Loveland Magazine

LOVELAND MAGAZINE

News and Events from the Loveland, Ohio Area

Without fear or favor

Since 2004

Category: Featured

  • “Eat Out to Help Out” Loveland’s Coach Darnell Parker!

    “Eat Out to Help Out” Loveland’s Coach Darnell Parker!

    on “Rolling Mondays”

    by Cassie Mattia

    Loveland, Ohio – There are so many reasons why Loveland is such a great community to be a part of; the biggest reason being the community is ALWAYS ready to pay it forward and give back to those who have made a significant impact in the lives of those who reside in Loveland and beyond!

    Darnell Parker, the Loveland High School Women’s Basketball Coach, received devastating news in light of the 2020-2021 basketball season, that he was diagnosed with both Colon and Liver Cancer. Coach Parker decided to take a positive outlook on his Cancer diagnosis by sharing his story and experience with those that in some way had been touched by Cancer in hopes that he would provide both strength and encouragement for those struggling.

    Click the article link below to read Coach Parker’s initial announcement to the community about his Cancer diagnosis.

    A Tribute to Coach Darnell Parker and his Loving Tigers

    After Coach Parker announced he had Cancer the community of Loveland as well as those who had been positively impacted by Coach Parker rallied around him giving as much love and support as possible. Not only did the community hold multiple fundraisers benefiting Coach Parker they also created the hashtag “ParkerStrong” placing it on both t-shirts and magnets that they then sold, giving the proceeds to Coach Parker and his family.

    While Coach Parker was undergoing chemotherapy, the Women’s L.H.S Basketball Team dedicated their season to him, exerting that much more effort to have the most successful season possible. The Tigers ended their season going 20-4, winning the Eastern Cincinnati Conference (ECC) for the 2nd year in a row, and Coach Parker through it all was elected the 2020-2021 ECC Coach of the Year also for the 2nd year in a row!

    A couple of Coach Parker’s top-performing athletes had a lot to say about him and his impact on their lives.

    “Coach Parker has inspired me to never give up and to always find the silver lining in the worst of situations,” Jenna Batsch said, “He has taught me that every little hiccup in the road is just another opportunity to get better and he has inspired me to live every day with no regrets like it’s your last.”

    “Coach Parker got some of the worst news you could ever get and if you hadn’t heard it, you wouldn’t be able to tell,” Tess Broermann said, “He always has a smile on his face, and I’m thankful for his ability to fight. He doesn’t live in fear but leads a life with confidence. He inspires me to not sulk in bad news but make the most out of every day because you never know what’s going to happen tomorrow.”

    “Coach Parker is family to me, so it’s a no brainer to do what we can to help him out,” Jenna Stanton L.H.S class of 2018 and former basketball player of Coach Parker’s said, “I know that I could call him any day of the week and he’d be there for me, and you can’t say that about too many people. He’s treated me like family since the day we met and I’m so thankful I was able to play for him and Coach Keith. The Loveland community always comes out in full force to support their own so I’m excited to see the turn out for Coach Parker. He’s done so much for our community, this is the least we can do.” 

    Jenna now plays basketball at the College of Wooster.

    Click on the image below to see Coach Parker talk all about the 2020-2021 basketball season and how he was able to coach effectively while going through chemotherapy in a Loveland Magazine TV exclusive Zoom interview!

    Although Coach Darnell Parker has just recently completed round 11 of chemo treatments, he is still making a conscious effort to motivate and inspire others battling cancer to stay strong by sharing his own journey.

    Coach Parker’s constant positive outlook on life and his dedication to helping L.H.S student-athletes inspired Loveland’s parents to do something extra special for Parker and his family. Beginning on Monday, April 12th, L.H.S parents Jessica Early and Jodi Stanton, and local businesses, Bishop’s Quarter, The Works, and Narrow Path Brewing Company, will be hosting “Rolling Mondays” in honor of Coach Darnell Parker.

    Rolling Mondays will include basket raffles, split the pot, a “Darnell” signature cocktail, music, and a guest bartender competition in which yours truly will be competing in! A percentage of the sales generated at the business hosting the Rolling Monday will be put towards Coach Parker’s Cancer bills.

    On Monday, April 12th Rolling Mondays will be held at Bishop’s Quarter with fun events going on from 6 PM until 8 PM. On Monday, April 19th Rolling Mondays will be held at The Works with a Guest Bartender Competition going on from 5 PM until 8 PM. On Monday, April 26th Rolling Mondays will be held at Narrow Path Brewing Company.

    So just how did the idea of “Rolling Mondays” come about? Coach Parker supporters Jessica Early, Jodi Stanton, Scott Gordon, owner of The Works, and Loveland Magazine’s David Miller explained to us why this fundraiser is so important to them.

