Ep. 80 — Corey Kafka of Jester’s Cards and Games on Gaming, Community and Finding Your People

This week, we start with a packed round of Clermont County news before sitting down with Corey Kafka, owner of Jester’s Cards and Games in Milford, for a conversation about Magic: The Gathering, Warhammer, tabletop gaming and the community that grows around local game stores.

We begin at the Clermont County Commissioners meeting, where a resident raises questions during public comment about possible future development at the former Zimmer power plant site. The resident points to information she says she found in the PJM interconnection queue regarding a possible 629-megawatt natural gas project. Commissioners say they have no information about a new development at the site and have not signed nondisclosure agreements related to it.

Commissioners also reject a proposal supporting a Clean Ohio grant application that would have preserved roughly 54 acres of the Fix family property in Jackson Township. Public access becomes the central point of disagreement, with Commissioners David Painter and Bonnie Batchler voting against the measure and Commissioner Claire Corcoran voting in favor.

Clermont County is also confronting rising employee health-care costs. Medical claims are running substantially higher, and officials are considering changes to deductibles, employee contributions and coverage of working spouses as they try to reduce the size of the county’s projected 2027 insurance increase.

We also have an update on the former Beckjord power plant property near New Richmond, where Clermont County officials say they are prepared to pursue federal litigation aimed at forcing cleanup of coal ash stored near the county’s primary drinking-water wells.

In Loveland, officials continue working on a rewrite of the city’s noise ordinance. The discussion centers on whether enforcement should continue relying on objective decibel limits or move toward a broader “reasonableness” standard based on factors such as time of day, duration and how far noise travels.

In Union Township, the Zoning Commission recommends approval of six additional detached homes in the Briar Hill redevelopment along Glen Este-Withamsville Road. We also look at plans for a proposed Costco in Eastgate, where the retailer has formally entered the township zoning process for a roughly 166,000-square-foot warehouse and fuel station.

And in Milford, City Council continues weighing downtown parking options, seeks approximately $850,000 in state funding for cleanup of contaminated soil at the city-owned Harvest Market parking lot, begins discussions about the future of its park levy and approves additional repairs at the Happy Hollow sewer lift station.

Interview — Corey Kafka

Corey Kafka is the owner of Jester’s Cards and Games in Milford, a local game store built around trading card games, miniature wargaming, tabletop games and, perhaps most importantly, community.

Corey explains how he went from working as a welder to owning a game store almost by accident. A longtime gamer who first played Magic: The Gathering in the 1990s, he had largely left the hobby behind before his kids introduced him to Commander and brought him back into the game.
From there, things get nerdy.

We dig into what makes Magic such an enduring game, from its five-color system and nearly endless deck-building possibilities to Commander, premodern Magic, drafting and the strategy behind building a deck that actually works.

Corey and Patrick compare favorite colors, tribal decks and different approaches to the game before moving into the much darker universe of Warhammer 40,000.

Corey explains the basics of Warhammer, including how armies are built, how point systems work and why winning is often about completing objectives rather than simply destroying your opponent’s army. We also take a tour through some of the game’s factions and lore, from Space Marines and the Imperium of Man to Chaos, Orks, Tyranids, Necrons and more.

But the conversation eventually comes back to something bigger than cards, miniatures or dice.
Corey says the real product a local game store offers is a social life.

Jester’s hosts games and events throughout the week, including Magic, Yu-Gi-Oh!, One Piece, Gundam, miniature games and even Super Smash Bros. The store offers tables, terrain and hobby space where people can walk in, find a game and meet others with the same interests.

Corey talks about building a store where newcomers do not have to feel intimidated, where experienced players are willing to teach and where people from very different walks of life can form friendships around a shared hobby.

We also discuss the resurgence of tabletop gaming, the role nostalgia played during and after COVID, and why games that once carried a stereotypically “nerdy” reputation have become increasingly mainstream.

Corey’s message to anyone curious about gaming is simple: walk into a local game store and give it a try. You may come for the cards or miniatures, but you might stay for the people.
Links from This Episode

• Jester’s Cards and Games

News

• Resident raises questions during public comment about possible future development at the former Zimmer power plant site
• Clermont County commissioners say they have no information about a new Zimmer development and have not signed NDAs related to the property
• Commissioners reject support for a Clean Ohio conservation proposal involving roughly 54 acres in Jackson Township
• Public access becomes the central issue in the Fix property conservation vote
• Clermont County faces a sharp increase in employee health-care costs heading into 2027
• County officials consider changes to deductibles, employee contributions and working-spouse coverage
• Clermont County prepares for possible federal litigation over cleanup of the former Beckjord power plant site
• Loveland continues rewriting its noise ordinance and debates decibel limits versus a reasonableness standard
• Union Township Zoning Commission recommends approval of six additional homes in the Briar Hill redevelopment
• Costco formally submits plans for a proposed Eastgate location in Union Township
• Milford continues considering solutions to downtown parking shortages
• Milford seeks approximately $850,000 for cleanup of contaminated soil at 300 Main Street
• Milford begins discussions about the future of its park levy
• Milford approves additional repairs at the Happy Hollow sewer lift station while investigating whether the force main may be contributing to pump problems

Events

• Art in the Park — Artist Charcoal
• Birding Canoe Float
• Yoga in the Park
• Milford Farmers Market at Five Points Landing
• Milford Farmers Market at the Greenhouse
• Simmons Farms Saturday Farmers Market
• Loveland Art Festival
• New Richmond Farmers Market
• Morning Mindfulness Walk
• Loveland Farmers Market
• Clermont County Safety Council — The Next Frontier of Safety: Well-Being and Suicide Prevention
• Batavia Farmers Market
• Williamsburg Farmers Market
• Music in the Park in New Richmond
• Hoots and Doodles
• Herping Night Out — Frogs, Snakes and More
• Union Township Farmers Market Season Finale
• Miami Township Community CPR
• Union Township CPR/AED Training
• Second Saturday in Haussermann Park
• Batavia Fun Fair

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Ep. 79 — Debbie Davidson on Education, Rural Development and Ohio House District 63

This week, we start with news from Loveland, Milford and New Richmond before sitting down with Ohio House District 63 candidate Debbie Davidson.

In Loveland, City Council moves forward with the State Route 48 and Butterworth Road sidewalk project, which is expected to connect more than 400 homes with historic downtown. Council also approves roughly $50,000 in traffic-signal improvements at West Loveland Avenue and Lebanon Road.

