northsider monthly | volume 1 issue 12

september 2014 volume 1 | issue 12 northsider.northside.net a free publication

COMMUNITY FOOD CULTURE ARTS&CULTURE MUSIC MAKERS 4 8 10 22HOUSE TOUR: Hidden Treasures of Northside

Intrepid Urban FarmerMy Northside Kitchen

PARPROJECTS: Outdoor Movie Theater

Black 47’s Last Call

FEATURE IN MEMORIAM - REMEMBERING WORLEY RODEHAVER13 SCENE - WHAT’S HAPPENING IN NORTHSIDE THIS MONTH20

2 vol. 1 | Issue 12 SEPT 14’ life & culture 45223

Brett Schieszer is an artist/printmaker that is a recent transplant to Cincinnati; he resides and has a studio in Camp Washington. He currently is teaching printmaking courses at the Art Academy of Cincinnati and NKU. He was also a featured artist in the first season of CŸSŸArts Cincinnati earlier this year. Brett’s work was first seen in Cincinnati when it was curated by Northside-based PAR-Projects, for their #MakersMobile exhibition space in October 2013.

About the Cover: Karass, 9 Layer- Lithograph, Woodcut, and Screenprint, 14” x 14 1/5”, 2013

CALL TO ARTISTS | MONTHLY COVER ARTMonthly Cover Art submissions:The Northsider is seeking monthly cover art submissions from local artists. Artists will be paid $40 for published covers. All 2 dimensional pieces will be considered. One stipulation of publication is that the piece or a print be donated to The Northsider Annual Art Auction Fundraiser. A portion of the proceeds from the auction will be reinvested in a fund to support art projects in Northside. The remainder will help support the paper. If you are interested in having your artwork considered: email: [email protected] Subject line: Cover Art Submission

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individuals since 1891…

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633 Anderson Ferry Rd.Cincinnat i , OH 45238

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FINNEYTOWN906 North Bend Rd.

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NORTHSIDE(MAIN OFFICE)

4125 Hamil ton Ave,Cincinnat i , OH 45223

(513) 542-7800

SPRINGDALE11628 Springf ie ld PikeCincinnat i , OH 45246

(513) 671-3800

WEST CHESTER8615 Shepherd Farm Dr.

Union Centre Blvd @RT 747West Chester, OH 45069

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Cincinnati business community!

A N D T R U S T C O M P A N Y

www.northsidebankandtrust.comMember FDIC EQUAL HOUSING LENDER

Look to the North

COVER ART | FEATURED ARTIST

BRETT SChIESzER

A Northside resident since 1995, Alan works as a freelance designer from his home office WhatnotCreative. Currently he juggles the needs of design clients and agency freelance, while creating art for licensing. His canvas ‘Magical Forest’ is currently for sale nationally at Cost Plus World Market.

About the Backpage: The classic red wagon was inspired by Winnie Goodridge’s House Tour Parade entry in 2010 (red wagons loaded with mini-houses) Alan chose a Jack Russell pulling the red wagon, in honor of Rascal, who his brother’s family had to say good-bye to this Spring. Alan has been helping the Northside House Tour with graphic design since 2004 and loves that his design work benefits the neighborhood.

FLIPSIDE | BACKPAGE ARTIST

ALAn hOPFEnSPERgER

3life & culture 45223 vol. 1 | Issue 12 SEPT 14’

VOLUME 1 ISSUE 12 | CONTENT

4 COMMUNITY NEWS -HOUSE TOUR

-SUPPORTING LOCAL FOOD -CNCURC MEET & GREET -NORTHSIDERS STEP UP -THANKS FOR YOUR SUPPORT -SPRING IN OUR STEPS

8 FOOD CULTURE -INTREPID URBAN FARMER

-MY NORTHSIDE KITCHEN

10 ARTS & CULTURE -PARPROJECTS OUTDOOR THEATER

11 PEOPLE OF NORTHSIDE -MEET GEOFF TATE

12 FEATURE -IN MEMORIAM: WORLEY RODEHAVER

14 COLUMN -HEALTH & WELLNESS

16 VERSE & PROSE -MEMOIR|INCIDENT IN THE PARK

-EPISODE 1

17 EDUCATION -WORDPLAY’S FALL LINEUP

18 OPINION -MEDICAL JUSTICE

19 ARTS -YOUTH: HAPPEN’S FILM CRITICS

20 NORTHSIDE SCENE -EVENTS CALENDAR-SEPTEMBER

22 MUSIC MAKERS -BLACK 47’S LAST CALL

Mission statement:As an independent monthly communication, The Northsider’s mission is to engage and inform about life and

culture in the Northside Neighborhood. As such, The Northsider is committed to providing timely, quality and informative community news and opinions while embracing the diversity of the neighborhood.

organizational structure:Northsider, LLC. is a Nonprofit Limited Liability Company overseen by the Northside Community Council. The Northside Community Council is a volunteer, community-based organization that provides an opportunity for all individuals and groups in the community to participate in Northside’s present and to chart Northside’s future. As such, it is committed to bringing people of diverse backgrounds and opinions together in an atmosphere that

fosters cooperation and communication.

The Northsider Monthly newspaper is published on the first Friday of the month and is distributed to businesses and residents in the 45223 zip code.

WRITERS: Ollie Kroner, Stefanie Sunderland, Tommy Reuff, Jonathan Sears, Nick Mitchell, Tricia Suit, Ana Bird, Claire Darley, Donna Stothfang, Jason Watson, Alisa Balestra, Steve Sunderland, Lindsay Cavagnaro, Peggy Weyand, Rae Hoffman, Brandon E. Niehau, Un Jin Krantz, Cynthia Allen, Ginger Dawson, Larry R. Wells, Libby Hunter, Fred Neurohr.

artwork: Brett Schieszer, Alan Hopfensperger, Happen Inc. Un Jin Krantz, Ginger Dawson, WordPlay, Northside Farmers Market, LaBoiteaux Woods Nature Center, Alisa Balestra, Michael Chanak.

volunteer advisory committee: Jeni Jenkins, James Kinsman, James Heller-Jackson, Barry Scwartz, Karen Andrew, Mark Christol

layout, Design and editorial managementJeni Jenkins of Uncaged Bird Design Studio

Social Media Coordinators Kevin Cain, Nick Mitchell

Proofreaders Carolyn Banfield and Steph Bernard

paper rollersHappen Inc. Volunteers led by Tommy Reuff

delivery teamJames Moore, Stephen Davis, SaraLynne Thoresen, ThoraLynne McKinney, Mati Senerchia, Noeli Senerchia, Jacob Walker, Jared Walker, Isaac Hunter, Evan Hunter, Owen Hunter, Kirah Hickman, Wilamena Roe, Margaret Roe, Tina Myers.

Contact us: [email protected] AD RATE INFO, SUBMISSION DEADLINES AND TO SUBMIT EVENTS/ANNOUNCEMENTS AND VIEW THE

ONLINE VERSION, VISIT US:

northsider.northside.net

CONTRIBUTORS nORThSIDE TIDBITS

Community Conversation on Education

Join your neighbors for a discussion on the future of education in Northside - Sept 10, 6:30-8:00 at Parker Woods Montessori.

House Tour

Peek inside to see what homeowner elbow grease, ingenuity and sweat equity can accomplish! This year’s tour is Sept 28 from 12:00 to 5:00. www.northside.net/housetour/

Apple Street Market

Northside’s effort to build a community grocery store is building mo-mentum, now with over 260 members. More information available on Facebook or at www.applaestreetmarket.org

Next Community Council Meeting

Community Council will meet 7:00 PM, Monday, September 15 at McKie Rec Center.

Northside Community Council Updates

Grant funds are available to homeowners in Northside through the Cincinnati Lead Education and Remediation Program (CLEAR). The CLEAR Program is designed to protect Cincinnati’s young children from exposure to lead-based paint in their homes. Paint in homes built before 1978 might contain lead. Lead is poi-sonous. Deteriorating lead-based paint can create a toxic dust. It is especially harmful to children. Lead poisoning is the number one environmental health hazard to children under the age of six and is 100% preventable!Assistance from this program often includes window replacement or treatment, as original wood windows in poor condition can be a major source of lead hazards in homes built before 1978. To apply for the grant, or to receive more information, please contact People Working Cooperatively at (513) 366-4699.

Grant Funding Available for Northside!

Northside to be “home” for 16-year-old theatre company After a two year search for a new home, New Edgecliff Theatre is moving to Northside for their 2014-15 Season: The Rest of the Story. The season will open with Douglas Carter Beane’s The Little Dog Laughed performed at The Hoffner Lodge (4120 Hamilton Ave., Cin-cinnati, OH 45223) and will continue with The 12 Dates of Christmas by Ginna Hoben and Race by David Mamet at their new home, the old St Patrick Church at 1662 Blue Rock St, as part of the new Gray-scale Cincinnati development. “We’re very excited to be a part of what promises to be a vital new arts venue in the Northside commu-nity,” says Producing Artistic Director Jim Stump. “Plans for the facility we are moving into include a brew pub, music lounge and eventually a restaurant in the former rectory building.” Grayscale Cincinnati has been working since the summer of 2012 to create a multi-use performing arts facility and craft brewery in Cincin-nati. Their efforts led them to Northside and redeveloping the former St. Patrick’s Church (1662 Blue Rock St, Cincinnati OH 45223) into a new music venue, creative live theater, bar/lobby, and craft brewery. FOR MORE INFO: Visit newedgecliff.comTickets can be purchased by calling Cincy Ticket at (888) 428-7311. All other inquiries, leave a message at 513-399-6638

New Edgecliff Theatre|New Season, New Digs


COMMUnITY nEWS

BY Tricia Suit

That beautiful stained glass window you see on the way to the Farmer’s Market.The tree house you spy in the yard just beyond your neighbor’s fence.

A glimpse of pocket doors when you wave “good morning” to the folks across the street.

Haven’t you always wanted to see more of those homes?

If you have ever wan-dered by a neighborhood home and been curious about what it might be like inside, the Hidden Trea-sures of Northside House Tour is the perfect way for you to spend the after-noon.

“Since 1990, the house tour has helped make people more aware of the great variety of housing stock in Northside, the renovation and restoration being done to the historic homes, and the sense of community and creativity in the neighborhood,” says Carolyn Gutjahr, co-chair of the House Tour Committee, along with Sandra Hamilton.

On Sunday, Sept. 28, from noon to 5 p.m., 11 Northside homes will be featured on the tour, along with St. Boniface Church and three hospitality centers. The tour covers just over one mile this year, from Fergus Street to Spring Lawn, with free shuttle service available along the route.

“I’ve been on the house tour twice,” says Hamilton. “I loved having people see my home and I enjoy seeing their homes. Those experiences are best shared with liked-minded people. Somebody has to be com-mitted to see that the tour happens.... why not me?

Other points of interest for those taking part in the House Touar are the Northside Business District, with unique businesses, many owned by neighborhood residents; an area of Sears Catalog Homes on Innes Ave-nue, which has more than 20 Sears homes built during the 1920s; and the Kirby Road School, a Neoclassical Re-

vival building from 1910 that will be redeveloped into approximately 40 apartments by Bloom-field/Schon + Partners, opening in mid-2015.

