The Cincinnati Enquirer du lieu suivant : Cincinnati, Ohio • Page 11

MONDAY, JULY 21, 2003 B3 Some good news Cornhole fund-raiser to aid family Development already showing signs of slowdown July 2001, Rachel Pinson was getting ready for her freshman year in high school By Erica Solvig The Cincinnati Enquirer MASON While it's still booming, Ohio's fastest growing city is starting to see the signs of slower growth. City and school officials estimate that about 15 percent of Mason is undeveloped, and only about half of that is slated for residential use. And while the city of 25,656 people is expected to keep growing by about 800 to 1,000 people a year, officials predict that the growth will taper off by 2010. By then, the city's population would be about 35,000 to 40,000. wouldn't build back there, but it looks like they might" But despite the continued development residents still pride themselves on maintaining the atmosphere of a sleepy suburb.

They still have a quiet downtown area, a school system that's ranked among the state's best bike and walking paths that connect the city, and several city services. "It's a sizable jump," Lahrmer said about the population growth. "But it's also a city where we've been able to retain that small-town feel." E-mail esolvigenquirer.com when she started having serious back pain. Doctors found a rare form of can- The Mason City School District, which also includes residents from neighboring areas, is expected to top off at 12,000 to 13,000 students. "There is development that is yet to occur," says City Manager Scot Iahrmer.

"But, if you look at the building permits for single-family development, for example, the numbers have gone down." This year, the city has issued 146 single-family permits through June, down from the 203 permits it issued for the same period last year. looks like development keeps going. Lou Moormeier and his wife of 52 years, Jan, moved from West Chester to their ranch home here three years ago. They, like many residents, were drawn to the quiet streets and the property that's nestled near 13 acres of woods. "We like it very much here the area is close to everything," said Moormeier, who lives on a cul-de-sac.

that backs into an open area. "We were hoping they During the same time period, 33 multi-family permits were issued, compared with 94 last year. By 2010, officials expect the residential land that will remain undeveloped will be property that is not as easily built on because of topography and other such reasons. "In a growing city like this, you don't necessarily stay on the same path, development-wise," Lahrmer said. "A different type of development takes over." Residents are not likely to see the slowdown any time soon.

Between 2000 and 2002, the city added 3,500 residents a growth rate of 16.5 percent making it Ohio's fastest growing city, according to the census population estimates released earlier this month. There's more than 1,000 single-family lots and 863 multi-family lots that have been platted but not built, according to the city. And at 701 houses, Mason led the region in the number of homes sold last year. In some parts of town, it gEV I cerinatumor waPPed now 15-year- old spine. She's had five surgeries and numerous rounds of chemothera Karen Vance Alice Andrew Forgets own ailments to help others 'V-'- 1 if 1 Skaters to get a place to play '-V- 'U't fir? py, but doctors believe she's cancer-free.

While the medical news is looking up, the strain the illness has put on the Pinson family has been difficult. "After she relapsed, there was just so much care Rachel needed. Barb, (Rachel's mother), decided to stay home and take care of her," said Fred Pinson, Rachel's father. "We just continued to hang in there and fight with her." Now, Mason and Lebanon residents are trying an innovative way to raise money to help her family -a cornhole tournament In cornhole, a game similar to horseshoes or bean bag toss that has become popular on the west side, players throw a bag of corn kernels at a box, trying to hit a 6-inch hole. Family friend Dave Jayne is organizing the event.

"I just felt like, as a friend, I've been praying for them, but I thought the prayer needed to lead to action," he said. "I thought a cornhole tournament would catch people's attention." The competition is 9:30 a.m. Aug. 2 at Countryside Community Church, 1436 Deerfield Road, Lebanon. Deadline for advance registration is July 22.

To register, call Jayne at 932-7347. Enjoy The Arts START is a gateway to art in the city for thousands of people younger than 30. But getting out the message with four full-time staff and a tight budget isn't easy. Thanks to volunteers from the city's business world, the group and other small arts organizations got some professional education from leaders in the marketing industry. The Cincinnati Fine Arts Fund hosted a program to provide workshops to Cincinnati arts marketers, reaching 250 individuals from 100 art 1 The Cincinnati EnquirerGARY LANDERS Alice Andrew, who lives with a son, regularly travels to Mercy St.

