Loveland Magazine

MIAMI TOWNSHIP, OHIO - Fire & EMS Blood Drive: Reds tickets

MIAMI TOWNSHIP, OHIO -  The Miami Township Fire & EMS is partnering with the Hoxworth Blood Center to hold a blood drive on Tuesday, September 4 from 1-7 PM at the Central Fire Station, located at 5888 McPicken Drive just off Business 28.

The Hoxworth Mobile Unit will park at the site and accept donations. All blood donors will receive a pair of tickets to the Cincinnati Reds game on Sunday, Sept. 9 against the Milwaukee Brewers.

“Hoxworth Blood Center needs to collect from 350 volunteer blood donors and 40 volunteer platelet donors each day to keep up with the demands of tri-state hospitals and their patients,” said Miami Township Fire Chief Jim Whitworth. “Donating blood is safe and easy, and is a great way to give back to your community.”

Each donation takes about one hour and could save up to three lives, according to Hoxworth.

The requirements to give blood are:

• Age: At least 17 years old and in good general health. There is no upper age limit.
• Weight: Minimum of 110 pounds.
• Identification: Must provide photo I.D.
• Food: Eat a good meal within four hours before giving.
• Drink: Drink plenty of water or juice before and after donating.

Call the Miami Township Fire & EMS at 248-3700.

LOVELAND, OHIO – McGohan can't be iced in the heat

LOVELAND, OHIO – It was the Skyline Chili Crosstown Showdown held at Princeton High School. With the game tied 7-7 and ten seconds left in the game, Roger Bacon found eleven Loveland Tiger at its own 24-yard line. One of the Tigers was eager to reclaim his reputation after missing an earlier field goal attempt. After a few time-outs to think about things, and an attempt to chill Loveland's kicker in the ninety-degree heat...

Loveland senior Brian McGohan put the ball squarely through the middle of the up-rights with plenty of distance for a 34- yard field goal. It capped 10-7 win for the Tigers in the first game played in Ohio to officially kicked off the 2007 season.

Roger Bacon scored on the first possession of the game with an impressive 11-play, 72-yard score, and it took until the start of the second half for Loveland quarterback T.J. Howard to lead the Tigers down field, with their own scoring drive of 53-yards. Charles Mather scored from the 5-yard line, tying the game at 7-7.

Howard said that he felt Loveland's conditioning training all summer long was the key to their win. “I thought Bacon was very tired in the last minutes of the game, and we were not.”

Loveland had 306 total yards compared to Bacon's 196. Howard was 15 for 28 passing with 160 yards and ran for 56-yards. Loveland's Donnie Behymer had 5 receptions for 48-yards.

Howard also said he thinks his team has a very good chance of beating their next opponent, McNicholas High School this Friday. The game will be at 7:30 PM at Mariemont High School. McNicholas does not have their own football stadium.

Loveland's NeCamp

Gov. Eliot Spitzer: Bush's Poison Pill for America's Kids - Politics on The Huffington Post

Sometimes in politics, you think you've seen it all. Turns out I was wrong.

Just when you thought things at the White House couldn't get any stranger, the president has decided it is good public policy to increase the number of uninsured children in our country.

In the last year, we've seen public opinion building around the principle that no American should be denied health care. The president has answered that call by attempting to limit eligibility for the State Children's Health Insurance Program. SCHIP is a program that provides health care to children whose families make too much to qualify for Medicaid, but not enough to afford private health insurance.

The president is trying to tell governors like me across the country that until we enroll 95 percent of those eligible for S-CHIP in households making under 200 percent of the poverty line ($41,300 for a family of four), we cannot provide health care to children in families making above 250 percent of the poverty line ($51,625 for a family of four). 

Read full editorial: Gov. Eliot Spitzer: Bush's Poison Pill for America's Kids - Politics on The Huffington Post.

NSCAA First-Team All-Mid-Atlantic Region defender Shelly Moeller

Shelly Moeller, from Milford, Ohio leads Midshipmen Women's Soccer.

2006 Soccer Buzz First-Team Freshman All-American.

Link: Midshipmen Women's Soccer Picked as Patriot League Favorite :: Navy won a school-record 21 games in 2006 and won its second Patriot League Tournament title.

Read Moeller's Navy bio.

Loveland man is is lead mechanic with national race team

On a whim, Dan Launderville answered an ad in a racing magazine. And just like that, he was traveling around the country with the nationally recognized sprint car team, Hoffman Auto Racing.

Launderville worked as a mechanic at Mordini Chevrolet in Ogden when in 1999 the business closed its doors. An ad in National Speed Sport News caught his attention, he responded, and shortly thereafter found himself moving to Loveland, Ohio, a suburb of Cincinnati and home to Hoffman Auto Racing.

