LOVELAND MAGAZINE

News and Events from the Loveland, Ohio Area

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Since 2004

Tag: Loveland Magazine

  • The Laundry Project celebrates a successful Saturday in Loveland

    The Laundry Project celebrates a successful Saturday in Loveland

    Loveland, Ohio – Eighteen families washed 252 loads of laundry at the first #LaundryProject of 2021. On FaceBook the project announced, “The Loveland Laundromat was busy today as families experienced the hope that comes with clean clothes! We heard so many stories of families finally being able to do their laundry after it piling up for far too long. It truly was a day of #SoapandHope!”

    They also give a shout-out to their local partner, the Loveland Care Center. “A big shout out goes to our incredible partners: @carecenterloveland – who truly know what it means to partner with your neighbor!”

    All photos by Current Initiatives of Ohio

    This was a very popular story when Loveland Magazine told the community about it last week. Read more:

    The Laundry Project assists low-income families with meeting a basic need…

    David Miller –  Jan 29, 2021

  • Tennis courts at Boike Park removed

    Tennis courts at Boike Park removed

    by David Miller

    Loveland, Ohio – City Manager Dave Kennedy told Loveland Magazine that the demolition of the public tennis courts at the city-owned Steven Boike Park at #1 Tiger Trail will not impact the existing parking lot used by high school students.

    Loveland City Manager Dave Kennedy (Loveland Magazine file photo)

    “The intent is that the area where the Boike Courts are will be used for a half-soccer field. They can then be used for soccer practices for the younger age groups,” explained Kennedy.

    There were 5 five unlighted tennis courts at the park.

    Kennedy added, “We also have courts at Lever Park which just got approval from Council for a repair, resurfacing, and re-striping like McCoy Park did in 2019.’ The work on the Lever Park Courts is scheduled to begin this spring.

    McCoy Park after the recent improvements

    There are two public tennis courts at Leever Park on Heidelberg Drive and two at McCoy Park on Oak Street.

  • Interim superintendent hire: $600/day plus perks

    Interim superintendent hire: $600/day plus perks

    Loveland, Ohio – On Wednesday, January 27 the Loveland City School District made official the hire of Bradley Neavin as an interim superintendent. Neavin’s contract runs from February 10 until the Board hires a permanent superintendent or until July 3.

    The Board will pay Neavin a daily rate of $600 and his contract says that the Board may increase the salary, but cannot reduce it. Neavin will also be provided medical, dental, and life insurance. He will also be provided a cell phone “stipend and such other leaves and benefits he is entitled to as set forth in the Administrative Handbook”. The Board will also pay Nevin’s share of mandatory State Teachers Retirement System payments. He will not be entitled to severance at the end of his employment.

    Neavin is entitled to 15 vacation days as well as paid holidays. He will be required to work a “maximum of 123 days”.

    Neavin will be paid mileage at the IRS rate and will be provided with professional liability insurance. Neavin can begin on February 1 at the $600/day to familiarize himself with the District.

    The Board also encourages Nevin to attend professional meetings that he deems appropriate and will pay his expenses. The District will also pay for Neavin’s membership in the Ohio Association of Local School Superentents, the Buckeye Association of School Administrators, and any other professional organizations approved by Board President, Dr. Kathy Lorenz.

    During a meeting on Tuesday, February 2 at 6 PM, the Board of Education will hear presentations from potential search firms who will be conducting the search for a permanent superintendent.

    Neavin-ContractDownload

    Read background:

    School Board hires Bradley Neavin as Interim Superintendent

    David Miller –  Jan 22, 2021

  • Loveland City School District included in COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution Week 2

    Loveland City School District included in COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution Week 2

    * Story up-dated at 6:10 PM on 1-30-2021

    by David Miller

    David Miller

    Loveland, Ohio – Ohio K-12 schools, including public, private, and career-tech entities, yesterday learned when their teachers and staff necessary for in-person learning are able to begin receiving vaccines.

    Loveland City School District is included in COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution Week 2 of first doses, starting February 8 as well as Indian Hill, Moeller, St. Xavier, Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy, Forest Hills (Anderson), Great Oaks Career Campuses, and Sycamore.

