West Chester & Liberty March 2016

West Chester & Liberty MARCH 2016

WestChesterandLibertyLifestyle.com

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Home

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Home INCREDIBLE KITCHENS FIRST-CLASS FLOORS GREEN CLEAN ROUTINE

Spa Esthetique on site offering facials, facial waxing, dermaplaning, and more.

Providing comprehensive dermatologic and cosmetic care for over 20 years.

Mohs Micrographic surgery (skin cancer surgery)

Chemical Peels

Comprehensive Skin Cancer Screening Fractioned CO2 Resurfacing

Sclerotherapy & Laser Surgery for Veins Botox速 Cosmetic & Injectable Fillers

Personalized Skin Care Consultation

Tattoo and Brown Spot Removal

Laser Hair Removal

Dermabrasion

Face and Brow Lifts

Fraxel Laser Treatments for Facial Rejuvenation

Same day, evening, and weekend hours available. New patients welcome!

Dr. Scott Grevey

Dr. Martha Hickmann

Jessica Watkins, PA-C Corey Schneeman, PA-C

Board Certified Dermatologist , Member of American Academy of Dermatology, American Society of Dermatologic Surgery, And American College of Mohs Surgery

7132 Cincinnati-Dayton Road Suite 200, Liberty Township

513.858.6900 dermatologyandsurgery.com

Lifestyle Letter

Home sweet home.

H

ome. It means different things to each of us. For some, it’s a relaxing place to unwind and escape at the end of a long day.

For others, we look around our home and see only the things that need to be fixed: piles of disorganized clutter, half-finished projects, outdated décor and spaces that need a thorough cleaning. I definitely fall into the latter camp.

This month’s issue of West Chester & Liberty Lifestyle features ideas for your home. For those of you ready to tackle a big project, you’ll find trends and tips for remodeling your kitchen and a look at flooring that endures even the messiest pets and kids.

If you need more than a remodeling project to create your dream home, we highlight a beautiful gem in our community with a touching backstory–Carriage Hill.

For our readers looking to start small, we have a story on spring cleaning with local experts' tips on getting your home clean and your body healthy this spring.

At the end of the day, a house is just a building. It’s the people inside that make it a home.

Locally owned Shiver Security shares tips on protecting your most valuable asset–your family.

Inside every issue we highlight a story of giving back in our community. As we head into Prom season, we share the story of how a gently used dress can give a young woman a magical prom night through Cinderella’s Closet.

Find a comfy spot in your home to curl up and read the March issue of West Chester & Liberty Lifestyle. Thank you for welcoming us into your home each month!

Michelle Moody, Publisher Michelle.Moody@LifestylePubs.com

MARCH 2016 publisher

Michelle Moody | Michelle.Moody@LifestylePubs.com editor

Tera Michelson | Tera.Michelson@LifestylePubs.com contributing writers

PJ Martin, Tom May, Abbey McMahon, Diana Telles contributing photographers

Jenna Beers, Michelle Lloyd, Masterworks Imaging, Snappy George Photography

CORPORATE TEAM | Steven Schowengerdt

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

CHIEF SALES OFFICER

| Matthew Perry

CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER DIRECTOR OF MARKETING

| Brad Broockerd

| Sara Minor

ART DIRECTOR EDITORIAL DIRECTOR AD COORDINATORS

| DeLand Shore

| Nicole Sylvester

| Cyndi Harrington, Chelsi Hornbaker, Kim Foster, Megan Seymour

LAYOUT DESIGNER DESIGN SPECIALIST

| Nicolette Martin | Ashleigh Thomson

EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT APPLICATION ARCHITECT WEB DEVELOPER

| Melanie Carlisle | Michael O’Connell | Hanna Park

Michelle Moody, Publisher Michelle.Moody@LifestylePubs.com

by Community ™

WestChesterandLibertyLifestyle.com ON THE COVER An inviting porch beckons at Carriage Hill's historic Carriage House. Find the story on page 24.

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West Chester and Liberty Lifestyle | March 2016

JOIN US

P.O. Box 12608 Overland Park, KS 66282-3214 Proverbs 3:5-6 West Chester and Liberty Lifestyle™ is published monthly by Lifestyle Publications LLC. It is distributed via the US Postal Service to some of West Chester and Liberty’s most affluent neighborhoods. Articles and advertisements do not necessarily reflect Lifestyle Publications’ opinions. No portion of this magazine may be reproduced in any form without written consent. Lifestyle Publications does not assume responsibility for statements made by advertisers or editorial contributors.

Information in West Chester and Liberty Lifestyle™ is gathered from sources considered to be reliable, but the accuracy of all information cannot be guaranteed.

Great Design, Quality, Value Serving the greater Cincinnati area for 30 years.

Please stop by and visit our beautiful showroom!

Vi s i t u s o n l i n e a t b o v a f u r n i t u r e . c o m 12130 Royal Point Drive (Across from Kings Auto Mall) Cincinnati, OH 45249 513-247-9100

HOURS: Mon-Fri: 10am-7pm Saturday: 10am-5pm Sunday: Closed

Take a virtual tour of our store!

March 2016

20

Departments 8

Good Times

10

Around Town

16

Giving Back

18

Locally Owned

28

Healthy Lifestyle

30

Renovate & Refine

32

Lifestyle Calendar

34

Parting Thoughts

18 Safe and Sound

Protect the people and places you love with Shiver Security Systems.

20 Incredible Kitchens

Discover why the kitchen is the new family room.

24 Natural Neighborhood

Make yourself at home in Liberty Township’s Carriage Hill.

16

18

28

Lifestyle Publications Arizona | California | Colorado | Florida | Georgia | Idaho | Illinois | Kansas | Missouri | Montana | Ohio | Oklahoma | Texas | Utah

HOME your most valuable possession

Find your next home with my FREE Home Search App visit WestChesterLibertyExpert.com

For expert advice on buying or selling real estate call:

Scot Avery The West Chester Liberty Expert 513-325-1361 • savery@huff.com

Good Times

Unity March for MLK Day

Low temperatures did not lower the spirits of 125 community members gathered to honor Martin Luther King Jr. and his dream for unity. The march ended at Lakota West's cafeteria with music by Lakota West's Jazz Band. Lunch, donated by local businesses, was served by Lakota Plains' Beta Club.

Register now for Summer Camp! www.ccgymca.org 513-867-0600

UNPLUG TO CONNECT YMCA CAMP CAMPBELL GARD 8

West Chester and Liberty Lifestyle | March 2016

Junior Achievement Breakfast

West Chester Hospital hosted Junior Achievement’s annual breakfast to raise awareness about empowering young people to own their economic success. Partners and students shared success stories from programs that foster work-readiness, entrepreneurship and financial literacy skills. In 2014-2015, JA helped 6,400 students across much of Butler and Warren counties.

