LOVELAND MAGAZINE

News and Events from the Loveland, Ohio Area

Without fear or favor
Since 2004

Tag: Loveland Magazine

  • District to host back-to-school information sessions

    District to host back-to-school information sessions

    Loveland, Ohio – The Loveland City School District will be hosting both virtual and in-person meetings to share the reopening plans for the 2020-2021 school year. (In unanimous vote Loveland Board of Education approves reopening plan)

    District and building administrators will be present to answer parent questions.

    The in-person sessions are reserved for families of current Loveland students.

     

    Wednesday, July 29   Students in grades 7-12

    11:30 AM until 1 PM  VIRTUAL MEETING via YouTube Live: https://youtu.be/idOPdhoSi8g

    Submit your questions in advance via this Google form.

    Wednesday, July 29   Students in grades 7-12

    6 until 8 PM  IN-PERSON MEETING in Loveland Intermediate School Cafeteria

    Presentation and Q and A.

    Sign up in advance at the following link in order for the District to maintain appropriate numbers (half of the normal capacity) and physical distancing: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/8050c45a8ac2faaf49-backtoschool

    Masks or facial coverings are required. Temperature checks will be given prior to entry into the meeting.

    Thursday, July 30   Students in grades PK-6

    11:30 AM until 1 PM  VIRTUAL MEETING via YouTube Live: https://youtu.be/-0z4eb_teFU

    Presentation and Q and A.

    Please submit your questions in advance via this Google form.

    Thursday, July 30   (students in grades PK-6): 

    6 until 8 PM  IN-PERSON MEETING in Loveland Intermediate School Cafeteria

    Presentation and Q and A.

    Sign up in advance at the following link in order for the District to maintain appropriate numbers (half of the normal capacity) and physical distancing: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/8050c45a8ac2faaf49-backtoschool1

    Masks or facial coverings are required. Temperature checks will be given prior to entry into the meeting.

     

    The District says that recordings of the meetings will be posted on the district website.

  • Pandemic, Pivot, Prosper – Panel of business leaders

    Pandemic, Pivot, Prosper – Panel of business leaders

    Advertisement
    Join us next week on July 30 for this powerful panel of business leaders who pivoted to make smart and impactful business decisions during the height of the pandemic shutdown.
    Virtual attendance option available!!

    Pandemic, Pivot, Prosper

    A Panel Discussion from Regional Business Leaders who took bold steps to pivot during the beginning of the pandemic.

    Coronavirus has made it critical for businesses to shift their business models and get creative. See how these regional business leaders pivoted their business to increase profits, impact their communities, and continue to see the benefits of those decisions.

    Panel Facilitated by Jack Peters, Executive Director of Advisor Development, Horter Investment Management.

    Please note that masks and social distancing are required at this event.

    Panel sponsored by FocusCFO and LMRCA. Drink ticket and giveaways included.

    Meet the Panelists:

    David Kennedy

    David has been the Loveland City Manager for six years, after serving as the Village Administrator of New Richmond Ohio for twenty five years.  His education includes a Bachelor Degree in Urban Planning form Miami University (Oxford) and a Master’s Degree in Community Planning from the University of Cincinnati.  He was born and raised on the west side of Cincinnati and has been married to Mary Jo for 30 years.  They have two Children, Anna and Jacob.

    Patrick Thompson

    Nurtur Salon began in 2006 at their current Lane Avenue location with less than 15 employees and a dream. Patrick Thompson, owner of Nurtur Salon as well as several Aveda Institutes (most notably Aveda Institute of Columbus) had a vision to deliver an unparalleled experience in a comfortable, non-judgmental environment. Nurtur Salon still strives (and excels) at this cultural mission to this day, even with three salon locations and 100 employees.  In 2012 Nurtur expanded from their original Upper Arlington location into a second location in the Grandview community with enormous success. In October 2015, Nurtur expanded into a third location in the Brewery District. In addition to this growth, Nurtur is proud to celebrate its tenth consecutive years as one of Salon Today Magazine’s Top 200 Salons. This speaks to their dedication to Nurtur’s team, guests, and community. With business growing at all their locations and their reputation in the beauty industry going strong, Nurtur has set their sights on a goal to open more salons in Columbus!

