News and Events from the Loveland, Ohio Area
Without fear or favor
Since 2004
Loveland, Ohio – On June 17, 2021, the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act was signed, officially declaring a federal holiday.
To celebrate Juneteenth this year, Cassie Mattia would like to host local Black owned business leaders at her Table of Discussions.
Please contact Cassie if you might be interested in telling the greater Loveland Area about your business.
Loveland, Ohio – Last Wednesday, The League of Animal Welfare came to Cassie Mattia’s “Table of Discussions” for a feature interview.
This is a teaser clip of Zumi doing dog tricks to pique your anticipation.
Loveland, Ohio – Did you know more than 6 million Americans have one or more developmental disabilities (DD)? That means about 15 percent of the United States population is living with DD. Over the few past decades, individuals with DD and DD advocates have been fighting for inclusion and equal opportunities within their communities and the workforce. Without help from leaders and social reformers like Dorothy Dix, Helen Keller, Eleanor Roosevelt, Martin Luther King Jr., Ronald Reagan, and George Bush, to name a few, both National Developmental Disabilities Month and the Americans with Disabilities Act wouldn’t exist.
In 1987, President Ronald Reagan made a public announcement asking Americans to provide individuals with DD “the encouragement and opportunities they need to lead productive lives and to achieve their full potential.” Reagan’s powerful message not only established the month of March as National DD Awareness Month, but his advocacy also led to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) being passed in 1990 by George Bush. The ADA officially made it illegal to discriminate against individuals with disabilities.
Once the ADA passed, DD advocates across the world began to take a stand, using their own experiences and success stories to promote equal rights. Although progress has been made in the DD community there are still many obstacles’ individuals with DD face every day. This is why National DD Awareness Month is a time to celebrate the achievements of those with DD and take the time to educate yourself and those surrounding you on the importance of including individuals with DD in all aspects of community life!
In light of this very special March celebration, I decided to again share an interview that I conducted in March of 2023 on my Loveland Magazine TV Table of Discussions with two of the most respected DD advocates in Ohio, Connie Mehlman now a Consultant with Best Buddies International and Courtney Hineman, the Community Outreach Advocate for Butler County Board of Developmental Disabilities! Connie and Courtney have paved the way for inclusion and equality within the DD community giving them both a plethora of knowledge when it comes to educating others about how they too can advocate for individuals with DD. Connie has since retired from her job with Butler County.
I am pleased to rebroadcast my Table of Discussions episode featuring Connie Mehlman and Courtney Hineman! Happy DD Awareness Month!
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The gallery of photos below was provided by the Butler County Board of DD and Cassie Mattia.
Courtney Hineman is a disability rights advocate. She is the Community Outreach Advocate at the Butler County Board of Developmental Disabilities and was appointed by Governor DeWine to the Ohio Developmental Disabilities Council for the second term. She is a member of Butler County’s self-advocacy group, and has enjoyed participating in Best Buddies.
Connie Mehlman is the Community Connections Coordinator for the Butler County Board of Developmental Disabilities. She has more than 35 years of experience both working and volunteering in the field of intellectual and developmental disabilities. She is currently serving as the Chairperson for Best Buddies Ohio and is very active in the Miami University Best Buddies Chapter.”
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Cassie Mattia is the President and Publisher of Loveland Magazine, Cassie Mattia is a resident of Historic Downtown Loveland and the Public Relations Coordinator at Butler County Board of DD. Cassie was awarded the Little Miami River Chamber Alliance 2021 Young Business Professional of the Year.
![[Videos] Experience “Great Music, a Great Sweat, and a Great Workout” at Body Alive Loveland Lagree!](https://lovelandmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/body-alive-loveland.jpg)
by Cassie Mattia,
Loveland, Ohio – The latest exercise craze has taken Loveland by storm! On Friday, February 16, David Miller, our Managing Editor, and I, attended the grand opening of Body Alive Loveland Lagree. We witnessed the official ribbon cutting ceremony, and I interviewed owners, Adam Engel and Issac Spence, and trainer, Samantha Johns about the new Loveland workout facility!
Adam and Issac, who are both 2010 Loveland High School graduates, grew up together in the same neighborhood in Loveland. Adam, now a retired MLB player, received a baseball scholarship to the University of Louisville and played Centerfield for the Chicago White Sox. Issac attended Hillsdale College and studied Marketing. After taking multiple Pilates classes and realizing how great of a workout it was Adam and Issac decided to join forces and open Body Alive Loveland Lagree!
