LOVELAND MAGAZINE

News and Events from the Loveland, Ohio Area

Without fear or favor
Since 2004

Tag: loveland

  • [Video] Rob Geiger announces milestone for Ramsey-Paxton Cemetery restoration project

    [Video] Rob Geiger announces milestone for Ramsey-Paxton Cemetery restoration project

    Loveland, Ohio – On Monday LOVELAND MAGAZINE TV took our camera to the Ramsey-Paxton Cemetery in the White Pillars subdivision where Rob Geiger made an important announcement regarding the on-going restoration project. Geiger is the President of the Ramsey-Paxton Cemetery Association.

    In an email to Loveland Magazine Geiger exclaimed, “Look what got installed May 1, 2020!”

    Geiger has worked for the last two years to make Loveland’s most significant historical site presentable again. They removed a 20-year old rusty and broken fence, installed a new one, removed dying trees that threatened the new fence and tombstones, attempted a gentle restoration of the 208-year-old tombstones, brought a historical marker that had been in storage to the cemetery, and just this week saw the installation of a historical wrought-iron gate.

    History of White Pillars

    In this video, you will see Geiger explain how all the work was accomplished and hear about how the community and local businesses pitched-in to accomplish it all.

    The cemetery is where Loveland’s “Founding Family” is buried and Rob is a direct ancestor.

    In this video clip, Rob Geiger talks about how important the Ramsey-Paxton Cemetery is to Loveland’s heritage.

    He also talks about the work the Association still hopes to accomplish as more funds become available.

    You can make a tax-deductible donation to help complete the project by sending a check to Geiger Made out to:

    Ramsey-Paxton Cemetery Association

    C/O Rob Geiger

    PO Box 25

    Loveland, Ohio 45140.

    Listen as Rob Geiger talks about the cultural significance of the Ramsey-Paxton Cemetery to the Greater Loveland Community…

     

    A note From Rob Geiger to the sponsors of the restoration project:

    I’d Like to thank:

    • David Miller – Loveland Magazine Media Sponsor
    • City Manager Dave Kennedy and City of Loveland Public Works
    • Kevin Egan – Ramsey Trailside and Paxton’s Grill
    • Steve Max – Loveland Legacy Foundation
    • Ralph Dunnigan and Sandy Russell – Paxton’s Grill
    • John Zielke – Ramsey’s Trailside
    • Gloria Wilson – Loveland Sweet Shop
    • Kevin Malof – Bonds Home Furnishings
    • Bill Re – Bush Re Shea Insurance Agency
    • American Legion Post 256
    • American Legion Auxiliary 256
    • Loveland Museum Center – Jan Beller
    • Paige Craig and Wand Langdon – Clough Valley Chapter Daughters of the American Revolution
    • Steve Rainey – Rainey Tree Service
    • Dale Eads and Becky Eads Sands – Eads Fence Company   

    Fun Facts

    Breakdown of the donations

    • Family of the Ramsey Paxton $6,175
    • Businesses $3,650
    • Fundraising Events (Total 4) $2,456
    • Individual donations $3,531

    Total $15,812

  • Virtual Events brought to you by the Library

    Virtual Events brought to you by the Library

     

    Daily Trivia Challenge

    12:00 PM – 8:00 PM
    Virtual Event

    Challenge your family and friends to see who can score the highest in an assortment of trivia topics. This trivia challenge is designed for a teen audience.

    The Daily Trivia Challenge will run from Noon – 8 p.m., with a new topic each day! Click the link below to begin!

    • Sunday, May 3: Solar System
    • Monday, May 4: Star Wars I, II, III (May the Fourth be With You!)
    • Tuesday, May 5: May the Sith Be With You…

    Storytime at Home On Demand

    10:00 AM – 10:15 AM
    Virtual Event
    Are you missing storytime? Check out our library of virtual storytimes featuring some of your favorite Children’s Librarians! New videos are posted each weekday on the Library’s YouTube Channel.

    Daily Trivia Challenge

    12:00 PM – 8:00 PM
    Virtual Event

    Challenge your family and friends to see who can score the highest in an assortment of trivia topics. This trivia challenge is designed for a teen audience.

    The Daily Trivia Challenge will run from Noon – 8 p.m., with a new topic each day! Click the link below to begin!

