Silverton has become a nationwide trendsetter with its Americans with Disabilities Act eligibility and training center.

        The center, at 7000 Montgomery Road, is the first of its kind in the country and was designed to assess the eligibility of riders applying to use Metro's curb-to-curb access service and to determine whether new riders with disabilities can board regular buses.

        “We have had people from transit systems around the country come here and study our center,” said Sallie Hilvers, information officer.

        “It is being used as a model around the country.”

        The center was built a year ago.

        Its testing area simulates a bus stop. It has a full-size bus, equipped with a wheelchair lift, working traffic signals, uneven sidewalks, a park setting with flagpole and trees, bus stops, stairs and a telephone.

        Mrs. Hilvers said the testing involves determining whether people with disabilities can walk on an uneven surface, cross the street using traffic signals, and whether or not they have been on a bus before.

        She said 1,300 people were tested last year.

        Some were eligible to board the regular buses and some were assigned the curb-to-curb access service, Mrs. Hilvers said.

        Metro enlisted representatives from agencies that serve people with disabilities to help design the center.

        Aside from its eligibility testing, the center performs an important social function, officials say.

        “An integral part of welcoming people with disabilities into our community is welcoming them on our buses,” said Paul Jablonski, Metro's general manager.
       • • •

        The Northside/College Hill Kiwanis will hold a community dinner from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Oct. 18 at the Llanfair Retirement Center, 1701 Llanfair Ave., College Hill.

        The dinner is free to College Hill and Northside residents.

        Featured speakers include state Rep. Catherine Barrett, D-Cincinnati, and Cincinnati City Councilman Phil Heimlich.

        For reservations, call Richard Johnson, 541-3800; Don Beimesche, 542-7800; Jan Holland, 681-7571; Lyrica Smith, 681-2787.

        A town hall meeting will be held 7-9 p.m. Oct. 17 at the Pendleton Heritage Center, 2760 Eastern Ave., East End.

        Dorothy Ellis, Pendleton board chairwoman, said the purpose is to bring city leaders and East End residents face to face and to discuss education and flood preparedness.

        “We hope to do more of this to get more people involved in the neighborhood,” Mrs. Ellis said.

        The Pendleton Advisory Committee coordinated the meeting with the East End Area Council, the Columbia Tusculum Community Council, St. John's Lodge, Riverside Market and Catholic Social Services.

        Cincinnati City Councilman Paul Booth will moderate the meeting.

        EVENDALE — The St. Rita Haunted House started Thursday and will run through Oct. 31. Doors creak open each Thursday at 7 p.m. and close at 10 p.m. Thursday and Sunday.

        They close at 11 p.m. on Friday and Saturday.

        For more information, call 771-7600.

       Allen Howard's column runs Saturdays. Call: 768-8362. Mail: The Cincinnati Enquirer, 312 Elm St., Cincinnati, OH 45202.

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