Mason MattersMason MattersFebruary / March 2013

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Inside This Issue:

Students at Comets Pizza were surprised to find out their summer tips came to $600 – and then they gave them up.

The students were employees of Comets Pizza, which provided concessions at Mason Sports Park and Lou Eves Municipal Pool during the 2012 season. They donated their tips to Common Ground, the playground for people of all abilities that Mason Parks Foundation is working toward building at a Snider Road location. For information on the playground, visit www.masonparksfoundation.org.

Vice Mayor Victor Kidd and Rachel Kopfler, President of the Mason Parks Foundation, thanked the students for their generosity at a recent City Council meeting. From left: Chris Simpson (co-owner of Comets Pizza), Ms. Kopfler, Matt Dickhaut, Jamie Mamaligas, Sammy Frantzis, Matt Maclean, Vice Mayor Victor Kidd, Haley Hoff, Alec Singer, Caroline Hecker, and Nicole Simpson. Not shown: Theo Frantzis and Noah Grollmus.

packages, and mail while you are away. If it’s winter, arrange to have your driveway cleared if it snows, or at least have someone make tire tracks and/or footprints in the snow to make it look like you are home. Contact the Mason Police Department at 513.229.8560 and ask to have your house checked while you are away.

Alarm systems can be expensive but they are a proven deterrent. However, they can’t spot suspicious vehicles and persons like you and your neighbors can. Please – call the police if you think there is a possibility of criminal activity. The non-emergency number for calling an officer is 513.925.2525. If you see criminal activity in progress, dial 9-1-1.

Remember, police would rather respond to a call that might turn out to be nothing than hear about a suspicious person after a crime has occurred.

Mason, Ohio: rated

24th

BEST PLACE

TO LIVE

by Money magazine 2011

BEST PLACE

TO LIVE

by Money magazine 2011

Mason, Ohio: rated

3 Tax News4 Utility Rates Adjusted4 Who Plows Your Street?5 2013 Budget6 Police Dogs7 Spring Cleaning Safety8 Around Mason8 CERT

Students Donate Tips

Protect Your Home from Daytime Theftsforced entry to take jewelry and cash. Ask someone who has been a victim of this crime and they will tell you there is no feeling that compares to coming home from work and finding your home has been violated.

Mason Police have been working with several other agencies to track these types of crimes. What they have found is that there are several different groups involved in the burglaries and many of them are from out of state.

The thieves are opportunists who look for easy targets. They are targeting homes where they know no one is home. Signs that your home is unoccupied include several newspapers on the driveway, packages left on the front porch, mail left in the mailbox, and driveways that have not been cleared of snow and show no tire tracks.

If you are going to keep valuables and important documents at home, secure them in an immovable safe or consider renting a safety deposit box instead. If you are going out of town, ask a neighbor to pick up papers,

The City of Mason and other communities are seeing more daytime burglaries than

in the past. Burglars are targeting houses that have

no one home during the work day and make

Photo by Colleen Kelley

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Dear Mason Resident, Happy tenth birthday to Mason Community Center! On March 1, 2003, thousands of residents visited Mason Community Center for their first-ever look at the center. Today, Mason Community Center remains a major attraction for both residents and businesses considering Mason for their home. Hundreds of thousands of visits are logged by members and visitors to the center each year.Since 2003, we’ve made many changes to the center to help us better serve you and to improve the financial position of the center. City Council and staff have worked together to build strategies to make the center self-supporting. In past years, the city’s General Fund subsidized the center with as much as $1.4 million in a year. Though financial reports are not yet complete, we project that the center’s revenues in 2012 will cover expenses. This is a tremendous achievement for a public facility and the city. A key strategy in the success of the center has been our partnerships with area businesses and organizations. Partnering with TriHealth allowed us to add more space, more amenities, more services, and more activities for members and visitors beginning in 2010. Live Well in Mason, another result of that partnership, is a series of informative events and programs that helps us build a healthier community. The additional space in the center has allowed us to partner with local businesses and service providers for the Community Business Expo, with local vendors for the twice-yearly Shop Local events, with local organizations for the Volunteer Fair, and with the American Heart Association, Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, American Cancer Society, and others to hold fund-raising or informational events. New membership structures and group sales opportunities have allowed us to welcome local day care centers, scout troops, and church groups to the center. Our Manta Rays swim team continues to excel and occasionally hosts revenue-producing swim meets. The team helped extend the successful SwimAmerica™ program to swimmers of all levels through the Mason Swim Academy. Hosting basketball games in partnership with Mason Youth Basketball brings hundreds of paying visitors to the center on winter weekends for games. Community Center membership opportunities have been important components of our economic development strategies. New businesses and prospective businesses identify the Community Center as a strong reason to bring high paying jobs to Mason. All of these strategies have brought new revenue to the center, closing the gap between expenses and revenues while preserving a true centerpoint for the Mason community. It is with great pleasure that I wish Mason Community Center a Happy Birthday!

