CINCINNATI (WKRC) - A dream is a wish your heart makes. This is true for many students starring in Finneytown High School's Cinderella production The community is invited to support students and see the classic fairytale this weekend Students have been working on the play for about three months and say they're prepared to put on an amazing performance for the audience The production will include dazzling costumes and talented student actors in grades three through 12 Ava Hutchins stars as Cinderella and Wyatt Brooks as Prince Topher Both actors are seniors and have been in multiple plays at Finneytown High School It's both students' first lead roles They have been preparing years for this opportunity and are happy to end senior year doing what they love "You get to get excited about the arts we offer and see the talents we have It's a great way to support the school," said Ava Wyatt said he was hesitant to get into acting because of his anxiety but says his supportive director and castmates has helped him grow and feel confident to achieve his goals "The anxiety before this took control of me but when I came into theatre They're not just friends but family and this place has become a second home to me People in the cast and crew have become part of my family," said Wyatt You can come see Cinderella at the William Swartzel Performing Arts Center on Friday and Saturday at 7:00 p.m Tickets are $10 for students and $15 for adults Click here to purchase tickets. Finneytown High School announced its newest football coach he's been the offensive coordinator at Wilmington and Northwest "We will establish daily habits that promote success on and off the football field." Johnson said his vision for Finneytown football is a program that introduces young men to real life through football While not everyone is meant to be a professional athlete Johnson hopes to teach his players to be professionals and better men in the future "We are thrilled to welcome Coach Johnson to the Wildcat family and look forward to the energy and vision he will bring to our football program," Finneytown's athletic director Gerald Womack said Johnson replaces former Finneytown head coach Armand Tatum, who stepped down from the position earlier this year to take a job as an offensive assistant at Moeller a Division V program in the Cincinnati Hills League Tatum led Finneytown to a 3-7 record in 2023 the only time the team has won more than two games since 2011 I believe I've been placed in this spot not only to make an impact on the student-athletes and student body of Finneytown but to be impacted by some amazing people within that community," Johnson said Ohio — Finneytown High School football coach Armand Tatum has decided to step down from the position and will become the Moeller assistant offensive line coach for this upcoming season “It’s an opportunity not only to be a part of a prestigious program but to sharpen some of my coaching skills and add to the mix,” Tatum said Tatum was the Finneytown head coach for the past three seasons Finneytown (1-9 record in 2024) is a Division V program in the Cincinnati Hills League Finneytown athletic director Gerald Warmack said he will handle all of the duties related to the football position "We posted the job this week and are actively seeking candidates," Warmack said Tatum said the scoreboard didn’t always reflect the talent and effort that was on the field on Friday nights this past fall at Finneytown He is proud of how the student-athletes grew and for the community support the program received “I love the fact that the teams came together as family units,” Tatum said “I truly appreciate the Finneytown community welcoming me with open arms.” has more than 20 years of experience coaching Ohio high school football He was the Western Hills head coach for six and a half years and a Walnut Hills assistant coach for eight years prior to that He also coached at Columbus Mifflin High School along with youth programs said he is grateful to coach high school football in Greater Cincinnati for several years every conference — it’s good football,” Tatum said Tatum will work with Moeller offensive line coach Michael Blum to help strengthen an already solid unit each day during the season “I’m so excited to be a part of it,” Tatum said Tatum is the third former head coach on Moeller head coach Bert Bathiany’s staff for the 2025 season That also includes Don Simpson (inside linebackers coach) and George Kontsis (quarterbacks coach) Moeller junior quarterback Matt Ponatoski — Ohio’s Mr Football and the Gatorade Ohio player of the year — was sacked just seven times this past season “The offensive line — this senior group has paved the way for two Mr. Football award winners (Ponatoski and Jordan Marshall),” Bathiany said earlier this month during the Mr “There is a lot of times (Matt) is getting interviewed at the end of the game and he played really well And everyone wants to provide the line on him and he immediately diverts it to the offensive line.” Moeller (14-1 in 2024) opens the season against visiting Princeton (10-3) in August It will be the second straight season the teams will meet in the season opener SIGN UP: Subscribe to our high school sports newsletter Ohio (WKRC) - It was the inaugural "Wildcat Wellness" game on Friday between Deer Park and Finneytown The two sides played a game during the school day to raise awareness for mental health both schools hosted events and offered services to students promoting mental health awareness All proceeds from tickets sold went to a mental health organization with Finneytown pulling away in the closing minutes to capture a 60-51 victory Finneytown High School football coach Armand Tatum has decided to step down from the position and will become the Moeller assistant offensive line coach for this upcoming season Tatum, an intervention specialist at Finneytown, confirmed the move Friday. Finneytown has posted the position according to athletic director Gerald Warmack Tatum was head coach for three seasons at Finneytown which is a Division V program in the Cincinnati Hills League The 1994 Walnut Hills grad was head coach at Western Hills for six seasons He also coached at Walnut and Hughes before taking over at Western Hills in 2016 He joins a Moeller program that was Division I state runner-up last season The offensive line has blocked for the last two Ohio Mr Football honorees; running back Jordan Marshall and quarterback Matt Ponatoski Ponatoski set several school passing records in 2024 to lead the Crusaders to the championship game Ohio — Brandon Robinson is poised to infuse new energy into the Finneytown High School boys basketball program The 2009 Finneytown graduate was named Wednesday afternoon as the school’s new boys basketball coach For me to be offered the position it was a definitely a blessing.” Robinson was the junior varsity head coach and varsity assistant coach for six seasons at North College Hill That’s where he developed multiple players and helped those student-athletes advice to college on scholarship opportunities Robinson has coached in Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) competition for Shining Star since 2021 He coached Cincinnati Phenom AAU from 2016-2020 which is comprised of current college and pro players from around Greater Cincinnati He’s also conduced local basketball camps and clinics throughout the Cincinnati area “I’m excited to have a Finneytown alum back to lead the program,” Finneytown athletic director Gerald Warmack said “Brandon’s passion and excitement for Finneytown and the basketball program are infectious and I look forward to seeing where he can take Wildcat basketball!” Robinson played four years at Finneytown and the point guard led the Cincinnati Hills League in scoring in 2009 He earned all-city and state honorable mention honors that season Robinson said the Finneytown community is eager to improve all levels of the basketball program and he's committed to developing a system similar to a college program Finneytown had a 6-15 record at the varsity level this past season according to the Cincinnati Hills League website Robinson said he’s been prepared for this coaching opportunity through various basketball experiences including learning from NCH head coach Shannon Minor who coached Robinson for two years at Finneytown He’s also worked with Shining Star Sports director Alex Meacham Robinson said he can’t wait to get started with the Finneytown program “I’m more than honored to be in this position,” he said Ohio (WKRC) - It won't be a typical school day for students at Finneytown and Deer Park high schools on Friday students will be let out of class and head to the Finneytown gym to watch a basketball game The two squads will face off in the "Wildcat Wellness" game a fundraiser put on by both schools raising awareness for mental health both schools have hosted a variety of events and activities for students promoting mental health awareness The week culminates with the two schools' boys and girls varsity basketball teams squaring off on the hardwood in front of a packed gym It's expected that 450 Finneytown students and 350 Deer Park students will be in