    Job Search Focus Group – Free Webinars

    12:00 PM – 1:00 PM
    Virtual Event

    Every Monday at 12 noon Brought to you by our workforce development partners at the Job Search Focus Group, a group for professionals in career transition in Cincinnati!  JSFG offers weekly Monday noon live webinars. Please join us from your PC, Mac, iOS or Android at 12pm on Mondays.  https://meetings.ringcentral.com/j/1495272750.
    If your computer does not have a microphone, or for audio only, call in at (470) 869-2200. Meeting ID: 149 527 2750.

    • April 13  Chuck Proudfit, “Managing Emotions”

    Storytime at Home Live with Dean Regas

    7:00 PM – 7:30 PM
    Virtual Event
    Join us for a special live storytime with guest storyteller astronomer Dean Regas from the Cincinnati Observatory.

    cinlib.org/storytimelive

    Storytime at Home On Demand

    10:00 AM – 10:15 AM
    Virtual Event
    Are you missing storytime? Check out our library of virtual storytimes featuring some of your favorite Children’s Librarians! New videos are posted each weekday on the Library’s YouTube Channel.

    Daily Trivia Challenge

    12:00 PM – 8:00 PM
    Virtual Event

    Challenge your family and friends to see who can score the highest in an assortment of trivia topics. This trivia challenge is designed for a teen audience.

    The Daily Trivia Challenge will run from Noon – 8 p.m., with a new topic each day! Click the link below to begin!

    Lunch & Learn: JobNow

    12:00 PM – 12:30 PM
    Virtual Event
    Join us for this three week “Lunch & Learn” series, presented on Facebook Live. We will point you in the right direction to the free library online resources to help with landing that new job. The sessions will cover writing resumes, job interviews and career resources that are just a click away.  Each session will be 30 minutes and include a question & answer segment at the end of each presentation.
    • May 5     Resumes

    Storytime at Home On Demand

    10:00 AM – 10:15 AM
    Virtual Event
    Are you missing storytime? Check out our library of virtual storytimes featuring some of your favorite Children’s Librarians! New videos are posted each weekday on the Library’s YouTube Channel.

    Daily Trivia Challenge

    12:00 PM – 8:00 PM
    Virtual Event

    Challenge your family and friends to see who can score the highest in an assortment of trivia topics. This trivia challenge is designed for a teen audience.

    The Daily Trivia Challenge will run from Noon – 8 p.m., with a new topic each day! Click the link below to begin!

    • Wednesday, May 6: Star Wars IV
    • Thursday, May 7: Star Wars V
    • Friday, May 8: Star Wars IV…

    Storytime at Home Live

    7:00 PM – 7:30 PM
    Virtual Event
    Join us on Monday, Wednesday and Friday nights at 7:00 p.m. for live storytimes featuring some of your favorite Children’s Librarians!

    cinlib.org/storytimelive

    Virtual Pleasant Ridge Book Club: The Keeper of Lost Things

    7:00 PM – 8:00 PM
    Pleasant Ridge Branch
    Join our Zoom discussion about The Keeper of Lost Things by Ruth Hogan.  Please register to receive an email invitation to this online event.  You will need to create a Zoom account and if you are accessing Zoom on your phone you will need to download the Zoom app first.  Copies of the novel are available through the Library’s Hoopla subscription.

    Storytime at Home On Demand

    10:00 AM – 10:15 AM
    Virtual Event
    Are you missing storytime? Check out our library of virtual storytimes featuring some of your favorite Children’s Librarians! New videos are posted each weekday on the Library’s YouTube Channel.

    Daily Trivia Challenge

    12:00 PM – 8:00 PM
    Virtual Event

    Challenge your family and friends to see who can score the highest in an assortment of trivia topics. This trivia challenge is designed for a teen audience.

    The Daily Trivia Challenge will run from Noon – 8 p.m., with a new topic each day! Click the link below to begin!

    • Thursday, May 7: Star Wars V
    • Friday, May 8: Star Wars IV
    • Saturday, May 9: Star Wars VII, VIII, IX…

    Lunch & Learn: HelpNow

    12:00 PM – 12:30 PM
    Virtual Event
    Join us for this three week “Lunch & Learn” series, presented on Facebook Live. We will explore adult learning resources found in HelpNow, one of the Library’s online databases available free to all cardholders. Topics will include studying for a HSE (High School Equivalency) exam, US Citizenship resources, and help with Microsoft Office.  Each session will be 30 minutes and include a question & answer segment at the end of each presentation.
    • April 30  High School Equivalency Exam…

    Storytime at Home On Demand

    10:00 AM – 10:15 AM
    Virtual Event
    Are you missing storytime? Check out our library of virtual storytimes featuring some of your favorite Children’s Librarians! New videos are posted each weekday on the Library’s YouTube Channel.

