LOVELAND MAGAZINE

News and Events from the Loveland, Ohio Area

Without fear or favor
Since 2004

Author: Cassie Mattia

  • LHS Women’s Cross Country Team Brings Home the OHSAA Silver!

    LHS Women’s Cross Country Team Brings Home the OHSAA Silver!

    by Cassie Mattia

    Loveland, Ohio – What a fantastic day it was to be a Loveland Tiger! On Saturday both the Loveland High School (LHS) Women’s and Men’s Cross Country Teams for the first time ever in LHS history competed together for the OHSAA Division 1 title at Fortress Obetz and Memorial Park in Columbus. Both Teams went into the race having record-breaking years so many die-hard Tiger fans knew that they would come back with some impressive accolades!

    The LHS Women’s Cross Country Team broke several school records this year but the most important one came in the form of a 2nd place OHSAA Division 1 Women’s Cross Country trophy on Saturday! The Tigers finished right behind Perrysburg (101) with a score of 109 and an impressive runners average of 18:59. Senior Jesse Gibbins was the top finisher for the Tigers crossing the line in 7th place with a time of 18:25.2, Senior Sarah Madix was next placing 19th at 18:55.2, Senior Emmy Sager finished in 26th place with a time of 19:09, Junior Madison Conatser finished in 28th with a time of 19:10.5, Junior Ally Colegate placed 29th with a time of 19:10.8, Sophomore Lauren Gard finished next in 82nd place with a time of 20:03 and rounding out the team score was Senior Maaike Snider in 102nd place with a time of 20:17.9. 

    The winning time for the Women’s Division 1 race (unscored) was 17:32.1 ran by Senior Alyssa Shope from Gahanna Lincoln. For the full OHSAA Division 1 Women’s Cross Country meet results click here.

    Shortly after the LHS Women’s Cross Country milestone win, the Eastern Cincinnati Conference (ECC) released the team conference awards naming LHS’s Steve Nester ECC Coach of the Year and Senior Emmy Sager ECC Runner of the Year! Seniors Jesse Gibbins, Sarah Madix, and Emmy Sager all received 1st Team All-ECC honors while Juniors Ally Colegate and Madison Conatser grabbed 2nd Team All-ECC honors. Senior Maaike Snider also received ECC honors with Honorable Mention.

    The LHS Men’s Cross Country Team had a season full of monumental moments including their trip to the OHSAA Division 1 Men’s Cross Country meet on Saturday! The Tigers placed 12th among a very talented field of athletes with a score of 313 and a runners average of 16:33. Senior Ryan Chevalier was the top finisher for the Tigers placing 6th with a time of 15:37.3, Junior Brady Steiner finished next in 48th place with a time of 16:23.2, Freshman Nick Huff finished in 84th place with a time of 16:51.7, Junior Cayden Dyer placed 85th with a time of 16:52, Senior Sam Neiger finished 90th with a time of 16:57.5, Junior Grant Hanson placed 98th with a time of 17:04.3, and Senior JP Tew rounded out the Tigers placing 134th with a time of 17:58.2.

    Mason took the OHSAA Division 1 Men’s Cross Country title with a score of 106 and the winning runner (unscored) was Senior William Zegarski from Little Miami with a time of 14:39.9. Zegarski broke the previous Ohio State All-Time Meet record. For the full OHSAA Division 1 Men’s Cross Country meet results click here.

    The ECC All-Conference awards were also announced for the Men’s Cross Country Teams post the State meet awarding Steve Nester with the ECC Coach of the Year! Senior Ryan Chevalier, and Juniors Cayden Dyer and Brady Steiner were awarded 1st Team All-ECC honors while Junior Grant Hanson and Freshman Nick Huff received 2nd Team All-ECC honors. Senior Sam Neiger also received ECC honors in the form of Honorable Mention.

    Check out the photo album from Saturday’s meet brought to you by Loveland Magazine Editor, David Miller!

    Congratulations to both the LHS Women’s and Men’s Cross Country Teams on an unbelievable season! It has been a joy watching school history happen right in front of our eyes! We can’t wait to see where the future takes all these wonderful Tiger student-athletes!

    For more sports updates stay tuned to the Loveland Salad With ME, Cassie Mattia!

  • Loveland Magazine’s November Pet of the Month is Announced!

    Loveland Magazine’s November Pet of the Month is Announced!

    by Cassie Mattia

    Self-described “Dog Mom” Cassie Mattia lives in Historic Downtown Loveland with Nala, Dean, and her boyfriend Adam. Cassie is the Associate Editor of Loveland Magazine.