Read full story

Ohio legislator wants school year to start later - cleveland.com

Ohio legislator wants school year to start later Ohio considers pushing opening day into September

Read full story: Ohio legislator wants school year to start later - cleveland.com.

LOVELAND, OHIO - Summered?

LOVELAND, OHIO - It wasn't the hottest day of the summer, that was two days before perhaps, but ninty-six in the shade kept most people in town inside. Not a roofer, not a road paver, nor landscaper in sight. Almost the only people in town, who were outside last Friday afternoon, were eight boys who said they were headed soon to Moller and Loveland High Schools and enjoying their last few swings at  summer freedom.

LOVELAND, OHIO - The SMOG ALERT has been extended for Thursday.

LOVELAND, OHIO - Active children and adults, and
people with lung disease, such as asthma, should
reduce prolonged or heavy exertion outdoors at least
through Thursday.

The Hamilton County Department of Environmental
Services has issued a SMOG ALERT for the
southwestern Ohio area including Loveland.
Particulate and ozone levels will noth be in the
Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups to Unhealthy range
with an air quality index of 110 or greater.

- Conserve electricity, turn up the thermostat, turn
off unused light, computers, TVs, and radios.

- Refuel after 6 p.m. and don't top off.

- Ride the Bus (Metro 621-4455  Tank 331-tank)

- Rideshare or Van Pool (241-ride)

- Properly maintain your vehicle.

- Use gasoline-powered lawn equipment after 6 p.m.

LOVELAND, OHIO - Air pollution dangerous Wednesday

LOVELAND, OHIO - The Hamilton County Department of Environmental Services has issued a SMOG ALERT for the southwestern Ohio area including the Loveland area. Weather conditions indicate particulate and ozone levels will be in the Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups to Unhealthy range with an air quality index of 110 or greater.

Active children and adults, and people with respiratory disease, such as asthma, should limit prolonged outdoor exertion.

CLERMONT COUNTY, OHIO - Back to School Safety Reminder

CLERMONT COUNTY, OHIO - Most Clermont County schools will begin the school year between August 23 and August 27.

Lt. Randy McElfresh, commander of the Batavia post of the Ohio State Highway Patrol encourages drivers to be even more diligent as children get into the routine of the new school year.  “Remember, there will be extra traffic on the roads that could slow you down on your way to work,” said Lt. McElfresh.  “By leaving a little early, it will enable you to get there in time, even if you get behind a school bus making stops.”

Lt. McElfresh reminds parents to make sure that children have a safe place to wait for their school bus, away from traffic and the street.  “We need to tell our children to be aware of the street traffic around them,” he said.  “Drivers need to make sure they slow way down in school zones; the speed limit there is 20 miles-per-hour.  Also, you need to stop at least 10 feet from a school bus that is picking up or dropping off students.”

“I’d also like to ask parents who drive their children to school to make sure they follow instructions for drop-off and pick-up,” said Superintendent Shepherd.  “These locations are designated to keep traffic moving and to keep everyone safe.”

“And, if you have a teenager who will be driving himself to school this year, my best advice is to make sure he gets out of bed early and isn’t racing to get to class,” said Lt. McElfresh.

LOVELAND, OHIO – Mum Sale benefits school garden program

LOVELAND, OHIO – You can buy your chrysanthemum from Granny's Garden School where 40% of each sale goes to support the garden program. Granny says, “These are high quality mums in 9" pots that are bursting with buds ready to bloom in your garden or on your front porch or deck.”

"At only $6 each or 4 for $20, they are a steal."

The mums are provided by Blooms & Berries.

Sale times and locations:
9/5, 6-8 PM -  Primary School
9/10, 5:30-8 PM - Elementary School
9/11, 5:30-8 PM - Elementary School
9/15, 10 AM to 2 PM - High School (in back of the school)
9/17, 6-8 PM - Primary School
9/19, 4:30-6:30 PM - Early Childhood Center
9/20, 4:30-6:30 PM - Early Childhood Center

RecruitMilitary Career Fair for Military Veterans and Military Spouses Coming to Cincinnati on September 6

The military-to-civilian recruiting firm RecruitMilitary based in Loveland, will present a free hiring event for job seekers who have military backgrounds in Cincinnati on Thursday, September 6.

This event, the RecruitMilitary Career Fair, will take place from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m. in the East Club Lounge at Paul Brown Stadium. The career fair will be open to veterans who already have civilian work experience, men and women who are transitioning from active duty to civilian life, members of the National Guard and reserves, and military spouses. More than 45 veteran-friendly organizations will conduct one-on-one interviews with the job seekers--organizations that will include corporate employers, law-enforcement agencies and other government employers, educational institutions, veterans service agencies, and veterans associations.

