Loveland Magazine

Lotsa Helping Hands - How It Works

What problems does Lotsa Helping Hands address?

Most of us have experienced the crisis of a friend or loved one suddenly unable to function as they had for their family or themselves. Perhaps it's a debilitating illness, or post-surgery rehabilitation necessitating weeks or months of bed rest.  Maybe it's a complicated pregnancy or a cancer diagnosis requiring frequent chemotherapy appointments. In many instances of acute family crisis, the stricken must also cope with quickly finding support for meal preparation, grocery shopping, and transportation for themselves and their dependent family members.

Isn't there already an easy way to coordinate volunteers?

No. Even when there are plenty of friends and community members offering help, the effort often falls short. Until now, the coordination of these volunteers from various circles has been too cumbersome to attempt, or the good intentions result in frustration and inefficiencies—missed appointments, too much food delivered, and endless phone tag.

What does Lotsa Helping Hands provide?

Once the Coordinator creates a free, private Lotsa Helping Hands web site and adds members to it, members are automatically notified of available volunteer opportunities. Through an intuitive interface that requires no training, volunteers can sign up for any number of events, view their current commitments, and be sent email reminders of upcoming obligations. Lotsa Helping Hands provides summary views of commitments as well as unassigned events, eliminating redundant assistance, missed commitments, and excessive administrative labor.

"Every day, it was just phenomenal. I'd be really tired, and I would go to the door and there would be a hot meal… I felt so isolated, and this showed me I shouldn't feel that way. It's incredible how big the community is, and how everybody wants to help." —Rebecca G., breast cancer patient

Link: Lotsa Helping Hands - How It Works.

CINCINNATI, OHIO – Move from Loveland: “Blessing in Disguise”

CINCINNATI, OHIO - The OKI Chapter of the Families of Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) held their "Walk-n-Roll to Cure SMA" at Nisbet Park in Loveland for two years.   After two successful "Walks" in Loveland, the group felt the need to move to a location which offered the option of moving indoors in the event of inclement weather.  This was an important consideration due to the vulnerable health situation of SMA children who cannot be exposed to rain and cold.

Therefore, in 2005, the "Walk-n-Roll to Cure SMA" moved to the campus of Xavier University with the option of using the concourse of the Cintas Center in the event of rain and cold.   Well, this year the weather tested the group on Saturday, April 14, and the Families of SMA responded by moving the "Walk" with its many activities inside the Cintas Center Concourse. 

The situation proved to be a blessing in disguise.   After two wonderful events at Nisbet Park and the Loveland Bike Trail, the first year on the Xavier Campus seemed to be a "let-down of sorts" in that the atmosphere did not duplicate that of Nisbet Park.   But, this year, moving the event indoors, working together against the elements, and offering lots of activities captured the camaraderie and spirit we had in Loveland.

The April 14 "Walk-n-Roll to Cure SMA" raised close to $90,000, all of which goes to research to find a cure or treatment.  SMA is the #1 genetic killer of children under the age of two.  Children who survive infancy live with only 10 to 20% of the muscle strength of typical children.   They cannot walk, crawl, sit without total support, control their trunk and neck, and some cannot swallow or breathe without a ventilator.   There is currently no cure for SMA, and the Families of SMA is conducting research to find a cure or treatment -- which research is funded by the "Walks" held by FSMA Chapters across the country.

More Photos.

LOVELAND, OHIO - 9th Annual Quilt Show Open House

Saturday, May 5
Loveland Library
Participants are invited to bring their families and friends for an afternoon of refreshments & socializing. Music by Wild Carrot.
2:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.

The Dog

by Sgt. Roy Batty

08 January 2007

So, it is a new year, and once again I am disappointed that we are not all zipping around the skies in shiny silver jet packs. You would have thought we would have been there in the impossible Year of Our Lord 2007, along with bustling Martian moonbases and cute little round alien critters straight out of a Robert A. Heinlein book.  But no, here we are in freakin' Baghdad, watching Mesopotamian hillbillies waste each other with assembly line machineguns designed in 1947, and trying to relearn hard won lessons from a bitter little war 40 years behind us.  It's all a bit depressing.

I could deal with all that, though, if it wasn't for all the mud. We enjoyed a week's respite while the clouds held back their torrents, and a weak and impotent sun  slowly transmogrified the mud back into it's usual tan-grey talcum powder.  Now it's back with a vengeance, like some monster jello from a particularly cheap 1950's sci-fi horror flick.  "Revenge of the Chocolate Mousse."  "Bride of the Mocha Blancmange."  And my personal favorite--"It Came From The Porta-potty." 

