87 minute read
PERSON OF INTEREST
Good Dogs
GLORIA NAPIER AND HER SEARCH-AND-RESCUE DOGS HELP FIND WHAT’S LOST.
Of all the things Gloria Napier’s teammates say about her, that may be the most telling, because it shows exactly how dedicated she is to her volunteer job. In all fairness, that job—working as a search-and-rescue (SAR) dog handler—has become something of a full-time vocation over the course of the last 24 years. And the training is what she and her dogs, these days an 8-year-old yellow Lab named Pearl and a 2-year-old black Lab named Finley, go through regularly to keep up their skills—running through dense woods or abandoned buildings, scaling hills and valleys, or climbing over downed trees.
Sometimes they’re training to look for a child who ran away or an elderly person who wandered off. Sometimes they’re practicing finding victims of crimes or suicides. Either way, over the course of the past 17 years (which is when Napier, her husband, and four others co-founded Buckeye Search and Rescue Dogs), Napier, her teammates, and their canines have tackled subzero temperatures, deep lakes, dense forests, smoldering buildings, and the wreckage of natural disasters in search of missing persons. “This is the type of job that can really humble you,” Napier says. “It’s frustrating at times. It’s heartbreaking at times. But it’s an honor to be able to do this.”
“MY HUSBAND AND I ARE KIND OF AN unusual entity in search and rescue in that we have both had people go missing,” says Napier, Pearl and Finley by her side. Both incidents happened in Greater Cincinnati decades ago, well before K9 SAR was a thing. In both cases, it took way longer than it should have to find the people in question. And in both cases, Napier and her husband were devastated when the bodies were finally found.
When Napier read years later about Carolyn Hebard, a pioneer in the K9 SAR industry whose dogs searched for missing people worldwide after earthquakes, bridge collapses, and more, her interest in the field was piqued. “It blended everything I love,” she says, noting her fondness for spending time outdoors, the fact that “I could have empathy for the families who are missing loved ones,” and the fact that “I love having that working relationship with dogs.”
She began volunteering as a trail runner—hiding on practice trails so dogs in training could learn to track scents. After that, she spent two years “flanking” for other dog/handler teams (basically serving as a second set of human eyes on searches). Finally, in 1998, she began training her first SAR dog, a Lab named Emma. “Back then there really were no certified dogs in Ohio,” says Napier, so she took certification classes out of state. (SAR dogs can be certified in everything from underwater human remains detection to “urban man-trailing.”) There, she learned how to read the dog and understand its body language. “My thought [was]: I can re-train it if I mess up, [but] Emma’s thinking: ‘I don’t know if I can retrain you,’ ” says Napier, laughing. “Finally, I learned to just go with her. She was just amazing—a great first search dog.”
No two search dogs are alike, Napier notes, but there are a few traits they all share: “Basically, we’re looking for that dog
that’s a pain in the butt at home—independent, high energy, high drive, high intellect, doesn’t get frightened easily, willing to face challenges confidently, and loves to play.” Maybe most important of all, though, is the dog’s ability to find and follow scent without getting distracted. “The bigger the nose, the more scent receptors they have,” says Napier, “so it can be a bit more challenging for a smaller dog.”
That said, Napier’s seen plenty of small SAR dogs in her day—dachshunds, yorkiepoos and others can be great cadaver dogs, she notes—but “our team tends to have larger dogs—German shepherds, Belgian Malinois, bloodhounds, Labs, mixed breeds—because we do a lot of wilderness work, so we want a dog that can maneuver easily over downed trees” and maintain stamina on lengthy searches.
Though there are some adult dog exceptions (notably Finley, adopted by the Napiers in October and just beginning cadaver dog training at age 2), training for SAR dogs generally starts when they are puppies, and includes obedience training; imprinting them on odors (either of live humans or of decomposing ones, depending on what kinds of searches the dogs will do); distraction training (throwing out food or animal bones to try and throw the dogs off the scent); and getting them used to odd surfaces—places like boats and dense forests, where searches are often conducted. It also includes motivation, in the form of special treats and toys the dogs only get while doing search work, which ensures that they love doing their jobs.
In the end, she notes, “Dogs have used their noses for thousands of years to find food, to find mates, to find shelter. All we’re doing is taking the natural ability of that dog [and] teaching them to look for what we want them to look for.”
OFF DUTY, IT’S HARD TO TELL THE DIFference between Pearl and Finley and any other well-trained pet dogs; Pearl sleeps on the ground quietly, Finley gently paws at Napier when he’s bored, and both happily accept pets and love from visitors. But when the call comes in for a search, their focus abruptly changes. In fact, says Napier, “Some things we have to spell. W-OR-K is one. When the phone rings, they can tell—probably because my tone of voice, my demeanor changes—it’s time for a search. They become very excited, but they also just kind of step up.”
K9 SAR dogs are only certified as part of a team; in other words, the handler is just as important as the dog. “These are our pets,” says Napier. “They’re our partners. They watch our body language as closely as we watch their body language. There’s a connection there.”
So what exactly makes a good SAR dog handler? First off, says Napier, “We don’t get paid to do this; we’re volunteers. We actually pay money to do this. A lot of money.” She adds, “This is like being a volunteer firefighter, almost—you could get a call in the middle of the night from a handler two hours away who needs help. You can get there just as they find the person. And you get to turn around and go back home.”
Handlers also have to be certified in a bevy of things, including human and canine first aid; CPR and AED; search management planning and operations; hazmat awareness; crime-scene preservation; and incident management. And handlers have to be in decent physical shape, capable of running either right alongside or just behind a fast-moving dog. “You really have to be in it for the right reason,” says Napier. “If you love to be out in the summer when it’s hot and sticky and sweaty and in the winter when it’s cold and wet, then it’s perfect for you.”
In 2005, post-Hurricane Katrina, Napier, Emma, and a team of three other dog/ handler pairs camped for six days at a Mississippi fairground after being called down by law enforcement officials. Each day, Napier and the other handlers took their dogs to a structure that had been decimated by the storm, figured out which direction the storm had been blowing when it left, and then had the dogs sniff as far out from the debris field as they could, looking for signs of life or human remains.
Together, Napier and Emma braved knee-deep mud, snakes, alligators, debriscovered swimming pools and endless piles of distracting (for a dog, anyway) household wreckage, including fridges and freezers full of rotting food. Every night, Emma would wrap up work filthy and exhausted, and Napier would bathe her at the campground so she was ready to start again the next day. They never found anyone, but Napier and Emma did manage to help local safety officials clear dozens of wreckage sites.
IT’S EASY TO THINK OF SAR MISSIONS ALways having happy endings, but the truth is there is a sad component to this work. “Sometimes it’s not the outcome you had hoped for,” Napier says. “The whole time you’re doing these searches, especially if it’s a child, you’re praying: Please let it be curled up somewhere on somebody’s back porch asleep.”
Regardless of the outcome, families are generally very appreciative. “A lot of searches they’ll come up and want to meet the dogs and thank the handlers,” says Napier. “It’s really touching. I think from having been there—you know what their anguish is.”
Still, there are plenty of success stories. Once, one of her teammates found an elderly man with a broken hip whose first words were, “I could use a little help here.” Another time, a fellow teammate was deployed to help find a 7-year-old boy. “They had searched all day and it was almost beginning to be dark and they called in the dogs,” says Napier. “This massive bloodhound named Ruby, within 15 minutes, tracked right to him. The first thing he said was, ‘I want my mommy!’ ”
In fact, the surprisingly good news about SAR is that “95 percent of the live people who have gotten lost—child wandered away, grandpa went to the store and didn’t come home, somebody lost in a park—are found before we even arrive on scene,” says Napier. “That’s the best search ever.”
Napier also wants people to know how much K9 SAR has grown in the 20-plus years she’s been doing it. “At one point in time, that resource just didn’t exist,” she says. “Now there are multiple good K9 search-and-rescue teams, many in Ohio. They work together, they train together. It’s been humbling to be even just a teeny tiny part of that.”
Renovating Our Homes, Refreshing Our Lives
D-I-why did i do that
10 10 renovation lessons i learned the
hard way —LAURIE PIKE
HOW DID I LEARN TO REHAB HOUSES? TRIAL BY FIRE. And that isn’t a metaphor. Doing work on a Northside house in 2016, I set it ablaze.
It was a sweaty summer afternoon, and my painter was AWOL. Well, correction: He’d stopped by to show me how to do his job for him. “Use a heat gun,” he said, demonstrating how it melted layers of paint off of a porch overhang. “Keep a water hose handy in case the old wood inside starts smoking.”
From my ladder perch, I heated and scraped; it smoked; I hosed. When white puffs started issuing from the other side of the overhang, I called 911. The longest 10 minutes of my life passed while the eaves vaped in stereo, like a cartoon character about to blow its top. I was steamed, too, more at myself than the painter. Lesson No. 1: Don’t
DIY if you don’t know how.
The episode typified my career pivot into the home-renovation business. My fearlessness in jumping in was matched only by my utter lack of knowledge or experience. How hard could it be? I thought blithely. The answer was written in ash as firefighters chopped open the overhang to extinguish the fire. And that wasn’t the only horrible day on that rehab, my first attempt at whole-house general contracting. Soon afterwards, I sprawled on the living room floor, crying like a teething toddler because the plumber walked off the job, cursing me as he stomped out. It can be very, very hard.
But it can be rewarding, too, in ways my previous career was not. In the two decades I spent as a Los Angeles fashion editor, I wrote about clothing and handbags and lifestyle trends that came and went with the Santa Ana winds. A house, on the other hand, is lasting. Most of the ones I’ve renovated in Cincinnati are a century old. Bringing them back to life—refinishing a hardwood floor, rebuilding a stone retaining wall, tuck-pointing brickwork—gives me concrete satisfaction and rooted connections to the neighborhood and the city. I’m as proud of the paint and caulk on my hands as other women are of their French manicures. “I held off decorating my apartment,” said a tenant of an old, badly maintained apartment building in Spring Grove Village I bought in 2016. “I didn’t know if I was going to stay or move.” Seeing me make repairs on the place—replacing downspouts and gutters, rebuilding stairways, installing a new furnace—she decided it was worth feathering her nest. Other tenants livened up their deck with plants and, well, animal bones. A little property TLC ripples outward and often inspires neighbors to step up their own game. That movement, in turn, gradually strengthens a neighborhood. Northside is a perfect example of an enclave of old houses rehabbed one by one starting in the 1980s, often modestly and DIY, until critical mass was reached and suddenly it became the hot neighborhood. Its biennial house tour now attracts gawkers from all over the city.
After the fire episode, you would think I’d learned about my rehab shortcomings and about poor choices in subcontractors. Nope. A few years later, on a top-to-bottom modernization of a Glendale bungalow, a fellow I hired to tile a shower spent less time
in the bathroom and more time parceling out his work to a couple of his own hired hands (and smoking weed). This was unexpected (not the weed, though), but once they were all kneedeep in the project it felt too complicated to stop and re-think it. Excuses and promises were made, but in the end the job was botched. Lesson No. 2: If a project goes
off the rails, don’t just pray. Stop and start over.