RecruitMilitary connects employers with job seekers who have military backgrounds. All of the company's owners, officers, account executives, and recruiters are either veterans or active or former reservists. In addition to participation in career fairs, RecruitMilitary offers subscriptions to its database of self-registered job seekers who have military backgrounds, currently numbering more than 170,000, at its Web site, www.recruitmilitary.com ; advertising in online and print media; and contingency and retained hiring services. The company mails more than 54,000 copies of a quarterly, print newsletter called Incoming! to over 230 military bases throughout the world for distribution to transitioning personnel; employers advertise their job openings in Incoming! The President of RecruitMilitary is Drew Myers, formerly a Captain in the United States Marine Corps. The company was founded in 1998.

Read more: RecruitMilitary Career Fair for Military Veterans and Military Spouses Coming to Cincinnati on September 6.

LOVELAND, OHIO - John Tillotson graduates from Basic

LOVELAND, OHIO - Air National Guard Airman 1st Class John P. Tillotson has graduated from basic military training at Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio, Texas.
During the six weeks of training, Tillotson studied the Air Force mission, organization, and military customs and courtesies; performed drill and ceremony marches, and received physical training, rifle marksmanship, field training exercises, and special training in human relations.

In addition, airmen who complete basic training earn credits toward an associate degree through the Community College of the Air Force.

Tillotson earned distinction as an honor graduate. He is the son of Brad and Barb Tillotson of Sandwood Drive, Loveland, Ohio, and a 2006 graduate of St. Xavier High School.

Call at National Guard conference for U.S. withdrawal from Iraq greeted with standing ovation

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) - A call by Puerto Rico's governor for a U.S. withdrawal from Iraq earned a standing ovation Saturday from a conference of more than 4,000 National Guardsmen.

    Read full story: Santa Barbara News-Press.

Ohio Flooding Leads To State Of Emergency - News Story - KNBC | Los Angeles

FINDLAY, Ohio -- The governor of Ohio has declared a state of emergency in nine counties because of flooding.

Related Content: Flooding Hits Ohio Hard | Images

Click here to find out more!

The town of Findlay was one of the worst hit.

Read more: Ohio Flooding Leads To State Of Emergency - News Story - KNBC | Los Angeles.

Watch video: http://video.knbc.com/player/?id=146995

Midwest States Scramble for Flood Recovery Aid

Huntington Coast Guard Deploys for Ohio Flooding

Flooding Blamed For Mansfield Man's Death

Red Cross Volunteers Deployed to Help With Ohio Flooding

John Nolen's Legacy: Mariemont

John Nolen's Legacy

Just a few miles east of Cincinnati on Route 50 lies a gem of a town: Mariemont. If you're a planner or planning commissioner and don't know about Mariemont, you should.

Read more: Follow the PCJ across the U.S.: John Nolen's Legacy.

Read post on Miami Township

Ohio flooding

Read these stories about flooding in northern Ohio communities.

Ohio official: Worst flooding he's seen in 30 years

Rains flood northwest part of state

22 die as rain, floods move into Ohio 

LOVELAND, OHIO – District again Excellent

LOVELAND, OHIO - The Ohio report cards use multiple measures to determine each school’s designation. To earn one of the thirty indicators for 2006-07, at least 75% of students tested must score proficient or higher on a given assessment. The Loveland City School District met twenty-nine out of thirty of the State indicators and scored an excellent rating for the 2006-2007 school year.

“I'd just like to say that the Board is very proud of the latest report card and the results that show that Loveland staff and Loveland students are working hard,” said Board President Dr. Kathryn Lorenz. Their success makes us proud to be serving as Board members. We also know that it is a big responsibility to continue to achieve that Excellent rating and we're quite willing to continue that work along with Loveland students, parents, teachers and administrators.”

The District met all the federal (AYP) requirements. To meet the federal AYP requirements, every student group must be at or above the annual goals or make improvement over last year. Graduation or attendance goals must be met for the district as a whole. The goals are: Reading Participation, Reading Proficiency, Attendance, Mathematics Participation, Mathematics Proficiency, and Graduation.

The Performance Index Score reflects the achievement of every tested student. The score is a weighted average of all tested subjects in grades 3-8 and 10. The most weight is given to the advanced students (1.2), and the weights decrease for each performance level. This creates a scale of 0 to 120 points, with 100 being the goal. Looking at the Performance Index Score over time shows trends in district achievement. Loveland's Performance Index Score was 104.5, down slightly from 105.2 for their 2005-2006 report card.

