MasonBuzz.com

Polly Campbell reports:

Ever been to the Jersey shore? Then you know about Italian ice.  The sorbet-like treat is the signature treat of summer on the boardwalk. Now Mason has an Italian ice store–and it’s not even summer yet.

ICE ‘N EZ opened about a week ago in  Mason  across from the Public Library and the public square.  The owners are Ira and Debbie Harbatkin, recent transplants from New Jersey. They came here for a job, but opened the store because they missed one of their favorite flavors of home.  “So many of our friends who are East Coast transplants told us how much they missed Italian ice,” said Debbie.

They’ll have 32 flavor choices, imported from Jersey. They’ll rotate , but the current list includes rainbow, lemon squeeze, mint chip, Creamsicle and chocolate covered banana.

Italian ice is something like sorbet or sherbet; it has no fat,  dairy or gluten, and is 60 calories per 3 oz serving.  It’s traditionally served, and ICE ‘N EZ will do this too, in a paper cup. You lick the ice off the top like a cone, and then squeeze to get all of it. (They’ll give you a spoon if you’d rather.)

Harbatkin said they have 45 seats indoors, in a room with contemporary design. There’s also one of those sliding doors to order through — what says summer better than that?

They’re open daily, year-round

11:30 a.m-8 p.m. Monday-Thursday; 11:30 a.m.-10 p.m Friday and Saturday; noon-8 p.m. Sunday. 115 Reading Road, 513-336-0062

Posted in: Business, News |

Tags: Tags: business, debbie harbatkin, ice 'n ez, ira harbatkin, italian ice, jersey shore, mason, open, sorbet

Roger Federer shakes hands with John F. Barrett, Western & Southern CEO, after his win Sunday against Novak Djokovic in the men’s singles final of the Western & Southern Open in Mason.

Here’s a look back at the highlights of the Western & Southern Open at the Lindner Family Tennis Center in Mason.

Highlights

• Federer defeats Djokovic for W&S Open title
• Doc: Djokovic lacked motivation
• Li Na defeats Kerber for first W&S Open title
• Schedules/Results
• Serve the Word blog updates

Photo Galleries

• Li Na defeats Kerber
• Federer wins in Mason
• Kerber defeats Kvitova
• Li Na defeats Venus Williams
• Federer defeats Wawrinka
• Kerber defeats Serena Williams
• Venus Williams defeats Stosur
• Del Potro defeats Chardy
• Venus Williams vs. Sara Errani
• Chardy defeats Roddick
• Fish defeats Lopez
• Autograph-seekers at the W&S Open
• The hats at the W&S Open
• Tennis tournament volunteers

Posted in: Sports, W&S Open |

Tags: Tags: champions, chardy, del potro sara errani, fish, kerber, li na, lindner family tennis center, mason, open, roddick, roger federer, serena williams, serve the word, sports, tennis, venus williams, w&s open, wawrinka, western & southern open

Account Control Technology, Inc., a nationwide firm providing debt management and collection solutions, celebrated the grand opening Friday of a Mason facility expected to bring 200 new jobs by the end of the year.

The California-based company says its been “aggressively recruiting” since January and has already hired 110 full-time employees.  Another 90 full-time employees are expected to be added by the end of the year.

“ACT is investing and offering job opportunities at a time when many companies are scaling back. We proudly support our communities by keeping every aspect of our business local,” said CEO Nabil Kabbani.

ACT spent more than $900,000 renovating the 30,000-square-foot office building at 5300 Kings Island Drive.  The new location will allow the company expand its nationwide presence, say officials.

The company chose to locate in Warren County due to its “business-friendly climate” and pool of qualified talent.  Its new location can accommodate up to 300 employees, the company said in a release.

This is ACT’s fourth and largest location in the U.S.  The company, which started in 1990, has more than 400 employees at its other locations in California and Texas.  The company has been recognized by Inc. magazine as one of the nation’s 5,000 fastest growing private companies.

Posted in: Business, News |

Tags: Tags: account control technology, business, call center, debt collection, hiring, jobs, mason, nabil kabbani, open, ribbon-cutting ceremony

Invertigo gets a new, very blue color scheme this year. Provided image

Paul McKibben reports:

A $10 million expansion of its Soak City water park isn’t the only new feature at Kings Island this year as the amusement park celebrates its 40th anniversary season.

Kings Island will unveil four new shows and food. Thrill seekers will also notice some cosmetic changes such as new colors on the Invertigo roller coaster (aqua track and royal blue supports).

• King of Thrills: Kings Island’s 40-year reign
• Photos: Kings Island through the years
• Things you may not know about Kings Island
• Timeline: A trip through thrill ride history
• Quiz: Are you a KI buff? | Best thrill ride?

New shows

“British Invasion,” Festhaus, starts opening day, songs of the Beatles, Fleetwood Mac, Queen, Elton John and others

“Charlie Brown’s All-Stars,” Peanuts Playhouse, starts opening day, a baseball-themed show with Peanuts characters

“Remember When: The 70s!” Showplace Theatre, starting in June, music from the 1970s, the decade Kings Island opened

“Ed Alonzo’s Psycho Circus of Magic and Mayhem,” Kings Island Theatre, June 2 through the end of August: Magician Ed Alonzo who played Max in the sitcom “Saved by the Bell.”

“It’s like adding a new ride because not everybody will ride rides all the time. Some people come just for the entertainment aspect,” Kings Island spokesman Don Helbig said. “So you always want to have something that’s new and fresh for those guests as well.”

Shows returning are “American Country,” “Hot Summer Nights” and “Peanuts Party in the Plaza.”

New food

New food includes “fresh never frozen” hamburgers at the Festhaus, Juke Box Diner and Stunt Crew Grill; a new Philly cheesesteak at the Snake Pit food stand, burritos, burrito bowls and nachos at Hank’s Burrito Shack restaurant at the park’s Oktoberfest section, and gluten-free pizza at LaRosa’s on International Street.

