

Mariemont Bids Farewell to The Villager
By Peter McBride
With the closing of The Villager in midJanuary, Mariemont is losing one of its most beloved institutions and a lot of its history
According to an April 14, 2012 article in The Eastern Hills Journal, which is archived at the Mariemont Preservation Foundation (MPF), The Villager had already been in Mariemont “for more than 50 years.” That would put the original opening sometime prior to 1962.
An MPF archive photo dated “Ca. 1948” shows The Villager—with its original signage, “The Mariemont 5¢ to $1.00 Store”—in its current locale, but with parts of the building under construction. The photo also shows an intriguing sign on the side wall of what is now LaRosa’s, pointing to “Kroger Parking” in the lot behind. (A Kroger store used to exist on the property that is now known as The Strand.) A “Mills Judy Photo” dated 1950-1955, with the same MPF provenance, shows that The Mariemont 5¢ to $1.00 Store was located adjacent to both a “Library” and a “Colonial Shop.”
While exact opening date and original ownership is uncertain, current owner Carol Desmond was able to share what she knows about The Villager’s history. At some point prior to 1973, The Mariemont 5¢ to $1.00 Store was owned by the Happ family, and then passed on to the Palmisano family. On January 2, 1973, Pat and Fred Rutherford bought the store from the Palmisanos, after the latter retired and moved to Hilton Head, N.C. With their purchase, the Rutherfords re-named the store “The Villager.” They also remodeled and changed the store into a combination bookstore and variety store, in part due to Fred’s

longstanding interest in “suburban
bookstores.”
The Desmond family bought the store from the Palmisano’s in 1991, and Carol Desmond took over management duties from her mother, who had worked for and then managed the store for both the Palmisano and Rutherford families. Carol’s daughter-in-law, Kate, managed the store for several years in the late ‘90s and early 2000s, but when she moved to Dallas, Texas, Carol resumed her management role.
In the April 14, 2012 Eastern Hills Journal article mentioned above, the author shares that the Desmonds found a “treasure trove of old photos, the former cash register, and a small letter-press used to make custom stationery,”
which they set up as a small display inside the store when they first moved in. The exhibit even included a coin-operated machine that sold stamps for – wait for it – “two cents.” The article also states that over the years, Carol saw store items change from sewing kits to cosmetics to toys and handbags. She said, “We try to keep the same feel for the store while evolving our merchandise.”
Carol always kept on top of her inventory, regularly keeping tabs on potential new products to offer. Catalogs, purchasing trends, requests from customers, gift shows – especially the annual exhibition in Dallas - and the regular sales reps who have called on her, were always great resources. In her early years of owning
The Villager in operation in the 1950s.
Village
Mariemont Trivia: Name That Place
By Margaret Jevic
I read this quote by Stephanie Marston in my son’s baby book recently, “Kids are fascinated by stories about what they were like when they were babies and what they said and did as they grew.”
It reminded me how many of us feel the same way about this Village. We love to know what the trees used to look like, which stores were where, and who used to live in our houses. We have a deep curiosity about Mariemont from its infancy and all the changes it has been through as it has grown into an established Village.
Mariemont has such a rich history that we have a whole foundation set up to preserve it— The Mariemont Presevation Foundation, which by the way, is a treasure trove of information about Mariemont. In light of our general curiosity and admiration for this quaint Village we call home, over the next several issues of the Crier
we will present you with some trivia from Mariemont’s childhood.

Here is our first Town Crier Trivia question:
In 1949 this building was the Public Library. Can you guess where this photo was taken? What is there now? Grab your kids, grab your dog, and wander around until you find it!
The answer will be published on the Mariemont Town Crier Facebook page in one
week and published in the next issue. If you’re stuck, you can visit the Preservation Foundation (open Saturdays 9-12) and see this photo in person, along with plenty of other fascinating artifacts.
Save the Date
Join Mariemont’s Nancy Miller and her 1N5 team for the group’s annual Spring4Life event to support mental health awareness and education in our communities. The event takes place April 21, from 7-10:30 p.m., at the Summit Hotel, 5340 Hetzell Street. Enjoy light bites, drinks, live music, silent and live auctions, and special guest speakers. Register at 1N5.org/spring4lifeevent. For more information, contact Nancy Miller at nancy_miller@1N5.org or 513271-5559.

The housing market continues to be strong in Mariemont. Although single family home sales were down due to a lack of inventory, the average price increased to $415,500 which was close to the 2015 average price. Seven houses sold at over $700,000 in 2017 with only three selling at that price in 2016. The average days on market increased to 55 compared to 39 days in 2016. This is somewhat deceptive as 18 houses sold in less than 10 days. There were 11 houses that took over 100 days to sell and ended up selling at, on average, 13% less than the original list price. If a house is priced correctly and properly prepared for sale, it should sell in less than 30 days in today’s market.
Most buyers today prefer homes that are updated, and updated houses sell for a premium price. My expertise and experience in preparing your house for listing will get you a premium price!































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Villager - Cont'd from page 1
and running the store, school supplies were the biggest-selling items, and hair nets were also very popular. In recent years, greeting cards and books for pre-schoolers rose to the top in popularity, according to Carol. The Villager has carried as many as 10 different lines of greeting cards, and regulars would often stop by to pick up a multi-month supply of cards for birthdays, anniversaries, and the like.
Speaking of past and current product lines sold at The Villager, when asked to share her most unusual memory from her many years at the store, Carol unhesitatingly stated that it was the “Beanie Babies” craze. Apparently after the product was launched nationally in 1993, the cuddly little toy animals stuffed with bean bag pellets became so popular that retailers everywhere couldn’t keep them in stock. One day, word got out that The Villager was to receive a shipment the following day and, sure enough, Carol arrived at the store that day to find a legion of frantic customers sitting in lawn chairs lined up across on the front sidewalk waiting for the store to open!
As for the store space itself, up until 2012, when some minor restyling took place, “many of the original counters, display shelves and creaking wooden floors” remained, says Carol. A valued attraction was the much-beloved post office, which opened on January 2, 1994 and was located at the rear of the store.
Carol announced in a Town Crier article that appeared shortly after the post office opened (Feb. 7, 1994, Vol. 23, No. 5, p. 4), that the welcome addition “provides the services of a typical post office but… is run by Villager employees, not postal employees.” Although not equipped with post office boxes, the branch provided all other standard postal services— stamps, mailing, certified and registered mail, money orders, and express and priority mail. This writer’s personal experience in the store attests to Desmond’s well-deserved satisfaction in seeing the post office become a favorite “community gathering place.”
Loyal locals were always The Villager’s largest source of customers, but patrons of the Mariemont Inn and Theater also provided shoppers who would stop in, seeking to find that “something special” to take home.
Village
Carol shared with me that in the decades of owning and running The Villager, she is most proud of having been able to keep it running for so long. She also gives a heartfelt “thank you” to her family and friends for their love and support as well as to her staff (many of whom have willingly worked extra hours for no additional pay) and the post office employees for their loyalty, dedication, and understanding as the store prepared for closing. And of course, she is grateful for all the customers who enjoyed The Villager as well as the many people who stopped by recently to wish her and the staff well.
The Town Crier extends our sincere thanks and compliments to Carol, her husband, Mike, and The Villager staff for stewarding this Village gem for so many years, and for being an integral part of the Mariemont community. Our best wishes to you on your new adventures.
Remembering The Villager…
“I remember stopping by there and buying candy after elementary school. It was my mom’s favorite store to shop for birthday cards, and she was a big buyer of the Vera Bradley items they carried in recent years.” – Ted Beach
“When I think of The Villager, I recall all of the ribbon they used to carry. I would buy my Seventeen magazine at Horton’s Drug Store and then go buy ribbon for my ponytail once I knew what the latest fashion was! I loved the way the floors creaked as you walked through the store. We will miss the small-town luxury of having a local variety store!” – Kim Beach
“We bought school supplies, toys from Japan, etc., there. It was a favorite place to stop in after school. And the library was next door.” – Ray Sabo
“I will miss The Villager for sure! I had to close a very similar store in 1982 and it still brings back sadness.” - John Burik
“I was about five years old (around 1966), obsessed with Barbie Dolls, and The Villager had a nice assortment for sale. My mom said I didn’t need yet another Barbie Doll, but I disagreed. I stole $5 from my older sister›s piggy bank, walked down to The Villager by myself, and tried to purchase Midge who cost
$4.25. She was a deal. The proprietor promptly called my mom, since everyone knew absolutely everyone in Mariemont. As one might guess, I never got to have Midge. It truly takes a village to raise ‘em right. Thanks to The Villager – or “The Dime Store,” as we called it - I did not lead a life of crime.” - Ellen Barnes
“The Villager was a great place to take the kids to shop for birthday gifts. At Christmas time the elementary school used to walk classes over so the kids could buy presents for family members and surprise everyone. It will be missed.” - Diane Sabo