The report shows wide discrepancies between non-economically disadvantaged students and economically disadvantaged students at lower grade levels, particularly in 6th grade reading and 8th grade math. However this gap narrowed for the students tested for the 11th Grade Graduation Tests, and economically disadvantaged students actually outscored their peers in reading and math.

Download and read the Report Card here: Download 2007_school_report_card.PDF

War's Chilling Reality

By Bob Herbert

Bryan Anderson, a 25-year-old Army sergeant who was wounded in Iraq, was explaining, on camera - to James Gandolfini, of all people - what happened immediately after a roadside bomb blew up the Humvee that he was driving.

<>

"I was like, 'Oh, we got hit. We got hit.' And then I had blood on my face and the flies were landing all over my face. So I wiped my face to get rid of the flies. And that is when I noticed that my fingertip was gone. So I was like, 'Oh. O.K.'

"So that is when I started really assessing myself. I was like, 'That's not bad.' And then I turned my hand over, and I noticed that this chunk of my hand was gone. So I was like, 'O.K., still not bad. I can live with that.'

"And then when I went to wipe the flies on my face with my left hand, there was nothing there. So I was like, 'Uh, that's gone.' And then I looked down and I saw that my legs were gone. And then they had kind of forced my head back down to the ground, hoping that I wouldn't see."

Full Story: Bob Herbert | War's Chilling Reality.

Efforts to crack down on lead paint thwarted by China, Bush Administration

WASHINGTON — The Bush administration and China have both undermined efforts to tighten rules designed to ensure that lead paint isn't used in toys, bibs, jewelry and other children’s products.

Both have fought efforts to better police imported toys from China.

Read full story here: McClatchy Washington Bureau | 08/21/2007 | Efforts to crack down on lead paint thwarted by China, Bush Administration.

Symmes Township, Ohio – Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

Symmes Township, Ohio – The photo above was taken during Loveland High School's scrimmage game against Fairfield. Click here to view and purchase a photo from the scrimmage.

On Wednesday night at 6 PM, the Tigers start their regular football season by playing Roger Bacon in the Skyline Chili Showdown at Princeton High School.

Aug. 31 - McNicholas (at Mariemont)
Sept. 7 - Mt. Healthy
Sept. 14 - Kings
Sept. 21 - Little Miami
Sept. 28 - Glen Este
Oct. 5­ - Anderson
Oct. 12 - Harrison
Oct. 19 - Winton Woods
Oct. 26 - Milford

Orange = Home Game

All games are on Friday and start at 7:30 PM, except the Skyline Chili Showdown (6 PM)

LOVELAND, OHIO – YMCA tax sent to ballot

LOVELAND, OHIO - On August 14, Loveland City Council cast their final vote on sending their YMCA tax ordinance along to the Boards of Election to have it appear on the November 6 ballot. Council also entertained the first reading of a lease agreement with the YMCA of Greater Cincinnati.

Mayor Rob Weisgerber, Vice-Mayor Joe Schickel, David Bednar, Todd Osborn, and Dan Daly voted to have the tax ordinance on the ballot, Paul Elliott and Katie Showler voted, “No.”

Read more: here. here, and here.

School of Shock

School Of Shock
By Jennifer Gonnerman
Eight states are sending autistic, mentally retarded, and emotionally troubled kids to a facility that punishes them with painful electric shocks. How many times do you have to zap a child before it's torture?

Rob Santana awoke terrified. He'd had that dream again, the one where silver wires ran under his shirt and into his pants, connecting to electrodes attached to his limbs and torso. Adults armed with surveillance cameras and remote-control activators watched his every move. One press of a button, and there was no telling where the shock would hit—his arm or leg or, worse, his stomach. All Rob knew was that the pain would be intense.

Read story from Mother Jones here.

Making genocide in Darfur personal - The Boston Globe

By Ty Burr, Globe Staff

"The Devil Came on Horseback" is a documentary about the human-rights crisis in Darfur. It's also about our response to the human-rights crisis in Darfur -- not just the West as a whole, but you and me and the guy down the hall. You don't want to think about another faraway ethnic cleansing? Fine; here are pictures. You still don't want to think about it? All right -- why?

Read more: Making genocide in Darfur personal - The Boston Globe.

CLERMONT COUNTY, OHIO - Why License Your Dog?

CLERMONT COUNTY, OHIO - “It happens all too often,” says Debra Wood, the chief animal control officer for the Clermont County Humane Society.  “We pick up a stray dog and it’s wearing a collar, but there is no dog tag attached, so we have no way to contact the owner.”  Every year, the Clermont Humane Society processes about 2,250 dogs; for the lucky few that are wearing their dog tags, their separation from their owner is brief.  For the other pets that somehow stray from their owners, a reunion may never be possible.