    Loveland, Ohio – We are pleased to present Loveland Magazine’s Pet of the Month for November! The community of Loveland provided us with some amazing Pet of the Month photos and we are beyond thrilled to celebrate these loved animals!

    Haley Rodeffer is the loving owner of 1-year-old Charles Peppercorn a.k.a Charlie! Charlie is a Netherland Dwarf Rabbit that according to Haley has more personality than any pet she knows!

    “Charlie has been a member of our family since he was just a few weeks old. His best friends are our two house cats whom he loves to play and snuggle with,” Rodeffer said, “When he is very happy he will run laps around the living room and then stretch out on the hardwood floor to cool off. He is quite an escape artist and thus has earned himself the nickname Houdini!”

    Charlie is very intelligent as he not only knows how to jump out of this fence, he also can go up and down the stairs, and use his best friends’ cat door to go into the basement! Rodeffer explained that the only way to catch “an escape artist” like Charlie is giving him his favorite treats, which are dried cranberries and bananas. 

    “When it is time for bed a small handful of pellets does the trick to get Charlie into his cage,” Rodeffer said, “Despite sometimes being a handful, Charlie is a very good bunny and we love him very much!”

    Meet Charles Peppercorn 

    Charlie Chilling out on the Coolness of the Hardwood Floor
    • Charlie Soaking up the Golden Hour Sunshine
    • Charlie Posing in his PJ’s! He may not Like Dress up Time but he Sure Does Love the Treats That Comes Afterwards!
    • Charlie Celebrating His 1st Birthday With his Family
    • Charlie Snuggling With his Best Friend Squirt!

    Congratulations to Haley and Charlie for being selected to represent Loveland Magazine’s Pet of the Month for November! Haley and Charlie will be rewarded with a Nothing Bundt Cakes Bundtlet Tower, a gift card to The Works Pizza, and an 8X10 framable photo keepsake! Charlie will not only be featured in our publication but will also be included in our weekly newsletter for the month of November and our social media pages.

    We would like to thank everyone who sent in photos of their pets as it was an absolute joy to see how many beautiful animals there are in our community! For those who sent in photos but weren’t selected this time around, don’t worry, as your entries will be entered back into the competition for the following month’s selection! For those that missed the deadline for November’s Pet of the Month, we will be taking entries from November 5th-25th for December’s Pet of the Month.

    Check out the video below created by David Miller that features Charlie as well as some of our favorite September, October, and November Pet of the Month entries!

    To enter into Loveland’s Pet of the Month contest you must email me, Cassie Mattia, at cmattia12@gmail.com 2-5 of your favorite photos of your pet along with a short bio about your pet. Share with us and the community why your pet is so special to you along with any other unique facts that set your little buddy apart from other pets! When sending in your pet photos and bios please include your pet’s name, age, and breed as well as your contact info with a short description of each photo you provide us with. If you want to share where your pet’s favorite spots are in Loveland that would be great as well! Remember we DO NOT discriminate against any pets; all pets are welcome to enter into the contest!

    Join us in celebrating Charlie for the month of November!

    We can’t wait to see whose pet will be featured in December!

    Here at Loveland Magazine, we would like to send a personal shout-out to The Works Pizza and Nothing Bundt Cakes Mason (nearby in Deerfield Township) for providing wonderful gifts to our winners!

  • LHS Men’s and Women’s Cross Country Teams go Down in School History…Again!

    LHS Men’s and Women’s Cross Country Teams go Down in School History…Again!

    by Cassie Mattia

    Loveland, Ohio – The Loveland High School (LHS) Women’s and Men’s Cross Country Teams are re-writing school history one broken record at a time!

    In addition to being the 2021-2021 Eastern Cincinnati Conference (ECC) Champs, last Saturday at Troy High School the LHS Women’s Cross Country Team captured the Ohio High School Athletic Association (OHSAA) Division 1 Regional Title with a score of 69 for the first time ever in Tiger history. This qualified the entire team to compete in the OHSAA State Division 1 Women’s Championship set to go down this Saturday at Fortress Obetz and Memorial Park at 3 PM. This will be the Women’s 3rd trip to State as a team since the conception of the cross country program (2007, 2019, and 2021).

    Senior Jesse Gibbins took the top time at Regionals for the Tigers placing 4th with a time of 19:15.7. To see the official results from the OHSAA Regional Division 1 Women’s 5k click here.

    Earlier this season the LHS Women’s Cross Country Team broke another school record at the Loveland Sunset Invitational having 5 women in the same race run under 19 minutes! That race and the OHSAA District Division 1 Women’s 5k put 5 Tigers in the top 8 in the ECC for their individual 5k times. 