    Pete DeLois

    Pete DeLois is a family man through and through.  When he opened Recreations Outlet in 1989, it was with the intention of bringing joy to the families in his community.  For the past 30 years, Pete and his team at Rec Outlet have been hard at working building fun all over Ohio and the surrounding areas.  By specializing in only the highest quality wooden swing sets, top of the line basketball goals, and the safest trampolines on the market, customers know they can trust the expertise of the Rec Outlet team.

    Pete graduated from Kent State University in 1983 with a degree in Criminal Justice.  Prior to opening Recreations Outlet, he owned Invisible Fence of Cincinnati and Columbus from 1983 to 1995.  He loves baseball, racquetball, and all things food, but his passion will always be for his family.

  • Have you seen Loveland’s “Amazon Swan?!”

    Have you seen Loveland’s “Amazon Swan?!”

    Photo by Brian Rogers © 2020 on a GoPro

    by Cassie Mattia

    Loveland, Ohio – Have you happened to see a gigantic swan floating down the Little Miami River? Well, I am here to tell you that it wasn’t just your imagination! On Saturday afternoon Symmes Township Resident, Nick Dyson, shared with us some photos that showed himself and his family and friends floating down the Little Miami in a huge inflatable swan. Dyson shared his “swan story” with us so that those who frequent the State and National Wild and Scenic, the Little Miami River, and our famous Loveland Bike Trail would be sure to look out for the swan all the way from the Amazon!

    “My friend Brian Rogers is the director of student ministries at Northstar Community Church, and he initially bought the swan on Amazon to use with his students and volunteer leaders in the retention pond that was going to be made with all of the construction going on at Northstar/The Care Center,” Dyson explained, “However, in the final renovation there ended up not being a retention pond at all, so he took the swan out for its inaugural float about a month ago on the Little Miami with all of his volunteer youth leaders. He then busted it out a second time to use this past Saturday the 25th with both of our families, including their exchange student from China. We put the swan in the river at the Monkey Bar in Foster and got out about 2-1/2 miles downstream at the Deerfield Township river access on Shore Drive. There are only a few spots on the river where the river access is wide enough to put the Swan in the water because it is so huge,” Dyson said.

    Dyson provided us with some incredible photos of the “swan-filled” afternoon so that we could share the story and photos with the Loveland community! We want to thank you Nick for sharing your story and some really fun photos with us! Check out Dyson’s photos below!

    Photo by Brian Rogers © 2020 on a GoPro
    Photo by Nick Dyson © 2020
    Photo by Nick Dyson © 2020
    Photo by Nick Dyson © 2020
    Photo by Brian Rogers © 2020 on a GoPro
    Photo by Nick Dyson © 2020
    Photo by Brian Rogers © 2020 on a GoPro

    Hello Loveland Friends,

    We believe we always have some important news to share with you about our community.

    And sometimes like today – this very fun and Lovelandesque photo that really depicts our resort town – the Staycation Resort of Southwest Ohio.

    If you believe as we do that having a locally owned and independent newspaper is valuable to your life and the life and vitality of Loveland, will you consider clicking on the link below to send along a modest contribution?

    We recognize not everyone can do so at this time, however, we are like so many other small local businesses with reduced revenue and bills to pay that we cannot ignore.

    Those that can afford a modest contribution will enable us to continue publishing news for everyone.

    Please stay safe and healthy friends.

    Best regards, best wishes, and thank you so very much,

    Cassie, Donna, Mihaela, Claire, David, and the Frog.

  • Ohio’s Sales Tax Holiday is Right Around the Corner!

    Ohio’s Sales Tax Holiday is Right Around the Corner!

    You might want to wait to do your back to school shopping!

    by Cassie Mattia

    Ohio’s favorite Back to School Holiday is only a couple of weeks away! Ohio will open up its Sales Tax Holiday on Friday, August 7 beginning at 12 AM and will end on Sunday, August 9 at 11:59 PM.

