Groveport Messenger - May 7th, 2023

Messenger 

Groveport 

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

Hometown Realtor 

Marylee Bendig 

580 Main St., Groveport, OH 43125 

(614) 218-1097 

marylee@maryleebendig.com 

A name you KNOW, 

the name you TRUST 

Fuse lit again on 

personal fireworks 

Messenger photo by Rick Palsgrove 

On April 24, Groveport Madison Schools officials toured the district’s recently purchased building at 

4500 S. Hamilton Road that will serve as the home of the Cruiser Accel program as well as the bus garage 

facility. Pictured here, from left to right, are: Treasurer Felicia Drummey, Communications Director Jeff 

Warner, Board President LaToya Dowdell-Burger, Board Vice-President Seth Bower, Superintendent 

Jamie Grube, and Director of Business Services Chris Reed. 

Building offers possibilities 

By Rick Palsgrove 

Groveport Editor 

Groveport Madison Schools officials recently 

toured the district’s newly purchased building at 

4500 S. Hamilton Road. 

The first thing one notices when entering the 

building is its sheer size. 

“There’s room to grow here,” said Groveport 

Madison Treasurer Felicia Drummey. 

In March, the Groveport Madison Board of 

Education authorized the $3 million purchase, from 

Broadstone OP Ohio LLC, of approximately 11 acres 

that includes a 58,324 square foot building (built in 

1979 with an addition in 1994) and parking areas, 

located at 4500 S. Hamilton Road. The property, previously 

used by American Electric Power, is across 

the road from Groveport Madison High School. 

Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief 

Fund (ESSER) federal stimulus funds were used to 

purchase the building. 

“It’s a bargain for the amount of land and building 

involved,” said Drummey. “And we all love a bargain.” 

“It’s a beautiful building with exciting possibilities 

for the district,” added Groveport Madison 

Board of Education President LaToya Dowdell- 

Burger. “There is space to expand to suit the needs 

of our students.” 

The intention is to make the site the new home of 

the district’s bus garage as well as its Cruiser Accel 

program. (According to Groveport Madison Schools, 

Cruiser Accel is an alternative pathway to college 

and career readiness. It is designed for students for 

whom the traditional high school pathway is not 

working. Students who are disengaged, distracted, 

and/or deficient in the skills needed to succeed and 

struggle to succeed in what has been known as the 

traditional school setting.) 

Groveport Madison Superintendent Jamie Grube 

said the cost to remodel the bus garage portion of the 

building will also be paid out of ESSER funding. The 

cost to remodel the section housing Cruiser Accel 

will be paid out of the district’s general fund. 

“We hope to do a lot of the work on the Cruiser 

Accel portion internally,” said Grube. 

The remodeling costs for both the bus garage and 

Cruiser Accel are still to be determined. Grube said 

the plan is to open Cruiser Accel in the building in 

August 2023 and the bus garage in August 2024. 

See BUILDING, page 2 



The issue regarding the personal use of fireworks was again 

launched at Groveport City Council. 

Under this new proposed legislation, which had its first reading 

at the April 24 council meeting, the city would allow the personal 

use of fireworks on the third, fourth, and fifth days of July. 

Last November, council rejected legislation, by a 4-3 vote, that 

would have allowed the use of personal fireworks within the city 

limits. Because of that action, the city’s existing law banning the 

use of personal fireworks within the city remained in effect. Mayor 

Lance Westcamp and council members Jean Ann Hilbert, Shawn 

Cleary, and Jack Rupp opposed the measure while Scott Lockett, 

Ed Dildine, and Becky Huston voted in favor of it. 

The legislation defeated in November would have made the city 

consistent with a state law that allows the use of personal fireworks 

on designated days. It would have allowed individuals to 

possess consumer grade fireworks and to discharge them on their 

own property or on another person’s property with permission the 

following days: New Year’s Day; Chinese New Year; Cinco de 

Mayo; Memorial Day weekend; Juneteenth; July 3, 4, and 5 and 

the Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays preceding and following; 

Labor Day weekend, Diwali; and New Year’s Eve. 

State law permits local governments to restrict the dates and 

times when individuals may discharge consumer grade fireworks 

or to impose a complete ban on the use of consumer grade fireworks. 

Council will hear the second reading of the new proposed legislation 

at its May 8 meeting, discuss it at its May 15 committee of 

the whole meeting, and possibly vote on it at its May 22 meeting. 

Council meetings are held at 655 Blacklick St. 

Other Groveport news 

•Elmont Place resident Jeffrey Ruehle asked council to consider 

extending the Foor bike/walking path, or adding a sidewalk, to 

the short stretch of road from the path’s ending point at Ebright 

Road south to Front Street near the railroad tracks. He described 

this area as a “no man’s land” with narrow berms that also has a 

blind corner at Ebright Road. He said Elmont Place residents use 

the Foor path to 

access the historic 

part of Groveport as 

pedestrians or by 

bicycle. Groveport 

City Administrator 

B.J. King said the 

stretch of Front 

Street from the railroad 

tracks to 

Ebright Road is not 

in the city limits and 

is in Madison 

Township. King said 

city officials will discuss 

the issue with 

See FUSE, page 3 

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PAGE 2 - GROVEPORT MESSENGER - May 7, 2023 

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Free tire collection 

Residents of Madison Township are invited to a free 

tire collection event. Franklin County Public Health, 

in conjunction with Columbus Public Health, will hold 

the tire collection from 9 a.m. to noon on May 13 at 

Brobst Park, 5321 Winchester Pike, Canal Winchester. 

