LEBANON - Opponents of a Wal-Mart Supercenter in Deerfield Township lost two court decisions Friday.

P. Daniel Fedders, Warren County Common Pleas Court magistrate, ruled that Deerfield trustees acted in accordance with the township's zoning code when approving the development of the 203,000-square-foot Supercenter and preliminary plans for nearby restaurants and a retail strip on Mason-Montgomery Road.

The opponents had argued that the zoning code contained a flaw when it was adopted in 1997, but Fedders wrote, "Such an attack is barred because it was not brought within two years of (its) adoption."

Fedders also shot down an allegation that Deerfield trustees violated the Ohio open-meetings law when they voted to approve the development in June.

A separate challenge related to the development is pending and is set for a hearing Nov. 4.

Avondale residents gather for festival

AVONDALE - Residents will gather from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. today at 3520 Burnet Ave., for the seventh annual "Celebrating Families," a neighborhood festival featuring food, entertainment, health screenings, community information booths, a petting zoo and a car and motorcycle show.

Vice Mayor Alicia Reece will participate in a ribbon cutting for the Avondale Pride Center opening. The event is sponsored by Local Initiatives Support Corp., Avondale Community Council, Health Alliance of Greater Cincinnati, Three Square Music Foundation, the Cincinnati Zoo, TriHealth Hospitals, and A & Q Market.

Ohio's polluted waters called costly

Ohio cannot afford to ignore the pollution flowing into its streams and rivers, because the state's waterways bring in so much money by increasing property values, fishing and boating, tourism, new residents and reducing water treatment costs, according to Mike Fremont, president emeritus of Rivers Unlimited.

Fremont spoke at a Rivers Unlimited luncheon Thursday.

"Every degraded river is a waste of major economic potential that can be reclaimed at a profit for community benefit," Fremont said. "There are truly explosive economic benefits if we clean up waters and river corridors."

Roughly half of the state's waterways are unsuitable for fishing or swimming. Fremont said studies show the state would reap about $50,000 per river mile that is restored.

Bike ride raises funds for research

The Sunflower Revolution bike ride held in July has generated a $100,000 gift to the University of Cincinnati's Neuroscience Institute to support Parkinson's disease research.

The gift was awarded this week by the Davis Phinney Foundation for Parkinson's Disease Research, which was established by cyclist Davis Phinney.

The money will be used to help recruit more research scientists. The next Sunflower Revolution event is scheduled for Aug. 19-21.

Indian Hill school to hold art, craft show

INDIAN HILL - Cincinnati Country Day School will hold a pre-holiday craft, art and gift show featuring items from more than 70 vendors 9 a.m.-4 p.m. todayat the school, 6905 Given Road.

The show will be held in the main commons area, the south gymnasium and the middle school commons.

The event is sponsored by the Athletic Boosters.

Admission is $2 for seniors and children 13 and older; $5 for families.

Contributors: Karen Andrew, Janice Morse, Perry Schaible, Tim Bonfield, Dan Klepal