Our goal at Loveland City Schools is to provide a great education for our students and a great value to the community. In order to provide the level of education our community has come to expect and our students deserve, public school districts like ours must return every few years to ask voters to support their schools. This is the reality of public-school funding in Ohio.
Kevin Hawley is the Loveland City School District Treasurer/CFO
Schools in the state of Ohio are financed with a combination of federal, state and local funds. The state uses a formula to determine how much money each district should receive based on enrollment and the relative wealth of a district based on property values. This amount varies widely from district to district. Typically, as is the case with Loveland City Schools, a district receives more of its revenue from local property taxes. These taxes are primarily determined by locally-voted tax increases, otherwise known as tax levies. In our case, approximately 58 percent of the financial burden falls to local taxpayers.
The wonderful part of local revenue being a primary contributor to school funding is that the community maintains control of its schools. Conversely, the challenge is that local revenue does not increase with increases in property values. Therefore, a large portion of a district’s revenue is flat until the community votes to increase its property taxes.
The Loveland City School District is on the right track and reflects our community, but with our operational needs and reliance on property taxes, coupled with the way Ohio funding works, we will soon need to ask our residents for their support.
And in the Loveland City School District, we are coming up on a need to ask for additional operating funds, separate from our discussion around Building Tiger Nation and our facility needs.
Funds generated from operating levies are used for the day-to-day operations of the district such as teachers, utilities and supplies. Because schools, by nature, are a “people” business, the majority of operating funds are used to hire and retain high quality educators as well as provide highly competitive programming for our students.
The Loveland City School District is on the right track and reflects our community, but with our operational needs and reliance on property taxes, coupled with the way Ohio funding works, we will soon need to ask our residents for their support.
In the meantime, we continue to send the majority of our budget – 62 percent – directly to the classroom where the biggest impact can be made to prepare students for tomorrow, today. Maintaining the district budget through thoughtful and prudent spending is and always will be my priority. And I am incredibly grateful to our residents for the continued support for our schools, which are such an important part of our community.
Loveland’s Bionic Tigers won multiple awards at the West Central Pennsylvania Qualifying Tournament and will be competing in the Pennsylvania State Championship in March
Loveland’s FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC) team 10464, The Bionic Tigers, competed in the West Central Pennsylvania Qualifying Tournament on December 8 in Johnstown, PA. The team won the Connect Award for “the team that most connects with their local science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) community” and won second place in the Inspire Award. The Inspire Award is the top award given at an FTC competition and is presented to the team that best “embodies the ‘challenge’ of the FIRST Tech Challenge Program.” Out of the 24 registered teams in the competition, 10464 also received third place for the Think, Design and Motivate Awards.
Based on their Inspire Award placement, the Bionic Tigers advanced to the Pennsylvania State Championship Tournament on March 2-3.
RP Diamond is the exclusive retailer of LOVELAND HIGH SCHOOL SPIRIT WEAR Welcome to RP Diamond Printing & Embroidery located at 370 Loveland Madeira Road.
Loveland Robotics is hosting two tournaments during the 2018-19 season
December 22 and January 5
Loveland, Ohio – Loveland Robotics is hosting two tournaments during the 2018-19 season.
The first is the Loveland Robotics VEX Holiday Tournament on December 22, 2018, and it is a VEX Robotics Competition (VRC) Tournament for Middle School and High School VEX teams. Forty teams from across Ohio can sign will compete to advance to the Ohio Vex Robotics Championship.It will take place at Loveland High School with matches starting around 9 AM. Loveland has 4 high school VEX teams and 3 middle school VEX teams that will be participating in the tournament.
VEX Robotics is a competitive robotics program, presented by the Robotics Education & Competition Foundation, for middle schools, high schools and colleges around the world. The VEX Robotics Design System is used in many classrooms around the world. There are currently more than 10,000 teams from 32 countries participating in more than 750 VEX Robotics Competition events worldwide. The competition season culminates each Spring, with the laudable VEX Robotics World Championship event, uniting top qualifying teams from local, state and international VEX Robotics Competitions.
The second tournament Loveland Robotics is hosting is the FIRST LEGO League (FLL) Cincinnati District Tournament on January 5, 2019. It is hosted by the two Loveland teams, FTC Teams, Team 10464 The Bionic Tigers and Team 5040 Nuts & Bolts to help promote STEM in our community. The FLL District tournament is a second level tournament for teams who have advanced from a regional qualifying tournament. Thirty teams of students in grade 4-9 from across the area will be competing, and the top teams will advance to the Ohio FLL Championship.
