Loveland Magazine

LOVELAND, OHIO - CLERMONT COMMISSIONERS HAVE NOT ASKED FOR EMERGENCY HELP FROM STATE - BUT SOME HELP IS AVAILABLE

LOVELAND, OHIO - Tim McCartney, the Director of the Clermont County Department of Job and Family Services has responded to questions about why the County is not eligible for State of Ohio emergency storm funds. He explained that the funds are distributed to local Job & Family Services Departments when the governor declares that a county is in a state of emergency. "It’s my understanding that Clermont has not yet and may not receive that declaration. I know there is some doubt about Clermont County qualifying, as the level of snowfall in Clermont was not what it was in other counties."

(See related story, "ASSISTANCE AVAILABLE FOR WINTER STORM VICTIMS" published December 30)

"The determination of Declaring an Emergency is first made by the Clermont Board of County Commissioner’s. They consider this action after review of information that is gathered and submitted by the Clermont Emergency Management Agency (CEMA)."

McCartney said, "CEMA is aggressively gathering that information from various city, village and township officials to see if the County is eligible for Federal assistance. If the Clermont County Board of Commissioner’s does declare an Emergency, that Declaration is then forwarded to the Governor for his consideration."

If that declaration is not made at the state level, Clermont County will not receive these emergency funds. "Even if we do not get these funds my department does have some designated funds that may be of assistance to some of those in need," McCartney said. Funds, through the County Prevention, Retention and Contingency Plan (PRC) are available to those that meet the following criteria:

PRC Funds
In the event of a natural disaster, $600 may be issued per family/household that is at or below 200% of the Federal Poverty Level. This category of PRC does not apply toward the yearly cap of $500.00 per family for contingency services.  There must be a minor child in the home, or assistance can be issued to a family with a pregnant woman in at least her 6th month of pregnancy.

The Clermont County Board of Commissioners meet on January  4, and a declaration of emergency is not currently on their meeting agenda.

The Clermont Job & Family Services Department can be reached at 732-7111 and Mr. McCartney can be e-mailed at tmccartn@co.clermont.oh.us

The County Commissioners can be reached at 732-7300. Or e-mail at:

Mary Walker - mwalker@co.clermont.oh.us

Bob Proud - bproud@co.clermont.oh.us

R. Scott Croswell III - scroswell@co.clermont.oh.us

David L. Spinney, county Administrator - dspinney@co.clermont.oh.us

LOVELAND, OHIO - NEW YEAR RESOLUTIONS AND A LITTLE WHINE TO WASH IT DOWN WITH

 

LOVELAND, OHIO - An Editorial

Here are a few New Year Resolutions for me, you, the City of Loveland, and the Loveland Police Department and a little whine to wash it down.

• Drive the posted speed limit in residential neighborhoods. Recognize that the posted limit is just that, the maximum speed allowed in these neighborhoods and safer for all involved.

• When it snows, consider driving slower than the posted limit, not faster as is the current practice along Wall Street in Loveland.

• For the Loveland Police Department, please strictly enforce these posted limits. In 2005 develop a citywide plan to deal with the number one complaint of city residents - “speeding.”

• For the City Administration, please clear intersections of snow before more than a week goes by. This practice of not plowing out intersections that are reduced to one lane is very dangerous and goes back a few years now. At the intersection of Loveland Madeira Road and Elm Street - Elm Street has been one lane for the past week as is Brecker Street. Loveland Madeira and Elm is at the busiest intersection in Loveland. New protocol needs to be implemented in 2005.

• For both the City Administration and Police Department, when residents pull together and implement a plan to reduce the speeding traffic, work with them and not against their efforts. Please don’t take offense that residents take matters into their own hands and please don’t remove the yard signs put up in the neighborhood.

Some background. Early in 2004 the Wall Street neighborhood competed for cash prizes to come up with a catchy slogan to put on yard signs that would encourage people to stop speeding down their street. The winner was Cleveland Puckett who won first place with the slogan, “When you hit the Wall - 25 MPH is safer for all.” Loveland Magazine publisher, David Miller awarded the cash prizes and paid for the printing of the yard signs, walked the neighborhood and asked property owners if a sign could be placed at their home or business. All who were asked except one homeowner said yes.

Within days the Loveland Police Chief, on orders from the Loveland City Manager, asked that signs placed in the grassy strip between the roadway and the sidewalk be removed. He said it violated city code and if not removed he would have one of his officers remove them. Before the signs could be relocated, about fifteen  disappeared.

Signs are put up in the right of way every weekend by developers giving directions to their new home sites with no apparent enforcement effort by the City, yet these signs clearly violate the City sign code. In fact, real-estate signs right next to the “When you hit the Wall” signs remained after the visit by the Police Chief and the signs put up by the neighborhood dissapeared.

City Council recently adopted a “Traffic Calming Policy” which specifically excluded Wall Street from consideration of traffic calming measures. Why would any street within the City be excluded from traffic calming measures? Even I-75 is constantly be upgraded with traffic calming devices, so why would a residential street anywhere be prohibited from efforts to slow traffic and increase pedestrian safety? This is not only bad public policy, certainly it is unconstitutional policy that discriminates against one neighborhood in relation to others.