The event is open to all residents of Franklin 

County, as well as Canal Winchester residents residing 

in Fairfield County. Individuals may bring up to 10 

rimless tires per household to the event for proper disposal 

at no cost to them. Only passenger vehicle tires 

without rims will be accepted. 

Tires pose a public health risk if left unattended or 

disposed of improperly. Tires provide the perfect location 

for standing water to form, creating a habitat for 

mosquitoes. It is on the water that the mosquito larvae 

grow and hatch. By properly disposing of any junk 

tires, potential hot spots are avoided. 

BUILDING 

Continued from page 1 

www.columbusmessenger.com 

During the 2022 tire drive at Brobst Park, 860 tires 

were collected and properly disposed of through the 

partnering public health agencies. The event will also 

have free larvicide tablets for residents to take home 

and put in rain barrels, decorative water fixtures, and 

any other place with standing water to prevent mosquitoes 

from hatching. Residents do not need to turn in 

tires in order to receive the larvicide tablets. 

To report problem areas for mosquitoes or to 

request service, visit mosquito.myfcph.org/request-forservice/ 

or call (614) 525-BITE (2483). 

Garden Club plant auction 

The Groveport Garden Club will hold its annual 

plant auction sale on May 9 at Groveport Zion 

Lutheran Church, 6014 Groveport Road (across from 

Kroger). Refreshments at 6 p.m. with the plant auction 

starting at 6:30 p.m. Come see the variety of plants 

available! 

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Messenger photo by Rick Palsgrove 

Groveport Madison Schools representatives tour one of the many rooms in the 58,324 square foot building. 

The bus garage, to be located in the southeast portion 

of the building, will take up around 6,000 square 

feet of the structure (this excludes an existing metal 

building for shop/mechanics.) It has access to the large 

parking lot for the buses. This parking lot is asphalt 

paved over 12 inches of concrete, according the 

Groveport Madison Director of Business Services 

Chris Reed. There is also room to expand the bus lot if 

necessary. 

Cruiser Accel, to be located in the northeast part of 

the building, will use about 5,000 square feet for open 

classroom space. A cafeteria will use approximately 

1,000 square feet. Restroom and conference/office 

space will fill about 800 square feet and the lobby will 

be around 1,300 square feet. 

The remaining roughly 45,900 square feet in the 

western part of the building will be unused for now 

while district officials determine its future use. This 

area includes many rooms of various shapes and sizes 

- some quite large and some office sized - that are 

adaptable for different uses. Many of the building’s 

rooms have wiring and features that make them flexible 

for a variety of technological uses. This part of the 

building features 12 inch thick walls and blast doors. 

There are also kitchen areas. 

Grube said this remaining space could be used in 

the future for “new programs, new partnerships, and 

other things we could not do before. There is so much 

potential and so much flexibility.” 

“There are not yet specific plans for using the 

remainder of the building,” added Groveport Madison 

Communications Director Jeff Warner. “However, its 

flexible layout and abundance of technology upgrades 

give us the ability to consider an array of future uses. 

While not on the immediate horizon, we’re excited to 

explore how the space could be used to support additional 

partnerships with the community, businesses, 

other educational institutions, etc.” 

However, according to district officials, the space 

available at this building does not solve the problems 

with the district’s overcrowded classroom space. 

“Based on our initial assessment of the new building, 

it would not appear to provide academically appropriate 

space to serve as an elementary school or middle 

school,” said Warner. “We expect to continue discussions 

with the community with respect to addressing 

overcrowding and replacing outdated schools.”


Groveport Madison board 

weighs its levy options 



The Groveport Madison Board of 

Education plans to discuss, and possibly 

decide on, potential operating levy options 

at its May 10 meeting. 

The board could take action to place the 

levy on the November 2023 ballot. 

Groveport Madison Treasurer Felicia 

Drummey said the levy would be a “no new 

taxes” renewal of the existing levy. 

Whether the levy would have a set term, 

such as five years or be a continuing levy, 

is still to be decided. 

“It’s crucial to get the financial support 

to maintain our programming for our students,” 

said Drummey. 

“It’s critical to our operations,” added 

Groveport Madison Communications 

Director Jeff Warner. 

District officials said inflation is causing 

the district’s expenses to outpace flat revenues. 

“The cost of the services we are providing 

to our students is greater than the revenue 

being provided,” said Drummey. 

She said this revenue gap will grow to 

$6.9 million next year and $9.6 million the 

following year. 

To ensure the district has the necessary 

resources to keep up its services to students 

and provide additional safety measures, 

she said the district needs to close the 

revenue gap, which includes: spending 

reductions, renewing the expiring levy, and 

passing a new additional levy, or a combination 

of these actions. 