FIRST, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, was founded in 1989 by Dean Kamen to inspire young people’s interest and participation in science and technology. The mission of FIRST is to inspire young people to be science and technology leaders by engaging them in four exciting mentor-based programs that build science, engineering and technology skills, that inspire innovation, and that foster well-rounded capacities including self-confidence, communication, and leadership. The sequence of FIRST programs in the United States begins with the FIRST LEGO League Jr. program serving elementary school-aged youth (ages 6-9), followed by the FIRST LEGO League (FLL) program serving primarily middle school-aged youth (ages 9-14), the FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC) serving grades 7-12, and FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC), serving high school-aged youth (grades 9-12). In the 2018 FIRST Longitudinal Study, FIRST reported that over 515,000 young people participated in its programs on more than 59,000 teams, competing in more than 2,900 tournaments worldwide.
Loveland, Ohio – The Loveland Police Department have reported that approximately 3:32 AM on Thursday December 13 several shots were fired into a home on Marbea Drive. No one was injured.
The Loveland Police Department is at the home processing evidence and visiting neighbors.
Anyone with any information is encouraged to contact Detective Anthony Pecord: Phone: 513-583-3000 apecord@lovelandoh.gov
AP Environmental students trying on waders for the first time in preparation for a water quality study field trip.
District recognized for impact on students and community through
environmental sciences coursework
Loveland, Ohio –The Loveland City School District, through the nomination of Advanced Placement (AP) Environmental Sciences Teacher Amy Aspenwall, has earned the Sustainability Award by the Little Miami River Chamber Alliance. The award recognizes the district and Aspenwall for her work with students, and the devotion to developing environmental leadership for the future.
“It’s an honor to be recognized for work that means so much to me and my colleagues at Loveland,” said Aspenwall. “We promote sustainability by developing environmentally educated and responsible leaders, and are committed to continuing to create programs that heighten awareness not just for our students at school, but for them as Loveland citizens and stewards of our world.”
The AP Environmental Sciences course at Loveland offers authentic, hands-on opportunities for students to understand water quality and biodiversity, consumer habitat design, and the impact of a population that shifts the needs and municipalities of the community. Students examine solutions to various environmental issues and are empowered to develop new ways to solve problems. Loveland Schools has a long-established, integrated recycling program, but the course work now offered helps develop a greater understanding of consumer goods, product development, and the power to choose sustainable methods. Students track their carbon footprint in the areas of food and fuel consumption, waste generation, and water and electricity use, and learn about ways that small changes can have a large impact for the benefit of the environment.
The AP Environmental Sciences course was implemented at Loveland High School (LHS) in the fall of 2016, resulting in a perfect 100 percent CollegeBoard passage rate in 2017. The program has doubled in size every year since its inception and is now filled to capacity until new sections can be added. Many students who completed the course have gone on to major or minor in environmental studies in college.
“APES challenged the typical AP class by making students think in a different way,” said Maddie Craft, a 2017 LHS graduate. “I’m about two years out of the class now, and I can still see how the topics that we discussed impact not only me personally but the world around me. I am going into Logistics Management and one of my goals in my career is to help build a more sustainable supply chain. This really stems from things that I learned in APES and the values that the class made me realize I have.”
Loveland Sweets is a purveyor of hand-crafted chocolates, caramels, marshmallows, and ice creams. Our house-made candies are prepared in small batches.
Loveland Robotics Team 5040 (Nuts & Bolts) has qualified for the FTC World Championship, which will be held in Detroit in April 2019.
Loveland, Ohio – FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC) Teams 5040 and 10464 both competed in the West Virginia FTC State Championship on December 2 in Fairmont, WV. Team 5040 (Nuts & Bolts) was captain of the winning alliance and qualified to move on to the FTC World Championship in Detroit in April. This is the third consecutive year that the team has qualified for the world competition. 5040 also received third place for the Design Award.
Team 10464 (The Bionic Tigers) competed in the West Virginia FTC State Championship, bringing home several awards.
