Loveland, Ohio – A public hearing date has been set for Tuesday, January 7 at 6 PM by the Loveland Planing and Zoning Commission to hear comments about a proposal to rezone 128 Riverside Drive to accommodate building 12 single-family homes.
The 12 single-family homes are being proposed for Riverside Drive on the State and National Scenic Little Miami River in the West Loveland Historic District. An application has been submitted by Traditions Building and Development Group. The proposed Special Planning District includes twelve (12) single-family “detached dwelling units” (24’ x 56’ 3-Story Homes) with minimum lot size of 0.114 acres or 4,966 sq. ft.
Loveland, Ohio – The Bengals took care of business this past Sunday against the Cleveland Browns. It certainly wasn’t easy, but Joe Burrow once again led Cincinnati to victory in a must win game. Burrow paced the Bengals with 252 yards and three more passing touchdowns.
His superhuman efforts are almost the sole reason that Cincinnati has any chance to make the playoffs this year, and his touchdown pass against the Browns was just more proof of how tough he’s been this year.
That being said Cincinnati still has plenty of work to do to make the playoffs. WLWT summarized the Bengals’ odds to make the playoffs at about eight percent. The Bengals have to win out, and get some help from the Broncos, Dolphins and Colts.
The Bengals must take care of business this week against Bo Nix and the Broncos or else it is all over. Denver is coming off a tough loss against the Chargers. But they boast one of the league’s premiere corners in Pat Surtain II who will look to lock down Ja’Marr Chase. And Nix is a solid quarterback who could punish Cincinnati’s secondary. Although Geno Stone and company have played better of late, Nix will be a true test of how just how much that secondary can step up.
As for the other teams the Bengals need to lose at least one game, it’s a situation outside of their control. Indianapolis plays two awful teams in the Giants and Jaguars. Miami has the Browns and Jets. And even if Cincinnati beats the Broncos this week they need Denver to lose to the Chiefs the following week.
Even though the Bengals playoff hopes are slim, and a lot depends on several other teams, there is still plenty of hope. And with Joe Burrow anything is possible.
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Hey readers… have an opinion about sports? How about a topic you’d like to see written about in Loveland Magazine or a thought about one of our articles?
Just need to vent and get out your frustration about the Reds, Bengals, or any other sports issues?
Christopher Ball is a longtime Loveland resident and an attorney. He graduated from Loveland High School in 2003 and was a member of the football team before going on to become a coach’s assistant at DePauw University in Greencastle, Indiana. He has been following and rooting for the Reds and Bengals since the early 1990s and has been through the many ups and downs that fandom has wrought over the years.
A message from OneOhio Recovery Foundation and Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
Your presence can be a present for someone this season. Support and following up with loved ones are just some of the actions we can all take to help others who may be in crisis.
Helping someone with mental health, drug, or alcohol use can be hard. If someone in your life is struggling, having a supportive conversation can be a big step for both of you. You can’t force someone to get care, so, the best thing you can do for a person is to be there for them and listen without judgment.
If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call or text 988 or chat 988lifeline.org. You’ll be able to speak with a trained crisis counselor any time of day or night.
Is the holiday stress getting to you? Believe in the magic of #SelfCare. It’s ok to focus on yourself, your self-care, and your overall health and wellness this season.
How to Cope
Has it gotten harder to get through each day? If you’re having issues with mental health, drugs, or alcohol or waiting for treatment to start, here are some small steps you can take.
Reach out if you’re in crisis
If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call or text 988 or chat 988lifeline.org. You’ll be able to speak with a trained crisis counselor any time of day or night.
Accept where you are now
Know that where you are is okay. Healing isn’t a straight line—there will be ups and downs along the way. Speak to yourself with kindness, as though you’re speaking to a friend.
Try some of the things below to help your body and mind. Taking care of yourself is healing yourself. Self-care is different for everyone, so you may have to try a few things before finding what works for you.
It’s OK not to feel merry and bright. This season can bring up feelings of loneliness and grief. Hope, help and healing are within reach. Reach out to someone to speak about what’s weighing on you.
Coping with Bereavement and Grief
Bereavement and grief are individual, yet universal experiences that nearly everyone faces within their lifetime. Everyone experiences loss in their own personal way. Many can navigate grief with the support of those who are already in their lives, but others may need more help. There are resources and organizations available to ensure individuals receive the appropriate care they need. The type of support required can be influenced by the nature and timing of the loss, the specific resources available, and many other factors.
Understanding Bereavement and Grief
In the simplest of terms, bereavement is a period of grief and mourning after a loss, while grief is a person’s emotional response to a loss. Below are more comprehensive definitions based on the opinions of several experts in the field.
