Westside Messenger - May 7th, 2023

Messenger 

Westside 

May 7 -20, 2023 www.columbusmessenger.com Vol. XLIX, No. 22 

4220 W. Broad St. 

(Across from Westland Mall) 

614 272-6485 open 7 days a week 

Featuring 

our 

famous 

STEAK 

COMBO!! 

Healthy Kids 

on the Hilltop 

Messenger photos by Dedra Cordle 

For three decades, YMCA locations across the country have 

hosted a spring event that aims to inspire children and their 

families to get and stay active – especially as the summer 

break from school approaches. Called Healthy Kids Day, each 

location creates fun activities for the young patrons in the community 

and Hilltop YMCA officials estimated that over 100 children 

and their families walked through their doors on April 29 

to participate in the festivities. In addition to building obstacles 

courses, hosting a cheer clinic, and having a number of local 

organizations on hand to give information on ways to improve 

their overall health and well-being, the Hilltop YMCA was also 

the site of a Jr. NBA Skills Competition that saw more than 20 

individuals score high enough to snag a spot to compete at the 

national level later this summer. Youth experience director 

Latoyia Mosley said the staff always look forward to curating a 

special Healthy Kids Day for the community as it can go a long 

way toward sparking a life-long love of being active physically 

and mentally curious about the world around you. Among the 

educational booths that were set up at the location was the 

Ohio State University’s Level One Trauma Center where representatives 

spoke about the importance of brain health and 

wearing protective gear while riding a bicycle. Here, student 

Elaine Smith places a new helmet on soon-to-be avid bike rider 

Isaiah Baker, 4. 

Road Diet planned 

for congested street 

By Dedra Cordle 

Staff Writer 

A 1.5-mile stretch of the West Mound 

Street corridor is slated to be resurfaced 

next year. When the project is completed, 

new pavement markings will change the 

flow of traffic in order to improve safety for 

motorists, pedestrians, and bicyclists. 

At the Greater Hilltop Area 

Commission meeting on May 2, city transportation 

planners and project consultants 

were in attendance to unveil the roadway 

improvement recommendations that came 

from an eight-month study to determine 

the best method to reduce vehicular congestion 

and risk to those who access the 

heavily traveled corridor. 

According to transportation planner 

Emma Kogge and transportation technology 

planner Mae Thompson, the city’s divi- 

See ROAD DIET page 2 

Inside 

Nicolas Piciucco, 9, swiftly navigates the dribbling obstacle at 

the Jr. NBA Skills Competition. 

Angie Jordan, a Body Pump instructor at the Hilltop YMCA, 

cheers on Greysen Sawyer, 5, as he tries to do 15 ab crunches 

at the obstacle course ab crunch station. 

Pets of the Week .................. 13 

The Reel Deal ........................ 20 

Safety on the Streets 

City of Columbus plans to crack down 

on illegal street racing Page 3 

Baby Shower 

Families on the westside were treated to 

a community baby shower Page 14 

SENIORS – HELP IS HERE 

Transportation • Care Team • Concierge Service 

ACCEPTING NEW PATIENTS 

Serving Superior Health Care to the 55+ Community 

Let’s change the world together! 

SEE 

PAGE 13 

FOR 

MORE 

INFORMATION

PAGE 2 - WESTSIDE MESSENGER - May 7, 2023 

around the westside 

Memorial Day Services in Prairie Township 

Prairie Township will host two Memorial Day services 

on May 29. The first service will begin at 9:30 a.m. at 

Galloway Cemetery, 6333 Alkire Road. This service will be 

led by Amvets Post #1928. The second service will be conducted 

by Camp Chase Post #98 of the American Legion. It 

will be held at noon at Alton Cemetery. For more information, 

visit prairietownship.org. 

Blood drives on the westside 

The American Red Cross will host several blood 

drives on the westside including: 

ROAD DIET 

Continued from page 1 

sion of traffic management is making a recommendation 

that the roughly 1.5-mile stretch of West Mound 

Street between Central and Wayne Avenues be reconfigured 

to accommodate the “road diet” method. 

A road diet may sound scary, intimidating, or even 

downright confusing, said Thompson, but she added 

that the road diet is one of the simplest and most effective 

ways to improve safety for all roadway users. 

“The Federal Highway Administration has found 

that (the road diet) does reduce crashes by 19 to 47 percent,” 

she said, noting that there have been 205 crashes 

reported on this section of roadway between 2019 

and 2022. 

What the road diet reconfiguration along this specific 

stretch of West Mound Street will do is remove 

two of the four travel lanes that currently exist and 

reallocate space in the center for a two-way left-turn 

lane. Additional space near the curb-lane has also been 

earmarked for bicyclists. 

Thompson said it is their belief that the creation of 

the two-way left-turn lane would enhance the operations 

of the street and vastly 

improve the flow of traffic. 

“If we are thinking about 

Hilltonia Middle School, for 

those people who are taking a 

left turn, it (the two-way leftturn 

lane) allows people to move 

out of the way of traffic so they 

can take that left whenever it is 

free.” 

She said they believe that a 

two-way left-turn lane would 

also benefit the residents who 

live throughout the area. 

Kogge and Thompson said 

the city also looked at two additional 

alternatives to improve 

safety and reduce the traffic 

congestion along West Mound 

Street between Central and 

Wayne Avenues. 

The second alternative was 

to create a buffered bike lane 

that would allow distance 

between the vehicles and bicycles 

to create a more comfortable 

experience. Pedestrians 

would also have a bit more room 

to walk on the sidewalk. 

Thompson said the trade-off for 

the second alternative would be 

that traffic would continue to be 

paused so motorists could make 

the left turns. 

The third alternative was 

the creation of a separated bike 

lane, which is very similar to a 

buffered bike lane. However, 

this alternative would have 

www.columbusmessenger.com 

•May 12 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Prairie Township 

Community Center, 5955 West Broad St. 

•May 17 from 1 to 7 p.m. at St. Cecilia Church, 434 

Norton Road in Columbus 

•May 22 from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at OhioHealth 

Doctors Hospital, 5131 Beacon Hill Road 

To schedule an appointment, call 1-800-448-3543 or 

visit www.redcrossblood.org. 

placed a physical barrier on the roadway to separate 

the bike lane from the traffic lane. Thompson said the 

trade-off for the third alternative would be it was in 

the second alternative, meaning that traffic would continue 

to be paused so motorists could make left turns. 

Commissioner Leah Brudno asked if the city had 

looked into combining their preferred alternative (the 

road diet plan) with the third alternative so there 

could be some form of physical barrier to keep bicyclists 

safer from vehicles. 

Kogge said that is something the city looked at but 

they made the determination that the road was not 

wide enough to accommodate both options. She said 

there are some portions of the road, such as the intersection 

with Central Avenue, where some type of physical 

barrier could be installed as the roadway widens 

out in that area. 

The future installation of bump-outs, similar to the 

safety features that were recently placed on Sullivant 

Avenue, was also discussed during the study recommendation 

when commissioner James White said he 

would like to see them be placed on the roadway as a 

speed deterrent. Commissioner Josh Maddox said he 

would prefer that the city not install bump-outs on this 

portion of West Mound Street as he dislikes the fixtures 

so much that he goes out of his way to avoid traveling 

on Sullivant Avenue. 

Kogge said the city did not intend to install bumpouts 

or a similar safety feature during this project as it 

is solely a resurfacing project with new pavement 

markings. She did note that a bump-out or a smaller 

median could be installed in the future should funding 

opportunities be made available. 

She also shared traffic and crash data that showed 

a reduction of crashes by 51 percent and a speed reduction 

of eight miles per hour near the bump-outs and 

small medians on Sullivant Avenue. A resident in the 

audience said she would like to see any feature that 

would reduce the speeding that takes place on West 

Mound Street. 

The city will accept public comment on the recommendation 

for the next month. The public can submit 

comments by visiting these websites: 

tinyurl.com/WMound or tinyurl.com/WMoundStudy. 

The latter web address is hosted by the city of 

Columbus and it has included a slideshow of the recommendations. 

In other news, the GHAC government and legislation 

committee will meet for the first time this year on 

May 23 at 7 p.m., or immediately following the community 

relations committee which will be held at 6:30 

p.m. On the agenda for the government and legislation 

committee is a redistricting discussion with a representative 

with the League of Women Voters of Metro 

Columbus. The committee will also be discussing the 

forthcoming election. Brudno said she encourages 

those interested in becoming a commissioner to attend 

this meeting. It will be held at The Design Refinery, 11 

N. Westmoor Ave.


May 7, 2023 - WESTSIDE MESSENGER - PAGE 3 

Safety Focus 

City officials to crack down on illegal street racing 

On May 3 Columbus Mayor Andrew 

Ginther, City Attorney Zach Klein, and 

Division of Police Chief Elaine Bryant 

announced steps the city is taking to target 

illegal drag racing, reckless operation on 

city roadways, and to hold offenders 

accountable for endangering public safety. 

