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Mason Matters June / July 2012
Inside This Issue: 3 4 4 5 6-7 8 8
New Recycling Containers CPR classes Tax Office E-mails Guide to City Brush Collection Business News Around Mason Wipers On, Headlights On
Council Honors Veterans The Veterans Committee of Council, in an effort to remind residents of the sacrifices that have been made on behalf of all citizens, has taken action on several initiatives to honor our nation’s veterans. rated
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Veterans Highway
U.S. 42 is a heavily traveled highway that runs diagonally through Mason. In southwest Mason, it begins at the Butler County line and is known as Reading Road until it gets to Main Street in downtown Mason. It follows
September 11 Memorial
The Veterans Committee of Council, comprised of Mayor David Nichols and Council Members Char Pelfrey and Don Prince, are hopeful that a steel beam from the World Trade Center will be made available to Mason. A letter of request has been sent to the fire commissioner of New York. If the request is granted, the beam will be placed in or near the current Mason Veterans Memorial as a reminder of those who were lost on September 11, 2001.
Mason Veterans Memorial
Nine years ago, leaders of a campaign to place a veterans memorial in Mason were seeing their efforts take form. By late fall, construction was complete and over 1,000 people attended the dedication on November 8, 2003. Located on MasonMontgomery Road in front of the south end of Mason Municipal Center, the memorial has drawn a range of people, from individuals interested in honoring veterans to school groups exploring the history of our nation and the price that has been paid to preserve our freedoms. One of the features of the memorial is a walkway lined with bricks that have been purchased by residents and organizations interested in supporting the memorial. Brick pavers continue to be available for purchase and can be stamped with the name of a
veteran, the name of a crew member on the USS Mason, your name, or the name of a loved one. For information about purchasing a brick to support the memorial, please call or visit Mason Municipal Center, or visit www.imaginemason.org/about/ veterans-memorial. A few enhancements have been made to the memorial over the years. Permanent flag holders were placed around the memorial and hold US flags on patriotic holidays or flags representing the five branches of the armed forces. The eternal flame has been reduced in size to conserve natural gas and encased in a glass frame to make it less susceptible to weather. Other changes for this year include modifications to the landscaping and improving the lighting and overall appearance of the memorial. You are invited to visit the memorial to learn about the conflicts in our nation’s history, pay your respects to our veterans, or to just sit quietly and reflect. Parking is available next to the memorial in the southwest corner of the Mason Municipal Center lot.
Mason Matters
In February 2012, Mason City Council initiated the process to have U.S. 42 designated as the Warren County Veterans Highway. The Veterans Committee recommended a resolution, subsequently approved by the full body of Council, that initiated the process to make the designation. State law requires state legislative action to formally name a state or federal route within a community. As a result of the resolution adopted by Council: • Our state representative was asked to introduce the necessary legislation to designate the portion of U.S. 42 in Mason as the “Warren County Veterans Highway.” • Th e City of Lebanon and Warren County commissioners were asked to request that the portions of U.S. 42 outside Mason and in Lebanon or Warren County be designated as the Warren County Veterans Highway.
Main Street for several blocks before angling northeast out of the city toward Lebanon. Because the road runs through the entire county—and, in fact, the entire state—it seemed the ideal way to both honor veterans and remind residents of the sacrifices that have been made and continue to be made on behalf of all citizens. Council hopes that its action will initiate interest in getting the entire length of U.S. 42 in Ohio designated as a Veterans Highway.
