Westside Messenger - November 12th, 2023

Messenger
Westside
November 12 - 18, 2023 www.columbusmessenger.com Vol. L, No. 8
4220 W. Broad St.
(Across from Westland Mall)
614 272-6485 open 7 days a week
Featuring
our
famous
STEAK
COMBO!!
Centennial
Celebration
By Dedra Cordle
Staff Writer
It was the start of a new year and the world of education,
entertainment and imagination were about to converge in a way
that would impact the lives of those living in 1923 — and also for
those in the generations that had yet to come.
In March, two young journalists by the name of Briton
Hadden and Henry R. Luce wanted to bring news of current global
events to the masses and founded a magazine called “Time.” It
would go on to become one of the most influential publications
ever created.
In April, brothers Albert, Harry, Jack and Sam Warner decided
to enter the burgeoning movie studio business and took out a
loan of $50,000 to get Warner Bros. Pictures off the ground.
In early October, American astronomer Edwin Hubble and his
colleague Henrietta Swan Leavitt would prove there were other
galaxies outside of our own. In turn, this discovery allowed scientists
and the scientifically curious to look at the night sky and
wonder what else could be out there — and what other advances
could be employed to further explore infinity and beyond.
In November, a group of citizens — widely believed to be
women who were members of a local civic club — learned that
their yearslong effort to bring a public library to their community
in Grove City had been recognized by voters at the ballot box.
The state would begin levying taxes to pay for the Jackson
Township Public Library and decades later it would morph into
the Southwest Public Libraries (SPL) — the second largest library
system in Franklin County with a patronage of more than
140,000 lifelong learners.
Unlike so many of the individuals who have made an impact
on the world through their advancements in education and their
ability to enrich the imagination through entertainment mediums
such as books, magazines and movies, the names of the
women who were so integral to shaping the lives of those in their
community and the lives of those in the present day community
See CENTENNIAL page 5
A number of games that were popular in the 1920s – and continue
to be in the present day – were on hand for patrons to
enjoy. Here, Josefine Myers, 2, of Grove City builds a log cabin
with her aunt Malorie Schroder and cousin Isabelle Schroder,
3, of Lima.
Messenger photos by Dedra Cordle
Employees and patrons of the Southwest Public Libraries
came together to celebrate a milestone event on Nov. 4 – the
centennial of their beloved library system. For two hours,
party-goers at Grove City Library and the Westland Area
Library participated in a number of fun 1920s inspired activities,
indulged in a delicious array of cakes and cookies, shared
memories of their childhood browsing the shelves – they may
have even borrowed a few current books on the shelves during
and after the event as well – and recognized the individuals
from the past and those in the present for their belief in, and
support of, what is now the second largest library system in
Franklin County. Here, Southwest Public Libraries associate
director Kacy Cox (left) and Grove City Library patron services
employee Nichole Langmeyer (right) have a bit of fun posing
alongside the appropriately numbered balloons that welcomed
guests to the centennial celebration.
West is on track
for renovations
By Dedra Cordle
Staff Writer
For years, the student-athletes at West
High School have had to make accommodations
elsewhere if they wanted to use the
running track to train for upcoming sporting
events due to the unsafe conditions
caused by excessive cracks and the growth
of weeds on its surface. At the start of the
2024-25 school year, those student-athletes
should only have to travel a few
meters away from the school building in
order to access a usable track.
Last month, the Columbus City Schools
Board of Education unanimously approved
a facilities management agreement with
the Brecksville-based company SCG
Fields, LLC to renovate the existing running
track at a cost of $675,000.
The renovation project, which is slated
to begin this fall, will be limited in scope
due to space constraints.
Originally constructed in the late 1930s,
the layout of the track has remained
unchanged in the ensuing years because
the site is landlocked, bordering S. Powell
Avenue to the east, Postle Road to the
south, an alley and the stadium structure
to the west, and the WHS building to the
north.
According to CCS officials, the proximity
of the existing location to buildings,
streets, and other athletic amenities make
it particularly challenging to address all of
the issues WHS students and staff would
like to see changed, such as shortening the
track from the current 418 meters to
today’s track standards of 400 meters and
widening the lanes at turns one and four.
See WEST TRACK page 2
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PAGE 2 - WESTSIDE MESSENGER - November 12, 2023
Produce giveaway at YMCA
The Hilltop YMCA hosts a fresh produce giveaway the third
Wednesday of each month from 4 to 6 p.m. at 2879 Valleyview
Drive in Columbus. For more information, call the YMCA at 614-
276-8224.
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Winter Crisis Program helps to keep the heat on
With the chill of winter fast approaching, the state
of Ohio wants to ensure its residents stay warm and
comfortable in the colder months by helping alleviate
the burden of costly energy bills.
From Nov. 1, 2023 through March 31, 2024, incomeeligible
Ohioans can receive one-time assistance with
their home energy bill through the Ohio Department of
Development’s Home Energy Assistance Winter Crisis
Program.