So, two more New Year resolution for City leaders... (1) Return the signs (if you have them) that were put up at great expense in terms of time and money. (2) Rescind the traffic calming policy that discriminates against the Wall Street neighborhood.

 

MIAMI TOWNSHIP, OHIO - VANDALISM IN MIILLBROOK FARMS

MIAMI TOWNSHIP, OHIO - Several residents of the Millbrook Farms neighborhood in Miami Township experienced vandalism in their yards on December 28.

It included yard items broken, Christmas lights ripped down and broken, a swing set tipped over with the swings stolen, toilet paper thrown, and trash/recycling thrown in the yards.  One resident had eggs thrown at their home and one had wine bottles thrown in the yard.

To report suspicious activity in Miami Township call- 732-2231.

The Miami Township "Crime Tip HOTLINE" is - 248-5786.

The "Crime Tip E-mail" address is - crime.tips@miamitownshipoh.gov

COLUMBUS, OHIO - ASSISTANCE AVAILABLE FOR WINTER STORM VICTIMS

COLUMBUS - Disaster assistance is available through the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services for victims of the recent severe winter storm in Hamilton and Warren counties.

This emergency assistance is available immediately to help families as they begin to recover from the severe winter storm.

Families may qualify for up to $1,500 in disaster assistance. Certain elderly and disabled individuals may qualify for up to $750 in disaster assistance. County departments of job and family services determine the amount of funding that eligible individuals and families receive

In order to be eligible for up to $1,500 in Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) disaster assistance money, families must include a minor child, or pregnant woman, and have evidence of economic need. Elderly and disabled individuals in these counties who are not eligible for TANF assistance may be eligible for disaster assistance of up to $750. Only one payment may be made per dwelling. To be eligible for this type of assistance, a person must be at least 55 years old and childless, or receiving certain disability benefits, impacted by the severe weather and provide evidence of an economic need to the county department of job and family services.

Applications will be accepted at county departments of job and family services in the declared counties. A listing of county job and family service department addresses and telephone numbers may be found online at: http://jfs.ohio.gov/county/cntydir.stm.

Loveland Magazine is contacting officials in Clermont County to find out why residents of this hard hit county are not available for the assistance.

LOVELAND, OHIO - tsunami RELIEF AGENCIES

LOVELAND, OHIO - Below is a list of local, national, and international relief agencies (with links to their web pages ) who are providing emergency aid to the tsunami victims in Southeast Asia..

In the photo above, U.S. Air Force Airman Autumn McHam (left) helps cover an aircraft pallet of Meals Ready to Eat at Kadena Air Base, Japan, on Dec. 28, 2004. The meals will be flown to Southeast Asia as part of disaster relief following an earthquake that caused tsunami waves that affected 12 countries. McHam is assigned to the 733rd Air Mobility Squadron, 18th Air Wing. DoD photo by Tech. Sgt. Richard Freeland, U.S. Air Force. (Released)

ReliefWeb
http://www.reliefweb.int/w/rwb.nsf

United Nations Development Programme, Disaster Reduction Unit
http://www.undp.org/bcpr/disred/index.htm

International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies
http://www.ifrc.org

CARE - USA
http://www.careusa.org

The United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR)
http://gbgm-umc.org/umcor

American Jewish World Service
http://www.ajws.org

American Friends Service Committee (AFSC Crisis Fund)
http://www.afsc.org

Catholic Relief Services
http://www.kintera.org/htmlcontent.asp?cid=41794

Church World Service
http://www.churchworldservice.org

Doctors Without Borders/Medecins Sans Frontieres
http://www.kintera.org/atf/cf/%7BA54B526F-06CB-4D53-8A37-C33976730CAB%7D/dwb.htm

Lutheran World Relief
http://www.lwr.org

Relief International
http://www.ri.org

Save the Children
http://www.savethechildren.org

US Fund for UNICEF
http://www.unicefusa.org/site/pp.asp?c=duLRI8O0H&b=25933

World Vision
http://www.kintera.org/site/pp.asp?c=fvKVLbMVIwG&b=277262

American Red Cross - Cincinnati Chapter
http://www.cincinnatiredcross.org/MainRedCross/index.html

Baptist World Aid
www.bwanet.org/bwaid

B'nai B'rith Disaster Relief Fund
www.bnaibrith.org

Oxfam America
www.oxfamamerica.org

 

LOVELAND, OHIO - SAFETY CENTER PARTLY BACK ON LINE

LOVELAND, OHIO - Despite extensive damage when heavy snow buckled the roof and walls of the apparatus bay of the Loveland Safety Center on Lebanon Road, much of the operations of the Loveland Police Department, the communication center, and the Loveland/Symmes Fire Department resumed back in the same building within twenty-four hours, according to City Manager Fred Enderle.

On Thursday, December 23, around midnight, Firefighters stationed at the Safety Center heard and noticed the movement of the roof and walls of the apparatus bay at the rear of the Safety Center. Five people were in the rear of the building at the time - four firefighters and a Fire Captain. They were asleep in the living quarter and woke by the noise. Throughout the morning the roof and south, west and north walls continued to move. Enderle said he was called approximately 7:00 A.M., reviewed the situation and, "Ordered the evacuation of the building."