www.imaginemason.org
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From the City Manager Dear Mason Resident, The City of Mason has a well-earned reputation as one of the top cities in the nation. This is fueled by a strong business community, excellent schools, and amenities that make Mason a premier location to raise a family. The diversity of residents, businesses, and civic organizations lends to this strength. Many people had unique roles that led to Mason’s recognition as the “24th Best Place to Live” by Money magazine. In March, Mason City Council recognized that individuals of all abilities have contributed to the unique quality of life we enjoy in Mason. Multiple initiatives led to the recognition. I want to mention the Mason Parks Foundation for championing an all-access playground and continuing to raise funds and awareness for this project. Many years ago the City of Mason, together with the Warren Ellen Hudson leads the Voices of Warren County choir in a rendition County Developmental Disabilities Board, worked with the State of Ohio to acquire of “Lean on Me” during Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month. property from the state on U.S. 42. In exchange for the property, the city committed to assisting with building a playground accessible to people of all abilities. Since then, the Parks Foundation has taken on the huge responsibility of getting plans drawn for the park, now called Common Ground, and seeking grants and private funds to build it. The city has provided the infrastructure for the park, including a paved driveway and utility access that were included in this year’s road construction program. Other local groups also deserve recognition. Mason ASK was formed to provide support to children and families with special needs in Mason. A number of local businesses and care facilities are dedicated to respectfully meeting the needs of individuals of all abilities. Earlier this year, Mason Community Center held a well-received “TryIt!” program to provide participants with a stress-free environment in which to try programs and to showcase local organizations that offer recreational services to individuals with special needs. Among the community center’s priorities are assuring that programming opportunities that improve our quality of life are accessible to citizens of all abilities. To further this goal, a Therapeutic Advisory Panel has been established that will help guide the staff at Mason Community Center and provide advice and assistance to support all ranges of ability in recreational opportunities at the center. During Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month, City Council was honored to be treated to a preview performance by the Voices of Warren County choir. Made up of individuals with developmental disabilities from throughout Warren County, the group has been singing songs of joy and optimism since 2008. They will perform at the World Choir Games in Cincinnati this summer. Ultimately, the recognition during Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month provided the city an opportunity to acknowledge and express gratitude for the contributions that so many people at so many levels have made to make Mason the Best Place to Live. Eric Hansen, City Manager Mason Matters is published by the City of Mason. For information about this publication, or if you are a Mason resident and do not receive this newsletter, either through OurTown magazine or mailed separately with the CenterPoint program guide, please contact the City of Mason at 513.229.8510.
City Of Mason - Contact Information
6000 Mason-Montgomery Road • Mason, Ohio 45040 Office Hours: 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., Monday – Friday
513.229.8500 • www.imaginemason.org Main Number 513.229.8500
Parks & Recreation 513.229.8555
City Hotlines 513.229.8502
Police Department Administration 513.229.8560
Administration 513.229.8510
Mason Matters
Community Center 513.229.8555
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Emergency 9.1.1 Engineering & Building 513.229.8520 Finance 513.229.8530 Fire Department Administration 513.229.8540
June / July 2012
Public Utilities 513.229.8570 Public Works 513.229.8580 Tax Office 513.229.8535 Utility Customer Service 513.229.8533 Utility Billing Questions Greater Cincinnati Water Works 513.591.7700
Utility Service Questions: Sewer Service and Emergencies 513.229.8570 (nights, holidays & weekends, emergencies only)
513.925.2525 Stormwater 513.229.8570 Waste Collection and Recycling 513.229.8533 Water Service and Emergencies Greater Cincinnati Water Works 513.591.7700
Picnic in the Parks Picnic shelters in Mason parks are available for celebrations, reunions, and other events. •H eritage Oak Park Shelter 1 seats up to 60 people •H eritage Oak Park Shelter 2 seats up to 80 people •P ine Hill Lakes Park lakeside shelter seats up to 80 people •P ine Hill Lakes Park shelter below the dam seats up to 30 people •M ason Sports Park shelter seats up to 70 people Please bring your own charcoal if you plan to use the grills near the shelters listed above. There are a few small shelters in some of the parks that are also available for public use. All shelters are available on a first come, first serve basis. For the enjoyment of all, please clean the shelter after you use it. Please note that alcoholic beverages are not permitted in any City of Mason park.
Water: Our Most Valuable Resource
Water professionals from around the world have toured Mason's water reclamation plant to see how to marry environmental responsibility with wastewater treatment processes.
