mooney, Heather Mooney
Village
Tennis Weather is Here!
By Linda Bartlett, MTA Membership
It’s time to sign up for summer teams and individual play at the Mariemont tennis courts. Here’s all you need to know before you pick up your racket:
You may have noticed a lot of activity at the courts already this spring. Thanks to the Village, Athletic Boosters, tennis team coaches, and MTA Board, the fencing is being replaced, new benches and signage installed, and the upper courts will be resurfaced in May or July. At the time of this writing, a second phase of upgrades is being discussed, to include repairs to the lower courts and renovation of the clubhouse.
The courts are available to residents of Mariemont who have joined the Mariemont Tennis Association, and their guests. Go to the
Recreation tab on Mariemont.org to purchase your membership online or download the form and submit payment to the Village Office. Hurry…Rates go up after Memorial Day!
As in years past, guests of MTA members pay $5 each time they play. Now you can save money and pre-pay your guest pass at the same rate as a resident membership for full use of the courts, provided the Tennis Director or a resident member is present when you play.
Director of Tennis Dave Russell is ready to help you improve your game with his years of experience and plenty of patience. Reserve your spot on his schedule by contacting him at 859512-4041 or mmdrussell@hotmail.com
Our adult men hit the courts on Saturday mornings (time varies with temperature and daylight) for rousing doubles play. Don Slavik
at siesta4us@fuse.net can add you to the email distribution list if you’re interested.
Thursday morning practice for the ladies’ doubles team tennis will begin shortly, with matches on Friday mornings both home and at other local clubs in June and July. There are divisions for varying skill levels, and with enough players, we can easily work around your vacation schedule…contact Linda Bartlett at bartlettfive@gmail.com for more information.
The annual “Memorial Day Tennis Games” will begin at 10:30 on May 29 after the parade. Dave will lead the fun-filled event in a roundrobin format, culminating in prizes awarded in several offbeat categories. Players of all skill levels, members and nonmembers, are encouraged to join us. Beverages and snacks will be provided by MTA.
Woman’s Art Club Cultural Center
Springtime at the Barn
The Cincinnati Opera and Artflix Hit the High Notes
This month’s Artflix presentation at the Barn in Mariemont adds a twist of opera to its monthly free film.
Cincinnati Opera Artists will feature Opera Rap, a live presentation of voice and piano, preceding the film Frida, the story of the private and personal life of Frida Kahlo, a surrealist Mexican painter. Opera Outbound Manager Kemper Florin will offer an introduction prior to the 123-minute biography of artist and feminist Frida Kahlo (Salma Hayek). The story follows the life of a woman who channeled the pain of a crippling injury and her tempestuous marriage into her work. (IMDb). Kahlo’s work contains themes in surrealism, fantasy, and realism.
“We are excited about our continuing and increasingly popular free movie series, Artflix…and also thrilled to collaborate with the Cincinnati Opera on this upcoming event,” said Nancy Reynolds, Barn president.
Art Flix at the Barn is a series of free movies about artists and their works. Guests will enjoy light refreshments while enjoying the company of fellow art-lovers before the onset of the film.
The big Barn doors open on May 11 at 6:30 pm. To register, please visit thebarn. cincyregister.com/artflix2017. Seats will fill fast.
The Cincinnati Opera’s presentation of Frida premieres Tuesday, June 27, 2017 at the
Aronoff Center for the Arts/ Jason-Kaplan Theater.
Art Camp for the Youth
You’ve got to love the opportunities summer brings to kids. The Barn is full of unique artistic adventures for students in grades 1-12 from July 10-28.
The Barn offers classes in several mediums including fiber, watercolor, book art, mosaics and even rug weaving. Students may create their own renditions of the likes of Monet or learn the art of abstract painting to express their emotions in color. Japanese calligraphy,, stamp making, Gelli printing and embroidery are all listed on the menu of selections.
For more information, visit artatthebarn.com. Register at thebarn. cincyregister.com/camp2017. Classes fill quickly. Prices range from $30-$65.
