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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The North Cincinnati Youth Orchestras will be performing at this year’s Christmas in Warren County concert. Provided photo

The Mason High School NoteOrious Acapella choir is joining this year’s Christmas in Warren County holiday concert.

Sunday’s free concert features seven groups performing Christmas music under the direction of Cheri Brinkman. This is the ninth year for the concert.

Everywhere Christmas Tonight is the theme for the show, which features  a variety of international and American Christmas favorites. It begins at 7 p.m., at the Mason United Methodist Church, 6315 S. Mason-Montgomery Road.

“This concert is based on the Swiss/German festival concept of local musical groups performing Christmas music and similar to the festival seen in such films as the Sound of Music,’’ Brinkman said.

“It is an acoustic instrument and vocal concert. Performers are from schools, churches and the community.”

Working on the concert with Brainkman were Natalie Woodrow, church coordinator; and Chris Dorsch, tech director.

Those who will be performing are:

• North Cincinnati Youth Orchestras, Cadet and Seniors
• Kings High School Sax Quartet
• NoteOrious Acappella Choir, from Mason High School
• Heritage Music and Friends
• Mason United Methodist Church Youth Choir
• Vivaldi’s, dulcimer ensemble
• Woodrow Flute Ensemble

A reception follows the concert.

 

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Alexander Coolidge reports:

Miami Valley Gaming is offering an inside look of their Turtlecreek Township racino a week before it opens to gamblers that sign up online for their loyalty card.

The new racino opens on Dec. 12, but the sneak preview happens on Thursday between 5 and 9 p.m. for those registered for MVG Club cards at miamivalleygaming.com . Guests who sign up early also get a free T-shirt, $15 of free play and 5,000 points.

“We’re so excited to give a glimpse of the new restaurants, bars, players club, gaming floor and racetrack to some of our most enthusiastic guests,” said Jim Simms, general manager of Miami Valley Gaming.

In addition, MVG Club members will be eligible for the 12 Days of Opening giveaway. From Dec. 1 to Dec. 12, Miami Valley Gaming will give away $75,000 in free play. Each day a new winner is selected, with amounts increasing by $1,000 a day. By Dec. 12, one lucky MVG Club member will win $12,000 in free play, just in time for the grand opening.

As the Enquirer reported , Simms predicted the new racino would generate $125 million in gambling revenue during its first year of operation.

Miami Valley Gaming is the new site for Lebanon Raceway and will include 1,600 video slots – making it the region’s first racino. It joins the new Horseshoe Casino in downtown Cincinnati and three riverboat casinos in Southeast Indiana.

The new operation means 500 new jobs for the region. Once completed, 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.

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An artist’s rendering of the new Alverta community near the intersection of Western Row and Mason-Montgomery roads in Mason. Provided

Nearly 40 prospective home owners are expected to vie for one of 28 available properties in a new residential community in Mason on Saturday.

M/I Homes will hold a lottery at 10 a.m. for its new Alverta development on the site of the former Western Row Golf Course.

The first 28 homes in the planned 125-home community will go on sale that day.  To enter the lottery, prospective homebuyers must first qualify for loans, individually meet with the builder, have a home and lot selected and bring a deposit of $3,000.

• Photos: Alverta development

“We’re going to put everyone’s name in a big bin, give it a twirl and pull people’s names out. It’s the fairest, most non-partial way to do this,” said said Dan Tartabini, the company’s vice president of sales and marketing.

The Enquirer reported last week about the high demand for the two-story and ranch single-family homes  at the southeast corner of Mason-Montgomery and Western Row roads.

Money magazine ranked the community of about 33,000 residents the nation’s seventh best small town this year. The 52-acre site is one of the last opportunities for new homebuyers, said sales representative Laura Kornaker.

Homes will start at $320,000 and range from 2,200 to 3,800 square feet. Construction is expected to begin later this month with the first homes ready for occupancy by early summer, said Tartabini.