The Safety Center Building is a 20,000 square foot facility; the primary impacted area of the building is the apparatus storage bay and firefighter living quarters, approximately 5,000 square feet.

The building was vacated and the Police Department (personnel and essential equipment) was moved to the City Building at 120 West Loveland Avenue. The fire apparatus (heavy rescue, engine and ladder trucks) and personnel (four firefighters, six administrators) were dispersed among the Downtown Loveland Fire Station and the Remington Station in Symmes Township.

The Northeast Communication Center (NECC) was relocated first to the Loveland/Symmes Incident Command Center Trailer in the parking lot of the Safety Center and then to the Clermont County Emergency Operations Center, which serves as a backup to the City of Loveland’s Emergency Operations Center. Within 24 hours they were back in operation in the basement of the Safety Center. Enderle said, "At no time was emergency service to the public disrupted."

Mid-Thursday morning, Fire officials, City Administration, and the City’s structural engineer met with representatives of Cincinnati United Contractors, Inc. who built the building seven years ago.

Gary Herrington, of ERG Structural Consultants reviewed the situation and established a schedule for assessing the damage and stabilizing the building.

Enderle said they all agreed that a controlled demolition of the roof of the damaged portion of the building was the first priority. This was to minimize further damage to the building. "It was hoped the roof could be brought down without bringing the north and south walls down or impacting the Fire headquarters area of the building to the east or the Police headquarters area of the building to the south." The roof was brought down early Thursday evening taking pressure off the remaining walls.

On Tuesday morning, the City’s insurance carrier's adjuster visited and inspected the site. The insurance adjuster also contacted the structural engineer who is scheduled to inspect the damage on Wednesday. The City Manager said that once the insurance carrier’s engineer has inspected the site and reviewed his findings with the insurance adjuster, the City, Cincinnati United Contractors, and insurance carrier will develop a plan and schedule for restoring the building.

None of the essential fire and EMS equipment was damaged either by the roof collapse or the snow because it was removed from the building by firefighters before the controlled demolition of the roof. All of the fire and EMS vehicles are under roof at other fire stations and non-essential equipment such as water rescue equipment has been temporarily stored under roof in a Symmes Township warehouse.

At this point there is no official damage estimate.

LOVELAND, OHIO - The Loveland Arts Council's Winter Art Exhibit

LOVELAND, OHIO - The Loveland Arts Council's Winter Art Exhibit has paintings, photographs and art in all forms on the walls of The Works Restaurant (located behind Loveland City Hall, just east of the bike trail) for all to view enjoy and purchase. There are over 90 works of art.

The photos above represent just a few of the pieces that can be enjoyed or purchased until January 2. Photos by DAVID MILLER/Loveland Magazine.

An apology to these artists is due. Photographing art, hung on the wall of a restaurant is very difficult. Some are hung high on the walls and lighting is always a combination of sunlight, artificial lamps, and flash, accompanied by glare and shadows. Higher reflective medium such as oils are especially prone to glare with their textured surfaces. Color assumptions are made, mental notes made, yet in the end when back in the digital darkroom,  the reproduction you see in the magazine can never be a correct representation of the colors, delicacy of detail, or even a representational size of the artist's work. The art work is best viewed in person.

For more information about the art exhibit, contact: Carole Lannom - 683-3129 or jlannom@fuse.net or http://www.all4art.info

Susan Sontag dies at age 71

One of America’s best-known and most admired writers, Susan Sontag dies at age 71.

Russell Jackson of the Scotsman, called Sontag, "The author, activist and self-defined 'zealot of seriousness' whose voracious mind and provocative prose made her a leading intellectual of the past half century."

Sontag died yesterday, an official at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center said. She had been treated for breast cancer in the 1970s.

She wrote a best-selling historical novel, The Volcano Lover, and in 2000 won the National Book Award for, In America. Her books have been translated into thirty-two languages.

Sontag campaigned relentlessly for human rights, and throughout the 1990s she traveled to the former Yugoslavia, calling for international action against civil war. In 1993, she visited Sarajevo and staged a production of Waiting for Godot.

The News Telegraph said, "Susan Sontag, the American novelist and essayist was a paragon of radical intelligence and austere beauty of whom it was said that, if she had not existed, the New York Review of Books would have had to invent her."

"To me, literature is a calling, even a kind of salvation. It connects me with an enterprise that is over 2,000 years old. What do we have from the past? Art and thought. That’s what lasts. That’s what continues to feed people and given them an idea of something better. A better state of one’s feelings or simply the idea of a silence in one’s self that allows one to think or to feel. Which to me is the same.", Susan Sontag as quoted in the New York Times Magazine (August 2, 1992).

Susan Sontag said in Sept. 1973, "It’s a pleasure to share one’s memories. Everything remembered is dear, endearing, touching, precious. At least the past is safe—though we didn’t know it at the time. We know it now. Because it’s in the past; because we have survived."

"For those who live neither with religious consolations about death nor with a sense of death (or of anything else) as natural, death is the obscene mystery, the ultimate affront, the thing that cannot be controlled. It can only be denied." Susan Sontag in 1978.
"Illness is the night-side of life, a more onerous citizenship. Everyone who is born holds dual citizenship, in the kingdom of the well and in the kingdom of the sick. Although we all prefer to use only the good passport, sooner or later each of us is obliged, at least for a spell, to identify ourselves as citizens of that other place." Susan Sontag in Illness As Metaphor, (1978).

