The Cincinnati Enquirer from Cincinnati, Ohio • Page 5

News tips: Editor: Nancy Berlier 768-8395, Fax 860-51 90 Thk Cincinnati Encjuiui-k Covering Hamilton County wkst of 1-75 Junk 26, 1996 B3 CONGRATS resceool program expanded trators and other child services experts, other components include: Princeton providing bus transportation for each child from their neighborhood preschool to home or neighborhood daycare site. Three-day sessions at Evendale, Glendale, Sharonville and Springdale elementary schools. Four-day sessions at Heritage Hill, Lincoln Heights, Stewart and Woodlawn elementaries. A montessori preschool at Lincoln Heights Elementary. A four-day preschool at Woodlawn Elementary that includes special needs children in the regular classroom.

Allowing district employees' children to enroll in preschool or daycare programs. The programs will be funded with some state education grants and monthly pre- the district's neighborhood preschool program. With that, a Family Resource Center will be established at Heritage Hill and Stewart, to assist parents with educational, social and health services, said Dr. Mari Phillips, director of pupil personnel services. Princeton Superintendent Dennis Peterson called the expansion an innovative way to meet the needs of district children and parents.

"It's a readiness program in terms of helping children come from the home environment to more of a structured setting in school, getting them ready for kindergarten, helping them with their social needs and to learn what school is all about," Dr. Peterson said. According to the district's Early Childhood Services Plan, developed by a committee of 25 parents, educators, adminis All Princeton 3- and 4-year-olds eligible this year BY GINA GENTRY-FLETCHER The Cincinnati Enquirer GLENDALE Early childhood programs in the Princeton City School District will be expanded this year to all the elementary schools to prepare more 3- and 4- year-olds for school. The district has also formed a partnership with Hamilton County Head Start to create Early ChildhoodHead Start Collaborative Program A Family Center Concept. This program will be piloted at Heritage Hill Elementary and Stewart Pri mary schools, and will place those eligible for Head Start in classes with children in school fees.

"Any child in our school district whose parent wants them to go to preschool will not be turned away," said Dr. Sandra Berg, primary instructional coordinator. "We would like to serve everyone who needs the service. Our expectation is that we will be able to do that." Dr. Phillips said this year's programs are the first to be implemented from a list of ideas generated by the early childhood committee, which studied ways to better serve children from infancy to age 8.

Jack Collopy, director of Hamilton County Head Start, said the Early ChildhoodHead Start collaborative, which officials are calling "blending," will bring children of all socioeconomic backgrounds together at an earlier age: "This is an opportunity where a school district has come together with Head Start and we're combining our resources." Tax would go for new fire trucks Lockland looks to renew 2.5-mill levy in November BY SUE KIESEWETTER Enquirer Contributor LOCKLAND In the last five years, the Lockland Fire Department has been able to replace an ambulance and a rescue truck, thanks to fire levy passed in 1991. But the mostly volunteer department still needs a new pumper and an aerial truck, said Capt. William Welshans, the only full-time firefighter. The city is asking residents to renew the 2.5-mill levy when they go to the polls in November. "The levy enables the village to budget money better and plan for the future," Mayor James Brown said.

"Our department has the best rating for a volunteer department in the state of Ohio. In order to maintain that, we have to have state-of-the-art equipment. This levy provides that f) 'jr if. iMyri C) A ll ACHIEVEMENTS Mt. St.

Joseph honors junior Brooke Lesion of Cheviot has been awarded the St. Catherine Medal from the College of Mount St. Joseph. The award is given to a junior who has demonstrated unusual and unselfish service and a commitment to a lifetime of faith and service to churchcommunity. She is a graduate of Western Hills High School.

Dan Whiteley of College Hill has been named to the Presidents List at Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, N.Y. A 1995 graduate of the School for Cre ative and Performing Arts, he was also presented with the Foundation Merit Award at Pratt. Erin McCann of Colerain Township has graduated magna cum laude from the College of Mount St. Joseph. She is a graduate of McAuley High School.

Jessica Settelmayer of Sharonville has received the subject award in dramatic arts from Mount Notre Dame High School in Reading. She has been named Scholar of the Month in English and has achieved first honors every quarter. MILITARY Airman is promoted Adam C. Roehm of Springfield Township has been promoted to Airman 1st Class in the Air Force. He is a ground radio communications repair apprentice at Hickham Air Force Base in Honolulu.

