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Showing posts with label food. Show all posts
Showing posts with label food. Show all posts

Wednesday, August 29, 2012

NEWS ROUND-UP -- WEDNESDAY EVENING 29 AUGUST


THE RIVER CITY NEWS MORE COVINGTON NEWS THAN ANY OTHER SOURCE
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by Michael Monks 
Email Michael
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ERLANGER SCOFFS AT MERGED DISPATCH CENTER
The City of Erlanger is not anxious to join the City of Covington and other in the new consolidated Kenton County 911 emergency dispatch center:
“The bottom line is this, this is Erlanger’s position on dispatch. Erlanger will continue to dispatch its emergency services, and those who are partner cities that choose to remain for as long as it is economically possible,” (Erlanger Mayor Tom) Rouse said. “If and when the new system becomes as good as our system and as efficient with the money, we will consider joining. And that’s been our position all along.”
Full story: Cincinnati Enquirer/Libby Cunningham 
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WHAT'S UP WITH THIS SINKHOLE ON RUSSELL STREET?
A reader emailed The River City News and said that this apparent sinkhole has just been all sinkin' and holin' on Russell Street between Fifth & Sixth since March:

Anyone know why this hasn't been attended to?
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DON'T MISS WEDNESDAY MORNING'S NEWS!
Should Covington Schools drug-test its students? A public meeting tonight discusses the issue; Whoa... how much did you pay for gas this morning?; Plus, a fall fashion show tonight in Downtown Covington. Those stories and much more at the link.
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QUICKIES
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KY homeowners are benefiting from foreclosure settlement Jack Conway 
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Tropical storm Isaac could affect Kentucky agriculture, livestock Lane Report 
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KY electrical line workers head to Gulf Coast to help out WKYT 
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81-year old KY man charged in shooting death AP 
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Sec. of State Grimes makes Nov. 6 official date for special election to fill Geoff Davis's Congressional seat press release
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Sen. McConnell downplays Ron Paul rift in GOP WFPL 
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Anti-tax pundit Grover Norquist previews what a US Senate would like with Sen. McConnell as majority leader WFPL 
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Gov. Beshear names a new chief of staff Bluegrass Politics 
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Governor creates task force to tackle substance abuse, mental health issues among veterans press release 
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White House puts Hardin County in drug initiative Herald-Leader 
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Kenton Co. Library creates scary video Cincinnati Enquirer 
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Assistant attorney general urges students to fight bullying WKYT 
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Cincinnati Port Authority begins landbanking effort Cincinnati Enquirer 
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Grant will help NKU retain STEM students NKU 
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KY State Fair attendance down slightly State-Journal 
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Thoroughbred leaders: KY drug rules being held hostage Herald-Leader 
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State taking orders for fifty kinds of trees Herald-Leader 
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MAN CHARGED IN KIDNAPPING WANTS TO DUMP COVINGTON LAWYER
A guy accused of abducting a shopper at the Crestview Hills Town Center last year says he can't get along with his attorney:
Joseph Weir interrupted his own competency hearing Tuesday in federal court by raising his left hand, showing off a blue-colored cast decorated with a UK logo, and asked that lawyer F. Dennis Alerding be removed.
“Trying to have a conversation with Mr. Alerding just doesn’t seem possible,” Weir said. “I don’t feel like I’m being represented in a serious manner.”
Weir gave U.S. Magistrate Judge Candace Smith a list of grievances that included allegations Alerding cursed and told him, “If you don’t like me, why don’t you just fire me.”
Full story: Cincinnati Enquirer/Jim Hannah
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MEETING SET FOR NEXT WEEK ABOUT FUTURE FOOD TRUCK EVENTS
Via C'est Cheese mobile food truck:

 ...the plan is to do them monthly. The team that puts them on and the participating trucks are supposed to be meeting next week to discuss future logistics. I'll be sure to publicize dates as soon as they're set! 
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WORK ON MAINSTRASSE POPEYE'S MOVING ALONG
The folks opening the new Popeye's at Fifth & Main Streets are wasting no time in getting the former Skyline Chili location in order...


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HISTORICAL MARKER TO HONOR BLACK SETTLEMENT OF STONETOWN
A new historical marker will go up in Scott County:
The Kentucky Historical Society (KHS) will dedicate a historical marker to honor the African-American settlement of Stonetown at 2 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 9, at 176 Stonetown Road in Stamping Ground.

