East/Northeast Creative Living

I’m very excited towelcome you to theFebruary issue of CreativeLiving. This month’s issueis chock-full of wonderfultopics and feature stories.

I’m particularly thrilledabout the We Love OurPets topic, my favorite ofall our Creative Living topics because it’s some-thing so close to my heart. As a mother of twocats and one pug it has to be! If you’re not a petowner, but are considering adding a furry friendto your household be sure to read the featureabout welcoming a four-legged creature intoyour life. It has some really helpful tips.

Another great section this issue is our Health& Fitness. The article Powerful advice for mothers isnot only a great read for moms, but everywoman who has a young lady in her life. Theimage you have of yourself impacts every areaof your life. It’s time to recognize your beautifulqualities, inside and out, and pass that abilityonto the next generation.

Thank you for your time and enjoy the rest ofthe issue. It’s sure to be a great read!

Editor’s noteCreativeLiving

Specialty Publications Editor

Creative Living is a monthly advertising-sponsoredmagazine published by the Specialty Publications

Department of The Community Press/TheCommunity Recorder.

Questions and comments can be sent to EditorMelissa Hayden c/o The Community Press/394Wards Corner/Loveland, OH 45140 or e-mail

[email protected].

For advertising call 248-7685.

Contact

TopicsDanceCompetition • Health

Health & FitnessMind • Body • Spirit

Senior LivingApartments • Care

Dental CareTeeth • Gums

3 10 We Love Our PetsCare • Toys

At HomeDecor • Repairs

Local BusinessGoods • Services

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FeaturesPPoowweerrffuull aaddvviiccee ffoorr mmootthheerrssHelp girls accept themselves through your example.

6

NNeeww ppeett??Learn how to prepare your home for a furry friend.

10

SSmmaalllleerr bbaatthhrroooommss lliivvee llaarrggeerrTips on how to make today’s smaller bathrooms live larger and work better.

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Page 10

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D A N C E

3E a s t | N o r t h e a s t F e b . 1 7 - 1 8 , 2 0 1 0

Dance Etc., located onMeijer Drive in Milford,has been teaching dance,tumbling, and cheerlead-ing for more than 14 years.Anne Kramer, who hasmore than 25 years ofdance teaching experience,is the Owner and ArtisticDirector.

“When I opened thestudio 14 years ago in1996, we were in a stripmall on Old State Route28, and I taught almost allthe classes,” Kramerexplained. “My mom andI answered phones, didthe accounting, orderedcostumes and evencleaned toilets!”

In 1999 the studio wassuccessful enough thatKramer moved into a9,000-square-foot buildingacross from Meijer.

Now Dance Etc. hasundergone a major reno-vation and is looking bet-ter than ever. There is abrand new Olympic 42x42sprung gymnastics floor,and new state-of-the-artsuspended hardwood floorsin every dance studio.

Dance Etc. offers classes in ballet, tap,jazz, tumbling, hip-hop, breakdancing,lyrical, cheerleading, and more to ages 1year through adult. Known as the “Funplace to learn,” Dance Etc. has createdan environment where there is smilingand laughter in every class.

Kramer and her staff have createdthemes that keep events fun, fresh andexciting for kids.

In pre-ballet classes, the childrendance with wands, tutus, crowns,scarves, hula hoops and other fun propsto help them learn their steps. There arealso events like Princess Parties, and latenight Tumbling classes, as well as inno-vative summer camps.

“We now have a staff of more than 20teachers,” Kramer said. “Many of ourteachers are professional dancers them-selves.”And yes, Kramer’s mom stillhelps out.

“We just keep getting better and bet-

ter,” Kramer said. “I wouldn’t have saidthis when we first opened, but I woulddefinitely send my child to a studio withyears and years of experience. It makes abig difference.”

Recently Dance Etc. was awarded“Best Gymnastics in Clermont County”by the Enquirer/Community Press,“Best Dance Studio in Cincinnati” byCincinnati Family Magazine, and “SmallBusiness of the Year” by the MilfordMiami Township Chamber ofCommerce.

“It is so rewarding to see the studentsgrow up here,” Kramer summed up.“We’re even seeing the children of someof our first students. I think that says alot about Dance Etc. To me, it says we’redoing something right. I am so proud ofwhat we have to offer!”

For class information, the number forthe studio is 513-576-1400, or you canvisit them on their Web site,www.dance-etc.com.

‘The Fun Place to Learn’ dance

Dance Etc. is the ‘Fun Place to Learn.’

H E A L T H & F I T N E S S

4 C o m m u n i t y p r e s s . c o mC R E A T I V E L I V I N G E a s t | N o r t h e a s tF e b . 1 7 - 1 8 , 2 0 1 0

Be a big loser! SnapFitness in Milford ishere to help you

organize a Biggest Losercontest.

Help your friends orco-workers lose a fewpounds while creatingsome excitement with alittle friendly competition.

