October 2015 - City of Montgomery, Ohio

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by the City of Montgomery
®
Montgomery
Bulletin
October 2015
Live at the Uni seats going fast
On October 5, two
stellar musicians
from the Cincinnati
Symphony Orchestra,
violinist Stacey
Woolley, and violist
Steven Rosen, will
kick off the Live at
the Uni music series,
beginning at 7:00
p.m. The program
will feature classical
favorites.
On October 19,
Montgomery
resident Tom Steele
(pictured) and
friends will delight
with jazz, folk and
pop renditions.
Steele leads two
popular
local ensembles, Toast and Slice, which appear regularly at Parker’s
Blue Ash Grille and Desha’s Tavern. In addition to performing popular
standards, Steele writes and performs his own music as well, and
has worked as a session musician for advertising jingles for many
years. Steele recently won two Emmy Awards for his original theme
music for locally-produced documentary films. Expect his return
performance with Live at the Uni to include some terrific musicians.
On November 2, the series concludes with the exciting music of The
Klezmer Project.
All concerts will be held at the historic Universalist Church at the
corner of Montgomery and Remington Roads. Each concert begins
at 7:00 p.m. and will last about an hour. Montgomery Inn will once
again sponsor the post-concert receptions. There is no charge for
these concerts; however, a free will contribution of five dollars is
welcome. Due to limited seating, reservations are encouraged,
and can be made by calling City Hall at 891-2424, or online at
montgomeryohio.org.
Twin Lakes is this
season’s sponsor of
Live at the Uni.
Harvest Moon
October 10, 5:00-8:00 p.m. at Swaim Park.
Celebrate the harvest season with fun activities
that include s’mores, crafts, hayrides, pony
rides, face painting, food, entertainment and
more. Montgomery firefighters will be serving
cheese coney dogs and other concessions.
Volunteers are needed to help with this event.
If interested, please call 792-8329.
Craft tent sponsored by:
City Council Message
& Council Corner
Community partners
enrich Leadership
Academy 2016
Free solar workshop
Document
Destruction Day
Festival of Trees Contest
seeks contenders
Page 2,3
Page 5
Page 6
Page 11
Page 15
In regards to City services
Here is a hypothetical question: Should the
City clear all resident’s driveways of snow in
the winter, or just do the streets? Can you see
any problems with the City taking on those
thousands of driveways? This is a far-fetched
scenario, but the following questions are ones
we regularly examine:
By Ken Suer
•
What services should the City provide?
•
What areas are the responsibilities of individuals?
•
What are critical services and what services are just “nice to
have” but not that essential?
•
Are we providing the right services, at the right cost, and of
the right quality?
A group of residents recently proposed that the City adopt
a curbside leaf vacuuming service. After several months of
investigation and much citizen input during the August 5 City
Council meeting, we decided against the proposal. Council did
decide to expand yard waste collections in the fall of 2015 from five
to eight weeks, plus three extra Saturdays in January 2016.
Staff and Council researched the practices of other communities,
looked at equipment, and examined much leaf collection data.
While there is no doubt that the vacuum proponents have been
passionate about their cause, Council also heard from many people
who had the opposite opinion. Council is not convinced that
vacuuming is desired by the majority of residents.
The City’s current approach is environmentally sound and the City
has been repeatedly recognized for its recycling achievements. The
City (and our Environmental Advisory Commission) also encourage
leaf mulching and/or the use of toters as best practices in leaf
collection and disposal.
Some have said that a vacuum system would be cheaper than what
we are doing now. Council disagrees. Any new service has to be
paid for by some means and not just now, but into the future as
well. Some suggested that we dip into our “Reserves” (or “rainy-day
funds”). Council chooses to maintain our reserves as a key element
of our ongoing financial stability. Here is an interesting analogy
(from a 2014 Federal Reserve study): “Forty-seven percent of
Americans say they either could not cover an emergency expense
costing $400 or would manage by selling something or borrowing
money.” Those households are “living on the edge” and various
municipalities are in the same straights. Fortunately, we are not in
that category.
While some cities utilize a vacuuming system, others do not. All
have various reasons for what they do or don’t do. Each community
must make its own decisions as to how to best allocate financial
and personnel resources.
Council has the responsibility to examine the pros and cons of new
proposals in the context of our budget and larger City operations.
It is not realistic or prudent to attempt to implement all ideas that
are put forth. Council appreciates the opportunity to work with
citizens on new ideas or concepts for services or anything else,
but ultimately we must make what we feel is a sound decision for
Montgomery - even if that decision does not please everyone.
Come join in the holiday decorating fun
Come be part of something bigger. Help decorate downtown Montgomery for all to enjoy this
upcoming holiday season.
The City of Montgomery, in conjunction with the Montgomery Woman’s Club, will start the Holiday
Decorating project in November. The first phase is the greenery and bow “fluffing” workshop at 9:30
a.m., November 7, at the Recreation Annex Building, 10115 Montgomery Road. Join in the task of
getting the greenery and bows ready for hanging.
