NORTHWEST PRESS Your Community Press newspaper serving Colerain Township, Green Township, Sharonville, Springdale, Wyoming and other Northwest Cincinnati neighborhoods
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2020 ❚ BECAUSE COMMUNITY MATTERS ❚ PART OF THE USA TODAY NETWORK
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Out of obscurity One of America’s forgotten presidents gets parade Carl Weiser, Jeff Suess and Sharon Coolidge Cincinnati Enquirer USA TODAY NETWORK
NORTH BEND, Ohio – You might consider the parade here earlier this month the equivalent of a participation trophy. Of the 45 presidents the nation honored on Presidents Day, none served as short a term as William Henry Harrison. He died just 31 days into his presidency and is buried in a tomb overlooking the Ohio River in this town 15 miles west of Cincinnati. Despite a term so short that he left no imprint on the presidency itself, See HARRISON, Page 2A
Coach Josh Geers works with a child at Club MMA in Green Township. The facility’s programs help individuals “fi ght life’s battles through martial arts.” PHOTOS BY KAREEM ELGAZZAR/THE ENQUIRER
Club MMA Founders say mixed martial arts can help teach kids life skills
Segann March Cincinnati Enquirer
A birthday tribute was held in honor of President William Henry Harrison at his memorial site in North Bend, Ohio, on February 7.
USA TODAY NETWORK
After joining a mixed martial arts program four years ago, Andrew Watkins is overcoming his struggle with social interactions by helping lead class activities. Watkins, a 9-year-old who has Asperger syndrome, joined Club MMA in Green Township to learn martial arts. His father Ron Watkins says “All Blue Drew” continues to grow emotionally, physically and socially every time he steps on the gray mat. “They say it takes a village to raise a child and MMA is truly a part of our village,” Watkins said.
“They say it takes a village to raise a child and MMA is truly a part of our village.”
AMANDA ROSSMANN/THE ENQUIRER
Coach Nik Hoobler-Scherff holds out pool noodles for children to kick during an exercise at Club MMA.
Ron Watkins
Club MMA parent
Success stories like this are one of many reasons Club MMA has stacks of thank-you letters from past students and a brand new MMA facility to accommodate growing enrollment numbers. Co-owners Jeff Robison and Abbie Clark say they created the program to help individuals “fi ght life’s battles through martial arts.” Thousands of West Side students have enrolled in fi tness or martial arts programs since its grand opening in 2008, Clark said. To date, 525 children and adults are enrolled in various programs. Coaches, who specialize in child development, help students develop coping mechanisms and teach them sportsmanship, goal-setting techniques, martial arts and leadership traits. “Our coaches get to develop kids’ confi dence and teach life skills in each class,” Clark said. “They actually prac-
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A Club MMA student smiles during an exercise at the Green Township facility.
tice shaking someone’s hands and introducing themself.” Robison’s lifelong passion for martial arts prompted him to open an MMA school. The deeply aff ected his life and he wants it to change others’ lives as well. See MARTIAL ARTS, Page 3A
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Owner Jeff Robison hugs his son, Stryker, 6, at Club MMA.
News: 513-903-6027, Retail advertising: 768-8404, Classified advertising: 242-4000, Delivery: 513-853-6277. See page A2 for additonal information
Picketers at Kroger want to raise awareness on food deserts Segann March Cincinnati Enquirer USA TODAY NETWORK
Mount Airy and Colerain Township shoppers recently picketed in response to the closing of the Kroger store where they shop. The protesters shined a light on the negative impacts of not having a Kroger nearby. Grocer offi cials abruptly notifi ed the community this month that it would close its Colerain Avenue location in Colerain Township on March 4 due to a lack of profi tability. Residents believe the closure discriminates against lower-income consumers and creates a food desert. Kelli Prather, a social justice advocate, said this has happened across different neighborhoods in Cincinnati. “Not only are they closing this store, but they’ve also closed the Walnut Hills store, College Hill, Camp Washington and Bond Hill Kroger,” Prather said. “These are predominantly low- to moderate-income communities where they have a lot of single-parent households with children. There’s a huge disabled population here.” See KROGER, Page 2A
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