Northwest Press 03/17/21 by Enquirer Media

NORTHWEST PRESS Your Community Press newspaper serving Colerain Township, Green Township, Sharonville, Springdale, Wyoming and other Northwest Cincinnati neighborhoods

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 17, 2021 | BECAUSE COMMUNITY MATTERS | PART OF THE USA TODAY NETWORK

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Winton Woods City Schools unveils new $51 million campus Madeline Mitchell Cincinnati Enquirer USA TODAY NETWORK

FOREST PARK – Winton Woods City Schools unveiled its new $51.4 million North Campus building March 8. The facility will serve students in grades 7-12 beginning March 30, after spring break. Students returned to fully in-person learning March 8 at the old campus after having been in a blended learning model much of this school year, district community engagement director Corina Denny told The Enquirer. The district’s North Campus is one of two new facilities opening this year to serve students in Forest Park, the village of Greenhills and Springfi eld Township. Voters passed a levy in November 2016 to help fund the new campuses, together worth $107 million. The K-6 elementary campus on the current site of Winton Woods Middle School in Greenhills is nearly fi nished, Denny said, and students will begin using it in the fall. The new locations are adjacent to older, current buildings. “The beautiful thing about where we’re standing today (is) we have a building that matches our instructional platform,” Winton Woods High School principal Eric Martin said. The new building designs were inspired by the New Tech Network school reform model and feature projectbased learning environments, offi cials said. The 239,000 square-foot middle and high school has separate student entrances for middle school and high school students, a new auditorium and expanded arts and music facilities. It has dining areas distributed around See WINTON WOODS, Page 2A

The grand opening of the Winton Woods North Campus in Forest Park was held Monday, March 8. The building is for grades 7th -12th. CARA OWSLEY/THE ENQUIRER

Aidan Finn (left) and Erin Finn (right) are the founders of Tutor Teens, an organization providing free, virtual tutoring to Cincinnati students. PHOTOS PROVIDED/ERIN FINN

Tutor Teens

Local teens oﬀ er free online tutoring for students in need Madeline Mitchell Cincinnati Enquirer

USA TODAY NETWORK

erry Favia’s fourth-grader, Matteo, throws a ﬁ t if she tries to sit down and read with him, she says. But ever since Matteo’s weekly tutoring sessions with a local high school athlete, her son has turned into an A/B student. “Because he’s set up with another football player, and that other football player has shown him that it’s OK to be an athlete and to be smart, I think he’s more willing to do the work,” Favia says. Matteo, who attends Forest Hills School District’s Sherwood Elementary, was paired with a Tutor Teen, one of more than 80 local teenagers volunteering their time to tutor Cincinnati area students. The organization is run by Seven Hills School sophomore Erin Finn and her brother Aidan, a senior at St. Xavier High School. The idea for Tutor Teens was sparked last spring while Erin tutored her younger cousin over FaceTime. “You know, this kind of works,” Erin said she thought at the time.

Erin Finn (left) and Aidan Finn (right) say there are now more than 80 tutors in the program.

She and Aidan rounded up some friends, created a logo and a website and got to work. Their eﬀ orts landed them in Forbes’ magazines 8 Under 18: The Young Trailblazers Stepping Up During The Pandemic in May. The siblings say the company has doubled in volunteers since then. See TUTORING, Page 2A

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Mercy McAuley High School Holds Jumpstart Night for girls, parents Submitted by Patty Thele Mercy McAuley High School

Mercy McAuley High School will hold a Jumpstart Night for ﬁ fth-seventh grade parents and girls on Thursday, April 15, from 6:30-8:30 p.m.

The event is for ﬁ fth-seventh grade parents and students who are interested in getting a jumpstart in exploring all that Mercy McAuley has to oﬀ er. Parents will tour the school and learn about Mercy McAuley’s academics, counseling and student services, Women

Lead Honors Program, faith and service, arts, athletics and clubs, and tuition, ﬁ nancial aid and scholarships. 5th-7th graders will participate in science, art, theater and service activities with Mercy McAuley teachers and students. There will also be games, giveaways

and photo opportunities. Masks are required, and social distancing measures will be in place. For safety reasons related to COVID-19, space is limited. Registration is required at www.mercymcauley.org/jumpstart.

Winton Woods High School's new campus was introduced as part of the Winton Woods North Campus in Forest Park on Monday, March 8. The building is for grades 7-12. In 2016, a levy was passed to build two new campuses including a K-6 grade campus in Greenhills. PHOTOS BY CARA OWSLEY/THE ENQUIRER

Winton Woods Continued from Page 1A

the building instead of a large central cafeteria. The school district partnered with the building ﬁ rms Skansa and Megen Construction Co. Inc. and Cincinnati architecture group SHP Leading Design, according to a news release. Denny says Winton Woods ﬁ rst started discussing the project in 2003. “These new buildings are a representation of a new mindset in a culture shift in how we see ourselves as a district and community, and what we can accomplish together,” board of education president Katrina Rugless said. Winton Woods High School was formed in 1992 with the merge of Greenhills High School and Forest Park High

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“These new buildings are a representation of a new mindset in a culture shift in how we see ourselves as a district and community, and what we can accomplish together.” Katrina Rugless

Board of education president

School. Its mascot is now the Warriors after the school board retired the chieftains in July. Winton Woods will have an operating levy on the May 2021 ballot, according to the district’s website. The levy will support the expansion of the Preschool Village and enhance school safety measures, including additional resource oﬃ cers. This is the district’s ﬁ rst operational levy since 2009.

Tutoring Continued from Page 1A

Free, virtual tutoring for the COVID-19 era Erin and Aidan say there are now Tutor Teens from 14 local high schools tutoring students in over 70 local schools. Together, the teenagers put in more than 1,300 tutoring hours as of March 1. The program has always been virtual and always free, Aidan said. The Finn siblings plan to keep it that way. “Something that I think both of us have discovered is just how much teens are willing to do this,” Erin said. “No one gets paid in this program and though some get service hours, a lot of our teens are doing this just because they enjoy tutoring and they want to help.” Tutor Teens oﬃ cially launched on March 31, just after schools shut down across the region due to the coronavirus pandemic. Aidan says they have been in high demand since then. “Our base customers only probably started coming to us because in-person tutoring wasn’t safe. And then they could realize our value,” Aidan said. “We’ve gotten a following from that, and

The new 239,000 square-foot building designs feature project-based learning environments, separate student entrances for middle school and high school students, a new auditorium and expanded arts and music facilities. It has dining areas distributed around the building instead of a large central cafeteria.

now hopefully we’ll be able to sustain that past COVID.” Virtual sessions are good for the tutors, too. The youngest Tutor Teens are eighth-graders, Erin said. Not all of them can drive, so it’s much easier to meet with their students over Zoom or Google Meets. Plus, tutors can be more ﬂ exible with online sessions. Erin said she connected with some of her students during school hours while classes were virtual.

Building connections Parents ﬁ ll out a survey when they sign their child up for Tutor Teens. It asks what subjects they need help with, what their personality is like and asks for other details to best match the student with a tutor. Angelo Geis, a senior at Walnut Hills High School, tutors two students through Tutor Teens. He said he’s a good ﬁ t with his students, which is important. “A student can lose interest if they don’t connect with the tutor,” Angelo said. “That’s the case with teachers, if you’re not able to understand their line of reasoning, it’s very hard to understand the content and also just have a good time.”

This pairing aspect is the best part of Tutor Teens, Favia says. The survey helped her fi nd someone Matteo could relate to. She says Matteo is now excited about school, and much more concerned with impressing his Tutor Teen than he is about impressing his family. Another two students have worked with Tutor Teen Caitlin Jimmar, a senior at Purcell Marian Catholic High School in East Walnut Hills. She told The Enquirer she’s enjoyed watching her students grow throughout the school year. They discuss things outside of school, too, she says, like their social lives and dreams for the future. Caitlin says it’s also been a fun experience getting to know other Tutor Teens through the program, which was mostly recruited by word of mouth. Caitlin only knew the Finns through a friend of a friend. Now, she says, they’ve grown closer and all 80-plus teenagers can interact and bounce ideas off of each other during their monthly staff meetings. “I think that most of us, including me, are doing it because it’s really clear to see the impact that it has on the community,” Caitlin said. “And we’ve spent so much time working so hard in school, and to be able to share what we’ve gained from our education with younger students(...) has been really great.”

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Are we going back into the oﬃ ce? What the pandemic taught us about work-life Randy Tucker Cincinnati Enquirer USA TODAY NETWORK

During a recent snowstorm, Erin Caproni waited out the worst until the roads were clear enough for her to safely drive her two toddlers to see their grandmother, who looks after them while their mother is working. “I worked around my meeting schedule in the morning and got everything done I needed to do, and still looked after my kids,” she said. “If I had to be in the offi ce at 9 a.m., I would have been driving the kids to my mother’s house in the morning whatever the road conditions were like just to get to work on time.” Caproni, the communications director for Crossroads Church in Oakley, described the fl exible work-from-home schedule she’s been on since the pandemic began as an unexpected benefi t. “I have two little kids, so it’s nice to be able to able to take them to the doctor’s offi ce and things like that and still work from home,” said Caproni, who lives on the West Side. “I have the ability to create my work-life balance in a diff erent way than I did when we were in the offi ce all the time.’’ Crossroads is one of the few employers in the Cincinnati area that has a date for its 350 employees to return to the offi ce: August. Other companies are saying it’ll be the end of the year. Others says it will be when it’s safe. Caproni said a Crossroads team is working hard on a back-to-offi ce plan, which she hopes will include more work-at-home options. “There will defi nitely be an in-person component to whatever the plan ends up being,” she said. “But I think having a fl exible option for work is great, and I would love to still kind of have that option.” The pros of working from home are clear: Flexibility, autonomy and a commute that for many consists of slipping on their sweatpants and walking down the hallway to their kitchen or home offi ce. The drawbacks may not be as obvious. Matthew Montgomery, a mechanical engineer who designs heating, ventilat-

ing and air conditioning systems for Motz Engineering in Walnut Hills, has been back working in an offi ce environment for the past six weeks. To his surprise, he’s loving it. The 24-year-old University of Cincinnati graduate said he didn’t realize how much he missed the camaraderie and social connectedness of being in an offi ce environment. “I missed the social contact more than I realized,’’ he said. “When you have it and then you don’t for a while, you realize how much you need it. I wouldn’t have said that was important to me before COVID.’’ Being back in the offi ce also has more practical benefi ts, he said, based on his on-boarding experience at his previous job. He left his fi rst job at Colin Russel Architects, where he had worked for about a year after graduating from college, to

Matthew Montgomery, mechanical engineer at Motz Engineering in Walnut Hills PROVIDED

Annette Smith Tarver, technical assistance and outreach business counselor at the Greater Cincinnati Northern Kentucky African American Chamber of Commerce PROVIDED

Seleste Stephens, First Impressions director, working from her desk inside Empower, an advertising and marketing agency in Over-The-Rhine. ALBERT CESARE / THE ENQUIRER

go to work in a strictly remote position for PE services in Lebanon last summer during the height of the pandemic. “Going straight from working in an offi ce to working by remote was doable, but it was a real challenge,’’ he said. “When you have the simplest question, you can’t just ask the guy sitting next to you like you can when you’re in the offi ce. You don’t have that simple access. It’s always a phone call or email away.’’ When it comes to work-life balance, Montgomery said being in the offi ce also has its advantages. Most importantly, he said, it keeps him from working compulsively for more hours than required at the cost of sleep, family time and his personal life.

“When you’re working from home, you always have access to work, and there’s always work to be done,’’ he said. “You don’ know when your co-workers are logging on or logging oﬀ for the day. Annette Smith Tarver, a business consultant who has been working from home for more than a decade, said the pandemic has taught many oﬃ ce workers what she learned years ago: “It takes a lot of discipline and self-awareness” to work from home. Distractions presented by children and pets, even unannounced visits by salespeople, family and friends can make it harder to focus at home than in See WORK-LIFE, Page 4A

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Work-life Continued from Page 3A

an offi ce setting, she said. And unless you’re laser-focused on staying on task, you can easily fi nd yourself succumbing to the temptation to pick up your dry cleaning, walk your dog or run other errands, which are lethal to productivity. Tarver, who helps at-risk businesses access Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans and other resources for the Greater Cincinnati Northern Kentucky African American Chamber of Commerce, has a tip for remote workers: “Schedule everything.” “I schedule my whole day, from meetings to exercise, even social calls,” she said. “Scheduling is really critical for me and the kind of work I’m doing, but some people just need the structure that they get in an offi ce.”

