FORT THOMAS MATTERS

Taken Too Early

2013-05-17T09:52:00.000-04:00

A military convoy was the target of a suicide bomber in the Afghan capital of Kabul yesterday. The blast resulted in the death of two US soldiers, four civilian contractors, and nine Afghan civilians (including two children). An Islamic militant group, Hezb-e-Islami claimed responsibility for the attack.

This tragic event directly affects Fort Thomas. A Highlands High School graduate was one of the US soldiers who lost their lives.

Michael R. Bradord was in the military vehicle when the bomb went off that injured at least 35 people in the industrial district of Karta-e Naw.

Photo courtesy of Facebook

Full disclosure, I was several years older than Mr. Bradford and did not know him personally. Many people in the city were close with Michael, and their condolences poured out on Facebook when the news of the attack broke.

Common quips that I got from Facebook were that Michael had an infectious laugh. He had an outstanding personality. He always put others before himself, which showed in his service in Afghanistan.

I reached out to one of Michael’s many friends to get a better sense of the kind of person that he was. I asked Josh McIntosh if he would reflect on Michael and share some of his favorite memories of the soldier that was taken too early.

“When I think about Michael Bradford, I can’t help but smile,” Josh said. “Mike was one of those rare types who had the gift of bringing joy to everyone and anyone who came into contact with him. If it was your first time talking to him, it didn’t take long until you felt as if you had known him for years. As anyone who ever met Mike would tell you, he had the most infectious laugh of anyone you would ever meet. When Mike laughed, it was physically impossible not to laugh yourself. The joy he lived his life with made others happy and brought so much happiness into a world that truly needs it.”

Josh went on to reflect on their time together. “Some of my favorite memories with Mike were when he would come down to Lexington to visit Jake Secter and I on the weekends during our freshman year at UK. I’ll never forget how he would call me after he parked his car and was walking to our dorm. We could see the parking garage from our window and after he would call, we’d look out the window and could see him heading our way. Without fail, Mike always had the biggest smile across his face and would yell up to us to let him in the front door. It seemed like on cue Jake and I would start laughing because we knew it was going to be an unforgettable couple of days. I can honestly say that from the moment he arrived, I don’t know if 5 minutes went by where we all weren’t cracking up about some old story we were reminiscing on or some joke Mike had told. Mike lived his life like Mike chose to live it. Mike wore his heart on his sleeve and what you saw is what you got. Mike died serving our country and for that, I can never thank him enough and honor the ultimate sacrifice he made. But when I think about him, I don’t think about Michael Bradford, the soldier. I think about good ole Mike, my friend. I think about that infectious smile and laugh. I think about how much joy he brought to everyone and all the amazing times we shared together. I am humbled and honored to have known Mike and I will always have the countless memories of our time together to reflect on. We may have lost an American warrior and remarkable human being, but I find comfort in knowing that I have gained a guardian angel. And rest assured, that angel will always being smiling down on us all.”

Michael Bradford made the ultimate sacrifice for you and for me. The next time you find yourself enjoying a cookout, a baseball game, or just quality time with friends and family say a simple thank you to Michael and all the fallen soldiers before him that make our every freedom possible. Josh said it best, "Michael may be gone, but now there is an angel, laughing contagiously and looking after us all."

Thank you Michael.

Brandon Phillips Moving to Fort Thomas

2013-05-17T05:18:00.000-04:00

@DatDudeBP is Brandon Phillips Twitter handle. To see my "interview" with @DatDudeBP, follow me @MLorenCollier

VAN DAMME IT'S FRIDAY!

- Well, it's already updated on the Ft. Thomas, Ky Wikipedia page, so it has to be true. Cincinnati Reds Second Basemen, Brandon Phillips, is moving to Fort Thomas.

I hinted to the news last Wednesday and had heard before that that Phillips was interested in a Ft. Thomas home. Professional athletes generally try to stay in short-term leases. It's simply a reality of their business that they change addresses and cities more than most.

Phillips signed a 6-year deal with the Reds last April, which allowed him to settle down a bit.

I'm trying to throw him a "Welcome to the City" Party, which I'll make sure to let everyone know about. I've got a call into a mutual friend to gauge his interest. Something tells me that his gregarious nature will have him there.

I did speak with a person in the Reds Public Relations Department about the party to see if they could help facilitate it. He basically told me not to do it. If Brandon makes it a go, it's going to happen.

- Our friends at Tom + Chee are pitching their restaurant as a potential chain restaurant to the sharks on ABC's Shark Tank tonight at 9:00 on ABC.

The Grilled Cheese Donut Challenge was the 2nd Episode of Mark vs. Food. Trew Quackenbush and Corey Ward were awesome to us then and I hope they get the funds from the sharks to keep spreading the grilled cheese love.

Here's a clip from Mark vs. Food at Tom + Chee with ESPN's Mo Egger.

- Don't forget, the 2nd Farmer's Market at The Fort Thomas Plaza is today from 3-7. I talked with Emmett Wright of Morning View, Kentucky, who has a vendor stand at both of the Farmer's Market locations in Fort Thomas.

Breezy Acres has farm fresh poultry, chicken, beef, cheese, dairy and produce. Of the Plaza market, Wright said, "I was glad Ft. Thomas set up another Farmer's Market. We did well at (The Midway) market. (The Plaza) market lets people get on and off the highway pretty easily for those who can't get down (to the Midway)."

He was disappointed to see that DEPs had left the Plaza. "DEP's offered us to set up in their new parking lot because customers who came to the Farmer's Market, ended up at DEPs. Or vice versa," he said. "But with no traffic light at that intersection, city officials thought (the Plaza) still made the most sense."

Wright estimated that even with the two markets in Fort Thomas working together last year, Breezy Acres only profited a little more than the previous year with just one Farmer's Market open in The Midway District.

- In regards to City Beat Writer, Pat Lafleur's article yesterday about people slashing tires: what would you do if you caught someone red-handed doing that to your property? Take it a step further: what about so called "harmless mischief" (eggs, toliet paper, soap, etc).

S. Ft. Thomas Ave Tire Slasher Just Random Mischief-Maker

2013-05-16T11:46:00.001-04:00

By Pat LaFleur

FortThomasMatters City Beat

FTM received a report from a Ft. Thomas resident this past weekend that their and 5 of their neighbors car tires had been slashed at some point over Saturday night/Sunday morning. A call to FTPD Lt. Richard Whitford confirmed that a total of 5 cars’ tires had been slashed along S. Ft. Thomas Ave.

There is no evidence to suggest that this was a pre-meditated or organized in any fashion, and no motive has been identified, Lt. Whitford reported. “Sometimes we’re able to learn that these sort of things are done out of malice or because of a grudge between neighbors, but this seems to have been someone just walking down the street, slashing tires.” The vandalism is being regarded as a random act of community mischief.

Ft. Thomas VA Homes Project: Details You Won't Get Anywhere Else

2013-05-16T01:39:00.003-04:00

By G. MICHAEL GRAHAM

Fort Thomas Matters Reporter

Many people know what kind of economic impact this major acquisition from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and refurbishing would mean to the city of Fort Thomas.

The city recently made huge step toward that when City Administrative Official Don Martin drew up a two-year plan memorandum and presented it at a city council meeting in March. The hope is to see the 12.554-acre property in Tower Park that includes five single-family and five duplex homes occupied in the fall of 2015.

“The correspondence between the city and the VA is very professional and courteous,” Martin said. “The VA staff currently assigned to this project seems anxious to see it move forward. The biggest delays are a result of legal reviews at the VA.”

Once the project is completed, Martin and staff estimated property values will run between $6 and $7 Million. That would mean about $24,000 in extra property tax revenue to Fort Thomas and $48,000 in more tax revenue to Fort Thomas Independent Schools. Martin even noted $25,000 in payroll tax revenue could come during the construction process.

It is no secret the value of the property has depreciated over recent years. The property’s appraised value currently runs at $510,000 compared to $2,480,000 on July 25, 2007. The property has devalued by about 80 percent.

The plan noted the $510,000 value did not come via a re-appraisal. The value would be higher if the houses could be torn down, which is not permitted. That reduced the value of the property by $290,000.

