tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9523824168435883932024-02-07T04:32:44.514-05:00A (Lone) Wolf in the VillageThese are the musings of the vice-mayor of Amberley Village, Ohio.Nataliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06443368613773992371noreply@blogger.comBlogger50125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-952382416843588393.post-69324141462214361062015-06-30T13:48:00.001-04:002015-06-30T13:48:40.716-04:00Back to the FutureIt's been a LOOONNNGGG time since my last post -- have you missed me? I have some big news and I want to make sure all our residents know about it:<div>
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Amberley Village is on social media! Better late than never, right? Beginning July 1st, Amberley will roll out our Amberley Village app that can be downloaded to your mobile smart phones and tablets (both iphones and android). In the meantime, Amberley is now on twitter at<a href="https://twitter.com/AmberleyVillage" target="_blank"> @AmberleyVillage. </a>Facebook will be rolled out along with the mobile app. </div>
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Residents will soon be able to get news of the Village as it happens on their preferred platform. Council meetings can be easily watched from the mobile app too, which is great because even cat videos can get old after a while. I'm kidding, of course. Cat videos never get old...</div>
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Also, in case you missed it, Amberley has a significant birthday celebration coming up. August 16th marks the day of our community-wide celebration, beginning with a parade at 11:00. Spots are available for participants to march/walk/juggle/etc in the parade. If your neighborhood has lots of kids and bikes enter a bike brigade! Be creative! Entry forms are available at Village Hall or by clicking <a href="http://www.egovlink.com/public_documents300/amberley/published_documents/75th%20Anniversary%20Celebration/Amberley%20Village%2075th%20Anniversary%20Parade%20Application.pdf">HERE.</a></div>
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Hope you are having a great summer and have a safe 4th of July!</div>
Nataliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06443368613773992371noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-952382416843588393.post-86009635123244629562014-02-13T09:24:00.002-05:002014-02-24T16:57:51.350-05:00RecyclingAre you recycling cartons and juice boxes? Rumpke opened a brand new state-of-the-art recycling facility (Material Recovery Facilty/MRF) in November and the community was invited to go for a tour. Since I consider myself the resident recycling guru in Amberley, and as chair of the Health, Education, & Welfare committee of council that reviews our trash and recycling contracts annually, I didn't want to miss the opportunity. Fellow councilperson Peg Conway and I went together.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGz19t0Cy04bUvvX5ohxPdL-Eqh9s7POskKkRv2gb17bvvbw_wxFP407NRpvbPFPq8IECmVQRNOaiIed09Ms_5rrdgncX_dBzlv_xerDcbkGh7YM6ffpDG5JdwMQEXwpuZhyphenhyphengQS9bd9ko/s1600/Rumpke+Recycling.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGz19t0Cy04bUvvX5ohxPdL-Eqh9s7POskKkRv2gb17bvvbw_wxFP407NRpvbPFPq8IECmVQRNOaiIed09Ms_5rrdgncX_dBzlv_xerDcbkGh7YM6ffpDG5JdwMQEXwpuZhyphenhyphengQS9bd9ko/s1600/Rumpke+Recycling.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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Our community is doing a great job of reducing the trash we send to the landfill. Last year, we received approximately $13,000 from Hamilton County Solid Waste and Recycling as a reward for the amount of waste we kept out of the landfill. The items that are acceptable for recycling are dependent upon there being either a buyer or an end-use for the material being recycled. Practically anything is recyclable, as long as there is someone to buy it and we have the facility to separate and bale it. Rumpke's new facility is now capable of separating and baling the cartons we used to have to throw in the trash. This includes milk cartons and juice boxes that have a waxy coating on them.<br />
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A couple of take away tips from the tour: 1) DON'T THROW AWAY PLASTIC BAGS! Rumpke's MRF is manned by workers whose job it is to sort out non-recyclable trash from a fast-moving conveyor. One plastic bag stuck in the conveyor can shut down the entire facility! Throw your papers straight into the recycling can or bin, or else put them in a paper grocery bag. Plastic grocery bags can be recycled by taking them back to the grocery store and putting them in the recycle bin at the front of the store. 2) RINSE AND REMOVE THE LIDS FROM CARTONS. Plastic lids may be recycled along with plastic bottles as long as they are attached to the bottle.<br />
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Remember, our solid waste output can also be dramatically reduced by composting. Composting is fun, easy, and can be done all year long. Michele Balz of Hamilton County Solid Waste & Recycling writes a humorous blog about composting with lots of composting tips called <a href="http://confessionsofacomposter.blogspot.com/">Confessions of a Composter</a>. Finally, it's time to start stockpiling those old electronics and papers for shredding. Amberley's Environmental Stewardship Committee will once again be hosting "One Stop Drop" and Cohen Recycling will be collecting electronics to recycle.<br />
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If you ever wondered what happens to the materials we recycle after they are picked up at the curb, Rumpke has some great videos on its YouTube channel:<a href="http://www.youtube.com/user/RumpkeCleanAndGreen?feature=watch"> Rumpke Clean & Green.</a> You can also schedule a tour for your own group by visiting their website <a href="http://rumpke.com/education/facility-tours">http://rumpke.com/education/facility-tours</a>. Scouts will love this tour, because as you can see from my photo, visitors are required to wear protective clothing, including a hardhat.<br />
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If you haven't yet done so, be sure to join our neighborhood network on <a href="https://nextdoor.com/invite/3fhnmwgu1dsrcq0be45i">Nextdoor</a> and subscribe to Amberley news and email at <a href="http://www.egovlink.com/amberley/subscriptions/subscribe.asp">AmberleyVillage.org. </a><br />
<br />Nataliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06443368613773992371noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-952382416843588393.post-40349482422597308972014-02-02T18:30:00.000-05:002014-02-02T18:30:04.092-05:00The J-CafeTwo years ago, I wrote about the<a href="http://lonewolfinthevillage.blogspot.com/2012/03/gathering-place.html"> J-Cafe -- the cafe at the Mayerson JCC</a>, which happens to be the only restaurant in Amberley. At the time, I mused "<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20.790000915527344px;">where do we go in Amberley when we want to relax and chat with our neighbors -- about our community, our families, our lives...? A gathering place is a central part of a community. To see our neighbors and elected officials in a relaxed setting in the community can ease suspicion and strengthen our ties to the community."</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20.790000915527344px;">Since that time, I have seen the J-Cafe go through several changes -- not all of them good. But this week, I realized that I had eaten lunch at the J-Cafe four times. It is really a restaurant now, and one that we should all be supporting. The hours have been extended from 7:30AM-6:00PM Monday-Thursday, 7:30 - 2:30 on Friday, and 9:30 - 4:00PM on Sunday. Closed on Saturdays for the Jewish Sabbath. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20.790000915527344px;">Food choices have been broadened and you can now get fresh smoothies, soft-serve yogurt with toppings, cappucino and lattes. I highly recommend the tuna and avocado melt as well as the vegetable soup, which is the best I've had anywhere! </span><br />
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Something else that's new is the <a href="https://www.formstack.com/forms/MayersonJCC-takeandbake">"Take & Bake" menu</a>. I haven't tried it yet, but I intend to. On Fridays, the J-Cafe offers full dinners for pick up that serve 4-16 people. Five entrees are offered and can be picked up by as late as 6:15 on Friday evening.<br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20.790000915527344px;">On Friday mornings, the chef offers a full omelet bar, and CEO Marc Fisher says that we can look forward to Pancake Sundays coming in February. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 20.790000915527344px;">You don't have to be a member of the JCC to enjoy the convenience of eating at the J-Cafe. I'm so pleased that I can say that we really do have a place to eat and see our neighbors within our own community. </span></span>Nataliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06443368613773992371noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-952382416843588393.post-5521666368903888532013-10-29T22:36:00.001-04:002013-10-30T17:48:29.106-04:00Amberley GreenAt the Candidate's Forum hosted by the Amberley Women's Forum, council candidates were asked the question "do you support multi-family housing?" My answer then, and now, is that, with the proper zoning, developer and plan, multi-family housing on Amberley Green would be a good amenity to our current and future residents. We are a community with an aging population who have made it known that they would be very interested in luxury condos or lifestyle homes on Amberley Green. Also, the same kind of housing would appeal to young professionals. Built in the context of the mixed-use development recommended by the <a href="http://www.egovlink.com/public_documents300/amberley/published_documents/Committees/Long%20Range%20Planning/LRPC%20Rpt%20to%20Council%204-11-11.pdf">Amberley Long Range Planning Committee</a> and as part of a larger development that is safe and walkable, we would be adding value to our community by providing more choices for living.<br />
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This evening I attended a meeting of the First Suburbs Consortium, which I wrote about in an<a href="http://lonewolfinthevillage.blogspot.com/search?q=first+suburbs"> earlier post</a>. The topic of housing happened to be addressed. One thing that the majority of older, built suburbs, such as Amberley, have in common, is a lack of available housing for our aging population. The advantage that Amberley has, over Blue Ash (where this is the MAIN issue of concern), is that we have available land for rectifying this situation. Luxury condos, lifestyle homes, or apartments featuring universal design features might be just what Amberley needs in order to attract new residents and keep empty-nesters in our community. At the request of the attendees, this issue will continue to be addressed and meetings are open to everyone. If you would like to be notified of the next meeting of First Suburbs, please let me know and I'll be happy to get you the information.<br />