In the 1780s, slaves were brought to Scott County with their white owners as part of the “traveling church,” a Baptist exodus from Virginia. After the Civil War, they purchased land and settled in Stonetown. The community had a school and two churches, one of which, the First Baptist Church, is still open today. In 1877, many former slaves moved farther west to newly formed Nicodemus, Kan.

This marker dedication is part of a weekend-long celebration of the 135th anniversary of that migration from Kentucky to Kansas. Descendants of those early settlers; Angela Bates, executive director of the Nicodemus Historical Society; and Kent Whitworth, executive director of the Kentucky Historical Society, will be in attendance.
Via press release.
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HOT DOG! CINCINNATI IS NUMBER ONE!
Eat it, Chicago!
Crain’s Chicago Business and Food Genius, a Chicago-based food data analytics company, paired up to see where Chicago ranked in terms of hot dog availability. Chicago ranked as the 28th Top Hot Dog City, with only 1.2 percent of menus containing hot dog items, according to Food Genius’s database of restaurant menus. The Queen City, and we should all be proud of this, ranked No. 1. Nearly 7.3 percent of our restaurant menus contain hot dog items.
Full story: Business Courier/Tom Demeropolis 
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Thursday, August 23, 2012

COVINGTON LANDING COMES BACK TO LIFE DURING FOOD TRUCK EVENT

THE RIVER CITY NEWS MORE COVINGTON NEWS THAN ANY OTHER SOURCE
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by Michael Monks 
Email Michael
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Covington Landing sprung back to life Thursday afternoon as several mobile food vendors and street food stand operators encircled the mostly dormant spot on the Ohio River. The street eats event, sponsored by Renaissance Covington and the BLDG, was very well attended and all the vendors sold out. Food trucks won approval from the City Commission earlier this month to operate on privately owned property during lunchtime hours, though this particular event was held with special permission. Lots of workers from nearby buildings, particularly the IRS, seemed to enjoy eating outside along the river, taking in the view of Cincinnati and the Ohio River murals. It was a great time! Nice to see some life on the Landing - what a terrific location.
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Thursday, August 9, 2012