The Woman’s Art Club Cultural Center (The Barn) is seeking a volunteer who enjoys working with people and has a passion for community service to serve as a Volunteer Coordinator. Primary tasks include the recruitment and assignment of volunteers at Barn events (about 23 annually). The Foundation estimates this position would entail on average about five hours of work
each week from home. Experience with community networking preferred. No artistic skills required. In return, the coordinator will enjoy free admission to all events.
Barn programs that rely on volunteers include its yearly Mariemont Paint-Out, monthly Artflix, fundraising events and summer camp. The foundation also needs assistance with the distribution of publicity cards and posters.
Formerly known as Resthaven, the Barn (a 501c) currently serves as a vibrant regional art center, providing venues for visual and performing art enthusiasts across the Ohio, Kentucky, and Indiana borders.
The Board of Trustees is currently engaged in a campaign to renovate the second-floor loft in order to accommodate wheelchair access and to foster additional programs of artistic and historic value.
Last Artflix of the Season
The Barn’s final Artflix, Local Color, will be held on June 8. “In 1974, a talented but troubled 18-year-old aspiring artist befriends a brilliant elderly alcoholic painter who has turned his back on not only art, but life. This story is based on a real life experience.” (IMDB, George Gallo). Thank you to all who have participated! Watch for details of the upcoming repertoire.
Mariemont Preservation Foundation (MPF) presents its year-end event on May 20: Drumming Workshop. Liz Wu, Turtie & Stone. The event costs $5 and starts at
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Woman’s Art Club Cultural Center
10am To register, go to thebarn.cincyregister. com/MPF2016 or call 513-272-3700.
Community Opportunities for all Levels at Affordable Prices
Pencil, Paint and Composition with Eileen McConkey:Tuesdays at Noon. 801-7648 or Eileen.mcconkey@gmail.com
WACC Open Studio: Second, Fourth and Fifth Tuesday of each month, 10:00 am – 3:00 pm. Free for members; $5 for non-members.
WACC Open Model Sketch: First and Third Tuesdays, 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm, $10 for members, $15 for non-members—cash only.Please RSVP to Deborah Ridgley at 513-259-9302.
Open Studio Oil Painting: Oil Painting with Jan Boon for Beginner and Advanced; Wednesdays from 9:30 am –12:30 pm AND 1:15 pm- 4:15 pm. 513-7917044 or janwrites@fuse.net.
Acrylic Painting with Dave Laug: Wednesdays, 7:00 pm -10:00 pm. Write dvdlaug@gmail.com or call 513-885-5284.
Beginner/Intermediate Watercolor with Chris Campbell. Thursday from 10:00 am –12:30 pm. mmivsu2@comcast.net
Drawing and Painting with Mary Lou Holt: Thursdays, 9:30 am -12:30 pm AND 1:30 pm -4:30 pm. 513-226-3833 or marylouiseholt@yahoo.com
Oil Painting for Mid-Level and Advanced with Chuck Marshall; Thursdays 1:00 – 4:00. 404-3161 or marshallstudio@aol.com
Graduate Pastels with Ray Hassard: Second and Final Fridays each month from Noon until 3:00. 941-1116 or ray@rayhassard.com.
FAB—Fiber Art at the Barn. The “New Hexagon” Paper Piercing group. Third Tuedays of each month from 9:30 to 12:30. FAB Collective (Fiber Artist Meetup) Third Wednesdays from 6:00 – 9:00. Susan Austin at 703-5645 or fabulousfibers2015@gmail.com . Fee is $68.
Visit the Barn’s Website at www. artatthebarn.org.
New Watercolor Workshop
Artist Yukon Hall is offering a three-day watercolor workshop on May 19-21 at the Barn in Mariemont. Fresh and Fluid will inspire artists to explore the best qualities of watercolor—spontaneity, freshness and fluidity with an impressionistic appearance. Hall, a member of the Ohio Watercolor Society, will emphasize the importance of planning, as well as strong tonal value pattern, edge qualities and fundamental concepts.
