CityBeat | January 22, 2025

NEWS

Drones to Begin Responding to Some 911 Calls in Hamilton County

The sheriff’s office said it can reduce manpower hours by about 20% with the use of Skydio drones.

BY MADELINE FENING

The Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office will be the first law enforcement agency in the state to remotely dispatch drones to 911 calls through the Drones As First Responders (DAF) program.

The drones are part of a 10-year contract with Axon, which also includes body worn cameras. The drones themselves are made by Skydio, a California-based aerial robotics company used by law enforcement agencies and the U.S. military. The drones are piloted remotely from the sheriff’s office headquarters in Mt. Healthy Heights. Thanks to a special first responder waiver from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the drones don’t have to be in the line of sight of the operator and can fly over cars and people.

Kevin Boyle, Skydio’s head of major accounts, said Hamilton County will have three drones in pre-positioned charging docs across the county starting in March, with the goal of having 15 Skydio drones operating by the end of next year.

“As 911 calls for service are received by the sheriff’s department, those calls, through integration with the dispatch system, will show up to our Drones

as First Responders pilot here,” Boyle said. “The pilot is able to get the drone on scene before any patrol car is even there, increasing situational awareness and getting that real-time information into the hands of decision makers.”

With that real-time information, Lt. Steve Sabers said the department can reduce manpower hours by about 20%. Officers piloting the drones can respond to calls for service before officers and provide information gathered by the drone pilots that can speed up the investigation process, or even replace the need for an in-person officer entirely.

“For example, a lot of times hours are wasted on the streets,” Sabers said. “Guys responding to disabled vehicles that end up being not occupied, being dispatched to auto accidents and the dispatch comes out northbound 71 and the crash is actually southbound 71. What we’ll be able to do is deploy a drone ahead of time and we’ll be able to see exactly [where the crash or disabled vehicle is] and better direct the officer responding to the quickest path.”

Sabers said the DAF program will be useful in any situation, but he highlighted the need for more visibility on traffic stops, domestic violence runs,

assault runs, fights or burglaries in progress.

“Those will be our focus,” he said. “Trying to get there before the officer and provide oversight to give them a little, ‘Hey, there’s a guy in the back yard just so you know when you approach.’”

Considering the presence of drones may be distressing to those experiencing a mental health crisis, CityBeat asked Sabers to explain how such calls will be handled if a drone arrives before an officer.

“Oftentimes, when the drone is up there, the person on the ground doesn’t even hear it,” Sabers said. “We’ve had an incident recently where the [mobile crisis team] actually listened in and decided from what they were seeing that they would respond to the scene, they would make the decision as to whether the person needed to get further help or let them be released to a family member.”

Sabers addressed any RoboCop concerns, saying the FAA has “strict restrictions” on drones with offensive functions, but the drones will have two-way communication capabilities. This means the drone operator could speak to people on the ground, but Sabers said the drones are not meant to

replace officers.

“Our expectation is this will never replace the officers on the street — all we’re looking to do is reduce the amount of time spent on different calls for service,” he said. “All we want to do is give our communities one more tool to keep our officers safe and to keep them safe.”

The department said it has developed policy guidelines for the DAF program, which CityBeat has requested in full, but added that these guidelines will be “fluid” in the first year.

“We look across the country,” Sabers said. “Look at what departments have deployed Drones as First Responders already, what policies do they have, how are they working, how do we make that fit in our agency and then adopting on the fly.”

Other major cities that have implemented the DAF program include the New York Police Department and the Boston Police Department. The cost of Hamilton County’s DAF program is not yet clear, according to the department, because the Skydio system is part of an overall bundled contract with Axon.

A spokesperson for the sheriff’s office said they are working on identifying the total cost.

Skydio drone

PHOTO: MADELINE FENING

Donations Cover Middletown Marching Band Inauguration Visit, Nothing from JD Vance

BY MADELINE FENING

Middletown High School raised enough funds to send nearly 170 students and staff to D.C. on Inauguration Day, but the man Middies traveled roughly 500 miles to celebrate was noticeably absent from the trip’s donor list.

On Dec. 5, the district first announced that JD Vance, a Middletown native and next Republican Vice President of the United States, asked students from his alma mater to perform in the 2025 Presidential Inaugural Parade on Jan. 20.

“This once-in-a-lifetime opportunity comes thanks to a special invitation from Vice President-Elect JD Vance, a 2003 graduate of Middletown High School,” the district said while announcing the invitation.

But sending a large group to D.C. for Inauguration Day isn’t cheap: Middletown City School District confirmed to CityBeat the total cost for the trip would hover around $140,000. The district made it clear from the beginning that students and parents would

not be responsible for any costs related to the trip. Instead, the district put out a call for donations to send the Middie Marching Band, color guard, cheerleaders and necessary staff on the trip.

Early public donors included Ohio Sen. George Lang (R-West Chester Township), who pledged $1,000, and Butler County Sheriff Richard Jones, who pledged $10,000.

“When I went to school, I didn’t have any money and definitely couldn’t afford a trip to Washington D.C.,” Jones said in a Dec. 5 Facebook post. “So, I’m making sure these kids can participate in an experience of a lifetime.”

Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost, an ardent Trump-Vance supporter, raised more than $27,000 for the band trip in a GoFundMe campaign.

“When I heard that they needed help to get there, I knew what I needed to do,” Yost wrote in the fundraiser description.

Yost himself contributed $100, according to the GoFundMe.

As of Jan. 8, Middletown had

received more than enough to cover the expected cost of the D.C. trip, according to a district spokesperson: Private donations including direct payments by check, PayPay and Yost’s GoFundMe: $103,999.07

• Donation from Sheriff Jones: $10,000

• Donation from the City of Middletown: $10,000

• Ohio Department of Development Grant: $50,000

The grand total was mere pennies away from $174,000. According to a district spokesperson, some of the remaining $35,000 was used to upgrade band equipment for the trip, as well as to purchase a banner, shirts and other branded items to commemorate the event.

On Jan. 9, the district posted an Instagram photo of a billboard depicting the Middie Marching Band, which includes a call for donations along the bottom of the billboard.

“Help us cheer on the Middletown High School Marching Band, Color Guard, and Cheerleaders as they

prepare to represent Middletown on the national stage!” the post caption reads.

Vance didn’t donate, why does it matter?

CityBeat asked the district to clarify if Vance or the Trump Inaugural Fund contributed anything to the trip.

“No,” was the reply.

Since the initial trip announcement, CityBeat repeatedly asked Vance’s team if the millionaire Hillbilly Elegy author planned to donate to the fund, but his team never responded.

Vance has a net worth of around $10 million, according to Forbes, and the book he wrote about Middletown is no small part of this fortune.

Hillbilly Elegy: A Memoir of a Family and Culture in Crisis reportedly sold more than 3 million copies, catapulting Vance and Middletown to rapid national relevance in 2016. The book went on to receive a Netflix adaptation starring Glenn Close and Amy Adams in 2020. The best-selling book tells the story of Vance’s upbringing in Middletown, chronicling his mother’s opioid addiction, being raised by his “Mamaw’s” Appalachian values and how abuse and poverty shaped his view of white, poor, working-class Middletonians and Americans.

Critical reception for Vance’s memoir was mixed, even in Middletown; some thought the story was inspiring, others exploitative. CityBeat explored the tension surrounding Vance with Middletown natives in a limited-series podcast, “Elegy: The Many Myths of JD Vance.”

Still, in 2024, 62% of Middletown voters cast ballots for Trump-Vance.

Several Middie parents told CityBeat they were excited for their students to attend the presidential inauguration.

“We’re very excited that she gets to experience this once in a lifetime opportunity,” one parent wrote in a private message to CityBeat. “Yes, we do support Trump/Vance.”

“Band mother here!!!! We are ecstatic for these kids!!!” wrote another parent on Facebook.

But one mother, who CityBeat is not identifying for the sake of privacy, said her daughter chose not to attend the inauguration out of protest.

“She decided not to go because it is celebrating Vance and Trump,” the Middie mother said. “None of their views align with the values that we teach our children at home. Especially with my daughter being a young Black woman that identifies as part of the LGBT community, she told me that it made her uncomfortable doing anything to celebrate them while they are actively trying to remove her rights in multiple aspects.”

Several billboards depicting the Middletown High School Marching Band have popped up around Middletown.

