Mariemont Town Crier, September 2020, Vol. XLV, No. 1

“Plotting” to Cultivate a Love of Gardening: Spotlight on the South 80

By Pete McBride

Mariemont resident Steve Spooner co-chairs Mariemont’s South 80 Commission, which oversees the acreage “below the bluff” off Mariemont Avenue. The approximately 80-acre property, just down the hill adjacent to the entrance to the swimming pool, was once a 9-hole golf course, and was donated to the Village in 1976.

The area includes the community gardens, a campsite, Little Miami River frontage, and two hiking trails: a graveled “inner trail” and a dirt “outer trail.” Commission members who manage the asset include co-chair Mark Glassmeyer, Andrew Seeger, Jason Brownknight, John Fakes, and Jon Morgan.

Steve’s leadership and experience have been well earned via his own family’s plots for most of the past 27 years. His wife, Terri, and their adult daughter, Jane, tend a flower garden plot bursting with a variety of vibrantly-colored flowering plants. Steve raises peas, garlic, tomatoes (60 plants), cucumbers, spinach, lettuce, beans, carrots, and a type of squash called “cushaw”, which Terri famously turns into a Spooner family Thanksgiving favorite: cushaw pie.

All of the existing South 80 plots were rented this year, so an entire extra row of plots had to be “cut out” for new gardeners, with special assistance from Mark Glassmeyer’s tractor. That raised the total to about 150 plots for 75 gardeners. Plots measure about 25 ft. x 25 ft. with about 30 plots per row.

Plot applications ($20/year for the first site, plus $10 for each additional site) are available via email mariemontgardens@gmail.com or on FaceBook. Fees can be paid online.

In addition to Steve’s knowledge and

experience, The Town Crier thought its readers might enjoy some perspectives from a few other “South 80 celebs,” including:

Mary Beth and Randy York, who cultivate a plot of nine beds, growing brussels sprouts, sweet potatoes, watermelon, zucchini, cucumbers, edamame, corn, cantaloupes, eggplant, greens, potatoes, bell peppers, and two beds of wildflowers and sunflowers.

Probability of gardening in the future: “5 out of 5,” especially having “done a lot of groundwork” - no pun intended - to prepare their plot for this year, including installing raised beds to help conserve moisture and thus reduce watering.

What would assist gardeners: A Villageinitiated watering system with a new pump and well, and more people using raised beds, would make gardening easier.

Gardening tip: Add molasses to the water jugs used to irrigate tomatoes, which enhances

the garden soil and improves the taste of the tomatoes.

Advice to rookies: Enjoy the experience, “but don’t become a slave to it”; set up some “watercollection” capacity to take advantage of natural rainfall.

Favorite recipes from what they grow: Eggplant parmigiana. Half-inch thick slices, brushed with olive oil and grilled.

Memorable events: Prepping, planting, then rescuing and re-planting following this May’s sudden flooding!

Likes: The “community feel” of the South 80 when socializing with others; the Village support and concern for gardeners’ safety.

Jon Morgan, a South 80 Commission member, has collaboratively cultivated seven plots with plot partners John Renner and Rob Urbanski for 6-7 years and counting. They grow

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Welcome Back!

As we enter a new school year and a new publishing season for Mariemont Town Crier, we want to wish everyone a safe and fun fall! Before jumping into your September issue, please take a moment to read the following announcements…

Distribution Coordinator Needed. The Town Crier is looking for a distribution coordinator to ensure our 40+ year tradition continues! This is a volunteer position that includes: being the drop-off point for printed issues from the printer (8x a year); organizing correct number of papers and inserts (when there are any) into boxes (provided) for each route; notifying couriers/their parents when issues are ready for pickup; communicating with couriers/parents and the publishers throughout the year; working with residents and couriers to resolve any problems that arise; and working with publishers to replace any couriers who move on. Please contact Suzy Weinland at suzy. weinland@gmail.com or 513-833-3075.

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The

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Carolyn Hohl carolynkhohl@gmail.com

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Peter McBride pete0948@gmail.com

Photographers

Steve Spooner me@mariemontstuff.com

Carriers

D avi D a n D rews

J ulia B ohl

a lexis & o livia C lark

h annah e riksen

P axton l esseuer

a lly M aier

Z a C h M aier

a n D rew M ora B ito

C lara & P arker n i C hols

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Thomas

Rachel & Jim Votaw

Village Church of Mariemont

Suzy & Matt Weinland

l aura Q ueen w ill Q ueen

C lara v aughan

B e C kett w en D ler

D avis w i C kha M

l in C oln w i C kha M

(Siblings listed together share routes; siblings listed separately have their own routes)

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South 80 (from front page)

tomatoes, squash, zucchini, “Long Island sheep pumpkin” (historically grown in Williamsburg, Va.), watermelon, cucumbers, and berries - both bush and vine varieties. And in Jon’s own words: “Lots of peppers.”

Probability of gardening in the future: A solid “5 out of 5.”

What would make South 80 gardening more enjoyable: Less flooding and less weeding.

What would assist gardeners: The ambitious and mechanically masterful trio has built their own roof-based water tower. A solar-powered pump pushes water up and into a 300-gallon storage tank that irrigates the beds below. Pretty clever!

Gardening tip: “South 80 plots provide opportunities for backyard gardeners to cultivate space-needful vegetables such as squashes and eggplant. Here’s Jon’s helpful hint: “Pets - especially dogs - just luuuuuv raw eggplant right off the vine!”

Advice to rookies:

• Know what you’re getting into.

• Be prepared to get dirty.

• Be willing and able to weed - a lot. Especially the more invasive species.

• Have a plan.

• Consider and look for ways to “team-up” and “combine efforts”

Favorite recipes from what they grow: The previously-mentioned tomatoes and abundant peppers - especially habaneros - have earned Jon some acclaim for his salsa-style hot sauce (see recipe on page 5).

Community

Memorable events: Several years ago flooding was sufficient to wash away a 12x8 foot greenhouse with a full roof. The structure weighed more than half a ton, yet floated all the way to the south-west corner of the property where it landed on a road sign.

Mark Glassmeyer - When he’s not serving his fellow gardeners and the entire South 80 plowing, clearing, leveling, or “bush-hog-ing” with his trusty tractor, Mark has found time to work four plots that he shares with his wife, Tracy, John Fakes, and Steve Spooner. They grow corn, squash, lettuce, carrots, beans, sunflowers, and more. He claims, however, that despite graciously and humbly acknowledging his status as the much-appreciated “tractor guy,” he personally has limited expertise in actual gardening. “I’m the worst gardener down there,” he laughed.

“passed along the farmer gene.” So we’ll give this a high probability.

What would make South 80 gardening more enjoyable: Mark marvels that not only is it a wonder that he can “farm 15 minutes from downtown Cincinnati,” but also that doing so provides “a hobby that pays for itself” and through which one can “hang out and socialize with friends.”

Mark’s tractor gets a lot of work - and not just in The South 80. In addition to clearing brush, grading the trails, creating new plots, and tilling gardens in The South 80, Mark and his trusty tractor pull hay wagons for the Mariemont Preschool Parents Group’s fall hayrides for kids –and occasionally a fun and gentle sled pull down their street on a quiet, snowy day.

Probability of gardening in the future: Mark’s grandfather, brother, and father have all been involved in farming, and Mark claims his dad

Advice to rookies: Go ahead and “just do it,” but start out with a manageable-size plot. He adds that whether or not the community garden concept was part of Mrs. Emery’s original vision, the South 80 plots serve so many people in the Village who have so enthusiastically embraced them.

Memorable events: Next time you talk to Mark, be sure to ask him to point out the remains of the former golf course’s clubhouse

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South 80 (from previous page)

in the South 80 to describe how best to avoid swarming yellow-jacket nests to explain how to get special permission from the Mariemont police department to use a kayak to rescue a flag washed away during a Little Miami River flood to describe how well a “coyote-caller” noisemaker works just after dark down there. (Not necessarily recommended, right, Mark?)

