Thanks to our many community partners, a convenient approach is being used to make applications widely available in the community and allows people to mail in completed applications.  Three options are available for application:   

Important points about “Project Thaw”: 

                        (1)       You must have an unpaid heating bill.  Project Thaw will not reimburse payments already made.

                        (2)       Your income must be below 200 percent of the Federal Poverty Level--about $16,700 per year for a single adult and about $34,100 per year for a family of four.  It is important that applicants remember to provide proof of income with their applications.

                        (3)       This is a one-time payment of half the cost of your unpaid heating bill, up to a maximum of $250.

Tree and grass pollens are the most common southwest Ohio allergens and can be almost impossible to escape. Oak, cedar, mulberry, maple, elm, popular, box elder, and grasses are the most prevalent sources of pollen in southwest Ohio from late March through mid-July. After this time, ragweed, the most allergenic plant of North America, blooms from August through October. Mold spores are also in full swing all summer and can even be found indoors year-round. All of these airborne allergens can send you into sinus misery.

There is help for allergy sufferers. The Hamilton County Department of Environmental Services has recently updated the Living with Allergies brochure, which is available free to the public. The brochure explains more about allergies, their causes, and how to help ease the discomfort of them. For a free copy, call 946-7747. To keep track of the daily pollen and mold counts, call the Pollen and Mold Hotline at 946-7753. You can also view the Living with Allergies brochure and other publications from the Hamilton County Department of Environmental Services on our web-site at http://www.hcdoes.org.

Submitted by Crystal Wentz, Public Affairs Intern

Waterfest started in the summer of 1994 when creators Kathy Lordo of the Hamilton County General Health District and Holly Utrata-Halcomb of the Hamilton County Soil and Water Conservation District began searching for an exciting method to educate children about water and it’s uses as a natural resource. The following year, the first Waterfest took place in Cincinnati and it was the first event of its kind in Ohio. Since then, Waterfest has been a splashing success every year. This year’s event will be the largest in the history of Waterfest.

Water Wizard’s Quest, hosted by Patrick T. Karney, Director of the Metropolitan Sewer District, and Cory Chadwick, Director of the Department of Environmental Services will be returning as one of the featured events at Waterfest. This jeopardy-style contest puts students’ water knowledge to the test during the closing assembly of Waterfest. Throughout the day, there will be games, information sessions, and hands-on activities to teach the students about conserving water, the importance of water as a natural resource, and how water pollution affects everyone.

Dr. T in "A Drink of Water" will premier for the viewing enjoyment of students. The show is fast paced and loaded with comedy as well as facts about water, pollution and conservation. The host, Dr. T, juggles, walks on globes, twirls colorful streamers and vanishes below the surface of the earth to take a closer look at the water we drink.

The coordinators for this year’s Waterfest include: Civic Garden Center of Greater Cincinnati, Cincinnati Park Board, Fluor Fernald, Inc., Greater Cincinnati Water Works, Hamilton County Environmental Services, Hamilton County Soil & Water Conservation District, Metropolitan Sewer District, Ohio Energy Project, and ORSANCO.

New co-sponsors include: Chemed Foundation, BBS Corporation, CDS Associates, Inc., Greenacres, Cincinnati Bulk Terminals, Burgess & Niple, Engineers and Architects, The Beach Waterpark, Cinergy Environmental Services, H. C. Nutting Company, Izaak Walton League of America, Cincinnati Chapter, Midland Enterprises, Procter and Gamble, Ohio Environmental Education Fund, and Malcolm Pirnie, Inc.

Waterfest will take place on April 3rd at the Cincinnati Convention Center from 9:00 am to 2:00 pm. For more information, contact Sue Magness at 946-7736.

Submitted by Crystal Wentz, Public Affairs Intern

The University of North Carolina’s Kenan-Flagler School of Business in Chapel Hill North Carolina won a national competition to house the National Water Leadership Institute.  This institute is designed to go beyond management training and begin producing the next generation of leaders for the water and wastewater industry worldwide.

The Water Environment Federation (WEF) named four utility executives to aid in development of the Leadership Institute.  Patrick Karney, MSD Director, was one of four CEO’s (out of a national membership of 41,000) chosen to participate in September’s CEO Workshop.  The group of CEO’s audited Kenan-Flagler’s proposed curriculum and provided input for improving both subject matter and presentation methods.  The WEF Delegation were joined in North Carolina by CEOs from three other organizations: Association of Metropolitan Sewerage Agencies (AMSA), a wastewater organization like WEF, and two drinking water organizations, American Water Works Association (AWWA) and Association of Metropolitan Water Agencies (AMWA). “MSD of Greater Cincinnati can share my pride in having been one of those selected to participate in the September CEO’s Workshop.” said MSD Director Pat Karney.

UNC will be hosting the first Leadership Class this Spring.  The initial session will run twelve consecutive days at the Chapel Hill campus.  This will be followed up by review of additional assignments to be completed following the participants’ return to their respective utilities, and annual retreats for the next three years.  Through this process Kenan-Flagler’s Water Leadership Institute will produce the most highly qualified leaders of the future.  MSD will have two members of its management team in the inaugural class.  Susan Moisio, P.E. and Ed Kesterman, P.E., Sewers Chief Engineer will participate in the first class leading the way for us, and others.  It is quite an achievement to have more than one participant from a single agency in the first National Water Institute Leadership class.

The CEO forum has shaped the Water Leadership Institute and its influence on future leaders in the field of water and wastewater utilities.  The participation of Pat Karney in the CEO Workshop and the involvement Susan Moisio and Ed Kesterman in the UNC Leadership Class provides hard evidence that MSD is becoming a National Leader. 

Submitted by Maria Turner

Have a Great Week!