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<br />Nataliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06443368613773992371noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-952382416843588393.post-25871221359343468342013-10-11T13:54:00.002-04:002013-10-11T14:00:13.370-04:00Keeping Tabs on MeThis upcoming election, I am fortunate that I am running without an opponent. Hopefully that means that residents are satisfied, or, at least, not dissatisfied, with my job performance over the last two years. I have tried to communicate with as many of you as I can about things in Amberley that I am working on or that I think residents should be made aware of. I could probably update this blog more often, but then I might run the risk of becoming more spam in your inbox.<br />
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The question was raised recently about why I am putting up campaign signs and communicating with voters during election season when I am running unopposed. The answer is simple: I cannot expect voters to vote for me simply because I don't have an opponent. In my opinion, I still have to earn your vote, and to earn your vote, I need to prove that I am still working hard for Amberley. In fact, I have to work harder than ever because given the current makeup of council, and probably into the near future, I will still be a "lone wolf" when it comes to pressing for improvements that would positively impact the quality of life for residents.<br />
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My priorities haven't changed in the two years I've served on council. For example, even though the Village has paid off Amberley Green, economic development is as important today as it was when I first took office. Fortunately, our ownership of this beautiful piece of property gives us the luxury of dictating <i>what</i> can be built there. Safe streets for pedestrians is also of high importance. Nothing happens overnight, but it is silly not to plan for future possibilities. I will continue to search for grants to pay for future planning, like the grant opportunity I brought to committee last week from <a href="https://www.interactforhealth.org/upl/ActiveLiving_PhysicalInfrastructure_RFP_080913.pdf" target="_blank">Interact for Health</a>. There was no support for applying for the grant, but part of being on council is to continue to bring forth issues that are of importance to residents whether there is support for them at this time or not. Trends change, opinions change. It's important to stay educated to trends and make sure Amberley does not become a dinosaur because it's much easier and less risky to ignore them.<br />
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I've always believed that the way a candidate runs their campaign tells voters a lot about the way they will serve. A candidate who works hard for your vote, communicates a well-thought out platform, engages their constituents, and takes advantage of public outreach opportunities like the League of Women Voters <a href="http://forms.smartvoter.org/" target="_blank">Smart Voter</a>, The Cincinnati Enquirer, or ICRC, is a candidate who has researched the issues and wants the voters to know their positions.<br />
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The Amberley Village Women's Forum is conducting a candidate's forum at the home of Stacy Lefton this Wednesday, October 16th, from 7-<span style="text-align: center;">9 PM. Please look for more information on </span><a href="https://amberleyvillage.nextdoor.com/news_feed/" style="text-align: center;">Nextdoor</a><span style="text-align: center;"> where you can also find Stacy's contact information to RSVP.</span><br />
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<span style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Paid for by Wolf for Council, 600 Vine St. Cincinnati, OH 45202</span></span>Nataliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06443368613773992371noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-952382416843588393.post-73530110058474937082013-09-10T22:06:00.000-04:002013-09-11T17:37:38.524-04:00Panhandle LotsA panhandle lot is a lot that is set back from the street, behind other houses, and only accessable via a long narrow drive. Imagine the main lot with a house, is the pan, and the long drive is the panhandle. In an predominantly built area, like Amberley, where some homeowners own large lots, panhandle lots may be the only area in which to build a new house. Typically, they are created when an existing homeowner sells a large lot and the new owner decides to subdivide the lot into two or more lots. Panhandle lots allow a developer to put an additional lot onto an exisiting property without building a new road. Panhandle lots can consist of one single lot with a single home or a series of new lots and homes, essentially creating a new street or drive behind the original street. Each new house would share one long driveway and the address, typically, is on the main street.<br />
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Earlier this year, The Board of Zoning Appeals heard applications from two developers over the course of nearly as many months who each wanted permission to create panhandle lots on property they had just purchased. Each property was in excess of two acres, thus meeting the minimum requirement for one acre housing lots in property zoned Residence "A." Both properties were located in deadend or cul-de-sac streets, and both were heavily wooded in the rear. Neither property owner presented a detailed plan to the BZA for the yet-to-be-built homes. Both applications were contested by existing neighbors and homeowners who stated that they did not desire the extra traffic from construction vehicles, additional curb cuts to create a drive, and a new house to be built in their backyards. Yet, each case was decided differently, primarily due to Amberley's current Zoning Code which does not provide any guidance for deciding on these type of lots. </div>
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The trend for older communities is to restrict panhandle lots, allowing them only when detailed plans are presented to the BZA. This protects existing homeowners who were not expecting to have to share their backyard with a new homeowner's front yard. It also protects the integrity of older neighborhoods and the rural ambiance that comes from living in an area with larger lots and mature trees. Additionally, it puts potential buyers on notice that they may not be able to subdivide their property if it will result in a panhandle lot without first having their detailed plans scrutinized by the BZA. </div>
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Amberley's Planning Commission has been examing new legislation that addresses this issue and will be presenting it to Council in the coming months. Please subscribe to our Village webpage at AmberleyVillage.org if you want to be notified of the public hearing for this ordinance.<br />
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Nataliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06443368613773992371noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-952382416843588393.post-39946965696276951472013-08-22T12:30:00.002-04:002013-08-22T12:30:58.226-04:00Amberley is not an IslandOne thing I like to keep in mind when I think about Amberley and my responsiblitity to the village as a council member, is how Amberley can remain a vibrant community, given the challenges that all local municipalities are facing, including elimination of estate tax, local government funds, and tangible personal property tax, since most of our state revenue has been cut or eliminated. Where does Amberley Village fit within the structure of Hamilton County and who is looking out for us, besides our Amberley officials? Fortunately, we are not alone, but as a small community, it is important for us to shout a little louder and be a little more visible, so as not to be neglected.<br />
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One of the organizations that Amberley participates in is the <a href="http://www.hamiltoncountyohio.gov/hcrpc/fsc/" target="_blank">First Suburbs Consortium of Southwest Ohio</a>. First Suburbs are those suburbs that are generally located near core cities and were established prior to 1960. First suburbs share many common concerns -- older housing stock, shrinking tax base, and competition from the newer, outer exurbs for economic development. As the name suggests, the First Suburbs Consortium can generate the power of collaborative interests to influence policy -- as it is doing right now regarding <a href="http://www.ohiopropanegas.org/28-municipalities-want-uniformity-say-hb5-is-tax-reform" target="_blank">HB5 and changes to how Ohio collects municipal tax</a>.<br />
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Representatives to the First Suburbs Consortium are appointed by council. I was appointed in 2011 as an "alternate" representative. In February of this year, I learned that our appointed representative was not attending meetings, thereby leaving Amberley unrepresented and without a voice. In March, I attended my first First Suburbs general membership meeting where the Mill Creek Watershed was discussed, as well as updates regarding HB5 and other state legislative news. I have subsequently been appointed to serve on the executive committee of the Consortium.<br />
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Amberley is facing many challenges ahead, as we are forced to contend with a shrinking budget yet residents expect the same level of service they are used to. It is important for us to realize that we, as a community, share many of the same issues with our neighboring communities and that we are stronger when we harness our collective resources and ideas. The First Suburbs Consortium is just one way Amberley can have a louder voice at the state level.Nataliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06443368613773992371noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-952382416843588393.post-35491175560851935222013-08-06T12:03:00.002-04:002013-08-06T12:03:54.679-04:00French Park<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF03ysT4SvcFLNe2NlFO96kjNEJ84Gb-Q4GfkDczXhTjadvVJdjzhqBhchnsMpCQCqZVOWkwtLb4jf4rzEbUL4eqf_GFDA6xnOAbuMpMPn_M-glsBnN0aVEfRp62DKMrh8DwWdcnEyHn8/s1600/French+Park1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF03ysT4SvcFLNe2NlFO96kjNEJ84Gb-Q4GfkDczXhTjadvVJdjzhqBhchnsMpCQCqZVOWkwtLb4jf4rzEbUL4eqf_GFDA6xnOAbuMpMPn_M-glsBnN0aVEfRp62DKMrh8DwWdcnEyHn8/s400/French+Park1.jpg" width="300" /></a>Have you been to French Park recently? This 275 acre Cincinnati park in the heart of Amberley Village is one of our most beautiful amenities, if not <i>the</i> most beautiful feature of Amberley. The park is the second largest park run by the Cincinnati Park Board, and we are very fortunate to live within such close proximity to its ever-changing scenery.<br />
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The trails in French Park can't be beat. With the addition of the new Amberley Trail built by the Israel Scouts and Mayor Mallory's Teen Summer Greanleaf Program, it's possible to run or walk five miles without every seeing the same scenery. It's impossible to get lost, because all trails lead down to the creek, which leads to the parking lot.<br />