We appreciate your calls, visits and e-mails to the Mason Municipal Center to discuss what is going on in the city. I encourage you to call 513.229.8500 or stop in any time during business hours if you need information or assistance.

From the City Manager

Eric Hansen, City Manager

Main Number 513.229.8500

City Hotlines513.229.8502

Administration513.229.8510

Community Center513.229.8555

Emergency9.1.1

Engineering & Building513.229.8520

Finance513.229.8530

Fire Department Administration513.229.8540

City Of Mason - Contact Information6000 Mason-Montgomery Road • Mason, Ohio 45040

Office Hours: 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., Monday – Friday513.229.8500 • www.imaginemason.org

Parks & Recreation513.229.8555

Police Department Administration513.229.8560

Public Utilities513.229.8570

Public Works513.229.8580

Tax Office513.229.8535

Utility Customer Service

513.229.8533

Utility Billing Questions Greater Cincinnati

Water Works513.591.7700

Utility Service Questions:

Sewer Service and Emergencies

513.229.8570(nights, holidays &

weekends, emergencies only)

513.925.2525

Stormwater513.229.8570

Waste Collection and Recycling513.229.8533

Water Serviceand Emergencies Greater Cincinnati

Water Works513.591.7700

Mason Matters is published by the City of Mason. For information about this publication, or if you are a Mason resident and do not receive this newsletter, either through OurTown magazine or mailed separately with the CenterPoint

program guide, please contact the City of Mason at 513.229.8510.

See our New Site!www.imaginemason.org is receiving some enhancements!While the overall look of the site has been preserved, some new features should make it easier for you to find what you are looking for. The home page has been enhanced to allow you to see at a glance all the latest announcements, news, and calendar items. Once you click on one of the section icons at the top of the page, fly-out navigation menus help you go directly to the information you need.As in the past, meeting agendas and minutes of Council meetings can be found by going to the meeting date on the calendar. You can now also find links to the agendas and minutes on a single page in the City Government section.The “Residents” section has been renamed to “Services” to better define its content. The new resource for listing local businesses and organizations is still in the “About” section. Register your Mason business, service, or organization and let visitors to the site know you’re here. Look for other new features in the coming months.Please note that most of the page names have changed. If you have bookmarks set in your Internet browser for internal pages of the site, you will likely need to reset them. Come back and visit imaginemason.org!

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New Withholding Rates for 2013

Electronic Filing Makes Tax Filing Easier

As a result of the charter amendment that voters approved this past November,

employees of businesses in Mason will see a small change to their withholding tax. Beginning on January 1, 2013, employers in Mason were required to withhold 1.12% of employee wages. The rate for 2012 was 1%.

For an employee making $40,000, the additional 0.12% amounts to $48 for the year. The added amount will be used to provide additional funding for safety services in Mason, including the fire and EMS services that employees have access to at their

Visit www.imaginemason.org to make filing your city taxes easier.

The City of Mason Tax Office would like to remind you that even though you did not receive a city tax form in the mail, your 2012 tax return or extension request must be postmarked or dropped off at Mason Municipal Center on or before Monday, April 15, 2013. You should have received a notice in January, either by mail or e-mail, that included your account number and instructions for finding the online tax options.

