Kennedy remembered as ‘pillar’ of community
XENIA A popular downtown area shopping area prominently displays his name.
But “Kennedy Korners” does not adequately describe Jim Kennedy’s total contribution to Xenia. He impacted more than a “korner.”
The longtime Xenia resident died April 4, leaving a big void throughout the community. From being a grocer to a Bible bookstore owner to the Rotary president, Mr. Kennedy was all about Xenia.
“He wanted Xenia to succeed on all levels,” said Mayor Sarah Mays. “In family, in faith, in prosperity for the community. It’s a loss for the whole community. Xenia just lost one of its biggest advocates.”
A positive impact
Foundation receives LMWN award
Submitted photo Paige Sharbaugh, Greene Giving board member, accepts the Impact Award on behalf of the foundation Feb. 9 for positively impacting the Little Miami Watershed Network.
BELLBROOK Greene County Community Foundation received the Impact Award at the Little Miami Watershed Network’s annual meeting Feb. 9.
The foundation was awarded for having a positive impact on the Little Miami River and its corridor.
In presenting the award, LMWN Chair Hope Taft said, “The Little Miami Watershed Network and its forerunner, The Little Miami River Kleeners, would not exist if the Greene County Community Foundation had not agreed to be our financial home and taken the organization on as one of its components. This gave us the bookkeeping services, insurance, a 501.c3 number, and much needed advice on how to start a non-profit on a shoestring and in a very short period of time.”
Charles E. “Ed” Dressler, age 82, was born in Wadsworth, Ohio, on March 20, 1938. He entered Heaven’s gates on Jan. 9, 2021, surrounded by his loving family at home in Xenia. Ed was a longtime resident of Greene County with strong ties to Xenia and Yellow Springs and Fairhaven Church.
A loving father, grandfather, great-grandfather, widower and public servant, Ed never met a stranger, and eagerly conversed with and helped anyone he came to meet. In his free time, Ed enjoyed biking, photography, shooting guns and being with his grandkids, great-grandkids, and pug, Max. He was an advocate for the environment and was a passionate volunteer for the Ohio Rails for Trails.
‘Champion of bike paths’ remembered
Photo courtesy Greene County Parks & Trails Ed Dressler talks to a crowd about bike trails.
Dressler
Photo courtesy Greene County Parks & Trails Because of Ed Dressler, railways like this were turned into paved trails.
Scott Halasz | Greene County News The trail leading to Xenia Station is popular for bicyclists. Without Ed Dressler’s vision, that wouldn’t be exist.
File photo Ed Dressler displays some of his memorabilia of the Rails to Trails project. His vision for re-purposing abandoned rails is why Greene County has all of the paved trails it does.
XENIA When he retired from what was then the Greene County Park District, Charles “Ed” Dressler left a trail of success.
‘Champion of bike paths’ remembered
Photo courtesy Greene County Parks & Trails Ed Dressler talks to a crowd about bike trails.
Dressler
File photo Ed Dressler displays some of his memorabilia of the Rails to Trails project. His vision for re-purposing abandoned rails is why Greene County has all of the paved trails it does.
Scott Halasz | Greene County News The trail leading to Xenia Station is popular for bicyclists. Without Ed Dressler’s vision, that wouldn’t be exist.
Photo courtesy Greene County Parks & Trails Because of Ed Dressler, railways like this were turned into paved trails.
XENIA When he retired from what was then the Greene County Park District, Charles “Ed” Dressler left a trail of success.