Brian Duffy Announcements

Burnet Woods Capital Campaign

The Cincinnati Park Board and Parks Foundation are excited to have received seed funding for a restricted fund to support the restoration and enhancement of Burnet Woods. This funding will kick off a 5-year capital campaign to raise the funds that are desperately needed to restore the park.

You are invited on Thursday, February 7th at 6pm to 8pm at the Trailside Nature Center in Burnet Woods for an informational evening with drinks and appetizers to unveil the campaign. Please feel free to share this invitation with any of your friends and neighbors who love our park and want to be part of making it the crown jewel of Clifton. 

The establishment of this restricted fund and the campaign are critical as prior to its creation there was no way to donate specifically for the restoration and enhancement of Burnet Woods. This is our opportunity as a community to come together in solidarity with the common a goal of making the park the best it can be for flora, fauna, fishermen/women, birds, bees, concrete slide lovers, bird watchers, invasive species-haters, outdoor lunch takers, yogis, concert-goers, hikers, and people that live, work and study in Clifton.

If you have questions, prior to the event, Jennifer H. Spieser’s (Executive Director of Cincinnati Parks Foundation) information can be found below and she is copied on this email.

Please RSVP to Bettina Bellucci by Tuesday, February 5th at bettina@cincinnatiparksfoundation.org.

Jennifer H. Spieser, Executive Director
Cincinnati Parks Foundation | 421 Oak Street, Cincinnati, OH, 45219
Office: (513) 861-0023, ext. 16 | Cell: (513) 515-1495
www.cincinnatiparksfoundation.org

Kevin Marsh Announcements, Uncategorized

Connecting with Clifton Town Meeting in 2019

Welcome to 2019! We recommend you bookmark this post as below are some key information about Clifton Town Meeting for your use.

Clifton Town Meeting (CTM) has a Board of 15 Trustees. The organization has a set of bylaws that govern its operation and action.

Your Trustees for 2019 are as follows:

Brad Hawse – President
Pat Borders – Vice President 1
Joyce Rich – Vice President 2
Joe Brunner – Secretary
Buddy Goose – Treasurer
Peter Block
Christine Celsor
Brian Duffy
Rama Kasturi
Seth Maney
Gina Marsh
Kevin Marsh
Vince Metzger
Malcolm Montgomery
Peggy Spohr

There are many ways to interact, engage, volunteer, and communicate with CTM.

In person options

We have monthly Board meetings. The schedule is set every January at the first Board meeting of the year. Generally, the meetings are on the first Monday of the month from 7-9pm at the Clifton Recreation Center. Exact dates will be posted on the Clifton Community Calendar website page.

You can speak at these meetings on a specific topic or at the end of the meeting. Community members should sign up to speak on an agenda item before the start of the meeting. Not all agenda items will have time reserved for public input. Individual input on agenda items will be no more than two minutes. Community members are able to speak on non-agenda issues during the public questions and concerns agenda item. Individuals with statements are asked to sign in before the start of the meeting. Statements will be no more than three minutes during the questions and concerns agenda item.

CTM produces or co-sponsors some events each year.

2019 Event Captains (Event – Captain)

  • Memorial Day Parade/Cookout – Buddy Goose
  • Clifton Fest Booth – CTM Business Committee
  • Golf Outing – Eric Urbas
  • Lantern Walk – Vince Metzger
  • Holidays on Ludlow – Brad Hawse

All events are more successful when we have volunteers from the community to participate in planning or on the day of the event.  The Clifton House Tour is held every 3 years on Mother’s Day. Next Tour is 2021. Planning always starts in the year prior to the event.

CTM Committees are always seeking volunteers for specific activities or for longer-term participating in the work of the Committee. Your involvement, be it big or small, is welcome and desired.