The Winter Crisis Program assists Ohioans facing
service disconnection, have been disconnected, need to
establish new service, need to pay to transfer service,
have a Percentage of Income Payment Plan (PIPP)
default, need to make their first PIPP payment, or
have 25 percent or less supply of bulk fuel in their tank
to maintain service. Qualifying households must have
a gross annual income of at or below 175 percent of the
federal poverty level. For a family of four, that is up to
$52,500.
Last year, the Winter Crisis Program assisted more
than 67,000 households in Ohio, providing a total of
$19 million in benefits.
“A warm and comfortable home should not be a luxury
only some people can afford,” said Lydia Mihalik,
director of the Department of Development. “This program
does more than just provide financial assistance;
it shows some of our most-vulnerable residents that
we’re here to lend a helping hand when they need it
most.”
Households serviced by a Public Utilities
Commission of Ohio (PUCO)-regulated utility must
sign up for PIPP or another payment plan if there is
still an outstanding balance on the utility bill after
receiving assistance.
Ohioans can start their application online but will
need to schedule an appointment with their local energy
assistance provider to complete the application.
Depending on the agency, the appointment may be in
person, on the phone, or virtual. The application and
list of providers can be found online at
energyhelp.ohio.gov. Citizens can also call 800-282-
0880 to find their local provider. Hearing impaired customers
may dial 711 for assistance.
Clients need to bring copies of the following documents
to their appointment:
•Copies of their most-recent energy bills.
•A list of all household members and proof of
income for the last 30 days or 12 months for each member.
•Proof of U.S. citizenship or legal residency for all
household members.
•Proof of disability, if applicable.
For more information about the Winter
Crisis Program, visit energyhelp.ohio.gov.
around the westside
anksgiving Day dinner
St. Aloysius Catholic Church will host a
free Thanksgiving Day dinner from 11
a.m. to 2 p.m. Nov. 23 at 2165 West Broad
St. All are welcome.
Free lunch at Hilltop Methodist
The United Hilltop Methodist Church
will host a free community lunch every
Friday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. The church
is located at 99 S. Highland Ave.
WEST TRACK
Continued from page 1
As a result of the limitations, the district
has approved the renovation project
with no significant alterations to the size
and location of the track. Instead, the
scope of the renovation project will feature
the milling of the track surface, a new
asphalt overlay, the installation of a new
synthetic surfacing system, base course
repairs as needed, and new track striping.
The corresponding high jump and long
jump event areas will also be replaced.
Vice-president Christine Vera said she
was “excited” to be able to vote on this
piece of legislation and to be able to provide
“West students with the track and
field that they rightfully deserve.”
Board member Dr. Tina Pierce thanked
the WHS staff, students, and parents for
advocating for the renovation of the track,
but also challenged the district to conduct
an athletic audit at all of the CCS schools
and facilities to see what needs to be renovated,
repaired or replaced.

www.columbusmessenger.com
November 12, 2023 - WESTSIDE MESSENGER - PAGE 3
City to host drop off sites for pumpkins and yard signs
The city of Columbus Division of Refuse
Collection will host drop-off sites after
Halloween and Election Day for residents
to sustainably dispose of pumpkins,
gourds, and yard signs. The drive-through
service will prevent these items from being
landfilled or contaminating yard waste and
the residential blue recycling containers
serviced by the city’s collection program.
Carved jack-o-lantern with candles
removed, full and moldy pumpkins, and
gourds are acceptable to drop off for composting
at the drive-through sites.
Pumpkins decorated with paint or permanent
marker cannot be accepted.
The pumpkin drop-off collection sites
will operate on three Saturdays – Nov. 4,
Nov. 25 and Dec. 2 – from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.
at the Columbus Refuse Collection transfer
stations:
•2100 Alum Creek Dr.
•1550 Georgesville Road
•4260 Morse Road
To reduce contamination, pumpkins
may not be dropped off at the city’s three
food scraps drop-off sites.
The drive-through yard sign recycling
event will be held on Nov. 11 from 8 a.m. to
1 p.m. at the Alum Creek Refuse Collection
station, 2100 Alum Creek Dr. Residents
also have the option to take their signs to
SWACO’s sign recycling event location at
the Bill McDonald Athletic Complex, 4990
Olentangy River Road, from 8 a.m. to noon
on Nov. 11.
All paper, plastic and coroplast signs
(including metal stands) will be accepted
and recycled free of charge thanks to a
partnership with Solid Waste Authority of
Central Ohio.
Plastic and coroplast signs, and their
metal stands should not be put in the residential
blue recycling containers due to the
materials used to make them. However, it
is acceptable to put paper yard signs (without
metal stands) in the blue cart.
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PAGE 4 - WESTSIDE MESSENGER - November 12, 2023
Family Fishing Day
Messenger photos by Dedra Cordle
The Ortiz-Escalona family have traveled all across North America in search of a fun
fishing adventure, but the residents of the westside discovered that they may not have
to travel so far on their quest to find enjoyment in outdoor recreation next time. On Oct.
