Stearns & Foster fire started in six areas

LOCKLAND - Village Mayor Jim Brown said Wednesday that it definitely appears that arson caused last weekend's fire that severely damaged part of the former Stearns & Foster mattress factory.

He said investigators told him fires were set in six spots in the complex.

Matt Horace, agent in charge of the national response team of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, said investigators have reached no official conclusions yet.

No one was injured in the four-alarm fire, which began early Saturday morning and caused part of the complex to collapse. Owners of the 15-acre site hope to redevelop the property.

Council to investigate neighborhood safety

GREENHILLS - Village council plans to look into residents' concerns on public safety issues.

Valeri Candella of a newly formed neighborhood block watch spoke for the group at the council meeting Tuesday night about dwellings in disrepair, debris, and suspicions of drug trafficking, among other issues. Some 50 residents met last month to form the block watch after a petition about the issues was circulated on Drummond and DeWitt streets.

City Manager David Moore said the council's safety committee plans to survey other communities and look into the group's requests. They include implementing a daytime curfew for expelled and suspended students and a graduated curfew for younger children.

New owner reopens Gorman Heritage Farm

EVENDALE - Gorman Heritage Farm, which closed last summer after the Cincinnati Nature Center decided it could no longer operate it, will reopen Saturday under the new owner, the village of Evendale.

The grand opening celebration at the working and educational organic farm will take place from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday. The farm is located at 3035 Gorman Farm Lane, off Reading Road. There is no charge to attend.

Evendale took over ownership of the 100-acre farm, a village historical landmark which dates back to the first half of the 19th century.

Neighbors to discuss development plans

CLIFTON - The neighborhood association, Clifton Town Meeting, is holding a brainstorming session Saturday at Clifton United Methodist Church, 3416 Clifton Ave., to discuss future development at the site of the Anderson, Baiter and Sahnd funeral home.

Menelaos Triantafillou of the University of Cincinnati College of Design, Architecture, Art and Planning will conduct the 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. session.

Residents protested earlier this year when developer Jack Brand sought permission to replace the Clifton Avenue funeral home with businesses that have a drive-through. Brand withdrew his application.