Madison Messenger - October 15th, 2023

PAGE 2 - MADISON MESSENGER - October 15, 2023
www.madisonmessengernews.com
Norwood Health & Harvest Fair open to public
By Kristy Zurbrick
Madison Editor
Norwood Elementary is once again hosting its annual Health &
Harvest Fair, 899 Norwood Dr., West Jefferson. The event offers
area residents a chance to learn about a wide array of resources
available in Madison County, as well as participate in healthy
activities.
This year’s fair is set for 5-7 p.m. Oct. 18. All activities and information
tables will be set up inside the school. While the event is
geared toward children in grades pre-K-5 and their families, many
of the participating agencies provide services for youths and adults
of all ages.
“The Health & Harvest Fair is family-oriented, but anyone is
welcome to attend who could use the resources,” said Jessica
Thompson, Norwood’s social worker.
Among the activities offered at the health fair are yoga lessons
and a make-and-take Calm Down Bottle station, both designed to
provide calming strategies. Calm down bottles are water bottles
filled with glitter, objects, and food coloring. When a child experiences
a big emotion, they can shake the bottle then watch until
every object falls to the bottom, giving their brain time to get out of
fright-or-flight mode and into good decision-making mode.
Families can make a sleep schedule at the healthy sleep routines
station, participate in a physical education obstacle course in the
gym, and make a family mission statement that includes goals for
the school year. A photo booth invites families to pose for a photo
that then will be emailed to them. Additionally, Madison County
Public Health will offer flu shots on site; no one will be turned away
due to inability to pay.
The cafeteria will be the hub for information. Visitors can learn
about services related to physical and mental health, along with activities
for children to do outside of school, including 4-H, Girl
Scouts, and Boy Scouts. The Norwood PTO will be on hand, as well.
One of the organizations new to the health fair this year is Nationwide
Children’s Center for Healthy Weight and Nutrition. Representatives
from the center will share tips on nutrition and
exercise routines for children and families. Also new to the lineup
is Chrysalis Health Ohio which is expanding its behavioral health
VOTE FOR
WILLIAM “BILLY”
MARTIN
MAYOR FOR THE VILLAGE OF MT. STERLING
Determination by my administration, along with
the community involvement, creates the change,
that makes the difference.
Paid for by the Candidate
Music teacher Angel Hillyard (left) and fifth-grade teacher Justine
Bartlett welcome visitors to last year’s Health & Harvest Fair at
Norwood Elementary in West Jefferson. This year’s fair is set for
Oct. 18 and is open to the public.
This year, the district is on pace to log 10 percent more calls than
last year.
“I don’t see these numbers going down. I anticipate they will
keep going up,” Taylor said. “We’re seeing growth in Mount Sterling
with new housing developments.”
In 2013, the district’s personnel costs were $18,320. By 2022,
those costs were $157,470. Taylor estimates personnel costs for
2023 will be $250,000. The increases are the result of higher call
volumes and an ever-decreasing number of volunteer firefighters.
“Due to the lack of volunteers, we’re forced to hire part-time employees,”
Taylor said. “We’re down to four volunteers. At one time,
years ago, we had 31 volunteers.”
Current staffing includes four full-time employees and 19 parttime
employees. The district typically has three employees at the
station at a time, nearly around the clock. They call in additional
part-time personnel as needed.
MT. STERLING
Continued from page 1
committee plans to return to the issue in
January.
Council member Becky Martin, who
chaired the water committee last year,
wants decisions made as soon as possible regarding
bulk water service.
“Water is the biggest commodity that
Mount Sterling has. It’s not anything we
can afford to table or put off for a while,” she
said.
Miscellaneous
• A rezoning request will be up for a public
hearing and a potential vote by council at
council’s Oct. 23 meeting. The meeting
starts at 7 p.m. in council chambers at town
programs into the Madison County area, offering mental health
counseling without a wait list. The Collaborative Learning Center,
new to the area, will talk about what they do and their work with
parent advocacy in schools.
Visitors also can expect to see representatives from Madison
County Prevention and Madison County Children’s Services,
Oesterlen (mental health), Madison County Family and Children
First, Madison County Wrap-Around, Madison County Early Child-
TRI-COUNTY
Continued from page 1
hood Help Me Grow and Early Intervention.
Madison County Juvenile Court representatives
will have information about their diversion
program, assistance with truancy
troubles, and parent resources.
HELP House Community Outreach will
share information about their clothing and
food programs, and Good Samaritan Food
Pantry and Sufficient Grace will talk about
their food resources for families.
Chartwell’s, the company that provides food
service for Jefferson Local Schools, will
share information about the their menus
and how to sign up for free and reduced
meals. Bridges Community Action will talk
about their rent and utility assistance programs.
Lifetime Vision, West Jefferson Smiles,
the West Jefferson Police Department, the
Jefferson Township Fire Department, and
the West Jefferson Youth Athletic Association
are among the other organizations that
are participating in the health fair.
The Norwood Elementary Health & Harvest
Fair got its start in 2017 and has grown
since then. Last year, more than 600 children
and adults attended.
“We were really happy with how it went
last year and the turnout, and we’re hoping
for the same this year,” Thompson said.
“People who attend will leave with a lot of
good information, do fun stuff as a family,
and go home with cool takeaways.”
In addition to increases in personnel
costs, the district is seeing higher costs for
equipment, maintenance, and daily operations
such as fuel and utilities. The additional
levy would help the district keep up
with these increases, Taylor said. He noted
that the levy request is not for a new fire
station.
The fire district’s service area covers 119
square miles and includes the village of
Mount Sterling, Pleasant Township in
Madison County, and Darby Township in
Pickaway County. Residents in these areas
are eligible to vote on the levy. The district
also provides contracted fire services to
Monroe Township in Pickaway County and
Madison Township in Fayette County.
hall. The public is invited to comment and
ask questions.
Harral and Stevenson Engineering and
Surveying out of Circleville has requested
that 17 undeveloped lots behind the former
IGA grocery store be rezoned from low density
residential (R-1) to higher density residential
(R-3).
• The Mount Sterling Eagles Youth
League will hold a trunk-or-treat from 5
p.m. to approximately 7:30 p.m. Oct. 27 at
Mason Park.
• Council member David Timmons relayed
a request from the Mount Sterling
Community Museum for donations of old
Mount Sterling telephone books.