Loveland, Ohio – The Loveland City School District hosted a virtual meeting today to share the reopening plans for the 2020-2021 school year for students in grades PK-6.
Superintendent, Dr. Amy Crouse, Loveland Early Childhood Center Principal Jesse Kohls, Loveland Primary School Principal Kevin Fancher, Garth Carlier the Principal of Loveland Intermediate School, and Andrea Conner Assistant Superintendent of Teaching and Learning spoke during the meeting.
Yesterday the District hosted a similar virtual meeting for grades 7-12 and you view that meeting HERE.
Superintendent, Dr. Amy Crouse, High School Principal Peggy Johnson, Middle School Principal David Knapp, and Andrea Conner Assistant Superintendent of Teaching and Learning spoke during the meeting.
Tomorrow they will host the same style virtual meeting for grades PK-6. You can watch tomorrow’s meeting on YouTube HERE. The meeting will be “live” between 11:30 AM and 1 PM. Thursday’s meeting will stream at https://youtu.be/-0z4eb_teFU.
Williamsburg, Ohio – Clermont County has taken another step in its effort to lessen harmful algal blooms (HABs) at Harsha Lake: Designing a system to capture storm water rich with fertilizer nutrients that feed the blooms.
The Board of County Commissioners on July 18 approved a two-year, $42,400 contract with Sustainable Streams of Louisville to design a passive wetland system in Williamsburg for Harsha Lake source water protection.
Boating on Harsh Lake
According to the Centers for Disease Control, HABs are the rapid growth of cyanobacteria that can cause harm to animals, people, and the local ecology. A HAB can look like foam, scum, or mats on the surface of the water and can be different colors. Particularly large HABs can result in beach closures and prevent recreational use.
Hannah Lubbers, Director, Clermont County Office of Environmental Quality (Photo Provided)
“Wetlands have a natural ability to remove nutrients from surface water,” said Hannah Lubbers, Director, Clermont County Office of Environmental Quality. “Our study of a small scale constructed wetland in Jackson Township indicated they can be a cost effective method of reducing nutrient pollution.”
Installation of wetlands, in combination with other agricultural and urban best management practices (BMPs), is part of the sourcewater and watershed protection programs being implemented by the East Fork Water Quality Cooperative (EFWC).
Partners of the cooperative, including Clermont Soil and Water Conservation District, the County Commissioners, and the USEPA, aggressively pursue grant funding to improve local water quality and to date have directed over $2.25-million dollars to the watershed, including $215,500 set aside for construction of the wetland in Williamsburg. The EFWC partners also combine agency resources and technical services to advance watershed efforts.
“Harsha Lake is a valuable resource for county residents and we are working hard to preserve that resource,” Lubbers said. “The Williamsburg project will provide invaluable water quality data and information to aid watershed efforts across the region and Ohio.”
About William H. Harsha Lake
Located on the East Fork of the Little Miami River in central Clermont County, William H. Harsha Lake and East Fork State Park offer outstanding boating, hiking, hunting, fishing, camping and other outdoor recreation activities. William H. Harsha Lake is a multipurpose project for flood reduction, water supply, recreation, and wildlife habitat. Originally called East Fork Lake, the dam and lake were renamed in 1981 to honor retired congressman William H. Harsha. Mr. Harsha was elected to Congress in 1960 and served until his retirement in 1981. He was instrumental in getting the funding appropriated to construct the project. MORE
Join us next week on July 30 for this powerful panel of business leaders who pivoted to make smart and impactful business decisions during the height of the pandemic shutdown.
A Panel Discussion from Regional Business Leaders who took bold steps to pivot during the beginning of the pandemic.
Coronavirus has made it critical for businesses to shift their business models and get creative. See how these regional business leaders pivoted their business to increase profits, impact their communities, and continue to see the benefits of those decisions.
Panel Facilitated by Jack Peters, Executive Director of Advisor Development, Horter Investment Management.
Please note that masks and social distancing are required at this event.
Panel sponsored by FocusCFO and LMRCA. Drink ticket and giveaways included.
Meet the Panelists:
David Kennedy
David has been the Loveland City Manager for six years, after serving as the Village Administrator of New Richmond Ohio for twenty five years. His education includes a Bachelor Degree in Urban Planning form Miami University (Oxford) and a Master’s Degree in Community Planning from the University of Cincinnati. He was born and raised on the west side of Cincinnati and has been married to Mary Jo for 30 years. They have two Children, Anna and Jacob.
