The College Hill Business Association meeting earlier this week was the liveliest in your editor's memory. The major discussion topic was safety.

At that meeting and since, I have learned a bit about the collaboration between the law enforcement community and College Hill volunteers that makes our community as safe as it is. A host of law enforcement personell are working hard in our behalf: police officers, city & county prosecutors, judges, probation officers and parole officers. They are aided and abetted by College Hill's volunteer Citizens on Patrol, Community Problem Oriented Policing volunteers, our volunteer Court Watchers and other individual community members who have made it a point to address problems when they occur.

All this activity hasn't gone unnoticed; now other communities come to College Hill to learn about activating community volunteers.

All that being the case, the Business Association decided that even more needs to be done to help people feel safer on The Avenue. At this week's meeting, they voted unanimously to find a way to fund additional patrols by off-duty police officers during key hours. The Association expects that these patrols, along with the community's other safety-oriented efforts, will:

• Decrease perceived and real crime in the business district.
• Make established businesses more viable.
• Help bring new businesses into the district.
• Increase the success of the Linden Commons development project.

At the CHBA meeting, several of those present volunteered to form a committee to make this happen. Contact Phyllis Schoenberger (513-542-3498, phylmark@fuse.net) to help.

This is an update on the progress of the Glenview Avenue Task Force's comprehensive plan to improve safety for both motorists and residents while reducing opportunities for dumping.

Andy Carter, senior engineer with the Department of Transportation & Engineering, reports the Glenview Avenue Improvement Project has been sent to the Purchasing Department for the solicitation of bids. Construction will probably begin in late 2006 or early 2007. Andy says, "The scope of the project has not changed since our presentation at the Forum meeting. The project will include pier wall construction, storm sewer replacement and ditch repair between Tanglewood and Kirby and pavement repair & construction between Belmont and Kirby."

The Task Force is comprised of representatives from the City's Transportation and Engineering Dept., Keep Cincinnati Beautiful, the Parks Dept., the Cincinnati Police Dept., the Forum Quality of Life team, Public Works, the Forum and Glenview area residents. It formed to respond to residents' complaints about speeding, safety, dumping and litter along Glenview Avenue.

Forum President Elizabeth Sherwood says of this effort, "The College Hill Forum thanks all the members of the Glenview Avenue Task Force for this impressive collaborative effort. The City took these complaints seriously and the Task Force has been working for several years to develop and implement a comprehensive permanent plan to address our residents' concerns."

Please feel free to contact Andy Carter (513-352-5272, andrew.carter@cincinnati-oh.gov) if you have any questions.

The Rock Café is excited to announce the launching of a Rock Café First Lego League Team. This is a new after school activity for children 9 through 14 who love science and mathematics and want a super–fun way to apply their skills. The 2006 Challenge is called "Nano Quest" and will explore nanotechnology.

There will be a general information and planning meeting for parents and kids on Sunday September 24 at The Rock at 3:00pm. We will finalize meeting days based upon your feedback at this meeting.

Teams will research, design, assemble, and program a robot to perform a set of specific tasks. Thanks to Xavier University, we have robotics equipment and university mentors to help. We will compete against other Lego League groups here in Cincinnati in December, where we hope to be selected for the National Competition.

Teams will meet at The Rock one day a week. Each ten-person team will have different meeting times so that everyone has access to the computers and equipment.

Please contact Dottie or Scott Engle (513-681-6074, legorock@fuse.net).

Scott Engle contributed this article.

St Theresa Textile Trove has been open for business for a few weeks now, but the St. Theresa Re-Opening Celebration is scheduled to coincide with St. Theresa's Feast day on October 1. The celebration starts Saturday, September 30 from 11:00am to 5:00pm and continues on Sunday, October 1 from noon to 4:00pm.

Terry Owen and Becky Hancock tell us, "We really want to make this a fun filled and art-filled weekend. Since St. T's is known for its exotic and unusual fabric and beads from around the world we thought it would be fun to have some local artists share in the celebration with art and music and song that celebrates our diversity and unity as a community."

Late word has it that a belly dancer has volunteered to join the entertainment. In addition to this and the other local art and entertainment, you can expect refreshments, door prizes and 20 to 25% off on many items.

Aiken University High School is showcasing a new resource for the community: The new "Falcon Room" is a conference room for school meetings and special occasions, but also open to community organizations for meetings.

The room will be dedicated during this year's Open House, October 5th at 6:00pm in a brief ceremony. The reception will thank the neighborhood team that put the room together, including alumni Ramon Norris of American Flooring on Hamilton Avenue and College Hill resident Mary Ellen Robinson of Office Furniture Source. Debi Ray, Aiken University art teacher, will introduce student artists and unveil their artwork.

Principal Virginia Rhodes says that the Open House, which runs from 6:00pm to 8:00pm on October 5, is a great chance for neighborhood residents and leaders to come see the campus for themselves and meet some of Aiken's very talented staff and students.