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oon it will be easier than ever to recycle in Mason. Residents of the City of Mason can look forward to the end of paper and empty bottles and cans spilling out of their recycling bins. Late this summer, Rumpke will deliver new 65-gallon recycling bins to residential customers in Mason. The new green bins hold almost four times more material than the red recycling bins now used in Mason. They have a cover to keep everything in and they are on wheels, so it will be easier to haul old newspapers and magazines to the curb along with all those empty cans and bottles. The recycling program is important both for minimizing the impact of solid waste on landfills and for complying with state and EPA regulations. The recycling program, coupled with the popular brush chipping and leaf collection services provided by the city’s Public Works Department, supports the Warren County Solid Waste District’s plan. Sixty to seventy per cent of residents in Mason currently recycle. There is no charge to get the new bin. Rumpke will deliver the new containers in late summer. The old red bin may be kept to use as your indoor recycling collection point or for storage. Visit the Symbiosis store at Mason Community Center to see one of the new bins on display. Residents who wish to continue using their red recycling bin may do so by signing the register in the store or by calling Mason Utility Customer Service by June 30 to have their address removed from the delivery
Recycle all of these items
• N ewspapers and inserts • Magazines and catalogs • Plastic bottles (plastic in the shape of a bottle; lids are accepted if left on the bottle – please squeeze the air out first) • Steel food cans • Aluminum cans • A erosol cans with lids and tips removed • Glass bottles and jars (lids and caps removed) • Residential mixed paper, including envelopes with and without windows, cereal and other boxes, construction paper, school papers, office paper, junk mail, paper bags • C lean pizza boxes, free of food and grease • Cardboard boxes broken down into 3-foot by 3-foot sections • Telephone books Please rinse food containers. Labels do not have to be removed.
list. You do not need to call if you would like the new bin.
Trash Tips
• T rash and recyclables are picked up weekly. • Th ere is no limit to the number of containers. • Trash cans and bags should not exceed 75 pounds. • Loose materials are not accepted. • Please do not use boxes as trash containers. • If you have an unusually large amount of trash, please call Mason Utility Customer Service so that Rumpke can be notified and adjust their schedules accordingly. • Because collections may begin as early as 5 a.m., please place your trash and recyclables at the curb after 6 p.m. the night before your scheduled collection. • Trash will be collected on holidays except for Christmas Day and New Year’s Day. • Please call Mason Utility Customer Service if you have any questions about trash collection or recycling.
Not accepted:
• A ny plastic not in the shape of a bottle. • Butter tubs, whipped topping tubs, yogurt cups • Plastic bags, grocery bags • Plastic plates, cups, and utensils • F ood trays, such as from frozen meals • Plastic toys • Plastic wrappers/packaging • Styrofoam
Other items not accepted:
• O il jugs, paint cans, chemical containers • Medical sharps, medical waste • Coat hangers, scrap metal, pots and pans • Light bulbs, window glass, drinking glasses
Mason Utility Customer Service 513.229.8533 www.imaginemason.org
Mason Matters
his year, the nation is celebrating the 40th year of the passage of the Federal Clean Water Act. The Act created laws that protect the country’s most valuable and non-replaceable resource. Since 1972, governments at the federal, state, and local levels have been committed to an ongoing effort to improve the quality of water throughout the United States. The City of Mason is proud of its efforts to protect its most valuable resource and continues to be very active in promoting the benefits of clean water and its contribution to the quality of life in the city. From the stateof-the-art Water Reclamation Plant, which meets and exceeds current EPA standards for processing sewer water, to the multiple restoration projects along Mason streams, the city has initiated a number of construction projects over the last ten years to protect local water quality. The city’s Public Utilities Department is responsible for operating the Water Reclamation Plant and maintains nine lift stations, over 200 miles of sewer lines, and over 3,000 manholes. The department conducts annual sewer line smoke testing and inspections, maintains and tests over 60 city-owned backflow devices, conducts inspections of sewer lines, responds to calls and inquiries, performs daily lab tests to ensure compliance with EPA guidelines, and works with 13 permitted industries within Mason to ensure compliance with the Industrial Pretreatment Program. Though Mason has made great progress in reducing pollution during the past 40 years, many challenges remain. Everyone must work together to provide clean water for our families and for future generations. Everyone has an impact on the water and we are all responsible for making a difference. For some tips on how you and your family can help protect local streams and improve water quality, please visit www.imaginemason.org/ residents/protect-our-water.
