Loveland, Ohio – Clermont County Veterans can receive free transportation to the local VA medical center for appointments.
The Transportation Hotline is 513-732-7471.
Tag: clermont county
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Loveland Schools will close on day of solar eclipse
Loveland, Ohio – There will be no school for students on Monday, April 8 for students in the Loveland City School District. A partial solar eclipse will cross over Loveland that day and Superintendent Mike Broadwater has announced, “The timing of the eclipse presents a safety challenge. The eclipse will stretch over a period of about two hours around afternoon dismissal time. Students would be on buses, walking, or driving home when the eclipse hits its peak, making it very challenging for students to view this once-in-a-lifetime event safely”.
Broadwater continued, “I understand that a change to the schedule may be an inconvenience for families, which is why we’ve made this decision now, to give everyone time to prepare. Staff will still report to work on April 8 and use the time for professional development and training.”
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Loveland Schools performers earn spot in OMEA Honor Band
Loveland, Ohio – The following Loveland Tigers were selected as members of the 2024 Ohio Music Educators Association District 14 Honor Band. These students will represent Loveland at a concert in January at West Clermont High School. They were selected through an audition process along with some of the best wind and percussion students across Hamilton and Clermont Counties.
High School Symphonic Band
Senior Jonathan Kaseff – 1st Chair Percussion
Senior Amelia Macura – 3rd Chair French Horn
Senior Jaiden Mckinney – 7th Chair Trumpet
Junior Erin O’Neil – 2nd Chair Trombone
Senior Jake Simon – 3rd Chair Tuba
High School Concert Band
Freshman Nora Dennedy – 1st Chair Bass Clarinet
Junior Luka Docter – 5th Chair Trumpet
Senior Brody Gehring – 2nd Chair Bass Clarinet
Freshman Grant Macura – 3rd Chair Baritone
Sophomore Lily Spata – 4th Chair Bassoon
Senior Aaron Spjut – 1st Chair Trumpet
Freshman Grant Macura – 3rd Chair Baritone
8th grade
Ava Ahrens – 1st chair baritone saxophone
Sean Clark – 2nd chair bassoon
Chase Pottebaum – 3rd chair tuba
EV Spata – 3rd chair percussion
Ben Spjut – 2nd chair trumpet
7th grade
Gwyneth Bell – 6th chair percussion
Lucie Fancher – 2nd chair tenor saxophone
Pete Fondacaro – 4th chair trumpet
Yantra Hawk – 7th chair trombone
Grant Holbrook – 5th chair percussion
Abby Kaszyca – 6th chair trumpet
Nick Larsen – 4th chair trombone
Max Trombley – 6th chair trombone
Matias Yarto – 3rd chair flute
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About OMEA
The Ohio Music Education Association believes…
…all students should have equal access to high quality music instruction delivered by licensed music teachers through comprehensive school programs in general, instrumental and choral music education.
OMEA advocates for:
- comprehensive school programs in general, instrumental, and choral music education,
- state and national music standards, with assessment to ensure that students meet high academic expectations,
- licensed teachers, adequate instructional time, and appropriate facilities and materials for music programs.
To achieve this mission, OMEA:
- promotes the highest levels of professional development for music teachers,
- works collaboratively with other organizations and businesses/corporations for a broad spectrum of continuing education for music teachers,
- encourages programs for gifted, special needs and pre-school children,
- supports the concept of diversity in music education,
- identifies “best practices” for teaching music at different educational levels,
- uses a system of adjudicated events that demonstrate an emphasis on educational values and high achievement in school music programs,
- encourages the use of technology and new approaches to music teaching and learning, and
- promotes life long participation and learning in music
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![[EXCLUSIVE FIRST RELEASE] Grailville land acquisition grant awarded to Cardinal Land Conservancy](https://lovelandmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Greater-Vision-Grailville.jpg)
[EXCLUSIVE FIRST RELEASE] Grailville land acquisition grant awarded to Cardinal Land Conservancy
David Miller is the Managing Editor of Loveland Magazine Cardinal Land Conservancy Secures Future of Historic Grailville Site
Threat of development leads to protection in perpetuity
by David Miller
Loveland/Miami Township, Ohio – In sending a press release with this good news for the Loveland and Miami Township residents who worked so tirelessly preserving 89 acres of land at Grailville “in perpetuity”, Andy Dickerson with the Cardinal Land Conservancy said, “David, we’re getting ready to send this out, but I wanted to send it to you first. We just found out this morning… good news!”
