Author: David Miller

  • Evening in the city of Amsterdam by Mollie Kuramoto

    Evening in the city of Amsterdam by Mollie Kuramoto

    Mollie Kuramoto is a Loveland High School alumna. She’s the marketing manager for Element Three, a marketing agency based in Indianapolis, Indiana.

    She graduated from Purdue University having studied English, Design, Art and Film, and now uses those skills to tell stories across the written and visual spectrum.

    This piece reflects an evening scene in the city of Amsterdam and was created digitally with Procreate® on an Ipad Pro. 

  • DeWine relaxes guidance for COVID 19 classroom quarantine

    DeWine relaxes guidance for COVID 19 classroom quarantine

    “Students and teachers exposed to a COVID-positive person in school are no longer required to quarantine as long as the exposure occurred in a classroom setting and all students/teachers were wearing masks and following other appropriate protocols.”

    by David Miller

    Loveland, Ohio – Governor Mike DeWine announced Wednesday that Ohio is changing its guidance regarding quarantines following an in-classroom exposure in K-12 schools. The Ohio Department of Health said, “Moving forward, students and teachers exposed to a COVID-positive person in school are no longer required to quarantine as long as the exposure occurred in a classroom setting and all students/teachers were wearing masks and following other appropriate protocols.”

    The change follows an evaluation of virus spread in Ohio schools conducted by researchers with the Ohio Schools COVID-19 Evaluation Team. Preliminary results of the evaluation found no discernable difference in the risk of contracting the coronavirus between those in close contact with a COVID-positive person in the classroom and those who were farther away.  

    Loveland Magazine has reached out to Loveland Superintendent, Dr. Amy Crouse and the District health team to inquire whether the District will adopt DeWine’s newest protocol, however, neither are available for immediate response. (Thank you for your email. Our offices are closed through Sunday, January 3, 2021.  I am out of the office with limited access to email.)

    Loveland school students return to the classroom on Monday, January 4.

    “This evaluation confirms for us that Ohio’s classrooms are a safe place for our students and that the commitment our schools have made to keeping kids safe in the classroom is working,” said DeWine.

    Schools should continue to require quarantines for exposed students in situations where masking and distancing protocols were not followed. The updated quarantine guidance does not apply to after-school activities, including sports, according to the new guidelines.

    The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced in early December new quarantine guidelines for people who were exposed to coronavirus, reducing the length of time from 14 days to 10 days without symptoms or seven days with no symptoms and a negative test. The Loveland School District announced on December 4 that they would implement these less stringent quarantine requirements.

    Meanwhile: The Associated Press reports that California has the nation’s 2nd confirmed case of a new and apparently more contagious variant of the coronavirus. Read on…

    Here is the last Covid 19 Dashboard that was published by the District (12/12/20 -12/18/20) right after classes dismissed for Winter Break:




    Statewide Curfew extended for another three weeks

    The Ohio Department of Health is extending the 10 PM to 5 AM statewide curfew for another three weeks until January 23. Governor Mike DeWine said, “This is b/c we don’t yet know what effect the holidays may have on our hospitals and health care systems, so we must continue to be cautious.”

  • When can Loveland residents expect to receive the COVID 19 vaccine?

    When can Loveland residents expect to receive the COVID 19 vaccine?

    Miami Township’s first responders have begun receiving the vaccine (Photos from MiamiTwp FireEMS)

    David Miller

    by David Miller

    Loveland, Ohio – Becca Doris told Loveland Magazine yesterday that currently, Ohio is in Phase 1A of the COVID 19 vaccine distribution. She said Phase 1A prioritizes healthcare workers, EMS first responders, and individuals living in congregate care settings as well as the staff that works there. Doris is a Community Outreach Specialist for the Hamilton County Emergency Management & Homeland Security Agency (HCEMHSA).

    Phase 1A

    On December 23rd, Governor DeWine announced the next category of people eligible to be vaccinated during Phase 1B, which will include, “Ohioans age 65 and older, employees at schools that want to go back or remain educating in person, and people with severe congenital, developmental, or early-onset medical disorders that make them particularly vulnerable.”

    Phase 1B

    Doris said that there is no official start date for Phase 1B, though in his announcement the Governor estimated that the Phase 1B rollout would occur in mid-January.

