LOVELAND MAGAZINE

News and Events from the Loveland, Ohio Area

Without fear or favor
Since 2004

Tag: ohio

  • Chamber honors best of the City

    Chamber honors best of the City

    Advertisement

    Loveland, Ohio – The Little Miami River Chamber Alliance will host its Annual Awards Dinner on Wednesday, November 20, at Receptions in Loveland.

    “Each year we feel it is time to say, thank you, to our businesses for all they do for our community. We look forward to honoring them for enhancing our community and making it a better place to live,” said CeeCee Collins, President of the Little Miami River Chamber Alliance.

    The Annual Awards Dinner event begins at 5:30 PM with a Cocktail Reception and Silent Auction. Proceeds from the Silent Auction will benefit a local non-profit, Sweet Cheeks Diaper Bank, and the Chamber’s Scholarship Fund. The event also includes live music, a plated sit down dinner, and the Awards Presentation emceed by John Popovich. The Awards Presentation will honor businesses and individuals in the following 12 categories:

    • Business of the Year
    • Emerging Business of the Year
    • Non-profit of the Year
    • Beautification Award
    • Community Involvement Award
    • Business Community Advocate Award
    • Sustainability “Go Green” Award
    • Health, Wellness & Fitness Business of the Year
    • Recreation Business of the Year
    • Community Responder Award
    • Young Professional Award

    Businesses were encouraged to nominate each other, as well as themselves. You may register to attend this event online at LMRChamberAlliance.org. Prices are $55 for an individual and $400 for a table of 8.

    Special Guests Cee Cee Collins and Meredith Taylor Talk Future Events…

  • The City of Loveland educates through the mail!

    The City of Loveland educates through the mail!

    Loveland Magazine writer Cassie Mattia lives in Historic Downtown

    Loveland, Ohio – As election day quickly approaches the City of Loveland wants to be sure that all Loveland voters are not only aware but educated on the issues they will be voting on come November 5th!

    If you are a Loveland resident and you haven’t yet seen a packet from the City of Loveland addressing the proposed changes to the City’s Charter, well Loveland Magazine has it all right here! Below is a short description of what you will see in the packet of proposed changes to the City Charter, how the changes came about, and why these changes are being proposed.

    The 411 from City Hall:

    “On the November 5 ballot, you will be asked to consider amendments to the Loveland City Charter. The Charter is our City’s constitution. It defines how the City of Loveland is organized and how it functions and can only be changed by a vote of Loveland citizens. Loveland’s first Charter was approved by the voters in 1961, and throughout the years, revisions have been made, with the last round of revisions being approved by the voters in 2003. In 2018, Loveland City Council determined that our Charter needed to be reviewed, as most communities review their charters at least every ten years. City Council appointed a Charter Review Commission on February 27, 2018, and the members met twice a month for over a year to review each section of the charter. Additional background on the proposed amendments is available on the City’s website within the Commission’s meeting minutes. The Commission accepted public comments at every meeting and held a formal public hearing on May 22, 2019, to receive public input before submitting the proposed Charter Amendments to City Council for consideration. On July 9, 2019, the Charter Amendments were presented to City Council and a second public hearing was held to receive public comments. Following the public hearing, City Council adopted Ordinance 2019-61, which approved the submission of the proposed Charter Amendments to electors on the November 5 general election ballot. The proposed Charter Amendments are presented in a format that allows you to easily see the current charter language in the left column and the proposed changes within the right column. Many sections were not subject to changes. These proposed changes are being mailed to all registered voters in the City as required by Article XVIII Section 9 of the Ohio Constitution. All Loveland citizens are encouraged to vote in the November 5, 2019, general election which will include these proposed changes to our Charter.”