Organize a BiggestLoser contest and SnapFitness will help, for free.Simply let Snap Fitnessknow who the partici-pants are and they can

take care of the rest. Or ifyou prefer, you can enteras an individual and SnapFitness will pair you upwith a group. What agreat way to meet newpeople!

“We know how peoplestruggle with achievingtheir desired fitnesslevel,” said Snap FitnessGeneral Manager JodiLawson.

“We thought thiswould be a great way tohelp the community.

People tend to lose steamin February and Marchand we wanted to providesome extra incentive tokeep them going,”Lawson said.

Snap Fitness will per-form the initial weigh-in,as well as the weeklycheck-ins, and e-mail youthe updated statusreports.

The weekly reports willlist only participant’s

Snap Fitness hosts Biggest Loser contest

Rogers FamilyDentistry is truly afamily practice.

Made up of father, son,and two daughters, thedental practice has beenserving AndersonTownship families for 40years – in and out of theoffice.

“We are committed tomaking our community,the world a better place,”says Dr. Jim Rogers.

Rogers FamilyDentistry supports a vari-ety of community proj-ects. Last year, throughthe Cash for Candy pro-gram, Rogers FamilyDentistry collected candyfrom local children, pay-ing them cash for theirgoodies.

They ended up sending500 pound of candy to amarine reserve unitdeployed in Iraq.

They also helped 10patients from the localveterans clinic who other-wise could not afford thedental work they so des-perately needed.

The doctors volunteertheir individual effortsand time, too. Dr. Jimworks closely with the

Clovernook Center for theBlind. Globally, the doc-tors are making theirmark, as well. Dr. JulieVilardo and Dr. JettyeNagy both participate inmission work and havetraveled around the worldhelping others.

In addition, Rogers

Family Dentistry opted tonot increase any fees dueto the struggling econo-my.

“We understand thehardships people aregoing through and wantto do whatever we can toassist in this difficulttime,” says Dr. Jim.

Call 248-7685 to get in the March issue

Making a dentistry difference

Dr. Julie Vilardo, front left, and Dr. Jettye Nagy. Dr. Jim Rogers, back left, and Dr. Douglas Rogers.

Snap see page 14


5E a s t | N o r t h e a s t C R E A T I V E L I V I N GC o m m u n i t y p r e s s . c o mF e b . 1 7 - 1 8 , 2 0 1 0

s

Jim Barrie wants toshare his love forSCUBA diving, so he's

letting everyone try it forfree.

His dive shop, TheScuba Shack, (www.TheScubaPlace.com) located inFlorence, is offering a free“Try SCUBA Experience” toanyone interested in diving.

“SCUBA diving is not asport. It's not a hobby. It'sa lifestyle! We want toexpose as many people aswe can to this excitingway of life.” Barrie said.

The Scuba Shack con-ducts free one-hour divesevery Saturday.

Barrie has owned TheScuba Shack for 11 years,and in that time has beentold by countless peoplethat they would love totry diving.

He knows that if theydo, they'll love it! So hewants to give them the

opportunity.All those who would

like to try SCUBA divingwill be geared-up and gofor a dip in The ScubaShack's indoor, heated, 10foot-deep, diver trainingpool.

The dives are led byThe Shack's certifiedinstructors. Reservationsare required, and can bemade by calling The ScubaShack at 859-283-1550.

The Scuba Shack alsooffers SCUBA certificationtraining. Through com-prehensive classroom andpool training, divers learnproper technique, safetymeasures, and how to usethe equipment.

Divers certified at TheScuba Shack are givenunlimited training classesat no extra charge.

The Shack also pro-vides unlimited access totheir pool and use of

SCUBA equipment forcertification students.

Once certified, a diveris ready to go on one ofthe shop's many trips todive locations in theUnited States and abroad.

In the next 14 months,The Shack will lead tripsto locations such as: St.Lucia, Hawaii, Bonaire,Cozumel, Florida, Fiji,and the Bahamas. Pricingvaries by destination.

Many trips are enjoy-able for both divers andnon-divers, so the divercan easily bring a spouseor friend. However, tripsspecifically for divers arenoted.

“There's nothing quitelike a group trip” saidBarrie. “Both divers andnon-divers come backwith a group of newfriends, having seen someof the world's most beau-tiful locations” he said.

SCUBA diving is a lifestyleThe Scuba Shack is offering a free “Try SCUBA Experience.”

Share how your business is going GREEN in the March issue. Call 248-7685



No force exerts morepower on how girlsperceive their bod-ies and their rela-tionship with foodthan the examplesset by their ownmothers, researchand countlessexamples show.

Some of you aremothers; all of youhad one. What didyou learn aboutfood, eating andweight from your

own mother and what is your daughter learning fromyou? How and why do you eat the way you do andhow can you prevent your daughter from repeatingyour mistakes?