    The Women’s Team is still currently sitting in the top spot in the State of Ohio according to the Ohio Association of Track and Cross Country Coaches (OATCCC) poll.

    The LHS Men’s Cross Country Team has also made a name for themselves this year grabbing their first ECC title in 15 years! Building off that history-changing title, the Men collected a 4th place finish with a score of 143 at the OHSAA Division 1 Regional Men’s Championships, allowing them to qualify as a team for the State Tournament. With that accomplishment, the LHS Cross Country Teams again broke a school record, as it is the first time ever in LHS history that both Cross Country squads qualified for the State Tournament in the same year! This will also be the Men’s 3rd trip to the State Tournament as a team (1971, 2020, and 2021).

    Senior Ryan Chevalier was the top finisher for the Tigers at the Regional Tournament race finishing in 15th place with a time of 17:12.8. To see the official results from the OHSAA Regional Division 1 Men’s 5k click here.  

    After all of the impressive running by the Men, 4 Tigers are in the top 9 in the ECC for their individual 5k times. 

    The Men’s Cross Country Team is in 7th place in the State of Ohio per the OATCCC poll.

    Before both Tiger teams head off to Fortress Obetz on Saturday in Columbus for the OHSAA Division 1 State Cross Country Championships, here at Loveland Magazine we decided to take a trip to LHS to chat with both history-changing teams! We are so proud of both teams and thought it was necessary to showcase all their accomplishments to the community so that we could all root them on before the big race!

    Introducing the LHS Women’s and Men’s Cross Country Team, brought to you by Loveland Magazine TV! Click below to watch the exclusive interview now!

    The following athletes are in the video interview: Ryan Chevalier, Cayden Dyer, Grant Hanson, Nick Huff, Sam Neiger, Alex Saletta, Brady Steiner, JP Tew, Ally Colegate, Madison Conatser, Lauren Gard, Jessie Gibbins, Sarah Madix, Emmy Sager, and Maaike Snider.

    (Photos taken by Loveland XC, Loveland Athletic Department, and Cassie Mattia.)

    Both the Women’s and Men’s Cross Country Teams will be celebrated tomorrow at 10:35 AM at LHS! The High School asks that you have your class step into the hallway, outside of your classroom for the send-off parade. The Cross Country athletes, coaches, and the drumline will come to every floor beginning promptly at 10:35 AM.

    If you would like to show your support for the LHS Cross Country Teams on Saturday in Columbus at Fortress Obetz and Memorial Park click here to purchase tickets. Students can purchase tickets for $10 while General Admission tickets are $13. Division 1 Women will race at 3 PM and the Men will race at 4 PM. 

    For more of your latest local sports updates stay tuned to the Loveland Salad With ME, Cassie Mattia!

  • Homemade Greeting Cards Create Important Opportunities for LHS Special Needs Students!

    Homemade Greeting Cards Create Important Opportunities for LHS Special Needs Students!

    by Cassie Mattia

    Loveland, Ohio – “Making these cards makes me feel both fulfilled and safe. This Arts and Crafts show has been my home for 4 years and now I want to be an entrepreneur!”

    Loveland High School (LHS) Senior Annelise Dartnall expressed how excited she was on Tuesday about The Loveland Arts and Crafts Fair being back in action after not having it 2 years in a row due to COVID-19. Dartnall along with several other LHS special needs students have participated in creating handmade cards to sell at the Loveland Arts and Crafts Fair in order to raise funds for the LHS Special Needs Program and gain valuable work experience. Dartnall has also worked at the Loveland Farmers Market, several Loveland Arts and Crafts Fairs where she showcased the special needs students carefully crafted cards, and the Loveland High School News Network. 

    Retired Teacher Molly Swaine came up with the idea of LHS’s special needs students designing, creating, packaging, and selling these handmade cards to the community and staff members of Loveland right in her very own room just a few years ago.

    “The past couple of years the students were unable to attend our biggest sales event, The Loveland Arts and Crafts Fair, due to the pandemic so the fact that our students have the opportunity to once again practice social and life skills out in the community is great,” LHS Intervention Specialist Emily Hicks said.

    Caitlin Haury, LHS Intervention Specialist, and Payton Lafonda also aided Hicks with the handmade cards project in hopes that the special needs students at LHS would gain valuable work experience and raise enough sales to buy supplies for the classroom, activities, and celebrations.

    Over the past few weeks, the excitement for Loveland’s Arts and Crafts Fair has been building, as the event is set for November 6th at LHS from 9:30 AM to 3 PM. We decided to take a trip down Tiger Trail to LHS to talk to Annelise about the handmade cards project and why it’s so important that everyone gets involved.