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Andy Dickerson After a yearlong effort in collaboration with The Grail and the Grail Land Preservation Group, Cardinal Land Conservancy has received favorable confirmation from the Natural Resources Assistance Council District 10 that its application is being recommended for funding to the Ohio Public Works Commission.
The $4.897 million grant through the Clean Ohio Green Space Conservation Program will allow Cardinal to purchase 89 acres of the historic Grailville site in Loveland. Once used for spiritual growth, education, farming, and retreats, this property became a target for development in recent years due to its desirable location. Outspoken community members and former members of The Grail partnered with Cardinal to protect its scenic natural areas, historic buildings, and spiritual legacy.
For over 70 years, Grailville served as a retreat center and organic farm for The Grail, an international women’s organization focused on spirituality, ecology, and social justice. The property includes woodlands, wetlands, and productive farmland. Its historic buildings date from the 1830s and are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
The House of Joy at Grailville The grant is the largest in Cardinal Land Conservancy’s 8-year history. It adds to the over 8,500 acres the land trust has already protected in Southwest Ohio. Cardinal holds and monitors 57 easements on private properties and the titles to 11 nature preserves to ensure the land is protected from development and maintained in a largely natural condition. Cardinal is based in Milford however hopes to relocate its offices to the House of Joy on the Grailville site.
Sharon Scovanner (Loveland Magazine file photo) Loveland resident Sharon Scovanner with the Grail Land Preservation Group told Loveland Magazine yesterday, “Today was a big day. It looks like the funding is coming through which is just amazing. It feels amazing what we have been able to accomplish in these eighteen months.”
“The protection of this new nature preserve in Loveland will be a huge benefit for the community as Cardinal Land Conservancy will protect it in perpetuity, said Dickerson in the early news release to Loveland Magazine.
Cardinal will need to raise additional funds to restore select buildings on site for public and private use and eventually open the property as a public nature preserve. Dickerson says that restoration efforts will begin as early as possible. Cardinal also hopes to work with healthcare professionals to utilize this preserve as a place where they can meet patients and “prescribe” nature as a treatment for certain mental and physical health problems.
This LOVELAND MAGAZINE TV video is from an August public hearing before the Clermont County Commission in which members of the Grail Land Preservation Group and the Grail advocated Commission support for securing the grant.
In this LOVELAND MAGAZINE TV video, Andy Dickerson explained the details of the grant and what he was asking the Miami Township Trustees to do.
About Cardinal Land Conservancy:
Cardinal Land Conservancy is a nationally accredited land trust serving 7 counties in Southwest Ohio. Its mission is to preserve waterways, native habitat, farmland, and open space in Southwest Ohio by working with individuals, families, and communities. For more information, visit www.cardinallandconservancy.org.
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Grailville supporters speak at Clermont Commission meeting
Batavia, Ohio – This LOVELAND MAGAZINE TV video is from Wednesday, August 17 when local residents made the trek to the Clermont County Commission meeting to urge support for a grant application to secure funding to preserve Grailvile acreage as permanent green space.
Both the City of Loveland and Miami Township governing bodies have previously voted their unanimous support for the Cardinal Land Conservancy seeking a grant from the State of Ohio’s Clean Ohio Conservation Fund to purchase the remaining 89 acres of Grailville land. A successful application also requires a resolution of support from the Clermont County Commission, (Second step in securing grant money to preserve Grailville a success)
Members of the Grail and the Grail Land Preservation Group spoke passionately urging the Commission to support the grant application. You will hear their unique perspectives on why the Grailville land is so important as greenspace, and a tourism attraction for Loveland, Miami Township, and Clermont County. There were discussions of the positive financial impact on the area, and Grailville’s important cultural past that can be preserved and continue for decades to come.
If the Clean Ohio Conservation Funds are secured there will be no direct cost to local governments.
This video is via the YouTube Channel of Clermont County.
This LOVELAND MAGAZINE TV video below is Dickerson talking to supporters after the presentation was concluded. Dickerson expects a resolution will be voted on next week when Commisioner Painter can attend.