28, the family of four packed up their chairs, poles, and nets and drove down the street
to the Galloway Sports Complex for a morning of catch-and-release. Hosted by the
Prairie Township Community Center, the Family Fishing Day provided outdoor enthusiasts
like the Ortiz-Escalona family with the opportunity to test out new equipment, try
to catch a few of the slippery bass and bluegills, and make long-lasting memories of
having a good time fishing without the long drive. Here at right, Lussio Escalona, 9,
tries to get the net untangled before casting it out into the pond.
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Ixalia Ortiz is all smiles as she prepares for a few hours of local fishing.
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www.columbusmessenger.com November 12, 2023 - WESTSIDE MESSENGER - PAGE 5
CENTENNIAL
Continued from page 1
are unknown.
When the staff at SPL began to plan for
the centennial celebration this year, it was
their mission to uncover their names, their
faces, their personal stories. They wanted
the public to know who they were and they
wanted the public to be able to meet their
descendants and the festivities. Much to
their dismay, however, the voracious
researchers discovered they did not have
much to go on.
“I think we reached out to every historical
organization that we could think of and
we still were never able to find out much
about these women, these early pioneers
and advocates for public libraries,” said
Meredith Wickham, SPL director.
But what they did know — or what they
were able to put together with what little
information they had — they were able to
share with the public who joined them to
celebrate 100 years at the Grove City
Library and the Westland Area Library on
Nov. 4.
“I think it is really important that people
know they existed, that they know
these people are part of the reason why we
have these grand libraries and centers of
community today,” said Wickham. “We
may not know who they are, but we can
still share what we know and we can still
honor their contributions by telling some of
their story.”
Thirty-two years prior to the creation of
the JTPL, there was a private club in
Harsh’s Drug Store that had a small collection
of books. For an annual fee of two dollars,
members could borrow the material
and come back to discuss what they had
read. It was not in existence for long.
Several years later, the Women’s Civic
Club of Grove City donated $63 to establish
a free public reading room, which was
located in First National Bank on the
southeast corner of Broadway and
Columbus Streets. It was a successful venture,
and they wanted more.
They had heard of a nationwide movement
to create free public libraries that
were accessible to everyone and they wanted
that for their community. They began
canvassing, reaching out to their neighbors
to talk about the mission of libraries, and
what having a public library could do for
the community. Then came the big ask:
requesting that they buy into their vision
of a public library funded by taxpayer dollars.
“It was a bold move and I am personally
in awe of these women because I think if
something doesn’t exist, if you haven’t seen
it before and you have literally never witnessed
it in your whole life in your community,
how much harder it is to create that
thing from scratch and convince all your
neighbors to jump in with you,” said
Wickham. “And it was such a different
world back then too, such a smaller community
where most people didn’t have
much money, but for them to all get together
to launch this thing that became so huge
is nothing short of amazing.”
Jo and Ron Baumgartner of Grove City
have a bit of fun at the 1920s inspired
selfie station with a few of the cut-outs
that were available to make cute photo
opportunities even cuter.
Over the years, the JTPL would expand
in size, patronage, and material collection.
It would even have its first paid librarian
in Irene Harper. In 1954, a new building
would be erected on Park Street and it
would be renamed the Grove City Public
Library. In the following years, the Prairie
Branch (later renamed the Westland Area
Library) would open to serve the needs of
those on the westside; a library in
Harrisburg and Franklin Township would
open and later close; levies would pass;
levies would fail. In 2013, the SPL would
join the Central Library Consortium which
would allow its patrons to access over five
million items. By the end of 2023, the new
Grove City Library would encompass more
than 48,000 square feet of public service
space and the WAL would encompass more
than 25,000 square feet of public service
space. Nearly all of that square footage was
filled with patrons who came out to celebrate
100 years of service at their beloved
library — and some were there who just
wanted to access the books, computers,
meeting rooms, and space for children and
teenagers.
As good parties often do, the centennial
revelry will continue through the month
with the SPL’s Centennial Anthology
Writing and Art contest. Open to adults
and youth ages 10 and up, submissions
should relate to life in the local community,
past and present, and will be judged blindly
for inclusion in a print anthology to be
published next spring. Cash prizes will be
awarded for best in each age group in each
category, plus two $500 grand prizes will
be awarded, one for best in writing overall
and one for best in art.
Digital submissions are open now
through Nov. 27 and can be emailed to SPL
Director Meredith Wickham at mwickham@swpl.org.
For full contest and submission
details, visit swpl.org.
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Opinions
letter to the editor
The election held by the Greater Hilltop
Area Commission (GHAC) on Oct. 7 is failing
the residents. It is flawed in a number
of ways, causing confusion and an overall
lack of representation.