Rumor has it that 1st Platoon lost a soldier last week to it. One moment he was walking to the latrines, and the next second he was gone.  All they found was his boonie hat lying on top of a particularly innocent looking mud hole, with a few air bubbles wetly plopping around it.  No one's seen him since.

Mud victims or no, life goes on pretty much as normal, if such a word as 'normal' can be used on whatever twisted planet Baghdad rests upon.  Mid-way through our deployment, and we have all gotten used to the routine.  Admittedly, said routine is pretty easy here at FOB Shield.  Too easy, if you ask me.  We go out for a few hours every couple of days, and then spend the rest of the time either playing Xbox or languishing in the Motorpool of Lost Souls, trying to make torque wrenches out of commo wire and the remnants of ammo crates, since the mechanics (a.) flatly refuse to actually work, and (b.) won't give us any of their tools.  The other day I managed to take apart a steering gear box and change the MWO with my Leatherman and a P-38 can opener.

Today we have a new mission, and sort of an interesting one. We are going to a IP station on the fringes of Sadr City. Previously, it was left out of the whole training and assessment thing we have been pretending to do with the other stations in town, since we were pretty darn certain that the entire staff was Mehdi Army.  Someone higher up has decided that we will single-handedly convince them to turn their backs on their sectarian buddies and embrace the cause of democracy through the combined tactics of giving them the occasional case of drinking water and maybe a bullet or two.  Giddy with the success of winning previous counter-insurgency wars by handing out free shit, as in our glorious triumph in Vietnam, we are going to have a go with these guys.

Clermont County, Ohio – Free Junior Police Academy Summer Camps

Clermont County, Ohio - Teenagers across Clermont County, interested in a possible career as a CSI or police officer, will get a unique opportunity this summer for free hands-on training in a multitude of law enforcement fields.  The fourth annual Clermont County Junior Police Academy (JPA) will be held at four different locations: Goshen Middle School (June 11-15), Batavia Middle School (June 18-22), Bethel Middle School (June 25-29), and Glen Este High School (July 9-13).

“By offering the free week-long camps at locations across the county it will allow kids, between the ages of 13 and 17, to find a location close to their home to attend,” said organizer James Taylor, a Goshen Township police officer.  Taylor brought the Junior Police Academy concept to this area where it has met with great success.  ”This year we can handle up to 30 kids in each class.”

Goshen Township, Ohio - Smith Road Closed Longer

Goshen Township, Ohio - The Clermont County Engineer’s Office said that due to inclement weather, they are extending the closure of Smith Road in Goshen Township from Friday, April 27 until Friday, May 4, 2007.

The roadway is currently closed for a bridge replacement.

Goshen Township, Ohio – Gibson Road to Close

Goshen Township, Ohio – The Clermont County Engineer’s Office will close Gibson Road at the bridge over O’Bannon Creek on Monday, May 14, 2007 for a bridge replacement.  The Goshen Township project is expected to be completed and the roadway re-opened to traffic on Friday, July 27, 2007.

Traffic detours will be posted along SR48, Goshen Road, and SR28.

Are Rove's missing e-mails the smoking guns of the stolen 2004 election?

Bob Fitrakis & Harvey Wasserman

"Warren County declared a "Homeland Security" alert, removed the ballot count from public scrutiny, then recorded a huge, unlikely margin for Bush."

"E-mails being sought from Karl Rove's computers, and recent revelations about critical electronic conflicts of interest, may be the smoking guns of Ohio's stolen 2004 election. A thorough recount of ballots and electronic files. preserved by a federal lawsuit, could tell the tale."

"These and many more instances of irregularities and theft were reported at www.freepress.org and then confirmed by U.S. Representative John Conyers and others who researched the election."

"But the most critical reversals may have come as exit polls indicated that despite massive Democratic disenfranchisement, and even with preliminary vote count manipulations, Kerry would win Ohio by 4.2%, a margin well in excess of 200,000 votes."

"The key to that reversal may be electronic. It has now become widely known that the same web-hosting firm that served a range of GOP websites, including the one for the Republican National Committee, also hosted the official site that Blackwell used to report the Ohio vote count."