You may use either the online tax tool, a printed or online EZ tax form if you have only W-2 income (new this year), or your tax preparer’s generic form to complete your return. You may also use a blank paper form, available online and at Mason Municipal Center, Mason Community Center, and Mason Public Library.

Online Tax ToolFor easier filing, calculate your taxes using the city’s online tax

tool. Beginning February 15, 2013, you can enter all your income information online and the tax tool will calculate the correct tax due. The online tool also gives you the opportunity to view the total of all payments applied to your account that were received prior to February 1. Most taxpayers will also be able to file their form and payment (if due) online.

EZ Tax Form The new EZ form is a PDF document in which you can use

your computer to fill in your 2012 tax year information, attach your W-2s via a link and file your form electronically, or print it to forward to the Tax Office with your W-2s. If you have non-W-2 income or have other considerations, please use the standard form.

Credit for Taxes Paid to Other CitiesFor tax year 2012, Mason residents who are employed in

another city that has an earnings tax can receive a maximum credit of up to one hundred percent (100%) of the Mason tax due on the portion of their earnings taxed by the city where they are employed. Please note that even if you owe no tax to the City of Mason because of this credit, you are still required to file a return.

More information can be found online or by calling the Mason Tax Office.

Help from the Tax OfficeThe tax office will gladly prepare your City of Mason income tax return

free of charge. To take advantage of this service, please bring all 2012 tax documents to the customer service counter at Mason Municipal Center during regular business hours or during our tax season extended hours.

workplace and as they travel to and from work inside the city. Non-residents may get a credit for the amount from their city of residence.

All employers who currently have a withholding account have been notified of the tax rate change.

Mason residents who own or have an equity interest in the property where they live, and their dependents, will receive a credit for the .12% if it was paid to Mason. Overpayments may be refunded to the resident via the 2013 tax return, due by April 15, 2014.

As always, your annual city income tax form includes a calculation of your estimated taxes for the next year. The 2012 tax forms have been revised to reflect the change in the 2013 withholding rate and the possible credits. You will not receive a credit for property taxes until your 2013 tax form is filed in 2014.

There is no change in the tax rate for property taxes that will be collected in 2013. The collections will be for tax year 2012.

If you have any questions about the changes, please contact the City of Mason Tax Office at 513.229.8535.

Online tax information and tax tool: www.imaginemason.org

Mason Tax OfficeFirst Floor, Mason Municipal Center

6000 Mason-Montgomery Road513.229.8535

regular business hours8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Monday through Friday

tax season extended hours8:00 a.m. to noonSaturday, April 13

8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Monday, April 15

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Utility Rates Adjusted

Who Maintains Your Street?

The utility bill you receive each month from Greater Cincinnati Water Works

(GCWW) reflects charges for your use of four services. Three of these services had rate adjustments on January 1 to offset rising costs.

Water - fees are based on the amount of water used as indicated by your water meter. Water is provided to Mason water customers by GCWW. Cincinnati City Council approved a rate increase of about 5¢ a day beginning January 1. A flyer from GCWW was included in your bill to explain the new rate.

Water Reclamation (sewer) - fees are based on the amount of water used, with possible adjustments in the summer for residential customers to account for outside usage. Sewer service is provided by the City of Mason. In May 2011 and as a result of an independent review of rates, City Council adopted a 4.5% increase in sewer fees each year through 2016, or about $2 per month for the average residential customer. This gradual increase was recommended in the study to bring the city into compliance with legally required debt coverage

Honorary Mayor for a DayMayor David F. Nichols provided some guidance to Liberty

Messer, Honorary Mayor for a Day, as they looked over the Council agenda. The position of Honorary Mayor for a Day was auctioned at a fund-raiser at Mason Intermediate School. Liberty and her friends visited city departments during the day and attended a Council meeting in the evening.

ratios over several years instead of a single large rate adjustment. The 4.5% annual adjustment was made as of January 1. Beginning in 2017, only an annual cost-of-living adjustment on January 1 is planned.

