Hot Hot Hot

Good morning and happy Thursday! Katy Here... Big news came out yesterday from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, or NOAA that July was the hottest month on record for the contiguous United States! (or CONUS). I think we can all believe it when I say the tristate contributed to that record! According to NOAA, the average temperature in July was 77.6°, about 3 degrees above the 20th century average! (The previous record was during the Dust Bowl in 1936, which was 77.4°) Here in Cincinnati, we hit 100 degrees 4 days in July, and hit 90 degrees 17 days. Phew!

On top of that, the country continues to face a serious drought. 63% of the lower 48 states is now considered to be in a drought, with parts of the tristate in a “severe” drought. Hopefully, as we head into Fall, our pattern will shift a bit to bring in a couple more rainy days. As far as the heat is concerned, we will get a sneak peak at the early fall season, with temperatures dropping into the 70s this weekend! The last time we saw the 70s was back on June 6th of this year. It’ll be a welcomed change for sure! Enjoy!

Back To School Apps

It's the most wonderful time of the year if you believe the Staples commercials - time to send those kids back to school!

Hi, it's Sheila. Did you know that more people than ever before are doing their research on their smartphones before they head out to the stores? We all love a bargain, and school shopping can be expensive. Laura Merritt of Verizon Wireless put together a list of helpful back to school apps, and I want to pass them along to you. These apps can help moms and dads with everything from buying new school shoes, to homework aids, to keeping track of your busy schedules. By the way, I didn't just take Verizon's word for it. I searched around on the web for the word from experts on some of these applications. (Best of all - MOST of them are free!)

Back-to-School Shopping
· Red Laser: This price comparison app allows the user to scan a barcode, or search by voice or image, and then compare prices between thousands of online and offline retailers. It shares prices from stores right down the road. Bonus: it can list out possible food allergens (peanuts, egg, gluten) if purchasing food for the classroom. Money Magazine calls it an essential app: "Before you even think about buying … RedLaser spits out the best prices available both online and in shops nearby."

· Amazon Price Check: This price comparison app allows the user to scan a barcode, snap a picture, or type or say an item name to check prices instantly on millions of Amazon products. Users can buy it directly from the app. Bonus: it lists out product reviews so you can see what others are saying before you commit to the purchase. Wired.com experts gave Amazon's app a thumbs up for allowing you to SAY IT, SNAP IT, or SCAN IT into your smartphone.

Back-to-School Scheduling
· Cozi Family Organizer: This family organization tool allows a family to sync everyone's busy schedules into one. Users can keep calendars, shopping lists and to-do lists all in one place. Bonus: the app even lists family-friendly dinner ideas and allows you to store recipes. Rick Broida at CNET (which is a great site for product information) says he can't stop recommending this one. He likes that Cozi provides a to-do list, a shopping list, and even a family journal that can include both text and photos (a great way to chronicle a family vacation).

· Glympse: This location-sharing app allows users to share where they are traveling with a specific person for a specific length of time. For example, a parent can send a Glympse to his/her teenager who is waiting to be picked up after football practice. The child can follow his parent's location on his smartphone. Bonus: Anyone with an Internet-enabled phone or computer can receive a Glympse. I checked CNET again for this one, and it calls Glympse clean and refreshingly simple, but included a warning too : "One thing users should know is that Glympse eats battery life voraciously. But considering it continuously transmits real-time information."

Back-to-School Homework Apps and Phone Management
· Quizard Flashcard: This one costs $2.99. It's a flashcard simulator app which allows users to create their own flashcards or download them from Quizlet, Study Stack or Flashcard Exchange online. Bonus: For those who don't want to spend $3, the developer offers a free version called Quizard Flashcard Lite. In reading some of the user reviews, I noticed that most felt it was worth it to pay the 3 bucks to be able to do more with the app.

