Growing up at 25
In about a week, look for a major announcement from WAIF: The station will be moving to new quarters later this year. WAIF (88.3 FM) is acquiring a former movie theater converted to a conservative synagogue in Roselawn.
The new digs will give the station four studios, double its current number, and a 500-seat theater that can host video, film and live performances. WAIF, the non-profit community station operated by volunteer programmers, also is working on plans to begin 24-hour Internet broadcasting.
Easily the most diverse local station on the air, WAIF, which recently celebrated its 25th anniversary, specializes in Indian, Latin, African, Caribbean, Arabic, Italian, Greek, German, Jazz, Rock, New Age, Progressive, Gumbo, Doo Wop, Christian Rock, Folk, Hip Hop and Metal — all from the basement of the Alms Hill Apartments in Walnut Hills.
Spare Any Change?
Not that he had a chance of getting it, but Scott Seidewitz has decided not to seek the Democratic Party's endorsement for Cincinnati City Council this fall. Instrumental in getting Todd Portune elected to the Hamilton County Board of Commissioners — breaking a 36-year Republican monopoly — Seidewitz might have expected a stellar rise in Democratic circles. But he's stepped on too many toes in the party leadership, what with his noise about supporting gay rights and women's reproductive rights and opposing big-money influence on the party.
Seidewitz says he still might run for council this year, but without party backing. And, no, he's not done picking on party leaders.
"I believe I can be most effective in advocating for change within the Democratic Party as a non-candidate," he says.
"Sometimes working behind the scenes, as I have been doing, is the most effective way to bring about change."
How divisive is the issue of racial profiling? Even efforts to ban the practice draw criticism. City Councilman John Cranley has proposed an ordinance banning the practice of stopping drivers because of their race. Attorney Kenneth Lawson, who is preparing a lawsuit over racial profiling, is suspicious.
"I think Mr. Cranley is trying to utilize this for his upcoming election," Lawson says. "He didn't say nothing about racial profiling when he was running against Steve Chabot for Congress."
Civet — not "skivet" — is the proper name for the scratchings of skin from a cat's genitalia, according to pagans wagging their tongues at an incorrect spelling of an ingredient in wiccan rituals in last week's CityBeat cover story. No cats were harmed in the making of this correction.
On Further Review
It might take a civil lawsuit for Kristi Mae Stotler's family to have the cause of death on her death certificate changed from suicide to homicide. A finding by the Ohio Court of Claims apparently isn't sufficient.
Stotler died five years ago at age 20 after sustaining burns to 85 percent of her body in her Mount Washington apartment. The Cincinnati Police Division and the Hamilton County Coroner ruled the death suicide.
The Ohio Court of Claims last year ruled the death a homicide. "While we make no ruling as to who might be responsible ... we find that Kristi qualifies as a victim of criminally injurious conduct," the court's ruling states.
Audrey Eller of California, the victim's grandmother, recently asked city council to intervene and order police to reopen the investigation, but that appears unlikely. In a letter to council, Safety Director Kent Ryan says. "The information Ms. Eller has provided over the last five years has not changed the ruling in this case."
Eller contends police want to steer clear of the matter because an off-duty officer was in the building with a woman not his wife when Stotler was on fire.
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