Trash Collection and Recycling - fees are the same for every residential customer and are negotiated by the city, benefiting residents by lower group rates, not having to find a trash hauler on their own, and the convenience of being billed along with other utilities. A new contract was awarded to Rumpke in 2012 that included large rolling recycling carts at no additional cost. There was no change to the trash rate in January. Residents currently pay $14.35 a month.

Stormwater - fees are based on the amount of impervious surface on the property. Impervious surfaces include rooftops, pavement, and other structures that do not allow water to drain through them. The rate is the same for all residential customers and is based on the average residential property. For non-residential uses, fees are based on the

Maintaining the safety of the streets is a primary goal of the City of Mason.

The city makes major investments in safety through the annual street paving program and winter snow and ice control.

For the past few years as budgeting concerns have increased and seasonal and part-time help has been curtailed, city departments have come together to manage

the challenges of snow and freezing rain. While the Public Works Department remains the primary provider of service on winter streets, personnel in the Engineering & Building, Parks & Recreation, and Public Utilities Departments have pitched in to help make the roads safe.

City snowplows clear snow and ice from nearly all of the streets in Mason, but there are a few that are not cleared by city crews. If you live on a private street or in one of the city’s newest subdivisions, your homeowner association (HOA) or

developer is responsible for removing

the snow and ice. Private streets are usually around

apartments and condominium developments and have street name signs with green letters on a white background. If you have concerns about the maintenance of your street and live in one of these areas, please contact your apartment manager or HOA.

Subdivisions that are still the responsibility of the developer to maintain, including winter plowing, are listed at right along with contact information.

Carmelle Subdivision, Phase 3 Jill Prior513.891.7100 x106

The Estates at Chestnut Hill, Section 4Jim Kiefer, Great Traditions513.563.4070 Reserves of BethanyJoseph F. Farruggia, Classic Properties513.492.9630 Reserves of Carmelle SubdivisionJill Prior513.891.7100 x106 Willow Brooke SubdivisionLance Oaks; CESO937.272.1100

actual amount of impervious surfaces. The stormwater utility is managed by the City of Mason. As the result of legislation approved after a comprehensive rate study in 2010, a 5.5% increase was authorized each January through 2016, less than $2 a year. After 2016, the legislation allows for an annual cost-of-living adjustment on January 1 of each year. The new residential rate is $3.52.

If you have questions about your bill, please contact Greater Cincinnati Water Works at 513.591.7700.

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Council Looks Ahead to 2013Budget Approved in December

Mason City Council approved the 2013 budget at its last meeting in 2012. The

budget is a guide to spending for the year and identifies major projects and initiatives, supports ongoing operations, guides service levels, and more.

Revenue estimates, capital project lists, service levels, fuel and supply costs, benefits, and a host of other factors figure into the budget. Careful thought is put into the budget as it is created. The result is a semi-flexible plan that allows for changes to be made as needs, priorities, or revenues change. At the same time, it is firm enough to provide the city staff with a basis on which to schedule projects and services.

Staffing LevelsFive years ago, Council and staff began

a concerted effort throughout the city to increase cooperation, coordination, communication and cost saving efforts among departments. Combined with a hiring freeze, these efforts were significant to the city’s ability to balance the budget during the economic downturn.

Through attrition, 27 fulltime positions are now vacant, about 15% of the authorized positions. Some services have been impacted more than others as a result of uneven loss of staff. For 2013, a thorough evaluation of operations and staffing was undertaken with the objective of developing a strategic cross-departmental staffing plan to meet the current and future needs of the organization. Significant concepts considered included budgeting for some key positions, changing/moving/consolidating work responsibilities, developing more consistency in organizational processes, retitling some positions, continuing to evaluate outsourcing while shifting employees to higher priorities and more critical needs within the organization, providing cross-training and developmental opportunities for employees, and implementing teams of employees to accommodate short-term surges in workloads such as snow removal and business recruitment.