PHOTO: MIDDLETOWN CITY SCHOOLS VIA INSTAGRAM

Gov. DeWine Chooses Replacement for JD Vance’s Senate Seat

BY MADELINE FENING

Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine has appointed his Republican lieutenant governor, Jon Husted, to Ohio’s Senate seat recently vacated by Vice President-elect JD Vance.

“I wanted someone who has a firm grasp and understanding of the complexity of Ohio, the diversity and, frankly, the greatness of Ohio,” DeWine said at a Friday news conference announcing the appointment. “I have worked with him, I have seen him. I know his knowledge of Ohio. I know his heart. I know what he cares about. I know his skills. All of that tells me he is the right person for this job.”

Husted, 57, has served in the Ohio House of Representatives, including as House Speaker from 2005 to 2009. From there he moved to the Ohio State Senate before he was elected Ohio Secretary of State in 2010, winning re-election in 2014. He joined DeWine’s office as Lieutenant Governor in 2019.

Husted will serve in the U.S. Senate through 2026 when he’ll run in a special election to finish the remaining two years of Vance’s term. Husted confirmed Friday that he plans to run for the seat.

Speaking of his time serving alongside DeWine, Husted reaffirmed his commitment to the Trump administration in his new role.

“We have worked to make Ohio great again, and I look forward to working with President Trump, JD Vance, to make America great again,” Husted said.

As Ohio Secretary of State, Husted hired Stephanie Ranade Krider, executive director of Ohio Right to Life, as his director of policy and legislative affairs. After her appointment, Krider said she was “honored to work for a great pro-life leader.”

Husted championed Ohio’s six-week ban on abortions following the Supreme Court’s overturn of Roe v. Wade in 2022. When Ohio voters approved a constitutional amendment to protect abortion rights in 2023, Husted said, “we respect the decision of the voters.”

Ohio Right to Life congratulated Husted in a Facebook post following DeWine’s announcement, saying, “We thank you for making the right to life one of your top priorities! We are so happy to know that you will be fighting for life in the US Senate!”

Planned Parenthood Advocates of Ohio said Husted’s longstanding anti-abortion stance “raises serious questions.”

“Ohioans spoke loud and clear in 2023 when they overwhelmingly voted in favor of the Reproductive Freedom Amendment, affirming their support for access to essential health care,” said Lauren Blauvelt, executive director of Planned Parenthood Advocates of Ohio. “Lieutenant Governor Husted now has an opportunity to represent the voices of his constituents, not advance a national anti-abortion agenda.”

The Ohio Chamber of Commerce applauded DeWine’s decision, calling Husted “the right choice.”

“Lt. Gov. Husted has always been committed to building a growing and

prosperous state economy, and he has consistently taken action to make Ohio a great place to live, work and do business,” said Ohio Chamber President Steve Stivers. “Taxes that harm small businesses

could double in the near future, the federal budget must be balanced and permitting reform is necessary to strengthen our state’s business climate. Lt. Gov. Husted is the right choice to get these things done and to advocate for Ohio at the Congressional level, and we look forward to working with him in his new role.”

Progressive policy think-tank Innovation Ohio called out DeWine’s decision to appoint Husted as “a big win for big business.”

“Husted is backed by big businesses that price-gouge us at the supermarket and at the gas pump, while they post record profits,” said Nick Tuell, senior communication director at Innovation Ohio. “As Ohio House Speaker, Husted eliminated taxes for big corporations at the expense of higher sales taxes on our everyday goods. Jon Husted is a career politician who always backs his big business pals over Ohio working families.”

DeWine’s appointment narrows the field of potential candidates to succeed the term-limited DeWine as governor in 2026. Biotech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, a Cincinnati-area native, has signaled interest in the governorship.

When asked who will fill Husted’s role as Lieutenant Governor, DeWine said he’ll start thinking about it after Monday’s inauguration.

“One big decision at a time,” he said.

Paychex Stadium? What we Know about the Paycor Acquisition

BY MADELINE FENING

Norwood-based Paycor, a human capital management software company that employs approximately 2,900 employees, has entered into a multi-billion dollar agreement to be acquired by another company.

Paychex, another human capital management company, announced on Jan. 7 that the company will buy Paycor for approximately $4.1 billion, an all-cash offer of $22.50 per share. The definitive agreement has been unanimously approved by the boards of both companies.

“I’m excited to welcome Paycor to the Paychex family,” said John Gibson, President and CEO of Paychex. “For over 50 years, Paychex has been committed to helping businesses succeed. This acquisition represents a significant milestone in our journey to provide best-in-class HCM solutions to businesses of all sizes.”

Paycor provides human resources and payroll services for over 49,000 clients, but the company has also been the sponsor of the Cincinnati Bengals stadium

Paychex, another human capital management company, announced that the company will buy Paycor for approximately $4.1 billion, an all-cash offer of $22.50 per share

since 2022. CityBeat has reached out to representatives from Paycor and Paychex for clarity on the stadium’s future name. It’s also unclear if Paycor’s plans to move their headquarters to Cincinnati’s Downtown neighborhood will be impacted by the sale. 3CDC announced in May that Paycor will occupy the

second floor of the former Saks Fifth Avenue store on Fifth Street, which 3CDC purchased.

The new space is supposed to serve as a hub for training, corporate events and hosting associates from across the country, according to a press release from Paycor announcing the move.

PHOTO:KEVIN LUSH

Lt. Gov. Jon Husted

PHOTO: OFFICIAL PORTRAIT

Broken Hearts Club

How online romance scammers hide behind the vulnerable

BY ROWAN HETZER

AND ZURIE POPE, CITYBEAT’S FALL 2024 NEWS INTERNS

Pamela Moore is 66 years old. She is the mother and grandmother of many children, and, aside from one speeding ticket from 2005, has no criminal record. No one would expect to find her name mentioned in a criminal investigation – certainly not a federal one – which made her appearance in a Southern District of Ohio press release even more surprising.

The press release, published on Aug. 27, 2024 announced that Moore had been sentenced to 24 months in prison for laundering money for online romance scammers, who obtained the cash from victims nationwide.

A romance scammer is a person who creates a fake online identity to deceive potential victims into developing romantic feelings, with the intention of exploiting them for money or personal gain.

According to court documents, between 2020 and 2023, Moore’s multiple personal and business bank accounts received more than $8 million in criminally derived funds. Investigators with the U.S. Attorney’s Office announced Moore had personally received approximately $1.7 million of the funds, which she “used or converted to Bitcoin at the direction of the scammers.”

But this short press release from last summer tells only part of the story. The crimes of Pamela Moore – and how she came to commit them – illuminate the world of online romance scams, a billiondollar industry that preys on vulnerable people worldwide.

Who is Pamela Moore?

Pamela Sue Quehl, later known as Pamela Moore, was married to Lawrence E. Moore Jr. for 37 years. They tied the knot on May 23, 1978, and spent some of their life together in a quiet home east of Cincinnati in Clermont County. Their modest house, a 3-bed, 1-bath residence nestled on a half-acre lot, bordered a golf course and a lush county park. Pamela’s life with Lawrence was shaped by love and family, and they raised three children together. Lawrence, known to many as “Larry,” was a beloved husband and father, known for his giving nature and his infectious warmth. He passed away on Oct. 29, 2015, at the age of 61.

In his obituary, his niece wrote that his “warm hugs, a contagious laugh, and a beautiful singing voice will be missed.”

Though Moore was not yet in her 60s when she lost her husband, she was still

close to an age group that often faces heightened vulnerability to such profound losses, as older adults – particularly women – disproportionately experience widowhood.

Moore, like many others, found herself caught in the dangerous web of online

scammers. Though the specifics of how they targeted her remain unclear, it is evident that, like many victims, she became vulnerable to their deceptive tactics.

“Moore did not initially intend to engage in criminal activity, but instead was hoping to find companionship online,” the court documents say.

The court records state that Moore herself fell victim to the ploy, initially losing “six figures” to the same unidentified scammers she later abetted, and “deluded herself” into thinking their relationship was genuine.

Moore’s crime

In August 2024, after an 11-month investigation, Moore was sentenced to 24 months in prison for laundering more than $8 million for online romance scammers between 2020 and 2023. She was ordered to begin serving her sentence on Dec. 2, 2024, but in November a judge granted a motion to extend Moore’s surrender date until April 1, 2025.

Though repeatedly emailed by CityBeat to schedule an interview, Lauri Tekulve, Moore’s attorney, said her client “is not interested in speaking” with the press.

