SUMMER 2022 NANA NEWS Volume LXI No. 10
Published by the North Avondale Neighborhood Association
Your monthly news & updates
PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE
Dear Neighbors,

July is a sunny and beautiful time in North Avondale. Everything is in bloom and our neighbors are outside walking, socializing and enjoying each other. Please let’s all take the time to say hello to a new neighbor. You may make someone’s day brighter. This friendliness is what makes North Avondale so special.

This summer we are looking for a few good people to join our team. NANA would like more neighborhood input into our Neighborhood Master Plan which desperately needs to be updated. If you are interested in planning, housing, schools and neighborhood parks and would like to provide input, please contact me. Walt Koucky and Mel Nizny are also building a Zoning team to help oversee building and zoning issues around North Avondale.

Community Budget Request- North Avondale has the opportunity to submit up to three community projects request for funds from the city. The deadline is coming up at the end of September so we will be meeting in August to brainstorm some ideas for our neighborhood. A couple of ideas that come to mind are upgrade Seasongood Square to make it more user friendly for all neighbors, Neighborhood street cameras, traffic calming at Reading Rd, and Clinton Springs and possibly along Mitchell Ave. More to come at the July and August General meetings on the second Tuesday of the month, 7/23 and 8/9.

If you or someone has some basic level of web design/maintenance skills and can dedicate some time to help out, we need you. NANA has a team working on a new website which is slated to be released in the fall. We are considering hiring someone if your skills match up for approximately 10 hours a week. Please contact me.

Gardens and Beautification still need gardeners for a few small areas. Judy Evans leads the gardeners and would welcome even a few hours here and there. Don’t forget Jolene Struebbe is working to create a Welcome Wagon team that would operate by street to welcome new neighbors into North Avondale. We still have a few streets to find a neighbor to cover.

Many of us are already busy keeping up with our daily activities, but want to give back to our community. Maybe you have a few evening or early morning hours to do some typing or editing. We could use some help on our Membership Team to review and update our membership lists.

Thank you all for helping North Avondale reach its potential by volunteering for a small task. Please contact me through the NANA email at: nanacincinnati@gmail.com

P.S. Neighbors don’t forget to water your new street trees. They are still young and will need extra water to survive this heat.
 Sarah Koucky
NANA GENERAL MEETING
Tuesday, July 12, 6:00 pm
at the North Avondale Recreation Center


Meeting Agenda Items
  • Community Budget Request (CBR) (see article below in "From Your Government")
  • Meet New Neighborhood Officer
  • NANA Logo
  • Committee Reports


Next Meeting Tuesday, August 9, 6:00
CBR Planning Meeting

 THANK YOU FOR PAYING YOUR 2022 NANA DUES 

COMMITTEE UPDATES

BEAUTIFICATION

Water your TREES!!  It has been HOT and DRY! Your trees need watering! Especially new trees! Urban Forestry recently planted many trees in our neighborhood. To keep these trees alive, please water them. Urban Forestry does NOT water the street trees. I know some of you may have trouble getting your hose or sprinkler or irrigation all the way to the street for the trees, but you can still water them! Urban Forestry suggests using either a bucket or some milk jugs with small holes drilled in them, and then set around the tree to use as a slow drip. I think this is an excellent idea!

Also, please be advised that due to budget constraints, Urban Forestry does not automatically plant a new tree after one is removed or dies. You must make a request for a new tree. We have been told that due to extreme budget constraints they will not be taking any tree planting requests for about a year or so but if you want to plant your own tree in the ROW, you can contact urban forestry for a permit to do so. Please reach out to our North Avondale Urban Forestry contact, Marianne Prue at Marianne.Prue@cincinnati-oh.gov. 

