MasonBuzz.com

Kevin Goheen reports:

More than 3,000 athletes total are expected to take part in Saturday’s Mason Cross Country Invitational at Corwin Nixon Park, adjacent to the high school, in what organizers say is one of the largest meets in Ohio.

The highlight of the day will be the four high school varsity races over the 3.1-mile course that will challenge runners with a combination of rolling fields, steep hills and a creek jump. Teams will be able to enter up to 10 runners, with the top five scoring.

The first race, the girls’ Division I race, is scheduled for 9 a.m. and features seven teams ranked in the top 16 of this week’s Ohio coaches’ state poll, including Nos. 1-2 Mason and Beavercreek, going up against nationally-ranked Carmel (Ind.).

Three of the top four teams in this week’s Enquirer Division I poll (Mason, No. 2 Sycamore and No. 4 Ursuline) are in the field. Sycamore senior Sam Siler and sophomore teammate Rosie Menyhert should be among the top individuals along with Mason’s Lauren Wood and Ursuline’s Christine Frederick.

The Division II girls race follows at 9:45 features six of the top eight teams from the Enquirer’s DII-III poll. Indian Hill and Wyoming are ranked 1-2 locally, while No. 4 Ross, No. 5 Mariemont, No. 6 New Richmond and No. 8 Taylor are also in the field.

The boys’ Division I race (10:30) has St. Xavier, Mason, Elder, Sycamore, Oak Hills, La Salle and Anderson — all teams ranked in this week’s Enquirer coaches’ poll — going up against a field that will include traditional Indiana power Lawrence North, Centerville and Dublin Coffman from Dayton and Columbus.

St. X and Mason are ranked Nos. 1 and 3, respectively, in the first state coaches poll but St. Xavier is expected to run its top team at the Tiffin Carnival on Saturday, holding off an early season showdown.

The Division II race (11:00) has locally-ranked No. 2 Mariemont, No. 3 Wyoming, No. 4 Indian Hill, No. 5 New Richmond, No. 8 Batavia and No. 10 McNicholas in the field as well as Covington Catholic, the No. 3-ranked team in the Enquirer’s Northern Kentucky poll. Mariemont was third at last year’s state Division III meet and is attempting to back up that performance this season.

Posted in: Fall sports, Sports |

Tags: Tags: comets, corwin m. nixon park, cross country, indian hill, invitational, lauren wood, mariemont, mason, mason cross country invitational, mason high school, meet, sports, st. xavier, sycamore, ursuline, wyoming

Summer is heating up in Mason.  Near-record temperatures are expected on Thursday, with forecasters calling for a high of around 101 degrees.  No worries.  Here are eight ways to beat the heat in Mason without clinging to your AC unit.

Mason Community Center
6050 Mason-Montgomery Road, 513-229-8555, www.imaginemason.org

Cool off at the Mason Community Center’s indoor pools.  The center offers a leisure pool complete with water playground, spray geysers, lazy river/vortex, tot slide and a twisting, three-story water flume slide or swim laps in the center’s 25-meter by 25-yard competition pool.  The center also offers a wide array of aquatic fitness programs and swim lessons after which you can relax in its 5,900-gallon whirlpool.   Three levels of membership are offered: Basic memberships begin at $52 for adults, with family discounts available.  Or purchase a day pass at $20 for adults and $10 youth/seniors.

Lou Eves Municipal Pool
Corwin M. Nixon Park, 6249 Mason-Montgomery Road, 513-229-8553, www.imaginemason.org

Even though it may be a scorcher outside, you’re sure to stay cool at the Lou Eves Municipal Pool.  Amenities at the recently upgraded city pool include a climbing wall, water slide, baby pool, children’s play area and snack bar.  Regular resident passes are $73 adults; $45 youth and senior citizens and $128 for families.  Daily resident admission is $5.50 adults and $4.50 youth and seniors.  Additional cost for non-residents, with special prices available for people who work in Mason but don’t live there.  Children ages 3 and under are free.  Daily pass rates are discounted 50 percent after 5 p.m.