New Recycling Containers Coming
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Help a Friend, Help a Neighbor
medical emergency can be a scary thing. Would you know what to do if your friend, coworker, or a family member were suddenly stricken ill? The Mason Fire Department, along with the city’s Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) offers CPR/AED training to residents and business in Mason. Time matters when blood stops flowing to the brain. Knowing what to do, and how to do it, can save a life.
What is CPR?
CPR is short for Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation, a technique that helps the heart push blood through the body. It’s not always “somewhere else” that it’s needed. In north Mason last year, a neighbor who knew CPR helped save a young boy’s life when the boy was found in a pool. The neighbor’s efforts gave fire department paramedics the precious few minutes they needed to finish the rescue. The boy was conscious and talking by the time the medics got him to the hospital.
Sidewalk Program Continues
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Mason Matters
pproximately six years ago, Mason City Council authorized the start of a sidewalk repair program at no cost to Mason residents. The program was based on a yearly budget of around $100,000. The initial intent of the program was to repair the worst sidewalks in Mason, beginning in residential areas. Additionally, sidewalks were to be repaired in a single area at a time in order to get the best quality job and to reduce the time for traveling from one area to another. Council felt this would be more efficient and cost effective. The initial program has expanded to include repairing the worst sidewalks in business areas as well as residential streets. About four years ago, as an additional cost savings measure, the City of Mason Public Works Department created a concrete sidewalk crew. The crew has become so proficient that they have undertaken other projects in addition to sidewalks. The work scheduled for 2012 includes: • Completing the sidewalk at Fire Station 51 • Slab work behind the backstop at Mason Sports Park field 1 • Laying a bike rack pad at Mason Municipal Center • Finishing the downtown sidewalk program • Adding approximately 35 feet of sidewalk at the southeast corner of the Hanover & U.S. 42 intersection for access to the pedestrian signal • Replacing sidewalks on Kings Mills Road if there is time left in the construction season. The Public Works Department is pleased to be able to complete these projects to improve access and usability for bicyclists and pedestrians in Mason.
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An AED is an Automatic External Defibrillator. It can be used by a citizen just like you, who, with a small amount of training, can make a big difference in certain situations, such as when a person starts to have an irregular heart rhythm that prevents the blood from circulating adequately. The person may faint or collapse, and will eventually stop breathing. He or she needs assistance immediately. A person trained on how to use an AED can attach the device to the patient and shock the heart back to a rhythm so the patient can regain blood circulation. Over the past three years, AEDs have been credited with saving two people’s lives here in Mason. Many businesses now have them hanging in their hallways. You will also see them in airports and at some schools and public buildings. There are several churches in Mason that have bought AEDs and trained their “emergency teams” on its use.
Learn Now
Starting in June, CPR/AED classes will be offered by trained instructors from the Mason Fire Department. Classes are free and open to any Mason resident. Residents who have an online account with Mason Community Center can register online, or you can register by phone by calling 513.229.8555. Businesses can request a class by calling Mason’s fire administration at 513.229.8540 during regular office hours of 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Help a Friend, Help a Neighbor. Know CPR and know how to use an AED!
Tax Office Increases Security
he Mason Tax Office has increased security for e-mailed communications about tax information. A “secure e-mail to Tax Office” link has been added at the bottom of the www.imaginemason.org/contact-us page on the city’s web site. This feature encrypts your e-mail message to the tax office to military-grade encryption, increasing the security of your confidential information. When you click on the link, you will be asked to log in to the Secure Messaging Center. First-time users
June / July 2012
What’s an AED?
will need to create a user name and password, which can be used repeatedly. After logging in, you can submit your inquiry. You will be notified via regular e-mail when your question has been responded to. You can then log in to retrieve the response. If additional communication is needed, you can respond to the opened e-mail in the Secure Messaging Center. The Tax Office is pleased to provide this new security measure to make it safe and convenient for you to communicate with them via the Internet.
