CGN

Community Arts Centers Day

2010-09-09T14:59:00.000-07:00

Community Arts Centers enliven neighborhoods throughout our region, make the tri-state area a great place to live, work, play, and stay and provide access to a wide range of art opportunities which bring people together to share experiences and ideas; inspire children, adults, and families; and help to create vibrant and connected communities. Currently sixteen cities, townships, and villages have officially proclaimed September 12, 2010 as Community Arts Centers Day.

The Center for Great Neighborhoods of Covington will be host an exhibit on Sunday the 12th from 12-4pm. CGN’s Art by Covington’s Future Enterprises will present a display of their digital photography “Digital Summer”, which features the photographs chosen for the Covington Neighborhood Collaborative 2011 Architecture of Covington calendar. The youth receive a commission for each photograph sold and the remainder of the funds will be used to benefit the Art by Covington’s Future program costs. The exhibit will also preview the calendar whose proceeds will benefit the Covington Neighborhood Collaborative.

Covington's My Nose Turns Red Youth Circus will perform outside in the Center’s Pavilion at 1:30 pm. After the show families will have the opportunity to walk the wire, balance on the rola bola and rolling globe and learn to juggle. And hula hoop, they will be bringing lots of hoops for families to use.

The Center for Great Neighborhoods is located at 1650 Russell St. in Covington.

For more information about Community Arts Centers Day, a complete list of the community arts centers involved, and details about the types of programming for the day, please visits www.findyourcenternow.com. FindYourCenterNow.com is a shared website designed to build awareness for the community arts centers across the region and will have its official launch with Community Arts Centers Day on September 12, 2010.

Goebel Park Recovery Garden

2010-05-21T10:11:00.000-07:00

Join us on May26th at 4pm at Goebel Park to learn about the community garden and how you can get involved.

1118 Holman

2010-05-03T08:15:00.000-07:00

Windows Windows Windows!
1118 Holman

Windows have just been installed and this really brightens up this house.

2010-04-23T07:51:00.000-07:00

Our Holman homes under rehab are coming along nicely. Below are some shots from this week. The rehabs are funded by the City of Covington and LISC.

1114 Holman
New windows

New porch

The cornice on 1114 was fully rebuilt, and we think this is a great detail that adds to the quality of the home.

1118

The mortar is being sealed and the unnecessary window openings are being bricked in to enhance the insulation value of the northern wall.

Concerned about the future of Kenton County’s hillsides?

2010-04-19T10:45:00.000-07:00

Concerned about the future of Kenton County’s hillsides?

Join NKAPC for a second public forum on the future of this community asset.

Date: May 4, 2010

Time: 6:00 to 8:30 PM

Location: Lakeside Christian Church, 195 Buttermilk Pike

Join the discussion. Voice your opinions. Ask questions of a panel of professionals. Help build community consensus on this important topic.

For more information, contact NKAPC at 859.331.8980 or thehills@nkapc.org.

If you wish to leave your comments prior to the public forum or cannot make the event, visit our online discussion forum at www.nkapc.org/HillsProject.html.

Northern Kentucky Area Planning Commission 2332 Royal Dr Ft Mitchell KY 41017-2088 ( 859.331.8980 7 859.331.8987 È 859.663.0771

Community Gardens

2010-04-09T11:26:00.000-07:00

The Center staff has got in the Spring spirit. We built a garden with raised garden beds in CGN’s back yard in 3 hours!

Many thanks to Andrea and Dan from the Extension Service for their expert guidance and to the City for mulch!

We planted Vidalia onions and Yukon Gold and Kennebec White potatoes. The Extension Service’s Home Harvest urban gardening classes will plant in two of the other beds this coming Monday evening. Feel free to stop by sometime and check out our new garden space!

Quest 2010!

2010-04-09T10:44:00.001-07:00

Covington Quest

In 2009, 34 teams attempted the Covington Quest and succeeded in an exhaustingly fun day of mental and physical challenges. On June 19th, 2010- Covington Quest returns and packs a punch of more exhilarating challenges and changes. Inspired by the famously addictive reality show, “The Amazing Race”, Covington Quest is scavenger hunt meets timed race through the beautiful streets of Covington. This one of a kind urban adventure takes it’s participants through a four mile course, with twelve secret locations to complete sometimes mental, and sometimes physical challenges. Each secret location the teams come across offers another clue to a different location important to Covington, and a new surprising task they must complete. To highlight a hilarious challenge from last year, two team members needed to step up to the plate and consume a Glier’s goetta. Well, not just consume… become blind folded and attempt to eat the goetta that hung from string attached to a wand the 2nd partner was holding. Important to Covington? Yes. Surprising? Yes. Challenging? Only for your pride!

