Alexander Coolidge reports:

The Cincinnati region’s newest gambling outlet, Miami Valley Gaming, opens at noon Thursday.

The gambling destination is the new site for Lebanon Raceway combined with 1,600 video slots – making it the region’s first racino and Ohio’s third.

The new operation means 500 new jobs for the region. The 188,000-square-foot complex also will boast four eateries: Cin City Steak and Seafood; Trifecta, a pizza, chili and hamburger restaurant; MV Perks, a coffee shop; and Acres Seasonal Buffet. Harness racing will start in February.

The racino cost $175 million to develop and build.

Starting today, it will compete with Horseshoe Casino in downtown Cincinnati and three riverboat casinos in Southeast Indiana. Miami Valley Racing officials had initially predicted their facility would rake in $125 million during their first year of operations, but have backed off that initial forecast.

Even though the new facility is the region’s fifth slots outlet, racino officials insist there is enough gambling business in the region for them to thrive.

One third of the racino’s gambling revenues are retained by the state Lottery Commission, which is turned over to state education funding.

Ohio’s racinos’ video slots are technically video lottery terminals. Like slot machines, the devices have a random number generator, but each is connected to a central computer system subject to regulatory supervision by the lottery commission.

The opening of Miami Valley means more competition in the gambling sector. The addition of the racino’s slots raises the total number of slots in the Greater Cincinnati gambling market by 23 percent to more than 8,500 .

More competition is on the way: River Downs is holding a press conference on Wednesday for its own slots operation under construction in Anderson Township. That facility is expected to open by next summer with 1,600 slots.

Penn National Gaming Inc. – the parent company of the Hollywood Casinos in Lawrenceburg, Columbus and Toledo – also plans to open two racinos next year in Dayton and suburban Youngstown. Each of those racinos will open with 1,000 slots.

A racino at Northfield Park outside Cleveland is expected to open later this month.

Two racinos already are open: Scioto Downs in Columbus was first in June 2012; ThistleDown in Cleveland opened in April.

A 2011 study commissioned by Gov. John Kasich forecast that Miami Valley would generate $144 million annually, once it was fully operating with all 2,500 slot machines authorized by Ohio law.

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The National Collegiate Athletic Association will bring two national championships to Mason, the Warren County Convention and Visitor’s Bureau announced Wednesday.

The tourism board will host the NCAA Division III Cross Country National Championships in 2014 and the NCAA Division III Tennis National Championships in 2015.

The bureau is the only organization in southwest Ohio to be selected as a host, said Phillip Smith, president and chief executive officer of the tourism bureau.

“Anything like this is highly competitive.  We’re thrilled to have received these two,” he said.

Bidding for 82 of 89 NCAA championships began in July with almost 2,000 bid applications submitted.

Sports committees in each division selected host sites that would provide the best experience for its programs, said Mark Lewis, NCAA executive vice president of championships and alliances.

“The process was extremely thorough and allowed the sport committees to have some tremendous options, which will ultimately provide our student-athletes, coaches and fans the best experience possible,” he said.

The cross country championships will be held next fall at the Golf Center at Kings Island.  The tennis championships are set for the spring of 2015 at the Lindner Family Tennis Center.

Wilmington College is a partnering school for both events.  Ohio Northern University is a partner for the tennis championships.

The news comes on the heels of a series of high-profile sporting events announced this year in Warren County.

In April, The Beach Waterpark in Mason signed a three-year contract with the National Volleyball League to host its Midwest Championships and Junior Festival.

For the first time since 2009, the Association of Volleyball Professionals made a stop at the Lindner Family Tennis Center in Mason over Labor Day weekend.

And last month, Ultimate Frisbee announced it will host the 2014 Division I Ultimate Frisbee College Championships May 23-26 at Mason’s Heritage Oak Park.

Sports tourism in Warren County — branded “Ohio’s Largest Playground” — generates about $35 million in economic impact, said Smith.  The spending includes an estimated 53,000 hotel room nights.

The county’s selection as a host site for the NCAA championships caps off a record year for the board’s sports marketing division, he said.

“It says that on a national scale and level, we’re looked upon as a great place to have these kinds of events,” said Smith.  “We look forward to leveraging our world-class facilities to make Mason a championship city and to featuring Warren County on a national stage.”

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The Joe Barr American Legion post in Mason donated $500 to the Mason Food Pantry and the city of Mason’s Hope for the Holidays assistance program on Dec. 9, 2013. From left: Gina Brown, Pattie Connor, Jerry Behymer. Provided

The Joe Barr American Legion Post 194 in Mason donated $500 this week to benefit needy families this holiday season.

Jerry Behymer made the donation Monday on behalf of the post to the city’s Hope for the Holidays program.

The program, coordinated by Mason city employees in partnership with the Mason Food Pantry, provides food assistance and gift donations for struggling Mason families.

Cash and gift card donations are still needed.  To donate, call 513-229-8507 or email hopefortheholidays@masonoh.org.

Non-perishable food donations can be dropped off at the Mason Food Pantry at 406 Fourth Ave., Mason.  Cash donations are accepted online at www.masonfoodpantry.org.

