Self-described “Dog Mom” Cassie Mattia lives in Historic Downtown Loveland with Nala, Dean, and her boyfriend Adam. Cassie is the Associate Editor of Loveland Magazine.
by Cassie Mattia
Loveland, Ohio- Who doesn’t like cake?! The launch of Loveland Magazine’s Pet of the Month has caught the attention of many local businesses one being Nothing Bundt Cakes!
Nothing Bundt Cakes, located at 9540 Mason Montgomery Road, creates delicious readily available cakes using only the highest quality ingredients for anyone in search of a great-tasting cake that is also aesthetically pleasing. Nothing Bundt Cakes is known for its signature cream cheese frosting as well as its one-of-a-kind handcrafted cake designs. Any cake requested can be customized for any theme or occasion!
Mason’s Nothing Bundt Cake Co-owner, Mary Thress, is well-known for giving back to the communities surrounding her location, including Loveland, so when she emailed Loveland Magazine offering our Pet of the Month winner a Bundtlet Tower we were beyond happy and filled with gratitude.
“Would you like to give the winner of pet of the month a cake from Nothing Bundt Cakes?” Thress wrote in the email. “I’d be happy to provide a Bundtlet Tower with decoration relating to Loveland and pets!”
A Bundtlet Tower is comprised of 1-3 miniature Bundtlet Cakes (flavors can be vanilla, chocolate, or red velvet) covered in the signature cream cheese frosting (made with velvety cream cheese and real butter). Thress is providing the Pet of the Month winner a 2 tier Bundtlet Tower, one cake-flavored chocolate, and the other vanilla, covered in the signature cream cheese frosting.
We want to thank Mary and her entire team for being so kind to Loveland Magazine and our pet lovers! We are thrilled to award the Pet of the Month such an unbelievable delicious treat!
Scott Gordan, owner of The Works Pizza in Downtown Loveland, also contributed a gift card to the Pet of the Month prize bundle. Scott sent a message to us saying, “If you need gift cards for your pet of the month, The Works is happy to donate! Love my dogs…and my cat!”
We appreciate you Scott Gordan for donating another amazing prize to our Pet of the Month winner!
In addition to receiving the Bundtlet Tower, The Works Pizza gift card and being featured in Loveland Magazine’s publication, the weekly newsletter, and social media platforms, the winner will also receive a framable glossy 8×10 photo keepsake that will be delivered to their home.
Thress is providing the Pet of the Month winner a 2 tier Bundtlet Tower, one cake-flavored chocolate, and the other vanilla, covered in the signature cream cheese frosting.
To enter into Loveland’s Pet of the Month contest you must email me, Cassie Mattia, at cmattia12@gmail.com 2-5 of your favorite photos of your pet along with a short bio about your pet. Share with us and the community why your pet is so special to you along with any other unique facts that set your little buddy apart from other pets! The window for receiving pet of the month candidates will run from the 1st to the 25th (deadline) of every month starting on August 1st. When sending in your pet photos and bios please include your pet’s name, age, and breed as well as your contact info with a short description of each photo you provide us with. If you want to share where your pet’s favorite spots are in Loveland that would be great as well!
The first official Loveland Pet of the Month will be featured on September 1st.
Loveland, Ohio – I scream, you scream, we all scream for Loveland Dairy Whip Ice Cream!
Loveland is home to many family-owned businesses and historical buildings due to the fact that Loveland itself was founded in 1876. Businesses have come and gone and a majority of the historical buildings have had to go through some major renovations, but there is one business in particular that has not only called Loveland home from the beginning but has also kept its building as close as possible to the original layout. The Loveland Dairy Whip (LDW) located at 611 West Loveland Ave. has been serving up the community the finest high-quality ice cream since 1955 and has managed to satisfy sweet-tooths all over the city for 66 years! That’s why I couldn’t resist paying LDW a visit for my next round of “Cassie The Food Guru!”
Teresa (Flint) Morgan and her husband Rick Morgan became official LDW owners in 2001 although the ice cream hot spot had been in the Flint family since 1972. Teresa’s parents Marian and Jim Flint bought LDW in 1972, sold it in 1986, then bought it back in 1993. Up until 2001 when Teresa became the owner of LDW, she had been helping her parents run the shop since age 11 so she was no stranger to the LDW way of life!