City officials have received complaints 

from residents and business owners about 

street racing in multiple neighborhoods 

across the city, and are taking action as 

this activity ramps up in the spring and 

summer months. 

“Anyone who is using our streets as the 

backdrop for illegal and reckless behavior 

will be captured and prosecuted to the 

fullest extent of the law,” said Ginther. 

“This type of behavior is unacceptable, 

plain and simple, and it won’t be tolerated. 

We’ll continue to coordinate with law 

enforcement and prosecutors to go after 

these criminals and keep our neighborhoods 

safe.” 

On April 29, Columbus police officers 

responded to reports of street racing on the 

4100 block of Indianola Avenue in 

Clintonville. Several spectators were also 

observed vandalizing vehicles in the area. 

When police arrived to disperse the scene, 

several gunshots were fired in the direction 

of the officers. 

“These street racing and take over 

events are dangerous and are done in complete 

disregard for the safety of others,” 

said Bryant. “We want the message to be 

clear. You race, you lose. It is that simple. 

If you race, we will find you and arrest you, 

and impound your vehicle.” 

Earlier in April, one individual was 

killed in a crash believed to be connected to 

street racing in south Columbus. CPD is 

holding extensive planning and strategizing 

meetings with their officers to find 

additional ways to hold people accountable 

around the westside 

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. 

Free legal advice 

at Westland Library 

The Legal Aid Society of Columbus will 

offer free legal advice the first Monday of 

each month at the Westland Area Library, 

4740 West Broad St. Representatives will 

be on hand from 4 to 6 p.m. to discuss noncriminal 

legal matters like health benefits, 

medicare, and landlord issues. Fore more 

information, call the library at 614-878- 

1301. 

Community Fest 

Franklinton Prep High School, located 

at 40 Chicago Ave. in Columbus is hosting 

a Community Fest on May 25 from 9 a.m. 

to 12 p.m. Participants will have an opportunity 

to talk to vendors and collect material 

about resources in the community for 

healthy living. There will be give-aways, 

free food and complimentary face-painting. 

For more information, contact Jackie 

Jenkins, student success coordinator at 

614-653-7135. 

for their actions. 

“Street racing is a real and immediate 

threat to public safety, and the city is 

responding in kind. We’re sending a message 

to anyone getting behind the wheel in 

Columbus: if you operate a vehicle recklessly, 

we will prosecute you,” said Klein. 

“During Operation Wheels Down, we 

impounded vehicles and aggressively prosecuted 

offenders. We’re going to do the 

same for drag racing - and make our streets 

safer in the process.” 

Enforcement and prosecution of reckless 

driving offenses have been a top priority for 

city leaders in recent years, with Columbus 

City Council passing an ordinance in 2021 

enhancing penalties for illegal, reckless 

operation of certain vehicles on city streets. 

In 2022, the city attorney and police 

chief joined Ginther in unveiling Operation 

Wheels Down, a coordinated effort to step 

up enforcement and prosecution of individuals 

illegally and recklessly operating vehicles 

like dirt bikes and ATVs on city 

streets. 

In the initial months of enforcement in 

2022, Operation Wheels Down led to 

dozens of arrests and charges filed as well 

as the recovery of a number of stolen guns 

and vehicles. The city also impounded vehicles 

as evidence in many of these cases. 

The joint announcement builds on the 

framework created under Operation 

Wheels Down as law enforcement and prosecutors 

work together to disrupt drag racing 

networks and events throughout the 

peak spring and summer months, impound 

offenders’ vehicles, and offer plea bargains 

only if there is an evidentiary issue that 

requires it. 

The city will also aggressively prosecute 

any other activity related to street racing 

such as weapon offenses, rioting, and property 

damage. Whenever legally permissible, 

the city will seize vehicles used to facilitate 

this conduct to the fullest extent 

allowed by law. 

Mother’s Day 

Buffet 

Yum’s the word at our delicious 

Mother’s Day Buffet! 

Sunday, May 14th 

NOON - 4pm 

May 3 marks the one-year anniversary 

of the announcement of Operation Wheels 

Down. 

$28.95 per person plus tax 

Family Table (seats up to 6) $159 plus tax 

Appetizers • 3 Blend Salad • Ribs • Chicken • Pork Brisket 

Variety of Side Selections • Beautiful Desserts & Beverages 

(Cash Bar Available) 

CALL JP’s Boltonfield 

614-878-7422 

www.JPSBBQ.com 

Music (Rick Barr) 

Reservations Required. 

Limited Seating.


Herb and Perennial Plant Sale 

Celebrate the 30th annual Gardens at 

Gantz Herb and Perennial Plant Sale 8:30 

a.m. to 2:30 p.m., Saturday, May 13 at 

Gantz Park, 2255 Home Road in Grove 

City. 

Browse and shop for a wide variety of 

culinary and landscape herbs, garden vegetables, 

native perennials, rain-garden 

plants and more. Gardens at Gantz volunteers 

will also answer your gardening questions. 

This is a rain-or-shine event. Cash, 

checks, and credit cards ($15 minimum) 

are accepted. Proceeds benefit the Gardens 

at Gantz Farm volunteers. 


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Musicians from the Columbus Symphony Orchestra perform for students at The Run 

The Race Center Day School. 

Inspiring future musicians 

Touch-a-Truck 

Prairie Township will host a touch-atruck 

event from 12 to 2 p.m. May 20 at the 

Galloway Road Sports Complex, 1503 

Galloway Road. This free event offers local 

children the opportunity to get an up-close 

look at some of the trucks they see on the 

roadways. For additional information, visit 

prairietownship.org. 

community events 

On May 2, musicians from the 

Columbus Symphony Orchestra came to 

perform for the students at The Run The 

Race Center Day School, located at 880 S 

Wayne Ave., on the westside of Columbus. 

The event was sponsored by The Brian 

Muha Memorial Foundation. 

The music filled the room and moved 

the children. They were transported to a 

beautiful world, just what they need every 

day. Now they want to learn to play the 

violin, flute, harp, and guitar. 

After lunch, the children made thankyou 

cards for the musicians. Several said 

they wish the concert could have gone on 

for another hour. 

The Day School is looking for donations 

of musical instruments (guitars, violins, 

flutes) that the children can use for practice. 

The school is also looking for individuals 

who may be willing to volunteer their 

time to teach the students how to use the 

instruments for one or two hours a week. 

For more information, email 

Rachel.Muha@gmail.com. 

The Day School, sponsored by The Brian 

Muha Foundation, opened in September 

2020. It is a small school, with only 10 students 

in attendance for the first year. Most 

of the classes were held at The Run The 

Race Farm, where the children could learn 

outside. 

Now in its third year, the school has 20 

students. 

The Day School is free of charge and 

classes are offered at The Center and at 

The Run The Race Farm. 

For more information, visit brianmuhafoundation.org. 

Breakfast at the Lodge 

The West Gate Masonic Lodge #623 is 

preparing breakfast 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.

www.columbusmessenger.com May 7, 2023 - WESTSIDE MESSENGER - PAGE 5 

Township Focus 

Prairie Township electric and 

natural gas aggregation program 

Prairie Township is providing residents with the opportunity 

to join others in potentially save money on electric and gas use. 

Savings are possible through a government aggregation, where 

township officials bring together citizens to gain group-buying 

power for the purchase of electric from a retail supplier certified 

by the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio. 

Township voters approved this program in November 2014. 

There is no cost for the enrollment and participants will not be 

charged a switching fee. For those who choose to take advantage 

of the program, do nothing, do not send in the opt-out form. 

Gas Aggregation Program 

Under this arrangement, Archer Energy has been selected as 

the Prairie Township preferred natural gas provider. To enroll 

into the natural gas program, call Archer Energy at 1-844-795- 

7491 

Through your township’s Natural Gas Aggregation Program, 

eligible residents will receive a fixed rate of $0.599 per Ccf. This 

program will begin in May 2023 and run through April 2025. 

There is no cost for enrolment. 

Budget billing of the Columbia Gas portion of the bill is available 

to anyone who prefers budget certainty. In order to have this 

service in place, please call Columbia Gas at 1-800-344-4077. 

Electric Aggregation Program 

Archer Energy has also been selected as the township’s preferred 

electric provider. Eligible residents will receive a fixed rate 

of $0.06999 per kwh. The electricity aggregation program begins 

June 2023 and runs through May 2025. To enroll into the electric 

program, call Archer Energy at 1-844-795-7491. 