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The December-January Our Town is available online.  Here’s a sampling of what you’ll find in this edition:

• Mason Twisters show high degree of dedication at very young age
• Brian Manor’s brick masterpiece is a labor of love
• More Mason, Kings “screenagers” bring their own tech tools to school
• The Lego Man Cometh
• Coaster biz gives local firms a thrill
• Mason family helps furnish homes of battered women

Read online here or catch up on past issues.

 

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Helping a loved one with an alcohol or drug addiction issue is the focus of tonight’s Lindner Center of HOPE’s “Evening with the Experts” educational series.

Sherry Knapp-Brown, a psychologist at the Mason mental health center, will speak on the effects of drug and alcohol abuse and how to approach a loved one about seeking treatment.  Questions from the audience will be taken at the event’s conclusion.

The free one-hour seminar begins at 6:30 p.m. at the Mason Community Center, 6050 Mason-Montgomery Road.  Childcare is available for a fee.

The presentation is the fifth in a series offered by the Lindner Center of HOPE in partnership with the city of Mason.

The series, held on the second Wednesday of each month, continues through August.

Information: 513-229-8555; lindnercenterofhope.org/experts

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Warren County residents who own dogs have until Jan. 31 to purchase a 2014 license without facing a penalty fee.

New or renewal licenses cost $15 each or $75 for a kennel license.  Special bone tags are available for $20, with $5 of that benefiting the Warren County Humane Association.

Tags can be purchased online at www.co.warren.oh.us/auditor or at a number of businesses across the county.  In Mason, tags can be purchased at the Mason Family Pet Hospital at 771 Reading Road; the Mason Animal Hospital at 770 Reading Road or the Misty Vistas Pet Hospital at 5250 Courseview Drive.

All dogs aged three months or older are required by law to have a tag.

Beginning Feb. 1, a $15 late fee will be assessed for any renewal registrations.

A list of the locations throughout the county where dog tags can be purchased is available at www.co.warren.oh.us/auditor.

For more information, call the licensing department of the auditor’s office at 513-695-1240.

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By Mark Schmetzer, Enquirer contributor

The Mason Comets went into Tuesday night’s Greater Miami Conference opener against Lakota East leading the “others” receiving votes in the Enquirer’s Division I coaches’ poll, two votes behind No. 10 Withrow.

If Mason keeps playing as well as it did against the No. 3 Thunderhawks, it soon will have a number to the left of its name.

Senior Adam Thomas scored 13 points and junior Cameron Arminio tied his career high with 12, according to the Greater Miami Conference website, as the Comets built an 18-point lead and fended off a Lakota East comeback for a 60-51 win at Mason.

“We haven’t gotten a lot of hype,” Thomas said. “I think we were picked to finish like eighth in our league. Our goal is to make a statement every night.”

“We have a lot of guys in their first year on varsity, and they’re trying to make a statement,” said Mason coach Greg Richards, who logged his 250th career win.

Junior guard Mitchell Mays led three Thunderhawks in double figures with 20 points, but they couldn’t overcome Mason’s 32-21 rebounding advantage.

“There’s a little more to it than that, but you could see we had opportunities in the second half to get close, but we couldn’t get the rebound,” Lakota East coach Wally Vickers said. “It’s a concern. It has been an issue. It’s something we work on in practice, but sometime, players question the validity of what you’re saying until you have a game like this.”

Mason led 14-6 with 1:02 left in the first quarter.

Thomas’s bucket with 11 seconds before halftime allowed the Comets to take a 34-19 lead into the locker room, their largest lead of the half. Thomas, who scored just seven points in Mason’s 67-45 season-opening win over Lebanon, finished the half with 12 points.

Arminio sank a 3-pointer early in the third quarter to give Mason its largest lead, 37-19, before Mays sank two 3-pointers in the first three minutes of the third quarter to help Lakota East cut Mason’s lead to five points, 39-34, with 1:55 left in the quarter.

The Thunderhawks could get no closer.

PLAY OF THE GAME: Thomas’s 6-foot floater from the right baseline that slipped through the net at the buzzer to give Mason a 16-8 lead at the end of the first quarter. The Comets took possession with 33.8 seconds left and worked the clock down before Thomas drove from the top of the key to the spot from which he launched his shot.

“That play was indicative of the night,” Vickers said.

STAR OF THE GAME: Arminio, who went 5-of-6 from the free-throw line in the final 43.2 seconds to help Mason seal the win.

VIEW FROM THE SIDELINE: Richards on his 250th career win: “It just means I’ve been doing this a long time. It means I’m old. We’ve had some pretty good players go through here and some great coaches. I think we’ve been doing it the right way.” ⬛

EXTRA POINTS: Both teams stay in GMC play with their next games. Lakota East plays Sycamore on Friday, while Mason travels to Oak Hills. … The Thunderhawks and Comets are scheduled for a rematch at Lakota East on January 24.

Lakota East (2-1) – Bah 1 3 5, Emrick 0 2 2, Norris 1 0 2, Mays 7 2 20, Lowry 4 4 12, White 4 2 10. Totals: 17 13 51.

