December 12, 2006 - Volume 15, No. 50

a Winkler Company publication

Also featuring photos from our monthly supplement...

Distinctive Homes circa 1912 & 1913

Holiday of Lights a community success

It was a chilly but pleasant Sunday evening as Oakwood families gathered at Shafor Park to ride in a horse-drawn carriage, enjoy the luminaria displays throughout the city streets, listen to children singing carols, meet Santa Claus and enjoy the festivities.

27 receive AP commendations

By Dawn Beigel

The Oakwood Board of Education showcased at last night’s meeting a special fifth-grade writing project inspired through picture books. Smith Elementary School teacher Laura Snyder and teacher enrichment specialist Melody Knostman presented the project, on which they collaborated, that involved differentiated questioning techniques. Snyder said the project centered on the book The Hickory Chair by Lisa Rowe Fraustino (illustrated by Benny Andrews), a touching story about a blind boy, his beloved grandmother and a hickory chair he more or less inherits from her when she dies.

The project was a tiered learning assignment in which Snyder read the book to her students, asked them questions about it, re-read it to them so they could review their answers and then had them write a paper on it. She said the concept can be used with any picture book, any subject.

“I’m trying to teach good writing (and the enjoyment of reading),” said Snyder who took the idea from an instructional book that discusses writing about picture books. She said her students really enjoyed the project, as did she herself.

“It’s a beautiful book—it was a lot of fun. I’m having a lot of fun with it,” she said, hopeful of doing the project again in the future.

Snyder showed a copy of The Hickory Chair and rough draft samples of her students’ work, which she said she showed to their parents on conference night. School board member Dr. Jim Uphoff pointed out how a project such as this can produce self-motivation in students, among other skills. Superintendent Dr. Mary Jo Scalzo commented on the layering and depth involved that’s not initially realized.

“It looks so simple, and yet it’s so deep,” she said, presenting Snyder and Knostman with “puzzle piece” pins as a token of recognition. “Your work is absolutely essential to our success,” added Scalzo.

In public commendations, the school board recognized a number of high school seniors for their exceptional 2006 advanced placement test scores. They included AP Scholars Elizabeth Ambrose, Jessica Brockman, Anna Chifala, Dina Gough, Brian Graeser, Kira Mikityanskaya, Anne Murphy, Patrick Murphy, Shai Neiger, Ruth Reveal, Jennifer Runkle, Micah Stock; AP Scholars with Distinction—Colleen Judge, Genevieve Malone, Mary Tellers, Brandon Walz, Annie Wang; and AP Scholars with Honor—Jillian Ellis, Nicole Emke, David Frydman, Lincoln Guthrie, Victoria Hollingsworth, Michael McGovern, Hallie Moberg, James Payne, Brittany White and Jennifer Wuebker.

The board also recognized fourth grader Erin Donnelly, winner in the second annual Dayton Ballet Nutcracker art contest. Her artwork will be reproduced on the cover of this year’s playbill for the ballet’s The Nutcracker production. She will also be performing in the ballet as a toy soldier.

Also recognized was eighth grader Rob Mitchell and sixth grader Natalie Draper, performers in A Christmas Story staged at the Beavercreek Community Theatre. Mitchell plays the role of “Schwartz” and Draper plays “Helen,” a role that’s not in the movie version.

Teachers Elizabeth Myers and Lisa Henry and district curriculum director Kim Kappler were commended for their presentation of Write Traits and Writing Rubrics: Our District’s Elementary Writing Program for the Ohio School Supervisors Association conference in November. Scalzo presented community “Shining Star” pins to the commendees present at the meeting.

In legislation, the board approved board president Beth Merritt as chairperson pro-tem for the January 2007 organizational meeting until a new board president is elected. The board appointed Michael Roediger and Dr. Rick Smith as members of the Wright Memorial Public Library Board of Trustees. Roediger fills the remaining unexpired term of Rebecca Roess, who resigned to work on another community project. His term expires at the end of 2008. Smith replaces Matthew Lindsay, whose term expires Dec. 31. Smith’s term will expire at the end of 2013.

The board accepted the resignation of Tom Swander as assistant softball coach, effective immediately.

The Oakwood Board of Education will hold its next organizational meeting on Jan. 8, 7:30 p.m. at the board office.

Medical group eyes Sugar Camp for new campus

Dr. Edward R. Thomas, M.D., FACS, announced plans today for relocating Ohio Eye Care Specialists to the Sugar Camp complex on W. Schantz Avenue in Oakwood. In his announcement, Dr. Thomas noted that his decision to relocate his practice, which was started by his father 70 years ago, was the result of an exhaustive search to find an appropriate setting in Oakwood. He also noted that he and his children grew up and lived most of their lives in Oakwood and his daughter, son-in-law and grandchildren currently reside there.

“When the Sugar Camp opportunity presented itself, I felt it was the perfect time and opportunity for my practice and other medical and wellness entities to form a medical campus. This campus will enhance an underserved area in the most beautiful as well as pleasing environment existing in the greater Dayton area” said Dr. Thomas. He went on to add that in addition to the approximately 27 employees in his group, his plans are to attract other high quality physician groups and wellness entities to Sugar Camp. When fully developed, Dr. Thomas envisions that more than 200 medical professionals will be available to provide a superior level of care to Oakwood and the greater area in a convenient, pristine and spa-like setting. Dr. Thomas and his group will be moving to Sugar Camp in the fall of 2007.

Dr. Thomas envisions that when patients come to this campus they will be able to receive, first and foremost, excellent medical care and an aesthetic experience next to none. He said Oakwood’s reputation as the place to live and the place to attend school will also now include the place to come for a wonderful experience in a medical and wellness environment.

Allan Rinzler, a principal of Oakwood Investment Group, the owner of Sugar Camp, said, “The creation of the medical campus envisioned by Dr. Thomas will allow reuse of the existing buildings and will allow the serene beauty and peacefulness of Sugar Camp to be undisturbed. Medical uses by Dr. Thomas and the other physicians is the ideal use for this property.”

Oakwood Vice Mayor Carlo McGinnis welcomed the announcement and noted that “this is an important first step in the redevelopment of the former NCR training site.”

Sugar Camp Master Plan proposal Dec. 13

A proposed Master Plan for the Sugar Camp site will be presented to the Oakwood Planning Commission on Wednesday, Dec. 13 at 4:30 at the Oakwood Community Center. The Master Plan developed by Oakwood Investment Group and Versant, encompasses nearly 36 acres and proposes a high quality mixed-use development to include a combination of medical offices, office, multi- and single family residential, religious and restaurant uses. The public is invited.

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