"The truth is always something that is told, not something that is known. If there were no speaking or writing, there would be no truth about anything. There would only be what is." Susan Sontag in The Benefactor (1963).

Sontag's books and essays can be found at:
http://www.susansontag.com

LOVELAND, OHIO - SUPPORT THE STARVING ARTIST

SYMMES TOWNSHIP, OHIO - LET'S GO SLEDDING IN SYMMES PARK

SYMMES TOWNSHIP, OHIO - All photos taken Tuesday afternoon in Symmes Park on Lebanon Road by DAVID MILLER/Loveland Magazine © 2004.

LOVELAND, OHIO - SNOW IN DOWNTOWN LOVELAND

LOVELAND, OHIO - Photo of Downtown Loveland, Ohio by DAVID MILLER/Loveland Magazine © 2004

LOVELAND, OHIO - SCENIC LITTLE MIAMI RIVER

LOVELAND, OHIO - A composit photo of the Scenic Little Miami River looking north from Cones Road. Photo by DAVID MILLER/Loveland Magazine © 2004.

LOVELAND, OHIO - SUNRISE DECEMBER 28, 2004

LOVELAND, OHIO - Sunrise over Loveland photo by DAVID MILLER/Loveland Magazine © 2004

LOVELAND, OHIO - Pileated Woodpecker, Dryocopus pileatus

LOVELAND, OHIO - This photo of a Pileated Woodpecker was taken today near the Simpson Farm and Phillips Park.

"With the probable extinction of the Ivory-billed Woodpecker (Campephilus principalis), this is now the largest woodpecker in North America. Despite its size, this elegant woodpecker is often shy and hard to observe. Obtaining a close view of one usually requires careful stalking. Although primarily a forest bird, the "Logcock" has recently become adapted to civilization and has become relatively numerous even on the outskirts of large cities, where its presence is most easily detected by its loud, ringing call and by its large, characteristically rectangular excavations in trees. Its staple food consists of carpenter ants living in fallen timber, dead roots, and stumps. The woodpecker excavates fist-sized rectangular cavities, then uses its enormously long, sticky tongue to reach the ant burrows."

"Description: 17" (43 cm). A crow-sized woodpecker. Black with white neck stripes, conspicuous white wing linings, and prominent red crest. Male has red "mustache," female has black." (From: enature.com)

Photo by DAVID MILLER/LOVELAND MAGAZINE© 2004

To hear the sound of the Pileated Woodpecker go to:

http://www.nhptv.org/natureworks/pileatedwood.wav

LOVELAND, OHIO - AREA CHRISTMAS TREE RECYCLING PROGRAMS

LOVELAND, OHIO - Christmas tree recycling began in the City of Loveland on December 27 and runs until January 7. City residents can bring trees to the Public Works Department, 10980 Loveland-Madeira Road or contact the receptionist at City Hall (513) 683-0150, ext. 1439 or email (info@lovelandoh.com) to have a tree picked up. For more information, you can visit the City Services Page at: http://www.lovelandoh.com/cityservices.asp

Christmas Tree Recycling started in Miami Township on December 26th and ends on January 31st.  Times and locations will be announced on Township marquees. Mulch is free to the public and can be picked up at the Miami Meadows Park. Residents may call the Service Department (248-3728 ) to make arrangements to pickup woodchips after the materials from Brush Day and Christmas Tree Recycling have been shredded. Miami Meadows Park is at 1546 State Route 131, (First right after entering the Park - Park is Open dawn to dusk). The mulch is available to Miami Township resident at no charge. The excess mulch is used on the walking trails of Miami Township Parks.

Symmes Township is sponsoring a Christmas tree recycling program for its residents again this year from Sunday, December 26, to Sunday, January 9. During that time, Symmes Township residents should place their Christmas trees in the designated area behind the Township Administration building at 9323 Union Cemetery Road for recycling.  The trees will then be mulched so all ornaments, tinsel and/or plastic wrapping must be removed. This service is provided free of charge. For more information, contact the Township office at 683-6644. (administrator@symmestownship.org)

Deerfield Township does not have any Christmas tree recycling routine. They tell their residents to call their trash hauler, either CSI or Rumpke, to dispose of their tree. The Solid Waster Management District for Warren County does not have a program either.

Before sending your live-cut Christmas tree to the trash, remember that it can find new life after the holidays recommends The Ohio Department of Natural Resources. They say that Christmas trees can be recycled into a variety of uses, including mulch, compost and wildlife habitat.

"Recycling a live-cut tree gives it a second life that can benefit Ohio’s environment and increase wildlife habitat," said Ron Kolbash, chief of the ODNR Division of Recycling & Litter Prevention. "I am pleased to see that more and more communities are offering wise alternatives for these trees other than discarding them in our landfills."

"Many local park districts and communities shred Christmas trees for mulch and compost. Trees can even be transformed into wildlife habitat, providing shelter for some creatures during the winter months."