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A Guide to City Brush Collection
ason’s Public Works Department provides year round brush chipping for residents in the City of Mason. Brush is chipped on the second full work week of each month. To ensure that your brush is picked up, it should be placed at the curb by 7:00 a.m. on the second Monday of the month. Limbs should be between 3 and 12 feet in length. Please stack the brush as close to the curb as possible, with the cut ends facing the same direction. Stack piles so that the branches do not become entangled. For safety, please do not stack brush in the street, gutters, and ditches, and do not block sidewalks and fire hydrants.
Spread piles out so the limbs don’t become entangled.
Stack brush with the cut ends facing the same direction.
Vines and grasses clog the chipper. Please bag them for trash collection.
Entangled piles cause considerable delays.
We are unable to chip the following: • Brush in containers • Brush larger than 4” in diameter • Lumber, landscape timbers, railroad ties • Ornamental grass, leaves, vines, yard waste, garden or weed material • Trimmings under 3 feet in length. These are too small to safely put into the chipper. • Firewood size logs • Pine needles • Root balls and stumps. Please cut off the branches and dispose of the root balls in the trash. They must be 75 pounds or less and bagged. Please call the city’s Utility Customer Service line at 513.229.8533 if you have questions about what can be placed in the trash.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Brush Service Why does the brush need to be as close to the curb as possible? May I use the chipped brush in my yard?
Yes, but please be aware that the quality of chips is not the same as mulch that is available at local nurseries. Please call 513.229.8580 if you would like to have a load of chips delivered to your property.
Is there a fee to have my brush chipped?
No. This is a service paid for by tax dollars and is provided at no charge to residents.
Will you pick up limbs with thorns?
Collection may run into the following week when delays occur due to equipment failure, weather, the volume of brush, or after storms that cause an unusually high number of limbs to fall. Please call 513.229.8580 if your brush was out on time and you think it has been missed.
Is there a location where I can bring my brush in between monthly pickups?
Yes. You can bring it to the Public Works garage at 4211 S. State Route 741 between 8:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m., Monday through Friday.
Mason Matters
Public Works employees are not permitted to work on private property.
What if my brush is not picked up during the second full work week of the month?
Yes, but please stack them in a separate pile. www.imaginemason.org
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Consul General of Japan meets with City of Mason Leadership
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n March, the Honorable Kuninori Matsuda, Consulate General of Japan in Detroit, met with City of Mason executive leadership and invited guests, including representatives from Mitsubishi Electric, Noritake, and Makino. The Consul General requested the meeting to strengthen bilateral relationships between Japan and the City of Mason. Over the past several years, the city’s strategic economic development efforts have included involvement with the Japanese American Society of Greater Cincinnati. The City of Mason’s relationship with Japanese companies is extremely strong. It began when Mason welcomed Mitsubishi to the city in 1998 and has continued, with the most recent welcoming of Noritake in 2009. Now home to at least six Japanese-owned companies, Mason has one of the larger communities of Japanese companies in the CincinnatiUSA Region. Mason also holds the rank of fifth in the State of Ohio for being home to Japanese citizens. “These six Japanese-owned companies represent about 600 jobs in Mason,” said Mason City Manager Eric Hansen. “We welcome them and all of our international businesses. They provide tremendous benefits to our community through jobs, international exposure, product innovation, taxes that support services, and their generous donations to benefit the community.”
Members of Council welcomed Japanese officials from Detroit in March. From left: Mason Council Members Barbara Berry-Spaeth and Char Pelfrey, Vice Mayor Victor Kidd, Consul General Kuninori Matsuda, Mayor David Nichols, and Council Member Rich Cox.
Mason Hosts Japan External Trade Organization Meeting Representatives from the Japan External Trade Organization ( JETRO) out of Chicago met at Mason Municipal Center for a half-day business seminar that drew Japanese business people from Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, and Kentucky. Approximately 80 people attended. Mayor David Nichols welcomed attendees to the City of Mason and gave an overview of the six Japanese-owned businesses operating in Mason.
