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March 28, 2007
Sara Benjamin's hosting fundraiser
One busy weekend at Sara Benjamin's could literally save the lives of many in Africa.
Mariemont's clothing boutique will be hosting a fundraiser for Nothing But Nets, a global campaign to save lives by preventing malaria, one of the leading killers of children in Africa.
According to Nothingbutnets.com, malaria infects approximately 500 million people a year and kills more than one million of those infected.
The campaign helps raise money that will provide adequate bed nets that keep malaria-carrying mosquitos from biting people while sleeping.
Lori Tanzer, owner of Sara Benjamin's, will be carrying clothing by Loomstate, Twistedheart and Twilltwentytwo, all lines that are part of the Namaste Showroom. Sara Benjamin's has joined this showroom's fundraising team, Namaste for Nets, part of the global fundraising efforts of Nothing But Nets, Twenty percent of all sales on May 18, 19 and 20 will go directly to Namaste for Nets/NothingButNets.
With money raised from hosting the event, the nets will be transported to Africa and distributed to families.
The fundraiser will take place May 18-20. Sara Benjamin's is located in The Strand, beside The Dilly Deli and Eastern Hills Cleaners. Sara Benjamin's will have extended hours: Friday, May 18th - 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., Saturday, May 19th - 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., and Sunday, May 20th - Noon to 5:00 p.m.
Posted by johnston at 06:16 PM
March 21, 2007
Never a dark moment from now on
From now on, guests of the Best Western Mariemont Inn will not be left in the dark.
That is because the upscale hotel has installed a state-of-the-art natural gas generator that will ensure the lights will never dim, even if the rest of the villagers are lighting candles.
“The generator was definitely needed to provide the reliable service that we want to be known for,“ Bill Spinnenweber, General Manager, said. Losing electricity has never been a major problem for the Inn but there have been a few blackouts in past years, some lasting overnight.
The generator not only ensures the Inn will remain lit, but that the level of customer service that has helped define the historic landmark will not dwindle.
“The reassurance of always maintaining power is important to the guests and us. It is also part of the overall experience we want to provide our guests. The Inn is the flagship of the square and now will never be dark,” Spinnenweber said.
The generator will power the lobby, elevator, stairhalls, hallways and all of the guestrooms and bathrooms.
Guests will still enjoy all the amenities provided to them through the hotel and Duke Energy, including television, telephone, Internet access, hot water, heating/cooling, light and electrical outlets. Only a damaged telephone pole will cause lost service from either Cincinnati Bell, the local phone company, or Time Warner Cable.
The generator will not issue power to the surrounding shops, National Exemplar and Southerby's Pub.
“With the generator officially installed and online the hotel will never go dark again,“ Spinnenweber said.
The generator is powered by natural gas and is installed behind the hotel in a brick enclosure. It has also been outfitted with special sound damping material so there is minimal sound pollution.
In addition, the hotel owners installed new windows with the highest sound ratings on the market today -- making the rooms above the generator as quiet as the ones on the other side of the building.
“It's absolutely amazing,” Spinnenweber said, adding the generator is so sophisticated that it will automatically test itself every week and alert hotel staff of any problems via a remote panel.
Posted by johnston at 07:13 PM
March 15, 2007
New book looks at UC in a photographic perspective
Robert Flischel believes for an urban school the University of Cincinnati is at the front of the class.
“It is not within the leafy confines of some other picturesque universities, but UC does possess a remarkable aesthetic and experience,” Flischel, proprietor of Robert A. Flischel Photography located in Mariemont, said.
With what he is most impressed and interested is the university’s architecture. That is why he has spent the past three years studying, visually breaking down and taking photos of 18 major buildings and sets of buildings that comprise the university.
The finished result will be a photography book on the old and new architecture of UC, a “… photographic portrait of the whole university with historical information throughout.
“I want to engage the viewer in what is really going on there,” Flischel said, “while following the administration’s mission that UC is an environmentally-friendly place of study.”
Flischel has already completed a photography book on the architecture of the Cincinnati city school buildings, a system that used to include the university. He felt now was the opportune time to complete the project.
So he approached UC officials three years ago to ask permission to conduct the project and has since been visiting the campus, looking at each building in its entirety, breaking each building down into its many details, studying light angles and reflection and determining points of perspective.
Three years later and a studio filled with beautiful pictures of UC, Flischel believes it is important for people to realize that if they just drive around the school they will not be able to experience what the architects have been able to successfully accomplish, “… which is an effort to unify the space and buildings and mix a lot of styles of architecture.
“People really need to walk throughout the campus,” he said.
Flischel is working with writer Jayne Merkle, who is writing the architectural introductions for each chapter in the book, and Kevin Grace, University of Cincinnati archivist, who is writing historical sidebars in the book.
A chapter of the book can be viewed by visiting www.robertflischel.com
The book will be available at every bookstore in September.
Posted by johnston at 03:33 PM
March 09, 2007
Hear ye, village residents
Part of what makes the village of Mariemont unique from surrounding communities is the government format it maintains.
The village still holds an annual town meeting where everyone gathers in a designated meeting place to ask questions, raise issues, listen to addresses from prominent pillars from within the community and hear what their elected leader has to say about the decisions of the past year and what the community hopes to accomplish in the following year.
There is even a town crier who announces the start of the meeting by wearing a white wig and clanging the town bell.
Very few communities in the United States still maintain the centuries-old tradition, and Mariemont's town meeting is an integral part of the village's history and character.
On Sunday, March 11th at 1:00 p.m., the annual Town Meeting will be held at the Mariemont Elementary School.
"All residents are encouraged to take part in this very important event," Mayor Dan Policastro said in his mayor's report to the village. "It is a great way for residents who have recently moved to the Village to learn about Mariemont."
This year, elections will be held for Council seats in both District One and District Five. In addition, there will be elections for the positions of Clerk and
Mayor.
Posted by johnston at 11:52 AM
March 03, 2007
Listen up
In case you haven't heard, Dr. Cynthia Whitehurst , who holds a doctoral degree in audiolgy from the University of Florida, established the Mariemont Hearing Center in 1997. Dr. Whitehurst has over 20 years of clinical experience.
Easily found at 6954 Madisonville Road, the quaint and pleasant office is just to the left of the Mariemont Theater and the Quarter.
Mariemont Hearing Center offers a wide range of services including diagnostic hearing testing, hearing aid evaluations and fittings for all levels of technology, preventative maintenance and hearing aid repair services, assistive listening devices, earmolds for swimming, industry and music, audiological rehabilitation and counseling.
If you or someone you love is experiencing hearing difficulties, please call for more information or come in for a complimentary consultation. Contact Dr. Whitehurst at 271-7778 or email mhc@fuse.net.
Posted by johnston at 12:24 AM