In Milford, residents continue raising concerns about the city’s Flock automated license plate readers while Police Chief Jamey Mills defends the system as a useful crime-fighting tool. We also take a close look at Milford Schools, where finances finished fiscal year 2026 far better than projected, staffing changes are expected to save nearly $1 million, and enrollment continues to decline.

And in New Richmond, the effort to place dissolution of the village on the November ballot has missed the required deadline. Because Ohio law limits these dissolution votes to even-year general elections, supporters would have to restart the process for a possible vote in 2028.

Interview — Debbie Davidson

Debbie Davidson is the Democratic candidate for Ohio House District 63, which includes much of rural Clermont County and part of Brown County.

We begin with education and Davidson’s concerns about Ohio’s school-funding system. She argues that declining state support has shifted too much of the cost of public education onto local property owners, particularly in rural districts with relatively little commercial tax base.

Davidson discusses the Fair School Funding Plan, EdChoice vouchers and the financial pressure facing districts such as Clermont Northeastern, New Richmond and Bethel-Tate. She also makes the case for giving skilled trades, vocational education and apprenticeships a larger role in preparing students for life after high school.

From there, we talk about rural economic development. Davidson wants to see more state investment directed toward small communities like Felicity, Hamersville and Fayetteville, with an emphasis on rebuilding downtowns, supporting local businesses and creating more economic opportunities in communities that have lost jobs and investment over time.

Development and energy become another major part of the conversation. Davidson discusses the growth of data centers across Ohio and raises concerns about their power requirements, water use, environmental impact and tax incentives. That leads to a broader discussion about nuclear energy, new reactor technology and how Ohio might meet growing electricity demand.

We also talk about solar development and agrivoltaics, including the possibility of combining solar generation with farming rather than treating energy production and agriculture as mutually exclusive uses of land.

The conversation then turns to taxes and state spending. Davidson argues that Ohio should return to a more progressive tax structure and says state tax policy is closely connected to the property-tax pressures residents are experiencing at the local level.

We also discuss addiction, incarceration, workforce development and the importance of helping people find meaningful work and a sense of purpose. Davidson talks about alternatives for low-level offenders, volunteer opportunities and the role communities can play in helping people build a path toward stability.

Finally, we talk about political division and the areas where people on opposite sides of the political aisle may have more in common than the national political conversation suggests. From trade education and rural investment to concerns about data centers and development, Davidson argues that local problems can still create room for people with very different politics to work together.
Davidson closes by explaining why she decided to run for Ohio House District 63 and why she believes many of the challenges facing Clermont and Brown counties ultimately lead back to decisions made in Columbus.

Links from This Episode

• Visit Debbie Davidson’s campaign website

News

• Loveland moves forward with the State Route 48 and Butterworth Road sidewalk project
• The project is intended to connect more than 400 homes in Loveland’s Warren County neighborhoods with historic downtown
• Construction is currently targeted for spring 2028
• Loveland approves roughly $50,000 in traffic-signal improvements at West Loveland Avenue and Lebanon Road
• Milford residents continue calling for removal of the city’s Flock automated license plate readers
• Milford Police Chief Jamey Mills defends the cameras as a useful crime-fighting tool
• Milford Schools finishes fiscal year 2026 far better than originally forecast
• District officials still project deficit spending in future years
• Milford says staffing changes for the 2026–27 school year will save nearly $1 million
• Five teaching positions were left vacant through attrition rather than layoffs
• Milford opens the school year with approximately 100 fewer students than at the same point last year
• District officials point to smaller incoming classes, EdChoice participation and other educational options as factors in declining enrollment
• New Richmond’s village-dissolution effort misses the deadline for the November 2026 ballot
• Supporters would have to restart the process for a possible dissolution vote in 2028

Events

• Premier Car and Truck Cruise-In
• Goshen Ohio Farmers Market
• Dog Days of Summer Dog Hike
• Chillseekers Women’s Summer Hike Series
• Hike with Park Staff at Pattison Park Lakeside
• Union Township Farmers Market
• Union Township Summer Concert featuring the Marty Connor Band
• Full Moon Paddle at Chilo Lock 34
• Milford Farmers Market
• New Richmond Farmers Market
• Turtles All Around
• Art in the Park
• Birding Canoe Float
• Yoga in the Park
• Simmons Farms Saturday Farmers Market
• Loveland Art Festival

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 Ep. 78 — Gary Knepp on Camp Dennison and Clermont County’s Civil War History

We’re back after last week’s storms and power outages with two weeks of news from across Clermont County.

We start with a potentially massive advanced-manufacturing development in Williamsburg Township, where county officials have approved a tax-abatement agreement for a project that could begin with roughly one million square feet of manufacturing space. We also look at major stream-restoration and stormwater work, plans for a $100-million-plus expansion of the Lower East Fork wastewater treatment plant, and what those infrastructure projects may tell us about Clermont County’s continued growth.

In Batavia, Village Council has given itself final approval over major planned developments, adopted a new policy toward residential tax abatements and annexation, and the effort to put dissolution of the village before voters has been rejected by the Clermont County Board of Elections — although a court challenge could still follow.

We also cover West Clermont Schools’ worsening financial outlook, New Richmond Schools’ improved budget forecast after major spending reductions, Loveland’s $14 million PFAS treatment financing package, Tate Township’s proposed zoning rewrite, and a potential expansion of Union Township’s marijuana-related Joint Economic Development District.

Interview — Gary Knepp

Clermont County historian and author Gary Knepp returns for his third appearance on the show to talk about his new book, The Story of Camp Dennison – 1861–1865.

Camp Dennison was one of Ohio’s largest Civil War military facilities, serving as a training camp, hospital and discharge center for tens of thousands of soldiers. At its peak, the camp held enough men to rival some of Ohio’s largest cities.

Gary explains why the camp was established near Cincinnati, how its access to the Little Miami Railroad and river made the location valuable, and how fears of a Confederate attack helped shape its early mission. We also talk about the Siege of Cincinnati, when soldiers and civilians mobilized to defend the region as Confederate forces moved through Kentucky.

But Gary’s book goes far beyond dates and troop movements. Drawing on letters, diaries, military records, photographs and years of archival research, he reconstructs the experiences of the people who actually passed through Camp Dennison.