NEWS ROUND-UP -- THURSDAY MORNING 9 AUGUST

THE RIVER CITY NEWS MORE COVINGTON NEWS THAN ANY OTHER SOURCE
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by Michael Monks 
Email Michael
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THE FUTURE OF CODE ENFORCEMENT, COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
The City of Covington hosts a public forum tonight on the future of code enforcement and community development based on recommendations made by outside consultants Management Partners and also based on projected budget constraints. Could code enforcement be outsourced away from City Hall? Will there no longer be a community development director? The discussion starts at 6:00PM at City Hall inside Commission Chambers. The River City News will have it covered for you.
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SCHOOL BOARD MEETING WILL DISCUSS BUDGET, TAX INCREASE
At Thursday afternoon's school board meeting, expect to hear some discussion on the budget and the proposed 4% increase in the district's share of property taxes. The River City News will have it covered for you.
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UPDATE: CANDIDATE FUNDRAISING IN COVINGTON
As the fall campaign starts to pick up in pace, let's see who's got the most cash to spend:
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MAYOR
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Sherry Carran reported raising (including self-contributions) $17,855 and as of late July had just over $3,300 left. 
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Steve Casper reported raising (including self-contributions) $10,450 and as of late July had just over $1,900 left.
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CITY COMMISSION
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Chuck Eilerman reported raising (including self-contributions) $14,245 and as of late July had just under $2,400 left.
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Steve Frank reported raising (including self-contributions) $15,701 and as of late July had just over $6,500 left.
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Greg Paeth reported raising (including self-contributions) $6,195 and as of late July had just over $2,800 left.
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Michelle Williams reported raising  (including self-contributions) $2,557 and as of late July had just over $500 left.
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Candidates Ed Faulkner, Neil Gilreath, Roger Hamilton, and Mildred Rains have yet to report any fundraising or only reported a small self-contribution.
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The next campaign finance reports are due October 5.
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DON'T MISS WEDNESDAY EVENING'S NEWS!
Check out which homes won this year's Covington beautification awards; Graduation rates are up across the Commonwealth, including a small gain at Holmes; Plus, why there are probably more spiders lurking in your home RIGHT NOW! Those stories and more at the link.
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FOOD TRUCK EXPANDS TO OFFER BURGERS AT DOWNTOWN WINDOW
One of the food trucks that participated in Covington's Food Truck Invasion, Cafe de Wheels, is expanding into immobile service:
Owner Tom Acito said he will soon be opening Base Camp 1, a burger window at Dive Bar on Short Vine in Corryville. He’ll still take the food truck to Fountain Square, events and other locations. But this space doubles his ability to sell burgers, and he’ll move his commissary there as well.
Full story: Cincinnati Enquirer/Polly Campbell 
Cafe de Wheels in Covington
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QUICKIES
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State retiree says legislators should put on their "man pants" and deal with the pension problem cn|2 
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WATCH: Kentucky school's surveillance video captures footage of when a tornado ripped through it last spring WYMT 
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Powerball jackpot grows larger for Saturday's drawing WKYT 
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WHAT TO DO THIS WEEKEND IN COVINGTON
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Friday
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Xanadu the Musical opens at The Carnegie
Beautiful Greek muse Kira has journeyed from Mt. Olympus to Venice Beach, California in a quest to inspire struggling chalk artist Sonny to create the most resplendent and staggering work of art the world has ever known… the roller disco! But can Sonny capture the imagination of a jaded landlord to save his disco from the wrecking ball, and will Kira’s jealous muse sisters destroy Sonny and Kira’s forbidden love?
Roll up your leg warmers for an “all-skate” of funny and feel-good '80s pop-rock pandemonium,featuring musical hits including “Magic,” “All Over The World,” “Suddenly” and “Evil Woman.”
Tickets $19 - $26
For dates and times, click here 
SEE ALSO: Xanadu's director is profiled in City Beat 
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Mother of God yard sale all weekend
Come and bring your friends to the church yard sale for an interesting and unique assortment of items. It will be held August 10 and 11, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and August 12, from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. here at Mother of God.
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High School football returns with scrimmage tonight between Holy Cross and Scott. The game starts in Taylor Mill at 7:00PM.
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SATURDAY
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Backpack Giveaway in Mainstrasse
Northern Kentucky’s largest school backpack and school supply giveaway will be 9-11 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 11, in Goebel Park at Fifth and Philadelphia streets in Covington’s MainStrasse.
At the 12th annual Backpacks and Breakfast some 900 backpacks loaded with school supplies will be distributed to school children from low-income families.
Full story: Community Recorder 
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Helentown Neighborhood Picnic
Saturday on Garrard Street between Fifteenth and Patton. It starts at 12:30PM and lasts until 3:30PM. 
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SUNDAY
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A Day in Rabbit Hash Click Here 
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OBSCURE WORDS FOR PEOPLE WHO COLLECT OBSCURE THINGS
Interesting:

1. Sucrologists collect those little sugar packets that you see in restaurants.

Read more: Mental Floss 
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Monday, July 30, 2012