Great Ohio Gardens
If you are looking to stay close to home, especially with the price of gas, check out these great Ohio Gardens this Summer:
  • Stan Hywet Hall & Gardens in Akron
  • Schoepfle Gardens in Birmingham
  • Topiary Park in Columbus
  • Franklin Park Conservatory in Columbus * (has an awesome floral animal topiary exhibit this summer)
  • Barn N Bunk Farm Market in Trenton
  • Kingwood Center Gardens in Mansfield*
  • Wegerzyn Gardens MetroPark in Dayton *
  • Glenwood Gardens in Cincinnati -great kids area
  • The Dawes Arboretum in Newark*

*Check this out! A Great Garden Membership that will save you money! If you are not a member of the American Horticultural Society and you visit gardens across the state and country (and plan to go to the ones above with a *), you are missing out! For as little as $35 a year, you can get free admission and other discounts at more than 345 public gardens and arboreta across North American via the AHS Reciprocal Admissions Program.  I have been a member for years and think this is such a great deal and it introduces me to new gardens!  

Litter needs Help!  If you have a passion for clean streets, sidewalks and yards, please help us and consider becoming a member of the Litter Sub CommitteeYou can do as much or as little as you have time and passion for. Please reach out to me if you want to learn more or to volunteer!  jmstruebbe@gmail.com

Happy Summer!!
Jolene Struebbe. Beautification Chair & Judy Evans, Community Gardens Chair
Monthly Litter Pick Up

On the Second Saturday of each month join the North Avondale Neighborhood Association for a cleanup! Help neighbors, council members, and volunteers rid the streets of litter from 12-2pm.

Meet at Seasongood Square Intersection of N. Fred Shuttlesworth Circle and Reading Road

Please wear closed-toed shoes. 

To sign up: https://www.keepcincinnatibeautiful.org/how-to-help/events.html scroll down to North Avondale and register.
Coral Weigel, Litter Chair (coral.a.weigel@gmail.com)
LAW & SAFETY

North Avondale's new neighborhood officer is Trent Crutcher. He will be starting July 11th. Officer Crutcher brings a wealth of knowledge with many years of experience. 

He will attend the next North Avondale Neighborhood Association meeting to introduce himself.

His contact information is:
Officer Trent Crutcher
513.569.8649
Carolyn Gillman, Chair
NORTH AVONDALE WELCOME WAGON

The committee is growing but if you'd like to help, please reach out to me. The next planning meeting is Wednesday, July 20 at 4:30 to 6:00pm
Jolene Struebbe, jmstruebbe@gmail.com
UPDATE

NANA recently learned that The Port closed on the sale of the historic Rupel property at the corner of Lenox Place and Reading to Rosemary's Babies Co. (RBC) where the non-profit intends to create a transitional housing facility and resource center for teen parents and their infants.
 
  •  The City and The Port did not honor the agreements with NANA and NABA, nor did they negotiate in good faith on the disposition of the Rupel Property governed by city approved business district plans. 
  • NANA and North Avondale Business Association (NABA) provided $30,000 in the stabilization agreement with the City and the Port, where they agreed to retain title, stabilize the property, rebuild the porch, and to consult directly with NANA and NABA on the sale and redevelopment of the property.  
  • The City and the Port ignored NANA and NABA’s request to offer the property to a minority-owned successful small business, that submitted a viable bid proposal to redevelop the property to expand current operations. This Minority owned business was perfectly aligned with our city-approved business district plans, offering retail goods and services to the neighborhood residents. 
  •  RBC’s proposal does not conform with our city-approved business district plans. In addition, North Avondale is already significantly over impacted with non-profit and for-profit institutions providing transitional housing and subsidized housing.
FROM THE GOVENMENT
We’re officially launching the Community Budget Request (CBR) process for FY 2024-2025! Community Budget Requests are an exciting opportunity for your community council to seek City funding for a variety of eligible neighborhood projects. Community councils may submit up to three projects as part of the Community Budget Request process. In response to feedback from Community Councils, the portal will be open a month earlier, to allow more time for communities to develop budget requests. However, this may require Community Councils to meet and discuss their CBRs in August and September, 2022.
Community Budget Requests Basics
For more information, please see the FAQs below.
  • Each community council can submit up to three project requests during the FY 2024-2025 CBR process.
  • Projects should provide consistency language with Plan Cincinnati (Plan Cincinnati 1-pager attached)
  • You can see a complete list of submitted and approved CBRs in the City’s Approved Biennial Capital Budget. Here is a direct link to the approved biennial capital budget for FY 2022-2023. The CBRs are included as an appendix and start on page 301.
  • Upon submission, the department assigned to your project request will review and consider the feasibility of your proposed project.
  • The City Manager will provide a recommendation on each CBR received in the City Manager’s Recommended FY 2024-2025 Budget, which is anticipated to be released to the Mayor/City Council in May 2023. Note: Fiscal Year 2024 is July 1, 2023 – June 30, 2024.