The city designed specific zones in the
city into 21 area commissions. The Greater
Hilltop Area Commission is the largest
with over 10,000 residents. The area has
both urban and suburban areas, with significantly
unique needs. Commissions are
tasked with approving/denying zoning
requests, requesting capital improvements
in the community, working to determine
who should receive a liquor permit,
empowered to sell city owned properties,
etc. Although the decisions made by the
commissions are not binding, the city does
take the input seriously.
For many years, GHAC held elections at
the bean dinner, where many residents
attend each year. For some unknown reason,
GHAC independently decided to hold
their elections on a different date than the
general election as many other area commissions
do. This decision wasn’t to accommodate
the crowds of voters at the bean
dinner. Rather, they decided to hold the
election on a random day. No longer held at
the historical bean dinner, not held on election
day, just a random day that they
www.columbusmessenger.com
Turning off my mind chatter
It’s said that silence is one of the great
arts of conversation. Yet it’s usually when
silence occurs that I feel like that conversation
is one way.
Late at night, when work is done, the
kids are asleep and everything is turned
off, I often lie in bed, listening to my own
thoughts. The silence is nice - no TVs or
phones, no kids running down the hallway
screaming, no everyday noises.
Yet while the everyday sounds of life
take a respite, the chaos is just beginning
in the place where only one person can
hear the conversation. Did I pay that bill?
Did I turn in that school form? What do we
need at the grocery store? What do I have
to get done tomorrow?
During the day when these questions go
through your mind, they often get drowned
out by everything else you hear.
At night, most of these sounds have disappeared
temporarily until the sun rises
the next day, leaving silence - and a void
that only can be filled with once distant
thoughts or sleep. It’s not that I don’t try to
shut off my brain at this point in the
evening. In fact, there’s more than a handful
of tricks you can do to speed up falling
asleep - everything from turning off electronics
an hour before bedtime to reading,
breathing exercises and chamomile tea.
I recently read that purging your brain
of the day’s worries can help “overthinking”
at night. You can do this by keeping a
journal or even jotting down a plan for the
next day so there’s no need for making
mental notes into the night.
I also heard a sleep specialist say that
being anxious about not sleeping is part of
the problem. If you’re like me and have
trouble shutting off your brain at night, the
National Sleep Foundation (sleepfoundation.org)
offers several techniques, even
tailoring them to certain segments of the
population that include children, travelers
and those with diagnosed sleep disorders.
Under the “sleep topics” tab, there’s even a
“bedroom environment” link that shows
you how to use all your senses to find the
perfect sleeping environment.
From one night owl hoping to turn into
an early bird, sweet dreams.
Christine Bryant is a Messenger staff
writer and columnist.
Candidate expresses concern about
Hilltop Commission election
chose. The commission decides how many
signatures are needed for a candidate’s
petition. The commission decides how candidates
should apply, requesting an essay
and campaign video. There is no candidate
forum, or meet and greet. Instead, tech
savvy people are advantaged over those
who aren’t. The average person might be
intimidated by the requirement to submit
a campaign video.
The commission further decides where
to hold the election. The ballots were
unchecked by candidates to confirm accuracy.
The ballots had a candidates’ name
misspelled. Once the error was discovered,
the solution was to hand correct the error
on the remaining ballots. Tampering with
the ballots in any election is typically considered
fraud.
The commission also decides whether
the election is fair. A candidate is given
three days to contest the election, and
GHAC itself makes the determination if
they need to hold another due to any problems.
They get to set the rules, and then
they also get to decide if they were fair.
Elections matter.
Terry Roofe
Columbus
Life Moments
Christine Bryant

www.columbusmessenger.com
Active
November 12, 2023 - WESTSIDE MESSENGER - PAGE 7
Lifestyles
A bi-monthly feature celebrating the wisdom, experience
and contributions of our community’s senior citizens
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Ciena/Laurel Health Care is honored to be part
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PAGE 8 - WESTSIDE MESSENGER - November 12, 2023
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from home makes it difficult for those who mourn
to visit. Ask about their wishes in advance.
•Is there room for your family to be buried
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space with advance purchase.
•Does your religion have burial customs that
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Memorial resting places can be a peaceful
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If you would like advice on planning, the
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- What are the various Medicare Advantage, Prescription Drug Plans
or Medicare Supplement plans available to me in my area for 2024?
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medications or other services?
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representative, and review more than 2 or 3 plan options?
organizations which offer 42 plans in your area. Please contact Medicare.gov or 1-
800-MEDICARE to get information on all of

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WESTSIDE MESSENGER - November 12, 2023 PAGE 9
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There are several homeownership products
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assistance and closing costs assistance. These
funds can also be used in addition to borrowers
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OHFA offers several affordable loan options to
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OHFA offers 30-year, fixed rate FHA, VA,
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PAGE 10 - WESTSIDE MESSENGER - November 12, 2023
Active Lifestyles
www.columbusmessenger.com
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.
Franklin County Office on Aging Recognizes
National Family Caregiver Month;
Offers Support Services
November is National Family Caregiver Month, a month dedicated to
recognizing and honoring family caregivers across the country. There are
more than 53 million unpaid caregivers in America, with more than 41.8
million of these caregivers supporting a senior 50 or older, according to A
Place for Mom.