Please send announcements and photos of community honors, achievements, promotions and activities to Phyllis Greene, Enquirer Tricounty Bureau, 4820 Business Center Way, Cincinnati 45246. Or call 860-7102. YOUR TOWN Green Twp. Explorers No. 1 GREEN TOWNSHIP The township fire department's Explorers finished first overall in a local competition last weekend.

Delhi Explorers finished second. The Green Township Explorers also placed first in the hose coupling relay and Ducket brigade, and second in the agility course and sprinkler relay. Green Township has 16 Explorers between ages 14 and 18. Explorers learn firefighting skills often in preparation for firefighting careers. Lockland officer rehired LOCKLAND Officer Carl Watts is back.

After leaving Lockland more than a year ago to work for the Reading Police Department, Mr. Watts decided to return to Lockland. He was rehired last week by village council. "We're very pleased," said Mayor James Brown. "Usually we lose officers when they leave our department to go to bigger ones with better pay.

Officer Watts did a lot of our drug work. We suffered while he was gone. It's pretty gratifying to know he chose to come back. Council also made part-time officer Scott Godbey a full-time officer. Mr.

God- bey, a Lockland High School graduate, has been working for the department for two years. Boosters donate cash WOODLAWN The Woodlawn Athletic Booster Club presented cash prizes Monday to the winners of a fund-raising contest. The drawing was held to show the group's appreciation to those who bought land deeds for a parachute jump June 15. No one bought winning tickets, so or ganizers decided to give away half the prize money. Three tickets were drawn during a Sunday baseball game at Woodlawn Park on Woodlawn Boulevard.

The winners were: Hank Mango of Springfield Township, $500; Glendale Family Dentistry, Glendale, $100; and Nathalene Pena of Woodlawn, $67.50. DAYBOOK Government schools Clever Villaae council. 7 Dm, 101 N. Miami Ave. Delhi Township: Trustees.

7:30 p.m., administration office. 934 Neeb Road. Miami Township: Trustees, 7.30 p.m., 112 S. Miami Ave. Community events Springdale: Robin Lacy and DeZydeco perform a free concert al 7:30 p.m.

at the Sprlngdale Amphitheater, 11999 Lawnview Ave. Inlormation: 671-6260. HOW TO REACH US JlmRohrer 860-7114 Assistant suburban editor The Cincinnati EnquirerYoni Pozner Fun's the goal: Goalie Drew Nichols, 7, and Dean Dimarco, 9, try to block a shot by Adam Dimarco, 10, as the boys played a game of street hockey Tuesday morning with friends on Grandin Avenue in Springdale. i Middle school hearing topic Building proposed at Pontius Road site BY BETH MENGE The Cincinnati Enquirer DELHI TOWNSHIP Community leaders and officials from the Oak Hills Local School District will meet with the public Thursday to discuss a proposed new middle school. The meeting is set for 7 p.m.

at St. Simon Church of Delhi Township, 825 Pontius Road. The forum will allow the district to receive community feedback on a proposal to build a middle school. It will also provide an opportunity for community members to ask questions about the project, said Mike Amos, school district director of Amos said. The fire station probably will not be built until after the year 2000, Delhi administrator Joseph Morency said.

Further development of the park land is also a project "down the road," Mr. Morency said. The school district has been suffering from overcrowding and will ask voters for a bond issue in November to raise $48 million to finance construction of a new middle school and the renovation of existing buildings. Millage amounts will be determined this summer by the Hamilton County auditor's office. The district's problems with overcrowding have developed gradually.

In the last few years, enrollment has increased by about 100 students per year. This year, 8,300 students were enrolled. Plans call for building a middle school for sixth-, seventh- and eighth-graders on part of a 62-acre site on Pontius Road. Part of the school building could also be used as a community center when the space is not in use for school purposes. The middle school is part of a joint venture with the Delhi Township Park Board and Delhi Township trustees.

Eventually, there will also be a park and a fire station in the complex. According to Mr. Amos, the school district owns 26 acres of the Pontius Road site. The remainder is owned by the park board and the township. "We took a look at the needs of the school district, the needs of the community, the needs of the fire department and the needs of the park department and we're trying to use the same property to answer all those needs and concerns." Mr.

for us." The levy is estimated to raise $133,117 each year, Hamilton County Auditor Dusty Rhodes said. The owner of a house with a market value of $50,000 would continue to pay $33.38 in taxes each year. Without the levy, the department will probably not be able to buy any new vehicles, Capt. Welshans said. The $168,000 allocated to the department from the village's general fund is used for day-to-day operations.