Whole trees and boughs can be used for wildlife as:

• Aquatic habitat: submerge the tree in a farm pond with a weight, such as a cinder block, so that it won’t float to the surface. This provides an excellent refuge and feeding area for fish.
• Shelter: place your tree in the corner of the yard where Ohio wildlife can use it as protection against winter’s harsh elements. Property owners with larger tracts of land will find multiple trees make for the most successful habitats.

Individuals living in communities without recycling programs might consider chipping and composting their holiday trees. Adding compost to home gardens improves soil quality, stores moisture and reduces weeds. Using Christmas trees to create outdoor brush piles makes ideal homes for wildlife. Trees can also be weighted down and sunk in farm ponds to attract fish and increase habitat.

Before disposing of a live-cut Christmas tree, remember to:

• Remove all trimmings such as tinsel, ornaments, lights and garlands.
• Seek permission before discarding trees on public land, private land or in ponds. Discarding trees without permission could result in a litter violation.

LOVELAND, OHIO - MERRY CHRISTMAS TO OUR TROOPS

Petty Officer 3rd class Danier Haarliammert kisses his girlfriend Jennifer Filson after returning to San Diego, Calif., aboard the USS Preble (DDG 88) on Dec. 17, 2004. The destroyer Preble was one of several U.S. Navy, Coast Guard and coalition ships that shared the responsibility of patrolling and safeguarding the waters near the Khawr AL Amaya and Al Basrah oil terminals in the northern Persian Gulf. Haarliammert is a Navy aviation electronics technician. Department of Defense photo by Petty Officer 3rd class Jo A. Wilbourn Sims, U.S. Navy. (Released)

LOVELAND, OHIO - FIRE DEPARTMENT ROOF FALLS TO SNOW

LOVELAND, OHIO - The Loveland Fire and Police Departments were forced to move their headquarter operations this morning when portions of the roof of the Loveland Safety Center on Lebanon Road collapsed due to the weight of rain laden snow.

The emergency phone number still remains 911 and non-emergency calls to Loveland can still be made by calling 677-7000. The Northeast Communications Center operations, also located in the damaged building,, were moved to the Clermont County Emergency Medical Services Building, and will remain in operation there until structural engineers can determine if the undamaged portion of the building can be reoccupied.

The roof over the rear of the building which houses fire and EMS vehicles and equipment partially collapsed and the remainder of the building is vulnerable because of bulging walls. It is not known how much damage to equipment occurred, but it is known that many vehicles have been dispersed to other fire houses and to the Loveland City building.

The Loveland Police Department has moved its operation to the Loveland City Building at 120 West Loveland Avenue in Downtown Loveland.

LOVELAND, OHIO - THE MORNING AFTER

LOVELAND, OHIO - In top photo above, Rachel Barns walks up Wall Street to help dig out a City snow plow that slid into a ditch. When the City backhoe got there, the truck was quickly back on the road.

Carl Allison digs out his sidewalk for the mail delivery that never came.

Casey Smellen brings sons Cade and Cooper home from a night at their aunts.

LOVELAND, OHIO - ...AND MORE SNOW

LOVELAND, OHIO - Photos from Loveland's Firefighter Memorial and the store window of Pizazz Studios in Historic Downtown Loveland.

Photos by DAVID MILLER/Loveland Magazine © 2004.

LOVELAND, OHIO - AREA CHRISTMAS EVE SERVICES

LOVELAND, OHIO - AREA CHRISTMAS EVE SERVICES

EPIPHANY UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
6635 Loveland-Miamiville Road (Miami Twp.)
677-9866
Website: www.epiphanyumc.org

5:00 P.M.  - Children's Services
7:00 P.M.   - Contemporary Candlelight
11:00 P.M.  - Contemporary Candlelight Communion

NEW HOPE BAPTIST CHURCH
1401 Loveland-Madeira Rd.
677-5377
Website: www.newhopeonthehill.com

Christmas Eve Service at the Live Nativity across from the City Building at 6:30 P.M.  It will last about 1⁄2 hour and will be out doors with the animals and characters there.

LAKEVIEW UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST
8639 Columbia Road
683-2073
Website: www.lakeviewucc.com

The first service will be at 7:00 P.M. and will be a family service with carols and candlelight.  The second service will be at 11:00 P.M. and will be a more traditional service with carols, candlelight and communion.  Weather permitting they will also have 200 luminaries lining the sidewalks and driveway of the church. Their communion services are open to any and all.

PRINCE OF PEACE LUTHERAN CHURCH
101 Lebanon Rd
683-4244
Website: princeofpeaceelca.org

5:00 P.M.  - Family Service of Holy Communion. The "sermon" will be in the form of a children’s story illustrated by Will Hillenbrand, children’s book illustrator and member of Prince of Peace. Cherub Choir will sing. Nursery provided. 

7:00 P.M.  - Family Service of Holy Communion with a children’s story illustrated by Will Hillenbrand.  The Joyful Noise Children’s Choir will sing.   Nursery will be provided.

9:00 P.M. - Candlelight Service of Holy Communion.   Pastor Tom will be preaching.  Worship concludes with candle lighting and singing of "Silent Night."   The Adult Choir will be singing.  Nursery will be provided.

11:00 P.M. - Candlelight Service of Holy Communion, Pastor Tom preaching.  Worship concludes with candlelight and singing of "Silent Night."  The Adult Choir will sing.  Nursery will not be provided.       