    Loveland Magazine compiled a list of items below that will be exempt from sales and use tax during the Sales Tax Holiday:

    1. An item of clothing priced at $75 or less
    2. An item of school supplies priced at $20 or less
    3. An item of school instructional material priced at $20 or less
    4. Items used in a trade or business are not exempt under the sales tax holiday

    Although COVID-19 is more present than ever businesses will be allowed to promote “Back to School” sales as there has been no restriction placed on advertising for Ohio’s Sales Tax Holiday.

    Have questions about Ohio’s Sales Tax Holiday? Below we included the most frequently asked questions so that you will be prepared on August 7th! Click on the question in blue to view the answer!

    If you have any additional questions regarding this information, contact the Ohio Department of Taxes at 1-800-304-3211, or you may contact them through e-mail.

  • OHSAA Releases Updated COVID-19 Return to Play Recommendations

    OHSAA Releases Updated COVID-19 Return to Play Recommendations

    by Cassie Mattia

    Loveland, Ohio – Over the last several months’ life as we know it has been changing and evolving, including the lives of the Loveland High School Student-Athletes. Coaches, Parents, and Spectators have been waiting patiently to see if and when the Fall 2020-2021 sports seasons will begin and what the stipulations will be due to the rampant COVID-19 Pandemic.

    On Wednesday, July 22nd, Bob Goldring, the Ohio High School Athletic Association’s (OHSAA) Interim Executive Director, issued updated guidelines and “COVID-19 Return to Play Recommendations.”

    In the new guidelines, Goldring and the OHSAA team emphasized that participation in school activities is voluntary. Goldring and the OHSAA team stated that every individual will need to evaluate the risk versus the benefits of athletics participation.

    “Those immunocompromised students and staff, or those who live with family members with elevated health concerns, should evaluate associated risks of participation and may choose not to participate,” OHSAA said.

    The OHSAA Executive Director’s Office, the Office’s Official Board of Directors, the Ohio Joint Advisory Committee on Sports Medicine, and the National Federation of State High School Associations, joined forces to help write an updated “COVID-19 Return to Play” document. The document includes recommendations on how member schools can consider approaching the many components of “opening up” sports with the objective of commencing the fall sports seasons on August 1.

    “The recommendations within this document for the resumption of the varsity, non-varsity and 7th-8th grade interscholastic athletic seasons and participation opportunities have been made with the health, safety, and well-being of all student-athletes in mind,” the OHSAA document said.

    Below are some of the topics the OHSAA document covers:

    Game Day Face Masks/Coverings

    Sidelines and Benches

    Game Day Venue Restrictions and Spectators

    COVID-19 Pre-Participation Screening

    Failed Screening or Positive COVID-19 Test Action Plan

    Positive Test – Action Plan

    If You Had Close Contact With an Infected Person

    Contest-Day Screening Procedures

    Game Day Event Staff

    Concessions

    Athletic Training Room and Locker Rooms

    Travel Considerations The following items are STRONGLY RECOMMENDED

    The following is the complete document from OHSAA stating the “COVID-19 Return to Play Recommendations” that was issued on Wednesday, July 22nd.

    For more of the latest updates on the OHSAA and Loveland High School Sports stay tuned to the Sports 411 With Me, Cassie Mattia!

  • Here is how the Great Oaks campuses will open in the Fall

    Here is how the Great Oaks campuses will open in the Fall

    Here is how the Great Oaks campuses will open in the Fall.

    Please note:  The following information applies only to high school students at Great Oaks campuses.

    Our community, and the world, continues to adapt to the ongoing pandemic. In all that we do at Great Oaks, the safety and health of our students, staff and visitors is our highest priority. Whenever students, staff and visitors are together in a Great Oaks building, we expect that social distancing (at a minimum of 6 feet) is practiced, face coverings will be worn by all, and the buildings and equipment will be frequently cleaned and sanitized. We also encourage such healthy personal habits as regular hand-washing. 

    The following information reflects the most recent planning; information can change if circumstances change.