    Included in Distribution Week 3 are, Kings, Lebanon, Little Miami, Mason, and St Margaret Of York.

    Included in Distribution Week 4 are, Children’s Meeting House, Goshen, Milford, Ohio Valley Voices, and St. Columban.

    Cincinnati Public Schools were able to jump the line and began their vacinations yesterday.

    Loveland’s schools remain in hybird-learning at all buildings, a combination of some students and staff attending in-person five-days per week and some students and staff teaching or learning in Loveland’s Remote Academy five-days a week.*

    Ohio Governor Mike DeWine has said that he is making it clear his “goal of Ohio returning to in-person learning either full-time or in a hybrid model by March 1st.” In order to do this, the governor identified teachers and school personnel necessary for in-person learning as Phase 1B recipients as part of the Ohio COVID-19 Vaccination program.

    “Vaccine is incredibly scarce, and we simply don’t have enough to vaccinate everyone at the same time. Therefore, this will be a rolling process, just like it has been during other vaccination phases, with a goal of administering all first doses by March 1st,” said Governor DeWine. “This rollout schedule is a heavy logistical lift that aims to ensure the maximum number of people can be vaccinated in the shortest amount of time.”

    In a news release, Dewine said, “The plan also makes the process as simple as possible for staff to be vaccinated and is organized to allow most K-12 staff in a county to be vaccinated within seven days of their assigned vaccination start date. For the limited number of counties where vaccinations will take place over multiple weeks, local leaders will make the logistical and scheduling decisions.”

    Eligible school employees will learn more about the locations and times of the vaccination sites from their administrators. The following documents list the entities by county in the week when teachers and personnel are able to begin vaccinations.

    Week One (Beginning February 1st)

    Week Two (Beginning February 8th)

    Week Three (Beginning February 15th)

    Week Four (Beginning February 22nd)

    Here is the Loveland District’s latest Covid 19 Dashboard also released on Friday:

    Below are the recent daily reports issued by the District:

    The district has been notified of the following positive case of COVID-19:

    • On 1/28/21, a student at Loveland Elementary School, last at school on 1/25/21.
    • On 1/26/21, a student at Loveland Intermediate School, last at school on 1/22/21.
    • On 1/23/21, a teaching staff member at Loveland High School, last at school on 1/20/21;
    • On 1/24/21, a student at Loveland High School, last at school on 1/20/21; 
    • On 1/25/21, a non-teaching, non-school-based staff member, last at work on 1/21/21;
    • On 1/25/21, a student at Loveland High School, last at school on 1/20/21; and
    • On 1/25/21, a student at Loveland High School, last at school on 1/22/21.
    • On 1/22/21, a student at Loveland High School, last at school on 1/20/21.
  • Dan Timmerman on his way to the “Loveland Dog Walking Trail”

    Dan Timmerman on his way to the “Loveland Dog Walking Trail”

    Loveland, Ohio – Loveland Resident Dan Timmerman took this photo of Historic Downtown Loveland this morning with the full moon in the background while walking his dog. Dan was on his way to the Loveland Bike Trail that he calls the “Loveland Dog Walking Trail.”

  • Local Teen Evan Osgood Awarded for his Dedication to Giving Back During the Pandemic!

    Local Teen Evan Osgood Awarded for his Dedication to Giving Back During the Pandemic!

    EVAN OSGOOD POSES WITH SOME OF THE TENS OF THOUSANDS OF MASKS THAT HIS NONPROFIT SOS FOR PPE HAS ASSEMBLED AND DISTRIBUTED TO THOSE IN NEED. (Photo courtesy of Evan Osgood)

    by Cassie Mattia

    Loveland, Ohio – Many people across the United States have had their own struggles during the COVID-19 pandemic, whether it be mentally, financially, or physically, each individual has been forced to find a way to deal with their obstacle in a positive way. Although some have found it tough to stay positive, Loveland teenager, Evan Osgood, decided to make it easier on those individuals by creating a non-profit in which they could not only get involved but also feel as though they were making a difference in the world!