Helen Habbert reports that the Community Learning Center Core Planning Team, representing the civic groups in College Hill, met regularly during the summer and will continue to coordinate ongoing planning efforts as each individual College Hill public school makes the transition to a Community Learning Center. Each of the schools is at a different point in the process, but all are making good progress.

Pleasant Hill. A new administrative team and expanded LSDMC (Local School Decision Making Committee) are providing strong leadership and introducing many positive changes for their first full year in the new building. An after-school program is being developed with three outside partners (College Hill Recreation Center, Central Clinic and Seven Hills) as a great first step toward opening up the school as a real Community Learning Center. Expect this to grow over time to involve parents and other adults in the neighborhood.

College Hill Fundamental Academy. The design team is up and running, having met several times over the summer. Subcommittees are working now to develop specific program agreements with a number of different partner organizations. The next full committee meeting is October 3. Robin Brandon, the CPS project manager for College Hill, is already actively engaged and expects the team to select an architect and start working on more detailed renovation planning this fall/winter.

Aiken High Schools. A joint meeting of LSDMC members from both Aiken University and Aiken College & Career High Schools on September 28 is the first step in the process of renovating or rebuilding the high school. This group will then create an expanded design team to start meeting regularly with Robin Brandon from CPS and all identified partner organizations. This group will select an architect and plan more specific facilities improvements over the next 6 to12 months.

Original watercolor paintings of and about trains and railroads by College Hill Resident Margaret Mailly will be exhibited at the Llanfair Retirement Community Campus Center from October 6 through October 12 from 11:00am to 7:00pm daily.

Margaret is known nationally for her paintings of railroad subjects. In her travels all over the country with her husband, Howard, she visited many rail preservation sites. The photographs she took provided the subjects for her paintings, which have been seen at Cinergy for the past ten holiday seasons.

The annual Make a Difference Day Clean-Up in College Hill is fast approaching. Join us in cleaning and beautifying our neighborhood streets and public green spaces. We’ll be picking up litter, planting daffodil bulbs and making College Hill shine! This fun and functional community event is sponsored by the College Hill Forum and Keep Cincinnati Beautiful.

Mark your calendars: Saturday, October 21, 9:00 to noon. Meet at the corner of Llanfair & Hamilton. Enjoy a free breakfast before and pizza after the event. There will be plenty of t-shirts and prizes too!

Are you interested in organizing some of your neighbors for the event? Block captains are needed to fire up the volunteer ranks. This is a great way to strengthen the neighborly bonds on your street and help out the whole community. You can choose to clean and beautify your street or take on the challenge of another. There will be special prize incentives for block captains. Contact Kathryn Kien (513-542-4892, kien@fuse.net) to sign up.

Thanks to Kathryn Kien for this article.

Stephany Jones, a senior at Aiken University High School, was commended in a September's American Chemical Society newsletter for her work in chemical research as part of the SEED program in UC and Xavier laboratories.

Stephany, whose family lives in Northside, worked in the laboratory of Professor Suri Iyer on the synthesis of multivalent glycoconjugates for pathogen detection. She is currently taking a UC biology course for dual credit, along with Calculus, Engineering and AP English.

Thanks to Virginia Rhodes, Principal, for this article.

Here's the entertainment lineup for the Pumpkin Patch Festival to be held on Town Hall grounds on Saturday, October 7.

• 11:00: Omope Carter Daboiku, storyteller
• 12:00: Tom and Missy Strothers on dulcimer
• 1:00: Steve Hayes, Hands on Percussion
• 2:00: wild carrot, folksingers
• 3:00: Lagniappe, cajun band

A little over three years ago, College Hill resident Dale McGirr helped College Hill leaders enlarge and develop their thinking about what those empty corners at Hamilton and North Bend could become. In his role at UC, he was instrumental in planning the redevelopment of the business and residential areas surrounding UC.

In the WCET program Cincinnati Business Matters, Dale, University of Cincinnati Executive CFO of Community Development and Special Assistant to the President, talked with Business Courier publisher Doug Bolton about his upcoming move to GBBN Architects.

At 11:40 into this 13-minute clip, you'll hear Dale speaking in glowing terms about the Linden Park project.

Tonight (Thursday) is the second night of a three-night revival at Golden Leaf Baptist Church (5910 Argus Road).

Featuring Dr. E. Edward Jones, Sr. (pictured), President Emeritus of the National Baptist Convention of America and Pastor of Galilee Baptist Church of Shreveport, LA, the revival marks the 32nd pastoral anniversary of the Rev. and Mrs. Carl Adkins. All are welcome, and there is no charge.