Call The Barn at 513-272-3700 or visit www.artatthebarn.org for more information. The Barn, also known as the Woman’s Art Cultural Center is located at 6980 Cambridge Avenue. Cost is $140.
New Japanese Calligraphy Class
Emi Kuisel, a Japanese calligraphy instructor has been teaching students in the Cincinnati area for nearly two years and now she is offering classes at the Barn. Emi is licensed by the Japanese Calligraphy Association and uses its curriculum in her instruction. Each month, she sends student work to Japan for evaluation of progress. Interested students may purchase supplies from Emi. Classes run May 3 through May 17. Contact Enjoyshodo@gmail.com for more info.
Sewing Classes
Sunday afternoons and Tuesday evenings are set aside for sewing classes at the Barn. No sewing machine? No problem - you can rent one of the Barn’s machines.
Classes will cover sewing knits, making quilts, baskets, bags & totes, even a vintage-inspired apron. Classes are for ages 8 and up, so you can sign up with one of your favorite youngsters and learn a few new sewing tricks of your own.. Call 513-272-3700 for more information.
Shop Amazon, Kroger and Support WACC
Please help be a part of Mariemont history. Customers of Amazon.com can help raise money for the Woman’s Art Club Cultural Center. Go to smile.amazon. com and search for Woman’s Art Club of
Cincinnati Foundation. Select it as your charity, then shop as usual. The donation will not affect your price.
Also, Kroger Community rewards pays the Barn quarterly, based on purchases by registered families. Please visit www.kroger. com/communityrewards
WACC will apply proceeds to the Loft Improvement Project, which includes the addition of an elevator for wheelchair accessibility and numerous other upgrades to the Barn’s second floor.
75/25 An Artist’s
Retrospective Celebrating 25 years
Gail Morrison, a former resident of Mariemont and signature member of the Woman’s Art Club of Cincinnati , began painting in Italy in June of 1992. GAIA is the Italian translation of the artist’s first name and is her signature on all her paintings.
Passionate about painting, Gail’s oil landscapes and still life paintings exude a vibrancy and color characteristic of the artist’s life and personality. Since switching careers twenty five years ago, she has been the recipient of numerous awards and solo shows, the first of which followed just two years after she began painting. More recently, Gail has been painting the still life, twelve of which have been juried by Oil Painters of America into their national shows.
Her retrospective will include 75 oil paintings from 1992 - 2017. Weekday afternoons during show times, Gail will be painting from a still life set within the exhibit in the afternoon. Gallery hours are 1 –4pm on: June 3 & 4, and Jun 6 - 11.
Save the Dates
May 11. Cincinnati Opera and Artflix September 22-24. Annual Mariemont Paint-Out
“I never paint dreams or nightmares. I paint my own reality.” - Frida Kahlo
Village Government
COUNCIL MEETING, MARCH 13, 2017
Mayor Policastro called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. with the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag. The following Council members answered present to roll call: Mr. Brown, Mr. Marsland, Ms. Palazzolo, Ms. Schwartz and Mr. Wolter.
From Assistant Fire Chief Kiefer: February 2017 Monthly Report. Mr. Wolter asked for clarification when a patient refuses to be transported how it is verified. Assistant Chief Kiefer said we get a signature. If they are unable to sign they have a witness sign. They also document it in their run report. He said if they respond to someone who falls and needs assistance getting up but is not hurt is an example of when they would have a patient sign the refusal paperwork.
From Service Superintendent Scherpenberg: February 2017 Monthly Report. He said this morning the posts were put in for the new fence at the tennis court which will make space for seating. Mayor Policastro said some of the fence is already in. The school will supply portable bleachers and then take them back. They will not be permanently attached.
From Mayor Policastro: Ordinance No. O-1649 Establishing Dogwood Park as a Forest, Bird and Wilflife Preserve and Sanctuary. He said our forefathers made Dogwood Park a sanctuary for wildlife in 1949. He is going to have our Solicitor look into this because we should not have an extreme bicycle path down in a wildlife area. In the lower 80 area is fine but not in Dogwood Park. We need to update this Ordinance. He referred the matter to the Health and Recreation Committee.