RIVER HILLS CHRISTIAN CHURCH
6642 Branch Hill-Guinea Pike
513-677-7600
Website: www.riverhillscc.com

5, 6 and 11 P.M.

LOVELAND PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
360 Robin Ave.
683-2525
Website: www.lpcusa.org

The first service, at 5:30 P.M., will have a new twist.  Those who attend are asked to bring a small bell, and at the appropriate time, everyone will ring their bell together!!  There will be extra bells here, so it’s OK if someone doesn’t have one.

The second service, at 7:30 P.M., will be a more traditional candlelight service.  Communion will be served, and our Chancel Choir will sing.

ST. COLUMBAN PARISH
894 Oakland Rd.
683-0105
Website: www.stcolumban.org

Annual family mass is at 4:30 P.M. on Christmas Eve and will also have a midnight mass with carols at 11:30 P.M.

Sycamore Presbyterian Church
11800 Mason Rd.
513-683-0254
Website: www.sycamorechurch.org

6:00 P.M. - Family Worship - Musical "Light Of the World" by Mark Patterson with the Chorister Choir as cast
8:30 P.M. - Candlelight service with Chancel Choir
11:00 P.M. - Candlelight service with Chancel Bells
Dr. Kent is preaching at 8:30 P.M. and 11:00 P.M. Sermon Title - "Making Spirits Bright."

LOVELAND UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
10975 S. Lebanon Rd.
683-1738
Website: www.lovelandumc.org

5:00 P.M. - Young Family/Children’s Service
(Candlelight, Children’s Choir, Praise Band,
Story by Pastor Doug)

7:00 P.M. - Candlelight Service
(Chancel Choir)

11:00 P.M. - Candlelight Service
(Communion, Special Music)

Child care will be available at 5 and 7 p.m. services.

ST. MARGARET OF YORK
9483 Columbia Rd. (Deerfield Twp.)
Phone: 683-7100
Website: www.stmargaretofyork.org

Christmas Eve  (Friday) -  Mass at 3:30 P.M. (children's Mass) and 10 P.M.
(Midnight Mass)

Christmas Day   (Saturday) - Mass at 10 am  (there is NO 4:30 P.M. Mass)

WASHINGTON, DC - THE WHITE HOUSE HOLIDAY - A PHOTO EXCLUSIVE BY LOVELAND MAGAZINE

WASHINGTON, DC - This year’s holiday theme at the White House, "A Season of Merriment and Melody" features holiday songs that have been favorites for generations of Americans.

The halls and rooms are decorated with vignettes illustrating many of the best-loved songs of the season. In July, the White House residence staff started designing and crafting vignettes featuring characters from well-known holiday songs, including "Frosty the Snowman," "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" and "Jingle Bells." The vignettes are displayed on mantles and tables throughout the Executive Mansion.

The decorations include 41 Christmas trees, 660 feet of garland, 245 wreaths, 221 bows and 155,000 lights.

In the Blue Room sits the official White House Christmas tree, an eighteen foot Noble fir decorated with 350 musical ornaments, 390 balls and 32,500 lights. Everything from mini-guitars and harps to tiny trumpets and violins adorn the tree.

A gingerbread replica of the White House is on display in the State Dining Room. The gingerbread house is made from 100 pounds of gingerbread, 150 pounds of chocolate and 50 pounds of marzipan. Edible presents and decorations surround the 2004 Gingerbread House. The roof of the White House Gingerbread House is adorned with Santa Claus, his sleigh, and a trio of instruments. The American Flag sits prominently on the roof and Barney and Miss Beazley, the Bush's Scottish Terriers, are up to mischief on the roof.

More than 40 snow covered trees with white lights deck the Cross Hall, East Room and main Dining Room. The East Room is a snow-covered forest and fluffy piles of snow blanket the trees and ground. Icicles, along with snowflakes and large silver balls bend the tree limbs toward the floor.

(To view all of the photos click this link or scroll down and click on the White House Holiday Photo Album on the left of your screen.)

http://davidgmiller.typepad.com/photos/the_white_house_holiday/index.html

All photos © DAVID MILLER/Loveland Magazine 2004

LOVELAND, OHIO - WHY WERE SOME BUSINESSES EXCLUDED FROM CHRISTMAS SHOPPING LIST?

LOVELAND, OHIO - Dear Loveland Magazine,

I wonder how you decided which businesses to include in this list (Christmas shopping? Think downtown Loveland 11/28/04) and even more how some were excluded. Namely Aralia Restaurant 215 Loveland Madeira Rd and Shooters Supply Shop 362 Loveland Madeira Rd.

What are the criteria to be included in your list of places to shop in Loveland? Does this web site have something that causes them to list a business on this list or a reason to not list a business. Please consider these places I've mentioned as well as any others you did not include.. Loveland is a good city, but only when we all act neighborly and fairly. The businesses I listed are great places with wonderful people who care about Loveland. The owners and employees deserve fair treatment and to be included in this list.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

James Meeks

Loveland Magazine responds:

Dear Mr. Meeks,

Thanks for writing with your concern about the Christmas shopping list.

