Mariemont Town Crier, May 2024, Volume 48, Issue 8

The Woman’s Art Club Cultural Center: Where Bovines Meet Art

By Kym Kuenning

Appreciating the quality of an exquisite piece of original artwork may seem like a luxury, unless you’re viewing it with countless heads of cattle and piles upon piles of manure. Located at 6980 Cambridge Avenue, The Barn in Mariemont will celebrate the building’s centennial birthday with the community that made it a regional icon.

Gone are the days of milking machines, heifers, and hay. The 10,000 squarefoot facility , once owned by The Lindner

Quality Milk Company, is now home to The Woman’s Art Club Cultural Foundation and its founders, The Woman’s Art Club of Cincinnati. Together, these separate entities provide countless art shows, educational opportunities, and performances to the TriState area at no or low-cost rates annually.

The Barn, which once sat upon 26 acres of earth, then known as Resthaven, was part of Mariemont founder Marie Emery’s vision of a community that cared for the individuals living within its boundaries.

With the collaboration of Charles Livingood, Emery employed designer Hubert Reeves and town planner John Nolan to build a farm that would help sustain the community. Resthaven was just one of numerous facilities, such as a hospital, cottages, and a convalescent home, which they named Emery Industries. They considered Resthaven a demonstration dairy farm. The 1927 death of Emery and the onset of the Great Depression laid to rest much of their cont'd on page 4

Resthaven Barn being built, 1924

By Mandy Rohal

Help Us Revitalize Sustainable Mariemont

The mission of Sustainable Mariemont is to share information and events that embody the motto of Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle. We are off to a great start for 2024 and want to thank the community for your eager participation and support!

In the month of April, we helped organize four local sustainability projects to celebrate Earth Day. These included: beautifying the MariElders Center with assistance from the Cub Scouts, restoring lounge chairs at the Mariemont Pool, partnering with the Cincinnati Waldorf School to clean up Dale Park and Ann Buntin Becker Park, and the

MHS Environmental Club working at the boathouse in partnership with the Parks Board.

We also partnered with the Mariemont Library and the Cincinnati Recycling and Reuse Hub to collect solar eclipse glasses to mail to Latin America, who will experience an eclipse in October.

The Mariemont composting program continues to outpace expectations. To date, we have diverted over 30,000 pounds of organic matter out of the landfill. By composting, we are protecting the climate by minimizing methane emissions in the landfill. If interested in learning more or joining our efforts, please email Mandy Rohal at  mandyrohal@yahoo. com

We are just starting this revitalization of Sustainable Mariemont, so if you have suggestions or want to join in on the fun, we invite everyone to follow us on Instagram/ Facebook or by subscribing to our newsletter by emailing sustainablemariemont@gmail. com.

The

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vision. Mariemont Care Center (formerly Mercy St. Theresa) and The Barn are the only structures that remain in place.

During the 1930s, the Lindner Quality Milk Company leased the dairy farm. The cottage housed the creamery, where workers processed milk from farmers in Goshen and Milford.

Over time, the land around The Barn became home sites and a private residence.

Later, The Barn served as a home for the Village of Mariemont’s Tax Office and Maintenance Department. When these services relocated, the future of The Barn was uncertain and demolition was eminent.

In 2007, The Mariemont Preservation Foundation (MPF) and the Woman’s Art Club of Cincinnati joined forces to save The Barn. With the help of the MPF, the Woman’s Art Club created the Woman’s Art Club of Cincinnati Foundation, a 401-C, to purchase,

renovate, and repurpose the former dairy barn as a cultural arts center that would soon serve art enthusiasts from Northern Kentucky, Cincinnati and its suburbs.

The Woman’s Art Club of Cincinnati was founded in 1892 by 19 women artists who were denied entrance to the Cincinnati Art Club due to their gender. The Club is more than 250 women strong and stands as the oldest woman’s art club operating without interruption in the United States.

The Woman’s Art Club donated $50,000 to the Foundation for the down payment for The Barn. Its Foundation purchased the property at auction.

In 2008, Carl and Edyth Lindner donated $485,000 to the Foundation for the renovation of the west wing of The Barn, known as the Lindner Family Wing. The wing houses a classroom and a well-used kitchen. The Lindner family, among countless other donors, continues to be supportive of The Barn, which hosted more than 30 events annually until the onset of COVID 19.

Not one to rest on its successes, The Barn has made a comeback. With about 20

cont'd on next page

Women's Art Club Cultural Center (from front page)

Resthaven Group, 1925

cont'd from previous page

classes weekly, numerous art shows and sales, seminars and lectures, The Barn serves as a vibrant community arts center for all ages.

The centennial celebration takes place on June 15 from 1-3 p.m. The Barn invites the public to free tours, cake, ice cream, and a close-up view of Bessie the wooden cow—a piece of artwork in and of itself.

The Barn and its unbreakable bones preserve its link to the history of Mariemont through its sensitive, respectful restoration of its programs and exhibitions that reflect Mary Emery’s life passion:

“She embarked on a philanthropic program that endowed or initiated children’s programs, … an art museum, … various cultural agencies, and other causes that benefited humankind.”

(Words from “Rich in Good Works” by Millard F. Rogers Jr, description on GoodReads).

Sources: Mariemont Preservation Foundation website, The Village of Mariemont website, and Wikipedia

Harold the Bull, 1927

By Carol Sanger

In the southeast corner of Mariemont, once known as “the bottoms,” weathered stone pillars rise from the earth amidst a tangle of weeds and overgrown greenery. They stand like silent sentinels, guarding secrets of a bygone era.

Stumbling upon them, you might wonder at first if they are remnants of an ancient culture. And in a way, you would be right. Because they are all that remains of what once was Mariemont’s very own village golf course.

Built in 1928 – not so ancient after all! – the regulation nine-hole, par 35 course was sited on an 82-acre tract of bottom land

that had been used for growing corn. It lay between tracks of the Pennsylvania Railroad to the north and the Little Miami River to the south. A few hundred feet west of the site was Whiskey Creek, and on the east was a Goose Island, separated from the mainland by another small creek.

Surrounded on three sides by water and prone to flooding, it may not have been the most auspicious location for a golf course. In a book entitled A Dream Come True, A Brief History of Mariemont, G. Carlton Hill Jr. called it “poor planning.” Yet there it went, touted by Village elders and real estate developers alike as a course that “the good golfer will appreciate and commend.”

A newspaper report at the time effusively praised its “many features” that conformed to “modern principles of golf course design.” These included well-placed hazards that constituted “a reward for the good player rather than a penalty for the poor player.”

cont'd on next page

The Mariemont Golf Club House, 1931

cont'd from previous page

(Presumably, by 1931, the “poor player” could try less-challenging golf on a miniature course that was located at Wooster and Crystal Springs, where Mariemont’s Municipal Building now stands. Surrounded by white picket fencing, the “Tom Thumb Miniature Golf Course” was said to offer a more relaxing alternative to the larger course and its “irregular and undulating” sand traps.)

But what would a respectable nine-hole, par-35 regulation golf course be without a club house?

Unacceptable is the answer. So in March of 1929, land was cleared and construction of a proper, eponymously named Club House commenced.

