June 12, 2007 - Volume 16, No. 24

a Winkler Company publication

Also featuring photos from our monthly supplement...

'Willow Grove'

Micah Stock headed to Big Apple acting school

The Muse Machine is pleased to announce that Micah Stock, a 2007 graduate of Oakwood High School, was awarded the Albert Reyes Scholarship to attend Neighborhood Playhouse School of the Theatre in New York City. Micah will attend Neighborhood Playhouse’s Summer Workshop for six weeks this summer.

The Neighborhood Playhouse is an actor training school in New York City. The Summer Workshop includes courses in the techniques of acting and in speech and movement related to acting. Famous alumni include Robert Duvall, Allison Janney, Diane Keaton, Grace Kelly, Gregory Peck and Eli Wallach.

The Muse Machine is a nationally recognized arts education organization, providing creative experiences and resources for young people of the Miami Valley. Since 1982, they’ve produced 23 annual musicals and 10 summer concerts for the community.

For more information, visit www.musemachinedayton.com.

Rash of burglaries prompts RedALERT notice

By Lance Winkler

A string of three burglaries and one attempted burglary caused the Red ALERT notification system to be utilized for the second time in two weeks, the first being an attempt to locate an elderly man who had apparently walked off from Sunrise Assisted Living and was located in Kettering. The burglaries came fast on the heels of the first incident. The Red ALERT system notifies area residents by phone of various incidents or occurrences in the local area that might require citizen vigilance or action. Weather warnings, Amber Alerts, hazardous conditions and crime-oriented notices are the main uses for the system, which has been in place for the past six months.

“We’re going to try to limit the amount of times we use it (Red ALERT), but there were two incidents we thought were important,” said Capt. Dave Lantz. The burglaries prompted safety officials to notify residents of some particularly daring burglaries that took place while the residents were in the home at the time of their occurrences.

The first burglary was reported on May 28 in the 300-block of Dellwood Avenue. According to the police report, at approximately 4 a.m., an unknown subject entered the residence through a window off the rear patio and made off with a number of electronic items. On June 4, two burglaries and an attempted burglary occurred. Two houses in the 200-block of Grandon Road were also hit, with persons entering through an attached sunroom but no entry into the main residence.

The fourth incident was an attempted burglary in the 00-block of E. Monteray Avenue. Police were advises that persons unknown cut two holes in a window screen of the complainant’s residence.

Also on the rise in recent months have been car intrusions and break-ins, these occurring late at night or in the early morning hours.

Capt. Lantz advises that Oakwood residents form Neighborhood Watch groups and be on the lookout for suspicious activity and to lock both car and houses including taking items of value inside.

“If you see something suspicious, if you hear something suspicious, give us a call (298-2122) and we will be glad to check it out for you,” Capt. Lantz said.

Safety Department promotes pair to lieutenant

By Lance Winkler

The Oakwood City Council convened Monday evening with all members counted as present. First and foremost on the agenda was the promotion of Officers Jeffrey Yount and Mike Jones to the rank of lieutenant. With their family and fellow officers present, they were given their bars each in-turn by Mayor Judy Cook. Lt. Yount has been with the Oakwood Safety Department since 1989 and Lt. Jones signed on in 1999. During the ceremony Chief Alex Bebris expressed his complete confidence in the abilities of his two newest officers.

Lt. Jeffrey Yount and Lt. Mike Jones.

In legislation, sidewalks on the east side of Far Hills Avenue ranging from Aberdeen south to East Drive are due for inspection for the purpose of determining which sidewalk pavers are due for construction or reconstruction. Assessments for the cost of any sidewalks in need of repair shall be paid on or before August 24, 2007.

The four-unit apartment building located at 19 Wonderly Ave., adjacent to the Far Hills Business District, has been acquired by the city for a sum “not to exceed $264,000.” The purpose of the purchase is for “possible future expansion of public parking areas.”

Deputy City Manager Jay Weiskircher gave his staff report. He brought up the negotiations between the FOP 107 and management and said that a number of sticking points still exist dealing with wages and health insurance. These negotiations have been ongoing and unresolved despite bringing in a federal negotiator.

Weiskircher also mentioned that foreclosures of homes in Oakwood have been noticeably on the rise with 14-15 properties currently undergoing foreclosure action.
The first professional tenant of Sugar Camp, the Thomas Eye Group, will moving in July into Building D while the permanent office to be located in Building A is being renovated.

City Manager Norbert Klopsch announced that after much consideration and input, the Oakwood Avenue Project will soon be underway.

Klopsch also announced that a special meeting on Hawthorn Hill will take place on Monday, July 2 to vote on whether to pass the proposal to allow tours of the Oakwood landmark.

The next formal meeting will be held Monday, July 16, 2007.

Hawthorn Hill proposal goes to city council

By Lance Winkler

The much-anticipated vote on Hawthorn Hill’s future as a tour site was denied by the Oakwood Planning Commission with a tied vote among the five commission members, with Andy Aidt and Steve Byington voting yes; Carlo McGinnis and William Kendall voting no, and Jeff Shulman recusing himself from the proceedings. The request will now go before the Oakwood City Council for an appellate vote scheduled for July 2.

The conditions and restrictions included all aspects of Hawthorn Hill 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.

The Disbrow subdivision request was not addressed as more work is needed on the proposal and will be considered at the next OPC meeting on Wednesday, July 11.

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