Mason (2-0) – Thomas 6 1 13, Rice 1 2 4, Lamotte 1 1 3, King 2 3 9, Orlando 3 0 7, Beebe 2 0 4, Arminio 3 5 12, Hutchison 2 0 4, Cline 2 0 4. Totals: 22 12 60.

Halftime: Mason, 34-19. 3-pointers: L 4 (Mays 4), M 4 (King 2, Orlando, Arminio).

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Mason players celebrate Jack Clark’s goal against Mentor during the second half of the division I soccer state finals Saturday, Nov. 9, 2013, in Columbus, Ohio. Mason beat Mentor 1-0. (Jay LaPrete/For the Enquirer)

Mason High School’s sports programs had one clear message for rivals this past season:  Watch out.

The Comets dominated sports headlines in the fall, finishing the calendar year with three team state championships and one narrow second-place state championship finish

That’s not all.  The Comets also celebrated several strong top ten state finishes and saw a former football star drafted in the National Football League.

Here’s a round-up of the season:

(Jay LaPrete/For the Enquirer)

BOYS’ SOCCER

The Mason boys’ soccer team was crowned Ohio Division I boys state soccer champions in November, completing an undefeated (22-0-1) season with a 1-0 victory over Mentor that had come in undefeated as well (now 18-1-4).

Senior Jack Clark– who came into the game with 30 goals for the season (and 72 in his high school career) – made his 31st the game-winner.

But many players had a hand in the victory – especially the seniors, seven of whom have played together since they were 8 year olds on the Mason Fury select team. They all started this year for Mason.

Mason is the first southwest Ohio boy’s team to win a Division I state championship since Turpin took home the title in 1986 and the first GMC team to ever win at state, school officials say.

“It’s unbelievable how many coaches wished me good luck and said, ‘Hey, bring a state title back to Cincinnati,’’’ Mason coach Paul Reedy said. ‘‘That’s a special feeling when you feel like you’re representing more than just your school, but your city as well.’’

GIRLS’ SOCCER

It was supposed to be a rebuilding year for the Comets — but somebody forgot to tell the players.

The team finished runner-up in the Division I girls’ state soccer championship in November.

It was Mason’s second straight loss in the state final.  They fell 2-0 to Walsh Jesuit, which has now won seven state girls soccer championships since 2000.

‘‘We didn’t play our best game,’’ said Mason junior Jill Vetere, who scored the game-winner against Ursula in the regional championship. ‘‘Everything happens for a reason. Our freshmen, sophomores and juniors will build on what our seniors led us to.’’

 

The Mason High School Comets pose for a photo as they celebrate their state title in girls’ water polo.

GIRLS’ WATER POLO

The Mason girls’ water polo team won the program’s first state title in October with an 11-7 win over Sycamore.

Mason had nine seniors on the squad and that group was a solid foundation for the program the past few years, said coach Mark Sullivan.

“It was just a great overall team win,” said Sullivan, who started the program in the 2003-04 school year. “We knew Sycamore would give us a battle.”

Mason (33-7) jumped up two goals and then Sycamore tied. Mason went up by four in the fourth quarter to help seal the win.

“Obviously it was an unbelievable win,” Sullivan said. “It’s pretty special. … It’s great for the school.”

 

GIRLS’ CROSS COUNTRY

Mason, the No. 1 team in the Enquirer’s Division I coaches’ poll and No. 3 team in the statewide coaches’ rankings, clinched its second consecutive state championship in November.

The Comets had a 16-point lead over runner-up Beavercreek, the state’s fourth-ranked team, through each team’s first four finishers before senior Kinsey McBeath finished 20 places and 15 points ahead of the Beavers’ fifth-place finisher.

“This has been a challenging year,” said Comets coach Chip Dobson. We’ve had a lot of girls step up and fill holes this year. “We knew it had to be a team effort, and nobody wanted to just along for the ride.”

 

GIRLS’ TENNIS

The Mason girls’ tennis team finished third at the Division I state team tournament in October.

The Comets (21-1), which finished No. 1 in the Division I state coaches’ poll, defeated Toledo Notre Dame 3-0 in the third place match. Mason lost the opening match 3-0 to Upper Arlington.

The team included freshman Lizzy Kong (No. 1 singles), senior Nina Cepeda and sister, freshman Isabel Cepeda (No. 1 doubles) and seniors Radhika Pandit and Haley Hopkins (No. 2 doubles).

“It was the best (the program has) ever done,” Mason coach Mike Reid said. “A great season.”