NEWS ROUND-UP -- MONDAY MORNING 30 JULY

THE RIVER CITY NEWS MORE COVINGTON NEWS THAN ANY OTHER SOURCE
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by Michael Monks 
Email Michael
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TRUCK DISCUSSION LEADS TO PLANS TO PATRONIZE OTHER BUSINESSES
A lengthy thread emerged at The River City News Facebook page following the posting of this editorial:
Boy, things sure got testy when Downtown Covington welcomed some food trucks Friday afternoon. Is Covington ready to eat standing up? An editorial at the link.
Full story: Food Fight: Shut the Truck Up 
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In the comments that followed, several people while showing support for food trucks in Covington also wanted to set aside special days to patronize brick-&-mortar businesses en masse. The first event that emerged from the discussion at RCN is this Saturday at Bread & Spice, a terrific little bakery/lunch spot on Pike Street. Click the link below for more details and plan to join us!
Patronize Bread & Spice 
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The Tinney Family, operators of Bread & Spice
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THE SUNDAY EDITION
"Sure, Covington has the highway access, but the communities to the north on I-75 are mostly low to middle income." The retail consultant expands upon his findings in Covington exclusively at RCN. Plus, a look back at the week that was and a look ahead at the week that will be. The Sunday Edition is at the link!
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WEEKLY MUGSHOT ROUND-UP
Who's going to prison, who got probation, and who's still on the run? Your weekly mugshot round-up from a busy week at the Kenton County Courthouse is at the link.
Full story: Mugshot Round-Up 
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QUICKIES
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37 Kenton Co families dealing with flooded property are still waiting nearly a year for lifeboats Cincinnati Enquirer 
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Farmers face paltry yield, hay shortage Herald-Leader 
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Visual impact of the 2012 drought across the country Facebook 
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KY Agriculture Commissioner James Comer talks about the drought on FOX News 
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Coal industry sheds jobs, leaving Eastern KY economy in tatters Herald-Leader 
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Congress may raise minimum wage to $9.80 Business First 
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Blood donations reach 15-year low WXIX 
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Ft. Thomas soldier memorialized for sacrificing life Cincinnati Enquirer 
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KY man killed by falling rock while camping WLWT 
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Bear sightings shut down KY camp ground WKYT 
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Gov. Beshear, Lt. Gov. Abramson, Sen. Paul no-shows at this year's Fancy Farm Herald-Leader 
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Where are all the Democrats for this year's Fancy Farm? cn|2 
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Western KY University to allow guns on campus in parked cars WKYT 
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Yearling training is Kindergarten for horses Herald-Leader 
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THEFT VICTIM SAYS KY LAW IS TOO LENIENT AFTER SUSPECT IS LET GO
Imagine the police knocking on your door and telling you that they caught someone breaking into your vehicle... but that they were only going to be able to write the guy a ticket and then let him go:
Proponents of the law that passed back in February, 2011 say House Bill 463 will reduce Kentucky's prison population by more than 3000 inmates over the next 10 years and save hundreds of millions of dollars in corrections costs, but critics say it creates a bigger cost. "Police officers hands are tied," former homicide detective Don Evans said, "With this House Bill, it tells officers that they shall issue citations for a lot of the crimes that they deal with now as opposed to make arrests even if the officer feels like an arrest is more appropriate, their hands are tied. They can't."
Full story with video: WKYT 
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SOCIAL WORKER: THE POOR HAVE BEEN PUSHED FROM OVER-THE-RHINE
A social worker in Cincinnati has written a book called Econocide that focuses on the gentrification of OTR and the effect it has had on the poor:
Washington Park’s renovation is coordinated with the removal of services for the poor and removal of affordable housing units from the area around it. There is no permanent supportive housing in Census Tract 9 (the area immediately surrounding Washington Park). In 2009, there were changes in the city zoning laws: a homeless shelter (the Drop Inn Center) can’t be located adjacent to a school (School for Creative & Performing Arts). The overall goal is to eliminate the economic “other” by removing their housing and their services.
Full story: Cincinnati Enquirer/Mark Curnutte 
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DOWNTOWN COVINGTON BUSINESS WANTS IDEAS FOR NEW PAINT JOB
C-Forward, a tech company prominently located at Fifth & Madison in Downtown Covington is planning to repaint its building, and it's asking for suggestions for colors. 
Do you have suggestions for them? Join the discussion at C-Forward's Facebook page.
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WE INTERRUPT THIS NEWS REPORT FOR AN INTERNET MEME
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We now return to our regularly scheduled news report...
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MOVE. BREATHE. GROW. COVINGTON.
A new Covington-related group has popped up on Facebook:
The Vision of Move. Breathe. Grow. Covington is: Covington, a vibrant, active, and green community where the healthy choice is the easy choice.
Follow the group on Facebook: Click Here 
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CAN YOU SAY "TOY BOAT" TEN TIMES FAST?
Of course you can't. How about three times fast? Nope. Why? 
When you read the first sentence of this article, you understood a command to say "toy boat" three times in rapid succession. One region of your brain read the words and formulated the command. You then made the decision whether or not to follow the command. If you chose to follow it, another region of your brain understood the written words and began the process of speaking the words you read.
This process is no small matter. Your diaphragm has to produce the proper amount of pressure to form the word. Your vocal cords relax or contract, depending on the words. And then there's your tongue. Signals from your brain tell your tongue what to do based on what you've learned during your cognitive development of speech.
More on the fascinating science behind tongue twisters at the link.
Discovery Health 
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Toy boat...Toy boit... tie b - Wow.
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Sunday, July 29, 2012