“The House Tour draws people who are interested in a diverse, urban community, who may eventually rent an apartment or purchase a home,” says Hamilton.

Tickets are $15 in advance, on sale Sept. 15 to 27, online at www.northside.net/housetour and at Building Value, 4040 Spring Grove Ave., all branches of the North Side Bank and Trust Co., Shake It Re-cords, 4156 Hamilton Ave and Taylor Jameson Hair Design, 4200 Hamilton Ave.

“I have interests in architecture, design, and gardening, so I love tour-ing the homes and gardens, learning more about the architecture and his-tory of the neighborhood, and getting ideas that I could use in my home and garden,” says Gutjahr. “I enjoy meet-ing other Northsiders and talking with tour goers about the homes and the neighborhood. I think the preview tour and potluck dinner for home owners and tour volunteers that we have the week before the tour is a really important and special social aspect of the tour.”

FOR MORE INFO: Visit www.northside.net/housetour

EVENT SPONSORS: Northside Commu-nity Council, North Side Bank and Trust Company, and Gwen Mooney Funeral Home.

house tourHIDDEN TREASURES OF NORTHSIDE

Artwork: Alan Hopfensperger

What began in a park-ing lot over twelve years ago has grown into a fabulous,

unique year-round farmers’ market. Every Wednesday from 4 – 7:00 p.m., The Northside Farmers Market (NFM) brings together dozens of local farm-ers, bakers, food artisans, artists and shoppers. In a neighborhood which currently does not have a grocery store, NFM provides healthy, local foods to the community and beyond.

NFM provides more than just a venue for local farmers to come and sell products. The market organizes free family activities, nutrition and cooking workshops, and music for our community every week.

Customers can use credit cards at the market, making shopping more convenient.

NFM also accepts food stamps, and through a privately funded program, offers a $10 match to those who need it most.

A farmers market in our neighbor-hood supports the local economy while exploring the tastes of the region, providing nourishing foods, and con-

necting with our community. On behalf of all those the mar-

ket serves, NFM asks Northsiders to help NFM continue to grow and thrive. A tax-deductible donation to the Northside Farmers Market to help meet operational expenses will ensure support of small, local farmers and businesses, help low-income individu-als provide nutritious meals for their families, make a positive impact upon the community and allow us to continue to enjoy a convenient venue for local foods.

FOR MORE INFO: Donations can be made by mail to PO Box 19398, Cincinnati, OH, 45219, dropped off directly at the Market on a Wednesday or online at www.northsidefm.org. Make checks pay-able to the Northside Community Council, and please make sure to note “Northside Farmers Market” on the memo line.

Supporting Local Food In Northside

Northside Farmers Market Manager

By ana bird

Children make green smoothies at the market during a Nutrition Council workshop. Photo: Northside Farmers Market.


COMMUnITY nEWS

Thank you Northside! Churches Active in Northside Rainbow Choice Food Pantry has been awarded a $5,000 “capaci-

ty building” grant by the Freestore Foodbank (FSFB), for being one of 6 agencies with the greatest per-centage of increase in funds raised through the 2014 Memorial Day Hun-ger Walk. CAIN supporters raised $27,213 this year compared to $14,500 in 2013, an 88% increase.

Northsiders and local businesses played a crucial role in this dramatic success, increasing donations from within the neighborhood by 906%. This was the first year a separate ini-tiative, “Northside Walks with CAIN” focused on increasing participation within our community. We cherish the diversity of our neighborhood. Your demonstrated concern for vulnerable residents will flow monthly from the Freestore, through CAIN into over four hundred 45223 households.

100% of funds raised on be-half of CAIN for the Hunger Walk are used to obtain food and other

essentials from the FSFB. This capaci-ty building grant, however addresses CAIN’s ability to operate even more effectively. The grant will be used by CAIN to update basic operational essentials to improve food storage / handling and strengthen internal communications infrastructure (com-puter software and/or hardware).

Thanks again to all who partici-pated in this important effort.

FOR MORE INFO: To be on the planning team for next year, call (462-8958) or email Claire Darley at [email protected]

As you can guess, the need for funds is ongoing and year-round. The holidays will be here before we know it. CAIN has plenty of ways for you to help. Call or email CAIN at 591-2246, ext. 4 to volunteer or donate.

Claire Darley serves on the Boards of CAIN and Northside Greenspace, Inc. She teaches drawing at the Art Academy of Cincinnati.

By Claire Darley

Northsiders Step Up for their neighbors! CAIN WINS $5,000 CAPACITY BUILDING GRANT

On September 30, 2014, from 5:00 – 7:30 pm CNCURC (Cincinnati Northside Community Urban Rede-

velopment Corporation) cordially invites you to join us for a casual Meet & Greet fundraiser in celebration of our 9th year anniversary of GREAT development in Northside at this exciting new establishment located in the South Block. In support of CN-CURC The Littlefield created a unique specialty bourbon drink called “The NorthCider” in support of CNCRC for the evening. Samples of their exqui-site exquisite cuisine will be offered to all who donate. Suggested do-nation is $20, however; all donations are welcome.

All proceeds from the event will directly support CNCURC’s Phase 2 development of four affordable single-family homeownership units on Witler, Lakeman and Hanfield streets. Rehabilitation of 4118 Lakeman and 1726 Hanfield are currently underway, and new construction at

1720/22 Hanfield and 4135/4137 Witler is expected to begin before the end of the year. Preliminary drawings of CNCURC’s Phase 3 proposal for additional new housing on Witler will be on hand for review. In addition, developer Doug Hinger with D-HAS and Creative Tradi-tions Homes, who is also the project architect, will be present and discuss the proposed Fergus Street housing development for the lots previously owned by CNCURC that are south of the Children’s Playground.

We hope to see you there! September, 30, 2014, at The Little-field located at 3924 Spring Grove Avenue!

EVENT SPONSORS: CR Architecture + Designm Doug Hinger, D-HAS & Creative Traditions Homesm Emily Busek-Valentino/Comey & Shepherd.

Executive Director of the Cincinnati Northside Community Urban Redevelopment Corp

BY Stefanie Sunderland

CNCURC MEET & GREET FUNDRAISER AT THE LITTLEFIELD

A new business is quietly grow-ing in Northside. This training and development-oriented organization is the product

of Pastor Brian Eastman of Revela-tion Spiritual Church, 4251 Hamilton Avenue. Sunday evenings find the house church filled with worshipers but Tuesday nights in the same space you find people eager to learn a unique emotional healing technique called LIIFT: Life Improving Internal Focus Technique.

LIIFT is an emerging whole brain emotional healing system which, ac-cording to Eastman, enables people with lives damaged by as abuse, trau-ma or living in a dysfunctional family to quickly move to a happier place. He says that by using LIIFT processes, a person can alleviate an emotional hot spot such as fear or grief in min-

utes. Eastman says a core level belief like “I’m not worthy to be loved” can be quickly rewritten to “I am worthy to be loved.” As more and more positive beliefs get installed in the brain’s In-ternal Operating Software the clients begin feeling better and better.

“Our past experiences influence our thoughts and our thoughts create our reality. When our thoughts are faulty we continually repeat patterns that keep us from living the good lives we desire and deserve,” explains Eastman. “By using the LIIFT healing system we can change the faulty Be-lief Statements in our brains. It’s quite amazing. Most people notice some kind of change or shift after even one session.” He recounted how an abuse victim reported, after the first session, “I feel happier than I ever have in my life!”

An unusual aspect of LIIFT heal-

ing, as compared to traditional emotional healing therapies is that “you never have

to talk about what happened; you just heal the damage using the LIIFT tools,” Eastman added.

Eastman has trained 33 people in Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky, Tennes-see and California over the past two years. For Cincinnati area people training sessions occur every Tuesday night, although students from as close as Dayton and as far away as Cali-fornia join training sessions by video Skype. In addition, he is hosting two weekend Intensive training sessions in October and provides private LIIFT healing sessions in Northside most weekdays.

“LIIFT revolutionized my life to a happier place than I’d ever been before,” said Kristi Smith, a Califor-nia based LIIFT practitioner. “I was so impressed that I decided to make a career of LIIFTing people’s lives.”

LIIFT’s next Cincinnati Weekend Training Intensive occurs October 11 & 12 from 10am to 4 pm in Northside. Eastman can also accept a limited number of new LIIFT clients for healing. For the curious, Eastman offers a no-charge introductory healing session, so they can experience LIIFT healings. Go to www.LIIFT.info for more information or call the LIIFT offices at 853-6180 to ask questions, to register or for an appointment for a private session.

Eastman has served as a healer for more than 25 years and devel-oped the LIIFT system after years of gathering information about various concepts and practices for healing lives that have been damaged by emotional distress, abuse, trauma and dysfunctional families.

Emotional Well-being is Subject of New Northside Business

Donna Stothfang is a certified life coach, writer and LIIFT Practitioner. She can be reached at donna@voiceoftruthcoaching.

By Donna Stothfang


COMMUnITY nEWS

From all of us here at LaBoiteaux Woods Nature Center we would like to extend our utmost appreciation to the families that

made this 2014 summer camp season such a huge success. Here are a few comments made by parents regarding Harry Potter Camp.

“She loved that the instructors were professors from the Harry Potter series and that they tried to stay true to the books.”

When asked which aspect of camp their child enjoyed most, one parent stated,

“They couldn’t name one best. HP trivia. Wand making/decorating. Quidditch. They LOVED this camp.”

Thanks again for making this summer so successful and we look forward to seeing you all again next summer. Don’t forget to check out cincinnatiparks.com for updated program opportunities throughout the year.

From all of us here at LaBoiteaux Woods Nature Center and Preserve, have a fantastic school year and study hard.

THANK YOU FOR MAKING OUR SUMMER CAMPS SO

SUCCESSFUL

BY Jason WatsonParks Naturalist

LaBoiteaux Woods Nature Center

(Left) What would Harry Potter Camp be without a visit from a Great Horned Owl? (Bubo virginianus) Photo: LaBoiteaux Woods Nature Center

Nothing monochromatic about this camper’s idea for the perfect magical wand.. Photo:

LaBoiteaux Woods Nature Center


For Christian Huelsman of Spring in Our Steps, alleys, sidewalks, and stairways are more than “forgotten spaces;” they are

useful, rich with history, and can be sites for community building.

Huelsman first became interest-ed in Northside’s alleys in 2012 as a part of Make a Difference Day,

a national day of service. His latest venture in the neighborhood, aLLies for aLLeys, aims to clean all 25 of Northside’s alleys. As of today, Huels-man and community residents have cleaned Pope and Medill alleys, as well as much of Armour. With Armour complete by August 30, 2014, Huels-man plans for an alley block party to introduce Williamson and Fergus St. residents – both to one another and to a now accessible alley.