While stone pillars may be all that remains today, the Club House once stood proudly atop them as a wood-frame structure built in a style known as “Mississippi Colonial.”

Memberships in the Club House, as well as access to the adjacent golf course, were open to all of Mariemont’s then 1,800 residents for what was called a “nominal,” if unspecified, fee. An arched wooden bridge spanned the small creek in front of the building and provided access to the course, as did a swinging footbridge at another juncture of the creek.

The first indication that those bridges over troubled waters might not be enough to appease swollen rivers came in 1933 when a flash flood on the Little Miami crested at 63.5 feet, leaving the golf course and Club House inundated with several feet of mud and water. Okay, not good and a big mess to deal with, but survivable. Village leaders, real estate marketers and stalwart golfers soldiered on.

The building rested on those pillars, held six feet above the ground “in order to escape any of the little inconvenient floods” that occasionally occurred on those bottom lands. Inside the structure was a “handsome” club room with a stone fireplace, and a locker room where players – presumably both good and poor – could stow their gear.

While planners had realized from the outset that the area was subject to flooding when the Ohio River reached the 52-foot mark, they consoled themselves by noting that past floods of up to 60 feet “were not too frequent and only left a thin layer of silt which would not necessarily injure the fairway turf.” Moreover, there had been no flooding of that magnitude since 1913.

Four years later, in January of 1937, the river gods stuck again. Ohio River waters rose to a recordbreaking 80 feet, submerging the golf course, the Club House and the 14 acres that constituted Goose Island. And as noted by Warren Parks in his 1967 book, The Mariemont Story, “a six to eightinch layer of mud over the entire course sounded the death knell of the golf course.”

After the golf course was given up as a sodden lost cause, Parks stated that “the land was sold and returned to its original use of growing corn.” Then, in January of 1941, the Club House caught fire and burned to the ground, ending that chapter of Mariemont history and leaving behind a few lonely stone sentinels to stand watch over a forgotten past.

(Photos courtesy of Mariemont Preservation Foundation.)

The 1937 flooding of the South 80 covered most of the clubhouse, entry signage, and the entire course.

Love of Reading Launches Young Author’s Writing Career

By Kim Beach

Kendall Spreen has always loved to read. It was this love of reading that set her on her journey to become an author. She was intrigued by something she had read and wondered if she could write something similar. She also had a sixth-grade teacher who encouraged her writing, even if it was just for fun.

Once the process of writing her first book Borderline Selfish was finished, Kendall wasn’t sure what was next. She explains, “I had no idea I wanted to publish my first book, let alone self-publish it; however, once it was complete I didn't want it to sit in my drafts.” And like many authors, Kendall thought, “People could benefit or relate to my work so I decided to look into steps of self-publishing and found a website that was simple to follow and went through the steps there.” She was happy to find a company that was able to distribute her book to “big names like Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Walmart. It was inspiring to see my work being sold on those websites.”

When asked how much her life influences her writing, Kendall replied, “My experiences and life have a huge hold on my writing. My favorite pieces that I've worked on have usually come from an experience where my emotions are so overpowering that the only thing I can do is write about them and it makes them a lot easier to deal with because I can simplify my emotions by putting them into writing.” She also looks around her for inspiration from other people’s experiences and hopes to gain insight into these relationships. Kendall adds, “I experimented with this idea in my second book, Ten Words for You, where I wrote 10-word poems about 200 people in my life.”

“The most rewarding aspect has been the people's reaction and support of my work. I didn't tell many people when I published my first book, Borderline Selfish, but when they found out, they accepted it,” Kendall shares. “I remember when my second book

was published, people would come up to me saying they bought it and those who had already purchased it were loving it. It made me feel like I had accomplished something important for not just myself but for others too.”

The Town Crier asked Kendall’s advice for aspiring writers contemplating writing and publishing a book, and her answer was simple: “Write what you want, like what you write, and put it out there. Especially with how I did it, there was very little risk. I just put it out there and continued to write.” She adds, “Don't compare yourself to other authors. You can't expect your first piece to blow up and you can't get let down when it doesn't. If you truly love it, keep writing and see where it takes you.”

The young author is currently a first-year student at Capital University, studying exercise science and coaching. She also plays on the Women’s Basketball team for the Capital Athletics. Kendall mentions, “My main focus is getting my degree and keeping up with basketball, but I am working on a handful of different pieces that I hope to get out sooner than later. I've been gathering ideas for my next piece, whether it's poetry, a story, etc.,

but I have so many ideas that it's just coming down to which one I want to focus on next!”

Kendall has lived her entire life in Mariemont and is the oldest of four siblings (Kendall is 19, Miller (sister) is 16, Camden (brother) is 14, and Rao (brother) is 11). Her justifiably proud parents are Greg and Maura Spreen. Her family is extremely important to Kendall, and she gratefully acknowledged, “They have provided me with everything I need to do what I want, whether it is writing, playing basketball in college, or anything else. My parents have provided so much, and my siblings always keep me entertained and push me to be the best person I can be.”

Her favorite Village spot is the Concourse, where she writes whenever the weather allows.

Her Mariemont education spawned her writing journey, and she gives credit to her sixth-grade teacher, Mrs. James, because she was “one of the first people who validated my writing and influenced me to dive into something I was a little timid to do at first,” shares Kendall.

When queried about her favorite word in the English language, Kendall mentions the word “coalesce.” She thinks it is “such a pretty word.” Meaning “to come together” with synonyms like “unite” and “join together,” we couldn’t agree more. Our world certainly needs more “coalescing!”

To keep updated on Kendall’s writing, please follow her on Instagram @borderlineselfish. Both books, Borderline Selfish and Ten Words for You, are available on Amazon.com, Barnes&Noble.com, Walmart.com, and Lulu.com.

Kendall Spreen with her book, Borderline Selfish

Centennial Updates

Isabella Hopkins Park Updates Planned

By Randy York

Plans continue to evolve to update Isabella Hopkins Park (across from the library) as part of the Mariemont Centennial Commemoration. The Mariemont Centennial Committee is working with the Mariemont Garden Club and the Mariemont branch of the public library to develop a plan outline that will be presented in a series of public meetings this summer.

The Village is currently pursuing funding opportunities through an Ohio Department of Natural Resources NatureWorks grant, a Community Development Block Grant through Hamilton County, and a Community Projects Funding grant through Congressman Landsman.

Isabella F. Hopkins Park was created by the Village in 1966. At that time, the corner of Wooster Pike and Pocahontas was occupied by a gas station and a strip of motel rooms. The Village acquired the property and turned it into a park. The small, formal green space is dedicated to Mary Emery’s sister. The Mariemont branch library was dedicated in September 1972, so the park was never designed to support and complement the adjacent library.

The Mariemont Branch library completed a renovation project in 2022 with the construction of a three-season patio that

faces Hopkins Park. The addition features comfortable furniture, a skylight, and a ramp to ensure Library access to all members of the community. The entrance to this patio points directly to the alee that leads into Hopkins Park.

The goal of the redesign and renovation of Hopkins Park is to repurpose the park into a library park.