    Buying the cards during the Craft Expo requires cash. The students can not accept credit cards, Apple Pay, Venmo, etc.

    Without further ado, we bring to you LHS Senior Annelise Dartnall as she explains to YOU the Loveland Magazine readers why you should support the LHS Special Needs Handmade Cards Project!

    Interview and video by David Miller

    If you are unable to attend Loveland’s Arts and Crafts Expo the Special Needs Program created a contactless google link in which you can select your cards and have them sent to you through the mail. Cards are $2 for a pack of 4. You will also need to send your form of payment through the mail to LHS’s Caitlin Haury. Click here to order your handmade cards today!

    If you missed our previous article on the LHS Special Needs Handmade Cards Project click below!

    You can buy handmade cards made by special needs students at LHS

    For more inspirational Loveland stories stay tuned to the Loveland Salad With ME, Cassie Mattia!

  • Show off Your Pet’s Halloween Costume in November’s Pet of the Month Contest!

    Show off Your Pet’s Halloween Costume in November’s Pet of the Month Contest!

    Self-described “Dog Mom” Cassie Mattia lives in Historic Downtown Loveland with Nala, Dean, and her boyfriend Adam. Cassie is the Associate Editor of Loveland Magazine.

    November DEADLINE extended for Halloween costumes!

    by Cassie Mattia

    Loveland, Ohio – Is there really anything cuter than a pet in their spookiest Halloween costume?! Now is your chance to show off your pet’s Halloween attire in November’s Pet of the Month contest!

    If you are a Loveland resident and live close to the Loveland Bike Trail you know more than anyone that Loveland has a special place in its heart for pets. From dogs to cats to horses to exotic animals the Loveland community welcomes all animals with open arms! This is why here at Loveland Magazine we want to celebrate your pets!

    At the beginning of every month, we select and feature “Loveland’s Pet of the Month,” in which that pet will then be featured in our publication, weekly newsletters, and our social media platforms for that entire month.

    The featured pet will also receive a beautiful, glossy, high-quality 8X10 photo keepsake that will be mailed to the pet owner’s home. We love our pets as much you do Loveland so let’s pay tribute to them together every month!

    • Dean is Cassie’s 10-year-old Dorkie
    • Nala is Cassie’s 3-year-old Pitbull/Lab mix

    The winner will also be rewarded with a Nothing Bundt Cakes Bundtlet Tower, and a gift card to The Works Pizza.

    To enter into Loveland’s Pet of the Month contest you must email me, Cassie Mattia, at cmattia12@gmail.com 2-5 of your favorite photos of your pet along with a short bio about your pet. Share with us and the community why your pet is so special to you along with any other unique facts that set your little buddy apart from other pets!

    The window for receiving November Pet of the Month candidates is being extended to November 1st so that you have the opportunity to send in photos of your pet in their Halloween costume!

    November’s Pet of the Month will be Announced on Friday, November 5th.

    When sending in your pet photos and bios please include your pet’s name, age, and breed as well as your contact info with a short description of each photo you provide us with. If you want to share where your pet’s favorite spots are in Loveland that would be great as well!

    Remember we DO NOT discriminate against any pets; all pets are welcome to enter into the contest! And, if your pet does not like the spookiness of Halloween or your iguana just won’t sit for a Halloween pose, don’t be “frightened” that she won’t be chosen.

    We are so excited to share the love you have for your pets and the joy they bring you every day with the community!

    ENTER YOUR PET

    Read about Loveland Magazine’s October Pets of the Month

    Read about Loveland Magazine’s September Pets of the Month

  • Join Skeletor at the Simpson Farm Asylum for the Top 5 Must-Watch Halloween Movies!

    Join Skeletor at the Simpson Farm Asylum for the Top 5 Must-Watch Halloween Movies!

    Cassie Mattia as Skeletor

    by Cassie Mattia

    Loveland, Ohio – With Halloween right around the corner, it only seems right to take YOU our readers to the Simpson Farm Asylum where you will once again meet Skeletor the Halloween Movie Guru!

    Everyone loves a good scary movie, especially during Halloween, but at times it can be tough selecting the one that will be sure to chill you to the bone! Skeletor, who hibernates all year at the Simpson Farm Asylum, located at Loveland Magazine’s office, awakens in October to celebrate all things spooky and to share what 5 Halloween movies you should watch in preparation for the 31st.

    Follow me down to the Simpson Farm Asylum where we will meet Skeletor for the 2021 Top 5 Halloween Movies! Turn off the lights, snuggle under your favorite blanket, grab a bag of candy, and prepare to be creeped out!