Yoga pants in retreat Regardless of whether you want that structure or not, most people who’ve been working by remote should be preparing to return to the workplace, according to Peter Snow, executive director at Cushman & Wakefi eld, the Cincinnati area’s largest offi ce broker and one of the largest brokers in the country. “We’re hearing every day how more and more tenants are structuring plans to bring employees back,” said Snow. “Of the hundreds of clients that I work with there (in the Cincinnati area), there might be a couple that have decided to allow their employees to work permanently from home.” Experts say fl exible work policies will endure well after the pandemic has subsided, largely because employees will demand them, and they’ll be necessary to retain top talent. At least 82% of company leaders plan to allow employees to work remotely at least some of the time when their workplaces reopen, according to a recent Gartner Inc. survey. But even if the size of the remote workforce doubles, as Cushman & Wakefi eld predicts, the vast majority of workers will ultimately return to the offi ce, Snow said. “Right now, about 5% of offi ce workers work from home on a permanent basis,” he said. “That number is expected

Bob Coy, left, and Mike Venerable of CincyTech. ENQUIRER FILE

to grow to about 10% over the next 10 years.” That means 90% of workers will still work from on-site. And with good reason, according to Jim Price, CEO of Empower, an Overthe-Rhine-based marketing and ad agency, whose oﬃ ces have been largely abaondoned since the pandeimc began. Price acknowledged the work-fromhome trend has had its advantages, noting that virtual meetings tend to start on time more often than in-person meetings used to, and some technical workers have been more productive from home. But the importance of connection and interaction cannot be overstated in a creative business such as marketing, which Price describes as a “contact sport.” “One of our core values is “Yes, and...,” which is all about making an idea bigger and better through collaboration, chance interactions and just the culture that comes with agency life,” he said. “You don’t have a whole lot of culture in remote environments.” Price said he expects most of his 175 local employees to be back in the oﬃ ce by the end of the year. They’ll be expect-

ed to spend the majority of their time on site when they return to work, although there will continue to be opportunities to work from home, at least part-time, he said. Still, everyone on the team will have to adapt their work schedules based on clients’ needs, which are rarely conducive to remote work, he said: “At the end of the day, we are a client service business. We have to adapt to the needs of our clients, and some clients want you in the oﬃ ce.” Mike Venerable, CEO of Avondalebased seed capital investor CincyTech, said the work-from-home movement was intended to be a temporary measure to maintain productivity and help thwart the spread of COVID-19. But Venerable said he fears a longterm trend toward a more remote workforce could lead to a slump in productivity as workplace culture erodes and employees get burned out. “You have days where you basically have 10 Zoom meetings across nine hours, and you get fatigued,” Venerable said. “Plus, you don’t get to break for lunch with a friend or colleague. “Because you don’t have that timeout between meetings, you’re not get-

ting a lot of human interaction, and I think everybody on our team probably had their time where they said this just sucks,” he said. Most workers report the number of meetings they attend virtually has increased exponentially since the pandemic began, and nearly half of the U.S. workforce says they’re exhausted from those meeting, according to a recent survey from Virtira Consulting - a virtual managment consulting fi rm. Working from home can also hurt productivity because it’s diffi cult for everyone to be on the same page working by remote, Venerable said. “When we’ve felt the need to have really critical meetings with people around something important, we’ve had them pretty much face-to-face in our building,” he said, referring to CincyTech’s headquarters in the University of Cincinnati’s 1819 Innovation Hub. “Our business is very much a humancontact business, and it’s helpful to be able to talk to people face to face in the offi ce,” he said. Venerable said working from home will remain an option CincyTech employees even after the pandemic has subsided, but doesn’t anticipate having any more remote workers after the pandemic than before. Most of the Cincinnati area’s biggest employers, including Procter & Gamble, Kroger Co. and Fifth Third Bank, haven’t announced exactly when or how they plan to bring back tens of thousands of offi ce workers. But they’re getting closer to announcing their plans as the news on vaccines and COVID-19 cases continues to improve, said Brendon Cull, executive vice president at the Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber. “We talk to our members all the time, and what we’re hearing from business leaders is that they are incredibly optimistic about what they’re seeing with the vaccines,” Cull said. “If the news continues to be this good, we’ll start seeing some signifi cant steps toward bringing people back to offi ces soon” Cull predicts the migration back to the offi ce will be swift but incremental. “Everybody will move at their own pace, and everybody is being appropriately careful because this (COVID-19) is still is a dangerous disease,” he said. “But the vaccine could be the ticket back to a world that we recognized prior to 2020.”

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The pandemic sent shopping online and lots of local businesses evolved. That isn’t likely to change Shoppers’ habits have changed, is it for good? Hannah K. Sparling Cincinnati Enquirer USA TODAY NETWORK

Before she lost her job in February 2020, Kimberly Fletcher had a hobby. She had a Facebook group, Kim’s Steals and Deals, where she would shop and post bargains for people. If they bought using Fletcher’s link, she’d get a small commission. Really, it was just a fun way to help people while also off setting her Amazon addiction, Fletcher said. After she lost her job, Fletcher decided not to look for another one. She knew it was a risk, but she decided instead to devote herself full-time to Kim’s Steals and Deals. At that point, the group had about 2,500 members. Now, one year and one global pandemic later, it’s more than 70,000. Fletcher’s husband left his job as well, and they now run Kim’s Steals and Deals as a family business from their home in Independence, Kentucky. “People are shopping with me all day long,” Fletcher said. “It’s totally crazy how it all just snowballed in the last year. And because of the pandemic, it’s really attributable to people and their online shopping habits.” The pandemic has been devastating for businesses across the country. S&P Global Market Intelligence said corporate bankruptcies ended 2020 at their worst level in a decade, with 630 companies fi ling for bankruptcy. Business Insider reported that at least 8,300 U.S. stores closed in 2020. But for others, they’ve managed to unearth success in the midst of the chaos. Several small business owners in Greater Cincinnati said they’ve found the public a little more willing to shop local during the pandemic, whether that be online or in-person. Others used the downtime and uncertainty wrought by lockdowns to fi nal-

Sisters and co-owners Melyssa Kirn and Michele Tibbs started Grainwell's woodshop in 2014. The pandemic forced them to ﬁ nd new ways to market and sell their goods. MEG VOGEL/THE ENQUIRER

Kimberly Fletcher and her husband, Dan, run retail referral websites, Kim’s Steals and Deals and Dan's Steals and Deals out of their home office in Independence, Ky. ALBERT CESARE/ THE ENQUIRER

ly take a chance on a new venture. And still others, like Fletcher, are beneﬁ tting from shoppers more eager these days to use an online cart than one they actually have to push through the store. In 2020, e-commerce accounted for

14% of all retail sales in the U.S., up from 11% in 2019, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. “If you didn’t know before the pandemic, you do now,” said Fletcher, who spent the early days of lockdown franti-

cally hunting for online deals on cleaning wipes, toilet paper, hand sanitizer and paper towels. Demand now is trending toward patio furniture for spring. But either way, Fletcher doesn’t think the online shopping trend is going to reverse itself even when the threat of COVID-19 is gone. Retail was already headed that way, she said. The pandemic just kicked it into overdrive.

A new love for local At Grainwell, a custom wood décor shop owned by two sisters in Covington, the scene is almost normal on a recent afternoon. Sure, employees are masked up and distanced, the telltale signs of the pandemic, but other than that, it looks a lot like business as usual. One woman upstairs is working on new designs while another sands cutting boards and a third runs a laser cutter etching out prints of See BUSINESSES, Page 8A

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Homebound identiﬁ ed for in-home vaccine eﬀ ort Terry DeMio Cincinnati Enquirer USA TODAY NETWORK

Editor’s note: Information included reﬂ ects this article’s original publication date – March 11. Visit Cincinnati.com for possible updates. A new eﬀ ort is underway to get homebound, older adults in Southwest Ohio vaccinated for COVID-19. The Council on Aging of Southwestern Ohio (COA) announced March 11 that it is drawing up a list of the most vulnerable in this group who meet the current criteria to be vaccinated. If you are among these individuals or know someone who is, call the Council on Aging at 513-721-1025 to be screened for eligibility. To qualify for an in-home vaccination, an individual must meet all these

criteria: h Be an Ohio resident. h Meet the deﬁ nition of homebound as outlined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. h Be eligible in accordance with Ohio’s COVID-19 vaccination program. In addition, the individual must answer yes to at least one of these questions: h Does the individual ﬁ nd it challenging to leave the home for medical appointments, even with assistance from a family member or caregiver? h Is the individual bedbound and unable to transfer to a wheelchair without impeding individual safety or comfort? h Does the individual receive health care in their home (from visiting physicians, home health aides or otherwise)? The agency has created a fact sheet

with the above details on how to refer an individual for the program. The council has been helping older adults since Ohio’s Phase 1B vaccination plan went into eff ect on Jan. 19, said Ken Wilson, vice president of program operations, in a statement. “Since that time, we’ve been working to fi nd a way to vaccinate older adults who cannot leave their homes. Because COA provides inhome care services to homebound older adults in southwestern Ohio, we’re in a good position to identify who in the community needs this service.” The agency partnering with United Way of Greater Cincinnati to help identify eligible individuals and is using the CDC’s guidelines for vaccinating homebound individuals and a locally-developed screening tool, offi cials said. Depending on vaccine availability,

caregivers who live in the same home may also be vaccinated, oﬃ cials said. Ohio’s current guidelines for COVID-19 vaccinations don’t explicitly make caregivers eligible to receive the vaccine. Only caregivers who already meet requirements based on their age, medical conditions or occupations can get vaccinated at this point. The Council on Aging is partnering with the Hamilton, Butler, Clermont, Clinton, Hamilton and Warren county health departments for the service. “Each week, we’ll coordinate with local health departments to share new individuals who have been added to the list,” said Paula Smith, spokeswoman for the council. The eﬀ ort is continuing, but in-home vaccinations started this week, she said.

Vending machine oﬀ ers safer sex, drug use supplies Terry DeMio Cincinnati Enquirer USA TODAY NETWORK

Safer sex, safer smoking and safer injection kits – including the overdose-reversing drug Narcan but minus syringes – are tucked inside a new vending machine in Northside as a new way to help minimize health risks of drug use during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond. Caracole, the Cincinnati region’s nonprofi t HIV and AIDS service organization, is off ering the harm reduction supplies to anyone who comes for them. The machine is one of a handful nationwide, say the organization's offi cials, and likely the only one in Ohio. They're already getting inquiries about it from public health offi cials and advocates from as far as King County, Washington (Seattle) and as close as northeast Ohio. The vending machine is not available on demand. The only way to retrieve supplies is to call a number on the machine, 513-399-6969, talk to a trained Caracole staff member briefl y (to provide non-identifying information) and receive a personalized code The supplies off er evidence-based, safe-use help in a nonjudgmental way, a goal of harm reduction strategies, said Caracole executive director Linda Seiter.

“We need all the options for people to get safe injection supplies, safe smoking supplies, fentanyl test strips and Narcan so they can stay alive," Seiter said. "This is a crisis." Seiter noted that not only is Ohio one of the top states for opioid overdose deaths, but more people are suff ering from overdose during the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition, Hamilton County is one of the 48 counties in the US where more than half of all new HIV diagnoses occurred in 2016 and 2017, Seiter said. Since the pandemic started, there has been an increase in fentanyl use in Ohio and Kentucky, as identifi ed by a recently released Signals report from Millennium Health. The drug-testing company works with the federal Department of Health and Human Services to track changes in drug-use trends through drug testing urine samples. Ohio’s fentanyl positivity rate increased 68% during COVID-19 as compared to the same time period pre-COVID-19, the company's analyses show. Kentucky's fentanyl positivity rate increased 25% for the same period. Caracole paid for the harm reduction machine with a $49,684 grant that Interact for Health, a health advocacy nonprofi t covering 20 Cincinnati coun-

ties, awarded in September 2020. Among supplies oﬀ ered other than the speciﬁ c kits are pregnancy tests, Narcan, a package of personal protection equipment (PPE), bandages and safe sharps containers (to carry syringes until they can be disposed of properly and safely). The machine also contains information to help reduce the transmission of infectious diseases, including HIV and hepatitis C, prevent overdoses and promote long-term recovery. "Not everyone can make it to SSP (safe syringe services). Not everyone is comfortable meeting someone face to face," said Suzanne Bachmeyer, Caracole associate director of prevention. In addition, Seiter reminded, people who smoke meth or crack cocaine – not just those who use opioids – are at risk of fentanyl overdoses and should have access to fentanyl test strips and other safety equipment. That's why the safer smoking kit, for example, has test strips and naloxone, as well as pipe-tip covers that can prevent both hepatitis and COVID-19. Caracole installed the machine in February and has had a "soft opening," Bachmeyer said. She said the dispensary has had no glitches, and clients have welcomed it.