Moore’s daughter Kimberly Moore,

Pamela Moore on her wedding day in 1978

PHOTO: FOREST HILLS JOURNAL, MAY 23, 1978 VIA NEWSPAPERARCHIVE.COM

though initially interested when contacted by CityBeat, eventually stopped responding to our requests to speak on the record.

Records show that Moore set up a fraudulent shell company, PSM Custom Designs and Jewelries, to facilitate the scam. Established on Oct. 20, 2020, the LLC was purportedly created to buy and sell jewelry and custom-designed shirts. The company funneled money to unnamed romance scammers, as indicated in court documents. Through this company, Moore opened business accounts with PNC, JP Morgan Chase and other banks, which were used to move funds.

“Moore used as many as 20 banks and cryptocurrency exchanges,” wrote Kyle Brice, Jeffrey Laber and Chris O’Hagan, special agents with the Cincinnati IRS Criminal Investigation Division, in an emailed response to questions from CityBeat.

“This investigation involved dozens of bank accounts. There were personal checking and savings accounts, as well as business accounts in a shell company that Moore set up, at the direction of the scammers,” the investigators said. “The investigation involved unraveling many transfers among all the accounts. We also interviewed victims whose money Moore had received in these accounts.”

In one instance, according to court records, Moore received half a million dollars from an entity referred to as the “Deborah Bolner Prost Trust.” The money first appeared in the business account of her shell company. It was then transferred to her personal account and eventually wired to the Gemini Trust Company, an

online cryptocurrency exchange. The cash was converted to Bitcoin and transferred to virtual wallets controlled overseas.

The role of crypto

Cryptocurrency, or “crypto,” is a digital currency that operates on a public ledger called a blockchain. The currency is decentralized, meaning funds are not controlled or protected by a central bank or government. Crypto has become an essential tool for romance scammers to secure money stolen from their victims.

Nearly 70,000 people reported a romance scam to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) in 2022, with $1.3 billion in reported losses. Cryptocurrency and bank wire transfers were the most common methods people used to send money to romance scammers, together accounting for over 60% of those reported losses.

These crypto trading schemes, known as non-compliant bitcoin exchanges, do not adhere to legal regulations and standards, especially those regarding verification of user identities or monitoring suspicious activity. This potentially allows criminals to use the platform for illegal activities they’d rather not have traced, such as money laundering.

“Most of the world’s banks have to comply with U.S. court orders or they’d risk being cut off from doing business with American banks, which is crippling,” the special agents told CityBeat

While crypto transactions occur outside the traditional banking system, the digital currency is usually ultimately converted back to normal currency by cyber currency exchanges. However, there are many

cyber currency exchanges based overseas that do not have to comply with U.S. law enforcement.

“There are a good many of these exchanges that operate in countries that will not readily comply with a United States court order. Once crypto reaches accounts controlled by such an exchange, there is virtually no way for U.S. law enforcement to find out who owns the account and who received the laundered fraud proceeds,” the IRS agents explained.

The victims of the scam

According to court records, individuals from across the country suffered financial losses due to the online romance scammers Moore ultimately assisted. The court ordered Moore to pay $1,680,900 in restitution as part of her sentence.

Of the five victims listed in court documents related to the case, only one responded when contacted by CityBeat, denying a request for an interview.

“I don’t want to relive it,” she said.

One victim, Deborah Bolner Prost of San Antonio, Texas, lost $975,000 to the romance scammers, with her money being laundered through Moore. Prost is the president of Prost Marketing, a marketing and management-consulting company.

Catherine Miller, located in Ann Arbor, Michigan, lost $195,000 to the scammers. Miller’s address is associated with the now-dissolved voluntarism and grantmaking foundation Pietrasiuk Foundation Inc., where, in its IRS forms, she is listed as president.

Carol Gingery of San Diego, California, lost $55,900, according to court records.

Gingery is a retiree who formerly worked at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management.

Barbara Sichory, who lives in Chicago, lost $25,000 as part of the scam.

Boston-based sustainable agriculture company Kula Bio is the only corporation listed as a victim in the court records. The business reportedly lost $430,000 to the romance scammers Moore worked with, but it is unclear how the company became associated with Moore.

Understanding romance scams

Romance scams exploit emotions and vulnerability for financial gain. Scammers build relationships with victims under the guise of romantic interest, ultimately manipulating them into sending money or providing personal information. While these scams are often associated with the digital age, their origins trace back to schemes like “mail-order brides,” where fraudsters corresponded by mail, eventually requesting funds for trips that never happened.

The internet, especially social media and dating apps that allow us to connect with others easily across the globe, has amplified the reach and number of these schemes, allowing criminals to target victims worldwide.

“Romance scams and other cyber fraud schemes can take place anywhere there is an internet connection,” the IRS told CityBeat

As the number of victims continues to rise, fueled in part by the increasing accessibility for communication and companionship online, some individuals

are taking action to fight back against these fraudulent schemes. Little do the scammers know, some people dedicate time and effort specifically to mess with scammers, a phenomenon known as “scambaiting.”

One of these people, a YouTuber known by her online alias of “Annie,” has multiple characters lurking in public forums, social media sites and comment sections across the internet, waiting for scammers to reach out and get caught in her trap. On Annie’s YouTube channel, Romance Scammers And Online Scams, she exposes the inner workings of these scams through undercover investigations, recorded conversations with scammers and live interviews with victims and fellow scambaiters.

“I have several girls – characters – that I use for scambaiting: older or middle-aged ladies who talk to these scammers so that you can see how the scams operate,” she explains in her YouTube introduction video. “Real victims have told their own stories to help prevent people just like you from falling victim to these romance scammers.”

For over two decades, Annie has worked in computer education and tech support, which evolved into raising awareness about online safety. This journey led to creating an anti-scam blog, Keep Safe on The Net, and eventually expanding into YouTube and social media to combat scammers directly.

Scammers commonly find victims through dating websites and social media platforms. Annie comments on public posts through profiles made to look like anyone’s grandma, waiting for scammers to reach out to the innocent-looking profile and purposely positioning herself as an ideal target.

Once contact is established with a potential victim, scammers employ a variety of tactics to manipulate their targets, such as love bombing, emotional manipulation and gradually grooming victims. Some scammers build trust over time before requesting financial help. Others may test the waters first with small requests, such as asking for gift cards.

The FTC found that, across 8,070 romance scam reports, romance scammers most often lied about themselves or a loved one being hurt, sick or imprisoned; claimed they could invest money on the victim’s behalf; pretended to be in the military or working on an oil rig far from the victim; or needed assistance with a delivery.

“They’ll start telling you that they’re going to get paid when the contract finishes, and then that’s when [they say] they can’t access their bank account, because they’re on an oil rig,” Annie said in an interview with CityBeat

Annie has seen these practices used all the time throughout her experiences scambaiting.

“The scammers use a combination of, obviously, love bombing, telling you how amazingly wonderful you are and they love you, usually immediately after they’ve asked you for money.”

In an episode of one of her video series, where she lures a potential scammer

named Luis, Annie reads aloud a “good morning” text sent to her by the scammer.

“Good morning, my love. May God’s grace shine upon you today, guiding every step you take. May you find strength and peace in His presence, and may His blessings fill your day with joy and purpose. Amen,” the text read, followed by 22 heart emojis and four prayer hand emojis.

These techniques ensure the scammer maintains control over the interaction, keeping the victim emotionally dependent and willing to comply.

But once people realize that the person they are speaking with may not be who they say they are, the scammers do not hesitate to verbally abuse, manipulate or draw fake sympathy from the victim.

“As soon as victims start putting up resistance, then they turn on the victims,” Annie noted.

In a video where Annie discusses a viewer’s scambaiting attempts, the texts between the scambaiter and scammer reveal a rapid descent into hostility once the scambaiter called out the scammer for randomly adding them and immediately expressing a desire to get to know the person.

“Say your last word then you will be gone!!!” the scammer said.

The scammer even went as far as to request a photo from the scambaiter, calling the person an “old fool,” a “bastard” and personally attacking the scambaiter’s sick mother.

While these tactics are designed to prey on anyone, certain individuals are more susceptible due to emotional or social vulnerabilities. Annie specifically highlights these demographics, which are also often noted by other federal enforcement agencies:

• Older adults: There are a multitude of scammers that exploit the loneliness and lack of tech fluency in this group.

