FORT THOMAS MATTERS

Street Class: The Haunting of Highland Avenue

2013-05-25T12:01:00.001-04:00

Ft. Thomas is known for many things - beautiful homes, an excellent school system, and great sports teams. However, there's a little more to Ft. Thomas than meets the eye. Just ask longtime resident Jill Weitkamp, who currently lives on Highland Avenue. She's had paranormal activity in two homes on Highland Avenue, and one home on Bonnie Lane.

After at least twenty years of investigating ghosts in the area, Weitkamp is now in the beginning stages of writing a book about hauntings in Ft. Thomas. She hopes the book will be completed in the next 18 months, and is currently collecting stories from Ft. Thomas residents about their own ghostly encounters. "I have talked to several people who have shared some incredible stories with me so far. Some have asked that I not disclose the house location, and I won't. Others have had paranormal experiences outside of Kentucky, but I am sharing their stories as well." Weitkamp's hauntings and the stories of other Ft. Thomas hauntings inspired her to start writing the book. "Fort Thomas is an old city with a rich history and I have had people tell me stories before about their homes," said Weitkamp.

She kindly shared some of her ghost stories with me. Some were nice and friendly, and some not so much. Luckily, nothing was too reminiscent of The Amityville Horror, so you shouldn't lost (too much) sleep tonight. One story takes place in a two-family home she owned. "The upstairs was vacant, but you could hear furniture being moved, more than one person walking around, conversations between several people and music playing. Of course I would go up there and there was nothing there. Go back downstairs and it would start up again. We would see orbs the size of bowling balls roll down the hallway and the front door would shake so violently you would think it was coming off it hinges, but nobody was at the door. It would scare my boys to death and I would have to command it to leave and it would stop. It was witnessed by many people. If had cold spots, full body apparitions, and voices would call your name when you were the only one home," said Weitkamp.

In her current residence on Highland Avenue, Weitkamp has a much friendlier ghostly houseguest. "Grace" is an old lady, who wears a pink robe and sometimes has curlers in her hair. Weitkamp often sees Grace walking from her room into the bathroom. Weitkamp isn't the only one to encounter Grace. "When my granddaughter was about 3, I was sitting at my computer in my room and she stood in the doorway across from the bathroom and told me she had to go potty. I told her to go ahead. She said, 'I can't. That lady is in there.' That got my attention and I said, 'Really? What is she wearing?" She said, 'A pink robe.' Now I don't know what the ghost's name is, but I call her Grace. I said, 'Grace, get out of the bathroom.' With that I watched my granddaughter start turning her head slightly to the right as if watching someone walk down the hall. She said, 'Okay, Mimi, she's gone,' and skipped into the bathroom," said Weitkamp. "The apple doesn't fall far from the tree, I guess."

Many residents know about the story of Pearl Bryan, and the accompanying hauntings at the house on South Ft. Thomas Avenue. However, there are many more places in Ft. Thomas that have seen their fair share of paranormal activity. By now you're probably wondering where the most haunted places in Ft. Thomas are, right? Well, Weitkamp can't say for certain which ones are more haunted than others, but has had experiences at some of our town's popular landmarks. "I get a creepy feeling in Tower Park. I think that is because the Beverly Hills victims where brought to the Armory," said Weitkamp.

There seem to be some scientific as well as historic reasons why Ft. Thomas is particularly susceptible to hauntings. "We have the old Army fort and if I am correct, at one time this was a Native American site as well," said Weitkamp. "Water is a conductor of psychic energy and the Ohio River runs right along Ft. Thomas. We have older homes that have had many families live in them. Some people die at home, others come back to visit. Sometimes we just have imprint energy from those who left their imprints behind." Basically, some of the aspects of Ft. Thomas that make it a great place to live, such as river views and historic parks, are also making it more prone to paranormal activity.

If you think your house is safe from ghostly visitors, you might want to think again. "Any house can have activity or just have a 'visitation' from a loved one and not be haunted," said Weitkamp. Just a little something to think about after it's dark, and the house is seemingly quiet (or is it?).