attendance and all proceeds from ticket sales go to an organization supporting the cause Ohio — Three Tri-State school districts have made the decision to either dismiss some students early or close this week as temperatures are expected to skyrocket Lockland Schools announced on Tuesday it will close its Main Campus close for the remainder of the week following student dismissal today Staff will still report to the main campus throughout the week The building is undergoing construction and does not have air conditioning while the project is going on Finneytown High School and Oak Hills Schools are also releasing students early this week Oak Hills Local School District announced Monday morning that it will release some students early Delhi Middle School and Bridgetown Middle School will be released two hours early Tuesday through Friday But it's not just the high temperatures that make classrooms in those schools potentially unsafe Those Oak Hills buildings will release early because all three of them are either not air conditioned at all Students at Delhi Middle School and Bridgetown Middle School will be released at 12:30 p.m while Oak Hills High School will release students at 12:48 p.m School buses for the middle schools will also run on the adjusted schedule All other schools in the district are air conditioned and won't be releasing students early Finneytown Local School District also emailed parents Monday saying the secondary campus will release students early Tuesday through Friday due to the heat forecast Finneytown students in grades 7-12 will dismiss at 12:50 p.m Since Finneytown Elementary has air conditioning the district said those students will remain in class like normal Oak Hills said coaches and sponsors are communicating with students and their parents around any scheduling changes Finneytown said staff will make adjustments to outdoor activities as appropriate to ensure students are safe Lockland Local School District has hired Ryan Erkins as the new head football coach at Lockland High School Erkins brings a decade of coaching experience and a passion for youth development to the Panthers’ football program Erkins graduated from Walnut Hills High School in 2007 He earned his bachelor’s degree from Mount Saint Joseph University and later achieved a Master of Science in coaching education from Ohio University where he spent three years coaching junior high football serving as the quarterbacks coach and co-offensive coordinator at Western Hills High School for three years More: Cincinnati's football coaching carousel is still spinning; who's in, who's out so far? he took on similar roles at Finneytown High School before being promoted to assistant head coach during his last year Erkins has a strong foundation in behavioral health having worked at Best Point (formerly The Children's Home of Cincinnati) and Cincinnati Children's Hospital Partial Program in Mason His experience working with youth in various capacities has shaped his coaching philosophy “I am thrilled to join the Lockland community and lead the Panthers’ football program,” said Erkins in a press release “This is an amazing community with amazing kids full of potential waiting to be tapped I’m excited to help them grow both on and off the field.” Lockland athletic director Jon Payne said: “His passion and enthusiasm for developing students and athletes to be their best will serve our school community well We are very excited to have Coach Erkins leading the football program and look forward to watching him make his mark on the program.” Ohio (WKRC) - Residents of Finneytown will have the opportunity to learn more about the proposed development for the site of the former Whitaker Elementary School An open house is scheduled for next Monday from 5:30 p.m and provide comments before the formal zoning process begins the developer plans to apply for zoning approval of the project This story was updated to clarify a statement from the superintendent and the purpose of the change Finneytown Elementary School band and orchestra classes may be held before school hours in the 2024-25 school year a move that has raised concerns among some parents During a Finneytown Board of Education meeting Monday evening board members discussed a recent change in the elementary school's schedule that would require band and orchestra students to come one hour before school starts That would be two days a week for fifth graders and three a week for sixth graders That left some parents questioning the fairness to all the kids Superintendent Laurie Banks initially said she worked with the Finneytown Music Parents Association director of operation and the band and orchestra instructors to make the changes The superintendent later said she misspoke when she said she worked with the parents association she said she had a brief conversation with the group "This change will allow for more – and especially more uninterrupted – instruction in band and orchestra The change in scheduling is also being made so that students can attend all regular specials classes including general music," Banks wrote in an email She noted the district has had success with other similar before-school programs and that secondary school band and orchestra classes take place before school "We believe this change may encourage even more students to participate in band and orchestra and can help ease the transition from one school to another It was the superintendent's office that made the changes According to the music parents' association treasurer Amy Catanzaro it wasn't the deal music parents or teachers wanted the principal and super presented this plan to the band directors and orchestra director They expected them to present a united front "That is because it reduces equity and availability of the programs to at least a portion of the students." board member Jelicia McMullen noted equity concerns in the socioeconomically diverse district One example: some children may be responsible for getting their siblings on the bus they wouldn't be able to be a part of the before-school program Students within a mile of the school are not provided busing and they would have to cross Winton Road in the dark during rush hour leaving parents to choose between their child's benefit of being in the program and their safety Earlier transportation would be provided to the students who take the bus Catanzaro said 68 fourth graders – the entire class – are currently signed up for either band or orchestra next year Holding the class before school may rule out those children who either don't want to or can't wake up an hour earlier It also makes their school day an hour longer During the public comment portion of the meeting, Den Tenhundfeld, a product of Finneytown Local School District's music program and parent of a recent grad and current marching band student said starting the school day earlier and potentially losing an hour of sleep may be OK for high schoolers "So the theory is flawed," he told the board School board members acknowledged concerns raised by band and orchestra parents Board member James "Eddie" Reeb proposed a resolution to change that at the meeting Two board members will meet with school officials and teachers who contributed to the plan at a future meeting The state approved $30 million toward a new Finneytown middle and high school project on Thursday. This is the second phase of the district's K-12 building project after Finneytown Elementary opened to students this fall The entire project will cost nearly $48 million total. The new building will be constructed at the site of the district's current high school and will serve students in grades 7-12. Finneytown Local School District superintendent Laurie Banks said she hopes the secondary campus will open in the fall of 2025 "We are grateful to our community for their ongoing support and partnership in educating the students of Finneytown We also appreciate the funding the state has made available to support school districts in ensuring all students can learn in a safe supportive environment," Banks wrote in a Friday email to The Enquirer "Learning environments matter and impact students "I am excited to see the impact of our new spaces unfold." Finneytown opened its new elementary school District leaders boasted enhanced safety and wellness features in that building updated ventilation and space to create learning communities that promote collaboration between classrooms and grade levels The community passed a bond issue in 2019 that set Finneytown's K-12 building project into motion The entire project is co-funded by the Ohio Facilities Construction Commission with the state paying $28.6 million (60%) and the district paying $19 million (40%) The state announced funding for five school construction projects on Thursday that will result in $353 million worth of new facilities for Ohio students the state is also contributing to construction projects at Arlington Local School District in Hancock County North Canton City School District in Stark County Salem City School District in Columbiana County and Washington Local School District in Lucas County Finneytown Local School District and its building partners held a groundbreaking ceremony at the site of Brent Elementary Sunday afternoon and announced the name of its new building to open in spring 2022 as Finneytown Elementary Finneytown Elementary will be the new face of the small census-designated area in Springfield Township school board president Chad Engleman told The Enquirer.  "The new Finneytown Elementary will have a deep and positive impact on the community for years to come serving generations of families and providing quality educational opportunities for our children," Springfield Township trustee Joseph Honnerlaw said in a news release.  The $22 million, 90,000 square foot school building will serve students in grades K-6. Finneytown is also working on a building to serve 7-12 students at the site of the current Finneytown High School campus. Whitaker Elementary, currently serving students in grades 2-5, will be demolished and abated once the new buildings are open, according to the district's website The project will total more than $50 million funded by a 2019 bond issue and the Ohio Construction Commission "The current buildings have served the community well, but it is time to have new facilities," said superintendent Terri Noe. She is retiring this summer and will be replaced by current assistant superintendent Laurie Banks "The community understood that it was a better investment for the future to build new instead of trying to renovate the older facilities at a higher cost." Finneytown Schools partnered with Skanska USA and emersion Design for the project. Winton Woods City Schools also partnered with Skanska for its two new school buildings, one of which opened to 7-12 students at the end of March The new facilities were designed with enhanced safety and wellness features Finneytown Elementary principal Meredith Baker says the most "striking" feature of the new elementary school is its learning communities which offer shared spaces to promote collaboration between classrooms and grade levels school board member Cindy Rebman said modern learning spaces have been a district goal for 20 years "Today we know that students don’t learn as well seated in the same desk facing forward listening to a lecture yet our old buildings are still designed for that While the district and staff have adapted these old spaces as they could it’s not ideal and some challenges simply can’t be overcome," Rebman said Information about the second phase of the project which includes a new secondary campus for grades 7-12 CINCINNATI — Another local Cincinnati restaurant has joined the list of hot spots in the Tri-State visited by the mythical mayor of Flavortown a Caribbean soul food restaurant in Finneytown served its specialties to Guy Fieri According to a social media post made by Big Jay's Place the restaurant's episode will hit the airwaves on Friday at 9 p.m The restaurant shared a photo of a baking sheet tagged with Fieri's likeness and the phrase "Guy ate here" above the Food Network's logo The pan appeared to bear Fieri's signature While Big Jay's Place has been around the Cincinnati restaurant scene for awhile it's Finneytown location is a bit of a newer form the restaurant occupied a space on Main Street in Over-the-Rhine and was designed as a New York-style deli as the COVID-19 pandemic hit the restaurant industry hard Big Jay's Place moved to Hempstead Drive in Finneytown and rebranded as a Caribbean soul food restaurant They're the second restaurant in the Tri-State this year to garner a visit from Fieri and his crew. Earlier in April, Fieri's Camaro was spotted outside the Governor in Milford as he and his crew filmed inside Fieri has previously also visited Blue Ash Chili Pho Lang Thang and Taste of Belgium on "Triple D." Share on FacebookShare on X (formerly Twitter)Share on PinterestShare on LinkedInFINNEYTOWN OH (FOX19) - A federal lawsuit accuses a former teacher and principal in the Finneytown School District of abusing a 6-year-old special needs student who has since been diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) filed Wednesday by an attorney representing the boy and his parents alleges the district chose not to provide an education plan for him after he began attending Brent Elementary School in the 2017-2018 school year the district identified him as a student needing remedial reading instruction during his first year of kindergarten The suit names Finneytown Local School District Board of Education and two former employees at Brent Elementary School The school district released the following statement on the lawsuit: “Finneytown Local School District cannot provide any information regarding any ongoing court cases We will state that we have not been notified by any opposing counsel that a suit has been filed We are limited in what we can provide and still adhere to privacy laws The education and safety of Finneytown Local School District’s students and staff are our top priority.” We did reach out to the attorney representing the boy and his parents He says he hasn’t been given permission by his clients to speak about the lawsuit School officials claimed to have initiated Title I services for the boy’s remedial reading but either did not provide that instruction to him or stopped after a few times Staff members at Brent Elementary treated his “apparent disabilities as either inconsequential or as misbehavior requiring disciplinary measures rather than as triggering events” for them to recognize assess and develop an IEP (individualized education program) or educational aids or services necessary to provide him the FAPE (free and appropriate public education) to which he was entitled." The suit alleges the district has a pattern of treating other students in a similar manner and contends the boy was physically abused targeted in retaliation and retribution for complaints by his parents about his care and education and even says at one point his kindergarten teacher was suspended after the alleged “assault” on their son and was reportedly running around the school hallways in an effort to control the behavior of then 6-year-old .. grabbed (him) by the arm and dragged him like a rag doll 126 feet down the school hallway floor you’re hurting me!” as the (teacher) continued dragging him down the hallway floor,” the suit reads The school district’s attorney at a later disciplinary appeal hearing characterized the teacher’s conduct towards (the student) as “brazen and cavalier,” and an “egregious breach of the trust placed in her as a teacher in the District The teacher caused “physical harm resulting serious psychological or emotional harm to the student,” it states He “wet his pants that day and again that night His pediatrician later diagnosed (the student) as potentially suffering from PTSD as a result of his experiences at Brent Elementary School,” the suit reads The teacher “’herself confessed to (the boy’s mother) that this sort of thing “goes on all the time’ at Brent Elementary School and that she had witnessed Gerber similarly drag a student down the hallway floor to her office on a prior occasion,” the suit states “The Principal of Brent Elementary School immediately prior to Gerber told (the teacher) during the course of the later disciplinary action against her that if he had still been principal “this [the disciplinary action against Fiedeldey for abusing the boy] would never have happened.” the lawsuit alleges the principal abused the child He was standing in the school hallway when the principal emerged from her office into the hall “and seeming to spot (the boy) standing in the hallway and knee bucked him to the floor,” the suit reads The boy’s parents believe she “specifically targeted the 6-year-old in retaliation and retribution for complaints by (his) parents about (the teacher’s) unlawful conduct about the school policies and culture that apparently fostered and condoned such conduct and about the fact that no one reported to them what (the teacher) had done to (him) until days after the assault and battery had occurred.” No one reported the teacher’s “assault” against the boy until three days after it occurred the teacher was suspended and her students were reassigned to other kindergarten classrooms His parents questioned moving him to “an abnormally enlarged” kindergarten class with a teacher with whom they were unfamiliar Finneytown unilaterally transferred him into a first-grade class even though the district had already determined he was not prepared for that grade and was repeating kindergarten When his parents questioned that and demanded data or evidence he was ready for the first grade the district removed him from school altogether for at least three weeks His parents then demanded Finneytown make arrangements to take him back into school in an appropriately-sized class in his appropriate grade level and taught by an appropriately-qualified teacher the district put the boy in a basement room in a different school building where he would be taught several days per week by a rotating cast of teaching staff members who may or may not have been qualified to teach He “was isolated from any other school children and became increasingly saddened and