From the Editors
Transcription
From the Editors
Volume 10, Issue 1 Winter 2011 Taft Elementary to remain open! From the Editors Happy New Year and welcome to the winter issue of the Mt. Auburn Town Crier! As the New Year begins, many people reflect on the past as they make resolutions for the coming year. In similar fashion, in this issue we’ll look at the great things our community was able to accomplish in 2010 as we look forward to the exciting opportunities and surmountable challenges that our community faces in 2011. Additionally, we’ve included helpful information on ways to lower your heating bills, photos from past events, a heart healthy guide to eating and much more. Whatever your goals and resolutions may be, we wish you a healthy, happy and prosperous New Year! How to Contact Us We welcome your comments and story ideas by U.S. mail, e-mail, fax or by phone. Dona Grant, The Christ Hospital 2139 Auburn Avenue, Cincinnati, OH 45219 513-585-4952 513-585-0017 FAX [email protected] Annulla Linders, 513-421-2757, [email protected], or Antionette Jones, 513-684-9115 In December, Cincinnati Public Schools (CPS) recommended closing William Howard Taft Elementary at the end of this school year. However, after a series of meetings with Mt. Auburn community members and businesses, CPS Superintendant Mary Ronan announced at the Cincinnati Board of Education meeting held Monday, January 24 that “Taft STEM will remain open and enhanced.” The following measures were outlined by the Superintendent: 1. Taft will remain open as a K-6 STEM School 2. Students in grades 7 and 8 will be transferred to Hughes STEM High School in September 2011. Taft will not be penalized for the drop in enrollment, but will have an opportunity to recruit new students. 3. Other activities outlined for Taft: ·The STEM curriculum will be enhanced in collaboration with UC; Taft will remain as a “magnet school”, therefore it will receive district-wide transportation support. In addition: ·CPS will start the process to select a new principal (currently there is an interim principal); school improvement grant funds will be used to enhance the program ·CPS will recruit student interns from UC to work in the school and CPS will work with the community partners to develop marketing strategies to attract new students and parents to the program ·CPS will develop and intensify efforts to enhance engagement of the community partners to increase their involvement with Taft STEM; explore closer collaborative relations with the Cincinnati Recreation Commission with whom the school shares the building; review the Facility Master Plan for options for improving the facility; and upgrade the schools budget. The Superintendant stated that CPS will need the support of the community partners to implement this plan. The official list of implementation strategies from the Superintendant’s office will be available in a few days and posted on the Mt. Auburn Web site. The community is very appreciative of all of the efforts to support Taft Elementary! A huge congratulations Taft STEM School supporters, staff, parents and students!! New At Mt. Auburn Center “Preschoolers and Parents” It’s cold outside and it gets dark way too early! Need a place to play with your little one? Bring your toys and play at Mt. Auburn Center! Mondays and Wednesdays 6 – 7:45 p.m. Fridays 5:30 – 6:45 p.m. www.HistoricMtAuburn.org The Chamber News Mt. Auburn Chamber of Commerce Officers Holly Dorna, MA, LPCC, President Heather Adkins, VP of Marketing Jenny Heizman, SPHR, Secretary Stanley Broadnax, MD, Treasurer, Laurie Housemeyer, VP of Business Development How to contact us: Holly Dorna, MA, LPCC | President 2404 Auburn Ave., Cincinnati, OH 45219 513-333-4770 • [email protected] Great things happened in 2010 In 2010, the Mt. Auburn Chamber of Commerce were able to accomplish many things with the help of Mt. Auburn residents and businesses. Below are just a few of those great accomplishments: • Many new businesses opened, including Last Minute Catering and Independent Living Options • The first crop was harvested from the new Mt. Auburn Community Garden • Way-finding sinage was installed in Mt. Auburn • Uptown Consortium completed and disseminated Mt. Auburn Safety Survey • Demolition of blighted property Ways to Join If you are considering joining as a member, we invite you to visit one or two meetings to become acquainted with our group and the work we do on behalf of Mt. Auburn businesses and our community. Meetings are held on the 1st Thursday of every month, noon to 1 p.m. (lunch is served), at the Hamilton County Mental Health & Recovery Services Board, 2350 Auburn Avenue, 3rd floor (corner of Auburn & McCormick) • Auburn Avenue was repaved. For a complete list of the 2010 accomplishments, please visit the Mt. Auburn Web site at www.HistoricMtAuburn.org. Membership dues are based on a 12-month calendar, beginning Jan. 1 of each year. For more information, please contact Holly Dorna at 513-333-4770 or by e-mail at [email protected]. Individual Member (no business affiliation/ resident): $15 Businesses, Community Organizations & Churches: $25 Under $249,000 in annual revenues $50Over $250,000 and under $499,000 in annual revenues $75Over $500,000 and under $749,000 in annual revenues $100 Over $750,000 in annual revenues www.HistoricMtAuburn.org Residents came together on a snowy Saturday in December to decorate the Mt. Auburn Community Christmas tree. Additionally, over 300 electric candle lights for Auburn Avenue facing windows were distributed to Mt. Auburn residents for the annual Light Up Mt. Auburn festivities. The Council News Neighborhood Support Program Neighborhood Support