I also found a boatload of homework help apps when I searched on Common Sense Media's website. Kids can travel the world on Google Earth with a touch of the finger, look up information like we adults used to in our encyclopedias with the Britannica Kids app, and even get help studying the Bard with the Shakespeare in Bits app. Find an app to fit your kid at www.commonsensemedia.org/mobile-app-lists/homework-help-apps

· Verizon also sells a Usage Controls app for $4.99, and most wireless carriers offer similar services. It's something to think about as your kids head back to school and need to get to sleep at reasonable hour. Usage control services allow parents to limit cell phone use during school hours or set a curfew on late-night texting. Verizon's boasts that it also allows you to identify numbers your family members can always contact in case of an emergency, regardless of any restrictions you've set up. Bonus: it allows you to set a monthly dollar limit on your family member's purchases for content downloads like ringtones, ringback tones and music. You can check with your individual carrier for similar services.

Eli's BBQ

Went there for the first time over the weekend, and loved it.

Hey everyone.  Rob here.

I have been wanting to go for weeks now.  Everyone who has been there, talks non-stop of just how good hte pulled pork sandwich is.  I was not disappointed.  Walkimg into the joint, you know it is going to be good.

I had just about all the sides"  grits, mac and cheese, cornbread and baked beans.

 

Check it out.  You won't be disappointed.  I sure wasn't.

Flyerworks

Marzullo Here: The countdown is on until the CINCINNATI BELL WEBN Fireworks on September 2nd. It really is the un-official end to summer here in the Tri-State. The day long event along the river infludes the Rubber Duck Regatta, entertainment all day along the riverfront, and of course the big show as fireworks light up the night sky. While there is a lot of positivity there is also some negativity and that is THE TRAFFIC! However, instead of sitting in the traffic after the show how would you like fly by all those cars that are sitting in bumper to bumper traffic. Once again Cincinnati Bell is giving you a chance to do just that with the FLYERWORKS Contest. Here is how it works the helicopter from Stratus, will pick you up at Lunken airfield where you can leave your car. After taking off from Lunken Field, winners and their guests will land at P&G Pavilion and be escorted to special VIP seating along the Serpentine Wall. Agaion 2 winner with one guest each will be selected. You can register by going to facebook.com/cincinnatibell . Remember if you do not make it down to the river you can watch the big show right here on FOX19.

The road well traveled!

Good morning, Dan Wells writing. I hope this note finds you well and in good spirits. 

My blog today is about a road well traveled.  My random idea for today’s post came as I drove back on Ohio 32 from vacation in North Carolina.

On its long, empty stretches, the Appalachian Highway or OH 32 gives drivers green vistas of southern Ohio's rolling hills and from my perspective a blissfully gorgeous and tranquil afternoon drive.

The 170-mile road runs from Cincinnati's eastern suburbs to southeastern Ohio.   We drove it to come home “the back way” from the beach.

For my family, the trip home was a flawless ride in every respect.  On this particular day, Sunday, we’d just rolled into, Ohio after a run of a few hundred miles through the heart of the Mountain State, Virginia and North Carolina.  My girls were entertained, my wife sleeping,  and I was pretty relaxed after a week full of sun and sand.

I’ve always enjoyed Ohio’s roads, but this day was the sweetest in recent memory. I found this stretch of road along our 12 hour journey clean, deserted, begging to be driven, and soaked in.

At the beginning, if you’re not familiar, OH 32 traverses a remote, undeveloped corner of the state hugging the Ohio River.

It proved to me to be a great road for reflection driving; that special time in when your usual stream of thoughts are overwhelmed by the sheer perfection of life and nature; the cast of late afternoon light, a rush of warm air, views ranging to the horizon, you get it.

This was one of those times.

My point in this blog is to not brag about a vacation or my experiece on the open road but rather to encourage you to literally enjoy the ride.  If you slow down, look around "the road well traveled" may just surprise you with all it gives back.