Supplies for safer sex and drug use are offered in this new vending machine outside Caracole in Northside. The machine is a no-contact harm reduction method, available 24-7. Access is provided only through a personalized code provided by Caracole. The machine is among few across the nation. PROVIDED.

Businesses Continued from Page 6A

city skylines. The pandemic was tough for Grainwell in the early days. Sisters Michele Tibbs and Melyssa Kirn had to close their boutique, fi rst to comply with an order from Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear, and then because it just wasn’t making enough money. Eventually, they had to lay off their employees, which, aside from the sisters, included three full-time and six part-time workers. But while they were closed, Tibbs and Kirn took the time to focus on updating the shop’s website. It was something they’d been saying they’d do forever, but they never seemed to fi nd the time. Then, suddenly, they had nothing but time. Grainwell started off ering curbside pickup – a service Tibbs thinks will stick around regardless of the pandemic – and they started doing more special sales and deals on social media. Little by little, business started coming back, and Grainwell was able to rehire all its employees. They ended the year down about 5% overall, Tibbs said, but they had a 10% increase in corporate custom orders and a 32% increase in online sales. Perhaps more importantly, Tibbs has noticed an uptick in loyalty and support from customers who are excited about shopping local and supporting small businesses like Grainwell. “I think they just realized, small businesses are here because of the support of these local communities,” she said. “I think they realized, ‘Wow, this could close if they don’t have our support.’”

‘Boo, we are not going to eat all this’ Small business owners around the region said they’re experiencing more support and love as a result of the pandemic, particularly those with businesses related to health and wellness. Local urban farmers have had trouble keeping up with the demand for fresh, locally grown good, as they’re selling out of everything they can grow. And Brandon Reynolds, a local beekeeper who

Tiana Mutts, owner of Tiana’s Cheesecake Wonders, smiles with ﬁ ance Parry Stover after ﬁ nishing making cheesecakes before moving onto making cookies. JOE TIMMERMAN/THE ENQUIRER

contracts with businesses, municipalities and homeowners to put pollinator habitats on their properties, said he’s seen a “major increase” in business. changed //hs The pandemic has been tragic in so many ways, said Reynolds, whose company is called B the Keeper, but “one positive was the fact that people really started to dial back into nature. And our business has been successful as a result. … COVID really got people’s senses dialed in.” Tiana Mutts started a cheesecake business during the pandemic, almost by accident. Mutts’ ﬁ ancé, a videographer/photographer, was bored and looking for something to shoot. Mutts was bored, too, so she whipped up 30 cheesecake jars and told her ﬁ ancé to take pictures of those. She made strawberry crunch

and cookies and cream, and at the end, they had beautiful photos and – 30 jars of cheesecake. “I’m like, ‘Boo, we are not going to eat all this,’” Mutts said. Her fi ancé suggested she try to sell them, and within two hours, all 30 jars were gone. Mutts was shocked. She tried it again the next day with 50 cheesecake jars, and those sold out in a couple of hours, too. Mutts started using all the extra time she had because of the pandemic to experiment with diff erent cheesecake fl avors, and thus Tiana’s Cheesecake Wonders was born. Now, with 15 fl avors under her belt, Mutts sells about 100 cheesecake jars a week, the max she can bake. White chocolate peanut butter. Key lime. Vanilla bean. Cinnamon Roll. Pine-

apple upside down cheesecake. And there are cookies and cakes on her website, too. Right now, the orders are pickup only from Mutts’ Finneytown home, but she is looking into how to make shipping work without raising the price too much. Cheesecake jars are $12 or $15 each, depending on the ﬂ avor. “Money was just the bonus,” she said. “It was that extra income to make us know that there’s a little bit of security through the pandemic.” Mutts wishes she would have launched Cheesecake Wonders years ago, but looking back, she doesn’t think it actually would have happened without the pandemic. Maybe the customers wouldn’t have been quite as supportive of new, local business. Or maybe she just wouldn’t have, on a whim, made 30 cheesecake jars in a single afternoon.

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WEDNESDAY, MARCH 17, 2021

COVID-19: Black residents get new access to vaccine at churches, clinics The clinics “are uniquely positioned across the city in underserved neighborhoods,” Hopson said of the clinics, where are located in Avondale, Lower Price Hill, Madisonville, Millvale, Northside and Over-the-Rhine. “We are proactively reaching out.” In addition to the city clinics, other clinics are getting a share of the new vaccines in the suburban areas. Among them are a Lincoln Heights and a Mount Healthy clinic. MAR The plan includes several other strategies to help pull in people who otherwise might not get vaccinated, too. “We’ve engaged community partners and grassroots organizations in identifying those eligible but haven’t been signed up yet,” Schroder said. By looping in community partners, including the Urban League and the local faith-based nonprofi t First Ladies for Health, the plan provides information and vaccination clinics through trusted community members, the offi cials said. The initial First Ladies for Healthsponsored vaccine clinic, at New Prospect Church in Roselawn on Feb. 10, took place before the strategic plan was fully underway. But since then, the organization’s eff orts have been a part of the larger plan. In addition, Schroder said, some Cincinnati churches are helping identify members who haven’t been vaccinated, so that United Way – another partner – can contact them and arrange vaccination appointments. The United Way is involved, getting appointments set for specifi c populations, including people who do not have access to the internet. The health systems’ role includes reserving 20% of their scheduling of vaccines on behalf of the underserved populations, the plan shows. The progress is not perfect, but Schroder said she expects that, as word gets out and more people are drawn in through outreach, vaccine distribution will refl ect the communities’ Black and other minority populations. “It takes an all-hands-on-deck, deliberate eff ort to make progress,” Schroder said. “We still have a way to go.”

Terry DeMio Cincinnati Enquirer USA TODAY NETWORK

Editor’s note: Information included refl ects this article’s original publication date – March 4 (updated March 7). A strategic plan to get COVID-19 vaccines into the arms of Black people and other minorities in both Cincinnati and Hamilton County is underway. And it’s beginning to yield results, in part by delivering vaccines at familiar settings – churches and the city’s health clinics. The lack of equal distribution of COVID-19 vaccines to Black populations became obvious early in vaccination distribution around the United States and locally. Fewer Black people were being vaccinated than their proportion of the population from the start. The issue prompted discussions among area health leaders who have been meeting since April 2020 in an Equitable Strategies group of more than 20 community partners in Hamilton County. “Since the vaccines started rolling out there has been a concern around an environment of scarcity that people with means tend to get access,” said Kate Schroder, regional vaccine coordinator at the Health Collaborative, the trade group for the Cincinnati region’s health systems. “We are ensuring that we’re being proactive in equitable access.” The partnership includes county and city public health leaders, the Health Collaborative, which represents major medical systems in the area, and some elected offi cials. The partners want to reduce vaccination barriers for Black residents, aligning resources and increasing trust among underserved people. To fi gure out where the greatest need for vaccines was, the group asked Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center to apply mapping to identify the most vulnerable communities – where people who live below the poverty line and people who are in minority groups live. Then, Cincinnati Mayor John Cranley and Hamilton County Commissioner Denise Driehaus sent a letter to Ohio

Patients receive their second dose of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine during a clinic event at New Prospect Baptist Church in the Roselawn neighborhood of Cincinnati on Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2021. SAM GREENE/THE ENQUIRER

Gov. Mike DeWine on Feb. 10 to ask for support of the health departments’ strategic plan by providing extra vaccines. “We are respectfully requesting an additional 2,000 doses weekly to specifi cally address the drastic inequality,” the letter states. Later, on March 3, Cranley sent another letter, asking DeWine to eliminate age groups as the priority for who gets the vaccine when, saying that unfairly excludes people of color, who are at higher risk of dying from COVID-19 at younger ages. The Ohio Department of Health responded to the fi rst letter, sending 2,000 additional doses to the region to support equity eff orts. Since then, an additional 2,000 to 2,500 additional doses have been sent. The combination of additional vaccines and the detailed distribution plan is showing results, Schroder said. In Hamilton County, 12.67% of Black residents are among those vaccinated in Hamilton County as of March 1. The Ohio Department of Health noted in its weekly meeting call to local health departments March 3 that the county’s rate of reaching the Black population was sec-

ond-highest in the state among the 10 top-performing counties. The rate is up from 11% of Black residents among all who were vaccinated as of Feb. 9, the day before the equity plan was ﬁ nalized. Cincinnati Health Department records also show an increase in Black residents vaccinated. On Feb. 9, before the equity plan rolled out, 22% of all the residents who were vaccinated were Black. Latest percentages show 40% of those who received vaccinations were Black. Among the keys to getting the job done is to reach people who typically get healthcare from the Cincinnati Health Department’s federally qualiﬁ ed health clinics, said assistant city health commissioner Dominic Hopson. To do that, the city opened up the six clinics as vaccine providers. They’re the same sites that give medical care and wellness checks to about 40,000 people in Cincinnati or nearly 1 in 8 city residents. This means the clinics have their electronic records – a way to reach patients. Roughly 60% of the clinic patients are Black people and another 14% are Latino.

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‘Naked Cowboy’ rides into Sarasota for after being arrested in Daytona Beach Greenhills, Ohio, native Robert Burck may be in trouble with the police for the second time in ﬁ ve days Chris Anderson Sarasota Herald-Tribune USA TODAY NETWORK

As legend has it, there used to be a strange law on the books in Sarasota. Apparently it was illegal for a person to sing anywhere in public while wearing a bathing suit, and if that law still stands, then Greenhills, Ohio, native Robert Burck may be in trouble with the police for the second time in ﬁ ve days. Naked Cowboy, outlaw. Burck, known around the world as the “Naked Cowboy,’’ made his annual spring appearance at Siesta Key Beach on March 9. Not turning as many heads as you might think, he wore his trademark cowboy boots, cowboy hat and white underwear briefs, all of which had “Naked Cowboy’’ written across them. His “Naked Cowboy” persona started in 1999. He spends a lot of his time in New York City, where he charged people $1 to take his photo. And he’s brought his act to local events such as Parties in the Park, Fountain Square, Tall Stacks and Cinergy Field. He posed for pictures and walked around singing and strumming his guitar. OK, so maybe he didn’t break any crazy Sarasota laws after all, and technically he was wearing underwear and not a bathing suit, but he was arrested on March 6 in Daytona Beach. Burck, 50, was performing his routine at Bike Week in Daytona Beach on March 6 when he was arrested on charges of aggressive panhandling and resisting an oﬃ cer without violence. He spent the night in the Volusia County Jail and was released the following day. The arrest report stated he was taking photos with people approximately 10 feet away from the front door of a com-

Robert Burck, also known as The Naked Cowboy, talks to Sarasota County mounted deputies while walking on Siesta Beach Tuesday afternoon. Burck was arrested for panhandling in Volusia County on Saturday while attending Daytona Beach’s annual Bike Week. MIKE LANG, SARASOTA HERALD-TRIBUNE

mercially zoned property, and that is how he violated the city’s panhandling ordinance. The ordinance reportedly “prohibits panhandling within 20 feet in any direction from any entrance or exit of commercially zoned property.’’ “It was the greatest experience of my life,’’ Burck said. “All I do is go out and work and draw attention to what I do. It could be construed as something negative, but I’ve seen the 10,000 comments. I do exactly what you are seeing here and if anybody gives me a problem I walk away from it. “They (the police) are shining light on what I’m doing.’’