     

    Councilman Ted Phelps chaired the Charter Review Commission and we asked him to tell our readers the major changes that people should pay attention to when they review the proposal:

    First, the Charter was last amended in 2003.  One of the major things appearing in this year’s changes, is a requirement that at least once every 10 years, the City appoint a Charter Review Commission to review and recommend changes to Council (12.09).  This way, we will hopefully avoid long periods of time passing, like the 16 years since the last revision, which tends to give rise to a back-log of changes and the inefficiencies which accompany not doing so sooner.  Similarly, another change now being proposed is to require at least every 10 years, the City review its Master Plan (2.10).  This too will avoid City planning becoming stale or obsolete and will help Loveland to assess and reassess its direction in a more timely and productive manner.

    Another substantive change on the ballot this year seeks to address what happens when there is a vacancy in the office of Mayor.  This situation arose just a few years back and the City was without a Mayor for multiple months until the general election.  Under the revisions proposed to Section 2.06, that won’t happen as again as the revision makes clear that the Vice-Mayor becomes the Mayor for the unexpired term, unless the Vice-Mayor declines to do so and then Council by majority vote will select the new Mayor.

    There are also proposed changes to the Director of Finance position as currently the Director of Finance is chosen by Council.  The revisions (5.02, 5.06 and 9.06) will allow for the City Manager to choose the Finance Director subject to approval by Council.  Removal of the Finance Director will also be subject to Council approval.  These proposed changes seek to streamline matters and make more efficient not only the selection process for the Finance Director position but the changes also seek to align the Charter with the reality that the City Manager has and must continue to have a close and highly functional relationship with the Finance Director.  Council maintains a checks and balances role as again, both the actual selection and any removal of the Finance Director can only be done with Council approval.

    Finally, other important revisions seek to conform current roles and responsibilities of the Clerk of Council (2.08), clarify how the City is to publish ordinances and resolutions allowing for utilization of the City’s website to do so (3.04) and remove the residency requirement for the City Manager in conformity with current Ohio law (4.01).  One other beneficial change is to clarify when Council begins its term of office (2.04).  As you know, every two years when there is a general election, Council is to hold its organization meeting to elect the Mayor and Vice-Mayor and under the current Charter that meeting has to take place on the first Monday in December even if the recount winner has not yet been determined by the Board of Elections.  The changes to 2.04 make sure that Council’s first organization meeting following the general election takes place only after the recount process is finalized.

     

    Click on the link below to read through the proposed changes to the City’s Charter.

    https://lovelandoh.gov/DocumentCenter/View/1313/Proposed-Charter-Amendments-2019

     

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

     

  • Forty years and going strong, thanks founder, Pat Furterer

    Forty years and going strong, thanks founder, Pat Furterer

    by Ann Barfels

    It all started when she was eight years old. Patricia Heffelfinger loved to produce plays with the neighborhood kids in Ridley Park, PA. Her love for theatre continued and she was always encouraged by her late husband Fred Furterer who she married in 1954. She continued performing with the Barnstormers in Ridley Park and then with the Battle Creek Civic Theatre in Michigan.

    In 1977 Pat and Fred moved to Loveland. Pat went to audition at another local theatre but couldn’t find the address! She came home and told Fred, “I’m starting a community theatre company in Loveland!” And 40 years and 115 shows later, Loveland Stage Company is an active and vibrant part of the community.

    Pat Furterer, founder and President Emeritus of Loveland Stage Company which is celebrating its 40th year and 115th production with “Cole-An Entertainment-The Life and Fabulous Music of Cole Porter” opening Nov. 1. – Provided Photo

    The first meeting of the as-yet-unnamed theatre group was in the Furterer’s living room in the Pheasant Hills neighborhood on May 1979. Pat put an ad in the paper inviting anyone interested in starting a community theatre group. Those responding to that first meeting were: Dick and Deirdre Dyson; Betty Rajewski; Kathy and Ron Barrett; Dennis Novak; Roger Goldwire; Steve McGowan; Trish Williams; Diane and “Moldy” Moldenhauer; Kate Camele Arnold; Anne Woolley; John Schneider; Sue Lundy; Sally Housemeyer, Mary Ellen Camele and Kitty Kieffer. Kate Arnold is in the current production of “Cole” and Deirdre Dyson was the artistic director of the most recent production of “Mamma Mia”. Dick Dyson is currently on the board and Sue Lundy and John Schneider are still active members.

