Cincinnati

Building the Banks from the underground up

By Soapbox

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March 15, 2011

Cincinnatians see the buildings along The Banks rise and think that, finally, the project talked about for over ten years is underway. Few, however, understand the massive effort and behind-the-scenes work that was required to lay a lasting foundation for the area's largest mixed-use land development project in recent history. When Hamilton County and the City of Cincinnati committed to the Cincinnati Central Riverfront Master Plan in 1997, a plan created by public input and an open process, the two governments also agreed to, together, leverage local, county, regional, state and federal resources to bring about that vision in as comprehensive and efficient a way as possible. That unprecedented sharing of resources and cooperation became The Banks Public Partnership. The Partnership's job was to lay the foundation infrastructure, that network of transportation and hidden communication and utility lines which connect parking to sports stadiums and the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center. This infrastructure would become, literally, the platform upon which The Banks neighborhood would be built.The old infrastructure on site was ancient, installed decades ago to serve the old produce warehouses and railroads along the riverbank. Pulling in funding from federal, state, and local sources, the Partnership engineered the revitalization of power grids, water and sewer lines and communication cables that will meet the needs of future restaurants, shops, offices and residents of The Banks. When the Holy Grail, The Bank's first restaurant, opens later this spring, "[it] can cook a hamburger on a gas grill and not over an open fire," John Deatrick, the Project Executive quips.According to Deatrick, one of the largest projects undertaken by the Partnership has been the creation of a new Transit Center. "Transit Center came together because we wanted to make sure that the central riverfront was an intermodal transfer and connector point for the city's business district and the…riverfront," explains Deatrick. The Transit Center can support every type of rail and bus service, from light rail and commuter rail to downtown shuttles and the proposed streetcar system and connects efficiently to the surrounding highways and roads. The new garages under the building complex fill dual purposes. "Constructing the parking garages was critical to the development of the area because we needed to raise the site out of the flood plain," says Deatrick. Now, with the buildings standing 515 feet above sea level, flood waters are not troubling. And the 6000 planned parking spaces will make it easy to find a spot on busy shopping or festival days downtown and on the riverfront. At a time when all levels of government are being scrutinized for waste, The Banks Public Partnership shows the success of cooperation between a city and a county. Once the public weighs in on The Banks, this partnership might portend a new era of collaboration as governments realize that working together brings the best results and the greatest public satisfaction. Writer: Becky Johnson

Latest in Cincinnati

Young patients find hope in therapy dog’s devotion

By Elissa Yancey

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Education + Learning

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March 15, 2011

When Larry Bennett isn't busy chairing UC's Fire Science and Emergency Management program, he has discovered another kind of "rescue" work that helps fire victims in a very personal way.Twice a month, Bennett takes his Chesapeake Bay Retriever, Bruce, to Shriners Burn Hospital for Children in Clifton, where patients and staff alike find joy in the gentle and loving companionship of a pet. "Some children are in wheelchairs, some are confined to beds that are rolled out of their rooms and some are walking," Bennett says. "They get to pet and hug the dogs. The children often share stories about their own pets."As a volunteer for Therapy Pets of Greater Cincinnati, Bennett takes his work with young patients to heart. He has even developed stickers with Bruce's smiling face that he leaves behind for patients and nurses who gladly keep a piece of their special visit close to their hearts.Founded in 2004, Therapy Pets of Greater Cincinnati trains volunteers and screens pets to visit acute, rehabilitation and palliative healthcare facilities, group homes and schools throughout the region. More than 200 volunteers regularly take their dogs, cats and birds to share unconditional love with those who need it most. Therapy pets visit people and patients of all ages as part of informal Animal-Assisted Activities or work toward specific goals with Animal-Assisted Therapy. Some dogs are specially trained to be part of the Reading Education and Assistance with Dogs (READ) program in schools and libraries. At Shriners and nursing facilities, in hospitals and schools, a friendly pet walking the halls can lighten even the darkest moments. But therapy with pets is about more than feeling good in the moment. Scientific researchincludes both anecdotal evidence and full-scale studies that show pet therapy works. For example, it can lengthen children's attention spans, increase their physical activities and even improve their communication skills. For Bennett and other therapy pet owners, though, the therapeutic benefits flow both ways. Do Good:• Be part of the team. Find out how you and your pet can become approved pet therapy teams.• Get inspired. Brighten your day by reading testimonials from pet therapy teams. • Check with the Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County to find out about the next Pages and Paws program.By Elissa Yancey

