Loveland Magazine

Bizzarri Advances to 5,000m Final at U.S. Olympic Trials

Former Mason Star Runs Personal Best to Place 14th In Preliminaries

EUGENE, Ore. - Illini track and field star Angela Bizzarri advanced through the 5,000m preliminaries on Monday night at the U.S. Olympic Team Trials, running the best race of her career to qualify for the event final at Hayward Field on the University of Oregon campus.

Bizzarri timed a personal-best15:45.78 to finish 14th overall and eighth in her heat. The Mason, Ohio native improved upon her performance at the NCAA Championships, where she timed 15:46.08 and was runner-up. Sixteen athletes qualified for the 5,000m final, scheduled for Friday evening at 10:55 p.m. CT.* Bizzarri was one of just two athletes with remaining collegiate eligibility to advance to the final, joining Virginia Tech's Tasmin Fanning.

The top three finishers in Friday's 5,000m final make the U.S. Olympic team, provided they have ran the Olympic `A' standard of 15:09.00. Kara Goucher ran the top time in preliminaries (15:32.22). Link: FIGHTINGILLINI.COM // THE OFFICIAL SITE OF UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS ATHLETICS.

Editor's Note: The USATF web site says that the finals in the 5K will be run at 8:55 PM tonight.

Bizzarri at Illinois:

2007 Outdoor: Competed in the NCAA Championships in the 1,500m...Ran career-best 4:20.96 in the 1,500m in prelims at the NCAA Mideast Regional ... Ran the 3K at the USA Junior meet ... Named Illinois Newcomer of the Year for all sports.

2007 Indoor: Placed third at the Big Ten Championships in the mile run ... Member of distance medley relay that set Illinois school record and placed 4th at the Tyson Invitational (11:27.13) ... Earned titles in the mile run at the Indiana Team Classic and the Carle/Health Alliance Invitational.

In Cross Country

2007: First Team All-Big Ten, finishing third overall at the conference meet (19:59) ... Placed fourth at Pre-Nationals, helping the Illini to a fifth-place finish ... Took second at the Notre Dame Invitational ... Placed first for Illinois in every race run.

2006: Earned All-America honors after placing 24th at the NCAA Championships as the fourth freshman to cross the line (21:18) ... Earned Midwest All-Region honors ... Shattered the Illini 6K freshman record by almost 25 seconds at Pre-Nationals ... Led the Illini to their first NCAA Midwest Regional title, finishing second (20:47) ... First Team All-Big Ten ... Named Big Ten Runner of the Week after placing first in her collegiate debut at the Brissman-Lundeen Invite ... Placed first for Illinois in every race run.

HIGH SCHOOL: Ohio D1 cross country state champion in 2002 and 2004 ... Three-time track and field state champion in the 3200m from 2003-2006 ... 2006 state champion in the 1600m...Earned four varsity letters in both track and cross country ... Coached by Kelly Affatato at Mason High School.

PERSONAL: Full name is Angela Marie Bizzarri ... Majoring in molecular and cellular biology ... Born Feb. 15, 1988 ... Parents are Paul and Diane Bizzarri ... Has one sister, Carmen ... Favorite athlete is Tiger Woods ... Biggest thrill in sports was realizing success as a team by becoming state track and field champions in high school ... High school coaches Jeff Branhan and Kelly Affatato most influenced her athletic career.Link:  FIGHTINGILLINI.COM // THE OFFICIAL SITE OF UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS ATHLETICS.

Sunday Supper in Granny's Gardens

More than  meal - it's an experience!

LOVELAND, OHIO – Granny's Gardens will offer a series of three dinners, with chefs of your choice. “It will be a great evening out and memorable experience for a couple, family or group of friends.”

The menu will be determined by what is ready to harvest in the gardens. Guests will participate in every aspect of the meal from harvesting, cleaning and preparing of the food, to setting the table and picking bouquets, to cleaning up afterward.