    Skeletor’s 2021 Top 5 Halloween Movies and Where to Find Them!

    • Nightmare on Elm Street, 1984, Supernatural Slasher, Rated R, Watch on HULU or HBO MAX
    • The Hills Have Eyes, 2006 remake, Horror, Rated R, Watch on AMAZON PRIME VIDEO
    • Goosebumps The Series, 1995, Children’s Anthology Horror Television Series, Rated PG, Watch on NETFLIX
    • Fear Street The Trilogy, 2021, Horror Film Series, Rated R, Watch on NETFLIX
    • Child’s Play, 2019 remake, Slasher, Rated R, Watch on HULU or AMAZON PRIME VIDEO

    Here is a collection of still photos from the Skeletor video shoot taken by David Miller.

    Loveland Area Trick or Treating will take place between 6 PM and 8 PM on Sunday, October 31st!

    Take a Look at my Skeletor Photo Album!

    Did you miss Skeletor last year? Click below to watch Skeletor’s 2020 Top Halloween Movie Picks!

    Skeletor Introduces October “Fright Nights!”

    Need more Halloween movie selections?! Click below to see my Part 1 and Part 2 2019 Top 10 Must-Watch Halloween Movies!

    Loveland Magazine Celebrates Fall With Cassie’s Guide to the Top 10 Best Halloween Movies PART 1
    PART 1
    Loveland Magazine Celebrates Fall With Cassie’s Guide to the Top 10 Best Halloween Movies PART 2
    PART 2
  • [Video] LHS and LMS Cross Country Teams all Secure the 2021 ECC Championship Title!

    [Video] LHS and LMS Cross Country Teams all Secure the 2021 ECC Championship Title!

    The Loveland Women remain the #1 team in Ohio and have claimed the ECC Championship Title!

    by Cassie Mattia

    Symmes Township, Ohio – Overnight rain did not slow down these Tigers as the LHS Men’s and Women’s Cross Country Teams took home the 2021 ECC Championship Trophies! 

    On Saturday at 9 AM at LHS’s home course, The Home of the Brave Park, both Men’s and Women’s Teams prepared for one of the coldest races thus far! The cold temperatures certainly didn’t phase the Tigers as the Loveland’s Women’s Team won with a score of 33 and the Men’s Team won with a score of 43.

    The LHS Women’s Cross Country Team had several top 10 finishes with Senior Emmy Sager grabbing the 1st place spot with a time of 19:07.93. Sager was also named ECC’s Cross Country Athlete of the Week. Senior Jessie Gibbins took the 4th place position with a time of 19:25.76, Senior Sarah Madix placed 5th with a time of 19:31.75, Junior Madison Conatser placed 11th with a time of 19:48.76, Junior Ally Colegate finished 12th with a time of 19.51.76, Senior Maaike Snider finished 21st with a time of 20:19.81, and Sophomore Lauren Gard rounded out the team score placing 27th with a time of 21:02.66.

    Lebanon women placed 2nd and Walnut Hills claimed 3rd place. This ECC win will mark the 2nd ECC Championship in Loveland Women’s Cross Country history (2021 and 2019).

    For the full ECC Women’s Meet Results click here.

    Week # 7 State High School D-1 Women’s Cross Country Poll

    1. Loveland
    2. Shaker Heights
    3. Centerville
    4. Hilliard Davidson
    5. Perrysburg
    6. Mason
    7. Beavercreek
    8. Massillon Jackson
    9. Brunswick
    10. Medina
    Loveland High School ECC Champions Ohio’s 7th State ranked team

    The LHS Men’s Cross Country Team collected their first ECC Championship in school history on Saturday! Senior Ryan Chevalier finished in 3rd place with a time of 16:20.98, Junior Brady Steiner placed 7th with a time of 16:44.60, Junior Cayden Dyer finished in the 8th spot with a time of 16:49.45, Freshman Nick Huff placed 11th with a time of 17:03.48, Junior Grant Hanson finished in 14th place with a time of 17:12.64, Senior Sam Neiger crossed the line in 26th with a time of 17:34.01, and Sophomore Kyle Becker placed 50th with a time of 18:31.46.

    Lebanon placed 2nd and Turpin grabbed the 3rd place spot. Little Miami’s William Zegarski won the ECC Meet with a time of 15:38.48 and Walnut Hill’s Gianni Allwein took 2nd place with a time of 15:59.35.

    For the full ECC Men’s Meet Results click here.

