Budget-cutting threatens Ohio libraries
"Cuts of this size would be absolutely devastating," said Tim Kambitsch, Executive Director of the Dayton Metro Library. Kambitsch is director of my hometown county library system.
I’ve contacted Gov. Strickland and my elected representatives to tell them specific ways in which the public library has been important to me.
My new online venture, AviationDayton.com, simply wouldn’t exist without the library because I couldn’t afford the thousands of dollars it would have cost to hire professional website designer. (It’s a much more complex site than this one!) Instead, I used online resources and borrowed library books to teach myself how to do it. Based on the professional service quotes I received, I figure I saved $30,000.
I also attended library “brown-bag” sessions on fundraising to learn how to write grant proposals for nonprofit organizations I serve. That resulted in a $7,500 grant for a local aviation heritage group, which qualified as a match for an equal amount in federal funding. Total value: $15,000.
Yes, I have a personal stake in library funding. Libraries are the biggest market for most of the books I have written. And my wife works for the Dayton Metro Library system.
But I’m also worried what such severe cuts in libraries will do to Ohio. People use libraries to get jobs, study for college degrees, and improve businesses and non-profit groups. Libraries spark the imaginations of our future leaders.
As I told Gov. Strickland, libraries are a part of Ohio’s intellectual infrastructure. We should be building them up, not tearing them down.
Visit these sites to learn more and find out how you can help:
Dayton Metro Library
Ohio Library Council
News links:
- Newscenter 7 Video: Library Cuts - Kettering
- Newscenter 7 Vido: Library Cuts - Dayton
- Dayton Daily News Article: Library Cuts
- Dayton's News Source ABC22/FOX45 Video: Library Cuts
Friends of Little Miami State Park meets, grows
Copple, who owns the Corwin Peddler restaurant with his wife Ann, started the effort to build support for the narrow, 50-mile long Little Miami State Park and its recreational trail. Several bicyclists have been injured because of deteriorating trailway conditions, some seriously. The trail follows an old railroad bed, and some old bridges pose expensive maintenance problems. Facing looming budget deficits, Ohio is short of money for its parks — and nearly everything else.
The movement is organizing rapidly, according to Copple. The group has incorporated, formed a board of directors and applied for 501(c)(3) tax status. It is developing priorities for projects to fund, topped by bridge repairs, and is working on an Adopt-a-Trail program.
The trail in the Little Miami State Park is an integral part of a major recreational trail network in southwestern Ohio.
National Aviation Heritage Area plans major events in 2009
Here is a copy of the NAHA press release.
Dayton, Ohio (17 Dec 08)—The National Aviation Heritage Alliance (NAHA) and its partners will celebrate the Dayton Region’s rich history of aviation and the Wright brothers in 2009 with several special events and programs. The upcoming year marks the 100th anniversary of the Wrights’ Homecoming Parade in Dayton Ohio, where in June 1909 the brothers returned from a very successful trip in Europe to be recognized as hometown heroes. To help commemorate that event, a number of NAHA events will be connected to that “Homecoming” theme. In 2009 NAHA will recognize the 100th anniversary of the Wrights’ sale of their first airplane to the US Signal Corps, establishing aviation as part of the United States military arsenal. The year will see NAHA members participating in a number of air shows both here and abroad, and hosting special programs throughout the Dayton Region.
NAHA partners range from the National Park Service’s Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historical Park to smaller groups like the Experimental Aircraft Association’s chapters located throughout the National Aviation Heritage Area. The broad scope of the activities planned is a reflection of the deep roots of aviation in the area. While the Wrights were responsible for inventing the airplane, many other aviation and aerospace developments were led by pioneers who called the Dayton Region home, such as Warren Grimes, creator of the first aircraft landing light to the first man to walk on the moon, Neil Armstrong.
Some of the year’s highlights will include the launching of new Wright brothers replica aircraft and simulators, the National Aviation Hall of Fame’s 2nd Annual REEL STUFF Film Festival of Aviation in March 2009, and a greatly expanded Dayton air show, with United States Air, Trade and Technology Expo taking place in July. In addition, there will be NAHA partners in Europe participating in Wright brother centennial events in the Netherlands. Later in 2009, the Huffman Prairie will come alive with a celebration of the Wright brothers most successful flight of October 5th 1905, when they flew at will over the Prairie and were convinced they had truly perfected the airplane.
A comprehensive list of activities and programs is attached.
The National Aviation Heritage Alliance (NAHA) is a private, not for profit corporation operating as the management entity of the Congressionally designated National Aviation Heritage Area, one of 40 national heritage areas in the United States. NAHA’s vision is for Dayton to become the recognized global center of aviation heritage and premier destination for aviation heritage tourism, sustaining the legacy of the Wright brothers. The National Aviation Heritage Area encompasses an eight county area (Montgomery, Greene, Miami, Clark, Warren, Champaign, Shelby, and Auglaize counties.)
National Aviation Heritage Alliance
Partner Activities and Programs
2009
National Aviation Hall of
Fame
• 2nd Annual Reel Stuff Film Festival, March
12-15, 2009-Four action-packed days of classics,
documentaries and new feature films celebrating the
cinematic people, wonder and joy of flight.
• 48th Annual Enshrinement Ceremony, July 17-18,
2009-Two days of activities associated with the
recognition of the most important individuals in
aviation. Includes the WOW Conference (Wings of Women)
for high school age girls, the President’s Reception
and Dinner and the formal Enshrinement Ceremony.
