Westside Messenger - September 19th, 2021

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PAGE 2 - WESTSIDE MESSENGER - September 19, 2021 community events Free lunch at UHMC The United Hilltop Methodist Church will host a free community lunch every Friday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. The church is located at 99 S. Highland Ave. www.columbusmessenger.com Prepare for unexpected power outages with a Generac home standby generator REQUEST A FREE QUOTE! 844-334-8353 FREE 7-Year Extended Warranty* A $695 Value! Limited Time Offer - Call for Details Special Financing Available Subject to Credit Approval *To qualify, consumers must request a quote, purchase, install and activate the generator with a participating dealer. Call for a full list of terms and conditions. A FREE ESTIMATE 15 10 5 YOUR ENTIRE PURCHASE * % % % OFF + OFF + OFF Serving Your Community Malek & ATTORNEYS AT LAW Malek Proudly Announcing Adding New Attorneys To Serve You! WORKERS’ COMPENSATION PERSONAL INJURY WRONGFUL DEATH SLIP & FALL INJURY DOG BITE INJURY SENIOR & MILITARY DISCOUNTS | Promo Number: 285 Since 1972 YEAR-ROUND CLOG-FREE GUARANTEE 1-855-995-2490 TO THE FIRST 50 CALLERS! ** Douglas, Ed, Jim and Kip Malek “Hablamos Español” FREE Initial Consultation www.maleklawfirm.com 614-444-7440 1227 S. High St., Columbus, OH 43206 MUMS AND MUMMIES Continued from page 1 off their Halloween costumes and enjoy a fun day in Westgate Park. Michael Blake, WNA president, said, “We invite the entire community to stop by the park and help us kickstart the Halloween season in Westgate. We were forced to cancel the event in 2020 due to COVID-19 restrictions and have taken time since then to come up SWCS Continued from page 1 Elementary. Lenihan, the YMCA’s regional childcare director for the district, said each year the school focused on a different strategy that aimed to help children regulate their emotions to make for a more positive learning experience. For instance, one year they implemented calming activities such as yoga after recess to help them decompress from the frenzy of free play before entering the classroom. During another, they included conflict resolution activities to learn empathy and build friendships, and in another they focused on “forward thinking,” or the act of sharing with others what they look forward to in the future. Lenihan said the strategies that will be implemented during the SELS program expansion would be entirely up to the individual school building. But that does not mean the specialists do not have to follow SELS standards set by the district. Jimmy Lewis, the SELS program director for the YMCA, said there will be five main focus areas of social-emotional learning skills development. They are self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills, and responsible decision making. Each area will focus on building the skills necessary to help the student analyze their behaviors — “Why are they upset? Why are they feeling this way? What can they do to regulate their emotions?” he explained — and with alternative ways to host the event with consideration to COVID-19 safety. While this year will still not be our traditional event, we are excited to bring back Mums and Mummies, give back to our community and enjoy the day with our neighbors and friends.” For more information, visit westgateneighbors.org. apply that understanding within the classroom and beyond. Bowser said the K-6 age range is the target for this program because the district believes they need more “support and instruction” regarding social and emotional learning skills development. He said these specialists will be trusted adults that “act as a bridge” to help students develop healthy coping skills when emotions run high. “It will help them learn how to work through those difficult times so those feelings do not carry over and negatively impact their ability to focus within the classroom or connect with others,” said Bowser. Though most children in grades K-6 will have exposure to the strategies and initiatives within the SELS program, some children will receive additional assistance through one-on-one instruction or group setting instruction. Becky Ciminillo, the vice-president of youth development for the YMCA of Central Ohio, said the organization will work with the school staff and use data compiled through Panorama surveys to determine which student may need additional social and emotional support and instruction. SELS specialists will begin to assist at the district’s 16 elementary schools and five intermediate schools starting Sept. 20.