    Update July 20, 2020

    Academic classes will be held online

    In order to maximize the amount of hands-on, career-technical education available to students, all in-person classes will be in the career lab with the career-technical instructor.  English, mathematics, social studies, and science classes will be held remotely.  Students will spend all day two days per week in their career-technical program.

    As part of this schedule, students will have time to meet individually with academic instructors while on campus, which will support their online learning.  It also means that the same group of students will stay in the same room—their career lab—for the full day, reducing the number of times per day needed to sanitize rooms as we would if students changed classes for multiple periods daily.

    Students will attend the campus on Mondays and Thursdays as part of the A group, or Tuesdays and Fridays as part of the B group.  During the remaining three days, students will work remotely on academic work and other homework, with Wednesday set aside for one-on-one remote assistance.

    This schedule will run for the first quarter, until October 16.

  • School Board gives go-ahead for $66K “Pandemic Preparedness and Planning” services

    School Board gives go-ahead for $66K “Pandemic Preparedness and Planning” services

    On whether schools will open on the date planned, Dr. Crouse said,

    “It’s sort of a dance there on whether we will be able to do that fully at first or whether we have to roll into that.”

    Loveland, Ohio – With a unanimous vote this afternoon in a Special Meeting the Loveland School Board gave authorization to the administration to sign a proposal from LJB Inc. for “Pandemic Preparedness and Planning” services.

    LJB will provide the services for a “lump sum fee” of $66,250.

    The “terms of the contract” were not available for the Board and after questions from Eileen Washburn about them, Superindent Dr. Amy Crouse said she did not understand the question. After further discussion by Washburn who asked about a cancellation clause and other things in a typical contract, Board President Dr. Kathy Lorenz pointed them to a sentence in the proposal that said, “A formal professional services agreement will be sent for your review and signature upon receipt of this Authorization.”

    Kevin Dougherty said it would be standard to negotiate terms. Crouse said she doesn’t currently have it, “But I can provide that to you.”

    Dr. Crouse said that after the first week of the study, which will be of the Elementary School, there may be a need to have further discussion about whether classes can begin as scheduled.

    The complete study will take four weeks and will begin on Monday, July 27.

    At a previous Special Meeting on Wednesday, July 15, with a unanimous vote, the Loveland Board of Education approved a reopening plan for the Loveland City School District for the 2020-2021 school year. Preschool, kindergarten, and 1st through 12th grades will attend 5 days per week at “full capacity” (no “all-day” kindergarten) with the option of choosing to attend school online.

    The first day of instruction for all students is scheduled to be Wednesday, August 26.

    Michele Pettit asked if after the study of the Elementary building was complete would the opening of instruction go as planned or would there have to be a delay.

    Crouse answered, “It’s sort of a dance there on whether we will be able to do that fully at first or whether we have to roll into that.”

    Crouse also talked about the unknowns of COVID 19 spread in the community.

    Crouse told the Board that it is likely that there will be times throughout the year that they will not be able to provide in-person learning, and the study will provide guidance for that.

    Loveland Magazine will up-date this story when the “Terms” of the contract are known.

    The meeting was live-streamed and you can still view it here: https://youtu.be/KcKJMKUCiMU

  • LHS’s Andy Cruse Gives Preview of up and Coming Football Season!

    LHS’s Andy Cruse Gives Preview of up and Coming Football Season!

    by Cassie Mattia

    Loveland, Ohio – As student-athletes across Ohio are gearing up to start practicing and competing, the Loveland Tigers Football Coach, Andy Cruse, is more than excited to get his team ready for the 2020-2021 season!

    Over the past several months, all contact sports in the state of Ohio were put on hold due to the COVID-19 pandemic, forcing student-athletes to take it upon themselves to prepare for their up and coming sports seasons. Ohio coaches of course tried to impact their student-athletes as much as possible virtually, but for many high school athletes having coaches physically there motivating them through tough practices is what the athletes are saying they both want and need!

