The Cincinnati Enquirer from Cincinnati, Ohio • Page 11

fTTTTTTA1 OAMTL? MU1VJUC THE CINCINNATI ENQUIRER MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2002 B3 Markers tell Ohio history Kroger among local honorees v. three things: an African-: American abolitionist, inven-. tor and a man who raised a-group of colored troops for? this area during the Civil War," said Betty Dragoo; Campbell, president of tlie John Parker Historical Soci-C ety. "He led a remarkable life," Ms. Campbell said.

"He was a slave and foundry molder who bought his freedom for $1,800 in Mobile and headed north. He spent time in Cincinnati, where he met his future wife, Miranda Boulder, in 1845." He died in 1900. To apply for a Bicentennial marker in round 14, contact the Ohio Bicentennial mission at l-888-Ohio-20O oz at www.ohio200.com. Manchester, Ohio's fourth-oldest settlement, in Adams County. Shandon's Paddy's Run, a small stream in Butler County that gave its name to part of Ohio's first Welsh settlement.

The Kroger Grocery and Baking which opened its first store in Cincinnati in July 1883. Kroger succeeded in combining meats and groceries under one roof. The Bunker Hill House, a stop for stagecoaches and an Underground Railroad site in Preble County. One new marker is in Ripley in Brown County at the John Parker House, 330 Front in the village's historic district "He is known for (being) 42 inches. Before the latest round, Butler County had received 5 new markers; Hamilton County, 14.

Clermont County had added none, according to the commission's Web site. Newly approved area markers are: Lorenzo Langworth, the "father of American beekeeping." The Oxford minister "revolutionized the beekeeping and honey industry with his theory on beehive construction," said Fred Strat-mann of the Ohio Bicentennial Commission. Manchester's Israel Do-nalson, a framer of Ohio's first constitution and a founder of The Cincinnati Enquirerfile photo A marker about the 1884 riots is unveiled in 2000 by Bob Bedinghaus (left) and Hamilton County Sheriff Si Leis. Beekeeper and By Randy McNutt The Cincinnati Enquirer What do Oxford's Lorenzo Langworth, the father of modern beekeeping; the Kroger Co. of Cincinnati; and Adams County pioneer Israel Donal-son have in common? Their stories will be shared on Ohio Bicentennial historical markers approved this month by the state.

Frve of the 32 new markers are in southwest Ohio. These permanent memorials help Ohioans of all regions learn more about our state, and serve as a way to bring communities together Sri Writ II1 Ik to 1 vendale 'Some of us have huge feasts all the time, while others barely have crumbs. We need to help change that. commemorate and celebrate what is important to them," said Stephen C. George, executive director of the Ohio Bicentennial Commission in Columbus.

The deadline to apply for the 14th and final round of markers is Sept. 30. Since 1998, the Longaberg-er Legacy Initiative, a competitive grant program that pays up to two-thirds of the cost, has awarded 240 markers in 81 counties. The marker program started in 1953 for Ohio's sesquicentennial. The bronze signs, made of cast metal with raised gold letters, measure 46 inches by 1 gr ialih pian rues firms We're not blighted, they say twm i ft i Mm a THOMAS WITTE for The Enquirer Sri Mlrle outside the Hindu Society of Cincinnati Temple, where he conducts chanting sessions on Thursday nights.

He will be host a charity fund-raiser Saturday at the Aronoff Center. He helps India's poor Group finds and funds projects to improve health You Asked for It Where are the speed humps? QUESTION: About two years ago, I was told by city officials that our street -Kirbert Avenue would be getting speed humps and additional street lighting. Will you please find out if these improvements will be made and when? Chris Hornback Pries Hill ANSWER: Cincinnati Traffic Engineer Steve Bailey said his department was asked by City Council to investigate these requests to determine if they were warranted. The request for street lighting resulted in the installation of two additional Walt lights on Kirbert in the 800 Schaefer and 900 blocks. The work was completed in 1999.

The installations brought the street lighting level up to city standards for residential streets of this type. No additional lighting is planned, Mr. Bailey said. The request for speed humps resulted in a neighborhood street calming study and analysis in compliance with city guidelines. This street did not receive a high enough priority rating for street humps in 1999, but two speed limit signs were installed and the street restudied in 2000.

Conditions did not change between studies. The location fell below the funding and priority limits for speed humps, he said. The exit at southbound Interstate 71 at Montgomery Road in Sycamore Township is dangerous. There are three lanes to access Montgomery from the ramp one lane to turn left, and two lanes to turn right. All lanes are clearly marked with visible signs.