Theresa to help the residents with crafts. "That's my second home," says the mother of five and grandmother of eight. Craft-master helps kee By Sheila McLaughlin The Cincinnati Enquirer HAMILTON TOP. For the last month police have cracked down on skaters atTesterman Park because of damage to picnic tables at the shelter. But, township officials now say they are willing to give them a second chance.

Complaints from parents and their teens led to an agreement for a temporary area in the parking lot off Maineville Road for skateboarding, in-line skating and trick cycling while the park board researches plans for an official skate park. Parents will be asked in a special 7 p.m. park board meeting Monday at the township building to agree to supervise the teens. "We're going to open a spot temporarily and see how it goes," said park board member Bill Shearer. "Parks are not day care centers, and we don't have people there 24 hours to watch them." Unlike nearby communities such as Loveland, the township does not have a law that bans skating in pubhc areas.

However, Shearer said the activities have become more prevalent and more of a nuisance in recent months. Police said they have received numerous complaints from motorists about skateboarders flying out into traffic on Ohio 48 after ramping off of steps at an abandoned auto parts store. Trouble at the park surfaced earlier this summer when fiberglass picnic tables at the concession shelter a favorite skating spot were fractured and splintered by skateboarders who used them to "grind," or slide their board or skates along the top. Fearing that skaters were going to get hurt or that park users would be sliced by razor-sharp splinters when they sat at the concession shelter, the park board removed all tables. The board hoped it might prevent injuries and deter extreme sports there, but it didn't Shearer said.

So, trustees decided to run skaters and boarders out of the park, Police Chief Gene Duvelius said. "We've had a few encounters with some parents who were disgruntled. They said, "Where's my kid going to be able to go and rollerblade and skateboard?" Duvelius said. The park board will decide on an opening date after Monday's meeting. retirees busy and happy HOMETOWN drew had tumors removed from her spinal cord and went to the center for rehabilitation, she decided to help residents with the weekly craft sessions.

As a single mother of five children, Andrew has been busy all her life. She owned a craft shop at various times in Fairfax, before closing the final one in 1993. Income from her ceramics work was not enough to support her family. So she worked nights and weekends designing kitchens until the 1994 health problems forced her to retire. Jackie Canter, director of volunteers for Mercy St.

Theresa, called Andrew a marvelous, talented woman. "She's fighting a lot of ailments, yet she does outstanding work for us," Canter said. "I have many wonderful volunteers, but Alice just stands out because she's endured all these hardships, yet she's always here helping." Do you know a Hometown Hero? E-mail Janet Wetzelatjjwetcelsiscom.net, or fax to 513-755-4150. By Janet Wetzel Enquirer contributor Alice Andrew has endured many life-changing experiences in the past several years. Severe back problems forced her to retire before she was ready, then a fall put her in the hospital.

She wound up in a wheelchair a few years later. Complications from diabetes added to the challenges. But some things have remained the same -her indomitable spirit plus a strong determination to keep going and to help others along the way. Those traits take her to Mercy St. Theresa Center in Mariemont every Monday to help residents at the retirement center make crafts.

She takes many of the projects home where she spends another 30-35 hours a week putting on the finishing touches. Andrew has continued her volunteer work at Mercy St. Theresa for 12 years. Even in 1994 after back surgery and in 2000 after knee surgery when she went to that center for re- habitation, Andrew continued helping. Therapy doesn't make a full life," she said.

"I asked them to bring some of the crafts to my room to paint People stopped in to watch." The crafts made by residents are sold at the annual Christmas boutique in December, and year-round in the gift shop. "If a lot of fun for the residents, and all the money goes back into making life more pleasant for them," Andrew said. "There are other volunteers who help. It takes many people to contribute to the whole." Andrew discovered Mercy St. Theresa when her late mother moved there in early 1994.

Andrew saw how much she and others enjoyed the crafts. Later that year, when An Lebanon to ask money for 2nd fire station station near the Ohio State Highway Patrol post off Ohio 48. The new station would be staffed by three firefighter EMTs around the clock. The new station would dramatically decrease response time to the city's southern neighborhoods, which at times is as high as 12 minutes, said Lebanon Fire Chief Michael Hannigan. The southern section of the city has a number of large industrial and office complexes off of Fujitec Drive.