The Mariemont Preservation Foundation is now home to one of The Villager’s original cash registers, the hand-painted metal “The Mariemont 5¢ to $1.00 Store” sign, framed photos of the inside of the store (circa 1960s-70s), and even a couple of framed photos that resided on one of the shelves near the back entrance to the store of two Mariemont boys’ baseball teams from the late 1970s.
We are grateful to all of the dedicated MPF volunteers for the unwavering and efficient efforts to collect, catalog, archive, and share on request all of the important and inspiring Mariemont history. Stop by, visit, email, or call MPF at https:// mariemontpreservation.org/
By Margaret Jevic
This Month in Sustainable Mariemont: Uncorked!
Last February I had a three-month-old baby who ate around the clock, requested constant snuggles, and was just learning to hold his own head up. This year I have a bouncy 15-month-old who runs, not walks, everywhere he goes and is slowly but surely learning that not all objects, animals, and people are “dada.”
Last year I also decided it would be a fun idea to save every single cork we ever used and write the date and occasion on it. This idea was quite possibly born out of a yearlong abstinence from the adult beverage aisle. It was really fun until the collection grew larger than the enormous vase in which I keep them.
So here I am, stuck with more corks than I’m comfortable admitting, in a very
large vessel sitting in the basement. Right on cue, Sustainable Mariemont will once again lighten my load and my conscience at the convenience of a two-minute drive to Ace.
If you’re a cork saver like me, you’ll be delighted to know Sustainable Mariemont will be collecting corks during the month of February. Just bag up your corks (synthetic or natural) and place them in the marked bin at the storefront of Ace Hardware on Wooster Pike. While you’re doing that, don’t forget to bring your dead alkaline batteries (in a plastic bag) too!
The corks will be sent to the proper facilities for repurposing. They make all sorts of interesting things like cork flooring and shoe inserts. I think I’ll keep my special occasion corks, but I do look forward to unloading the rest of my collection.
For more info on Sustainable Mariemont, feel free to email them at sustainablemariemont@gmail.com or visit their Facebook page “Sustainable Mariemont.”


By Kim Beach
Village DAR Commemorates Vietnam Veterans
On Saturday, November 18, families and fellow Cincinnatians gathered at Armstrong Chapel in Indian Hill to pay tribute to an honorable group of men who selflessly served during the Vietnam War. The United States of America Vietnam War Commemoration was authorized by Congress, to conduct a program commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Vietnam War.
The Mariemont Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) is a Commemorative partner of the Vietnam War Commemoration Program, and is authorized to provide certificates and lapel pins as a token of appreciation by a grateful nation for the faithful service of veterans during the Vietnam War Era.
Patriotic music began the ceremony and a very heartfelt pledge of allegiance was led with hands on hearts and many veterans saluting

Old Glory. Congressman Brad Wenstrup, from Ohio’s second district, spoke about the

bravery and service of each individual and their families for the sacrifices they made for our freedoms. In Wenstrup’s words, “It is an honor to be able to pay tribute to our Vietnam Veterans and their fearless endeavors. Only one percent of Americans have served in the U.S. Military and it is this brave few who stand between us and evil as we go about our daily lives. The fire for freedom that was lit in Vietnam tore down many walls and enabled dozens of countries to be freed from communism.”
Each veteran was called forward to be personally thanked and receive his individual certificate and pin. Spouses were then called forward to receive a white rose and recognized for their sacrifice in the service of our country. Twenty-five local veterans and their families were honored at the event.
Special thanks to the Mariemont DAR for their dedication in honoring these deserving Veterans. This is the third and final event of the three-year project involving the Mariemont Chapter to honor Vietnam Era Veterans under the chairmanship of Vice Regent Miriam Lillback. For information regarding the program or the Mariemont Chapter, contact Regent Jan Mauch at jan@mariemontdar.org.
Local Vietnam War Veterans and their spouses were recognized during the Mariemont DAR Chapter’s Vietnam War Commemoration Program in November at Armstrong Chapel.
New Resident Guide Coming Soon!
Mayor Policastro and Village Council determined this past fall that the current Resident Guide Handbook, most recently updated in 2006, was in need of content revision. The task of revising the guide fell to the Rules and Law Committee of Council under the direction of Councilwoman Maggie Palazzolo.
Ms. Palazzolo solicited input from the various Village Departments (Police, Fire, Maintenance, Building, Tax) and went to work on a guide with new content. Ms. Palazzolo worked with Sue Singleton of the Village Administrative staff to incorporate the latest information that residents need in their interaction with Village Departments, including the newest Rumpke Trash & Recycling guidelines.
Trash & Recycling Highlights
The most recent contract with Rumpke is
quite similar to previous contracts, with recycling for most residents being picked up at the street and waste being picked up behind the house. (Those residents with lanes behind their homes leave their recycling adjacent to the lanes rather than the front.) Additional recycling / trash / brush / ‘large item’ information that was provided by Ms. Singleton and to be included in the new Resident Guide is:
Yard waste, such as leaves, grass, etc., must be placed in Lawn Yard Waste Paper bags. Clear plastic bags are no longer acceptable. Yard waste and large items are picked up by Rumpke. Those with lanes should place their large items on the street rather than the lane for Rumpke pickup. Stickers are not required for large items or yard waste.
Brush is picked up by the Mariemont

Maintenance Dept. on the 1st and 3rd full week of each month on the same day as residential trash is picked up by Rumpke.
Waste stickers are required for trash cans, trash in boxes, and trash in bags.
Ms. Singleton expects that the new Resident Guide will be finalized and produced later this Spring or early Summer. Currently, the existing guide is provided to new residents by the Tax Department. Also, the Village provides welcome bags that will include the resident guide to new residents as it is made aware of their arrival in Mariemont. Copies are also available in the Municipal Building Lobby. Ms. Singleton is hopeful that the new guide can also be made available on the Village Website.