    Week # 7 State High School D-1 Men’s Cross Country Poll

    1. Mason
    2. St. Xavier
    3. Hilliard Davidson
    4. St Ignatius
    5. St Edwards
    6. Massillon Jackson
    7. Loveland
    8. Louisville
    9. North Canton Hoover
    10. Lancaster

    Both the Men’s and Women’s LHS Cross Country Teams will compete on Saturday at the Voice of America Park (7850 VOA Park Dr, West Chester Township, OH 45069) for the OHSAA District Championships. The Women will run at 10 AM and the Men are set to run at 11:30 AM. Tickets are $8 if you purchase online before 6 AM on October 23rd. If you decide to purchase after the pre-sale deadline, tickets will be $10. There will be no gate sales. To purchase tickets click here.

    Middle School Champions

    The Loveland Middle School Cross Country Team’s both took home ECC Championship Trophies as well making Saturday a huge win for Loveland Tigers across the board!

    LMS Cross Country Coach John Waple said, “The middle school cross country teams had an amazing season. Every kid came and worked hard all season and grew as runners. This was just a truly tremendous group of kids to coach. We were very fortunate that all four of our teams won at ECC, which is just a great testament to the depth of this team. Not only did our team win every race, but we had three individual champions and several top finishers.”  

    LMS ECC Champs Coach Jenkins, Evan Colegate, Zach Chevalier, Tyler Schwinn, Michael Piposar, Ronan Wolfer, Luke Zicka, and Coach Waple

    The LMS Boys Cross Country Team secured an ECC title with a score of 43. 8th Grader Ronan Wolfer was the top finisher for the Tigers placing 3rd with a time of 11:12.59, Tyler Schwinn placed 5th with a time of 11:35.98, 7th Grader William Manly grabbed the 9th place spot with a time of 11:38.85, 8th Grader Zach Chevalier finished 12th with a time of 11:47.34, and Evan Colegate placed 14th with a time of 12:10.10.

    For the full Boy’s ECC Meet Results click here.

    LMS ECC Champs Coach Jenkins, Savanna Conliff, Caroline Murnan, Parker Mentzer, Allie Kimnach, Ellie Orth, Tori Elliott, and Coach Waple

    The LMS Girls Cross Country Team took first with a score of 16. 8th Grader Caroline Murnan took the top spot with a time of 12:42.09, Parker Mentzer grabbed 2nd place with a time of 12:44.03, Delaney Cilley finished 3rd with a time of 12:58.36, 7th Grader Tori Elliot placed 4th with a time of 12:59.09, and 8th Grader Ellie Orth placed 6th with a time of 13:06.07.

    Delaney Cilley, Parker Mentzer, and Caroline Murnan

    For the full ECC Girl’s Meet Results click here.

    Congratulations to the LHS Men’s and Women’s Cross Country Teams as well as the LMS Boy’s and Girl’s Cross Country Teams! We are so proud of your hard work and dedication! We can’t wait to see what the future holds for these FAST Tigers!

    For more Loveland Sports updates stay tuned to the Loveland Salad With ME, Cassie Mattia!

  • Have you Signed up to be a part of Loveland’s Wonka-Land Halloween Edition?

    Have you Signed up to be a part of Loveland’s Wonka-Land Halloween Edition?

    by Cassie Mattia

    Loveland, Ohio – With Halloween just around the corner, many people are in search of frights, pumpkin festivals, and costume celebrations to bring in the holiday the right way! This year Loveland has a little something special up their sleeve for this Halloween; introducing Loveland’s Wonka-Land Halloween Edition!

    In year’s past, the city of Loveland has celebrated Halloween with costume contests, special live entertainment at Downtown’s local restaurants, and spooky vendors that typically set up along the Loveland Bike Trail, but this year Little Miami River Chamber of Alliance Board President Doug Portmann envisioned something a little different…Loveland decked out in its very own Wonka-Land! 

    “As my wife and I were brainstorming as to what Loveland’s theme should be this year for Halloween my daughter said, ‘It’s Halloween so why don’t you do a Willy Wonka theme?” Portmann explained, “From there all we really needed to do was fill in the details!”

    On Saturday, October 30th from 6 PM-8 PM teams of 4 will go on a hunt through Loveland’s impromptu candy land in search of Willy Wonka’s Golden Ticket! Teams will participate in “sweet” games in this ultimate Halloween scavenger hunt in order to find the grand prize. Those that will be participating are asked to please eat dinner beforehand as beer and food discount tickets will not be given out to teams until after the games have ended.

