Covington native and legendary bassist on numerous crucial sessions done for Cincinnati’s King Records, Ed Conley, passed away on Jan. 5 at the age of 84. Following the private memorial for family a couple of weeks ago, friends and admirers this Thursday will gather at the Gwen Mooney Funeral Home (inside Spring Grove Cemetery at 4521 Spring Grove Ave.) at 1 p.m. for a public ceremony.  

As summer draws to a close and families with schoolage children begin preparing for the coming semester, the leaders of Project REACH are gearing up for their second year of work. The program, which provided intensive college-prep guidance in five Cincinnati Public Schools high schools last year, hopes to expand to two more schools for the 2009-10 year.   

College is a time of decisions: Where are you going to go to school? What are you going to major in? What organizations are you going to join? While considering these long-term scenarios, another eminent decision to make is whether or not to live on or off campus.   

Another wonder of college football announces itself in the middle of town as the lords of Nippert Stadium enter November playing for their highest stakes ever. A real conference championship race has arrived.  

Eamon Roach, Sophomore, Philosophy and Natural Sciences Majors. Q: What are the campus issues people are talking about? A: Much of the conversation about campus issues seems to revolve around the new construction.  

Jessica Weil, Freshman, Nursing Major. Q: What are the best and worst parts about your school? (The) worst parts would probably have to be some of the classes and the way the teachers teach things.  

Erica Heimbrock, Junior, Fashion Design-Product Development. Q: What are the campus issues people are talking about? Sustainability seems to be an issue on campus.  

Brittany Moncrease, Junior, International Studies Major. Q: What are the campus issues that people are talking about? A big topic of discussion is diversity and how important that is and how it's becoming such a big deal for the university.  

Sara Relojo, Senior, Illustration Major. Q: What are the best and worst parts about your campus? A: The best part is definitely how accessible it is. Our six-floor building is totally secure and open 24 hours a day, and most upper-classmen get huge, accommodating studios with windows.  

The weather is getting cooler and the days are beginning to shrink. Yes, summer is slowly coming to an end, but don't be sad: Area college and university campuses are flooded again with young, energetic, happy college students breathing life back into this old town.