Revenues and Expenses General Fund revenues for 2013 were

budgeted very conservatively. The budget for General Fund expenses increased slightly (3%) and the city’s total budget for all funds is up just 3% from the 2012 budget. With the decline and ultimately the elimination of state supported revenue such as the personal property tax reimbursement that was eliminated in 2011, no amounts for state-supported revenue were included in the 2013 budget.

Many of the cost reductions made the last several years are not sustainable indefinitely without incurring greater expenses in future years or larger shifts or unacceptable exposures in service levels. The 2013 budget provides for an approach to begin preparing for some of these impacts by establishing small contingency amounts that can be used in emergency situations or, if unused, reserved for capital purchases in future years. This practice will need to be continued in future budget years.

The 2013 Budget includes a total of $6,541,000 for capital projects. About 13% of this will come out of the city’s General Fund, largely supported by tax dollars. These projects include the annual sidewalk and street tree programs as well as funds for addressing the aging Public Works garage.

Major projects included in the 2012 budget that will be paid from other funds include the annual street maintenance program, construction of the Bethany Road roundabout, several improvements to the sewer system (supported by sewer fees), and stormwater projects in Olympia Fields and Mason Heights that are supported by

General Fund Budget(million)

2009 2010 2011 2012 2013

Income Tax $20.7 $19.5 $19.5 $19.5 $20.5

Other Revenue 5.9 5.1 5.0 3.8 3.6

Revenue $26.6 $24.6 $24.5 $23.3 $24.1

Personnel $13.6 $12.8 $12.9 $12.5 $12.8

Operating 9.1 8.9 7.6 7.1 7.5

Transfers 3.5 4.1 3.7 3.7 3.7

Expenditures $26.2 $25.8 $24.2 $23.3 $24.0

$30.0

$25.0

$20.02009 2010 2011 2012 2013

General Fund Budget

(mill

ion

)

Expenditures Revenue

stormwater fees.

OutlookFor 2013, City Council continued its

practice of conservative budgeting, which has helped the city maintain long-term financial health even during economic downturns. However, the significant decreases in budgeted amounts that have occurred over the past several years will continue to mean reduced flexibility and responsiveness to changing circumstances and increasing difficulty in maintaining the status quo, which may have an impact upon services.

“A lot of hard work by all departments and employees has gone into controlling expenses,” said City Manager Eric Hansen. “Staff will continue to monitor the budget to keep the impact on services as low as possible. By all of us working together and adding an extra measure of patience and understanding, we will keep our community strong.”

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Mason Police Donate Bikes

Zicco Retires

Is it Okay to Pet a Police Dog?

The Mason Police Department is continuing its program of

donating lost, stolen, abandoned, and seized bicycles to a local organization to benefit area families in need. City Council passed an ordinance in November that paved the way for the department to donate the bikes to nonprofit organizations.

Late in November, the department donated seven unclaimed bicycles to the United Methodist Church in Mason. The church plans on refurbishing the

bicycles and then donating them to area families in need. In addition, seven bicycles were donated to the New2You Thrift Store in Mason. The bicycles will be sold in the store and the proceeds will be used by Grace Chapel to support several programs that assist area families.

The City of Mason Police Department is committed to community service. The department is pleased to be able to positively impact the lives of less fortunate families in the Mason area while finding a good use for the bicycles.

Found bicycles are turned in to the

Mason City Council recently recognized Zicco for his eight years of service to

the Mason Police Department.Zicco retired in 2012 and was the city’s

first police dog. His handler, Sergeant Matt Hayes, started the canine program in January, 2004, and continues to serve as the program’s coordinator. In addition to serving countless hours on the job, Zicco participated in many exhibitions and in the D.A.R.E. program.

Vice Mayor Victor Kidd and Council Safety Committee Chair Char Pelfrey presented a commemorative plaque to Sgt. Hayes. Zicco continues to reside with the Hayes family.

types of reasons, from missing persons to tracking dangerous criminals who have fled from a crime.

