South & Canal Winchester Messenger - December 25th, 2022

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PAGE 6 - SOUTH & CANAL WINCHESTER MESSENGER - December 25, 2022 HEAP helps The Ohio Department of Development and The Central Ohio Area Agency on Aging remind senior citizens assistance is available to help with home energy bills. The Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) helps Ohioans at or below 175 percent of the federal poverty guidelines pay heating bills. Applied directly to the customer’s utility or bulk fuel bill, the benefit can help manage heating costs. Senior citizens may go to their local Area Agency on Aging office for help with assembling the required documents and completing their HEAP application. Senior citizens may also visit www.energyhelp.ohio.gov to apply online or to download a copy of the application. When applying, individuals need to have copies of the following documents: Most recent utility bills; A list of all household members (including birth dates and social security numbers); Proof of income for the past 30 days for all household members (12 months for certain income types); Proof of U.S. citizenship or legal residency for all household members; and Proof of disability (if applicable). HEAP benefits are applied to an individual’s energy bill after Jan. 1. Applications for the HEAP program must be received by May 31, 2023. For information or assistance with applying for a HEAP benefit, contact Andy Haggard at 614-645-7186. To be connected to your local energy assistance provider, call (800) 282-0880 (hearing impaired clients may dial 711 for assistance) or visit www.energyhelp.ohio.gov. Help for winter heating The AEP Ohio Neighbor to Neighbor Program is accepting applications for utility assistance grants for the 2022-23 winter heating season. Through a partnership between AEP Ohio and Dollar Energy Fund, the Neighbor to Neighbor Program supports families in need with a grant applied directly to their AEP Ohio account to prevent disconnection of, or to restore their electric service. Heating assistance is available once per program year on a first-come, first-served basis. Eligible account holders may apply through April 28, 2023, while funds are available. “We’re committed to providing assistance to those who may be struggling to make ends meet whether it is due to job loss or unexpected expenses,” said Brian Billing, energy efficiency consumer programs manager for AEP Ohio. “Through this heating program, we can help to ensure our customers, especially the elderly and those with health problems, can maintain their electric service during the cold winter months.” To apply, customers may contact one of the AEP Ohio Neighbor to Neighbor Program’s network of more than 120 Ohio community-based organizations, or apply online using the link available at Neighbor to Neighbor (aepohio.com). To qualify, an applicant’s total gross household income must be at or below 300 percent of the Federal Poverty Income Guidelines. For example, a family of four earning up to $83,250 per year is income-eligible for the program. Households must have an outstanding balance on their bill of at least $50 and behind on bill payment 30 days or more. Full eligibility guidelines and application instructions can be found at AEPOhio.com/helpaneighbor. “Dollar Energy Fund is proud to maintain its support for AEP Ohio and its efforts to serve families who find them- www.columbusmessenger.com selves in a temporary financial crisis,” said Chad Quinn, chief executive officer of Dollar Energy Fund. The AEP Ohio Neighbor to Neighbor Program is funded by public contributions that are matched dollar-for-dollar by AEP Ohio. Utility customers may make a contribution through their monthly AEP Ohio bill. Donations also can be made online at www.AEPOhio.com/N2N or by sending a check directly to The AEP Ohio Neighbor to Neighbor Program, Box 42329, Pittsburgh, PA 15203. Every donation to the Neighbor to Neighbor Program is used to assist eligible families residing in Ohio. Every dollar donated to the Neighbor to Neighbor Program will be matched by AEP Ohio. These matching funds and 100 percent of your donation will assist limited-income families residing in Ohio to afford utility service. With AEP Ohio’s match, your taxdeductible donation will have twice the impact. For more information about Dollar Energy Fund and how to apply for the Hardship Program or donate to the organization, visit www.dollarenergy.org.