10th Annual Shamrock Shuffle 5K/10K and Block Party Saturday, March 19th Square @ Union Centre www.theshamrockshuffle.com

Proceeds benefit the Community Foundation of West Chester/Liberty and participating charities.

Hosted by March 2016 | West Chester and Liberty Lifestyle

9

Around Town

AROUND TOWN

NATURE CENTER EXPANSION AT YMCA CAMP CAMPBELL GARD YMCA Camp Campbell Gard, part of the Great Miami Valley YMCA, recently received a $40,000 matching grant for a Nature Center expansion. YMCA Camp Campbell Gard offers outdoor educational programming each Spring and Fall. Based on Science, Technology, Engineering

and

Mathematics

(STEM), YMCA Camp Campbell Gard teaches nearly 1,800 TriState elementary school students each year. The grant will lengthen the educational season and widen the student audience by offering indoor, Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)-compliant facilities to display their twenty small animals for a hands-on learning experience in plant and animal science.

Renderings include two classroom spaces in the new Nature Center to be built on Main Camp. The grant comes from a national, private family foundation. The Great Miami Valley YMCA serves more than 7,000 local children and families annually. CCGYMCA.org

FOLLOW THE DONUT TRAIL Butler County invites you to “Find, Travel, Devour” on its sweet new

OHIO’S FIRST AC HOTEL BY MARRIOTT NOW OPEN

Donut Trail. Download a passport and map of the top, local donut shops

With 127 modern guest rooms, three guest suites, an indoor pool, out-

in Butler County offering a mouth-watering list of unique flavors: Fruity

door terraces and a state of the art fitness center, AC Hotels by Marriott

Pebbles, Cheesecake, Maple Bacon, German Chocolate, Orange Juice,

opened in Liberty Center at the end of January. Only the sixth location

S’mores and more. Take a self-guided tour at your own pace. Once

in the U.S., AC Hotels is geared to the modern business traveler, boast-

your passport is filled, turn it in to the Butler County Visitors Bureau

ing Spanish roots and a European soul. Founder and President Antonio

for a t-shirt reward. On the list of top sweet shops is West Chester’s

Catalan proudly views AC Hotels as an escape and oasis from the mun-

Stan the Donut Man, 7967 Cincinnati-Dayton Road. Crush your donut

dane, based on his childhood experiences as a helper to his inn-own-

craving at this local favorite sweet shop, which is open seven days a

ing parents in Navarre, Spain. The AC Kitchen offers a daily European

week. Get there early for the best pick of apple fritters, blueberry cake

Continental breakfast, available to the public for a small charge. The AC

donuts and classic glazed twists. GetToTheBC.com

Lounge is a lobby meeting space by day and a social center by night,

WELLING & CO. JEWELERS' GRAND OPENING CELEBRATION - MARCH 24 Mark your calendar to save the date for the grand opening celebration at Welling & Co. Jewelers’ new location in Olde West Chester.

On Thursday, March 24 from 4-8 p.m., the public is invited to browse the newly remodeled gallery of fine and fashion jewelry, featuring

complete with tapas-style fare and cocktails. An additional five meeting rooms are also available. Book your business or pleasure experience at AC Hotel Cincinnati North/West Chester. Marriott.com

GRACETREE OFFERS YOGA THERAPY PROGRAM: SVASTHA YOGA OF KRISHNAMACHARYA

the brilliant and patented Crisscut diamonds crafted by Christopher

Gracetree Yoga & Growth Studio is one of only two U.S. locations

Designs. Enjoy appetizers catered by Vonderhaar’s as you explore

selected to offer a special course of study led by Dr. Ganesh Mohan,

the new space. Everything in the store is 25% off: in-stock items only,

Sharon Byrnes, Dr. Geraldine Wu and Pooja Malhotra. The profes-

not available on loose diamonds. Find the pieces that speak to you at

sional 300-hour program on yoga therapy teaches the most effective

Welling & Co. Jewelers, 8992 Cincinnati-Dayton Road, West Chester.

aspects of traditional yoga and ayurveda combined with modern

WellingsJewelers.com

medicine. Designed especially for yoga teachers and advanced CONTINUED >

10

West Chester and Liberty Lifestyle | March 2016

Health isn’t just about what you put in your body,it’s about everything around you.

Shaklee® has a full line of natural and nontoxic cleaning choices called Get Glean® that are safe for

You , Your Home, and Your Planet® Contact us today for free shipping

Call Rita McCormack and Tara Root • (513) 607-3941 • thinkhealthytoo@gmail.com

Serving families in West Chester & Liberty for over 30 years

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From tax advice and wealth management to growth consulting, Burke & Schindler helps you plan all your financial needs.

LyonsandLyonslaw.com 8310 Princeton-Glendale Rd. West Chester, Ohio 45069

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March 2016 | West Chester and Liberty Lifestyle

11

Around Town

(C ON TI N U ED)

practitioners, the program is the first in a seven-module program with

with 397 donated items. This is the second year for the canned good

a flexible structure. Each module aims to help students immediately

collection. Reach Out Lakota provides a food and clothing pantry

begin applying what they have learned. Module 1 is scheduled for

for qualifying residents in West Chester and Liberty Township. The

April 1-5. Register by March 25 for the early-bird rate. See a full list of

non-profit organization distributes more than 18,000 pounds of food

course details online. gracetreestudio.com

on average each month, as well as 4,000 pounds of personal care

SAVE THE DATE FOR THE SHAMROCK SHUFFLE - MARCH 19 Dress in your green running gear for the annual Shamrock

Shuffle,

hosted

by

The

Community

items. The public can make donations at 6561 Station Road, West Chester. LakotaOnline.com ReachOutLakota.org

UKULELE PRIZES GO TO LAKOTA HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS

Foundation of West Chester/Liberty. Start the fami-

A ukulele prize will go home with lucky students from both Lakota

ly-friendly day with kegs and eggs at a pre-race commu-

high school After Prom parties this spring. The "Ukulele Prom Prize"

nity block party on The Square at Union Centre. Run in

features a FLEA brand ukulele with accessories to make it easy to

a spirited 5K or 10K race, complete with chip timing for

play right out of the box. Prize winners are selected by a drawing at

the competitors among us who don’t need to rely on the

the safe, all-night After Prom parties where students enjoy themed

luck of the Irish to cross the finish line. A second, Family

activity rooms, food and entertainment.

