Loveland, Ohio – Loveland City School District has canceled all classes tomorrow, Thursday, February 3.
Winter Storm Warning
A Winter Storm Warning has been issued from February 2 at 3:56 PM EST until February 4 at 7:00 AM EST by NWS Wilmington OH.
WHAT…Heavy mixed precipitation is expected. Total snow and sleet accumulations of 1 to 3 inches and ice accumulations of one-tenth to three-tenths of an inch. Winds gusting as high as 35mph.
WHERE…Portions of Southeast Indiana and Central and Southwest Ohio.
WHEN…From midnight tonight to 7 AM EST Friday.* IMPACTS…Power outages and tree damage are likely due to the ice. Travel could be nearly impossible. Patchy blowing snow could significantly reduce visibility. The hazardous conditions could impact the morning or evening commute.
ADDITIONALDETAILS…Wind chills will likely fall below zero degrees Friday night into Saturday morning.
Loveland, Ohio – Are you ready to see the Cincinnati Bengals make Superbowl history? Our beloved city sure knows how to celebrate a Bengals victory, so we thought what better way to prepare for the Superbowl than for YOU to “Show Us Your Stripes!”
The Bengals will challenge the Los Angeles Rams for the Superbowl LVI title at the SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, California on Sunday, February 13th at 6:30 p.m.
The Cincinnati Bengals have their eyes set on the Superbowl title for the first time since 1988 when they took on the San Francisco 49ers and lost 20-16. The Bengals have still yet to win a Superbowl but are confident that this year will be a great opportunity to win it for the first time in franchise history.
After the Bengals legendary AFC Championship win last Sunday, we knew that we wanted to celebrate and show our support for Cincinnati with the community leading up to the Superbowl. What better way to get our readers excited for the game than to showcase the city in their finest Bengals attire! We want YOU to “Show Us Your Stripes!”
From now until the day after the Superbowl we will be accepting photos of Bengals fans everywhere dressed in their Bengals gear! Photo entries can display where you have celebrated Bengals victories this year including decorations or can be as simple as a photo of you, your friends, and family cheering the Bengals on to victory. We especially want to see your black and orange decor if you have hosted a Bengals party or went somewhere to watch the game that had great decorations. You may also send in any “dressed for Bengals success” pet photos! The sky is the limit with any photos you decide to send in as we want to see some creativity and some Tiger style! If you are a business owner and you decorated your storefront or had your employees dress up in Bengals gear, we would love to see those photos as well!
Once we start receiving photo entries we will publish a couple of photos per day on our Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram for all of the community to enjoy! The following week after the Superbowl we will publish a photo album that will include all of the photo entries we received including photos taken on Superbowl Sunday. All photo entries should be emailed to Cassie Mattia and should include the following details:
The names of everyone in the photo including where they are from.
Where and when the photo was taken.
How long you have been a Bengals fan.
Any favorite local spots that you enjoy watching Bengals games…even if it is at home!
We will be taking photo entries until Monday, February 14th.
Loveland Magazine Co-Owner and local Katie Moertle celebrating the Bengals at Eli Sports Bar & Grill!
Loveland Magazine Co-Owner Cassie Mattia’s dog Dean dressed up as a Tiger for the Bengals game!
Brody Bussa, an 8-year-old 3rd gen. Bengals fan from Milford, Ohio! Brody is dressed for “Joe BRRRRR-ow Day!””
Parker Mayhall, an 8-year-old Boyd E Smith Elementary School student ready for “Joe Burrow Day!” Parker is sporting his faux JB9 Chain but hopes to own a real one someday!
Archie Ungerbuehler, an 8-year-old die hard Joe Burrow fan from Milford, Ohio sporting his Bengals gear on “Joe Burrow Day” at McCormick Elementary!
We are so excited to feature the Bengals’ support throughout the community and can’t wait to see some incredible WHO DEY photos! Stay tuned to our Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram to see the first round of “Show Us Your Stripes” photos!
Curious as to where you can watch Superbowl LVI? The game will be broadcasted on NBC as well as streamed on Peacock, the NBC Sports app, and NBC Sports.com.