depressed as a result He complained to his mother that he was lonely and didn’t have any friends And due to the lack of any set class schedule (he) fell further and further behind in his educational progress.” The boy now attends the private Bethany School at a cost to the school district Tuition at the Glendale facility costs $10,150 annually The district agreed to foot the cost for one school year in a partial settlement with the boy’s parents The district also agreed to pay for tutoring over the summer and next school year following which he could return to the district In addition to agreeing to pay for private schooling for the boy Finneytown also has agreed to pay the cost for tutoring over the summer and next school year Once the boy was enrolled in the private school he was promptly identified as a potentially disabled child and in need of special and related services He was then identified as having Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) learning disabilities in all subject areas and cognitive/intellectual/fluid reasoning disabilities Bethany School has referred the boy for assessment of speech and language impairments He is now happy and beginning to thrive at Bethany School and it would be “extremely injurious” for his mental and emotional health to be forced to return to Finneytown school system where he the suit alleges he would be denied the care and education he is entitled Finneytown Local School District's superintendent Terri Noe is retiring at the end of July and will be replaced next school year by current assistant superintendent Laurie Banks "I'm looking forward to my new role at Finneytown," Banks said in an email to The Enquirer. "As a district we are focused and excited to carry our work forward to ensure all our students are making growth academically and socially." Finneytown is a census-designated area in Springfield Township The school district serves about 1,300 students School board president Chad Engleman said Finneytown was in a "very unique positive situation" when Noe indicated earlier this year that she planned to retire to go camping with her husband full time The district already had a licensed assistant superintendent who had been with the district for four years working hand-in-hand with their current superintendent "We feel it is extremely important to continue the momentum we have built over the last five years," Engleman said.  The board is still negotiating a two-year contract for Banks The district is also in the beginning stages of a $50 million-plus building project Finneytown is partnering with the state of Ohio to build a new elementary school and middle school A groundbreaking ceremony is scheduled for Sunday at 2 p.m Noe is finishing her fifth year as superintendent at Finneytown after about 32 years in education.  Banks started in Finneytown the same year I did," Noe wrote to The Enquirer "She has been part of all critical decisions during that time She will continue the work we have begun with her own style Banks will take over as district superintendent this summer Bob Muro spent much of childhood growing up in foreign countries such as Cuba and Puerto Rico and Brazil He picked up an appreciation for soccer in the last country even before the brilliant Pele burst into prominence that’s all they talked about,” recalled Muro After graduating from Xavier University with a degree in secondary education Muro landed his first job in a Greater Cincinnati version of Brazil – Finneytown a hotbed of the Soccer Association for Youth (SAY) program When he suddenly found himself in charge of the Wildcats’ soccer program “I did a lot of studying and went to every clinic I could,” he said The confluence of Muro’s crash course in coaching and the wealth of talent trained by Finneytown’s hyperactive youth program produced in 1974 a team that captured Ohio’s first soccer state championship The Wildcats completed a dominant 18-0 season with a 2-0 win over Cleveland West Tech on Nov More: Looking back: A history of the Cincinnati Enquirer Glory Days series Soccer was so new around the state that the Ohio High School Athletic Association still wasn’t sponsoring a state-championship tournament. That was two years away. The 1974 tournament was sponsored by the state soccer coaches’ association. “When we had the soccer coaches’ association pushing it, we were trying to make it a state-sanctioned sport,” recalled Muro, a College Hill resident and volunteer assistant with the Mariemont girls soccer team. “When they finally sanctioned it, they didn’t have a tournament. We said, ‘Let’s give them a model.’ “They were not very conducive to soccer. Soccer was starting to grow in the state as a high school sport, but they were very slow trying to get that.” Finneytown was uniquely poised to capitalize on the invention of a soccer tournament. The Wildcats piled up 82 goals while allowing only six during a second consecutive 18-0 season. They beat Anderson, 4-0, at Trechter Stadium to earn a state semifinal berth against Centerville. Back at Trechter Stadium, which was located adjacent to the north of where Cincinnati Technical College is located before being demolished in 1993. Finneytown earned a trip to Dublin with a 3-0 win over the Elks. “We had a balance,” said Muro, who at 22 wasn’t much older than many of his players and could more easily identify with many of them. “We had a lot of guys who had been playing soccer for a long time and had come up through the SAY program. They were very in tune to soccer. At the time, Finneytown was one of the first areas for soccer. The kids had played for a number of years. They bought into what we were trying to do.” Doug Weinstein played in the SAY program, but decided to try football in high school before returning to soccer. “He was outstanding,” Muro said. “He was one of the main reasons we were so successful, but it took a lot of people. We had a great balance of kids,” Doug Weinstein made 11 saves in the championship match, three fewer than the 14 he logged against Centerville, but he told the Enquirer that McVey contributed as much on defense as he did on offense. “I’d have to give him the star of the game,” Doug Weinstein said. “Chris played exceptionally well. He saved two sure shots by himself. I couldn’t have gotten the shutout without him.” Like Doug Weinstein, McVey played other sports at Finneytown before delving into soccer. “I wasn’t doing anything during the fall, and my track and basketball coaches thought it would be a good idea to play soccer just to stay in shape,” he told the Enquirer. “It was something to do to fill my time. I wasn’t expecting to start or anything.” Finneytown was more than ready when the OHSAA started sponsoring post-season tournaments in 1976. The Wildcats squeezed past Anderson, 2-1, in a district championship match – the equivalent of today’s regional championship match. Tony Chellow scored the only goal off an assist from Rick Payne and goalkeeper Greg Deutsch came up with a shutout in a 1-0 state-semifinal win over Centerville, setting up a state-championship match against Brecksville at Worthington High School. Mike Stevens scored two unassisted goals and Deutsch came up with yet another shutout in a 2-0 Wildcats’ win. Glory Days is a regular feature of Enquirer Media celebrating key moments, personalities and teams in Cincinnati’s rich prep sports history. Send your story ideas to mlaughman@enquirer.com. This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks. The action you just performed triggered the security solution. There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase, a SQL command or malformed data. You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked. Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page. Based in a suburb of Chicago, Tim Burke covers hardware stores and retailing. He enjoys reading, trying out coffee shops and taking walks by the ocean with his wife, Ann. Great Lakes Ace Hardware opens its newest Cincinnati-area store in the Finneytown neighborhood of Springfield Township “Finneytown is a growing and vibrant community We are excited to open a store there and become a valued employer and helpful neighbor,” said Joe Jeffries the parent company of Great Lakes Ace Hardware The company hosts a grand opening event and sale November 3-5 The weekend’s events will also be an opportunity for the community to meet Otto Neff we are eager to show our new customers how we live the Ace Helpful Promise every day by delivering reliable service and the products they need to get their projects done right,” said Joe Jeffries The store will sell lawn and garden supplies and offer services such as automotive key cutting and fob replacement and propane tank exchange It will also feature several specialty departments and store-within-a-store concepts There will be a ceremonial chain cutting on Nov Founded in 1946 and headquartered in Farmington Hills Great Lakes Ace has been part of the Ace Hardware Cooperative since 2014 and operates three other locations in the greater Cincinnati area in Florence Cincinnati's premiere Greek festival is finally returning to the Queen City this summer.  