The Lagree Method, ”is a high-intensity, low-impact exercise method, that tightens, strengthens, and tones in as little as 30 minutes a session by incorporating bodybuilding principles, such as Time Under Tension, which removes breaks from workouts and grants users the ability to sweat, shake, and persevere through the total duration of every class.”
The Lagree Method is founded on the five components of physical fitness:
• Endurance
• Cardiovascular Fitness
• Body Composition
• Flexibility
• Strength
Lagree movements incorporate the use of 600 muscles at once, making this method even more time-efficient for those on the go and those looking for quick but lasting results. The Lagree method stays true to the 3 S’s; Shake, Sweat, and Soreness.
After reading about the Lagree method, I not only wanted to learn more from the experts, but I also wanted to see for myself what the workout was all about by participating in Body Alive Loveland Lagree’s first class of their grand opening. To give the community the full Body Alive experience I interviewed Adam, Issac, and Samantha about their journey to opening Body Alive, the Lagree method, and what sets this method of exercising apart of from others and captured my first Lagree workout all on camera!
Watch our exclusive Loveland Magazine TV interview and exercise video to learn all about Body Alive Loveland Lagree!
Body Alive Loveland Lagree is located at 10565 Loveland Madeira Road right beside Starbucks. In celebration of their grand opening, Body Alive Loveland Lagree is offering $7 Lagree 50 minute classes for a limited time. Classes can can be purchased using the Body Alive app or online at https://bodyalivefitness.com/loveland-lagree/.
All of our LOVELAND MAGAZINE TV episodes and my Table of Discussions are made possible by the generous support of the team of realtors at Move 2 Loveland.
President and Publisher of Loveland Magazine, Cassie Mattia is a resident of Historic Downtown Loveland and the Public Relations Coordinator at Butler County Board of DD. Cassie was awarded the Little Miami River Chamber Alliance 2021 Young Business Professional of the Year.
by Cassie Mattia,
Loveland, Ohio – The city of Loveland stole the hearts of many at the 3rd annual Hearts Afire Weekend! The celebration which took place on Friday, February 9 through Sunday, February 11 featured a number of heart-felt activities, vendors, food, drinks, live entertainment, Valentine’s Day decorations, and gorgeous ice sculptures.
This year, over 30 businesses participated in spreading the love! On Friday, the Little Miami River Chamber Alliance kicked off Hearts Afire Weekend with their annual Valentine’s Day breakfast where the 2024 Valentine’s Lady, Becky Giver, was announced as well as the winners of the poetry and art contests. Later, Friday evening Lemons & Limes Boutique, Blume Home, Alley Boutique, Trailside Provisions, and Whistle Stop Clay Works hosted a Galentine’s Night. The Loveland Stage Company also presented Crushin’ It (Vol. 2), a Valentine themed variety show. The first night of the Hearts Afire celebration ended with Line Dancing Lessons at City Hall and Love Songs Singo at Hops & Berry Taproom.
On Saturday, the Hearts Afire celebration featured over 30 different activities beginning with a Frozen meet and greet at Bike Trail Books and a puppy kissing booth at Eads Hardware Store and ending with Fireworks and a concert starring Rooster Ridge at Cappy’s Taproom. The day also included a Heart Art Scavenger Hunt, a unique Taylor Swift photo op and friendship bracelet activity, an ice sculpture walking tour, a Caricature Artist, carriage rides, pottery painting, a 360° Photo Booth, speed dating, food trucks, family karaoke, and the first ever dance Elvis costume contest.
On Saturday, I got the opportunity to volunteer at one of the most popular activities at the Hearts Afire Weekend, The Valentine Pageant! The 2nd annual Hearts Afire Valentine Pageant took place at the Loveland Stage Company and showcased children ages 1-4 as they competed to be crowned Miss Valentine or Mr. Cupid. The contest was judged by Loveland Valentine Ladies, Jeanie Shumaker, Donna Barns, Debbie Murray, and John Espy. This year Dr. Kathy Lorenz (2019 Valentine Lady) and Kay Bolin (2018 Valentine Lady) emceed the pageant.
During the pageant I directed guests where to sit and explained to them how to vote for their “Fan Favorite,” a category in which the audience could vote for their favorite child in the pageant. Those that voted included a dollar or more with their vote which went towards funding for a new HVAC system for the Loveland Stage Company.