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Here’s how your City of Loveland neighbors voted on Issue 1
David Miller is the Managing Editor of Loveland Magazine by David Miller
Loveland, Ohio – The City is within three Ohio counties: Clermont, Hamilton, and Warren. Within the corporate limits there are eleven voting precincts. We tallied the “Yes” and “No” votes for the State as a whole, the votes for or against in each county, and each precinct where Loveland residents live and go to the polls.
With 100% of the precincts reporting, here is how voters cast their votes on State Issue 1 in the August 8 special election. The issue to make it more difficult to circulate and pass citizen-led Ohio constitutional amendment was defeated by a 57% to 43% state-wide margin.
The Republican-led effort in the special August election that may have cost Ohio, taxpayers, more than 20 million dollars aimed to make amending Ohio’s constitution more difficult. Issue 1’s chief target was to raise the bar to 60% for passing an abortion rights measure that will be on the Fall ballot.
This outcome means that when Ohio voters go to the polls in November and vote on a constitutional amendment protecting women’s healthcare and reproductive rights, a simple majority of 50% plus one vote will still be the qualifying standard that will be required for passage as it has been for the past 111 years
Read about Ohio Issue 1(Official ballot language, explanation, arguments for/against, and full text)
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Ohio (State-Wide)
YES – 42.99% – 1,315,346
NO – 57.01% – 1,744,094
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Clermont (County-Wide)
YES – 54.32% – 31,108
NO – 45.68% – 26,160
Hamilton (County-Wide)
YES – 33.37% – 77,315
NO – 66.63% – 154,364
Warren (County-Wide)
YES – 52.79% – 37,990
NO – 47.21% – 33,972
Loveland Hamilton County Precincts
Loveland A
YES 43.78% – 197
NO 56.22% – 253
Loveland B
YES 34.47% – 203
NO 65.53% – 386
Loveland C
YES 40.00% – 184NO 60.00% – 276
Loveland D
YES 36.49% – 131NO 63.51% – 228
Loveland E
YES 43.83% – 206NO 56.17% – 264
Loveland F
YES 36.32% – 138NO 63.68% – 242
Loveland G
YES 39.23% – 142NO 60.77% – 220
Loveland Clermont County Precincts
Loveland A
YES 46.03% – 116
NO 53.97% – 136
Loveland B
YES 32.20% – 95
NO 67.80% – 200
Loveland C
YES 48.55% – 217NO 51.45% – 230
Loveland Warren County (176) Precinct S
NOTE: This tabulation is for ALL voters in the precinct, but not all are Loveland residents.
YES 48.26%
NO 51.74%
59.17% of Loveland voters rejected Issue 1.
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School Board calls special meeting to rescind appointment of new member
Dr. Brad Goldie Loveland, Ohio – In a special meeting on July 17, the Loveland City School District voted to appoint Dr. Brad Goldie to fill the unexpired term of Kevin Daugherty. According to a news release by the District on Monday, the Board will hold a special meeting on Wednesday, July 26th, at 5 PM to rescind the appointment because the front door of the building was locked to the public.
For background: School Board appoints Dr. Brad Goldie to vacant position.
The new special meeting will be held in the LIS/LMS Media Center at 757 South Lebanon Road. Hearing from the public will not be included in the agenda for this meeting.
The recommended action on the agenda for the meeting is only to “rescind its appointment of a candidate to the vacant Board seat.” Nothing in the communications revel when the Board might again vote to make an appointment to the vacant seat. Daugherty’s resignation was effective, June 30th.
Below is the statement released Monday by Board President, Dr. Kathryn Lorenz:
July 24, 2023
The Loveland City School District Board of Education held a Special Meeting on July 17, 2023, to fill a vacancy on the Board. After interviewing all interested candidates, the Board voted unanimously to appoint Dr. Brad Goldie.
All public portions of the July 17 Special Meeting were recorded and are available to view on the Board’s YouTube page. Due to an oversight, the front door of the building was not unlocked to allow public access. Because of this procedural error, I have called a Special Meeting of the Loveland Board of Education for this Wednesday, July 26, 2023, at 5 pm in the Media Center of the Loveland Intermediate School.
During this week’s Special Meeting, the Board will consider a motion to rescind the action taken during the July 17 Meeting. I will be bringing forward this motion in the interest of transparency and following proper procedure – it is no reflection on Dr. Goldie or any of the candidates who indicated an interest in the Board vacancy. I want to thank Dr. Goldie for his interest and willingness to serve.
