A family tradition in Hamilton for decades, this light show at Pyramid Hill Sculpture Park & Museum is back with festive displays and plenty of holiday cheer.
One of greater Cincinnati’s favorite holiday traditions is back, lighting up the night in Hamilton once again.
Celebrating 25 years in 2024, Pyramid Hill Sculpture Park & Museum returns Nov. 15 with the annual Pyramid Hill Lights. This display covers 75 acres of the sculpture park in a drive-through light show experience featuring more than 1 million glowing bulbs. A shining display such as this doesn’t come together in just a few weeks at the end of the fall season, it takes months of work from the Pyramid Hill team, who have been at work on the displays since August.
“It is a full team effort to put on the lights every year and we love that we can be part of long-standing family traditions,” Sarah Templeton Wilson, executive director of Pyramid Hill Sculpture Park and Museum, said in an October press release.
To celebrate the 25th anniversary of Pyramid Hill Lights, visitors can enjoy a new driving route for viewing the lights, which includes beloved displays along with the return of a fan favorite: the Bombshells of Cincinnati yarn bombing. This local groups decorates the candy cane lane section of the display with oodles of yarn to create peppermint decorations in the trees.
For the first time, Pyramid Hill Lights is offering a prepay option in 2024 so that entry to the park is faster for viewing the displays, which also include projections from local artist Doug Borntrager as one more addition that unites art with the holidays this season.
“We’re thrilled to mark this milestone anniversary,” Templeton Wilson said in the release. “With the new route and exciting changes, this year’s show honors our past while offering something fresh for both new and returning visitors.”
The drive-through light experience is open Nov. 15 through Jan. 5 on Tuesdays through Sundays, excluding Thanksgiving and Christmas. Entrance to the lights is $25 per car, or $15 per car for members of Pyramid Hill.
For more information about Pyramid Hill Sculpture Park and the Pyramid Hill Lights, visit pyramidhill.org
Photo from Lebanon Horse Drawn Carriage Parade & Festival
Kings Island’s Winterfest, Lebanon’s Horse-Drawn Carriage Parade and more holiday season highlights are expected to once again draw considerable crowds to Warren County, Ohio this winter, according to the Warren County Convention & Visitors Bureau.
Christmas in Loveland is on Saturday Dec 14, 2024 3 PM until 8 PM in Historic Downtown.
4th Annual Christmas Tree Lighting Festival is on December 7 in Historic Downtown. The pine stands more than 60 feet tall along the Little Miami Scenic Trail (near West Loveland Avenue). Approximately 2,500 lights and 250 ornaments adorn the tree.
Kings Island’s Winterfest will be bigger than ever this holiday season. Featuring ice skating on the park’s iconic Royal Fountain, state-of-the-art light displays, live shows, festive food, nightly holiday parades and much more, the seasonal celebration will welcome guests select dates November 29 through December 31.
Celebrating its 35th anniversary this year is Lebanon’s historic Horse Drawn Carriage Parade & Christmas Festival. Once again featuring more than 100 decorated carriages pulled by mini horses, Clydesdales, Percherons and more beautiful breeds, the event will also offer live entertainment, specialty shopping and food and craft booths when it returns on December 7.
Historic Downtown Lebanon will also be the site of holiday-themed train rides on the Lebanon Mason & Monroe (LM&M) Railroad’s North Pole Express. Offered select dates and times November 15 through December 23, the experience includes visits from Santa, entertainment from elves, hot chocolate and holiday cookies.
Great Wolf Lodge in Mason will once again transform into Snowlandthis winter. In addition to its sprawling 84-degree indoor waterpark, the lodge will feature life-size gingerbread houses, visits from Santa, holiday activities and more seasonal offerings.
Showcasing its nationally renowned outdoor walk-through display of approximately one million LED lights, The Christmas Ranch in Morrow, Ohio, will welcome back guests November 22 through December 23. Holiday shops, pictures with Santa, themed train rides and festive food and drink offerings will round out the guest experience.
Home to decorated, historic Main Streets, a variety of locally owned dining options and more than 100 antique, boutique and specialty shops, the towns of Lebanon, Waynesville and Springboro will once again be among the region’s most popular small-town holiday shopping destinations.
Springboro’s La Comedia Dinner Theatre will play host to live, Broadway-style performances of Irving Berlin’s Holiday Inn select dates now through December 29.
Finally, Yuletide Village, a 16th Century-styled holiday celebration complete with era-inspired light shows, music, live entertainment and more returns to the grounds of the Ohio Renaissance Festival in Waynesville select dates between November 29 and December 23.
