Dayton Daily News from Dayton, Ohio • 17

5 Sept. 20, 1978 Dayton Dailv News 1 7 i Dayton Jefferson Twp. Your Neighborhood EMILY MEWS Oregon firm's owner still awaits fixup OK I i fill fit 7 jt 1 been approved. "As far as we're concerned, everything is fine," he said. Now, Wolfe said, he is awaiting approval by another city office.

And, an ugly, partially demolished frontage of the future business expansion greets him every morning when he goes to work. "What it looks like now It looks like it's been bombed!" he said. Wolfe said he's been trying to get the work done since early spring. "You just have to have lots of patience." Yet, Wolfe said he's all for historic districts. "Yes, the historical district has been good for us," he said.

"It's increased our walk-in trade and created more activity than we've had here-to-fore. I think that we have been exposed to more people than we ever were before because of the activity of the Oregon Historical Society." the onslaught of the world will be on and the end will be here," he said In disgust. Steve Came, secretary for the committee, said that property owners must get approval from the committee in order to make structural changes in a building in a historic district. He said the committee was established by city ordinance to protect the property in the district. "I would have to say the city is enforcing the ordinance strictly," he said, to ensure the quality of the restoration work is adequate.

Wolfe thinks some of the committee requirements are petty. On one occasion, for example, he said his drawings were rejected because they lacked the official seal of his architects. THE FRONT OF the building to be restored was a wooden addition to the original brick structure an old Georgian with a square front. Came said Wolfe's plans now have By BETTE OWENS Dally News Staff Writer When Jack Wolfe opened his deter-; gent and janitorial supply manufacturing business on East Fifth Street 17 years ago, Dayton had no historic preservation districts. But, when his Wolfe Chemical Corp.

property was included In the Oregon Historic District, he thought it was a I good concept. Now, sometimes he's not so sure. He wants to expand into an adjacent build- ing and restore the two-story structure to what it looked like in the early 1900s, but "It's a real hassle. They're really kicking us around." he said. He was talking about the Dayton His-; toric Architecture Committee, the watchdog of restoration in the city's four historic districts.

"I'M WAITING now for the construc-i tion permit, which they sent me back three times to the drawing board. Each time they do, it costs me money for the architect. By the time they approve it, Wily NHMnDalv Nwi Jack Wolfe wants to restore building at 337 E. Fifth St. No blood in the ring, Friends and Neighbors Bette Owens 225-2266 but block party a hit Courthouse Square, DAI to be settings for Oktoberfest fun This year's Oktoberfest boasts to be the thriller of the year for little tykes and grownups who like dancing, eating and having fun.

It'll be like an international affair with a variety of foods, crafts and artisans on hand from many countries, including Greece, Germany, China, Russia, Latin America, Lebanon and Africa. And there will be lots to take home, including toys and a new cookbook that the DAI plans to unveil. backyards, disco dancing on front porches, touch, football games In the street and volleyball games. Champion of dance demonstrations was Tyrone Crawford, 16, son of Roseta and Jimmy Fornoy, 4530 Alfred Dr. Porch dancers spilled into the street to watch Crawford demonstrate how to do a Bob Hill split on the rough black-topped street without getting your knees skinned.

Just about everyone walked around the party area with a can of soda in one hand as they tried to quench their thirst under the warm September sun. The festivities will begin -J 41 at Courthouse Square at noon Sept. 29, with the F.T.D. Sauerkraut Band providing authentic German music and dark German beer sold in Oktoberfest memento mugs. The main event will be on the grounds of the Dayton Art Institute, Forest and West Rivervlew avenues, City resurfacing 10 thoroughfares Flower display special i Effort wins city award Saturday and Sunday, Sept.

30 and Oct. 1. Barbara Austin, festival chairwoman, said that this year's fest promises to be an By BETTE OWENS Daily News Staff Writer Cries for blood went up as little Derrick Plump, 5, whooped Tyrone Foster, 6, a solid blow to the nose. Plump, of 4525 Alfred who was no respecter of boxing rules, socked his taller boxing opponent again and again in the chest, even at the break. Both pairs of gloves locked with each other several times; And although the fighters fell Into the chain-link fence while they attempted the famous Ali Shuffle and the Rope-A-Dope routine, that wasn't enough action for spectators stationed at the rear of Plump's house.

