News and Events from the Loveland, Ohio Area
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![[VIDEO] What will a day be like for students at the Loveland Intermediate School](https://lovelandmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/lis-day.jpg)
Loveland, Ohio – The Loveland Intermediate School team walks you through what a typical day will look like for their incoming 5th and 6th graders.
You may even see Mr. Carlier and Mrs. Carter race.
This video was shared on the Loveland City Schools FaceBook page on August 26.
by Cassie Mattia
Loveland, Ohio – Another school in the Eastern Cincinnati Conference has decided to forego its Native American Mascot. Loveland Magazine wants to congratulate the Winton Woods City School District on the retirement!
Winton Woods High School announced on their school website this week that after several years of gradually hinting at the retirement of their Native American Chieftain Mascot it has finally been approved. Winton Woods City School’s Community and Public Engagement Coordinator, Corina Denny, said the discontinuation of the Native American mascot has been 5 years in the making.
“This stemmed from our high regard for the Native American people and their rich history and contributions to our community and nation,” Denny explained, “The design elements of our two new campuses gives us another opportunity to move in the right direction.”
Superintendent Anthony G. Smith also weighed in on the historical change saying that, “With a diverse student body and 31 spoken languages, it is a priority and imperative that we continue to create a safe, respectful, and inclusive environment for all of our students and families.”
On July 27th the Board of Education voted and approved the retirement of the Chieftain Mascot and with that the Winton Woods City School District did a thorough search through every school in the ECC’s advertisements and marketing tools just to be sure anything pertaining to the Native American Mascot was removed.
Winton Woods was not the only school in the ECC to retire a mascot. The Forest Hills School District announced in early July that Anderson High School would be retiring their Redskins Mascot as it was approved by a 4 to 1 vote. To read more about Anderson’s decision to retire the Redskin CLICK HERE.
For more of your local sports news stay tuned to the Sports 411 with me, Cassie Mattia!
by Terri Rogers
WOW! Another HUGE success!! On December 19, 2019, the Loveland Initiative held its 22nd Annual Christmas Toy Store program. The program served well over 250 children. This would not have happened if not for all of YOU our wonderful and generous supporters. The Tracy Johnson Scholarship awards one thousand five hundred dollars to a student with financial need in Loveland.
Terri Rogers is the Executive Director of The Loveland Initiative
We are SO PROUD of the AWESOME community we live in. Loveland is very generous by providing support to underserved families, with amazing toys for children. What joy it is for these families to go shopping and pick out toys they want to give. Our families look forward to this and as one mom said while shopping “This program is a blessing.”
Leaving with those bags of gifts for their children they love is a blessing. You can tell by looking at their faces. They are so proud of what they have chosen for their children. What a gift this community gives them! Encouraging them to make choices and get nice things for the ones they love. Priceless! The toys they choose from are endless, all donated and collected each year for these families to pick from.
Each year that I attend the Christmas Toy Store program, I am amazed at the amount of time and energy that my two leads; Mary Hensley and Shionee Blust Sergist put into this program is inspiring. A HUGE thank you to Mary and Shionee for their hard work, and to our board members for volunteering their time with the program is so very much appreciated. As always, there are more volunteers involved and you can see the joy they have helping families knowing that they are making a difference. A HUGE thank you to all of our volunteers. YOU ARE AMAZING!!
A HUGE thank you to the Loveland Moose Lodge for hosting us for the seventh year in a row. A SPECIAL thank you to Bond Furniture & Design for lending their location as a drop off spot. A HUGE thank you to Loveland City Schools, Loveland Board Office, Loveland Transportation, LES Compassion project, LHS Senior Service Members and the staff, students and their families, for donating monetary funds, toys and gifts. Words cannot express how helpful this was to us! A VERY HUGE thank you to ALL of our other donors for helping us make Loveland children’s Christmas brighter. A SPECIAL thank you to Loveland Magazine for their promotional support. Thank you so very much for your support and for giving back to the Loveland community!
I am so grateful to be a part of this giving and caring community. Thank you all for everything you do for the families in Loveland! We look forward to a continuing partnership with you.
