Home School Blog Site Created

In an effort to help home schooling families in this neighborhood I have set up a home schooling blog site with members who can post about ideas, activities or questions relating to home schooling. HERE is the site. If you are interested in joining, let me know.

Home School Get-together

Anyone who home schools their children or is thinking about it are invited to an informal get-together in the shelter at the Walnut Hills Park to meet other residents interested in the same on Friday, September 23rd at Noon. Bring your lunch and children are very welcome!

Membership Drive

It is that time of year when we make an effort to get people to join the WHA. The dues are $2.00 and the money is used to help host the annual Easter Egg Hunt. In the past, we donated to the Summer Park Program, which was cancelled this year due to lack of funding. So, this year you may find someone knocking on your door asking you to join! We need to raise funds if we want a Summer Park Program again and the easiest way to start the process is by asking EVERY HOUSEHOLD in the Walnut Hills Neighborhood to join the neighborhood association for $2.00. We are a 501(c)3 tax exempt organization so any contributions are tax deductible. There is a lot more that we can do for the neighborhood you live in if we can raise some funds. So if someone comes knocking, be generous. You can always mail contributions to the treasurer via the form below. As President of the WHA I just donated $50.00 so I challenge anyone to match or beat that!

Neighborhood Property gets Shamed

Oh the humility!

Here is a picture of one of our neighborhood's problem properties. This is 55 Margaret Street Dayton, OH 45410. The owner of this property purchased it in 2003 for $14,100 at a sheriff sale and has done little to the property since. He has outstanding code violations on the property. At least 6 of them for the exterior. Some of the compliance dates are January 2004. He has not done anything to fix the problems other than secure the property by boarding it up and cut the grass. This morning at 11:30 AM the City of Dayton slapped this sign up in an effort to shame the owner into making repairs to the house.

This reads
Michael H. Frantz

10179 Cherry Tree Trace

Centerville, OH 45458

937-885-9414

I was the first person to call him to congratulate him on achieving such an honor. Only three other properties in the entire city wear this merit badge! I was impressed that he returned my call so quickly. Mr. Frantz owns other property in the area but does not have the resources to fix this one up profitably. This one is completely gutted and will require a complete renovation. He did mention that he got his last ticket from the city regarding this house while he was in Florida for a month. He obviously has the resources to take a trip to a vacation state but no resources to improve the property values of this neighborhood. Mr. Frantz is willing to entertain offers for the house. His address and phone number is on the sign so it is posted above. Of course you can call him and tell him how disgusted you are that he is willing to blight Margaret Street with this house. If you are interested in the house there is an outstanding real estate tax bill of approximately $3470.

Beware of bad contractors

This is the time of year when many people get taken by bad contractors. Beware of those contractors who go door to door saying that they are doing a job up the street and would like to give you a quote. Good contractors are booked up many weeks in advance and don't need to go door to door.
Read your financing agreements carefully, often you end up taking out a home equity loan to finance an improvement or a new roof. Failure to pay the loan due to poor work may result in you losing your home. Don't pay the contractor in full until the job is done and has passed inspection (if required). It is not likely that they will return to fix their work once they have been paid. Get a contract in writing so that you have something to present to the judge if you have to go to court as a result of poor workmanship.
Permits are required for any work that could affect health and safety. Gas and electrical work generally will require a permit including replacing water heaters and furnaces. Any changes or additions that affect structure or that will support the weight of people (i.e. Decks, room additions, stairs etc.) may require a permit. Roofing only requires a permit if the wood decking is being replaced or added.
You can apply for some permits through the City of Dayton web site at http://www.ci.dayton.oh.us/

Are You Master of Your Domain?

Not according to the United States Supreme Court! On June 23, 2005 they ruled that local governments could seize people's homes and businesses against their will for private development.
As a result, cities now have wide power to bulldoze residences for projects such as shopping malls and hotel complexes in order to generate tax revenue.
At issue was the scope of the Fifth Amendment, which allows governments to take private property through eminent domain if the land is for "public use." Property owners must receive "just compensation" for the property though. It can not just be taken.
This is a scary thought. It means that "Big Box Retailers" like Wal-Mart, Target, Home Depot and the like can possibly develop privately owned land in inner cities because it will provide jobs and generate tax revenue for the city regardless of who owns the land. At a time when money in our City's treasury is at an all time low this may look like a good option for those in charge.
If I remember my history, we fought a war against an English King to stop things like this from ever happening again. I hope our city leaders remember their history when this opportunity comes knocking!

