EAST END NEWSLETTER • October 2015
Editor: Barb Rider
PRESIDENT’S CORNER • Michael Bolan
October preparations for November 3 decisions
Dear East Enders,
Cincinnatians are blessed with fabulous parks and recreation facilities left by past generations that fostered a sense of community. Among the issues to be voted on November 3 is the City of Cincinnati 1-mill Park Levy. The voters will determine whether the value proposition is worth the cost. Like many issues affecting neighborhoods, the common good can be arrived at after weighing the pros and cons. Predominate on the list of Park projects is the Oasis Bike Trail that would run through the entire 7-miles of East End including the scenic hillside below Columbia Parkway that was built in the 1930’s as a WPA project. I admit to being big fan of views along the grand Parkway and sometimes even enjoy being stopped in a traffic jam along the road coming into town just to savor the moment for viewing the wide vista of our Ohio River valley.
A discussion will be held about the Park Levy as well as the merits of the Oasis Bike Trail at the EEAC meeting on Monday Oct 5th 7 PM Leblond Rec Plex. The East End hillside below Columbia Parkway once served many homes. After the road was built, walking to adjacent hilltop neighborhoods was not so easy and the fully plotted hillside was abandoned except along Walworth, Hoff and Gradstone. These once connected street, now fragmented would be adjacent to the continuous Oasis Bike Trail. The Trail would also intersect existing walkable connections that have fallen into disrepair: Riverside/Kemper to Eden Park/Mt Adams, Riverside/LeBlond/Collins to East Walnut Hills/O’Bryonville, Riverside/Torrence to Hyde Park and Riverside/Wenner Tunnel to CT/ Mt Lookout (see map below). Recently, I walked the overgrown Collins Steps right-of-way from LeBlond RecPlex but still arrived at DeSales Corner in just 12 minutes!
The urban landscape is always evolving. The EEAC is a forum for enlarged conversations about the common good that can render a consensus when available to better prioritize city efforts. Shared minds bring out the best. Should the Park Levy pass and the Oasis Trail be built, a prepared East End could have addition opportunities to make better connections with the hilltop neighborhoods.
Best regards,
Michael Bolan
MONTHLY NEIGHBORHOOD MEETINGS
East End Area Council meetings are held on first Mondays at 7PM. All are welcome! The agenda usually includes reports from District 2 police, the Riverview East Academy principal, and the LeBlond RecPlex director. There are also reports from the treasurer, Garden District, our City liaison, and more! East End residents and business owners are eligible to vote if they have attended a meeting within the last 12 months.
Mark your calendar for these upcoming meetings:
Oct 5 – Info on Park Levy & Oasis Bike Trail. NSP vote
Nov 2 – Nominees for office are announced
Dec 7 – Election of officers for 2016
RIVERVIEW EAST ACADEMY NEWS
Our neighborhood public school (at 3555 Kellogg Ave) is celebrating its 10th anniversary! Come visit this impressive PreK-Gr. 12 school at its Open House on Wed, Sept 30th 4:30-6:30. Everyone is welcome!
About 80% of the students at REA receive free/reduced lunch (based on family income). PowerPacks (bags of supplemental food) are provided by the Free Store Food Bank, and are distributed to students in need on Fridays.
Unfortunately, the school does not receive enough for the need of the school. Non-perishable, healthy food items were collected at the Sept 22nd. Anyone interested in providing extra food items (non-perishable) to supplement PowerPacks, please bring to the EEAC Council meeting on October 5th.
The last Movies by the River is Friday, Oct 2nd. Come watch Pitch Perfect with the family under the stars. The fun begins at dusk!
-Charlene Myers, Principal 363-3400
BINGO at ST. ROSE
Did you know that bingo is played every Saturday at St. Rose (2501 Riverside Dr)? The doors open at 5:30 and regular bingo begins at 8:00. Everyone is welcome!
-Margie Coffey, St. Rose Bingo Manager MCoffey8203@gmail.com
EAST END YOUTH COMMITTEE
A group has been meeting at the Pendleton to plan after-school activities for the youth of the East End. Participants have included Ruth Coon, Patrick Ormond, Jackie Weist, Mary Dyer, Anna Hair, and Melisse May. Ideas include offering odd jobs (like snow shoveling and litter pick-up) to young people, as well as workshops (like gardening and bike repair). The next meeting is Tuesday, Sept 29 at 6:10 at the Pendleton. Anyone may attend!
Dr. Anisa Shomo 363-3476
MONEY for the EAST END
All 51 City of Cincinnati neighborhoods are eligible to apply for funds each year to use for beautification, leadership training, communication and support for youth. In the past few years, the maximum funds per neighborhood has been $5000 (this is how we got our Delta/Kellogg message board, litter pick-up supplies, boundary signs, insurance, newsletter software).
Next year, each neighborhood’s allotment is $6800! We will vote on how we’d like to use our Neighborhood Support Fund (NSP) money at the Oct 5th meeting. Please come and bring your ideas!
LEBLOND RECPLEX
Our neighborhood recreation center, LeBlond RecPlex, is now open 9AM-9PM Monday through Friday (2335 Riverside Dr). In additional to being the Cincinnati Recreation Commission headquarters for therapeutic recreation with a fully accessible playground and an outdoor multiple sports court, offerings to all residents include:
- Indoor group cycling Mon & Wed 6:15-7PM, Wed & Fri 5:15-6PM, and Tues & Thurs 11AM-Noon. Call at least one hr before class to reserve a bike. Free to CRC members (adults $25/seniors $10 annually).
- Fitness Room $20/quarter…$5/day. Orientation Mon & Wed 2-3PM, or by appointment.
- Personal Training Mon & Thurs 2-3PM, or by appointment.
Call Mark for appointments and cycle reservations 352-4013.
HELP the EEAC
Want to have an impact on your neighborhood? Consider being an East End Area Council officer or committee chair! The jobs can be fun, and you’ll learn about our neighborhood while making new friends! No experience necessary to write the newsletter, put up messages, serve as city liaison or even serve as president! Contact Jane Sites, nominating committee, at 476-4580 or jane.sites@cchmc.org to learn more.
HEALTH FAIR RE-SCHEDULED
The fun health fair originally scheduled for Sept 26 will now be held on Saturday, Oct 24th 10AM-2PM. Come celebrate the first anniversary of the Riverview East Health Center and enjoy free food and a bouncy house. Various health screenings will also be offered. DJ Dan Hargraves will provide music. It all happens on the grounds of Riverview East Academy at 3555 Kellogg Ave.
Call 363-3476 for more information – or to make an appointment for a vaccine, check-up, diabetes care, mental health support, etc. Newborns to elderly are served!