Plan to be part of the next phase, the decorating of downtown Montgomery, on November 9, (rain
date of November 10), starting at 9:30 a.m. and concluding around noon. Volunteers on this date will
meet at the Universalist Church at the corner of Remington and Montgomery Roads. Come and devote
time to one of the City’s signature holiday projects. Any amount of time given at either or both phases
of the project would be greatly appreciated. Then feel the pride, as you drive through downtown
Montgomery and think, “I helped to do this, I am part of something bigger, for the good of all.”
For more information or to be on the volunteer roster, contact DeAnna Gross, volunteer coordinator, at
792-8329 or dgross@ci.montgomery.oh.us.
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October 2015 MontgomeryOhio.org
Council Corner
September 16
Montgomery City Council met in its regular monthly Work Session on September 16 at City Hall. Meetings begin at 7:00 p.m., with
public comment welcomed on each item before City Council.
Pending Legislation
An Ordinance Accepting Publicly Dedicated Easement Rights and Storm Water Improvements from Property Owners in the 7900
Block of Shelldale Way (3rd Reading)
A Resolution Accepting the Amounts and Rates as Determined by the Budget Commission and Authorizing the Necessary Tax Levies
and Certifying them to the County Auditor-Tax Budget
An Ordinance to Make Appropriations for Current Expenses and Other Expenditures of the City of Montgomery, State of Ohio, During
the Fiscal Year Ending December 31, 2016
A Resolution Authorizing the City Manager to Enter into a LPA Local-Let Project Agreement with the Ohio Department of
Transportation (ODOT) for the Ham-US 22-15.35 Montgomery Road Sidewalk Project, PID No. 99954
RECENT COUNCIL ACTION
Approved Legislation
September 2
Resolution No. 25 2015
A Resolution Authorizing an Assessment for the Cutting of Noxious Weeds and Removal of Debris/Trash
Resolution No. 26 2015
A Resolution Authorizing an Assessment for the Cutting of Noxious Weeds and Removal of Debris/Trash
These pieces of approved legislation can be reviewed on the City’s website at montgomeryohio.org
City seeks
donation
of official
holiday tree
The City of Montgomery is
looking for a potential holiday
tree to be located in the
downtown Heritage District for
the upcoming holiday season.
Have the perfect tree that has
outgrown its location? Consider
donating it to the City for the
annual holiday celebration.
Contact Terry Willenbrink at
792-8320 or twillenbrink@
ci.montgomery.oh.us to donate.
October 2015
3
Farewell to Jim Hanson
After serving almost 42 years
in public service, Jim Hanson is
hanging up his hat. The City of
Montgomery is fortunate that
eight of those years Jim served
as our esteemed finance director.
Prior to joining the City of
Montgomery, Jim worked for the
Ohio Auditor of State, 26 years as
the finance director for the City of
Fairfield and for a couple of years
at the City of Hamilton.
During his years with the City
of Montgomery, Jim served as
the staff liaison for the Financial
Planning Committee of City Council, was a trustee for the City’s
group insurance pool and a committee member for the Government
Finance Officers Association National Committee on Retirement
and Benefits Administration. In addition, Jim was responsible for
overseeing all areas related to City finances, including the operating
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October 2015 MontgomeryOhio.org
and capital budget, income tax administration, management of the
City’s debt and investment portfolio, as well as, support for all City
departments.
“Jim and I have known each other for many years and Jim
has always been consistent in his decision-making and
recommendations for the financial health of the City of
Montgomery, and for the public sector in general,” stated City
Manager Wayne Davis. “He is a well-respected professional and
public servant, who has taught his peers many things along the
way, including the City’s finance department team. The City’s
outstanding financial health and position can be substantially
attributed to Jim’s leadership and technical skill set. We are all
better for having worked with Jim.”
Jim’s expertise, guidance and vast knowledge have been a great
asset to the City during his service. His leadership, dedication and
integrity have provided an example for all to follow. Jim is looking
forward to spending more time with his wife Linda, his daughters
and their families, including four joyous grandkids, as well as, more
time on the golf course.
Don’t rake those leaves - mulch them into the lawn
It’s great to have big
shade trees in the yard,
but come fall, some may
start to resent them.
Those big trees drop
leaves, meaning extra
work, hassle, and lost
time. However, there’s
good news. A recent
Michigan State University
study shows that people
can forget about raking,
blowing, and bagging
leaves and, instead, just
mulch them with a lawn
mower and feed the lawn
with a turf builder found
at a nursery or homeimprovement store. The
study found that it will
save time, improve the
soil and add nutrients.
Here’s how to do it:
1. Chop those leaves with the mower
Take the grass catcher off the mower and mow over the leaves.
Reduce leaf clutter to dime-size pieces. When about half an inch
of grass can be seen through the mulched-leaf layer, the job is
complete. Once the leaf bits settle in, microbes and worms work
on recycling them. Any kind of rotary-action mower will do the job,
and many kinds of leaves can be chopped up. Several passes on the
mower can mulch up to 18 inches of leaf clutter.
2. Feed a lawn to speed up the process
Microbes do a better job recycling carbon from leaves when they
have nitrogen. A turf builder can help break down mulched leaves
faster. Grass will grow better, and microbes will work harder after
mulching leaves.
When spring arrives, the leaf litter mulched up in the fall will have
disappeared. The rake will look dusty and neglected, while the grass
will look greener.
