PERSON 2 PERSON
B1 Your Community Press newspaper serving Loveland, Miami Township, Symmes Township E-mail: loveland@communitypress.com We d n e s d a y, N o v e m b e r 1 1 , 2 0 0 9
Liz Trombley
Volume 91 Number 38 © 2009 The Community Press ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
Letters to Santa
Hey kids! It’s time to start writing your letters to Santa and send them in to the Community Press, where they will be published on Wednesday, Nov. 26. Please send your brief letter to Santa to Melissa Hayden, Santa’s Helper, 394 Wards Corner Road, Loveland, OH 45140 or via e-mail to mhayden@communitypress.com. Be sure to include your child’s name, age, the community you live in and the Community Press paper you read, as well as a telephone number we can use to contact you if we require additional information. You may also include a non-returnable photogaph (or JPG image) that may appear with your letter. Letters and photos are due no later than Friday, Nov. 13.
Out for a ride
Riders, board members, volunteers, friends and family gathered at Cincinnati Therapeutic Riding and Horsemanship Saturday for the grand opening of the center’s new indoor riding arena in Miami Township. SEE LIFE, B1
A love-ly group
The Loveland Valentine Ladies and the Loveland Area Chamber of Commerce Valentine Committee are making preparations for the famous 2010 Loveland Valentine program. They are inviting the community to get involved by nominating an eligible lady to be the 2010 Valentine Lady or submitting artwork to be considered for the 2010 commemorative Valentine card. SEE STORY, A5
To place an ad, call 242-4000.
Web site: communitypress.com
B E C A U S E C O M M U N I T Y M AT T E R S
50¢
Transparency Bontrager’s goal
New board member invites input By Jeanne Houck jhouck@communitypress.com
Newly elected Loveland Board of Education member Katie Bontrager has yet to be sworn in, but she’s already taking steps toward her goal of making the school board more accessible. The Miami To w n s h i p woman elected Nov. 3 is invitBontrager ing people to email her at DrB04@hotmail.com with opinions and ideas. “My biggest concern is the idea that there isn’t transparency on board matters,” said Bontrager, who racked up 4,863 votes. “I want to really look at that issue and try to get to the bottom of it.” Incumbent Christine Olsen was the race’s highest vote-getter, garnering 5,145 votes. Olsen, of Symmes Township, said she plans to seek creative ways to hold the line on finances without crippling
JEANNE HOUCK/STAFF
Poll workers Bryan Smith of Pleasant Ridge and Dianne Peters of Symmes Township help a voter cast a ballot at the Prince of Peace Lutheran Church’s Parish Life Center. a successful school system. “Maintaining the delivery of high quality education within our financial means will continue to challenge us all,” Olsen said. “Due to the uncertainties of funding, and new expectations of 21st century skills, now is the time to be even more creative, innovative, and less traditional with all of our resources.”
Incumbent Linda Pennington of Loveland made the cut with 5,018 votes. “My priorities for the next four years will be striving to keep the district excellent while investigating ways to deliver the most costeffective education for all students,” Pennington said. All three women will begin four-year terms in January.
Candidate Michael Lubes of Symmes Township came in last with 2,752 votes. School board member Judy McClanahan did not seek re-election. Bontrager, Olsen and Pennington will serve on the school board with Kathryn Lorenz, currently board president, and member Jim Kolp, whose terms end in 2011.
Leis rejoining Symmes board By Amanda Hopkins
ahopkins@communitypress.com
Jodie Leis will get a second chance as a Symmes Township trustee after she and Ken Bryant earned the majority vote for the two open seats on the Board of Trustees. Leis narrowly defeated incumbent Kathy Wagner by 88 votes. Leis says she owes her victory at the polls to the residents of Symmes Township, many of whom she met campaigning doorto-door. “I appreciate them that they gave me another a chance,” Leis said. Many of Leis’s family members, including her children, her husband, Jack George, a Loveland Symmes firefighter, her sister and her parents passed out flyers and encouraged residents to vote. Leis’s father, Hamilton County Sheriff Simon Leis, even went door-to-door. Bryant also made his campaign a “family affair,” visiting many residents’ homes during his campaign, going door-to-door with the help of his wife. Bryant’s granddaughter, son, daughter and daughter-in-law also distributed materials at the polls the day of the election. Leis said with the slight margin separating her and Wagner, she gives credit to the two other candidates for their strong following in the township. “As hard as I worked, it was
G O L D PRICES P R I C E S ARE A R E UP! UP! GOLD 0000361837
HERALD
WE BUY GOLD! “ANY KIND” OLD, BROKEN, UNWANTED, WORN OUT, ETC, ETC, ETC.
Stevison
Hines
Libraries, casinos on voters’ minds AMANDA HOPKINS/STAFF
Many residents were doing some last-minute campaigning for issues and candidates at the Sycamore Presbyterian Church in Symmes Township. From left: Mary Spottswood for Issue 4, Kathy Knutson for Trustee Ken Bryant, Janet Ivers also for Bryant, Jack George for wife, Jodie Leis, who was running for trustee, Mary Sanker for the library and Kathy Wagner, running for re-election as a trustee.
Inside
Cox leads Loveland council race, A2 Miami trustees retain seats, A2 Final unofficial results, A2 still really close,” Leis said. Bryant has worked with Wagner his entire time on the board, but says he doesn’t see the board’s priorities changing much. “We will work together to achieve what we collectively feel are the best interests of the residents regardless of dynamics,” Bryant said. “We’ll do what is the right thing to do for the Symmes Township. That won’t change no matter who is in office.” Bryant said there are plans for public work sessions in both December and January for the trustees to capture both the
Gold andSilver BRING IN THIS AD AND RECEIVE ADDITIONAL
10%
MORE MONEY PAID BY GRAM WT.
incoming and outgoing trustees’ priorities for the township. Sally Krisel, director of the Hamilton County Board of Elections, said they have 21 days to certify official results. She said there are still provisional, unscanned and absentee ballots to factor into the vote count. Absentee ballots are counted in the 10 days following the election if they have been postmarked on or before Nov. 2, the day before the election. Wagner has been a trustee since 1998, holding the position of trustee president for four years. Leis had previously served as a trustee from 2000-2005. Bryant will begin his second term on the board with the re-election. The trustees will be sworn in during the first meeting of the year Jan. 5.
Voters at the Prince of Peace Lutheran Church Nov. 3 were more focused on ballot issues than political races. Deborah Stevison said her Padgett desire to vote for the library levy brought her to the polls. “It’s an important source for people who wouldn’t otherwise have access to a lot of those kinds of things,” she said. Mike Hines said he voted was to support casinos. “It will bring in money to the state and help the city of Cincinnati make the Banks (housing and retail project planned for the riverfront) viable” – which will have a positive effect on surrounding communities, Hines said. Charlene Padgett, a bookkeeper, also voted for casinos. “It will increase the number of jobs and attract other businesses,” she said. “Look at Indiana.” – By Jeanne Houck
WAT K I N S J E W E L RY P L U S
FULL SERVICE JEWELRY STORE 547 Loveland Madeira Rd. • Loveland, OH 45140 • 513-683-3379
SHOPPERS HAVEN PLAZA