Mariemont Safety Services Night Out:
“Arresting” Event for Village Residents
By Pete McBride
On Thursday, August 14, and for the 11th straight year, the Village police, fire, and EMT services teams’ Night Out in Dogwood Park scored a big hit for all who attended – young, old and in-between.
The hundreds of guests who participated in the event were entertained by demonstrations, got to see, touch (and even sit in) the Village’s fleet of emergency vehicles, and met and had a chance to talk to police officers, firefighters and EMT professionals, including members of the SWAT and Dive teams. Attendees also thrilled to K-9 demonstrations and marvelled (with ears plugged) at a landing right in the park by The Hamilton County Sheriff Department’s helicopter.
And, oh, yes… a big thanks to Mrs. Graeter for the free ice cream, and to others who generously donated or prepared food for the masses.
Many in the crowd expressed their delight and gratitude – not just for the fun learning experience and chance to meet and greet friends and neighbors, but also for the opportunity to see and meet the women and men who “serve and protect” our Village. They learned that under their uniforms, our service personnel truly are “real” and approachable friends who are always there to help.
The Clark Family shared their thanks on Nextdoor Mariemont, posting: “ Thank you to all the police, firefighters, medics, EMT’s, UC’s helicopter, WCPO helicopter, volunteers, coordinators, and whoever else
put together this amazing event last night at the Bell Tower for the Safety Services Night Out. My kids had a blast and so did we. It was amazing too for my little ones to get to climb in the boat, sit in the cars, helicopters, watch the K9 dog in action, enjoy the food and entertainment, dance, and more.”
Others agreed, including Stephanie Shewmon, who added, “These events in the Village really make living here enjoyable. My son had a blast – both seeing and touching the equipment, and seeing (from afar) the men and women in our safety services crews!”
Police Chief Rick Hines concurred, responding, “Safety Services Night Out
is a great opportunity for us to spend a couple of hours with the fine residents of the Village, and to get to know them on a personal level. We are very blessed to serve in a community that has always supported THEIR Police and Fire personnel. This is a night each year that we can give back in a small way by providing a fun event that allows us relax and have some fun with the people that we so proudly serve every day. It is indeed our honor to wear the police and fire uniforms that represent this great Village of Mariemont.”
About Your Safety Services Team
Our Mariemont Safety Services Team consists of police, fire and EMS crews.
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L-R back row: Fairfax Chief Bronson, Off. Watt, Sgt. Pittsley, Newtown Off. McConnell, Off. Geraci, and Off. Bischoff L-R front row: Det. Rennie, Lucy Dorn, Ella Malafa, Haley Zuckerberg, Campbell Waltz, Off. Lyons, and Chief Hines
Letter from the Editor
Welcome back to a new school year and a new season of your Mariemont Town Crier! We are looking forward to keeping you informed about all the great happenings in our Village.
We have added a few new items in order to provide you with news, events and updates from as many Mariemont organizations and groups as possible. You will see a regular Worship Services listing from our two churches, a new home and real estate advice column from long-time Crier writer Delta Crabtree, and a consolidated Government page (full minutes can be accessed via the Village website at mariemont.org, or you can subscribe to emailed minutes by contacting Sue Singleton in the Village administrative office at ssingleton@mariemont.org).
As always, we welcome event photos,
story ideas – new neighbors, special announcements, awards and recognitions –news about your business or organization, and letters to the editor. Right now, we would love to hear about retired and “still working” residents who have completely changed careers to follow an interest or passion – such as a neighbor we will highlight soon who retired from P&G and started his own soccer program! Just send us an email at mariemonttowncrier@gmail. com. Deadline for event/calendar content is the 10th of the month prior to publication. Also, be sure to follow us on Facebook (facebook.com/mariemonttowncrier), where we post a digital copy of each issue.
We would like to give a shout out to our current advertisers and Crier Club members, whose generous support each year helps cover publication and print costs and delivery to each house by our
junior couriers. Interested in joining the Crier Club? Just send or drop off a check in any amount made out to Mariemont Town Crier, to 3812 Indianview Avenue, Mariemont, OH 45227. Want to advertise or include an insert in a specific issue? Please take a quick look at our advertising and insert guidelines and deadlines, on page 4, and contact us with any questions.
As always, thank you for reading the Town Crier, and have a wonderful school year!
Suzy Weinland
Schools 2017-18 Sixth Grade Class Quilt On Permanent Display
By Suzy Weinland
When last year’s Mariemont Elementary sixth grade class was in third grade, art teachers Shelley Komrska and Ann Hobart helped them begin what would become a three-year project – the creation of a special quilt.
The project began with the Mariemont Preservation Foundation guiding the class on walking tours of Mariemont, Fairfax and Columbia Township to do some research for their quilt. Each student then chose an element of their community – a person, a group, a building – to draw onto paper and then trace onto large fabric squares.
“The students used a variety of mixed media, painting and coloring in their fabric pictures. Then they laid them out, like a map, and stitched
them onto a large canvas,” explained Komrska. Students also cut out and stitched on letters to spell out the name of each community.
On May 15, 2017 at the Mariemont Elementary Spring Art Show, the completed quilt was unveiled to the students for the first time. Komrska said, “So many people in the community
came together to help us finish the quilt. Parents, teachers, high school students all pitched in to help stitch each piece to the quilt.”
The quilt is on permanent display in the Mariemont Elementary dining room. Stop by and have a look!
"Safety Services" from page 1
Chief Hines leads all three Safety Services groups, and is a 31-year law enforcement veteran. Prior to joining the Mariemont force in 2005, the Chief served several years as a police officer in Elmwood Place.
The Chief emphasized that his team
Village
understands and knows that the objective of the entire Safety Services group is to “serve the people” and display an exemplary level of interpersonal skills and support. He feels that his team represents the “best of the best,” including the great Safety Services office support staff, who he says deserve the same level of recognition
The
Club
Chief Hines shared that a community like Mariemont requires a special type of safety officer who regularly interacts with the public, not only in crime-related situations. For example, unlike many police and Safety Services departments in other jurisdictions, members of Mariemont’s
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r achel B ohl a lly an D Z ach M aier M ax an D F inn M arque Z c olin M ikesell a BB y M iller o wen P ro FF itt w ill q ueen h enry t eght M eyer n oah v anags
B ray D en w olujewic Z D ylan w olujewic Z
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October deadline:
The deadline for the next Town Crier is September 15, 2018. All camera-ready ads and articles must be submitted by 5p.m. to Matt Weinland at MariemontTownCrier@ gmail.com. Articles should be sent via email in Microsoft® Word, with photos sent as jpg files of at least 350KB. Payment and advertising contracts should be submitted to: Matt Weinland, 3812 Indianview, Mariemont, Ohio, 45227
The Mariemont Town Crier, LLC, "The Voice of the Village of Mariemont," is published monthly from Sept. through Dec. and Feb. through May as a service to residents and organizations of the Village of Mariemont.
EDITORIAL SUBMISSIONS: Press releases, photographs and event calendars are welcomed. Please contact Suzy Weinland at MariemontTownCrier@gmail.com to discuss article ideas. All submissions are due by the 10th of the month prior to publication. The editorial staff reserves the right to select and edit articles for both content and space. Photos sent as .jpg files via email are preferred, but originals also will be accepted and returned upon request. Signed letters to the editor are accepted and will be published as space allows. The Town Crier reserves the right to edit letters for length. Letters to the Editor reflect the opinions of the authors and do not necessarily represent the views of the Town Crier Staff.
INSERTS: As a public service to the non-profit organizations of Mariemont, the Town Crier accepts inserts for a flat fee of $50, due at the time of delivery (check made out to Mariemont Town Crier). Inserts must be pre-approved and scheduled with the editor, printed and separated into stacks of 50, and delivered to Tiffany Proffitt at 3585 Homewood Rd. by the 15th of the month prior to publication. Please contact Tiffany ahead of delivery at tmproffitt@fuse.net or 513-271-0672. Inserts and ads of a political nature are not accepted.
