LOVELAND MAGAZINE

News and Events from the Loveland, Ohio Area

Without fear or favor
Since 2004

Tag: loveland ohio

  • After waiting 23 years the work has started on the restoration of Ramsey Paxton Cemetery

    After waiting 23 years the work has started on the restoration of Ramsey Paxton Cemetery

    by Rob Geiger

    What a beautiful day on Monday, September 16th, 2019 turned out to be not only weather-wise but after waiting 23 years the work started on the Ramsey Paxton Cemetery located on Ramsey Drive in Loveland, Ohio. 

    The Rainey Tree Service started early that morning to remove the old rusted chain-link fence, started the clearing of bushes and trees. “We got the trees in the nick of time!” stated Steve Rainey, owner of the Rainey Tree Service, “Since the roots were pretty far gone due to rot, and damaged by ants. Most of the wild Cherry Trees we just pulled them out, roots and all.”  The tree service company worked hard for three days to get the cemetery shipshape removing all the potential hazards that could harm the new fence, removing and grinding the stumps, and reworking the ground that was disturbed in the process. 

    Eads Fence Company started their work by installing the new fence on Thursday, September 19th and got much of the project finished. I arrived in the late afternoon on Thursday and I was astonished most of the project was finished and how wonderful the new fence looked? I could not help but look at the surrounding area imagining what the old Ramsey Farm must have looked like when the first interment took place in March 1813 with Lt. Col. Thomas Paxton the first permanent white settler in the Virginia Military Track. 

    We are waiting for the installation of a section of fence and setting the gateposts before the gate can be restored and put into place. We are hoping this part of the project will be completed by mid to late November 2019. The headstones are scheduled to be cleaned by October 22, 2019, by Cold Jet located on Wards Corner Road. I’m looking into how much it would cost to have a new marker placed on the weathered limestone slab of Lt. Col. Paxton’s grave having the same verbiage that was once etched depicting his contributions when he fought in the American Revolution and the Battle of Fallen Timbers. If the cost is substantial, we might have to wait for the next group of caretakers of the cemetery to take on that project? Hopefully, it won’t be another 23 years.       

    I could not help myself getting choked up a little to see what was accomplished in the last four days and how many people were involved to make this project a success! Everyone who was and is involved by donating money and or their time should come up to the cemetery see the great progress in preserving one of our great landmarks in the area!    

    We are hoping in the Spring of 2020 to have a formal rededication of the Ramsey-Paxton Cemetery. Please continue to look for additional updates with the Loveland Magazine publication.

    Loveland Magazine is the Media Sponsor for the restoration of the Ramsey Paxton Cemetery.

  • Stephanie Savely on School Levy: What do we agree on?

    Stephanie Savely on School Levy: What do we agree on?

    Stephanie Savely lives in the West Loveland Historic District in Loveland

    by Stephanie Savely

    The levy is driving a wedge in our beautiful town. Can we “push pause” for just a minute? Can we take a deep breath and focus on what we agree on?

    I believe, if asked, most of us would say that:

    • We love our “little” town. 
    • We know the value and importance of providing a good public education. 
    • We know that our school buildings need work and some probably even need to be replaced.

    Most would even agree that there are probably some items, regardless of the actual dollar amount, in the levy that aren’t “mission critical.”

    So, I have one simple question. What harm is there in asking the school board to take the overwhelming amount of feedback they have received and revise the plan?

    This isn’t an all or nothing situation. Our city is more important than that.

    This problem has been years in the making, and a few more months won’t matter.

    Our community, our schools, our neighborhoods, our friendships are worth coming together and tackling this well. Together.

    Don’t forget, we ARE Loveland Strong.

  • Meet the Council Candidates Wednesday evening

    Meet the Council Candidates Wednesday evening

    Loveland, Ohio – The Little Miami River Chamber Alliance and Loveland Magazine will co-host a Meet the Candidates night this Wednesday.

    The forum will be in the Media Center of the Loveland Middle School at 7 PM.

    The school is at 801 South Lebanon Road.

    This event is FREE and the public is encouraged to attend

    The format will follow the same as in the past:

    • Candidates will each present for 2 minutes to open the forum.
    • Questions will be asked for 60 minutes allowing each candidate two minutes to reply or pass.
    • After 60 minutes candidates will close with a 2 minute speech.
    Residents will be putting their questions into a “hat,” and all questions will be screened for duplication. The Honorable Judge Brad Greenburg (Hamilton County Courthouse) will serve as the emcee.

    LOVELAND MAGAZINE TV will broadcast the event live on our Facebook Page.