“When a dog is wearing a tag, we can put a hold on the animal for 14 days, giving us time to call the owner, personally contact him at his home, or even send a certified letter,” says Wood.  “It’s really disheartening when we hear so many people say they will not buy tags for their dogs (sold for $14.75 between December 1 and January 31 each year) because they are indoor animals.  Doors open, leashes break, and frequently those beloved animals end up as strays.”

More toys recalled

Click subtitles below to read more about each specific toy recall.

Click here to review all of the recent recalls from The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.

Click here to view all toy recalls.

Click here to receive recall e-mails 

Polly Pocket dolls
Mattel Inc., of El Segundo, Calif., is voluntarily recalling about 7.3 million various Polly Pocket dolls and accessories with magnets. Small magnets inside the dolls and accessories can come loose. The magnets can be found by young children and swallowed or aspirated. If more than one magnet is swallowed, the magnets can attract each other and cause intestinal perforation or blockage, which can be fatal.

Doggie Day Care
Mattel Inc., of El Segundo, Calif., is voluntarily recalling about 1 million Doggie Day Care™ play sets. Small magnets inside the toys can fall out. Magnets found by young children can be swallowed or aspirated. If more than one magnet is swallowed, the magnets can attract each other and cause intestinal perforation or blockage, which can be fatal.

Barbie and Tanner
Mattel Inc., of El Segundo, Calif., is voluntarily recalling about 683,000 Barbie and Tanner™ play sets. A small magnet inside the “scooper” accessory can come loose. Magnets found by young children can be swallowed or aspirated. If more than one magnet is swallowed, the magnets can attract each other and cause intestinal perforation or blockage, which can be fatal.

Sarge die cast cars
Mattel Inc., of El Segundo, Calif., is voluntarily recalling about 253,000 “Sarge” die cast toy cars. Surface paints on the toys could contain lead levels in excess of federal standards. Lead is toxic if ingested by young children and can cause adverse health effects.

Batman
Mattel Inc., of El Segundo, Calif., is voluntarily recalling about 345,000 Batman™ and One Piece™ magnetic action figure sets. Small, powerful magnets inside the accessories of the toy figures can fall out and be swallowed or aspirated by young children. If more than one magnet is swallowed, they can attract inside the body and cause intestinal perforation, infection or blockage which can be fatal.

Stuffed Plush Horse/Pillows and 1,300 Fairy Dolls
The Orvis Company, of Manchester, Vt., is voluntarily recalling about 220 Stuffed Plush Horse/Pillows and 1,300 Fairy Dolls. The plastic button eyes on the stuffed horse and the pompom nose on the fairy doll toy can easily detach, posing a small parts choking hazard to young children.

SYMMES TOWNSHIO, OHIO – Symmesfest starts tonight

SYMMES TOWNSHIO, OHIO - Symmes Township and the Loveland-Symmes CommunityFirefighters Association will host their annual summer festival at Symmes Park on August 17-19. The hours of operation are:

Friday, August 17th, 6:00 - 11:00 PM
Saturday, August 18th, 5:00 - 11:00 PM
Sunday, August 19th, 4:00 - 10:00 PM

The festival will offer rides, games and live music which includes Robin Lacy & De Zydeco (Friday), Ooh La La & the Greasers (Saturday) and the Dallas Moore Band (Sunday). There will also be food booths and a fireworks display nightly.

Admission is free.

For more information, contact the Township office 683-6644.

It's your money – go get it

A press release from the  Ohio Department of Commerce:

COMMERCE DIRECTOR KIMBERLY ZURZ ANNOUNCES 41% INCREASE
IN THE NUMBER OF UNCLAIMED FUNDS ACCOUNTS PAID TO OHIOANS

(Columbus) – Kimberly Zurz, Director of the Ohio Department of Commerce, today announced two new fiscal year records in the number of unclaimed funds claims paid and the dollar amount of the claims paid in fiscal year 2007.

The Division paid a record 61,711 claims to current or former Ohioans during Fiscal Year 2007 – a 41 percent increase over the previous fiscal year’s payment of 43,714 claims.  The Division also paid a record $72 million in claims paid to Ohioans – a nearly 12 percent increase over the previous fiscal year payment of $64.4 million.

“The Division of Unclaimed Funds continues to post records for the citizens of Ohio,” Director Zurz said.  “The Division’s staff is dedicated to reuniting Ohioans with funds that they have inadvertently lost track of over the years.”   

Hoxworth Blood Center - Emergency Plea for Blood Donors

Summer Blood Shortage Prompts Donation Plea: "Serious shortage of blood."

For the second week in a row, Hoxworth Blood Center is issuing an emergency plea for blood donors.