Still, motorists in the left lane usually have to turn into the right lane of Montgomery because of the frequent back-up of motorists in the left lane planning to enter northbound 1-71. Drivers illegally turn left onto Montgomery from the middle lane on the ramp. Mary Kay Doyle Newtown A. Lieutenant Dan Reid of the Hamilton County Sheriffs Patrol said traffic enforcement will be increased at this interchange. Kim Patton, spokeswoman for the Ohio Department of Transportation, said the state plans an improvement project next summer that will widen Montgomery Road to seven lanes at the interchange, which should alleviate the congestion.

You Asked For It, which runs on Mondays, answers questions about regional history, government, schools and roads. Call 381-2800 and enter 2002. Fax 755-4150. E-mail Mail The Cincinnati Enquirer, 7700 Service Center Drive, West Chester, Ohio 45069. INCLUDE NAME, NEIGHBORHOOD AND PHONE.

on If you go What "Visioning" session for E-vendale residents When: 7 p.m. Oct.1 Where: Evendale Recreation Center Format: Public meeting is moderated by planning firm KZF Design Inc. Reservations requested. Information: 956-2666. rural condition, site condition, fire code violations, location in a flood plain, vacancy," crime rate, lot layout or nonconforming land use.

"A blight declaration doesn't mean every property, is blighted," Mr. Covell said. Of the 130 properties, few failed to meet the standard of fire code safety, but many are automatically considered blighted because they lie in a flood plain, are vacant or don't meet existing codes. Mr. Regenold and Mr.

Hassel believe that the village is using the urban renewal plan and its blight desipation to lower property values and, ultimately, to buy up property along Reading Road through eminent domain. They say that many errors were made by McBride Dale Clarion, the consultants who performed the property assessments. And they say they are frustrat-. ed by the village's apparent lack of response to their concerns. "They should have solicits ed public input before, not after, the plan," Mr.

Regenold said. CIC has conducted four visioning sessions for Even-dale's business and industrial community. The fifth and final session is designed to get comment on Reading Road's future from local residents. Without community support no action will be taken, said CIC president John Perazzo. "Our immediate goal is to find out what people want our ultimate goal is to improve the.

corridor," he said. The urban renewal plan is a tool that gives us the right to use eminent domain should we ever need it eo technical studio cameras and Tele-7 prompters will allow live video broadcasts via the city's cable' station or onto the website. Although an auditorium planned for the second phase of construction, the high -school will contain a "cafetori-um" that seats 900 and has a stage complete with sound and lighting systems for school productions. Multiple entrances will sepv arate car and bus traffic, said Stu Long, director of business operations. Sue Kiesewetter contributed to this report.

teaches classical Indian dance. Each Saturday, members spend hours reviewing proposals submitted by non-governmental Indian organizations, such as a road project An AID volunteer goes to India, at his or her own expense, to ensure the project is valid, the money will be spent wisely, and to work out details, said Mr. Mirle. He and his family go to India every year or two. Both have relatives Mirles went back in March to talk to organizations about projects.

"We want to fund sustainable development projects make sure these are not handouts," said Mr. Mirle, who has a Ph.D and is a polymer scientist at Procter Gamble Winton Hills Technical Center. "We're trying to provide means for long term sustenance, to create jobs, a livelihood for people." They work various impoverished and so-called backward tribal groups and women's and children's groups. AID has two or three major annual fund raisers. Six projects are being funded this year.

Harmony 2002, a multi-media extravaganza, will be 7-9 p.m. Saturday in the Procter Gamble Hall at the Aronoff Center. It will feature dance, magic and a high-tech laser light show, all by a Denver, group headed by Manick Socar, son of a legendary Indian magician. Mr. Mirle is the coordinator.

But Harmony 2002 is more than a fund-raiser. As its name suggests, it's to promote harmony among diverse groups, Mr. Mirle said. In recent weeks he and other AID volunteers By Jenny Callison Enquirer contributor EVEN DALE -The village is proceeding with a "vision-ing" process to revitalize a commercial corridor, despite protests from some property owners who don't like what they see. For the past year, the village has been evaluating its stretch of Reading Road, currently a mix of retail, office and industrial uses.

Officials believe that vacant properties could be developed in a way that would enhance the area and bring more business. An urban renewal plan completed in August 2001 re-portedon the condition of properties there, but includes no action steps, said Bill Co-vell, assistant to the mayor. But the plan's designation of the study area as "blighted" has inflamed some property owners. A blight designation is a required part of any urban renewal plan, Mr. Covell said.