The Morgan’s now run one of the longest-standing businesses and buildings in the City of Loveland. The LDW has not only been able to keep its historical charm intact even after the minor yet much-needed renovations that took place in 2014 it has also managed to stay true to its mantra, which is to continue offering the community the absolute best quality ice cream at a price that any family can afford! From the legendary vanilla, chocolate, or twist dip-top cones to the delicious Chocolate Mountain Cyclone to the yummy Oreo Parfay to the fan-favorite Banana Boats, LDW can sweeten anyone’s day with its magical ice cream creations!
Without further ado, I bring to you “Cassie the Food Guru” takes on Loveland Dairy Whip! Click below to see my on-camera interview with owner Rick Morgan!
Loveland, Ohio – Can you believe Fall is already right around the corner? With Fall comes an amazing line-up of events and festivals in Downtown Loveland including “Zoveland’s” 1st Oktoberfest!
On Friday, September 24th from 4 PM-10 PM, and Saturday, September 25th from 5 PM-11 PM, Downtown Loveland will become “Liebesland” (Loveland in German) for Oktoberfest 2021. The festival will include a plethora of traditional German activities, competitions, food, drinks, and of course some spectacular German attire!
Warsteiner, an international German beer company that came to conception in Warstein, Germany in 1753 when Antonius Cramer was asked to pay beer tax after his home brewing volumes passed the amount allowed for personal use, will be hosting a Biergarten (beer garden in German) Emporium in Nisbet Park. Traditionally a Biergarten is an open-air space where beer and food are served. This concept dates back to the 19th century in Bavaria in which breweries planted gardens above cellars to keep their lagers cool enough to ferment underground.
The Warsteiner Biergarten will be serving up their finest beer from the Premium Pilsner, “A refreshing, pale golden pilsener with a clean taste perfectly balanced with hints of barley malt, subtle bottom fermenting yeast tones and mild hoppy bitterness,” to the Premium Dunkel, “a rich dark amber beer with full-flavored, smooth taste nicely accented with satisfying notes of roasted malt and subtle bottom-fermenting yeast tones,” to the Oktoberfest Special Edition, “a well-balanced, mild, and smooth taste with a uniquely soft, hoppy aftertaste and 5.9% alcohol.”
All of the tips collected from the Biergarten will benefit Cancer Free Kids.
Of course, what goes better with beer than traditional German food! The majority of Loveland’s Downtown restaurants will be adding a few German-inspired food options in celebration of Oktoberfest. Not sure what traditional German food is? Read this CNN Travel article that I found that talks all about German cuisine!
Although the Little Miami Chamber Alliance (LMRCA) is still in the planning stages of what activities and competitions will be held during Oktoberfest, the Chamber has confirmed that there will be a Stein Hoist competition as well as a Lederhosen competition.
The Stein Hoist prelims will begin on Friday around 6:30 PM and the finals will be held on Saturday at 6 PM. The competition will include 6 contestants and will be emceed by Channel 5’s Randi Rico. Stein Hoisting is a traditional Bavarian strength contest in which participants hold a full one-liter beer stein (weighs 5.5 pounds typically) in front of their bodies with a straight arm, parallel to the ground. The person that can hold the pose the longest wins.
The Lederhosen competition (German costume contest) will begin on Friday. The winner will be selected around 7:30 PM. Lederhosen’s are leather shorts with H-shaped suspenders that men in the working class from Alpine regions such as Bavaria wore. They wore these while they were working because the leather material made the dust and dirt collected from work easier to clean off. Lederhosen’s also have cultural and social meaning for those within the German culture.
There is in fact a female version of the Lederhosen called a “Dirndl,” which is a dress that can fall either to the knees or the floor. The dress includes a tight bodice that is meant to compliment a woman’s chest.
On Friday, Oktoberfest will also feature live entertainment from the Cloggers at 5 PM and the Counting Skeletons at 7 PM.
On Saturday, Oktoberfest entertainment will kick off at 4 PM with Premier Dance and Tumbling, and shortly afterward at 5:30 PM, the Cloggers will perform once again.
Of course, we can’t forget about one of the most coveted German Oktoberfest traditions, the tapping of the Keg! The tapping of the Keg is one of the oldest traditions in Germany’s Oktoberfest celebrations. The Keg tap is typically done by the Mayor of Munich, which in Loveland’s case will be Mayor Kathy Bailey. The goal of the Keg tapping is for the Mayor to hit the Keg with a hammer the least amount of times possible before yelling “O’zapft is” (keg breached). Once the Mayor yells “O’zapft is” surrounding vendors may officially sell their beer!