Fort Thomas 'Yard of the Month' - Brought to you by Fort Thomas Florist

2013-05-25T10:47:00.001-04:00

Fort Thomas is known as "The City of Beautiful Homes." It only makes sense that the yards leading up to those homes as just pretty. Ft Thomas Florist has been helping Ft. Thomas yards look lavish, lively and lush for over 80 years. Truly a staple within our community, FortThomasMatters is ecstatic to partner with Ft Thomas Florist to bring our community a new crowned jewel.

We are hoping the Fort Thomas Yard of the Month will be something that residents will love and look forward to every 1st of the month for years to come.

The first winner will be announced June 1st of this year. To be nominated for Yard of the Month, go to the Ft Thomas Florist Facebook page, email them at fortthomasflorist@gmail.com, or mention them to the Ft. Thomas Florist staff.

Winners will receive:

A gorgeous sign to proudly boast their yard is the Fort Thomas Yard of the Month
A Ft. Thomas Florist gift card
Recognition on Fort Thomas Matters and in Fort Thomas Living Magazine

FortThomasMatters: Put Your Money Where Your Home Is!

2013-05-24T07:37:00.000-04:00

VAN DAMME IT'S FRIDAY!

I think a key to any successful business is the ability to evolve. I'm not talking about changing overnight, but dexterity in thinking is crucial to be able to adapt to our ever changing society. I believe that is one of our strengths of FortThomasMatters.

We are a completely different organization from where we started in 2007 to where we are today. From a sounding board to help run for City Council, to a fledgeling opinion site, to a legitimate news organization with a staff of 7 writers, to a charitable arm of giving, to a dynamic Public Relations team for our advertisers.

Today marks the day of another change. A sustained champion for a SHOP FORT THOMAS campaign.

There have been well-intentioned attempts at these campaigns before. The Fort Thomas Business Association and the City of Fort Thomas partnered together to spend time and money on their SHOP Fort Thomas campaign. It was basically a website provided by another company that was linked on both of the websites, with specials/deals/coupons from local businesses.

The problem was that the company running the site was not local. The FTBA and the City had the right idea, they just did not have the platform to make it go.

With our readership at 40,000 per month strong and now a platform in The Fort Thomas Living, we obviously do. I almost feel an obligation to our businesses, our business owners and our city to bust my tail to learn what it takes to evolve into a SHOP LOCAL Champion.

There are many in depth studies that demonstrate the power of SHOP LOCAL. In an effort to keep your attention, I'll list those below for your perusal and simply do my best to tell you the best three reasons to consider SHOP FORT THOMAS:

1) Keeping our money here keeps our money here. I know that sounds redundant, but it doesn't make it any less true. Tax revenues from these businesses allows our officials to keep our city clean, safe and beautiful. Getting Fort Thomas out of the mind set to driving to Cincinnati, Newport or Covington for what they can get in town is going to be a tough endeavor, but a worthwhile one.

2) Buy LOCAL campaigns WORK!

3. We have undertaken a cash mob at The Blue Marble and talked about Small Business Saturday on FTM over the last few years. But this SHOP FORT THOMAS campaign has to be more sustained. Independents Week starts the first week in July. My pledge to our readers, our city and our advertisers is to get something in place by then.

This SHOP FORT THOMAS campaign becomes more important with the retailers moving in right down the road at Newport Pavilion. I'm as excited as anyone over the developments down Grand Ave and onto Carothers Road. But the fact of the matters is this:

If we can get Fort Thomas residents to just start to think Fort Thomas before getting in their car and going elsewhere, our city will be even greater than it already is.

Panera Bread Co. coming to the Pavilion is being met with great optimism. But how many residents have been into Cobblestone Cafe? It's packed everyday because it's unbelievably good. But if we can begin to start to shift our thinking to think Cobblestone over Panera first - THAT'S OUR GOAL.

A small shift, but an important one. It simply means more to Fort Thomas than national chains. Because I learn from pictures more than words, I'll leave you with one more about how much more it means to a local shop and its city, compared to a chain store.

We can do this Fort Thomas!

Highlands Legend, Walz-Richey: "Relationships Over Awards"

2013-05-23T07:43:00.000-04:00

By G. MICHAEL GRAHAM

Fort Thomas Matters Sports Reporter

The honors for her great playing career may continue to trickle in 17 years after the amazing career ended.