    Daily Trivia Challenge

    12:00 PM – 8:00 PM
    Virtual Event

    Challenge your family and friends to see who can score the highest in an assortment of trivia topics. This trivia challenge is designed for a teen audience.

    The Daily Trivia Challenge will run from Noon – 8 p.m., with a new topic each day! Click the link below to begin!

    • Friday, May 8: Star Wars IV
    • Saturday, May 9: Star Wars VII, VIII, IX
    • Sunday, May 10: Retro Technology

    Storytime at Home Live

    7:00 PM – 7:30 PM
    Virtual Event
    Join us on Monday, Wednesday and Friday nights at 7:00 p.m. for live storytimes featuring some of your favorite Children’s Librarians!

    cinlib.org/storytimelive

     

  • Loveland Junior Adella Winkle Recognized as Live Oaks Student of the Month for March

    Loveland Junior Adella Winkle Recognized as Live Oaks Student of the Month for March

    Loveland, Ohio – Adella Winkle, a Loveland junior in the Great Oaks Culinary Arts and Hospitality Services program at the Live Oaks campus in Milford, was recognized as the March Student of the Month for her contributions to the program.

    “Live Oaks is undeniably a better place because Adella fosters strong relationships among students and faculty which has created a positive school culture where her classmates feel valued,” said Culinary Arts Instructor Molly Maundrell. “Adella fully embraces and exemplifies our ideal for engaged learning and community impact.  She’s a pleasure to have in the Culinary Arts program.”

    The Culinary Arts and Hospitality Services program allows students to learn various popular cooking methods to prepare an assortment of foods. Students learn how to create, write, and understand recipes and menus and to use a variety of hand tools and equipment found in commercial kitchens and bakeries. The program also teaches students to supervise and manage a restaurant staff, including front office, reservations, and support services.

  • Autism Society recognizes Loveland Schools’ Mary Frees as “Unsung Hero”

    Autism Society recognizes Loveland Schools’ Mary Frees as “Unsung Hero”

    Mary Frees (front center) was recognized for her work serving individuals with autism and their families at “Faces of Autism” on March 5. Left to right: Heidi Terselic, Donna Ernst, Jane Miller, Lara Ferrer, Joe Frees, Taylor Reid, Mary Frees, Dr. Kathryn Lorenz, Dr. Amy Crouse, Helen Jones, Michelle Grafflin and Jennifer Forren.

    Loveland, Ohio – The Regional Autism Advisory Council (RAAC) of Southwest Ohio celebrated its 20th anniversary in March with “Faces of Autism”- an event presented in collaboration with Autism Society Greater Cincinnati to recognize autism “ambassadors and unsung heroes” in the region. Mary Frees, an intervention specialist at Loveland Elementary School (LES), was among those honored for their work serving individuals with autism and their families.

    “When I learned about this special recognition, I was shocked, but felt so valued for doing what I love,” said Frees. “This just motivates and energizes me to continue to accomplish more for my students with autism and other special needs. My students make my job enjoyable each day and push me further to continue to learn more about this ever-changing field of special education.”

    The Faces of Autism Unsung Hero nominees were selected for going above and beyond the expectations of their jobs in advocating for acceptance, community inclusion, relationship building, and community impact. 12 educators were recognized, two of whom represent public school districts – Loveland and Sycamore Schools.

    “Mary is an outstanding educator who works tirelessly for her students, going above and beyond on a daily basis,” said LES Principal Jen Forren. “She works to ensure that her students and their families have an excellent experience at LES, both academically and socially.  She established an ambassador program that matches her students with other students in the building to help them work on their social skills and it has been very impactful for everyone involved.”

    Faces of Autism was presented by RAAC and the Autism Society Greater Cincinnati in partnership with several other organizations, including Cincinnati Children’s, Linden Grove School, and the Heidt Center of Excellence by The Children’s Home, among others.