Assistant City Manager, Misty Clark, was in awe as the guests rolled in as every single seat was filled in the Loveland Stage Company’s auditorium! “This is the largest turn out I have ever seen,” Misty said, “We also have 24 contestants this year in the pageant!”
I couldn’t help but get all the pageant action on camera after hearing how unbelievable the turnout was! Watch my Facebook Live and video from the 2nd Annual Hearts Afire Valentine’s Pageant!
The 2024 Hearts Afire Valentine’s Pageant winners were as follows: (Ages 1-2) – Little Miss Valentine – Rory, Little Mr. Cupid – Beau, (Ages 3-4) – Miss Valentine – Dawson Joan, and (People’s Choice) – Dawson Joan
The Hearts Afire Weekend ended on Sunday with a Chasing Cupid 5k at Fleet Feet, a Taylor Swift Brunch at Paxton’s Grill, and a Sweetheart Brunch at Tano Bistro.
All of our LOVELAND MAGAZINE TV episodes and my Table of Discussions are made possible by the generous support of the team of realtors at Move 2 Loveland.
President and Publisher of Loveland Magazine, Cassie Mattia is a resident of Historic Downtown Loveland and the Public Relations Coordinator at Butler County Board of DD. Cassie was awarded the Little Miami River Chamber Alliance 2021 Young Business Professional of the Year.
They look to the future—and see infinite possibility.
They challenge the status quo—and make the impossible possible. They boldly imagine a better world – and lead the charge to create it.
by Cassie Mattia
On Friday, February 2, Student Visionaries of the Year candidates Lola Jones, Kathryn Zervos, and Leah Schwab came to the LOVELAND MAGAZINE TV studio for the first 2024 segment of my Table of Discussions!
During this all-new Table of Discussions interview, I talked to Loveland High School students Lola, Kathryn, and Leah about Loveland Team Coureage 5.0, their goals for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society’s Student Visionaries of the Year Campaign, and why this campaign means so much to them.
From January 29th to March 16th, Lola, Kathryn, and Leah will compete against other schools in the Greater Cincinnati area to raise money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society’s blood cancer research.
To help Lola, Kathryn, and Leah accomplish their Student Visionaries of the Year Campaign goals tune into my Loveland Magazine TV all-new episode of the Table of Discussions for details on how you can get involved!
The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society was built on that same vision – of a better world – one without blood cancers.
As a global leader in the fight against blood cancer, LLS:
Make a Donation Now!
Buy a Tee Now!All of our LOVELAND MAGAZINE TV episodes and my Table of Discussions are made possible by the generous support of the team of realtors at Move 2 Loveland.
President and Publisher of Loveland Magazine, Cassie Mattia is a resident of Historic Downtown Loveland and the Public Relations Coordinator at Butler County Board of DD. Cassie was awarded the Little Miami River Chamber Alliance 2021 Young Business Professional of the Year.
by Cassie Mattia
Loveland, Ohio – In my newest Table of Discussions I decided to leave the LOVELAND MAGAZINE TV studio and head down the road to take a tour of the Loveland Learning Garden! My garden tour hosts Laurie Flanagan, Board President of the Loveland Learning Garden, Lori Bregger, and Jill Simmons, who are both Ohio State certified master gardeners, Loveland Learning Garden volunteers, and nature educators who teach lessons during the fall and spring to Loveland Primary and Elementary students, not only showed me the garden, but also explained why the garden is so vital to our community’s youth!
The mission of the Loveland Learning Garden is to foster lifelong connections to the wonders of the natural world. The garden gives children the opportunity to immerse themselves in the outdoors from an early age so that they can experience the lasting impact of a positive impression of nature.
The Loveland Learning Garden serves Loveland Primary School (1st-2nd grade) and Loveland Elementary School (3rd-4th grade) students. Just this Spring, the garden had 36 Loveland teachers participate!
The Loveland Learning Garden features both vegetable and flower gardens as well as a nature trail on school grounds so that students can get outdoor hands-on learning. Students that visit the Loveland Learning Garden can engage with nature’s elements (plants, animals, land, air) through observation and fun. In addition to the outdoor hands-on experience, interactive learning activities are utilized in order to explore a plethora of academic subjects! One of the best parts about the garden is that children get the opportunity to see how food is grown and get to taste fresh produce all while serving the community by harvesting food to donate to the LIFE Food Pantry. In 2020, during the pandemic, the Loveland Learning Garden donated over 1,200 pounds of fresh produce to the LIFE Food Pantry!