Granny will show guests how to dig potatoes, pick blackberries and harvest kohlrabi, herbs and other produce, while the guest chefs will guide them through preparing the meal. After harvesting and cooking together you will enjoy the bounty of the gardens at the dinner table.

Suggested donation of $15  per person .  Children four and under are free.

• July 13 - Angela Lucarelli, family chef and owner of Urban Organic.
• July 27 - Mark Medcalf Chef owner of the Veg Head
• August 24 - Brigitte Cordier Family chef and owner of Anyone Can Cook

Register here.

View photos from last year here.

Strom damage along bike trail

Follow this link to view a short video taken from a bicycle of tree damage along the Loveland Bike Trail after last weeks thunderstorm.

No “Tico T-Baby's Barbeque" this weekend

LOVELAND, OHIO - Shelton “Tico” Greene called this afternoon and said he is temporary out of the barbeque business in Loveland. His Liberty City Barbeque at the corner of Loveland Maderia Road and West Loveland Avenue won't be open for the holiday weekend. He said he has learned that he needs a vendors and zoning permit from the City of Loveland.

He said he has already applied for the vendor's permit, but the zoning permit may take several weeks. He was told he must apply for the permit, then appear at a special hearing at city hall, which may take several weeks.

He said he really regrets disappointing his customers and of course he regrets that he will miss the profit from a good holiday crowd, and along the 4th of July parade route.

He said, “Thanks” to all of the Loveland Magazine readers who have stopped by.

See related story about  Liberty City Barbeque.

BATAVIA, OHIO - The National Association of County Information Officers (NACIO) has announced that the Clermont County Office of Public Information (OPI) is the winner of six national awards in the 2008 NACIO Awards of Excellence competition.  County governments from across the country enter the annual competition that recognizes successful programs and projects designed to communicate with citizens.

OPI, which operates the county government television station and produces many county publications, won superior awards for news releases and the educational video Choices, encouraging teens to make the right decisions in life (produced in cooperation with the Juvenile Detention Center, Juvenile Court, Sheriff’s Office, and Glen Este High School).

OPI was also recognized with excellence awards for a series of photographs taken at Clermont Parks, the Clermont County Today news magazine hosted by Kathy Lehr (available on Time Warner Cable access channels in the county and streamed online at www.ClermontCountyOhio.gov) and the monthly citizen newsletter On the Move (also available on the Clermont County Web site).  The monthly employee newsletter was also an award winner.

“I applaud the hard work of my staff, Jeff Pulliam and Rebecca Kimble, for the many projects we were able to successfully accomplish this past year,” said Clermont County Communications Director Kathy Lehr, who oversees OPI.  “I appreciate the opportunity to let everyone know about the innovative leaders and projects we have in the county.”

“I’d like to congratulate Kathy and her staff for the many quality publications and television programs they produce to get the word out about Clermont County,” said Board of Commissioners President Bob Proud.  “I am always impressed with the creativity of OPI and how much three people can accomplish!”

The 2008 NACIO Awards of Excellence will be presented at the annual NACIO conference set for July 11 in Kansas City, Missouri.

Clermont County Fair starts July 20

Military admitted free, Vets free on Thursday

OWENSVILLE, OHIO - The 2008 Clermont County Fair will be held July 20 through July 26 at the fair­grounds, located at 1000 Lo­cust Street in Owensville. The fair kicks off with a parade on Sunday, July 20, that will go through Owensville.

Current members of our Armed Forces in uniform who have a military identification, will be admitted free of charge all week.

Daily admission ticket prices are $10 for those three and older. On Wednesday, those 60 and older enter for $3; on Thursday, veterans with identification are admitted free. This year, the entry cost will include a free ride bracelet.

In addition to the annual livestock and junior fair competitions, baby contest, and cheerleading competi­tion, there will be horseshoe and cornhole tournaments, bicycle races, and a cake auction. Each evening, the grandstands will be packed featuring tractor pulls and demolition derbies!

For a complete fair schedule and additional information, visit the Web site www.Cler­montCountyFair.org.