Raising the Barre on Wellness
By Margaret Jevic
My doctor’s office used to be at 7449 Wooster Pike, but it closed a while back and I was bummed. About a year and a half ago, my mom called me all excited, telling me about a new exercise studio called Barre3 opening up in that same space. Not my thing. Nonetheless she convinced me to check it out with her.
I was 9 months pregnant and pretty sure I did not want to join, but 15 minutes later I was a member. Here’s your forewarning, I’m totally biased in writing this article. I requested to do it, actually, because quite frankly Barre3 has changed my life. That’s a big statement for such a small studio, I know.
Barre3 Mariemont’s owner, Karey Matteucci, graciously sat down with me over a cup of tea to give me the run down on her business, but mostly let me gush about how much I love Barre3. Karey is a mom of two little girls and a self-described “hometown girl” who grew up in Anderson. She moved to California with her husband, which is where she was introduced to her first Barre3 class. After leaving her job in human resources to raise her oldest daughter, Karey found herself feeling alone, out of shape, and generally not feeling like her healthiest self so she decided to give Barre3 a go.
Barre3 is so many things, but I think the most fitting descriptor is: wellness-based community. There’s a little bit of yoga, some cardio, stretching, breathing, weights, recipes, mantras, and a whole lot of love. Karey explained Barre3 was created to be a “workout for anybody, whether they’re a postpartum mom, 75 years old, have had two knee replacements” or just about
anything else. Again, a pretty big claim, but a promise Barre3 truly delivers.
It didn’t take long before Karey became an instructor, and as the time came for her family to return to Cincinnati, she felt the pull to open her own studio. After some searching and a bit of luck, Karey’s Barre3 studio found its home here in charming Mariemont.
Barre3 is a workout where every second of every class is intentional. The props, music, moves, and even the quiet moments just breathing are spent with intention. When you step into the studio you will be pushed to find your edge, but you’ll also be encouraged to honor what your body needs with modifications and rest. You won’t find overzealous gym buffs—just regular people from college students to moms to grandmothers and even a few men!
My first Barre3 class was 12 weeks after my son was born, and at the time I couldn’t get off the floor without help. That first class was tough, but I always felt encouraged, I always felt the way I was moving was enough, and I always left feeling a million times better than when I walked in. And I have to say, being able to drop my little one off in the play lounge and welcome 60 minutes just for myself was so restorative.
“It’s a ripple effect,” Karey tells me. “When you exercise, you feel good, and when you feel good you want to engage in healthy choices.” In the end, you genuinely become happier— something Karey absolutely attests to. The effects of exercising at Barre3 extend into your daily life. Your body moves freer and stronger, you have more energy, and your love for yourself increases. “You can go to the gym and lift weights or run on

a treadmill but the reason you go to Barre3 is that you feel good,” Karey says. “You feel welcome, you belong, and you can be yourself.”
There’s no perfect way to describe what Barre3 really feels like, Karey and I found. We looked at each other and said, “people just have to try it.” This is the honest truth. You have to go to the studio, drink in the natural light, pop your shoes in the cubbies, find a spot on the barre, feel the cork beneath your toes, feel your body warm as you move, and bathe in endorphins.
Don’t just take our word for it either. As Karey and I sat in Starbucks talking, the man next to us joined our conversation to express how much his wife loves Barre3 and that it changed her life. You can’t make this stuff up. It was really the perfect testament to how Barre3 operates— it’s a feel good place that permeates a community.
If you are curious about the hubbub, there are all kinds of ways to join Barre3 Mariemont. You can simply buy packages of classes or you can dive all the way in, becoming a member, and get access to the other Barre3 perks like free child care, online workouts, and access to the Barre3 blog, which has things like guided breathing exercises and yummy recipes. Since there’s really only one way to understand how Barre3 really feels – to go and try it – Karey is offering your first three classes for free when you use the code B3CRIER. I told you I was biased in writing this, so go see and feel for yourself. Maybe I’ll see you there!
locations/cincinnati-mariemont


Mariemont Says Farewell to Two Longtime Residents
Robert (Bob) Bartlett passed away on December 22, 2017. He was 93-and-a-half years old. Born June 22, 1924, Bob grew up mostly in Chicago, Ill. He resided in Mariemont for 50 years, and was probably best known for walking his big, black Bouvier dogs around the Village, often while reading a newspaper.

Bob served in World War II in the 100th Infantry Division in Europe, then graduated from Purdue University. After retiring from AT&T, he volunteered at his church, at Jewish Hospital, and as a supernumerary in the opera. He also loved trains and traveling. He is survived by his wife, Marty, his four children (Ellen Jackson, Christy Bartlett, Joan Bartlett and Rob Bartlett) and five grandchildren.
Dr. DonnaLou Meyers Davis was born in Cincinnati on May 21, 1931, and died in Cincinnati on December 27, 2017 at age 86. DonnaLou was a life-long resident as well as the oldest living resident of her beloved community, Mariemont.
She graduated from Mariemont High School in 1949, Purdue University with honors in 1953, and then earned her Doctorate in Ministry from United Theological Seminary in 1989.
After college, she worked for a decade at American Airlines as a Quality Control Supervisor and later in life worked as a Divorce Mediator for Lutheran Social Services and a Chaplain for Good Samaritan Hospital.
Her devotion to her Lutheran faith is
Calling All Chess Enthusiasts
Open-house style Rec Chess Night is open to all ages and all skill levels (participants will be paired off according to ability). Rec Chess Night is held the 1st and 3rd Monday of each month at Fairfax Village Municipal Building, downstairs in the Scout Room, from 6:308:30p.m. Come and go at your convenience.
There will be a limited number of chess sets available, so donated boards are greatly appreciated, or feel free to bring in your own board to use. Young children must be
accompanied by an adult— the facilitators are not responsible for supervision. Any questions, or to sign up to mentor, please email facilitators Anita Hunt and Sarah Maier at fairfaxchess@yahoo.com.

MPF Announces 2018 Officers
The Mariemont Preservation Foundation (MPF) announces the following slate of Officers for 2018:
Joe Stoner, President
Karen Sullivan, Vice President
Rex Bevis, Treasurer*
Paul Mace, Secretary*
Re-appointments of the following Staff positions were ratified by the MPF Board of Trustees late in 2017:
Lisa Woodruff, Executive Secretary Linda Bartlett, Archivist
*New to these roles in 2018

evidenced in the many positions she held at her home church, Christ the King Lutheran Church of West Chester, including serving as President of the church and the Board of Lutheran Campus Ministry.
Her greatest devotion and joy was her family, kids, and grandkids. She leaves behind her husband of 61 years David H. Davis; son, Donn (Sharon) Davis, of Great Falls, Va., and grandkids Cameron (20), Cooper (17), and Tess (11); daughter, Susan (Jeff) Davis-Ali, of St. Paul, Minn., and grandkids Kate (18) and Andrew (14); and her sister, Susan Meyers Thornton. In addition to giving so much to others, she enjoyed her hobbies of reading, card playing, and needlepointing.

Village
Villagers 'Do Good' Over the Holidays
By Elizabeth Wood
If you’re anything like me, the holidays were a glorious blur of ornament exchanges, last-minute gift wrapping, and copious mounds of cheese dip. But even amid the hustle and bustle of the most wonderful time of the year, several Mariemont families made it a priority to sacrifice their time and resources to bless others.
For the sixth year in a row, the Trubisky family volunteered at the Annual Holiday Toy Store in Milford. Hosted by Inter Parish Ministry, the event allows low-income families to shop for brand-new Christmas gifts at steeply discounted prices.
Cammy Trubisky says her whole family participated—herself, her husband (Ron), and their twins (Ellie and Will), who are freshmen at Mariemont High School. Together they stocked supplies, helped families shop for gifts, loaded cars, and entertained little ones while parents shopped.
Cammy says the event is unique because it allows people to have a choice in the gifts they purchase. “Dignity is such a huge thing, and making their own choice is such a big thing,” she says.
Sixty-eight families were accepted to shop at this year’s event, and Cammy says part of the organization’s appeal to her family is that it serves people who live nearby. “You live here


in Mariemont and you’re in this bubble where everything is so perfect and quaint, but just around the corner there are people in need,” she says.
The Trubisky family enjoys serving year-round with other Inter Parish Ministry events such as the food pantry and the school supplies event.
Ashley Caperton, another Mariemont resident, enlisted the support of fellow Villagers to help provide goods to a downtown homeless man with whom she has developed a friendship over the past couple of years.

