Park-and-ride opening at Union Twp. center

UNION TOWNSHIP - A park-and-ride area opens at the new Union Township Civic Center, 4350 Alcholtz Road near the Eastgate bigg's Monday. With up to 400 parking spaces, it will be the largest Metro park-and-ride in the region.

The Union Township park and ride will be served by Metro's Route 82X Eastgate Express, which is funded by Union Township and Clermont County. Parking is free, and the fare is $1.75 one-way directly to or from downtown Cincinnati. The route provides about 61,000 rides a year, primarily to Clermont County residents.

The new park-and-ride will also be used for Metro service to this year's Riverfest and other major community events.

Funding for construction of the park-and-ride was made available from $730,000 in federal and Ohio Department of Transportation grants. No local Metro funds were used.

Crayons to Computers collecting for teachers

Crayons to Computers, a free store for teachers of needy students in the Greater Cincinnati area, is collecting supplies and monetary donations. Teachers spend $500-$1,000 of their money each year to buy supplies for students. Each dollar donated to C2C allows teachers to take $14 worth of free supplies back to the classroom.

Drop off donations at any Kroger or Staples location until Aug. 31 or a tax-deductible contribution, made payable to Crayons to Computers, may be mailed to Crayons to Computers, 1350 Tennessee Ave., Cincinnati, OH 45229.

Information: 482-3290 or www.crayons2computers.org.

Writer will speak at Miami convocation

OXFORD - Caryl Phillips, a West Indian writer whose works reflect his life as a native of the Caribbean who grew up in England, will be the keynote speaker at Miami's convocation Aug. 23 in Millett Hall.

Phillips has written seven novels and several nonfiction books and also has written for film, theater, radio and television. Much of his writing has focused on the legacy of the Atlantic slave trade and its consequences.

The convocation is held the day before first-semester classes begin and is open to the public.

Crews replacing wall in Mount Auburn

MOUNT AUBURN - Crews working for Langenheim & Thompson Co. are to begin work Monday replacing an existing deteriorating stone wall with a new segmental retaining wall on Goethe Street in Mount Auburn.

The existing sidewalk is now closed because of its poor condition, caused by the deterioration of the retaining wall.

The new wall will support the new sidewalk and adjacent roadway. The project is expected to last 60 days.

Additional work associated will involve constructing steel railing and new sidewalk, curb and pavement adjacent to the new wall.

The contractor is to maintain traffic at all times and post parking restrictions near the wall project.