"This astonishing conflict of interest has been reported at the epluribusmedia.org on-line investigative service. Cross-postings have come from luaptifer at Dailykos and blogger Joseph Cannon's Cannonfire.blogspot.com. They all confirm that the RNC tech network's hosting firm is SMARTech.com, based in Chattanooga, Tennessee. SMARTech hosts georgew.bush.com, mc.org and gop.com among other Republican web domains, in a bank basement."

Read the full column by clicking below.

Are Rove's missing e-mails the smoking guns of the stolen 2004 election?.

Columbus, Ohio – Benefit Bank Expands

Gund Contribution of $150,000 will Enhance Community Discussion, Organization of Statewide Program

Columbus, Ohio – Governor Ted Strickland, together with The George Gund Foundation and the Ohio Association of Second Harvest Foodbanks, today launched an effort to enhance and expand the Ohio Benefit Bank, a web-enabled, counselor-assisted program that helps low- and moderate-income Ohioans identify available benefits while filing their taxes.

A $150,000 grant from The George Gund Foundation will help the Ohio Benefit Bank expand its mission of allowing low- and moderate-income Ohioans to electronically file their income taxes while gaining access to credits and benefits such as the Earned Income Tax Credit, food stamps, child care subsidies, home energy assistance and children’s health insurance at the same time.

GRAVEL REFUSES TO GROVEL / WINS FIRST DEBATE

Allen L Roland

Just as I was beginning to nod off during the first Democratic debate ~ lulled to sleep by careful, posturing, groveling candidates beholden to AIPAC and the Military/Industrial complex ~ Mike Gravel woke me up with his wit, authenticity and seeming ability to sense what Americans really wanted to hear ~ the truth and righteous anger over a badly managed war, occupation and economy.

Link: GRAVEL REFUSES TO GROVEL / WINS FIRST DEBATE.

LOVELAND, OHIO - BOYS COMMENTS ON STRICKLAND'S PROPOSED SENIOR CITIZEN PROPERTY TAX RELIEF

LOVELAND, OHIO  Below are the estimated savings of Governor Ted Strickland's proposed expanded homestead relief program for senior citizens. The figures are based on Estimated Median Home Value (EMHV) by School District compiled by the Ohio Department of Taxation.

Loveland School District: $175,000 (EMHV),  64.59 (Tax Rate) $3,343 (Current Tax), $2,865 (Tax after Proposed Exemption), $478 (Tax Savings), 114.3% (Tax Reduction).

Milford School District: $147,000 (EMHV), 58.939 (Tax Rate) $2,653 (Current Tax), $2,202 (Tax after Proposed Exemption), $451 (Tax Savings), 17.0% (Tax Reduction).

Little Miami School District: $148,000 (EMHV),  46.43 (Tax Rate) $2,104 (Current Tax), $1,749 (Tax after Proposed Exemption), $355 (Tax Savings), 116.9% (Tax Reduction).

The Governor's proposal would replace the current homestead exemption program with an exemption of $25,000 from the market value of a home for all owner-occupied homesteads, where the homeowner meets one of the following criteria:

- s age 65 or over
- is the spouse of a deceased homeowner who was 65 at the time of death
- is totally and permanently disabled

The income limits under the current homestead program would be eliminated under the Governor's proposal.

The new program is estimated to expand the number of homeowners being served by the homestead exemption program from 220,000 under the current program to about 775,000. On average, the proposed homestead exemption program will provide tax relief of more than $400 for each eligible homeowner according to the report.

Loveland Superintendent, Dr. Kevin Boys said, "Any property tax relief is a great thing for our senior or disabled citizens. I'm certain it can often be a challenge for our seniors on fixed incomes to vote for school levies even when they understand the need and importance of quality schools in their community.”

The figures show the estimated amount of the tax relief for a typical eligible homeowner in each school district, using the estimated median home value in each district. The estimates are for a homeowner who qualifies under the Governor's proposal but is not eligible for the current homestead exemption program. The tax rate that is used is the 2006 school tax rate plus the weighted average tax rate in each school district for non-schools (the tax rate for non-schools is generally not uniform within a school district because districts tend to be in multiple counties, townships, or municipalities).

The data shows the current property tax, the property tax after the $25,000 exemption, the net savings, and the percentage savings for a typical taxpayer in each school district. In general, the higher the tax rate, the greater the dollar savings to the homeowner. Conversely, in general, the lower the median home value, the higher the percentage reduction from the current tax.