Before the Keg tapping in Germany, there is a “procession” held in which colorful horse carriages and wagons covered with flowers march down to where the Oktoberfest celebration is being held. The procession is traditionally led by the Münchner Kindl (coat of arms of Munich) and is followed by the Mayor’s festival carriage. Behind the Mayor are carts of the landlords and breweries as well as the waitresses who will be serving beer who are typically holding beer mugs in the procession. This part of Zoveland’s Oktoberfest will include Mayor Kathy Bailey, the LMRCA Board of Directors President Doug Portmann, and Oktoberfest’s Presenting Sponsor. The procession itself will be a surprise to all as the details have yet to be released!
On Saturday at 6 PM the Stein Hoist finals will be held and right after the Zinzinnati Bierband will perform until 10 PM.
The LMRCA is still hard at work adding more activities, competitions, entertainment, and food options for the 2021 Zoveland Oktoberfest so stay tuned for the latest event details!
Oktoberfest is still in need of sponsors! If you or your business would like to become a sponsor read over the sponsorship options below and contact the LMRCA through email or you can call their office at 513-683-1544.
For more Zoveland Oktoberfest 2021 updates stay tuned to the Loveland Salad With ME, Cassie Mattia!
Self-described “Dog Mom” Cassie Mattia lives in Historic Downtown Loveland with Nala, Dean, and her boyfriend Adam. Cassie is the Associate Editor of Loveland Magazine.
by Cassie Mattia
Loveland, Ohio – Who doesn’t love sharing a beautiful photo of their pet? If you are a Loveland resident and live close to the Loveland Bike Trail you know more than anyone that Loveland has a special place in its heart for pets. From dogs to cats to horses to exotic animals the Loveland community welcomes all animals with open arms! This is why here at Loveland Magazine we want to celebrate your pets!
At the beginning of every month starting on August 1st we will be selecting and featuring “Loveland’s Pet of the Month,” in which that pet will then be featured in our publication, weekly newsletters, and our social media platforms for that entire month.
The featured pet will also receive a beautiful, glossy, high-quality 8X10 photo keepsake that will be mailed to the pet owner’s home. We love our pets as much you do Loveland so let’s pay tribute to them together every month!
This is Dean, Cassie’s older household sibling to Nala.
To enter into Loveland’s Pet of the Month contest you must email me, Cassie Mattia, at cmattia12@gmail.com 2-5 of your favorite photos of your pet along with a short bio about your pet. Share with us and the community why your pet is so special to you along with any other unique facts that set your little buddy apart from other pets! The window for receiving pet of the month candidates will run from the 1st to the 25th (deadline) of every month starting on August 1st. When sending in your pet photos and bios please include your pet’s name, age, and breed as well as your contact info with a short description of each photo you provide us with. If you want to share where your pet’s favorite spots are in Loveland that would be great as well!
The first official Loveland Pet of the Month will be featured on September 1st.
Remember we DO NOT discriminate against any pets; all pets are welcome to enter into the contest!
As a reminder, you may start sending in pet photos and bios beginning on August 1st. The deadline once again will be on the 25th of every month. The first pet selected will be featured on September 1st.
We are so excited to share the love you have for your pets and the joy they bring you every day with the community!
Hello to all the Lovely Local Businesses out There!
Cassie Mattia is the Marketing Director for Loveland Magazine
Summer is here, but have no fear – because Loveland Magazine is here to help you get the word out about your local business, organization, or event!
We understand that last year was rough on a lot of local businesses, some barely surviving and some, unfortunately, having to shut their doors permanently. This year we want to make sure that our beloved local businesses survive and the best way we know we can help is by making sure that we offer the lowest advertising rates in the Loveland and Cincinnati area!
We care about YOU, YOUR employees as well as YOUR local business, organization, or community event so we strive to do everything we can to help those that work alongside you and those that look forward to visiting your business, being a part of your organization, or attending your event!
So what are you waiting for?! Join the Loveland Magazine Team and celebrate your business or organization’s successes by advertising with the longest-running and locally owned Loveland publication?
To join the Loveland Magazine Team all you have to do is let me know through email what you are interested in advertising and when you would like to begin. We offer a month-to-month advertising plan that costs 90 percent less than ALL the other advertising plans in the Loveland and Cincinnati area! Each month you are able to recommit to our ad plan meaning you don’t have to sign a long-term contract. We want to make sure you are happy with the results Loveland Magazine is giving, which is why you are able to recommit to us each month!