Jaime Walz-Richey just received induction into the Kentucky High School Athletic Association Hall of Fame. But above anything else, the 35-year-old wants to be known as “a very caring person.”

That’s why Walz-Richey said coaching is tough sometimes. Her older brother Jeff Walz said virtually the same thing weeks ago. Walz is the head coach of the University of Louisville women’s basketball team.

“I have to make basketball decisions that may affect (parents’) daughters’ playing time,” Walz-Richey said. “I wish everyone could play equally, but I can’t do that. As a coach, I have a job to do. As a person, that hurts me because I care about every one of those girls on and off the court. When you talk to them, they’ll tell you that.”

Her husband of nearly 10 years, Bert Richey, said her personal plaques and trophies like the 1996 Gatorade Player of the Year are stored away in their downstairs basement. But pictures with players current and past grace the refrigerator because the relationships are more important to her than her personal awards.

Richey even said the entire family is that unselfish. Walz-Richey said and her three older brothers along with her parents had dinner and took vacations as a family.

The family played a vital role in her basketball career. She still leads the state of Kentucky with 4,948 all-time career points.

“It’s been neat to watch her grow,” Louisville Women's Coach, Jeff Walz said. “My brothers and I have been really proud of what she accomplished. She has a positive impact on a lot of players. I like how she handles herself on the sideline. I think she’s done a great job with the teams she’s had at Highlands.”

During her playing days, Walz-Richey helped Highlands to three 9th Region championships. The Bluebirds finished state runner-up to the now defunct M.C. Napier of Hazard her sophomore year in 1994. While she likes to win, Walz-Richey said not winning a state championship as a player does not drive her coaching-wise.

“I just want them to have the same experiences I did in high school,” Walz-Richey said. “This group of girls this year got a taste of it. They saw people at the regional tournament games from the community that hadn’t been to our games all year. When teams do well, the community of Fort Thomas comes out to support you.”

Jeff Walz coached his sister for a year at Western Kentucky University. He said things worked out well and she learned some things from him that year.

“It was the same thing,” Walz said. “We enjoyed the year we had together. It was no problem. You’re just coaching basketball at that point in time.”

Bert Richey has been an assistant at Highlands for a couple of years. He said he understands his role as an assistant and the couple does not bring the coaching job home while around their two daughters Jenna and Bailey.

“As the assistant coach, it’s my job to make suggestions just like all the other assistants,” Richey said. “She asks me what I think about certain situations and I tell her my opinion. Sometimes, she goes with it and sometimes, she goes with what she feels is best to make the kids successful.”

Six seniors graduated from this past year’s 26-8 squad that won the 36th District Championship and finished 9th Region runner-up to eventual state runner-up Notre Dame. Three are playing college sports next year. Leah Schaefer and Jesse “Dirt” Daley will play at Xavier University and Thomas More College respectively and Ava Abner will play soccer at Arkansas State University. Ava Abner said her bond with Walz-Richey developed over a period of time.

“She actually has been coaching me for seven years,” Abner said. “She’s like my mom. I even call her Mom. She taught me a lot about my ability, myself and how to step up to the plate when my team needs it. When it comes to life, I’ll be able to use it on the job.”

One of her former players in Angela Healy played at nearby Northern Kentucky University. Healy now teaches sixth grade and was just named head coach at Greeley Central just north of Denver, Colorado. Walz-Richey was one of the first people to know that.

“(Walz-Richey) taught me that hard work and dedication will breed success,” Healy said. “She was an example of it throughout her entire playing career when I watched her play in high school and in college. She showed me that same work ethic and commitment as a coach. She also allowed players to develop as leaders on the court with play calling and decision making. As a coach myself now, I hope to grow my players into that role, too.”

The relationships with the current players developed because Walz-Richey has been head coach for 11 years. The Bluebirds are 201-125 during that time with three district championships.

“It’s nice for the school and community to have a consistent coach,” Walz-Richey said. “The elementary and middle schoolers see me at their practices and some of their games. When they get to high school, they know me already.”