Loveland, Ohio – Loveland has always been known as a community filled with love, hence why Loveland is called the “Sweetheart of Ohio.” Each and every citizen in Loveland makes up an important piece of the community, but in saying that it’s up to the citizen as to what they do with their role as an important piece of that community. This is what makes up a community’s “D.N.A.”
Over the past year, Loveland Magazine has been in search of community members that truly play an important role in Loveland’s D.N.A. Thus far we have found some very special candidates for our feature column, “What’s In Loveland’s D.N.A.” After taking some time to really search for the next featured candidate we finally came across someone who not only lives in Loveland but has dedicated their career to impacting the youth of Loveland in the most positive way possible!
Mike Dunlap has been an active member of the Loveland Community since 5th grade, and yes he was a Loveland Tiger! Dunlap teaches Science at Loveland High School and is the head coach of Loveland High School’s Men’s Soccer Team. Dunlap has been involved with LHS and the Tiger students for over 20 years and his dedication hasn’t gone unnoticed!
Growing up Dunlap admitted that he struggled with ADHD and so learning something in the classroom and then trying to go home and apply what he learned in his homework was a huge struggle! When Dunlap got the teaching position at Loveland High School he knew that there would be students that struggled with ADHD just like him. This is when Dunlap introduced “Flipping the Classroom” to his students. With this teaching model students are able to watch pre-recorded lectures as their “homework assignment” and then do the traditional homework in class with the teacher and fellow students. When Dunlap introduced this idea to his students their grade point averages shot up almost immediately! Dunlap’s influence in the classroom and on the soccer field is why he is known for shaping so many student-athletes into successful individuals!
Loveland Magazine TV presents “What’s In Loveland’s D.N.A” featuring Mike Dunlap! Click below for the full-length interview!
Susan Craig
It is no secret that November’s ballot has caused quite a bit of controversy throughout the community. The lines have been drawn and those that are left to decide which direction they want to go have some big decisions to make. Depending upon the website that you visit, each person will tell you how they interpret the situation. Some of these things are facts, some are embellished, some are grounded in emotion. As a voter, you have an important decision to make.
Susan Craig lives in the Turnbury Subdivision of Loveland and is a District employee
To be very clear, I do work in Loveland City Schools. I started in the district in 2002. I began my career, however, in 1997 in Norwood. It was there that I had my first real experience with levies. I remember distinctly reading a forum page where people were free to openly bash teachers, staff and the board. I was so confused by the fact that people were not supporting the work that we were doing with students. It was disheartening and made me feel as though I had made a terrible career choice. I began to do research on how schools were funded. I quickly learned that without public funds, schools cannot operate. I decided to 
look in another district. I then went on to the Northwest district and taught in a building that was in dire need of repairs. This district also failed a levy and I made the decision to go closer to my home at the time. Moving two times in my first five years was my decision and it hurt my heart to leave the communities I had been a part of, even if it was brief. We did have some RIF’s (reduction in force) but I was spared in both situations.
From the moment I stepped into Loveland City Schools, I was completely amazed at the support from the families that I had the pleasure of working with. From the PTA support to casual unexpected meetings in the grocery store, I felt (and still feel) so fortunate to work in this district. It is our parents who help us mold young minds and make our jobs better.
Our staff is made up of dedicated professionals who care for and love our students. The coaches and volunteers who help mold young men and women are such a gift to the students they work with. The support staff who makes sure that they are there to give us a helping hand is such a blessing to all of us. Our bus drivers, who deliver our most precious cargo, are a part of our family. All of these people are those who make up Loveland City Schools. These are my main reasons for loving Loveland City Schools.
As we approach levy season I ask that you, the voter, pay close attention. There will be voices telling you things that may frighten you. Ask questions from a variety of sources. You will see signs telling you to vote one way or the other. Ask questions from a variety of sources. The fact is, that schools rely on their community. Our neighboring schools are also asking for money. That should be a voter’s first sign that schools are in need. Please keep in mind that their needs are different than ours. Their tax base, building conditions and level of industry contribution isn’t the same. Many people misconstrue information and try to make you believe what they believe. The truth is out there. It is your responsibility as a voter to seek it out. There are many questions that are out there. You can search for these answers even outside of the opposing parties. All schools are held to the same standard. It is important to understand, though, that not all districts are in the same situation that we are with regards to funds.