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The Amberley Creek, a tributary of the Mill Creek, is a great place for fossil hunters or hikers who just want to escape the summer heat. There are plenty of surprises in the park too. Have you seen Mr. French's pet cemetary? I ran the trails this morning, and I was surprised by a new park improvement -- new stalls in the bathroom!<br />
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If it's been a while since you've visited the park, I suggest a visit this week. The wildflowers are in full bloom and are simply stunning!<br />
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<br />Nataliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06443368613773992371noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-952382416843588393.post-3035654615597393212013-06-29T14:59:00.001-04:002013-07-07T17:38:38.040-04:00Water Management<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoFSZRDWqOJ8jy0E8c-m08pcqRhRnntUTYKgRyyZkUZq7VMQJQww1xpVBSslxZgaAuTcoHzhQREU1qr1LY_ey2m4g34PMIJTjkDsyVVRzZDJb_Cd4ti1aqUeTOBNxdMS9HURtEyUMAK88/s960/Rain+barrel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoFSZRDWqOJ8jy0E8c-m08pcqRhRnntUTYKgRyyZkUZq7VMQJQww1xpVBSslxZgaAuTcoHzhQREU1qr1LY_ey2m4g34PMIJTjkDsyVVRzZDJb_Cd4ti1aqUeTOBNxdMS9HURtEyUMAK88/s400/Rain+barrel.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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My nephew, Tyler, an environmental engineering major at OSU, has become increasingly interested in water conservation since visiting a kibbutz in Israel last winter where significant inroads on water management and conservation are being made by evironmental engineers. This week, he installed a couple of rain barrels for me. I can't tell you how happy I am to have them, just from a financial perspective, since our summer water bills tend to lean toward the side of high to outrageously high. I like plants and plants need water. But from a practical and environmental perspective, many of us in Amberley have been dealing with the question of what to do with too much water for years. While the Amberley Creek and its subsidiaries provide us with a lovely ambiance, when it rains that beautiful babbling brook can become a raging menace -- overflowing its banks and flooding our yards. Yes, the water comes from the rain falling directly from the clouds, but it also comes fast and furiously from the gutters and downspouts on our homes.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1fd0329yFP3L1LlK7LVgR9tneriRnpkujUgtcp8g_chTABq8GgimRMdN6LntjNziI4ckY_BvLKUa1TSHWyq9knMaJegFlAlLPPZlAdWIRyPE75Q_WzjzOS4zXUUvj7Cwcl_5T50vXy24/s700/Rain+Garden+before.tif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="255" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1fd0329yFP3L1LlK7LVgR9tneriRnpkujUgtcp8g_chTABq8GgimRMdN6LntjNziI4ckY_BvLKUa1TSHWyq9knMaJegFlAlLPPZlAdWIRyPE75Q_WzjzOS4zXUUvj7Cwcl_5T50vXy24/s320/Rain+Garden+before.tif" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Amberley: Before Rain Garden Installed</td></tr>
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Installing rain barrels to collect the water from our downspouts have many benefits. First, it prevents the runoff from our gutters from entering our already overloaded storm sewers. Second, rain barrels help to prevent ponding and flooding of water in our yards; third, it prevents flooding of stormwater into our streets; fourth, rain barrels provide free water for our gardens.<br />
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Rain gardens are another practical measure homeowners can take to harvest and control some of the excess water flooding their property. In fact, Amberley Village has examples of<i> both</i> a rain barrel and a rain garden at Village Hall. Before installing the Village Hall rain garden, the south end of the field was prone to flooding. By installing a rain garden, not only has the flooding been curbed, but the area is now more beautiful with the addition of deep-rooted native plants and grasses, and is a habitat for butterflies and birds.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6Fq1lgd7GEb31N4XggqtJWg5vJtVO3Qlwh1xGZT5MIudRJ0ixylRWro1PvTn-MfjE9f0fBmCxAsye_SZkeJ76snPThrfziLhWe1luhwItFEg0FewTt1DsWqVsoec9fji29mSPr95hbBc/s800/raingardenafter2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6Fq1lgd7GEb31N4XggqtJWg5vJtVO3Qlwh1xGZT5MIudRJ0ixylRWro1PvTn-MfjE9f0fBmCxAsye_SZkeJ76snPThrfziLhWe1luhwItFEg0FewTt1DsWqVsoec9fji29mSPr95hbBc/s320/raingardenafter2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rain Garden in 2008</td></tr>
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<a href="http://www.amberleyvillage.org/greeninitatives.cfm#rainbarrel" target="_blank">Amberley's website</a> has plenty of information about rain barrels and rain gardens. More information can also be found at <a href="http://www.raingardennetwork.com/" target="_blank">Rain Garden Network</a>, as well as guides for installation.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8S96IGduq0BhZogg5Nkk8NZ49ZpQIk2lgMZDh3bWpi4X2J5yT5t1R1Oihu5dzo2L_ZeUQgTnzv045fLLiH2XWcPt6VdYtR8AA0dfHGAAla8bE5y3v17_eoaovSLtQmRphyphenhyphenQI27uvEAAo/s1600/Rain+Garden.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8S96IGduq0BhZogg5Nkk8NZ49ZpQIk2lgMZDh3bWpi4X2J5yT5t1R1Oihu5dzo2L_ZeUQgTnzv045fLLiH2XWcPt6VdYtR8AA0dfHGAAla8bE5y3v17_eoaovSLtQmRphyphenhyphenQI27uvEAAo/s320/Rain+Garden.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rain Garden in 2013</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCHNGuPh2RXicG_2U9Ox75j2GLk9hUhheG7Wl7DVXtZHBSmLw61NSVqWzbtTWioXm2ClgkaO8iJagSIOBa_K7r1ENv9sw2vUlLkH3dQoZ9XIbv31KWEu-1ItNugoUosulNqcjryv2I2vY/s1600/Amberley+Rain+Garden.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCHNGuPh2RXicG_2U9Ox75j2GLk9hUhheG7Wl7DVXtZHBSmLw61NSVqWzbtTWioXm2ClgkaO8iJagSIOBa_K7r1ENv9sw2vUlLkH3dQoZ9XIbv31KWEu-1ItNugoUosulNqcjryv2I2vY/s400/Amberley+Rain+Garden.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Amberley Rain Garden in 2013</td></tr>
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The Hamilton County Storm Water and Conservation District has published a manual for use in properly constructing a rain garden. It can be downloaded here:<a href="http://www.hcswcd.org/uploads/1/5/4/8/15484824/raingardenmanual.pdf">http://www.hcswcd.org/uploads/1/5/4/8/15484824/raingardenmanual.pdf</a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Nataliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06443368613773992371noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-952382416843588393.post-83709027375866315382013-06-25T19:48:00.001-04:002013-06-26T09:47:50.766-04:00Electric AggregationAre you getting your electricity from Dayton Power & Light (DP&L), Amberley's electric aggregator? If you are not, is it because you are currently under contract with another energy supplier (not Duke Energy) and don't want to pay an early cancellation fee? Without boring you with the details of my own experience of trying to join with other Amberley residents and get the much lower aggregated rate (.045/kwh), I will simply clear up some misconceptions and provide some information that is not currently on our website:<br />
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1. DP&L will pay any other provider's early termination fee of up to $150. If you are staying with another electric provider because you don't want to be charged a cancellation fee, call DP&L and explain this to them. They are difficult to get a hold of, but they <i>will</i> call you back. If you send them an email, you will hear back within 24 hours. Their email address is DPLEnergyCare@DPLinc.com.<br />
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2. <a href="http://www.egovlink.com/public_documents300/amberley/published_documents/Energy%20Aggregation/DPL%20Application.pdf" target="_blank">Amberley's contracted rate until May, 2014 is 0.0445 cents per kilowat hour</a>. (My current rate with First Energy is 0.063 cents per kwh and changes with each reading. I would have saved much more money by switching last year, had I known DP&L would pay the early termination charge).<br />
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3. If you never contracted with another supplier, you are already benefitting from Amberley's contract with DP&L, even though your bills still come from Duke Energy.<br />
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4. You must fill out the form on the website and email or fax it to DP&L to get the Amberley Village rate. The rate for regular customers is currently 0.053 kwh, which is not as good a deal as Amberley's negotiated rate.<br />
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Start saving money on your electric bill!<br />
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<br />Nataliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06443368613773992371noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-952382416843588393.post-57345632762200919892013-06-12T21:23:00.000-04:002013-06-12T21:23:00.215-04:00Complete Streets<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pedestrian shoulder Ridge Rd.</td></tr>
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According to the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials, "Providing safe places for people to walk is an essential responsiblility of government entities involved in constructing or regulating the construction of public rights-of-way." This seems so obvious, but Amberley has been wrestling with this issue for decades. By not moving forward with long-range planning to make Amberley more pedestrian friendly, housing and livablity trends are passing us by as the <a href="http://communitybuilders.net/walkability-and-millennials-the-experts-weigh-in/" target="_blank">Millenial generation</a> is seeking out living spaces that provide multiple options for transportation, which include more public transportion options as well as safe pathways.</div>
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It is time for Amberley Village officials to recognize that, although we do not have a central business district within our own community, a majority of our residents live within walking distance of business districts in either Pleasant Ridge, to the south, and Dillonvale, to the north. Safe access to these areas and to our own amentities within the Village will increase our property values thus benefitting the financial forcast for our community<br />