The Sarasota Sheriﬀ ’s Oﬃ ce deputies on horseback chatted with Burck, with one of them saying, “We love you here. We like seeing you every year.’’ Still, not everyone was happy to see him. One of the small babies he posed with immediately began crying and a spring breaker said to one of his buddies: “What a doofus. All it is is white underwear with ‘Naked Cowboy’ written across it.’’ Burck has been coming to Sarasota for the last two decades, originally because he had a friend from Cincinnati who lived here. He is mostly known for performing in Times Square, but the

pandemic has all but kept him away from people in New York for a year. “It’s been a whole year of no one paying attention to me,’’ he said. “For the last year I’ve been working hard but I don’t have the thrill of everyone wanting pictures of me. Now I’m back and then the police (in Daytona Beach) tell me I have to stop.’’ Burck said he has been arrested at least 30 times over the years as the “Naked Cowboy’’ and is not fazed by his most recent brush with the law. In fact, nothing seems to faze him. “You think there is anything stupider I can do than this?’’ he said.

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11A

VIEWPOINTS Unhappy with CD rates? Kevin Webb Guest Columnist USA TODAY NETWORK

A question that commonly comes my way lately is, “How can I earn a higher return on my cash and CDs?” It’s a dilemma many ﬁ nd themselves in with the current market environment of low interest rates and a stock market near record highs. The usual recommendations for a higher return than cash include using a CD ladder, shopping local credit unions for higher rates, seeking high-interest savings accounts with online banks, and turning to bonds, among others. All of these are usually viable solutions to squeeze out a little more return and may still be appropriate for some, depending on their goals. But the problem this time around is that the extra yield does not go as far as it used to and may still be less than desirable for some. On the other end of the spectrum, dividend-paying stocks can be an option, especially for the long-term investor. But with markets near record highs, this level of risk may make some uncomfortable, as it opens them up to full market risk. One possible solution for the investor looking for a higher return on their CDs, without taking on full stock market risk, is the structured note. A structured note is a type of debt security, issued by an investment bank, where the return is linked to the performance of another asset, such as the S&P 500. Beneﬁ ts of a structured note include higher potential returns than CDs, participation in market upside while also limiting downside exposure,

and customized parameters of the note to suit your risk level. Some structured notes can have a “buff er,” which is a percentage of losses that the investment bank absorbs before any losses are seen by the investor. In return for off ering a buff er, many structured notes also have a “cap,” which is the highest gain possible over the term of the note. While there are many diff erent types of structured notes out there, the focus here will be on the buff ered note.

How to tell if structured notes may be right for you

Example No. 2: While most buff ered notes do not off er income during the term, some do. An example of this in a current two-year note is one with a 3.25% return per year for the term. For the higher return, the note does have some downside risk that is tied to the Russell 2000 index through a 10% buff er. If the index is not down more than 10% after the second year, the investor return is 6.5%, (3.25% per year for the two years). If the index was down 15%, the investor had a 5% loss in the note

The usual recommendations for a higher return than cash include using a CD ladder, shopping local credit unions for higher rates, seeking high-interest savings accounts with online banks, and turning to bonds, among others. All of these are usually viable solutions to squeeze out a little more return and may still be appropriate for some, depending on their goals. But the problem this time around is that the extra yield does not go as far as it used to and may still be less than desirable for some.

Example No. 1: As of early 2021, current off erings included a note that matures in fi ve years, tied to the S&P 500 that has a 32.5% cap and a 20% buff er. The value of the note at maturity in the fi fth year is determined by what the S&P 500 did in those fi ve years. If the index is up 50%, then the buff ered note is up 32.5%. If the index is down, then the fi rst 20% of losses are absorbed by the investment bank. If the index is down 8%, then your principal is returned to you for no loss. If it is down 25%, then the note will have decreased by 5%.

and a total return of 1.5% when factoring in the 6.5% of income received. When compared to current two-year CD rates that are struggling to get above 1%, you can see how a buff ered note has higher return potential if some downside risk is acceptable. Buff ered notes can be selected to match your risk tolerance, with larger buff ers having lower caps. Some even off er 100% downside protection. While the customizable payouts and exposures are the main benefi t of structured notes, there are disadvantages that are important to consider.

The main risk for a buff ered note is that it is subject to the credit risk of the issuer. As with any other corporate bond, if the issuing bank goes out of business, the note could become worthless. Structured notes also have market risk since losses are only protected up to the buff er. They are also designed to be held until maturity, often with no dividends or interest paid in the interim. Without a strong secondary market to buy and sell them, if you must sell the note before maturity, you may have to off er a discount to entice a buyer. Some structured notes have “call” features that allow the issuing bank to redeem your note before it matures, subject to certain conditions. It is important to understand the features of the note before investing in it. Structured notes get a bad rap if advisers do not communicate the risks beforehand. Likewise, it is important to work with an adviser you trust, who is transparent on fees, and will shop around to fi nd the note best suited for your goals and at the right price. When used wisely, structured notes can give a more predictable range of investment returns and may be an option for some who are dissatisfi ed with low interest rates and stock market volatility. Kevin Webb is a fi nancial adviser, insurance professional and Certifi ed Financial Planner at Kehoe Financial Advisors in Springdale. He works with individuals and small businesses, off ering comprehensive fi nancial planning, including Social Security strategies, along with tax, retirement, investment and estate advice. To learn more about structured notes or fi nancial planning, call (513) 481-8555 extension 9 or visit www.kehoe-fi nancial.com. Submitted by Kim Geiger, Maker Marketing

The beneﬁ ts of working with an advisor Allworth Advice Nathan Bachrach and Amy Wagner Guest Columnists

Question: Marcus in Winton Woods: My wife thinks we should hire a fi nancial advisor to help with our retirement planning, but I don’t think we do (I handle our investments). I know you guys are advisors so you’re likely biased, but I would like an honest opinion. A: Honestly, not everyone needs to work with a fi nancial advisor. We’ve met with plenty of folks at Allworth over the years who don’t need our help at all. They enjoy handling their investments, and even more importantly, they also have the talent, temperament, and time to do so. However, we would like to share a friendly reminder that retirement planning is about more than just investments. And working with a fi duciary fi nancial advisor allows you to fi gure out how all the competing components of your fi nancial life work together. For example, an advisor also helps you with budgeting (“Can we aff ord that new truck?”), Social Security strategizing (“Should one of us claim early and the other wait?”), tax planning (“Does it make sense for us to do a Roth conversion now?”), estate planning (“Should we set up a trust for the grandkids?”), insurance planning (“Do we have the right amount?”), college funding planning (“Which 529 plan should we

use?”), and even legacy planning (“How can we make sure our church gets money when we’re gone?”). So, while you may have conﬁ dence in your investment acumen, do you have a grasp on all these other areas as well? If you do, that’s great. But perhaps the more important question to ask is, do you want to? You could spend hours upon hours researching whether or not to take that buyout oﬀ er, how the two of you should coordinate your Social Security strategy, or how to plan for retirement healthcare costs. And you might have much better things to do with your time.

cause of her income. I don’t want this to happen to me. Any suggestions? I’m 60. A: For Medicare enrollees with higher incomes, it can be quite the ‘sticker shock’ to see how much more they’re paying for their Medicare Part B premium than others. While most enrollees pay the standard monthly premium ($148.50 in 2021), some could be paying as much as $504.90. These numbers – and what you’ll ultimately pay – are all based on someone’s modiﬁ ed adjusted gross income from two years prior. With that in mind, here are a few suggestions. First, even though you don’t

Not everyone needs an advisor. But we believe that a true fi duciary advisor can help anyone live a more confi dent retirement. And yes, the advisor will charge a fee. But so do lawyers, doctors, accountants, mechanics, and every other occupation that provides professional guidance and services. Here’s the Allworth Advice: Not everyone needs an advisor. But we believe that a true fi duciary advisor can help anyone live a more confi dent retirement. And yes, the advisor will charge a fee. But so do lawyers, doctors, accountants, mechanics, and every other occupation that provides professional guidance and services. Q: T.S. in Kenton County: A friend of mine just found out she’ll have to pay a higher Medicare premium be-

SUBMIT YOUR LETTERS, COLUMNS The Community Press & Recorder newspapers have a new email address you can use to send in letters to the editor and guest columns. Send your letters (200 words or less) or guest

have to start taking Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs) until age 72, there’s no rule that says you aren’t allowed to start making withdrawals earlier. Beginning a pre-emptive systematic and strategic drawdown can help reduce the overall value of your tax-deferred accounts, which will help lower your taxable income down the line (just remember, you would still have to pay taxes on these withdrawals). A Roth conversion could also be a possibility

columns (500 words or less) to: viewpoints@communitypress.com As before, please include your first and last name on letters to the editor, along with the name of your community. Include your phone number as well.

since withdrawals from Roth IRAs don’t count toward taxable income. And a qualifi ed charitable deduction straight from a tax-deferred account could lower your income as well (though you must be at least age 70 1⁄ 2 to take advantage). There are also ‘qualifying events,’ such as divorce, retirement, or loss of work for which your premium could be lowered. To request a reduction, you must fi ll-out Form SSA-44. The Allworth Advice is that some forethought needs to go into something like this, ideally years in advance. If you need help, a fi duciary fi nancial advisor can guide you toward the best strategy for your situation. Every week, Allworth Financial’s Nathan Bachrach and Amy Wagner answer your questions. If you, a friend, or someone in your family has a money issue or problem, feel free to send those questions to yourmoney@enquirer.com. Responses are for informational purposes only and individuals should consider whether any general recommendations in these responses are suitable for their particular circumstances based on investment objectives, fi nancial situation and needs. To the extent that a reader has any questions regarding the applicability of any specifi c issue discussed above to his/her individual situation, he/she is encouraged to consult with the professional adviser of his/her choosing, including a tax adviser and/or attorney. Retirement planning services off ered through Allworth Financial, an SEC Registered Investment Advisor. Securities off ered through AW Securities, a Registered Broker/Dealer, member FINRA/SIPC. Call 513-469-7500 or visit allworthfi nancial.com.

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SPORTS Crofton named new MND volleyball coach Alex Harrison Cincinnati Enquirer USA TODAY NETWORK

Warriors head coach Andre Parker watches his team before the game against Turpin at Winton Woods High School, Friday, Oct. 2, 2020. Princeton High School has hired Parker as their next football coach pending board approval. MICHAEL NOYES/FOR THE ENQUIRER

Andre Parker excited about new challenge at Princeton Scott Springer Cincinnati Enquirer USA TODAY NETWORK

Editor’s note: Information included reﬂ ects this article’s original publication date – March 10 (updated March 11). Visit Cincinnati.com for possible updates. SHARONVILLE - Princeton High School has made a huge splash in the prep football pool by hiring Andre Parker of Winton Woods as their next football coach pending board approval. Parker has been the highly-successful head coach at Winton Woods since the 2010 season when then-coach Troy

Everhart resigned and took a job at the University of Cincinnati. The Warriors were the 2009 Division II state champions with Parker as defensive coordinator. On March 10, he had to tell one team goodbye while introducing himself to the Vikings and speaking with the current staﬀ . “Toughest decision of my life,” Parker said. “Just the toughest decision I’ve ever had to make as an adult. I’m excited to be a Viking, I’m excited to build a new beginning and I’m excited to build on this new tradition that they have.” Counting this season, Parker led

Winton Woods to six postseason appearances including two state semiﬁ nals and a Division II runner-up ﬁ nish in 2017. His overall record as head coach was 77-30. Among the Warriors he coached are Dominique Brown (Louisville, NFL), Mike Edwards (Kentucky, just won Super Bowl with Tampa Bay), George Brown (Miami Hurricanes), Jerron Cage (Ohio State), Chris Oats (Kentucky), David Long (West Virginia), Noah Listerman (Michigan State), Miyan Williams (Ohio State), Anthony “Tank” Booker (Maryland) See PARKER, Page 2B

The defending Division I volleyball state champions have found a new head coach. Mount Notre Dame oﬃ cials announced March 8 they Michael Crofton as the Cougars’ varsity volleyball coach. Crofton goes to Mount Notre Dame after spending two years Crofton as the head coach for the Lebanon Warriors. Lebanon was 41-8 in both seasons, winning a Greater Western Ohio Conference title in 2019 and an Eastern Cincinnati Conference title in 2020. Crofton nabbed coach of the year honors for the conferences in both seasons. “Michael brings a wealth of coaching experience and success to MND as well as a keen insight into high school and collegiate levels of play,” Mount Notre Dame athletic director Mark Schenkel said in a release. “His familiarity and experience coaching in the GGCL will be quite helpful as we continue the rich tradition of success enjoyed by our MND volleyball program.” Crofton was the previous head coach at McAuley High School in 2013 and 2014 and was a freshman coach for Mount Notre Dame in 2007 and 2008. In 2018, Crofton was on Jeni Case’s staﬀ of the Ursuline Academy team that won the Division I state title. The Cougars went on the market for a new coach after head coach Chris Lovett stepped down in January. Lovett’s top assistant Joe Burke also stepped down, both citing increasing time away from families as reasons for leaving. Mount Notre Dame went 23-2 in 2020 and won the Division I state championship by beating then-undefeated Padua Franciscan in four sets.