Mr. Ken Schneider, Representative for Center for Addiction Treatment (CAT), was granted permission to address Council. He distributed literature about CAT. They have been in existence for 47 years working on the heroin epidemic in Hamilton County. In response to the epidemic, CAT developed a $5.7 million plan called “Lead the Change” which will nearly double total capacity by adding a new outpatient building and retrofitting CAT’s existing building. They are reaching out to every municipality in Hamilton County to ask for help financially. He is an attorney volunteering to help this generation’s biggest crises in his opinion. Anyone of our children, grandchildren, great grandchildren
Council Representative Information
District 1: Dennis Wolter dwolter@mariemont.org
District 2: Bill Brown wbrown@mariemont.org
District 3: Eric Marsland emarsland@mariemont.org
District 4: Maggie Palazzolo mpalazzolo@mariemont.org
District 5: Mary Ann Schwartz maschwartz@mariemont.org
District 6: Lorne Hlad lhlad@mariemont.org
Mayor: Dan Policastro mayordan1@gmail.com
could be faced with it and sucked into a deadly situation. Treatment does work. We are the proper care to give them a chance to survive. This effects all income levels and it is a family problem. Often the families suffer much more than the addict. Their motto and mission is to help save a life and rebuild the family. They are asking each community to consider $20,000 or whatever the community is willing to donate. Donations from individuals are welcome as well. He thanked the Mayor and Council for their time.
Mr. Wolter asked the percentage of hard addicted patients that recover. Mr. Schneider said he did not know the statistics.
Mr. Dan Segal, Representative for Center for Addiction Treatment, was granted permission to address Council. He is a volunteer who felt compelled to get involved because the epidemic is so widespread it is crossing all borders. It is in all of our backyards. He was affected by the loss of Lexis Waterman who was taken way too young. The CAT House is the only treatment facility within 180 miles that is not hospital based. He heard an interview with the head of DEA Task Force who said they are having a difficult time getting a handle on the problem. Now we have the problem with Fentanyl and Carfentanil. The only way to get a handle on this is to reduce the demand and reduce the number of people using it.
Ms. Baylee Waterman, Representative for Center for Addiction Treatment, was granted permission to address Council. She currently resides in Pleasant Ridge and was previously a resident of Montgomery and Blue Ash for over 20 years. Her family recently experienced the effects of the heroin epidemic first hand. Her baby sister, Lexis, died four months ago, on November 10, 2016 at the age of 22 leaving behind two young boys, Liam and Silas, who will grow up without their mother. Her sister,
Logan and she will continue to live their lives without the other third piece to their puzzle. Her parents have both outlived their last-born child and her grandmother has outlived her granddaughter. She can whole heartedly say that no individual, no family, no community should ever have to experience this tragic pain and loss. This epidemic is attacking all sorts of individuals, regardless of one’s age, sex, race, socioeconomic status, place of residence – it does not discriminate on who it attacks. This illness is hitting all parts of our Tristate and she believes the only way we can truly put an end to this is for all communities to unite and find the funds to be allocated to the CAT House. Her family tried numerous times to get Lexis the help she needed. They saw the roller coaster that most families probably experience in regards to addiction. There would be amazing days where they had so much hope when she would enter a treatment or rehabilitation facility, and then that optimism would be shattered when she would leave. We are hopeful that with the efforts of our local communities that can be someone else’s story. She thanked Council for their time and consideration.