Besides Capt. Welshans, the department has 24 members on its life squad, including 10 who also are firefighters. There are 24 people who work as firefighters only, Capt. Welshans said. Each receives $10 to $16 per call.

The department also has nine teen-aged cadets who assist. On average, the department responds to 155-160 fire calls each year and makes about 900 life squad runs annually, Capt. Welshans said. "We still need one more pumper and we are considering replacement of our aerial truck," Capt. Welshans said.

"To overhaul it would cost us $150,000. It's pretty hard to justify putting that much money into a unit that's almost 30 years old. A new, smaller one would cost us $300,000 to $400,000." A final decision on how the levy money will be spent if the levy is approved will be made over the next several months, Capt. Welshans said. Firefighters are putting together a committee to work for renewal of the levy.

Besides going door-to-door to discuss the renewal, brochures will be prepared and a hot line established to answer questions. at 298 Lower River Road. The shop has about 4,400 square feet, and owners Vikki Smith and Margene Colegate have about 7,500 ceramic molds. "We also have finished product, bisque, green ware and all the products and supplies" for ceramic makings, Ms. Smith said.

They also offer ceramics classes twice a week, from 6 to 8 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Hours of operation are 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday, 10 a.m.

to 4 p.m. Wednesday and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Friday. The shop is closed Sunday and Monday.

For more information, call 941-5666. Compiled by Angela T. Koenig Business Notes looks at business activity including openings.clos-ings, relocations and expansions in your neighborhood. To suggest an idea for this column, call 860-7114, or fax 860-5190. Dry cleaners to take summer vacation CHEVIOT When Louis Kro Dina Ave.

sewer fix called inexpensive BUSINESS NOTES ner Sr. started a dry cleaning business 57 years ago, he also started a tradition: shutting down operations for a short time during the summer so family and employees could take vacations at the same time. Kroner Dry Cleaners, 3820 North Bend Road, is still in the family and the tradition continues. The shop will close July 22 and reopen Aug. 1, with pickup and delivery service resuming Monday, Aug.

5. 'That's the way Grandpa started it. So we built it in to our business," said Raymond Kroner, company vice president. The company, which has 11 employees, is owned and operated by the founder's son, Louis Kroner Jr. M.W.

Hott relocates SHARONVILLE The headquarters of the M.W. Hott Co. a regional tube fitting and chemical process instruments distributor, has moved from Millington Court in Blue Ash to 3495 Mustafa Drive in Sharonville. Established in 1971, the local company is owned by Duane Lo- quality supervisor for the Hamilton County Health District. "It's a fairly minor problem that caused a big problem," Mr.

Goodman said. It will be inexpensive to repair because it involves replacing a 10-foot-long pipe that is 4 feet below the ground. He did not have a cost estimate. The sewer behind Dina 'Avenue is private, so residents may have to pay. "I think if they go along with what we're talking about, I don't think it's going to be that much," city Safety Service Director Steve Neal said.

The issue is expected to be raised during a public meeting with the city and Metropolitan Sewer District 7 p.m. July 10 in city council chambers, 3814 Harrison Ave. BY BETH MENGE The Cincinnati Enquirer CHEVIOT It won't be difficult or expensive to permanently fix a problem that caused a blockage and led to sewage collecting in a manhole behind Dina Avenue homes, Hamilton County officials say. In late May, city employees pumped 100,000 gallons of storm water from a low area behind several Dina Avenue yards. They found a manhole filled with sewage.

It was caused by a blockage in the sewer line. The blockage has been removed and the Metropolitan Sewer District is continuing to monitor the sewer to be sure it continues to operate correctly. However, if the problem in the line isn't repaired, the backup could recur, said Travis Goodman, water renz. For more information, call 769-7400. Stereo shop makes debut NORTH COLLEGE HILL Sound Image Car Audio and Entertainment, a car stereo and entertainment retail store, has opened at 1617 W.

Galbraith Road. Store hours are 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Sunday. For more information, call 521-7300. Roofing firm moves up SHARONVILLE The Midwest regional sales offices for So-prema a Wadsworth, Ohio, based roofing manufacturer, have a new address 10957 Reading Road. The offices are located in the same building as before, but have relocated to the second floor to gain additional space. Ceramics shop opens CLEVES VikMars, a ceramics and gift shoq, opened last week Address 4820 Business Center Way, Cincinnati 45246 Telephone 660-7100, 1-800-336-7003 Fax 860-5190.