Wednesday, July 26, 2023Special Board Meeting5 p.m.
LMS/LIS Media Center1. Opening ItemsSubject1.1 Call to OrderMeetingJul 26, 2023 – Special Board MeetingCategory1. Opening ItemsTypeActionRecommended ActionBoard President to call the meeting to order.Dr. Lorenz calls the meeting to order at __________ p.m. by asking the Treasurer to call the roll.
ROLL CALL:
____ Rev. Eilert
____ Dr. Lorenz
____ Dr. Schwetschenau
____ Mrs. Washburn
Subject1.2 Adoption of AgendaMeetingJul 26, 2023 – Special Board MeetingCategory1. Opening ItemsTypeActionRecommended ActionBoard to adopt the July 26, 2023, agenda as presented/amended.________________moved and ____________________ seconded a motion to adopt the agenda for the Special Board Meeting held Monday, July 26, 2023.
ROLL CALL VOTE:
____ Rev. Eilert
____ Dr. Lorenz
____ Dr. Schwetschenau
____ Mrs. Washburn
2. Board ResolutionsSubject2.1 Rescension of Appointment to Vacant Board SeatMeetingJul 26, 2023 – Special Board MeetingCategory2. Board ResolutionsTypeActionRecommended ActionThe Board is to rescind its appointment of a candidate to the vacant Board seat.___________________ moved and _____________________ seconded a motion to rescind its appointment of Dr. Brad Goldie to the vacant Board seat due to a procedural error.
ROLL CALL VOTE:
____ Rev. Eilert
____ Dr. Lorenz
____ Dr. Schwetschenau
____ Mrs. Washburn
3. Meeting ClosingSubject3.1 AdjournmentMeetingJul 26, 2023 – Special Board MeetingCategory3. Meeting ClosingTypeActionRecommended ActionBoard President will ask for a motion and second to adjourn the meeting.________________moved and ____________________ seconded a motion to adjourn the meeting.
ROLL CALL VOTE:
____ Rev. Eilert
____ Dr. Lorenz
____ Dr. Schwetschenau
____ Mrs. Washburn
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Improvement and upgrades scheduled for Miami Township pickleball courts
Miami Township, Ohio – The Township has made this announcement about improvements and upgrades to Miami Township’s pickleball courts.
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Regarding the new courts at Miami Meadows, to lessen the angle of the slope from the center of the court to the baselines, and to have a more consistent second surface underneath the paint to remove the low points that collect rain water, contractor JK Meurer will come in August and add a new layer of asphalt that will be feathered from the center of the courts and have a deeper layer of the asphalt added to the ends of the courts. A 30-day curing will then need to occur. Then the subcontractor Schubert Tennis, who has worked on many pickleball courts, will come after that, and add a finish course, repaint, and restripe the whole area. It makes sense to do this in August when the heat is most extreme, meaning the amount of playing time decreases, but can still have the multiple steps completed before cold weather begins in the fall. Asphalt and paint work are not as effective in cold weather. So, this will be large scale work that will make for longer lasting improvements but will unfortunately mean that we will need to completely close the courts in the August/September timeframe.
We also have been seeking quotes from contractors to fill in the cracks in the pickleball and tennis courts at Community Park and repaint and reline them after that. The court specialty companies are backed up with work right now in so many private projects, pickleball and tennis clubs and other communities, so we cannot get a date, yet, on when one could perform the work, but we continue to push to get a reputable contractor to want to perform the work at Community Park.
Regarding Miami Riverview Park, we hope to be able to add pickleball courts on the existing tennis court there. That work had to be delayed because the courts have shifted, and it is a much larger scope of work as we need to have a geotechnical engineer review the soil conditions under the courts that have shifted and caused very severe issues. We even had to have a drilling rig come on those courts to get core samples of the soil and rock underneath. After we have the appropriate solution for the correct permanent, we will have a construction company perform the necessary work to stabilize the ground under the courts. After the large fix and repaving and coating of the playing surfaces are done, we believe the court can be restriped to have a dual purpose for pickleball in addition to the existing tennis court, and possibly, basketball.