Mulching: a Better Use of Resources
Local taxes pay for trucks to pick up leaf bags, which often end up in
landfills. When leaves are burned, it sends up clouds of carbon into
the atmosphere. Mulching leaves simply recycles a natural resource,
allowing for richer soil for free.
Community partners enrich Leadership Academy 2016
Most leadership academies sponsored by cities across the country
provide a lecture-style overview of local government services. A
City staff member will stand up in front of a group of residents and
share the importance and
effectiveness of the services
they provide. Many times, it
is only designed to persuade
the participants that local
government is a value for
their money.
The Montgomery Citizens’
Leadership Academy (MCLA)
has received national
recognition for being
something different. At MCLA,
the goal is to do things a
little more creatively. First,
is the mistaken notion that
local government has all
the answers. The City views
MCLA as an opportunity for
a two-way dialogue with
residents seeing residents as
a valuable resource in refining services and planning for the future.
MCLA participants are seen as partners in struggling with the
tough questions facing the community. Workshops are designed to
harvest the aggregate knowledge and experiences of Montgomery’s
most important stakeholders.
Secondly, MCLA believes that local government is a “subset” of the
larger community. Neighborhoods, businesses, schools, religious
institutions and others are all equally important. That is why MCLA
calls on some of the
community partners,
such as Ohio National
Financial Services,
Sycamore Community
Schools, Bethesda
North Hospital and
Twin Lakes Senior Living
Community, to share
their stories with the
participants. The City,
with these partners,
seeks to provide a wellrounded experience for
those wishing to “look
behind the curtain”
of the Montgomery
community.
MCLA has received
national attention for
this creative approach. If interested in applying for MCLA, visit the
City website, montgomeryohio.org, for more information or call Ray
Kingsbury, director of citizen engagement, at 792-8359. Application
deadline has been extended to October 9.
October 2015
5
Trees a priority for Montgomery
As many of Montgomery’s residents may know, the City of
Montgomery has been awarded tree City USA status by the
National Arbor Day Foundation every year since 1997. This award
requires a community to commit to four basic standards:
•
•
•
•
Having a tree board or commission,
Having a tree care ordinance in place,
Having a community forestry program with an annual budget
of $2 per capita, and
Doing an Arbor Day observance and proclamation.
In times of dwindling resources for many Ohio cities, why should
it be a priority to invest in the maintenance and promotion of the
trees here in Montgomery?
According to a new report from the journal Scientific Reports,
leafy, tree-lined streets are not just good for property values - they
may also be good for your health. Researchers in Toronto report
that adding just 10 trees to a single city block could improve how
healthy a person feels as much as if they made an additional
$10,000 a year or if they were seven years younger.
The study also found that residents of neighborhoods with highertree density are less likely to have cardio-metabolic conditions like
hypertension, obesity and diabetes, and that living near trees has a
positive effect on one’s perception of overall health.
“Our data is correlational, so we can’t say trees are causing better
health; we can only say they are associated with better health,”
said Marc Berman, director of the Environmental Neuroscience
Laboratory at the University of Chicago, and the senior author of
the paper. “Greening the face of a City has real economic benefits.
We already know that it’s good for air quality, property values,
controlling water, and now we are showing it’s good for health,
too.”
As part of its efforts to maintain both the City’s Tree City status and
the many benefits provided by a healthy urban forest, the City of
Montgomery offers two ways for citizens to contribute to the local
treescape.
•
The Street Tree program is a way for property owners to
obtain a street tree for a co-pay of just $75. The co-pay
covers a portion of the cost of the tree and the labor for
planting it in the public right-of-way.
•
There is also the Commemorative Tree Planting program,
in which a $250 gift will plant a single tree in honor of a
special someone in your life. That gift will grow in beauty
and value, while enhancing the City’s environment. Most
of all, your gift will be a legacy to our City, helping create
an attractive and pleasant place to live, work and play.
For more information on either of these City programs, please go
to: montgomeryohio.org/pages/tree-programs/
City Arborist Terry Willenbrink conducts an Arbor Day
Walk every April in one of Montgomery’s six parks or in
Johnson Nature Preserve.
For more information on The Arbor Day Foundation and Tree City
USA, please go to: arborday.org/programs/treecityusa/standards.cfm
Free solar workshop
Montgomery is currently offering incentives to residents and businesses who install a solar system for their
buildings. The City will waive the building and zoning permit fees with a cap of $1,000 for the remainder of
the calendar year to help make solar photovoltaic systems more affordable than ever.
The Montgomery Environmental Advisory Commission (EAC) and community development department will
sponsor a free workshop to explain the basics of photovoltaic energy production, the Solarize Cincinnati
program and the City’s incentive program on Thursday October 8 at Terwilliger Lodge in Dulle Park beginning
at 6:30 p.m. The solar workshops will be conducted by representatives of the Greater Cincinnati Energy
Alliance and a certified solar installer. If you would like to attend the October event, RSVP to Tracy Roblero,
community development director, at troblero@ci.montgomery.oh.us or 792-8312. Additional workshops will
be held throughout the remainder of the calendar year if you are unable to attend in October.
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October 2015 MontgomeryOhio.org
BEEP
Hear the
where you
Every Bedroom Needs a Working Smoke Alarm!
SLEEP
Fire Prevention Week Oct. 4-10, 2015
Half of home fire deaths
happen between 11 p.m.
and 7 a.m., when most
people are asleep.
