Thumbs up  to a young hero

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2:46 PM Friday, January 22, 2010

Here are this week’s “thumbs up” and “thumbs down” selections:

Thumbs up and good luck to Sherrie Bluester of Fairfield, the new director of the YWCA in Hamilton. The veteran of several Greater Cincinnati social services agencies succeeds Sibyl Miller, who retired at the end of 2009. “She’s the perfect person to succeed me,” Miller told staff writer Tiffany Latta. “Her skills, her background, her enthusiasm and her experience all will work well to make her a wonderful leader for our organization and our community.” The YWCA plays an important role in our community, and we’re pleased to see such a good selection and such a smooth transition.

At the risk of further inflating his young ego, we’ll add our voice to those praising 6-year-old Jacob Ratliff of Liberty Twp. for rescuing his mother recently. Jacob, a first-grader at Wyandot Elementary School, summoned rescuers — by dialing 911 and honking the horn — after his mother, Sara, passed out last month after falling ill while driving to Mason. Jacob grabbed his mother’s cell phone, detailed his surroundings to dispatchers and even described her condition to them. Fortunately, Sara Ratliff was fine after hospital treatment for dehydration. Liberty Twp. trustees recently bestowed a proclamation — for his heroism — on young Jacob, an appropriate honor in our book. Bravo.

Like most Hamilton residents, we were gladdened to learn this week that there may be a future for the former Elder-Beerman store building in the downtown. The location contains many fond memories for Hamilton-area residents, so it was gratifying to hear that a subcommittee of the Hamilton Vision Commission is exploring the feasibility of turning the property into a hub for higher education. George Sehi, executive dean of Sinclair Community College Courseview Campus in Mason, has met with community leaders and officials from Miami University to discuss potential uses for the building, staff writer Richard Wilson reported a few days ago. Kenny Craig, president of the Greater Hamilton Chamber of Commerce, said discussions about a “multi-educational” use of the old Elder-Beerman building are still “very preliminary.” Even so, we find the idea to be intriguing and hope that a plan can be devised to make such good use of this local landmark.

Thumbs up to our friends at Miami University for their plans to bring Cincinnati Bengals coach Marvin Lewis to the Middletown campus to speak at 7 p.m. Feb. 10. The event, at MUM’s Dave Finkelman Auditorium, will be part of Miami’s celebration of Black History Month. Lewis, recently named the NFL’s coach of the year, should have plenty to discuss about the Bengals’ exciting 2009 season and what’s in store for next season. We hope readers turn out to see and hear Lewis, and give him a warm welcome to Butler County.

Thumbs up to Butler County commissioners for doing their part this week to help link area bike paths. Commissioners agreed to apply for a $500,000 grant from the state to add about two miles of bike path in Fairfield Twp., from Allison Avenue in Hamilton to the Rentschler Forest Preserve. The Hamilton Community Foundation has generously offered to pay the remainder of the $1.5 million cost, and still has plans to fund another 2.5 miles from Hamilton’s High-Main Bridge to Allison. Those two projects — that officials hope to see done by spring 2011 — would link to the existing path that extends to Fairfield. We’re getting closer to the day when our bike path links to Middletown’s and to a network of trails in the state.

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