There are a million corners that can be cut on a revamp, both kosher and not-so-kosher. When I painted the interior of a house solo in 2017, I figured I could freehand it; my hand was steady. Yeah, no. A contractor friend who is, shall we say, not super exacting about aesthetics told me it looked terrible. I had to do the entire thing over, this time using painter’s tape. Lesson No. 3: If you
want to do it once, do it right.
I take this man’s counsel more seriously these days. (Lesson
No. 4: Advice is free, so get as much as you can from different
people.) This past fall, a trusted handyman told me that vestigial wallpaper needs to be scraped off a wall before you can “mud” it (skim over it with joint compound) and paint it. After two days of scraping and steaming, I learned from someone else, a specialist painter, that I would have fared better using fabric softener or a wet sponge. Another pro insisted that an oil-based paint primer is sufficient over wallpaper to prep it for mudding. Why hadn’t I consulted YouTube?
Renovations, for me, are just as spread-sheet-y as they are hands-on. (Lesson No. 5: Planning and organization are as important as good materials and workmanship.) You finish electric and plumbing before you paint, and you paint before you re-do the floors. That’s just sequence.
When it comes down to math, though, I choke. On my last kitchen improvement, I configured the cabinet layout in my head incorrectly. I brushed aside an inkling that something was awry and hoped it would all magically work out—I mean, I had 12 secondhand cabinets and I needed just nine. I let the delivered materials sit in the basement for weeks without re-measuring or conferring with the installer. Said installer was then subjected to a Jenga-like task of making the items, which were originally customized for another person’s kitchen, fit congruously into mine. “Everything comes with a fight,” he mumbled as he made it look, well, acceptable.
The project will now extend an additional two months because I was short one particular cabinet, which I’ve special-ordered at full price. And, of course, it’s backlogged.
As I write this, I am slow-boiling door hinges to strip off paint. New hinges cost under $10 for a three-pack. What’s wrong with this picture? It’s my natural inclination to buy used and recycled materials, but my penny-pinching often comes back to pinch me.
On a duplex in Avondale last fall, I replaced the front door in one of the apartments. The house has tons of original character—oak floors, tile fireplaces, built-in garde mangers—so a replacement door that was “pre-loved” was a no-brainer. The first one I bought (unpainted! five panels!) swung out the wrong way. The second one (crystal doorknobs!) was too short. The third one was hollow, too flimsy for an entrance door. I now have seven used doors sitting in my basement and a brand-new one from a big-box store installed in the apartment. Lesson No. 6: Charm has its
limits.
Along a similar vein is Lesson No. 7: Custom ideas come with custom challenges. A client fell in love with handcrafted cement tiles from Mexico, so we ordered them to be shipped. They arrived not only irregular in thickness but missing a protective glaze, so they absorbed anything that came in contact with them: adhesive, water, cleaning products. The discolorations would not come out, so she now has a floor that “tells the story” of its installation.
On another job, I felt clever using a linen closet as a nook for a stackable washer-dryer. I had forgotten that dryers need vents, and this dryer was nowhere near an exterior wall. So back to the drawing board and to the appliance store for a return. The search for a ventless stackable began. Lesson No. 8: Go with what’s standard.
I’m envious of friends’ kitchens with sleek cabinets, smart refrigerators, and built-in everything. I return home from dinner parties to my own 1954 kitchen, with its mismatched appliances, and contemplate yet again sprucing it up. But after four years in the only house I’ve ever bought for myself, I have barely altered it. “The cobbler’s children have no shoes,” my friends muse.
True, the last thing I want to do when I get home from work is to pick up a hammer. Realistically, though, I don’t need a six-burner range, a farmhouse sink, or a kitchen island with electrical outlets.
Lesson No. 9: Less can be more.
Instead of replacing the cabinets, which would have cost thousands of dollars, I painted them and replaced the pulls. The beleaguered Formica counters got a $100 refinishing-kit treatment. It’s hardly Instagrammable, but it functions perfectly for me.
With the money saved, I bought things I value more, including a gigantic chandelier for my living room (still sitting uninstalled in my den). Glamour is a bigger priority to me than a HGTV-worthy kitchen. Lesson No. 10: To each his own!
LET’S BE HONEST, HVAC SYSTEMS AREN’T THE SEXIEST PART OF A HOME renovation (it’s hard to compete with marble countertops), but they’re essential to maintaining a comfortable climate. Whether adding square footage, finishing an unused space, or removing walls to rework an existing living area, HVAC planning ensures air will flow and systems will have enough horsepower to circulate through all the space.
Failing to plan properly is “equivalent to taking off one of your legs and still wanting to run a marathon,” says Todd Dawson, chief operating officer of Dawson Heating & Air Conditioning, a third-generation family-owned HVAC company in Avondale.
Founded in 1980 by patriarch Thaddaus Dawson—who, at 77, still makes service calls— the company today is helmed by Todd and his wife, Dora, along with their two adult children, Dionne and Micaiah, and four additional service members. Together, they specialize in HVAC planning for historic renovation projects in Over-the-Rhine, Walnut Hills, Avondale, Roselawn, and other neighborhoods where homes were built without heating and cooling technology or have experienced a hodgepodge of system installments over the decades. “Heating and cooling are essential to a renovation, because it’s taking the character of an old home to today’s standards,” Todd says. Working as a family, as one might expect, has both perks and challenges. Generational gaps can (and have) led to friction over modernizing operations, but overall, Todd says, “It’s drawn us closer because we’re all in. We’re not the biggest; we’re just the best. That’s the model my dad had, and I carry that through.” When a customer calls on a Saturday night because they smell gas, for example, the Dawson team doesn’t hesitate to drop everything and pay a visit. It’s this commitment to “over-service,” Todd says, that builds customer loyalty. Beyond temperature control, HVAC also plays a role in home air quality. Air purification systems have exploded in popularity during the pandemic, as people are spending more time in their homes and realizing the hazardous effects of stale recirculating air. Particularly for those with asthma and allergies, Todd recommends ionization varieties, which are self-contained, selfcleaning, can last five to eight years without maintenance, and are able to be installed at any time. Before you dream of renovating, remodeling, or adding new spaces or start swinging sledgehammers, Todd suggests you consult an HVAC specialist for drawings and load calculations that factor in the delicate interplay of windows, doors, garages, and ceiling height. If the system is doing its job, you won’t even notice it’s there. If it isn’t, well, it’ll be hard to enjoy those new marble countertops with chattering teeth.
Buy New or Rehab? Bathrooms
Toilets should be bought new, and not just for the “ick” factor. Older ones, even in those fabulous mid-century pastel colors, may still be functional but are also lower to the ground and round-seated rather than today’s standard size. New ones aren’t expensive and should last for as long as you live in your house. If you want to get fancy, try Keidel Supply (Bond Hill, Westwood) or Signature Hardware (Ft. Mitchell).
Faucets should always be bought new. Too often a secondhand one will leak or you may not find supply lines to match it; Noel’s Plumbing Supply (Evendale) is a great place for hard-tofind styles. Tubs, tub surrounds, and shower stalls should be store-bought unless you want, say, an antique cast-iron soaker; those can be had for $100 or less online or at Building Value (Northside), and reglazing runs about $350.
As for bathroom sinks, pedestal versions can be had for a song at any of Habitat for Humanity’s five area ReStore locations, but remember that your plumbing has to be hidden behind that slim stem. A sink set in a vanity is often a better choice, and those can be had used at Cincinnati ReUse Center (Fairmount) and online, especially Facebook Marketplace. —L.P.
What’s In, What’s Out
home renovation trends for your own project. —LAURIE PIKE
I’VE BEEN STARING AT THESE SAME WALLS FOR A YEAR AND A HALF, AND I WENT A little nutso,” says Molly Milano-Rifkind, an Amelia homeowner whose lockdown project was constructing a window bench atop storage drawers with built-in, ceiling-high bookcases fl anking it. So many of us have experienced the same pandemic emotions: boredom with our current house and a desire for a more organized, functional, and attractive interiors.
Milano-Rifkind installed the seating and cabinetry in her “she loft,” originally a retreat for reading and crocheting, that turned into her remote-work offi ce in 2020. She also kept an eye on her baby in the room, so the storage drawers house toys. The project was one of many happening across the city, refl ecting how the pandemic reinforced some renovation movements already underfoot and prompted new ones.
The kitchen is the most renovated room in a house, and always has been. Increased cooking at home over the past two years has most infl uenced trends in that space. If we’re forced to become the chefs we used to depend upon, we want nice equipment and surroundings for the job. Built-in appliances are in vogue, says Lisa Meeks of Rock Island Realty, which builds and renovates houses, as are multi-functional appliances like a microwave doubling as an air fryer. Layout and cabinetry choices are shifting away from fussy details and natural-wood colors, adds Mark Vise, whose eponymous LLC rehabs properties. The preferred look, he says, is “modern, sleek, clean, and minimal.” Since open shelving has retained its Insta-fueled popularity, a separate spot in the room hides the less display-worthy everyday dishes. Many of Vise’s revamps have no upper cabinets SPRUCING UP to speak of, and the base cabinets are in colors such Molly Milano-Rifkind as blue, gray, green, or even red. Faucet and pull hardcreated a comfortable ware is often black; adieu silver, brushed nickel, and WFH offi ce (above), while oil-rubbed bronze. other rehabbers created Islands remain the locus of the kitchen, if not the functional space where they could fi nd it (top, entire house. Like our pandemic bellies, they just opposite page), and keep getting bigger (the last two that Vise built were upgraded bathrooms. 5-feet-by-8-feet). Dining rooms continue to be converted to other purposes, some of which require a remodel, like a pub Vise built for a client, for which he added brick to one wall.
Bathrooms are the second most popular rooms to be revamped. Think large tile (up to 4 feet square) and curbless step-in showers with a glass enclosure or stationary panel of glass. “People love heated fl oors,” says Rick Pouliot of EP Investment Group, which fl ips West Side properties. “If you’re retiling a fl oor, it’s a rare opportunity to put one in.” As showers take up more room, soaking tubs are being relegated to the guest bathroom, says Meeks.
Traditional vanities are falling by the wayside, too, replaced by fl oating vanities and those with glass tops. As for vessel sinks, buh-bye. Ditto traditional vanity light fi xtures with frosted sconces. Think
linear, geometric LED lighting. “We take out medicine cabinets and replace them with mirrors that have integrated lighting,” says Richard Rodier of Renovations by Rodier. Let’s not forget the toilet! Contractors are often asked to install outlets near them for electric bidet add-ons.
In the fl ooring category, clients are souring on carpet—even in bedrooms, says Meeks— and opting for hardwood, engineered hardwood, and luxury vinyl planks. “Now everybody wants LVP,” says Rodier.