OTR Rec Center and neighborhood get 90 day makeover

By Soapbox

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Development News

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March 15, 2011

Over-the-Rhine gets a makeover with the 90-Day Neighborhood Enhancement Program. A unique collaboration between the city, local organizations, and citizens, the goal is to make OTR cleaner, safer, and more attractive to the public within 90 days.The NEP program focuses on enforcement efforts, enhancement, and sustainability. Funding for the program comes from US Bank and community contributions which will be used for a wish list created by residents that includes new signage and a streetscape plan for Vine Street north of Liberty. Keep Cincinnati Beautiful will also play a major role in this project by conducting litter analysis and sweeping up streets and parks in the area.The first priority is redevelopment of the OTR Recreation and Community Center. Peter Hames, a trustee of the OTR Community Council, said the center currently is not an inviting place. It will be a step forward to make it more accessible and inviting to residents in the area.Although the 90-day project represents an immediate positive impact for OTR, sustainability is the most important aspect. The NEP program requires community council members to meet regularly to review progress."It gives us a way to focus our energies. It provides a forum for all of these agencies to come together when they might not have otherwise in the past," Hames explained. "If we are effective we will not only participate successfully, but also build relationships within the area and continue to work together beyond NEP."Enforcement efforts are one of the most important aspects of the program. Cincinnati Police already started addressing hot spots within the area in order to control crime and make OTR a safer place."This is an area that can make or break a city and the Police Department will be at the forefront of being part of the effort that is going to make the city a much greater, much more beautiful, and much more tolerable city than it ever has been before," said Cincinnati Police Chief Tom Streicher.Writer: Lisa Ensminger

Ten best cities for commuters

By Newsroom

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Cincy In The News

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March 8, 2011

Kiplinger selected its 10 Best Cities for Commuters, ranking Cincinnati at number seven. These cities have the easiest and most affordable commutes, while taking into consideration the population and low congestion costs.Read the full story here.

Targeted donations put workers Back on Track

By Elissa Yancey

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General

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March 8, 2011

In its Liberty Street location, past the Freestore/Foodbank's lime and pumpkin walls, its cheery plant-laden offices, spic and span floors and smiling faces sits a needy rack of men's shoes. The FSFB's massive capital campaign leaves footprints as solid as the steelcase filing cabinets that buffer cubicles on every floor. It marks the welcome/waiting area, the portal of social services, the food pantry that resembles a tiny-scale Jungle Jim's, and more private office areas for clients in need of homelessness prevention and money management help. Friendly staff members, sometimes only distinguishable by their green and yellow lanyards and nametags, add to the feeling that the agency has constructed an ideal setting for maximum effectiveness and respectful service delivery.FSFB renovation's decorator/client services manager Bernice Cooper first mentions the Back on Track program - home of the aforementioned shoes - as she begins a new tour. She explains the program is an on-site endeavor to provide donated clothing to all qualified comers for no cost. In order to visit the shop, clients must have completed a job training or work-readiness program and be on their way back to employment. They can visit two times a year, with at least six months between visits.Donations must be clearly tagged for the program; otherwise, they will be sold at low prices through the St. Vincent DePaul Society, which collects drive-by donations at the FSFB Liberty Street warehouse.Back on Track volunteers staff the one-and-a-half room space filled with neatly stocked racks that line the perimeter, and divide the room into clear-cut departments - men's, women's and children's. Tall cardboard boxes filled with donations yet to be sorted sit tucked away in corners and behind the makeshift counter.Despite the large quantity of merchandise in the room, it's hard not to notice the shoes. During one visit, there were 12 pair, neatly displayed on a wire rack that could have held at least four times as many loafers, sneakers and boots. They were all men's shoes, all in good condition, mostly gym shoes. Men's suits hang neatly just a few feet away, but which lucky suit-wearers will be able to find acceptable shoes to dress for a job interview or church? How many men will find a barely worn suit, carefully measured and labeled by a retired Procter & Gamble chemist-turned-volunteer, then be left grateful to snag a pair of sneakers? In the Back on Track store, the shoes tell a powerful story through worn laces, scuffed heels and a stretch of empty wire that conveys, in a very concrete way, the depth of gaps in services for those in need throughout the community. Do Good:• Give some goods. Back on Track donations must be clearly labeled, clean and in good enough condition to be helpful to a hopeful job-seeker.• Get the news. Sign up for the FSFB's email newsletters.• Join the Hunger Walk and 5K. Create a team today for the Memorial Day events.By Elissa Yancey