    About the Autism Society Greater Cincinnati and the Regional Autism Advisory Council (RAAC)

    The Autism Society Greater Cincinnati is a leading resource and advocate for the local autism community, working to improve the lives of all who are affected by autism through education, support, and services. RAAC leads community partnerships to plan, develop, and implement a vibrant continuum of services that meets the lifelong needs of individuals with autism, their families, and those who serve them. The Advisory Council facilitates task forces on a range of subjects, such as early intervention, educational identification, and adult services.

  • Studio launches online shopping

    Studio launches online shopping

    by Bonnie McNett

    Loveland, Ohio – Whistle Stop Clay Works (WSCW) is pleased to announce an online gallery and store to help at home shoppers find that perfect gift for Mother’s Day on Sunday, May 10.

    The virtual gallery highlights local potters who create unique, hand made pottery. Gift givers will find functional wares like mugs, serving and soup bowls, vases, and chip & dip servers. In addition, there will be one of a kind clay sculptures, whimsical fairy houses, and even gift certificates.

    The online store is a unique opportunity for people to shop locally and support small businesses and area artists. You’re sure to find a unique, handcrafted gift for Mom and you might even find something for yourself.

    The online shop is also pleased to show the work of two local high school students, Micah Dowdy (polymer earrings) and Alex Eicher (photographs). It is difficult and stressful for artists to approach galleries to show their art, especially for young people. Our studio is proud to showcase their work and help promote their budding interest in the arts,” says Tim O’Grady, studio owner.

    The online store can be found at http://www.whistlestopclayworks.com/pages/shop.html.

    Once items are bought, the studio will contact buyers via email to arrange curbside pickup at the studio, located at 119 Harrison Avenue, in historic downtown Loveland, Ohio.

    All physical distancing guidelines will be followed, face masks will be worn and items will be wiped with a disinfectant prior to pick up.

    Additional information can be be obtained by emailing Bonnie McNett at WSCW@whistlestopclayworks.com or by calling the studio at (513) 683-2529.

  • Loveland Magazine TV: Mihaela Manova is Part of Loveland’s DNA!

    Loveland Magazine TV: Mihaela Manova is Part of Loveland’s DNA!

    Each citizen in Loveland makes up an important piece of the community, but in saying that it’s up to the citizen as to what they do with their role as an important piece of that community. This is what makes up a community’s “D.N.A.”

    Over the past two years, Loveland Magazine has been in search of community members that truly play an important role in Loveland’s D.N.A.

    by Cassie Mattia

    Loveland, Ohio – Many people from all over Ohio in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic have had to find “virtual” ways to communicate with their friends, families, and co-workers. The “Zoom” application (allows you to connect and hold meetings with anyone that also has the application virtually) has skyrocketed in popularity over the past couple of months as it has proven itself to be quite a useful tool for workplaces, schools, media outlets, and local governments to connect with one another.

    Due to the social distancing regulations and the Stay At Home Order, here at Loveland Magazine, we decided to try Zoom for ourselves and conduct our first virtual interview for our Loveland Magazine readers! Our segment, “What’s In Loveland’s DNA,” has featured several amazing Loveland community members over the past year and the feedback from the community about the segment itself has been overwhelmingly positive. Instead of our typical sit down one-on-one interview in our LOVELAND MAGAZINE TV studio we decided to conduct our latest DNA interview using Zoom!

    Mihaela Manova

    We would like to take this time to introduce our newly selected DNA candidate, Mihaela Manova. Mihaela is not only the 2nd youngest DNA candidate we have ever selected she is also the first to be interviewed using Zoom at Loveland Magazine! Mihaela is a big part of the Loveland High School culture and an even bigger part of the Loveland community. Mihaela recently joined the Loveland Magazine team as a staff writer, quickly gained her very own climate column, and was recently promoted as Editor of our Covering Climate Now series, a global journalism initiative committed to bringing more and better coverage to the defining story of our time. Mihaela is a native of Bulgaria and visits her homeland often, making her the ideal choice to cover international stories. She has already begun impacting her adopted small-town home of Loveland with her inspirational voice! Mihaela is a member of Loveland High School’s Class of 2020 and has chosen to study Journalism at Miami University-Oxford in the Fall.

    Mihaela recently did her own “What’s in Loveland’s DNA” segment on Madeline Killion which you can read HERE.

    Loveland Magazine Publisher David Miller had many great things to say about Mihaela!

