November 2015 | Vol. 2 | Issue 11

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NOVEMBER 2015 | LIFE & CULTURE 45223 A FREE COMMUNITY PUBLICATION 5 FEATURE FROM THE EDITOR: PASSING THE TORCH 6 SPOTLIGHT CINCINNATIVE BRINGS TUNES AND TEES TO 223 8 OPINION CANCER CARE IN CINCINNATI 12 EDUCATION WHERE THE SIDEWALK EXTENDS / WORDPLAY

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NORTHSIDE: Community Council News NORTHSIDE: Business Council News FEATURE: From the Editor: Passing the torch SPOTLIGHT: CincinNative MUSIC: Counterfeit Money Machine OPINION: Cancer Care in Cincinnati POLITICS: Issue 22 Charter Amendment Fails COMMUNITY: Guardian Angels COMMUNITY: Northchurch Celebrates 160 Years in Service EDUCATION: Where the Sidewalk Extends EDUCATION: You Can Make it Happen SUSTAINABILITY: Winter is Coming FOOD CULTURE: The Season to Be Thankful HEALTH & WELLNESS: The Elusive Cure for Back Pain HEALTH & WELLNESS: What Lies Beneath SCREEN: Film Critics FAMILY & YOUTH: Upcoming Events

Transcript of November 2015 | Vol. 2 | Issue 11

Page 1: November 2015 | Vol. 2 | Issue 11

NOVEMBER 2015 | LIFE & CULTURE 45223 A FREE COMMUNITY PUBLICATION

5 FEATURE FROM THE EDITOR: PASSING THE TORCH

6 SPOTLIGHT CINCINNATIVE BRINGS TUNES AND TEES TO 223

8 OPINION CANCER CARE IN CINCINNATI

12 EDUCATION WHERE THE SIDEWALK EXTENDS / WORDPLAY

Page 2: November 2015 | Vol. 2 | Issue 11

2 THE NORTHSIDER MONTHLY

Win Free Coffee!

Join Our Loyalty Card Program Shop with us in November, and you could win

a gift certificate to Sidewinder Coffee!

Every Wednesday 4-7pm, Rain or Shine

North Presbyterian Church www.northsidefm.org

Emily Buzek ValentinoSales Vice President

Cell (513) 602-7414E-mail [email protected]

2716 Observatory Avenue Cincinnati, Ohio 45208

Brokering Fine Homes Since 1946

comey.com

“Northside’s most prolific Realtor” – Cincinnati Enquirer, June 2013

ART+DESIGN

GREAT DESIGN FOR GREATER COMMUNITY. Offering a full array of design and communications services

for campaigns, non-profits and small businesses.

www.reverbartdesign.com

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THE NORTHSIDER MONTHLY 3

4138 HAMILTON AVENUE, CINCINNATI, OH 45223

Schedule on-line! P R I VAT E S E SS I O N S

Feldenkrais Method, Coaching,Massage, Acupuncture

We’ve Got Your BackA FELDENKRAIS SERIESMondays, Nov. 16 - Dec. 14, 6 - 7:15 pm

If back tension, pain or weakness has got you down, come get your back back. A great general integrative class series to benefit all of your body. With Cynthia Allen.

Call 513.541.5720 or visit futurelifenow.com

WHAT’S INSIDECOVER ARTIST CONTRIBUTORS

Davy Howard is a Cincinnati-based mixed media artist, best known for his psychedelic contributions to the Bunk News collective. He’s most recently been featured at Resonance Music Festival and AYE Music & Art Festival. This month, his work can found at Chameleon as part of Northside’s Second Saturday festivities.

CALL FOR ARTISTS/COVER ART

The Northsider is seeking monthly cover art submissions from local artists. Artists will be paid $40 for published covers. All 2 dimensional pieces will be considered. One stipulation of publication is that the piece or a print be donated to The Northsider Annual Art Auction Fundraiser that will help support the paper. If you are interested in having your artwork considered:

Email: [email protected] Subject line: Cover Art Submission

DAVY HOWARD

MISSION STATEMENT

The Northsider is an independent monthly newspaper. Our mission is to engage and inform Cincinnati residents about Northside communities, cultures, politics and events. We are committed to providing substantive articles and informed opinions that embrace the diversity of our neighborhood and promote the pride we have for our city.

Northsider Monthly, LLC. is a Nonprofit Limited Liability Corporation. The paper is overseen by the Northside Community Council (NCC), which is an all volunteer driven and community-based organization. NCC is committed to bringing diverse peoples and opinions together to foster cooperation, collaboration and communication.

The Northsider Monthly is published on the first Friday of the month and is distributed to both businesses and residents in the 45223 zip code.

MANAGING EDITORS: Leo Pierson D’Cruz and Michelle D’Cruz

of Reverb Art + Design

WRITERS IN THIS ISSUE: Ollie Kroner, Jim Swafford, Jeni Jenkins,

Kamal Kimball, Kyley Fredrick, Steve Sunderland, Leo Pierson D’Cruz, Lynne Free, Christa Iwu, Tommy Reuff, Ellen Vera, Ana Bird, Cynthia Allen, Jen VanLandingham

NORTHSIDER MANAGEMENT TEAM:Ollie Kroner, Mati Senerchia, Karen Andrew,

Jarrett Shedd, Kamall Kimball, Jonathan Sears, Barry Scwartz, James Heller-Jackson,

Leo Pierson D’Cruz and Michelle D’Cruz

PAPER ROLLERS:Happen Inc. Volunteers led by Tommy Reuff

DELIVERY TEAM:Kamall Kimball, Riccardo Taylor, Karen Andrews, Sue Wilke, Stephen Davis, SaraLynne Thoresen,

ThoraLynne McKinney, Mati Senerchia, Noeli Senerchia, Jacob Walker, Daisy Walker, Evan Hunter-Linville,

Owen Hunter-Linville, Lauren & Meredith Shockely-Smith

NORTHSIDE: Community Council News ��������������������4

NORTHSIDE: Business Council News ������������������������4

FEATURE: From the Editor: Passing the torch ���������5

SPOTLIGHT: CincinNative��������������������������������������������6

MUSIC: Counterfeit Money Machine��������������������������7

OPINION: Cancer Care in Cincinnati ��������������������������8

POLITICS: Issue 22 Charter Amendment Fails ��������9

COMMUNITY: Guardian Angels ������������������������������10

COMMUNITY: Northchurch Celebrates

160 Years in Service �������������������������������������������������11

EDUCATION: Where the Sidewalk Extends ������������12

EDUCATION: You Can Make it Happen ������������������13

SUSTAINABILITY: Winter is Coming ����������������������14

FOOD CULTURE: The Season to Be Thankful �������15

HEALTH & WELLNESS: The Elusive Cure

for Back Pain ���������������������������������������������������������������16

HEALTH & WELLNESS: What Lies Beneath ����������17

SCREEN: Film Critics ������������������������������������������������18

FAMILY & YOUTH: Upcoming Events ���������������������18

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Elections: The Northside Community Council (NCC) is now seeking nominations for Board candidates for 2016. Board Directors and Officers help shape the future of the neighborhood by working with Northside residents and City of Cincinnati officials to advocate for community interests. NCC is looking for a variety of skills and perspectives - we need you! Please send your questions or nominations to [email protected].

Home Energy Efficiency: We have a lot of old houses in Northside. The

City of Cincinnati and Duke Energy have teamed together to identify houses in the neighborhood that are underperforming when it comes to energy usage. Owners of these homes will be contacted, offered a free energy audit, and discounts on insulation and energy performance upgrades. Learn more at http://empowercincy.com/northside/.

