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Grove City Messenger - May 7th, 2023

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<strong>Messenger</strong><br />

<strong>Grove</strong> <strong>City</strong><br />

<strong>May</strong> 7 - 20, <strong>2023</strong> www.columbusmessenger.com Vol. XLII, No. 15<br />

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Quite the<br />

Characters<br />

<strong>Messenger</strong> photos by Dedra Cordle<br />

The <strong>Grove</strong> <strong>City</strong> High School Drama Club<br />

Boosters weaved a bit of magic for the<br />

children in the community when they<br />

hosted their 10th annual Character Tea<br />

on April 29. For nearly two hours, the<br />

drama club students transformed into<br />

legendary princes, princesses, villains,<br />

and other beloved characters and interacted<br />

with bedazzled boys and girls<br />

through fun activities and games, and of<br />

course, the occasional dance party.<br />

According to theater director Stefanie<br />

McConnell, the Character Tea not only<br />

serves as the theater department’s<br />

biggest fundraising event of the year but<br />

it is also something that everyone in the<br />

community looks forward to. “They are<br />

all just mingling together and having a<br />

ball – no pun intended,” she quipped.<br />

Pictured here (top) having a ball as she<br />

basks in the attention of Princess Tiana<br />

and Prince Naveen (a.k.a. Maci Kahiga<br />

and Mekhi Adika) is Serenity Anderson,<br />

4. The <strong>Grove</strong> <strong>City</strong> resident says she<br />

loves all Disney movies – especially<br />

“Encanto.” She wanted to pay homage<br />

to her favorite character Mirabel by<br />

dressing accordingly for the Character<br />

Tea event. To see more photos, visit<br />

columbusmessenger.com.<br />

Program proves<br />

to be successful<br />

By Dedra Cordle<br />

Staff Writer<br />

A working mother of three wanted to<br />

better understand the electrical trades in<br />

order to assist her husband with their<br />

home improvement company. With a busy<br />

schedule, she worried that she would be<br />

unable to find the time to accomplish the<br />

task at hand until she learned that a training<br />

center for adults had been established<br />

nearby and was offering a course that<br />

could help her obtain the knowledge she<br />

needed. After successfully completing the<br />

program, she was hired by an electrical<br />

trades union and is now fixing properties<br />

across the county.<br />

A young man with a social anxiety disorder<br />

wanted to learn the basics of welding<br />

but was intimidated by the thought of<br />

attending classes at a university where<br />

there would be dozens of students present.<br />

When he heard that an introduction to<br />

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Eva Blackstone, 5, is all smiles as she<br />

meets and greets Ariel (a.k.a. Joslynn<br />

Kempker).<br />

<strong>Grove</strong> <strong>City</strong> junior Caleb Kleppinger provides a bit of assistance to his younger Spider-<br />

Man counterpart Asher Schroeder as he attempts to lift weights.<br />

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PAGE 2 - GROVE CITY MESSENGER - <strong>May</strong> 7, <strong>2023</strong><br />

Call today and receive a<br />

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Gardens at Gantz Plant Sale<br />

Celebrate the 30th annual Gardens at Gantz Herb<br />

and Perennial Plant Sale 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.,<br />

Saturday, <strong>May</strong> 13 at Gantz Park, 2255 Home Road.<br />

Browse and shop for a wide variety of culinary and<br />

landscape herbs, garden vegetables, native perennials,<br />

rain-garden plants and more. Gardens at Gantz volunteers<br />

will also answer your gardening questions.<br />

This is a rain-or-shine event. Cash, checks, and<br />

credit cards ($15 minimum) are accepted. Proceeds<br />

SWCS PROGRAM<br />

Continued from page 1<br />

community events<br />

www.columbusmessenger.com<br />

benefit the Gardens at Gantz Farm volunteers.<br />

For event updates, visit the Gardens at Gantz Farm<br />

Facebook page or call 614-277-3058 or 614-871-6323.<br />

Free community meal<br />

Bethel Lutheran Church, 4501 Hoover Road in<br />

<strong>Grove</strong> <strong>City</strong>, will host a free community meal every<br />

third Saturday of each month. The food will be served<br />

from noon to 1 p.m. For more information, call the<br />

church office at 614-875-0510.<br />

welding course was being offered in the evening at a<br />

local high school career academy, he took a chance and<br />

thrived in the smaller and more intimate setting.<br />

A woman had a childhood dream of a career in the<br />

medical field but found her pathway harder to navigate<br />

due to financial constraints. When she was told<br />

that a state tested nurse assistant course was being<br />

offered at no cost to the individual, she knew that it<br />

was finally time to try to fulfill her life-long dream.<br />

Upon passing the exam and earning her credential,<br />

she received an offer to work at a care facility and is<br />

now doing what she feels she was always meant to do.<br />

These are just a few of the stories that have been<br />

shared by individuals who have participated in the<br />

adult training hub that was established at the South-<br />

Western Career Academy last year. District officials<br />

who oversee the program say it is their hope that there<br />

will be many more success stories like these to come in<br />

the future.<br />

When the state allocated funds in their biennial<br />

budget for the creation of the program that was<br />

designed to help adults earn credentials in various indemand<br />

career fields, officials had an inkling that it<br />

could be successful but wanted to temper their expectations<br />

as new programs can sometimes be slow to<br />

catch on with the general public.<br />

However, they said they could not help but feel a<br />

current of excitement over the potential of the program.<br />

“The original expectation was that the adult training<br />

hub would be a needed addition to our community<br />

to upskill our adults who are underemployed or unemployed<br />

in a short term flexible setting,” said Denise<br />

Giesecke, coordinator of the adult training hub.<br />

“Knowing that the potential target audience could also<br />

include parents and older siblings of students in our<br />

district, we knew the opportunity to make an impact<br />

was great with the addition of this program.”<br />

When the adult training hub had its grand opening<br />

in February of 2022, approximately 25 individuals participated<br />

in the course offerings, which were computer<br />

skills for the workplace and electrical concepts.<br />

Although it was a modest number, word quickly<br />

spread throughout that community that this new educational<br />

program held twice a week in the evenings<br />

could be a real boon for those looking to acquire new<br />

skills or even start a new career.<br />

Since the adult training hub has been established,<br />

nearly 100 individuals have earned credentials — or<br />

are on their way to earning credentials as a new session<br />

started earlier this month — in automotive maintenance,<br />

computer skills in the workplace, electrical<br />

concepts, introduction to welding, and state tested<br />

nurse assistant.<br />

Giesecke said at a recent meeting where she presented<br />

an update on the program to the board of education<br />

that the adult training hub has surpassed their<br />

initial expectations.<br />

“In short, our program has exceeded our expectations<br />

in many ways,” she said. “To date we have served<br />

over 95 adults in our community and have a waiting<br />

list for many of the courses to help even more. Local<br />

businesses have stepped up to provide training,<br />

instructors, and financial resources to support each<br />

course.<br />

“We have been overwhelmed by the gratitude of the<br />

participants as they work to acquire skills that will<br />

better their families lives.”<br />

The majority of the operational funding for the program<br />

comes from the state, which allocated $150,000<br />

to cover the cost of instructor wages for two years.<br />

Giesecke said the district is monitoring the progress of<br />

the new state budget that is being proposed.<br />

“We await word that designated funds will be in the<br />

next state budget to remain funded,” she said.<br />

The district also received donations from local businesses<br />

such as Pathways Credit Union and<br />

Performance Columbus to cover the cost of materials<br />

for the adult students. The city of <strong>Grove</strong> <strong>City</strong> recently<br />

allocated $50,000 to pay for equipment and supplies.<br />

<strong>May</strong>or Richard “Ike” Stage was at the April 24<br />

meeting to present a check to the board on behalf of<br />

the council. Stage said the administration, the city,<br />

and the council are committed to providing assistance<br />

to adult students who want to learn new skills through<br />

the program.<br />

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

he said. “With the kind of businesses we<br />

have in <strong>Grove</strong> <strong>City</strong>, it is really important to make sure<br />