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In her presentation, "Designing Communities for All: The role of complete streets in improving accessibility and enhancing economic competitiveness," Kerstin Carr of the<a href="http://www.morpc.org/" target="_blank"> Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission (morpc)</a>, indicates that "every one-point increase in the 100-point <a href="http://www.walkscore.com/" target="_blank">Walk Score</a> scale is associated with an increase in home value of $500-$3,000." From a health standpoint, she cites another study that found that "43% of people with safe places to walk within 10 minutes of home met recommended activity levels. Among individuals without safe places to walk, just 27% were active enough." Amberley has great places to walk -- French Park, Amberley Green, the Amberley Walking Path, the JCC -- but we lack a safe way to get there on foot.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGStUXseS7kGyZr3sqGlxJSHOVmAJEahrg1c0dRpJf0YVRFMmE-SzwB6dOOB6cKhVghA4VS2c_MfLuJl1addfnsgjNM3sctHuBLWliuV-QrB3BFM2YiL_jXHg_7XfY54QYephhLouBt9Q/s1600/complete+streets+ordinance+Westerville.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGStUXseS7kGyZr3sqGlxJSHOVmAJEahrg1c0dRpJf0YVRFMmE-SzwB6dOOB6cKhVghA4VS2c_MfLuJl1addfnsgjNM3sctHuBLWliuV-QrB3BFM2YiL_jXHg_7XfY54QYephhLouBt9Q/s400/complete+streets+ordinance+Westerville.JPG" width="300" /></a>The Health, Education, & Welfare committee of Council held a meeting yesterday on the issue of pedestrian safety. The issue encompasses more than just providing a safe shoulder of the road upon which to walk. Our intersections can be made safer by installing crosswalks. Streets can be identified that are routinely used as cut-through thoroughfares and traffic calming measures can be examined. The city council of Westerville, Ohio, passed a Resolution last year expressing support of the <a href="http://www.smartgrowthamerica.org/complete-streets/a-to-z" target="_blank">Complete Streets Initiative</a>. By so doing, they are expressing their committment to remember pedestrians when the time comes to budget for street maintenance and improvements.<br />
Amberley should do the same. In fact, at Monday's council meeting, we supported the introduction of a Long Range Financial Plan, the partial mission of which includes this question: "What are (we) doing as... government officials to ensure that our community and ...property value is not only maintained but <i><b>enhanced</b></i> ten years from now and beyond?" (Emphasis mine). An important question, and not one to be ignored when budgeting for the maintenance and future of our community.Nataliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06443368613773992371noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-952382416843588393.post-84979778034286524802013-05-07T12:35:00.000-04:002013-05-07T12:35:41.486-04:00Amberley's Neighborhood School<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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When my husband was growing up in Amberley, he attended his neighborhood school for elementary school, which, at the time, was Losantiville School. I attended my own neighborhood schools while growing up in Finneytown. In fact, for most of us, the neighborhood school <i>was</i> our school, unless our parents made a different choice -- say to send the kids to parochial school. In recent decades, here in Cincinnati, the neighborhood school has been replaced by the magnet school. Parents stand in line for days, often in inclement weather, to enroll their children in select schools of choice, because of the perception, often based in reality, that the neighborhood school is unable to adequately meet the educational needs of their children.<br />
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When my family moved to Amberley in 1997, I could not tell you what our neighborhood school was. Amberley didn't have its own school and as far as I could tell, where I sent my child to public school depended on what quadrant I lived in. Although Amberley only comprises 3.5 square miles, our children could go to any one of three "neighborhood" schools. Most Amberley parents did as we did and sent their kids to private school.<br />
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Things have changed since 1997. The former Pleasant Ridge Elementary School, a neighborhood school in CPS for over 100 years, was rebuilt and re-opened as <a href="http://pridge.cps-k12.org/" target="_blank">PRM (Pleasant Ridge Montessori)</a>. A very dedicated group of parents and community volunteers have been working tirelessly since 2006 to make this school a top-performing <i>neighborhood</i> school for Pleasant Ridge, Golf Manor, and Amberley Village. Through the very active involvement of educators, community leaders, parents, and Xavier University, PRM has seen its academic performance indicators rise and its socio-economic makeup become more diverse and more closely resemble the neighborhood where it is located.<br />
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Last night I attended a community meeting at PRM where the focus was on the next steps for the school. From my estimation, over 200 community members were in attendance. Most were parents of PRM students, but additonally there were local elected officials from all three communities served by the school, representatives from social service agencies and other interested community members. This is an extremely involved parent body! For a community like Amberley, which has not had a neighborhood school to call its own since it was incorporated, we are very lucky to have this rising star of Cincinnati Public Schools as our neighborhood school. The best part is, parents of Amberley kids can enroll their kids in a school where the parents and teachers are as involved as any private or magnet school for free and without camping out for a week.<br />
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If you are a PRM parent and Amberley resident, please leave a comment about PRM in the comment section of this post. I'd love to hear your thoughts on PRM. If you are interested in the next steps for PRM, there is another community meeting on May 22nd at 5:30 at the school itself.<br />
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NatalieNataliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06443368613773992371noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-952382416843588393.post-1637237250622447482013-04-21T11:32:00.003-04:002013-04-21T11:37:20.171-04:00"Green"<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Running on Amberley Green</td></tr>
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When I was campaigning for council, I was derided a couple of times for my green signs. Although the signs, in my mind, depicted how I felt about Amberley -- green, rolling hills -- they were seen as being an indicator of another kind of "green." The green of someone who cares about the environment. Did this interpretation of a one dimensional yard sign hurt my feelings? Absolutely not! On the contrary, I welcomed it, and if I happened to lose those two votes (I did), I hope that the passage of time has proven that green is a sign of foresight and progressiveness when it comes to economic development and the future of Amberley and Cincinnati.<br />
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Recently, Amberley Village Council voted in favor of an agreement that would give <a href="http://www.thewalnutgroup.com/" target="_blank">The Walnut Group</a> the exclusive right to conduct a due diligence investigation into the feasiblity of developing Amberley Green consistent with <a href="http://www.egovlink.com/public_documents300/amberley/published_documents/Committees/Long%20Range%20Planning/LRPC%20Rpt%20to%20Council%204-11-11.pdf" target="_blank">Amberley's Long Range Plan</a>. The agreement, <a href="http://www.egovlink.com/public_documents300/amberley/published_documents/Ordinances%20and%20Resolutions/2013/Res%202013-09%20Development%20Agreement%20with%20Walnut%20Development%20Group.pdf" target="_blank">Resolution 2013-09</a>, requires that The Walnut Group develop detailed site plans, including street and utility diagrams, street layouts, specific designs, as well as possible tenants, timing, and economics. Because the concept plan of The Walnut Group is consistent with Amberley's published Long Range Plan, it includes strong references to Amberley's Vision Pillars that require sustainable and ecological practices as well as connectivity.<br />
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Which brings me back to "green." According to this morning's <a href="http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20130421/NEWS/304210048" target="_blank">Cincinnati Enquirer</a>, Cincinnati is ten years ahead of other municipalities in terms of sustainablility. Last week, I wrote about our recycling program. We have been gardening at Amberley Green for a year. Tomorrow at 6:00PM, Amberley is celebrating nine years of being a Tree City, USA community. Next month, on May 19th, we will be hosting "<a href="https://amberleyvillage.nextdoor.com/news_feed/" target="_blank">One Stop Drop,</a>" a large-scale recycling event at Amberley Green where residents can bring documents for shredding, small electric appliances for recycling, and any kind of shoe to give to foundations that will reuse them.<br />
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A strong componant of building a greener community is the ability of residents to commute within the area without the use of cars. Cycle trails, sidewalks, and walking paths make a community more friendly and, from an economic standpoint, a more desirable area in which to buy a house and raise a family. The Walnut Group's concept plan includes a town square, <a href="http://www.pbs.org/hometime/house/udesign.htm" target="_blank">Univeral Design</a> housing, a corporate tenant, plenty of green space and walking paths. It is up to us, the citizens of Amberley Village, to insist on a safe means to connect to Amberley Green, French Park, and our other myriad amenities, without needing to resort to our cars.<br />
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If you haven't yet connected with your neighbors on Amberley Village Nextdoor, please accept my invitation to do so now. Stay informed! <a href="https://nextdoor.com/invite/3fhnmwgu1dsrcq0be45i" target="_blank">CLICK HERE</a>.<br />
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<br />Nataliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06443368613773992371noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-952382416843588393.post-62904446937440350362013-04-09T17:14:00.000-04:002013-04-10T12:04:17.650-04:00Fill Up That Bin!Ok, so you've got your new 65 gallon recycle bin. Have you filled it up yet? I mean, have you <i>really</i> filled it up? Are you maximizing the recycle potential of your trash?<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ8m-UEyeiScNv9-6kwdfjKjb-0LkkgBYFzSxv4xtWK6AsNfIx_qEyXLW0Mo7GxkTjE_mrA_HC6j_E1ckd-61pv_SR7sUaaihS8R5FJpo3fdEFQvst05R-1ZSojTEk1eXXxVFPsZYZtfU/s1600/recyclebin.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ8m-UEyeiScNv9-6kwdfjKjb-0LkkgBYFzSxv4xtWK6AsNfIx_qEyXLW0Mo7GxkTjE_mrA_HC6j_E1ckd-61pv_SR7sUaaihS8R5FJpo3fdEFQvst05R-1ZSojTEk1eXXxVFPsZYZtfU/s320/recyclebin.png" width="252" /></a>The most recent issue of Hamilton County Solid Waste & Recycling's newsletter "<a href="http://www.hcdoes.org/Wasteline/2013/CommunitiesRecycle.html" target="_blank">WasteLine</a>" has Amberley Village falling out of the top 10 municipalities for recycling. The truth is, our recycling rate stayed almost the same, but our solid waste output increased.<br />