For your latest local sports updates stay tuned to the Loveland Salad With ME, Cassie Mattia!
As we start the new year, parents are planning for the future and working hard to provide their kids a great quality of life. They’re facing challenges head on, including a surging pandemic, school closures and at-home schooling, and fewer affordable child care options.
No child should go to bed hungry, and no parent should worry about keeping a roof over their head. But many of the same politicians who refuse to make the wealthy and corporations pay their fair share have failed to prioritize the stability, economic security, and dignity of children and families.
The latest census data show an estimated 811,000 adults in Ohio didn’t have enough food to eat in the last week. An estimated 2.4 million adults had difficulty paying for usual household expenses in the last seven days. On top of that, Jan. 15 was the first time over 1.2 million families in Ohio didn’t get the monthly child tax credit payment since July 2021, because the Senate didn’t pass the Build Back Better legislation before the end of last year.
The monthly payments provided many Ohio families relief from stress by helping them pay for the basics such as food, rent, clothing, phone, internet, and educational expenses. It helped more families get enough to eat and fewer adults with children reported having trouble paying for basic household expenses.
The child tax credit helped Sophia Whitehouse, from central Ohio, start her own business providing mental health services to children. Before the child tax credit, it was nearly impossible to balance her work and care for her children.
“The child tax credit has been a tremendous help paying for preschool and child care for my two kids under 5,” Ms. Whitehouse said. She said that losing the credit means she will have to sacrifice time dedicated to serving the community’s mental health needs, which will hurt her family’s income. “I will not be able to work as much, because I won’t have child care,” she said.
Jason Carter and his wife live in Cincinnati. They had a baby girl at the end of July 2020. The monthly child tax credit payments provided a sense of peace for Mr. Carter and his wife because it was a chunk of money they didn’t have to stress about every month. “It helps us to survive, to plan and have hope for an improved quality of life in the future,” he said.
Along with thousands of other Ohioans, Carter was laid off during the pandemic. He found a new job, but said it pays half as much. The child tax credit helped the Carters make up the difference. Now that payments have stopped, Mr. Carter said they could be forced to put some of their plans on hold, such as buying a new home.
“This is a dream my wife and I have talked about for years, he said. “Now that we have our baby girl, we want to provide a home for her to grow up in, have a yard for her to run around in, to be happy, and to invest in ourselves. Without the child tax credit, the future we have dreamed about doesn’t seem as solid. It’s something that worries us. We’ve been working so hard to improve our quality of life. Now they throw another roadblock at us. How am I supposed to achieve the American dream?”
By letting 2021 end without passing the Build Back Better Act, certain Senators have pulled the rug out from under the Whitehouse family, the Carters, and millions of families across the country. Just as parents are facing increasing heating and food costs, they are losing the monthly child tax credit, which has provided Ohio families with an average of $442 a month since July of last year.
Source: U.S. Department of Treasury, “Advance Child Tax Credit Payments Disbursed each Month, by State,” accessed on January 10, July, August, September, October, November, and December https://bit.ly/2XGh9Gv
The Senate must deliver for families. They must pass Build Back Better and make sure the expanded child tax credit is included in the legislation. Until they do, families will miss out on monthly tax credit payments that made a real difference in their lives.
For Mr. Carter, Ms. Whitehouse, and millions of other parents and families across Ohio and the nation, there’s so much at stake. This is about security, opportunity, and parents’ dreams for the future. Our nation has the resources to provide stability and security for all families, but we now need the political will.
WASHINGTON — Pfizer and BioNTech on Tuesday asked the federal government to begin the approval process for a two-dose COVID-19 vaccine for children under 5.
The companies said in a joint statement they began the rolling submission process for an emergency use authorization at the request of the Food and Drug Administration “in response to the urgent public health need in this population.”
While the approval process is underway for the two-dose regimen, the company will continue researching a third dose that would likely be given at least eight weeks after a child receives the second dose.
Pfizer Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Albert Bourla said in the statement that increasing infections and hospitalizations of young children led the two companies to begin the approval process.