we’re doing — that all of us are doing — the things we<br />

can do to get the employees out there.”<br />

Giesecke said that state and local funding — as well<br />

as business donations and partnerships — are what<br />

have enabled the adult training hub courses to be<br />

offered at no charge to the community. She reiterated<br />

that while the district is monitoring the state budget,<br />

they have not considered the implementation of a fee<br />

to enroll in the courses.<br />

“At this time we have not considered a fee for the<br />

program as the original vision was to provide training<br />

free of charge to our community,” she said. “We want<br />

the program to continue to be accessible to all community<br />

members regardless of their ability to pay.”<br />

The next round of courses at the adult training hub<br />

will be in the fall of <strong>2023</strong>. The courses that are likely<br />

to be offered are Introduction to Automotive<br />

Maintenance, State Tested Nurse Assistant, and<br />

Welding but those sessions are not set in stone.<br />

“The adult training hub is fluid, meaning our courses<br />

align with student interest and business needs,”<br />

said Giesecke. “At this time it is too early to predict<br />

what will be offered in the future. That is the beauty of<br />

the program, our courses are relevant and beneficial<br />

for economic development and growth.”<br />

Giesecke said that individuals who are interested in<br />

enrolling at the adult training hub can visit the website<br />

www.swcsdcareertech.com for more information.


www.columbusmessenger.com<br />

<strong>May</strong> 7, <strong>2023</strong> - GROVE CITY MESSENGER - PAGE 3<br />

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PAGE 4 - GROVE CITY MESSENGER - <strong>May</strong> 7, <strong>2023</strong><br />

www.columbusmessenger.com<br />

<strong>Messenger</strong> photos by Dedra Cordle<br />

Environmental Education<br />

Residents of <strong>Grove</strong> <strong>City</strong> came out en masse to beautify their community – and learn<br />

a few tricks of the trade to keep it cleaner and healthier – through two Earth Day<br />

events that highlighted the importance of protecting and preserving the local environment.<br />

On the morning of April 22, hundreds of people traversed the parks and<br />

commercial and residential areas picking up litter found along the side of the road<br />

or in the creek beds as a part of the annual Keep <strong>Grove</strong> <strong>City</strong> Beautiful Cleanup event<br />

and then they traveled over to Town Center Park to partake in educational and enjoyable<br />

activities for the entire family at EcoFest. Here, Savannah Polen and her daughter<br />

Nash, 2, take a moment to stop and smell a floral arrangement by Kats Cuts<br />

Flowers. The Polen family were making their first appearance at EcoFest, which is an<br />

annual event presented by the city and Keep <strong>Grove</strong> <strong>City</strong> Beautiful that features<br />

dozens of agencies, businesses and organizations that promote greener living and<br />

environmental education and conservation.<br />

Dennis Miller, an urban forestry arborist<br />

with the city, places White Pine Trees on<br />

the table for attendees to take and plant<br />

on their property. Miller said it will take<br />

around 25 years for these trees to reach<br />

their mature height of 50 feet. To see<br />

more photos, visit columbusmessenger.com.<br />

Mark Berman, a.k.a. BUGMAN, has fun<br />

teaching children and adults about the<br />

wonders of “Avicularia,” a pink-toed<br />

tarantula. In addition to allowing the<br />

attendees to meet and greet the gentle<br />

spider from South America, he also<br />

brought with him cockroaches and<br />

worms as a part of his educational outreach<br />

exhibit at EcoFest.


www.columbusmessenger.com<br />

community events<br />

Summer Sizzle Concert Series<br />

Enjoy music in the Town Center on<br />

Friday evenings as open-air concerts fill<br />

the warm summer air beginning Friday,<br />

<strong>May</strong> 26. The free <strong>Grove</strong> <strong>City</strong> Summer<br />

Sizzle concerts are sponsored by the <strong>Grove</strong><br />

<strong>City</strong> Parks and Recreation Department<br />

and feature a variety of entertainment by<br />

some of the best acts in central Ohio.<br />

Bring a chair or blanket and enjoy the<br />

performances in Town Center Park, 3359<br />

Park St., across from the Safety Complex.<br />

The concerts begin at 7 p.m.<br />

<strong>2023</strong> Concert Series Schedule<br />

•<strong>May</strong> 26, <strong>Grove</strong> <strong>City</strong> Community Winds<br />

(patriotic marches and jazz)<br />

•June 2, The Usual Suspects (blues,<br />

Southern rock, Motown and jazz)<br />

•June 9, The Twylights (classic rock<br />

and blues)<br />

•June 23, Ladies of Longford (contemporary<br />

Celtic, acoustic, pop)<br />

•Special Concert: Friday, June 30, 7-<br />

8:30p.m., Central Ohio Brass Band (patriotic<br />

marches and jazz)<br />

•July 7, Whiskey Would (classic rock<br />

and roll)<br />

•July 21, 50 Steps Up (Rock)<br />

•Aug. 4, Lee Gantt Band (country, rock<br />

and roll)<br />

•Aug. 18, The Conspiracy Band (R&B,<br />

rock and roll and jazz)<br />

•Sept. 1, These Guys Live (variety, 80s<br />

and up)<br />

For additional information, call the<br />

<strong>Grove</strong> <strong>City</strong> Parks and Recreation office at<br />

614-277-3050.<br />

Shred Hunger<br />

The Franklin County Auditor’s office is<br />

partnering with the Mid Ohio Food<br />

Collective to hold “Shred Hunger,” a combination<br />

document shredding and electronic<br />

waste recycling event this <strong>May</strong>.<br />

Donations of food will also be collected for<br />

the Food Collective.<br />

Community members are invited to<br />

bring their unwanted paper documents<br />

and electronics to Mid Ohio Food<br />

Collective, 3960 Brookham Drive in <strong>Grove</strong><br />

<strong>City</strong>, on <strong>May</strong> 21 from 1 to 4 p.m. to have<br />

them collected and recycled in a safe,<br />

secure, and environmentally friendly way.<br />

This drive-through style event will take<br />

place in the parking lot of the food collective,<br />

with staff and volunteers available to<br />

direct the flow of traffic and assist with<br />

vehicle unloading.<br />

Among the materials that are accepted<br />

for e-recycling are: computers, laptops,<br />

tablets, monitors, cellphones, MP3 players,<br />

printers, copiers, printer cartridges,<br />

fax machines, VCRs, DVD players, LCD<br />

TVs, cameras, batteries of any kind,<br />

cables, hard drives, keyboards, and computer<br />

mice.<br />

Household appliances are not accepted.<br />

Participants are also encouraged to<br />

bring nonperishable food and household<br />

items for donation to the Mid Ohio Food<br />

Collective.<br />

<strong>Grove</strong> <strong>City</strong> Police News<br />

April 22, <strong>2023</strong>, <strong>Grove</strong> <strong>City</strong> Police were<br />

dispatched to the 4100 block of Buckeye<br />

Pkwy on a report of a baby left in<br />

a vehicle. The witness stated the child<br />

was in the vehicle crying with both<br />

passenger side windows down. Officers<br />

verified this with the store security<br />

video. The mother, who had<br />

entered the store to pick up items, was<br />

charged with Child Endangerment.<br />

April 21, <strong>2023</strong>, <strong>Grove</strong> <strong>City</strong> Police were<br />

notified of an identity fraud. The victim<br />

told police they received their<br />

bank statement and noticed the balance<br />

was incorrect. Upon checking<br />

with their bank, it was discovered that<br />

a check written for $43 was changed<br />

to $1,800 and made out to a different<br />

individual.<br />

April 19, <strong>2023</strong>, <strong>Grove</strong> <strong>City</strong> Police were<br />