Schools are held to a standard by laws. Their books are audited and if there is any misappropriation they’re held accountable. While paying taxes is not something that anyone is overly excited about, it is certainly
something that we must do in order to support our community. If you are interested in learning more, attend one of the information sessions planned by our district. If you are in doubt of the need, ask someone in our district. Knowledge is power and loud voices are not necessarily the voices we should listen to. It is the voice of reason and the voice of truth that should help you make your decision. Seek it for yourself, take nothing out of context, and if it doesn’t sit well, ask more questions.
I will close with this, I am proud of our district administrators and board for their effort in listening to the voices of those who wanted to be a part of the process. I am in awe of the continued effort that they put into a vision that started four years ago. To step in and take a good look at the needs of our district isn’t an easy job. They continue to put our students, staff, and community in every decision they make. Many times at the cost of long hours away from their families. My family is grateful for this. Please seek out the truth, get your questions answered, and make an informed decision on November 5th.
by Robert Giuffre
I have been a proud Loveland resident for twenty-three years. As a retired public-school treasurer, having served four districts including Loveland, I am familiar with Loveland School’s fiscal operations and its needs in placing the November 5th levy on the ballot…While this levy request is certainly about numbers, I encourage you to read this article and consider critical aspects of this levy request. (Loveland Board of Education asks for combined 16.78-mill levy)
As a former school treasurer, I am well versed in school finance. I have been challenged throughout my career trying to explain how the laws governing school funding work and what their impact has been on school districts over the years. This redirection of tax-payer dollars by our legislators has fallen on our lap to explain. We have had little or no input on preserving the level of school funding voted and approved by our community. These legislative decisions cost Ohio school districts millions of dollars each
a year and are almost impossible to explain to stakeholders. All I would ask of you is to consider that your feelings about this levy are not fully directed at the leadership of this district. Please understand your legislators’ responsibility for the confusion surrounding school funding and the redirection of tax dollars.
With that, Loveland City Schools has a long and documented history of strong conservative fiscal management and has kept its commitments to this community. Two examples I would like to bring to your attention are: The District vowed that the last levy in 2014, would last for four years and it has lasted for five and a half. Twenty years ago, when I was still the District Treasurer, this community supported a bond issue to build and to renovate its buildings. Past and current students and community members benefit still from these facilities. Now, it is time to move forward with renovations and construction of new buildings for the next generation.
This levy request is about what is best for our children and our community. Students cannot learn as well in these rapidly changing times in buildings that are older than my fifty-year-old house. As we all know, maintaining, operating and implementing technology costs significantly more in old buildings as opposed to new construction. You may not be aware that students are currently being taught in temporary trailers and hallways. The one-time cost of new construction is certainly more frugal than continuing to expend operating funds year after year on dated facilities. Energy efficiency, our children’s safety and the continuing evolution of technological integration are our new normal. Unfortunately, safety training has become an urgent and critical component of our children’s and our community’s education. You own
these facilities and although the Board of Education and Administration provide leadership, you are ultimately responsible to provide that which our children need to be safe so they can succeed. Our buildings do not have current safety and security infrastructure to protect against real threats facing them.
The quality of our schools has a direct impact on the quality of our community and its economic stability, including the value of our property. Legitimizing a “no” vote without taking into consideration these critical realities is short-sighted.
As we each make up our minds about how to vote on November 5th, I ask that you consider not just the numbers, but also what the school district has consistently delivered for our children and for this community. There is a shift in education. This vote is about all our children, the lives of the children of our community. This responsibility belongs to all of us. The return on investment will come both soon and later. Actually, return on investment has already been provided for us by voters in the past. PASS IT FORWARD, please.
by Lynn Mangan
After listening to the community meeting last Thursday night at the high school, I felt very compelled to write out why I am a yes on the levy.
First, let me introduce myself. We have lived in Loveland City Schools for almost 23 years. We moved to Loveland when I was expecting our oldest son. My husband, Pat and I have four boys (two are in college) and the younger two are in 10th and 8th grade. I am a wife, mother, family/community member, and business executive. When I look at whether I want to vote yes or no to the levy I try to think about it from all of the angles of who I am.
I’ll be candid…at first, I was a no. My kids are going to graduate before most of this will be in place. Then I asked myself: If this was a non-profit would I donate to them? Would I want to spend my time helping improve the schools? Does it benefit my family if we say yes even without children in the district?