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

The lottery will be held at the homebuilder’s Creekside model in the TPC River’s Bend community at 4954 Whispering Creek Drive, Hamilton Township.

Information: 513-400-4748; www.mihomes.com

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A worker operates a game at Kings Island. The Mason theme park is hiring for its 2014 season. Provided

Job-seekers can now get a head start on summer jobs at Kings Island.

The Mason amusement park is accepting applications to fill more than 4,000 seasonal positions for its 2014 season, which opens in April.

The park is hiring in all areas of park operation, including admissions, call center, cash control, entertainment, food and beverage, fire and safety, games and rides, guest services, lifeguards, security and warehouse, among others.

Applicants must be at least 15 years of age. The park will contact qualified applicants to schedule an on-site interview.

More than 25,000 people apply each year for seasonal park positions, 44 percent of which are filled by teens ages 15-18, said park spokesman Don Helbig.

Job perks include free, unlimited access to rides, flexible schedules, a scholarship program and discounted merchandise, he said.

For more information, call the park at 513-754-5748 or go to www.visitkingsisland.com.

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Nina Landers and Karli Farrell of Mason help pass out candy for Brandgarden during the annual Christmas in Mason celebration in 2011. The Enquirer/Rachel Richardson

The city of Mason will dress up its downtown business district and celebrate the holiday season during its annual Christmas in Mason event from 6-9 p.m. Friday.

Activities take place on Main Street and Reading Road between Mason-Montgomery Road and Second Avenue. This area will be closed to traffic from 4 p.m. to 11 p.m..

A parade featuring stiltwalkers, marching elves and jugglers will lead Santa Claus into the festivities at 6 p.m.  The parade kicks off at the corner of Main Street and Mason-Montgomery Road and proceeds down Main to the Plaza.

After the parade, a tree lighting ceremony takes place on the Plaza.  A full line-up of live entertainment is set to take place on the Main Stage throughout the evening.

Other activities include horse-drawn carriage rides, story times at the Mason Public Library, caricature and balloon artists, fire performers, strolling carrollers, a petting zoo and wood carvers.  “Stocking Stops” will be scattered throughout the downtown area.

For more information, go to www.festivalsofmason.org or call 513-229-8534.

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

ESPN posted an interview Saturday with Mason’s Josh Kline.

The New England Patriots signed the 6-foot-3-inch, 295 pound offensive lineman in May as a rookie free agent.  He was promoted from the practice squad to the 53-player roster in September.

Kline, ESPN blogger Mike Reiss writes, is “one injury away from being in the starting lineup.”

Reiss interviewed the 2008 Mason graduate about his start in football (third grad, Mason Pee Wee), his rookie season and signing as a free agent with the Patriots (“…if you want to be the best, you want to learn from the best…) and his football journey overall (“It was my dream to make it to the top tier in the NFL.”)

He also shared some memories from his playing days on Masons gridiron:

Top memories of football at Mason High School: “The camaraderie that you had with your buddies. You have the ‘Friday Night Lights’ going. You still miss it to this day. You have nothing like that, in college or even now. You’ll have camaraderie but it’s not with the people you grew up with for most of your life.”

One high school moment that stands out: “Maybe when we came back from Middletown my senior year. It was a shootout game and it was fourth-and-goal from either the 2 or the 1, and they ran it behind me and my buddy, Pete Noxsel, the left guard, and I just remember him growling that we got it in [the end zone].”

Check out the rest of the interview at espn.com

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The Associated Press

Kings Island amusement park says the first night rides on its newest roller coaster will go to people who raise money for a designated children’s charity.

• Photos: Banshee construction

The park in Mason says the “Banshee” will be the world’s longest inverted roller coaster when it opens in April. The $24 million project will take riders through 4,124 feet of track and seven inversions at speeds of up to 68 miles per hour.

Kings Island says fans wanting to be among the first night riders can sign up on its website for the fundraiser and must collect at least $100 each for a nonprofit organization called A Kid Again. The group supports children with life-threatening illnesses.

