News and Events from the Loveland, Ohio Area
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Since 2004
By Marva Hinton July 13, 2018
Ohio is poised to become the latest state to take steps to limit school suspensions and expulsions for the state’s youngest learners.
The state legislature has passed a bill that would ban the practices for students in pre-K to 3rd grade who commit minor offenses starting in the 2021-2022 school year. Expulsion would remain an option for students who commit certain acts of violence.
Read on from Education Week…
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This Thursday’s free “Prince of Peace Summer Music Series” concert in Loveland
Loveland, Ohio – Rodney Barbour is a talented organist whose performances always delight! Rodney’s concerts feature a myriad of tonal colors and styles. It was noted at a recent church dedication concert, “Rodney captured the whole room! While the concert was informative and educational, it was also played with excellence, humor and most importantly glorifying to the Lord.”
Audiences are delighted with the breadth of literature Rodney includes in his programs and are left breathless at the variety and quality of the sounds they hear. This performance is very generously sponsored by the Verdin Company, organ division.
Music Series concerts will be on Thursdays at 7 pm through August 9, 2018 at Prince of Peace in Loveland, Ohio.All concerts are free and open to the community. A free-will offering will be taken to support future music series concerts. A reception will follow each concert.
““Bills that reduce the flexibility of that local control are cause for concern.”
– Loveland City School Superintendent, Dr. Amy Crouse
Loveland, Ohio – School starting after September 3rd? Well I’m sure the students wouldn’t mind!
The Ohio General Assembly Senate Bill 34 and House Bill 549 would both require the state to hold education funds if school districts started their school year before September 3rd. The bills do state that schools would be able to make the decision to start before September 3rd, without losing any state funding, only if the school board of that particular district held a public hearing 30 days before the decision would be put into action.
Local School Openings for 2018
Loveland: August 21
Milford: August 15
Little Miami: August 13
Kings: August 15
Sycamore: August 15
Loveland City School Superintendent, Dr. Amy Crouse strongly supports the local decision-making ability of the Board of Education.
“Bills that reduce the flexibility of that local control are cause for concern,” Crouse said when asked her opinion on the two bills, “Planning the school calendar takes into consideration many factors and the school boards need to be able to respond to changing local and state factors that might impact the student experience.”
The majority of the School District Business Administrators as well as Ohio’s Superintendent Association oppose the bill stating that it gets in the way of the boards required “local flexibility” in meeting the educational needs of the students.
“Some factors are ‘fixed’ that we need to consider. These include things like: Fall sports schedules, increasing student instructional time prior to testing dates for Advanced Placement courses, ACT, or state assessments, planning around holiday breaks, the number of day or hours required by the state, and the number of days in staff contracts. Some factors are locally driven like planning for weather, construction projects, or local community needs,” Crouse said.
Read the Senate version S. B. No. 34
State Bill 34 states that it will not make any adjustments to the state’s testing schedule or make any decisions in regards to the school’s calendars. According to Crouse, “The impact of any school start date is reflected in the number of days provided at holiday break times and in the date for the last day of school.”
A whopping 59 percent of Ohio residents, according to a poll taken by The Ohio Travel Association, supports Ohio schools starting after September 3rd and preferably on the same day to get a sense of uniformity across the state. Ohio residents agree that the later start date would not only benefit students with summer jobs and internships, but also family vacations.
Read the House version House Bill 549_00_IN
One of the most interesting statistics pointed out by voters in this poll is that 71 percent claimed that teaching students in the August heat is actually more detrimental to their learning than helpful. Ohio teachers agreed with the voters adding that starting school before Labor Day would be detrimental to their learning as well because they would no longer have as much time to pursue advance degrees and added training over the summer. Unfortunately, advanced learning would also be hard for students seeking college course credits because their high school schedule would no longer align with Ohio’s University schedules.
With all the pressure being put on the Ohio General Assembly to make a decision on this controversial matter there’s no doubt that a decision will be made sooner than later. Loveland residents can only hope that the final decision made benefits those that matter most; the students and the teachers.
These are the House members representing the 45140 zip code. Click the image to contact them.
If the pilot project proves successful 110 total meters might be installed
by David Miller,
Loveland, Ohio – City Manager Dave Kennedy is awaiting approval from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) before installing 39 test parking meters in Historic Downtown. The property where 26 of the meters are to be located is street parking along Railroad Avenue and the poles would be in the “right of way” controlled by ODNR along the Loveland Bike Trail.
The test meters would be on West Loveland Avenue, and Railroad Avenue from West Loveland to Harrison Avenue. Kennedy said he is waiting on a person from ODNR to return from vacation so they can continue their discussion of the right of way issue.
Kennedy is working exclusively with The IPS Group in a test of their meters before possibly installing more of the metered parking. When asked if he has an idea what the parking rate will be he said, “Not yet. I need to clear up right of way with ODNR for the pilot program.”
Kennedy said, “I should add that we hope that the pilot program helps us establish a reasonable parking rate. It is important that the rates of the parking meter find a balance between not having a negative impact on parking within the downtown district while also allowing the meters to effectively manage parking.”
