Loveland Magazine

Schools can seek waivers from state

School districts that say they can't offer all-day, every-day kindergarten next school year can officially ask the state to excuse them from doing so. State law requires districts without full kindergarten programs to begin them next fall. But the legislature recently granted districts the chance to opt out for a year, delaying the programs until the 2011-12 school year.  Read on...

Mason: Double-digit Win Over Tigers

LOVELAND, OHIO - Loveland Magazine Sports Reporter Chris Shoals reports from the December 29 Loveland High School Boys Basketball game against Mason High School.

View complete game stats here.

Bill Sears Hired to Lead Loveland School Transition

“Now I have the wonderful opportunity of assisting the Loveland Board of Education and the staff in their transition to finding a new superintendent.” -Bill Sears

LOVELAND, OHIO - LovelandMagazine.com - James W.(Bill) Sears, a resident of Mason, has been hired as the interim superintendent of the Loveland City School District. Sears will assume the duties at Loveland until a permanent replacement for Kevin Boys can be found. Boys was recently hired as the next President of Southern State Community College. The Board has hired Effron & Associates to conduct a search to permanently fill the superintendent’s position.

Sears is currently working as Director of Curriculum and Instruction at the Little Miami Local School District. He is a former Superintendent at Lebanon, and Math Curriculum Consultant for the Warren County Educational Service Center. He also worked as Assistant Superintendent for Instruction, and Assistant to the Superintendent for Personnel, at the Sycamore District. Sears is also a former Principal of Sycamore Junior High, and Assistant Principal at Sycamore High School.

“I am basically leaving Little Miami and will be full time in Loveland. However, I may do some transition work here in Little Miami on a very limited basis,” said Sears. He said he might work a half day in Loveland then the other half at Little Miami.  “We are going to play that by ear. Basically, it is felt that it is important that the staff and community of Loveland have a superintendent on a daily basis until a permanent replacement for Kevin is found.”

Sears said that he has many things to be thankful for in his career. “From being a part of the Sycamore School district which has served as an incredible foundation, to leading the Lebanon Schools during a time of growth and construction.” He said that he has “come to love” developing systems to support the teachers at Little Miami as they strive to improve the learning for all students. “Now I have the wonderful opportunity of assisting the Loveland Board of Education and the staff in their transition to finding a new superintendent.”  Sears said he feels fortunate to be “afforded this opportunity to use my variety of educational experiences as the interim superintendent of such an excellent school district and community.”

As interim superintendent Bill Sears will receive $450 per diem and the contract can be severed with 10 days notice from either side with no set length, according to Loveland Communications Coordinator, Meg Krsacok. “The Board  will begin a permanent Superintendent search early in 2010." She said that Sears' contract also includes single health plan coverage because the State Teachers Retirement System requires the district to offer coverage.

Board President, Kathy Lorenz has said that in January of 2010, the Board will begin discussing the “process” and the hiring time line, including public participation. Lorenz said she expected a new person would be hired at the end of the current school year. However, a superintendent could be hired sooner if the right person is found, and if the person could go to work immediately, or could be released from any current contractual arrangements they might have.

Sears' resume includes:

• Adjunct professor for Xavier University- Administrative graduate program
• As superintendent at Lebanon, helping to lead the district from Continuous Improvement to Excellent, and the passage of a $50 million bond issue, a permanent improvement levy, and operating levy, and facilitating the design and construction of a new high school and elementary school
• Consulted with school districts in Warren County for improving the learning of mathematics
• Assisted Franklin City Schools math department unwrapping the standards/ moved from Continuous Improvement to Excellent
• Guided the revision of math curriculum for the Kings School District

Balanced Scoring Claws the Tigers Past Talawanda

by Chris Shoals

LOVELAND, OHIO - LovelandMagazine.com - The Loveland High School Lady Tigers have not felt the winning feel since December 9th when they began the season 3-0. Loveland was able to dominate Talawanda from beginning to end, and win the game 62-42.

Loveland was lead in the scoring tally by 3 seniors Ellie Iaciofano, Emily Holzderber, and Mollie Kuramoto who each contributed 10 points to the Tigers winning effort. The trio of seniors led Loveland on a 36-15 run in the second and third quarters. A key stat in this game was the dreaded turnover margin. Loveland’s three quarter court press forced Talawanda into 37 turnovers. Loveland won the turnover battle by 16; by far their largest margin of victory in turnovers all year. The Tigers stole the ball a season high 23 times, allowing every player that dressed for the game in a Loveland uniform to record a steal. That is a tribute to the success of the press.

Loveland was also solid from the free throw line, shooting 17-23 on the night, and had three girls that were perfect from the line: Mollie Kuramoto 2-2, Ariel Fisher 2-2, Emily Holzderber 4-4.

One big concern continues to be the three-point shot. The Tigers were only 1-10 from three point land, and in their last two games they are 4-22. Loveland has capable shooters from three, mostly Ali Dee, Presley Benzinger, and Ellie Iaciofano, but they were not given any open looks over the back end of December.

Loveland closed December with a 4-3 overall record, and 1-2 in division play. They will have a chance on January 1 to avenge the Harrison loss at Harrison, and get back to .500 in FAVC Buckeye Play.

January is highlighted by games against Anderson and Mason, both ranked in the top 10. Those games are on the 23rd, and the 25th, so that could be a key swing in the positive or negative direction.

GREAT IDEA: GiftCardDonor.com

There were $90 billion in gift cards sold last year and about $8 billion will never be used!  This is really one or two $10-$20 gift cards per person just sitting in a wallet, at the bottom of a purse, or in a junk drawer collecting dust. 