As an example, the Department compared two school districts in Montgomery County, Dayton, and Oakwood. The tax rate in Oakwood is about seven mills higher than in Dayton, so the average property tax savings in Oakwood is $519 as compared to $462 in Dayton. However, since the median home value in Dayton is considerably lower than in Oakwood, the percentage of the current tax that is reduced is substantially higher in Dayton, 36 percent versus 13 percent.

(Source: Ohio Department of Taxation)

“As I travel Ohio I hear how this tax cut will truly benefit the lives of Ohioans, and I can tell it will make a meaningful difference for Ohio's senior citizens,” Strickland said. “This is truly an example of investing in what matters. By making sound fiscal decisions to fund current and future school building projects for Ohio's students we are also able to offer a tax cut for our seniors.”

Strickland's office said the proposal to expand the Homestead Tax Exemption will provide property tax relief for an estimated 775,000 homeowners - one of every four homeowners statewide, compared to only 220,000 who receive the benefit from the exemption today. “Expanding the Homestead Exemption will save senior citizen homeowners an average of $400 a year without impacting school districts.”

Strickland's proposal also eliminates income limits that currently apply. Otherwise, the program continues to benefit: (1) homeowners age 65 or over; (2) the spouse of a deceased homeowner who was 65 or over at the time of death; or (3) a homeowner who is totally and permanently disabled.

“The annual savings are significant for all senior homeowners but even more so for those living in the state's seven largest school districts,” Ohio Tax Commissioner Richard Levin said. “Based on the median value of a home in these districts, senior homeowners will see property tax cuts ranging from 26 percent to 61 percent.”

The Governor's office said the proposed expansion would have no impact on school district or local government revenues because the state will reimburse for the additional property tax relief, as it does now for the existing Homestead Exemption program.

Boys agreed that this particular proposal ensures that schools will be reimbursed for the exempt taxes, but added, “While that sounds reassuring, the reality in the Governor's budget proposal is that Loveland Schools is projected for a zero percent increase in state funding in spite of continued growth of our student population. So our actual funding for each pupil goes down.”

Boys also said, “While we applaud and support the Governor's tax relief for senior and disabled citizens, there is still much work to be done in this budget and in the way schools are funded in Ohio."

Boys noted that the proposed constitutional amendment for which signatures are now being collected by Getting It Right! For Ohio’s Future, includes the exemption of the first $40,000 market value for seniors as opposed to the Governor's plan, and overall, less reliance on property taxes for funding Ohio's schools. He said that now is “a good time for senior citizens to get involved in the debate about school funding.”

CLERMONT COUNTY, OHIO - Proud Encourages Lawmakers

CLERMONT COUNTY, OHIO - Commissioner Bob Proud recently appeared before key staff members of Congress and the Senate to encourage them to work toward restoring funding to fight drug abuse and trafficking.  “Several years ago Clermont County received $200,000 in Judicial Assistant Grants (JAG) and that has shrunk to only $43,000 for fiscal year 2008,” said Commissioner Proud.

LOVELAND, OHIO - Jazz Band To Perform Final Concert of the Year

The Loveland High School Jazz Lab Band and Jazz Orchestra will perform their final concert of the year on Thursday, April 26, at 7:30 p.m. in the high school auditorium.  All are invited to attend as the band pays tribute to "Stage and Screen." The band will perform favorite televison, movie, and stage themes from the past and present including a medley of Magnum PI, Night Rider, and A-Team,  written by former member Steven Seifried.  The grand finale will be a medley of hits from Jesus Christ Superstar.

Link: Loveland City Schools.

LOVELAND, OHIO - Summer School Program Announced

Summer School Program Announced

The Loveland City School District will be offering summer school for students who need to receive remediation for their math and reading skills; repeat coursework from the school year; earn a credit for a failed course; or earn original credit in physical education.  Summer School only offers make-up credit for academic courses. This is the first year that students can take physical education for an original credit.

Link: Loveland City Schools.

Jeff Jarvis: NBC: Show it all

NBC: Show it all

Comentary by Jeff Jarvis

If they had wanted to be utterly safe, to offend absolutely no one, they might well not have put anything out, or they could have punted that decision to government.

Link: The Blog | Jeff Jarvis: NBC: Show it all | The Huffington Post.