That’s been the case for returning players like rising sophomore Brianna Adler. Adler’s older sisters Mallory and Alex also played for Highlands during Walz-Richey’s tenure.

“I think if you want to be good, you have to put the time and effort into it every day,” Adler said. “The biggest lesson I’ve learned so far is to play with your heart. That’s something I think our team struggles with every year. We may not be into the game as much as we should be.”

Adler and Haley Coffey will be the returning starters this season. Other returning players looking to take bigger roles include Tomi Blanton, Whitney Quillen, Lydia Graves, Alex Combs and McKenzie Leigh.

“We all have to get physically stronger,” Walz-Richey said. “We have a great group of girls coming back. Everyone will have to step up and do more. I think we have the ability to do that as long as we work hard in the offseason and get better. A lot of them are playing AAU (Amateur Athletic Union) so they’re back at it getting better.”

Walz-Richey said the staff is already gearing toward the next steps with the program. During the summer, Highlands often partakes in team camps and summer basketball. That has included trips to Louisville in the past.

Street Class: Rollergirl on Riverview Avenue

2013-05-23T07:42:00.000-04:00

Christina Kuhnhein is a typical Ft. Thomas mom by day. After she leaves her job as a Client Relationship Manager for Paycor, she picks up her children from school, helps with homework, and prepares dinner. By night, she transforms into Ruthless Chris.

Ruthless Chris is a member of the Cincinnati Rollergirls roller derby team. According to the Rollergirls website, "The Cincinnati Rollergirls, the area’s first all-female, amateur, flat track roller derby team." As of April 2013, the Women's Flat Track Derby Association ranks the Cincinnati Rollergirls 34th out of 155 teams worldwide.

Kuhnhein spent her high school years in Ft. Thomas before moving away for college. Approximately three years ago, her family moved back to The City of Beautiful Homes. The family now lives on Riverview Avenue, near Woodfill Elementary. "We came back primarily for the schools, but also love the proximity to downtown, the local shops and restaurants, and the city's parks," said Kuhnhein. When she's not busy with Rollergirl duties, you can find her at some of the Ft. Thomas hot spots. "I love that we're within easy walking distance of Tower Park, and we try to frequent Ft. Thomas Coffee and Mio's as much as possible. And of course The Pub," said Kuhnhein. "We'd visit the 915 more if it became non-smoking (or if they'd invest in better smoke eaters)."

It was a trip to a skating rink that ignited her interest in roller derby. "I first learned about the Cincinnati Rollergirls four years ago after my daughter had her birthday party at a roller skating rink. I hadn't been on skates in probably 15 years, but I quickly picked it back up and thought it might be fun to see if there was a roller derby team in town." The road to the derby was not easy, and Kuhnhein had to work hard to make it on the team. After two tryout attempts, and a year of development classes, she skated onto the team's roster.

Roller derby is much more than a hobby. The Rollergirls are also very active in the community, and frequently participate in charity events. It requires a solid time commitment to the team, but has been worth it for Kuhnhein. "Practice is 2.5 hours, three days a week. Add on drive time to/from practice, organizing and working charity events, and promoting our games, and I'd say I easily spend 12-15 hours a week on roller derby," said Kuhnhein.

Kuhnhein is quick to note that her family's support plays an integral part in her involvement with the Rollergirls. "I'm really lucky to have a family who is 100% behind me. We've gotten into a pretty good routine on practice days, when I'm home for maybe an hour before heading out the door again. Dinners are quick and easy on those days, and we're all pretty laid back and very flexible as far as schedule goes," said Kuhnhein. "I'm very lucky, no way could I do this without their support."

If you check out the Rollergirls' roster, you will quickly see the team members' array of interesting names. "One of the really fun, unique things about roller derby is you get to come up with your own skater name." Skaters are known to choose names that reflect their hobbies and interests, or play off of their actual names. Kuhnhein set out to create a name that sounded mean, and settled on Ruthless Chris. "Not so much how I want to be viewed in real life," said Kuhnhein. "But perfect for the derby world. And then one day the name Ruthless Chris just popped into my brain, and I knew right away that was it. And yes, I do love me a good steak."