Vectren Dayton Air
Show
• 35th Anniversary of Dayton’s premier summer
event, July 18-19, 2009-The USAF Thunderbirds, Tora
Tora Tora, and Patty Wagstaff will headline the Dayton
Air Show in 2009. The Thunderbird appearance in Dayton
will be a “homecoming” as team lead, Lt Col Greg
Thomas, is a Wright State graduate.
• SOAR/A2 will move to a new location in 2009 (the NAHA
Pavilion) and with additional NAHA partners helping to
create a unique educational experience for children at
the Vectren Dayton Air Show.
Wright B Flyer,
Inc.
• Test flight program for “Silver Bird” will
begin in 2009-Wright B Flyer will conduct extensive
tests of its newest Wright replica with plans to have
the new plane certified for flying by mid-summer 2009.
The Silver Bird was designed to be dis-assembled and
placed into a standard shipping container to allow for
transportation throughout the world.
• Wright Simulators-Three new Wright Simulators are
being constructed by Wright B Flyer for use by NAHA
partners. The simulators will complement the existing
simulator located at Dayton Aviation Heritage National
Historical Park’s Huffman Prairie Flying Field
Interpretive Center. The simulators will be owned by
the Alliance and made available to community groups
when requested. It is anticipated the simulators will
be used by NAHA convention and visitor bureaus at
various travel and trade shows to attract more visitors
to the Dayton Region.
• Wright B Flyer will maintain a busy flying and static
display schedule-In 2009 Wright B will be at Dayton Air
Show, Air Force Material Command’s Tattoo and the USAF
Marathon along with numerous other community events.
Dayton Aviation Heritage National
Historical Park
• 104th Anniversary of Practical Flight, October
5, 2009-A Wright Flyer replica returns to fly at
Huffman Prairie Flying located at Wright Patterson AFB,
Ohio. Piloted by Mark Dusenberry, the public will once
again have a chance to see first hand what the Wright
brothers experienced when flying in 1905. In addition
to the flight, there will be educational activities for
school children throughout the day, including edible
Wright Flyers, paper helicopters and model hot air
balloons.
• Wright Brothers Homecoming in Wright-Dunbar Village,
June 20, 2009-Join others for music, ice-cream and a
home tour in the neighborhood of the Wrights’ to
commemorate the 100th Anniversary of the Wright
Brothers Homecoming in Dayton.
• Aviation Heritage Speaker Series will see a number of
noted speakers from the world of aviation make
presentations at the Engineers Club of Dayton
throughout the year.
Wright Family Foundation
• Landmark of the Wright, 100th
Anniversary of the Dutch Centennial of Flight, June
18-19, 2009-Wright family members will participate in
commemoration of the centennial of the first flight in
the Netherlands with the formal dedication of the
sculpture of a Wright Flyer. The following day, the
Wright family will attend an air show conducted under
the auspices of the Dutch Air Force.
United States Air, Trade and
Technology Expo
• A trade show and technical conference (Wright
Dialogue with Industry) will take place in the Dayton
Region, July 13-18, 2009-The United States Air, Trade
and Technology Expo brings together leaders in the
military, civilian government, academia, and industry
to address challenges and highlight successes across
the aerospace industry with a keen focus on second and
third tier companies.
Historic WACO
Field
• 2009 WACO Homecoming Fly-In, September 18-19,
2009-WACOS and other vintage airplanes are expected to
return to Historic WACO Field from all parts of the
United States.
Ohio Historical Society-Armstrong Air
& Space Museum
• 40th Anniversary of Moon Landing, July 19- 20,
2009-Ohio Historical Society’s Armstrong Air and Space
Museum will celebrate the landing of Wapakoneta native,
Neil Armstrong on the moon. The Summer Moon Festival on
the 19th will take place on the grounds of the museum
with a number of activities planned including an
evening concert. On July 20th, the 40th anniversary of
the landing, the museum will be selling commemorative
covers with special cancellation by the Wapakoneta Post
Office. Special admission policies will be in effect
for the museum that day.
Aviation Trail Inc.
• Trailblazer Awards Banquet and Ceremony, April
2009-Honors the birthday of Wilbur Wright (April 16,
1867) and presents the Trailblazer Award to an
individual or organization that has furthered aviation
in the Dayton Region.
• National Aviation Day, August 19, 2009-commemorates
both Orville and Katharine Wright’s birthday with a
picnic luncheon.
• First Flight Dinner, December 17, 2009-Annual dinner
celebrates the Wright brothers first flight at
Kittyhawk NC in 1903.
Greene County Historical Society
• 40th Anniversary of the Moon Landing,
July, 2009-The Greene County Historical Society will
commemorate the historic landing on the moon with
exhibits at the Society’s headquarters.
Grimes Flying Lab
Foundation
• Mid-Eastern Regional Fly-In, September 12-13
2009-Grimes Flying Lab Foundation will host the Fly-In
at Grimes Field in Urbana, Ohio.
Experimental Aircraft Association
Chapter 284
• Red Stewart Field, Waynesville, Ohio Open
House and Tail Dragger Fly-In, September 5-6,
2009-Chapter 284 will host the public and present an
air show on the evening of the 5th and on September 6,
the Tail Dragger Fly-In will commence. A Young Eagles
Rally will take place on the 6th.
Experimental Aircraft Association Chapter 36
• Wings and Wheels Fly-In, June 6-7, 2009
at WACO Field, Troy, Ohio
National WACO Club 50th Anniversary Fly-In, June 24-28,
2009 at Wynkoop Airport at Mt. Vernon, Ohio