LOVELAND MAGAZINE

News and Events from the Loveland, Ohio Area

Without fear or favor
Since 2004

Tag: loveland

  • Grailville supporters speak at Clermont Commission meeting

    Grailville supporters speak at Clermont Commission meeting

    Batavia, Ohio – This LOVELAND MAGAZINE TV video is from Wednesday, August 17 when local residents made the trek to the Clermont County Commission meeting to urge support for a grant application to secure funding to preserve Grailvile acreage as permanent green space.

    Both the City of Loveland and Miami Township governing bodies have previously voted their unanimous support for the Cardinal Land Conservancy seeking a grant from the State of Ohio’s Clean Ohio Conservation Fund to purchase the remaining 89 acres of Grailville land. A successful application also requires a resolution of support from the Clermont County Commission, (Second step in securing grant money to preserve Grailville a success)

    Members of the Grail and the Grail Land Preservation Group spoke passionately urging the Commission to support the grant application. You will hear their unique perspectives on why the Grailville land is so important as greenspace, and a tourism attraction for Loveland, Miami Township, and Clermont County. There were discussions of the positive financial impact on the area, and Grailville’s important cultural past that can be preserved and continue for decades to come.

    If the Clean Ohio Conservation Funds are secured there will be no direct cost to local governments.

    This video is via the YouTube Channel of Clermont County.

    This LOVELAND MAGAZINE TV video below is Dickerson talking to supporters after the presentation was concluded. Dickerson expects a resolution will be voted on next week when Commisioner Painter can attend.

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    Read the History of Grailville

  • The “best dad ever” needs help to maintain the Special Neat Treats ice cream truck

    The “best dad ever” needs help to maintain the Special Neat Treats ice cream truck

    Tuesday, August 22 from 5-7 PM at Nisbet Park

    by David Miller

    Loveland, Ohio – Some of you may be familiar with Special Neat Treats whose focus is to supply jobs for people with special needs while selling Special Neat Treats.

    Loveland dad Joel Wegener is using the ice cream business he founded to give back to his community and create a career path for his children. Two of his children help out on the truck, Son Josh and daughter Mary Kate.

    Mary Kate told Today Show’s Craig Melvin in October of 2021, that she’s looking forward to “always” working on the truck and said that Wagener was “the best dad ever.”

    Joel told Melvin that he hopes that Josh and Mary Kate can keep helping him sell ice cream for a long time. Of course it’s not all that, but a way to lead the children to a life of independent living.

    Wagener started operating an ice cream truck in April 2021 and it sorely needs some repairs.

    In May, the engine blew on their main ice cream truck and the

    second truck they purchased needed major repairs. Because they are good people doing good things we want to help them cover the repair expenses so they can keep working with their kids and serving the community.

    Class of 95

    Come down to Nisbet Park next Tuesday for live music with Tim Anderson and Ryan Crabb of Class of 95.

    There will be photo ops with characters, raffles, and of course – ice cream!

    The Wicked Pickle next door to the park is doing a $5 drink special.

    Mary Kate can’t keep helping her dad if the trucks don’t run!

    Please help Special Neat Treats reach its $6,000 goal!

    Donate Now

  • A Grailville up-date: Commission didn’t vote but plenty of optimism

    A Grailville up-date: Commission didn’t vote but plenty of optimism

    Batavia, Ohio – About 20 local residents, members of both the Grail and the Grail Land Preservation Group made the trek to Batavia and the Clermont County Commissioners meeting Wednesday morning to show support for a grant application that needs the support of the Commission. There was no vote because the resolution was not finalized, however, both President Bonnie Batchler and member Claire Corcoran listened attentively as Andy Dickerson from the Cardinal Land Conservancy made a presentation followed by several residents from Loveland and Greater Cincinnati espousing the benefits they see if the remaining Grail land is preserved as greenspace in perpetuity.

    The hold up on having a resolution in front of the Commissioners was because Commissioner David Painter could not attend and it was expressed that there were one or two remaining questions before a vote was taken.

    This LOVELAND MAGAZINE TV video is Dickerson talking to supporters after the presentation was concluded. Dickerson expects a resolution will be voted on next week when Painter can attend.

    Both the City of Loveland and Miami Township governing bodies have previously voted their unanimous support for the Cardinal Land Conservancy seeking a grant from the State of Ohio’s Clean Ohio Conservation Fund to purchase the remaining 89 acres of Grailville land. (Second step in securing grant money to preserve Grailville a success)

    More at 11 as they say

    Loveland Magazine will be publishing speeches from citizens as they passionately urged the Commission to support the grant application. You will hear their unique perspectives on why the Grailville land is so important as greenspace, and a tourism attraction for Loveland, Miami Township, and Clermont County. There were discussions of the positive financial impact on the area, and Grailville’s important cultural past that can be preserved and continue into the decades to come.