    “Being from Bulgaria, Mihaela brings a unique perspective to our newspaper and has made an enormous impact on us,” Miller said, “Her youthful honesty, respect, and complete dedication to her craft are invaluable. It’s as if we have an international reporter on staff now. She has certainly altered Loveland’s and Loveland Magazine’s DNA.”

    So without further ado, LOVELAND MAGAZINE TV presents “What’s In Loveland’s DNA: Mihaela Manova!”

    Click below to see the exclusive Zoom interview with Miss Mihaela!

    Read more of our, What’s in Loveland’s DNA” stories…

  • Check out the Most Popular Baby Names of 2020!

    Check out the Most Popular Baby Names of 2020!

    by Cassie Mattia

    Loveland, Ohio – Although many people around the United States are expecting birthrates to skyrocket due to the COVID-19 pandemic, currently that just isn’t the case, in fact, it’s quite the opposite! Birthrates thus far in 2020 are remaining very consistent. Names.org decided to release their latest predictions on what the most popular baby names would be this year.

    Veronica Parsons from Prism PR shared with us that the names Henry and Alexander have newly entered into Names.org’s top 10 this year for the boys and the name Mila has made its way into the top 10 this year for the girls.

    “The rankings were determined by analyzing the most recent data from the Social Security Administration, trends from the past five years, and current user interest from millions of visitors to our site,” Parsons explained.

    So without much further ado here are Names.org’s Top 10 boys and girls Names for 2020!

    Top 10 Boys Names for 2020 

    2020 Ranking 2018 Ranking (2019 not released) 2018 Actual Totals 2020 Projections
    1.       Liam No. 1 19,837 20,740
    2.       Noah No. 2 18,267 16,980
    3.       William No. 3 14,516 13,270
    4.       Oliver No. 5 13,389 13,040
    5.       Lucas No. 8 12,585 12,510
    6.       Benjamin No. 6 13,381 12,300
    7.       Elijah No. 7 12,866 12,260
    8.       James No. 4 13,525 11,960
    9.       Henry No. 16 10,649 10,690
    10.   Alexander No. 11 11,989 10,480

     

    Top 10 Girl Names for 2020

    2020 Ranking 2018 Ranking 2018 Actual Totals 2020 Projections
    1.       Emma No. 1 18,688 16,250
    2.       Olivia No. 2 17,921 15,850
    3.       Ava No. 3 14,924 13,400
    4.       Isabella No. 4 14,464 12,790
    5.       Charlotte No. 6 12,940 12,500
    6.       Sophia No. 5 13,928 12,430
    7.       Amelia No. 8 12,301 12,290
    8.       Mia No. 7 12,642 11,530
    9.       Mila No. 14 8,126 10,790
    10.   Harper No. 9 10,582 10,700

     

    Want to learn more about the meaning of your name and its origin? Visit https://www.names.org/ for all the fun details! Stay tuned for more Loveland Salad With Cassie Mattia!

  • LHS’s Head Football Coach Shares What his Athletes are Doing to Stay in Shape!

    LHS’s Head Football Coach Shares What his Athletes are Doing to Stay in Shape!

    by Cassie Mattia

    Loveland, Ohio – Summer will be here before you know it, which means football season is right around the corner! Many LHS athletes have been working hard during the Stay At Home Order so that they are prepared when competition starts up again. Coach Andy Cruse and his football players are one of the Tiger teams that have made sure that they are staying in shape for the 2020 upcoming season!

    Coach Cruise told us that his players have not only been working hard but they have also been very creative with their workouts.

    “One of the things we have tried to do as a football program to make sure we continue to make progress in the off-season is using the Team Buildr App. This app is great for bodyweight workouts and it also includes videos that show the proper technique for each exercise,” Cruse explained, “The app also has both dumbbell workouts and home gym workouts. We also created a 3k push-up challenge for the month of April, in which each player completes 100 push-ups a day. Many of our players are doing it with family members and often record themselves doing it to have a little fun with it. They are doing this on top of their regular workouts,” Cruse said.
    Andy Cruse when he was introduced as the Tiger Head Coach in February of 2019  (File Photo)

    Coach Cruse said that twice a week he is holding Zoom meetings with his players in order to get to know them better and discuss football.