Team 10464 (The Bionic Tigers) won the Connect Award for “the team that most connects with their local science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) community.” 10464 also received second place for the Motivate Award and second place for the Think Award. (Detailed descriptions of the various awards can be found here.)
Both teams will be competing again this month. Team 10464 will compete on December 8 in Pennsylvania and 5040 will compete in Dayton, OH, on December 15. Loveland FTC teams are supported by their many generous sponsors, including Blue Chip Consulting, P&G, Jarvis Global Investments, Loveland American Legion, GE Foundation, Johnson Controls, and the Loveland Robotics Boosters. The program is always in need of sponsors and mentors. For more information, go to lovelandrobotics.com or email stewaram@lovelandschools.org.
Jarvis Global is an investment advisory firm in Symmes Township, Ohio which offers private portfolio management and retirement services to high net worth individuals.
Loveland Magazine photo from the May, 2017 Memorial Day Weekend fire
Loveland, Ohio – At their October 23 meeting, City Council approved a program that would incentivize owners of commercial, office, and industrial structures to retrofit existing buildings with fire sprinkler systems by waiving connection, permit, and inspection fees.
The purpose of this program is to protect structures within the City by offsetting a portion of the expenses related to installing a sprinkler system into an existing building. City Manager David Kennedy said, “Any added fire protection to the City’s commercial, industrial, or office building stock is added safety to the community, it’s occupants, and our firefighters.”
Following the May, 2017 Memorial Day Weekend fire in Historic Downtown that almost destroyed the two affected buildings that did not have sprinklers, City Council waived all fees associated with the installation of sprinkler systems including water connection and inspection fees for the damaged buildings when they were remodeled.
After the fire, Loveland/Symmes Fire Chief, Otto Huber reinforced the importance of sprinkler systems and the need to incentivize more building owners within the Downtown Historic District and the adjacent West Loveland Historic District to retrofit their buildings to include sprinklers. This led to discussions of the feasibility of creating a Fire Sprinkler Installation Assistance Program. At a recent City Council meeting, Huber said that a sprinkler system typically utilize a six-inch water tap/connection which based on the City’s current fee schedule would cost $21,500. Additional city costs include a building permit fee of $210 plus $.63 per square feet. Huber said that these city fees, along with the owner’s installation costs are largely the reason why very few existing buildings are retrofitted with sprinkler systems.
The intent of the proposed program would be to waive city fees for existing commercial, office, and mixed-use structures if approved Fire Sprinkler Systems are installed within the designated area.
The program is not for new construction.
Anyone can apply. To qualify for participation in the assistance program, a completed application is required and submitted to the Office of the City Manager. All applications for participation in the city’s Fire Sprinkler Installation Assistance Program are to be reviewed by a three (3) person panel consisting of the following:
Assistant City Manager
Fire Chief
Chief Building Official (CBO)
Applications will be reviewed based upon the age and condition of the building and its economic contributions to the City. Appeals of the decisions made by the three (3) person panel shall be submitted within forty-five (45) days in a written form to the City Manager.
Accounting Plus–Bingaman Accounting and Tax Service, LLC is a tax preparation, payroll and bookkeeping company locally based in Loveland, OH.
Loveland, Ohio – The Loveland Mens and Womens Bowling teams have started the season strong.
by Matt Huether
Their seasons got underway last week when they both played Reading. The Mens team won with a score of 2270 to Reading’s 1974. Leading the way for Loveland was Freshman, Alton French who Bowled a series of 371. Alton is averaging 193.5 pins a game over his first six games and has a series high of 441. The Womens team lost to Reading 1999 to 1986 but have made a come back and have won their last two matches. Most recently, beating Anderson by scores of 1918 to 1729, and 2002 to 1602.
The Womens team is led by Senior, Maria Reich, who averages 153.3 pins a game over her first six games and has a series high of 318.
The Mens team is 3-0 so far this season (2-0 conference), and the Womens team, 2-1 (2-0 conference).
Both teams will take on the Kings Knights December 4th and the 5th of at 3:30 PM at Mason Bowl and Crossgate Lanes. Loveland will look to continue their early season success and try to be the first Loveland Bowling team to take home the ECC Championship since Loveland split the title with Glen Este in 2012-13.
Jarvis Global is an investment advisory firm in Symmes Township, Ohio which offers private portfolio management and retirement services to high net worth individuals.
