News and Events from the Loveland, Ohio Area
Without fear or favor
Since 2004
![[Photo Slides] Recent Loveland High School Basketball Photos](https://lovelandmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/loveland-magazine-basketball.jpg)
by David Miller
Loveland, Ohio – It’s been awfully fun photographing the Loveland High School Women’s and Men’s basketball games this season. As you will see in this slide show there is non-stop effort and excitement from both teams.
By visiting the ECC website you can keep up with the stats, standings, scores, and the schedule to attend a game and witness the action firsthand.
Loveland, Ohio – Loveland hosts the FIRST LEGO League District Tournament on Saturday, January 20. Teams have been working hard since August to build robots and prepare for competition. Loveland has an amazing robotics program supported by the Loveland Robotics Boosters. The FIRST LEGO League District Tournament will take place in the Loveland Intermediate School gym and include teams from around the region.
I’m looking forward to a fresh start, I hope you all are as well. I’m going to share my New Year’s Resolution with you all…to save money. We had a handful of life events in 2023 so a lot of money went out the door. Most of it reasonable. As we reflected on what was brought in, we were a tad ashamed that more had not been put away or invested. Wish me luck!
The article this month relates to helping small businesses saving money. There are four simple ideas listed. I like simple. Hopefully, if even one helps your small business save some money you will be happy. The chamber is a non-profit small business as well. I plan to definitely see where we can save some money and still provide incredible service.
If any of you were able to attend our Annual Meeting at the beautiful 1859 in downtown Loveland, the chamber offered a year in review. We also shared what to expect in 2024 that will be different. We’re thrilled to share, that the chamber will be doing more giving back and participating with our non-profits. I’m personally very excited about this!
BONUS article: Tax Credits for Small Businesses
Have a great year for ALL small businesses!
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CeeCee Collins is President of the Little Miami River Chamber Alliance.
She was born and raised in Beavercreek, Ohio, CeeCee Collins attended Carroll High School and has been a swimmer her entire life. She received her undergraduate degree at Xavier University where she also participated on the swim team for four years. She graduated from college in 1989 and began working at USA Today Newspaper as a Regional Marketing Manager. After marrying James Collins IV, they moved to Tampa, FL where she worked for the Tampa Metropolitan Area YMCA for 6 years as an Executive Director.
CeeCee and her family moved back to the tri-state area after her second child’s birth. She continued to work for the Greater Cincinnati YMCA for 10 years part-time. CeeCee then pursued full-time work and became the Development Director at Ohio Valley Voices for 6 years. Throughout her years at the YMCA and Ohio Valley Voices she was active in the Little Miami River Chamber Alliance (formerly the Loveland Area Chamber of Commerce). She became the President of the Chamber in 2013.
CeeCee continues to enjoy working at the chamber and keeping up with her three children. She and Jim live in Miami Township.
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Now you can get BlendBox 16oz “Snack Size” for just $3.59 per Blend!
Loveland, Ohio – The BlendBox from Better Blend – Loveland just got better with new snack sizes! All flavors are now also available in 16oz size for just $3.59!
Goshen Township, Ohio – Ohio Governor Mike DeWine announced today that the state will award nearly $4.8 million in grant funding to help local law enforcement agencies across Ohio cover costs associated with body-worn camera programs.
A total of 108 law enforcement agencies will receive funding as part of the third round of the Ohio Body-Worn Camera Grant Program. Of those agencies, 32 will use funding to create new body-worn camera programs and 76 agencies will dedicate funding toward expanding or upgrading existing technology.
Goshen Township will receive $48,421.20.
Governor DeWine created the Ohio Body-Worn Camera Grant Program in 2021. In total, more than 300 law enforcement agencies have received funding as part of the program, including over 200 law enforcement agencies that received nearly $10 million in grants in the 2022-2023 biennium. The Ohio General Assembly allotted an additional $10 million to the program as part of the current 2024-2025 biennium, $5 million of which will be awarded next year.
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BOOTHS ARE GOING FAST!! 3rd Annual Eastside Business Bash Business Expo! March 7 | 4-7pm Little Miami Brewing Event Center | Milford, OH Join us for our 3rd Annual Business Bash Business Expo! This is a fun event for the community and is the perfect way to see a variety of area businesses under one roof! This expo is a great way to showcase your business, grow your network and gain new customers. Join us!