The reason the homes can’t be torn down is because the property is included on the “National Register of Historic Places boundaries of the Fort Thomas Military District.” The memorandum noted the agreement between the city, VA and Kentucky Heritage Council “is to ensure the preservation of the historic integrity of the structures by preventing their demolition and applying Architectural Guideline for their preservation, restoration and rehabilitation of the exteriors of the buildings.” The memo said no restrictions came regarding renovating the interiors of the homes.

Martin and staff put together an estimated minimum bid of $903, 512 as compared to the previous minimum bid of $1,595,000 that did not result in any bids back in April, 2011. The deadline for those first bids was June 24, 2011. The memo said the city does not have to buy the property if it can’t find a purchaser.

The costs are broken down four ways. After the appraised value, the VA Administrative costs are estimated at $166,712 with the removal of hazardous materials estimated at $126,800 and $100,000 in the city’s administrative costs.

The city recently approved the documents and the signed Memorandum of Agreement was sent to the VA. The VA gave an estimated return of 90 to 180 days to approve the document. Once returned, the memo said the VA will let the city, possible bidder and subcontractors access to the buildings to be able to look for ways to execute their bid.

The memo also said the successful bidder must also execute additional steps. That includes communicating with utility companies facilities for things like water, gas and phone use.

Martin did note that the city will keep a part of the property as “park property.” That area is the center lawn area, behind the houses and the hill looking toward the river.

2013 Grand Gala to Benefit HHS Renovation

2013-05-15T12:30:00.000-04:00

The Fort Thomas Education Foundation is hosting the 2013 Grand Gala on Thursday, May 30^th. This event is a fantastic night out, but this year is particularly special because the proceeds from the gala benefit the third phase of the Highlands High School renovation.

There were 130 tickets sold for the event and as of today there are only six left. The highly sought after “golden ticket” goes for $1,000 per couple, which gets you dinner and gets you qualified for the drawing of the amazing prizes for the night. The four “golden ticket” prizes include the following: 2001 SC430 Lexus convertible, two XLVIII Super Bowl tickets, one weeks stay and ground transportation in Cabo San Lucas, and a private tour of the New York Stock Exchange.

The money raised goes toward a great cause and you have a chance to win one of those truly great prizes.

Specific details for the Gala are as follows:

When – Thursday, May 30^th

Where – Verdin Bell Event Center, 444 Reading Road, Cincinnati, Ohio

Price - $1,000 (includes dinner for two, open bar, live music by Airwave, eligibility for prize drawing)

The third phase of the renovation is set to begin as soon as school gets out for the summer. The plan is to have the work done by December of 2013. The work that is being done in the third phase includes the following:

Classroom Upgrades: The remaining 40% of the classrooms (including the entire English and Social Studies Departments), as well as offices, hallways, the band room, restrooms and practice gym locker rooms will be completely renovated. New floors, ceilings and lockers will be added to complete the area and add positive energy to the learning spaces.

New Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning: An energy-efficient system will support a complete HVAC system that will improve the educational climate for students and faculty.

New Electrical System: An energy-efficient infrastructure to support new technology-enabled classrooms will be installed.

Secured Main Entrance

I contacted Mr. Gene Kirchner and asked him if he could shed some light on what the Grand Gala fundraising has made possible for the high school renovation. He said, "The Grand Gala is a shining example of the incredible dedication and generosity which the Fort Thomas Education Foundation has demonstrated throughout the renovation process at Highlands. The completion of Phase III will ensure that all of the academic spaces at Highlands are state of the art. From the beginning, this entire project would not have been possible without their support. In partnership with the FTEF, the Fort Thomas Board of Education is committed to ensuring that all of the facilities on the Highlands campus are equally as impressive as the school's rich tradition of academic and athletic excellence."

Thank you to Ms. Jennifer King for supplying Fort Thomas Matters with all of this information. Also the Fort Thomas Education Foundation wanted to extend a huge thank you to Dr. David and Vicki Rider and Chuck and Shari Thompson for donating the vacation to Cabo San Lucas and the Lexus respectively.

Alt. Rte. Get Downtown For National Bike Month

2013-05-14T18:14:00.000-04:00

By Pat Lafleur,

FortThomasMatters City Beat

For us pedal-pushers, May is the most wonderful time of the year. That’s because -- all across the nation -- May is National Bike Month, and around the Queen City the celebration is in full swing.

This Friday, May 17, is a day of particular pomp for Porkopolis pedalers because it marks the national celebration of Bike to Work Day, one of Bike Month’s most anticipated and participated events. The idea behind Bike to Work Day is pretty self-explanatory, but the real fun happens at lunch time, between 12 and 1 PM, at Washington Park in Over-the-Rhine.

Think of it as a big family picnic for bike-lovers around Cincy, sharing a meal under the shade of the Washington Park trees. Folks are encouraged to pack their lunch, but if that’s not an option for you, Park + Vine will be selling boxed lunches for the duration of the event. There will also be supplies provided for bike decorating.

In honor of Bike to Work Day -- and this month’s slew of bike activities downtown in general -- this issue’s Alt. Rt. will provide instruction for pedaling from Fort Thomas to Washington Park. Aside from Bike to Work Day, Washington Park has multiple activities going on every week and also sits next to Music Hall.

BIKE* ROUTE: From Ft. Thomas to Washington Park (OTR)

*These instructions are only meant for those who feel comfortable riding a bike on the road with auto traffic (as the law requires), and who take proper safety precautions (including helmet, and lights if at night). The notes and ratings for the route are intended for those with little in the way of gear or gadgets.

1. Take Highland Ave. west toward Grand.

2. Make a right onto Grand Ave., heading north toward Newport. (Previous Rt. Thru Ft. Thomas/Newport)

3. Pass under I-471 overpass.

4. Make right into Newport Pavilion. Take the roadway (or CAREFULLY ride through the shopping center parking lots) toward the 10th St. exit.

5. Make left onto 10th St.

6. From 10th St., make right onto Washington Ave.

7. Make left onto 3rd St.

8. Take Purple People Bridge into Downtown.

9. Turn left onto Pete Rose Way.

10. Make right onto Broadway.

11. Make left onto 9th St.

12. Make right onto Vine St.

13. Make left onto 13th St.

14. 13th St. dead ends into Washington Park.

Bike-Friendliness Breakdown

GREEN:

• The ride down Highland Ave. to Grand is simple. Watch for cars parked along the curbs, but don't worry about traffic (except around PM rush hour). Cars hold around 25-30 mph, and are usually light in density. Tolerance of bicyclists on the road is high, although Highland does collect a bit of debris and is in need of repaving.

• The same is true in the Newport Pavilion, although beware of parking lot (i.e. erratic) driving patterns. Take the road for a more straight-forward, better paved, and finished thoroughfare.

• Riding through Newport is easy-going, especially on Washington Ave. until the 4th St. bridge. The gridded layout of one-ways allows for predictable traffic patterns, and traffic on Washington is usually light. You will also probably see fellow bikers through Newport.

• The Purple People Bridge -- easily the bike-friendliest bridge between Downtown and NKY -- is divided into two parts. Coming from Newport, you’ll want to remain on the primary, 2-lane path, passing pedestrians carefully and alerting them to your presence.

• Pete Rose Way, while sometimes moderately filled with traffic, is fairly laid back in pace. Keep an eye for traffic flow and minor hazards/debris in the road. The same goes for the whole of 9th St. 13th St. presents less-maintained pavement, but has very light traffic.

YELLOW:

• The ride down Grand Ave. into Newport can feel more intimidating than necessary because of its downhill angle. You'll want to finesse your brakes down this hill, while still being mindful not to obstruct traffic. Cars will be moving between 40-50 mph here, especially north of the I-471 overpass. Debris density and pavement roughness are more intense here. Keep a balanced watch on traffic and road hazards.

• Up 10th St. from Newport Pavilion to Washington Ave. is deceptively steep, so shift accordingly (as your bike will allow) right out of the shopping center. There is also very little shoulder.

• The initial stretch of Broadway can present a challenge for multiple reasons. First, the incline up from Pete Rose Way to 4th St. is significant. That paired with Broadway’s intersection with an off-ramp from U.S. 50 onto 3rd St., caution should be practiced.