The Loveland Learning Garden education program is incorporated into the class curriculum. Students come out to the garden or nature trail where Garden Educators, who are recruited and funded by the nonprofit, deliver the lesson plan, and guide the learning. The learning materials developed by the program are offered for others to use in their own nature education programs and can be adapted for at-home activities. Lesson plans are created and maintained by the nonprofit, and many are made available on their website (titles include Planting a Salad, How Do Earthworms Live, Soil Properties, Living Things in Compost, Animals in Garden Habitat, Decomposing Log Study, How Weather Affects Nature).
In 2022, the Loveland Learning Garden launched their first afterschool program called “Outdoor Adventures,” which is run through Loveland Elementary and Primary school’s Parent and Teacher Associations. The program not only allowed the garden to expand its message but also introduced new summer events to children.
This past Summer, the Loveland Learning Garden board held free summer events, such as “Storytime in the Garden,” which was led by the Loveland Library, and “Family Harvest,” which gave children a chance to pick vegetables and make a delivery to the LIFE Food Pantry. Children that visited the garden over the Summer also got the chance to learn about composting from Hamilton County Rc3 Source outreach.
The Learning Garden also placed a huge focus on the community over the Summer by hosting education booths at the Loveland Farmer’s Market and boy and girl scout meetings in the garden setting.
Today, the Loveland Learning Garden “operates with strong, collaborative school partnerships, diverse leadership, community involvement, and a continued passion to educate and inspire children to the lifelong benefits found through nature.”
The Loveland Learning Garden according to Board President, Laurie Flanagan, has so many things in store for the future and can’t wait to continue impacting students through nature!
Click the video below to see and hear what Lori had to say about the Loveland Learning Garden!
The Loveland Learning Garden is a 501c3 nonprofit funded solely through donations, grants, and fundraisers.
Learn more about the LOVELAND LEARNING GARDEN, how to DONATE, and VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES.
Follow the Garden on Facebook.
Follow the Garden on Instagram.
The Loveland Learning Garden is on the campus of the Loveland Primary School and the Loveland Elementary Schools. It is tucked in between the two schools at 600 Loveland Madeira Road.
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Columnist Cassie Mattia is a resident of Historic Downtown Loveland and the Public Relations Coordinator at Butler County Board of DD. Cassie was awarded the Little Miami River Chamber Alliance 2021 Young Business Professional of the Year. She is the President and Publisher of Loveland Magazine.
by Cassie Mattia
Did you enjoy a good binge session after tuning into Part 1 of my Must-see TV Series Table of Discussions? Well lucky for you I have five more TV series that will have you sitting on the couch all weekend!
During Part 2 of my Must-see TV series segment I will once again dive into each TV series and share with you a summary of each tv series along with whose starring in the series, how many seasons you can binge, what genre the series falls into, where you can stream the series, and what awards the series has won or has been nominated for!
Are you ready for round 2?! Click below to watch five more of my must-see tv series!
Columnist Cassie Mattia is a resident of Historic Downtown Loveland and the Public Relations Coordinator at Butler County Board of DD. Cassie was awarded the Little Miami River Chamber Alliance 2021 Young Business Professional of the Year. She is the President and Publisher of Loveland Magazine.
Watch Cassie’s previous Table of Discussions episodes!
by Cassie Mattia
What’s better than grabbing your favorite snacks, kicking your feet up, and disappearing into your couch cushions for a binge-watch session?! Personally, it’s one of my favorite hobbies especially at night after a long day of work or over the weekend when the unpredictable Ohio weather marks its territory. Because I love a good binge-watch and have a passion for critiquing and analyzing TV series, I thought why not have my next Table of Discussions segment be all about my must-see tv series!
During this segment I will not only tell you what I’m binge-watching but will also give you a summary of each tv series along with whose starring in the series, how many seasons you can binge, what genre the series falls into, where you can stream the series, and what awards the series has won or has been nominated for! If you often are scrolling through your firestick with not a clue what to watch this is the segment for you!
Are you ready to binge-watch?! Grab your notepad or add this segment to your YouTube playlist because you are not going to want to miss part 1 of my Must-see TV Series Table of Discussions! Click below to watch the first five must-see tv series!
Columnist Cassie Mattia is a resident of Historic Downtown Loveland and the Public Relations Coordinator at Butler County Board of DD. Cassie was awarded the Little Miami River Chamber Alliance 2021 Young Business Professional of the Year. She is the President and Publisher of Loveland Magazine.
Watch Cassie’s previous Table of Discussions episodes!