The plan will feature an accessible English garden gazebo in the center of the park that will function as the hub for library events. The design of the park will feature story telling ‘pockets” in the park so that groups and individuals can spread out with privacy. The park would provide outdoor spaces for storytelling, book walks, and other library events, as well as improved screening from Wooster Pike for safety and noise reduction. All the “pockets” will be connected with accessible walkways, replacing and repairing the current aggregate walkways.

The Village has collaborated with Mariemont Library Branch Manager Mandi Beecroft in the development of the plans for this park so that the design of this park will serve the needs of the community for years to come.

the nearby Mariemont Connector portion of the CROWN Network, which is scheduled to be completed in the fall of 2024. This amenity will attract more visitors to the park and the nearby library. The canopy of mature trees that shade the park in the summer will be preserved.

Dogwood Park Centennial Plan Nears Funding Goal

By Randy York

Funding commitments for the Dogwood Park Centennial Rehabilitation have exceeded $1.2 million. Based upon updated budget projections, the committee is just $180,000 short of fully funding the park rehabilitation. The committee has continued its fundraising activities and there are several outstanding funding requests pending. Pending funding requests include a Community Development Block Grant through Hamilton County, a Community Projects Funding grant through Congressman Landsman, a State Capital Appropriations Request, and a One-Time Strategic Community Investment Fund Application.

In addition, the park will include bike racks, and a bike repair station to complement

The Dogwood Park Rehabilitation is being fully funded by grants, private donations, private foundations, and corporate sponsorships; no Village funding is being used on the project. The groundbreaking for the park rehabilitation is planned for mid-October 2024, and the committee is confident that they can bridge the funding gap by that time.

Plans will be finalized this summer, so look for updates on the Village website and announcements of planned public meetings.

For additional information on this and other centennial projects as well as giving opportunities please visit www. mariemontpreservation.org/centennial. You can also reach the centennial committee at centennial@mariemont.org with comments and questions.

Isabella Hopkins Park redesign plan

Join 1N5 for Spring4Life 2024

By Jessica Hartley

1N5’s annual Spring4Life event will take place May 18 at 7 p.m. at the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center in downtown Cincinnati. Spring4Life 2024: Hope Grows Here will be an inspiring evening, hosted by Jen Dalton of Local 12 and featuring a message from Robin Burrow of The Joe Burrow Foundation. Enjoy a cocktail hour, light bites, storytelling, live music and dancing, all designed to help plant seeds of hope by supporting 1N5’s life-saving efforts to end suicide.

The evening promises to bring together a hopefilled community supporting 1N5 as they impact individuals across Greater Cincinnati with positive, upstream mental health education. Last year’s event raised over $200,000, enabling 1N5 to continue to build resilient youth by providing mental health education in over 175 schools and universities across the region. In 2023, 1N5 also expanded its programming to strengthen community resilience and cultivate a thriving workforce, attending 96 events across the region and delivering nearly 400 mental health education presentations to over 36,000 individuals.

The name 1N5 represents the statistic that one in five individuals are living with a mental illness. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 12.6 million people between the ages of 18 and 25 experience a behavioral or emotional health issue, and 22% of young people report having seriously considered suicide in the past twelve months. 1N5 works to prevent suicide by erasing the stigma of mental illness and promoting optimal mental wellness. Partnering with schools, businesses, and

community groups, 1N5 provides tools and evidence-based programming aimed at educating individuals across Cincinnati on the signs and symptoms of mental illness, protective factors, ways to respond to a crisis, and when and where to seek treatment.

To reserve a ticket for Spring4Life, go to www.1N5.org/events or click on the QR code. Tickets are priced at $150 per person. For more details about mental health programs, events, and donating to 1N5, please visit www.1N5.org

John Fakes and Steve Spooner convert the old South 80 hand water pump to a solar pump and build a hut to cover it. The April 7 storms flooded the area, but the hut and pump survived.

What’s Happening at the Mariemont Branch Library — May 2024 Children

Library Babies — Tuesdays at 9:30 a.m.

Fun for you and your baby with songs, rhymes, stories, and movement. Ages birth to 18 months.

Preschool Storytime — Tuesdays at 11 a.m.

Enjoy books, songs, activities and more, while building early literacy skills. Ages 3-6.

Toddler Storytime — Wednesdays at 9:30 a.m.

Encourage emerging language skills with books, rhymes, music and fun. Recommended for ages 18–36 months.

Movers & Shakers — Wednesdays at 11 a.m.

You and your child will shake it together! Sing, dance, and enjoy music, movement, and fun. Ages 1-4.

Star Wars Day — Saturday, May 4 All day!

Participate in our Jedi Training, crafts, and photo opportunities. Costumes are encouraged but not required.

Coding Club — Tuesday, May 7 at 4 p.m.

Learn to code with new games and challenges every month. Ages 8-12. Registration required.

Legos @ the Library — Saturday, May 11 at 11 a.m.

Show us what you can build and connect with other LEGO enthusiasts.

Tweens and Teens

Pokémon TCG Club — Saturday, May 18 at 11 a.m.

Learn to play the Pokémon Trading Card Game, challenge other trainers, trade cards, and make new friends. Bring your own cards or play with one of our decks. Ages 7-14.

Adults

The History of Your House Monday, May 13 at 6 p.m.

Visit to discuss the resources available through the library for property research.

Book Chat: Local Author Erin Jamieson — Tuesday, May 7 at 7 p.m.

Pick up a copy of Jamieson’s Sky of Ashes, Land of Dreams at the branch, then come ready to chat with Erin!

New Baby Bootcamp — Thursday, May 9

Drop in, or stay all day, to learn about literacy, development, CPR and more!

Mariemont Mystery Book Club — Tuesday, May 14 at 6:30 p.m.

Join us to discuss The Long Call by Ann Cleeves. Copies available at the branch.

Book Club — Monday, May 20 at 6:30 p.m.

Join us to discuss Tom Lake by Ann Patchett. Copies available at the branch.

Watercolor Landscape — Tuesday, May 21 at 6 p.m.

This watercolor landscape class will explore using watercolor to depict nature. Registration required.

Library hours are 10 a.m. - 8 p.m. Monday and Tuesday; 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

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

EMBRACING NEW OPPORTUNITIES VIBRANT LIVING

There’s no need to settle for less in retirement when you can indulge in a future filled with exquisite living spaces, first-class amenities and gourmet cuisine. You’ll feel like you’re residing in a hotel. Our upscale community frees you up to continue your life story in style.

May

Summertime Activities

Garden Club Annual Plant Sale: May 11, 9 a.m.-3 p.m., Village Municipal Building lawn. Join Mariemont Garden Club to peruse and purchase perennials, annuals, hanging baskets, and the Garden Market with gently used garden items.

MariElders: May 23, 1:30 p.m. MariElders Presents: Elise Roalef, Hamilton County R3source.