Participating fundraisers get access to ride the Banshee for a two-hour window April 17.

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Tony and Sommer Aponte, owners of Aponte’s Pizzeria in Mason. (Photo by Tony Tribble)

Aponte’s Pizzeria received national attention and a $10,000 celebrity makeover when the Food Network show “Restaurant: Impossible” came to town this summer.

Owners Tony and Sommer Aponte hoped the national exposure would give their pizzeria the boost it needed to overcome years of slumping sales.

Now, three months after their episode aired, the Apontes say it wasn’t enough for the struggling eatery.

“I’ve had to cut back, and I still have a situation with the IRS. I’ve just let two people go,” said Tony. “I will keep the doors open until my luck runs out.”

• Video: Celebrity chef Robert Irvine in Mason
• Photos: Aponte’s Pizzeria gets “Restaurant: Impossible” makeover

When that is, Tony can’t say. Business is at an all-time low with sales down 30 percent over last year, and he still owes the IRS back taxes of about $100,000, he said.

Robert Irvine and designer, Cheryl Torrenueva, speak to staff members before they empty out Aponte’s Pizzeria. The popular Food Network show spent two days taping at the Mason pizzeria in June. The episode aired Aug, 25, 2013. Photo courtesy of Food Network.

“The hype has died down and people have seen the inside and tried the new menu,” said Sommer. “Most of our business is on Friday and Saturday nights, but Friday and Saturday doesn’t pay the bills.”

Aponte’s decline began in 2011 when the restaurant moved into its new and larger location at 312 Reading Road. Sales plummeted as the restaurant struggled to keep up with higher overhead, said Tony.

The New Jersey native hoped to reverse the downward spiral with a high-profile renovation and menu from the cable TV show.

The show, now in its seventh season, features down-on-their-luck business owners. Celebrity chef Robert Irvine and his team of designers then have two days and a $10,000 budget to whip their restaurants into shape.

Sommer said she and an employee applied for the show because they thought sparks would fly between the fiery restaurateur and Irvine, a brash and brawny British chef known for smashing walls with a sledgehammer and dispensing tough love to business owners.

After a year with no response, the Apontes assumed they hadn’t made the cut. Then came a phone call in March.

Taping, which took place June 12-13, attracted hundreds of eager spectators, who crowded the restaurant on the night of the taped unveiling.

Under a contract signed by every featured restaurant, the Apontes agreed to give up full control of their restaurant and stick to any new changes for several months – not an easy task for a restaurateur Irvine called “one of the most stubborn owners” he’d ever met.

“The reality is, you’ve got no choice whether you like what Robert Irvine has to say or not. You’re locked in,” said Tony.

When Irvine visited Aponte’s, the restaurant was $250,000 in debt. The chef said the decor was dingy and dated and criticized the food as bland and uninspired.

Crowds flock to the new Aponte’s Pizzeria on June 13, 2013 after the Mason pizzeria underwent a $10,000 makeover from the Food Network show “Restaurant: Impossible.”  The Enquirer/Rachel Richardson

Tony, who says the couple met Irvine for the first time on camera, fired back the retort, “Maybe your taste buds are off,” and stormed out of the restaurant.

The heated exchange would later earn Aponte a spot as No.4 on the show’s top five most stubborn business owners.

“I never thought he’d nail me on my food as bad as he did,” said Tony.

After Irvine brought the Apontes to conduct a blind taste test at Mason Fire Station 51 in which the crowd preferred his recipes to Aponte’s by a 2-1 margin, Tony conceded defeat.

“It was hard to see Tony going through the beatdown Robert was giving him on things he thought he was doing right for years,” said Sommer. “I did a lot of crying, but you have to put your trust in these people who said it will all be worth it in the end.”

For restaurant owner Lisa Kendall, appearing on “Restaurant: Impossible” saved her business.

Her North Bend casual-fare eatery, Rohrer’s Tavern, was featured on the show last fall.