Questions regarding the aggregation program, how to join the 

program, or any questions regarding your specific existing energy 

services can be directed to the township’s energy consultant, 

Trebel, LLC, at 1-877-861-2772. 

Prairie Township 

Summer Jobs Program 

Prairie Township is looking for students to participate in its 

2023 Summer Jobs Program. This is an eight-week program that 

will begin on June 20. 

Eligible students are those that reside in Prairie Township, are 

at least 14 years of age and have completed grades 8, 9, 10, or 11 

during the 2022/23 school year. 

Students who participate in this year’s program will be working 

at the Prairie Township Community Center with the facility 

maintenance specialist. Community Center work includes 

indoor/outdoor cleaning and painting, watering the landscape and 

other various assigned tasks. Students will work two days per 

week, approximately four hours per day, between the hours of 8 

a.m. and 4 p.m. 

Applications are available at the Prairie Township Hall, 23 

Maple Drive in Columbus. Interested students may pick up an 

application in person or request one via email to acavinee@prairietownship.org. 

Applications are due by 4 p.m. on May 31. 

For more information, visit prairietownship.org. 

news and notes 

Township history sought 

The Southwest Franklin County Historical Society is in the 

process of updating its website on Prairie Township and is looking 

for historical photographs and stories of that area. Individuals 

who are willing to share information or photos are asked to email 

pictures and information to governmentalist@glial.com. Of particular 

interest would be any information of old buildings and/or 

businesses in the communities of Alton, Rome or Galloway. 

Adam Miller 

STATE REPRESENTATIVE 

News from the 

Statehouse 

Ohio’s budget was passed out of The Ohio 

House of Representatives last week. It now 

heads to the Ohio Senate and, most likely, 

back to the House before it is approved by 

both chambers. The budget process 

avoided the headlines. After all, most members 

agreed on 75 percent of funding and 

debated the 25 percent that aligned with 

their political views. While the budget left a 

lot to be desired, the hard work escaping 

the current political headlines was a good 

thing. In the end, the House budget moves 

our state forward. 

You do not have to look very hard on the internet 

or social media to see that the political 

rhetoric has recently gone too far. I can 

only imagine what Jim Rhodes, Vern Riffe, 

Ronald Reagan, and Tip O’Neill would say if 

they were alive today. We have heard individuals 

claim that elected officials are possessed 

by demons and have seen others 

defend slavery, all while there were 

swastikas at local protests. These hateful 

voices may be loud, they do not represent 

how Ohioans feel. 

How do we combat these things and 

change the rhetoric moving forward? For 

one, we get involved. We work with one another 

by reaching out and helping those in 

need. According to Volunteermatch.com, 

there are more than 800 volunteer organizations 

in and around Galloway alone. From 

food banks to faith groups to sports and recovery 

support, we make the world better 

by engaging with one another. The Human 

Services Chamber of Franklin County has 

more than 160 members doing just that and 

they are always in need of more volunteers 

and members. 

As spring turns into summer, we have a 

choice in Central Ohio. Let’s choose to engage 

and help one another and focus on 

what unites us rather than what divides us. 

Go to events like the Bean Dinner, Summer- 

Jam West on the Hilltop, or the Celebrations 

at the Station in Hilliard. Or join one of those 

800 plus volunteer organizations. Let us rise 

above the rhetoric and make our community 

a better place for all of us. 

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READ US ONLINE: www.columbusmessenger.com


Free lunch at Hilltop Methodist 

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SPECIAL OFFER 

In Education 

By Dedra Cordle 

Staff Writer 

A working mother of three wanted to better understand 

the electrical trades in order to assist her husband 

with their home improvement company. With a 

busy schedule, she worried that she would be unable to 

find the time to accomplish the task at hand until she 

learned that a training center for adults had been 

established nearby and was offering a course that 

could help her obtain the knowledge she needed. After 

successfully completing the program, she was hired by 

an electrical trades union and is now fixing properties 

across the county. 

A young man with a social anxiety disorder wanted 

to learn the basics of welding but was intimidated by 

the thought of attending classes at a university where 

there would be dozens of students present. When he 

heard that an introduction to welding course was being 

offered in the evening at a local high school career 

academy, he took a chance and thrived in the smaller 

and more intimate setting. 

A woman had a childhood dream of a career in the 

medical field but found her pathway harder to navigate 

due to financial constraints. When she was told 

that a state tested nurse assistant course was being 

offered at no cost to the individual, she knew that it 

was finally time to try to fulfill her life-long dream. 

Upon passing the exam and earning her credential, 

she received an offer to work at a care facility and is 

now doing what she feels she was always meant to do. 

These are just a few of the stories that have been 

shared by individuals who have participated in the 

adult training hub that was established at the South- 

Western Career Academy last year. District officials 

who oversee the program say it is their hope that there 

will be many more success stories like these to come in 

the future. 

When the state allocated funds in their biennial 

budget for the creation of the program that was 

designed to help adults earn credentials in various indemand 

career fields, officials had an inkling that it 

could be successful but wanted to temper their expectations 

as new programs can sometimes be slow to 

catch on with the general public. 

However, they said they could not help but feel a 

current of excitement over the potential of the program. 

“The original expectation was that the adult training 

hub would be a needed addition to our community 

to upskill our adults who are underemployed or unemployed 

in a short term flexible setting,” said Denise 

Giesecke, coordinator of the adult training hub. 

“Knowing that the potential target audience could also 

include parents and older siblings of students in our 

district, we knew the opportunity to make an impact 

was great with the addition of this program.” 

When the adult training hub had its grand opening 

in February of 2022, approximately 25 individuals participated 

in the course offerings, which were computer 

skills for the workplace and electrical concepts. 

Although it was a modest number, word quickly 

spread throughout that community that this new educational 

program held twice a week in the evenings 

could be a real boon for those looking to acquire new 

skills or even start a new career. 

Since the adult training hub has been established, 

nearly 100 individuals have earned credentials — or are 


Hub program shows potential 

on their way to earning credentials as a new session 

started earlier this month — in automotive maintenance, 

computer skills in the workplace, electrical concepts, 

introduction to welding, and state tested nurse 

assistant. 

Giesecke said at a recent meeting where she presented 

an update on the program to the board of education 

that the adult training hub has surpassed their 

initial expectations. 

“In short, our program has exceeded our expectations 

in many ways,” she said. “To date we have served 

over 95 adults in our community and have a waiting 

list for many of the courses to help even more. Local 

businesses have stepped up to provide training, 

instructors, and financial resources to support each 

course. 

“We have been overwhelmed by the gratitude of the 

participants as they work to acquire skills that will 

better their families lives.” 

The majority of the operational funding for the program 

comes from the state, which allocated $150,000 

to cover the cost of instructor wages for two years. 

Giesecke said the district is monitoring the progress of 

the new state budget that is being proposed. 

“We await word that designated funds will be in the 

next state budget to remain funded,” she said. 

The district also received donations from local businesses 

such as Pathways Credit Union and 

Performance Columbus to cover the cost of materials 

for the adult students. The city of Grove City recently 

allocated $50,000 to pay for equipment and supplies. 

Mayor Richard “Ike” Stage was at the April 24 

meeting to present a check to the board on behalf of the 

council. Stage said the administration, the city, and 

the council are committed to providing assistance to 

adult students who want to learn new skills through 

the program. 

“It is such an important thing (to have in the community),” 

he said. “With the kind of businesses we 

have in Grove City, it is really important to make sure 

we’re doing — that all of us are doing — the things we 

can do to get the employees out there.” 

Giesecke said that state and local funding — as well 

as business donations and partnerships — are what 

have enabled the adult training hub courses to be 

offered at no charge to the community. She reiterated 

that while the district is monitoring the state budget, 

they have not considered the implementation of a fee 

to enroll in the courses. 

“At this time we have not considered a fee for the 

program as the original vision was to provide training 

free of charge to our community,” she said. “We want 

the program to continue to be accessible to all community 

members regardless of their ability to pay.” 

The next round of courses at the adult training hub 

will be in the fall of 2023. The courses that are likely to 

be offered are Introduction to Automotive 

Maintenance, State Tested Nurse Assistant, and 

Welding but those sessions are not set in stone. 

“The adult training hub is fluid, meaning our courses 

align with student interest and business needs,” 

said Giesecke. “At this time it is too early to predict 

what will be offered in the future. That is the beauty of 

the program, our courses are relevant and beneficial 

for economic development and growth.” 

Giesecke said that individuals who are interested in 

enrolling at the adult training hub can visit the website 

www.swcsdcareertech.com for more information.