    “Jodi Stanton and I discussed the idea of holding a fundraiser in downtown Loveland back in November when we were both organizing t-shirt fundraising. At the same time, Scott Gordon reached out asking if The Works could help support anything,” Jessica Early said, “Since the Go Fund Me and t-shirt fundraisers were going strong in November, we sort of felt it seemed best to wait until the next phase of his treatment process began.” 

    Early said that in addition to waiting until the next phase of Coach Parker’s treatments, they also wanted to wait to hold Rolling Mondays until vaccinations were readily available so that the event could feel safer. “We understood that our Loveland restaurants took a big hit with the Covid Pandemic and thought it would be great to combine efforts of raising funds for Darnell as well as bringing life and energy back into downtown Loveland.”

    “I am so inspired by his ‘style’ of fight. I’m pretty sure most people would stop everything to focus on the fight. Darnell instead uses all aspects of his life as his fuel in the fight. Cancer robs individuals and families of energy, happiness, and positive health. No one seems to be immune from getting stuck in the web of cancer,” Early said, “The best we can do is work together as families and communities to help support those In need. Our Loveland and surrounding communities have been amazing thus far with supporting Darnell. At the same time, we (like so many others) are a community in need as we navigate thru this pandemic. I’ve been so impressed with how our local businesses have ‘hung’ in there and worked on creative ways to stay in business.”

    Early shared that she knows the Loveland community will enjoy coming out to Downtown Loveland on Mondays in April to help support businesses, Darnell, and each other. “Connecting to others is so important during this time. My goal is that Darnell doesn’t have the stressor of finances while making health decisions. His battle ahead is long and there will be continued treatment and monitoring for many years.”

    Jodi Stanton said, “The idea of Rolling Mondays developed from a few brainstorming conversations of ways we could help Coach Parker. The ideas were discussed early on after his diagnosis. However, we decided to wait until after the holidays and after the first couple of fundraisers including T-Shirt sales and car magnets.” Stanton explained that the idea of Rolling Mondays manifested into using multiple local restaurants/establishments and hosting the event on more than one night. 

    “I was actually on the interview panel for the hiring of the Varsity Women’s Basketball Coach, along with other parents and coaches. When we interviewed Coach Parker, his enthusiasm and positivity were amazing,” Stanton explained, “From day one with the program, he hit the ground running. Stanton also said that Parker made an unforgettable impact on her daughter’s high school basketball career. “The funny part is, they didn’t always see eye to eye, but, their player/coach relationship turned into something special.”

    “Unfortunately, me and my family have been directly affected by colon cancer. My father was diagnosed with Stage 4 Colon Cancer 17 years ago,” Stanton said, “I’m thankful that research has been expanded and there are additional treatment options available to others today fighting this awful disease. I think our Loveland Community shows time and time again why Loveland is so special. When we have someone who has given so much to the athletes in our community, this is the perfect opportunity for others to give back!”

    Stanton said that she has no doubt Loveland will show up and provide support not only to Coach Parker but to our amazing restaurants and brewery who have stepped up to assist. “With the pandemic affecting our local businesses over the past year, this is a perfect chance to help out not only the Loveland businesses but Coach Parker as well. I don’t know that we have a certain monetary goal in mind. Anything we can do to help him and his fiancée, Sam, during this difficult time and to let them know they are not fighting this alone will be more than we could have hoped for. Like I mentioned earlier, Coach Parker is a special kind of guy. He invested so much time and energy into our players, our daughters, and the L.H.S Basketball program. Throughout that short time for me, he and Sam have also become two people I call friends.  This is just a small opportunity to help out friends.” 

    Scott Gordon, the owner of The Works, talked about his connection to Coach Parker and why he holds this cause so close to his heart. “I am a Loveland High School grad ‘85 and later came back to help coach baseball for several years. I have too many connections to Cancer and hate hearing when people I know are fighting that battle,” Gordon said, “Coach Parker was my nephew Alec Gordon’s coach many years ago in Glen Este. I don’t know Coach Parker personally,  but our paths have crossed a lot over the years. Our staff at The Works knows that the money raised is a small part of this, raising awareness for the ongoing battles with cancer is of course a small part. But, showing a member of our community they are appreciated and loved while battling for their life and health is what Loveland is all about.”

    Loveland Magazine’s very own David Miller also weighed in on how Coach Parker has left a lasting impression on his life. “Coach is such a positive expression of all things Loveland. Watching him coach, since he has been here, has been so much fun,” Miller said, “He has a unique way of showing displeasure with an official that never seems to get him in trouble, and his coaching style during games is always to encourage and applaud his players. His constant smile is pretty contagious and it spreads to the crowd.” David added that he was delighted to be asked to help with “Rolling Mondays” and was even more gracious that Loveland Magazine was selected to be the Media Sponsor.