LEED for Neighborhoods: Northside was awarded a grant from the Environmental Protection Agency which brought sustainability

experts to Cincinnati on Oct. 21 and 22 to analyze best practices for environmentally responsible development. The team evaluated Northside according to Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) standards and will issue a report outlining opportunities for our neighborhood.

Blue Rock Improvements: Changes are underway. Blue Rock Street has become a major entry point into the neighborhood from the Colerain Avenue exit of I-74. Blue Rock will be

undergoing some major improvements in the upcoming months. The sidewalks will be widened, trees will be planted, and the lanes will be reconfigured at the intersections.

The next Community Council meeting will be held 7 p�m� on Monday, Nov� 16 at the McKie Recreation Center, 1655 Chase Ave� The public is invited�

FOR FREQUENT UPDATES: Find us on Facebook!

NORTHSIDE COMMUNITY COUNCIL NEWS

The Northside Business Association (NBA) extends its best wishes for the Thanksgiving holiday! We have a lot to be thankful for here in our thriving community. I would like to personally thank all in Northside that continue to engage in the difficult works and challenges that a growing community demands. From the business owners, property owners, and entrepreneurs to the residents, community activists, and local press here in Northside, THANK YOU ALL for your great works in this community!

I’m a transplant that started my business here in 1983. The community

was much different back then but it had a certain charm and allure that was unmistakable and unique even at that time. Since then, I have witnessed unprecedented redevelopment of “This little village stranded in the heart of Cincinnati.” For some unknown reason, Northside has continued to attract the most diverse, proactive, and enthusiastic visionaries of the future…. and they have always worked hard at it.

Working for a better future - this has been our underlying theme. No matter from where, or how we came here, or whether born and raised here, those who have remained in Northside, no

matter what our differences, have always striven to make it a better community to live in. From our artisans, shop owners and craftsmen, to our hard-working volunteers who accomplish great works with minimal resources, we are forging out a “little urban oasis” in the heart of Cincinnati! I know most of us realize this, but I just wanted to thank all of you, the architects of our future, for all of the valued things you accomplish in our growing community.

I would also like to extend NBA’s invitation to join us on Monday, Dec. 7 at Happen Inc. located at 4201 Hamilton Ave., for our monthly meeting,

following our annual elections. We will be recapping 2015 achievements, discussing future plans for the business district, and we would really appreciate input from anyone with suggestions on business district programs, projects, or improvements that might help enhance our community. Bring a fellow business owner, neighbor, or friend. We’d love to have you join us for our year-end wrap-up and look into 2016. Your input makes a difference and sharing ideas with your business neighbors helps to keep us focused on the target. Look forward to seeing you there!

JIM SWAFFORD

NORTHSIDE BUSINESS COUNCIL NEWS

4114 Hamilton Avenue Northside | 513-541-2073

Live Music, Spirits, Suds, and Fun!

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Never in a million years could I have predicted I would live in and have a strong devotion to a place as unique as Northside. Nor could I have foreseen that I would have the rare opportunity to create a neighborhood newspaper from scratch. If you would have asked me 10 years ago if I would one day feel deeply connected to a little urban neighborhood just outside of downtown Cincinnati, that I would call it home, and be the managing editor and publisher of it’s one-of-a-kind newspaper, I would have flat out told you that you were crazy.

When I moved to Cincinnati in August 2006 to attend grad school at the University of Cincinnati I had no clue that Northside existed. Coming from a very different life in Boise, Idaho, I had no frame of reference for what life would be like here. And while it took me quite some time to find my bearings, I cannot imagine my life absent of this funky little village.

To be honest, when I first arrived, I hated Cincinnati. I thought I had made a huge mistake moving my two children and myself to this foreign region, where I had no friends and no family. I couldn’t

wait to graduate and move on. I was desperately homesick. Then, due to forces outside my control, I was forced to move and serendipitously found an affordable apartment in Northside.

It wasn’t overnight, but day-by-day, week-by-week, month-by-month, I built a life, with new friends and new social networks. The more I learned about Northside, its history and its people, the more I understood she and I were kindred souls, both having experienced loss and turmoil, but still standing strong beneath the grit. Before long I realized I had fallen in love with the an unexpected neighborhood at an unexpected time. And with that love came a newfound commitment to community.

By December of 2011, I put down permanent roots, buying a home on Langland. Around the same time, I became a Northside Community Council Board member and invested time in community projects centered on education, art and communications.

When Worley Rodehaver, the editor and publisher of The Metro Northsider for some 20 years, retired the paper in 2013 due to deteriorating health, the council determined the paper was worth continuing. Recognizing the potential of a community publication, I embraced the challenge of creating the paper.

Uncertainty has been the name of the game these past 30 months. I didn’t know where to begin, where I was going or what I was supposed to do to get to wherever that was. I don’t think it mattered whether or not anyone believed in me, or whether or not I could do it; it was a matter of me believing in the power of my community

and my recognition that within its 1.82 square miles Northside is a diamond in the rough with treasures untold.

I knew there were voices waiting to be heard, I knew there were stories waiting to be told. I knew of the free-spirited people within its borders, the aging hippies, the downtrodden working class, the growing millennial hipster populace, and all those in between. I knew it was a place of hope that embraced difference. The racially and socio-economically diverse mix, socially aware constituents, and the ever-growing creative class had drawn me in. The plethora of independently owned enterprises, progressive non-profits and active community groups inspired me.

And while I already loved her; this place; this neighborhood; this “lifestyle”; this community with “a different direction”; through the process of leading this project, I came to see her, with all her guts and all her glory, as an exceptional gift, full of life and pregnant with purpose. I have been captivated by the immeasurable poetry of her Soul and humbled by her timeless endurance.

And while it pains me in many ways to pass the torch, after having loved and

nurtured this project from a seed, I recognize that my efforts have reached a natural plateau. It is time for new energy. Like the African proverb “it takes a village” I believe it will take a village to take this paper to the next level. I took on the Northsider as a project due to my devotion to this community. And the new leaders, Leo Pierson D’Cruz and Michelle D’Cruz, are cut from the same cloth.

There is no way I could have carried out this project without the help of all the passionate people who converged from all angles: writers; copywriters; proofreaders; photographers; cover artists; poets; community advisers; the delivery team; the Happen rolling crew; and the Lovefest volunteers. This is their project - I just created the opportunity. I am proud to have lead 25 editions. Thanks Northside for gifting me your relentless belief in the power of people and community.

JENI JENKINS

The founder and former Editor of The Northsider Monthly, Jeni is the Director of Communications at Our Daily Bread, and a freelance designer and owner of Uncaged Bird Print and Design Studio.

FEATURE | FROM THE EDITOR: PASSING THE TORCH

Thanks Northside for gifting me your relentless belief in the power of people and community.

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On a Monday night in Northside, while many of us are in our kitchens cooking dinner or settling in front of the TV, the rumblings of a sound check ricochet off the buildings that line Chase avenue. In front of an open door between Hamilton avenue and Turrill street, a small crowd mills around on the sidewalk, waiting for the band to start. But this venue isn’t a bar or a concert hall as you might expect. By day, it’s a custom screen print shop called CincinNative—the perfect place to get “rock star shirts printed at garage band prices,” according to owner Aaron Madrigal.

