« November 2004 | Main | April 2005 »
March 31, 2005
Lend an ear for a moment
Dr. Cynthia Whitehurst has been operating Mariemont Hearing Center and providing professional hearing healthcare services to the Cincinnati community since 1997. She holds a doctorate in audiology from the University of Florida and has over 20 years of clinical experience.
“My goal is to provide the best service possible by providing various choices and solutions to meet each individuals particular hearing needs,” Whitehurst said.
Located at 6954 Madisonville Road, the quaint and pleasant office is juxtaposed just to the left of the Mariemont Theatre and The Quarter.
Whitehurst is originally from Pittsburg. After moving to Cincinnati, she chose to open her practice in the village of Mariemont “because of the aesthetics and the people.”
According to the doctor, one of the most staggering facts about hearing disabilities is that six million Americans own hearing aids, but more than 28 million Americans need hearing aids.
Most people who do need hearing aids do not realize they are losing their hearing.
For a person losing their hearing there are signs, Whitehurst said, such as family members and friends incessantly telling them the television or radio is too loud; they always tell people to repeat themselves and people losing their hearing oftentimes avoid social activities due to auditory loss.
The services the Mariemont Hearing Center offers include diagnostic hearing tests, hearing aid evaluations and fittings for all levels of technology, preventive maintenance and hearing aid repair services, hearing aid accessories, assitive listening devices, earmolds for swimming, industry and music, and audiological rehabilitation and counseling.
To inquire further information regarding Mariemont Hearing Center, contact Whitehurst at 271-7778 or e-mail mhc@fuse.net
Posted by johnston at 12:36 PM
March 28, 2005
Visit Le Mistral for a final time
Le Mistral is saying “Bon Voyage.”
The French culture store, located at 6800 Wooster Pike, will be closing its doors Tuesday, April 19. The owners are presently hosting a liquidation sale. For more information, call the owners at 271-5600. The store will continue to be open for business online at www.le-mistral.com
Posted by johnston at 02:19 PM
March 25, 2005
Double-decker bus Retiring in Florida
Remember the old robust-red double-decker English bus?
The historical vehicle that had been in Mariemont since 1983 has changed homes; it now resides in Pensacola, Fla., and performing its designed duties: running routes and carrying passengers.
The bus was recently purchased by a Florida-native couple who visited Mariemont last year. They saw the bus, fell in love with its intrinsic beauty and wanted to take it home.
Owned by Spinnenweber Builders, Inc., the two parties agreed on the sale and the bus headed south to warmer weather. SBI bought the bus in England in 1983, had it delivered to the east coast, drove it a quarter of the length of the United States to the village and parked it in the parking lot between The Strand and the Mariemont Inn. The idea was use the vehicle’s intrigue, size and color as a bulletin board, or as an instrument to promote area business and stir interest.
That type of advertisement, though, is not allowed within the village.
Once in Florida, the bus needed to undergo some surgery. It needed new batteries; the fuel pump and brakes needed upgrades and much electrical work was necessary.
The bus’ top deck lost the windshield during transport and there were numerous exterior leaks that were patched.
Now that the bus is running like a well-oiled machine, the new owners believe there is still a couple years of touring left in the engine. The bus has already been heavily used during holidays giving Pensacola residents and visitors rides throughout the city and beach-side. It has even made the trip to Louisiana for Mardi Gras and traveled in parades.
When the new owners feel the bus can no longer be useful for transportation, they said they might gut the inside and renovate the vehicle into a food service or restaurant on wheels.
Posted by johnston at 11:13 AM
March 22, 2005
Carlson Wagonlit makes village a global entity
Carlson Wagonlit Travel/The Travel Authority is among the Top 20 travel management companies in the United States.
"Our staff has traveled to the far reaches of the globe; from Vietnam to Tasmania," says office manager Gail Carpenter. "We have a world map with push pins marking every destination to which we have traveled."
This extensive travel has allowed the Mariemont staff to become subject experts in many parts of the world. From a cooking class in Tuscany to a safari in Africa, the Mariemont branch of Carlson Wagonlit Travel/The Travel Authority is up to any travel challenge.
In the travel industry, experience matters and the Mariemont office presents a host of seasoned travel consultants. Jeannie Houston, an agent for more than 10 years, specializes in luxury cruises and personalized European vacations. Other office staff members include Karen Able, Robert Beiring, Cindy Berre, Amy Bishop, Sally Gibbs, Robert Gorman, Barbara Redemeier, Sylvia Ridenour and Nancy Schroeder.
