LOVELAND MAGAZINE

News and Events from the Loveland, Ohio Area

Without fear or favor
Since 2004

Tag: loveland magazine local news

Loveland Magazine Brings You This Week’s Summer Salad!

Cassie Mattia is the Associate Editor of Loveland Magazine and lives in Historic Downtown Loveland

by Cassie Mattia

Loveland, Ohio – The flowers are in bloom, the temperatures are rising, the Loveland Bike Trail is flourishing with families enjoying Nisbet Park and the Little Miami River…so that means it’s time for another rendition of the Loveland Summer Salad!

This week we are featuring BRS Insurance, Loveland High School’s Cross Country Team, Hope Restored Counseling Services, Loveland Dairy Whip, Vibe Nutrition, and Move2Loveland. The Summer Salad will feature what Loveland’s local businesses are up to as well as fun Summer activity ideas and events that you, your friends, or family can get involved in! So what are you waiting for?! Scroll down to see who is featured this week!

BRS Insurance has joined forces with A.M Peck & Company! Read below to find out what this means for insurance clients!

AM Peck & Company Joins BRS

We would like to welcome A.M. Peck & Company, Inc. to the BRS team! This merger provides all BRS Insurance clients – new and old – expanded coverage options and opportunities. LEARN MORE

Our agency slogan “Worry Less with BRS” means we will provide our policyholders with a superior insurance value by offering personal attention, professional service, and a broad range of insurance products at a competitive price.

Loveland High School’s Cross Country Team is preparing to host the Cross Country Championships set to take place in the Fall! Check out their trail progress!

xlovelandcc Tweeted…”Thank you volunteers who worked on the trails at Home of the Brave Park for the sold out ⁦XC Championships this fall.“

Hope Restored Counseling Services wants the community to know that they are accepting new clients! Read on below to see how you can become a new client!

HOPE FOR TODAY

CHANGE FOR TOMORROW

COUNSELING SERVICES

UPDATE: We are continuing to see clients and can also offer telehealth sessions. We are accepting new clients at this time as well. Please email us to schedule an appointment.

Outdoor Seating Again

Loveland Dairy Whip is offering outdoor seating again! Click the link above for more “creamy” details!

Vibe Nutrition is offering some new refreshing energizing teas and shakes to kick your Summer off right! Click the link below to learn more about Vibe and their delicious products!

At Vibe Nutrition, our mission is to transform lives by providing excellent wellness support for every client to achieve the best version of themselves!

Move2Loveland wants to help you sell your home! Click the link below to see how you can utilize their selling resource guide!

Sellers, Start Here!

We’ve put together our most useful resources to help guide your selling decision. From a step by step look at what the process would look like to stories from real people we’ve worked with in the past and everything in between.

Curious If Online Home Values Are Accurate?

We Did Some Research

Jun 24, 2020
Loveland High School student Evan Osgood creates non-profit to get help and Personal Protective Equipment to those who need it most

While our hospitals are finally able to get the Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) they need, many others are still in great need of PPE and you can help!

Sign up to get your free assembly kit at SOSforPPE.org and in an hour you can make 20 faceshields or facemasks and maybe save a life! Various ability levels welcome, suitable for anyone ages 5 and up.

No experience or special equipment needed!

Loveland, Ohio – Evan Osgood, a Loveland High School student, has created a non-profit organization to get help and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to those who need it the most.

Evan Osgood (Provided Photo)

Osgood said, “Back in March when I heard about the dire need for PPE on the news, I asked myself, ‘What can I do to help?’ We have all these people sheltering in place looking for something to do and this tremendous need for PPE. How can we combine these two things to make a difference…and SOS for PPE was born!”

Osgood created a team of founding members and the PPE Network keeps growing exponentially. Founding Members include Carissa Aiello, Molly Alexander, Will Gerstemeier, Aidan Hook, Nate Matuszak, Caleb Nelson, Hayes Santa, Tyler Vrh, and Tristan Vrh. Board Members include Jack Alexander, Lisa Brockmeyer, and Gwen Vrh.

“A great thank you goes out to some of our major contributors and over-the-top makers of all ages,” said Osgood. He named ioby.org, National COVID-19 Community Response and Recovery Match Fund, the Mueller Family, the Kavouras Family, Julie Koch, Luis Garcia Saucedo, the Crouse Family, the Batterson Family. He said there are many more who have helped.

A Faceshield Kit

“It really hit home how important our efforts are when I made one of our deliveries,” said Osgood. It was for a couple of senior citizens in their 70’s who live in Loveland. “I placed the bagged and sanitized masks on the front porch, rang the bell, and stepped back to the car as usual.” The woman answered the door, looked down, and burst into tears she was so appreciative of the masks.

It turns out she and her husband had been stuck inside for three weeks and didn’t feel safe even going to the grocery store. Osgood offered to deliver her some groceries and she politely declined, saying now that they had some masks, they would go during the designated shopping time for senior citizens. Osgood said that she couldn’t have been more thankful and appreciative, calling out, “Bless you and bless what you are doing for this community.”

A Hand-Sewing Kit

“Whenever I start to get overwhelmed with trying to make a dent in the need for PPE, I just take a step back and remember her. Even one mask can make a huge difference for someone,” said Osgood.

“We have story after story of people who hear about us from a friend or see us on the news, go online, and sign up to receive or make PPE. There was a woman who worked at a nursing home and their staff was getting ear blisters from the elastic of the masks rubbing all day. We sent them EARests for their whole staff and it’s made a really tough job just a little bit easier.”

Osgood said that so far, SOSforPPE has supplied over 40,000 pieces of PPE to frontline caregivers, hospitals, co-workers, seniors, and neighbors. “There is still a great need and you can be part of the solution.”

If you will volunteer an hour of your time you can get a free assembly kit to make them from the comfort of your home.

Some finished masks made by a volunteer

Mom Lisa Osgood said, “The Veterans Administration Medical Centers and our senior living communities are still in great need of PPE. Even though hospitals can, for the most part, get what they need, The VA and senior facilities are asking for help.”

“If everyone reading this signs up to make even one kit, we can answer the SOS for PPE from the VA and our seniors and help save lives,” said Evan.

HELP! We NEED PPE – Request PPE

Register to MAKE or ASSEMBLE PPE

Donate

Contact SOSforPPE

Jun 23, 2020
Hamilton County/Ohio Public Health/FDA advises consumers not to use hand sanitizer products manufactured by Eskbiochem
Hamilton County, Ohio – Jamie Higley, the Administrator of Food Safety Programs at the Ohio Department of Health and Mike Samet the Public Information Officer for Hamilton County Public Health issued the following FDA Advisory this morning.
FDA advises consumers not to use hand sanitizer products manufactured by Eskbiochem
FDA advises consumers not to use hand sanitizer products manufactured by Eskbiochem

[6/19/2020] FDA advises consumers not to use any hand sanitizer manufactured by Eskbiochem SA de CV in Mexico, due to the potential presence of methanol (wood alcohol), a substance that can be toxic when absorbed through the skin or ingested. FDA has identified the following products manufactured by Eskbiochem:

All-Clean Hand Sanitizer (NDC: 74589-002-01)

Esk Biochem Hand Sanitizer (NDC: 74589-007-01)

CleanCare NoGerm Advanced Hand Sanitizer 75% Alcohol (NDC: 74589-008-04)

Lavar 70 Gel Hand Sanitizer (NDC: 74589-006-01)

The Good Gel Antibacterial Gel Hand Sanitizer (NDC: 74589-010-10)

CleanCare NoGerm Advanced Hand Sanitizer 80% Alcohol (NDC: 74589-005-03)

CleanCare NoGerm Advanced Hand Sanitizer 75% Alcohol (NDC: 74589-009-01)

CleanCare NoGerm Advanced Hand Sanitizer 80% Alcohol (NDC: 74589-003-01)

Saniderm Advanced Hand Sanitizer (NDC: 74589-001-01)

FDA tested samples of Lavar Gel and CleanCare No Germ. Lavar Gel contains 81 percent (v/v) methanol and no ethyl alcohol, and CleanCare No Germ contains 28 percent (v/v) methanol. Methanol is not an acceptable ingredient for hand sanitizers and should not be used due to its toxic effects.

Consumers who have been exposed to hand sanitizer containing methanol should seek immediate treatment, which is critical for potential reversal of toxic effects of methanol poisoning. Substantial methanol exposure can result in nausea, vomiting, headache, blurred vision, permanent blindness, seizures, coma, permanent damage to the nervous system or death. Although all persons using these products on their hands are at risk, young children who accidently ingest these products and adolescents and adults who drink these products as an alcohol (ethanol) substitute, are most at risk for methanol poisoning.

On June 17, 2020, FDA contacted Eskbiochem to recommend the company remove its hand sanitizer products from the market due to the risks associated with methanol poisoning. To date, the company has not taken action to remove these potentially dangerous products from the market. Therefore, FDA recommends consumers stop using these hand sanitizers and dispose of them immediately in appropriate hazardous waste containers. Do not flush or pour these products down the drain.

FDA reminds consumers to wash their hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom; before eating; and after coughing, sneezing, or blowing one’s nose. If soap and water are not readily available, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend consumers use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60 percent ethanol.

FDA remains vigilant and will continue to take action when quality issues arise with hand sanitizers. Additionally, the agency is concerned with false and misleading claims for hand sanitizers, for example that they can provide prolonged protection such as 24-hours against viruses including COVID-19, since there is no evidence to support these claims.

To date, FDA is not aware of any reports of adverse events associated with these hand sanitizer products. FDA encourages health care professionals, consumers and patients to report adverse events or quality problems experienced with the use of hand sanitizers to FDA’s MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program:

Complete and submit the report online; or

Download and complete the form, then submit it via fax at 1-800-FDA-0178.
Jun 23, 2020
Today’s Loveland Area COVID 19 Dashboard

Loveland, Ohio – Here are the latest COVID 19 stats as reported by the agencies as of 10 AM Tuesday, June 23, 2020. Some data is not present because not all Health Districts report the same data.

Here is the “Key Indicator” graph from the Ohio Department of Health reported on 6-22 *

(Right-Click and open in new tab or window to see a larger view.)

*Current Trends – Above are the current reporting trends for key indicators calculated from data reported to the Ohio Department of Health. These trends are updated daily and are presented by report date.

Jun 23, 2020
Re-zoning for possible 28-Unit condo project proposed for North Second Street

Loveland, Ohio – An application has been submitted on behalf of Joe Farruggia with Zicka Homes to re-zone property off North Second Street (St. Rt. 48) south of the Sentry Hill subdivision with the potential use to build a 28-unit condominium development.

A public hearing on the proposal is scheduled for this Wednesday, June 24 at 7:30 PM at City Hall. The public will have an opportunity to comment on the proposal.

Assistant City Manager Tom Smith told Loveland Magazine this morning that a “concept of what could go in the area”, subject to the approval of the rezoning, could be 28 single-family attached townhomes. “The item up for discussion this Wednesday is for the rezone only. To date, no application has been submitted for the development of this area,” said Smith.

City staff is recommending that the re-zoning be approved.

The applicant is requesting re-zoning the property from the current zoning of Residential – Medium Density (R-MD) to Residential – Multi-Family (R-MF).

The area consists of approximately 5.529 acres of undeveloped land.

In a memo to the Planning and Zoning Commission dated June 24, Assistant City Manager Tom Smith said in part:

It is the opinion of City staff that the proposed rezone would be consistent with the recommendations of the Downtown Strategic Plan, surrounding land uses, and poses very little significance in the disparity between the two zones in question. Therefore, City staff dos not believe that the integrity of the code, surrounding land uses, nor their density requirements will be jeopardized with regards to the applicant’s request for rezone.

Policy Options

Recommend the proposed recommendation to the City Council for approval, deny the proposed recommendation, or propose an alternative solution.

Recommendation

Staff recommends that the Planning and Zoning Commission make a favorable recommendation to the City Council for the approval of the applicant’s rezone request as stated in the applicant’s application.

You can see the entire proposal that the Commission will debate here: Blossom Hill Project

Jun 22, 2020
SAVE THE DATE: JULY 31st: The 2020 Swirl and Sip

To Benefit Loveland School Music Programs

SAVE THE DATE: JULY 31st at 7 PM. The 2020 Swirl and Sip wine and beer tasting is back on.

“We are having 12 mini parties instead of one big event.”

Wine, beer, food, auctions… lots of fun while supporting the music programs in our Loveland schools.

There will be having 12 smaller, Covid friendly parties at different Host “house” locations around Loveland.

Get your tickets today, as space will be limited.

More details coming soon!

The Loveland Music Boosters’ mission is to support music students in Loveland Schools from kindergarten through 12th grade. We are entirely dependent on the financial support and volunteer efforts of our members – parents, students and music lovers in the community like you.

To contact the Music Boosters, email them at: lovelandmusicboosters@gmail.com

Jun 22, 2020
St. Columban’s Student Council Organizes First “Virtual-Walk-A-Thon!”

Cassie Mattia is a reporter/columnist and Assistant Editor of Loveland Magazine. She lives in Historic Downtown Loveland

Loveland, Ohio – Over the past several months’ many citizens across Ohio have experienced the effects of COVID-19 and MANY have stepped up to help out those who have been hit the hardest by the pandemic. The former President of St. Columban’s Student Council Paul Laufersweiler and his sister Emily decided they wanted to make a difference by introducing St. Columban’s “Virtual Walk-A-Thon!” Paul will be entering Loveland High School in the Fall and Emily will be a sixth-grade student at St. Columban.

The President of St. Columban’s Student Council Paul Laufersweiler opening donations and notes from St. Columban families who contributed to the Virtual Walk-A-Thon.

Every year St. Columban School partners with the Sisters of Mount Notre Dame to raise money for St. Julie School in Uganda. St. Columban’s Student Council, which is supervised by Chad Drinnen, an 8th-grade teacher at St. Columban, organizes fund-raising events throughout the school year in order to meet their ultimate fundraising goal. These events range from both basketball and volleyball tournaments to bake sales to $1 Out-Of-Uniform days to the largest event, the annual Walk-A-Thon.

Due to COVID-19 the school year was cut short which meant a number of the fundraising events didn’t get to happen including the popular 3-on-3 Basketball Tournament.

Paul’s mother Stefanie Badders Laufersweiler explained to us just how the idea of the “Virtual-Walk-A-Thon” came about.

“At dinner one night, we were talking about all the cancellations and when Paul said how disappointed he was that they might not make their fundraising goal this year for St. Julie’s, his little sister Emily said, ‘Why can’t we still do the Walk-A-Thon and just walk in our own neighborhoods?’ Paul loved the idea and so did Mr. Drinnen,” Laufersweiler explained, “Families collected and mailed check donations and also paid by Venmo and in the end, they raised $1,000 that St. Julie School will use for school supplies and other items that will create a better learning experience for their students.”

Check out the videos below of the Laufersweiler’s fundraising journey!

Paul introducing the Virtual Walk-A-Thon for St. Columban School!

Paul announcing the Virtual Walk-A-Thon results!

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. Paul has two sisters, Emily, who will be a sixth-grader at St. Columban, and Amy who will be a Junior at LHS. Amy is also in LHS’s Show Choir.

Paul told us he may want to study science in college, however, he also has taken an interest in the art of communication so he may want to study that 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,” Paul said. We then asked Paul if he would throw the pizzas out of the plane like frisbees and he responded, “Yes, I’ll get a thin crust, real crispy, so they won’t flop around!”

Here at Loveland Magazine, we are so proud of the younger generation for stepping up and making a difference during these difficult and unknown times! If you have a story about an act of kindness that has occurred during the COVID-19 pandemic feel free to contact us.

Jun 21, 2020
Dear Readers: Sign up and donate to our annual Student Life Shop

ITEMS NEEDED

Spiral Notebooks
5 Subject dividers
Composition Notebooks
8 Subject dividers
Dry Erase Markers
10 Subject dividers
Pencil Sharpeners
Post-It Notes
Pencil Cases Fabric w/zipper
Erasers for Pencils
Pencil Boxes
Pencil Sharpeners
Graph Paper
Scissors – Adult Size
Binders 1.5”
Binder 2”
Binders 2.5”
Binders 3”

by Sharon Raess

On August 15, 2020, the LIFE Food Pantry will host our annual Student Life Shop, back to school event at Prince of Peace Church in Loveland.

Last year, with help from our community, we gave away over 165 backpacks. It’s so rewarding to see the excited faces on the children as they prepare to go back to school.

Each registered LIFE Food Pantry client may sign up their school-age child for this event. Every student will receive a backpack filled with grade-appropriate supplies along with personal care items and school spirit wear.

Registration takes place in July. Please refer to our website for registration details.

For those of you interested in donating, a list of needed supplies is also posted. Lifefoodpantry.org.

Thanks again to everyone who has helped to make this event a success!

Sharon Raess is the Event Co-Chair of the annual Student Life Shop. Contact ger at lifefoodpantry@yahoo.com.

Jun 21, 2020
Air Quality Advisory has been declared for Loveland Area on Saturday

Saturday, Jun 20: 110 AQI Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups Ozone

Loveland, Ohio – Based on forecasted weather conditions, (light winds, weak high pressure system, low percentage of clouds), the Southwest Ohio Air Quality Agency is issuing an Air Quality Alert for Saturday, June 20. The Agency expects levels of ozone in the “Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups” range.

Air Quality Forecast for 06/20/20

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Do Your Share and Take these precautions:

• Take the bus, carpool, bike or walk instead of driving
• Refuel your vehicle after 8 p.m.; do not top off when refueling and tighten the gas cap
• Avoid idling your vehicle
• Combine trips or eliminate unnecessary vehicle trips
• Keep your vehicle maintained with properly inflated tires and timely oil changes
• Avoid use of gasoline-powered lawn equipment on Air Quality Advisory days
• Avoid use of oil-based paints and stains on Air Quality Advisory days
• Never burn leaves or other yard trimmings
• Always burn clean, seasoned wood in outdoor fire pits, fireplaces and wood stoves
• Do not use fire pits or fireplaces for non-essential home heating on Air Quality Advisory days
• Conserve electricity

Ground-level ozone is a health hazard because people breathe it.It is formed through a complex set of chemical reactions involving hydrocarbons, nitrogen oxides and sunlight on calm summer days where the weather may also be warm and humid. High levels of ground ozone affect the breathing process and aggravate asthma in chronic sufferers. The young, elderly, and those with lung diseases are especially susceptible. (Source Wikipedia)

For more information, visit www.SouthwestOhioAir.org.

Jun 19, 2020
National Underground Railroad Freedom Center sets July 24 reopening date

Cincinnati, Ohio – The National Underground Railroad Freedom Center is located in downtown Cincinnati, on the banks of the Ohio River.

The National Underground Railroad Freedom Center announced June 12 it will reopen July 24. The news comes after what has already been a three-month closure due to the COVID-19 pandemic. As the Freedom Center works toward its opening date, it is taking steps to ensure guests’ next visit will be safe and comfortable.

“The National Underground Railroad Freedom Center is a place of understanding and dialogue, where we confront our past in order to build a better, more equitable future and the climate we find our country in now makes our mission especially vital,” says Woodrow Keown, Jr., president of the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center. “We’re working diligently to reopen our museum in a safe and responsible way so that we can welcome our community home and work together for inclusive freedom.”

Among the steps the Freedom Center is taking to keep its guests and staff safe upon reopening is instituting timed tickets, which they are encouraging guests to purchase online. Timed tickets will help manage crowd capacity. The Freedom Center is using data on the average length of visit and updated building capacity according to social distancing guidelines to determine the number of tickets sold each hour. In the weeks after reopening, the Freedom Center will reevaluate ticket levels to adjust accordingly. Signage and floor markings will further help guests maintain the proper six feet of distance between groups. Additionally, theater seating has been altered to give guests six feet between each other. However, the status of the 300-seat Harriet Tubman Theater has not been decided, though the museum is hopeful it can reopen in a limited capacity.

Extensive cleaning protocols will ensure the building is cleaned and sanitized multiple times per day, including particular attention to high touchpoint areas like doors, elevators, handrails, countertops and restrooms. The Freedom Center is currently working to make all restrooms and hand sanitizer stations touchless. The Freedom Center is also amending operating days and hours so the building can undergo deep cleaning before opening each day and after close. For the safety of guests and colleagues, masks will be worn by Freedom Center staff at all times and they are asking guests to please do the same.

Due to their high-touch nature, some museum experiences will be altered or closed completely. Many of the museum’s interactives will either be made touchless or updated with foot pedals. Featured exhibition Motel X – which focuses on the combatting human trafficking through awareness and education – is also being updated to remove touch-based interactives but has been extended through September 7. The Rosa Parks Experience, an immersive virtual experience commemorating the Civil Rights icon’s historic demonstration on a Montgomery bus, will not be available upon reopening.

The Freedom Center will continue to share updates on its reopening procedures in the coming weeks.

ABOUT THE NATIONAL UNDERGROUND RAILROAD FREEDOM CENTER

The National Underground Railroad Freedom Center opened in August 2004 on the banks of the Ohio River in downtown Cincinnati, Ohio. Since then, more than 1.3 million people have visited its permanent and changing exhibits and public programs, inspiring everyone to take courageous steps for freedom. Two million people have utilized educational resources online at freedomcenter.org, working to connect the lessons of the Underground Railroad to inform and inspire today’s global and local fight for freedom. Partnerships include Historians Against Slavery, Polaris Project, Free the Slaves, US Department of State and International Justice Mission. In 2014, the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center launched a new online resource in the fight against modern slavery, endslaverynow.org.

Jun 19, 2020