Layouts and room use are evolving. In larger houses, kids’ play spaces are often no longer relegated to the basement or den. Vise frequently sees a spider-like confi guration on top fl oors, in which a central room is a playroom, “like how a common area in a dorm would be used,” he says. As for the basement, it’s more than ever the COVID-safe workout area.
The outside of the house is functioning more as a gathering place, especially when guests come over and even in cold weather. For Rodier, this means building or extending decks. Fire pits and outdoor fl at-screen TVs help COVID-weary homeowners fend off cabin fever. The trend puts contractors to work constructing overhangs, pergolas, and other enclosures.
With entertaining and relaxing areas spread throughout the house, the living room no longer needs to be the size of a football fi eld. Cozy is the new operating word there.
“I would love to make our living room more homey,” says Milano-Rifkind, emboldened by the success of her home-offi ce project. “Cabinetry and floating shelves framing our fi replace to give some more storage for books and to display some pretty things. All this home time has allowed my brain to go bananas!” Buy New or Rehab ? Kitchens
Many renovators insist on new appliances, and I get it. You’ll certainly suff er fewer breakdowns going forward that way. But I purchase all of mine at stores selling them used with a 30-day warranty, snagging a fancier pre-loved item for the price of a low-end new one. For my last renovation, I bought a dishwasher at the Habitat for Humanity ReStore in Fairfi eld and a fridge and stove at Building Value (Northside). The stove hood I bought new; I draw the line at vintage grease. As for laundry machines, just one out of the dozen-plus I’ve gotten from Tri-State Appliance (Northside) has been wonky and was replaced quickly at no extra charge.
With patience, you can save thousands on cabinets, as I did this fall. I searched for weeks online and in secondhand stores (Building Value gets the best of them) before fi nding a set of KraftMaid all-wood wall and base cabinets from an individual on Facebook Marketplace, in the approximate dimensions I needed. At $2,500 for a set of 12 in good, clean condition, they cost a third of what that fi rst owner paid. Bonus: They came with hardware, which isn’t included when you buy new cabinets. Caveat: Measure carefully to make sure what’s on off er will fi t your kitchen. — L.P.
The Kitchen That Got Away
why do we tackle certain home renovations
and leave others undone? —PATRICIA GALLAGHER NEWBERRY
WHEN WE PUT OUR LAST HOUSE ON THE MARKET IN spring 2018, we attracted the now-normal flood of showings and bids over asking price. In the end, we went with the family who sent us a love letter extolling the beauty of our home’s grand staircase, the possibilities of its roomy backyard, and the “years of memories we will build…on the front porch with the red door.”
Of note: They did not remark on our kitchen. What a snub! I mean, who would not be ga-ga over painted and mismatched pine cabinets, bland Formica counters, gray linoleum floor gone yellow in spots, and knotty pine paneling hiding behind layers of paint? Well, the new owners. The ones with the love letter.
They gutted our kitchen within the year, installing custom cabinets and highend appliances with a supersized, gleaming white quartz counter/bar where a wall once separated the kitchen and dining room. It is a House Beautiful photo spread. It’s everything I would have loved when it was mine. But there were kids with extracurriculars, first in grade school, then high school, then college. And groceries. And cars. And dogs. And so many other needs in that 100-year-old, high-ceiled, wood-floored, three-story Money Pit.
And we’d hit reno fatigue after ripping out and replacing kitchens in our first, second, and third This Old House addresses. By No. 4, our money and time were needed elsewhere. So we never created the HGTV kitchen of my dreams.
Instead, with our three kids now (mostly) gone, we moved to a smaller house in the same neighborhood. We have (mostly) onefloor living, lush landscaping, and a spacious deck that overlooks a park and provides secluded al fresco dining. The neighbors are great. The street is quiet. And for the first time in my adult life, I can park my car in a no-bike, clutter-free double garage I open with the push of a button.
And the kitchen? It’s fine. Perfectly fine. The cabinets and counters are newish. We replaced most of the appliances. The eat-in space has plenty of light. Two built-ins hold most of my china.
But, like the house around it, the kitchen is small. The cabinets we added make it feel even smaller. It’s tight with more than one cook at the counter. When we entertain, we have to set up tables in other rooms. Meanwhile, a half mile away, at the charming old Money Pit our children will always consider home, other children are doing their homework on that silky slab of a counter, while their dad (a real chef!) is prepping dinner on the other side and their mom is setting a table in a roomy dining room not walled off from the kitchen. With fresh energy and funds, a new family made our tired old kitchen the showstopper we’d always dreamed of but never realized. When (if?) they ever sell, their kitchen will be the first line of any love letters coming their way. When (if?) we ever sell again, I’m hoping a hidden deck and super-sweet garage seal the deal.
a former thoroughbred barn is now an indian hill home
Carol Sanger read that the thoroughbred barn was for sale, and she decided it had to be hers. “I really wanted to do something that would be different, a creative outlet,” she says. The kitchen and dining and living rooms were built on the first floor, which formerly held horse stalls. The hayloft is the star of the show: Original rafters contrast against the second floor, and an overlook in the center peers down to the main floor. converting a west end church into a home
Abdiel Acevedo had been eyeing the nearby 7,500-square-foot church ever since he moved into a Dayton Street rehab in the West End. He’s now renovating the first floor into a two-bedroom, two-bath apartment, while the upstairs—with a preserved organ keyboard, 20-foot ceilings, and massive windows—will be his new home. “Cincinnati allows people to be creative,” says Acevedo. “Expect unexpected things when you walk into these buildings.”
Buy New or Rehab? Outdoors
Let’s move outside, shall we? Motion lights I buy new, but standard exterior lights, like interior ones, can be found at ReStores, Building Value, and the ReUse Center. Pavers, bricks, and even landscaping rocks can be sourced through individuals selling online; check the free offers and curb alerts first!
Everything to do with the roof (gutters, downspouts, flashing, chimney caps) should be bought new, but roof tiles, rounded Spanish tiles, metal roofing, and even slate tile pieces can occasionally be found at Building Value and the ReUse Center. Supply depends on what those businesses are demolishing at any given time, and the amounts are usually small—better for a shed than to redo your own home’s topper.
Those demo jobs also result in lots of windows and doors, including patio doors. Fencing should be bought new; it would be hard to acquire the right amount you need from cast-off sources, unless it’s just a panel or two. —L.P.
BY BY Linda Linda Vaccariello Vaccariello
PAGE 47 PAGE 47
PHOTOGRAPHS BY PHOTOGRAPHS BY Devyn Devyn Glista Glista
RECLAIMING A DREAM RECLAIMING A DREAM BETH JOHNSON RENOVATED AND FURNISHED BEN DOMBAR’S HOME (ABOVE AND PREVIOUS PAGES) TO RECAPTURE ITS MID-CENTURY MODERN AESTHETIC AND CELEBRATE DOMBAR’S ARCHITECTURAL PROWESS.
O U R S T E P S I N , I OUR STEPS IN, I said, This is it,” Beth Johnson recalls. The house—hexagonal in shape, mustard-colored, four stories tall yet barely visible from Galbraith Road— was uninhabited and, as she stood inside the front entrance, also uninhabitable. But she fell in love on the spot, busted pipes, raccoon pee, and all.
It takes guts to imagine a future for an unorthodox property sitting vacant on a steep, thickly wooded hillside. But Johnson has advantages over the average would-be rehabber. First, she’s the city of Cincinnati’s urban conservator, so she understands what it takes to make a decrepit site livable. And second, she knew that this neglected residence on the honeysucklestrangled banks of Congress Run Creek once was a dream home: the residence and studio of esteemed Cincinnati architect Ben Dombar.
Dombar and his brother Abrom (Abe) were trained by Frank Lloyd Wright. They brought Wrightian principles and sensibility to town, designing homes for hundreds of area families from the 1940s to the 1980s. This house was completed in 1968 on acreage Ben and his wife, Shirley, bought in the early 1950s. It was here that Dombar, at the height of his career, had a free hand to build what he wanted.
Throughout Johnson’s multi-year restoration, she has worked to preserve Dombar’s artistry and retain his vision. Now she’s hoping that the Ben Dombar House and Studio will be placed on the National Register of Historic Places. If she’s successful, it will be the fi rst property designed by Dombar to be recognized in this way.
Historic designation may not have been Johnson’s immediate thought when she took those fi rst steps. But what motivated her is what drives so many people who fall in love with a building that needs rescuing:
A
merican history is replete with politicians who have caught the public’s wandering eye and catapulted from obscurity to power. They’re often a case of the right person in the right place at the right time. It took Barack Obama just fi ve years to rocket from the Illinois State Senate to the presidency, and Donald Trump rose from reality TV host to president even quicker.
Five and a half years ago, Aftab Pureval was a Procter & Gamble attorney running for Hamilton County Clerk of Courts. After competing in four political races since then—and winning three of them—he became Cincinnati’s 70th mayor in January.
Cincinnati Magazine introduced our readers to the political newcomer in September 2016 (“Can Aftab Pureval Pop the Republican Machine’s Bubble?”). He was running against incumbent Tracy Winkler for Clerk of Courts, but also against the Winkler name (her husband and brotherin-law are county judges) and the insider nature of GOP county politics. He beat Winkler with 52 percent of the vote.
“I feel like my political career started with that story in Cincinnati Magazine,” Pureval says. “No one thought I had a chance in that race. The photograph has me blowing a bubble, just like Robert Redford did on the poster for a movie in the 1970s called The Candidate. He played an outsider and a young guy running for offi ce. I loved the idea of the picture.”
Pureval thought he could ride his newfound political momentum to challenge U.S. Rep. Steve Chabot in 2018, but the gerrymandered 1st District wasn’t ready for a fresh-faced Democrat. He hunkered down to remake the Clerk of Courts offi ce with a focus on transparency and technology, and he won re-election in 2020 with 57 percent of the vote. Pureval fi nished fi rst in the open mayoral primary last May, then easily beat City Hall veteran (and fellow Democrat) David Mann in November.
The victory gained national attention for Pureval’s personal background story and quick political ascension. He’s the city’s fi rst mayor of Asian descent and the fi rst of Asian descent to lead a major city in the Midwest, and he was featured prominently in national media coverage of Asian-American and Pacifi c Islander (AAPI) candidates who won mayoral races, including Michelle Wu in Boston and Bruce Harrell in Seattle.
The son of immigrants grew up in suburban Dayton and, like many area kids, attended state colleges: Ohio State, where he was elected student body president, and UC for law school, where he volunteered at Legal Aid. Pureval worked at a law fi rm in Washington, D.C., returning to Cincinnati to serve in the U.S. Attorney’s offi ce and then joining P&G. He proudly recalls his parents’ journey to the U.S. from India, where his mother, a refugee from Tibet, met and married his father.
Five years ago, Pureval described his motivation for seeking public offi ce as an attempt to speak for those who felt powerless against the county courthouse. “I can’t imagine spending this much time and energy just to get your name out there,” he told Cincinnati Magazine. “You have to believe in what you’re saying and what you’re running for. I do, because I know what it’s like not to fi t in, to be an outsider in the system. And that has a lot to do with my name.”
