Take part in the 2024 LIFE Food Pantry Annual Fundraising Campaign, which will raise awareness and donations for LIFE‘s many programs that serve the northeastern suburbs of Cincinnati and the entire 45140 zip code. Keep reading for ways to get involved this year!
Since 1988, LIFE has provided food and financial assistance to Loveland and surrounding communities. Sadly, the number of our neighbors reliant on LIFE for their food source has doubled in the last four years alone. In fact, we are currently serving 14% of all Loveland residents — including hundreds of seniors and nearly 1,000 children — and our 2024 distributions show the demand is increasing. These neighbors can also experience financial crisis and LIFE was able to provide more than $44,000 in assistance in 2023.
Our services are dependent on the generosity of our wonderful community and there are so many ways you can get involved:
MONETARY SUPPORT A monetary contribution to our annual contribution helps us keep our programs thriving and able to meet the growing demand of our neighbors. Click here to donate online.
FOOD DONATIONS / FOOD DRIVES Help stock our shelves by dropping off food items during our normal business hours or host your own food drive! We can help! Click here or email fooddrives@lifefoodpantry.org to learn more about food drives.
SPREAD THE WORD Tell everyone about LIFE Food Pantry and the work we do for the community. Download and post a BE A LIFE SAVER flyer or spread the word through social media by clicking on these icons:
CVC member Joe Lauber (left) and CVC President, and Loveland resident, Daniel Cobb (right) receiving Winemaker Magazine’s Club of the Year award in San Luis Obispo, California.
by David Miller
Loveland, Ohio – The Cincinnati Vintners Club, including several Loveland residents, won Winemaker Magazine’s Club of the Year for 2022; tops in North America.
2019 CVC Christmas Party. The club gathers each December to celebrate the season and winemaking accomplishments of the previous year. (Provided Photo)
At a June 5th ceremony in San Luis Obispo, California, Winemaker Magazine, announced the Cincinnati Vintner’s Club (CVC) as its 2022 Winemaking Club of the Year.
The award, which recognizes excellence in amateur winemaking, considers the number of medals won annually by club members in 50 categories. The 2022 international competition, the largest of its kind in the world, evaluated entries from across the United States and Canada and as far away as Sweden.
Mike Grimshaw (left) and Jake Russell (right) loading 1,000 pounds of Cabernet Sauvignon grapes into the CVC’s crusher-destemmer at Bob Vogt’s home in Loveland. (Provided Photo)
In 2022, Cincinnati Vintner Club members won 11 gold, 12 silver, and 13 bronze medals among 1,772 entries as well as recognition as Best in Show in one category.
This is the first top honor garnered by the club and a recognition of the vibrant, historical wine culture in Cincinnati. Club president and Loveland resident, Daniel Cobb, further explained, “this is a great honor, not only recognizing the skill of Cincinnati hobby vintners but given the small size of our club, the ability to compete with larger clubs in more established wine regions.”
The Cincinnati Vintner’s Club was formally established in 1980 among local, amateur winemakers who seek to promote better winemaking through education, experience, and exchange. The club’s 25 active members meet monthly to further individual winemaking skills and to promote their expertise in the craft.
The CVC works with other local wine clubs to exchange best practices and to source California, Washington, and Ohio grapes for local winemakers. These grapes are crushed and distributed in Loveland. Members compete actively in support of international, national, and local winemaking competitions including those of the Clermont County, Butler County, and Hamilton County Fairs.
Members compete in club competitions and regional, national, and international winemaking competitions to raise awareness of the hobby. They craft these wines for personal, non-commercial use, and for competitions. Their wines cannot be sold.
Members share their wines and the experiences of making them in monthly club meetings and at annual picnics and holiday banquets. Each fall, the club facilitates the purchase of premium wine grapes from California, Washington State, and Ohio on behalf of its members and affiliated amateur wine clubs throughout the tri-state area. They receive, crush, and distribute grapes at the home of Loveland resident, Mr. Bob Vogt; about 40,000 pounds per year.
CVC members crushing grapes at the Loveland home of Bob Vogt. The boxes hold 1,000 pounds of grapes and the maroon tubs hold 500 liters of crushed grapes, (Provided Photo)
Cincinnati Vinters Club does not yet have a social media presence. If members of the community are interested in the club, I encourage them to reach out to John Russell at jtrussellmaed@gmail.com.
Loveland, Ohio – Loveland officials have announced the continuation of their natural gas aggregation program for another two years with IGS Energy as the City’s selected supplier.
Loveland City Manager Dave Kennedy
Residents and businesses currently participating in the City’s natural gas program will remain in the program unless they respond to the opt-out letter which they should receive on or about January 26.
Newly eligible account holders who receive their gas supply from Duke Energy will also receive a notice from IGS Energy explain the rate formula, terms and conditions, and various means of opting out of the City’s aggregation program. City Hall advises to read the information carefully before making your decision. These accounts will be added to the program unless they opt out as prescribed in the letter.
David Kennedy, City Manager, said, “We have decided to continue with rates that will be set each month, a strategy that has worked well in the previous program. We have structured our program to allow us to convert to fixed-rates if and when we think that is in the best interest of Loveland residents.” Kennedy also pointed out, “This program makes no guarantee of savings and it is completely voluntary.”
Loveland Mayor Kathy Bailey
Mayor Kathy Bailey said, “we are pleased to offer this program to our residents as another option to manage increasing energy costs. The City was able to negotiate a great feature for our residents and small businesses. Participants will be able to leave the program, at any time for any reason free of charge.”
Mark Burns, President of Independent Energy Consultants, Inc., said, “we are pleased to have designed this program for Loveland and have negotiated a favorable formula for determining future gas rates. Residents should expect to receive a notice from IGS Energy explaining the rate formula, terms and conditions, and various means of opting out of the City’s aggregation program. Please read it carefully before making your decision.”
Doug Austin, Executive Vice President of IGS Energy, said, “Any resident or small business that is currently served by another supplier should also receive a letter inviting them to receive the same rate, but anyone may call IGS Energy at 1-877-353-0162. If residents are served by another supplier, they should be aware of the obligations in their existing contract before joining the program as many suppliers do charge a penalty for early termination.”
The City asks that you do not call the City offices because they are not equipped to handle a large volume of calls. Residents should directly contact IGS Energy toll free at 1-877-353-0162 if they have questions.
HOW TO GET INVOLVED