Committees and Chairpersons for 2019

  • Committee – Chairperson
  • Beautification – Seth Maney
  • Business District – Joyce Rich & Gina Marsh
  • Chronicle – Vince Metzger
  • Website / Social Media – Brian Duffy
  • Membership – Kevin Marsh
  • Housing and Zoning – Malcolm Montgomery
  • Nominating – Patrick Borders
  • Clifton Community LLC – Brad Hawse & Buddy Goose
  • Transportation / Public Safety – Mike Schur
  • Parks – Rama Kasturi & Seth Maney
  • Education – Vince Metzger
  • Arts & Culture – Sean Mullaney

Ad Hoc Committees

  • Bylaws – Malcolm Montgomery
  • Fundraising – Brad Hawse
  • Save the CCAC – Malcolm Montgomery
  • Walking Routes – Kevin Marsh

Liaison Roles

  • Uptown / NOU – Joyce Rich
  • Invest In Neighborhoods – Buddy Goose
  • TriHealth – Brad Hawse
  • Clifton Community Fund – Joyce Rich
  • CPBA – Joyce Rich
  • UC Health – Rama Kasturi

Some of our Committees hold public engagement / discussion meetings to gather input on specific topics. These are announced in advance by email and put onto social media channels.

Membership

Our organization is always seeking the financial support of the community through a variety of membership options. You can start or renew a membership online by clicking here.  We run a more detailed membership drive effort each year as well describing the benefits of being a member. Memberships are for the calendar year and there are never any late fees! CTM is a 501c3 so your membership is considered a charitable contribution. Click here to renew or join as a member of CTM for 2019.

Emails to CTM

CTM has multiple emails that you can use to convey information, concerns, questions, volunteer, etc:
• Our primary email is contactctm@Cliftoncommunity.org. This email is monitored daily. Your email is forwarded to the most appropriate person or Committee for a response. When in doubt, use this email for all purposes.
• Financial matter to address with our Treasurer, please email ctmtreasurer@cliftoncommunity.org
• Matters dealing with Housing & Zoning, you can email the Committee directly at housingandzoning@cliftoncommunity.org
• Submit an article / photo for the Clifton Chronicle or wish to place an ad, you can email vblack1@cliftoncommunity.org

Emails from CTM

CTM has a subscriber, opt-in, email list that is used to send information & announcements related to Clifton. By signing up to receive these emails, you will enhance your connectedness to the community.  You can unsubscribe at any time. We never sell or share this list, and we do not email you constantly.  You will receive 2-5 emails a month including the monthly CTM meeting agenda. You can opt-in by clicking here.

Clifton Community Website

CTM maintains the Clifton Community website. This website contains a variety of news, calendar, public safety links, prior CTM meeting minutes, Clifton Chronicle issues, links to institutions & businesses in Clifton, and much more. There are links on the website to submit questions / concerns directly to CTM.

The Clifton Community Calendar has a moderated submission link that you can use to create entries for community events on the calendar.

Social Media

CTM operates various social media accounts:

• Facebook page – https://www.facebook.com/CliftonTownMeeting
• Twitter account – https://twitter.com/cliftontownmeet @cliftontownmeet
• NextDoor Clifton account – https://clifton.nextdoor.com/login

Social media “likes”, shares & retweets do not imply Board positions or agreement. We like to promote Clifton related events for the good of the community.

Postal Mail

We accept mail at PO Box 20042, Cincinnati, OH 45220. This is the slowest way to contact us.

Thank you. We look forward to seeing and hearing from you.

Kevin Marsh Announcements

Mount Storm Park Master Plan Funding

Dear Cliftonite:

Mount Storm Park is a treasure many of us in the neighborhood and across the region have enjoyed for decades. Over the last year, a group of us have been working on a project to develop a Master Plan to revitalize the park by restoring Adolph Strauch’s historic design.

Many will recall that Strauch was the Austrian landscape architect invited to Cincinnati by Robert Bowler (whose large estate is now Mount Storm Park) in 1850. Bowler admired Strauch’s landscape designs at the Royal Botanical Gardens in London and was taken by their pastoral feel, the placement of trees on the land that surprises and awes visitors. In addition to being the Cincinnati Parks’ first Superintendent and designer of Mount Storm and other estates along Lafayette Avenue, Strauch famously went on to design Spring Grove Cemetery.

