One of the country’s few cities that owns all its major utilities will celebrate Public Energy Week in the coming week, beginning Saturday.
Hamilton’s Department of Infrastructure will hold several events, including a Customer Appreciation Cookout on Wednesday, tours of the small hydroelectric plant that brought Henry Ford to the city long ago and continues to generate power for Hamilton homes and businesses to this day, a coloring contest for children, and the Second Annual EmPower Hamilton Golf Scramble and Dinner on Saturday.
“There are very cool events,” said Debbie Cochran of the Department of Infrastructure, the week’s organizer. “There’s a lot of history in the Hamilton hydro, and the guys that do the tours over there are very knowledgeable about it and do a great job.”
“Everyone that comes to it loves it,” she said.
The city has been having such events for several years.
The EmPower Hamilton Golf Scramble and Dinner starts 1 p.m. Saturday at Twin Run Golf Course, which also is owned and operated by the city. The registration deadline is 3 p.m. Friday.
The four-person scramble is open to everyone “and will create a truly spectacular golf experience,” promises a flier for the event. The golfing is the only event of the week that costs money — $75 per player, which includes green fees, a cart, dinner and drinks. The golfing is a fundraiser for EmPower Hamilton, which helps Hamilton families pay the gas and electric portions of their bills through the Salvation Army, the Emergency Money Fund and the Hamilton Community Foundation.
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“This program plays a critical role by helping Hamilton residents avoid service disconnections,” according to the city’s utilities. The partnership helped 40 families in 2018, and more than 60 families so far this year.
Here are the other events:
- Educational Displays about the utilities will be shown Monday through Friday in the lobby of the city government building at 345 High St., which is open from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- The Customer Appreciation Cookout happens 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday, also at 345 High St. There will be free food and drinks, give-aways, and the ability to see the educational displays in the lobby.
- Small Hydro Open House. Registrations are required for the tours of the small generator, with tours happening Tuesday at 10 a.m., 1:30 p.m., and continuous tours between 4 p.m. and 6:30 p.m.
- The coloring contest is for age groups 5 and under; 6-9; and 10-12. One winner will be picked from each age group, with winners receiving $25 McDonald's gift cards. All entries will be displayed in the city building's lobby, and also will be posted on the city's Facebook page and website.
People wanting to register for the golfing and the hydro tours, or with questions about the coloring contest, should contact Debbie Cochran in her office at 513-785-7202 or cell phone (513-476-8174) or at debbie.cochran@hamilton-oh.gov.
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