Mr. Bob Rich, 6925 Crystal Springs, was granted permission to address Council. Mayor Policastro said he asked Mr. Rich to come to talk to Council about his scope of services. Mr. Rich said the proposal was for architectural services. The Village has had himself and his employees free up to the point of drawing the construction documents. His time will be free for the duration of the project but his employees need to be paid. The proposal is for his employee’s time to draw the construction documents. It also includes the structural engineer and the services of a mechanical/electrical plumbing engineer to draft design build documents. The intent is to allow some flexibility. It is a fairly small addition in the world of mechanical engineering. The proposal does not include Engineer Ertel’s time as the
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Village Government
Village will continue to pay him directly. It also does not include the geo tech engineer which he estimates will be $2,000 to perform two borings to analyze the soil samples. From the samples he develops the soil characteristics so the structural engineer can design the foundation for the building. In his opinion a survey would be nice but not imperative. In the spirit of economics we can work with what we have.
Mr. Brown clarified that if there were changes to the plan the Village would be billed at Mr. Rich’s hourly rate. Mr. Rich said that would be if the Village made significant changes resulting in the documents needing to be redrawn. It also outlines if the project were delayed for some unknown reason resulting in an escalation of the cost of the project those costs would be billed to the Village. He wanted to be sure the groundwork for the relationship is defined.
Mr. Wolter asked if there was a way to estimate the price range of the unknown costs. Mr. Rich said he would like the Village to hire the geo technical engineer directly. The structural engineer is estimated at $15,000. He is referring firms he believes will be economically favorable for the Village. Mr. Brown said he is also in communication with Dennis Malone to start the process of getting names for the geo technical engineer.
Ms. Palazzolo moved, seconded by Mr. Brown to accept the recommendation of the Finance Committee which met Friday, February 17, 2017, at 10:30 a.m. to discuss the extension of the mowing contract with GrassCor for 2017. Present at the meeting were Finance Committee Chair Eric Marsland, members Mary Ann Schwartz and Bill Brown, Mariemont Staff Assistant Sue Singleton, Police Chief Hines, Tax Department Supervisor Patty Busam, Service Department Superintendent John Scherpenberg, and Mayor Dan Policastro. Mr. Sherpenberg indicated that GrassCor has been very willing to accommodate our changing needs and have been willing to loan us equipment such as the mulch spreader at a great savings to the Village.
In addition, the Committee recommends that the following changes be made to the contract:
The contract will be extended an additional two weeks to December 14, 2017 to allow for additional leaf removal if needed.
Leaves that have traditionally been blown
down the hill into the woods above the Boathouse need to be collected and moved to a location determined by Maintenance Superintendent Scherpenberg for removal by the Maintenance Department.
Leaves that have traditionally been blown down the hill into the woods off of Mariemont Avenue need to be collected and moved to a location determined by Maintenance Superintendent Scherpenberg for removal by the Maintenance Department.
At the end of the season the pavement around the islands of Wooster Pike need to be cleaned up to avoid the matted masses of leaf debris that collect there.
Every spring the hill below the graveyard needs to be blown/cleaned up and moved to a location determined by Maintenance Superintendent Scherpenberg for removal by the Maintenance Department.
It was unanimously decided that the contract be extended one more year at a cost of $47,292.00. Ms. Schwartz asked if GrassCor is going to blow the leaves by the Boathouse that they blew over the hill last year so they can be collected. Mayor Policastro said no we are not sending them down the hillside. On roll call; five ayes, no nays.
Mr. Brown moved, seconded by Ms. Palazzolo to accept the recommendation of the Safety Committee which met on Monday February 13, 2017 at 5:30 pm to discuss restricting two parking spaces along Cherry Lane from 7-9 am on days that school is in session. In attendance were Committee Chairperson Lorne Hlad, Committee, Co-Chairman Ms. Palazzolo and Committee Member Mr. Brown. Also in attendance were Mayor Policastro and Chief Hines. After hearing from concerned residents and collecting input from the Police Chief and Village Engineer, the Committee recommends the Solicitor draft an Ordinance to restrict the two requested spots to no parking between the hours of 7 am and 9 am on days that school is in session. This will allow a safer passage for pedestrians to walk to school during the morning hours when traffic is congested. With the lack of sidewalks on that portion of Cherry Lane, this restriction will help provide more space for students and their families to walk to school. Ms. Palazzolo and Ms. Schwartz said their understanding was there were three spaces to be dedicated. Ms. Schwartz moved, seconded by Mr. Brown to amend the report
to indicate three spaces instead of two parking spaces. On roll call; five ayes, no nays. Mr. Brown moved, seconded by Ms. Palazzolo to accept the amended report. On roll call; five ayes, no nays.