“Current revenue cannot sustain the 

services that our parents and community 

expect for students,” said Drummey. “The 

earlier we impact spending and revenue 

patterns, the less impactful other corrective 

remedies would have on students, 

whether its spending reductions or new 

levies. We have been judicious in our historical 

spending by fully utilizing federal 

grants.” 

She said the board could consider $4 

million to $6 million in spending reductions 

to balance the operating budget, 

depending on the board’s comfort level in 

County Mitigation Plan 

Franklin County is updating its Hazard 

Mitigation Plan and wants a better understanding 

of the preparedness needs and 

risk perceptions of those who live and work 

in Franklin County. In this regard, county 

officials created an online survey and each 

resident of Franklin County is encouraged 

to participate. The feedback will help 

county officials better serve the community 

as they update the Hazard Mitigation 

Plan. 

The survey can be found online at 

www.surveymonk 

reducing services. 

Warner said district officials are still 

reviewing potential reductions. 

Drummey noted the state legislature 

has discussed bills that could impact school 

funding in Ohio and that the district “does 

its best” to plan by anticipating the most 

probable outcomes of new laws when 

reviewing the overall financial picture. 

The district hasn’t received any new 

money since the expiring 6.68 mill current 

expense levy was first approved by voters 

in 2014. That “no new taxes” levy was 

renewed by 67 percent of voters in 2019. 

The earliest the district’s existing fiveyear 

renewal general operating levy, which 

will expire in 2024, can be placed on the 

ballot is November 2023. If it is approved, 

the district would receive half the funds it 

generates in 2025 and the remainder in 

2026. 

According to information provided by 

the Bricker and Eckler law firm to the district, 

Groveport Madison has the second 

lowest effective millage rate out of 17 

Franklin County school districts. Effective 

millage is the rate actually levied on a 

property. Once a levy is approved, a district 

cannot collect any additional money due to 

a valuation increase from reappraisals or 

triennial update on that levy. Residents of 

the district benefit from the high commercial 

tax base by sharing the tax burden 

almost equally. 

As of fiscal year 2022, the district 

receives 46.5 percent of its revenue from 

property taxes, 40.7 percent from state 

funding, and 12.8 percent from other 

sources. 

Salaries make up 52 percent of expenditures, 

benefits are 23 percent, and contracted 

services are 17 percent. 

According to Drummey, salary expenses 

may increase an average of 7 percent annually. 

Benefits costs are also rising an average 

of 8.5 percent. This increase is driven 

by the return of previously held positions, 

such as teachers, nurses and counselors, to 

the general fund upon expiration of grant 

funding that sustain instructional services 

levels throughout the pandemic. 

Groveport Madison 

Alumni Banquet 

Groveport Madison High School will 

host the 129th annual Alumni Banquet on 

May 20 at Groveport Madison High School, 

4475 S. Hamilton Road. 

Dinners are $25 each and will be served 

at 5 p.m. Reservations must be made by 

May 12. 

Make checks payable to and send to: 

Groveport Madison Alumni Association, 

P.O. Box 382, Groveport, OH 43125. 

FUSE 

Continued from page 1 

Madison Township representatives. 

•Council authorized King to purchase 

16 body cameras for the Groveport Police 

under the Sourcewell Cooperative 

Purchase Plan. King said the purchase is 

“100 percent grant funded” from the Ohio 

Department of Public Safety. 

Police history exhibit 

This heritage of the Groveport Police is 

being celebrated with “The History of 

Groveport Police” exhibit at Groveport 

Town Hall, 648 Main St. The exhibit, 

which is open Monday-Friday from 8 a.m. 

to 4 p.m, is on display through May. The 

exhibit features photos, uniforms, equipment, 

artifacts, documents, and more. 

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May 7, 2023 - GROVEPORT MESSENGER - PAGE 3 

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Groveport history films 

Two documentary films on the history 

of Groveport, produced by the Groveport 

Heritage Society and Midnet Media, are 

now available for viewing online on 

YouTube.The films are: “Groveport: A 

Town and Its People” and “The Story of 

John S. Rarey and Cruiser.” 

Letters policy 

The Groveport Messenger welcomes letters 

to the editor. Letters cannot be libelous. 

Letters that do not have a signature, address, 

and telephone number, or are signed with a 

pseudonym, will be rejected. PLEASE BE 

BRIEF AND TO THE POINT. The 

Messenger reserves the right to edit or 

refuse publication of any letter for any reason. 

Opinions expressed in the letters are not necessarily 

the views of the Messenger. Mail letters 

to: Groveport Messenger, 3500 Sullivant 

Avenue, Columbus, OH 43204; or by email to 

southeast@columbusmessenger.com. 

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(Distribution: 8,000) 

Rick Palsgrove ...................................Groveport Editor 

southeast@columbusmessenger.com 

Published every other Sunday by 

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3500 Sullivant Ave., Columbus, Ohio 43204-1887 

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A church remembers a fallen veteran 

Editor’s Notebook 

Rick 

Palsgrove 

A piece of history was recently discovered at Hopewell United 

Methodist Church. 

“During spring cleaning 

April 15 at my church (located 

at 4348 London- 

Lancaster Road) we found a 

plaque (honoring a World 

War I veteran),” said Marylee Bendig. 