Our advertising plan includes an ad (sent to us by you representing your business, organization, or event) that will be placed on our Loveland Magazine Homepage and in our weekly E-News Letter. I can change out your ad at any time – you just have to let me know!
I also commit to sharing or publishing any information that I see on your business’s or organization’s social media pages that I feel the community will be interested in as well. I will also share and publish information that you send to me through email that you feel is important for the community to see.
If you would like to advertise with Loveland Magazine CLICK HERE to contact me about our AD rates!
Check out this 51-second video below to see exactly what Loveland Magazine does:
If you think you have a good feature story idea about your business – I can do that! As a feature story is a larger time commitment for the Loveland Magazine staff we offer the feature story opportunity for an additional one-time fee of 99 dollars per feature story. Here are a few examples of feature stories I have done for our local businesses:
Here are a few examples of feature stories we have done for our local businesses:
Loveland Magazine relies on the community in order to keep publishing the latest news in the community so all advertising fees go directly back into making sure we can keep writing, publishing, and reporting!
If you are new to the community and aren’t entirely sure you know who we are here is a link to the ABOUT LOVELAND MAGAZINE section of our website.
I will strive to help your business, organization, event, and your loyal employees have the best 2021 yet through spreading the word about what your business or organization offers!
Contact me now to start your advertising journey with Loveland Magazine! I can’t wait for you to join the team!
When contacting me, please don’t forget to state your name, phone number, your business or organization’s address, and what type of business, organization, or event you would like to advertise.
Loveland, Ohio – Downtown Loveland is bringing another event your way hosted by local church Prince of Peace!
On Thursday, July 29th beginning at 6 PM Prince of Peace Lutheran Church (POP) will be hosting “Night at Nisbet,” an event dedicated to supporting those in the community as they pursue their dreams and reach for their goals. The fun-filled night will take place at Nisbet Park, a park located right off the Loveland Bike Trail at 126 Karl Brown Way. The park also includes an amphitheater in which local bands Watchfrogs and Pocket will be performing. There will also be “Open Mic” slots available for students to show off their talents to the community.
Pastor Lily Brondyke who is a POP intern that is currently preparing for her final year of Seminary at Wartburg, will be spearheading the “Night at Nisbet” along with help from the ELCA Open Doors Grant. Pastor Lily will be graduating in 2022 with a Master of Divinity Degree.
Pastor Lily is hoping to make “Night at Nisbet” one of the best POP events yet as she will be completing her internship with POP on August 8th just in time for her final year of Seminary. Pastor Lily will be preaching at both POP services on August 8th. A coffee and cake celebration will be held after each of Pastor Lily’s services so that the community will have the opportunity to wish her well before she leaves. POP will also be presenting Lily with a gift on her last day. If you would like to contribute to the gift you can make a check out to Prince of Peace with “Intern Gift” noted on the memo line or you can donate online.
If you are interested in celebrating Pastor Lily, the beautiful community we live in, and many local talented musical artists take a trip down to Nisbet Park for a “Night at Nisbet!”
Read on below to see all the “Night at Nisbet” details provided by Pastor Lily and POP!
Make a Date To Be Creative And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as we see the Day drawing near. Hebrews 24-25
This past year forced many of us to think about relationships and connections. How do we connect with our communities? How do we form relationships? The COVID-19 pandemic forced businesses, schools, churches, families, and friends to get creative about connection. Eventually, vaccines made it possible for the pandemic to look a little different. Masks and social distancing became optional when vaccinated. Gatherings became safer. But there’s no turning back to an old kind of normal.
At Prince of Peace, creativity became a driving force for our mission of living and loving like Jesus in the world.
We are called to think creatively about how we live and love like Jesus. We are called to consider how we build community and lift up one another. We are called to love and support each other as we pursue our dreams.
Night at Nisbet is about all of this — getting out and loving the communities in which we live. Lifting each other up and celebrating what God is doing in each of our lives. Come together for a night of music, community, and celebration.
Nisbet Park is iconic to downtown Loveland. Situated on the bike path, within walking distance to great local food, drink, and sno-cones, a night at this park guarantees a good time. Some folks walk or run or bike on by, on their way to another spot. Some use the picnic tables for time with family and friends. There’s a playground, a pavilion, bathrooms—basically everything you could need. It’s a great place to gather people.
If you like good music, supporting local musicians, and having a good time with good people, it’s coming here to Loveland. If you are looking for something fun to do with family or friends or are excited about a different, creative ministry in an ever-changing world, pay attention to this event. Night at Nisbet is dedicated to community and local music.