     

  • Anna Bunker on “Buildings in a Tiger Nation”

    Anna Bunker on “Buildings in a Tiger Nation”

    by Anna Bunker

    As a mother of three kids, a school volunteer and a supporter of every teacher in the Loveland School District, I agree the classroom trailers and teachers on carts (not classrooms) are not a long-term solution. I also agree the District has no $0 option.   

    My question is how did we get to this point?

    First, how did the schools get into a position to have additional teachers without classrooms or the need for extra space (i.e. trailers) when all the data shows there has been NO significant student growth in the Loveland School district in 10 years?

    Second, the age of buildings is not a reason to abandon them and start anew. There are plenty of 80+-year-old schools throughout the United States and Cincinnati that are still serving their communities. If the school district had invested money into maintaining and improving these buildings this may not be an issue. For what it is worth, according to the 2018 Loveland City School District Financial Reports, the 2018 maintenance budget was cut by over $1 million between 2017 and 2018.

    I’ve heard comments praising the Board of Education for stretching levy money out past their original request, but there is another viewpoint. We, the Loveland voters, approved a levy giving the school district money to keep the schools operating and maintained, so why didn’t they spend the money? Some may call this fiscally responsible, but if the buildings haven’t been maintained and updated and now need to be replaced, isn’t that being fiscally irresponsible?

    CHALLENGE for the Board of Education

    I urge that the Board of Education and Administration to take a deep dive into the ROOT CAUSE of how the LCSD got the taxpayers into this situation of voting FOR or AGAINST one of largest School Levy requests in the State of Ohio and then, create processes and procedures to ensure this doesn’t happen in the future. 

    Personally, I cannot support giving the school district a gift of three new school buildings, which, if building maintenance process is not corrected, will need to be replaced after the bond is paid off in 37 years.

    In the September 12th information session at the High School, Superintendent Crouse told us that if the new $16 million Fine Arts Center with a 1,000 seat auditorium were added to the campus, the existing auditorium building would then be used for educational space including, adding a space for the Robotics team since they have to currently share space with the wrestling team.   

    Historically, school boosters have been responsible for fundraising and paying for costs/maintenance for their activities. As taxpayers, we are responsible for electing the Board of Education who we trust to provide quality education to ALL our children, not just the athletes, choirs, bands or other extracurricular teams.

    CHALLENGE for Loveland Voters

    This levy will be a hardship for many Loveland residents. I have a challenge to anyone that is FOR the levy and this increase will not be a hardship on your family, please make a healthy donation to the Loveland Music Boosters, Loveland Robotics Team or the Loveland Athletic Boosters. Help these Boosters raise the money they need to improve their programs, but please don’t ask taxpayers to make sacrifices for these extracurricular programs.

    Loveland Music Boosters

    https://sites.google.com/site/lovelandmusicboosters/home

    P.O. Box 453

    Loveland OH 45140

    Loveland Robotics Boosters

    https://www.lovelandroboticsboosters.org/

    P.O. Box 272

    Loveland OH 45140

    Loveland Athletic Boosters

    http://lovelandathleticboosters.com/

    If you find this story useful and helpful in your daily life…

     

  • Susan Craig: “Please seek out the truth, get your questions answered, and make an informed decision on November 5th”

    Susan Craig: “Please seek out the truth, get your questions answered, and make an informed decision on November 5th”

    Susan Craig

    It is no secret that November’s ballot has caused quite a bit of controversy throughout the community. The lines have been drawn and those that are left to decide which direction they want to go have some big decisions to make. Depending upon the website that you visit, each person will tell you how they interpret the situation.  Some of these things are facts, some are embellished, some are grounded in emotion. As a voter, you have an important decision to make.  

    Susan Craig lives in the Turnbury Subdivision of Loveland and is a District employee

    To be very clear, I do work in Loveland City Schools. I started in the district in 2002. I began my career, however, in 1997 in Norwood. It was there that I had my first real experience with levies. I remember distinctly reading a forum page where people were free to openly bash teachers, staff and the board. I was so confused by the fact that people were not supporting the work that we were doing with students. It was disheartening and made me feel as though I had made a terrible career choice. I began to do research on how schools were funded. I quickly learned that without public funds, schools cannot operate. I decided to look in another district. I then went on to the Northwest district and taught in a building that was in dire need of repairs. This district also failed a levy and I made the decision to go closer to my home at the time.  Moving two times in my first five years was my decision and it hurt my heart to leave the communities I had been a part of, even if it was brief. We did have some RIF’s (reduction in force) but I was spared in both situations.  

