June 5, 2007 - Volume 16, No. 23

a Winkler Company publication

Also featuring photos from our monthly supplement...

'Willow Grove'

Jean Woodhull merits Montague Medal

By Dolores Winkler Wagner

The Garden Club of America has awarded an Oakwood woman one of its highest honors. Jean Verity Woodhull has received the Amy Angell Collier Montague Medal for outstanding civic achievement.

Referred to as “Green Jean” for her ardent efforts in “preserving space,” both green and historic, in the Dayton community for fifty years, she was nominated for this honor by fellow-Oakwoodian Joanne Granzow, as well as by other members nationwide.
In her nominating letter Granzow enumerated Jean Woodhull’s many achievements. Her work began in 1960 when she developed the concept of dedicated Green Space. Of her many achievements, two stand out as truly major ones; she helped forge the concept and formation of Five Rivers MetroParks; and with Jean Mahoney, she was co-founder of Cox Arboretum. Also, together with her husband James M. Woodhull they purchased and developed a 450-acre farm protected from development by a conservation easement.

In her nomination of Woodhull, Granzow wrote that efforts by Jean and her friends “resulted in the protection and renovation of the Oregon Historic District….A visionary, Jean helped develop Grass Roots Great Dayton bringing surrounding municipalities and governmental units together to address the problem of urban sprawl. With Marvin Olinsky, Director of Five Rivers MetroParks and French landscape architect Francois Goffinet the concept of the Downtown RiverScape Metro Park was conceived.“

Woodhull’s garden is included in the Smithsonian’s Archives of American Gardens. And two weeks ago, the Home and Garden channel featured her and her garden in a full-hour program of conversation and garden touring.

As Granzow concluded in her nomination statement, “A formidable force with a gentle touch awakening our community action, Jean’s legacy lives in the “green” space and the hearts of those inspired to preserve this earth, our home.”

She has served as president of the Garden Club of Dayton and on the Garden Clubs of American Board of Directors and has earned numerous other awards. She was inducted into Dayton’s Walk of Fame as well as being named as one of “Dayton’s Top Ten Women.”

Truly a woman of force and vision, Woodhull concedes that “My passion is the earth, the big one I live on, and the earth in my garden. I only wish that everyone would have a garden.”

The Montague Medal was established and endowed in 1950 by Mr. Gilbert Holland Mantague in memory of his wife Amy Angell Collier Montague, and active and devoted member of the Garden Club of Mount Desert, Maine.

Hawthorn Hill to top OPC agenda at June 6 meeting
Disbrow subdivision request also to be revisited

By Dolores Winkler Wagner

Hawthorn Hill will be first on the agenda for the Oakwood Planning Commission at its regular meeting tomorrow, Wednesday, at 4:30 p.m. in the City Building. The Wright Family Foundation is asking that Hawthorn Hill be given special use designation as a museum.

The conditions and restrictions include all aspects of Hawthorn Hill as it will function as a museum – the building itself, public and private visitation, special events and usage, parking, transportation to and from Hawthorn Hill are among the considerations. It would be subjected to all city ordinances regarding the use of privately owned property in Oakwood. Following is a brief summary of the more salient points.

• The building may not be modified in any major way; its footprint must remain the same; public visitation must originate from Carillon Park by minibus, arrive and leave by same; however, private visitors are permitted parking in the area as allowed for any other property owner.

• Public tours are limited to two per day, two days per week, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. School tours must follow the same procedures as general public visitors, with the exception of Oakwood schools.

• Evening special events must end by 10 p.m. with full information about the event presented to the city at least seven days prior to the event. With 35 or more attendees, off-site parking must be arranged. Special events are limited to eight per calendar year.

• Signage limitations restrict size and placement. The draft also states that there will be “no signage installed anywhere in Oakwood directing the public to Hawthorn Hill.”

• Should the Planning Commission approve the request, the draft states that the “conditions, stipulations and restrictions shall apply to Hawthorn Hill regardless of ownership or management of the property, including possible future conveyance to the National Park Service or any other state or federal agency or entity, and may only be amended with the concurrence of the Wright Family Foundation and the city of Oakwood, and shall be subject to all regulations and requirements of the city of Oakwood.

Whether or not the Planning Commission approves the request, City Manager Norbert Klopsch is a vocal proponent of Hawthorn Hill. “I believe that we have to recognize that this house exists. We should be proud of it. It’s part of our city. And the big picture is that it is an asset to the city.”

The Planning Commission will also hear the request that the Disbrow property on Ridgeway Road be subdivided to create one additional R-1 buildable lot.

OSEF raises $400,000 for grant Endowment

The Oakwood Schools Education Foundation has raised over $400,000 in a fundraising campaign to create a permanent Endowment for teacher and administrative grants for students of the Oakwood Schools. The Foundation hopes to collect the final $100,000 toward the $500,000 goal by the end of the year.

The Board kicked off the Visions for Tomorrow campaign’s public phase this past Sunday with a gathering to thank donors who contributed during the initial 18 month phase of the campaign. Campaign co-chair Harry Ebeling expressed appreciation for the Board’s 100 percent participation and the generous leadership support of local families, alumni and community leaders. “We could not have been successful without our loyal friends who appreciate and support the Oakwood Schools.”

The campaign started as the Foundation realized that the monies requested annually for grants far exceeded those available from invested contributions. Over the last 15 years, the Foundation has broadened students’ learning opportunities by awarding over $330,000 in quality grants, funding projects such as innovative technology and equipment for Science and Math, Accelerated Reader program for elementary students, on-site master teachers, technology to improve writing skills, and a Lange School Playground challenge. Each year, however, the Foundation is unable to fund some of the unique, creative projects our teachers and staff propose for the students.

The Oakwood Schools Education Foundation provides students and faculty with diverse and distinctive opportunities, which go above and beyond the reach of the district’s normal operating budget. Pursuing its mission, “Enhancing Excellence through Philanthropy,” the Foundation provides significant annual support for quality initiatives, including teacher and administrative grants, scholarships and special wish list items. By funding this Endowment, opportunities for students will exist for generations to come.

HOW TO DONATE: Make checks payable to the Oakwood Schools Education Foundation. Designate the gift for the Endowment campaign and mail to P.O. Box 351, Dayton, OH 45409.

For more information on the Oakwood Schools Education Foundation, please call 297-5332.

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