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    For background: History of Grailville – The Grailville Archive

  • Ronald Carl Rolke passes at the age of 81 [Historical Photo Album Rolke Bros. Supply]

    Ronald Carl Rolke passes at the age of 81 [Historical Photo Album Rolke Bros. Supply]

    September 3, 1941 – July 30, 2023

    Loveland, Ohio – Ron Rolke owned Rolke Bros Supply Co. in Historic Downtown Loveland for 31 years.

    Ronald Carl Rolke, was the beloved husband of Barbara Rolke, devoted father of David Rolke, Russell (Lisa Rogers) Rolke, Christopher (Stephanie) Rolke , Cheryl (Jeff) Taylor, and Dennis Browning, loving grandfather of Ethan Rolke, Kaitlyn Rolke, Andrew Browning, Donald Browning, Meredith (Jason) Wakeland, Megan (David) Taylor-Tucker, Brittney Taylor, and Nicholas Browning, Great-grandfather to Raymond and Andrew Wakeland, Wesley, Jackson, Tanner Tucker, and Hunter Duty. Dear brother of Gene (Donna) Rolke.

    Ronald graduated from Loveland High School in 1960, went on to study at Morehead University, and proudly served in the United States Airforce.

    Ronald passed away on July 30, 2023 at the age of 81. Family will receive friends at the Bethel-Murdoch Presbyterian Church on Sunday, September 3rd from 2 PM until time of services beginning at 3 PM. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association.

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    A note from Managing Editor David Miller:

    “Ron graciously allowed me to spend some days at the store in the Spring of 2008 when I learned the store was going to close and probably be demolished. I asked him if I could explore from floor to ceiling and also the upper floor where I found the gears and belts of the machinery that ground grain, and decades of cobwebs. He also allowed me to take the photos you see of him waiting on his faithful customers. Below are the photos that have never been seen before and when the store contents were auctioned.”

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    Ron Rolke waiting on a customer in the Spring of 2008

    Ronald  Rolke owned Rolke Bros Supply Co. in Historic Downtown Loveland for 31 years. The business was a fixture of Historic Downtown and was located where the Loveland Station parking lot is now.

    Ron bought it from his father Henry Rolke. Son Chris told Loveland Magazine, “At Rolke Bros we sold pretty much anything, salt, plants, and seeds in the spring, food for birds, dogs, cats, horses, cows, etc. We sold straw and hay throughout the year as well as fencing and pet supplies. In the early years, we sold a lot of coal to individuals and even to  Loveland schools to heat their buildings. At one point we even sold baby chickens.”

    Chris added, “My grandfather bought the business in 1947 and my father ran it until 2008. I had done some searching and found references to the main building having existed in the 1880s. The business survived the infamous 1959 flood as well as a major fire in 1963.

    The store was originally established in 1897 as J.P. Queenan’s Coal, Feed and Grist Mill. It provided several services and products, including grinding, corn meal, coal oil, axle grease, gasoline, and many farm and garden supplies. The next owner, in about 1910, was A.L. Eddingfield, followed by “Pappy” Cornett. Henry Rolke bought the business in 1947. The business remained in the same location by the railroad station and historic depot until it closed in 2008.

  • This week’s “Third Thursday Summer Concert”

    This week’s “Third Thursday Summer Concert”

    Loveland, Ohio – Join Little Miami River Chamber Alliance this summer for FREE Thursday evening Summer Concerts! These events are free to the public and will be held on the third Thursday of the summer months on the patio of Hometown Cafe along the bike trail. Bring a chair and grab a drink from a local establishment (DORA friendly!) and enjoy some tunes this summer in Loveland!

    Thursday, Aug 17

    6:00 pm – 9:00 pm

    The Blank Checks

  • Loveland Art Festival: Sept. 2, 11am – 4pm

    Loveland Art Festival: Sept. 2, 11am – 4pm

    Advertisement

    Loveland, Ohio – The sixth annual Loveland Art Festival is being held on Saturday, September 2 from 11am until 4pm at Whistle Stop Clay Works, 119 Harrison Avenue in Loveland, Ohio. The show, formerly called the Pottery Affaire, highlights local artists who will be offering handmade pottery, fiber art, photographs, jewelry, paintings, wood items, mixed media, fresh flowers, and much more.  The art show is a wonderful opportunity to support local artists and buy unique, handcrafted work. The family friendly event will have Sammy’s Craft Burgers and Beer to keep shoppers fueled and hydrated and live music by Ellen Mershon.

