Quote of the Week: "I must not fear. Fear is the mind-killer. Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration. I will face my fear. I will permit it to pass over me and through me. And when it has gone past I will turn the inner eye to see its path. Where the fear has gone there will be nothing. Only I will remain."                                                                     -Frank Herbert

The "Cincinnati Cares Freedom Rally" will be held at Paul Brown Stadium on Friday, September 21, at 7:00 p.m. Gates will open at 5:00 p.m. for the event, which promises to bring the community together for an evening of music and reflection on last week’s tragic terrorist attacks on our country. Red Cross volunteers will be collecting donations at the gates and throughout the stadium. Glow sticks will be distributed at the gates to participants in the community vigil.

Hamilton County Commission President John Dowlin stated, "We must make the best of every opportunity to unite our community at this time. It’s only right that we bring the community together for a vigil to reflect on what has happened to our nation, to pray for the survivors and remember those who have lost their lives. We also need to pray for President Bush and our nation’s leaders as they plan our nation’s response."

Commissioner Tom Neyer added, "This is a difficult time for our nation and for our community. The recent attacks will not dampen our American spirit and unity. Together we will show our unity of purpose and our care for our fellow countrymen and women."

Stated Commissioner Todd Portune, "Our citizens have an important opportunity on Friday night to reflect on this recent tragedy and the assault against our nation, but more importantly to gain strength in that which unites us, a love of country, and a commitment to a better, stronger America."

There will be no charge for parking for the event. The Hamilton County Sheriff and the Cincinnati Police are taking additional security measures. No concessions will be provided at the event and participants will not be permitted to bring coolers or beverage containers.

The following information was provided by Life Management Systems, the County's Employee Assistance Program provider.

The Tragic and momentous events of the past several days in our nation have had almost immeasurable impact on our lives.  Life Management Systems would like to offer a special reminder that disruptive disturbances in our emotions, ability to concentrate, energy, and coping skills are normal in the face of traumatic events.  We may also find ourselves struggling with explaining these events to our children.  Children, like adults, can show the stress of a situation such as the recent attacks in many ways.

Please remember that confidential counseling regarding any of the above matters is available, at no cost, to employees and their household family members through Life Management Systems EAP.  You can call confidentially to speak with an EAP counselor at (513) 326-2469 or 1-800-733-0257.  Also consider keeping these suggestions in mind over the coming days:  

¨      Limit TV viewing.  You will want to keep abreast of the news, but do not overdo it.  Remember that your children will be particularly vulnerable to seeing scary to confusing images over and over.  Turn the TV off and talk to your children about what they are feeling.  

¨      Maintain and/or establish meaningful routines.  One of the problems with traumatic events is that they seem random and chaotic.  Combat these feelings by emphasizing things like family meals, group activities, spirituality, and family discussions of events.  Maintaining as predictable routine as possible especially helps children cope.

¨      Expect less of yourself.  You may feel fatigued, have difficulty focusing, or find your moods swinging more than usual.  This is normal.  You may need to temporarily re-evaluate how much you can put on your plate.  If you have children, they need more of your time and attention right now.  Be honest with yourself about realistic priorities.

¨      Reassure your children.  Let kids know about all the things that are being done by you and others to keep them safe.  Do not worry if a child asks you a question that you cannot answer.  Children do not need you to predict the future for them.  They need to know that they are loved and that grown-ups who love them are working to protect them. 

¨        These are scary events.  Do not be afraid to ask for help.

A Message from County Personnel regarding our recent tragedy:

It is too soon to know how profoundly the events of September 11<sup>th will affect our personal and work lives. However, what we share in our communities, at home, and on the job, and our common values will help us move forward and bind our wounds.

There is one Civil Treatment message we must stress. We cannot allow anger over this week's catastrophes to spill into hostile words or actions or mistreatment directed at anyone on the assumption that their ethnicity or heritage connects them to those who committed these catastrophic acts. Such conduct would be as deplorable and vile as any of the forms or racial, sexual, or ethnic discrimination and harassment that have marred our country's great history and still linger. We remind all Hamilton County managers and employees that related assumptions and conduct based on ethnicity do not belong in workplaces committed to civil, professional, and lawful operations.

We know our sense of community, history and heritage, faith, and courage will carry us through this period of anguish and horror.</sup>

In closing the graduation ceremony, Patrick Longo, Director of HCBC stated the following: "These 9 graduates represent the true meaning of entrepreneurship – they all possessed a vision, created a plan, and implemented the plan to success. Each company had different goals and objectives. And for each, the excitement of reaching those goals has been a challenge. HCBC understands that none of these businesses traveled a straight line to success, but we are very proud that they persevered and accomplished much on their way to today!"

Available information will include many of the ways you can purchase excellent product and services provided by Ohioans with disabilities.  Community Rehabilitation Programs from the local area will provide information and demonstrations of the value of the resources available from their agencies, which assist Ohio citizens with disabilities in achieving economic independence through work.

The event will be held at the William Howard Taft Building at 237 William Howard Taft Road from 10:00a.m. -1:00p.m on Friday, September 28, 2001. All Hamilton county employees and official with purchasing authority are encourage to attend.  

Examples of PET bottles include plastic beer bottles, water bottles, and soda bottles. These bottles are one of the newest problems in the recycling industry, as they have replaced easily recycled glass and aluminum containers. It is especially difficult to recycle PET bottles due to their low weight to volume ratio. The amber colored plastic beer bottles, which make up approximately 40% of the PET bottles, have chemical properties that make them especially difficult to recycle, adding to the overall problem. 

with the hopes of instituting a permanent recycling program in the Great American Ballpark. In the meantime, Environmental Services will be working with the staff at Cinergy Field during the off-season to locate closer markets for this recycling program.

The Department of Environmental Services would like to thank the cleaning crew at Cinergy Field for their participation and all those who helped with the project, especially Declan Mullin and Steve Sears with the Cincinnati Reds, for partnering with us on this project. For more information on how you can become more involved in your community’s recycling program, call our 24-hour recycling hotline at 946-7741 or visit our web-site at www.hcdoes.org. For more information on this and other community recycling programs, call Holly Christmann at 946-7705 or Sue Magness at 946-7736.

Nominees should provide examples of extraordinary commitment to public service and social responsibility. Nominees should demonstrate selflessness, exhibit a long-term commitment to service and the betterment of society, and have a significant impact on the lives of others in their community, nation or the world.

More information on this award is available at www.caringinstitute.org.