Overall, no plan will ever be without ways to make it better. I appreciate that the district has asked for feedback, been transparent and is continuing to strive for what is best for our students. I am thankful for teachers that advocate for my children and want to see them succeed in their class and in life. I am a yes.
If you haven’t already done so, I’d encourage you to listen to the latest presentation here and the corresponding slide deck here.
by Cassie Mattia
Loveland, Ohio – The community of Loveland has always had a special place in their “Sweethearts” for war heroes as the city is not only home to some of the most beautiful veteran memorials, but is also what many veterans call home. For the last 10 years, Loveland has paid tribute to Captain David Seth Mitchell, a decorated war hero, and Loveland High School graduate, through the Annual Captain Seth Mitchell Hero 5K. Captain Mitchell was killed on October 26th, 2009 at age 30 when two helicopters collided while he was supporting combat operations in Afghanistan’s Helmand province. At the time of tragedy, Captain Mitchell was stationed at Camp Pendleton, CA and was part of the Marine Corp HMLA 367 Scarface unit. Captain Mitchell piloted an AH-1 Super Cobra helicopter.
The other Marines killed in the collision were Corporal Gregory M.W. Fleury, 23, of Anchorage, Alaska; Captain Eric A. Jones, 29, of Westchester, New York; and Captain Kyle R. Van De Giesen, 29, of North Attleboro, Massachusetts.
Being relatively new to the Loveland community I had never heard of Captain Mitchell before my Editor, David Miller suggested I take on the assignment of telling you his story. After countless hours of research and conducting interviews with people that knew him, I quickly realized that Mitchell accomplished great heroic acts for Loveland and the United States before he died. Miller told me that he had always been inspired by the way Seth lived his life and how it has inspired others. After finishing this article David and I decided we wanted to make Seth’s story a part of our “What’s In Loveland’s DNA” segment as Captain Mitchell was someone who easily made the city of Loveland what it is today…a place filled with LOVE!
Captain Seth Mitchell was born in Charlotte, North Carolina on May 17, 1979, but grew up in Loveland and attended Loveland City Schools from 6th grade forward. From a very young age, Mitchell knew what he wanted to do when he grew up, and that was fly a plane! According to Mitchell’s parents, Steve and Connie Mitchell, he dreamed of two things as a kid – to fly and be a Marine.
“In his pre-high school years, Seth was not much of a leader. Maybe, the opposite. Very mischievous and had many troubles with grades in middle school and early high school,” Mitchell’s Father Steve said, “As parents, we saw a tremendous change in Seth after his freshman year. He actually finished that school year outside Loveland schools due to a personal issue. Something changed in Seth and he became a boy on a mission,” Steve said, “Perhaps it was his involvement with church activities, perhaps it was getting the know the folks that would become his lifelong friends. Whatever it was, he changed. He led a Bible study class, became more involved in school activities, started doing homework, persisted with teachers to let him take AP courses, became more outgoing. He changed and ‘invented’ the Seth he would become through the rest of his life,” Steve added.
Although Captain Mitchell had his trials and tribulations as he grew up he overcame all of the obstacles standing in his way and decided to make a difference. Friends said that he became a “do something” kid, always staying active and wanting to experience all he could. Mitchell became part of Loveland High School’s track and field team as well as the football team and eventually came to be elected as Senior class president. Captain Mitchell was so personable and well-liked by his classmates he was also voted “Mr. Personality” his senior year at Loveland.
“I want people to know that Seth was not a scholar, nor a star athlete, but he had goals, declared them and worked hard to achieve them,” Steve told Loveland Magazine, “He never became the star athlete, but found his role. Never became top of the class academically, but did make the honor roll a few times due to his hard work. One of Seth’s friends described him as a ‘friend to all’. I think he really tried to see people through many lenses,” Steve added.
Mitchell graduated from Loveland High School in 1997 and went on to attend Virginia Tech where he majored in English. While at VT Mitchell decided to enroll in the Marines through the ROTC program his freshman year and shortly after was awarded an ROTC scholarship. The VT ROTC scholarship enabled Mitchell to transition from VT ROTC to the Marine Corp in 2001.
