The Voice - October 2020

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Enjoy Our Safe and Socially Distanced Halloween Celebration

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Submitted by City Manager Tom Fromme and Police Chief Chris Fangman

Halloween Celebration - Rain/Shine Event
Saturday, October 31, 6-8 pm 
City Building, 998 Monmouth St.
Neighborhood groups and businesses encouraged to participate

Autumn 2020 is descending upon us and with it – Halloween! As parents, we cannot imagine the feelings and emotions our children have encountered throughout this atypical year.

In an effort to keep everyone as safe as possible, while still allowing for our children’s happiness, we are looking forward to hosting a small, socially distanced Halloween event at the City Building. Our Newport Police Department and our Newport Fire Department will have their mascot dogs McGruff and Sparky ready to meet our residents and their children to collect individual bags of candy, while sanitizing their hands and wearing masks. Please note that Halloween masks are not a proper substitute for appropriate COVID-19 masks.

We are encouraging neighborhood groups and businesses to set up tables at the City Building with an advertisement or sign showing community support. Kentucky Public Health guidelines are to be followed as well as these specific rules:

  • Bring a table with signage.

  • Have plenty of hand sanitizer on your table.

  • Have individually packaged candy ready to be picked up by a child. 

  • NO CANDY BAGS WILL BE HANDED OUT, ONLY PICKED UP FROM YOUR TABLE.

Yes, trick or treat procedures will be different this Halloween. However, participating at the City Building will be something for the community to do together. For those interested in setting up a table, please email Captain Paul Kunkel. Please reference the below documents as you make plans for Halloween:

PLEASE NOTE THE FOLLOWING UPDATE TO THIS ARTICLE REGARDING THE AT-HOME TRICK OR TREAT OPTION - NEIGHBORHOOD TRICK OR TREATING, SATURDAY, OCTOBER 31, 6-8 PM:

Please Trick-or-Treat the Safe Way.

  • Follow social distancing as much as possible.

  • Stay close to family members.  Please do not crowd.           

  • Place individually wrapped candy on table, not in bowls and place table on your porch, driveway, or sidewalk.

  • Avoid handing candy directly to trick-or-treaters.

  • Maintain a social distance of a least 6 feet from anyone not within your household.

Remember to always wear a face covering – Halloween masks DO NOT count as a face covering.

  • Clean hands before and after touching the wrapped candy.

  • Trick or treat in family groups. Do not congregate in large groups.

  • Trick or treat in your own neighborhood. Do NOT travel to other neighborhoods.

  • Use hand sanitizer often, especially after contacting frequently touched surfaces and before eating anything.

As always, if you have any questions, please email bholiday@newportky.gov or call the office at 859-292-3687.

Newport’s Online Resources:

Thanks for making Newport a great place to live, work, shop, dine and play.

Newport School Board Election: Be Informed - Don’t Guess!

Submitted by Ed Davis

It’s not that surprising. You are faced with 32 “boxes” on the Newport ballot this year plus 2 constitutional amendments, so knowing everything about everything can be tough. There is some good news, however. Below is the link to a community sourced website dedicated to the Newport School Board election. Given that 79% of our property taxes go to the schools, we all have an important stake, whether we have a child in the schools or not. To learn more about the election including a preview of the actual ballot go to:  https://www.vote4newportschools.org.

Fun Fall Programs Underway at Campbell County Public Library - Newport Branch 

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Curbside Trick or Treat is 6-8 pm Saturday, October 17. Visit the Newport, Cold Spring or Carrico/Fort Thomas branches for curbside trick or treat. (Rain date is October 24.) If patrons do not drive, it is okay to walk. Just be mindful of traffic and social distancing.

Our library is collecting masks in partnership with Coverings for Kids. Schools across the country are working with Covid-19-related precautions and that means many, many masks are needed. Enter Coverings for Kids, a campaign developed by First Lady Britainy Beshear and Lt. Gov. Jacqueline Coleman. The idea is to collect masks at no cost to the schools, an effort to help ensure that no one, regardless of their circumstances or resources, will go unprotected. All four branches of the library (including the Newport branch at 901 E. 6thSt.) are serving as drop-off locations until further notice. Donated masks can be homemade or purchased and in child or adult sizes, which are also suitable for middle and high school students. Masks are divided equally among all public schools in Campbell County. Visit the website to learn more about donating masks. 

Our Newport branch is busy with fall programs for children and adults, both in-person and virtual. Yes, Zoom programs are available! Register for online programs at www.cc-pl.org/events, and you will receive an email with the login information on the day of the program. These are live events only offered at the time and date listed. You are not required to have a Zoom account to join. Zoom events include book discussions; helpful resources on topics such as job hunting and remote learning; and timely and interesting programs for adults, children, teens, and families. Visit the website for a list of programs. 

