by Cassie Mattia
Loveland, Ohio – Love was most certainly in the air on Thursday in Downtown Loveland’s Sweetheart Alley as some of the sweetest people in Loveland gathered to witness the 2021 Valentine Art and Card Reveal!
Valentine’s Day of course is one of the most coveted holidays in Loveland for obvious reasons…the city has the word “love” in its name and the city has been given the “Sweetheart of Ohio” title! With that title comes a long standing tradition that dates back to 1972; Loveland’s Valentine Program. This lovely program has significantly grown over the years adding more community activites focusing on the celebration of Valentine’s Day and a NATIONALLY recognized “catchet stamping and postmark program.”
The Loveland Valentine Program includes opportunities to volunteer for various Valentine’s Day activities, the nomination of a Valentine Lady (women who have distinguished themselves in the Loveland community, school, or family endeavors and acts as the ambassador for the Chamber’s Valentine Program, while visiting local businesses, nursing homes, and schools), the Valentine Card Design Competition, the Valentine Breakfast, the Valentine Poetry Contest, the opportunity to purchase Valentine Yard “Heart” Signs, a Business Window Decorating Contest, a Kids Valentino Coloring Contest, and volunteer opportunities to stamp Valentines at the local post office as well as purchase them. Because of COVID 10 the annual breakfast has been cancelled for this year.
With the 2021 Loveland Valentine Program activites set to kick off at the Loveland Post Office on February 1st with the stamping of Valentine’s Day cards, here at Loveland Magazine we decided to share with you our loyal readers, the 2021 Valentine Art and Card Design Reveal as well as the introduction of the winning artist!
Although both the introduction of the 2021 Valentine Lady and the Card Design Artist is typically celebrated with a much larger audience the Little Miami River Chamber Alliance President, Cee Cee Collins, wanted to be sure to keep everyone safe making the reveal a much smaller gathering. The celebration included the Valentine Ladies, who were thrilled to honor this year’s and next year’s (due to COVID-19 restrictions this year the Chamber decided to give the 2021 Valentine Lady the 2022 title as well in hopes that she could be more celebrated next year) Valentine Lady, Jeannie Shumaker, several members from City Hall and the LMRCA, and the 2021 Valentine Card Design Artist Cindy Wilmes.
Click below to witness the 2021 Valentine Art and Card Reveal presented to you by Loveland Magazine TV!
Shortly after the Valentine Card Design reveal Loveland Magazine had the opportunity to chat with the 2021-2022 Valentine Lady herself, Jeannie Shumaker, and the 2021 Valentine Card Artist, Cindy Wilmes about how it feels to represent the “Land of Love.” Nothing in the world is as sweet as these two very special women! Click below to watch the interview!
Here is a list of the 2021 Valentine Program activities and contests you can get involved in!
- Enter the 2021 Valentine Poetry Contest. Submissions are due by January 26th (Download the Entry Form >).
- Order your very own Valentine Yard Sign by February 4th (Download the Order Form).
- Enter the Business Window Decorating Contest (Contact the Chamber to register your business).
- Have your children enter the Valentino Coloring Contest. Submissions are due by January 26th (Download the Coloring Contest Form (PDF)).
- Purchase and send out a Loveland Valentine Card! You can purchase your card at the LMRCA Office, the Loveland Post Office beginning on February 1st, MILE42 COFFEE, the Loveland Kroger, Busy Bee Boutique, Trailside Provisions, Lemons and Limes Boutique, Blume, Alley’s Boutique, Hometown Cafe, and some local banks.
The Valentine Lady tradition goes back to 1971 when the Loveland Chamber of Commerce created a Valentine postmark. Doris Pfiester, chamber secretary at the time, mailed 1,000 Valentines for Loveland residents that had a special Loveland, Ohio postmark that year and was referred to as the “Valentine Lady” until a formal selection process began in the 1980s.
Pfiester was named the very first Valentine Lady in 1992. The Chamber re-mails thousands of cards they receive from around the world for people wanting their cards mailed from “Loveland” with the slogan, “There is nothing in the world so sweet as Love.” Chamber president in 1972, Dr. Roland Boike, coined the phrase, inspired by Samual Johnson.
The official announcement of Loveland’s 2021-2022 Valentine Lady, Jeannie Schumaker, will occur at Loveland City Hall on January 26th.
Want to learn more about Loveland’s 2021-2022 Valentine Lady? Click the following link: https://lovelandmagazine.com/meet-the-next-loveland-valentine-lady/.
Valentine Lady Representatives
2022-2021: Jeannie Shumaker
2020: Debbie Murray
2019: Dr. Kathy Lorenz
2018: Kay Bolin
2017: Carol Williams (Photos)
2016: Laurie Gordon (Photos)
2015: Sue Lundy
2014: Janis Fogle (More Video)
2013: Marge Henderson
2012: Jan Ranard
2011: Avery (Winkie) Foster
2010: Bonnie Larson
2009: Linda Cox
2008: Kay Napier
2007: Sue Newburger
2006: Peggy Goodwin
2005: Lu Boike
2004: Helen Gosch
2003: Kathryn Undercoffer
2002: Patricia Furterer
2001: Marirose Stiver
2000: Anne Fowler
1999: Winona Franz
1998: Barbara Dee
1997: Bobbie Books
1996: Jo Ann Richardson
1995: Mary McDonnell
1994: Margaret Keifer
1993: Kathryn Sidney
1992: Doris Osborne
1991: Martha Hockman
1990: Rose Wene
1989: Pat Randolph
1982-88: Ruth Jackson (Doris’s daughter)
1982: Doris Pfiester
We have more Loveland Magazine TV videos for you to enjoy! Click below to watch now!
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