The 47th annual Panegyri Greek Festival, put on by the Holy Trinity-St Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church in Finneytown Ready to experience the Panegyri Greek Festival once again Panegyri, pronounced (Pan-ee-ghear-ee), loosely translates to "festival for everyone," according to St and children 12 and under are free. A portion of admission costs is donated to the Freestore Foodbank and the Good Shepherd Food Pantry with the exception of trained service animals.  Here are the hours for the festival:  Free parking and a shuttle bus service will be available from St The festival itself will take place at Holy Trinity-St 7000 Winton Road in Finneytown.  you have options to eat and drink either indoors or outdoors Food and drink inside the main hall: Food and drink available outside: Greek Chicken: Seasoned with a blend of Mediterranean spices and lemon and then baked to perfection.Moussaka: Layered potatoes eggplant and seasoned sauteed ground beef topped with a rich bechamel sauce.Pastitsio: Layers of macaroni seasoned sautéed ground beef and imported cheese, covered with a rich bechamel sauce.Tiropita: Filo dough wrapped in the shape of a triangle filled with a savory blend of cheeses.Spanakopita: Similar to tiropita, but with the addition of spinach to the cheese filling.Side dinner dishes: Things to do at the Panegyri Greek FestivalIn addition to all the food available to try, the festival is also offering a few ways to experience Greek culture.  Just off the main lobby area next to the community center is a cultural exhibit through the church's Greek language school centered around three figures and their contributions to civilization: Pericles Alexander the Great and Constantine the Great The exhibit also includes contributions to contemporary Greek Culture traditional costumes and information on the Greek language school There are also free church tours available: Any food and drink should be left at the entrance Interested in learning how to create Greek dishes The Panegyri Greek Festival is offering numerous cooking demonstrations follow the signs from the main hall into the classroom wing.  CINCINNATI (WKRC) - Some ears are still ringing over the return of The Who to Cincinnati Sunday night The concert was the band's first appearance in the city since 1979 when 11 young people were killed in the large crowd at Riverfront Coliseum There were several moments in the concert memorializing the students including a slideshow of their pictures accompanied by a piano solo three of them were students from Finneytown High School The Who asked the high school to bring students to perform with the band -- one representing each of those who lost their lives four decades prior the iconic "Baba O'Riley," featured the Finneytown students singing those famous words before 14,000 screaming fans don't say goodbye," you could hear the student chorus echo throughout TQL Stadium Local 12 spoke with three of the singers at their high school the following day “It’s very surreal,” said senior Anna Tehundfeld and junior Angelina Bush were three of just 11 students chosen to honor the students who died 43 years before That significance was not lost on the girls Nicht says it was also her very first rock concert “Just imagining that they made it out alive But it was really cool remembering them through us performing and us living through what they went through.” “It was a big responsibility to go up there and have the chance to honor these kids -- not just from our school and everyone who died that night," Bush said While these girls are two generations removed from the tragedy the PEM memorial at their school is a constant reminder for them One letter represents each of the three Finneytown students who died -- Stephan Preston “I just really hope that it helps everyone heal a little bit from what happened in 1979.” The Who annually presents three Finneytown students with a PEM college scholarship Tehundfeld was one of the recipients for 2022 The band also donated all of Sunday night's concert proceeds to PEM and other nonprofits in the area which benefit student artists Ohio — Finneytown Local Schools is mourning the loss of one of its students the district announced that Alex Harris died following a car crash in Butler County in the early morning Friday hours He was taken to the University of Cincinnati Medical Center "We are working with our building leaders to make sure we have supports in place across the district to help our students and staff members cope with this tragic loss," the district's post read Harris was a junior at Finneytown High School and was a member of the football and basketball teams Ohio — One person is dead after a wrong-way crash on Ronald Reagan Highway Wednesday morning under the overpass at Mockingbird Lane in Finneytown was driving a 2002 Honda eastbound in the westbound lanes on the highway before the crash Johnson and another driver in a 2014 Fiat crashed head-on Springfield Township police said Johnson was pronounced dead at the scene The other driver was taken to the University of Cincinnati Medical Center in serious condition Video of the crash sent to us showed one of the cars on fire and on its side The westbound lanes were closed for several hours as crews worked to move the cars and clear the lanes Ohio (WKRC) – The future is bright for students and educators in Finneytown as leaders break ground on the new $22 million dollar elementary school next to Brent Elementary Sunday ceremonial dirt tossing photos took place and teachers parents and students in the district found out what the school is going to be called -- Finneytown Elementary "It’s really exciting for our community such an incredible opportunity that we’ve been given to build a new building and celebrate with our community our staff and our students,” said Principal Meredith Baker Baker says the new school will include "learning communities" where there will be collaboration between classrooms and even between grade levels "Really an opportunity to change the way we are teaching So this new building really provides a chance for us to have students learn collaboratively and work in groups And the way our buildings are built right now we just can’t do that,” said Baker kindergarten and first graders go to Brent Elementary Students in grades second to fifth go to Whitaker Elementary Next year all of them and sixth graders will go to Finneytown elementary Jeff Smoker is a Finneytown graduate and future parent it’s been a long time coming obviously with the schools the way that they are,” said Smoker my grandparents seem like they went to the schools as well so they’ve been around for a long time so it’s exciting and fun to know that my kid and the kids around us are all going to get a new school." The new school is expected to open next spring The $22 million dollar project is largely possible thanks to voters passing a bond issue in 2019 Ohio — A group home designed to help boys and young men work through trauma opened in Finneytown on Saturday Arieanna Richardson-Hill, the founder of the nonprofit Divine 180 Residential Services hopes the new home can be a place of serenity and peace with a focus on boys and men who have experienced homelessness Richardson-Hill said she worked in group homes before where the kids leave because they are bored "A lot of the kids will go AWOL because they will lose interest in being in the home all day,” she said That's why the plan for the new group home is to have plenty of indoor and outdoor activities a punching bag downstairs," Richardson-Hill said There are even dirt bike trails in the backyard "Our goal is to really set it up in a way that the boys won't want to leave the home,” she said Treatment services and therapy will also be available to those who wish to have it “I can't help everybody," Richardson-Hill said "But what I can do is put in the effort to make the change for myself And even if that's just starting with one young man.” If you would like to support the home, you can click here Ohio (WKRC) - The green light for fall sports means a little more to one local football team That's because this season they'll be playing on a field that lowers their risk of heat-related injury Before there were masks and social distancing before there were temperature checks and bring-your-own-water jugs the risks around Finneytown football and soccer were all on the field “We’d get torrential downpours and we’d have standing puddles of water,” Gerald Warmack said Warmack is Finneytown’s athletic director and head football coach Finneytown was one of two school-owned fields in the Tri-State that still had grass The other was Harrison High which just opened a new artificial turf field last week (https://local12.com/news/local/harrison-high-school-installs-new-turf-fields-thanks-to-fundraiser-cincinnati) There are inherent risks when you play sports but there's one risk Gerald Warmack was happy with lowering: the temperature of the playing surface It's all thanks to a new popular infill for artificial turf fields called Zeolite Many artificial turf fields are made up of 50 percent rubber and 50 percent sand Finneytown's new field will be 33 percent rubber Artificial turf fields can quickly get above 100 degrees during August practices Local 12 Investigates spoke with several area athletic trainers about how they gauge how hot the weather is for football players They said they stand on the field with a wet bulb globe thermometer especially our end zones are black turf,” said Taylor athletic trainer Lauren White “So that gets even hotter when it sits out in the sun .” “I’d usually stand on the black because it’s going to be the hottest portion,” said Lakota East athletic trainer Kevin Stokes Finneytown's new field will still get hot but Warmack said the new field will not get as hot “Last year we had a game we were supposed to play away on a turf field that we had to cancel because of the turf temperature,” he said The field should be about 10-20 degrees lower than another artificial turf field “It absorbs water from the atmosphere and slowly allows the turf to cool,” Warmack said Former Western Hills head football coach Armand Tatum has a new home.  