• Vine St. only flags yellow because of the consistent density of traffic flow. Also, mind Vine’s intersection with Central Parkway. Busy, busy, busy. Follow all traffic signals and you’ll be golden.

Mama on a Budget: YMCA Summer Activities

2013-05-13T07:27:00.000-04:00

Family Movie Night at the YMCA

"Carl Frederickson: Hey, let's play a game. It's called 'See Who Can Be Quiet the Longest'.

Russell: Cool! My mom loves that game!" -Disney's UP

If you’re in desperate need of a long game of “See who can stay quiet the longest” then perhaps a FREE family movie night is just what you need. On Friday May 24^th, the Campbell County YMCA is presenting Disney’s UP (rated G) as the latest in the free family movie series. The movie will begin at 6:30 in the gymnasium at the YMCA. It will be presented on the big screen and popcorn will be provided for all in attendance. Best part (besides that it is free) is that it is open to the public so you do not have to be a member to come.

However, if you are interested in becoming a member, now is a great time as the Y has summer membership specials that come with the full benefits of membership without a commitment beyond summer months (summer memberships expire September 2). The rates are as follows:

Summer Family- $299

Summer Adult -$199

Summer Student-$99 (NKU or UC)

Sign-ups for their many summer camp options are also going on now so be sure to check these out:

SUMMER DAY CAMPS

AGES 5-10, 9 A.M.-4 P.M.

Member: $140 per week

Program Participant: $175 per week

WEEK 1 6/3-6/7 The Incredible Race

WEEK 2 6/10-6/14 Spy Campers

WEEK 3 6/17-6/21 Survivor Island

WEEK 4 6/24-6/28 Gross Me Out

*WEEK 5 7/1-7/5 Holiday Happenings

WEEK 6 7/8-7/12 Superheroes

WEEK 7 7/15-7/19 The World Around Us: Community,

State, and World Exploration

WEEK 8 7/22-7/26 Mystical Magic

WEEK 9 7/29-8/2 Lights, Camera, Action!

WEEK 10 8/5-8/9 It’s a Jungle Out There

WEEK 11 8/12-8/16 YMCA All-Star Sports

PRESCHOOL CAMPS

AGES **3-5, 9 A.M.-12:30 P.M.

Member: $60 per week

Program Participant: $76 per week

WEEK 1 6/3-6/7 Under the Sea

WEEK 2 6/10-6/14 Down on the Farm

WEEK 3 6/17-6/21 Dino Dig

WEEK 4 6/24-6/28 Alphabet Days

*WEEK 5 7/1-7/5 Sizzlin’ Summer

WEEK 6 7/8-7/12 Lions and Tigers and Bears, Oh My!

WEEK 7 7/15-7/19 Rainbow Blast

WEEK 8 7/22-7/26 Wind, Water, and Waves

WEEK 9 7/29-8/2 Nursery Rhymes and Summertime

WEEK 10 8/5-8/9 Planes, Trains, and Wheels

WEEK 11 8/12-8/16 Royal Court: Welcome Princes

and Princesses!

*No camp on 7/4. Weekly rate reduced.

**Must be potty trained.

For more information on the family movie night, contact Julie Viltrakis at jviltrakis@cincinnatiymca.org or 859-781-1814. Enjoy the movie and remember that even if this sounds boring, for children, like Russell from the film says: “That might sound boring, but I think the boring stuff is the stuff I remember the most.”

Lost Dog in Ft. Thomas Area - Help!

2013-05-12T08:55:00.001-04:00

I don't care that this isn't news. This stuff breaks my heart. If I can blast it out in any way, I have to try.

2013 Best of NKY - And the Nominees Are!

2013-05-11T14:46:00.002-04:00

Fort Thomas Matters is dedicated to promoting and celebrating local businesses any way we can. It is especially nice when other news sources acknowledge what all of us already know, how great our businesses truly are.

NKY.com has released their ballot for "Best of Northern Kentucky". They break down businesses in Northern Kentucky into 65 categories, and a couple of our local businesses made the list!

Vito’s, Cobblestone Café, The Pub, and Blue Marble were some of the Fort Thomas based businesses that made the cut. Another business with Fort Thomas ties that was included is The Knotty Pine on the Bayou.

Fort Thomas Coffee was robbed in the independent coffee house category, and Highlands was snubbed in the school spirit category. These are travesties that should be addressed, but that is just my opinion.

If you want your voice to be heard for the 2013 Best of NKY the place and time do so are below (tickets are $20). Congratulations to all of our Fort Thomas businesses that are nominated and good luck in this years “Best of Northern Kentucky” competition!

Best of NKY Celebrating & Judging

Thursday, May 16, 2013 5:30pm- 8:30pm

Receptions Conference Center, room 1379

Donaldson Highway, Erlanger KY

The Future of The Ft. Thomas Plaza

2013-05-11T00:00:00.000-04:00

2013: The Current State of Affairs at Ft. Thomas Plaza

File photo from the Myers Y. Cooper website. Ft. Thomas Jewelers was not yet here, which means this photo is at least 8 years old.

The Ft. Thomas Plaza was built in 1989. Property stalwarts like Drug Emporium carried the Plaza through its infancy. The likes of Jeff Wyler and Pannell Swim Shop led the way into its next phase as the Plaza had almost a full occupancy. Fort Thomas Jewelers, DEP's and Fischer Homes all had thriving businesses just a short time ago. Now they are all gone or will be gone.

Now, as the dreary picture above depicts, The Ft. Thomas Plaza is a sad place. The Myers Y. Cooper Company is the investment developer for the property. Anchor stores seemed to do well at the Plaza, but the smaller retail, restaurants and professional services were overwhelmed by the last economic downturn. Couple that with The Newport Pavilion and The Banks within a 5 mile radius, and The Plaza is in the place it is today.

Shelley Deiters, Leasing Agent for The Ft. Thomas Plaza for Myers Y. Cooper said, "New development in the area is drawing retail attention away from Ft. Thomas Plaza. That being said, we are working hard to find new businesses that will be compatible with other business entering the market that will be an asset to the community. This work takes time and we appreciate the community's interest and concern."

File Photo from Meyers Y. Cooper's website

Randy Cooper, President of Myers Y. Cooper echoed that sentiment "Like many shopping centers, Ft. Thomas Plaza has evolved over time. Originally a neighborhood convenience center with Drug Emporium, What's Next, Phil's Record, Miller Brothers Paints, the "next generation was more regional in focus."

With Fischer Homes, DEPs and Ft. Thomas Jewelers in place, leasing agents for Myers Y. Cooper had anchor stores in place to help fill the vacancies around them.

DEPs left the Plaza to build out a larger space in the old Moore's Hardware Store just South on Alexandria Pike in Fort Thomas. According to Ft. Thomas Jewelers owner, Vince Keairns, who still has his business in The Plaza, he said the departure of DEPs was"that was the straw that broke the camel's back."

"Myers Y. Cooper is an established company, who obviously does well with their other properties," Keairns said. "Ft. Thomas Plaza must be their lost leader. A needed tax write-off because it just doesn't seem like the effort is there (to bring in new tenants)."

According to the Myers Y. Cooper website, they are the investment developer for 8 total properties.

Keairns went on: "When DEPs and Curves moved out, we had no choice (to move). We're now a jewelry store with no neighbors. If it hadn't been for the dedication of the Fort Thomas Police department who have gone out of their way to ensure our security, we would have left a long time ago."

According to other business owners who did not want to be named, when businesses began to move out, the remaining businesses absorbed the remaining "cam" costs that a fully occupied development would generally have an equal share. "Cam" costs are things like snow removal, blacktop maintenance, waste removal and miscellaneous taxes. According to these owners, this was at the option of the developer.

Ft. Thomas Jewelers is moving to a brand new location in Cold Spring on July 18th.

Debbie Buckley, Renaissance Manager for the City of Fort Thomas, is doing all she can to help entice new business to fill the once flourishing Ft. Thomas Plaza.

"Myers Y. Cooper is working hard to bring new business here," she said. "The Ft. Thomas Plaza is a diamond in the rough and a great opportunity for new businesses. You cannot beat the location."