For Huelsman, recovering and reclaiming “forgotten” city spaces began in 2011 with cleanup to Vine Street Hill in Mount Auburn and OTR. That same year, Huelsman founded Spring in Our Steps, a community organization dedicated to renew-ing the viability of alleys, sidewalks, and stairways in many of Cincinnati’s neighborhoods. Since founding the organization in 2011, Huelsman has led more than 110 cleanups and has worked with what he describes as “passionate people” invested in making city alleys, sidewalks, and

stairways more accessible. Huelsman understands that acces-

sible alleys, sidewalks, and stairways are necessary – not simply for utility, but also for the safety of the neigh-borhood. Huelsman said that “poor lighting, overgrowth, and litter have become triple threats that plague urban spaces,” but that these spaces can be recovered for community use. Armour is a perfect example of what Huelsman describes. Prior to clean-ups in this alley, Armour’s overgrowth made walking from Coates alley to Pullan impossible; now, pedestrians are able to use the alley, and it is now visible from the street.

Community interest and invest-ment in alley cleanups such as those of Armour have been critical to the success of aLLies for aLLeys. More than 15 residents (my fiancé and I included) worked to clean Armour on three occasions, and countless other residents have lent their time and energy to making our neighborhood cleaner, safer, and more accessible.

Some residents have begun to clean neighboring or bordering alleys on their own. Huelsman describes the cleanup of Gorham, Justin, and Look-er alleys near Florida and Georgia Avenues as a “one man project” that “grew to a group of a half-doz-en committed residents.” In a short amount of time, Huelsman has been able to not only clean Northside’s alleys but also ignite interest in clean-ups that convene neighbors.

On Huelsman’s agenda for Northside are cleanups of Baltzer and Grey alleys, as well as Carrie (connects to Pullan), Ingol (behind Hamilton Avenue), Blum (between Turrill and Cherry), and the unnamed alley between King Place and Weber Place. Many of these alleys are not as overgrown or inaccessible as Pope, Medill, and Armour, but they are still in need of attention.

Residents interested in clean-ing remaining Northside alleys can expect more than clipping weeds and overgrowth or scraping away dirt to reveal curblines and brick paving; they can also expect to meet other residents who share in an interest to beautify Northside. Huelsman offers only one caution: dress appropriately to avoid bug bites and exposure to poisonous plants. Residents can also assist in cleanup efforts through a do-nation to Spring in Our Steps through its Website.

FOR MORE INFO: To participate in one of Northside’s clean-ups, or to learn more about Spring in Our Steps, visit the Spring in Our Steps Website at www.springinoursteps.com or contact Huelsman at [email protected]. You can also find Spring in Our Steps on Facebook and Twitter.

Spring in Our Steps | SPRINGING INTO ACTION IN NORTHSIDE

Coates Alley Northside. Photo: Alisa Balestra.

Alisa Balestra is a Northside resident and is a Specialist-Project Management and Clinical Research Professional at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center. You can find Balestra running the streets of Northside, hiking in Parker Woods, biking in the Spring Grove Cemetery, or eating delicious vegan eats around the neighborhood.

BY Alisa Balestra

Community DialogueSeptember 10, 2014 6:30pm to 8:30pm

Parker Wood Montessori

Ask not what your schools can do for your community, ask what you can do for your schools.

This second session will be a working session where community members including parents, school sta�, non-pro�t leaders, church communities, and neighbors come together to identify what they �nd most important to the quality of education in our Northside schools.

We will create a shared vision by identifying those things we think are important for the education and well being of Northside children.

Child care will be provided if needed for ages 3 and up.

The third session will be on October 1 at Chase Elementary from 6:30pm to 8:30pm. This session will also be a working session to develop the strategies needed to make our shared vision possible including de�ning roles and responsibilities and identifying resources.Next steps will also be determined.

Supported by:

The Northside Community Council Education Committee

4370 Beech Hill Rd, Cincinnati. 45223

COMMUnITY nEWS


The big payoff is here! Tomatoes! It is the time of year when I have a con-tinually full basket of tomatoes on my kitchen floor. At any time, there

are at least twenty-five tomatoes (and often double that amount) of every variety. For the past several years, I’ve had a lot of success with my tomato crops, in spite of battles with blights, bugs, wilts and other fun things. I fight the good fight.

Last year, for the first time, I decided to count the number of tomatoes that I raised. It was fun to do. I kept a running total, and at the end of the season, I had picked eight hundred and eleven tomatoes! Actually, some were small, so I counted two of those as one. It seemed fair to me. Now,

I’m not talking about cherry tomatoes here. These were full-sized varieties of various shape and weight. I was pretty happy with that number. It wasn’t exactly scientific, but it suited my needs.

As I smugly spread the word of my impressive crop, I got feedback that I wasn’t using a proper method of measuring the yield. You are supposed to weigh them! Who knew? Apparently many other people. I found this out from the friend of a friend who is a market farmer at our very own Coving-ton Farmer’s Market.

Well, this old dog always likes new tricks,

so I weigh them now. I’m also counting them as well, so I’ll have a measure to com-pare last years crop to. Also, I can get an average weight per tomato. No, I’m not an obsessive type.

Apparently, twenty pounds of toma-toes per plant is a decent yield. I have fourteen plants. That means I should harvest at least two hundred and eighty pounds of tomatoes. I bet I can do better than that.

As of today, August 22nd., I have harvested four hundred and one tomatoes. Their collective weight is one hundred and ninety nine pounds and six ounces. This is an average weight of .4963 pounds per tomato. No, I’m not an obsessive type.

Now it is just fine and dandy to

have all of these tomatoes. It is an urban farmer’s nirvana. But, obviously, the next question is this: What are you going to DO with all of these tomatoes.

Well, here’s my plan this year:

1Tomatoes for every meal. Tomatoes and cottage cheese, tomato sandwiches,

BLT’s, salsa, tomatoes with pasta, tomatoes on bruschetta, tomatoes and eggplant, tomatoes and green beans, tomato salads, tomatoes every way you can think of, and most definitely the best of all, a tomato pie. Have I got a recipe for that!

2 I made five pints of tomato jam. That took a few tomatoes. I am waiting on

another jam recipe that my mother is trying to find. She has one that belonged to my Grandmother, so there goes a few more.

3 I made two gallons of tomato sauce and froze it. Fortunately, a couple of

years ago I discovered the joys of a mixer with a vegetable grinder/strainer attach-ment to help with this. It was a revelation. I could understand how Edison felt when he discovered Tungsten. In the past, making sauce was a huge project of coring, blanch-ing, peeling, and seeding what seemed like a bloody ton of tomatoes. Then, I would have to use a hand blender to puree the sauce even after it cooked for a few hours. Another method I tried involved using a hand-cranked food mill. That was ok, but really, after about three batches of that, I was over it. The sauce was smooth, but the mess was huge.

Hallelujah for electric mixers! Hallelu-jah for Edison!

4 I canned seventeen pints of tomatoes. I had done this in the past about ten or

twelve years ago. I remembered how good they had tasted in January. It was time to revisit canning whole tomatoes.

Last year, I toyed with the idea of using a pressure canner. I thought that might

make shorter work of the job (it wouldn’t) as well as give me the opportunity to can and preserve low-acid foods, such as green beans or salsa without having to add vine-gar or citric acid (it would).

I was almost ready to pull the trigger on one that I had selected, but there was a little voice from the past in my ear. It was my mother! She was shooing me out of the kitchen with the admonishment that she was canning green beans and it was dangerous in there!

I couldn’t shake it off. Between that little voice and being aware of numerous urban and rural legends regarding explod-ing pressure cookers, I was cowed. I couldn’t face the prospect of an atomic event in my kitchen. I returned to the hot water method.

I’m down, but not beaten. I will attempt to try to purchase a pressure canner again.....someday. Maybe next year.

5 The final part of my plan seems to be the most popular. I give away tomatoes.

My friends, my parents, my hairdresser, my attorney, my neighbors, co-workers, acquaintances.....anyone in my path. I was able to do away with all eight hundred and eleven tomatoes last year. No tomato left behind.

It is a grave responsibility to be in charge of the fate of so many tomatoes. I accept the burden willingly. This year, I hope have even more to steward, all prop-erly weighed, of course!

Photo: Ginger Dawson

By ginger dawsonGinger Dawson has been a resident and urban gardener in the Mutter Gottes/Old Town Neighborhood and historic district in Covington, Kentucky for 26 years. She maintains a close affiliation with the Northside community as well.

food culture|INTREPID URBAN FARMERNO TOMATO LEFT BEHIND


Cincinnati is blowing my mother*cking mind these

days, particularly two of their 52 propers—Northside and Over-the-Rhine (OTR)—where most of my time has been spent both living and working. The depth of human experience keeps pop-pin’ me in the gut. The layers peeling off the human onion are fasci-nating, and the aware-ness it brings is both soul-wrenchingly beautiful and ugly. At the core of all of those feelings, is one common no-tion—perspective. Perspective—never more right, better or justified—is one powerful thing.

In the context of Northside and OTR, it rests on an acknowledge-ment that ours is a polarized city, deep-rooted in history and varies vastly depending on one’s perspec-tive. Going back to the idea that food is better served shared, I’m printing a recipe this month that is less about the actual food and more about its evolu-tion through sharing; for the dish later plays as a mere prop within a series of interactions I had the next day. Looking into my fridge earlier last week to assess dinner options, I used found ingredients in my kitchen, most-ly derived from a local (OurHarvest) CSA (Community Shared Agriculture). With those, I looked to the Google and stumbled upon Hamburger Soup from The Pioneer Women Cooks, a show featured on Food Network.

Despite its less-than appetizing name, I made it and understood how it’s better named Vegetable Beef Stew, and served in cold weather and delighted (more spices and different cooking method).

Walking into the wine bar for work last Thursday, I met Paul. We shared a cigarette and a solid con-versation and ended that initial dia-logue with me handing off my Ball jar

of leftover stew. I later exited out of work into the early morning and emerged onto the public streets only to be reintroduced to Paul.

I’ve been all up and over my head about it since, but I guess if I could summarize my interactions with Paul-- from sunny

late afternoon and pre-inebriation to breezy, dark early morning, 8-10 beers later, I would say this: what we don’t know about any given per-son or situation far exceeds what we presume to actually know. Perspec-tive, in my opinion, is markedly de-rived from individual human expe-rience. It makes concepts like “food gentrification” less relevant and basic ideas like “human compassion” more urgent. (At the end of the day, I believe it’s all intertwined.)

In talking to sober Paul, I asked him a question of prioritization, which has, in our culture, become confused with values. As it turns out, our conversation went something like this:

What is it that you really want?Money.Okay, and in getting that money, what would you spend it on?Alcohol.Alcohol before food?Absolutely. Because I need it. I physi-cally need it.And what happens when you don’t have it?I get the shakes. I start shakin’.So it’s like medicine?Yeah. I need it to function, ya know?

Sober Paul... The one who is socially accepted... finds himself suffering more from alcohol withdrawl than hunger. He drinks one or two first thing in the morning to chemically and medicinally support him through his

self-defined “pan-handling” workday and then dives deep into the abyss of his addiction to close what has be-come yet another belligerent night. In blaming him for addiction to circum-stance, I place a value judgment on the importance of food. While I might (and do) have Biggie-sized values as it relates to food and all its political integrations, identifying it as Paul’s crisis is hardly a truth in his own life experience. Holy hot damn.