    After deciding on the group’s name, the first show, “My Three Angels”, was presented in October of 1979 with two shows at the original Loveland Hurst High School on Lebanon road.
    The Loveland Kiwanis Club was still active at this time and the two groups joined efforts for a few years. “Bye Bye Birdie” was presented in 1978 and was the final Kiwanis Kaper event.

    Pat says the biggest hurdle the group has faced was finding a permanent home. At various times they have performed at the original Loveland Hurst High school, Shields Crossing (a restaurant now closed) Greater Loveland Historical Museum and at Nisbet Park. But they needed a permanent home. They received permission in 1997 from the City of Loveland to have a fundraiser for Loveland Stage company in the abandoned Crist movie theatre with the idea of eventually purchasing the building. “ There were no restrooms and no air conditioning and the building had been inhabited by “critters.” It was a mess” says Pat. The Loveland Fire Fighters Association, a non-profit group, purchased the theatre and leased it to the stage company for $1 a year. After 6 months, they gave the building to the group with certain stipulations. Pat attributes much of this effort to Otto Huber, Assistant Fire Chief at the time, and currently Fire Chief.

    October 20, 2008, marked another, and more heartbreaking hurdle. In the early morning hours, a fire started in the upstairs of the theatre and quickly consumed the entire roof. Once again the Loveland Fire Department stepped up and immediately started a fund for repairing the damaged building. Pat remembers friends and neighbors giving her checks for the restoration and especially remembers one little boy who gave her the contents of his piggy bank so the building could be repaired. Peggy Goodwin wrote several grants which also helped with the backing. A campaign to raise funds “Rebuild and Play On” led by Deirdre Dyson helped to bring in necessary funds to get more repair work done. And 13 months later, the curtain opened at the renovated theatre with the Ohio premiere of “Miss Saigon”.

    Come and see the group’s 40thyear celebration “Cole – An Entertainment-The Life and Fabulous Music of Cole Porter” November 1-17

    Besides founding the group, Pat has held every board office and is currently President Emeritus. She has also done every job necessary to produce a show from directing to producing to publicity to stage manager, etc. but has never done lighting or sound. Those that know Pat think that if the need was there, she would do that too!

    Her all-time favorite role to perform was Mame in Bonnie Schanz’s production of “Mame” and her favorite all-time show that she has directed was the group’s first production of “Fiddler on the Roof” in 1986 with Chuck Wente as Tevye and Jeanne Smearsoll Welsh as Golde.

    And in case any of you have heard the rumor, Pat says, “Yes, we do have a ghost! Mr. Crist comes to visit on occasion and loves to mess with our lighting equipment!”

    Celebrating 40 years of award-winning, quality community theatre, with special arrangement with Samuel French, Inc. and Derek Glynne, the Loveland Stage Company will present “Cole-An Entertainment – The Life and Fabulous Music of Cole Porter” opening November 1 through 17.

    The Mermaid Theatre’s production is based on the words and music of Cole Porter, devised by Benny Green and Alan Strachan, with original music arrangements by Kenneth Moule.

    Come and see the group’s 40th year celebration “Cole – An Entertainment – The Life and Fabulous Music of Cole Porter” November 1-17 at the theatre located at 111 S. 2nd St. (Rt. 48) Loveland, 45140. Performances on Nov. 1, 2, 8, 9, 15 and 16 are at 7:30 PM and on Sundays, November 3, 10 and 17 at 3 PM. Tickets are $20. For groups or handicapped seating call 513-443-4572 or visit the webpage at http://lovelandstagecompany.org.

     

  • Take Our Poll on School Levy

    Take Our Poll on School Levy

    [socialpoll id=”2575957″]

     

     

  • Loveland Magazine TV will broadcast live from School Board meeting Tuesday

    Loveland Magazine TV will broadcast live from School Board meeting Tuesday

    Loveland, Ohio – Loveland Magazine TV will broadcast live the “Hearing of the Public” portion of the Loveland School Board of Education meeting Tuesday.