"I WANT TO SEE some blood," said an unidentified sideliner, who was probably only about 3 feet tall. He had lost the previous match. The small hands twisted in the red-and-white adult-sized boxing gloves as the two fighters grappled each other. They were so engrossed in the match they paid no attention to their tennis shoe lacings that had become untied. After about 10 minutes of the match, Plump, son of Patricia Foster, emerged the victor.

Then he turned his gloves over to a little girl for her turn in the competitions. The match, sponsored by the Alfred Drive Crime Watch group, was part of a day's fun at the recent block party held for about 35 neighbors on Alfred Drive In Southwest Dayton. The party had all the elements of a traditional neighborhood gathering, including an appearance by a politician, Sinthy E. Taylor, who is the Republican candidate running against state Rep. C.J.

McLin Jr. In the 36th Distict. TABLES SET UP In the street were loaded with dishes of home-cooked food. The event included dart games in Austin 5 Skis PtttnoflDalv Nwt John Yhalhos tends marigolds The City of Dayton will spread 19,500 tons of asphalt to resurface 10 major thoroughfares in repairing damage caused by the past two severe winters, according to City Engineer Jack Unterburger. Streets already resurfaced under the program are Salem Avenue from Plymouth Avenue to Malvern Avenue, Cornell Drive from Catalpa Drive to Wes-leyan Road.

Other projects In progress Include Western Avenue from the bridge to the north corporation line; Gettysburg Ave-nue from Wyoming Avenue to Connecticut Avenue; Perry Street from First to Second streets; St. Clair Avenue from Monument Avenue to Fourth Street; Springfield Street from Third Street to San Jose Street, and Brandt Pike from Valley Street to the north corporation line. The work is being done by Don Cisle, Inc. Unterburger estimated that the resurfacing projects will be completed by Oct. 1 5 and cost about $300,000.

zinnias. He weeds and he waters daily; nurtures and cares for literally thousands of plants. By BETTE OWENS Daily News Staff Writer Big John Is his nickname. He's 6 feet 2 Inches. And he's a winner with neighbors and the city.

But his real name Is John Vhalhos and that's what will be on the award plaque that he'll soon receive as winner of the September City Beautiful Award. Vhlahos, 72, who resides in the Castle Arms Apartments, 41 E. Rivervlew has won the award for "extraordinary efforts in community beautification," said City Beautiful Council Director Paul Wick. "I'M KIND OF surprised," said Vhlahos. even bigger and better version of past Oktoberfests.

Everything is ready. "What I want to Stress mostly," Austin says, "is quality craftsmen and artisans, sampling of international food, all in the traditional Oktoberfest setting all with a German oom-pah-pah band and lots of beer and brats." Here is a sample of what you're In store for: imported wares, intricately designed Ukrainian Easter eggs, demonstrations of blacksmithing, tlnsmlthing, spinning, ivory carving and portrait painting, Lebanese and Mexican fare, Chinese egg rolls, famous Greek gyro sandwiches, Greek and Italian pastries, delicate Dutch appleflappen, crepes and waffles, continuous music and entertainment, a cookie house for the children, free movie, puppet shows and pantomln-' ist and disco dancing for teens. Law speaker sees other side Michael Coleman, a 23-year-old Toledo native who is a second-year law student at the University of Day-! ton, had a serious look on his face when he came into the Dally News office to announce the upcoming appearance of attorney J. LeVonne Chambers at the University of Dayton Law School Friday. Coleman, a member of Black Law Students As-; soclatlon, said that Chambers is heralded as the civil rights attorney credited with being the defense counsel in the first school busing case to hit the U.S.

Supreme Court. At UD, Chambers will speak on the "Obligation of an Attorney Representing a Client with Whom He Has a Difference." "Many times," Coleman explains, "an attorney has to leave out his personal views in dealing with a client. And many times he may not believe in the client's cause or his Innocence. But at the same time, that client still deserves representation. That is his constitutional right.

Chambers is going to address that Issue directly." Japanese floral art to be shown Dayton is showing off ethnicity nowadays like It's no big thing. Tomorrow the Benjamin Wegerzyn Garden Cen-; ter, 1301 E. Slebenthaler will have a demonstra-; tlon of Ikebana Japanese flower-arranging. The event Is sponsored by Dayton Chapter 33 of the 18 city groups pledge area improvement funds "Every year the neighbors ask me If I'm going to plant flowers. And I say, 'Of said Vhlahos.