MIAMI TOWNSHIP, OHIO - 19th Annual Community Benefit Auction

Honoring Milford Miami Ministries for their years of community service.

MIAMI TOWNSHIP, OHIO - The Community Benefit Auction will be held on April 29, 2007 at 6:00 P.M. in the Great Hall of Milford First United Methodist Church, 541 Main St. Milford, OH 45150.  Proceeds from the live and silent auction benefit Milford Miami Ministries and Clermont Chapter of TriState Habitat for Humanity. The Missions team has been securing donated services and items from the community and local businesses for the auction.  Past items included dinners, theme baskets, baby sitting, boat trips, gourmet baked goods, sporting tickets, artwork, symphony tickets, celebrity autographed items and much more.  Steven Early of the Early Auction Company, Milford, OH, will provide auctioneering services.    Food and baby sitting services are provided.

Milford Miami Ministries (MMM), a group of community churches in Milford and Miami Township in Clermont County, was established in September 1994.  This 501(c)(3) non-profit coalition formed in 1994, to further support the activities of Mary Miller, who has provided community service by daily assisting low-income family in distress for the past 60 years. MMM and the Mary Miller Fund help those in need with food and/or emergency financial assistance.  MM operates a food pantry and family assistance services Tuesday and Thursday, (9 am - 12 pm); Wednesday, (6:30 pm – 8:00 pm) at the Milford Church of Christ, (844 State Rt. 131, Milford, OH, 513-248-1114).  In 2006, MMM assisted over 400 clients with utilities, rent, or prescriptions and provided food pantry, school backpacks, Holiday food boxes and Christmas gifts for neediest kids in Milford and Miami Township.

Clermont County Habitat Chapter of TriState Habitat for Humanity builds affordable, simple housing for working low-income families in Clermont County.  These families perform 500 hours of sweat equity on Habitat projects as part of their down payment.  Habitat Families purchases these homes with zero interest loans at cost, being reduced by volunteer labor and donated materials.  Their mortgage payments to Habitat are applied to the construction of additional homes.  Thus, a gift to Habitat works in perpetuity, reinforcing the cycle of community responsibility and improvement. Over the years, this Community Benefit Auction has helped fund 31 Habitat houses in Clermont County. In March, Clermont Chapter of TriState Habitat for Humanity celebrates the start of their 9th Flood Plain Habitat House in New Richmond, which will be the 32nd Clermont County Habitat House and the 170th Habitat house to be built in the 8-county service area of TriState Habitat for Humanity.    For info contact TriState Habitat office at 513-942-9211; tristate@habitat-tristate.org or www.habitat-tristate.org.

ANOTHER REASON TO DREAD TAX DAY

Mid-April has historically caused a certain dread in the lives of all taxpaying individuals. Paying taxes, so the saying goes, is the price we pay for freedom. But it's still hard to give our hard-earned money away to the government every year.

In recent years, tax day has been a bit easier to face thanks to pro-growth policies that have allowed all of us to keep more money in our pockets. Let's take a look at this year alone. In 2007, Americans will receive an average refund of $2,394, up from $2,314 in 2006. Additionally, the average federal tax rate for a family of four earning the median income has been reduced to its lowest point since the 1960's.

The bad news is that this past week, as millions of Americans lined up at the post office to mail in their 2006 income tax returns, the majority in Washington was busy working on a federal budget blueprint to eliminate the tax relief that America's families, seniors and businesses have benefited from over the past couple of years.

CLERMONT COUNTY, OHIO - Free immunization clinics for children

CLERMONT COUNTY, OHIO - As part of National Infant Immunization Week (April 21-28, 2007), the Clermont County General Health District will offer two free immunization clinics for children.  The first will be held on Wednesday, April 25, at the United Methodist Church located at 5491 Newtonsville Road in Newtonsville from 1 p.m. until 3 p.m.; the other shot clinic will be held on Thursday, May 3, at the General Health District Main Office, located at 2400 Clermont Center Drive in Batavia between 8:45 a.m. and 11:30 a.m.

There are many reasons to make sure your child is immunized.  Consider that before the polio vaccine was available, up to 20,000 cases were reported in this country.  None were reported in 2000.  Before immunizations were available, up to 260,000 cases of whooping cough were reported in this country each year with 9,000 deaths.

