Adam Highland grew up in Finneytown and has never left the beltway. After graduating from UC with a business degree, Adam said all his friends either got married or moved to the East Coast.

"It kind of forced me to meet new people. But I never once thought about leaving. I love the Queen City. And right now, I've got more ass than I can handle!"

OAKLEY - Tyrone Weathers paces on the sidewalk on Paxton Avenue. A sixteenth of an inch of snow powders the road. Snowflakes dot Tyrone's black winter cap. He is not happy.

"Look at this woman," Tyrone says. He gestures at a Dodge Neon travelling at four miles an hour. In front of the Neon, the road is empty; in back, cars are lined up as far as we can see. The road surface is level. Tyrone continues, "She has no clue how to drive on snow. It's pathetic." He pauses. "It's dangerous."

"I was sitting in my car, listening to National Public Radio on WVXU, when I looked up and noticed a magnet on the [Cadillac] Escalade in front of me," the 37-year-old Madeira High School biology teacher recalled. "It was in the shape of a ribbon, with a pattern of the American flag, and the words 'Freedom Ain't Free!' written across it."

"Now, it used to be that whenever I saw a patriotic slogan on a bumper sticker, or a magnet, or whatever, I would clench my fist in frustration. The fact that these people actually believed they were debating the issue at hand by mindlessly sticking store-bought propaganda on their under-utilized, gas-guzzling SUVs - it just drove me bananas," Mr. Woodrice explained. "But this magnet...this magnet was different."

COLUMBIA-TUSCULUM – In the early morning light, Mitchell Biles, 29, stands on the deck of his $360,000 condominium. "I like it better here, I admit it," he says. "But I wouldn't trade that year in Lower Price Hill for anything. It made me into a man who's seen life."

Six years ago, after earning a master's degree in business administration from Xavier, Mr. Biles landed a job at Proctor and Gamble and moved to Lower Price Hill. "I didn't really know the downtown area," he reflects. "I grew up in Finneytown. But my apartment was $1500 a month, so I figured it was in a good area." He sips from his coffee mug. "I figured wrong."

CLIFTON - Nicholas Pierce, 26, moved last Thursday to Batavia, Ohio, from his apartment on Ludlow Avenue.  His friends held a week of mourning, as Mr. Pierce has moved outside of the I-275 circle, and it is unsure whether he will be seen again.

"Nick says he'll come down to visit all the time, but I don't see how he'll get his dog sled down Route 50," said Arthur Williams, 25.  "I assume everyone in Batavia travels by dog sled."

A big snowfall during Winter Break?

That's like New Year's Day falling on a Saturday,  or even worse,  Christmas falling on a Saturday. Well,  unfortunately,  all three happened this winter.

 "It feels like when the Bengals win a game late in the season.  It's cool that they won,  but we sure could have used that win earlier."  said Withrow High School student Dave Thompson.