Carpenter, having sixteen years in the industry herself, says, "Despite the current popularity of online travel, we believe that people still want the face to face contact and trust level that a local, experienced Travel Consultant can provide. We strive to exceed our client's expectations and make their experience exceedingly special in every way, from start to finish."
Office hours are Mon-Fri 9a-5:30pm, by walk-in or by appointment.
-- informatiion contributed by TTA
Posted by johnston at 11:53 AM
Become a Barista ... for home
The Mariemont Starbucks, located at 6800 Wooster Pike, is hosting its annual brewing sale from Wednesday, March 23, to Tuesday, April 12. Included at the sale will be a Starbucks brewing equipment demonstration from 11 a.m. - 4 p.m. Saturday, April 2. Shop employees will show visitors how to brew various coffees and how brewing equipment is used. "We'll be serving up exceptional prices on coffee grinders, espresso machines and more," according to the manager. For more information, call 272-6839.
Posted by johnston at 11:28 AM
March 21, 2005
Frame by frame and never the same
It is always an interesting day for Pat Moores and Judy Runnels, owners of Framer’s Guild in Mariemont.
At the top of a the store's back wall is a framed authentic front page of a newspaper that reads “War Over”, dated 1945. In the corner is a framed piece of art from an artist who studied under Pablo Picasso. On a shelf beneath a framing table is a mat with numerous minute hand-made models of WWII airplanes - they too are fixing to be framed.
“We are really happy with our jobs,” Runnels said.
“You never get bored.”
Nor would anybody with an interest in history, art, rare artifacts and the occasional odd - or outright bizarre - memorabilia.
For 25 years the two women have been partners of the village’s framing shop. The idea to open a framing business was developed when the two Anderson Township residents, who were neighbors and walking buddies, were discussing ways each would plan their future after their children graduated high school.
“We knew we wanted to do something. We didn’t want to develop empty-nester syndrom,” Moores said with a laugh. “I was working part-time at a frame shop and I really enjoyed it.”
Opportunity presented itself when a vacancy was available at the 6880 Wooster Pike location.
Moores and Runnels said their husbands warned them that they would soon grow tired of being business owners, but 25 years later the women are still framing their creative touch to people’s valuable possessions and heirlooms.
The majority of items the women frame are posters, photographs and artwork; but they are always amazed at what people own - or find - and want matted and framed.
They have framed signed photos of various presidents and first ladies, turkey tails, snake skins, an Olympic torch, sailors’ shirts, wedding dresses, Scrabble boards and a quilt that squeezed through the front door by less than an inch.
“The quilt was made from satin linings of coffins and needed to be carried out of the store by three men,” Moores said.
One client dropped off a box that contained four tiny bones she wanted framed.
“We looked at them and thought they were cute. They looked like they were made of ivory,” Runnels said, explaining that their client afterwards informed them that the contents in the box were actually human earbones. “She told us they were from her first autopsy.”
The women have also worked with numerous Civil War artifacts, ranging from backpacks to diaries. One of the most intriguing items they have framed were a pair of gold epaulettes worn on the shoulders of President Abraham Lincoln.
They have framed Roman coins dating back to 600 B.C., Cincinnati sports memorabilia, and even a creative cane with a wheel at the bottom for a man who once sprained his ankle.
“It always surprises me. And people come here from all over,” Runnels said.
The owners also work with the Mariemont School District, offering 10 percent off for students in the art department.
“We get a lot of pieces from students from the art department,” Runnels said. “Many of those students are really talented.”
During the week, you can find the two owners cutting, chiseling, fitting, measuring and painting an assortment of frames. What they are framing, though, could be just about anything.
For more information on how you can have a valuable possession framed, call the owners at 561-6003.
Posted by johnston at 07:32 PM
March 17, 2005
Sara Benjamin's H.O.P.E.s to help with South African aid
It’s amazing what the affects a candid conversation at the local Pancake House can have on people literally thousands of miles away.
There is a school of thought that says a flap of a butterfly’s wings in China could set off a tornado in Texas, and that same school of thought could be applied to Cincinnati Country Day freshman Maya Amoils and a small group of her friends.