Back in the summer of 2012, Madrigal was painting houses and delivering pizzas to pay the bills. Though he graduated from University of Cincinnati with a degree in Chemical Engineering, he “could never sit behind a computer,” and instead worked jobs that allowed him enough time and energy to devote to his passion: playing guitar with his band, Lemon Sky. At the time, Madrigal was living next door to a small and unprofitable laundromat on Chase Avenue. Sensing an opportunity, he offered to rent the space from the building owner with the hope of turning

it into a place to host local and touring rock shows. Not long after, he realized that the space had the potential to be something more. Around this time, Lemon Sky was in need of band T-shirts and Madrigal began hunting for an affordable local print shop to do the job. After receiving a series of astronomical quotes to print the shirts, he found a bargain on Craigslist for all the silk screening supplies he would need to print the shirts himself. He taught himself the basics of screenprinting from online tutorials and got to work. Pretty soon, other bands began to approach him to print their shirts, and demand grew through word-of-mouth.

Though he never expected to be a small-business owner, the shop had its grand opening in March 2013, and Madrigal hasn’t looked back since. “It runs in the family,” he explained. “My dad owned businesses, and my uncle in Mexico was an inventor.” Though business is bustling and he has printed large runs of shirts for corporate clients, businesses, and events like the Cincinnati Fringe Festival, no order is too small. From a single, one-color custom shirt to a run of hundreds, CincinNative is willing to take on just about any job.

Though T-shirt printing comprises the majority of CincinNative’s business, Madrigal’s passion for music has continued to guide the focus of the shop. Record covers and images of Jimi Hendrix and Jack White decorate the walls, and there is a curated selection of local vinyl in a corner of the shop. CincinNative has even helped with record releases, printing record sleeves

and posters for local bands such as Pop Goes the Evil.

True to the initial vision for the space, CincinNative continues to host local and touring bands for evening shows. From 7 to 10 p.m. on almost every Monday night, CincinNative is home to raucous “Rock and Roll Happy Hours” that draw crowds of music lovers from around the neighborhood. Emily McColgan, of local bands Dinge and Cross Country, handles booking for the free Monday night show series, which typically includes three bands, at least one of which is a touring act.

The vibe inside CincinNative on show nights is both energetic and laid back, like walking into a house party.Musicians and listeners mingle in the crowd, tapping toes and bobbing heads to the music, some with earplugs peeking from their ears to take the edge off the sound. Music lovers

undeterred by ringing ears are invited to come by and soak up some free rock and roll to start the week off right. Those

in need of high-quality, locally-printed T-shirts are encouraged to reach out to CincinNative via e-mail for all their screen printing needs.

FOR MORE INFORMATION:Visit 1626 Chase Ave, Cincinnati, Ohio or check out: www�cincinnative�com

KAMAL E. KIMBALL

Kamal has called Northside home since February and loves all that the neighborhood has to offer! When she’s not stuffing her face at Melt or Django, she can be found catching a band at Northside Tavern or walking in the neighborhood.

SPOTLIGHT | CINCINNATIVE

Bringing Tunes and Tees to the 223

BY DAY, IT’S A CUSTOM SCREEN PRINT SHOP CALLED CINCINNATIVE—THE PERFECT PLACE TO GET “ROCK STAR SHIRTS PRINTED AT GARAGE BAND PRICES.”

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THE NORTHSIDER MONTHLY 7

Counterfeit Money Machine will release their album “Desperate Measures” Nov. 6 at the Northside Tavern. Back in Nov. 2014, rappers AP and Kill Bill, collaborated with beat producer Juan Cosby to set a visionary goal for themselves—to create a song from scratch every month for a year.

From the inception of each idea to a complete music video, CMM worked on short deadlines to challenge their creative process.

“We realized we had the ability to make our own music videos. All of these other rappers had stuff on YouTube and just every outlet really, so we wanted a way to quickly content overload. It changed the way we worked because we needed to streamline it to stay on time,” said Juan Cosby.

Their first complete song, “Cosmetic Brain Surgery,” points out many shortcomings in our society.

A beat resembling a tone from a child’s toy plays whimsically in the background while the chorus sings in an upbeat tune, “Americans fight the war on gluten/Chinese kids make half our clothes/We turn our heads at prostitution/Football players dragging hoes.”

CMM is great at weaving amusing lyrics with poignant views to create a desired satirical effect. It is danceable hip-hop that makes us smirk, but forces us to examine societal norms.

In fact, the cover art created by Awol One shows an illustration of a

skull faced anchorman covering an alien invasion. Seated at a desk, the anchorman delivers the news as flames erupt behind him, further displaying the social issues CCM takes to task in a lighthearted way.

The music videos released each month are unique in their own right and engage viewers. For example, in “How To Get Free Money,” CMM rented out a former bank to create a scene depicting a bank robbery. The group charges into the room and among the bank tellers featured is DJ Notorious from WEBN.

Perhaps the most controversial of all is the video for “Religism Hashtag Blessed,” which challenges Christianity. It is ironically shot inside of a church and AP raps about being a nonbeliever of Christianity while flipping through pages of the Bible.

But the music video is prefaced with a warning message about offensive language and for people who are affiliated with organized religion to watch at their own discretion. CMM does not want to be taken too seriously, they just want the freedom to explore different subject areas that might be considered “touchy” or off limits to other artists.

AP and Kill Bill—who happen to be brothers—started CMM on their own and ended up meeting Juan Cosby when he booked them for a show.

“I asked them if their name was a reference to an old comedy skit that I liked and they were like, for sure. We ended up talking for a while about how we love an element of comedy in our music,” said Juan Cosby.

CMM uses their music as a vehicle to discuss problems in our society on a

larger scale, but they do so with a smile and the intention to make us laugh.

Catch Counterfeit Money Machine November 6 at Northside Tavern for the official Desperate Measures album release party. Openers for the show include B. Shields, Ronin, BIG’UNS, Meiosis, and MC Abyss (Ghost Hussy).

MUSIC | COUNTERFEIT MONEY MACHINE TAKES “DESPERATE MEASURES”

Burgeoning Hip-hop Trio Releases New Album

KYLEY FREDRICK Kyley Fredrick is a journalism student at the University of Cincinnati. When she’s not rushing to meet her next deadline she can be found drinking a beer at the Northside Tavern or playing “Rampage” at Arcade Legacy: Bar Edition. She has an affinity for Cuban culture and is currently devising a plan for her next trip to Havana, Cuba.

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8 THE NORTHSIDER MONTHLY

I recently spoke at an inner city elementary school and a suburban high school on health in Cincinnati. Over 90% of the children, 6th graders in one school, and high school sophomores in the other, raised their hands when I asked how many had someone in their family with cancer. We talked about a parent that died, a brother or sister with cancer, and/or a family history of cancer persisting from generation to generation.

As we talked, it was clear that the youth felt isolated about what could be done. Some suggested the best we could do was to wear pink; others spoke of raising money for research. Prayer was also noted. These responses are not different from the average person who is coping with a family member facing cancer. Along with the difficulties of care, persons with cancer face a lack of experience with medical institutions and insurance. What the cancer citizens need is a culture of support for themselves and their families.

What is a culture of support for cancer citizens? Simply, every person with cancer needs one team, one caring neighborhood, and linkage to cancer hospitals. Caring involves connection. Mortality can be increased with relationships. Fighting cancer

includes dialogue with support systems with the cancer citizen at the center. However, helping people survive cancer is not usually thought about as a democratic enterprise.

Yet, it is clear, the more barriers facing a person in the health care system, the more likely that they will experience both isolation, poor decision-making, and ignorance about how they participate in their own survival. It is still not unthinkable that a person, ignorant of the complexities of cancer, will not be told where literature from the American Cancer Society can be obtained in their own language. With the flood of information about health insurance, it is still more likely that a cancer citizen is confused just how much is paid for by the patient and by the insurance company.