notified of an identity fraud. The victim<br />

stated they had a check cashed at<br />

their bank for $2,800 when it was originally<br />

written for $138.07. The victim<br />

stated the check was taken from their<br />

mailbox where they had placed it to<br />

pay a bill.<br />

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April 21, <strong>2023</strong>, <strong>Grove</strong> <strong>City</strong> Police were<br />

dispatched to the 2300 block of Stringtown<br />

Rd. on a report of four suspects<br />

breaking into cars. Officers located<br />

the suspects and were able to stop the<br />

vehicle they were in. It was discovered<br />

that seven vehicles were broken into<br />

with items from money to two<br />

firearms stolen. Officers recovered the<br />

stolen items and returned them to the<br />

owners. The four suspects, all juveniles,<br />

were charged with Theft - felony<br />

3, and CCW - felony 4.<br />

April 20, <strong>2023</strong>, <strong>Grove</strong> <strong>City</strong> Police were<br />

notified of an identity fraud. The victim<br />

stated their computer was giving<br />

them alerts making them think it had<br />

been hacked. The victim contacted<br />

their bank to make sure their accounts<br />

were ok. The bank advised the account<br />

was on hold due to $16,000 in<br />

suspicious online purchases.<br />

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<strong>May</strong> 7, <strong>2023</strong> - GROVE CITY MESSENGER - PAGE 5<br />

Adam Miller<br />

STATE REPRESENTATIVE<br />

News from the<br />

Statehouse<br />

Ohio’s budget was passed out of The Ohio<br />

House of Representatives last week. It now<br />

heads to the Ohio Senate and, most likely,<br />

back to the House before it is approved by<br />

both chambers. The budget process<br />

avoided the headlines. After all, most members<br />

agreed on 75 percent of funding and<br />

debated the 25 percent that aligned with<br />

their political views. While the budget left a<br />

lot to be desired, the hard work escaping<br />

the current political headlines was a good<br />

thing. In the end, the House budget moves<br />

our state forward.<br />

You do not have to look very hard on the internet<br />

or social media to see that the political<br />

rhetoric has recently gone too far. I can<br />

only imagine what Jim Rhodes, Vern Riffe,<br />

Ronald Reagan, and Tip O’Neill would say if<br />

they were alive today. We have heard individuals<br />

claim that elected officials are possessed<br />

by demons and have seen others<br />

defend slavery, all while there were<br />

swastikas at local protests. These hateful<br />

voices may be loud, they do not represent<br />

how Ohioans feel.<br />

How do we combat these things and<br />

change the rhetoric moving forward? For<br />

one, we get involved. We work with one another<br />

by reaching out and helping those in<br />

need. According to Volunteermatch.com,<br />

there are more than 800 volunteer organizations<br />

in and around Galloway alone. From<br />

food banks to faith groups to sports and recovery<br />

support, we make the world better<br />

by engaging with one another. The Human<br />

Services Chamber of Franklin County has<br />

more than 160 members doing just that and<br />

they are always in need of more volunteers<br />

and members.<br />

As spring turns into summer, we have a<br />

choice in Central Ohio. Let’s choose to engage<br />

and help one another and focus on<br />

what unites us rather than what divides us.<br />

Go to events like the Bean Dinner, Summer-<br />

Jam West on the Hilltop, or the Celebrations<br />

at the Station in Hilliard. Or join one of those<br />

800 plus volunteer organizations. Let us rise<br />

above the rhetoric and make our community<br />

a better place for all of us.<br />

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PAGE 6 - GROVE CITY MESSENGER - <strong>May</strong> 7, <strong>2023</strong><br />

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The <strong>City</strong> Beat<br />

By Andrea Cordle<br />

<strong>Grove</strong> <strong>City</strong> Editor<br />

www.columbusmessenger.com<br />

<strong>City</strong> approves pay increase<br />

for its police dispatchers<br />

New chief takes<br />

oath of office<br />

Eric Scott was sworn in as the<br />

new chief for the <strong>Grove</strong> <strong>City</strong><br />

Division of Police at the April 17<br />

council meeting. Scott rose<br />

through the ranks working various<br />

patrol, investigative and<br />

administrative assignments. He<br />

received promotions to sergeant<br />

in 2012, lieutenant in 2018 and<br />

was named Officer of the Year in<br />

2000 and 2009. Scott replaces<br />

Chief Richard Fambro, who<br />

accepted a position at<br />

OhioHealth. Here, Scott is pictured<br />

with <strong>Grove</strong> <strong>City</strong> <strong>May</strong>or<br />

Richard “Ike” Stage in front and<br />

council members in the back.<br />

They include (left to right) Roby<br />

Schottke, Mark Sigrist, Ted Berry,<br />

Randy Holt, and Christine Houk.<br />

To recruit and retain qualified employees,<br />

<strong>Grove</strong> <strong>City</strong> leaders have agreed to<br />

modify its labor contract with police dispatchers<br />

to include a higher pay rate.<br />

According to <strong>City</strong> Administrator Chuck<br />

Boso, the city has lost three dispatchers in<br />

the past two years to the city of Dublin. He<br />

said <strong>Grove</strong> <strong>City</strong>’s wages were nearly 9 percent<br />

lower than what Dublin paid its dispatchers.<br />

“We are trying to correct that situation,”<br />

said Boso.<br />

Per the amended contract agreement,<br />

the base salary for dispatchers will<br />

increase by 8.75 percent this year and will<br />

increase by 3 percent each year from 2024<br />

through 2026. For example, a new hire<br />

that would be in a probation period, currently<br />

makes $23.63 an hour. That hourly<br />

rate would increase to $25.70 and by the<br />

year 2026, the individual would make<br />

$28.08 per hour. On the higher end of the<br />

pay scale, a step five, or someone who has<br />

been with the department for some time,<br />

presently makes $32.95 per hour. That<br />

rate would increase to $35.83 this year and<br />

by 2026, that individual would earn $39.16<br />

per hour.<br />

“The dispatchers are vital to the operation<br />

of the safety department,” said Boso.<br />

The dispatchers take emergency calls<br />

from <strong>Grove</strong> <strong>City</strong>, Jackson Township,<br />

Pleasant Township, and Prairie Township.<br />

According to Kelley Davidson, the communications<br />

manager, the department<br />

receives an average of 7,700 calls for service<br />

per month. The department has a<br />

maximum staff number of 14, but that<br />

number has been as low as 10.<br />

“It’s been critical these last few years,”<br />

said Davidson.<br />

The communications manager said dispatchers<br />

were looking to move to other<br />

agencies that offered high pay and some<br />

just wanted more family or personal time.<br />

She said the novel coronavirus pandemic<br />

did not help staffing matters as dispatchers<br />

do not have the option to work from<br />

home.<br />

“There has been higher turnover than<br />

usual,” said Davidson. “We recognize we<br />

need to be competitive and really appreciate<br />

the city’s investment.”<br />

Davidson said she recognizes that being<br />

a police dispatcher is not a job for everyone.<br />

She said it can be high stress and high<br />

adrenaline, which can build up over time<br />

and wear a worker down.<br />

“We do our best to create a positive work<br />

environment,” said Davidson. “We do<br />

things right.”<br />

Davidson said the department offers<br />

wellness and peer support. She also said<br />

the job is very rewarding.<br />

“We take pride in supporting people in<br />

their worst moment,” she said. “We serve<br />

people and support our responders.”<br />

The dispatch department staffs three<br />

shifts. There is a minimum staff of three<br />

dispatchers during peak times (daytime)<br />

with relief staff in the morning and<br />

evening. Dispatchers undergo about six<br />

months of training and must earn a certification<br />

before starting a regular shift.