    Here at Loveland Magazine, we encourage you to attend Rolling Mondays in support of Coach Darnell Parker. There is no better way to give back to the community than to support an individual that has given so much of himself to the community of Loveland and L.H.S. Join me on April 12th at Bishop’s Quarter as we rally around Coach Parker and his family for one awesome time in Downtown Loveland!

    Check out past Loveland Magazine articles featuring Coach Darnell Parker below!

    LHS’s Head Women’s Basketball Coach Reaches 100 Wins!

    Loveland High School Basketball Programs Look to Change School History!

  • LHS’s Coach Parker is Stronger Than Ever…and so are his Tigers!

    LHS’s Coach Parker is Stronger Than Ever…and so are his Tigers!

    by Cassie Mattia

    Loveland, Ohio – The LHS Women’s Basketball Team is still doing it #ourway while keeping their head coach #parkerstrong!

    The 2020-2021 LHS Women’s Basketball season was quite the eventful one! The Tigers not only captured the ECC title for the second year in a row during a chaotic Pandemic but were also able to successfully motivate their coach, Darnell Parker as he battled cancer and dealt with the loss of his father giving him the strength to not only beat Cancer but also win the ECC Coach of the Year title for the second year in a row.

    Here at Loveland Magazine, we decided it would be a great idea to catch up with Coach Darnell Parker via Zoom to see just how he felt about the 2020-2021 basketball season, the COVID-19 Pandemic, and his personal journey with cancer.

    So without further ado, Loveland Magazine TV brings to you our loyal readers, “One-On-One Zoom Style With Darnell Parker!” Believe me, you don’t want to miss this inspiring interview!

    Click below to view the Zoom interview now!

    Thank you to team photographer Gayle Rothmeeler for allowing the use of her wonderful photos during this Zoom interview!

  • Former Loveland Magazine Contributor Begins new Journey Reporting on the Bengals!

    Former Loveland Magazine Contributor Begins new Journey Reporting on the Bengals!

     Willie Lutz reporting for Loveland Magazine from Tiger Stadium in 2014

    by Cassie Mattia

    Loveland, Ohio – Loveland Magazine throughout the years has had many opportunities to both meet and mold journalism interns into talented multi-dimensional professional journalists. Many have gone on to be very successful writers, broadcasters, reporters, and filmmakers; recently one previous Loveland Magazine intern and former Loveland High School grad announced he just landed a new writing gig!

    Willie Lutz was a paid intern at Loveland Magazine during his Junior and Senior years at LHS, his primary role being to write about LHS sports and to do on-air post-game reports. Lutz has since been a frequent contributor to Loveland Magazine.

    Lutz recently released the news that he accepted a position at Last Word on Sports where he will be responsible for reporting all things NFL, primarily the Cincinnati Bengals.

    Willie Lutz file photo from when he reported sports for Loveland Magazine

    “I’m excited to join the team at Last Word On Sports,” Lutz announced on his Facebook page, “I’ve greatly missed sports writing and I found a perfect landing spot! To kick things off, I wrote about Joe Burrow’s desire to keep Zac Taylor in Cincinnati and what that means for the Bengals.”

    To check out Lutz’s first article with Last Word on Sports that was released in December of 2020 click the following link: Joe Burrow Wants Zac Taylor to Stay With Cincinnati Bengals. His latest released just today is Cincinnati Bengals Slot Cornerback Options This Off-season.

    Loveland Magazine’s Editor in Chief David Miller was estatic about Lutz’s new opportunity!

    “I’m not the biggest Bengal’s fan but if I was I would certainly be keeping up with what Willie is writing! He’s very, very good at what he does. I read what Willie writes and follow him and he’s now got me following the Bengals,” Miller said.

    LastWordOnSports.com is essentially a network of sports-related entities encompassing type media and radio. The site was established in August 2011 with a focus on the major professional leagues.

    Read on at:

    We would like to take the opportunity to congratulate Willie Lutz for obtaining such an awesome journalism position! Thank you so much Willie for providing Loveland Magazine with your outstanding articles! We hope that you will continue to succeed and thrive in the world of Sports Journalism! Good Luck!

    Stay tuned for more of your Sports 411 With Me, Cassie Mattia!

  • “Pandemic Preparedness and Planning” report for Loveland Middle School

    “Pandemic Preparedness and Planning” report for Loveland Middle School

    Loveland, Ohio – Here are the “Pandemic Preparedness and Planning” reports for the Loveland Middle School that were obtained through a public records request to the District.