June

Library:

June 1, 11a.m. - Kickoff w/ Looney Ballooney

June 3, 6p.m. - Bossa Nova Night on the Patio

June 4, 4p.m. - Coding Club

June 6, 2p.m. - Fairy Tale Science Part 1

June 8, 11a.m. - LEGOs @ the Library

June 11, 6:30p.m. - Mystery Book Club

June 13, 11a.m. - Lorax w/ Hamilton County Conservation District

June 15, 11a.m. - Pokémon TCG Club

June 18, 4p.m. - Touch-a-Truck

June 20, 2p.m. - Fairy Tale Science Part 2

June 24, 6:30p.m. - Adult Book Club

MariElders: June 4-June 11. Support MariElders through our online auction with CT Bids. Discover new finds and exciting experiences including: the ringing of the Carillon Bells, Santa Visit to Home, Teeth Whitening from Powers Family Dental, Spa Day at Valenti, Six Month Membership to Anytime Fitness, an Eye Exam at Eye Care on the Square, or Dr. Friendly's Chiropractic care. , beginning at dark. At Dogwood Park. Bring your own

blankets/lawn chairs. Please consider donating to the fireworks fund. Checks made payable to Village of Mariemont may be dropped off or sent to the Admin Office at 6907 Wooster Pike. Thank you for your support!

Womans Art Club Cultural Center Summer

Camps: July 8-12, July 15-19 and July 22-26 The Barn offers a wide variety of classes for grades 1-12, including painting, African Art, Miniature, Manga Art, and more. Please go to artatthebarn.org for more information.

Library:

July 2, 4p.m. - Coding Club

July 3, 11a.m. - May Festival MiNis: Summer

July 9, 6:30p.m. - Mystery Book Club

July 11, 2p.m. - Fairy Tale Science Part 3

July 13, 11a.m. - LEGOs @ the Library

July 18, 3-5p.m. - Rockets Away

July 20, 11a.m. - Pokemon TCG Club

July 23, 4p.m. - Water Library Olympics

July 25, 2p.m. - Fairy Tale Science Part 4

July 29, 6:30p.m. - Adult Book Club

MariElders: In July, AARP will present Driving Safety. Monthly activity calendars with dates and times are posted at the beginning of each month at marielders.org.

St. Gertrude Church Treasure Mart: July 13, 9 a.m.-2 p.m. The Ladies of Charity at St. Gertrude’s Church will host its 44th annual “Treasure Mart” in the Parish Center, 6543 Miami Avenue, Madeira. All funds raised provide much needed support to the very poorest of our neighbors. Buyers will find great bargains - just in time for outfitting college housing! If you are ready to say “goodbye” to household and yard items,

If you have a plumbing problem, get a 'Top Talent' plumber to show up on time so you don't waste your time!

Call FORSEE PLUMBING at 513-271-6720 for your appointment window.

As a Mariemont resident present this ad and you will receive $10 off the $59 service call fee

small appliances, clothing, toys, and sports equipment, the group will gladly accept your donations! Please contact Moira Grainger at 513-886-9582 or grafam@aol.com for more information.

August

Library:

August 10, 11a.m. - LEGOs @ the Library

August 13, 6:30p.m. - Mystery Book Club

August 17, 11a.m. - Pokemon TCG Club

August 20, 11a.m. - Bubblefest

August 26, 6:30p.m. - Adult Book Club

MPF’s Taste of Mariemont: August 25, 5-7 p.m. This fun family event takes place at Dogwood Park and includes food tastings from local area restaurants, music, and children's activities.

Early September

Mariemont Preschool Parents Group

Opening Meeting: September 5, 7:30 p.m. Currently slated to be held at The Barn. Please visit mariemontppg.com closer to September to confirm location.

Mariemont Art & Craft Market: September 8, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. This annual event is the largest fundraiser of the year for the Kiwanis Club of Mariemont. Shop vendors from across the state with unique, one-ofa-kind crafts and goods. Interested in being a vendor? Download an exhibitor form at mariemontkiwanis.org/artfair. Questions? Contact Don Venderbush at 513-319-4499 or MariemontACMarket@gmail.com

Answers to puzzle from page 13

Village Welcomes New Carillonneur, Announces Summer Concerts

By Randy York

The Mariemont 2024 Summer Carillon Concert Series will begin on Memorial Day, Monday May 27, at 2 p.m. at Dogwood Park. The summer series will include 17 carillon concerts on Sunday evenings at 7 p.m. from June through Labor Day. A complete schedule that includes the carillonneur and evening program can be found at mariemont.org/ lifestyle/living-here/the-mary-m-emerymemorial-carillon.

The Carillon concerts are sponsored by the Thomas J Emery Memorial and this year will feature carillonneur Alan Bowman. Alan Bowman was born in Dayton, Ohio. He played the piano and organ from an early age.

He received a bachelor’s degree in systems Analysis with a minor in Piano Performance from Miami University (1988, Oxford, Ohio) and a Master of Music degree with a major in Organ Performance from Florida Atlantic University (2005, Boca Raton, Florida).

Alan lived and worked in Florida for more than 25 years as a director of music in Lutheran, Anglican, and Roman Catholic churches.

In 2021 Alan was introduced to the carillon by Larry Weinstein (carillonneur of the Deeds Carillon in Dayton for 35 years), who gave him his initial lessons and encouragement to study at the Royal Carillon School “Jef Denyn” in Belgium. A student of Koen Van Assche, Alan received his diploma in June 2023 and performed a 16-concert tour in Belgium, The Netherlands, Germany, Ireland, the U.S., and for the World Carillon Congress in Utrecht (NL) in conjunction with the Utrecht Early Music Festival.

Alan was a 2023 carillon fellow at Bok Tower Gardens in Lake Wales, Florida, where he lived, performed weekly concerts, and studied with carillonneur Geert D’hollander for five months.

Following Larry Weinstein’s retirement in March 2024, Alan was appointed Carillonneur of the Deeds Carillon, and now looks forward to playing this summer at the Mary M. Emery Memorial Carillon in Mariemont.

The Mary M. Emery Memorial Carillon was dedicated on November 16, 1929. The Carillon was a gift from Miss Isabella F. Hopkins in memory of her sister who founded the Village of Mariemont.

In 1969, an additional 26 bells were added to create a full concert instrument of 49 bells in a chromatic arrangement, spanning just over four octaves. These 26 additional bells were cast by Petit & Fritsen in Aarle-Rixtel, Mariemont’s new carillonneur, Adam Bowman

The original 23 bells and the tower were dedicated in 1929 to the youth of the Village. These original heavy bells, at the lower end of the musical scale, came from the foundry of Gillett & Johnston in Croydon, England.

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Our historic “Bell Tower” under a double rainbow in early spring. (Photo credit: Bridgett Karlson)

cont'd from previous page

Netherlands, and installed by The Verdin Company of Cincinnati. The largest bell in the combined group weighs nearly 4,800 pounds and the lightest is 19 pounds. The bell composition is approximately 80 percent

copper and 20 percent tin, an alloy that has been known as “bell bronze” for hundreds of years.

Renovations in 2008 included the addition of a new playing keyboard, a new sealed

ball bearing playing action, and new cast iron ball clappers throughout. There is now also a practice keyboard, permitting the carillonneurs to practice privately.