After managing an annual budget of $12 million at
ON THE MOVE (ABOVE, PREVIOUS SPREAD, AND COVER) AFTAB PUREVAL PHOTOGRAPHED AT FINDLAY MARKET ON DECEMBER 27, 2021. the county, he’ll now oversee the city of Cincinnati’s $1.5 billion budget, which includes $310 million in capital projects. It’s a huge leap in scale, which Pureval admits “intimidated” him when he fi rst considered running for mayor.
But his campaign focused on Pureval’s leadership experience, gained from taking on an entrenched political system at the county courthouse and opening up the clerk's offi ce to new people and new ideas. He convinced city voters weary of corruption—three councilmembers were indicted for bribery in 2020—that he could lead a similar turnaround at City Hall. His margin of victory over Mann was 66 to 34 percent.
Pureval discusses his emergence as a political leader and his plans and hopes for Cincinnati in an interview conducted in November. His comments have been edited for length and clarity.
WHAT WAS YOUR EXPERIENCE DURING THE MAYORAL CAMPAIGN, ESPECIALLY RUNNING AGAINST A FELLOW DEMOCRAT, DAVID MANN?
PUREVAL: It was a lot diff erent [from my earlier campaigns]. Our national politics are so polarized and so toxic, it was refreshing and inspirational to have a local race that was really defi ned by issues and not personalities or parties. Through the primary and the general election, David and I participated in over 40 forums and debates.
We’re all probably tired of Zoom, but Zoom really did break down barriers for getting candidates out into different communities to talk about our specifi c policy ideas and the big topics of the day, which in my mind was our economic recovery from this pandemic and putting racial equity at the center of aff ordable housing, public safety, and environmental and infrastructure concerns. So it was refreshing to be given time to answer questions not with sound bites but with substance and to spend our time talking about the future of Cincinnati rather than attacking our opponent, which is unfortunately
Cincinnati Classical Academy
Open House and Tours: February 27, 2022
Cincinnati Classical Academy provides a traditional, timetested alternative to modern trends in education. As a member of the Hillsdale College K–12 Initiative, CLASSICAL offers a tuition-free, content-rich curriculum in the classical liberal arts and sciences, with instruction in moral character and civic virtue. We aim to prepare students for life, not just for college and career, through formation of the will to desire what is good, true, and beautiful. We rely on teachers, not digital devices, to teach, inspire, and form our students. We use primary sources and classic literature so that students can converse with and learn from the greatest thinkers who shaped Western culture and institutions.
The CLASSICAL curriculum is balanced between language, literature, math, history, science, and the arts. In lower grades, language is taught through explicit phonics and grammar, cursive handwriting, sentence diagramming, and the study of Latin. Singapore Math is used to develop algebraic thinking. These studies will prepare students for courses in logic, rhetoric, economics, moral and political philosophy, and government in upper grades, and also for robust curricula in literature, history, modern languages, mathematics, and the sciences.
Come to CLASSICAL to find a community and education that prizes those things that have lasting and proven value.
The Stats YEAR FOUNDED: Opening Fall 2022 GRADES SERVED: K–6 in 2022–2023 (a grade added each year until K–12) CURRENT ENROLLMENT: estimated 400 students in Fall 2022 STUDENT/FACULTY RATIO: estimated 16:1 GRADUATION RATE: N/A UNIFORMS REQUIRED? Yes, all grades TUITION: None ENROLLMENT PERIOD: January 18–March 8 TOP AWARDS/RECOGNITION: The only tuition-free classical school in Greater Cincinnati • The Hillsdale K–12 Initiative has been supporting classical charter schools throughout the country for 10 years and is currently educating over 14,000 students • Students at Hillsdale K–12 schools have a 99% graduation rate and consistently outperform national averages in reading and math proficiency and college entrance exams.
The Seven Hills School
To learn more or schedule a personalized tour, contact The Seven Hills School’s Admission Team at (513) 728-2400 or visit www.7hills.org! To read about our COVID-19 safety protocols, visit www.7hills. org/StaySafe7Hills.
Affordable, flexible tuition
Seven Hills is committed to providing access to as many students as possible. Our Affordability Initiative offers two important options: The Flexible Tuition Program and Seven Hills Scholar Program. Approximately 35 percent of the Seven Hills student body participates in the Flexible Tuition program.
Academic excellence
The Seven Hills School is ranked by Niche.com as the #2 Best
Private College Prep High School in Ohio, #1 Best Private
College Prep High School in the Cincinnati area, and #1 Best Private K-12 School in the Greater Cincinnati area. Seven Hills teachers, at every grade level, provide unique learning opportunities that lead to academic achievement and personal well-being for students.
Teachers are the difference
Trained in some of the nation’s best universities and recruited from all over the country, Seven Hills teachers are experts at their academic subjects and the grade levels they teach. They design learning experiences that enable students to acquire and hone skills to think critically and creatively, pursue their interests, collaborate with classmates, and explore the world around them. In an environment that encourages students to take risks and stretch beyond their sphere of mastered skills, Seven Hills students gain more from their time at Seven Hills—supported along the way by their innovative teachers.
The Stats YEAR FOUNDED: 1906 GRADES SERVED: Pre-K (2-year-olds) through Grade 12 CURRENT ENROLLMENT: 1,038 STUDENT-FACULTY RATIO: 9:1 GRADUATION RATE: 100% UNIFORMS REQUIRED? Yes, Doherty Campus (2-year-olds through Grade 5); no, Hillsdale Campus (2-year-olds through Grade 12) TUITION: $7,670–$28,600 TOP AWARDS/RECOGNITIONS: Ranked #1 Best Private College Prep High School in Greater Cincinnati • Ranked #1 Best Private K-12 School in Greater Cincinnati • Ranked #2 Best College Prep Private High School in Ohio • 14% of the Class of 2022 have been recognized by the National Merit Scholarship Program • 24% of the Class of 2021 received National Merit Recognition • Accreditations include National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS), Independent Schools Association of the Central States (ISACS), Ohio Association of Independent Schools (OAIS), and the State of Ohio.
Hillsdale Campus, 5400 Red Bank Rd., Cincinnati, OH 45227 • Doherty Campus, 2726 Johnstone Pl., Cincinnati, OH 45206 • (513) 728-2400 • www.7hills.org
Open House: January 23, 2022, 2–4 pm
Bethany School is a 123-yearold independent, K-8 Episcopal school located in Glendale, Ohio. Bethany has a long history of nurturing the whole student with outstanding results. Known for its campus like setting, the school encourages spiritual growth, academic excellence, and character development. As a result of a 2014 strategic plan, two new academic buildings were constructed and welcomed students through their doors at the opening of school 2019 and 2020. The Bethel building is a one-of-a-kind LEED certified Platinum energy efficient school building and has an equally amazing natural playscape. The new playscape will foster activity and risk-taking in a safe environment. The new buildings are both beautiful and inspiring for the staff and students. Join us for our Open House on January 23rd from 2 to 4 p.m. For more info visit www. bethanyschool.org
The Stats YEAR FOUNDED: 1898 GRADES SERVED: K–8 CURRENT ENROLLMENT: 180 STUDENT-FACULTY RATIO: 10:1 GRADUATION RATE: N/A UNIFORMS REQUIRED? Yes TUITION: $10,350
555 Albion Ave., Cincinnati, OH 45246 • (513) 771-7462 • www.bethanyschool.org
Bishop Fenwick High School
Bishop Fenwick High School is a Catholic, co-educational high school in the heart of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati on 66 acres on State Route 122, minutes from I-75 and State Route 741.
Fenwick offers three levels of college prep courses to prepare students for the future, including AP and CCP courses, Engineering and IT programs, and a wide variety of electives. Fenwick provides many different opportunities for extra-curricular activities.
To know Fenwick is to know our students and graduates: young men and women of faith, knowledge, and character, learning and living with purpose, and serving others as bold Christian leaders.
The Stats YEAR FOUNDED: 1952 GRADES SERVED: 9–12 CURRENT ENROLLMENT: 480 STUDENT-FACULTY RATIO: 13:1 GRADUATION RATE:100% UNIFORMS REQUIRED? Yes TUITION: $11,275 TOP AWARDS/RECOGNITIONS: Three Fenwick students were named as National Merit Semifinalists in fall 2021. • The Class of 2021 was awarded $21.2 million in scholarship dollars.
Children’s Meeting House Montessori School
Cincinnati Country Day School
Open House: Sunday, January 23, 2022, 2–4 pm Tours: By Appointment, contact RSVP@CMHSchool.com
Nestled on more than seven acres just outside historic Loveland, Children’s Meeting House seeks to foster the development of the whole child by implementing the philosophy, practices, and curriculum of Dr. Maria Montessori. Children are empowered to learn and develop at a pace inspired by their own instinctive love of discovery. From preschool through sixth grade, students are guided, challenged, and prepared for their futures using authentic Montessori lessons and materials. Enriched by abundant natural woodlands and working gardens, CMH fosters a high level of academic success within an outdoor setting few schools in Cincinnati can match.
Come see where learning happens, naturally.
The Stats YEAR FOUNDED: 1972 GRADES SERVED: Preschool–grade 6 CURRENT ENROLLMENT: 150 STUDENTFACULTY RATIO: 12:1 UNIFORMS REQUIRED? No TUITION: $4,995–$11,595 TOP AWARDS/RECOGNITIONS: Member of the American Montessori Society and the Cincinnati Montessori Society. • Voted Best Preschool by the readers of Cincinnati Family Magazine, 2018 and 2020. • Voted Hulafrog’s Most Loved K-8 Private School, 2020 and 2021. • Certified as a Wild School Site and Monarch Butterfly Waystation.
927 O’Bannonville Rd., Loveland, OH 45140 • (513) 683-4757 • www.cmhschool.com
Individual appointments available in-person or remotely. Evening appointments also available in the winter (January–March). Learn more at www.countryday.net
We are Cincinnati Country Day School. Few schools are better equipped to connect students both academically and personally, whether in the classroom or outside on our 62-acre campus. We are one family united to help grow students, ages 18 months to 18 years, to become exemplary citizens, confident leaders, and the best versions of themselves.
We ensure families that their children will be known, nurtured, and inspired. We provide students with an exemplary, character-driven, and innovative academic experience that will guide them to be the future leaders of the next generation. Graduates will be fully prepared for finding success in the next phase of their lives with purpose, confidence, and character. We are Country Day.
The Stats YEAR FOUNDED: 1926 GRADES SERVED: Early childhood (18 months)–Grade 12 CURRENT ENROLLMENT: 850 STUDENT-FACULTY RATIO: 9:1 GRADUATION RATE: 100% UNIFORMS REQUIRED? Yes, K–grade 4; dress code grades 5–12 TUITION: $7,570–$27,730 TOP AWARDS/RECOGNITIONS: Students matriculate to top colleges nationally and internationally • #1 Cincinnati area high school for sending students to Harvard, Princeton, and MIT (PolarisList) • $11.4 million awarded in college grants and scholarships • A top K–12 school by Niche for 2022 • Member of Cum Laude Society • Nation’s first 1:1 laptop computer program • Advanced Placement Scholars • National Merit Recipients, Scholars, and Scholarship winners • Scholastic Art and Writing Award winners
6905 Given Rd., Cincinnati, OH 45243 • (513) 979-0220 • www.countryday.net
Open House Schedule: January 20, 2022, 8:30–10:30 am (PK–K Symmes Township); February 26, 2022, 10 am–1 pm (all campuses); April 7, 2022, 8:45–10:30 am (all campuses); in-person and virtual tours available.