Top Gun Sales Performance, A Digital IT Sector Company, Announces Mason Expansion
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op Gun Sales Performance, a global sales support organization providing consulting, training, and personnel for Fortune 500 clients, will invest $4 million to purchase and relocate to an expanded headquarters at 5155 Financial Way along the MasonMontgomery Road corridor. The company expects to create over 200 new high paying jobs at the new location in the next five years. In addition, through an innovative incentive package offered by the City of Mason and Mason Port Authority, Top Gun will renovate additional space in the building to create a Technical Resource Center for start-ups in the digital/IT and bio health sectors. This announcement furthers Mason’s work to develop more critical mass in the city in these sectors and strengthen these industry clusters in both Mason and the region. “We are extremely excited about this opportunity to continue our growth in Mason,” said Steven Osborne, President of Top Gun Sales Performance. “Mason is seen by many businesses as the premier location for corporate operations due to its location, infrastructure, available services, and leadership; and it was our choice for those same reasons. This innovative development package will enable Top Gun Sales to accelerate our growth and maximize the potential of this once vacant building far beyond what we could do by ourselves. “I could not have been more impressed with the
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professionalism and creativity I experienced in the administration and leadership within the City of Mason,” Osborne continued. “Clearly this is why they have enjoyed the success they have over the past years.” Top Gun Sales Performance works directly with internal sales teams or distribution channels to help solve complex selling challenges through training and consultation, infrastructure improvements, and technical support. Through its experience and expertise in technical selling and support, Top Gun creates solutions for some of the largest companies in the world. Some of its clients include Panasonic, Luxottica, Procter & Gamble, and Intelligrated. Top Gun has been recognized for consistent growth and performance through the Cincinnati Business Courier Fast 55 Awards and the Tri-State Success Awards (2010 and 2011). The company will move into its new space in late spring. Their announcement to expand and relocate in Mason represents the seventh Mason economic development success story since October. The announcement comes on the heels of the Seapine Software announcement in January of its new $7 million technical center being built on Western Row Road, which will bring 40 high paying jobs to Mason. In addition, StoreFlix, mDynamik, AssureRx, Rhinestahl, and Intelligrated all announced headquarters moves or expansions in Mason, culminating in over $25 million in investment and over 800 new jobs. For more information about Top Gun, visit www.topgunsps.com.
Congratulations to Mason Businesses AssureRx is the winner of the 2012 Luis Villalobos Award from the Angel Capital Association (ACA), a trade association of leading angel investment groups in North America. The award recognizes the most ingenious and innovative idea recently financed by angel groups that are ACA members. Marianne Hudson, executive director of the ACA, cited AssureRx as “startlingly innovative.” “AssureRx has created a solution based on cutting-edge technology that helps clinicians significantly improve patient outcomes while offering improved efficiency and economics to the healthcare industry,” she added. The award is given once a year to a single company selected from a national pool of innovators. Congratulations, AssureRx! For information about the company, visit www.assurerxhealth.com.
Cintas won the 2012 UNIVATOR Award for its innovative, corporate-wide uniform redesign for McDonald’s Canada. The award, sponsored by UniformMarket News, recognizes forward-thinking uniform companies whose designs make positive, high-impact statements about their customer’s business. Congratulations to Cintas for your continued success as the world-wide leader in corporate uniform design and supply. Congratulations also to Pamela ColemanBrailsford, senior director of supplier diversity and sustainability at Cintas Corp., who was among eight local businesswomen inducted
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into this year’s YWCA Career Women of Achievement. To learn about the services provided by Cintas, visit www.cintas.com.
Seapine Software’s industry leading TestTrack software was named an “Industry Champion” by Info-Tech Research Group. Info-Tech Research Group defines champions as vendors who receive high scores for most evaluation criteria and offer excellent value. Champions have a strong market presence and are usually the trendsetters for the industry. “We are pleased by Info-Tech Research Group’s recognition of TestTrack’s software test management capabilities, which reinforces our position as a leader in this market and underscores the effort our team continually puts into this product,” said Rick Riccetti, president of Seapine Software, Inc. Congratulations, Seapine! If you’d like to learn more, visit www.seapine.com.