No electrical assistance or amplification of any kind is used during regular concerts. The bells compose a true carillon that is completely touch responsive to give the carillonneur full capability for every musical expression from a gentle whisper to a thundering fortissimo. The carillonneur plays at a keyboard located in a small room below the bells. Each key is a strong wooden lever connected to its bell clapper above by a wire linkage and ‘bell crank’ transmission action. The bells are rigidly mounted on the steel framework and the clappers are pulled against the inner bell surface to create the musical tones. Return springs are used behind the clappers of the smaller bells to return the keys to the up position after striking, while for the larger bells, counter springs (helpers) are used to lighten the touch.

There are just over 180 such true carillons on the entire North American continent. The Emery instrument is one of the very few that is housed in a free-standing tower surrounded by a park area. Ideal listening conditions are found in the park at a distance of three to five hundred feet from the tower base.

Fourteen of the 49 bells are provided with external electric strikers operated from a computer that automatically plays a vesper hymn at 9 p.m. each evening. Four bells are automatically struck with externally mounted gravity hammers to play the Westminster Chime melody at 8 a.m., noon, and 6 p.m. every day throughout the year.

The administration and maintenance of the bell tower is administered by the Thomas J. Emery Memorial. Thank you to Lee Carter, President of the Thomas J. Emery Memorial, for all his efforts in managing the maintenance and operation of the Mariemont Carillon and arranging for carillonneurs. Thank you to Michael Singer for his dedication to managing the day-to-day maintenance and operational needs of the Mariemont Carillon.

DAR Chapter Honors Past Regents Community

By Sarah E. Hartkemeier Mariemont DAR Historian/Librarian

The Mariemont Daughters of the American Revolution Chapter recognized two past regents at their meeting in March. Sherri Smithson is the American History Chair for the Chapter and selected two women, one posthumously, to receive the NSDAR Women in American History Award. Mary Louise Mullikin-Donley and Janice Stroh-Mauch were chosen to receive this award. These two women have made significant contributions and a tremendous difference in the greater Cincinnati area promoting DAR standards which include service, patriotism, preservation, and education.

Mary Louise Mullikin-Donley and Janice Stroh-Mauch were both asked to become organizing regents and formed two new DAR Chapters - one here in Mariemont and the other in West Chester. Mary Louise Mullikin-Donley, at the age of 19, joined the Marietta DAR Chapter of Marietta, Ohio in 1918. She moved to the Cincinnati area and was asked by Charles J. Livingood, who's wife was a DAR member of the Cincinnati Chapter, to start a DAR Chapter in the eastern part of Cincinnati, which was Mariemont, Ohio. In 1930 she did and became the organizing regent along with 25 other ladies who became our chapter charter members.

The very first Mariemont DAR meetings took place in the Old Ferris Homestead,

which later became the Mariemont Preservation Foundation. The Mariemont DAR Chapter presented a certificate and an American History medal to Mary Louise Mullikin-Donley, posthumously since she died in 1948, to be placed in our chapter's archives at the Mariemont Preservation Foundation.

The second honoree, Janice Stroh-Mauch, joined the Mariemont DAR Chapter in 2009. She served on numerous committee chairs and then became a two-term regent beginning in 2011. Jan was asked - just like Mary Louise - to form a new DAR Chapter to be based in West Chester, Ohio. This new chapter was organized in July of 2019 and named Hopewell DAR Chapter. Jan is a great leader of service, education, and patriotism, which shows in being a docent and trustee at the Waldschmidt Homestead. She has served the Cincinnati area well and we honor her with a Women in History certificate and medal.

Thanks to these two women, our Mariemont DAR Chapter will be 95 years strong in 2025. For more information on the Daughters of the American Revolution Mariemont Chapter, please contact regent@ mariemontdar.com or mary.s.holohan@ gmail.com

“Over 80 Years of Service”

Senior Troop Wraps Up Final Year

By Ellie Haynes

Happy Spring from the Girl Scouts! In March, Troop 40829 eased into spring with a successful March meeting and a Saturday morning packing clothes at Matthew 25 Ministries to be sent to people in need. The girls then volunteered at Sweet Cheeks Diaper Bank; they’ve served here before and packaged diapers and feminine products for local families in need.

As the senior troop is wrapping up their final year, they have some fun plans in store for April and May. Last month they made it to Dogwood and a rage room, where they enjoyed smashing objects with mallots (how scout like!). They are also planning a camping trip for early summer, their last Girl Scout trip.

The Girl Scouts of Troop 40829 would like to thank the community again for supporting all their endeavors throughout their time in Scouts.

L to R: Sherri Smithson, American History Chairperson; Janice Stroh-Mauch, honoree; Mary Jo Holohan, Regent

Mary Louise Mullikin-Donley

Cedric Michael Cox Opens the Spring Season at Eisele Gallery

By David C. Smith

Artist Cedric Michael Cox inaugurates the spring season at Eisele Gallery in Mariemont, Ohio, with a solo show of new, deeply introspective paintings drawing upon some of his earliest memories and experiences. Rhythm & Bloom, a collection of 18 new canvases, features paintings of various influences and genres unified under Cox’s vivid visual language. From futurist-inspired cityscapes to narrative still-life paintings that testify to his upbringing and his renowned arrangements of shapes and patterns that reference musical compositions, Cox creates a continual visual climax of monuments in motion for all to enjoy.

“One of my fondest memories of my father was his appreciation for interior design, which included his arranging of wall art and ceramic vases filled with floral arrangements that

vividly accented the corners and tables of our home. The shapes and patterns surrounding my life forged an appreciation of different aspects of art and design and began to take form in my earliest drawings. The Still Life pieces in the exhibition are a tribute to my father,” said Cox. The Northern Star quilt pattern is the through line that conceptually and visually “symbolizes destination and hope,” he added.

An in-demand art educator, Cox has held numerous artist residencies on Cincinnati’s East Side, including Mariemont Elementary and Terrace Park Elementary, where he has murals and works in their permanent collections. David Smith, owner and director of Eisele Gallery, is excited about the new show and said, “The Eisele Gallery is thrilled to host this series of new work by Cedric Michael Cox. He has brought his signature

style and bold new directions to this landmark show.”

Cedric Michael Cox is best known for his paintings and drawings that merge surrealism and representational abstraction. As a student at the University of Cincinnati’s College of Design, Architecture, Art, and Planning (DAAP), Cox was awarded a fellowship to study at the Glasgow School of Art in Scotland. After receiving his Bachelor of Fine Arts in Painting in 1999, he began to exhibit regionally and nationally. Working under several influences, including architecture and art history, Cox’s work ranges from cubistinspired geometric compositions to cityscapes, landscapes, and curvilinear floral-like forms, all dancing within surrealistic environments. Visit cedricmichaelcox.com for more on Cedric Michael Cox.

Rhythm & Bloom

by Cedric Michael Cox

Opening Reception: May 3, 6–9 p.m.

Exhibit: May 3–June 1, 2024

Location: 6936 Madisonville Road

Admission: Eisele Gallery is free and open to the public.

Parking: Free parking in rear of building Gallery Hours: Tuesday–Friday, 10 a.m.–6 p.m.; Saturday 10 a.m.–4 p.m.; Monday by appointment

Framers’ Guild Changes Hands

After almost 40 years in business, Pat Moores and Judy Runnels have retired from the Framers’ Guild. In February the Eisele Gallery acquired the business and will continue the legacy of quality framing and customer service for many years to come!