While stationed at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina Captain Mitchell was determined to make it into the flight program as an aviator. Unfortunately, the waiting process was prolonged when Mitchell discovered he did not meet the vision requirements for the flight program. He then decided to get corrective eye surgery so that he could live out his aviation dream. After the surgery and a lot of dedication, Mitchell was awarded his private pilot’s license and a Marine Aviation training spot. Captain Mitchell completed his flight training in Pensacola, Florida and finally earned the “wings” he always wanted in May of 2007. What hit home with many of Captain Mitchell’s family and friends is that he physically drove to the Pentagon to deliver his Marine Aviation application so that he knew 100 percent that his application would not get lost in the mail. Talk about determination! Captain Mitchell’s hard work paid off as he went on to become an AH-1 Super Cobra Helicopter Pilot.
After already serving tours in Okinawa, Haiti, and Iraq in an infantry unit, Mitchell then served as an intelligence officer and pilot in Iraq in 2008. Shortly after, Mitchell and another Marine volunteered to go to Afghanistan early because the unit there didn’t have enough “manpower.”
“Seth’s unit, HMLA 367 – Scarface was to replace the HMLA 169 – Vipers in Afghanistan in late October 2009,” Steve said. “ The Vipers unit, however, had a pilot shortage. At a briefing in 29 Palms, CA, Seth immediately volunteered himself and his friend, Cpt. Porter B. Jones to go early. His C.O. told him no on three occasions, but Seth persisted. He was always a persistent person,” Steve said.
On August 10th, family and friends said goodbye as he left for Afghanistan, not knowing that that would be the last time they spoke to him in person. Captain Mitchell died on October 26th in Afghanistan’s Helmand province along with 4 other U.S troops.
“On October 26, a high-value target was identified with a short time to act. Seth and the others were in the queue, the lead pilot was disqualified due to hours and Seth moved up to the lead,” Steve explained, “As the subsequent ‘investigation’ said, there were many things to cover and a short time to do it. Per the investigation, much of it was improvised in flight. This was cited as one of the causes of the accident. In the rush to the target the helicopters, which always flew in tandem with the prescribed distance between them, got too close and collided. Ironically Seth died on the day his unit, 367/Scarface landed in Afghanistan and was to replace the 169/Viper unit,” Steve said.
“Seth’s death in the crash was immediate. He died when the choppers collided. We got the word around 2 AM when the Marines showed up at our home,” Steve said, “We stayed with the casualty officers until around 5 AM. Three hours later we drove to where his brother Drew was living, to tell him. It was like we had to experience the devastation two times that morning,” Steve added.
Captain David Seth Mitchell was buried on November 6th, 2009 at Arlington National Cemetery. Mitchell was the 113th casualty of Operation Enduring Freedom and the 577th service member from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan to be buried at Arlington.
“Seth is buried in Section 60, site # 8948. On November 4 we had a church service in Cary, NC, where we lived. Seth was born in Charlotte, NC and was a native North Carolinian, however on his military forms, required before deployments he listed his hometown as Loveland, Ohio,” Steve said, “We’ve said many times that Loveland was home to Seth because that’s where he had his passions and his lifelong friends. Seth graduated in ’97, went to VA Tech than to the Marine Corps, so he never established another home after high school. We did move back to NC in ’01, so when he came home from Marine duties, he came to NC where we lived. However he did wind up in Loveland on many occasions during his Marine service,” Steve said.
Join us for the 10th annual Cpt Seth Mitchell HERO 5K on Saturday, September 21st! INFO & REGISTRATION
Picnic Lunch of Hamburgers and Hot Dogs Included!
Now for the 10th year in a row Captain Mitchell’s family, friends and the Loveland community will come together for the Annual Captain Seth Mitchell Hero 5K happening on Saturday, September 21st. The race will begin at 11 AM at Nisbet Park in Historic Downtown Loveland. Over the past 10 years, Mitchell’s Loveland High School classmates have put on the Hero 5K as a way of representing the type of person Captain Mitchell was. Below is what Mitchell’s friends hope to achieve this year.