Those stories include a Quaker officer who entered the war but refused to carry a firearm, a chaplain who rode under fire to bring water to wounded soldiers, prisoners who survived Andersonville, soldiers facing disease and primitive medical care, and Clermont County men whose wartime experiences eventually carried them to some of the Civil War’s most important battlefields.

Gary also describes everyday life at the camp — learning to march, drilling with rifles, eating hardtack and salt pork, battling measles and other diseases, visiting nearby churches, writing letters home and finding ways to pass the time between assignments.

The conversation explores Camp Dennison’s enormous military hospital and the transformation of Civil War medicine after battles such as Shiloh produced casualties on a scale the country had never experienced. Gary explains the realities of battlefield wounds, amputations, disease and the work of the Sisters of Charity, who cared for soldiers at Camp Dennison before serving in hospitals closer to the fighting.

We also talk about Gary’s research process. The book took roughly 25 years to complete and sent him through the National Archives, historical societies, museums, battlefields and small towns across the South as he followed the stories of individual soldiers. Along the way, he uncovered forgotten records, tracked down locations described in wartime letters and worked with private collectors whose photographs and artifacts help bring the story of Camp Dennison to life.

Finally, Gary discusses what remains of Camp Dennison today, efforts to map the original camp using modern technology, and upcoming walking tours that give people a chance to explore the site themselves.

Links from This Episode

• Visit Gary Knepp’s website
• Find The Story of Camp Dennison – 1861–1865 on Amazon

News

• A challenge over a proposed data-center ban in Trenton heads to the Ohio Supreme Court after city officials reject the petition over a dispute about the number of signatures required
• Clermont County approves a Community Reinvestment Area agreement for a potentially massive advanced-manufacturing project in Williamsburg Township
• The Williamsburg project could begin with roughly one million square feet of manufacturing space and may ultimately include multiple phases
• Public records strongly suggest the development may be connected to Lonza’s proposed $1 billion biotech manufacturing project, although that relationship has not been publicly confirmed
• The Adams-Clermont Solid Waste District announces a free scrap-tire collection event at the Clermont County Fairgrounds
• Clermont Soil and Water moves ahead with its largest stream-restoration project to date along the Lower East Fork Little Miami River
• Plans continue to remove the old Cloverlick Creek low-head dam near Bethel
• Clermont County begins work toward updating its countywide comprehensive land-use plan
• Soil and Water reports increasing stormwater, flooding and drainage demands alongside continued development
• Clermont County prepares for more than $100 million in improvements and expansion at the Lower East Fork Wastewater Treatment Plant
• The long-term plan could increase the plant’s normal treatment capacity from roughly 9 million to 14 million gallons per day
• Batavia Village Council gives itself final approval authority over detailed plans for major planned-unit developments
• Batavia adopts a new development policy discouraging residential property-tax abatements except in extraordinary circumstances
• The village also says it will no longer actively pursue annexation simply for the sake of growth
• The Clermont County Board of Elections rejects the petition seeking to put dissolution of the Village of Batavia on the November ballot
• Petition organizers could still seek review from the Ohio Supreme Court
• West Clermont Schools says recent Ohio property-tax changes could reduce projected revenue by roughly $40 million to $50 million over the next several years
• West Clermont officials point toward a possible property or income-tax levy in 2027 as the district faces declining reserves
• Loveland secures $14 million in Ohio EPA financing toward a roughly $17 million project to remove PFAS from its drinking water
• Tate Township moves forward with a comprehensive rewrite of its decades-old zoning code
• Tate’s proposal includes new rules for data centers, short-term rentals, home businesses, solar development, accessory dwelling units and other land uses
• Union Township schedules an October public hearing on an expansion of JEDD No. 9, the district associated with retail marijuana dispensaries
• New Richmond Schools says aggressive cost cutting has dramatically improved its near-term financial outlook following revenue losses tied largely to the closure of the Zimmer Power Plant
• New Richmond administrators warn some of those reductions are now contributing to larger class sizes and reduced capacity for open-enrollment students
• Work continues at New Richmond’s riverfront docks, which remain closed to the public

Events

• Union Township Farmers Market
• Natural Dye and Nature Trivia
• Milford Farmers Market
• Stonelick Township Junk Disposal Day
• Simmons Farms Saturday Farmers Market
• Concert in the Park featuring Zac Attack
• Music in the Park in New Richmond
• Premier Car and Truck Cruise-In
• Goshen Ohio Farmers Market
• Dog Days of Summer Dog Hike
• Chillseekers Women’s Summer Hike Series
• Hike with Park Staff at Pattison Park Lakeside
• Union Township Farmers Market
• Union Township Summer Concert featuring the Marty Connor Band
• Full Moon Paddle at Chilo Lock 34
• Milford Farmers Market

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Ep. 77 — Tom Post on Art, Freelancing, Murals, AI, and the Creative Life

We start this week with news from across Clermont County, including a felony vandalism case involving a Union Township license-plate reader, Loveland’s plans for the Schildmeyer riverfront property and Veterans Memorial, a major rewrite of Loveland’s zoning code, and the proposed Bishops Grove subdivision along Shephard Road.

We also cover the concerns Milford residents raised during WCPO’s recent community forum, including downtown parking, infrastructure, school capacity and the future of the former Milford South Elementary School. In New Richmond, village officials are asking boat owners to express interest in potential dedicated space at the new Liberty Landing dock.

Interview — Tom Post

Cincinnati-area artist Tom Post joins the show for a wide-ranging conversation about painting, illustration, murals, teaching and the unpredictable life of a freelance creative. 

Tom has worked as an artist for more than four decades. His career has included commercial illustration, fine art, portraiture, teaching and public murals. He recently completed a mural celebrating Loveland’s 150th anniversary and the upcoming America 250 commemoration, incorporating pieces of the city’s history into the design. 

Tom discusses the freedom that comes with freelancing, including the ability to spend more time with family and organize work around daily life. He also talks honestly about the uncertainty of never knowing where the next project will come from, the bookkeeping and administrative work that artists rarely enjoy, and the comfort of finally having several mural projects lined up in advance. 

The conversation explores the discipline behind creative work. Tom explains how scheduling unpleasant tasks, accepting downtime and making room for reflection can help prevent burnout. He and Patrick compare the fear of a blank canvas with the fear of a blank page and discuss why ideas often emerge when a person finally slows down. 