www.columbusmessenger.com Township Focus Water rates discussed in Prairie Township By Amanda Ensinger Staff Writer Prairie Township to receive American Rescue Plan funding By Amanda Ensinger Staff Writer The Prairie Township Trustees authorized the township to accepted up to $1.8 million from the American Rescue Plan (ARP). This action was taken at a recent board meeting. According to its website, ARP funding is distributed to non-entitlement units of local government based on population. All townships are considered non-entitlement units, with exception of those that have a populations over 50,000. Townships can receive up to 75 percent of the jurisdiction’s most recent budget as of Jan. 27, 2020. Funding will come in two disbursements, one initially and another 12 months later. Funding can be used for services like supporting public health expenditures, addressing negative economic impacts caused by the public health emergency, replacing lost public sector revenue, providing premium pay for essential workers and investing in water, sewer and broadband infrastructure. Funds must be obligated by Dec. 31, 2024 and spent by Dec. 31, 2026. In other township news, residents discussed the Prairie Pleasant Solar Project. Recently, the township sent a letter to residents regarding the project. “I would like to thank the board for the letter, but my concern is that drainage was not in that letter,” said Rod Pritchard, township resident. “Also, property values are already going down and my property value has declined on Zillow by $123,000 already.” The project is for a 250-megwatt 1,700- acre solar farm that would stretch across Prairie and Pleasant townships. Spearheaded by Invenergy, the project would take place on farmland that has been leased for a period of 40 years. Some residents wanted to follow up on previous concerns about trustee Stephen Kennedy being the township’s representative on the project. At a public meeting, Kennedy said he didn’t oppose the project, worrying residents that they don’t have a representative looking out for their best interests. Residents asked that another person represent them. However, trustees Doug Stormont and Cathy Schmelzer both have had to abstain from the project due to conflicts of interest. Prairie Township Administrator Rob Peters reported that the township attorney said they were not able to appoint a temporary trustee for this. The project application has been submitted to the Ohio Power Siting Board and a hearing has already taken place. While there is currently no decision, if approved, the projected should be completed in 2023. Residents in a local township are once again asking when they are going to get some relief on their water bills after seeing no progress for years. At a recent Prairie Township board meeting, residents asked for an update on a water connection with the city of Columbus. At the beginning of 2021, residents saw a 2 percent increase for water service and a 3 percent increase for sewer service, according to Franklin County Department of Sanitary Engineers Director Stephen Renner. The reason for these increases was attributed to increases the county received from Columbus. According to Renner, they are simply passing these increases along to their customers. However, the increase caused concern for Prairie Township residents who say they already pay some of the highest rates in the county. At the time of these increases, the township and county were looking at a way to have Columbus take over the county’s water system, in an effort to reduce water costs. However, township residents have not received an update in more than six months and are frustrated. “I check monthly with Steve Renner and have not gotten any updates,” said Prairie Township Trustee Cathy Schmelzer. According to township leadership, a family of four pays anywhere between $500 to $800 a quarter for water and sewer service. They also said that if someone uses no water, they will still pay $110 in connection fees. If they had water from Columbus, this fee would be around $30. Neighboring communities who get their water from Columbus pay about half of what township residents pay. Renner said earlier this year that the county operates an aging system and that contributes to the more expensive rates. “Rates are high because the county system is outdated, mismanaged, and with a relatively small customer base to pay for necessary costs,” Schmelzer said. “The county has offered these same explanations week after week, month after month and year after year.” Renner said the county is looking at having Columbus take over the services to reduce residents’ rates but says the COVID- 19 pandemic has slowed the process down. The trustees argued earlier this year that this has been an issue for 10 years and blaming the delay on the pandemic will not cut it. Trustee Steven Kennedy encouraged residents with high water bills to send them to the Franklin County Commissioners and said that the township will continue to work on this issue. Follow us on Facebook September 19, 2021 - WESTSIDE MESSENGER - PAGE 3 Come DANCE with us! RDC Dance Center 3048 Southwest Blvd., Grove City (614) 875-1044 We hope to see you in classes! TAP * JAZZ * BALLET * HIPHOP LYRICAL * TUMBLING Ages 3 and up JEFFREY P. COMPTON ATTORNEY AT LAW General Practice Personal Injury • Domestic Probate • Wills Power of Attorney Healthcare Documents FREE CONSULT & PARKING 614-875-7233 Fax: 929-474-9475 1665 London-Groveport Rd., Grove City www.jeffreypcompton.com Email: jcompton@jeffreypcompton.com Where is my.... WESTSIDE MESSENGER? Having Poor Delivery Service? Let me know Please send email to: nopaper007@gmail.com WE ARE EXCITED TO MEET YOU AND YOUR CHILD! (614) 875-1044 email > wendi@rdcdance.com website > www.rdcdance.com
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