There is so much more to speak to as it relates to my meeting Paul, but unfiltered, out-loud processing on the soapbox of the Northsider is hardly my style (although as I run against deadline, this is a product of less editing and filtering than preferred). Ultimately, what working in OTR and

living in Northside is teaching me is that the table we sit at is figurative in nature, and passing off my mason jar of leftovers is oftentimes far less valu-able than buying someone a beer. When all is prepared and passed off, I refuse to exclude anyone’s palette from my space of creation, kitchen or elsewhere. We’re all just too damn dynamic. You can gentrify my streets, but you will not gentrify my mind (nor my table). Got a recipe, thought or comment? Wanna cook? Email me at [email protected]

Ingredients:2 lbs. ground beef (I used and prefer 90% lean/10% fat. Of course, the fattier the beef, the less expensive your grocery bill, so do what you can here.)1 large onion, diced3 stalks celery, diced3 cloves garlic, minced1 14.5 oz cans whole tomatoes, with juice3 cups beef stock or broth (I used chicken, because that’s what I had. For a stewier consistency, use 2-2 ½ cups)3 peppers, seeded and diced (I used red, yellow and green)4 whole carrots, peeled and sliced (pref-erably on the diagonal)6 whole red potatoes, cut into chunks (4-6 pieces depending on the size)3 tablespoons of tomato paste (I used ¼ cup of ketchup, again, because it’s what I had)¼ tsp kosher salt + more to taste½ tsp. black pepper4 tsp. Fresh parsley, chopped (or 2 tsp. dried)1 tsp. fresh oregano (or ½ tsp. dried)¼ tsp. cayenne pepper Pinch of red pepper flakes, to tastePinch of brown sugar or a nice drop of maple syrup

Directions:In a large pot over medium-high heat, brown the meat. With a slotted spoon, set aside meat for later integration. Into the pot-o-grease goes the onion, celery, garlic with some salt and pepper to taste (back over medium-high heat). Cook til moder-ately browned (not burnt, stirring every 15 seconds or so).

Add browned beef, herbs (oregano and parsley), ¼ tsp. salt, ½ tsp. pepper, tomato paste and beef stock. Pour tomatoes into pot, reach back in, and, one by one, squish each one by hand. You can also just get pre-diced, but like the Pioneer Woman, “I’d rather be random than dicey.” Stir to com-bine, making sure you get all those flavor packed brown bits that have collected at the bottom. Stir to combine, boil and reduce heat to lowest setting of simmer your stove-top allows. Cover pot and let simmer for 2 hours.

Add remaining veggies (peppers, carrots, potatoes). Bring back to a simmer for another 30 minutes or until potatoes and carrots are tender but not mushy. Taste and adjust to preference. A tip: go easy handed on the salt, despite your intuition for more. Season the garlic, onion and celery more generously and let those flavors soak into the broth. Serve with crusty bread to sop up that beefy broth.

Enjoy this recipe and know that, just as people have the tendency of doing when you really stop to get to know them, it indeed gets better over time. Experiment and play around with it. Be bold! Affirm your perspective in the kitchen. Holler at me with improvements ([email protected]). And heck, while in roam, cook with some Simon and Garfunkel’s, “The Boxer” playing in the background.

Vegetable Beef Stew (adapted from Ree Drummond’s Hamburger Soup)

Un Jin loves food, cooking, Northside and her neighbors.

BY Un Jin Krantz

food culture|MY NORTHSIDE KITCHEN(FEATURING PAUL)

Photo: Un Jin Krantz


If word hasn’t reached you yet, we — PAR-Projects — have officially purchased 1662 Hoffner Street, a little parcel of land in Northside

where we plan to construct our long-awaited art & education center.

Why should you care, though?

If you’re not familiar with our organization, we’re the group that transformed the empty warehouse at Bertke Electric (on Blue Rock street) into the event space it is today, with a fashion show that featured a string quartet from the Cincinnati Sympho-ny Orchestra. We’re also the group that is currently landing the large scale sculptures along the Mill Creek bike trail — a project that started with us growing an acre of corn for the community to enjoy. But more recently, we’re the organization that just rescued the Northside Community Yard Sale. In essence, we’re all about getting the community together to celebrate the arts.

Prior to those projects though, we developed an idea to teach practical arts (e.g. graphic design, print layout and video editing) at a community accessible level. The goal: Teach our neighborhood teens and adults skill-sets that can help further their careers and/or simply expand their knowl-edge about current digital practices.

And if you’re not familiar with the project, it should also be mentioned that one of the most intriguing parts about our facility is that it will be primarily constructed out of repur-posed shipping containers — a testament to our community’s focus on sustainable practices.

The unfortunate thing is, through the process, we noticed a lot of the excitement this project original-ly found has faded. It turns out a number of people thought we just gave up, as heavy promotions ended. But don’t worry, we’re still here. The behind the scenes work (with such a unique facility) simply took a bit longer than expected. Then finding affordable land, while raising capital to purchase it was a bit of a doozy.

That said, we’ve never been hap-pier to call Northside home. But more importantly, we’re excited to finally be sharing our plans again.

The great and unexpected news: Our first goal is to build an outdoor movie theater for the neighborhood. The simple thought is that it will be wonderful to have walkable access to cheap (and/or free) big screen movies on a weekly basis. Of course we won’t be screening current block-busters; but we believe offering classic movies like The Princess Bride, Ghostbusters, and Toy Story will

do great things in helping us build another place for community here in Northside.

The space will also be used for outdoor plays, neighborhood events and generally any “good” ideas that we are presented with. If you have a fundraiser coming up, why not have it on our grounds? If you need a unique place to host a meeting, why not have it at our space? Or if you just want to throw a little shindig amongst artwork and creative thinkers, again, you’ll be able to do that at 1662 Hoffner Street.

All said, everything we’re doing is a step towards the long term goal, so we hope to regain your interest. The first floor of our building (Phase 1) will literally branch off of either side of the theater and we’ll continue growing from there. For us, activat-ing the land and creating something useful is simply the best way forward.

And as long as we never have to in-troduce a lot of debt, we’ll easily be able to keep the project going.

To keep fundraising part of the conversation, our first goal is to find 500 people from around the city (at least 250 from Northside) who are interested in re-joining the cause. For a small buy-in of $40, members will gain free access to all of our movies and events through 2015; but more importantly, members will be able to take pride in knowing they helped to build something for Northside.

If this is something you’d like to be a part of, please join in at ww-w.500ofUs.com and start spreading the word that we’re here to stay.

Thanks in advance.

For questions, please contact Jonathan Sears, Executive Director, via [email protected] or (513)394-6564.

arts & culture|PARPROJECTSSTARTING WITH AN OUTDOOR MOVIE THEATER FOR NORTHSIDE

Images: PAR-Projects

BY Jonathan SearsWriter, Artist and designer Jonathan Sears

is the Executive Director of Professional Artistic Research (PAR) Projects. As an

individual, he’s been studying art his entire life culminating with an MFA degree from

The University of Maryland College Park in 2006. These days he looks to build an arts & education center for Northside and help

teach practical arts training to teens and adults of our region.


Northside is a community bursting with talent and artistry. Musicians, artists, writers, painters, designers,

and the list goes on. One such artist is Geoff Tate and his talent is making us laugh.

You may have seen him on Com-edy Central or Craig Ferguson or right in Northside at Mayday during

Bomb’s Away. Geoff has been a Cincinnati comedic treasure for over ten years – you know that part of our treasure box that consists of a lot of cursing, too many cigarettes and looking homeless without actually being homeless. Geoff totes himself

as a kind of dirt bag but I once heard him called a barroom hero and I think that’s a better fit. You know the type, he’s in the bar and he’s drank enough that some-one starts to draw a phallic cartoon on his chest, but suddenly he springs to life to put some jerk giving the waitress a hard time in his place. And oh can he put a jerk in his place. Awhile back Twitter exploded with co-medians retweeting a picture of Geoff

forcing a heckler to apologize to a crowd for disrupting the show.

When he is not on the road

Geoff splits his time be-tween Northside and Los Angeles. He rented a room in Los Angeles at the begin-ning of the year and uses LA as his western hub and Northside as his eastern hub.

I asked Geoff what he missed about Northside when he is in LA he said, “being able to walk down the street and just run into your family or friends.” He was first drawn to Northside because there are so many great businesses close together, or as he more eloquently put it “everything you need is on that street.” He listed those “needs” as coffee, bars, and a record store. His favorite of those businesses is the record store, Shake It. “What I want is records and I can get any record I want at Shake It. If they don’t have it they’ll order it.” He even shot the cover of his new album, as a Tom Petty homage, in the base-ment of Shake It.

Geoff originally got into comedy because it seemed fun. He and his brother watched stand-up together growing up but he didn’t know how to get started. Finally he saw an open mic and realized you do not have to be the best (in fact you could be terrible) to go up, he figured out how to get on stage, and the rest is history. Fast forward to present day and a polished Geoff Tate captivates au-diences with his anecdotal stories of

drug use, or his observational comedy like pointing out idiocy of commercials (“Coors Light just tells you it’s cold”).

One can see Geoff headline a number of clubs across the country or opening for comics such as Bill Burr and Doug Stanhope, or as a regu-lar guest on one of Doug Benson’s podcasts. Geoff also recently started his own podcast called Afternoon, Everybody! in which he discusses his favorite thing, Cheers, and whichever thing is the favorite of his guest. You can hear more about Geoff and his obsession with Cheers straight from the source on Afternoon, Everybody! and download his latest album, Just Another Clown (released July 2014) on iTunes.

Lindsay is relatively new to Northside moving here in November of 2012. She was drawn here by the sense of community and acceptance Northside offers and plans to

stay and contribute for many years to come.

BY Lindsay Cavagnaro

people of northside|MEET GEOFF TATEBARROOM HERO, NORTHSIDE CLOWN

Afternoon Everybody podcast cover. © Geoff Tate

Welcome to the “People of Northside” where each month we feature different members of our eclectic neighborhood to remind you why you call Northside home. If you would like to see an article published on a member of the community or to write your own article on a person that interests you email us at [email protected].

Geoff Tate is a one man comedy caravan. Laughs are on the

menu, and there are more than enough to go around”

- HumanKevinJonesReview of Just Another Clown on Itunes

Album cover for Just Another Clown. © Geoff Tate


Worley Rodehaver, long-time editor and publisher of the Northside News has

left this earth. Northside has lost one of its biggest supporters and most visible renegades.

I met Worley in 1985 when we both attended Church of Our Savior in Mt. Auburn. I have vivid memo-ries of Worley parading around the sanctuary behind the minister at the beginning of special service swinging the incense burner looking like he was going to die. Being deathly allergic to smoke never stopped Worley.

In 1991, I was the editor of the Northside newspaper then called On the Avenue which was owned by Whit-man Publishing. When they moved to Columbus, Worley bought the paper, and I went with it. Thus began a long friendship that lasted till the end.