Amoils’ parents are from South Africa and she has made several trips to the country. Her most recent trip to South Africa, though, provoked a revelation: Maya realized just how fortunate she is.
The majority of children living there have been orphaned by AIDS and HIV and they live in absolute poverty.
“The last time I was there I handed out clothes to many of the children. On the last day I was there all the children came runner after (me) because they didn’t want us to leave,” Amoils said. One of the little girls asked Amoils how she was doing, whereupon Maya answered, “I am fine. How are you?”
The little girl replied, “I am very, very happy.” The girl was referring to the clothes and food that Amoils and her family were able to offer the children.
As a result of that trip, Amoils decided she would strive to help make a difference in those children’s lives.
“Some friends and I were at a Pancake House and we were talking about how lucky we are (for all we have) and I said I wanted to do something for those children,” Amoils said.
“In the rural area of South Africa you pass numerous tiny shacks because the people are so poor. They have absolutely nothing,” she said. Nothing includes no running water, no plumbing, no electricity and little - if any - food.
“While I was there it just hit me suddenly that these people live this way,” she said.
Based on that conversation over pancakes, a ripple effect which will favorably impact children on a different continent was created.
Amoils started a non-profit organization named H.O.P.E. - Help Other People Endure - and with the help of her friends and several local businesses, she has been able to market and sell “H.O.P.E.” t-shirts to raise money for the children of South Africa.
Thus far, Amoils has raised more than $8,000 for the organization and come July her and some friends will be traveling to South Africa to build a state-of-the-art playground for the children.
Her goal for the organization is to build a center where the children can attend, buy clothes, eat healthy food, be educated, entertained and taught how to become self-sustaining people.
Lori Tanzer is the owner of Sara Benjamin’s, a clothing store located at 6810 Wooster Pike in Mariemont, and she has been selling Amoils’ H.O.P.E. shirts.
“I think it is great what Maya is doing so I offered a place to help her cause. We have already sold more than 50 shirts. We need more already,” Tanzer, whose daughter is a friend of Amoils, said.
Maya’s mother, Sandi, said her daughter and her friends have made the organization a success without the help of parents or other adults.
“They will be going to South Africa this summer so the students can meet and connect with the children, so they can see how these children suffer. The students will then have a greater understanding,” Sandi said. “The people live in tiny, tiny shanties with thatched roofs. And the children have absolutely nothing.”
When Amoils returns from South Africa this summer after building the playground, she hopes to raise more money to ensure the other goals of H.O.P.E. become a reality.
The shirts cost $15 and are on display at Sara Benjamin’s. For more information, call the store at 272.2280.
Posted by johnston at 02:31 AM
March 15, 2005
Giving Back Just a Slice of LaRosa's Communtity Support
The Mariemont LaRosa's recently sent over 200 pizzas to Children's Hospital, an unexpected treat for the young patients.
Owner Randy Lipps said he was asked if a job that size could be done and he replied "no problem."
Of course, making 200 pizzas is quite a tall order for any store of any size, let alone the store located at 6950 Madisonville Road. So Lipps called a neighboring store and asked for assistance in making some of the pizzas.
"We enjoy making pizzas at a discount for schools and non-profit organization events," Lipps said. "All we need is a little notice. The larger the order, the more time for notice.
"But we will find a way to get the pizzas there," he said.
That LaRosa's location also has a pizza trailer for various festivals. The LaRosa's contributes to the Taste of Mariemont and every Friday the store delivers pizzas for lunch to the Queen of Angels Montessori.
"We are willing to do it for any school," Lipps, who has owned the Mariemont location for over a year, said.
Basically, LaRosa's - a Cincinnati-based franchise - was founded on community service and support.
"The founder instilled in all his workers to give back to community who supports us," Lipps said, adding that in the mid-1970s the founder's main location burnt to the ground.
The store didn't lay in ashes and ruin long, though; local high schools offered helping hands and assisted in re-building the store. The act of kindness resulted in an indebted relationship to the community.
The Mariemont store was supposed to be sold a couple years ago after suffering some hard times.
Lipps said he knew he could keep the store in the village and offered to buy and operate the store in December 2003.
"And I am very pleased with the response from the villagers," he said.
To inquire about LaRosa's helping with a school function or non-profit event, call 271-2133 and speak either to Lipps or a manager. Large one-item pizzas are available for the charitable events for $6.50.
Posted by johnston at 12:10 PM