National Family Caregiver Month provides an opportunity to raise awareness
of caregiving issues, educate communities and garner support for
caregivers. The average length of time a caregiver provides unpaid
support for a loved one is four and a half years.
The Caregiver Action Network began the promotion of this national
recognition in 1994. Since 1997, every president has issued an annual
proclamation recognizing and honoring caregivers each year. This gives
everyone in the nation the opportunity to celebrate the efforts of family
caregivers, educate others on the topic, increase support for family caregivers
and alleviate feelings of isolation for those providing unpaid care.
According to AARP, Ohio has 1.46 million unpaid caregivers providing
an estimated $21 billion in caregiving services. The Ohio Department of
Aging states that those who acknowledge and accept their role as a caregiver
are more proactive, engaged and confident. Caregivers who seek
and accept help may also alleviate feelings of anxiety, anger and depression.
Each year, the Franklin County Office on Aging (FCOA) acknowledges
National Family Caregiver Month by sponsoring the annual Caring for the
Caregiver Expo, which took place on Saturday, November 4 at The Boat
House at Confluence Park. The expo offered over 300 caregivers from
Central Ohio a unique opportunity to be celebrated, pampered, and to
establish valuable connections to resources aimed at easing the burdens
that come with their role. FCOA recognizes and advocates for these
selfless individuals year-round by offering their Caregiver and Kinship
Support Programs, which are designed to alleviate some of the added
stress that comes with taking care of others.
FCOA’s Caregiver Support Program is in collaboration with the Central
Ohio Area Agency on Aging (COAAA) and assists caregivers with a variety
of free short-term services that can be accessed once a calendar year.
To be eligible, you must live in Franklin County, demonstrate a need for
in-home care assistance, and be a non-paid caregiver for an adult aged 60
or older or be a non-paid parent or relative aged 55 or older caring for an
adult child (age 18-59) with disabilities.
FCOA’s Kinship Support Program assists kinship caregivers who are
providing full-time care to a minor child whose biological parents are
unable to do so. Assistance is available once a calendar year and the age
requirement for this program is based on the funding source. Franklin
County residents are eligible for this program if they provide full-time
care to a child between the age of birth and 17 (or 18-years-old if the child
is enrolled in school or a training program); the child lives in the same
private residence as the kinship caregiver; and, the kinship caregiver
provides full-time care to the children whose biological parents are unable
to do so.
For more information about the Franklin County Office on Aging’s Caregiver
Support Program and Kinship Support Program, please call
(614) 525-6200 or visit officeonaging.org.

www.columbusmessenger.com
Health care services
open on the westside
OhioHealth opened primary care and urgent care services in
Franklinton in early November.
Located on the ground level at 14 McDowell St. as part of the
Gravity II development, urgent care services opened on Nov. 3 and
primary care began offering services on Nov. 6 in the 13,000
square foot facility. This project is a $4.6 million investment by
OhioHealth into the Franklinton community.
“At OhioHealth, we believe that primary care is one of the most
important types of healthcare a patient can receive,” said Steve
Davies, senior director of operations, OhioHealth Physician
Group. “It’s often the starting point of a patient’s healthcare journey
and can help them with care from annual checkups to management
of a chronic disease and many other services.
“Primary care is something that has not been easily accessible
to those who live and work in and around Franklinton, so we
couldn’t be happier to be opening and making these services available
to all who need them,” said Davies.
Primary care services will be available Monday through
Friday, while the urgent care will be open seven days per week.
The building also features point of care laboratory services and
general X-ray.
Urgent care is a great option when a patient needs to be seen,
but it’s not a life-threatening emergency and their primary care
provider is closed or not available. Urgent care can treat a variety
of needs such as cold or flu-like symptoms, rashes, minor breaks,
sprains and strains, animal or insect bites, minor burns or cuts,
and allergic reactions.
Based in Columbus, OhioHealth is a nationally recognized, notfor-profit,
charitable, healthcare outreach of the
United Methodist Church. Serving its communities since 1891,
OhioHealth is a family of 35,000 associates, physicians and volunteers,
and a network of 14 hospitals, three joint-venture hospitals,
one managed-affiliate hospital, 200+ ambulatory sites and
other health services spanning a 50-county area.
For more information, visit ohiohealth.com.
Ohio’s
Capital Budget
I recently concluded a series with you about Ohio’s
Biennium Budget, which provides the operating
funds for the state’s ongoing governmental functions
and is completed by June 30th of odd numbered
years for the following two fiscal years. You
may recall that this budget totals some $86.2 billion
and pays for items like the state portion of local K-
12 education and higher education, along with
Medicaid expenditures and other state services related
to health and human services, economic and
workforce development, corrections, aging, youth
services, and public safety, among others.