5K with a later start time is offered again this year after

The 2016 prom season marks the fifth consecutive year TIDE Dry

its successful debut in 2015. Children and strollers are

Cleaners in Liberty Township sponsors ukulele prizes at both Lakota

welcome. There’s even a miniature one-lap race for the

East and West high school After Prom events. Prom committees

youngest runners, the Leprechaun Lap and Obstacle

count on many area businesses to donate products, services and

Course. T-shirts will be given to all those who pre-register. Last year,

funding for a successful event.

this popular community event attracted more than 4,500 participants

Liberty Township resident Greg Huntington of True Joy Acoustics

and raised more than $70,000 to benefit a variety of local charities,

developed the teen-appealing prize in 2012. It was a natural extension

including scholarship foundations, cancer research and high school

to his business, and expanded beyond the company's core mission:

programs. TheShamrockShuffle.com

donating ukuleles to music therapy at Cincinnati Children's Hospital

UNION ELEMENTARY COLLECTS CANNED GOODS FOR REACH OUT LAKOTA To celebrate being “100 Days Smarter,” Union Elementary challenged each of its 25 classrooms to bring in 100 items to donate

Medical Center. Contact Huntington to learn more about this unique and beloved instrument, sponsor a prom prize or donate a “uke” to music therapy programs. TrueJoyAcoustics.com

SHARE YOUR NEWS HERE

to Reach Out Lakota. In a four-day food drive, Union’s students

Do you have news to share with your West Chester and Liberty

exceeded their goal with a collection of 4,019 foods—the biggest

Township neighbors? Contact Tera Michelson, Editor, West

donation the school has ever made to the local food pantry. Terri

Chester & Liberty Lifestyle. Tera.Michelson@LifestylePubs.com

Vincent’s fourth grade classroom won the school-wide competition

WestChesterandLibertyLifestyle.com

Mention this ad and we’ll waive the $30 administration fee when you register!

(offer cannot be combined with other offers)

513-829-2345 • WestChesterAcademy.com West Chester Academy is a fun learning community for your child! Specializing in beginners of all ages, preschool and up!

Music | Dance | Gymnastics 8107 Market Place Drive • West Chester, OH 45069 12

West Chester and Liberty Lifestyle | March 2016

Welcome Home to . . .

Springtime warmth and excitement Natural Beauty • Old World Design • Refined Quality The right blend of nature’s beauty, luxury, activities, family, and friends.

Carriage Hill, a 500 acre master planned lifestyle community for all chapters of life. Visit our beautiful community, engage with the area’s finest builders, and select your estate home in one of our new exclusive neighborhoods.

513.894.4455 • CarriageHillLiving.com

Spring Excitement Carriage Hill is filled with activity for 2016 including our newest expansion in Walnut Point, featuring 34 beautiful homesites and amenities with Presales HAPPENING NOW!

Wonderful Clubhouse Amenities Our wonderful clubhouse amenities are expanding to include our lakeside Adult Clubhouse and pool facility opening Fall 2016.

This new clubhouse is conveniently located close to our maintenance-free neighborhood for empty nesters and young professionals The Wynn’s and The Enclave.

Spring is an exciting time to engage your new home needs. Visit our select group of master builders.

Giving Back

Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Boo! CINDERELLA’S CLOSET CLOTHES PROM PRINCESSES

ARTICLE ABBEY MCMAHON PHOTOGRAPHY MICHELLE LLOYD

M

& JENNA BEERS

ost of us remember our high school proms with fond memories of sparkly dresses, big hair, awkward photos and plenty of bad dance moves. While prom is a rite of passage for many, it’s a tradition with costs that are out of reach for numerous women in the Greater Cincinnati area. Center Pointe Christian Church in West Chester opens Cinderella’s Closet to those women each year.

For the seventh year, Center Pointe will transform its worship space into a beautiful dress boutique for one weekend in March. 150 high school girls, who wouldn’t normally manage to pay for prom, spend a few hours with a personal shopper preparing for the prom of their dreams.

The young women are “Princesses” for the evening. Their personal shoppers? “Fairy Godmothers.” Each Princess tries on formal dresses, shoes, jewelry and handbags until she finds the combination that’s just right for her. The mission of Cinderella’s Closet is to make each young woman feel beautiful and loved.

“The Princesses walk in and they’re one-on-one with their Fairy Godmother, who spends the next few hours pouring worth and value into them. [The Fairy Godmother] carries everything for them, and helps the Princess try on dress after dress until she feels comfortable and beautiful,” says Sara Mosteller, Director of Cinderella’s Closet at Center Pointe.

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West Chester and Liberty Lifestyle | March 2016

Center Pointe Christian Church's Top Fairy Godmothers: Amy Hettinger, Event Leadership Team member; Sara Mosteller, Director of Cinderella's Closet for Cincinnati; and Kelly Wilson, Event Leadership Team member.

Mosteller, along with colleagues Amy Hettinger and Kelly Wilson, started Cinderella’s Closet at Center Pointe in 2009, during a time when the church’s leaders were looking for more outreach opportunities. Its members immediately rallied behind the initiative and have embraced it ever since.

Center Pointe serves as the Southwest Ohio branch of the Cinderella’s Closet organization, which began in 2006 in Lakeside Park, Kentucky, and now has programs in 10 states. The young women who attend the event at Center Pointe live within a 20-mile radius of West Chester. Each girl is referred into the program by a school guidance counselor, teacher,

Cinderella’s Closet MARCH 17-19, 2016 BE A VOLUNTEER

pastor or social worker. Each girl who walks through the door is immediately greeted by a team of open-hearted volunteers who want to make sure she knows she is beautiful.

“The girls we serve primarily need financial assistance, but many also need emotional support,” Mosteller explains. “High school girls will tell you–there is so much that the world says to you: ‘I’m not good enough, smart enough or pretty enough.’ We get two hours with them to connect and make an impact.”

With two hours dedicated solely to making them feel special, the experience can be overwhelming for some of the girls, but Hettinger explains that the volunteers often make a bigger impact than they realize.

“One year, I had a girl who was really hesitant and shy. I wasn’t sure if she was having fun or enjoying herself,” Hettinger says.

“But the next year she asked for me, specifically, to be her Fairy Godmother. She still had the note I had written to her [the year before], and a photo of us on her cell phone. I remember that every year, whenever there’s a girl who’s uncomfortable with the praise.”

Before the girls can even enter Cinderella’s Closet, it takes months of preparation at Center Pointe to pull off the event. Mosteller says they have hundreds of dresses donated each year, and it takes every one of them to make the event a success. Volunteers begin work Thursday evening to set up, with Friday and Saturday serving as the shopping days for Princesses. After the event ends on Saturday evening, another team of volunteers breaks down the boutique and reorganizes the area for Sunday’s service.

For Mosteller, Hettinger and Wilson, the time and energy that goes into making Cinderella’s Closet is always worth it.

“So many girls come in and say no one has told them they’re beautiful before,” Mosteller says. “It’s really not about the dress. The dress is how we get them in the door, but it’s more about that experience with each Princess.”

• Set up • Tear down • Fairy Godmothers (women ages 20+) • If you have any level of sewing experience, volunteers are needed to make minimal alterations on-site.