Residents and business owners in the West Loveland Historic District enjoy having the State and National “Scenic” Little Miami River and it’s many recreational opportunities and beauty, as its eastern border.
Did You Know?
Cassie Mattia lives in Historic Downtown Loveland
Loveland, Ohio – After exploring the history behind Historic Downtown Loveland’s businesses, a question arose; “What about the businesses and history across the river in the West Loveland Historic District?” I found that the question presented a good point, so I decided to take a walk down the sidewalks of the west side to see exactly what interesting secrets I could find about both the new and old businesses.
The West Loveland Historic District (WLHD) is often forgotten due to the big-name businesses being just steps away in Downtown Loveland, but what many people don’t realize is that the West side is just as historic. It is not only very diverse but also architecturally strong. DID YOU KNOW that there have been no public dollars used to renovate any of the businesses or homes there? The businesses have proven to establish themselves using their own resources rather than using extra city services. The WLHD businesses have not only contributed thousands of tax dollars to Loveland’s economy but have also created many employment opportunities. Millions of private dollars have been invested in the last decade improving, restoring, and preserving the historic homes, many converted to professional business spaces and “Live/Work” dwellings.
In Cincinnati, there are more than 100 advertising and marketing agencies. DID YOU KNOW two of the top advertising and marketing agencies are located right in the WLHD?
Snap Advertising was moved from Cincinnati to the WLHD in 2018 by Dave Fagin with one goal in mind; to help create stronger brands and brand builders. The advertising agency landed in a historically vacant building that had been remolded but sat vacant for many years. Fortunately, through all the remodeling of the building the historic architecture was kept intact. Snap poured even more money into the historic home. DID YOU KNOW Snap Advertising represents some of the nation’s top brands? Snap represents Zim’s Max Freeze, Invisible Ink Tattoo Removers, P&G Pampers Cruisers, The Hershey Company, and Humana Behavioral Health.
MMG Corporate Communication was founded in 1993 by Claudia McKee. Today, the marketing company serves some really prominent brands such as Ethicon, P&G, AtriCure, Yogi Bear’s, Heidelberg Distributing Company, ISTO Technology, Contech, AdvancePierre Foods, UC Health, EnteroMedics, Merz and SonoSite FujiFilm. MMG is known for helping brands reach their customers effectively through storytelling using marketing, apps, videography, editing, and animation. DID YOU KNOW that MMG has received over 100 national awards for their work? MMG has access to several marketing tools in-house that many marketing companies don’t have such as 2D and 3D animation, full video production services, mobile apps, web design, scripting, and content development. DID YOU KNOW MMG donates to over 50 non-profit charities every year? MMG has always been a huge advocate for community involvement, going as far as giving an employee every year 200 dollars to donate to a charity of their choosing. MMG also supports businesses locally like Paxton’s, The Works and Tano’s Bistro. DID YOU KNOW that Claudia McKee is married to Emmy award-winning, WCPO journalist, Tom McKee?
Xavier knew who to call as APEX has come through before with big orders. Apex owner Paul Elliott delivered 2000 Sweet Sixteen, Xavier University rally towels in 2012 from Loveland to the Georgia Dome with 48 hours notice. Elliott was fishing in Alabama when he got the order. Fishing, a passion of Elliott’s, was supposed to be a break between basketball and lacrosse officiating duties. Alabama wasn’t far enough for Paul to escape the “Madness” of March.
Although this next business isn’t necessarily your traditional advertising or marketing agency, it does its fair share of promoting. DID YOU KNOW Loveland has its very own specialty company that has over 50 years of experience creating promotional products? Apex Imprinted Sportswear has been operating since 1992 in the WLHD and now has over 600,000 promotional products. Apex assists their guests with theme creativity and layout design. DID YOU KNOW Apex offers custom embroidery on many different popular brands such as Nike, Northface, Eddie Bauer, and Port Authority? Apex only offers the best quality regarding brand and material, which is what really sets the shop apart from other shops of its kind. The promotional specialty store can imprint on t-shirts, polos, knits, sweatshirts, fleece, caps, activewear, outerwear, wovens, dress shirts, workwear, bags, accessories, and youth clothing. Many of the business attire with corporate branding you see in retail establishments around Loveland were bought from APEX. Thousands of Loveland’s young athletes wear sports apparel customized with team logos and the athletes’ names at APEX. Apex tees purchased by Toyota have been handed out to every Xavier University fan at “White-Out” games.