John Renner started approximately ten years ago tending a plot by himself, but now partners with Jon Morgan and Rob Urbanski. The gents grow spinach, peas, radishes, and kale in early spring, then in early summer transplant tomato, pumpkin and pepper seedlings that are always started from seed in Jon Morgan’s basement.

Probability of gardening in the future: John looks forward to returning next year. He also feels that the popularity of the South 80 as a whole is its variety of uses: yes, gardening, but also for walks, hiking, cycling and dog-walking.

What would make South 80 gardening more enjoyable: One of the innovations that their team has introduced to the gardens is a highly-efficient, in-ground, low-pressure drip-irrigation system, the idea for which they imported from Haiti. Water is pumped from a lower to a higher storage tank and uses gravity to minimize evaporation and run-off.

Community

What would assist gardeners: After the second flood this spring, John was sufficiently motivated, fortunate, and astute to buy at auction a 5-HP pump, which is used to drain their gardens.

Gardening tip: Carrots are not a good fit for the South 80’s dense soil. And avoid the thorns that come with raspberry bushes.

Advice to rookies: Weeding is a constant challenge for gardeners, especially with “weed seed” from neighboring plots and the invasive Johnson grass that spreads through underground root systems. Weeding and weed control is probably one reason why so many - 30-40% of first-timers by John’s estimate - give up during their rookie season.

Favorite recipes from what they grow?

“Smoked peppers” have become a favorite dish, as have red and black raspberry jam, blackberry jam, and tomato jam. (They use a yummy New York Times recipe for the latter, one which also helps use up bumper-crop tomato harvests in banner years.) Zucchini bread and spicy green beans are other favorite kitchen creations.

Memorable events: Per John, among other side-benefits of tending South 80 garden plots are socializing, including with some folks from neighboring communities such as Fairfax, Madisonville, and Terrace Park. And of course, viewing some beautiful sunsets in a rustic reserve.

Most gardeners and other visitors are highly friendly and respectful of others, and most of their gardening needs are readily addressed thanks to Steve Spooner and other volunteers.

Jon Morgan’s South 80 XXX Habanero Peach Hot Sauce

NOTE: I use a turkey burner and cook outside. Use gloves when handling the peppers (I learned this lesson the hard way!).

INGREDIENTS

10-12 large Habanero Peppers chopped and seeded (Use Gloves!!!)

1 can 15-oz sliced peaches

2 cloves garlic minced

1/4 cup chopped white onion

1/2 cup molasses

1/4 cup yellow mustard

1/2 cup brown sugar

2 tablespoons salt

1 tablespoon paprika

1 tablespoon pepper

1 tablespoon ground cumin

1/2 tablespoon coriander seed

2 cups apple cider vinegar (or white distilled) 2 cups water

INSTRUCTIONS

Combine all ingredients in a large sauce pan. Bring to a boil. Turn heat down and simmer 10-15 minutes. Remove from heat and let cool for 15 minutes. Use a blender to blend the mixture until smooth and liquefied. You can add vinegar to thin consistency if too thick. Let cool completely and bottle in sterilized sauce jars or mason jars. Store in refrigerator. It should be good for several months.

Community

Area Restaurants Pivot During Lockdown

By Rex Bevis

As the lockdown during the March – June timeframe impacted all of us, especially hard hit were our Mariemont area restaurants. Barred from having indoor dining available to customers, carry-out became the theme until gradual re-openings commenced in June. How do these businesses survive, how do they adjust, how do they make their environments safe for employees and customers? I met with several of our local food service businesses to assess the situation.

The National Exemplar in the Mariemont Inn has been a Mariemont favorite since first opening their doors to the Community in 1983. Committed to providing a safe, enjoyable dining experience, the Exemplar “offers the freshest and highest-quality meals for breakfast, lunch and dinner. The health and safety of our guests, staff and community remain a top priority, and we continue to implement an extensive safety program.” After a period of closure when carryout became the norm, the Exemplar is now open for indoor and outdoor dining seven days a week.

Long-time Exemplar Manager Lisa Hopkins “invites our community to enjoy cooked-to-order

meals and unique specialty drinks through dinein, carry out and Uber Eats delivery. Beginning a full carryout and delivery program is one way we’ve expanded our offerings to meet guests’ needs. A new favorite is our homestyle Take & Bake Sunday Supper. Each week we feature a different delightful, multi-course supper for you and your family to take home and enjoy!”

To learn about the steps the Exemplar is taking to ensure a safe dine-in and to-go experience, and to view our hours, menus and specials, visit nationalexemplar.com.

Lisa was quick to add, “as a neighborhood restaurant for more than 37 years, The National Exemplar would also like to especially thank all of our neighborhood friends and families. The support and love we continue to receive means the world to us!”

Echoing Lisa Hopkins’ comments, Dilly Cafe’s General Manager Beth Ward told me “the Community has been hugely supportive” during the lockdown and subsequent re-opening period. During closure, the Dilly offered, and continues to offer, curbside meal pickup and introduced specials such as “Wednesday Wing Night.”

The Dilly also offers Door Dash and Grub Hub delivery options. After being closed to in-store dining, the Dilly opened for patio dining in midJune, electing to not yet open inside.

Just above the Dilly, Susan Knabb operates The Sweeterie offering cupcakes and other pastries. Susan has modified her business by

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Groovy Gumball invites visitors with a new signboard on Wooster Pike.

Restaurants (from previous page)

implementing a call-in ordering system. Susan and her team will bring your order out to your car. Closed for a while during lockdown, The Sweeterie re-opened in mid-June, featuring posting of cupcake pictures on her front window and an enhanced web presence. After meeting with Susan, I couldn’t leave without purchasing a cupcake (or two).

Bridgett Karlson’s Groovy Gumball, just down the sidewalk behind the Dilly and The Sweeterie, has pivoted quite a bit during lockdown. Bridgett closed until mid-June and took the opportunity to re-brand the business. She redesigned the interior of the store and added a significant ice cream presence by partnering with a famous ice cream maker in Wisconsin. Bridgett informs me that the ice cream “is made from good old Wisconsin cream from grass fed cows and touts being hormone and antibiotic free.”

Although a small store, Groovy Gumball is able to carry 30 of their flavors and is looking for a larger space to carry even more. This ice cream has been featured on The Food Network and has won multiple awards from the National Ice Cream Retailers Association, including Flavor of the Year and Best Flavors. Bridgett advises me that

the ice cream is “low air, making it super creamy and smooth.” Fun bestsellers are “Fat Elvis,” “Exhausted Parent,” and “Kitty Kitty Bang Bang.”

Fifty West Brewpub transformed themselves during this period. Many readers will recall that the retail food service facility located on Wooster Pike just east of Mariemont in Columbia Township had been a pizza restaurant, Pizzelli’s. Well prior to the lockdown, Pizzelli’s had closed and the facility was vacant. Fifty West Brewpub owner Bobbie Slattery envisioned a hamburger establishment with a retro theme similar to what he had seen during travels east and west on US 50. Each small town seemed to sport a local, not chain, hamburger establishment.

The Burger Bar at the former Pizzelli’s opened just prior to the lockdown. But, Bobbie and his Vice President of Strategy and Operations Max Fram pushed forward with their concept. Ramping up their website for online ordering, they began grilling hamburgers and selling them for customer pick-up. Business flourished with customers craving the burgers during the lockdown.

Next steps included converting the outside

area of the restaurant facility to outdoor dining by constructing a large tent and purchasing picnic tables as well as shade umbrellas. Max proudly told me, “we ordered picnic tables from Germany. They were shipped to Tampa and then on to Cincinnati. We bought as many as we could get!”

The retro burger concept has been wildly successful, catering to family groups with their State-themed Burgers. There is a ‘smashburger’ for each State along the US 50 highway from Maryland to California. The “Ohio” features a chili and cheese topping. Additionally, the large outside area still supports active volleyball play and a fenced area will be available for Futsol in the Fall.

Our area restaurants have made the adjustments that they needed to make in order to serve us. They work diligently to be safe for both employees and customers. They are happy with the support you have given them during the COVID-19 lockdown and subsequent period of restricted service capacity.