    Loveland Magazine asked the Superintendent to provide Loveland Magazine with the report “Pandemic Preparedness and Planning” that LJB Inc. prepared for the District. LJB was awarded a contract in July for $66,250 for “Pandemic Preparedness and Planning” services. The report was prepared under the previous CDC definition of “close contact”.

    Also read: “Pandemic Preparedness and Planning” reports for Loveland Intermediate School

    LMS-Visit-Summary-and-Image-Reference-4Download
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    LMS-Girls-Restroom-Room-Controls-Procedures-1Download
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    LMS-Science-Lab-Classroom-Room-Controls-Procedures-Copy-1Download
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  • Nestlé Purina PetCare plans to build new factory in Clermont County

    Nestlé Purina PetCare plans to build new factory in Clermont County

    Clermont County, Ohio – Nestlé Purina PetCare has announced a $550 million investment to build a new factory in Williamsburg Township, Ohio, to meet increasing demand for its pet foods.

    The Williamsburg Township location will join Purina’s network of 21 existing manufacturing locations across the United States and be the company’s first new factory built from the ground up since 1975.  This expansion is part of a broader growth plan for Purina and marks the second new factory Purina has announced in 2020 after the company revealed plans in late September to convert a former brewery into a new pet food factory in Eden, North Carolina.

    These jobs will be approximately 32-minutes from downtown Loveland.

    Preliminary plans call for Purina to invest $550 million to build its new factory in southwest Ohio and produce dry dog and cat food brands, including Purina Pro Plan, Purina ONE and Dog Chow.

    The 1.2 million-square-foot facility will sit in Williamsburg Township’s South Afton Industrial Park. Purina plans to employ more than 300 people at its new factory location by 2024. Many of the jobs will include professional staff, production operators, technical staff and engineers.

    Construction will begin this fall, and the factory is expected to be operational in 2023.

    “Clermont County is an excellent location for Purina’s newest factory thanks to the region’s distribution opportunities, a workforce with great potential and strong community values,” said Nolan Terry, Vice President, Manufacturing, Purina. “We have a unique opportunity to bring all of our best technical and innovative manufacturing thinking under one roof as we construct this facility from the ground up.”

    According to a press release issued by the company, the facility will be Purina’s most technologically advanced pet food factory, utilizing robotics and innovative digital tools and featuring a training center to promote learning and development.

    The release also said that Purina is committed to making pet care products in an environmentally responsible manner.

    Purina’s new operations will be designed with sustainability at the forefront, including a commitment to send zero waste for disposal, and production processes designed to recover and reuse heat and water. Purina also is striving to make the facility 100 percent powered by renewable electricity in the shortest practical timeframe, while supporting the company’s ambition for zero environmental impact in company operations by 2030.

    The Ohio Development Services Agency approved a Job Creation Tax Credit to support the project.

    “Governments don’t create jobs, businesses do,” said David Painter, President of Clermont County Board of Commissioners. “Commissioners invested in South Afton Industrial Park to provide the infrastructure and space where private business could create jobs for our residents.”

    Painter continued by saying, “Williamsburg local school district will receive negotiated payments in lieu of taxes for coming decades. Clermont County will recoup its initial investment in South Afton. This is a win for Clermont County government, the Williamsburg area, Nestlé Purina and the residents of Clermont County.”

    Overall, Nestlé employs 3,300 people across the state of Ohio, with operations in Solon, Marysville, Cleveland, Brecksville and Zanesville, spanning Nestlé USA, Nestlé Professional, Nestlé Foodservice and Nestlé Purina operations.

    To view and apply for positions at Purina’s newest factory visit purinajobs.com/WilliamsburgTownship.

    To receive alerts and updates on new available positions, visit purinajobs.com/OH.

    Key Facts for Nestlé Purina:

    Total investment in this facility: an estimated $550 million

    Total investment across the U.S. in the last five years: $1.5 billion

    Total square footage of Williamsburg Township facility: 1.2 million

    Expected number of employees: 300 by 2024

  • COVID-19 up-date for Loveland’s 3 counties

    COVID-19 up-date for Loveland’s 3 counties

    Loveland, Ohio –  Although Hamilton County is no longer listed on Ohio’s watch list to turn PURPLE, there are still serious concerns about spread of the coronavirus new health data compiled by the Ohio Department of Health reveals.

    Clermont County is now a RED County.

    Hamilton County remains RED.

    Warren County remains RED.

    Level 3 (RED) on the Risk Level Indicator means there has been a public emergency declared and there is very high level of spread and exposure in the county.

    The Ohio Department of Health guidance in a RED county is to:

    • Conduct a daily health/symptom self-evaluation and stay at home if symptomatic.

