Loveland Magazine

Smog Alert for Saturday and Sunday

Dirty Air Will Be Harmful to Children This Weekend

The Southwest Ohio Air Quality Agency (a division of Hamilton County Department of Environmental Services) has issued a SMOG ALERT for the Southwest Ohio region including Loveland.

The Agency expects to see levels of ozone in the “unhealthy for sensitive groups” range on the Air Quality Index (AQI).

Precautions to Take This Weekend

Active children and adults, and people with respiratory disease, such as asthma, should avoid all outdoor exertion; everyone else, especially children, should limit outdoor exertion.

You are urged to do the following this weekend to help reduce air pollution:

• Combining trips or eliminating unnecessary vehicle trips
• Do not idle your vehicle
• Walk, bike, or inline skate on short trips
• Refuel your vehicle after 8 PM
• Do not use gasoline-powered lawn equipment
• Don't top off your tank when fueling
• Conserve electricity
• Do not use oil-based paints and stains
• Keeping your vehicle maintained
• Spread the word

Children are particularly vulnerable to air pollution because they breathe faster than adults and inhale more air per pound of body weight.

Miami Township Road Construction Up-Date

Business 28

Montclair Blvd will re-open 2 weeks early, on May 25th. This will complete the major pieces of reconstruction of the north half of Business 28. Two-way traffic will be switched to the new pavement on the north side of the roadway to allow crews to begin reconstruction of the south side. 

Traffic will be temporarily restricted to one lane for one day only in order to accommodate this switch and to tie in the south side driveways to the new pavement on the north side. On Tuesday, May 29th, Business 28 will be one-way eastbound between Montclair and Cinema from 6am until midnight. Westbound traffic will be detoured using Cinema Drive to Montclair Blvd.

SR 28 – Castleberry to I-275

The current 3 lane traffic pattern will remain in place for several weeks as construction crews continue to work along the north side of SR 28 between I-275 and Castleberry.

SR 28 at I-275 Southbound Ramp Work May Require Night Time Closure

The Ohio Department of Transportation will begin construction of a new southbound ramp configuration beginning on Tuesday, May 29th of the SR 28 at I-275 Southbound Ramp. Most of the initial work will take place during the evening and nighttime hours and may require some overnight lane closures on I-275. The general contact number for ODOT District 8 is 1-800-831-2142. ODOT inspector Scott Nicely can be reached at (513) 933-6668. Project information regarding work on state highways can also be found at www.buckeyetraffic.org.

Congressional Leader Calls for Investigation of the Pardon Office

by Dafna Linzer

The ranking member of the House Judiciary Committee has called on President Barack Obama to order an investigation into the case of Clarence Aaron, a federal prison inmate whose quest for a presidential commutation was the subject of a ProPublica investigation.

The investigation, co-published May 13 with the Washington Post, showed that Pardon Attorney Ronald L. Rodgers, who works for the Justice Department, withheld key information from the White House in 2008 regarding Aaron’s application.  Read on at ProPublica...

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Not All Battle Scars are Visible

 

UC Clermont student and Iraq veteran John Bentley from Union Township

Not all wounds are visible.  UC Clermont student John Bentley said he knows the damage Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) can do.  The 29-year-old Union Township man, a 2001 Glen Este High School graduate, has been receiving treatment for PTSD since serving 4 ½ years with the Army that included a tour of duty in Iraq.  “The things we have seen and experienced leave scars,” he said.  “Just because you can’t see them, doesn’t mean they aren’t there.  Without treatment they can lead to depression, addiction and many other problems.”  Bentley, Commissioner Bob Proud (representing the Whole in My Heart Support Group), and representatives from the Clermont County Veterans’ Services Commission were among those on a panel at UC Clermont on April 25, 2012; the symposium was designed to educate students, faculty, and staff on the challenges veterans and their families face when they come home.

“PTSD can occur after someone goes through a traumatic event like combat, assault, or a disaster,” said Dr. Jennifer Lewis, a psychologist affiliated with the VA Medical Center in Cincinnati.  “Most people have some type of stress reaction after a trauma, but when the situation doesn’t go away, you may have PTSD and need professional help to get through a difficult situation.”  The United States Department of Veterans Affairs estimates that up to eight percent of the population will have PTSD at some point in their lives; the rates are higher among veterans.   It is estimated that up to 20 percent of Iraq and Afghanistan veterans have been impacted, 10 percent of Gulf War, and up to 30 percent of Vietnam veterans.

“I would like others to know that sometimes it is hard for us to talk about what we saw over there,” said Bentley quietly.  “Let the veteran open up and talk if he wants to, and don’t make insensitive comments about war.”  He said that treatment is easily available and it’s free, all you have to do is pick up the phone and make a call.  “The Clermont County Veterans’ Services Office has a number of services to help veterans of all conflicts obtain benefits and medical services,” said Rodger Young with the CCVSO.  “The office also offers help for vets looking for a job,” added Vicki Ruiz with the Amvets Career Center at the CCVSO.  “We can help them brush up on resume writing, interviewing skills, and lots more.”  For more information about the Clermont County Veterans’ Services Office visit the website www.ClermontCountyVeterans.com or call 732-7363.

