LOVELAND MAGAZINE

News and Events from the Loveland, Ohio Area

Without fear or favor
Since 2004

Tag: loveland high school

  • [Interview] Joe Timmerman Founder of “A Neighborhood Cleanup”

    [Interview] Joe Timmerman Founder of “A Neighborhood Cleanup”

    David Miller is the Editor and Publisher of Loveland Magazine

    by David Miller

    Loveland, Ohio – Joe Timmerman seems to be awfully young to be so old-school, but he’s both. I got reacquainted with him underneath the home-team basket at a winter basketball game in the Chuck Schmidt Gymnasium at Loveland High School. A Senior at the time, Joe had also been taking photos of the action and he came over and sat down on the floor with me and introduced himself,

    He wanted to know if I would publish some of his photographs in Loveland Magazine.

    His old-schoolness was when he described his approach to using film cameras and in very creative ways.

    ‘Liiife’ is within the borders of this black and white double exposure. I used Ilford HP5 Plus film when shooting these two photos — Laine’s face and a tree in my backyard — which share a single exposure. When I put the roll of film in my camera, I wanted to capture 24 portraits, underexposed in studio lighting, to fill the roll. Then, I chose to reel it back in to the point where the first exposure returned to the beginning, and capture 24 nature/lifestyle photos to randomly share a place on the film with the original portraits. The overarching risk factor of losing some personal pictures was left behind after developing the film and seeing what had come to life in the process. – Joseph Timmerman

    I was fascinated by his love of negative film and how sometimes he would be very deliberate in shooting a roll of 35 mm negatives in a way that each captured portrait could be used as the foreground for another image. The second image, a double exposure, involved Joe re-loading the already exposed roll of negatives back into his camera and then exposing a second image over the top of each of the portraits he shot on the first go-around.

    The results Joe showed me were a wonderful experiment in photography because of the hit/miss nature of composing a second image over the first. There is also the mastery of the correct exposure for each frame. Many of the double-exposures were taken of his girlfriend on their walks into Historic Downtown Loveland from his home. The final products have a rather ghost-like quality.

    I had given up film as soon as I purchased my first digital camera to use for Loveland Magazine reporting. It was out of the necessity to cut costs and be able to have the results almost instantly on my laptop and into a story. From my perspective after so many years of traveling to a camera store to buy the film, traveling back again to have the film developed and prints made, and back again for pick-up – Joe is old-school.

    Joe Timmerman smiles outside the Cintas Center after he graduated from Loveland High School in 2019. Timmerman is studying photojournalism at Ohio University

    I also discovered that night under the basketball hoop that I had known Joe since he was very little but didn’t recognize him. We once attended the same church. I was inspired by Joe that night and did some of my own experiments.

    Joe’s old-schoolness even involved making his own paper from scratch for a photo project during his first year at Ohio University.

    Joe’s old-schoolness is also how he will credit the way his parents raised him for his concern for the immediate environment around him. I think it more than just that though and appreciate another old-school quality he possesses – Joe is very humble always giving credit to others and he is generous with a “Thank you.”

    Some of the trash A Neighborhood Cleanup removed from the Little Miami River on Saturday (photo by Joe Timmerman © 2020)

    Joe founded “A Neighborhood Cleanup” in 2019. The inspiration was walking in the East Loveland Nature Preserve with his mother and seeing so much trash left by other visitors. He says that growing up his father taught him to always pick up trash when he sees it, especially in his own neighborhood and the places he loves. Last August A Neighborhood Cleanup cleaned the nature preserve and another spot he loved, the rope swing on the bank of the Little Miami just north of Nisbet Park in Historic Downtown.

    Joe has been back to cleaning the rope swing area this spring and last Saturday expanded the cleanup to include the river from Nisbet Park to the rope swing on the opposite river bank – along Cones Road.

    A Neighborhood Cleanup filled a pickup with trash they removed from the Little Miami River on Saturday. The Little Miami River is one of 156 American rivers designated by the U.S. Congress or the Secretary of the Interior as a National Wild and Scenic River and runs through the middle of Loveland, Ohio. (photo by Joe Timmerman © 2020)

    An interesting note is that Loveland’s most famous old-school photographer Nancy Ford Cones once lived at the Roads Inn Farm on Cones Road when she took her famous Loveland photos, Her favorite subjects were family and friends she posed on those same river banks that Joe and friends are now restoring to their intended beauty. The Loveland Musem Center has a nice collection of Cone’s photos and many of them have an ethereal, ghost-like quality similar to Joe Timmerman’s double exposures.

    This interview took place along the riverbank Joe and volunteers were cleaning last Saturday afternoon.

    Joe inspires his own generation, those to come, and those beyond.

