To let West Chester and Liberty Township residents catch up with the news that they need to know, WestChesterBuzz.com will list and link to all of last week’s top local stories every Monday.
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The latest proposal for Liberty Center in Butler County’s Liberty Township shaves some retail in favor of increased space for office buildings and luxury apartments. Rendering provided.
Liberty Township retail project has new look – A Columbus developer returned to Butler County Thursday with a slightly revised plan for the $300 million shopping destination spot it wants to build in Liberty Township, Sheila McLaughlin reported for The Cincinnati Enquirer. Yaromir Steiner, founder and chief executive officer of Steiner + Associates, is counting on $35 million from the county and township to make improvements around the 100-acre site, at Liberty Way west of Interstate 75.
West Chester Hospital tax status case watched closely – Butler County and the cash-strapped Lakota Local School District stand to lose a combined $43 million over the next 18 years if West Chester Hospital’s charitable tax status is upheld, Sheila McLaughlin of The Cincinnati Enquirer reported. County commissioners are appealing the case to the Ohio Board of Tax Appeals, saying the county failed to receive a hearing on the matter. School officials are keeping an eye on it.
The Home Builders Association of Greater Cincinnati (HBA) held a groundbreaking ceremony for its Homearama 2013 location, Carriage Hill in Liberty Township, on Nov. 8, 2012. File photo.
Summer’s Homearama being delayed until July – The director of the Home Builders Association of Greater Cincinnati confirmed Thursday that due to unforeseen construction delays, that this summer’s Homearama at Carriage Hill in Liberty Township is being pushed back to July. It will be the latest summer Homearama, which will now take place July 13-28, in the 50-year history of the home showcase, according HBA executive director Dan Dressman. The event was previously scheduled to take place June 8-23.
Bridgewater Falls is back on the block – Fairfield Township’s upscale shopping center, Bridgewater Falls, is for sale. And this time it’s for a positive reason, Cindi Andrews reported for The Cincinnati Enquirer. Blue Ash-based Phillips Edison bought Bridgewater Falls out of foreclosure in 2010. It boosted occupancy to 97 percent and is now testing the possibility of cashing in on its investment.
Due to fire code, West Chester residents were forced to watch a zoning commission meeting March 18 in the lobby of Township Hall. More than 100 residents attended the meeting, many of them were against a proposed shopping center being built near homes.
Kroger Marketplace discussion to be revisited – Last month, a Blue Ash developer scrapped plans to bring a Kroger Marketplace to West Chester after local residents convinced the township’s zoning commission that it wasn’t good idea. The developer, Silverman and Company, is considering a new plan, but wanted to hear from their opposition first by hosting a public input meeting at the Wingate Inn Thursday. During that meeting, many residents continued to voice their concerns.
Larry Sykes named Lakota East girls’ basketball coach – Larry Sykes was named the Lakota East girls’ basketball coach Tuesday. Sykes, an assistant at Lakota East the past two seasons, was formerly the Purcell Marian head coach during the 2010-11 season. Sykes, 40, replaces Nikki Drew, who stepped down at the end of this past season in order to spend more time with her family.
Patient Chris Byrd speaks with Dr. David Hom in West Chester. Photo taken by Joseph Fuqua II.
Lisa Bernard-Kuhn reports:
It’s usually bad form to talk about body parts when you meet a new face.
But Chris Byrd says he’s now used to starting the conversation about his new nose and the ordeal its been through in the last year.
“When I see people looking at it, I just bring up the story,” says the 28-year-old College Corner resident.
Patient Chris Byrd looks on during his visit to David Hom. Photo taken by Joseph Fuqua II.
Byrd is the thankful recipient of completely reconstructed nose, thanks to UC Health’s Plastic Surgery Center in West Chester Township and the expertise of plastic surgeon Dr. David Hom.
Using a technique that was created several hundreds years B.C. “but then lost to civilization,” Hom crafted a new nose for Byrd, saving him from living out the rest of his life severely disfigured.
“If he didn’t have this repaired, his deformity would have been very significant – and he would have had to use a prosthetic nose attached with an adhesive for the rest of his life,” said Hom, who is also is a professor in the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine’s department of otolaryngology-head and neck surgery.
Byrd’s nose story began last July.
Following a night out with friends in Oxford, Byrd, 28, was approached by another man – a stranger who he says was intoxicated, calling him names and looking for trouble.
“I was walking away and he tackled me and latched onto my nose,” Byrd said. “Somebody kicked him in the back of the head, and that’s when my nose came off.”