“They’re more likely to be divorced, they’re more likely to have money available because their children have left home, so have their savings readily accessible, and be willing to access them,” Annie explained.

• Abuse survivors: Victims with a history of giving in to bullies or narcissists are especially vulnerable, as scammers use similar manipulative tactics.

• Widowed or divorced individuals: These people often have similar experiences to older adults and abuse survivors.

• People experiencing addiction: Dopamine, a neurotransmitter linked to the effects of drugs of abuse and potentially instrumental in triggering the neurobiological changes associated with addiction, is released during social interactions and conversations such as these. Those who may be susceptible to addiction may find themselves experiencing similar positive emotions and associating the scam with high dopamine levels. These vulnerabilities create the perfect environment for scammers to exploit. For

PHOTO: KEEPSAFEONTHENET.CO.UK

instance, older adults may be particularly susceptible to love bombing, as they may not receive much attention or affection in their daily lives. Similarly, abuse survivors, who have experienced manipulation and control, may find themselves unknowingly falling into the same patterns with a scammer.

“If nobody’s ever said, ‘How are you this morning, honey? Did you have a good night?’ the victims see that as somebody that cares about them, because nobody ever has,” Annie explained.

Moore’s background matches that of other women who were manipulated by online scammers.

“Scammers strategically target recently widowed or divorced seniors due to their vulnerabilities and access to cash,” wrote the Department of Homeland Security in their August report on the rise of romance scams.

Romance scams frequently intersect with financial crimes such as money laundering. Scammers often recruit unsuspecting victims as “money mules” to transfer illicit funds.

The FBI defines a money mule as someone moving money at the direction of another person, often receiving a commission for their service believing they have a trusting and/or romantic relationship with the scammer.

This creates an additional layer of risk, as victims unknowingly facilitate criminal activity.

“The money mules fall into two camps. There are those that are willing accomplices ... And then there’s the middle ground, which tends to be either students or people who are newly integrated to the state,” Annie said.

The FBI states that unwitting or unknowing money mules – individuals unaware they are part of a larger scheme – are often targeted through online romance scams or fraudulent job offers. These individuals may be asked to use their personal bank account, or even open a new one in their

name, to receive money from someone they’ve never met in person. They may be instructed to keep a portion of the money they transfer, often motivated by trust in the supposed authenticity of their romance or job position.

However, if a money mule ignores obvious red flags or acts willfully blind to their involvement, or if they are aware of their role and actively participate regardless, they are considered “witting” and “complicit,” respectively. Given Moore’s advancement from victim to fellow perpetrator, she could potentially be considered unwitting or complicit, but her level of awareness of the scam is unknown at this time.

IRS agents have confirmed that perpetrators range from large, organized networks to small, independent operators. Offshore groups in countries such as Nigeria and other parts of West Africa have been documented as being involved in these schemes.

“Almost all the scammers that I personally deal with [are] romance scams based in Nigeria. I think that the scammers are doing a huge disservice to their country and to the citizens of Nigeria,” Annie said.

Legal landscape and consequences

Online romance scams and associated money laundering crimes carry severe legal consequences under U.S. federal law and state statutes.

Individuals who knowingly engage in fraud or facilitate the movement of illicit funds can face charges such as wire fraud, bank fraud and money laundering. Federal penalties for these offenses often include extensive prison sentences – up to 20 years for wire fraud and money laundering –along with substantial fines.

In Moore’s case, her role as a money mule involved transferring stolen funds through those various accounts, allowing scammers to obscure their trail and position Moore as their scapegoat.

Federal law does not always distinguish between intentional accessorizing actions and actions of those coerced into participation, complicating the legal proceedings.

Law enforcement agencies, including the FBI and Department of Justice, have intensified efforts to prosecute individuals involved in romance scams, with international cooperation being a key component. Due to many of these schemes’ overseas origins, collaboration with organizations like the International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL) is crucial for tracking and dismantling global networks.

However, the complexity and variability of these scams require tailored enforcement solutions.

“There are large, well-organized criminal networks who engage in online fraud schemes. There are also smaller, less sophisticated schemes that may be one-person operations,” the IRS explained to CityBeat

For victims of romance scams, the repercussions can extend far beyond financial

Annie, a self-proclaimed scambaiter, educates audiences on her YouTube channel about romance scam warning signs.

loss. Those unknowingly drawn into schemes as facilitators or money mules may also face criminal charges, despite being manipulated. Victims who act as intermediaries to transfer funds, even under false pretenses, can be prosecuted for aiding and abetting money laundering, just like Moore.

Moore’s case is one that falls in this legal gray area. Court records indicate that she believed her actions were helping someone she trusted, a common tactic used by scammers to exploit their victims’ emotional vulnerabilities. Despite being a victim herself – losing significant sums of her own money – Moore’s involvement in laundering for the scammers resulted in federal charges.

Politics and prevention efforts

While law enforcement focuses on prosecuting offenders and dismantling criminal networks, the fight against romance scams also extends to the political and preventative arenas. Politicians and elected officials have both attempted to address the growing issue of romance scams in their communities.

California Congressman David Valadao introduced the Online Dating Safety Act on Oct. 30, 2023, which mandates online dating service providers to notify users of potential fraud if they’ve received messages from banned users on the platform. As of Sept. 24, 2024, the Senate has received the bill from the House, read it twice and referred it to the Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation for further review.

On Feb. 14, 2023, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) launched an awareness campaign to educate the public about digital romance scams. At the same time, the Department of Justice established the Money Mule Initiative, which aims to raise awareness about money mules, how they receive money from fraud victims and how to prevent people from falling victim to such schemes.

Locally, former Hamilton County Prosecutor Melissa Powers established the Elder Justice Unit in 2023, aimed specifically at addressing crimes targeting elderly residents of Cincinnati.

“All of us have aging parents, we all want them to be safe, and there’s nothing worse than being taken advantage of when you know that they’re vulnerable,” said Powers in the promotional video for the unit.

Newly-elected Hamilton County Prosecutor Connie Pillich, who made history as the first Democratic prosecutor in Hamilton County in 92 years and succeeded Powers, was asked by CityBeat about her plans for continuing the Elder Justice Unit and her perspective on the growing issue of romance scams.

According to Pillich, the unit visited places where senior citizens would congregate, such as retirement homes, senior citizen centers and community buildings,

“If you’re not sure about the person that you’re talking to online, say something ridiculous to them and see if they notice or not,” she said. “If they don’t notice, it means they’re not really reading what you’re saying – they’re just working their way down the list with standard questions and answers. You might say something like, ‘Oh, I just jumped off the curtain rod and broke my ankles,’ and they’ll respond with something like, ‘Oh, wow, that’s amazing,’ because that’s what’s next in the script.”

to give presentations about what the scams could look like and general tips regarding keeping personal information safe online. However, Pillich says that further details about the unit were not provided in her transition paperwork.

“As a prosecutor, I do want to be very involved in our community, in terms of crime prevention, and certainly protecting our seniors – and frankly, everyone else – against these scams is going to be part of that. So, I look forward to being able to either continue or expand upon what was started in 2023,” she told CityBeat

For Pillich, the issue of scams that target elderly people hits close to home.

Pillich shared that she personally knows someone who fell victim to a scam while in a vulnerable situation. The person, dealing with a very ill family member, received a call about a computer issue, which she misunderstood. In her distress, she unknowingly gave out her bank account number to the scammer.

“People have different vulnerabilities at different times in their life, particularly for our seniors when technology is changing for them. They are not keeping up with all the new technologies. It’s easy for them to get trapped,” Pillich added.

Protecting yourself and loved ones

Romance scams, as they shift with technological advancements and ongoing digital education, still cause emotional and financial devastation for thousands of individuals every year. The path to recovery for the victims of these scams can be convoluted or ultimately fruitless, further adding to the ongoing damage.

Annie and the IRS agents, as well as other resources such as the FBI and Department of Homeland Security, all recommend familiarizing yourself with the red flags of scammers early – knowing how to respond can make all the difference in preventing these scams from spiraling out of control. Across the internet, be wary of anyone who asks for sensitive personal details like your Social Security number, bank account or credit card information – especially if you are not completely certain of their legitimacy. A reputable person or institution would never need that level of information right away.

Always double-check website URLs and verify the identity of the person you are speaking with. A good way to verify someone’s digital identity is to perform a reverse image search to check if the person’s photo is being used elsewhere. Scammers often use stolen photos to create fake profiles.