     

    “Like” and “follow” A Neighborhood Cleanup on FaceBook and you will be able to support the efforts and know when the next group cleanup is planned. You might also contact Joe and offer to donate garbage bags and gloves as a way of helping.

    Here is a link to Joe’s photography website where you can read more about him and see some of his inspiring art.

    This is the rope swing seen from the opposite side of the river that A Neighborhood Cleanup worked on last Saturday. As you can see, the river has become a very popular spot that many young people call home. Joe Timmerman and his supporters cleared the robe swing area of trash on June 2.

    Read about the June 2 cleanup at the rope swing…

    A Neighborhood Cleanup: be the change that you want to see…

    A Guest Column by Joe Timmerman
    This is some of the trash A Neighborhood Cleanup removed from the river on June 2.

  • Eastern Cincinnati Conference Holds a “Slogan Contest!”

    Eastern Cincinnati Conference Holds a “Slogan Contest!”

    by Cassie Mattia

    Loveland, Ohio – Calling all student-athletes, coaches, parents, and fans! The Eastern Cincinnati Conference (ECC) recently announced that they will be going through somewhat of a league transformation. In addition to adding three new schools, Little Miami, Winton Woods, and Lebanon, to the ECC for the 2020-2021 sports season they are also looking to add a new conference slogan.

     

    The ECC stated that they would love to bring more awareness and reach to the conference’s brand so the conference decided to have students, coaches, and fans submit slogan ideas. The ECC selected the top 4 slogan ideas and posted them on the ECC website so that anyone and everyone could vote on their favorite slogan! Below are the top 4 slogan selections.

    1.  Engage.  Compete.  Conquer

    2.  Excite. Challenge.  Compete.

    3.  Eastern Cincinnati Conference … top-level competition with community-based values.

    4.  Engagement.  Competition.  Community.  We are the ECC!

    The Slogan Contest allows voters to submit their slogan selection as many times as they want up until Friday, June 26th, 2020. The new slogan will be released in early July. If you would like to participate in the Slogan Contest click the link below to submit your vote!

    VOTE NOW

    ECC Schools

    Stay tuned for the latest and greatest Local Sports 411 with me, Cassie Mattia!

     

  • To the class with 2020 vision… we made it!

    To the class with 2020 vision… we made it!

    Mihaela Manova is now a Loveland High School Graduate. She joined Loveland Magazine as an Intern in September of 2019 and was soon promoted to be the Editor for our “Covering Climate Now” series. She will study journalism at Miami University.

    Here is Loveland High School’s 2020 Graduation (my graduation) in photos and videos – you can experience the whole 11-hour day!

    By: Mihaela Manova

     

    Welcome by Olivia VonDeylen

     

    Carson Sarver Class President

     

    Senior Choir members perform Irish Blessing

     

    Sophia Dillhoff Salutatorian

     

    Ashley George Valedictory Address

     

    National Anthem Tribute by Chamber Orchestra and Show Choirs

     

    Principal Peggy Johnson

     

    Superintendent Dr. Amy Crouse and School Board President Kathy Lorenz

     

    Each student receiving their diploma

    Below is the entire video of the LHS Graduation that was produced by the school.

    To see each graduate cross the stage drag the slider to the 28:52 minute mark.

    The entire video of the Commencement exercise 

    Also read these stories about the Class with 2020 Vision…

    [Video] LHS’s Class of 2020 Celebrated in a Moving Assembly Through…

    The awards, honors, and scholarships for the LHS Class of 2020

    Aerial video greeting from Loveland Schools bus drivers to Class of…

    Introducing the honors awarded the LHS Class of 2020

    LHS Principal Peggy Johnson to Class of 2020: You are the…

    A video message from LHS Senior William Heard about his $socks4homeless2020…

  • Have you been social distancing from Black Americans?

    Have you been social distancing from Black Americans?

    by Eric Armstrong

    Hello Loveland friends – I really hope if you read this first sentence and find the time to read these next several paragraphs. It’s lengthy but I think it’s important.

    Since graduating from Loveland High School in 1998, Eric Armstrong obtained degrees in Chemical Engineering and Spanish from Purdue University. When not working in technical sales; he enjoys traveling the world in his free time.

     

    Systemic racial inequality, prejudice, ‘White Privilege’, are tough topics, powerful words. I imagine white people; are uncomfortable when they hear them, feel defensive when directed towards them, and I think most importantly are confused about what to do about them.