The Cincinnati Parks Foundation, the Clifton Community Fund (the Parks’ Mt. Storm Advisory Council), and several generous individuals have donated to a restricted fund within the Foundation to develop a Master Plan for Mt. Storm that provides for moving, planting, and maintaining new trees in the mode of Strauch’s aesthetic; removing the dead trees and trimming existing ones; and cleaning up the invasive species crowding some of the Park area. The Plan for selection and location of plantings is being developed by the landscape architectural firm, Human Nature, and will be completed in January.

The Parks will contribute staff support and has already begun construction to reduce the size of the parking lot (without reducing parking spaces) to increase greenspace. Our goal is to have at least 2/3 of the planting completed before the end of 2019, including a redesign of the shelter house garden areas. Parks have estimated the budget for the project at approximately $70,000. $50,000 of that has been raised, and an ongoing fundraising campaign is being managed by the Foundation.

Contributions to this exciting project will honor and celebrate the extraordinary and often overlooked contribution nature, and trees in particular, make to our physical and mental health and to the wildlife that is supported by a well-designed greenspace. We see this as a legacy investment in our Parks, our children and grandchildren, and the planet; it is one sure thing we can do today for a better future for us
all.

All gifts are 100% tax-deductible, and gifts of any amount are appreciated. Larger donations of $1,000 or more will be honored with name recognition on a plaque within Mount Storm Park. Please click here to make a donation in support of Mt. Storm.

Sincerely,
Mary Jo Vesper & Bob Rack
Clifton Community Fund

Eric Urbas Announcements, Uncategorized

CTM Candidates for Trustee Bios – 2018

Below are the bios for candidates running for CTM Trustee at the upcoming elections on Monday, December 3 from 6-7pm. Elections will be held at the Clifton Recreation Center on the 2nd floor in the large meeting room. The Rec Center is universally accessible to all. Take the elevator or the stairs to the 2nd floor.

There five positions to be filled by the five candidates receiving the most votes.

Voting by proxy is prohibited in the CTM bylaws. You must be present to vote. It takes only a few minutes. You can pay your membership current prior to voting in advance or at the night of elections.

Joe Brunner

My name is Joe Brunner and I am seeking a Trustee position with Clifton Town Meeting. I have lived in Clifton since 2010, first on Amazon and now on Whitfield. My family and I have benefitted greatly from everything Clifton has to offer, from our business district on Ludlow to our parks, the CCAC, the library, and of course the great people. Clifton has both history that should be preserved, such as our architecture, walkable streets, and independent businesses, and room to grow and change, as is happening with CCAC and the development on the Howell street parking lot, for example. We love our neighborhood and I would be honored to have the opportunity to help preserve and grow our community by joining CTM. I am currently a lawyer at Vorys, Sater, Seymour and Pease downtown and have extensive experience working with individuals, businesses, nonprofits, and government entities to manage and resolve disputes and develop plans for future growth and success. I would love to be able to use my skills to help my neighborhood and community. Thank you.

 

Malcolm Montgomery

  • Passion, experience, results!  Lifetime of passion for protecting, enhancing Clifton, record of accomplishments, seasoned perspective complements new trustees. I believe that collaborating is not only the best way to get things done, but absolutely essential to strengthening the bonds of community.
  • VP two of the last three years, fought to save CCAC and guarantee good school for Clifton.  Sought unified “win-win” that would not fracture our community.   Currently chair CTM’s “Keep CCAC in Clifton.“
  • Chair bylaws committee to make CTM more responsive and accountable, see announcement this issue.
  • One of handful of Lifetime CTM Members. UC career in  Educational Technology, now consult pro bono. Volunteered over 1,000 hours during my current three-year term.  Also trustee 1990 and 2009.
  • public safety: police liaison, funding for hidden cameras to catch drug dealers, limiting side street traffic and speeding enforcement
  • to improve our quality of life and protect our property values – chaired CTM Housing and Zoning Committee, testified before City Zoning Commission and City Council for a more effective chronic nuisance law, for better zoning laws, for fairness in the enforcement of zoning regulations, and for neighborhood improvements.
  • With your vote, I can keep at it another three years!  Thanks!