I asked her to give me her sales pitch to new businesses she tries to bring to the Plaza. I was very impressed.

Without hesitation, it starting rolling off her tongue before I finished the question. "It's the halfway point of all Campbell County," she said. "It's the point where people have to make a decision to go South to Florence, or up to Eastgate or Kenwood. It's right off of 471 and the visibility from there cannot be beat."

She also quoted a statistic that the Fort Thomas Plaza is the axis point for the highest alcohol sales in a 15 miles radius. If the Plaza comes back to it's glory, she should get a lot of credit.

So what does all this mean? Where does the Plaza go from here? It's no doubt, going to the Plaza right now is depressing. It's a virtual ghost town. I think Randy Cooper subtly touched on it when he talked about how the Plaza had moved from a neighborhood development to a regional one. In my opinion from talking to those with access, one of the problems is that the developer does not have accurate demographic information to be able to make up-to-date decisions on what to bring into Ft. Thomas Plaza.

The area has changed. I'm not sure the developer has it's finger on the community's pulse.

I have it from high sources that the city was inches away from landing a chain burger-type restaurant. Now, there are high hopes that the Plaza will bring a new development to the city that has not been to Ft. Thomas in my lifetime.

In my opinion, it would work. The City of Fort Thomas is busting its tail to make it work. Now it's time to see if Myers Y. Cooper wants it to work.

CakeTown Comedy Jam 2

2013-05-10T15:36:00.001-04:00

The Village Players and Ft. Thomas Woman's Club have joined forces once again to bring the laughs to Ft. Thomas. The CakeTown Comedy Jam 2 kicks off this weekend. Performances take place Friday, May 10, 2013 and Saturday, May 11, 2013. Both performances take place at 8:00pm.

According to The Village Players, "The Carol Burnett-type comic variety show is rated PG-13 and features a lineup with local favorites, including Teri Foltz, two-time Funniest Person in Cincinnati Finalist; Thomas Cox, Funniest Person in Northern Kentucky 2009; Michael Rudolph, Funniest Person in Cincinnati Winner; and popular local comics Kim Sherwood and Adam Minnick; award-winning playwrights A. K. Forbes and Phil Paradis; Newport musical humorist Peter Lloyd; and vocalist Libbie Sparks, a senior at Highlands High School.

Donna Hoffman directs "Flight Path," featuring acting talents of Barbara and Tom Manning, "The Kitty Cat Ultimatum," with Jamie Ball and Cate White, and "The Great Debate," starring Dennis Blom and Clint Bramkamp."

Comedian Teri Foltz has been instrumental in the show's production. After spending time acting and directing for The Village Players, she offered to help organize the event. Foltz first became interested in comedy while teaching at Highlands High School when a former student encouraged her to pursue it. After taking a class at The Funny Bone, she fell in love with comedy.

Foltz also helped to bring in some of the area's top comedians to perform at The CakeTown Comedy Jam 2. Funniest Person in Cincinnati Winner, Michael Rudolph, said, "Teri Foltz is a comic that I love and that I have worked with on numerous occasions. She reached out to me and asked if I would like to perform on the show. I love Ft Thomas and I am currently shopping for a house there so I thought it would be a very fun experience to perform there and possibly get to know some of the great citizens of the Fort."

Rudolph will take the stage shortly after graduating with his MBA earlier in the day. He expects the performances to be especially great, and that the audience should be prepared for a night filled with laughter. "I love sharing my real life experiences (that are slightly exaggerated) with the world and making people laugh at me and themselves. It's something I love to do, so I cannot wait to take the stage," said Rudolph.

This is much more than just a comedy show. There will also be a silent auction featuring gifts donated from the community. You can bid on everything from tickets to local events to artwork created by local artists. The show also supports a good cause - the Village Players and the Ft. Thomas Woman's Club. All the proceeds will go directly to these two great Ft. Thomas organizations. Also, be sure to thank the performers and event organizers if you run into them before or after the show. The event is entirely volunteer based.

Here at Ft. Thomas Matters, we're big fans of the Shop Local movement. This show is a great way to spend an evening enjoying local talent and local businesses. Vito's Cafe is offering a "Theater Goers Diner Special" worth $20 for anyone dining at their restaurant. In order to qualify for the special, you just have to present a ticket stub from the show. This isn't your typical special, but a three-course meal from one of the Cincinnati's Area's finest restaurants. The "Theater Goers Diner Special" menu includes a House Salad, your choice of Entree (Chicken Parmigiana, Eggplant Parmigiana, or Fettuccine Alfredo), and a Chocolate Flourless Cake with Raspberry Sauce for Dessert.

The Village Players Theater is located at 8 North Ft. Thomas Ave. You can purchase your $15 tickets by calling 859-781-1110.

KHSAA Football Playoff System not Perfect, but is Clear-Cut

2013-05-09T01:55:00.002-04:00

G. Michael Graham

By G. MICHAEL GRAHAM

Fort Thomas Matters Sports Reporter

The argument makes sense, and is one I will not debate with people.

Six classes for Kentucky High School football has diluted the competition level and allowed the same teams to win the crown on a yearly basis.

I’ve heard it from Highlands and Newport Central Catholic supporters. Guest Fort Thomas Matters columnist and former Bluebird football player Will Chambers wrote about it in December and had some good points.

So here’s my two cents on the matter. As I’ve said before, I’ve covered high school sports in five states. Aside from Kentucky, the other four are Tennessee, Ohio, Alabama and Texas.

The bottom line is all playoff systems have their pros and cons. Here are some good reasons why the current system is good and should not be changed.

Allow 1-9 teams in or keep out 8-2 squads?

I said this years ago when I covered several squads in Tennessee for some different publications. I’d rather see a system that allows 1-9 teams (or in Kentucky’s case, two 0-10 teams in Clinton County and Phelps) into the playoffs than one that excludes an 8-2 team.

Just go across the river into Ohio. Ohio has had this point system I’ve never totally understood for years. It was worse before 1999 when the top four teams in each region qualified for the playoffs as opposed to eight because 10-0 teams sometimes didn’t make the playoffs.

Let’s say you’re in Division V (the second-smallest of six classes). You earn more points beating a Division III team that’s 4-6 as opposed to a Division VI team that is 7-3.

That system hurt my alma mater, Rockford Parkway, in 2007. Parkway finished 8-2, which was its best record in 32 years and missed the playoffs by one spot. Ohio added a seventh class for 2013 to alleviate this problem.

KHSAA Commissioner Julian Tackett and staff do not want to be responsible for keeping teams out of the playoffs. Tackett once told the Louisville Courier-Journal that years after graduating from high school, players will recollect making the playoffs as opposed to making it and losing 50-0. Now, that is debatable. But I see Tackett’s point.

Kentucky’s system is Clear-Cut:

At least in Kentucky, you finish in the top four in your district and you make the playoffs. Now, I know some people are laughing because 191-of-220 KHSAA schools with football teams qualified for almost 87 percent last year.

Kentucky and Indiana have almost identical systems. Indiana teams play nine games in the regular season before everyone qualifies for the playoffs. In Kentucky, you’re guaranteed a spot in the playoffs if you are in a four-team district like Highlands will be this upcoming season because Pendleton County dropped out of district competition.

But compared to Tennessee, wouldn’t you rather know for certain that you’re in as opposed to winning the last game of the regular season and waiting for the release of the playoff brackets from state athletic association? Average teams in Tennessee have had that fait since 2009.

Tennessee has a unique system that lets about half the teams in the playoffs. But here’s the catch. You play in three classes during the regular season before breaking off into six playoff classes. This was done to rekindle some old rivalries from the days of three classes and cut down travel time.

The top two teams in each district automatically make the playoffs. In the top class, that could be two 6A teams and the third-place 5A team may or may not make the playoffs. After taking the top two teams per district, teams qualify based on a number of factors from overall record to records against teams with winning records.

Is it Fair to Take Away Titles?

If Kentucky did go back to four classes, that would mean taking away a state championship from a school like Bowling Green or Louisville Central. That would not make people happy and I agree. A state championship is really something players remember for the rest of their lives.