    You see racists are easy to identify and label, they wear hoods, yell slurs, and burn crosses. Racists don’t hide their disdain, they’re proud of it, and most importantly I imagine 90% of White Americans can say unequivocally “I’m not a racist, that’s not me!” “My family raised us to…”, “I have very close ____ friends.” etc…

    Other words, however, are harder to define

    The other words however are harder to define; they are subtle, woven into our nation’s very fabric, everyday behavior, and actions. Unfortunately, our country was built and founded on them. In their most basic forms, even Black Americans can struggle to explain them, it’s often an uneasy feeling or a story, the way you were treated. It’s some simple task that Black Americans worry about that would never cross the mind of a white person.

    A profound ignorance exists in education

    Moreover, IF you as a White American can comprehend the definitions and give examples of these words, then you’d realize 100% of White Americans have existed/participated/enabled them. That’s honestly what is at the core of everything happening today. A profound ignorance exists and the cure is education, open dialogue, and a paradigm shift in how we respond.

    I personally haven’t said much about what’s happened recently about the rash of killings locally here in Indianapolis or across the country. I’ve admittedly deflected and given short PC answers. There are two reasons and they are shared by many Black Americans;

    1) It reopens painful feelings and emotional wounds, and if you’re a Black American who has existed as I have (fairly comfortably) it’s a jarring reminder of what could happen to you and your friends, family, and colleagues.

    2) It’s exhausting. If you know me, I enjoy talking and pushing the boundaries of comfort on many topics. I don’t shy away from talking about race if engaged and I try to keep the conversation light so I’m approachable and those who truly want to understand, learn and change have a safe place to do so. However, for every one of those interactions, there are 20 other conversations, comments, posts, when White American dismiss Black Americans’ experiences as “one-off occurrences” or say “why do you make everything about race. It isn’t always about race.” Or “Well if “______Black American” wasn’t doing _____, _____ wouldn’t have happened.”

    Something different is happening now

    So admittedly, lazily, embarrassingly, I felt like this latest response was going to be the US status quo. People get fake mad, they post “Black Lives Matter” and are upset for a while, some Black Americans protest and march, then in a couple months things/people go back to ‘normal’.

    But I decided to write this because something different is happening. White Americans are out marching too, they’re verbalizing the issues and not just repeating buzz words. Most importantly they’re engaging us. They’re messaging me, texting me and asking me to have conversations. They’re asking me what those confusing words mean to ME, asking what my experience has been.

    A business colleague who I consider a friend sent me this;

    “Weird non-work related question. Would you be interested in coming to our house for dinner in the next two weeks? No need to answer tonight. The bigger human conversation is that our kids need to meet people who don’t look like them.”

    WOW.

    Maybe it WILL be different this time…

    Because if everyone wants to know how we “fix things” how we “make it better”. That’s it in a nutshell. White Americans must willingly have a lot of introspection, ask questions of themselves and Black Americans, and state the following:

    “I acknowledge that though I’m not a racist; I’m ignorant, uninformed, and contributing to prejudice, systemic racism, and white privilege with my inactivity. My posts and words are NOT enough.”

    How do you know you are contributing to this climate?

    What are the questions? How do you know you are contributing to this climate?

    If as a White American you’ve ever posted or said, “Skin color doesn’t matter to me.” or “I don’t see race.” Unless you are actually visually impaired; you’re saying (whether you intend to) I’m not recognizing that because your skin is brown, your experience in this world has been markedly different than mine.

    It must be acknowledged that race is a factor, a variable in a human’s life experience and reactions, questions, interactions, must be adjusted.

    Change your language to take that into account, instead say, “I actively try not to let my inherent biases and ignorances negatively impact how I interact with Black Americans.” SEE COLOR, VALUE DIFFERENCES.

    If as a White American you’ve called something ‘ghetto’ or used the word as an adjective to associate things with Black Americans. I compare it with how people use the word ‘gay’ to describe something they dislike.

    Or you’ve said “_____ doesn’t act black” or “_____ isn’t really even black.” Your words mean you believe they exhibit positive characteristics ascribed to White Americans.

    Other behavior

    How about these? You have many black friends and co-workers… right? Have you been to their homes or invited them to yours? Do you vacation with them? Have these conversations with them?

    It may not be how you treat those Black American friends and colleagues. How do you interact with the Black Americans who are strangers? Do you strike up conversations? Do you avoid sitting by them, cross the street, wait for the next elevator…?

    I have seen a lot of this world and our country and I’ve been invited into the homes of strangers internationally and never to the homes of some of my ‘friends’ here in the US.

    My Christian friends; do you attend diverse church services? What does your congregation look like? God valued/preaches inclusion and diversity but why is the church segregated?

    How about the neighborhood where you live? Any Black neighbors? Do your kids have Black American classmates? Do Black American kids play with your kids at your home and vice versa? If you say “No, there just aren’t Black Americans where I live. I live there because it’s safe and has good schools.” Well if there are no Black Americans there; are they in the underperforming schools and unsafe neighborhoods? The separate but equal ones?