ADS: All camera-ready ads must be submitted by 5 p.m. on the 10th of the month prior to publication to Matt Weinland at MariemontTownCrier@gmail.com. Payment and advertising contracts should be delivered to Matt Weinland, 3812 Indianview Avenue, Mariemont, Ohio, 45227, and must be received prior to publication.
The Mariemont Town Crier, LLC. 2018 (c)
team regularly check in on seniors who live alone or might or “need a hand” with specific tasks. This could include picking up a prescription or even a quart or two of milk for someone who is house-bound or lacking easy transportation. He gave a nod to the services already provided so effectively by the MariElders, and added that anyone needing extra support can contact Chief Hines or his staff and ask to be placed on a “request support” list.
Thanks to Chief Hines and to all the dedicated members of the Village’s Safety Services team!
Safety Service Stats
Mariemont continues to be one of the safest communities in the Tri-State area. A few 2017 stats:
• 193 total criminal offense reports
• 171 offense reports closed (89% closure rate)
• 584 warrants served from Mayor’s Court
• 173 warrants served for other agencies
• 1040 hours of training for police personnel
• 1311 traffic citations issued
• 967 courtesy citations (warnings) issued
The Police Department received in 2017:
• The “AAA National Platinum Traffic Safety Award” for the eighth year in a row – one of only 10 departments in the Tri-State area to receive the highest award.
• “Gold Award” (highest possible) from the Hamilton Co. O.V.I. Task Force for O.V.I. enforcement
• Received certification from the Ohio Collaborative CommunityPolice Advisory Board
2017 Fire Department stats:
• 207 Fire runs
• 338 EMS runs
Village
Teens “demo” safety gear provided by US Marshals Don Maher and Charles Sando.
MHS Varsity Cheerleader Anna Eberlein paints a dog face on Caroline Klekar.
Officer Derek Bischoff lets young Mariemont resident Graham Stark test out his cruiser.
Schools Mariemont City Schools Introduce Sources of Strength Program
The Mariemont City School District launched its new Sources of Strength program for the 2018-19 school year with its staff and student trainings Aug. 7-9.
The mission of Sources of Strength is to prevent suicide by increasing help-seeking behaviors and promoting connections between peers and caring adults. Sources of Strength moves beyond a singular focus on risk factors by utilizing an upstream approach for youth suicide prevention. This upstream model strengthens multiple sources of support (protective factors) around young individuals so that when times get hard they have strengths to rely on.
“I am very excited to be launching the Sources of Strength programs in our district” said Director of Student Services Tricia Buchert. “With the rise of teen suicides and mental health concerns in our country, we wanted to implement a program that could help change the climate in our schools. The reason we chose Sources of Strength was its focus on positivity, prevention and the impact that can have on our students.”
The new peer-to-peer program, which will be initiated at both Mariemont High School and Mariemont Junior High School, will be facilitated by a group of student leaders and adult advisors. The students will meet bi-monthly to coordinate campaigns designed to encourage, uplift and educate the entire student body on where to find support systems and how to build into their strengths.
Over 20 staff members from both schools volunteered to be adult advisors for the Sources of Strength program while over 60 students grades 8-12 were selected by their peers as the student leaders.
Sources of Strength was developed in 1998 and has since been implemented in 30 states. In 2009, it was listed on the National Best Practices Registry by the Suicide Prevention Resource Center (SPRC) and the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP). In
2011, Sources of Strength was listed on SAMHSA’s National Registry for Evidence-based Programs and Practices (NREPP), the gold standard of prevention programs in the United States.
Sources of Strength was the subject of one of the nation’s largest studies on peer leaders and their impact in suicide prevention. The results of this study were published in 2010 in the American Journal of Public Health, showing:
• Increase in peer leaders’ connectedness to adults
• Increase in peer leaders’ school engagement
• Peer leaders in larger schools were four times more likely to refer a suicidal friend to an adult
• Among general student population the program increased positive perceptions of adult support for
suicidal youth and the acceptability of seeking help
• Positive perception of adult support increased most in students with a history of suicidal thoughts
The Mariemont City School District would like to thank the Mariemont Foundation and 1N5 organization, which funds Sources of Strength through proceeds from the annual Warrior Run.
Students and staff gather for the launch of Sources of Strength.
Community
Nancy Eigel-Miller Recognized for Changing the Conversation Around Mental Health
By Randy York
Mariemont resident Nancy Eigel-Miller was awarded the Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis Award for Outstanding Public Service Benefiting Local Communities by The Jefferson Foundation in a ceremony in Washington DC on June 28, 2018. Nancy was nominated by the Rotary Club of Cincinnati, The Cincinnati Enquirer and WKRC-TV, Local 12. She was one of five local leaders nationally to receive the award.
The Jefferson Awards Foundation is the nation’s most prestigious and longest-standing organization dedicated to inspiring and celebrating public service. Their programs and partnerships drive Americans to change their communities and the world. The Jefferson Awards Foundation was founded in 1972 by Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, Senator Robert Taft Jr., and Sam Beard.
Nancy Eigel-Miller created 1N5, a nonprofit focused on changing the conversation around mental health, after losing her husband to suicide in 2008. Since
then, Nancy has expanded 1N5 programs to 15 high schools and five universities, reaching over 87,000 young people in 2017.
1N5 hosts the annual Warrior Run marathon, which has over 3,200 annual participants. Nancy has raised over $840,000
since starting the organization. All proceeds go to Cincinnati Children’s Hospitals suicide prevention program and participating schools.
The 9th annual Warrior Run: The Race for Life will be held Saturday, October 6, 2018 at 5:15 p.m., starting at Mariemont’s Bell Tower Park. The event includes a USATF-sanctioned 5K Warrior Run and an untimed one-mile walk as well as a Kids Fun Run. This year the course has been updated and runs exclusively through the tree-lined residential streets of Mariemont, south of Wooster Pike.
The race will be followed by a night of music provided by Mix 94.9, a Bid-n-Buy auction, carnival-style kid’s games, and food available from Pontiac Barbecue, Roly Poly, LaRosa’s pizza, UDF ice cream, as well as homemade chili, hot dogs, hamburgers, and desserts. At dusk the event will conclude with the movie “Ferdinand” in the center of the Bell Tower Park.
Register for the Warrior Run as an individual or create your own team of four or more runners (teams save 25%!) by going to cincywarriorrun.org. Early bird pricing ends Wednesday, Sept. 8. Pre-registration and Team registration ends Oct. 3.
Mariemont resident and 1N5 founder Nancy Eigel-Miller receives prestigious Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis Award.
By Margaret Jevic
Community This Month in Sustainable Mariemont
If I were a betting person, I’d be willing to bet you, the reader, have at least one, possibly more, berry containers currently in your recycling bin. I’d also be willing to bet there’s at least one straw in there from a recent trip to Starbucks. I might even take it so far as to say someone’s got their berry containers and straws in the trash can. Can you guess who’s doing it right?
Trash can people, you win this round. Those perfectly recyclable-looking plastic clamshell berry containers are - wait for it - not recyclable! They’re not recyclable anywhere, really, especially not here. And straws? Also not easily recycled. Maybe berry season is winding down, but warm drink season is right around the corner. So here we stand, between the berries and hot chocolate, contemplating our recycling habits.
Now that your mental wheels are spinning trying to calculate just how many berry containers you used and/or put in the recycling bin this summer, and how many straws you use on a weekly basis, I’ll go ahead and help you out – it’s a lot.
My small family of three goes through roughly 3 berry containers per week, and say we do that almost every week of the year, that’s nearly 150 little plastic containers per year. For one family. There are about 880 families in the village as of the 2000 census, so at this rate, we’re going through at least 132,000 berry containers per year in Mariemont. Straws are on a different level entirely, with some estimates as high as 500 million straws per day in America.
farmer’s markets or grocers that use cardboard containers, you can talk to your grocery store about it, and you can reach out to the company from which you purchase your berries. All of these, I begrudgingly admit, are a bit effortful.