“As hospitalizations of children under 5 due to COVID-19 have soared, our mutual goal with the FDA is to prepare for future variant surges and provide parents with an option to help protect their children from this virus,” Bourla said.
“Ultimately, we believe that three doses of the vaccine will be needed for children 6 months through 4 years of age to achieve high levels of protection against current and potential future variants.”
Bourla said that if the FDA authorizes the two doses, that would allow parents to begin vaccinating their young children while waiting on approval of a third dose.
The submission announcement on Tuesday comes sooner than previously expected.
In mid-December, Pfizer and BioNTech announced they were modifying their trial to include a third dose of the vaccine for children between 2 and 4 years old after the two-dose approach didn’t lead to the type of immune response researchers sought. The trial did, however, produce the levels desired in children between six months and 2 years old.
The company said at the time that if the three-dose trial was successful, it would likely submit its emergency use request to the federal government in the first half of 2022.
Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, then said last week that parents needed to be patient in waiting for approval of the vaccine for younger children.
“I don’t think we can predict when we will see an [emergency use authorization] with that because the company is still putting the data before the FDA,” Fauci said during a White House briefing on the pandemic.
A poll released Tuesday by the Kaiser Family Foundation indicated about 31 percent of parents would get their small children vaccinated immediately.
Another 29 percent said they would wait and see while 12 percent said only if required and 26 percent of respondents said they definitely would not give their young child the vaccine.
Loveland, Ohio – Superintendent Mike Broadwater has announced through a school newsletter that he has closed Loveland Schools on Monday, February 14, the day after Super Bowl Sunday.
Loveland, Ohio – The Loveland Bike Trail over the past couple of years has welcomed many new local businesses, some offering quality beverages, some offering a unique dine-in experience, and some offering fresh homemade cuisine. One business in particular that sits right off the bike trail tucked right next to Narrow Path Brewing Company has managed to combine quality beverages, a unique dine-in experience, and fresh homemade food all under one roof. Introducing Hometown Cafe, a little slice of paradise in the heart of Historic Downtown Loveland!
Hometown Cafe made its debut into the Loveland community after Owner Jimmy Hooper bought the business, formerly known as “Fresh Press,” from his brother-in-law. Hooper already had an extensive culinary background as well as a catering business called “Loveland Catering” so he felt that having a brick and mortar would mesh well with his passion for creating aesthetically pleasing healthy food. Hooper, who grew up in Symmes Township, knew after having kids that he wanted to raise his family with his wife in the same city he fell in love with so he thought what better way to serve the community he loves than having fresh nutritious food readily available every day!
Hometown Cafe offers a simple yet delicious selection of food, beverages, and goods from local vendors across the city. From Deeper Roots coffee, lattes, and hot chocolate, to real fruit, and veggie smoothies, and fresh-pressed juice, to made-to-order breakfast sandwiches, homemade soups, salads, and wraps, Hometown Cafe has it all! Did I mention Hometown also has a bakery filled with muffins, croissants, bagels, and danishes, to name a few and a “local market” where small local businesses can sell their homemade delicacies such as honey, granola, jam, and energy bites?
I have been a part of the Loveland community and Loveland Magazine now for nearly 5 years so I have had the honor of seeing new businesses establish themselves, local events thrive, and the community coming together to give back. This is one of the biggest reasons, other than I LOVE food and food culture, as to why I wanted Hometown Cafe to be my next Cassie the Food Guru adventure! Hometown Cafe has not only impacted the community by providing quality nutritious food and beverages, but by also giving back time and time again. Whether they are getting involved in Loveland’s events or introducing local artists, vendors, and food trucks to the community, Hometown Cafe loves helping the community!
So without further ado, I bring to you, a Loveland Magazine TV interview production, Cassie the Food Guru Stops by Hometown Cafe!
Hometown Cafe Fun Facts:
Located at 111 Railroad Ave, Loveland, Ohio, 45140
Open from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. every day
Breakfast is served from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. during the week and on the weekends breakfast is served until 3 p.m.
Lunch is always in the cooler. The cooler includes homemade soups, salads, wraps, and “kids boxes.”