Install smoke alarms in every bedroom, outside each separate sleeping area, and on every level of the
home, including the basement. Larger homes may need more alarms.
For the best
protection, install
interconnected
smoke alarms in
your home. When
one sounds, they
all sound.
years
Test alarms at
least once a
month by pushing
the test button.
Some people, especially
children and older adults,
may need help to wake
up. Make sure someone
will wake them if the
smoke alarm sounds.
Replace all smoke alarms
when they are 10 years
old or if they do not sound
when tested.
When the smoke alarm
sounds, get outside and stay
outside. Go to your outside
meeting place.
www.usfa.fema.gov
www.firepreventionweek.org
Call the fire department
from a cellphone or a
neighbor’s phone. Stay
outside until the fire
department says it’s
safe to go back inside.
Insert Logo Here
October 2015
7
Walk this way - taking steps for pedestrian safety
Pedestrians shall move, whenever practical, upon the right half of
crosswalks.
Where a sidewalk is provided, it shall be unlawful for a pedestrian
to walk along the roadway.
Where a sidewalk is not available, any pedestrian walking along
a road shall walk only on a shoulder as far as practical from the
roadway.
Where neither a sidewalk nor a shoulder is available, any
pedestrian walking along a road shall walk as near as practicable
to an outside edge of the roadway, and, if on a two-way roadway,
shall walk only on the left side of the roadway.
Between adjacent intersections at which traffic control signals
are in operation, pedestrians shall not cross in any place except a
marked crosswalk.
No pedestrian shall cross a roadway intersection diagonally.
For drivers:
The driver of a vehicle emerging from an alley, building, private
road, or driveway shall stop the vehicle immediately prior to
driving on a sidewalk.
Montgomery is fortunate to have many, well-marked crosswalks,
but before you head out on foot for a stroll, walk, or errand,
take a few minutes to become familiar with the laws concerning
crosswalks and their proper use.
Who has the right of way?
Laws regarding pedestrians and crosswalks:
It’s important to understand duties and responsibilities, both on
foot, and as a driver, as they relate to pedestrian laws. Both the
Ohio Revised Code and Montgomery City Ordinances address
crosswalks and their proper usage.
For pedestrians:
No pedestrian shall suddenly leave a curb or other place of
safety and walk into the path of a vehicle, which is so close as
to constitute an immediate hazard. Contrary to popular belief,
a pedestrian waiting to enter a crosswalk must yield to vehicles
traveling on the roadway.
The driver of a vehicle shall yield the right-of-way to any pedestrian
on a sidewalk.
The driver of a vehicle shall yield the right-of-way - slowing down
or stopping if need be - to yield to a pedestrian crossing the
roadway within a crosswalk when the pedestrian is upon the half
of the roadway upon which the vehicle is traveling, or when the
pedestrian is approaching so closely from the opposite half of the
roadway as to be in danger.
Whenever any vehicle is stopped at a marked crosswalk or at any
unmarked crosswalk, the driver of any other vehicle approaching
from the rear shall not overtake and pass the stopped vehicle.
Think of crisp fall days and what you can do for your community
8
The City is looking for individuals to make the commitment to be
more involved in the leadership of their community. The following
City Commissions might be the place to do so. The initial step in
getting involved is to attend an upcoming meeting of a commission
to learn more about its project work and to meet the current members. The following commissions have openings and are in need of
members to complete their volunteer teams:
Board of Zoning Appeals
The Board of Zoning Appeals conducts public hearings and meetings to review and decide action on variance requests and other
appeals related to the provisions and administration of the City’s
Zoning Code. Commission members also assist with the Bastille
Day event. Meetings are held the fourth Tuesday of each month at
7:00 p.m. One Commission position is currently open.
Arts Commission
Members foster and promote the visual and performing arts within
the City. Programs and events include the Photo Contest, Live at
the Uni Concert Series, and July 3 Patriotic Concert. Meetings are
scheduled for the first Monday of each month at 5:00 p.m. One
Commission position is currently open.
For further information and/or to apply for any of the
above positions, contact DeAnna Gross at 792-8329 or dgross@ci.montgomery.oh.us.
October 2015 MontgomeryOhio.org
Take these steps
to prevent cybercrime
Cybercrime
prevention can
be straightforward when
armed with a
little technical
advice and
common sense
- many attacks
can be avoided.
In general, online
criminals are
trying to make
their money as
quickly and easily
as possible. The
more difficult
you make their
job, the more likely they are to leave you alone and move on to an easier target.
The tips below provide basic information on how you can prevent online fraud.
1
Hats Off . . .
To the volunteers, Alec Bertok and Betty Will, at the
DogFest and K-9 Kerplunk event held on Labor Day
evening at the close of the pool. These volunteers
helped with the Dog Race and contributed to the
DogFest and K-9 Kerplunk event being a great
evening of “citizen (and pet) engagement “and
“community.”
October/
November
volunteer opportunities
Harvest Moon Festival
Keep your computer current with the latest patches and updates.
Recent versions of Microsoft Windows and other popular software can be
configured to download and apply updates automatically making it more
difficult for a “hacker” to gain access to your system.
2
Configure your computer securely.