Red White & Blue Ash with the Charlie Daniels Band

BLUE ASH, OHIO – Shooter Jennings, 38 Special, and the Charlie Daniels Band will perform a free concert at the Blue Ash Sports Center located at 11540 Grooms Road, on July 4th. Shuttle services from the P&G parking lots from 3–11 PM.

2 PM – Festival starts with: Air Brush Tattoos, Clowns, Festival Rides, Free Games, a Business Expo, and Stilt Walkers.
5 PM - Shooter Jennings
6:30 PM -  38 Special
8:30 PM - Charlie Daniels Band
10 PM – Fireworks. Billed as “region’s biggest and best” 4th of July fireworks. Simulcast to a music soundtrack.

Click here for more information.

Free fishing for members of military

Free fishing for members of military
SYMMES TOWNSHIP, OHIO - Members of the military and their family, with a valid ID, can fish for free at Lake Isabella on July 4th. More info here.

"It is my pleasure to honor the Class of 2008"

Dr. Molly Moorhead’s Graduation Speech to the Loveland High School Class of 2008

It is my pleasure to honor the Class of 2008 by sharing some of their noteworthy accomplishments with you. This class has amassed over 9 million dollars in scholarship money—bravo to them!

This year we have 4 students who received the designation of National Merit Commended Scholar. Will Stephanie Kellish, Jeff Gable,      Nolan Hahn, and Aloyious Ononye. Mick Eskender and Oli Ononye were designated as 2008 National Achievement Scholars. Last spring as juniors, the following students received the recognition of Advanced Placement Scholars by receiving high scores on their AP tests--Mick Eskender, Matt Louis, Emily Ralph, and Oli Ononye. Our National Honor Society students are wearing gold cords today and the students earning honors diplomas are wearing silver cords. Would these students please stand so that we can recognize their commitment to scholarship one final time?

Our year began on a high note when one of our students was recognized as one of 14 YMCA Character Education Award Winners. This is a very prestigious award with hundreds of students being nominated throughout the tri-state area, so to be one of 14 is a very significant achievement for Jake Potticary. Jake’s goodness, kindness, and compassion were revealed to me at the beginning of his junior year when Jake was instrumental in bringing the Invisible Children of Uganda’s Schools for Schools program to Loveland High School. His concern for children across the world inspired our entire school with an outpouring of contributions these past two years for the school we are supporting in Africa. To top it all off, Jake is one of two students chosen by the national Invisible Children organization to go to Uganda this summer. Senior Ben Oberholzer went to Uganda with Loveland Middle School teacher Mike Smith this past December— they were just featured in the local section of Wednesday’s Cincinnati Enquirer. Jake and Ben are already giving back, not just through financial means, but also in actual physical relocation to be with those who need help so badly. Both these young men are an inspiration to us all.

A year ago we began televised broadcasting of the news into each classroom of our school. Under the supervision of teacher Jim Barrett, this year’s senior video students took our televised announcements to new heights and made us all anticipate the news each day. Thanks to seniors Bennett Warner, Blake Hawke, Kate Sierspetowki, Katie Kerkhove, Amanda Diaz, Spencer Bowmar, and Ericka Odioso for being so fun to watch each morning. You all will be a hard act to follow!

Senior Whitney Faber was notified in the fall that she had won a 2007 National Teachers of English Achievement in Writing award—quite an honor for Whitney, her teachers John Jones and Theresa Bosse, and our entire school.

For the second year in a row, our Robotics team advanced to national competition in Auburn, Alabama by winning the local University of Cincinnati contest. Seniors Steph Kellish, Sarah Gropp, Mike Downing, Emily Ralph, Jimmy Turner, Mike Stewart, Tess Elking, Danielle Walerius, Kevin Whitaker, Jessica Puccini, Matt Brooks, and Heather Flynn, under the supervision of science teacher Sue Evans, came in first in the oral presentation portion and second in the CAD portion of the national competition. It is sad to report that there will be no Robotics local competition at UC next year as they have had to cut the program due to lack of funding.