Aiken grad Carlik Jones ‘open-minded’ about another season at Louisville Tim Sullivan Louisville Courier Journal USA TODAY NETWORK

GREENSBORO, N.C. — Playing this season as a graduate transfer, Louisville point guard Carlik Jones has earned allconference accolades. The better news for U of L fans, though, could be that he is eligible for an encore. With the NCAA granting an extra year of eligibility to winter sports athletes, Cardinals coach Chris Mack said March 9 it was “conceivable” Jones could come return for the 2021-22 season and that he was “open-minded” about that option. Jones’ father, Carl, said he has already discussed that possibility with his son. “If the NBA ain’t talking about what he’s talking about, I think he will come back,” Carl Jones said. “He doesn’t want to go to no developmental G-League, any of that. He wants to play basketball.” Despite his success at Radford University and U of L, the 23-year-old Jones does not project a high ceiling because he stands just 6-foot-1. NBADraft.net ranks him as the No. 88 prospect in a 2021 draft with only 60 slots. U of L’s David Johnson, whose 6-5 frame better ﬁ ts NBA speciﬁ cations, ranks No. 39.

“The bigger the competition, the better he plays. We honestly think he can play on that level. But if he needs to come back, that’s a decision he’ll make when the season ends.” Carl Jones

Carlik Jones’ father

Still, Carl Jones remains conﬁ dent his son can compete at a higher level, as he has demonstrated in his move from the Big South to the ACC. “The bigger the competition, the better he plays,” the father said. “We honestly think he can play on that level. But if he needs to come back, that’s a decision he’ll make when the season ends.” Editor’s note: Information included reﬂ ects this article’s original publication date – March 9. Visit Cincinnati.com for possible updates. Tim Sullivan: 502-582-4650, tsullivan@courier-journal.com; Twitter: @TimSullivan714

Louisville’s Carlik Jones (1) drives against Virginia Tech’s Jalen Cone (15) during their game at the KFC Yum! Center in Louisville, Ky. on Jan. 6, 2021. SAM UPSHAW JR./COURIER JOURNAL

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 17, 2021

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SW District coaches select boys, girls basketball teams Flynn, Summit Country Day, R.T. Adkins, Cincinnati Country Day; Connor Cravaack, Madeira; Mekhi Elmore, Taft Second team: Jonathan Stokes, CHCA; Andre Simmons, Purcell Marian; Will Trubisky, Mariemont; Mason Mack, CCD' Zyon Scott, Reading Honorable mention: Jaden Jeﬀ erson, North College Hill; Matt Dahling, Summit Country Day; Michael Norton, Gamble Montessori; Tim Stewart, Mariemont; Eric Rakestraw, CHCA; Nate Kratzer, Georgetown; Branson Smith, East Clinton; JayMarco Berry, Taft; Carson Miles, Georgetown; Jerome Collins, Riverview East; Logan Stidham, Reading

Scott Springer Cincinnati Enquirer USA TODAY NETWORK

Coaches in Districts 15 and 16 in Southwest Ohio have prepared their high school basketball all-stars team with many noteworthy players and coaches being recognized. Here are how the area districts voted:

District 16 District 16 includes Hamilton, Clinton, Brown, and Clermont counties.

Division I girls Player of the Year: K.K. Bransford, Mount Notre Dame Coach of the Year: Dave Giglio, Turpin First team: Jenna Batsch, Loveland; K.K. Bransford, Mount Notre Dame; Cecelia Hilgefort, Turpin; Marissa Jenike, West Clermont; Laila Phelia, Mount Notre Dame; Leah Riley, Sycamore; Madison Roshelle, Princeton; Shamia Strayhorn, Saint Ursula Second team: Tess Broermann, Loveland; Dede Carter-Hartley, Princeton; Baylee Jones, Western Brown; Krissy Kowalski, Harrison; Danni Krause, Seton; Abaigeal McNally, Colerain; Zy’Aria Miller, Walnut Hills; Jenna Van Schaik, Ursuline Third team: Katie Collopy, Walnut Hills; Brianna Counts, Mount Notre Dame; Autumn Crockett, Mount Notre Dame; Emma David, Sycamore; Kaylie McKenney, Milford; Kiley McNally, Colerain; Anna Thomas, Oak Hills; Abby Wolterman, Mount Notre Dame

Division IV boys

Purcell Marian center Janay Rose (23) battles Roger Bacon center Clarissa Craig (40) basket during their basketball game, Thursday, Jan. 28. The Cavaliers won the game 44-30. TONY TRIBBLE/FOR THE ENQUIRER

Player of the Year: Jayshawn Clark, Lockland First team: Gabe Fyﬀ e, Ripley Union Lewis; Jayden Bradshaw, Fayetteville; Jayshawn Clark, Lockland; Izaiah Cathey, Oyler; Carson Crozier, Felicity-Franklin Second team: Cody Germann, Ripley Union Lewis; Braden Bennington, Ripley Union Lewis; Zykeen Hunley, St. Bernard-Elmwood Place; Elijah Cathey, Oyler; Garrett Taulbee, Felicity-Franklin OHSBCA North/South All-Star Game Division I-II: Logan Duncomb, Moeller, alternate Isaiah Walker, Wyoming Division III-IV: Will Trubisky, Mariemont, alternate, R.T. Adkins, CCD

District 15 This district includes schools in the Cincinnati Enquirer coverage area from Butler and Warren counties.

Division II girls

Division I girls senior all-stars

Player of the Year: Clarissa Craig, Roger Bacon Coach of the Year: Jasmine Davis, Hughes First team: Clarissa Craig, Roger Bacon; Deborah Davenport, Woodward; Ranlei Freeman, North College Hill; Kylee Sheppard, Roger Bacon; Ella Riggs, Indian Hill; Tamira Scott, Hughes; Noel Weathers, Mt. Healthy; Bryanna Woodard Summit Country Day Second team: Sylasia Allen, Hughes; Chale Bell, North College Hill; Jessie Branch, Hughes, Kyla Irby, Summit Country Day; Abby Maness, New Richmond; Emma McSwigan, McNicholas; Krystin McWhorter, Roger Bacon, Summer Stith. Batavia

Kendall Foley, Lebanon; Marilyn Popplewell, Mason; Chloe Butler, Edgewood

Division III girls Player of the year: Kara King, Purcell Marian Coach of the Year: Jamar Mosley, Purcell Marian First team: Bella Answini, Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy; Kiana Dauwe, Williamsburg; McKenna Haugabook, Purcell Marian; Kara King, Purcell Marian; Madi Ogden, Williamsburg; Keylayasia Pouncy, Taft; Alli Stolz, Bethel-Tate; Torie Utter, Georgetown Second team: Maddi Benjamin, Georgetown; Laila Christmon, Gamble Montessori; Libby Evanshine, East Clinton; Paige Fisher, Williamsburg; Destiny Rice, Norwood; Janay Rose, Purcell Marian; Kenzie Schneeman, Deer Park; Maria Velazco, Norwood

Division IV girls Player of the Year: Azyiah Williams, Ripley-Union-Lewis Huntington Coach of the Year: John Snell, Cincinnati Country Day Academy First team: Melody Arnett, Miami Valley Christian, Kamryn Jordan, Cincinnati Country Day; Anne Murphy, FayettevillePerry; Anna Swisshelm, Felicity-Franklin; Azyiah Williams, Ripley-Union-Lewis-Huntington; Sarah Zimmerman, Cincinnati Country Day North-South All-Star Game Players Division I and II: Laila Phelia, Mount Notre Dame

Parker Continued from Page 1B

and Andrew “Bam” Booker (Maryland grey shirt commit). Parker takes over for Princeton alum Mike Daniels, the former Cincinnati Bearcat who recently took a job with Army football. In four seasons at Princeton, the Vikings were 19-20 with postseason appearances the last two seasons. The Vikings had to forfeit four games in 2018 due to OHSAA violations. After spending a year in the Eastern Cincinnati Conference as a champion after years of being independent at Winton Woods, Parker now jumps into the middle of the Greater Miami Confer-

Underclass Division I girls all-stars Chance Gray, Lakota West; Margo Mattes, Mason; Kyla Oldacre, Mason; Kylee Fears, Talawanda; Madison French, Lakota East; Amara Flores, Lakota West Underclass Player of the Year: Chance Gray, Lakota West

Division II girls senior all-stars Emily Adams, Fenwick; Grace Baler.Middletown Madison; Rachel Tebbe, Fenwick

Underclass Division II girls all-stars St. Xavier forward Kobe Rodgers drives to the hoop in the boys sectional playoff game between Turpin and St. Xavier high school at West Clermont High School Feb. 26. JIM OWENS/FOR THE ENQUIRER

Alternate: Clarissa Craig, Roger Bacon Division III and IV:Kara King, Purcell Marian Alternate: Sabrina DelBello, Cincinnati Country Day

Division I boys Player of the Year: Kobe Rodgers, St. Xavier Coach of the Year: Mike Noszka, St. Xavier Assistant Coach of the Year (DIII): Greg Rolfes, Oak Hills First team: Logan Duncomb, Moeller; Kobe Rodgers, St. Xavier; Alex Williams, Moeller; Justin Lovette, La Salle; Andrew Harp, Elder Second team: Aboubacar Cisse, Western Hills, Ben Southerland, Sycamore, Evan Mahaﬀ ey, Moeller, Dominic Cantrella, Turpin; Avden Schneider, La Salle Honorable mention: Tyler McKinney, Walnut Hills; Joe Kirby, St. Xavier; Owen Murray, Walnut Hills; Louie Semona III, St. Xavier; Namarray McCalley, Mt. Healthy; Zyon Tull, Western Brown, Alex Hannah, Milford

ence, one of the toughest public school leagues around. “Part of the draw is that if you want to be the best, you have to play against the best, you’ve got to coach against the best,” Parker said. “I think it’s a great opportunity for myself and the program. I think Coach Daniels did a tremendous job putting the program where it is. He worked his tail off with the players and the community.” The 2019 squad featured three topfi ve Ohio recruits with off ensive lineman Paris Johhnson Jr. and defensive lineman Darrion Henry-Young going to Ohio State and linebacker Jaheim Thomas to Cincinnati. Last year’s 6-2 team also included some blue chips as Parker will be inheriting quarterback Mekhi Lynn and re-

Division II boys Player of the Year: Isaiah Walker, Wyoming Coach of the Year: Aaron Brose, Batavia First team: Isaiah Walker, Wyoming; Paul McMillan IV, Woodward; Brayden Sipple, Blanchester; Jakada Stone, Aiken, Carson Seamann, McNicholas Second team: MarJoni Tate, Roger Bacon; Robbie Cass, Aiken; Mason Weisbrodt, Batavia; Danny Austing, Taylor; Kevin English, Norwood Honorable mention: Caden Conrad, McNicholas, Justin Ackerman, New Richmond; Damien Crayton, Wyoming; Harry Hilvert, Taylor; Max Applegate, Batavia; Kyle Smith, Bethel-Tate; Montev Ware, Woodward; Aaron Davis, Woodward; Mason Cromer, Roger Bacon

Division III boys Player of the Year: Rayvon Griﬃ th, Taft Coach of the Year: Ryan Fleming, Summit Country Day Assistant Coach of the Year (Divisions III-IV): Eric Ernst, Mariemont First team: Rayvon Griﬃ th, Taft; Gates

ceiver Rodney Harris II. Lynn and Harris are both listed among the top Ohio recruits by 247sports.com. In eight games, the 6-foot-3 Lynn led the Greater Miami Conference in passing with 1,429 yards for 17 touchdowns, while running for 358 and six scores. The 6-foot-3 Harris had 24 catches with four touchdowns. Both have been offered by the University of Cincinnati among others. “The biggest diﬀ erence is I don’t know these kids,” Parker said. “They don’t trust me yet. Doesn’t matter how much talent you have, they have to trust me. I’ve got to go in and break down walls and earn their trust so they’ll play for me. They do have talent and tradition. I’ve got to be able to get in and build.”