"We will be able to cut our response time in half," said Hannigan, who added that if voters do approve the property tax increase the new station, off of Nelson Road, would be up and operating in a year. Construction costs are estimated to be about $863,200. E-mail mclarkenquirer.com the levy. "I'd be willing to double my taxes if it guaranteed the safety of my home. Higher taxes don't bother me at all as long as it assures adequate fire protection," he said.

If voters approve a 5.5-mill tax, the annual fire tax for the owner of a $100,000 home would grow from $157 to $192, or an increase of $35 per year. The levy would pay for a new fire engine and a new fire Merrill and other area residents know that their community is one of the farthest from the fire station in Lebanon's central business district City leaders are poised to change that with the help of voters in November. On Tuesday night City Council is expected to approve placing a new fire levy on the fall ballot that would fund construction of a second fire station not far from Merrill's home. The 5.5-mill levy would replace the 4.5-mill fire levy that expires this year. The 4.5-mill levy has been generating about $1.2 million annually for Lebanon.

If voters approve the increase to 5.5 mills, it would bring in an estimated $2 million a year. Support among council members, who meet at 7:30 p.m. at City Hall, is expected to be unanimous. Merrill is ready to vote for By Michael D. Clark The Cincinnati Enquirer LEBANON For years Roy Merrill has heard fire sirens only from a distance, a reminder that Lebanon has only one fire station serving more than 17,000 residents -and it's far from where he lives.

A homeowner in the Te-cumseh subdivision in the southern part of Lebanon, groups since June 2001. The program, National Arts Marketing Program, is sponsored by American Express and took place in 12 cities. "We learned things we never had training in and we could never have afforded to do on our own," said Joelle Daniel, assistant director. She and the director were selected to attend a "marketing boot camp" and to receive a $15,000 grant to implement their marketing strategy. Mark Serrianne, CEO of Northlich, co-chaired the steering committee for the three-year program, which concluded last week.

"The city's marketing professionals knew the strength of Cincinnati's art community, but we thought how can we drive the excellence deeper into the smaller organizations. Not everyone has the budget of the symphony or the opera," Serrianne said. Andrea Dixon, assistant professor of marketing at the University of Cincinnati, co-chaired the effort All the classes took place in a multimedia classroom at the UC College of Business. Allen Howard is on vacation. Karen Vance will write 'Some Good News" until he returns Tuesday.

Congrats Eagle Scout award Greg Shirey, Troop 102 of Seventh Presbyterian Church, in East Walnut Hills, has earned the highest rank of the Boy Scouts of America: the Eagle Scout award. For his community service project, he was involved in the construction of a playground in Daniel Drake Park in Kennedy Heights. He coordinated with Cincinnati Recreation Depart High School graduate from Mount Carmel, who plans to major in psychology. To receive a Trustee Scholarship, students must rank in the top 10 percent of their class and scored 1280 or higher on the SAT or 29 or higher on the ACT. Call: Fax: 755-4150.

Mail: Congrats, The Cincinnati Enquirer, 7700 Service Center Drive, West Chester, OH 45069. jor in elementary education; Patrick Massa, a Summit Country Day School graduate from Miami Township, Hamilton County, who plans to major in pre-med; Noah Os-terhage, a Covington Latin High School graduate from Taylor Mill, who plans to major in classics and pre-med; Ashley Stadler, a Princeton High School graduate from E-vendale, who plans to major in international business; and April Sutton, a Glen Este Sarah Dawson, a Fairfield Senior High School graduate from Fairfield, who plans to major in pre-med; Chase Dressman, a Covington Catholic High School graduate from Edgewood, who plans to major in pre-law; Michelle Huster, a Deer Park High School graduate from Dillonvale, who plans to major in natural sciences; Theresa Madden, a Mother of Mercy High School graduate from Bridgetown, who plans to ma The senior health care specialist is a student at the U.S. Army Sergeants Major Academy at Fort Bliss, El Paso, Texas. The Western Hills High School graduate is the daughter of Louise Wratkins and stepdaughter of William Wat-kins of College Hill. Trustee scholars These students have accepted Trustee Scholarships to attend Xavier University: ment officials and secured volunteers and food donations from local businesses.

Greg, a recent graduate of St Xavier High School, will major in computer science at Purdue University, West Lafayette, Ind. He is the son of Marilyn and John Shirey of Hyde Park. Sergeant major Tracey James has been promoted to the rank of sergeant major in the Army..