    The New York Times (NYT) reported on December 11 that Gov. Mike DeWine said he tentatively expected 561,000 doses of the two vaccines spread over several early shipments. State officials have now confirmed to the Times that 98,475 doses of vaccine had been received. The state announced that 11,700 people had gotten one dose as of Dec. 23.

    According to a New York Times database of Wednesday morning, there have been at least 682,570 cases and 8,722 deaths in Ohio since the beginning of the pandemic, with 67.1 being the daily average death rate.

    Hamilton County Health said on December 26, that they are in the early stages of COVID 19 vaccine distribution and, “doses will be available in limited supply for specific critical populations. Vaccines are not yet available for all Ohioans.” As of yesterday, 6,643 people have received the first dose of a vaccine in the County.

    Clermont County Public Health said on Tuesday, “Yesterday was an exciting day and a great way to end the year. We gave out all of our first shipment of COVID-19 vaccine to our Fire and EMS jurisdictions who then vaccinated their staff members.” As of yesterday, 1,276 people have received the first dose of a vaccine in the County.

    In Warren County, as of yesterday, 1,534 people have received the first dose of a vaccine.

    The NYT reporting shows that 162.6 is the daily average of new cases in Warren County for the last 7 days and 1.4 deaths is the daily average, 402 new cases in Hamilton and 0.4 deaths are the daily average, and 150.4 in Clermont and 0.1 deaths is the daily average.

    As of yesterday, Statewide, there have been 71,625 vaccinations started (0.61% of the Ohio population).

    Miami Township’s first responders have begun receiving the vaccine. On Monday, 32 employees were vaccinated. (Photos from MiamiTwp FireEMS)

    The Loveland-Symmes Fire Department’s first responders were to receive vaccinations on Tuesday or Wednesday of this week from the Hamilton County Health District according to Chief Ottto Huber.

    Deputy Chief Michael Books said, “We will be receiving our vaccine in a series, so that not all members are vaccinated at once, since there is not enough vaccine to go around at first. It appears that we will be receiving the Moderna vaccine, but could be Pfizer on the day of vaccination.”

    Books was asked to give an estimate of how many people the department has come in contact with who had or they suspected of having COVID 19 since the pandemic started. He responded, ” Unfortunately, I cannot give you a number of people that the department has come in contact with that are COVID related, due to HIPAA.  However, our department as well as most departments treat every patient that we come in contact with as a potential COVID patient, for their protection as well as the crews.”

    Earlier this month, the Trump administration said they planned to have 20 million doses of the vaccine distributed by New Years Eve. However, data provided by the CDC shows just over 11.4 million doses have been distributed and only 2.1 million people have received their first dose.

    President-Elect Joe Biden said on Tuesday, “At the current pace, it’s gonna take years, not months, to vaccinate the American people.”

    Vaccine recipients who receive the COVID-19 vaccine must get a second dose several weeks later to receive full protection. The recommended interval for Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine is 21 days. The recommended interval for Moderna vaccine is 28 days. These recommended intervals, with a standard four-day grace period, should be followed as closely as possible to receive full protection, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). If the intervals are exceeded, the second dose should be administered at the earliest opportunity. Doses would not need to be repeated due to a longer interval, meaning you do not have to start over, according to CDC guidance. Providers should exercise extra care in ensuring that a patient’s second dose is from the same manufacturer as the first dose, as they are not interchangeable.

    The CDC has created COVID-19 vaccination record cards, which are included in the vaccine ancillary kits that ship with the vaccine. Vaccination record cards must be signed and completed by healthcare staff to include vaccine manufacturer, vaccine lot number, location of vaccination, and date. Providers should instruct patients to bring the card with them when they receive the second dose. Additionally, providers should encourage patients to use their smartphone to take a picture of their vaccination record card in case the patient misplaces the record card after receiving the first dose.

    You should schedule your second dose appointment during the first vaccination. The CDC has asked providers to share information with vaccine recipients about the CDC’s V-safe smartphone-based post-vaccination tool that patients could choose to use for reminders and health check-ins.

    There has been no announcement on when additional phases may begin, however, the general groups that will be targeted in those phases are outlined in the State of Ohio Interim COVID-19 Vaccination Plan: https://coronavirus.ohio.gov/static/docs/Interim-Draft-COVID-Vaccination-Plan-10-16-20.pdf

    At this time, in the Loveland area, we are a few months away from the vaccine being widely available. Hamilton County and officials statewide are currently developing plans for when the vaccine will be more readily available to the public and what the best process is for future eligible populations.

