Norwood receives mini-grant to become WeThrive! community

Hamilton County Public Health’s (HCPH) WeTHRIVE! initiative announced yesterday the recipients of new community wellness mini-grants. A total of nine Hamilton County communities received funding of up to $24,000 to become WeTHRIVE! communities.

“We are excited about this opportunity to work closely with communities on this project,” said Tim Ingram, Health Commissioner, HCPH. “We have already seen the success of working with residents to implement healthy changes so we know this funding will make a great impact on the communities.”

Communities will utilize the funding to complete a community health assessment, adopt wellness resolutions, develop a community wellness action plan and implement policy and environmental changes that will promote and sustain community health promotion initiatives. Funding was available to political jurisdictions in Hamilton County and communities with a chartered neighborhood council. Each submitted a competitive application for a mini-grant award. The nine funded communities are:

· Village of Addyston
· Amberley Village
· Avondale Community Council
· City of Cheviot
· Madisonville Community Council
· City of North College Hill
· Northside Community Council
· City of Norwood
· City of Wyoming

HCPH staff members will work closely with each of the jurisdictions over the next several months to complete funding requirements and provide technical assistance. Communities will be able to do things such as enhance parks or walking trails, open up shared spaces for physical activity, provide healthy food options and healthy eating and physical activity policies. Awardees will have funding through February 29, 2012.

WeTHRIVE! is making it easier for people in Hamilton County to eat healthy, be more active and limit tobacco use. Visit us at WatchUsThrive.org, like us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter. WeTHRIVE! is funded in part by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Communities Putting Prevention to Work grant.

Invitation to “Meet and Greet” new Norwood police chief

The Norwood Police Department is hosting a "Meet and Greet" with the new Chief, William F. Kramer. This will be held on Wednesday, December 7th, from 6:00 -8:00 p.m. in the Norwood Community Center cafeteria. Please stop by and introduce yourself to Chief Kramer . He will also be answering any questions and listening to any concerns you may have with regards to The Norwood Police Department.

Looking forward to seeing you there.

Lt. Ron Murphy
Norwood Police Dept.

Fundraiser for Sharpsburg at Angilo’s Pizza tomorrow

Sharpsburg and Angilo's Pizza are holding a fundraiser Wednesday 11/30/11 . Angilo's will give a percentage of all carry out sales only to Sharpsburg Elementary. All you have to do is mention Sharpsburg when you place your carry out order between 4:00 - 8:00 p.m. tomorrow, Wednesday, November 30.

Angilo's is also applying the fundraiser to businesses that order lunch tomorrow and mention it’s for Sharpsburg. So come on and step up to help Norwood kids.

Angilo's Pizza
631-4300
2649 Robertson Ave
Norwood , OH 45212
www.angilospizza.com

This week at the Norwood Branch Library

Saturday, December 3

Easy Christmas Entertaining by Holy Chow
Meet local cookbook author and head chef at St. Peter in Chains Cathedral, Giovanna Trimpe. Giovanna will share the compelling story of her life and her family’s Italian, Venezuelan, and North American heritage. Hear her culinary adventures, enjoy a cooking demonstration, and savor some sample dishes from her cookbook, Holy Chow! Books will be available for sale and signing.
1:00-3:00 p.m.

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone, and eat safely!

Thanks to Norwood Health Commissioner Brad King, here are some tips on how to protect you and yours from food borne illness during the holiday season:

Many people travel for the holidays and bring food to share with family and friends. Enjoy a healthy and safe celebration with a few food safety tips help keep a food borne illness from ruining your holiday.

Packing Up for Travel
· Pack raw, cooked, and fresh foods separately to avoid cross contamination.
· Never mix raw meats – pack them in a separate container.

Keep Food Cold
· Keep food very hot or very cold to prevent bacteria from growing (temperature of lower than 41 degrees Fahrenheit).
· Place food containers in an ice chest. Make sure the ice chest is filled with ice. Maintain cold holding temperatures at 41 degrees or below.
· When reheating the food, make sure it is fully heated to 165 degrees, then hold at 135 degrees Fahrenheit or higher to kill any bacteria.