Honor Your 4-Legged Furkids with a Dog Park Brick

By Paula Brandon

Step onto the first batch of bricks installed at the Newport Dog Park and the messages will make your heart soar. Tributes to beloved pets, past and present, are not the only sentiments you’ll find, since many bricks honor spirited East Row residents and businesses that have made our historic neighborhood special. 

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Routine expenses will always be part of the dog park’s upkeep, and the purchase of bricks will help provide needed funds, all while leaving a permanent legacy at the facility. Buying a brick is a great way for petparents to celebrate their four-legged family members or honor a family member or friend’s birthday, anniversary or special occasion.

Bricks are installed when the appropriate number of orders is received for each 12x12 ft. section, with space for a total capacity of 500 bricks. Another round of bricks will be installed when enough orders have been received for the next section, so let’s get our orders in now to be part of the legacy of our new dog park. Here’s how to order: 

$75 Donation – 4x8 in. brick
$500 Donation – 12x12 in. brick 

Visit PolarEngraving.com/NewportDogPark
PayPal or checks accepted

Reminders: City Services, Leaf Collection and Census

Submitted by Bev Holiday, Community Liaison Coordinator

All city departments are functioning as the City Building remains closed to the public. All departments continue to function including work related to occupation licenses, tax payments, Certificates of Appropriateness (COA), development project requests, sign requests, public works projects, the Newport Forward Comprehensive Plan, and more. Most required applications are available on the city’s website for processing via email or the city lockbox inside the entry doors at 998 Monmouth St. Please note: The next Board of Commissioners meeting is Monday, October 19, at 7 pm via the city’s Facebook page. Meetings of the Board of Commissioners, Board of Adjustments, Planning and Zoning, and Historic Preservation will also be available for viewing on the city’s Facebook page. Please check the city’s website for dates and times of meetings.

Leaf collection is underway. Leaf Collection began the week of October 12 and runs through December with designated days for specific streets each month. Visit the city’s website to view the schedule. 

Be sure to take the census. Our Newport census 2020 response currently stands at just 62%. Please help us get the word out through our entire Newport community that the census is of great importance to our funding! For every person missed in the census, the City of Newport and Campbell County loses approximately $2,000, per year for the next 10 years for federally funded projects and services. It Is our legal obligation to submit our information and be counted. The 2020 census will end Saturday, October 31, per the census 2020 updated website at press time. Login to the census website today!

Campbell County Farmers Market Open Saturdays Only Until October 31

You have only until October 31 to enjoy the Campbell County Farmers Market! Located in the city parking lot at 709 Monmouth St., next to the Pepper Pod, the market is open 9 am-12 noon. Here’s what’s in season at the Market: A nice variety of fall produce is available and Chef Amy has fresh-baked cinnamon coffee cake squares, muffins, flat breads and cookies.

Farmers Markets are an essential business in the Commonwealth of Kentucky and COVID-19 safety guidelines are followed. Guidelines include, spaced set-up for farmers, directional instructions for entrance and exit, a hand washing station at the entrance, marked waiting spots to maintain social distancing, and limitations around farmer selling sites.

Reminder: Bring Home Some of Newport’s History

New Riff Community Bourbon Barrel Bottles Available for Purchase: The limited edition 225th anniversary bottles “Proudly Celebrating Our Diverse Past & Making History Every Day” are now available for purchase in the New Riff Distillery Gift Shop at 24 Distillery Way. Thanks to New Riff’s generous donation, a portion of each bottle sold will benefit the 225th Anniversary Celebration of Newport’s History.

The Newport History Museum @ The Southgate Street School is offering for purchase a limited supply of architectural pieces from the former 1936 Fourth Street School. All proceeds from the sale will benefit the promotion and interpretation of the 225-year history of the City of Newport.

Items Available for Purchase:
Terra Cotta Decorative Block - $55
Slate Deli Cheese Board - $28
Oak and Brass Stair Railings - $75

Newport 225 Coasters and magnets are also available, locally handcrafted by Studio Vertu.
Coasters - $10
Magnets - $6

Delivery within Newport will be arranged. Please contact Scott Clark at sclark@newportky.gov for ordering items from the former Fourth Street School. Thank you for your continued support of the Newport History Museum!

The Voice

Editor: Paula Brandon

Send articles to voice@eastrow.org. The editor reserves the right to edit or reject submissions due to length or content.