So in the mean time, while we wait for policies around plastic to change, at least you know. At least you know to place your berry containers in the trash can next time. At least you will be more aware, and perhaps moved to act in some small way. And with straws, perhaps you will be encouraged to purchase a set of reusables and decline your next restaurant straw.
Knowledge is power and we all have to start somewhere. So enjoy your last berries of the summer and look forward to the coming autumn beverages with a new perspective.
Berry containers are clearly marked as a #1 PET plastic, which is recyclable. Most straws are made of polypropylene (which, if you’re curious, is a byproduct of petroleum), a recyclable material. They should be recyclable. So why on Earth are they not?
For starters, Cincinnati-based Rumpke is very specific in the items it accepts into the facility for multiple reasons, much to do with the machinery they have for sorting. Straws, while physically made of recyclable material, tend to fall through the cracks and clog things up. And although berry containers are technically a #1 plastic, the way they are made requires them to be recycled differently than other #1 plastics, and they tend to make a mess when doing so. Berry containers also tend to have adhesive residue left behind from moisture pads at the bottom. For those reasons, most facilities won’t accept them.
This article isn’t all doom and gloom. There’s plenty to be done. The easiest place to start is straws. Some restaurants and coffee shops have stopped offering them, but you can take it upon yourself to keep up the momentum. Request your drinks without straws at restaurants and beverage shops, and buy yourself some reusable straws – there’s everything from stainless steel to siliconeand bring them with you. Stash them in your car, your purse, your kitchen. For somewhere between $5-$10, you can make a major dent in the looming straw problem.
Berry containers are a bit heavier a horse. One of our Sustainable Mariemont members reached out to a big berry company about their use of plastic containers. The response was more or less, the company does research to figure out the best way to transport their berries from farm to your grocery store, and plastic does the best job.
This is the part where I wish I had a better answer for you, something easy to do with grand results. You can scope out
By Kim Beach
Mariemont resident Jessica Evans believes your workout should be fun and wants to get you up and moving with a high-intensity dance-cardio class called Dance Factory Fitness.
Jess has been dancing since the age of three and continues to have a passion for it. “I knew I wanted to dance professionally and someday open my own studio,” says Jess, who just brought Dance Factory Fitness classes to Mariemont last April. “Besides my family, there is nothing that brings me greater joy in my life then dance. I love that I can share my talent with others and hopefully make their workout a little more enjoyable,” says Jess.
Jess feels that Dance Factory Fitness fills a need in Cincinnati for a fun but powerful dance workout. The 55-minute, high-intensity dance-cardio class with a DJ mixed playlist requires no previous dance experience. The follow-along style class incorporates simple, receptive dance moves with high intensity cardio moves like jumping jacks and high knees to get your heart rate up and leave you drenched in sweat. Three toning sections throughout the class (legs, arms and abs) ensure a full body workout.
Warning: you may leave feeling like a backup dancer! As Jess reports, “I knew there
Care to Dance?
was a need for it and that people would love it…and they do!” She attributes her success to her passion, drive and positive attitude. “Dance has made me extremely disciplined and hard-working. They also call me ‘The Glitterbomb’, which pretty much sums up my personality,” says Jess.
Jessica and her family moved to Mariemont (Pocahontas Ave.) about nine months ago to be close to relatives and raise their baby girl (Penelope, 13 months) in the Midwest. Her husband Tyler’s parents are Dr. Arthur and Catherine Evans on Miami Bluff and in-laws Carrie and Brendan Branon, also on Miami Bluff. She is also lucky to have a sister living close by in Anderson.
Jessica grew up in Columbus and Cleveland, where her parents still live. She received a BA Dance, BA Communication Arts and a minor in Business Management from Marymount Manhattan College in NYC. “In NYC, I was a professional dancer and fitness instructor where I taught dance cardio classes for clients like Barbara Bush and Greta Gerwig, and even taught on The Today Show, Good Morning America and Fox and Friends,” shares Jess.
Jess believes that “everything happens for a reason” and is thrilled to be teaching Dance Factory Fitness at The Dance Coalition, 7251 Wooster Pike. Classes are also offered
at The LB at Rookwood. As Jess expands her business, she hopes to tap into the UC/ XU student market, and will begin to offer Dance Factory Fitness classes at the Clifton Cultural Arts Center, 2728 Short Vine, starting September 12.
When she is not dancing/working, her favorite spot to visit in Mariemont is the concourse. Eat. Sleep. Dance. Repeat!
For the latest scheduling info and to purchase a class or class package visit dancefactoryfitness.com or go to the MindBody website or app.
DANCE FACTORY SEPTEMBER SPECIAL
Use the promo code FALL4FITNESS when scheduling through the month of September, and receive three classes for $29 (regularly $49). You also can follow Jessica on Instagram and Facebook @ dancefactoryfitness for more info!
Jessica Evans, Owner of Dance Factory Fitness
Community
New Real Estate Feature Aims to Make the Most of Your Investment
By Delta Crabtree, Realtor Comey & Shepherd
I have been asked to write a monthly column on all matters related to Mariemont home ownership, and as a full-time realtor based in our Mariemont Comey & Shepherd office, I am up to the task! My hope for this column is to address things specifically related to our market that you will find helpful to your buying or selling plans, or will help keep you current on what you can do as a homeowner to protect your real estate investment. This first installment covers inventory and demand statistics for Mariemont homes.
“How’s the market?” As a realtor, this is the number one question I hear from friends, neighbors, and current and future clients. For most of us, our home is our biggest financial investment, and thus it is vitally important. Let’s dig into what has been going on in the Village of Mariemont over the last six months:
Inventory levels continue to be low
In the past six months, we have had 55 sold listings, combining single family homes and condominiums. The high sale was $1,150,000 and the low was $98,000. Our average days on market is 66 days, average sales price is $458,590 and the sale price to list price percentage is at a high 97%. Compared to the same six month time period last year, we have 20 percent more sold listings with average days on market almost a full two months faster this year compared to last. As of the writing of this column, we have 28 active listings, and last year this time we had exactly 28 as well.
The spring and summer markets are traditionally the active season for real estate transactions, and the numbers show that
activity in our village has been brisk. When analyzing market statistics, it is always important to draw conclusions based on comparable data, so the details that make up our market need to be taken into consideration. For instance, both this year and last we had significant high sales in the condominium market that raised the average sale price, while also inflating the days on market calculation.
For single family homes, the average days on market is 44, but this number is deceptive. We had 10 homes in the last six months sell in
Meadow neighborhood in Columbia Township is also competing with Village of Mariemont buyers in the $501,000 and over market.
Demand from buyers is for move-in ready homes with specific amenities
This is not unique to our Village. Buyers have very specific wish lists and are willing to pay to fulfill them across all price points. These include, an open floor plan with kitchen open to the family room, kitchens with updated appliances and finishes, updated bathrooms, and neutral paint colors.
zero days. That is 21 percent of our sales over the last six months. These sales have not tested the market forces of supply and demand, which then affects the reliability of our average sale price and our days on market calculations.
The absorption rate (the months’ supply of inventory) is the calculation that determines if we are in a buyer’s, balanced, or seller’s market. Based on the last 12 month’s sales compared to inventory, we have just over two months of inventory of single family homes and 3.5 months of condominiums. A months’ supply of inventory under five months is considered to be a seller’s market. We are solidly in a seller’s market.