    “It’s going to be another amazing show.  There will be nearly sixty artists showing their work.  The Loveland Art Festival offers tremendous variety and selection, so you’re sure to find something that just right for you or someone on your shopping list,” commented Bonnie McNett, show organizer. “The setting is just perfect with lots of expansive shade trees and the beautiful O’Bannon Creek ambling by,” she added.

    [pdf-embedder url=”https://lovelandmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Loveland-Art-Festival-Tri-Fold.pdf” title=”Loveland Art Festival Tri-Fold”]The show will be supporting two local non-profits: Love Our Land and The Grail.  They will have educational material and 100% of sales from their booth will go directly to their organizations. In addition, the show will have a booth featuring high school art students who will be displaying, talking about and selling their work.  The Loveland Art Festival has partnered with Loveland High School for three years and is pleased to facilitate a real world experience for art students looking to sell their work.

    The Loveland Art Festival is being held at Whistle Stop Clay Works, 119 Harrison Avenue just north of historic, downtown Loveland on Saturday, September 2nd from 11am until 4pm.  For further information visit lovelandartfestival.com or call (513) 683-2529.

  • Application process for open school board seat re-opens

    Application process for open school board seat re-opens

    Loveland, Ohio – The Loveland School Board has been functioning with only four members since Kevin Dougherty resigned effective June 30. As previously reported the board of education appointed Dr. Brad Goldie on July 17 to the unexpired term but later had to rescind their vote. (School Board calls special meeting to rescind appointment of new member)

    Then, because, of the circumstances of the Board missing the deadline to re-vote and re-affirm Goldie’s appointment, Ohio Law requires the decision to now be made by the Hamilton County Probate Court. That court has now requested that persons interested in being appointed apply directly to the court administrator.

    Applications are due by September 1, however, the administrator has not responded to Loveland Magazine’s phone request inquiring about when the Probate Court intends to make the appointment.

    The circumstance arose after the Board’s meeting of July 17 when they met in an open session to interview prospective candidates via phone calls, and voted to appoint Goldie, but later learned that all of the doors to the building were locked and the public could not attend the meeting. After receiving advice from their lawyer that if the doors were indeed locked the meeting was a violation of Ohio’s open meetings law the Board then met on July 26 and rescinded the vote to appoint Goldie.

    The District’s attorney then called the Hamilton County Probate Court informing it what had happened and that the time allowance for the Board to make the appointment had passed. The District has received no further communication from the court except that they were requested to post the new application process on the District website, which they did.

    The Board also communicated to the court that they have reaffirmed their support for Dr. Goldie to fill the unexpired term.

    Meanwhile on July 18, attorney Curt Hartman on behalf of a client made a public records request for “all video or audiovisual recordings within the interior and the exterior of the Board Administrative Offices from July 17, 2023, from 5:00 pm to 11:00 pm all video footage from inside and outside cameras at the building.” There is no indication that Hartman has followed up with legal action since receiving the files which were mailed to him on a flash drive.

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    HERE IS HOW TO NOW APPLY FOR THE VACANT SEAT AS POSTED ON THE WEBSITE OF THE HAMILTON COUNTY PROBATE COURT

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    RECENT ALERTS

    LOVELAND CITY SCHOOL BOARD VACANCY

    NOW ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FOR APPOINTMENT

    Having been advised of a vacancy on the Loveland City School Board pursuant to R.C. 3313.85, Hamilton County Probate Judge Ralph Winkler is accepting applications from eligible candidates interested in serving on the Loveland City School Board.  The person selected to fill the vacancy shall hold office for the shorter of the terms specified in R.C. 3313.11.  Eligible candidates must be registered voters that live in the Loveland City School District.

    Applications, which must include a resume and three references, will be accepted until September 1, 2023.  Please address applications to:

    Scott Weikel, Court Administrator
    Hamilton County Probate Court
    William Howard Taft Law Center
    230 E. Ninth Street, 10th Floor
    Cincinnati, OH 45202
    E-mail to: Scott Weikel

  • Here’s how your City of Loveland neighbors voted on Issue 1

    Here’s how your City of Loveland neighbors voted on Issue 1

    David Miller is the Managing Editor of Loveland Magazine

    by David Miller

    Loveland, Ohio – The City is within three Ohio counties: Clermont, Hamilton, and Warren. Within the corporate limits there are eleven voting precincts. We tallied the “Yes” and “No” votes for the State as a whole, the votes for or against in each county, and each precinct where Loveland residents live and go to the polls.