I drove through Historic Loveland and along Loveland Maderia Road (within the Loveland City limits) with a pen and pad of paper at my side, jotting down the names of businesses I thought Loveland Magazine readers might overlook when they pondered gift buying. It appears I missed a few myself. And of course I knew I would and realized the peril of compiling such a list because I knew I just couldn't include each and every business.

I did shudder however, when you pointed out that I left Aralia's off the list because it is a fine ethnic restaurant, unique to the greater Cincinnati area. I was probably distracted by traffic when I drove past Aralia's. In fact, last Christmas season I helped organize a holiday gathering that filled the restaurant to capacity. The private party goers experienced the warm and gracious hospitality and fine food they offer. I would highly recommend Aralia's to anyone.

As far as recommending buying guns for Christmas presents, it would have never occurred to me to make such a recommendation. So I am sure as I drove through the shopping center writing down the names of businesses, it was not a deliberate exclusion. I will admit however, that if I had thought of Shooters Supply, I am sure they would not be have made the list.

In fact, several years ago I mounted a campaign in my church urging parents not to buy violent presents at Christmas. And at one Christmas when I helped organize a program for parents to purchase donated gifts at discount prices, I hid the violent toys a local toy manufacturer had donated - in the back room. My self justification for throwing them into the dumpster later that night was that these toys were of such a violent nature that even people with enough money wouldn't buy them for their own children. I felt it was probably the reason they were donated - they were leftover and this company didn't donate the popular toys, just the ones no one else wanted. I was not at all happy they were donated as presents for low income Loveland residents.

I did save some of the toys however, later removed them from their packaging, took out the guns, large knives, spears, etc., and later gave just the "action figures" to some of the young boys who participated in the program. They seemed to enjoy them just fine, without the hand guns, recoilless rifles and rocket propelled grenades.

But, I do see your point of view as I am sure a lot of guns are purchased as Christmas presents, it is just not something that would have occurred me and I admit my prejudice.

I do want to thank you however for writing and expressing your concerns about the list. In writing, you have helped accomplished my goal - to have people consider shopping locally and to send along the names of their own favorite places.

If other Loveland Magazine readers see that their favorite local business was left off the list, I hope they write a similar letter.

Best regards,

David Miller, Editor and Publisher

(Click here for a quick link to the list)

Download shopping_list.html

SYMMES TOWNSHIP, OHIO - STATE CHAMPION WRESTLERS HONORED

SYMMES TOWNSHIP, OHIO - Ron Troyan and Steve Hansen were invited to attend the wrestling match at the Loveland High School last Saturday to be honored for winning the individual State Wrestling Championship they won in 1979 and 1978. Their Head Coach at the time, Jeff Berkoff presented the pair with a plaque and the banners that will permanently hang on upper walls of the high school gymnasium. Troyan is on the left, Berkoff in the middle and Hansen on the right in the photo above. Berkoff is a wrestling official and teaches Social Studies at Loveland High School.The current members of the Loveland wrestling team surrounded the champions for the ceremony.

Troyan won the Class AA Heavyweight State title in 1978 and in 1979, Hansen won the Class AA 145 lb. State competition. . Troyan said when they were in high school (the current Loveland Middle School on Lebanon Road) they had to move the tables and chairs in the cafeteria and mop the floor before each practice.

Troyan lives in Deerfield township and is an Assistant Wrestling Coach for Kings High School. The wrestlers he now coaches, were at the meet Saturday for competition. He owns his own financial planning company, is married to Karen Hansen, a nurse at Children’s Hospital and has two children Paige and Chad. His Daughter Paige (16) was a State medallist in swimming as a freshman. Chad wrestles for the Kings Jr. High team.

Hansen has taught school for fourteen years in Vermillion, Ohio and teaches math and woodworking. He is married to Debbie, has two sons Matthew (17) and Chaz (9).

Troyan and Hansen hadn’t seen each other in twenty years.

LOVELAND, OHIO - A FITTING TRIBUTE

LOVELAND, OHIO - This is a link to a slide show of a very appropriate tribute to the men and women who are serving in harms way overseas. The slide show title is "Until Then..."

http://www.soldierworks.com/191/untilthen.swf

LOVELAND, OHIO - "Christmas in Loveland"

LOVELAND, OHIO - The annual "Christmas in Loveland" event is December 18, 4 - 9 P.M. in Historic Downtown Loveland. There will be a live nativity, horse-drawn carriages Santa, roasting chestnuts, local groups caroling, and much more. All events and activities are within two blocks of the bike trail in Historic downtown and shops and restaurants will be open.

"Keep the Home Fires Burning" is playing at the Loveland Stage Company Theater at 5:00, 6:00, and 7:00 P.M.

The Loveland Historical Museum will be open at 4 P.M. with music, children's activities in the log cabin, refreshments and last minute shopping from 4:00-9:00 PM.

(Click here to view or print the complete event schedule)

Download christmas_schedule.html

LOVELAND, OHIO - LOVELAND VS. MASON TONIGHT

LOVELAND, OHIO - In the men's basketball season opener at Kings High School on November 30, Loveland lost a down to the last second 47-49, very hard fought game. Charlie Ingstrup led Loveland scoring with 4 three pointers and 21 points. Matt Cripe blocked 5 Kings shots and scored 10. Loveland led through three quarters, but was outscored by Kings in the final quarter by 6.