 

Mason graduate Josh Kline at practice with the New England Patriots. Courtesy of the New England Patriots/David Silverman photo

• For the seventh consecutive year, the Mason boys’ cross country team finished in the top 10 in the state championships in November.  The Comets broke a tie with sixth place Twinsburg to finish the season in fifth place statewide.
• The Mason girls’ golf team finished in fifth place in the Division I state golf tournament held in November.  Senior Quinn Atkinson led Mason and finished 20th overall with scores of 81 and 78.  Other Mason scores: Miranda Dubler (25) 80-83, Katie Tomassoni (34) 82-85, Morgan Schaffer (35) 86-83, and Hannah Bennie (35) 84-85.
• Mason graduate Josh Kline is “one injury away from being in the starting lineup” for the New England Patriots, reports Mike Reiss with ESPN.  In November, the sports network featured an interview with the 2008 Mason graduate, who was signed by the Patriots as a rookie free agent in May.  The 6-foot-3-inch, 295 pound offensive lineman was promoted from the practice squad to the 53-player roster in September.  He’s the first Mason graduate to play in the National Football League.

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We love history, and we learned many of you do, too.  Check out this photo from The Enquirer’s archives, dated Dec. 22, 1966:

Warren County emergency policemen are pictured here preparing gifts for needy children who would otherwise be left out at Christmas. From left, at the rear of Jack Well’s used furniture store at Mason, are Capt. Ernie Clark, commander and Warren County deputy sheriff; Mr. Wells (in civilian clothing), a member of the emergency police department; Charles Shiflett, Dennis Roberts and Howard Terry.

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Jennifer Baker reports:

Fire roared through a Mason home earlier today, injuring a resident and causing $200,000 in damage, city officials said.

Flames broke out just before 5 a.m. in the garage at 4792 Carriage Dr., said Jennifer Trepal, a city spokeswoman.

When Mason firefighters arrived, the blaze already was shooting out the garage windows. They contained the fire to the garage and a room above it, but both sustained heavy damage. So did an adjacent kitchen.

The remainder of the house has smoke and heat damage.

One family member suffered minor injuries and was treated at the scene.

The American Red Cross is helping that person find temporary shelter and clothing.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

Several neighboring fire agencies responded to assist Mason including Deerfield Township, Loveland-Symmes and Sycamore Township.

 

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By Mark Schmetzer, Enquirer Contributor

Since Mason joined the Greater Miami Conference for the 2007-2008 season, the Comets’ girls basketball series with Lakota West has been defined by streaks.

The Firebirds won the first four games, while the Comets won the next five. Only two of the games have been decided by fewer than double figures, both of them Firebird wins.

Wednesday night at Lakota West in the Greater Miami Conference opener for both teams, the Firebirds got a little closer, but not close enough to snap the Comets’ streak. Mason senior Jenna Gunn and freshman Makenzie Dixon each scored 12 points as the Comets came from behind to edge Lakota West, 45-39, in overtime.

Gunn gave Mason (3-0), the No. 3 team in the Enquirer’s Division I pre-season coaches poll, the lead for good and Dixon made four free throws in the last 1:20 as the Comets outscored No. 2 Lakota West (2-1), 8-2, in the overtime.

“That was a huge game for us,” Dixon said. “It’s exciting.”

Lakota West sophomore Nia Staples led both teams with 15 points and junior Lauren Cannatelli added 11 for the Firebirds.

Mason fought back from a seven-point second-quarter deficit to lead – briefly – by two points before the Firebirds regained a 20-18 halftime lead.

The Comets staged an even more impressive comeback to force overtime. They trailed by eight points, 33-25, with 4:33 left in regulation before Gunn capped a 10-2 run with two free throws to tie the game.

“It was just heart,” Dixon said. “We believed in ourselves.”

Staples sank a 15-footer from the right elbow with 56 seconds left to return the lead to Lakota West, but Gunn scored on a layup with 35 seconds left for a 37-37 tie, setting up Mason’s second straight overtime win. The Comets edged No. 6 Winton Woods, 46-45, on Monday.

“This is back-to-back games when we’ve been down,” Mason coach Rob Matula said. “They just believe. It’s a program thing. They come, they go, they buy into what we’re about. I don’t know how they were standing. They were just tired, but they kept digging.”

Play of the game: Lakota West junior center Arianne Whitaker rebounding two of her own missed shots and scoring on the third while getting fouled to give the Firebirds a 22-18 lead with 5:36 left in the third quarter.

Star of the game: Gunn, who scored eight of her points after halftime, tying the game twice in the last 1:12 and giving Mason the lead for good.

View from the sideline: Lakota West coach Andy Fishman on the Firebirds’ inability to handle Mason’s press in the fourth quarter: “It was the difference in the game. We didn’t execute. At critical times, some players who have been successful in the past in those situations failed to execute. The girls have to learn how to close out games in pressure situations.”

Extra points: Lakota West, which opened the season with three games against teams ranked in among the top seven teams in the Enquirer’s Division I pre-season coaches poll, are scheduled to play a GMC game at unranked Sycamore on Saturday at 2 p.m. before traveling to No. 1 Princeton on Wednesday. The Comets, who opened with wins over No, 8 Talawanda and Winton Woods, are due to play a home conference game against unranked Middletown on Saturday. … Mason and Lakota West are scheduled to play again on January 11 at Mason.

Mason (3-0) – Vorherr 1 0 3, Mason 2 0 4, Mowbray 3 0 6, Dixon 3 5 12, Gunn 3 6 12, Van Kleunen 2 1 5, Campbell 1 1 3. Totals: 15 13 45.