Eating disorder treatment specialist CarolynCostin, clinical director and founder of the MonteNido Treatment Center, says that modern culture maysend some women and girls the message to feed andnurture others, but not themselves.

“Because of the undue emphasis placed on appear-ance, females come to view their bodies as instru-ments to be used in the pursuit of approval from oth-ers and as sources of personal pride,” Costin says.“This can, however, lead to them experiencing theirbodies as a source of disapproval, failure and psycho-logical pain.”

Food may become a medium through whichfemales communicate many feelings. Women use foodto demonstrate love and caring, to get approval, as away of being creative, as a way of distracting fromother issues, as a source of comfort, as a means ofapology, and there are many more. In her book, “YourDieting Daughter,” Costin challenges women to askthemselves, “What has food come to represent in yourlife and in your messages to your own children?”

Costin offers some advice for helping mothersbecome healthy examples of self-acceptance to theirdaughters, and for dealing with eating disorder issues.

Messages that backfireMothers send messages every day that their

daughters pick up on – from lessons of kindness toothers, to the tendency to judge one’s self-worth basedon physical appearance. Be aware of messages thatcan backfire, even when you have the best intentions:

• CCoommpplliimmeennttss -- You may do or say things thatsend the wrong message to your daughter. The focuson appearance, even when giving a compliment, canbackfire in many ways. For example, to complimentsomeone on her weight loss may be construed tomean that she was not attractive before. Excessivepraise for appearance can reinforce the notion thatexternal qualities are more important than internalones, regardless of the cost it takes to maintain it.

• FFoooodd aass rreewwaarrdd aanndd ppuunniisshhmmeenntt ––No matter how many experts have warnedagainst it, parents – especially mothers -often use food as a reward and punish-ment. Children learn that certain foodsbelong in special categories, like “good”and “bad.” This kind of thinking sets thestage for someone to restrict, sneak eat,rebel by eating, comfort themselves with,or overly indulge in, the forbidden “badfoods.” Costin teaches her eating disorderclients at Monte Nido something that isimportant for everyone to understand:“There are no bad foods; there are only badeating habits.”

• FFoooodd aass lloovvee –– People learn a varietyof ways to associate food with being nur-tured, cared for and loved. Food, early onin the mother-daughter relationship, is con-nected to love - getting one means havingthe other. A girl may use food as love if shefeels, consciously or unconsciously, that sheis not getting love somewhere else. Whereemptiness exists in any way, food can maskit and be a substitute filler, at least tem-porarily.

• SSwwaalllloowwiinngg ffeeeelliinnggss//ssttuuffffiinngg aannggeerr ––People stuff down or swallow their feelingswith food. People who use food in this waydescribe it as having a numbing effect onthem, Costin says.Starving is also a way ofavoiding feelings or demonstrating in someway that, “I don’t have any feelings orneeds.” To heal people from using food inthis way clinics like Monte Nido teach theirclients that all feelings are acceptable; it istheir behaviors they need to learn to moni-tor and control.

Mothers who want to set a good exam-ple for their daughters, should considerthis, Costin says: “Is what you are doing toyourself what you would also do to yourown daughter? If you don’t want her toskip meals in order to fit in a dress, orbinge because she’s having a bad day, thenyou shouldn’t do it either.” To learn moreabout eating disorders and treatment, visitwww.MonteNido.com.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

Powerful advice for mothers:

Help girls accept themselves through your example

S E N I O R L I V I N G

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Cedar Village, locat-ed at 5467 CedarVillage Drive in

Mason, Ohio, has someextraordinary artworkgracing its hallways.

Many are gifts fromthoughtful donors andthey include some recentwork by well-knownIsraeli artists, given inhonor of the two IsraelMissions that CedarVillage residents participat-ed in, the Mitzvah Missionin 2007 and the B'naiMitzvah Mission in 2009.

Residents, families andvisitors often pause andstudy the art and commenton its beauty and power.

Yet, the artwork thatgets the most attention atCedar Village is thatwhich has been created byresidents in a special pro-gram called OpeningMinds through Art.

A product of CedarVillage's unique partner-ship with the ScrippsGerontology Center ofMiami University, OMA(as it is referred to) is nowin its third semester ofprogramming.

OMA is founded on theprinciple that individualswith dementia are capableof expressing themselves

creatively. Using tools from adult

education, art educationand gerontology, OMA'sfounder Elizabeth Lokonhas created a unique pro-gram that is both incredi-ble to watch and producesremarkable results.

For each session ofOMA, there are 12 individ-uals with dementiainvolved in a group setting.

Volunteers staff OMAon a one-to-one ratio butthey do not do the creat-ing. Instead they monitor,encourage and assist.

Lokon begins each ses-sion by sharing a realwork of art-from calligra-phy to embroidery, frompainting to sculpture-asinspiration for the projectto take place.

Each participantreceives their supplies forthe day packaged like agift, and each then usesthose supplies to createsomething altogether newand individual.