When talking to someone, if a conversation with someone seems too perfect or quickly rushes to move conversations off dating platforms, social media or call center lines, that’s a major red flag. Scammers often try to establish a private line of communication to avoid detection by platform securities, which makes it harder to track communication logs later on.

Take your time to get to know the person and ask plenty of questions. If they evade certain topics or become defensive, it’s time to be suspicious.

Love bombing is a tactic used to manipulate victims emotionally. If someone quickly starts showering you with compliments or professing love, but only after a brief interaction, be cautious.

If someone promises to meet in person but constantly comes up with excuses to delay, even after months of communication, you have cause for concern. A legitimate person would eventually make plans to meet if they were truly interested.

Annie recommends an easy way to check if someone you’re speaking to online is genuinely listening or if they’re just following a scam script: flip the script yourself.

“If you’re not sure about the person that you’re talking to online, say something ridiculous to them and see if they notice or not,” she said. “If they don’t notice, it means they’re not really reading what you’re saying – they’re just working their way down the list with standard questions and answers. You might say something like, ‘Oh, I just jumped off the curtain rod and broke my ankles,’ and they’ll respond with something like, ‘Oh, wow, that’s amazing,’ because that’s what’s next in the script.”

If you suspect you are being targeted by a scammer, the FBI and DHS recommends immediately taking these steps: Stop communication immediately with the suspected scammer. Do not respond to their messages or calls. If the individual tries to keep you away from friends or family, or asks for money while also urging you not to tell anyone, that’s a clear sign

of manipulation. If possible, screenshot message logs and save them to keep for evidence.

Report any suspicious activity to law enforcement right away. The FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center is a good starting point for filing a report.

If you suspect that you or someone you know has already fallen victim to a scam, contact your local law enforcement or the IRS Criminal Investigation Field Office. If you’ve been asked to send money or personal details to someone you’ve met only online, do not do it. No legitimate person would ask for money this way. If you’ve already shared any sensitive information, monitor your bank accounts, credit cards and other financial records for any unauthorized transactions.

If you are unsure whether you are dealing with a scam, talk to trusted friends or family members for a second opinion.

Public education is critical. Stay informed about current online scams and share that knowledge with others. Educational resources outlining steps to protect oneself and others from fraud and scams can be found through the Ohio Attorney General. They also offer specific advice for caregivers of elderly individuals. Local community centers and senior living facilities often host presentations about online scams. If you are the child, friend, or neighbor of an elderly person who may be at risk, check in on them regularly to ensure they are aware of these scams. Be aware about the information they share online and take steps to make they understand the importance of protecting their personal details.

Necessary ongoing vigilance

The August press release on Moore’s indictment could lead some to believe the 66-year-old Cincinnatian is a criminal mastermind, but her story is just one among the tens of thousands of individuals who fall victim to digital scams specifically designed to prey on vulnerable populations.

While prevention efforts have increased from law enforcement, politicians and even vigilantes, the constant evolution of technology and security concerns leaves many scrambling to protect themselves and their loved ones – not only from blindsiding financial losses, but also serious legal consequences.

Annie warns vulnerable targets that online romance scams are more sophisticated than ever, but scammers’ core tactic gets at the heart of an age-old natural desire. One that predates technology.

“It doesn’t take long for most scammers to start telling you how much they love you,” Annie cautions on her YouTube channel, showing screenshots of messages she’s received from a romance scammer:

“If I were with you tonight, I’d hold you close, take in your beauty, and surround you with sweet love. Goodnight my cupcake.”

ARTS & CULTURE

A New Era

Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra Music Director Designate Cristian Mǎcelaru will perform his first 2025 concert with the CSO in February.

BY ANNE ARENSTEIN

Cristian Mǎcelaru, Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra’s Music Director Designate, returns to Cincinnati for his first 2025 concert with the CSO on Feb. 8 and 9, joined by violin phenom Randall Goosby.

“Southwestern Shakedown” from Wynton Marsalis’ Blues Symphony opens the program. Goosby performs Ernest Chausson’s “Poème” and Florence Price’s “Violin Concerto No. 2,” followed by Dvořák’s beloved “Symphony No. 9,” From the New World.

Dvořák was a champion of American music, specifically music from its indigenous peoples and from Black Americans. “I am now satisfied,” Dvořák wrote to journalist James Creelman, “that the future music of this country must be founded upon what are called Negro melodies.” He worked with Harry Burleigh, a Black student at the National Conservatory of Music in New York City, where Dvořák served as director.

Burleigh later created an arrangement of what became the spiritual “Goin’ Home,” based on the theme from the final movement of Dvořák’s 9th Symphony.

Mǎcelaru, who prefers being called Cristi, says three of the four works on the program are “snapshots of what Dvořák was talking about, especially in Florence Price’s concerto.

“It’s incredible music and the revival of her work is a tribute to people who worked hard to promote it and get it performed. When you do the right thing, you discover greatness.”

“Southwestern Shakedown” is a segment of Marsalis’s Blues Symphony.

“It’s like an encyclopedia of the American art form,” Mǎcelaru says.

Chausson’s “Poème” is a deep lyrical meditation based on a short story by Ivan Turgenev. Written in 1896, it is now a staple for concert violinists.

These concerts mark the first time Mǎcelaru will work with Goosby, whose electrifying performances for the CSO and Chamber Music Cincinnati led to Goosby being named the CSO’s 2025 Multicultural Awareness Council’s Music Innovator.

“I’m really looking forward to working with him. We have a lot of projects coming up so it’s great to have my first experience with him here in Cincinnati.”

Dvořák’s New World Symphony concludes the program, reminding the audience of the composer’s dedication to incorporating American roots music into his work. But, as Mǎcelaru notes, Dvořák was always a Czech composer.

“You can hear that in the Ninth, even as he’s using musical styles of indigenous people and from Black Gospel traditions.”

was a riveting performance; I was in the audience and I remember it well.

Mǎcelaru is married to an American bassoonist Cheryl Mǎcelaru, and became an American citizen in 2019. He and his family currently reside in Paris. He has spoken several times with CSO Music Director Laureate Louis Langrée.

In my final interview with Langrée, he said he was proud of the sound palette the CSO now has, and Mǎcelaru plans to build on that foundation.

“I’m grateful and thankful to Louis for laying the groundwork for me,” Mǎcelaru says. “There’s also a culture of sound that I will work on because this is a reflection of me and what I have experienced in my life. I think the reason I sound so confident in this is because I have experienced doing exactly this, both in Cologne and in Paris where I feel like the work we’ve done on a daily basis led to each ensemble having more versatility.”

“One of the things that attracted me to the CSO is the diversity and versatility of what they’re able to do,” he continues. “They’re one of the few ensembles in the world that does symphonic repertoire, opera, ballet and Pops, which requires an entirely different set of chops. It really mirrors my own development because I don’t want to specialize into one area or one thing.”

Two days prior to his concerts here, the CSO will announce the 2025-26 schedule. Details were not available but Mǎcelaru dropped some hints.

“But this is something we understand because we are human beings,” he continues. “And it does not need to have narrative for us to understand it. That’s why it’s so powerful and beautiful.”

“We can impose actually our own narratives on top of this and that’s as valid as the person’s next to us,” he adds. “It’s what I call discovering our music. The power of Dvořák’s music is that it’s just as powerful today as it was 100 years ago or more.”

The symphony has personal resonance for Mǎcelaru. “I’ve been an immigrant for most of my life,” he says. “And now my home is in America.”

Born in Romania in 1980, he studied violin and earned a full scholarship to Interlochen Arts Academy in Michigan. He received a bachelor’s degree from the University of Miami and became the youngest concertmaster in the history of the Miami Symphony Orchestra.

Graduate studies followed at Rice University in Houston, where he played in the Houston Symphony’s violin section and led the Youth Symphony for a year. He went on to serve as assistant conductor for the Philadelphia Orchestra and his career took off from there.

His first Cincinnati appearance was in 2015, leading the orchestra for Cincinnati Opera’s production of ll trovatore. It

He is an admirer and an advocate for Marsalis’s work. “We will be hearing more from Mr. Marsalis, I promise!”

Audiences can also expect an infusion of new works, whether premieres or recently composed. Mǎcelaru champions contemporary music and says he performs 25 to 30 premieres annually.

“I’m a believer in contemporary music because it mirrors who we are as a society and as human beings,” he says. “Each composer’s own approach and understanding of humanity is through what they write. That is so important in developing our own humanity.”