Choose the right level of security and privacy based on your needs. Security and
privacy settings can be easily configured without any special sort of expertise by
simply using the “help” feature on your software. If you are unsure about doing
this, contact your Internet service provider or the software vendor directly.
3
Choose strong passwords and keep them safe.
Change passwords on a regular basis and do not share them with people whom
you do not trust or know.
4
Protect your system with security software.
Use anti-virus and your “firewall” to protect sensitive data such as personal
information, social security numbers, and other information that you would not
want public.
5
Holiday Decorating Workshop
Saturday, November 7, 9:30 a.m. (adults, teens and
families)
Recreation Annex, 10115 Montgomery Road
Help to prepare holiday decorations for display.
Downtown Holiday Decorating
Protect sensitive personal information.
Do not respond to emails from scammers that request your social security
number, bank account numbers or credit card information. Guard your email
address. Avoid responding to emails from people you do not know, as this may
cut down on the amount of “spam” that you receive, which is a frequent tactic
that scammers use to contact unsuspecting victims.
6
Saturday, October 10, 4:30 – 8:15 p.m. (adults, teens
and families with minimum age of 14 years)
Swaim Park, corner of Cooper and Zig Zag Roads
Participate in this fun family event by assisting with
old-fashioned games, children’s crafts, concessions, a campfire and s’mores roasting.
Review monthly bank and credit card statements and include a yearly
review of your credit score.
The impact of identity theft can be greatly reduced if you can catch it shortly
after it occurs. Reviewing statements and credit scores can greatly reduce the
amount of loss you may suffer.
If you have any further questions about cybercrime prevention, please call the
Montgomery Police Department at 985-1600 to speak with a certified crime
prevention specialist.
Monday, November 9, 9:30 a.m. to noon (adults)
Rain date is Tuesday, November 10
Meet at the Universalist Church at the corner of
Montgomery and Remington Roads
Help to hang holiday decorations.
For more specific information about any of these
short-term projects, contact DeAnna Gross at 7928329 or dgross@ci.montgomery.oh.us.
October 2015
9
It’s Your Business, Montgomery
Good News About
Montgomery Businesses
Bastille Day and 15
local businesses named
Best of the North
Congratulations to these Montgomery businesses for being
named finalists in the Best of the North competition by Cincy
Magazine: Sukhothai, The Original Pancake House, Germano’s,
Brooklyn Pizza and Pasta, Rudino’s Sports Bar, Verde Salad &
More, Debbie Pettis at Montgomery Hair Salon, Montgomery
Jewelry, The Silver Diva, Sacksteder’s, Village Tavern, The
Corner Pub, Montgomery Cyclery, Recker and Boerger, and
Cincinnati School of Music.
The City of Montgomery’s Bastille Day Celebration was named
Best Festival. Unfortunately, Germano’s and Verde Salad &
More are no longer in business, but are greatly missed.
For more information on how you can support these
businesses during the Best of the North competition to be held
on October 7, please visit cincymagazine.com.
Duke Energy offers an
energy-saving program to small
businesses
Duke Energy’s Small Business Energy Saver Program offers
special savings on energy improvements for small businesses.
Local businesses could be eligible to receive savings on
energy-efficiency improvements.
Through this program, Duke Energy will pay up to 80 percent
of efficiency improvements on lighting and refrigeration, and
up to 20 percent on HVAC upgrades. Duke Energy will make
the initial payment. Business owners will not have to wait for
a rebate on the outlay of this expense.
Business Blurbs
The benefit to local business owners is that they can lower
their business’s energy expenses in the future. The business
must obtain an energy assessment, which may include recommendations on specific energy-saving improvements. Interestfree financing is available.
Congratulations to Mike Sauer, CFP® / Edward Jones for
celebrating 10 years of business in Montgomery.
For more information, contact Duke Energy at 855-322-0998
or duke-energy.com/sbes.
Life Worth Living, LTD chooses Montgomery
Life Worth Living, LTD, a newly-established Montgomery business, located at 10597
Montgomery Road Suite 101, is a mental health outpatient counseling center specializing
in the treatment of eating disorders. Their clinicians are uniquely trained in the therapeutic
modality Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), proven successful in helping regulate one’s
emotions and reducing vulnerability to future unwanted behaviors or symptoms. They have
built a network of wellness consultants to assist in providing the most comprehensive care and
ensuring higher rates of recovery. Their clinicians are proficient in the treatment of children,
adolescents, adults, and families. Specific attention is also paid to trauma victims, as
eating-disordered symptoms and addictive behaviors often surface in efforts to cope with their
experiences. They have a licensed dietician on staff to aid in client’s recovery, as well as, help
promote healthy lifestyle changes, providing the foundation for personal change.
For more information, please call 257-2409 or visit lwlcincinnati.com.
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October 2015 MontgomeryOhio.org
New surgery center opens at Bethesda North
Over the past few years, the
number of operations that can
be performed on an outpatient
basis with minimally invasive
surgical techniques has risen
dramatically. In order to meet
this growing need, Bethesda
North Hospital is opening a new
surgery center dedicated specifically to these procedures.
The center actually reduced
its number of operating
rooms from seven to four in
order to make them bigger
to accommodate minimallyinvasive technologies. It also
boasts two additional nurses’
stations and renovated
waiting, pre-op and post-op
areas.
