From Trash Filled Lots to Community Gardens

Sadly, it is almost cliché to say that we all know someone who has suffered from breast cancer. And while we all have those individuals that mean the most to us in mind, there are even times when a community collectively knows someone fighting the good fight.

In Colerain, we have Rhonda Lahmann, our Queen Bee.

Over her decades as a resident of Colerain, Rhonda has been a fixture at volunteer events and has helped to form a neighborhood group focused on positive enhancements to our collective community. She is known to show up with a smile and offer a helping hand wherever possible. She is at every volunteer event we have, serves on the board of our Citizen Fire Academy and Citizen Police Academy, and continues to make a lasting impact on our community every day.

But this isn't just a story about Rhonda; it is a story about community resiliency. The pictures attached to this post show the end product, a butterfly haven in Colerain Township. While these images make this seem like a simple project, the story of this project highlights the complexity involved in community transformation.

Years ago, several properties in Colerain Township would frequently flood at Amarillo Drive. After several intense periods of flood insurance claims, the federal government decided it was a better long-term investment to purchase the properties for demolition before transferring the parcels back to the township.

After numerous community conversations regarding these overgrown, trash filled lots, the idea for a pollinator garden was born. With some outside grant funding in hand and an army of volunteers in tow, the township quickly built the Five Hives Pollinator Gardens.

At the dedication event, several pins were handed out to the audience to celebrate the event. I count myself lucky to be one of the few to have been handed this pin and treasure it for my own personal reasons.

In the month of October, we will all take a moment to celebrate those brave individuals that have wrestled with breast cancer. I hope you all will take a moment to celebrate Rhonda and the new community asset that she inspired.