There have been instances of residents approaching or following police canines while they are engaged in locating people or drugs. These residents have unknowingly placed themselves in a dangerous situation because of their desire to interact with the canine team. Taking a moment to stop and observe can help ensure that everyone remains safe. The canines are trained to work through distractions, so the concern is not distracting the canine team; the concern is the safety of everyone in the area.

In addition to tracking, the dogs are trained to protect their handler, the canine officer. Interfering in a canine track is an action that places the person who is interfering in danger.

There are ample opportunities to meet and

Mason loves dogs!Mason Police Department’s two

canines, Timber and Major, are two of the most personable and gentle dogs in town. Their handlers in the police department have discovered that the dogs are better known on a first-name basis than any of the human officers!

But is it okay to approach one of these police dogs?

While both Mason police dogs are friendly and approachable, it is important to remember that they are actual police officers. Depending on when you see them, they may be on duty.

Often you will see the canines with their human handlers at community events and canine demonstrations. Public events and demonstrations are a very important part of the Mason Police canine unit. The dogs and handlers alike enjoy and look forward to meeting and educating residents about the dogs and their incredible capabilities.

These events are the appropriate venues for seeing the canines up close. Because the dogs are so friendly, their handlers will often permit you to interact with them and even pet them. However, it is important to remember to ask permission before petting the dog. Also, please refrain from horseplay.

A police canine’s primary function is as a locating tool. When a police dog is encountered outside of public events or demonstrations, there is a high likelihood that it is engaged in the patrol function of their job, which is locating people or things. If you encounter a canine officer and his dog in your neighborhood or at a local business, please take a moment to stop and observe what it is doing.

Tracking people is a common function of the canine team. The dogs use their nose to sniff for fresh ground disturbance, which occurs if a person travels through an area on foot. The tracking of people can be for all

interact with the Mason Police canines and they look forward to those events. Please keep in mind that when you see them engaged in their patrol jobs, they are performing a function that is designed to keep you safe. Please let them attend to their duties.

department on a regular basis. To help you recover your bike if it is ever lost or stolen, write down the serial number of the bike and keep it with your other important papers. A photo of the bike is useful as well. If your bike is lost or stolen, file a report with the police so they can keep an eye out for it. The bikes that are turned in are kept for at least six months before they are moved out of storage and donated to local organizations.

If your non-profit organization is interested in receiving donated bicycles in the future, please contact the Mason Police Department at 513.229.8560 or e-mail police@masonoh.org.

Mason K-9 officers Brad Walker (left) and Michael Bishop with their partners, Timber and Major.

Photo by Colleen Kelley

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Spring Cleaning SafetySpring cleaning! The mere mention can

raise the hair on the back of your neck as you think about all the hard work ahead. As you make the transition from winter to spring and gear up for cleaning, remember a few safety tips that will help you get to summer without a cast or hospital stay.

According to Underwriters Laboratories, each year, 350,000 people make a trip to the emergency room due to improperly used ladders, lawn mowers, and tools. The Poison Control Center estimates that another 3 million will visit due to accidental poisoning from household cleaners and yard chemicals. Protect yourself with these safety tips.Ladders•  Before ever placing or mounting a ladder, be sure you are physically able to accomplish the tasks you set out to do. If you are unstable on your feet on the ground, climbing a ladder is not recommended.•  When using ladders, check to make sure they are free from damage. Loose, cracked or broken rungs or beams, loose or damaged hardware, or missing parts can be the ingredients for a serious fall.•  Be sure to review the instruction and warning labels on your ladder to ensure that you place it safely and properly. Be aware of any obstructions, including overhead wires or tree branches, and the ground you will be placing it on. Loose, soft, or uneven surfaces can make the ladder unstable and prone to tipping or falling.Lawn Mowers and Power Tools•  Before using last season’s lawn, garden, or repair tools, inspect them for frayed or damaged cords and cracked or broken casings. It you find damage, have the item repaired by a trained technician or replace it.•  Before firing up your lawnmower, refresh your memory by reading the owner’s manual. Inspect it for damage and check fuel lines and connectors for leaking fuel. Be sure the blade is properly sharpened and free of cracks or other significant damage. Lastly, be sure to fill the fuel tank outside! And do not run it in