Open to business-business and business-consumer. Anyone can attend! —– Vendor Info: Booth Rental includes a table and 2 chairs. Electric is provided on case by case basis, and may not available for all booths. (Contact the chamber for details) |
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Loveland, Ohio – Loveland teachers Mrs. Stagg and Mrs. Dennedy were gifted one of their holiday wishes on December 20, a new classroom speaker. This is a “major improvement” for their Loveland Intermediate and Middle School music programs and choir students who couldn’t hear as well with the old computer speakers they’d been using.
They were a gift from the Loveland Music Boosters.
The Loveland Citizen Police Academy Class of 2023
by Mahi Sheth
Loveland, Ohio – The Loveland, Miami Township, and Milford Police Departments held a ten-week Citizens Police Academy Class that started on September 6, and ended on November 15 with a dinner and diploma presentation. There were multiple instructors each week of the ten-week unique experience, including Det. Jesse Moore and Lt. Amy Campbell who led the Loveland participants.
The academy was a joint effort of the Loveland, Miami Township, and Milford departments and citizens from all three communities participated and graduated. Each department provided custom shirts to their community members along with “swag” gifts.
A variety of subjects were covered during the course, including a preview of what an officer’s day looked like as well as some education about jails and the judicial system. The citizens were given a tour of the Loveland Police Department to kick off the classes. U.C. Air Care came to tell about their services. There was also a “mock crash” course, which was taught by both Miami Township and Milford fire departments.
Throughout the weeks, the Loveland Police Department offered their expertise and provided many experiences, including Taser use and handcuffing, and a K9 demonstration at the Loveland canine training course next to Bodley Park. There was a field trip to the Scarlet Oaks campus for gun safety at the live range facility where students could shoot an officer’s service weapon. The classes took place throughout Loveland, Miami Township, and Milford.
There was a session at Sora’s Towing to teach about the equipment used to extract vehicle crash victims. The Clermont County Sheriffs Office provided a tour of the county jail and taught about the jail’s background and history.
One class was led by the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigations.
Mock crime scenes were set up at the Loveland Safety Center and there were sessions on narcotics crisis intervention, use of force, and media portrayal. There was an active shooter course at the First Baptist Church in Miami Township where classmates got a chance to role-play saving the lives of hostages and innocent bystanders.
A graduation ceremony with a formal dinner to conclude the academy classes was hosted by Miami Township at their Civic Center. Each class member was allowed to invite one guest to join them in celebrating their achievement.
“Best Short Story” award winner Mahi Sheth knows a thing or two about writing! Mahi is a creative writer whose favorite part about writing is the way words come together to form a story. In Mahi’s downtime, she loves to read and dance. Mahi is a Junior at William Mason High School.
Loveland, Ohio – Attention all frog enthusiasts! Loveland Magazine is hosting a fun contest where you can name our frog mascots. “Mr. and Ms. Frog” just doesn’t cut it anymore!
This is a chance to win some amazing prizes. The creative winner will receive 2 tickets to the Frogman Festival, 2 official tee shirts, and the official poster as cool prizes.
So put on your thinking cap and come up with some creative, bouncy personality, and catchy names for Loveland Magazine’s beloved mascots. Don’t miss out on this exciting opportunity!
The winner will receive tickets to the highly anticipated Frogman Festival that will be on March 3rd at the fabulous Oasis Conference Center.
Please send us your suggestions to: lovelandmagzine@gmail.com with the subject line “Name those Frogs.”
We are excited to share some details about the upcoming event. There will be more than 50 vendors selling their art, crafts, and merchandise in the large ballroom of the Oasis Conference Center. In addition, there will be a separate room where speakers will be presenting their research. At noon, there will be a parade led by the Pied Piper of Loveland, which is open to anyone interested in joining. Additionally, there will be circus sideshows providing entertainment. If you get hungry or thirsty, there will be food and drink options available a la carte, including beer.
The purpose of the Frogman Festival is to gather and celebrate the legend of the Frogman story as well as other strange and unusual stories in our region. Last year more than 2,000 people attended when it was held at the Great Wolf Lodge in Mason. This year it will be in Loveland where it belongs!
Loveland Magazine is a sponsor of the festival.
In addition to the Loveland Frog, a mysterious bagpiper can be found in and around Loveland playing the ancient Highland Bagpipes that evolved in medieval Europe but were refined in Scotland. The stories of pipers leading various rats, children and snakes out of villages and in the countryside are written in the archives. Our piper has trained and studied the instrument from talented musicians to become himself, a sought-after and award-winning player. Having competed at the top levels of the piping world, today he can be found performing with bandmates in the Cincinnati Caledonian Pipes and Drums and The Great Lakes Pipe Band.