Tom also shares how drawing gave him an identity as a child while his military family moved from place to place. After high school, he landed a staff-illustrator position with SuperX Drugs, where he quickly learned that getting an art job did not necessarily mean doing fulfilling work. A conversation with Cincinnati Enquirer cartoonist Jim Borgman encouraged him to attend the Columbus College of Art and Design, where he expanded his understanding of illustration and fine art. 

After college, Tom went on dozens of interviews looking for a traditional job. Instead, agencies began offering him freelance assignments. Those projects multiplied until freelancing became his career. 
Tom talks about the artists who shaped his work, the influence of Impressionism and his admiration for artists who balance creativity with family, faith and the rest of life. He rejects the idea that artists must be unstable or miserable to produce meaningful work. Instead, he believes creativity grows from observation, engagement and the willingness to notice what others pass by. 

That idea leads to a discussion about finding beauty in ordinary moments. Tom describes stopping to photograph a cluster of mushrooms that looked like a miniature city. For both Tom and Patrick, the artist’s job is not simply to observe those small moments but to amplify them through a painting, poem, story or conversation so that someone else can see them too. 

Tom explains why oil is his favorite painting medium, why charcoal deserves more attention and why artists should share their sketches alongside finished work. Sketches reveal the process behind a piece, give buyers a more accessible price point and sometimes connect with people in unexpected ways. 

The conversation also examines the business of being an artist. Tom offers direct advice to younger creatives about pricing, finding different ways to sell work and resisting requests to work for free in exchange for “exposure.” Free work, he argues, lowers the value of the artist’s time and the work of everyone else in the field. 

A major part of the interview focuses on artificial intelligence and its growing effect on artists, photographers, designers and writers. Tom and Patrick discuss how AI is eliminating much of the routine commercial work that once paid the bills while creatives pursued more meaningful projects. They also consider AI’s usefulness as a research tool and the challenge of finding a healthy balance between efficiency and preserving the human creative process. 

Throughout the conversation, Tom returns to the importance of continuing to learn, honing the craft and creating work that adds something valuable to another person’s life. 
Links from This Episode 

• Explore Tom Post’s artwork

News

•  A Clermont County man faces a felony vandalism charge after Union Township police said he destroyed a Flock automated license-plate reader 
•  Investigators said nearby cameras and purchasing records helped identify the suspect 
•  Loveland approves a master-planning agreement for the Schildmeyer riverfront property and Veterans Memorial 
•  The planning process will examine flood conditions, environmental restrictions and possible low-impact public amenities 
•  Loveland’s preserved riverfront property must remain primarily dedicated to conservation and passive recreation 
•  Loveland reviews a comprehensive rewrite of its Planning and Zoning Code 
•  Proposed zoning changes address residential infill, administrative approvals, parking, signs and short-term rentals 
•  The draft would cap short-term rentals at 50 citywide and limit each owner or affiliated entity to three properties 
•  Council requests corrections and additional explanation before taking final action 
•  The Union Township Zoning Commission recommends approval of the 18-home Bishops Grove development on Shephard Road 
•  Residents raise concerns about traffic, drainage, smaller lots, privacy and tree removal 
•  Union Township trustees will make the final decision on the rezoning 
•  Milford residents discuss downtown parking, infrastructure, school capacity and stalled development 
•  The former Milford South Elementary School remains tied up in litigation 
•  Milford continues a study of downtown parking availability and wayfinding 
•  New Richmond seeks interest from boat owners who may want dedicated space at the Liberty Landing dock 

Events

•  Second Saturday in Haussermann Park 
•  Ralph Shepherd Concert Series featuring the Williamsburg Band 
•  New Richmond Farmers Market 
•  Morning Mindfulness Walk at Shor Park 
•  Community CPR Class 
•  Pattison Park Lodge Public Viewing 
•  Concert in the Park featuring Rita Beach and Mary Herbert 
•  Explore the Bone Wars 
•  Union Township Farmers Market 
•  Union Township Pickleball Slam 
•  Cincinnati Hamfest and ARRL Great Lakes Division Convention 
•  Birding Across the Suspension Bridge 
•  Yoga in the Park 
•  Foraged Tea Time and Hike: Sumac Lemonade 
•  Clermont County Historical Society presents A History of Clermont County 
•  New Richmond Farmers Market 
•  Field Day Beekeeping 2.0

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Ep. 76 — Brian Barger on Tattooing, Artistic Integrity, Apprenticeships, and Building B-Yond INK

We start this week with news from Clermont County and beyond, including the alleged misuse of law-enforcement databases and Flock license-plate readers by a Florida detective, the latest Children’s Protective Services levy proposal, Clermont County’s new property valuations, and Loveland’s continuing debate over a citywide noise ordinance.

We also cover concerns about an automated license-plate reader near Bridgeway Church, Pierce Township’s moratorium on data-center development, and the arrival of a new 300-foot boat dock for New Richmond’s Liberty Landing riverfront project.

Interview — Brian Barger

Brian Barger, owner of B-Yond INK, joins the show to talk about tattooing, artistic responsibility, building a loyal clientele, and the long road from apprenticeship to owning his own shop. 

Brian shares how a difficult period in his life led him toward tattooing. After learning the trade in Cincinnati and working at several shops around Clermont County, he eventually opened B-Yond INK with help from a close friend he originally met as a tattoo client. 

The conversation explores the relationships that form between tattoo artists and their clients. Brian explains why word of mouth has shaped much of his business and why some of his closest friendships began with someone sitting down in his tattoo chair. 

We discuss the responsibility that comes with creating permanent artwork. Brian does not believe in tattooing anything on anyone simply to make money. He talks about refusing designs he does not feel comfortable executing, recommending other artists when a project falls outside his strengths, and steering younger clients away from face, neck, hand, and other highly visible tattoos they may later regret. 

Brian also explains how he works with clients to turn their initial concepts into stronger designs. That includes adapting AI-generated references rather than copying them directly and finding a balance between what the client imagines and what will work as a lasting tattoo. 

The conversation moves through Brian’s favorite styles, including black-and-gray work, colorful cartoon-inspired pieces, watercolor effects, and cover-ups. He explains how shading can completely transform a design and why the same tattoo can look very different depending on the artist creating it. 