However, even in a seller’s market, there are other factors to consider, such as the following:
Demand varies depending on price point
Let’s break the numbers down a bit further. If we look at the sales over the last six months in single family homes, 62 percent were homes under $500,000, 21 percent between $501,000$700,000 and the remaining 17 percent were over $701,000. Demand for homes in the Mariemont market diminishes in the higher price points. The pool of buyers is smaller, and competition with area markets such as Indian Hill and Madeira is strong. Our local Williams
Today’s buyers are generally looking for “move-in ready”. Buyers will compete and even pay over market value to get the homes that are considered most desirable in today’s market. From a seller’s perspective there are a few simple things you can do to help prepare your home to sell. The simplest being decluttering. Without a doubt, a cluttered home will turn off today’s buyer. A home that has not been updated or has dark wall colors, wallpaper, older kitchens and bathrooms will be a turn off to the majority of buyers.
In closing, I hope this column is the beginning of an open conversation, where you are engaging me with questions and/ or suggestions for future topics. I leave you with one final piece of advice: a real estate professional is essential to anyone considering buying or selling. There is the science component of analyzing the market, determining home repair investments that will pay off, pricing your home to sell, negotiating the deal to closing, as well as the art aspect of decluttering and organization, staging, professional photography, and marketing.
There are several qualified, experienced realtors residing in our Village, and we are the best resource available to help you with your Mariemont real estate needs. The reality is that we are selling more than bricks and mortar; we are selling a lifestyle. Who better than a fellow resident to help sell the Mariemont lifestyle? Feel free to reach out to me at dcrabtree@ comey.com or 513-304-4719. Until next time!
By Rex Bevis
Village Village Municipal Building Opening Expected This Fall
The idea of expanding the Village of Mariemont Municipal Building began back in 2017 when the concept was assigned to the Economic Development & Zoning Committee of Council. The project is the first significant addition to the Municipal Building, which was originally constructed in 1960.
Under the leadership of Councilwoman Mary Ann Schwartz, and with the assistance of architect Bob Rich, the project design began to take form in 2017. Then Councilman Bill Brown, with a 30-year professional background in interior design, assisted greatly in the concept development as liaison between the Council committee and Rich. Although Brown’s service on Council ended in January 2018, he was asked to continue as liaison for the project, which he gladly accepted.
The two story, 2400 square foot addition to the Municipal Building has now been constructed and is comprised of the following accommodations:
The first floor will house the Village Tax Office (two rooms). The Tax Office and personnel will move from the present rental facility at the Executive Office Building.
An elevator and stairway will provide access to the second floor Council Chambers and a new Native American Artifacts Display Center. The addition of the elevator now makes the Municipal Building accessible and in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). A first floor handicapaccessible bathroom is also part of the expansion project.
An additional entranceway to the Municipal Building will provide access to the Tax Office, the elevator and the bathroom.
The second floor Artifacts Display will house 5 – 6 display cases placed perpendicular to the walls to permit viewing on all sides. Brown, volunteer Karen Sullivan, and University of Cincinnati Anthropology Professor Ken Tankersley have been working together on sourcing artifacts for the
Native American Center. One prospective source for appropriate artifacts includes the Harvard University Peabody Museum, which houses many artifacts from the original archaeological dig at the Village of Mariemont Madisonville Site (swim pool area). Other sources include artifacts uncovered by Dr. Tankersley, artifacts possessed by relatives of early era archaeologist Dr. Charles Metz, the Mariemont Preservation Foundation, and local resident collections. Brown, Sullivan and Tankersley are also researching appropriate display cases for the Center.
The color scheme for the expansion includes grey walls, creamy white wainscoting, and dark grey tables. Brown has also been leading the effort to provide furniture and accessories to the Council Chambers. The Committee has identified the following new furnishings:
• Five Autostrada tables, furnished in Grey Ash laminate
• Eleven Knoll Life chairs with vinyl upholstery
• Red Oak Amish-made podium
• Three Pinecrest Plantation shutters for exterior windows
• Thirty guest chairs
• Two Alamo Electronics flat screen TVs
Bricks from the old Steam Plant are also being considered to accessorize the landscaping surrounding the addition. With permission from the Steam Plant demolition team, Brown has already picked up 250 bricks for possible use at the Municipal Building.
A Fall 2018 Grand Opening is anticipated, where residents will have an opportunity to explore the new Municipal Building Expansion. Thanks to Mayor Policastro, Village Council, the Economic Development & Zoning Committee, architect Bob Rich, liaison Bill Brown, and many others who have contributed to the expansion project.
Community
What’s Happening at the Mariemont Branch Library - September
Children
Movers & Shakers — 10:30 a.m. and 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.
Crafty Kids — 4 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 13
Make and take a fun craft. Ages 5-10.
Tales to Tails — 4 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 13
Read a story to Bonny the therapy dog. Ages 5-10.
Teens
Teen Art Lab — 4 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 11
Peace, Love, and Perler Beads! Make some groovy hippie designs! Ages 12-18.
Adults
Which Craft? Needle Craft Club — 10:30 a.m. Saturdays, Sept. 1 & 15
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.
Book Club — 6:45 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 27
We will be reading The Remains of the Day, by Kazuo Ishiguro. Pick up your copy 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; closed Monday, May 28, for Memorial Day
Mariemont Branch Library 3810 Pocahontas Ave. 513-369-4467
YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD ORTHODONTIST
Dr Edward J Wnek… extensive experience and education… a personal approach to each and every patient… and outstanding outcomes! For a beautiful healthy smile, contact us for your personal consultation at 513-271-5265, or visit us at www.wnekorthodontics.com. Edward J Wnek DDS,MS • Mariemont Square Specializing In Orthodontics
Letter to the Editor: A Request to Support the Mariemont Schools Levy Schools
Submitted By Residents for Continued Excellence
On Tuesday, November 6, residents will find a variety of issues on the ballot that affect us locally and throughout the stateperhaps none more significant to this special community than the levy for our Mariemont City Schools (MCS).
This levy will provide day-to-day funding for all our schools and earmark funds for necessary safety and security updates in all of our school buildings while also providing prudent fixes for the significant mechanical and structural issues at the high school and updating learning spaces and labs. This levy preserves excellence for Mariemont City Schools.
Without this levy, the district cannot continue to offer to our students the same high quality of education that we have in the past. Much like one’s home budget, if our schools do not have the requisite funding then something in the budget has to go; In our case, quite a bit.
The implications of what we face with
the November election are serious. Failure would mean that our schools would have to cut teaching and staff positions and reduce programming throughout the district. Moreover, it means that we would not be able
to provide recommended safety and security updates, and it would mean that we could not create the academic spaces that our students need at Mariemont High School. In other words, things get worse and not better.
This letter is an overview to the seriousness of what we are facing as a community and an introduction to our levy campaign team. We are all volunteers who give freely of our time in order to inform voters and to support our schools. We are volunteers who are parents, empty nesters,
senior citizens, community members and other residents who care deeply about the future of our children, our schools and our community.
The needs represented by this Mariemont City Schools levy are both important and urgent. Our schools need our support at times like this when it matters the most: At the ballot box on November 6.
We invite you to be fully informed and involved. You can learn more about us by visiting us online at www. formariemontschools.org, and feel free to contact us at residentsforcontexcellence@ gmail.com.
And yes, we are asking you to vote “FOR” Mariemont Schools in November.
Ry Naticchioni - Fairfax Co-Chair
Laura Organisciak - Columbia Township Co-Chair
Jamie Overbey - Terrace Park Co-Chair
Jill Welch - Mariemont Co-Chair
Rusty Wilson - Treasurer
Homecoming Hoopla
Grab your friends and neighbors and join the Mariemont High School Alumni Association on Friday, September 28 for Homecoming Hoopla before the Warriors battle Indian Hill.
WHERE: The Grassy Knoll between Hiawatha Ave. and Rembold Ave.
WHEN: 5-7 p.m. Parade passes by at 6 p.m. Football game starts at Kusel Stadium at 7 p.m.
WHAT: Free face painting and games for kids. Pizza, drinks and ice-cream available for purchase. And Mariemont spirit wear for sale at the Alumni Booth (cash or credit only, please).
