GREEN TWP. - Leaders here expect to hire a consulting firm in January to study parks.

Township administrator Kevin Celarek said trustees likely will approve hiring an engineering and consulting firm early in 2004 to study parks and recreation in Green Township and come up with a township-wide parks and green space plan.

The plan will likely make suggestions about what the township needs - for example, more baseball and soccer fields, a walking trail, a skate park or a Frisbee golf course - and where land is available to put it.

When the firm is hired, it will also formulate a final engineering plan for the new 34-acre park the township recently purchased off Reemelin Road.

Estimated cost for the final park design and the parks study is about $200,000.

Former mayor to be honored tonight

CHEVIOT - Former Mayor J. Michael Laumann will be honored tonight at an open reception.

Laumann retired in November after 20 years as mayor and six years as president of city council in this western Hamilton County city.

The reception takes place from 4 to 7 p.m. at Harvest Home Lodge, 3961 North Bend Road.

Resident wins free phone service

LEBANON - One lucky customer won't have to pay his phone bill for a while.

Thomas Short of Lebanon won free residential phone service for a year from the city's telecommunications department.

Short's name was pulled during a drawing as part of a campaign to attract new subscribers.

Christmas trees to be mulched

SYMMES TWP. - The township will sponsor a free Christmas tree recycling program for residents until Jan. 11. During that time, residents may place their trees in the designated area behind the administration building at 9323 Union Cemetery Road for recycling.

The Christmas trees will be mulched, so all ornaments, tinsel and plastic wrapping must be removed.

Prizes awarded for exercise classes

Beginning Jan. 1, the Mercy HealthPlex fitness centers in Anderson Township, Fairfield and Western Hills are offering chances to win a cruise and other prizes by participating in a program called Ship-Shape.

The three-month program - available to members and non-members for a fee - is an incentive to promote the fitness centers' new hydro-riding classes. Hydro-riding is an aerobic cycling exercise similar to spinning classes that takes place in the water.

There are sixlevels to the promotion. Participants must complete two hydro-riding, twospinning and twoadditional classes of either of these exercises. Prizes are awarded by raffle at each level. The grand prize is a cruise.

For more information, call your local Mercy HealthPlex or aquatics director Jennifer Mayer, 624-1878.