Whether you choose take-out, delivery service, or dine in, please continue to support our local restaurants and food providers.

By Kim Beach

A Space for the Community: The Madison Place

The Madison Place’s Grand Opening will be September 5th on the corner of Plainville and Grace (the recently renovated Howard’s/Bailey’s Hardware store). Briana Cohen, the special events coordinator for the Madison Place, gave the Town Crier a tour of the new space and the beautifully finished apartments that will be available above the coffee shop.

The Madison Place is so much more than a coffee shop! The space includes several different “rooms” that house different purposes. The “Café” will have comfortable tables and booths for its guests. It will serve a full coffee menu, smoothies and eventually a light breakfast and lunch menu. The “Lounge” will be a spot to relax and listen to soft music provided by the grand piano. It will have comfy seating with an art deco flair. There will also be a conference room with a library feel that will be available for local businesses

and organizations to use for meetings for a nominal charge.

The Madison Place Community Church bought the building about 6 years ago and started the renovation work in 2018. Their main goal is to be a “hub” for the community and ideally the “third space” (home/work/ third space) for area residents. They envision the space to facilitate all kinds of possibilities: high school art classes/art shows, poetry

nights, and any other event that can bring folks together.

Nathan Standeford is the manager of the project and has been intricately involved in the build out and style decisions. There is a full-time staff of five employees and an additional 15 part-time volunteer roster. The hours will be M-Th from 6 a.m.-9 p.m,, Fri. 6 a.m.-10 p.m., Sat. 7 a.m.-10 p.m., and Sun. 8 a.m.-4 p.m.

The group is also finishing four apartment units that will be available on the second floor of the building. There will be two one-bedroom units, one two-bedroom unit and a studio that will be available on Airbnb.com. The spaces are light, open and beautifully finished.

For more information, visit themadisonplace.com or catch them on Instagram @the_madisonplace.

Village

MPF Offers a Twist on This Year’s ‘Taste of Mariemont’

By Mary Beth York

It certainly is disappointing that due to the COVID-19, the Mariemont Preservation Foundation (MPF) will not be hosting the traditional Taste of Mariemont this year. But MPF sees this as an opportunity to switch things up a bit…to have a “Reverse” Taste of Mariemont where we show our support and appreciation to the food vendors who have consistently partnered with MPF!

to vendors. Food gift cards are available in denominations of $25, $50 & $100 from: Graeter’s, LaRosa’s Pizzeria, Mac’s Pizza Pub, The Quarter Bistro, Mango Tree, and The National Exemplar.

During the month of September, MPF will offer gift cards from our local food vendors at a 10% discount, with MPF donating the difference

Residents can purchase the gift cards either by filling out and dropping off the insert included in this issue of Town Crier – along with a check – to MPF, OR order and pay online through the MPF Gift Shop: https:// mariemontpreservation.org. Limit $200 per household. Available while supplies last.

As an added perk, MPF will hold a raffle of items from its Gift Shop. MPF will draw winners

from the names of gift card purchasers, and will notify winners and deliver prizes. Please support our local food vendors and enjoy this year’s “reverse” Taste of Mariemont!

MPF Sponsorship Helps Keep Pool Open

The Board of Trustees of the Mariemont Preservation Foundation unanimously agreed on a $5,000 donation to the Village of Mariemont in support of opening the Mariemont Pool for the 2020 season.

In a thank you letter from Mayor Bill Brown to the Mariemont Preservation Foundation Board of Trustees, MPF was designated as the 2020 Pool Season Sponsor. Mayor Brown stated in his letter, “I am extremely grateful for your generous support of the Mariemont Swimming Pool this year. Your donation helped make it possible to open the pool for the 2020 season. Spending summers at the pool has been a long-standing treasured tradition in our Village. This summer has been especially significant with families having been cooped up at home since mid-March due to the coronavirus. Your donation as the Pool Season Sponsor truly made all the difference. You have made the children and families of Mariemont very happy!”

MPF is delighted to have been able to support the Mariemont Pool during this difficult time. Mariemont families, and particularly the children, need and deserved the swim pool this season more than ever.

Sincerely,

Rex Bevis, President Mariemont Preservation Foundation

A Pandemic Summer in Mariemont

Jules & Bing saluted our MHS 2020 grads and made monogrammed masks. Daily song and quarantine trivia was featured by the Dills.

The Beaches offered "finding" games.

Encouragement stones greeted passersby at the corner of Mound & Miami

Student "wishes" adorned a tree at ME.

A student's wish for "a good year blows" from a branch of the "wishing tree" at Mariemont Elementary.

Many families celebrated milestones with drive-by parades.

Mariemont Will Soon Welcome

The Emery Restaurant to The Square

By Suzy Weinland

We’ve all heard the rumblings about a new “seafood” restaurant that is slated to open in the Square. While COVID-19 slowed

Emerg

down construction and deliveries for a while, things are back on track for The Emery, according to Nancy Parrott, marketing director for the Looking Glass Hospitality Group, owners of the establishment.

Fully B onded and Insured

South: (937) 436-4853 North (937) 890-8342

W ater R estoration- Offering 24 hour

emergency response. We have 7 dedicated trucked mounted extraction vehicles, 100 dehumidifiers and over 1000 fans. For large structural drying projects we use the unique Water Out process

G arment R estoration- Free pick up and delivery, as well as free storage. There is no charge for any item that is not successfully restored.

M old R emediation- Extensive experience in

microbial re mediation projects. We use a six step process. We also offer state of the art duct cleaning and indoor air quality testing.

F ire R estoration- Complete structural and

content cleaning, using ozone and thermal fogging techniques to remove odor We pack contents after cle aning and then store them in a climate controlled facility.

American Carpet Masters Is A

State of the Ar t Equipment

IICRC Cer ti ed T echnicians

24 Hour Emergency Respons e

Professional and Courteous Employ ees

Parrott shared some information about The Emery for our readers: “There’s only one Mariemont, and there’s only one Emery. Designed to be as special as the community it calls home, The Emery will bring a one-ofa-kind urban dining experience to the heart of this charming historic neighborhood. From the casual-yet-sophisticated firstfloor bar and lounge to the sophisticated upper-level dining room imbued with easy elegance, The Emery beckons you to sit down, relax, and enjoy.”

Emergency: (937) 604-2199

South: (937) 436-4853 North (937) 890-8342

4787 Ketter

W ater R esto

G arment R e

emergency response e mounted extraction d over 1000 fans Fo ts we use the unique

delivery, as well as free storage. There is no charge for any item that is not successfully restored.

M old R emed

microbial re mediation projects We use a six step process We also offer state of the art duct cleaning and indoor air quality testing

F ire R estora

As for the menu, Parrott said, “We’ll have something for everyone but the menu is seafood-focused. Our ‘boat to door in 24’ policy makes sure all of our seafood is shipped directly to our restaurant in less than one day, so it’s often even fresher than what you get on the coast.”

Stay tuned for updates and a spotlight on The Emery once it opens.

content cleaning, using ozone and thermal fogging techniques to remove odor. We pack contents after cle aning and then store them in a climate controlled

Community

Village Debuts New Website

The Village of Mariemont is excited to debut its new website at www.mariemont. org. In addition to being a location for Village news, policies and procedures, the website offers new online services for your convenience. You can create an account and sign up for email news blasts at https://www.mariemont. org/registration-2/#, buy pool and tennis memberships, pay taxes, reserve shelters, or pay for your South 80 garden plot. You will also find many of our public records online, including past legislation, pending legislation, council agendas and more.

Subscribe to the calendar to stay up to date on happenings in the Village. We hope that the new website brings residents the convenience and communication tools they have been missing.

Village News & Events for September / October

Fireworks & Outstanding Citizen Award

We are starting September off with a bang! Following the carillon concert at Dogwood Park

on September 6, around 8:30 p.m., Mayor Brown will recognize Mariemont’s outstanding citizen of the year with 2020’s Outstanding Citizen Award.  Immediately following will be our postponed Independence Day fireworks display. The fireworks will be combined with patriotic music provided by carillonneur Rick Watson. The musical prelude is scheduled to begin at 8:40 p.m. with fireworks to follow at 9 p.m.