The plaque reads, “In memory of 

Frederick J. Bunn, U.S. Marine, who died in 

France, July 21, 1918.” 

“No one knew of this gentleman from our 

church. I want to find out more about him,” 

said Bendig, who has the plaque and is considering 

donating it to Motts Military 

Museum. 

According to www.navalh 

i s t o r y . n e t / W W 1 N a v y U S M C - 

CasualtiesAlpha1.htm, Private Frederick J. 

Bunn of the 6th Regiment, 2nd Div., died of 

his wounds on July 21, 1918, and is buried in 

the Aisne-Marne Cemetery in France. 

“So far from home and so young,” said 

Bendig. “It’s sad. Such a brave soldier to give his life for his country.” 

According to 6thmarines.marines.mil, the 6th Marine 

Regiment (known as the “Fightin’ Sixth”) “has a rich history 

steeped in courage and honor.” The regiment was activated at 

Quantico, Va., on July 11, 1917 and entered active combat in 

March 1918 in the Toulon sector, Verdun. It took part in the Aisne- 

Marne Offensive (Soissons) in northern France on July 18-19, 

1918. It was during the Battle of Soissons, fought on the Western 

Front between the French (with American and British assistance) 

and the German army, where Bunn received his mortal wound. 

The battle ended with the allied forces recapturing much of the 

ground lost to the Germans in May 1918. 

Who was Frederick J. Bunn and what was his connection to 

Hopewell United Methodist Church? 

Bendig researched the Bunn family name in the area by consulting 

George Bareis book, “The History of Madison Township 

Including Groveport and Canal Winchester, Ohio.” 

She said Bareis’ book shows that a Frederick Bunn is buried in 

the Hopewell Cemetery, but he died in 1871 at age 58. 

“This could have been Frederick J. Bunn’s father or grandfather,” 

said Bendig. 

Photo courtesy of Marylee Bendig 

This plaque honoring U.S. Marine and World War I veteran 

Frederick J. Bunn was found at Hopewell United Methodist, 

4348 London-Lancaster Road, during spring cleaning on April 

15. 

Also buried in the Hopewell Cemetery are Charlotte (Rarey) 

Bunn, who died in 1888 at age 71, and Jefferson Bunn, who died 

in 1883 at age 35. 

According to a map of Madison Township in the “Atlas of 

Franklin County 1872,” by J.A. Caldwell and H. T. Gould, the 

Bunn family owned acreage in Section 8 of Madison Township 

northwest of Hopewell United Methodist Church. The map shows 

182 acres under the name J. L. Bunn and another 164 acres under 

the name N. H. Bunn. 

According to findagrave.com, Nelson H. Bunn was the father of 

Frederick J. Bunn. This website also indicates Frederick J. Bunn 

was born in 1887. 

“I wish we could find out more about the Bunn family,” said 

Bendig. “Local veterans who died serving their country and who 

were from our community serving in other wars are not forgotten. 

When we give them recognition, even in a few words, they are honored.” 

Bunn was remembered by his church and community in those 

long ago days of World War I. Over the decades, memory fades. 

But now, once again, far from the sound of the guns of that far 

away war, his church in quiet, rural southern Madison Township 

has remembered him once again. 

Rick Palsgrove is editor of the Groveport Messenger. 

Our Pictorial Past by Rick Palsgrove 

BIRTHDAY • ENGAGEMENT • WEDDING • ANNIVERSARY 

• GRADUATION • RETIREMENT 

IN MEMORIUM • ARMED FORCES 

Say it with an announcement ad in 

the Messenger and spread the word. 

You can download the appropriate form from 

our Web site or stop by our office 

Monday-Thursday, 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. 

Friday, 8:30 a.m.-2 p.m. 

Columbus Messenger 

3500 Sullivant Ave. 

614-272-5422 


Photo courtesy of the Groveport Heritage Museum 

Alumni banquet 

Groveport Madison High School holds 

an a alumni banquet annually. Pictured 

here is the 1913 banquet that was held 

a century ago in the Elmont Hotel. The 

Elmont once stood on Groveport’s Main 

Street where Middle School Central now 

stands. In 1913, the Groveport Madison 

Alumni Association had 250 members. 

Groveport Madison High School will 

host the 129th annual Alumni Banquet 

on May 20 at Groveport Madison High 

School, 4475 S. Hamilton Road. Dinners 

are $25 each and will be served at 5 

p.m. Reservations must be made by May 

12. Make checks payable to and send to: 

Groveport Madison Alumni Association, 

P.O. Box 382, Groveport, OH 43125.

ActiveLifestyles 



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. 

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Active Lifestyles 

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. 


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 

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. 

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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. 

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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. 

Content provided by Treplus 

Communities. 


New Community! 


Why it pays for seniors to have 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. 

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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.


