- TAKE A GANDER BLOG

9/7/2012

Community Spirit:

I just wanted to share a nice, feel good story with all of you. As most of you know I usually spend some time with the maintenance of the garden space at 19th & Jefferson. I hadn't had the opportunity to do much work there for the past three or four weeks and decided it was time to get to work. I did a little work yesterday and went back today to see if I could make a difference. The grass was very high, there were many weeds trying to take over everywhere and a lot of clean up was needed. I was a little overwhelmed but started by removing some of the larger weeds along the sidewalk. To my great surprise and delight I was greeted with an offer of help getting the grass in shape. One of the maintenance men (Wayne) from Glenn O Swing School was there with a lawn mower to cut the very high grass. He also said that he would help me clean up the debris, trim and use his blower to finish. I was speechless and very grateful. He was very polite and considerate and did the job to perfection. One of his fellow workers (Daryll) joined him to finish the work. It was a very pleasant surprise and most welcome. Both men were very willing to help in any way they could. I didn't take them long to get the job done. What a great way to make a difference in the neighborhood and create a lot of good will.

Thank you Glenn O Swing School!

Peggy McAllister

The Garden of Hope

4/29/2012

In 1938, the Rev. Morris Coers made a pilgrimage to the Holy Land. One of the places that most inspired him was the Garden Tomb in Jerusalem, one of several sites touted as the possible burial place of Jesus. He returned home convinced that all Americans should have the chance to visit this quietly inspirational place—even if they didn’t have the means to travel abroad.

So in the mid-1950s, while serving as pastor of Immanuel Baptist Church in Covington, he announced a plan to re-create the Garden Tomb on Immanuel’s grounds. This man of the cloth (and former Indiana legislator) also had something of an entrepreneurial bent, having already jumped into both radio and its young cousin, television, and he used his electronic “pulpit” to help raise money for the project. He also arranged to have the caretaker of the Garden Tomb come from Israel to advise on the construction and convinced people and governments around the world to send stones, plants, and artifacts to help make his garden as authentic as possible. He got antique carpenter’s tools from Nazareth, a gift from Israeli Prime Minister David Ben-Gurion; native plants from the Holy Land; and stones from the Jordan River, the Wailing Wall, and Solomon’s Temple as well as the Horns of Hatton, traditionally regarded as the site of the Sermon on the Mount.

Coers called the project the Garden of Hope. In addition to a replica of the tomb, it includes a carpenter’s shop outfitted as Jesus might have known it and the Chapel of Dreams, patterned after a 16th-century Spanish mission.

Though Coers did witness an Easter celebration in the mostly completed Garden of Hope in 1959, he died before its official dedication on Palm Sunday 1960. Then his successors lost interest in the project, and mounting debt and the depredations of vandals began to take their tolls. By the early 1990s, the garden was in serious disrepair.

But then you might say that some angels came to the rescue. A group of Immanuel members started talking about restoring the garden, and an anonymous donor pledged the money to make it happen. After five years of hard work, the volunteers had completed their task. Today the Garden of Hope is again a lovely 2.5-acre island of quiet amid city streets as well as a popular site for weddings and memorial services.

Today, the Garden of Hope is continually in need of volunteers who love to work in the yard. Monetary donations to buy rock gravel for the front hillside to keep it from slipping down to the roadway and to help with the water runoff problem is also needed. Please call 859-750-5611 to get more information. https://www.facebook.com/pages/Garden-of-Hope/245313798911

Monte Cassino Vineyarde

4/29/2012

Have you heard of it? There’s a good chance you haven’t. Not quite yet, at least.

Monte Cassino Vineyard, nestled on a gorgeous hillside in Covington, Kentucky, is history restored to life. The vines, only three years old, will be experiencing their first year to maturity in 2010, but this is not the first time there has been a vineyard on this hillside…

Mark and Heather Schmidt, the owners of the vineyard, have taken great care to dig up the history on their Covington property. Long story short, after purchasing their Covington home built in 1830 on 7 acres of land, they soon found out the land had a very well documented history.

Monte Cassino’s History

The house was built for Rev Kuhr, first pastor of mother of God Church, and is adjacent to a monastery, home to Benedictine monks. Not just any monks, but monks of the wine-making variety. These particular monks grew Concord and Norton varietal grapes. The monks built, by hand, stone retaining walls (remember this is in the 1800′s) on the hillside where they grew their grapes. The monks called this particular hillside vineyard, Monte Cassino after the original Benedictine Monastery in Italy.