Kings Island officially opened on April 28, 1972, and is celebrating its 40th season this year. Over the last four decades, the park has grown to be the most-visited seasonal amusement park in the country and it drives the region’s strong tourism industry. Kings Island is commemorating the milestone with several events throughout the year and with the unveiling of Soak City—an improved and vastly expanded water park. Kings Island is well known by amusement park enthusiasts for The Beast, the world’s longest wooden roller coaster, and its iconic grounds with a one-third scale Eiffel Tower
and 320-foot long Royal Fountain. City Council officially congratulated Kings Island’s anniversary at a council meeting in April, just in time for the opening of the 2012 season. Congratulations to Kings Island, a leading family fun and entertainment destination in our region. To plan some fun for your family, go to www.visitkingsisland.com.
Four doctors at the Lindner Center of HOPE in Mason have been included in The Best Doctors in America 2011-2012 database. They are Paul E. Keck, Jr., M.D., President-CEO, Michael A. Keys, M.D., Susan L. McElroy, M.D., and Anne Marie O’Melia, M.S., M.D. The Best Doctors in America is a peerreviewed survey by thousands of doctors and seeks the top five percent of physicians practicing in the U.S. based on the question, “If you or a loved one needed a doctor in your specialty or a related specialty, to whom would you refer them?” This is the third consecutive year the doctors have been included in the database. All four physicians hold faculty appointments with the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine and are part of UC Physicians. Lindner Center of HOPE provides patientcentered, scientifically-advanced care for individuals suffering from mental illness. A stateof-the-science, free-standing mental health center and charter member of the National Network of Depression Centers, the center provides psychiatric hospitalization for individuals age 12 and older, outpatient services for all ages, research, and voluntary residential services. Congratulations to these four doctors at the center. To learn more, visit www.lindnercenterofhope.org.
Street Projects Finalized Asphalt constantly degrades and is subjected to extreme temperature and load changes over its life. The past decade has brought advancements in asphalt mix design such as polymer-modified asphalt to increase its durability, sometimes delaying the need for repairs. Annually, city staff inspects the city’s streets, looking for rutting, fatigue, and thermal cracking, all indicators of distress in pavement. If left untreated, pavement condition declines quickly as moisture begins to infiltrate the base and sub-base of the roadway. On Cloverwood Drive, repairs are being coordinated with a Greater Cincinnati Water Works project to replace a water main. GCWW will assist with the repair costs as part of their normal street restoration
expenses. In addition to the streets named above, another 20 streets will receive full and/or partial depth pavement repair. Resurfacing work will also occur around Harris Products Group on Opportunity Place and Quality Place. In addition, a temporary 12-space parking lot will be installed at the corner of Church Street and Mason-Montgomery Road at the former location of Fire Station 51. Landscaping will be installed around the parking lot to meet the city’s landscape code. This year’s street maintenance program should be completed by the end of the summer. www.imaginemason.org
Mason Matters
ickory Woods Drive from Terrace Drive to Bethany Road, Village Lakes Boulevard, Park Lake Drive from Village Lakes to Placepointe Drive, Hi-Tek Court, Tri-Way Drive, and Cloverwood Drive are among the streets scheduled for major repairs in 2012. The project list was finalized by Council action in late March. Each year, the city’s street maintenance program is undertaken in spring and summer to repair and prolong the life of the city’s roadways. For the sixth year, Mason has partnered with Deerfield Township on the program. By combining projects, the city and township each save an estimated 8 to 10 percent. Continued maintenance is very important to maintain the condition of roadways.
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Sunshine Concerts Return Sunday concerts are returning to Mason at a new location. The annual Sunshine Concert series begins a 6-week run at 6 p.m. on Sunday, July 15, on the lawn around Mason Municipal Center. A different band will perform each week. All concerts are free – bring a lawn chair or blanket and enjoy the music in the great outdoors. For a schedule of bands, please look in the Special Events section of CenterPoint, the program guide for activities brought to you by the City of Mason.