MAKE A DONATION

• New or gently used formal dresses, especially sizes 12-24 • Shoes, especially size 9 and up • Handbags • Jewelry CENTER POINTE CHRISTIAN CHURCH

5962 Hamilton-Mason Road, Liberty Township Sara Mosteller, Director cinderellasclosetcincy@gmail.com CPCC.church Facebook.com/CinderellasClosetCincy Register as a volunteer online. TinyUrl.com/CC2016Volunteer March 2016 | West Chester and Liberty Lifestyle

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Locally Owned

State-of-the-Art SHIVER SECURITY SYSTEMS PROTECTS LOCAL RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES ARTICLE TOM MAY

T

he statistics are alarming and may shock you. There are about two million home burglaries in the United States every year, a number that amounts to a home intrusion every 13 seconds. The highest percentage of burglaries occurs during the spring and summer months. The average loss per break in is about $2,200; the loss of security and peace of mind for victims is beyond measure.

Shiver Security Systems is working towards changing the scary statistics. Three generations of Shivers and their local team have been the eyes and ears of safety in our area since 1971. They have been guarding our community’s businesses and residents with their personal approach to security.

The business began with a father-son partnership. Rex Shiver, and his son, Chip, started the business in Cincinnati with zero customers. Now, they’ve grown to more than 6,000 satisfied and loyal clients in Southwestern Ohio and Northern Kentucky.

Many of their customers have trusted their care for 30 years. Their West Chester roots have made them a local favorite.

A third generation of Shivers has joined Chip now in the family business; his 18

West Chester and Liberty Lifestyle | March 2016

daughter, Alison Shiver is the Residential Sales and Marketing Director, and son Chip Shiver Jr. is a Senior Security Consultant on the Sales Team. After nearly 40 years of successfully providing security for local businesses, the Shiver family is expanding into the residential arena.

“Traditionally we were almost a 90% commercial company. While we did residential work, it was pretty much referral.

About a year and a half ago, we decided that we were going to invest and we were going to jump into this residential market,” says Chip Sr. There’s been an incredible response.

What sets Shiver apart from other security companies is their local central

The Shiver Family: Alison, Chip, Dawn and Chip Jr.

monitoring station. Shiver’s team monitors security at homes and businesses 24 hours a day, seven days a week, in a new, state-of-the-art facility located just up the road in Miamisburg.

Chip Jr. says, “We’re one of the only ones left that actually do monitoring locally.” Most bigger security businesses have moved to a regional setting, extending further away from the people they are paid to protect. The benefit of local monitoring is the proximity that makes getting help on the scene that much faster.

“We believe it’s important for our customers that we can provide local day-to-day service. We have an outstanding relationship with the various law enforce-

Safety

1 TIPS FOR A SAFE SPRING FROM SHIVER SECURITY SYSTEMS 1. Keep tempting targets out of view through windows. The most popular items to be stolen are cash, jewelry, laptops and small electronics.

ment agencies. I believe we are respected because we have stayed local,” Chip Sr. says.

“The local central station is probably the most important thing that we have to offer,” adds Chip Jr. Families like the assurance that local individuals are looking out for their safety.

Residents looking to protect their loved ones, homes and property should seek intelligent and effective security solutions. Shiver offers intrusion detection, access control, Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) and other forms of monitoring, including fire protection services.

Shiver Security has doubled in size since 1997, expanding its customer base, central monitoring system and operational force. The company is continually upgrading its products as technology allows. Their progressive services offer families and businesses the best coverage available.

“I think that you should choose Shiver because we are here locally. You can reach out to me at anytime and we’ll take care of all your needs,” says Alison.

She advises that even if you already have one, surveillance systems need to be maintained and updated, much like computers. Family growth and lifestyle changes are just a couple of the reasons to update protection.

“Some people no longer use a home phone,” Alison says. “By upgrading the system, you can switch to wireless home security that uses cellular technology.”

One of the most important benefits of a home security system is peace of mind. Locally owned Shiver Security Services is committed to watching out for you and your most precious asset—your family.

2. Home security isn't just about who’s getting in; it’s also about who’s getting out.

3. Keep garages and sheds closed and locked at all times, even when you are working in another area of the yard.

4. Notify the police if you are going on a spring break vacation. Often, they will drive by while you are away.

5. Homes without security systems are about 3 times more likely to be broken into than homes with security systems.

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ARTICLE DIANA TELLES | PHOTOGRAPHY SNAPPY GEORGE PHOTOGRAPHY

K

itchens are the beating heart of the home.

We are drawn to the kitchen several times

a day. It’s where we find the nourishment of our meals and the good company of others.

“How did everybody end up in my kitchen?”

“How did everybody end up in my kitchen?” reads a small sign in the showroom of Neal’s Design Remodel. It’s a familiar sentiment for those who entertain, and a large influence on the homeowners who decide it's time for a kitchen remodel.

“Food brings people together,” says Leanne Matthews, Marketing Manager at Neal’s, a design-build remodeling contractor.

“It slows the pace down. People are opting for floor plans that flow easily from the family room to the kitchen.”

KITCHEN

TRENDS Stir Up Some Style in Your Kitchen

Alan Schmidt, Jr. of Schmidt Builders agrees that kitchens have become a place of distinction in the home. He says they have more floor plans today that offer large kitchen dining areas, and fewer that include formal dining rooms. Today's kitchen has become the new family room.

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West Chester and Liberty Lifestyle | March 2016

A farmhouse sink completes a timeless look.

TRENDS IN KITCHEN DESIGN

Connie Hampton, a Certified Kitchen Designer at Neal’s, says of design, “It’s personal now, and less about rules.” She adds that there is a lot of one-on-one time with designers who must learn about the lifestyle of their clients when planning a project.

Hampton sees a trend in kitchens for multiple workstations as opposed to the appliance “triangle” of the past.

“Today we seriously consider traffic flow, the people, entertainment habits, everyday activities and future needs,” Hampton says.

Homeowners are anticipating the needs of their homes as their families age. Return visits of adult children and grandchildren are factored into the kitchen layout.

Gray and neutral cabinets play well together.

Make a statement with a backsplash in shades of gray.

The internet now also plays a large role in the early stages of design. This trend has homeowners utilizing Pinterest and Houzz to seek out design features that entice them.

These online design sites offer homeowners endless ideas by way of photos, articles, recommendations and forums. A client typically shares a portfolio of favorites with a designer to embark on the process of building, decorating or remodeling.

TODAY’S KITCHENS

Our experienced panel of designers sees that current trendsetting kitchens feature shades of gray, white and a mix of neutral colors. Dark flooring or cabinetry is chosen to ground the room.

Stone countertops and backsplashes expose

a

kitchen’s

personality.

