Museum campaign: Give what you can

        The National Underground Railroad Freedom Center launched its $1.5 million public fund-raising campaign and a Tristate promotion Monday by inviting Cincinnatians to give what they can so they can “own” the center when it opens in summer 2004.

        After a performance by the Freedom Center Choir, President and CEOEd Rigaud addressed a crowd at Fountain Square using the organization's theme “Heroes are Everywhere.”

        “By supporting this campaign, each person will be making a personal investment in building a hallmark to freedom,” he said. “With every $1 or $10 we donate we are saying the Freedom Center's mission is a necessary part of this region's future.”

        Send donations to the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center, 312 Elm St., Cincinnati 45202, or visit www.freedomcenter.org.

        Corporate donations were also announced, including two Sienna minivans from Toyota that will be auctioned, a Lincoln Navigator from Ford Motor Co. for use by the staff and $3 million worth of advertising from Clear Channel.

Victim in Norwood accident identified

        NORWOOD — Police have identified the pedestrian killed early Sunday in a vehicle accident as 20-year-old Lashanda Griffin of Westwood.

        Ms. Griffin died after a car ran over her while she was lying in the 2900 block of Highland Avenue, police said. The accident happened about 4 a.m. Sunday.

        The investigation is continuing, but no charges had been filed as of Monday afternoon. The name of the driver who ran over Ms. Griffin has not been released.

Deer Park soliciting "citizen police' class

        The Deer Park Citizen Police Academy has openings for its newest class, which runs every Thursday at 6:30 p.m., except holidays, beginning this week and ending Dec. 19.

        The academy gives citizens a snapshot of police training, duties and lifestyle.

        Applicants must be 18 and live in Deer Park. Interested citizens should stop by the police department, at 4250 Matson Ave., by Wednesday to fill out an application.

        For information, call (513) 791-8056.

New superintendent part-time consultant

        Cincinnati's new schools superintendent, Alton Frailey, will start working in the district full-time under contract after Nov. 8, but he will be paid as a consultant when he's in the district before then.

        His final contract is still under negotiation.

        In the meantime, the school board on Monday approved a consultant-superintendent agreement with Mr. Frailey that runs from Oct. 7 to Nov. 8.

        Mr. Frailey will be working some days in the district before his full-time contract begins, for which the board will pay him a daily rate of about $695. The daily consultant rate is based on the $181,282 salary of former superintendent Steven Adamowski divided by a 261-day contract.

        Mr. Frailey, an assistant superintendent in a suburban Houston district, was named superintendent Sept. 6 to replace Mr. Adamowski, who left Aug. 19 to teach at the University of Missouri-St. Louis.

Donors recognized at all income levels

        The United Way of Greater Cincinnati has launched a new program to recognize top donors at every income level.

        “It's not just those donors who have the means to give at the higher dollar level — $2,500 and above — who make the United Way work,” David C. Calhoun, 2002 campaign chair said, in announcing the new Leader's Circle program. “Our goal will be achieved dollar by dollar, one dollar at a time. Every contribution counts.”

        The new program will recognize giving as a percentage of income — not a set dollar amount.

        Leader's Circle members also become eligible to enter a random drawing for dozens of major prizes donated by corporate sponsors.

        The United Way 2002 goal is $62 million.

Sierra Club weighs in on road plans

        The Sierra Club released a list of what it considers the best and worst transportation projects in the country, including two from the Tristate.

        The group listed the proposed Eastgate Parkway, which would connect Red Bank Road with Ohio 32 as an elevated highway along the Little Miami River, as one of the worst proposals.

        The proposed “3C” high-speed rail line linking Cincinnati, Columbus and Cleveland got high marks from the group.

Boycott spat sends three to court

        Two Cincinnati boycott supporters and an Oktoberfest Zinzinnati patron were arraigned on minor charges Monday, one day after a downtown confrontation led to their brief incarceration.

        The fight started Sunday after someone poured beer on the head of a boycotter who was protesting the festival, police said.

        Boycott supporter Steven McDaniel, 44, of Walnut Hills, is charged with misdemeanor assault, the most serious of the charges. He is accused of punching a festival attendee during an argument.

        Fellow supporter Amanda Mayes, 27, of Clifton, is charged with disorderly conduct.

        Festivalgoer Michael Bader, 44, of Kettering, is charged with disorderly conduct.

        All three were released Sunday.

        Nate Livingston, a spokesman for the Coalition for a Just Cincinnati, said beer was thrown at the boycott supporters to provoke them. He said the group will file a complaint with police, demanding they investigate the arrests.

Chamber endorses transportation tax

        The Hamilton County ballot initiative for a half-cent sales tax increase toward a proposed $2.6 billion light rail system and the local share of a $100 million bus expansion received an endorsement from the Greater Cincinnati Chamber of Commerce Monday.

        Michael Fisher, chamber president, said its board of directors approved the endorsement, although he did not provide the number of board members or what the vote was.

Health Alliance to hold three forums

        The Health Alliance of Greater Cincinnati will hold three town meetings in October to present its annual report to the community.

        The Health Alliance includes the Christ, University, Jewish, St. Luke and Fort Hamilton hospitals and the Alliance Primary Care physician group. Ken Hanover, chief executive, is expected to discuss the Health Alliance's financial status, how it is addressing labor shortages and other issues.

        Meetings will be held at 6:30 p.m. Oct. 1 at Health Alliance headquarters, 3200 Burnet Ave., Avondale; 6:30 p.m. Oct. 8 at St. Luke Hospital East, 85 N. Grand Ave., Fort Thomas, Ky.; and 6:30 p.m. Oct 15 at Fort Hamilton Hospital, 630 Eaton Ave., Hamilton.

        For information, call 585-7288.

— Compiled from staff and wire reports

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