City compiling Centennial time capsule 

By Lance Winkler

The Oakwood City Council met on Monday evening with councilmember William Duncan absent but excused. The Holiday Decorating Awards were handed out. The winners were congratulated and given memorabilia folders with pictures of their respective homes and businesses commemorating their efforts along with a round of applause from those attending the meeting.

In the visitor segment, new director of the Dayton Philharmonic, Paul Helfert, introduced himself as new to the Dayton area, and had a very optimistic outlook for the Philharmonic and the upcoming season. He mentioned that last year alone, the DPO played 67 concerts with an audience of 250,000 patrons.
Oakwood Centennial Committee Co-Chairs Madeline Iseli and Richard Good along with Oakwood Film Committee Chair Harrison Gowdy were on hand to be recognized and to have their Centennial responsibilities “dissolved” by the reading of a proclamation enumerating the numerous tasks and events undertaken. Vice Mayor Carlo McGinnis asked Mayor Judy Cook to step up to the podium along with the three chairs and receive recognition for her efforts as well.

After the proclamation was read, Mayor Cook announced that in addition to time capsules having been made by Oakwood schools for opening 100 years from now, the city has compiled their own sheaf of documents and publications for inclusion in a time capsule of their own to be opened during Oakwood’s Bicentennial. Among the items included are: a copy of the 2008 City Budget; the 2008 Annual Report, a copy of the historical documentary books The Far Hills and the centennial Oakwood: From Acorn to Oak Tree; a That Day in May program; a Sugar Camp development brochure and an Oakwood business district promotional brochure among others. Madeline Iseli then came to the podium to offer a number of historical documents and desiridata from Dayton and Kettering officials as well.

The next formal meeting is scheduled for Monday, Feb. 2, 2009.

Stocks on the block until Jan. 31

By Dolores Wagner

There is a glimmer of hope that one of Oakwood’s favorite stores will not close on Jan. 31 as is scheduled, and owner Mike LeMaster  hopes that the glimmer becomes a reality.

Stocks, the upscale men’s clothing store located near the corner of Far Hills Avenue and Peach Orchard Drive, has been a fashion showplace for the well-dressed man. It was introduced to the area as a second location for Cincinnati’s Stocks store, which is located in Hyde Park.

LeMaster purchased Stocks, Hyde Park in Cincinnati in 2000.  Because of Hyde Park’s similar demographics to Oakwood, they saw Oakwood as the perfect location for a second operation and opened the Far Hills store.  Sales growth has remained steady, especially considering the sluggish economy. Over the years, which lines are carried has been modified to more clearly reflect the tastes and pocketbooks of Oakwood’s male population.

“We cut way back on the Canali, Hickey Freeman lines, for example, whose suits can cost up to $1200 - $1800. We also introduced such lines as Polo, LaCosta and Tommy Bahama. Demographics have changed. Hyde Park buys more of the expensive clothes,” LeMaster said. “Dayton is not the same town as Cincinnati when it comes to buying clothes.” But even with that fact, the store’s sales is not a factor in its closing.

LeMaster has entered another life phase. At 66 years old he wants to simplify his life. “I’m retired now and live in Florida most of the time,” he said. “I would love to see the store stay open, and that may come about.” He has had inquiries about the business from four interested potential buyers. “Right now we have a $280,000 clothing inventory in the store,” he said. “I would be willing to sell for $200,000.”

He plans to keep the Hyde Park store open unless it becomes a necessary component of a deal to buy the Oakwood store. Annual sales for both stores is $1.1 million, with this year’s sales for the Oakwood store reaching $500,000.

LeMaster is a long-time entrepreneur. Not only has he been in the clothing business – he started years ago with ownership of six Gentry shops. He also started RETS Tech Center on Loop Road in Centerville. Although he no longer owns the business, itself, he still retains ownership of the property in which the school is located.

If a buyer does not come through, Stock’s will be missed by the many who bought the perfectly-fitted suit, shirt, sport coat or whatever, under the keen eye of Darrin Callup who has managed the store for five of its seven years in Oakwood. Hopefully, another entrepreneur will find a proper “fit” with Stock’s ownership.

“There’s a 50-50 chance it will be sold.” Callup said.