Mahya Lindesmith, Badin; Jada Pohlen, Badin; Madalyn Mahoney, Fenwick

Division I boys senior all-stars Nate Johnson, Lakota East; Trey Killens, Mason; Kelvin Turner, Lakota West; Jackson Lewis, Hamilton; Zach Weber, Lebanon; Brady Weber, Lakota West Player of the Year: Nate Johnson, Lakota East Coach of the Year: D.J. Wyrick, Fairﬁ eld

Division I boys underclass all-stars Nathan Dudukovich, Lakota West, Logan Woods, Fairﬁ eld; Deshawne Crim, Fairﬁ eld

Division II boys senior all-stars A.J. Braun, Fenwick; Max Stepaniak, Ross; Andrew Larkin, Badin; Sam Nunn, Ross; Matthew Butcher, Wilmington Player of the Year: A.J. Braun, Fenwick Coach of the Year: David Lane, Ross

Division III/IV boys senior all-stars Deanza Duncan, New Miami; Trey Robinette, New Miami

Division III/IV underclass all-stars Zach Baker, New Miami

In addition, Parker says he hasn’t seen anything like Princeton’s facilities. Wednesday, he toured the Viking campus and talked to some of the current staﬀ which includes former Cincinnati Bearcat and NFL player Antwan Peek as defensive coordinator. “We’re going to play fast and aggressive,” Parker said of his style of play.”We’re going to be really well-coached, disciplined and we’re going to be physical.” Princeton and Parker are slated to open the season Aug. 19 against Anderson, according to Princeton AD Joe Roberts. He will be in Princeton’s building come fall. “I think that’s a must,” Parker said. “I think it’s very diﬃ cult to be a head coach when you’re not in the building. You’ll fail if you’re not in the building.”

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REAL ESTATE TRANSFERS Information provided by Hamilton County Auditor Dusty Rhodes

Colerain Township Westpoint Dr: Conrex Master LLC to Becker Megan &; $110,000 10057 Manistee Wy: Lbls Real Estate LLC to Mallaley Thomas G & Kimberly D; $64,000 10194 Windswept Ln: Mixon James A to Boggs Cody Daniel; $117,500 10280 Dewhill Ln: Elmer Victor Jr & Antoinette Sims-elmer to Hill Reily L & Tyler M Clair; $183,500 12090 Pippin Rd: Ferrigno Nicholas J & Sherri Ann Chapman to Oudabachi Diane; $163,000 12140 Birchgrove Ct: Hester Gregory A & Sharon L to Lawson Tyler & Jenna Blausey; $178,000 2417 Schon Dr: Wilcox Luann M to Salem Fahed & Mariam Salem; $55,000 2466 Mercury Ave: Copeland Gerrie L & Vincent L to Prime Capital Group LLC; $60,000 2527 Westpoint Dr: Conrex Master LLC to Becker Megan &; $110,000 2784 Sandhurst Dr: Creech Jessica L to France Franklin Alfonzo; $139,000 2792 Niagara St: Vilas Matthew J to Jackson Julie Marie; $90,300 2811 Breezy Wy: Mathias Kevin Michael & Naomi Claire Hone to Carpenter Adam; $195,000 2853 Wilson Ave: Lykins Frank A to Spicer Timothy Brian & Lori M; $148,000 2879 Galbraith Rd: Nsp Homes LLC to Hill Tiffany G; $142,500 2968 Hyannis Dr: Judd Deanna L & Anthony A to Judd Deanna L; $35,000 3131 Deshler Dr: Finn Bowling Investments LLC to Caballero Lorie T; $127,500 3283 Dolomar Dr: Mueller Karl H to Mendez Sherlyn; $135,000 3377 Amberway Ct: Monroe Terress to Divvy Homes Warehouse A LLC; $95,847 3682 Twinview Dr: Eschenbach Luke D to Strunk Aleah M; $144,000 3785 Blue Rock Rd: Dunnohew Louis J to Klosterman Jordan L; $237,500 4193 Intrepid Dr: Scheurer Myrna Lois to Oking Akosua; $139,200 4210 Endeavor Dr: Vallone Michael V & Kathleen A Herrmann to Johnson Mark; $115,750 6671 Blue Rock Rd: Hollis Lawrence H & Gladys S to Duke Energy Ohio Inc; $70,000 6773 Kern Dr: Osterkamp Patricia J to Shroyer Katherine Lynn &; $270,000 7196 Hunters Ridge Ln: Hamilton Benjamin to Williams Angela & Ronald; $304,900 7226 Creekview Dr: Brunsman Amanda L to Amitai Nir; $49,000 7355 Thompson Rd: Stoffer Lewis J Tr & Ruth B Tr to Strobel Wolfgang R; $8,000 8343 Cheviot Rd: David E Biederman LLC to Hughes Kenneth & Kelly; $129,900 8383 Cheviot Rd: Baker Nina M to Fas Properties LLC; $70,000 8389 Coghill Ln: Gumm Richard E & Diane M to Bentley Jeffery Darryl & Marissa M; $190,000 9018 Zoellner Rd: Pittard Wendisha to Benton Tiara & William D Wallace; $217,000 9179 Orangewood Dr: Sfr3-aic LLC to Nunez Raquel Anais Blevins; $138,900 9466 Loralinda Dr: Salem Fahed & Mariam to

Square One Properties LLC; $97,000 9626 Pippin Rd: Brewster Renee @3 to Briskman Real Estate LLC; $62,000 9891 Voyager Ln: Sph Property Three LLC to Woodley Lance G & Sheena C Alexander; $250,000 9919 Crusader Dr: B-b Solutions LLC to Dawson Paula Terry; $120,900

College Hill 1489 Larrywood Ln: Arand Courtney A to Scheff Samuel; $175,000 1574 Ambrose Ave: Strasser Richard E Jr & Cathleen P to Harada Hideki & Yuko; $125,000 1626 Larch Ave: Strasser Richard E & Cathleen P to Clarke Edward L & Kathie A; $75,000 5956 Belmont Ave: Smith Raymond to Hatchett Samuel & Elizabeth; $215,000 6039 Oakwood Ave: Roth Jonel to Harbour Robert; $135,000 6368 Savannah Ave: Palacio Oscar to Dobbins Eric D; $155,000 6465 Loiswood Dr: Schwartz Marty to Brown Lindsay Renee & Terry Lee Cowan; $255,000 6586 Kirkland Dr: Robertson Sandra Tr & Jerry Thomas Haskin Tr to Robertson Sandra; $121,082 8000 Bobolink Dr: Oaks Property Group LLC to Bobolink Renovations LLC; $76,000 935 Venetian Te: Acklin Robert J Sr to Acklin Reginald V; $100,000

Evendale 3101 Exon Ave: Nickson Properties LLC to Luxury Living By Lorinn LLC $275,000

Forest Park 1015 Harrogate Ct: Eppert Keith A to Hayden Marcus A; $175,000 1032 Kemper Meadow Dr: Sph Property Three LLC to Jones Cole A & Riccel A; $188,600 1102 Indra Ct: Edmondson George Eudona Iii to Rai San & Dilmaya Tamang; $220,000 11568 Geneva Rd: Silas Natausha D to Jimenez Laura Mata; $128,000 1553 Winford Ln: Mccaster Andre L to Ward Latosha M & Ernest Ward; $368,000 716 Cranford Dr: Asc Investments LLC to Timera Harouna; $154,900 935 Harrogate Ct: Butler County Holdings LLC to Rose Morgan M & Alexander G Klaus; $170,000

Glendale 186 Garfield Ave: Core Home Constructions Inc to Martin James Ross Hopkins & ; $260,500 795 Congress Ave: Holtz Robert to Stets Maggie C & Austin E Sapp; $215,000

Green Township 1441 Colonial Dr: Caneris Onassis A to Aldred Christine Levon & Michael James; $366,000 1491 Colonial Dr: Caneris Onassis A to Aldred Christine Levon & Michael James; $366,000 3095 Crestmoor Ln: Harnist Lorraine C Tr @ 2 to Tko Homes Inc; $93,500 3156 Lancer Ln: Herzog Nancy J & Joseph M Franzese to Borkosky Jake; $279,000 3191 Autumn Ln: Kaufman Kurt R & Carolina D to Turner Richard Damon & Kawanna Renee Logan; $214,900 3203 Werkridge Dr: Soloria Karen to Topicz Paul & Rachel E Richter; $243,000 3240 Autumn Ln: Anderson William D & Patri-

cia M to Muhammad Belal; $219,000 3253 Deborah Ln: Conrex Homes LLC to Rex Residential Property Owner LLC; $564,649 3258 Deborah Ln: Clements Allyson & Zachary A Hans to Smith Keegan; $197,500 3364 Keywest Dr: Hardy Blair M to Ndiaye Mamadou; $164,500 3375 Cresentview Ln: Hickey Colleen M to Finley Donovan; $156,000 3383 Forestview Dr: Fv Gardens LLC to Evans Rondal E & Sandra L Gajus; $242,000 3772 Eyrich Rd: Zeiser Andrew J to Jackson David C & Danielle; $79,000 4242 Turf Ln: Greene Christopher to Hopewell Dale & Melissa; $200,000 4363 Airycrest Ln: Manley James J to Lang Colin P & Jacqueline Noe; $174,900 4418 Harding Ave: Philpot James C & Mischelle R to Luo Kaylee J & Michael J; $115,000 4571 Whispering Oak Tl: Allen Mary S Tr to Huetcher John C & Linda S; $560,000 4697 Farview Ln: Wurzelbacher Richard D & Beth C to Bryan Christopher W & Amanda C; $499,900 5149 Ralph Ave: Deals In Bulk LLC to Divvy Homes Warehouse A LLC; $169,900 5270 Orchardridge Ct: Bolser Matthew S to Hauser Jason M & Shannon K; $220,500 5409 Karen Ave: Dieckmann Deanna to Cundiff Ian James; $144,000 5413 Michelles Oak Ct: Sph Property One LLC to Mccarroll Lauren Elizabeth; $139,000 5472 West Fork Rd: Hulgin Patricia M to Shelton Harry E; $319,900 5532 Eula Ave: Menninger Steven to He Katherine Manwai; $169,900 5541 Lawrence Rd: Berry Thomas S & Debra A to Ingram Natalie; $169,900 5580 Westwood Northern Bv: Strochinsky Beverly to Cruz-albertorio Orlando & Emilie Murphy Daudon; $100,000 5588 Sarahs Oak Dr: Kasee Karen L to Carver Joseph Francis & Pamela June; $330,000 5766 Sheed Rd: Rice Road LLC & Martha J Wilkinson to Martinez Joel; $177,000 5777 Green Acres Ct: Meyer Chad Gregory to Vo Phung Kim; $149,000 5852 Countryhills Dr: Levine Susan S Tr to Welsh Dale P & Christina M; $299,900 5942 Snyder Rd: Mertes Sandra M & William C Wallrawe to Lohbeck Ryan J; $103,000 6149 Lagrange Ln: Venia Harvey & Elizabeth to Beech Ronnell D & Naquisha; $210,000 6191 Eagles Lake Ct: Thiem Phyllis J to Runyan Tammy; $135,900 6574 Pattys Pl: Lyons Michael & Margaret Mary to Allen Mary Selina @3; $1,075,000 6994 Aspen Point Ct: Shroyer Katherine L to Putnick Monica L; $222,750

Greenhills 9 Bradnor Pl: K & T Homes Ltd to Brookbank Deborah; $99,000

Lockland 127 Anna St: Real Estate King Inc to Smith Jarred A; $90,000 300 Arlington Ave: Estes Kim Sue to 300 Arlington LLC; $62,200 See REAL ESTATE TRANSFERS, Page 5B

Better read this if you are 62 or older and still making mortgage payments. More than 1 million seniors have taken advantage of this “retirement secret.”

