Please join Loveland Magazine and the Little Miami River Chamber Alliance as we honor those who have made significant contributions to enhance our quality of life and make our community a better place to live. The Annual Awards Dinner is an evening for all area businesses to come together and celebrate their successes and community contributions.
Joins us this year for our “Black & White Edition”–wear black and white to this event for a fun twist!
The event includes cocktails, networking, silent auction, dinner, and awards. It is a great networking opportunity!
Cassie Mattia is the President, Publisher, and an owner of Loveland Magazine.
by David Miller
Thank you for nominating Cassie Mattia for the Little Miami River Chamber Alliance awards in 2021 as she was beyond the moon excited to receive the Young Business Professional of the Year award! It was a thrill for her and an awfully proud moment for us here at Loveland Magazine!
“I’m so excited for another rendition of the Little Miami River Chamber Alliance Annual Awards! Winning the 2021 Young Professional of the Year Award last year was one of the most memorable moments of my career and I hope to keep the momentum going,” Mattia said.
“This year I am aiming for the Community Involvement Award and/or the Woman Owned Business of the Year award. Both of the categories mean a lot to me and wow would it be amazing to be nominated for one of them or both!”
Here are some ways Loveland Magazine has recently promoted living and working in Loveland.
Cassie giving a shoutout for readers to support Dolf’s hotdog stand
Cassie’s initiative this week led to Loveland Magazine becoming a “Multilingual” newspaper
Cassie live broadcast Loveland’s 4th of July Parade
David promoting the Police Academy food drive
Cassie telling Loveland about local pickle ball courts
Cassie heading for the top as she introduces Mosaic Climbing
Cassie helped organize the Chamber’s first Health Expo
Guest bartending at fundraiser for Coach Darnell Parker
David and Cassie presenting a Loveland Magazine check to the LIFE Food Pantry
Cassie and David reported from the dedication of the Ramsey/Paxton Cemetery
Cassie MC’d the 2021 Weiner Dog Race at Oktoberfest
David and Skeletor on the movie set at the Simpson Farm Asylum
Cassie was a guest judge at Nest’s Gala Dancing with the Stars fund raiser
Cassie wins “Young Professional of the Year” award
David and Cassie making a big announcement about their newspaper
Cassie and Mahi Sheth at the Easter Food Drive
Cassie and Adam Ploof at the Easter Food Drive
Cassie at the Easter Food Drive she organized
Cassie and her volunteers at the Easter Food Drive she organized
David eating breakfast during the Easter Food Drive
David celebrating Loveland Magazine’s 18th anniversary
David celebrating with his co-owner Cassie after she was chosen ”Young Professional of the Year”
Cassie and David celebrating Loveland Magazine’s 18th anniversary
Cassie and boyfriend Adam Ploof celebrating the ”Young Professional of the Year” Award
David and Cassie with Jillian Hayes at the Crosstown Shootout
Cassie telling Loveland about the new Chili Hut
Cassie with other Chamber award winners
Cassie interviews Jillian Hayes at the Crosstown Shootout
Cassie tells readers about Hometown Cafe
Cassie, local business owner Paul Elliott and David at the recent “en Rouge” fundraiser for the Loveland Legacy Foundation
Cassie claps for winners of Chamber Awards
David and Cassie reporting at the Crosstown Shootout
Cassie at play with Dean and Nala at the Loveland Magazine office
Cassie as Skeletor on the movie set at the Simpson Farm Asylum
David and Cassie reporting at the Crosstown Shootout
Cassie interviewing Coach Darnell Parker about his journey of being diagnosed with cancer
David and Cassie after signing equal co-owner agreement of their LLC
David signing equal co-owner agreement of the Loveland Magazine LLC
Skeletor at the Simpson Farm Asylum for the Top 5 Must-Watch Halloween Movies!