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What to do after being diagnosed with high blood pressure 

Hypertension, a condition marked by abnormally with high blood pressure who are unaccustomed to 

high blood pressure, is more common than many people 

physical activity should work with their physicians 

may recognize. 

and a personal trainer to design an exercise regimen 

Hypertension is not normal, nor is it something to that’s within their abilities. As their bodies get used to 

take lightly. The American Heart Association notes increased physical activity, people can then work with 

that, if left undetected or uncontrolled, hypertension the same individuals to tweak their routines so they 

can lead to serious, and potentially deadly, conditions, can keep making progress toward their fitness goals. 

including heart attack, stroke, heart failure, and kidney 

Routine exercise also helps to reduce stress, which the 

disease. The AHA notes that individuals diagnosed AHA notes is another step people with hypertension 

with hypertension can try various strategies to get should take to lower their blood pressure. 

their number down to a normal, healthy range. 

• Shed extra weight. The AHA notes that losing as 

•Eat a healthy, low-salt diet. A diet that’s rich in few as 10 pounds can help to manage high blood pressure. 

fruits, vegetables, whole grains, low-fat dairy products, 

Maintaining a healthy weight also reduces strain 

skinless poultry and fish, nuts and legumes, and nontropical 

on the heart, thus lowering the risk for high blood pres- 

vegetable oils ensures people are getting sure and the conditions that can arise from it. 

ample nutrition from healthy sources. 

More than 1.2 billion people across the globe are 

•Avoid excessive alcohol consumption. 

currently living with high blood pressure. Taking steps 

•Exercise regularly. Routine exercise benefits the to reduce hypertension is a great way to promote longterm 

heart in many ways, including helping people control 

health and overcome this often silent killer. 

high blood pressure. Individuals recently diagnosed 


Be confident in the plan you select 

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 

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


False alarms costly 

By Linda Dillman 

Staff Writer 

Alarm drops are costing Madison Township money and Police 

Chief Gary York is looking at ways to curb costs while protecting 

the public. 

During the April 25 Madison Township trustees’ meeting, York 

said there were 131 false alarms in a two month reporting period 

for residential and commercial calls for service. The township is 

charged approximately $16 per call by their dispatching service. 

“Now, with added costs for dispatching, it adds up,” said York. 

“Two months in and we’re already at $2,000 (false alarm calls). 

There is a provision in the Ohio Revised Code for charging for 

false alarms.” 

There are many reasons for alarm drops, such as faulty alarms 

and human error. False alarms trigger a response by law enforcement, 

but chronic incidents are the primary focus for York. 

While still in the discussion phase, York said the process would 

begin with a letter notifying a property owner or business there is 

a problem with repeated false alarms. If the problem continues, 

the next step could include assessing a fee. 

Madison Township Administrator Susan Brobst said the fire 

department has similar, albeit smaller, issues with alarm drops as 

well. 

“This is just a discussion,” said York. 

Other township news 

•Residents with vocal canines are being put on notice if their 

dog’s barking becomes excessive and disturbs neighbors. 

“We’ve had a lot more calls than anticipated,” said Brobst, who 

said a noise resolution passed in 2010 addresses barking dogs. 

“Our resolution does already allow them (law enforcement) to 

enforce excessive barking. The chief is going to monitor that over 

the next couple of months. We wanted to get that out there with 

the nicer weather.” 

Although there was a request to amend the noise resolution to 

specifically list barking dogs, York said the prosecutor said there 

is sufficient language in the current resolution to enforce violations. 

•The success of a fire cadet partnership with Eastland- 

Fairfield is reaping benefits two years after it started, according 

to Fire Chief Derek Robinson. The senior-only program started 

small, but now has a pair of full time instructors and blossomed to 

40 students. 

“Out of the first class we hired a cadet,” said Robinson. “The 

program has become so popular, we have 60 applicants for next 

year.” 

Elementary Career Day 

Eastland-Fairfield Career & Technical Schools will hold its 

first Elementary Career Day on May 16 from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. 

at Ohio University Lancaster, 1570 Granville Pike, Lancaster. 

Elementary school students from up to six Fairfield and 

Franklin County schools will be attending. This event is designed 

to introduce students between grades 4-6 to jobs and careers that 

may interest them in an interactive and fun way. Through a series 

of activities, local elementary students will engage with Eastland 

Career Center and Fairfield Career Center students from more 

than 14 EFCTS programs, giving them a chance to not just see but 

engage in the opportunities that are available in their futures. 

One local fire department is also scheduled to be in attendance 

with an in-service vehicle. 

Boy Scout Troop 71 

Groveport area scouts of Boy Scout Troop 71 meet at Groveport 

United Methodist Church, 512 Main St. Cub Scouts, boys and 

girls in grades K-5, meet on Mondays at 6:30 p.m. Boy Scouts ages 

11-18 meet Tuesdays at 7 p.m. The Girls Troop ages 11-18 meets 

Tuesdays at 7 p.m. For information visit Beascout.org or contact 

Tina Dillman at christinadillman@aol.com. 

Photo courtesy of the city of Groveport 

Celebrating Arbor Day 

City of Groveport workers planted trees at Glendening 

Elementary and Groveport Elementary in honor of Arbor Day. 

Arbor Day ceremonies were held at both schools on April 28 

as Groveport Mayor Lance Westcamp read a proclamation 

regarding the importance of trees. This is Groveport’s 30th 

year of being named a Tree City USA. Communities achieve 

Tree City USA status by meeting four core standards of urban 

forestry management: maintaining a tree board or department, 

having a tree ordinance, spending at least $2 per capita on 

urban forestry, and celebrating Arbor Day. 

