|
Appeal to save remaining Sugar Camp trees
On Friday, April 23 the City of Oakwood celebrated the 26th consecutive year of being designated a Tree City USA. One hundred sixty-four visitors from other Tree Cities came here for the event. All of this took place just in time for Oakwood’s mayor and council to be spared the embarrassment of allowing those visitors to witness the devastating deforestation they’d let happen at Sugar Camp.
Not that they didn’t see it coming. To the contrary, Oakwood’s mayor, council, and planning commission enthusiastically supported a development plan for Sugar Camp which they knew called for cutting down hundreds upon hundreds of mature hardwood trees, destruction of precious wildlife habitat, and the potential for major storm water run-off and erosion problems. This development plan, approved by the planning commission and council last year, already varied significantly from the original 2004 sub-area site development plan. By allowing it to be further watered down, a precedent has been established which will make it difficult if not impossible for council to resist caving in to the developers’ continuing efforts to get variances which will let them build faster, easier and cheaper.
Oakwood citizens expressed reasonable concerns at planning commission and council hearings about the increasing density of development, loss of natural habitat, increased traffic and noise, and the cost of infrastructure contributed to the developers by the city. These citizen concerns have been consistently ignored, as is evident by the reading of resolutions of approval which were clearly prepared before these hearings and before these concerns could be heard.
Mayor Cook and Council should put on hold the continued development of what’s left at Sugar Camp until a way can be negotiated for the City of Oakwood to become a partner in saving as much of the remaining woodland as possible. For a great example of how to do it right, one has only to look south to Kettering’s Lincoln Park. Their planners realized the commercial and esthetic value of keeping in place many of those hundred-year-old trees; they knew people would prefer living in a leafy, shady environment rather than in a barren landscape scraped bare of vegetation except for a few spindly saplings stuck here and there in their place. And that was before it was well understood that trees contribute to urban health by extracting large amounts of carbon from the atmosphere.
Irreparable harm has been done by allowing the Sugar Camp clear-cutting to take place. That can be mitigated – but only slightly – by working with the developers to save some of the few remaining Sugar Camp trees from becoming another enormous pile of wood chips.
Pam and George Houk
Oakwood
Progress vs. preservation
Like Mr. Osborne, I was saddened to see the utter destruction of trees and land occurring on the former Sugar Camp, although this eventual outcome was cast the minute the wrecking ball hit the former Trace Home several years ago.
It is beyond ironic that we can boast of the re-building of a questionable 3.1 acre addition to Houk Stream as a “legacy for future generations” that “provides much-needed space for enjoying the wonderful outdoors” while just across our tiny town—we are destroying a much larger, more beautiful and one could argue— more significant part of our history.
Sugar Camp was once part of Colonel Patterson’s vast homestead and was simply his family’s personal sugar camp—an original stand of maple trees and a working and beloved part of his farm. His grandson John eventually inherited the property and gave it to his growing company, National Cash Register. During World War II, NCR lent it to the WACS and they were housed in the wooden barracks for several war years.
I’d be interesting to know what either Patterson would think of our “legacy” on the eve of our 100th Anniversary. While both men were undoubtedly progressive risk takers, it is evident that they also loved and respected nature.
There is really just a fine line between progress and preservation. We in Oakwood have driven a chasm between the two.
Debra Edwards
Oakwood
Angry adjectives
Hey Lee Kellogg, chill out! We understand that your blood is saturated in cynicism, and your editorial was aimed at enlightening the moronic masses, but when every noun that you write is preceded with an angry adjective, it sort of confuses me who the hate-filled militant monger is - You or Dubya?
Also, just so that your information actually has some context, you probably should have mentioned that the quotes you rifled off about the “direct quotes from the FBI” represented only 26 out of 493 people (5 percent) that were interviewed. The remaining 467 (95 percent) people interviewed witnessed nothing. Perhaps these 26 hated George Bush more than you do? You seem to adjust the facts well for our educational purposes, perhaps they could have too? I don’t know . . . I’m just saying that anything is possible. Like the 500 + enemy combatants were all innocent, with smoking guns in their hands trying to kill our soldiers? Sure, some could misconstrue what they were trying to do. Perhaps all of their guns accidentally discharged while on their way to crazy Osama’s annual clam bake? You’re probably right (I mean left - sorry, didn’t meant offend you).
Abdullah Saleh al-Ajmi, an ex-Gitmo detainee, was released in 2005 due to pressure from a bunch of overly sensitive do-gooders. He was one of the latest martyrs of an April 26th 2008 homicide bombing that killed 7 innocent people in Iraq. Yep, he was innocent alright. I am glad your rant attempts to protect the murderer of innocent civilians. If I ever hear of another detainee that is freed and lives to kill innocent people another day, I will think of you, Lee, and all of your buddies that worked so hard to free him.