Lakota West (2-1) – Wells 2 1 5, Staples 6 2 15, Cannatelli 3 4 11, Whitaker 3 0 6, Carter 0 1 1, Kivell 0 1 1. Totals: 14 9 39.

Halftime: Lakota West, 20-18. 3-pointers: M 2 (Vorherr, Dixon), L 2 (Staples, Cannatelli).

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David Yost, along with his sister, Sarah McClain, took over ownership of the Yost Pharmacy in Mason earlier this year. They are the third generation owners. It was started by their grandfather in 1945 and has been a staple along Main Street in downtown Mason every since. The Enquirer/ Liz Dufour / The Enquirer

Rachel Richardson reports: 

Dick Yost remembers when downtown Mason was a bustling hub of activity.

Farmers from as far north as Dayton flocked to the area’s grocery stores, hotel and even a small theater.

“In the 1940s and 1950s, it was the retail center in Mason,” said Yost, whose family-owned Yost Pharmacy has been a mainstay of the city’s downtown since 1945. “We only had one traffic light in town, and you would have traffic backed up on a Friday night. That was a whole different climate.”

The once-lively, night-on-the-town destination has since turned into a ghost town, local business owners say.

Some independent business owners here say they’re struggling to compete with nearby retail juggernauts Deerfield Towne Center and Voice of America Centre. Others report steady sales and growth but say they’ve had to learn to adapt against the creeping forces of homogenization.

More than 50 businesses line the city’s downtown overlay district, which extends about 10 blocks along U.S. 42 from Fourth Avenue to Kings Mills Road.

But the type of businesses – mostly law offices, dentistry practices and other service-oriented businesses – don’t generate foot traffic, said Sally Nally, administrative vice president of the Northeast Cincinnati Chamber of Commerce, whose office is in Mason’s downtown.

“It doesn’t offer the right balance. I don’t think we’ve found the right combination,” she said. “We’ve yet to establish that this area is a destination.”

In 2006, the city pumped nearly $6 million into resurrecting the old downtown, adding new brick sidewalks and a plaza, burying overhead utilities and upgrading the infrastructure.

Some business owners say those efforts weren’t enough to rescue the still-struggling downtown area and that the city has lost its focus on the area in favor of more high-profile development in other parts of the city.

In 2005, Todd Hudson read about Mason’s revitalization project. Encouraged by city officials whom he said promised him the area was on the upswing, he opened his Wildflower Cafe and Coffee House at 207 E. Main St.

While business is steady now, he said he struggled at first and considered filing bankruptcy after six months. He gives no credit for his success to the city, which he says didn’t fully deliver on its promises of streetscape designs and offers few resources to small-business owners.

“I think they just wasted money; they got hustled on what they did,” he said of the city’s renovation efforts. “There’s less businesses now than there was then.”

“This half of Mason-Montgomery Road may as well not even exist,” he added. “We’re not even a blip on (the city’s) radar.”

But big business is good for small business, said Mason City Manager Eric Hansen.

Nearly 90 percent of the city’s $28 million general fund comes from earnings taxes, he said. That money helps pay for road improvements, public safety services and parks – all things that make Mason an attractive place to operate a business of any size.

“We’re focused on job creation,” said Hansen. “It’s the corporations that really foot the bill for the quality of life everyone enjoys, including small businesses.”

Mason Councilwoman Char Pelfrey chairs the city’s downtown committee. She said the city can go only so far in developing its downtown.

“We don’t own the property so it’s up to local businesses and those who own property down there to get together and think of creative ways to drive incentive,” she said.

When Francis Michaels opened Pop Revolution Gallery and Framing in 2005, it was one of four art galleries in downtown. The shops teamed up to try and make Mason an arts destination, but received little support from other businesses and the city, he said.

“We could only do so much as businesses. I’m not sure what the town could do, but there wasn’t a lot of awareness,” he said.

To remain competitive, Michaels added printing and art reproduction services and art classes. He plans to open a second gallery space in January.

Downtown business owners could benefit from the city having a small business coordinator, several business owners said.

Mason previously employed a downtown and small-business coordinator, but that position was vacated and then eliminated by council in 2007, deciding the city didn’t receive enough benefit to justify the position, said Hansen.

“Somebody needs to take the initiative and try to look for certain kinds of businesses to attract them here,” said Michaels. “If they want more foot traffic and people milling around, we need more of those cutesy shops.”

Jim and Linda Pitrelli opened Pitrelli’s Italian Ristorante in 2004 and say sales are up 10 percent over last year. Succeeding in Mason is a matter of smart marketing and being responsive to customer demand, said Jim Pitrelli.

“You have to make sure that what you’re doing is the best you can do and people will find you and pick you over a chain,” he said. “I can’t think of what the city can do to help my business that I shouldn’t be doing. That falls on my shoulders, not the city’s.”

Chet Mastalerz, president of the Downtown Mason Association, says the downtown area is improving, but more can be done.

His nearly 40-member group is exploring several options to increase pedestrian traffic, including installing digital kiosks and organizing health-related events and arts weekends.

