The Pleasant Ridge CHRONICLE
• Winter 2025 •

Winter 2025 brings new energy to Pleasant Ridge, showcasing our community's strength and adaptability. As temperatures drop, our neighborhood continues to thrive through collaborative efforts, local initiatives, and the hardwork of our neighbors. In 2025, we're focused on moving projects forward, supporting one another, and continuing to grow our community.

Pleasant Ridge Community Council 

The Pleasant Ridge Community Council (PRCC) represents all residents of Pleasant Ridge and advocates for the continued well-being, safety, and improvement of the neighborhood. PRCC is made up of dedicated volunteers from the neighborhood whose work fuels the progress of PRCC! Whether you're passionate about local events, safety, or community development, there's a place for you.

Meetings are held the first Tuesday of each month at 7 PM on the 2nd floor of the Pleasant Ridge Recreation Center, with virtual attendance options available.

Visit our website here for more details.

Please see the below links to each role/committee that currently has an opening and need for someone(s) to step up and help us help Pleasant Ridge!

Beautification Committee Chair and Members

Communications Committee Members

Gateway Lead (Orchard) and Gateway committee members

Resources Committee Chair and Members

Safety Committee Members

Youth Committe Chair and Members

If interested in any of the above roles, please contact our PRCC President at president_prcc@pleasantridge.org.

With Great Snow Comes Great Responsibility

Snow Cleanup Crew

Lauren Farquhar / Pleasant Streets

When the first snowflakes started dancing down Montgomery Road, our neighborhood transformed into a winter wonderland. In total, the Cincinnati area saw nearly 16 inches of snowfall in January, more than double the typical amount. February has also been a cold and snowy month. But here's the thing about snow - it's beautiful from inside with hot cocoa, and slightly less magical when you're trying to navigate icy sidewalks walking to school or work. Enter our neighborhood's unsung heroes: the volunteers who grab shovels, salt, and pure community spirit to keep Pleasant Ridge moving. A special thanks to Gaslight Cafe for providing a warm meal to our community volunteers.

An unshovelled sidewalk might seem harmless, but it can quickly become a dangerous obstacle course for seniors, parents with strollers, and anyone navigating our streets. The city has some rules about clearing our sidewalks, and while we can't force anyone to do it, we rely on our Pleasant Ridge residents and business owners to keep our neighborhood safe. City ordinances require the snow to be cleared within four hours of daylight after it stops falling or you could be fined. And if there's ice? You'll need to either remove it or make it safe by throwing down some sand or something similar. The real risk isn't just a city fine—it's the potential liability if someone falls on your uncleared property. By doing your part, you can help prevent serious injuries and potential legal headaches.

Pro tip, neighbors: When clearing your sidewalks, remember to "shovel early and often." Also, be aware and willing to lend a hand to an elderly neighbor in need. Your mail carrier, delivery drivers, and fellow pedestrians will thank you.

Luminaria

Our annual Luminaria event proved that nothing can dampen the Pleasant Ridge community spirit! Despite unexpected rainfall, neighbors came together to create a magical evening of glowing lanterns that transformed our streets into a breathtaking winter landscape.

On the magical evening of December 14th, Pleasant Ridge came alive with the soft glow of Luminaria. Residents lined their sidewalks, driveways, and porches with glowing candles, creating a warm and inviting atmosphere that brought our community together.

We're thrilled to announce that this year's event raised $3,600, which is $300 more than the 2023 event. These funds will support vital community initiatives in Pleasant Ridge, including neighborhood beautification, resident safety, and improvements for pedestrians and cyclists.

This event wouldn't have been possible without Jeff Syroney and his family, who volunteered countless hours to organize and distribute the Luminaria kits throughout our neighborhood. Their dedication was instrumental in making this event a success.

Thank you for supporting Pleasant Ridge Community Council's last fundraiser of 2024. Whether this was your 1st PR Luminaria or your 20th, we appreciate you keeping this community tradition alive. 🌟

A Big Thanks to the Beautification Committee

Letters of PRM Students

Courtesy of Clara Califf | PRM Teacher

Beautifying a community is more than just keeping up appearances; it's about cultivating pride, fostering community engagement, and enhancing the experience for all. Even small changes, such as picking up trash, keeping public spaces clean, or planting flowers, can significantly impact our community.

