November 7, 2006 - Volume 15, No. 45

a Winkler Company publication

Also featuring photos from our monthly supplement...

Italian Renaissance on Schenck Avenue

Safety Dept. swears in 3 officers; 4th merits Distinguished Service Award

By Lance Winkler

The Oakwood City Council met on Monday, Nov. 6 and Mayor Judy Cook swore in three new officers to the Oakwood safety staff and Safety Chief Alex Bebris awarded the Distinguished Service Award to a fourth officer already on staff.

Left to right: Officers Jack Harrison, Greg May and Glen Evans are sworn-in by Mayor Judy Cook while their families look on.

Officer Glen Evans comes to Oakwood from the Kettering Police Department. He has recently graduated from the Ohio Fire Academy and is currently is enrolled in the Emergency Medical Training school.

Officer Greg May hails from the Englewood Police Department and recently graduated from the Ohio Fire Academy and is currently receiving EMT training.

Officer Jack Harrison is an Oakwood resident and came from the Kettering Fire Department where he was a firefighter and paramedic. He is currently receiving police training at the Greene County Career Center Police Academy.

Oakwood Safety Officer Scott Cavin was then invited up and asked that his whole crew be brough up along with him as he regarded them as his “family.” Cavin was awarded the Distinguished Service Award from Chief Alex Bebris for heroic action performed in the line of duty. According to the police report, on August 14, Cavin was on patrol in Oakwood and witnessed a car traveling at an estimated speed of 80 to 90 miles an hour. The vehicle almost struck the cruiser as it careened into a tree at thee Five Points intersection. University of Dayton police had previously observed the car run several red lights on its way from the Dayton city limits into Oakwood.

On impact, the car sustained major structural damage and immediately caught fire with flames coming out from underneath the car on both sides. The unrestrained driver now lay unconscious on the passenger side of the front seat. Cavin called for EMS and fire equipment and set about to extinguish the fire with his fire extinguisher and another fire extinguisher obtained from the UD officers who had arrived at the scene. This was done at great personal risk the report mentioned.

Officer Cavin then pried open the door and rendered emergency care to the patient, who was bleeding profusely from several wounds sustained in the crash. Cavin provided an accurate assessment of the patient’s injuries to incoming crews and allowed for rapid extrication and stabilization of the patient.

According to the report, had Officer Cavin not acted in such a quick and decisive manner, the driver would have had little chance in surviving the crash. The driver sustained major trauma to many body organs, also received a broken hip and a fractured lower leg, both requiring surgery. The driver was in the hospital for 11 days, but is expected to recover, thanks to Officer Cavin’s swift actions and skillful handling of the event.

Chief Bebris then awarded the Distinguished Service Award to Officer Cavin.

Officer Scott Cavin listens as Chief Alex Bebris reads citation for Distinguished Service Award.

Oakwood Centennial Town Hall meeting Nov. 9

The City of Oakwood’s centennial celebration will take place almost two years away in 2008, but now is the time to get involved, say co-chairs Dick Good and Madeline Iseli. “We have been meeting over the summer with a small focus group of Oakwood residents we call the ‘Think Tank’ and now we are ready to share a concept plan with the public, as well as ask for input and volunteers,” explained Ms. Iseli.

Over 3,000 surveys were mailed out to Oakwood households in the most recent issue of the City’s newsletter. The brief, two-page surveys ask for input on such topics as event themes and likelihood of attendance. Residents are being invited to complete and return the surveys to Oakwood City Hall by Monday, Oct. 23.

Completed surveys can also be dropped off at the Oakwood Community Center and in the utility bill drop box off Park Ave. Design Forum, a retail design consultancy headquartered in Dayton, has donated its services in the survey design and tabulation.

The survey results will then be shared with the public at the Oakwood Centennial Town Hall meeting on Thursday, Nov. 9, 2006 at 7 p.m. in the City Council Chambers, 30 Park Ave. Survey results and conceptual plans will be presented. Refreshments will be served. Town Hall attendees will be invited to comment on the plan and share ideas for the centen nial celebration.

“One of the most important goals we have identified for this celebration is that it will involve as many Oakwood citizens as possible,” noted Mr. Good. “The first way to get involved is to fill out and mail in the survey and then to attend the Town Hall meeting on Nov 9. There will also be plenty of opportunities to volunteer as well as simply attend and have fun.”

“This is our chance as a community to pause and reflect on everything that makes Oakwood such a special place,” said Ms. Iseli. “We know our friends and neighbors have lots of thoughts on what makes Oakwood special. We hope they will share those thoughts with us.”

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