“There’s always more we can do in public-private participation to drive more traffic to the downtown area,” he said.

Pelfrey said the city is working with business owners to develop an agreement to improve parking.

“We’ve certainly not abandoned downtown. We have a heart for it and want to do all we can to encourage it,” she said. “I still see light at the end of that tunnel.”

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When Parag and Jaya Joshi heard about a new residential community being built in Mason, they decided to play the lottery.

Not the mega-millions kind.  The Joshis have the money.  Rather, they were among dozens of hopeful homebuyers Saturday vying for one of 28 new homes in M/I Homes’ new Alverta community.

Dozens of prospective homebuyers entered a lottery on Dec. 7, 2013 for a chance to purchase one of 28 new homes in the first phase of the new Alverta community in Mason. Developer M/I Homes held the lottery to ensure a fair and impartial process, said company officials. Provided

“We’re looking for a larger house and wanted to stay in Mason,” said Jaya Joshi.  “In Mason there is hardly any new development going on.”

Indeed, the planned 125-home community on 52 acres at the southeast corner of Mason-Montgomery and Western Row roads is one of the last opportunities for new homebuyers, said sales representative Laura Kornaker.

• Photos: Alverta development

Sales representatives have met with more than 550 prospective buyers since the company began marketing the development in May, she said.

That prompted the company to hold a lottery — a fairer process than having homeowners camp out in the cold, company officials say.

More than 30 prospective buyers entered their name into a brass raffle drum for a chance to purchase one of 28 homes in the development’s first phase.

No. 23 Marche and Mica James say that while the lottery was an unusual way to buy a home, the process was fair.

“My husband and I were joking that it was like elementary all over again; we never get picked for the drawings,” said Marche with a laugh.

Homes in Alverta start at $320,000 and range from 2,200 to 3,800 square feet. Construction is expected to begin in January with the first homes ready for occupancy by early summer, said Dan Tartabini, the company’s vice president of sales and marketing.

Alverta will feature a mix of two-story and ranch single-family homes as well as smaller “neo-traditional” houses, which feature garages at the rear of the lot accessed by an alleyway.

Development plans include 12 acres of green space, an eight-acre community park, walking trails, tree-lined streets, landscaping and two ponds.

The community’s location in the heart of Mason on the site of the former Western Row Golf Course is what drew Feng Huang and his wife Sabrina Xie to Saturday’s lottery.

“I think the location is great,” he said.  “It’s Mason schools and it’s very close to the Mason Community Center.  Also, for our kids, it’s closer to their daycare.”

Matt and Victoria Anderson drew the lucky No. 1 spot.  They chose a lot that backs up to 40 feet of green space.

“We just moved from Kansas City and we don’t know how long we’re going to be in the Cincinnati area,” said Matt.  “Mason is a nice school district and has good resale value.”

The Joshis, whose name wasn’t called, said they were disappointed, but vowed to try again.

“We’ll wait for phase two and we’ll keep looking for anything that comes into the market,” said Jaya Joshi.

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Cincinnati-area voters issued a scathing and impassioned indictment of Washington D.C., the president and lawmakers, reports NBC’s Carrie Dann, who covered the focus group.

NBC/WSJ co-pollster Peter Hart (D) conducted the two-hour session in Mason on Wednesday.  The event was sponsored by the Annenberg Public Policy Center at the University of Pennsylvania in conjunction with NBC News and The Wall Street Journal.

“The president took it right on the chin,” said pollster Peter Hart of the results of the Cincinnati focus group. Obama is seen here in a Dec. 4 file photo. (AP Photo/ Evan Vucci)

Writes Dan:  These voters — who described themselves as independents who tend to lean one way or another — assailed the distrust, gridlock, weak leadership and callousness from a government they said seemed indifferent to solving problems. And, they added, they felt “helpless” to punish the lawmakers responsible.

What voters had to say about…

President Obama:

None of the eight voters who supported Obama in 2012, nor the three who voted for Mitt Romney, described themselves as “proud” or “satisfied” with the president, opting instead for “mixed” or “disappointed.”

“He’s a big disappointment,” said Brandi Nixon, 34, an African-American nurse assistant who voted for Obama in the last election. “He just lost focus. He lost focus on his goals. … He stopped focusing on creating more jobs and fixing the economy.”

Words used to describe the president, even by those who voted for him last year, included “inexperienced,” “powerless,” “cautious,” “timid” and “overwhelmed.”

Participants described a man buffeted by the events around him rather than a leader shaping the future of the country.

Much of their discontent stemmed from the poor rollout of the Affordable Care Act, which a majority cited as the biggest failure of Obama’s presidency.  Still, most participants said it was possible that the law could ultimately be fixed.

Congress:

For all the disappointment and frustration directed toward the president by the focus group, lawmakers in Congress received even more unvarnished anger, particularly regarding the government shutdown in October.

Again and again, these voters pleaded for both parties to “work together” and relate to their constituents rather than indulge in bickering and, as one put it, “all those steak dinners.”

Obama wasn’t absolved of guilt for the impasse that shuttered the federal government’s doors for 16 days; five participants gave him a grade of “D” or “F” for his handling of the shutdown.