    Where and When?

    Doris said, “Right now, there are no public announcements on where and when residents can expect to get the vaccine as the information can change depending on multiple factors, including supply levels and if additional vaccines currently in development are approved for use by the FDA.”

    As the COVID-19 vaccine becomes more widely available in Hamilton County, HCEMHSA will be sharing this information with the media and the public via the County’s weekly COVID-19 briefing, social media, and other platforms.

    “Residents should know that there are actions they can take to make sure they get the latest COVID-19/vaccine information,” said Doris. “This includes signing up for COVID-19 alerts within our opt-in emergency notification system, Alert Hamilton County, which we have used at various times throughout the pandemic to communicate important information to the public. We are currently developing plans to utilize this system to communicate vaccine information as well.” Residents are encouraged to sign up for these alerts, as well as other alerts (tornado warning, flash flood warning, etc.) at https://alerthc.org/ to stay informed.

    Additionally, residents can visit Hamilton County Public Health’s website at  https://www.hamiltoncountyhealth.org/covid19/ for more information on COVID-19 and to take a vaccine priority survey that Hamilton County Public Health will use to prioritize vaccine distribution.

    The state of Ohio has posted information about the statewide COVID-19 vaccination efforts online at: https://coronavirus.ohio.gov/wps/portal/gov/covid-19/covid-19-vaccination-program.

    The Ohio Department of Health COVID-19 Vaccination Dashboard displays the most recent data reported to the Ohio Department of Health (ODH) regarding the number of individuals that have started and completed the COVID-19 vaccination series by various demographics and county of residence.

  • Loveland’s Drew Plitt: MAC Champion

    Loveland’s Drew Plitt: MAC Champion

    Plitt and the Cardinals play on CBS New Years Eve December 31 | 12pm MST/2pm EST

    Ball State takes down nationally-ranked Buffalo for first league title since 1996

    “I’m speechless,” Plitt said. “Back in 2016, we said we would be the ones to change the program. There were some tough times. We stuck through it and here we are now – champions.”

    Drew Plitt was named Offensive Player Player of the Game

    Drew Plitt (Photo by David Dermer)

    Plitt and the Cardinals play on CBS New Years Eve December 31 | 12pm MST/2pm EST in the Arizona Bowl

    Detroit – Resilience. Toughness. Togetherness. Every superlative and description available for a championship team, Ball State earned it. The Cardinals are conference champions. 

    Drew Plitt played football at Loveland High School and led the 2013 Tigers to a Division II state title.

    This is how on December 6, 2013 Loveland Football won the Div. II State Title

    Loveland High School sophomore, Drew Plitt was 5 for 5 passing for the game, with two touchdown throws in the first half, one to freshman,Tre Heath for 22 yards and one to Jake Elfers for 12 – in the 41-23 Division II State Championship victory over Glenville on Dec. 6.

    The team rallied around the mantra “Detroit or Bust.” The Cardinals made that a reality. And when they got there, they delivered a primetime performance against a nationally-ranked team featuring the nation’s top-ranked offense, outgunning MAC East champion Buffalo 38-28 Friday night at Ford Field. 

    “The credit goes to our young men,” head coach Mike Neu said. “I told the guys before we left the hotel that this might be the only chance they get to play in a game like this. We earned ourselves a MAC Championship. I might not ever leave Ford Field tonight.”

    The Cardinals (6-1) exploded for 28 points in the second quarter, building a lead good enough to last. Trailing 14-7 after the first quarter, Drew Plitt scored on 4th & goal from the 1 to tie the game and the Cardinals took off from there. Buffalo (5-1) matched and went up 21-14, but the Cardinals ripped off 21 straight points over a span of 5:07 to build a 35-21 lead.

    Plitt tossed a 10-yard scoring pass to Justin Hall to tie the game at 21, and after a stop on defense, Ball State took the lead. Plitt found a wide open Jalen McGaughy for a 56-yard score and Ball State would never trail again. One of the biggest plays came minutes later on a strip sack by Jimmy Daw. The ball ended up in the hands of Christian Albright, who ran 34 yards on the fumble return. That gave Ball State a 35-21 lead at halftime.

