News and Events from the Loveland, Ohio Area
Without fear or favor
Since 2004
Loveland, Ohio – The Loveland Bike Trail pedestrian bridge over O’Bannon Creek in Historic Downtown is scheduled to close next Sunday, October 1 through May 2024.
The bridge, just north of Nisbet Park, will be replaced by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources. There is no designated detour, but the trail will remain open both south and north of the closing.
by David Miller
Loveland, Ohio – “Loveland Legacy Foundation’s Dinner en Rouge continues to get bigger and better. We appreciate all those who participated and made it such a great event. The money we raised will go a long way to help our neighbors in need. As usual, we experienced outstanding support from the Loveland community. Time and time again it’s proven that Loveland is a special place,” said Sue Peterson the Chair of the 2023 Dinner en Rouge. “We are still putting together final receipts, but we will be somewhere between $20,000 and $21,000. A big jump from last year when we raised $13,600.”
The event was the Loveland Legacy Foundation’s Dinner en Rouge last Saturday at The Landing Event Center in Historic Downtown Loveland. It was, “An evening of fellowship, fundraising, and community!” Guests were invited to wear their best “Loveland red couture”, enjoy a fabulous meal, and dance.
For five years the Loveland Legacy Foundation has provided support to those in crisis, area organizations, and businesses in need with the mission to “Improve the community through an action-based culture, engaging with organizations sharing a common vision, connecting needs to solutions.”
In other words, to “Keep Our Communities STRONG”.
Twenty-four-year-old Loveland resident, Maddie Fedder was given special recognition for her contribution to the Dinner en Rouge and her personal fundraising to provide the complete companion dog training that is so absolutely necessary for Maddie’s health. Read more about Maddie and how you can help her.
This prize includes an Overnight stay at The Loveland Lofts, a couple’s massage at Loveland Massage Center, a bottle of sparkling wine with two crystal flutes, a box of chocolates from Loveland Sweets, $100 gift card for dinner at Tano’s Bistro, and $25 gift card for breakfast at Hometown Café.
A beautiful oak brown whiskey barrel containing a $250 gift card to Tony’s of Cincinnati plus an assortment of different bourbons including Wellers, Woodford, specialty bottle donated by Bishop’s Quarter, Angels Envy and several others. The barrel will also have all your bourbon accessories and a beautiful Loveland door hanger for your front door!
Enjoy a 3-Course Dinner for Eight, Prepared in Your Home, by Chef Tano; Wine included
(Date must be mutually agreed upon, 3 weeks in advance; “Blackout dates” the months of December and September 2024)
Enjoy dining at our popular Loveland restaurants with ‘High Value’ Gift Certificates to Rodi Italian, Paxton’s Grill, Ramsey’s Trailside, Bishop’s Quarter, The Works Brick Oven, The Wicked Pickle, Tahona Kitchen, and Tano’s Bistro.
This special selection by Alley Boutique includes three lovely 24K Gold and Austrian Crystal pieces, including a Bangle Bracelet with clear crystals, Earrings/Huggies with clear crystals, and adjustable Necklace with Sterling Petite Chain, Marmonde Bezel with Swarovski cabs, and Heart Medallion.
Private meal prepping class with Leah Moss, owner of All the Ingredients at The 1859 Historic Loveland Chapel. Learn about family meal prep and cooking, in this beautiful space. Each participant will prepare three meals and will learn tips and tricks to shop and cook more efficiently! Three hour class (Monday – Thursday); Available for six participants; Prepare three meals that serve four people; Expires September, 2024.
Raffle prizes were drawn at the Dinner en Rouge 2023 event.
Cee Cee Collins
Becky Giver
Martha Hadley
Jane Lee
Laura Padgett
Dan Peterson
Sue Peterson
Ann Schnure
Debby Walker
And our emcee Brian Garry
Stay informed about the upcoming events and LLF news.
![Ronald Carl Rolke passes at the age of 81 [Historical Photo Album Rolke Bros. Supply]](https://lovelandmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/ron-rolke-loveland-magazine.jpg)
Loveland, Ohio – Ron Rolke owned Rolke Bros Supply Co. in Historic Downtown Loveland for 31 years.
Ronald Carl Rolke, was the beloved husband of Barbara Rolke, devoted father of David Rolke, Russell (Lisa Rogers) Rolke, Christopher (Stephanie) Rolke , Cheryl (Jeff) Taylor, and Dennis Browning, loving grandfather of Ethan Rolke, Kaitlyn Rolke, Andrew Browning, Donald Browning, Meredith (Jason) Wakeland, Megan (David) Taylor-Tucker, Brittney Taylor, and Nicholas Browning, Great-grandfather to Raymond and Andrew Wakeland, Wesley, Jackson, Tanner Tucker, and Hunter Duty. Dear brother of Gene (Donna) Rolke.
