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Education...10 & 11People...2-3

TheOakwoodRegisterMarch 3, 2009Vol. 18, No. 9

www.oakwoodregister.com

Sports...16 & 17Arts...6 - 8

Virginia Toulmin gifts $20-millionto Dayton Foundation fundLargest single gift in foundation’s history

The Dayton Foundationannounced today that longtime donorVirginia Bernthal Toulmin has madeplans for what is projected to bemore than a $20 million legacy giftto the Harry A. Toulmin, Jr., andVirginia B. Toulmin Fund of TheDayton Foundation. This will be thelargest single gift in the Foundation’s88-year history and is expected to beamong the largest gifts made inrecent decades to a charitable organ-ization in the Greater DaytonRegion.

“The Dayton Foundation is hon-ored to be entrusted with this incred-ibly generous gift. A true philanthro-pist in every respect, VirginiaToulmin selflessly shares her manygifts with those in need,” saidMichael M. Parks, president of TheDayton Foundation. “This gift,which ultimately will carry norestrictions on The Dayton

Foundation for how it can best beused to benefit Greater Dayton, willhave a tremendous impact on ourregion over time. Since Mrs.Toulmin’s gift later will fund a per-manent endowment, the Toulmins’legacy will work to improve thequality of life for people throughoutour community in perpetuity. “We couldn’t be more grateful forthis gift and for Mrs. Toulmin allow-ing us to announce this now in the

hope that it will inspire others to giveto help their community,” Parks con-tinued. “For such a modest individ-ual, this was not easy for her to per-mit us to be so public with her gift.She truly is a special person whowants the best for the Daytonregion.”

Now a resident of Florida,Virginia Toulmin called Oakwoodhome for more than 41 years. As aformer nurse and businesswomanand the widow of international patentattorney Harry Aubrey Toulmin, Jr.,and daughter-in-law to Harry A.Toulmin, Sr., the famed attorney whosecured and defended the WrightBrothers’ patent for their flyingmachine, she established her DaytonFoundation fund to help others, leav-ing her gift to benefit her longtimehome, while also honoring her hus-band and his family history.

Virginia Toulmin

OHS swim team goes all the way to State finals!

The Oakwood High SchoolSwim Team concluded their seasonin a big way this past weekend atthe State Championship meet heldin Canton, Ohio. The Jacks relayteam of senior Brent Turner, juniorsDaniel Schmitz and David Ireland,and sophomore Andy Lamb fin-ished in 7th place in the State in the400 Free Relay setting a new school

record with a time of 3:17:65. Theyfinished in 12th place in the 200Medley Relay in a school recordtime of 1:43:50. . Daniel Schmitzswam an incredible 200 freestyle totake 5th in the State with a time of1:43:58. Daniel also finished in 9thplace in the 500 Freestyle with aschool record time of 4:39:01.David Ireland broke his own school

record in the 100 butterfly, swim-ming to an 11th place finish with atime of 52:31. On the first day ofprelims, Andy Lamb swan to a 19thplace finish in the 500 Freestyle(4:54:77). The Oakwood Men fin-ished as the 10th place team in theState of Ohio for Division II.

The Jills relay team of seniorHaley Pohlman, and juniors

Natasha Wahl, Sarah Wilhoit, andEllen Viereckl swam in the 200Medley Relay to a new schoolrecord with a time of 1:59:17!Haley Pohlman swam in the 100Breast in prelims to a 20th placefinish (1:11:05). Natasha Wahlswam to a 19th place finish in pre-lims in the 50 Free in a time of25:27. The Oakwood Jills finished

in 51st place in the State of Ohio forDivision II.

These very successful swim-mers are coached by first year headcoach, Jennifer “Madame” Jervisand assistants Steve Wilhoit andCarrie Higgins. Congratulations tothe swimmers and coaches on themost successful season in OakwoodHigh School history!

Pictured, left to right, is the OHS men’s relay team David Ireland,Daniel Schmitz, Brent Turner, and Andy Lamb. These four boyscomprise the first relay team to swim at the State Championshipmeet and they finished seventh place overall.

See Gifts on page 4

Zoning change on Routsongproperty passes council 4-0By Lance Winkler

The Oakwood City Councilmet on Monday, March 2, 2009with all members counted as pres-ent. Also attending was a largecontingent of concerned citizenswith regard to the second readingof the zoning ordinances convert-ing lots 149, 150 and 153, locatedat the corner of Irving Avenue andBrown Street from R-5 residentialto NBD business district. Propertyowner Thomas Routsong had sub-mitted a proposal to the city toraze the existing building thatserved as the former Oakwoodchapel of Routsong Funeral homeand build an office/retail unit in itsplace. A number of neighborswere present to express oppositionto the measure.

Mayor Judy Cook invited theneighbors up to the podium tospeak and ten citizens took her upon the offer. One resident voicedher opposition but seemedresigned to the outcome which sheperceived as favoring the zoning

change.“The decision made tonight is

irreversible, and it will change theneighborhood,” she said. Anotherbelieved that residential zoningshould be maintained and pointedout that the R-5 designation wastaking into account that the prop-erty served as a funeral home.Another resident expressed thenotion that funeral home hours aredifferent and any other use will bea deviation from the norm thatresidents nearby had come toexpect.

Mayor Judy Cook gave theopinion that a denial of the rezon-ing ordinance “would be punitive”and believed it would be open tolegal challenge, which would be“very expensive” to Oakwoodtaxpayers. Mayor Cook concludedher opinion by expressing supportfor the zoning change.

Councilmember SteveByington remarked that he hadput forward an “active effort” in

See Zoning on page 4

Distinctive Homes SPECIAL SECTION

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