Open House: February 5, 2022, 10 am–1 pm. Personal tours available by appointment; e-mail enrollment@cincinnatiwaldorfschool.org
Step into CHCA and you will discover an extraordinary Christ-centered education unlike any within the city, where students have countless opportunities to Choose More—to find their place, pursue their gifts, strengthen their faith, and make a meaningful impact on our world. Whether you are a preschooler, an Upper School student, or anywhere in between, you will experience high levels of engagement intellectually, spiritually, and relationally. It’s where innovative programming, theological integration, hands-on learning, and countless extracurriculars all come together to result in unique and exciting learning experiences.
The Stats YEAR FOUNDED: 1989 GRADES SERVED: PK2–Grade 12 CURRENT ENROLLMENT: 1,300 STUDENTFACULTY RATIO: 12:1 GRADUATION RATE: 100% UNIFORMS REQUIRED? Yes, through Grade 6 TUITION: $3,590–$18,500 TOP THREE AWARDS/RECOGNITIONS: 8% of students from the Class of 2021 were National Merit Finalists • CHCA is ranked by Niche as the #1 Christian High School in Ohio • Only school in the region offering an Entrepreneurship and Sustainability Program with student-run businesses, a greenhouse, multiple learning gardens, and Teaching Kitchen
PK2–Gr 3: Edyth B. Lindner Campus, 11312 Snider Rd., Cincinnati, OH 45249; Gr. 4–8: Founders’ Campus, 11300 Snider Rd., Cincinnati, OH 45249; Gr 9–12: Martha S. Lindner Campus, 11525 Snider Rd., Cincnnati, OH 45249; PK3–Gr 6: Otto Armleder Memorial Education Campus, 140 W. Ninth St., Cincinnati, OH 45202 • (513) 247-0900 • www.chca-oh.org
The Cincinnati Waldorf School provides active hands-on academics infused with nature, community building, and the arts. CWS students learn compassion, resilience, creativity, balance, problem solving, and independent thinking—exactly what our world needs most right now. Waldorf teachers are experts in outdoor education, and our students spend a lot of time outside. This year we are continuing to spend as much time outdoors as possible to provide a safe and joyful learning environment for our students. Waldorf High School students work closely with teachers who are experts in the subjects they teach. The high school curriculum is extremely diverse and gives students the opportunity to engage in a wide assortment of classes, allowing them to dive deeply into academic subjects that are integrated with art, music, drama, community building, and more!
Cincinnati Waldorf School
The Stats YEAR FOUNDED: 1973 GRADES SERVED: Preschool–Grade 12 CURRENT ENROLLMENT: 275 STUDENT-FACULTY RATIO: 10:1 GRADUATION RATE: N/A UNIFORMS REQUIRED? No TUITION: Varies by program TOP AWARDS/RECOGNITIONS: Voted “Best Private School in 2020 and 2021” by CityBeat readers
Preschool–Gr 8: 6743 Chestnut St., Cincinnati, OH 45227 • (513) 541-0220; Gr 9–12: 6703 Madison Rd., Cincinnati, OH 45227 • (513) 386-7974 • www.cincinnatiwaldorfschool.org
Open House: January 26, 2022, 4–7 pm, Live Oaks Career Campus, 5956 Buckwheat Rd., Milford January 26, 2022, 5–7 pm, Scarlet Oaks Career Campus, 300 Scarlet Oaks Dr. (use 3254 E. Kemper Road for GPS directions) January 27, 2022, 5–7 pm, Diamond Oaks Career Campus, 6375 Harrison Ave. January 27, 2022, 5:30–7:30 pm, Laurel Oaks Career Campus, 300 Oak Dr., Wilmington
Experiential learning is a key to success at Great Oaks. Students begin in the classroom, but spend much of their time in career labs, using the advanced equipment, tools, and computers that professionals use. Culinary students spend their time in commercial kitchens, robotics students program manufacturing robots, heavy equipment students drive earthmovers, surgical technology students learn to hand surgical equipment, and so on.
Great Oaks students can—and typically do—earn college credit to give them a head start. They can also gain field experience during their senior year, through co-op programs and internships.
The Stats YEAR FOUNDED: 1970 GRADES SERVED: 11–12 CURRENT ENROLLMENT: 2,800 STUDENT-FACULTY RATIO: 18:1 GRADUATION RATE: 99.4 UNIFORMS REQUIRED? No TUITION: N/A TOP AWARDS/RECOGNITIONS: 112 students qualified for national student competition in 2019 (the last year full national competitions were held). 12 finished in the national top 10 in their field. • 93.3% of students graduated last year with at least one state-recognized industry assessment. • Career-technical instructors have at least five years’ experience in the career field they teach.
110 Great Oaks Dr., Cincinnati, OH 45040 • (513) 771-8840 • www.greatoaks.com
Guardian Angels School
Open House (K-8): Sunday, January 30, 2022, 1–3 pm. Call to schedule a personal tour any time.
Guardian Angels School provides a Catholic education to students in preschool through 8th grade. Our focus is on individualized education, preparing each student to be a faithful disciple of Christ through service and leadership. Character development is a top priority. Students work hard each day at earning their "H.A.L.O.," which stands for Honest, Accountable, and a Leader to Others. Skills related to each of these character traits are directly taught by staff and modeled by all. The result is a strong community of well-rounded, faith-filled persons.
The combined approach of guiding students spiritually, academically, and socially leads students to graduate from Guardian Angels fully prepared to be successful in high school and beyond.
The Stats YEAR FOUNDED: 1895 GRADES SERVED: Preschool–grade 8 CURRENT ENROLLMENT: 440 STUDENT-FACULTY RATIO: 11:1 UNIFORMS REQUIRED? Yes TUITION: $5,080 TOP AWARDS/RECOGNITIONS: Blue Ribbon School of Excellence • Thomas Edison Award for Excellence in STEM Education • All students participate in service to our community.
6539 Beechmont Ave., Cincinnati, OH 45230 • (513) 624-3141 • www.gaschool.org
Open House: January 30, 2022, 12–2 pm
Nativity School first opened its doors in 1921. One hundred years later, our school still offers your child an experience in Kindergarten through Grade 8 that is unique among schools throughout Greater Cincinnati. The Cincinnati Enquirer called Nativity School one of the crown jewels of Cincinnati’s Catholic school system.
The strength of our school lies within our mission—to provide a solid academic education with a global perspective where the arts and technology are integrated within the curriculum—all rooted in the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
This recognition of Nativity’s value extends beyond the boundaries of Cincinnati. In considering Nativity for your child’s education, you are looking into a school that has been named a Blue Ribbon School by the United States Department of Education. Here, your child enters an academic environment where students score above the national average, typically in the top 20% of students tested.
We believe that our children must be prepared to enter an ever more connected global community. This global perspective is shared with your child in a number of ways, within the classroom and beyond.
More than anything else, at Nativity you will find an active, supportive community of teachers and parents. We believe that this is a major key to our success over the years.
The Stats YEAR FOUNDED: 1921 GRADES SERVED: K–8 CURRENT ENROLLMENT: 400 STUDENT-FACULTY RATIO: 16:1 GRADUATION RATE: N/A UNIFORMS REQUIRED? Yes TUITION: $6,200 non-parishioners / $5,525 Parishioners TOP AWARDS/RECOGNITIONS: Blue Ribbon School • Celebrating 100 Years in Catholic Education
5936 Ridge Ave., Cincinnati, OH 45213 • (513) 458-6767 • www.nativity-cincinnati.org
Our experienced Montessori-credentialed teachers prepare students to succeed in the real world by allowing children to discover their innate love of learning and by helping them develop time-management and relationshipbuilding skills. Students are adept at working in active spaces in both positions of leadership and as team members. Teachers interweave Montessori principles and philosophy to create an atmosphere of respect for one another. Students’ social and emotional health is fostered daily through intentional lessons, reflective discussions, and skill-building exercises in grace and courtesy. Our hands-on Montessori kitchen provides homemade, healthy lunches with plenty of vegetarian options. The New School’s outdoor spaces for children are called the Preprimary Woods and the Elementary Woods. These areas allow for age-appropriate active play. In addition to more traditional climbing equipment, tetherball, and gaga pit, children enjoy tending flowers, playing in the sand, lifting logs in search of interesting insects, climbing on low tree branches, and building huts.
The New School Montessori
We encourage you to visit our website and schedule a virtual or in-person tour with our admission director.
The Stats YEAR FOUNDED: 1970 GRADES SERVED: 3-year-olds to grade 6 CURRENT ENROLLMENT: 148 STUDENT-FACULTY RATIO: Average 6:1–12:1 pre primary, 10:1–15:1 elementary UNIFORMS REQUIRED? No TOP AWARDS/RECOGNITIONS: The only Ohio State chartered Montessori school in Cincinnati with dual accreditation: AMS and ISACS • Recognized by Cincinnati Magazine for our innovative lunch program. We are the only school in Cincinnati making homemade, healthy lunches for all students and staff every day—and it’s covered in tuition. No pre-made meals. Nothing merely warmed up. • All teachers are Montessori trained and certified.
3 Burton Woods Ln., Cincinnati, OH 45229 • (513) 281-7999 • www.newschoolmontessori.com
For more information about visiting our campus, Please contact Dawn Ellington, Admissions Director, at dellington@purcellmarian.org or (513) 751-1230 ext. 128.
At Purcell Marian, we cultivate the best in each for the benefit of all. We take pride in our richly diverse co-ed student body and the unique paths we offer our students, including the rigorous International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Program.
We challenge our students to be open-minded risk-takers and engaged global citizens. Rooted in the traditions of the Marianists, we foster faith, hard work, and service to others. We believe every student is different, and these differences strengthen our community.
We concentrate on inclusiveness and preparing our graduates for post-secondary professional opportunities in our ever-changing world through our IB Diploma, Career Initiatives Program, and Global Connections travel program.
The Stats YEAR FOUNDED: 1928 GRADES SERVED: 9–12 CURRENT ENROLLMENT: 360 STUDENT-FACULTY RATIO: 12:1 GRADUATION RATE: 100% UNIFORMS REQUIRED? Yes TOP AWARDS/RECOGNITIONS: Authorized International Baccalaureate World School
2935 Hackberry St., Cincinnati, OH 45206 • (513) 751-1230 • www.purcellmarian.org
Rockwern Academy’s mission is to expand minds, celebrate Judaism, nurture community, and commit to building a better world.