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As I drive around Amberley on Friday's, I notice a lot of recyclable items stacked at the curb alongside the bins. Cardboard boxes, for example, are recyclable if you break them down and put them in the new, larger bin. In my household, I've become a super recycler -- empty toilet paper, paper towel, or gift wrap tubes go into the bin. Empty tissue boxes also go into the bin. In fact, I've been guilty of pulling recyclable items out of the trash and putting them where they belong -- in the recycle bin. If you're not sure what can be recycled, clicke <a href="http://hamiltoncountyrecycles.org/index.php?page=end-the-debate&phpMyAdmin=6cc27d7dd895326f499d2a63df77f345" target="_blank">HERE</a> for a list.<br />
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Now I'll get off my (recyclable, cardboard) soapbox and talk about something else. Trash in the streets. This usually occurs just after trash day, but I have a favor to ask. We all need to take care of our community. If you see that something from your garbage has blown out of the can, or for some reason not made it into the truck, please pick it up and dispose of it. If you see someone has thrown a beer can into your yard over the night, please pick it up and recycle it. I always ask myself, if I don't pick it up, who will? All of us working collectively can resolve this issue and go far to keeping Amberley the beautiful community that we love. </div>
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<br />Nataliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06443368613773992371noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-952382416843588393.post-32839320818058258872013-03-14T10:57:00.000-04:002013-03-14T10:57:25.110-04:00Mill Creek Watershed<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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From its headwaters in Liberty Township and running South/Southwest for 28 miles, the Mill Creek and its tributaries provided the lifeblood for development of Cincinnati over two hundred years ago. Within 100 years of being renamed the "Mill Creek" from the Native American name "Macetewa," the Mill Creek was nearly destroyed due to the very industrial development that put Cincinnati on the map. I, like many of our Amberley residents, have lived within Mill Creek watershed our whole lives. Many local communities count on the Mill Creek to provide their local drinking water. The Mill Creek Watershed Council of Communities was established to protect and enhance the value of the Mill Creek.<br />
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Amberley Creek, which runs through French Park and provides a natural and attractive water feature to many of our residents, is a tributary of the Mill Creek. Perhaps you have seen these signs and wondered about the water flowing nearby. <a href="http://www.millcreekwatershed.org/assets/files/map-Parks%20and%20Greenways%20in%20the%20Mill%20Creek%20Watershed,%208-24-12.pdf" target="_blank">The tributaries</a> of the Mill Creek expand the reach of the watershed to encompass areas as far east as Deer Park and Silverton within Hamilton County, and as far west as Groesbeck and Mt. Airy. The Mill Creek itself dumps into the Ohio River in Western Cincinnati near 9th and Gest Streets.<br />
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There is plenty to do to enjoy the Mill Creek, which is slowly regaining its health and providing a home to wildlife and a place to recreate. Like to paddle? You can <a href="http://www.millcreekwatershed.org/assets/files/millcreek_floats_small.pdf" target="_blank">explore the Mill Creek by canoe</a>. Five different sections of the creek are open to paddlers. If you are looking for an outdoor activity this Saturday, March 16th, the Mill Creek Watershed Council is looking for volunteers to help remove invasive plant species from <a href="http://millcreekwatershed.org/news-and-events" target="_blank">Twin Creek Preserve in Sharonville from 9:00-12:00 PM</a>.<br />
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Why should we care about the Mill Creek Watershed? Amberley Creek is a valuable asset! Like access to walking trails and bike paths, current statistics show that homeowners will pay a premium to live near daylighted water sources, like open, running creeks. Let's acknowledge, protect, and enhance our natural assets for the future of Amberley.<br />
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<embed flashvars="rssFeed=http%3A%2F%2Ffeed777.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fyy60%2FMillCreekWatershed%2FMill%2520Creek%2520photos%2Ffeed.rss" height="360" src="http://pic2.pbsrc.com/flash/rss_slideshow.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="480" wmode="transparent"></embed><a href="javascript:void(0);" target="_blank"><img src="http://pic.photobucket.com/share/icons/embed/btn_geturs.gif" style="border: none;" /></a><a href="http://s777.beta.photobucket.com/user/MillCreekWatershed/library/Mill%20Creek%20photos" target="_blank"><img alt="MillCreekWatershed's Mill Creek photos album on Photobucket" src="http://pic.photobucket.com/share/icons/embed/btn_viewall.gif" style="border: none;" /></a></div>
Nataliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06443368613773992371noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-952382416843588393.post-21261167046973469112013-02-14T15:54:00.000-05:002013-02-15T11:01:23.928-05:00It's like this:I've been somewhat disingenuous with my posts, as the subtitle of this blog is "the musings of the only female elected official in Amberley Village." This video will give you an idea of how things actually are. This was a publicly televised council meeting. Imagine the message this sends to the female staff of the village.<br />
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<a href="http://icrctv.com/amberley-village-council-21113">http://icrctv.com/amberley-village-council-21113</a><br />
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Click on "Guest Speaker." "Streets" and "New Business."<br />
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<br />Nataliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06443368613773992371noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-952382416843588393.post-25629866794083859272013-02-12T08:31:00.001-05:002013-02-12T08:33:46.191-05:00Training<br />
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Ohio law
requires all elected officials, either individually or through an appointed
representative, to attend <a href="http://www.ohioattorneygeneral.gov/yellowbook" target="_blank">Sunshine Law Training</a> regarding Ohio Public Records
and Open Meetings laws. On January 24, Tom Muething and myself along
with Council Clerk, Nicole Browder (appointed on behalf of the remainder of
Council), attended the training presented by the Ohio Attorney General’s
office.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOLhu8PleOkNsTNKBOk904dV12b_ZAZSjK0mi8CEOCGTgvwHkJSzxlxMMOrHvxifMRUwUPYLAa14sRvVj0qDcGGfZgGB2_yK_1SkjA_0nFHJVt2m3Yeex5B1ddr2CHyaEmZheYWldTVRM/s1600/Yellow+Book.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOLhu8PleOkNsTNKBOk904dV12b_ZAZSjK0mi8CEOCGTgvwHkJSzxlxMMOrHvxifMRUwUPYLAa14sRvVj0qDcGGfZgGB2_yK_1SkjA_0nFHJVt2m3Yeex5B1ddr2CHyaEmZheYWldTVRM/s1600/Yellow+Book.jpg" /></a><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">This is just
one of many training workshops for government officials that is either
required, or made available, to elected officials. When we’re elected to serve
on Council, we are often inexperienced in public service and the plethora of
government agencies available to assist our communities. When I was elected to Council last November, I made a concerted effort to attend as many training workshops as I could since I, like most of council, was new to public service. Some workshops were presented by WeTHRIVE!, some by the Hamilton County Public Health District, The HC Planning Partnership, as well as the Cincinnati Bar Association. The information I learn from training makes me a better council person, as well as enables me to spread the great news from Amberley Village to the rest of the County. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I encourage all of Amberley's elected officials to make it a practice
to attend these workshops, which are offered throughout the year, encompassing
topics such as planning and zoning, Public Records, local government law, and meeting management.</span></span>Nataliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06443368613773992371noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-952382416843588393.post-11930252279472440882013-01-15T11:18:00.000-05:002013-01-15T12:38:23.563-05:00Professional ServicesOne of the things you learn pretty quickly as a council person is that you can't be an expert at everything. Running a village takes many layers of expertise from management to maintenance to legal to surveying to engineering studies. In this post, I am going to write briefly about the role of our Village Engineering service, <a href="http://www.cds-assoc.com/#" target="_blank">CDS Associates, Inc.</a><br />
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The Village has contracted for professional services with CDS for 27 years. Unlike contracts for capital improvements, professional services for the village are not competitively bid, but are based on expertise and the needs of the village. Just like you would hire the best attorney for the job, the same holds true for engineering services. CDS provides engineering services for many Cincinnati jurisdictions including the Cities of Blue Ash and Cincinnati, Villages of Glendale and Amelia, Deerfield Township and many more. Jurisdictions rely on the expertise of their engineer for everything from preliminary feasibility studies to post-construction services. Amberley's infrastructure needs are as complicated and diverse as any size jurisdiction. Our roads and bridges are aging and council relies upon the recommendations of the engineer to advise us on whether these assets are in need of repair or replacement.<br />
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Because of CDS Associates and our Village Engineer, John Eisenman's long association with Amberley, the knowledge they bring with regard to our infrastructure is invaluable. The relationship predates the acquisition of Amberley Green, for example, and they are able to advise council on the condition of the dam that is not up to ODNR standards and provide several options for bringing it up to code in a timely manner that will potentially save the village hundreds of thousands of dollars in fines. CDS advises and provides planning for bridges, roads, traffic lights and systems, crosswalks -- essentially all of the things that keep our roads and operations running safely and smoothly.<br />