It’s a well-known fact that for many older Americans, the home is their single biggest asset, often accounting for more than 45% of their total net worth. And with interest rates near all-time lows while home values are still high, this combination creates the perfect dynamic for getting the most out of your built-up equity. But, many aren’t taking advantage of this unprecedented period. According to new statistics from the mortgage industry, senior homeowners in the U.S. are now sitting on more than 7.7 trillion dollars* of unused home equity. Not only are people living longer than ever before, but there is also greater uncertainty in the ecomony.

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Request a FREE Info Kit & DVD Today! Call 800-840-8803 now. With home prices back up again, ignoring this “hidden wealth” may prove to be short sighted when looking for the best long-term outcome. All things considered, it’s not surprising that more than a million homeowners have already used a government-insured Home Equity Conversion Mortgage (HECM) loan to turn their home equity into extra cash for retirement. It’s a fact: no monthly mortgage payments are required with a government-insured HECM loan; however the borrowers are still responsible for paying for the maintenance of their home, property taxes, homeowner’s insurance and, if required, their HOA fees. Today, HECM loans are simply an effective way for homeowners 62 and older to get the extra cash they need to enjoy retirement. Although today’s HECM loans have been improved to provide even greater financial protection for homeowners, there are still many misconceptions. For example, a lot of people

loans are not for everyone, they can be a real lifesaver for senior homeowners - especially in times like these. The cash from a HECM loan can be used for almost any purpose. Other common uses include making home improvements, paying off medical bills or helping other family members. Some people simply need the extra cash for everyday expenses while others are now using it as a safety net for financial emergencies. If you’re a homeowner age 62 or older, you owe it to yourself to learn more so that you can make the best decision - for your financial future. It’s time to reverse your thinking

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*Housing Wealth for Homeowners - 62+ Reaches $7.7 Trillion in Q1 2020: NRMLA/RiskSpan Reverse Mortgage Market Index (RMMI) Q1 2000 - Q1 2020 Reverse mortgage loan terms include occupying the home as your primary residence, maintaining the home, paying property taxes and homeowners insurance. Although these costs may be substantial, AAG does not establish an escrow account for these payments. However, a set-aside account can be set up for taxes and insurance, and in some cases may be required. Not all interest on a reverse mortgage is taxdeductible and to the extent that it is, such deduction is not available until the loan is partially or fully repaid. AAG charges an origination fee, mortgage insurance premium (where required by HUD), closing costs and servicing fees, rolled into the balance of the loan. AAG charges interest on the balance, which grows over time. When the last borrower or eligible non-borrowing spouse dies, sells the home, permanently moves out, or fails to comply with the loan terms, the loan becomes due and payable (and the property may become subject to foreclosure). When this happens, some or all of the equity in the property no longer belongs to the borrowers, who may need to sell the home or otherwise repay the loan balance. V2020.12.22 NMLS# 9392 (www.nmlsconsumeraccess.org). American Advisors Group (AAG) is headquartered at 18200 Von Karman Ave, Suite 300, Irvine CA 92612. Licensed in 49 states. Please go to www.aag.com/legal-information for full state license information. These materials are not from HUD or FHA and were not approved by HUD or a government agency.

NORTHWEST COMMUNITY PRESS

Is air pollution linked to teen depression?

Bethesda Foundation Board adds two new members The Bethesda Foundation is welcoming two members to their Board of Trustees, Marilyn Hutton Duke and Tracey Stofa. Marilyn and Tracey were selected for their diverse professional and volunteer experience, along with leadership expertise. The board assists in fundraising efforts and raising community awareness for organizations the Foundation supports: Bethesda Hospitals, Hospice of Cincinnati and Fernside. Marilyn Duke is a councilwoman for the Village of Glendale. She graduated from Harvard Law School and Fisk University before starting a full-time career on Capitol Hill and thereafter returning to work for The Procter & Gamble Company. Previously she had worked for the NAACP Washington Bureau. Marilyn is now retired from the National Education Association. She is admitted to the DC Bar and several federal courts. Since retiring, her energies are focused in our Tri State area. Currently she’s an incoming Board of Trustee at the Cincinnati Womans Club, the 2020/ 2021 President of the Village Gardeners of Glendale, and past Co-chair of the 2019 Art in Bloom. She is honored by this opportunity to serve with the Bethesda Foundation team. Tracey Stofa is a Senior Vice President, Sub-complex Branch Manager for Morgan Stanley overseeing the Downtown Cincinnati and Centerville Oﬃ ces. She graduated from Miami University and has held various sales and management roles at Central Trust/PNC Bank, Emery Oleochemicals & Henkel Fatty Alcohols, Clear Channel Radio/iHeart Media and Morgan Stanley. With her diverse industry background, Tracey is a ﬁ rm believer that skills are transferrable and lives by PMA: Positive Mental Attitude, a philosophy instilled by her parents at a very young age. Tracey is looking forward to having more time to give back and believes the Bethesda Foundation will be a wonderful way to do so. Bethesda Foundation

Cincinnati Enquirer USA TODAY NETWORK

Charles Bucklew, Ludlow, Ky. walks in Devou Park in Covington, Ky. where the downtown Cincinnati, Ohio skyline is shrouded in haze by smog or ozone pollution. ENQUIRER FILE

the children studied increased. Added to that, neuroimaging shows that the children exposed to higher levels of air pollution early in life had changes in brain structure. That was all ﬁ gured out with two studies, the Cincinnati Childhood Allergy and Air Pollution Study (CCAAPS) and the Health Outcomes and Measures of the Environment (HOME) study. Both included children followed from birth who were evaluated at age 12 for mental health symptoms and changes in brain features. With the new funding, the scientists will combine forces to collect new air pollution exposure studies and analyze their impact on newly collected information about the adolescents' mental health and their brain structure, organization and function. The researchers will follow the same chil-

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 17, 2021

COMMUNITY NEWS

Terry DeMio

When you think of teens with depression or anxiety, you might question if there was a family history of mental health problems. Maybe you think about hormonal changes, or bullying, or maybe the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions. Did you ever consider air pollution as part of the cause? Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center scientists made the link with 12-year-olds in two studies that started in the early 2000s. Now, they've received a $5.3 million grant from the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences to advance their research with both studies' kids in a number of ways. With 1 in 5 adolescents likely to get a mental health disorder, including anxiety or depression, and with suicide the second-leading cause of death for adolescents in the United States, the research is needed, say the scientists. "There is a noticeable increase in that prevalence now," said Kimberly Yolton, Cincinnati Children's director of research in the division of general and community pediatrics. "The repercussions of that are huge." It might surprise some people, but the researchers say that the link between air pollution and depression or anxiety onset and persistence in children makes sense. "We know that air pollution aﬀ ects the lungs, the heart. It makes sense that air pollution travels to the brain," said Patrick Ryan, of the division of biostatistics and epidemiology at Cincinnati Children's and one of the researchers. The scientists' original research shows that as air pollution increased, anxiety and depression scores among

dren – from both original study groups – into young adulthood to learn how air pollution might inﬂ uence the persistence of mental health symptoms and create more changes in the brain. Kim Cecil, director of radiology research for Cincinnati Children's Imaging Research Center, said the new funding gives the researchers the much-needed opportunity to expand their work, both in duration and in numbers of children. "We are strengthening our power and ability to look at this." The scientists will be working with 500 kids, through age 18, for the study. Ryan said few studies have looked at environmental exposures such as air pollution on mental health. He called the research "a critical ﬁ rst step" to understand the links – and to guide the future in public health policy.

REAL ESTATE TRANSFERS Continued from Page 4B

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Worship Directory Baptist

FRIENDSHIP BAPTIST CHURCH 8580 Cheviot Rd., Colerain Twp 741-7017 www.ourfbc.com Gary Jackson, Senior Pastor Sunday School (all ages) 9:30am Sunday Morning Service 10:30am Sunday Evening Service 6:30pm Wedn. Service/Awana 7:00pm RUI Addiction Recovery (Fri.) 7:00pm Active Youth, College, Senior Groups Exciting Music Dept, Deaf Ministry, Nursery

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United Methodist FLEMING ROAD United Church of Christ 691 Fleming Rd 522-2780 Rev. Rich Jones

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Time to Rally. support local. Now is the time to rally behind local business. USA TODAY’s Support Local initiative is sparking communities across the country to take action and make it happen.

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Jeanne’s Pancakes My friend Jeanne shared this recipe a long time ago. Simple enough for little ones to help. Ingredients

Instructions Whisk egg and buttermilk together. Whisk dry ingredients together. Stir into egg mixture and mix gently. Stir in butter. Mix again but don’t over mix. A few lumps are OK.

1 egg 1 cup buttermilk

Let batter rest 10 minutes or so before frying.

1 cup all-purpose flour 1 teaspoon baking soda 1 teaspoon double acting baking powder ⁄ 2 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon oil

Pour about 1⁄ 3 cup of batter onto hot greased griddle for each pancake. They’re ready to turn over when golden brown on bottom and bubbles appear around edges and middle. Turn pancakes only once.

From left: Clear sap from tree; sap boiled down half way; sap boiled down to syrup. PHOTOS BY RITA HEIKENFELD FOR THE ENQUIRER

‘I feel like a modern pioneer’

Whole-wheat pancakes Daughter-in-law Jess makes these in a big batch, then warms them up later in the microwave or toaster. “Pancakes last a week in the refrigerator,” Jess said. Ingredients 2 cups milk 2 eggs

Rita’s Kitchen

4 tablespoons sugar

Rita Heikenfeld

2 tablespoons walnut or other oil

Guest columnist

I feel like a modern pioneer. The past few weeks we’ve been tapping maple trees. And we harvested gallons and gallons of sap. Guess how much maple syrup we got? Well, here’s a hint: it’s a 40:1 ratio. We boiled sap from morning to late afternoon, and watched it turn from clear to a golden brown as the water evaporated. Our bounty of maple syrup was about 3 cups total. Well, maple syrup calls for pancakes, don’t you think? Have breakfast for supper one evening. Pancakes with a side of bacon or sausage. Warm maple syrup? Or maybe a smear of maple pecan butter on the pancakes? Yes, please. Tips: Single acting vs double acting baking powder For pancakes, use double acting. Single acting is activated by moisture only; double is activated by moisture and heat. You need both for pancakes to

1 cup whole wheat flour

Whole-wheat blueberry pancakes.

1 cup all-purpose or pastry flour 1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon double acting baking powder

PHOTOS BY RITA HEIKENFELD FOR THE ENQUIRER

⁄ 2 teaspoon salt

frying.,

Instructions

Maple sap drains into a bucket.

turn out well. Rested batter = better pancakes Resting gives the liquid time to soften/hydrate/relax the fl our and dissolve any lumps that remain. Resting also allows leavening time to get mixed in evenly in the batter. Even leavening produces air bubbles that puff pancakes as they cook. More pancake recipes: Check out my site. Lois Boekley, a Sharonville reader, is what I call a “scientifi c” cook. See what I mean with her buttermilk and sweet milk pancakes.

You’ll love these simple instructions from Jess: “Whisk wet together; whisk dry together, then combine, but don’t over mix.” A few lumps remaining are OK. Let batter rest 10 minutes or so before

Pour about 1/3 cup of batter onto hot greased griddle for each pancake. They’re ready to turn over when golden brown on bottom and bubbles appear around edges and middle. Turn pancakes only once.

Maple pecan butter

Blueberry pancakes

Whip together 1 stick softened butter with 1⁄ 3 cup pecans, toasted and ﬁ nely chopped and 1⁄ 4 cup maple syrup.

Stir in a cup or more fresh or slightly thawed frozen blueberries into dry ingredients.

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10B

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NEW YORK TIMES CROSSWORD PUZZLE

ANSWERS ON PAGE 11B

No. 0314 TAKE TWO

BY CELESTE WATTS AND JEFF CHEN / EDITED BY WILL SHORTZ Celeste Watts, of Bloomfield Hills, Mich., is a retired elementary school teacher. After years of solving puzzles in her spare time, she decided to try making one herself. Her first 14 attempts for The Times were rejected, but she persevered. For this one, she collaborated with Jeff Chen, a writer and professional crossword constructor in Seattle, whom she calls “a gifted, patient mentor.” The theme idea is Celeste’s. Jeff helped her execute it. Finally, success! “One off my bucket list!” — W.S.