The bottom line is titles still have to be earned no matter how many classes there are. During its 30-game playoff winning streak, I know Highlands has outscored opponents by 1,001 points for an average of just more than 33 points per game.

But it’s not like they haven’t been challenged during the run. Don’t forget in 2008, Tony Guidugli led the Bluebirds on a last-minute drive to beat Bryan Station, 28-22 in the first round of the playoffs. When Patrick Towles was a junior in 2010, Highlands held off a feisty Johnson Central squad led by tailback JJ Jude in Paintsville in the regional title game, 21-14. The Bluebirds also had to fend off Covington Catholic for the regional title game this past season, 28-13.

In the case of Newport Central Catholic, Somerset battled the Thoroughbreds hard in the state semifinals and Caldwell County challenged them in a classic 2A title game. NewCath definitely won’t take that ride for granted. Those teams could meet in the playoffs again this fall.

More challenges for Highlands are sure to come from teams like Lexington Catholic, Boyle County, Johnson Central and Warren East in the future. That’s what makes each year interesting and is the reason Dale Mueller and staff do not look at the past much.

In NewCath’s case, Covington Holy Cross rose up and knocked them off two years ago. Walton-Verona has been on the rise the last couple years so you just never know.

Fort Thomas Hump Day Links (Cincinnati Red Moving to the Fort, Thoughts on Deer, Volume 1, Number 1 Fort Thomas Living)

2013-05-08T13:11:00.000-04:00

Volume One, Number One Edition of The Fort Thomas Living. Owner, Jim Lied, who started the publication in 1977, provided artwork for the first ever cover.

It's been a while since FTM provided a mid-week, quick hitter update. Let's get into it.

- Obviously just a rumor, but I'm working to confirm that a certain Cincinnati Red whose recently signed a longer-term deal is looking to move to Fort Thomas.

- Council was presented more deer statistics as a result of the latest Vision Air Research conducted in February. According to Vision Air, which uses infrared imaging with planes taking aerial images of the city, the deer population has decreased dramatically.

You can infer two things from this:
1) The archery ordinance passed in 2007 is working
2) Vision Air isn't an accurate way to decipher the deer population.

As much as the deer population has decreased (205 in 2010 vs. 96 early this year), the number of deer related crashes have gone up (13 in 2010 to 20 in 2012). There was even a bicycle related deer accident. I checked with our own Pat Lafleur of Alt. Rte. He was not involved.

Going back to flow charts, and assuming Vision Air's stats are accurate, here is what can we infer from here:
1) We are getting worse at driving.
2) Deer are becoming more daring.
3) Nothing we can do aside from annihilating every deer we see will curb deer-related accidents.
4) Vision Air isn't an accurate way to decipher the deer population.

The common denominator here is that Vision Air may not be the best way to spend the city's money. 1+1 does not equal 3. To me, it's pretty simple to deduce that the deer population hasn't gone down as much as Vision Air Research has claimed.

Mayor Mary Brown noted through her anecdotal evidence that she isn't seeing any less deer. Whose to say her evidence is any less valuable than Visual Air's research?

Councilmen Roger Peterman gets it. He also suggested the numbers don't add up. I'm not on council and I don't know what the next step is, but if I were my next step would be to not pay another dollar to Vision Air Research.

- Since 2011 since the law has been on the books, only 95 citations have been issued in Northern Kentucky (Campbell, Kenton, Boone) for teens texting while driving. As predicted, it's almost impossible to enforce and the numbers back it up.

Perhaps the threat is enough to discourage textures.

- The Stamp Out Hunger drive is around the corner. Every year Postal workers collect donations on their routes to help support local food organizations. The day this year is this Saturday, May 11th.

Place food at your mailboxes and your letter carriers will pick it up. My man Carl, on the North end of town, is the best mailman around. Hope we send him back with lots of donations.

- Fort Thomas resident, Chris Smith and her business Gallery to Go will host a Baseball and Beer Paint Party 7:00, May 16th at DEP's.

Sample beers and paint a Cincinnati skyline featuring the Great American Ball Park. No painting skills necessary, just a fun night out. All the painting supplies will be supplied. Bring your own non-alcoholic beverages and food.

- Highlands High School has received 20 Cappies nominations for their spring musical, Aida.

Nominations include Best Musical and Best Song. Winners will be announced at the Cappies Awards Gala which will be held on Saturday, May 25 in the Procter and Gamble Hall at the Aronoff Center.

HHS Not Ranked Follow Up: HHS Sets High Bar for Every Student

2013-05-08T09:52:00.000-04:00

By Pat LaFleur,

FortThomasMatters.com City Beat

Last week, I reported on HHS’s surprising absence from the most recent US News & World Report rankings of public high schools across the U.S. Broadly, the rankings evaluated a public high school’s success at meeting its state’s proficiency standards and college preparedness goals.

In an email last week to Superintendent Gene Kirchner, U.S. News & World Report explained that HHS was left out of the rankings because it “fell very slightly short” of the first criterion for ranking, which – among other factors – measured the number of “economically disadvantaged” (also referred to as “free and reduced lunch”) students who scored proficient or above in core curriculum testing.

Upon corresponding with Mr. Kirchner, I deduced that this suggested a deficiency in the performance of HHS to ensure the success of its free/reduced lunch (FRL) population.

But after further investigation and continued correspondence with Mr. Kirchner and HHS Principal Brian Robinson, it’s become clear that my inference was shortsighted.

The Test

First, I asked Mr. Robinson to explain further why HHS was left out of these rankings when just last year it ranked 5th in the same report. These rankings are based on data from the 2010-11 school year. This is significant because, as Mr. Robinson explained, US News & World Report drew state proficiency numbers for KY (among other factors) from a particular statewide testing circuit known as KCCT, a test for which – acc. to Mr. Robinson – KY did not hold HHS and other schools accountable in its internal accountability measurements. To boot, KCCT was also scheduled for discontinuation after the 2010-11 school year.

Mr. Robinson made clear that KCCT was a valuable tool for measuring HHS’s overall success, and he regrets that the 2010-11 scores among HHS free/reduced lunch students were slightly lower than their typical levels. However, he asserted, he is proud of how HHS geared its focus toward FRL students that year… and, in reality, every year.

Numbers Don’t Lie

While discussing this issue, it was clear that the Principal has a sophisticated understanding of the stakes. I presented him with a common criticism of such accountability standards: that it’s unfair and unrealistic to hold the same expectations for economically disadvantaged students as for the majority of the population.

In response, Mr. Robinson explained that, while it’s hard to argue that barriers to education aren’t greater for these students, it’s crucial to “address the barriers and [at the same time] not promote them as an excuse.”

“We have to find ways to provide opportunities for all students, regardless of economic category,” Principal Robinson continued. HHS – and, presumably Ft. Thomas Independent Schools at large – has operated on an “equal access” strategy toward this effect, and has done so for quite some time.

This strategy includes financial support systems that allow engagement from students who might not be able to afford the fees necessary to participate in athletic and academic extracurricular programs, as well as an open enrollment and fee subsidization policy for AP coursework offered to students with socioeconomic disadvantage.

AP testing is an especially useful metric for this because it indicates how many students will leave high school already having earned college credit. From this standpoint, HHS’s strategy gets results: in the last decade alone, HHS saw a spike from 198 AP exams administered in 2004 to roughly 900 this past semester.

State testing numbers also show above average achievement among HHS FRL students. Analyzing data from the KY Dept. of Ed. School Report Card database, in the 2011-12 school year, HHS FRL students outperformed statewide scoring levels by an average of 29.5 percentage points. The most drastic area in which HHS FRL students exceeded the state average was Algebra II (a 36% difference), and the highest percentage of proficiency or above among FRL students was achieved in English II (74%). For a full breakdown, click here.

It’s no secret that Fort Thomas is a community that holds itself to high expectations, and Mr. Robinson has this in mind. “The greatest gift you can give any student is to have high expectations, and then provide opportunities to meet those expectations,” he said, having little doubt that we should see HHS back in US News & World Report rankings next year.

With numbers like these, I’m inclined to believe him.

Damme Van, It's Monday?