    From the moment I stepped into Loveland City Schools, I was completely amazed at the support from the families that I had the pleasure of working with. From the PTA support to casual unexpected meetings in the grocery store, I felt (and still feel) so fortunate to work in this district. It is our parents who help us mold young minds and make our jobs better. 

    Our staff is made up of dedicated professionals who care for and love our students. The coaches and volunteers who help mold young men and women are such a gift to the students they work with. The support staff who makes sure that they are there to give us a helping hand is such a blessing to all of us. Our bus drivers, who deliver our most precious cargo, are a part of our family. All of these people are those who make up Loveland City Schools. These are my main reasons for loving Loveland City Schools.

    As we approach levy season I ask that you, the voter, pay close attention. There will be voices telling you things that may frighten you. Ask questions from a variety of sources. You will see signs telling you to vote one way or the other. Ask questions from a variety of sources. The fact is, that schools rely on their community. Our neighboring schools are also asking for money. That should be a voter’s first sign that schools are in need. Please keep in mind that their needs are different than ours. Their tax base, building conditions and level of industry contribution isn’t the same. Many people misconstrue information and try to make you believe what they believe. The truth is out there. It is your responsibility as a voter to seek it out. There are many questions that are out there. You can search for these answers even outside of the opposing parties. All schools are held to the same standard. It is important to understand, though, that not all districts are in the same situation that we are with regards to funds.  

    Schools are held to a standard by laws. Their books are audited and if there is any misappropriation they’re held accountable. While paying taxes is not something that anyone is overly excited about, it is certainly

    something that we must do in order to support our community. If you are interested in learning more, attend one of the information sessions planned by our district. If you are in doubt of the need, ask someone in our district. Knowledge is power and loud voices are not necessarily the voices we should listen to. It is the voice of reason and the voice of truth that should help you make your decision. Seek it for yourself, take nothing out of context, and if it doesn’t sit well, ask more questions.

    I will close with this, I am proud of our district administrators and board for their effort in listening to the voices of those who wanted to be a part of the process. I am in awe of the continued effort that they put into a vision that started four years ago. To step in and take a good look at the needs of our district isn’t an easy job. They continue to put our students, staff, and community in every decision they make. Many times at the cost of long hours away from their families. My family is grateful for this. Please seek out the truth, get your questions answered, and make an informed decision on November 5th.

    If you find this story useful and helpful in your daily life…

  • All the fun you missed at Homecoming Weekend [W/Photos & Video]

    All the fun you missed at Homecoming Weekend [W/Photos & Video]

    Molly Hanson and Jeff Scott were crowned Homecoming Queen and King

    Mihaela Manova

    by Mihaela Manova

    Loveland, Ohio – Homecoming weekend has come and gone, and students are resting and reminiscing from the constant adrenaline that the week brought. 

    To start off the festivities on Thursday, September 26, the Loveland Athletic Boosters hosted their annual Homecoming Parade. Homecoming floats graced the streets of Loveland with our very own tiger athletes, robotics team, cheerleaders, and the homecoming court nominees.

    Here is our time-lapse video of the Homecoming Parade

    [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mnJCkqG9nbA]

    Here is our slide show of the Homecoming Parade

    Below is video Principal Peggy Johnson posted to Twitter of the Marching Band and Color Guard as they turned onto #Tiger Way and entered the High School

    Later Thursday night at the high school, students faced off in powder puff football and volleyball, as well as the winner of the cutest dog contest, was announced.

    Image
    Peggy Johnson @LHSTigrInCharge

    On Friday night, as our school faced off against Milford, students packed the stands in anticipation of not only a sudden change in score, but of the festivities around them. The Loveland Show Choir performed in a semi-circle in front of the parents, the national anthem was sung, and fireworks went off, scaring the unsuspecting spectators. The home team took one on its Tiger chin losing 13-42, but that didn’t take away our Tiger spirit.

    Before kickoff, Grand Marshall Tony Ricci and his wife Deb landed on the field to deliver the game ball. (Read about why Tony Ricci was selected Grand Marshall)

     

    Also, before the game, baby powder was distributed among the students and as the game started, clouds of orange and white covered the entire senior section. No person was left unmarked from the powder as many wondered if the nominees for king and queen were caught in the clouds. Not to worry, because at halftime, seniors Jeffrey Scott and Molly Hansen were crowned Loveland’s Homecoming King and Queen.