Bereavement
The overarching experience of coping with loss and change. It is the emotional and psychological condition experienced after a loss, typically due to death, but it can also apply to non-death-related losses. Bereavement often encompasses both inward and outward expressions of grief and the cultural, social, and personal practices that help individuals process and adjust to the loss, often through rituals and support from loved ones. It usually involves a period of grieving.
Grief
The emotional, mental, and/or physical response to a loss, often due to death but also encompassing other life changes, such as the end of relationships, loss of identity, or illness. Sometimes people experience periods of grief in anticipation to a loss. Grief is deeply personal and can occur differently in everyone, shaped by the nature of the relationship, the degrees of support, circumstances of the loss, cultural influences, and individual coping mechanisms as well as other considerations. While it can be an intense experience, it is considered a natural human reaction to loss that generally subsides over time for most people.
Additional definitions provided by the National Cancer Institute and the American Psychological Association for bereavement and grief.
Examples of how grief can be expressed:
Sadness
Anger
Guilt
Confusion
Relief
Anxiety
Numbness
Helplessness
Fatigue
Loss of appetite
Sleep disturbances
And many more…
Strategies for coping with grief and loss:
Support from friends, family, and/or other known community members
Cultural, social, religious, faith, or other beliefs or rituals
Local or virtual grief support groups
Community-based or virtual grief counseling services
Grief peer support services
Artistic expression
Physical movement and exercise
Outreach to a mental health professional
Prolonged Grief Disorder (PGD)
Although most people experience periods of grief and bereavement after the death of an individual without long-term mental health concerns, some may experience symptoms that could benefit from additional help. In 2022, the American Psychiatric Association added Prolonged Grief Disorder (PGD) to the DSM-5-TR after clearly distinguishing PGD as its own distinct diagnosis. Major features of the criteria for PGD include, but are not limited to:
Intense yearning or thoughts about the deceased
Significant and persistent degree of distress
Significant decrease in functioning
Symptoms that last more than one year in adults and six months in children and youth
PGD is only one form of grief that can cause extraordinary challenges for individuals. People can also experience other difficult grief reactions. People who are, or think they are, experiencing PGD or are having an especially hard time processing their grief, may seek clinical care, such as individual or group psychotherapy to support them through their loss. Many may also find other supports, such as grief peer support, helpful with this experience.
Alcohol, Substance Use, and Recovery
Has it gotten harder to get through each day? If you’re having issues with mental health, drugs, or alcohol or waiting for treatment to start, here are some small steps you can take.
Reach out if you’re in crisis
If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call or text 988 or chat 988lifeline.org. You’ll be able to speak with a trained crisis counselor any time of day or night.
Accept where you are now
Know that where you are is okay. Healing isn’t a straight line—there will be ups and downs along the way. Speak to yourself with kindness, as though you’re speaking to a friend.
Try some of the things below to help your body and mind. Taking care of yourself is healing yourself. Self-care is different for everyone, so you may have to try a few things before finding what works for you.
Is the weather outside frightful? For some, the shorter days and colder temperatures can bring on symptoms of a type of depression. Is it just the ‘winter blues’ or seasonal affective disorder (SAD)? Seasonal affective disorder, or SAD, is a condition in which some people experience a significant mood change when the seasons change. SAD is not considered a separate disorder but is a type of depression.
Causes
Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is triggered by changes in seasons. This form of depression usually occurs during the fall and winter months when there is less sunlight, and the days get shorter. SAD usually lifts during the spring and summer months.
Symptoms
Not everyone with SAD has the same symptoms, but they can include:
Sad, anxious, or “empty” feelings
Feelings of hopelessness, guilt, worthlessness, or helplessness
Loss of interest or pleasure in activities you used to enjoy
Fatigue and decreased energy
Difficulty concentrating, remembering details, and making decisions
Thoughts of death or suicide
Oversleeping
Overeating, particularly with a craving for carbohydrates
Weight gain
Social withdrawal (feeling like “hibernating”)
Difficulty sleeping
Lack of appetite
Irritability and agitation
Testing for SAD
Talk to your health care provider or mental health specialist if you are concerned and think you may be suffering from SAD.
Get Help
SAD may be effectively treated with a specific type of light therapy for many. Antidepressant medicines and talk therapy may also be needed reduce SAD symptoms, either alone or combined with light therapy. Additionally, vitamin D supplements may improve symptoms.
Learn how to talk about mental health to help you speak to a loved one who you may think is experiencing any mental health concerns.
Loveland, Ohio – On Christmas Day: Wednesday, Dec. 25, Rumpke trash collection will not occur. Service will be delayed one day during the rest of the week.