    • Maintain social distancing of at least 6 feet from non-household members.

    • Wear face coverings in public, especially when social distancing is difficult to maintain.

    • Increase caution when interacting with others not practicing social distancing or wearing face covers.

    • Avoid traveling to high-risk areas.

    • Follow good hygiene standards, including:

    Wash hands frequently with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.

    Use hand sanitizer frequently.

    Avoid touching your face.

    Cover coughs or sneezes (e.g., into a tissue, or elbow).

    Symptom self-evaluation monitoring.

    • Avoid contact with anyone who is considered high-risk.

    • High-risk individuals should take extra care to follow precautions.

    • Decrease in-person interactions outside household.

    • Seek medical care as needed, but limit or avoid unnecessary visits to hospitals, nursing homes, and residential care facilities to see others as much as possible.

    • Decrease in-person interactions with others
    • Consider necessary travel only
    • Limit attending gatherings of any number

    Forty-three Ohio counties currently have a very high risk of exposure and spread (Red Level 3), up from 38 counties last week. This represents the highest number of Red Level 3 counties since the launch of the advisory system in July. As of today, 78 percent of Ohioans are living in a Red Level 3 county. Less than 1 percent of Ohioans live in a Yellow Level 1 county.

    “The virus is raging throughout the state, and there is no place to hide,” said Governor DeWine today. “We must face this virus head-on with the tools that we know can beat this virus back: masks, social distancing, washing hands frequently, and good ventilation when inside.”

    DeWine announced today that Ohio has now hit a record number of cases reported in a single 24-hour period. Between yesterday and today, health officials have reported a total of 3,590 new positive coronavirus cases in Ohio which is more than 700 cases more than the previous high number of cases reported last Saturday. A total of 194 new hospitalizations were also reported in the past 24 hours, the third-highest number of hospitalizations reported in a single day so far.

    Meanwhile, the Loveland School District reported today that they were notified that two more Loveland High School students have tested positive for COVID-19. One student was last at school on Thursday, 10/22/20, and the other on Monday, 10/26/20. (Also read: COVID-19 Positive Cases in Loveland Schools)

    Loveland PK-8 grades are in the “Full Capacity” mode of attendance for students not enrolled in the remote academy. Loveland High School remains in a blended mode of attendance for students not enrolled in the remote academy.

    COVID-19 Case Rates Per County as of Oct. 28, 2020


    County
    Color
    Cases Per 100 K
    Case Count
    Population

    Clermont    		RED (H)
    219.9
    454
    206,428

    Hamilton    		RED (H)
    261.4
    2,137
    817,473

    Warren    		RED (H)
    303.5
    712
    234,602

    “H” indicates there is “High Incidence”
    The 14-day period used for this table covers data from Oct. 14 to Oct. 27. The data were pulled on Oct. 28 and exclude incarcerated individuals.
    Source: Ohio Disease Reporting System (ODRS). Population from 2019, U.S. Census Bureau.

    –

    There are currently 96 Clermont County cases in the 45140, 45147, and 45150 Zip Code areas. Forty have died in Clermont County and there are 340 current active cases.

    Hamilton County is reporting that there have been 320 cases in the 45140 Zip Code. There are currently 177 cases in the county and 235 deaths recorded. The 7-day average for new cases is 177.

    In Warren county there are currently 295 hospitalizations and 642 new cases in the last 14 days. Sixty-six have died and 3 have died in the last 14 days. There is an average of 72 new cases per day in the county. No zip code level data is available for Warren County.

    (While the city of Loveland lies partially in Clermont County, the city’s public health services are contracted with Hamilton County Public Health. So, if a resident lives in the city of Loveland and tests positive for COVID-19, that case would be counted in Hamilton County Public Health’s statistics, not Clermont County’s.)

    Per CDC

    Among adults the risk for severe illness from COVID-19 increases with age, with older adults at highest risk. People of any age with the following conditions are at increased risk of severe illness: chronic kidney disease; chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; weakened immune system from solid organ transplant; obesity (body mass index of 30 or higher); serious heart conditions such as heart failure, coronary artery disease, or cardiomyopathies; Sickle cell disease; and Type 2 diabetes mellitus.

    Children who are medically complex, who have neurologic, genetic, metabolic conditions, or who have congenital heart disease are at higher risk for severe illness from COVID-19 than other children.

    People who need to take extra precautions include racial and ethnic minority groups; people experiencing homelessness; women who are pregnant or breastfeeding; people with disabilities; and people with developmental and behavioral disorders.

    More information is available at https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/need-extra-precautions/index.html.