Stone

becomes a focal point in a kitchen, especially when surrounded by neutral colors.

“We’re selling stone,” Lyn Kolpak of Unique Stone Concepts shares. In Kolpak’s experience, homeowners are opting for natural stone and marble due to its beauty and durability. It’s also cost-effective, and improves resale value of a home. “Natural stone is thousands of years old,” she says. “It can take a beating; it's less perishable.”

Designers note that while granite and other natural stones are beautiful and durable, they are selling a lot of quartz for its unique stamina.

It’s a natural-looking, man-made product that serves busy families well due to its resistance to staining and scratching. It is also non-porous, and requires no maintenance.

CONTINUED >

The kitchen is the new family room in an open floor plan.

March 2016 | West Chester and Liberty Lifestyle

21

KITCHEN TRENDS (CON TI N UED)

Hide your appliances behind cabinetry panels.

Today’s kitchens are featuring large islands topped with a product of beauty that celebrates patterns of movement and visual interest. Such attention-getting choices create a focus in the room, and should complement the colors of the walls, floor and cabinetry.

At Ideal Cabinetry Design, Owner and Lead Designer Pam Carr reports that when it comes to cabinetry, people are opting for simplicity: clean lines and neutral colors. She suggests that the current colors and styles are timeless. A simple change in hardware can entirely update a look and character of a room.

Stainless steel continues to abound in today’s kitchens. It offers a hybrid-like quality in its ability to adapt to any style. In contrast, some homeowners opt to camouflage larger appliances like refrigerators and dishwashers behind cabinetry panels. Even drawers can cleverly hide smaller appliances, such as microwaves.

Join us on the Journey to Easter

One example of today’s popular choices in kitchen themes is the farmhouse kitchen. Connie Hampton describes the farmhouse look as utilizing white or pale colors, transitional cabinetry styles and a few “iconic” elements like raw wood or clapboard walls. A farmhouse sink is the perfect choice to complete the look.

A charismatic element in the world of home decor, a farmhouse

Maundy Thursday Thursday, March 24 7 pm

Good Friday

Friday, March 25 4 pm Children’s Service 7 pm Service of Darkness

sink itself offers a wide range of looks depending on its color, material and decorative features. It has the ability to be dropped into any kitchen, easily matching a kitchen’s unique style.

GET COOKING

The home décor industry is booming. Brimming with enticing products and inspiring trends, the first-rate professionals here in northern Cincinnati can get you on track for a kitchen that really cooks. Perhaps it’s time to create a kitchen where you want the whole gang to gather.

Easter Morning

Sunday, March 27 8 am, 9:30 am & 11 am 9 to 11 am Easter Breakfast

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6329 Tylersville Road | West Chester, OH 45069 513.777.8449 | www.lol-lutheran.com 22

West Chester and Liberty Lifestyle | March 2016

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March 2016 | West Chester and Liberty Lifestyle

23

Coming Home to Carriage Hill The Family Vision Behind a One-of-a-Kind Neighborhood ARTICLE TERA MICHELSON

24

West Chester and Liberty Lifestyle | March 2016

“Mother Nature has provided in Carriage Hill beautiful rolling hills, winding streams, wooded ravines, mature tree lines and wildlife that sets the stage for creating a special neighborhood. We have done our best to complement what nature has provided.” Randy Terry

R

andy Terry has been coming home to Carriage Hill for over thirty years. It wasn’t always called Carriage Hill, but it has always been a beautiful plot of land with rolling hills, mature trees and winding streams.

As Developers, the Terry family has carefully maintained the integrity of the land, sharing this peaceful country estate with its new residents in an innovative, upscale community designed for all generations.

Even before it was home, this farmland was Terry’s playground. He and his four brothers, Kim, Marc, Todd and Rusty, grew up in a home just a mile away. Ray, Terry’s father, spent time outdoors with his sons, hunting, riding horses and fishing. As a teenager, it was the fishing hole on the property that grabbed Terry’s attention. Back then, the lake was on the property of a neighbor, Dr. Gaker.

“All of us teenagers knew that this lake had the best fishing. We’d be catching bass—great big bass. Doc Gaker would come down the lane in his Jeep and when he saw us, he would let out his German shepherd and we would take off running!”

Terry’s older brother, Marc, convinced him to go in with him to buy the 64-acre farm when it came up for sale.

“My brother Marc was looking for a place to build his home.

So we bought the farm. That Christmas, Dad bought us chainsaws. That was the start of it,” he says.

The Terry Family

“My wife, Patty, and I were dating when my brother and I bought the place,” Terry shares. “It was a sheep farm—overgrown. Patty was kind of a city girl. The first time I brought her down the gravel road, she looked at me and said, ‘I am not living here!’”

“I got poison ivy for the first time in my life!” Patty Terry says, laughing.

It’s a lot of work to maintain a farm, especially because the Terrys purchased surrounding parcels of land to equal nearly 500 acres. In the years they lived there before development began, the Terry families raised 11 children, installed Kentucky three-rail horse fencing, built barns and enjoyed life together. Randy and Patty built their home on his favorite fishing lake.

During those years, Terry’s brother Marc relocated an 1882 barley barn from a nearby farm to the Terry property, piece by piece. He restored it and filled it with his collection of horse-drawn carriages and sleighs.

The contents coined its name—the Carriage House. Now, the Carriage House serves as the community's meeting place, the centerpiece and namesake of Carriage Hill.

In 2009, the Terry family put down even deeper roots at the farm. They sold their asphalt manufacturing and highway construction businesses and founded Liberty Land Company. Together, they drew up the master plan for Carriage Hill. In January, 2011, they officially broke ground on the new development.

“We’ve had a lot happen in three years,” Terry notes, with a nod to his wife. “Many would say that the Terry family is known for being a little crazy.”

Carriage Hill has passed the 50% buildout for its single-family homes. Terry expects to reach completion in three to four more years.

“Others in the industry shared with us what they would do. It’s always easier to go with the known, but…” Terry trails off with a shrug. Instead of doing what everyone else does, the Terry family followed their own vision for Carriage Hill, rooted in the shared family experience on the farm.

Terry says, “Growing up on the property provided the clarity of wanting to create a unique neighborhood that supports multiple family generations. A place where family and friends come together. A place where family memories are made.”

“We’ll have a family come into our community,” Terry explains. “It takes about a year, and their parents follow. Or parents will move in, and their children will follow them.

With our empty nester homes, we expect to see that third generation, grandparents, moving in, too. This is our primary objective–to bring the family together here,” he says.

CONTINUED >

March 2016 | West Chester and Liberty Lifestyle

25

COMING HOME (CON TI N U ED)

“Growing up on the property provided the clarity of wanting to create a unique neighborhood that supports multiple family generations. A place where family and friends come together.