Everyone is asked to walk to the park. If you must drive, please park in the Dale Park school parking lot.

There are to be NO alcoholic beverages at the event. Residents may not bring fireworks of any kind. Remember to allow enough space around you to maintain the social-distancing guidelines and please wear masks.

The Village is thankful for its generous residents and local organizations whose donations allow for events like this. It is not too late to donate to the fireworks fund. This year donations are more important than ever. Thank you for your cooperation and continued support!

Warrior Run:

The Warrior Run will be held virtually this year. Runners can still register, start a team, raise funds, and participate anytime between 9/26 and 10/10. For more information go to http:// cincywarriorrun.org/

Mariemont 5K:

The 2020 Mariemont 5K has been cancelled for 2020. Mark your calendars for the 30th

Annual Mariemont 5K on Sunday, May 30, 2021. Stay safe and keep moving!

The 22nd Flying Pig Marathon:

The Flying Pig marathon had been postponed from May and scheduled for October. That event has now been cancelled and will occur virtually instead. For more information go to http://flyingpigmarathon. com/

Mariemont Kiwanis Arts & Craft Fair, September 13:

The annual Kiwanis Art & Craft Fair is the largest fundraiser of the year for the Kiwanis Club of Mariemont. Held the second Sunday of September in the historic Village of Mariemont, the fair brings vendors from across the state with unique, one-of-a-kind crafts and goods. For over 30 years now, the Art & Craft Fair has brought thousands to beautiful, downtown Mariemont to shop nearly 100 vendors from across the Tri-State. From local art and woodworking, to

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handcrafted clothing and jewelry, you’ll find something for everyone! For more information go to http://www.mariemontkiwanis.org/artfair/

Leaf Collection:

Leaf season will start Monday, October 26, and go through December 18. The Village of Mariemont service department collects leaves weekly between October 26th and December 18th, and while they do not follow a set schedule they will collect your unbagged leaves at some point each week so please be patient. Leaf vacuum collection directions: Simply rake leaves to the front of your lawn near the curb (but NOT into the street) and the Village will collect them.

Community

Prior to October 26th and after December 18th, leaves must be bagged for pick up. Do not dump leaves in the swimming pool area. If you do not wish to wait for the leaf vacuum, bag the leaves in brown paper yard waste bags or a can marked “Yard Waste”( bags available at most hardware stores and Kroger) and place them at the curb after 6:00 p.m. the day before your pick up. They’ll be picked up by Rumpke on the same day your trash is collected. NO sticker needed. The week of Thanksgiving, November 23 through the 25, and the week of November 30 through December 4, leaf pick up will be light as the department prepares for Luminaria/tree lighting.

Halloween:

As of the time of this publication “trick-ortreat” is scheduled for October 31st from 6-8 p.m.  Please be sure to check our website and subscribe to our “Mariemont News and Alerts” email list for the latest Village updates. To register on our website and subscribe to Village email lists go to https://www.mariemont.org/ registration-2/#

News from the Administration Office

- The office is still closed to the public due to the pandemic. Thank you for your patience as we continue to be available by phone and email. We can be reached at 513-271-3246, option #3 from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday, or email the office at info@ mariemont.org anytime. The office will be closed on September 7th in observation of Labor Day.

- Please be aware that the Waldorf School plans to hold some classes outside. They will be using open tents which will be set up in the ballfield at Dale Park. These tents will be taken down nightly.

- As of July this year, you will see a line item on your water bill for a monthly waste fee. Please click here for more information. The trash stickers are still required. The trash and recycling contract with Rumpke renews at the end of the year. The Village is looking at the option of moving garbage pick-up to the curb.

- Please pick up after your pets. Not only is this a nuisance to our residents who enjoy walking and running in the Village but it is a health hazard to our neighbors and to other animals and beloved pets.

COVID-19 update: As of August 6, 2020 Hamilton County has improved from Level 3 (red) to Level 2 (orange) according to the latest update of the Ohio Public Health Advisory System. “Hamilton County is a success story. We partnered with community leaders to increase mask usage, social distancing, and testing in the community. Hamilton County implemented best practices, and as a result, has moved their numbers below the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) High Incidence thresholds,” Gov. Mike DeWine said in a news release. Please keep up efforts to help lower the spread of the virus by continuing to abide by the statewide mask mandate, avoid large gatherings, and maintain social-distancing.

Village News (from previous page)

The Mariemont School Foundation Celebrates the Spirit of Giving

Submitted by Stacie Holloway, Mariemont School Foundation President

The past six months have certainly been an unprecedented and challenging time for our community due to the Coronavirus health crisis, the closing of businesses and schools, the absence of summer sports and camp activities, and the heightened attention on social justice issues.

In the midst of these challenges, members of the Mariemont School District have

demonstrated an enormous capacity to give in large and small ways to support our neighbors, our local businesses, and our schools. We are a community that truly looks out for one another. As an example of this generosity, the Mariemont School Foundation is proud to share that through the end of the 2019-2020 school year, our district families and alumni contributed:

• Nearly $24,000 to our Annual Fund Drive, which supports academic initiatives across all four District schools;

• More than $25,000 to our Angel Fund since mid-March to provide Kroger gift cards to District families with significant financial needs and to provide hotspot access to ensure all students have remote learning access;

• More than $437,000 to our High School Capital Campaign to provide the District with private funds to enhance elements of the high school construction project not included in the base design.

As we head into the start of the 2020-2021 school year, the Foundation wants to express its gratitude to Superintendent Estepp and to all faculty and staff at our district schools for working so diligently to maintain a high-level of instruction and engagement throughout this time.

We also want to express our commitment to community members that the Foundation will continue to work in partnership with the District to raise the funds it needs to maintain academic

excellence and to ensure our teachers and students have the resources they need to succeed. We encourage those who have the capacity to give to our Annual Fund Drive this year to do so. You may access a donation link at our website (https://www.mariemontschoolfoundation.org/). Your contributions are needed more than ever.

On behalf of all of the Trustees at the Foundation, I want to thank you for your continued generosity and support for our District and its legacy of academic excellence.

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

Community

Girl Scouts Bridge to Senior Scouts, Earn Awards

By Emma Aiello, Troop 40829 Senior Girl Scout

Ninth grade Girl Scouts in Troop 40829 are bridging to Senior Girl Scouts this month. There are nine girls bridging, and they all are excited to see what comes next in their GS journey.

To finish out the year as Cadettes, three of these girls earned their Silver Awards: Emma Aiello, Jillian Chen and Brynna O’Brien. To earn their Silver Award, the troop decided to focus on helping the community deal with COVID-19 in various ways. They delivered trash stickers, became pen pals with younger kids, made care packages, sewed buttons on headbands for nurses, and posted signs of encouragement throughout the Village.

Unfortunately, Troop 40829’s Chicago trip scheduled for this past spring was postponed until next May. They are anxiously awaiting their trip, and can’t wait to travel!

Warrior Run 2020 Goes Virtual

We are in a mental health crisis and 1N5 is working to address the drastic increase in the need for resources and programs during the pandemic. The uncertainty of COVID-19 is taking an enormous toll on the mental health of our youth, their educators and caregivers. The Warrior Run supports the work of 1N5 through participant support, storytelling and fundraising.

In order to protect the health and safety of participants and fans, the 11th annual Warrior Run: The Race for Life has been changed to a virtual event. The 5K or 1 Mile Walk can be completed anytime between September 26 and October 10, 2020. Participants can register individually, create a team or join at team at http://cincywarriorrun.org

This year’s theme of Find Your Path to health, both physical and mental, supports 1N5’s mission of optimal mental health for local youth. Runners and walkers are encouraged to share their path via social media and the Warrior Run website.

The Warrior Run benefits Adapting for Life, a Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center program and is used to provide mental health education programs in schools in the Greater Cincinnati area. For information about Adapting for Life: www.cincinnatichildrens.org/service/a/ suicide-awareness/outreach-program.

