Engagements__________________________________

Graeser – Lisenby

Pamela and Mark Graeser of Oakwood are pleased to announce the engagement of their daughter Andrea Lynn Graeser to Kyle Lenere Lisenby, both of Oak Park, Illinois.

The bride-elect is a 1998 graduate of Oakwood High School and a 2002 graduate of the University of Illinois Champaign-Urbana with a bachelor of science in microbiology. Pamela is employed as Project Manager of Donor Services at LifeSource Blood Center.

The groom is a 1998 graduate of Effingham High School  and a 2002 graduate of the University of Illinois Champaign-Urbana with a bachelor of science in microbiology. He is also has earned a doctorate of dental medicine from the Southern Illinois University School of Dental Medicine in 2006. Kyle is the son of Barbara and Gene Lisenby of Effingham, Illinois.

The couple are planning a spring wedding on April 22, 2007 in Key West, Florida.

George - Sellers

Bill and Julie Sellers of Dayton, Ohio announce the engagement of their daughter, Tristen Marie Sellers to Peter Mohan George, son of Jake and Cathy George of Hudson, Ohio.  

The bride-elect is a 2001 graduate of Oakwood High School and graduated with a degree in Social Work from Miami University in 2005. She is employed with the Judson Center in Royal Oak, Michigan.

Her fiancé is a 2000 graduate of Hudson High School and graduated with a degree in Engineering Management from Miami University in 2004.  He is employed with Daimler-Chrysler in Auburn Hills, Michigan.

The wedding will take place in November at Oakwood United Methodist Church in Dayton, Ohio.

60th Anniversary_______________________________

Cy and Audrey Laughter

Congratulations to Cy and audrey Laughter, formerly of Oakwood, who celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary this week. Cy and Audrey were married on October 12, 1946 at Faith Lutheran church in Belmont. their reception was held at the Van Cleve Hotel in downtown Dayton. They had three children; David, Lori and Gretchen.

The Happy Couple - Audrey and Cy Laughter pictured on their wedding day.

Leslie Norwalk named Medicare-Medicaid chief

Leslie V. Norwalk, Esq., has been named Acting Administrator and Chief Operating Officer for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), federal officials have announced. Norwalk has served on the senior leadership team at the agency for the past five years, currently as deputy administrator. She will succeed Mark McClellan, who recently announced he is stepping down. She will assume the acting administrator role effective Oct. 15.

As the Acting Administrator, Norwalk will oversee the government health care programs for the elderly and the poor. The agency is responsible for $1 out of every $3 spent on health care in the United States. The organization insures approximately 25 percent of the population of the United States including the elderly, disabled, and some of the lowest  income individuals in the country.  CMS processes over one billion claims each year and contracts with approximately one million providers. One of Norwalk’s first tasks will be overseeing the next enrollment period for the prescription drug benefit, which begins Nov. 15.

Norwalk had the courtesy of Letters of Recommendation sent to President Bush by both U.S Senators representing Ohio - Mike DeWine and George Voinovich.
“I am writing to recommend Ms. Leslie V. Norwalk to replace Dr. Mark McClellan as Administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). I believe Ms. Norwalk to be extremely well-qualified to fill this very important position,” wrote Sen. DeWine.

“In addition to Leslie’s expertise working on regulatory policy in both government and private law practice, she has been at the forefront of our efforts to implement the prescription drug benefit. As one of the most important recent initiatives undertaken by CMS and HHS, I believe it is essential that the Administrator be well-versed and a strong advocate of this program. Leslie has been a pleasure to work with since the early days of the drug benefit and did a great job communicating the details of the benefit to seniors and advocates at the events she attended with me in Ohio,” wrote Sen. George V. Voinovich.  

Prior to serving the Bush Administration, she practiced law in the Washington, D.C. office of Epstein Becker & Green, P.C. where she advised clients on a variety of health policy matters. She also served in the first Bush administration in the White House Office of Presidential Personnel.  Ms. Norwalk, a native of Oakwood, graduated from Oakwood High School, earned a juris doctor degree from the George Mason University School of Law, where she was a Dean’s Scholar and an editor of the George Mason Law Review. She earned a bachelor’s degree, cum laude, in economics and international relations from Wellesley College.