Village
MariElders News
Maybe you’ve seen the MARIELDERS van drive by. Do you ever wonder where it’s heading? It might be on the way to take your neighbor to the grocery store. Or, someone may need his eyeglasses adjusted, blood work done, or a prescription filled. They may want to go meet friends for lunch at Frisch’s or they have library books out or need to go to the bank. Those are some of the places we take your neighbors.
We may think calling an Uber or Lyft is simple, but only if it’s in your budget, if you have a smart phone, if you’re comfortable with strangers, or a vision or hearing impairment isn’t a problem for you.
So, when you see the MARIELDERS van drive by, please know we’re helping your neighbors. And most importantly, please vote
Mark Your Calendars for the 4th Annual Village Scavenger Hunt
The Mariemont School Foundation is excited to invite you to the 4th Annual Village Scavenger Hunt. This fun, familyfriendly event will be held on Saturday, September 8, from 4-7 p.m. to celebrate our great schools and communities!
After a spirited kick-off event at the Mariemont Junior High, teams will rally through the villages of Fairfax, Mariemont, William’s Meadow, and Terrace Park in a crazy scavenger hunt, collecting points for various stops and challenges. The competition will end back at Mariemont Junior High for a party with food, inflatables, games, and the announcement of winners!
Cost is $20 for a team of up to 5 people. Team fee is only $1 for any team with at least one Mariemont School teacher or administrator! To register: visit http://mariemontschoolfoundation. org/current-projects/village-scavengerhunt/.
for our renewal levy in November.
UPCOMING EVENTS:
Kayaking on the Little Miami River
Join us on a 2.5 hour journey down the Little Miami River, which will take you downstream on a sit-on-top single kayak. Weather and river levels will be assessed to determine the safest Friday (Sept. 7 or 21) for us to go. Meet at the MARIELDERS at 9 a.m. Cost is $30 per person and includes kayak rental and transportation. Please sign up by September 4 at the MARIELDERS.
Rumpke Landfill Tour
This tour will be on September 27 and includes a brief history of the company and an explanation of truck types. The air conditioned bus then travels around the landfill while a guide shows us what happens to garbage after it leaves our homes. Cost for this trip is $5 and registration needs to be in by September 13 at the MARIELDERS front desk. Please meet at the Center at 12:30 p.m. Space in the van is limited to 12 people. If you want to drive separate please let us know.
Lilias! Yoga – Book Signing and Lunch
On September 20 Lilias Folan will be at the MARIELDERS. Lilias has spent nearly forty years inspiring students and teachers throughout the USA with the benefits of yoga.
In recent years Lilias relies strongly on her own personal experience and intuition to influence her teaching. She has taught both of the MARIELDERS yoga instructors (Joan Riemer and Desirae Griffith).
Please join us for this wonderful day. There will be a book signing from 11:45-12 p.m., followed by a pizza lunch. Cost is $5 for lunch. Please sign up at MARIELDERS by September 14.
By Frances Turner
Join Us
Mariemont Garden Club
on Fall
The Mariemont Garden Club will have our first meeting Wednesday, September 5, at 1 p.m. at The Barn. We will be discussing programs and ideas for the coming season. All are welcome to join us and help us make it a productive year!
If you are at all interested in helping us tend the Mariemont gardens we care for, but are unable to attend the daytime meetings, please contact Karen Berkich edwardkarenber@gmail.com. She will help you get involved!
Annual Plant Sale a Success
Our annual Plant Sale in May was a huge
places. We want to thank Boy Scout Troop #149 for all their help in setting up and Girl Scout Troop # 45352 for their able assistance. We especially want to thank all of our customers for our wonderful success! We hope to be in the same place in May 2019.
Fall Gardening
It is not too early to think about Fall gardening “opportunities,” as we gardeners call them – others call them “chores.” This is the time to plant small bulbs that will bloom in the Spring. Crocuses and snowdrops will come up no matter what the weather. On gray cold days with snow on the ground, they will still appear,
Mariemont flower, so pick up some of those, too.
Help the Environment
There was a message on Nextdoor Mariemont several months ago suggesting very positive ideas for helping the environment in our gardens. I would like to repeat these ideas. Instead of buying mulch, mulch the leaves from your yard by running them over with your mower and putting them on your garden beds. They will return nutrients to the soil as they decompose and the gardens can still look tidy. The exception to this are leaves from Black Walnut trees. Do not use these leaves as they can be problematic for
33rd Annual Kiwanis Art & Craft Fair Set for Sunday, September 9
By David Peterson
The Kiwanis Club of Mariemont will hold its 33rd Annual Fall Art and Craft Fair Sunday, September 9 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Wooster Pike in the heart of beautiful, downtown Mariemont. This year’s event will once again feature nearly 100 exhibitors from across the Tri-State area, including many in our local community showcasing a wide variety of original art, crafts, jewelry, woodworking, glass art and more. Jump start your holiday shopping while supporting a great cause! Because of their unique nature, most items are not available anywhere else.
In addition, Kiwanis works closely with students in the surrounding communities to provide mentoring relationships and support local youth activities. For information about how you can become more involved in serving our youth, stop by the Kiwanis booth at the Fair or visit their website at MariemontKiwanis.org.
Raffle tickets will be available on-site for prizes such as a Kroger gift card and a Mariemont Night Out package of dinner at the National Exemplar, tickets to the Mariemont Movie Theater and a night stay at the Mariemont Inn.
The Kiwanis Club of Mariemont exists to serve the youth of the Fairfax, Terrace Park and Mariemont communities, and the annual fair is the club’s largest fundraiser for local scholarships. Along with their annual
Spring Golf Outing, Fairfax Fall Festival, and Holiday Nut Sale, the event helps raise nearly $15,000 in scholarship money each year for students of the Mariemont School District. Since 2000, the Kiwanis Club has awarded over $200,000 in scholarships to help support nearly 80 students from the Mariemont School District, many of whom receive support beyond their freshmen year of college.
The Kiwanis Club of Mariemont meets every Tuesday morning at 7:45 a.m. in the Mariemont Elementary School cafeteria. A continental breakfast is served, and guests are welcome anytime. Meetings last less than one hour and feature a variety of local speakers.
The annual Kiwanis Art & Craft Fair showcases many local artists and unique offerings.
Mariemont Preschool Parents Group Resumes for the 2018-2019 Year
By Laura Young
Please join us 7-10 p.m. Thursday, September 6 at The Barn (WAC Cultural Center) for the opening meeting of Mariemont Preschool Parents Group for the 2018-2019 year. We ask that any new members arrive at 7 p.m. for a fun and informative orientation. Returning members can come early to socialize or plan to arrive at 7:30 when we will join together as a group to review this year’s events and committee sign-ups. Beverages will be provided and we do recommend carpooling or walking as parking is limited at The Barn.
The Mariemont Preschool Parents Group (MPPG) provides activities for preschool aged children and a forum for parental education, discussion, and social interaction.
We welcome anyone in Mariemont and the surrounding areas with preschool aged children (or expecting) and who is interested in meeting other parents.
Membership includes fun family events throughout the year, monthly informational and social meetings for members, invitations to join playgroups, and a chance to attend couples’ events and Kiddie Kamp at the end of May. Annual memberships run from September through May of every school year.
Luminaria is on the Horizon
Mariemont’s annual Luminaria is scheduled for Saturday, December 1 from
5:30-8. Luminaria kits, carriage ride tickets, and raffle tickets are now available for purchase online by visiting the MPPG website at https://www.mariemontppg.com/ luminaria. Paper order forms will also be included in the October issue of the Town Crier. Don’t wait! Both online and paper orders are due Sunday, October, 21. A limited number of kits will also be available for an extra charge at the Boy Scout Christmas Tree Sale (located at the Municipal Building/Firehouse) on Friday, November 23, Saturday, November 24, and Saturday, December 1. Reserve your kits online today and help us light the streets of Mariemont for such a special event!