Business has remained steady since the episode aired in November 2012, and she’s slowly digging her way out of $120,000 in debt, she said.

“From my experience, it’s tough love and they are there to help you,” Kendall said.

For Tony, who says he continues to work 80-90 hours a week, that success remains elusive.

While the show gave the pizzeria an instant boost in sales – about 65 percent higher in the first two weeks after the episode aired Aug. 25 – business eventually slowed.

Aponte’s Pizzeria owner Tony Aponte spreads sauce over a Jersey-style pie. The Enquirer/Rachel Richardson

Then, with the 16-day federal government shutdown in October, sales came to an agonizing crawl.

The Apontes cite the restaurant’s location in the city’s historic downtown business district as the chief reason for their dwindling business.

Businesses in the area, which are predominantly small and independently owned, find it difficult to compete with nearby retail juggernauts Deerfield Towne Center and Voice of America Centre, he said.

“Everybody around me is feeling the same pinch,” said Tony.

“In the old part of Mason, you have a lot of dentists’ and doctors’ offices and a couple of little restaurants,” said Sommer. “In Deerfield, you can shop and eat. In old Mason, you can eat and go to the dentist. After a certain time of night, it’s like a ghost town.”

The Apontes say they have no regrets appearing on the show. His only regret, Tony said, is opening his business in Mason.

“People think that Mason is an up-and-coming area, but the more choices you give people you always have to give something away to get them in the door – and the more you give away, the harder business is,” he said.

 

My day in the limelight

When “Restaurant: Impossible” announced it needed volunteers to help with the renovation of Aponte’s Pizzeria, my sister Megan Blanton was quick to sign me and her up. We were among about 100 volunteers who turned out in the two days of filming to gut the eatery, paint walls and tables, assemble light fixtures, scrape up floor tile and polish the restaurant to gleaming perfection for its public debut.

After working the 8 p.m. to midnight shift the first day of filming, we were invited back the second day, where we got a firsthand look at much of the behind-the-scenes action. During the dinner service, a producer grabbed us and asked us to run food. If you watch carefully, you can catch the briefest glimpse of us in the kitchen during an interview with host Robert Irvine. As fans of the show, it was fun to be part of the action, but it felt even better to help a business in a city I’ve covered for the past three years and have grown to love.

Rachel Richardson

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Server Caitlin Pikna ignites a serving of saganaki, a flaming cheese appetizer at Remezo Greek Cuisine in Deerfield Twp. Photo: David Sorcher

The Enquirer

Remezo Greek Cuisine opened last week in a completely re-done former Tumbleweed Steakhouse at 9956 Escort Drive in Deerfield Township.

The restaurant seats about 250 diners, plus 100 on a patio.

• Photos: Get a first look at Remezo Greek Cuisine

The menu is very large, said general manager Nicolaos Sarlis. He said the restaurant serves classic Greek cuisine, using authentic Greek ingredients, many of them directly imported by the restaurant. “Everything will be from scratch,” he said. “There will be lots of healthy choices. Greek cuisine is based on three things: pita bread, olive oil and wine.”

Moussaka, flaming saganaki, lamb shanks, grilled fish of the day, spanakopita, salmon souvlaki, and several kinds of kebabs are on the menu. Mezze, or appetizers, include skordalia and feta cheese with spices. There’s also a pizza bar with pizza from a wood-fired oven. Remezo is open for lunch and dinner daily.

Information: 9956 Escort Drive, Deerfield Township.  513-972-8045; remezo.webs.com

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Alexander Coolidge reports:

Department stores and specialty retailers are expanding a smorgasbord of shopping options for families full from Thanksgiving Day dinners.

Desperate to maximize sales in a shortened holiday season, more retailers are opening their doors on Thanksgiving rather than waiting for the traditional “Black Friday” kickoff for year-end shopping. For the first time in its 155 years, Cincinnati-based Macy’s will open its stores on the holiday. Others have expanded their Thanksgiving Day hours as well.