    “The Zoom meetings have been very positive. I think the players are really enjoying having interaction with their teammates and coaches during this time,” Cruse said, “We have encouraged our players to do position-specific drills as well. As a program, we are retweeting our players working out and spreading positivity as much as possible during this time,” Cruse added.
    Due to all of the gyms being closed and of course, LHS athletes are not able to use any of the LHS facilities, Tiger athletes have been forced to get creative with how they are staying in shape. A few Tiger football players shared with us what they have been doing at home during the COVID-19 pandemic.
    Gabe Ogdan was a Captain of the 2019 team. (File Photo)

    Gabe Ogdan said, “I’m lucky enough to have my own home gym, but still have had to get creative for certain things! It’s been interesting but with not as much school I’ve been able to devote more time to speed and agility training as well as weight lifting and bulking.”

    Max Huddleston said, “My home gym is minimal, and for some exercises, I may not have the right equipment. For example for pull-ups,  since I don’t have a pull-up bar, I’ll do them on a steel beam in my basement.”
    Mason Moore said, “I don’t have a home gym and the heaviest dumbbells I have are eight pounds, so I have to do my best to get my workouts in with what I can make do. I use paper plates as ab sliders, I do pull-ups on a metal beam on my ceiling, and I do lots of cardio along with the bodyweight workouts our coaches have us do.”
    My dad is a landscaper so he had some stuff I could get creative with. I used bricks and stones to do various things and made a bench out of stones and a board and used a tube and metal bars to make a bar. – Weston Manske
    Zach DeWitt said, “I am thankful to have many opportunities to maintain and build upon what we have been building this offseason. The absence of a field, however, has made me turn the front yard and driveway into everything I need for speed and agility training.”
    Luca Aquilino said, “Since I only have a couple of things of workout equipment I’ve been sticking to lots of bodyweight workouts from our TeamBuildr app.  I’ve had to use wooden shelving in my garage to do pull-ups and I have had to put bands around trees and around my basketball hoop to add a little bit of weight to workouts.”
    Weston Manske said, “My dad got a bench this past weekend so now I can use that but before I had to get creative. My dad is a landscaper so he had some stuff I could get creative with. I used bricks and stones to do various things and made a bench out of stones and a board and used a tube and metal bars to make a bar. At my mom’s, I have resistance bands and then I found cinderblocks in my shed I use. I’ve also found basketball hoops are good for pull-ups.”
    Be sure to tune in to Loveland Sports 411 With Cassie Mattia for Loveland’s latest sports news and updates!

  • Library makes staffing adjustments during pandemic building closure

    Library makes staffing adjustments during pandemic building closure

    The Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County Board of Trustees has affirmed a plan from the Library’s leadership team to make staffing changes due to the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic.

    The Library is reducing hours for 435 non-exempt staff in paygrades 1-6 down to 25 percent, and is furloughing an additional 106 staff in paygrade 1 who typically work 12 or fewer hours per week. The Library currently employs 839 individuals. In addition, the Library leadership team is taking a 5-10 percent reduction in salary, and the Library Director is taking a 15 percent reduction.

    The reduction in hours and furloughs amount to a weekly savings of approximately $167,800.

    These reductions and the furlough take effect Sunday, May 3, 2020 and continue for an indefinite amount of time; however, the Library leadership team intends to evaluate the situation continuously. The Library is continuing to pay the full employer benefit contribution for medical and dental premiums for all staff with reduced hours. Reduced hours staff will also continue to earn credit for the Ohio Public Employees Retirement System at a prorated rate.

    The exact funding loss for the Library during the remainder of 2020 is unknown at this moment, as approximately half of the Library’s revenues come from the state of Ohio through the Public Library Fund, while the other half comes from Hamilton County taxpayers via two levies. Current projections range from an $8 million to $12 million gap in the budget, a projection that represents a 20–30% reduction of Public Library Fund and approximately 10–15% of the budget overall.

    A variety of operational savings have been realized during the closure, primarily security costs and consumable supplies. Additional budget savings beyond personnel are needed, and will be identified and addressed in the coming weeks. The time-sensitive nature of the CARES Act led the Library to prioritize staffing decisions to ensure this funding was available to staff impacted by the personnel changes.

    Staff who are not being furloughed or having hours reduced are those staff members whose full scope of work is able to be accomplished remotely at this time and/or whose work supports critical tasks that enable the Library to continue to function while our facilities are closed.

