The Cincinnati Enquirer

A lot of people made news in Greater Cincinnati in 2002, and a lot of their stories appeared in Tempo. We decided to go back to five of them, five whose stories we found particularly fascinating because of their impact on this community. We wanted to see where they stand as the year comes to a close:

Spencer R. Crew

Spencer R. Crew's first full year as executive director of the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center was an eventful one.

Since June's groundbreaking, he has watched the building rise on Cincinnati's riverfront while he has stayed focused on helping define the exhibitions and programs it will offer. He's also given more than two dozen talks to community councils, professional groups, colleges and the like, helping people to understand the Freedom Center's mission.

"We're not going to be a traditional museum in the classic sense," he says. "We're describing ourselves as a learning and living center where there will be some exhibitions, but there will be a chance to have interactive (experiences) and really be challenged and think a little differently about the world in which you live."

Dr. Crew, who will turn 54 on Jan. 7, arrived in November 2001 to lead what will be the largest museum in the country dedicated to the secret movement of slaves north to freedom in the years leading to the Civil War. He spent 20 years at the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of American History, including nine years as director.

He's pleased the center has raised $82 million of its $110 million goal. "Considering the economy and the challenges there, we feel very fortunate."

Some of the knowledge Dr. Crew has gained this year about building construction might come in handy at home. He and his wife, Sandy, bought and are working on an East Walnut Hills house that's more than 100 years old.

- John Johnston

Cathy Springfield

The curtain has gone up, and Cathy Springfield has a hit. Last April, Mrs. Springfield, who oversees the theater program at Xavier University, was about to debut a new campus theater. She was orchestrating a summer season. And envisioning programming that would embrace Xavier's mission and world culture.

And finding ways to help support the smaller theater scene. And producing and co-hosting Backstage on WVXU. And working on a master's degree in directing at Antioch University.

Eight months later, Mrs. Springfield is still going full tilt. She's thinking about summer. "Taking advantage of the cultural tourism boom Cincinnati is expecting this summer is very much part of the plan." She'll use Xavier's main stage and studio theaters to showcase some of Cincinnati's best small companies.

The schedule will begin in May with the regional premiere of Sympathetic Magic by IF Theatre Collective. Already penciled in are The New Gate (a new company specializing in Irish drama) and New Edgecliff, probably with a musical making its area debut.

In the meantime, winter will include participation in an international classics symposium at Xavier with the theater producing Cyclops, helmed by Bulgarian director Peter Karapetkov.

The Eastern European flavor continues with Romania native Cerusela Stan directing Dario Fo's political satire Mystero Buffo, which will travel to Zagreb, Croatia in March to participate in an international student theater festival.

Mrs. Springfield hopes to finish her master's in directing by the end of summer, and you can hear her Sundays at 7 p.m. on WVXU-FM (91.7).

- Jackie Demaline

Bill Hemmer

A year after spending last Christmas reporting from Afghanistan, Bill Hemmer is working for CNN not far from Ground Zero.

The former Channel 9 reporter was transferred to New York in May to be the news anchor for Paula Zahn's American Morning newscast. Since leaving Channel 9, he had spent seven years based at Atlanta's CNN headquarters.

"I've had a strong desire to live in this city for several years and I absolutely love it," says Mr. Hemmer, 38.

The 1983 Elder High School graduate, who attracted national attention for his Florida presidential recount coverage two years ago, signed a new three-year deal with CNN in the fall. He had spent four weeks reporting from the World Trade Center site after the terrorist attacks last year.

"This is the world's greatest city," he says. "I've always had an infatuation with this town, and working the sidewalks after 9-11 brought me that much closer. It's a wonderful place."

His assignment at CNN's new Sixth Avenue studio won't keep him anchored in Manhattan. He was scheduled to report on military training exercises in Qatar earlier this month, then Ms. Zahn broke her leg skiing.

Being sent to the Persian Gulf area "is always a possibility," he says. "If not Qatar, there's always Kuwait, etc."

- John Kiesewetter

Jean-Robert de Cavel

Jean-Robert de Cavel has difficulty explaining how he feels, and it's not because English is his second language.

Chefs and restaurant owners in his position couldn't ask for much more. Since opening Jean-Robert at Pigall's, downtown, in late August, the Frenchman has experienced what most would call incredible success. The critics rave about his contemporary French restaurant, fashionably set in the former Pigall's on Fourth Street. A table on weekends may require making reservations weeks in advance.

A month after he opened, France awarded Mr. De Cavel the prestigious Medal de Chevalier de l'Order du Merite for his accomplishments abroad.

Yet something is missing.

"Success is a big word," Mr. De Cavel says on a weekday morning, sitting in his empty dining room. "Happiness, I think, is better. Right now, I have more success than happiness."

After tragedy stuck him and his wife, Annette, the former Maisonette chef almost couldn't open the restaurant. The couple's 3-month-old daughter, Tatiana died in June from Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, and Mr. De Cavel had to reach deep within to find strength to finish the project. He smiles often now, and enjoys his work. But sometimes, many times, when he sees children, he becomes sad.

"What happened to Annette and I," he says, pausing, "I guess I never, never will understand. But I cannot blame the whole world for it. People say Jean-Robert is doing so well, but they don't know."

In any language, he can't find the words.

This year was supposed to be his best. He just hopes next year will be better.

- Chuck Martin

The Bessler family

The Bessler quadruplets - now 8 months old - are on the move. In the last few weeks, Hannah, Isaiah, Isaac and finally, Isabella, all began crawling, says their father, Rob, of Manchester, Ind. "When they're in those little walkers, all four of them can get around pretty good," Mr. Bessler says. "The boys are always heading for the trash and pulling the garbage can over. And anything that sounds like paper or plastic, they head for it."

When we wrote about the quadruplets in July, Rob and Mary Bessler, along with their three older children (Sarah, Joshua and Noah) were still adjusting to their newly enlarged household.

Five months later, well, there's still some adjusting going on, Mr. Bessler says. The quads don't sleep through the night, and the adults are almost always desperate for sleep.

"They like to tag team," Mr. Bessler says of the babies. "One gets up at 2 a.m. usually, and then you pretty much have to give them attention right away so they don't wake up the other three." But the family - which had only left the house for doctor's visits during the babies' first three months - is starting to get out more. Just before Christmas, Mom, Dad and all seven children packed up and went to a Christian concert and dinner.

"It worked our real good," Mr. Bessler says. "There were a lot of ladies around who were up to holding the babies. We had a real nice dinner." Several friends also agreed to baby-sit one night over the holidays so the couple could enjoy a rare dinner out - alone. And if they can work out baby-sitting arrangements, Mr. and Mrs. Bessler and the older children hope to take a few trips to nearby Perfect North ski resort this winter.

"We need some entertainment and I need some exercise," Mr. Bessler says. "This has been the fastest year of my whole life."

Michele Day