ActiveLifestyles 


May 7, 2023 - WESTSIDE MESSENGER - PAGE 7 

A bi-monthly feature celebrating our community’s senior citizens 

Fun ways to stay active 

Physical activity is 

an important component 

of overall health. 

Health experts advise 

that exercise can 

increase lean body 

mass, prevent conditions 

like diabetes 

and cardiovascular 

disease, improve balance, 

and positively 

affect mental 

h e a l t h / c o g n i t i o n . 

Exercise also can foster 

socialization with 

others, helping people 

overcome boredom 

and isolation. 

As individuals get 

older, they may not 

be able to participate in all of the activities 

they enjoyed as youths, but that doesn’t 

mean older adults must resign themselves 

to sedentary lifestyles. There are plenty of 

entertaining ways to remain physically 

active that can accommodate any limitations 

a person may have. Explore these 

methods for staying active. 

Explore senior center offerings 

Community senior centers often fill calendars 

with a vast array of activities, some 

of which can include physical activities. 

Hikes, walking tours, dances, and other 

activities all serve as entertaining ways to 

get out and about while meeting some fitness 

goals. 

Garden or do yard work 

The Office of Disease Prevention and 

Health Promotions says adults should get 

150 minutes of moderate exercise per week. 

Raking leaves, mowing the lawn, digging in 

flower beds, trimming bushes, and other 

outdoor tasks could help a person meet this 

quota in a way that doesn’t seem like exercise 

at all. 

Play games with grandchildren 

Little kids may inspire older adults to be 

more active, as it can be difficult to keep up 

with those youngsters. Take infants or toddlers 

for walks or push them in strollers. 

Attach a child seat or towing carriage to a 

bicycle and ride around the neighborhood. 

Play games that require movement, such as 

hide-and-seek or Marco Polo in the pool. If 

it’s snowing, have a snowball fight or make 

a snowman in the yard. 

Take up a new hobby 

Find hobbies that incorporate physical 

activity. Perhaps learning to salsa dance or 

taking Zumba will be fun? Pickleball has 

caught on across the nation. The sport is a 

mix of tennis, racquetball and badminton 

that caters to all ages. Joining a bowling 

team is another way to get active and meet 

new people. 

Physical activity is important at any 

age. Seniors can explore fun ways to stay in 

shape and be active to reap all the benefits 

of exercise. 

Veterans Hall of Fame nominations 

The deadline for submitting nominations 

for the Ohio Veterans Hall of Fame is 

fast approaching. The Hall of Fame recognizes 

those who served in the U.S. Armed 

Forces and continue to contribute to their 

communities, state, and nation through 

exceptional acts of volunteerism, advocacy, 

professional distinction, public service, or 

philanthropy. 

The deadline to submit nomination 

forms for consideration for the 2023 class of 

the Ohio Veterans Hall of Fame is June 1. 

The veteran must meet the following criteria: 

Be a past or current Ohio resident; 

Have received an honorable discharge; Be 

of good moral character. 

This Hall of Fame sets the standard for 

recognizing Ohio’s veterans for accomplishments 

beyond their military service. Visit 

dvs.ohio.gov/hall-of-fame for information. 

Photo courtesy of the Columbus Clippers 

Huntington Park, home of the Columbus Clippers. 

THURSDAY, JUNE 8 TH @ 12:05 PM 

 

 

CLIPPERS VS. LOUISVILLE BATS 

 

Tickets are $6 RESERVED and $5 BLEACHER SEATING 

LUNCH PROVIDED FOR FANS 60 AND OVER WITH TICKET PURCHASE 

 

Make checks/money orders payable to Columbus Clippers and mail to: 

 

 

Columbus Clippers Aenon: Spencer Harrison 

330 

Hunngton Park Lane, Columbus, OH 43215 

Orders 

can be emailed to sharrison@clippersbaseball.com 

For cket quesons, call (614) 4625250 

Ticket orders must be received by the Clippers before June 1st, 2023 

 

www.clippersbaseball.com


SUMMER BLAST! 

ELVIS 

featuring 

Mike Albert 

and the Big E Band 

Saturday 

June 10, 2023 

VILLA MILANO 

1630 Schrock Rd. 

Dinner/Show Tickets $ 58.00 

Tickets by Phone: 614-792-3135 

Visa • Mastercard • Discover 

NO REFUNDS 

Active Lifestyles 


Tips to make baking more healthy 

Baking sessions are a beloved family 

tradition in many households. But 

such sessions may not be as revered by 

family physicians, as baked goods are 

often prepared with ingredients, like 

sugar and butter, that aren’t necessarily 

sound additions to a person’s diet. 

Though baked goods may never 

rival vegetables in nutritional value, 

there are ways for amateur bakers to 

make these beloved foods a little more 

healthy. 

• Replace sugar with a fig puree. 

Figs are nutrition-rich fruits that serve 

as significant sources of calcium, 

potassium and iron. WebMD notes 

that figs also are excellent sources of 

fiber. Soaking eight ounces of figs in 

water can soften them before they’re 

pureed with water. The resulting fig 

puree can serve as a sugar substitute. 

• Make it a ‘dates’ night. Much like 

figs, dates can be pureed and serve as 

a sugar substitute. However, WebMD 

notes that pureed dates will not be 

able to replace all of the sugar in a 

recipe. One cup of pureed pitted dates 

with one cup of water can replace as 

much as half of the sugar a recipe calls 

for. 

• Replace butter with avocados. It’s 

not just sugar that can make baked 

goods so unhealthy. Many baking 

recipes call for a substantial amount of 

butter. California Avocados notes that 

avocados can replace butter at a 1:1 

ratio when baking. So if a recipe calls for 

one cup of butter, bakers can replace that 

with one cup of pureed avocados. WebMD 

warns that avocados have more water than 

butter, so bakers may want to reduce the 

temperature in their ovens by 25 percent 

and bake the foods a little longer. 

• Replace white flour with whole wheat 

flour. White flour is often the go-to for amateur 

and even professional bakers. But 

white flour is processed, which removes the 

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A healing gift to your family 

Losing a loved one is a crushing experience. It 

knocks the wind out of you so much it’s hard to 

think. It’s ironic that when we are grief stricken 

and overwhelmed, we must make some of the 

most difficult decisions like how to honor our 

loved one, one final time. 

Writing an obituary, planning a service, and 

choosing a monument can seem unwieldy in those 

moments. What if you never discussed those 

things? What if you are not sure what they’d like, 

or your family members disagree? What if the 

costs are not within your budget? These challenges 

could be eliminated by preplanning. 

According to the National Funeral Directors 

Association, the median cost of a traditional 

funeral today is $7,640, before cemetery and 

headstone costs. Inclusive of them, it can be a 

$10,000 investment or more. 

bran and germ of the grain, thus stripping 

white flour of much of its nutritional value. 

Whole wheat flour is not processed, so it 

retains its nutritional value. Baking with 

whole wheat flour may require a learning 

curve, and some bakers prefer to use a mix 

of whole-wheat and white flour to preserve 

the flavors they’ve grown accustomed to. 

Baked goods may never pack the most 

nutritious punch, but there are ways for 

amateur bakers to make such foods a little 

more healthy. 

Making final plans is a wonderful gift to a 

family. It not only protects loved ones from 

unplanned expenses, it takes the guesswork and 

stress out of making important decisions during 

an emotional time. Today, it is possible to plan, 

design, and pay for everything up front from the 

service, burial, and headstone. In fact, companies 

like Modlich Monument Company can produce a 

headstone in advance, adding final touches at the 

passing of a loved one. 

Pre-planning gives the family time to research 

options, talk and include personal details that ads 

a special touch. Pre-planning also locks in the cost 

and removes the financial burden from survivors, 

a gift they will truly appreciate. 

Learn more at Modlich-monument.com or call 

614-276-1439.


WESTSIDE MESSENGER - May 7, 2023 PAGE 9 

Proud to welcome Central Ohio Primary Care 

to our Medicare Advantage plan network 

Get even more for your Medicare dollar. If you're turning 65, new to Medicare, recently moved, have limited income, 

or qualify for both Medicare and Medicaid, you may be able to take advantage of a plan that includes medical, 

prescription drug coverage and more. 

Medicare Advantage plans from 

UnitedHealthcare ® may also include: 

$1,500 for comprehensive dental services 

Use your UnitedHealthcare UCard 

when you visit your provider, 

fill a prescription, check in at 

the gym and buy healthy food or 

OTC products. 

Up to $50 a quarter for OTC products 

$0 prescription drug deductible 

$0 copay for preventive care 

Expanded 

Network 

Turning 65 or new to Medicare? 