Keep Food Hot
· If you are unable to keep food cold while traveling - keep the food hot.
· Food must be kept at a temperature of 135 degrees Fahrenheit or above.
· Use insulated containers – with hot packs. (difficult to maintain the high temperature for long periods of time.
· If traveling with hot foods, you must monitor temperatures and maintain at 135 degrees or above.
Arriving
· Upon arrival at your destination, check the food before you eat it.
· Check for the temps to be in the safe zone. (under 41 degrees for cold items or above 135 degrees.)

Once you’ve arrived
· Keep hot foods HOT and cold foods COLD. Hot foods should be held at 135°F or warmer. Use chafing dishes, crock pots, and warming trays to keep foods hot. Cold foods should be held at 41°F or colder. Try nesting dishes in bowls of ice. This way food will be held at a safe temperature for a longer time.
· Wash all counter surfaces, cutting boards, sinks, knives, and your hands with soap and warm water before and after every contact with raw meat, poultry, or eggs.
· Use the 2-hour rule — foods should not sit at room temperature for longer than 2 hours. Leftovers will be safe in the refrigerator for about 4 days. In the freezer, they’ll be safe for a few months, but most will taste better if used within 2 to 4 months.
· Store fresh turkeys in the refrigerator only 1 to 2 days. Thaw frozen turkeys in the refrigerator, allowing 24 hours for every 5 pounds of turkey.

Questions
Please contact the Norwood City Health Department at
513-458-4600 or info@norwoodhealth.org
Visit our website at www.norwoodhealth.org

Brad King RS, MPH
Health Commissioner

John Mumper tells Ch. 9, “We going in the right direction now.”

Yesterday, Channel 9 aired a segment about the loss of manufacturing in the region that featured Norwood and Hamilton as examples of cities that are still recovering from the decline in jobs and revenue for the City. Ward 4 Councilperson John Mumper told reporter Tanya O’Rourke, “It was 1986 when the announcement was made that they were gonna close the plant. And they finally closed in on Black Wednesday, everybody here in Norwood calls it, August 26, 1987. It was an awful day. They were 35 percent of our income.” The segment goes on to explain that City leaders forced GM to demolish its plants and donate the land back to the City. Can any of our readers fill us in on any of the details of that struggle?

Click here to watch the video of the Ch. 9 report.

October 2011 NFD Activities and Statistics Report

A monthly feature

A. Total of emergency responses for the month of October = 404
Medic Runs = 286
Fire Runs = 5 (Building, Brush, etc.)
Average Response Time on Runs = 2 minutes, 57 seconds (city-wide)

Number of incidents by type:
Fire Runs – 5 - (Building, Brush, etc.)
Overpressure, Explosion - 1
Rescue & Medic Unit Assists – 59 - (lock-in, extrications, traffic accidents, etc.)
Hazardous Conditions (no fire) - 13- (power lines down, arcing, spills, etc.)
Service Call - 15 - (smoke removal)
Good Intent - 10 - (odor of smoke, controlled burning)
False Alarms – 15 - (false alarms, system malfunctions, smoke detector activated, etc.)
Severe Weather - 0
Special Incident - 0

B. Fire Hydrant Activity
Pumped out 372 hydrants for winter maintenance

C. Bureau of Fire Safety Activities = 716
Total Inspections – 135 - (residential, schools, churches, businesses)
Total Violations – issued 82
Total Violations – corrected 420
Total Block Inspections - Unit #’s 1, 2, 3 - Rental & multi-family: 13
Referrals to Health and Building Depts. - 14
Additional Activities - 52

Tracy Grammer in concert tonight at Leo Coffeehouse

Tracy Grammer, one of America’s most popular singer/songwriters, performs at 7:30 p.m. tonight in the first special concert of the season at the Leo Coffeehouse at Zion United Church of Christ at Indian Mound and Montgomery Rd.

Since 1998 Grammer has recorded eight CDs. Her solo Flower of Ava-lon was the #1 most played album on folk radio for 2005. Mary Chapin Carpenter sings harmony on three cuts on the CD, which was produced by John Jennings, producer for Carpenter and Indigo Girls.

Grammer has also gotten some nice appraisals of her work from others in the music world. “Tracy Grammer is a brilliant artist and unique individual. Her voice is distinctive, as is her mastery over the instruments she plays.” Those words would be nice enough coming from just about anyone, but in this case the quotation is from Joan Baez.