OMA is not about cre-ating art. No one whoparticipates is or was anartist.

Rather, it is about helpingindividuals to make choices,to find a way to expressthemselves even when their

language skills are limitedor even nonexistent.

The results of OMA aremeasured by observingparticipant behavior andinteraction, a qualitativeindex of their engage-ment. The results havebeen remarkable.

The volunteers alsoreap tremendous benefitsfrom OMA and say thingslike “I have learned thatpeople with dementia canreally surprise you. Someof them created beautifulpieces of art, and theenjoyment they got out ofit was incredible.”

Another learned thatindividuals with dementia“are still people who havethings to say and a needto connect with others”and that dementia is not“the end of someone's liferather it is just a start ofnew experiences and chal-lenges that people have tocontend with.”

If you would like to bea part of this incredibleprogram, all you need istwo hours a week on aFriday morning.

Contact MarciaWestcott at 754-3100 [email protected] become a part of theexperience.

Opening minds through artA volunteer helps a Cedar Village resident with her artwork.

Talk to people whohave experiencedeven mild hearing

loss and you will quicklydiscover what hearingdoes for you on a dailybasis.

A study released by theNational Council onAging (NCOA) found thatuntreated hearing losswas associated with quali-ty of life issues such assadness, depression, anxi-ety, insecurity, and irri-tability.

The link between hear-ing and happiness issometimes overlooked,even by family membersand health care providers.

Not surprisingly, thestudy also indicated thathearing loss affects both

the individuals with theloss, as well as their fami-lies.

“Our ability to hear issuch an ingrained part oflife, we often take it forgranted,” said Dr. AmyHolland, an audiologist atMontgomery ENT Center.

“It’s easy to take yourhearing for granted ifyou’ve never experiencedlife without it. You don’tmiss it until it’s gone,” shesaid.

Dr. Holland along withDr. Angela Byrd are partof a team of hearinghealth care professionalsat Montgomery ENTCenter.

The team is lead by Dr.Mark Grosinger, a board-certified otolaryngologist,

who founded the practice25 years ago.

Taking a closer look athearing and its impor-tance in life’s quality, youcan understand howimportant it is to treathearing loss quickly andeffectively.

The audiology team atMontgomery ENT Centeris set up so patients canreceive all of their hearinghealth care services underone roof, with just onevisit to the practice.

Patients see Dr.Holland or Dr. Byrd for athorough hearing evalua-tion, explanation of testresults and discussion oftreatment options.

If there are any indica-tions that require medical

treatment, patients see Dr.Grosinger for further eval-uation and treatment.

Some hearing loss canbe improved with medi-cine and/or surgical pro-cedures, which are allcarefully handled by Dr.Grosinger.

The more you researchand educate yourselfabout hearing loss and

treatment options, the bet-ter equipped you will beto make sound decisions.

Dr. Byrd warns, “Becareful where you do yourresearch. Visiting a localaudiologist is without adoubt the best way tohave your hearing evalu-ated and to obtain reliableinformation concerning

S E N I O R L I V I N G


Bring your ears to the experts

Montgomery see page 10

Amy Holland Angela Byrd

Every day, Dr. TaraDallmann and herGentle Dental Care

team continue to comeacross more and morefearful patients.

In Dr. Dallmann’squest to help the mostfearful patients, sheentered a year-long edu-cational course at MiamiValley Hospital in Dayton,Ohio.

This program is one ofthe most stringent andhighly regarded programsin the country for certify-ing dentists in intra-venous sedation and thetraining and testing Dr.Dallmann receivedexceeds that required bythe state of Kentucky.

Dr. Dallmann believesin going aboveand beyond the call ofduty when it comes to thesafety and comfort ofher patients.

Because she is trainedand licensed to do both IVand oral conscious seda-tion, Dr. Dallmann canchoose which method willbe best for each individualpatient, based on theirneeds alone.

Sedation is a way forpeople that would notnormally go to the dentistto get the treatment andattention they so desper-ately need.

From the moment youcall the caring team atGentle Dental Care, youare comforted, and yourfears are relieved. Thisbegins a trust that devel-ops between Dr. TaraDallmann, her team, andyou.

Embarrassment is thefirst hurdle to overcome.Put your mind at ease,because Dr. Dallmann andher team see patients likeyou every day. They

understand how hard itwas for you to call andapplaud you for takingthe first step. Whether ithas been a year or 20years since you have seena dentist, no one willmake you feel bad.

Here is what to expecton your first visit:Depending on your chiefcomplaint, most sedationpatients come in for athorough examination.This allows Dr. Dallmannto find everything there is

to know going on withyour oral health. After theexamination, which isguaranteed to be painless,Dr. Dallmann will createa treatment plan just foryou. Lastly, Dr. Dallmannand Brenda, the treatmentcoordinator, will discusswith you all of youroptions and give you rec-ommendations on how toproceed based on yourtimetable and budget.