    You have to ask why is that?

    If you asked your kids who are three Black Americans they know? Are they all celebrities/athletes? Do you go to businesses, concerts, read books, and see movies by Black Americans? You have to ask why is that? Who/what experiences are you exposing yourself and family to or limiting them from becoming educated about?

    Racist people are not the problem – I call it arms length prejudice

    Again, the racist people are not the problem. We know where they stand and what they believe. It’s the tolerant White Americans, the ones that have casually existed with Black Americans. I call it arms length prejudice. You have been fine with Black people having equal rights as long as it doesn’t change your world, come into your neighborhood, school, or church. As long as it doesn’t date your sons and daughters.

    Have you been social distancing from Black Americans?

    Have you been social distancing from Black Americans? You have to ask yourself have you been perpetuating that arm’s length distance whether subconsciously or consciously? Do you want things to change? Do you really care about the Black friend(s) or those Black strangers that you post black squares and Black lives matter hashtags about? It’s going to take more than posts and rhetoric. If you care about Black Americans but stand by while prejudiced comments are being spoken or ‘posted’ then it won’t change.

    If it’s tolerated by our leaders and business owners as them just “speaking their mind” or “telling it how it is” then you are supporting their harmful rhetoric.

    Our young humans

    Many of you are currently raising the young humans who will determine how Black Americans are treated in the next 20 to 40 years and beyond. If you change their experiences and relationships with Black Americans you will change the behaviors and outcomes. Posts, black squares, and words are fantastic; education, action, and follow up are better.

    It’s time for conversations

    Marching and demonstrating serves only to keep the issue in front of people’s minds. The actual work is done right here with us having the conversations and listening. Calling people out, calling yourself out. A lot of people want to be healthy, but don’t want to exercise. I see the same behavior with race. A lot of White Americans want the conversations about race to stop, for the problems to go away, but they don’t want to do the hard work to get us there.

    A lot of people want to be healthy, but don’t want to exercise.

    It’s time for these conversations. For White Americans to ask your friends of color about the first time they were called the n-word or were pulled over/followed for no reason?

    These conversations that must be had between Blacks and Whites are going to be uncomfortable they’re going bring upon Whites feelings of guilt and shame and often times Blacks may be embarrassed or angry, not at you, about their struggle; but it’s an important step in healing and understanding.

    Conversations can start today

    Lastly, both Blacks and Whites must understand that changing a behavior takes a long time. Some people estimate it takes 10,000 hours of doing a task to master it. How many hours have you and your children spent discussing, interacting, and educating yourself about Black Americans? Black Americans, how many conversations have you opened yourself up to with White Americans? This is not going to happen overnight…but the conversations can start today.

    I LOVE YOU ALL & GOD BLESS

    Eric Armstrong graduated from Loveland High School in 1998

    FRONT PAGE STORIES

  • LHS Begins Three-Phrase Process in Reopening of Athletic Facilities

    LHS Begins Three-Phrase Process in Reopening of Athletic Facilities

    by Cassie Mattia

    Loveland, Ohio – The time has finally come to begin the reopening of high school athletic facilities! Loveland High School announced last Thursday on their school website that they would begin a three-phase process following and according to the guidelines given by the OHSAA for the reopening of their athletic facilities, which began on June 1st.

    After the initial announcement, Loveland’s Athletic Department reassured the community that they have been in communication with all teams about the expectations and guidelines so that all of the student-athletes and coaches are both protected and safe.

    Loveland High School Athletic Director Brian Conaster

    LHS’s Athletic Director, Brian Conatser, explained more in-depth as to what the three-phrase reopening process entails and what his Athletic Department is going to do to ensure the safety of Loveland’s student-athletes and coaches.

    “This is a three-phase process that follows the Ohio Governor and Health Department’s Responsible Restart Ohio. Our coaches are extremely committed to working with the Athletic Department to implement the COVID-19 procedures and guidelines,” Conatser explained, “As an Athletic Department, we walked through the process as a team, fine-tuning our plan prior to our athletes returning to campus. The plan is extremely thorough and detailed, as the safety of our student-athletes and coaches are our primary concern.  Here are a few guidelines that our coaches and student-athletes are taking as we begin our return to high school athletics;
    1. Every student-athlete and coach MUST complete the 2020-21 Final Forms COVID-19 waiver prior to the 1st training session.
    2. Every student-athlete and coach MUST complete the LHS COVID-19 Self-Evaluation Google Form every day prior to each skills training session.
    3. Social distancing includes a 6-foot separation. Entrances and Exits are outlined and over-communicated to avoid congregation and lingering of student-athletes.
    4. Facial coverings must be worn when in the building (gyms, fitness center, athletic training room). Facial coverings may be removed during the training session.
    5. Sanitation products and stations are located at the entry and exit of our inside facilities.  We also ask EVERY student to bring: Water bottle, Sanitation wipes, Hand sanitizer, and Facial covering.
    6. All equipment, balls, etc. must be wiped down at the beginning and end of each training session.
    7. Three phases: Phase 1: May 26th – June 8th / Phase 2:  June 9th – June 22nd / Phase 3: June 23rd – July 6th”

    Conatser told us that June 1st was a great day to be a Tiger because all of LHS’s student-athletes, coaches, and parents played such an important role in the reopening process.