Participating in roller derby has been a positive experience for Kuhnhein as well as created opportunities she otherwise may have missed. "It's given me confidence both on and off the track, it's introduced me to wonderful people I never would've gotten the chance to meet otherwise, and working with local charities and organizing events has even helped improve my business skills," said Kuhnhein. Along with the experiences on the track, roller derby has taught Kuhnhein the power of hard work and dedication. She is also able to apply her roller derby adventures to her family life. "I'm especially thankful that roller derby has proven to me that I can truly do anything I set my mind to, that I'm not afraid to take risks, and most importantly I love that I'm passing along these lessons to our daughters."

Christina Kuhnhein's transformation into Ruthless Chris is a testament to what some hard work and dedication can accomplish. Her experiences also remind us the importance of a solid support system. Perhaps Ruthless Chris will become the first Ft. Thomas roller derby champion…

Fallen Veteran, Michael Bradford Memorial Info

2013-05-23T07:40:00.000-04:00

Michael Bradford and his wife, Sasha. Photo courtesy Facebook.

The details about Michael's Memorial are starting to come in after news broke last Thursday night about his death in Afghanistan.

Via his wife, Sasha, "I just wanted to let everyone know that I will be coming home with Michael tomorrow night. His Memorial Service will be Friday May 24th, at the Fort Thomas Mess Hall from 4 P.M. - 7:30 P.M. Following will be a dedication and wake."
She added, "Also if everyone could wear PINK or BLUE on Friday in honor of Michael R. Bradford I know he would love that!"
Additionally, there is a fundraising website that has been established in Memory of Bradford. The majority of that campaign will go directly to his widowed wife, Sasha, and their unborn son, Michael Jr.

You can contribute directly via Paypal. Click here to go to the site.

Sometimes the world just isn't fair.

Bikers for Veterans: 2013 Rolling Thunder (Video Included)

2013-05-23T07:36:00.000-04:00

The Fort Thomas Independent Schools participated in an event, The 2013 Rolling Thunder, observing war veterans.

As the convoy passed by each elementary school a POW / MIA flag will be hoisted into the sky, and will remain up through the Memorial Day weekend.

The parade of war veterans started at the Campbell County YMCA at 8:00am and will proceeded to pass by each school, ending at the Peace Bell in Newport.

The event was organized by Highlands High School junior Eric Hempleman, a VA Hospital volunteer.

Many came out to honor our nations bravest as The Rolling Thunder parade passed through the city making their way to an elementary school of their choosing. The only requirement was unbridled patriotism, and that was no doubt present.

Green Thumbs Unite!

2013-05-23T07:35:00.000-04:00

Usually I would not encourage our readers to congregate in stranger’s yards and loiter in their gardens, but on June 22 there will be an opportunity to enjoy this city’s most beautiful gardens. The fourth annual Fort Thomas Garden Tour will be upon us in one month. The tour will take place on June 22 from 10-5, and June 23 from 12-5.

The specific gardens included in the tour will be revealed the day of the tour, but you can purchase tickets early at the Bank of Kentucky, Ft. Thomas Florist, or here.

The price for tickets is $15 the day of the event (for every ticket), or you can purchase tickets in advance and your first ticket is $15 and every subsequent ticket is only $10.

The Fort Thomas Garden Tour benefits the Fort Thomas Forest Conservancy’s efforts to preserve and protect the wooded areas of the city.

There will be vendors in Tower Park during the event selling garden décor, art, and jewelry. Tower Park will also be where the perennial swap will take place.

The Fort Thomas Garden Tour is a fantastic event for the city, but Stephanie Graves, the organizer for the tour, advised me that they are in desperate need of volunteers. They are looking for 40 “garden greeters” to work in pairs, welcoming ticket holding guests at the featured gardens in 2 ½ hour shifts. The Garden Tour also needs four volunteers to sell tickets on Saturday and Sunday. If you are interested in participating in the garden tour you are encouraged to contact Stephanie Graves at smeadegraves@gmail.com or call her at 859-441-6235.