Call UnitedHealthcare or go online today. 

1-855-263-1852, TTY 711 

8 a.m.–8 p.m., 7 days a week. Se habla español. 

Or visit exploreuhc.com 

Benefits, features and/or devices vary by plan/area. Limitations and exclusions apply. Other providers are available in our network. Network size varies by market. If your plan offers out-of-network dental 

coverage and you see an out-of-network dentist, you might be billed more. Network size varies by local market. Other providers are available in our network. Network size varies by market. OTC benefits have 

expiration timeframes. Call your plan or review your Evidence of Coverage (EOC) for more information. This information is not a complete description of benefits. Plans are insured through UnitedHealthcare 

Insurance Company or one of its affiliated companies, a Medicare Advantage organization with a Medicare contract. Enrollment in the plan depends on the plan's contract renewal with Medicare. 

© 2023 United HealthCare Services, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 

60155098 H5253-109-002 

Y0066_220722_025325_M 

SPRJ80903



Active Adult 

Communities: A Lifestyle 

Worth Considering 

Times have changed and people are 

now living longer, healthier lives. 

Through technology, diet, fitness and 

medicine, active adults remain independent 

longer. At age 55 plus, you 

might not be ready for a retirement community 

but may want to explore Active 

Adult living that affords a simpler 

lifestyle. 

In most cases, exploring options is 

really an issue of “when” and not “if” 

for active adults. When is the right time 

to give up mowing the lawn or shoveling 

the snow? What keeps you on the 

go? Active adult communities offer the 

space and environment for an engaging 

resident experience. Social engagement, 

physical fitness, intellectual and educational 

endeavors, creative, regular programming, 

and entertainment events are 

directed by residents and/or led by those 

whose interests are being served in the 

community. 

While Active Adult Communities are 

new to central Ohio, it is a growing segment 

of multi-family residential properties 

across the country. If you have not 

explored being a renter by choice, this 

55+ lifestyle option is something to consider. 

While you might want to live in 

the community where you raised your 

family, you can now opt for a lifestyle 

solution that is convenient, maintenance-free, 

carefree, and fun. 

These communities are meant to provide 

all the comforts of a single-family 

home with the convenience of being in a 

walkable neighborhood or a short drive 

from shopping, dining, entertainment, 

and healthcare. Such offerings fit with 

active adult consumers’ priorities, which 

can include housing accessibility, 

affordability, ease of maintenance, outdoor 

spaces for relaxation, proximity to 

shopping and activities, social interaction 

and connectivity and access to support 

and concierge services. 

Active adult living provides a social 

lifestyle that comes with being empty 

nesters and/or retired and having more 

time to learn, play, explore and make 

new and lasting friends on the same 

journey. 



Why it pays for seniors to maintain good credit 

The benefits of maintaining 

good credit include looking more 

reliable in the eyes of prospective 

employers and securing lower 

mortgage interest rates when 

buying a home. Those rewards 

can benefit anyone, but they’re 

especially enticing to young people. 

But what about seniors? Do 

individuals stand to benefit significantly 

from maintaining good 

credit into their golden years? 

According to the credit reporting agency 

Experian, senior citizens tend to have the best 

credit scores of any consumer demographic. That 

could be a byproduct of years of financial discipline, 

and there are many benefits to maintaining that 

discipline into retirement. 

• Home buying and borrowing: Buying a home is 

often considered a big financial step forward for 

young people, but that doesn’t mean aging men and 

women are completely out of the real estate market. 

In its 2020 State of the Nation’s Housing 

report, the Joint Center for Housing Studies of 

Harvard University reported that the share of 

homeowners age 65 and over with housing debt 

doubled to 42 percent between 1989 and 2019. In 

addition, 27 percent of homeowners age 80 and 

over were carrying mortgage debt in 2019. 

Maintaining strong credit after retirement can help 

homeowners who still have mortgage debt get better 

terms if they choose to refinance their mortgages. 

Even seniors who have paid off their mortgages 

can benefit from maintaining good credit if 

they decide to downsize to a smaller home but cannot 

afford to simply buy the new 

home outright. 

• Rewards: Retirement is often 

associated with travel, recreation 

and leisure. Such pursuits can be 

more affordable when seniors utilize 

rewards-based credit cards 

that help them finance vacations, 

weekend getaways and other 

expenses associated with traveling. 

Seniors who maintain strong credit 

ratings into their golden years may have more 

access to the best travel-based rewards cards than 

those whose credit scores dip in retirement. 

• Unforeseen expenses: No one knows what’s 

around the corner, but savvy seniors recognize the 

importance of planning for the unknown. The 

COVID-19 pandemic seemingly came out of 

nowhere, and among its many ripple effects was 

the sudden job loss experienced by seniors. The 

JCHS report found that 21 percent of homeowners 

age 65 and over had reported loss of employment 

income related to the pandemic. Unforeseen medical 

expenses also can compromise seniors’ financial 

freedom. Maintaining a strong credit rating 

into older adulthood can help seniors navigate such 

financial uncertainty more smoothly. Such a strategy 

can help seniors secure low-interest loans or 

credit cards that can help them pay down sudden, 

unforeseen expenses without getting into significant 

debt. 

The importance of a strong credit rating is often 

emphasized to young people. However, a strong 

credit rating can be equally beneficial for seniors. 

New Community! 

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belong to a community 

o 

f active adu 

lts. 

Now 

Pre-Leasing! 

 

Bring in this ad to 

have your application 

f 

ees waived. 

REDEFINING 

55+ LIVING 

614.782.1800 

515 

Sugar Maple Dr. 

Grove City, Ohio 43123



 


 

Franklin County Board of Commissioners: President John O’Grady • Commissioner Kevin L. Boyce, and Commissioner Erica C. Crawley 

The Franklin County Board of Commissioners and The Franklin County Office on Aging join with the Messenger Newspaper in providing this update on aging issues in Franklin County. 

Play Ball! Office on Aging Day with the 

Columbus Clippers Scheduled for June 8 

For the past 21 years, the Franklin County Office on Aging has partnered 

with the Columbus Clippers to host their annual Office on Aging Day at 

the award-winning Huntington Park. Office on Aging Day with the 

Columbus Clippers provides seniors aged 60 and older a chance to gather 

with their family and friends for a fun-filled day at the ballpark through 

discounted ticket prices. 

This year’s Office on Aging Day with the Columbus Clippers is scheduled 

for Thursday, June 8, 2023 at 12:05 p.m. in which the Columbus Clippers 

will go head-to-head with the Louisville Bats. Ticket prices for seniors 

will be $5.00 for bleacher seating and $6.00 for reserved seating, and the 

ticket price also includes a boxed lunch as well as a chance to win a variety 

of raffle prizes. Seniors who have a group of 10 or more can also 

request free transportation through the Office on Aging by calling (614) 

525-8832 by no later than Monday, May 8. 

This event also provides seniors the chance to connect with community 

organizations that provide resources to older adults. In the past, seniors 

have been able to get connected to resources regarding tax preparation, 

kinship support, mental health and other valuable services that make 

aging in place possible. This year seniors and their families will once 

again be able to connect to a variety of resources from community providers 

that help support aging in place, including Mid-Ohio Food Collective, 

the Franklin County Auditor’s Office, and the Veterans Service Commission 

among others. Franklin County’s Health & Human Services mobile 

unit will also be in attendance, which includes representatives from the 

Office on Aging, Job and Family Services, Justice Policy & Programs, and 

Child Support Enforcement Agency. The mobile unit helps residents get 

the assistance they need all in one place, including help with food assistance, 

Medicaid, rental assistance, employment opportunities, child 

support, re-entry support and more. 

Lastly, the day will also include pre-ceremonial activities including a 

warm welcome from the Franklin County Board of Commissioners’ President, 

John O’Grady, as well as a ceremonial first pitch. Past local celebrities 

for the first pitch include former 10TV Anchor, Jerry Revish, Professional 

Baseball Player, Allan Lee Anderson, and Community Leader and 

Civil Rights Activist, Don Elder. This year fans can expect to see the 

Office on Aging’s first African American female director, Chanda Wingo, 

to throw out the ceremonial first pitch. 

Franklin County seniors who are interested in attending the game can 

purchase tickets several ways. They can mail the order form found in the 

Columbus Messenger to: 

Columbus Clippers 

ATTN: Spencer Harrison 

330 Huntington Park Lane 

Columbus, OH 43215 

Seniors can also order tickets by calling the Columbus Clippers at (614) 

462-5250. To request transportation for groups of 10 or more, call the 

Office on Aging at (614) 525-8832 by no later than Monday, May 8.


We are the BEST community newspaper! 

Need advertising? Call 614-272-5422 today. 