Mark July 29th at 6:00 PM on your calendar because you won’t want to miss this night! Local bands, ‘Watchfrog’ and ‘Pocket’ will be performing. And you’ll probably see some familiar faces on the stage. Open mic slots feature student talent right from our own area!
Night at Nisbet is sponsored by Prince of Peace through an ELCA Open Doors grant. To learn more about ELCA Open Doors, visit here. See you there! Pastor Lily www.popluther.org Prince of Peace Lutheran Church | 513-683-4244 | popluther.org
Loveland, Ohio – Downtown Loveland is quickly becoming a food lover’s dream come true as new restaurants are popping up left and right!
One of the first restaurants to hit the block after the Downtown Loveland fire in 2017 was Ramsey’s Trailside. The beautifully restored building, located right off the Loveland Bike Trail on West Loveland Ave, has become a large part of the Loveland food culture offering both vegetarian and vegan-friendly meals as well as some of the best views in the city!
The Ramsey’s Trailside building dates back to the 1800s and was originally referred to as the “Ramsey’s Building,” paying homage to the first two families in the Loveland area; the Paxton’s and the Ramsey’s. After Colonel Paxton and his sons-in-law were awarded a 1,000-acre grant for Paxton’s service in the Revolutionary War in 1848 Colonel William Ramsey purchased 189 acres of that land. Colonel Ramsey’s plan was to join the town of Paxton and the town of Loveland together. In 1863 John Ramsey’s daughter’s husband, James Loveland (the Justice of Peace, General Store Owner, and Postmaster of the town of Paxton and Loveland) officially joined together both towns naming it Loveland.
Ramsey’s Trailside did not come into conception until the early 2000s when Paxton’s Grill owners, Ralph Dunnigan and Kevin Eagan were approached with the idea of making the Ramsey’s building into a second restaurant. Eagan and Dunnigan loved the idea of having another quality family-friendly restaurant and in 2018 Ramsey’s Trailside opened its doors!
John Zielke, now General Manager and Co-Owner of Ramsey’s Trailside joined the Ramsey’s Trailside team after having worked at Paxton’s Grill. Zielke was used to the traditional Paxton’s Grill cuisine, so when he learned that Ramsey’s goal was to offer vegetarians and vegans great meal options too he was thrilled about getting the opportunity to learn about a type of cuisine he wasn’t used to. It was a challenge that Zielke said he was happy to accept!
Since 2018, Ramsey’s Trailside has gained quite a reputation with the community becoming an instant fan favorite! From the “treehouse” views to the affordable quality food to the outstanding service this Loveland gem is an absolute must-try!
I of course had to check in with John Zielke at Ramsey’s Trailside so that I could share with you all of the delicious details about the restaurant! Follow me, Cassie the Food Guru, as I take you on a trip to Ramsey’s Trailside!
Loveland, Ohio – Downtown Historic Loveland welcomed TAHONA Kitchen + Bar on July 13th just in time for Taco Tuesday! TAHONA Kitchen + Bar specializes in Mexican Street Style Food and “TAHONA” style Tequila.
TAHONA Kitchen + Bar, which is a part of a local successful chain of restaurants called Looking Glass Hospitality, opened its first location in 2017 in Summit Park in Blue Ash. TAHONA, meaning “the large stone wheel that is used to crush the roasted hearts of agave known as piñas into a fermentable mash,” uses only the freshest produce and slow-roasted meats as well as freshly squeezed juices and homemade ingredients for their cocktails.
Prior to TAHONA Loveland’s grand opening, Scott Schmidt, Founder of Looking Glass Hospitality, invited Loveland Magazine to take a tour of the newly renovated TAHONA Loveland, located at 117 Karl Brown Way. Schmidt indulged us in an exclusive on-camera interview explaining just why TAHONA is the home of the Walking Taco and what the “time-honored TAHONA technique” entails when producing their Patron Roca Silver Tequila for their infamous TAHONA Margarita.
From the TAHONA Pineapple Mango Guacamole to the Vegetable Marinated Tofu Corn Taco to the legendary Donut Holes; TAHONA has a little something for everyone! Did I mention they specialize in Tequila inspired cocktails like “The TAHONA” (made with homemade ginger syrup), “The Granada Mojito,” and of course Fruit Margaritas? TAHONA also serves a twist on an Old Fashioned called “Clyborne’s Peach Old-Fashioned,” which is to die for!