Ft. Thomas City Council Notes (How to Handle the Imperial Apartments)

2013-05-21T08:20:00.002-04:00

By Pat Lafleur,

FortThomasMatters City Beat

This week’s City Council meeting showed the first Ft. Thomas resident to address council since I began covering these meetings months ago:

Mrs. Andrea Patrick, who lives on N. Crescent, addressed council regarding the Imperial Apartments complex located at the intersection of S. Ft. Thomas Ave. and Grand Ave. Mrs. Patrick described a variety of disturbances by tenants of Imperial Apts. she claims have been ongoing for the 4 years she and her family -- a husband and two young sons, all present at the meeting -- has lived in the neighborhood. Mrs. Patrick described the apartment complex and its tenants as a “public nuisance.”

After Council had heard Mrs. Patrick’s testimony, Mayor Mary Brown deferred to FTPD Chief Michael Daly, who confirmed that increased police patrolling has been implemented around the property before, to only temporary effect. According to the Patricks’ count, the FTPD and FTFD have responded to the apartment complex over 200 times in the last four years.

Mayor Brown asked city legal counsel Jann Seidenfaden what could be done from a legislative angle. Seidenfaden explained that ordinances holding landlords legally accountable for such behavior from their tenants have been proposed to Ft. Thomas Council in the past, but has not been enacted.

Chief Daly, Ms. Seidenfaden, and City Administrator Donald Martin plan to meet with the Patricks to discuss more details, and Mayor Brown asked the Law, Labor, & License committee to study what sort of ordinance might be passed to address such issues.

Aside from the Patricks’ testimony to council, the rest of this week’s proceedings were fairly, well... procedural:

• Council approved unanimously to extend the City’s contract with Rumpke for its solid waste removal services. The contract extension will yield a small increase in the rate paid by each citizen for the service, an increase in 3% over the next 2 years.

• Mr. Martin introduced a proposed bid for the 2013 Street Program (resurfacing, etc. of Clover Ridge and surrounding streets). Council approved City staff’s recommendation to accept Eaton Asphalt’s bid of ~$232K. The bid was accepted quickly and unanimously by council.

• Mr. Martin also made mention to a KY State Senate Bill that will result in a decrease in retirement contributions as a portion of income taxes. Mr. Martin called this a “step in the right direction” for Ft. Thomas, and said copies of the report detailing this bill are available upon request.

• The water-main break above the amphitheater in Tower Park will be repaired in two phases: a temporary fix will be implemented before this summer’s concert series begins, and then -- in the fall -- a permanent solution will be put into place.

Lovell's LOVE Harwood Flooring

2013-05-20T03:00:00.000-04:00

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Mama on a Budget here to announce that the Fort Thomas Matters family is expanding! Wait, what was that husband? Oh, no… not in that way. I mean our advertising family (what am I, crazy?). Lovell’s Hardwood is the latest locally owned and operated business to realize the power of local advertising.

Now, to introduce them. Owned and operated by Robert (Bobby) Lovell and his Father Al Lovell and family, they are a hardwood flooring specialist located along South Fort Thomas Ave in the Midway District. Their specialty is hardwood floors. They not only lay new flooring but also they repair, sand, and refinish existing flooring including any necessary demolition. With so many old homes in Fort Thomas with the original (and beautiful) hardwood floors, this is a useful contact to have. Additionally, they are Better Business Bureau A+ rated and they do all of the work themselves (no sub-contracting, so what you see is what you get).

Their showrooms are open daily by appointment for customers to stop in and check out some of the different flooring types, sizes, colors and finishes or to check out pictures of different projects that they have completed.

Find out more on their website at http://www.lovellshardwood.com/ or by contacting them per the below:

Office: (859) 240-2611

Showroom: 1029 S. Ft. Thomas Ave. * Ft. Thomas, KY 41075

Email: lovellshardwoodflooring@yahoo.com

Office Hours: Mon. thru Sat. - 9:00AM to 6:00PM

Per Bobby: “This summer we are offering free DUST FREE SANDING upgrade specials to any customer who mentions any Ft. Thomas Ads (including Ft. Thomas Matters) at the time of their initial quotes. This saves our customers hundreds of dollars!”

So, join me in welcoming Lovell Hardwood to the FTM family and support locally-owned and operated (family) businesses.

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.