Even though most professional healthcare workers know that the diagnosis of cancer can lead to emotional and psychological confusion that is persistent, it is still normal to find most people deeply confused about medical terms, treatment options, survival chances, side effects and their risks, and the “best” method for treatment. And feeling isolated and out of touch with any knowledgeable person

who can assist in explaining the basics of the disease and the potential course of treatment. Instead of leaving the doctor’s office with a clear road map of the steps toward the best approaches, the individual and their families are left to find their ways through a minefield of decisions that may deter or disrupt the person’s key decisions.

There are five kinds of support cancer citizens need:

1. First and foremost for many citizens, is emotional support.

Facing the fears of a cancer diagnosis can take place in a compassionate relationship that is ongoing. Nothing about stepping into the cancer treatment process can be better accomplished alone. Solid, fair, necessary, and caring relationships open opportunities for the citizen to have a person, in relationship, to bounce ideas off of, share concerns that may be irrational, and have a partner in the search to find the best next steps.

2. Secondly, cancer citizens need to be informed about

the complexities of their situation and have access to the latest information that is similar or identical to their case. Information, provided by research that is understandable, or information provided by people who have already successfully been treated, or information from those who have been subjected to difficulties, all add up to supportive elements in how a citizen chooses to act.

3. Thirdly, every cancer citizen needs some level of assistance

in overcoming “basic” barriers related to finances, transportation, child care, employer release and other necessary

life situations that may be planned for with able support.

4. Fourthly, cancer citizens need support to persist in treatments,

or be accompanied to second opinions, or be helped to understand how

treatment will affect life chances, as well as some help overcoming the natural discomfort with regular, and often, painful treatments.

5. Lastly, cancer

citizens need support for facing the unknowns inside every cancer case. What works, will it work in my situation, for how long will a treatment take, and with what kind of acceptable result, and, with some success, will the situation relapse into another level of cancer, and a thousand other questions. Caring support, in relationship, recognizes that there are questions that never go away irrespective of treatment and that these questions represent fears that are often deep and disabling. In conversations about taboo topics as well as discussions of questions that need to be asked to physicians that are awkward, there is a need for a caring team to work together on preparation, discussion, and review.

Creating Youth Freedom Navigators As I talked with the teens about their interest in helping with cancer, and listened to their experiences trying to make a difference in often harrowing situations, I thought about the youth as a potential group capable of working in teams, in neighborhoods, with hospitals and patient navigators, to create and sustain the caring culture.

We know that young people were critical in the Civil Rights Movement, >>

OPINION | CANCER CARE IN CINCINNATI

Serving Northsidelunch + dinnerMonday–Friday

& dinner Saturday

A Lesson From Youth Driven Social Movements

CARING SUPPORT, IN RELATIONSHIP, RECOGNIZES THAT THERE ARE QUESTIONS THAT NEVER GO AWAY IRRESPECTIVE OF TREATMENT AND THAT THESE QUESTIONS REPRESENT FEARS THAT ARE OFTEN DEEP AND DISABLING.

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THE NORTHSIDER MONTHLY 9

working alongside community organizers in neighborhoods, assisting with the basics of protest for voting and school rights. We know that the most recent recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize, Malala Yousafzai, 15 years old, has organized worldwide for the chance for girls and women to receive education. In some African countries as well as India, Haiti, and Indonesia, youth have been critical in relief operations, providing support for medical care following disasters. American youth are important factors in elections at all levels. Youth are still joining the Peace Corp. And, in many urban areas, youth have been involved in critical social justice movements.

There is every reason to believe that American youth, engaged in training and supervised programs, could make a serious effort in reducing cancer through creating a culture of support. Youth in schools and religious organizations could be encouraged to take concerted action for changing health outcomes in cities that have horrible cancer realities. They would become Freedom Navigators.

If the insight about early detection leading to early success in cancer is true, then Freedom Navigators could assist in spreading information about cancer, accompanying people to health centers and hospitals, and supporting individuals, especially when there is no one else available. A directory of youth Freedom Navigator cancer support groups could be tied to the United Way phone information system with youth being activated.

It is time for a partnership with youth to make a difference.

STEVE SUNDERLANDSteve Sunderland is director of the Peace Village Cancer Project.

POLITICS | ISSUE 22 CHARTER AMENDMENT FAILS

Mayor Cranley and his staffers have spent much of autumn organizing a heavily funded campaign to convince Cincinnati voters to pass a permanent tax levy as an amendment to the Cincinnati City Charter. The issue immediately became a hot button topic not only between Republicans and Democrats, but also within the Democratic Party.

Leading voices on both sides of Issue 22 were themselves Democrats. Prominent Party loyalists and long time friends, Brewster Rhodes and Don Mooney, found themselves center stage early on. The two publicly debated the merits of passing a permanent tax hike on Cincinnati home owners. These debates happened on news morning shows as well as in sponsored forums.

Northside’s Urban Artifact micro-brewery became the host of the final debate. The Hamilton County Democratic Forum, a group of Democrats affiliated with but operate outside of the Hamilton County Democratic Party (HCDP), and the Hamilton County Democratic Women’s Caucus, sponsored the debate. Debate participants included Mayor Cranley and HCDP Chair, Tim Burke, who represented the Pro-22 Campaign. The anti-22 side was represented by long time Democratic activists and noted attorneys Don Mooney and Tim Mara.

It was standing room only as more than 150 people packed into the basement level of Urban Artifact to hear the debate. Over the course of an hour, each side made their final

arguments and appeals to Cincinnati residents. At the end of the debate a straw poll was taken. Results? 59% in favor, 41% against.

But those numbers were perfectly reversed on Election Day. November 3rd saw voters come out overwhelmingly against the idea of a permanent increase to their property taxes. 59% of Cincinnati voters voted against, and only 41% voted in favor of Issue 22.

Given that Mayor Cranley was the face of the well funded pro-Issue 22 campaign, many are asking what this means for the Mayor’s political future. On November 4th, WVXU’s Maryanne Zeleznik asked noted political journalist Howard Wilkinson if the defeat hurts Mayor Cranley. Wilkinson responded, “Well, yea, I think he got a little spanking yesterday... there’s no question, it was a rebuff to him.” On why Issue 22 lost, Wilkinson further commented, “people can figure this out, people are not stupid... they looked at where the money came from, they looked at who was going to benefit from it... and they said, ‘no, that’s not what we need’.”

LEO PIERSON D’CRUZLeo Pierson D’Cruz is Principal and CCO at Reverb Art + Design and the new Editor in Chief of The Northsider Monthly. He is also a parent, policy wonk, adventurist and occasional contributor to The Huffington Post. Follow him on Facebook and Twitter @lpdcruz

>> CONTINUED FROM PAGE 8

Cincinnati voters reject Mayor Cranley’s ask for permenant property tax increase

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10 THE NORTHSIDER MONTHLY

COMMUNITY | GUARDIAN ANGELS

Northsiders Can Give and Receive Encouragement and LoveIf you saw a stranger drowning and gasping for air, what would you do? Hopefully you would be inclined to pull them out of the water yourself or find others nearby to band together and help. In doing so, you might be known as a noble angel who passed by and took action. Many Northside residents are “gasping for air” all around us and guardian angels go beyond seeing the need to actively

serving the need, especially during the holiday season.

For more than two decades, Churches Active in Northside – CAIN – has been actively serving Northside families with love and care. As a guardian angel keeps watch over a person or place, CAIN sits on Hamilton Avenue keeping watch over the neighborhood and extending a hand as needed. CAIN is blessed with many guardian angels that make miracles happen each day!