• Gas prices up just in time for Thanksgiving

The expanded holiday hours are not without critics. Some are upset at the erosion of a family holiday and have threatened to boycott stores.

But retailers are running scared amid a fickle, fragile economic recovery in which consumer confidence is at a two-year low.

“The consumer is not back yet,” said Andy Stout, managing director of investments at the Financial Network Group in Symmes Township. “The economy is good for the haves, but not so good for the have-nots who are not seeing an improvement in their lives.”

Fall retail results, meanwhile, have been mixed as well.

While sales were stronger for higher-end retailers like Nordstrom, Dillard’s and Macy’s, others haven’t been so lucky.

Both Kohl’s and Wal-Mart missed sales forecasts.

Now, most of them are hoping a Thanksgiving opening will give sales a boost as the year ends.

Several local malls technically will be closed, but common areas will be open for shoppers to visit individual retailers doing business.

Here’s a sampling of who’s open and when:

• Macy’s: Opens at 8 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day and stays open all night, closing at 10 p.m. on Friday.

• Dillard’s: Closed on Thanksgiving Day. Opens at 8 a.m. on Friday and closes 9 p.m.

• J.C. Penney: Opens at 8 p.m. on Thanksgiving and closes at 9 p.m. on Friday.

• Kohl’s: Opens at 8 p.m. on Thursday and closes at 12 a.m. Saturday.

• Nordstrom: Closed on Thanksgiving. Opens 9 a.m. until 9 p.m. Friday.

• Kroger: Open until 5 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day, and reopens at 7 a.m. Friday.

• Wal-Mart: Even non-24-hour stores will open for regular business on Wednesday morning and remain open 24 hours a day until 8 p.m. Christmas Eve.

• Sears: Opens at 8 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day and closes 10 p.m. on Friday.

• Kmart: Opens at 6 a.m. on Thursday and closes at 11 p.m. on Friday.

• Meijer: Open around the clock as usual. Meijer closes one day a year: on Christmas.

• Target: Opens at 8 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day and closes at 11 p.m. on Friday.

• H.H. Gregg: Opens at 8 p.m. on Thursday and closes at 10 p.m. on Friday.

• Best Buy: Opens at 6 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day and closes at 10 p.m. on Friday.

• Dick’s Sporting Goods: Opens at 8 p.m. Thursday and closes at 10 p.m. on Friday.

• Toys R Us: Opens 5 p.m. on Thursday and closes at 10 p.m. on Friday.

• Build-A-Bear-Workshop: Opens at 8 p.m. on Thursday and closes at 10 p.m. on Friday.

For holiday revelers tired of eating, shopping and possibly of each other, the region’s four casinos – Horseshoe Casino Cincinnati, Hollywood Casino Lawrenceberg, Rising Star Casino Resort and Belterra Casino Resort & Spa – are all open 24 hours a day through the holiday.

 

Check out the ads in Thursday’s paper

Pick up a copy of The Enquirer this Thanksgiving to find Black Friday savings from our retail partners.
The biggest books this year: Macy’s, 106 pages; J.C. Penney, 72 pages; Sears, 64 pages; and Wal-Mart, 40 pages.
All inserts are included in home delivery and single-copy papers in Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana.

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The Enquirer

Greater Cincinnati entrepreneurs expect 2014 to be a good year for business and hiring, according to a survey by the Entrepreneurs’ Organization.

The survey found that 84 percent of local entrepreneurs believe they will see increased profits in the coming year, and 60 percent expect to hire more full-time employees.

“The results from the survey underscores that Cincinnati businesses are thriving despite the current economic climate,” said Joseph Stewart, president of Cincinnati’s charter of the Entrepreneurs’ Organization. “We expect our businesses to continue growing, and we expect the market to rebound in a positive way.”

The survey included 43 Cincinnati-area companies with at least $1 million in annual revenue and sizable impacts on the local economy.

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