    Over the past 9 months, Osgood has developed a network of over 4,000 volunteers across the United States who have both made and distributed over 125,000 items of PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) for those in need. This network of generosity has now been officially named SOS for PPE, a nonprofit organization that sends assembly kits to those wanting to give back by making face masks and shields at home using the assembly kits sent to them. After the individual makes the PPE it is then sent off and distributed to anyone in the country in need of PPE.

    EVAN OSGOOD CUTS FOAM THAT WILL BE USED TO BUILD PPE FOR THOSE VULNERABLE AND IN NEED DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC./COURTESY EVAN OSGOOD (Photo courtesy of Evan Osgood)

    Why you may ask did a 16-year-old decide to create and organize a global non-profit during a pandemic? Osgood said that he could no longer bear seeing individuals in hospitals, senior facilities, schools, and out in the community on his very own TV screen struggling to secure proper PPE so he asked himself, “What can I do to help?”

    In March, Osgood began making masks out of his own home and sending them to healthcare workers and others in need of PPE. Although Osgood was able to make around 8-10 masks an hour he quickly came to the realization that he would need many more people to help him make masks if he wanted to effectively impact the shortage of PPE. That’s when a lightbulb went off for Osgood! He thought, “If I can make 8-10 masks in an hour imagine how many could get produced if I had more hands-on-deck!” Fast forward to now, Osgood is officially the president of his very own non-profit, SOS for PPE.

    Osgood not only oversees the fundraising for SOS for PPE he also manages the supply chain, works with SOS for PPE partners to distribute the PPE, and of course works to grow both his non-profit’s volunteer and partnership networks. Click below to read all about SOS for PPE and how Osgood started his non-profit!

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

    Due to all of the success with SOS for PPE Osgood was honored with the Daily Point of Light Award. This particular honor according to the Points of Light website, “Celebrates the power of individuals who lead and lend support to causes they care about. We recognize their individual stories and lift them up to inspire others so we may each, in our own way, answer the call to make a difference.” In order to qualify for the Daily Point of Light Award the following criteria must be met:

    • Residency: Award nominees must be legal U.S. residents.
    • Service: All volunteer activities must be unpaid and cannot include court-ordered community service. Nominees who receive a nominal stipend for their service or receive paid time off to volunteer are eligible.
    • Timeline: Volunteer service must last for six uninterrupted months and still be ongoing (except disaster relief work).
    • Impact: Work should demonstrate real impact from the activity. Examples include the number of people served, money raised, etc.
    • Community need: Activity must meet a community need or concern. The nominee must have sustainability plans for their activity (ex. working with community organizations to continue their work, empowering service recipients to continue their work, etc.).

    Here at Loveland Magazine, we want to take a moment to congratulate Evan Osgood on receiving this prestigious honor! Creating such a valuable non-profit during times like these and at such a young age is not only impressive but inspirational to those out there wanting to make a difference!

    We would like to ask our loyal Loveland Magazine readers to support this fantastic cause by visiting SOS for PPE today and donating some of your time or dollars to making PPE for those who are desperately in need!

    Want to read more about Evan Osgood? Click below to read about his time at one of the top Education Conferences!

    LMS Student Evan Osgood on center stage at premier education conference
  • Mary Makley Wolff to lead statewide suicide prevention effort

    Mary Makley Wolff to lead statewide suicide prevention effort

    Miami Township, Ohio – Mary Makley Wolff has been named associate director for the Ohio Suicide Prevention Foundation, starting Feb. 8.

    Mary Makley Wolff (Provided Photo)

    Wolff, a Miami Township trustee, for the past six years has served as director of the Coalition for a Drug Free Clermont County.

    “I’m proud of the work we are doing building the coalition in Clermont County, including getting funding for years 1-5 and now 6-10,” Wolff said. “And now I’m looking forward to helping build a robust statewide suicide prevention coalition.”

    Wolff sees parallels between her work for the drug free coalition and the suicide prevention foundation.

    “We want to make sure our communities are responding as best as they can, now that we are in the COVID-19 era,” Wolff said. “It’s such a rough time for people with the isolation associated with the pandemic.” Strong communities have strong community-level prevention activities and policies happening everywhere.

    For example, Wolff said teens are getting shamed if they test positive and cause a whole team to quarantine. They can find themselves under attack on social media.