After speaking with Schmidt and hearing all about the mouthwatering menu I knew I had to try out TAHONA immediately so myself, David Miller (LM Editor), and my boyfriend, Adam Ploof, headed down to TAHONA Blue Ash to try out the menu. We were unbelievably pleased with the atmosphere, the food, and the cocktails!
Shortly after my TAHONA Blue Ash experience, myself and David were cordially invited to a “sneak peek” dinner at TAHONA Loveland, which took place on Saturday, July 10th. We were thrilled to get the opportunity to see the new TAHONA location and of course we were happy to eat more tacos! David and I were able to bring along 3 guests to try out TAHONA Loveland on Saturday night and let me tell you our guests were happy to accept the invitation!
The TAHONA Loveland experience ended up being incredible! The street-style Mexican restaurant definitely succeeded in proving why it is the perfect addition to the Downtown Loveland food culture. I was so impressed by both TAHONA locations that I decided to create a video capturing both experiences on my YouTube Channel, Beast Mode With Cassie! Click the video below to see my “TAHONA Kitchen + Bar Experience!”
If you missed out on my one-on-one on-camera interview inside TAHONA Loveland with Looking Glass Hospitality Founder Scott Schmidt, click the Loveland Magazine TV video below!
To stay up to date on all things TAHONA Loveland follow them on FaceBook. For TAHONA Blue Ash updates follow their FaceBook page.
For more updates on Loveland’s new restaurant openings and food culture stay tuned to Cassie The Food Guru!
Loveland, Ohio – “No words can describe how deeply touched and grateful I am that David gave me the opportunity to fulfill my Journalism dreams at Loveland Magazine. The fact that at the age of 31 I can proudly say I am the Co-Owner of a newspaper that has been around for 18 years is truly amazing,” said Cassie Mattia.
Mattia as a six-year-old had a passion to be a writer. Her love for the written word along with pursuing and achieving college degrees in Journalism, Business, and English led her to reach yet another milestone on June 25th; when she became an “Equal Co-Owner” of Loveland Magazine.
It was 3-years-ago on July 9, 2018, when Cassie sent Loveland Magazine owner, David Miller, an email that introduced herself. It read in part, “One day I was running and I passed the Loveland Magazine location and immediately got excited as I thought this could be an opportunity to display my writing skills! I am not sure if you guys are hiring or not but I thought I would send an email displaying my interest in possibly doing some freelancing or anything you had available. I want so badly to share my writing with others and I do believe this may be a good opportunity to do so!”
Loveland Magazine founder David Miller signed a Co-Equal Partner Agreement at Ramsey’s Trailside on June 25th with Cassie Mattia.
“It was an absolutely beautiful Summer morning when I received Cassie’s email and I thought, why not get out of the office for a change and enjoy spending a few moments outside,” Loveland Magazine’s Founder and Editor, David Miller said, “I invited Cassie to have coffee in Historic Downtown Loveland at the Loveland Sweets Shop.”
Within moments Cassie jumped at the invite. Even though she was in the middle of her morning workout she accepted the invitation, and soon after Miller arrived and sat down under a sidewalk umbrella. “Mattia was walking across West Loveland Avenue a little disheveled because she interrupted her daily morning workout to meet me,” Miller said.
That meeting quickly led to a photoshoot and a column branding for Mattia. “Time for Loveland Salad with Cassie Mattia” was created. In this column, Mattia could write and report on a wide variety of stories about Loveland. Cassie soon became a paid writer and our Associate Editor. She then was promoted to Account Executive, which entailed managing Loveland Magazine’s advertisers. Recently Mattia was given the title Director of Marketing to better reflect her current advertising duties.
“I had thought for a long time about how to reward Cassie for her dedication and the skill set she brought to our newspaper and concluded she should be part owner,” said Miller. “After drafting an ownership agreement, asking her if she was interested, and after looking much closer at it, I became increasingly uncomfortable with the 60/40 percent owner relationship I was proposing. I thought, what am I trying to hold onto and control by making her a minority partner?”
Miller redrafted the agreement into a Co-Equal Partner Agreement. For Miller, it wasn’t about sharing future profit, it was about Mattia gaining equal control and decision-making power. “It is a true model of how I believe an employee-owned business should be run,” Miller said.
“I have wanted to be a writer for as long as I can remember and have done whatever it takes to get to where I want to be in the world of Journalism. I have experienced so many things over the years in this field, but nothing compares to my time with Loveland Magazine,” said Mattia after signing the contract.
