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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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<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 />
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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 />
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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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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 />
Active Adult<br />
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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 />
New Community!<br />
Live in a neighborhood,<br />
belong to a community<br />
of active adu<br />
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<strong>Grove</strong> <strong>City</strong>, Ohio 43123
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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For Medicare plan options, select the coverage that offers<br />
the lowest copays for services and medications while including<br />
your current physicians. Plan options may include dental,<br />
vision, a monthly food allowance along with a fitness program.<br />
$0 cost for my consultation and enrollment services. You need<br />
to be confident in the plan you select!<br />
Medicare Annual Open Enrollment Period (AEP)<br />
is over for <strong>2023</strong>, but maybe you still have<br />
<br />
- will I have to pay a penalty if I keep working<br />
after I turn 65, and decide to keep my group<br />
plan?<br />
- are there any 5 Star Medicare rated plans in<br />
my county, that I can enroll into throughout the<br />
year?<br />
-<br />
meet with a local representative, and review<br />
more than 2 or 3 plan options.<br />
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<br />
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contact Medicare.gov or 1-800-MEDICARE<br />
to get information on all of
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 />
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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 />
Paid Advertisement<br />
<strong>Grove</strong> <strong>City</strong><br />
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Sheetz Gas Station - Broadway & Centerpoint<br />
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Speedway Gas Stateion - Boardway & I-270<br />
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