Robert Gene (Bob) Campbell 83 of 

Groveport, Ohio passed away on April 21, 2023 after 

a brief battle with cancer. Bob was a devoted father, 

grandfather, loving husband and forever cared for 

his family and friends. He was blessed with an infectious 

laugh, the warmest of hearts, and never did he 

meet a stranger. He will be deeply missed by his 

friends and family and all who loved him. 

Robert was born in Thurman, Ohio on July 29, 1939. Bob was married to Elizabeth 

(Liz) Campbell on February 26, 1960; they were married for 63 wonderful 

years. Robert is survived by his wife Liz Campbell, his grandchildren Tyler 

Mitchell, Tanner Mitchell, and Tasha Mitchell; his children Katrina Campbell, 

Tonya Mitchell (Tom) of Canal Winchester, and Nicole Pongonis (Jeffrey) of 

Columbus, along with countless family members that meant the world to 

him. Bob is preceded in death by his parents Albert and Margret Campbell; 

siblings Lynville, Curtis, Paul and Tom Campbell, Audrey Obal, Trinne Davis. 

He was an avid car collector and if you were lucky enough to take a tour of 

his barn, he’d proudly talk for hours about his treasures and hobbies, his cars 

and tractors, and the colorful stories that lived on with each. Along with his 

love of miniature cars, he was the best dog dad to his beloved Teacup Yorkie, 

Brutus. His love for the Ohio State Buckeyes and the Cincinnati Bengals and 

Reds was unparalleled. Robert worked as a truck driver for Roadway for over 

30 years and was a distinguished 3-million-mile Safe-Driving Award recipient 

although he would tell you with past jobs, he was well over 4-million-miles 

driven. 

The memorial service will be held at 2PM Saturday, April 29, 2023 at the World 

Outreach Ministries, 6533 State Route 327, Jackson, OH 45640, with his 

nephew Doug Campbell of Crossroads Church of Christ in Christian Union officiating. 

Burial will be held privately at the Fairmount Cemetery. Funeral 

arrangements are under the direction of the Mayhew-Brown Funeral Home. 

In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be given to Jackson County Dog 

shelter: PayPal jdcfriends2@aol.com 

Condolences may be sent to the family at: www.mayhew-brownfuneralhome.com 


Guaranteeing 

Religious Freedom 

In March, I reported the progress made on 

Senate Bill 49. It was the first bill I sponsored 

as my first priority as a new Senator. My legislative 

staff and I worked very hard to deliver 

on promises to remove any barriers that 

are not respectful to religious freedom. I am 

pleased to report that the R.E.D. Bill (Senate 

Bill 49) was unanimously passed on April 26 

and will now move to the Ohio House of 

Representatives for their vote. 

Today, many students of diverse religious 

backgrounds in our K-12 public schools 

have to choose between attending school 

and practicing their faith. Those who are absent 

due to religious commitments are often 

marked as unexcused or otherwise academically 

penalized. However, Senate Bill 49 

would encourage fairness and protect religious 

freedom. Under this bill, students who 

participate in a religious expression day, 

would be excused for that specific day and 

provided accommodation for any missed assignments 

including tests. In addition to 

making up any missed examinations or academic 

work for using a religious expression 

day, students will also be eligible to compete 

in interscholastic sports without 

penalty. 

The First Amendment of the United States 

Constitution guarantees freedom of religion 

and religious expression, and no student 

should be penalized or have grades suffer 

due to practicing their religion. 

Results matter, so let’s work together. Subscribe 

and follow me on social media for updates. 

Paid Advertisement


Groveport Heritage Museum 

The Groveport Heritage Museum contains 

photographs, artifacts, and documents 

about Groveport’s history. The 

museum is located in Groveport Town 

Hall, 648 Main St., and is open during 

Groveport Town Hall’s operating hours. 

Call 614-836-3333. 

Groveport city council 

Groveport City Council holds its regular 

meetings at 6:30 p.m. on the second and 

fourth Mondays of the month. Council 

holds its committee of the whole meeting 

on the third Monday each month at 5:30 

p.m. Meetings are held in the municipal 

building, 655 Blacklick St., Groveport. 

School board meetings 

The Groveport Madison Board of 

Education meets the second and fourth 

Wednesday of the month at 7 p.m. at the 

District Service Center, 4400 Marketing 

Place, Suite B, Groveport. The board may 

also schedule special meetings, as needed. 

Special Olympics 

The Groveport Special Olympics chapter 

provides year round sports training and 

competition in a variety of Olympic type 

sports for intellectually disabled individuals. 

Contact Penny and Cassandra Hilty at 

groveportspecialolympics@gmail.com or at 

(614) 395-8992 or 395-6640. Donations may 

be sent to Groveport Special Olympics, P.O. 

Box 296, Groveport, OH 43125. 

Southeast Library 

The Southeast Branch of the Columbus 

Metropolitan Library is at 3980 S. 

