Watching Sunday's Forecast

Frank Marzullo Here...Does it feel like it is a lot colder than usual? You would be correct! Our average high is in the mid-40's and for most of this week we have been in the low 20's for daytime highs and those wind chill factors ... WOW ... at zero or below. My friends, this is a late January and early February type of air mass that we are dealing with. Now it will warm up this weekend to near 40 by the Saturday, however our temperature roller coaster into Sunday will determine how much snow we will get Sunday. This system we are tracking will continue to change. As of now looking at rain on Saturday afternoon with possible rain snow mix far north on Saturday evening, but temperatures will warm and we will stick with rainfall through Sunday morning. Then depending on how fast the cold air moves in will depend how much snow we get Sunday. Right now it looks as if by mid-morning our snow change over will take place and snow showers will continue into Sunday afternoon. It is to early to predict snow totals because the track of just 50 to 100 miles could change this entire thing. Your FOX19 Stormtracker Weather Team will continue to track it and pin-point snow amounts as we get closer. You can track it here at www.fox19.com/weather . By the way it is not even WINTER YET!!!!

Why Christmas Has To Wait

What's the best Christmas gift I ever received? Hands down, it was a baby.

Hi, it's Sheila.
The last time I put up our Christmas tree before December 9 was in 1993. That was the year I became a mother. I got the tree up in November that year because I knew I wouldn't have time to do it after Katie arrived. I think I got my Christmas shopping done in October in case she came before her due date!

Ric and I decided back then that we would never allow Katie's birthday to be overshadowed by Christmas. We had heard stories of people whose parents always combined their Christmas birthdays with the holiday, and we didn't want Katie to feel as if her birthday wasn't a holiday for our family too.

While our neighbors have had Christmas trees in their windows and lights blazing outside for weeks, our house looks like it does every other day of the year. Our lights and ornaments are still stored away. I do make an exception for our Nativity scene, and it goes up around the beginning of Advent. Eric plays with the figures like they're army men, but having the manger out is a good way for our family to think about the real reason we have Christmas as we count down to the holiday.

So tomorrow, we'll have birthday cake instead of Christmas cookies. We will honor December 9. Before Katie was born, I would sit in her newly decorated pink bedroom and dream about what she would look like, about her personality, and about what she would be. As she turns 17, I can report that she is even more than I could have imagined. Katie is outgoing, adaptable, smart, funny. She is teenager, so sometimes she's moody and wants to grow up too fast, but she has a maturity which I think is rare in people her age. Most of all, she has brought indescribable joy to our lives, and tomorrow we will remind Katie that she is our most precious gift.

Holidays on the Square

Walked across Fountain Square on Saturday on my way to TJ Maxx and the square was packed.

Hey everyone. Rob here.

I love seeing people enjoying downtown, that what I saw over the weekend.

The water wasn't flowing at the Tyler Davidson Fountain but the Genius of Water still welcomed tri-state residents.

To me the square is like Cincinnati's family room. Where people gather, celebrate, connect and now watch T.V. The ice rink was packed. You see parents who no doubt skated downtown as kids, making similar memories with their kids. Its affordable. $3 for admission and another $3 for skate rental.

When you get hungry, I suggest Tom + Chee. I had their tasty grilled cheese sandwich last year. You can also buy hot chocolate (delicious) there. I also hear the tomato soup is fantastic. The owners have set up a facebook page. Find out more http://www.facebook.com/4TomAndChee They also have a new location on Court Street.

In addition to Tom + Chee there are a ton of restaurants around the square. Via Vite(great pizza) and Palomino's which has a new menu. I'm trying to drop a few pounds before I start to really train for the flying pig, so I always get the tuna crudo. Its one of the best appetizers out there.

So this holiday season, support downtown and stop by Fountain Square. We can connect as a city.

Chug A Chug A...Chug A Chug A...

Good Morning Everyone...Frank Marzullo Here...I think I can... I think I can... I think I can...That is what I was shouting all afternoon on Sunday as I made my first trip to Entertrainment Junction. Rob and I took a trip up north to West Chester to celebrate our former co-worker Regina Russo's sons second birthday. I have never been but have always heard great things. The detail from the train villages to the little people on the tracks to the trains themselves were awesome. They also have a special area for Holiday Trains complete with fake snow and snowmen. The best part was seeing kids of all ages including adults wearing the train conductor hats. I of course had to cheese it up and where my hat. The funny part was while we were in one of the party rooms a family was walking by and said " Hey Frank and Rob...what are you doing here?" So I said we do birthday parties on the weekend....and then the family actually hired us to make balloon animals and sing songs. Do you believe me? Yeah not really the way it happened... haha Have a great day!

Winter Driving and a big ole Cracked Windshield

Good Friday Morning!

Dan Wells writing, I hope this not finds you guys well and in good spirits!
So today I'm talking (venting) about my cracked car windshield, I know winter driving conditions can be dicey, but I never thought rock(s) would be flying around Tri-State roads like they are.

So when I looked up information on the issue, I found a lot of useful information, and I thought I'd pass it along.

