October 3, 2006 - Volume 15, No. 40

a Winkler Company publication

Also featuring photos from our monthly supplement...

'Runnymeade' - The Talbott Home

2006 Homecoming Court

The Oakwood High School Homecoming Queen candidates for 2006 gathered for picture at the front of the school on Friday. Pictured, left to right: Sarah Finley, Dani Reese, Claire McDowell, Kara Hamilton and Kristen Cobb.

14 named National Merit Scholarship qualifiers

National Merit Scholarship Semifinalists and Commended Scholars are, front row, left to right: Mary Tellers, Melissa Cammel, Jillian Ellis, Colleen Judge, Annie Wang, Michael McGovern and Victoria Hollingsworth; Back row: Eric Harper, Sam Payne, Brandon Walz, Jackie Malone, David Frydman, Shai Neiger and Micah Stock.

Oakwood High School is pleased to announce the names of seven seniors who have been named as National Merit Scholarship Semifinalists as well as seven additional students who qualified for the designation of Commended Scholars.

Congratulations to Jillian Ellis, David Frydman, Eric Harper, Torey Hollingsworth, Colleen Judge, Mary Tellers, and Annie Wang on being named National Merit Scholarship Semifinalists. These students scored in the top one-half of one percent among college bound high school students on the National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test. These students are eligible to become National Merit Finalists and possibly receive National Merit Scholarships.

We are also pleased to recognize Melissa Cammel, Genevieve Malone, Michael McGovern, Shai Neiger, Sam Payne, Micah Stock, and Brandon Walz on being named National Merit Commended Scholars. Although these students do not continue in the competition for National Merit Scholarships, their scores on the PSAT were among the top 3.5 percent of college-bound high school students.

City Council says no to Ridgeway rezoning request

By Lance Winkler

The Oakwood City Council convened on Monday, Oct. 2, 2006 with all members counted as present. Mayor Judy Cook read a proclamation declaring October as National Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

The next order of business was to swear in Lt. Keith Benson who has been recently promoted to that rank and will serve as a relief lieutenant. Lt. Benson has been a member of the Oakwood Safety Department since June 1999. He currently is the DARE Youth Services Officer and will continue in that capacity until the end of the school year, June 2007. Congratulations Lt. Benson!

A second reading of an ordinance request to rezone a portion of 2750 Ridgeway Road from R-1 to R-4 was unanimously turned down by council for a variety of reasons. “I understand the basis for the application but, I believe that the requested change in zoning from R-1 to R-4 for a Ridgeway residence is capricious and inconsistent with the spirit of Oakwood current zoning ordinances,” council member Stanley Castleman said, but qualified his remark by saying “you do not own the view of any real estate you might buy.”

Council member Roger Blumensheid gave three reasons he was opposed; 1) changing from R-1 to R-4 zoning forces and estate breakup; 2) it sets a precedent that could be applied throughout Oakwood estate properties; 3) it changes the ambience of the street (Fairmont Avenue) located at the rear of the property.
Bill Duncan recused himself from the proceedings as he has the Disbrows, the people applying for the ordinance request, as clients.

Vice Mayor Carlo McGinnis opined that although the Planning Commission OK’d the ordinance, it was a legalistic approach. “We’re here to represent the community,” noting overwhelming opposition to rezone by the residents of Fairmont represented a “clear consensus of the community.”

“It’s really a classic letter-of-the-law application,” said Mayor Judy Cook. The argument of increased traffic and decreased safety is debatable at best,” she said. “Does it make our city better? No.” She further described Fairmont Avenue as a “border street,” that acts as a wooded buffer zone from the traffic and commerce of Dorothy Lane.

Finance Director Brad Beachdell made a presentaion to council advocating the repeal of current water service chapters 919, water service; 921 water sprinkler systems; 941, private water wells; 943, fire hydrants, and consolidating them into one single chapter, 919. The ordinance amendment was adopted unanimously by the city council.

A resolution formally granting the application for an additional use of Building C for religious purposes by Oakwood Investments, LLC, also passed unanimously. Building B’s purpose of use will be included when a master plan is presented to the Oakwood Planning Commission in December of 2006.

Oakwood City Manager Norbert Klopsch announced that the city has closed on the purchase of 28-acres of athletic fields and as of Sept. 22, Oakwood is the owner of that property.

The next Oakwood City Council meeting is Nov. 6, 2006.

Oakwood Centre ribbon- cutting slated for Oct. 5

The Oakwood Centre, Oakwood’s newest shopping addition located at 2500 Far Hills Ave. will open officially on Thursday, Oct. 5. when Oakwood Mayor Judy Cook cuts the ribbon in celebration of its opening.

Four stores make up this new complex: Whispers Home, a new store conceived by Judy Wyatt of Whispers, featuring bedding and table linens; From Inside Out, owned by Leslie Dixon, with furniture and accessories for inside and outside the home; and The Pink Daisy and Chico’s both featuring women’s clothing.

The ribbon cutting will take place at 9:40 a.m.

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