Dad's plea to fix road gets nod - Dayton Daily News (10.10.06)
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By Katherine Ullmer
Staff Writer WASHINGTON TWP., Montgomery County - The father of a 6-year-old killed this summer in a traffic accident is pleased state officials responded to an online petition.
Friday, state Department of Transportation officials met with the father of Yukta Garg to say changes were coming to Ohio 725 and Garnet Drive intersection where she died July 26. Hemant Garg launched an online petition drive to get a traffic light, reduced speed - currently 45 mph - and/or other improvements at the site. He handed over Sept. 1 petitions with 1,817 signatures to the Transportation Department. "I think the people's voice was heard," he said Friday. The improvements, which are to begin Tuesday, will include a right turn only lane at Garnet Drive and at the Ohio 725 entrance to the Washington Twp. Recreation Center. The turn lanes will be set off by 6-ice high, reflective rubberized barrier. Garg said the improvements should prevent through traffic between Garnet Drive and the rec center entrance. His daughter was killed when the car she was in traveled across the four-lane Ohio 725 from Garnet towards the entrance of the rec center and was hit by an oncoming westbound car. Adding a traffic light to the intersection was not viable, according to Joyce Renner, a Transportation Department spokeswoman. "It would probably make things worse on Ohio 725." |
Awards at India Club dinner to be named in honor of crash victim - Dayton Daily News (11.11.06)
The awards will be given annually to children up to age 6 performing for the first time on stage for the club. This year's event will be at Northmont High School, 4916 National Road. Eleven children will receive awards. Each year about 1,200 people attend the dinner and cultural show, according to Hemant Garg, Yukta Garg's father and club president-elect.
The free cultural event begins at 7 p.m. There is a $10 non-member cost for the 5 p.m. dinner. Dinner tickets can be purchased at the Mall of India, 2750 N. Fairfield Road; Mirch Masala, 984 Miamisburg-Centerville Road; or Flavors of India, 4817 Airway Road.
Tree, playground to honor crash victim - Dayton Daily News (11.14.06)
Staff Writer
WASHINGTON TWP., Montgomery County — The parents of Yukta Garg, the 6-year-old girl who died in an auto accident in front of the Washington Twp. Recreation Center on July 26, plan to honor her memory with a memorial oak tree and a playground constructed in her honor.
The public is invited to the dedication ceremony of the oak at 3:30 p.m. Wednesday at the A-frame shelter in Countryside Park, adjacent to the rec center, 895 Washington-Centerville Road.
Hemant and Arti Garg, Yukta's parents, are seeking donations for the playground through an account set up in their daughter's name at US Bank locations. The size, equipment and layout will be determined when donations are combined with $50,000 seed money from the township, said Linda Madden, senior recreation supervisor.
"We're hoping the community will match the seed money in donations," she said.
The park's master plan designates the grassy area east of the A-frame shelter as an expanded play area. With Garg's death, the township trustees made funding available earlier than planned, Madden said.
Yukta Garg attended summer camp programs at the park. "She was a very gifted kid. This will definitely keep her associated with the place," said Hemant Garg.
"Yukta's laughter and smile were infectious," Madden said.
Yukta liked music and to be theatrical, so parts of the playground will have creative play spaces, with a music area with a rain stick or drum-type things, and a stage area, she said. With the playground, "Yukta will continue to bring joy to other children though she no longer is present," she said.
The playground will be open to the public for free, Madden said.
For more information, go to the Internet Web site: www.ygmf.org. Donations may be mailed to: The Yukta Garg Memorial Fund, P.O. Box 750081, Dayton, OH, 45475-0081.
Bollywood stars part of fundraiser
Event will raise money for a playground in honor of a 6-year-old Washington Twp. girl who was killed in 2006.
Staff Writer
Thursday, April 24, 2008
The Narayans will perform in the May 4 benefit concert in the Performing Arts Center at
Centerville High School. The fundraiser is to build a playground at the Washington Twp.
Rec Center in memory of Yukta Garg, the 6-year-old Washington Twp. girl killed in an auto
accident near the rec center in 2006. The Narayans are (from left): Udit Narayan; his son
Aditya Narayan; and Udit's wife, Deepa Narayan, all accomplished singers.
CENTERVILLE — Udit and Aditya Narayan, two big names in the Hindi-language Bollywood film industry, will be performing live in concert at 6 p.m. May 4 in the new Performing Arts Center at Centerville High School, 500 E. Franklin St.
The father-son singing duo will be accompanied by movie actress Priti Jhangiani, who will perform dance numbers on stage.
The show, which includes Aditi Paul from the reality TV show "Indian Idol," will be anchored by model Saundarya Garg.
Twenty-five musicians and dancers from Mumbai are also in the group, which is on a two-month tour to the U.S. and Canada, performing in Toronto, San Francisco, Miami, Chicago, etc.
The concert is a fundraiser to help build a playground at the Washington Twp. Recreation Center in memory of Yukta Garg, the 6-year-old Washington Twp. girl killed in an auto accident near the center in 2006.
The Yukta Garg Memorial Foundation is sponsoring the troupe's visit, in cooperation with the India Club of Greater Dayton.
Yukta's father, Hemant Garg, founder/trustee of the memorial foundation, said the goal of the foundation is to generate $50,000 to match the same amount set aside by the township for the playground through a series of fundraising activities.
The May 4 concert is the second such fundraising event. The foundation held a similar concert in July.
At the May 4 concert, township officials will provide an update and share plans for the playground, Garg said.
Ticket prices for the concert are $35, $55, $75. They may be purchased at Amar India Restaurant (call 937-439-9005); SriG Grocers (937-439-4090); Mirch Masala (937-435-2086) and online at www.ygmf.org.
You also will find videos there of the late Yukta Garg, a gifted young dancer, in dance performances.