“Vaccines are one of the most successful and cost effective public health tools we have for preventing serious disease and death,” said Clermont Health Commissioner Marty Lambert.  “Diseases that were once common, such as polio, measles, mumps, and diphtheria are now distant memories for most of us. Infants and children are particularly vulnerable to infectious diseases and it is critical to ensure they are vaccinated in a timely manner.”

It is estimated that over one million two-year-olds in this country are still missing one or more of the recommended immunizations.  Health experts recommend that children be vaccinated against 14 diseases before they are two-years-old. “This program that involves offering free childhood immunizations is a way to help those families who can not afford to pay for the shots,” said Lambert. 

The motto for the National Infant Immunization Week observance is love them, protect them, immunize them.

MIAMI TOWNSHIP, OHIO - Millbrook Farm Subdivision Garage Sale

MIAMI TOWNSHIP, OHIO - The Millbrook Farm Subdivision is having a yard sale this weekend with twenty homes participating. 

 

Rain or Shine - 8am-??

 

Friday and Saturday April 27th & 28th.

 

Off Route 48 near Paxton Road.

BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan— Aviation task force hosts GWOT Trot

BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan— More than 2,000 runners arrived April 14 to participate in the Army Aviation Association of America’s annual 5 kilometer/10 kilometer run known as the “GWOT- Trot.”  This event was held not only here, but also at Forward Operations Base Salerno, Afghanistan, and Fort Bragg, N.C., on the same day.

Members of the Armed Forces, Coalition forces and civilian personal here registered and competed in the run to win first, second and third place medals for the top three males and females to complete the 5 km. and 10 km. run.  There was also a medal rewarded to the first team to complete.

“The turn out for the run was well over what was expected, which seemed to have a positive impact on everyone’s moral,” said Army Capt. Thomas J. Whitlow, Company A commander, Task Force Atlas. “More than 300 people showed up the day of the run to register.”

Dear Loveland Magazine,

I am really disappointed in this edition of Loveland Magazine.  I think the cover is inappropriate.  The man who killed 33 people, including himself, was a crazed maniac.

I'm sure people who belong to the NRA were just as shocked and upset about this incident as anyone.  Do you think the government should take arms away from everyone?  Citizens should be allowed to have weapons for hunting, target practice, or protection.  The 2nd Amendment gives people the right to bear arms.  Don't portray NRA members as gun wielding terrorists.

Also, is it normal practice to print offensive language, even if it is a journal entry?  Can it not be edited, so everyone in Loveland can read it, including kids?

P.S. I am not a NRA member.

Penny Robinson

Blooms and Berries Open House this weekend

Dear Loveland Magazine,

We're Blooming!

Take advantage of this beautiful weekend and come out to see us.  We'll
show you what's available and a sneek peak at plants that will be ready
soon. If you're anxious to get the season started, most of our premium
annuals are blooming and ready to take home.

*This year we have a better selection of haning baskets than ever. See
what's ready now and what you have to look forward to.

*Check out our bulk and packaged vegetable seed.

*Take advantage of 30% off all remaining pansies and violas.

*Visit our goats Bloom and Berry!

Hours:
Sat 10-5
Sun 11-5

See you soon!
~Cathy, Jeff, & Kristy

P.S. we open 7 days a week starting April 28th (Next Saturday!)

Dear Loveland Magazine,

I no longer wish to receive this email from you.  I am highly offended
by your tasteless NRA picture.

Debbie Hager

Fund Free Mammograms @ The Breast Cancer Site

Your click on the "Fund Free Mammograms" button helps fund free mammograms for women in need — low-income, inner-city and minority women whose awareness of breast cancer and opportunity for help is often limited. Your click is paid for by site sponsors, and mammogram funding is provided to clinics throughout the U.S. through the efforts of the National Breast Cancer Foundation.

Link: Fund Free Mammograms @ The Breast Cancer Site.

LOVELAND, OHIO - STAMP ON SALE TO READY PUBLIC FOR PRICE INCREASE

LOVELAND, OHIO - If it could ring, it would resonate freedom and independence from using one or two-cent stamps to mail letters when stamp prices change in the future. The U.S. Postal Service (USPS) has introduced its latest consumer innovation by dedicating the Forever Stamp next to the patriotic icon it depicts. Featuring the Liberty Bell image and the word “forever,” the Forever Stamp — available nationwide today — is good for mailing one-ounce First-Class Mail letters anytime in the future — regardless of price changes.