If anyone is interested in a “direct quote from the FBI,” I recommend going directly to the FBI web site below instead of getting your selective information from leftwingnutjob.blogspot.com (it’s a real site, I’m not kidding).
http://foia.fbi.gov/guantanamo/122106.htm
I was actually going to check MoveOn.org to see if you were cribbing your selective information from that site, but I decided to google your name instead, I noticed that you are in fact a far left darling. I see your name splattered on MediaMatters.org blog. Looks like you are out to try and change the world, one stupid uninformed person at a time! Good for you. http://mediamatters.org/altercation/200804110001
Lee, one of the best parts of your rant is the aspersions you cast in every direction. Specifically, I quote:
“Since Ed Borden doesn’t say what his job his, the assumption is he is a contractor, not a soldier. The facts are that many of these contractors got their jobs, at higher than military rates, because they have pledged allegiance to the flag of Bush.”
Wow. As a strong supporter of the rights of the enemy, I find it ironic that you have not only accused Mr. Borden, but have convicted him of being guilty of pledging his allegiance to the flag of Bush. Or is your justice system just as selective as you are? Maybe you have to be a foreigner dead set on killing Americans before the sympathy pours from your veins? Sometimes I forget who’s side you’re on.
Lee, I have a beautiful wife and two young children. I will support just about any initiative to protect their future well after I am gone. When I read or hear of people like you that are willing to sell America’s security for a bunch of deranged foreign bad guys, it makes me support Bush (McCain) more. He might not do things by the number, but at least he is trying to be proactive about preventing further events from killing more innocent Americans. I am sure that his job seems easy from where you sit. It’s all black and white to you. Personally, if Bush has to quietly bend the rules to protect us, then so be it. But to everyone out there that supports Lee and all of his venom, I say to you, caveat emptor. Please think about the repercussions of actually getting your way. Me? I am more Machiavellian in nature. The only way to get rid of the problem is to eliminate the problem. It’s like if someone broke into my house and wanted to kill my family, I would pull the trigger first, and then ask questions. You? I see you sitting there making the bad guy promise he won’t do anything hasty until the police arrive just to ensure that he has a fair trial. After all, maybe he didn’t really break into your house? And just maybe, he thought your house was his, and he always kicks the door in when he comes home? Maybe it’s a Darwin thing, I am not too sure.
Perhaps Lee, you and I will run into each other at That Day in May, and I wouldn’t know you from any other good natured Oakwood citizen. We both at least have good taste living in the same city, right? Maybe we can start at that common point and meet in the middle? Maybe we should just stick to talking about the parade, the deforestation project at Sugar Camp, or any of the other trivial things happening around town.
Lee, I know you mean well and your intentions are moral, but they don’t protect a country. Your argument is that we are doing more harm than good. I disagree. And please don’t spoon feed me any more of your facts. Our news sources are liberal in their opinionated reporting, so I hear it enough, thank you. I just don’t believe everything I read or hear.
Tait Hamiel (yes, this is my real name)
Oakwood - Tree City USA
Agree to disagree on GITMO
In response to Mr. Kellogg’s allegation that many government employees, contractors, or I have “pledged allegiance to the flag of Bush”, I say this. I have pledged my allegiance to the flag of the United States and the last time I checked, George W. Bush is the President and Commander in Chief.
As far as my employment status, I think it is irrelevant with respect to my opinion, but if you must know, I am not a contractor, not in the military, but took a huge pay cut to leave my contractor job in Iraq to work here. I do, however, believe that someone who volunteers to put themselves in harms way, far away from their family, living in austere conditions, should be compensated for it, whether or not you or any of your party affiliation believe it to be ‘immoral’ or ‘illegal’.
We can go back and forth until the end of time about the ‘torture’ of detainees, but know this. When U.S. Troops were captured in the war on terror, they rarely made it
out alive. When a former detainee was released last year, he quickly made his way to Iraq to participate in a suicide bombing. I have yet to hear a viable solution from the left. All I hear is “close Guantanamo”. What do you want to do with the detainees. None of them want to be returned to their home countries for fear of being on the end of a rope. Until another viable option is proposed, then I suppose we will continue with the one we are currently pursuing.
Also, there are currently less than 300 left out of the 800 original GTMO detainees.
Not the 500 you mentioned.
If we are still referring to GTMO, the contractors you mentioned, Halliburton, KBR (owned by Halliburton) and Blackwater are not in GTMO. As far as Nortel, they supply telephone equipment, what are they guilty of?
I will not comment on the distortions of your last paragraph. Let’s just agree to disagree, like the rest of the silent majority.
Ed Borden
GTMO
Centennial books’ creation speaks volumes
By now most Oakwood residents have had their personal copy of Oakwood: From Acorn to Oak Tree hand delivered to their doorstep. The book is a treasure to enjoy for years to come. It is a gift from many people.
No more than eight months ago, Dick Good, one of the Centennial Celebration Co-Chairmen, decided our Centennial celebration had to have a commemorative book as part of its legacy. Knowing that time was limited he gathered a small group of people and purposed his idea. Fortunately, the talents of this small group multiplied their actual size exponentially. The combination of artist, photographer, writer, graphics expert, production manager and managing editor, linked as a team, proved a mighty force.