    “From parents dropping off their kids in designated spots to everyone following the COVID-19 guidelines, day one was a success,” Conatser said, “The coaches deserve an overwhelming amount of credit! These outstanding professionals made sure their programs had ALL of the information well ahead of time via communication for ZOOM, Google Hangout, Email, Twitter, etc. We are looking forward to a safe and productive summer of skill training. Welcome back TigerNation! Go Tigers!”

    Here at Loveland Magazine, we are so happy to see the Tigers able to train and eventually compete again! We wish all the athletes and coaches the best of luck! Train Hard and Run Like a Tiger! Stay tuned for the latest Loveland Sports 411 with me, Cassie Mattia!

  • Congratulations Keller Walls

    Congratulations Keller Walls

    by Terri Rogers,

    In honor of Tracy’s strength and courage and her lifelong desire to go to college, the Loveland Initiative Tracy L. Johnson Scholarship Committee has selected Loveland High School graduate Keller Walls to receive a $1,500 scholarship. She has demonstrated a strong interest towards education and in serving her community. Keller was acknowledged for receiving the scholarship in a video presentation during the LHS Senior Awards Ceremony on May 13, 2020. Keller will be attending Ohio State University, majoring in journalism or education. 

    Congratulations Keller on your achievements and best wishes for continued success in your college career and beyond!

    The Loveland Initiative has awarded 23 college scholarships to high-school graduates living in the Loveland City School District, due to the success of the Christmas Toy Store program. Thank you to our wonderful and generous supporters. We are SO PROUD of our AWESOME community we live in and look forward to a continuing partnership with you.

    Terri Rogers is the Executive Director of the Loveland Initiative

  • Art Work by LHS’s Lilly Rohling is Selected for Ohio Governor’s Youth Art Exhibition

    Art Work by LHS’s Lilly Rohling is Selected for Ohio Governor’s Youth Art Exhibition

    by Cassie Mattia

    Loveland, Ohio – The talent in the community of Loveland and within the city’s school district cannot be denied! Over the past decade, there have been many LHS students and Loveland community members that have won both state and national awards for their talents. On May 18th, it was announced that another talented LHS student would be recognized for two pieces of artwork. Lilly Rohling, who will be a Senior at LHS was notified that her two artworks, “Shower Frenzy” (a colored pencil drawing) and “Inclination” (a video) were selected for the 2020 Ohio Governor’s Youth Art Exhibition. 300 winners were selected from 15 regions in the state of Ohio.

    According to the press release sent out by Susanne Quigley, the Information Officer of Loveland Schools, “The exhibition, now in its 50th year, is open to all of Ohio’s 1,112 public and private high schools and dedicated to the educational and artistic advancement of talented youth in the state. The purpose is to provide budding artists with opportunities to advance their talent through scholarships and entering their work in a competition. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, no official awards ceremony – or actual exhibit – will take place this year.”

    The Executive Director of the Ohio Governor’s Youth Art Exhibition, Thad Ricker also shared his thoughts on the COVID-19 pandemic and how it affected 2020 student-artists.

    Loveland artist Lilly Rohling

    “This was not the year that any of us had planned. One of the highlights of my school year is having the honor of recognizing Ohio’s talented young artists in person,” Ricker explained, “My heart is heavy for the 2020 student-artists who were selected for an exhibition that was never hung.”

    Here at Loveland Magazine, we decided that we wanted the community of Loveland to get to know Lilly Rohling a little better so our very talented intern, Claire Beseler, orchestrated a few personalized questions to ask her. Below is our one-on-one written interview with Miss Lilly!

    Please tell us about yourself!

    Lilly   I’m finishing up my junior year at Loveland and have pretty much taken every art class including photography, sculpture, graphics, etc. It’s what I’m most passionate about.

    How long have you been pretty serious about your art?

     Lilly    I started taking it seriously when I was about 13 and I’ve worked on it every day since:) Even if it’s just doing one small thing to keep my mind in a creative spot.

    Have any Loveland teachers inspired you and your artwork?