2012 Loveland High School Senior Parade

Loveland, Ohio - This LOVELAND MAGAZINE HD VIDEO  is from the May 23 annual Senior Parade by Loveland High School graduating seniors. This year was more "official" than in years past, and it started at Castle Skateland on Loveland Madeira Road, and headed to the High School.

 

Bringing Jobs Home

 

by Sen. Sherrod Brown

Like you, too often I’ve opened the newspaper only to learn that jobs in our state—whether in Mansfield, Lorain, or Springfield—are being outsourced to places like China, Indonesia, or Mexico. We have seen a decade of manufacturing job loss and factory shutdowns, which has weakened communities and blindsided families all across our state.

Today, the manufacturing sector is beginning to turn around. Over the last two years, our country has added 400,000 manufacturing jobs. We made a tough choice to restructure the auto companies, which has revitalized manufacturing across the supply chain. But it’s not enough— we must encourage companies to return to the United States, and discourage them from ever leaving. We have to replace “outsourcing” with “reshoring”—bringing good-paying jobs back to the United States.

Combined with our country’s outdated trade policy, current American tax law actually encourages companies to move jobs offshore—where labor is cheap and environmental and health standards are weak. As it stands, businesses can receive a tax break for moving personnel and company equipment to a foreign country — effectively deducting the cost of moving jobs overseas from their U.S. taxes. Instead of promoting job growth here, our nation’s tax laws reward companies for outsourcing.

That’s why I’m sponsoring the Bring Jobs Home Act, which makes two common-sense changes in our tax laws—a carrot-and-stick approach. 

The proposed legislation would give a 20 percent tax credit for costs associated with moving a production line, trade, or business back to the United States.  Any business that brings jobs back to the United States can use this credit to reduce their overall tax liability. In providing this tax credit, we incentivize companies to reshore jobs that might have been moved abroad.  It would also close the tax loophole that allows companies to take a tax deduction when they send jobs abroad. Our laws should reward companies for bringing jobs to the United States, not for shipping them overseas.

It’s clear why the United States, and Ohio especially, is a good place to do business. We have a first-class workforce, a strong network of colleges and universities, and manufacturing know-how that is second to none. Despite all the roads and bridges we need to repair, which the Senate-passed highway bill takes a major step towards achieving, companies invest in the U.S. because we’re capable of building a first-class infrastructure. Not only that, but companies are returning to the U.S. because of higher costs associated with doing business abroad: whether that be transportation costs, higher labor wages in places like China, or the legal difficulties of doing business overseas.

The Bring Jobs Home Act builds upon these factors by giving a real, financial incentive for companies to bring their production lines back to the United States. It aims to make the United States more attractive to business development and investment, and would help make our country more competitive in the global marketplace.

In Ohio, we’re seeing more and more anecdotal evidence that demonstrates how companies are actively moving operations back to the United States from abroad. For instance, Apex Sports, based in Zanesville, produces softballs with an engineered foam core. Once made in China, Apex Sports now makes its softballs in the United States.  Roesweld Products is a small plastics extruder in Columbus now making its product in Ohio instead of importing from China. Columbus-based Priority Designs manufactures D-Solv, a compostable netting bag system for yard waste. Its product is now made in the U.S., but was previously produced in Asia. Crane Plastics, also in Columbus, has successfully reshored jobs from China to Ohio.

We need to turn our tax code right side up when it comes to U.S. jobs—both promoting their creation and discouraging their elimination. That’s what the Bring Jobs Home Act does, and it’s one important step that we can take to continue turning our economy around.

 

Former Loveland Tiger Krystle Gish Named US Lacrosse 1st Team All American

Colorado Springs, Colo - On May 9, US Lacrosse, the national governing body for women’s and men’s lacrosse, announced Division I and Division II All-America teams.

Former Loveland High School standout, midfielder Krystle Gish, now in her Senior year at the University of Wyoming was named a First Team All American.

Gish competes in the Rocky Mountain Women's Lacrosse League and has been Wyoming’s leading scorer three of her four years.

Parent’s Day Out Openings Available

Wee Three Kings Preschool, a ministry of Epiphany United Methodist Church at 6635 Loveland-Miamiville Road, has openings in their 3 year old afternoon, and 18-36 month, Parent’s Day Out classes.  Parent’s Day Out classes meet from 9 AM until – 1 PM, Monday through Thursday.

Parents can  choose one or two days a week.

The 3 year old classes meet two afternoons per week, from 12:30 PM until 3 PM. 