Cassie interviewing Dolf about his business
David and Cassie preparing to interview LHS’s Jillian Hayes, now UC basketball star, at the Crosstown Shootout
Cassie at the recent “en Rouge” fundraiser for the Loveland Legacy Foundation
David and Cassie supporting local sports
Promoting the Police Academy food drive
Cassie tells readers about the soon to open RODI Italian
Cassie tells readers about the soon to open RODI Italian
Cassie interviews Works Pizza owner Scott Gordon about his business
Cassie signing equal co-owner agreement of the Loveland Magazine LLC
Skeletor on the movie set at the Simpson Farm Asylum
Cassie as she arrived to interview LHS star Jillian Hayes at UC’s Crosstown Shootout
CassieCassie interviewing Coach Darnell Parker about his journey of being diagnosed with cancer
Cassie at the Chamber’s Fitness Expo she helped organize
Cassie at the recent “en Rouge” fundraiser for the Loveland Legacy Foundation
Cassie interviewing Ralf to tell people about the history of Paxton’s Grill
Cassie encouraging donations at a Coach Parker fund raiser at Bishop’s Quarters
Cassie at a Coach Parker fund raiser at Bishop’s Quarters
Cassie telling readers about the season opening of the Loveland Dairy Whip
Cassie and David at the Rolling Mondays fundraiser for Coach Parker
David and Coach Darnell Parker at a fund raiser for his cancer treatment
David recently archived the history of Grailville
David and Cassie were given a key to the Ramsey/Paxton Cemetery this year for helping with the restoration
You can CLICK this image below to nominate Cassie or your other fellow business owners, and valuable members of the community for the LMRCA 2022 Annual Awards!
Annual Awards Nominations are NOW LIVE! Nominate an individual or business for one (or more!) awards in 12 different categories, including two new categories this year! Submissions are due by October 7.
Categories
Business of the Year Award
Emerging Business of the Year Award
Non Profit of the Year of the Year Award
Beautification Award
Community Involvement Award (Individual)
Business Community Advocate Award
Randy K. Stanifer Health, Wellness & Fitness Business of the Year Award
When children go back to school, it’s time for YOU!
by Cassie Mattia
Loveland, Ohio – Loveland Magazine readers, are you ready to get your sweat on? Well now is your chance to join me in my first ever Kickboxing 101 video where you will learn how to Jab, Uppercut, and Kick your way into a fantastic workout routine!
Since becoming a certified Kickboxing instructor, I have wanted to produce inspirational, instructional workout videos for Loveland Magazine readers so that they could have the opportunity to get in a great workout from their very own homes. During the “Road to Health and Wellness” Expo on Saturday, July 30 in Downtown Loveland’s Nisbet Park, I was asked to perform a fitness class for those who wanted to enjoy a free workout at the Expo. Of course, I chose to do a Kickboxing class and while preparing for the class, I thought, “Well this would be the perfect time to film my first workout video for Loveland Magazine readers!” David Miller grabbed his iPhone and we immediately began filming, Kickboxing 101!
In Kickboxing 101, you will learn the basic boxing and kickboxing exercises so that you can learn the proper technique of each move before moving into “combination” moves. The Loveland Magazine TV workout videos are split into 5 parts as I demonstrate each exercise at a slow pace and then move into a faster pace.
Although the Kickboxing video routine is only 15 minutes total (tune in to the 6th video to go straight through the workout with no break), this workout can also be extended to an intense 30-minute workout that will leave you drenched in sweat! I incorporate 1 to 2 Kickboxing workouts into my weekly exercise regimen as it is not only great for your cardiovascular but also works on muscles that are often hard to get to with just traditional weight lifting.
Below is my Kickboxing 101 30-minute workout routine! Once you get the hang of the moves used in the workout feel free to write this workout down and perform it at any time and any place. You will need a timer for this workout. Boxing gloves are optional although incorporating them into this workout adds another level of intensity to the routine!
Perform each move for 30 seconds twice on each side
Boxer Shuffle with Arm Circles
Jab
Cross
Jab, Cross
Hook
Uppercut
Hook, Uppercut
Elbow
Knee
Elbow, Knee
Rear Elbow
Front Kick
Rear Elbow, Front Kick
Duck
Duck, Jab, Cross
Are ready to box your way into a workout that combines cardio, muscle toning, balance, and self-defense? Click Part 1 of my Kickboxing 101 workout to begin instructional demonstrations on the technique of each move. Once you feel comfortable and have watched Parts 1-5, tune into video 6 to watch the entire workout all the way through.