“I am beyond proud that Loveland now has a newspaper co-owned by a woman and the unique perspective it will bring to how news is reported here. Readers should feel more confident that Loveland Magazine will report the news and select the stories and interviews we publish, from a broader, more diverse, and younger point of view,” Miller added.
Mattia is Loveland Magazine’s on-air personality who does most of the on-camera interviews, live streaming, and writes feature stories. The “What’s In Loveland’s DNA,” “Sports 411,” and “Cassie The Food Guru” storylines were created to showcase her talent. “Cassie is multi-lingual in what seems like all cultural-cuisines,” said co-owner Miller.
Cassie Mattia and Loveland Magazine founder David Miller signed a Co-Equal Partner Agreement at Ramsey’s Trailside on June 25.
Since Mattia has joined the Loveland Magazine team she has been nominated for several of the Little Miami River Chamber Alliance’s local business awards each year. “The award we received from the Ohio High School Athletic Association for ‘Sportsmanship, Ethics, and Integrity in 2020 was in large part a credit to Cassie’s contributions,” said Miller.
Mattia said, “I could have never imagined having my own columns, conducting on-camera interviews, creating feature stories, commentating big events like ‘Rolling Mondays’ and ‘Loveland’s 4th of July Parade,’ and getting nominated for so many awards for my work.”
After taking a couple of days to process that she now was a Co-Owner of what she described as “an unbelievable publication”, Mattia said, “It’s been an absolute dream come true.” She thanked Miller for being her support system and teaching her so many things about Journalism. She also expressed gratitude to all the area residents, Loveland Magazine readers, business owners, and city leaders for supporting her work. She continued, “I want to thank all of those who gave me internships when no one else would because I didn’t have ‘enough experience.’ I want to thank my teachers and professors who inspired and pushed me to keep on writing. I want to thank my basketball, track and field, and cross country coaches for instilling in me great work ethic and determination. I want to thank my boyfriend for encouraging me and putting up with my crazy schedule, and last but not least I want to thank my family, without you I would not be who I am today.”
“Loveland Magazine hopes to always thrive in and contribute to a nurturing environment for Loveland, one of equality and empathy. Cassie Mattia’s love for our community and its people will certainly keep us moving in that direction,” Miller said. “Her positivity and compassion are contagious.”
“I can’t wait to see what David and I continue to create and achieve for Loveland Magazine. Loveland, you really are the Sweetheart of Ohio and I promise to continue filling the community with love and of course writing and reporting the absolute best stories I can,” Mattia said when asked about Loveland Magazine’s future.
About Loveland Magazine
Loveland Magazine LLC is locally and independently owned with offices in Loveland, Ohio… where we live. Before Loveland Magazine was published in 2004 it had been nearly four decades since Loveland had a locally owned newspaper.
Our bias is towards being socially progressive, and fiscally conservative when fiscal policies bend towards equality and serving the members of society on the lowest rung.
We believe in a Loveland that represents a future made from the beliefs of its passionate, innovative thinkers who love this town so much they spend a considerable amount of their own time trying to make it the absolute best place to live in the entire world.
Since 2004, it has been the mission of Loveland Magazine to be a platform so that those ideas and dreams can be shared wide and far throughout our hometown until they become our reality.
In 2008, Loveland Magazine was awarded the prestigious, Booth Spirit Media Award, beating out all other media stations in the tri-state. Loveland Magazine is “a premier local online news outlet.”
In February Loveland Magazine’s Editor in Chief, David Miller was notified by the Ohio High School Athletic Association that he had been selected for the 2020 Media Award. In 1991, the Ohio High School Athletic Association initiated the Sportsmanship, Ethics, and Integrity Program. One aspect of the program was to honor those “special individuals” who bring great recognition to our high schools, coaches, and especially, our athletes through media’s different forms. Tim Stried, OHSAA’s Director of Communications said at the time, “I first got to know David in 2013 when Loveland made its run to the 2013 Division II football state championship,” Stried said, “I read much of his coverage of the team in the playoffs and I remember his excitement and professionalism covering the team in Canton for the state championship game.”
At a meeting of the Board of Directors of the Ohio Newspapers Association on October 11, 2013, Loveland Magazine was voted into membership.
Loveland Magazine was the first “digital-only member” of The Ohio Newspaper Association
The Ohio Newspaper Association (ONA) was established in 1933 and is the trade association for more than 250 Ohio daily and weekly newspapers. Their membership includes The Columbus Dispatch, Plain Dealer, Cincinnati Enquirer, Akron Beacon Journal, Dayton Daily News, and The Toledo Blade.