Care 

that 

comes from 

the 

Heart 

Skilled Nursing Care • Long-Term Care 

Short-Term 

Rehabilitation 

Hospice & Palliative Care • Respite Care 

614.834.2500 

6725 Thrush Dr., Ca nal Winchester 

, OH 43110 

CW@AltercareOnline.net 

AltercareOnline.com 


Wellness and foot care for senior citizens 

LifeCare Alliance provides a nurse at the Prairie 

Township Community Center weekly to provide free 

foot care and other wellness services. To schedule an 

appointment or for more information, contact the wellness 

office at 614-437-2878. 

Parkinson’s support group 

The Grove City Parkinson’s support group meets 

the third Wednesday of each month at StoryPoint 

Grove City, located at 3717 Orders Road at 1 p.m. The 

meetings take place in the assisted living area of the 

community, which is located around the back of the 

building. The meetings are open to all who want to 

learn more about Parkinson’s disease. For more information, 

call Kathy Hakes at 614-507-8458. 

It is finally getting warm outside! You are using the 

Medicare plan you chose this past Annual Election Period 

(AEP). 

My name is Ralph Curcio, I live in Franklin County – you 

are welcome to contact me at 614-603-0852 or email 

RWCurcio@gmail.com. An item to review now is the cost of 

your medications, and to check if any assistance is available to 

help reduce your co-pays. Medicare provides a Low-Income 

Assistance (LIS) program for individuals according to their 

annual income, if approved this would reduce the amount of 

your monthly pharmacy copays. We could review to see if you 

community events 


Alzheimer’s support at Ashford 

The Ashford of Grove City Alzheimer’s support 

group meets the third Thursday of the month at 2 p.m. 

at 3197 Southwest Blvd. For more information, contact 

Bethany Watts at 614-582-4905 or 

bwatts@wallick.com. 

Young at Heart club 

You are invited to join the Young at Heart seniors’ 

group for fun and activities. The group meets every 

Thursday from 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Central Baptist 

Church, 1955 Frank Road, where we enjoy bringing in 

guest speakers, sharing lunch, games, occasional field 

trips, bingo and cards. Call Norma at 614-308-5998 for 

more information. 


Be confident in the plan you select 

may qualify and apply. I also work with a Rx discount company 

that has a monthly copay of $39 for some of the more costly 

medications. Also, if you are turning 65 this year – know your 

best option, if still working, maybe just keeping your group 

plan. For Medicare plan options, select the coverage that offers 

the lowest copays for services and medications while including 

your current physicians. Plan options may include dental, 

vision, a monthly food allowance along with a fitness program. 

$0 cost for my consultation and enrollment services. You need 

to be confident in the plan you select! 

Medicare Annual Open Enrollment Period (AEP) is 

over for 2023, but maybe you still have 

 

- will I have to pay a penalty if I keep 

working after I turn 65, and want to keep my 

group plan? 

- any 5 Star Medicare rated plans in my 

county, that I can enroll into throughout the 

 

- 

meet with a local representative, and review 

more than 2 or 3 plan options. 

Call Your Local Ohio Licensed 

Independent Medicare Agent 

Ralph Curcio 614-603-0852 

$0 fee or $0 Consultation cost 

Be confident in your plan selection 

Keep your doctors and find the lowest 

copays for your medications. 

Come meet me at the Clippers vs. 

Louisville Bats game June 8th 

@12:05 PM 

- I need help in paying my Rx copays, any 

assistance available? 

 

Any information we provide is limited to those 

plans we do offer in your area. Please contact 

Medicare.gov or 1-800-MEDICARE to get 

information on all of


In Education 

Columbus City Schools to choose 

between six for superintendent job 

Pet Corner 

Pets of the week 

The Columbus City Schools Board of 

Education has named six candidates who 

will interview for the position of superintendent 

The candidates for the position are: 

•Dr. Thomas Ahart (Des Moines, Iowa) 

•Dr. Angela Chapman (Columbus, 

Ohio) 

•Dr. Jermaine Dawson (Birmingham, 

Alabama) 

•Dr. Stephanie Jones (Chicago, Illinois) 

•Dr. Brian McDonald (Pasadena, 

California) 

•Dr. George (Eric) Thomas 

(Minneapolis, Minnesota) 

After a nationwide search, 31 candidates 

submitted applications to the CCS 

search consultant. Each application was 

screened based on their administrative 

experience, academic backgrounds, and 

input from the community and the board. 

Community input was developed through 

surveys, small group discussions, interviews 

with stakeholders, including students, 

parents, and families, and an in-person 

town hall held on April 25. 

Next, the search consultant performed 

an in-depth investigation of each candidate. 

The search consultant contacted references 

and others familiar with each 

applicant and assessed each candidate’s 

professional strengths and weaknesses. 

Interviews with the candidates will took 

place on May 2 and 4. After interviews, the 

board will invite final candidates to visit 

Columbus for a “Day in the District” on 

Thursday, May 11. As part of the Day in 

the District, the district will host a “Meet 

the Candidates” community forum, where 

members of the community can hear from 

the finalists in a moderated question and 

answer format. The event will also be 

livestreamed. Final interviews will be held 

the week of May 15. 

To read more about each candidate, 

visit ccsleadershipsearch.com/candidates. 

These furry friends are available 

for adoption at local 

rescues and shelters 


SENIORS — HELP IS HERE! 

Your Doorstep to Your Doctor! 

We provide: 

• Transportation • Personal Coordinated Team Care 

• Concierge Service • Convenience of all services under one roof 

• Superior Healthcare • We serve to 55+ Medicare-eligible Community 

Call for more information: 

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740-403-8349 

brenton.savage@dedicated.care 

Let’s change the world together! 

NORTH 

2260 Morse Rd 

Partnership with 

3 LOCATIONS: 

WESTSIDE 

50 N. Wilson Rd. 

WHITEHALL 

5156 E. Main St. 

Panda Bear is a 

sweet 1-year-old boy. 

He enjoys everything 

the world has to offer 

- playing, running, 

cuddling, eating, 

sleeping, and sun 

bathing. He loves 

both people and 

cats, and even likes 

the dogs that walk up 

to the window. Panda 

Bear would love a home that has a lot of windows 

and people with a lot of love. Meet him 

at the Colony Cats cage-free adoption center. 

FYI: colonycats.org 

Blackbird, the shorthaired 

black cat with 

one eye was found 

as a stray. With her 

sleek black fur, she 

blends in perfectly 

with the night sky, 

just like a blackbird 

soaring through the 

air. Her singular eye 

is sharp and 

focused, always on the lookout for any feathered 

friends that may be nearby. Blackbird is 

a gentle, unique, and charming cat who is 

sure to keep you on your toes. So if you’re 

looking for a feline companion who is as fierce 

and independent as a bird of prey, yet as gentle 

and loving as a little songbird, then 

Blackbird might be perfect for you. 

FYI: colonycats.org 

Winnie is 12 years 

old. She is very social 

and enjoys to be 

around people. She 

will even let people 

(and kids) pick her up 

for some cuddles. 

She likes to play with 

her toys and would 

love a forever family 

who will play with her 

and lavish her with 

attention. Winnie is 

up for adoption through Friends for Life 

Animal Haven. 

FYI: fflah.org 

Dee Dee is 12 years 

old and is the sister of 

Winnie. She is shy at 

first but will warm up 

quickly with a can of 

food. Dee Dee has no 

teeth, so she will 

need wet food or very 

small bites of kibble. 

She is a sweet girl 

who will sit on your 

lap and hang out. Adopt her from Friends for 

Life Animal Haven. 

FYI: fflah.org



CelebrateOne shows support 

for families on the westside 

Approximately 200 moms-to-be and new 

parents attended CelebrateOne’s community 

baby shower on April 29 at the 

Westgate Community Center. 

Expectant and new mothers had access 

to vital health care information, as well as 

childcare resources. Registered attendees 

also received a complimentary diaper bag 

with essential baby items, lotion, pacifiers 

and books. Some families were the winners 

of raffle prizes, such as strollers and 

swings. 

“Promoting infant, child and maternal 

health is vital to our mission to reduce 

infant mortality,” said Robin Davis, interim 

executive director, CelebrateOne. “We 

are excited to provide expectant mothers 

and their families with the tools they need 

to make healthy choices throughout their 

pregnancy journey and through their 

babies’ first year.” 

In addition to connecting families with 

resources and information, participants 

were able to attend a 30-minute training 

session on the ABCs of safe sleep. In 2022, 

30 babies died from sleep-related deaths 

which are completely preventable if babies 

always sleep alone, on their backs and in 

their cribs, every nap and every night. 