A place where family memories are made.” Randy Terry Five Terry families now live in Carriage Hill. As Developers, they have an important responsibility to establish what the home sites look and feel like. The Terry family and Mother Nature worked together to develop the natural landscape, setting new industry standards.

“Mother Nature has provided in Carriage Hill beautiful rolling hills, winding streams, wooded ravines, mature tree lines and wildlife that sets the stage for creating a special neighborhood,” Terry says. “We have done our best to complement what nature has provided.”

Terry adds, “Living, working and playing on the property for more than 30 years has given us the intimate knowledge to refine the best land plan, ensuring the quality of each home site and preserving the character of the property,” Terry says. “The locations of the streets, parks, paths, clubhouses and key features were chosen carefully.”

To the Terrys, inviting others onto the property is not giving up anything, instead it’s about sharing what they love.

Terry explains, “We’re asked a lot, ‘How can you take the privacy you’ve had for so long and give it up, to develop it, and bring in all of these neighbors?’ We enjoy the wonderful neighbors, going down to the clubhouse pool and seeing everybody enjoy the property.”

“This is our first home and it will be our last. It’s family here. We enjoy doing our thing here. There are weeks I don’t leave the property.

If Patty cooks, I don’t need to leave!” he says.

The Terry family is and always has been deeply invested in Carriage Hill—it’s home.

Inside the historic Carriage House, a gathering place for Carriage Hill residents.

26

West Chester and Liberty Lifestyle | March 2016

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Healthy Lifestyle

Go Green FOR SPRING CLEANING, THINK GREEN ARTICLE PJ MARTIN PHOTOGRAPHY MASTERWORKS IMAGING

A

h, the signs of spring: chirping birds, budding trees, warm breezes and the refreshing smell of…cleaning product fumes?!

The environment doesn’t have to suffer through a toxic March scrub down for a thorough cleaning. When it’s time for spring cleaning, it’s time to think green.

GREEN CLEAN

Co

ac

rm

West Chester and Liberty Lifestyle | March 2016

Mc

28

R i ta

Chemical-based cleaners can cause skin irritations and rashes, dry and cracking hands and fingers and have even been known to induce asthma, especially in young children. Many top-selling brands that fill store shelves include chemicals that just aren’t safe for our environment or bodies. Many labels seem designed to mislead consumers.

Navigating the world of eco-friendly products can be confusing.

Rita McCormack and Tara Root, local distributors for the Shaklee Company, offer their tips for natural products that help make a difference for people and the planet.

“We were green before green was popular,” says McCormack.

Together, these two experts have a combined 33 years of using Shaklee’s environmentally friendly products.

“Most people don’t think twice about what kind of cleaning products they are spraying all around our plants, pets and children,” Root says. She recommends Shaklee’s Get Clean Starter Kit. “The kit contains everything you need to clean your home without all of the unsafe elements that many of our children and family members are allergic to,” she explains. “If you use these natural products on an ongoing basis you will notice the changes in the way you feel.”

One of the reasons McCormack was led to explore eco-friendly products was her husband’s life-long battle with eczema.

“I removed our family’s favorite fabric detergent and replaced it with Shaklee’s Fresh Laundry detergent and bio-degradable fabric softener sheets without him knowing,” McCormack says. “One day he told me that he wasn’t as itchy as usual. Then I told him about the switch.” She knew she’d found products that worked.

McCormack especially endorses the all-purpose cleaner in the Starter Kit, Basic H2. She uses Basic H2 to cut grease, eliminate pet odors, and clean dirt and grime.

“When it says ‘all-purpose,’ it means it cleans it all,” she says. “It even cleans wine off of my white couch!”

ka

nd

Tara

Ro ot

CLEAN LIVING

Root, Senior Distributor for the Shaklee Company, doesn’t only use natural products to clean her home, she also uses eco-friendly products to clear toxins from her body. The Shaklee Company has been a world leader in multivitamins for more than 100 years. Root sees the Shaklee products as a means to clean living, inside and out.

“We promote keeping our bodies healthy and clean as we keep our homes healthy and clean,” Root says.

For whole health, McCormack and Root enjoy the Shaklee Life Plan, which includes nutritional supplements in daily vitamin packs and protein-packed energizing shake mixes in a variety of tasty flavors.

“The Life Plan is the most comprehensive plan out on the market today,” McCormack says. “Shaklee is unique in that it is recognized as a whole food supplement company. The Life Plan holds 35 patents and is 100% natural.

That’s no artificial anything. No artificial sweeteners, colors or flavors—all natural. It’s gluten free, lactose free and Kosher,” she adds.

The founder of the company, Dr. Forrest Shaklee put health first. “Dr. Shaklee based the company on the principle that the closer you live to the earth, the healthier you will be,” McCormack explains.

“On the vitamins, I notice a difference in my energy, sleep and how I concentrate on a daily basis,” she says. “My blood pressure is low, my immune system is strong. I’m the healthiest I’ve ever been!”

“My whole family uses Shaklee,” Root says. “I feel good when I wake up—I don’t have any aches or pains that other women my age experience. I have more energy than most of my friends.”

“Shaklee even stands behind its products with a money-back guarantee,” says Root.

McCormack adds, “I am proud to represent this company. These products are truly good and safe for you and your family. Shaklee products clean the toxins out of your environment as well as the toxins in your body with the Life Plan and Get Clean products.”

As the landscape greens up this month, go green for the health of your home and body.

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Renovate & Refine

Fantastic Floors FOUR FLOORS THAT CAN MANAGE LIFE'S MESSES

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ops!” That’s a word that we hate to hear around the house. Spills and splashes, mud and messes,

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children and pets and the wrath of Mother Nature can throw enough mayhem to floor most of us. In our homes, it’s the floors that suffer. Upgrading your floors can breathe new life into your home by providing protection and comfort to fit your lifestyle.

Besides cost and color preferences, what should you consider when planning new flooring for your home?

Dean Wright, Vice President of McSwain Carpets and Floors, advises that you evaluate your family’s lifestyle.

“Consider these important lifestyle questions,” he says. “How do you use the room? What are your expectations? What do you want your floor to look and feel like?

Do you have kids or pets or special needs to consider?”

Wright adds, “With today’s options, it is easy to update and upgrade the look and feel of a room with a material that’s attractive and easy to care for. Make the floor work for you!”

These four, first-rate products recommended by Wright will never be floored by what life throws your way.

30

West Chester and Liberty Lifestyle | March 2016

NO MORE SPLISH SPLASH Shaw’s Floorte´ is a Luxury Vinyl Plank (LVP) flooring with the authentic look and feel of hardwood, but it is completely waterproof. Perfect for high-moisture areas like basements, bathrooms and mudrooms, this durable flooring goes together like magic. It comes in easy-to-connect planks for simple installation. Its durability can withstand the busiest—and messiest—homes.

