In this episode of Vue From The Top, host Melissa Morandi sits down with Mayor Charlie Cleves, Fire Chief Brent Schaefer, and Captain Nick Scott to highlight the long-running Bellevue–Dayton Firefighters Toy Drive. The team shares the 30+ year history of the program, how it has grown with community partnerships like the Hensley family and Kroger, and the careful process behind selecting and supporting local families in need.

Listeners get an inside look at the months-long preparation, the massive toy sorting and wrapping operation, and the heartfelt stories that inspire the firefighters to keep the tradition alive. The episode also introduces new ways the City of Bellevue is supporting the effort this year through the “Bundle Up Bellevue” initiative.

The conversation wraps with details on how residents can donate toys, funds, and winter clothing, ensuring local children and families have a warm, joyful holiday season.

This summary was generated using AI.

In the newest episode of Vue From The Top, host Melissa Morandi, Director of Marketing and Communications for the City of Bellevue, sits down with Mayor Charlie Cleves and guests from Educate NKY — Dr. Jenny Watson, Vice President of Early Learning and Family Power, and Tom Haggard, Vice President of Community Engagement and Advocacy. The discussion focuses on how Educate NKY, a regional nonprofit partnership, works to connect schools, families, and communities across Boone, Kenton, and Campbell counties to expand educational opportunities for every child. The organization doesn’t run programs directly but instead serves as a convener and connector, helping coordinate and strengthen efforts that already exist in the region.

The conversation highlights Read Ready, a city-led early literacy initiative that Bellevue has joined alongside other Northern Kentucky river cities. Dr. Watson explains that the program aims to improve kindergarten readiness by aligning community resources for children from birth to age five and tracking progress through key indicators. Mayor Cleves and Melissa share Bellevue’s successful reading initiatives, such as the Adopt-a-Pet Reading Program and maintaining 26 Little Free Libraries, as local examples of how the city promotes literacy. The group also discusses the Footsteps2Brilliance app, a bilingual early literacy tool, and the importance of reading proficiency by third grade as a predictor of long-term academic success.

The episode closes with encouragement for residents to get involved — whether as one-on-one reading mentors, volunteers, or advocates — and an invitation to join Bellevue’s upcoming Read Ready committee. Melissa also reminds viewers about the city’s upcoming Christmas Tree Lighting Celebration on November 29, featuring a snowplow parade, Santa’s visit, and a community celebration.

This summary of “Educate NKY,” an episode of Vue From The Top, was generated using AI and may contain minor inaccuracies. For the full discussion, watch the official episode.

In this episode of Vue From The Top, host Melissa Morandi sits down with Bellevue Mayor Charlie Cleves and Assistant City Administrator Sam Shelton to discuss the exciting expansion of Bellevue Beach Park. The conversation covers how the city secured the property from the DuPont family, the vision for connecting Bellevue to Dayton through Riverfront Commons, and the potential for a new amphitheater and event space along the river.

Mayor Cleves and Shelton share personal stories about the property’s history, the importance of acting quickly to secure it, and how the expansion will solve challenges like event space, connectivity, and parking. They also outline next steps, including community input, design planning, and exploring grants and sponsorships to bring the vision to life.

The episode closes with a look at upcoming community events in Bellevue, including Art in the Park, the Farmers’ Market Tailgate edition, and the annual Fall Fest at Bellevue Beach Park.

An "Over-Vue" of City Projects - July 2025

This month, we're buzzing with excitement as we turn our focus to one of Bellevue's favorite summer traditions, the Farmers Market!

Joining Charlie and Melissa are two of our favorite vendors: Annie Brown of Laughing Bees Honey, and Will Bahlman of The Breadsmith.

Together, we'll preview what's ahead as Bellevue's Monthly Farmers Markets return the third Sunday of each month, July through September. Expect not just a market, but an experience, with Vendors, Food, Live Music, Animal Experiences and a Kids Zone with free activities for the whole family.

Special Guests: Campbell County Sheriff Mike Jansen and Bellevue Police Chief Jon McClain

In this episode of Vue From The Top, Mayor Charlie Cleves is joined by Will Weber and Jack Moreland of Southbank Partners to discuss the organization's impact on Bellevue and surrounding cities. From the Riverfront Commons trail and beach park improvements to the iconic Purple People Bridge and future community events, this conversation highlights the vision, partnerships, and progress driving regional development in Northern Kentucky.

Guests Alan Bernstein (Owner for BB Riverboats) and Susan Fischer (Executive Director - America's River Roots) join Bellevue mayor Charlie Cleves and Bellevue's marketing director, Melissa Morandi, to talk about the October 8th-12th 2025 event, 'America's River Roots'.

Joining Charlie Cleves is Ron Washington and Tom Guidugli Jr, mayors of Covington and Newport Kentucky, to discuss their Bridging Back Business initiative taking place now that the bridge has opened back up. February 2025.

Mayor Charlie Cleves from Bellevue Kentucky, along with Melissa Morandi, Marketing Director of Bellevue, talk to Chris Morandi, Co-Founder & Executive Director of Mainspring Wellness, about Mental Health Awareness. January 2025