Loveland, Ohio – Below is a letter, started by a local “physician mom Facebook group” and signed by more than 450 Cincinnati area physicians that was sent to the Loveland City School District Board of Education today.
The letter begins, “The undersigned are all physicians who live and work in southwest Ohio region. We are writing to support universal masking in all of our local schools.”
They also say, “All available evidence indicates that SARS-CoV-2 will spread wildly in schools without mitigation efforts—including universal masking—firmly in place.”
Current Loveland school policy is that the wearing of masks by students inside school buildings is whatever a parent or guardian chooses for the child. Classes begin on Wednesday.
Read the full letter and the names of the physicians below.
The letter below was sent to the Principal of St. Columban School today. A similar letter was sent to Superintendent Broadwater and the Loveland School Board yesterday.
Matt and Stefanie Laufersweiler have students enrolled in both school systems.
Dear Mrs. Muchmore,
I’m writing to urge you as you review plans for safely opening St. Columban School this year to not let the wants of parents steer you away from the objective guidance of healthcare professionals when putting measures in place to protect the health of our children. There are many who have expressed vocally their desire to return to school “unmasked” out of a desire to return to life as it was pre-COVID. However desirable this may seem, it does not consider the fact that case numbers are increasing and all counties in the area are now considered to be at the highest category for level of spread (https://www.cincinnati.com/…/covid-19-ohio…/5505300001/ ). In addition, with the Delta variant in particular, an increasing number of those infected are children (https://www.usatoday.com/…/covid-vaccines…/5532551001/ ) which has resulted in schools in other states having to move to remote learning very early in the school year due to COVID-19 outbreaks.
Last year St. Columban did an excellent job ensuring that spread in school was minimal by enforcing masking and distancing policies following the guidelines of healthcare professionals before vaccines were available. As you consider and pray over the best way to open school this year, we ask that you keep in mind the current spread and the recommendations of healthcare professionals.
To this point, the Ohio Department of Health released revised recommendations for schools K-12 on July 27th, and in doing so reference the current statistics and the effectiveness of measures used last school year to keep the children safe while ensuring they continue to get a quality education.
Encouragement of vaccination for those eligible is also important; however, many children that will be in the school are not eligible for vaccination at this time. The key factor to help protect those children is universal masking while indoors, until those kids have the opportunity to be vaccinated and the spread of COVID-19 is back under control.
It is also important to note that masking as a “personal choice” is ineffective in that the reason masks are effective is that they help to contain the spread from those who are unknowingly infected, preventing the aerosolization of the virus – they do little to help protect the individual wearer from already aerosolized virus (An evidence review of face masks against COVID-19 https://www.pnas.org/content/118/4/e2014564118 “Because many respiratory particles become smaller due to evaporation, we recommend increasing focus on a previously overlooked aspect of mask usage: mask wearing by infectious people (“source control”) with benefits at the population level, rather than only mask wearing by susceptible people, such as health care workers, with focus on individual outcomes.”).
This is not simply a desire of a parent; it is the objective recommendation of healthcare professionals to protect the health of our children and ensure that they can remain in school and involved in the extracurricular activities that they love. It is the responsibility of the school and the community to help keep our kids safe, even if it means the measures required to do so are not always popular.
Cassie Mattia is the Associate Editor of Loveland Magazine.
by Cassie Mattia
Loveland, Ohio – It’s that time of year again for the Annual Old School Corgi Meet-up! Pet owners grab your Corgi’s and head down to the old Loveland School House this Saturday for what promises to be one heck of a time!
This will be the 2nd year Bailey Vermette has spearheaded the corgi-friendly event with her friend Nikki Tran Duff.
“I met Nikki at a corgi meet-up she put together before we were known as Cincy Corgis. I told her my vision of the old school corgi meet-up and our partnership bloomed,” Vermette said, “We run monthly meet-ups at the West Chester VOA Dog Park, members homes, and our largest event is now at the Old School Corgi Meet Up just a few miles north of Loveland.”