CelebrateOne is hosting three more 

community baby showers this year: 

• Thursday, June 8, 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. at 

First Church of God, 3480 Refugee Road, 

Columbus 

• Saturday, July 22, 1 to 3 p.m. at Scioto 

Southland Community Center, 3901 

Parsons Ave., Columbus 

• Sunday, Aug. 27, 1 to 3 p.m. at 

Ephesus Seventh Day Adventist Church, 

3650 Sunbury Road in Columbus 

Since 2014, CelebrateOne has been supporting 

pregnant women and families with 

babies under the age of 1 with a mission to 

get more babies to their first birthdays. 

To learn more, visit columbus.gov/celebrate-one. 

Activities for children were also featured at the community baby shower. 

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New parents attended CelebrateOne’s community baby shower at the Westgate 

Community Center. Participants got a complimentary diaper bag, as well as vital 

health care information.


Commissioners campaign for 

Westland recreation center 

By Hannah Poling 

Staff Writer 

According to Westland Area Commissioner Janet Cahill, the 

parks and recreation committee is going to start a letter-writing 

campaign to Columbus Mayor Andrew Ginther about the need for 

a recreation center in the Westland Area. 

The topic was discussed at the April commission meeting. 

“We need to get residents to start complaining,” Cahill said. 

Cahill also said that she plans to have a table at the city of 

Columbus’ Rise Up CBus event on July 13 at Columbia Heights 

Church to talk to residents about the need for a Westland recreation 

center and to provide residents with an opportunity to sign 

a petition to get the ball rolling. 

Rise Up CBus is a free event for residents in Columbus to learn 

about a wide range of resources available throughout the city and 

about community partners. It includes free food and music, and 

admission is free. 

“We need to work hard on this Columbus rising celebration. 

From there, we will have our petitions to build the recreation center 

for people to sign,” Cahill said. 

The commissioners also unanimously approved the purchase, 

not to exceed $1,000, of a branded folding table, canopy, and table 

cover to use at the Rise Up CBus and future events. 

According to Cahill, the parks and recreation committee recently 

viewed the Westgate Recreation Center to see what it offered to 

the community. Cahill said that the Westgate Recreation Center 

is full of activities for its community, operating from 9 a.m. to 9 

p.m. at relatively no cost to its members and with scholarship 

opportunities for those who cannot afford it. 

“The amount of use all of those programs have,” Cahill said, 

“includes dance, guitar, arts and crafts, and ceramics all day long 

from morning until mid-day. Seniors are using them also, they 

have home school groups that use them and some preschools. 

Once kids get out of school, then all of the youth programs start 

and evening activities for adults after work.” 

According to Cahill, the tour only solidified how beneficial a 

recreation center in Westland would be to its residents. 

news and notes 

Volunteers sought at food pantry 

The Grove City Food Pantry is looking for volunteers. The 

pantry is located at 2710 Columbus St. in Grove City. It serves 

about 250 families each month in Grove City, Orient, Harrisburg 

and Galloway. Food donations are also needed. Those interested 

in volunteering for the Grove City Food Pantry or making a food 

or monetary donation can email 

managers@grovecityfoodpantry.org. 

The House 

Passes the 

Budget! 

On Wednesday, April 26, the Ohio House of Representatives 

approved an $88 billion biennium 

budget by a vote of 78 to 19. The bipartisan 

measure saw 32 Democrats join with 46 Republicans 

to pass the measure. The budget now goes 

to the Ohio Senate, which should approve its version 

by mid-June. A Conference Committee will 

work out any differences so that a final measure 

will get passed by both Houses by the June 30 

deadline. The fiscal year 2024-25 budget will take 

effect July 1 and will guide all state spending 

through June 30, 2025. 

I am pleased to report that the budget substantively 

addresses the state portion of public-school 

funding. The House version continues years 3 and 

4 of the implementation of the six-year phase-in 

of the Cupp-Patterson Fair School Funding Plan, 

which raises the share of state funding for the cost 

of public education. Specifically, the House version 

of the budget will increase funding for the 

South-Western City Schools from $138 million in 

FY 2023 to $152 million in FY 2024 and $156 million 

in FY 2025. For the Columbus City schools, 

state funding will increase from $175 million in FY 

2023 to $198 million in FY 2024 and $202 million 

in FY 2025. Other measures in the budget provide 

$200 million for additional facilities and equipment 

for our career technical schools, funding for 

meals for all students who qualify for reducedpriced 

school lunches, over $100 million for literacy 

initiatives, and additional funding for teacher 

training in mathematics and science, which was 

one of my individual proposals. 

In the Medicaid portion of the budget, additional 

funding is allocated to increase the reimbursement 

rate for Ohio’s 60,000+ direct service 

providers (DSPs) from $14 per hour to $17 per 

hour in FY 2024 and $18 per hour in FY 2025. 

DSPs are the folks who provide home health care 

services for the elderly, disabled, and those recovering 

from surgery. Their work often times allows 

folks to continue to live in their homes, as opposed 

to more expensive assisted care facilities. 

Finally, the new budget cuts the state income tax 

by an estimated $930 million for working- and 

middle-class families. Individuals earning between 

$25,000 and $92,000 will see their state income 

tax rate reduced to a flat 2.75% for income 

above $25,000. The State has seen a higher-thanexpected 

increase in tax collections; so, the House 

wants to return a significant portion of it to taxpayers. 

(Dave Dobos represents the 10th District in the 

Ohio House of Representatives, which consists of 

parts of West, Southwest, and South Columbus, 

Grove City, and Urbancrest. He reports regularly 

on his activities in this position and his campaign 

has paid for this communication with you.) 

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Shred Hunger 

The Franklin County Auditor’s office is partnering with the 

Mid Ohio Food Collective to hold “Shred Hunger,” a combination 

document shredding and electronic waste recycling event this 

May. Donations of food will also be collected for the Food 

Collective. 

Community members are invited to bring their unwanted 

paper documents and electronics to Mid Ohio Food Collective, 

3960 Brookham Drive in Grove City, on May 21 from 1 to 4 p.m. 

to have them collected and recycled in a safe, secure, and environmentally 

friendly way. This drive-through style event will take 

place in the parking lot of the food collective, with staff and volunteers 

available to direct the flow of traffic and assist with vehicle 

unloading. 

Among the materials that are accepted for e-recycling are: computers, 

laptops, tablets, monitors, cellphones, MP3 players, printers, 

copiers, printer cartridges, fax machines, VCRs, DVD players, 

LCD TVs, cameras, batteries of any kind, cables, hard drives, keyboards, 

and computer mice. 

Household appliances are not accepted. 

Participants are also encouraged to bring nonperishable food 

and household items for donation to the Mid Ohio Food Collective. 

In particular, the Collective is currently in need of the following 

items: chili with beans, tuna, canned vegetables, canned meat, 

soup, peanut butter, canned fruit, shampoo, conditioner, bar soap, 

toothpaste, body wash, toothbrushes, and deodorant. 

Ohio Attorney General to 

Shine a Light on Dumpers 

Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost and his environmental 

enforcement team unveiled a $1.1 million initiative to help communities 

statewide crack down on polluters who use their backyard 

— or someone else’s property — as a garbage can. 

“Shine a Light on Dumpers” is a multipronged campaign 

designed to expose illegal open dumping of solid wastes — including 

scrap tires, demolition debris and more — and to eliminate 

these inexcusable eyesores from Ohio neighborhoods. 

“We want local law enforcement, prosecutors and the public to 

know what they can do to combat the unsightly and unhealthy 

problem of dumping — and how my office can help them,” Yost 

said. “It’s time to reclaim our communities from these polluters.” 

Shine a Light on Dumpers will be rolled out in phases, beginning 

with new online resources focusing on awareness, legal guidance, 

training, and investigative and prosecutorial assistance 

from the attorney general’s office. 

The attorney general’s Environmental Enforcement Section 

(EES) has two units that deal with environmental crimes 

statewide: BCI’s Environmental Enforcement Unit and the 

Criminal Prosecution Unit. Although the units often work cases 

referred to them by the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency or 

the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, they also work directly 

with local law enforcement agencies and prosecutor’s offices and 

are available, upon request, to help investigate and prosecute 

cases of solid-waste dumping. 

Another aspect of the initiative’s first phase will kick off in 

July, when AGO experts begin presenting monthly seminars 

across the state for police officers, sheriff deputies, sanitarians, 

code-enforcement officers and prosecutors. Attendees will learn 

how best to investigate incidents of open dumping and open burning 

of solid wastes as well as other environmental crimes, and 

receive the necessary legal framework for prosecuting such 

crimes. 