Community

MariElders September 2020

MariElders, your local senior center, has been closed due to the pandemic since March 23, 2020. Our doors will remain closed until the Ohio Department of Aging and Governor DeWine allow us to reopen.

So how are our local seniors doing during this pandemic? Overall, they are healthy and staying safely indoors. However, most are bored out of their minds, and missing their friends and family. The isolation is difficult, especially when online events and Zoom meetings aren’t easy to understand – and, let’s face it, it’s just not the same as sitting with your friends, playing Canasta.

What is MariElders doing during this closure?

First, our van is always running! We will take our members – individually and in a constantly cleaned vehicle – to the grocery, haircuts, doctor appointments, and anywhere else our members need to go!

Second, we have partnered with The

National Exemplar to provide delicious lunches to our members!

Third, we are still offering activities… they are just virtual now. Book Clubs, Art Classes, Tai Chi, and more!

What can YOU do to help our local seniors?

Call them! If you have a family member or neighbor that has been isolated due to this pandemic, please call them. They will welcome the conversation. Offer to do something specific for them. Offer to pick up groceries for them when you are headed to the grocery store. Offer to mow their lawn, or carry their cat litter, or take out their garbage

cans every week, or run to a non-grocery store for them – like Ace, or the post office (there is one inside Ace), or a specialty food or pet store - so they don’t have to expose themselves to so many germs.

If you know of a senior who could use the services that MariElders offers, or if you are over 55 years old and want to become a member to enjoy our free services, please call 271-5588!

We look forward to the day we can safely reopen our doors to our many active seniors in our area!

Special thank you’s to:

Ritze’s Auto Service – making donations to our center “to keep our neighbors safe”. National Exemplar – for feeding our members with amazingly delicious lunches. Mariemont Preservation Foundation – for donating toward our new stairlift. Mariemont Civic Association – for donating toward our new stairlift.

Community Sleeping Essentials for Seniors

By Kim Flick, MariElders Transportation Coordinator

Another day complete. Lights out, feet under the sheet, eyelids closing, and sleep is on its way. And sleep is on its way… okay, be patient… it will come… According to the American Psychological Association, over half of older adults report problems related to sleep.

Some folks lie down and off they go to dreamland, but maybe they awaken at 2 a.m. and cannot get back to sleep. Others wait for sleep to come, but it doesn’t. Or some sleep and awaken at a usual time, but feel groggy and unrested.

We can all agree - sleep is important. In terms of our health, our brain and body require an average of eight hours in order to restore optimum efficiency, build new cells, heal, and support our immune system. Here are the effects of sleep deprivation, according to Web MD:

• Memory problems

• Feelings of depression

• Weakened immune system

• Increased feelings of pain

• Higher risk of high blood pressure, diabetes, heart attack, or obesity

• Lower sex drive

• Wrinkled skin and dark circles under your eyes

• Overeating and weight gain

• Bad decision-making

As we get older, our ability to stay asleep does go down. We tend to produce less of the sleep hormone melatonin and our circadian rhythms shift, sending us to bed earlier and awakening earlier. Also, slow-wave sleep

seems to decline as we age – perhaps due to inactivity.

Practicing good “sleep hygiene” can help. Some basic tips:

• Avoid drinking two hours before bedtime -to reduce bathroom trips

• A light, healthy snack can help -but avoid eating a big meal

• Limit use of electronics an hour or so before bed

• Maintain a regular bedtime and waking schedule - even on the weekend

• Avoid alcohol and caffeine -both can affect slumber

• Get some daily exercise -stretches, walking, light yoga -early in the day

• Consider replacing your mattress -take a family member or friend along to shop for one

• A warm bath can relax sore muscles and a cool bedroom helps too

• Sleep safely. Your mind will be more at ease if you have smoke alarms on each floor of your home.

• Before going to bed be sure your windows and the doors that lead outside are locked. Other tips:

• Keep a phone with emergency numbers by your bed

• Have a lamp within reach that’s easy to turn on

• Put a glass of fresh water next to the bed in case you wake up thirsty

• Remove area rugs so you won’t trip if you do get up during the night

A couple of mental games to help you fall asleep:

• Write down your worries in a journal before you go to bed and plan to deal with them tomorrow.

• Some positive thoughts before sleep can help.

• Count backward from 100, or envision your favorite vacation spot.

• Try relaxing your body starting at your toes and work section by section to the top of your head.

• If after 20 minutes you are still awake and not drowsy, get out of bed.

• Listen to calming music or read a relaxing book for a short time.

• Keep the light level low and try again in a little while.

Consistent insomnia can be a sign of bigger health problems. Sleep Apnea, chronic pain, a traumatic event, depression, or a side effect of medications are just a few things that can impact sleep. It’s important to discuss sleep problems with your primary care physician. Sleep clinics offer on-line and at-home sleep studies you may consider looking into.

Prescription and over-the-counter sleep aids may help when used for a short time, but they can create undesirable side effects. Lingering drowsiness and dizziness can cause falls and hip fractures. Mental fuzziness or confusion can impair driving and decision making. Dependency and addiction can cause agitation and depression. It is essential to understand that sleep medications are not a cure for insomnia.

Take charge of your sleep health. Get more out of your nights -so you can get more out of your days!

Make Spirits Bright with the 2020 Luminaria Stroll

Mark your calendars! Mariemont’s annual Luminaria is scheduled to take place on Saturday, December 5 from 5:30-7:30 p.m. Join your neighbors, family and friends for a socially distant and festive night as luminarias light up the Village of Mariemont!

In order to meet social distance guidelines, there will be no gathering in the Old Town Square this year. Instead, the Luminaria Stroll will light up our streets and local landmarks throughout the Village, including the Bell Tower, Wooster Pike, Old Town Square, and new this year, Trolley Turnaround Park and the Concourse at Miami Bluff. Rumor has it Santa will be making a magical journey through town on his sleigh that night, so stay tuned for his route!

Additionally, MPPG is pleased to announce (and can’t wait to see) Mariemont’s first official House Decorating Contest!

Channel your inner Clark Griswold and show

off your skills the

The deadline to order your Luminaria kits and enter the House Decorating Contest is Sunday, October 25. Orders may be placed at https://www.mariemontppg.com/luminaria or through paper order forms included in the October Town Crier. A limited number of kits will also be available for an additional charge at the Boy Scout Christmas Tree Sale (located at the Mariemont Municipal Building/ Firehouse) on November 27, November 28, and December 5.

This year’s Luminaria proceeds will benefit St. Joseph School, the Mariemont School District Angel Fund, and other community projects. Please contact Joanna Manon or Christine Rhode at mariemontluminaria@gmail.com with any questions. Thank you for your support!

night of Luminaria. The winner will receive bragging rights and a gift card to a Mariemont business.

Kiwanis Needs You

We are so looking forward to Fall and the start of school (whatever the form). Like everyone we have adjusted and have been working remotely and meeting weekly via Zoom. We hope to begin meeting face to face soon, but will continue to Zoom or adopt a hybrid plan this fall.

We have mixed news about our fundraisers:

• The Arts and Craft Fair in Mariemont is still on schedule for Sunday, Sept 13, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Exhibitors, staff, and customers will be required to wear masks and maintain 6ft social distance. Booths will be spaced to accommodate this. Plans are still being finalized for the layout and walking paths. Let’s all pray for good weather and the opportunity for a great event.

• Our Golf tournament is being combined with Fairfax and is set for Sept 27.

• The Fairfax Fall Festival is canceled this year, so no Kiwanis Beer Truck this year.

Our scholarship winners continue to be our focus, and we have added two new grant winners as some have graduated. In spite of the loss of some fundraisers, we continue to have resources. College, in whatever form, is still on and so are we.

Some of the other school programs we provide are being affected as well. The schools will not be accessible to visitors (beyond the office) so our direct face-to-face engagements will be delayed.

We have now established a Charitable Foundation, Kiwanis of Mariemont Children’s Fund, which is a 501(c)3 to support the efforts of our club. This will take the pressure off of our future fundraising events as our only source of funding. This is positive news as upcoming events

could be unexpectedly canceled due to the latest COVID-19 numbers.