Inventory levels of all blood types are at critically low levels. Hoxworth's blood supply for 28 area hospitals is down about 600 units. (one unit = one pint).

Cincinnati, along with many other metropolitan areas like New York City, are suffering from a shortage of blood. This is due to the high temperatures, regular donors taking vacations, and students are away from school. In fact, about 15% of Hoxworth's annual collections come from high school and college students.

"The high temperatures combined with the fact that many of our donors are on vacation or out of school has created a serious shortage of blood," said Michael Anderson, spokesperson for Hoxworth.

How to donate:

    * Call our Appointment Center at (513) 451-0910 or (800) 830-1091 to speak with a tele-recruitment representative.
    * Visit one of our nine neighborhood donor centers or a community blood drive.
    * Current donors can sign up online using web scheduling

Read more here and find a donor facility near you: Hoxworth Blood Center - Triple Double Club.

MIAMI TOWNSHIP, OHIO – Carney: “Epiphany UMC potentially saved 174 people's lives.”

MIAMI TOWNSHIP, OHIO - “It couldn't have come at a better time. The need for blood donors this summer has been extreme.” Hoxworth Blood Center's Mary Zuccarelli (Adams),

On August 1, there were seventy-five people who volunteered to donate blood at the Epiphany United Methodist Church blood drive. Of those, fifty-seven were eligible to donate on that day. Hoxworth was able to obtain fifty-eight units of blood from these donors. Jason Bebout sat for almost a full hour hooked up to special equipment so he could donate a double dose.

“This was an extraordinary turnout for the blood drive,: said Hoxworth Blood Center's Mary Zuccarelli (Adams). “Just only a few years ago when we had blood drives at the church, we had approximately 25 people. I know the church and the area has grown quite a bit, and between that and the enthusiasm and support of the new coordinator, Kathy Millburg and the congregation members this blood drive became a huge success.” She added, that the church members who shared their personal stories about the need of blood for the community helped in the recruiting.

Zuccarelli (Adams) said that there has been a very high demand based on patient needs in area hospitals. All volunteer blood donors, like those from Epiphany, are the sole reason why the patients needs are met. “Blood donors do make a difference.”

Nathan Carney is the Manager of Donor Programs and Donor Services at Hoxworth:
“I want to thank you and Epiphany UMC for being good stewards of the precious gift of life. Each of the fifty-eight blood units that your church donated can be processed into three products. Those products are: red blood cells, plasma, and platelets. So that means, Epiphany UMC potentially saved 174 people's lives or helped 174 persons get well. Now that's what I call being the hands and feet of Christ. As you know, it takes a thousand hands to rebuild a human being; and, I want to thank you for stepping up and being one of those hands. I look forward to when I can see you and the Epiphany UMC community again.”

Photos are courtesy of Nancy Roberts

MIAMI TOWNSHIP, OHIO - Free computer recycling

Cincinnati Computer Cooperative will take old computers, give to kids

Miami Township will be hosting a Computer Reuse/Recycling Event on Saturday, August 18th from 8 a.m. - noon at the Miami Township Service Department Building on 5900 McPicken Drive.

This is an opportunity for all residents and businesses of Clermont County to donate computers that are no longer being used - and it is free!

Read full story: Miami Township | Community Relations.

Remember Me by Lizzie Palmer

Former Miami Township resident Linda Sand, who now lives in the Columbus area sends along this message to Loveland Magazine readers:

“This is a very chilling video. I hope you will watch it with great pride in our American forces fighting in Iraq.  Copy and paste the link below to your browser  or it might pull up the link by just clicking on it.” http://www.youtube.com/v/ervaMPt4Ha0&autoplay=1

Lizzie Palmer, who put together this tribute to our fighting troops and YouTube program, is 15 years old.

SYMMES TOWNSHIP, OHIO – Kemper road work up-date

SYMMES TOWNSHIP, OHIO – Loveland Magazine reader Lynda Deuble wrote and asked, “Any news on the construction on Kemper by Walgreens? Thanks.” After checking with the Hamilton County Engineer's office, Loveland Magazine was referred to the original press release about the project issued and reported in Loveland Magazine, back on February 28, 2007.

The word from the Engineer's office is that there is no change in status, and that the work is on schedule and still expected to be completed, December 21 of this year.

As was reported in February, “Although eastbound Kemper Road traffic will not be restricted, delays are possible. Westbound Kemper Road traffic will be routed over Lebanon Road to McKinney Road and vice versa.”

Questions can be directed to Dan Durham with the Hamilton County Engineer at 946-8430.