Cincinnati State students win 11 ADDY Awards

By Newsroom

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Higher Education

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March 8, 2011

Cincinnati State students were dominate players in the 2011 ADDY Awards announced by the Cincinnati ADCLUB last month.The school's students won five Gold and six Silver local ADDY Awards. The nationwide advertising competition, sponsored by the nonprofit American Advertising Federation, pits 60,000 professionals and students from 200 advertising clubs in 15 districts against each other. Winners will go onto district competition.In Greater Cincinnati, students from AIC College of Design, the University of Cincinnati, and Gateway Community and Technical College also competed.Among Cincinnati State winners were the team of Lorelei Buescher, Nicholas Fields, and Dariea Shorter, all graphic design majors, who received a Silver ADDY for the "Chrysalis Interactive Stationery" they designed as part of their end of term spring Capstone project.Their winning design incorporated the concept of transformation through a see-through, die-cut logo that changed depending on whatever the stationary sits on, Buescher said.Buescher, of Newport, is a non-traditional student who returned to college after working in the mortgage company industry with her husband. She's a second-year student with a double major in graphic and web design who'll graduate in June. Last year, she won three local and one regional ADDY. An intern at Curiosity Advertising, Buescher is seeking a second internship once the current one wraps up. She plans on staying in Cincinnati after graduation and go into advertising or branding."I actually think the opportunities here are really good. I think a lot of the (local marketing and branding industry) was driven by P&G being here, but Cincinnati competes pretty well with the larger markets," she said.The Cincinnati State ADDY award recipients include:• Kevin Adams-Jones, Kevin Meyer, and Ryan Lulg, all Audio/Video Production majors, who earned two Gold and two Silver ADDY awards for work on behalf of CincyDance, an educational program of the Cincinnati Ballet that provides dance training at no cost for third grade students.• Jillian Ball, a Graphic Design major, received a Gold ADDY award for a logo created as part of Cincinnati State's Digital Studio 2 class.• Sarah Haun, a Graphic Design major, received a Gold ADDY award and a Silver ADDY award for photography. She received a second Silver ADDY award for a logo created as part of the Digital Studio 2 class.• Ron Smedley, a Graphic Design major, received a Gold ADDY for a poster created in the Digital Studio 1 class.• Dariea Shorter, a Graphic Design major, received a Silver ADDY for an illustration titled "Happiness is Hazardous."Writer: Feoshia HendersonSources: Cincinnati State Communications and Cincinnati State student Lorelei BuescherYou can follow Feoshia on twitter @feoshiawrites

Life with Redwood mixes love and opportunities

By Elissa Yancey

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Diversity

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March 1, 2011

Kristine Jones didn't mean to fall in love. The Ohio native admits she never thought she'd end up moving to Kentucky to be closer to the object of her affections. But for the health and well-being of her daughter Taylor, who was born with multiple handicaps, Jones discovered that she could not find any better support and encouragement than at Redwood in Ft. Mitchell. Jones, a Procter & Gamble retiree, first learned about Redwood when she ran out of options for summer care for Taylor. Her daughters needs were too great for traditional camps, and Jones didn't know where to turn. Redwood, which serves more than 700 children and adults with severe and multiple disabilities, from age six weeks and up, had summer programs where Taylor found a welcome home. After two successful summers at Redwood, Jones needed little convincing to enroll her daughter in the non-profit's school age program, especially since it offered her afterschool care as well as classrooms that were split 50-50. Half of the students in each class have disabilities; the other half does not. "It's a place where her special needs are seen, not as obstacles, but just part of every day living," says Jones, who joined Redwood's Board in 2005 as a way to give back. "She is encouraged to become the best that she, as an individual, can be." The Jones' school move included a physical family move across the river. In 2006, Taylor graduated into Redwood's Adult Independence Program, which she still attends every day. Adults in the program work with mentors to learn computer skills, exercise and practice daily living skills. "My daughter gets up in the morning eager to go to Redwood," Jones says. "Taylor has become the self-assured young lady she is today due to the staff at Redwood." From a nursery to job training, Redwood's depth of services reflect its mission since its founding in 1953: To empower and improve the quality of life for people with disabilities. Do Good: • Take a trip on the Redwood Express. The March 4 fundraiser includes food, bourbon-tasting and Mardi Gras-style fun. • Care for a Kid. Support Redwood's scholarship program for kids in need and help young ones with disabilities access Redwood's top-quality care. • Donate. And find out plenty of other ways to help when you visit Redwood online.

Video There’s A World Going On Underground

By Seven/Seventy Nine

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Architecture + Design

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March 1, 2011

History is often hidden right before our eyes and no where is this more apparent than in Over-the-Rhine. Follow Soapbox and Seven/Seventy-Nine as they go underneath OTR's churches and former breweries to discover that the history of Over-the-Rhine is the history of the Greater Cincinnati region.

Artswave designs fresh iPhone app: iSpyArt

By Newsroom

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Arts + Culture

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March 1, 2011

A fresh new application for iPhone is available designed by Cincinnati's ArtsWave. This free application called iSpyArt combines social networking, iPhone photography, and art application under one source. Users can upload photos showcasing everyday life to the ArtsWave website, where other visitors can view these photos.Read the full story here.

Petraeus pins Silver Star on special forces soldier in Kandahar

By Newsroom

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Cincy In The News

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March 1, 2011

Sergeant and member of 1st Battalion, 3rd Special Forces Group (Airborne) Chad Lawson from Cincinnati, received the nation's third highest medal for his heroics during combat operations in southern Afghanistan. He and his team members were caught in an ambush and Lawson exposed himself twice to save fellow comrades. Lawson received the Silver Star with gratitude and accepted it on behalf of his team.Read the full story here.