“We are making history this morning,” said USPS Board of Governors Vice Chairman Alan C. Kessler. “And what better place to make history than right here in Philadelphia — the ‘Cradle of Liberty,’ — alongside the Liberty Bell.”

The Forever Stamp will always be available at the price of a First-Class Mail stamp in effect at the time of purchase. To introduce the stamp to the public, the Postal Service is offering the stamp today at 41 cents. Customers may use the stamp as soon as they wish, but stamp prices will not change until May 14. When prices change in the future, the Forever Stamp will sell at the new one-ounce, single-piece First-Class Mail price.

“The first U.S. postage stamps appeared in 1847,” Kessler added, referring to the five-cent Benjamin Franklin stamp that was good for mailing letters up to 300 miles, and the 10-cent George Washington stamp for delivery beyond that. “Let history now record that the first Forever Stamp was dedicated on April 12, 2007, in the birthplace of American democracy and bearing the eternal symbol of American liberty.”

There are no limits on customer purchases. Beginning today, April 12, the Forever Stamp will be available in booklets of 20 through www.usps.com, by calling 1-800-STAMP-24 and at Post Office retail counters nationwide. Customers may also purchase the stamps from selected Post Office vending machines. Starting May 14, Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) and Automated Postal Centers will begin offering the Forever Stamp in sheets of 18. Also, many participating convenience stores, grocery stores, drug stores and other retailers will also begin selling Forever Stamp booklets of 20.

Columbus, OH – Strickland Sends Letter to President Bush

Columbus, OH – Ohio Governor Ted Strickland on April 10 sent the following letter to President George W. Bush expressing concern over further deployment of  Ohio National Guard troops.

President George W. Bush
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20500

Dear President Bush:

I write to you today in concern for the continued and unprecedented sacrifice our men and women in the Ohio National Guard bear in relation to the ongoing conflict in Iraq, Afghanistan, and elsewhere.

Yesterday, the Department of Defense announced an alert order for the possible deployment of additional replacement units in support of the war in Iraq. Four National Guard brigade combat teams, including the 37th Infantry Brigade Combat Team from Ohio, could be deployed as soon as December 2007.

As you are aware, the 37th Infantry Brigade Combat Team was originally in line for possible mobilization in 2009. The timeframe has been moved up dramatically. This is a significant departure from the commitment made to Ohio soldiers and their families, and I believe it is a breach of faith.

While this alert purportedly is not associated to the current “surge,” I remain troubled by the significant burden Ohioans continue to shoulder during the recent conflicts, with over 9,000 Ohio soldiers deployed since 9 / 11.

The brave men and women who serve in the Ohio National Guard are putting their lives on the line. I am asking for your assurance that prior to deployment, every

Ohio soldier has the most up-to-date equipment, including individual body armor systems, M-4 rifles and other weapons systems, night vision devices, and up-armored type wheeled vehicles. I am also asking for your assurance that every Ohio soldier has appropriate training.

Our soldiers and their families deserve nothing less. On behalf of the men and women in the Ohio National Guard, I look forward to your response and assurances.

Sincerely,

Ted Strickland
Governor, State of Ohio

cc: Defense Secretary Robert Gates

Of blown off limbs and cute little robots

by Sgt. Roy Batty

    It is morning for me, if you can call the
heatlampglare of noon in Baghdad morning.  I am
sitting in the 'backyard' of the barracks, a cracked
cement slab interrupted by a teetering basketball hoop
and the dusty green tentacles of a small tree; some
sort of Mesopotamian version of a weeping willow.  I
am sitting on a bench made out of old ammo crates in
the midst of my usual morning routine; sipping
brackish coffee out of a lead and mercury can, and
enjoying a nutritious breakfast of four or five
chainsmoked Camel cigarettes.

    Facundo emerges out of a white porta-shower, and
stomps across the gravel to the basketball court,
clutching a sodden towel and his shower kit.  Facundo
is one of the drivers in my squad; a broad shouldered,
bespectacled Latino guy with a massive tattooed
silhouette of a cross on his back and a nasty temper
when he's drunk.  Like a fairly high percentage of the
soldiers in my platoon, I like him, but in small
doses.  He's from some Detroit suburban shithole, and
has the demeanour that you would expect someone from a
Detroit suburban shithole to have--sarcastic,
arrogant, and self absorbed.  Except that every so
often he shows a tiny glimpse of his inner man, who I
think is someone much less self assured and therefore
much more likable.  He lumbers over, and lights a
cigarette.