Worley began his career in the newspaper business as a child growing up in Chillicothe, Ohio. He began and ran neighborhood news-letters. He ran his school newspaper

in the eighth grade. He also served as the school photographer for the year book.

He dabbled in radio beginning in his sopho-more year of high school and continued till after graduation in 1959 from Chillicothe High School.

His first professional newspaper job was for the Chillicothe Gazette from 1962 to 1972 where he worked as a re-porter and photographer. Along with the Gazette he edited a newsletter for the Junior Chamber of Commerce and the Optimist Club. He also worked for the Columbus Dispatch before moving to Cincinnati in the early ‘70’s.

He lived in Mt. Auburn but truly cared

about every inner city neighborhood. He saw his work as a ministry for those he served. And because he cared, he began sever-al community newspapers

including UpTown News, Appala-chian News, The Religion Forum, Metro Neighbors, Northside News, and the GLBT News along

with newsletters for organizations he supported. If it was happening in Cincinnati, Worley knew about it.

I remained the editor of On the Avenue while working with Worley. We covered hundreds of events, meetings, demonstrations, and even an implosion together. Being the pho-tog that he was, he got us up on the rooftop of the Mt. Auburn Presbyteri-

an Church to photograph the implo-sion of Sander Hall in June of ’91. I still remember driving to his house at 5:30am on a Sunday morning seeth-

ing because I agreed to do this. That is until I got to Clifton and saw what a party it really was turning into, and I had the best seat in the house!

We published those pictures in the July issues of On the Avenue and UpTown News.

Worley loved what he did. It didn’t matter to him much that he barely made enough to live. What was important was making sure peo-ple had a way to find out what was happening in their neighborhood.

Because of his efforts, many of the neighborhoods he served grew and developed into neighborhoods where neighbors are friends, and we care about each other.

Northside is absolutely a better neighborhood, because Worley Ro-dehaver published a newspaper that was delivered to every household in the neighborhood for 22 years. He scooped stories, wrote articles, sold advertising, laid out the format each issue and took it to the printer. Then he rounded up neighborhood kids and delivered it to the over 5500 households in Northside every month. He also left copies in businesses for people to pick up. And all the while he was publishing other newspapers as well.

I will always remember his kind ways, soft chuckle, and total dedi-cation to what he loved. He lived his life his own way, and in doing so, touched many of ours. Thank you, Worley Rodehaver, for making our world a better place to live. Your love for us rippled out far and wide touching more people than we’ll ever know.

feature|IN MEMORIAMREMEMBERING WORLEY RODEHAVER

NORTHSIDE - A BETTER PLACE BECAUSE WORLEY WAS HEREBy Peggy Weyand

He saw his work as a ministry for those he served.”

Worley loved what he did. It didn’t matter to him much that he barely

made enough to live. What was important was making sure people had a way to find out what was happening in their neighborhood. ”

Photo: Michael Chanak


Before I knew it, Worley Rodehavor was a monthly part of life for me and a gaggle of boys who became his Northside newsies. Worley paid the kids a very decent wage and put up with an amazing amount of their goofing off. Every month over a few years, they would gather and roll thousands of Northsiders, then deliver them – out of Worley’s van. Four or five boys stuffed in a van with thousands of newspapers, laughing and pulling stunts on Worley.

I was Worley’s coordinator of the newsies for a while, much of which was centralized at my house. We would have long talks about politics, the boy’s behavior, the van breaking down, you name it. I loved and appreciated him dearly.

I am sure the kids learned a lot working for Worley – how to show up, make some money, get something done. But what I remember as most important is when a boy joined the newsies from another neighborhood; someone’s grandson Worley knew who had just moved to town. Over the course of a year or so, the boy became female, something he had been struggling with. Worley shepherded this change with beautiful support and grace – and the boys followed his lead with acceptance and at times it seemed a bit of protectiveness.

Connor Albers nominated Worley to be the 4th of July parade grand marshal one year, and he was very honored. We loved seeing him and his big white beard waving to the crowds on the parade route. A selfless and good guy who made our lives all the richer.

-Barbara Boylan

Worley never lived in Northside, but he embraced the neighborhood as his own. He liked the grass-roots advocacy and its lack of pretension. The urban pioneers in the 1980s had lots of great ideas and projects, but Worley spread the word and attracted attention. Many of the early successes became reality because Worley showed up with a camera and wrote an article about what we were doing. He was interested in every story, from the mundane clean-up to the grandiose dream of what Northside could achieve (water-skiing on the Mill Creek). If two or more Northsiders gathered together, Worley was willing to cover it. He was an authentic person with strong moral values, especially regarding justice and equity. He had endless curiosity about peo-ple, which made him a good reporter. Worley was a kind and generous man who devoted a big chunk of his life to promoting Northside and building a sense of community with his publications. He will always be part of Northside’s colorful history. I am richer for having known him.

-Gwen Finegan

(L) Worley with Karen his ad manager. (R) Worley (far left) as co-Grand Marshal Northside 4th of July parade 2008.

I probably wrote over 90 articles as president of the Northside Community Council between the years 2000-2003, and 2007-2010, Worley and I never had unkind words for one another. As late as I may have been, and it sometimes seemed like he was only waiting on me, Worley always welcomed and valued the voice of the local community council in the Northsider. He loved reporting on what was happening in the neighborhood, street by street. He published and delivered a printed newspaper with respect for all, sometimes even pub-lishing things that he felt were not positive for the neighborhood, for he was not one to deny anybody a voice. Worley created a brand, The Northsider, and for all of it’s faults in the later years, it was hugely successful and served this neighborhood extremely well under his leadership for many years.

Time will tell, but it appears his good work is continuing….

-Tim Jeckering

Worley Rodehaver was an active member of the Northside-College Hill Kiwanis and we will miss him.

-Don Beimesche, Treasurer of the Northside-College Hill Kiwanis

My husband and I knew Worley through our volunteer efforts in the Northside community and membership in the Alliance for Democracy (a movement to create awareness about the power of corporations in our society). Worley lived on a shoestring putting everything he had into the newspaper. He often went without adequate medical care and car repairs to keep the newspaper going. The newspaper was his ministry.

He was active in many social causes and was supportive of all efforts to build community in the Northside neighborhood, the Appalachian community and for the Gay/Lesbian community, as well.

-Marion DiFalco and Jack VanderVen

I first met Worley Rodehaver back in 2005 at the Community Issues Forum at Christ Church Cathedral which is hosted by Applied Infor-mation Resources.

In a time when we are seeing the decline of investigative journalism, more publications being owned and controlled by and handful of cor-porations - the loss of a pioneer, writer, publisher and advocate is sad news to hear. So let’s celebrate Worley Rodehaver’s life and legacy.

-Justin Jeffre, Streetvibes Editor


We all need to know how to make friends. Friends are important in our lives for many

reasons. We are most influenced by people who really listen to us and who speak a language we under-stand. It also matters a great deal in business. For us as wellness profes-sionals, even if we care very much for those who seek us out, if we can’t convey our caring, we will not serve long. How is it that some people seem to be so much better at com-munication than others?

This morning a salesperson called me. She wanted to sell us a service we already receive. The con-versation started like this:

Salesperson: Hello, Larry. How are you today?

Me: I am well.

Note: I probably could have said, “I’m dying,” and the sales person would still have said:

Good. I am wondering if at your business you use ___ service?

Me: Yes.

Salesperson: I’m over here at such-n-such company (making it sound as if they were just across the street), and we’re putting together some facts and figures showing our low rates.

Me: We’re happy with our current service and are not interested in changing.

Salesperson: I understand you might be under contract at this time, but I’m wondering, if my supervisor came to your office at 10:00 on Wednesday, if you’d be kind enough to listen to what he has to say?

Me: NoAnd from here it devolved into

even more verification that the per-

son was not listening to me, making it increasingly difficult to be polite and extricate myself from the call.

I will remember that call and if, in a few months or a year, we decide we want to change service provid-ers, this particular company will not be on the list of people we want to talk to. My “no” had become a “NO! NOT EVER!”

Whether this interaction was an indication of the salesperson’s personality or the kind of training the company offers, the result was that now I’m not interested in talking to anyone there. In contrast, when successful salespeople make a call, they build and maintain rapport with the potential buyer.

Successful friends, parents or lovers have that certain something

that makes communication flow in difficult as well as in easy times. Rapport building is a skill that can be learned. It involves reading body language, hearing and using the oth-er person’s language style prefer-ences, and pacing in such a way that the interaction feels like a mutual dance. It proves invaluable in all interpersonal relationships in one’s professional and personal life.

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Programming. He has also trained extensively in the Sounder Sleep System® approach to insomnia. www.futurelifenow.com 513-541-5720

BY larry r. wells

How Not to Make Friends• Observe the rate of your friend’s speech. Use a similar rate when you respond.

• Listen to understand and then reflect back in your own words. Ask if this is a correct understanding.

• Discover if your friend likes to use auditory, visual or feeling words. Sprinkle your talk with words that reflect his/her preference.

3 Easy Tips for Making Friends


513-961-2998 3416 Clifton Ave. cliftonumc.com

SUNDAY SEP 7FALL KICKOFF/PICNIC CLIFTONFEST ACTIVITIES CHURCH BEYOND

THE WALLS

SUNDAY SEP 28 SUNDAY OCT 19

Located behind Skyline at the corner of Clifton Ave and Ludlow, Clifton UMC has been a witness for

social justice in the Clifton community and Cincinnati ever since its founding in 1892.

In 1998, we became a Reconciling Congregation, joininga network of LGBTQ-friendly Methodist churches that

emphasize diversity and inclusion. emphasize diversity and inclusion.

@CliftonUMCOhio facebook.com/CliftonUMC


Hoffner Park sits in the purga-tory of Northside, between empty lots, abandoned buildings, and high traffic

restaurants and bars. During the day it’s dappled with dogs, their owners, occasional hula-hoopers, bike riders, and children, but at night the shad-ows half-conceal an abandoned park with discarded beer cans and just a few people huddled under the shelter with no place to go. All of Northside’s diversity and quirks are contained in that park. I remember driving past the park last winter and noticing Holi-day lights hung from branches. Each tree looked suspended in air. Hoffner Park looked so forgiving. I was almost fooled, almost beckoned from my car into the park to lie on the frozen grass until I remembered I had a similar inclination earlier last summer.

I had just moved to Northside, and after just a few weeks of carv-ing my own corner out at Sidewinder and making friends with neighbors, I thought it was a good idea to have a pow-wow in the park with beer. Some wonderful people and I sat on the slide, drank beer, and admired the limited horizon clouded by light pollution, until we were startled by three fourteen-year-olds hovering near us. They moved in. One pulled up the neckline of his t-shirt and hooked it around his ears to conceal his face. That’s when we knew something was wrong. He pulled out what looked like a weapon his grandmother might keep in her purse. It was beautiful, polished silver, and appeared unused. None of us reached for our wallets. His

prepubescent “Give me your money; Give me you money,” just washed over us like it had no consequence. This moment seemed distinctly unoriginal as people are robbed and roughed everyday all over Cincinnati. It’s as common as Poptarts for breakfast. The only difference was Hoffner Park was now my home, and I felt too ashamed to be robbed by teens. Plus, I had earned the collective, non-spoken rights of a park goer: I had made out on the slide, swung on the awkward handicap swing, sat on the top of the monkey bars. I had barfed in the bushes, and walked through the grass so many times, I could follow my own foot trail home.