    “We know social media is both good and bad,” Wolff said. “It provides connection, but cyber-bullying and too much screen time make a problem worse.”

    Her main focus at first in the new job includes: Seeking grants for capacity building and furthering a partnership with the Voinovich School at Ohio University and Ohio Mental Health and Addiction Services to build an understanding of how to build a coalition. She will assist OU and local staff in building an advocacy group among coalitions to see if policy or law changes need amending so more people may be helped.

    With assistance, 30 partners across the state had developed the first Statewide suicide prevention plan. The plan focuses on prevention, intervention, and “postvention.”

    Postvention involves helping survivors or family members who lost someone.

    “We’re really good immediately after a tragedy,” Wolff said. “It’s the weeks and months later when people have stopped bringing the casseroles and the survivor or family member has to grapple with this alone that provides the biggest challenges.”

    The plan identified three key groups with the strongest need: veterans, older male adults, and youth.

    “But we want to build a network inclusive of everybody,” Wolff said “I’m really looking forward to it. It builds off of work have done with the drug prevention coalition. We all need to be prevention people: Faith community, law enforcement, educators…. We’ve got to share the message of being healthy and safe.”

    For those interested in helping locally with either the Coalition for a Drug Free Clermont County or the Clermont County Suicide Prevention Coalition contact Lee Ann Watson, associate director of the Clermont County Mental Health and Recovery Board at 732-5200.

  • Congratulations Loveland Tigers ECC 2020-2021 Academic Team Award Winners!

    Congratulations Loveland Tigers ECC 2020-2021 Academic Team Award Winners!

    by Cassie Mattia

    Loveland, Ohio – Our Loveland Tigers are both talented on and off the field/court!

    Introducing to you the ECC (Eastern Cincinnati Conference) 2020-2021 Loveland Tiger Academic Team Award Winners! In order to earn this achievement, the athlete must be on the varsity squad and earn a 3.5 g.p.a or higher. The following Tigers managed to meet the above requirements.

    FALL CHEER: Kaitlyn Breese, Baylee Bronner, Erin Flanagan, Amy Keyser, Joseph Koehne, Blake Moore, Rachael Morgan, Nicole Pedicini, Olivia Powers, Grace Schamel, Anna Soupene, Caroline Staley, and Rowan Strayer.  

    BOYS CROSS COUNTRY: David Ballman, Colin Beran, Brady Burns, Ryan Chevalier, Cayden Dyer, Grant Hanson, Jesse Jenkins, Carter Jerome, Alex Laman, Sam Neiger, Alex Saletta, Brady Steiner, Ajay Stutz, Andrew Waple, and Alex Wolf.  

    GIRLS CROSS COUNTRY: Ellie Carr, Allyson Colegate, Skyler Daumeyer, Bella Dillhoff, Kali Egan, Allie Fogel, Lauren Gard, Jessie Gibbins, Bethany Griffin, Sophia Huff, Sarah Madix, Tara McCarthy, Audrey O’Keefe, Ansley Richards, Emmy Sager, Maaike Snider, Meghan Tibbs, and Ellie Zicka.  

    FOOTBALL: Luca Aquilino, Zach Bebout, Jack Bergman, Sawyer Bowin, Calvin Cloud, Cam Delaney, Zach Dewitt, Ethan Freeland, Max Huddleston, Noah Kline, Tyler Lake, Weston Manske, Mason Moore, Jackson Noe, Gabe Ogdan, Adam Perry, Reed Stewart, Ben Svitkovich, and Jude Wint.  

    BOYS GOLF:  Aiden Callahan, Matthew Geist, Ben Kirlin, Anthony Moran, Tyler Vallee, and Jake Zicka.  

    GIRLS GOLF: Emme Amy, Kristin Dygert, Elena Hentz, Kylie Poe, Meghan Smith, Ryan Smith, Caroline Sproull, Maya Stokes, and Kathryn Taylor.  

    BOYS SOCCER: Cole Brock, Gavyn Caney, Ian Circ, Kees Ciric, Landon Cornwall, Ryan Dillinger, Helge Harris, Addison Hearn, Sean Hollenkamp, Noah Lee, Luc Parrish, Alex Paumier, Aaron Schuetter, Brayden Shepard, Ethan Smith, and Joseph Stepaniak.   