Cold-Pressed Juice is made “in-house with a hydraulic press that exerts 10 tons of pressure on the fresh produce to extract the juice. Since the juice is exposed to minimal heat and air, it retains more vitamins, minerals, and enzymes from the whole fruit/vegetable than traditional centrifugal juicing methods.”
Local artists’ artwork is on display for sale inside the cafe.
You may book Hometown Cafe for your next event!
Friday, Saturday, or Sunday evenings is $250.
Monday through Thursday evenings is $200.
Rental is available from 4 p.m. to 11 p.m.
Seats up to 25 on the 1st floor and 32 on the patio.
The upstairs meeting room is $25 per hour.
Available for rent 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily.
The rental fee is waived if you spend the same amount in the cafe during your event!
Catering is available through Jimmy’s “Loveland Catering.”
$500 on the weekends.
$400 on the weekdays.
If you spend twice the event rental fee in catering and the rental fee is waived!
You can rent Hometown Cafe’s kitchen for $35 per hour or if you take advantage of the kitchen membership it is $20 per hour.
Hometown Cafe offers merchandise through “My State Threads Apparel.”
If you would like to set a page up for your business Hometown will give you a unique URL and $10 from every piece of merchandise sold will go towards your business.
Items we recommend you try when you stop by Hometown Cafe:
The Cozy Bowl
The One With No Meat
The Toast
The B.E.A.S.T
Frogman Smoothie
Tropical Majik Smoothie
Kale Force Cold-Pressed Juice
Charcoal Lemonade Cold-Pressed Juice
The Ginger Shot
A specialty latte or hot chocolate
Sweet Potato Chips
Energy Bites
An Everything Bagel
Any of the local market items made by local small businesses!
Be sure to stay informed on all the fun and delicious things Hometown Cafe has going on by visiting their website, Facebook, or Instagram!
For more interviews and stories on local food culture, stay tuned to Cassie the Food Guru!
The House of Joy is an iconic structure at Grailville (Loveland Magazine file photo)
by David Miller
Loveland, Ohio – The proposed development of the Grailville site by the Drees Company includes 74 patio homes and 135 traditional-style homes totaling 209 lots. The final acreage of the Grailville site on O’Bannon Road was annexed into the City of Loveland on January 11. The land is situated between O’Bannonville Road and State Route 48 in Clermont County. Fourteen acres were already located within the city’s corporate limits. Both parcels, in total consist of approximately 111 acres.
The Drees Company has submitted a concept plan to the Planning and Zoning Commission for changing the zoning to a Special Planning District.
City staff has recommended that the Commission hold a public hearing on the proposal on March 1.
The Commission will meet on February 1 with the Drees application on their agenda.
Right-Click these images to open in a new window or tab to view larger.
Loveland, Ohio – What better way to celebrate love than by attending the annual Valentine’s Day breakfast! This honorary event will pay homage to the “Sweetheart of Ohio” and the community’s most loved individuals!
On Friday, February 11th from 8:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. the Little Miami River Chamber Alliance (LMRCA) will be hosting the 2022 Valentine’s Day breakfast at the Oasis Conference Center. While enjoying a beautiful hot breakfast the LMRCA will be presenting to you the 2022 Valentine Lady, the Valentine Card Designer, the Poetry Contest Winners, and the Valentino Coloring Contest Winner. In addition to all the heartfelt fun, there will also be special entertainment! The cost for the event is $30. Platinum Chamber Members will be able to enjoy the Valentine’s Day breakfast for free. Sign up for the 2022 Valentine’s Day breakfast here.
Jeannie Shumaker, the 2022 Valentine Lady, and Valentine’s Day Card designer Nancy Sullivan.
Be sure to purchase your 2022 Valentine’s Day Cards designed by Nancy Sullivan from the LMRCA Office (113 Karl Brown Way 2nd floor), your favorite Valentine Lady, or any of the following local businesses:
Valentine’s Day Cards are $1.50 each or you can purchase 4 for $5.
Get Your Valentine’s Day Cards Stamped by the Valentine Ladies at the Loveland Post Office!
