Community Corner
🌱 Patch AM: How a new Cincinnati program helps homeless teens reach college dreams
Coming up on the Cincinnati Patch calendar: Michael Marcagi

Good morning Cincinnati! We're back in your inbox this morning to keep you in the loop with what's happening in and around town. Grab a cup of coffee and read on. ☕️️
In today's newsletter:
- How a new Cincinnati program helps homeless teens reach college dreams
- How one blind dog helped bring a full-time comfort pup to CPS
- Which Cincinnati team gave fans the biggest 2025 surprise?
Also on today's calendar: The Dinner Detective True Crime Murder Mystery Dinner Show - Cincinnati, OH on Dec 19, 2025 and 6 more events.
Find out what's happening in Cincinnatifor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Today's riddle: My brother swallowed a box of firecrackers. - Is he all right now? 🤔 (Answer below!)
Find out what's happening in Cincinnatifor free with the latest updates from Patch.
- Thursday: Windy with occasional rain, with a high of 58 and low of 25 degrees.
- Friday: Windy and much colder, temps: high: 32, low: 25.
- Saturday: Times of clouds and sun, with a high of 51 and low of 30 degrees.
📰 News we're reading
1. Upspring launches college readiness program for children experiencing homelessness (wlwt.com) — A Cincinnati-based nonprofit, Upspring, is rolling out a new Pathways to Success college readiness program to support local students experiencing homelessness. Serving more than 8,000 affected children in the Greater Cincinnati area each year, the group is partnering with Learning Grove to close “exposure gaps,” build hope, and help first-generation college-goers identify their strengths and career paths.
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2. Blind dog's family raises money to donate trained facility dog to Cincinnati school (local12.com) — Students at Cincinnati Public Schools’ Academy of World Languages now have a full-time facility dog named Fervor, donated by the family of River, a blind therapy dog. Cincinnati native Bethany Van Meter funded the highly trained dog through her children’s books and school visits, and hopes to place similar dogs in more local schools to support students’ emotional well-being.
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3. 2025 in Review: Reds playoff run, Bengals struggles headline year in Cincinnati sports (wlwt.com) — Cincinnati sports fans rode a roller coaster in 2025, from the Reds and FC Cincinnati making playoff runs to the Bengals missing the postseason again after Joe Burrow’s injury. Local pride also showed in Xavier’s NCAA appearance, UC football’s midseason surge, Pete Rose’s Hall eligibility, and strong high school football campaigns across Greater Cincinnati.
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4. Cincinnati CBP Intercepts Over $407,000 in Unapproved Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices (radiofreehubcity.com) — Cincinnati-based U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers recently seized over $407,000 in unapproved pharmaceuticals and medical devices moving through the city, disrupting potentially dangerous products headed nationwide. This summary may be inaccurate and you should visit RadioFreeHubCity.com to view the full article. Officials warn that counterfeit contact lenses and online medications can seriously threaten consumer health and urge residents to buy only from licensed, reputable sources. This article may be copyrighted content from Radio Free Hub City, and should not be reproduced or summarized without a valid license agreement.
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📸 Around Cincinnati
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🗓 Upcoming Events in Cincinnati
Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!
★ Featured events ★
- Michael Marcagi
The Andrew J Brady Music Center, 25 Race St, Cincinnati
7:00 pm
Saturday December 20
Want to see your event featured? Click here!
Other local events
- Naturalization Ceremony
US District Court , 100 East Fifth Street , Cincinnati
10:00 am - The Dinner Detective True Crime Murder Mystery Dinner Show - Cincinnati, OH on Dec 19, 2025
McCormick & Schmick's Seafood & Steaks , 21 E 5th St , Cincinnati
6:00 pm - The Dinner Detective True Crime Murder Mystery Dinner Show - Cincinnati, OH on Dec 20, 2025
McCormick & Schmick's Seafood & Steaks , 21 E 5th St , Cincinnati
6:00 pm - Meditation for Beginners - Mason OH - Dec 27th
Mason Public Library , 200 Reading Rd , Mason
12:00 pm - The Dinner Detective True Crime Murder Mystery Dinner Show - Cincinnati, OH on Dec 27, 2025
McCormick & Schmick's Seafood & Steaks , 21 E 5th St , Cincinnati
6:00 pm - Candlelight: Tribute to The Beatles
Memorial Hall OTR 1225 Elm Street Cincinnati, Ohio 45202
6:00 pm - Candlelight: Tribute to Queen
Memorial Hall , 1225 Elm St , Cincinnati
8:30 pm - Where Will You Be On NYE?
Hofbrauhaus Newport Brewery & Restaurant, 200 East 3rd St, Newport, KY 41071
6:00 pm
Friday December 19
Saturday December 20
Saturday December 27
Wednesday December 31
📣 Cincinnati Shout Outs!
Want to say something great about someone in town? Click here to submit your Shout Out to Patch AM! It's free!
🗓 Events Nearby
- Lunch
Norwood, OH Calendar , 1810 Courtland Ave 1st Floor , Norwood
11:30 am - BINGO!!
Norwood, OH Calendar , 1810 Courtland Ave 1st Floor , Norwood
12:45 pm - PNC Festival of Lights
Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden , 3400 Vine St , Cincinnati
4:00 pm - Water Aerobics
Norwood, OH Calendar , 2039 Sherman Ave , Norwood
7:00 pm
Thursday December 18
Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.
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💬 Chatter
What your neighbors are talking about on social media
- There a house on conner of Dunloe Ave and Redbank Road in Kennedy Heights with a spraying water leak and I dont know the owners and noone answered the door.
Don't know what else to do. I hope the owners sees this (Nextdoor Kennedy Heights) - LOST DOG ALERT!
Have you seen this pet? Bella was lost on November 13, 2025 and was last seen near Cincinnati, OH If you have information on their location, please… (Nextdoor South Fairmount)
- Pitt Ohio posted a job opening for PT Dockworker- Inbound- 6 AM Start in Cincinnati. Apply here.
- Burlington Coat Factory posted a job opening for Seasonal Retail Stocking Associate - Part Time in Cincinnati. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Cincinnati here.
Ok Cincinnati! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!
-- The Patch AM Team
P.S. The answer to today's riddle: I don’t know. I haven’t heard the last report.
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!
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