If your windshield has been cracked or damaged, it can hinder visibility, especially in adverse driving conditions. While a small ding from a pebble kicked up by the vehicle in front of you on the road may be easy to overlook in good weather, it may be more of an issue in the winter. It is also unsafe, as small windshield cracks or dings can, if left unrepaired, turn into bigger problems.

In nighttime or low visibility driving situations, windshield damage can dramatically affect visibility, according to a study at the Highway Safety Research Institute. In a laboratory study simulating nighttime driver decision making, windshield damage was an important factor.

Sixteen drivers, ages 17 to 76, were shown slides of a two-lane rural road which they viewed through four different levels of windshield damage, both with and without simulated glare. As soon as each slide appeared, drivers pressed one of two buttons to indicate if they should slow down or if it was safe to proceed. Increasing levels of windshield damage were associated with increases in response time, with decisions made with the severely damaged windshield taking 8.5 percent longer, on the average, than with the undamaged windshield. Adding glare to windshield damage resulted in further increases in response time.

Winter weather conditions contribute to an increase in auto accidents as well. If your windshield is cracked, the overall safety of your vehicle may be compromised. "Many people don't realize that their car's windshield contributes to the vehicle's structural integrity by supporting the roof during a rollover," says Leo Cyr, vice president of the National Glass Association's (NGA) Auto Glass Division.

If the windshield is dislodged during a rollover, roof crush may be more severe. In addition, some vehicles are equipped with passenger side airbags that use the windshield for support during deployment. A damaged or improperly installed windshield may render that air bag ineffective when needed most.

That's why keeping your windshield in good shape is so important. Repairing or replacing your windshield should be done by a certified expert. But fixing your windshield may not be as costly as you think. Most professional auto glass businesses today offer both windshield repair and windshield replacement. By fixing small rock chips and cracks right away, you can avoid more damage, and it is highly likely that your original windshield can be saved.

The NGA's National Windshield Repair Committee recommends replacing any windshield where the damage has pierced the windshield's inner PVB layer or has broken the inner layer of glass. During windshield repair, the damaged windshield is not removed from the vehicle. The factory applied seal of windshield to vehicle is preserved. That fact alone may be good reason to consider windshield repair as a first option.

Some windshields may be so badly damaged that repair is not possible. If windshield replacement is indicated, Cyr recommends that consumers place their highest priority on locating a competent, professional installation company. "Windshield replacement is a skilled, safety related service requiring highly trained technicians using the best materials technology can provide.

So with all of that said I'm replacing my windshield on Monday...AND THE BEST PART....my insurance is paying for it!

Happy winter driving.

Dan Wells

It's The Holiday Season

Are you ready to deck the halls? Frank Marzullo here...With yesterdays snow flurries and cold air I got into the mood. First off the tree is now up and decorated and the house smells like pine! I bought my first ever fake Christmas Tree this week and it was already pre-lit so that saved sometime. However, I do like the real tree feel and smell, so I bought some of those scented pine cones and a wreath to hang in my house. But, while I did that yesterday I had some comfort food cooking in the crockpot. I made for the first time chicken and dumplings and I have to say it was pretty good. I took 4 chicken breasts and sprinkled them with salt, pepper, and paprika. Then I placed them in the crock with 2 cans of cream of chicken soup and a chopped up onion. I covered it with water and then slow cooked it for 5 hours. Then pull apart two cans of biscuit dough and roll it into little balls and put them in the crockpot for another 40 minutes and sprinkle with paprika. Serve over rice and enjoy....sooooo warm and comforting!

All Board For Holiday Junction!

Nothing says Christmas for a little boy like a holiday train display.

Sheila here.
I took my three-year-old son Eric to the Cincinnati Museum Center with our friends Karen and Matthew. Holiday Junction is chugging along through the end of the year.

The Museum Center has dozens of toy trains in all shapes and sizes. The displays are elaborate with snow covered hills, tunnels, and tiny people. Eric was excited when he saw an airplane flying above one of the displays, and Matthew was so happy to see his friend, Thomas the Tank Engine. Boys and girls their size can climb inside a real train for a ride, and Eric had a great time ringing the bell. He and Matthew rode it again and again.

Inside a little nook with an antique toy display next to Santa's big chair, you can see a Cincinnati classic. Adults get a bit nostalgic when they see the cornerstone of that display, the old talking reindeer from Pogue's department store Downtown, Poguey and Patter. They don't talk anymore-- no room for the guy with the speaker, I guess-- but they still look pretty good. Once the volunteer near the Santa display told Eric they don't talk anymore, he was obsessed with them. He talked for the rest of the day about the reindeer, and he even asked Santa what was wrong with them. Santa was kind enough to carry Eric over and let him pet Poguey.

Eric and Matthew sat on Santa's knee and told them about their Christmas wishes. Matthew cracked us up when he told the jolly old elf that he wants Santa for Christmas! Eric told Santa he wants a drum set with pedals he can reach.

Holiday Junction is a great way to get into the Christmas spirit with your little ones, and you can find out more at the Museum Center's website: http://www.cincymuseum.org/