Weather- 3/11/2010 ForecastHigh: 64 F Low: 47 F Rain; patchy morning fog […]
- Currently: Cloudy: 51FCurrently in HAMILTON, OH: 51 °F and Cloudy […]
- 3/10/2010 ForecastHigh: 68 F Low: 45 F A passing shower this morning […]
- 3/11/2010 Forecast
- Local News
- Councilman remains in critical conditionMIDDLETOWN - Representatives of Atrium Medical Center said today, March 10, they could provide no information regarding the condition of Councilman Jim Armbruster, although friends and family are maintaining a positive outlook on his recovery. […]
- School resource officer remains in critical conditionMIDDLETOWN - Long-time Middletown police officer Mike Davis remains in critical condition at Atrium Medical Center this morning, March 10, according to a hospital spokeswoman. […]
- Carlisle mayor publicly defends himself over "road rage," porn allegationsCARLISLE - Mayor Tim Humphries publicly addressed the discovery of sexually explicit images on his city-owned computer Tuesday at Carlisle’s City Council meeting. He cited a report that determined the allegations were unfounded. […]
- Bob Jacoby is new Big Blue football coachHAMILTON - Bob Jacoby has been hired as varsity football coach at Hamilton High School. Jacoby, 53, was unanimously approved Tuesday night, March 9, at the Hamilton City School District Board of Education meeting. […]
- Council to talk new job, name for roadHAMILTON - Name changes will be a theme of the Hamilton City Council meeting tonight, March 10. […]
- Councilman remains in critical condition
Safety Tips for Fall Yard Chores
(ARA Content) — As the leaves turn and the weather cools, many of us begin outdoor cleanup. Consider the number of injuries in yard work accidents every autumn and you may begin to suspect that “fall” is actually short for “pitfall.” Fall, it seems, is the season for back injuries, tumbles from ladders and lawn mower accidents. Approximately 42 million people seek emergency room treatment for such injuries each year according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Here are some simple tips to avoid common autumn injuries while working around the yard from the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons (AAOS):
* Use a rake that is comfortable for your height and strength. Wear gloves or use rakes with padded handles to prevent blisters.
* Vary your movement, alternating your leg and arm positions often. When picking up leaves, bend at the knees, not the waist.
* Inspect ladders for loose screws, hinges or rungs. Clean off accumulated mud, dirt or liquids.
* Never use your hands or feet to clear debris from under a lawnmower. Use a stick or broom handle instead. Likewise, never touch the blades with your hands or feet, even if the engine is off. The blade can still move and cause serious injury.
For more lawnmower or ladder safety tips, visit the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons’ Web site.
John Cordell
Owner and Certified Inspector
ASHI, NACHI, PAHI licensed in Ohio and Northern Kentucky
513-793-3552 Office
513-793-5981 Fax
Tax Rewards for Homeowners
The Federal Tax Code has significantly improved the American taxpayer’s ability to profit by selling a principal residence. Prior to 1997, homeowners could take advantage of a tax benefit termed the “rollover”, which granted exemption from capital gains taxes on the net profit from the sale of a home. Homeowners who used profits to purchase a bigger and better home did not have to pay tax. And homeowners over the age of 55 were given a once-in-a-lifetime exclusion from taxes on profits of up to $125,000 on the sale of their principal residence.
Compare those tax breaks with our current, streamlined and potentially more profitable arrangement that replaced both the rollover and the one-time exemption. If you are a married home-seller filing jointly, you may enjoy up to $500,000 in tax-free home sale profits, provided you have occupied the property as your principal residence during two of the last five years. Taxpayers who file singly get a $250,000 capital gains exclusion. Homeowners are eligible to exclude capital gains on the sale of a principal residence as often as once every two years.
The law allows capital gain exclusions whether you “buy up” to a more expensive home or “buy down” to a less expensive one. The tax-free dollars can be used in any way you want. Consult your tax adviser for detailed advice about your particular circumstance.
Read this online and get more information: Tax Rewards for Homeowners
Scott Baker, ABR e-Pro
Coldwell Banker West Shell
Realtor®
Phone: 513-403-5323
Fax: 513-332-9077
WebSite: www.eHomeReports.com
e-mail: Scott.Baker@cbws.com
please don’t keep me a secret; tell friends, relatives, co-workers, etc…
Home Movies like a Professional
1. Obey the rules
Rule of thirds, that is. The rule of thirds is pretty simple. Imagine a tic-tac-toe grid on your viewinder.