PLANKS FOR THE MEMORIES Whether you want the elegant look and feel of a hardwood floor, the natural look of stone or the urban, rustic look of a durable décor, COREtec planks hide subfloor imperfections and can be installed over an existing ceramic floor. COREtec’s construction provides protection against excessive wear while resisting stain and allowing for superior cleanability. The attached

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business directory ART & PHOTOGRAPHY HOME DESIGN Masterworks Imaging & FURNISHINGS (513) 494-6015 wedding-photographers-cincinnati.com

BOVA Contemporary Furniture (513) 247-9100 BOVAfurniture.com

Snappy George Architectural and Real Estate Photography (513) 520-0623 SnappyGeorge.com

McSwain Carpets & Floors (513) 759-8400 McSwainCarpets.com

CHARITIES & FUNDRAISERS

Community Foundation (513) 874-5450 TheShamrockShuffle.com

CHILD CAMPS, CARE & TUTORING YMCA Camp Campbell Gard (513) 867-0600 CCGYMCA.org

DANCE & MUSIC

West Chester Academy (513) 829-2345 WestChesterAcademy.com

FAITH

Lord of Life Lutheran Church (513) 777-8449 LOL-Lutheran.com

HEALTH & WELLNESS Mohawk’s SmartStrand Forever Clean carpet is the toughest, easiest to clean carpet that you will find. The SmartStrand fiber was quickly embraced by consumers when it was introduced in 2005.

Its first ten years earned the carpet the highest ratings in customer satisfaction, durability and cleanability. Now the Mohawk unveils an unprecedented nanotechnology fiber innovation that weaves luxurious softness with a permanent spill shield.

HOME SERVICES

Shiver Security Systems (513) 719-4000101 ShiverSecurityServices.com

LANDSCAPING The Turf Tailor (513) 295-2782 TheTurfTailor.net

LEGAL

Lyons & Lyons (513) 777-2222 LyonsandLyonsLaw.com

LUXURY AUTOMOTIVE BMW of Cincinnati North (513) 782-1122 BMWofCincinnatiNorth.com

FINANCIAL SERVICES MEDICAL CLINICS & PLANNING Burke & Schindler & FACILITIES (513) 455-8200 BurkeCPA.com

A CLEAN SWEEP

Pop Revolution (513) 492-7474 PopRevolutionGallery.com

Diet Center (513) 779-6500 DietCenterCincinnati.com Gracetree Yoga & Growth Studio (513) 759-4458 gracetreestudio.com

Shaklee - Rita McCormack & Tara Root (513) 607-3941 ThinkHealthyToo@gmail.com

HOME BUILDERS & REMODELERS Carriage Hill (513) 894-4455 CarriageHillLiving.com

Dermatology & Surgery of Southern Ohio, Inc. (513) 858-6900 DermatologyAndSurgery.com

REAL ESTATE

Scot Avery - Huff Realty (513) 325-1361 AveryTeam.com Tiffany Allen-Zeuch Sibcy Cline (513) 349-7311 TAZHomes.com

SPECIALTY SHOPS The Spicy Olive (513) 847-4397 TheSpicyOlive.com

Welling & Co. Jewelers (513) 779-8883 WellingsJewelers.com

March 2016 | West Chester and Liberty Lifestyle

31

March Lifestyle Calendar

MARCH 7-18

40 stations of fun. Check out a human brain, 3D printer and

LAKOTA MARCH MADNESS BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT

R2D2. Admission is free; donations are welcome. 6:30-9 p.m.

LAKOTA SCHOOL GYMS

Photo by Lifetouch. LakotaLeads.org

This elementary school basketball tournament tips off on March 7 at various Lakota school gyms. More than 100 teams of boys and girls

MARCH 12

in grades 3-6 will represent their elementary schools. The commu-

MURDER MYSTERY

nity is invited to enjoy the games and raise funds for local charities.

DINNER

$2 admission for adults; kids are free. See brackets and game times

VOA METROPARK, RON-

online. LakotaOnline.com/MarchMadness

ALD REAGAN LODGE

MARCH 8-27

You are invited to a PG13 rated, whodunit din-

CANSTRUCTION, 2016

ner show, Murder at the

TOURS START AT WESTON ART GALLERY

Masquerade, led by The

Local architects and engineers play with their food to compete in

Murder Mystery Co. Ar-

Canstruction, where teams race to build creative structures from

rive

canned and packaged foods. At the end of the free event, the foods

dressed in costume to be

are donated to Cincinnati’s Freestore Foodbank. Saturday guided

part of the action as it un-

tours walk to all of the downtown displays, starting at Weston Art

folds. Ticket includes din-

Gallery. See schedule details online. 513.977.4165 CincinnatiArts.org

ner and beverages. Adult beverages may be purchased. 6-10 p.m.

MARCH 9

30

minutes

early

513.867.5835 YourMetroParks.net

VIRTUAL DEMENTIA TOUR

MARCH 14

ARTIS SENIOR LIVING OF MASON

APPLAUSE FOR MENOPAUSE WITH DR. CATHY ROSENBAUM

Home Instead Senior Care presents a Virtual Dementia Tour creat-

GRACE TREE YOGA & GROWTH STUDIO

ed to help families, organizations and companies better understand

Explore how to manage common symptoms of the peri-menopaus-

the physical and mental challenges of those with dementia. A light

al period with mind, body, and spiritual integrative alternatives to

meal and tour of the Artis Senior Living facility is included in the

hormones. This educational event will be led by Dr. Cathy Rosen-

event. Registration is free, but space is limited. 6-7 p.m. 513.229.7450

baum, Holistic Clinical Pharmacist, Founder and CEO of Rx Integra-

JCrafts@ArtisMgmt.com ArtisSL.com

tive Solutions. Tickets $35; advance reservations welcome. 6-7:30

MARCH 10

p.m. 513.759.4458 gracetreestudio.com

BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS OF WEST CHESTER/LIBERTY YOUTH OF

MARCH 18

THE YEAR CELEBRATION

OPENING RECEPTION - ARTIST LOUNGE GROUP SHOW

LIBERTY CENTER-SABIN HALL

PYRAMID HILL

Boys & Girls Clubs of West Chester/Liberty hosts its Youth of the Year

Hamilton and Mason Artist Lounges' Group Show opens at Pyramid

Celebration. Meet the top candidates in speeches and interviews with

Hill with a reception on March 18. The Artist Lounge features art by

community judges. The winner will be selected and

more than 26 artists in a variety of media for view-

announced by evening's end. An informal appetiz-

ing and purchase. The Opening Reception is 5:30-

er reception will follow. Seating is limited. R.S.V.P.