Service will be delayed by one day December 25th, 26th, and 27th. Wednesday’s pickup will occur Thursday December 26th, Thursday’s pickup will occur Friday December 27th, and Friday’s pickup will occur Saturday December 28th.
Service will also not occur New Year’s Day: Wednesday, Jan. 1.
Service will be delayed one day during the rest of the week. Rumpke will return to its regular collection schedule the following week.
Symmes Township, Ohio – Symmes Township will be offering free Christmas tree recycling for its residents again this year from Thursday, December 26th until Friday, January 31st. A designated area has been provided behind the Township Administration building for drop off. Remove all ornaments, tinsel and plastic wrapping so the trees can be easily mulched.
Loveland, Ohio – The City of Loveland provides residents with a Christmas Tree removal service. Public Works crews will collect your tree from the curb from January 2nd until the 15th.
City Hall asks you to please remove all decorations, lights, tree stands, and tree bags before placing your Christmas trees at the curb.
For questions about the Christmas tree recycling program call City Hall at (513) 683-0150.
Thanks to the outpouring of generosity from our incredible community, the DOITFORJACK Foundation is thrilled to announce that we claimed the #1 spot in the Cincinnati Gives Challenge, raising an extraordinary $94,541! This achievement is a testament to the power of collective action and the deep compassion of our supporters.
These funds will allow us to grow and enhance our educational initiatives, including developing a comprehensive fentanyl awareness tool kit for educators and parents. Additionally, this support will enable us to expand our mission by:
Promoting awareness beyond Cincinnati to reach even more communities.- Expanding and enhancing media presence to reach a wider audience and more age groups.- Collaborating with local nonprofit experts to assist with grant writing and foundation expansion.
Continuing to share Jack’s story in schools, businesses, and with the media to inspire meaningful change and save lives.
Collaborating with local counties to provide Narcan to local businesses to prevent fatal overdoses.
“This incredible generosity means we can continue fighting the fentanyl crisis on multiple fronts,” said founder Stephanie Quehl from DOITFORJACK. “From prevention to education, your support is helping us turn our vision for 2025 into reality. Together, we’re creating a safer future where no family has to experience the loss of their Jack.”
The DOITFORJACK Foundation extends its deepest gratitude to everyone who donated, shared, and supported the campaign. Your belief in our mission fuels our determination to make a difference.
For more information about the foundation’s initiatives or to stay updated on upcoming programs, visit DOITFORJACK.org. Together, we’re saving lives and building a legacy of hope.
Loveland, Ohio – Construction on the Cherokee Drive Water Main Replacement Project in the Loveland Heights will require a road closure and detour.
West Loveland Avenue will be closed at Cherokee Drive to allow crews to connect new water main beneath the road surface. Contractors plan a three-day road closure daily from 9 AM until 3 PM on Tuesday, Jan. 7 through Thursday, Jan. 9.
Motorists will be instructed to use the following detour routes:
TO TRAVEL WESTBOUND:
• West Loveland Avenue to Wall Street to Fallis Road to Rich Road to West Loveland Avenue
TO TRAVEL EASTBOUND:
• West Loveland Avenue to Rich Road to Fallis Road to Wall Street to West Loveland Avenue
According to City Hall, “The Heights area has an aging, undersized, and brittle cast iron water main that is degrading, which makes breaks occur more frequently. In this project, the city is installing more than 2,700 feet of new water main to replace the outdated water lines. Additionally, the project involves replacing valves, modifying the storm sewer to improve drainage, and installing additional fire hydrants.”
Loveland, Ohio – Mark Raines and Jeff Brown for another week to talk all things Bengals-Titans. They discuss the infamous Jordan Battle fumble and how the defense looked against an overmatched Titans offense. Mark and Jeff also get into the Bengals’ playoff odds and how they are improving (but things still look somewhat bleak). A big Bearcats basketball win over Xavier has Mark on cloud nine, and the guys break down how Cincinnati pulled out their first Crosstown Shootout win in recent years. They finish things up with a look at the College Football Playoff, as things get underway this evening and carry through the weekend.
Have a listen and don’t forget to leave your comments and feedback!
_______________________
Hey readers… have an opinion about sports? How about a topic you’d like to see written about in Loveland Magazine or a thought about one of our articles?
Just need to vent and get out your frustration about the Reds, Bengals, or any other sports issues?
Christopher Ball is a longtime Loveland resident and an attorney. He graduated from Loveland High School in 2003 and was a member of the football team before going on to become a coach’s assistant at DePauw University in Greencastle, Indiana. He has been following and rooting for the Reds and Bengals since the early 1990s and has been through the many ups and downs that fandom has wrought over the years.