www.columbusmessenger.com Township looks for set electric rates By Linda Dillman Staff Writer The Madison Township trustees approved an agreement with Archer Energy for electricity aggregation in hopes it will help resident save on utility costs later next year. The agreement signed on Dec. 15 enables Archer to shop for a fixed 12- month rate and present their findings to the trustees no later than June 2023. Purchasing electricity in the fall and spring ensures savings versus utility company default prices. Treble LLC representative Scott Belcastro said the township will have a fixed rate determined by then. “We are committing to Archer (now), but we don’t have the actual fixed rate,” said Madison Township Administrator Susan Brobst. “This gives both sides the intent.” Other Madison Township news •The trustees approved a fire department purchase of a new 2025 aerial ladder apparatus from the Sutphen Corporation. The purchase price, minus a $38,940 prepayment discount, is $1.18 million. Fire Chief Derek Robinson said, by committing to the purchase now, the township can save between $300,000 to $400,000. He said equipment like the 75-foot Quint style ladder continues to escalate in cost and build out time grows longer. The purchase of the ladder truck is necessary, according to Robinson, because building heights–such as warehouses and hotels/motels–are starting to exceed the reach of current equipment, which forces the township to rely on mutual aid resources. “Our ground ladders cannot reach the Photo courtesy of Eastland- Fairfield Toy donation Students in the Cosmetology program at Eastland Career Center collected more than 200 toys and books to benefit local children during the holidays through the Afterschool Child Enrichment program. The toy drive benefits students at multiple local elementary schools, including Dunloe and Asbury elementary schools in Groveport Madison and Taylor and Rosehill elementary schools in Reynoldsburg. “We are committing to Archer (now), but we don’t have the actual fixed rate. This gives both sides the intent.” - Susan Brobst, administrator Madison Township roof of the warehouses,” Robinson said, “and we will now have the capability. Our mutual aid partners might be caught up in a call (delaying response times). It will better serve our community.” Trustee John Pritchard said equipment costs are escalating rapidly and supply chain issues currently push the purchase out three years. “With this (ladder truck) we can take care of our own,” said Pritchard. •Trustee Chairwoman Michele Reynolds is stepping down at the end of the year to serve as a state senator for District 3 beginning Jan. 1. She said her expectations for her replacement is to fill the position with someone not only good for the township now, but who also intends to run in the fall to keep the position. “We have to lay out a timeline,” said Pritchard. “Thirty days will go by quickly. I would like a robust process to determine who the best candidate will be. We’re going to have an interview process. Give them situations we deal with and see how they analyze the process. A background check is crucial. Hopefully this person will serve the township for many years.” The official selection process for Reynolds’ replacement will not be announced until January and the position must be filled by Jan. 30. Letters policy The Messenger welcomes letters to the editor. Letters cannot be libelous. Letters that do not have a signature, address, and telephone number, or are signed with a pseudonym, will be rejected. PLEASE BE BRIEF AND TO THE POINT. The Messenger reserves the right to edit or refuse publication of any letter for any reason. Opinions expressed in the letters are not necessarily the views of the Messenger. Mail letters to: South/Canal Winchester Messenger, 3500 Sullivant Avenue, Columbus, OH 43204; or email southeast@columbusmessenger.com. eastside Messenger (Distribution: 10,000) Rick Palsgrove................................South & CW Editor southeast@columbusmessenger.com Published every other Sunday by The Columbus Messenger Co. 3500 Sullivant Ave., Columbus, Ohio 43204-1887 (614) 272-5422 Keep tabs on the news in CW, Obetz, and Hamilton Twp. Look for South & CW Messenger on Become a fan! December 25, 2022 - SOUTH & CANAL WINCHESTER MESSENGER - PAGE 7 Celebrate New Year’s Eve Starring with ELVIS Mike Albert Prices Per Couple Overnight Package - $319 Party Only Packages - $250 Single Overnight - $219 Prices include Dinner, Drinks, Room, Party favors, Full Breakfast Make Your Plans NOW! 614-792-3135 Vince Payne’s Autism Shootout 2023 This year’s Autism Shootout will be held on Jan. 24 in the Hamilton Township High School gymnasium during the junior varsity and varsity girls basketball games. This is a special event in Hamilton Township as it is dedicated in memory of Vince Payne. The Vince Payne’s Autism Shootout is named for Vince after his many years of commitment and hard work surrounding the Autism Shootout. The event will be a “Blue Out”, and there will also be a districtwide “Blue Out” at school that day. The Big “E “ Band Crowne Plaza • 6500 Doubletree Ave. (formerly Marriott North)
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South & Canal Winchester Messenger - December 25th, 2022

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