As Cincinnati Cyclones season ticket holders, Ashley and her boyfriend frequently saw the same homeless people standing outside U.S. Bank Arena as they came to and from games—but one man stood out.
“He didn’t have a sign that said ‘homeless and hungry’ and he wasn’t jumping up and asking for spare change,” Ashley says. “What stuck out in my mind was that he was saying goodnight to everybody.”
Ashley got to know his story—he’s a former
addict trying to get back on his feet—and began building a friendship. Though she frequently brought him food after the games, she wanted to do more in light of the holidays. In early December, she posted on Nextdoor to see if any neighbors wanted to donate specific clothing items that he needed.
The collection resulted in two winter coats, several pairs of jeans, several sweat pants, wool socks, a duffel bag on wheels, an umbrella, pillows, and a fleece blanket. “I was amazed at how quickly the community was able to come together and help with what we were doing,” she says.
The man was incredibly grateful for the donation, and Ashley says she is grateful to have gained a new friend.
In one final example of Village do-goodness this holiday season, resident Alaina Walker was inspired by her five-year-old daughter, Claire, who wanted to do something for the homeless men and women she saw by the side of the road with signs asking for food and money.
Together they gathered supplies and assembled “blessing bags” with toiletry items, bottled water, hats, nonperishable food, and plastic cutlery. Alaina keeps the bags in her car and hands them out when they see homeless people by the side of the road. Claire loves that she and her mom can provide a tangible way to help people because she wants every person to know that someone cares about them.
Will Trubisky helps shoppers select the perfect gifts.
Mariemont High School’s Learning Environment Needs Have Changed
By Steven Estepp, Mariemont City Schools Superintendent
If you’ve ever seen an episode of The Brady Bunch or Happy Days, you’ll know a lot has changed in the last 50 or so years. Transportation, communication, technology, and entertainment have all grown leaps and bounds since the 1970s. Education also has changed, although you wouldn’t know that if you took a walk around Mariemont High School — a building constructed back in 1970.
With advancements in technology, learning spaces and curriculum materials, the sky is the limit for what today’s students can learn and achieve. However, if the space isn’t right, these opportunities aren’t so abundant. And there’s research to prove it. In fact, classroom design can impact learning by as much as 25 percent — for
better or for worse. And the fact of the matter is, the Mariemont High School facility is failing our students and we need to take action now in order to maintain the excellence that defines our school district.
I recently had the opportunity to chat with a group of high school students about their experiences in the building, and their thoughts mirror the 18 months of research and assessment we have done in our master facility planning process. From cramped classrooms with no windows to malfunctioning toilets in the bathrooms to unreliable temperatures, the Mariemont High School facility is getting in the way of our students’ education, not enhancing it.
Both learning and teaching today have advanced well past the capabilities of our high school building. Teachers are trying to instruct in
innovative and hands-on ways in the classroom with tools like virtual reality experiences, robotics and scientific equipment to teach the critical skills we know students need, but small classrooms, the lack of collaborative work spaces and faulty networks and Internet connections make these lessons difficult, if not impossible. Quite simply, our students aren’t getting the same experiences that their peers in other high schools are getting.
It is true that our exceptional students and staff have managed to overcome many of these obstacles and perform well, but the advancements that are already passing us by will only continue to slip further out of grasp as the years go by if we don’t take steps now to address them. We need to not only consider how the high school affects students today, but also how it will affect students tomorrow and beyond.
February Events at MariElders
Computer Assistance
On Fridays from 12-2:00 p.m. a student from UC, Jake Goodwin, will offer one-on-one 30 minute sessions on computers, tablets and laptops. Please sign up at the Center’s front desk.
Just for the Guys
Gentleman only – join us for a trip to the Cincinnati Cyclones Hockey game on Thursday, February 8. Meet at the Center at 6:30 p.m. Game starts at 7:30 p.m. Cost is $18. Please sign up by February 5 at the MariElders.
Valentine Luncheon
Come and enjoy a great lunch and entertainment by Jim Lindenschmidt on February 14. Jim will play and sing some great oldies from the ‘50s and ‘60s while we have lunch at noon. Please bring an appetizer or dessert to share. Cost is $5, due by February 12.
Ted Talks Video
“We cannot be full, evolved human beings
until we care about human rights and basic dignity.”
This is the central thesis of public-interest lawyer Bryan Stevenson, who passionately reminds a captivated TED audience that innovation and technological advancements count for little while people continue to suffer persecution and discrimination. Join us on February 15 at 11:00 a.m. for this lively discussion.
Food Market Friday at Jungle Jim’s

We will be going to Jungle Jim’s in Eastgate on Friday, February 16, leaving the Center at 1:00 p.m. Cost is $3 for transportation, space limited to 6. Please sign up by February 14.
Is This Art?
Part I, February 21 at 1:30 p.m., we will

be discussing if and when does ceramics become an art form. Part 2, February 28 at 1:00 p.m. we will visit Queen City Clay to continue the discussion. Please sign up at the MariElders by February 20. Cost is $2 for transportation.
Jack Casino
Join us for a trip to Jack Casino. We will be carpooling on February 22 (cost is $3 for transportation to be paid to driver.)
Leaving the Center at 11:00 a.m. We will enjoy the buffet ($5.85 per person) and return to the Center around 3:30 p.m. Please sign up at the MariElders by February 20.
Call the MariElders at 271-5588 for more information.


Village
What’s Happening at the Mariemont Branch Library - February
Children
Movers & Shakers — 10:30 a.m. & 1:30 p.m. Wednesdays
Bring the little ones in for stories, songs, and dancing as they learn about the Library. Ages 1-4.
Library Babies 11:30 a.m. Wednesdays
Have fun, meet other parents and babies, and promote early literacy! Ages 6-18 months.
Tales to Tails — 4 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 8
Read a story to Bonny the therapy dog. Ages 5-10.
Crafty Kids — 4 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 8
Make and take a fun craft. Ages 5-10.
Teens
Low-Tech Gaming — 1-4 p.m. Monday, Feb. 19
Drop by for board games and snacks! Ages 10-18.
Adults Which Craft? Needle Craft Club — 10:30 a.m. Saturdays, Feb. 3 & 17
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.
Easy…But Beautiful: Dotty Heart Mugs — 6:30 p.m. Monday, Feb. 5
Use metallic and colorful Sharpies to stipple a heart pattern using the mug handle as a template. Mugs provided or bring your own if you have a favorite.
Book Club — 6:45 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 22
We will discuss Lincoln in the Bardo by George Saunders. Copies will be available at the branch.
Library hours are noon to 8 p.m. Monday, Tuesday and Thursday; 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Wednesday, Friday and Saturday Mariemont Branch Library, 3810 Pocahontas Ave. 513-369-4467 For Advertising Information, Contact The Town Crier at:

MariemontTownCrier@gmail.com

Village
Makin’, Bakin’ ‘n’ Creatin’
By Peter McBride
Three local talents, three visions, and three ways to improve happiness, health and hearty enjoyment for others. These are the stories of three Mariemont women - Terri Spooner, Christy White and Amy Scheeser - and their colleagues, whose hard work, imagination and dedication make life in and around Mariemont a little better each day.
Terri Spooner – Sweet C Heavenly Bites
Sweet C Heavenly Bites, LLC is the partnership of Mariemont resident Terri Spooner and her sister, Kristin Carnevale, who have long shared a love of cooking and baking.
The idea of “Sweet C’s” had been in the works for the better part of three years, but could never fully get off the ground without a good name. The unfortunate death in 2011 of Kristin’s husband, Caesar S. Carnevale—or “Sweet C,” as Kris referred to him during his yearlong battle with appendiceal cancer—inspired what they knew would be a perfect name for their business.... “Sweet C Heavenly Bites.”
They currently specialize in scrumptious homemade/handmade cookies and sweet breads. However, being customer-focused and aiming to please, they are always open to expanding their baking repertoire and product list to meet specific customer requests, asking “What can we bake for YOU?” Although they do not have a web site, they do have a Facebook page, which is updated

