TriHealth to manage YWCA fitness center

DOWNTOWN - TriHealth, the hospital system that includes Good Samaritan and Bethesda North, has struck a deal with the YWCA to take over management of the downtown location's fitness center.

The agreement also calls for TriHealth to expand services at the site, 898 Walnut St. Those include personal training, massage therapy, spinning and other health programs. The YWCA will also invest in new fitness equipment, including 15 Nautilus Nitro Plus weight-training machines, treadmills and elliptical cross trainers.

"We are so pleased with this collaboration," said Charlene Ventura, president and chief executive officer of YWCA of Greater Cincinnati.

"TriHealth brings its wonderful reputation as a manager of fitness centers as well as extensive health related programming to the YWCA. Our joint commitment to wellness will add to the revitalization of downtown, strengthening the heart of our city's core."

The YWCA Fitness Center opened in 1928 and went co-ed in 1983. The YWCA has almost 18,000 square feet, which includes the largest lap pool in downtown Cincinnati, a gym, a whirlpool and an indoor running/walking track.

Loveland provides free smoke detectors

LOVELAND - City residents can pick up free smoke detectors Tuesday through Thursday at City Hall on West Loveland Avenue during an open house to promote Building Safety Week.

The 50 battery-operated detectors were donated by Lowe's in Deerfield Township. Hours of the open house are 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

For information, call the city building department at 583-3045.

Warren County offers home health services

LEBANON - The Warren County Health Department is offering free home health aide services to residents older than 60 years.

The in-home care includes help with bathing, washing hair, shaving and skin care. County residents in need of these services should call 695-1152 or 261-1152.

Pepper suggests city tap Internet auctions

WEST END - Cincinnati Councilman David Pepper is proposing that the city use Internet "reverse auctions" to buy supplies.

Pepper said the competitive pressure of an auction tends to drive down prices. Covington, for example, saved more than 20 percent on the cost of pickup trucks through a reverse auction last year, he said. A 2001 law sponsored by state Rep. Bill Seitz, R-Green Twp., allows Internet purchasing.

Pepper's proposal now goes to the Finance Committee.

Ohio mayors criticize Treasury secretary

U.S. Treasury Secretary John Snow's statement that the outsourcing of U.S. jobs "is part of trade" shows that he is out of touch with Ohio working families, the mayors of Ohio's largest cities said.

Cincinnati Mayor Charlie Luken and his counterparts in Akron, Cleveland, Columbus, Dayton and Toledo - all Democrats - sent a letter to Snow Thursday, saying "there is nothing good about American jobs leaving our nation."

The letter was in response to Snow's comments on outsourcing to the Cincinnati Enquirer Monday. "It's one aspect of trade, and there can't be any doubt about the fact that trade makes the economy stronger," he said.