Imagine the good that could come of all those gift cards if we donated them to charity --- grocery cards to food pantries, apparel/bedding cards to shelters, pet store cards to animal shelters, and more!  

During these tough times, please consider donating your gift cards directly to your favorite charity or to one listed on GiftCardDonor.com.

Here is how the GiftCardDonor.com program works:

• People can donate any gift card of any value to charities at GiftCardDonor.com.
• The donor receives a tax receipt for their donation.
• Donated gift cards are resold at companion site GiftCardsAgain.com and 75% of the revenue goes to the designated charity!

Donors:
Please find a Gift Card Donor list of charities in your state at the top of any page to begin donating. 

If your favorite charity has not already joined, please mail your gift cards directly to the charity and tell them that Mophe sent you! 

Thanks for all you do!

Love,
Mophe

Recall Of All Lots Of Tylenol® Arthritis Pain 100 Count With Ez-Open Cap.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – December 18, 2009 – Fort Washington, PA – In consultation with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), McNeil Consumer Healthcare, Division of McNEIL-PPC, Inc., is expanding its voluntary recall to include all available product lots of TYLENOL® Arthritis Pain Caplet 100 count bottles, with the distinctive red EZ-OPEN CAP  (Full list of lot numbers provided below). In November 2009, 5 lots of this product were recalled due to consumer reports of an unusual moldy, musty, or mildew-like odor that was associated with nausea, stomach pain, vomiting and diarrhea.  The recall is being expanded, as a precaution, to include all TYLENOL® Arthritis Pain Caplet 100 count bottles with the distinctive red EZ-OPEN CAP.

The uncharacteristic smell is caused by the presence of trace amounts of a chemical called  2,4,6-tribromoanisole.  The source of 2,4,6-tribromoanisole is believed to be the breakdown of a chemical used to treat wooden pallets that transport and store packaging materials. The health effects of this compound have not been well studied, and to date all of the observed events reported to McNeil were temporary and non-serious.       Read on...

 

Christmas Tree Recycling. Pick-up, and Drop-off Locations

‘Tis the Season to Treecycle!

When the holidays are over, make sure you treecycle; treecycling is the act of recycling your cut Christmas tree, so that it can be used as compost or mulch.  “These trees contain valuable nutrients that can be used in many other capacities,” said Clermont Office of Environmental Quality Director Paul Braasch.  “The trees can get a second life after they are chipped (used for mulch and hiking trails), become a fish habitat, or are utilized for beachfront erosion or shoreline stabilization projects.”

Locally, many communities and the Clermont County Park District are offering opportunities for you to treecycle.  “Before you take your tree to a collection site or haul it to the curb for pick-up, make sure to remove all lights, tinsel, and decorations,” added Braasch.

Among Clermont County recycling opportunities:

• Amelia:  Curbside pick-up is available on December 28, 2009, and January 4, 2010.
• Loveland:  City residents can call Public Works Department for disposal drop off options, or call 683-0150, ext. 1439 for pick-up.  Trees will be collected from December 28, 2009 through January 8, 2010.
• Miami Township:  Residents can bring trees to either Paxton Ramsey Park or Miami Meadows for chipping.  Trees can be dropped off seven days a week during daylight hours from December 26, 2009 through January 31, 2010.  Call (513) 248-3728 with questions.
• Milford:  Tree collection will be curbside every Wednesday in January.  If you have any questions, please call Michael Haight at (513) 831-7018.
• Pierce Township:  Township residents can bring trees to the Pierce Township Hall anytime after Christmas until January 31, 2010.  The drop-off area will be in the parking lot closest to the ball fields and will be clearly marked.
• Stonelick Township:  Stonelick Township residents can drop their trees at the Clermont County Fairgrounds near the horse barns from December 28, 2009 through January 8, 2010.  Signs will be posted.  The drop off area will be roped off.  Please call (513) 732-3299 with any questions.
• Union Township:  Union Township residents can drop off trees behind the Service Department Complex, 4312 Glen Este-Withamsville Road.  The drop-off days are January 1 through January 31, 2010.  The Township will have someone at this location to assist residents Monday through Friday during this period and the drop-off area will be clearly marked.  If you have any questions, please contact the Service Department at (513) 753-2221.
  
• Pattison Park: Clermont County Park District: County residents can drop off trees lakeside at Pattison Park, January 4 through January 15, 2010.

(For a complete list of tree recycling opportunities in Clermont County, visit the Web site www.oeq.net.)

Hamilton County residents can drop off their yardwaste for free at three drop-off locations, when they re-open in 2010. Approximately 2,100 tons of yardwaste is collected each year. Click here for a printable pdf file (Download YW_flyer_print ) of the flyer.
If you prefer to compost your yardwaste at home, the District will be conducting a compost bin sale in the spring, 2010. Click here to be added to Compost Bin the mailing list.
Locations

• East: Bzak Landscaping – 3295 Turpin Lane (off Rt. 32), Anderson Township MAP
• 
West: Kuliga Park – 6717 Bridgetown Road, Green Township MAP
• North: Rumpke Landfill – Struble Road and Colerain Avenue, Colerain Township MAP

Symmes Township will be offering Christmas tree recycling for its residents this year from Saturday, December 26, 2009 to Sunday, January 10, 2010.

During that time, Symmes Township residents can 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 plastic wrapping must be removed.

This service is provided free of charge. For more information, please contact the Township office at 683-6644.

Posters at Loveland High School