ActiveLifestyles<br />

www.columbusmessenger.com<br />

<strong>May</strong> 7, <strong>2023</strong> - GROVE CITY MESSENGER - PAGE 7<br />

A bi-monthly feature celebrating our community’s senior citizens<br />

Fun ways to stay active<br />

Physical activity is<br />

an important component<br />

of overall health.<br />

Health experts advise<br />

that exercise can<br />

increase lean body<br />

mass, prevent conditions<br />

like diabetes<br />

and cardiovascular<br />

disease, improve balance,<br />

and positively<br />

affect mental<br />

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

Exercise also can foster<br />

socialization with<br />

others, helping people<br />

overcome boredom<br />

and isolation.<br />

As individuals get<br />

older, they may not<br />

be able to participate in all of the activities<br />

they enjoyed as youths, but that doesn’t<br />

mean older adults must resign themselves<br />

to sedentary lifestyles. There are plenty of<br />

entertaining ways to remain physically<br />

active that can accommodate any limitations<br />

a person may have. Explore these<br />

methods for staying active.<br />

Explore senior center offerings<br />

Community senior centers often fill calendars<br />

with a vast array of activities, some<br />

of which can include physical activities.<br />

Hikes, walking tours, dances, and other<br />

activities all serve as entertaining ways to<br />

get out and about while meeting some fitness<br />

goals.<br />

Garden or do yard work<br />

The Office of Disease Prevention and<br />

Health Promotions says adults should get<br />

150 minutes of moderate exercise per week.<br />

Raking leaves, mowing the lawn, digging in<br />

flower beds, trimming bushes, and other<br />

outdoor tasks could help a person meet this<br />

quota in a way that doesn’t seem like exercise<br />

at all.<br />

Play games with grandchildren<br />

Little kids may inspire older adults to be<br />

more active, as it can be difficult to keep up<br />

with those youngsters. Take infants or toddlers<br />

for walks or push them in strollers.<br />

Attach a child seat or towing carriage to a<br />

bicycle and ride around the neighborhood.<br />

Play games that require movement, such as<br />

hide-and-seek or Marco Polo in the pool. If<br />

it’s snowing, have a snowball fight or make<br />

a snowman in the yard.<br />

Take up a new hobby<br />

Find hobbies that incorporate physical<br />

activity. Perhaps learning to salsa dance or<br />

taking Zumba will be fun? Pickleball has<br />

caught on across the nation. The sport is a<br />

mix of tennis, racquetball and badminton<br />

that caters to all ages. Joining a bowling<br />

team is another way to get active and meet<br />

new people.<br />

Physical activity is important at any<br />

age. Seniors can explore fun ways to stay in<br />

shape and be active to reap all the benefits<br />

of exercise.<br />

Veterans Hall of Fame nominations<br />

The deadline for submitting nominations<br />

for the Ohio Veterans Hall of Fame is<br />

fast approaching. The Hall of Fame recognizes<br />

those who served in the U.S. Armed<br />

Forces and continue to contribute to their<br />

communities, state, and nation through<br />

exceptional acts of volunteerism, advocacy,<br />

professional distinction, public service, or<br />

philanthropy.<br />

The deadline to submit nomination<br />

forms for consideration for the <strong>2023</strong> class of<br />

the Ohio Veterans Hall of Fame is June 1.<br />

The veteran must meet the following criteria:<br />

Be a past or current Ohio resident;<br />

Have received an honorable discharge; Be<br />

of good moral character.<br />

This Hall of Fame sets the standard for<br />

recognizing Ohio’s veterans for accomplishments<br />

beyond their military service. Visit<br />

dvs.ohio.gov/hall-of-fame for information.<br />

Photo courtesy of the Columbus Clippers<br />

Huntington Park, home of the Columbus Clippers.<br />

THURSDAY, JUNE 8 TH @ 12:05 PM<br />

<br />

<br />

CLIPPERS VS. LOUISVILLE BATS<br />

<br />

Tickets are $6 RESERVED and $5 BLEACHER SEATING<br />

LUNCH PROVIDED FOR FANS 60 AND OVER WITH TICKET PURCHASE<br />

<br />

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

<br />

<br />

Columbus Clippers Aenon: Spencer Harrison<br />

330 <br />

Hunngton Park Lane, Columbus, OH 43215<br />

Orders <br />

can be emailed to sharrison@clippersbaseball.com<br />

For cket quesons, call (614) 462­5250<br />

Ticket orders must be received by the Clippers before June 1st, <strong>2023</strong><br />

<br />

www.clippersbaseball.com


PAGE 8 - GROVE CITY MESSENGER - <strong>May</strong> 7, <strong>2023</strong><br />

SUMMER BLAST!<br />

ELVIS<br />

featuring<br />

Mike Albert<br />

and the Big E Band<br />

Saturday<br />

June 10, <strong>2023</strong><br />

VILLA MILANO<br />

1630 Schrock Rd.<br />

Dinner/Show Tickets $ 58.00<br />

Tickets by Phone: 614-792-3135<br />

Visa • Mastercard • Discover<br />

NO REFUNDS<br />

Active Lifestyles<br />

Losing a loved one is a crushing experience. It<br />

knocks the wind out of you so much it’s hard to<br />

think. It’s ironic that when we are grief stricken<br />

and overwhelmed, we must make some of the<br />

most difficult decisions like how to honor our<br />

loved one, one final time.<br />

Writing an obituary, planning a service, and<br />

choosing a monument can seem unwieldy in those<br />

moments. What if you never discussed those<br />

things? What if you are not sure what they’d like,<br />

or your family members disagree? What if the<br />

costs are not within your budget? These challenges<br />

could be eliminated by preplanning.<br />

According to the National Funeral Directors<br />

Association, the median cost of a traditional<br />

funeral today is $7,640, before cemetery and<br />

headstone costs. Inclusive of them, it can be a<br />

$10,000 investment or more.<br />

www.columbusmessenger.com<br />

Tips to make baking more healthy<br />

Baking sessions are a beloved family<br />

tradition in many households. But<br />

such sessions may not be as revered by<br />

family physicians, as baked goods are<br />

often prepared with ingredients, like<br />

sugar and butter, that aren’t necessarily<br />

sound additions to a person’s diet.<br />

Though baked goods may never<br />

rival vegetables in nutritional value,<br />

there are ways for amateur bakers to<br />

make these beloved foods a little more<br />

healthy.<br />

• Replace sugar with a fig puree.<br />

Figs are nutrition-rich fruits that serve<br />

as significant sources of calcium,<br />

potassium and iron. WebMD notes<br />

that figs also are excellent sources of<br />

fiber. Soaking eight ounces of figs in<br />

water can soften them before they’re<br />

pureed with water. The resulting fig<br />

puree can serve as a sugar substitute.<br />

• Make it a ‘dates’ night. Much like<br />

figs, dates can be pureed and serve as<br />

a sugar substitute. However, WebMD<br />

notes that pureed dates will not be<br />

able to replace all of the sugar in a<br />

recipe. One cup of pureed pitted dates<br />

with one cup of water can replace as<br />

much as half of the sugar a recipe calls<br />

for.<br />

• Replace butter with avocados. It’s<br />

not just sugar that can make baked<br />

goods so unhealthy. Many baking<br />

recipes call for a substantial amount of<br />

butter. California Avocados notes that<br />

avocados can replace butter at a 1:1<br />

ratio when baking. So if a recipe calls for<br />

one cup of butter, bakers can replace that<br />

with one cup of pureed avocados. WebMD<br />

warns that avocados have more water than<br />

butter, so bakers may want to reduce the<br />

temperature in their ovens by 25 percent<br />

and bake the foods a little longer.<br />

• Replace white flour with whole wheat<br />

flour. White flour is often the go-to for amateur<br />

and even professional bakers. But<br />

white flour is processed, which removes the<br />

bran and germ of the grain, thus stripping<br />

white flour of much of its nutritional value.<br />

Whole wheat flour is not processed, so it<br />

retains its nutritional value. Baking with<br />

whole wheat flour may require a learning<br />

curve, and some bakers prefer to use a mix<br />

of whole-wheat and white flour to preserve<br />

the flavors they’ve grown accustomed to.<br />

Baked goods may never pack the most<br />

nutritious punch, but there are ways for<br />

amateur bakers to make such foods a little<br />

more healthy.<br />

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service, burial, and headstone. In fact, companies<br />