  • Ohio’s draft COVID-19 immunization plan

    Ohio’s draft COVID-19 immunization plan

    Here are the highlights of Ohio’s draft COVID-19 immunization plan. You can read the complete draft: ODH Draft COVID-19 Plan

    The final plan must be submitted to the CDC by November 1st.

    Under the draft, Ohio would implement a 4-phase approach to distributing the COVID-19 vaccine once its available.

    A summary of the phases are as follows:

    Phase 1 – High-risk healthcare workers, first responders, seniors living in congregate settings (i.e. nursing homes)

    Phase 2 – Public health workers, teachers and school employees, homeless individuals, prison workers and inmates, persons with mental health in group homes or institutions, and individuals with a medical condition putting them at greater risk of mortality due to COVID-19

    Phase 3 – Students, young adults, children, and individuals in high risk occupations

    Phase 4 – Universal availability

  • A Look at Last Week’s LHS Sports and What’s to Come This Week!

    A Look at Last Week’s LHS Sports and What’s to Come This Week!

    by Cassie Mattia

    Loveland, Ohio – Loveland High School’s Fall sports seasons have finally taken off! Although COVID-19 has made school vs. school competitions this Fall season somewhat difficult the Eastern Cincinnati Conference (ECC) and the Ohio High School Athletic Association (OHSAA) has implemented safety protocols that have allowed high school student-athletes to have the sports seasons they have been dying to have! 

    Last week in LHS sports proved to be quite the success as several Tiger squads had victories! Here’s the Loveland Sports 411 for the week of September 7th-13th as well as what competitions you should expect for this week in the LHS sports world!

    FOOTBALL

    The LHS Football team was supposed to have the ultimate rivalry game at Milford on Friday, September 11th, but unfortunately, the game had to be canceled due to a positive COVID-19 test involving a Milford Football player. The schools are working on rescheduling the contest.

    Currently, the LHS Football team is sitting at 0-2, with losses against Turpin and West Clermont. The Tigers are looking to grab their first win at home against Little Miami on Friday, September 18th.

    VOLLEYBALL

    The LHS Women’s Volleyball team is sitting right in the middle of the pack in the ECC with a 4-4 overall record (2-3 in the ECC). On Tuesday, September 8th the Tigers traveled to Turpin. While Loveland battled hard, they ended up losing 25-23, 25-12, winning 22-25,  and losing the final game 25-15. 

    On Wednesday, September 9th Loveland played at home against Lebanon. The Tigers played 3 games losing 25-14, 25-8, and 25-17. On Saturday, September 12th the Lady Tigers came back with a vengeance facing one of the best teams in the GMC, Lakota West, at home. The Tigers played 5 games losing the 1st and 2nd games 23-25, and 20-25.  Loveland than collected 2 wins in the 3rd and 4th games, 25-22, and 25-24. Unfortunately, the Tigers lost in a very close 5th game, 15-13. 

    The LHS Women’s Volleyball team will be back in action this week on Monday, September 14th at home against Little Miami at 6:30 p.m, Tuesday, September 15th at Anderson at 6:30 p.m, and at home against Kings at 6:30 p.m.

    MEN’S SOCCER

    The Loveland Men’s Soccer team played at Milford on Thursday, September 10th. The Tigers ended up losing 2-1 in a close battle. The Tigers are sitting at 3 wins, 1 loss, and 1 tie (1-1-0 in the ECC) thus far for the 2020 Fall season.

    The Men’s Soccer Team this week will be hosting Little Miami on Tuesday, September 15th at 7 p.m.

    WOMEN’S SOCCER

    The Loveland Women’s Soccer team has kicked off the 2020 season with a bang sitting at 1st place in the ECC with a 5-0-0 record overall (2-0-0 in the ECC). On Tuesday, September 8th they played Milford at home collecting a 3-0 win! Ryann Eversole, Brooke Hatfield, and Shraya Smolenski all had a goal in the big Tiger win.

    On Saturday, September 12th the Lady Tigers faced Sycamore at home, in which they grabbed another win, 2-1. Leiah Goedde and Brooke Hatfield both had a goal for the Tigers. 

    This week the Loveland Women’s Soccer team will play 3 games, 1 on Tuesday, September 15th at Little Miami at 7 p.m, another on Thursday, September 17th at home against Kings at 7 p.m, and on Saturday, September 19th at Mason at 5 p.m.