Don’t think this race doesn’t reward you with only memories and laughter. Covington Quest begins with a shot-gun start at 10am and ends once your entire team crosses the finish line. Because each member will have stories to share, there is an after party at The Avenue Lounge where the eating, drinking, and rejoicing of the day can continue on. Also, for each of the two divisions, the first place teams will win $1,600, while the second place teams will win $400. Beyond the cash prizes, there will be door prizes for Best Team names, Best uniforms, etc. With team names like Festivus for the Restivus, Wild Wenches, and the Blue Bar Flies from 2009- creativity is important and definitely welcomed.

With registration fees of $200, or $160 if registered by April 30th, all proceeds donate the Center for Great Neighborhoods of Covington. Covington Quest is becoming a signature event to illuminate Covington and all of it’s original and interesting assets. New people, young people, old people, and life long residents can all enjoy the fun Covington Quest brings- and through the challenges and clues it even brings some historical and local knowledge! In order to be apart of this day, visit covingtonquest.com for registration or follow CovQuest2010 on Twitter for important updates on Quest and The Center for Great Neighborhoods.

Holman Houses

2010-04-09T07:35:00.000-07:00

We have made significant progress on the homes we are rehabbing on Holman. 1114 has been gutted, and the new walls framed in. This house is going to have a new life once the process is finished.

1118 Holman is under rehab as well. The focus in the next few weeks is to finish the removal of debris and start the frame. We look forward to watching this home come alive during construction.

YOUTH Programs at CGN

2010-03-12T09:54:00.001-08:00

The Youth programs at the Center have been very active. The Covington Youth Commission participated in its first-ever mock City Commission meeting on February 22.. Serving as Mayor was Phil Allen, who is also the President of the CYC. The City Manager was Robin Brundage, the CYC Vice-President, and the City Solicitor was Logan Eckler. Remy Brundage served as City Clerk and City Commissioners were Carlie Groneck, Natalie Hornbeck, and Lindsay Vancini. City staff in attendance were City Manager Larry Klein, City Solicitor Frank Warnock, Police Chief Lee Russo, Recreation Director Natalie Gardner, and Interim Economic Development Director Rebecca Volpe. Elected officials present were Commissioners Mildred Rains and Sherry Carran. This was an excellent opportunity for the youth to interact with current city leaders.

The Covington Youth Commission has awarded Two mini-grants to local projects youth groups aimed at youth development were just funded. The goals of the Mini-grant projects program are help to encourage youth civic involvement, to develop positive relationships between youth and adults in our community, and to develop leadership skills in the youth participating in the project, while the grants seed the project. Civic engagement is a means to protect the youth, keep them out of trouble, and broaden their understanding of how city government functions. The recipients were:

1. Holmes Middle School, Student Technology Leadership Program (STLP)
The project is called “Flu Fighters” The students will make and distribute hand sanitizer in their school as well as develop a campaign to make fellow students and staff aware of how to prevent the spread of infectious diseases.

2. New Terra (which means New Earth)
The students, along with local resident Danielle Eulitt, will write and deliver public service announcements encouraging community residents to adopt habits for environmental stewardship.

GlennO. Swing Elementary School recently held its third annual Chili Cook-Off. Over 60 people attended this place matters funded event. It was co-hosted by the new Glenn O. PTO to help encourage more parents to get involved in supporting the school.

JUNE 19th – The Licking River Greenway River Clean-Up Project
Homes Middle School BLOCK (Born Leaders of Covington, Kentucky) and local residents will come together to clean the river, and identify local flora. The plants will then be tagged so others can learn which species are growing in the area. This project is important not only because of the beautification aspect but also for the environmental education that a hands-on event brings. To further advocate for the Licking River Greenway project, students have written letters to local and state representatives, parents, and other schools.