2013-05-06T08:38:00.000-04:00

- The good news? The Cinco de Mayo Bash at Anita's Mexican Grill hosted by Fort Thomas Matters was an unabashed success. The place was absolutely full. There was a wait to get in almost all night. The drinks were flowing, the food was amazing and The Carter New Band sponsored by Tristate Fireworks were on point. All this with a miserable, rainy, ugly Sunday afternoon.

The bad news? Cinco de Mayo fell on a Sunday this year and it is now Monday. Van Damme!

On tap for this week on FortThomasMatters.com:

- Stephanie Class will be going to the Caketown Comedy Jam2 this weekend. It's hosted by Teri Foltz, who also happened to teach me English when I was a Senior at Highlands. She dun gud.

It also features Michael Rudolph, who was named Funniest Man in Cincinnati a few years back and is someone I "met" on Twitter and now can call a buddy. Weird how the world works now.

The event will take place Friday and Saturday at 8:00 at the Village Players Theatre and proceeds will benefit the Village Players and the Fort Thomas Women's Club.

- Pat Lafleur has a follow up article from his post last week which explained why Highlands was not ranked in the top 10 schools in Kentucky by US World News and Report. Reminder: Keep it respectful in the comments, guys. If you are unsure of our comment policy, refer to the comment I made on Friday.

- Remodeling? Renovating? Jessica Duke will have a feature on our current banner ad sponsor, Designer Ally and Lovell's Hardwood Flooring. They are in the same building. It's a one stop shop if you are looking to modernize and update your house. They are unbelievably talented and cannot be beat on price.

- Christian Moerline Brewing Company has signed on to be the official beer sponsor for the Merchants and Music Festival this year. Seems like momentum is building for this year's bash.

Street Class - Boston Marathoners from Fort Thomas: Kathy Lane, Burnet Ridge, Michelle Lane

2013-05-06T08:00:00.000-04:00

While most of the country was glued to their televisions on April 15, 2013, some Ft. Thomas natives were experiencing the day's tragic events soon after crossing the Boston Marathon finish line. Nathan Clinkenbeard and Colin Muehlenkamp, both Highlands High School graduates, had completed the Boston Marathon an hour before the bombs exploded.

The hours following the marathon were meant to be a time of celebration, but their celebratory mood was swiftly deflated by the day's tragic events. "Normally there's an overwhelming sense of accomplishment afterward, and obviously it kind of put that on the back burner because you're overwhelmed by what is occurring and how terrible it is, how tragic it is for people," said Muehlenkamp.

Before becoming marathon runners, Clinkenbeard grew up on Kathy Lane in the center of town, and Muehlenkamp called the north side home throughout his childhood. Muehlenkamp has lived on both Burnet Ridge and Michelle Lane during his time in Ft. Thomas. Clinkenbeard and Muehlenkamp met through running programs at Highlands High School, and have remained friends ever since. Both credit Ft. Thomas for helping them achieve their running goals. "You have sidewalks, the parks, a close knit running community. You can run, see someone you know, hop in with them and join them for a run. Whenever you go out, you see someone else running. It's very safe. There's no better town to grow up in as a runner than Ft. Thomas," said Clinkenbeard.

The Boston Marathon is one of the country's most prestigious marathons, and is only open to qualified runners. Qualifying for the marathon is no easy feat. According the the Boston Athletic Association, any potential qualifiers "must meet the designated time standard that corresponds with their age group and gender in a certified marathon." For Muehlenkamp and Clinkenbeard, that meant they had to finish a certified marathon in 3 hours and 5 minutes to qualify for Boston. Clinkenbeard was able to qualify at the Birmingham Marathon in 2012, and the Carmel Marathon served as Muehlenkamp's qualifying run.

Both men wanted to experience the Boston Marathon for its historic value as well as its reputation throughout the running community. According to Clinkenbeard, "To qualify for it is probably one of the top accomplishments you can have as an amateur runner. I just wanted to be able to qualify for it, and say that I went to Boston, and that's something I can tell my children and grandchildren." Muehlenkamp had a similar stance on the marathon's status. "It's arguably the world's most famous marathon. I've never heard anyone say that Boston wasn't a fun place to go and spend time," said Muehlenkamp.

The road to the 2013 Boston Marathon was plagued with injuries for both Clinkenbeard and Muehlenkamp, but that didn't stop them from tackling the hilly, 26-mile terrain. When the run got tough, they relied on the crowd for a pick-me-up. "I'll never forget," said Clinkenbeard, "I was really hurting and really struggling with about four miles to go, and we got to Boston College, and the college students were hanging over the rails and high-fiving me, and that really picked me up for a couple miles to get through the rest of it." The course is rather unique since it's point-to-point instead of a more traditional route, which may circle throughout a city.

Muehlenkamp, Clinkenbeard, and their accompanying family members were in a taxi when the first bomb exploded. They had cleared the finish line, and were on their way to grab some lunch before celebrating their great accomplishment. Muehlenkamp's father chose to walk to lunch instead of jumping into the taxi with them, and heard the two bombs explode. The group watched on during lunch as local Boston news outlets began covering the story. To the group, it initially seemed like an accident, and maybe even a gas explosion. News hadn't broke yet that the explosions occurred at the marathon. Once news hit that the two bombs had exploded near the marathon's finish line, the day took a sobering turn.

"At that point, you're not thinking of going out and celebrating, we just hunkered down at the hotel, and watched the news, and tried to figure out what was going on to make some sense out of everything," said Clinkenbeard. According to Muehlenkamp, the Boston media was spot-on with their reporting, and much more thorough than the national news networks.

The day's events especially hit home for Clinkenbeard when he saw photos of his wife and Muehlenkamp's wife at the finish line. The photo was snapped between where the two bombs exploded, and the iconic row of flags is visible in the background. "When you look at that picture," said Clinkenbeard,"you just think that could have been them. If those two guys decided to do it an hour earlier, our wives could have been there. It's scary to think about it. It sends chills down your spine."

Despite all of the day's tragic events, Clinkenbeard and Muehlenkamp left Boston with a positive running experience. "I don't know if I can ever experience something that fun and that exciting in running again," said Clinkenbeard. Muehlenkamp has already talked about going back to the Boston Marathon at some point down the road.

When asked if the bombings would deter them from running future marathons or participating in other high-profile sporting events, I received a swift "no" from both men. "I wouldn't be surprised if more people sign up now as a sign of defiance," said Muehlenkamp. Here's to hoping Muehlenkamp's prediction is right for next year.

Podcasting LIVE from Anita's now: Click here to listen!

2013-05-05T15:57:00.001-04:00

www.mixlr.com/fort-thomas-matters

State Farm- Tracy Davis Boating Tips

2013-05-05T08:00:00.000-04:00

Boating Safety Tips .. Boating weather is Coming (finally!)

With the summer season heating up, many people will hit the water with their boats to fish, swim or just catch some rays. It’s important to remember boating safety and responsibility when you’re riding the waves. According to the U.S. Coast Guard, 70 percent of all boating accidents are the result of operator error.

Wear a life jacket. A life jacket should be available for each person aboard and properly stowed. Jackets should fit snugly and be the appropriate size, adult jackets will not work for children. Test jackets once a year for wear and buoyancy and toss the ones that are waterlogged or leaky.

Know the rules. The nautical “rules of the road” are critical, especially when meeting, crossing or overtaking another boat. Maintaining a safe speed and keeping a watchful eye on the waters also help to guarantee smooth sailing.

Be aware of carbon monoxide. All boat engines produce carbon monoxide, an odorless, colorless and poisonous gas. Poor cabin ventilation and faulty equipment can contribute to the problem, but carbon monoxide emissions can even affect you on your boat’s swim platform and other areas near the engine where gases could build up. Install carbon monoxide detectors on your boat and be aware of the early symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning, such as headaches, nausea, weakness and irritated eyes.

Get your boat inspected. If you’re not sure your boat is safe, register your boat for a Vessel Safety Check (VSC). A VSC is a free examination of your boat courtesy of the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary to verify the presence and condition of all required safety equipment.

Take a boating safety course. Boating safety courses are quick, inexpensive and effective. Check the U.S. Coast Guard site for approved boating courses.

Read more about Vessel Safety Checks on the Learning Center.