If interested, call Stacy at 683-4256.

Art Discussion Group "Do You have Change for a Denarius?"

You can join a discussion group now organizing at the Blue Ash Library for an archeological discussion of Pompeii's monetary use and the coins found in the ruins. David Schwei, from UC's Dept. of Classics Program, sponsored by the Archaeological Institute of America, will lead the discussion which coincides with "A Day in Pompeii" on exhibit at the Cincinnati Museum Center.

The discussion will be on June 2, from 2 until 4 PM.

The programs is for adults and older teens and will be held in the Blue Ash Branch meeting room at 4911 Cooper Road. The event is FREE. Phone 513-369-6051.

To register follow this Link

You can request ADA services for these programs by calling one week in advance at (513) 369-4400 (TTY 369-4409).

Loveland Arts Council’s Paint the Town

Loveland, Ohio - Loveland will be awash in color from June 25th thru July 1st as artists of all media Paint the Town.  The Loveland Arts council invites you to watch the artists at work around town and view Loveland through the artists' eyes. 

Of special attention on July 1st between 2 and 4 PM, there will be an Easel Display and Wet-Paint Sale to show the artists' work.

New this year will be artists demonstrating their craft and artists who teach will also be on hand giving out information on July 1st in Historic Loveland by the Old Railroad Station.

For more information, go to www.lovelandartscouncil.org and click on the facebook link and go to events. To ask a question, e-mail us at artscouncil@fuse.net

For artists interested in participating in Paint the Town, you can pick up your packet with more info after June 21st at:

Loveland Hardware
131 Broadway
Loveland OH after June 21st

Miami Township Road Project Up-Dates

Business 28

Construction in the area of the Montclair Blvd intersection is proceeding ahead of schedule. Montclair Blvd will re-open 2 weeks early, on May 25th. This will complete the major pieces of reconstruction of the  north half of Business 28. Two-way traffic will be switched to the new pavement on the north side of the roadway to allow crews to begin reconstruction of the south side.

Traffic will be temporarily restricted to one lane for one day only in order to accommodate this switch and to tie in the south side driveways to the new pavement on the north side. On Tuesday, May 29th, Business 28 will be one-way eastbound between Montclair and Cinema from 6am until midnight. Westbound traffic will be detoured using Cinema Drive to Montclair Blvd.

SR 28 – Castleberry to I-275

Beginning Saturday, May 19th, the three existing lanes will be narrowed to three 10 foot wide lanes to allow room for the contractor to work on the north side of the roadway.

SR 131 at McCormick Trail

Construction on this turn lane project will begin on June 4th. The contractor will start with the relocation of the water line which will require intermittent temporary lane restrictions. Two way traffic will be maintained with flaggers.

Wolfpen Pleasant Hill

The contractor will return this summer to install the final surface course of asphalt while school is out of session.

 

Loveland Track Qualifers Head to Regional Meet in Dayton

The following Loveland High School athletes qualified for the regional track meet next Wednesday and Friday at Welcome Stadium in Dayton:  Freshman Giovanni Ricci tied for 3rd in the high jump at 5-10", Senior Eric Bryant finished 2nd in the pole vault and he returns to the region meet where finished 5th in the region a year ago.

The top four at region qualify for the state championships in Columbus on june 1st and 2nd at Jesse Owens MemorialS tadium at Ohio State University.

The boys 4 x 100 meter relay team of Juniors Luke Cummings, Anthony Johnson, Luke Walker and Freshman Nathan Slagel finished 3rd in the District meet to qualify as well. They also re-set their own school record with a time of 43.59 seconds.

Heartbreak Loss to Elder Panthers

by Dan Timmerman

With a full week to wait before their 3rd round tournament game against Elder on Thursday, the Loveland Tigers added a tune-up game with New Richmond High School for Tuesday and came away with a 5-4 extra inning victory over the Lions at Loveland’s Evans Field.  The game fit nicely in the week for both teams as the Lions are still alive in the Div. II tournament with a 3rd round game on Thursday of their own against CNE.  New Richmond finished the season ranked #4 in The Cincinnati Enquirer Div. II-IV poll and Loveland finished #6 in the Div. I poll. What may have been an interesting match-up during the regular season, the game played at this time certainly did not carry the same atmosphere of the games over the past few weeks.  What it did do though was allow for the Tigers hitters to get some at bats and 8 Loveland pitchers, 1 each inning, to stay sharp all in a game setting against a quality opponent.  Plus adding another victory in the “win column”.  In the end the Tigers got a comeback win, scoring 5 runs highlighted by an RBI single by Dylan Bodley, an RBI single by Ryne Terry 2 innings later which scored Bodley.  That run was followed by Aaron Malloy scampering home on a wild pitch with the tying run in the 6th.  Neither team scored in the 7th, nor did NR score in the top of the 8th with Malloy (W, 1-0) pitching.  In the bottom of the 8th Malloy hit a 2 out single, stole 2nd, advanced to 3rd on the throwing error and again scored on a wild pitch, this time with the winning run.
 