FOOD FIGHT: SHUT THE TRUCK UP

THE RIVER CITY NEWS MORE COVINGTON NEWS THAN ANY OTHER SOURCE
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I had a bee sting on Friday afternoon and I'm not sorry about it. Bee sting is the clever name given to a sandwich made by mobile food truck C'est Cheese (they're good at clever names). It was a tough call given all the options Friday afternoon when the City of Covington welcomed a buffet of food trucks to introduce Downtown to the new type of food choices that will soon be available thanks to zoning laws that are being relaxed. Put mozzarella, pepperoni, basil, chili butter, and honey and cook it all between two perfectly toasted slices of Tuscan pane and you got yourself a bee sting. And an awesome lunch.
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And lots of people had an awesome lunch Friday. Four hundred orders were taken at the four vendors that made up the Food Truck Invasion as promoted by Renaissance Covington and the BLDG. The bee sting was popular and so were burgers at Cafe de Wheels, grilled paneer at EAT! Mobile Dining, and salsa and tacos at Gomez Salsa and Tacos. The energy was just as good as the food. It was a perfect day to eat outside and for once there was a feeling of excitement in Downtown Covington and people actually came from elsewhere to take in the event.
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I couldn't wait to hear people's reaction to the Invasion and to the prospect of the trucks operating in the City more frequently. C'est Cheese took to Twitter to report, "Kickin butt in Covington! Thanks to all who stopped by - we're having a BLAST!!" and included this photo:
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Cafe de Wheels also acknowledged the enthusiastic reception on its Twitter page, saying, "Just sayin. Covington rocked the food trucks this afternoon. Yeah". A photo celebrating the event was posted to The River City News Facebook page which received mostly positive reaction from some who attended and some who wish they had. But then, other news and reaction started rolling in surrounding the Food Truck Invasion. Turns out that there were more than a few people upset about it. Those people must not have had a bee sting.
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Just as the event was beginning, the owner of a long-standing sit-down restaurant near the parking lot where the Food Truck Invasion invaded approached one of the organizers and railed against it before being calmed down and ultimately leaving, only to return a second time for an encore presentation. Bill Wainscott, operator of another nearby restaurant, the Backstage Cafe, posted to Renaissance Covington's Facebook page, "Why not come over to Backstage Cafe and lock my doors while you are there. Our food is better, and you don't have to stand to eat. What a great idea, why not just shove a knife in my back?"
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Goodfellas Pizzeria, a new restaurant in Mainstrasse Village, posted at The River City News Facebook page, "Brick and mortar businesses aren't always a big fan of the food trucks. The brick and mortar will plant roots and help build up a town. Where the food trucks come in and cherry pick the busy hours. In the long run this will effect the local restaurants you know and love."
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After the comment from Goodfellas, I started to question my position on the Invasion. I talked to a few friends, neighbors, and business owners and while most were as confused as I by the intensity of the negative reaction, a few agreed. Maybe the idea of unleashing food trucks on a public programmed only to eat in a sitting position should be parked. Was Covington really ready to eat standing up? Everything I knew about the world began to crumble like that unforgettable Tuscan pane.
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But then I got hungry again. Only trouble was, this time it was Saturday and the food trucks were gone because the Invasion only lasted three hours and they won't be back until the zoning laws change. I had to do something unthinkable and eat at a bricks-&-mortar restaurant. I mean, what is this? 2009? Fortunately, I live in Covington and there is an endless supply and variety of great places to eat. Even better, I live on Main Street and can actually walk to many of these places. I felt so momentarily anti-food truck that I wasn't even going to drive myself for lunch. 
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Did you know that DJ's Sandwich Shop, the just-opened, well, sandwich shop in Mainstrasse, wraps fried chicken inside a waffle? Did you know that? Well, they do. Walking home with breakfast-meets-lunch-in-a-bag, I dwelled on the sandwich's name. Winner Winner Chicken Dinner. See? One can be clever even without 4-wheel drive. Two bites into this delightful abomination and my mind was made up. Covington has awesome food and we are mere weeks away from having more awesome food. Food sold from inside a truck. Why would anyone be against this?
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When these food trucks are given the green light there will be more choice in Covington for lower-cost, good-tasting food. Most of these meals cost less than seven dollars. The food trucks are going to take business from brick-&-mortar restaurants but I would bet that it's not Backstage Cafe or Goodfellas that need to worry. These trucks are going to be appealing to people who would otherwise drop five or seven bucks at McDonald's or Burger King. Maybe they will even appeal to brown-baggers. But if people want to sit down for a meal, they are going to come to a place where they can do that.
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Locations in Covington that have little to no dining options during the workday will now have some, and that is the real benefit. Think about the industrial park in South Covington or the thousands of workers at the IRS who crunch numbers all day in the shadow of nothing but signs advertising awful creations like Doritos Locos Taco Supreme. Think about the hundreds of people at the Carnegie Visual & Performing Arts Center on any given night during the run of a show with absolutely nowhere in walking distance to eat before or after. 
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Covington is not a big city but it does have a big appetite and serves up thousands of meals a day to workers and visitors and the Food Truck Invasion brought even more people Downtown that otherwise would not have come and now they are aware of other places to eat because of that. Nobody is shoving a knife in the back of the Backstage Cafe but there are now potentially more customers aware of the Backstage's existence and maybe they will soon shove a knife in one of its entrees. 
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Renaissance Covington responded to negative reaction on its Facebook page saying, "Renaissance Covington used the event as an opportunity to bring energy into the urban core. And it did that. We passed out the downtown maps which list and detail all retail, restaurant and service businesses in the downtown in a professionally printed map (that was no cost to the businesses). We got some good press. We had a captive audience. ...I'll add that it was in partnership with another downtown business. We are always happy to help support ideas and events that businesses would like to work towards that promote downtown Covington."
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Bingo. This was a one-time kick-off event that definitely bogarted the Downtown buzz for an afternoon, but what buzz would there have been otherwise? I recommended the bee sting earlier and now let me recommend something else: ideas. They're good to have, too, and, perhaps ironically, often come while driving. Downtown businesses are encouraged to have promotional ideas, too, and I am sure the City or Renaissance would be thrilled to collaborate. 
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Something new and exciting happened on Friday and Covington needed it. Let's try it again and see what happens. My prediction is that the food trucks will be a welcomed addition to various parts of town. Also, the existing brick-&-mortar spots both new and old may even see an increase in customers as buzz grows around this cool new thing. Did I mention that people came from elsewhere to eat at this Invasion? They are going to come back and it won't always be for a meal on wheels. Did you know we now have a restaurant putting fried chicken inside a waffle? Did you know that?
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Saturday, July 28, 2012