For the festival, he will be leading a parade at noon inside the event with any and all welcome to join him whether in costume or not. Any and all costumes from the cryptid world to cosplay, renaissance to steampunk are encouraged. Step off at noon in the lobby in no particular order then follow our piper to wherever he may lead you.
![[Photo Album] “Ladies” kick off Loveland Valentine’s season](https://lovelandmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/feature-template.jpg)
Loveland, Ohio – Last Saturday the Loveland Valentine’s Ladies gathered a near-capacity crowd inside the Loveland City Hall. The occasion was to introduce Becky Giver as the 2024 Loveland Valentine Lady and Lauren Connolly as the newest Valentine Card designer.
Chamber Board chair, Kevin Egan spoke and the event was emceed by Chamber President/CEO CeeCee Collins and Vice President of Operations, Meredith Taylor. Mayor Kathy Bailey gave each of the current Valentine Ladies a rose as they were introduced.
Stay tuned for information about purchasing the 2024 Valentine’s card and instructions on a special way to have it mailed.
Watch this Interview with Becky Giver the 2024 Loveland Ohio Valentine’s Lady.
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Kay Bolin, was crowned in 2018, and she read this history of the program:
A Valentine Lady is a woman who has distinguished themselves by their commitment and involvement in the community and like a Marine … once a Valentine Lady ALWAYS a Valentine Lady.
The Loveland Valentine Lady tradition began in 1972, when Dr. Roland Boike implemented the idea & coined the phrase “There is nothing in this world so sweet as love’. His secretary Doris Pfiester volunteered to stamp all cards, which Doris did until 1988 when her daughter Ruth took over the stamping. Later that year, the Loveland Chamber began an official Valentine Lady program which included a new Valentine Lady every year which began in 1989. Our 2024 Valentine Lady is #35.
The first step in becoming a Valentine Lady is to be nominated; all letters of nomination are due to the Chamber in November of each year. Then the Valentine Program Committee reviews all letters of nomination and then votes on who has distinguished themselves by their commitment and involvement in our community.
All the Valentine Ladies are different, but we have one thing in common and that is we love our community therefore we love being involved and helping our community. That common thread truly makes us Valentine Sisters.
The first and one of the most rewarding responsibilities of a Valentine Lady is going to
the various Loveland schools (pre-K through 4th grade) during the first two weeks of February.
Each Valentine Lady chooses her topic for her presentation.
Another fun Valentine Ladies duty is:
The crowning of a King and Queen at Magnolia Springs Assisted Living and Memory Care Unit. We also visit the Lodge Retirement Community for games with the residents.
There is an annual Valentine Breakfast at Oasis every year in February which is a great representation of the Chamber’s Valentine Program …
•The new Valentine Lady will be there, along with other Valentine Ladies.
•The new Valentine card is shown and the artist who created the artwork is introduced. Each year the design is different as the artist is different, but the message is always the same “There is nothing in this world so sweet as love.”
•There is a Valentino coloring contest for the kids and a Valentine poetry contest for all ages.
This breakfast is a wonderful opportunity to see and feel what the Valentine Program is all about and it is always the Friday before Valentine’s Day.
And I can’t forget to mention the Post Office tradition. People make it a point to send their Valentine Cards to family and loved ones every year with our hand stamped cache “There is nothing in this world so sweet as love” and the hand stamped postmark from Loveland, Ohio. This really is a sweet Loveland tradition.
We stamp 1,000’s of pieces of mail each year, in 2023 they were mailed to 46 states plus Washington DC, 5 other countries and to the Army and Fleet Post Offices.
The Post Office is also a fun volunteer job, and a wonderful way for you to connect in our community. Just contact the Chamber if you are interested in volunteering next year.
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All photos ©2024 David Miller/Loveland Magazine
The Annual Valentine’s Day Breakfast
Join the Little Miami River Chamber Alliance along with the Loveland area business community and residents for the 2023 Valentine’s Day Breakfast Event!
Friday, February 9 at the Oasis Conference Center starting at 8:30 AM.
Join us as we honor and recognize our 2024….
• Valentine Lady
• Valentine Card Designer
• Poetry Contest Winners
• Valentino Coloring Contest Winner
There will be special entertainment and a full, hot breakfast!
Come and see why everyone “Loves” Loveland, OH!
Please call the office for additional information – 513-683-1544
