SOUTHBANK PARTNERS NEWSLETTER – JUNE, 2013
INFRASTRUCTURE UPDATE
Work is close to beginning on the Taylor Creek Culvert Extension project. The culvert will be extended under KY Route 8 and Riverboat Row to the Ohio River. Plans call for development of a park on the land on top of the culvert. Taylor Creek Overlook, which will be developed on land between Riverboat Row and KY Route 8 on the Newport/Bellevue line, will feature an overlook plaza with sculptures, benches and telescopes along with trees and underbrush.
The Taylor Creek Overlook will eventually be part of The Riverfront Commons river trail that is being planned along the Northern Kentucky riverfront. State funding for the Overlook was secured by Rep. Dennis Keene, D-Wilder.
Also, Southbank Partners has submitted applications to the Ohio-Kentucky-Indiana Regional Council of Governments (OKI) for $750,000 in transportation funds in Ludlow, Covington, Newport and Bellevue. A decision is expected by July 1.
FOUNDERS DAY
Plans are being finalized for Southbank Partners’ Third Annual Founders Day Awards Celebration. The winners of the Founders and Volunteer of the Year awards will be announced at the event. Please watch your email and future issues of the Southbank Newsletter for additional details.
KENTUCKY ART OUTPOST COMING TO NEWPORT IN JULY
The Second Annual Kentucky Art Outpost will return to the World Peace Bell Park July 19, 20, 21, 26, 27 and 28.
Admission is free to the event, which will feature dozens of regional artists presenting their paintings, glass, photographs, ceramics, jewelry and crafts. Visitors can meet the artists as they work. Local restaurants will serve food throughout the event.
Hours are:
· Fridays July 19 and 26: 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.
· Saturdays July 20 and 27: Noon to 9 p.m.
· Sundays July 21 and 28: Noon to 7 p.m.
Kentucky Art Outpost is sponsored by Southbank Partners, The Malton Gallery and The City of Newport.
For more information contact Southbank Partners at 859-655-7700.
TASTE OF NEWPORT SET FOR JUNE 9
The “Taste of Newport” is scheduled Sunday, June 9, rain or shine from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. The 600-700-800 blocks of Monmouth Street will be closed to vehicular traffic for the event. The event is designed to showcase some of Newport’s finest “tastes” around the city.
Participating Newport restaurants and food businesses include: Arnie’s on the Levee , BB Riverboats, Bayou Fish House, Beef O’Brady’s, Bello’s Bike Pops, Bernhard’s Bakery, Carabello Coffee, Coaches Corners, Dixie Chili, Gourmet Chili, Jersey Mike’s Subs, JerZees Pub & Grub, Mammoth Coffee & Co., Mokka and the Sunset Bar & Grill, Newberry Bros. Coffee, Newport Pizza Company, Newport Syndicate, Peluso Market, Pompilios, Shortnecks Bar & Grill, Sis’s On Monmouth, and Wiedemann Lager Beer.
All food items will be priced under $5. The Taste will also feature live music, entertainment, sidewalk sales and more.
For additional information, please contact Bev Holiday at bholiday@newportky.gov or call 859-655-6341.
LUDLOW 5K EVENT FOR A GREAT CAUSE
The Ludlow Civic Club and the Ludlow Community Connection are sponsoring the very first 5K Event called “The Spirit of Recovery” in Ludlow on Friday, June 7. The proceeds from the run will benefit Transitions, Inc., 700 Fairfield Avenue in Bellevue. Transitions, Inc. provides several different programs helping with substance abuse treatment and related services.
Transitions provides residential treatment to Kentucky residents who cannot obtain it elsewhere, offering a 90-day program for men and a three to nine 9 month program for women that allows their children ages 12 and under to accompany them. The women’s program accepts pregnant women and women with or without children. Elements common to both programs include exposure to self-help groups, a relapse prevention approach, employment, community service, aftercare counseling, and above all hope.
For complete information, course map, directions, on-line registration and results, visit: www.runningtime.net or contact Running Time Race Services at (513) 652-6225. To make a monetary donation, please send to Ludlow Civic Club, 608 Laurel Street, Ludlow, KY 41016.
BELLEVUE ANNOUNCES SUMMER CONCERT/MOVIE SCHEDULE
Bellevue has released the schedule for its 2013 Bellevue Beach Park Events concert and movie series.
Concerts 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.:
· June 8: Danny Frazier Band, down home country blues.
· July 13: Bluestone Ivory, horn-charged classic rock. A cruise-in will be held from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. and fireworks on the river will follow the concert.
· Aug. 10: The Chuck Taylors, high energy fun.
· Sept. 14: Scott Sprague and Friends, The Reunion Concert with Bellevue’s own classic rock. Art in the Park will be held from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Family Movie Night 9:30 p. m.:
· June 21: Thunderstruck.
· July 26: Wreck-It Ralph.
For more information visit www.Bellevueky.org.
FORT THOMAS ANNOUNCES SUMMER ENTERTAINMENT SCHEDULE
Fort Thomas has announced the 2013 Summer Entertainment in the Amphitheater concert and entertainment series. The events are free and open to the public, are held in Tower Park and are presented by the City of Fort Thomas and the Renaissance Board. Concessions are offered by Fort Thomas Pizza and Pub.
· June 11, 7 p.m.: Romana Blaine with the New Lime, R&B and rock vocalist.
· June 20, 7 p.m.: The Avenues, R&B.
· June 29, 7 p.m.: Soul Pocket, Motown Soul, Funk & Disco.
· July 16, 7 p.m.: John Erwin Band, country music.
· July 30, 7 p.m.: G Miles & The Hitmen, Blues funk.
· Aug. 13, 7 p.m.: Troubadour Dali, Jazz quartet with Annette Shepherd.