“We are a group of Seth Mitchell’s Loveland High School classmates, who miss our friend and want to keep his memory alive. We represent the many people who Seth made an impression on with his sense of humor, kind heart, and loyal friendship. As we organize this 5k Race and the scholarship memorial fund, we are motivated by one enduring inspiration: to live each day a little more honorably, kindly, and humbly… just like Seth. Please join us by donating, running, or volunteering – and keep Seth’s memory alive.”
For the Hero 5k this year, Mitchell’s supporters are looking for volunteers as well as donations for the Captain Seth Mitchell Scholarship Fund, a scholarship that is awarded to a few select Loveland High School students every year.
Greg Carpinello, who was a very close friend and classmate to Mitchell, is excited to not only keep Seth’s memory alive but to also continue to award students the Captain Seth Mitchell Scholarship.
“In the years that have followed, it has been an honor to work with other classmates to keep Seth’s legacy alive in Loveland. We have awarded over $40,000 in scholarship money to more than 20 graduating Loveland High School students, but his story has touched the lives of hundreds of students over the last 10 years through the 5K, the witness of Seth’s teachers who still work in Loveland, and the wonderful ways in which Seth’s story is easily passed through word of mouth,” Carpinello said.
“Seth was like a brother to me. Our friendship and unbreakable bond grew throughout high school. I cherish the memories of our time together, lots of laughter working on Student Council projects, lots of hours of driving to concerts all over the country, but most notably the loyalty he showed me as a true friend during my life’s up and downs,” Carpinello explained. “The news of his death devastated me. I’ll never forget the phone call I got from our mutual friend Joe Horst. I was living in Boston at the time. When I answered and he told me to sit down, I knew right away that it was about Seth. I had to call my parents to break the news too. My Dad, a former Marine himself, and Seth grew close over the years as Seth deployed but always stayed in touch via email. I didn’t sleep at all that night…. the anguish was too great. The next few days were a blur as I traveled to North Carolina for the funeral. It was a moving service. Seth was loved by so many people, from every era of his life. The service reflected that clearly,” Carpinello said.
“This year, we would really like to see a record turnout for the 5K. We hope people will join us on Saturday, September 21st at 11:00 am to run or walk a 5K in honor of Seth, a true Loveland Hero,” added Carpinello.
Carpinello is not the only friend of Captain Seth Mitchell that couldn’t help but reminisce on their time spent with Mitchell. When Loveland Magazine mentioned the Hero 5k, Jeff Geiger, a former teacher of Mitchell’s that still teaches in Loveland, remembered him as being, “Determined, personable and extremely hard working…an example of a true ‘Tiger!”
Donate to the Capt. Seth Mitchell Memorial Scholarship through the Loveland Schools Foundation.
“When Seth was killed, it was a shock, of course, it is never easy losing a former student – unfortunately too many. It did, however, bring the war home to those of us who knew Seth,” said Geiger. Because it was so personal, Geiger took his son Mark to Washington for the funeral. “It touched both of us as to the sacrifices being made by families all over this country.” Geiger told Loveland Magazine that when he taught Seth that he was a hard worker and really did not say too much, but he remembered that he always had a smile on his face and seemed genuinely happy being in class and being a Tiger. “Seth’s legacy is one of determination and sacrifice. It is an example to all ‘Tigers’ of what hard work and determination can accomplish. Seth’s sacrifice has also been important in teaching students about the phrase ‘Freedom isn’t Free’. No longer is it just a phrase to be thrown around – we have Seth to bring home the sad truth of its reality.” Geiger remembers that when Connie, Seth’s mother was handed the neatly folded American flag at the Arlington gravesite it became emblematic of all the mothers and fathers across this country who have given so much. “Loveland and similar communities should be both humble and grateful for the sacrifices of men and women such as Seth,” Geiger added.
“I loved Seth and his family more than anything. His death was one of the hardest things I have ever had to face during my career in education,” Powers said.
Julie Powers, a former student council class advisor of Captain Mitchell’s and current Algebra 2 teacher at Loveland High School, chimed in on how wonderful Mitchell truly was.
“I loved Seth and his family more than anything. His death was one of the hardest things I have ever had to face during my career in education,” Powers said. “Sadly, I will not ever forget that day.” Powers remembers standing next to the sideboard in her room writing something on the board before school began. A friend and fellow teacher, Leah Evans, walked into her room and over to where she was standing. “I looked up at her face when she quietly asked, ‘Julie, you knew Seth Mitchell, right?’ My heart dropped at that moment. I knew immediately without her having to say a word that Seth was gone, gone from this world. We had lost him. He had been killed the day before, or, at least, I think Connie and Steve had received the news the day before. I remember not being able to stop crying,” Powers explained.
