Random Pictures

Here are the first of some pics that I salvaged from my rain-soaked trip to Ohio!

This is the sign to the HealthSource office in Milford.

Until your school is finished you will have classes at this office suite.

Sorry there are no pics of the building, it was getting dark when I arrived.

This will be your classroom in Milford. Nice, huh?!


This is John Henry. He belongs to Dr. Pedigo - whom I believe most of you have met. He is a great dog! Very obedient - except when a picture is being taken!!

This is the HealthSource office in Mt. Orab. Sorry about the pic quality - it was dark and raining and I was standing on the side of the road like a tourist taking a picture in the pouring rain!

This is the Mt. Orab HealthSource office building...at dark.

Once again, my apologies for the picture quality. But, if you are looking for a place to study, the Mt. Orab Public Library is across the street from the HealthSource offices. YAY!

More pictures to come...stay tuned!

I know what you're thinking...

"How is all this info helpful? I have to see it to decide for myself!"

And I agree.

But, if anything I write helps calm your nerves or worries over this move, then I am sucessful.

I don't write all this to overwhelm you, but to aid in any way possible.

Now, I could write about every little podunk town in Ohio, but that wouldn't be very helpful and I might go crazy! But I can tell you and show you the towns I visited.

I am still hoping that I have some decent pictures from my trip that I can post very soon.

But here is another topic...

If you don't have a realtor right now, I have one that might work for you. Her name is Rachel Jodrey and she was recommended by Bev Gifford at the Milford HealthSource office. Rachel actually worked for HealthSource at one time and came highly recommended. She was a huge help to me and stayed on top of the game from the very first email. In one day, she emailed me 25 houses to look at online! She said she would be very happy to help anyone that would like to contact her. It's also a plus becuase who wants to waste a trip to Ohio to drive around all day and really not see anything?!?! Not me!
So if you are interested in her info, please let me know.

In a Little Village Called Bethel...

I apologize in advance if my blog about Bethel seems partial...because it probably will be!

I found Bethel, OH to be very pretty (even in the rainstorm!) and extremely friendly.

Here is what I "discovered" in Bethel...

For those looking to move to the epitome of a Midwestern town, the small community of Bethel, Ohio might be just what you’re looking for. With just above 2,500 residents, it contains rolling hills and farmland that many people enjoy relaxing in. But it’s not a completely isolated town, 30 minutes is all it takes to enter Cincinnati. Though Bethel’s big shopping attraction is a small strip mall, nearby towns such as Eastgate and Georgetown offer many shopping options. A small park with a playground is in the center of Bethel, but for those looking for more; it is just five miles away from East Fork State Park.

Population:
Total Population 2,642
Population Density 1,973 Persons/Sq. Mile
Female Population 1,376
Male Population 1,266
Median Age 33.61 Years
Percentage Population Change since 1990 79%
Percentage Population Change Since 2000 0%

Colleges:
Nearest 2-Year Public College
U OF CINCINNATI CLERMONT COLL
Distance to U OF CINCINNATI CLERMONT COLL 10 Miles
Nearest 4-Year Public College
NORTHERN KENTUCKY UNIVERSITY
Distance to NORTHERN KENTUCKY UNIVERSITY 21 Miles

Households and Income:
Total Number of Households 1,022
Family Households 659
Average Family Size 3.41
Average Household Income $41,339
Median Household Income $40,429
Percentage Income Change Since 1990 79%
Percentage Income Change Since 2000 0%

Crime Rate:
Crime Rates Compared to National AverageThe National Average is designated 100%. A value of 200% represents twice as much risk while a value of 50% represents half as much risk.
Total Crime Risk 121%
Total Crime Risk (County) 60%
Personal Crime Risk (County) 40%
Murder Risk (County) 22%
Rape Risk (County) 140%
Robbery Risk 21%
Assault Risk (County) 20%
Property Risk (County) 65%
Burglary Risk (County) 68%
Larceny Risk (County) 91%
Motor Vehicle Theft Risk (County) 33%

Environment:
Average July High Temperature 85.6° F
Average January Low Temperature 21° F
Annual Precipitation 42.8 inches
Air Pollution Index 200% of National Average

Miscellaneous:
Sales Tax Rate 6.5%
Nearest Airport
CINCINNATI/NORTHERN KENTUCKY INTERNATIONAL
Distance to CINCINNATI/NORTHERN KENTUCKY INTERNATIONAL 32 Miles
Nearest Major Sports Team CINCINNATI REDS
Distance to CINCINNATI REDS 25 Miles

There seem to be plenty of homes to choose from - both old and new construction. I saw many very cute homes - pretty much built within the last 10 years, so in very good shape.

Schools - When speaking to doctors at the Milford HealthSource office, many of them live in Bethel (one man is on the school board!) and were very complementary about the schools. And after researching the Bethel-Tate school district, I found it to be absolutely true! They seem to have a great school system. Which pretty much sealed the deal for us since we have school age children. It was a bonus to be centrally located.