We also discuss the traditions and rules behind American traditional and Japanese tattooing, along with the importance of understanding symbolism, color, placement, and composition before attempting a specialized style. 

Brian talks candidly about tattoo pain, long sessions, numbing creams, blood-sugar crashes, scar tissue, aging skin, ink blowouts, and why both the artist and the client need to recognize their physical limits. He recalls one marathon session that lasted from early afternoon until four in the morning and explains why he would never attempt that schedule today. 

A major part of the conversation focuses on apprenticeships. Brian describes the work ethic, humility, sanitation training, artistic foundation, and willingness to perform everyday shop duties that aspiring tattoo artists need. He also warns prospective apprentices to research their mentors carefully and avoid shops that exploit, mistreat, or dangerously haze people trying to enter the profession. 

B-Yond INK artist Skyler joins the conversation near the end to discuss her move from corporate work into tattooing, her background in painting, and her interest in traditional and black-and-gray illustrative work. She also explains why Brian’s commitment to tattooing and his clients made B-Yond INK the place where she wanted to build the next stage of her career. 

And, as one of Clermont County’s most devoted Cincinnati Bengals fans, Brian shares his ultimate professional goal: tattooing a Bengals player and watching his work spread through the locker room. He also confesses to completing one particularly painful assignment—a Kansas City Chiefs tattoo shortly before the Bengals lost in Kansas City. 
Links from this episode 

• B-Yond INK — Official Website 
• B-Yond INK Instagram
• Brian Barger’s Instagram
• Skylar Sheeley's Instagram 

News 

•  A Florida detective is arrested and fired after allegedly using law-enforcement databases, including the Flock Safety network, for personal searches. 
•  Clermont County commissioners place a Children’s Protective Services renewal levy on the November 3 ballot. 
•  The proposed levy would continue an existing tax rather than add a new one. 
•  Clermont County property values increase by an average of approximately 23% following the county’s six-year reappraisal. 
•  Homeowners are encouraged to review their updated valuations and challenge them through the Board of Revision when appropriate. 
•  Loveland continues work on a citywide noise ordinance addressing amplified downtown music, parties, outdoor speakers, vehicle noise, and other recurring disturbances. 
•  Loveland officials debate whether enforcement should rely on measurable decibel limits or a broader reasonableness standard. 
•  Bridgeway Church asks officials to relocate an automated license-plate reader positioned near its entrance. 
•  Pierce Township considers creating guidelines for placing license-plate readers near churches and other sensitive locations. 
•  Pierce Township’s temporary moratorium on data-center development remains in effect through October 2026. 
•  Township officials examine water use, electrical demand, equipment noise, generators, pollution, and the potential concentration of data centers near residential areas and the region’s aquifer. 
•  A new 300-foot dock arrives in New Richmond for the $13.4 million Liberty Landing riverfront project. 
•  Liberty Landing is expected to add improved river access, walking areas, and public seating when completed. 

Events 

•  Sense of Nature foraging hike and incense-making workshop at Klingman Park 
•  Yoga in the Park at Sycamore Park 
•  Milford Farmers Market at Five Points Landing Park 
•  New Richmond Farmers Market at the River Village Shop 
•  Dinosaur Encounter at the Williamsburg Library 
•  Concert at the Cardboard Boat Museum featuring Eric “Big Easy” Penn and Chuck Vogel 
•  Pierce Township National Night Out at Locust Corner Park 
•  Union Township Police Night Out at Veterans Memorial Park 
•  Second Saturday at Hauserman Park 
•  Ralph Shepherd Concert Series featuring the Williamsburg Band 
•  New Richmond Farmers Market

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Ep. 75 — Cynthia Tait and the Loveland Shorts Film Festival

We start this week with news from around Clermont County, including more than $2.28 million in federal funding for local housing, infrastructure, and community-service projects. We also cover Tate Township’s proposed zoning rewrite, opposition to Milford’s Flock license-plate cameras, and a major renovation proposal for Grant Career Center.

The news section concludes with an update on New Richmond Schools, including a larger-than-projected general fund deficit, lower property-tax collections, utility expenses, tax increment financing revenue, and a new electronic parking-pass system.

Interview — Cynthia Tait

Cynthia Tait joins the show to talk about the Loveland Shorts Film Festival, independent filmmaking, and the enduring experience of watching a movie inside a theater.

Now entering its third year, the festival was started in 2024 by Gary Giver and Dan Peterson. Cynthia explains how the event grew from their shared love of short films into an international festival supported by filmmakers, local businesses, the City of Loveland, and the surrounding arts community.

The festival accepts films lasting 20 minutes or less, ranging from one-minute animated pieces to longer narrative films. Its lineup includes comedy, romance, science fiction, horror, animation, documentaries, family-friendly selections, and work from first-time filmmakers.

Cynthia takes us behind the scenes of the selection process. Films are submitted through FilmFreeway, reviewed by volunteer screeners, and evaluated for storytelling, acting, directing, sound, cinematography, and overall impact. Festival nominees are then considered by judges with professional experience in filmmaking and film education.

We also discuss what attendees can expect during festival weekend, including multiple screening blocks, workshops, morning coffee hours, filmmaker conversations, after-parties, and a family-friendly film program. Cynthia also introduces the Loveland Shorts Film Club, a free year-round community for people interested in movie trivia, theater outings, drive-ins, and other film-related activities.

The conversation eventually turns into a celebration of movies themselves. Cynthia shares memories of seeing Mary Poppins as a child, visiting dollar theaters and drive-ins, and building a lifelong appreciation for film. We talk about Star Wars, The Sound of Music, Who Framed Roger Rabbit, James Bond, Monty Python, The Birdcage, subtitles, library movie collections, and the charm of watching a story unfold in a historic theater. 

And, despite Patrick’s repeated objections, the Loveland Shorts Film Festival still does not serve popcorn. 

Links from this episode 

• Loveland Shorts Film Festival
• 2026 Festival Schedule
• Festival Tickets
• 2026 Featured Films
• Information for Filmmakers

The official festival website includes dedicated pages for the schedule, tickets, featured films, and filmmaker information. 