Every December, CAIN’s Rainbow Choice Food Pantry is transformed into an Angel Shop for pre-registered

families who visit, select gifts and toys and receive food gift cards. Hundreds of donors and volunteers – guardian angels – make all this possible.

CAIN is currently seeking individuals, schools, churches, businesses and community groups to help fill the shelves with toys, household items and gifts for Northside families in need. Donors provide toys, practical household items and food gift cards. Families visit at their assigned times to select gifts they need the most. Items most-needed are financial contributions for food gift cards, teen gift items, practical household items like sheets, blankets, comforters (Full, Queen, King), pots and pans, dishes, bath towels and washcloths, laundry, dish detergent and toilet paper.

Donations can be dropped off at CAIN 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday, Dec. 4; 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 5; and 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 6; or from 4-7 p.m. on Wednesdays at CAIN’s table at the indoor Northside Farmers Market in North Church, 4222 Hamilton Ave.

Many Northside families can feel like they are drowning in the challenge of limited income or resources. CAIN needs guardian angels in the neighborhood to band together to make the holidays more

abundant! Mothers, fathers, children, grandchildren and extended families will gather this holiday season knowing that someone is looking out for them.

All year long and especially as the holiday season approaches, CAIN provides plenty of opportunities to encourage love for our neighbor and produce miracles!

For those needing assistance,sign-ups are Nov. 3, 5, 10, and 12 for current CAIN families and Nov. 17 for new families. All those who register must bring a proof of address (mail from utility or any other business mail – for all household members ages 18 and over; verification of all household members of any age – Social Security card, birth certificate, medical card, school papers, etc.; payment of $1 per person being registered. Families with children ages 12 and under may register for toys only for free.

FOR MORE INFO: Visit www�cainministry�org

LYNNE FREELynne Free is CAIN’s CityVision Intern and has been ser ving in Northside for one year while pursuing a Master’s Degree in Global Urban Leadership.

NEW STUDENT SPECIAL

Book this month and save:

30 days unlimited/$30OR

10 classes/$90

yogaahstudio.com • 513.542.9642

4046 Hamilton Ave (above Django Western Taco)

GIFT CERTIF ICATES AVAILABLE

Angel Shop volunteers and donors needed to make the season merry and bright.

Page 11: November 2015 | Vol. 2 | Issue 11

THE NORTHSIDER MONTHLY 11

COMMUNITY | NORTHCHURCH CELEBRATES 160 YEARS IN SERVICE

Choir, Organ, and Praise Ensemble lead the congregation in singing “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God.” Photo by: Jonathan Kopke.Pastor Erwin Goedicke welcomes everyone to the 160th Anniversary Service. Photo by: Jonathan Kopke.

Don Beimeshe, longtime VP at Northside Bank (now retired) and Barry Baker of City Gospel Mission, pose with NorthChurch members Joann Ashley, Frankie Miller, and Sam Coffey. Photo by: Gary Loomans.

The Dance Team, organized by 15 year-old NorthChurch member, Erin Callahan, dances to the song, “Just Be Held.” Photo by: Jonathan Kopke.

Page 12: November 2015 | Vol. 2 | Issue 11

12 THE NORTHSIDER MONTHLY

WordPlay and UC, Hughes Join forces Hughes STEM High School and the University of Cincinnati are separated by only a four-lane street, Clifton Avenue. Every weekday as the Hughes school day ends, khaki pants, black polo shirts, and full backpacks flood one sidewalk while UC students tread to campus on another. The institutions share more than the postal street name— they are joined by high standards of education and filled with students who are eager to learn. The solution to remove the small barrier between the worlds is clear: cross the street.

In an effort to meet this goal, a new collaboration between Hughes, UC’s College of Education, Criminal Justice and Human Services (CECH), and WordPlay was formed. The partnership was recently awarded a 21st Century Community Learning Center Grant, which will provide the resources necessary to implement a range of after-school enrichment opportunities to Hughes students over the next three years.

WordPlay’s WordUP program is not just another after-school service. Part workshop, part active discussion, part creative exploration, the program is fueled by the students who continue to discover and hone unique perspectives on themselves, their school, and their community.

Kathie Maynard, Assistant Dean for Community Partnerships at CECH, has long been familiar with WordPlay’s unique approach to creative literacy and invited WordPlay into the innovative collaboration. Mona Jenkins, a long-time WordPlay volunteer and graduate student in Education with a focus on social change, is serving as the WordUP Program Coordinator at Hughes. The Center for Community Engagement at UC also plays a vital role in the new partnership, garnering UC student participation and other campus resources.

There is a strong precedent of partnership between UC and Hughes, two campuses that are closely connected in purpose and location. Still, some Hughes students do not

look past those four short lanes to envision themselves attending the neighboring university.

At the first WordUP meeting earlier this month, 29 students turned out to learn more. WordPlay Director Libby Hunter posed a question to the full room: How many of you have college as part of your plan after graduation?

Only four students raised their hands.

WordUP is a bright crosswalk to further encourage Hughes students to take the steps toward the growing university. Students are met by volunteers at Hughes and walk across those four lanes to the UC campus. Each week, they sit in the very rooms that they may one day return to as collegiates and explore how their education can branch toward a variety of fields. The students participating in WordUP capitalize on WordPlay’s creative writing and self-empowerment focus, while other Hughes teens are diving into the full slate of after-school offerings made possible by the 21st Century grant collaboration. Subjects ranging from applied math skills to fashion design to leadership round out the new opportunities. This variety helps fulfill the goal of the grant: to equip students with relevant skills for college readiness while fostering confidence and community engagement.

The WordUP program at Hughes follows the successful model of a collaboration between WordPlay and Aiken New Tech High School, which began 3 years ago. Since its inaugural meeting at the WordPlay writing center in the fall of 2012, the continued success of the Aiken program provides the push for WordUP to expand multi-

directionally to reach new schools and new neighborhoods.

Alisha Budkie, organizer of Second Sunday on Main, volunteers for WordPlay’s Aiken WordUP program, and directly experiences how the program teaches students to teach themselves.

“I’m inspired by the students,” she says. “They are thoughtful and supportive of each other, and looking for growth. So much of the program is lead by the student’s’ depth and awareness.”

The expansion of the WordUp program follows WordPlay’s trend of reaching beyond the Northside neighborhood. While the original mission of the organization to serve at-risk children and youth remains, the applications are increasingly diverse and far-reaching.

Throughout the year, students will participate in field trips to universities and other educationals sites, and will work with WordPlay staff to design a culminating creative experience around this year’s theme, social justice. At the end of the year they will showcase their work in an open platform, and invite the community to engage with and celebrate the students’ growth and achievement.

WordPlay always welcomes passionate volunteers to be a part of new programs.

FOR MORE INFO:

Visit: wordplaycincy�org Email: info@wordplaycincy�org Call: (513) 541-0930 Facebook: wordplaycincy Location: 4041 Hamilton Ave�

CHRISTA IWUChrista is WordPlay’s Communications intern from Electronic Media at CCM

EDUCATION | WHERE THE SIDEWALK EXTENDS

WORDPLAY’S WORDUP PROGRAM IS NOT JUST ANOTHER AFTER-SCHOOL SERVICE. PART WORKSHOP, PART ACTIVE DISCUSSION, PART CREATIVE EXPLORATION, THE PROGRAM IS FUELED BY THE STUDENTS WHO CONTINUE TO DISCOVER AND HONE UNIQUE PERSPECTIVES ON THEMSELVES, THEIR SCHOOL, AND THEIR COMMUNITY.