Woman’s Art Club Cultural Center
Autumn Art at The Barn
As the last days of summer fade, The Barn opens its door to countless inexpensive, educational activities for you and your little pumpkins to enjoy.
Calling All Photographers
“There are always two people in every picture: the photographer and the viewer.”Ansel Adams (Courtesy of Photography Spark)
After a rigorous screening process, Fotofocus, a Cincinnati-based photography organization, chose The Woman’s Art Cultural Center, also known as The Barn, as one of its venues for its 2018 celebration of lens-based art. This year’s theme is entitled “Open Archive.”
To kick off this year’s lens-based art theme, The Mariemont Preservation Foundation (MPF) and The Woman’s Art Cultural Center Foundation (WACCF) invite photography enthusiasts across the Ohio Valley to engage in a two-part celebration of the historic work of photographer Nancy Ford Cones (see About Nancy, below, for more about the artist).
The first opportunity for involvement includes a competition called Pixels and Pictorialism that will award $100, as well as gallery space aligned with Cones’ masterpieces, to contestants who submit the most creative and unique interpretation of one of her photographs, using a smartphone. An opening reception with refreshments will take place Oct. 14, 1-4 p.m.
on the inspirational album. There is no limit to the number of photographs you may submit. Digitally-altered photos are permissible. Photos can be submitted anytime between Aug. 1 and midnight Sept. 18. For more information, please click on “Prospectus” http://www. artatthebarn.org/fotofocus-at-the-barn.
The second part of the Nancy Ford Cones celebration takes place Oct. 18, beginning at 6 p.m. in the Loft (now accessible by elevator) with a reception and slide show of Cones’ work. At 7 p.m., Dr. Ren Egbert will present a lecture entitled “The Lady of Loveland: The Romantic Photographer of Mariemont.”
The audience will hear about the artist, a former member of The Woman’s Art Club of Cincinnati, as a posthumous tribute to her legacy. Egbert, who collected and organized her repertoire upon her death, will speak about her travels and competitions. “It is a heartwarming story of a couple dedicated to their art and family,” he said.
The Barn, also known as The Woman’s Art Club Cultural Center, is located at 6980 Cambridge Avenue, Mariemont, Ohio. Please visit artatthebarn.org or call 513-272-3700.
To enter, visit the Facebook PHOTO 2 FOTO contest page, click on “photos” then “albums/see all” to select a Cones photo that inspires you. With a smartphone, head outdoors and take a photo that reinterprets or emulates her pictorial style and upload it to the Facebook contest page by “commenting”
Sponsored by the Mariemont Preservation Foundation, guests to this free event can view a few of Cones’ original works of pictorial art—thanks to the generosity of MFP and Len Weakley, past-president of WACCF, who lent the Foundation a portion of their collections.
This lecture is part of the continuing Millard F. Rogers, Jr. Lecture Series. Rogers was Director of the Cincinnati Art Museum, former president of the Mariemont Preservation Foundation, and a recognized authority on the history and planning of Mariemont. He also appointed the first curator of photography at the Art Museum. This lecture series is underwritten by the generous contributions of Nina Rogers, Millard’s widow.
Gallery Hours: October 9-31. TuesdaysFridays 10 a.m.-2 p.m.; weekends 2-4 p.m. All events take place at The Barn, also known as The Woman’s Art Cultural Center Foundation, in Mariemont at 6980 Cambridge Avenue. To assist in this event or any other, please visit artatthebarn.com or call 513-272-3700.
About Nancy:
Nancy Ford Cones was born in 1868 in Milan, Ohio. At age 25, she began lessons in in retouching pictures, which led to a successful tenure in pictorial style photography. Together with her husband James, they examined the value of gum bichromate as a medium for the printing process. The couple first moved to Covington, Kentucky where they operated a studio, then settled at Roads Inn farm near Loveland, Ohio in 1905.
Featuring a photograph entitled “Threading the needle,” she finished second to Edouard Steichen in an Eastman Kodak competition that had attracted 28,000 entries. Bausch and Lomb and Eastman Kodak featured many of her photos, which usually depicted family and farm life, as advertisements. The Woman’s Home Companion and Country Life in America also published her work, and the Mariemont Company commissioned Cones to photograph its bustling new town.
Nancy’s enthusiasm for photography ended upon James’s death in 1939. She remained on the Loveland family farm where she died in 1962.
About FotoFocus:
FotoFocus, the largest organization of its kind in the U.S., includes more than 90 projects at museums and galleries in the Tri-State area,
cont'd on next page
Woman’s Art Club Cultural Center
including Dayton, and Columbus. It represents the work of more than 200 artists, curators, and educators. It has engaged art and educational institutions throughout the region to support and expand the cultural dialogue around the medium that has come to define the time. For more information, go to fotofocuscincinnati.org.
The Ohio Plein Air Society Comes to Town Sept. 27-30
The Ohio Plein Air Society chose The Barn to be its headquarters for its 2018 competition. The non-profit organization expects more than a hundred artists from Hamilton County to participate. Sites include Mariemont and other local communities. For more information, please visit ohiopleinairsociety.com.
Off the Hill, On a String, and At The Barn
Thanks to the generosity of ArtsWave, The Robert and Adele Schaffer Family Foundation, The Charles H. Dater Foundation, John C. Griswold and KeyBank, The Barn will offer another entertaining season of Playhouse in the Park’s “Off the Hill”. The Barn will also host artist Beth Renick, Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati, and MadCap Puppets, thanks to support from the Mariemont Preservation Foundation.
All Saturday-morning events at The Barn begin at 10 a.m. Reservations: thebarn. cincyregister.com/mpp2018. Walk-ins are welcomed.
Oct. 20 The Jungle Book – Cincinnati Playhouse “Off the Hill”
Nov. 17 Family Artmaking - Artist Beth Renick
Dec. 15 The Wizard of Oz – MadCap Puppets
Jan. 26 Cyrano – Cincinnati Playhouse “Off the Hill”
Feb. 16 Rosa Parks – TCT on Tour, a division of the Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati
Mar. 16 Variety Puppet Show – Frisch Marionettes
Apr. 6 Family Artmaking - artist Beth Renick
May 18 – Five Little Monkeys – Cincinnati Playhouse “Off the Hill”
Fall Art Classes at The Barn
Drawing the Face and Hands with Charlie Berger: Five Wednesdays beginning September 5-October 3 from 9 a.m.-noon. Skill Level: Intermediate, or Beginner with some experience. Graphite and charcoal. Each session with a professional model. Fee: $175 includes the model
fee. Call 513-272-3700.
Drawing Bootcamp: Essentials of Good Drawing with Charlie Berger: Five Thursdays from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. beginning September 6-October 4. Classes are for beginners or those with little experience. Fee is $145. 513-212-4679.
Drawing Mariemont: Landscapes and Adventures with Charlie Berger: Five Fridays beginning September 7October 5 from 9 a.m. -12 p.m. Fee: $165. 513-212-4679
Mosaics with Sandy Caruso: Tuesdays from 6-9 p.m. beginning October 9. Held in the Tack Room at The Barn. To sign up, go to the Art Academy Community Education page.
Pencil, Paint and Composition with Eileen McConkey: Tuesdays at Noon. 513-801-7648 or Eileen. mcconkey@gmail.com.
Introduction to Creative Drawing and Painting with Dave Laug: Tuesdays from 9:30 a.m.-noon. All levels. 513831-5338 or dvdlaug@gmail.com.
WACC Open Studio: Tuesdays from 10 a.m.3 p.m. Free for members; $5 for non-members (Cash only, please.) No sign-up required.
WACC Open Model Sketch: First and Third Tuesdays, 1-4 p.m., $10 for members, $15 for non-members—cash only. Deborah Ridgley at 513-259-9302.
Oil Painting with Jan Boone: Wednesdays from 9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. and 1:15-4:15 p.m. $20 per class. 513-791-7044 or janwrites@ fuse.net.