    “I am incredibly proud of the Library’s staff. Last year when we engaged with the community for the Facility Master Plan project, everywhere I went community members told me how much they valued and appreciated our staff,” said Paula Brehm-Heeger, Library Director. “The pandemic has left us with no good choices, and making this difficult decision is especially distressing. I am heartened, however, when I recall how together we have risen to meet past challenges, and I know that our collective passion and perseverance will carry us through these extraordinary times together, too.”

    These actions do not affect any services the Library is currently providing. Library buildings have been closed since March 13, and will remain closed through at least May 3. While the Library buildings have been closed, the Library has been focusing on expanding access to digital materials, offering programming through videos and live-streams, and creating new services like one-on-one appointments with staff to get personalized help with job issues, small business assistance, and even appointments with a social worker.

    Visit CincinnatiLibrary.org or call 513-369-6900 to schedule an appointment. Phones are operated 9 AM – 9 PM Monday through Wednesday; 9 AM – 6 PM Thursday through Saturday; and 1 – 5 PM Sunday.

    As shared in a blog post last week, the Library is actively working on a recovery and re-opening plan, and is following state and national guidelines on how to proceed. “Ramping back up hours for staff, and calling furloughed staff back to work, depends on variables that are out of our control, such as the health of our staff, the actual reduction of revenue over projections, the status of the state’s stay-at-home order and physical distancing measures, what the scientific community can learn about how long the virus can live on surfaces, and the availability of cleaning and physical distancing supplies and equipment,” said Brehm-Heeger.

  • LHS’s Head Women’s Volleyball Coach Tells us What his Athletes are Doing to Stay in Shape!

    LHS’s Head Women’s Volleyball Coach Tells us What his Athletes are Doing to Stay in Shape!

    by Cassie Mattia

    Loveland, Ohio – With May arriving in just a few days, many LHS students are still trying to process that they will not be stepping foot back into their schools for the remainder of the academic year. LHS student-athletes also received some devastating news last week confirming that they would not be competing in their designated Spring sport for the remainder of the school year. With all of the unfortunate news, LHS coaches have been trying to place a positive spin on everything by providing their athletes with workouts that they can do at home as well as a variety of other motivational tools!

    LHS’s Head Women’s Volleyball Coach, Brian Baugh, is one of the LHS Coaches that has really been dedicating a lot of his time during the Stay At Home Order to his team in order to keep them both motivated and dedicated to their craft.

    “For Women’s volleyball, the Spring and Summer are extremely important for getting the girls ready for the season. Typically we would hold open gyms and lift throughout the week,” Baugh said, “Many of the girls would be participating in club season as well, but like every team, we have had to adapt. We are fortunate that at Loveland we have Strength and Conditioning Coach, Derek Berry, on staff. He puts together workouts that are pushed out to our players through the Team Buildr app. It’s a great way for the athletes to work out at home and for me to track their workouts.”
    Coach Baugh told us that many of his players have gotten very creative with their volleyball training, creating things around the house to help them work on their skills. Many of the team’s siblings and parents are helping them at home with their skill sets as well!
    LHS’s Head Women’s Volleyball Coach, Brian Baugh
    “To me, the most important thing is to come together as a team, so that whenever we get back on that court, we are building each other up and have each other’s backs when things get tough,” Baugh explained, “We are fortunate that our future seniors are really leading the charge. We have great leaders in Maya Jepson, Diana Clark, Abbie Miller, Alex Miller, Faith Meece, and Ellie Egan. They are high character girls. They have created different competitions for the team to complete during the quarantine. For example, they did a baking competition where they baked and decorated cakes and then put them on Twitter to have fans vote for the best. They also created a virtual pepper video that they put on Twitter. We have been sharing baby pictures of each player and are having fans guess which player or coach is featured in the picture. We also have been holding Google Meets weekly to check-in on one another.”
    Coach Baugh says he has been challenging his players weekly. One of the ways Coach Baugh has been challenging his team during the isolation period is by asking them once a week how they have improved as a player and a person. After the player comes up with their answer Coach Baugh has them share their response with the team.
    “It has certainly been a challenge not being on the court, but I am so impressed with how the players have responded during this time off,” Coach Baugh said with pride, “I cannot wait to see how they go for that fourth straight ECC title this coming season!”

    For more LHS sports updates stay tuned to the Loveland Sports 411 With Cassie Mattia!