We received letters from some of our youngest residents, students at Pleasant Ridge Montessori (PRM), voicing what they love about Pleasant Ridge and their ideas for improvements. Children's voices are often the most honest and insightful. By understanding their perspectives, many aligning with adults, we can ensure that future beautification projects meet the needs and desires of all community members, creating a neighborhood that represents everyone's wishes. Click here to view the full collection of student letters.

We invite you to read these letters and be inspired by the children's vision for our neighborhood. You'll find themes of walkability, neighborhood aesthetics, and suggestions for future businesses. By investing in beautification projects, we invest in the well-being of our community and create a place where children can thrive, learn, and grow.

If you have interest in joining the Pleasant Ridge Beautification Committee and making children's dreams come true, please fill out the form below!

"Something I love about living in Pleasant Ridge is how close everything is to my house. I can just open my door and take a little walk to the library whenever. Two things you could do to make Pleasant Ridge more beautiful are 1. Planting more trees in empty patches of grass where there aren't many trees. 2. Fix up empty run-down buildings with no good reason to stay there."

"I love how Pleasant Ridge has a line of shops that reminds me of Disneyland."

"My other suggestion is to try to not make the new building [Lester & Montgomery building development] look like a hotel. The reason is because I want it to match the neighborhood."

"I love how there's so many trees and there's (usually) no trash in the park. I also love how the park was recently painted... I think Pleasant Ridge is already pretty pleasant! (get it pleasant)"

"One thing I love about Pleasant Ridge is that it is very calm. One thing I suggest to make Pleasant Ridge more beautiful is to have a water park."

"And my two suggestions to make Pleasant Ridge more beautiful is to take away bullies from Pleasant Ridge and build a skating rink. It would also be nice to have movie night on the weekend in the Summer time."

Pleasant Ridge Parks

Did you know that Erik from Community Nature Advocates and Scott from Friends of French Park knew each other back in their Woodford Academy days? Now they both support groups that contribute to the beauty and biodiversity of our neighborhood. They welcome you for regular weekday or weekend neighborhood gatherings to uncover our parks' secrets, including the location of the natural spring at French Park, and learn why our local nature needs your help. It's a great workout too!

Updates from Erik Brueggemann

Parks Committee Chair and now Master Gardener

Invasive of the Season

Spring is Almost Here

Nature for the Season

Three Owls Our Neighborhood Calls Home

Pleasant Ridge: Then vs Now

Curated by Kelly Jones

Step back in time as we review the fascinating evolution of Pleasant Ridge! Our neighborhood, annexed by Cincinnati in 1911, has a rich history dating back to its beginnings as a small community in 1795. From its early days as a farming community and a crossroads for travelers, Pleasant Ridge has blossomed into the desirable residential area we know and love today.

In this issue, we're showcasing the "then" versus "now" in photographs, contrasting images from as far back as 1876 with the Pleasant Ridge of 2025. In these photos we can see the remarkable growth and changes our neighborhood has experienced over the years. Did you know that Goodfellas Pizzeria used to be the Pleasant Ridge Hotel and Queen City Comics used to be horse stables? Pleasant Ridge was a popular overnight stop for stagecoaches on their way to and from the Golden Lamb in Lebanon, OH.

Some of these historical buildings have seen renovations or additions such as the Goodfellas Pizzeria storefront, the Pocket Park in annex of St. Peter's Church, and the expansion of the Pleasant Ridge Library. Others buildings, such as 6100 Montgomery Road or the Pleasant Ridge Theater, are heading towards demolition. As we look to the future, let's embrace change while continuing to honor our neighborhood's rich history, knowing that our actions today will shape the Pleasant Ridge of tomorrow.

The Charmaines: A Hidden Gem in Pleasant Ridge

Submitted by Jim Cundiff, revered unofficial historian of Pleasant Ridge

Photos submitted by Jim Cundiff

Faithful readers will no doubt recognize a shift of focus with this column, away from buildings, in favor of a person of some note. Not to worry, before we’re through the relationship to Pleasant Ridge will be made clear.

