The 1873 building in Mt. Lookout is a national Historic Landmark designed by Samuel Hannaford. At the observatory’s original Mt. Adams location, director Cleveland Abbe made weather-related observations leading to the creation of the National Weather Service in 1870. The nonprofit Cincinnati Observatory Center operates the facility today.

In 2010, UC’s continuing-education program, Communiversity, held 17 different evening courses for nearly 200 students at the Cincinnati Observatory, home of the world’s oldest telescope still in use. In the photo, instructor Terry Endres, A&S ’79, talks with student Emily White at the “Mysteries of the Universe” class.

Clermont’s Calico Children’s Theatre is celebrating its 25th anniversary in 2011. Aimed at children aged 3 to 13, the program books several live performances throughout the year and keeps tickets in the $4-$6 range. During the holiday season, actor Leland Faulkner “recruited” Thomas Huntworth from the Little Red School House to be in his original show “The Gifts” — much to the amusement of Abraham and Joseph Ivan.

One weekend in December 2010, the Raymond Walters (Blue Ash) College veterinary-technology program hosted the 17th Annual Canine Corps Health Clinic to provide free exams for 56 service and police dogs. Barb Setterling holds her dog Artas, — in training to be a cadaver dog with Southwestern Ohio Search and Rescue — while veterinary ophthalmologist Vanessa Kuonen examines his eyes. Faculty, staff, students and professionals from the community volunteered their time.