6892 Murray Avenue • (513) 561-0020

regularly with ordering information and lots and lots of pictures of their baked goods: https:// www.faceboook.com/Sweet-C-Heavenly-BitesLLC-106929602732362/

Sweet C Heavenly Bites offers a wide variety of cookies (plus chocolate chip cookie bars), including chocolate chip, chocolate chip M&M, cranberry white chocolate chip, iced oatmeal, chocolate-chocolate chip, and iced cut-out sugar cookies. The sugar cookies are priced based on size and detail. Most cookies are between $1 - $2 ea. The SCHB bakers also offer a variety of mouth-watering 8x4 or 9x5 loaves, including poppy seed, banana, banana chocolate chip, pumpkin, zucchini, and zucchini nut as well as chocolate-chip pie.
All Sweet C Heavenly Bites, LLC products are home-produced, so you can be sure they are all made with loving care and homemade attention to excellence. The business cannot technically be
considered a “nut-free kitchen,” primarily because their sugar cookies have almond extract in them, but also because even while all baking equipment is sanitized in a standard kitchen dishwasher, Sweet C’s cannot (technically) guarantee a nut-free environment. However, sugar cookie orders can be customized to substitute out the almond extract.
Interested in placing an order or have a question? You can e-mail Kris and Terri at SweetCHeavenlybites@gmail.com or call 513.223.3238.
Christy White – Whirlybird Granola
In 2011, a few years after her family’s move from the west side of Cincinnati (“Go Elder!”) to Mariemont, Christy White, also known as the "granola lady," opened her business, Whirlybird Granola. By then, she had been making her own homemade/handmade granola for several years for her family—her husband, Chris White, and their three kids, including (now) kindergarten-age twin boys and a four-year-old daughter. She had always been very conscious about healthful eating and, as a result, hand made her own granola because she couldn’t find a commercial brand that combined healthful ingredients with great taste.
Christy says, “I have had a lifelong passion for health and nutrition, and granola has always been a very large part of that passion.” Whirlybird Granola maintains that initial branding with top-
cont'd on next page

JAMES T. WESTERFIELD, D.V.M.
Village

notch, healthful ingredients, local and regional roots, and caring personal attention to quality.
It remains an all-natural, oats-based, nonGMO, gluten-free, vegan granola made by hand in small batches. Each batch is sweetened, not with sugar, but by using organic agave nectar (an alternative to honey) and Ohio-grown, pure maple syrup, which was the rationale behind the name “Whirlybird.” Can you guess why? (Hint: Think about what spins down from maple trees in Spring.) Unlike most granolas, Whirlybird also doesn’t use canola oil. They use an extra virgin olive oil that provides all the nutrients without the GMO’s (genetically modified organisms).
Christy’s success started when a friend of hers started The City Flea, Cincinnati’s original curated, urban flea market that takes place once a month at Washington Park in OTR. (http:// www.thecityflea.com/).The friend asked Cindy to sell the granola at the market, which is when the word really began to spread about Whirlybird. For about a year, that is the only place that she sold her granola. (Although she also took orders through Facebook and delivered to customers’ doorsteps.)
After that, the buzz about Whirlybird Granola really got out and Christy was approached by Whole Foods to become a supplier. And then, despite Christy’s ongoing commitment to “purposeful slow growth,” It accelerated mightily when, in 2014, Kroger asked to become a distributor. Whirlybird Granola is now sold in 250-300 Kroger stores. So much for slow.
Christy’s home kitchen quickly became “underpowered” to produce larger and larger batches of granola to supply the ever-increasing demand. Initially, additional kitchen space capacity was rented in nearby Kentucky and Indiana. But even with that—and her husband’s full-time support, and working 5p.m. to midnight every day—Christy couldn’t meet the needs of the her ever-growing supply chain. Yet she was unable to find another “local” facility that could meet her insistence on quantity and quality.
After a broad-based and diligent search for a larger yet high-quality manufacturing facility, Whirlybird is now produced at a facility in Madison, Wisc., that devotedly maintains Christy’s very demanding quality and safety standards.
As for the future, Christy’s aim is two-fold: maintain Whirlybird’s original intent and very high level of quality, and expand its still-growing customer base so more people can gain the benefit of healthy eating. (And I can attest from sampling Whirlybird Granola myself that it is thoroughly delicious— even if it is good for you!)
Check out Whirlybird Granola recipes and flavors on their Facebook page at: https://www. facebook.com/whirlybirdgranola/
Amy Scheeser – Birthday Blessings
What’s a child’s birthday without a birthday cake?
That is the question that Mariemont’s Amy Scheeser asked herself one day about a year ago when she was talking with friends in her Bible study group. The group had been discussing what it could do to make things better in the community.
Amy’s suggestion, soon embraced by the others, was to make birthdays special and fun for less fortunate kids who otherwise might not

feel the love on their special day. Now a mother of three children, Amy was familiar with the problem because, as a child, she herself was in foster care.
The solution Amy’s group came up with was Birthday Blessings, a 501c3 not-for-profit with a mission to enrich the lives and raise the self-esteem of underprivileged and at-risk youth by providing a birthday cake and supplies for a birthday celebration. Birthday Blessings provides a personalized birthday cake decorated with a requested theme as well as a small gift and party plates and napkins for the celebration. Julena Bingaman, a member of the board of Birthday Blessings, also donates personalized bags and water bottles from her Mariemont store, Jules & Bing.
Birthday Blessings serves youth affiliated