    With 100% of the precincts reporting, here is how voters cast their votes on State Issue 1 in the August 8 special election. The issue to make it more difficult to circulate and pass citizen-led Ohio constitutional amendment was defeated by a 57% to 43% state-wide margin.

    The Republican-led effort in the special August election that may have cost Ohio, taxpayers, more than 20 million dollars aimed to make amending Ohio’s constitution more difficult. Issue 1’s chief target was to raise the bar to 60% for passing an abortion rights measure that will be on the Fall ballot.

    This outcome means that when Ohio voters go to the polls in November and vote on a constitutional amendment protecting women’s healthcare and reproductive rights, a simple majority of 50% plus one vote will still be the qualifying standard that will be required for passage as it has been for the past 111 years

    Read about Ohio Issue 1(Official ballot language, explanation, arguments for/against, and full text)

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    Ohio (State-Wide)

    YES – 42.99% – 1,315,346

    NO – 57.01% – 1,744,094

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    Clermont (County-Wide)

    YES – 54.32% – 31,108

    NO – 45.68% – 26,160

    Hamilton (County-Wide)

    YES – 33.37% – 77,315

    NO – 66.63% – 154,364

    Warren (County-Wide)

    YES – 52.79% – 37,990

    NO – 47.21% – 33,972

    Loveland Hamilton County Precincts

    Loveland A

        YES 43.78% – 197

        NO 56.22% – 253

    Loveland B

        YES 34.47% – 203

        NO 65.53% – 386

    Loveland C

        YES 40.00% – 184

        NO 60.00% – 276

    Loveland D

        YES 36.49% – 131

        NO 63.51% – 228

    Loveland E

        YES 43.83% – 206

        NO 56.17% – 264

    Loveland F

        YES 36.32% – 138

        NO 63.68% – 242

    Loveland G

        YES 39.23% – 142

        NO 60.77% – 220

    Loveland Clermont County Precincts

    Loveland A

        YES 46.03% – 116

        NO 53.97% – 136

    Loveland B

        YES 32.20% – 95

        NO 67.80%  – 200 

    Loveland C

        YES 48.55% – 217

        NO 51.45%  – 230

    Loveland Warren County (176) Precinct S

    NOTE: This tabulation is for ALL voters in the precinct, but not all are Loveland residents.

        YES 48.26%

        NO 51.74% 

    59.17% of Loveland voters rejected Issue 1.

  • Come help in the gardens!

    Come help in the gardens!

    Loveland, Ohio – Lend a hand getting the Loveland Learning Garden ready for the new school year on any date below. No registration is required – just show up! Contact info@lovelandlearninggarden.org with questions. Thunderstorm cancels.

    Aug 9th 6:30-8pm

    Aug 12th 9-11am

    Aug 19th 9-11am

    Aug 26th 9-11am

    Want to teach kids outside?

    Seeking Nature Educators to teach daytime or afterschool lessons for 1st-4th graders. Lesson plans provided for delivery in our garden or nature trail. Flexible scheduling.

    The gardens are on the campus of the Loveland Primary and Elementary schools at 600 Loveland-Madeira Rd.

    For more information, email laurie.flanagan@lovelandlearninggarden.org

    How It Works

    Our 20-week school day program is delivered in the spring and fall. It is planned in collaboration with 1st-4th grade teachers to ensure alignment with subjects students are learning in class. Teachers are given online access to the seasonal schedule and voluntarily sign up for topics relevant to their class plans. Students spend time in the garden or nature trail where Nature Educators deliver the session and inspire their imaginations.

    Loveland Learning Garden also runs an after-school Outdoor Adventures program, host scout troops and delivers youth-oriented events.

  • Parenting and Owning a Business: Chamber Lunch and Learn

    Parenting and Owning a Business: Chamber Lunch and Learn

    Promoted Story

    Lunch and Learn: August 30 at 11:30 AM!

    Loveland, Ohio – Let’s face it: Parenting and Owning a Business simultaneously is challenging, to say the least. Juggling schedules, child care, homework, paperwork, meetings, working from home and more is a lot. Join us for a lunch and learn with parenting coach, Kathryn Seibert and learn ways to communicate expectations effectively with your family, set boundaries and parameters between work and family, and how to connect with your kids amidst a chaotic schedule.

    About the Speaker:

    Kathryn Seibert is a Certified Parent Coach with Grow As A Parent. She discovered peaceful parenting when she realized the authoritarian way of parenting didn’t feel right but she didn’t know another way. She works with parents to have fewer power struggles and more calm and connection with their kids so they can find joy and cooperation in the home.

    Location

    “The Building” is in Historic Downtown Loveland at 116 N Karl  Brown Way.