|
The Oakwood Historical Society’s recent Home Restoration Fair helped connect many area homeowners with the experts in structural, design and architectural rejuvenation of the classic, older home. The Society would like to thank the staff of Edwin D. Smith Elementary School, The Oakwood Rotary Foundation, The Oakwood Register, Dorothy Lane Market, all of the exhibitors who participated and the many homeowners who attended. Everyone’s efforts and interest were paramount in making this first-time-ever event a success and plans are already underway for next year.
Sincerely,
Mark Risley, V.P.
The Oakwood Historical Society
When we were kids, no one told us to stop spinning in circles. No one warned us that it might make us dizzy, or that we might fall down; we had to find out for ourselves.
It’s no secret that there is a problem with underage consumption in Oakwood. Some parents turn a blind eye, some convince themselves that it “isn’t their kid,” and some can’t beat ‘em so they join ‘em. Any way you look at it, it’s a problem.
I graduated with the class of ’05 with a 3.0, was voted class partier and class clown, and went to the University of Cincinnati and studied Secondary Education for two quarters before coming home.
I didn’t come home because my grades were slipping, on the contrary, I did very well, and I didn’t come home because I was homesick. I came home because after a visit back to Oakwood during Thanksgiving break, I got a DUI, which resulted in a year’s probation, loss of my license, 2 AA meetings weekly, and a mandatory 6 months in rehab after attending the Weekend Intervention Program at Wright State. After all was said and done, this cost my family well over $3,000.00.
And so, the class partier was not invincible. That was my third arrest pertaining to drinking in the past three years. Funny that I was never alone when I was arrested, there was always half of the grade with me. The saddest part about that is, no one learns from another’s mistake. Friend after friend of mine continued to get arrested, to get DUIs, get fines, and drink, myself included.
After finding that kids on the “party bus” before Homecoming this year had had a bit too much to drink (an understatement), my parents were quickly shut up when they tried to discuss the situation. Their question was answered with immediacy by my sister and myself. Their question was simple:
How do we stop it?
You don’t. You can’t stop these kids from drinking if they’ve already worked it into their weekend regime. You can’t give them D.A.R.E. classes and expect them to understand where they have the potential to be in 6,7,8 years. You can’t paint a picture of the pain they will go through by showing them pictures of drunken car wrecks. To slow it down, it will have to hit home more so than a creepy, emotionally detached video. Some of these kids, if they aren’t already, will be alcoholics by the time they graduate from college. In order to make it stop, you have to make the deadly potential of these situations real.
Figure out a way to do that and maybe, just maybe, you’ll have more sober kids than drunk ones at the high school dances. Because, if I remember correctly, being wasted, plastered, “gone”, (however you want to put it) at a dance was pretty entertaining. Shouldn’t the dance itself be? Shouldn’t spinning in circles on a dance floor be enough? And if it isn’t, whose fault is that? Oakwood’s waking up now, but are they going to face the day?
Heather Kalbfleisch
OHS Class of 2005
With the recent point-counterpoint exchange concerning the new synagogue going into Sugar Camp, I felt that it was an appropriate time for me to share my experience both as a resident of Oakwood and as the rabbi and director of Chabad of Greater Dayton.
During the process of purchasing and renovating Chabad’s new home in Dayton, the city administration, led by Norbert Klopsch and Jay Weiskircher, made us feel truly welcome. They wanted to learn what we were all about and what our needs would be, and they took the time and made the effort to do so.
In turn, they let us know the ordinances and the rules of the city, and helped us understand what we needed to do ourselves. It was all done in the most helpful manner I could imagine.
Mayor Judy Cook has gone out of her way to be welcoming. Whether joining our Jewish community for the Chanukah menorah lighting or attending events at Chabad, she has made our feeling a part of Oakwood a personal priority. Nor has this been only at official and public events, for she has always been kind to and solicitous of me and my whole family.
