November 21, 2006 - Volume 15, No. 47

a Winkler Company publication

Also featuring photos from our monthly supplement...

Italian Renaissance on Schenck Avenue

‘The Building of Their Future’

With Rabbi Bernard Barsky leading the way, congregants of Beth Abraham Synagogue collectively cut the ribbon dedicating the site of their new spiritual home located at the Sugar Camp complex on Schantz Avenue on Sunday, Nov. 12. Among the celebrants, Welcome and Recognition was given by President Susie Katz, Oakwood Mayor Judith Cook and Gary Youra, President-Elect of the Jewish Federation of Greater Dayton offered Greetings and the Rev. John F. Koepke, III of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church offered the Closing Benediction. Event co-chairs were Patti Schear and Susan Schear.

Architect's rendering of Beth Abraham interior...

Dispatch study yields controversy and questions

By Lance Winkler

The City of Oakwood was host last week to a group who reviewed a 250-page Mutual Dispatch Study published by GeoComm Montgomery Co., considering the possibility of a Consolidated Emergency Communications Center operating under the aegis of the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Department. The center would transfer all dispatching duties to the Sheriff’s office downtown or to a newly-designated location.

“It’s just in the evaluation stage,” said Montgomery County Sheriff Dave Vore, who pointed out that about one third of the county’s townships –Trotwood, Clayton, Clay Twp., Jackson Twp., German Twp., Washington Twp., Jefferson Twp., Harrison Twp., Riverside and Butler Twp. – are currently having their police, fire and EMT services dispatched from the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office. Sheriff Vore referred this reporter back to the Oakwood Safety Dept., which had a copy of the 250-page Executive Summary for me to look at. A three-page report on Oakwood is given along with all the other precincts in Montgomery County. Among the more interesting statistics given is that Oakwood’s five dispatchers fielded 27,500 police calls; 1,341 911 calls and dispatched police officer to 4,787 events last year.

“Regional dispatching goes back 10 to 15 years,” said Oakwood City Manager Norbert Klopsch, who referred this reporter to the Greater Dayton Managers and Mayors Association as being the prime mover behind the idea of a Consolidated Emergency Communications Center. Numerous calls to the organization elicited no reply.

According to Oakwood Safety Director Alex Bebris, he and a team of Oakwood officers plan to meet with GeoComm officials this Thursday with a list of questions about the system.

“There is a proposal county-wide that was presented called a Consolidated Dispatch Study that involves police, fire and EMS services to create a consolidated dispatch center,” Bebris said. “ I don’t believe that anybody on the city council has made a decision. I don’t dismiss anything out-of-hand and say ‘no don’t do it.’ I do have some reservations. We have to look at the pros and cons. I have some serious questions. I do think they’re very serious about the proposal. The county wants a decision in December or January.”

This does not sit well with the five dispatchers who currently work for the city. According to them, they were neither informed nor consulted concerning the meeting held last Tuesday to consider the proposal. A letter was sent to Mayor Judy Cook (see page 4) from a local representative of the Fraternal Order of Police/Ohio Labor Council Dispatchers Union asking for a meeting concerning the possible loss of their jobs in the face of such a decision.

One person who disagrees with a decision in favor of a consolidated dispatch center is Jim Waitzman, a retired Deputy Sheriff with the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office for 29 years and currently one of the five dispatchers on the Oakwood Safety Dept. staff.

“What hasn’t the committee consulted with the dispatchers? Why has this been so hush-hush? I found out the Budget Review Committee has not been made aware of the dispatch study,” Waitzman said. He then pointed out that dispatchers do a lot more for Oakwood citizens than other precincts.

“There are just so many things that we do as dispatchers in Oakwood that somebody is going to have to do. They won’t care what is happening in Oakwood,” Waitzman said. “They’re (Sheriff Dept. dispatchers) not going to give out information about the Thanksgiving dinner. It’s going to be hit and miss. Oakwood is a different kind of community and they ask for a different kind of service.”

Waitzman listed numerous special services Oakwood dispatchers perform in the course of their duties – maintaining key files for citizens out of town, monitoring alarms, taking lost animal reports, calling the standby foreman (on call 24 hours a day) concerning tree branches, water problems or road hazards.

“There are so many activities – some of which will be performed by the proposed dispatch merger and some of which will be handled by an Oakwood employee or not performed,” Waitzman said. “The bottom line is we’re wanting the citizens of Oakwood to be aware of the decisions being made so that they have input into the kind of service they expect and want.”

Dorothy Lane Market hit by robbery

By Jessica Moore

Thursday night at approximately 9:30 p.m. a man entered Dorothy Lane Market in the 2700 block of Far Hills Avenue and robbed it at gunpoint. The cold, rainy night allowed patrons and workers alike to overlook the hooded sweatshirt that was drawn tightly over the man’s head, leaving only part of his face exposed. The man approached the checkout line where he went through the motions of buying a six-pack of beer. When asked to pay for his purchase, the suspect reached into his jacket to reveal a semi-automatic handgun, demanding cash from the clerk, at which point she gave the man an undisclosed amount of money and he ran from the store.