If you are looking for an opportunity to volunteer in a group with a good mission, consider joining us for a Zoom meeting. Please email Lance Hollander, lhollander@

mariemontschools.org for the link. We meet every Tuesday at 7:45 a.m. for 45 minutes. Our September speaker topics will include: the Mariemont City School Restart Plan, a high school construction update, BEWell initiative and broadcast/esports.

Village

What is a Sundown Town?

By Jacob Mantle and Stephanie Renner

This summer Mariemont became one of the many cities and towns around the Nation to experience messages and marches surrounding the outcry over racism that was sparked by the death of George Floyd. Below is an historical and factual look at “sundown towns” – how they came to be termed as such, and whether Mariemont could have been one. This article was proposed, researched, and written by MHS graduates Jacob Mantle (’19) and Stephanie Renner (’18). Photos of the Black Lives Matter rally and march in Mariemont were taken by MHS graduate Bailey Vianello (’16).

According to a local librarian near Iowa in the 1960s, “A black family stopped on the edge of town with car trouble. Some local men gathered quickly to ‘stop the agitators from wrecking the town.’ Even though they found an innocent family instead, they saw fit to ‘scare them out of town.’ It was a ‘get your car fixed and go’ confrontation. I heard that one of the white men even shot a ‘warning shot’ over the car just to make his point clear.” - Sundown Towns: A Hidden Dimension of American Racism ~ Dr. James Loewen

Could situations like this have occurred in Mariemont? Did African Americans have to fear for their lives in this community, even when innocently passing through, just because of their skin color?

The term “sundown town” may not have been familiar to many Mariemont residents until recently.

According to Logan Jaffe, former New York Times and current ProPublica reporter, sundown towns include any community that did not welcome African Americans and other minorities in their town. Sundown towns practiced segregation through laws, violence and intimidation to keep minorities out, both before and after sundown. Many posted signs advising African Americans: "Don't Let The Sun Go Down On You In (this town)."

According to Dr. James Loewen, a professor and researcher of sundown towns, these towns were common across America from postReconstruction until at least the 1960s, a time he refers to in his book as the “Nadir of race relations.”

Mariemont was not immune to protests regarding race relations sparked by the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis. “Sundown Town” was graffitied on a monument dedicated to Charles Livingood, the main developer of Mariemont, on June 9, 2020. (Photo from an anonymous community member)

He writes in Sundown Towns: A Hidden Dimension of American Racism, “Even though Sundown Towns were everywhere, almost no literature exists on the topic.” This quote continues to hold truth after searching through Mariemont’s little-recorded history of race relations.

There is little written evidence overall of any

racial encounters, disputes or violence since its founding almost 100 years ago. In most preserved documents, there was little documentation suggesting race was a topic discussed in the community, until recently.

The National Register of Historic Places nomination document states that people of African and Asian descent were prohibited from renting or purchasing deeds from the Mariemont Company, established to manage construction and finances for Mary Emery.

The Mariemont Preservation Foundation (MPF) provided the original deed restrictions document created by the company in 1925. It states, “No lot shall be sold, conveyed, rented, leased or mortgaged to or occupied, except as a house servant, by a person of African or Asiatic descent.” This policy legally ended with the Civil Rights Act of 1968.

Census records, one of Loewen’s main tools to categorize a town as “sundown,” illustrate the historic near absence of Black people in Mariemont based on available census records. After searching the MPF, official census

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documents and the Village office, it was difficult to locate records prior to 1990 that had any racial identification. Only after the passage of the 1997 Racial Policy was there information regarding racial identity in the U.S. Census.

The higher living cost in Mariemont was a result of expensive materials used in construction, according to Canadian researcher Bradley Cross in his 2004 article published in Planning Perspectives.

engage in conversation about race in Mariemont. From 2001-04, Linda Bartlett, a current community member, and Courtney Caron, led Neighbor to Neighbor in Mariemont, in part of a larger initiative.

According to 1990 census records from the MPF, one African American resided in Mariemont. In 2000, 34; and as of 2010, 55 Black people lived in Mariemont.

The paucity of Black people in Mariemont may be due to the increased housing costs beginning shortly after Mariemont’s founding.

At a 1925 stockholders meeting, Charles Livingood quotes the Better Housing League of Cincinnati’s report, “‘Begun in a period of high building costs [Mariemont], their rents are higher than the [Mariemont] Company expected.’”

Mary Emery envisioned a community for the working family and this goal was originally

achieved, says Carlton Hill Jr. in “A Dream Come True,” A Brief History of Mariemont. In 1925, Mariemont accommodated families with different incomes with multiple apartment styles that rented for $25-$75 a month.

Hill Jr. writes, “This [the variety of rental costs] was accomplished at first, but now it is known as an area of high housing costs, as well as high housing standards.”

More recently, there have been efforts to

According to The Cincinnati Enquirer, the objective of the Neighbor to Neighbor program was to “conduct solution-oriented conversation on race in every neighborhood in Greater Cincinnati.”

Although his research is mostly filled with facts and oral histories, Loewen acknowledges a hope for future research in the younger generation in school, explaining, “The study of sundown towns across the nation can lead classes into exploration of the often unexamined role of race in their daily lives. It likewise opens the door to more general discussions of questions of racism in society.”

The association of Mariemont with the term “sundown town” opens questions that can be posed about Mariemont’s past and provide an opportunity to learn more about the town’s written and unwritten history regarding race relations. Additionally, it may inspire individuals to reflect on their lives, and question how unspoken biases and policies affect them today.

For further reading and resources: Sundown Towns: A Hidden Dimension of American Racism, James Loewen

https://bit.ly/37v7KlT “Shedding Light on Sundown Towns: ProPublica Illinois Investigates,” PBS

https://bit.ly/2MUroyq “The Roots of Route 66,” The Atlantic

https://bit.ly/2EUJmQq “Does my Town have a Racist Past?,” James Loewen

https://bit.ly/3a48hfU “Early Marketing, Rentals and Sales by the Mariemont Company,” Mariemont Preservation Foundation

Census Year Total

Population of the Village of Mariemont

Total AfricanAmerican Residents

1990 3118 1

2000 3408 34

2010 3403 55

As seen from these numbers via the United States Census Bureau, Mariemont continues to be occupied by a majority of white residents year after year. In 2010, about 1.6% of Mariemont’s population was composed of African Americans.

Photos by Bay Vianello, www.bayvianello.com

Sundown Town (from previous page)

Woman’s Art Club Cultural Center

Welcome Back to the Gallery for these Exciting Upcoming Exhibits

The Barn’s gallery re-opened August 29, with social distancing and mask required. At a time when we’re all tired of “virtual” art and art exhibits, The Barn (Woman’s Art Club Cultural Center) at 6980 Cambridge Ave. in Mariemont, is once again hosting in-person art exhibits in the gallery. Please come see the wide array of artwork and support our local adult and student artists!

Falling for Color

Local artist Bonita Williams Goldberg will present her solo show September 9-16 The exhibit will include new paintings of fall imagery, small works, mugs, Artspiration books, stationery, and sale items. Hours are 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and 1-4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

Please sign in when you enter The Barn and wear a mask; 10 people at a time will be admitted. Artist will be on hand to welcome you to this special exhibit.

Robert

Artist Biography: Bonita says “color is my voice , painting is my language. I am driven by the challenge, excitement, discoveries and sometimes disappointments of having my images expressed on canvas. My art begins in my heart and hopefully communicates the balance, force, wellness and harmony that I see in my life.” She is influenced by Helen Frankenthaler, Rothko, Diego Rivera, Georgia O’Keeffe and Wolf Kahn.

Bonita is a native of Southwest Ohio. She resides and works in Fairfield Ohio. She is known for her color-field abstracts and landscapes. She graduated from Thomas Moore College and also studied at the College of Mt St Joseph, Cincinnati Art Academy, and graduate studies at Miami University. Steve Perucca, Wolf Kahn, Michael Scott, Greg Storer, Lela Cooney, Cole Carothers, Kevin T Kelly, and John Nartker are some others that Bonita studied with.