Happy Travels

Dan

Attention Parents

For all you parents out there with teens……

HI…TRACEY JOHNSON HERE……

A STARTLING NEW STUDY OUT BY THE GOVERNMENT SAYS NEARLY A MILLION AND A HALF GIRLS BETWEEN THE AGES OF 12 AND 17 REPORTED A MAJOR DEPRESSIVE EPISODE IN THE PAST YEAR.

THAT’S WHEN A PERSON EXPERIENCES A PERIOD OF DEPRESSED MOOD OR LOSS OF INTEREST OR PLEASURE FOR TWO WEEKS OR LONGER......AND WHEN THERE IS A CHANGE IN FUNCTIONING, SUCH AS PROBLEMS WITH SLEEP, EATING, ENERGY, CONCENTRATION AND SELF-IMAGE.

A REPORT RELEASED BY THE SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES ADMINISTRATION, SAYS THE RISK OF DEPRESSION GROWS WITH AGE.

THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF MENTAL HEALTH OFFERS ADVICE ON HELPING TO MANAGE THEIR DEPRESSION……

1. Get the Right Diagnosis. Help them find professional help.
2. Find the Right Doctor or Therapist. Make sure the doctor or therapist you find for your teen is someone they like and respect. Let them help!
3. Notice the Negative Thoughts. Is your teen talking failure? “I should give up. “
4. Eat Mood Boosters. Just as certain foods and drinks can lead to depression, processed white flour, sweets, caffeine, sodas-others actually lift your mood.
5. Quit the Booze
6. Sweat –INCREASE YOUR EXERCISE! Working out your stress can give you immediate relief.
7. Ask For Help. Encourage your teen to seek out a teacher that they respect.
I hope this offers some help.
Tracey

Pats On The Back All Around

I have had so many positive experiences around town in the last week, today I am dedicating our Fox 19 Morning News blog to handing out pats on the back.

Hi, it's Sheila.

The first kudos go to the Cincinnati Bengals for giving me and my kids some great memories at Friday's training camp in the shadow of Paul Brown Stadium. For years I've wanted to check out training camp, but never could find the time to make the trip to Georgetown. I snapped up tickets to the practice field Friday, and it did not disappoint. You want to talk about up close and personal? Go down there and stand in the shadow of our favorite big men from the defensive line. Rey Maualuga, a few rookies, and Coach Marvin Lewis signed my little guy Eric's official Bengals autograph book, and he was in heaven. What fun! Here's the schedule for the rest of the summer. http://www.bengals.com/team/training-camp.html

Hats off (baseball hats of course) to every single person from here to Butler County who had a hand in making a Field of Dreams come true at the Joe Nuxhall Miracle League Fields in Fairfield. I got chills watching the Fast Trax sky divers fly in and seeing the huge smiles on the Miracle League players. I was thrilled to play in Nuxy's Bash Saturday night, but the best part was soaking in all of that positive energy. Go see a game up there. I promise you it will give you renewed faith in humanity, and you can't walk out without counting your blessings. There's a fall league starting there in August for players with special needs. Find sign-up forms here: http://www.nuxhallmiracleleague.org/players.html

I also hit up a couple of yummy places to eat in Over The Rhine. Fig jam and prosciutto pizza may sound strange, but I was so happy I ordered it at A Tavola on Vine St. Wonderful atmosphere and even better food! Our service from Stefan was top notch too. http://www.atavolapizza.com/

My son Eric, daughter Katie, and her boyfriend Tom topped off our dinner with the world's best popsicles - Sara Bornick's Streetpops. We stopped at her place at Main and Liberty for salted caramel, raspberry lemonade, and blueberry lemon thyme. Creative and delicious. And on Final Friday's you can get dinner too, because Sara has a different food truck parked out front on the last Friday of each month. She also gave me the scoop on the new Night Owl Markets at Central and Main. It's a big party with food trucks, bands, and more every Final Friday until 3 a.m.! http://www.streetpops.com/