 

Feeling helpless to fix or punish Washington:

Asked by NBC’s Chuck Todd how they hoped to punish Washington, participants agreed that they feel “helpless.”

“That’s probably the anger and the frustration,” said Jeff Brown, a 45-year-old scientist who leans Republican. “It’s not easy to do that.”

 

Hillary Clinton:

Voters described former secretary of state and potential 2016 candidate Hillary Clinton as “strong,” “vivacious,” “powerful,” “a great head of state” and “smart.”

All of the women in the group praised her sense of purpose, although the three Romney voters said they found her “distrustful.”

 

Read the full story here.

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Michael D. Clark reports:

A Mason High School sophomore, who periodically wears a belt buckle depicting the confederate flag, has been warned he faces suspension should he continue to wear it to school.

The male student has attracted attention in the school by wearing the Civil War symbol, which is often considered controversial and by some racist. School officials in the Warren County district said it violates the district’s student dress code.

Tracey Carson, spokeswoman for Mason Schools, said “we are committed to making sure that each one of our students feels safe and eager to come to school. For that reason, we have a code that outlines the way that students and staff should dress so that distractions are minimized and we have a positive learning environment.”

“We try to handle discipline on an individual basis,” said Carson, who said no action has yet been taken against the student.

According to Mason School’s dress code “no clothing or accessories that could be interpreted as promoting hate or communicating a negative, profane or vulgar message; i.e., rebel flags, swastikas.”

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The Enquirer

The threat of wintry weather and frigid temperatures has put the damper on a popular Christmas activity in Mason.

City officials and festival organizers Thursday announced the cancellation of the annual Christmas in Mason festivities set for Friday.

City Manager Eric Hansen said that while festival volunteers are willing to “brave any elements,” the city needs to reserve its resources for snow removal, monitoring traffic issues and emergency responses.

“Making sure they are ready and prepared to keep residents, businesses and travelers safe is ultimately a higher priority,” he said in a release issued Thursday evening.

• Winter storm warning: 4-7 inches of snow coming Friday
• Get weather updates at cincinnati.com/weather

A winter storm warning is in effect 1 a.m. Friday to 1 a.m. Saturday for all of Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky as a powerful arctic system pushes into the region, bringing the season’s first big measurable snowfall, followed by frigid temperatures.

The advisory covers several counties in Ohio: Butler, Brown, Clermont, Clinton, Hamilton and Warren counties; and Boone, Campbell, Kenton, Gallatin and Carroll counties in Northern Kentucky. It also includes southeastern Indiana: Franklin, Ripley, Dearborn, Ohio and Switzerland counties.

Accumulations of snow will range from 4 to 7 inches with ice accumulations in excess of a quarter an inch, according to the National Weather Service in Wilmington.

The most snow is expected to pile up north and west of downtown Cincinnati, said meteorologist Steve Rhebenach.

Dangerous travel conditions are expected as the snow falls, reducing visibility, and some icy patches may develop on roads.

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Michael D. Clark reports:

A Mason Middle School teacher was struck by a car in the school’s parking lot this morning and was taken to a local hospital.

The teacher, whose identity was not immediately made available by Mason school officials, was treated and released from West Chester Medical Center.

She is now at home recovering from a head wound, said Tracey Carson, spokeswoman for the Warren County school system.

The teacher was struck in a marked crosswalk by a female driver who was pulling away from a curb next to the school after dropping off her child, said Jennifer Trepal, spokeswoman for the city of Mason.

She said no charges will be filed.

Trepal said the accident occurred at approximately 7 a.m. and Mason Police and EMS were dispatched to Mason Middle School at 6370 Mason-Montgomery Road. The teacher had gone to the school’s nurse office for treatment.

The seventh-grade teacher is expected to return to work Monday, said Carson.

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Mason Police are searching for a man they say stole a purse from a local church.

Police say the incident occurred about 8:55 a.m. Monday at Hope Church, 4934 Western Row Road.

Surveillance video shows the man entering the church and going into several rooms before leaving with the purse.

The suspect left the scene in a silver or gray Saab station wagon with what appears to be a dealership advertisement tag on the front of the vehicle, according to police.

Credit cards from the purse were later used to make purchases at nearby stores, including McDonald’s, Marathon Food Mart, Walgreens and Walmart.

Anyone with information is asked to call Mason Police Det. Don Cope at 513-229-8560 or Crime Stoppers at 513-352-3040.

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John Kiesewetter reports:

If you missed “The Christmas Spirit” premiere Sunday, you can catch the Nicollette Sheridan movie shot in Lebanon Friday or Saturday on the Hallmark Channel.

It airs 6 p.m. Friday, and at 2 p.m. Saturday (NOT at 4 p.m. Saturday as listed in our Sunday holiday TV listings; we were given bad info by our listings service).

I was surprised and impressed with the quality of “The Christmas Spirit,” knowing it was shot in just 15 days in October. And the residents of Lebanon, and the Greater Cincinnati & Northern Kentucky Film Commission, should be very pleased with the film, and the way it showcases Lebanon.