    Teams and those that attend Loveland’s Wonka-Land Halloween Edition are asked to dress in their absolute best Willy Wonka-themed attire! Some of the Willy Wonka characters are as follows: Willy Wonka, Charlie Buckett, Grandpa Joe, Veruka Salt, Mike Teave, Arthur Slugworth, Augustus Gloop, Violet Beauregarde, Mr. Salt, Mrs. Teavee, Oompa-Lumpas, Mrs. Gloop, Mr. Turkentine, and The Tinker. Here are a few links to places where you can purchase Willy Wonka character-inspired costumes, HalloweenCostumes.com, Walmart, and Amazon.

    Need more Wonka inspiration? Check out the original Willy Wonka movie trailer from 1971 starring the legendary Gene Wilder!

    Excited and ready to sign up yet?! We have included the link to sign up below, but before you do so here are a few simple rules to adhere to before you enter into the search for the Golden Ticket!

    1. All those participating must be 21 years old.
    2. It is recommended that all participants eat dinner beforehand as the event will be very crowded and hard to order a full dinner quickly!
    3. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, there will be no food tastings this year, but restaurants will be offering food and drink discount tickets to all participants after the games!
    4. The most important rule is…HAVE FUN!

    Loveland’s Wonka-Land Halloween Edition is already half sold out so we encourage you to grab your team and sign up before it’s too late!

    Visit the Web Site

    A Huge Shout-Out to This Year’s Sponsors! Thank you so Much for Your Support!

    For more Loveland event updates stay tuned to the Loveland Salad With ME, Cassie Mattia!

  • The Best of Loveland’s 1st Oktoberfest!

    The Best of Loveland’s 1st Oktoberfest!

    by Cassie Mattia

    Loveland, Ohio – Did you attend Loveland’s First Oktoberfest? If not well do we have an early Halloween treat for you! 

    I of course went to both days of Loveland’s Oktoberfest on September 24th and 25th and wow was it an absolute showstopper! Not only did all of the Downtown Loveland area transform into a place filled with German food, drinks, and activities, Nisbet Park located right off the Loveland Bike Trail successfully turned into a traditional Biergarten!

    A Look Around Nisbet Park’s Oktoberfest Biergarten

    The Nisbet Biergarten was home to the Warsteiner Beer Emporium, the Stein Slide, live entertainment, the Wiener Dog Race, local vendors like Kona Ice, Dolph’s Dog’s, Epic Picnics, Right Stuff Grill, and Cincy Shirts (sold custom Loveland Oktoberfest T-shirts), the Stein Hoisting finals, the Tapping of the Keg, and beautifully decorated picnic tables surrounded by lights for families and friends to sit down and take in the atmosphere! Those that attended were able to grab beer tickets or buy a Loveland Oktoberfest keepsake mug to fill with traditional Oktoberfest Warsteiner Beer.

    • The Warsteiner Beer Emporium in Nisbet Park’s Biergarten
    • The Stein Slide
    • Cincy Shirts set-up in Nisbet Park’s Biergarten
    • Epic Picnic’s Owner Amanda provided the Biergarten with a German themed picnic where you could have your photo taken
    • New local business Dolph’s Dogs served up some delicious sausages, hot dogs, and bratwursts in the Biergarten
    • Owner Dolph in action
    • Dolph’s Dog’s traditional Hot Dogs
    • Dolph’s Dog’s Bratwurst loaded up with peppers and onions
    • Kona Ice served up mouthwatering Ice creations in the Biergarten
    A Stein Slide Challenge

    The local Downtown Loveland restaurants also participated in the Oktoberfest magic by providing traditional German food specials and hosting the prelims of the Stein Hoisting a.k.a “The Masskrugen Challenge!” 

    The streets of Loveland were filled with people wearing their finest German Lederhosen’s or Dirndl’s, in which Bishop’s Quarter’s held a costume competition for those wanting to show off their attire!

    The Wiener Dog Race was the star of the festival as 15 Wiener Dogs competed for a Tara’s Pet Boutique Gift Card in front of a sea of people. Although the race itself was tight, my very own Dorkie (Dachshund Yorkie Mix) Dean took the first place finish! I decided to donate the gift card to the 2nd place Wiener Dog who was also a very impressive competitor! 

    A Look Around The Wiener Dog Race
    • The Starting Line for the Wiener Dog Race that was held in Nisbet Park
    • I was in charge of making the Wiener Dog Race a success!
    • Thanks to all those who helped with the race!
    • Myself and the Wiener Dog Champion, my dog Dean!
    • Fox19 covering Loveland’s Oktoberfest
    • The Keg Procession Crew!