an enclosed garage or shed because you risk carbon monoxide poisoning.•  Never carry a power tool by the cord or unplug a power cord by pulling on the cord. To unplug it, grasp the plug—not the wire—and pull firmly. Be sure to keep the cord away from heat, oil, and sharp edges to prevent unnecessary damage.•  Be careful when operating electric tools on wet grass due to the increased risk of electrical shock, and NEVER use them in the rain or standing water.•  Before using edged tools, be sure they are properly sharpened and that any handles or grips are tight without signs of cracking or other damage. Handles should also be inspected on tools like shovels, picks, or rakes and replaced if cracked or damaged.Household Cleaners•  Keep all household cleaners in the containers they came in and never use food containers (such as cups or bottles) to store household cleaners and other strong chemicals. Always store chemicals away from food.•  Read and follow the directions for the use of the products. Do this before using the products.•  Never mix chemicals. Doing so can produce poisonous gases.•  Turn on fans and open windows when using strong chemicals.•  Wear proper protection when using chemicals. Gloves and goggles/safety glasses should be worn when spraying strong chemicals. Long sleeves are also a good precaution, especially with lawn chemicals and pesticides.•  Discard old or outdated products and never sniff a container to “see what’s inside”. If you don’t know, dispose of it properly. Check local papers for times and locations to drop off household chemicals and other hazardous materials.General Safety Tips•  When you do your spring cleaning, dispose of old cans of paint and thinners and

accumulated newspapers and magazines. These can clutter your garage or shed and add fuel to a fire.•  Replace or clean your furnace filter. A dirty filter can lower the efficiency of your heating/cooling system, increasing both cost and the chance of a fire.•  Clean your clothes dryer ducting, damper, and the space around and under the appliance. Poor maintenance allows lint to build up in the exhaust duct, which can cause a fire.•  Check your water heater. If you have a gas-fired water heater, check to make sure it is venting properly. Birds like to nest in the top of the flue in the winter for warmth and this clog could lead to a fire or backup of carbon monoxide. To test it, light a match next to the vent and wave it out (don’t blow it out) and see if the smoke is pulled up the vent. If it isn’t, have a professional inspect and repair the vent.•  Clean the kitchen hood and air filter. Keeping this clean of cooking grease will help prevent a stovetop fire from spreading or a grease fire in the hood itself.•  Change your clock—change your battery in your smoke detectors. Remember that even smoke detectors that are wired into your home’s electricity require a battery back-up in the case of a power failure. Lastly, if you haven’t done so recently, sweep the smoke detector with the wand of your vacuum to remove dust and cobwebs which might clog the sensor port and prevent it from reading the smoke as quickly as it should. This also increases the lifespan of your smoke detectors.

A few minutes preparation and the careful execution of your spring cleaning can make the difference between enjoying the warmer weather and all its activities and watching others enjoy them. The choice seems as clear as a freshly washed window.

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Mason Historical SocietyThe Mason Historical Society will present a very appropriate

program for the February meeting. Gary Kersey, a Lincoln scholar and collector of memorabilia, will delight you with his knowledge of President Lincoln and the time in which he lived. Gary is from Wilmington, Ohio, and has traveled over a wide area to share what he has learned about this remarkable man. The program will begin at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, February 19, at Mason Municipal Center.

The March program will also be held at Mason Municipal Center. At 7 p.m. on Tuesday, March 19, an Antiques Road Show type program called Mason Style will be presented. You may bring as many as three items to be appraised; there will be a $5 charge for each item. These shows are always a lot of fun and you may just learn something interesting.

Historical Society meetings are open to the public. For more information on the society, please call the museum at 513.398.6750 or visit www.masonhistoricalsociety.org.