ACROSS

RELEASE DATE: 3/21/2021

1 After the fact, as a justification 8 Co-star of ‘‘The Golden Girls’’ 17 Knock over, so to speak 20 Quaker fare 21 Go poof 22 Drop the ball 23 ILLUS__RA__ORS 25 What a third wheel might see, in brief 26 Setting for most of ‘‘Life of Pi’’ 27 Tests the weight of 28 One of the Greats? 30 Oscars of the sporting world 33 Good sign for an angel 34 Intl. org. headquartered in Geneva 37 Some bad sentences 39 ACC__L__RATOR 44 Grapple, in dialect 47 Exercise too much, say 48 A as in Arles 49 LUXUR__ __ACHT 54 ‘‘____ Agnus Dei’’ (Mass phrase) 55 Peak in Turkey mentioned in both the ‘‘Iliad’’ and the ‘‘Aeneid’’ Online subscriptions: Today’s puzzle and more than 4,000 past puzzles, nytimes.com/crosswords ($39.95 a year).

56 Runner Sebastian who once held the world record for the mile 57 What you might get from a trailer 59 Sport played at British boarding schools 60 Post production? 64 ____ mater, membrane surrounding the brain 65 Popular 90-min. show 66 ENDANGER__EN__ 70 Man’s name that coincidentally is Latin for ‘‘honey’’ 73 Word with small or fish 74 Weak 75 What may result in a handshake 76 Help to one’s destination 82 The Blue Jays, on scoreboards 83 Comeback to a challenge of authority 84 Bitter 85 CONFIG__ __ATION 90 Actor Somerhalder 91 Most in the style of comedian Steven Wright 92 Unfocused 93 POI__T OF __IEW 100 Go all out 101 French fashion inits. 102 ‘‘Kinda sorta’’ 103 Pan-cook, in a way

107 Supermodel Bündchen 109 Pepé ____ (cartoon skunk) 111 Drop off 112 Admit (to) 113 __OTIC__ 120 Hit the weed? 121 Have guests over 122 Guest, e.g. 123 Place full of guests 124 Start of a seasonal request 125 Some kitchen utensils

19 Item said to have been burned in protest, once 24 Musical prefix with beat 29 Memphis-to-Nashville dir. 31 Emphatic assent 32 Lively dance genre 34 Hone 35 Contract details 36 Beehive State city 38 Aerodynamic 40 Bishop’s jurisdiction 41 Antagonist 42 Hotel-room staples 43 Top-notch DOWN 44 Booties 1 Entourage 45 Playwright Chekhov 2 Hall’s partner in pop 46 Garbage 3 Part of a thong 50 Drink similar to a 4 ‘‘OK, you can stop the slushie story right there’’ 51 About 460 inches 5 Old-fashioned ‘‘cool’’ of rain per year, on Kauai’s Mt. 6 One might speak Waialeale under it 52 HBO satire starring 7 Co-star of Kline in ‘‘A Julia Louis-Dreyfus Fish Called Wanda’’ 53 ____ bar 8 Start of a compilation 54 Org. that takes the heading lead on lead? 9 Times for some vigils 58 Baby fox 10 Letters on many 60 How a flirt may act towers 61 Football stat: Abbr. 11 Busy mo. for C.P.A.s 62 NaOH 12 Go bad 13 Three-sport event, for 63 Radio broadcaster: Abbr. short 66 Legislation that was 14 A chest often has a part of F.D.R.’s New large one Deal 15 States 67 Ethnic group of 16 Recharge Rwanda and 17 Photocopy, e.g. Burundi 18 It’s the law! 68 Two, for four

39 45

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82 86

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69 Coin with 12 stars 70 ‘‘Zoom-Zoom’’ sloganeer 71 Hollywood composer Bernstein with 14 Oscar nominations 72 Guarded 73 Like pets and parking meters 75 ____ Slam (tennis feat) 76 Julius Caesar’s first name 77 Words of hopelessness

104

97 101

107

100

91 95

70 75

78 Mature naturally, in a way 79 ____ Writers’ Workshop 80 Electronic Hasbro toy 81 One side of the coin 83 Arias, typically 86 Scottish folk dance 87 Alternative explanation for a lucky guess, in brief 88 Ear: Prefix 89 Letters on some badges

117

111 118

94 ‘‘Stillmatic’’ rapper 95 Seen 96 Kind of skate 97 Brown shade 98 Kids’ observation game 99 Hit musical with an ‘‘Emerald City Sequence’’ 104 Yoke 105 HP product 106 Narrowly beats (out)

119

108 Singer James 109 Drink for un bébé 110 A full moon will do this 112 Life force, in China 114 ____ Majesty 115 Hosp. areas 116 The Jazz, on scoreboards 117 Brown shade 118 Things for happy campers? 119 Picky person’s pick?

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WEDNESDAY, MARCH 17, 2021

11B

SCHOOL NEWS Mt. Healthy High School senior awarded prestigious scholarship Alejandro Hernandez, a Mt. Healthy High School senior, was recently awarded the Chick Evans Scholarship through Western Golf Association. The scholarship guarantees him full housing and tuition paid to The Ohio State University where he will live in the Evans Scholarship House on campus. Alejandro earned this scholarship based upon his experience in being a golf caddy, his strong academics, and his superb character. He began as a caddy at Clovernook Country Club over two years ago, earning the title Honor Caddy last year due to his experience and the number of rounds of golf that he has caddied. He credits his brother, Gilbert, in paving the way for him and helping become a caddy. Moreover, Alejandro is an outstanding student as well as top in his class as he is currently taking a full load of College Credit Plus classes including Astrology, Business Law, Principles of Marketing, and more. What’s more is that he has been taking college courses since his junior year of high school. When he graduates from Mt. Healthy High School this May, he will have an Associates of Arts degree as he heads to college. He plans to major in Finance at OSU. In addition to being a caddy in his spare time, Alejandro loves watching and playing soccer, which he did for Mt. Healthy Athletics for three years. He also enjoys playing video games and working out, just like many kids his age. Additionally, Alejandro plays baritone saxophone for the Mt. Healthy High School Marching Band and Symphonic Band.

Alejandro wishes to send a special thanks to his parents, family and the staff at Mt. Healthy City School District for “helping me grow into the person I am and always supporting me.” The Evans Scholarship is a full housing and tuition college scholarship awarded to golf caddies with limited fi nancial means. In 2020, 1,010 Evans Scholars are enrolled in 18 leading universities nationwide. Since 1930, when the fi rst two Evans Scholars enrolled at Northwestern University, more than 11,050 outstanding young men and women have graduated from college as Evans Scholars. Most recipients attend one of the 17 universities where the Evans Scholars Foundation operates a Scholarship House. Evans Scholars are selected on the basis of strong caddie record, excellent grades, outstanding character and demonstrated fi nancial need. Individuals who complete the three-summer WGA Caddie Academy program qualify to apply, and to date, 55 Caddie Academy graduates have been awarded the Evans Scholarship. Missy Knight, Mt. Healthy City School District

Great Oaks Career Campuses opens new fi re training facilities Fire fi ghters and fi re departments across southwest Ohio will have access to new training facilities when the Public Safety Services staff at Great Oaks Career Campuses cuts the ribbon on a new live fi re training facility and training tower in Sharonville on March 17. Each year, hundreds of high school and adult cadets prepare for certifi cation as fi re fi ghters and EMTs, or take advanced

Alejandro Hernandez earned the prestigious Chick Evans Scholarship to The Ohio State University for the next four years of college. He has been an honor golf caddy at Clovernook Country Club for the last three years. PROVIDED

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Fire fi ghters and fi re departments across southwest Ohio will have access to new training facilities when the Public Safety Services staff at Great Oaks Career Campuses cuts the ribbon on a new live fi re training facility and training tower in Sharonville on March 17. PROVIDED

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Seniors Maria Sullivan of Milford (left) and Emily Schwartz of Loveland (right) showcase their work as part of MND’s partnership with Stanley Black & Decker. PROVIDED

courses to better serve their communities. Area fi re agencies also use the facilities for training. “These buildings provide some of the most modern technology and safest experiences available for both new cadets and experienced fi re fi ghters,” said Great Oaks Fire Academy Commander Johnny Mason. The new buildings replace structures that had been used continuously for fi re training for several decades, and Mason said that maintenance costs had increased dramatically in recent years. The completion of the estimated $1.35 million project is the result of a longterm planning process started in 2015. “Partnering with Fire Facilities Inc and MSA Design, and with input from area fi re departments, the result is a premier training center that meets industry standards and training demands in southwest Ohio,” Mason said. “These facilities will provide the most realistic, repeatable, and yet challenging experiences for all levels of experience while incorporating student and instructor safety into the riskiest component of fi re training – live fi re training.” As part of the Great Oaks Career Campuses district, the Public Safety Services department prepares area residents to become certifi ed in fi re and emergency medical services or as fi re offi cers, as well as providing training in fi re investigation, safety inspections, hazardous materials handling, and confi ned space rescue. For more information, contact the Public Safety Services offi ce at 513-771-1142. Jon Weidlich, Great Oaks Career Campuses

Great Parks provides Skyward Academy students with life skills for graduation and beyond Great Parks of Hamilton County is proud to team up with Skyward Academy in Montgomery, a customized school program for students with various learning challenges. Great Parks has been working with the school’s Launch Pad students, a transition-to-adulthood program for ages 18-22, providing real-life, handson experiences to assist with graduation and beyond. Since late fall 2020, a small group of students have had the opportunity to assist in upkeep once a week at Great Parks’ Highﬁ eld Discovery Garden, a children’s nature play area at Glenwood Gardens. Along with helping to clear invasive plants in wooded areas, they have also helped in beneﬁ cial tasks such as picking up litter and removing old seedling tree tubes. These tasks help the students to understand the impor-

tance of teambuilding and conservation eﬀ orts. Great Parks is eager to continue providing skillsetting experiences with Skyward Academy through 2021. Skyward Academy creates a personalized educational program, and life skills instruction, that allow students to reach their fullest potential. Students in the Launch Pad program have completed their Ohio graduation requirements to obtain a high school diploma. Before graduating, they have chosen to continue getting experience in real-life activities, daily living skills and employment opportunities. Kimberly Whitton, Great Parks of Hamilton County

MND partners with Stanley Black & Decker Mount Notre Dame (MND) students are leading the way in STEM education by partnering with Stanley Black & Decker as part of its “For Those Who Make the World” high school engineering pro-

gram. Students in Mrs. Mary Beth Rieth’s Foundations in Engineering classes worked with Stanley Black & Decker engineers over a six-week period. The students were tasked with a variety of engineering challenges including tool designs for cars of the future, aluminum car parts and tools, attracting new tool users, wall mounts for laser levels, designing new torque/ratchet design, addressing packaging, instructions and marketing of tools for future users and “DIYers”, and designing of more durable tape measures. Each group worked through the engineering process with their mentor engineer from Stanley Black and Decker for guidance and clariﬁ cation. Final project results were presented virtually to Stanley Black & Decker engineers, the Director of Product Innovation, the Vice President of Engineering and the Vice President of Industrial Automotive Solutions, MND alumna Jillian Valerius Shute ‘97. Each team had 15 minutes to present their journey and a question and answer session followed with the engineers. Students demonstrated great critical thinking skills, developed amazing ideas and surprised the panel with the depth of their knowledge and presentation skills. “We were excited to partner with Mount Notre Dame on this project,” noted Jillian Shute, VP of Industrial Automotive Solutions. “The students in Mrs. Rieth’s Foundations in Engineering classes brought solutions and ideas that were equivalent to what we typically see from many college interns. These impressive young women are well on their way to be our future leaders in STEM-related ﬁ elds.” Jen Thamann, Mount Notre Dame

Since fall 2020, students have had the opportunity to assist in upkeep once a week at Great Parks’ Highﬁ eld Discovery Garden. From left: Skyward teacher Louise Gunn and students Eric Russell, Ben Top and Duncan Kerby. PROVIDED

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