That whole class of students was one that I had gotten to know better than any other over the course of their high school careers. They had a closeness I have never before or after witnessed between all of the students. They did not have cliques that were separate from each other. There may have been ‘groups of friends’ in the class but it was a whole class of students who put everything they had into high school and enjoying the time they spent together at LHS. That morning, I remember walking to the office. Dr. Molly Moorhead and Debbie Hager, a guidance counselor and mother to Sarah Hager, also a graduate of the Class of ‘97, brought the few teachers left in the building who had taught Seth and knew him really well to Dr. Moorhead’s office so that we could speak with the Mitchells on the phone and be with each other. When I was speaking to Connie, she asked me had I taught Seth and I said: ‘yes, I had taught his Algebra 2 class.’ Connie’s response to me was ‘Aw, honey, Seth was never very good at math.’ I think I laughed a little with her because to me, being a student is more about a work ethic than the amount of raw talent someone has. And, I shared with her that Seth had been such an amazingly determined student. It did not matter that math was not his favorite class or that it may not have come as easily to him. He made the most of every day, always worked hard, harder than most to ‘get the math’ and he was always one of the most positive people in the class. I cannot, to this day, picture Seth’s face without a huge grin. He had such a knack for knowing if someone in the class was feeling down. Even if it might not have been his best friend, he would go over to that person and just check on them. These days, if you think about it, do you have any people at your job or in your neighborhood who do that? He was unbelievable. Always there to brighten someone’s day and sometimes that was my day, too. Having the chance to teach and work with Seth is a gift I have been given. His life has taught me so much about choosing to live and to dream big. His dreams were big and he worked at them to make them come true. When I think of Seth, I know he was a young man who had huge personal dreams of flying, he valued his friends and classmates a great deal, and nothing but his absolute best work was good enough for him. If someone needed him for anything, he was there.
“Simply put, if Seth had not volunteered to go to Afghanistan early, he would not have been there when his helicopter went down. He was due to deploy in November of 2009. He died on October 26, 2009. He died because he heard there was a pilot shortage over there and he wanted to help his fellow Marines. He volunteered to go early (several times before he was finally given the go-ahead to go early). Had he not been SETH, who always wanted to help out and give more than he could, he would never have given his life that October morning. That is the Seth Mitchell who will ALWAYS be my TRUE HERO. It is my truest honor to share the story of one of the most remarkable young people I have ever taught, Seth Mitchell, with each class who graduates from Loveland High School. I want them to know of his great heart, his selflessness, his work ethic, his dreams, his ever-present smile, his concerns for others, his fear of not reaching his dreams, overcoming that fear and living the life he was destined to live. He is a fellow Loveland Tiger who walked the same halls they walk, who sat in the same classrooms they sit in and who gave everything for each one of us. We can all learn from Seth’s life and his story. Life is too short. Live it. Don’t let it pass you by. Be there for each other. Dream and dream big. Reach for the stars and maybe you will make it out there among them. – Julie Powers
We encourage all of the Loveland community to come together to support Captain Seth Mitchell on September 21st at the Hero 5k so that we can continue to spread the unbelievable amount of kindness, selflessness, and bravery Captain Mitchell showed everyone on a regular basis. If you would like to get involved visit the official Captain Seth Mitchell Hero 5k website.
Watch this LOVELAND MAGAZINE TV video of the 2017 Hero 5K and listen to Greg Carpinello talk about why Seth’s friends are keeping his memory alive. Also included in the video is Marisa Sobb reading a letter from scholarship winner Katie McElveen describing how Seth Mitchell inspired her community spirit.
by Dr. Amy Crouse
As we launch a new school year at Loveland City Schools, I am particularly grateful to our community, which continues to support and invest in the greater good, especially for our children. Last week, more than 100 community members volunteered to prepare the playground at Loveland Early Childhood Center for our youngest Tigers to enjoy their first recess. And the community’s involvement has been evident throughout the past several years as hundreds of residents provided input in the district’s facility master planning process, where we extensively researched, assessed and vetted the district’s building and infrastructure needs, ultimately developing a plan that will adequately prepare our graduates.
