Cintrifuse, the regional initiative to support high-potential startups, has named Sarah Adams Anderson as principal for its first fund, which is expected to close between $50 million and $100 million. More...
VAN DAMME IT'S FRIDAY!
I think a key to any successful business is the ability to evolve. I'm not talking about changing overnight, but dexterity in thinking is crucial to be able to adapt to our ever changing society. I believe that is one of our strengths of FortThomasMatters.
We are a completely different organization from where we started in 2007 to where we are today. From a sounding board to help run for City Council, to a fledgeling opinion site, to a legitimate news organization with a staff of 7 writers, to a charitable arm of giving, to a dynamic Public Relations team for our advertisers.
Today marks the day of another change. A sustained champion for a SHOP FORT THOMAS campaign.
There have been well-intentioned attempts at these campaigns before. The Fort Thomas Business Association and the City of Fort Thomas partnered together to spend time and money on their SHOP Fort Thomas campaign. It was basically a website provided by another company that was linked on both of the websites, with specials/deals/coupons from local businesses.
The problem was that the company running the site was not local. The FTBA and the City had the right idea, they just did not have the platform to make it go.
With our readership at 40,000 per month strong and now a platform in The Fort Thomas Living, we obviously do. I almost feel an obligation to our businesses, our business owners and our city to bust my tail to learn what it takes to evolve into a SHOP LOCAL Champion.
There are many in depth studies that demonstrate the power of SHOP LOCAL. In an effort to keep your attention, I'll list those below for your perusal and simply do my best to tell you the best three reasons to consider SHOP FORT THOMAS:
1) Keeping our money here keeps our money here. I know that sounds redundant, but it doesn't make it any less true. Tax revenues from these businesses allows our officials to keep our city clean, safe and beautiful. Getting Fort Thomas out of the mind set to driving to Cincinnati, Newport or Covington for what they can get in town is going to be a tough endeavor, but a worthwhile one.
2) Buy LOCAL campaigns WORK!
3. We have undertaken a cash mob at The Blue Marble and talked about Small Business Saturday on FTM over the last few years. But this SHOP FORT THOMAS campaign has to be more sustained. Independents Week starts the first week in July. My pledge to our readers, our city and our advertisers is to get something in place by then.
This SHOP FORT THOMAS campaign becomes more important with the retailers moving in right down the road at Newport Pavilion. I'm as excited as anyone over the developments down Grand Ave and onto Carothers Road. But the fact of the matters is this:
If we can get Fort Thomas residents to just start to think Fort Thomas before getting in their car and going elsewhere, our city will be even greater than it already is.
Panera Bread Co. coming to the Pavilion is being met with great optimism. But how many residents have been into Cobblestone Cafe? It's packed everyday because it's unbelievably good. But if we can begin to start to shift our thinking to think Cobblestone over Panera first - THAT'S OUR GOAL.
A small shift, but an important one. It simply means more to Fort Thomas than national chains. Because I learn from pictures more than words, I'll leave you with one more about how much more it means to a local shop and its city, compared to a chain store.
We can do this Fort Thomas! More...
All three branches of the Campbell County Public Library will have festivities to celebrate the 2013 Summer Reading Kickoff between the hours of 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, June 1. More...
Separate 18-hole golf outings for ladies and men at A.J. Jolly Park in June will benefit Bishop Brossart High School's Mustang sports programs. More...
As U.S. infrastructure ages and funding lags to fix it, the interstate bridge collapse in Washington State Thursday renews concern about the possibility of a bridge falling here at home. More...
The lawyer for Assistant Villa Hills Police Chief Joe Schutzman says his client plans to fight his recent suspension on charges of gross misconduct and political activity. More...
Kenton County Parks and Recreation hosted the 11th High School Disc Golf Championships, May 11. A total of 14 players competed in the tournament at Lincoln Ridge Disc Golf Course in Independence. More...
Marine Corps Pfc. Cody D. Simmons, son of Sharon A. and Loyed D. Simmons of Elsmere, earned the title of United States Marine after graduating from recruit training at Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, S.C. More...
People age 5 and up in the Burlington community will have the opportunity to receive free dentistry services ranging from cleanings and extractions at the Dentistry Plus dental office located at 1779 Patrick Drive in Burlington Friday, June 21.
Dentistry Plus and Smiles Plus Dental Care will be improving the oral health of needy citizens as part of Free Dentistry Day; a day dedicated providing dental care to the growing number of Americans without dental insurance.
“Now more than ever, there are people in Burlington who need dental services but have no means to afford them – whether they’re out of a job, or just don’t have dental insurance,” said Jack Mercke, DMD, of Dentistry Plus. “This event is a great opportunity for us to share our time and resources with those less fortunate and give back to the community we serve.”
“Our team is committed to lifetime dental care because good oral health is integral to overall health,” said Adam Robinson, DMD, of Smiles Plus Dental Care. “By participating in this program, our goal is to engage patients and encourage them to adopt an ongoing oral care program and a lifelong regimen of preventative care.”
Free cleanings and extractions will be given on Friday, June 21, between 8 am and 3 pm to as many patients as possible. For more information, call 859-689-2730 or visit www.freedentistryday.org. Patients will be accepted on a first come first served basis.
One-third of Americans are living without dental insurance and current economic conditions leave little room to afford dental procedures. Without events like Free Dentistry Day, dental care simply isn’t an option for many uninsured people. More...
ABM Parking Services, the national facility management company that manages the parking meters downtown, have now adopted a new service agreement with Park-by-Phone to make parking more convenient for customers. With the launch of Park-by-Phone, residents and visitors are able to conduct parking transactions with their mobile phones. ABM has implemented the program in downtown Covington and customers will now be able to pay for parking using their mobile phones on parking meters. Most of the city's parking meters are concentrated on an around Madison Avenue between Riverside Drive and 12th Streets, east of the interstate. More...
Just a shout-out to all Readers and our Facebook and Twitter Friends and Fans. We have just launched a new app that makes it easier to keep in touch with all of your social media contacts on all the various sites at just one address on your mobile phone. More...
Blue Lightning Athletics of Villa Madonna Academy (VMA), a twice-recognized national Blue Ribbon School, is proud to announce that 59 of its participants in interscholastic athletics for the 2013 spring sport season have been named Academic All-State by the Kentucky High School Athletic Association. More...
The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division III Baseball Committee awarded the Thomas More College baseball team (29-14) Pool C (at-large) bid to the NCAA Division III Championship and will travel to Terre Haute, Indiana to play the College of Wooster (32-10) on Wednesday, May 15, 2013) in a first round game of the MidEast Regional hosted by Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology at Art Nehf. First pitch for the game is scheduled for 4:30 p.m. More...
Thomas More College junior Michael Marcagi (Anderson, Ohio/Anderson) has been named the Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) Men's Golfer of the Week by the conference office. Marcagi led the Saints to a third-place finish at the Berea College Invitational last week. He was named to the All-Tournament Team as he finished tied for fourth with a two-day total of 150 (76-74). More...