Once you grab your Valentine’s Day Cards stop by the Loveland Post office anytime between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. beginning on January 31st to get your cards officially stamped by the Loveland Valentine Ladies! Stamping will be available until February 12th.
If you have any additional questions about the 2022 Valentine’s Day breakfast contact the LMRCA at 513-686-1544.
Valentine’s Day Card designer Nancy Sullivan
For more local event updates stay tuned to the Loveland Salad With ME, Cassie Mattia!
Kickoff: 3 p.m. Eastern. Television: The game will air nationally on CBS-TV. In the Bengals’ home region, it will be carried by WKRC-TV (Ch. 12) in Cincinnati, WHIO-TV (Ch. 7) in Dayton and on WKYT-TV (Ch. 27) in Lexington. Broadcasters are play-by-play announcer Jim Nantz and analyst Tony Romo, with sideline reporters Tracy Wolfson, Evan Washburn and Jay Feely.
Radio: The game will air on the Bengals Radio Network, led by Cincinnati flagship stations WLW-AM (700), WCKY-AM (ESPN 1530; all sports) and WEBN-FM (102.7). Broadcasters are Dan Hoard (play-by-play) and Dave Lapham (analyst).
The game also will air nationally on Westwood One Radio. Broadcasters are Ian Eagle (play-by-play), Tony Boselli (analyst) and Ross Tucker (sideline reporter).
Setting the scene: The Bengals on Sunday travel to Arrowhead Stadium to take on the two-time defending AFC-champion Kansas City Chiefs, in what will be Cincinnati’s third-ever appearance in an AFC Championship Game. Cincinnati won both of its previous AFC Championship appearances — vs. San Diego in the 1981 season, and vs. Buffalo in the 1988 season.
The Bengals earned their spot in the NFL’s final four in thrilling fashion on Saturday, when rookie K Evan McPherson nailed a 52-yard FG as time expired in the Divisional Playoff to give Cincinnati a 19-16 win over top-seeded Tennessee.
“It feels great,” said Bengals head coach Zac Taylor. “This is the expectation for these guys — it’s not too big for them.
“I know we haven’t been here before, but it sure feels like we have. You see the attitude of the team and the confidence that they have, that we’re going to find a way to win. You just can’t replace the confidence that these guys have earned in themselves.”
The contest began in what turned out to be fitting fashion — with a key defensive play that swung the game’s momentum. On the very first play from scrimmage, Titans QB Ryan Tannehill faked a handoff to star RB Derrick Henry, who was playing for the first time since Halloween (foot injury), and then fired a pass over the middle that was intercepted by Bengals S Jessie Bates.
“They were in a ‘pass-alert’ formation that we talked about all week,” Bates said. “Honestly, Tannehill just stared it down, and I knew exactly what was going on. We talked about coming out fast with a sense of urgency, and it couldn’t have worked out any better.
The Bengals took over possession at the Titans’ 42-yard line, however the offense managed just a FG. Cincinnati went on to add two more FGs in a first half dominated by defense, and took a 9-6 lead into the locker room.
The Bengals received the opening kickoff of the second half and quickly jumped ahead 16-6, thanks to a nine-play, 65-yard drive that HB Joe Mixon capped with a 16-yard TD run. The Bengals have now come away with points on their first offensive drive of the second half in 14 of 19 games this season (six TDs, eight FGs). During the regular season, Cincinnati’s 56 combined points on the first possession of the second half were second-most in the NFL.
“We called ‘stretch right,’ and all of a sudden the linebackers and safety were flowing hard over the top,” Mixon said. “I put my toe in the ground, then I put my toe in the ground again, and I just (saw) the backside was like open like the Red Sea. I was fortunate enough to find daylight, and everything worked out.”
On the ensuing possession, Tennessee turned to its fifth-ranked rushing attack and marched 66 yards on just four runs to reach Cincinnati’s nine-yard line. But on the fifth play of the drive, Bengals nickel CB Mike Hilton batted a screen pass from Tannehill into the air and came down with an INT.