His marigolds are now 55 inches tall. "I worked to give them support, put sticks, so they can stand up. I fixed them up yesterday. The wind is kind of strong. "I hope next year, if they can get me about 200 or 300 geraniums through the city park department, 1 want to plant them right in front of the marigolds and the Touch-Me-Nots." Vhlahos is proud of his accomplishments.

He uses 150 feet of hose in order to reach all the different flower beds. AS FALL APPROACHES, there's another big job to be done. He's now In the process of gathering the seeds from the middle of the flowers. He said he saves them and will use these to start next year's growth. He will also give some away to anyone who wants them.

"You can see for yourself how beautiful these plants are," Vhlahos said In a thick Greek accent. "I work four or five times a day, sometimes longer. "I have a big job right now of gathering all the seeds. I put them out today and then I put them In shopping bags. Later, in the winter when I have the time, I put them In packets, put Instructions on how to plant them starting May 15 next year and I take them to the banks and restaurants for the people to give away to the customers.

I think I have about 10 million collected already." "That's quite a bit. Lot of work. I hope It rains tonight. It needs rain pretty bad." "That's good." "I appreciate the honor. I plant the flowers because I don't have much to do.

And the wall in the front of building where I stayed, the weeds were taking over. So, I got tired looking at those weeds and I said, 'I'm going to do something about It took a couple years to do It. But I got It done." For seven years, Vhlahos, who loves flowers, has planted flowers on both sides of the street, and In the front and around all of the houses on the block of Rivervlew Avenue between Linn-wood Avenue and Main Street near the the Great Miami River levee. He said he becomes very distressed when pass-ersby walk through his flowers, or trucks run over them. "There were two big Incidents.

The first time someone slept on the flowers and killed about 30 or 40 plants. And another time some drunk did quite a bit of damage when he fell into the flowers." "Oh, my flowerbed," he lamented. "That made me feel kind of bad In a way." WICK SAID THAT "Big John" Vhlahos has assumed responsibility for the beautification of an entire city block. He plants marigolds and tions will go to the priority boards for decisions," he said. Population will be weighed in allocating the funds.

This has made the southeast priority board the only area of the city to be be eligible for two grants this year. In 1979, each priority board will be eligible for two grants. In 1980, the rules change and lnnerwest, northwest, -northeast and FROC will receive no grants. Southeast and southwest will receive one each. In addition, there will be two wild card grants for which each section of the city will be eligible.

Southertngton said the applications are being reviewed to Insure that each contains at least one neighborhood resident from each block, a pledge to match the public capital Improvement with private Investments and an agreement to form a planning committee In the event the neighborhood receives an award. By SID KARPOFF Dally News Staff Writer Eighteen neighborhood groups have pledged to match city funds for grants to improve their residential areas. Craig Southertngton, project manager for the Neighborhood Initiative Program, said the largest commitment to the program has come from two Fair River Oak Council neighborhoods where $398,000 has been pledged for Improvements. Under the matching grant program this year, only $50,000 will be allocated for any single neighborhood in each of the city's six priority board areas. Southcrington said the amount of the dollar commitment Is not the only criterion that will be used In awarding the grants.

"THE APPLICATIONS will be ranked on seven criteria and then the applica Ikebana International organization. A luncheon will be at 11:30 a.m. and the demonstration will be at 1 p.m. (Reservations must be made with Mrs. Charles Nelson, Ikebana International, 416 Clarldge Dr.

North, Kettering, Ohio 45429, telephone 299-2568.) Master arranger Is Sae Merrltt, a native of Japan, Vhlahos, a bachelor, retired from his job as a bartender In 1968. He was born In Springfield, Ohio, but was reared In Sparta, Greece. "They took me over at the age of 3 because my mother died. Grandma raised me over there." who moved to Dayton In 1968 and has been conduct Ing classes on flower arranging ever since. "Ikebana fanciers see their creations as temporary pieces of delicate, lovely sculpture that captures specific Ideas," says chapter president Mrs.

Ronald H. WUke..