Since the July altercation last summer, Byrd has been through multiple surgeries to repair the damage done.
Initially, Byrd’s original nose was reattached by an emergency room surgeon. But the tissue that had been ripped off in the fight never fully recovered, and an infection set in within days.
Butler County and Lakota schools stand to lose millions in revenue if charitable tax status for West Chester Medical Center is upheld. An Ohio tax commissioner ruled last year that a previous tax increment financing agreement did not apply to the hospital’s current owners, UC Health. File photo.
Sheila McLaughlin reports:
Butler County and the cash-strapped Lakota Local School District stand to lose a combined $43 million over the next 18 years if West Chester Hospital’s charitable tax status is upheld, officials said.
County commissioners are appealing the case to the Ohio Board of Tax Appeals, saying the county failed to receive a hearing on the matter. School officials are keeping an eye on it.
For the county, it means the difference between future road improvements and traffic backups at Tylersville and Cox roads as the hospital campus there expands. “If it’s ruled against us and there’s no money, there will be no improvements,” Commissioner Don Dixon said.
“Whoever is using it will make the improvement,” he said. “If they need another turn lane into the development, that development is going to pay for it.”
“We are exploring all of our options to protect the school district’s interest,” Lakota spokesman Randy Oppenheimer said.
The 17,300-student district, the second largest in Southwest Ohio, has not seen voters pass a new operating levy since 2005 and saw three school-tax issues rejected at the ballot in the last two years. The district has cut more than $36 million in personnel and programs – including laying off dozens of teachers and eliminating busing for thousands of students – in recent years, and it is anticipated to go back to the voters for a new school tax later this year.
The tax issue involves an 11-year-old agreement between the county and the former owners of the hospital land. In it, the owners promised to pay annually into a tax increment financing account through 2031 instead of paying property taxes on new buildings. For the county, that money was to be earmarked for road and other improvements as the hospital complex grows. Thirty-five percent of the proceeds were pegged for Lakota Local Schools.
Last year, however, Ohio Tax Commissioner Joseph W. Testa granted an application from West Chester Hospital’s former owner, the Health Alliance of Greater Cincinnati, for charitable tax status on the hospital property and backdated it to 2007 when the project was under construction. Testa also ordered the county to refund payments the hospital already made – an estimated $5 million, according to Butler County Auditor Roger Reynolds. (more…)
West Chester Hospital is offering free cardiovascular health seminars Wednesday and Saturday. The seminars aim to educate how the heart works, how to recognize signs and symptoms of heart disease and how to take better care of your heart.
In addition, the seminars will also cover the latest treatments for common heart conditions.
Below is a portion of a press release about the seminars from the hospital:
Recognizing that heart disease is the leading cause of death for men and women in the U.S., it is vital for people to be informed about their hearts.
This month, West Chester Hospital is pleased to offer two free cardiovascular health seminars featuring the region’s leading cardiologists who will provide helpful information about the heart.
A variety of questions will be answered including: How does the heart work? What happens to our hearts as we age? What are the most common heart ailments? What are the most current treatments for common heart conditions? What is life like after a heart attack? What role does cardiac rehabilitation play in a successful recovery? How does one keep their heart healthy as they age?
The seminars will be held from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Wednesday and from 9 to 10:30 a.m. on Saturday in the plaza conference room (level A).
West Chester Hospital will offer free prostate screenings for men ages 50 and older from 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday, Feb. 9.
The exam, which involves a digital rectal exam and prostate-specific antigen blood test, is designed to detect the early warning signs of cancer.
The American Cancer Society recommends that men should have an annual prostate exam beginning at age 50. Men who fall into high-risk groups, including black men, should begin testing at 45 and those with a family history of prostate cancer should begin testing at 40.
“One of our goals in offering this free event is to encourage all men to be proactive in their health by receiving this potentially life-saving screening,” said Dr. Kevin Joseph, president and CEO of West Chester Hospital. “As a member of the West Chester community, we are extremely proud to play an important role in ensuring a healthy future for our neighbors.”
Reservations are required; space is limited. To register, call 513-298-3278 by Thursday, Feb. 7.
West Chester Hospital will offer free prostate seminars Jan. 17 and 26. The seminar on Jan. 17 will be held from 7 to 8:30 p.m., while the Jan. 26 seminar will take place from 9 to 10:30 a.m.