Community Garden Mason Historical Society
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June is the month for the Mason Historical Society’s “Ice Cream Social and Cake and Pie Auction.” Every year, the society’s special bakers turn out wonderful cakes and pies for the event. Gene Steiner, a hometown auctioneer, makes this a fun event. Culver’s will supply the ice cream and Kroger will supply other items. The auction will be held at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, June 19, on the grounds of the Historical Society’s museum at 207 West Church Street. Free ice cream and desserts will be served and the auction will begin at 7. Gene Steiner promises to make it a fun evening. Proceeds go toward the never ending job of upkeep on the museum. The bonus? You get to take home the prize of those home-baked sweets! For the Tuesday, July 17, meeting, a patriotic program in co-operation with the American Legion is being planned. For information about this and future programs, and about the Mason Historical Society and museum, please visit www.masonhistoricalsociety.org or call the society museum at 513.398.6750.
Hurry and reserve your spot! Growing your own vegetables and flowers brings a great sense of connection to nature and accomplishment to many, but not everyone has the space for a large garden. If space limits you to container gardens or small-space gardening at home—or keeps you from growing any vegetables at all—consider Mason’s community garden. The City of Mason has set aside land on Mason-MorrowMillgrove Road, across from Mason Sports Park, for free garden plots for the community for 2012. Applicants will be granted use of a 10’ by 15’ plot ready to plant. You may plant annual or perennial vegetables or flowers of your choice. As you tend your garden throughout the summer, you’ll meet other gardeners and discover how community gardens truly build a community. 2012 applications may be obtained at Mason Community Center, Mason Municipal Center, and online at www.imaginemason.org/ residents. Individuals and organizations may grow flowers and/or vegetables, either for their own use or to donate to local food banks. Applications received after May 15 will be assigned as space is available. The City of Mason is grateful to three individuals who have volunteered to organize and oversee the community garden. If you have any questions, please contact Jack Tager (513.678.6932 or jtager@ yahoo.com), Ben McNary (513.336.0007 or bmcnary3934@yahoo. com), or Gary Miller (513.460.6041 or garywarrenmiller@yahoo.com).
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Wipers On, Headlights On
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Mason Matters
id you know that when you turn your windshield wipers on, you should turn your headlights on as well? The proper use of vehicle headlights is a key component of safe driving. Whether it is dark, raining, foggy, or even during the daylight hours, having your vehicle’s headlights on greatly improves your visibility. Being easily seen by other drivers reduces the likelihood of crashes. Ohio law and city ordinances require headlights to be on in the following circumstances: • From sunset to sunrise. • At any other time when there is not enough natural light or the weather prohibits you from seeing people, vehicles, or objects in the roadway at a distance of 1,000 feet ahead. • At any time when the windshield
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June / July 2012
wipers of the vehicle are in use because of precipitation on the windshield. The Mason Police Department is committed to promoting safe driving practices by all motorists. Keeping the roadways safe and reducing crashes is one of the department’s top priorities. Ohio law and city ordinances aid officers in enforcing safe driving practices and vehicle equipment standards such as for vehicle lights. By law, motor vehicles must have two working headlights. Those lights must be aimed to illuminate the roadway and objects in front of the vehicle and not shine into the eyes of oncoming motorists. Checking the operation and aim of your headlights is as easy as pulling your vehicle up to your garage door or other vertical structure while on a level surface and turning on the lights. You will see the reflection if they work and will see where they are aimed.
Front turn signals can be checked in the same manner. To check rear lights, you may need a second person to observe as you operate the tail lights, brake lights, turn signals, and rear license plate light. Vehicles must have at least one operating tail light, two operating brake lights, all turn signals, and a white light illuminating the rear license plate to make it legible from 50 feet to the rear. Some automobile manufacturers have for years installed automatic lights that are on at all times. Most reports indicate that the use of these daytime lights reduces crashes involving more than one vehicle during daylight hours. There is strong evidence and common sense that shows if you can see the other vehicle, crashes are less likely to occur. Please drive safely, with your lights on at all times.