Tatum, who has also coached at Walnut Hills and Hughes, has been named the new head football coach at Finneytown.  More: Vote: Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky high school athletes of the week, May 2 More: PHOTOS: Greater Cincinnati high school sports action, May 2-8 "I am both blessed and honored to serve the historic community of Finneytown. With new opportunity comes new hurdles," Tatum said in a Facebook post Wednesday "Our program is in desperate need of two things: team meals/snacks and new video cameras If you feel led to help in any way please feel free to DM me or donate through the Donor's Choose Link I want to thank all of my extended family and supporters Tatum shared a Donors Choose fundraiser which was fully funded as of Thursday morning.  A Change.org petition started by Western Hills student Helen Dawit calling for Tatum to get his job back received nearly 4,000 signatures.  More: Former players, others speak up for Western Hills football coach released after incident Tatum replaces Mike Weiler, who was named the Finneytown head football coach in April 2021 and went 2-7 in his lone season at the helm.  Finneytown has not won more than two games in a season or had a winning campaign since a 6-4 record in 2011. Finneytown’s school district has reached a $290,000 settlement with the family of a former elementary school student who alleged she was sexually harassed by boys at school and that school staff did not respond appropriately The student said the boys' behavior escalated to “sexually suggestive gestures,” showing her pornography and one boy sexually assaulting her a school resource officer was informed but said "he did not think that the boy grinding his genitals on (her) body qualified as an assault," according to court documents A federal lawsuit filed in 2018 said the harassment began the previous year when the girl was in fifth grade the girl first told a teacher that the boys were making her uncomfortable with crude sexual jokes and “threats of unwanted touching.” The teacher "mimicking oral sex" and showing her pornographic images and videos One teacher recorded the incidents but never acted The girl also reported the boys to a school counselor and a school resource officer but court documents say the harassment – including threats of unwanted touching – “continued daily.” The documents accuse the counselor and school resource officer of not taking any action The Enquirer obtained a copy of the settlement Thursday from the Finneytown Local School District through a public records request the girl’s mother received an anonymous email via a Gmail account from “Fin Catspride," according to a copy of the email provided to The Enquirer in part: “If she was so sick and anxiety ridden to attend our school then she should have left completely We walked on eggshells while all of you stayed to collect a few dimes Now you get to leave disappointed that it didn’t work out said in a statement: “It’s clear from this email that (the Finneytown school district) remains an unsafe environment where top-level administrators refuse to take sexual harassment and bullying seriously but instead send the victim’s parents outrageously callous emails that are deeply troubling and hurtful.” Allen declined to comment on the settlement Superintendent Laurie Banks vehemently denied that she "had any involvement with the anonymous email message." "I am deeply saddened and disturbed that the student’s family received such a hurtful message," Banks said "The district is doing everything in its power to assist in the discovery of the anonymous sender If the sender is identified to be a district employee the district will take appropriate disciplinary action to address the conduct as it in no way aligns with the values of our district." Banks declined to comment on the settlement but said in a statement that the district has trained in Title IX the federal law that addresses sexual harassment in education and that extensive information regarding Title IX is shared on the district’s website Finneytown schools did not admit any violations of law or of any student’s rights The district also denied “all such allegations made by the now-former student and her family.” the girl also reported the boys to another teacher who may have spoken with the same school resource officer “The harassment only worsened after the talk,” according to the documents The girl and her friends again reported the boys to the teacher the school convened a meeting with the entire sixth grade for a discussion about sexual harassment “You want this,” while thrusting his hips at the girl court documents say – after the girl’s mother tried to call the school’s principal – one of the boys approached the girl and "rubbed himself against her.” Allegation 'brushed aside'According to court documents: The girl again went to tell the school resource officer and found another officer who “brushed aside” the allegation and suggested that the boy simply “liked” her The girl’s mother called the school and left several voicemails the school resource officer called and said there had been several reports about the boy “but that he did not think that the boy grinding his genitals on (her) body qualified as an assault.” The girl then met with a school official in his office gave the girl the option to either report the harassment anonymously or sign a “cease-and-desist order.” the girl and the boys were forbidden to have contact with each other and weren’t allowed to tell other students about the agreement But as soon as the girl went back to class the boys told their friends and continued harassing the girl The lawsuit said the girl had anxiety and suffered panic attacks the girl and her family met with the school’s principal and other officials including a social worker One suggestion at the meeting was to have the girl and the boys “talk it out,” court documents say refused to tell the girl and her parents if any of the boys had been disciplined and she was hospitalized for more than a week The girl continued to have anxiety and panic attacks at the start of seventh grade in August 2018 The concrete bench in Finneytown depicts a guitar with the message "My Generation" just below it In the background are plaques with the faces of three teenagers Bricks in the plaza around the bench carry eight other names All 11 were killed in a frantic stampede of people trying to get into the British rock band The Who's concert on Dec Finneytown suffered disproportionately and its three losses included the two youngest victims Their schoolmates say well over 100 other people from Finneytown were there everywhere you go around here," said Fred Wittenbaum who was a freshman at Finneytown High School then but did not attend the concert or they had a friend or a family member who was there." many living in ranch-style homes built years before the concert which was already well on the way to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame with such hits as "Won't Get Fooled Again," "Can't Explain," and "My Generation," an anthem of rebellious youth Most of the blame afterward focused on the first-come first-served arrangement for seating that saw thousands of fans line up for hours ready to charge toward the coveted floor spots and on confusion over and lack of preparation for when the doors were opening Frontman Roger Daltrey and guitarist Pete Townshend say they have struggled emotionally over the years with the concert carnage which they didn't know about until their show was ending it wouldn't have happened,' you know," Daltrey said during an unpublicized visit last year to the Finneytown memorial site More: Why was The Who's Roger Daltrey in Finneytown? To pay his respects "It took a long time for us to get a sense that this was not just about the 11 kids it was about the community," Townshend told The Associated Press in a recent interview in New York The sad stories and traumatic memories among Finneytown alums evolved three decades later into a plan to memorialize their friends John Hutchins was playing an acoustic set at a nearby venue in December 2009 and dedicated songs such as The Who's "Love Ain't For Keeping" to those who died