When the Bethesda North
Minimally Invasive Surgery
Center opens this fall, after
a yearlong renovation of the
previous center, “it will be the
only one of its kind in the City,”
says Sherrie Chenault, manager
of the facility.
“The pre-op rooms are
now private, which is much
more inviting for patients,”
Chenault said. “The renovation also improves patient
flow and makes processing
more efficient.”
The Bethesda North Minimally Invasive Surgery Center will focus on gynecologic
Dr. Bryan Ellis invites patients to the newly-established Bethesda North
as well as general outpatient
Minimally Invasive Surgery Center
surgeries “to provide the kinds
of advanced technology that are not seen in any other outpatient
center in this region,” Chenault added.
It gives the center access to all of the hospital’s services on the same
site, including medical testing, specialty care and hospital admission
if necessary.
“It is different from other
ambulatory centers in that it
operates in conjunction with a
hospital rather than being freestanding,” she said.
Join us for Document Destruction Day
In an effort to help reduce identity theft, promote recycling and provide a way for residents to dispose of sensitive documents, the City of
Montgomery’s Environmental Advisory
Commission and Royal Document
Destruction will be hosting a free
community document shredding event
on October 17 at the Montgomery
Public Works Facility, 7315 Cornell
Road from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
To serve everybody efficiently, there
will be a maximum of three boxes
(copy paper size or similar) per person
in line. Volunteers will be available
to assist. Typical paper products to
shred include: phone records, books,
receipts, files, file folders, checks,
medical claims, bank statements, old
credit cards, invoices and any papers
with your personal information. Paper
clips and staples DO NOT have to be
removed.
Materials will be shredded onsite and
a certification of destruction will be
available upon request. One hundred
percent of the paper is recycled.
October 2015
11
International reception hosted by Montgomery
Sister Cities Commission
All community members are invited to attend Montgomery’s
International Reception sponsored by the Sister Cities Commission.
The Sister Cities Commission motto is “Bringing the World Together
One Friendship at a Time” and this eagerly-anticipated yearly
event encourages the connection of all Montgomery residents one
friendship at a time. Children and non-Montgomery residents are
also encouraged to attend.
The social event is scheduled for October 11 from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m.
at Terwilliger Lodge in Dulle Park, 10530 Deerfield Road. Participants should bring a favorite covered dish, appetizer or
dessert to share at the international buffet table. Non-alcoholic
beverages will be provided by the Sister Cities Commission. Ethnic
attire and/or entertainment shared by the guests (musical
instruments, dancing, etc.) are always welcome and encouraged.
To make your reservation to attend this event, please contact City
Hall at 891-2424 or register online at montgomeryohio.org by
October 1. Don’t delay; this free event is limited to the first 100
reservations.
Montgomery resident Wendy Anthony and her daughter, Sofia,
represented Spain at the 2013 International Reception. Sofia is
wearing the traditional dress of Zaragoza, Spain.
Free gift card to Saxby’s
Coffee for correctly identifying this landmark
If you recognize which landmark building is shown in the picture, send your answer to
ispy@ci.montgomery.oh.us. On October 19, a drawing from those correctly submitted
answers will be held and the winner will receive a free $10 gift card to Saxby’s Coffee,
located at 9321 Montgomery Road in downtown Montgomery. The correct answer will be
provided in the following Bulletin. Information about the City’s landmarks can be found
on the City website, in the landmark brochures available at City Hall or in a box on the wall
of the Universalist Church, or by downloading the landmark app.
Thank you to everyone for playing last month and correctly identifying the picture as
the Pure Oil gas station located at 9426 Shelly Lane, which is the long-time home to
Diekmeyer Designs. Congratulations to Tom Kelly who correctly identified the Landmark
and won a $25 gift certificate to Z Place at 7823 Cooper Road and an extra special thank
you to Z Place for donating the gift certificate.
Disclaimer: Members of City Council, the Landmarks Commission, Landmark Owners,
MHPA board members and employees of the City of Montgomery are not eligible to win.
Get Your First Aid/CPR Certification
The Montgomery Fire Department is offering an American Heart Association HeartSaver First Aid/CPR
certification class on Saturday, October 17 from 10:00 a.m. to 2: 00 p.m. There is a nominal fee of $15 to
cover the cost of materials. For more information or to sign up, please call 985-1633.
12
October
May 2015
2015 MontgomeryOhio.org
MontgomeryOhio.org
Serve Your Community
by Volunteering on Making A Difference Day
Community Groups from across Montgomery commit to a variety of volunteer activities for Connect Montgomery’s
Making A Difference Day on Saturday, October 24
Join us on Saturday, October 24 for Connect Montgomery’s Making a Difference Day. The MCLA Class of 2014 is coordinating the event, and
you are invited to take this opportunity to give back. Share your talents, skills and time to create or choose a project that is important to you.
The civic collaborative Connect Montgomery organizes the annual event to highlight the importance of service to others. Participants are
encouraged to focus their efforts on causes about which they are passionate
Here is a sample list of organizations that have identified their service projects. If anyone is looking for a volunteer opportunity, please
contact any of the following organizations:
•
New Beginnings Program with Assistance League of Greater Cincinnati: Collect needed household items for domestic violence
victims. Complete list of needed items on connectmontgomery.org
•
Contact Pat Eveslage: pat.eveslage@cbws.com
Twin Lakes: Senior Living Community Writing letters to our troops in Afghanistan.