LOVELAND, OHIO – YMCA costs dive off deep end

$9.5 to $12 million

LOVELAND, OHIO – In an August 2 memo to the Mayor and City Council, Loveland City Manager, Tom Carroll said that due to rising municipal bond rates, and a re-design of the outdoor pool, the YMCA proposed to be built by Loveland taxpayers will now cost $12 million.

City Council has voted to place an issue on the November ballot to raise the City income tax rate from 1% to 1.2 % that will last twenty-eight years to pay for the project. Last May, voters rejected a proposal for the same tax increase without an expiration clause to pay for a YMCA that was then estimated to cost $9.5 million.

The memo contained a “Debt Retirement Schedule” for the twenty-eight-year life of the tax, and said the 0.2% hike will be “more than able to cover the debt service” and leave a “healthy reserve” at the end of the  twenty-eight years. Carroll says the additional money collected, will be used for long-term maintenance of the YMCA at the end of the twenty-eight years.

Carroll said that construction costs have increased, “well in excess of the rate of inflation.” He also said that city staff, and a city committee will review the currently proposed design with architects, “to see what aspects of the facility can be reassessed to lower the cost of the project. Carroll's memo, however, did not speculate where the money saved by cutting construction costs would be spent.

The memo recommends that council pass an ordinance to allow borrowing money for twenty-eight years instead of the current policy which limits borrowing to twenty-years.

What are our political leanings in the Loveland area?

This poll is exclusive to Loveland Magazine readers.

Loveland City Schools bus routes now available

To view the 2007-08 Bus Routes for the Loveland School District, go to the following link to the District's transportation page to find out your child's bus route for the upcoming school year.  You will be directed to the VersaTrans e-Link Online Information System. Follow the prompts to find the appropriate route. http://www.lovelandschools.org/district/district-offices/transportation.html

Link: Loveland City Schools.

CLERMONT COUNTY, OHIO - Volunteers Needed for September 8 Preparedness Exercise

CLERMONT COUNTY, OHIO - Up to 100 volunteers are needed for a morning exercise on Saturday, September 8, 2007, at Milford Junior and Senior High Schools, to test Clermont County’s Volunteer Management plan.  “This event is designed to determine how citizens could best be utilized during a public health emergency, but the same principle would apply to all emergencies,” said Clermont County Health Commissioner Marty Lambert.  “Should a major flood, tornado or other large disaster occur, we will ask volunteers in the recovery effort to check-in at a Volunteer Reception Center, where they will be dispatched to locations where they are needed.  This exercise will enable us to ensure that the process will flow smoothly.”

The exercise is being organized by the Clermont County General Health District, the Clermont County Citizen Corps, and the Tristate Medical Reserve Corps.  It is scheduled to run from 9:00 a.m. until 12:30 p.m., and all volunteers are asked to contact Carol Kisner at the General Health District prior to the event at (513) 735-8412 or E-mail her at [email protected].

“We learned from Hurricane Katrina that an organized volunteer infrastructure is critical when it comes to ensuring volunteers are sent where there is the largest need,” added Lambert.  “I hope we never have to actually put this plan into motion, but we need to be prepared.”

Part I: New Orleans's Children Fighting for the Right to Learn

Fighting for the Right to Learn: Report on Results of the Public Education   Experiment in New Orleans Two Years After Katrina

    New Orleans's Children Fighting for the Right to Learn
      By Bill Quigley
    t r u t h o u t | Report

There is a massive experiment being performed on thousands of primarily African American children in New Orleans. No one asked the permission of the children. No one asked permission of their parents. This experiment involves a fight for the education of children.

    This is the experiment.

Read more of this editorial here: Part I: New Orleans's Children Fighting for the Right to Learn.

LOVELAND, OHIO - Award for Outstanding Achievement

LOVELAND, OHIO - The Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada (GFOA) has given an Award for Outstanding Achievement in Popular Annual Financial Reporting to Loveland City School District for its Popular Annual Financial Report for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2006. The Award for Outstanding Achievement in Popular Annual Financial Reporting is a prestigious national award recognizing conformance with the highest standards for preparation of state and local government popular reports. The reported was submitted by Jill Manville, Treasurer/CFO, for the District.  The PAFR has been awarded this certificate of achievement for four consecutive years--every year the District has published one.

Read the full story here: Loveland City Schools.

LOVELAND, OHIO – Loveland Initiative meeting announced

LOVELAND, OHIO – On Thursday, August 9, The Loveland Initiative will have a general meeting beginning at 6:30 PM, followed by a meeting of the Board of Trustees at 7:30 PM. Both meetings are open to the public.
Download the meetings agenda:Download the_loveland_initiative_meeting_agenda_8907.pdf

Meeting Location
The Loveland Initiative
405 Loveland Maderia Road
NOTE: If the air conditioner is not fixed at the Loveland Initiative, the meeting will be held at 799 West Main Street #D Loveland, Ohio 45140
Call 683-3111 or  677-1057

Community center: "Just plain wrong"

Dear Loveland Magazine,

The proposed community center is not necessary. It is a luxury that I and my family will likely never use. Why should I pay for someone else's luxury? Why is this city council asking me to pay for someone else's luxury a second time? This is just plain wrong no matter how you look at it.