Patrick Thompson
Nurtur Salon began in 2006 at their current Lane Avenue location with less than 15 employees and a dream. Patrick Thompson, owner of Nurtur Salon as well as several Aveda Institutes (most notably Aveda Institute of Columbus) had a vision to deliver an unparalleled experience in a comfortable, non-judgmental environment. Nurtur Salon still strives (and excels) at this cultural mission to this day, even with three salon locations and 100 employees. In 2012 Nurtur expanded from their original Upper Arlington location into a second location in the Grandview community with enormous success. In October 2015, Nurtur expanded into a third location in the Brewery District. In addition to this growth, Nurtur is proud to celebrate its tenth consecutive years as one of Salon Today Magazine’s Top 200 Salons. This speaks to their dedication to Nurtur’s team, guests, and community. With business growing at all their locations and their reputation in the beauty industry going strong, Nurtur has set their sights on a goal to open more salons in Columbus!
Pete DeLois
Pete DeLois is a family man through and through. When he opened Recreations Outlet in 1989, it was with the intention of bringing joy to the families in his community. For the past 30 years, Pete and his team at Rec Outlet have been hard at working building fun all over Ohio and the surrounding areas. By specializing in only the highest quality wooden swing sets, top of the line basketball goals, and the safest trampolines on the market, customers know they can trust the expertise of the Rec Outlet team.
Pete graduated from Kent State University in 1983 with a degree in Criminal Justice. Prior to opening Recreations Outlet, he owned Invisible Fence of Cincinnati and Columbus from 1983 to 1995. He loves baseball, racquetball, and all things food, but his passion will always be for his family.
Here is how the Great Oaks campuses will open in the Fall.
Please note: The following information applies only to high school students at Great Oaks campuses.
Our community, and the world, continues to adapt to the ongoing pandemic. In all that we do at Great Oaks, the safety and health of our students, staff and visitors is our highest priority. Whenever students, staff and visitors are together in a Great Oaks building, we expect that social distancing (at a minimum of 6 feet) is practiced, face coverings will be worn by all, and the buildings and equipment will be frequently cleaned and sanitized. We also encourage such healthy personal habits as regular hand-washing.
The following information reflects the most recent planning; information can change if circumstances change.
Update July 20, 2020
Academic classes will be held online
In order to maximize the amount of hands-on, career-technical education available to students, all in-person classes will be in the career lab with the career-technical instructor. English, mathematics, social studies, and science classes will be held remotely. Students will spend all day two days per week in their career-technical program.
As part of this schedule, students will have time to meet individually with academic instructors while on campus, which will support their online learning. It also means that the same group of students will stay in the same room—their career lab—for the full day, reducing the number of times per day needed to sanitize rooms as we would if students changed classes for multiple periods daily.
Students will attend the campus on Mondays and Thursdays as part of the A group, or Tuesdays and Fridays as part of the B group. During the remaining three days, students will work remotely on academic work and other homework, with Wednesday set aside for one-on-one remote assistance.
This schedule will run for the first quarter, until October 16.
On whether schools will open on the date planned, Dr. Crouse said,
“It’s sort of a dance there on whether we will be able to do that fully at first or whether we have to roll into that.”
Loveland, Ohio – With a unanimous vote this afternoon in a Special Meeting the Loveland School Board gave authorization to the administration to sign a proposal from LJB Inc. for “Pandemic Preparedness and Planning” services.
LJB will provide the services for a “lump sum fee” of $66,250.
The “terms of the contract” were not available for the Board and after questions from Eileen Washburn about them, Superindent Dr. Amy Crouse said she did not understand the question. After further discussion by Washburn who asked about a cancellation clause and other things in a typical contract, Board President Dr. Kathy Lorenz pointed them to a sentence in the proposal that said, “A formal professional services agreement will be sent for your review and signature upon receipt of this Authorization.”
Kevin Dougherty said it would be standard to negotiate terms. Crouse said she doesn’t currently have it, “But I can provide that to you.”
Dr. Crouse said that after the first week of the study, which will be of the Elementary School, there may be a need to have further discussion about whether classes can begin as scheduled.
The complete study will take four weeks and will begin on Monday, July 27.
At a previous Special Meeting on Wednesday, July 15, with a unanimous vote, the Loveland Board of Education approved a reopening plan for the Loveland City School District for the 2020-2021 school year. Preschool, kindergarten, and 1st through 12th grades will attend 5 days per week at “full capacity” (no “all-day” kindergarten) with the option of choosing to attend school online.
The first day of instruction for all students is scheduled to be Wednesday, August 26.
Michele Pettit asked if after the study of the Elementary building was complete would the opening of instruction go as planned or would there have to be a delay.
Crouse answered, “It’s sort of a dance there on whether we will be able to do that fully at first or whether we have to roll into that.”
Crouse also talked about the unknowns of COVID 19 spread in the community.
Crouse told the Board that it is likely that there will be times throughout the year that they will not be able to provide in-person learning, and the study will provide guidance for that.
Loveland Magazine will up-date this story when the “Terms” of the contract are known.