     

    At halftime the Homecoming Court was introduced and Molly Hanson and Jeff Scott were crowned Homecoming Queen and King

    Later on, Loveland’s marching band performed a cover of New York by Alicia Keys and Jay-Z, while displaying stands of New York imagery. The Colorguard wore matching outfits to the theme, showcasing grey suspenders and yellow taxi cab-like ties to allude to the New York aesthetic.

    Image
    A photo that Principal Peggy Johnson posted to Twitter of fun at the High School Thursday after the Parade

    Starting off Saturday night, girls and boys dressed up in elegant attire can be seen standing in a long line, waiting to enter the homecoming dance. As principal Peggy Johnson tweeted of the arrivals, the anticipation to finally enter the gymnasium escalated, as she captioned a video of the crowd dancing, “Yes this is a sea of dancing tigers!”

     

    By the end of the night, the homecoming king and queen had their special dance while the music and lights continued to electrify the crowd all the way up until the mountain of discarded high heels began to suddenly decrease. 

    In the end, students came out satisfied with their homecoming weekend activities as they had the Sunday to rest before another week of…mandatory school activities. 

    Here is a slide show of more of the Homecoming Game game fun!

    Here is a slide show of some of the game action against Milford

  • The annual school report card released by the Ohio Department of Education

    The annual school report card released by the Ohio Department of Education

    Read Loveland’s Report Card HERE

    Loveland, Ohio – The Ohio Department of Education recently announced the release of the annual school report card to provide communities across the state a picture of the progress by schools in raising achievement and preparing students for the future. In terms of value-added progress – data measuring academic growth and students’ gain in learning over time – Loveland now ranks 22ndout of 608 public school districts in Ohio. Two years ago, the district was ranked 433.

    “This year’s report card shows an upward trend that we are extremely proud of,” said Superintendent Dr. Amy Crouse. “We’ve been laser-focused on the areas where we’ve had opportunities to improve. The commitment and hard work by our staff in developing and implementing improvement plans over the past several years have paid off in a big way and our students have benefitted.”

    For the second consecutive year, Ohio districts and schools received an overall letter grade, which is calculated using the result of six components: Achievement, Progress, Gap Closing, Improving At-Risk K-3 Readers, Graduation Rate and Prepared for Success. All Loveland schools, and the district as a whole, received an overall grade of either an “A” or a “B.” The performance index, a calculation that measures student performance specifically on state assessments in math and reading/English, improved from 99.5 to 101.1.

    “The state report card can help show general trends – moving from a D-F range to an A-B range indicates improvement, while the opposite scenario draws attention to areas a school district must work on,” said Dr. Crouse. “Let’s not forget, however, that the report card and the metrics behind it are quite convoluted, evidenced by the accompanying 32-page guide to understanding it. We need to keep in mind that the report card is only one measure of accountability and based mainly on standardized tests – it is just

    one snapshot of the very complex work we do. Our district is committed to continued high achievement and an exceptional educational experience for all our students, and that’s why the development of the Portrait of a Tiger is so important for our work going forward. In that regard, I believe there will always be room for improvement.”

    To supplement the information in the state report card, Loveland Schools recently issued its Quality Profile (QP) for the 2018-19 school year. It includes accountability measures that define high-quality education beyond those captured by the state report card to provide a more complete information of the value the schools provide to the students, staff and the community. According to the District, the QP is supported by the Alliance for High Quality Education, an education consortium that works to improve educational opportunities for students and that represents member districts on matters of educational policy and funding.

    If you find this story useful and helpful in your daily life…

  • Council candidate asks, “Who’s watching out for Loveland’s resident taxpayers?”

    Council candidate asks, “Who’s watching out for Loveland’s resident taxpayers?”

    by Cory O’Donnell

    Who’s watching out for Loveland’s resident taxpayers? Our city leaders have ventured down a road with a questionable road map. The city is in the midst of possibly the most expensive civic project ever with $7+ million of resident taxpayer money on the line to construct a parking garage. 

    Cory O’Donnell lives in the White Pillars Subdivision and is a Loveland City Council Candidate

    Who would argue the need for a parking facility given the explosion of visitors to the downtown area? Certainly, there needs to be adequate parking to support the masses that want to enjoy the available offerings.  Visitors welcome the day when they don’t have to circle the downtown area for what seems to be an eternity to secure a valuable parking spot. Alternatively, some come to spend their time and money only to turn around and go home…nowhere to park.

    Imagine the business owners that are giddy with the prospect of the resident taxpayers footing the bill to get more cash through their doors.  Who could blame them for the smiles on their faces? Not me; what a gift!