8:30 p.m. See the show through April 9. 513.868.1234

online. 6-7:30 p.m. BGCWCL.com

PyramidHill.org PRGArtistLounge.com

MARCH 11

MARCH 19

PI DAY

FAIRFIELD EAST ELEMENTARY CRAFT & VEN-

LAKOTA WEST HIGH SCHOOL

DOR SPRING EVENT

Celebrate pi with a hands-on math and science

FAIRFIELD EAST ELEMENTARY

event for students in grades K-8 and their fam-

Shop more than 60 craft and vendor booths to

ilies. Lakota Leads, the parent group for gift-

support Fairfield East Elementary's Parents and

ed education, invites you to explore more than

Teachers for Children (PTC) group. From the

32

West Chester and Liberty Lifestyle | March 2016

useful to the clever, this craft show has something for everyone.

Unique gifts, natural body products, jewelry of all kinds and even doggy treats are available. 9 a.m.-2 p.m.

Facebook/FairfieldEastElementarySchoolCraftAndVendorSpringEvent

MARCH 20 EGGSTRAVAGANZA VOA METROPARK, RONALD REAGAN LODGE Join Mr. E. Bunny for a buffet lunch, crafts, activities and a visit with Mr. Bunny himself. A framed photo is available for an additional fee. Tickets are $12.95 for ages 9 and up; $9.95 for ages 3-8; free for children under age 3. Reservations suggested. 12:30-3 p.m.

513.867.5835 YourMetroParks.net

MARCH 26 SEARCH FOR THE GOLDEN EGGS

MARCH 25

CINCINNATI ZOO & BOTANICAL GARDENS

FLASHLIGHT EGG HUNT

Come on down to the Zoo for an egg-citing event for children of all

FOREST RUN METROPARK WILDLIFE PRESERVE AREA

ages. Celebrate Easter with the animals with treat stations, animal

Bring your own flashlight and basket for a unique holiday expe-

egg hunts and visits with the Easter Bunny. Search for four hidden

rience. Separate start times are available by age. Mr. E. Bunny will

"Golden Eggs" to win one of four great prizes. CincinnatiZoo.org

hop onto the scene with prizes. Tickets are $3 for children ages 5 and under; $5 for ages 6 and up. Pre-registration required. 8-10 p.m.

513.867.5835 YourMetroParks.net

MARCH 26

MARCH 26 MINECRAFT IN REAL LIFE SERIES MIDPOINTE LIBRARY, WEST CHESTER It's all things Minecraft at this fun event for children ages 8-12. Play

EASTER EGG HUNT

games and make crafts.

LIBERTY PARK

Bring a solid black, green

Join in the fun of Liberty Township's An-

or pink t-shirt and pre-

nual Easter Egg Hunt, open to all Liberty

pare to get messy with

Township children, ages 1-8. The Easter

a painting craft. 1:30 &

Bunny will make an appearance for a pho-

3:30

to opportunity. Bring your own camera

available. Registration re-

and a basket or bag to collect eggs. 10-

quired;

11:30 a.m. Liberty-Township.com

gins March 12. 513.777.3131

p.m.

sessions

registration

are be-

MidPointeLibrary.org

March 2016 | West Chester and Liberty Lifestyle

33

Parting Thoughts

H

& Branches

Roots

WORDS TERA MICHELSON

34

West Chester and Liberty Lifestyle | March 2016

ome is where our story starts. I remember playing house when I was a little girl. I started in a fort made of blankets. Mamaw and Papaw’s living room was my kingdom and I was the Queen. As I grew, I moved in to a treehouse.

Escaping into the ladder of branches, I settled in between two large limbs under a canopy of green to read, dream and gaze out over the world.

When I was twelve, the Holly Hobbie wallpaper enveloping my bedroom walls made way for bulletin boards and posters of my favorite rock bands. In a tiny college dorm room, my first home away from home, I learned to share a small space, especially the precious real estate inside a mini-fridge.

I’ll never forget the address of my first apartment; the number 802 will always conjure up happy memories of dear friends gathered on mismatched furniture.

We long for a domain to make our own. I don’t have a treehouse anymore, but I do have a collection of tree branches. I’ve moved them across the country and back as we’ve zigged and zagged from state to state over the last two decades. No matter which house we moved into, it never really felt like home until my decorative sticks were in place. In a Minneapolis bungalow, they were curtain rods to two fledgling newlyweds.

They were strung with white lights as a makeshift Christmas tree in a Columbus condo. In Oregon, they were arranged in a floor vase, weighted by a rock collection. They added charm to an open floor plan in our Kansas ranch house. Those special branches were the last to be placed inside each moving truck, and the first items off.

What makes your house a home? For me, it’s more than sticks—it’s the proof of life and love inside: piles of teenaged-sized shoes by the front door; dog hair on the couch; growth, marked on the kitchen door jamb with hash marks; a note in the handwriting of my sweetheart; the soundtrack of my days—laughter and the fuss of children, drums from the basement and the swish of the washing machine. It may not look like a magazine-worthy spread, but it’s home.

If we are blessed, home is where Mom teaches how to make her famous sour cream coffee cake and Dad takes time to dance around the living room with you standing on his toes.

Home is where we pose for prom pictures on the porch and blow out candles on our birthdays.

For us here in West Chester and Liberty, home is where the train whistles us to sleep. Home is where we know how to eat our chili with a fork and excavate chocolate chunks from our ice cream.

Home is the porch light at the end of a hilly and winding road.

I’ve lived here in West Chester for almost two years. After many years away from my hometown of Cincinnati, my family finally had the opportunity to move back. I’m learning that my treasured tree limbs are a reminder of a connectedness to something bigger than me. Making a home is less about branches and more about roots. When we reach out and dig into a community, we grow. I recently found the perfect spot for my branches in our 70s two-story. It’s official—I'm home.

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Featured Listings – see your home here next month!

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6284 Kent Court Spacious home in desirable Trails of Four Bridges! 4111 sqft of living space per BCA. Neutral decor. Finished lower level. Fenced yard. Cul-de-sac location.

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Don’t miss this one!

5365 Woods Edge Court Meticulously maintained, one owner home in prestigious Woods of Beckett.

Over 3400 sqft of living space. Wooded, private lot. Remodeled kitchen & master bath. Updates include roof, HVAC, and more! Neutral décor throughout. Great location-Minutes from Union Centre, Liberty Centre, highways, & more.

In 2015, Tiffany’s average days on market was 46 and list to sales price was 96.79%

Tiffany Allen-Zeuch Executive Sales Vice President PBD, SRS, Relocation Speciialist

513-349-7311 tzeuch@sibcycline.com www.tazhomes.com CABR-Circle of Excellence: 2005, 2009-2015 Sibcy Cline Top & Premier Clubs: 2004-2015 OAR President’s Sales Club: 2005-2015 Five Star Agent (customer service award): 2012-2015 #1 Agent Sibcy Cline West Chester Connect with me on Social Media!

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