    The meeting starts at 6 PM in the media center at the Loveland Middle School. Go HERE to view the meeting agenda.

    We will begin broadcasting at 6 PM and “Hearing of the Public” is the 4th agenda item.

    Go to the Loveland Magazine FaceBook page to watch the meeting live.

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

  • Linda Holtkamp on school levy: “Loveland Gives!”

    Linda Holtkamp on school levy: “Loveland Gives!”

    by Linda Holtkamp

    We are a generous city, especially where our schools are involved. We have passed levy after levy after levy, by comfortable margins, whenever we were told there was need.

    Now, we are being told there is great need, urgent need, to bring our facilities up to date.

    Linda Holtkamp lives in the Plantation Pointe subdivision in Symmes Township

    And it’s going to require enormous sacrifice. The schools all need to be extensively revamped or demolished, and it will cost each property owner thousands of dollars, additional, every year, for a very long time. 37 years at the minimum. And, well, most of the money will have to be paid forever.  We are going to build big, and we are going to build new. Renovating, for the most part, is not an option.

    Repairing or using what we already have at the primary school level is off the table. We need new land, 110 acres of it, and it will cost $7.7 million dollars. It’s raw land, so, it will need massive amounts of expensive preparation before it can even be built upon. We need three new, state of the art buildings on that land, with brand new everything inside. Just figure about $92,000,000 for the whole project, and we have Preschool through 5th grade settled.

    Middle school is in pretty good shape, having been renovated when the high school was built. But, we could build outside bathrooms and clean up the sports area in the back, add an 8 lane track so the track team does not have to go all the way to the high school to practice, and new bleachers. The school needs a skylight because it’s too dark inside, and upgrades to the entrance. Let’s budget about $25,000,000.

    The high school is our newest complex, but still needs some high ticket items.

    For sports, the need is for turf on baseball, softball, and a multi-purpose field. Grass is not good enough, as occasionally it gets muddy. We absolutely need new concession stands and a new gateway entrance because, well, we just do. We should budget about $10 million for sports.

    The school itself has big, costly needs. The auditorium, while it is absolutely fine, almost brand new, is too small for Show Choir and band concerts. We need new, so let’s plan for the future in a big way. Let’s go with a two-story, 1,000 seat auditorium. Around that, we will build multiple band rooms, art rooms, and a photo studio. $16,000,000. Sixteen Million Dollars. Just for Fine Arts. That should do it. Good acoustics are pricy. 

    Remember that existing, beautiful, approximately 578 seat auditorium with years of usable life left? We will completely demolish that, level out the floor, and use that space for science labs. The Robotics Team members will get space there, along with lots of ultra-expensive equipment to further their projects. 

    The total budget for the high school reno and new building will amount to $53,000,000.

    As you see, almost half of the money is going to the two newest school complexes.

    Grand total, with more thrown in for overruns: $165,000,000. Plus $7.7 million for the land

    You will get great satisfaction sending the schools 43% more school property taxes each year. On top of what you already pay. And, this increase is so large, the schools will never need to ask for money again, right?

    Nope. Look for another levy in 3 years, for more operating expenses.

    That is a promise, as well.

    Join your neighbors and fellow taxpayers who find this plan, and the costs involved, totally unworkable.

    Vote AGAINST the levy on Tuesday, November 5.

    It’s OK to say NO.

  • 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…

     

  • Loveland’s Fall Brush Pick-up Schedule

    Loveland’s Fall Brush Pick-up Schedule

    Loveland, Ohio – Here are the instructions and the date for the City’s Fall Brush Pick-up.