Vermette welcomes all Corgis and their owners to come out to 10266 Murdock-Goshen Road from 11 AM to 2 PM this Saturday to enjoy some socialization with other Corgis and their owners. The 2nd Annual Old School Corgi Meet-up will also feature BBQ, local vendors, fun activities, and raffles with prizes for both humans and dogs!
The beautiful green T-shirt to the left was created by local business Apex Imprinted Sportswear, located at 523 West Loveland Ave, for the Annual Old School Corgi Meet-up!
Apex provides customers with theme creativity, layout, and design, as well as the finest imprinted and embroidered items. Apex has access to over 600,000 promotional products and is dedicated to finding the ideal product for your promotional need.
Below Vermette provided us with all the details you need for the event!
????: 2nd Annual Old School Corgi Meet-up
???: All corgis, corgi mixes, corgi owners, and corgi enthusiasts are welcome!
(a private property that sits on 2 acres with a pond and a vintage schoolhouse)
???: The goal of our meetup group ‘????? ??????’ is to connect the local corgi community and beyond. This event is a great way to responsibly socialize your corgis, get to know local owners, enjoy some bbq, support local vendors, and win awesome prizes!
????: FREE entry!
?????????? ???????:
-FREE cookout with hot dogs and water for the humans!
-FREE dog-friendly ice cream for the doggos!
-Doggy pools!
-Fun photo ops!
-Lawn games!
-RAFFLE with amazing prizes for both humans and doggos! (The drawing will be at 1:00 pm. You must be present to win.)
-??? ???? ????: 5 local vendors will provide a fun, interactive shopping experience for attendees (including treats, bandanas, accessories, fresh flowers + more)!
Cinci Pet Magazine attended the inaugural event last year. Read their story HERE and look at all the photos they took.
——————————————————————
“The old one-room schoolhouse was purchased by Dave, Stacey, and Bailey Vermette in 2016. After doing some research about the old school, the Vermette’s uncovered the name of the old building; Pleasant View school which was built in 1872. The vision that the Vermette’s had for the schoolhouse was to create an art studio and a gathering place for family and friends. The structure has been decorated in a very relaxing and unique way to honor Loveland, art, and our love for animals.”- The Vermette’s
For more of the latest Loveland event updates stay tuned to the Loveland Salad With ME, Cassie Mattia!
Loveland, Ohio – The tracking system of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has now moved Hamilton County, Ohio to the highest level of warning for the transmission of COVID 19.
Clermont and Warren Counties remain in the “High” rate of transmission range.
How do levels of community transmission affect schools?
UPDATE: Given new evidence on the B.1.617.2 (Delta) variant, CDC has updated the guidance for fully vaccinated people. CDC recommends universal indoor masking for all teachers, staff, students, and visitors to K-12 schools, regardless of vaccination status. Children should return to full-time in-person learning in the fall with layered prevention strategies in place.CDC Guidance for COVID-19 Prevention in K-12 Schools
Updated Aug. 5, 2021
Key Takeaways
Students benefit from in-person learning, and safely returning to in-person instruction in the fall 2021 is a priority.
Vaccination is the leading public health prevention strategy to end the COVID-19 pandemic. Promoting vaccination can help schools safely return to in-person learning as well as extracurricular activities and sports.
Due to the circulating and highly contagious Delta variant, CDC recommends universal indoor masking by all students (age 2 and older), staff, teachers, and visitors to K-12 schools, regardless of vaccination status.
In addition to universal indoor masking, CDC recommends schools maintain at least 3 feet of physical distance between students within classrooms to reduce transmission risk. When it is not possible to maintain a physical distance of at least 3 feet, such as when schools cannot fully re-open while maintaining these distances, it is especially important to layer multiple other prevention strategies, such as screening testing.
Screening testing, ventilation, handwashing and respiratory etiquette, staying home when sick and getting tested, contact tracing in combination with quarantine and isolation, and cleaning and disinfection are also important layers of prevention to keep schools safe.