In a June 26 memo to the Mayor and Council he said, “Having reviewed the products of multiple meter companies, the city has decided to work exclusively with the IPS Group due to their advanced technology, ease of enforcement, foolproof collections, and varying designs.” Kennedy also said, in the memo, “The IPS Group are leaders in the parking meter and kiosk field. The IPS meters are equipped with advanced technology, including mobile applications for the users, advanced enforcement, computerized reporting, and fail-safe collections.” There has been no discussion of penalties for violations.
“The initial installation is only a pilot program at no cost to the city to determine operational, collections, and enforcement needs,” said Kennedy.
It is a goal of Council to increase parking turnover in the Historic District and discourage long-term parking in prime retail spots by users of the Loveland Bike Trail. The City would rather bike trail users park in the Linda J. Cox Trailside Parking Area on East Broadway.
The meters will be solar powered and managed by the City through a wireless networked data management system. The City Manager said the meters will be easy to maintain and displays a clear violation indication for enforcement. He said the system includes a “failsafe” collection system.
The design of the meters would include one pole for each two meters, which Kennedy said would reduce obstructions along city curbs and would be black in color to match other city sidewalk components.
If the pilot program is successful, Kennedy has presented a plan where there might be anywhere from 27-110 permanent meters and an estimated cost between $32,599 and $124,125.
The Ohio EPA is predicting that the ozone level will be 107 on Friday.
| Predicted Air Quality Index (AQI) for the Loveland Area | ||
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Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups | |
Health Message: Active children and adults, and people with lung disease, such as asthma, should reduce prolonged or heavy exertion outdoors. |
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Reduce prolonged or heavy outdoor exertion. Take more breaks, do less intense activities. Watch for symptoms such as coughing or shortness of breath. Schedule outdoor activities in the morning when ozone is lower.
People with asthma should follow their asthma action plans and keep quick relief medicine handy.
Children face special risks from air pollution because their lungs are growing and because they are so active and breathe in a great deal of air.
Just like the arms and legs, the largest portion of a child’s lungs will grow long after he or she is born. Eighty percent of their tiny air sacs develop after birth. Those sacs, called the alveoli, are where the life-sustaining transfer of oxygen to the blood takes place. The lungs and their alveoli aren’t fully grown until children become adults. In addition, the body’s defenses that help adults fight off infections are still developing in young bodies. Children have more respiratory infections than adults, which also seems to increase their susceptibility to air pollution.
Furthermore, children don’t behave like adults, and their behavior also affects their vulnerability. They are outside for longer periods and are usually more active when outdoors. Consequently, they inhale more polluted outdoor air than adults typically do.
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Hamilton, County, Ohio – On June 18, Democratic County Commissioners, Todd Portune, and Denise Driehaus, voted to raise the Hamilton County’s sales tax by 0.2 percent for 18-months to balance the budget.
Today a group of Hamilton County Republicans presented petition signatures of 38,000 residents to the County Auditor hoping that voters in November will prevent the tax from taking effect. In announcing their success they said they needed 23,629 valid signatures to get the Referendum on the ballot. The petitions will remain in the Auditior’s office for 10-days for public inspection and them go to the Board of Elections where the signatures will be checked for accuracy.
Alex Triantafilou, the Hamilton County Republican Party chairman said in a press release today, “While the counting and confirming of the validity of these signatures will take several weeks, we are very pleased with the overwhelming support we received from every corner of Hamilton County and from citizens of all political stripes.”
Todd Portune and Denise Driehaus said the County faces a $28 million structural deficit and they were not willing to lead a county that cannot provide basic services. They blamed actions of the State House for their budget woes.
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When: Saturday, September 22, 2018 (11 AM – 5 PM)
Where: Main Street, historic Milford, Ohio 45150
Art Affaire is a juried outdoor show that features art and fine craft. The emphasis is on original work, both in concept and execution, by artists working in the following mediums: clay/ceramics; digital art; drawing; fiber art; glass; jewelry; leather; metalwork; mixed media; painting; photography; paper/print making; sculpture; wearable art; wood; other.
June Pfaff Daley wins Milford’s Art Affaire Poster Image Competition
—Winning Image Will Support 13th Annual Art Affaire Promotion—
Milford, Ohio—May 24, 2018—The Greater Milford Area Historical Society (GMAHS) and poster competition sponsor, the City of Milford, are pleased to announce the winner of the 2018 Art Affaire Poster Image competition. June Pfaff Daley of Pleasant Ridge (Cincinnati) created the winning poster and will be awarded $1,000 for her entry.
Daley’s “The Promont Art Cart” image features a Promont steeple-inspired umbrella that shades a whimsical old-time cart peddling a variety of creative wares and entertainment. The mixed-media work includes vintage catalog and music papers, various trim pieces and embroidery.
The nine artists that entered this year’s competition included: Kate Albert (Milford); Chris Clements (Milford); June Pfaff Daley (Cincinnati); Marian Fisher (Liberty Township); Joyce Grothaus (Milford); Scott Hempleman (Cincinnati); Ann Huddleston (Cincinnati); Bobbi Thies (Milford); and Dee Turner (Milford).