    Drew Plitt (Photo by Dave Donoher)

    Leading by double digits, the game slowed in the second half. Ball State was able to stymie Buffalo and almost completely halt the Bulls’ vaunted rushing attack. The Cardinals held a 166-134 advantage on the ground over Buffalo, a team that came into the game averaging 344 rushing yards per game.

    “Our defense does not get enough credit. They rose to the challenge,” Neu said. “They were leading the country in rushing and scoring. It was talked about over and over. In our building, we preached how you can’t beat getting 11 hats to the football. I love our defense. I would take them over anybody in the country. I’m proud of the job Tyler Stockton and the defensive staff has done. Our guys responded to the challenge.”

    Drew Plitt was named Offensive Player of the Game after throwing for 263 yards and three touchdowns and rushing for another score. Daw (defensive) and Nathan Snyder (special teams) were the other players of the game. In addition to the impactful strip sack, Daw had three tackles for loss and blocked a field goal in the second quarter when the game appeared to be a shootout on both sides. Snyder punted six times for an average of 45.2 yards, including a 54-yarder.

    Drew Plitt with the Offensive Player of the Game Trophy (Photo by David Dermer)

    “I’m speechless,” Plitt said. “Back in 2016, we said we would be the ones to change the program. There were some tough times. We stuck through it and here we are now – champions.”

    Tye Evans rushed for 94 yards on 18 carries and Hall added 55 yards on the ground. Tyler led the Cardinals with 91 yards on six receptions and the first-quarter touchdown. Dating back to last season, Tyler has nine touchdowns in his last eight games. Buffalo’s Antonio Nunn caught 13 passes for 182 yards.

    (Copy from Ball State Sports and edited by Loveland Magazine)

    Ball State (6-1) plays unbeaten San Jose State in the Offerpad Arizona Bowl on December 31 | 12pm MST/2pm EST. The game will be broadcast on CBS.


    Offerpad Arizona Bowl Primer: Conference Champs Collide

    The Ball State football team is less than a week away from its matchup with No. 19 San Jose State in the Offerpad Arizona Bowl.

    The Cardinals and Spartans will kick off New Year’s Eve at noon MT (2 p.m. ET) from Arizona Stadium in Tucson on CBS and WLBC.

    The matchup is notable for a variety of reasons, not the least of which is head coach Mike Neu‘s Cardinals seeking to take care of “unfinished business” as they play for the program’s first bowl victory.

    Conference champs collide
    The Arizona Bowl is one of only two bowl games this season pitting two conference champions. The other is the College Football Playoff Semifinal between Clemson and Ohio State at the Allstate Sugar Bowl.

    Ball State won the MAC Championship for the first time since 1996 by winning its last six games and taking down Buffalo in the conference title game. San Jose State went undefeated through the Mountain West Conference and beat Boise State in its championship game.

    Another ranked opponent
    After posting its first win over a ranked opponent since 2012 with its victory over No. 23 Buffalo in the MAC Championship Game, Ball State gets a crack at another one this week. The Cardinals are looking for back-to-back wins over ranked opponents for the first time. They have actually never played ranked opponents in consecutive games. 

    San Jose State is ranked No. 19 in the AP Top 25, No. 20 in the Coaches Poll and No. 22 in the College Football Playoff Rankings. For its part, Ball State is receiving votes in both the AP and coaches polls.

    Preparing for tough defense
    San Jose State ranks 13th nationally in scoring defense, allowing 17.9 points per game, and has not surrendered more than 24 points in a game this season. The Spartans are holding opponents to an average of 111 yards on the ground and 338 total. They boast the best defense Ball State will have faced this season, statistically. But not just statistically.

    “And the film shows this is the best defense we’ve played,” Neu said. “It starts with the guys up front. They’re very good against the run. They’re very good against the pass. They get after the quarterback. This is a complete defense. And really you talk about the team, this is a very balanced football team, very well-coached.”

    On the rise
    Both of these programs have followed a similar trajectory to become conference champions. Neu’s Cardinals and Brent Brennan’s Spartans both won just two games in 2017 but have steadily built to this point. Both teams finished 5-7 last season, knocking on the door of bowl eligibility, before busting that door down this year.

    Making history
    The Arizona Bowl is the first bowl game to feature two female athletic directors — Ball State’s Beth Goetz and San Jose State’s Marie Tuite — and a female bowl director — Kym Adair. Caitlin Schmidt of the Arizona Daily Star detailed the noteworthy happening.