Students, teachers, and staff should stay home when they have signs of any infectious illness and be referred to their healthcare provider for testing and care.
Many schools serve children under the age of 12 who are not eligible for vaccination at this time. Therefore, this guidance emphasizes implementing layered prevention strategies (e.g., using multiple prevention strategies together consistently) to protect students, teachers, staff, visitors, and other members of their households and support in-person learning.
Localities should monitor community transmission, vaccination coverage, screening testing, and occurrence of outbreaks to guide decisions on the level of layered prevention strategies (e.g., physical distancing, screening testing).
Summary of Recent Changes
Updates as of August 4, 2021
Updated to recommend universal indoor masking for all students, staff, teachers, and visitors to K-12 schools, regardless of vaccination status.
Added recommendation for fully vaccinated people who have a known exposure to someone with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 to be tested 3-5 days after exposure, regardless of whether they have symptoms.
Loveland, Ohio – The Loveland City School District Board of Education met tonight. Without a motion coming forward to change or alter the “Use of Face Coverings/Masks” policy, the Board let stand the current policy of the District.
Below is the current policy.
Revised June 3, 2021
8450.01 – USE OF FACE COVERINGS/MASKS
The Loveland Board of Education is committed to providing students, staff, and visitors with a safe and healthy environment.
On May 12, 2021, Ohio Governor Mike DeWine lifted the State’s COVID – 19 mask requirements, including the requirement of face coverings inside public buildings, effective June 2, 2021 Furthermore, he declared that local school districts will make their own determinations on Covid-19 mitigation efforts, including the wearing of masks and/or face shields.
As of the adoption date, June 3, 2021, of this updated policy, unless required by additional mandates, the decision to wear face coverings/masks on school buses, in school buildings, or at other school events, will be left to adult individuals and parents/guardians of K-12 students. The Loveland City Schools will continue to follow COVID-19 mitigation protocols to maintain a healthy environment for students, staff, and visitors and will continue to provide recommendations for personal protection from the spread of infectious diseases.¶
In order to maintain a healthy environment, the Board will follow any mandates set forth by the Ohio Governor, Ohio State Health Department, Hamilton County Health Department, and Ohio Department of Education, (“Directing Entities”) as it relates to protecting the health of students, staff and visitors. When any of these Directing Entities requires staff, students, and visitors to wear face coverings/masks while attending school, reporting to work at a school, or visiting a school, the District’s Administration will follow and enforce such directives.
Self-described “Dog Mom” Cassie Mattia lives in Historic Downtown Loveland with Nala, Dean, and her boyfriend Adam. Cassie is the Associate Editor of Loveland Magazine.
by Cassie Mattia
Loveland, Ohio- Who doesn’t like cake?! The launch of Loveland Magazine’s Pet of the Month has caught the attention of many local businesses one being Nothing Bundt Cakes!
Nothing Bundt Cakes, located at 9540 Mason Montgomery Road, creates delicious readily available cakes using only the highest quality ingredients for anyone in search of a great-tasting cake that is also aesthetically pleasing. Nothing Bundt Cakes is known for its signature cream cheese frosting as well as its one-of-a-kind handcrafted cake designs. Any cake requested can be customized for any theme or occasion!
Mason’s Nothing Bundt Cake Co-owner, Mary Thress, is well-known for giving back to the communities surrounding her location, including Loveland, so when she emailed Loveland Magazine offering our Pet of the Month winner a Bundtlet Tower we were beyond happy and filled with gratitude.
“Would you like to give the winner of pet of the month a cake from Nothing Bundt Cakes?” Thress wrote in the email. “I’d be happy to provide a Bundtlet Tower with decoration relating to Loveland and pets!”
A Bundtlet Tower is comprised of 1-3 miniature Bundtlet Cakes (flavors can be vanilla, chocolate, or red velvet) covered in the signature cream cheese frosting (made with velvety cream cheese and real butter). Thress is providing the Pet of the Month winner a 2 tier Bundtlet Tower, one cake-flavored chocolate, and the other vanilla, covered in the signature cream cheese frosting.