The Historical Society would like to thank this year’s judges: Michael Doss, city manager, City of Milford; Fred Albrecht, mayor, City of Milford; and Carl Samson – an internationally acclaimed portrait artist, figurative and plein-air landscape painter, based in Cincinnati and residing in historic South Milford.
“GMAHS is proud of the response to its Art Affaire poster competition,” says Suzette Albrecht, GMAHS board member and poster competition coordinator for Art Affaire. “In its third year, the program has gained momentum and the posters are becoming a collector’s item. It will be exciting to see how the competition evolves, as each year will bring something new for the collector.
GMAHS will use the winning image to create promotional materials for Art Affaire, including the collectible 20”x30” poster, which will be available in July. Posters will cost $10 and will be available for purchase at Promont, 906 Main Street, Milford, Ohio (open most Sunday’s 1-4 PM); and at Row House Gallery and Custom Framing located at 211 Main Street, historic Milford. Row House is open Tuesday-Friday, 10 AM to 5 PM and Saturday 10 AM to 4 PM. Posters will also be available during the 13th Annual Art Affaire, which will be held on Saturday, September 22, 11 AM to 5 PM on Main Street in Historic Milford.
Art Affaire is presented by the Greater Milford Area Historical Society in association with Lykins Energy Solutions with major sponsorship from Proforma Albrecht & Company, City of Milford; D.E.R. Development, and Jeff Wyler Automotive Family. Other contributors include Accounting Plus LLC, Miami Township, and Park National Bank. The event is a key fundraiser for GMAHS.
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WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) today released the following statement on President Trump’s meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin. During that meeting, President Trump refused to publically condemn Moscow’s interference in the 2016 elections – despite the U.S. intelligence community’s resounding agreement that Russia continues to attack America’s critical infrastructure.
“The intelligence experts we trust to keep America safe have said that Russia continues to threaten our democracy and our critical infrastructure, and the President missed an opportunity to do something about it,” Brown said. “The Ukrainian community in Ohio knows all too well the dangers of unchecked Russian aggression. We must demand Russia turn over the spies who hacked our election and show Putin we will not put up with threats to our infrastructure that undercut our democratic institutions.”
Brown joined a group of top Democratic Senators last week urging President Trump to cancel his meeting with Putin if he was not prepared to press the Russian President on his election meddling and push him to hand over the 12 recently indicted Kremlin intelligence officials.
Loveland, Ohio – The Loveland community will be hosting a benefit at Zappz Sports Bar and Grill for Loveland native Andy Attinger on July 28th.
Last April 22nd at around 2:30 AM a fun-filled night turned into nothing short of a disaster when a 2016 Kia crashed directly into the side of Zappz Bar and Grill severely injuring innocent bystander Andy Attinger. Andy suffered a fractured ankle, fibula and tibia, 4 broken ribs, a punctured lung, multiple broken vertebrae’s, and a broken pelvis due to the horrendous accident.
Andy, only 33 years old, has put up a courageous fight post-accident recovering successfully from his surgery that occurred only a few days after the accident in which plates, rod and pins were placed in both legs and ankles as well multiple screws in his pelvis. Andy is well known for his fun-loving personality and his resilient devotion to his community and his family.
The Andy Attinger Benefit on July 28th at Zappz Bar and Grill is expected to not only raise a significant amount of money for Andy and his girlfriend Dana Nichols , but to also celebrate his recovery.
The benefit will be hosted from 1 to 6 PM and will include a silent auction, raffles, split the pot, live entertainment, and a corn hole tournament.
For those who cannot make it to the benefit a friend of Andy, Ty Erin, organized a Gofundme recovery fund for Andy and his family, in which anyone wanting to support the cause can donate to. Ty set a goal of raising 5,000 dollars for the family and in just 2 months 61 people have donated 3,915 dollars.
With less than two weeks until the benefit friends of Andy hosting the benefit are still looking for basket donations. If you would like to support the cause by donating or would just like to get more information on the benefit contact Ty Boeppler at 513-884-2019, Andrea Behrmann at 513-800-4181, or Haley Scheffler at 513-301-8378.
Follow the Benefit for Andy Attinger on Facebook.
Cassie Mattia is a resident of Loveland, Ohio’s Downtown Historic District
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This Thursday’s free “Prince of Peace Summer Music Series” concert in Loveland: Headed up by Laura Proffit (concert master, Blue Ash Symphony), the Hawthorne String Quartet has been providing music throughout the greater Cincinnati area since 1992.
Appearing at area Live at Lunch concert series, the Taft museum chamber series and the Blue Ash Montgomery Chamber concert, the Hawthorne String Quartet prides itself on their extensive and varied repertoire.
Music Series concerts will be on Thursdays at 7 pm through August 9, 2018 at Prince of Peace in Loveland, Ohio.All concerts are free and open to the community. A free-will offering will be taken to support future music series concerts. A reception will follow each concert.