Mark your calendars for these May and June Village events. If you have any questions, please call the Village Office at 271-3246:
Village-Wide Garage Sale
Saturday, May 20 8 a.m.-4 p.m.
All residents are welcome to participate in this annual event. Signs will be placed in the east and west entrances to the Village on Wooster Pike as well as posted on Nextdoor. An ad will also be placed in The Enquirer.
Memorial Day Parade
Monday, May 29 8:30 a.m.
The Village’s annual Memorial Day Parade will start at the Parish Center at 8:30 a.m., head east to the Municipal Building for a ceremony, turn and go west to the Pioneer Cemetery, and end with the donut, juice and coffee sale at the Parish Center. This is an important fundraising even for the Civic Association, so all donations are appreciated. Please contact Chief Rick Hines at 271-4089 if your organization would like to participate in the parade.
Annual Mariemont 5K
Sunday, May 28 9 a.m. race, 9:45 a.m. “Kids Run” at the high school track
This annual 5K winds along a scenic route through Mariemont. All ages and abilities are welcome. Register online at sprunning.com and click on registration.
Document Shredding
Saturday, June 3 9 a.m.-noon
The Village of Mariemont Police and Fire Departments will once again hold a free paper-shredding event in the parking lot of the Municipal Building. Documents will be processed through an industrial paper shredder leaving confetti-sized pieces. Thank you to the Civic Association for their sponsorship of this event.
Schools
Destination Imagination: More Than Bridge Building
By Margaret Jevic
In 2004 I was 11 years old and had gotten roped into doing this “DI thing” with some other kids from school. I’ve always been a science-oriented thinker, so my parents must have figured this would be a good outlet for me. We all sat in our coach’s basement, eagerly waiting to select our problem - maybe I’m getting ahead of myself.
DI (Destination Imagination) is an international organization led by volunteers that seeks to foster creativity and curiosity through STEM and fine arts-based academic challenges. Teams choose a challenge, work through their selected challenge, and present their solutions at competitions. It’s a simplistic concept that has gained worldwide attention and participation. However, DI has rather humble roots.
Anne Badanes, one of DI’s pioneer coaches for Mariemont, took me back in time to when DI was called Odyssey of the Mind (OM), and when global competition was only a dream. “In 1992,” she tells me, “we had a new principal at Mariemont Elementary, Mrs. Sommers, and she encouraged us to form some teams.” This new program was being funded by IBM as a way for children to learn problem-solving skills and work in teams.
Odyssey of the Mind’s first year in
Mariemont saw about half a dozen teams from Kindergarten to 5th grade. Parents, like Anne, volunteered to coach the teams, and though they felt unsure of exactly how the program worked, they were “extremely careful about being hands off.” This is the big concept behind DI – the coaches do not assist their teams in the problem solving. The kids have to do all of the work. Everything you see at a DI competition has been thought over, produced, built, and scripted by the kids - although, I use the term “kids” loosely. Many participants are of high school age and have been working together for years.
So how does DI work? Teams choose one “central challenge” from a list of six to work on throughout the season. The practice season starts in November, with Regional competition in March, State in April – if they make it, and Globals at the end of May – for those who achieve the highest scores at State.
As Anne described, central challenges can range from “constructing a tower that holds weight to building a vehicle that can navigate an obstacle course” or it can be “based on history, literature, or fine arts. The breadth of problems allows the program to appeal to different children.”
There also is an instant challenge the day of each competition, which teams only have minutes to solve. These challenges range from building a raft that can float on water holding golf balls to constructing a person, place, or thing with dominos and putting together a performance. I’m not talking about
some dinky performance either. The skits that teams come up with for both the central and instant challenges are incredibly creative, fun and intelligent.