Located in the Kenwood area, Rockwern serves students from 12 months through sixth grade. Small class sizes allow our teachers to know their students at a deep level, tailoring learning to meet individual needs and interests. An integrated curriculum supports personal and intellectual growth through discovery and hands-on experiences.
Early care and after care are available for all students. For our early childhood program, there are full- and part-time options plus a summer camp. Tuition assistance is available to families in need.
Rockwern Academy
Tours available by request. Please contact Sarah Shmoel at admissions@rockwernacademy.org or (513) 984-3770 ext. 3015 to set up an appointment.
The Stats YEAR FOUNDED: 1952 GRADES SERVED: 12 months–sixth grade CURRENT ENROLLMENT: 224 STUDENT-FACULTY RATIO: 5:1 GRADUATION RATE: N/A UNIFORMS REQUIRED? No TUITION: $7,100–$15,150 TOP AWARDS/RECOGNITIONS: Accredited by ISACS • Students graduating Rockwern and applying to Walnut Hills achieved 98th percentile on reading and 95th percentile on math entrance exams
8401 Montgomery Rd., Cincinnati, OH 45236 • (513) 984-3770 • www.RockwernAcademy.org
HOW TO DESIGN THE ABSOLUTLEY PERFECT Engagement Ring
Designing the perfect engagement ring is no small task. The ring you choose is a true testament to how much you understand your partner. Their engagement ring is a part of your love story that they will wear everyday and should reflect their personality, style, and capture the essence of your relationship together. No matter what that means to you, here are 3 helpful tips on how to help you get it right!
Center Stone Shape?
The shape of the center stone helps define the entire ring and can impact the additional elements in the overall ring’s design. From classic rounds & elegant emerald cuts to romantic cushion & modern oval cuts, once you get the shape of the diamond right, the rest will fall into place!
Does your partner want the simplicity of a solitaire or a bit of spice with a halo? If they do decide on a halo, discover what silhouette they want! When in doubt, choose a hidden halo, this style offers a solitaire look while still maintaining that extra sparkle!
The color of metal is an important element when building the perfect ring. Give attention to the color of the jewelry your partner wears day to day, odds are their ring color will coordinate with this. Currently, yellow gold is a popular choice for a modern look with a classic appeal.
Halo or No Halo?
Metal Color?
Photo by Odessa James Photography
Ready to make some magic?
Create your one-of-a kind, custom engagement ring today!
Start Designing!
Diamonds by the Yard Bracelet by Richter & Phillips Jewelers Starting at $750
to have & to hold day after day...
Your bridal jewelry should be created to last a lifetime.
Your bridal jewelry becomes an incredibly special part of your wedding day - don’t let it sit in a box once your bridal gown is put away.
Select a meaningful piece that you can wear well after “I do.” A modern pearl necklace, diamonds by the yard bracelets, diamond stud earrings or a special gold charm are perfect ways to keep a little bit of your day with you.
To make your bridal jewelry even more sentimental, incorporate family heirlooms into a new piece. Richter & Phillips Jewelers specializes in custom design and is ready to add your grandmother’s pearls or your mother’s gold brooch to a lovingly handcrafted keepsake you will treasure forever.
Let’s create something meaningful together.
Diamond Stud Earrings by Richter & Phillips Jewelers Starting at $169
Genuine Pearl Stud Earrings by Richter & Phillips Jewelers Starting at $70
DERRICK OLIVER & KYLE NEISES
OCTOBER 16, 2021
For a romance that began long-distance, an autumn ceremony at home was especially meaningful for Kyle and Derrick. The couple kept the day low-key with DIY decor and a downtown sparkler sendoff.
PHOTOGRAPHY: Steph Keller Photography CEREMONY: The couple’s backyard RECEPTION: Nicholson’s Tavern & Pub FLOWERS: Flohemian Floral Design CAKE: Nothing Bundt Cakes CATERING: Nicholson’s Tavern & Pub SUITS: Ace Custom Tailors (Louisville) FAVORS: Locust Creek Caramel Apples DERRICK’S PROFESSION: Finance KYLE’S PROFESSION: Finance COUPLE’S CURRENT HOME: Southgate OFFICE ROMANCE: The couple met while working for Huntington Bank—Derrick in Columbus and Kyle in Cincinnati—but their first in-person meeting was during Columbus Pride, when they ran the weekend’s kickoff 5k together. As soon as Derrick saw Kyle round the corner, it was love at first sight. “I knew he was the one,” Derrick says. MIX AND MATCH: Rather than opt for classic black tuxes, the couple got creative with color. Kyle wore navy blue, while Derrick opted for a bold shade of green.
SAMANTHA STEWART & ANDREW ZYLKA
JUNE 21, 2021
When the rain moved in on Sami and Drew’s Summer Solstice wedding, they moved the ceremony into the living room of Drew’s childhood home.
PHOTOGRAPHY: She Wanders Photography FLOWERS: The Budding Florist CATERING: Mazunte GOWN: Jenny Yoo, BHLDN HAIR: Melissa Leitru, Wild Honey Salon BRIDE’S PROFESSION: Barista GROOM’S PROFESSION: CPA COUPLE’S CURRENT HOME: Norwood PLANTING DEEPER ROOTS: This couple’s story began one winter evening at Deeper Roots, where Sami was working the closing shift. The two hit it off immediately, Drew kept coming back for lattes, and two years later, the café supplied the coffee when they tied the knot. “I felt like a princess having cappuccinos on demand at my own wedding,” Sami says. HOME SWEET HOME: When it came time to choose a venue, the decision was clear. “There’s no venue in the world that would’ve held the same significance and intimacy as [Drew’s] house,” Sami says. The couple filled the home with glass jar candles, colorful DIY tassels, and dried flowers, which they’d been collecting since they first began dating.
JULIE TRAN & JUSTIN TEPE
JULY 10, 2021
Blending tradition, vintage flair, and local favorites, Julie and Justin’s nuptials were uniquely their own.
PHOTOGRAPHY: Merrilee Luke-Ebbeler CEREMONY: Our Lady of La Vang RECEPTION: The Center FLOWERS: Two Little Buds DESSERT: Mochiko CATERING: McHale’s Catering RENTALS: Kinetic Light Sculpture and Lighting by Golden Brown TRANSPORTATION: A Savannah Nite VIDEOGRAPHY: Vivid Wedding Videos RECEPTION MUSIC: DJ Bev Rage GOWN: Love Curvy Bridal TUX: Jos A. Bank INVITATIONS: JTran Creative FAVOR BAGS: Print Drop & Roll MAKEUP: Sarah Dean HAIR: Hair by April Rochelle BRIDE’S PROFESSION: Creative director GROOM’S PROFESSION: Education aide COUPLE’S CURRENT RESIDENCE: Northside TOTAL ECLIPSE OF THE HEART: Julie and Justin met in 2002, when they were both summer camp counselors. On the last day of camp, the two played an engaged couple in a skit, during which they pantomimed to the Bonnie Tyler hit. YOU LIGHT UP MY WORLD: The couple paid homage to the venue’s former life as the Contemporary Arts Center by commissioning a custom kinetic light sculpture that Julie calls “a really elegant disco ball” that spun during the reception.
MARIA SCAVUZZO & JAKE BRUM ELD
MAY 29, 2021
A Miami University romance leads to a campus wedding.
PHOTOGRAPHY:Dolce Vita Photography CEREMONY: Kumler Chapel at Miami University RECEPTION: Shriver Center at Miami University WEDDING PLANNER: A Bride’s Mafi a FLOWERS: Two Little Buds CAKE: Tres Belle Cakes VIDEOGRAPHY: Weisgerber Productions CEREMONY MUSIC: Treva Boardman RECEPTION MUSIC: TOAD Entertainment and Production GOWN: Daalarna Couture from B. Loved Bridal INVITATIONS: Shine Wedding Invitations HAIR AND MAKEUP: Luna Blu Salon BRIDE’S PROFESSION: Registered dietitian GROOM’S PROFESSION: Engineer COUPLE’S CURRENT HOME: Beavercreek REDHAWK ROMANCE: Jake and Maria met during freshman move-in day in 2014, courtesy of Maria’s mother, but their friendship blossomed on the university’s track and fi eld team. OXFORD EATS: The couple’s wedding weekend featured a late-night snack from Bagel and Deli.
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JULIA EARNEST & THOMAS “KYLE” CARNAHAN
AUGUST 14, 2021
A missed connection sparked romance, and a midsummer wedding in Loveland.
PHOTOGRAPHY: Nancy Riley Photography VENUE: The Marmalade Lily FLOWERS: The Marmalade Lily CAKE: The BonBonerie CATERING: Village Pantry MUSIC: Upbeats DJ GOWN: Bridal Closet INVITATIONS: Cass Loh, Minted BRIDESMAIDS’ MAKEUP: Sarah Ellexson BRIDE’S HAIR: Kelly Schroder BRIDE’S PROFESSION: Registered nurse GROOM’S PROFESSION: Stock trading COUPLE’S CURRENT HOME: Mason TAKING A CHANCE ON LOVE: The two met in economics class where Julia says they “largely ignored each other.” Two years postgraduation, Kyle reached out, much to Julia’s surprise. THE PRINCESS BRIDE: Julia had her Rebecca Ingram gown altered to include removable sleeves, which she wore for the ceremony and ditched for dancing at the reception. “I felt like a princess the entire time,” she says.
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SAMANTHA HINDS & JOSEPH CAREY
OCTOBER 23, 2021
A rustic autumn wedding in Kentucky was the romantic full-circle moment this couple was looking for.
PHOTOGRAPHY:Dolce Vita Photography VENUE: The Prickel Barn WEDDING PLANNER: Melissa Lohr at Beautiful Memories FLOWERS: Flowers by Brandi CAKE: Christine Clarke CATERING: McHale’s VIDEOGRAPHY: Rooted Creative CEREMONY MUSIC: Felicity Phillips RECEPTION MUSIC: Cincinnati Entertainment Services GOWN: Alexandra Grecco MAKEUP: Nicole Wendling HAIR: Isabella Sims BRIDE’S PROFESSION: Mental health therapist GROOM’S PROFESSION: Firefi ghter COUPLE’S CURRENT HOME: Western Hills ALWAYS THE BRIDESMAID: Having been in 12 weddings , Samantha was thrilled to call 13 her lucky number. FLYING BLIND: Withinmoments of meeting Samantha on a blind date at Rick’s Tavern in Fairfi eld, Joe asked for her address so he could take her on a “real date.” “ I rattled off my address to a perfect stranger,” Samantha says.
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INDIA CHAMBERS & RAYSHON RICHARDSON
OCTOBER 2, 2021
Luxurious details made this autumn wedding shine.