St. Joseph’s Orphanage (SJO) as well as other organizations providing care for foster kids. SJO, founded by the Sisters of Charity as an orphanage over 185 years ago, is the oldest social service agency in Cincinnati. In the 1980s and 1990s SJO transitioned from a traditional orphanage to an innovative Behavioral Health Agency. They serve over 1,500 kids and young adults daily who suffer with mental health, educational and behavioral concerns, often due to abuse, neglect, and trauma. Many of these kids come from unsafe neighborhoods and have home lives with a bleak future. They care for the kids who have nowhere else to go to get help.
Birthday Blessings board members and officers are: Amy Scheeser, Julena Bingaman, Carolyn Lindeman, Sandra Winkle, Mary Anne Newman, and Stephanie Griesmer. You can find them on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/ birthdayblessing/.
Well done, Terri, Christy, and Amy. Keep Makin’, Bakin’ ‘n’ Creatin’. Your entrepreneurial visions, your efforts to simply “make things better” for others, and your obvious creative talents are much to be praised.
A Wintery Mix of Arts at The Barn
Gratitude Abounds
Thanks to the generosity of three Cincinnati foundations, the Woman’s Art Club Cultural Center, also known as The Barn, can proceed with the renovation of its 93-year-old structure.
The Gracie M. Harvie Charitable Trust, the August A. Rendigs, Jr. and Helen Rendigs Foundation, and the William G. and Mary Jane Helms Charitable Foundation provided a collective $20,000 in an effort to complete Phase I of the loft renovation. This phase includes insulation, HVAC, electrical updates, audio-visual features, and a lightning-protection system, according to Nancy Reynolds, Barn president.
Under the direction of architect Rick Koehler and the Hudepohl Construction Company, the Barn plans to install two second-floor restrooms as well as an elevator for wheelchair accessibility. The completion of Phase I will allow the Barn to provide year-round programs to the community.
New Show to Welcome March
The Brush and Palette Painters present “Color, Form and Focus” at its annual springtime showcase of original paintings. Nearly 17 local artists spent a year creating artwork depicting local landmarks, rural landscapes, and gardens en plein air (on site), although some artists chose to paint still life’s in their Montgomery studio. More than 60 oil, watercolor and pastel paintings will be on display. “(This is) always an exciting show,” said Diane Kilfoil, former Woman’s Art Club president.
The group invites the public to attend its opening reception on March 2 from 6-8:30 p.m. at The Barn. The show runs through March 25. Gallery hours include Tuesdays through Fridays from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. and weekends 1-4 p.m.
Call for Artists: Deadline Approaching for Annual Juried Show
The Womanʼs Art Club of Cincinnati is accepting entries for its 125th Annual Juried Art Exhibition. This competition is open to women artists 18 years and older residing in Ohio, Kentucky, or Indiana. The Woman’s Art Club of Cincinnati was founded in 1892 and is the oldest existing Woman’s Art Club operating without
interruption in the United States. This special anniversary exhibition promises to showcase and offer for sale exceptional works completed by regional female artists. Awards total more than $3,500.
The exhibition, selected and judged by Laurie Risch and Bridgette Turner, MFA, will focus on craftsmanship, color, and composition with an emphasis upon diversity in style and subject. Risch is Executive Director of the Behringer-Crawford Museum in Covington, Kentucky, and founder of the popular freshART event, now in its 25th year. Risch has received awards for her vast service to Northern Kentucky historical, arts and women’s organizations. Turner is the owner of Turner Studio & Gallery in Columbus. She is past President and current Board Member for the Ohio Plein Air Society. In addition to being a professional artist, she has served as juror for state and local art leagues, as well as the Ohio State Fair Plein Air Competition.
For more information and a downloadable prospectus, go to tinyurl.com/125thProspectus. The deadline for submissions is February 28. The exhibition runs April 8-29, 2018.
Opening Reception and Awards
Presentation: Sunday, April 8, 2-5 p.m.
Closing Reception: Sunday, April 29, 1-4 p.m.
Gallery Hours at The Barn: Weekends, 1-4 p.m.; Tuesdays-Fridays, 10 a.m.– 1 p.m.
Also at the Barn
Color Fields and Residencies: Diana Bernard – February 3-18. Fleury Art Exhibit: Wendy and Hunter – February 21-25.
Heads-up!
The 2018 Mariemont Paint-Out is May 12-13 this year due to the Ohio Plein Air Society’s selection of Mariemont for its annual autumn event. Watch for details.
ARTflix
Escape to the Riviera. On Feb. 8, ARTflix at The Barn presents the 2012 award-winning film “Renoir.” This 111-minute feature takes place in the south of France in the summer of

1915. Jean Renoir, the son of the Impressionist painter, Pierre-Auguste returns to his home at Cagnes-sur-Mer to recover from injuries sustained during the war. At his side, he finds the charming Andrée, a young woman who offers him rejuvenation and affection, then bittersweet feelings to his aging father.
The film stars Michal Bouquet, Christa Theret and Vincent Rottiers.
The big Barn doors open at 6:30 p.m. and the film begins at 7 p.m. The Barn provides soft drinks, snacks, and door prizes, along with an invigorating discussion led by artist and art educator Dave Laug. The loft has a brand new HVAC system for added comfort.
The Barn’s holds its next ARTflix on March 8: “Klimt” – A portrait of Austrian artist Gustav Klimt, whose lavish, sexual paintings came to symbolize the art nouveau style of the late nineteenth and early twentieth century.” Stars John Malkovich. Woman’s Art Club Cultural Center

ARTflix is a free monthly art-history film featured at The Barn, also known as The Woman’s Art Cultural Center at 6980 Cambridge Avenue. The Barn welcomes walk-ins, but prefers registration. To reserve a seat, please go to artatthebarn.com and scroll to ARTflix or call 513-272-3700.
Woman’s Art Club Cultural Center
In recognition of the Richard Brettell events at the Barn and Museum, the April 12 ARTflix features “Vuillard.”
Love and Laughter
Brought to you by the Mariemont Preservation Society
February 17: Pinocchio. (Cincinnati Playhouse Off the Hill). A wooden puppet who dreams of becoming a real boy. Ages 6 and up. Better not lie…or your nose will grow.

March 17: Trip and the Missing Music. (RokCincy). Interactive, adventure opera. Recommended for K-6.
April 28: The Cat in the Hat. (The Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati). A red and white hat on a mischievous cat. Ages 4 and up.
May 19: Rapunzel. (Playhouse Off the Hill). Young Rapunzel is over protected, but finds friendship from a local boy who helps her find her courage. Ages 4 and older.
All events begin at 10 a.m. and are held at The Barn. To register for the events, go to thebarn.cincyregister.com/MPF2017. The Barn welcomes walk-ins. For more information about the Mariemont Preservation Foundation, go to mariemont preservation.org.
Classes for 2018
New Class—Fridays, 9 a.m. to noon, for new and experienced oil painters. February 9 through March 16 with Carol Shikany. $250.
513-703-3265 or cshikany@me.com. Class is limited.
Pencil, Paint and Composition: Tuesdays with Eileen McConkey at Noon. 513-801-7648 or Eileen.mcconkey@gmail.com.
WACC Open Studio: Every Tuesday from 10 a.m.–3 p.m. Free for members; $5 for nonmembers (Cash only, please.)
WACC Open Model Sketch: First and Third Tuesdays, 1-4 p.m., $10 for members, $15 for non-members—cash only. Please RSVP to Deborah Ridgley at 513-259-9302.
Oil Painting: Wednesdays, 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. AND 1:15 p.m.-4:15 p.m., with Jan Boon for beginner and advanced students. $20 per class. 513-791-7044 or janwrites@fuse.net.
Acrylic Painting: Wednesdays, 7-10 p.m., with Dave Laug. Write dvdlaug@gmail.com or call 513-885-5284.
Beginner/Intermediate Watercolor: Thursdays 10 a.m.–12:30 p.m., with Chris Campbell. mmivsu2@comcast.net
Drawing and Painting: Thursdays, 1:30-4:30 p.m., with Mary Lou Holt. 513-226-3833 or marylouiseholt@yahoo.com.
Oil Painting for Mid-Level and Advanced: Thursdays, 1-4 p.m., with Chuck Marshall. 4043161 or marshallstudio@aol.com.
Oil Painting: Thursdays, 6-9 p.m. “A Strong Foundation for your Paintings.” Write or call jeffmorrow@gmail.com or 937-267-6868.
Graduate Pastels: Fridays with Ray Hassard. Second and final Fridays each month from noon-3 p.m. 941-1116 or ray@rayhassard.com.
Arts for Kids: Artrageous Adventures.