at the concert Hutchins was at The Who concert; he skipped school that day got to the coliseum nearly seven hours early to be among the first in line and got close enough to the stage to see The Who's song list approached Hutchins after his performance with a thought that "we should do something." The thought soon grew into the memorial bench They joined with Wittenbaum and Walt Medlock — who remembers being pressed tightly against Preston before making the possibly life-saving decision to work his way out of the crowd — to create the P.E.M using the last-name initials of their three schoolmates "We wanted to take what was a terrible tragedy and try and turn it into something that could be looked at as good," Wittenbaum explained the scholarships reward three Finneytown students with $5,000 each for the study of music or any other arts Auctions and raffles at an annual December show featuring music by alumni at the school's performing arts center help pay for the scholarships making an exclusive DVD for showing at that year's benefit with comments from the band about the tragedy and new concert footage Wittenbaum drove Daltrey from a private airstrip near Dayton to view the Finneytown memorials that include artwork personal items and photos of the three in a Who-donated display case Daltrey also met with relatives of those killed and with fans who attended the concert "It's been a really cathartic process for everybody," Wittenbaum said guitars and other items have been sold online leaders' next goal is to see Daltrey and Townshend perform in Cincinnati for the first time since the deadly concert Townshend said the band plans to return to Cincinnati after a 40th anniversary documentary featuring interviews with Daltrey and Townshend airs on WCPO-TV in Cincinnati moved to Finneytown several years ago and soon learned about the pain the community has felt She said she is "very grateful" for the fund that will help her study fashion and design "It's heartbreaking to know that I'm the same age as many of them," she said "I get to do the things that I want to be doing Associated Press writer John Carucci contributed from New York Follow Dan Sewell at https://www.twitter.com/dansewell and upbeat and motivating enough to take you through a workout or to the “Jeopardy” championship Santino Corleon is making hip-hop records suitable for a ride through the streets of Cincinnati It turns out it’s the same 39-year-old rapper a graduate of Finneytown High School making different tunes under slightly different names for different platforms Santino signed a record deal with 83 Sound a Los Angeles label with a content-provider specialty Santino’s single “GOAT” was used in ads for the 2020 television game-show special “Jeopardy The Greatest of All Time.” “Monday Night Football” used his single “Notorious” last season [ Miss a day, miss a lot ... Subscribe to Cincinnati.com ] who splits time between an apartment in Los Angeles and a home in Cincinnati explained how he’s making things happen in the commercial world of music while still pursuing hip-hop dreams my mom got it from “The Godfather.” She said she saw “The Godfather” and told herself when she had her first son Q: James Caan in “The Godfather.” The best A: I went to the Institute of Audio Research in Manhattan I really started writing in New York and doing rap battles on prominent streets in New York City because I was young and dumb and doing a bunch of wild stuff And then I moved to Staten Island and started getting into drugs and that’s when my real music career started Q: Was Cincinnati at that time a good place to get a rap career going I was doing shows with local promotion companies who would book big artists They would put me on right before the main act I was the first one around here doing that Bringing a cameraman and pushing my own content online These are all things I picked up on in New York City More: This Newport home once housed a cougar, a brothel, a Mexican restaurant. Now a rock star and his family Q: Do any of those shows stand out in your memory A: I opened up for MGK (Machine Gun Kelly) on Fountain Square in 2011 and they didn’t tell me until I showed up That’s a lot of time.” So I’m like And I think it was the first time my mom ever came to a big show like that. By this time I’ve got a pretty good following locally so a lot of kids in the crowd know my music “I didn’t really know they knew the words to the songs my mother understood what I had been fighting for all those years Q: What happened between then and your recent deal I was 34 at the time my now-wife became pregnant I didn’t want to put a kid in a situation where I’m having a bad month So I put the music stuff on the backburner and got a job in a factory in Kentucky driving a forklift “I don’t know if I can do this for the next 30 years,” and she said and go back to doing music.” And it just woke me back up I had an entire album sitting in my computer so I released that project and about three weeks later and so everything just kind of kicked back off Q: Are you going by Santino or Santino Corleon these days A: I have my own record label called Mad Circle Music Group because it’s all commercial and marketing music I just kind of pull back the edgier stuff and drop that on my Santino Corleon platform Q: There’s a theme of perseverance in the song “GOAT.” Is that related to your journey A: That’s exactly the kind of vibe they’re pushing for me I definitely used my personal story as the muse More: Jeremy Pinnell gets Rolling Stone attention for 'Joey' cover he recorded on his phone Q: How did “GOAT” end up on the “Jeopardy” commercial the third-largest music publisher in the world We just signed with them earlier this year which will make our stuff go out everywhere they used “GOAT” on CBS’ “The NFL Today.” Les Mills used “GOAT” and “Notorious” for something last year “We need this type of music for this type of project.” We supply it Q: This career upswing is happening during the pandemic and the pandemic happened immediately after that We had a whole bunch of music already recorded But in the sense that I haven’t been able to tour all of 2020 and three months into 2021 now We have a lot of stuff in line that’s gonna take care of that as far as being on shows and touring I’ve just been preparing physically and mentally for once the world opens back up More: He was Eddie Van Halen's guitar tech, now there's a GoFundMe to save his home Springfield Township will cut the ribbon Saturday on Warder Nature Preserve in Finneytown The former tree nursery was the subject of a public campaign to "Keep Warder Wild" after township trustees planned to transform the property into a mixed-use development "It gives me chills just even talking about it," says Tracy Fryburger, one of the founding members of Keep Warder Wild "When I went back there a month ago to see what they've done I'm astonished at the amount of time and money they've put into it to do it absolutely up-right for the community and everybody in the surrounding area that wants to use the preserve." RELATED: Volunteers are rallying to preserve a hidden wetland in Mt. Healthy Township trustees unveiled the preserve about a year ago outlining improvement plans for the property Since then a lot has been done to cleanup the park and installing a half-mile paved walking trail "This is just phase one," says Springfield Township Trustee Kristie Dukes Davis "In future phases the township will cut in natural trails It's going to be just an area that residents can enjoy and just maintain the green infrastructure of our township." The 54-acre preserve is tucked away between Winton and North Bend roads in Finneytown but that didn't stop avid walkers and hikers from wearing walking paths through the overgrowth over the years It gives off the feel of a gem hidden amongst a stand of old The township used $400,000 in American Rescue Plan funds to clear the brush and dredge and combine what were two small ponds into one large one RELATED: Women In Government: A conversation between Kristie Dukes Davis and Victoria Parks and hopefully we can have future events (like) our Arts Connect program — they hold classes and so hopefully we can bring some of those classes down to water — and have new classes Fryburger says humans and animals appear to approve of the preserve "The wildlife that's come back after all the transition .. There's actually very friendly deer back there that have found their way back Turtles are back; fish are back in the lake that they consolidated from two ponds into one Geese — it used to be that you'd have a couple of geese — and now other ones are migrating through there now It's a wonderful little pocket park that has preserved the history of over 100 years." the Cincinnati Park Board acquired it in 1929 a former Cincinnati Parks superintendent and the son of John Warder The city used the Warder Nursery to raise trees for Cincinnati parks Eventually that became too costly and the city cut back to just using the greenhouses for flowers The land grew wild and the city of Cincinnati sold the property to Springfield Township in March 2000 The city still owns a greenhouse adjacent to the park which it