    There are 11 female ADs at the FBS level, and four of those are in the MAC: Goetz, Amy Folan of Central Michigan, Julie Cromer of Ohio and Kathy Beauregard of Western Michigan.

    Versus the Mountain West
    Ball State and San Jose State will be meeting for the first time. BSU is playing its first game against the Mountain West Conference since the league began operations in 1999. 

    The Cardinals played three of the league’s teams — all in bowl games — before the formation of the MWC. The Cardinals squared off with Fresno State in the 1989 California Raisin Bowl, Utah State in the 1993 Las Vegas Bowl and Nevada in the 1996 Las Vegas Bowl. 

    Ball State was originally scheduled to play a Mountain West opponent this season, but the Cardinals’ home game with Wyoming was canceled because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

    Not your typical bowl prep
    In a typical year, teams would have somewhere in the neighborhood of a month to prepare for a bowl game. Not so this year. The Arizona Bowl comes 13 days after Ball State last took the field in the MAC Championship Game. It feels more like a welcome late-season bye week. In this sprint of a season, the Cardinals played seven times in 45 days between their Nov. 4 opener and the Dec. 18 MAC Championship Game.

    “When you play what we’ve played so far without really having a bye week, guys need a couple extra days here to get bumps and bruises healed up the best they can,” Neu said. “There are guys selling out week in and week out who are simply sore and banged up. It’s really been helpful that way to have a couple extra days off.”

    (Copy from Ball State Sports and edited by Loveland Magazine)

  • Stan McCoy Jr. receives community service award named after his father

    Stan McCoy Jr. receives community service award named after his father

    In the photo above is Dan Timmerman, Stan McCoy, Jr., and John Hart

    by David Miller

    Loveland, Ohio – At the December 15 City Council Meeting, Recreation Board Members John Hart and Dan Timmerman presented the Stan McCoy Sr. Community Service Award to Stan McCoy Jr.  

    The Stan McCoy Sr. Award is presented annually, with the criteria that nominees be “persons of quality and integrity, who with love and enthusiasm for the Loveland area, have worked to sustain and improve the community.”

    Stan McCoy Jr. (Loveland Magazine file photo)

    Stan McCoy, Jr. said after being honored, “Thank you very much. This is a great honor. Any time I can get something from my dad… because like he’s… like on a high pedestal. I wish I was more like him. He was one of a kind. My dad taught me and I try to tell kids this when I coach them too. ‘Always try your best. You might get outscored sometimes, but you never lose.’ I want to thank everyone. Thank you very much. You know, I really appreciate it. Thank you.”

    Nominees must also have been active participants for at least three years in recreation, park, or environmental activities which benefit the City of Loveland. 

    The award, which was named after Stan’s father, has come to symbolize involvement in youth sports. As the nomination letter for Stan Jr. said, “Everything that Stan McCoy Sr. meant to the Loveland Community, could only be matched by the career of his son, Stan McCoy Jr. With over thirty (30) years in coaching youth football and basketball, and 25 years in coaching track, Stan McCoy Jr. has touched the lives of many youth.”

    Recreation Board Chairman, John Hart said during the presentation, “Stan McCoy’s tireless and selfless dedication in service to Loveland has made this a better place to grow up for generations of young people. We humbly thank him for his efforts.” Hart added, that the “Recreation Board received numerous nominees, each worthy of the award, it was just hard to top Stan.”

    Listen as John Hart presents the Stan McCoy Sr. Community Service Award to Stan McCoy, Jr.

    Listen to Stan McCoy, Jr’s remarks after receiving the award named after his father.


    For more background on Stan McCoy Jr., read this tribute written by in 2015 by Loveland Magazine Staff Reporter Cam Louder.

    Stan McCoy Jr., A Second Generation Sports Legend

  • Pray for what we know can be – Hope for what we still can’t see

    Pray for what we know can be – Hope for what we still can’t see

    This was written by my dear friend Fran Hendrick and published in Loveland Magazine on December 24, 2012. I rediscovered it this morning while searching for the cover I wanted to publish for this Christmas morning. I digitally painted the cover to go with Fran’s writing because she talked about an “image of a lone evergreen on a snowy hill with a bright star in a navy velvet sky.”

    Fran wrote this because of our broken hearts over the killing of so many innocent children at the Sandy Hook Elementary School just the week before, however, it seems so unusually apropos at the end of 2020 when we mourn our community’s pandemic loses at the end of 2020.