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CDS has not raised their consulting rates since 2009, and only just this month brought us a new rate sheet which detailed rate increases that on average are not more than 3.4%. Council, in light of the history and knowledge that CDS brings to Amberley, as well as the expertise and high rating by the Ohio Dept. of Transportation, its reputation among the over 25 other jurisdictions it represents, its ease of accessibility to village staff, and satisfaction with prior service, voted at last night's council meeting to approve the rate increases.Nataliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06443368613773992371noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-952382416843588393.post-71938958435575067932012-12-30T17:28:00.001-05:002012-12-31T09:27:53.113-05:00Neighborhood NetworkingAt a recent meeting of the Amberley Women's Forum, the topic of an Amberley Village neighborhood directory was discussed. One resident who had moved here from Terrace Park, told and showed us the great Terrace Park directory that she had kept when she moved to Amberley. It contained lists of babysitters, referrals for roofers, lawn care, mechanics, and other local businesses that had actually been used by residents. If you were looking for someone to check on your house while you were on vacation, it was easy to see who your neighbors were. Rollman Estates used to publish a neighborhood directory and Brookwood has a neighborhood listing. Wouldn't it be nice, we thought, if Amberley could do this? And wouldn't it be even cooler if it could be done online, without incurring any printing costs?<br />
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Shortly after, Peg Conway read an article about a local Cincinnati community that was using an online "closed" networking website to do exactly what we envisioned. It is called "Nextdoor." Verified residents of a community who live within the specified boundaries are invited to join and to invite their neighbors to join. Members can create subgroups within the larger group, such as bookclubs and garden groups. Members can make referrals for local businesses and babysitters. Best of all, it makes it easy to figure out who our neighbors are. <a href="http://news.cnet.com/8301-1023_3-20125633-93/nextdoor-first-private-social-network-for-neighborhoods/" target="_blank">CNet reviewed Nextdoor when it first launched in October 2011</a> and <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/13/business/on-nextdoorcom-social-networks-for-neighbors.html?_r=0" target="_blank">The New York Times</a> also gave it a positive review in May of 2012.<br />
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When you receive your invitation to join Nextdoor, we hope you will join! It is just one more way to keep Amberley residents connnected. If you don't live in Amberley, you can set up your own <a href="http://nextdoor.com/starbucks/?r=gqo0fz" target="_blank">Nextdoor community here</a>.<br />
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<br />Nataliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06443368613773992371noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-952382416843588393.post-41638589569177380122012-12-05T16:48:00.000-05:002012-12-05T22:11:48.681-05:00Budget Time<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Last week the Finance Committee of Council met to discuss and make recommendations to Council for the 2013 budget. Thanks to the culture of austerity that pervades the Amberley Village administrative offices, very nearly every single line item of the 2012 budget is coming in significantly under budget for the year. Under the leadership of Village Manager Scot Lahrmer, Chief Rich Wallace, and Public Works Supervisor Steve Rasfeld, village staff has worked hard to reduce expenses in every area of the Village. Even Council is making the move to go completely paperless, for which I am extremely grateful! Our staff is to be commended for the seriousness and creativity with which they have tackled our expenses -- all while their own salaries have been frozen since 2010 and their compensation and benefits are under continual review by Council.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8gUUKO3FmZDOl9BlzLcSDO7e2l0jVqk-t17xjNJfPBD3Fl_lRFSgoD7Ac_K5Q9Z2gToHYO13QqwtKjilKDfiEXiMbBMz2e-EEbpmrehcONmd5QDzgp0vRMk-QTwE0j1XcZOqlfUOUjLc/s1600/budget2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8gUUKO3FmZDOl9BlzLcSDO7e2l0jVqk-t17xjNJfPBD3Fl_lRFSgoD7Ac_K5Q9Z2gToHYO13QqwtKjilKDfiEXiMbBMz2e-EEbpmrehcONmd5QDzgp0vRMk-QTwE0j1XcZOqlfUOUjLc/s320/budget2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">In
the proposed budget, 2013 expenses are projected at $4.8 million, with
estimated revenues of $5.5 millio</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">n. While at first glance this looks like
a surplus (called a positive fund balance in municipal finance), the real
significance lies in what is NOT appropriated. Margin notations in the
proposed budget showed more than $1 million in equipment purchases and capital
improvements that are being deferred. These unfunded items include
police cruisers, fire hoses, upgraded traffic signals and lights at the
intersection of Ridge and Section, maintenance vehicles, and repairs to Village
Hall. Additionally, the 2013
budget included a contingency of $250,000, which will be reduced to $5,000 to
$25,000.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">While the budgeted appropriations going into 2013 are less than last year, we still face a deficit of $1.3 million in the General Fund balance. Also, we face significant capital expenses in the future, which the Finance committee will begin planning for in the near future. Passing the Police Levy in the spring and, most recently, paying off the debt on Amberley Green which we were able to do because of a once-in-a-lifetime estate tax windfall, are positive steps in a process that must continue to move forward toward re-establishing Amberley's sound financial footing. As a Council, we must continue to work with village staff to find ways to sustain a healthy balance sheet in all areas. </span>Nataliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06443368613773992371noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-952382416843588393.post-48817867158029781282012-10-22T10:55:00.002-04:002012-10-22T10:55:54.959-04:00Kennedy Heights Arts Center<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZVl7aCeBALy42CyTPZJVv84K99f31ASyp8l9JMZh-jaow76BuO2nN2bPisbIzcjG59jnr-5SWGMIuYaK9D8enaoUx9HVQb4n5HjXp44KDOtFu9TGQojXMA4Gq09eAcrNIMMV1X9Wd8xI/s1600/KH+Arts+Center.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZVl7aCeBALy42CyTPZJVv84K99f31ASyp8l9JMZh-jaow76BuO2nN2bPisbIzcjG59jnr-5SWGMIuYaK9D8enaoUx9HVQb4n5HjXp44KDOtFu9TGQojXMA4Gq09eAcrNIMMV1X9Wd8xI/s400/KH+Arts+Center.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
In case you missed seeing the banner at the corner of Ridge and Section Roads, or missed the event listing on the <a href="http://www.amberleyvillage.org/" target="_blank">Amberley Village website</a>, yesterday was an "Amberley Afternoon" at the <a href="http://www.kennedyarts.org/" target="_blank">Kennedy Heights Arts Center</a>. Located at 6546 Montgomery Road in Kennedy Heights, the Center is less than a five minute drive from most of Amberley. It's close enough to walk or run to as well, as I've run past it many times myself. Which is probably what you do too -- walk, run, or drive past without stopping to see what's inside.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1AkhV2NfKD-VYwCc_7PlCCPK7sUceE4qbH_yMUK5u7KErWtEjrh9EuCCW1QhoYw88vJNDp9Ia_bbrikSti4dTAzcRe3PBN_Xj7bWqEodFkC3DNzmhIoxdfx6TevANZskeOuI-c_5cwgw/s1600/KH+Arts+Center+FotoFocus.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1AkhV2NfKD-VYwCc_7PlCCPK7sUceE4qbH_yMUK5u7KErWtEjrh9EuCCW1QhoYw88vJNDp9Ia_bbrikSti4dTAzcRe3PBN_Xj7bWqEodFkC3DNzmhIoxdfx6TevANZskeOuI-c_5cwgw/s400/KH+Arts+Center+FotoFocus.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">FotoFocus Exhibit "Let's Face It"</td></tr>
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Yesterday, a gorgeous fall day in Cincinnati, I stopped by to see what the Kennedy Heights Arts Center was all about. From the moment I stepped inside the historic gothic mansion, I was both surprised and impressed. To my immediate left, in what was once most likely the parlor, is a bright and airy gift shop. The rest of the first floor is also filled with sunlight -- which is not something you often see in a house such as this one, which was built in 1875 and was once the home of Lewis Kennedy, developer of Kennedy Heights.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGIuTgs4y17yo4FKzu0R4FLDVcc9vgk4eG9ht9rZDpUV7E81n5Ji3ESoLQcVcGuQTMYPEuVyVw7ftn4pnkjFSjKBBLo-Y4XIpshtYevzZaBSI-qPyNgy_YeJsbGmzw3UqjedYBEKM293M/s1600/KH+Arts+Center+peeps.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGIuTgs4y17yo4FKzu0R4FLDVcc9vgk4eG9ht9rZDpUV7E81n5Ji3ESoLQcVcGuQTMYPEuVyVw7ftn4pnkjFSjKBBLo-Y4XIpshtYevzZaBSI-qPyNgy_YeJsbGmzw3UqjedYBEKM293M/s400/KH+Arts+Center+peeps.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Conway & Stern/McIntosh families with Executive Dir. Ellen Muse-Lindeman</td></tr>
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The Arts Center is currently exhibiting the works of photographers Melvin Grier, Michael Kearns, and Michael Wilson, as part of the city-wide <a href="http://www.fotofocuscincinnati.org/" target="_blank">FotoFocus</a> exhibition. It is also a participant in the <a href="http://www.taftmuseum.org/?page_id=2031" target="_blank">Taft Museum's Art for All</a> program and is hosting a reproduction of Robert S. Duncanson's "Landscape Mural." Last summer it participated in the "Play Me I'm Yours" piano project by <a href="http://www.artworkscincinnati.org/" target="_blank">ArtWorks</a>.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi8yLcfDXMZW7_rGhTeXlN7eTpWdoi4xPGg9Si3i6Rn6Mtcek9hRkaiY4byoR9LqEiUi-6RovQHGYNZjDI1ZLpdf6Zn8F-cTsqaOrCevK-huNfv1L34jzL-Vn2yv5RCVaDUScMakNI3Eo/s1600/KH+Tree.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi8yLcfDXMZW7_rGhTeXlN7eTpWdoi4xPGg9Si3i6Rn6Mtcek9hRkaiY4byoR9LqEiUi-6RovQHGYNZjDI1ZLpdf6Zn8F-cTsqaOrCevK-huNfv1L34jzL-Vn2yv5RCVaDUScMakNI3Eo/s400/KH+Tree.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Community art created with Cedric Michael Cox</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnKfuvyVk4cCPgh1HonYKdUL0APdAoEr3vcOS7kMM1U-bdZccT2TtzFCU4c4GFM4XzSZ0pBA4fItgYvfQqsU2xGV1O5U5wzEfU1icnB_cdtY4NPzodbddQG4-uTVNyqcfBta1kTuavqGs/s1600/KH+Project.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnKfuvyVk4cCPgh1HonYKdUL0APdAoEr3vcOS7kMM1U-bdZccT2TtzFCU4c4GFM4XzSZ0pBA4fItgYvfQqsU2xGV1O5U5wzEfU1icnB_cdtY4NPzodbddQG4-uTVNyqcfBta1kTuavqGs/s320/KH+Project.JPG" width="320" /></a>The Center sponsors programs for children and adults and also hosts an Artist in Residence. I don't know what took me so long to go inside this neighborhood gem, but I hope that Amberley residents don't wait for another invitation other than this one to stop by for a visit.Nataliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06443368613773992371noreply@blogger.com0Amberley, OH, USA39.2047809 -84.42799739.180172400000004 -84.467479000000012 39.2293894 -84.388515tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-952382416843588393.post-6409490751415871202012-10-19T13:40:00.001-04:002012-10-24T12:37:42.960-04:00Amberley Deer Managemet: Proposed Policy<br />
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The Health
Education & Welfare Committee has been meeting since May to discuss the
issue of deer management in Amberley Village. Historically, this is an issue
that comes before Council on an annual basis, with Council being the
governmental body tasked with determining how many deer are too many and how to
balance the concerns of our residents who like to see deer with our residents
who are frustrated by the damage the deer cause to their property.