NEWS ROUND-UP -- SATURDAY 28 JULY

THE RIVER CITY NEWS MORE COVINGTON NEWS THAN ANY OTHER SOURCE
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by Michael Monks 
Email Michael
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FOOD TRUCK EVENT EARNS ENTHUSIASTIC RECEPTION, HIGH ATTENDANCE
Covington's first foray into food trucks was a blast, with hundreds of orders taken Friday afternoon by the five trucks. The Food Truck Invasion, sponsored by Renaissance Covington and the BLDG was to introduce the City to that type of food vendor as the city commission prepares to relax zoning laws that previously prohibited them. When able to open full-time, the trucks will likely appear around parts of Downtown Covington that do not have a lot of food choices, such as where the IRS is located. The operator of one food truck was surprised at how well-attended the event was and told The River City News that she can't wait to return to Covington. PHOTOS:
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NOTES FROM THE COVINGTON SCHOOL BOARD MEETING
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SEE PREVIOUSLY: School District considers drug-testing students 
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Budget to be discussed
The School Board will have an extensive session on August 9 to discuss the budget for the upcoming school year. "You will all be pleased with where we are financially at the end of the year," said superintendent Lynda Jackson. Those numbers were not readily available at Thursday night's meeting because of the accountant's vacation but will be presented August 9.
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Program contract awarded, but not unanimously
The board awarded a contract for the 2012-13 school year that is not exceed $75,000 to Flaugher & Associates which will serve as the local evaluator of the programs and initiatives of the Leadership Resiliency Program, the Covington Mentoring Program, and Fitness Rocks under the Twenty-first Century Community learning Center grants and the Carol M. White grant. Board members Krista Powers voted against the contract's approval. "We are quite pleased with the programmatic evaluation services rendered; however, given the magnitude of work we do with (Flaugher) for many years now, I believe we could have a candid conversation about our budget, our needs, and where Flaugher & Associates fits into the picture with an outcome of reducing the maximum cost permitted for service, at the least," Powers said. The contract was not awarded through a competitive bid process because this particular item does not require that.
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Another contract was awarded Thursday night, this one to Cintas for fire protection services, including the manual inspection of the district's fire extinguishers. The district did offer a competitive bid process that came down to Cintas and Silco, the company that had previously provided services, but Cintas will be able to perform the tasks at a 40% lower cost than previously paid.
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Holmes students improve performance on AP tests, courses
Holmes High School showed improvement on this year's AP tests. Three ninth graders passed the AP human geography class earning college credit. "That's never happened before, so we're excited about that," said Marian Benavides, the school's AP/IB coordinator. Additionally, it had been "many years" according to Benavides since students passed the AP English test but two passed this year. Two also passed a "very tough" AP history exam. 
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Congratulations to the graduates of the Adult High School
Two students were recognized at Thursday night's school board meeting for graduating from the Adult High School. Tyler Lindsey, who hopes to study music at an arts program, and Joshua Jarvis, the first in his family to earn a high school diploma who now intends to go to Morehead State, are now high school graduates.
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Summer program success highlighted
"People are blown away by this program," said Stacy Strotman, who lead the school district's summer program which is a partnership with the City offering academic and recreational curriculum for five weeks after school ends. Strotman said that the data collected during the program will be compared to the participating students' academic achievement in the previous spring and in the upcoming fall. "We have a foundation in place to make this summer program bigger and better each year." Individual students were recognized as "employees of the month". The student-workers are all Holmes students or recent graduates.
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Board chairperson Glenda Huff suggested that a presentation on the program be made at a City Commission meeting so that they can see where their dollars are going.
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Board member would like to see dress code enforced
While meeting with Governor Beshear's education secretary Joe Meyer and others, school board member Mike Fitzgerald discussed whether Holmes graduates are job-ready upon graduating. One way to improve upon any struggles in that area would be more strict enforcement of the school's dress code, Fitzgerald said, to give the students an idea of order and structure. Ken Kippenbrock, director of pupil personnel, explained that dress code decisions are made by each school's site-based council.
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DON'T MISS FRIDAY'S NEWS!
A Covington school will have to start the new year without its playground; Delta to cease operations of Comair; Plus, News anchor and Covington resident Katherine Nero discusses her breast cancer diagnosis. Those stories and more at the link. 
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QUICKIES
