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Students need

new lab facilities

 I was asked to take a leading role in the movement to build a new high school for all our students of the Talawanda District. It was time to step up.

I have lived in the district for 44 years and have dedicated my life to education. I taught at Kramer, Somerville, and Collinsville. I was the Kramer principal for 15 years. As an educational consultant, I speak to teachers about the impact that facilities have on Learning. This work provides me with a solid understanding of our district and current 21st century educational needs.

Recently the state board adopted academic standards which specify facilities such as lab requirements in which science classes must be taught. Do we have them? No. To meet state standards additional counter space and sinks must be added in several science classrooms. But these classrooms are too small to accommodate the needed counter space and sinks.

Why not tear out walls and rebuild bigger class rooms? Because it costs less to build new than to renovate.

This is why we need a new high school. Building new is a better bargain for taxpayers.

Think about what our students face when they try to compete with students who have been educated in labs that meet state standards.

Join me and vote for the bond issue on Election Day.

Mary Jane Roberts

Oxford

Sponsors are music to festival's ears

The Oxford Visitors and Convention Bureau would like to thank this year's 21st Annual Oxford Summer Music Festival Concert Series Sponsors for supporting this event:

Bath State Bank, Beaton Insurance Agency, Bill & Becky Thomas, DDS, Butler Rural Electric Cooperative, Inc., Century 21 Thacker & Associates, Inc., Chaco Credit Union, City of Oxford Parks & Recreation Department, Collected Works, Cox Ohio Publishing-Oxford Press, Delta Sigma Pi Fraternity, Dr. David Eifert, DDS, El-Interiors, Easy Clean Laundry & Car Wash, Everything's A Party, Fifth Third Bank, First Merchants Bank, Follett's Miami Co-Op Bookstore, G. Douglas Hoover, DDS, Glenwood Energy of Oxford, Hampton Inn – Oxford, Hometown Rentals, Inc., Indian Ridge Golf Club, Jeff Pohlman Tire & Auto Service, Jon Ralinovsky & Amy Lamborg, Kona Bistro, Lebanon Citizens National Bank, Locust Laundry & Car Wash, Lifelong Learning at Miami University, Lil Fesperman, Maplevale Farm Bed & Breakfast, McCullough Hyde Memorial Hospital, McCullough Hyde Memorial Hospital Medical Staff, McDonald's of Oxford, Miami Savings Bank, Miami University Art Museum, Miami University Community Federal Credit Union, Miami University Goggin Ice Center, Miami University Intercollegiate Athletics, Miami University Recreational Sports Center, Oxford Community Foundation, Oxford Obstetrics & Gynecology, Inc., REMAX Alpha Real Estate, Robnick's Scuba Service, Inc., Sarah & James Michael, Shademakers Nursery & Landscape, Smith & Ogle Funeral Home, Square D Company / Schneider Electric, Susan & Roger Treadway, The Knolls of Oxford, The UPS Store, Wild Berry Incense, The Women's Club of Oxford, and especially The City of Oxford. This event is completely supported through sponsorship dollars. We look forward to coordinating the 22nd Annual Oxford Music Festival Concert Series next summer!

The Oxford Visitors

and Convention Bureau

More Americans motivated to vote

This August 26 marks the 88th anniversary of the day the United States Constitution was amended to grant women the right to vote. The nonpartisan League of Women Voters, formed when women were first granted that right, will observe Women's Equality Day with reflections on how far we have come as well as optimism that this year will bring even more Americans into the democratic process.

This election year has seen an unprecedented rise in the number of new voters, especially women, young people and minorities, registering to vote. More and more people are getting motivated and involved, something that League founders would be proud to see: an active, energized voting public fulfilling the destiny of the 19th Amendment.

Today, and especially this election year, is a time to celebrate the progress achieved by active citizens over the past eight decades. But it is also a time to look at what still needs to be done to make democracy work for all Americans. The League of Women voters of Oxford, active since 1953, will continue to be the place where hands-on work leads to a better democracy for all.

Sondra F. Engel

President,

League of Women Voters

of Oxford

Document camera helps learning

I am writing to thank the Butler Rural Electric Cooperative Community Connection for providing a document camera for Talawanda Middle School.

This camera engages students and encourages classroom participation. Students may show and explain their work without creating transparencies, saving time and money. Teachers may show information and illustrations from books and Web sites, examples of student work, and science experiments. All students can easily see what is projected. We appreciate this most recent example of the many ways the BREC community provides resources for our students.

Ruth Pettitt

Talawanda Middle School

Grants an encore

for youth theater

The Oxford Youth Theatre would like to thank all of our supporters for our 2008 season. Without the grant support from the Talawanda/Miami Initiative, the Oxford Community Foundation, the Fine Arts Fund, Talawanda Drama Boosters, and OYES, we would not have a successful youth summer theatre program in Oxford.

We would also like to thank our student co-director, Caitlin Colyer and our chaperones, Ben and Lynn Mattox for their time and kindness.

The Oxford Youth Theatre is directed by Ryan Steffen and provides a summer theatre experience for our youth while teaching them cooperative and creative skills in a healthy environment. This year, it involved more than 60 youth producing and performing shows. And provided free shows to more than 400 community members.

We could not provide this summer experience for our community without these generous contributions. Thank you!

Marie Steffen

Co-director Oxford

Youth Theatre

Oxford