Bonita has also been employed as an art consultant at Works of Art Gallery, Closson’s Art Gallery (11 years) Art on Symmes, and most recently at Eisele Gallery. She has also taught at the Fitton Center for the Arts, as well as private students. www. bonitawilliamsgoldberg.com, 513 272-3700 or 513-658-8296

Mariemont, Ukraine Students to Again Exhibit Artwork

Students from K-12 in the Mariemont School District are participating in the second

annual International Artwork Exchange! In conjunction with the Cincinnati Kharkiv Sister City partnership, Mariemont students will have their artwork displayed alongside the work of students from Kharkiv, Ukraine, in The Barn’s loft.

The local exhibit will take place at the Woman's Art Club and Cultural Center from September 9 -16. Open to the public, viewing will be from 1 – 5 p.m. on Sept. 9, 10, 11, 15 and 16 and 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. on Sept. 12. Keep an eye out for more details at artatthebarn. com, on the Mariemont Arts Association Facebook page, and on the Mariemont City Schools website.

There will be 120 works on display, 60 from each country. This year's theme is "Transportation," and the artwork is exceptional! All of the work will then travel to Kharkiv, Ukraine, where it will be on display later this school year. The artwork from Mariemont will be returned sometime after the Ukrainian show.

"Coral Woods" (oil) by Bonita Williams

Woman’s Art Club Cultural Center

Mariemont's Art Teachers have again been working with Ukrainian art teacher Sergei Grichanok and his colleagues from Kharkiv's Lyceum of the Arts magnet school. This special exhibit is possible because of generous sponsorship by the Mariemont Arts Association and

partnerships with The Barn and the CKSCP.

Come and see what makes us unique, and also the wonderful things we have in common. All are welcome to view this free show - a partnership of creativity!

Big Art

This October, The Barn is amping up the excitement with a Big Art Show. The goal of this exhibition is to showcase works that are usually excluded from other exhibitions due to size. Presented by the

Big Art Collaborative. More details coming soon!

Woman’s Art Club of Cincinnati

All Member

Show

Drawing works from the Woman’s Art Club’s more than 200 members, this annual October show and sale promises to be an exciting exhibition of exceptional works. More details coming soon!

“Moo”ve Over Old Bessie

Have you noticed the new “Bessie” cow outside The Barn? It was built by residents Michael Ring and Maria Bailey. Can you “spot” anything special about her?

Barn (from previous page)

Regular Council Meeting

August 10, 2020

Mayor Brown called the meeting to order at 6:37 p.m. Present was Mr. Bartlett. Present virtually due to the COVID-19 pandemic were Dr. Lewis, Mrs. Rankin, Mr. Stelzer, Assistant Fire Chief Feichtner, Solicitor McTigue and Fiscal Officer Borgerding. The absence of Mrs. Graves and Ms. Palazzolo was excused.

Minutes from the regular Council meeting on July 27, 2020 were accepted. Monthly reports were read from Police, Fire, Maintenance, Pool, Treasurer, and Tax Office.

Mr. Bartlett responded to Tax Administrator Darrah’s report, saying we are getting a clearer picture of the income side of the picture, which is coming in lower. He believes Fiscal Officer Borgerding did a good job budgeting that for the 2021 budget. Fiscal Officer Borgerding said quarterly estimates should be going out in the mail soon and hopefully we see an increase in the next month or two. Mr. Stelzer asked if Fiscal Officer Borgerding could get an update on where we are with the 2019 tax returns.

Mayor Brown said there was an email from a resident dated July 31, 2020, with concerns regarding COVID -19 at Mercy St. Theresa. He forwarded to the Assistant Fire Chief for his response as we need to be very careful of HIPAA regulations and privacy. Mr. Rosenthal then reached out to Mr. Stelzer, as Chairman of Health and Recreation Committee.

Mr. Stelzer said the code does not specifically address the pandemic’s function. The term used is function not responsibility. The question is: should one of the committees of Council look at the Covid-19 issue and follow-up? Usually, when something is referred to a committee it tends to follow the outline of functions and also to take advantage of whatever skill set we might have on Council at that point in time.

Mayor Brown said we have to walk a fine line with the privacy issues. It is possible to put in the Rules & Law Committee for review and construct what would the proper Village response be.

Solicitor McTigue said he has not seen

Village Government

the emails but it seems like a fairly general request. He said it probably as is simple as whatever the State tell us to do as far as Covid-19 preparedness is sufficient.

Mr. Bartlett suggested forwarding the emails to the Solicitor and have him give the Village an opinion. Council agreed that the Solicitor should provide the Village with directive should there be further action needed. Mrs. Rankin said we have been listening to the State, County Officials and the Board of Health. Mr. Stelzer said to date the Mayor has been the lead. Solicitor McTigue said the response to Mr. Rosenthal should come from the Mayor. Mayor Brown said he did respond initially saying he was having the Assistant Fire Chief respond due to the fact that he was in the best position to make the best response – and he believes he did so very well. The resident wants additional information and he is not certain that the Village is in a position to provide that information.

Mrs. Rankin moved, seconded by Mr. Bartlett to pay the bills as approved by the Mayor, Fiscal Officer and Chairman of the Finance Committee. Mr. Stelzer asked if the tree removal/stump removal hit the top of the budget for the year. Mayor Brown said there is more of that coming but he believes the bulk of what has been done so far will probably represent what was to be done. Mr. Stelzer asked if the work was of monetary magnitude. Mayor Brown said he will check with Superintendent Scherpenberg. Mayor Brown also said there was a bill that caught us by surprise for the ladder truck. It needed $15,000 in repair work. Assistant Fire Chief Feichtner said the springs on the rear of the truck had cracks in the area of the bolts that needed to be replaced. It is natural wear and tear on a truck of this age.

Council Representatives

Rob Bartlett robbartlettcouncil@gmail.com

Avia Graves aviagraves@gmail.com

Marcy Lewis marcylewiscouncil@gmail.com

Maggie Palazzolo magpal00@gmail.com

Kelly Rankin kellrankincouncil@gmail.com

Mayor: Bill Brown mayor@mariemont.org

Mrs. Rankin gave a verbal update on the Public Works and Service Committee which met to discuss the Right-of-Way Ordinance drafted by Frost Brown Todd. Right now the Committee feels the Marble Cliff Ordinance is the best template to use. The focus right now is the fee structure for gathering the annual fee for presence in the right-of-way. Village Engineer Ertel is going to have a conversation with the engineer from Marble Cliff to work out the best way to approach the fees and finalize our plan so we can get the ordinance prepared and submitted to PUCO to start the 45-day clock. She is hopeful to have the legislation ready for inclusion in the next Council packet.

Mayor Brown said as a follow-up to the

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conversation Council had at the last Council meeting regarding Waldorf School and outdoor classrooms with tents. Said tents will be put up and taken down every day. They want to use the pool parking lot for drop off which will not conflict with pool hours. The issue we have to decide is the port-alet to be placed in Ann Buntin Becker Park by the garden area. Besides the concerns of locking it at night and securing it, there also has to be a place where children can wash their hands. He is not sure how they provide that with a port-a-let. Mr. Stelzer said the company that supplies the port-a-let can provide a portable hand washing station with soap and towels. The need for both would probably go into late fall. The responsibility to provide trash containers for the towels would go to Waldorf School.

Mr. Stelzer said as far as the South 80, the kids will be dropped off at the parking lot of the pool and then walk back to school at the end of the day for pick-up. They received permission to use the Little Miami Conservancy if they want to. Dr. Lewis asked if they will be using the pool facilities. Mr. Stelzer said they will not be able to use the pool because the umbrellas and chairs will be stored in that area. He does not know if they

Village Government

are looking into a port-a-let at the South 80.