Tickets for the concert are $12 for Leo members and $15 for non-members on the day-of show. Call 513-321-8375 or go to queencityballadeers.org to use the PayPal option.

Wanted: Volunteers for NHD Community Focus Groups

Your Opinion Counts!

Guest blog by Brad King

Norwood City Health Department (NCHD) is working with Designing Success, Inc. to conduct the 2011 Norwood Community Health Assessment. The purpose of the Community Health Assessment is to assist the NCHD staff and Board of Health in evaluating community health related concerns. The collected information will allow the NCHD to develop appropriate programs and services for the residents and community members of Norwood.

Surveys will be provided to four groups: Norwood residents, Business and Community Organizations working in Norwood, Norwood Community Leaders and NCHD staff.

We would like to invite you to participate in one of the Community Focus Groups (see list below) during the month of November or December, 2011. The focus group will last up to ninety minutes based on the size of the group. We ask that you either work or live in the City of Norwood.

Your assistance with this project will help to make Norwood an even better place for people to live and work.

If you would like to participate or have any questions please contact Elizabeth Sabo Johnson, Coordinator at (513) 289-5721 or saboliz@designingsuccess.com. We look forward to working with you and appreciate your assistance.

Brad King, R.S., M.P.H.
Health Commissioner
City of Norwood

Norwood City Health District
Focus Groups

Tuesday, November 22: 8:00 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. (Adult Focus Group)
Norwood Health Department - Parent/Community Focus Group

Monday, November 28: 6:30 p.m. to 7:45 p.m. (Adult Focus Group)
Norwood Library - Parent/Community Focus Group

Wednesday, November 30: 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. (Church Focus Group)
Norwood Library - Parent/Community Focus Group

Thursday, December 8: 1:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. (Adult Focus Group)
Norwood Health Department - Parent/Community Focus Group

Thursday, December 8: 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. (Hispanic focus group)
Service League of Norwood - Hispanic Focus Group

Invitation to Premier Night V this Friday

Norwood Star presents…

Premier Night V

When: Friday, November 18th
Time: 7:00pm to 9:00pm
Where: Norwood High School Gym

Come join the festivities as we recognize
our winter athletes and show our support
for their upcoming season!

Come see the spirit challenges!

Come represent your school!

Don’t miss the excitement!

Don’t miss the fun!!

Don’t miss these prizes:

Flat TV, Laptop , Digital Camera,
MP3 players, Bicycles, Food Coupons, and Gift Certificates

Will Sharpsburg keep the Spirit Trophy?

Let’s pack the gym!!!

Tickets: Students $1/Adults $2 – Winter Athletes free (Extra
tickets for drawings can be purchased for $1 each)

Fatal stabbing yesterday on Mills Ave., suspect jailed

At approximately 5:09 p.m. yesterday, Norwood Police and Fire Dispatch received several 911 calls about a stabbing that occurred at the corner Sherman and Carter Ave. The altercation started on Mills Ave over a drug deal gone bad. The victim was allegedly selling pills to the suspect. After an argument, a fight ensued that ended up with the suspect stabbing the victim in the chest with a knife.

The victim got into a car driven by his girlfriend who then fled the scene. The suspect followed them in another vehicle being driven by a female friend. Both vehicles ended up at the corner of Sherman and Carter Aves. When the suspect approached the vehicle to confront the victim again, he saw the condition of the victim and fled the scene. He was apprehended about a block away by police.

The victim, Richard Lane, male white, 32, of Cincinnati, was pronounced dead at University Hospital. The suspect, Joseph Daniel, male white, 26, of Hamilton was charged with Involuntary Manslaughter ORC 2903.04, a Felony of the First Degree. He was transported to the Hamilton County Justice Center.

Lt. Tom Williams
Norwood Police Dept.

Finance Committee meeting this evening

City Council’s Finance Committee is meeting this evening at 7:30 p.m. in Council Chambers to discuss city finances.