Security cameras tracked the suspect leaving the store out of the east entrance and across the street towards Chase Bank, at which point he ran out of the camera’s range. K-9 units from the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office were dispatched, but were unsuccessful in picking up the man’s scent. Safety officers locked the store down while crews searched the perimeter and talked with witnesses at the scene.

Acting Operations Captain Randy Baldridge said that this crime was possibly the result of a desperate man needing money to support some kind of addiction. Baldridge also added that Oakwood is considered by some criminals to be a prime target for two reasons: general community wealth and an attitude of immunity towards criminal activity.

“We live in a great town, but we often feel invincible and we’re not. Especially around the holidays, Oakwood citizens need to take extra precautions to protect what’s theirs, and they should warn their families to do the same,” Capt. Baldridge said. He also added that the robbery was the city’s first robbery of a retail store in years.
Bystanders were shocked by the crime. A citizen, who preferred to remain anonymous said,” My kids and I shop at DLM almost every day, often at night. It pains me to think that our community is not above this kind of blatant criminal activity, but I guess that’s life.”

Police have identified the suspect as a light-skinned Hispanic male, wearing ‘Dickies’ brand overalls, a hooded sweatshirt under a dark colored pea coat, and white tennis shoes. The suspect is thought to be between five feet, six inches tall to five feet, eight inches tall, whose defining facial characteristic is a large nose. An ongoing investigation is underway to identify and locate the robber. Anyone with any information concerning the robbery or the suspect should call the Oakwood Safety Dept. at 298-2122.

Ed Bowman approved as interim OJHS principal by school board

By Dawn Beigel

Oakwood Board of Education approved at last night’s meeting the appointment of Ed Bowman as interim principal of the junior high school, effective Nov. 27.

Bowman is replacing Dr. John Kronour, who is resigning in December. Bowman formerly served as principal of Oakwood High School and, after retiring, became director of educational services for the district.

“I’m looking forward to it,” said Bowman at the meeting. “Coming here is like coming home.” He also said the opportunity will allow him to refresh on the duties of a principal since working at the high school.

Superintendent Dr. Mary Jo Scalzo commented on Bowman, “We feel very fortunate he’s returning to his district of choice. This is a win-win-win-win-win…”

The board also approved the resignation of Kronour, who has been with the district for nine years. He is taking a job with Tipp City Schools.

“Dr. Kronour has served our district very well—this will be a loss to our district,” said Dr. Scalzo.

There will be an open house reception for him at the high school at the end of the month.

In new business, the school board approved a resolution for the Wright Memorial Public Library to seek voter approval for a .94-mill replacement levy in the election May 8, 2007. The school board’s function is purely ministerial and has not evaluated the finances or the need for the levy in depth.

In old business, the school board approved the refinancing of its 2003 bond issue to a lower interest rate, which will save district taxpayers about $700,000 over the remaining life of the bonds. Lynn Goodwin with Seasongood and Mayer, the district’s bond underwriters, was present to review the resolution with the school board.

Among other legislation, the school board approved the resignations/retirements of Gene Wells, high school head custodian, and Fred Blankenship, high school custodian, both effective Dec. 31. The board also accepted the resignations of Heather Jacobs (junior high softball coach), Gary Kesler (junior high football coach) and Joe Kendig (assistant junior high wrestling coach).

In the superintendent’s report, Dr. Scalzo announced the district enrollment count for last month. She said the count is at 2,177, up from 2,105 students in October 2005. The projected number of graduates in 2007 is 172, she said, which is nearly double the amount a decade ago, according to board member James Uphoff.

Thus far, the enrollment count is the highest ever for the district. Dr. Scalzo said there will be another enrollment snapshot done this coming February.

The school board also recognized several commendations at its meeting. They included:

• The high school receiving the State Superintendent’s “Schools of Distinction” Award on Oct. 11. This marks the second year in a row.

• Cara Wald signing her National Letter of Intent with Miami University to play tennis next school year.

• Ben Boyer signing his National Letter of Intent with the University of Toledo to play golf next school year.

• Jackie Malone signing her National Letter of Intent with the University of Notre Dame to row next school year.

• Pam Ellis and Camille Morris, Oakwood residents, serving as assessors for the Oct. 25 gifted dance assessment.

• Jane Key, Oakwood parent and nutritionist, leading a lesson about the federal nutrition guidelines for school cafeteria managers on Oct. 23.

• Elaine Long and students translating to Spanish Beginning Steps for Learning at Home and at School, a standards-aligned assessment book for young students.

• High school girls cross country team winning the SWBL title on Oct. 14.

• Ellen Vanderburgh, high school senior, running the 2006 Chicago Marathon on Oct. 22 with her mother, Patty, to benefit the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.

• High school speech and debate team participating in the Princeton-Barton Classic speech and debate competition in Cincinnati this month. They placed sixth out of 22 schools in the state.

• Fall sports program participants who were honored at the sports banquet this month.

Dr. Scalzo presented a community “Shining Star” pin to all the commendees present at the school board meeting. She also presented to the board a state board of education Certificate of Commendation in recognition of exceptional effort and success in achieving a rating of “excellent” on the Local Report Card for 2005-06. It marks the seventh year for this achievement.

“We’re very proud of our students and our teachers, and our parents, principals and administration, and Mr. Philo, our treasurer,” said Dr. Scalzo.

“Job well done!” added school board president Beth Merritt.

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