FLORENCE — Play It Again Sports, a Florence sporting goods store, has more than doubled its space by moving to a new location.

        The store is now operating at 7800 Connector Drive, just off Mall Road and about a block from its previous location, said owner Geoff Gray.

        Play It Again Sports is a national chain of 550 stores that offers new and used sporting goods and equipment. Mr. Gray said the top-selling categories at his store are exercise and fitness equipment followed by golf, baseball and softball, soccer and ice hockey.

        “Fitness is really big at this store but hockey is one of the fastest-growing areas for us,” Mr. Gray said.

House approves easing fire dept. mergers

               FRANKFORT — The House this week passed legislation to remove some of the financial obstacles to merger for volunteer fire departments.

        The bill sponsored by Rep. Jim Callahan, D-Wilder, would retain the $8,250 annual state payment to a volunteer department for three years after a merger.

        After three years, the merged department would get a reduced state payment. After seven years, the payment would be reduced to the standard amount for one department.

        Mr. Callahan said volunteer departments are having more trouble attracting volunteers and some now have full-time employees. The bill passed 97-1 and goes to the Senate, where similar legislation filed by Sen. Katie Stine, R-Fort Thomas, has already passed.
       

Exhibit to show art of winter landscapes

               FLORENCE — The great-grandson of Grandma Moses will be among the artists participating in the “Snowscapes” exhibit at the Rosebrook Art Center here.

        Opening Feb. 2, the exhibit features a collection of limited edition prints and originals of winter landscapes by four different artists.

        Exhibitors include Will Moses, the great-grandson of famed artist, Grandma Moses. Mr. Moses lives on the family farm in Vermont. His style is that of a folk artist and is reminiscent of a past era.

        Other artists are James Werline, a teacher at Hillsboro Community College and an Ohio native who paints scenes of the Ohio Valley area; Rose Schneider, the owner and teacher at Rosebrook Art Center, who does original watercolors; and Wendy Fleury of Union, who is showing prints of her watercolors.

        The exhibit runs through March 9. Gallery hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday and Saturday.
       

Reservations to open for shelter houses

               INDEPENDENCE — Kenton County Parks & Recreation will begin accepting shelter house reservation requests at 7:30 a.m. Feb. 4.

        A shelter house permit fee is $35. It entitles the permit holder exclusive use of the assigned shelter house, and is good from 9 a.m. until dark on the assigned day. Interested parties can pay with cash, check or money order.

        Kenton County Judge-executive Dick Murgatroyd also has announced a plan to help organizers of nonprofit special events, such as weddings. Residents can reserve a shelter house up to one year in advance with a completed application, a non-refundable permit fee of $100, plus a refundable deposit of $50 per 100 guests.

        Reservations can be made at the Kenton County Public Works Administration office at 420 Independence Station Rd. Call (859) 371-9289 for answers to questions or call the Parks & Recreation office at (859) 525-PLAY.
       

Cats that go bad: What's to be done?

               UNION — The Humane Society of Kentucky is offering a program for cat lovers on Tuesday.

        The program will be at 7:30 p.m. at the Scheben branch of the Boone County Library, 8899 Hwy. 42.

        Dr. Alice Mills, veterinarian and owner of the Lexington Hospital for Cats, will help cat owners understand “Why Cats Behave Badly” and what can be done about it.

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