Wright gravesite to be re-dedicated Oct. 15

By Jane Kuntz

Of all the gravesites where prominent Dayton area citizens are buried at Woodland Cemetery and Arboretum, the one occupied by Wilbur and Orville Wright is the most visited. Over the past years the surrounding grounds have deteriorated; all the visitors trampling around it destroyed the grass and the general appearance was in need of restoration.

Two Oakwood women, Tracy Bieser, past president of the Garden Club of Dayton, and her sister-in-law Cathie Bieser Black, walk in the cemetery often and noted the general rundown conditions. They conferred with the leaders of the cemetery association about upgrading the site; they also talked to the Wrights’ only living relatives Steven Wright and Amanda Wright Lane about the project. Under the leadership of Oakwood resident Kristin Carpenter, with the family’s permission and a donation of  $1,000 from the Wright Aviation Foundation the members of the Garden Club of Dayton moved ahead and got the project underway.

Elizabeth Larkins designed a landscape plan and a group of garden club volunteers spent many challenging hours implementing it. Siebenthaler’s Nursery donated $600.00 worth of plant material. Of special importance was the inclusion of eleven miniature boxwoods from the gardens of the late Marie Aull, an early member of the GCD. Barbara Rion also donated plants from her extensive garden and an assortment of specimen iris was transplanted from the Horace Wright Iris Garden, also in Woodland; walks were restored. Now the aviation pioneers are buried in a fitting and beautiful setting.

On Sunday, Oct. 15, at 4 p.m., the Wright Brothers’ gravesite will be rededicated with Cindy Garner, president of the Garden Club of Dayton, presiding. This event is
open to the public and is part of the Discover Woodland Day activities. They will include guided walking tours, awarding of prizes for the photo contest and simple refreshments and entertainment. The entire event will be held from noon to 4 p.m.

The Little Exchange seeks volunteers

The Little Exchange is located at 45 Park Avenue in Oakwood and sells fine gifts, high quality baby clothes    and a unique inventory for bridal registries.  What makes this shop so special?  With only a few paid staff and          a huge group of volunteers, the Little Exchange donates all of its proceeds to the Children’s Medical Center    of Dayton.

In June of 2006, the Little Exchange donated $40,000 to the hospital and since 1950, the shop has contributed over $1.3 million to the hospital.  The Little Exchange’s financial pledges have most recently gone toward the establishment and support of the Family Resource Center.

Volunteers at The Little Exchange have an opportunity to work with the public, to thrill new parents and brides with beautifully wrapped presents and at the same time, make a significant contribution to Dayton Children’s and all of the young patients it serves.  Volunteers generally work shifts of three and a half hours, twice per month. “A relatively small time commitment on the part of the volunteer translates into an even greater donation to Dayton Children’s as The Little Exchange is able to keep overhead to a minimum,” notes Sharon Hagan, Volunteer Chair and Little Exchange Board Member.

The Little Exchange Foundation Board President Judy Gottman comments,  “It has been great to have volunteers from all over the Miami Valley get to know each other, while they enjoy working to benefit Dayton Children’s.”

The Little Exchange is open weekdays from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. and on Saturday from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.  Currently, the shop is featuring a 75% off sale of last year’s inventory as the new merchandise arrives for the season.  

Anyone interested in volunteering to help this non-profit organization, should call Chair of Volunteers Sharon Hagan at 885-9038 or Store Manager Judy Washburn at 299-1561.

Oakwood Avenue Block Party

Each year Oakwood Avenue residents, young and not so young, join together to celebrate their neighborhood. On Sunday, Oct. 1, they had several new neighbors as well as many former residents join in the festivities. This year we were blessed again with beautiful weather and great food, as well as a kids arts and crafts table, face painting and a visit from the Oakwood Fire Department. Julie Teeters, Celine Maney and Charlie Campbell did and outstanding job organizing this years event. A great time was had by all! The three ladies pictured are, left to right: Martha Ordeman, Carol Alexander, and Leona Downs.

Young Ladies All

Young ladies and their moms attended the 3rd Annual Afternoon Tea Party at Wright Library on Monday, Oct. 2. Guests dressed in their best party dresses and brought their favorite dolls to participate in the Tea Party Parade.  Sandwiches, tea, punch and cookies were served.  Children were entertained with stories and the opportunity to play dress up.

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