PHOTOGRAPHY: Bambino International VENUE: The Summit Hotel WEDDING PLANNER: Nicole Chambers-Cunningham DAY-OF-COORDINATOR: LUXE + NOIR Designs FLOWERS: Oberer’s Flowers CAKE: A Spoon Fulla Sugar RENTALS: Sphire Elegance CEREMONY MUSIC: Shon Hubble and Musical Ensemble RECEPTION MUSIC: DJ DMarsh (Donovan Marshall) GOWN: Wendy’s Bridal TUX: Crowned King Apparel and Clothing INVITATIONS: M. Hopple & Co. MAKEUP: The Glamour Code, Glam Chixx Makeup & Beauty Bar HAIR: Gifted Hands, T & Co. Styles BRIDE’S PROFESSION: Assistant principal GROOM’S PROFESSION: Supervisor COUPLE’S CURRENT HOME: Madisonville OPPOSITES ATTRACT: Outgoing Rayshon is “the biggest personality in the room,” India says, while she is shy and studious. SPIRITUAL CONNECTION: The couple met when India requested a DVD from her church’s media technician, Rayshon. The groom swears it was his phone number India was really interested in.
extraordinary wedding experiences & delicious memories
Bringing Ben Dombar Back to Life
Beth Johnson is rehabbing the famous Cincinnati architect’s own home and studio, hoping to place it on the National Register of Historic Places and cement the reputation of a Frank Lloyd Wright disciple.
BY BY Linda Linda Vaccariello Vaccariello
PAGE 47 PAGE 47
PHOTOGRAPHS BY PHOTOGRAPHS BY Devyn Devyn Glista Glista
person’s “livable” is another person’s job site. Because Johnson acted as her own general contractor, she was part of the process, the progress, and the peculiarities of the project at every step.
The fi rst order of business was accessibility. The house sits almost 50 feet down from the road, and the driveway has a sudden turn and sharp drop to the bottom. Paving it so that contractors could come proved impractical on the steep site. Instead, the contractor designed an HVAC plan using two heat pumps—one for the bottom floor, another for the main and upper fl oors. A drop ceiling in the kitchen conceals duct work, and a closet upstairs hides the second unit. “Peak Heating and Air did a lot of calculations, studying the place to see what they could do and how the system would work so that we didn’t have to open too many walls,” she says.
Although the house hadn’t suffered the kind of water problems that ruin some neglected buildings, it had been unheated for long enough that there were places where drywall, paint, and woodwork were compromised by rising and falling temperatures. And there were smells. There hadn’t been vandalism, but a door left ajar had welcomed in wildlife. “I could still
BEN DOMBAR CREATED DOZENS OF HOMES IN NEIGHBORHOODS SUCH AS WYOMING, AMBERLEY VILLAGE, AND PADDOCK HILLS: SIMPLE, STYLISH, AND AFFORDABLE.
and go more easily was a priority. Still, scant parking meant that subs had to be carefully coordinated.
Then there was the problem of water— getting it in and keeping it out. “We had to replace a lot of pipes downstairs,” says Johnson. Initially, the extent of the damage was unclear. “We’d say, Let’s fi x this, turn it on, and see whatever leaks.”
The house had comparatively little damage from roof leaks, but the original wood in the deep eaves was sagging (“Amazing architects are not always great engineers,” Johnson allows) and the shingles were past their shelf life. The steep hillside made accessing the roof and eaves with scaff olding a challenge. “Mike Owens Roofi ng did an amazing job,” says Johnson. “But when they were doing it, I didn’t really come to see. It would make me too anxious.”
The all-electric house still had its original baseboard heat, inadequate and ineffi cient by today’s standards. Johnson explored using geothermal energy, but the drilling necessary for that type of system hear the raccoons,” Johnson says. After Hamilton County animal control removed them, Johnson spent weeks deep-cleaning soaked-in urine.
From clearing critters’ stench to carting off storm-felled trees, “It was a feat,” she says. “There’s nothing easy when it comes to this property.”
BEN DOMBAR WOULD BE GLAD TO KNOW that woodlands, the steep ravine, the splashing creek, and, yes, even the wildlife still shape life there. That’s why he and his wife chose the spot, says his daughter, Rockell Dombar Meese. “They loved the setting, and he thought it would make the design more interesting.”
Meese, the middle of Ben and Shirley’s three daughters, was in college at the University of Hawaii when the house was under construction. But she knew the site; when she was growing up, her family lived in North Avondale but visited here often to picnic in the thick woods alongside the stream. Initially the family owned close to two acres, land that lay on both sides of Congress Run Creek; unhappily, some of it was lost for construction of the Ronald Reagan Cross County Highway.
“I think it’s the long-term dream of an architect to build his own home,” Meese says. It was indeed her father’s dream, one that would use many of the ideas, and ideals, he’d been exploring ever since he was a teenager.
Dombar was just 17 and fresh out of Hughes High School when he joined his brother Abe to study architecture at Taliesin, Frank Lloyd Wright’s Wisconsin home/farm/cultural mecca where Wright schooled his apprentices in the principles of Organic Architecture. Ben stayed for seven years, assisting on a number of Wright-designed projects in the region, including the acclaimed Johnson Wax headquarters in Racine; laboring in the fi elds; and rubbing elbows with the famous folk who came to see Wright in his element. Even when those years were long behind Dombar, “Mr. Wright played a very big role in our lives,” Meese says. The family would go to Taliesin for reunions, and as a kid in the 1950s she remembers the Great Man patting her on the head.
Dombar returned to Cincinnati in 1941, served in WWII, and then began his professional life enabling his hometown’s booming suburban expansion. He worked with some of the city’s best-known midcentury talents, including Woody Garber, Carl Strauss, and Ray Roush, before going out on his own. Much of the work he did here refl ects the Mid-Century Modern aesthetic of the day. But his teacher’s infl uence remained.
Shaped by Wright’s egalitarian notion of Usonian design, Dombar created dozens of homes for middle-class families in neighborhoods such as Wyoming, Amberley Village, and Paddock Hills—simple, effi cient, stylish, and aff ordable. He designed some spectacular homes, too, most notably the arc-shaped Runnels residence on Hidden Valley Lane in Wyoming. Built in 1965, it was recently on the market for $1 million.
Realtor Susan Rissover and her husband, Arlen, are champions of Cincinnati’s mid-century architecture. She notes that few of the houses Dombar and his brother built are in obvious drive-by spots. “Many
were built on modest lots, at the end of a street, or down a ravine,” she says. In a city of daunting hills, “Their style lent itself to building on previously unbuildable lots.”
And whether it was a grand project or an unpretentious one, Dombar distinguished it by his attention to detail. “My husband and I can spot a Dombar home by the tile work in the bathroom,” she says. “There’s artistry throughout.”
BETH JOHNSON DIDN’T EVEN HAVE TO get as far as the bathroom to see that artistry. Her front door opens to a low-ceilinged entry with a rustic stone floor. It’s as if a quiet corner of the woods has been ushered inside. And in a way, it has. All of the house’s stone came from the site, carted up from the creek by Dombar and his family.
“When I was writing the nomination [for the National Trust for Historic Preservation], I went back and forth about the style: Is it Mid-Century Modern with organic influences or organic with mid-century influences?” Johnson says. “We came to the conclusion that it was Organic Architecture, designed to be in harmony with the landscape.”
The house testifies to that spirit. The compact entry leads to an open, expansive main floor, with floor-to-ceiling windows and cantilevered balconies overlooking the creek. Its hexagonal shape wasn’t merely a quirky whim: Dombar chose it to maximize the views upstream and downstream.
Homes he designed for his clients were usually long and low—horizontal and landscape-hugging in the tradition of Frank Lloyd Wright. But when he built for himself, Dombar “harmonized” with this dramatic vertical landscape, tucking this tall house into a steep hill in order to echo the terrain. The lowest level opens onto the banks of the creek; the highest looks into the treetops. “I will never tire of watching the landscape and the birds,” says Johnson. “You’re immersed in nature.”
While the site was grand, Dombar’s budget for his home was not grandiose. He hauled stones and did some of the carpentry himself. The striking central fireplace is simply decorated with a concrete slab he etched in a starburst pattern. The woodwork trim inside is simple too: redwood 1-by-4s, 1-by-2s, and 1-by-6s in grid patterns that emphasize the design’s vertical lines.
The exterior is asbestos paneling; its unconventional color is baked in and permanent. Johnson’s research indicates that the Hamilton County auditor valued the house at $13,200 in 1970, when the median value of homes in Ohio was $17,000. “It was a concept house,” Johnson explains. “Each floor is a plate that’s 1,200 square feet, the trusses could be pre-made, and the design could be adapted to the unique hillsides of Cincinnati.”
Apparently, no client ever truly grasped the concept; Dombar built nothing else based on this design. But it must have worked, because successive owners (there were two before Johnson acquired it) made few changes. The floor plan is the same as when the Dombar family lived here. No walls came down to turn the small, intimate bedrooms into sweeping suites. The galley kitchen with its stone backsplash is remarkably intact, too, with original cabinets and countertops; a built-in telephone (not working), food warmer (still working), and can opener (ditto); and an intriguing vintage mixing/blending/grinding “food center” manufactured by Cincinnati-based NuTone.
Shirley Dombar kept a Kosher kitchen, so there’s a three-bowl sink for proper food handling. She was also quite short, and her husband included pull-out steps so she could reach upper cabinets. They’re still in service, too.
The lower floor, with its separate entrance, was Dombar’s open studio, where he met with clients and worked with associates. In adapting the house for her own use, Johnson made this level her owner’s suite without disturbing the basic open floor plan, using Dombar’s central storage room as a walk-in closet and arranging furnishings so that the sleeping portion is separate from the workout area, laundry, and mechanicals.
Johnson has been keen to keep the original materials intact when possible and replace them with appropriate substitutes when necessary. Except where there is stonework, upstairs floors needed to be replaced (thanks, raccoons!). On the main level she installed cork flooring—not what the Dombar family had used, but appropriate to the home’s era and more practical for Johnson and her one-dog/two-cat household.
On the lower level, the original Armstrong vinyl composition tile had come unstuck. She was able to remove it, replace it with new tile in the same color, and send the half-century-old vinyl back to Armstrong for recycling. She was disappointed that the original tile wasn’t salvageable, but because of the recycling, she says, “I didn’t feel so bad.”
Restoring the bathrooms was a far more challenging task. Zins Plumbing worked on the quirky wall-hung toilets, sourcing parts for the outdated mechanism from a dealer who handled vintage plumbing supplies. One bathroom had been remodeled; she retiled it to be in keeping with the original design, and she was able to replicate a damaged vanity using a cupboard removed from the kitchen.
Some tasks called for scouring websites to find suitable replacements for missing fixtures. Others called for simple elbow grease. Johnson painted the interior, rehung doors, and replaced the missing trim herself. Thanks to Dombar’s simple design, the trim was particularly easy-peasy. “It just took basic math and a miter saw,” she says.
Is it finished? The better question is, will a house like this ever be finished? Now Johnson chooses just two big projects a year, one for fall and winter, another for spring and summer. The most recent effort was adding a fence. The next will be uncovering a stone patio she discovered on an overgrown part of the property.