We want to thank Mary and her entire team for being so kind to Loveland Magazine and our pet lovers! We are thrilled to award the Pet of the Month such an unbelievable delicious treat!
Scott Gordan, owner of The Works Pizza in Downtown Loveland, also contributed a gift card to the Pet of the Month prize bundle. Scott sent a message to us saying, “If you need gift cards for your pet of the month, The Works is happy to donate! Love my dogs…and my cat!”
We appreciate you Scott Gordan for donating another amazing prize to our Pet of the Month winner!
In addition to receiving the Bundtlet Tower, The Works Pizza gift card and being featured in Loveland Magazine’s publication, the weekly newsletter, and social media platforms, the winner will also receive a framable glossy 8×10 photo keepsake that will be delivered to their home.
Thress is providing the Pet of the Month winner a 2 tier Bundtlet Tower, one cake-flavored chocolate, and the other vanilla, covered in the signature cream cheese frosting.
To enter into Loveland’s Pet of the Month contest you must email me, Cassie Mattia, at cmattia12@gmail.com 2-5 of your favorite photos of your pet along with a short bio about your pet. Share with us and the community why your pet is so special to you along with any other unique facts that set your little buddy apart from other pets! The window for receiving pet of the month candidates will run from the 1st to the 25th (deadline) of every month starting on August 1st. When sending in your pet photos and bios please include your pet’s name, age, and breed as well as your contact info with a short description of each photo you provide us with. If you want to share where your pet’s favorite spots are in Loveland that would be great as well!
The first official Loveland Pet of the Month will be featured on September 1st.
Loveland, Ohio – I scream, you scream, we all scream for Loveland Dairy Whip Ice Cream!
Loveland is home to many family-owned businesses and historical buildings due to the fact that Loveland itself was founded in 1876. Businesses have come and gone and a majority of the historical buildings have had to go through some major renovations, but there is one business in particular that has not only called Loveland home from the beginning but has also kept its building as close as possible to the original layout. The Loveland Dairy Whip (LDW) located at 611 West Loveland Ave. has been serving up the community the finest high-quality ice cream since 1955 and has managed to satisfy sweet-tooths all over the city for 66 years! That’s why I couldn’t resist paying LDW a visit for my next round of “Cassie The Food Guru!”
Teresa (Flint) Morgan and her husband Rick Morgan became official LDW owners in 2001 although the ice cream hot spot had been in the Flint family since 1972. Teresa’s parents Marian and Jim Flint bought LDW in 1972, sold it in 1986, then bought it back in 1993. Up until 2001 when Teresa became the owner of LDW, she had been helping her parents run the shop since age 11 so she was no stranger to the LDW way of life!
The Morgan’s now run one of the longest-standing businesses and buildings in the City of Loveland. The LDW has not only been able to keep its historical charm intact even after the minor yet much-needed renovations that took place in 2014 it has also managed to stay true to its mantra, which is to continue offering the community the absolute best quality ice cream at a price that any family can afford! From the legendary vanilla, chocolate, or twist dip-top cones to the delicious Chocolate Mountain Cyclone to the yummy Oreo Parfay to the fan-favorite Banana Boats, LDW can sweeten anyone’s day with its magical ice cream creations!
Without further ado, I bring to you “Cassie the Food Guru” takes on Loveland Dairy Whip! Click below to see my on-camera interview with owner Rick Morgan!
Loveland, Ohio – Can you believe Fall is already right around the corner? With Fall comes an amazing line-up of events and festivals in Downtown Loveland including “Zoveland’s” 1st Oktoberfest!
On Friday, September 24th from 4 PM-10 PM, and Saturday, September 25th from 5 PM-11 PM, Downtown Loveland will become “Liebesland” (Loveland in German) for Oktoberfest 2021. The festival will include a plethora of traditional German activities, competitions, food, drinks, and of course some spectacular German attire!
