Park-and-ride gains 80 spots at church lot

ANDERSON TWP. - Metro officials are urging commuters who use park-and-ride service to park at Parkside Christian Church, 6986 Salem Road.

This month, Metro's park-and-ride temporarily lost about 300 spots for riders. Metro has secured 80 parking spots at the church.

More may be available at the church soon.

Metro and township officials are scrambling to find a temporary location for cars until a $2.5 million transit center opens behind the former Beechmont Mall later this year.

Township to prune, remove, replace trees

COLUMBIA TWP. - In the first step of a five-year tree maintenance plan, the township has decided to spend $6,700 to prune 71 trees and remove and replace 10 trees in the Ridgewood subdivision.

The workers will grind up the stumps of the 10 trees that will be removed. Village Administrator C. Michael Lemon said this program will improve the appearance of the township and will reduce the amount of fallen branches.

The township hired an arborist to inspect the trees in Ridgewood and recommend a maintenance program.

Mason's Snider Road cul-de-sacs rejected

MASON - City Council has denied a developer's request to end both parts of Snider Road in cul-de-sacs instead of connecting the two stub roadways that share the same name.

Council members argued that the cul-de-sac idea does not follow the preliminary plat, approved in 1999, which shows Snider Road running from Tylersville Road to Reading Road (U.S. 42).

Workshop to discuss employment for felons

WEST END - Employment for convicted felons will be the topic of a workshop April 3 by the Cincinnati-Hamilton County Community Action Agency.

The event will attempt to bring together probation officers, employers, unions and social workers to develop a regional job plan for former prison inmates. Reginald A. Wilkinson, director of the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction, will give a keynote speech.

"I'm not here to say everyone wants a second chance, but there are many who do," said Cincinnati Vice Mayor Alicia Reece, a co-chair of the event.

"Somebody who did something stupid at the age of 18, and is now 28 - he needs a job to support his family."