    Recently OHSAA released guidelines for all Ohio High School sports programs in regards to what the protocol will be once practices and competitions begin. With that being said I decided to check in with LHS’s Head Football Coach Andy Cruse to see just how these guidelines will affect the football program, the student-athletes, the coaches, and the loyal Tiger spectators. Here is the Loveland Tiger Football 411 featuring Coach Andy Cruse!

    Cassie   Have you started in-person practices yet with the team and coaches and if so are there any restrictions?
    Coach Cruse   We began workouts with restrictions on June 1st. We have done football-related activities for a while now, but just recently started having limited contact during on-field training. We officially begin our season on August 1st.
    Cassie Have you had fewer players come out for the team because of COVID-19 and the Pay-to-Play implementation?
    Coach Cruse   Surprisingly, no. We have had the best attendance since I’ve been the Head Coach at Loveland. I truly believe that quarantine made our athletes appreciate football and being together more. Many of them had to be very creative in their workouts without a weight room, so being able to train in our beautiful weight room has been great for all of them.
    Cassie Have you named team captains and if so who are they?
    Coach Cruse  We have not. This is something we will do early on in August. We have many players that have really emerged as leaders since last December.
    Cassie How are you and your staff handling the COVID-19 pandemic and restrictions? Has it been tough or have you successfully managed the situation?
    Coach Cruse Our staff has handled it very well. Head Coaches did a walk thru on everything with Brian Conatser, our AD before we started workouts and then my staff and I did a walk-thru of how the workouts would go before we started back up on June 1st. My staff and I, like the rest of the athletic department, are taking every precaution necessary and are following the guidelines that the state has put out. Initially, it was very different than what we were used to. We have told our players from the beginning of quarantine that we must adjust and adapt moving forward and that is exactly what we have done.
    Cassie Do you have any returning Seniors or stand-out players from last year? What are your expectations for this year in regards to wins and losses?
    Coach Cruse We return 9 out of 11 starters on offense and many defensive players return with varsity experience. This team is quietly gaining more and more confidence. It has been a joy to be around them since June 1st as it is very clear they enjoy working hard and being around each other. My expectations are to be competitive in every game we play and to respond to adversity that is thrown our way this season. Senior standouts include QB Calvin Cloud, OL Zach DeWitt, WR Tyler Lake, WR Aaron Morton, DE Gabe Ogdan, and TE/LB Austin Lodor. There are a number of other players we expect big things from this season too. As a whole, we are seeing a lot of competition for playing time, which is what we want.
    Cassie The ECC recently added 3 more schools to the conference making the conference that much more competitive! This year who are you excited to compete against and who do you think will be challenging to compete against?
    Coach Cruse The ECC is a terrific conference and will continue to be even more challenging. In our conference for football, every week is an absolute battle. There are no easy games on our schedule but we embrace that challenge and are excited about it!
    Cassie Are you able to hold any fundraisers for the athletes or events to help with the pay-to-play fees?
    Coach Cruse Unfortunately we missed out on a couple of things we had planned due to COVID-19. We will be selling discount cards until July 30th around the community. Be on the lookout for our players and please help support Loveland Athletics!
    Cassie In your own words, talk about your experience with the quarantine, COVID-19, and trying to be the best coach you can be during this time.
    Coach Cruse Quarantine was a unique time for all people for a lot of reasons. For me personally, I really enjoyed the time with my family, especially being with my daughter every single day! She is 8 months old now, so seeing how much she has changed in a few months and being with her every step of the way has been a blast. It was time I would’ve never gotten had COVID-19 not happened.
    Overall, I looked at quarantine as an opportunity to get better every day. Just like we stressed with our players, I tried to have a routine every day to make sure I was productive.  I am not a huge reader, but during quarantine, I quickly became one. I read about a book every 1-2 weeks and really enjoyed it. There were also a number of virtual football clinics that my staff and I attended as well.
    Aside from that, we had a team meeting every week, at least one position meeting a week with players and a number of staff meetings. I grew to really look forward to these interactions with our players and coaches. When it all started, we decided as a staff that we wanted to make sure we were in constant communication with our players. We felt that checking in with them to see how things were going at home, how school was going, and then how workouts were going was going to be very important. We also took it as an opportunity to get closer as a team by getting to know each other better.
    Check out the Loveland Tigers football schedule for this up and coming season!
    2020-2021 Loveland Tigers Football Schedule
    8/28 Sycamore
    9/4 at Princeton
    9/11 Turpin
    9/18 West Clermont
    9/25 at Milford
    10/2 Little Miami
    10/9 at Walnut Hills
    10/16 at Kings
    10/23 Anderson
    10/30 at Winton Woods
    For more of your latest local sports news stay tuned to the Sports 411 With Me, Cassie Mattia! Oh and by the way…GO TIGERS!
  • Be in the know: Read the statewide facial covering order signed today