Contact Nancy Schwandner: nancy.schwandner@lec.org
•
Blue Ash-Montgomery Rotary Club: Cleaning up Little Miami River
Contact Dave Herschberger: dave@prestige-travel.com
•
Sycamore Senior Center: Clean up yards for seniors
Contact Joshua Howard: jkhoward@mkcommunities.org
•
St. Barnabas Episcopal Church: Third-grade reading level book drive for Assistance League of Cincinnati
Contact John Nolan: newserjohn@aol.com
•
City of Montgomery: Volunteering at Matthew 25 Ministries
Contact Faith Lynch: flynch@ci.montgomery.oh.us
•
Ascension Lutheran Church: collecting food items for the NEEDS Food Pantry
Contact Cam Baker: camillabaker@fuse.net
•
The Community of the Good Shepherd: collecting winter clothing and other special needs for the Mary Magdalen House
Contact Dave Scharfenberger: d.scharfenberger@good-shepherd.org
Sign-ups may also be done on the Connect Montgomery website at connectmontgomery.org.
Volunteer Celebration
at Swaim Lodge
Volunteer groups and individuals are invited to come and celebrate
at Swaim Lodge on October 24 between 11:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.
Check in with the MCLA Class of 2014 to be recognized and enjoy
refreshments and a cookout sponsored by Horan Associates and
Twin Lakes Senior Living Community.
For more information, contact Faith Lynch with the City of
Montgomery 792-838 or at flynch@ci.montgomery.oh.us.
As a part of Making A Difference Day, the Montgomery Woman’s Club
will be at the Montgomery Farmers’ Market on Saturday, October 24, to
sell ‘Expect Respect’ bracelets to promote awareness of teen dating
violence and distribute educational materials to recognize abuse.
October 2015
13
City of Montgomery
Recreation and
Fitness
Classes
Come and experience the newlyrenovated Recreation Annex
Building and new-group exercise
equipment. Register now for the
next session of fitness classes. For
more information and to register,
please visit montgomeryohio.org or
call City Hall at 891-2424.
Pilates
Takes place Tuesdays and
Thursdays, October 27 to December
22 from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m., 16
classes in the Annex Building.
*No Classes on November 10
(Make up on November 14)
and no classes November 26
This innovative Pilates class is
geared towards using core body
muscles (abdominal, obliques,
back, and gluteal muscles) to get
effective results in your midsection.
This workout gets results in all
the problem places by working on
lengthening of the spine, proper
alignment and posture, and a strong
center to give you a slimmer profile.
(Min 16/Max 25). Cost is $70 for
resident and $75 for nonresidents.
Yoga
NEW
Takes place on Wednesdays and
Fridays, October 28 to December 30
from 9:00 to 10:00 a.m., 16 classes,
at the Recreation Annex Building.
*No Classes on November 6,
November 27 and December 25
These yoga sequences will help you
build strength, increase flexibility
and find focus to help you to
improve your fitness level and
work through the stressors of life.
Adaptable for all fitness levels (Min
16/Max 25). Cost is $70 for residents
and $75 non-residents.
14
20/20/20
Takes place on Tuesdays and
Thursdays, October 27 to December
22, 9:00 to 10:00 a.m., 16 classes,
Recreation Annex Building.
*No Classes on November 10
(Make up on November 14)
and no classes November 26
Designed to meet the needs of
Baby Boomers, this class offers
light cardiovascular exercises,
light strength training, and light
stretching for 20 minutes each. The
instructor has experience teaching
people over 50 and will teach
to your fitness level, taking into
account common physical concerns
and the value of gaining and
maintaining muscle strength. Some
equipment provided. (Min 12/Max
25). Cost is $70 for residents and
$75 for non-residents.
Tai Chi
Takes place on Tuesdays, November
3 to December 22, 8 classes, from
10:20 to 11:20 a.m. Tai Chi is
located at the Recreation Annex
Building.
*Class on November 10 will be
located at Terwilliger Lodge at Dulle
Park.
Often called a moving meditation,
Tai Chi has its roots in martial arts.
The movements are practiced slowly
and smoothly with attention to
proper posture and breathing. Tai
Chi is easy to learn, effective and
safe, it increases flexibility, muscle
strength, heart/lung activity, aligns
posture, improves balance, and
integrates the mind and body. (Min
12/Max 25). The cost is $80 for
residents and $90 for nonresidents.
The City of
Montgomery
unveils newly renovated
Recreation Annex building
Over the summer, City staff have been working
hard on renovations to the Recreation Annex
building. Among
the projects that “Over the past few months we
were completed have renovated the building to
be more conducive to exercise.
was a new
ceiling with new Our goal is to provide a pleasing
lighting that was environment that motivates the
repurposed from community to engage in healthy
the former Ford activities such as group exercise
classes,” explained Sarah Fink,
dealership site.
recreation specialist for the City
New exercisespecific flooring of Montgomery.
was also added.