For the German monks, they knew this was a great place for their vineyard. Being on a south-facing hillside, the walls soak up the heat of the day (which helps the grapes from getting cold at night) and the breeze that comes down the hillside keeps them dry – ideal conditions for grape growing.

Monte Cassino’s Revival

In honor of the German heritage of the monks, the Schmidt’s decided to keep the vineyard’s name and plant a German grape. I should back up and let you know that before any grape vine was planted, a lot of work had to be done.

The Schmidt’s cleared 2 acres of land on a hillside that had been taken over by dense forest. They made sure that when the trees were being cleared that great care be taken as to not disturb the retaining walls. The hand-built retaining walls remain today, even after the clearing of the trees. I’ve seen the wall firsthand, it is very impressive workmanship.

This German grape I mentioned earlier is called “Dornfelder”, it is the only varietal they will be growing in the vineyard. Dornfelder, invented in 1954, is the fastest growing, planted grape in Germany. It is a red skinned, red “meat” grape (i.e. the inside and outside of the grape is entirely red).

Because the grapes are red, they will be a magnet for hungry birds. Green grapes are mostly invisible to birds, not needing to be covered, but their red grapes will have to be netted carefully to keep birds out. The photos I took earlier in the spring show the young green grapes, in July, the grapes will begin turning red.

By Hand

As I mentioned earlier, their Dornfelder vines are 3 years old. The vines originally came from a greenhouse in New York, all 475 of them. The 475 vines are growing on 300 trellis posts drilled in by hand. By hand, because it is not an easy task to get up to the hillside, so this meant a lot of work for the Schmidt’s and the crew helping with their vineyard.

Mark and Heather drove me up the hillside in an utility vehicle that handled the muddy trail just fine, but much larger equipment could not be expected to traverse the same path. That is why most all of the work done at the vineyard is by hand, not machine, but this adds to the vineyard’s endearing charm.

The Best is Yet to Come

In autumn of this year, the vineyard will experience its first grape harvest. The Schmidt’s plan to bottle and sell the wine from their grapes in the future, with the Monte Cassino label.

A big thank you to Mark and Heather for the chance to experience an evening in their vineyard!

–Stephanie

Where Have All The Sidewalks Gone?

1/25/2011

On several occasions my wife and I have had to leave the cozy warmth of our home and venture out in the snow and ice. Over the years we have often commented on how few homes shovel the snow covering the walks, drives and often steep steps climbing the hills of our neighborhood. This truly upsets the two of us. I was born and raised in a small Pennsylvania town. And the reason I have such vivid memories is that the responsibility for clearing the snow and spreading ashes from the coal furnace on the drive into the garage were mine. In the good old days, neighbors looked out for one another, we knew everyone in town by name. As soon as snow started falling neighbor after neighbor was out with a broom or shovel worried that one of their neighbors would slip and fall. We worried about the mailman, milkman, paper boy, who had to walk the street and climb the steps to serve us. We cared about them and each other.

After leaving my small Pennsylvania town I married and settled in Peaselburg in 1963. At that time we were the young kids in the neighborhood and most of our neighbors were senior citizens. We looked out for one another; I cleaned the walks and steps for four, sometimes five senior neighbors. Everyone was out cleaning the walks as soon as the snow started. You could walk from 16th Street to 19th and maybe one walk would remain covered with snow. We did a lot more walking in those days, most people walked to church, schools, to bus stops, corner stores for milk, bread, etcetera. There was a lot of foot traffic and we worried about each other. The milk man no longer delivers to our homes, the newspapers are thrown out of a car window, but we still have the mail man, gas men and women who have to travel our streets and climb our steps. My wife and I are now in our seventy’s. I don’t shovel snow any more due to some health problems. However my wife still looks after some old neighbors, in their 80’s, sweeping snow; spreading salt and making sure their newspapers are placed in front of their doors. We also have been blessed with wonderful neighbors who constantly look out for us. They shovel the snow and or sweep it if they can beat my wife to it. They help us carry groceries from our car up our steep steps. They are always there to help whenever a job is too much for us. We thank God everyday for giving us caring thoughtful neighbors.

I guess the reason I’m telling you all of this is to appeal to each of you to think of your neighbors, service people all the time but especially when we have snow and ice. Clean off your property and go the extra mile and help the old folks next door or down the street a few doors. Remember the mail man who has to climb those steps six days a week. Maybe you can make arrangements with a neighborhood youngster to be prepared to shovel for you if you can’t handle it yourself. I’m told that people think if they shovel and someone slips they are liable. Don’t know if this is true but I want you to think of the pain and suffering that could have been avoided if you had just taken a few minutes to be a good neighbor. Please help make Peaselburg a neighborhood that continues to look out for one another.