Hamilton Road, Groveport. Visit 

www.columbuslibrary.org or call 614-645- 

2275. 

Legacy of Love 5K 


ASBURY 

SOUTH UMC 

4760 Winchester Pike 

Columbus, Ohio 43232 

Telephone: 614-837-4601 

Rev. Sherri Upchurch Blackwell 

Sunday Worship 10 a.m. 

Inside and Parking Lot 

Sunday School 9 a.m. 

BETHANY LUTHERAN 

CHURCH, LCMS 

1000 Noe-Bixby Rd. Columbus, OH 43213 

Telephone: 614-866-7755 

WEBSITE: bethanylutherancolumbus.com 

E-MAIL: bethanycolumbus@sbcglobal.net 

NEW SUMMER HOURS 

Beginning Sunday, May 7: 10:00 AM 

Beginning Sunday, May 14, and continuing through 

the Summer, the 2nd Sunday of every month 

will be a “DRIVE-IN Service. 

Bring lawn chairs to sit on the lawn or remain in your car 

Be a Part of Our Local Worship Guide 

Our 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 19,000 households in the Groveport area. 

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

614.272.5422 • kathy@columbusmessenger.com 



GROVEPORT ZION 

LUTHERAN, NALC 

Christ Centered, Mission Driven 

Traditionally Grounded 

6014 Groveport Rd., Groveport, OH 43125 

(Across from Kroger, main parking in the back) 

PHONE: 614-836-5611 

PASTOR BRIAN MCGEE 

Sunday Worship 11 A.M. 

In person service in sanctuary, or in 

parking lot via radio (92.7) 

Please visit the 

Groveport Church 

of your choice. 

List your Worship 

Services here. 

For info. call 614-272-5422 

Messenger photos by Sarah Slayman 

Participants of Alex’s Legacy of Love 5K finish their last lap at Groveport Recreation 

Center on April 23. Runners came for the fundraiser of the Alexandria Leigh 

Goodwin Angel Foundation, an organization committed to creating a positive, loving 

world through random acts of kindness in memory of the late Alexandria 

Goodwin. “Alex,” a 2014 Groveport Madison graduate, unexpectedly passed in 

2016, and was known for her kindness. Her mother, Sara Sherman, hopes to 

encourage the continuation of random acts of kindness through this organization. 

Sara Sherman (left), 

Alexandria’s mother, 

and Dawn Overly, of 

the Bexley Police 

Department, celebrate 

Overly’s medal 

after her completion 

of Alex’s Legacy of 

Love 5K. Overly has 

stood with the family 

since Alex’s passing 

and said, “It’s all 

about coming out to 

be with your community, 

to do something, 

and ultimately supporting 

this family.” 

She helped Sherman 

organize her late 

daughter’s first 5K 

years ago and has 

been a major supporter 

of the family 

ever since. “I have a child, and this is how I would hope people would support 

her.” said Overly. 

Participants 

cross the finish 

line with relief at 

the Legacy of 

Love 5K held at 


Recreation 

Center. For information 

visit 

www.thealga.org 

.


AI is already here 

Are humans ready for artificial intelligence? 

It doesn’t matter. It’s already here and while computer scientists 

and software engineers are working on bringing it to the 

masses on a global scale, are we ready? 

Linda 

Dillman 

Like Humpty 

Dumpty, it depends 

on which side of the 

wall you fall. 

Does the idea of a 

self-driving car or a sentient computer pique 

your curiosity? Does the hunt for the newest 

cellphone find you camping out for hours in 

line to be one of the first to claim ownership? 

Do you dream of smart houses, an android 

companion, or a world where a few simple 

keystrokes can result in a computer generated 

“written” masterpiece in minutes, not 

months or years? 

Or do you approach the idea of artificial 

intelligence cautiously, with a little trepidation 

mixed with a healthy dose of curiosity? 

While others around you perpetually 

clutch an Apple iPhone 14 or Samsung 

Galaxy, do you tuck your Apple 5e into your 

pocket or purse or limp along with a Star 

Places 

Trek communicator-like flip phone? 

Is the smartest thing in your home a five-year-old Dell computer? 

Or an answering machine that was state-of-the-art eight years 

ago? How about a collection of thumb drives tossed haphazardly in 

a kitchen junk drawer? 

You get the idea. 

There are a lot of movies, albeit old ones, that warn against the 

danger of artificial intelligence. Remember “WarGames?” A military 

nightmare where a computer plays games like Global 

Thermonuclear War with real world potential until it learns there 

is no viable outcome. 

Or the 1970 science fiction (perhaps closer to reality today than 

more than 50 years ago) thriller “The Forbin Project” where a sentient 

American government defense system, Colossus, links with a 

Soviet counterpart. The computer system decides it is the best 

arbiter of world order and gives humankind an ultimatum, join 

Colossus in peace or face annihilation. 

Give a computer an inch and they’ll take the world? I hope not. 

Artificial intelligence can be an amazing tool, especially in the 

fields of medicine, science and energy. It can accelerate research to 

a point far surpassing the capability of the human mind. 

Like any tool, it is best utilized under the control of its user or 

creator. When it crosses the boundary of unfettered control, then I 

start to worry. I hope the powers that be behind the push for sentient 

artificial intelligence consider the philosophical and societal 

impact of their creations. 