Saturdays with the Art Academy of Cincinnati at The Barn. Ages 5-11. 1-3:30 p.m.
Fiber Art: 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 and 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.
Volunteers Needed to Help Plan the Brettell Event
Each April, Dr. Richard Brettell, a faculty member at the University of Dallas, supports the Barn with his attendance at its annual fundraiser, where he offers a brief, informal lecture on the chosen artist of the year. On the following day, he speaks in greater length at the Taft Museum on Pike Street.
The 2018 event will take place on the evening of April 12 at The Barn on Cambridge Ave. If anyone is interested in helping to plan this event, please call 513-272-3700.
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 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/community rewards. 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.
To sign up for class or to learn about any other Barn activities, please go to artatthebarn. org or call 513-272-3700. The Barn, also known as the Woman’s Art Cultural Center, is located at 6980 Cambridge Avenue in Mariemont. Please visit artatthebarn.org.
Village Government
Editor’s Note: The August 22, 2017 Committee of the Whole minutes, where remediation of the archeological sites surrounding Whiskey Creek was discussed, was not originally released in its entirety. To view the posted minutes and the addendum, please visit the Village website at www. mariemont.org, selecting “For 2017” under “Agendas and Menus” at the top of the home page, and then opening the correct Word document titled for each group and date. If you have trouble accessing, please contact Sue or Joanee in the Village offices at 271-3246.
Council Meeting – December 18, 2017
Ms. Brenda Wehmer, attorney with Dinsmore & Shol, gave a brief explanation regarding the Resolution to be passed for the construction loan. The Village is to borrow some money for a short period of time to do the construction for the Municipal Building. Some of the money is hoped to be repaid quickly with the grant monies. The Village is going to issue a one-year note for $850,000 to provide enough money during the construction phase to pay the invoices. PNC Bank has agreed to purchase the note from the Village at an interest rate of 2.6%. It will mature next year. It will be one year before it goes into long term bond. There will be a process to get ready before the note matures to get ready for the bond.
Mr. Brown asked when the note rolls over to the longer-term note, will the Village negotiate the terms and rates? Ms. Wehmer said the Village will have to re-negotiate the rate at that time. It will be based on the current five-year rate. The duration of the loan can be negotiated as well up to 30 years. The Village can also roll the note on a short-term basis if the grant money is delayed. This not a construction draw loan. The Village will receive the $850,000 in the account this week. The Village is free to invest the money on a short-term basis during the construction period and earn what you can. Mayor Policastro asked if there is a pre-pay penalty. Ms. Wehmer said the Village can pay a year from now before it goes into long term bond. The first year there is no prepayment. After one year we will re-evaluate where the Village is regarding if all the grant money has been received and decide if we are going long term bond or short term.
Mayor Policastro said Mr. Marsland had put together a list of questions regarding the process of the gabion wall. Mr. Marsland said he was asked to read into the minutes the letter he prepared dated December 1, 2018: “Dear Mayor and Council, Online resources date the Whiskey Creek hillside repair back to October 8, 2012 when Village Engineer Chris Ertel mentioned applying for a grant from the Hamilton County Storm Water District for a “Whiskey Creek Landslide Correction”. At that time, Geotechnical Engineer, Richard Pohana, gave a detailed cost estimate of $225,280.00 to repair the hillside that included a massive gabion wall. This grant request was denied but was resubmitted in January 2015
using the same design parameters recommended by Mr. Pohana. The second grant was awarded in the amount of $40,000 with the Village being responsible for 2/3 of the cost. In April of 2016, Council approved $20,000 of grant monies to be used for the construction of a smaller gabion wall. In the spring of 2017, the hillside began to fail and we are now faced with a costly repair. The Whiskey Creek Project has exposed some deficiencies in the way we conduct business in the Village of Mariemont. There have been issues on numerous fronts including: (1) Incomplete information was provided to Council by the Mayor regarding project design and history before it commenced. For example, Council was unaware that a geotechnical engineer had evaluated the hillside and recommended a specific action and that the grant application referenced his recommendations. (2) Incomplete information on project financing as Council was under the impression that a 100% grant had been awarded. (3) A lack of expertise on the design of the project on the part of our Village Engineer. He is very qualified in his area of expertise, but he made recommendations on a geotechnical project that were dramatically different from those made by Mr. Pohana, a Certified Geotechnical Engineer. (4) A lack of expertise on the construction of the gabion wall. The contracting company hired to construct the gabion wall is primarily a road contractor. (5) Failure to assign the project to a Council Committee. Council appraised the project based only on the recommendation of the Mayor and the Village Engineer.”
Mayor Policastro let the Village Engineer address the five issues as so far presented which he does not believe are true. Engineer Ertel said Mr. Pohana looked at the hillside and assisted in writing an application for funding to repair the landslide corrections. The application was written to allow as many open ended solutions as possible. There were three ways to sub-design the hillside repair: (1) Using Soil Anchors or Nails, (2) GeoTech fabric and earthwork, (3) A wall. It was a matching grant application which includes the problem and solutions. The solution was provided three different ways. Mayor Policastro said according the Engineer Ertel, two geotechnical engineers, Justin Anderson and George Webb, agreed that the wall that was put in is working. What we did mitigated the loss as best as possible. It worked on the north side of the hill. Had he been here the night Council agreed to go forward with the work (he was out of the country) he would have said we need to run a footer/wall all the way across. What has been done is not causing to do a costly repair. Engineer Ertel did what he thought would save us a lot of money. Mr. Anderson, GSI, said the north side of the hill side is working but the other side is caving in. Engineer Ertel said the problem is the top of the hill which is basically creating a mudslide.
Mr. Brown said he believed Mr. Anderson also said that the first gabion wall is right at the creek bed. He is not going to touch that so apparently that is a sufficient wall. The upper
Council Representative Information
Avia Graves
agraves@mariemont.org
Troy Hawkins
thawkins@mariemont.org
Eric Marsland
emarsland@mariemont.org
Maggie Palazzolo
mpalazzolo@mariemont.org
Mary Ann Schwartz
maschwartz@mariemont.org
Dennis Wolter
dwolter@mariemont.org
Mayor: Dan Policastro
mayordan1@gmail.com
gabion wall is going to be used in the repair and will be an integral part of the new fix. Engineer Ertel agreed saying you could look at it as Phase I and Phase II.
Mayor Policastro said the reason the south side is having a problem is due to one more house drain pipe on the top that was leaking in addition to the loss of three trees that helped hold the hill. We also had two, one-hundred-year rain events. Combined, that is what is really causing the problem. The scenario that Mr. Pohana put together said it would cost $225,000 to do the work years ago. Now the estimate is $185,000 which is a cost savings of $40,000. We paid $20,000 so the savings is still $20,000. Mr. Brown said there is still some remaining grant money available. Mayor Policastro said there is another $30,000 so in the long run we need to look at the positive side – we are saving money on a job that needs to be done.
Mayor Policastro said regarding incomplete information that was provided to Council referencing project design and history before it commenced is an incorrect statement – again he was not here for that Council meeting. He was out of the country. Engineer Ertel said he attended the Council meeting April 25, 2016 at which Council had been presented with the proposal and the cost. He brought it before Council to see what they wished to do with it. He was fine with it either being voted upon or put into a Committee of Council. He expected that it would have gone into a Committee of Council. Mayor Policastro said if it had gone into a Committee he imagined more experts would have come forward and asked questions. Engineer Ertel said he had four people look at the hillside.
Mayor Policastro said regarding the reference
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Village Government
to incomplete project financing and not getting 100% grant, we never get 100% grant. They are always matching grants. Engineer Ertel said every grant he has ever applied for with the Village is a matching grant. There is always a contingency that the Village have some skin in the game.
Mayor Policastro asked Engineer Ertel to address the reference to the lack of expertise. Engineer Ertel said he received recommendations from Geo-Technical Engineer Mr. Richard Pohana who did not want to design more solutions. He referred Geo-Technical Engineer Joe Kowaiski who did not want to participate in the project. He contacted Dan Taphorn, Hamilton County Soil & Water Conservation District and took additional information to Bret Henninger of Great Parks of Hamilton County who also looked at the hillside. With the solutions that were in the grant application he picked the one that would work best for the contractor that we had at the time.
Mayor Policastro said regarding the reference to the lack of expertise building the gabion wall he does not believe that to be true. Engineer Ertel said J. K. Meurer said built gabion walls for other municipalities in Cincinnati. Mayor Policastro said had it gone back into a Committee we could have started all over again and gone out to bid. He asked for a list of the other communities that J. K. Meurer has built other gabion walls for.
Mayor Policastro said regarding the reference failure to assign the project to a Committee of Council again he was not at the meeting and therefore out of the country and he is not going to be an arm chair quarterback but with a cost of $20,000 it should have either stayed in the Public Works and Service Committee or been assigned to the Committee of the Whole so we could have discussed and looked at other ways to fix this problem.
Mr. Wolter said we got a brief engineering assessment. Geo technical Engineer Pohana said his estimate was $225,000 and we ended up with a $20,000 solution. How can you justify the difference in cost in technical terms of what would have been done on the hill. Engineer Ertel said it was what we could afford at the time. The gabion wall was to stop the toe of the hill and the instability.
Ms. Schwartz said if it was put back into a Committee of Council the different options could have been explained. Mr. Wolter said at the time his impression was that this was a fix that would work, not experiment with a partial fix. He believes the incomplete information started back in 2012. As we went through, this Council was given snippets of information from the Mayor