Norwood resident bests home invader with headlock

If only all home invasions could end with the suspect subdued and ready to be picked up by the police for a ride to the pokey. This was the fate of Norwoodian Brian Jones, 41, Saturday morning when he chose the wrong home on Ivanhoe to break into Saturday around 11:30 a.m. According the Enquirer, homeowner Antonio Barron went downstairs to investigate after hearing a “breaking sound.” After swinging a copper pipe at Mr. Barron that missed the mark, Jones found himself on the floor in a headlock while Mr. Barron’s girlfriend called the Norwood police. Jones is being held without bond at the Hamilton County jail.

Flu shot clinic this Wednesday at Norwood Health Dept.

The Norwood Health Dept. is having a flu clinic this Wednesday, November 16th. from 4:00 - 7:00 p.m. at the Norwood Health Department. No appointment necessary. $20 for the shot and $25 for the mist. Most insurances accepted. Call 458-4600 with any questions.

Chandra Corbin, RN
Norwood Health Department
2059 Sherman Avenue

This week at the Norwood Branch Library

Saturday, November 19
Laptop Madness
Use your mind to snag a victory in our online games!
1:00-3:00 p.m., Ages 10-18
Registration required. Call 369-6037

America Recycles Day at Whole Foods on Tuesday

Two of our readers alerted us to this announcement on Whole Foods’ website:

Tuesday, November 15
10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. FREE
Whole Foods at Rookwood Pavilion

Do you have E-WASTE, Cell Phones, No. 5 Plastics, Plastic Bags, Pens and Markers that you need recycled? If so, stop by the store Tuesday, November 15th and recycle it in the parking lot! We'll have some great community partners here collecting all sorts of stuff!

Local Company 2trg will be collecting E-WASTE. List of acceptable items will include: Computers, laptops, monitors, keyboards, speakers, mice, printers, scanners, fax machines, video equipment, copiers, cables, and much more!

Rights & Responsibilities in Rental Housing program

Are you planning to rent your first apartment and wonder

what issues you might encounter?

Are you renting now and have questions about problems
you’re having with management or the neighbors?

Are you a homeowner who is considering becoming a
landlord and want to know what you can expect?

Federal, state and local laws apply to all
types of rental properties. Myra Calder,
consumer education specialist
with Housing Opportunities Made Equal, will discuss
housing rights and responsibilities
with regard to rental property.

Made possible by Housing Opportunities Made Equal

Saturday, November 12
11:00 a.m., Adults
Norwood Branch Library
4325 Montgomery Rd.

Mayor Williams on Tracy Jones radio show today

We haven't been able to confirm this, but a source tells us WLW 700 Radio has done a promo that Tracey Jones is going to congratulate Mayor Williams for winning re-election on his show today at 4:45 p.m.

Congratulations to the 2011 local election winners!

With all but this provisional votes counted by the Hamilton County Board of Elections, this year’s election winners are

City of Norwood
Mayor - Tom Williams
President of Council - Donna Laake
Law Director - Ted Kiser
Auditor - Jim Stith
Ward 1 Council - Sarah Allan
Ward 2 Council - Steve Thornbury
Ward 3 Council - Thomas Whittington
Ward 4 Council - John Mumper
Council-at-Large: Joe Sanker, Keith Moore, Andrew Clark

Norwood School Board
Cheri Scott Geraci and Tim Bryant

Real time 2011 election results for Norwood races

Click here for real time elections on the Hamilton County Board of Elections website. Only the early voting results are currently posted.

Rick Robisch hosting election coverage on NCT tonight

Jamie at Norwood Community Television tells us that Rick Robisch, Norwood High School wrestling coach, is hosting Norwood Community Television's election coverage program. It starts at 8:00 p.m. on local Channel 4. Tune in for election results as they come in.

Election Day open thread

What did you encounter today at your voting location? How’s the turnout? Were there many special interest folks asking for your vote on the ballot issues?

Stewards of Children event at Norwood Library this Friday

The Norwood 500
5,000 better protected, healthier, Norwood youth because of 500 community focused adults

Friday, November 11th
11:00 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.
Norwood Branch Library
4325 Montgomery Rd.

A community challenge for those adults who call Norwood home, a place of business, study or play.
Please attend an upcoming Stewards of Children soiree.
Child sexual assault defined, prevalence and impact delivered in a video based, award winning, 2.5 hour program.

This information is proven to leave adults empowered about what can be done to change how we, in community, not only understand and respond to child sexual assault but what we can do to PREVENT it.