    GIRLS SOCCER: Lindsay Barry, Erin Bullock, Megan Davis, Lauren Donovan, Eva Dudeck, Ryann Eversole, Leiah Goedde, Ella James, Sophia Kapszukiewicz, Campbell Massey, Grace Muchmore, Abby Pawlikowski, Shraya Smolenski, and Ava Webb.  

    GIRLS TENNIS: Jenna Batsch, Tess Broermann, Babs Dwyer, Kendall Forrest, Grace Haught, Sarah Hiett, Maira Hodar, Sarah McKenzie, and Hanna Wenger.  

    VOLLEYBALL: Julia Bayliff, Diana Clark, Faith Daugherty, Ellie Egan, Maya Jepson, Kate Krabacher, Nancy Taylor McKibben, Faith Meece, Abbie Miller, Alex Miller, Maggie Norris, and Audrey Planner.

    Great job Tigers! Here at Loveland Magazine we are so proud that our athletes perform in the classroom as well! Congratulations!

    Stay tuned for more of the latest 411 on your local sports!

  • Cindy Kessler is Making Loveland a Better Place, One Tree Seedling at a Time!

    Cindy Kessler is Making Loveland a Better Place, One Tree Seedling at a Time!

    by Cassie Mattia

    Loveland, Ohio – Making a difference is what the community of Loveland is all about and longtime Loveland resident Cindy Kessler is one of those special individuals that has done just that!

    Kessler made it her mission to dedicate her time and energy to growing tree seedlings in kitty litter buckets that she then gives away for free. “Rumpke doesn’t recycle the buckets,” Kessler said, “so this is a perfect way to repurpose them in a manner that benefits the earth.” 

    Although Kessler does most of the growing, she also has several friends who help her bag and distribute the seedlings. 

    “Our kick off is Graeter’s Valentine’s Day 2-for-1 special,” Kessler shared with us, “The atmosphere is festive, plus people are just starting to get spring fever… so we give them something to do outside; plant a tree.”

    Cindy Kessler grows tree seedlings in kitty litter buckets which are plentiful because Rumpke Recycling doesn’t take the buckets.

    Kessler said one year she and her crew gave away 766 seedlings! The seedlings will be offered at Starbucks, Graeter’s, LaRosa’s, Lenten fish fries, and many other hotspots around Loveland.

    Free tree seedlings at the Loveland Starbucks

    Kessler said the Loveland community has had an overwhelmingly positive response to the free tree seedlings.

    “Baristas at Starbucks said that customers show them pictures of their newly planted seedlings and thank them ‘for doing this.’ Then the baristas turn to us and thank us for making it happen. When restocking our baskets, people often start meaningful conversations, that always include appreciation for our efforts.”

    Cindy Kessler (on left) and two of her seedling partners

    The response from the community in regards to Kessler’s tree seedlings has created so much hype that Kessler decided to create an instructional website that teaches you how to grow seedlings yourself! The website is as follows: seedstotrees.org. The abundant amount of pictures and resources make the growing process that much easier to mimic.

    “Truly, anyone can do this; individuals, families, groups of friends, social clubs, school classes, religious groups, businesses, etc.,” Kessler said.

    A display of free tree seedlings in a local shop

    “Environmental degradation is a serious problem, but every tree that gets planted is part of the solution. So, put those kitty litter buckets to good use and start growing your own tree seedlings. If a lot of people do this, the impact can be huge. Spread the word,” Kessler said.

    For more information about Cindy Kessler’s tree seedlings email her at info@seedstotrees.org. You may also contact Kessler to donate kitty litter buckets.

    Seeds to Trees is a 501(c)(3) non-profit, dedicated to getting more trees planted worldwide, by showing individuals how to grow tree seedlings for distribution within their own communities.  Whether you give away 5 seedlings or 500, you have made the world a better place!

    If you would like to follow Seeds to Trees on FaceBook click the link!

    Although Rumpke doesn’t take kitty litter buckets they just announced recently a new list of added recyclables you can place in your recycling bin. You can read about that by clicking the link below!

    Butter tubs, yogurt containers now accepted in Rumpke’s recycling program