To learn more, visit ohioattorneygeneral.gov/ShineALight. 

Attorney General Yost has earmarked $1.1 million from the 

proceeds of a Volkswagen settlement for Shine a Light on 

Dumpers, with the bulk of the money going toward the second 

phase of the initiative. Phase two will focus on supplying technical 

equipment to law enforcement agencies that are battling solidwaste 

dumping in their jurisdictions. 

The Franklin County Commissioners released their 

annual State of the County report, and an interactive 

website that gives the community valuable insight into 

how their Franklin County government is working for 

them. 

The report is available at 

Report.FranklinCountyOhio.gov, and broken into sections 

based on the commissioners’ six core principles of 

good governance, Safety and Security, Economic 

Development, Health and Human Services, 

Environmental Sustainability, Fiscally Responsible 

Government, and Racial Equity. 

This year’s report shows that the county has maintained 

its double Triple A bond rating throughout the 

pandemic, one of only about 3 percent of local governments 

with a credit score that high. It notes that the 

county’s rainy day fund is $85 million, and details 

some of the ways that the commissioners have allocated 

more than $200 million in American Rescue Plan 

funds. 

“It’s such an honor and responsibility to be an elected 

leader in a community that you love, and all of us at 

Franklin County look forward to the State of the 

County report each year as an opportunity to report to 

the community on everything we’ve been working on 

for the past year and some of what we’ve got planned 

for the year to come,” said board of commissioners 

president John O’Grady. 

Highlights of this year’s report include the morethan 

$50 million the county spent in 2022 to develop 

affordable housing, support the homeless, and help 

families avoid homelessness, as well as the early 

results of last year’s small business grants which show 

almost three dollars in value for every one dollar 


State of the county report released 

granted. They include reports on innovative workforce 

development programs and historic investments in 

affordable child care, and insight about how the commissioners 

are working to instill the tenets of equity 

and inclusion in everything they do. The report also 

details the day-to-day work of the county, which 

Franklin County families rely on such as the 163,000 

SNAP recipients, the more-than 450,000 Medicaid 

recipients, and the more-than 24,000 children in publicly 

funded child care. 

“County government touches the lives of every one 

of our residents each year,” said commissioner Kevin 

Boyce. “This report is our opportunity to let our residents 

know how we’re working to serve every one of 

Franklin County’s residents every day.” 

Among the services provided to county residents 

last year, the commissioners’ Office on Aging delivered 

more than 1.2 million meals to seniors at their homes 

and attended 329 community events to reach their 

constituents where they live. The county’s Child 

Support Enforcement Agency supported 78,814 children 

last year, and the commissioners’ Community 

Partnership department made almost $20 in grants to 

more than 110 community agencies that serve the public. 

“The state of Franklin County is strong and the 

local economy is recovering well from the pandemic,” 

said commissioner Erica Crawley. We’re very proud of 

all of our accomplishments last year and looking ahead 

to being even more successful for our neighbors in 

2023.” 

The commissioners’ full State of the County report 

is available online at Report.FranklinCountyOhio.gov.


Accepting New Patients 

Walk-Ins Welcome 

IV Sedation Offered 

Most Insurances Accepted 

17 Norton Road, Columbus, OH 43228 

614-870-3337 

WESTGATE UNITED 

METHODIST CHURCH 

61 S. Powell Ave., Columbus,OH 43204 

Come - Let’s Worship Together! 

Pastor Nancy Day-Achauer 

Worship Service 9:00 a.m. 

Sunday School 10:00 a.m. 

westgateumc@sbcglobal.net 

614-274-4271 

Please visit the 

Westside Church 

of your choice. 

List your Worship 

Services here. 

For info. call 614-272-5422 

Be a Part of Our Local Worship Guide 

Our upcoming Worship Guide is geared toward celebrating faith and helping readers connect with 

religious resources in our community. Make sure these readers know how you can help with a presence in 

this very special section distributed to more than 25,000 households in the Westside area. 

Contact us today to secure your spot in our Worship Guide. 

614.272.5422 • kathy@columbusmessenger.com 




In Entertainment 

Blume’s book brought 

to the screen with care 

Judy Blume was long resistant to a film 

adaptation of her beloved novel “Are You 

There God? It’s Me, Margaret.” 

According to numerous interviews the 

prolific children’s and young adult author 

has given throughout her career, it was her 

fear that the story would be mishandled 

and that the 11-year-old girl at its center 

would be misunderstood that kept her from 

granting any and all requests to bring this 

world to life on the big screen. 

It was a concern that was likely well 

founded. 

Since its debut in 1970, the award-winning 

novel has been right near the top of 

the list of books that some individuals 

would like to see censored, if not outright 

banned, for its frank exploration of puberty 

and the questions it raises on whether 

there is a higher power who looks after all 

of us from above and beyond. 

Blume has never once shied away from 

debating the critics of her work but she is 

also a bit of a realist; she knew that any 

film studio would have had no issue with 

sanitizing the content of her book to make 

it more palatable to a wider general audience, 

completely bypassing the fact that 

over 90 million copies of her novel have 

been sold internationally. 

In 2016, she came across a little gem of 

a movie called “The Edge of Seventeen”, 

which is kind of like a more adult version of 

her most known book and fell in love with 

its realistic depiction of teenage angst. 

Although she did not reach out to the 

writer-director Kelly Fremon Craig and 

veteran producer James L. Brooks to tell 

them of her admiration for the film, she did 

agree to meet with the duo two years later 

to hear their pitch to bring “Are You There 

God? It’s Me, Margaret” to the silver screen 

for the first time. 

I don’t think the sky opened up or anything 

during the meeting, but something 

awesome must have happened because the 

ever-reluctant Blume finally saw a vision 

worth greenlighting and allowed Fremon 

Craig and Brooks to adapt her novel. 

Although the final product is not quite 

heaven sent, it is everything a fan of the 

novel could ask for — and everything a genuine 

lover of sweet movies that have just 

the right amount of kick would enjoy as 

well. 

This classic story of girlhood, puberty, 

and religious belonging begins with the titular 

character Margaret Simon (played by 

Abby Ryder Fortson) finding out that she 

and her parents, Barbara (Rachel 

McAdams) and Herb (Benny Safdie), are 

relocating from New York City to a New 

Jersey suburb. Margaret is unhappy with 

the news, to say the least, and is sure it 

will be an outright disaster. 

Much to her surprise, it’s not quite as 

disastrous as she was fearing as she makes 

The Reel Deal 

Dedra Cordle 

new friends, largely enjoys the new school, 

and is still able to see her much-loved 

Grandma Sylvia (Kathy Bates, a scene 

stealer) on a semi-regular basis, but doubts 

about her looks and personality start 

creeping in as her new group of pals focus 

on things like the size of their boobs (or 

lack thereof), garnering the attention of the 

cutest boy in school, and rushing to be the 

first to get their period. 

Because there is so much turmoil going 

on in her life, Margaret turns to God for 

comfort but finds herself woefully lacking 

in that department as well. You see, a big 

plot point in this book and adaptation is 

Margaret struggling to believe. She’ll talk 

to God, sure, especially when she wants to 

get that leg up in the bra department, but 

she was raised secular by her Christian 

mother and Jewish father and isn’t sure 

there is anyone listening to her pleas for 

help and understanding. 

Much of the film alternates between 

these two threads — her attempts of selfdiscovery 

and her attempts to discover (or 

disavow) religion — and it never falls into 

that trap of being too soft or too hard about 

either. Like our titular heroine, it flows 

with her and is never in judgment of her 

decisions. 

Part of what makes this adaptation 

work as well as it does is the pre-teen at 

the center of the action. Fortson, who was 

12 or 13 when filming began, gracefully 

captures the prepubescent agony of waiting 

for life to begin. You feel the urgency, 

shame, and wonder that Margaret does 

and it makes you so unbelievably glad that 

you have moved beyond that state of being. 

If you are still in that state of being, my 

condolences. (Life spoiler alert: It doesn’t 

get better. It just gets different.) 

The movie takes an expanded approach 

with the other women in Margaret’s life 

and the story is all the more richer for it. 

Although I would have liked to see Bates’ 

role more developed, McAdams has more to 

work with as her character struggles too 

with this new change in their lives. 

The theatrical adaptation of “Are You 

There God? It’s Me, Margaret” may take a 

slightly different course than the novel on 

which it is based, but the magic of the 

material is all over this film. This is a film 

that cares for its characters, that cares to 

handle its themes with care, and it is 

infused with that humorous spirit and 

relatability that are the cornerstones of 

Blume’s work. Grade: B+ 

Dedra Cordle is a Messenger staff 

writer and columnist.

Westside Messenger - May 7th, 2023

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