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Woman sentenced for threatening to kill Sen. Mitch McConnell Herald-Leader 
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McConnell discusses Kentucky's drought with Agriculture Secretary WFPL 
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Gov. Beshear's statement on Comair being shut down Business Courier 
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Delta wants to negotiate Comair separation as quickly as possible Business Courier 
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What does Comair departure mean for CVG airport? Business Courier 
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"Deny everything" said ex-Bengal cheerleader and NKY teacher to boy she's accused of having sex with WLWT 
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Allegations that he had sexual contact with a 13-year old boy forces popular Zumba instructor to lose license Herald-Leader 
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Wanted Kenton Co insurance agent who was accused of bilking elderly out of half million dollars found dead in barn WKRC 
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Two KY mothers join in campaign to prevent pill abuse Deseret News 
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NKY cable customers losing NFL Network Cincinnati Enquirer 
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Sanctions against KY lawyer rejected on free speech grounds Courier-Journal 
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NKU students get high tech education, jobs PC Advisor 
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What changes in Over-the-Rhine mean for long-standing residents Urban Cincy 
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Kings Island dismantling Son of Beast roller coaster Cincinnati Enquirer 
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WHISTLEBLOWER SAYS CAMPBELL LODGE RETALIATED AGAINST THEM
This story gets worse and worse:
The lawsuit was filed Thursday in Campbell Circuit Court by the home’s former therapists Jennifer Rush and Shane Donohue, along with the director of equine-assisted services, Mary Oldiges, and equine specialist Regina Bach.
(snip)
The children at the home, licensed to care for 24 at a time, were removed after the Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services investigated the whistleblowers’ claims. The home then laid off about 50 employees and fired Jones, who earned $96,652 per year. The suit echoes the findings of the state investigation. The home had a dangerous practice of improperly dispensing psychotropic medications and narcotics to the children. When the children acted out, the staff then handled them roughly.
Full story: Cincinnati Enquirer/Jim Hannah 
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KY COURTHOUSES TO CLOSE DOWN FOR FULL DAY ON AUGUST 6
As part of mandatory furlough days across the Commonwealth, the state court system will shut down on Monday, August 6. Via news release:
The Supreme Court of Kentucky has approved two orders that provide guidance on how the statewide court closures are to be implemented. While the two orders provide more detail, below is a summary of what the public and the law enforcement and legal communities should expect on furlough days:
• Trials and other court proceedings will not be scheduled on furlough days as there will be no staff available. Items already on the docket for those days will be rescheduled.
• Driver licenses will not be issued.• The Supreme Court will suspend its rule requiring pretrial officers to interview a defendant within 12 hours after incarceration. No Pretrial Services staff will be working on furlough days.• Deputy clerks will not be available to process bonds and no release orders will be issued.• Existing after-hours protocol will be followed for processing domestic violence orders (DVOs) and emergency protective orders (EPOs).• Local court designated workers will not be available. The Court Designated Worker Program will have a supervisor available to ensure that law enforcement adheres to its statutory requirements in cases involving the arrest and custody of juveniles.
• Technology Services staff will not be available to recover the CourtNet database in the event the system experiences an interruption in service.• County offices that share space with the state court system in courthouses and judicial centers will not be affected.
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Chief Justice of KY Supreme Court reacts:
“As chief justice, I find it disheartening that I can no longer assure you that the courts in Kentucky will be open when you need them,” Minton said in a statement. “For the first time in modern history, we will have to close every courthouse in the state to balance the Judicial Branch budget. For three days in 2012, we must furlough all court personnel and close all courthouse doors because the General Assembly has not allotted enough money to fund court operations at current levels.
“The 4.3 million people in Kentucky generate nearly 1.1 million court cases each year. To meet that demand, the Judicial Branch needs only about 3 percent of the state budget. Yet since 2008 our court system has experienced a cumulative budget reduction of 48 percent. “
Full story: Herald-Leader/Jack Brammer 
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CHICK-FIL-A CONTROVERSY HITS KENTUCKY CAMPUS
The anti-gay marriage remarks by the CEO of Chick-fil-A has spawned protests and boycotts across the country and now both the President and Provost at the University of Louisville have vowed not to eat at the campus location:
U of L spokesman Mark Hebert says the university is not officially boycotting the restaurant, but that Ramsey an Willinganz have made a personal decision to not patronize Chic-Fil-A anytime soon.