Sincerely,

Tom Snyder

LOVELAND, OHIO - Air pollution alert continues

LOVELAND, OHIO - Here is the air pollution advisiory for Wednesday, August 8:

UNHEALTHY FOR SENSITIVE GROUPS Active children, adults, and people with respiratory disease, such as asthma, should limit PROLONGED OUTDOOR EXERTION.

'Baby Einstein': a bright idea? - Los Angeles Times

Infants shown such educational series end up with poorer vocabularies, study finds. Researcher says 'American Idol' is better.

Parents hoping to raise baby Einsteins by using infant educational videos are actually creating baby Homer Simpsons, according to a new study released today.

For every hour a day that babies 8 to 16 months old were shown such popular series as "Brainy Baby" or "Baby Einstein," they knew six to eight fewer words than other children, the study found.

Read full story: 'Baby Einstein': a bright idea? - Los Angeles Times.

LOVELAND, OHIO - Summer Festival Memories

By Ruthy Trusler

Look who has been caught having fun!

LOVELAND, OHIO - St. Columban Parish in Loveland, Ohio is a Catholic community that follows the Word and Work of Jesus Christ through discipleship, stewardship, and fellowship. We worship. We educate. We serve.

This summer we celebrated our 148th anniversary with our annual parish festival. Our theme, Explore the Mystery of Our History, was displayed throughout the festival with pictures and information relevant to our first fifty years (1859-1909). This provided the Loveland community an opportunity to learn more about our Christian heritage. More importantly, it was a means for us to be seen as a Christian example and as a good citizen to our community. Many hands (parishioners and non-parishioners) joined together with their volunteer efforts and donations to make the festival possible.St. Columban wishes to thank each of you for your tireless help.

And, we wish to thank the community for honoring us with your presence. We hope to see you again next year!

Receive FDA Recall Notices

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MIAMI TOWNSHIP, OHIO - Milford-Miami Township Volunteer Fire Department: NOT

Illegal telephone solicitation

MIAMI TOWNSHIP, OHIO - Miami Township recently became aware of an unauthorized and possibly illegal telephone solicitation. The caller represented that he was soliciting donations for the “Milford-Miami Township Volunteer Fire Department.” There is no such organization, and there is currently no solicitation for donations for any of the organizations related to the Milford Community Fire Department or the Miami Township Fire and Emergency Medical Service.

If you receive a telephone or mail solicitation for donations to the “Milford-Miami Township Volunteer Fire Department” please contact the Miami Township Police Department at 248-3721.

Chili Products Recall: Possible botulism

Kroger Hot Dog Chili Sauce, Meijer Hot Dog Chili Sauce, Goldstar Chili, Goldstar Tex-Mex Chili With Beans, Kroger Kroger Beef Stew, Kroger Chili With Beans, Kroger Chili No Beans, Meijer Chili No Beans, Meijer Chili With Beans, Meijer Chili With Beans, and many more brands and mixes have been recalled.

Some dog food is also recalled.

FDA is warning consumers not to eat certain canned food products or to serve certain dog food produced by Castleberry's Food Company of Augusta, Ga., due to possible botulism contamination. Botulism can be fatal.

Castleberry's is recalling all of the potentially contaminated products and is cooperating with FDA, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, he USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service and the states' investigations into the cause of contamination. The list of recalled products includes cans of hot dog chili sauce, various types of dog food, chili with meat, corned beef hash, and a number of other products.

Read full list and report from the FDA: Chili Products Recall.

FDA Warns of Potential Botulism Risk from Canned French Cut Green Beans Product Marketed Under a Variety of Brand Names

Product Marketed Under a Variety of Brand Names including: Kroger, Flavorite, IGA, and more.

FDA Warns of Potential Botulism Risk from Canned French Cut Green Beans Product Marketed Under a Variety of Brand Names

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is warning consumers not to eat certain brands of French Cut Green Beans in 14.5 ounce cans manufactured by Lakeside Foods Inc, of Manitowoc, Wisconsin because the product may not have been processed adequately to eliminate the potential for botulism toxin. This warning is not related to another recent warning for botulism.

Read the full warning and a list of store brands: FDA Warns of Potential Botulism Risk from Canned French Cut Green Beans Product Marketed Under a Variety of Brand Names.