· Aug. 27, 7 p.m.: Blue Birds Big Band, alternative rock.
· Sept. 5, 7 p.m.: Ricky Nye Inc., New Orleans style.
· Sept. 10, 7 p.m.: Cincinnati Metropolitan Orchestra.
· Sept. 28, 7 p.m.: Merchants & Music Festival – John Michael Montgomery, Kentucky Headhunters, Chris Janson and Aly-an.
COVINGTON POTATO DROP;
TOURISM ON THE RISE IN ‘12
The Northern Kentucky Convention and Visitors Bureau is looking for volunteers to help bag potatoes for the hungry.
The Bureau is partnering with the Kentucky United Methodist Conference, which is holding its annual conference in Northern Kentucky June 10-12, for the Potato Drop to Feed the Hungry. Thousands of pounds of potatoes will be dropped June 11 in the old Mike Fink parking lot under the suspension bridge. From noon to 5 p.m. volunteers will bag the potatoes, which will then be distributed to local food pantries.
Snacks and water will be provided to volunteers.
“If you are not available for the whole event, even an hour of your time will help,” said Eric Summe, the Bureau’s president and CEO.
Meanwhile, The Kentucky Enquirer has reported that Northern Kentucky saw an economic tourism impact of $325.8 million, a 9.1 percent increase over the $298.5 million impact in 2011. The region’s percentage gain is the biggest in the past five years and second only to 2007, when the Creation Museum saw 404,000 visitors in its inaugural year. Many of the region’s top tourist attractions and hotels are in Southbank cities.
Summe told The Enquirer that World Choir Games and last summer’s races at Kentucky Speedway, as well as the Reds’ National League Central Division title, were major contributors to the increase.
Summe said he expects the rise in tourism revenue to continue this year. “Economic indicators are improving, and hoteliers are able to secure higher rates and higher occupancies,” he told The Enquirer.
SOUTHBANK HOSTING GRANT WRITING WORKSHOP
Southbank Partners and Grant Writing USA will present a two-day grants workshop at the World Peace Bell Center in Newport July 8 and 9. Participants will learn how to find grants and write grant-winning proposals. Tuition is $425 and includes all instructional materials. Seating is limited and only reservations are required. Southbank member cities will be allowed to send one staff member free of charge.
For more information and to reserve a spot in the workshop visit:
http://grantstraining.com/newportky
You can also contact:
The Client Services Team
At Grant Writing USA
800-814-8191
or
Joyce McMullin
Southbank Partners
859-655-7700
SOUTHBANK PARTNERS CITIES NEWS
BELLEVUE
Bellevue was recently featured as part of The Kentucky Enquirer’s Hometown Tourist series. Bellevue was the first community featured in the paper’s new series that explores “Greater Cincinnati neighborhoods that are ripe with great places to shop, eat, and have fun.” Don’t miss the video that is part of the feature; Bellevue is referred to as “A Little Mayberry”.
COVINGTON
A new pedestrian walkway opened June 4 on the Roebling Suspension Bridge, providing a new link for walkers from downtown Cincinnati to Covington over the Ohio River. (Kentucky Enquirer).
Jeff Ruby will reopen his Waterfront restaurant on Covington’s riverfront with a few new additions, and city leaders believe Ruby’s presence will be a catalyst for its development plans. (Cincinnati Business Courier.)
http://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2013/04/19/jeff-rubys-return-expected-to-bring.html.
Picture a more alluring Covington with a recreation center, scrubbed-clean streets, safe neighborhoods, busy shops and a vibrant riverfront. City leaders are optimistic they can create this thriving city – one that will improve the quality of life of its residents and entice businesses and visitors to come along for the ride, says City Manager Larry Klein. (Kentucky Enquirer)
DAYTON
A transformation is in the works along Sixth Avenue in Dayton thanks to the efforts of community members working to make the city more vibrant and preserve its history. (Kentucky Enquirer).
http://nky.cincinnati.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/AB/20130531/NEWS0103/305310074/
FORT THOMAS
For their work promoting and improving the Midway District and Towne Center, Fort Thomas Renaissance has been designated as an accredited National Main Street Program for the 10th year. (Kentucky Enquirer.)
http://nky.cincinnati.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/AB/20130522/NEWS0103/305220179/
LUDLOW
The City of Ludlow and Ludlow Youth Football will present the 2013 Ludlow Summer Fireworks Festival Friday, June 7 and Saturday, June 8, from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. at Ludlow Park, 500 Elm St. (KY Route 8). Rides, games, shopping, beer, music, food, fireworks, charitable gaming and more will be featured. Fireworks show begins at 10 p.m. (Ludlow Community Connection.)
http://www.ludlowcommunityconnection.org/Documents/201304LCC.pdf
NEWPORT
Newport’s resurgent Monmouth Street business district is about to get a major boost: Fairfield-based Ethos Laboratories plans to move its clinical testing operation there, investing $2.6 million in a project that will create 45 high-tech jobs. (Kentucky Enquirer).
http://nky.cincinnati.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/AB/20130531/NEWS0103/305300068/
Newport on the Levee is getting a new bar this summer to replace the space formerly occupied by Jefferson Hall. The Still, a bourbon-themed restaurant and tavern, is expected to open July 1 featuring live music and 15 50-inch high-definition televisions. (Kentucky Enquirer).
http://nky.cincinnati.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/AB/20130529/NEWS0103/305290127/
For the first time since its 2001 opening, Newport on the Levee is cooking up expansion plans. The Levee talked to retail prospects recently about a three-acre apartment and hotel expansion. It is also pursuing a “digital entertainment” attraction at the former IMAX theater site near the Newport Aquarium. (WCPO.com.)
http://www.wcpo.com/dpp/money/business_news/newport-on-the-levee-plans-expansion
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