So I did what any other angry Northsider would--scold and lecture the boys about post college debt until they were too bored to keep holding up the gun. We seized that moment to walk away--quickly, wondering if our imaginations had conjured the whole experience up.

Hoffner Park isn’t Purgatory; It’s Northside’s scary older sister. Most of the time she sits at the edge of the table, not saying a word, collecting information for her mental arsenal; other times, she bites like a Pit Bull with rabies. There is not a moment I don’t pass Hoffner Park and remem-ber. When I’m 80 and sun-spotted, I will remember the way we remember anything idiosyncratic, with half-rev-erie, disbelief, and a taco from The Comet.

memoir|INCIDENT IN THE PARKVERSE & PROSE

Rae Hoffman lives in Northside with her pug, Athena. She has a BA and MFA in Poetry. She has been published in Kenning, Poetica Magazine, Red River Review, and is forthcoming in Mojo.

BY Rae Hoffman

We Both Didn’tI never saidGoodnight

Then wonderedAbout her eyes:Closed?WonderedAbout her breathing:Softly.

Blankets caress dermaOne frozen poem looks onThe air movesA cat sits in the window

ArisenThe air is thinAnd fickleIt movesInside my roomBlades forming itTo fit their needs

I can hearThe cricketsI can hearThe nightOver my fansI can hearThe nightThroughMy black out shades

Sounds comfortAnd help lids closeOver corneasOver retinasOver stimulation lenses

Passing onWe fall into remAnd will returnTo take on the dayAnew and restedAn 8-hour Lazarus

Retuning the RedFire hydrantsWearing t-shirtsCoke cansSitting outside windowsAviatorsA bucket hatAnd long hairTorn jeansA kind faceHis Gold chainAbove cleavageFleshInside telephone wireLegs inside of fusionBlueBut aliveWith cell phonesAnd eyesSkin color like nightThe smells ofOil and ageSanta ClausIn an ‘82 ChryslerA car towedNext to mayday Sink tops and vanitiesThere are ghosts insideWith historiesLike fire

A metal couchWith chipped paintSo colorfulA partyLike beheadings We walk onWithout leashesThrough the field

EPISODE NO.1

Brandon E. Niehaus has a shoebox full of ideas and occasionally picks one out to focus on. He also enjoys dogs, pocket knives, and reading.

BY brandon E. Niehaus


Summer has once again flown by, the long summer days traded for early mornings, backpacks and homework.

WordPlay’s Northside writing center welcomed over 100 children during our 6 weeks of summer programming, ranging from Summer Scholars, an ac-ademic enrichment camp for students in grades 1-8, to our new Louder Than a Bomb poetry slam team for high school students, Bookbinding and Short Fiction workshops, and the ever-popular WordPlay Saturdays.

Heading into the new school year, our third since opening in September, 2012, we have been working ex-haustively to make our after-school program a huge success. Free to all students, WordPlay Scholars pro-vides one-on-one attention, pairing each child with a trained tutor. Our first priority is to build relationships, cultivating a strong sense of commu-nity among the volunteers, students and their families that quickly tran-scends the walls of our writing center. WordPlay Scholars offers literacy skills, homework help, focused aca-demic tutoring, writing instruction and social - emotional learning to K-8 students Monday - Thursday 2:30 - 5

pm. Our 5-6 pm time slot will now be the Happy Hour, with a different creative theme offered each day. First priority in WordPlay Scholars is given to students whose families meet free lunch criteria, and parents must attend an orientation prior to having their child enroll. The Happy Hour is open to all students K-8, but space is limited and all students must be enrolled before they can begin.

Our high school WordUP pro-gram in partnership with Aiken New Tech High School continues this year, when we will reach an exciting milestone - a few students from our first cohort will be completing the requirements for graduation and are preparing to enter a four-year college program. WordUP is de-signed to catch students most in need of additional support to complete their grade level, providing them with personal skills to better cope with daily stress, increase confidence and self-awareness while addressing ac-ademic weaknesses. In the two years that WordUP has been underway, we have seen 100% of our students pass on to the next grade level, some of whom have made the honor roll for the first time in their lives and gained

acceptance into the prestigious GE Scholars program, and all are pre-paring to enter the world of higher education where previously many believed that opportunity didn’t exist for them.

We are bringing a new program to our high school lineup, and can hardly contain our excitement over this one. Louder Than a Bomb, the world’s largest youth poetry slam, was founded in Chicago in 2001. Along with the Taft Research Center at the University of Cincinnati and the non-profit arts organization, Elementz, WordPlay is proud to be a coordinat-ing partner for LTAB Cincy. We will be managing four high school teams, including two new school partnerships with dePaul Christo Rey, and Seven Hills High School. Look to our article in the October issue of the Northsider for more details on Louder Than a Bomb and our new LTAB Coordinator and slam poetry coach, Desirae Hosley, along with assistant coach Elese Daniel.

WordPlay Saturdays con-tinue with a lineup of creative programs starting at the top of each hour from noon - 4 pm, all promoting a love of reading and writing through project-based activities. We will have a table reserved for students spanning grades K-12 who need quiet home-work help in all subjects. Please visit our website, www.wordplaycincy.org, for details on the schedule of Satur-day programs for students in grades K-8, the Writ-er-in-Residence program, plus engaging short-term creative workshops that are offered throughout the year.

And don’t forget, literacy spans all subjects! Our STEM Scholars program is open to Jr. and Sr. High School students interested in gaining hands-on experience from professionals in the fields in Science, Technology, Engi-neering and Math. This is a highly selective program with

just a few spots remaining, please call 513-260-8129 for more details on enrolling your student.

We are very proud to announce that through a generous grant from the Andrew Jergens Foundation, we will be launching our new Word-Play Writer-in-Residence program in mid-September. This is a very unique and exciting pilot, which will bring professional writers and educators to WordPlay to work with each of our students throughout the year.

FOR MORE INFO: Visit us online at www.wordplaycincy.org and www. facebook/wordplaycincy email us at [email protected], or call 513-260-8129.

Libby Hunter, co-founder and Executive Director of WordPlay Cincy.

BY Libby Hunter

WordPlay students work on their masterpieces in the summer fiction writing workshop, Write On! led by children’s author Connie Traunstine and English Professor Dr. Theresa Kulbaga of

Miami University.. Photo: WordPlay

WordPlay Rolls out its Fall Lineup! education: YOUTH

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Patient navigation for patients with cancer is starting in Cincinnati hospitals. Here are two people that can be contacted for any concern

about cancer.

1Julie Behan: 513.584.2692. [email protected] If you have cancer, or

think you have cancer, and you are at the UC Health Center, Barrett Cancer Center, you have to see Julie Behan for support and assistance with non-medical conerns: transportation, help with day care, paying for treatment, and contact with many support groups. You have to look hard for Julie as she is in a cubby of an office on the first floor of the Barrett Cancer Center. Her room has a desk, a few chairs, and lots of information provided for free by the American Cancer Society. Julie is a warm, friendly, and very experienced Patient Navigator. She has been working on Patient Navigation for over 10 years, although only recently at the Barrett. She is paid one half of her salary by the Barrett Center and the other half by the American Cancer Society. She rarely leaves her office for lunch, but she does leave on some days around 3pm in order to work at a second job. When she leaves for the day, or on weekends, or is on vaca-tion or sick, there is no other person doing her critical work. Also, no one is on duty to be a Patient Navigator in the evening. (Julie suggests that patients that need immediate answers in the evening call the American Cancer Society’s 24/7 phone number: 800.227.2345.) Julie averages 10 patients a day, answering a whole set of questions that relate to economic issues and psychological concerns. “I can’t fix ev-erything,” Julie says in a quiet voice. Some people seeking housing and financial assistance will find that there is no good answer. “A lot of people just don’t have good choices,” she elaborates, “especially if they have a cancer other than breast cancer.” Breast cancer patients may have access to a host of programs that reduce or eliminate costs. Julie is aware that many people will need a temporary form of counseling to cope with the many issues surrounding the diagnosis and treatment of cancer. She refers people to Cancer Family Care (731.3346). “It’s not a free service,” she notes, “and 90% of insurance

companies support such a service. There is even a sliding scale.” Julie is aware of the “boundaries” that need to be respected. She is wary of venturing into any medical advice, although she is aware of resources within the Barrett. Sadly, many physicians, nurses, and social workers do not refer patients to her. “I don’t even know if they know about my work,” she says with some feeling. As large as her support load is, Julie feels that every person with cancer deserves the benefits of Patient Naviga-tion as defined by the American Cancer Society.

Julie Behan is one important indi-cator of the change in cancer care. She notes that the American Cancer Society is undergoing a “transformation” in thinking through cancer care. “Patient Navigation is in the works,” she declares. “Cincinnati has to catch up with Columbus and Cleveland in Patient Navigation and the American Cancer Society is taking the necessary steps.” she notes. Hospitals that want to be accredited by the Commission on Can-cer (“More than 70 percent of all newly diagnosed cancer patients are treated in the more than 1,500 Commission on Cancer (CoC)-accredited cancer pro-grams nationwide.”--American College of Surgeons Website.) have to have a Patient Navigation Program in place by 2015. Julie’s efforts are a part, perhaps a very small part, of what should be a compre-hensive program involving the health care staff of the Barrett. Right now, if every patient wanted a Patient Navigator, there would be a crisis in delivery of the necessary services. Julie is a one woman army but limited in how comprehensive her services can be. I learned a lot by talking with her, seeing how she ably referred to the materials that could help the cancer patient. Overall, her services seem inade-quately appreciated by the Barrett Center and a shadow of what they could be if she headed an organization that could work with the whole person with cancer. What was unspoken but evident is that the patient is losing out on valuable resources, perhaps critical for psychological, econom-ic, and health consequences. The casualties in poor patient care about decisions that are so important are visible.

2. Robin Hayes: 513.865.5965. [email protected] There are

people in health care that are matter of fact; they have seen it all. And then there are the passionate. Robin Hayes Clinical Team Manager is passionate times 10. With over 15 years as a nurse and now as part of the team building the Patient Nav-igation process at Tri-Health, Robin is a not a wishy washy practitioner: “If you are not crying, if you are not caring, you ought to be out of the healthcare business,” she exclaims without a smile on her face. She continues: “In patient care, honesty is the most difficult goal to reach. When we get to the point of saying “This doctor or treatment is not for you,”--that’s the state we have to reach.” Robin is a central part of the new program in Patient Navigation in operation at Tri-Health. Hiring surgeons and nurse navigators is the first big step that has been taken. “The doctors are in-credibly supportive and able to communi-cate with patients and nurses; we plan and act together,” Robin exclaims. “Our mes-sage: ‘We’re going to take care of you,’” she continues. But what does “care” mean to a cancer patient, especially when the patient is so worried, and confused about next steps? Robin outlined her version of Patient Navigation: “From the moment I know a patient has cancer, she becomes ‘my’ patient for the rest of her life. I will call the patient and inform her she has cancer, and help her get into the doctor immediately. I know she will have questions and that she may also not know what to ask. We’ll talk. And we will continue as the patient learns more about their cancer, the questions and fears will continue in some areas and lessen in others. At no time will the patient be lonely, disconnected from the Patient Navigator. The Nurse Patient Navigator does have knowledge of the system and of the cancers. This is very helpful to the patient as it fosters a trust that questions procedures and encourages alternatives that can be discussed without fear of looking ignorant. I am an advo-cate for the patient. I learned at a very early age to be an advocate for a patient and I will not abandon that value. I want the patient to feel cared for and confident at every step.”