If you have suggestions: email nanacincinnati@gmail.com or come to the July or August (CBD Planning) General Meetings

LONGEVITY IN NORTH AVONDALE
Longevity in North Avondale-An ongoing project to record our history from those who have lived in the neighborhood the longest! Please reach out to me, Jolene Struebbe, jmstruebbe@gmail.com if you would like to tell your family story.
Mrs. Virginia (“Ginny”) Krebs has called 59 Kessler Place HOME for her entire life – all 87 years of it! In fact, she was born in the bedroom that she currently sleeps in. And the family goes back even further……

Ginny’s grandparents, George and Anna Pfaffenberger had a farm on what is now Kessler Place. Around 1925 they moved the homestead back a few feet, had a street put in and started selling plots of land. One of the first buyers, was their son, and Ginny’s father, George and his wife (Ginny’s mother), Rose Pfaffenberger. George and Rose purchased 6 of the lots, built the house at 59 Kessler in 1930 and later added greenhouses and hot beds. By day, George was a carpenter at P&G and Rose managed the home. Virginia was born in 1935 and her sister, Lilian, a few years earlier in l932.

Ginny considered herself much of a “tomboy” growing up. She preferred to play football with the boys and kick the can. She especially loved house projects with her dad. Yet, while in high school at St. Bernard High, she became an accomplished seamstress. In 1951 she designed, made and modelled her dress at the downtown Shillito’s store. She made many of her family’s clothes as well. After high school graduation in l953, she went to work at P&G where she met her husband, Ralph. Their first date was to a Red’s double header. Ginny is still a big baseball fan and had plans to go to the stadium later in the week that I spoke with her! Ralph’s family were bakers. They owned a bakery, called “My Bakery”, located at 1811 Elm Street across from Findlay Market. Ralph passed in 2006.

Ginny recalls that she and her dad rode to work at P&G together. Once home, they all had dinner together and then worked the greenhouses in the evening. Meals were originally prepared by Ginny’s mom and then her grandmother, after her mom passed. Sunday dinners were a big affair; Ginny’s mom would make home made noodles, mashed potatoes, green beans, lima beans, lettuce with a hot bacon dressing, and a Roasted chicken with a bread stuffing.

1958 was a big year for Ginny; She got married! She went on a honeymoon to Lake Cumberland and the Smokey Mountains! She quit her job at P&G (as all married woman tended to do!). Her grandmother moved out of the house and Ginny had to learn to cook! As an adult, Ginny loved to bowl and was in several leagues. She and George had a bar in the basement with a Schoenling keg on tap in a Westinghouse refrigerator they had from l937 until 2006 – talk about longevity!!! Additionally, she helped out at the voting polls for about 45 years. She kept busy with the greenhouses, supplying plants to P&G Ivorydale and developing friendships with her St. Bernard and North Avondale customers until they closed the greenhouses in l995-96.

Ralph and Ginny had two children, David and Linda. Both went to North Avondale School and Walnut Hills as did Ginny’s two grandchildren (Amanda and Madeline – David and Jean Krebs’s daughters). All still live in North Avondale or St. Bernard.

Kessler Place is a street where time has stood still. Many current residents are 4th generation. Linda lives there now and David did until 2008, when he moved to Beechwood. Neighbors look out for each other. Back in the day, they help build each other’s houses. Today they share movie night in the cul-de-sac.