Loveland, Ohio – “Don’t be afraid to put yourself first sometimes and get the help you need if it’s needed,” mental health advocate, Elly Steinbrunner said when asked what encouraging message, she wanted to send to those struggling with their mental health.
On my latest episode of “Table of Discussions” I invited Gina Marek, creator of the Fave Five App, Tori Morrison, who started a non-profit called the Ben Morrison Memorial Fund, and Elly Steinbrunner, a former member of the Loveland Hope Squad to my table to talk about Mental Health Awareness Month.
During the episode, Gina and Tori talk about how losing their sons to suicide encouraged them to advocate and educate those in the community about mental health. In this Loveland Magazine TV interview, both Gina and Tori offers advice about suicide prevention, eliminating the stigma of depression, and mental illness. Since the conception of the Fave Five app and the Ben Morrison Memorial Fund, Gina and Tori have been able to provide a wealth of information for parents, caregivers, and peers.
Elly, who recently graduated from Loveland High School, shared her perspective on why mental health struggles are climbing so rapidly among her generation and how being a member of the Loveland High School Hope Squad allowed her to not only help so many young people, but also educate her peers about mental health.
Join me, Gina Marek, Tori Morrison, and Elly Steinbrunner as we talk about Mental Health Awareness on my latest episode of “Table of Discussions! Watch as these three impactful women offer life-saving tips to those families and youth struggling with the mental health crisis.
“It’s totally free, no-nonsense, and took less than three minutes to start adding my trusted friends who I would want to contact if I needed help. The people in my life who I would trust with my life,” Loveland Magazine Managing Editor David Miller said after downloading Gina Marek’s My Fave Five app to his iPhone.
The Ben Morrison Fund
The Ben Morrison Memorial Fund is committed to providing scholarships to graduating seniors from Loveland High School. We are dedicated to erasing the stigma of mental health struggles, opening conversations, and offering lifelines to help save lives of young people in crisis.
The Ben Morrison Memorial Fund is at 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Fed id 86-2896878.
Visit “The Ben Morrison Fund” on Facebook.
My Fave Five – the Mobile App
The MY FAVE FIVE Mobile App helps you identify, connect, and build relationships with trusted people in your life.
Get the APP TODAY to set up your personalized network of support or offer it to someone and be one of their FAVES – just one is a GIFT!
Visit “My Fave Five” on Facebook.
Loveland Hope Squad
The HOPE Squad program is a school-based peer support team that partners with local mental health agencies. Peers select students who are trustworthy and caring individuals to join the Hope Squad. Squad members are trained to watch for at-risk students, provide friendship, identify suicide-warning signs, and seek help from adults.
HOPE Squad members are NOT taught to act as counselors but are educated on recognizing suicide warning signs and how to properly and respectfully report concerns to an adult. Once invited to be a HOPE Squad member, students must get a permission form signed by their parents and go through training.
Goal:
Hope Squads seek to reduce self-destructive behavior and youth suicide by training, building, and creating change in schools and communities.
Objectives:
Train:
Hope Squads will train students and staff in schools to recognize suicide-warning signs and act upon those warnings to break the code of silence.
Hope Squads will train students and staff to identify adolescents with undetected, untreated, or emerging mental disorders.
Build:
Hope Squads will build positive relationships among peers and faculty in schools to facilitate acceptance for students seeking help.
Hope Squads will build strong relationships with local mental health agencies and communities while educating students, parents, and school staff about available community mental health resources.
Change:
Hope Squads will work to change the school culture regarding suicide by reducing stigmas about suicide and mental health.
Hope Squads will work to change community perceptions of mental health by creating awareness about suicide and the tools available to prevent suicide.
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Call or text the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (para ayuda en español, llame al 988)
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Sunday, August 6
1:30 PM @ Hickory Woods Golf Course
Lunch at the turn and dinner will be provided.
We look forward to seeing you again this year.
Please email teamforben@gmail.com for additional sponsorship opportunities or any questions you may have.
Loveland High School Hope Squad takes lead role in creating mural
[Photos] The theme was “Teal Out” for My Fave Five, The Ben Morrison Fund, and Loveland High School’s Hope SquadColumnist Cassie Mattia is a resident of Historic Downtown Loveland and the Public Relations Coordinator at Butler County Board of DD. Cassie was awarded the Little Miami River Chamber Alliance 2021 Young Business Professional of the Year. She is the President and Publisher of Loveland Magazine.
Watch Cassie’s previous Table of Discussions episodes!