To finance construction projects, the state enacts a
Capital Budget every two years in even numbered
years. Here the state allocates funding for building
or renovating public facilities across Ohio. Currently,
the state estimates it will have about $3.5 billion for
these projects. For example, approximately $300
million will go toward new buildings on the campuses
of Ohio’s public four-year universities and another
$100 million will be spent on construction
projects at Ohio’s junior colleges. Of the $3.5 billion,
approximately $170 million will be allocated to local
projects around the state. In addition, because tax
collections have exceeded projections during the
last two years, the legislature appropriated an additional
$700 million for local priorities.
The dollars will be allocated for local projects
roughly according to population. So, Franklin
County will get about $18 million from the local
portion of the larger budget and about $70 million
from the additional funding. Larger governmental
entities and nonprofit organizations are submitting
their priorities to the Columbus Partnership in a collective
prioritization process. For example, the
Columbus Symphony is spearheading an effort to
build a world-class concert performance center in
Franklinton adjacent to COSI and the Columbus Museum
of Art wants to replace its aging and leaky
roof. In addition, many local governmental entities,
like townships and suburban centers, may ask for
help with some of their construction priorities.
My role will be twofold. First, I will talk with local
township and city officials to listen to their construction
needs. Second, I will work with my other
Franklin County Ohio House colleagues to prioritize
those needs along with collective county-wide
wishes to assemble the best possible consensus for
our district and the county as a whole. Although we
won’t be able to fund every wish, if we are judicious,
the estimated $88 million available for projects
countywide can provide partial funding for many
useful ones that will benefit localized communities
directly as well as citizens across Franklin County.
(Dave Dobos represents the 10th District in the Ohio
House of Representatives, which consists of parts of
West, Southwest, and South Columbus, Grove City, Urbancrest,
and portions of Franklin and Jackson Townships.
He reports regularly on his activities in this
position and his campaign has paid for this communication
with you.)
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WESTSIDE MESSENGER - November 12, 2023 PAGE 11
Messenger
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Certified Gas Station - Broad St. & Orel
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Marathon Gas Station - Georgesville & Industrial Rd.
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Thorton’s Gas Station - 4990 W. Broad St.
Walgreens - Broad St. & Galloway Rd.
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Sheetz Gas Station - Westland Mall
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Kroger - Consumer Square Shopping Center
Franklin Township Business Office - 2193 Frank Rd.
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PAGE 12 - WESTSIDE MESSENGER - November 12, 2023
www.columbusmessenger.com
Columbus officials plan to expand Project Taillight
Columbus City Attorney Zach Klein and
City Councilman Emmanuel Remy
released recent data for Project Taillight, a
public safety program that provides free
auto repair services for lower-income residents.
In July, city council invested $175,000
in additional funding for Project Taillight
to expand the program beyond safety lights
to include a number of other repairs,
including replacement windows and mirrors,
brakes, tires, transmission and
exhaust system fixes, and a number of
other types of repairs. Since that expansion,
more than 75 residents have received
Project Taillight repair services. More than
80 percent of the individuals helped this
year are single mothers. Since its creation
WESTGATE UNITED
METHODIST CHURCH
61 S. Powell Ave., Columbus,OH 43204
Come - Let’s Worship Together!
Pastor Nancy Day-Achauer
Worship Service 9:00 a.m.
Sunday School 10:00 a.m.
westgateumc@sbcglobal.net
614-274-4271
GALLOWAY
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
6191 Hall Road
Galloway, OH 43119
(614) 878-5015
Worship @10:45 a.m.
Where every single one of
God's children is welcome!
in 2020, Project Taillight has helped more
than 300 residents get needed repairs to
keep those drivers safe on the road.
“Project Taillight is good government at
its best, bringing the public and private
sector together to address a need in our
community, free up law enforcement to
focus on more serious and violent crime,
and make our roads and neighborhoods
safer for all of us,” said Klein. “We haven’t
yet unlocked the full potential of Project
Taillight, and I’m happy to offer my support
to continue building this innovative
program that’s changing lives and improving
public safety.”
Project Taillight was established in
2020 by the city of Columbus and Franklin
County to provide certain cost-free auto
Be a Part of Our Local Worship Guide
Our upcoming Worship Guide is geared toward celebrating faith and helping readers connect with
religious resources in our community. Make sure these readers know how you can help with a presence in
this very special section distributed to more than 25,000 households in the Westside area.
Contact us today to secure your spot in our Worship Guide.
614.272.5422 • kathy@columbusmessenger.com
Messenger
Westside
COLUMBIA HEIGHTS UMC
775 Galloway Rd., Galloway
Telephone: 614-878-4530
www.wherefriendsaremade.org
9:00am - Contemporary Worship
10:30am - Traditional Worship
Breakfast with Santa Dec. 16th, 9am-12pm
email admin@columbiaheightsumc.com
or call 614-208-8399
by Dec. 2nd to make reservations
GLENWOOD UM CHURCH
2833 Valleyview Dr.
(Corner of Valleyview & Hague Ave.)