Ronald graduated from Loveland High School in 1960, went on to study at Morehead University, and proudly served in the United States Airforce.
Ronald passed away on July 30, 2023 at the age of 81. Family will receive friends at the Bethel-Murdoch Presbyterian Church on Sunday, September 3rd from 2 PM until time of services beginning at 3 PM. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association.
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A note from Managing Editor David Miller:
“Ron graciously allowed me to spend some days at the store in the Spring of 2008 when I learned the store was going to close and probably be demolished. I asked him if I could explore from floor to ceiling and also the upper floor where I found the gears and belts of the machinery that ground grain, and decades of cobwebs. He also allowed me to take the photos you see of him waiting on his faithful customers. Below are the photos that have never been seen before and when the store contents were auctioned.”
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Ronald Rolke owned Rolke Bros Supply Co. in Historic Downtown Loveland for 31 years. The business was a fixture of Historic Downtown and was located where the Loveland Station parking lot is now.
Ron bought it from his father Henry Rolke. Son Chris told Loveland Magazine, “At Rolke Bros we sold pretty much anything, salt, plants, and seeds in the spring, food for birds, dogs, cats, horses, cows, etc. We sold straw and hay throughout the year as well as fencing and pet supplies. In the early years, we sold a lot of coal to individuals and even to Loveland schools to heat their buildings. At one point we even sold baby chickens.”
Chris added, “My grandfather bought the business in 1947 and my father ran it until 2008. I had done some searching and found references to the main building having existed in the 1880s. The business survived the infamous 1959 flood as well as a major fire in 1963.
The store was originally established in 1897 as J.P. Queenan’s Coal, Feed and Grist Mill. It provided several services and products, including grinding, corn meal, coal oil, axle grease, gasoline, and many farm and garden supplies. The next owner, in about 1910, was A.L. Eddingfield, followed by “Pappy” Cornett. Henry Rolke bought the business in 1947. The business remained in the same location by the railroad station and historic depot until it closed in 2008.
![[Video] Bill Kraimer & Mike Lieser perform at the Wicked Pickle on the Loveland Bike Trail](https://lovelandmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/bill-2.jpg)
Loveland, Ohio – On Thursday evening, Bill Kraimer was doing his waltz along the Loveland Bike Trail in Historic Downtown Loveland. The music from Mike Lieser performing at the Wicked Pickle caught his ear so he went on up and rollerdanced to a Lieser tune.
The very definition of impromptu.
Both artists regularly entertain downtown, however, this was the first time together. Mike lives in Lebanon and Bill lives in Mason.
This LOVELAND MAGAZINE TV video was published in August of last year when Bill and his wife Valerie were rollerdancing under the Town Clock.
Loveland, Ohio – Save the date for the Loveland Art Festival that takes place on September 2nd.
11 AM until 4 PM
![[Video] Paxton’s Grill golf outing gifts $85K to CancerFree Kids](https://lovelandmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/paxtons-Grill-loveland-magazine.jpg)
by David Miller
Loveland, Ohio – The Paxton’s Grill Golf Outing committee presented a check yesterday to CancerFree Kids for $85,000. The funds were raised during Paxton’s 18th Annual fundraiser on June 9th through 12th at both Hickory Woods Golf Course and the Oasis Golf Club.
Since the inception of this event more than 18 years ago, the golf outing has raised nearly $685,000.
Immediately after pausing for the check presentation, the committee got back to work planning their 2024 outing.
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Loveland, Ohio – Here are the photos and video we shot during last Tuesday’s parade from our vantage point around the Town Clock on West Loveland Avenue. The still photos were taken by reporter, Sean Behling.
Loveland, Ohio – Special events must provide additional accessible parking and restrooms based on the anticipated number of people who will attend. After our request, City Hall has provided Loveland Magazine with some information for persons with a disability who may need parking spots, accessible bathrooms, or shuttle service for the 4th of July event that will be held in Historic Downtown. Loveland Magazine has provided additional information.
• The accessible restrooms at the Loveland Bike Trail will be open at Nisbet Park.
• There will be accessible portable toilets placed along/near the Loveland Bike Trail in the Linda J. Cox Trailside Parking lot, near Browns Crossing, and near Harrison Avenue.