    MEN’S CROSS COUNTRY

    The Loveland Men’s Cross Country team has had quite the successful season thus far clocking times at the top of the ECC! On Saturday, September 12th the Tigers traveled to Corwin Nixon Park for the Mason Invitational. Loveland finished in 4th place as a team with 116 points. Ryan Chevalier took the gold for the entire invitational finishing in 1st place with a time of 16:14.8. Ajay Stutz was next finishing in 16th place with a time of 17:15.5, followed by Sam Neiger in 22nd place with a time of 17:42.5, then Caden Dyer in 38th place with a time of 18:00.4. The next finisher was Colin Beran in 59th place with a time of 18:31.1, followed by Grant Hanson in 66th place with a time of 18:40.1, then Alex Salatin in 71st place with a time of 18:44.7, and Zach Mays in 79th place with a time of 18:52.1. Rounding out the Tigers was Alex Saletta in 86th place with a time of 18:56.4. 

    Junior Ryan Chevalier’s 1st place performance out of 381 runners at the Mason Invitational gained him an ECC Athlete of the Week Nomination! Chevalier is currently sitting in 2nd place in the ECC with a time of 16:06, in which he ran at the Loveland Invitational on Saturday, September 5th.

    The Men’s Cross Country team will compete again Saturday, September 26th at the Saturday Night Lights Meet at Centerville High school.

    Read here about the Loveland Invitational that was held on September 5th.

    WOMEN’S CROSS COUNTRY

    The Loveland Women’s Cross Country team is running off the ECC competition this 2020 Fall season with their unbelievable 5k times! The Tigers competed in the Mason Invitational on Saturday, September 12th at Corwin Nixon Park finishing in 2nd place out of 15 teams with 87 points.

    The top finisher for Loveland was Sarah Madix clocking a 2nd place finish with a time of 19:32.6. Ellie Carr finished next in 18th place with a time of 20:43.4, followed by Sophia Huff in 20th place with a time of 20.50.1, and next in 25th place was Ally Colegate with a time of 20:58.4. The next finisher for the Tigers was Ansley Richards in 27th place with a time of 21:01.5, followed by Maaike Snider in 29th place with a time of 21:07.9, and Audrey O’Keefe in 34th place with a time of 21:14.5. Other finishers for the Lady Tigers were Lauren Gard with a time of 21:27.3 and Meghan Tibbs with a time of 21:34.3.

    Junior Sarah Madix was the 2nd Loveland Tiger this week to be nominated for the ECC Athlete of the Week for her performance at the Mason Invitational. Madix not only had the 2nd fastest time out of 347 runners she was also 1 out of only 4 girls to break 20 minutes on the new Mason 5k course.

    Currently, in the ECC several Lady Tigers are sitting in the top 10 for their Loveland Invitational 5k times. Emily Sager is in 2nd place with a time of 18:53.5, Sarah Madix is sitting in 4th place with a time of 19:18.2, and Ellie Carr is in 7th place with a time of 20:04.03.

    The Loveland Women’s Cross Country team will be competing again on Saturday, September 26th at the Saturday Night Lights Meet at Centerville High School.

    Read here about the Loveland Invitational that was held on September 5th.

    MEN’S GOLF

    The Loveland Men’s Golf team has been having a great season as they are sitting at the top of the ECC with a 7-0 record overall (6-0 in the ECC)! On Tuesday, September 8th the Tigers beat Anderson 159-160 at Legendary Golf Course. Over the weekend Loveland competed twice, traveling to Heatherwoode Golf Course on Saturday, September 12th, and to Glenview Golf Course for the Hadley Invitational on Sunday, September 13th. The results for both competitions have yet to be posted on the ECC website.

    Several Tigers are in the top 10 in the ECC for their golf performances! Tyler Vallee is in 2nd place with a 38.36 average, Anthony Moran is in 4th place with a 38.63 average, Joe Jankowski is in 5th place with a 39.09 average, and Matthew Geist is in 9th place with a 40 average.

    The Men’s Golf team will be competing again on Monday, September 14th at Miami Valley Golf Course for the Alter Invitational and on Tuesday, September 15th at Shaker Run Golf Course against Lebanon at 3:30 p.m.

    WOMEN’S GOLF

    The Women’s Golf team, currently 1-4 in the ECC, competed at Harmon Golf Course against Lebanon on Wednesday, September 9th. The Tigers lost 212 to 191. 

    This week the Loveland Women’s Golf team will be traveling to Eagles Nest Golf Course to face Little Miami at 3:24 p.m and then will be heading to Walden Ponds for the ECC Tournament on Thursday, September 17th at 8 a.m.

    WOMEN’S TENNIS

    The Women’s Tennis Team is in 4th place in the ECC with a 10-2 overall record (3-2 in the ECC)! Loveland took on the Mason B Team on Wednesday, September 9th gaining another win, 4-1. Since collecting the Mason win, the Lady Tigers are ranked at the top of the ECC in Singles and Doubles. Maira Hodar is in 4th place in First Singles with a 6-6 overall record (2-3 in the ECC), while Grace Haught is in 6th place in Second Singles with a 9-3 overall record (3-2 in the ECC). Tess Broermann and Hanna Wenger are in 1st place in the ECC in First Doubles with an 11-0 overall record (5-0 in the ECC), while Jenna Batsch and Babs Dwyer are in 1st place in the ECC for Second Doubles with an 11-0 overall record (4-0 in the ECC).

