Huffman Bequest to Create Interactive Park
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November 2011 A Quarterly Publication of the City of Fairfield, Ohio Huffman bequest to create interactive park he 22-acre Huffman farm on TJohn Gray Road has been a part of the Fairfield community for generations. Thanks to a generous bequest, it will soon become a public asset available to the entire community. Harold and Anna Huffman owned the property for more than 50 years, buying it from Mr. Huffman’s grandfather, who came to America from Germany in the 1800s. Maintaining the natural open space of the farm while providing activities for children was their wish. Following the passing of Mrs. Huffman in 1991 and Mr. Huffman in 2010, the $550,000 gift to develop interactive nature Plans call for flower gardens strategically family established a foundation to make the areas. placed in the park, with areas set aside for Huffmans’ wish a reality. The foundation has community gardens so residents may grow not only donated the land, but also a The park will place an emphasis on children’s their own vegetables and teach children about education. Located healthy nutrition. A walking trail is planned next to the South to encircle the property. The Huffmans were part Trace Golf Course, the park will The northern 10 acres will, for now, remain transform the in a natural state, with a potential for a “First of the City’s early history southern-most 12 Tee” youth golf program in the future. acres fronting on John arold Huffman was born at property while working as a Gray Road into Bids have been sought from area contractors Hthe corner of Mack and co-op student with Hamilton hands-on educational with site work to begin in 2012, providing Winton Roads. He Tool Company, ascending venues for school-aged bids are within budget. The new Huffman attended a one-room the ranks through the youth. Venues within Park is anticipated to open by fall of 2012. school house in years to become the park will promote Fairfield before president of the 500- sustainability, ecology graduating in employee company. and healthy living. 1940 from what An interpretive pond Inside he called the In 1945, he is proposed to teach “big school married Anna children about aquatic Getting ready for winter snow............... 3 complex” on Wehr, who was life. A play area will NEAT Program completing third year ...... 4 Dixie Highway. born in Hamilton. allow children to slide Winter presents unique dangers .......... 36 He attended the The two would down features University of build a house on the integrated into grassy Guard data in “smart” phones ............ 37 Cincinnati before John Gray Road land, mounds, which will Police offer 24-hour drug drop box ....... 37 joining the Air Force. where they lived also have tunnels to Safeguard water reserves .................. 38 After his military service together until Mrs. explore and logs on near the end of WWII, he Huffman’s death in 1991. Mr. which to climb. Boards/commissions seek volunteers.... 39 purchased the John Gray Road Huffman died in 2010. Tribute organizers earn STAR Awards.... 39 THE FAIRFIELD FLYER Work continues along the SR 4 Bypass ost of the work along the State Route Other projects see completion shoulders, curbs, a new water main, 4 Bypass has been completed, with the stormwater lines, and new gas and electric M Resor Road: After experiencing some delays Ohio Department of Transportation’s services. (ODOT) Superstreet concepts now in use. due to weather and utility coordination, the Groh Lane: Work is nearing completion to Work Resor Road improvements are reconstruct and widen the road leading to the continues on complete. To the casual future site of the Field of Dreams baseball the railroad observer, the roadway widening complex. In bridge and at and hill addition to the the intersection reduction roadway with State may have improvements, Route 4 in seemed like a stormwater Fairfield. routine project. In drainage capacity was enhanced. While the bulk reality, the of the project is work was far Seward Turn complete, work more Lane: In response is just now complex to safety study beginning on since utilities recommendations, the widening of under the the right turn lane the bridge over roadway from southbound State Route 129. The bridgework is expected needed to be realigned so that the hillcrests SR 4 to Seward Road was lengthened to give to be completed by the end of 2012. could be removed. The project added paved motorists more distance to decelerate safely. all leaf collection Fairfield’s 2011 Leaf Collection Schedule debris in the street has commenced and and gutter can block F Between Pleasant will continue stormwater runoff. and Winton through the end of West of Pleasant December. Crews begin Nov 7-11 Due to the large collection as early as 7 Oct 31-Nov 4 Nov 28-Dec 2 volume of leaves, a.m. and continue until Nov 21-25 Dec 19-23 East of Winton crews may run a bit as late as 8 p.m. In