Projects for 2011 will be presented at the Feb. 22 meeting of the Mt. Auburn Community Council The Neighborhood Support Program (NSP) is a program designed to foster resident initiative and involvement in the city’s communities. Funded by the City of Cincinnati, the program provides resources for projects aimed at building and strengthening the community in a variety of ways. Over the last several years, the Mt Auburn NSP has funded a range of projects, include youth sports program, the community newsletter, membership support for children joining the Mt. Auburn Recreation Center and several beautification projects. At this time, the amount of money that will be made available to Mt. Auburn is uncertain. However, all indications point to a reduction in the grant from $5,000 to $2,500. If this is the case, our ability to fund programs in the future will be constricted; which means that some projects will not be able to receive funding for the coming year. We strongly encourage all residents to come to the meeting and share their thoughts about which projects should receive the reduced funding this year. All Mt. Auburn residents are eligible to vote on the proposals, whether or not they are members of the Community Council. If you are interested in submitting a proposal for the funding and need more information, please contact Kelly Gunn, the new NSP manager for Mt Auburn at 513-381-2912 or via email, [email protected]. Or you may contact the former NSP manager, Anna Linders at 513-421-2757 or via email, [email protected]. MACC Election News The following community members were recently elected as Officers and Trustees of the Mt Auburn Community Council. A few of the positions not filled at the election have subsequently been filled by appointment (they are designated by an asterisk). President: Freeman McNeal Trustees: Stanley Broadnax (Chairman) Vice President: C.J. Gunn Sandi Allen* Treasurer: Anthony Thompson Secretary: Andrea Pressley* Corresponding Secretary: Rhonda Lindsey* Hershel Daniels, Jr. Kelly Gunn Anna Linders Jay Nachod Pauline Van der Haer A big thank you to everyone who ran for an office; your willingness to serve the Mt Auburn community is greatly appreciated. Mt. Auburn Community Council Board Officers: President: Freeman McNeal Vice President: CJ Gunn Corresponding Secretary: Rhonda Lindsey Secretary: Andrea Pressley Treasurer: Anthony Thompson Board of Trustees: • Stanley Broadnax, Chair • Kelly Gunn • Anna Linders • Jay Nachod • Hershel Daniels, Jr. Council Meetings: The third Monday of each month, except in January and February when, due to holidays, the Council meets on the Tuesday following the third Monday. Board Meetings: The second Tuesday of each month. Meeting Place: William Howard Taft National Historical Site, 2038 Auburn Avenue, south of The Christ Hospital, 7 p.m. How to Contact the Community Council: P.O. Box 19138, Cincinnati, OH 45219 President: [email protected] Board Chair: [email protected] 513-390-1245 Newsletter: [email protected] 513-421-2757 or 513-684-9115 February Date Change for Community Council Meeting Due to the holidays falling on the third Monday in February, the Mt. Auburn Community Council Meetings will change to Tuesday, Feb. 22, 2011 at 7 p.m. at William Howard Taft National Historic Site, 2038 Auburn Avenue, Cincinnati, Ohio 45219. MACC 2010 Annual Report now available on the Web Please visit www.HistoricMtAuburn.org for the complete report. Non Profit Org. US Postage Paid Cincinnati, OH Permit # 9952 PO Box 19138 | Cincinnati, OH 45219 community features God , s Bible school and college students spread Christmas cheer at The Christ Hospital A group of fifteen students from God’s Bible School & College spent their Sunday afternoon on December 5, caroling to the patients at The Christ Hospital in Mt. Auburn. They wished to spread the Christmas spirit to those around them, especially those spending the holiday season away from home. The students enjoyed going from floor to floor singing about Christ’s birth and ministering to the sick. In their attempts to cheer others, they were blessed themselves and plan to continue the tradition. These students love Cincinnati and want to make it a merrier community as they sing from hearts filled with God’s love. www.HistoricMtAuburn.org Save Energy in Your Home or Apartment If you are interested in having your home or apartment weatherized to save on energy bills, you should attend the February meeting of the Mt. Auburn Community Council. There will be a presentation by the Community Action Agency on a federal grant they have to assist low-income home owners and renters weatherize their homes. They will conduct an energy inventory to determine if you are losing energy through windows, doors, inefficient furnaces, refrigerator, etc. Through these grant programs, they can replace furnaces, refrigerator, weatherize windows and doors, etc. Be sure to attend the meeting Feb. 22 to hear more about the program and see if you qualify. New High School Opening to Serve Students from Around Cincinnati Students, parents, educators and community leaders from all over the area are welcoming the news that a new Catholic high school is opening in Cincinnati – a school that will bring the benefits of private, college-prep education to students with limited economic means. DePaul Cristo Rey High School is located at 1133 Clifton Hills Avenue near Cincinnati State Technical and Community College, and will open to a freshman class of 100 students in June 2011. Sponsored by the Sisters of Charity of Cincinnati, this school is opening for students in our community not well-served by the public options, but unable to afford Catholic