LOVELAND MAGAZINE

News and Events from the Loveland, Ohio Area

Without fear or favor
Since 2004

Tag: Christmas gifts

  • Loveland’s Christmas Tree Lighting Kicks off the Holidays for the Community!

    Loveland’s Christmas Tree Lighting Kicks off the Holidays for the Community!

    by Cassie Mattia

    Loveland, Ohio – Oh Christmas Tree, Oh Christmas Tree thank you for lighting up Loveland so beautifully! 

    The community gathered around one another on Saturday night as the City of Loveland celebrated its first Community Christmas Tree Lighting. The festive fun-filled night kicked off at 4 PM with local holiday gift vendors that sold everything from Hot Chocolate Bombs to homemade mitten ornaments from J Timmerman Pottery to jewelry made from silverware from Silverware to Wearable Art. Alley Boutique, Blume, and Haven Grey also participated in the festivities allowing the community to shop in their festively decorated stores until 7 PM.

    The beautifully illuminated Browns Crossing along the Loveland Bike trail featured local food trucks Travelin Tom’s Coffee and Hot Chocolate and Smokin Inferno BBQ, as well as Christmas activities for the kids, a vintage holiday photoshoot with Old School Pix and the infamous Dancing Elves, Toys For Tots Stuff a Cruiser Toy Drive hosted by the Loveland Citizens Police Academy Alumni, and Trailside Provisions Christmas Cupcakes, Brownies, Caramel Apples, and several holiday gourmet popcorn combinations. The Loveland Girl Scouts also came out for Loveland’s special night as they entertained crowds of friends and families with Christmas carols! 

    As the night grew dark and the Christmas lights shined bright, at around 7 PM Mayor Kathy Bailey lit the gigantic magical Loveland Christmas Tree, and shortly after Rozzi Fireworks put on a “merry” night-ending firework show.

    I decided to bring some of my family along with me to the Christmas Tree Lighting celebration, including my 2 furbabies, Dean and Nala. Wow were we impressed with how flawless the night came together for the City of Loveland and the community! The endless amount of lights, Christmas decor, holiday activities, Christmas treats, and gift ideas from some very talented local vendors made the night that much more special.

    The Loveland Christmas Tree was quite the spectacle once it was completely illuminated! Throughout the night I couldn’t help but revisit the Tree over and over again. As I stared up at the lights, and glistening candy canes I realized that Loveland truly had succeeded in becoming a Christmas Winter Wonderland! 

    After walking through Browns Crossing bike trail light spectacle I decided to grab some homemade Christmas gifts from J Timmerman Pottery and Silverware to Wearable Art! Shortly after I of course had to visit Trailside Provisions to get my weekly popcorn fix. This time I chose a caramel popcorn drizzled in dark chocolate and I am not ashamed to say I ate the entire bag in just 2 days! Next, I decided to stop by Old School Pix’s holiday vintage photoshoot where they snapped photos of myself, Adam, and the Dancing Elves in a vintage truck all decked out in Christmas decor. After wandering around Loveland’s Winter Wonderland, the night ended perfectly with a firework show put on by Rozzi’s Fireworks!

    • My Christmas Themed Balcony
    • My Neighbors Unbelievable Christmas Display
    • J Timmerman Pottery Coffee Mug I Bought in Support of Local Vendors
    • Old School Pix Snapped a Photo of Adam and I in Their Vintage Truck Decked in Holiday Decor
    • Old School Pix Decided to Get a Photo of us With the Dancing Elves
    • Silverware to Wearable Art Elephant Inspired Earrings Made from Forks That I Bought for my Best Friend Stacie
    • J Timmerman Pottery Mitten Ornament

    For more photos and videos from Loveland’s best events stay tuned to the Loveland Salad With ME, Cassie Mattia!

  • Miami Township: Shop with a Cop

    Miami Township: Shop with a Cop

    Miami Township, Ohio – The “Shop With A Cop” program allows children in the community, selected by the Miami Township Police Department, to shop with a police officer for Christmas gifts for their brothers, sisters or parents. While the program is not designed to allow the child to buy gifts for themselves, the police officers will often allow the child to pick something out if there are funds available. 

    “The children we select come from backgrounds where, through no fault of their own, they don’t get as much as a typical child in the community,” said Officer Skip Rasfeld, who is the Miami Township Police Department’s Drug Abuse Resistance and Education (DARE) officer in the local schools. 

    The Miami Township Police Department receives donations from local businesses and residents to help fund the event. About 16 uniform officers donate their time by showing up the night of event and walking the aisles with the children. More than 30 volunteers from the Miami Township Citizens Police Academy Alumni Association and employees from the township also donate their time to wrap the presents for the children to take home. 

    Officer Rasfeld and the Miami Township Police Department are still seeking donations from businesses and residents for this year’s event. 

    Every cent of the donations is spent on the children and the department does not set aside any money from the donations for the supplies or administration involved in the program. 

    All donations should be made payable to the “Miami Township Police Association Shop with a Cop” and mailed to the Miami Township Police Department, 5900 McPicken Drive, Miami Township, OH 45150. Donations can also be dropped off in person. More information about the event can be obtained by calling Officer Rasfeld at (513) 248-3721 or sending an email Skip.Rasfeld@MiamiTwpOH.gov.