Dec 12-16 Nov 14-18 behind schedule. In order to facilitate pick Dec 5-9 order to ensure up, residents should Dec 26-30 collection, place leaves avoid parking in front of behind the curb by leaf piles. Blocked piles the posted dates. cannot be picked up. Special collections will not be made by To have leaves collected, crews after they have place leaves (and leaves completed an area. only) in rows or piles between the curb and Progress of the leaf sidewalk; not in the street or gutter. Leaves should be piled collection effort—including significant delays—will be posted adjacent to the street in areas without curbs or gutters. on the City’s website, included in utility bills, or placed on Fairfield cable television channel 18. Federal mandates prohibit the placement of leaves in the street or gutter due to the potential for stormwater runoff to contaminate Residents who miss the annual collection program or have a nearby streams. Contaminants also have the potential to leach small amount of leaves may want to bag their leaves for curbside into the aquifer; source of the area’s drinking water. In addition, pick-up on their regularly scheduled trash collection. At Your Service IMPORTANT NUMBERS Contact any of the following departments with questions or concerns. They're here to help... Police or Fire Emergency 911 Urgent, but not an emergency? Call 829-8201. Non-Emergency Police/Fire Dispatcher ............. 513/829-8201 Fire Department ....................... 513/867-5379 Building Inspection & Zoning..... 513/867-5318 Zoning Hotline ................................. 513/867-5321 rare early fall snowstorm has already driveway near the street. Plow Ahit the northeast seaboard. It’s just operators are simply doing their job City Council Office.................... 513/867-5383 a matter of time before a fluffy by clearing the street. The snow must City Manager’s Office............... 513/867-5350 white covering blankets the local be pushed to the side of the road, landscape. Fairfield’s Public Works which also — unfortunately — Finance Department ............... 513/867-5315 Department is prepared for winter’s worst includes driveway entrances. Income Tax Office ........................... 513/867-5327 with stockpiled road salt and plows I Stack snow on the left side of the Human Resources................... 513/867-5352 already mounted on the trucks. driveway entrance (when facing the Municipal Court ....................... 513/867-6002 house) in order to minimize the Fairfield is known for the high quality of amount of snow that may be pushed Parks & Recreation Department its snow removal services, but we need into the driveway entrance by a plow. Administrative Offices ..................... 513/867-5348 your help. Short of climbing behind the Plows typically clear snow in the Community Arts Center................... 513/867-5348 wheel of a plow, there’s plenty you can do direction of normal traffic, so a large Aquatic Center ................................. 513/939-2782 to assist crews in their efforts to safely 18-hole Golf Course ........................ 513/858-7750 snowpile on the left side of a driveway and efficiently clear the roadways: 9-hole Golf Course........................... 513/939-3741 will be pushed away from the drive Development Services............. 513/867-5345 I Park vehicles off the street. This will entrance. enable plow operators to clear the I Do not try to pass a snowplow or salt Public Works Department........ 513/867-4200 roadway more efficiently. Driving a truck. Stay 100 feet back from salt Public Utilities plow is challenging enough. Imagine trucks. Customer Billing.............................. 513/867-5370 having to steer around parked cars on I Every truck has blind spots, so don’t Director ............................................ 513/867-5375 a slippery street. assume the driver can see every area Wastewater Division........................ 513/858-7760 I Do not deposit snow into the street around the truck. Never pull up Water Division.................................. 513/858-7775 when using a snow blower or behind a salt truck. All Other Calls........................... 513/867-5300 shoveling a driveway. Not only does I The City will not take requests for the snow require attention by road Telecomm. Device streets to be plowed. Streets are crews on their next pass, a for the Deaf (TDD).................... 513/867-5392 prioritized based upon traffic volume homeowner could face liability issues and terrain. Heaviest traveled streets should their actions cause an get first attention so that emergency accident. EMERGENCY UTILITIES CONTACTS vehicles can pass. Less traveled streets Who to call for service questions I Never allow children to play in snow — like a cul-de-sac or a dead-end Butler Rural Electric Coop. .867-4400 piles along the roadway. A plow street — are plowed last. Natural Gas, Electric Service operator may not see them when I Finally, crews are not superhuman.