“We had a lot of jokes about Mike getting caught after that pick,” Bates said with a laugh. Hilton returned the INT 19 yards before being caught by Tannehill.
“We were trying to line up the order of who had the worst returns this year, and I think Mike’s pretty much at the top of that list right now (laughs). But he made a hell of a play. You jump in the air and you track the ball — I think he was almost maxed out at that point, so we can’t complain too much about that.”
After a Bengals punt, the Titans again marched downfield but mustered only a 34-yard FG that cut the margin to seven points. On the ensuing possession, a pass from QB Joe Burrow bounced off the hands of HB Samaje Perine and into the grasp of Titans S Amani Hooker. The INT was Burrow’s first since Week 13 against the L.A. Chargers, and broke a string of 209 consecutive passes (regular season plus playoffs) without a pick — the second-longest such streak in team history.
Tennessee took over possession on Cincinnati’s 27-yard line, and two plays later Tannehill found WR A.J. Brown for a 33-yard TD that knotted the game at 16. Entering the game, Cincinnati had allowed just one third-quarter TD in its previous nine contests. It was also just the fourth TD allowed by Cincinnati’s defense in the 19 combined possessions (regular season plus playoffs) immediately following a Bengals turnover.
After scoring a combined 17 points in the third quarter, neither team’s offense found much traction in the final period. Cincinnati’s first two possessions in the fourth quarter both were thwarted by third-down sacks of Burrow. The Titans ended the day with nine total sacks of Burrow, the most takedowns of a winning QB in NFL postseason history.
“He’s the toughest guy in the league,” DT D.J. Reader said of Burrow. “He’s a super tough guy, and he’s gritty. I love that about him. He doesn’t complain, he just goes out there and does his job. I really appreciate Joe.”
But the Bengals’ defense put together an impressive showing of its own. Henry was held to just 3.1 yards per carry on 20 attempts, and most notably was stopped for a two-yard loss by LB Logan Wilson on a fourth-and-one play mid-way through the fourth quarter. But while Bates, Hilton and Wilson made the highlight plays of the day, there was little question among players and coaches about the defense’s key component.
“D.J. Reader was unbelievable,” Taylor said on Sunday. “He was Superman, quite frankly.
“You see him make some plays during the game, but then you really dial in and watch the tape, and you can further understand the impact he had on the game. Overall, you can point out every single player on defense making some key plays in that game. But if you’re going to single out one guy for their performance, D.J. Reader is certainly deserving of that.”
With the score knotted at 16, Tennessee took over possession just before the two-minute warning and looked to move into range for a potential game-winning FG. But Reader yet again stopped Henry for no gain, and then Tannehill threw a five-yard completion as the Titans seemed content to drain nearly all of the remaining clock. On the next play — a third-and-five with 28 seconds remaining — Bengals CB Eli Apple tipped a pass into the air, and a leaping Wilson came down with one of the most significant INTs in team history.
This week’s AFC Championship features a battle between two of the NFL’s top young players in Burrow and Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes. This will be Mahomes’ fourth consecutive AFC Championship game (all at home), while Burrow last week became the first QB picked No. 1 overall to reach a conference title game within his first two seasons.
The game is also a rematch of a dramatic Jan. 2 meeting between the two teams, which ended in a 34-31 Bengals win at Paul Brown Stadium. That contest was also decided by a McPherson walk-off FG, and it clinched the AFC North division title for Cincinnati. But among Bengals fans, it is perhaps best remembered for Chase’s 266 receiving yards, which set both a Bengals single-game record and the NFL’s single-game rookie record.
“I’m tired of the underdog narrative,” Burrow said after the Titans game. “We’re a really, really good team. We’re here to make noise, and teams are going to have to pay attention to us. We’re a really good team with really good players and coaches, and we’re coming for it all.”
The AFC West champion Chiefs finished the regular season 12-5, and earned the No. 2 seed in the AFC playoffs. They opened postseason play with a 42-21 home win over Pittsburgh in the Wild Card Playoff. Then, in Sunday night’s Divisional Playoff against Buffalo, they scored a walk-off TD in overtime to win 42-36 at Arrowhead.