On a more personal note, when my oldest son attended Smith, the staff, led by Principal Nancy Bradds, his teacher, Mrs. Irwin, and Ms. Sarah Patterson, went out of their way to accommodate all his needs. Whether it was his religious dress, kosher diet or any other matter, they did everything they could to include him fully and to help him succeed. Their efforts meant a great deal to my son and to us.
My son Mendel participates in sports with the community center leagues, and has met with the exact same response. The coaches and the parents of other children have always included him and made him feel a part, and he has
made many friends.
So it is with our neighbors. We walk the streets with the family and people stop to say hello, take the time to say a kind word.
This is still the real world. Negative traits still lurk about and I am not wearing such strong rose-tinted glasses that I can’t be aware of such things. But my experience and that of the members of our Chabad community is that friendliness and acceptance is the determining characteristic of the citizens of Oakwood and of its administration.
It is their quiet voice that I hear as the voice of Oakwood. Its message is strong and clear. And I wish to acknowledge it by making these, my private feelings, a matter of public record.
Rabbi Nochum Mangel
Oakwood
Listening to the news, one might think that the only news that exists is bad news, but that simply is not true. While we are facing some tough challenges right now, Ohio has taken huge steps this past year in the right direction, thanks in large part to the leadership of legislators such as Speaker Jon Husted.
Weighed down by an antiquated tax code, Ohio has struggled to compete for new jobs, but no more. Thanks in large part to the leadership of Speaker Husted, our personal income taxes were cut by 21%, a change that will be phased in over the next few years. Moreover, our legislators in Columbus also moved to reduce Ohio’s incredibly burdensome inventory tax, a tax that had played a huge role in deterring businesses from coming to our state. Ohio families need jobs, and thanks to the efforts of those at the Ohio Statehouse, Ohio will now be able to do a much better job of attracting and retaining new businesses.
And while giving our children a good education has always been important, with the increasingly competitive job market we currently face it is now a necessity without which our children will not be able to succeed. Our state legislators are doing their part, and they’re now providing record levels of funding for all of Ohio’s schools. But improving education from K-12 is not enough. We must find ways to ensure that our state is able to make college accessible and affordable. And we must also ensure that once our children arrive there, they are prepared to succeed. Efforts at the Statehouse to streamline educational efforts from K-12 will not only help better prepare our children for college, but will also help to ensure that we use our resources wisely.
Perhaps even more crucial to our state’s success though are Speaker Husted’s efforts to help our state’s educational system focus on the STEM areas (science, technology, engineering and mathematics). These efforts will not only help our children get the education they need, but will also help Ohio to take its rightful place in the forefront in the marketplace of tomorrow.
So next time you read yet another rant claiming there’s no leadership in Ohio, take it with a grain of salt. Because there are some really good leaders in Ohio and Speaker Jon Husted is one of them.
Sincerely,
Theresa Fleming
Moms for Ohio
Oakwood is now a four season festival destination! The inauguration of Oakwood Fall Festival on Sunday was a great success. The combined leadership of the Leisure Services Department directed by Carol Collins and citizens volunteers Cari Hopkins, Beth Loew, Kirsten Goeller and Katy Dalrymple produced a fun filled afternoon for citizens of all ages. As with all such combination of leadership, it was well organized, beautifully presented, wonderfully creative, rich in variety and well
staffed. One outstanding feature was the presence of Oakwood High School athletes and Oakwood Giving members who managed all the activity centers. Even more student participation came with the performance of the Oakwood High School Pep Band. Community participation is part of growing up in our city. Charlie Campbell brought the Oakwood Accordion Band to entertain the crowd as only Charlie knows how to do! How fortunate we are to have such a group bear our city name.
On a final note, perhaps less noticeable but certainly worthy of attention was one characteristic of all the activities. Not a plug or motor was used to create this magic. No fumes or noise from generators polluted the atmosphere. This was no accident. The organizers determined in advance that this would be the rule. What wonderful proof that a whole community can enjoy without pushing even one button.
Mayor Judy Cook
Mayor Judy Cook
top of page
|