    You can also click on this .pdf and print this information to have in a convenient place as a reminder: Loveland’s Fall Brush Pick-up

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

     

  • Loveland Magazine Celebrates Fall With Cassie’s Guide to the Top 10 Best Halloween Movies PART 1

    Loveland Magazine Celebrates Fall With Cassie’s Guide to the Top 10 Best Halloween Movies PART 1

    by Cassie Mattia

    Loveland, Ohio – With Fall officially in the air it’s hard not to start thinking about carving pumpkins, the beautiful leaves changing colors, enjoying a delicious caramel apple, or tuning in to your FAVORITE Halloween movie! For as long as I can remember I have enjoyed watching scary movies. When I was young I first fell in love with Halloween and all things scary when my mom first introduced to me the 1987 vampire cult classic, Lost Boys directed by Joel Schumacher. At the time Lost Boys was on tape opposed to DVD so you can say I definitely wore that tape out! From the eerie makeup and costumes to the “jump out of your seat” moments to the bizarre camera angles and music, Lost Boys hooked me on the horror genre! From there on out any time my parents gave me the option of what movie I wanted to rent from Blockbuster Video (please tell me everyone reading remembers what Blockbuster is?!) I 100 percent of the time chose a horror movie! Something about being scared just intrigued me. 

    My love for scary movies has only gotten stronger as time has passed and with Halloween quickly approaching we at Loveland Magazine deemed it necessary to release a top 10 best Halloween movie list! I know there are many, many, many top 10 Halloween movie lists out there so I wanted to steer clear of the “traditional” list and let you the readers in on my personal top 10 Halloween movies list! This list will not just include movies based on Halloween but will also include those movies that send a tingle up your spine! So grab a handful of candy corn, cozy up on your favorite chair and get prepared to be let in on Cassie’s Guide to the Top 10 Best Halloween Movies PART 1!

    1. The Shining, 1980, directed by Stanley Kubrick, written by Stephen King

    Well, how can you not start a Halloween movie list without a classic Stephen King film adaptation! Nearly 40 years later and this film still gives horror movie fanatics the chills, including myself! I’m one of those movie watchers that 9 times out of 10 has read the novel before seeing the film based on the novel so of course, the fact that The Shining so closely matches the novel written by the legendary Stephen King makes it even more appealing. This film takes place in a creepy historic hotel that was built on an Indian burial ground in the Colorado Rockies. The main character, Jack, played by Jack Nicholson, takes his family as he has accepted the position as the offseason caretaker to stay in the haunted hotel for the winter. Jack’s son Danny, played by Danny Llyod, has telepathic abilities referred to as “the shining,” which ends up allowing Danny to see into the hotel’s haunting past! For those who have not experienced this haunting novel adaptation, this is a MUST see classic that is guaranteed to get you in the Halloween spirit!

    1. The Strangers, 2008, written and directed by Bryan Bertino

    Typically I am pretty aware of all horror movie film releases but for some reason, The Strangers, I didn’t discover until a few years after it was released. This film shocked me in more ways than one especially when I read it was based on The Manson family Tate murders, The Keddie Cabin Murders, and a series of break-ins that occurred in director, Bryan Bertino’s neighborhood as a child. How creepy is that? The Strangers, starring Liv Tyler and Scott Speedman, is a slasher movie that begins at a vacation home that both Kristen and James (Tyler and Speedman) are staying the night after attending a wedding. An hour or so into their stay the couple is visited by a family of 3 all wearing eerie masks and from there is where the terror begins! The masked criminals begin to toy and terrorize the innocent couple as the couple tries to find an escape route. This film is a little bit more on the intense side in regards to horror movies as it does include some gore and violence so I recommend this one for adults only! If you are searching for a Halloween movie that doesn’t follow the traditional “horror” movie pattern check out The Strangers!