Other new food includes a new pretzel, improved funnel cakes and a fresh-dipped ice cream bar at the Planet Snoopy section of the park where customers will be able to add their own toppings.

Kings Island will have freestyle Coca-Cola machines in the park where customers can make their own drinks. A commemorative souvenir 40th anniversary bottle will be available for purchase. Coke and LaRosa’s have been partners with Kings Island for 40 years.

All about Soak City

The $10 million water park expansion project is the biggest project at Kings Island this year includes 30 water slides, two wave pools, tropical lagoons, rushing rivers and more.

New wave pool: Measures 39,000 square feet with more than 650,000 gallon waves, a water depth up to six feet with wave heights of more than four feet.

New action river: The renovation of the current Lazy River includes new waterfalls, a rain curtain, tipping buckets, spray hoses and jets creating turbulent water effects.

Sand volleyball court: New professional-quality court is designed for both casual and competitive play.

More lounging: Three football fields of lounging areas include more than 1,000 additional chairs.

If you go

Kings Island opens Saturday.  It is closed for a private event on Sunday.

The park opens for weekend operation May 4; daily operation starts May 11.

Web: www.visitkingsisland.com

Posted in: Arts & Entertainment, Kings Island |

Tags: Tags: amusement park, invertigo, kings island, mason, open, opening day, rides, roller coasters, soak city, waterpark

Construction continues on Kings Island's new Soak City water park. The $10 million expansion replaces Boomerang Bay and is expected to open Memorial Day weekend. Photos provided/Kings Island

Kings Island is gearing up to celebrate its 40th anniversary season.

Workers at the Mason amusement park are in the process of testing rides and putting the finishing touches on park attractions and features. The park opens April 28; daily operation begins May 11.

The 364-acre park released a commemorative logo for its milestone season, launched a Twitter contest and will celebrate the grand opening of the new Soak City Waterpark on May 26.  Admission to the waterpark is free with general park admission.

Other park highlights this season include a newly-painted Invertigo, expanded food offerings and three new live stage shows.

• Photos: Updated Soak City construction
• Photos: Workers prepare for Opening Day
• Poll: Pick Kings Island’s best thrill ride
• Photos: Kings Island through the years
  

The Mason amusement park opened in April, 1972 to 7,000 curious guests, who paid $6 admission to the park’s 65 attractions.  By the end of that first season, attendance had swelled to 2 million guests, a theme park industry record.

Since then, more than 120 million visitors have frequented the park’s world-class rides, shows and attractions, according to park officials.

Look for The Enquirer’s special coverage of KI’s 40th anniversary at www.cincinnati.com on Sunday, April 22.

Posted in: Arts & Entertainment, Events, Kings Island, Recreational events |

Tags: Tags: amusement park, invertigo, kings island, logo, mason, open, opening day, rides, roller coasters, soak city, twitter contest, waterpark

Shauna Steigerwald reports:

Déjà 2 Consignment Furnishings in Mason sells slightly used furniture, home decorations, accessories, wall decorations and framed art. (Provided photo)

Eda Stein has dreamed of opening her own shop since she immigrated to the United States from Italy 45 years ago. That dream became a reality earlier this month, when she opened Déjà 2 Consignment Furnishings at 12123 Montgomery Road in Mason.

At her 1,900-square-foot shop, Stein sells slightly used furnishings, plus home decorations, accessories, wall decorations and framed art. She’s looking for local artists to showcase their work at the store, too.

“We have unique pieces that you can’t find anywhere else,” she said of the shop’s offerings, which range from vintage to modern.

The shop is now accepting furnishings for consignment or purchase.

11 a.m.-5 p.m.Tuesday-Saturday; 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday.

513-709-9700 or www.Deja2.com

Posted in: Business, News |

Tags: Tags: art, business, decorations, deja 2 consignment furnishings, deja 2 consignments, eda stein, furniture, mason, open

A new Dairy Queen has opened in Mason at 2364 Kings Center Court.

The restaurant’s menu features soft serve treats, grilled sandwiches, hot dogs and other fare, in addition to its signature DQ cakes, which it can custom decorate.

Owners Donna and Jim Raishart also have Dairy Queen stores in Milford and Symmes Township.

Hours are 11 a.m.-11 p.m. daily. Beginning Labor Day, Sept. 5, through next June, hours will be 11 a.m.-9:30 p.m. Sunday-Thursday; 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Friday-Saturday.

The eatery is located in the new strip center near the Harley Davidson store that also houses Jimmy John’s.  For more information, call 513-573-9993.

(h/t Cincinnati New in Town)

Posted in: Business, News |

Tags: Tags: blizzard, business, dairy queen, harley davidson, jimmy john's, mason, new, open, restaurant

A new Discount Supplements Direct store has opened in Deerfield Township.

The new store is at 8237 Arbor Square, in the shopping center with Kroger and Willie’s Sports Cafe at Mason-Montgomery and Socialville-Foster roads.

To celebrate the store’s opening, shoppers can get a 10 percent off coupon on the store’s Facebook page through Sept. 30.

The New in Town blog reports that the store carries both national and exclusive supplement brands for goals such as weight loss, nutrition, fitness and general health, according to Curtis Hensley, who owns the store with Nick Clark. Clark, a long-time weight lifter, is also the store manager.

It’s the first outpost of Discount Supplements Direct outside of Virginia Beach, where there are five stores.

For more information, call 513-770-0456 or go to www.dsdstore.com.

Posted in: Business, News |

Tags: Tags: arbor square, business, curtis hensley, direct supplements direct, health, nick clark, nutrition, open, store, weight lifting, weight loss