• For the downtown vicinity, there are existing accessible parking spots at Nisbet Park, the Firefighters’ Memorial, City Hall, and Linda J. Cox Trailside Parking lot.
• There will also be added, temporary accessible parking spots along the Loveland Bike Trail near Nisbet Park.
• The shuttle service to the festival is not accessible for persons with a disability.
According to the guidance of the ADA National Network, “Temporary events celebrate and support a “sense of community” and must encourage participation by all people.” (A Planning Guide for Making Temporary Events Accessible to People with Disabilities)
This Loveland Magazine file photo shows where a new surface lot is proposed. Visitors to Historic Downtown already use the semi-improved lot for parking. Much of the soil will be removed if a new lot is constructed. Previously an “Indian Mound” was thought to be at the site.
Loveland, Ohio – On May 9, City Manager Dave Kennedy proposed to City Council that a new surface parking lot be constructed on city-owned property located at 213 N. 2nd Street in Historic Downtown. The city previously planned for the construction of a two-storied downtown parking garage on the property. Approximately 275 new parking spaces were proposed on the parcel which the taxpayers purchased in 2019. The land is behind City Hall and adjacent to the Works Restaurant between First Street and S.R. 48.
The cost of the garage was estimated to be $6,292,627, which amounted to almost $23,000 per/vehicle.
In a May 9 memorandum to City Council, Kennedy said:
“Recognizing that there is not currently a viable outside funding source to reduce the amount of debt funding needed to construct the parking garage, and realizing the impact that the COVID pandemic has had on inflating construction costs, city staff is proposing that we pivot and utilize grant monies already awarded to the city, for construction of a surface parking lot in the same location as the proposed parking garage.”
Kennedy added, “If a surface parking lot is the desired direction of City Council, we anticipate being able to construct a lot, similar to the Linda J. Cox Trailside Parking Area with a minimum of 140 spaces.” The Linda J. Cox Trailside Parking Area near Eads Hardware and Loveland Canoe and Kayak has 125 spaces.
The surface lot would provide vehicular and pedestrian access to and from State Route 48 into the downtown business district, according to the City Manager.
In preparation for the eventual construction of either a garage or surface lot the City contracted with the firm Environment & Archaeology to complete both a Geophysical Survey and a Phase I Archaeological Survey in an effort to determine if “cultural resources” were on the land. Previously, an “Indian Mound” was thought to be at the site. The supposition was based on an 1848 map of Loveland. In his report, Kennedy said that archaeological survey determined that the possible Indian Mound consisted of fill dirt and not a “pre-contact cultural feature”. The archeological studies cost $40,020. (Questions arise about possible Native American remains and “Mound” at site of proposed Parking Garage in the Historic District)
To date, the city has received $900,000 in grant funding from the Ohio Capital Budget which is administered by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR), and $250,000 from the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC), a total of $1,150,000. ODNR receives $18,000 of the capital funding for project administration. This reduces the total available to the City to $1,132,000.
In April of 2022 resident Lauren Enda said at a council meeting that according to Loveland’s Director of Finance, Mark Medlar, Loveland taxpayers had already spent $980,000 on purchasing the site, demolition, and design engineering for the “multi-million dollar” proposed garage. Enda had advocated for residents to be given the chance to vote the proposed parking garage up or down at the ballot box.
Kennedy reported to Council, “Although the estimated cost for construction of the surface lot will not be known until the design process is completed, the project engineer feels that a surface parking lot and underground detention can be constructed with the existing grant funding. To assure there is adequate funding to complete the project with maximum parking space and acknowledging that construction will extend into 2024, city staff recommends earmarking all FY2024 Downtown TIF revenue towards project costs which may exceed the grant funding. Utilizing Downtown TIF dollars towards the surface lot is a proper use of these funds as they are directly generated by private investment into the downtown district.”
The report recommended that all parking be free of charge.
The total cost of the engineering and design proposal is estimated to be $51,500. Kennedy said the project would be completed by May of 2024.
A resolution was introduced authorizing the City Manager to execute an agreement with McGill Smith Punshon Design for design and engineering services related to the construction of the downtown surface parking lot. All Council members approved moving forward with the revised plan.
Promoted Post
Loveland, Ohio – Mark your calendars for the Third Thursday Summer Concert presented by the Little Miami River Chamber Alliance. Thanks to our presenting sponsor, BF Realty, Brittney Frietch Team for helping make these summer concerts happen! All concerts are free to attend and bands will perform on the patio of Hometown Cafe.
Tonight Mothman will be on the Hometown Cafe patio adjacent to the Loveland Bike Trail in Historic Downtown Loveland.