uses to grow plants for Krohn Conservatory The township's original plan called for keeping it a park which is how neighbors had been using it for years That idea was eventually rejected because the township couldn't come up with the funds RELATED: Butler County wants input on new park, Davidson Woods A master developer hired by Springfield Township proposed the multi-use development plan in 2015 Members of Keep Warder Wild immediately opposed the plan they didn't like the developer's piecemeal plan so they let the contract run out and the property remained as it was for several years trustees returned to the idea of turning the property into a park The decision was made to create a nature preserve The ribbon cutting is 10 a.m Parking is available at the former Whitaker Elementary School on Winton Road has offered to host a small tour afterward Cincinnati is getting typecast: The Queen City will stand in for New York City in yet another major motion picture this year of "Pulp Fiction" and "Saturday Night Fever" fame will star as the title character in “The Life and Death of John Gotti,” a biopic on the life of New York mob boss The Golden Globe-winning actor's real-life wife best known for his role as talent manager Eric Murphy in the “Entourage” franchise A day before filming began on July 25 in Finneytown Travolta was spotted at a Cincinnati Reds game "We are thrilled to welcome the cast and crew of ‘The Life and Death of John Gotti’ to Cincinnati," Kristen Erwin Schlotman executive director of the Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky Film Commission “This is just one of many productions we expect to take advantage of the state’s revised Motion Picture Tax Credit giving producers more incentive to use our area’s unique architecture and pool of talented actors and crew.”  "Gotti" is produced by Beverly Hills-based production company Emmett/Furla Oasis Films in association with Fiore Films Lionsgate Premiere is set to distribute in 2017 “The city proved to be a great character in ‘Marauders,’ and we wanted that grittiness and substance into ‘Gotti’ and have it become part of the storyline,” Randall Emmett CEO of Emmett/Furla Oasis Films and the film’s producer Connolly has been spotted around town on social media recently with fans posting images with the director at Downtown hotspots like Bru Burger Bar and Jeff Ruby's Steakhouse found exactly where the filming was taking place: Cottonwood Drive and Thunderbird Avenue behind Finneytown Kroger Producers are looking for cars from the 1970s through 1990s Those interested in having their vehicle in the movie should send a photo of the vehicle with the year Anyone interested in being an extra on the film should send a headshot and contact information to gottiextras@gmail.com Finneytown High School coach Gerald Warmack coached a team with the longest-losing streak in Ohio Finneytown led Gallatin County 13-8 at halftime it was not only the longest halftime of any Finneytown players' career but enough time to worry Warmack that his players might lose their motivation or focus To celebrate players doused their coach with Gatorade and rang a victory bell to celebrate an occasion they originally began Friday Warmack said it's nice to move forward.  losing," he said. "You can't seem to get over that hump I feel good for the kids who have been here for four years and who have suffered through that But they bought into what we're trying to teach them Warmack joined Finneytown last season and said he and his coaching staff began putting things in place back in January 2017 By no means is the win the final objective but it could be a turning point for the the Wildcats.  More: Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky high school football scores: Week 2 D'Shon Feaster had 10 carries for 160 yards while Darrion Thomas ran for two touchdowns and 120 yards on seven carries the Wildcats returned two fumble recoveries for touchdowns "It feels good," Warmack said. "I came from Shroder and we were winning a lot over there but I feel good for the kids who had to suffer through that long losing streak We came in with a plan starting in January 2017 and what you’re starting to see is that plan coming to fruition." the Finneytown coaches reviewed the first half and tried to implement a game plan for the remaining 24 minutes The second-year head coach said the main feelings during the weekend were "nervousness and trepidation." He joked that while everyone else was out on picnics he and the Wildcats had to finish their game and progress the focus is on beating Middletown Christian later this week.  but we still have eight more games and there’s a lot more wins we can possibly get on the schedule,'" Warmack said the 8-year-old Finneytown boy who went into cardiac arrest on a cruise ship in the Bahamas Jan has returned to Whitaker Elementary School for half days beginning today The third-grader had a cardioverter defibrillator implant Jan 8 at Nicklaus Children’s Hospital in Miami he visited a few minutes with students at his school Sarah Anderson, Noah’s mother, posted the update on her Facebook page with pictures of the boy making a muscle in front of a “NOAH STRONG” sign at Whitaker Elementary Another photo shows him being embraced by students at the school and the feeling was definitely mutual!” his mom said She’s the children's pastor at Vineyard Church Northwest in Colerain Township “Hopefully Noah will start with half days (today) and full school days sometime next week.” “Aww I bet he’s ready to get back into his daily routine,” said Missy Michelle Jent of Cincinnati SUPPORT LOCAL JOURNALISM: Subscribe now for access to all our coverage who is from Finneytown and lives in Morrow, said “How awesome And this from Tim Dunn of Cincinnati: “God is good.” More: 8-year-old son of Finneytown school principal recovering after cardiac arrest More: Cruise ship passengers flood Noah Anderson's family with love More: Noah Anderson third family member to get heart-helping implant More: Finneytown paramedic did CPR on daughter, grandson - 25 years apart CINCINNATI — A school bus and a car collided Tuesday morning on Eastbound Ronald Reagan near the Galbraith Road exit just west of I-75 in Finneytown The bus was being operated by the Northwest Local School District A spokesperson for the district said only one student was on the bus at the time of the crash The district isn't aware of any injuries on the bus It is unclear if there are any injuries in the other vehicle The state of Ohio has approved $30 million toward a new middle and high school in the Finneytown district The Cincinnati Enquirer reports that the middle/high school is the second phase of Finneytown's K-12 building project The entire project will cost nearly $48 million The new building will be constructed at the site of the district's existing high school and will serve students in grades seven to 12 Finneytown superintendent Laurie Banks said she hopes the secondary campus will open in the fall of 2025 Finneytown voters approved a $27.9 million bond issue in 2019 that set the K-12 building project into motion The project is co-funded by the Ohio Facilities Construction Commission Skanska USA and Emersion Design/Fanning-Howey are Finneytown's design partners for the K-12 project Mike Kennedy has been writing about education for American School & University since 1999 He also has reported on schools and other topics for The Chicago Tribune The Kansas City Times and City News Bureau of Chicago He is a graduate of Michigan State University a select group of students at Finneytown High School has been practicing Those walking down the halls can hear them quietly singing teenage wasteland" — the refrain from The Who's smash hit The kids —seven singing and three playing string instruments — will perform with the Rock and Roll Hall of Famers at their historic concert May 15 at TQL Stadium in Cincinnati "I definitely am going to be nervous," said Anna Tenhunfeld Tenhunfeld is a senior who was recently awarded a PEM scholarship to study the arts at Mount St That scholarship was set up by Finneytown alums wanting to honor the three students who died outside the Who concert in 1979: Stephan Preston so she's heard the stories about what happened on Dec She knows The Who has never returned to Cincinnati since then And she knows that she and her fellow performers are almost exactly the same age as those who died 42 years ago "I have no doubt it's going to be emotional," Tenhunfeld said The song chosen happens to be her favorite song from The Who Tenhunfeld said she plays it on repeat on her phone some of the other kids who will perform with her are not as well-versed in The Who's music had never heard of the band when she was told she'd been given the honor of performing with them so confused because I had no idea who The Who was," Adams said said while The Who hadn't been in his playlist before he knew who they were and had just learned about legendary rock bands at school "(I'm told) 'You guys are gonna sing with The Who!'" "So probably going to step out on that stage And I'm just going to go with it from there." They know they have only a small role in the entire concert