News

•  Clermont County commissioners approve more than $2.28 million in federal funding for 22 housing, infrastructure, and community-service projects 
•  Funding will support affordable housing, first-time homebuyer assistance, home repairs, sidewalks, road improvements, riverfront parking, senior services, food assistance, and workforce development 
•  Tate Township releases a proposed rewrite of its zoning resolution for public review 
•  The proposed zoning code includes new standards for accessory dwelling units, short-term rentals, data centers, solar developments, signs, lighting, parking, and property maintenance 
•  Cryptocurrency mining would be prohibited as a primary use under the proposed Tate Township regulations 
•  Milford residents protest the city’s use of Flock license-plate recognition cameras 
•  Protesters raise privacy concerns while Milford police describe the cameras as tools for criminal investigations and wanted-vehicle alerts 
•  Grant Career Center proposes a $59 million renovation and expansion of its Bethel campus 
•  The November ballot request includes a 1.15-mill bond issue and a 0.84-mill permanent improvement levy 
•  Grant Career Center officials say enrollment has grown beyond the capacity of the building, which originally opened in 1976 
•  New Richmond Schools ends the fiscal year with an approximately $1.8 million general fund deficit 
•  Lower property-tax collections, slightly lower state funding, and higher winter utility costs contributed to the district’s financial results 
•  The district is preparing an electronic parking-pass application to reduce paperwork and improve student-fee collection 
•  Local candidates and organizations with levies on the November ballot are invited to contact the show for an interview 

Events

•  Hike with Clermont County Park District staff at Shor Park 
•  Union Township Farmers Market 
•  Union Township Summer Concert featuring Fourth Day Echo 
•  Music Under the Moon featuring Ralph and the Rhythm Hounds 
•  Cincinnati Nature Center Summer Bird Walk 
•  Community CPR and AED Class 
•  Cincinnati Nature Center Summer Native Plant Sale 
•  Trail Yoga at Cincinnati Nature Center 
•  Foraged Ice Cream Foray: Sassafras 
•  Clermont County Fair 
•  New Richmond Farmers Market 
•  Concert in the Park featuring Astrovan 
•  Concert in the Park featuring Jeff Henry and the Necessary Evils 
•  DIY Jewelweed Salve 
•  Ralph Shepherd Concert Series featuring the Ohio Military Band 
•  Loveland Shorts Film Festival 
•  Sense of Nature: Hike and Make Your Own Incense 
•  Yoga in the Park 
•  Milford Farmers Market

 
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Ep. 74 — Richard Hague on Poetry, Teaching, Appalachia, Extinction, and the Life of a Poem


We start this week with news from Clermont County and around Ohio, including the legal challenge surrounding Amazon’s proposed data center campus in Wilmington, Clermont County’s tentative 2026 property values, Crossroads Church’s growing Base Camp property in Washington Township, the effort to dissolve the Village of New Richmond, and several issues discussed during the latest Batavia Village Council meeting.


We also cover Pierce Township’s 2027 budget, possible uses for tax increment financing funds, public-safety expenses, road projects, and concerns about the township’s heavy reliance on property-tax revenue.


Interview — Richard Hague


Richard Hague joins the show to talk about poetry, teaching, Appalachia, the Ohio River Valley, environmental loss, and what it means to spend a lifetime reading and writing poems.
Richard is the 2025–2027 Cincinnati and Mercantile Library Poet Laureate. Raised in Steubenville, Ohio, he came to Cincinnati to attend Xavier University and went on to teach literature and writing for decades at Purcell and Purcell Marian High School. He later served as a writer and artist in residence at Thomas More University.


The conversation explores how Richard discovered poetry through Lawrence Ferlinghetti, found his literary community through Xavier’s Mermaid Tavern, and developed the patience and resilience needed to publish, teach, and continue writing over a long career.


We discuss what separates a strong poem from a weak one, including the importance of sound, rhythm, surprise, imagery, tone, metaphor, and avoiding language that feels predictable or clichéd. Richard explains why free verse is not really “free” and how poets shape their work through repetition, cadence, line length, stanza structure, and revision.


Richard also talks about teaching young people how to read poetry aloud, the value of memorizing poems, and why readers should ask not only what a poem means, but how it works.


A major part of the conversation focuses on James Wright’s “Autumn Begins in Martins Ferry, Ohio.” Richard discusses how the poem captures the industrial culture of the Upper Ohio Valley, the expectations placed on working-class men and their sons, and the complicated mixture of pride, hardship, pollution, decline, and memory that shaped the region.


Richard reads and discusses two of his own poems. “What the Elephants Are Doing” examines grief, extinction, and the extraordinary ways elephants respond to their dead. “Time-Lapse Photography: A Mouse Corpse Devoured by Maggots” transforms decomposition into a meditation on movement, renewal, and the continuation of life beyond death.


We close with a close reading of Emily Dickinson’s “A Route of Evanescence,” exploring how patience, curiosity, sound, color, motion, and careful questioning can gradually open even the most mysterious poem.


Links from this episode

• Richard Hague — Cincinnati and Mercantile Library Poet Laureate
• Poet Laureate Office Hours with Richard Hague
• “Sitting Inside the Poem” by Richard Hague — The Cincinnati Review
• During the Recent Extinctions — Dos Madres Press
• Continued Cases — Dos Madres Press

News

• A federal judge reviews a legal challenge involving Amazon Web Services’ proposed $4 billion data center campus in Wilmington
• Residents raise concerns about public notice, generator noise, emissions, utility demand, and nearby property values
• Clermont County property owners can review their tentative 2026 property values
• The countywide reappraisal uses recent sales, property records, construction information, and current market conditions
• Property owners may request a review if they believe their tentative value or property information is incorrect
• Crossroads Church expands its Base Camp property in Washington Township to approximately 831 acres
• Township officials raise concerns about traffic, road maintenance, emergency services, and the costs associated with large events
• New Richmond residents formally file a petition seeking to dissolve the village government
• If the petition is certified, voters could decide the village’s future during the November 3, 2026 election
• Batavia officials answer questions about the police department’s use of Flock automated license-plate cameras
• Council discusses data retention, access, auditing, information sharing, and how officers respond to camera alerts
• Batavia introduces a proposed development policy covering growth, tax incentives, infrastructure costs, and annexation
• The village reviews concerns about access to the police department’s telephone and voicemail system
• Officials work with the village’s outside telephone vendor to determine how the system is currently configured
• Pierce Township approves its 2027 budget
• Trustees consider whether TIF funds can support approximately $630,000 in road and infrastructure projects
• Township officials discuss police and fire expenses, station renovations, cemetery costs, and possible new revenue sources
• Local candidates and organizations with levies on the November ballot are invited to contact the show for an interview