Please help us create change.
By the way, with a few variables of course, one 2.5 hour period is roughly 9 holes.
We’ll get the next nine, if you spend the first nine with us.

Questions/Registration
Contact Julie Ellison,
Darkness to Light
513.218.5420 or jellison@cinci.d2L.org

The cost impacts everyone.

Support better understanding, protection policies and procedures.

Election Day flu shot clinic at Norwood Health Dept.

The Norwood Health Department is holding a flu shot clinic tomorrow, November 8, from 8:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. No Appointment necessary.

Come to the Health Department after you vote to get you and your family vaccinated against the flu. $20 for the shot and $25 for the mist. Most insurances accepted. Call 458-4600 with any questions.

Chandra Corbin, RN
Public Health Nurse
Norwood Health Department

NCS ranks 5th in Hamilton Co. year-to-year academic growth

Today's Enquirer has the results of a reported compiled by 2 Ohio organizations that collaborated to rank all Ohio school districts based on students’ academic progress between the last 2 academic school years. Non-profit consulting companies Battelle for Kids and SOAR ranked Ohio’s 609 school districts based on students' academic progress between the 2009-10 school year and the 2010-11 school year.

The groups used the Ohio Department of Education’s “Value-Added” data for the rankings. The value-added calculation is based on standardized test scores for students in grades four through eight.

Green = more than a year's worth of academic growth
Yellow = exactly a year's worth of academic growth
Red = less than a year's worth of academic growth

Composite Index: this number represents how far away the district is from the state average for student growth.

Click here to view the rankings for all Hamilton County school districts.

This week at the Norwood Branch Library

Saturday, November 12
Rights and Responsibilities in Rental Housing
Planning to rent your first apartment? Renting now and have questions about problems you're having with management or neighbors? Considering becoming a landlord and want to know what you can expect? Federal., state and local laws apply to all types of rental properties. Myra Calder, consumer education specialist with Housing Opportunities Made Equal, will discuss housing rights/responsibilities with regard to rental property.
11:00 a.m.

Family Game Time!
Celebrate National Gaming Day with family and friends at the library. A variety
of games will be available to play.
2:00-4:00 p.m., All ages

Reading assignment: 2010 City of Norwood Audit by AOS

The Ohio Auditor of State’s 2010 City of Norwood Audit was published online on 10/18/11. We’re sure some of our readers will want to devour all 163 pages. We thought it would make great reading for the weekend. Click on the headline to begin!

October 2011 Earnings Tax Report

The September 2011 Earnings Tax Report (see 11/2/11 blog below) showed a whopping decrease of $1,390,642.56 or 12.04% from 2010. Fortunately, we were able to obtain an advance copy of this month’s report from the Earnings Tax Department and want to share the better numbers with our readers earlier than usual. There is an added in feature in the October report showing the difference between the actual collections through October vs. what was projected. Following the report are a few comments we solicited from Mayor Williams.

October 2011 Earnings Tax Report

Individual…………….$ 118,240.28
Business………………$ 532,387.06
Withholding…………..$ 1,115,197.18
TOTAL………………...$ 7,765,824.52

Collections thru Oct. 2011….……….....…...........$ 11,920,808.39
Collections thru Oct. 2010...............................$ 12,499,733.77
4.63% decrease in collections over 2010.………….($578,925.38)

Collections though October 2011.…………………......$ 11,920,808.39
Year-to-Date Projected Collections for 2011.……….$11,554,650.00
3.17% over YTD Projected Collections for 2011.…$ 366,158.39

Mayor Williams remarks:
The important number in the report is the projections. If it remains the same throughout the rest of the year, that along with reductions we negotiated with the unions earlier this year will be exactly what everyone hoped for. If these hold, they will show we are on the right path. This is what can happen when we all work together and we also work with businesses. I am optimistic, but I am cautiously optimistic.

I want to add that the Tax Department cannot legally disclose what any business or individual pays in taxes to the City.

For your viewing pleasure: NCT Norwood Candidate Series

Norwood candidates’ individual campaign videos are now playing on NCT Channel 4 nearly around the clock until Election Day next Tuesday. NCT is also posting them on YouTube as they can at http://www.youtube.com/user/NCTOnline

Invitation to free Norwood Community Services Training

The Norwood Community Coalition

invites you to participate in
Norwood Community Services
TRAINING
Wednesday, November 9, 2011
8:00 a.m. - 12:15 p.m.