Rev. Dr. Kevin Orr
Join us for In-Person or Online
Glenwood UMC YouTube
http://tinyurl.com/GlenwoodUMC
Come Join in the Celebration!
130th Church Anniversary on
Sunday, November 19th, 2023
at 10:45 A.M.
repair services to lower income residents.
Initially, vehicle repairs were performed by
students enrolled in Columbus State
Community College’s Automotive
Technology program, but the program has
since expanded to also include a number of
auto repair shops located throughout the
city.
“I am beyond ecstatic in what these
numbers demonstrate,” said Remy.
“Project Taillight is helping single mothers
and families in our community take their
kids to daycare, doctor appointments, and
providing reliable transportation to get to
their place of employment.”
Remy also said that he is hoping to
secure additional funding in the city’s 2024
operating budget to continue to grow and
expand Project Taillight.
Additionally, Remy announced that the
city will begin recruiting local repair shop
Grove City Chamber
Singers to perform a fall concert
The Grove City Chamber Singers will
begin their 35th season with a fall concert,
“Night and Day,” on Sunday, Nov. 19. A
variety of choral selections including spirituals,
classic, jazz, Cole Porter, and holiday
Pets of the week
Addie had a rough
start in life. She
arrived at a shelter
covered in fleas and
was underweight
when she was a pup.
It took a couple
months to get her to
a good place.
Estimated to be just
about 1 year of age, she is a German shepherd
mix and weighs 35 pounds. Addie is a
smart and happy girl who loves to be with
people and enjoys time outside. She is housebroken
and crate trained. Adopt Addie from
Colony Cats and Dogs.
FYI: colonycats.org
Betty Crocker is the
purr-fect culinary
companion. She is a
delightful tabby with
a heart as warm as
fresh-baked cookies.
Born to the streets
but now ready to rule
your kitchen, Betty
Crocker’s tale is as heartwarming as her
meows are melodious. This charming girl was
once a stray but with a dash of kindness, she
found her way into a cozy haven to wait for her
forever home. If you’re seeking a friend who
knows the recipe for happiness, look no further
than Betty Crocker.
FYI: colonycats.org
community events
partners later this month. These approved
vendors must meet certain criteria to participate
in the program, including customer
service training to better work with program
participants, timely scheduling for
repairs, separate systems for reporting
invoices and auditing to protect taxpayer
dollars, and training on Project Taillight
operational practices.
To be eligible for participation in the
Project Taillight program, individuals
must be city of Columbus residents, have a
valid driver’s license, hold the title to the
vehicle, live in households at or below 200
percent of the federal poverty level, and
drive a vehicle that is seven years old or
older. Screening is conducted by the City
Attorney’s Community Outreach Team,
who then refers qualifying participants to
one of the approved auto repair shops participating
in the program.
music will be performed. The Chamber
Singers will be joined by the Reynoldsburg
High School Chamber Singers. The concert
will take place at the Grove City United
Methodist Church, 2684 Columbus St.
Doors open at 3 p.m. A freewill donation
will be collected with a portion going
toward a scholarship.
These furry friends are available
for adoption at local
rescues and shelters
Pandie is a sweet,
shy 8-year-old guy
looking for his forever
home. He gets along
with other cats, as
long as the other cats
are calm. He would
do well in a quiet
home. He is FIV positive,
but don’t let that
worry you. FIV cats
can live long, normal
lives with proper care. Pandie is a very special
boy who has lived a hard life, but he is ready
for a loving indoor only home. Adopt him from
Friends for Life Animal Haven.
FYI: fflah.org
Calliope is a bit cautious
with new people,
but she warms
up quickly and will be
your best friend. She
loves to play and
loves a good belly
scratch. Calliope also
loves her treats and
will let you know
when she wants one.
She does well with
other gentle dogs and would be a great addition
to any family. Adopt her from the Franklin
County Dog Shelter.
FYI: franklincountydogs.com

www.columbusmessenger.com
WESTSIDE MESSENGER - November 12, 2023 PAGE 13
Photos courtesy of South-Western City Schools
Putting on a show
Students got the opportunity to exhibit their talents at the
2023 South-Western City Schools District Band Showcase.
Band members from all four high schools performed for the
community on Oct. 24 at Grove City High School. Here, the
Grove City High School Marching Band takes the field. Here,
a Franklin Heights High School student delight the crowd
with their performance.
Westland High School band members take the stage at the
Band Showcase.

PAGE 16 - WESTSIDE MESSENGER - November 12, 2023
The lives that intersect for brief
moments over counters at diners, convenience
stores, and motels on the bleak and
beautiful roadways of America have been
inspiring artists, authors, musicians and
screenwriters for generations. Drawing
from her own experiences traversing the
highways on solo journeys, documentarian
turned first-time feature film director
Morissa Maltz crafts an intimate story
about loneliness, grief and the want and
need for connection in “The Unknown
Country.”
