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Commission gearing up for busy end to summer
The next two months will be extremely busy for the Southwest Area Commission and the community. On Aug. 3, residents are encouraged to visit Finland Elementary School and celebrate the area’s National Night Out, a national event designed to heighten awareness of drugs, violence and crime, and generate support for anti-crime efforts and built unity within neighborhoods. The event, which is sponsored by the Westbrook/Eastfield Neighborhood Association Blockwatch, will feature music, free food and a fun time for the family. “We have gotten a lot of donations this year,” said Juanita Kaufman, the association’s NNO chair. Even though the event doesn’t really start to kick off until the evening (around 5 p.m.), she said they will be setting up for the event around 9 a.m. and could use the help of some volunteers. Residents are also asked to vote in the Southwest Area Commission election, which takes place during National Night Out. There are three seats up for election and four at-large seats available. Residents who are interested in running for a seat on the commission are asked visit website www.columbusswac.org for more information. As summer winds downs, Neighborhood Pride will begin, a weeklong event where families and a variety of city departments work together to clean, fix up, beautify and strengthen the community, will be rolling into town. It begins on Sept. 13 and runs through Sept. 17. At their June 16 meeting, the Southwest Area Commission announced the areas that will be the main focus of the city departments’ attentions were Frank Road, Hardy Parkway and Gantz Road, Brown Road and Gantz Road (west). According to the city, their departments will provide home safety and code inspections; street sweepings; inspect utilities and storm sewers; check and repair broken light; and paint fire hydrants in those areas. But repair work is not all that will be going on. The community is encouraged to participate in a number of events, starting with a pre-pride community meeting on Sept. 7. At the meeting, residents will learn about what happens during Neighborhood Pride week, as well as all of the locations and times where events will be taking place. The pre-pride community meeting, which is being held at the Central Baptist Church, 1955 Frank Road, will begin at 6 p.m. Other Neighborhood Pride events include a Neighborhood Safety Academy mayor Michael Coleman’s Community Night, the mayor’s Community Bike Ride, a Bicycle Safety Festival and a Talent Showcase. The Neighborhood Safety Academy will take place on Sept. 14, from 6 p.m. thru 9 p.m. at the Central Baptist Church. The mayor’s Community Bike Ride will take place Sept. 15 at 6 p.m. at the Central Baptist Church. Community Night will be held at the Central Baptist Church at 6 p.m. And the Bicycle Safety Academy will be hosted at Finland Elementary, with the time and date to be determined.
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