Kings Island
6300 Kings Island Drive, 513-754-5700, www.visitkingsisland.com

Dive into the fun at Kings Island’s all new and expanded Soak City water park.  The $10 million expansion doubles the water park’s size to 33 acres and features new amenities and attractions, including a 650,000-gallon wave pool, sand volleyball courts, three times more chairs and open grass for lounging.  Or stay cool on one of KI’s 13 thrill rides.    Soak City is included in the cost of park admission.  Season passes start at $99.99 for adults and $72.99 for juniors; daily admission available for $36.99 for adults and $32.99 for children (online only).

Great Wolf Lodge
2501 Great Wolf Drive, 513-459-8885, www.greatwolf.com

You’re sure to keep your cool in this 84-degree indoor water park, which features 93,000 square feet of indoor entertainment space.  Attractions include the 79,000-square-foot Bear Track Landing water park, with 12 waterslides, six pools and 100 lifeguards; more than 100 video games in the resort arcade; four restaurants and cafes and nightly fireside storytimes.  The park is open to registered guests; standard suite prices begin at $229.99.

Mason Public Library
200 Reading Road, 513-398-2711, www.masonpl.lib.oh.us

Looking for a free way to beat the heat?  Check out the Mason Public Library.  Chill out in the library’s air conditioning with a good book or take park in one of the library’s programs for adults and children.  Adult programs include reading programs, discussion groups and Whole Foods classes.  Children can take part in weekly story times, games, summer reading programs or read to a therapy dog.  All programs are free and open to the public.

Regal Cinemas
5500 Deerfield Blvd., 513-770-0964, www.regmovies.com

Grab some friends and popcorn and check out one of the summer’s blockbuster hits at Regal Cinemas in Deerfield Township.  Movie theaters always crank up the air-conditioning (you may even need a light sweater), so going should keep you out of the sun for at least two hours and keep you nice and cool.  Ticket prices range from $7.50 for matinee showings to $10 for evening showings.

Tucker’s Whippy Dip
127 East Main Street, 513-459-7966.

This popular ice cream shop has had many incarnations throughout its more than 50-year history, but pleasing crowds has remained a constant.  Nothing says summertime like biting into a creamy mound of soft serve covered with sprinkles or a hard chocolate shell  Vanilla, chocolate, strawberry . . . it’s all good.

Graeter’s
5076 Natorp Blvd., 513-339-0140, www.graeters.com

Dig into summer with a cone or sundae at this Cincinnati-based ice cream parlor chain.  Graeter’s, which is popular for such irresistible flavor combinations like Elena’s Blueberry Pie and Buckeye Blitz, recently released the first of two mystery flavors slated for 2012: Cake Batter Fudge Brownie.   Or try some of the chain’s handmade chocolates and confections or baked goods.  Bon appétit.

Posted in: Community, News |

Tags: Tags: amusement park, aquatics, corwin m. nixon park, deerfield township, graeters, great wolf lodge, heat, ice cream, indoor waterpark, kings island, lou eves municipal pool, mason, mason community center, mason public library, parlor, pool, regal cinemas, soak city, tucker's whippy dip, water, water slide, weather

The Mason Sunshine Concert series kicks off July 15 at Corwin M. Nixon Park.

The six-week “On the Road Musical Journey” series features free weekly concerts at different venues in the city.  All concerts start at 6 p.m.

My Sister Sarah will perform ’90s favorites at the July 15 concert.  Admission to the Lou Eves Municipal Pool is half off after 5 p.m.

Here’s the concert schedule:

July 22: Midnight Special (’70s and ’80s music)
Golf Center at Kings Island, 6042 Fairway Drive, Mason

July 29: Ground Floor (’70s music)
211 Kings Mills Road, Mason

Aug. 5: Aftermath (’60s music)
Mason Municipal Center, 6000 Mason-Montgomery Road, Mason

Aug. 12: Parrots of the Caribbean (Jimmy Buffet tribute band)
Corwin M. Nixon Park, 6249 Mason-Montgomery Road, Mason

Aug. 19: JAB (cover rock band)
Mason Municipal Center, 6000 Mason-Montgomery Road, Mason

Food and refreshments will be available for purchase at each venue and each concert will feature an “interactive” intermission.  Attendees are encouraged to bring lawn chairs or blankets.

For more information, call the City of Mason at 513-229-8500 or go to www.imaginemason.org.