Peaselburg Nests: Guest Blogger-“The First Time Home Owners”

1/4/2011

Nest is a new section of the blog that showcases guest bloggers that own homes in Peaselburg. Do you want to blog about your Peaselburg digs? Email us!

Guest Blogger: The First Time Home Owners

It’s a Monday night as I listen to the tip tap of keys being punched producing somewhat random ideas and thoughts. The cats are both passed out lying flat on the hardwood floor like pancakes or small bear skin rugs. Their eyes open a slit to shoot a glance of disgust my way concerning the apparently annoying sounds coming from the keyboard. It’s nice to finally relax for the night with the cozy glow of the low lit lamp in the dining room.

Now that the holidays are behind us we plan in anticipation of Spring for another round of gardening and landscape projects. We are starting our plans for organic veggies and have black gold sitting in our composter patiently waiting for the first plantings. We reminisce about last year’s projects and get a better angle on the learning curve we experienced. The following was our first experience with a major project as first time home owners…

Spring 2010

Our complete exhaustion is a result of multiple projects preformed this weekend. Chris got together with our neighbors and friends Brian and Dolly to build garden boxes for the yard. I worked on sanding and painting two tables and also painted a chandelier with my friend Jodi. I made blackberry pound cake for our neighbor who had knee surgery. Laundry, some major closet organizing, goodwill donations, yard sale items, homework, neighborhood association work, thank you notes, etcetera. W-o-w. Three letters that exactly define this weekend of utter chaos. I shouldn’t say chaos because it was quite productive. However, as I sit on my porch now reflecting while rain hits the newly dug yard I can only think of the word –wow!

We spent the last three days hauling 3 yards of dirt, trimming hedges, pulling tons and tons of weeds and tending to new garden boxes. It is our effort to transform the front of our house with landscaping for the ultimate curb appeal. You must understand one of the best parts of our house in my opinion (although there are many) is the curb appeal. The house sits on a corner lot and has this amazing presence and soul. It’s not grandiose, not newly built, but we wouldn’t want it to be. The house has character as if it is its own entity, fulfilling our daily lives with comfort.

We love this house. I love how the sun light hits the porch in the morning casting a golden blanket over all the porches on the street. I love how the wood has marmalade color and how the layout flows throughout. I love that all who lived in this house cherished it and cared for it in a way that you can still feel in its energy. As we continue to work on the house and make it our own we respect it and only make improvements that wouldn’t change it originality and beauty.

It has been a journey. I’m sure you can remember it or are experiencing it now, owning your first home is quite the learning experience. There has been a lot of sweat, a lot of memories in the making, laughter and also some tears. Sometimes we feel we will never accomplish the goals we set when we first bought the house, those lofty aspirations. But that’s not important. What’s important is that as we continue to grow with this house and we are learning along the way. Sometimes we just sit back after a project whether small or large, whether it’s hauling 3 yards of dirt with shovels or painting a wall, we reflect on that day’s work and feel more at home. And after the past three days of extremely hard work I can sit on the porch and feel pride and joy once again, that this is our home.

Naming of Peaselburg

10/10/2010

A bit of interesting info about our neighborhood:

There's some discussion in the Covington newspapers of the later nineteenth century about the name of the area of Covington known as Peaselburg (the area west of Madison, between 19th and 26th Streets).

Jack Wessling, writing in the Encyclopedia of Northern Kentucky, notes that "hundred of geese roamed the city." In fact, he says, "the aggressive geese ruled almost every sidewalk, street, and yard in the community." He goes on to note in Low German, the Peasleburg can be translated into "city of goose droppings."

The Ticket, on 9-28-1876, wrote that if there was a man named Peasle, that he or his descendents "ought to come forward." They write that "The outside world . . . believe the Peasel part of the name of burg to be merely a joke at its expense. The article goes on to suggest that the town be named Howellsburg, "after the owner of the farm from which it was taken," or Howardsburg, "after the man whose subdivision comprised most of the place. They say the area is mocked as "Goosetown" and "Hardscrabble."

Two months later, on November 18, 1876, The Ticket again weighs in, writing that "Peaselburg is about to be swept down the advancing River Lethe by the rising flood of refinement and civilization." The city was "ashamed of the name of Peaselburg," and had renamed itself Silkyville, but the name "Central Covington" was about to be implemented.