What impressed me most about Robin was her honesty about what a Patient

Navigator can do if the system is dedicat-ed to patient care as its highest priority. The belief that every patient, rich or poor, deserves a Patient Navigator who is ex-cellant, is a rare statement in healthcare. Robin was clear that TriHealth does not yet have a coordinated system in place in all of its hospitals, not all doctors and surgeons agree with Patient Navigation, costs may vary from hospital to hospital just as access to Patient Navigation may not be developed in all TriHealth hos-pitals, and seniors are going to have a harder time reaching TriHealth services due to program cuts in transportation(their SeniorLink program has been ended), and there are important questions that are unanswered about how poor people will reach TriHealth for services. I asked Robin what is a poor person to do if they suspect they have cancer but they are afraid of costs, treatments, or finding out that they have no transportation to the hospital. “Have anyone call me. I will help find them their resources,” she immedi-ately responded. There are some state programs, some resources available but how will those will greater economic needs be able to find excellent care? The reality facing hospitals, TriHealth included, is that more and more people are learning that they have cancer but the system for treatment is still fraught with many dan-gers as patients enter without an ally(M. Wert(7/31/14).”More adults are facing serious illnesses.” The Enquirer.).

Meeting Julie and Robin only made it clearer just how sparse the compas-sionate resources are for cancer patients. For most patients, even those with insur-ance, the battle for standards for Patient Navigation are going to be waged at the patient’s most difficult time and when most hospitals are just awakening to the needs of cancer patients. Consult these allies with your concerns.

WE, TOO, ARE HUMANs | TWO FRIENDLY ALLIES IN THE CANCER JOURNEY

Steve is a founder of the Peace Village and a professor of peace and educational studies at the

University of Cincinnati. He has been a Northsider for over 10 years.

BY Steve Sunderland [email protected]

OPInIOn: MEDICAL JUSTICE


The Pink Panther (1963)

Audiences of a certain age will likely remember the classic Pink Panther cartoons, featuring the unforgettable Henry Mancini theme along with

the silent charms of the Pink Panther, but most of us don’t remember that the character actually made his first appearance in this Blake Edwards live-action film. So, the original film, which tracks the bumbling efforts of Inspector Clouseau (Peter Sellers) to discover the identity of a suave jewel thief named The Phantom, who seemingly operates under the nose of the French detective. Happen’s Kids Critics may be more familiar with the live-action reboot starring Steve Martin, but it was once said, about James Bond, that nobody does it better. Let’s see if the critics feel the same way about Sellers.

- TT Stern-Enzi, Cincinnati Film Critic

Each month, Happen’s Kid Film Critics received their own official Happen film critic packet and a press badge. TT Stern-Enzi, Cincinnati film critic, provided insight about the film and guided the children as they wrote this month’s film reviews.

Read the reviews, and be sure to watch The Pink Panther (1963)

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Submitted BY TOMMY RUEFF

Happen Northside: Happen’s Kid Film Critics

Reviews of THE PINK PANTHER (1963)

“I would give it 3 stars because I was expect-ing to see more of the cartoon pink panther. Other than that, it was really good. It was really funny and I liked the fact that there was a little dog.”-Gwen

“I loved it. I think it had a very structural plot. It held together really well. It was funny. I rate it 5 stars.” -Max

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ONGOING EVENTS: First Monday – Northside Business Association Monthly Meeting @ Happen, Inc. 4201 Hamilton Ave. (6PM) The Northside Business Association is a resource for all Northside Businesses and works to continually improve the neighborhood. More info: call 513-541-4745 or email: bdemske@el`la.net

Third Monday (Fourth Monday January and February) – Northside Community Council Monthly Meeting @ McKie Rec Center 1655 Chase Ave. (7PM) Get involved with issues that directly affect our community! The NCC is a volunteer, community-based organization that provides an opportunity for all individuals in the community to participate in Northside’s present and to chart Northside’s future.

Every other Monday – The Qtet @ Northside Tavern 4163 Hamilton Ave. (9PM) Influences range from Miles Davis to Van Halen. Jazz. Front room. Cost: Free www.northsidetav.com

Every other Monday – Northside Jazz Ensemble @ Northside Tavern 4163 Hamilton Ave. (9PM) From Funk, Reggae and Soul to Rock, Free Jazz, Blues and straight-ahead Jazz and back again, this tight four-piece puts familiar tunes in a brand new bag. Jazz. Front room. Cost: Free.

www.northsidetav.com

Every Monday – Crawlers & Climbers @ Cincinnati Family Enrichment Center (10:30-11:15am) $10 per class. Children are offered an array of fun motor activities in an encouraging, safe, soft environment. www.theplaceforfamilies.com

Every Monday – The Marburg Collective @ The Comet 4579 Hamilton Ave. (9pm) Free. Indie/Jazz. www.cometbar.com

Every Monday – Adult Pictionary w/ Steven Walls (Vampire Weekend at Bernie’s) @ Chameleon, 4114 Hamilton Ave. (9pm) Free. Game Show/Comedy www.thechameleonclub.com

Every Monday – Trivia @ Northside Tavern 4163 Hamilton Ave. (8PM) Cost: Free. www.sexytimekaraoke.com

Every Monday – Bomb’s Away Comedy Open Mic @ Mayday (8PM) Cost: Free. 4227 Spring Grove Ave. www.maydaynorthside.com

Every tuesday– JitterBugs @ Cincinnati Family Enrichment Center (10:30-11:15) Ages 18 months to 3 years. $10 per class. This unique movement class for beginners introduces basic terminology and the fundamental movements of ballet, modern, African and creative dance! www.theplaceforfamilies.com

Every Tuesday – Movies & Games @ Northside Branch of the Cincinnati Public Library 4219 Hamilton Ave. (3PM) For information, call 513-369-4449

Every Tuesday – Teen Movie Madness @ Northside Branch of the Cincinnati Public Library 4219 Hamilton Ave. (3PM) For information, call 513-369-4449

Every Tuesday – Zumba @ McKie Center (6PM) 1655 Chase Avenue. ”If you are perfect don’t come”- you’ll ruin our demographic.

Every Tuesday – Bike Night @ The Comet 4579 Hamilton Ave. (7pm) Motorcycle enthusiasts gathering. Free. Bikes, Burritos and Brews. www.cometbar.com

Every Tuesday – Artist In Residency: Kate Wakefield @ The Comet 4579 Hamilton Ave. (10pm) Free. Indie/Folk. www.cometbar.com

Every Tuesday – Cinthesizer Live Podcast @ Chameleon, 4114 Hamilton Ave. (7pm) Free. Electronic. www.thechameleonclub.com

Every Tuesday – Technodrome Tuesday w/ Immortal Meteor @ Chameleon, 4114 Hamilton Ave. (10pm) Free. Hip Hop. www.thechameleonclub.com

Every Tuesday – Trivia Tuesday @ Mayday (8PM) Trivia every Tuesday, with prizes and specials. Cost: Free. 4227 Spring Grove Ave. www.maydaynorthside.com

Third Tuesday– Square Dance @ Northside Tavern, 4163 Hamilton Ave. (8-10:30 pm) All dances taught. Live music by the Northside Volunteers. Beer on tap. Suggested donation $5-10 to caller. It’s hip, it’s what’s happening. Each month features a different caller and live old-time music and dance. Historic tavern, resonate wooden floor for dancers, small stage for all-volunteer band.

Sep 9 Peter Roger (Berea KY)

Oct 14 Gabe Popkin (Washington DC)

Nov 11 Tamara Loewenthal (Bloomington IN)

Dec 16 T Claw & Fiddle Pie (Boulder CO)

First wednesday– The Chris Comer Trio @ The Listing Loon 4124 Hamilton Ave. (8PM) A piano based jazz trio. Cost: Free. More info: www.ChrisComerTrio.com

Every Wednesday – Open Shop @ Mobo Bicycle CoOp 1415 Knowlton Ave. (6-9PM) Come work on your bike. For info: mobobicyclecoop.org or [email protected]

Every Wednesday – Kreative Kids @ Northside Branch of the Cincinnati Public Library 4219 Hamilton Ave. (3PM) Ages

5-12. For info call 513-369-4449

Every Wednesday – Northside Farmers Market @ Hoffner Park 4104 Hamilton Ave. (4-7PM) This twelve-month market brings tri-state farmers to the city of Cincinnati to sell their produce, meat, eggs, crafts and fruit. NFM prides itself on bringing fresh and locally produced food to the vibrant community of Northside. More info: www.northsidefm.org

Every Wednesday – Live Acoustic Wednesdays @ Bistro Grace 4034 Hamilton Ave (6:30-9pm) we support local events, breweries and musicians. We are centrally located in thre Northside. We have quality food at reasonable prices and a full bar. We offer happy hour prices, drink specials and half off wines. Come join our friendly staff and enjoy our beautiful patio. Free. BistroGrace.com

Every Wednesday – Hump Day Karaoke @ Chameleon, 4114 Hamilton Ave. (8pm) Free. Karaoke. www.thechameleonclub.com

Every Wednesday – Sexy Time Live Band Karaoke @ Northside Tavern 4163 Hamilton Ave. (9PM) Live band karaoke. Back room. Cost: Free. www.sexytimekaraoke.com

Third Wednesday – Learning Lab Gathering hosted by Starfire @ McKie Center (6PM) 1655 Chase Avenue. Citizens are gathering every month to meet-up over community building and inclusion. The gatherings are a springboard for people’s ideas around community related projects, as well as opportunities to learn from local citizens. Hosted by Starfire, free, and open to all. Each gathering begins with a potluck. For information [email protected]

Every Thursday – International Folk Dancing @ Clifton Community Arts Center, 7-9 PM. Line/circle dances from Eastern Europe/Middle East. No partners necessary, no experience necessary. Teaching available. For information, call 541-6306 or e-mail [email protected]. Cost $3.

Every Thursday – Slow and Steady Bike Ride @ Leaves from Hoffner Park 4104 Hamilton Avenue (7PM) Cost: Free. Join this welcoming and easy bike ride.