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www.columbusmessenger.com<br />

Active Lifestyles<br />

<strong>May</strong> 7, <strong>2023</strong> - GROVE CITY MESSENGER - PAGE 9<br />

Proud to welcome Central Ohio Primary Care<br />

to our Medicare Advantage plan network<br />

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

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

prescription drug coverage and more.<br />

Medicare Advantage plans from<br />

UnitedHealthcare ® may also include:<br />

$1,500 for comprehensive dental services<br />

Use your UnitedHealthcare UCard <br />

when you visit your provider,<br />

fill a prescription, check in at<br />

the gym and buy healthy food or<br />

OTC products.<br />

Up to $50 a quarter for OTC products<br />

$0 prescription drug deductible<br />

$0 copay for preventive care<br />

Expanded<br />

Network<br />

Turning 65 or new to Medicare?<br />

Call UnitedHealthcare or go online today.<br />

1-855-263-1852, TTY 711<br />

8 a.m.–8 p.m., 7 days a week. Se habla español.<br />

Or visit exploreuhc.com<br />

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<br />

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<br />

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<br />

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.<br />

© <strong>2023</strong> United HealthCare Services, Inc. All Rights Reserved.<br />

60155098 H5253-109-002<br />

Y0066_220722_025325_M<br />

SPRJ80903


PAGE 10 - GROVE CITY MESSENGER - <strong>May</strong> 7, <strong>2023</strong><br />

PAID ADVERTISING<br />

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longer. At age 55 plus, you might<br />

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but may want to explore Active Adult<br />

living that affords a simpler lifestyle.<br />

In most cases, exploring options is<br />

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Active Lifestyles<br />

www.columbusmessenger.com<br />

Why it pays for seniors to maintain good credit<br />

The benefits of maintaining<br />

good credit include looking more<br />

reliable in the eyes of prospective<br />

employers and securing lower<br />

mortgage interest rates when<br />

buying a home. Those rewards<br />

can benefit anyone, but they’re<br />

especially enticing to young people.<br />

But what about seniors? Do<br />

individuals stand to benefit significantly<br />

from maintaining good<br />

credit into their golden years?<br />

According to the credit reporting agency<br />

Experian, senior citizens tend to have the best<br />

credit scores of any consumer demographic. That<br />

could be a byproduct of years of financial discipline,<br />

and there are many benefits to maintaining that<br />

discipline into retirement.<br />

• Home buying and borrowing: Buying a home is<br />

often considered a big financial step forward for<br />

young people, but that doesn’t mean aging men and<br />

women are completely out of the real estate market.<br />

In its 2020 State of the Nation’s Housing<br />

report, the Joint Center for Housing Studies of<br />

Harvard University reported that the share of<br />

homeowners age 65 and over with housing debt<br />

doubled to 42 percent between 1989 and 2019. In<br />

addition, 27 percent of homeowners age 80 and<br />

over were carrying mortgage debt in 2019.<br />

Maintaining strong credit after retirement can help<br />

homeowners who still have mortgage debt get better<br />

terms if they choose to refinance their mortgages.<br />

Even seniors who have paid off their mortgages<br />

can benefit from maintaining good credit if<br />

they decide to downsize to a smaller home but cannot<br />

afford to simply buy the new<br />

home outright.<br />

• Rewards: Retirement is often<br />

associated with travel, recreation<br />

and leisure. Such pursuits can be<br />

more affordable when seniors utilize<br />

rewards-based credit cards<br />

that help them finance vacations,<br />

weekend getaways and other<br />

expenses associated with traveling.<br />

Seniors who maintain strong credit<br />

ratings into their golden years may have more<br />

access to the best travel-based rewards cards than<br />

those whose credit scores dip in retirement.<br />

• Unforeseen expenses: No one knows what’s<br />

around the corner, but savvy seniors recognize the<br />

importance of planning for the unknown. The<br />

COVID-19 pandemic seemingly came out of<br />

nowhere, and among its many ripple effects was<br />

the sudden job loss experienced by seniors. The<br />

JCHS report found that 21 percent of homeowners<br />

age 65 and over had reported loss of employment<br />

income related to the pandemic. Unforeseen medical<br />

expenses also can compromise seniors’ financial<br />

freedom. Maintaining a strong credit rating<br />

into older adulthood can help seniors navigate such<br />

financial uncertainty more smoothly. Such a strategy<br />

can help seniors secure low-interest loans or<br />

credit cards that can help them pay down sudden,<br />

unforeseen expenses without getting into significant<br />

debt.<br />

The importance of a strong credit rating is often<br />

emphasized to young people. However, a strong<br />

credit rating can be equally beneficial for seniors.<br />

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www.columbusmessenger.com<br />

Active Lifestyles<br />

<strong>May</strong> 7, <strong>2023</strong> - GROVE CITY MESSENGER - PAGE 11<br />

<br />

<br />

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

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

Play Ball! Office on Aging Day with the<br />

Columbus Clippers Scheduled for June 8<br />

For the past 21 years, the Franklin County Office on Aging has partnered<br />

with the Columbus Clippers to host their annual Office on Aging Day at<br />

the award-winning Huntington Park. Office on Aging Day with the<br />

Columbus Clippers provides seniors aged 60 and older a chance to gather<br />

with their family and friends for a fun-filled day at the ballpark through<br />

discounted ticket prices.<br />

This year’s Office on Aging Day with the Columbus Clippers is scheduled<br />

for Thursday, June 8, <strong>2023</strong> at 12:05 p.m. in which the Columbus Clippers<br />

will go head-to-head with the Louisville Bats. Ticket prices for seniors<br />

will be $5.00 for bleacher seating and $6.00 for reserved seating, and the<br />

ticket price also includes a boxed lunch as well as a chance to win a variety<br />

of raffle prizes. Seniors who have a group of 10 or more can also<br />

request free transportation through the Office on Aging by calling (614)<br />

525-8832 by no later than Monday, <strong>May</strong> 8.<br />

This event also provides seniors the chance to connect with community<br />

organizations that provide resources to older adults. In the past, seniors<br />

have been able to get connected to resources regarding tax preparation,<br />

kinship support, mental health and other valuable services that make<br />

aging in place possible. This year seniors and their families will once<br />

again be able to connect to a variety of resources from community providers<br />

that help support aging in place, including Mid-Ohio Food Collective,<br />

the Franklin County Auditor’s Office, and the Veterans Service Commission<br />

among others. Franklin County’s Health & Human Services mobile<br />

unit will also be in attendance, which includes representatives from the<br />

Office on Aging, Job and Family Services, Justice Policy & Programs, and<br />

Child Support Enforcement Agency. The mobile unit helps residents get<br />

the assistance they need all in one place, including help with food assistance,<br />

Medicaid, rental assistance, employment opportunities, child<br />

support, re-entry support and more.<br />

Lastly, the day will also include pre-ceremonial activities including a<br />

warm welcome from the Franklin County Board of Commissioners’ President,<br />

John O’Grady, as well as a ceremonial first pitch. Past local celebrities<br />

for the first pitch include former 10TV Anchor, Jerry Revish, Professional<br />

Baseball Player, Allan Lee Anderson, and Community Leader and<br />

Civil Rights Activist, Don Elder. This year fans can expect to see the<br />

Office on Aging’s first African American female director, Chanda Wingo,<br />

to throw out the ceremonial first pitch.<br />

Franklin County seniors who are interested in attending the game can<br />

purchase tickets several ways. They can mail the order form found in the<br />

Columbus <strong>Messenger</strong> to:<br />

Columbus Clippers<br />

ATTN: Spencer Harrison<br />

330 Huntington Park Lane<br />

Columbus, OH 43215<br />

Seniors can also order tickets by calling the Columbus Clippers at (614)<br />

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

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


PAGE 12 - GROVE CITY MESSENGER - <strong>May</strong> 7, <strong>2023</strong><br />