Dr. Dallmann will thentalk to you about which

form of sedation will beright for you.

Here’s what one recentsedation patient said:

“Wow... from my firstphone call to the full 2.5hour visit, I have nothingbut good things to sayabout your practice andespecially your staff. Forsomeone who has hadnumerous bad dentalexperiences, I felt Dr.Dallmann was thoughtful,thorough and comforting.I was embarrassed by

how long it’s been since Ihad gone to the dentist,but no one looked downon me or the state of myteeth. I look forwardto getting the proceduresdone!” – M. D. FortWright

The day of yourappointment your comfortand care are Gentle DentalCare’s No. 1 priority.

From your heated blan-ket, warm neck pillow,and soothing spa music,all efforts are made tokeep you comfortable.

“Everyone was great.The visit was much betterthan I expected and pain-less! I was quite embar-rassed about my lack ofdental care over the past“many” years, yet every-one made me feel at easeand non critical of mypast mistakes! Thank youall.” – J. G. Alexandria

Call Gentle Dental Caretoday and ‘Experience theDifference.’

D E N T A L C A R E


Gentle Dental Care now offers IV, Oral Conscious Sedation

The Gentle Dental Care team.

W E L O V E O U R P E T S


Go to work or on vacation and feel guilt-freeabout leaving your furry best friend behind.At A Doggie Day Spa your pet can play all

day with other dogs and get all the exercise theywant.

Owner Angela Davenport is a graduate of theCincinnati Zoo Academy and is certified in doggrooming, Pet CPR and First Aid and dog training.

Her unique dog daycare provides a safe environ-ment for dogs to socialize and play.

Daycare hours are Monday through Friday 6:30a.m. to 7 p.m. and Saturday 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Yourdog can be boarded overnight as well and will haveunlimited play time.

A Doggie Day Spa also offers dog and catgrooming at affordable prices and convenienthours. They also have several training coursesavailable, including an eight-week basic mannerscourse, an advanced manners course, and a one-on-one behavior modification course.

For more information you can visit the Web siteat www.adoggiedayspa.com, call them at 451-7999or make an appointment for you and your dog tovisit the facilities at 5090 Crookshank Ave. inWestern Hills.

Pamper your pet at Doggie Day Spa

treatment options.” She also suggests visit-

ing www.nowihear.comfor valuable information.

Patients often getflooded with e-mails orflyers for great “2 hearingaids for the price of 1”deals or 50 percent offsales, but typically thoseoffers are simply too goodto be true.

Often times, the cost oftheir advertising is builtinto the cost of their hear-ing aids.

The practice avoids thistactic by simply offeringthe lowest prices on hear-

ing aids in the Tristate area. Seeing a doctor of

audiology ensures thatyour treatment is basedon science – not what’s onsale.

“A doctoral degree isnot required to sell hear-ing aids. Earning thatdegree shows our dedica-tion to providing ourpatients with the best careavailable,” said Dr.Holland.

“It also shows howmuch Dr. Grosinger val-ues his patients, that herequires that of his team,”she said.

Montgomery ENTCenter has offices locatedin Cincinnati, Wilmington,Hillsboro andMiddletown.

Call 513-891-8700 or937-382-2000 to make anappointment at any oftheir convenient locations,or visit the Web site atwww.montgomeryent.com for more information.

Make the decision tobring your ears to theexperts at MontgomeryENT Center and discoverwhat you’ve been miss-ing. You’ll like what youhear!

Montgomery from page 8

furry friends. Brushing your petregularly and frequently helps tokeep his/her coat in check, espe-cially if they are going throughseasonal shedding. Brushingstimulates the skin to keep it nat-urally moisturized, which cancut back on dander. If possible,brush your pet outside to avoidspreading pet hair in the house.

• Get down to your pet’slevel, on your hands and knees,to see what he could get into.Dogs love chew toys, so don’tentice them with a ball of wiresfrom your stereo system. Zip-tiethe cords together so they stay

Pets see page 14

Anyone who’s wel-comed a new pet intothe home can tell youhow important it isto prepare for thatfour-legged friend.Whether it’s movingfurniture to accom-modate a dog cage orlearning to host apuppy play-datewith the bulldog nextdoor, becoming a petowner can be a defi-nite learning process.

When gettingyour family and yourhome ready to wel-come a furry friend, afew simple steps cango a long way:

• While your newpet is getting used tohis/her surround-ings, it’s a good idea

New pet? Learn how to prepare your homefor a furry friend

to keep them in adefined area of thehouse. Baby gatesare perfect for clos-ing off an area inyour house anddesignating it as the“puppy area.”Having a small rugin your puppy’splay area will notonly protect yourfloors, but also pro-tect your dog fromsliding and poten-tially getting hurt.Think twice aboutwhat furniture isincluded in yourpuppy area – themore excited theyget, the clumsierthey get.

• Keeping clean-ing supplies onhand will be yourgreatest ally.