In their 65-55 win on December 3 at home against Amelia, Charlie Ingstrup scored 19 points including nine for nine from the free throw line. Chris Grant scored 18, including 4 three pointers.

Charlie Ingstrup scored 13 including 2 three pointers in balanced offence in Loveland's 78-62 win over Glen Este on December 7. Chris Grant contributed 12 points including 3 three pointers, A. J. Forsythe scored 11 including 2 three pointers, and Ross Siekman had 13 points.

Loveland plays league rival Mason tonight at 7:30 in Mason. Loveland now has two wins and one loss while Mason is also 2-1 in this early season. These two teams match up pretty evenly. Travis Brown is the Mason player to watch tonight and Mason's defense is stingy, holding Glen Este and Harrison to 27 and LaSalle to 38 total points in their first three games. Loveland, Mason, and Winton Woods are all 2-0 in league play.

ADOPT A FAMILY FOR THE HOLIDAYS

Dear Loveland Magazine Readers, by Marjorie Newman

I would like to find loving people to adopt a family for Christmas.

I am very familiar with this issue, because my family and I are also in this situation We have four children and one who is handicapped. My husband and family have been through so many very unfortunate circumstances and it doesn't ever seem to end. I personally watch some of these families misfortunes and desperate issues, knowing full well, personally what it feels like. Even though we have our issues daily, it still breaks my heart to see what they go through as well. I wish with everything inside me I could do for these families myself, but unfortunately we're in no better position.

We have a lot of struggling families right here in our City of Loveland. Wouldn’t it be nice to give from your heart and adopt one of these families? There are more than four-hundred families and Elderly in our city who are poverty stricken and every holiday or every Birthday these parents can’t always provide for their children. It’s heart aching to think that these children would wake up Christmas morning, or for Hanukah, etc. to maybe one gift, maybe nothing.

A lot of people in our world today think these people, (whom may live in subsidized housing, such as Westover, McArther Park, etc.) put themselves there. Those people are very sadly wrong. Yes there are a few bad apples who brand the rest of the others. I am here to tell you most of these people have been stricken with devastation after devastation and every time they try to get ahead something else knocks them down. There are truly many families in desperate need.

People here in Loveland tend to completely overlook the poor and not let themselves think about it. They are looked down upon and branded. The whole idea is not to think about it, and then you won’t feel like you could possibly do anything to help or make a difference. It just gets swept under the rug. Some people think, oh they get help somewhere, they’re alright. You just don’t know.

If you sat down and actually asked one of these families how they got in this shape you would cry. This is the city of LOVE, let’s start spreading the love and helping our neighbors, right here in LOVELAND.

PLEASE, I BEG EVERYONE HERE IN OUR CITY TO ADOPT A FAMILY. If you are interested in adopting family or helping in anyway, such as donations, etc., PLEASE CALL ME AT 583-1673, CELL # 289-1485, or at my e-mail, marjoriemom23@aol.com

FAMILY’S IN NEED, PLEASE CALL AS WELL. We have had sign up dates, for both the people in need and people wanting to help. This could be a Blessed Holiday here in our community. Dig deep down in your heart for these families.

We are the city of LOVE. I have lived here my entire life and I really believe we can all be helped. I just wish I wasn't in a position to need help as well, but maybe it takes someone on the inside to get out the message. PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE, I beg you all for your help. I think we can get an overwhelming response.

Sincerely,

Marjorie Newman
Loveland, Ohio

LOVELAND, OHIO - MIDDLE SCHOOL WRESTLING OPENER

LOVELAND, OHIO - The Loveland Middle School wrestling team had its season opener at a tournament in New Richmond with 18 other schools on December 2. Fern Creek out of Louisville placed 1st and Loveland placed 2nd. Loveland had two Champions, Matt Snyder and Josh Lay. Zack Huesman, Trey Maserang, and Charlie Mather placed second and Joey Sarneck, Tyler King and Chris Roberts placed third in their weight class.

LOVELAND, OHIO - AND THE WINNERS ARE...

LOVELAND, OHIO - Catherine Gasser, won a gift certificate to Lazarus, and Amy and Ben Jost won a gift certificate to Paxtons Grill when George Grassan picked the cards they sent him at his one-hundredth-birthday party. In the photo above, Grassan is at his birthday party at the Brookwood Retirement Center surrounded by the 198 cards he received. The Sycamore Fire Department had just delivered, via fire truck, a cake with one hundred blazing candles.

The Jost's won a dinner certificate to Paxtons courtesy of Loveland Magazine and the Lazarus prize was later added by Grasson's daughter as a further incentive to get birthday cards to her dad after the one-hundredth card had already been received.

Grasson's ninety-year old sister few into Cincinnati from Seattle to be with him at the party which he said, "Was the best" of his life.

Thank you Loveland Magazine readers for helping make the birthday fun and memorable. Below are two of the twenty-two cards Grassan got from Jennifer Poe's second grade class at Loveland Elementary. Cards came from Florida, North Dakota, Georgia, Tennessee, and other states. Much of the credit for the card project goes to Miami Township resident Nancy Roberts and her extensive e-mail contact list.