Dick directed, exhorted, supported, labored with a “whatever is needed” philosophy. With the exception of one team member who came as a gift from her employer, Lee Carpenter, everyone gave extensively of their time and talent gratis as contributions to our celebration. The book is a beautiful, eclectic combination of pictures, drawings, and memorabilia that draws the reader from one page to the next. Extraordinary display of professional skills fills every page.
The publication of the book required funding. Again, Dick Good spear headed the effect to seek financial support from our business community. The response was generous and wide spread. By the time the book was ready to go to press the money to fund the publication was in place. Our business community is truly a contributing part of our centennial celebration.
To add further to the book’s prestigious history, the delivery of the book throughout the City of Oakwood was an Eagle Scout project for Sam Ippisch. You may have caught sight of the workers he organized as they scurried to deliver their books. It was a sizeable task to say the least.
The story of bringing this book from inception to hard cover speaks volumes about an involved and caring community and citizen volunteers. These ongoing Oakwood assets are a major part of our centennial celebration. Congratulations and heart felt thanks to the team effort that brings this treasure to each household.
Oakwood Mayor Judy Cook
From the desk of Norbert S. Klopsch... Plans are in place for a grand celebration of Oakwood’s one hundredth birthday. Targeted audiences include Oakwood residents – past, present and future – and friends and neighbors in the Dayton region. Led by co-chairs Madeline Iseli and Dick Good, the broad based volunteer leaders have designed a centennial celebration with wide appeal and open admission. The planning effort began over two years ago, has involved well over 100 citizens, and has included well over 100 meetings… get the theme? Celebrating the “livability” of the City of Oakwood, the centennial celebration will build on existing attributes, events, and programs, including the long history of Oakwood volunteerism. Our aim is to leave behind a greater awareness and appreciation for Oakwood as a great place to live, while we have fun celebrating. The celebration will focus on a series of weekend events between May 17 and August 17. Events will be open to all citizens and will generally be free of charge. Mark your calendar: THAT DAY IN MAY (May 17) Our traditional community celebration, organized by the Oakwood Rotary, will be expanded and enhanced with a grand parade on Far Hills Avenue between Peach Orchard and Dellwood; the annual pancake breakfast; the Fun Run and 5K/10K races; and a festive afternoon carnival including games, rides, entertainment, good food and great fellowship. Mayor Cook guarantees great weather! EXCELLENCE IN LEARNING (June 8) As a showcase for Oakwood’s outstanding schools and students, these events feature a time capsule, essay contest, visual arts, performances and sporting events, as well as special Oakwood author talks and storytelling at Wright Library. All Oakwood alumni are encouraged to participate. HIKE TO HOUK (June 22) The natural beauty of our city will be featured in events that focus on the natural areas of our beautiful city. Physical fitness and outdoor recreation will be emphasized in activities for the whole family. OAKWOOD RETROSPECTIVE...100 Years and Counting (July 12) Our architectural heritage and beauty will be an emphasis of this celebration to include several exciting events. A film depicting the history of Oakwood will premiere for all citizens to see. Also, the citizens of Oakwood will have an opportunity to tour Hawthorn Hill, free of charge. ICE CREAM SOCIAL/CLOSING CEREMONIES (August 17) A stirring concert by the Air Force Band of Flight will be the centerpiece of this event. We will build on our traditional Ice Cream Social community celebration with a picnic supper, entertainment and games for the enjoyment of Oakwood citizens of all ages. SPECIAL FEATURE – Centennial Club We have invited all present and past Oakwood residents whose age plus the number of years of Oakwood residency (or years working in Oakwood) total at least 100 to be recognized as members of the Centennial Club. Approximately 550 people have qualified for membership! These Centennial Club members will be recognized throughout the celebration. CENTENNIAL PARK – A Natural Legacy for Future Generations (June 22) Contiguous to the City’s Houk Stream natural park area, this special 3.1 acre piece of property provides a much-needed space for enjoying the wonderful outdoors and for natural sciences education. Hundreds of volunteer hours have already gone in to initial clean up of the site. We have also just completed installation of a pedestrian bridge spanning Houk Stream, connecting the existing natural area to this new acreage. The bridge is a gift coordinated through the Oakwood Rotary Club and involving several major contributors. The contributors will be recognized at a formal bridge dedication ceremony to be held at 2:30 on Sunday, June 22, in connection with the Hike to Houk event. CENTENNIAL PUBLICATION –A book entitled “Oakwood – From Acorn to Oak Tree: A Centennial Celebration 2008” Over the next couple of weeks, every Oakwood household will receive as a gift a copy of this high quality, photo-rich publication. Intended to provide a snapshot overview of Oakwood’s development in the areas being celebrated by the centennial – education, Oakwood’s natural beauty, the role of municipal government, and the importance of a strong local business community – this book will serve as a lovely keepsake for enjoyment in the years to come. It was produced through the voluntary efforts of a wonderful group of citizens and funded through generous donations from our business community. Additional details about these events will be publicized over the ensuing weeks. Please mark your calendars and plan to join your neighbors and friends in this “once in a hundred years” celebration. Norbert S. Klopsch
|
 |
May 13, 2008
Volume 17, No. 20
front page
arts
schools
sports
editorial
'round town
people
events
obituaries
|
|
|