Meanwhile, I think I’ll trust myself and not an Alexa to turn on 

my own lights, lock my own doors, open the fridge myself to tell me 

what is inside and leave the car driving to my hands on the wheel. 

As for my old, still working cellphone, no Siri for me. I turned 

off that function the minute I activated the phone. Some Luddites 

never change. 

Linda Dillman is a Messenger staff writer. 


Golden Cruiser Club 

Groveport Madison Schools invites senior residents of the district 

to attend athletic and performing arts programs showcasing 

the talents of its students. The Golden Cruiser Club is a free program 

for residents of the Groveport Madison School District who 

are age 60 and older. Membership provides free access to all school 

and district sponsored athletic contests, plays, concerts, and other 

events. To become a member of the Golden Cruiser Club, obtain 

an application at www.gocruisers.org, at any of the school offices, 

or call (614) 492-2520. The requirements for membership are that 

applicants be age 60 or older and be a resident of Groveport 

Madison Schools.



Fifth graders discover the fun of gardening 

“Kids! Go play outside!” 

That’s what we were told...remember? 

Andrew 

Yurasek 

Guest column 

When we were kids 

we used to run and 

play for hours. We 

would ride bikes, play 

hide-and-seek, football, 

Wiffle Ball, basketball, and we would 

make slingshots or homemade bows and 

arrows. We went fishing and looked for 

critters. We would make tree forts. We did 

this every day, all the way up until the 

street lights came on. Then it was time to 

head home. Oh yeah... one other thing... 

Most of our parents had gardens. 

But then something happened. The year 

was 2007... and along came the first 

iPhone. It seems that since then, kids have 

spent less and less time running free outdoors. 

So now what? How do we reconnect? 

Well, the fifth graders at Groveport 

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Photo courtesy of Andy Yurasek 

Pictured here at their garden plots in the Groveport Community Garden are, from left 

to right: Landon Yurasek, Avery Yurasek, Carson Waugh, Morgan Holbrook, Amber- 

Leigh Shelly, and “Mr. Y” (teacher Andy Yurasek). 

Elementary had the chance to get out last 

May with the first ever Groveport 

Elementary 5th Grade Garden Club. 

I am the fifth grade science teacher and 

I contacted the city of Groveport to ask 

about the possibility of securing a plot of 

garden space at the Groveport Community 

Garden in Heritage Park on Wirt Road. 

The city officials loved the idea. We ran the 

idea by our principal, April Bray, and she 

approved. And so it began! 

An invitation was sent, kids got 

approval and signed up! Soon, 22 fifth 

graders, - along with myself and my two 

kids and rookie fifth grade teacher Miss 

Wolf - met after school. We brainstormed 

ideas. We made lists of plants we’d like to 

grow and we walked over to check out the 

garden spot. (I can still hear one student 

telling her pals, “This is so much fun!”) 

We met twice a week after school. 

Research was done. Plots were measured. 

Plans were drawn out. Then it was time to 

cultivate the soil. (Special thanks to Coast of 

Maine for donating 10 pounds of organic soil.) 

After that, it was time to plant. We 

started with some seeds, but when Jerry 

Dill of Dill’s Greenhouse heard what we 

were doing, he wanted to help out as well. 

Jerry donated several flats of vegetable 

starters. So we planted those, too. 

(Students chatted about learning where 

our food actually comes from and said, 

‘Wait, you mean carrots are roots? That 

grow down in the dirt?”) 

Things started growing! But one thing 

happens at the end of every May, something 

that even teachers can’t do a darn 

thing about - school comes to an end. But 

does that mean the garden stops growing? 

Heck no! Over the summer, it was great 

seeing the kids and their families out at the 

garden. We went through a dry period in 

late June, but luckily, we tended the garden 

and made sure it didn’t dry up. 

The other nice thing about the 

Groveport Community Garden is making 

new friends. The other folks with garden 

plots loved seeing what we were doing and 

what the kids were learning. They were 

always eager to help water if we couldn’t 

make it out for a few days. 

The harvest continued all the way 

through October with our pumpkins and 

even the broccoli kept growing into 

November. 

But then, Old Man Winter showed his 

face and the 2022 garden came to an end. 

We had a freeze the week of Christmas, but 

after that, the winter wasn’t too bad. Many 

kids were disappointed by this. We only 

had one snow day this year.) 

And look where we are now. The city of 

Groveport is donating two plots in the 

Community Garden again this year. So it’s 

time again to clear the land, condition the 

soil, and decide what to grow. The 

Groveport 5th Grade Garden Club is about 

to start its second year. 

But what about you? Will you play outside 

this summer? Or maybe even grow a 

garden? Hey, try it! 

Andy Yurasek is a fifth grade science 

teacher at Groveport Elementary. He grew up a 

Boy Scout then went on to be the park naturalist 

at Deer Creek State Park for over 20 summers. 

He now lives with his two kids not too far 

from the Groveport Community Garden. He still 

likes to put his phone on airplane mode and 

disappear into the forest to play.

Groveport Messenger - May 7th, 2023

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