MONTGOMERY, Ohio —

Strike up the band, and get your marching shoes on. The city of Montgomery is looking for units for the annual Independence Day Parade.

The parade will be held at 10 a.m. on July 4.

Residents, neighborhood associations, and local businesses are invited to be a part of Montgomery’s Independence Day celebration, a day filled with patriotism, community pride, and memories that will last a lifetime.

Applications for parade entries are due no later than Friday, June 10.

Award categories for this year’s parade include:

• Best Patriotic Spirit
• Best Float/Vehicle
• Best Overall
• Best Neighborhood

Winners will receive a large red, white and blue ribbon, a framed certificate, and their names listed in the Montgomery Bulletin.

Parade entry applications are found here. For more information call 513-891-2424.

MONTGOMERY, Ohio — Montgomery Quarter’s developers said three brands have secured their spots for retail space at the mixed-use complex through signing leases at the property.

Hellman’s Fine Men’s Apparel will move its location in Historic Montgomery over to a storefront in the development. Bru Burger, a burger restaurant chain, and a Latin restaurant called Livery will also be opening locations at Montgomery Quarter.

Neyer Properties and Brandicorp are partnering in building the development on Montgomery Road at the end of the Ronald Reagan Cross County Highway. Matt Grever, the chief operating officer of Brandicorp, said they are looking to bring in restaurants that are newer to the area. However, despite being new, it is key they have proven track records of success in other markets.

“Both Bru Burger and Livery are well-run restaurant concepts that have a good history to it,” Grever said. “We certainly want to bring people who we know are successful restaurateurs that can operate a business. We are very excited about the fact that Livery will be new to the market.”

Jeff Chamot, the director of development for Neyer, said the brands are part of the first phase of amenities for Montgomery Quarter. There will also be offices for Fifth Third and a public park scheduled to open in August.

“There’s a DORA there as well in that district between Montgomery Quarter and Downtown,” Chamot said. “So people can come and park and stay, eat, spend time there, but also walk to Downtown Historic Montgomery.”

The connection between the two districts is the result of a partnership between the developers and the city of Montgomery. After phase one, Neyer said locals can also expect events and concerts in the park, apartments and construction of a Hilton Hotel. The hotel will break ground in the fall; the apartments will open early next year.

Monique John covers gentrification for WCPO 9. She is part of our Report For America donor-supported journalism program. Read more about RFA here.

If there are stories about gentrification in the Greater Cincinnati area that you think we should cover, let us know. Send us your tips at moveupcincinnati@wcpo.com.

Police agencies across the Tri-State are looking for men who they said have been targeting elderly people in several recent thefts – some of those victims were chosen while visiting loved ones at a local cemetery.

The Montgomery Police Department are telling people across the area to be on alert after a string of thefts at cemeteries and parks across the region.

Multiple thefts happened at Gate of Heaven Cemetery on Montgomery Road in June and July. The suspects targeted elderly victims – one who said more than $10,000 in charges to her credit card appeared after someone stole a purse out of her car.

“I think it’s scary and sad that someone’s going to visit a relative in the cemetery and they would have to worry about that,” Symmes Township resident Alison Moss said.

According to police reports, witnesses saw a man drive around Gate of Heaven Cemetery before getting out of his car, crouching down and tip-toeing toward one of the victims’ cars. After stealing a purse, he made eye contact with cemetery workers, got into his car and sped away.

“That is a little scary to hear that that’s happening, because there are certain times of day when there are not as many people here,” Moss said. “So, yeah, definitely puts me on high alert.”

Montgomery police said the suspects are taking stolen credit cards to grocery stores and buying large amounts of gift cards. So far, they have used the cards at the Kroger on Montgomery Road in Symmes Township and the Meijer in Loveland. Surveillance footage at some of the stores has helped police get photos of the people they said are responsible.

The investigation also includes thefts from cemeteries and parks in West Chester, Evendale, Blue Ash and Fort Thomas, Kentucky.

One of the men has a Bentley tattoo on the back of his neck. The men are thought to drive a black Nissan Pathfinder

Courtesy, Montgomery Police Department

“It’s good, I guess, that the community knows so people can start paying more attention to that and hopefully they’ll catch the people who are doing it,” Moss said.

Anyone with information regarding these crimes should contact the Montgomery Police Department at (513) 985-1600.