Mǎcelaru compares his role as music director to that of a curator.

“I’m trying to create what I think is the right balance of what I think people should experience, to encourage people, to gain their trust that regardless of what the offering is you will enjoy something in it. I hope this trust is something I can build in Cincinnati.”

Even as Mǎcelaru scales down his many international commitments, he’s one of the busiest conductors on the planet — “the seventh busiest,” he laughs.

“But when I’m here for the CSO, I’m completely in Cincinnati.”

Cristian Mǎcelaru leads the CSO for the Dvořák New World Symphony program on Feb. 8 and 9 at Music Hall.

Cristian Măcelaru

PHOTO: BEN KNABE

VISUAL ARTS

HNew Lloyd Library Exhibit Celebrates Our Unique Relationship to House Plants Over the Centuries

BY LEYLA SHOKOOHE

ouse plants have enjoyed quite the renaissance over the last five years. A study from the National Gardening Association found that indoor house plant gardening spending grew to $2.17 billion in 2021 from $1.31 billion in 2019, due in no small part to the COVID-19 pandemic. But when and why did we start bringing the outside in to live in our homes with us, making us plant parents, casual connoisseurs and special variety fanatics?

The Lloyd Library’s current exhibition, Welcome to My Jungle: In-Door Plants, explores our centuries-long fondness for flora.

“We have the first-ever book that mentions bringing in house plants, not just as storage during the off-season, [but] to actually make your house smell fragrant, like bringing basil and marjoram and flowers and carnations and setting them on your shelves,” said Patrick Ford, reference and cataloging librarian at the Lloyd Library.

That book is The Garden of Eden, written by Sir Hugh Plat and published in 1675. In it, among other botanical writings, Plat referenced the possibility of growing plants inside homes. The impetus for house plant ownership was spawned in part by colonialism.

“[At] the dawn of the Imperial Age, colonialism, Western European powers are going all around the world searching for things that will make them money,” said Ford. “Part of this is they all want to find the next sugar or something. This rush to document everything, all species of plants, is important to the story, this thrust of 18thand 19th-century botany. So this is a great example of botanical imperialism at work.”

Ford curated the exhibition, which is entirely created from the Lloyd Library’s existing collection. The library’s founders, the Lloyd brothers, were both 19th-century pharmacists who followed the school of eclectic medicine. This branch gathered medical traditions from around the world, from naturopathic remedies to immunization therapies.

“They really understood, as most medical practitioners had for centuries realized, that there was a real strong connection between plants and medicine,” said Patricia Van Skaik, the library’s executive director. “This collection of books basically included everything — things about nature, things about plants and things about medicine. And it didn’t have to be about all three.”

The Lloyds amassed a collection of about 50,000 volumes of such books by the mid1920s. Today, the Lloyd Library has 150,000 volumes of monographs and serials.

“Because of the nature of our collections and what printed books document, we

can show, very well, the really fancy plants and things that were used as house plants, from the dawn of printing going all the way back to the 17th century through early 19th century,” said Ford.

The exhibition highlights house plant trends, tracing their shift from a status symbol for the wealthy elite to a Victorian-era trend led by adolescent girls and, finally, to their everyday popularity by the mid-20th century. The introduction of Wardian cases, a sealed ancestor to modern-day terrariums, in 1833, is a house plant gamechanger.

Nathaniel Bagshaw Ward, an English physician with an affinity for botany, and nurseryman George Loddiges sent a Wardian case filled with 20 plants from England to Australia and 19 survived the journey. This success is documented in his landmark book, On the Growth of Plants in Closely Glazed Cases, first published in 1842.

“That completely transforms modern house plant culture,” said Ford. “Because it means that all of these different types of species that are new to the Western world, they can be shipped here now. They cause

Chicago World’s Fair, in the Colombian Exposition. This marked the plant’s introduction to the American public. Around this time the phrase ‘pteridomania’ is created.

“This [author] coins this term, ‘pteridomania’ — which means fern mania, fern fever,” said Ford. “He has a quote in there: ‘Your daughters perhaps have been seized with prevailing pterodymania and are collecting and buying ferns with Wards cases wherein to keep them.’”

As the exhibition moves into the 20th century, the abundance of the ornate Victorian era aesthetics becomes passe.

great excitement on the continent. That’s why we see these fabulous new plants. You see caladiums from Indonesia [become a] common house plant. We see all manner of orchids. This is why by 1870 we’re going through something in England called ‘orchidelirium.’ People are so crazy for all these new and wild plants.”

The books in the exhibition aren’t all house plant-specific. Many feature plants and flowers from more exotic climes. Dutch illustrator Berthe Hoola van Nooten’s lush illustrations of the native plants of Java, including the caladium, are featured in a book commissioned by the Queen Consort of the Netherlands, published in 1880.

“Back in the 19th century, they were really interested in creating books called floras,” said Ford. “A flora, beyond just all plant life, another synonym for it is a book that documents the plant life of an entire region. So this is a flora of Java showing off all the Javanese plants. Some of them are very mundane and not as eye-catching, but this one is super duper bold. That’s why we’ve opened it to this page — plus, it’s a common house plant.”

In 1893, caladiums were featured at the

“Post World War II, a lot of women are going into the workforce, and they’re decorating work spaces with flowers and domestic things,” said Ford. “That inspired a lot of people to bring them back into the home.”

African violets exploded in popularity in the ‘40s and ‘50s. Books from the ‘70s and ‘80s feature contemporary house plant classics, like monsteras and succulents. A copy of Stevie Wonder’s 1979 album, Journey Through The Secret Life of Plants, his musical response to a popular book of the era with the same name, is also featured, along with said book. The exhibition closes with Plants at Work: An Inspirational Guide to Greenterior Design, a 2021 book referencing the popularity of biophilic design, a term describing the integration of nature into the built environment.

“We’re gonna warm you up this winter with these wild, wildly colored plants,” said Ford.

Welcome to My Jungle runs through April 11. A Valentine’s Day plant matchmaking event is planned on Feb. 15, where you can be matched with your perfect plant companion. More info: lloydlibrary.org.

The Fern Portfolio (1885) by Francis George Heath

PHOTO: PROVIDED BY THE LLOYD LIBRARY

The Floral World and Garden Guide, 1877 PHOTO: PROVIDED BY THE LLOYD LIBRARY

Making “Room” for the Women of Hamlet at Cincy Shakes

BY RICK PENDER

Hamlet is often considered Shakespeare’s greatest play. From 1601, it’s the story of a young Danish prince struggling with avenging his royal father’s murder by his uncle, who has married Queen Gertude, Hamlet’s mother. The melancholic, conflicted prince is deemed mad by many around him, exemplified by his on-again, off-again relationship with sweet Ophelia, daughter of the king’s chief counselor. The tragedy, which ends with most characters dead, has been a theatrical staple for years, including for Cincinnati Shakespeare Company, which has staged it numerous times during its three-decade history. Last summer it toured an abridged version to an array of Greater Cincinnati parks.

Hamlet has been a catalyst for derivative works including Tom Stoppard’s Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead (1966) and the recent Fat Ham by James Ijames, which Cincy Shakes produced in September. The company adds to that category with a newly commissioned work, Lauren Gunderson’s A Room in the Castle, getting its world premiere this month in a co-production with Washington, D.C.’s venerable Folger Shakespeare Library Theater. A prolific playwright, Gunderson is no stranger to Cincinnati theatergoers who have seen a half-dozen of her scripts. The Revolutionists premiered at the Cincinnati Playhouse back in 2016 and has been frequently produced elsewhere. Other

local productions of Gunderson’s plays include Silent Sky, Ada and the Engine, and Toil and Trouble

In 2020 Cincy Shakes planned to stage Gunderson’s The Book of Will. It was a pandemic victim, but it led to a conversation between her and the company’s artistic director, Brian Isaac Phillips. In a recent phone conversation with CityBeat, she recalled, “Brian and I had a great conversation about looking at Hamlet’s women characters, which is always my wont on whatever project I’m doing.”

Gunderson saw Ophelia as a remarkable character, but one that felt unfinished. She also saw the story’s “inherent violence in the pursuit of justice” as a feature that did not feel feminist, “not safe in this world to be around a character like Hamlet. …When you look at the story through the lens of Ophelia who has no power at all and from Gertrude who I think is way smarter than we give her credit for … well, that’s what I wanted to explore in the play.”