Events

• Union Township Farmers Market
• Hoots and Hops at Cincinnati Nature Center
• Union Township Summer Concert featuring the Marty Connor Band
• Clermont County Parks Annual Butterfly Count
• Goshen Branch Plant Club
• Native American Artifact Evaluation with the Clermont County Historical Society
• Classical guitarist Peter Fletcher in concert
• Chillseekers Women’s Summer Hike Series
• Nighthawk Night Hike: Moths
• Hike with Clermont County Park District staff at Shor Park
• Union Township Farmers Market
• Union Township Summer Concert featuring Fourth Day Echo
• Music Under the Moon featuring Ralph and the Rhythm Hounds
• Cincinnati Nature Center Summer Bird Walk
• Community CPR and AED class
• Cincinnati Nature Center Summer Native Plant Sale
• Trail Yoga at Cincinnati Nature Center
• Foraged Ice Cream Foray: Sassafras
• Clermont County Fair

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Ep. 73 — Holly Brians Ragusa on Lit Cincy, Poetry, Memoir, Writing, Healing, and Cincinnati’s Literary Community 


We start this week with news from around Clermont County, including the groundbreaking for a new Veterans Village, brownfield cleanup funding for New Richmond, Clermont County’s new Facade Improvement Pilot Program, safety improvements at the State Route 32 and Herold Road intersection, Milford’s 2027 tax budget hearing, and a detailed look at Milford’s PFAS water treatment options. 


Interview — Holly Brians Ragusa 


Holly Brians Ragusa joins the show to talk about writing, poetry, memoir, literary community, and the work of connecting writers, readers, bookstores, libraries, open mics, workshops, and arts organizations across Greater Cincinnati. 


Holly is a writer, poet, speaker, community activist, founder of Lit Cincy, and president of the Ohio Poetry Association. The conversation covers her path as a writer, the value of good editors and workshops, the difficulty of creative work, and why literary communities matter for both new and experienced writers. 


We also talk about Lit Cincy, a grassroots effort to serve as connective tissue for the region’s literary life. Holly explains how the idea came together, why Cincinnati needed a stronger literary hub, and how Lit Cincy hopes to highlight local writers, literary events, independent bookstores, publishers, editors, libraries, and community partners. 


The conversation also gets into poetry, open mics, the Ohio Poetry Association, and how people who feel intimidated by poetry can begin reading, listening, writing, and joining the community. Holly shares why poetry and writing can be powerful tools for healing, reflection, and connection. 
A major part of the interview focuses on Holly’s memoir, Met the End, which tells the story of her father’s murder by serial killer Donald Harvey. Holly discusses the process of reclaiming that story from sensational true-crime framing and writing instead about survivorship, trauma, family, healing, and the humanity of victims and their families. 


We also discuss local history, America’s River Roots, the Riverwalk Cincy app, the Freedom Journey app, and why understanding the history of Cincinnati, Clermont County, the Ohio River, and the Underground Railroad can help communities better understand themselves. 
Links from this episode 

• Holly Brians Ragusa — Official Website
• Lit Cincy
• Met the End
• Ohio Poetry Association

News

•  Clermont County breaks ground on a new Veterans Village to support homeless veterans in the Tri-State 
•  The more than $10 million Veterans Village project will include 19 homes and wraparound support services 
•  Ohio awards $15.5 million in brownfield cleanup and assessment grants across 35 counties 
•  Clermont County receives $400,000 for cleanup of the former New Richmond bus garage site 
•  The Clermont County Port Authority launches a new Facade Improvement Pilot Program 
•  Eligible commercial and mixed-use properties may receive up to $20,000 for exterior improvements 
•  Batavia and ODOT begin safety improvements at State Route 32 and Herold Road 
•  Milford City Council holds a public hearing on the city’s 2027 tax budget 
•  Milford officials discuss future park levy questions and the unfinished vision for Five Points Park 
•  AECOM presents Milford City Council with options for removing PFAS from the city’s drinking water 
•  Milford considers granular activated carbon and ion exchange treatment options for PFAS removal 
•  City officials discuss funding options, settlement money, possible regionalization, and the long-term future of Milford’s water utility 

Events

•  Union Township Farmers Market 
•  Bethel America 250 Celebration Kick-Off Picnic and Worship in the Park 
•  Ralph Shepherd Concert Series in New Richmond 
•  Summer Bird Walk at Crooked Run Nature Preserve 
•  Front Street Flea Pop-Up Flea Market 
•  Milford Farmers Market 
•  Second Saturday in Haussermann Park 
•  Clermont County History and Museum Day 
•  Elvis Tribute Concert in Miami Township 
•  New Richmond Farmers Market 
•  Astronauts of Ohio at the Miami Township Library 
•  Oregon Trail Adventure at the Bethel Library 
•  Sunset River Paddle at Chilo Lock 34 Park 
•  Red, White and Bloom into Independence 
•  Hoots and Hops at Cincinnati Nature Center 
•  Union Township Summer Concert with the Marty Connor Band 
•  Annual Butterfly Count 
•  Goshen Branch Plant Club 
•  Native American Artifact Evaluation with the Clermont County Historical Society

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Ep. 72 — Jack and Samantha Graff on Paradise Brewing, Local Beer, Family Business, Homebrewing, and Building a Community Taproom

We start this week with news from around Clermont County, including the 2028 Big Ten Women’s Rowing Championship coming to East Fork State Park, a Union Township rezoning proposal near Clough Pike and Ridge Point Drive, a proposed public safety levy in Union Township, Lonza USA considering a major Williamsburg Township facility, a Pierce Township data security issue, Loveland’s new downtown trail-crossing traffic signal, the ongoing Batavia dissolution debate, and West Clermont’s transportation and budget changes.

Interview — Jack and Samantha Graff of Paradise Brewing

Jack and Samantha Graff join the show to talk about Paradise Brewing, the family-run brewery and taproom in Anderson Township. The conversation covers the history of the business, from its roots in homebrewing supplies to the taproom that opened in 2012, and how the Graff family has built a loyal local following around fresh beer, regulars, events, and a true neighborhood feel.