    But here’s where the roadmap leads to resident taxpayer disaster. There is no published plan to recover the $7+ million and make the taxpayers whole. Further, my calculator can’t get to a full lot, 365 days a year for 30 years, that will recover resident taxpayer investment.

    I am far from knowledgeable about developing, constructing and managing a public parking garage. My assumption is our city leaders are well versed in public policy, zoning, codes, and other daily municipal functions, but there are specialists in private development that have the knowledge and expertise to make this happen on a for-profit basis.

    Is it too late to get the proper road map that assures resident taxpayers are not left holding this massive debt?

    P.S.  Our city is already committed to close to $48,000 annually in debt service for the Christman Farm property on Butterworth Road acquired in 2007 which has remained vacant all these years and has disappeared from the city council’s interest. This translates to hundreds of thousands of resident taxpayer’s dollars being flushed down the proverbial toilet for too many more years.

    Can you afford more?  Who’s going to step up to the plate and get the answers?


  • School bus delays expected due to railroad construction work

    School bus delays expected due to railroad construction work

    Beginning Thursday, October 10, the railroad crossing at Hopewell Road in Branch Hill will be under construction. The construction project will affect school bus transportation from Clermont County residences to and from:

    • Loveland High School:

    Bus numbers 63, 13, 18, 38
    • Middle/Intermediate Schools:
    Bus numbers 39, 23, 47, 73, 45
    • Elementary/Primary Schools:
    Bus numbers 39, 47, 41, 73, 37
    • Loveland Early Childhood Center:
    (Morning) Bus numbers 31,32,37
    (Midday) Bus number 38
    (Afternoon) All buses traveling through Hamilton County
    All traffic could potentially be affected. The extent of the delays will be determined by a number of factors, including traffic backups on I-275 and through downtown Loveland. The construction project is estimated to be completed on Sunday, October 13.

    For non-public buses affected by the construction, see the information below

    • Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy: Bus number 75
    • St. Gertrude and All Saints School: Bus number 71
    • Moeller and Mt. Notre Dame: Bus numbers 72
    • Live Oaks and Scarlet Oaks: Bus number 7
    • St. Margaret of York: Bus numbers 54, 69
    • St. Columban: Bus numbers 32, 33
    • St. Xavier, Cincinnati Country Day, Seven Hills School: Bus numbers 64, 76
    • St. Ursula Academy, Summit Country Day School, Springer School and Center: Bus number 34

    Read this background information:

  • Dear Fellow Residents of Loveland School District from a “New Guy”

    Dear Fellow Residents of Loveland School District from a “New Guy”

    by Tony Mackzum

    Tony Mackzum lives in Paxton Woods – (Photo Provided)

    I am a lifelong West Sider who moved his young family to Paxton Woods last summer. Since I am new to this side of town, I wanted to share some of my thoughts and feelings with you regarding the recent ongoing Loveland School District Levy debate. (Loveland Board of Education asks for combined 16.78-mill levy)

    While my family is younger in nature, my football and soccer friends in Loveland call me the Old Dad, which I wear with great pride. A few extra years of doing things well and not so well at times has allowed me a history perspective to see both sides of this debate.  

      1. First and foremost, everyone’s economic situations are fluid and unique, but either way, both sides should try to respect the other side’s opinion and show class at all times while debating this topic on all social media formats and in person.  
      2. If you don’t spend at least 30 minutes researching the topic, then your opinion loses value and can’t be supported by anything other than emotions or a popularity contest trying to fit in.
      3. If you don’t have children in the past, now, or planned future within the district then it is OK for you to vote NO, but remember if the levy fails you will not realize as much on the sale of your residence when you want to sell and that is a fact no matter where you live or what you do within the district. It is a proven equation that better schools equal better property values for all, just look at the demand for Loveland recently vs surrounding school districts.  
      4. If you vote NO now because you think there will be a better plan or idea later, You’re Mistaken, we chose to leave the West Side because once levies fail they almost never get going again as strong as the last one voted NO.
      5. If you think we don’t need three schools then you haven’t comparative shopped school systems lately. My wife and I spent months reading and visiting school districts around the city, and we chose to overlook the fact that only the high school was comparable because we figured the funding was already in place for replacements due to the outstanding history of the school district. Trust me we noticed, and it plays a role in future decisions that go back to school systems providing the demand for your house if and when you choose to sell it.  
      6. I am an accountant, and the cost of capital currently being offered to the school district at this point in time is the lowest it will ever be, and will cost us more in the long run if we pass on this chance or nickel and dime it because we don’t see the need for certain things of benefit to all of us in some fashion monetarily or in benefit of use.  

    Sincerely, 

    The New Guy