1. · Do you work with children, families or seniors in Norwood?
2. · Are you sometimes stumped at where to go for help or what to do next?
3. · Would you like to know who is available to help families with medical concerns? Early learning? Social needs? After school care? GED? Crisis situations?

Join us as we car pool through Norwood and visit a variety of organizations to hear about how each one uniquely serves the community and fits together with other services to bridge the gaps.

7:45 Community Center (1810 Courtland) – Gather, Coffee and light breakfast available

8:00 Community Center- HIPPY, Norwood Recreation, Senior Center, Job’s Daughters, Caleb Tate Fuller Foundation

8:45 Take Care Clinic-Walgreens (Montgomery and Sherman Aves.)

9:15 Norwood Service League (2071 Lawrence Ave.) –NSL

9:45 Norwood Library (4325 Montgomery) Library, Family and Children First, HS Social Services, Darkness to Light, Caleb Tate Fuller Foundation

10:30 Zion Church of Christ (Indian Mound and Montgomery Rd) Zion Food Pantry

11:00 Drake Planetarium/TriState Educational Foundation (NHS 2020 Sherman Ave.) Planetarium/Tristate services, After School Programs.

11:30 YMCA (2039 Sherman Ave)-YMCA

11:45 Norwood Health Department (2059 Sherman Ave.) Norwood Presbyterian Church, Norwood Nazarene Church, Norwood Ministerial Association, Educational Services, Norwood Health Department. Live It Like You Mean It.

11:45 Lunch while we finish at Norwood Health Department

**Schedule may be altered some the day of the training.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Norwood Community Service Training Day
November 9, 2011

____ Please order lunch for me (the cost is $8.00).

____ I will be attending but do not want lunch.

Name_______________________________

Phone_______________________________

Email_______________________________

Organization__________________________

Please mail to Deb Robison at FCF, Norwood Middle School, 2060 Sherman Ave, Norwood, Oh 45212. Call 513-924-2768 or email Robison.D@norwoodschools.org.

September 2011 Earnings Tax Report

A monthly feature

Individual…………….$ 45,692.72
Business………………$ 294,938.04
Withholding…………$ 696,060.04
TOTAL……………….$ 1,036,690.80

Collections thru Sept. 2011….……….....…...........$ 10,154,983.87
Collections thru Sept. 2010...............................$ 11,545,626.43
12.04% decrease in collections over 2010.………….(1,390,642.56)

Second chance to take the 2011 Community Health Assessment!

Norwood Health Commissioner Brad King asked us to repost the link to the 2011 Community Health Assessment to increase feedback from community members. If you did not respond to the survey when we posted it this past July, please take a few minutes to fill it out this time around. Survey responses are used to help NHD/the City qualify for many grants and as well as bring resources to Norwood.

Click here to take the survey.

September 2010 NFD Activities and Statistics Report

A monthly feature

A. Total of emergency responses for the month of August = 416

Medic Runs = 312
Fire Runs = 5 (Building, Brush, etc.)
Average Response Time on Runs = 3 minutes, 2 seconds (city-wide)

Number of incidents by type:
Fire Runs – 5 - (Building, Brush, etc.)
Overpressure, Explosion - 1
Rescue & Medic Unit Assists – 48 - (lock-in, extrications, traffic accidents, etc.)
Hazardous Conditions (no fire) - 7- (power lines down, arcing, spills, etc.)
Service Call - 11 - (smoke removal)
Good Intent - 9 - (odor of smoke, controlled burning)
False Alarms – 13 - (false alarms, system malfunctions, smoke detector activated, etc.)
Severe Weather - 0
Special Incident - 0

B. Fire Hydrant Activity
No hydrant activity for September

C. Bureau of Fire Safety Activities = 591
Total Inspections – 98 - (residential, schools, churches, businesses)
Total Violations – issued 218
Total Violations – corrected 154
Total Block Inspections - Unit #’s 1, 2, 3 - Rental & multi-family: 26
Referrals to Health and Building Depts. - 11
Additional Activities - 84