Giving Til It Hurts

2013-05-03T00:00:00.000-04:00

Jennifer Lynn, Owner at Fit Philosophie, routinely tells her clients that "the pain they feel today will be the strength they feel tomorrow."

I may be paraphrasing her in a sense because when she utters these positive workout platitudes, I'm either wiping sweat from my eyes or trying my best to keep my legs from buckling.

Either way, she practices what she preaches.

Since opening her workout studio in the early part of this year Lynn has, without interruption, allocated 10% of her class pass sales to different charitable endeavors.

"I just have always felt that by doing good, good will come back to me," she said.

As a child, her Sunday School teacher had taught the class the importance of tithing. So each week, Jennifer would take whatever money she had, put it in an envelope, address that envelope to God and send it off to what she thought was heaven.

"I was devastated when I found out God wasn't getting the money I was sending him," she said, chuckling.

Whatever lesson her teacher imparted to the class that day, a portion must have stuck with Lynn. She plans on giving to charities months in advance, even without knowing how sales are going. You can tell her commitment to giving goes far beyond doing good for good's sake. When you talk to her about it, the giving becomes personal.

In February, she gave 10% to Hospice of Northern Kentucky because some of her long-term clients' family members had been residents there. There was a personal connection there.

In March, she continued giving. This time to The Brandon C. Gromada Head & Neck Cancer Foundation, whom she knew through a college connection.

Last month, she donated to Donate Life. Again, it was because a client's daughter had a direct connection to the charity as a result of having poor luck in the health department.

The pattern here is that she takes a personal interest into her client's lives and when there is an opportunity for her to do some good, she takes it.

It's no secret that I have been beating the SHOP LOCAL drum pretty heartily since the start of the year. This is one of the reasons why. Sure, you can go to Globo Gym in another city, sign an unholy contract, and pay money to a big corporation. Or you can workout locally, with someone who has invested in our city, lives in our city and keeps our money here.

And oh yeah, she uses her hard-earned money to create a positive change... even when it hurts.

Go see Jennifer at Fit Philosophie today. 911 N. Fort Thomas Ave.

Walzing the Cardinals to National Prominence

2013-05-02T01:00:00.000-04:00

Contributed Photo. Jeff Walz, a 1990 Highlands graduate, has led the University of Louisville women's basketball team to a 148-65 record in six seasons and national championship game appearances in 2009 and 2013.

By G. MICHAEL GRAHAM

Fort Thomas Matters Sports Reporter

The next step for Jeff Walz and the University of Louisville Cardinals women’s basketball program may be a national championship.

But in terms of national prominence, the 1990 Highlands graduate said he believes the program has arrived. The Cardinals along with the Connecticut Huskies and Notre Dame Fighting Irish are the only three teams that have played in two national championship games in the last five years.

“We feel that we’ve made that next step,” Walz said. “That says a lot about our program in that we’re here and plan on challenging for Final Fours.”

Louisville has been on the rise ever since Walz arrived in 2007. The Cardinals lost to Connecticut in both title game appearances in 2009 and this past season by a 93-60 count on April 9 in New Orleans. The Cardinals are 148-65 in those six seasons. They’d never been past the second round of the NCAA Tournament prior to his arrival.

Walz’ Division I coaching career began in 1995 when he served as an assistant under Paul Sanderford at Western Kentucky University. He had stops at Nebraska, Minnesota and Maryland. He served as Associate Head Coach under Brenda Frese at Maryland before coming to Louisville.

Maryland won the national championship in 2006. Walz said he learned a lot of his x’s and o’s from Sanderford and a lot about recruiting from Frese.

But the 41-year-old Walz likes being within an hour and a half of his Fort Thomas roots. His oldest brother Scott lives in Louisville and his brother Brian lives in Fort Thomas and his sister Jaime Walz-Richey lives in Northern Kentucky, where she teaches at Highlands and has been the head girls basketball coach since 2002.

“It’s great because my family gets to come down and see a lot of games,” Walz said. “It’s nice to have family close by.”

Louisville has struggled against Big East powers Notre Dame and Connecticut during his tenure. The Cardinals are 0-10 against Connecticut and 1-8 against Notre Dame. Walz said that comes down to recruiting players that can battle against teams like Geno Auriemma and the Huskies.

“They’re a great team,” Walz said of Connecticut. “Geno (Auriemma) has done a remarkable job with them. Our goal is to beat them. When you beat them, you’re normally going to be one of the top two teams in the country. He’s fortunate to normally get the top players in the country each year.”

Walz said the first recruiting priority is obviously Kentucky. Then the staff works out to the surrounding states like Indiana and Ohio before going nation-wide. They have players from New York, Missouri, Illinois and New York.

One player that Walz won out against Auriemma is sophomore Sara Hammond. Hammond chose to stay in Kentucky. She led Rockcastle County to the state championship in 2011.

“We have the best coaching staff in the country,” Hammond said. “I’d put them up against any other coaches in the country and I’d still choose ours every single day.”

Louisville finished 29-9 this past year beating defending champion Baylor in addition to national power Tennessee on the way to the national championship game. The Cardinals battled injuries to key players along the way. They graduate three seniors, but return Hammond and standout Shoni Schimmel.

Walz said the support in Kentucky’s largest city is great. He said Louisville Director of Athletics Tom Jurich supports all the sports. Louisville men’s basketball Head Coach Rick Pitino came to New Orleans to watch the title game after leading the Cardinals to the national title over Michigan the night before.

“We’re fortunate to have an athletic department that supports each other,” Walz said. “The coaches and student-athletes support each other. That’s what makes it so special.”

In coaching, Walz said he wants to make sure the players know there is a difference between things on the court and off the court. It’s about basketball on the court.

“We work on building relationships off the court so they understand that he might get on me on the basketball court demanding me to do the right things,” Walz said. “They know I care about them off the court. Once you get to that point, the players understand that on the floor, it’s not personal.”

Walz said the game strategy is different for each opponent. The Cardinals might play a Man-to-Man Defense against some teams and zone defenses against other teams.

Louisville has some new challenges going forward. The Cardinals enter the American Athletic Conference for one year before entering the Atlantic Coast Conference. Some former Big East teams will play in the AAC next year.

“We’re excited about the opportunity to join the ACC in two years,” Walz said. “It’s going to be a great basketball league. It will be good for all of our sports. It’s going to be a challenge. There’s no question about it, but one we’re excited to take on.”

Walz has two kids in daughter Kaeley and son Jacob. Walz said they live with their mother in Charleston, S.C. now.

“I’m very fortunate. My kids are fantastic,” Walz said. “She’s a fabulous mother. They were with me the entire NCAA Tournament run so they enjoy coming to the games and being around the players. It’s like their second home.”

Walz married for Vanderbilt basketball player Lauren Lueders in September. Lueders was a senior on the 09-10 Vanderbilt team.

“She’s been great,” Walz said of his wife. “She understand (basketball) having played it herself. She understand the time commitment that comes with it. She also traveled with us the entire NCAA Tournament run.”

Nashville is the home of the Final Four in 2014. Walz said he hopes the Cardinals make that journey down Interstate-65 next year.

Business Owner? 5 Things to Know about Becoming More Profitable

2013-05-01T09:03:00.000-04:00

For the latest installment of “Five Things to Know” I contacted Mr. Drew Schwegman who is a certified business coach at ActionCOACH. In all honesty I was not certain how a business coach operated. I asked Mr. Schwegman to explain what it is ActionCOACH does, and to provide some lesser-known facts about the business.

Mr. Schwegman supplied the following information:

ActionCOACH is the World's Number 1 Business Coaching Firm with more than 1,000 offices in 46 countries. We deliver our proven business development systems to tens of thousands of business owners every week.

Our vision is "World Abundance through Business Re-Education!" and our mission is to work within our "14 Points of Culture" to make sure that everyone who touches, or is touched by the ActionCOACH team, will benefit greatly and in some way move closer to becoming the person they want to be or achieve the goals they want to achieve.

ActionCOACH helps owners develop long-term plans that allows their business to function more efficiently and make more profit.

ActionCOACH works with businesses in 5 main areas including sales, marketing and advertising, team building and recruitment, systems and business development and customer service.