Anne reminded me that during DI’s early years at Mariemont it was “a major goal to move onto State [and] the idea of going to Globals seemed impossible” since our teams rarely placed first at Regionals. However, our teams persisted. Coaches became more experienced and teams began working together for years in a row.
Once a team (usually made up of 5-7 students) has been competing together for a number of years, they have a good understanding of “how to support and help one another. This is particularly apparent when doing a spontaneous challenge.” Teammates know each other’s personalities, strengths, and easily work off each other’s energy.
Mariemont’s persistence paid off, and after 7 years, we sent a team that had been working together for many years to Globals. “They were in high school when they finally made it,” Anne tells me. After that, the program was on solid footing and winning at State was much more attainable.
Today, Mariemont's DI foundation is strong. In fact, not only have several teams gone to Globals in the past decade, they have placed as high as 5th among more than 1,000 teams that begin each challenge in their local region. Teams at Globals compete with entries from other US states, Korea,
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Poland, China and many more countries. This year, Mariemont had 13 teams participate in Regionals, with seven advancing to State. A record four teams are going to Globals –two high school, one junior high and one elementary.
This will be the fifth trip to the Global finals for high school junior team "the Unjustifiers," and the third time for high school junior team, "The Crummy Cookies." Both teams have participated in DI for 10 years!
Although challenges change every year, participants develop their problem-solving skills, getting better and more confident with each round. The skills acquired doing DI are transferrable as well – just ask any of the original participants in Mariemont’s DI program. Anne has kept up with them and, now in their 30’s, many of them still talk about “how DI prepared them for situations at work or how it gave them confidence to lead presentations and think on their feet.”
They also felt they had something of a leg up when it came time to job interviews. This sentiment I can attest to. It’s been nearly 15 years since my stint in the DI circuit, but I still reap the benefits of participating. When my team attempted to build a bridge that weighed the least but held the most, I learned a whole lot more than how to use glue and clamps. I learned what it meant to research, try, fail, listen to others, find my own voice, and most importantly, I figured out learning was fun.
DI is, and was always meant to be, more than bridge building.
Schools
This year, 27 Mariemont students are attending DI Globals at the University of Tennessee, May 23-27. Please help our students defray the cost and enjoy yourself at the same time by participating in the following fundraisers:
May 6 – Treat yourself to some ice cream for breakfast at a DI Ice Cream Buffet, from 10 a.m. to noon at the Mariemont Parish Center. Tickets are $5 at the door.
May 8 - Eat anytime today at El Trio Mexican Grill, 7227 Wooster Pike, and a portion of the proceeds will benefit Mariemont DI. You must present a flyer, which can be obtained by emailing Jera Srikalasin at jerapiano@yahoo.com.
May 12 - Eat at Chipotle, 6213 Wooster Pike, Fairfax, between 5 and 9 p.m. Mention Mariemont DI and a percentage of food sales will be donated to the DI Globals fund.
May 13 – 9 a.m.-noon. Receive a photo session and high resolution digital photo of your favorite canine from Picture Perfect Photography, 6702 Chestnut St. Photographer Michelle DeCamp will donate all proceeds to the Mariemont DI Globals fund. Donation: $20. Photos are of pets only (no people, please). Space is limited. Visit http://signup.com/go/JneWRbE to register and for more details. Call 513-313-0231 with any questions.
High School: The Unjustifiers and The Crummy Cookies
Junior High: The Unidentified Flying Donuts Elementary: Dare Dreamers
Craig White, Physical Therapist since 2001
Anne Reed, back to living her life
A er a stay in the hospital I told them my rst choice for rehab was Marjorie P. Lee in Hyde Park. The sta was incredible and they lived up to their reputation for getting people healthy, home and back to living their lives. No wonder they have consistently high patient satisfaction scores and were selected by area hospitals as a Center of Excellence for short-stay rehab. And yes, even the food was great. Call Annie Novak 513.533.5014 or visit marjorieplee.com/rehab.
Expertise includes orthopedics, cardiac, respiratory and wound care.