Council agreed to allow the port-a-let at Ann Buntin Becker Park provided it is attached to the fence and securely locked at night. Dr. Lewis recommended putting notice on Nextdoor Mariemont and the website so residents know that the school has talked with the Mayor and Council is agreeable to doing this. She can see residents having concerns about this during COVID-19. Mr. Stelzer said we need to make sure they are going to sanitize the port-a-let on a daily basis.

Mayor Brown said Columbia Township has expressed an interest and desire to enter into discussions regarding fire protection. There are many ways and options that need to be explored. There have been several conversations between Mr. Bartlett, Chief Hines, Mr. Kubicki, Mayor Brown – and the problem has been there are too many cross conversations going on. We need to have a centralized point of contact to talk about potential options and then give the details of any given option to Council. Mr. Bartlett agreed and said we should talk about what the process will look like. Clearly all of Council will weigh in on whatever options may be discussed. Mrs. Rankin

recommended that it should be Mayor Brown. Council voted unanimously that the point person should be Mayor Brown. Mayor Brown said obviously Council will be involved in this whole process. Solicitor McTigue stressed that this is an issue that will require as much transparency as possible. Mr. Stelzer said we have to be very careful with communications of this type because of rumor mills.

Garden Club Meetings On Hold for Now

By Judy Kagrise, Treasurer

On a fine evening in July, six officers of the Mariemont Garden Club met in Hopkins Park to plan programs, committees, hostesses, and more, for our next fiscal year, which typically begins in September.

The planning meeting was delightful, with our lawn chairs in a circle in the shade, six feet apart, on lush green grass, with not a weed in sight! We wore our masks, except while enjoying crackers and lemonade, and sat until the sun went down – with no mosquitoes. How fortunate we are to have such a beautiful park available to us; just another one of the many lovely gems of Mariemont.

Because of COVID-19 the club has not been able to meet since our longplanned 80th Anniversary Celebration held at The Barn on March 4, 2020. There was no April meeting, Plant Sale, or June Luncheon at the Inn this year. We have even decided not to meet this September and will re-evaluate by October. We usually meet at The Barn at 1 p.m. on the first Wednesday of the month, and visitor guests are always very welcome.

Village Mariemont BSA Troop 149 Celebrates Awards, Eagle Projects

By Simon Jadeed, BSA Troop 149 Member

Recently, many members of Mariemont Troops 149 and 1149 received awards recognizing excellence in volunteerism from the Blue Jacket District. Rob Curran from Troop 149 and Sheila Rasmussen from Troop 1149 were named Outstanding Scouts BSA Leaders. Ethan Wood from Troop 149 and Tierney Rasmussen from Troop 1149 were named Outstanding Youth Leaders.

The 2020 Scoutmaster of the Year is Mike Wood from Troop 149. The Meritorious Service Award was given to Daren Wilner of Troop 149 and Troop 1149. The Order of the Heart Award was given to Eric Marsland of Troop 149 and Troop 1149. The Silver Acorn award was given to Nancy Drexel of Troop 1149 and Amy Thompson of Troop 149.

Receiving these awards is important because they recognize the hard work that the adult and youth leaders put in to making us successful. It also demonstrates both the integration of the girls into Mariemont scouting and the success of their troop. I believe that these outstanding individuals deserve recognition for their hard work and praise for everything they have done for scouting and the people in scouting. You can learn more about Scouting in Mariemont at mcc149.com.

Troop 149 is also pleased to announce its newest Eagle Scouts. Over the past year, the following Scouts have achieved the rank of Eagle:

• Mac Marsland: Mac built a two-sided horse shelter for Camp Ernst.

• Malachi Hammond: Malachi built a pollinator garden for the Center for Spiritual Living of Greater Cincinnati.

• Ethan Wood: Ethan built and installed a community bulletin board at Mariemont Junior High School and did landscaping around it.

• Kyle Romick: Kyle built a produce stand for Interparish Ministries.

• Jackson Hacias: Jackson built benches

for the Mariemont Boat House.

• Alex Mantle: Alex built a safety town for the Mariemont Preschool to teach kids traffic safety.

• Tony Mershon: Tony built and installed bird houses along the South 80 trail to bring back the blue bird population.

• Andrew Herlinger: Andrew installed new landscaping and planted a tree at the Mariemont Municipal Building.

• Trevor Stith: Trevor re-did the landscaping around the Mariemont pool and installed park benches.

Cub Scouts Still Scouting During Quarantine

By Sean Blessing, Cub Scout Pack 1 Leader

Like everyone else, the Mariemont Cub Scout Pack 1 has had to slow down during the COVID-19 quarantine, but that doesn’t mean we’re not active! We may not be meeting in person, but all dens have converted to regular virtual meetings. Scouts love to see their friends and hear stories of what they’re doing to keep occupied during quarantine.

In July we began a “Scout Law Scavenger Hunt.” Scouts were challenged to go on a scavenger hunt to find and do things that represent each of the 12 scout laws. Pictures were taken and submitted to the pack via our private Facebook group and scouts were rewarded for participating. It was fun to see all the pictures and a good reminder to focus

on the scout law.

Throughout the summer the scouts participated in a brick painting activity. The pack purchased several hundred bricks and paint kits. Each scout received two bricks and were tasked with painting pictures or encouraging words on them. The bricks are being collected in August and will be used for a brick paver project somewhere in the community.

As the fall approaches we start thinking about popcorn! This is the biggest fundraiser for the pack and allows us to do all the great activities in the coming year. We are still evaluating how to safely sell popcorn in the coming months...  from online sales to direct sales via the phone or by flyer delivered to and picked up from a customer’s house so that they can select the products they want. We are trying to avoid in-person contact for the safety of the scout and our neighbors.

Finally, as school starts, we continue to recruit and welcome new scouts. Since we can’t hold our normal in-person school year kickoff recruitment at Mariemont Elementary, we are looking at different ways to engage new scout families. If you would like more information you can find us on the web at  mariemont-pack-1.trooptrack.com or via email to  mariemont.cubscouts.pack1@ gmail.com

Luke Mace and Connor Sullivan are cheerful in the Scout Law Scavenger Hunt.

Community Village Worship Services

Village Church of Mariemont

Villagechurchofmariemont.org

Todd Keyes, Pastor

Jamie Keyes, Children’s Ministries

The Village Church invites you to bring a friend or neighbor and join them for exciting worship services each Sunday at 10:00 a.m. at our 3920 Oak Street Building (corner of Oak and Maple Streets). Children’s Sunday School for pre-K through 6th grade is provided during the service in the same building.

This fall, while we will not meet inside the Memorial Chapel on Cherry St., we will hold Sunday services outside on the Chapel lawn when weather permits. Otherwise, we will be

inside our Oak Street building as long as it seems safe to do so. We seek to follow the best health guidelines as we respect one another (Philippians 2:3-4) with the use of masks and social distancing.

For those who are unable to join us in person, we will continue to live stream our Sunday services on our Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/ VCMchurch) as well as our website, www. villagechurchofmariemont.org.  Click on the small link found on the photo of the Chapel that says, «Join us on  Sundays at 10 a.m.” That link will take you to our VCM Facebook page - then just click videos and find the live stream for that day.

Current

Fall Series:

“Life Reset” -If you got offered the reset button for your life, would you push it?

Ongoing Events: Check our website for ongoing activities this Fall.

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. Currently, our plan is to use Zoom video meetings to keep our students and tutors safe as they read together this Fall.

Mariemont Community Church Mariemontchurch.org

Denis Beausejour, Senior Pastor Paul Rasmussen, Worship Pastor

Jamie Moore, Discipleship Pastor

Leslie Seetin, Children’s Director

In-person services resumed 8/30 by a simple RSVP approach: Members can respond using the Church Center app; others contact terri@mariemontchurch.org. First come, first served. Limit 40.  We will keep six feet of distance, wear masks, and limit interactions to outdoors only.

Services are also livestreamed at 9 a.m., and can be found on:

• Facebook- Mariemont Church

• mariemontchurch.org

• https://www.youtube.com/c/ MariemontChurch/videos

Fall Series:

On Aug 30 we began series looking at the life of David and what it means to be After God’s Heart - all of which will point us to Jesus.