Et tu, summer? Then fall, spring!

        OK, it's not quite summer yet and that wasn't exactly the big finish in Julius Caesar. But neither he nor William Shakespeare ever had to endure a rainy, cool Cincinnati spring only to get a two-day dunk of summer-like heat and humidity.

Pearl Messer, 3, of Alexandria splashes in a puddle Tuesday at Coney Island's Sunlite Pool. (Craig Ruttle photo) | ZOOM |

        Tuesday's high of 89 was 8 degrees above normal and the highest of the year, eclipsing Monday's high by 1 degree, according to AccuWeather meteorologist Kari Chessario.

        “The rain stunk, but I don't think a lot of people are complaining now,” said Tyler Bryan, 17, moments after executing a flip off a diving board at Sunlite Pool at Coney Island, where hundreds went to escape the heat.

        Tyler just finished his sophomore year at Ryle High School in Union, but many local schools are still in session. Because of that, the most common Sunlite visitors Tuesday seemed to be parents with small children.

        “We could have stayed home in the air conditioning but decided to come for a quick dip,” said Patricia Stone, a Fort Thomas mother of five. Sunlite last year won its first platinum award from Ellis & Associates, which oversees pool safety at hundreds of parks and public pools nationwide. Sunlite has 70 to 80 lifeguards, including newcomers Katy Hinshaw, 18, and Ashley Brinkman, 16, both of Anderson Township.

Enjoying the pool at Coney Island on Tuesday are (from left) Kathy Comello, her daughter Gina Couch and grandson Trey; Shelly Self with her son Ayrton; and Melissa Sullivan with her daughter Alaina. (Craig Ruttle photo) | ZOOM |

        Both said the key is to pay close attention and “keep scanning.”

        Sunlite opened on Memorial Day weekend, and many local pools will be opening this weekend.

        At the Cincinnati Recreation Commission, some of its 42 pools will open today and all should be open by the end of the month, according to Meredith Edwards of CRC's aquatics department.

        She said no pool will remain closed for lack of lifeguards, though there are openings in CRC's weeklong lifeguard course. Call 357-POOL for more information.

        The pool at Washington School in Over-the-Rhine is scheduled to open Tuesday, but that didn't help Sharon Hines, 37, on Tuesday. She lives across the street from the pool on Race Street and sat on her front step longingly looking at it.

        “There should be a swimming pool on every corner,” Ms. Hines said as she sat with a friend.

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