We are the BEST community newspaper!<br />

Need advertising? Call 614-272-5422 today.<br />

Care<br />

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Active Lifestyles<br />

Wellness services for seniors<br />

LifeCare Alliance provides a nurse at First<br />

Presbyterian Church, 4227 Broadway in <strong>Grove</strong> <strong>City</strong>,<br />

weekly to provide free foot care and other wellness services<br />

for seniors. To schedule an appointment or for<br />

more information, call the wellness office at 614-437-<br />

2878.<br />

S.A.L.T. at Evans Center<br />

The <strong>Grove</strong> <strong>City</strong> Division of Police host Seniors and<br />

Law Enforcement Together (S.A.L.T.) meetings at 1<br />

p.m. the second Tuesday of each month at the Evans<br />

Center, 4330 Dudley Ave. Adults of all ages are welcome<br />

to attend. If you would like additional information<br />

on other crime prevention programs visit<br />

police.grovecityohio.gov or call 614-277-1765.<br />

It is finally getting warm outside! You are using the<br />

Medicare plan you chose this past Annual Election Period<br />

(AEP).<br />

My name is Terri Curcio, I live in Franklin County – you are<br />

welcome to contact me at 614-460-0601 or TERRILCUR-<br />

CIO@GMAIL.COM. An item to review now is the cost of your<br />

medications, and to check if any assistance is available to help<br />

reduce your co-pays. Medicare provides a Low-Income<br />

Assistance (LIS) program for individuals according to their<br />

annual income, if approved this would reduce the amount of<br />

your monthly pharmacy copays. We could review to see if you<br />

community events<br />

www.columbusmessenger.com<br />

Parkinson’s support group<br />

The <strong>Grove</strong> <strong>City</strong> Parkinson’s support group meets<br />

the third Wednesday of each month at StoryPoint<br />

<strong>Grove</strong> <strong>City</strong>, located at 3717 Orders Road at 1 p.m. The<br />

meetings take place in the assisted living area of the<br />

community, which is located around the back of the<br />

building. The meetings are open to all who want to<br />

learn more about Parkinson’s disease. For more information,<br />

call Kathy Hakes at 614-507-8458.<br />

Alzheimer’s support at Ashford<br />

The Ashford of <strong>Grove</strong> <strong>City</strong> Alzheimer’s support<br />

group meets the third Thursday of the month at 2 p.m.<br />

at 3197 Southwest Blvd. For more information, contact<br />

Bethany Watts at 614-582-4905 or<br />

bwatts@wallick.com.<br />

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www.columbusmessenger.com <strong>May</strong> 7, <strong>2023</strong> - GROVE CITY MESSENGER - PAGE 13<br />

Annexation request approved<br />

despite concerns from citizens<br />

By Andrea Cordle<br />

<strong>Grove</strong> <strong>City</strong> Editor<br />

Some Jackson and Pleasant township<br />

residents are troubled over the annexation<br />

of 98 acres of land, located on Rensch Road,<br />

from Jackson Township to the city of <strong>Grove</strong><br />

<strong>City</strong>.<br />

The Pleasant Township trustees have<br />

even voiced concerns about the annexation.<br />

Trustees Nancy Hunter, Edward Sheets,<br />

and Randi Good sent a formal letter to the<br />

Franklin County Board of Commissioners<br />

requesting they vote against the proposal.<br />

The letter states, “Our residents enjoy<br />

the peace and tranquility of rural living.<br />

They are adamantly opposed to having<br />

warehouses and or businesses as neighbors.<br />

If they wanted to be a part of <strong>Grove</strong><br />

<strong>City</strong>, they would have purchased property<br />

within <strong>Grove</strong> <strong>City</strong>. The Pleasant Township<br />

trustees agree with their concerns and are<br />

opposed to this annexation and expansion<br />

as well as future encroachments that<br />

<strong>Grove</strong> <strong>City</strong> may plan.”<br />

Residents also attended a Jackson<br />

Township board meeting to urge the<br />

trustees to oppose the annexation request.<br />

Several weeks ago, <strong>Grove</strong> <strong>City</strong> council<br />

voted to approve a resolution that states<br />

the city could provide municipal services to<br />

the 98 acres of land on Rensch Road if the<br />

land were annexed into the city from<br />

Jackson Township. Municipal services<br />

include police and fire, water, sanitary<br />

sewer, and solid waste collection.<br />

According to Kyle Rauch, <strong>Grove</strong> <strong>City</strong>’s<br />

development director, the developer is not<br />

planning to propose a warehouse or distribution<br />

center. They are proposing a data<br />

center, with a maximum footprint of<br />

250,000 square feet on the 98-acre parcel.<br />

Rauch said large setbacks and landscaping<br />

are planned so the center would be less visible.<br />

“What we are trying to do is preserve<br />

the character of the area but allow for the<br />

owner of the parcel to use the property as<br />

desired,” said Rauch. “We are trying to balance<br />

the rights of both the public and the<br />

property owner.”<br />

Glen Dugger, an attorney with Smith<br />

and Hale in Columbus who is handling the<br />

annexation, said that they are early in the<br />

process and there will be community outreach<br />

efforts. He said there would be no<br />

significant truck traffic.<br />

Greg Goettemoeller, who lives next to<br />

See ANNEXATION page 14<br />

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PAGE 14 - GROVE CITY MESSENGER - <strong>May</strong> 7, <strong>2023</strong><br />

Hann Farm's Market<br />

4600 Lockbourne Road, Columbus, Ohio<br />

(614)-491-0812<br />

hannfarmsmarket.com<br />

Hann-Farm-Market-LLC<br />

Mother’s Day<br />

Buffet<br />

Yum’s the word at our delicious<br />

Mother’s Day Buffet!<br />

Sunday, <strong>May</strong> 14th<br />

NOON - 4pm<br />

$28.95 per person plus tax<br />

Family Table (seats up to 6) $159 plus tax<br />

Appetizers • 3 Blend Salad • Ribs • Chicken • Pork Brisket<br />

Variety of Side Selections • Beautiful Desserts & Beverages<br />

(Cash Bar Available)<br />

CALL JP’s Boltonfield<br />

614-878-7422<br />

www.JPSBBQ.com<br />

Website:Expert-hvac.com<br />

Phone:614-946-8461<br />

Experthvacllc@gmail.com<br />

FREE ESTIMATES<br />

on system installs<br />

$100 Preventative Maintenance (tune up)<br />

Expert service - affordable prices - Locally owned from <strong>Grove</strong>port<br />

Mention this ad and get $20 off a $110 service call.<br />

COMING SOON<br />

'STRAWBERRIES'<br />

Mid to late <strong>May</strong><br />

Music (Rick Barr)<br />

Reservations Required.<br />

Limited Seating.<br />

Pet Corner<br />

Pets of the week<br />

Panda Bear is a<br />

sweet 1-year-old boy.<br />

He enjoys everything<br />

the world has to offer<br />

- playing, running,<br />

cuddling, eating,<br />

sleeping, and sun<br />

bathing. He loves<br />

both people and<br />

cats, and even likes<br />

the dogs that walk up<br />

to the window. Panda<br />

Bear would love a home that has a lot of windows<br />

and people with a lot of love. Meet him<br />

at the Colony Cats cage-free adoption center.<br />

FYI: colonycats.org<br />

Blackbird, the shorthaired<br />

black cat with<br />

one eye was found<br />

as a stray. With her<br />

sleek black fur, she<br />

blends in perfectly<br />

with the night sky,<br />

just like a blackbird<br />

soaring through the<br />

air. Her singular eye<br />

is sharp and<br />

focused, always on the lookout for any feathered<br />

friends that may be nearby. Blackbird is<br />

a gentle, unique, and charming cat who is<br />

sure to keep you on your toes. So if you’re<br />

looking for a feline companion who is as fierce<br />

and independent as a bird of prey, yet as gentle<br />

and loving as a little songbird, then<br />

Blackbird might be perfect for you.<br />

FYI: colonycats.org<br />

Century Village open house<br />

The Southwest Franklin County<br />

Historical Society welcomes groups and<br />

individuals to Century Village, 4185<br />

Orders Road. Tour the historic log house<br />

and school from 2 to 4 p.m. the fourth<br />

ANNEXATION<br />

Continued from page 13<br />

the Rensch Road property, attended a<br />

recent city council meeting, and asked<br />

about noise restrictions.<br />

“Any time you have business around<br />

residential, there will be some type of conflict,”<br />

said Stephen Smith, law director for<br />

<strong>Grove</strong> <strong>City</strong>. “The question is — is it reasonable.”<br />