    And, urgently need hope for our 2021.

    David Miller, Publisher


    Pray for what we know can be – Hope for what we still can’t see

     by Fran Hendrick

    This year’s holidays come in the wake of a tragedy that has painfully sharpened awareness of the vulnerability of innocents to violence to an overwhelming level. Reeling from the terrible news from Connecticut, a single song from a Christmas CD (“Thankful” by Gosh Groban on the album “Noel”) helped me forgive my own powerlessness and provided me with a sense of renewed direction.

    Listen Now as you read on.

    I have listened to this song again and again all week long.  I have listened again today.

    It’s not the ideas — in the first verse — of forgetting to look around us – forgetting to “look for the helpers”, as Mr. Rogers said — that mattered so much to me.  It’s not the gentle reprimand about being so caught up inside ourselves that we take when we should give.

    It’s this:

    Tonight we pray for what we know can be
    and on this day we hope for what we still can’t see.

    To pray for “what we know can be;” to hope for “what we still can’t see” — how deeply comforting to validate the significance of the wish even lacking the vision of the means to manifest it.

    The music of Christmas helps my heart. I think it reaches a universal place in the soul, and in doing that, it is able to span even beyond its tremendous religious significance.  This song, on the album, was followed by “The First Noel” — which I have always associated with an image of a lone evergreen on a snowy hill with a bright star in a navy velvet sky — though I suppose it was nothing like that at all, of course — but the picture embodies peace in the purity of the snow, in the sacred bond of mother and infant, in the light of truth and love in the sky, in its innocence, so lovingly conveyed in “The Little Drummer Boy,” as well. Not least, the music of Christmas brings back to me, poignantly, our potential for joy. 

    So this is the hope, this is the star to fervently pray for, even though we cannot begin to see the path to purifying our planet with its light of truth.  We don’t know how, but it is in our hearts, nonetheless.  We are human.  We are limited.  Only one brick at a time can we put into this long-stretching path; that is inherent in being human and perhaps not a deficit at all. 

    But it is also this message that comforts me, that affirms where I am right now:  the message that what has happened — and our raw awareness of what can happen in the future — this is too big for us not to cry today.

    Look beyond ourselves; there’s so much sorrow
    It’s way too late to say, I’ll cry tomorrow.
    Each of us must find our truth;
    It’s so long overdue.

    I am so shaken, my heart is so heavy.  But there is real value in my holding in my heart that vision of a world that is carpeted by a fresh covering of jubilant wildflowers reaching for the sky – implicit their innate purity of spirit and the beauty of being free to bloom; the preciousness of each blossom celebrated and protected, a world swathed in love and care — even if there is no path in sight. In that connection of hearts and hopes, we are no longer powerless.

    I suppose the answer lies in our teaching our children well, as Whitney Houston told us; they are the fresh covering that can choke out the hatred.  I believe that my part, what I can contribute, is to free, in some small way, within each person whom I touch, the power of their essence and to provide the nurturance for that seed to grow — because it is in ordinary genius, it is within the essence the human core, whatever visible covering chances to surround it, if it is not silenced, if it is amplified and allowed to be heard, that our solutions will appear, and in which, perhaps, they already exist.

    Even with our differences, there is a place we’re all connected.
    Each of us can find each other’s love.

    So for tonight we pray for what we know can be
    and on this day we hope for what we still can’t see

    It’s up to us to be the change
    And even though this world needs so much more
    There’s so much to be thankful for.

    The world is no stranger to terrible things; its sorrows began before us and will almost certainly extend after. Oh, how we wish our children did not have to ever know! But that’s not our job.  Our job is to be there when they find out, to help them have the resilience to cope with what they know and still remain optimistic about life. It is our job, through our own courage, to show them that although hearts break, they also heal.

    If we cannot fix the world for them, what then? I hope you will find in this final treasure, as I have, compassion for our limitations in what we can do, indeed in what we can even envision: 

    “It is not incumbent upon you to complete the work, 
    but neither are you at liberty to desist from it.” 

    [(Avot 2:21) attributed to Rabbi Tarfon.]

    For me, that means to do what I can do to make the world a better place — for one person at a time.