This year’s breakout star Lily Gladstone
(currently blowing away audiences in
Martin Scorsese’s theatrical adaptation of
David Grann’s best-selling non-fiction book
“Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage
Murders and the Birth of the FBI”) is the
central — and often only — character in this
film, which might be a deterrent to some
due to the fact that sparsity is often misconstrued
as uninteresting. But allow me
to say that she and the white Cadillac that
her character uses to travel the roadways
are the only things that are needed because
they are just that engaging to watch — her
more so than the car but if you have an
uncomfortable vehicle that you hate sitting
in for even 10 minutes it makes the scenes
of the long drive all the more compelling.
In the film, Gladstone plays Tana, a 30-
something-year-old woman who left her job
in order to take care of her ailing grandmother
whom she has always adored.
Unmoored by her death, she aimlessly
walks around their Minneapolis home,
smoothing down the homemade blankets
on her grandmother’s bed as if waiting for
her to walk through the doors and take her
rest for the night.
One morning, Tana gets an unexpected
call from her cousin Lainey (Lainey
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Crowne Plaza • 6500 Doubletree Ave. (formerly Marriott North)
Bearkiller Shangreaux) inviting her to
come out to her wedding in Spearfish,
South Dakota, near the vicinity of the Pine
Ridge Reservation where Tana and her
grandmother has their roots in the Oglala
Lakota community. Although she is not
necessarily estranged from her family, she
has not seen or heard from a majority of
her relatives in years, if not decades.
Desperately wanting and needing that
connection with her cousins, aunts, and
uncles, Tana packs a suitcase with clothes
and her grandmother’s cherished photo
album to begin the first leg of her journey
across America to find a sense of spiritual
healing through the love of lost family and
the kindness and quirkiness of the individuals
that slip in and out of our lives but can
make an impact that lasts forever.
As mentioned before, director Maltz —
who co-wrote the film in collaboration with
Lily Gladstone, Lainey Bearkiller
Shangreaux and Vanara Taing — has a
background as a documentarian and she
often combines that medium within the fictional
narrative style of the movie. For
instance, the individuals we meet on
Tana’s solo drive across parts of the country
are non-professional actors who are
sharing their stories with her character
and us, the audience. Among the real-life
people we all meet are Scott Stampe, a
hotel proprietor who folds towels into the
shape of swans to make his guests smile;
Dale Leander Toller, a convenience store
worker who found the man of his dreams —
literally; Teresa Boyd, the owner of a dance
hall in Texas who keeps it operational so a
90-year-old woman named Flo can dance
the night away; and Pam Richter, a friendly
waitress at the Hickok House in
Deadwood who doesn’t judge people
“because you never know what they are
going through” and
who provides shelter
to unwanted cats. It
was a delight to get
to meet these men
and women, however
briefly, and it was
even bittersweet to
learn that Pam passed away in 2020. The
film is dedicated in her memory because
she “never wanted anyone who met her to
forget her.”
Because of the languid nature of “The
Unknown Country,” the momentum of the
movie can feel a little meandering at times,
but it is the warmth and heartfelt performances
from the professional actors and nonprofessional
actors that can make you push
aside those passing thoughts of tedium and
just enjoy this film for what it is: a gentle
reminder that we are not really meant to
exist in isolation, and that sometimes the
best way to remind ourselves of that fact is
to go out, explore this wild and weird
unknown country and try to find a connection
with someone out there who also needs
someone to let them know that they see
them and that they exist too — even for a
moment.
“The Unknown Country” is currently
streaming on demand for rent or purchase.
It will also be available soon to reserve at
your local library.
Grade: B+
www.columbusmessenger.com
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Hilltop Legal Clinic
The Legal Aid Society of Columbus will
host a Hilltop Legal Clinic every Monday
from 4 to 6 p.m. at the Columbus
Metropolitan Library Hilltop Branch, 511
S. Hague Ave. in Columbus. A legal aid
attorney will be available to answer questions
regarding landlord and tenant issues,
public benefits, consumer debt, and family
law. To receive free advice, you must have
a gross household income below 200 percent
of the Federal Poverty Level. For more
information, call Legal Aid at 614-241-
2001.
Free legal advice
at Westland Library
The Legal Aid Society of Columbus will
offer free legal advice the third Tuesday of
The Reel Deal
Dedra Cordle
Dedra Cordle is a Messenger staff writer
and columnist.
around the westside
each month at the Westland Area Library,
4740 West Broad St. Representatives will
be on hand from 4 to 6 p.m. to discuss noncriminal
legal matters like health benefits,
medicare, and landlord issues. For more
information, call the library at 614-878-
1301.
Breakfast at the Lodge
to benefit Special Olympics
The West Gate Masonic Lodge #623 is
preparing breakfast once a month to benefit
the Special Olympics. The public is
invited to have breakfast the second
Saturday of each month at 2925 West
Broad St. Adults eat for a donation of $7
and kids can have a meal for $3. Serving is
from 9 a.m. to noon. For more information,
email westgate623@gmail.com.