Westside Messenger - October 30th, 2022

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October 30, 2022 - WESTSIDE MESSENGER - PAGE 3
Community and township look for best use of land
By Christine Bryant
Staff Writer
Nearly every day, a group of neighborhood
kids gather at the corner of Mix and
Stiles avenues in Prairie Township.
The plot of land has become a place
where they can throw the football, run
around and take a break from screen time,
says Catherine Martinez, who lives nearby
and whose 12-year-old son often joins the
group.
“Kids will ask, ‘Do you want to go to the
field?’” she said. “It’s like their ‘Sandlot.’
It’s their place to just be kids.”
When Prairie Township considered
donating the L-shaped piece of land to
Homes on the Hill, a non-profit organization
that develops affordable housing in
southwestern Franklin County, a group of
neighbors banded together in an effort to
keep that parcel of land undeveloped. They
called themselves, “Friends in the Field.”
“Our neighbors really showed up at the
(Prairie Township Board of Trustees) meeting
and said that we really need a safe
place for our children to play,” Martinez
said.
At the Sept. 7 board meeting, the
trustees voted down giving the parcel to
Homes on the Hill after taking into consideration
community input.
Although the lot currently remains a
greenspace for the kids to gather,
Township Administrator James Jewell
cautions that the only action that the township
has taken with the land so far is stopping
the designation to Homes on the Hill.
“We’re back to the drawing board,” he
said.
Developing the land into housing would
have generated an estimated $52,000 in
total annual tax revenue across all agencies,
Jewell said.
“We’re kind of in limbo and continue to
mull it over and maintain it,” Jewell said.
There may be additional parcels of land
nearby that could be converted into a
greenspace where neighborhood kids could
gather, he said, but Martinez says the lot
at the corner of Mix and Stiles avenues is
within eyeshot of neighbors’ homes, allowing
them to watch their kids while they
play.
“We’d like to see a community garden
there,” she said. “We can grow our own
food, we can teach young kids and get the
kids at (Stiles Elementary) involved.”
Martinez said she has been working
with the Franklin Park Conservatory and
other organizations in the area to learn
more about community gardens and creating
spaces where neighbors can gather.
“The more involved our community is
with our children, the better off they are,”
she said.
She also plans to approach township
officials to further discuss the possibilities
for the land. In the meantime, Jewell says
he encourages any community members or
organizations to submit requests for the
land or to approach township officials with
their ideas.
“We encourage the community to give us
some direction on what they would like
done with the property,” he said.
around the westside
Senior Christmas Party
Prairie Township invites its residents to
attend a Senior Christmas Party. This
event will be on Friday, Dec. 9 from 4:30 to
7 p.m. at the Community Center, 5955
West Broad St.
The event will feature a fully-catered
dinner from Hudson’s Edge Catering, fun
games, holiday music, an ugly sweater contest,
prizes and more. The township will
also be accepting non-perishable food items
for the local food pantry. Attendees must
be residents of Prairie Township and must
be 62 years or older. Call 614-982-2123 to
RSVP to this event by Nov. 14. You must
RSVP in order to attend.
Trunk-or-Treat at
Columbia Heights
Columbia Heights United Methodist
Church will host a Trunk-or-Treat event
from 4 to 6 p.m. Oct. 30 at 775 Galloway
Road. For additional information, visit
wherefriendsaremade.org.
Hilltop Legal Clinic
The Legal Aid Society of Columbus will
host a Hilltop Legal Clinic every Monday
from 4 to 6 p.m. at the Columbus
Metropolitan Library Hilltop Branch, 511
S. Hague Ave. in Columbus. A legal aid
attorney will be available to answer questions
regarding landlord and tenant issues,
public benefits, consumer debt, and family
law. To receive free advice, you must have
a gross household income below 200 percent
of the Federal Poverty Level. For more
information, call Legal Aid at 614-241-
2001.
Breakfast at the Lodge
to benefit Special Olympics
The Westmeath Masonic Lodge #623 is
preparing breakfasts once a month to benefit
the Special Olympics. The public is
invited to have breakfast the second
Saturday of each month at 2925 West
Broad St. Adults eat for a donation of $6,
children age 3 and above pay $3. Serving is
from 9 a.m. to noon.
Our Savings Rates
1.75 %
1
APY
2. 25 %
2
APY
“Friends in the Field”
s ar
e on the rise!
Contact me today for details!
Maggie Colombini
Br anch Manager, Wilson Road Office
(614) 351-2100
Maggie.Colombini@Heartland.Bank
1
Annual Percentage Yield (APY). Minimum opening deposit is $1,000. Minimum balance to earn interest is $0.01. Minimum balance to earn promotional APY
is $50,000.00. This is a tiered rate account. The promotional APY of 1.75% is av ailable for the following tiers: $50,000 - $99,999 and $100,000 - $499,999.99. The
promotional AP Y for the tier of $25,000 - $49,999.99 is 1.25% APY. Regular rates apply to the following tiers: $0.01 - $9,999.99 is 0.01% APY; $10,000.00 - $24,999.99
is 0.02% APY; and $500,000 + is 0.05% APY. The promotional rate to applicable tiers is guaranteed for 180 days from the day of account opening. After 180 days, the
rate may change at any time as the Heartland Bank Money Market Savings Account is a variable rate account. To qualify for the promotional rate, the opening deposit
must be from funds not currently on deposit with Heartland Bank. Limit one (1) promotional Money Market Savings Account special per household per six (6) months.
APY accurate as of 08/01/2022. Fees may reduce earnings. Accounts closed less than 180 days from date opened will be charged an early close fee of $25.00. Personal
accounts only.
2
Annual Percentage Yield (APY). Minimum balance to open and maintain the advertised 12 month APY of 2.25% is $5,000. APY is accurate as of August 29, 2022.
Maximum deposit is $250,000. Please see your local branch office for disclosure information regarding terms and conditions. Penalty may be imposed for
early
withdrawal. Rates are subject to change at any time. No brokers please. Limit ed time offer. Limited to one per household. Not valid with money currently on
deposit at Heartland Bank. Personal accounts only.