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Choice Pantry board appreciates recognition

The board of directors of the Oxford Community Choice Pantry is very grateful to The Oxford Press and the Oxford Kiwanis Club for recognizing the Pantry as the Organization of the Year. We accept this honor on behalf of the entire community, which has generously embraced the efforts of the pantry and offered us so much support, without which we could not operate.

Since July 2007, when we opened our doors, we have served 407 individual families who together made more than 1,500 visits to the pantry. Volunteers logged 1,900 hours in serving those families. The volunteers have come from across the community; town and gown have worked side-by-side to help our neighbors in need.

As we start the new year and face a growing need for the pantry, we look to the community to continue its wonderful support. And we take this opportunity to thank two board members who retired from the board in 2007 but who were very important in establishing the pantry and in seeing it through its first year. Jim Robinson, of the law firm Robinson & Lipnickey, provided legal assistance at no cost to the pantry, and Linda Boardman coordinated many food drives and in many ways acted as the board's "Woman Friday." We also welcome Lisa Gadaleta back to the board and new board member Steve Dana and thank Phil Best for accepting the position of board president for 2008.

Oxford, this recognition belongs to you. Thank you for creating a caring community.

Sheila Aranyos, Phil Best, Pam Burk, Steve Dana, Lisa Gadaleta, Amy Greenbaum, Mike Johnson, Dick Lodge, Carol Michael, Tom Poetter, Kate Stoss and Deborah Wright

Board of Directors,

Oxford Community

Choice Pantry

Oxford history returned to community

I am writing to thank the Oxford Community Foundation for the grant I was awarded to complete my Eagle Scout project. My project was the restoration of the root cellar at the Doty Homestead in Hueston Woods State Park. Joseph Morris constructed and lived in the root cellar for nearly a decade while building the home.

The project required excavation, construction, reconstruction and a great deal of historical research to complete. Yearly, thousands of people visit the Pioneer Farm, which is maintained by the Oxford Museum Association. With the completion of this project, 10 years of Oxford history have been returned to the community.

Again, I would like to thank the Oxford Community Foundation for the $500 they contributed and the Oxford Kiwanis Club for their $200, which together covered my expenses on the project. I would also like to thank Bill King, director of the Oxford Museum Association; John DeVore for his counsel; Park Manager Lonnie Snow and Dan Niehoff for their help with excavation; and John Curry for sharing his historical research.

Chris Jackson

Troop 953