Stay tuned for more on Pat, Judy and the Guild in September’s Town Crier!

Acrylic on canvas by Cedric Michael Cox (left to right, top to bottom): Vivid Village No. 2 (24" x 19"), His Infinite Light from Which We Grow (36" x 48"), Evening Passage (24" x 24"), Looking Forward (28" x 65").

Former Mariemont Youth Swimmer to Coach Summer Swim Team

By Mandy Rohal

The Village of Mariemont, in general, and its municipal pool staff in particular, have a rich tradition of its youth returning as adults to serve our community. Ava Ellis joins Swim Pool Manager Mike Lockhart and Swim Lesson Coordinator Becca Hlad as great examples.

Ava, a Mariemont High School standout swimmer and student, now majoring in biochemistry and Spanish at Case Western Reserve University, will

serve as the Mariemont Swim Club swim team head coach. She served the past four years as an assistant coach.

Ava grew up in Mariemont swimming for the Summer Club for 11 years and she also swam for Cincinnati Aquatic Club. This year, as a Division I college swimmer, Ava broke her school's record for the 200 meter breast stroke as a freshman. Swimming is a family affair for the Ellises. Her mom, Carrie, was a standout swimmer for Mariemont. Ava

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Ava Ellis is currently a freshman at Case Western Reserve University.

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commented, “A little fun fact is that I won the Mariemont Summer Club Amy L. Bay Award when I was 13, and my mom won the same award when she was 13 and swam for Mariemont over 30 years earlier!”

Ava is excited to welcome all swimmers in the Mariemont school district to join the Summer Swim Club swim team. If your child is not yet ready for the team, the pool also offers swim lessons. If interested in evening lessons, please email pool@mariemont.org with child age and level. All others can use the QR code to sign up for swim team or daytime swim lessons.

Village

MariElders Updates

Get ready for a summer packed with excitement at MariElders! Join us on May 23rd as we delve into eco-friendly practices with "MariElders Presents: Sustainability” with Elise Rolaef of Hamilton County R3source.

Sustainability continues with an auction from June 4-11, hosted by CT Bids. Bid on unique experiences and treasures, including signed artwork, the chance to ring the Mariemont Carillon Bells, enjoy a Santa visit, indulge in zoom teeth whitening by Dr. Powers, luxuriate in a spa day with Valenti, receive an eye exam from Eye Care on the Square, benefit from a Chiropractor exam by Dr. Friendly, get a home inspection by Mr. Electric, and much more! Don't miss out on the fun and the opportunity to support older adults. Mark your calendars and join us for an unforgettable summer!

For details, times, and how-tos, visit marielders.org or call 513-271-5588.

MariElder members gather to watch the solar eclipse on April 8.

Mariemont Selected as a Tour Destination for the Congress for the New Urbanism Community

By Cindy Chalfonte

On May 17, Mariemont Preservation Foundation (MPF) is providing a guided walking/bus tour of Mariemont for the Congress for the New Urbanism. For the past 32 years, this organization has convened in different cities to hear speakers, participate in workshops, collaborate on projects, and learn new strategies from leaders in dozens of fields. This year, they have selected Cincinnati as their host city.

Those speaking to the tour participants include Mariemont residents and MPF members Frank Raeon, Urban Planner; Tom Allman, attorney and life-long urbanist with a passion for city planning, new urbanism and architecture; Janet Setchell, Mariemont historian and docent; Matt Ayer, Village Council Member and Mariemont Chapel historian; and Cindy Chalfonte, docent. Rick Greiwe, developer of the Miami Road and Madisonville Road Condominiums will also be speaking about these recent important additions to the Village.

What is New Urbanism? New Urbanism is a planning and development approach based on the principles of how cities and towns have been built for the last several centuries: walkable blocks and streets, housing and shopping in close proximity, and accessible

public spaces. In other words, New Urbanism focuses on human-scaled urban design.

The Congress for the New Urbanism is the nation’s oldest international nonprofit whose mission is to champion walkable urbanism. The Congress is the premier international placemaking event, convening diverse, interdisciplinary urbanists and placemakers from all 50 states and dozens of countries to exchange ideas and discover the cutting edge of what is going on across the fields of planning, urban design, architecture, transportation, housing, and the public realm.

As part of the Congress, the attendees are invited to choose tours of communities of particular interest to them. The Mariemont Preservation Foundation is extremely proud that CNU chose our community as one of the tour destinations as an example of exceptional town planning and a livable and walkable community. Many of the elements of New Urbanism are evident in the walkability, beautiful green spaces, and curving streets. Attention to detail in construction and amenities designed to meet the needs of residents from birth to retirement were important considerations in Mary Emery’s plan. MPF and the Village of Mariemont have made it a priority to maintain the original vision of Mary Emery and to protect

the elements that have contributed to the Village being named as a National Historic Landmark.

The members of CNU are dedicated to building into communities where people love to live. CNU works to address and elevate the policy, regulatory, and code obstacles to building better places. People across the U.S. want to live and work in unique, natural, walkable places. Through scholarships, public events, and their Legacy Projects program, the Congress also seeks to leave a legacy of understanding and a positive placemaking impact on its host city.

From Mary Emery’s vision of a planned community for the working class to the realization of her dream, Mariemont has remained an internationally acclaimed example of a desirable planned community. We are excited to share our unique Village with CNU participants and support their goal of providing alternatives to the sprawling, single-use low-density patterns typical of postWWII development.

The Mariemont Preservation Foundation and the Village of Mariemont express appreciation to the Congress for the New Urbanism for their continued involvement in maintaining spaces where people love to live.

Mariemont Square (photo courtesy of Village of Mariemont)

Warriors for a Cure Raises Over $53K

By Laurel Black

The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society’s Student Visionaries of the Year program has officially come to an end, and we’d love to formally thank all our contributors and update everyone on team Warriors for a Cure’s success! Student Visionaries of the Year is a 7-week fundraising competition, but months before the kickoff, our team leaders and members started collaborating to ensure a great campaign. During the campaign, team Warriors for a Cure held several events including a bake sale and a community open

mic night. Also, members worked together to sign over 2000 letters and 350 thank you cards.

On March 16, the Grand Finale Event took place and Warriors for a Cure earned many awards. For getting a head start on the campaign, we were awarded the Hall of Fame Team. Additionally, because we were among a select group of teams that raised over $50,000, we obtained the Hero Award. Additionally, our team was awarded the Research Pillar Award based on our unique focus on promoting awareness of the Leukemia and Lymphoma

Society’s contributions to blood cancer research. Lastly, we’d like to give a special shoutout to our team member Eva Lowry for individually raising over $5,000 and being added to the $5000 club.

We are pleased to announce that we surpassed our goal of $50,000 and reached a total of $53,240.28 by the end! Also, the 19 teams in the competition brought in a total of $758,942! Thank you to our whole community for supporting our team! Every donation, no matter how big or small, made a difference and went towards a great cause. We’d like to thank the following sponsors: United Dairy Farmers, ENT & Allergy Specialists, Professional Radiology, Inc., The David Joseph Company, The Wardrobe, Deer Park Roofing, Malia Ridge with Comey & Shepherd, HLU Consultants, Midwest College Consulting, Queen City Spirit, Clear (eyes + aesthetics), and Eyecare on the Square. Our team's success wouldn’t have been possible without each and every one of you.