Parent Meetings for Emerson Academy

Emerson Academy will be holding a Parent Information Meeting on June 14th and July 19th at 6:30pm. For more information call the school at (937) 223-2889. Please visit them at 501 Hickory St. Dayton, OH 45410 or on the web at www.emersoncommunityschool.org.

This is what they had to say;

Emerson Academy of Dayton is a no-cost, public charter school currently enrolling grades K-6. We offer a challenging, character-based education through a rigorous curriculum with high academic and social expectations. We prioritize the academic program and instructional time so each student reads, computes and writes at or above grade level. We also offer a strong focus on moral values and citizenship.

St. Anthony School Offering Summer Programs

St. Anthony School, located near Steve Whalen Blvd. and Wyoming Street, will present "Summer of Learning" with the first program, Read With Me, beginning June 13. Other programs include Artists at Work, Science Camp, Jumpstart for Reading and Math, and Lights, Camera, Action. Fees vary for each program. Call Kara Burkett at 253-6251 for more information.

Pick up your Dog Poop

If you walk your dog in the neighborhood and allow it to defecate on public or private property, then you are responsible for disposing of the waste. Otherwise you are littering and subject to prosecution if caught. You could also find an excessive amount of "litter" returned to your property if your neighbors catch you!

Housing Committee Action List for Problem Properties

If you have an issue with a problem property in the neighborhood then please follow this procedure.

1. Identify the problem property and note whether problems are structural issues, peeling paint, bad or missing gutters, broken windows, trash and debris etc.

2. Call the Housing Office at 333-3977 and inform them of the address and problems. Be sure to document any information: include date, action to be taken by the inspector and given deadline.

3. Follow up if the problem is not resolved by the deadline. Contact the housing inspector. Inquire why the problem has not been resolved and document any information.

4. If the problem has not been resolved by the new deadline, call the housing inspector and inquire again as to why the problem is not resolved. If you do not get a satisfactory response then state that you will be reporting this problem to the priority board and ask to discuss the matter with the inspector's supervisor. You should report the problem now to the Walnut Hills Association Housing Committee for their involvement.

If the problem gets to the point where the Priority Board and neighborhood association get involved then the inspectors are required to document their investigations and become accountable to different departments within the City hierarchy. They don't like this and we would like to give them every opportunity to work on problems before this measure would be used. The two inspectors assigned to Walnut Hills have been working well with us. They are
John Carter 333-3956 and Nathan Zebrowski 333-3967

City Unveils New Electronic Newsletter

City Unveils New Electronic Newsletter
Public Invited to Subscribe to E-Mail Publication

To help keep the community informed of upcoming projects, current activities and recent achievements, the City of Dayton has launched a new electronic newsletter called “Dayton Extra.” The newsletter will be e-mailed to interested citizens, business leaders, elected officials, community partners and other interested individuals at least once a month. Anyone interested in subscribing to the electronic publication can visit the City of Dayton’s web site at www.cityofdayton.org/daytonextra or call 333-3333 and provide an e-mail address.

“My colleagues and I on the City Commission believe there are many positive things occurring in the city of Dayton that do not always get proper attention in the media,” Mayor Rhine McLin said. “The Dayton Extra newsletter is one more way we can spread the word about the many good news stories impacting our neighborhoods, our business community, our employees and downtown. I encourage anyone interested in hearing more good news about the City of Dayton to contact us and get added to our e-mail list.”

McLin said the Dayton Extra newsletter will complement existing communication tools the City uses to reach out to the public, including Government Access Television (channels 10 & 24), the City’s web site at www.cityofdayton.org, and other miscellaneous printed publications. She indicated the City will also continue to explore additional ways it can expand its communication efforts in the community.

The new electronic version of Dayton Extra is a variation of a printed newsletter that was formerly mailed to neighborhood residents through the U.S. Post Office. The updated electronic version has no printing or postage costs associated with it, and its subscriber base can be expanded easily to include anyone with an e-mail address.

Anyone wishing to receive the publication via e-mail can visit www.cityofdayton.org/daytonextra and follow the directions to subscribe, or call 333-3333 and request to be added to the e-mail distribution list.

Building Safety Week Offers Amnesty Opportunity

Amnesty Offered During Building Safety Week
Property Owners Can Obtain Correct Permits without Penalty

Release Date: Monday, May 2, 2005
Contact: Bill Nelson, Director of the Department of Building Services, 333-3883

The City of Dayton will be joining other communities around the world in celebrating Building Safety Week from May 8-14.