Golden Leaf Baptist Church follows the Missionary Baptist Church tradition. Begun in the West End in 1947, the church was located for many years in Evanston, where it built its first building. Construction on the College Hill building began in 1989, and the congregation has been located here since 1991. In addition to worship services, Golden Leaf Baptist Church offers afternoon and evening Bible classes and youth programs.

The 32nd anniversary celebration will continue Saturday night with a banquet at the Sharonville Convention Center and a worship service Sunday with the Morning Star Baptist Church.

For information on the revival, tickets to the banquet, services and ministries, or broadcasts, call 513-542-8213 or see the Golden Leaf website.

Story contributed by Gail D. Finke.

Fall is coming! There are three more markets this season and the produce is still coming in.

Cliff Dziech from Grampa's Produce in Colerain Township still has eggplant, zucchini, apples, beans, tomatoes (red and green), peppers and beets. Earthshares organic produce from Grailville has greens, squash, beans and tomatoes.

We welcome a new vendor, Mike Niemeyer of Bright Farms, who will be at the market this week with a wide variety of local apples.

Shop College Hill Thursday afternoons at the corner of Llanfair and Hamilton and support our local farmers.

Article by Diana Porter.

As part of the curriculum of the Child Development Class at McAuley High School, a preschool is held during the class time. Preschoolers are invited to participate in this program at no charge. There are two sessions, Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9:15am to 10:00am and Wednesdays and Fridays from 10:00am to 10:45am. Classes will begin the week of October 9, 2006.

To enroll, or for further information, please contact Diane Gibson at 681-1800 x 2275.

McAuley alumnae, parents, students and friends are invited to take a three-mile walk around College Hill and North College Hill on Sunday, September 24.

The day will begin at 10:00am with Mass in McAuley’s chapel with music by Celebrate. Following the walk, lunch will be provided in the cafeteria.

The donation is $20.00 per adult, $5.00 per child 12 and under, with kids under 2 free. Adult registration includes a specially printed tee shirt. Proceeds go to the McAuley Alumnae Scholarship Fund. The registration form can be found on McAuley’s websiteor call Kathy Snodgrass @ 681-1800 x 1150 for information.

Several College Hill volunteers share the responsibilities for getting the word out about College Hill using neighborhood media. Having in mind who does what can help avoid some confusion. If you have information about events, future or past, that the community wants to hear about, here are the neighborhood media and contacts:

• The College Hill Arts and Community Calendar is on the web here and is summarized at the bottom of every issue of the College Hill eNewsletter. The Calendar editor is Gail Finke. You can submit events for this calendar by clicking a link on the Calendar page or by emailing Gail at gailscott@eos.net.
• The webmaster for the Internet Portal to College Hill web site at www.collegehilloh.net is Tom Strothers. If you have information that should appear on that site, contact Tom at tom@strothers.com.
• The College Hill Currents is mailed every two months to every postal mailbox in College Hill (about 6000). The editor is Tom Haid. Contact Tom at HTOM@twintowers.org.
• The editor for this College Hill eNewsletter, emailed more-or-less weekly to about 900 people, is Ken Lyon. Send copy for eNewsletter articles to enewsletter@collegehillohio.org.

The Universally Accessible Treehouse will have a series of ramps that provides accessibility to all. Standing on the strong support of tall locust logs, the treehouse will rise high above the ground in Cincinnati’s lush Mt. Airy Forest. Hundreds of volunteers are building the treehouse.

A treehouse this special deserves a special name. The Park Board is asking kids (ages 1-99) to send their suggested names to the Name the Treehouse Contest . The winner of the contest will win recognition on signage at the Treehouse, a football autographed by all Cincinnati Bengals who help build the Treehouse and a free week at a Cincinnati Park Nature Camp in Summer 2007.

Please submit entries to Renee.Tyree@cincinnati-oh.gov by September 29, 2006.

Amy Finnegan reminds us that the Forum meeting is the fourth Tuesday of every month, starting at 7:00pm. That's next Tuesday. Your editor got it wrong in last week's issue.

On September 23, Dr. Feelgood and the Feelgood Posse are back by popular demand at the College Hill Coffee Company. They rocked the house at their first performance here in July. They play awesome R&B, blues, rock, country and gospel- tinged soul. Oh yes, funk also. This is pure talent and entertainment energy from a group that wows them across the country and in Europe.

On September 30, local artists and community volunteers Tom and Missy Strothers will play mountain dulcimer music ranging from 17th century Celtic to 70’s rock. Tom & Missy also teach and perform at regional festivals playing a variety of mountain dulcimers and are members of the Queen City Balladeers. They buck tradition and prove that this old mountain instrument can be at home with all types of music. Tom & Missy love to share the history of the dulcimer while interacting with their audience in a light hearted, humorous manner.

All concerts are on Saturday nights from 7:30pm to 9:30pm. There’s no charge, but tipping the performers is welcomed.

Phyllis Slusher provided the copy for this article.