To learn more about holiday highlights all throughout the state of Ohio – including many of the aforementioned Warren County draws – see TourismOhio’s Holiday Events Guide and Holiday Lights Trail on Ohio.org.
Loveland, Ohio – Loveland-Madeira Road has reopened after a gas leak closed the road yesterday from Hopewell Road to Cottonwood Drive. Businesses were closed along this stretch of roadway. There was no access to I-275 from Loveland-Madeira Road.
East Kemper Road will remain closed from Loveland Madeira Road to Twightwee until Wednesday 11/13.
Loveland, Ohio – This photo album contains Loveland Magazine file photos of past flooding at the location where12 single family homes are proposed on Riverside Drive in the West Loveland Historic District. The development shares 540 feet of frontage along the Little Miami River. The site will be elevated by bringing in earth to bring it above flooding elevation.
Photo taken on Nov 7, 2024
The Loveland Planing and Zoning Commission had scheduled a meeting to discuss the plan, however the meeting was postponed at the last minute and is expected to be re-scheduled.
Opening Night Reception is Friday, Nov. 15, from 6-9 PM
Loveland, Ohio – “You truly won’t believe the amazing nutcrackers that our Loveland artists have created. There are more than 50 truly unique works of art,” says President of the Art League of Loveland, Johanna Kremer. “We’ve highlighted several of our premier artists and their pieces, such as Tom Post’s Leonardo DaVinci “Prepping Supper”.
Teresa Nieberding and her Jazz Singer nutcracker
Teresa Nieberding donated all these vintage nutcrackers to the artists to unleash their creativity in memory of a dear artist friend of hers who shared a love of nutcrackers. When her friend died, she bequeather all her unfinished nutcrackers, and this is Teresa’s way of “paying it forward.”
Some of the artists are also holding Nutcracker classes during this holiday art show. Kremer said, “The classes will be taught by some of our best artists.”
Tom Post’s Leonardo DaVinci “Prepping Supper”
DJ Berard created a Picasso nutcracker
Gayle Hixson’s hand-painted and hand-sewn JesterMonica Achberger’s “Starry Night” gal! (Her hat depicts an actual star constellation!)
I am writing to express my deep concern regarding the recent decision by Loveland City to deny the validity of case #2024-03: 200 Railroad Avenue HPPC Appeal based upon a 3rd party filing by a concerned Loveland resident. (Demolition of home in Loveland Historic District causing uproar)
Ironically, as we debate the future of historic buildings and the little yellow house on Railroad Avenue, a ten year anniversary of the groundbreaking on Loveland Station Apartments approaches (November 12, 2014).
Just barely a decade ago, Loveland residents woke up to a massive three-story apartment complex near the train crossing in our historic two-story whistle stop town, constructed even at the expense of losing our iconic train whistle. Transparency was nowhere to be found, and residents were left angered and baffled how it happened. Some even called to tear the buildings down.
As elected officials, Loveland City Council members are entrusted with the responsibility of representing the interests of all Loveland residents, especially when they show up at public meetings. We vote for them; at the very least, we expect transparent processes.
We asked only for an appeal to a zoning decision to demolish this historic house in question. Yet the City, under solicitor Joe Braun, denied several concerned citizens at the scheduled public appeal meeting an opportunity to contribute factual evidence as to the historic value of the home. From our perspective, the process failed.
It is crucial that our elected officials remain responsive to the concerns of their constituents. By actively listening to the community and considering their input on historical and architectural significance of buildings to the city, the City Council can make informed decisions that benefit both present and future generations. But they didn’t listen at all.
The City’s decision to allow the appeal to precede so far as to set a specific date for the appeal review and then, at that meeting, subsequently invalidate the appeal on technical grounds was not only unfair but suggests strategic timing to obstruct an open process.
This action effectively limited the opportunity for other residents to submit further appeals prior to the deadline, undermining the very essence of a transparent and democratic processes.
Residents showed up prepared because they believe the 200 Railroad Avenue building is a significant piece of Loveland’s history. Indeed, it was acknowledged by Council Member Neal Oury at the October 22nd Loveland City Council meeting that the original brick structure remains standing and sound.
In fact, it is the only remaining brick structure just a few yards from the Little Miami Railroad tracks on Railroad Avenue.
Residents who showed up to the appeal meeting wanted to know what we’re demolishing of our remaining history as a whistle stop town. They want thoughtful deliberation as part of a transparent process. Instead, the City appeared non-responsive.
It is essential that the City conducts public meetings in a fair and impartial manner. By disregarding the concerns of residents and limiting public participation in a zoning appeal process, the City has once more set itself up for hard questions reminiscent of seven years past.