• Don’t forget tobrush your new

CCrreeaattiivveeLivingCall 248-7685

A T H O M E


This is the decade of right-sizing. The economic reset triggered bythe excesses of the last decade is forcing our society to rethink itsdefinition of “enough.” One area under enormous scrutiny ishousing. How much space does it really take to house the averageAmerican family of 2.61 people?

Our definition of“enough space” is changing,according to U.S. CensusBureau data. The year 2008saw the first annual decreasein average new-home sizesince 1994. During the inter-vening 15 years, the averagerose by 21 percent – from2,050 square feet in 1994 to apeak of 2,507 square feet in2007 – before slipping to2,392 square feet in 2008. The2008 decrease in home size was alsothe largest annual drop since 1980.

Similarly, remodelers report afalloff in the number of consumersasking for bigger kitchens and moreopulent baths. Not surprisingly, theaftermarket is also witnessing morehomeowners seeking to create more

efficient spaces with more storage,less waste and more flexibility.

Style still in demandAs builders downsize the

American dream home, consumersare saying that compromises on

Shifting from a bathtub to ashower fits our lifestyle and

integrates better into the smalleroverall footprint of today’s bath.

Home see page 14

How to make today’s smaller bathrooms livelarger and work better

Anew year meansnew homeimprovements and

new to-do list. Preferred Maintenance,

at 618-8299, can take careof it for you.

It’s never too late toseal up those drafty win-dow and doors.

The weather mightstop you on the outside,so it’s time to focus on theinside. Preferred

Maintenance can take careof all those inside jobsyou need completed.

From kitchen to bath-rooms, all phases ofplumbing, electric, tile,drywall, carpentry andpainting.

If you’re wanting anew deck or refinish anexisting deck, or wantingthe outside of your housepainted this spring, thenit’s a good time to have itlooked at and put on

schedule. The owners of

Preferred Maintenance arehomeowners who want tohelp other homeownersmaintain their property.Preferred Maintenance isa company that standsbehind “No job is too bigor small.”

Don’t wait any longer.Call 618-8299 and letPreferred Maintenancetake care of you and yourhome.

Preferred Maintenance home repairs, remodeling

A T H O M E


As this article wasbeing written,Lasting

Impressions had storedaway the last few rem-nants of Christmas andthe showroom was beingtransformed from a sea-sonal holiday theme intobeautiful décor for year-round enjoyment of yourhome or office.

Linda, Judy and Nancywent to market in Januaryto begin planning for abeautiful spring, featuringhot new colors anddelightful accents to bringyour home out of thosewinter blahs.

New spring merchan-dise is arriving weekly

and you’ll want to stop byfor that little “kick start”into spring decorating!

You will see beautifulboxwood topiaries andsprays, fern baskets, nests,trunks, and ivy-trimmedbowls and pitchers inbeautiful showrooms.

Have you ever seen a“mouse mirror”? You cansee one right now atLasting Impressions!

Realistic ivies entwinedwith twig leaf garlandsdraped across new springwatering cans bring a nat-ural outdoor feeling infrom the outside.

If you have greenery inyour home already, add afern spray or some type of

natural looking green tocapture the essence ofspring with very littleeffort or expense.

A new Ashton custommirror line gives you theflexibility you have need-ed to add just the rightmirror to a special space.You will be able to choosefrom many styles offrames to make a beveledmirror your own creationat a very reasonable price.

You can also expect tosee a new LastingImpressions furniture linevery soon.

Are you ready to beginthinking about doingsome redecorating aroundyour home?

An In-HomeConsultation ($90) withLinda Barbian may be justthe thing you need todevelop your plan to revi-talize a room that needs alift.

Linda will be glad toassist you with colorselection, room arrange-ment, accessories, win-dow treatments, arearugs, or whatever youneed to complete yourspace.

Linda, Judy, and Nancyare looking forward toseeing you soon at 241Grandview in Bellevue.It’s a shopping experienceyou are going to appreci-ate and enjoy!

Make ‘Lasting Impressions’ on your home decorDDii rreecctt iioonnss:: Travelingsouth or north onInterstate 471:Take Exit 5(Newport/Bellevue)Turn right onto Route 8(Fairfield Avenue)Continue to TaylorAvenue and turn rightTravel six blocks toGrandview AvenueTurn right onGrandview

Enter the warehousethrough the LastingImpressions door onthe right.

Prepare to be amazed.

When you care enough to make your home a warm, welcoming place for family and friends... you need to visit us.

L O C A L B U S I N E S S


Clermont CountyEquipment: “Your outdoorpower equipment and

service store,” is under new man-agement.

Owners Bob and Gary Mounthave hired Keith Mahaffey asGeneral Manager. Keith has beenin the lawn and landscape indus-try for more than 12 years. Hesaid he’s focused on providing“the best customer service avail-able.”

