I have spent the lion’s share of my life in Cincinnati, Ohio, having lived there from 1966 until 1999. I now live 15 miles south of the City in Northern Kentucky.

The Queen City of the West was settled by soldiers who were given land grants for their service in the Revolutionary War. They first named the land, Losantville, or the land of milk and honey the Bible talked about. Then they named it after a Roman General, Cincinnatus. They established a Camp Washington on the banks of the beautiful Ohio and the city grew as a supply post for all things going west. River boats were stationed there and traveled to New Orleans, St. Louis and other points along the river network.

As time went by, the city was bypassed by the railroad, as a Chicago route was preferred but the packing industry gave Cincinnati a new name, Porkopolis, or the pig capital of the country. Hence, the flying pig is the often used logo.

Now it is the headquarters for Proctor and Gamble, Kroger, GE Aircraft Engines and a number of other major corporation. It has also been the home of Presidents including, W. H. Taft, W. H. Harrison, J. A. Garfield, U. S. Grant.

Now the bed of American conservatism with a strong religious community has voted in legalized gambling, after four prior defeats. The new casino will be named Broadway Commons, and construction is to start immediately. So Ohio becomes the 39th state to legalize gambling.

It won’t affect me much as nearby Indiana has four casinos, Belleterra, Argosy, Grand Victoria and Hollywood. This is probably the reason that Cincinnati gave in as the populace just has to move a few miles down the river to blow their wages on the spin of a wheel.

In fact, I hardly ever gamble. I have spun the wheel at Monte Carlo, thrown the dice in Vegas and pulled the handle on a Riverboat on the Mississippi but I would rather be playing golf, thank you.

So if you visit the city that Charles Dickens described as the most beautiful city in America, when he visited here, you can see the Freedom Museum, the Carew Tower, the original Brooklyn Bridge build by Roebling and explore a Riverfront full of history and amusement. You can even taste some of the delicious ribs that come from the City of Pork. And now you can blow whatever monies you don't spend in the Broadway Commons Casino. Good Luck.