Enquirer staff

DOWNTOWN - The annual Advent series at Christ Church Cathedral (Episcopal) downtown will explore the religious significance of Jerusalem.

The series, "The Sacred Space of Jerusalem: The Claim of Three Religions on One Fierce Landscape," begins at 5:15 p.m. today with liturgy, a potluck at 6 p.m. and the program at 7 p.m. at the church, 318 E. Fourth St. The series will continue on the next two Tuesdays.

The Rev. Tom Dozeman, professor of Old Testament Studies at the United Theological Seminary in Dayton, Ohio, will lead the talks. Dozeman, an ordained Presbyterian minister, is a graduate of Union Theological Seminary and Columbia University.

Recounts confirm Clermont winners

BATAVIA - The winners in four Clermont County races are still the winners after a recount Monday.

The Clermont County Board of Elections recounted four races - Chilo mayor, Pierce Township trustee, Felicity-Franklin School Board and Goshen Township trustee - and the counts revealed the same results as the earlier certified election results, said Dan Bare, director of the board.

Three of the recounts, Chilo, Pierce Township and the school board, were mandatory because the margin was within one-half of 1 percent of the total votes cast. In the Goshen Township trustee race, one of the candidates requested a recount.

Reading to detail parcels' cleanup costs

READING - The public can learn at a special meeting at 7 p.m. today at City Hall about the assessment of environmental clean-up costs for two abandoned industrial sites east of Reading Road.

Both parcels, which are adjacent, are former property of Nivison Weiskopf Co., which manufactured corrugated boxes and glass. The area might be contaminated by petroleum and other potentially hazardous waste.

The Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County is interested in building a branch at the 3-acre site at 8740 Reading Road. The other parcel, 15 acres, is at 601 Third St. Reading's biotech campus could expand to that site. But until the cleanup costs are known, no development will take place on either site.

Waynesville adds Christmas home tour

WAYNESVILLE - Waynesville will host its 2003 Christmas in the Village this weekend. The hours are 6-9 p.m. Friday, 2-9 p.m. Saturday and 2-5 p.m. Sunday.

The event begins at 6 p.m. Friday with the tree-lighting ceremony and includes horse-drawn carriage rides, strolling carolers, food vendors, Dickens Street Strollers, luminarias, a Christmas parade and visits with Santa.

Included this year is a Christmas Tour of Homes from 2 to 5 p.m. Sunday. Tickets are available through the Waynesville Chamber of Commerce for $15 and include a map for the self-guided tour of six of the area's finest homes decorated for the holidays.

Call (513) 897-8555 or visit www.waynesvilleohio.com for additional information.

Middletown events rescheduled for today

MIDDLETOWN - Special Light Up Middletown festivities, postponed from last week because of the weather, are rescheduled to begin at 5:30 p.m. today in Smith Park. The annual Holiday Balloon Glow also will be held at the park 6:30-8 p.m. Horse-drawn carriage rides will be available 5:30-8:30 p.m. for a fee of $2 for adults, $1 for children.

Admission to Light Up Middletown, a drive-through display of holiday lights, is free, but guests are asked to drop a voluntary donation in the boxes provided as they enter or leave the park.

Delhi gets first parks and recreation director

DELHI TOWNSHIP - Sandra Monahan has been named Delhi Township's first parks and recreation director. The position was created after the Delhi Township Park District was combined with the township's parks department.

Monahan will manage the daily operations of the Parks and Recreation Department. She will oversee three full-time and several part-time employees.

For the last three years, Monahan was a member of the Delhi Township Park Board of Commissioners, appointed by the township trustees. Monahan's salary will be $49,000.