“We love to help our cus-tomers save time and money,” hesaid. “We recognize that, in thesetimes, providing the best cus-tomer service and products to ourcustomers is very important.”

Plans are in place to better serve.“I encourage people to come

in and give us an opportunity toserve them, they won’t regret it,”

Keith said.Clermont County Equipment

has been serving the area sincethe 1960s. Combined, their staffhas more than 100 years in serv-ice experience and 50 years inparts and sales. They cater to theresidential and commercial lawncare and landscape industry.

They offer quality productsincluding those from Stihl, thenation’s leading dealer in chain-saws. The newest product on thefloor, is the Cub Cadet Z-Force, azero-turn residential riding lawnmower with a steering wheel. Itoffers ease and comfort.

Recently, Clermont CountyEquipment expanded to a loca-tion in Amelia. For more infor-mation visit the Amelia locationat 1105 State Route 125 or call947-1831 or visit the Milford loca-

tion at 1100 State Route 131 orcall 831-7592. You may also e-mail Keith at [email protected]. Great financing is

available!Clermont County Equipment

has been owned by Bob and GaryMount since 1995.

Call 248-7685 to share informationabout your summercamp in the March

CCrreeaattiivveeLLiivviinngg

Clermont County Equipment under new management

The Clermont County Equipment staff gathers around the new Cub Cadet Z-Force.



neat and tucked behind furniture.Also, cord covers are a great idea forthose extension cords running alongthe floor. Certain types of floorplants can be poisonous if ingested,so be sure to move them up and outof the way.

• Pets, especially puppies, needto expel excess energy by playingwith others just as much as childrendo. When hosting a puppy play-date, keep collars on both dogs. Ifyou need to grab one of the dogs in ahurry, you want to be sure you havesomething to take hold of. Also,when inviting a four-legged friendover to your home, have the dogsmeet outside. This way, your pupwon’t feel threatened in his own ter-ritory.

It’s no secret that having a petcan benefit a family, but making cer-tain that you and your home are pre-pared to welcome a four-leggedfriend will also benefit you. Taking afew simple precautions and makingthe effort to keep your home pet-friendly will make the transitioneasy.


space do not automaticallymean giving up conveniences.Currently, 60 percent of newhomes have three or more bath-rooms, and while the size ofeach may not be as expansive asin years past, that is no reasonto compromise on style.

In fact, the trends shapingsociety today – smaller, smarterliving spaces, value and effi-ciency over conspicuous con-sumption and the need for agreener lifestyle with a smallerenvironmental footprint - arehaving a profound impact onbath-product manufacturers.These trends are also makingthe job of creating more stylishstatements in a smaller bath-room easier than ever.

“Our emphasis is on prod-ucts scaled to the new spacereality,” says Gray Uhl, directorof design for AmericanStandard Brands. “We look verycarefully at bathroom fixturescale to design collections thatfit the footprint of today’shomes.”

Maximum efficiency has

become a critical driver, accord-ing to Uhl. “A good example iscreating more counter deckspace on pedestal lavatories, ormore storage space in vanitieseven with a smaller footprint.While this trend to efficiencycuts across all styles, it tends torequire fixtures, faucets and fur-niture that take simpler formsand shapes.”

Try a little planningWhether your preference is

traditional, contemporary or thein-between transitional, creatingstylish smaller bathrooms thatwork is simple, with a littleplanning. Here are two impor-tant areas to consider in yourplanning:

• Storage: Vanities that offerample storage space within asmaller footprint can hide hairdryers, towels, bath productsand cleaning supplies, creatingan uncluttered look to make aspace seem larger. Vessel sinksthat sit atop a vanity add a dra-matic touch to a bath, whilemaximizing cabinet space and

creating deck storage space. If apedestal lavatory fits your floorplan better, look for modelswith generous deck space.Don’t forget a toilet with a flattank top: The top of the toilettank is valuable bathroom realestate.

• Lifestyle: As we try to domore in the same number ofhours, bathroom rituals neces-sarily change. Shifting from abathtub to a shower fits ourlifestyle and integrates betterinto the smaller overall foot-print of today’s bath. Multipleshowerheads and body spraysprovide the same relaxation assoaking in a tub, but in far lesstime and with significantly lesscleanup. Most modern showersalso use substantially less water,which appeals to growing eco-logical awareness.

To learn more about prod-ucts that will help create a styl-ish, smaller bath that doesn’tcompromise on performance,visit www.americanstandard-us.com.


Pets from page 10 Home from page 11

Reach all of the familyCall 248-7685

CCrreeaattiivveeLivingname and weight loss per-centage, so no need toworry about your friendsor co-workers finding outhow much you weigh.

You can even make itmore interesting by col-lecting an entry fee fromparticipants and havecash payouts.

The contest can lasteight, 12 or howevermany weeks you want.

Snap Fitness doesn’twant your money; theyjust want you to behealthy.

It may even throw in afew prizes of its own toencourage you and theother participants!