    Wishing you comfort and joy, as well,

    Fran Hendrick

  • Loveland High School Class of 2020 Sports Hall of Fame

    Loveland High School Class of 2020 Sports Hall of Fame

    by David Miller

    Loveland, Ohio – There will be no traditional Winter induction ceremony for the Loveland High School Class of 2020 Sports Hall of Fame, however Kevin Taylor said they are planning an on-field celebration for next Fall during a home football game. The traditional ceremony is usually in January during half-time of a varsity basketball game.

    The Class of 2020 includes, Mark Weden (2006), Janet (McCoy) Rich (1971), Josh McCoy (2003), and Greg Larman (1995).

    Taylor did not want these Loveland Tigers to lose out on some early recognition so he sent the names and bios to us to publish.

    What you see below are the “proofs” of exactly how the official plaques will look. The awards are being engraved as we publish.

    We present this exclusive to Loveland Magazine story with their well deserved “Drum Roll and Roar, please…”

  • Dean Parker’s Call the Shot now on YouTube and Vimeo

    Dean Parker’s Call the Shot now on YouTube and Vimeo

    by David Miller

    Loveland, Ohio – Loveland is home to so many young talented writers and film producers and Loveland Magazine has been fortunate to have an association with so many of them. They all have inspired us and enhanced our pages.

    Dean Parker directed Call the Shot and it is now available for free viewing. Parker interned for Loveland Magazine while attending Loveland High School and now lives in LA.

    Call the Shot is a short film about a suicidal man who forces his bartender to carry out his death wish through a life-defining conversation.

    In announcing the film’s availability on YouTube and Vimeo, Parker said on his FaceBook page:

    “It’s here! Call the Shot is now streaming on YouTube and Vimeo! I had such a blast directing this short film with an incredible group of people and am so proud of what we accomplished. Please go check it out! Links below! Thank you to everyone who donated to our GoFundMe! Thank you to my killer cast and crew! I am so grateful to have been given the opportunity to create this film with you all!”

    Call the Shot. NOW STREAMING.

    YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pkN1UVVOKBA…

    VIMEO: https://vimeo.com/371957792

    Don’t forget, Call the Shot can be viewed on your big screen/Smart TV.

    Watch Dead Emerson: Sucker Punch  (Official Video) directed by Dean Emerson and Dean Parker

    LYRICS: I don’t wanna talk about it I don’t wanna think it anymore It’s something I don’t care about But keeps me up at night, lying on the floor In the same clothes as last week Getting numb going half-speed Boredom, ain’t lonely Been too long to know what that means You ask me what I want I say it’s not much A break in monotony A kick in the head, a new kind of rush I want a love that steals my breath Chokes me out, leaves me for dead Like a sucker punch, sucker punch Yeah yeah Like a sucker punch, sucker punch Yeah Cause I want a love that collapses a lung Shatters a rib, knocks me to the ground Like a suckеr punch, sucker punch Yeah yeah Likе a sucker punch, sucker punch Yeah yeah yeah Thirty years I’m rolling die On a picket fence out of city lines Give my life to the 95 Wondering where the hell the time went 2 AM we’ll scream and fight Kiss and make up in the morning like Rinse repeat till that old feeling settles in Jumped off the deep end and drowning You ask me what I want I say not much You break the monotony So keep on, keep on, keep it on up I want a love that steals my breath Chokes me out, leaves me for dead Like a sucker punch, sucker punch Yeah yeah Like a sucker punch, sucker punch Yeah Cause I want a love that collapses a lung Shatters a rib, knocks me to the ground Like a sucker punch, sucker punch Yeah yeah Like a sucker punch, sucker punch Yeah yeah yeah Special thanks to Megan Chumbley & Chrissy Brennan © 2020 Dead Emerson

  • Learn how wounded Vet Joshua Sust will receive “Freedom” with a new home in Mainville

    Learn how wounded Vet Joshua Sust will receive “Freedom” with a new home in Mainville

    by David Miller

    Joshua Sust knew he needed to make a big life change when he found himself getting into the wrong crowd in high school. Motivated to serve his country after the 9/11 attacks, Josh enlisted in the United States Marine Corps as an Infantryman in hopes to better his future and make a difference.

    On November 12, 2011, during his deployment to Musa Quala, Afghanistan with Echo Company, 2nd Battalion, 4th Marines, Cpl Sust was on patrol when his vehicle drove over a pressure plate improvised explosive device (IED). The blast ejected Josh out of the vehicle, resulting in severe damage to his left leg, left arm, traumatic brain injury (TBI), and hearing loss.