The region’s physicians, who specialize in men’s urologic disorders, will speak about the prostate gland during the two free community seminars. Topics will include the anatomy and purpose of the prostate, common conditions including an enlarged prostate, infections of the prostate and signs and symptoms of prostate cancer. The latest, minimally-invasive treatments for prostate cancer, including robotic surgery, will also be discussed.
The American Cancer Society recommends that men should have an annual prostate exam beginning at age 50. Men who fall into high-risk groups, including black men, should begin testing at 45 and those with a family history of prostate cancer should begin testing at 40.
Space is limited for this event. To reserve a seat, call 513-298-3000 by Jan. 16. Refreshments will be provided.
Brian Garver (on lift, on left), who is the grandson of Bob and Janet Niederman, spearheads the set up for the annual Niederman Family Farm Christmas Walk. The event, which opened for the 12th straight year Nov. 23 did so without one of its founding family members Bob Niederman (parents are Bob and Janet) who passed away midway through the event in December of 2011. Photo taken by Adam Kiefaber Nov. 16, 2012.
To let West Chester and Liberty Township residents catch up with the news that they need to know, WestChesterBuzz.com will list and link to all of last week’s top local stories every Monday.
Niederman Farm’s Christmas Walk shines on - More than 1 million lights were turned on Friday when the Niederman Family Farm 12th annual Christmas Walk opened to the public. But one shining light is missing from this year’s display, which draws thousands of people each year.
Lakota West and Lakota East basketball teams make top 10 - The boys’ and girls’ basketball teams at both Lakota West and Lakota East high schools made The Cincinnati Enquirer’s local coaches’ top 10 poll, which was released last Monday. The Lakota West boys’ program is the highest ranked team among the four, ranking No. 2 in the Division I poll.
WG Kitchen and Bar opens at Bridgewater Falls - Shauna Steigerwald reported for The Cincinnati Enquirer that the WG Kitchen and Bar at Bridgewater Falls Lifestyle Shopping Center in Fairfield Township opened for lunch at 11:30 a.m. last Monday. The 6,300-square-foot restaurant, wine bar and wine shop has a similar look and feel to The Wine Guy Bistro at Rookwood Pavilion.
Volunteers build a house for a 7-year-old’s family as she copes with cancer – Last Tuesday marked a new beginning for 7-year-old Yosselin Villatoro and her family. That’s because Yosselin, her 6-year-old brother, Freddy, and grandparents, Tammy and Keith Randall, moved into a new house built for the family by volunteers. Before they could move in, they were greeted Tuesday evening by 30 to 40 community members, who wanted to reveal the home they built for the family.
Third time stealing from employer gets woman prison - Former Dominion employee Cathleen Schmid of West Chester was sent to prison last week by Hamilton County Common Pleas Court Judge Jerome Metz., Jr., for two years for stealing $214,717 from the company, Kimball Perry reported for The Cincinnati Enquirer. Dominion was the third employer she’s been convicted of stealing from but the first time she went to prison for it.
Butler County agrees to settlement with ex-director - Sheila McLaughlin of The Cincinnati Enquirer reported that the former executive director of Butler County Children Services who got the boot in an immediate reorganization of the embattled agency will be paid through Jan. 18 as part of a settlement with county commissioners.
Lakota class names hospital’s new surgical robot - With the help of a Lakota Plains Junior seventh grade science class, West Chester Hospital has a name for its new surgical robot – S.A.M. (Surgical Assisting Mechanism). Erin Middendorf’s class at Lakota Plains Junior School, which won the “Name the Robot” contest held in collaboration with the hospital and the school district, received a certificate signed by West Chester Hospital chief executive officer Dr. Kevin Joseph and chief operating officer Tom Daskalakis, as well as an iPad 2 for the classroom last Tuesday.
Clerk of Butler County Area Courts to return after retirement - The longtime clerk of Butler County Area Courts will retire this month to come back as a part-timer in February, allowing her to collect her pension as well as a salary, Sheila McLaughlin of The Cincinnati Enquirer reported last week. Butler County commissioners approved the Nov. 30 retirement of Debbie Bolser. She’ll be rehired on Feb. 1. In the interim, deputy clerk Melinda Parsons will fill in for Bolser.
With the help of a Lakota Plains Junior seventh grade science class, West Chester Hospital has a name for its new surgical robot – S.A.M. (Surgical Assisting Mechanism).
