Engagement___________________________________

Kling - Vllasi

George and Evie Evers Kling are pleased to announce the engagement of their daughter, Jessica Bryant, to Adem Vllasi, the son of Azem and Nadira Vllasi of Prishtina, Kosovo.  A February wedding is planned.

Jessica is a graduate of Oakwood High School, Emory University, and The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law.  She is an attorney at Carlile Patchen & Murphy LLP in Columbus.  She is the granddaughter of Mr. and Mrs. Martin A. Evers of Washington Township and of Mr. and Mrs. George Kling, Sr. of Washington Township and Clermont, Florida.

Adem is a graduate of the University of Texas at Austin and of The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law.  He is also an attorney, practicing with the firm of Lane Alton & Horst LLC in Columbus.  He is the grandson of Mr. and Mrs. Edhem Avdic of Bijeljina, Bosnia and Herzegovina and of Mr. and Mrs. Ahmet Vllasi of Rubovc, Kosovo.

Oakwood Court on cutting edge with SCRAM tech option

What to do with multiple DUI offenders? Recently, Oakwood Municipal Court Judge Robert L. Deddens faced that issue. A defendant was charged with Driving under the Influence, a first degree misdemeanor that carries a maximum penalty of a $1,000 fine and six months in jail. This was the Defendant’s eighth DUI over the past 30 years. The Defendant already had his license to drive a car taken away indefinitely and had previously spent time in jail.

From the time the offense occurred until the actual sentencing of the matter, approximately three months passed. During the time, the Defendant was monitored and no additional violations occurred. The Defendant’s attorney, Oakwood resident Gregory Gantt, filed a pre-sentence memorandum with the Court, asking Judge Deddens to consider the SCRAM (Secure Continuous Remote Alcohol Monitor) system.

SCRAM is a new cutting edge technology that places a monitor on a Defendant’s ankle. The monitor takes samples from 24 to 48 times each day and transmits the results daily via modem from the Defendants home to the SCRAM officer. The monitor is so sensitive that if the Defendant walks into a bar or uses mouthwash that contains a small amount of alcohol, the system will register a violation.

“I owed my client a duty to assist him in any way I can at sentencing and SCRAM was the only alternative to receiving the maximum sentence,” Gantt said.

New car purchase software released

Oakwood-based company Ai-Dealer, today announced the release of its first commercial application. This ground-breaking new software is available from participating car dealers and walks the the consumer through the entire car buying process.  Credit, financing, interest rates, rebates, accessories; it is all there.  Customers get vehicle pricing and after a few simple steps, they know exactly what their monthly payment and due on delivery will be.

“This is about providing a great online shopping experience for our consumers” said Matt Reasoner, general manager of local dealer Joseph Airport Toyota Scion, which provides the software to its consumers.  

“Today almost every consumer uses the Internet when shopping for a vehicle, yet prior to having this capability the dealership really only used the Internet as an advertising source. Using Ai-Dealer’s software we are able to let consumers buy from us and they don’t have to come in to the showroom to do it.”

“Humanizing the technology we use every day is going to fundamentally change how we think of and interact with machines,” said Ai-Dealer CEO Brian Hoecht.  “Using artificial intelligence technologies, we are able to transform websites, software, and virtually every machine’s interface from one designed to make the machine more efficient into one we humans find comfortable.  We do this by making applications and devices conversational and by putting a life-like human face on them.

“The application to guide consumers through what they don’t know about buying a vehicle is pretty revolutionary all by itself.  However for the long-term, we will be doing whatever we can to help establish artificial intelligence and by applying it, the humanizing of technology as an industry that is good for the future of Dayton,” Hoecht said.

Ai-Dealer is a privately owned software company based in Oakwood. For more information, visit their website at www.ai-dealer.com.

Computerized representations of automobile purchasers featured in Ai-Dealer program.

Little Exchange ‘Sticks and Bricks Campaign’ underway

The Little Exchange, a fine gift shop that donates its proceeds to The Children’s Medical Center of Dayton, is in desperate need of a facelift.  Actually, The Little Exchange needs MORE than a facelift!

Constructed in the late 1880’s, this pale grey Victorian farmhouse at 45 Park Avenue in Oakwood had been the location of the Katharine Wright Memorial Library.  In 1952, Mrs. George (Elsie) Mead purchased the building to house The Little Exchange.  Over the years, maintenance has been kept up with roof repairs, the installation of siding, door replacement, etc.  Currently, The Little Exchange is in need of major structural improvements including a new roof, new windows, new heating and air conditioning, etc.  These improvements are needed to prevent damage to merchandise and to increase the efficiency of the operation by reducing utility and maintenance expenses.

Left to right: Linda Snyder, immediate past president of The Little Exchange Foundation, donated the inaugural check for the Sticks and Bricks Campaign to Kathie Peoples and Sally Creager. Respective chair and co-chair of the campaign.

The Little Exchange is directed by a twenty member volunteer Board of Trustees. Nearly one hundred volunteers work tirelessly to conduct the business of the shop.  On a daily basis, volunteers wait on customers, help with selections, cashier, wrap gifts, restock displays, sort and price merchandise.  One full-time employee and two part-time employees are paid a salary.  Twice a year, a team of volunteer buyers travels to Atlanta’s Merchandise Mart to place orders for the upcoming season.  The Little Exchange carries unique gifts, infant and toddler apparel, framed prints, mirrors, lamps, holiday ornaments and decorations.  Last June, The Little Exchange donated $40,000 to Dayton Children’s in support of the Family Resource Center.  Since 1957, The Little Exchange has donated nearly $1.4 million to the hospital.

If The Little Exchange chose to use its proceeds to invest in these much needed structural improvements, the shop would not be able to donate to Dayton Children’s for years.  Hence in September, Chair Kathleen Peoples of Oakwood and Co-Chair Sally Creager of Kettering led a committee that embarked upon a “Sticks and Bricks Campaign”.  Solicitation letters have been sent to customers and supporters of The Little Exchange.  “Checks of all sizes have been donated and we ask the community to be generous in support of this fine gift shop that has done so much good over the years,” comments Mrs. Peoples.  “The Sticks and Bricks Committee includes Molly Cammerer, Pokey Huffman, Evie Evers Kling, Pat Parrish of Oakwood and Sonnie Kasch and Bev Parker of Kettering and they have provided great leadership in this effort,” added Ms. Creager.

Anyone interested in donating to the “Sticks and Bricks Campaign” should make a check payable to The Little Exchange Foundation and mail it to 45 Park Avenue, Dayton, Ohio 45419.

Anyone interested in volunteering should contact Volunteer Chair Sharon Hagan at 885-9038 or Store Manager Judy Washburn 299-1561.

Store hours are Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. and Saturday 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.  The Little Exchange is located at 45 Park Avenue in Oakwood (just off Far Hills Avenue/Route 48 South) across from the Oakwood Fire Station.  All proceeds benefit The Children’s Medical Center of Dayton.

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