     Lilly    Going into my senior year at Loveland I’ve had every teacher in the art department for at least one class and all of them have inspired me to better myself and have shown me through their own passion that no matter where you are in life, art is something you can always have as something that is special to you.

    What are your future plans after LHS?

     Lilly    Hopefully studying in some sort of design program at an art school.

    What are your future life goals? 

     Lilly    I’ll always have art as a way to express myself, and career-wise the dream is to be anywhere that allows me to think creatively, which I’m thinking right now will either be graphic design/illustration of some sort but I’m just going to see how things unfold in college and be open to whatever opportunities I come across. Mostly I just want to keep art in my life as a way to connect to myself and others.

    What do you find most rewarding about creating art?

     Lilly    The process of thinking creatively and finding a way to communicate a part of myself in an interesting and unique way is what is most rewarding to me. I don’t worry much about the final product because if the process of doing it was an honest expression of myself, then the final product will reflect that, at least to me. It’s rewarding just to have the release of putting part of myself into a physical work of art.

    Can you tell us about the two pieces of art that were selected to be featured? Which is your favorite piece?

     Lilly    Even though the still life took me weeks, I like the video because the idea is more personal to me. I was experimenting with stop motion for a class assignment and then thought it would be fun if I put two stop motion videos on top of each other. Then I started playing around with how the videos interacted and played off each other and it gave the project a different meaning. The process of trying something new and seeing where it takes you is what’s rewarding to me so I would say the video is my favorite. The still life is a fun capture of shower/bathroom products of mine that shows with vibrant colors the “frenzy” that can go into getting ready for the day.

    Even though she titled her still-life “Shower Frenzy”, Inclination is quite the “Frenzy” too!

    If you would like to see the full listing of this year’s Ohio Governor’s Youth Art Exhibition winners, click on the following link: http://www.govart.org/Documents/2020Winners.pdf.

    CONGRATULATIONS LILLY! On behalf of Loveland Magazine and the community of Loveland we would like to express how proud we are of Lilly! We can’t wait to see what the future holds for her and her incredible artwork!

  • Good Morning America features Loveland school bus drivers

    Good Morning America features Loveland school bus drivers

    Loveland, Ohio – The aerial video greeting from Loveland school bus drivers to the Class of 2020 shot by Loveland High School art and photography teacher Jim Barrett has been featured by ABC News Internet Ventures and GMA.

    GMA said the school bus drivers at Loveland City Schools in Ohio honored students in an “epic way.”

    Watch below or Click Here View Video on GMA

    The original publishing of the video by the Loveland Schools came with this message from the District Transportation Department:

    Congratulations to Loveland High School class of 2020! On behalf of Loveland Transportation, we salute you for achieving a very important milestone! Stand tall and be proud of yourselves.

    “Some of us have been around long enough to transport these kids since Kindergarten and some of us have only been working with the district for a few years, but the one thing we all have in common is the love for our students. This is a huge accomplishment and anyway we can show them some love, we will do it. So here’s to the Class of 2020.  Your bus drivers are proud of all of you.”
    – Jennifer Bloom Bowman

    “Being a school bus driver is not just a job, it’s an adventure ! The love for our students is unconditional and each one will always hold a special place in our hearts. Every story, every hug, every laugh and every tear with them are memories and sometimes even lessons. To the kids of the past, the present and the future, this is for you!” – Michele Winter

    Thank you to the following bus drivers for helping make this project happen:

    Lisa Moorhead
    Michele Winter
    Jennifer Bloom Bowman
    Tara Patterson Hollandsworth
    Kelli Czachor Ramsey
    Lori Schultz-Stulz
    Lindsay Centers

  • [2 Videos] We hope you will watch Loveland Magazine’s Memorial Day Service

    [2 Videos] We hope you will watch Loveland Magazine’s Memorial Day Service

    David Miller is the Publisher of Loveland Magazine and a Vietnam Combat Veteran

    COVID-or-not – it felt imperative to somehow have a Memorial Day Service in Loveland 

    by David Miller

    Monday marks the nation’s most significant holiday, so it should not go without remembrance. For many, it’s quite sobering and you may want to think twice about saying, “Happy Memorial Day” if you want to avoid blank awkward stares.

    Traditionally the area has annual gatherings with speeches given on the stage of the Loveland Veterans’ Memorial or at the monument at Veterans’ Memorial Plaza in Home of the Brave Park, however because of COVID 19 and an Ohio ban of large gatherings the annual Memorial Day ceremonies were canceled this year. Before the Loveland Memorial was built in the West Loveland Historic District the event was held on the lawn in front of the Loveland Elementary School.