News for individuals, schools, businesses, and institutions
Columbus, Ohio – Ohio Governor Mike DeWine announced that the following order has been signed today by Ohio Department of Health Interim Director Lance Himes: Director’s Order Statewide facial coverings 07.23.20
Two signs erected by citizens opposed to re-zoning adjacent to their homes on St. Route 48 in North Loveland
Loveland, Ohio – A 28-unit condo project Zicka Homes hopes to build on St. Rt. 48 will now go before City Council after a 3 to 2 split-decision from the Planning and Zoning Commission Tuesday night.
Chairman Al Kressler, Vice-Chair Mark Redmond, and Brian O’Neill voted in favor of the re-zoning.
Michael Kady, and Tim Butler voted, “No”. Butler is the City Council representative on the Commission.
The applicant is requesting a re-zoning of 5.529 acres of vacant land from the current zoning of Residential–Medium Density to Residential–Multi-Family. The proposed development is south of the Sentry Hill subdivision on North Second Street (St. Rt. 48).
Tuesday’s vote came after a public meeting that was held on June 24 and the discussion was tabled until the Commission could seek legal advice inquiring if what they wanted to do was legal. They wanted to know if they approved rezoning the property whether they could add a stipulation that the zone change would be null if Zicka did not begin construction after a certain period of time.
They received the go-ahead in a memo from the Assistant City Manager written on July 21 that said, “Should the Commission grant the rezone request, the Commission can place a restriction that says the zone change would expire if construction on a project did not commence within a specific time frame/date. A restriction can also be made that the zone change is specific to the applicant and cannot be transferred to another applicant or third-party. In case the applicant did not meet these criteria, the zone change would automatically revert to the initial zoning of R-MD.”
Residents pointed out to the Commission that although Zicka intends to build attached condominiums if they back away like they did previously with a proposal to build single-family homes on the site, apartments could go on the re-zoned land.
It is not clear at press time the exact language the Commission adopted but resident David Stanton said it was for 18-months.
You can watch the interview David Miller conducted with Stanten after the vote on Tuesday.
The zoning map change will now go before City Council. They will hold another public meeting, where they can vote to affirm the recommendation, reject it, or modify it.
Any ordinance council passes becomes law within 30 days unless passed as emergency legislation. A change to Loveland’s zoning map is always subject to a citizen-led referendum petition drive if enough signatures can be collected.
In the LOVELAND MAGAZINE TV videos below, you can watch residents speaking against the rezoning at the public hearing on June 24, and the applicant making his case.
Two additional people spoke against the development, Andy Friesner and Maria Mausarella.
No residents spoke in favor of the re-zoning during the public hearing.
You can see the entire proposal that the Commission debated here: Blossom Hill Project.
Stanton told Loveland Magazine that he is disappointed in the vote and that the Commission did not follow the standards for zoning map amendments. “The City is not listening to its citizens and not following the rules that they have adopted for making a zoning change.” He said that he can find no support in the community for the development. During the Public Hearing on June 24 Stanton presented the Commission a statement against the re-zoning with 90 signatures.
Clermont County, Ohio – Clermont County residents can help preserve history by contributing their thoughts in writing and other remembrances to a COVID-19 pandemic time capsule. The project is co-sponsored by the Board of County Commissioners and the Coalition for a Drug-Free Clermont County.
The time capsule will be placed in Municipal Court during a ceremony later this year.
“We’ve been impressed at how Clermont County residents have come together during this extremely challenging period in our history,” Commissioner Claire Corcoran said. “We will honor their efforts with this special time capsule. We want people in the future to better understand the difficulties that people faced, and how they worked to overcome them.”
Mary Wolff, director of the Coalition for a Drug-Free Clermont County, added: “We’re very excited to have the community join us in this positive endeavor, helping preserve history for future Clermont County residents. I can’t wait to see what people provide for the time capsule.”
The time capsule will be placed in Municipal Court during a ceremony later this year with representatives from County Government and the Coalition for a Drug-Free Clermont County. Plans call for opening the capsule in 10 years.
You can help preserve this time in history by submitting photos and writeups via email to mboehmer@clermontcountyohio.gov. Clermont County residents also may mail items to COVID-19 Time Capsule, 101 East Main St. 3rd Floor, Batavia, OH 45103.
Here are some prompts the County provided to help those wanting to submit something in writing:
What does the COVID-19 pandemic mean to you?
What are you excited about?
What are you nervous about?
In unanimous vote Loveland Board of Education approves reopening plan
Join us next week on July 30 for this powerful panel of business leaders who pivoted to make smart and impactful business decisions during the height of the pandemic shutdown.
![[VIDEOS] Re-zoning for 28-Unit condo project passes Planing Commission muster](https://lovelandmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/no-re-zonning.jpg)