Don’t forget to “Subscribe”, “Follow”, and “Like” Loveland Magazine TV on YouTube! We have a large collection of videos we have produced that you can enjoy on your big screen at home and at work or at the gym on your phone! You can simply tell Alexa, “Find Loveland Magazine TV” and she will take you straight to our YouTube channel to watch any of our on-demand videos. If you are better friends with Siri simply say, “Play Kickboxing 101 with Cassie Mattia!”
Want more workout videos? Stay tuned for more exercise routines coming in the near future!
Loveland, Ohio – Join me in supporting Adam Ploof and CancerFree KIDS for the 100 Mile Challenge – Corporate Competition, presented by Interlink Cloud Advisors.
I’ve decided to spotlight my friend Adam Ploof who is also the boyfriend of my Loveland Magazine partner, Cassie Mattia. I was excited Monday afternoon when Adam’s FaceBook post popped up and I read that he has challenged himself to walk 100 miles to raise money for childhood cancer research. When you personally know the person who challenged themself to walk 100 miles in 1 month, it suddenly becomes less aloof or something. BTW, I also know their furbabies, Dean and Nala quite well and they will be participating.
During September, Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, Adam and his colleagues from Loveland-based, Oasis Turf & Tree will each be striving to complete 100 miles of activity to each raise at least $100 for CancerFree KIDS to fund life-saving childhood cancer research. If Oasis Turf & Tree wins the Corporate Competition, they will have a 2022 CancerFree KIDS Research Grant named in their honor! I hope you will join us in our efforts to help Adam reach his goal of $500.
Adam told me he took on the challenge, “Just to raise awareness for the cause.” He said that “anything inside and outside of work except for the milage he accumulates on the machines he rides on at work, counts. “My phone only catches on for walking distances, running, or cycling. Walking, cycling, kayaking. You name it as long as it’s physical exercise could count though. Cassie and I always take both our dogs Dean and Nala on walks every day, so the furbabies will be part of the competition too.”
Oasis Turf & Tree contributes to greater causes each year by doing such things as regular trips to the Ronald McDonald House for the chance to spend the day preparing meals for families. Oasis celebrates Black History Month, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Veterans Day, and National First Responders Day.
This September, about 1,290 kids in the US will be diagnosed with pediatric cancer. They join thousands of others who are currently in treatment and hundreds of thousands more who previously battled cancer. The 100 Mile Challenge exists to “celebrate the survivors, remember those for whom a cure did not come soon enough, and give hope to kids currently undergoing treatment by funding the very best research to improve treatment options for all kids diagnosed with cancer, now and in the future.”
If you are able to donate, please click the “Donate” button below. I have also included the CancerFree KIDS address if you are more comfortable sending a check. I greatly appreciate any amount you are able to give to help Adam pass his goal!
Cassie makes this ask, “Please support my wonderful boyfriend Adam Ploof as he raises money for CancerFree KIDS! I love that we both are passionate about our community and organizations that deserve all the care and support they can get!”
Nala, Adam, Cassie, and Dean
Please make checks payable to CancerFree KIDS and send to CancerFree KIDS PO BOX 575, Loveland, OH 45140. Write “Adam Ploof” on the memo line to credit your donation to his fundraising page
Thank you in advance for supporting Adam and Oasis Turf & Tree in funding life-saving childhood cancer research!
CancerFree KIDS works every day to find gentler and more effective treatments for kids with cancer by funding research that would otherwise go unfunded. They do this because…
Childhood cancer is not profitable meaning almost no investment from industry and only 4% of federal cancer research dollars are allocated to pediatrics.
Cancer is the #1 killer of children by disease and two-thirds of children who do survive go on to have chronic health issues because of their treatments.
To launch gentler and more effective treatments for children. As of now there are 660 FDA approved cancer drugs for adults and only 35 approved for children.
Loveland, Ohio – What goes better with the Loveland Bike Trail than health and wellness? Your requests were finally answered as the Little Miami River Chamber Alliance (LMRCA) hosted the inaugural “Road to Health and Wellness” Expo in Downtown Loveland’s Nisbet Park on Saturday, July 30!
Over the past couple of years, Downtown Loveland has become the go-to spot for entertainment, exercise, and food culture. The Little Miami Bike Trail, which is the longest bike trail in the Miami Valley stretching out to 78 miles, has become the focal point of Loveland for bike riders, running enthusiasts, and families. The historical bike trail has been consistently encouraging people to travel miles just to experience the Loveland culture for themselves so CeeCee Collins, President of the LMRCA, and Meredith Taylor, Program Director of the LMRCA, decided that they needed to organize an event right off the Loveland bike trail for those that enjoy health, wellness, and fitness!