"The president and the provost feel very strongly about the statements that were made by the president of Chic-Fil-A. They found them very offensive and unnecessary," he says. "And that it goes against a number of their own personal views and they think the views of this campus as being a welcoming and tolerant campus."
Full story: WFPL/Phillip M. Bailey 
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NORTHERN KENTUCKY COMMUNITY ACTION COMMISSION YEAR IN REVIEW
In video:
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CARNEGIE RECOGNIZED IN THEATER SEASON RETROSPECTIVE
From CityBeat's Rick Pender:
Another local producer coming into its own is the Carnegie Visual and Performing Arts Center in Covington, which often creates shows by partnering with other organizations with positive results. Last fall it offered the area premiere of Sarah Ruhl’s award-winning script In the Next Room, or The Vibrator Play with CCM’s drama program, directed by Ed Cohen, a respected local director who came up through the community theater ranks and now works more frequently with university programs. This spring, the Carnegie collaborated with the Cincinnati Chamber Orchestra for a satisfying concert presentation of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s The King and I. However, my choice for the Carnegie’s best show of 2011-2012 was its own production of the down-home Pump Boys and Dinettes, a stage full of singers and musicians portraying folks who are just having a good ol’ time. Jared Doren directed it; Steve Goers provided music direction (and turned in a fine onstage performance personally) with able assistance from Brad Myers, lead guitarist with Ray’s Music Exchange.
Full story: CityBeat  | The disco ball rises at The Carnegie in anticipation of the upcoming musical production of Xanadu:
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SEE ALSO: VOLUNTEER!!!!! You can help make Art of Pike a great success this year and there is a party at the Carnegie today if you are interested Click Here 
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SEE ALSO: The Dog Days of Summer Art Fair in Rabbit Hash today Click Here 
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NAKED MAN FLEES MAYSVILLE HOSPITAL, STEALS CLOTHES, JEEP
Yep:
Maysville Police Sgt. Chris Neal says 34-year-old Justin Young didn't want to stay for treatment at Meadowview Regional Medical Center on Thursday, so he fled into a nearby corn field.
Full story: WLWT 
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