Ginny keeps busy! She completes puzzles, is an armchair game show contestant, is active in her church, keeps her weekly hair salon appointment and spends time with her family. She credits her longevity with having faith and going to church, helping others, having family close by, being just a bit stubborn, sometimes threatening the kids that she’s taking them out of the will, and having a glass of wine every night. Sounds like a plan. Please join me in toasting Ginny and her family!
FUN WITH YOUR NEIGHBORS
July Uptown Insights Webinar

On Wednesday, July 13 from 11am-noon, join us for a virtual panel discussion with Uptown Consortium, Inc.'s President and CEO, Beth Robinson, and learn all about the CROWN network and the vital connection to and through Avondale. Registration is required for this free event.
Family Fun Days
FROM YOUR NEIGHBORS
 NANA & NABA have worked on the redevelopment of the empty lots on the east side of Reading Rd. between Avondale Ave and Barry Ln. I’d like to survey North Avondale to find how many neighbors would be interested in buying a 2000 square foot condominium at that location. Most likely the city will try to force the ticky-tacky buildings that are popping up all around town. Seems like our neighbors who want to downsize are trickling away.  
Spencer Konicov (Spring House Lane) spencerkof@gmail.com

Below is a video announcement of Petra van Nuis (North Avondale native, veteran of NANA shows, The New School, SCPA, and CCM--Musical Theatre grad) and husband Andy Brown's new CD "Lonely Girl-I Remember Julie" a tribute to Julie London, and an interview Petra gave on NPR's Jazz Inspired with Judy Carmichael.

Enjoy!
Rosalie van Nuis (Burton Woods Lane)
Dearest Music Lovers, 

"Lonely Girl - I Remember Julie," my new duo CD with guitarist Andy Brown is now available on my website http://www.petrasings.com!
I was interviewed about "Lonely Girl - I Remember Julie" on pianist Judy Carmichael's NPR radio show "Jazz Inspired." Described as a cross between "Fresh Air" and "Piano Jazz," Judy has been interviewing creative people from all fields for 22 years about their process and how jazz inspires them.

Copyright © *|2021|* *|*, All rights reserved.
ABOUT YOUR NEIGHBORS
The @blackfForager has an enthusiastic style of teaching us about the edible gifts from nature. A former North Avondale native and graduate of The New School.
ENVIRONMENT
LIBRARY & RECREATION
North Avondale Recreation Center - 617 Clinton Springs Ave. 513.961.1584 

  • Summer Hours: open Monday through Friday 7 am to 7pm
  • North Avondale is hosting a barbershop talk series on July 18 from 6pm-9:30. The theme is manhood and relationships.
  • Free Lineups, tapers, and beards. Free food and drinks. The focus is on ages 18-25 but all men and sons are all welcome.
  • Senior Knitting & Social Group: Monday, 12:00 to 1:30 membership required
  • Evening Open play Pickleball on Thursday nights from 5-7pm. Membership required
  • Beginner Open Pickleball and Lessons on Wednesday mornings from 10am-noon.
  • Membership required
  • Tai Chi class Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 10 to 11 a.m. Membership required plus fee $50 per month, $7 per class
  • Camps for champs
  • Sports offered: Soccer, Baseball & Softball, Basketball, Flag Football and Volleyball
  • K-2 grade = $30/week; 3-6 grade = $40/week
Nialani Robinson, Community Center Director
Hirsch Recreation Center - 3620 Reading Road ● 513.751.3393

  • Hours: starting 7 am to 7pm Monday thru Friday
  • Hirsch Otto Armleder Pool open Monday -Saturday 1to 6pm
  • Price: Children 0 to 17 free; 18 to 59 $5.00; 60 and above $3.00 a visit
  • Closes for the year on August 13
  • Free La Soupe Frozen meals available Wednesday after 2:45 pm until gone. This is for anyone who may need a meal in our surrounding community.
  • Please call 513.751.3393 for availability.
  • Monday & Wednesday Spin class time has changed for the summer to 6pm - 6:45 pm. $5 for members $7 for nonmembers, punch passes are available. Please reserve your bike ahead of time.
Brittany Barrett, Community Center Director
NORTH AVONDALE SCHOOLS 

The New School Montessori (TNSM) 
● 3 Burton Woods Lane 513.281.7999 ●www.newschoolmontessori.com   


An Update on The New School Montessori Beehives
TNSM parent Carrie Driehaus, with the Queen City Pollinator Project (QCPP), helped The New School Montessori start our backyard beehives several years ago, and they have been taking care of our hives and giving programs to our students ever since. Carrie sent us an update from her recent work on our hives.