The “Road to Health and Wellness” Expo brought in mental, physical, and financial health professionals and enthusiasts to communicate to the community the benefits of living a life balanced with health and wellness. The event included swag bags, health and wellness interactive booths, music, the Acai “BOL” Bar, “breakout session” speakers, FREE fitness classes taught by community experts, kids’ activities, and much more!
“We have a beautiful setting in the heart of Loveland for this event and hoped the community would come out and learn something new and take advantage of the great resources we have right in our own backyard,” LMRCA Program Director MeredithTaylor said.
Watch my Instagram Reel here that takes you through the “Road to Health and Wellness” Expo!
I was honored to be involved in planning the first-ever “Road to Health and Wellness” Expo! In addition to volunteering at the registration booth during the event, I got the opportunity to share my Kickboxing expertise with those in the community by offering a free Kickboxing 101 class in the amphitheater in Nisbet Park. The class went so well that David Miller and I thought that it would be the perfect time to film a Kickboxing workout for those who would like to get their sweat on virtually! Click the image below to watch a short clip of my Kickboxing 101 workout coming very soon to Loveland Magazine!
Take a look at the EXPO through the lens of myself and David Miller…
Thank you to all those that helped plan, volunteered at, and attended Loveland’s First “Road to Health and Wellness” Expo! We can’t wait to help make next year’s health and wellness extravaganza even better! The LMRCA would also like to say thank you to the “Road to Health and Wellness” presenting sponsor, the Suzi Cree Team at Keller Williams Realty!
For the latest Loveland events and news updates, stay tuned to the Loveland Salad with ME, Cassie Mattia!
Loveland, Ohio – Downtown Loveland is ready to welcome the Fall season with open arms as the Little Miami River Chamber Alliance will be holding its second Oktoberfest!
On Friday, September 23rd from 4 PM-10 PM, and Saturday, September 24th from noon until 10 PM, Downtown Loveland will become “Liebesland” (Loveland in German) for Oktoberfest 2022. The festival will include a plethora of traditional German activities, competitions, food, drinks, and of course some spectacular German attire!
Loveland Magazine’s very own Cassie Mattia will demonstrate Kickboxing at 1 PM
Promoted Story
by Cassie Mattia
Loveland, Ohio – What goes better with the Loveland Bike Trail than health and wellness? Your requests have finally been answered as the Little Miami River Chamber Alliance (LMRCA) is hosting the first “Road to Health” Expo in Downtown Loveland’s Nisbet Park!
Over the past couple of years, Downtown Loveland has become the go-to spot for entertainment, exercise, and food culture. The Little Miami Bike Trail, which is the longest bike trail in the Miami Valley stretching out to 78 miles, has become the focal point of Loveland for bike riders, running enthusiasts, and families. The historical bike trail has been consistently encouraging people to travel miles just to experience the trail for themselves so both CeeCee Collins, President of the LMRCA, and Meredith Taylor, Program Director of the LMRCA, decided that they needed to organize an event for those that enjoy health, wellness, and the bike trail!
“Loveland by nature lends itself to health and wellness; the beautiful parks, flowing river, and overall landscaping offer opportunity to exercise and live a better life,” Collins said. “When we combine the natural landscaping with an array of health, wellness, and recreational businesses in the area, we felt that it made sense to showcase and offer to our community.”
The “Road to Health” Health and Wellness Expo will be held on July 30th from 10 AM until 2 PM in Nisbet Park off the Loveland Bike Trail. The event will bring in Mental, Physical, and Financial health professionals and enthusiasts to communicate to the community the benefits of living a life balanced with health and wellness. The event will include swag bags for those who register, health and wellness booths, live entertainment, food trucks, “breakout session” speakers, kids’ activities, and much more!
“We are so excited to bring this expo to our area to highlight many aspects of health–not just physical, but mental, financial, nutritional, senior care, and more,” Taylor said. “Every time we’ve mentioned this expo to our chamber members, we have received such positive feedback. We have a beautiful setting in the heart of Loveland for this event and hope the community can come out and learn something new and take advantage of the great resources we have right in our own backyard.”