    Given the National Holiday’s significance, because without the ultimate, life-giving sacrifice of young men and women there would be no other holidays celebrated in this country, including Independence Day, Christmas, Easter, or Labor Day, it felt imperative to somehow have a Memorial Day observance non-the-less, COVID-or-not.

    I didn’t do too much head-scratching before I remembered Ryan Linday’s Memorial Day address in 2017 because it was a very good one – the best one of my recollection. Ryan is a “third-generation Veteran” and his uncle died in Vietnam. Ryan quickly agreed to record a message and brought Steve Bow to play taps.

    I also remembered young Paul Laufersweiler the eighth-grade student from St. Columban School who read a speech at last November’s Veterans Day service in Loveland, The service is put on by students who walk from their school to the Veterans’ Memorial each fall to lay wreaths and honor current and past veterans. So, I contacted his mom Stephanie who I also met that day and asked her if Paul would like to record a speech for this year’s Memorial Day. Almost immediately she responded, “Just tell us where to meet you.”

    Much of the morning that Ryan, Steve, and I spent while at the Chapel at Union Cemetery in Symmes Township centered around a conversation about how many more Veterans in recent years have died by suicide than in battlefield combat. Truthfully, it was Steve and Ryan doing the lamenting with me just listening. They remembered those lives with sobriety and respect for their pain and suffering, their endless dark days, and the families in these recent years who lost their Veteran but never received a Gold Star to put in the home’s window.

    To those numerous families in Loveland I want you to know that the loss of these young souls and your pain was memorialized with quiet somber reflection at our three-person Memorial Day service at the cemetery yesterday.

    Monday, Ryan and Steve will visit other local cemeteries and return to Union Cemetery to lay wreaths and Steve will play Taps to honor the greatest of our community’s heroes – including yours.

    When I was with Paul and his mom on Friday to record Paul’s speech we didn’t chat about such somber subjects – I don’t have those things in common with the young man. Our conversation was about Paul’s promising future and his dreams. I believe we all have a responsibility to Paul to turn them into reality. Thank you Paul for recognizing at such a young age who it was that came before you who allows the possibility of your aspirations.

    Let’s make a mission statement after hearing Paul’s last sentence of his speech – to make it so for him and all of our children. To make is so for all the Gold Star Families and those who did not receive the Gold Star but deserve it as much as anyone.

    We really must make Paul a promise that we will make this country and community live up to the promise now laid at our feet, by so many lost lives who held the same dreams and potential as he has.

    This photo was taken when Paul read a speech last November on Veterans Day

    Meet Paul Laufersweiler

    Paul just graduated from eighth grade at St. Columban school and will be attending Loveland High School in the Fall. He has already successfully auditioned to be in the marching and symphonic bands. He has two sisters, Emily still attending St. Columban as a sixth-grader and Amy who will be a junior at LHS who is in the Show Choir.

    Paul said he is interested in studying science, however, he is also really interested in learning more about communicating so he might be taking those courses as well.

    “When I was really little I wanted to be a pizza pilot where I would fly around in a plane and drop down pizzas to people.” I asked him if he would throw them like frisbees and he said, “Yes, I’ll get a thin crust, real crispy, so they won’t flop around.”

    Paul was the student council President at St. Columban this year. Annually they raise money for school supplies for St. Julie School in Uganda, but because of COVID 19 they were not able to complete all of their fundraising activities. At the urging of his little sister Emily, they decided the canceled Walk-A-Thon should still take place, but by the students walking in their own neighborhoods. This photo (right) provided by his mom is Paul opening donations and notes from St. Columban families who contributed to the “Virtual” Walk-A-Thon. In the end, they raised $1,000.

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    Meet     Ryan Lindsay

    Ryan is a lifelong Loveland resident and 1994 Graduate of LSH. He enlisted the Army right out os high school and served until 1998. Since, he has been a self-described “civilian-slave for the system.” Ryan told me, “Im proud to be a resident and citizen of the City.” For the past 15 years he has been an office manager for a heating and cooling company.

    When I asked Ryan what he plans on doing with the rest of his life he said, ”Work, and then do lots of fun things when we are again allowed to do them. I go to Indy car races, sport car races, and concerts.”

    I asked him if he ever raced and he said laughing, “No, that’s a rich man’s sport and I want to keep my money for when I retire. I know I would like it so much but I know how much it costs so I would probably bankrupt myself. It’s funner to watch somebody else spend that money so I’d rather watch ‘em do it. do it and that way if there’s a wreck I won’t have a bill to pay or anything like that.” He said he would probably try out a “Driving School” in a professional setting just to try it out to see how his skills stack up. “I would love to race cars, but then you see the price tag.”

    He did race bicycles from the late nineties until 2012. “I kinda got too old and too busy with work to keep doing that. I did travel all over the country and would still like to do it but there isn’t enough time now to train and keep fit.”