Page 13: November 2015 | Vol. 2 | Issue 11

THE NORTHSIDER MONTHLY 13

Happen, Inc. is asking you to help support your neighborhood by supporting Happen, Inc. If you have never been to Happen, Inc., we are a 501-C3 organization founded over 16 years ago. We provide free year round creative activities and events for families living in Northside and the Greater Cincinnati area. From art sessions to root beer brewing classes, Happen prides itself on providing highly creative activities that are fun and educational for both children and adults. Happen also works to promote environmental awareness by offering a number of nature and science and engineering education programs at Happen’s Make It space and each of our three neighborhood gardens. At Happen we believe that “Community is more than where you live™, it’s how you live with other people.” In keeping with that theme we make our facilities, conveniently located at the corner of Chase and Hamilton, available to ten local committees and organizations, making Happen an essential gathering place for Northside.

If you agree that Happen is part of what makes Northside such a unique community, we hope you choose to show your support with a financial contribution. You have the option to mail your donation to Happen Inc. at 4201 Hamilton Ave. Cincinnati, OH 45223, or stop in and drop off a check or cash. You can even donate with your credit card at Happen or by going to happeninc.org and clicking the ‘donate’ link to make a donation through PayPal. We greatly appreciate any donation you may choose to make and hope you visit Happen, Inc. sometime soon to see your contribution at work.

As the season begins to change, Happen is excited to be kicking off our holiday celebrations on Friday, November 27 when Santa Claus will arrive for Happen’s free Pictures with Santa, our annual family tradition. Santa will be at Happen from 11:00am to 5:00pm (with a little break to feed the reindeer in-between) so bring your own camera and stay as long as you like. Happen will also provide treats and crafts so first timers will have plenty of time to warm up to Jolly Old St. Nick. If you have never met Santa at Happen then make sure you don’t miss this family-favorite, Northside tradition.

Also, starting Tuesday, November 3 you can help create the decorations for Happen’s annual wreath project, which decks out Hamilton Ave. every holiday season. Stop by the special ornament making table at Happen’s Make It space and make your own holiday ornament and we will attach it to one of the wreaths hung along Hamilton Ave. In all, 24 wreaths will be on display this year starting on Thanksgiving day and ending January 10th.

Please support Happen, Inc. as we look forward to another wonderful holiday season.

FOR MORE INFO:Visit: www�happeninc�org Call: (513) 751-2345 E-mail: info@happeninc�org�

HOURS: 3:30 - 7:30PM (Tue�-Thu�) 10AM - 5PM (Sat�)

HAPPEN INC.Art activities for parents & children 4201 Hamilton Ave (& Chase)

EDUCATION | YOU CAN MAKE IT HAPPEN THIS HOLIDAY SEASON

SPUN BICYCLESKeeping the fun in bicycling!

Take 10% OFF

accessories for the month of December

(with cut out coupon only)

4122 A Hamilton Ave, 45223

Page 14: November 2015 | Vol. 2 | Issue 11

14 THE NORTHSIDER MONTHLY

SUSTAINABILITY | WINTER IS COMING

Since mid-summer, dozens of Northsiders have taken advantage of Sustainergy’s free home energy assessments to cut their energy bills and increase their home’s comfort before the deep cold of winter sets in.

Sustainergy is a worker-owned residential energy savings company (ESCO) that helps homeowners reduce their utility costs and increase indoor comfort. The cooperative specializes in low cost, high impact home energy improvements such as attic insulation, Wi-Fi Thermostats, and LED lighting that are engineered to quickly pay for themselves through the heating and cooling savings. Typically, these upgrades can save homeowners up to $900 per year.

One Northside resident who has taken advantage of this initiative is John Whitling, a long-time Northsider living on Hamilton Avenue (pictured below). Whitling decided to do his energy audit because he was concerned about his high energy bills, decreasing sound pollution from traffic on Hamilton Avenue, and stopping his pipes from freezing during the winter (which had been happening often). After completing his free energy audit, he decided to move forward and have Sustainergy install more insulation in his attic and walls.

“Our particular property is a difficult one, given that the house was built in 1834 and there have been numerous additions since as well. This creates really a series of insulation challenge,” said Whitling. “Anyone can, of course, just blow cellulose into an attic but, as this team points out, finding the source of air leaks is paramount to getting the result you’re looking for

and in a property like ours that’s no easy feat. They inspected twice and have gone through considerable effort to nail down our challenges - they were friendly, professional, and thorough.”

The free energy audits (worth $150) are a part of a city-wide initiative that is being piloted right here in Northside due to the leadership of Sustainergy working with Empower Gas and Electric and the City of Cincinnati. The City and Duke Energy also still have some $750 rebates available.

The program works like this:

1. Call 513.295.7241 to schedule your free energy

assessment (valued at $150)

2. A Certified Energy Coach will assess your home

and provide you with a free, no obligation energy savings plan outlining the most impactful low-cost energy upgrades to significantly reduce their energy bills.

3. If you decide to move forward, schedule your

energy retrofit installation.

By scheduling your assessment with Sustainergy, not only will you save money and improve your house’s carbon footprint, but you will help a Northside business and will create family-sustaining jobs. Don’t miss out! Just because winter is coming, your energy bills don’t have to break your budget.

FOR MORE INFORMATION:Call: (513) 295-7241 Visit: www�sustainergy�coop Email: flequer@sustainergy�coop

ELLEN VERAProject Manager for Apple Street Market

“ANYONE CAN, OF COURSE, JUST BLOW CELLULOSE INTO AN ATTIC BUT, AS THIS TEAM POINTS OUT, FINDING THE SOURCE OF AIR LEAKS IS PARAMOUNT TO GETTING THE RESULT YOU’RE LOOKING FOR AND IN A PROPERTY LIKE OURS THAT’S NO EASY FEAT.” -John Whitling, Northside resident

Don’t forget to get your free Home Energy Assessment

Page 15: November 2015 | Vol. 2 | Issue 11

THE NORTHSIDER MONTHLY 15

Thanksgiving at Northside Farmers Market November is an exciting time for all lovers of food. This month kicks off a season of eating family favorites, dishes prepared once yearly, and indulging in rich flavors and delicious desserts. This year, try hitting up the farmers market for local flavors for your holiday season table.

Three vendors at the market, Lobenstein Farm, Back Acres Farm, and Mud Foot Farm, all sell locally raised Turkey-and it’s not too late to place an order. Other Thanksgiving favorites that can be found at the market include Brussels sprouts, winter squash, carrots, cornmeal (for cornmeal dressing!), apples, sweet potatoes, collard greens, potatoes for mashing, and kale, as well as other local produce.

If you’d like to skip baking this year, or need a host/ess gift, you could pick up éclairs or cream puffs from Baudry, LLC, or decadent Italian desserts from Cucina Della Patrizia, or gluten free spice cookies from Early Bird Bakery. The market also has local herbal teas and locally roasted coffee for after dinner.

To get the fall cooking season started, the market shares a simple recipe

(below) for roasting Butternut Squash. It would make a great side dish at Thanksgiving, or is great for a weekday meal. The recipe is unique because the skin of the squash is left on and eaten. This makes cooking the squash a breeze and increases the recipe’s nutritional value.

For more inspiration you can visit the market on November 4th, 11th, and 18th, for cooking demonstrations by Cincinnati State’s Midwest Culinary Institute students or sign up for November’s Adult Cooking Class on the 18th, from 5:30-6:45pm, to learn how to make alternative Thanksgiving sides: Pommes Anna, Pommes Duchesse, and Butternut Squash Flan with Parmesan Sage Sauce.