Warsteiner, an international German beer company that came to conception in Warstein, Germany in 1753 when Antonius Cramer was asked to pay beer tax after his home brewing volumes passed the amount allowed for personal use, will be hosting a Biergarten (beer garden in German) Emporium in Nisbet Park. Traditionally a Biergarten is an open-air space where beer and food are served. This concept dates back to the 19th century in Bavaria in which breweries planted gardens above cellars to keep their lagers cool enough to ferment underground.
The Warsteiner Biergarten will be serving up their finest beer from the Premium Pilsner, “A refreshing, pale golden pilsener with a clean taste perfectly balanced with hints of barley malt, subtle bottom fermenting yeast tones and mild hoppy bitterness,” to the Premium Dunkel, “a rich dark amber beer with full-flavored, smooth taste nicely accented with satisfying notes of roasted malt and subtle bottom-fermenting yeast tones,” to the Oktoberfest Special Edition, “a well-balanced, mild, and smooth taste with a uniquely soft, hoppy aftertaste and 5.9% alcohol.”
All of the tips collected from the Biergarten will benefit Cancer Free Kids.
Of course, what goes better with beer than traditional German food! The majority of Loveland’s Downtown restaurants will be adding a few German-inspired food options in celebration of Oktoberfest. Not sure what traditional German food is? Read this CNN Travel article that I found that talks all about German cuisine!
Although the Little Miami Chamber Alliance (LMRCA) is still in the planning stages of what activities and competitions will be held during Oktoberfest, the Chamber has confirmed that there will be a Stein Hoist competition as well as a Lederhosen competition.
The Stein Hoist prelims will begin on Friday around 6:30 PM and the finals will be held on Saturday at 6 PM. The competition will include 6 contestants and will be emceed by Channel 5’s Randi Rico. Stein Hoisting is a traditional Bavarian strength contest in which participants hold a full one-liter beer stein (weighs 5.5 pounds typically) in front of their bodies with a straight arm, parallel to the ground. The person that can hold the pose the longest wins.
The Lederhosen competition (German costume contest) will begin on Friday. The winner will be selected around 7:30 PM. Lederhosen’s are leather shorts with H-shaped suspenders that men in the working class from Alpine regions such as Bavaria wore. They wore these while they were working because the leather material made the dust and dirt collected from work easier to clean off. Lederhosen’s also have cultural and social meaning for those within the German culture.
There is in fact a female version of the Lederhosen called a “Dirndl,” which is a dress that can fall either to the knees or the floor. The dress includes a tight bodice that is meant to compliment a woman’s chest.
On Friday, Oktoberfest will also feature live entertainment from the Cloggers at 5 PM and the Counting Skeletons at 7 PM.
On Saturday, Oktoberfest entertainment will kick off at 4 PM with Premier Dance and Tumbling, and shortly afterward at 5:30 PM, the Cloggers will perform once again.
Of course, we can’t forget about one of the most coveted German Oktoberfest traditions, the tapping of the Keg! The tapping of the Keg is one of the oldest traditions in Germany’s Oktoberfest celebrations. The Keg tap is typically done by the Mayor of Munich, which in Loveland’s case will be Mayor Kathy Bailey. The goal of the Keg tapping is for the Mayor to hit the Keg with a hammer the least amount of times possible before yelling “O’zapft is” (keg breached). Once the Mayor yells “O’zapft is” surrounding vendors may officially sell their beer!
Before the Keg tapping in Germany, there is a “procession” held in which colorful horse carriages and wagons covered with flowers march down to where the Oktoberfest celebration is being held. The procession is traditionally led by the Münchner Kindl (coat of arms of Munich) and is followed by the Mayor’s festival carriage. Behind the Mayor are carts of the landlords and breweries as well as the waitresses who will be serving beer who are typically holding beer mugs in the procession. This part of Zoveland’s Oktoberfest will include Mayor Kathy Bailey, the LMRCA Board of Directors President Doug Portmann, and Oktoberfest’s Presenting Sponsor. The procession itself will be a surprise to all as the details have yet to be released!