“QCPP installed two new packages of bees on Sunday. Unfortunately, neither colony of bees made it all the way through the winter. The national average for hive survival is about 42%, so it’s not uncommon to lose one or two hives in a year.

Honeybees fly within a 3-5 mile radius, so pesticides, especially mosquito yard sprays, are a serious concern for hive health. Other reasons a hive might not make it through a whole year are climate change (especially severe weather or unusual weather patterns) and hive pests. And, sometimes it’s just part of nature’s life cycle.

We’re not sure what happened to the hives this year, but we’re excited for a brand new year. And, though it’s easy to get down when the bees don’t make it, we still thank them and honor them for the pollinating work they did all year and the educational opportunities they provide.

Below is a picture of the installation and one of the queens!
You’ll notice a yellow dot on her head. Beekeepers sometimes mark their queens so they can keep track of her and so we can tell if a new queen takes over.
Thank you to The New School Montessori for keeping the bees! Carrie

We are so grateful to Carrie and QCPP. Carrie will continue to give presentations to our students each year about different aspects of bee life and how we can support all pollinators by leaving shallow trays of water out during the hot, dry summer and allowing leaf litter to linger for overwintering butterflies. We all have a part to play.
Ann Baumgardner, Communications Director
WELCOME NEW NEIGHBORS 

  • Laurie Pike at 3982 Ardmore Ave.
  • Ronda M & James R Foster at 961 Avondale Ave.
  • Michael & Marcia Kelly at 745 Avon Fields Ln.
  • Andrew Fiscella & Lucy Treadway at 701 Betula Ave.
  • Apple Valley Development Co LLC at 977 Dana Ave.
  • Brandon Scott Lindsay at 4 Kessler Ave.
  • Daniel Sunil B @3 at 933 Marion Ave.
  • Alexandru Maries at 122 Mary Ln.
  • Franke Jeffrey A Franke & Hidetoshi Okuno at 3900 Rose Hill Ave. 401B
  • Lonnie Clemmons at 3900 Rose Hill Ave. 604A
  • Alexandra Collett Rock at 3900 Rose Hill Ave.. 401A
  • Norton Furaha D at 3900 Rose Hill Ave. 603A
  • John & Carley Weber at 3895 Spring House Lane
  • Nicholas Schneider & Taylor Hanrahan at 199 Sturgis Ave.
  • Charles Anthony Lewis at 3856 Vine St.
NANA CALENDAR
h
  • Tuesday, July 12, 6:00 pm, NANA General Meeting IN PERSON at the North Avondale Recreation Center 617 Clinton Springs
  • Tuesday, August 9, 6:00 pm, NANA General Meeting CBD Planning Meeting IN PERSON at the North Avondale Recreation Center 617 Clinton Springs
  • Tuesday, September 13, 7:00 pm, NANA General Meeting IN PERSON at the North Avondale Montessori School Cafetorium 617 Clinton Spring
NANA EXECUTIVE BOARD AND COMMITTEES
President: Sarah Koucky
1st VP: Patrice Watson
2nd VP: Elizabeth Tye
3rd VP & Events: Robin Senser
Corresponding Sec.:  Troy Robinson
Recording Sec.: Rocco Rossi
Treasurer: Sandesh Samdaria
Beautification: Jolene Struebbe
  • Litter: Coral Weigel
  • Community Gardens: Judy Evans
Block Watch & Law & Safety:
  • Carolyn Gillman
Zoning
  • Walt Koucky
  • Mel Nizny
NABA/NANA Liaison: Maura Wolf
USEFUL LINKS
North Avondale Neighborhood Association
PO Box 16152
Cincinnati, Ohio 45216
513.401.5356