Gunderson’s three-character play — including Queen Gertrude, Ophelia and Anna, Ophelia’s lady-in-waiting and confidante — is set in “a room in the castle,” surrounded by the swirling political intrigue of Shakespeare’s tragedy. “I started to write about Ophelia,” the playwright said, “and ended up discovering Gertrude and finding a woman of great power and savvy, who also needs to learn a lesson about taking care of the women around her. So it is a conversation about

intergenerational sisterhood, a kind of wholesome humanity that has to fight for its life at a time of great moral question and great chaos in a nation.”

Gunderson concludes her version of the story with a surprisingly hopeful ending. She calls her new script “sort of a jubilant rebellion against the plot of Shakespeare. But that comes from a place of reverence for Shakespeare.”

The tension between rebellion and reverence, she explained, “makes the play so sparkly, so funny, so feisty. It’s designed to be both a gut punch and a celebration.”

Gunderson’s script was refined via a new play development program at the Folger. Now it’s a co-production first onstage here in Cincinnati, then returning to the nation’s capital in February. It’s being staged by Kaja Dunn, a theater professor at Carnegie Mellon University who works frequently at the Folger. She served on a panel with Gunderson when the script was previewed there.

In an interview with CityBeat Dunn described her attraction to the play. “It was about mentoring children, about women taking back their grace and their autonomy, about an older generation fostering a younger generation of women, helping them navigate the treacherous patriarchy. Those are all things that are deeply close to my heart.”

Dunn’s production features an actor from New York City, another from Washington, and Burgess Byrd, a veteran of Cincinnati stages. Dunn has assembled

a creative time composed largely of women, many of whom are mothers. “It’s always my intent when I direct to sort of push people to think about diversity onstage, but rarely offstage.” This time, she says, “we have a really great team with several mothers, people who are excelling at their jobs, but not always seen.” That includes Cincy Shakes’ scenic designer Samantha Reno and costumer Rainy Edwards.

Dunn likes the script’s swift pace. “People think because it’s Hamlet it’s going to be a very serious show, but there’s actually a ton of fun. It’s funny, it’s quick. … Lauren has such a deep knowledge of Shakespeare, so she does it without thumbing her nose. It’s a deep respect. But I also felt a huge justification when I encountered this script. I thought, ‘Oh, that’s how it could be done.’”

Asked if her script is a tragedy or a comedy, Gunderson said her plays often have elements of both. A Room in the Castle starts with humor and a song by Ophelia but as darkness descends, it turns in a new direction. “Then there is a reckoning. Hope comes for every character in the play. Each one finds her own agency, her own reason to live, and frankly her own choice.” It’s a surprising take on a familiar tale.

A Room in the Castle, presented by Cincinnati Shakespeare Company, opens on Jan. 24 and continues through Feb. 9. More info: cincyshakes.com.

Cincinnati Shakespeare Company’s production of A Room in the Castle: Director Kaja Dunn clinching (L) Burgess Byrd (L) as Anna and Sabrina Lynne Sawyer (R) as Ophelia.

PHOTO: PROVIDED BY CINCINNATI SHAKESPEARE COMPANY

FOOD & DRINK

Pure Comfort

Biscuit Love serves up a delicious and comforting ode to the biscuit.

REVIEW BY NADYA ELLERHORST

Ihave long slept on biscuits. For more than half of my adult life, my understanding of “biscuits” was limited to the Pillsbury discs you have to aggressively wring a cardboard roll to get to. With experience, I learned that “biscuits” could also take the form of those much more pillow-y versions you could get at the Frisch’s breakfast buffet (gone, but never forgotten). I realized there was more to this world than mildly chalky bread frisbees from freezer-friendly packaging.

But up until recently, I had yet to try what you might call a “real,” “classic” biscuit. So when I learned that chain Biscuit Love had opened a location downtown — its first outside the Southeast — I took it as a good opportunity to educate myself.

Biscuit Love began over 10 years ago as a food truck concept. Today, the family-owned franchise operates 6 spots across Tennessee, Alabama, and now, Ohio.

I walked into the Pleasant Street location on a chilly, flurry-filled Friday around noon. I was immediately greeted by a small retail area and register, where you place your order before being seated. Despite it

being lunchtime, the space wasn’t too crowded, and I was able to order pretty much immediately.

Biscuit Love’s menu leans towards breakfast and brunch fare. The variety of biscuit dishes aside, the restaurant also offers grits bowls, waffles, granola bowls and other morning-centric dishes, alongside a selection of beverages, including fresh-squeezed orange juice and a small cocktail menu. Biscuit Love also has jars of its jam and takehome varieties of its signature biscuits for sale.

Obviously a biscuit newbie, I decided to play it safe. Instead of following my heart, I followed the little doodle hearts printed on the menu designating “Customer Favorites.” I went for the “Princess” biscuit sandwich, featuring a “Nashville Style Spicy Boneless ‘Hot Chicken’ Thigh,” pickles, mustard and honey, but passed on the option of adding an egg for a $2.50 upcharge. I also opted for a side of stone ground

Had I not already reached my caffeine limit that morning, I would have loved to sit at the coffee bar in the back, which offers a selection of specialty lattes. My lemonade soon arrived. Much to my relief, it wasn’t the overly-sweet type. With a color as deep as apple juice (hello, brown sugar!), it hit that perfect tartness threshold. Even in spite of the cold day outside, it was incredibly refreshing. I couldn’t stop sipping and was comforted by the “free refills” note on the menu.

My meal arrived soon after. The first thing I noticed was that the biscuit was square. Again, complete biscuit rookie here (“They can do that?”), and this had no impact on the flavor whatsoever. I’d just thought I’d put that out there to spare anyone else deceived by the Pillsbury Doughboy from being visibly surprised to the embarrassing degree I was.

Despite being advertised as a sandwich, I had to tackle the Princess with a knife and fork. I tore off a bit of the breading first, and once again had my expectations defied. The batter was airy and fluffy, and had a consistency more along the lines of tempura, instead of a harder crunch I was expecting of the fried chicken. It packed a slow-acting punch; the spice kicked in at the very last minute, and I was thankful I had ordered the lemonade.

cheese grits. Although not a customer pick, I found myself intrigued by the housemade brown sugar lemonade and ordered a cup. Their famous “Bonuts” – fried biscuit dough with sugar, lemon mascarpone and blueberry compote –also caught my eye. However, they only come in a “shareable” serving of five, and dining alone, I thought it wiser to limit myself and stuck with the savory dishes.

I sat at the table matching the number I was handed at the register. I could feel the copy of What Would Dolly Do? staring me down from the gift shop, wall art printed with the same question hanging nearby (alongside major holidays, Biscuit Love staff also get a day off in September for Dollywood Staff Appreciation Day). I enjoyed the ambiance; alongside the Dolly-bilia, stylized images of Cincinnati mingled with floral wallpapers and the floorto-ceiling windows allowed sunlight to spill in and let me take in the snowfall.

In tandem with the pickles, honey and biscuit, the spice of the chicken became less potent. All elements combined made for what I’d call a cozy burn. The dark meat chicken was a great complement to the fresh biscuit, the greasy (in the best way) bites balanced out by the layers of soft, buttery, flaky bread. The tart pickles and sweet, runny honey were also great complements to the mix, although I wasn’t really picking up any of the mustard drizzled on top. For $13, I’d say it’s a hearty sandwich — but definitely not one you should expect to eat on the go.

I absolutely loved the buttery, thick grits – they were delicious and another effective means of keeping the spice at bay. But an order is only a small saucer full. For the $4 asking price, I was scraping the plate in no time and left wanting more.

All in all, my meal was flavorful, fresh and filling. I appreciated the efficiency of service with the welcoming, sitdown atmosphere. I was in and out fairly quickly, yet I was still treated to a homestyle meal. My quest for biscuits certainly won’t stop at Biscuit Love, but I can see myself returning to try the other, more breakfast-y dishes — biscuit-related or otherwise — down the road.

Biscuit Love, 1602 Pleasant St., Over-the-Rhine. More info: biscuitlove.com.

The Princess sandwich at Biscuit Love PHOTO: NADYA ELLERHORST

The brown sugar lemonade at Biscuit Love PHOTO: NADYA ELLERHORST

MUSIC

Recommended Listening

Cincinnati band Carriers announce new album Every Time I Feel Afraid

BY BROOKE BURKHARDT

Before stepping foot in a recording studio, Curt Kiser — the mastermind behind the Carriers project which originated in Cincinnati — knew that songwriting was his calling.

