By Peggy O'Farrell
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Rose Rosetree has a thing for ears and noses.

FAMOUS FACES

We submitted photos - but no names - of five well-known folks from Greater Cincinnati and asked physiognomist Rose Rosetree to "read" their photos. Here's what she had to say: • Cincinnati City Manager Valerie Lemmie: Strong, intelligent, charming, stubborn, productive under pressure. "She has excellent ability to work with other people and be supported by them; however she deals or networks in the arenas of power, she's really good at it." • Cincinnati Police Chief Tom Streicher: Strong leader, comfortable in command, persuasive, complex. A well-defined philtrum (the groove between the nose and mouth) indicates "massive sex appeal." "He may not always get a lot of support from other people." • Restaurateur Jeff Ruby: Blends in well in social situations; good at controlling his message; has known financial hardship and success. "He's an independent worker and has to do things his way. Once he starts a project, he'll push himself to complete it. This is not a lazy man." • Singer/education advocate Kathy Wade: Spiritual; courageous; determined; insightful. "When she's working, her ideals and goals are more real to her than the obstacles that stand in her way."

And power dimples, muscular lips, macho knobs and shiny eyebrows.

Rosetree, a Sterling, Va., physiognomist, claims she can read people's character and personality from their facial characteristics.

She's in Cincinnati for a short series of workshops on physiognomy, aura reading and other New Age techniques. The series kicks off at 7 p.m. today with a free lecture and demonstration at Mother Earth Health Foods in Fairfield.

Rosetree says features make up "an alphabet of the face" that spells out the secrets of an individual's public and private persona. She has trained extensively in physiognomy and developed her own copyrighted system of "face reading."

Eyebrows - even plucked and shaped - give clues to character, she says. Up-angled eyebrows - those that are higher toward the ears than the nose - indicate a managerial mindset.

Start-up hairs - the straight hairs that grow at the inner end of the brow - indicate an ability to identify problems.

Cincinnati City Manager Valerie Lemmie is a prime example, Rosetree says.

Lemmie, she says, also sports well-padded cheeks that indicate the ability to work well with groups.

Cheeks that aren't well-padded but that stick out wider than the forehead are signs that a person likes to be in charge and is comfortable with authority, she says.

Cincinnati Police Chief Tom Streicher is a good example, Rosetree says.

And power dimples - the extra deep dimple some of us have on one side of the face - are a sign of graciousness and charm.

Lips that vary in width - thicker at the center, but thinner at the ends - are a sign that a person is open and honest on some topics, but closed about others.

Singer and education advocate Kathy Wade has up-angled eyes - a sign she's idealist and optimistic.

Eyes that tilt down are a sign that someone is good at identifying and solving problems.

Ears that are set close to the head point to "good social radar," Rosetree says, and a talent for fitting in and having fun with all kinds of groups.

Restaurant mogul Jeff Ruby has in-angled ears.

Ears that stick out indicate a tendency toward rebellion and an "I gotta be me" streak.

Open smiles that show lots of teeth and maybe even a little gum are a sign that a person is open, honest and giving.

Closed smiles indicate an unwillingness or inability to share or communicate.

Crooked smiles or sneers indicate a disconnect between words and actions, Rosetree says.

And "macho knobs," or a jutting structure on the chin, indicate pride in manhood or, on a woman, pride in her mate.

"The most extreme macho knob I've seen so far belonged to Saddam Hussein at the height of his power," Rosetree says.

Thin skin on the face indicates emotional sensitivity, the kind of person who tears up at sad or sentimental movies. A gap in the front teeth means a person lacks self-confidence.

Before you hire an employee or choose a mate based on the face features, be warned: not everyone is a believer.

Skeptics like Joe Nickell, a senior research fellow for the Committee for Scientific Inquiries of Claims of the Paranormal in Amherst, N.Y., calls physiognomy "a pseudo-science" and puts in the same category as astrology, aura reading and other such practices.

"There are two types of physiognomists. Those who can't read characters from features but believe they can are called fantasizers. Those who can't read character from features and know they can't are called charlatans."

Rose Rosetree will offer a free lecture and demonstration at 7 p.m. today at Mother Earth Health Foods in Fairfield. Other workshops take place Friday through Sunday; see her Web site, www.rose-rosetree.com or call 761-8607 for details.

E-mail pofarrell@enquirer.com