    One of the most traditional Oktoberfest moments was the Keg Procession that then led into the Tapping of the Keg! I was proud to be a part of the Keg Procession that included many cherished Loveland community members including LMRCA President Cee Cee Collins, LMRCA Board President Doug Portman, and Mayor Kathy Bailey. Once we arrived at the Main Stage located in the Biergarten both Mayor Bailey and Portman tapped the keg which led to an explosion of cheers and beer chugging from the crowd. What a wonderful moment of celebration it was for the city of Loveland!

    Check out the videos below of The Wiener Dog Race, The Keg Procession, and the Tapping of the Keg!

    Loveland’s 1st Oktoberfest turned out better than anyone could have imagined! We would like to say thank you to all those who came out to celebrate Oktoberfest! Your support for the city of Loveland and its local businesses means the world to us! We would also like to say thank you to Loveland’s Oktoberfest sponsors, The Little Miami River Chamber Alliance, Besl and Baden, Coldwell Banker Realty, The Christy Jones Team, Historic Loveland on the Bike Trail, Synergy, Duke Energy, Ramsey’s Trailside, Paxton’s Grill, Dale Robertson Custom Jewelry, Suzi Cree from Keller Williams Realty, PRMG, and Warsteiner. 

    For those who didn’t attend Loveland’s 1st Oktoberfest, we hope to see you all next year!

    For more Loveland event updates stay tuned to the Loveland Salad With ME, Cassie Mattia!

  • Loveland Magazine’s October Pets of the Month are Announced!

    Loveland Magazine’s October Pets of the Month are Announced!

    by Cassie Mattia

    Self-described “Dog Mom” Cassie Mattia lives in Historic Downtown Loveland with Nala, Dean, and her boyfriend Adam. Cassie is the Associate Editor of Loveland Magazine.

    Loveland, Ohio – We are pleased to present Loveland Magazine’s Pets of the Month for October! The community of Loveland provided us with some amazing Pet of the Month candidates and we are beyond thrilled to celebrate these loved animals!

    Vivien Terselic is the proud owner of two Siamese cats, Eva and Lilah. These beautiful sisters will be turning 7 this Fall!

    “When their humans were adopting a cat, they had just one in mind, but then a family that was going to adopt the other cat backed out,” Vivien explained, “So, Eva and Lilah stayed together and came home with their new humans. Lilah is gray and white and wears a blue-collar. Eva is several shades of brown and wears a pink collar. Both have bright blue eyes. Eva and Lilah are best friends, even though they get into fights sometimes!”

    Meet Sisters Eva and Lilah

     

    Eva and Lilah snuggled up on a reading chair on a cold Winter day
    • Eva and Lilah enjoying a DIY cat tree made by their human
    • Eva and Lilah snuggling in a baby crib
    • Eva and Lilah enjoying the view from the window on a Loveland Fall day
    Vivien explained, “So, Eva and Lilah stayed together and came home with their new humans.“

    Congratulations to Vivien, Eva, and Lilah for being selected to represent Loveland Magazine’s Pets of the Month for October! Vivien and her Siamese cats will be rewarded with a Nothing Bundt Cakes Bundtlet Tower, a gift card to The Works Pizza, and an 8X10 framable photo keepsake! Vivien’s cats will not only be featured in our publication but will also be included in our weekly newsletter for the month of October and our social media pages.

    We would like to thank everyone who sent in photos of their pets as it was an absolute joy to see how many beautiful animals there are in our community! For those who sent in photos but weren’t selected this time around, don’t worry, as your entries will be entered back into the competition for the following month’s selection! For those that missed the deadline for October’s Pet of the Month, we will be taking entries from October 1st-25th for November’s Pet of the Month.

    Check out the video below created by David Miller that features Eva and Lilah as well as some of our favorite September and October Pet of the Month entries!

    To enter into Loveland’s Pet of the Month contest you must email me, Cassie Mattia, at cmattia12@gmail.com 2-5 of your favorite photos of your pet along with a short bio about your pet. Share with us and the community why your pet is so special to you along with any other unique facts that set your little buddy apart from other pets! When sending in your pet photos and bios please include your pet’s name, age, and breed as well as your contact info with a short description of each photo you provide us with. If you want to share where your pet’s favorite spots are in Loveland that would be great as well! Remember we DO NOT discriminate against any pets; all pets are welcome to enter into the contest!

    Join us in celebrating Eva and Lilah for the month of October! If you would like to follow Eva and Lilah on Instagram to see what kind of activities they get into day to day click here.

    We can’t wait to see whose pet will be featured in November!

    Here at Loveland Magazine, we would like to send a personal shout-out to The Works Pizza and Nothing Bundt Cakes Mason (nearby in Deerfield Township) for providing wonderful gifts to our winners!