FOR MORE INFORMATION:Visit: www�northsidefm�org Facebook: facebook�com/cincinorthsidefarmersmarket Twitter: #nsidefarmersmkt Instagram: instagram�com/northsidefarmersmarket

ANA BIRD Ana Bird works at Northside Farmers Market as Market Manager, and at Imago, as program coordinator in environmental education, and authors Cincinnati food

FOOD CULTURE | THE SEASON TO BE THANKFUL

Recipe

1. Slice any sized Butternut Squash in to quarter to half inch pieces, removing any seeds

2. Spread on a baking dish a toss with 1-2 tablespoons olive oil to coat

3. Add a spices of your choice. Make it simple with just salt and pepper, or add Italian herbs like dried dill, basil, and oregano, or cumin, curry powder, and chili for a spicy side dish. Cinnamon also goes well with squash

4. Cover with tin foil and roast for 10 minutes at 400F. Remove tin foil and roast another 10 minutes or until soft

Butternut Squash roasted with the skin left on makes for an easy fall side dish.

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16 THE NORTHSIDER MONTHLY

From sciatica, spasms, fiery pain, and numbness to plain old tension, back pain has been studied quite extensively and, guess what? Virtually no treatment has been found to help.

No rigorous study finds any correlation between pathological issues such as bulging discs, herniated discs, and even spondylolisthesis (discs that have slipped forward) and pain. Over and over, studies show that about 50% of the population walk around with these pathologies but have no pain or functional challenge.

Back pain accounts for 2 to 5% of all doctor visits. The cost for low back pain was over $86 million in 2005 and growing, yet poor outcomes are also on the rise. 70% of the population will suffer low back pain in their lifetime. Those are some steep numbers.

A recent study also found that while people getting physical therapy had some modest improvements initially over those with no physical therapy, at one year they were no better off.

Many studies indicate a wide variety of practices as the go-to approach for back pain. These include surgery, PT, chiropractic, Pilates and yoga. However, it is fairly easy to get good results in small pilot studies. In larger controlled and blinded studies, the gold standard for curing back pain remains elusive.

The Feldenkrais Method and Back Pain

As you may know, I am a Feldenkrais practitioner. We have a couple small studies showing the value of the Feldenkrais Method for back pain but no large scale ones. Oddly, though the Feldenkrais Method isn’t a therapy, we are used therapeutically all the time. We aren’t exercise or stretching either, although we do use movement and are often compared with yoga or Pilates. (Which from my view makes little sense.) What do we do? We help people think better, sense better, and know their bodies and psyches better. We help people unlock chronic patterns of use and identify 2-5 other ways to act, be, and do, so there is choice.

Feldenkrais movement sequences are organizational puzzles, like Rubik’s cubes, only you are both the cube and the person solving the puzzle.

I see people with back pain all the time. They come to me privately and they come to classes. Most get dramatically better. Over time, they learn how to care for themselves instead of relying on me or a surgeon to fix their back. I don’t know how my results would hold up in a study. But I do know that back pain is a complex mix of pathology, poor movement habits, anticipated pain, and how we view our lives.

“The pattern of low back pain is one of recurrence and remission, and changing that pattern is a real challenge,” Julie Fritz, professor of physical therapy at the University of Utah, asserted in a recent New York Times article, “Physical Therapy May Not Benefit Back Pain.”

Bingo! Changing that pattern is indeed the real challenge. Repetitive

exercises for strengthening might do it for some, but most are going to need a way to unravel their unique pattern of back pain. As Moshe Feldenkrais once said, “Life is not very sweet without freedom of choice.”

If you sit, stand up, bend over, reach, or get in and out of the car in only one way, then you have no choice but to create your pain pattern over and over. By engaging with your sensation, by moving slowly and gently so the nervous system doesn’t need to stand perpetual guard, and by trying novel ways to vary activities, you may find some sweetness.

CYNTHIA ALLEN, GCFP

Cynthia Allen is a partner in Future Life Now, a holistic health center here in Northside. As a Feldenkrais Practitioner and Senior Trainer in Movement Intelligence, she is an expert in walking, joint health and just about anything related to movement. Reach her at 513.541.5720, www.futurelifenow.com, or email her at [email protected].

HEALTH & WELLNESS | THE ELUSIVE CURE FOR BACK PAIN

“CHANGING THAT PATTERN IS INDEED THE REAL CHALLENGE. REPETITIVE EXERCISES FOR STRENGTHENING MIGHT DO IT FOR SOME, BUT MOST ARE GOING TO NEED A WAY TO UNRAVEL THEIR UNIQUE PATTERN OF BACK PAIN.”

Learning How To Care For Oneself

Page 17: November 2015 | Vol. 2 | Issue 11

THE NORTHSIDER MONTHLY 17

Uncovering Stress Throughout my 20s, I did not handle stress well. I was an intellectualizer. I thought and I worried constantly. I didn’t realize it then, but looking back I now know that I was in a constant state of needing to control how my life went, how things happened, whether they happened, pleasing others and walking on eggshells. I had trouble sleeping. If a difficult situation arose, I didn’t have the coping skills to deal with it and let it go. Eventually, I developed Irritable Bowel Syndrome.

For me, stress was a symptom of something much deeper beneath the surface.

What if we looked at stress as an effect rather than a cause? In other words, stress is what happens to us after something happens to us. Many of my clients struggle with stress in their lives. What I came to discover was that, as with me, my clients were experiencing stress as a symptom of a past emotion that they hadn’t given themselves permission to feel. So they found themselves at the doctor, being treated for a symptom rather than a cause.

So what is the cause?

It’s different for each of us. Our life experiences and our perceptions are unique. Finding the root cause of stress involves an individualized approach. For me, meditation and yoga were the first steps. Journaling also helped me to get my fear-based thoughts down onto paper. Over time, I found a spiritual practice that worked for me and I dedicated time to myself and to my spirituality. I recently discovered that the true root cause of my stress was linked to my fear of feeling my feelings. I used stress as a way to avoid feeling fear, discomfort, and grief. Stress became a mask that I wore to hide what was really going on.

If I had to guess, I would say that most stress is caused by fear. Fear of messing up, of being imperfect, of hurting someone else or being hurt, of feeling life.

How to connect with fear:

1. Journal: At the moment you notice yourself feeling stressed,

take a piece of paper and just jot down the thoughts in your head. Journal before going to sleep at night. Or, use the audio recorder on your phone and just speak it out loud. Get it out.

2. Sit With It: After a stressful day/event, take 2 to 5 minutes

to sit quietly with your feelings. Close your eyes. Silently ask that fear, guilt, shame or grief to come and sit with you for a while. Let it know it is safe. This is a way to also remind yourself that you are safe to feel.

3. Talk it Out: Find a trustworthy person, or a professional if

needed, to talk to. Sometimes, we just need someone to listen.

It’s been eight years since my last bout with Irritable Bowel Syndrome. For me, stress comes ever so briefly and then it fades away. When we give ourselves permission, time, and space to understand the cause of our stress, a stress-free life becomes possible. And if we can begin to view stress as a symptom, we can begin to heal the cause.

JEN VANLANDINGHAM Jen VanLandingham is a Holistic Health Coach who assists individuals who are overstressed and who struggle with food cravings by providing a unique Program that focuses on helping individuals become their own health experts. Visit her online at www.myhealthpower.net for more information and to sign up for a free health consultation.