Wessling says that "Wolfsburg" was also considered a potential name in 1876.

Two years later, the Daily Commonwealth, on December 30, 1879, reports that Peaselburg was about to apply to legislature to be incorporated, and suggested the citizens go with the name "Jessetown" for reasons they did not disclose.

The neighborhood incorporated in 1880 as "Central Covington," and dissolved when annexed by Covington in 1906.

What To Do During Heavy Rain...

7/29/2010

Tillie wanted to share some information on what to do in heavy rains. Of course Tillie can swim, she’s a goose, but she loves the residents of Peasleburg and wants y’all to keep safe.

Be aware of flash floods. If there is any possibility of a flash flood occurring, move immediately to higher ground.
Listen to radio or television stations for local information.
Be aware of streams, drainage channels and areas known to flood suddenly.
Secure your home. If you have time, bring outdoor garden equipment and lawn furniture inside or tie it down. Move essential items to the upper floors of your house.
If instructed, turn off utilities at the main switches or valves.
Sterilize the bathtub, then fill the bathtub with water in case water becomes contaminated or services are cut off.
Stay away from flood waters. They could be contaminated.
Do now walk through moving water. Six inches of moving water can knock you off your feet. If you must walk in a flooded area, walk where the water is not moving. Use a stick to check the firmness of the ground in front of you.
Do not drive into flooded areas. If flood waters rise around your car, abandon the car and move to higher ground, if you can do so safely. You and your vehicle can be quickly swept away as flood waters rise.

Giuseppes Neighborhood Pizza

6/25/2010

Some great information from two of Tillie’s roving foodies. Recently we heard good news about a new pizza place here in Peaselburg, or nearly in Peaselburg. The name of the place is Giuseppe’s Neighborhood Pizza. We were met at the door by the owner, chef, Darin. While talking about his new adventure, in walked his mother and father carrying two home made cakes. It is truly a family venture. We were surprised to find a picture of our Peaselburg sign (showcasing Tillie) hanging on the wall of the parlor. Several other neighborhoods were also represented. Giuseppe’s has a great menu and reasonable prices. I tried the Dirty Don steak hoagie with a side salad, it was delicious. It tasted like a steak hoagie should. It is now my new favorite sandwich. My sidekick had a hand tossed New York Style Pizza. It was by far one of the best pies we have tasted, and we have tasted quite a few in our quest for the perfect pizza. I think we have found our new favorite pizza parlor and want to share the good news with all of our friends here in the Peaselburg neighborhood. You will find Giuseppe’s at the corner of W. 26th Street and Madison Ave in a small strip mall. Take it from two foodies. Try this place you’ll love the homey atmosphere, good service and excellent food.

Covington Code Enforcement

6/24/2010

The Friends of Peaselburg Neighborhood Association invited the Covington Code Enforcement Director and the two enforcement officers assigned to the Peaselburg area of Covington to attend our April meeting.. The Code Enforcement Director, Keith Bales and Enforcement Officer Chris Preston accepted our invitation. Mr. Bales asked for our organizations continued cooperation in making Peaselburg a cleaner greener place to live and raise our families. He said the best way to report Code Enforcement problems is through e-mail. He offered advice concerning a yearly problem with residences not cutting grass. He advised that grass has to be 10 inches tall to be considered in violation of city code. An e-mail or phone call will set the wheels in motion. CE has door hangers to distribute to help with this problem. If this doesn't work a letter will be mailed to the owner detailing their requirements. Another related item was the "sweep out" of grass clippings and trash into the street. Residents are urged to contact Code Enforcement by phone or e-mail immediately when these violations are sighted. Trash cans can not be placed on the sidewalk for collection until 6p.m. the day before collection and must be removed by noon the following day. If reported a citation will be issued. Residents are permitted three yard sales per year. A permit is required.

Peaselburgs Second Mascot Named: Welcome Fritz!

6/3/2010

As you all know Peaselburg's mascot Tillie is adored and loved. Tillie the goose was named in honor of our long time member and resident Tillie Schuhmacher. Tillie had a life time partner, Fritz. Tillie and Fritz were inseparable, when you saw one you knew the other was close behind. At a recent FOPNA meet a suggestion was made by Tillie's daughter Betty that we find a partner for Tillie and to name him in honor of Fritz. Once again Fritz and Tillie will be together and watch over the Peaselburg Neighborhood from the FOPNA Garden located in front of St. Augustine Church/School.