Smith said when a business comes into<br />

the city, the council and the administration<br />

consider noise, screenings, setbacks,<br />

and light pollution.<br />

“These are all things we will be taking<br />

into account if this project does move forward,”<br />

said Smith.<br />

The Franklin County commissioners<br />

approved the annexation on April 11.<br />

news and notes<br />

www.columbusmessenger.com<br />

These furry friends are available<br />

for adoption at local<br />

rescues and shelters<br />

Winnie is 12 years<br />

old. She is very social<br />

and enjoys to be<br />

around people. She<br />

will even let people<br />

(and kids) pick her up<br />

for some cuddles.<br />

She likes to play with<br />

her toys and would<br />

love a forever family<br />

who will play with her<br />

and lavish her with<br />

attention. Winnie is<br />

up for adoption through Friends for Life<br />

Animal Haven.<br />

FYI: fflah.org<br />

Dee Dee is 12 years<br />

old and is the sister of<br />

Winnie. She is shy at<br />

first but will warm up<br />

quickly with a can of<br />

food. Dee Dee has no<br />

teeth, so she will<br />

need wet food or very<br />

small bites of kibble.<br />

She is a sweet girl<br />

who will sit on your<br />

lap and hang out. Adopt her from Friends for<br />

Life Animal Haven.<br />

FYI: fflah.org<br />

Saturday of each month, <strong>May</strong> through<br />

September. For more information or to<br />

schedule a visit to Century Village, contact<br />

Steve Jackson at 614-871-0081.<br />

Steadfast Food Pantry<br />

The Steadfast Helping Hands Food<br />

Pantry is open on Wednesdays from 3 to 6<br />

p.m. by appointment only. The pantry is<br />

located at 4500 Broadway in <strong>Grove</strong> <strong>City</strong>. To<br />

set up an appointment, call 614-871-7445.<br />

southwest<br />

<strong>Messenger</strong><br />

(Distribution: 9,000)<br />

Andrea Cordle...................................<strong>Grove</strong> <strong>City</strong> Editor<br />

southwest@ columbusmessenger.com<br />

Published every other Sunday by the<br />

The Columbus <strong>Messenger</strong> Co.<br />

3500 Sullivant Ave., Columbus, Ohio 43204<br />

(614) 272-5422<br />

The Columbus <strong>Messenger</strong> Co. reserves the right to edit, reject or cancel<br />

any advertisement or editorial copy at any time. The company is not<br />

responsible for checking accuracy of items submitted for publication.<br />

Errors in advertising copy must be called to the attention of the company<br />

after first insertion and prior to a second insertion of the same advertising<br />

copy.


www.columbusmessenger.com <strong>May</strong> 7, <strong>2023</strong> - GROVE CITY MESSENGER - PAGE 15<br />