It’s a Wrap for MHS 2024 Winter Sports!

• The Mariemont High School Girls Varsity Basketball team finished their season with a 14 and 11 record. They advanced to the OHSAA District Semifinal game before losing to Norwood.

• The Boys Varsity Basketball team had a 19 and 7 record, were District Champions, and advanced to the OHSAA Regional Semifinal (Sweet 16 in the State) before losing to Versailles.

• The Boys Varsity Bowling team had a 4 and 11 record, the Girls team had a 3 and 14 record.

• The Mariemont Varsity Boys and Girls Swim Teams had Julia Bohl and Quinn Heis both qualify for two events at the State Tournament.

Congratulations to all our athletes!

Warmer Days Ahead

Celebration at The Barn

The Barn celebrates 100 years with a public celebration on June 15 from 1-3 p.m. You are invited to The Barn for free tours, cake, ice cream and a close-up view of Bessie, the wooden cow. Click on the QR code below for more information.

Good ol’ Summertime Fun for Kids

The Barn opens its door to summertime fun for young people entering grades 1-12, with camps during the weeks of July 8-12, July 15-19, and July 22-26. A wide variety of classes will be offered, including painting, African Art, Miniature, Manga Art and more. Please go to artatthebarn.org for more information.

Hogs Still in Place

The Hog Bristle Painters present its annual show and sale beginning on May 10 at 6:30 p.m. with an opening reception, then runs through May 21. Exhibit hours: Sat./Sun. 2-4 p.m. and Tues.-Fri. 10 a.m.-2 p.m.

Looking Ahead to Autumn

The Mariemont Paint-Out returns

September 27 – 29. Painters from the tristate area will compete for $2,000 in awards with paintings they create while on scene. Watching artists at work is public art at its best. Artists will start painting the evening of Sept. 27, and will continue working at various sites around Mariemont until about 3 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 28. The new paintings will be on display and for sale in The Barn Loft from 6-8 p.m., with an awards presentation at 6:30. The exhibit continues Sunday, September 29 from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. Free and open to the public. A portion of sales will benefit programs and operations at The Barn.

Foto Focus: Sept. 28-Oct.28

Annual Campaign Donor Party: Oct. 24

Cherrywood Monarch Show: Nov. 5-18

Showcase of Arts: Dec. 7-8

“In early June the world of leaf and blade and flower explode and every sunset is different.”

~ John Steinbeck (1902-1968)

By Allison Uhrig

Mariemont Fireworks: A Treasured Tradition

When people think of Independence Day, they often think of pool parties, barbecues, big national celebrations, concerts, parades, and FIREWORKS! No Fourth of July celebration is complete without the echoing booms of the fireworks and the oohs and ahhs from the crowds.

In Mariemont, the fireworks celebration evokes memories of patriotic Carillon music, snow cones, and most importantly, of family and friends gathering together. In 2003, the Mariemont fireworks started – like many honored traditions in the Village – with an idea from residents! I spoke with former Mariemont resident, James Ferguson, who LOVES fireworks. James is orginally from South Africa and became a U.S. citizen in the mid 1990s. James truly embraced his new citizenship. He voted, served on a jury, ran for office, and became quite popular in his culde-sac for celebrating the birth of America’s independence with his love of fireworks!

James and wife Jenny put together a casual fireworks show for a few years on Emery Lane, with the help of neighbors and friends. Each year, the show got a little bigger. With some coaxing from Police Chief Rick Hines and former mayor, Dan Policastro, the fireworks show moved from Emery Lane to Dogwood Park on July 3, 2006. James and friends Brad Lockhart and John Getgey got licensed through Hamilton County to safely execute the lighting of the fireworks. They purchased all of the fireworks on their own, set everything up, and then simultaneously lit the fireworks. Though costly, they were happy to put this together for the community.

The following year, local laws regulating fireworks displays were revised, making the show impractical for a volunteer group. Due to the popularity of the previous fireworks displays, Council’s Safety Committee met in 2008 and agreed that the Village should continue a fireworks display, with the suggestion to have former carilloneur Dick Gegner play a patriotic concert in

coordination with the show. And with that, from one small spark on Emery Lane, a Mariemont tradition was officially launched.

Lynch Pyrotechnics provided the fireworks display for several years. In 2016, the Village partnered with RC Pyrotechnics, a Greater Cincinnati based fireworks display company, owned and operated by Joe Randolph and Scott Estridge. Joe and Scott each have 18+ years of professional fireworks display experience. As State-licensed display exhibitors, they not only must adhere to stringent safety rules, but they must also fulfill ongoing continuing education requirements. Joe and Scott have been involved with local and national fireworks guilds, such as the Bluegrass Pyrotechnics Guild (BPG) and the Pyrotechnics Guild International (PGI). They have a hard-working crew of assistants, with no shortage of experience or knowledge in the industry. Many members lead different professional careers, but their passion and love for fireworks brings them together.

Joe, through both Lynch Pyrotechnics and RC Pyrotechnics, has been working with Mariemont for the last 16 years. “It has been a pleasure to play an important role in one of the most celebrated holidays in America. There is just something special about coming into such a well-kept, warm, and welcoming community that makes shooting fireworks that much more enjoyable. The Village staff have been amazing to work with, and the whole process is very easy.”

Joe loves how calm and peaceful the park is during the day, but then as show time draws closer, the park becomes packed,

sometimes even after a downpour of rain. “After the final boom, to hear the crowd show their appreciation for the show is what makes everything we do worth it and keeps me coming back.”

Joe and Scott love to wow the crowds, but safety is always at the forefront of everything they do. They work closely with the Mariemont Police and Fire Departments to ensure that the crowd and their staff are safe. Although many reported accidents and injuries related to fireworks are found to be related to user-error, fireworks do not function as intended 100% of the time. RC Pyrotechnics’ fireworks are set up using proven, safe techniques and the fire department is on-site to assist as needed. To further reduce risk, RC utilizes professional grade, wireless firing systems, which allow them to put more space between their personnel and the fireworks.

The 2024 fireworks show is scheduled for July 4th at Dogwood Park. An annual fireworks show is an expensive endeavor for a small community. This tradition relies on the generous contributions of individual donors, organizations, and local businesses. Village Council representative, Marcy Lewis, has been a longtime supporter of the fireworks. “The community fireworks embody the family-like spirit of Mariemont. The whole community participates, and I enjoy contributing to an event which everyone can enjoy.”

To keep this tradition alive, supporters are encouraged to help the Village defray its cost. Please consider sending a check payable to Village of Mariemont at 6907 Wooster Pike, Mariemont, OH 45227. If you own a business or work for a company that might be interested in sponsoring the fireworks show this year, please contact Allison at info@ mariemont.org for more information.

Anyone with questions or interest in fireworks for an event may reach out to RC Pyrotechnics at Joe@rcpyro.com or online at Facebook|@RC Pyrotechnics, Instagram| @rcpyro, or www.rcpyro.com.