“When I was 19 years old, I looked to the heavens and asked what I should do with my life,” Kiser said in a press release. “I grabbed the old 1950s Goya guitar which was passed down to me from my great uncle Andy, sat on my porch in Cincy’s Camp Washington neighborhood and proceeded to write one of the first songs I’d ever written on my own. From that point on, I’ve never stopped writing. It’s my therapy.”

On Every Time I Feel Afraid, Carriers’ latest album set to release on May 2, Kiser takes listeners on an Americana drive down the road to destiny; although it seems endless, stopping to appreciate the little things along the way keeps him going. On standout track “Sometimes,” Kiser laments over a guitar twang: “Sometimes I get to thinking ‘bout this life/where I’ve ended up and was it right.”

Fans of Lord Huron and Hozier will likely feel at home in the Carriers’ introspective look at life’s great uncertainties and how he transforms them into hope. The album’s title — Every Time I Feel Afraid — is a mantra used by Kiser when faced with tough times. This sense of optimism is a major theme throughout the album, notably on track “Blurry Eyes,” which was written

during the COVID pandemic. Kiser gently explains in the song: “Try to trust that it’s alright/have my doubts, but still, I find/blurry eyes, blurry eyes/is it something for this time?”

Support for Carriers has recently been bolstered after signing to the Brooklyn recording label Brassland, which was co-founded by brothers Bryce and Aaron Dessner of acclaimed Cincinnati band

The National. Kiser previously completed session work on The National’s last two albums, and drummer Bryan Devendorf can be heard on Kiser’s last EP, Blue EP. Additionally, Carriers performed during a Monday night football game for the Cincinnati Bengals in the 2024 season to an audience of 60,000 people. The Carriers have also opened for rock groups Big Thief and Band of Horses.

Praise for Carriers extends beyond Cincinnati, with indie-rock musician Sharon Van Etten listing Carriers in her “recommended listening” liner notes on her latest EP.

Believers of fate will find solace in the album and all its internal worries. Kiser’s raw and relatable struggles with life get turned on their head throughout the album, showing that every burden makes the light brighter at the end of the tunnel.

Tracks “Sometimes” and “Blurry Eyes” are available to buy/stream at ffm.to/ everytimeifeelafraid. Carriers’ album Every Time I Feel Afraid is out May 2.

Curt Kiser of Carriers

PHOTO: EGAN PARKS

ZACH TOP

Feb. 1 • Andrew J Brady Music Center

In the modern country music landscape dominated by pop-country artists, many artists have been lauded as “returning” country music to its roots. Tyler Childers and Sturgill Simpson, among countless others, have earned that title from fans. However, country music has many different facets, and each of them deserves to have a return to the spotlight. Country music has so many subgenres and different interpretations of its core that it’s sometimes even hard to distinguish what’s true country and what’s not. While no single artist can “save” country music or “bring it back,” Washington-born artist Zach Top has revived one of country music’s most classic eras.

In recent hits like “I Never Lie” and “Sounds Like the Radio,” Top has brought the deep, soulful vocal ability and smooth-yet-honky-tonk sound of classic ‘80s country artists like Randy Travis and Keith Whitley back into the consciousness of country music fans. With his musical roots coming from his time as an accomplished bluegrass guitar player, in a genre where authenticity is often questioned, Top isn’t to be questioned. If you’re a fan of that prime ‘80s and ‘90s country sound, I recommend giving Top a listen, and if you enjoy it, you’ll be happy to hear that he will be coming to Cincinnati’s Andrew J Brady Music Center on his “Cold Beer & Country Music Tour” this February.

Zach Top plays the Andrew J Brady Music Center on Feb. 1 at 8 p.m. The show is currently sold out. More info: bradymusiccenter.com. (Bryce Russell)

NILE

Jan. 30 • Bogart’s

To all the metalheads of Cincinnati, it’s time to rejoice: One of the early heavy metal influencers is on tour and they’re making a pit stop in the Queen City.

Heavy death metal outlet Nile is set to shred at Bogart’s on Jan. 30 as part of their “Revenge of the Underworld Tour,” and they’re bringing a slew of other thrashing acts with them as well. Formed in 1993 in South Carolina, Nile was originally founded by vocalist and guitarist Karl Sanders. Sanders formed Nile from another band he had fronted during the ‘80s called Morriah. He would later be joined by members Chief Spires and Pete Hammoura. The trio would go on to release Nile’s first

self-titled demo in 1994, and the rest was history. With three decades of albums, lineup changes and multiple record deals under their belt, Nile has become one of the most prominent representatives of the heavy metal scene. Nile has always been a unique entity. When the band was formed in the early ‘90s, the heavy metal thrashing sound was still somewhat taboo. Nile was one of the early pioneers in mixing this harsh sound with more technical and fast-paced sequences. Arguably, their blend of technicality and heaviness is one of the key reasons the band has remained relevant for so many years. This sound has even gone on to be recycled for a lot of modern heavy metal bands like Whitechapel and Suicide Silence, with the latter once stating that Nile has been a direct influence on the band’s sound.

Another distinct aspect of Nile is the band’s lyrical and visual content. Sanders has always held a fascination for the ancient Egyptians and their culture, and this fascination has managed to weave its way into Nile’s music, with many of their songs referencing Egyptian mythology, religion and lore. This is reflected within the band name itself, as Nile was named after the great river that runs through Egypt. This certainly gives the band character, and their fans love them all the more for it.

Nile plays Bogart’s along with Six Feet Under and Psycroptic on Jan. 30 at 5:30 p.m. More info: bogarts.com. (Logan Turner)

Nile PHOTO: JONAS ROGOWSKI, WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

Zach Top PHOTO: INSTAGRAM

AI SLOP

BY BRENDAN EMMETT QUIGLEY

Across

1.  Without question

6.  Split personality?

11.  See 24-Across

14.  Doctor

15.  Bit of punch

16.  Swallowed

17.  Make ice cream?

19.  Call it a career

20.  Take things in

21.  Out in the open

22.  Bars on a staff

24.  With 11-Across, mic check phrase

25.  [mind blown]

26.  Parisien pixies?

32.  Communication interceptors

34.  Now just hold everything!

35.  Mid-afternoon break

36.  Ship that carried the Golden Fleece

37.  Get the car ready for a trip

38.  Italian home of the Arena Garibaldi stadium

39.  Crossword solver, apparently

40.  Centipede’s head?

41.  Small boats

42.  Part of a pogo stick no longer working?

45.  Cooking staple acronym

46.  “Is it ___ wonder?”

47.  Sparkle with morning moisture

49.  Hard stuff

52.  Guardian, Angel overseer

55.  Genre for Piebald or Karate (Boston pride!)

56.  Peninsula that’s not the easiest place to live?

59.  Liberty Mutual bird mascot

60.  Pungent

61.  Say out loud

62.  White stuff on bacon

63.  Farm team supports

64.  More chill

Down

1.  Group of friends you wouldn’t dare ghost, for short

2.  Way back when, in stories

3.  Available

4. Archaeologist’s estimate

5.  Gerrymanders

6.  Java application

7.  Sound from a crowd

8.  Leave off

9.  Patriots Day mo.

10.  Butterfly-shaped gland located in the neck

11.  1980 movie set in the Overlook Hotel

12.  “Gimme! Now!”

13.  “Never tell me the ___” (Han Solo)

18.  Totally balanced

23.  Eustachian tube location

24.  Loaded ___ (Nabisco cookie)

25.  Distort

26.  Solved, as a puzzle

27.  Refuse

28.  Lily family plant

29.  “On Call: A Doctor’s Journey in Public Service” memoirist

30.  Where the Land of Nod is vis-à-vis Eden

31.  Hydra-facial establishments

32.  Puts into words

33.  Actor’s thing

37.  “Move! Now!”

38.  Very small

40.  Time you might go sledding

41.  Cleaner with an evergreen scent

43.  “___ got your nose!”

44.  Hard to motivate

47.  Burrito filling

48.  Mackey of “Sex Education”

49.  Cry from 50-Down

50.  Friend of Nermal

51.  Company that made America’s first exported car

52.  OS that uses shell commands

53.  Horse hair

54.  Place to go fishing

57.  Prefix with sphere and friendly

58.  Letters on a hoppy beer

LAST PUZZLE’S ANSWERS: