News and Events from the Loveland, Ohio Area
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Loveland, Ohio – Jeffrey Atkinson of Edward Jones signed up as a LIFEsaver, providing a monthly financial donation to LIFE. Recurring monthly donations help us to budget and plan for regular items needed, provide financial assistance to clients, and run programs such as our Back-to School backpacks and holiday food baskets.
Thank you for your support! Visit our website to learn how you can be a LIFEsaver! https://lifefoodpantry.org/annual-campaign/
Loveland, Ohio – Loveland Magazine’s Live Music listings has been updated just in time for the weekend, including what bands are playing tonight. We have some Memorial Day weekend events listed as well.
We have also added some new nearby local venues to our listings.
Nearly a quarter-million Ohio drivers have taken advantage of a program started at the end of 2020 that is intended to reduce license-reinstatement fees or waive them altogether, the Ohio Poverty Law Center said Monday.
The group released an analysis of the amnesty program, a bipartisan measure passed by the legislature. It found that nearly 223,000 drivers have participated and saved more than $136 million, with an average individual savings of $612.
“The program has provided a lot of relief from the financial barriers that prevent hundreds of thousands of lower-income Ohioans from driving legally,” Zack Eckles of the poverty law center said during a virtual press conference. “Driving is essential for economic participation in the state of Ohio.”
Suspensions stemming from driving under the influence of alcohol, drugs or with deadly weapons are not eligible for the amnesty. Instead, the program is aimed at people who just don’t have the funds to pay the fees to reinstate their licenses after being suspended for offenses such as driving with no proof of insurance.
“Although reinstatement fees are distinct from punitive fines, they have many characteristics of a fine,” the report said. “For example, they vary by the type of offense or increase in amount for repeated offenses, and they can be extremely burdensome. One particularly punitive reinstatement fee is for non-compliance suspensions, which occur when a driver does not show proof of insurance at a traffic stop or at the time of an accident. These non-compliance suspensions carry reinstatement fees of $100 for the first offense, $300 for the second offense, and $600 for the third and any subsequent offenses within a five-year period.”
To help ensure that only people who can’t afford reinstatement fees get reductions, the program requires that suspended drivers wait 18 months after at least one of their suspensions expire before they’re eligible. Presumably, people who can afford to pay won’t wait that long, but Eckles faulted the rule for holding those without funds “hostage” for 18 months before they can clear their fees and drive legally.
People eligible for Medicaid, Supplemental Security Income, Ohio Workers First, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance or the VA Pension Benefit are eligible to have their reinstatement fees canceled and don’t have to wait 18 months because their eligibility for those programs demonstrates their financial need. However, Ohioans eligible for the waiver made up only about 5% of those who have participated in the amnesty program.
Benefits of the amnesty extend well beyond making it easier for huge numbers of Ohioans to drive legally to work, school, medical appointments and the grocery store.
Of the drivers applying for fee reductions, 85% paid their fees in full, paying $23 million to the Bureau of Motor Vehicles that it otherwise likely wouldn’t have collected. And, with an estimated 75% of those with suspended licenses continuing to drive illegally, the amnesty program probably has greatly reduced the number of uninsured drivers because participants have to furnish proof of insurance to participate.
But even though nearly a quarter-million Ohioans participated in the program, that’s only a third of 748,000 that the BMV notified that they were eligible.
That has implications beyond increasing the number of legal drivers on Ohio roadways. The Legal Aid Society of Cleveland last year estimated that about 1 million Ohioans have debt-related license suspensions. With Ohio’s heavily gerrymandered legislature passing one of the strictest voter ID laws in the country, that could have a huge impact in a state with about 8 million registered voters.
To improve participation in the amnesty program, the Ohio Poverty Law center made three recommendations:
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MARTY SCHLADEN
Loveland, Ohio – The LIFE Food Pantry is partnering with Fleet Feet in downtown Loveland to hold a Hunger Walk along the Loveland Bike Trail on Memorial Day, Monday May 29th at 9 AM.Since 1988, the Loveland Interfaith Effort (LIFE) Food Pantry has been serving the Greater Loveland community by providing food and support for those less fortunate. We currently provide much needed food to hundreds of families, stock snack shelves at the local schools for qualifying children, and even financial assistance for those in dire need.
by David Miller
Loveland, Ohio – Angels by the Trail will become a permanent, brightly painted memorial wall space that forever “Celebrates Loveland’s school-aged children whose lives were cut short.”
I interviewed muralist, David Uy as he was putting away his paint and coming off a rented SkyJack on Monday. The colorful 65′ X 20′ memorial will be facing the bike trail and the Little Miami River near the Linda Cox parking lot on Karl Brown Way in Historic downtown Loveland. It is being painted on a previously bare industrial wall of the Eads Fence Company.
David said he is painting Guardian Angels or Guardian Loveland Tigers by the Loveland Bike Trail.
Stacey Lund, a Loveland resident and parent is leading the project. She said, “I am a Loveland resident, parent, and neighbor. I, like many here, am passionate about giving back to this terrific community of ours for all that it has given to me and my family.”
As a way of giving back, a group of Lund’s friends are in the process of creating a special mural that is named, “Angels by the Trail”. Lund added, “The bright joyful mural will be created in celebration of the memory of school–aged children, ages 3-23 who lived in the Loveland community that have passed away much too soon.”
She gives special thanks to Dale Eads of Eads Hardware and Fence for generously allowing them to use one of their large, trail-facing walls for the project.
On the GoFundMe page created for the project, Lund said, “Our hope is that the conversion of this plain industrial wall into the “Angels by the Trail” installation will bring joy to the families of these children and those who love them and will give our community another beautiful, bright and cheerful landmark and backdrop within our special home of Loveland.”
David Jonathan Creative
Promoted Post
Loveland, Ohio – The 10th annual Loveland Food Truck Rally will be held on Saturday, May 13, from 3 PM until 10 PM at Shopper’s Haven Plaza (597 Loveland-Madeira Rd.). The President of the Little Miami River Chamber Alliance CeeCee Collins said, “We are so happy this event has become the unofficial kick of to summer in Loveland.”
Collins added that the Chamber loves highlighting businesses along the Loveland Madeira corridor and in the Shoppers Haven area. “There will be excellent entertainment, an enhanced children’s area, tons of food trucks that any foodie can enjoy and a variety of cold beverages.”
Be sure to help others and bring a non-perishable goods for the LIFE Food Pantry-Stuff a Truck on site!”
There is no cost to attend the food truck rally.
• Food options from over variety of 25 food trucks offering something for everyone’s taste! We are at capacity for food trucks! Vendors still welcome.
• Beverages for sale to include beer, wine, seltzers, water, and soda.
• Live music.
• Help the Loveland Police Department Stuff-a-Truck with non-perishable donations for Loveland LIFE Food Pantry.
• Children’s area with inflatables, face painting and more!
3 o’clock – Food Trucks will begin serving
3 – 4 o’clock – Premier Dance on stage
4 – 6 o’clock – Counting Skeletons on stage
6 – 10 o’clock – Hifi Honey on stage
10 o’clock – Event ends
• Adena’s Beefstroll
• Best Thing Smokin
• Brents Smokin Butts & Grill
• Chicken Mac truck
• City Belle Fried Pies
• Crazy Bird Kitchen
• Daizies Dillas
• El Cardenal Taquería
• Funnel Vision LLC
• Indigenous Chef
• Jenn’s Hot Tamale
• Just Jerks Food Truck
• Kabobske
• Kona Ice of NE Cincinnati & Dayton
• Loveland Dairy Whip
• Off The Hook
• Red Sesame Korean BBQ
• S.E.A. Cuisine Foodtruck
• Steak It Eazy
• streetpops
• Sweet Jazz Treats Bakery
• Sweet Maize Company, LLC
• Sweets & Meats BBQ
• The Cheesecakery
• The Naughty Lobstah
Parking is available at the Primary School across the street and in Shoppers Haven Plaza parking lot.
Bring your friends and folding chairs to enjoy the complimentary entertainment on stage! Feel free to also stop in and get a take-out order!
For more information visit www.lmrchamberalliance.org or call the Little Miami River Chamber Alliance office at 513-683-1544.
by Cassie Mattia
Columnist Cassie Mattia is a resident of Historic Downtown Loveland and the Public Relations Coordinator at Butler County Board of DD. Cassie was awarded the Little Miami River Chamber Alliance 2021 Young Business Professional of the Year. She is the President and Publisher of Loveland Magazine.
Voters casting ballots. | Mario Tama/Getty Images
Bill, along with SJR 2 constitutional amendment bill, directly impact abortion rights ballot initiative
– Ohio Capital Journal
Less than half a year after proclaiming August elections to be too expensive for the turnout they attract, the Senate Republican majority expanded the use of a special election this year, complete with $20 million in funding.
“This is legislative whiplash, and we do it really well here in Columbus,” said state Sen. Kent Smith, D-Euclid.
In a mostly party-line vote, Senate Bill 92 was passed Wednesday by the body. The only Republican to vote against SB 92 was state Sen. Nathan Manning, R-North Ridgeville.
The vote came immediately after the state senate also passed an increase in the threshold for passing a constitutional amendment from 50% to 60% along party lines.
The threshold bill, SJR 2, is a companion bill to HJR 1, which has been making its way through the Ohio House, but has yet to come up for a floor vote. The House resolution passed its committee after three hours of testimony on Wednesday, most of which spoke in opposition to the bill.
Both bills could lead to a ballot measure where voters would approve or deny a constitutional amendment to raise that threshold.
With the approval of SB 92, August special elections will now be held “for consideration of a General Assembly proposed constitutional amendment,” to fill a congressional vacancy or hold a special primary for congressional party candidates.
The bill also appropriates $20 million to conduct “a one-time August special election on August 8, 2023,” a funding influx made while the bill was in committee.
That August election would be to send a constitutional voter threshold to the ballot for voters to approve an legislature-initiated amendment to raise the threshold from 50% to 60%.
Republicans pushed back on comparisons between previous August elections, including last year’s that saw an abysmal 8% turnout, with the argument that this time around, voters will care.
“With this being a bonafide, statewide question, and with it being an important question … I would say the turnout is going to be markedly higher in this August election,” McColley told his colleagues on the Senate floor.
The legislative measures seem to be direct hits at a potential constitutional amendment that would codify abortion rights if it makes it to the ballot box and is approved by voters in November. Abortion rights advocates are currently collecting the needed signatures. State law currently requires more than 400,000 in 44 of the 88 states.
One of the pro-abortion rights groups helping with the ballot measure, Pro-Choice Ohio, called the passage of SB 92 “both expected and incredibly disappointing” in a post on Twitter.
Last year, after redistricting confusion rocked the legislature, Republicans all-but eliminated the August election in a move that they said would save the state money and get rid of an unneeded annual election date that historically had low voter turnout.
In August of last year, the special primary election included statehouse races because the redistricting maps were rejected by the Ohio Supreme Court before they could be included in the May election. A U.S. District Court then intervened in the legal snarl that swept up the redistricting process, and allowed the state to use a map previously deemed unconstitutional by the Ohio Supreme Court as the map for the August primary.
That map is still in effect currently.
Speaking in opposition for SB 92, state Sen. William DeMora, D-Columbus, quoted Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose who spoke in support of reducing August special election usage last year, when he said they “aren’t good for taxpayers, election officials, voters or the civic health of our state.”
“(SB 92) is so bad that (LaRose) Secretary LaRose couldn’t even find the time to come and testify about it in committee,” DeMora said.
State Sen. Theresa Gavarone, R-Bowling Green, said claims that the August special elections were eliminated last year was an exaggerated claim.
“We’re not reinventing the wheel on this legislation,” Gavarone said, pointing out that certain occasions allowed for an August special election.
SB 92 now moves to the House for consideration.
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Susan Tebben is an award-winning journalist with a decade of experience covering Ohio news, including courts and crime, Appalachian social issues, government, education, diversity and culture. She has worked for The Newark Advocate, The Glasgow (KY) Daily Times, The Athens Messenger, and WOUB Public Media. She has also had work featured on National Public Radio.
Loveland, Ohio – The LIFE Food Pantry campaign is now live and runs through May 20th. They are encouraging the community, businesses and individuals, to give a financial donation through PayPal or Venmo to help them serve their clients.
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The safety of our guests and associates has always been our top priority at Kings Island. Over the past two years, there have been increasing incidents of unruly and inappropriate behavior across our industry and at other major entertainment venues. We are committed to keeping Kings Island a place where families and friends come together to enjoy a one-of-a-kind park full of fun experiences and immersive entertainment.
As part of that commitment, we are implementing a chaperone policy beginning Saturday, April 22.
Under this policy, all guests ages 15 years old or younger must be accompanied by a chaperone who is at least 21 years old in order to be admitted to, or remain in, the park after 4:00 p.m. local time to close. The chaperone must present a valid government-issued photo identification with date of birth at ticket entry. One (1) chaperone may accompany no more than ten (10) guests ages 15 or younger per day. In addition, the chaperone must accompany their party during entry, remain inside the park during their visit, and be available by phone throughout their stay. Guests ages 15 years old or younger who are found inside the park unaccompanied by a chaperone will be subject to ejection. This chaperone requirement applies to all Kings Island ticket and season passholders.
We believe these changes will help ensure that Kings Island continues to have a positive atmosphere where generations of families and friends can gather for a day of safe fun and good food. Millions of guests have counted on us for exactly that, and we will continue to deliver on that promise for generations to come.
Family-oriented themed outfits/attire are permitted. Attire must not represent or resemble any official Park character, disrupt regular company operations, or potentially harm another guest or associate. Attire and accessories must meet Code of Conduct dress requirements and may not be offensive or violent and may not disrupt the general safety of guests or associates. Guests wearing character themed outfits may not sign autographs for other guests or represent themselves as a park associate. Costumes that conceal identity are prohibited. Rides and attractions may also have additional restrictions on dress attire. Themed outfits/attire may be prohibited during evening Halloween events.
Parents or guardians are responsible for the behavior of their minor children. Appropriate behavior and supervision are the responsibility of the parent/guardian and is always expected. In addition to our chaperone policy, we strongly recommend that minors (under 18) be accompanied by an adult. The park does not assume any responsibility or liability for unattended minors. Parents/guardians may be held legally liable for all acts of the children under their care.
Conduct deemed by Kings Island to be inappropriate for the peace and good order of the park, guests, or associates, and which may adversely affect the safety of others is not permitted. Anyone who violates the Code of Conduct may be subject to ejection without refund.
Guests are encouraged to report any violations of the Guest Code of Conduct or suspicious activity to the nearest Kings Island associate, Security associate, or text (513) 434-6337.
Kings Island reserves the right to revise or modify this Code of Conduct with or without notice.
Notice: Kings Island Security personnel utilize surveillance cameras and body worn cameras as part of their overall security program.
When does the chaperone policy go into effect?
The policy is effective Saturday, April 22, 2023.