    1. Halloweentown, 1998, directed by Duwayne Dunham and written by Paul Bernbaum, Jon Cooksey and Ali Matheson

    Ok, everyone, this Halloween movie is for the kids….and of course, the adults will admit they love it as well! Halloweentown, a Disney Channel Original film starring Kimberly Brown, Debbie Reynolds, and Judith Hoag, takes you into a world where it’s Halloween all year round! I mean seriously what could be better than that? The movie begins in the human world where Marnie (Kimberly Brown) eventually comes to realize her family may have a little more of the Halloween “magic” than most families! Aggie (Debbie Reynolds), Marnie’s grandmother, wants so badly for Marnie and her sister Sophie to carry on the family tradition, but Aggie’s daughter, Gwen, wants her family to have a life that is normal as possible, and that means WITHOUT magic! Marnie sneaks out of her house and takes a journey to “Halloweentown,” a place where it’s always Halloween and the place her grandma raised her mother. This film takes you on a Halloween adventure you will find yourself wanting to experience traditionally every Halloween! If you have a hard time getting into the Fall/Halloween spirit Halloweentown will be sure to do the trick….or treat!

    1. Halloween, 1978, directed by John Carpenter and written by John Carpenter and Debra Hill, REMAKE-2007, directed and written by Rob Zombie, REMAKE-2018, directed and written by David Gordon Green

    You can’t have a Halloween movie list without including John Carpenter’s Halloween! This film paved the way for one of my favorite horror movie genres, serial killer slasher movies, and yes according to Netflix this is a real movie genre! If you haven’t seen the original Halloween, this movie stars one of the most iconic scream queens, Jamie Lee Curtis. Halloween is based on the notorious serial killer, Micheal Myers, who, as a child, is placed in a sanitarium for murdering his sister. 15 years after the initial murder Micheal escapes the sanitarium for one last night of Halloween terror…or so we thought! Although this movie was made in the late 70’s it still packs all the Halloween scares one needs to get ready for the big holiday!

    For the more modernized horror movies fanatics, Rob Zombie released a reimagined version of Halloween in 2007, that included the gore that the original didn’t mainly because in the 70’s the special effects we have access to now weren’t available yet. This remake focuses in on the childhood of Micheal Myers, played by Tyler Mane, what lead up to the murder of his sister, played by Scout Taylor-Compton, and Myer’s relationship with his mother, played by Zombie’s wife Sheri Moon Zombie.

    There, of course, was another Halloween reboot released in 2018 where Jamie Lee Curtis reenters into the Halloween franchise as her original 1978 character, Laurie Strode. This 2018 reboot, directed and written by David Gordon Green, is set 40 years after the Micheal Myers murders. Curtis in this installment of the Halloween series prepares herself and her family to take down Micheal Myers one last time! Thus far there have been 11 Halloween films added into the series and there are 2 more installments that are in the works set to release in 2020, Halloween Kills, and 2021, Halloween Ends. If you are a true Halloween fanatic I highly recommend browsing your calendar for a weekend where you can binge-watch the entire Halloween series…with your pumpkin spice latte in hand of course!

    1. Hocus Pocus, 1993, directed by Kenny Ortega and written by Neil Cuthbert, Mick Garris, and David Kirschner

    Nothing represents Halloween better than the Sanderson Sisters and if you don’t know who they are Hocus Pocus needs to be added to your Halloween watch list immediately! Hocus Pocus originally did not get the views Disney expected when it was released in 1993, making only 16.5 million at the box office. Now this fantasy comedy horror drama (yes it actually is all these genres) is considered by many, including myself, one of the best movies to watch around Halloween time! If you haven’t yet experienced the film, it takes place in Salem, Massachusetts where an ancient threesome of witches are brought back from the dead by Max Dennison, played by Omri Katz, a teenage boy who just moved to Salem with his family. Once the Sanderson Sisters, played by the legendary Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Kathy Najimy, are brought back to life they make it their mission to steal all the souls of the youth in Salem..oh and did I mention there is a black cat named Binx that talks?! If you like magic and you like Halloween you HAVE to see Hocus Pocus!

    Stay tuned for PART 2 of my guide to the top 10 best Halloween Movies where I will let you the Loveland Magazine readers in on my top 5 best Halloween movies! Believe me, you won’t want to miss number 1!


  • 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…