Loveland Magazine

MIAMI TOWNSHIP, OHIO - MidSummer at the Meadows JULY 13 & 14

Starship starring Mickey Thomas and Little River Band headline MidSummer music

MIAMI TOWNSHIP, OHIO - Little River Band and Starship starring Mickey Thomas headline the entertainment at the 2007 MidSummer at the Meadows at Miami Meadows Park.

With 13 Top-10 singles, Little River Band performs Friday, July 13 their hits such as "Reminiscing," "Lady," "Lonesome Loser," "Cool Change," "The Night Owls" and "Take It Easy On Me."

Starship starring Mickey Thomas headline Saturday, July 14 with their hits such as ""We Built This City," "Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now," "Sara," "Jane," "Find Your Way Back," "No Way Out," and "Fooled Around and Fell in Love."

Friday July 13
6:00 PM - MidSummer at the Meadows begins

• Kidz Fun Zone
• Teen X-Treme
• Food & Drinks
• Community & Business Expo

8:00 PM - Main Stage Music:'Little River Band
1:00 PM - MidSummer at the Meadows ends

Saturday July 14
2:00 PM - MidSummer at the Meadows begins

• SkyHoundz Canine Disc Championships
• Kidz Fun Zone
• Teen X-Treme
• Food & Drinks
• Customs & Classics Car Show presented by 131 Collision & Customs

2-5 PM Show and Voting; 6pm Awards
8:00 PM - Main Stage Music: Starship starring Mickey Thomas
10:00 PM - Fireworks
11:00 PM - MidSummer at the Meadow ends

                       *** Schedule Subject to Change ***
PARKING IS $5 PER VEHICLE

Be ambitious, brilliant, and cheerful

by Dr. Kevin Boys

(This is the farewell “homework” assignment given to the graduating class of Loveland High School by Dr. Kevin Boys, just before students received their diplomas at Xavier University's Cintas Center on June 20. Boys, is the Superintendent of the Loveland City School District.)

Class of 2007….you have made it!  Well, almost.  I have a traditional final homework assignment that I give graduating seniors, and this one has to be on the honor system.  Before you turn in tonight, be sure to give your parents and those who have stood with you and cared for you all these years, a big hug and a “thank you” for getting you this far.

Also, would the class of 2007 please join with me in thanking the outstanding faculty and staff at Loveland High School for their most significant part in preparing you for this day and beyond?  In particular, as a class, you have selected Ms. Jennifer Weill as your senior choice Educator of the Year.  She represents all of the teachers you have had during your years in Loveland that were devoted to helping you reach your potential, guiding you through the rough spots of your course work, and caring about you as an individual.  Thank you and congratulations, Ms. Weill.

As you leave Loveland High School I want to bring you back full circle to your days in kindergarten.  You no doubt spent some time on your ABC’s and I’d like to take those first three letters of the alphabet to remind you of just a few personal qualities that will serve you well if you choose to take my advice.

A. Be ambitious, but be most ambitious about the important things in life…family, friends, faith.
Be adventurous.  The rate of change that you will encounter in your adult life will be unlike any previously known.  Learn to go with that change and enjoy the ride…in other words, be adaptable.

B. Be brilliant.  You don’t have to have a 140 IQ to be brilliant.  Shine and excel at whatever you do. Give everything your Best.

C. Be cheerful, people want to be around happy people. Laughter IS contagious.
Continue to be curious; the more I learn, the more I realize how little I know.
Finally, be compassionate.  As seniors, you have reached out to the world’s Invisible Children. Continue to look for ways to shower compassion and love on those who need it most.  As one of my favorite songs reminds us, “We can change the whole world if we start in our hometown”… or in our college, barrack, or workplace. 

Your parents and teachers have taught you well.  I have every confidence that you can and will make your world a better place.  Congratulations, class of 2007.

SYMMES TOWNSHIP, OHIO - Loveland Class of 2007 Earns More Than $9 Million in Scholarship Offers

SYMMES TOWNSHIP, OHIO - “The class of 2007 is a very amazing group of young people and I have been impressed by them in so many ways from their talents in academics, music, theater, and athletics to their generosity in giving to so many charitable causes,” said Loveland High School Principal, Dr. Molly Moorhead.

Two hundred and eighty one seniors from the class of 2007 earned their diplomas in Loveland High School’s 125th annual commencement ceremony held at the Cintas Center on June 1.  The Class of 2007 earned more than $9 million in scholarships offers from 104 different colleges and universities nationwide.  John Baucke earned an appointment to the United States Air Force Academy, which is valued at $360,000. 