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People in Clermont County can text 911 for emergency help
This could be especially helpful for people with a language barrier, or hearing or speech impairment.
Clermont County, Ohio – People in Clermont County can now text 911 for emergency help. This could be especially helpful for people with a language barrier, or hearing or speech impairment. It also could help when a caller feels unsafe making a voice call due to a domestic situation, burglary in progress or prowler.
The Clermont County Department of Public Safety Services asks people with emergencies to call 911 if they can, but text 911 if they can’t.“We always prefer voice calls, but text-to-911 offers a helpful alternative when that may not be possible or work very well,” said Jessica Wiederhold, Director, Clermont County Department of Public Safety and Services. “We appreciate the support of the county commissioners in starting this new service.”
Text-to-911 was approved by the Board of County Commissioners in March. Testing began in April, with dispatchers responding to texts sent to 911 and texting back to 911 hang-up calls.
Clermont County is partnering with Agent511 for text-to-911 because it integrates into the RapidSOS Portal, which dispatchers use to pinpoint the location of callers. This gives dispatchers the ability to initiate an outbound text to a number at any time to assist if they are unable to communicate by voice. Dispatchers also can send a link via text that callers can click to share their exact location. They have the ability to send a mapping link to first responders to share the exact location of an emergency. Finally, language translation services are included to better assist non-English speaking callers and those with hearing/speech issues.
According to the County, Text-to-911 already has proven beneficial in these instances:
- A dispatcher assisted a younger caller via text whose mother was being physically abused by her boyfriend.
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A dispatcher was able to send an outbound text to a Spanish-speaking caller and ascertain what the problem was and get help to the caller’s family in another country.
*A dispatcher assisted a female via text who believed that someone was breaking into her house.
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Veteran’s Village planned for Clermont County
Batavia, Ohio – The Board Clermont County Board of Commissioners and Clermont Metropolitan Housing Authority (CMHA) have announced plans for a Veteran’s Village in Clermont County to address gaps in housing and services for veterans.
“We know of no other facility like this in the area,” said Bonnie Batchler, President, Board of County Commissioners. “We hope this will serve as an example for others around the county.”
The facility is to include 28 cottages/houses and a community center offering wrap-around services from the Veteran’s Administration (VA) for county veterans who are homeless or living in substandard housing. There will be 22 one-bedroom units and six two-bedroom units for individuals and families. They will range from 700 to 1,100 square feet. They will be fully furnished, with a washer/dryer, broadband access, patio areas and parking spots.
A community center will provide on-site clinical services to individuals who need them, on-site management to address issues that arise, a large gathering space, a kitchenette, and a computer/media area.
Some units will be subsidized, depending on income. Others will be based on “fair market” rent.
Plans call for the village to open in Franklin Township/Felicity in the spring of 2025.
On May 17, the Board of County Commissioners gave their support to a proposed Veteran’s Village in Felicity or Franklin Township, reserving $1 million in federal HUD HOME funds for the $4-million project. Commissioners also expressed the board’s support for a Clermont Metropolitan Housing Authority (CMHA) request for $400,000 from the 2024-2025 State of Ohio Budget for the project.
In Clermont County alone, there are 12,000 veterans, with more than 900 facing significant housing instability. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) estimates that veterans account for more than eight percent of all adults experiencing homelessness throughout the country.
There simply isn’t enough affordable housing – and, besides high costs, veterans can face barriers such as drug and alcohol history, PTSD, and inconsistent rental history. That’s on top of normal barriers to low-income families such as higher rents, a limited landlord pool, and inability to get utilities, transportation, and deposits.
Plans are being made to address these barriers. The Clermont County Veteran’s Administration has agreed to provide van services to veterans. Twenty-five percent of the units will be wheelchair accessible. Veterans will have the support of nearby VFW membership.
While the CMHA has an allotment of 40 HUD-VASH vouchers to offer veterans, it has been a struggle to fully utilize them. Nationwide the number of landlords willing to participate in the Housing Choice Voucher (HHCV) program is dwindling, and the number of landlords willing to accept an individual with a poor police background check or without consistent rental history is nearly impossible.
CMHA Executive Director Alicia Morlatt said plans originated from the mutual frustration shared by staff of the Veteran’s Administration and CMHA.
“Our veterans have served us,” Batchler said. “Now, it’s our turn to serve them.”