This public doubt stems from the Loveland Station Apartments development followed by the era of Mayor Mark Fitzgerald and the attempt to replace the current Loveland City Hall with a FOUR story, multipurpose building in a public-private deal, as much as we would like to forget. Residents were angry, yes, and the city hall project was kicked aside—for now.
The maneuver to deny the appeal on October 30th, while deft, was strangely reminiscent of 2017 when failure of transparent process went so far that (then) resident Neal Oury called for a public recall of mayor Fitzgerald before announcing his own candidacy for a Loveland City Council seat. But it didn’t stop there. Transparent process failed so miserably that in 2017, a resident filed a sunshine lawsuit against the City of Loveland.
How can we take a step back?
A better way forward than denying the appeal process would have included 1) any council members with longterm friendship with the owner or developer recuse himself from votes on the question of demolition, and 2) residents given an actual opportunity to present their research findings at a newly scheduled Zoning Appeals Meeting.
Why not slow down and get it right? I urge the City Council to not dig in but instead to reverse its decision to deny the appeal on October 30th before razing the historic house.
Moving forward, I hope this latest pubic disappointment serves as a reminder to Council to prioritize transparency and open communication with residents, especially when making special zoning decisions that involve any plans for multi-unit buildings. (Six, three-story apartments proposed adjacent to Nisbet Park on Loveland Bike Trail)
By fostering a more inclusive and participatory decision-making process, Loveland City Council can better ensure that residents remain mutually supportive of their many hours of earnest public service.
Loveland, Ohio – The Scripps Network proclaims, “The siren is sounding for the fentanyl crisis.” Acclaimed journalist Caren Zucker speaks with educators, law enforcement officials and family members of those lost to the drug and tries to answer the obvious question: what can we do to help end the fentanyl crisis in America?
Loveland resident Stephanie Quehl of DOITFORJACK was invited to Atlanta to participate in a fentanyl awareness production with the Scripps Network.
Producer Caren Zucker, who lost her son Jonah to fentanyl, along with former ABC White House Correspondent John Donvan, and ABC News Executive Producer Jon Meyersohn, pulled together a group of individuals from around the country in the fentanyl awareness community to participate in a conversation about this critical topic.
Stephanie Quehl lost her son to a fentanyl poisoning.
This production is an informative and poignant presentation of how fentanyl impacts everyone. Please take the time to watch “To Save A Life: A National Fentanyl Alarm.”
Learn more about the Jack Quehl Foundation and all they do from their Loveland based organization:
Ballots in some districts are still being tallied, but the broad strokes of the 2024 election are clear, and the results mean Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine has a big decision to make. J.D. Vance is jumping from U.S. Senator to Vice President-elect leaving a vacancy DeWine needs to fill.
Whoever he chooses will serve for the next two years, with the opportunity to defend the seat in the next federal election in 2026. And since Vance was elected in 2022, his replacement would have to turn around and do it all over again in 2028.
“It’s got to be someone who wants to spend the next four years not just doing the job, but running for office,” DeWine explained at post-election conference hosted by the Ohio Chamber of Commerce.
On the other hand, incumbency means DeWine’s appointee could enter the race with a bit of wind in their sails.
And DeWine has important strategic factors to consider. The Republican party currently controls each state office in Ohio. But in each case — Governor, Lt. Governor, Attorney General, Secretary of State, Auditor and Treasurer — the politicians occupying those offices are term-limited. That means a broad array of open seats, and several experienced candidates who can make a case reasonable for their nomination to a new post.
That game of musical chairs could easily tip into an intraparty knife fight. DeWine’s pick for the U.S. Senate could help keep it from getting out of hand.
But it’s not clear if that will work. One potential recipient, Attorney General Dave Yost, has already said he’d turn down the nomination. Yost is eyeing a run for governor, as is Lt. Gov. Jon Husted.
With DeWine’s political career likely nearing an end, it’s also one of his last opportunities to put his stamp on Ohio politics. In the most recent U.S. Senate primary, the governor endorsed state Sen. Matt Dolan, R-Chagrin Falls, instead of the eventual victor, U.S. Senator-elect Bernie Moreno.
At the Ohio Chamber conference, DeWine refused to discuss names but laid out the considerations that will drive his decision making. He noted with 12 years’ experience in the U.S. Senate himself, he wants to appoint someone “who actually does get things done.”
GET THE MORNING HEADLINES.
DeWine also said he’s not interested in a placeholder.
“I want someone who will hold that seat — I hope for a long time,” DeWine said. “I think it’s in the interest of the state for them to do that.”
And in addition to someone willing to mount back-to-back statewide campaigns, he’s concerned with finding someone who’s capable of actually winning those races.