Eating places:

• Blue Haven Restuarant
  
• Subway
  
• Gramma's Pizza


• Dominoe's Pizza


• Frisch's Big Boy


• Skyline Chili


• Arby's


• Wendy's


• McDonald's


• Ice Cream Etc.


• Gold Star Chili
  

Please keep in mind that the list of eating places is according to city, just because it's not on here doesn't mean it couldn't be 5 miles away in the next town. When "branching" out to nearby towns, you get a much bigger choice of eating places.

Other things to do:

• Riverhouse Pottery: http://www.riverhousepottery.com/
• Harmony Hills Vineyard: www.hhwines.com

Bethel Village Website: http://bethel-oh.gov/index.asp

A Small (but quaint) Village Called Mt. Orab

As most of you may know, Mt. Orab is the place where your new school/medical offices will be built. When I spoke to the HealthSource office in Milford, OH they informed me that their hope is that the school will be finished by Fall 2008. So this little area will be your "main stomping grounds" when the school is done.

For those of you that are concerned with all the statistics of a town, here you go!

Population
Total Population 2,338
Population Density 616 Persons/Sq. Mile
Female Population 1,221
Male Population 1,117
Median Age 33.33 Years
Percentage Population Change since 1990 94%
Percentage Population Change Since 2000 0%


Colleges
Nearest 2-Year Public College CHATFIELD COLLEGE
Distance to CHATFIELD COLLEGE 13 Miles
Nearest 4-Year Public College NORTHERN KENTUCKY UNIVERSITY
Distance to NORTHERN KENTUCKY UNIVERSITY 29 Miles


Households and Income
Total Number of Households 889
Family Households 647
Average Family Size 3.09
Average Household Income $43,693
Median Household Income $42,741
Percentage Income Change Since 1990 94%
Percentage Income Change Since 2000 0%


Crime Rates Compared to National Average
The National Average is designated 100%. A value of 200% represents twice as much risk while a value of 50% represents half as much risk.
Total Crime Risk 12%
Total Crime Risk (County) 34%
Personal Crime Risk (County) 24%
Murder Risk (County) 31%
Rape Risk (County) 69%
Robbery Risk 7%
Assault Risk (County) 16%
Property Risk (County) 36%
Burglary Risk (County) 53%
Larceny Risk (County) 41%
Motor Vehicle Theft Risk (County) 16%


Environment
Average July High Temperature 85.6° F
Average January Low Temperature 19.6° F
Annual Precipitation 45.46 inches
Air Pollution Index 195% of National Average


Miscellaneous
Sales Tax Rate 6.75%
Nearest Airport CINCINNATI/NORTHERN KENTUCKY INTERNATIONAL
Distance to CINCINNATI/NORTHERN KENTUCKY INTERNATIONAL 40 Miles
Nearest Major Sports Team CINCINNATI REDS
Distance to CINCINNATI REDS 32 Miles


Did anyone happen to see the "average July High Temp"??? 85.6 degrees! We will actually be able to breathe in the summer! WOW!

HealthSource considers Mt. Orab the central location between all the CHC's you will travel to. So they recommend us finding housing in or around this area.
As most of you know, I visited this area in March - during a flood!! So most of my pictures are "water-logged" to say the least, but I will try and find some pics of the area so you get a feel for it.

If you have children that are school age, I do not recommend Mt. Orab area. The schools are not ranked well at and the last report card they got, they were on Academic Watch.
I actually liked the look (if it counts that I was looking at it during winter and in a rain storm!) of Mt. Orab, but since we have children we have decided to focus our house search in Bethel. But I will talk about Bethel in the next blog.

Mt. Orab has some new sub-divisions going up and house prices are (what I think) incredible! I looked at a brand new home, 3bed/2bath, for $145,000!! I couldn't beleive it!

Oh, for those of you worried you wouldn't have anywhere to eat here are just some of the eateries and stores I passed:

Eating Joints

• Arby's


• Wendy's


• McDonald's


• Subway


• Steak Escape


• Dominoe's Pizza


• Grandma's Pizza


• Butterbee's (local restruaunt that everyone says is great)


• Skyline Chili -AWESOME!


• Goldstar Chili


• Home Cookin' Country Inn


• Lake Manor

Shopping

• Family Dollar


• Kroger's Grocery (they own Fry's)

There is also a nice Best Western where I stayed while I was there. It was in the process of getting a "makeover"!

There is also a mall not far down the interstate called Eastgate.

Where to begin?!?

If anyone feels like me, you are probably stressed a bit about this "trek" across the country to an "unknown" land called Ohio! But I am not sure it's the thought of where we are going to live as much as it is how are we going to get there, find a home and get settled in time! UGH!
But there is hope and if we all lend a helping hand, we should make it there with a few less gray hairs on our heads!
So here is my small offering to those apprehensive (or excited!) about our big move - a page of the sites I saw during my visit and info I have collected. I will be updating the info along the way, so keep checking! Who knows what we might find?!
Enjoy!