Dr. Amy Crouse is the Loveland City School District Superintendent
The message heard from the community was clear: Loveland Schools must continue the positive momentum in academic achievement, yet the aging buildings need renovations and upgrades. With teachers using mobile carts and hallways for instruction and temporary trailer classrooms to absorb our overcrowded classrooms, we must modernize our facilities for our children and our community to have a strong future. The Loveland community expects a high-quality education and the reality is that we need to upgrade and expand science and technology laboratories to prepare students for college and 21st-century careers.
The plan put forth and adopted unanimously by the Board of Education is cost-effective and unique to Loveland’s current and future needs. The plan:
The bottom line is, we do a great job of maintaining our buildings and infrastructure, but we are to the point where it’s more costly to maintain than it is to upgrade or, in some cases, rebuild. The district’s facility needs will not go away; they will only increase in cost. There is no zero-cost option and without this levy investment we will need to continue diverting funds from the classroom so that we can make critical fixes in our schools.
Strong schools mean a strong community, and I encourage everyone to make sure our schools are as strong as possible by joining us over the next couple of months at community conversations. Please see www.lovelandschools.org for all scheduled events. There will be a presentation at Loveland High School on September 12 at 7 p.m. where residents can learn more about the November 5th ballot issue and why it’s needed now. And, as always, please feel free to contact me directly with questions.
In service to our Tigers.
Spots for the Loveland U experience are limited!
by Cassie Mattia
Loveland, Ohio – Who wouldn’t want to learn about a community built on “Love?” Loveland’s Clerk of Courts, Misty Cheshire, and Loveland U Director, Ray Kingsbury, joined Loveland Magazine at the Loveland Magazine TV studio to talk about the program that Mayor Kathy Bailey said, “City Council is committed to finding ways to help our residents understand the decisions we make, become more involved, and connect with the community; this program accomplishes all these goals and more.”
In this interview, you can meet Ray and Misty and understand what they love about Loveland.
Loveland U will be an interactive adult learning environment with minimal lecture time that focuses on finding ways to help Loveland residents understand obtain first-hand knowledge and provide valuable input and feedback into the issues, plans, and activities of the Loveland community.
Loveland U’s purpose is to provide a way for residents to become more involved and connect with the community.
Spots for the Loveland U experience are limited! Check out the interview with Cheshire and Kingsbury to find out how you can secure your Loveland U spot! Oh and don’t worry the Little Miami River Chamber Alliance, thanks to an anonymous, but very generous person is giving out scholarships for those who want to participate in the Loveland U experience, but need a sponsor to take on their 99 dollar participation fee – a fee that offsets the cost associated with the materials and meals for the sessions. After viewing the interview if this is something you’re interested in, email info@lmrchamberalliance.org or call 513-683-1544.
If you have any questions, contact, Ray Kingsbury, Loveland U Director, at rkingsbury@lovelandoh.gov, or by phone 513-774-3090.
The City of Loveland, along with partners, Little Miami Conservancy, Loveland City Schools, Loveland Stage Company, and Loveland Museum Center have joined forces to launch Loveland U. Limited to just 25 participants, Loveland U will utilize an interactive adult learning environment with minimal lecture time.
Thursday, September 12 Restoring Loveland’s Front Porch at the Loveland Museum Center
Saturday, September 21 Navigating Our National Wild and Scenic River & Riverfront Development with Little Miami Conservancy
Wednesday, September 25 Joining the Loveland Stage Company for A Peek Behind the Curtain at the Loveland Stage Company
Thursday, October 3 Connecting with the Loveland-Symmes Fire Department to Feel the Heat
Thursday, October 10 Discovering A Citizen’s Role in the Downtown Plan
Thursday, October 17 Diving into NIMBYs, CAVE people and Financial Reckoning
Wednesday, October 23 Painting Our Portrait of a Tiger with Loveland City Schools
Wednesday, October 30 Standing Behind the Badge with the Loveland Police Department
Saturday, November 9 Proceeding with Caution – Work in Progress! with Loveland Public Works
Thursday, November 14 Celebrating your journey at Loveland U Graduation…Lovin Life