NSP News

2010-03-12T09:49:00.000-08:00

We have been on Fox News this week for work we are doing on Holman street. Click the link below to see the video and read the article.

http://www.fox19.com/Global/story.asp?S=12128163

Licking River Greenway Master Plan

2010-02-26T14:51:00.001-08:00

Dear Covington Residents,

The City of Covington values its citizens. We value your input, your support and your challenges in progressing toward the common goal of an enhanced Covington.

We are a city truly driven by its citizens. It is this fact that makes Covington so unique, a community of citizens invested in the future.

The Licking River Greenway Master Plan is a step toward that enhanced Covington. To develop this 5-miles of multi-purpose trails that will include nature trails, paved trails, interpretive stops, trailhead facilities, water access, riverbank stabilization, habitat restoration and green infrastructure, a reality, the City needs your assistance.

The City is submitting a grant application to the Department of Local Government Recreational Trails Program to assist fund Phase I of the Licking River Greenway. Phase I of this plan will include an 8' wide multi-purpose paved trail beginning at Clayton Meyer Park located at Thomas Street. The trail will ascend the Licking River levee and follow the levee capitalizing on the scenic views it provides. After descending the levee, the trail will converge with a section of nature trails and provide the ending trail head across from Holmes High School on Levassor Avenue.

The City is asking for your assistance by contacting our local representatives to encourage them to support the City's efforts to make the trails a reality. Below is the contact information for Representative Arnold Simpson and Senator Jack Westwood. We would appreciate letters to their homes, phone calls or emails, whatever support you can offer.

Representative Arnold Simpson

Mailing Address

112 West 11th St, Covington, KY 41011

Phone Numbers

Annex (502) 564-8100 x 695

Work (859) 261-6577

Home (859) 815-8672

Email: arnold.simpson@lrc.ky.gov

Senator Jack Westwood

Mailing Address

209 Graves Ave, Erlanger, KY 41018

Phone Numbers

Annex (502) 564-8100 x 615

Home (859) 344-6154

Email: jack.westwood@lrc.ky.gov

Again, we at the City appreciate all you do for Covington helping it to become a better place to live, work and play. If you have any questions please feel free to contact us at 859-292-2151 or recreation@covingtonky.gov.

Sincerely,

Natalie Gardner

City of Covington

Spring Gardens

2010-02-26T14:48:00.000-08:00

Greetings!

Hope everyone has been using this winter to dream about your plans for Community Gardening! Spring is just around the corner (finally!), which means it is time to catch up and see how everyone’s plans for creating new community gardens are coming along, and how we can help.

We’ll be hosting our spring Community Gardeners’ Meeting on Tuesday, March 9 at 6:00 pm here at the Center for Great Neighborhoods of Covington (1650 Russell Street). Please join us!

At this meeting, Andrea Dee from the Kenton County Extension Office will bring seeds to distribute to our community gardeners. It is time to start those little plants soon!

Also, if you haven’t already done so, now is the time to register for Andrea’s Home Harvest gardening classes (see attachment) – we will host the classes here at CGN and the Extension Office will be building a demonstration garden in our backyard. The classes will be held on Mondays from April 5th – May 3rd from 6:00 to 8:00 pm.

Finally, I’m attaching a place matters Covington Neighborhood Mini-Grant application for those of you that haven’t seen it. These Mini-Grants are available to resident-driven groups in Covington that are working to improve the community and get new people involved in community efforts – I’d think many of our new community gardens would be great candidates for a Mini-Grant! Your community gardening group may apply for up to $2,000 for developing your garden this year (see the attached application for more details). We will discuss the Mini-Grant application process at the meeting on the 9th.

Hope to see everyone on the 9th – please let me know if you will be able to attend! Feel free to bring a neighbor!

Thanks,

Rachel

2010-02-26T07:48:00.000-08:00

The Covington Neighborhood Summit is fast approaching. This event will bring out the talents you need to make your neighborhood better. Join us and learn some skills to improve your community. For more information contact Rachel Hastings at Rachel@greatneighborhoods.org

Gateway Forums

2010-02-26T07:44:00.000-08:00

Join us and give your ideas about the move for Gateway Community Technical College's move to downtown Covington.

Holman Houses

2010-02-25T18:14:00.001-08:00

As we rehab these buildings we want to share insights into our process and keep you updated with the progress. As part of our community development mission we believe housing redevelopment is necessary to a have healthy community and street.

Enjoy our photos as you see what we start with and over the next few months you will see the transformation.