And completion of that plan was a necessary first step for Evendale's Community Improvement Corp. (CIC) before considering any action to improve the corridor. When Dan Regenold hears the term "blighted," he pictures inner-city eyesores or havens for criminals. It's not a word he would apply to Even-dale's major north-south artery, where his company, Frame USA, is located. Another Reading Road property owner, Bruce Hassel of A to Discount Printing, erected a sign outside his building to alert passersby to the legal definition of the word.

The sign reads "Notice: You have entered a blighted area. The Village of Evendale has determined that the Reading Road Corridor is a menace to public health, safety, morals or welfare." Mr. Covell explained that like it or not the term "blight" is part of urban renewal language. However, he said, the government's use of the term is specific. A piece of property can be so labeled if it fails to meet any of several standards relating to building age, struc- brary and cafeteria debit cards and will allow access to the building.

The two-story media center will have a research lab on the second floor. A90-seat conference room is equipped with large projection screens and a small stage that opens to the courtyard, making a small amphitheater. "We're not only looking two years ahead or five years ahead, we're looking 20 years ahead," Ms. Moormeier said. Plans also include several "Cyber Cafes" for student use plus computer labs for digital imaging, computer-aided design, journalism and yearbook work.

A multimediavid have spoken to more than 20 groups spreading the harmony message, such as at the Islamic Center, National Underground Railroad Freedom Center, and to Chinese American community leaders. Mr. Mirle is an active member and newsletter editor for Kaveri, a social cultural group which focuses on preserving Indian culture. Fellow AID volunteer Rao Sailesh calls Mr. Mirle an exceptional man who makes time to help others, despite family and professional commitments.

"At times of calamitiesdisasters, such as the massive cyclone in India, Sri has been instrumental in collecting relief materials and shipping them to India," Mr. Sailesh said. is also brilliant at dramatics," and helps write, direct and perform in skits and plays to raise awareness on issues. Mr. Mirle said his burning desire to help is fueled by trips back home where he sees families without even the basic needs of food, shelter, clothing and sanitation.

"Life is busier for me now, but more meaningful. Some of us have huge feasts all the time, While others barely have crumbs. We need to help change that" Do you know a Hometown Hero? E-mail Janet Wetzel at or fax (513) 755-4150. By Janet C. Wetzel Enquirer contributor LIBERTYTWP Sri Mirle came to the United States from his native India in 1981 to further his education and explore opportunities.

He has accomplished all that and more. But his heart has always ached for the estimated 400 million people in his homeland living in abject poverty. Mr. Mirle, born in Bangalore and raised in Bombay, had often made a point of helping others. But one day he had a rude awakening he was not doing enough.

"It suddenly occurred to me that I owe so much to my nation my world," he said. I've been so fortunate, have so much going for me, and I just couldn't go on enjoying them and primarily just taking care of my family and our needs." Mr. Mirle threw himself into volunteer work in 1999, joining and helping reenergize a fledgling group called Association for India's Development (AID), started in Cincinnati in 1996. It was founded in 1991 by University of Maryland students. Now Mr.

Mirle, who lives in Liberty Township with his wife Anupa and their 5-year-old son, Vikku, volunteers 10 to 20 hours a week with AID which has about 15 active members, including his wife. She performs and New Lebanon high school provides for future growth Latest technology to be bought; students will use 'smart card' IDs music department has separate rooms for vocal and instrumental ensembles along with several practice rooms, said Jenny Moormeier, director of secondary education and technology. The high school will be packed with new technology. All classrooms will have five computers, overhead projectors, large screen televisions and videoDVD players. Students will be able to access education and business programs on the school's computer system from their homes or library via the Inter net.

Student "smart cards" will serve as identification, li they start moving dirt, you know it's going to become a reality." The school will be divided into two main areas an academic wing and an events area for sports, school productions or community programs. Each section can be closed off from the other when not in use. Interior and exterior security cameras will also be installed. The two-story academic wing contains 39 classrooms, all with windows, plus 12 specially equipped science classrooms. A visual arts suite contains four art rooms that open to a courtyard, a digital lab and two storage rooms.

The James W. "Bill" Sears. This year, the high school has 1,336 students. Within 20 years, enrollment could grow to nearly 2,400, according to district estimates. Groundbreaking for the $32 million, school is set for 2 p.m., Oct 6, at the 84-acre Drake Road site, just north of Miller Road.

It is expected to open in 2004. "This is the beginning of a very exciting time for Lebanon," Mr. Sears said. "When By Gina Buccino Enquirer contributor LEBANON When architects began designing Lebanon's new high school they focused on the future. Though built for 1,400 students initially, the core facilities cafeteria, gymnasiums, media center will be large enough to accommodate 1,600 students and are de-slped so classrooms can easily be added as enrollment grows, said Superintendent.