    "So, we got QA/QC today, sergeant?"  he asks around
the butt.

    "Nope, got a night mission.  Load-up's at 18:45."  I
reply, looking at the ground between my legs, flicking
ash onto the hot cement
.
    "Mission, huh?  Fuck yeah."  he says without any
intensity.

    "You hear about 1st Platoon?"  I ask, glancing up at
him.

    "Nah."

    "Got hit last night.  EFP.  Took off the gunner's
leg.  Driver and TC took shrapnel.  Commo blackout,
all that good shit,"  I tell him.  I just heard myself
about half an hour ago, from SGT French.

MIAMI TOWNSHIP, OHIO - TOWNSHIP TO DEDICATE NEW “BARK PARK”

MIAMI TOWNSHIP, OHIO - Miami Township will open its first “Bark Park” for all its canine residents and their owners in the township on Saturday, April 21 from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. The Bark Park is located at Miami Meadows Park on Ohio 131. It was built on existing property the township owned on the northern part of the property at the end of the main drive into the park.

Events include numerous contests for dogs, including longest and shortest tail, best kisser, most spots, tallest dog, smallest dogs and others. The Township will also crown its TOP DOG award from among 21 dogs that were nominated by residents. More than 1,000 on-line votes have been made in the contest on the Miami Township website.

There will also be demonstrations that include frisbee-catching dogs, a Fire/EMS canine rescue dog, and a dog obedience instructor.

“The Bark Park gives dogs and their owners a chance to run and play without the fetters of a leash,” said Ken Tracy, Chairman of the Miami Township Board of Trustees. The new facility features fenced areas for dogs to run free, although they will still be welcome in other areas of the park and other township parks. All dogs must be kept on leashes while outside of the fenced area.

Miami Township Trustee Mary Makley Wolff said the decision to build the facility came after years of requests by dog owners in the township.

“Over the past five to seven years, we’ve had numerous people call and request a dog park,” Trustee Wolff said. “ We had about three acres of surplus land at Miami Meadows that we had no plans for, and it happens to be suited perfectly for a fenced-in dog park.” A special dog water fountain is available for a good slurp at the end of a hard day’s play, and the facility will also feature amenities for the dog owners, such as shaded areas to sit and relax while their dogs run.

“There are two fenced-in areas,” Trustee Ed Humphrey said. “There is one area for large dogs, and there is a another areas for smaller dogs. You just let your dog run free.” A list of rules is has been set for the new facility. The township asks that dog owners using the facility make sure their pets have all of the recommended vaccinations.

“We think this will be another great spot in the community where residents can come in, sit down and talk while their dogs have a great time,” said Eric Ferry, Fiscal Officer for Miami Township.

NRA Infant Bib

Description: This terry cloth baby bib proudly displays the building blocks of Second Amendment protection, "NRA". This bib features an adjustable snap collar and is available with blue or pink trim. Please specify trim color when ordering. Price: $7.95

Please specify trim color when ordering.

Is "Blood Red" available?

MORROW, OHIO – L.M. SCHOOL BOARD MEETING CHANGE: OTHER NEWS

MORROW, OHIO – The regularly scheduled April meeting of the Little Miami Local Schools Board of Education has been rescheduled for Wednesday, April 25 at 7PM. in the Little Miami High School media center.

The Little Miami Intermediate School Student Council recently sponsored a "Pennies for Patients"  fundraiser for the Leukemia and Lymphoma foundation. Students were asked to donate spare change. They exceeded the school-wide goal of $200 by raising nearly $425. To make the fundraiser more personal, LMIS raised funds in honor of Hannah Berryman, a Mason, Ohio resident who is a vivacious leukemia survivor.

SUMMER SCHOOL

Little Miami Local Schools is accepting applications for Summer School. The annual summer school program for grades K-12 is an opportunity for students to receive extra help in reading and math, take classes for remediation and get a jump start on earning credits for graduation.

Reading and math intervention for grades 1-8 will be held July 9-27. There will be two sessions for physical education, grades 9-12. Session 1 will run June 4-19, and session 2 will run June 20-July 6. Academic classes for grades 9-12 will be held June 11-29.

Deadline for physical education registration is May 25. Priority registration for in-district students is May 18. Deadline for intervention registration is June 29.

Please visit the district Web site at www.littlemiamischools.com to download the physical education registration form or for the intervention registration form.