Every Thursday – Karaoke with Bree @ Boswell’s, 1686 Blue Rock. (8pm) Free. Great food, great drinks, great karaoke!

www.facebook.com/hotwheelsentertainment

Every Thursday –The D.B. Jazz Duet @ Chameleon, 4114 Hamilton Ave. (7pm) Free. Jazz. www.thechameleonclub.com

Every first & third Thursday – Comedy

Night w/ Andrew Rudick @Chameleon, 4114 Hamilton Ave. (9pm) Free. www.thechameleonclub.com

Every SECOND & Fourth THURSDAY – Throwback Thursday w/ AP (Night Bees / Counterfeit Money Machine) @ Chameleon, 4114 Hamilton Ave. (8pm) Free. Poetry / Live 90’s Music Videos. www.thechameleonclub.com

LAST Thursday – Folk & Fiction @ The Listing Loon 4124 Hamilton Ave. (6-11PM) Reading and musical performances. Cost: Free. More info: facebook.com/folkandfiction

final friday – cartRAGE (Chip-tunes) @ The Chameleon Club, 4114 Hamilton Ave. (9PM) Free. Electronic / Chiptunes. www.thechameleonclub.com

Every Saturday – Signing Safari @ Cincinnati Family Enrichment Center (11:30-12:15) Ages 6 to 35 months. $10 per class. Join your child in singing, signing, playing, & rhyming! www.theplaceforfamilies.com

Every SATURDAY – Zumba @ McKie Center (12PM) 1655 Chase Avenue. ”If you are perfect don’t come”- you’ll ruin our demographic.

Every Saturday – International Folk Dancing @ Twin Towers’ Hader Room (8-10:30 PM). Line and circle dances from Eastern Europe/Middle East. No partners necessary, no experience necessary. Teaching available 8-9 PM. For information, call 541-6306 or e-mail [email protected]. Cost: $5. 5343 Hamilton Ave.

Every Second Saturday – Northside Second Saturdays (6-10PM) Come see art, shop, imbibe and eat in one of Cincinnati’s most creative and diverse neighborhoods. Featuring new art openings, later hours, bar drink specials, interactive events and promotions that vary monthly with participating businesses.

Every Second Saturday – Hook & Ladder (Vinyl Night) w/ Margaret Darling (The Seedy Seeds, Devout Wax) @ Chameleon 4114 Hamilton Ave. (9pm) Free. Vinyl / Variety. www.thechameleonclub.com

Every Second Saturday – Galaxie Art Show & Skate Park Fundraiser w/ Chris Luessen, Jill Cleary, & More @ Chameleon 4114 Hamilton Ave. (9pm) Galaxie Skate Shop, 4202 Hamilton Ave. (6pm) Free. Art. galaxieskateshop.blogspot.com

Every Second Saturday – Basement Reggae w/ Abiyah & Grover @ The Comet, 4579 Hamilton Ave. (9pm) Free. Reggae. www.cometbar.com

FIND OUT WHAT’S HAPPENING AROUND NORTHSIDE THIS MONTH. events calendar – september


first sundays– Bulletville @ Northside Tavern, 4163 Hamilton Ave. (9pm) Live music. Front room. Free. www.northsidetav.com

third sundays– DJ Harv @ Northside Tavern, 4163 Hamilton Ave. (9pm) Front room. Free. www.northsidetav.com

Final sundays– The Tillers @ Northside Tavern, 4163 Hamilton Ave. (9pm) Live music. Front room. Free. www.northsidetav.com

Every Sunday– Comet Bluegrass Allstars @ The Comet. (7:30PM & 9PM) The Comet house band plays two sets every Sunday. Cost: Free. 4579 Hamilton Ave.

Final sundays –Cry Night w/ John Hayss @ Chameleon 4114 Hamilton Ave. (9pm) Free. Folk/Punk/Songwriter www.thechameleonclub.com

Weekdays –– OPEN STUDIO @ Happen, Inc. 4201 Hamilton Avenue. 3:30 - 7:30PM (Tue.-Thu.) & 10am - 5PM (Sat.)

UPCOMING EVENTS:Thursday, September 4, Royal Holland, State Song, & Umin @ Northside Tavern, 4163 Hamilton Ave. (9pm) Free. www.northsidetav.com

Friday, September 5, Molly Sullivan, Abiyah, & Kate Wakefield @ Northside Tavern, 4163 Hamilton Ave. (9pm) Free. www.northsidetav.com

Friday, September 5, Super Origami & Ra Canyon @ Chameleon, 4114 Hamilton Ave., Free. Indie/Electronic. www.thechameleonclub.com

Saturday, September 6, GlamBurn Shots: an art hrant fundraiser @ Kintimates costume etc. Knowlton Ave. (7-11PM) $15 for makeover and portrait session. See mosaicexperiment.com to learn more about the main event and the projects we are supporting!

Saturday, September 6, Groove Squad Entertainment @ Chameleon, 4114 Hamilton Ave., Free. Dance/Electronic. www.thechameleonclub.com

Friday, September 12, Aaron Collins @ Northside Tavern, 4163 Hamilton Ave. (9pm) Free. Indie. www.northsidetav.com

Wednesday, September 13, Easing In Fitness. 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm. Future Life Now, 4138 Hamilton Avenue., Suite B Cincinnati, Ohio 45223 $75. Registration required. Call 513-541-5720.

Saturday, September 20, #FRESHLIST w/ Meiosis, Bit Flip, & more @ Chameleon, 4114 Hamilton Ave., Free. Indie/Electronic. www.thechameleonclub.com

Wednesday, September 24, Introduction to Living Large. 7:00 to 8:15 pm. Future Life Now,

4138 Hamilton Avenue., Suite B Cincinnati, Ohio 45223 (513) 541-5720. $30. Registration required. Call 513-541-5720.

Saturday, September 27, Broccoli Samurai w/ Ethosine @ Chameleon, 4114 Hamilton Ave., Free. Jam/Electronic. www.thechameleonclub.com

Saturday, September 27, Zen Rock Stacking 9:00 to 11:30 am. Future Life Now, 4138 Hamilton Avenue., Suite B Cincinnati, Ohio 45223 (513) 541-5720. $20. Registration required. Call 513-541-5720.

nORThSIDE SCEnE


I don’t remember my first Black 47 show, but I remem-ber why I went. It

was a particularly quiet night during my graveyard shift as a doorman on the Upper East Side of Manhattan – I was a student at nearby Hunter College – and I loved listening to the legendary Vin Scelsa, who still hosts a show called “Idiot’s Delight” (now on wfuv.org). The show featured wonderful and obscure music you wouldn’t hear anywhere else, and it turned me on to countless acts, none the least of which was Black 47.

The opening to “40 Shades of Blue” features the most forlorn bag-pipe notes I’ve ever heard – and, if you’ve heard bagpipes, you know what forlorn sounds like. The singer, well he was delightfully imperfect, singing woefully and off-tune of an Irish immigrant addicted to booze, down on his luck on the famous Bow-ery in New York City:

and the letters/that you sent back home/were full of all the things you’ve done/ah, but they don’t say you’re down there on Bleeker Street/with your hand out on the bum.

I was hooked immediately. The emotion, the familiar symbols, the

song had everything. Lucky for me, I learned from Mr. Scelsa that night, Black 47 played twice weekly at a little club just north of the East Village on 2nd Avenue. What started as an odd song on the radio became a regular ritual among me, my friends and countless other strangers who’d pile into Paddy Reilly’s regularly on weeknights.

We’d wait in all kinds of harsh New York weather to get in, grab a pint of Guinness, get a good spot near the stage, cram our coats be-tween our legs, and bounce shoul-der-to-shoulder to the rollicking jigs and reels of this wonderful, insane little band from the Bronx. At the time, they were on the verge of having at least one video on Mtv, and went on to be produced by Ric Ocasek of The Cars fame, and on any given night, you’d beautiful music like traditional Irish sounds together with hip hop, Ska, reggae and rock and roll – all crammed together like an uptown 6 train during the afternoon rush. When

the air conditioning was out in your subway car. Part Hothouse Flowers, part Bob Marley, part James Joyce, part Bob Dylan … we joyously hung on every sweaty, rollicking note.

Black 47 shows ended at a reasonable time (for NYC on a school night), but the experience typically ended the next morning with my friends and me talking about the show over breakfast, usually in the East Village: hungov-er, smelling of beer and cigarette smoke, counting the burnholes in those new leather jackets we bought at the Queens Center Mall. We’d talk of how miserable, yet somehow transcendent, an experience it was. And how we had the time of our lives, and couldn’t wait to go back for the very next show.

Fast forward 20-odd years. Frontman Larry Kirwan has his own XM radio show: Celtic Crush, as well as a few novels and plays under his belt. The band, including woodwind player Geoff Blyth, founding mem-ber of Dexy’s Midnight Runners, are healthy and happy, and gracefully wearing their age, banging out songs of Irish Republicanism, soldiers fight-ing wars overseas, and of long lost loves back in Ireland. But soon, this will all be in the history books.

Black 47 are currently on their Last Call tour – why Last Call? They decided to disband on the 25th an-niversary of their very first gig back in the Bronx in 1989. While there will be plays and novels from Larry (Rock-in’ the Bronx is particularly wonder-ful), I’m certain – I can’t help but think this is the last time I’ll likely get to see

the band play live.Luckily enough, the Irish Heritage

Center of Cincinnati, located in an old schoolhouse in Columbia Tusculum, will host the area’s final Black 47 show on Thursday, October 9th. The center features a pub room (complete with Guinness and Smithwick’s on tap), an auditorium, and many exhibits and Irish artifacts. You can pick up tickets at the center at 3905 Eastern Ave-nue, by calling 513-533-0100, or at cincyticket.com.

FOR MORE INFO: The Irish Heritage Center was founded to promote the Irish Culture More information can be found at www.irishcenterofcincinnati.com

music makers|BLACK 47’S LAST CALLCINCINNATI’S FINAL CHANCE FOR JIGS, REELS AND DIRTY BIG PINTS OF STOUT

Fred is a research professional and a member of the Northside Community Council; he and his family have lived in Northside since 2006. Originally from the New York boroughs of Brooklyn & Queens, he roots exclusively for failing sports franchises from his hometown.

BY Fred Neurohr

We’d wait in all kinds of harsh New York weather to get in, grab a pint

of Guinness, get a good spot near the stage, cram our coats between our legs, and bounce shoulder-to-shoulder to the rollicking jigs and reels”

4114 Hamilton Avenue Northside | 513-541-2073

Live Music, Spirits, Suds, and Fun!


Emily Buzek ValentinoSales Vice President

Cell (513) 602-7414E-mail [email protected]

2716 Observatory Avenue Cincinnati, Ohio 45208

Brokering Fine Homes Since 1946

comey.com

“Northside’s most prolific Realtor” – Cincinnati Enquirer, June 2013

The northsider, sept. 2014 volume 1 | issue 12 northsider.northside.net a free community publication

Lunch & DinnerMon–Thu : 11.30–9Fri : 11.30–10

DinnerSat : 5–10

Happy to be in Northside!LOCATED IN THE American Can Building

FRee PaRking & Full BaR

Hours:*

4101 Spring Grove Ave

*drinks and desserts available for an hour after kitchen closes

northsider monthly | volume 1 issue 12

Documents

art projects

art academy of cincinnati

northside house tour

ld pikecincinnat i

northsidebased parprojects

design work

season of csarts cincinnati

red wagons