that said this would work. There was no technical information submitted to Council. We were told the engineers looked at it, we had the right grant and we had the company to do the work. But we were not given specifics. Council made a mistake at that time to go on verbal information without documentation. We have learned our lesson.
At the time the Mayor set the committees. When we tried to set committees the first couple of times we got push back. Ms. Schwartz said she does not know what Mr. Wolter means. Mr. Wolter said the first time Council tried to put something in a Committee the Mayor said a request had to be done in writing and it would be dealt with at the next Council meeting when it could be put on the agenda. Ms. Schwartz said to Mr. Wolter that this matter was already in his committee. Mr. Wolter said it was never put in his committee. Mr. Brown said he has been doing some digging and found the minutes from a Public Works and Service Committee meeting held December 21, 2015 when in fact the hillside repair matter was in Mr. Wolter’s committee and it was being discussed. In fact, the grant application was being discussed which was being termed the second phase of the project which is to re-work the Whiskey Creek to prevent erosion behind the homes on Mariemont Avenue.
Mr. Wolter asked why someone could not have given him this information prior to the meeting. Mr. Brown said it was on his desk as he arrived for the meeting. Mayor Policastro said he did not want to get into an argument but he never saw the wall report until he got back in town and the hill side repair was a part of the Capital Improvement project and was in Mr. Wolter’s committee for quite same time.
Mr. Marsland continued to read the rest of the letter dated December 1, 2017 to the Mayor and Members of Council: As a Council member, I rely on the information provided to me to make the best choices possible. When Council is not provided with all of the information relevant to an issue, I am unable to make informed decisions. In an effort to avoid repeating the unfortunate events surrounding the Whiskey Creek hillside repair, I would like to pose the following questions in order to determine where communication breakdown occurred. (1) How was the design for the hillside repair decided upon, and how many and what types of experts evaluated the situation and suggested remediation? Did they suggest multiple types or plans? How did we choose the plan that we ultimately “went with”? (2) How was the contractor for the hillside repair decided upon? (a) How many contractors were interviewed or considered for this work? (b) Did the contractor

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we employ have any expertise in building gabion walls? (c) Did the contractor we use go off of a plan for the “face shearing” of the hillside? (3) What communication occurred between the Village Engineer and the Mayor leading up to the project and was the discussion centered on what we “can do” versus what we “should do”? (4) When instances occur where there is question as to the process we have followed, how can we arrest the process for further evaluation before proceeding? This is not an effort to single out any one person’s involvement, but an attempt to draw clarity from our mistakes and make the appropriate changes to our protocols and procedures to avoid future confusion. Sincerely, Eric J. Marsland”.
Mayor Policastro said we already know that the contractor had experience with gabion walls. Engineer Ertel said Geo-Technical Engineer Mr. Richard Pohana referred Geo-Technical Engineer Joe Kowaiski who did not want to participate in the project. He contacted Dan Taphorn, Hamilton County Soil & Water Conservation District looked at the soil, pipes and stability. He had Bret Henninger of Great Parks of Hamilton County who also looked at the hillside. More recently he has had Geo Technical Engineers George Webb and Justin Anderson. The street contractor at the time was J. K. Meurer who have done work on gabion walls in the past. There was no plan for face-shearing. They cleared what they needed to in order to install the wall. His communication with the Mayor was first to get a grant and then develop a plan. It took us five years. This was presented as a change order to the work contract. If a change order was not agreed upon it would have gone back out to bid. It stayed in Committee with the change order. He got the price quote from J. K. Meurer 7 or 8 days prior to the Council meeting which was the first time he had an opportunity to present it to Council. Mayor Policastro said if he would have been here he would have asked if it would have been possible to pour a footer all the way across to give stability to 100% of the hill. Engineer Ertel said what was done was a gravel footer. A concrete footer was not recommended to him. The problem would have been getting the concrete to the area and pump it down the hill. The problem with this site is where it is located.
Mr. Wolter said he understands that GSI is going to pump concrete to tie to the pins. Could that have been done for a poured footer? He believes there is a way to do this without destroying Mr. Luken’s backyard. Mayor Policastro said he believes we are saving money. It may not have been the best way to do it.
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Mariemont Girl Scout Troops Give Back and Have Fun
Troop 47837
In November and December, Troop 47837 explored glass blowing at Neusole Glassworks and worked in pairs to make hand blown glass ornaments. They also learned about the importance of food rescue and the La Soupe mission while making their own soup from locally rescued produce (photo below). They supported a U.S. Soldier with a care package full of donated essentials, and finished the calendar year celebrating with friendship, fun and bowling at Stones Lanes. Keep your eyes open for ways to support their Troop as they work to support LaSoupe in coming months!

Troop 47775
The Sophomore Ambassador Girl Scouts went on a “Downtown Day,” where they visited Findlay Market and Over the Rhine.
It was rainy, but the bad weather held off throughout the trip. It was a fun day for troop bonding and getting out to see the city.
Troops 44809 and 40829
The 4th grade Junior Troop and 6th grade Cadette Troop both rang the Salvation Army Bell at Mariemont Kroger before Christmas this year.

Wreath Decorating
The Mariemont Senior and Ambassador Girl Scouts worked with the Boy Scout Troops on the Christmas Tree and Wreath sales in front of the Mariemont Municipal Building. Wreath decorating took place in the Weiss’s sunroom, where, once finished, they were delivered to the Caesar’s backyard before being delivered to the sale! It was a great way
to help raise money for both troops and get ready for the holiday season.

Stockings for Sisters
This has been an extremely tough year of natural disasters, and many of the girls in the Mariemont troops asked how they could help. Teaming up with troops in Northern California and Puerto Rico, they decided to send their fellow sisters some Holiday Cheer through a combined Service Unit Community Service Event - Stockings for Sisters! They took the gifts to the collection point in Hyde Park on Nov 28-29, and on December 2, they were able to help stuff the stockings at Cardinal Pacelli with other troops. It was a great way to lift the spirits of the disaster victims, as well as make connections with other Girl Scouts.

MPPG Gives Back to Mariemont and Beyond
By Jaimie Robinson
The holiday season brought lots of fun and memorable experiences for the Mariemont Preschool Parents Group community. MPPG members kicked off the recent season of giving with a clothing and
supplies drive at CooKoo’s Coffee Shoppe in Madisonville. The collections benefited Beech Acres Parenting Center, and the kids had lots of fun making crafts in the coffee shop as well as exploring CooKoo’s chicken coops out back, while parents dropped off items.

The 2017 Mariemont Luminaria and Tree Lighting celebration experienced record attendance. Thank you to everyone who helped make this treasured Village tradition possible, as well as to all who attended. This month MPPG will be selecting an organization to receive a donation for over $6,000 of Luminaria’s proceeds.
Last, but not least, be on the lookout for new children’s programing and equipment at the
Mariemont branch library, thanks to another donation MPPG was able to give in December. You will see the new and improved children’s story times and library space in the coming months.



