Dog owners, take a few moments to renew your license. It's quick and easy. Visit clermontcounty.docupet.com ,

The annual period to renew your pet's license for $16 began on Nov. 16. Otherwise, licenses cost $32.

Licenses offer many benefits.

For one, if your dog becomes lost, chances of reuniting with you greatly increase.

Also, licenses provide an important source of income for the Clermont County Animal Shelter.

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For Amber Averwater, the 2023 Clermont County Fair Queen, helping organize an event where individuals from the Clermont County Board of Developmental Disabilities (DD) got to show animals and enjoy a day at the fair was just one of many pluses of her 4-H experience.

“The joy and excitement was infectious,” said Averwater, 19, a 2022 Clermont Northeastern graduate. “Their smiles were ear to ear. I’m very grateful we were able to bring that joy to them.”

The project involving individuals from the Clermont County DD was called A Day in the Ring. About 15 people, ages 10 to 40 with a spectrum of disabilities, selected and named an animal, learned about the breed, and proudly came into the ring to show it to a panel of judges.

Judges asked what the animal’s name was, the shower’s name, their favorite fair food, and what they learned about the animal such as what the animal is used for.

“It was pretty special,” said Averwater, noting that 4-Hers donated their time and their animals to show. She credited Cindy Stegbauer, a consultant on Junior Fair Board, for advocating for the event and coordinating with DD.

Averwater, who lives on a small farm with goats and chickens outside of Owensville, has been in 4-H for 14 years. Over the years, she has shown mainly beef cows, hogs and dairy goats each July at the Clermont County Fair.

She is president of the Clermont County Junior Fair Board and vice president of the Select 4-Hers club. 

Being Fair Queen this year “has been quite a blessing,” she said. Her main job is to represent and advocate for the fair. 

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As the holidays approach, please consider sponsoring one or more of the kids served by Children's Services. E-mail Sanna Gast at: sanna.gast@jfs.ohio.gov to get involved. The ages of children available for sponsorship range from birth to 21 years. 

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Adam Hurst started the Clermont County Family Recovery Court program on Dec. 8, 2022, after losing his children due to substance use. Hurst was tired of blaming others for his problems and needed a change.

“Adam entered treatment and worked very hard to overcome his barriers,” said Judge James A. Shriver at the Family Recovery Court’s 15th Commencement Ceremony on Nov. 9. “He got a job, found stable housing, got his license, then a car, and reunified with his children in April. Today we celebrate over 337 days of sobriety and all of Adam’s accomplishments.”

The specialized docket under Judge Shriver was one of the first of its kind in southwestern Ohio when it started on Nov. 13, 2014. Clermont County Family Recovery Court was based on the drug court model, which emphasizes treatment over punishment.

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While decorating for the holiday season, you may encounter a few strings of lights that mysteriously decided to quit working, or the dreaded wad of lights that is impossible to untangle. Don't throw those strings of lights away - recycle them properly! 

The Adams-Clermont Solid Waste District is once again providing convenient opportunities to recycle any unwanted or non-working decorative string lights. From Dec. 1-Feb. 1 residents may recycle their traditional or LED-style string lights by dropping them into a specially marked outdoor container at the following locations:

• Shor Park: 4659 Tealtown Road Milford, OH 45150 

container is by the public restrooms

• Sycamore Park: 4082 State Route 132, Batavia OH 45103 

container is by the public restrooms

• Chilo Lock 34 Park: 521 County Park Road, Chilo OH 45112

container is at museum and visitors center

• Clermont County Soil & Water Conservation District: 1000 Locust St. Owensville, OH 45160 

container is in front of agricultural service center at the fairgrounds, near gazebo

• Pierce Township Service Department: 950 Locust Corner Rd, Cincinnati, OH 45245 

container is next to the public recycling dumpsters

• Clermont County Water Resources: 4400 Haskell Lane Batavia, OH 45103

• Cincinnati Nature Center (CNC members only): 4949 Tealtown Road, Milford, OH 45150

container is at the Rowe Woods Visitor Center

• Long Branch Farm & Trails (CNC members only): 6926 Gaynor Road, Goshen, OH 45122

It is important to remember that holiday lights cannot be placed in your curbside recycling bin or in the public recycling drop-off container you typically use because they will tangle around the machinery and automated equipment at the recycling processing center. Holiday lights require special handling and processing that the Adams-Clermont Solid Waste District is happy to provide! Please note this collection event is for traditional or LED string lights only - fluorescent bulbs, halogen bulbs, or any other holiday decorations cannot be accepted. 

Businesses or organizations that have a large number of holiday lights to recycle can email DSNYDER@clermontcountyohio.gov or call 513-732-7744 for special accommodations. Visit www.OEQ.net for more information about this event or any other services provided by the Adams-Clermont Solid Waste District. 

As caseworker for a program that helps the homeless in Clermont County, Alex Boltz (right) regularly encounters heartbreaking situations, sometimes involving seniors. She fears that growing numbers of aging citizens will find themselves facing similar living conditions.

“I think it’s just going to get worse,” said Boltz, a Greater Cincinnati Behavioral Health employee with the PATH (Projects for Assistance in Transition from Homelessness) program. “Their checks are not enough to cover their living expenses and rent continues to rise. Some end up living in cars.”

PATH provides intensive outreach services to Clermont County adults who are homeless or at imminent risk of homelessness. The program links people with mental health or substance use treatment services and provides other supports such as assistance with the Social Security application process and housing referrals. You can call an outreach worker directly at 513-765-9094 or 513-614-6918. The program is funded through Ohio Mental Health and Addiction Services via federal funds and the Clermont County Mental Health and Recovery Board.

Boltz and co-worker Abby Rau (left), a PATH SUD (substance use disorder) outreach worker from Greater Cincinnati Behavioral Health, say they are working with more senior citizens who receive Social Security checks, get evicted because rent costs went up, and need help getting connected to housing.

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Don't forget the Clermont County Public Library has lots of programs and items that can make your holidays even brighter.

If you are looking for a new recipe, the library has many unique cookbooks including those dedicated just toward holiday baking and cooking. For instance, try Christmas at the Palace by Chef Carolyn Robb who presents 50 festive recipes based on Britain's best-loved Christmas traditions. Or try The Christmas Movie Cookbook by Julia Dowling Rutland who shares recipes inspired by A Christmas Story, National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation, and How the Grinch Stole Christmas.

Don't forget about all the great programs offered at the branch libraries like gingerbread house decorating and a Used Book Sale at the Miami Township Branch. Visit clermontlibrary.org and click on the "Full Event Calendar" for all the details and a list of many more programs. Plan a trip to your local branch today.