Biden speaking now at Union Terminal
Originally uploaded by hjoew
Sen. Joe Biden is giving major foreign policy speech at Cincinnati’s
Union Terminal right now.
Talking about Iraq and Afghanistan and McCain’s failed stances.
Big crowds, great wine at the Bacchanalian winter wine tasting at Tower Place Mall
The number one complaint I get from newcomers to Cincinnati – especially those who recently called a bigger town home – is finding a taxicab here is next to impossible.
At a forum for young professionals about two years ago inside Cincinnati City Hall, the issue was raised with Mayor Mark Mallory. He told the audience about the numerous taxi stands around downtown – most near major hotels – but that left some in the audience still dissatisfied. Being near hotels is good for hotel guests, but not so good for locals who just had too many Hudepohls to keep down or drive safely.
Wander up to Main Street or party along 7th Street, and finding a cab when you stumble out onto the sidewalk is harder than finding a White Castle, a big bottle of water, about four aspirin, a comfy bed and an emesis basin.
Ah, but some folks working to improve Cincinnati have created a solution, I hope. Introducing “Fetch,” the easy way to call a cab in da ‘Nati.
“Forget re-dialing or waiting on hold when you need a cab. When you need a ride, Fetch delivers one number that promises to route your call to the first available cab company in Cincinnati.
Better yet, you can trust that your voice will be heard via an online community forum where you can be an active part of improving cab service in Cincinnati.”
Just call (513) 35-FETCH or (513) 353-3824 to get a cab.
The service will preview at this Thursday’s Bacchanalian Society wine tasting on Fountain Square (the first such event outdoors). So, come down for some wine, have a few sips then grab yourself a ride to…home, White Castle – wherever. Oh, and be sure to RSVP ahead of time to save $5 on registration and to guarantee admission. These events typically sell out with each event attracting between 700 and 1,000 people, sometimes more.
So, great job Fetch folks. I love the idea!
(I would make one suggestion to the folks involved with “Fetch.” Put the phone number both in the nifty alphanumeric version and the numeric version in the text of the Web site somewhere. A quick site search of Google (http://tinyurl.com/6cazy2) shows that the Web site has not turned up in Google. That can be a big problem if you want the service utilized. Besides missing out on Google, all those computers users who are sight-impaired will never be able to get the phone number. And they might be the ones who could benefit most from this new service. A mobile Web version would be excellent as well.)
Originally uploaded by hjoew
Remains of St Paulus Kirche’s steeple at 15th and Race streets after high winds from Hurricane Ike tore through Cincinnati Sunday wreaking damage all over the area. Few were spared some sort of heartache.
CityKin has some nice photographs of the steeple prior to Sunday’s damage.
In my archive I could only find one photo – from March’s other Weird Weather Event of 2008: the 10-inches + of snow – that showed the steeple in recent times.
An employee of an excavating company who said they have an on-call contract with the city of Cincinnati told me the plans are to remove the remaining top of the steeple (the wooden part), any flashing and possibly some masonry if it is deemed unstable. Another big loss for our struggling community.
Meanwhile, Race Street south of Liberty Street to 14th Street remains closed from a fallen utility pole.
Tow truck driver waits and watches
Originally uploaded by hjoew
Mark, a tow truck driver with Servizzi Collision, waits for a dispatch
near his Mount Washington home while watching another driver turn
around on a blocked Mears Avenue in the wake of Sunday’s windstorm.
He said he expected to be busy and with power out inside his house he
figured he better be near his two-way radio in his truck to hear calls
- plus he said he could listen to the news on the radio.
“There is power in here,” he said.
Official statement from Cincinnati Fire Department
Originally uploaded by hjoew
This is Fire Captain, Michael A. Washington reporting two multiple
alarm fires in Over-the-Rhine. Today at 3:17 PM the Cincinnati Fire
Communications center received a telephone call reporting a structure
fire at 1801 Elm Street which is directly across the street from the
historical Findley Market. 1801 Elm Street is a three-story brick
building with an attic.
Initial arriving fire units encountered a fire on the third floor as
well as in the attic space. Due to the heavy wind conditions today,
pieces of burning debris scattered through the air landing on adjacent
structures, causing fires in other structures. The incident commander
upgraded this fire to a second alarm, and subsequently a third alarm
due to the fire in multiple buildings. The incident commander ordered
all firefighters out of the structures due to fire conditions; a
defensive firefighting attack was established.
During the height of this incident, six buildings were involved in
fire. Fifty-two firefighters were summons to this incident, there were
no injuries reported to firefighters are civilians. Damaged is
estimated at $200,000 dollars, the cause is listed as “Undetermined”
the Cincinnati Fire Department’s Fire Investigation Unit is
investigating this fire.
Just several blocks away, at 1438 Walnut Street a structure fire was
reported to the Fire Communications Center. 1438 Walnut Street is a
three-story brick building in close proximity to several other
buildings. Due to the high winds, fire was able to move into the
adjacent buildings. The incident commander at this fire, upgraded to a
second alarm for additional staffing. This fire was also fought
defensively, with firefighters operating on the outside of the
buildings.
There were no firefighters are civilian injuries reported at this
fire, damage is estimated at $250,000 dollars. The cause is currently
listed as “Undetermined” the Cincinnati Fire Department’s Fire
Investigation Unit is investigating this fire.
Originally uploaded by hjoew
Grammer’s adjacent building – that houses a ratskeller – catches fire
in the upper floors.
Originally uploaded by hjoew
Former Cincinnati Vice Mayor Jim Tarbell, who just sold Grammer’s
restaurant in late 2007, ran to see the historic landmark on fire in
Over-the-Rhine. High winds – remnants of Hurricane Ike that made
landfall in Texas Friday – tore through Cincinnati for about four
hours Sunday, doing damage all throughout the region.
Nearly 700,000 Duke Energy electric customers were without power – the
largest power outage in the company’s history, said Kathy Meineke,
Duke spokeswoman.
Tarbell watches Grammer’s burn
Originally uploaded by hjoew
Former Cincinnati Vice Mayor Jim Tarbell was one of the first people
on the scene when Grammer’s restaurant on Walnut street in
Over-the-Rhine caught fire in high, hurricane-force winds Sunday.
Originally uploaded by hjoew
Scores of gas stations around the Tri-State are without power and
subsequently closed. Ones that are open, like this one at Red Bank
Expressway and Madison Road, have long waits – and only have premium
grade fuel.