A fan wearing the Xavier White Out Tee Before the Defeat of Purdue on December 7, 2012. The 10,250 tee shirts were sold by Loveland businessman, Paul Elliott. Xavier came from a 19-point deficit to win the ESPN televised game. The shirts were credited by local sports commentators with the fan excitement, the extra 2-points X needed, for the Musketeers defeat over the Bulldogs, who later in the year played for the National Championship.
Paul Elliott has officiated Ohio High School Division I Football for decades. In recent years he has taken up blowing the whistle at Ohio High School Lacrosse and Basketball. He keeps on the go during the winter, sometimes officiating as many as seven youth basketball games a day.
It is a short walk from the WLHD across the State and Scenic Little Miami River to shops and restaurants.
David Elliott, Paul’s son who works at APEX, is the Head Swim Coach for the Wyoming Cowboys swim teams. He has won coach of the year several times in the CHL conference and in the District. Wyoming is more often than not one of the teams shaking up the State finals in Canton.While exploring the businesses within the WLHD I have come to the realization that if you live there you have access to nearly anything and everything you need! DID YOU KNOW Loveland residents have their choice of 3 different insurance agencies located within footsteps of one another? In 2005, Carey Bush and Bill Re opened BRS Insurance in hopes that they could use their years of insurance experience to deliver the best comprehensive buying experience for their guests. Just a few steps away, Ron Delsignore, a State Farm Insurance agent since 2002, has his very own insurance business. Ron focuses primarily on out of state relocations to Loveland. Ron personally holds himself responsible for his guest’s assets, financial dreams, and legacy. Last but not least is Wilber-Price Insurance Group managed by husband and wife Don and Mary Jo Shrout. DID YOU KNOW Don opened the Nationwide insurance agency that now stands today right in Loveland’s WLHD 23 years ago! Both Don and his wife Mary Jo grew up in Loveland and thoroughly enjoy establishing a trusting relationship with each guest they help. Don’s agency provides home, auto, business, boat, equine, golf cart, motorcycle, and life insurance.
Loveland Magazine’s production office is in the Historic West Loveland District.
While you’re walking along the sidewalks on the WLHD of Loveland you certainly can’t forget one of the most well-known businesses; Loveland Magazine. DID YOU KNOW before Loveland Magazine was published it had been four decades since Loveland had a newspaper of its own? Forty-six resident David Miller first published Loveland Magazine in 2004 and has seen a tremendous amount of success ever since. Miller had dreams of creating a publication where Loveland residents could have a voice, Loveland’s youth were recognized and readers received accurate, fully investigated information on even the most controversial subjects. DID YOU KNOW Loveland Magazine has published over 14,000 stories and 850 HD videos? In all its glory Loveland Magazine has received The Booth Spirit Media Award and has been inducted into the Ohio News Media Association as the first digital-only member, and The Ohio Prep Sportswriters Association.
The West Loveland Historic with its ample parking and friendly atmosphere is always a popular viewing spot for the many annual Loveland parades.
If you are interested in visiting any of these amazing local businesses on the West Loveland Historic District please see the contact information for each business below.
![[Part 1] My journey to the “West Loveland Historic District”](https://lovelandmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/west-loveland-historic-district.jpg)
While exploring the businesses within the WLHD I have come to the realization that if you live there you have access to nearly anything and everything you need! DID YOU KNOW Loveland residents have their choice of 3 different insurance agencies located within footsteps of one another? In 2005, Carey Bush and Bill Re opened BRS Insurance in hopes that they could use their years of insurance experience to deliver the best comprehensive buying experience for their guests. Just a few steps away, Ron Delsignore, a State Farm Insurance agent since 2002, has his very own insurance business. Ron focuses primarily on out of state relocations to Loveland. Ron personally holds himself responsible for his guest’s assets, financial dreams, and legacy. Last but not least is Wilber-Price Insurance Group managed by husband and wife Don and Mary Jo Shrout. DID YOU KNOW Don opened the Nationwide insurance agency that now stands today right in Loveland’s WLHD 23 years ago! Both Don and his wife Mary Jo grew up in Loveland and thoroughly enjoy establishing a trusting relationship with each guest they help. Don’s agency provides home, auto, business, boat, equine, golf cart, motorcycle, and life insurance.