“Someone who can win a primary,” DeWine described, “because they will be faced with a primary in two years. They’re going to be in the primary election in less than that, and also someone who can win the general election.”
After two contentious Republican U.S. Senate primaries it may be difficult to balance all of those priorities. But even if the final decision is challenging, DeWine said he won’t suffer from a lack of viable choices.
“Well, yesterday I got a lot of calls,” DeWine said with smile. “Look, we have great people in the state of Ohio who could serve very well in the United States Senate. So, we’re just going through the process of starting to think about this and see who would be the best person.”
As far as who he’s sounding out for opinions, DeWine said “certainly” Vance’s opinion about who should replace him matters.
“Frankly I’m reaching out to a lot of people, I’m not going to talk about names, again,” DeWine said, “But I’m consulting a lot of people who I know are not interested, but who might have ideas about who should be.”
Although Yost has publicly said he’s not interested, that news may not have reached the governor. Asked whether anyone has taken their name out of the running he said, “well, I don’t know about that.”
“But I wouldn’t tell you anyway,” he quipped.
Ohio U.S. Senator-elect Bernie Moreno addressing an Ohio Chamber of Commerce crowd. (Photo by Nick Evans, Ohio Capital Journal.)
What Moreno wants in a colleague
A few hours after DeWine spoke, Senator-elect Bernie Moreno took the stage, and described how he wants to promote Ohio businesses in the Senate and earn the trust of voters who didn’t support him. He’s hoping whoever DeWine selects will be a partner in that effort.
Like DeWine, Moreno said he has thoughts on who’d be a good pick but declined to go into specifics. He also stressed that the decision is ultimately the governor’s to make and that he and DeWine are “100% on the same page” about the kind of person who should get the nod.
After what he described as “a grueling two years,” Moreno said finding an effective campaigner is very important.
“It’s got to be somebody who has a proven record of actually doing the work,” he said. “Because if you are too lazy to campaign, you’re probably going to be too lazy to be an effective senator.”
He added it’s important that the appointee really believes in Trump’s agenda rather than someone who would say you agree with it “and then stab us in the back in Washington, D.C.”
Moreno said he wants to work alongside someone who’s decent and works well with others — he mentioned the job isn’t an executive role and will require a collaborative approach. And lastly Moreno hopes the governor avoids “publicity seeker(s).”
“Because you have to be able to trust each other,” he said, “and you can’t be somebody who’s just constantly trying to make a name, out for themselves, and is looking at the next steppingstone.”
“It’s a weighty job,” Moreno added. “I mean, 11, 12 million people look to you and say, hey, I want you to represent me properly.”
Nick Evans has spent the past seven years reporting for NPR member stations in Florida and Ohio. He got his start in Tallahassee, covering issues like redistricting, same sex marriage and medical marijuana. Since arriving in Columbus in 2018, he has covered everything from city council to football. His work on Ohio politics and local policing have been featured numerous times on NPR.
Ohio Capital Journal is part of States Newsroom, the nation’s largest state-focused nonprofit news organization.
The Loveland Planing and Zoning Commission meeting that was scheduled for tonight, “…is being rescheduled. The rescheduled date will be posted.”
This story has been up-dated to reflect that the Planing and Zoning meeting begins tonight at 6 PM and not 6:30 PM.
Loveland, Ohio – 12 single family homes are being proposed for Riverside Drive in the West Loveland Historic District. An application has been submitted by Traditions Building and Development Group. The proposed Special Planning District is located at 128 North Riverside Drive and includes twelve (12) single-family detached dwelling units (24’ x 56’ 3-Story Homes) with minimum lot size of 0.114 acres or 4,966 sq. ft. The owner is Schildmeyer Holdings.
You can read the plan as summited in the .PDF below.
The development shares 540 feet of frontage along the Little Miami River with a shared driveway to garages in the rear. The site will be elevated by bringing in earth to bring it above flooding elevation.
The Loveland Planing and Zoning Commission will meet tonight, November 7th at City Hall at 6 PM to consider the proposal.
The 12 proposed homes are across Riverside Drive from the Loveland Museum Center and the Tufts Schildmeyer Family Funeral Home.
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Loveland, Ohio – “You truly won’t believe the amazing nutcrackers that our Loveland artists have created. There are more than 50 truly unique works of art,” says President of the Art League of Loveland, Johanna Kremer. “We’ve highlighted several of our premier artists and their pieces, such as Tom Post’s Leonardo DaVinci “Prepping Supper”.
Residents showed up prepared because they believe the 200 Railroad Avenue building is a significant piece of Loveland’s history. Indeed, it was acknowledged by Council Member Neal Oury at the October 22nd Loveland City Council meeting that the original brick structure remains standing and sound.