Tree City USA

Many thanks to the Tree Advisory Board for helping us maintain Tree City USA status for 33 years and counting! The following was included in a release from the Arbor Day Foundation, dated 3/8/2024:

“Mariemont was named a 2023 Tree City USA community by the Arbor Day Foundation to honor its commitment to effective urban forest management. Mariemont achieved Tree City USA recognition by meeting the program’s found requirements: maintaining a tree board or department, having a tree care ordinance, dedicating an annual community forestry budget of at least $2 per capita, and hosting an Arbor Day observance and proclamation.”

“Tree City USA communities see the positive effects of an urban forest firsthand,” said Dan Lambe, chief executive of the Arbor Day Foundation. “The trees being planted and cared for by Mariemont are ensuring that generations to come will enjoy a better quality of life. Additionally, participation in this program brings residents together and creates a sense of civic pride, whether it’s through volunteer engagement or public education.”

Village

Village News

If ever there was a time for trees, now is that time. Communities worldwide are facing issues with air quality, water resources, personal health and well-being, energy use, and extreme heat and flooding. Mariemont is doing its part to address these challenges for residents both now and in the future.

Coming Up

• Village offices will be closed on May 27 for Memorial Day, June 19 for Juneteenth, and July 4 for Independence Day.

• Memorial Day Parade & Outstanding Citizen: The parade will be on May 27 with the Outstanding Citizen presentation to follow. Details will be posted on www. mariemont.org.

• May Council Meeting: The second Council meeting in May will be held on Tuesday, May 28.

• Independence Day Fireworks will be on July 4. Please consider donating to the fireworks fund. Checks made payable to Village of Mariemont may be dropped off or sent to the Admin Office at 6907 Wooster Pike. Thank you for your support!

Council Representatives

Mayor Bill Brown mayor@mariemont.org

Rob Bartlett rbartlett@mariemont.org

Susan Brownknight sbrownknight@mariemont.org

Matthew Ayer mayer@mariemont.org

Marcy Lewis mlewis@mariemont.org

Robert Van Stone rvanstone@mariemont.org

Randy York ryork@mariemont.org

Community Groups & Services

Womans Art Club Cultural Center

6980 Cambridge Ave.

Artatthebarn.org

Email: contact@artatthebarn.org

Phone: 513.272.3700

Mariemont Care Center

7010 Rowan Hill Drive

olera.care/provider/ the-mariemont-care-center

Email: LHector@themariemontcc.com

Phone: 513.271.7010 Ext. 1300

LeRae Hector, Activity Director

The MariElders, Inc.

6923 Madisonville Rd

www.marielders.org

Email: marielders@yahoo.com

Phone: 513.271.5588

Erin Rothfuss, Executive Director

Mariemont Preservation Foundation

3919 Plainville Rd.

www.mariemontpreservation.org

Email: administration@ mariemontpreservation.org

Phone: 513.272.1166

Mariemont Branch Library

3810 Pocahontas Ave.

chpl.org/locations/MM

Email: mariemont@chpl.org

Phone: 513.369.4467

Mandi Beecroft, Manager

Community

Village Worship Services

Mariemont Church mariemontchurch.org facebook.com/MariemontChurch

The Clocktower Building at 3908 Plainville Rd. 513-271-4376

Jamie Moore, Lead Pastor

Paul Rasmussen, Worship Pastor

Katie Smith, Kingdom Kids Director

Renee Brownfield, Preschool Director

Mike Brownfield, Director of Operations

Nancy Clausen, Office Manager/Communication

Sunday Morning Services at 9 and 11 a.m. Livestream of services is at facebook.com/MariemontChurch; our website,  mariemontchurch.org; and YouTube,  www.youtube.com/ MariemontChurch

Current Sunday Series: The Book of John and connecting with Jesus.

Kingdom Kids Sunday School takes place for infants (nursery) through grade 5 during both Sunday morning services at 9 and 11 a.m. Contact Katie at katie@ mariemontchurch.org for more information.

Next Chapter Youth Group for Junior High and High School (Grades 6-12) meets during the 11 a.m. Sunday service and on Thursday nights at 7 p.m. Contact Katie at katie@mariemontchurch.org for more information.

Women’s Ministry: Worship, prayer, connection and community. Grow closer to God and in relationship with other women at Mariemont Church.

• JOY in the Morning Bible Study: Tuesdays from 9:15-11:30 a.m.

• Evening JOY Bible Study: 1st/3rd Mondays from 7-8:30 p.m.

Weekly Worship, Prayer, and Meditation Opportunities: Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 10-11 a.m. in the Clocktower Building Auditorium. Join us for worship, prayer, and ministry time. All are welcome! Come for a few minutes or stay the whole time.

Men’s Friday Morning Bible Study: Starting at 6:30 a.m. every Friday in the Emery Room at the 3908 Plainville Rd. Clocktower building.

Small Groups are available for adults including 20s-30s and seniors.

Mariemont Church Pre-School: To learn more, contact Renee Brownfield at preschool@mariemontchurch.org

Annual Flying Pig Marathon “Bacon Station”: Join us on May 5 during the Flying Pig Marathon at the corner by the Mariemont tennis courts on Plainville Rd. for our annual Flying Pig Bacon Station and Kids Fun Area with bouncy houses, crafts, and other fun activities. Voted one of the top three stations for the marathon!

For more information about events at Mariemont Church or to learn more about our church, contact Nancy Clausen at nancy@ mariemontchurch.org

Village Church of Mariemont

villagechurchofmariemont.org facebook.com/VCMChurch

Mariemont Memorial Chapel

Offices at 3920 Oak Street

Todd Keyes, Pastor

Jamie Keyes, Children’s Ministries

We invite you to worship with us on Sundays at 9:30 a.m. in the Mariemont Memorial Stone Chapel. Our children’s classes

and office are at 3920 Oak St., just off the old Village square at the corner of Oak and Maple Streets. We also livestream all our services at facebook.com/VCMChurch.

We are a small church with a big heart. We strive to be a Christ-centered caring community, providing relevent teaching from the Bible and authentic relationships

In today’s fast-paced world, we offer a place to slow down, connect, and build lasting friendships.

Our Kidz Connection program is a fun way for children (Nursery to 6th Grade) to learn about God and the Bible during our Sunday morning worship services from 9:3010:30 a.m.

Mother’s Day Worship Service: Come join us for a special Sunday celebration at 9:30 a.m. in the historic Memorial Chapel sanctuary.

Summer Services: Church on the Lawn –check our website for Sundays we will worship outside on the lawn of the Chapel.

Women’s Bible Study meets the 2nd and 4th Wednesdays of the month from 4-5:30 p.m. in our Oak Street Fellowship Hall. Check our website for more information.

Men’s Lunch Discussion meets weekly. Contact Pastor Todd if you have interest in this study at toddkeyes@ villagechurchofmariemont.org.

Mark your calendars! Labor Day Sunday (Sept. 1st) we will have our Church in the Park event at the Mariemont Bell Tower Shelter to kick off the Fall. All are welcome. Join us for an outdoor worship celebration with lunch following the service!

For more information about these and other events or to learn more about our church, visit our website at www. villagechurchofmariemont.org or contact Pastor Todd Keyes.