As a coach, I work with owners and their teams to identify the pain points in their business and work with them to find solutions to meet their goals - both personally and professionally. This allows the business owners to spend more time working ON their business than working IN their business.

In honor of the “5 Things” theme Mr. Schwegman has extended a special offer to our Fort Thomas Matters readers. Drew would like to offer a free one-hour business diagnostic to the first 5 businesses to email him at drewschwegman@actioncoach.com or call 859 912-0305. Each of these diagnostics is valued at $295! For more information please visit ActionCOACH website.

Do you know of a business or local entity that should be featured in the 5TTK? Leave a comment below or make a suggestion on our Facebook page.

Cinco de Mayo Day Bash this Sunday at Anita's

2013-04-30T21:27:00.003-04:00

The Carter New Band will be headlining the Cinco de Mayo Bash at Anita's. Brought to you by Tristate Fireworks.

If you are a frequenter of our Facebook page (why haven't you liked us yet?) this is old news, but Anita's owner, Pedro Meza, is going all out for Cinco de Mayo this Sunday, May 5th.

If you haven't been to Anita's yet, here's a perfect opportunity to see what he and his family have done to overhaul the old Frisch's on Alexandria Pike.

A few weeks ago I highlighted a page from Debbie Buckley's Renaissance Annual Report in which she reported businesses who made significant dollar improvements (on top of their purchase price) to buildings, as well as new employees.

Pedro Meza picked Fort Thomas out of many cities coveting him and Anita's, which is a ode to his mother, Anita. He also spent $125, 000 on improvements to the building (including a really nice patio) and brought 9 new employees (which add to our city's tax base).

FortThomasMatters continues to evolve. From a small blog, to a fledgeling news site, to the #1 source for Fort Thomas news, to a dynamic Public Relations firm for our advertisers, we are now starting down our next path: A Shop Local Advocate and Hub.

Here's your chance to try Anita's for yourself. Meet Pedro. Have a margarita. Eat some cheap, authentic Mexican fare straight from Pedro's mother Anita's kitchen, listen to music. Support local business. Tell him you are happy he's here.

Share this article with your friends and family. Let's pack Anita's!

Here's what to expect on Sunday:
$5 selected food specials
$5 Jumbo Margaritas (I'm partial to Francisco's, Pedro's nephew - he always makes mine)
$2 Domestic beers
$2.50 Mexican imports
Fireworks giveaways brought to you by Tristate Fireworks
FortThomasMatters live podcast at 4:00
The Carter New Band starting at 5:30

Stay Thirsty My Friends

Why Highlands Was Left Out of 2013 State Rankings

2013-04-30T17:08:00.000-04:00

By Pat Lafleur,
FortThomasMatters City Beat

Last Friday NKY.com reported the U.S. News & World Report had released its top 10 best public high schools in the state, ranked for meeting state proficiency standards and college preparedness goals.

Two NKY public high schools made KY’s top 10 – Beechwood (6) and Ryle (9) – but Fort Thomas Independent administrators were surprised last week that there wasn’t a third NKY high school recognized, as HHS remained absent from the list.

The news came as a shock to Superintendent Gene Kirchner and HHS Principal Brian Robinson because, in 2012, Highlands was ranked 5^th overall in KY. “Our most recent data is consistent with [last year’s] level of performance,” said Mr. Kirchner in an email over the weekend. “I have come to the conclusion that there has been a reporting error.”

After reaching out to US News and World Report, Mr. Kirchner has learned today that HHS was actually left out of the ranking process entirely. This was due to the percentage of free and reduced lunch students scoring proficient or above at HHS being lower than the ranking formulas required for inclusion in those rankings.

“Quite frankly, I don’t totally agree with this reasoning,” Mr. Kirchner said. “The reality is that when looking at overall performance, Highlands was among the top performing schools” (emphasis added).

That said, Highlands’s absence from this year’s rankings reveals an important area in which HHS has continued to struggle: that is, performance by the population of students who qualify for financial aid due to their economic class and household income levels (among other criteria).

While the data for this year’s rankings were pulled from the 2010-11 school year (acc. to U.S. News and World Report’s communication with Mr. Kirchner), the Superintendent acknowledges this to be an area that continues to deserve more attention. “It has been one of our priorities this school year and will be going forward,” he said, “The information received from US News only serves to motivate us more.”

Mama on a Budget- Stroller Strong

2013-04-29T03:00:00.000-04:00

I’ve tried a number of ridiculous infomercial aerobic fads: the Ab Roller, Hip Hop Abs, the thighmaster, and buns of steel. I’ve sweat to the oldies, P-90’ed my X off, and walked hundreds of miles in ankle weights and spandex. But before last week, I had never used my Bob Ironman Duallie (no, they don’t sponsor this column but yes, I would love to accept anything free from them!) for anything other than running mile upon endless mile. Fit? Yes. Strong? Well…not so much.

Knox, Fin, and I took a class from Rita Eversole-Doty, mother of 3, called Stroller Strong which allowed me to get in a pretty good workout while spending time with my children. I love the YMCA because I can drop the kids off and then just run and run trying to outrun the guilt of leaving my kids with someone else. With this class I can work out guilt-free. Although, I’m sure I will feel guilty when they have nightmares from my awesome dance moves, but, whatever works up a sweat, right?

A couple of quick points about this workout to bear in mind. If you’re looking for a quiet and relaxing workout, keep the stroller rolling. If you want a chance to work out with your kids, good luck! If you want a very strenuous, high-octane workout, not happening. But, if you’re looking for a moderate activity level that encompasses stretching, some aerobic work, some light strength work, and good quality time with your kids, then this is the right fit.

I do wish there would have been some opportunity to get my kids out of the stroller and do some work with them (one of my husband’s favorite strength builders is bench-pressing Knox and arm-curling Finley and they love it too; couldn’t something similar have been incorporated?). Also, I run upwards of twenty miles a week so I would not have minded a higher difficulty level. However, it was still an enjoyable workout and a fun way to spend an hour with fellow moms. Additionally, Rita was great about varying the activities and responding to the cries of the younger crowd (i.e., kids). So, if a stroller-bound babe got fussy, she’d change the activity to one that required more movement to, hopefully, settle the child down.

For more information, email Rita at ritastrollerstrong@yahoo.com, 513-295-5840, or strollerstrongcincinnati.com. Several moms have recently expressed interest in these classes to me and Rita let me know that moms can try the class one time for free or can purchase as few as four weeks at a time. The classes are $12 per class if you pay for only one but are significantly less expensive if you buy more (see price structure on their website). Also, on hulafrog there is a 50% off coupon for a 10-class pass (normally $100). Classes are held at varying times at Ault Park with the next one occurring on Friday May 3 at 9:30 ( a special class including snacks and a raffle). So, get out, get moving, and get Stroller Strong (ish) and tell Rita “Momma on a Budget” sent you.

449th Engineering Company Coming Home

2013-04-27T16:16:00.000-04:00

The streets on the west side of Fort Thomas are lined with yellow ribbons. Many people have contacted Fort Thomas Matters questioning what they stood for.

We are happy to announce that the 449^th Engineer Company will be returning home to Fort Thomas. They have been in Afghanistan supporting the 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 3^rd Infantry Division by keeping all their routes clear of bombs and insurgent activities.

They will be returning to Fort Thomas tomorrow around 4 P.M. Their route into the city will cover Alexandria Pike, S. Fort Thomas Avenue, Douglas Avenue, and throughout Tower Park. We encourage you to welcome Captain Travis W. Absher and the men and women of the 449^th Engineering Company back home. There will be flags and ribbons being handed out if you arrive early. The Fort Thomas Police and Fire Department will also help welcome back our best and bravest.

If you would like to send the people of the 449^th a personal message, or thank them for their selfless service to our country here is a link to their Facebook page.

Captain Absher was quoted, as saying his primary form of payment for the mission would be bringing all the soldiers of the 449^th home safely. Tomorrow Fort Thomas can “pay” Captain Absher and his troops with our appreciation and thanks!

Fort Thomas Matters would like to say thank you to the 449^th Engineering Company for their service devotion to our country. It is great to finally have you home!