    Ryan will spend his Memorial Day with other veterans making their annual pilgrimage to local cemeteries, praying, and laying wreaths.

    Meet Steve Bow

    Steve has lived in Loveland since 2012 and has played the trumpet for 41 years. He is a technical specialist with a German company and works from home doing quality control and business and sales development. He does travel to South Carolina and Tennessee to consult with large companies such as Volvo and Volkswagen about quality and technical problems.

    Steve was born in 1967 and grew up in Texas. His dad was an engineer for Dow Chemical for “the better part of 40 years.” The family moved to Columbus in 1980. He graduated from Ohio State in 1990 with a degree in metallurgical engineering and he’s been in the steel industry for a little going on 21 years. Steve’s father, Kenneth E. Bow, is a retired Army, Lt Col.

    “I consider myself an Ohioan because I was in seventh grade when I first lived here,” Steve said. He attended OSU for five years and was in the marching band for four playing trumpet and in the “S Row” on the field.

    Steve is the Assistant State Director, SW/NW Ohio District of Bugles Across America, an all-volunteer Taps organization. Bugles Across America (BAA) offers live/real bugle/trumpet players to sound Taps at Veterans funerals and events so the electronic device can be avoided. Steve has sounded Taps for around 300 “Missions” despite having a full-time job.

    Recently, Steve has sounded Taps in Normandy in 2015, Arlington National Cemetery in 2013 and 2016, the D-Day Memorial in Bedford, VA, and various other Veterans events, including participating in a Full Honors funeral with the US Army and last year he played at Dayton National Cemetery.

    In 2018, Steve and his daughter Claudia, a Music Ed major at NKU, sounded echo taps at the Normandy American Cemetery. They have also sounded Taps on Omaha Beach.

    Steve said, “In addition to my full-time job and the BAA, I also own an art business on the side where I paint Military aircraft nose art from WW2 and aircraft insignia art on aluminum panels to replicate the originals.” He has shipped his artwork to clients around the world. “I also do leather jackets and I have been painting since 2012. My company is STB Aviation Art LLC.”

    Steve will spend his Memorial Day with other veterans making their annual pilgrimage to local cemeteries, praying, and laying wreaths, and of course Steve will sound Taps.

  • OHSAA Plans to Expand the 2021 Football Playoffs

    by Cassie Mattia

    Columbus, Ohio – OHSAA released some excellent news for Ohio High School Football teams on Wednesday when they announced their Board of Directors approved expanding the playoff qualifiers from 8 teams to 12 teams per region.

    OHSAA’s Board voted 9-0 to expand the OHSAA Football playoffs to 12 teams per region starting in the 2021 season. The expansion was proposed by the Ohio High School Football Coaches Association. OHSAA’s Director of Communications, Tim Stried, sent out a press release explaining how the new football playoff expansion will work.

    “During the first round of the playoffs, the top four seeds will have a bye, while the No. 12 seed will play at the No. 5 seed, No. 11 at No. 6, No. 10 at No. 7 and No. 9 at No. 8. In the second round, the No. 1 seed will play the winner of the 8 vs. 9 game; the No. 2 seed will play the winner of 6 vs. 11; the No. 3 seed will play the winner of 7 vs. 10 and the No. 4 seed will play the winner of 5 vs. 12.

    The expansion will increase the number of football playoff qualifiers from 224 to 336. Last year there were 709 schools in Ohio that played 11-man football. Football is the only OHSAA team sport in which not every school qualifies for the postseason.

    ‘We still have details to work out regarding the format and specific season dates, but this vote by the Board gives us the green light to finalize those details for 2021,’ said Beau Rugg, Senior Director of Officiating and Sport Management for the OHSAA and the Association’s football administrator. ‘We are thankful for the Board’s support on this proposal, which will bring all the great things of playoff football to 112 additional schools and communities.’

    Rugg also noted that the football finals in 2021 are expected to end during the same weekend as previously scheduled (Dec. 2-5). Schools will still be permitted to play 10 regular-season contests.

    The higher seeded teams will have the opportunity to host their playoff games during the first and second rounds of the playoffs.

    Loveland Tigers vs. Lebanon in September of 2016

    The OHSAA football playoffs began in 1972 when only 12 schools qualified for the playoffs (four schools in each of three classes). Expansion first came in 1980 when the OHSAA changed to five divisions with eight teams each (40 total qualifiers). A sixth division was added in 1994 (96 total qualifiers) and the number of qualifiers was increased to eight schools per region in 1999 (192 total qualifiers). A seventh division was added in 2013 to bring the number of qualifiers to 224.”

    Stay tuned for the latest Ohio and Loveland sports news!