Advocates condemned Ohio lawmakers for passing another anti-LGBTQ bill as the General Assembly wrapped up late Wednesday night, urging Gov. Mike DeWine to veto the legislation, though DeWine has indicated he will sign it.
The Ohio Senate passed House Bill 8 and the Ohio House concurred with changes made to the bill, sending it to DeWine’s desk. He will have 10 days to either sign the bill into law or veto it, once he receives it. DeWine has indicated he favors the legislation.
The controversial bill requires educators to out a students’ sexuality to their parents, requires public schools to let parents know about sexuality content materials ahead of time so they can request alternative instructions, and requires school districts to create a mandatory religious release time policy.
“We are deeply disappointed that the legislature decided once again to attack LGBTQIA+ youth by passing yet another bill that will make schools less safe and inclusive for queer and transgender people,” Kaleidoscope Youth Center, an organization that serves LGBTQIA+ youth, said in a statement.
TransOhio said passing H.B. 8 is a “harmful step backward” for students.
“By requiring a religious release program and restricting discussions on gender and sexuality, the law imposes a narrow worldview on public education and limits teachers’ ability to provide inclusive, fact-based instruction,” TransOhio said in a statement. “By mandating the reporting of students’ assumed gender identities and behaviors to parents, the law breaches student privacy, erodes trust, and puts vulnerable children at risk of harm.”
Those who supported H.B. 8 called it the ‘Parents’ Bill of Rights’, but those who opposed it called it the ‘Don’t Say Gay Bill,’ due to its similar language to Florida’s ‘Don’t Say Gay’ law that passed in 2022.
“While this bill is presented as a “Parents’ Bill of Rights,” its provisions pose significant risks to the well-being of LGBTQ+ youth and raise troubling questions about the separation of church and state in public education,” Stonewall Columbus said in a statement.
The Ohio Education Association said this bill will take time away from educators being able to teach students and will create more challenges for marginalized students.
“It unnecessarily entangles state government in regulating communications between parents and educators, sowing distrust rather than fostering the collaboration needed to ensure all students can learn, grow, and thrive,” OEA President Scott DiMauro said in a statement.
The bill, which underwent several changes since it was first introduced in February 2023, received much opposition.
“Despite the outcry from hundreds of students, parents, and social workers, conservatives want to broaden curriculum censorship, weaken current civil rights protections for LGBTQ+ individuals, and impose new disclosure and alternative curriculum mandates on teachers and counselors,” Lauren Blauvelt, executive director of Planned Parenthood Advocates of Ohio, said in a statement.
“These requirements would create conflicting, burdensome obligations for educators, making it overly difficult for them to comply,” Blauvelt said.
The Ohio Center for Sex Education said this bill is at odds with studies that show comprehensive sexuality education programs reduce the rates of sexual activity, sexual risk behaviors, sexually transmitted infections, and adolescent pregnancy.
“This bill’s vague language creates an environment of fear and division, putting LGBTQ+ students at risk and eroding the trust that educators work hard to build with their students and families,” Jenna Wojdacz, the center’s assistant vice president, said in a statement.
Equality Ohio, along with several other organizations, is asking DeWine to veto the bill.
“Overnight when most school-age children are asleep, the legislature rushed through another shameful attack on LGBTQ+ youth,” Equality Ohio Executive Director Dwayne Steward said in a statement.
LifeWise Academy, a Hilliard-based religious instruction program, celebrated the passage of H.B. 8.
“Families understand the benefits of Bible-based character education during school hours, given the increasing demand for our program in communities throughout Ohio and the country,” LifeWise CEO Joel Penton said in a statement.
LifeWise enrolls 50,000 students across 29 states, including about 160 Ohio school districts.
Megan Henry is a reporter for the Ohio Capital Journal and has spent the past five years reporting in Ohio on various topics including education, healthcare, business and crime. She previously worked at The Columbus Dispatch, part of the USA Today Network.
Ohio Capital Journal is part of States Newsroom, the nation’s largest state-focused nonprofit news organization.
by Chris Ball
![[A Holiday Toolkit] Supporting Mental and Behavioral Health During the Holiday Season](https://lovelandmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/holiday-help.png)
Your presence can be a present for someone this season. Support and following up with loved ones are just some of the actions we can all take to help others who may be in crisis.
Is the holiday stress getting to you? Believe in the magic of #SelfCare. It’s ok to focus on yourself, your self-care, and your overall health and wellness this season.
It’s OK not to feel merry and bright. This season can bring up feelings of loneliness and grief. Hope, help and healing are within reach. Reach out to someone to speak about what’s weighing on you.
![[Gridlock Alert] West Loveland will be closed at Cherokee Drive Jan. 7 through 9](https://lovelandmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/w.-love-detour.png)