Hitting leaders in the game for Loveland include: Malloy 3-3, 2R; Bodley 2-3, R, RBI; Terry 1-2, S, RBI.

State Tournament Loss to Elder

The Loveland Tigers Varsity Baseball season came to an end Thursday as the Elder Panthers, trailing 7-4, scored 4 runs in the bottom of the 7th for a heartbreaking 8-7 victory over the Tigers advancing to the 4th round of the OHSSA Division I State District Tournament and eliminating the Tigers.  For the 3rd consecutive season the Tigers made it to the 3rd round game to face a higher ranked GCL opponent.  In the previous 2 years, 2010 against LaSalle and last year against Moeller, the Tigers were unable to provide much of a challenge with losses of 6-1 and 10-0, respectively.

After the 1st inning of this game one couldn’t help but think this may be a replay of last year’s Moeller loss as, after Loveland was retired quietly in the top of the 1st inning, the Panther’s jumped out to a quick 4-0 lead on the Tigers and their best pitcher, Michael Louis.  But from the last out in the 1st inning through the final out in the 6th Louis would settle down to be the pitcher he’s been for most of his high school career retiring 16 of the next 18 batters and allowing just a, 2 out single in each of the 3rd and 6th innings.

As Elder’s bats were being silenced by the Tigers the Loveland bats began to wake up.  After being held to a 1 hit through the first 3 innings, a line drive single by Darren Sackett in the 2nd, Sackett crushed another Panther offering this time to the base of the right field fence for a 2 run double scoring Jacob Meyer, having been hit by a pitch, and Mitch Lendenski, who had reached on an error.  The Loveland bench and crowd all erupted on the play with Sackett firing everyone up twirling his hand above his head on 2nd base seemingly letting the Panthers know the Tigers would not be going down quietly today. 

Next up was the hot hitting Aaron Malloy who followed with a double of his own deep into the left-center field power alley bringing home Sackett to close the scoring gap to 1 at 4-3. 

In the 6th inning the Tigers rallied to take the lead beginning with a 1 out single by Malloy. Senior Dylan Bodley was called on to pinch hit for Ryne Terry and delivered by scorching a shot down the left field line for a double, putting runners at 2nd and 3rd.  Reid Waddell then dropped a bunt to the right side of the infield with Malloy coming home for a perfectly executed suicide squeeze play to tie the score at 4 with Bodley moving to 3rd.  Austen Funk came in to run for Bodley.  Reed Schlesner then raced down the 1st base line to beat out a groundball for an infield single, scoring Funk for a 5-4 Tiger lead.  After Ryan Altman was hit by a pitch to put runners on 1st and 2nd, Joe Moran brought both home on a double to put Loveland up 7-4. 

Neither team scored in their next at bat, which brought the game to the fateful bottom of the 7th.  Louis went back to the mound for the 7th and started the inning giving up a groundball up the middle, which shortstop Waddell was able to keep in the infield, but went a single.  The next batter hit groundball to third which was fielded and thrown to second for the force out but the turning throw for a possible double play glanced off of the runners helmet, out of play, with the batter awarded second base on the throw.  The next batter reached on a HBP putting Elder runners on 1st and 2nd.  The next batter hit another groundball, this one through the infield for an RBI single and putting the tying run on base. 

Louis was replaced on the mound by Sam Timmerman who walked the first batter he faced loading the bases and putting the winning run on first.  Elder hit another groundball, this one again kept in the infield on another excellent effort by shortstop Waddell, which went for a hit but allowed only 1 run to score and maintaining a 1 run Loveland lead, 7-6.  Timmerman then struck out the next batter on 4 pitches for the second out.  Kevin Helmers then came to the plate for the Panthers and Timmerman quickly got 2 strikes on him.  A ball and 2 foul balls later Timmerman threw a 4th  2 strike pitch, which seemingly had everyone in attendance holding their collective breath, as the pitch was taken by the batter and received by the catcher with what looked like little movement of the glove from where the catcher had placed his target.  The umpire called the pitch a ball for a 2-2 count.  Helmers then turned what was already a great at bat, into a game winning performance by lining the next pitch down the left field line scoring the tying and winning runs for the 8-7 Elder victory. 

Hitting leaders in the game for Loveland include: Sackett 2-4, R, 2B, 2RBI; Malloy 2-4, 2B, RBI; Bodley 1-1, 2B, R*; Waddell 1-2, S, RBI; Moran 1-4, 2B, 2RBI; Schlesner 1-4, R, RBI.
* PR-Funk

Loveland completes their 2012 season with a fine 20-8 overall record, 12-4 in the FAVC.