In 1961 Billboard’s “Bubbling Under” chart included a local act, the Charmaines. Known as “Cincinnati’s top girl group”, the Charmaines first sang together as an entry in their high school’s talent show, Taft’s “Taftcapades”. The original members were Dee Watkins, Irene Vinegar, and the lead, Marian Jackson, dubbed “Gigi” by a young niece who couldn’t pronounce Marian.

Gigi had been singing since childhood, first in the church and later with a family group, the Jackson Sisters: Rosemary on piano with vocalists Gigi, Merel and Jerri.

The Charmaines, while still students at Taft, won the ‘Harris Rosedale Talent Show’ on WCPO. The prize was a contract with Fraternity Records, which was located on Race Street. Before long the Charmaines, named after one of Dee Watkins’ cousins, were getting airplay on regional radio stations.

From a 2003 Cincinnati Post article: “The Charmaines took their act on the road, performing in such cities as Detroit, Cleveland, Chicago, Toronto, and Indianapolis. Bob Braun had ‘dance party’ shows, patterned after Dick Clark’s “American Bandstand,” on Channel 5 (WLWT). The Charmaines were regulars and stayed that way after Nick Clooney took over as host in 1967.

“They also stayed busy doing backup work at King Records, in Evanston, working with a diverse assortment of performers that included James Brown, Conway Twitty, Lonnie Mack and the Grand Ole Opry cowboy singer, Hawkshaw Hawkins.

“By 1964 the trio was called Gigi and the Charmaines. Herman Griffin, the man Gigi eventually would marry, was working for Motown in Detroit when he heard the group’s hit ‘If You Were Mine.’ A year or so later, Herman helped negotiate a contract for the trio with Columbia Records.

“Later the Charmaines moved to Toronto and began doing a nightclub show, performing in more live venues and recording less. The Charmaines began to unravel late in the decade: Irene left to get married; Gigi’s sister, Gerri, replaced her; Gigi and Gerri went on as a duet. By 1974 Gigi was married to Herman Griffin. That year the Griffins moved back to Cincinnati. It was time to start a family, Gigi said."

In later years Gigi would perform with an accompanist, Carmen Mercalde, at private parties. A quote from Gigi: “We sing a lot for senior citizens. I don’t really regard it as work. We go into nursing homes and retirement centers, wherever there are seniors that need to be uplifted, we go there and sing for them.”

A final quote from Gigi: “When I graduated high school, I had gotten scholarships to go to college, because I wanted to be a teacher. But after we won the contract with Fraternity Records, I had always wanted to be a singer, so that’s what I decided to do.”

So what has all this to do with Pleasant Ridge? Simply this: For many years Gigi was a jewel in our midst – she rented a house right here in the Ridge, on Woodmont. I know this because I walked my dog by that house countless times over the years, and Gigi and her dogs were frequently outside on the front porch, watching the world go by. To my everlasting regret, when I’d see Gigi - at that time I knew nothing about her - I never made the effort to go beyond a wave or a “good morning.”

Lessons learned/relearned:

(1) Everybody has a story

(2) The older a person, the greater the likelihood their story will be a good one

(3) Most often, to hear that story, all you need do is ask - but you have to ask.

Did you miss the PRCC Quarterly | Fall 2024?

In last edition, we covered the exciting happenings of Pleasant Ridge during Fall 2024. We highlighted DOTE's Ridge Renovation Project, a resident spotlight, Pocket Park preparations, PRBA Halloween Costume Party, PR's historical theaters, and mapped our neighborhood's Little Free Libraries.

PRCC Committees (always looking for volunteers!)

Upcoming Community Events

2/22, 12-2pm - Socks 101 Knitting Class @ Make.Do. Registration required.

2/24, 3pm - Lego Club @ PR Library. All ages welcome.

2/26, 9am - Community Nature Advocates @ Kennedy Heights Park. Learn to identify local plants and animals while maintaining park ecosystems.

2/26, 6pm - Make.Do. & Read @ Make.Do. Sign up and bring your latest WIP (work-in-progress) to work on while you discuss the selected book.

2/26, 6:45pm - Fantasmagoria Horror Book Club @ PR Library. House of Bone and Rain by Iglesias. For adults.

3/1, 12-2pm - Granny Squares Crochet Class @Make.Do. Registration required.

3/4, 7pm - Pleasant Ridge Community Council Meeting @ CRC

Get in Touch! Here is How