HEALTH & WELLNESS | WHAT LIES BENEATH

Page 18: November 2015 | Vol. 2 | Issue 11

18 THE NORTHSIDER MONTHLY

SCREEN | FILM CRITICS: AGES 8 TO 12

“As a kid from modern times watching this film, I must say first that it was very interesting to watch and that it intrigued me. The special effects were corny to me, but I’m sure that they were modern and new in 1948 when the film was released. The characters are blown up and very cartoonish. There isn’t much character development, but there’s a lot of physical humor. There’s a lot of ends that need to be tucked in and a lot of problems left unsolved.” –Luci

“Abbot and Costello Meet Frankenstein came out in 1948. Aside the corny jokes, this is a fun and adventurous film for the whole family.” –Henry

“The beginning starts by being very confusing. But once the movie came to its head the characters relationship grew old. In all the movie had a lot of moving parts.” –Maxwell

“At times it made me want to run for the hills. At times I did’t know what to make of it. At times it was just weird. But if I was a kid from 1948, I’d probably love it to death.” –Gwen

This Halloween season (and following on the heels of last month’s trip down memory lane with episodes from the first season of The Munsters), the Happen Kid Critics tackle an old school caper that playfully mixes comedy and horror. One of the most famous classic comedy duos of all-time - Bud Abbott and Lou Costello - engage in their typically contentious brand of slapstick, as a pair of bumbling postal couriers tasked with delivering a couple of large crates to a wax museum, but little do they know that the contents are monstrously heavy. Before long Abbott and Costello find themselves face-to-face with Frankenstein’s monster (Glenn Strange), Dracula (Bela Lugosi), and the Wolf Man (Lon Chaney, Jr.) in a

surprisingly action-packed adventure. Lugosi and Chaney, while completely unfamiliar to this generation, will likely stand out to parents and grandparents of our young critics as performers who were known for playing these movie monsters in a number of classic films. The Kid Critics focused on how well the humor and horror elements translate for today’s audiences. Did they have a howling good time? Let’s find out! –TT Stern-Enzi

Each month, Happen’s Kid Film Critics received their own official Happen film critic packet and a press badge. TT Stern-Enzi, Cincinnati film critic, provided insight about the film and guided the children as they wrote this month’s film reviews. Read the reviews, and be sure to watch!

Happen Kid Film Critics

ABBOTT AND COSTELLO MEET FRANKENSTEIN (1948)

http://www.theplaceforfamilies.com Email: [email protected]://www.cincinnatilibrary.org/branches/northside.html

LIBRARY 11�11�15 / Preschool Storytime Enjoy books, songs, activities and more, while building early literacy skills. Ages: 3-6. 10am

11�16�15 / Evening Arts! Come create VanGogh’s Sunflowers! All ages! 6pm

11�18�15 / Preschool Storytime Enjoy books, songs, activities and more, while building early literacy skills. Ages: 3-6. 10am

11�24�15 / Family Storytime! Enjoy books, songs, activities and more, while building early literacy skills. Ages: 3-6. 6pm

11�25�15 / Preschool Storytime Enjoy books, songs, activities and more, while building early literacy skills. Ages: 3-6. 10am

11�25�15 / Afternoon Art! Come create VanGogh’s Sunflowers! All ages! 4pm

11�28�15 / Family Movie! Enjoy “Mouse on the Mayflower”! All ages. 3pm

ENRICHMENT CENTER: 11�7�15 / Storytelling by The Corner The Corner moves kids out of their seats and into worlds painted by thoughtful literature and the rhythm of the spoken word. 10am. $5 donation suggested

11�14�15 / Tummy2Tummy: Choosing & Using a Baby Slingcarrier How do you choose the right sling, wrap, or carrier for you? Our Babywearing International mom will share a wide variety of styles and assist you in trying them out. 12:45pm. $5 donation suggested.

LABOITEAUX WOODS NATURE PRESERVE:

12�4�15 / Holiday Craft Workshop Bring the family to enjoy crafts with natural materials or a nature theme. Ages 4+. 6:30-8:30pm. Fee: $5/person.

12�5�15 / Girl Scouts Craft Workshop Create handmade holiday crafts with your scouting group. Brownie and Juniors. 12-2pm. Fee: $5/person.

12�5�15 / Holiday Craft Workshop Bring the family to enjoy crafts with natural materials or a nature theme. Ages 4+. 3-5pm. Fee: $5/person.

FAMILY & YOUTH | UPCOMING EVENTS

Page 19: November 2015 | Vol. 2 | Issue 11

THE NORTHSIDER MONTHLY 19

Visit Cincinnati’s ONLYGREEN DENTAL OFFICE*

Thielen Dental PracticeChristopher Thielen, D.D.S. LLC

General DentistCosmetic, Implant & Family Dentistry

513 541-56554254 Hamilton Avenuewww.CincyDental.com

* Environmentally conscientious: Proud to be the only OHIO-EPADEED GOLD AND GREEN compliant dental office in Cincinnati!

Keeping Northsiderssmiling since 1982!

3416 Clifton Ave, 45220 513-961-2998 www.cliftonumc.com facebook.com/CliftonUMC @CliftonUMCOhio

Progressive Faith CommunityAll are welcome at God’s table

Sunday Worship 10:30 AM

LGBTQ-Friendly Methodist Church

3 ON-RAMPS OF DISCIPLESHIP

Do No Harm

Do Good

Stay in Love with God

Our sermon series, Roadway of Discipleship, runs through Sunday, November 22.

We host several small groups andmeetings in our space, including:

Sunday, November 22, we will host a Thanksgiving Feast after church, providing

turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy, and beverages.All are welcome. You are invited to join us. CLA 5:30 PM Mond.

SLAAWomen 6:30 PM Tues All: 7:30 PM Tues, 2 PM Sat

Yoga: Thursday 11:30 AMSahaja Yoga: Friday 6:30 PM

AA Campus Group8 PM ThursAA Clifton7:30 PM Sat

Gamblers Anonymous: 8 AM SatWorkaholics Anonymous: 6 PM Sun

Page 20: November 2015 | Vol. 2 | Issue 11

THE NORTHSIDER MONTHLY | NOVEMBER 2015 FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT NORTHSIDER.NORTHSIDE.NET OR EMAIL [email protected]

Blue Ash 9407 Kenwood RoadCincinnati, OH 45242(513) 936-8800 Colerain 9315 Colerain AvenueCincinnati, OH 45251(513) 385-8190 Delhi 633 Anderson Ferry RoadCincinnati, OH 45238(513) 347-0700 Finneytown 906 North Bend RoadCincinnati, OH 45224(513) 242-3200 NOW OPENHyde Park Center(The Pointe)2739 Madison RoadCincinnati, OH 45209(513) 533-8000 Northside (Main O�ce)4125 Hamilton AvenueCincinnati, OH 45223(513) 542-7800 Springdale11628 Spring�eld PikeCincinnati, OH 45246(513) 671-3800 West Chester 8615 Shepherd Farm DriveWest Chester, OH 45069(513) 551-5000

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online, or on-the-go...

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Bank LOCAL with

Download our new mobile banking appavailable for iPhones and Android devices

Member FDIC EQUAL HOUSING LENDER

www.northsidebankandtrust.com

LIVE MUSIC ALMOST EVERY NIGHT OF THE WEEK. SHOWS ARE FREE! CHECK INDIVIDUAL

LISTINGS FOR SHOWTIMES.

4163 HAMILTON AVECINCINNATI, OH 45223

(513) 542-3603NORTHSIDE-TAVERN.COM

HOURS:MON – SAT: 5:00PM – 2:30AM

SUNDAY: 7:00PM – 2:30AM

HAPPY HOUR:MON-SAT 5-8PM