Kelly Nicole Ramos was tops in the class and honored as valedictorian of the class of 2007. While at Loveland High School, Kelly took all possible Honors and AP courses and was a member of the National Honor Society, A Capella Ensemble, Junior Engineering Technical Society, and the Academic Team.  Kelly was a Finalist in the National Merit Scholarship program.  She was also the National Hispanic Scholar for the National Merit Scholarship program and earned the recognition as an AP Scholar with Distinction from the College Board.  Kelly earned five different scholarships to The Ohio State University including the Presidential Scholarship valued at more than $22,000.  She earned scholarship offers from Otterbein College, Xavier University, and Ohio University.  She also received the Procter & Gamble Scholarship valued at $2,500.  Kelly will be majoring in Chemical Engineering at Ohio State.

Heather Walls was the salutatorian for the class of 2007.  She was a member of the robotics team and a member of the JETS varsity engineering team, which won first place this year with the highest score of any Loveland varsity team ever.  Heather also played soccer for Loveland High School’s varsity team and will continue playing soccer at Centre College in Danville, Kentucky.  Heather was editor-in-chief of Loveland’s Literary Magazine and secretary of the National Honor Society.  She was the principle chair in French Horn for the Loveland Wind Symphony. She intends to major in biology and pre-med at Centre College in the fall.  Heather earned the Dean’s Scholarship to Centre valued at $21,000 annually and is renewable. In addition, Heather earned scholarship dollars to Hanover College, Kenyon College, University of Rochester, St. Olaf College, Williams College, and Wittenberg University.  She also earned several local scholarships including one from the Loveland PTSA and the Loveland Chamber of Commerce.

                                 SCHOLARSHIPS AND HONORS

TYLER ADDINGTON
Olivet Nazarene University – Athletic Scholarship - $6,028 renewable
Southern State Community College – Athletic Scholarship - $8,375 renewable

KELLY AUGSPURGER
Tennessee Technology University – Legacy Scholarship - $6,000 renewable
Tennessee Technology University – Honors Program Grant - $9,600 renewable
Southeast Missouri State University – Academic Scholarship - $6,500 renewable
Xavier University – Legacy & Presidential Scholarship - $11,000 renewable

SAMANTHA BAIR
Capital University – Presidential Scholarship - $12,000 renewable
Capital University – Capital Grant Award - $2,800 renewable
Capital University – Lutheran Heritage Award - $1,000
Hofstra University – Hofstra Achievement Scholarship - $3,000 renewable
Ohio University – Gateway Scholarship - $1,250 renewable

CHRISTOPHER BANNISTER
Wilmington College – Academic Achievement Scholarship - $4,500 renewable
Wilmington College – Greater Cincinnati Award - $1,500

JOHN (SPENCER) BAUCKE
University of Cincinnati – Cincinnatus Scholarship - $2,000 renewable
Wentworth Military Academy – Falcon Foundation Scholarship - $4,000
US Air Force Academy Appointment - $360,000

LAUREN BEACHY
he Ohio State University – Soccer Freshman Scholarship - $2,000 renewable
Loveland Athletic Boosters Scholarship - $1,000

HEATHER BENSON
Eastern Michigan University – Recognition of Excellence Scholarship - $1,500 renewable
Miami University – Ohio Leader Scholarship - $6,695 renewable
Miami University – Ohio Resident Scholarship - $4,705 renewable

JUSTINE BENZINGER
University of Cincinnati – Cincinnatus Scholarship - $2,000 renewable
Loveland Schools Foundation Member Endowed Scholarship - $1,000
Stanley L McCoy Scholarship - $750

LOVELAND, OHIO - Be thick on the ground (as) thick as thieves

In Loveland, heavyish, early morning air,

itself of great density and dampness

from recent much needed rain showers,

understood just the right habitat for spiders,

who knitted and wove lawns, shrubs, and flowers

on Friday... with densely thick webs.

MIAMI TOWNSHIP, OHIO – Loveland Miamiville Road to be closed

MIAMI TOWNSHIP, OHIO - The Clermont County Engineer’s Office said today that there will be complete road closures on Loveland-Miamiville Road, at multiple locations, on July 16, 17 and 18, (Monday – Wednesday) from 7 AM (morning rush hour) until 5 PM each day, for the purpose of culvert replacements.

Miami Township Community Relations Director, Tim Pennington said Police Chief Steven Bailey “spent a considerable amount of time to track down this information” after Loveland Magazine contacted the Township to inquirer about signs that were placed along the roadway. Pennington said the closure, “...appears to affect a lot of people.”