ONA is now the Ohio News Media Association. The association administers a full program of member services that include: government relations and lobbying, publications, seminars, and employee training, legal assistance, group insurance, and advertising services.
Loveland Magazine is also a member of the Ohio Prep Sportswriters Association. Founded in 1972, the Ohio Prep Sportswriters Association works to support and enhance the coverage of high school sports in Ohio and to recognize superior writing among sports journalists.
Each citizen in Loveland makes up an important piece of the community, but in saying that it’s up to the citizen as to what they do with their role as an important piece of that community. This is what makes up a community’s “D.N.A.”
Over the past three years, Loveland Magazine has been in search of community members that truly play an important role in Loveland’s D.N.A.
Cassie Mattia
by Cassie Mattia
Loveland, Ohio – One of the best Loveland High School Track and Field athletes of all time achieved a student athlete’s ultimate dream…a ticket to compete collegiately!
Recently graduated, Miya Brines will be training as a Heptathlete at the University of Iowa proving to her teammates, coaches, and fans something they knew all along; she has a bright future filled with more Track and Field milestones ahead of her. There’s no denying that Brines will go down in Tiger history making her a part of “What’s In Loveland’s D.N.A!”
Fellow track star Mikayla Loomis joined the interview with Miya. Loomis will enter her Senior year at Loveland High School.
Brines grew up in Loveland and began her love for Track and Field in Junior High School. Both her parents, Chad and Lisa, and coaches immediately saw that Brines was going to excel in Track and Field as her ability was already above and beyond athletes competing against her. As Brines continued to dedicate herself to fine-tuning her god-given ability, LHS’s Track and Field coaches knew they were about to encounter one special individual as she entered into her Freshman year as a Tiger.
The LHS coaches and Brines parents couldn’t have been more right as in 2018 Brines achieved 1st Team All-ECC (Eastern Cincinnati Conference) in the 4×100 meter relay. As Brines became more experienced and dove even deeper into training, she began to hit goals that she would’ve never dreamed of achieving! In 2019, Brines was awarded 1st Team All-ECC in the long jump, made it to the State Meet in the 100-meter hurdles breaking the school record that was previously held in 2016 with a time of 14.70 seconds. Brines coaches and teammates were not only impressed but were also inspired as Brines’ ability to be a team leader went beyond anyone’s expectations causing her other teammates to thrive in their own Track and Field events.
After the interview Miya was given a hurdle gate-board with a brass plaque commemorating her school records in the 100 Meter High Hurdles, Long Jump, and High Jump.
Right before the COVID-19 pandemic hit in 2020 Brines qualified for Indoor Track and Field Nationals in the 60-meter hurdles, long jump, and the 4×200 meter relay. Unfortunately, Nationals ended up being canceled leaving Brines frustrated but motivated to achieve even more her Senior year at LHS.
This year Brines made her mark in Tiger history! She not only broke her own record in the 100-meter hurdles with a time of 14.39 seconds but also broke the high jump school record that was previously held in 2016 with a jump of 5 feet 6.5 inches. Her successful Senior season led her to take the top spot in the ECC in 5 categories; the 100-meter dash (12.32 seconds), the 200-meter dash (25.27 seconds), the 100-meter hurdles (14.39 seconds), the high jump (5’06.50), and the long jump (17’10.05). Brines also achieved a spot on Ohio MileSplit for Division 1 ranking 14th in the 100-meter dash, 8th in the 200-meter dash, 3rd in the 100-meter hurdles, 2nd in the high jump, and 6th in the long jump.
With all of Brines unbelievable achievements, leadership skills (even while having to sit out the rest of her Senior season due to a grade 3 stress injury/reaction in her tibia and fibula), as well as her ability to overcome the most challenging hurdles, there’s no doubt that Brines has claimed her spot as a part of Loveland’s D.N.A!
— Loveland Girls Track (@TrackLoveland) June 1, 2019
After writing about Miya multiple times over the past few years and receiving a very touching email from her father Chad I just knew that we had to do a special on-camera interview featuring Miya, her coaches, and one of her closest teammates, Mikayla Loomis.
So without much further ado here is another rendition of “What’s In Loveland’s D.N.A” featuring LHS Track and Field superstar, Miya Brines in an exclusive Loveland Magazine TV on-camera interview!
Our Girls team back at it again today. This time at Princeton HS. Miya Brines stating us off. Go Tigers! pic.twitter.com/xfkjkAcjM9