To help you achieve

your goals, Snap Fitnesswill let you work out atthe gym for $20 a monthwhile the contest is run-ning.

Snap Fitness is anintegrity-based, communi-ty fitness haven. It pro-vides a friendly, helpful,approachable staff, anextremely clean club, and acomfortable, safe workout.

For more informationor to schedule or join acontest, contact JodiLawson, at 937-661-5145(cell) or 248-0063 (work);or e-mail her at [email protected].

Snap Fitness Milford isin Mulberry Square, nearKroger.

Snap from page 4



What’s with the whirl-wind of gold buyers?Do you feel like

Dorothy, lost in a dizzying funnelof forces trying to buy your gold?With the increased price of goldand the decrease in purchases ofluxury items – jewelry storeshave somewhat switched theirtactics. Instead of concentratingon selling, they are concentratingon buying. And then there are allthe TV ads chronically crying out“Cash for your unwanted gold!”They encourage you to mail yourprecious metals in then wait tosee what they decide to pay you.

No need to don ruby slippersand tap your heels together towish for something betterbecause there’s no place likeFacet Jewelry Music & Pawn.

As pawnbrokers licensed bythe state of Ohio, Facet JewelryMusic & Pawn can loan cash onitems of value and that includesyour jewelry.

Facet doesn’t buy or pawn onjust your gold, they pay for yourgem stones and marketability isalso taken into consideration.Facet has two locations withretail jewelry showrooms and anonline store. This allows them theopportunity to resell your jewel-ry and not just melt it down. But,if you need money and don’twant to permanently part withyour cherished items – Facet canloan you cash against them. Thisallows you to take advantage ofthe price of gold and still retainownership.

What’s a pawn?Pawnbrokering is

humankind’s oldest financialinstitution. Pawn loans can betraced back to at least 3,000 years.Customers pledge property ascollateral, and in return, pawn-brokers lend them money. Thereare no credit checks or applica-tions to fill out. When customerspay back the loan, their merchan-dise is returned to them. Pawnloans are made on everything

from jewelry tofirearms. If the cus-tomer elects not toredeem his or hercollateral, there isno credit conse-quence to the bor-rower and theitems are sold at avalue price to retailconsumers.

You may redeemyour items in asfew as three daysbut Facet will holdyour item as collat-eral for a minimumof 100 days. Youmay extend that100 day period bymaking a paymentof the financecharge. The financecharge consists of 5percent of the prin-cipal plus $4 permonth. Defaultingon a pawn will neveraffect your credit oryour ability to borrow from Facetin the future.

Another optionOf course, if you no longer

want your jewelry or other items-Facet will buy them for cash.Trade-ins are also very popularfor people who want to upgradeor change their jewelry style. Youmay receive up to double thecash offer for a trade-in.

Shop the many facetsSince gold buyers are moving

into mall kiosks and abandonedplazas faster than a flying mon-key, it may be difficult to knowwho to trust. No need to ship offyour valuables to a stranger inanother city for an estimate, ordeal with a fly-by-night goldbuyer.

You can take courage in theknowledge that you are patroniz-ing a local, family owned busi-ness that has been serving theCincinnati community for nearly

20 years.Jewelry is the heart of Facet.

Each of the two locations main-tains expert jewelers on staff andall of the repairs and customdesigns are performed on-site.The selection, of new and estatejewelry pieces, rivals some of thelargest stores in the Tristate.

Stop in to have your jewelrycleaned for free or for a small feethey can refinish your jewelry tolook like new. Appraisals,engraving, remounts, watch bat-teries, and all types of repairs areavailable as an express service-same day or while you wait.

Facet’s music department is aslarge as many independent musicstores. Guitars, drums, ampli-fiers, band instruments and evendidgeridoos can be found there.Whatever type of instrument youplay or desire to play Facet has it.

The firearms department car-ries new and pre-owned hand-guns, rifles, shotguns, and acces-sories. Whether you’re a hunter, amarksman, or just concerned

about protection; Facet has thefirearm for you.

You’ll find a variety of othertypes of merchandise including:televisions, cameras, camcorders,gaming systems, tools, and DVDmovies. The selection of productsis constantly changing and younever know what tomorrow maybring.

There’s no place like Facet Jewelry Music & Pawn!

First rate customer service anda comfortable atmosphere setthese retailers apart. Visit one oftheir showrooms and you’ll beimpressed. They are located inAmelia on State Route 125 fourmiles from Interstate 275 and inMilford in the Milford ShoppingCenter across from McDonald’s.

Check out the Web sitewww.shopfacet.com for a pre-view or for more information.Facet is a fun place to shop. Ifyou are in need of money orwant to save money, Facet isthere for you.

Pawnbrokers, jewelry stores, gold buyers -Oh my!

No need to don ruby slippers and wish for something better because there’s no place like Facet Jewelry Music & Pawn.

East/Northeast Creative Living

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