    For over three years, doctors attempted limb salvage on his left leg. During that time, Josh endured constant pain and a decreased quality of life. In August 2015, he made the life-changing decision to have an amputation below his left knee.

    Joshua Sust (Provided Photo – HFOT)

    Now medically retired, Joshua enjoys spending his days hunting and fishing. His time outdoors is a form of therapy and builds camaraderie with his friends. A huge Bengals football fan, he likes attending games whenever he can. He also motivates others with similar injuries as a member of the Amputee Coalition peer support effort.

    Cpl Sust was on patrol when his vehicle drove over a pressure plate improvised explosive device (IED).
    (Provided photo by Joshua Sust)

    Joshua posted the above photo on his FaceBook page this last November 12 and said:

     
     Confucius once said “ You have two lives.
     The second one begins when you realize
     you only have one.” 
     
     For me that realization was 9 years ago
     today. Also known as my Big Bang. 
     
     A lot has happened since then. 
     
     My biggest take away has just been to
     grow as a person. Try to show with
     action no matter who we are, where
     we come from or what happened to us
     does not define who we are.
     The greatest gift we have is time.
     Eventually it’s going to run out for all of
     us. When it does I just want to be
     remembered as a good person. 
     
     Enjoy this life, it’s the only one we
     have to live.
     

    Joshua will soon receive the freedom he describes in the video above when he moves into his new home on Zoar Road in Maineville. The digs are being custom-built for him by Homes For Our Troops (HFOT). The home is being built by Michalson Homes of Milford.

    “What that means to me is freedom of movement. I no longer have to think about my next step or if I can use a wheelchair,” said Joshua “At my current home I have to either wear my prosthesis or use crutches because the doorways and hallways are not wide enough.”

    Joshua’s home will be a handicap accessible home. Meaning the doorways are wider, grab bars in the shower, a roll-in shower in the master bedroom, and, hardwood floors on a single slab.

    Provided Photo – HFOT

    Joshua says that receiving a Homes For Our Troops (HFOT) home will be a game-changer. He is friends with several HFOT Veterans and has been inspired by their journey. He has witnessed the difference a specially adapted custom Homes For Our Troops home has made in their lives. In his current home, Joshua often gets discouraged because he cannot use a wheelchair and is forced to use a crutch for everything, including going downstairs to do laundry. With freedom and independence, the home will provide him, he will have more time and energy to host Amputee Coalition Peer Support groups in his home. Originally from Cincinnati, Joshua is choosing to remain in Ohio to be close to family and friends.

    “The neighborhood I will move into can be summed up with being peaceful,” said Joshua. “I am currently in Colerain. I am an avid hunter and fisherman. The idea for moving near Loveland was country living with peace and quiet that I do not currently have.” He does not have a move-in date currently, but he said he is just amazed at the progress that has been completed since September.

    The paying it forward motto of Joshua’s is, “I just do that as much as I can either financially or just helping people out. I’ve been blessed with a lot in life and it would be very selfish of me to just take and not give back as much as I can” He said that he is just trying to be a good human.

    Recent progress on Joshua’s new home (Provided Photo – HFOT)

    HFOT will be holding the community kick off on January 9th at the Loveland VFW.

    There will also be a volunteer day where people in the community come and help with landscaping and laying sod. Joshua has been told that it might have to be after the “key ceremony” due to Covid 19 restrictions.

    “The most important part I’m looking forward to is having my family over for the holidays. Or cookouts in the summer. I just want to share this amazing blessing with the ones I love,” said Joshua.

    Joshua feels grateful to receive a specially adapted custom home and said about Homes For Our Troops, “First and foremost thank you all for this amazing life-changing gift. Without your donations, none of this would be possible. I will not take this for granted and will pay it forward every way I can. You gave me freedom and independence. It is men and women like you that make this country so great.”

    DONATE TO THIS VETERAN’S PROJECT

    *VIRTUAL EVENT* COMMUNITY KICKOFF

    Please join us on Zoom as we kick off the building of Cpl Joshua Sust’s specially adapted custom home!

    Date: Saturday, Jan. 9, 2021
    Time: 10 a.m. EST

     CLICK HERE TO RSVP

    For more information on how to get involved in this project contact our Community Outreach Department at coc@hfotusa.org.