We talk about what it takes to run a brewery, how Paradise has shifted its focus over the years, and why the business moved away from selling homebrewing supplies to focus more directly on brewing and the taproom. Jack also shares how his background as a chef connects with brewing through fermentation, flavor, sanitation, experimentation, and the work that goes into making beer at scale.

The conversation gets into beer styles, brewing equipment, sours, lagers, fruit beers, ciders, wines, carbonation, contamination, and what happens when a batch just does not turn out right. Jack and Samantha also talk about Paradise Brewing’s mug club, rotating tap list, food trucks, local partnerships, and the work of refreshing the taproom while keeping the family-business character that regulars already love.

We also discuss upcoming Paradise Brewing events, including National Independent Beer Run Day, Fourth of July parade-day festivities, Ponytails and Pints, Anything But a Cup Night, Paint and Sip, food trucks, and other community events designed to bring new faces into the taproom while keeping longtime regulars connected.

News

• Clermont County will host the 2028 Big Ten Women’s Rowing Championship at East Fork State Park
• The rowing championship is expected to bring about 550 student-athletes and families to the area
• Local officials project more than $700,000 in economic impact from the Big Ten rowing event
• Union Township Zoning Commission recommends approval of a proposed 60-lot subdivision near Clough Pike and Ridge Point Drive
• Union Township Trustees schedule a July 9 special meeting on a proposed public safety levy for fire and police operations
• Lonza USA is considering a major Williamsburg Township facility that could bring hundreds of jobs to Clermont County
• Ohio officials approve a job creation tax credit tied to the potential Lonza project
• Pierce Township approves legal, forensic, and professional services connected to a data security matter
• Pierce Township schedules a July 14 hearing on its 2027 budget
• Loveland plans a new traffic signal where the Little Miami Scenic Trail crosses West Loveland Avenue
• Railroad Avenue in Loveland will become one-way as part of downtown traffic circulation changes
• Batavia’s possible village dissolution effort continues, with debate over taxes, development, employee retention, and local control
• Batavia Council approves an emergency ordinance tied to employee retention if the village is dissolved
• Batavia Council discusses TIF ordinances connected to the Trowbridge and BRMI properties near Taylor Road
• West Clermont Schools plans transportation changes, including fewer bus routes, more neighborhood and cluster stops, and impractical transportation notices for some students
• West Clermont officials say budget pressure is tied to lower projected revenue, rising costs, and efforts to protect classroom services

Events

• Freedom Fest in New Richmond
• Milford Sparks in the Park
• Front Street Flea Pop-Up Flea Market
• Pierce Township Fourth of July Bike Parade
• New Richmond Cardboard Boat Regatta
• Goshen Fourth of July Parade
• New Richmond Farmers Market
• Campfire Stories at Shore Park
• Crawdad Creek Crawl
• Union Township Farmers Market
• Bethel America 250 Celebration Kickoff Picnic and Worship in the Park
• Ralph Shepard Concert Series in New Richmond
• Summer Bird Walk at Crooked Run Nature Preserve
• Second Saturday in Haussermann Park
• Clermont County History and Museum Day
• Elvis Tribute Concert in Miami Township
• Paradise Brewing’s National Independent Beer Run Day
• Paradise Brewing’s Ponytails and Pints
• Paradise Brewing’s Anything But a Cup Night
• Paradise Brewing’s Paint and Sip

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Ep. 71 — Teresa Youngstrom on Dementia Care, Memory Loss, Caregiver Stress, and A Better Approach to Memory Care


We start this week with news from around Clermont County, including the former Beckjord coal plant site being listed for sale amid coal ash concerns, Clermont County’s 2027 tax budget hearing, Loveland’s zoning code rewrite, Milford Schools’ latest financial update, Bethel’s possible beekeeping zoning changes, and New Richmond’s Liberty Landing construction update.


Interview — Teresa Youngstrom, Registered Nurse, Dementia Specialist, and Founder of A Better Approach to Memory Care


Teresa Youngstrom joins the show to talk about caring for people living with dementia, Alzheimer’s, and other forms of memory loss. Teresa is a seasoned registered nurse and dementia specialist whose work was shaped by her own experience caring for her mother during a decade of decline.
The conversation covers how families can better understand dementia, why dementia is not one single diagnosis, and how symptoms can vary from person to person. Teresa explains why caregivers often need to change their approach instead of trying to argue, correct, or force someone with memory loss into compliance.


We also talk about practical caregiving tools, including validating emotions, de-escalating tense moments, redirecting with compassion, building routines, identifying “happy places,” avoiding yes-or-no questions, and looking for pain or discomfort when a loved one becomes agitated.


Teresa also shares advice for families planning long-term care, bringing in outside help, preparing a “Plan B,” evaluating memory care options, and protecting caregivers from burnout. It is a thoughtful conversation about dignity, patience, flexibility, and how families can better care for loved ones during a difficult season of life.
News

• Former Beckjord coal plant site near New Richmond listed for $13.5 million amid ongoing coal ash concerns
• Clermont County officials continue warning about possible risks to public water infrastructure near the Ohio River
• Clermont County holds its 2027 tax budget hearing
• County officials flag rising costs, capital needs, Child Protective Services funding pressure, and mental health funding concerns
• Loveland Parks and Recreation updates several capital projects, including Nisbeth Park, Phillips Park, Shoemaker property planning, and pickleball court resurfacing
• Loveland City Council moves forward with a broad zoning code rewrite and sets a public hearing for July 28
• Milford Schools reports a stronger-than-expected financial position
• Milford School Board approves policy, budget, transportation, textbook, HVAC, and online learning plan items
• Bethel considers zoning changes that could make it easier for residents to keep bees inside village limits
• New Richmond seeks seasonal summer help
• Liberty Landing construction begins near River Hills Bank, with riverfront access restrictions during construction

Events

• New Richmond Tavern Grand Opening
• Union Township Farmers Market
• America 250 Flag Dedication Ceremony in Batavia Township
• Front Street Flea Pop-Up Flea Market
• River Sweep 2026 in New Richmond
• Madcap Puppets: Monkey See, Monkey Do
• New Richmond Farmers Market
• Concert in the Park: Steve Free
• Batavia America 250 Celebration
• Miami Township America 250 Opening Ceremony
• New Richmond Freedom Fest
• Milford Sparks in the Park
• Pierce Township Fourth of July Bike Parade
• New Richmond Cardboard Boat Regatta
• Goshen Fourth of July Parade

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