Place your most important points of interest at the intersections of those lines. Align eyes with the top intersections of the grid. Place taller body shots along the left or right vertical lines. NEVER put a person in the middle of the frame (ok, there are times to break the rules, but for now, don’t). Also, try to keep the person facing the “2/3″ space. Otherwise they’ll appear to be looking into the side of the viewfinder. The purpose of this rule is to create a more dynamic image overall and to place the image in the middle is boring, average, and easy. By creating visual interest you will set your video apart from “home movies”
2. Vary your shots
There are three basic shots: wide (WS), medium (MS), and close-up (CU). First take a wide shot of your event, but don’t just set your camera to a wide shot and leave it there. Most times the action is will be either too small or too busy to hold one’s attention. This is called your establishing shot; it establishes where the event is taking place. You can see this on tv all the time when they start with a shot of a building, or the city skyline, to establish where the scene is taking place. Don’t go more than 1-2 minutes at a time, but you may want to do it several times, like during a game, to follow some progression.
Now try to mix things up with a variety of medium and close-up shots. Medium shots typically have 2-4 people in the frame, close-ups will have 1. Get some crowd shots, interview attendees if it’s a private affair, and don’t forget to get yourself, if possible. If it’s a party, get close-ups of the food, the cake, the presents, decorations. These are great for what we call breakaways, interspersed between other shots. For instance, if someone you interview comments on how beautiful the cake is, you can cut to a shot of the cake. If there’s a crowd cheer during the interview, you can also cut to the crowd cheering. Mix all this with the wide shots of the event, throw in some shots from different perspectives and angles and I’ll watch your home movie!
These are a couple of easy things you can do to create greater visual interest in your videos (these tips work for photographs as well). If you like these and want more tips, or you have any questions about video, please visit my website (http://www.ieditvdo.com/) or email me there at vs [at] ieditvdo.com anytime. Vickie
I have over 10 years experience in video and web design. I am passionate about helping small businesses utilize video (for web and/or DVD) and other online resources to grow their business. Making it affordable makes it doable.
New Benefit Bank to Aid Butler County
A box of cereal now costs the same as a gallon of gas. Baby aspirin costs more than a loaf of bread. Adults who were taking night courses are dropping out because they can’t afford to drive to work and to school. Low income families feel the squeeze of the economic pressure more seriously than most.
Reach Out Lakota, a not for profit food bank and clothing distribution center, and St. Anne’s Episcopal church are partnering to bring the Benefit bank to the eligible clients at Reach Out Lakota. $1.6 billion in aid, 95% of which is federal dollars, is unclaimed every year in
The Benefit Bank allows eligible Ohioans to claim tax credits, and public benefits, such as food stamps, child care subsidies, home energy assistance, and children’s’ health care insurance. It also provides tax services and voter registration.
Eleven parishioners from St. Anne’s Church have volunteered to be trained through Ohio Association of Second Harvest Food Banks, and to work on site at Reach Out Lakota. Additional volunteers are welcome.
Margo Marples
513-207-6563
Repainting Muntins
Multipane windows and doors are attractive, let in plenty of light and make an architectural statement at the same time. If you have newer windows or doors on which the dividing strips (muntins) are clad in vinyl, you don’t have to worry about peeling paint. This is good because painting them can drive you nuts. It’s not that it’s hard work–it isn’t– just very time consuming, especially if you coat both the outside and inside surfaces. The biggest time consumer and patience tester is painting along the glass, often called cutting in. One way to avoid this tedious work is simply to overpaint the muntins and not worry about getting paint on the glass. Once the paint is dry to your touch–usually about 30 minutes if you’re using latex–go back with a razor scraper and remove the paint from the glass. Just don’t wait too long. If the paint is completely dry and hard, it will take you almost as long to scrape it off as it would have to carefully cut in around each muntin.
John Cordell
Owner and Certified Inspector
ASHI, NACHI, PAHI licensed in Ohio and Northern Kentucky
513-793-3552 Office
513-793-5981 Fax
Location and Value
One of the most important factors that affect the value of property is obviously location. Wise investment philosophy suggests that you invest in a sound property in a more modest area that will increase in value in the future. Buying into an area that is being gentrified, or that is otherwise coming back, is one way to do this.
