Canal Winchester Messenger - November 14th, 2021

PAGE 12 - MESSENGER - November 14, 2021
www.columbusmessenger.com
Firefighters 4 Kids returns; plus other township news
By Linda Dillman
Staff Writer
Firefighters 4 Kids is back and local organizer
and retired Madison Township firefighter
John Jones is hoping the community
opens their hearts for kids in need.
Firefighters 4 Kids provides assistance
with toys at Christmas for children ages
zero through 12 and sign-ups are scheduled
on Nov. 26-29 from 9-11:30 a.m. and 12:30-
4 p.m. at Fire Station 181, 4567 Firehouse
Lane, Groveport.
Families who reside in the Canal Winchester
or Groveport Madison school districts
must show proof of residence and need
(SNAP or HEAP), a photo ID, child’s birth
certificate and custody paperwork, if applicable.
“I’ve been involved with Firefighters 4
Kids for many years,” said Jones. “We provided
15,000 kids (across the county) with
toys (prior to the pandemic).We’re most in
need of toys for children under three and 11
to 12-year-olds.”
New, unwrapped toy donations can be
dropped off at any fire station throughout
Franklin County starting the day after
Thanksgiving.
“I can’t imagine being a kid without a
Christmas,” said Madison Township
Trustee Chairman John Pritchard.
Madison Township Police news
Police Chief Gary York thinks a workable
solution for communication problems within
the Canal Winchester area–which contracts
for law enforcement services with the
Fairfield County Sheriff’s Office but is also
covered by the township–could soon be resolved.
York, along with Madison Township Administrator
Susan Brobst and Fairfield
County Sheriff Alex Lape, met with Canal
Winchester officials to discuss the situation.
Fairfield County is on a different system
not compatible with Franklin County, who
dispatches the township.
According to York, calls for service in
Canal Winchester are routed down to Lancaster
and then back up to Franklin County,
which impacts response time.
To fill in the gap, York said township officers
have two radios that monitor Fairfield
County, but they cannot scan the Fairfield
County radio dispatch because it is an older
system.
However, York was told changes underway
in Fairfield County, including moving
repeater sites, could help rectify the problem.
“I came away with a better understanding
(after the meeting),” said York.
Madison Township Trustee Michele
Reynolds said the trustees are committed to
working across the aisle and getting the situation
resolved for residents.
York asked the trustees to move forward
with a $115,932 four-year lease purchase
agreement with Motorola Solutions to buy
new handheld police radios to replace ones
no longer repairable.
“The radios need to be replaced,” said
York. “Motorola said if one of the radios
breaks today, it cannot be repaired. Once
purchased, it takes eight to 12 weeks to receive
them. I think it will service the township
for years to come.”
Gas aggregation agreement
A gas aggregation agreement with township
residents expires in December and
Brobst said they were unable to lock in any
rate savings through Trebel, who administers
the gas and electric aggregation program.
Once the contract expires, Brobst said
participating residents will automatically be
switched to the Columbia Gas default rate,
which is currently cheaper than securing an
aggregation agreement at this time.
According to the township, once it is able
to secure a favorable deal with a new supplier,
a notification will be sent out to residents
for review, and they will be
automatically enrolled in the new aggregation.
Residents can still opt-out at any time
without any fee.
“People need to be diligent for themselves
before they sign anything,” said Brobst who
said her office has fielded reports of people
going door-to-door and calling on the phone
peddling alternative gas companies.
Pritchard said residents should ask a solicitor
if they have a permit issued by the
township before signing anything. He also
wanted to clear the air as to the trustees’ involvement
in aggregation and alleged kickbacks.
“Those two programs (gas and electric
aggregation) were voted on by residents,”
said Pritchard. “No one at the township gets
kickbacks for any of these programs.”
While the gas aggregation is on hold for
better pricing, electric aggregation was able
to secure a lower price for residents participating
in the program. The new agreement
lasts from December 2021 through December
2023 for a rate of $0.0459/kwh. The expiring
contract has a rate of $0.0494/kwh.
Township Police statistics
October crime statistics from the Madison
Township Police: 8 accidents with injuries,
6 assaults, 2 burglary, 20 domestic
complaints, 3 driving under the influence, 4
fights, 4 hit skip accidents, 20 juvenile complaints,
15 larceny/theft, 3 missing persons,
1 narcotics, 37 parking violations, 2 person
with gun, 19 property damage accidents, 3
sex offenses, 3 shots fired in area, 4 stolen
vehicles, 12 suspicious cars, 37 suspicious
persons, 22 suspicious persons/vehicles, 5
threats or harassment, 85 traffic stops, and
3 vandalism.
Moses-Mouser Eye Care
Dr. Joshua Morris is an Optometrist who grew
up in Bellville, Ohio. He completed his undergraduate
degree at the University of Akron, where
he graduated magna cum laude with honors.
Dr. Morris attended The Ohio State University
College of Optometry and graduated cum laude
with honors to receive his Doctor of Optometry Degree in May 2019. After
completing his studies, he was awarded the “Primary Vision Care Clinical
Excellence Award”, in 2019.
Dr. Morris is a member of the American Optometric Association, the Ohio
Optometric Association, and The Ohio State Alumni Association. He is
excited to practice full scope optometry, diagnosing and treating a variety
of ocular disorders and diseases in patients of all ages, but has a special
interest in contact lenses and ocular disease.
On a personal note, Dr. Morris and his wife Tess, enjoy spending time with
their family, friends, and their Bernese Mountain dog Maverick, cheering
on The Ohio State Buckeyes, trying new foods, and exploring Columbus
breweries.
Q: What are floaters and what causes them?
A: Floaters are small dark shapes that move across your vision. They can appear
as dots, threads, squiggly lines, or even like cobwebs. Most floaters are caused
by normal changes in the eye. As you age, small strands of vitreous (gel-like fluid
that fills your eye) can clump together and cast a shadow on your retina (the
light-sensitive tissue at the back of the eye). Those shadows appear as floaters
that drift across your vision. You may notice floaters more when you look at a
bright background, like a computer screen or a blue sky.
Q: How often should someone with new
floaters get an eye exam?
A: Someone experiencing new floaters, a large increase in the number of floaters,
or flashing lights should see an eye care professional immediately. Sometimes
floaters have a more serious cause, including: infection, injury, inflammation,
bleeding, retinal tear or retinal detachment.
Someone with a few stable floaters should see an eye care professional at least
once a year for a comprehensive dilated eye exam.
Schedule your comprehensive eye exam
today with Dr. Morris
6441 Winchester Blvd. E., Canal Winchester, OH 43110 614-963-3827