It may feel like it’s been forever since the construction first began at the firehouse, but we can finally tell you that Fireside Pizza will have its grand opening on September 27 –  the day of the Cincinnati Street Food Festival!.  A very fitting first day – Fireside Pizza has been a part of the Cincinnati Street Food Festival since the beginning, and we’re thrilled that they’ve found a permanent home in Walnut Hillls!

The firehouse is full of history. Fire Company 16 is the oldest standing firehouse in Cincinnati. It was closed down in 1977 after it caught on fire while the firefighters were out on a call. For years, it sat vacant. Until one day, a car drove into the side of the building. For years after that, it sat vacant with a hole in its side, a sagging, leaking roof and boarded up windows.

Now, thanks to hard work from Max Construction Group, the Hardman Development Group, WHRF and the Fireside Pizza guys, Firehouse 16 is again ready to shine.

The restaurant will be open from 11 am to 11 pm (although the closing hour might be flexible if people are having a good time!). They’ll serve their amazing, delicious incredible wood fired pizzas. Fireside will also offer a variety of craft beers with four on tap for a total of about 30 different beers. Not a fan of craft beers or the impact they have on your wallet? Not to worry. Fireside will always have a $1 beer on hand. Currently that beer is cans of Hudy Delight.

So, put Fireside Pizza on your list of “must go” restaurants! We’ll see you there on September 27!

Last Friday marked the end of the Summer for our Youth Ambassadors. This marked the end of a successful pilot program that matched 12 local youth (ages 14-18) with several local businesses. Every week the youth worked at a local business Monday – Thursday and then spent Friday being Ambassadors to Walnut Hills! Below is a list of the group’s accomplishments:

•  Utilized a Community Engagement Board to gather community input about the growth of the neighborhood
• Worked with the City to learn how to report building code violations
• Worked with the neighborhood beautification committee to re-mulch tree beds in the commercial corridor
• Initiated and participated in trash clean ups
• Had weekly lunches with a civic leader who spoke with them about the importance of being a community leader
• Actively participated in the creation and design process of the Crosswalk Art Installation at the corner of Kemper and E. McMillian during Cincinnati – – Summer Streets
• Worked with a professional youth development consultant that focused on problem solving and character building
• Presented their work to Cincinnati City Council’s Human Service, Youth and Arts Committee

The goal of the program was to provide youth from our neighborhood with the opportunity to develop work experience and provide service to their community. After only seven weeks of programming the twelve youth ambassadors have evolved in way the RF did not anticipate. It was a wonderful Summer!

The youth ambassadors will give a brief presentation at the Walnut Hills Area Council meeting on August 14, 2014 at 7:00 p.m. Please come hear about their eventful summer and help us congratulate them on a job well done!

We are happy to announce that we are the proud partners with several area organizations in an effort to increase healthy eating in the Walnut Hills community through participation in a Thriving Communities grant from Interact for Health.  Working in collaboration with Findlay Market, the Civic Garden Center, Mercy Neighborhood Ministries, Vitality and Elevate, we accept the challenge to help the neighborhood be healthier!  Look for our work in bringing more produce to the people, more active living, more health screenings.  We will be nudging all of us up out of our chairs and away from the potato chips with recipes, fresh vegetables and yoga on the green.  For today, try this Kale Chip recipe, with ingredients available from the Findlay Market Farmstand.

Kale Chips

1 bunch washed, fresh Kale
1/2 t sea salt
dash of garlic powder
dash of onion powder
Olive oil spray