On Saturday at 6 PM the Stein Hoist finals will be held and right after the Zinzinnati Bierband will perform until 10 PM.
The LMRCA is still hard at work adding more activities, competitions, entertainment, and food options for the 2021 Zoveland Oktoberfest so stay tuned for the latest event details!
Oktoberfest is still in need of sponsors! If you or your business would like to become a sponsor read over the sponsorship options below and contact the LMRCA through email or you can call their office at 513-683-1544.
For more Zoveland Oktoberfest 2021 updates stay tuned to the Loveland Salad With ME, Cassie Mattia!
David Miller is the Publisher and Editor of Loveland Magazine
By David Miller
Dear Loveland School Board.
Given that COVID infections caused by the now predominant delta variant are likely to go undetected and children attending school with what appears to be a mild cold, what measures, if any, do you propose to use to prevent the spread of COVID-19 throughout the Tiger school community?
The predominant delta variant is much more contagious than the version of COVID-19 Loveland school children faced last year.
Here is a list of things to consider and do before your meeting on Tuesday, August 10 – eight days before classes begin for the school year. I have provided the resource materials below that you will need to complete your assignment.
You know this but does it bear repeating? Loveland students eleven years old and younger cannot currently receive any benefit a vaccination will provide.
Only approximately 18% of our students who are eligible for a vaccine are fully vaccinated.
The tracking system of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has now moved Clermont and Warren Counties to the highest level of warning for the transmission of COVID 19. Hamilton County remains in the “Substantial” range.
There will be no remote learning opportunities (Remote Academy) for Loveland teachers or students as all school buildings will return to full capacity in-person classes in August. Find out how many more students will be attending each building and riding buses as classes begin.
Find out how many students, staff, and teachers became infected and how many were quarantined last school year when there were far fewer persons in the buildings and on buses than there will be this year.
Review the comprehensive study ($66K “Pandemic Preparedness and Planning” services) that you purchased before school began last year. Review which of the recommended COVID protocols were implemented and whether or not you are going to abandon them as school starts on August 18.
Your current policy states that you will follow any “mandates” of a list of what you call your “Directing Entities”. Since none of these “Directing Entities” have mandated protocols and nothing in current Ohio law prevents you from adopting any recommendation you choose – review their recommendations and choose one.
Below is a list of what your “Directing Entities” are currently recommending for K-12 schools.
Also, below for your review, are the recommendations contained in the $66,000 report you purchased.
With all due respect, none of you or your staff are smarter or have any greater insight as to what is the best way to start this school year than the medical and scientific community of your Directing Entities.
And, with all due respect to the parents of the District, “parental choice” of your child wearing a mask or not – is not your decision to make. You can be the loudest voice in the classroom of social media, but just as the elected Board of this District relies on known experts to decide which textbooks teachers use or what is served in the cafeteria – providing a healthy classroom is in their job description.
Board, please follow the latest advice from the health experts, your “Directing Entities” and from your own “consultant experts” that you hired in 2020.
Let’s get back to school. Let’s do so in a way that fully protects our children, teachers, and our friends that work as District staff. Don’t allow any of them to be put in the potentially lethal classroom petri dish experiment of this new delta variant.
Loveland, Ohio – The tracking system of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has now moved Clermont and Warren Counties to the highest level of warning for the transmission of COVID 19.
Hamilton and Butler Counties remain in the “Substantial” range.
“The Delta variant has altered the game plan for COVID-19,” Hamilton County Health Commissioner Greg Kesterman told Loveland Magazine last week. “We know masking works and is yet another layer, in addition to vaccination, to protect all of us from another surge of the virus.”
Vaccination remains the best way to avoid COVID-19 infection.“The vaccines are safe, effective and readily available,” according to Kesterman. “This is now a pandemic of the unvaccinated. If you have questions or concerns about the vaccine, please talk to a trusted health professional for the best information.”