Thanks for your DonationsCity of Mason employees would like to thank all the

members of the community who donated food and gifts to help those in their own community this past holiday season. For the sixteenth year, city employees sponsored the annual Hope for the Holidays program. Employees partnered with the Mason Food Pantry and the community to provide food and gifts to families in need. 35 families were served, including 74 children ranging in age from infants to high school students.

The Mason Food Pantry provides basic food and health care items on a temporary basis to those in need. Located at 406 Fourth Avenue in Mason across from the Mason Thrift Store, the pantry accepts monetary donations as well as canned goods, non-perishable foods, and personal hygiene and health care items. Donations are welcome any time of year. For information, call 513.754.0333, extension 1, or visit www.masonfoodpantry.org.

Calling All Heroes

Acting Up

CPR without mouth-to-mouth? Hands-only™ CPR is the new recommendation from the American Heart Association for victims of sudden cardiac arrest. Learn it in just 30 minutes and you’ll have an important life-saving skill that could someday make you a hero to someone close to you.

The City of Mason Fire Department is “Calling All Heroes” and has set of goal of training 3,000 people in the community in adult “hands only” CPR. The free, non-certified classes will be held at both fire stations on “CPR Saturdays”—the first Saturday of each month—throughout the year.

Sponsored in partnership with TriHealth, the training consists of a video and discussion in addition to hands-on practice. Calling ahead to 513.229.8540 for training is recommended but not required. Training for your employees is also available.

Acting Up, the young performers community theater based in Mason, is proud to present its 16th full-scale musical production, “Bugsy Malone,” on March 8 -10 at the Mason Middle School Theater. Evening and afternoon performances are scheduled. Set in the 1920s, this hilarious, slapstick musical comedy is a spoof on the old gangster films, only this show is filled with young gangsters, silly string guns, and lots of whipped cream pies! Tickets are only $10 each and may be purchased online or at the box office starting one hour before each show. For more information, please visit www.ActingUp.com, email ActingUp@ActingUp.com, or call 513.494.6062.

family and can focus on helping others.

In order to make the drill more realistic, victims were staged in different locations throughout the disaster scenario and each had a unique injury. Makeup was used on many victims to show their injuries, a practice intended to prepare the CERT volunteers for real-world experiences of seeing victims covered in blood.

The training was supervised by the Mason Fire Department. Chief Bryant was on hand throughout the drill to monitor and review the way the CERT team handled themselves during the search, rescue, and eventual medical triage. Each drill is reviewed with the team and suggestions are provided to improve the response and actions of the CERT volunteers.If you are interested in becoming a member of the Mason CERT program, please visit www.imaginemason.org for an application or visit Mason Fire Station 51 at 4420 Mason-Montgomery Road. If you have any questions about the program, please contact the City of Mason Fire Administration at 513.229.8540.

Citizen Drill Helps Prepare for True Emergencies

Upcoming CPR SaturdaysFebruary 2 March 2 April 6

9 – 11 a.m.

Fire Station 51 Fire Station 524420 Mason-Montgomery Road 5500 Cedar Village Drive

Mason CERT Activation: Tornado touchdown in local area. Report to Mason Fire Station 51 at 6 p.m.” Members of the Mason CERT

(Community Emergency Response Team) received this call to activate from Deputy Fire Chief Craig Bryant for a practice drill last November.

The Mason CERT team was organized in 2007. Members of the team are trained volunteers who can be called out to assist the City of Mason in emergencies when local resources may be overwhelmed. CERT members are not first responders and are not self-activated. Their training includes basic first aid, disaster preparedness, and light search and rescue. FEMA made CERT training available nationwide in 1993.

As members of the CERT team reported for the drill, maps of the areas impacted by the mock tornado were reviewed and team members were assigned. Disaster protocols were established and communication methods were defined before sending volunteers out. Within the team, members took on the various tasks of searching for and rescuing victims and providing medical treatment until first responders arrived.

The number one message to all CERT volunteers is to be SAFE! Had this been a real disaster, members have been instructed to make sure their family is safe first. Members can

then respond to the emergency without worrying about their

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Photos by Allison Lyons