The LMRCA would like to invite communities throughout Cincinnati along with health and wellness professionals to not only attend the inaugural “Road to Health” Expo but to sign up to be a vendor, offer sponsorship for the event, or volunteer to help. Below you will find the sponsorship document as well as the vendor booth document that you can download and easily print off and mail to the LMRCA or email. If you would rather register online click here.
If you would like to simply volunteer to help with the “Road to Health” expo click here.
The LMRCA is also looking for food vendors or food trucks for the “Road to Health” expo! If you are interested click here.
Handcrafted wishing wells, customized bird houses, and one-of-a-kind bat houses are just a few of the items, Steven Webster creates weekly for his growing clientele at Steven’s Woodshop.
Steven, who is now the CEO of his very own woodshop located within Midd Town Cabinets in Middletown, has never let his disability stand in the way of doing what he loves to do. Steven was born with a part of his brain missing which eventually led to frequent seizures. Although Steven is non-verbal and deals with cognitive disabilities daily, according to his mother, Gail Webster, he hasn’t allowed that to stop him from living out his ultimate passion; woodworking.
Steven did not find his passion for creating beautiful objects out of wood until he finished the Project Life program, “a comprehensive, multi-year transition program in which students develop, practice, and strengthen skills that are high predictors of increased adult independence and successful, integrated employment in the community,” at Butler Tech, and even then Gail and Steven’s job coach had to work really hard to find what he was most passionate about.
“I knew Steven needed to fill his time with something he loved to do, but just wasn’t sure what exactly that would be,” Gail said. “Steven’s job coach after he got out of school took him around to many places and did the discovery process trying to locate something Steven liked to do that he connected with,” Gail explained. “We wanted to find what his interests were, what his passions were, and what his strengths were. We looked at truck washes, tractor sales, and sports places, all things that held an interest for Steven.”
Finally, Steven landed a job at the Fields Sports Arena located in Monroe where he vacuumed the indoor soccer fields with a large industrial vacuum cleaner. “Any big loud machinery is what he likes,” Gail said with a smile. Shortly after that, Steven got a job at One Stop Rental where he is still happily working today.
Although Steven enjoyed his job opportunities Gail and Steven’s job coach knew that Steven had another passion inside of him, they just had to figure out what that was.
“The job coach asked well what does Steven like to do when he has a little extra time and I said well one thing he really likes is to hammer,” Gail said, “he’s loved to hammer his entire life. When he was little he probably hammered through half a dozen hammer toys and then when he got a little bit older we would bring in a big log and buy a box of nails and he would hammer the nails until the entire log was covered with nails!”
So what exactly kickstarted Steven’s Woodshop? Tune in to the video interview below featuring Gail Webster as she gives us a tour of Steven’s Woodshop and goes more in-depth about how Steven started his business!
Since 2010, when Steven’s Woodshop officially opened for business, Gail and Kevin, Steven’s parents, Bill Bench, who works side by side with Steven at the woodshop, and Mike Valdini, Steven’s 9th grade Special Education Teacher, have taken several steps toward making Steven’s woodworking passion more accessible. With Steven being non-verbal both Gail and Valdini decided to create picture books and a “Steven’s Woodshop How-To Guide” to help Steven effectively communicate with others and build his custom wood items.
Gail came up with the photo book idea after brainstorming how she could help Steven communicate with others about his personal life. Gail wanted Steven to have a physical copy of all the amazing things that he was experiencing in his life so that he could then share those memories with others and reminisce any time he wanted to! Shortly after Gail created the first photo book she knew that this would be something she would continue for the remainder of Steven’s life.
“Steven takes his photo book with him everywhere and takes it out to show others and to look at himself every day,” Gail said. “Putting a photo album together with text next to each photo or collection of photos has really shown to be an effective way for Steven to communicate. I think at this point I have made over a dozen photo books. Once one photo book starts to get full I create another one.”
“Photos are something Steven has always enjoyed so I thought why not try to put a photo book together of all the major events and milestones in Steven’s life so he could share it with others.” she said. “I believe in celebrating Steven’s disability rather than being distraught about it all the time and so I thought with this photo book we could allow Steven to celebrate his life with others.”
Watch the video below of Gail explaining why the photo book is such an important part of how Steven communicates!