Acrylic Painting with Dave Laug: Wednesdays from 7-10 p.m. dvdlaug@gmail.com or 513-885-5284.
Drawing and Painting: Thursdays with Mary Lou Holt. 1:30 -4:30 p.m. 513-226-3833 or marylou@marylouiseholt.com.
The Expressive Painter: Bill Fletcher. TwoDay Worshop. September 14-15, 9:30 a.m. -4 p.m.
Oil Painting with Jeff Morrow: Thursdays from 6-9 p.m. jeffmorrow@gmail.com or 937267-6868.
Graduate Pastels with Ray Hassard: Second and final Fridays of each month, with Ray Hassard. 12-3 p.m. 513- 941-1116.
ARTflix
The Barn welcomes the community to attend
its third season of ARTflix. The monthly movies, which take place on Thursday evenings at 7 p.m., feature a film related to a past or contemporary artist. Terrace Park resident and art educator Dave Laug will provide invigorating discussions before and after each presentation. Attendees will also enjoy snacks, soft drinks and door prizes. BYOB. All ARTflix movies are FREE. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Reservations: thebarncincyregister.com/ artflix. Walk-ins are welcomed.
Sept. 13 “Tim’s Vermeer” (2013)
Oct. 11 “Finding Vivian Maier”
Nov. 8 “The Monuments Men” (2014). In honor of Veterans’ Day.
Dec. 13 “Loving Vincent” (2017). Van Gogh quilts will be available for viewing.
Jan. 10 “The Agony & the Ecstasy” (1965)
Feb. 7 “Words & Pictures” (2013) (for Valentine’s day!)
Mar. 14 “Rembrandt” (1936)
Apr. 11 “Camille Claudel” (1988) May 9 Double Feature! “Matisse-Picasso (2002) AND “A Model for Matisse”
The Woman’s Art Club presents…
In recognition of its 125th anniversary, The Woman’s Art Club of Cincinnati has two special events in the near future.
In association with ARTworks, the Club will unveil its new mural on Twelfth Street between Elm and Vines Streets on September 22. In October, the Club is holding its annual show presenting the art of members past and present. The show’s opening is on October 19 and runs through November 17 at the Eisele Gallery in Mariemont.
Need to be more productive?
The Barn and The Woman’s Art Club have haystacks of work to do this year and we would just love it if you could help us. Jobs from baking cookies to administrative details to creating new events or fostering our old ones are available—big or small. Please call 513-272-3700 or peruse artatthebarn.org. No artistic skills needed—just a heart for community service.
VIllage Government
Village Government News
Due to the considerable length and intricate nature of most Mariemont Village Council meeting minutes, and the desire to inform residents of as many council and committee issues as possible, the Town Crier will no longer run full council minutes. Instead, we will attempt to include summaries of council and committee meetings that may have occurred during the previous month. Complete agendas and minutes for ARB, Council and Planning Commission can be found on the Village website at www.mariemont.org. You can also request that agendas and minutes be emailed directly to you by contacting Sue Singleton in the Village administration office at ssingleton@ mariemont.org.
Special Council Meetings – August 28 & September 4
Two special council meetings on Tuesday, August 28 & September 4, 2018 were held to elect new members of council to fill the vacancies created by the resignations of Troy Hawkins and Eric Marsland. At press time, Rob Bartlett has been elected by a vote of council to fill Troy Hawkins' seat.
Regular Council Meeting- August 13
Mayor Policastro presented proclamations to the Girls’ High School Lacrosse Team, which won the State Championship for the first time. He also presented proclamations to the coaches, Graham Harden, Julie Morgan and Kevin Ferry
Christine Fisher, running for State Representative in the 27th district, was granted permission to address Council. After sharing her qualifications, she thanked the Mayor and Council for the opportunity to speak and said to feel free to reach out to her on social media on Facebook or on twitter @VoteFisher.
Council member Palazzolo asked to amend the prior meeting’s minutes and asked to review the procedure for making council minutes public.
A report from Service Superintendent Scherpenberg addressed two plates along Miami road that are in bad shape and Mayor Policastro agreed that they needed to be addressed soon.
Council agreed that to allow temporary use of the pool for members of the Terrace Park Swim Club (due to flooding from the creek near the TPSC into the pool).
Dennis Wolter addressed the council with his concern of council member Eric Marsland’s recent resignation.
Bob Van Stone presented the council with a document containing communication records regarding appointing Frank Raeon to fill Hawkin’s vacant seat. Mr. Van Stone said he is in contact with a lawyer concerning full compliance with the open records request and potential sunshine law violations. He does not think further legal action is a benefit to the Village.
Village residents urged for transparency and fair treatment throughout the candidate selection process.
Mr. Jerry Vianello addressed the council regarding “no parking signs” on Homewood Rd. for an upcoming project and a rumor about changing from a Mayoral form of government to a City Manager type management. Mayor Policastro said it is in the code that the Mayor would appoint an Administrator and Council would vote them in. He is not going to subject the Village when we have great department heads, but he had also heard the rumors.
It was determined that Tuesday, September 4, 2018 at 6 p.m. would be the Special Meeting of Council to vote on the replacement for Eric Marsland. A new flyer and same process will be used. Flyers will be distributed with August 27, 2018 being the deadline for submitting letters of interest. Letters of interest received for Mr. Hawkins replacement will also be considered for Mr. Marsland. There will not be a need for those to submit letters of interest twice.
Regular Council Meeting- July 23
Council agreed to allow the Garden Club to use the lawn for their plant sale again in 2019.
An update was given from Assistant Fiscal Officer/IT Administrator Elissa Wendler. Ms. Wendler explained to Council that a review of our computer systems had shown that we had a hard drive failure and a power supply failure, and that the village needs to look into getting a
Council Representatives
Rob Bartlett
Avia Graves agraves@mariemont.org
Maggie Palazzolo magpal00@gmail.com
Kelly Rankin kellrankincouncil@gmail.com
Mary Ann Schwartz maschwartz@mariemont.org
Mayor: Dan Policastro mayordan1@gmail.com
new server. A less expensive alternative to our current CMI Payroll and Finance software was also discussed. Mayor Policastro pushed for a Capital Improvements levy in order to avoid a “band aid” approach to updating our server and payroll and finance software.
After heated discussion regarding the vacant Council member seat, it was decided that a notice would be sent out announcing the opening on Council and giving all those interested in being considered for the position to submit a letter of interest by August 13, 2018. The special meeting to vote on the new Council member will be on Tuesday, August 28th, at 7 p.m.
The resolution of “Adopting the Budget for 2019; And To Declare Emergency” was adopted. The ordinances of “To Amend Ordinance O-12-18 of the Mariemont Code of Ordinances to Increase Payment for Employees; And To Declare Emergency” and “Ordinance to Modify Section 34.05(B) of the Mariemont Code of Ordinances; And to Declare Emergency” were adopted.
Budget Hearing- July 23
Fiscal Officer Tony Borgerding conservatively estimated a 1% increase in revenue from the earnings tax for 2018 and for 2019 and on through 2022. This year he is expecting $2,440,000, and reported that the village is already $23,000 ahead of where we were last time this year. The real estate tax
Village Government
will bring a higher amount this year due to the new Safety Services levy, bringing an extra $350,000. Mr. Borgerding said he is estimating an additional $390,000 in real estate tax money. Looking at the bottom line, last year the village had a balance of $1.1 million to about $1.4 million this year. Looking at the trend, we should have about $2,000,000 at the end of 2023 in our General Fund.
Mr. Borgerding said the other thing to look at is expenditures. The biggest expense is salaries and benefits. For all expenses, there was a 3.8% increase in 2016 and a 1.7% increase in 2017. He is estimating a 4.6% increase this year due to the raise for the police department. He estimates a 3% increase for 2019 and 2% for each year going forward. The benefits are a percentage of the salaries. Those percentages have remained fairly consistent. Over the years it has been 33%, 33.6%, 34%, and 35%. He is estimating 35.7% for 2019.