Chief Baily said, “The roadblocks may move each day to a different location on the road, as the work crews move from one culvert to the next.”

Initially, there will be two closures.
(1) Between the Loveland/Township Line and the Wards Corner/Loveland Miamiville intersection at approximately 6710 Loveland-Miamiville Road; and
(2) On Loveland Miamiville Road at approximately Paxton Woods Drive.

LOVELAND, OHIO – YMCA and Tot Lot public hearings

LOVELAND, OHIO – The City will have two sessions for residents to provide input on parks and recreation projects at back-to-back work shops on July 11at City Hall.

The City has received $68,500 federal grant to renovate the Navaho and Cherokee tot-lots in the Loveland Heights neighborhood. "To help design these renovations, the City invites all interested parties to an open house on Wednesday, July 11from 6 - 7:00 PM at City Hall." Tot-lot renovations are expected to begin this fall according to the City.

In anticipation of placing a income tax increase on the November ballot, at 7 PM that same evening, the City will hold a public input session to explore changes to a proposed Recreation Aquatic Center YMCA plan.

The Recreation and Aquatic Center Committee (RACOMM), has scheduled a public meeting to allow residents to provide more input into the design of the proposed YMCA facility, “with special attention to the outdoor pool.” The RACCOM has already begun to incorporate feedback into a set of proposed revisions, and they will share these with the community that evening and ask for additional input on Wednesday, July 11 at 7:00 PM in the Council Chambers at City Hall.

Loveland voters defeated a proposed increase in the City income to build a YMCA on May 8.

James Cripe gets a shot in summer pro league

Former Loveland star: Cripe gets a shot in summer pro league: 7-footer will play for Nets' squad

7-footer James Cripe had a successful year at Northern Kentucky University after transferring from the University of Dayton. James Cripe is dedicated to pursuing a career in pro basketball, and the 7-footer is receiving a big opportunity next week during the five-day 2007 Pepsi Summer Pro League at the Orlando Magic practice facilities in Florida.

Read full story from Kentucky Post here: The Cincinnati Post - Cripe gets a shot in summer pro league.

CLERMONT COUNTY, OHIO - Map to help citizens locate county government offices

CLERMONT COUNTY, OHIO - Jail Receives Annual Report Card

CLERMONT, COUNTY, OHIO - No Helmet + No License + Speed = Disaster

CLERMONT, COUNTY, OHIO - A recent deadly motorcycle crash on SR 32 near Batavia is a tragic reminder of what happens when the rules of the road are disregarded.  “In this case, the young man was going 60-65 miles an hour and for some reason decided to stand on the seat of the motorcycle to drive it,” said Ohio State Patrol Post Commander Lt. Randy McElfresh.  “He wasn’t wearing a helmet when he crashed into a guardrail and was thrown from the bike.”

CLERMONT COUNTY, OHIO – Flexible use of transit funds threatened

CTC JOINS TRANSIT SYSTEMS ACROSS U.S. TO ENCOURAGE PASSING OF TRANSIT SYSTEM FLEXIBILITY ACT OF 2007

CLERMONT COUNTY, OHIO - As part of a nationwide effort by the 100 Bus Coalition, the Clermont Transportation Connection (CTC) is joining many other transit systems across the country  calling for Congress to pass the Transit System Flexibility Act of 2007.  Over 130 transit systems are caught, or will soon be caught, in a federal rule that does not allow the use of federal funds to operate service when their urbanized areas go over 200,000 in population.   “For the majority of these systems, including CTC, this will result in severe funding shortfalls for FY 2008 as the operating funds are phased out under the present regulations,” said Ben Capelle, Director of the Clermont Transportation Connection.

MIAMI TOWNSHIP, OHIO - “Oscar Hotel, please copy”

Successful Clermont Field Day Tests Ham Radio Preparedness

MIAMI TOWNSHIP, OHIO -CARES member Barry Evans, State Representative Joe Uecker, and CARES member Erwin Walker Jr.Batavia, Ohio. "Whisky-8, Echo Mike Alpha, 1 Foxtrot Oscar Hotel, please copy," the words of amateur radio operators involved in the June 23-24 "Field Day" in Clermont County. Local operators joined thousands of others across the country and in Canada to test their field preparedness and emergency communications abilities.

"This type of an event allows local amateur radio operators to work in remote situations to determine how quickly they can establish links with other operators," said Mark Baker, emergency coordinator with Clermont Amateur Radio Emergency Services (CARES). Two sites were established locally for the communications, the Milford Amateur Radio Club operated from a Stonelick Township home and the CARES group set up at the Miami Township Emergency Operations Center.

