CLUB TRADITION B1
The Cincinnati Woman’s Club continued its tradition of awarding scholarships to talented women who attend area universities with recent awards to several University of Cincinnati students.
Grateful teacher Marsha Corbitt said she is grateful her colleagues in the Oak Hills Local School District have always challenged her and provided her opportunities to grow as an educator. The first-grade teacher at J.F. Dulles Elementary School is one of six educators in the region chosen to be a 2012 3-C Outstanding Teacher of the Year. The award is presented by the Conversations, Connections, Collaborations partnership led by the presidents of the University of Cincinnati, Xavier Northern Kentucky universities, as well as the Cincinnatus Association, a civic organization dedicated to supporting education, community planning and urban development. “I was surprised and honored when I was told that I was named a 2012 3-C Outstanding Teacher of the Year,” Corbitt said. “However, it must be stated that I accept this award with the utmost humility.” Full story, A2
D ELHI PRESS
Your Community Press newspaper serving Delhi Township and Sayler Park 50¢
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2012
BECAUSE COMMUNITY MATTERS
Residents question termination By Heidi Fallon
hfallon@communitypress.com
Several Delhi Township residents had more questions than they received answers for at the Jan. 25 trustee meeting. Ron Robben wanted to know why Gary Schroeder was fired Jan. 11 as the township administrator. Schroeder had served in that post for six years. Robben and several other residents have expressed concern that Schroeder was let go before newly elected Trustee Marijane Klug had a chance to work with him. Klug, Robben reminded her, had said during her campaign had said she would not consider removing any department heads until she had a chance to evaluate their performances.
Schroeder was told Jan. 1 his contract would be terminated during a meeting with Trustee Jerry Luebbers and Klug just before she was sworn in to office that day. The three had a brief meeting before the swearing-in ceremony and Schroeder said that was the first time he was informed of the trustee board’s intentions. Schroeder declined to comment further on his termination. By his contract, the township has to pay him a severance package that totals $75,820, according to the township human resources department. That figure includes six months of salary of $46,399 and unused vacation time of $18,104. Luebbers told Robben that Schroder’s termination was a personnel issue and one he would not discuss. “It’s unfair to share this information,”
Luebbers said. “I’m not going to give my reasons. We’re moving in a new direction.” Trustee Mike Davis, who voted against Schroeder’s termination, said that all of Schroeder’s evaluations were good. Klug said she had worked with Schroeder during her time as a member of the Financial Advisory Board. “It’s time to start fresh with a new direction,” Klug said. Davis said trustees have not decided how to replace Schroeder on a permanent basis. Tom Stahlheber agreed to serve as temporary administrator in addition to his zoning and developmental services job. He will not be reimbursed for the added work load. “We will have to meet in the next few weeks to decide how to proceed,” Davis said.
Author and illustrator Will Hillenbrand shares one of his 56 children's books with a class of kindergarten students from Sayler Park Elementary School during a program at the Delhi Township branch library. HEIDI
Eager to move John Lewandowski and the staff at Madcap Productions Puppet Theatre are eager to move into their new home. “We’re thrilled,” said Lewandowski, artistic director of the award-winning, West Side puppetry group. “We’re incredibly excited.” The ornate building, constructed in 1925 as one of five telephone switching stations that served the region, is owned by the Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County. Full story, A4
Valuable lesson Valentine’s Day brings back memories of Rita Heikenfeld’s first real box of candy. Her boyfriend, Jim, came with two velvet heart-shaped boxes of Brach’s candy from the corner drug store. One was for her and the other for her mom. She learned a valuable lesson: Valentine’s Day isn’t just for sweethearts! Full story, B3
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Sayler Park students’ imaginations soar By Heidi Fallon hfallon@communitypress.com
They took a journey across an imaginary sea to a land accessible only by a book. Author and illustrator Will Hillenbrand was the travel guide for a kindergarten class from Sayler Park Elementary School at the Delhi Township branch library. He read them one of his books, showed them how he illustrates his works and shared his love of written word. It was a return trek to the library for Hillenbrand who has been nudging the imaginations of Mauren Born’s classes with his books, drawings and good humor the past three years. Putting an array of his 56 books on a library bench, Hillenbrand said he loves bringing his work to his audience and their parents. “I had a parent tell me once that she really enjoyed hearing me read one of my books so that she can do it now, too,” Hillenbrand said. “It really grounds me to be with children and reminds me of my audience.” Among the books he shared with the Sayler Park students was his latest, “Kite Day.” Born, whose sister-in-law
Jaiden Williams, left, and Dustin Johnson appear mesmerized by a book author and illustrator Will Hillenbrand was reading to their Sayler Park Elementary School kindergarten class at the Delhi Township branch library. HEIDI FALLON/THE COMMUNITY
Karen Pack and her daughter, Riley, share a book by author and illustrator Will Hillenbrand before his presentation to Sayler Park Elementary School kindergarten students at the Delhi Township branch library. HEIDI FALLON/THE
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COMMUNITY PRESS
Kathy Born is the children’s librarian at the Delhi Township branch, has secured a Learning Links grant to pay for this and three other field trips to the library during the school year. “We’re hoping to reach children who might never see the inside of a library,” Kathy Born said. “Having them hear and meet Will makes the books real for them.” Other programs Born arranges at her library include a visit from Ronald McDonald and the Hamilton County Park District. Students are given library card applications during their visits to receive their own library
cards. “We’ve had older students who come in and tell us they were in one of the kindergarten classes and they’re so excited to come here and get books,” Kathy Born said. “We see that glimmer and hope it just keeps growing.” Maureen Born said she hopes that along with library card and a book, her students take home a new or renewed love for reading. “I want them to appreciate books in general and with the program Will does, to see and understand what an author and an illustrator do. For them to see him is something very special.”