 

Peggy Spohr

Hello CTM members! Always looking for ways to contribute to the beauty, livability, and richness of our community experience, I ask for your vote this year.  We are a neighborhood of eclectic tastes, architecture, and people, and I love every strand of our unique tapestry.  Many decades before I was born at Good Sam, and continuing until this very day, my family has lived and/or worked within a two-mile radius of Ludlow and Clifton.  Some amazing historic contributions from those early years are still with us, and many more are yet to evolve.  I hope to help grow our vibrant business district, enhance the sustainable lifestyle we all seek, and keep a mindful eye on the preservation of treasures we have inherited.  Please join me in supporting our neighborhood association with your on-going membership, and thank you for your vote.

Clifton Volunteer Work past 5 years:

  • Decorating Ludlow with holiday lights and greenery;
  • Planting bulbs at Richie’s;
  • Cleaning/weeding Plaza gardens;
  • Set-up for Memorial Day Parade;
  • Registration table at Clifton House Tour;
  • Honeysuckle Hit Squad in Burnet Woods;
  • CliftonFest 5K Race registration;
  • Attend Invest in Neighborhood Summit;
  • Submit proposals for use of NSP Funds;
  • Regularly attend monthly CTM meetings and community engagement sessions

 

Brian Duffy

I am a native Cincinnatian, originally from the West Side. My partner Chris and I have lived in Clifton for the past 11 years with our twin daughters Clare & Julia who are students at Fairview-Clifton German Language School. We also have a 12-year-old Goldendoodle named Ella. I attended UC and before that SCPA.

At home, I love gardening, I am a runner, have a great passion for the arts and architecture.

Professionally, I’m an executive at a Cincinnati based manufacturing company where I’ve worked for the last 20 years. As a senior leader in the organization, my expertise lies in customer experience, project management and distribution operations. I also run a small business providing the most unique lodging in Hocking Hills.

In choosing Clifton as our family home we came for the schools, architecture, arts, walkability, parks, and diverse community, all of which we believed to be the perfect place to raise our family. I’m most interested in preserving the arts in Clifton, working with CPS to ensure a smooth transition as CANS opens its doors, and the continued revitalization of the Clifton Business District.

Thank you for your consideration!

 

Peter Block

Given the craziness of the larger world, I am committed to bringing more cooperation to our neighborhood and city. It is what I have written about and made a living at. This is the overriding reason I am asking to be voted onto CTM again.

There are many questions in front of us which I would like to be a part of. We have to find a way to sustain Clifton Market. It is in our interests to  maintain the neighborhood engagement in the Howell Street Development, which will be starting up again in 2019. We want CCAC to stay as local as possible. We need to come together in caring for Burnet Woods and end the acrimony. The Ludlow business district is still vulnerable with too little foot traffic.

Plus, there are new opportunities to create a current Neighborhood Plan for Clifton, bring more visible art, murals, and gateway signage to the business district.

All of this requires participation from all of us. We need more civic engagement. There are still too few of us, as trustees, acting as if we know what the “neighborhood wants.” I would like to keep working on this.

Kevin Marsh Announcements

CliftonFest 2018

CliftonFest 2018 happens on Oct 5 evening and all day & night on Saturday, Oct 6. CTM is a proud sponsor of CliftonFest, and we hope that you will attend. There are local vendors selling original works of art, live music, two kids areas (Habanero Parking lot and Diggs Plaza), and chalk artists creating wonderful drawings before your eyes. Ludlow businesses are heavily involved in the event as well. The kick off on Friday evening brings two local bands to Clifton Plaza.

All the details are at CliftonFest.com.

You can volunteer to help on various small tasks throughout the event by clicking here.