As part of the exercise, operators competed to determine how many contacts could be made with others over a 24-hour time period. "We did well at the Miami Township location making 275 contacts," said Baker. "This exercise enabled both experienced and newly licensed amateur radio operators to obtain valuable experience that can benefit the community should an emergency situation arise."

Pictured above: CARES member Barry Evans, State Representative Joe Uecker, and CARES member Erwin Walker Jr.

Buy Loveland Magazine Photos

You can buy high quality prints of the photos that appear in Loveland Magazine. Send E-MAIL.

5" X 7" @ $15.00 ea.
8" X 10" @ $20.00 ea.
11" X 14" @ $30.00 ea.

LOVELAND, OHIO - Loveland Initiative 2007 Backpack Program

LOVELAND, OHIO - “If you can donate one of these filled Backpacks the children appreciate it more than you can imagine, “ said Terri Rogers, President of the Loveland Initiaitve. “If you are not able to complete an entire backpack by yourself, perhaps you can share this project with a friend.”

Rogers is also asking the community to donate school supplies such as paper, pencils, rulers, etc., so the Initiative can have these in stock throughout the school year.

The bags and supplies should be for school age children from preschool through the 12th grade.

• 1 backpack
• subject notebooks (paper) /three prong pocket folders
• 2 packs wide rule (8-1/2"X 11")
• 6 pencils (unsharpened), pencil bags (older)
• pencil boxes (smaller kids)
• 1 ruler (metric and inches), protractor & compass
• 1 pair of scissors, pens (blue, black, red)
• 1 package of construction paper
• 1 box of markers (8 to set) & 1 box of crayons (24 to set)
• 1 eraser or pack of pencil tip erasers
• 3 glue sticks, note cards, color pencils
• 1 pencil sharpener, tab dividers, graph paper
• stretch book covers, composition books
• 1 inch & 3 inch binders
• highlighters (yellow)
• kleenex tissue

Download and print a shopping list: Download the_loveland_initiative_2007_backpack_program.pdf

Make sure the bag is age appropriate. For example, if preparing backpack for a younger child, buy wide ruled paper, blunt tip scissors, etc. Label bag as “younger or older”.

Rogers said she would like to have the bags by Friday August 17th, 2007, to be distributed on Monday August 20.at the Loveland Initiative Center located at 405 Loveland Madeira Road Loveland, Ohio 45140 (in the strip mall across from Goodwill).

For questions or arrange for pick-up contact:
Terri Rogers 677-1057 or 255-6821 or e-mail

LOVELAND, OHIO – More than knee high

"Fresh LOCAL Sweet Corn is here! and WE ARE BACK!"

LOVELAND, OHIO – According to Jeff Probst, “For the first time in several years we have local sweet corn before the fourth of July.” The Blooms and Berries Farm Market will also have tomatoes, watermelons, cantelope, peaches, and “all sorts of
good stuff”

Probst also said, “Please come see us at 10900 Loveland Madeira Road, our usual
summer location at the corner of Loveland Madeira and Twightwee.”

Hours are 11-6 Tuesday through Sunday. ((513) 697-9173)

Blooms & Berries “eTips”

THE MYTH OF COOKING SWEET CORN:
Sweet corn does not need very much time to cook.  A good rule of thumb is
to boil it for 5 minutes and remove from the water.  Once corn is removed
from the plant, sugar starts to turn to starch (this is why fresh corn is
tastier than day old corn and why our corn is picked fresh every morning)
Heat also speeds up this process and any time on the stove or grill past
the done stage turns more sugar to starch.

Blooms & Berries eTip II:
Are you experiencing yellowing leaves on some of your plants such as
trailing petunias or calibrachoa ("million bells")?  This is caused by
alkaline water which raises the Ph of the soil and prevents the plants
from absorbing iron.  This is called Iron Chlorosis.  Try using an acid
based fertilizer such as Miracle Grow for Rhododendrons (formerly Miracid)
for a while until the plants return to normal.  If the plants are long and
trailing, trim them back a little.

Blooms & Berries: Looking Forward

This fall is going to be more exciting than ever:

• We have a partnership with the Cincinnati Zoo lined up to promote our Fall on the Farm Activities!
• We have a 6 acre corn maze that will be absolutely aMAZING for the first
• time in Blooms & Berries history!
• We are redesigning the hayride to include more sights and the kids play
• area to have more picture opportunities and fun activities!
• Last year we received the Cincinnati Magazine Best of the City award for
• our Pumpkin Patch and are looking forward to maintaining and surpassing
• that quality again this year!

