July 24, 2007 - Volume 16, No. 30

a Winkler Company publication

Also featuring photos from our monthly supplement...

'Willow Grove'

Oakwood Historical Society picnic a success

Sunday afternoon a week ago was perfect for a picnic and the the Oakwood Historical Society made it even more perfect. It took place on the lawn of the historic Long-Romspert House with all the trimmings.

Jake, Grace and Nicole, take a seat in the antique car that was provided by owner Larry Hardy to give an antique flair to the afternoon.

Oakwood Historical Society president, Mark Risley, welcomes guests.

Lorraine Armentrout and Joanne White enjoy thei picnic fare and balmy afternoon.

Section Eight housing going up across Shroyer Road

By Lance Winkler

“Did you know there’s going to be eight hundred units of Section Eight housing going up in Kettering?” “What’s going on with this Section Eight housing deal?” “Is it true Parkside Homes is moving over to the plat across from Shroyer Road?” “I’ve been told that they are relocating people from the low income housing north of downtown to the apartments across Shroyer, because the same developer owns both, and the low income housing downtown, which was a haven for drugs and crime, is being razed.”

Over the past nine months, these questions have been asked by concerned citizens in the area who have contacted The Oakwood Register by phone, letter, e-mail and office visits, all either telling what they have heard from local officials, “on the grapevine”, and asking if the rumors are true.

“Were you aware that the Dayton Metropolitan Housing Authority has bought three apartment buildings in the 500 block of Telford in Kettering, just across the street from Oakwood?” one concerned Oakwood citizen e-mailed us and who asked not to be named. “I spoke to a DMHA official who said people will start moving in from the Parkside Homes project as soon as the buildings are refurbished. He (the DMHA official) also said they plan to buy all the apartment buildings that go up for sale in the area on the east side of Shroyer Road. That is an eight-block area full of those apartment buildings. I feel we are in for a big ride and crime, drugs, etc, will follow. This will be a devastating blow to Kettering and Oakwood. The complexion of both communities is about to change. This and the possibility of a Metro Government sure doesn’t make me want to stay in this area,” she wrote. In talking with Kettering officials, they did in fact confirm that 79 families from the Parkside Homes project have since moved into the apartment plats across Shroyer Road in Kettering.

Getting straight answers from officials from both Kettering and Oakwood on the record has turned out to be a catch-as-catch-can proposition. One official who did go on the record is Oakwood Safety Director Alex Bebris.

“I’m aware of the fact it is there and it is being purchased up (by the DMHA). It is not a factor that Oakwood has any control over. Is it something we’re keeping an eye on? Yes,” Bebris said. “It’s a difficult situation but we are keeping an eye on the situation.”

Many of the auto break-ins and thefts have been suspected as originating from across Shroyer as of late. A case in point occurred with an Oakwood resident recently, who remarked that such an occurrence had never happened before in his 32 years of living here.

The resident, living in one of the ranch homes on Acorn Drive, had awakened at about 4 a.m. and distinctly heard voices outside. Checking further, he was startled to see two faces peering in his living room window. Putting on his bathrobe and bringing along his 38. Cal. revolver for good measure, he walked outside and confronted the pair, asking what they were doing on his property? The two were surprised at being caught and told him that they had dropped their cell phone and were looking for it. They immediately left on foot heading south on Acorn Drive. The resident got dressed and decided to follow them in his car to see where they went. He caught up with them as they crossed Shroyer Road and headed into the Kettering plat where Acorn Drive continued. Later on, a few months later, his wife had her truck broken into in the middle of the night and a CD/radio stolen. He remarked he had never had one of his autos broken into either in 32 years.

“If you see something that seems out of place, call us,” Chief Bebris said. “It’s important that people contact us if something appears to be not right. To us, the more information we can get, the better we can fight crime. Sometimes it takes old fashioned detective work.”

“A Neighborhood Watch system can be put in place easily by getting all the neighbors together at a block meeting. All it takes is one neighbor on the block being the self-appointed contact person to organize a meeting,” said Lt. Keith Benson. “We’ll be glad to provide safety tips and information on crime issues. Neighborhood Watch is a great way to use the power of the group to provide the Police Department with group issues that affect the neighborhood. Working together in a partnership, it is a good example of community-oriented policing,” Lt. Benson said.

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