by David Miller
Loveland, Ohio – A somber, soft-spoken Deirdre Dyson went to the City Council meeting on April 25 and asked, “Whatever did you do that for?”
A now renowned artist, Deirdre and her husband Richard have lived in the immediate Loveland area for 45-years after moving from England with their two children. She talked about straightaway becoming involved in community organizations and events in the City. Her first foray was joining a neighborhood garden club and becoming President. The Dyson’s recently lovingly restored a home in the West Loveland Historic District into a work/live abode.
[pull_quote_left]My mother-in-law, God rest her soul, had two ways in asking a question. She would say, ‘What did you do that for?’ or ‘Whatever did you do that for?[/pull_quote_left]Dyson went on to list a few other organizations and events, such as helping the Kiwanis Club, being a former President of the Loveland Arts Council where she took the Loveland Art Show from 25 exhibitors to 80, inventing the Paint the Town event that brings artists from all over the Tri-State to paint in Loveland for a week, and helping to start Loveland’s Music in the Park program and Christmas in Loveland. Dyson was a founding member of the Loveland Stage Company and was a Drama Director and art teacher at Loveland High School.
Dyson said, “Throughout these years, and when these events went well, I felt tremendous joy and pride in belonging to the community of Loveland. Belonging to an organization and working towards a common goal is a wonderful way to get to know people.”
“It is becoming harder and harder to stage an event, and most recently, extremely difficult because of changes implemented at City Hall. The whole thing seems to be in flux and the reason for that, I don’t really know. My mother-in-law, God rest her soul, had two ways in asking a question. She would say, ‘What did you do that for?’ or ‘Whatever did you do that for?’ and there is a huge difference between those two. So, I’m at a loss to understand, who or whoever, and why or whatever, somebody saw fit to try and make all these changes.”
Dyson asked Council to imagine having to go to a group of artists and say you can’t be involved in Paint the Town unless we have a background check on you. “Loveland Art Show? Need a background check on the artists participating in that? It won’t happen. It’s not going to happen. The event is not going to happen,” she said.
“I feel we are all losers when these signature events are gone, and I don’t know yet who is benefiting from these changes,” she continued.
Dyson concluded by urging all members of Council, “Whatever! Whatever. Let’s find out what! – this is all about.”
Editor’s Note: The young women and men you see seated at the Council table are Loveland High School students participating in Student Government Night. The elected council members are seated behind the students.
I must have missed the official news item … here it is mid-September and not a peep about the 2017 art show??!! Say it ain’t so….. :*(
I wondered what had happened to the Loveland Art Show. I’d done that show several years ago and was looking forward to doing it again this year. I do art shows all over the Midwest and have never heard of any show ever requiring a background check on the vendors. Sound like somebody on your council isn’t thinking things through very well.
Loveland should require a background check for City Council members. You never know, they might uncover something like this:
http://www.fox19.com/story/27645042/fox19-investigates-north-college-hill-manager-accused-of-fraud-conspiracy
I think we all know what this is about, Deirdre. A Fitzgerald-led majority on the city council who apparently have a personal investment in commercializing the community of Loveland, which will be detrimental to the majority of the people who live and visit here but will increase revenues for more urban-style development. Is that what the people want? I don’t think so. That’s why we need to vote them out in November. That’s why we need to support the recall of Mayor Mark Fitzgerald. Then we won’t have to question whatever is the reason. Then we can return to being the community that had attracted people to live here with its quaint setting and small shops and greenery. What the city government should be doing is trying to find ways to reroute the traffic that passes through downtown, like lobbying the state to build a bridge north of here that could alleviate it instead of wasting time with levying fees and background checks on average, every day people.
I agree! I am relatively new to Loveland, but the reason I am here is because of the community and small town feel that all these wonderful events help to create and shape. We should be doing everything in our power to make putting these events on as easy as possible – for both the organizers and the participants. It brings us all together in so many wonderful ways. Thank you Deirdre for speaking out.
Well said, Deidre. The idea of background checks for these type of events is absolutely ridiculous. I have participated in many of these types of events throughout the Mid-west and East Coast and have NEVER had to submit to a background check. If vendors have to pay for the background checks, it sounds like another way to put money in the city’s pockets.
I also want to applaud you for the way you conducted your presentation to council. It was calm, well thought out, and presented without hysterics to both sides. You were simply reminding everyone the value these events brought to our community and again asking for transparency on issues.
It is such a shame to see the City of Loveland going this direction. Without our cultural events, Loveland is well on its way to becoming just another beer watering hole.
Thank you again for your candor and thoughts.