high school tuition. Most of DePaul Cristo Rey’s students will qualify for the Federal Free or Reduced Lunch Program and all will participate in the Corporate Work Study Program (CWSP) through which they will finance a portion of the cost of their education. Through the CWSP, all students will work five days a month in entry-level clerical support positions. Already 25 Cincinnati area companies have signed on as CWSP Partners. Cincinnati’s new school is part of the national Cristo Rey Network, a group of 25 schools transforming urban education in American cities through a proven model of educational success. All 704 graduates of the Cristo Rey Network Class of 2010 were accepted into college. The goal is that all DePaul Cristo Rey graduates will graduate from high school college-ready. A longer school day and year, academic assistance, and counseling will be used to prepare students with a broad range of academic abilities. For more information on enrolling a student, becoming a CWSP partner, or supporting the school, visit www.depaulcristorey.org or call the school at 513-861-0600. Do Right! Mt. Auburn Campaign Launch Over 250 residents came out to enjoy light refreshments and holiday entertainment at the annual Mt. Auburn Christmas Gala on Friday, Dec. 17 at Taft Elementary. www.HistoricMtAuburn.org Join the Center for Closing the Health Gap (CCHG) as they launch the Do Right! program in Mt. Auburn on Saturday, Feb. 12 from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. in The Christ Hospital Auditorium. The mission of the Do Right! Campaign is to empower communities to improve nutrition and increase physical activity to fight family obesity. Obesity is closing in on smoking as the nation’s number one underlying, preventable killer. It is a major risk factor for heart disease, high cholesterol, blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, and other serious health conditions. For more information, contact the CCHG at 513-585-9877. Relay For Life Relay For Life is an 18-hour, overnight event that brings community members togetherunited in their will to fight back against cancer and raise money for the American Cancer Society. UC’s Relay For Life event is in its ninth year and has distinguished itself as the best collegiate Relay in Ohio and Pennsylvania and the largest student-led community service event on campus. One of UC Relay’s current goals is to do a better job of reaching out to the community. Relay For Life is a family friendly event and there are numerous ways for community members to participate. Ways for Community Members to Participate in UC’s Relay For Life Event 1. Form a Relay For Life team. Get together a group of 8-15 neighbors, co-workers, friends and family and commit to raising money for the American Cancer Society while partaking in our April Relay For Life event. 2. Help us identify and honor area cancer survivors that would be interested in joining us for our “Survivor” lap to kick-off relay and attending our special survivor and caregiver dinner. 3. Support the cause by making a donation through our event to the American Cancer Society. 4. Donate a luminaria in honor of a cancer survivor or in memory of a loved one who has lost their life to cancer. 5. Attend our Relay For Life event on Friday, April 29 at the University of Cincinnati (McMicken Commons). Relay begins at 5:45pm. Family, friends, and community members are welcome! We will have entertainment the entire night from 6 - 10 p.m. Teams will have small fundraisers including food, games, face paint, and caricatures. Key times are: Opening Ceremony begins at 5:45pm, Survivor Dinner (RSVP needed) at 6 p.m., Luminary Ceremony at 10 p.m. More information can be found on our website at www.RelayForLife.org/UCincinnati. Mt. Auburn Community Christmas Gala was huge success! by Rev. Floyd T. Johnson Our 14th Annual Mt. Auburn Community Gala was a huge success in bringing cheer for those in need in our community. We served, entertained and gave gifts to almost 225 residents of Mt. Auburn this year. We made a conservative effort to make it known that the event is for the Mt. Auburn residents only and not a city-wide invitation. Although our numbers were smaller than previous years, things were a bit more manageable. We were able to give away 39 family baskets of household items and hundreds of toys. The Mt. Auburn residents in attendance were blessed and pleased to be a part of our annual event. Thanks to those that played a part in making our 14th Annual Mt. Auburn Community Christmas Gala a huge success. Those organization and people include: William Howard Taft Elementary School staff, Mt. Auburn Community Center, The Christ Hospital, Center for Closing the Health Gap, Holy Name Church, Dr. Jerry Kirby, First Christian Assembly of God, First Baptist Church of Mt Auburn, Mt Auburn Community Council, Mt Auburn Chamber of Commerce, Kroger Corryville Branch, Coach Tim McCollum, Cincinnati Hill Christian Academy (Genesis Jazz Band), The Johnson Family and community friends. The event was hosted by Friends of Mt. Auburn Director, Rev. Floyd T. Johnson Sr. and Coordinator, Cora J. Blakey. We would like to wish everyone a prosperous and blessed New Year. Please contact Cora Blakey or Rev. Floyd T. Johnson Sr. at [email protected] or ftjohnson@ health-partners.org if you would like to participate or support our 15th Annual Mt. Auburn Community Christmas Gala in 2011. Employees of The Christ Hospital donated over 400 boxes of breakfast cereal to the students of Taft Elementary before the holiday break. The cereal was collected to provide the students with a breakfast option while the school was closed for the holidays.