LOVELAND, OHIO - July Fourth Parade Photos

LOVELAND, OHIO - These photos were taken yesterday afternoon during Loveland's July Fourth Parade along West Loveland Avenue. Rain showers before the parade, held down crowd sizes. Anyone who stayed home missed one of Loveland's best Independence Day parades in years. There were several very creative floats such as the one by the Loveland Christian Church pictured above, and the float pictured below entered by the Loveland Canoe Rental, where people "tubed" down a river of blue balloons.

LOVELAND, OHIO – Gaddis: “My Favorite Piece”

LOVELAND, OHIO – Artist, Rick Allen Gaddis is publishing a new blog about his art and writing. He has studio space at The Loveland Art Studios on Main. “Our goal with this website is to start fresh. Rick's career in the art field has become very serious within the last year and we felt a more approachable and user-friendly website was needed.”

The artwork shown at left, is one of Rick's best selling works. It is of a building near the railroad underpass near the Loveland Canoe Rental and Eads Fence on Broadway Stree, and also adjacent to the Loveland Bike Trail. The landmark, building, was formally a carryout owned by “Beef” McCoy.

This piece of art was made using Photoshop. I started with a photo of an old deli in downtown Loveland. One day I was driving, not really paying attention to much. As I made a turn to the left, I saw the coolest old building. There was an old truck in the front and large trees all around. I pulled over and was trying to picture in my head how I could use this. I thought this would be a cool painting for a little thing we do in Loveland, called Paint The Town. This happens once a year around June. After taking about 10 pictures of the old place, I was thinking about how this place really does not belong here. As my mind started running about a million miles a second, I was picturing what it would have looked like 100 years ago. When I started to draw this out I was kind of in a hurry to get out what I had pictured it to be in my head. I jumped on the computer and went to town in Photoshop. Taking out the old truck and removing all of the big, old trees, I was able to see what I had pictured in my mind. Adding the old dirt road and the dark clouds, working on a lot of detail on the house, I finally had it. Even though I only had about 4 hours in this piece, I did it. I call this piece of work The White House. This has been one of my best selling prints. The work was created in late winter of 2005. I hope to start a large painting of this in late winter of 2007.

LOVELAND, OHIO - Networking to Fill a Need

LOVELAND, OHIO – Below is a note sent along from the Loveland Area Chamber of Commerce:

Due to low contributions typical of summer months, the food pantry at the Loveland Inter Faith Effort (LIFE) is running critically low.  In an effort to help, the Loveland Area Chamber is organizing a Food Drive as part of its Business Networking meetings in July and August.  All meetings are held in The Bauer House located at 442 W. Loveland Avenue.  The dates and times are listed below:

• Thursday, July 5th ~ 8 to 9 AM
• Thursday, August 2nd ~ 8 to 9 AM
• Thursday, July 19th ~ 12 to 1 PM
• Thursday, August 16th ~ 12 to 1 PM

Items Needed this Week

• Coffee
• Canned fruit
• Canned carrots and peas
• Beef stew
• Laundry detergent
• Toothpaste
• Canned juice
• Diapers (sizes 2, 4 and 5)
• Dish soap
• Deodorant
• Shampoo
• Cleaning supplies
• Oatmeal
• Yams
• Breakfast bars
• Vegetable juice
• Muffin and cake mixes
• Frosting
• Empty egg cartons

In addition to Business Networking meetings, donations will also be accepted at The Bauer House between 9 AM and 2 PM, Monday through Friday.  Please let us know if you have any questions or suggestions.  (513) 683-1544

Thank you.

Click for a printable list: Download items_needed_this_week.pdf

MONTGOMERY, OHIO - Blue Ash/Montgomery Symphony Orchestra

MONTGOMERY, OHIO - The Blue Ash/Montgomery Symphony Orchestra performed in Montgomery Park on Tuesday evening to celebrate Independence Day. The concert was hosted by WGUC’s Suzanne Bona.

American music from Sousa marches to hits of the big band era was enjoyed by hundreds sitting on the park hillside.

Mezzo-soprano Nancy Nolan sang selections from Duke Ellington, George Gershwin and Paul Williams, and baritone, William McGraw, known to Cincinnati audiences from his appearances with the May Festival and Linton Chamber Music, joined the orchestra for America and the Battle Hymn of the Republic.

Steve Link, known to Loveland Stage Company fans, and Bona, read letters that soldiers had written home during past and present wars.