Additionally, Council has had to determine the limit of deer our parks can
handle without causing irreversible damage to undergrowth and other wildlife. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The Health
Education & Welfare committee began its investigation into the issue by
meeting first with experts from the Cincinnati Park Board and the Ohio Division
of Natural Resources. From these two entities, we learned that the number of
deer in Ohio has exploded in the last thirty years from an estimated 17,000 in
1970 to over 750,000 white tail deer today.
With no natural enemies in Ohio, the ODNR relies on hunters to keep the
number of deer in check with approximately 250,000 deer harvested by hunters
annually. Another 25,000-30,000 are involved in deer vehicle accidents. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The
Committee also met with the city manager and chief of police of Wyoming, Ohio,
as well as sought input from our own Amberley Police. Several residents
attended most meetings and also provided valuable input. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The goal of
the committee was to develop a policy that will maintain a deer population at a
level that is acceptable from a safety and nuisance perspective as well as to
ensure a healthy deer herd and continued sustainability of other wildlife and
plants in Amberley Village.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 21px; line-height: 24px;">Two documents were presented at the October Council meeting. </span><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"><a href="http://lonewolfinthevillage.blogspot.com/p/history-in-early-1900s-there-were-very.html" target="_blank">First is a historical summary of the rising deer population in Ohio, as well as information collected from the informational meetings related to deer management.</a> This document will be prominently published on our Village
website and includes citations to the Minutes of each meeting which will be
linked to the main document. Additionally, it was the desire of the committee
to educate our residents about different varieties and species of plants that
are often known to be unpalatable to deer – although, as we learned deer will
eat anything, with the exception of honeysuckle – one of our most invasive
plants – when they are hungry enough – so a plant chart is included in the
document.</span><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">Finally, going forward,
Amberley Village will continue to keep records of deer vehicle accidents and
property damage with the aid of an online form that our residents can access
for self-reporting.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The second
document is a<a href="http://lonewolfinthevillage.blogspot.com/p/blog-page.html" target="_blank"> Resolution to Establish a Deer Management Program.</a> In years past, Amberley had no
codified deer management program in place. Each year the HEW committee met and
determined, by Resolution, how many deer would be culled in that year. This
method is fraught with the potential for mismanagement, as Council members can
feel pressure from residents to cull more or fewer deer by virtue of the issue
being left to elected officials. The deer management policy put forward in this
Resolution takes the politics out of the job of deer management. Deer
management is a health and safety issue, and as such, it should be relegated to
our Amberley Police department.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Going
forward, the police will be permitted to cull up to 50 deer per year without additional
approval by Council. If evidence suggests that more than 50 deer should be
culled, then approval by Council will be required. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Furthermore,
a more accurate method of counting the deer will be used than has in the past.
Thermal imaging technology will be used to count the deer every third year,
beginning in 2013. Because this is more expensive than a helicopter count, the
Village Manager will try to pursue an agreement with the City of Cincinnati
which owns French Park. Deer culling
will continue to be done by trained sharpshooters. We are aware that other
communities are implementing bow-hunting programs, but our police feel strongly
that the potential for accidental injury is too high of a risk. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Finally, our
residents should know that the committee takes the issue of deer culling very
seriously. We realize that it is a sensitive issue and that there are residents
who feed the deer and enjoy having them in their yard. We will continue to monitor
the program and provisions are included in the policy to allow for resident
input and future evaluation of the deer management policy.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">This Resolution will be brought before Council for a vote at the next regularly scheduled council meeting on November 12, at 6:30 PM. Residents are invited to attend the meeting and express their opinions on deer management in Amberley Village at that time. </span></div>
Nataliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06443368613773992371noreply@blogger.com1Amberley, OH, USA39.2047809 -84.42799739.180172400000004 -84.467479000000012 39.2293894 -84.388515tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-952382416843588393.post-63567541782194034322012-08-10T11:33:00.000-04:002012-08-10T11:33:52.783-04:00Good News!Part of the job of the Public Outreach Committee of Council is to convey Amberley news to both our own residents and the other local communities. Close to home, your household should have recently received the first of Amberley's new <a href="http://www.egovlink.com/public_documents300/amberley/unpublished_documents/Pictures/August%202012%20Newsletter/August%20Newsletter.pdf" target="_blank">biannual, hard-copy newsletter</a>. We know that barely a quarter of Amberley households currently subscribe to the online version of the e-news, but it is important to convey Amberley's news to everyone in the Village. The newsletter is a streamlined version of Village news and coming events. Because of our culture of budget-consciousness, you will not find any "fluff" articles and features. Council's goal is for all households to eventually subscribe to Village news online. If you haven't yet done so, please do it now at <a href="http://www.egovlink.com/amberley/subscriptions/subscribe.asp" target="_blank">AmberleyVillage.org.</a><br />
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In other local news, Amberley's participation as one of twelve local "<a href="http://watchusthrive.org/" target="_blank">WeTHRIVE</a>!" communities was <a href="http://67.214.99.203/Player.aspx?ClipId=,S,201208,0bfa15f0-024f-4c51-a50b-816e9530e883&ReqServer=NDS5%5cNDS5&QueryName=Hamilton%20County%20Health%20District%20%20Media%20Library%20Report&Offset=917&Time=12gY274lb74f(74f(7Ic(74Cb74f(74frl&E=12gcr7Jlb7IC2WzY2Wx7HhzcHW4crl&EM=Notify%20your%20monitoring%20service%20provider%20to%20obtain%20this%20clip.&rai=959A4C9D-BF5A-43C2-8A8A-1FE095E44B60&ran=Media%20Library&roi=97CCCEE0-C839-4285-8513-F8C75ED347ED&ron=Media%20Library%20-%20Ohio&run=Media%20Library%20Report&rut=Admin&pbp=N" target="_blank">featured on WKRC TV</a> on August 8th. Two members of the Amberley Village community, Jim Rulli and Councilman Tom Muething, joined representatives from each of the other WeTHRIVE! communities on a bus tour which featured stops in each participating community. Amberley was given the opportunity to tell the story of how we have used grant money to improve our healthy options in Amberley. By now, I hope our residents have had a chance to try out the new fitness equipment at the Village Hall walking path, enjoy the new community garden and rest area at Amberley Green, or experience the newest French Park trail and Amberley Bridge. New signage also indicates projects paid for by WeTHRIVE! Amberley has made these lifestyle improvements with no outlay of money from our taxpayers or our Village budget.<br />
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<br />Nataliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06443368613773992371noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-952382416843588393.post-90597884728979388012012-06-29T13:13:00.002-04:002012-06-29T17:47:57.977-04:00Deer Management.... . .is the term used by government, wildlife, and park agencies when the deer population is thinned to protect either the biological ecosystem or to reduce property damage caused by deer. The Health, Education & Welfare committee of Council, which I chair, is currently in the process of re-evaluating Amberley's deer management practice and going the additional step of creating an actual deer management policy, by passing an Ordinance that future Councils and staff can rely on in order to know what to do to most effectively manage the deer in our community. There is no currently existing Ordinance, which means that Council is left to invent solutions year after year.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhLxvVOb_EFcrm_CFLtkeD18hh9b9qp9itWhpUzMqugyBXDi48pqF_ucVvgTRiSvcRibBWN2ads4Ee_LSpITReYHEiqr8r6GYUL33bhmZCS9gvIaU1GJGgix3Zngs5lNaHJrvDCUKvBtk/s1600/deer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhLxvVOb_EFcrm_CFLtkeD18hh9b9qp9itWhpUzMqugyBXDi48pqF_ucVvgTRiSvcRibBWN2ads4Ee_LSpITReYHEiqr8r6GYUL33bhmZCS9gvIaU1GJGgix3Zngs5lNaHJrvDCUKvBtk/s400/deer.jpg" width="265" /></a>In furtherance of the goal of establishing Village deer management policy, the HEW committee has so far had two separate meetings with experts in the field of regional wildlife and natural resources. In May, two representatives from the Cincinnati Park Board came to a meeting and discussed the deer management practice of the Cincinnati parks. The minutes of this meeting from May 7th, can be read <a href="http://www.egovlink.com/public_documents300/amberley/published_documents/Committees/Health%20Education%20and%20Welfare/2012%20Minutes/HEW%202012-05-07.pdf">HERE</a>. Deer are culled in the Cincinnati parks for one reason only: to ensure the sustainability of the park ecosystem. No consideration is given to residential property concerns or incidences of deer-vehicle collision. While these are legitimate municipal concerns, they are not the concern of the Cincinnati Park Board. According to Park representatives Dave Gamstetter and Jim Godby, in their opinion, the optimal number of deer to ensure a sustainable ecosystem is 15-20 deer per square mile. When asked specifically about French Park, they estimated that the park could sustain six deer before exhibiting signs of deer defoliation or a "browse line." It is not only the flora of the park that is at issue, but since the deer will eat practically anything, food supplies for smaller woodland creatures from turtles to squirrels are affected by too many deer in one area. <br />