This year, our JETS varsity engineering team placed 3rd in the state under the guidance of teacher Robert Wagner. Our Science Team, with the supervision of teacher Jennifer Weill, participated in the state meet and our Academic Team, also under Ms. Weill’s leadership, tied for 1st place in the FAVC with senior captain Nolan Hahn placing as 3rd highest individual scorer in the state competition. Speaking of the FAVC, our senior athletes led us to 8 first place sports awards and 5 second place honors.

In December, a team of students from Chuck Warden’s economics class was notified that they had won the local Stock Market game and received a free trip to Wall Street in New York City. Matt Moran and John McNally were the seniors who played the stock market very well. Bravo to them!

Our Biotech seniors have been award over $65,000 in scholarships that are directly attributed to their participation in the Biotech program with teacher Jamie Allison. At the UC College of Applied Science Expo, our seniors swept the awards taking the first four places. At the Greater Cincinnati Tech Prep Showcase, seniors Jenn Bosse, Andrew Carl and Kevin Whitaker won first place for their projects. The Greater Cincinnati Tech Prep Biotech Student of the Year was Loveland senior Molly Stancliff. Mr. Allison says, “This competition is one of the greatest things to see—high school seniors presenting right next to college seniors. It is not uncommon to see college seniors that are being outdone by our high schools students. I watched two college seniors pack up their projects after seeing what our Loveland students brought.” Bravo to our Biotech
students.

Our senior art students, working with teachers Jennifer Grant and Jim Barrett, displayed their art work at the UC DAAP and Reed Gallery High School Art Show. Each performing group in our music department experienced successful seasons. Our marching band, under the direction of Sean Thompson, Chris Huening, and Bruce Maegly went to Florida in the fall and the Jazz Band took a spring break trip to New York City where  hey participated in a clinic at the renowned Julliard School of Music. For the first time in Loveland history, our high school orchestra is here to perform for us today. Senior violinist, Justin Scheibel, has become the first orchestra student to gain admittance to the University of Cincinnati Conservatory of Music.

Our Thespian drama students are wearing blue honor cords today. During their past four years at LHS, they have worked with 4 different drama directors, yet have maintained their high performance standards, producing wonderful dramas and musicals for our community. Would our senior Thespians please stand and be recognized?

The following Loveland High School faculty members have children in this graduating class: Beth Wexler has a son, Brad, Tracey Baker has daughter Samantha, Michelle Walls and daughter Shannon, and Angel Sears and daughter Danielle. Within our Central Office, parents of graduating seniors are Becky Clark and son Ricky, Diane Bailey and daughter De De, Judi McDaniel and daughter Sara, and assistant superintendent Greg Smith has twins, Brian and David. Board member Dr. Judy McClanahan has a son, Keegan, in this graduating class as well.

I’d like to thank the staff members participating graduation today. Jamie Allison was selected by this senior class as Teacher of the Year. Senior Chloe Temple wrote his nominating letter. I’d like to note Jeff Still who is retiring after 30 years of service to Loveland schools and Jeff Berkhoff with 35 years all spent teaching Loveland students. We thank all district teachers for their service and commitment to Loveland students.

On a personal note, I remember four students who were friendly to the new principal three years ago, actually engaging in conversation with her each day at their lunch table. In a new school with three crowded lunch shifts, Bree and Tess Elking, Ben Oberholzer, and Adrienne Mary stood out just by taking the time to smile and speak a few words each day. No matter how old you are, it is hard to be the new person at school, and I have to say thank you to those students who took the time to be kind and welcoming.

I wish these seniors all the best as they begin the next section of their lives’ journeys. With two cancer survivors among them, and two students who have or are going to journey across the globe to work with those less fortunate, these young people before us have the opportunity to make a real difference in the world. Even though they mock the thought, I hope they will always remember that when they have to choose between being right or being kind, they will choose kindness. Kindness is in such short supply in our world.

Dr. Molly Moorhead is the Principal of Loveland High School