Sheridan stars as a journalist Charlotte Hart in her small hometown of Laurel Springs, which is threatened by greedy developer (Bart Johnson, Coach Bolton from “High School Musical”). Their cars collide, they wake up in a coma in a hospital (shot on an empty Deaconess Hospital floor), and they end up as ghosts. So as a spirit, Charlotte tries to stop the developer and help her nephew, niece and townspeople.

You can guess how it ends — even if you’ve never watched a Hallmark Channel movie. But “The Christmas Spirit” looks great, and so does the city. The fake snow that I watched them make on a hot sunny day in October didn’t look fake at all.

Here are some of the locations seen in the film, which was shot here after Film Commission executive director Kristen Erwin Schlotman gave producers a tour of the city (and other picturesque small towns in the area in early September):

Mulberry Street between Broadway and Mechanic: A side street one block from the Golden Lamb Inn  was used as Main Street for the fictional town of Laurel Springs. It was a perfect location, because it could be blocked off for filming without a great disruption in downtown Lebanon traffic. Sheridan and Johnson walk past the antique stores, barber shop, the Jam & Jelly Lady store (52. E. Mulberry) and Pugh & Associates (24 E. Mulberry). The Best Café and dress shop exteriors also were on Mulberry Street. (Best Café interiors were shot at the Country Kitchen outside of town at I-71 & Ohio 123.)

Golden Lamb Inn: You’ll see the exterior as the front for a generic local hotel, but not identified as the Golden Lamb. Through the magic of computer-generated imagery, you see the hotel outside the windows of the Best Cafe.

Old Warren County Courthouse: The old courthouse on E. Silver Street was used for town meetings in Laurel Springs city hall.

Mechanic Street houses: Two next-door homes next door — a green house at 219 S. Mechanic, and a yellow house at 225 S. Mechanic St., served as the residence for Charlotte Hart and her brother’s family, and neighbor Gwen (Olympia Dukakis).

Lebanon Presbyterian Church: The exterior and interior of the church at 123 N. East St. is seen several times. Lebanon residents will recognize the hospital Emergency Room entrance as the church side portico entrance. (Hospital interiors were filmed on vacant floors at Deaconess Hospital in Cincinnati.)

Here’s a link to Hallmark Channel’s “The Christmas Spirit” photos. The movie scene photos (but not the studio gallery pix) were shot by Patty Bamber of Pugh & Associates in Lebanon. “The Christmas Spirit” also repeats 8 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 11, at 7:30 p.m. on Christmas.

Did you watch “The Christmas Spirit?” What did you think?

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Michael D. Clark reports:

There is no other piece of school playground equipment like it among Southwest Ohio schools.

While other area students might spend their outside recess playing old-fashioned kick ball or other games, grade-schoolers in Mason can give their brains a fresh air workout.

Daniel Eichler’s Eagle Scout project has students at Mason Intermediate on their feet and using their brains.
Share/Mason City Schools

Two giant, brick chess sets – the boards are 9 feet by 9 feet – are now part of Mason Intermediate School’s recess play area. The giant chess playing surfaces are adorned with large, black and white plastic game pieces, each about two-feet high.

• Photos: Mason Intermediate’s chess sets

It’s an oversized and more tactile version of the mentally challenging game, and each school day when the thermometer is above freezing, dozens of fifth- and sixth-grade boys and girls huddle around the games.

“Since the chess pieces are larger – instead of sitting at a table – it lets them walk around with the chess pieces, and they really enjoy having fun with it,” said Stephanie Meyer, a playground assistant for the Warren County school.

“It’s wonderful to have it, and the kids enjoy it. It’s a full group activity so other kids can watch while other ones play,” said Meyer.

Nearby, about a dozen boys and girls watch students ponder their next chess moves.

Among them is Araz Bhatt, a fifth grader and regular player of the “sport of kings.”

“It’s really fun to play. And I enjoy playing with my friends,” said Araz. “And it exercises my brain more.”

Greg Sears, principal of Mason Intermediate, praised both the recent additions to his school’s playground and the school’s former student who made them possible.

“It’s a great opportunity to expand their options at recess and not only exercise their bodies but also exercise their minds as well. And so it’s a great way to engage the kids into thinking during a fun time of the day,” said Sears.

On any scale, indoors or out, the ancient board game teaches critical thinking, strategy and decision-making.

Sears said Daniel Eichler, who is now a junior at Mason High School, deserves the credit for novel recess game.

Done as part of his Eagle Scout project requirement, the 16-year-old Daniel spent the early summer raising about $800 and then constructing the two game sets using 64 multi-colored brick pavers, gravel and sand.

“Daniel had a vision for helping the recess options,” said Sears. “He is a great kid who worked extremely hard and did an outstanding job on the project.”

Daniel said “I decided I’d do something to improve the playground.”

“Chess is a great sport of the mind. I’m really happy with the way it turned out,” said Daniel, who has visited his old school – across the street from Mason High School – during recess to check out his invention.

“When I’ve been over there during recess they were a lot of kids playing and watching. That was good to see.”

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