Building Safety Week raises public awareness of building safety and promotes the use, enforcement and understanding of building safety and fire prevention codes to protect lives and property. The theme of this year's Building Safety Week is "Making Homes, Schools and Workplaces Safer Together ".

As part of the recognition, Dayton 's Department of Building Services will offer amnesty to residents who have recently performed any construction on their homes or businesses without obtaining a building permit.

Under the amnesty offer, any Dayton property owner who has performed construction work without a permit can visit the Department of Building Services during Building Safety Week to obtain the proper permits. The traditional practice of imposing a double permit fee for work without a permit will be suspended during this period. However, the standard permit fee will apply.

Construction work performed without a permit is a criminal offense and the City often prosecutes for failure to obtain a permit. During this period, Building Services staff will work with property owners to ensure the proper permits are issued and inspections are conducted.

In addition, the Division of Housing Inspection will offer amnesty for rental unit registrations that are overdue. All residential properties that are not owner-occupied are required to be registered with the City of Dayton's Division of Housing Inspection. The residential registration forms are available on the City of Dayton's web site at

As part of Building Safety Week; the Department of Building Services will also conduct an Open House on Tuesday, May 10 from 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. The Building Services Department is located at the One Stop Center, 371 West Second Street.

"I encourage the public to stop by to learn more about the work that the Building Services Department does, " said Bill Nelson, Director of the Department of Building Services." Building code enforcement is the job of professionals who work right here in the City of Dayton," Nelson said." Inspectors, plan reviewers and others in our department work to ensure that the structures you and your families live, work, and play in are safe by issuing building permits and inspecting buildings during and after construction."

Nelson added, " Our department is using Building Safety Week to educate the community about the importance of obtaining proper permits and also registering non owner-occupied rental properties. It is an opportunity to increase public awareness of the role that building safety and fire prevention officials, local and state building departments and federal agencies play on the front line of defense to protect lives and property. They are the 'silent defenders' who are seldom seen but work daily to ensure safety in the built environment."

"We encourage people to come in and tell our staff at the front desk that you are here to take advantage of the amnesty." Nelson said.

Building Safety Week, first observed in 1980, is sponsored by the International Code Council Foundation, an organization dedicated to changing the devastating effects of natural disasters and other building tragedies at home and around the world. The International Code Council is an association that develops building safety and fire prevention codes that are used in more than 15,000 jurisdictions across the nation.

For any building safety concerns, contact the Building Services Department at 333-3883. For housing registration questions, contact the Division of Housing Inspection at 333-3977.

Youth Employment Program

Starting Friday May 6, 2005 applications for the City's Summer Youth Employment Program will be available at Priority Boards and Recreation Centers. This year the program is being administered by the Bomberger Teen Center staff and will accommodate youth aged 13-15 years old. For your awareness, teens will be asked to pick up and turn in applications at the site they wish to work. So if kids want to work at Lohrey, they should go to Lohrey to get an application. While the Southeast site office will not actually be a worksite, we are working with Non-Profits in the SE area who will serve as worksites.

Strong Home schooling Neighborhood

Did you know?

There are at least 5 home schooling families within a 2 block radius of Indiana Ave. I am trying to create a neighborhood support network for homeschoolers so that they can help each other with information and pool resources. If we do this, there will be no excuse for educated families with young children to leave Walnut Hills because of the quality of Dayton public schools or even Charter schools. This could encourage people to move into this neighborhood too. If you currently homeschool your children or are thinking about it as an option then please contact me so that I can create a web log site that you can periodically check for information.
One home schooling parent has expressed an interest in hosting an "Open House" later this year so that parents can meet and share their experiences with others.
Contact Gary Leitzell at 253-1359 or email me at

GaryLeitzell@aol.com

Newsletter Corrections

The "Mothers and Daughters Banquet" being held at the Colorado Ave Baptist Church on Friday May 6th starts at 6:30 PM, not 10:00 AM.

The "Jonah Bull Home" is located at 2233 Wayne Ave not 2033 as published.

Numbers were not my friends this month!

501 (c) 3 Status

We are now recognized by the IRS as a tax exempt public charity. Anybody wishing to make donations can send checks payable to the "Walnut Hills Association" to:

Treasurer WHA
126 Glencoe Ave
Dayton, OH 45410

Welcome

This site is being created as a supplement to our monthly neighborhood newsletter. Hopefully it will keep our residents more up to date with neighborhood happenings and we may be able to answer some questions through the comments feature.