What started as a fundraising idea has turned into a full-fledged company that's taking Cincinnati and Newport by storm ... or at least on a tour. Seven years ago Jerry Gels II — along with his father Jerome Gels, sister Laura Gels and friend Dave Kohake — founded the Newport Gangster Tour. Mac Cooley and Brad Hill quickly joined the team, and last year the group formed Newport Walking Tours LLC.  

A cool breeze gently blows through rows of leafy green grape vines beside Ed and Beth McDonald's home. Soft pastel tablecloths ripple across wooden picnic tables adorned simply with silver lanterns. The relaxing sound of water lapping in a pond completes the idyllic atmosphere. Welcome to Hanover Winery in Hanover Township near Oxford.  

As the snow melts away and the first signs of spring begin to erupt from the cold earth, it's time to start thinking about long walks with your four-legged best friend. Dogs are an irrepressible source of joy and companionship, but if you live in an urban environment there are a few issues you should consider.  

Fall is upon us. Schools are back in session, football players are back on the gridiron and it’s time to begin thinking about preparing your home for winter. Aww, do I have to? It’s the age-old whine of reluctant homeowners everywhere: Do I really need to winterize my home? “You should if you want to save energy,” says Don McPherson, co-owner of Home Repair Solutions   

During college I purchased a comfy oversized chair and ottoman at a yard sale. They cost $10 and took up most of my bedroom. The chair, in all its early ’90s light blue plaid glory, sturdily held up through six moves, though the door frames it was squeezed through often did not.  

Buried somewhere in President Obama’s stimulus package is $75 billion to help Americans buy homes or stay in the ones they own. It’s called the Homeowner Affordability and Stability Plan, and the White House expects it to offer aide to some 9 million people. If you don’t know much about it, you’re not alone. CityLiving attempts to explain the overwhelming plan in 1,000 words or less…