The Permanent Improvement Fund is responsible for paying back current outstanding loans, and if enough funding is not available, then such amounts will be paid from the General Fund. Due to high activity in the Permanent Improvement Fund involving many new improvements to the village, the balance will be low in 2022. A small Permanent Improvement levy was discussed in order to purchase a new ambulance, fire engine, complete work on Settle, Homewood, and Mt. Vernon, and improve the community pool.
The Finance Committee was appointed to look into the possibility of finding additional administrative help for our Building Administrator, Don Keyes.
Architectural Review Board Regular Meeting – July 16
First request was from William DeCamp of Blue Moon Ventures LLC, 3915 Oak Street, to remove temporary panels and replace garage doors in their original location at the rear of the building. A Certificate of Appropriateness was granted based on the plan information and material submitted.
Second request was a follow up to the request from John C Mericle, 584 Rolling Rock Lane, Cincinnati, to alter the properties at 6714 Chestnut St., and 6714, 6724, 6727, 6734 Maple
St., Mariemont. Several requested alterations to these historic properties were discussed, with most being approved and one – regarding fencing – needing further discussion at a future meeting.
Third request was from Kay McEvoy, 6639 Chestnut Street, and Paula Whetstone, 6641 Chestnut Street, to repair the front porch floor, steps and front concrete sidewalk. After discussion on a few issues, a Certificate of Appropriateness was approved.
Fourth request was from JP Morgan, Chase Bank in association with Spinnenweber Builders, 6880 Wooster Pike, regarding the property at 6802 Wooster Pike, to modify the parking lot behind the building to include a drive through automatic teller machine (ATM) and to change the parking directly behind the address to include additional handicapped parking. Mr. Von Benson, FMS Architects on behalf of Chase Bank, said adding a drive-thru ATM in the existing parking lot north of the building will remove seven parking spaces, and it will include an additional accessible ramp to the north side of the building that meets code. Discussions concluded that parking is sufficient. Further discussion surrounded awning and signage. Certificate of Appropriateness was granted.
While on an evening walk in July, new West Street resident Vicki Wasson and her husband took this photo of the sun setting over the Bell Tower. Vicki said the carillon was playing “Nearer My God to Thee,” which she took as Mariemont’s way of saying “Welcome!”
together a list of acceptable fences.
At the Rules and Law Committee meeting they discussed the wording regarding the Historic District.
The following resolutions were adopted: “Authorizing the Purchase of Interior Furnishings for Council Chambers” and “To Appoint Rick Gibson as Mayor’s Court Magistrate (To Fill the Unexpired Term of Don White) for Calendar Years 2018, 2019 and 2020; To Set Compensation; and To Declare Emergency.”
Regular Council Meeting- July 9
Historic District fences were discussed and it was decided that the ARB meeting would put
Mayor Policastro announced that Mr. Hawkins will be leaving his Council seat and will be moving to Chicago.
A Beautiful Mariemont Sunset
Girl Scouts Travel to Iceland and Europe
By Erin Kelly
Our Mariemont Girl Scout troops are excited to begin the school year! To join a troop, contact the Girl Scout Council through at https://girlscouts.secure.force.com/girl and the council will assist you in finding a troop that is the best fit.
Troop 47773 and Troop 47305
At the beginning of the summer, the Ambassador and Senior girl scout troops from Mariemont adventured to Iceland and Europe.
The troops spent several days in Iceland together until some of the girls moved on to Europe. The Iceland trip experienced the Blue Lagoon, the Golden Circle and whitewater rafting. They also took part in a service project at Úlfljótsvatn (the scout center) where they helped plant trees and build a pen for sheep. Later on, they explored the country’s capital, Reykjavik. Meanwhile, the Europe trip travelled to Paris. They later stayed in the GS Center in Adelboden, Switzerland, before moving on to Lake Como in Italy.
Mariemont Civic Association News
By Barb Policastro
The Mariemont Civic Association is made up of members from the Village who are interested in enhancing our already great community. Our mission is to inform, serve, and improve the quality of life for Mariemont residents, especially children in need, and to continue the original benevolence of Mary Emery.
Throughout the year, the Civic Association invites speakers to share different topics of interest, holds events for the community, and donates money to various Village causes and activities.
Our membership of 60 has served the community in a variety of ways, including: Eagle projects, Village Fireworks, Shred Day, Mariemont High School After Prom, Destination Imagination global competition teams, Mariemont’s 75th Anniversary celebration, and many others.
The Civic Association raises money through
a raffle at Christmas, running the concession stand at the annual track meet, coffee and donuts at the Memorial Day Parade, and through dues ($25 per member/year).
Meetings take place on the third Thursday of each month (except for December through February) at 7 p.m. at the Village Church Oak Street building (corner of Oak and Maple streets). Please join us!
Fall Events
Sept. 20 – Ohio State Rep. Tom Brinkman and Common Pleas Judge Steve Martin, who lives in Mariemont, will speak about state funds and potential changes coming. Rep. Brinkman will also discuss how he helped Mariemont
secure a $400,000 grant from the state for the Municipal Building expansion as well as helped the Village stop the Eastern Corridor Project from going through the South 80.
Oct. 18 – Jackie Bray from Raptor Inc. will speak about their mission to take in and rehabilitate injured birds of prey, such as hawks, owls and eagles. Jackie will be bringing in two or three birds that have been rehabilitated. Kids are welcome!
Nov. 15 – Pizza Night! Families are welcome to join us for pizza and soda prior to our meeting. Speaker TBD.
For more information or to join, please contact Barb Policastro at 470-9060.
Village Worship Services
Village Church of Mariemont
Villagechurchofmariemont.org
Todd Keyes, Pastor
Jamie Keyes, Children’s Ministries
The Village Church of Mariemont (VCM) invites you to bring a friend or neighbor and join them for worship services each Sunday at 10 a.m. at the Mariemont Memorial Stone Chapel on Cherry Lane. Children’s Sunday School for pre-K through 6th grade is provided, during the service, at the VCM building, 3920 Oak St. (corner of Oak and Maple), just a block from the Chapel.
Coming Up:
Labor Day Weekend Service – Sunday, September 2, 10 a.m. at the Chapel, followed by refreshments and fellowship on the Chapel lawn. Bring a friend!
Kiwanis Arts & Crafts Fair – Sunday,
September 9, 11 a.m.-5 p.m., in the green space across from the Mariemont Inn. The food booth at the Fair is an annual fundraiser for the Village Church of Mariemont. Volunteers are needed to help serve food. To sign up, contact Cynthia Wolter at cmwolter@ gmail.com.
Ongoing:
Adult Education Series – Each Sunday, 8:45-9:45 a.m. in the VCM sanctuary at the corner of Oak and Maple Streets. Current series: The Crhistian Worldview-How Should We Then Live?
Men’s Breakfast – First Saturday of each month at 8 a.m. in the VCM fellowship hall. Whiz Kids – Weekly after-school reading program at Mariemont Elementary. Anyone interested in tutoring a child in this program please contact Jamie Keyes at jamiekeyes6@ gmail.com
Mariemont Community Church Mariemontchurch.org
Denis Beausajoir, Senior Pastor Paul Rasmussen, Worship Pastor Leslie Seetin, Children’s Director
Mariemont Community Church welcomes you to their Sunday services, held at 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. at the Parish Center building, 3908 Plainville Rd.
Coming Up:
Women’s Ministries Kickoff – Monday, September 10, 6:30 p.m.
Ongoing:
Weekly Prayer Meeting – Wednesdays, 7-8 p.m.
Joy Women’s Luncheon – Second Wednesday of each month, 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Family Shop Sale – Second and fourth Saturdays of each month, 9 a.m.-noon.
All activities are held at the Parish Center, 3908 Plainville, unless otherwise noted.
Registration for Mariemont Recreation Association youth basketball is open Sept. 3-30. To sign up, go to mariemontbasketball.org
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