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This week, two wildlife experts from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources spoke to the HEW committee. They relayed the history of Ohio's deer population and how hunting practices have changed in the last two centuries reflecting the fall and rise of the deer population. Briefly, when Ohio was settled, no hunting regulations were in place and the deer population was decimated. Hunting of deer was prohibited and most deer populations were on game preserves. As the population began to increase, deer hunting resumed in the 1950s with strict regulations. By the 1980s, hunters were permitted one deer per season. Currently, Ohio has three different zones with different "bag" limits. Hamilton County allows the most deer per hunter per season with six deer permitted. Additionally, Urban deer zones permit an additional six "antlerless" deer per season. The representatives from the ODNR stressed that for communities, it is important to find the balance between the "biological carrying capacity" (which is the primary concern of the Cincinnati Parks) and the "cultural carrying capacity" which addresses residents' concerns about their landscaping and other property damage, as well as deer-related vehicle incidences.<br />
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Both the Cincinnati Parks and the ODNR stated the deer have no natural enemy in Ohio other than coyotes that can take out very young deer. Other than hunters and the automobile, there is no other way of controlling the ever-increasing deer population. Contraceptive use on deer is also prohibited by the ODNR. Additionally, "trap and transfer" methods are also impractical and inhumane. Statistically, deer mortality rates when deer are moved are higher than 50%. Also, there is nowhere else in Ohio or in neighboring states to take the deer. For more on the Ohio Division of Wildlife's recommendations for managing deer populations, you can read <a href="http://ohiodnr.com/Portals/9/pdf/pub138.pdf">Publication 138</a>, which also gives recommendations for plantings that may be safe from deer predation.<br />
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The next meeting of the Health, Education, and Welfare committee to address the deer issue will be on Friday, July 13th at 3:00. Our guests will be Lynn Tetley, City Manager of Wyoming, Ohio, as well as Wyoming's Police Chief. Wyoming has been undergoing a similar investigation of their deer management policy and it will be helpful to learn what our neighbors have to say about this issue. Everyone is invited, as well as encouraged, to attend these public meetings. It is important for Council to hear from residents. You will be able to speak and to ask questions of our guests.<br />
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For a very informative article on deer management techniques please read <a href="http://www.ct.gov/dph/lib/dph/infectious_diseases/lyme/DeerManagementOptions_FNL.pdf">THIS</a> article by the State of Connecticut. Several states and studies were used for reference, including Ohio.<br />
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Have a great July 4th weekend. Be extremely careful if you plan to light fireworks as it is very, very dry this year.<br />
<br />Nataliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06443368613773992371noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-952382416843588393.post-29346538078286031992012-06-14T22:36:00.000-04:002012-06-14T22:36:04.081-04:00The Fun Stuff<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-SHU0Hz2cYimt_LHxTZV5vkVxhu6vLkgREOziZTqWKEZXb_APZL4PmfKjoTnC9Mh-tfCJCucNUd4wkqZF8yVu4elrIjlawe6eZXkJC0E56E0e5983TSwEbLqOny5Ld6KNQwxuv7TrAxo/s1600/Amberley+Village+THRIVES+in+French+Park.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-SHU0Hz2cYimt_LHxTZV5vkVxhu6vLkgREOziZTqWKEZXb_APZL4PmfKjoTnC9Mh-tfCJCucNUd4wkqZF8yVu4elrIjlawe6eZXkJC0E56E0e5983TSwEbLqOny5Ld6KNQwxuv7TrAxo/s400/Amberley+Village+THRIVES+in+French+Park.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ridge Road Trail Head</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE6wowqhCGJ-ltxJINnlNPjhQxezlTOnCiGfwhIO0wY-Bw88uHhI2UdtR3asud2JUFM2Umhtec-VrheP-IF1FZGrQyXNYY4Zx5Ny9VzbbHjowIALduzUnN5XJMxAdF9EU9P5qnasQG_Xo/s1600/Amberley+Trail+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE6wowqhCGJ-ltxJINnlNPjhQxezlTOnCiGfwhIO0wY-Bw88uHhI2UdtR3asud2JUFM2Umhtec-VrheP-IF1FZGrQyXNYY4Zx5Ny9VzbbHjowIALduzUnN5XJMxAdF9EU9P5qnasQG_Xo/s320/Amberley+Trail+3.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View from French Park driveway</td></tr>
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Standing on the corner of Ridge and Section Roads this morning with Councilman Tom Muething, and Steve and Wes from Amberley's Public Works Dept, going over logistics for next Friday's We THRIVE! event, I couldn't help but grin. We were planning for an event that is going to be one of the culminating pieces of the improvements we've made to the Village with a grant from <a href="http://watchusthrive.org/get-involved/join-the-movement.aspx">We THRIVE!</a> and Hamilton County Public Health with the goal of improving our residents' access to nutritional foods, healthy lifestyles and exercise, and reduced use of tobacco. The particular project we were discussing is unique in that it involves a sharing of assets with the Cincinnati Park Board and Amberley.<br />
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You may have noticed the "We THRIVE!" sign by the side of Ridge Rd. about 100 feet north of Section. This sign indicates a project that is funded by Amberley's grant. In this case, it is a new trail in French Park, with the trail head located at the sign on Ridge Road. The trail will increase options for walkers and runners who currently use the existing Village Hall walking path and a sign will be placed on the west side of Ridge Rd., at the ball fields, informing users of increased opportunities for exercise. What's particularly exciting is that in order to reach the connecting piece of trail located within French Park proper, users must cross a yet-to-be-constructed bridge.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvrsXd8BPpu4Yv32OWsRBtw6QellqzA7wEqB4PqyGXQPPVb4GgqznWRwETZ3ILk2fR9zmxpMDIePCg5BSvr2a-LKHhHdzKyUZogh5lTvfTKCrH7FHVm5rk4yi1IcsWPDNJVlPIvKMq7-Y/s1600/Amberley+Trail+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvrsXd8BPpu4Yv32OWsRBtw6QellqzA7wEqB4PqyGXQPPVb4GgqznWRwETZ3ILk2fR9zmxpMDIePCg5BSvr2a-LKHhHdzKyUZogh5lTvfTKCrH7FHVm5rk4yi1IcsWPDNJVlPIvKMq7-Y/s320/Amberley+Trail+2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Two roads diverge...</td></tr>
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Which brings me to this morning's meeting... The bridge itself will be constructed by a group of young <a href="http://www.israelscouts.org/">Israeli Scouts</a> and a group of inner-city teens from <a href="http://www.mayorsinnovation.org/pdf/mayorpdf16168.pdf">The Mayor's Summer Greanleaf Program</a>. The teens will not only be literally building a bridge on June 22, but will also be, figuratively speaking, bridging the culture gap and forming connections with kids their age from different countries and backgrounds. Local Amberley businesses Topicz and PepsiCo are donating snacks and water for the teens, and a resident has donated pizza. The actual bridge building will take place next Friday at 8:00 AM, but there will be a dedication and laying of the final plank, as well as a tree dedication and a Proclamation from the Mayor at 12:00 Noon. All residents are invited and encouraged to attend.<br />
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In the wake of budget cuts, belt-tightening, and a police levy, I could only smile and say "this is the fun stuff!"<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIJB8LaNvJC5XdGErRgtX7YFSUbBu1_x-nCWm7mcoxfQA8CJYBoPsJXvZYbezjEf3IvzSGTmlu6OKWt9QAA-Y1ueJRUHvew8cLDpftBpBONCBff6FBvHgovH-C4Ex8g3QXho-xdtLo1qM/s1600/Amberley+Trail.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIJB8LaNvJC5XdGErRgtX7YFSUbBu1_x-nCWm7mcoxfQA8CJYBoPsJXvZYbezjEf3IvzSGTmlu6OKWt9QAA-Y1ueJRUHvew8cLDpftBpBONCBff6FBvHgovH-C4Ex8g3QXho-xdtLo1qM/s400/Amberley+Trail.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A surprise awaits inside!<br /><div style="text-align: left;">
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<br />Nataliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06443368613773992371noreply@blogger.com0