Timing is everything, however! Most investors don’t want to risk too much by being a pioneer, but want to get involved early enough so that there is still considerable room for appreciation in value. Being a pioneer is fine if you are a risk-taker with a lot of patience and cash is not the primary issue. Otherwise, it is safer to buy into an area after the restoration trend is unmistakably established.
Neighborhoods that are ripe for restoration have some common characteristics. They are next to a prestigious area or in a good walk-to-work location and have houses that are basically in good condition or “fixer-uppers” with realistic price tags.
Your Trusted Real Estate Advisor,
Scott Baker, ABR e-Pro
Coldwell Banker West Shell
Realtor®
Phone: 513-403-5323
Fax: 513-332-9077
WebSite: www.eHomeReports.com
e-mail: Scott.Baker@cbws.com
please don’t keep me a secret; tell friends, relatives, co-workers, etc…
Food Snob of West Chester
But, armed with my great taste, my husband, a few friends, and a babysitter to watch the kids, we ventured out to try something new. Now I wish I would have done it sooner because, it turns out, there are spots in
The smell was amazing, as was the atmosphere. The cooking area was open and the people were warm and inviting. Nick, the bar-tender, seated us and recommended fabulous cosmopolitans for the pre-dinner cocktail. We were then introduced to our hosts, the Marco family, by our waiter Scott. He had many fine things to say about them, as well as some excellent menu recommendations. The chef was the owner’s son and turned out to be gracious as well as talented. We helped ourselves to the house Red and ordered.
My hubby had the evening special, Chicken and Shrimp Tuscany and we have never had more tender, tasty chicken. The Veal Marsala was the true hit of the night. The veal was moist and tender and the flavors were to die for. Even our guests, who consider themselves connoisseurs, said it was the best they’ve ever had. Right on. The desserts were imported from the West Side,
I just can’t think of one negative thing to say about Antonio’s except that there was no doggie bag…..For my dog, of course.
Lori Cole
lori@savorymelodies.com
Personal Chef Service
513-227-2099
Community support for Seniors
What do you get when you mix:
- 1 beautiful day
- 300 water bottles
- over 100 walkers and runners
- 20 sponsors
- 200 bagels
- A fabulous walking course around the lake
- 200 bananas
Babies, school aged children, runners, boomers, entire families, public figures, senior citizens, teenagers and 1 large sheep dog . . . 
A successful benefit for Partners in Prime!
That’s what happened at Saturday’s Oh My Achin’ Arches 5K Run/Walk held at Voice of America Park in
About half of the crowd walked while the other half ran, and we couldn’t have ordered a more beautiful day to take a few trips around the lake.
Thanks to everyone who participated in the race. A highlight from the day was Lucy – the extra large sheepdog decked out in a race t-shirt to take her walk around the lake. Lucy belongs to State Representative Bill Coley and his wife Carolyn (a Board member of Partners in Prime).
- Bethart Printing Solutions
- EmbroidMe of
- Laming &
- National Retirement Consultants
- The Rossville Inn
- Dick & Patti Alderson
- Elegant Fare, Inc.
- Ellenbee Leggett
- Humana
- Maple Knoll
- Panera Bread of
- Park National Bank
- SHP Leading Design
- Trustee Catherine Stoker
- Wealth Resource Group
- Winton Transportation
These sponsors enable us to continue enhancing the lives of older adults by providing meals on wheels, transportation, prime club activities and locations and in-home services – and we couldn’t do it without all of you!
We look forward to seeing everyone again next year!
Feed Starving Children with just 2 hours
You can help feed starving children by volunteering 2 hours to package food that will be shipped to starving children in
KAH is holding a special “
400 volunteers are needed each day. (And additional volunteers are needed Thursday, the 25th for setup and Sunday the 28th for cleanup.)
I have volunteered with this organization and believe they’re doing a good thing. I encourage you to help them out.
Sign up and get directions online at http://achildshopei
Email any questions to roseannwarden@
To Beijing and Beyond
Oh and the Redeem Team winning the Gold in Basketball. What a classy bunch of guys.
Don’t forget Shawn Johnson and Nastia Liukin with the gymnastics. I get excited just thinking about the last couple of weeks.
However, I have heard when traveling to
Travel Coordinator
513.867.1998
Beijing City Stay April 21-29, 2009 Join Us!
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