    The Loveland Women’s Tennis Team will be playing 3 times this week! On Monday, September 14th Loveland will be competing against Indian Hill at 4 p.m, then on Tuesday, September 15th at Lebanon at 4 p.m, and on Wednesday, September 16th against St.Ursula at 4 p.m.

    Stay tuned for more of the Loveland Sports 411 With Me, Cassie Mattia!

  • [Video Interview] Authentic Italian Restaurant Plants its Roots in the Heart of Downtown Loveland!

    [Video Interview] Authentic Italian Restaurant Plants its Roots in the Heart of Downtown Loveland!

     

    Cassie Mattia is the Associate Editor of Loveland Magazine, lives in Historic Downtown, and is Italian-American!

    By: Cassie Mattia

    Loveland, Ohio – As Historic Downtown Loveland expands so is the cuisine! I’m not just talking restaurant chains or commercialized venues, I’m taking REAL straight from Northern Italy homemade Italian food!

    Coming to Loveland in Mid-September is “RODI,” owned by new local Roberto aka Rob Peloni and his wife, Cincinnati native, Jo Beyersdorfer. RODI is set to offer one of the most authentic Italian menus you can find in the Tri-State area along with wines, beers, and coffee shipped in from all over the world. Oh, and did I mention Rob literally imported his Gelato machine in his very own vehicle all the way from L.A. just so he could add his homemade Italian Gelato to RODI’s menu?!

    Peloni’s father, Angelo Peloni, is a legendary chef in L.A who has his own successful Italian restaurant called La Bruschetta. For 38 years La Bruschetta has offered all of Angelo’s very own recipes that found their origins in Northern Italy. Peloni spent multiple years in L.A with his father running his own restaurant and learning as much as he possibly could from his father and the culinary masters that reside in L.A. With just that information alone, and of course, the fact that I am VERY Italian myself, hence my last name is Mattia, I knew I had to learn more about the Peloni’s!

    An early rendering of what RODI Italian will look like.

    When I expressed interest in RODI, Peloni himself invited me over to see the restaurant’s layout. While I was there Peloni participated in an on-camera interview so that he could answer the questions that I thought the community of Loveland would be “craving” to hear answers to.

    Intrigued yet?! If your answer is yes today is your lucky day because we have included below the full on-camera interview with Rob Peloni and believe me you don’t want to miss his inspirational cooking journey! So sit back, grab a couple of breadsticks to go with your pasta, and enjoy my exclusive one-on-one interview with “RODI” owner Roberto Peloni!

    Be sure to stay up to date on when RODI will be opening up its doors to the public by visiting the restaurant’s Facebook page @rodiloveland or RODI’s official website HERE!

     

  • Winton Woods Retires Native American Chieftain Mascot

    Winton Woods Retires Native American Chieftain Mascot

    by Cassie Mattia

    Loveland, Ohio – Another school in the Eastern Cincinnati Conference has decided to forego its Native American Mascot. Loveland Magazine wants to congratulate the Winton Woods City School District on the retirement!

    Winton Woods High School announced on their school website this week that after several years of gradually hinting at the retirement of their Native American Chieftain Mascot it has finally been approved. Winton Woods City School’s Community and Public Engagement Coordinator, Corina Denny, said the discontinuation of the Native American mascot has been 5 years in the making.

    “This stemmed from our high regard for the Native American people and their rich history and contributions to our community and nation,” Denny explained, “The design elements of our two new campuses gives us another opportunity to move in the right direction.”

    Superintendent Anthony G. Smith also weighed in on the historical change saying that, “With a diverse student body and 31 spoken languages, it is a priority and imperative that we continue to create a safe, respectful, and inclusive environment for all of our students and families.”

    On July 27th the Board of Education voted and approved the retirement of the Chieftain Mascot and with that the Winton Woods City School District did a thorough search through every school in the ECC’s advertisements and marketing tools just to be sure anything pertaining to the Native American Mascot was removed.

    Winton Woods was not the only school in the ECC to retire a mascot. The Forest Hills School District announced in early July that Anderson High School would be retiring their Redskins Mascot as it was approved by a 4 to 1 vote. To read more about Anderson’s decision to retire the Redskin CLICK HERE.

    For more of your local sports news stay tuned to the Sports 411 with me, Cassie Mattia!