Whether or not the house is listed on the National Register of Historic Places won’t change her plans. Johnson has done this work—restoring wonky toilets, sourcing sympathetic materials—because she believes it’s what Ben Dombar and his home deserve. The point of having a building on the National Register, she says, is “mostly a way of recognizing and honoring the work of the person who created it. But it’s also a way of elevating the history that the building represents.”
And there’s also the issue of professional bona fides. Johnson is, after all, a preservationist. “It’s a matter of walking the walk I talk,” she says.
THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING MAYOR AFTAB
PHOTOGRAPHS BY JEREMY KRAMER
AFTAB PUREVAL doesn’t shy away from discussing the symbolic meaning of his election win, but he’d rather talk about how an outsider mayor and fresh faces on city council will energize Cincinnati. 51
politics are characterized.
You know, people in Cincinnati care deeply and personally about reproductive rights, sensible gun reform, and immigration, but they’re also passionate about pets on leashes, pedestrian safety, potholes in their streets, and sewer rates. And so I was trying to meet people where they were on issues I didn’t necessarily have a great deal of institutional knowledge about, because I was a county offi cial focused on the courthouse. I went into city communities without any preconceived notions, but rather with the message of, “I’m here to learn about your challenges and to learn about your vision, your issues, and be a partner in trying to address them and to fi x them.” And so it was an incredible learning opportunity. Every day I met local experts and local people passionate about their issues, and every day I got smarter.
YOU WERE OPEN TO LEARNING DURING YOUR CAMPAIGN, BUT ON THE FLIP SIDE, AS MANN POINTED OUT, YOU WERE INEXPERIENCED WITH CITY ISSUES.
PUREVAL: I was the fi rst to say that David Mann had more City Hall experience than me. That’s just a fact. I think what voters were looking for was dynamic change from the chaos at City Hall and the several indictments [of councilmembers], as well as from the uncertainty of the pandemic and the increase in violence in the city.
I think what really resonated with voters is my leadership experience and a track record of taking on a corrupt organization like the Clerk of Courts, which was known for its patronage system. I started reforming that on my very fi rst day, leading with innovation and talent and delivering wins to the people of Hamilton County. That’s the kind of bold, progressive leadership I think the city was looking for. That’s why we won with a historical margin but also why so many new councilmembers, eight of whom are Democrats, won as well.
AN OUTSIDER CAN HAVE GREAT APPEAL TO VOTERS. YOU RELIED ON ADVICE FROM MARK MALLORY, WHO WAS WELL-KNOWN IN THE CITY WHEN HE WAS ELECTED MAYOR BUT STILL WAS A POLITICAL OUTSIDER.
PUREVAL: Mark is a close professional and personal friend of mine. He’s fond of saying I’m the second mayor to be elected without any City Hall experience because, of course, he was the fi rst. He was really instrumental in me running for mayor in the fi rst place. Frankly, I was a bit intimidated by the offi ce.
The mayor’s position is, in my mind, the most important local position we have, because it demands substantive knowledge on a whole host of issues, whether it’s public safety or Water Works or police and fi re. But beyond the knowledge and policy, it demands leadership. The mayor is the moral conscience of the city, and it’s the one position in our community that’s not just thinking about next year but the next 20 years and how to ensure that my children and your children live in a city that’s thriving and equitable. And that’s intimidating.
Mark was instrumental in talking me through what the city requires and what the position requires. I don’t know why he believed I was the best person for the job, but his belief gave me a lot of confi dence to take on the challenge.
WHAT DID YOU LEARN IN COUNTY GOVERNMENT THAT CAN HELP YOU LEAD THE CITY?
PUREVAL: That changing culture is really hard work and requires intentional leadership. Unfortunately, in City Hall, particularly on council, there’s a culture of corruption, but it goes deeper than that. There’s a culture of transactional relationships.
The corruption inside the Clerk of Courts office was different; it was more about ingrained patronage and nepotism. I remember having a conversation with my employees when I fi rst started, and they asked me, “Why do you keep talking about the fact that a lot of people in the Courthouse are related? That’s how we network and how we advance our career.” That really illuminated for me that not only did they believe there wasn’t anything wrong with the status quo, they didn’t understand why it could be wrong.
I think there are similarities with the culture at City Hall as well. A good fi rst step is what the voters did, which was bring in so many new councilmembers with fresh new progressive perspectives. But it’s going to take all of us and it’s going to take a little bit of time to change the culture there. Changing cultures is like turning a battleship. I’ve talked to John Pepper, the former CEO of Procter & Gamble, and his advice on changing cultures is always be direct and over-communicate, tell people exactly what you’re going to do, and then do exactly that.
WHAT ARE YOUR RELATIONSHIPS LIKE WITH MEMBERS OF THE NEW CITY COUNCIL? HOW MANY ARE NEW TO YOU AS WELL?
PUREVAL: I’ve known Jan-Michelle Kearney for a while and think she’ll do a great job as Vice Mayor. I’ve known Greg Landsman, Reggie Harris, Meeka Owens, and Jeff Cramerding. I will say Scotty Johnson and I have a newer relationship, but a strong one. Mark Jeff reys, the same way. My wife knows Mark better than I do, actually, because they’ve worked together on pedestrian safety issues in Clifton, where we live. Victoria Parks I’ve known from the county, of course. Liz Keating is a newer relationship, and I’m working to get to know her better.
I really do subscribe to the City Charter’s statement that there’s no Republican or Democratic way to fi ll a pothole. So much of what we do at City Hall isn’t partisan. It’s more about providing basic services to people.
FRESH FACES CAN ALSO BREAK THROUGH ORGANIZATIONAL MALAISE AND LEADERSHIP’S TENDENCY TO REPEAT HOW THEY DO THINGS BECAUSE THEY’RE USED TO IT.
PUREVAL: That’s exactly right. When I fi rst got to the Clerk of Courts offi ce, we did a full review of our systems and processes. And if anyone said, “Well, this is the way we’ve always done it,” I knew that was a red fl ag. I think the people of Cincinnati believe
the city generally is on the right path. And so I don’t think I or the new council are interested in just completely turning things inside-out. But we are interested in making more intentional decisions, particularly around racial equity and racial justice.
Here’s an example. In our current tax program for incentivizing the creation of more residential housing, the vast majority of our tax incentives are going to the wealthiest neighborhoods in Cincinnati, more than 95 percent. That’s just not equitable. I think we need more housing in general, and as a city we need to be incentivizing that. We need more market-rate, workforce, affordable, and low-income housing across the board. Instead of catalyzing economic activity in our wealthiest neighborhoods and giving rich people tax breaks, let’s give more tax breaks to communities that are yearning for economic activity and density, like Price Hill or Bond Hill or Sedamsville.
So I want a review of that program and a reform as simple as, “Let’s include location as part of the standard for tax breaks.” I’m not suggesting there should be a ban on tax breaks in certain neighborhoods, just the opposite. We should give more tax breaks to communities that need them.
IS THE CITY CAPABLE OF BEING MORE INTENTIONAL ABOUT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT?
PUREVAL: City officials right now agree they want economic activity, but I don’t think they’re very intentional about where it goes. I’m not sure the city cares where it goes as long as it’s happening. I care very deeply where new economic activity goes, because we need to take a look at these decisions through an equitable lens.
Cincinnati has had a lot of wonderful success with the Collaborative Agreement [on police-community relations], wonderful success revitalizing our urban core, and excellent new initiatives like Preschool Promise. Despite all of those wins, we remain a very segregated city—segregated as it relates to race and to wealth. So if we want to create a city with dense neighborhoods that are walkable, that have good access to public transportation, and that can recruit and retain diverse workers, we have to start making decisions with racial equity in mind. You have to be intentional.
WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON FILLING KEY ROLES IN YOUR ADMINISTRATION, STARTING WITH THE CITY MANAGER?
PUREVAL: I want to be very respectful of the City Charter, which clearly lays out the responsibilities of mayor, city council, and city manager. It’s the city manager’s job to employ those directors and professionals in City Hall.
What I’ve been looking for is someone who believes wholeheartedly in my priorities to move Cincinnati forward. And I’ve been very clear about what those priorities are and very clear about the specifics of how we’re going to accomplish them. So I’m looking for professionals who are passionate about that vision. We want to execute with excellence. We want to deliver wins for citizens every single day and are fully committed to the future of Cincinnati.
YOU SAY THAT MAYOR IS THE MOST VISIBLE AND IMPORTANT LOCAL GOVERNMENT POSITION. DO YOU SEE YOUR ROLE AS A LEADER FOR THE ENTIRE REGION?
PUREVAL: When you look at the City Charter, the mayor has very distinct powers and authority, but I think the real power of the mayor is as a convener. First and foremost, we need to fix the Brent Spence Bridge. The city and county need to work with Northern Kentucky and Indiana officials to make one strong, persuasive argument that the Brent Spence should be the top infrastructure priority in the country. It’s the intersection of so much of the country’s cargo traffic, and particularly with the supply chain challenges from the pandemic, we have to fix this. You've seen the county and the city quarrel about issues like the Metropolitan Sewer District and The Banks, but we need to make a strong united pitch to the federal government along with our corporate partners.
I’m interested in the fact that Cincinnati is literally the birthplace of branding and brand marketing. We’re just not very good about telling our story and branding ourselves. So I want to work regionally to discuss how we pitch the region as a place to move your business and why you should choose to live and work here when you can do that anywhere.
Getting back to racial equity, I’ve been thinking recently about how to make it easier for Black- and women-owned businesses to compete for city contracts. I would like to partner with the mayors of Dayton and other regional municipalities to create a certification process for Black- and women-owned businesses so that you get certified once and can then compete across the region for contracts.
THE MAYOR’S OFFICE CAN BE SORT OF A BULLY PULPIT FROM WHICH TO LEAD THE REGION. PEOPLE PROBABLY RETURN YOUR CALLS WHEN YOU’RE MAYOR.
PUREVAL: I can tell you no one returns your calls when you’re the Clerk of Courts [laughs]. My personal story is I’m the son of a refugee, and my mom, as a young child, moved to India, where she met my father, who was from Punjab. They immigrated to this country in 1980. Because of that decision, in one generation my family went from being refugees to now the new mayor of Cincinnati. I want the world to know that Cincinnati is a place where you can be empowered to achieve your dreams. And I’m just so incredibly humble and grateful that the people of Cincinnati have given me this opportunity to lead.
I’M SURE YOU’D LIKE TO BE RECOGNIZED AS MORE THAN THE SUM OF YOUR BACKGROUND PARTS AND NOT BE REDUCED TO A SYMBOL.
PUREVAL: I’m very happy to talk about my family story, because I’m proud of it. I think it’s a really important statement about Cincinnati being the kind of place where no matter what you look like or where you’re from you can achieve your dreams. I’m certainly an example of that.
Going back to the earlier part of our conversation about feeling some intimidation when I first considered running for mayor, I think a healthy amount of—what’s the word I’m looking for—trepidation is good. It focuses you and inspires you to work harder. At the very least, I can promise I will work my heart out to achieve for Cincinnati.
