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I am once again appalled at the lack of input and judgment made by our City Manager (check your charter, we have a strong CM form of government). In his attempt to save his dwindling support he spends a couple million of our dollars. Did no one else notice the eleventh hour insert at the meeting on Monday.
Nearly two and a half million dollars after passing on the property he should have purchased. Let’s see now, we are out nearly 100k spent on the consultants, 300k in property tax lost, attorney fees to attempt to annex this property, 100k to add an access road. Not to mention the price of rehabilitating and maintaining the soccer fields. This puts us awfully close to the purchase price of Sugar Camp.
Anyone up for a recreational center in the City of Dayton. Yes, the Comprehensive Plan has been thrown out the window.
Oh, I forgot to mention the million he and council agreed to pay for flowers on Park Avenue. WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO THE STEWARDSHIP of OAKWOOD. How many poor decisions can we afford to let them make?
Frustrated Citizen
Hear, hear to the grandparent who wrote this.
I live out here in Kent, WA and have seen it here with my own kids as well.
My recollections of the old (very old) days when I played at OHS was that everbody got to play at some point. Only one time did I see a kid not play at all during the season.
Parents need to be supportive of the coaching staff, but at the same time, they need to help them keep everything in perspective. That is, why do we have sports programs? Partly to have fun and learn to play together as a team. It is therefore imperative that all the kids play to some extent.
Parents, remind the coaches of this if you see the problem. If they don’t listen, go to the league organizers. Don’t let them off the hook!!
After all, you’re paying for it.
Ted Reinhart
OHS Class of ‘73
I am writing in response to the letter titled “Sidelining not fair”. My concern is a little different. It is that we paid $150 for our son to play and while he is having a great time, it is somewhat disheartening to see the old, torn, beat up jerseys that they are playing in when teams like East Dayton and Huber Heights have new, real game jerseys, with East Dayton’s actually being personalized. I also know for a fact, because I have family members that play on other teams in the league, that we paid double what they paid for their kids to play. So where is our money going if not to replace old equipment and jerseys????
Erin Terpstra
I would like to applaud the courage of the grandparent that spoke so eloquently about the play time issue in the Pee Wee football program. Whether paying at that level to play or family members paying admission to come and watch it is disappointing. Unfortunately, it does not get better.
It seems that Junior High coaches select their core group of players and allow them to dominate the play time in the game. When a player goes to the coach and asks what they can do to get more play time and they produce that, it does not change the outcome. When a player asks why they are not getting play time, they are told they made a mistake and then they watch the quarterback throw two interceptions or “the” running back fumbles the ball and remains in the game, this sends an inconsistent message. At this time in their development as athletes, they should be learning from their mistakes, especially in a game situation, and this cannot happen if you are not permitted the chance to learn.
I believe that sports should be a time to build confidence and team spirit. How can an athlete gain confidence in a sport if he/she is not given an opportunity to play? At these levels all of the players showing the commitment to be at practice every day and showing a love for the game, should be given the chance to contribute. Nothing could be more demoralizing than to put these “side-lined” athletes in the last seconds of the game. What message is that? We are losing so badly so you cannot make a difference or we are winning by so much that you cannot mess it up.
It has been very frustrating to me that even when the “chosen” team is failing miserably, that the coaches don’t give the many athletes sitting on the sidelines a chance to make a difference. Without that chance, how do you know if you have a star waiting on the sideline ready to shine through?
Anonymous
Hey Change, I see that you’re keeping yourself busy. What’s up?
Oh, a lot of the usual: grass and kids are growing, the Sun’s changing its schedule, and the trees are getting ready for their big performance, you know all those changes that people hardly notice.
Well, have you got anything big planned?
You too? I keep getting that question from people and I have to remind everyone that I’m just a messenger – I do the bidding of anyone who gives me a task. If you want to know what’s coming, ask around. And if you want something in particular – take some action and I’ll be happy to incorporate it into a future delivery. That said, I still really like working with people, because their curiosity can take them in so many directions, it’s never dull. The sun, moon and stars on the other hand, have been at this so long, I hardly have to check with them. You guys though, if you could just remember not to ignore me and/or each other – it’d make things a lot more pleasant. Unfortunately, you keep falling into bad habits when you get scared – of being afraid of the unknown and letting your wonderful imaginations conjure of images of disaster. Most of the time, if you’d ask and listen to each other – you’d find a great opportunity that neither of you were able to see alone. Unless you work at it and recognize the symptoms of fear, it’s very easy to stick with the habit of not learning how to build trust with each other.
Any suggestions or bright spots?
Sure, take a look at the first line in the City of Oakwood’s Vision Statement: Where citizens know and respect one another. While’s there been a lot of negative behavior lately, you’ve seen the folks who’ve been modeling that behavior. And if people make it a priority, it can become the norm again. Certainly people have to recognize that’s a more sustainable model for positive change than simply being more outlandish that the previous person, just to make their point. I’m excited about what can happen at Sugar Camp, Old River, Fairmont Drive and City Council if people commit to talking with each other and come up with the most imaginative and creative ways to address the issues together. Learn how to, and practice discussing hard things, uncomfortable things and you’ll find many more great options than you ever imagined. John Patterson, Charles Kettering, Orville and Wilbur Wright and the kids playing OCC sports have done it, and look at the great things that they were able to accomplish. It’s a lot more rewarding and fun than if you continue to ignore each other and me, Change! Remember, I work with everyone who work’s with me.
Frank Hollingsworth
420 Ridgewood Ave
Dayton, OH 45409-2325
(937) 293-2839 - home
(800) 826-2990 - fax
fhollingsworth@iichange.com - email
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