Erin Middendorf’s class at Lakota Plains Junior School, which won the “Name the Robot” contest held in collaboration with the hospital and the school district, received a certificate signed by West Chester Hospital chief executive officer Dr. Kevin Joseph and chief operating officer Tom Daskalakis, as well as an iPad 2 for the classroom on Tuesday.
After studying the robot, which is known more broadly as the da Vinci Si surgical robot, students were required to work together to come up with a name for the robot and to submit a 100-word essay about their choice.
Finishing in second place was Heidi Adams’ sixth period science class from Hopewell Junior School with their submission of S.T.I.T.C.H., which stands for “Surgical Tiny Incision Tremor Controlled Hand.” As a surprise, West Chester Hospital decided to award them with an iPad 2 as well.
“We cannot thank the West Chester Hospital staff enough for their incredible hospitality and enthusiasm toward our students and staff throughout this entire process,” Lakota’s Superintendent Karen Mantia said. “They have been an outstanding partner and we look forward to more opportunities to expose our students to the fields of robotics and healthcare.
“Our students had the rare opportunity to get some hands-on experience in a high-demand industry and, for some, this experience may have even helped define their career paths.”
Approximately 1,500 seventh grade students in the Lakota district participated in the contest, submitting 58 potential names based on what they learned about robotic surgery.
The top two classes were then selected by hospital leaders and invited to the hospital for a pizza party and tour. During the tour, the children visited the clinical laboratory, pharmacy and even had the opportunity to “test-drive” the surgical robot that they helped name.
“We are excited to partner with the Lakota Local School District on this project, which is just the beginning of what we hope will be a long-lasting collaboration and friendship,” Daskalakis said. “We truly believe that reaching out to kids now and getting them interested in math, science and the medical field will help build the foundation for our next generation of doctors, nurses and other health-related careers.”
Will West Chester Hospital’s new surgical robot be known as Yolo Robot – You Only Live Once? Or how about Akisni – which means healed in the Lakota language? How about Vita, another word for life?
Those three plus seven other names were suggested by Lakota seventh graders who worked collaboratively – one name per participating classroom – to come up with a name for the da Vinci Si surgical robot.
The activity was one of the inaugural activities of the new partnership. The students are being introduced to the fields of robotics and healthcare through the newly introduced STEAM2 – Science, Technology, Engineering, Applied Arts, Mathematics and the Medical Field – program.
“Education is a key component of our healthcare mission. Getting kids involved and interested in the medical field is something we are passionate about because they will make up the next generation of doctors, nurses and medical engineers,” said Dr. Kevin Joseph, the hospital’s president and chief executive officer.
“Our da Vinci surgical robot is such an incredible piece of technology, we want to show students, teachers and parents first-hand how it can change the way we think of surgery and the delivery of healthcare.”
After coming up with the names, community members were allowed to vote through Friday on the Lakota website. The winning name will be announced at the hospital Saturday, Nov. 20, where students and their families from the top two names will be recognized. The new name will be unveiled as well.
The 10 names submitted by the seventh graders were:
Akisni – Means healed in Lakota Indians language
H.O.P.E. – Helping Others Perform Efficiently
H.O.P.E. – Human Operated Precision Enhancement
Leonardo – Named after the famous inventor, Leonardo da Vinci
Miracolo – Italian for miracle
S.A.M. – Surgical Assisting Mechanism
STITCH – Surgical Tiny Incision Tremor Controlled Hand
Surgeon Sara – Surgical Assistant Robotic Arms
Vita – Means life
YOLO Robo – You Only Live Once
“This is just the beginning of what we hope will be a very long and fruitful partnership with West Chester Hospital. Preparing students for tomorrow’s workforce is the most important thing we do,” said Superintendent Karen Mantia.
“Developing these kinds of partnerships with leading employers is a key part of that. Student learning is going to look very different in the future, with experiences like the ones this partnership offers becoming more common.”
West Chester Hospital will host a pair of free back pain seminars this Wednesday from 7 to 8:30 p.m. and this Sunday from 9 to 10:30 a.m.
During the event, spine physicians will discuss a variety of topics, including an explanation of spine and neck anatomy, what happens to our backs and necks as we age, common back and neck injuries, causes of chronic back and neck pain, and the latest, minimally-invasive medical and surgical treatments available.
West Chester Hospital is located at 7700 University Drive in West Chester. The seminar will take place in the plaza conference room (level A).
Space is limited for the seminars. Participants are asked to reserve their seats by calling 513-298-3000. Refreshments will be provided. For more information about services available at West Chester Hospital, visit www.UCHealth.com/WestChesterHospital.
