VILLA HILLS — This suburban Kenton County city's residents leave one of two ways, says longtime resident Tom Reed.

        They get transferred or they die.

IF YOU GO

• What: Villa Hills 40th Birthday Bash     • When: 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. July 13     • Where: In and around Franzen Field     • Events: In addition to a parade and 5K run, there will be food and craft booths, a silent auction and games and activities from 12:30 p.m. until 8 p.m.    Representatives of a business or organization who would like to march in the parade, set up a booth or run in the 5K race should contact Sue Kramer or Betty Collins at the city building at (859) 341-1515.

        Once characterized by its dairy farms, Villa Hills today is better known for its upscale subdivisions where residents look out for one another.

        “If the police don't see me ever so often, they'll come ring my doorbell,” said Mr. Reed, a 78-year-old retired mechanical engineer. “The mayor comes by too and checks on me if he doesn't see me after so many days. Not too many communities do that.”

        On July 13, residents of this city of 7,948 can celebrate what's unique about their residential community and “start fresh” after the most tumultuous year in its happy history.

        The Villa Hills 40th Birthday Bash will feature everything from a 5K race to a parade to an all-day festival at Franzen Field with activities for all ages.

        Shelly Espich, a six-year resident who is helping organize the event, said the celebration is a chance for residents to develop a renewed sense of community, especially after last year's national and local turmoil.

        Last year, city council members and former Mayor Steve Clark battled over everything from building sidewalks to developing a city budget.

        Meetings often became shouting matches. Protests were held over whether an ousted and now-reinstated police chief could keep his badge as a memento. The mayor and his council critics also were targets of audits and investigations before Mr. Clark resigned in March, 2001.

        “With everything that happened last year — Sept. 11 and the political brouhaha that occurred locally — this is a chance to just enjoy your community,” said Ms. Espich, a 35-year-old mother of four. “We don't care who you are or who you voted for. This isn't political. We want you to meet your neighbors, bring the family and enjoy the day.”

        A snapshot of U.S. Census data for 2000 shows that Villa Hills offers residents — many executives who commute to Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky companies — a lot of reasons to stay. Statistics show the neighbors are well-educated, are upper middle-class, and have established roots in their community.

        Villa Hills boasts a median housing value of $154,800, Kenton County's second-highest and the third-highest in Northern Kentucky. Nearly 66 percent of Villa Hills' residents have lived in their house at least five years. The median household income is $73,523, and more than 44 percent of the city's residents have bachelor's degrees.

        Bob Oser, who heads the city's board of adjustment, said he moved a family that included five teen-agers to Villa Hills 28 years ago largely because of its convenience.

        “It brought us closer to the activities the kids enjoyed and it's only 10 or 15 minutes from downtown,” said the 77-year-old Cincinnati Bell retiree. “It's convenient to shopping and all the necessities of life.”

        Once an all-volunteer community, today Villa Hills boasts professionals in everything from its police to public works departments, residents said.

        Ms. Espich, a Kenton County native who lived in various cities around the country before settling in Villa Hills, said that her family enjoys the sense of belonging their community fosters.

        “I love the idea of walking into a store and them knowing your name, or the police officers knowing your kids in a good way,” she said.

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