Posted in: Community, Events, Recreational events |

Tags: Tags: aftermath, city of mason, concert, corwin m. nixon park, free, ground floor, jab, lou eves pool, mason, midnight special, music, my sister sarah, parrots of the caribbean, sunshine concert series

The Fourth of July fireworks show will go on in Mason, thanks to a grassroots effort of Mason residents and business owners.

The Mason fireworks show will take place at 10 p.m. Monday, July 4 at Corwin Nixon Park, 6249 Mason-Montgomery Road.

When budget concerns fizzled the City of Mason’s annual “Red, Rhythm and Boom” Independence Day celebration, community members stepped up.

“We like to have a patriotic presentation on the Fourth of July and we felt horrible that they could not have a fireworks show,” said Ken Shaner, director of marketing at Prestige Fireworks.

Employees of the Mason business rallied local businesses and residents to raise the $20,000 needed to put on a show.

They launched a website at www.savemasonfireworks.org and a Facebook page to drum up support.

The scaled-down version won’t include the big-name entertainers the city’s “Red, Rhythm and Boom” has attracted in the past, but snack vendors will be on-hand and organizers have planned a “really cool show,” said Shaner.

“We’re planning a very strong show for the city,” he said.  “We feel that it will certainly be worth the time of Mason residents and anybody else to come see the show.  We always try to put something different and spectacular in there and something the public hasn’t seen before.”

A strong sense of community and patriotism inspired Shaner and members of the company to ensure Mason’s fireworks wouldn’t be a dud, he said.

The business, launched earlier this year, has about 20 employees, many of whom live in Mason and several who live on same block.

“We really value the city that we live in and to us, fireworks is a great way to spend the Fourth,” said Shaner.

Donations are still being accepted.  For more information or to donate, go to www.savemasonfireworks.org.

Posted in: Uncategorized |

Tags: Tags: city of mason, corwin m. nixon park, fireworks, fourth of july, independence day, july 4, mason, red rhythm and boom

Budget concerns have fizzled Mason’s annual “Red, Rhythm and Boom” Independence Day celebration.

In the past, the popular event attracted well-known musical acts, including Huey Lewis And The News in 2009.

“The decision to cancel the July 3 event was made during the budget process for 2011,” said City Manager Eric Hansen. “It is one of many cutbacks made as part of the city’s ongoing efforts to preserve basic services,” he said.

The action was part of council’s approval of the city’s 2011 budget at its Dec. 13 council meeting.

One Mason resident has stepped up with hopes of rekindling the spirit of the event.

Mason resident Kevin Shew, president of Prestige Fireworks in Mason, is planning a scaled-down version this year on July 4 at Corwin Nixon Park. Shew said this year there will not be any bands and just snack vendors. The fireworks display won’t be as grand either.

“The fireworks display itself is going to be scaled back unless we get some more support between now and then,” he said.

For information or to support the effort, go to www.savemasonfireworks.org.

Posted in: Board of Trustees, Community, Events, News |

Tags: Tags: corwin m. nixon park, fireworks, fourth of july, independence day, july 4, kevin shrew, mason, prestige fireworks, red rhythm and bom, save mason fireworks

The Lou Eves Municipal Pool at Corwin N. Nixon Park will open Memorial Day weekend.

The outdoor community pool offers a climbing wall, water slide, baby pool, children’s play area and snack bar, among other amenities.

Pool hours are noon to 8 p.m. May 28-30.  The pool will open daily on June 4 through Aug. 21 and on weekends through Labor Day.

Pool admission is included for Community Center Premier pass-holders. Community Center Basic members receive a 20 percent discount on outdoor pool passes.

Regular resident passes are $71 adults; $44 youth and senior citizens and $124 for families.  Non-resident cost is $153 adults; $93 youth and senior citizens and $312 for families.   Special rates are also available for Mason business employees and their families.

Daily resident admission is $5 adults and $4 youth and seniors; non-resident daily rates are $8 adults and $6.75 for children and seniors.  Children ages 3 and under are free.  Daily pass rates are discounted 50 percent after 5 p.m.

The park is at 6249 Mason-Montgomery Road.  For more information, call the City of Mason at 513-229-8500.

Posted in: Arts & Entertainment, Community, News |

Tags: Tags: city of mason, corwin m. nixon park, lou eves municipal pool, mason, swim, swimming