Jackson Township to<br />

address traffic concerns<br />

By Dedra Cordle<br />

Staff Writer<br />

Lead footed motorists will soon have to think twice before they<br />

put the pedal-to-the-metal while driving through the Emersonia<br />

neighborhood in Jackson Township.<br />

At its regular meeting in April, the board of trustees unanimously<br />

agreed to enter into a contract with the Columbus-based<br />

Strawser Paving Company to install speed humps and speed<br />

tables throughout the subdivision at a cost of $73,950.<br />

Township officials said they believe that the installation of<br />

these traffic calming measures will go “a long way” toward reducing<br />

the number of motorists who zip through the narrow residential<br />

streets.<br />

“Emersonia is a fantastic little subdivision that has seen a lot<br />

of growth and a lot of redevelopment in the areas nearby,” said<br />

Shane Farnsworth, township administrator. “Unfortunately,<br />

some of the motorists who have been driving through the neighborhood<br />

— most who are using it as a cut-through to access other<br />

parts of the township and city — have not been obeying the posted<br />

25 mile per hour speed limit and are posing a real threat to the<br />

adults, the children, and the animals who live there.<br />

“We want them to be safe, to feel safe while doing everyday<br />

activities and we all believe that these (traffic calming measures)<br />

are going to slow down the traffic and remind the motorists that<br />

they are driving through a neighborhood.”<br />

The placement of the speed humps and speed tables are based<br />

upon the recommendations of the county engineer’s office who<br />

conducted a traffic study on the roads within the subdivision late<br />

last year. In total, two speed tables and nine speed humps will be<br />

installed on the roadways in the Emersonia neighborhood. These<br />

are the locations of the traffic calming measures, per the recommendations<br />

of the county engineer’s office:<br />

• One speed table will be installed at the intersection of Lois<br />

Drive and Nedra Street. The second speed table will be installed<br />

at the intersection of McComb Road and Charlemagne Street.<br />

• Three speed humps will be installed on Hyde Road — two of<br />

which will be located east of Nedra Street and one east of Lois<br />

Drive<br />

• Two speed humps will be installed on McComb Road — one of<br />

which will be located north of Charlemagne Street while the other<br />

will be located north of Chateau Street.<br />

• Two speed humps will be installed on Nedra Street — one of<br />

which will be located west of McComb Road while the other will<br />

be located west of Lois Drive.<br />

• Two speed humps will be installed on Charlemagne Street —<br />

one of which will be located west of McComb Road while the other<br />

will be located east of Lois Drive.<br />

Farnsworth said he expected the traffic calming structures to<br />

be installed this year, likely in the late summer or early fall after<br />

the planned resurfacing of Hyde Road.<br />

He said he has spoken to several residents of the Emersonia<br />

neighborhood about the traffic calming project and they have<br />

expressed excitement about what is to come to their community.<br />

“The residents in Emersonia are always out walking and their<br />

kids are always out riding their bikes and they constantly see<br />

motorists running the stop signs and driving way too fast down<br />

the road,” he said. “They know that these speed humps and speed<br />

tables could really slow these people down and I think they are<br />

happy that something is being done to combat the problem they<br />

see on a daily basis.”<br />

Free legal advice at Westland Library<br />

The Legal Aid Society of Columbus will offer free legal advice<br />

the first Monday of each month at the Westland Area Library,<br />

4740 West Broad St. Representatives will be on hand from 4 to 6<br />

p.m. to discuss non-criminal legal matters like health benefits,<br />

medicare, and landlord issues. Fore more information, call the<br />

library at 614-878-1301.<br />

The House<br />

Passes the<br />

Budget!<br />

On Wednesday, April 26, the Ohio House of Representatives<br />

approved an $88 billion biennium<br />

budget by a vote of 78 to 19. The bipartisan<br />

measure saw 32 Democrats join with 46 Republicans<br />

to pass the measure. The budget now goes<br />

to the Ohio Senate, which should approve its version<br />

by mid-June. A Conference Committee will<br />

work out any differences so that a final measure<br />

will get passed by both Houses by the June 30<br />

deadline. The fiscal year 2024-25 budget will take<br />

effect July 1 and will guide all state spending<br />

through June 30, 2025.<br />

I am pleased to report that the budget substantively<br />

addresses the state portion of public-school<br />

funding. The House version continues years 3 and<br />

4 of the implementation of the six-year phase-in<br />

of the Cupp-Patterson Fair School Funding Plan,<br />

which raises the share of state funding for the cost<br />

of public education. Specifically, the House version<br />

of the budget will increase funding for the<br />

South-Western <strong>City</strong> Schools from $138 million in<br />

FY <strong>2023</strong> to $152 million in FY 2024 and $156 million<br />

in FY 2025. For the Columbus <strong>City</strong> schools,<br />

state funding will increase from $175 million in FY<br />

<strong>2023</strong> to $198 million in FY 2024 and $202 million<br />

in FY 2025. Other measures in the budget provide<br />

$200 million for additional facilities and equipment<br />

for our career technical schools, funding for<br />

meals for all students who qualify for reducedpriced<br />

school lunches, over $100 million for literacy<br />

initiatives, and additional funding for teacher<br />

training in mathematics and science, which was<br />

one of my individual proposals.<br />

In the Medicaid portion of the budget, additional<br />

funding is allocated to increase the reimbursement<br />

rate for Ohio’s 60,000+ direct service<br />

providers (DSPs) from $14 per hour to $17 per<br />

hour in FY 2024 and $18 per hour in FY 2025.<br />

DSPs are the folks who provide home health care<br />

services for the elderly, disabled, and those recovering<br />

from surgery. Their work often times allows<br />

folks to continue to live in their homes, as opposed<br />

to more expensive assisted care facilities.<br />

Finally, the new budget cuts the state income tax<br />

by an estimated $930 million for working- and<br />

middle-class families. Individuals earning between<br />

$25,000 and $92,000 will see their state income<br />

tax rate reduced to a flat 2.75% for income<br />

above $25,000. The State has seen a higher-thanexpected<br />

increase in tax collections; so, the House<br />

wants to return a significant portion of it to taxpayers.<br />

(Dave Dobos represents the 10th District in the<br />

Ohio House of Representatives, which consists of<br />

parts of West, Southwest, and South Columbus,<br />

<strong>Grove</strong> <strong>City</strong>, and Urbancrest. He reports regularly<br />

on his activities in this position and his campaign<br />

has paid for this communication with you.)<br />

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Sheetz Gas Station - Broadway & Centerpoint<br />

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Shell Gas Station - Broadway & I-270<br />

United Dairy Farmers - Broadway & Southwest<br />

CVS Pharmacy - Broadway & Southwest<br />

Speedway Gas Station - Broadway & Southwest<br />

<strong>Grove</strong> <strong>City</strong> Library - 3959 Broadway<br />

Planks on Broadway - Broadway & Park St.<br />

Mobile Gas Station - Broadway & Paul St.<br />

Ernies Carry-Out - Broadway & Paul St.<br />

BP Gas Station - Stringtown & Hoover<br />

Krogers - Stringtown & Hoover<br />

Walgreen’s - Stringtown & McDowell<br />

CVS Pharmacy - Stringtown & McDowell<br />

Drug Mart - Stringtown & McDowell<br />

Speedway Gas Station - Stringtown & I-71<br />

Dollar General - 3065 Broadway<br />

Southwest Community Center<br />

3500 1st Ave. Urbancrest<br />

Kroger - Hoover & Route 665<br />

Meijer - 665 & Hoover<br />

Circle K - 665 & I-71<br />

CVS Pharmacy - 665 & Hoover<br />

Dollar General - 665 & Hoover<br />

READ US ONLINE: www.columbusmessenger.com


PAGE 16 - GROVE CITY MESSENGER - <strong>May</strong> 7, <strong>2023</strong><br />

By Hannah Poling<br />

Staff Writer<br />

Drainage issues were addressed at the April 25<br />

meeting of the Pleasant Township trustees.<br />

Road Superintendent Robert Bausch said he would<br />

continue to look into an ongoing concern on Old<br />

Harrisburg Pike. The ditch runs to the north side of<br />

the road. Water comes from 62 almost to Pleasant<br />

Corners and the trees have grown on the backside of<br />

the ditch. All of these elements have caused the bank<br />

to wear down.<br />

According to Bausch, a resident has offered the<br />

township a large pile of concrete that township staffers<br />

will take to Old Harrisburg Pike to reinforce the bank.<br />

Bausch also said that he is considering the removal of<br />

a group of honeysuckles that could be contributing to<br />

the drainage issues.<br />

www.columbusmessenger.com<br />

Water woes continue in township<br />

The National Association of Drug Diversion<br />

Investigators (NADDI) launched a program to significantly<br />

reduce easy access to outdated or no longer<br />

needed prescriptions.<br />

These drugs are the target of theft by people who<br />

have access to the medicine cabinets of family and<br />

friends. America’s 12- to 17-year-olds have made prescription<br />

drugs their number one substance of abuse,<br />

and much of the supply is coming from the medicine<br />

cabinets of their parents, grandparents and friends.<br />

More adults recognize the need to remove these substances<br />

from the home.<br />

“Something we are looking into is where the honeysuckles<br />

are on the back side of the ditch. I talked to a<br />

man about having them mowed over because I think<br />

that the root systems are pushing the water toward<br />

the road,” Bausch said.<br />

Bausch also said would continue to look into an<br />

ongoing concerns on Seaman Road, which is experiencing<br />

high-standing water with drains that are not able<br />

to handle the capacity of the water when it rains heavily.<br />

In other news, board chairwoman Nancy Hunter<br />

said that she received an email complaint about the<br />

railroad tracks on Alkire Road. Reportedly a resident<br />

riding his bike wrecked on the same spot two years in<br />

a row due to the rough tracks.<br />

According to Hunter, the train tracks are slated to<br />

be repaired in either the fall or the spring of 2024 and<br />

they will be soft-patched until the proper repairs are<br />

made.<br />

Prescription drug disposal offered in <strong>Grove</strong> <strong>City</strong><br />

The following <strong>Grove</strong> <strong>City</strong> pharmacies accept anonymous<br />

disposal of medicines.<br />

• Meijer Pharmacy, 2811 London-<strong>Grove</strong>port Road<br />

• CVS, 2565 London-<strong>Grove</strong>port Road<br />

• Wal-Mart Pharmacy, 1693 Stringtown Road<br />

Accepted items include prescription, pet and overthe-counter<br />

drugs including capsules, pills, powders,<br />

herbs and vitamins in the original packaging or a<br />

clear, sealed bag. To dispose of items not accepted,<br />

refer to the United States Food and Drug<br />

Administration guidelines at fda.gov.


PAGE 20 - GROVE CITY MESSENGER - <strong>May</strong> 7, <strong>2023</strong><br />

www.columbusmessenger.com<br />

TRYOUTS<br />

CULTURE AND CORE VALUES TO<br />

DEVELOP PLAYERS TO THEIR FULLEST<br />

POTENTIAL IN SOCCER AND LIFE!<br />

HIGHLY EDUCATED & QUALIFIED COACHING STAFF<br />

ELITE U15-19 TEAMS FROM 35+ HIGH SCHOOLS<br />

70+ COLLEGE COMMITS IN THE LAST 5 YEARS<br />

YEAR-AROUND PROGRAMMING ALL AGES (6-19)<br />

STRIVES TO DEVELOP CHARACTER IN PLAYERS<br />

THAT WILL ENABLE THEM TO IMPACT THEIR WORLD!<br />

ALL PLAYERS need to be registered for <strong>2023</strong>-2024 tryouts<br />

to be considered for team placement<br />

Non-PCS players should attend open sessions<br />

<strong>May</strong> 10-23<br />

Go to www.pridesoccerclub.com to register<br />

and RSVP for open sessions<br />

Executive Directer: Jeff Krigbaum<br />

jeffkrigbaum@pridesoccerclub.com<br />

(614) 738-4169

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