The new flooring is a rolled-composite vinyl flooring
that gives the look of real wood. The flooring
provides the perfect balance of shock absorption
and proper grip, which lends itself to being used
by all age groups and abilities. In addition to the
facility improvements, City staff have also added
newer equipment that will enhance the exercise
experience.
Before
After
October 2015 MontgomeryOhio.org
Events
Festival of Trees Contest seeks contenders - Great creative fun!
You are invited to decorate an artificial three-to-four foot
tree in this fun contest. Past entries have exploded with
creative twists. In the past, entries went for beauty with the
contrast of white tree full of red birds, lit winter wonderland
houses skirting the bottom of a tree and opulent ribbons
and picks of glitter adding sparkle and brilliance. Others
were themed with potting plants and gloves, a Grinch
towering over a tree, and even the Eiffel Tower glittered
on a French-themed tree. All of the entries were wildly
creative and brought joy to all of the Holiday in the Village
attendees. Enter as a group, family, business or as an
individual. It’s not too early to start thinking of your creative
theme and decorations. Entry forms are due by Monday,
November 16. Your tree will be displayed at one of four
locations during the Holiday in the Village event December
5. Additional details and information will be online at
montgomeryohio.org
Paintball Trip
October 30 (register by October 23; signed waiver required), 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. Ages 10-14
Participants will meet and return to the Swaim Park small shelter, located at the upper level
parking lot on Cooper Road at 7650 Cooper Road. Participants will travel by bus to Paintball
Country located in Hamilton. Kids can experience the thrill of paintball with team paintball
games in the morning from 10:00 a.m.–12:30 p.m., break for a pizza lunch followed by more
paintball. There will also be a variety of other activities at Paintball Country, if time allows. Cost
covers all paintball equipment, other activities and a pizza lunch. (Min 15/Max 40). Cost is $56.
For more information contact Recreation Specialist Sarah Fink at 792-8317 or by email at
sfink@ci.montgomery.oh.us
Coloring Contest
Ages 2-14, Entries Accepted November 2-20
Let creativity show. Go wild with markers, crayons, glitter, sequins or whatever your child’s imagination can think of with our coloring
contest! Kids can use any available materials that can be joined with paper. Coloring Contest entries will be displayed at the Holiday in
the Village event in the Universalist Church on December 5.
Starting November 2: download the coloring contest
sheet at montgomeryohio.org or pick up at City Hall.
Deadline is November 20: Return the coloring contest
sheet by 5:00 p.m. on November 20 to City Hall to be
included in the display.
Categories are: Most Creative, Best Use of Color and
Overall Skill. One entry per child. Winners will be
chosen in the following age groups 2-4, 5-6, 7-8, 9-10,
11-14.
Event is on December 5: Winners in each of the
age groups will be notified in advance of the event
and will be awarded a prize during the tree-lighting
ceremony during Holiday in the Village. The grand
prize winner will be notified in advance and will
flip the switch to light the tree at the tree lighting
ceremony at 5:00 p.m. on December 5.
October 2015
15
Montgomery Bulletin
HOW TO REACH US
10101 Montgomery Road
Montgomery, Ohio 45242
City Hall
891-2424
®
Police
Department
(non-emergency)
985-1600
Mayor
Fire
Department
(non-emergency)
985-1633
Planning/
Zoning/
Building
792-8309
Code
Enforcement
Action Line
792-8356
Public Works
792-8355
MontgomeryOhio.org
Todd Steinbrink
Presorted
Standard Mail
U.S. Postage
PAID
Cincinnati, Ohio
Permit #2417
Vice Mayor
Chris Dobrozsi
Council Members
Ann Combs
Gerri Harbison
Craig Margolis
Lynda Roesch
Ken Suer
Clerk of Council
Connie Gaylor
City Manager
Wayne Davis
Read
Then
Recycle
Montgomery Bulletin
Sunday
Monday
4
11
International Reception, Terwilliger
Lodge, 5:00-7:00 p.m.
18
Tuesday
5
Beautification and Tree Commission,
Public Works, 9:00 a.m.
Fall brush collection for residents
with Thursday trash pickup
Arts Commission, City Hall, 5:00 p.m.
Planning Commission, City Hall,
7:30 p.m.
12
Columbus Day
Fall brush collection for residents
with Friday trash pickup
19
Planning Commission, City Hall,
7:30 p.m.
25
26
October Events
Wednesday
6
Fire Prevention Week
7
Council Business Session, City Hall,
7:00 p.m.
13
Environmental Advisory Commission,
City Hall, 4:30 p.m.
20
Sister Cities Commission, City Hall,
7:00 p.m.
27
Board of Zoning Appeals, City Hall,
7:00 p.m.
14
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
1
2
3
8
9
10
Parks & Recreation Commission,
City Hall, 6:30 p.m.
15
2016 Montgomery Citizen Leadership Academy applications due
(extended deadline)
16
17
Shredding event and cardboard
recycling, 7315 Cornell Road,
10:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m.
Landmarks Commission, City Hall,
7:00 p.m.
21
Harvest Moon Festival, Swaim Park,
5:00-8:00 p.m.
22
23
24
29
30
31
Council Work Session, City Hall,
7:00 p.m.
28
School’s Out Trip, Swaim Park
Shelter 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.
Trick or Treat, 6:00-8:00 p.m.,
rain or shine
3rd quarter 2015 taxes due