Gail isn’t the only one that has created tools that Steven can use to communicate and create beautiful wooden custom pieces; both his dad and Valdini also established effective ways to ensure Steven can successfully do what he loves to do.
Once Steven discovered his passion for hammering and creating, Valdini decided to create a “Steven’s Woodshop” manual that not only lists step-by-step directions and photo diagrams on how to properly execute each woodworking project but is customized to what Steven’s responsibilities are for each project!
Steven’s dad, Kevin, piggybacked off Valdini’s incredible homemade manual and began making “jigs,” which are devices that hold a piece of work and guide the tools operating on it. Using both the manual and jigs daily, Steven has been able to exceed all expectations and gain a well-deserved sense of independence.
Watch the video below featuring Steven in woodworking action as well as Steven’s dad, Kevin showing how to use use a jig!
The success of Steven’s Woodshop and the progress Steven has made despite his disabilities has not only made Steven’s parents proud but also those that help Steven daily at the woodshop. Gail said at this point the sky is the limit for Steven and his business as they are continuing to get more and more orders every day including special custom items.
“As more people hear about what Steven is doing we have been getting orders for wood items that people have found online such as Pinterest,” Gail explained, “This has created some positive challenges for Steven but has also made those helping him use their own creative abilities.”
Steven’s Woodshop specializes in wishing wells, bee houses, bird houses, bat houses, trash holders, end tables, serving trays, planters, wall racks, and much more! “If you don’t see it on our website or in the woodshop that doesn’t mean we can’t make it,” Kevin said, “We have had many people send us photos of custom items and we love the challenge!”
To take a look at what Steven’s Woodshop has to offer or to simply place an order for your next hand-crafted wooden item visit Steven’s Woodshop on Facebook, Etsy, or check out his website!
Loveland Magazine’s very own Cassie Mattia will demonstrate Kickboxing at 1 PM
Promoted Story
by Cassie Mattia
Loveland, Ohio – What goes better with the Loveland Bike Trail than health and wellness? Your requests have finally been answered as the Little Miami River Chamber Alliance (LMRCA) is hosting the first “Road to Health” Expo in Downtown Loveland’s Nisbet Park!
Over the past couple of years, Downtown Loveland has become the go-to spot for entertainment, exercise, and food culture. The Little Miami Bike Trail, which is the longest bike trail in the Miami Valley stretching out to 78 miles, has become the focal point of Loveland for bike riders, running enthusiasts, and families. The historical bike trail has been consistently encouraging people to travel miles just to experience the trail for themselves so both CeeCee Collins, President of the LMRCA, and Meredith Taylor, Program Director of the LMRCA, decided that they needed to organize an event for those that enjoy health, wellness, and the bike trail!
“Loveland by nature lends itself to health and wellness; the beautiful parks, flowing river, and overall landscaping offer opportunity to exercise and live a better life,” Collins said. “When we combine the natural landscaping with an array of health, wellness, and recreational businesses in the area, we felt that it made sense to showcase and offer to our community.”
The “Road to Health” Health and Wellness Expo will be held on July 30th from 10 AM until 2 PM in Nisbet Park off the Loveland Bike Trail. The event will bring in Mental, Physical, and Financial health professionals and enthusiasts to communicate to the community the benefits of living a life balanced with health and wellness. The event will include swag bags for those who register, health and wellness booths, live entertainment, food trucks, “breakout session” speakers, kids’ activities, and much more!
“We are so excited to bring this expo to our area to highlight many aspects of health–not just physical, but mental, financial, nutritional, senior care, and more,” Taylor said. “Every time we’ve mentioned this expo to our chamber members, we have received such positive feedback. We have a beautiful setting in the heart of Loveland for this event and hope the community can come out and learn something new and take advantage of the great resources we have right in our own backyard.”
The LMRCA would like to invite communities throughout Cincinnati along with health and wellness professionals to not only attend the inaugural “Road to Health” Expo but to sign up to be a vendor, offer sponsorship for the event, or volunteer to help. Below you will find the sponsorship document as well as the vendor booth document that you can download and easily print off and mail to the LMRCA or email. If you would rather register online click here.
If you would like to simply volunteer to help with the “Road to Health” expo click here.
The LMRCA is also looking for food vendors or food trucks for the “Road to Health” expo! If you are interested click here.