    Be in the know: Read the statewide facial covering order signed today

    News for individuals, schools, businesses, and institutions

    Columbus, Ohio – Ohio Governor Mike DeWine announced that the following order has been signed today by Ohio Department of Health Interim Director Lance Himes: Director’s Order Statewide facial coverings 07.23.20

  • [VIDEOS] Re-zoning for 28-Unit condo project passes Planing Commission muster

    [VIDEOS] Re-zoning for 28-Unit condo project passes Planing Commission muster

    Two signs erected by citizens opposed to re-zoning adjacent to their homes on St. Route 48 in North Loveland

    Loveland, Ohio – A 28-unit condo project Zicka Homes hopes to build on St. Rt. 48 will now go before City Council after a 3 to 2 split-decision from the Planning and Zoning Commission Tuesday night.

    Chairman Al Kressler, Vice-Chair Mark Redmond, and Brian O’Neill voted in favor of the re-zoning.

    Michael Kady, and Tim Butler voted, “No”. Butler is the City Council representative on the Commission.

    The applicant is requesting a re-zoning of 5.529 acres of vacant land from the current zoning of Residential–Medium Density to Residential–Multi-Family. The proposed development is south of the Sentry Hill subdivision on North Second Street (St. Rt. 48).

    Tuesday’s vote came after a public meeting that was held on June 24 and the discussion was tabled until the Commission could seek legal advice inquiring if what they wanted to do was legal. They wanted to know if they approved rezoning the property whether they could add a stipulation that the zone change would be null if Zicka did not begin construction after a certain period of time.

    They received the go-ahead in a memo from the Assistant City Manager written on July 21 that said, “Should the Commission grant the rezone request, the Commission can place a restriction that says the zone change would expire if construction on a project did not commence within a specific time frame/date. A restriction can also be made that the zone change is specific to the applicant and cannot be transferred to another applicant or third-party. In case the applicant did not meet these criteria, the zone change would automatically revert to the initial zoning of R-MD.”

    Residents pointed out to the Commission that although Zicka intends to build attached condominiums if they back away like they did previously with a proposal to build single-family homes on the site, apartments could go on the re-zoned land.

    It is not clear at press time the exact language the Commission adopted but resident David Stanton said it was for 18-months.

    You can watch the interview David Miller conducted with Stanten after the vote on Tuesday.

     

    The zoning map change will now go before City Council. They will hold another public meeting, where they can vote to affirm the recommendation, reject it, or modify it.

    Any ordinance council passes becomes law within 30 days unless passed as emergency legislation. A change to Loveland’s zoning map is always subject to a citizen-led referendum petition drive if enough signatures can be collected.

    In the LOVELAND MAGAZINE TV videos below, you can watch residents speaking against the rezoning at the public hearing on June 24, and the applicant making his case.

    Two additional people spoke against the development, Andy Friesner and Maria Mausarella.

    No residents spoke in favor of the re-zoning during the public hearing.

    You can see the entire proposal that the Commission debated here: Blossom Hill Project.

    Residents have a Web Site at https://no-rezoning.com/voice-your-opinion and the tag line:

    Stanton told Loveland Magazine that he is disappointed in the vote and that the Commission did not follow the standards for zoning map amendments. “The City is not listening to its citizens and not following the rules that they have adopted for making a zoning change.” He said that he can find no support in the community for the development. During the Public Hearing on June 24 Stanton presented the Commission a statement against the re-zoning with 90 signatures.