CW tree giveaway
City of Canal Winchester residents have the opportunity to pick up a free tree at the city’s 22nd annual tree giveaway at Stradley Park, 36 S. High St. in historic downtown Canal Winchester, on May 6 from 9-11 a.m., rain or shine. Approximately 120 trees will be given away on a first-come, first-served basis. Limit one tree per household.
The annual giveaway and associated programs are part of an initiative by the City’s Street Tree Advisory Board and the Department of Public Service Division of Stormwater to increase canopy coverage, prevent soil erosion, and promote clean air throughout the Canal Winchester community.
According to Canal Winchester’s Urban Forester Dick Miller, “Distributing new trees to private property owners in Canal Winchester benefits us all and is essential in growing the city’s green canopy. The majority of tree canopy coverage is on private property and riverine corridors in Canal Winchester. Anything your street tree advisory board and stormwater department can do to further the goal of planting more of the right tree in the right place is a plus for the city. Trees are the only part of the city’s infrastructure that will grow on their own and increase in value and function over time.”
The giveaway is open to city of Canal Winchester residents living within the city’s corporation limits only. Proof of residency will be required, such as a city water bill or driver’s license. During the giveaway, members of the Street Tree Advisory Board will be on hand to answer questions about residential selections.
For information about the annual tree giveaway, contact Canal Winchester Urban Forester Dick Miller, 614-834-5110.
Free tire collection
Residents of Canal Winchester and Madison Township are invited to a free tire collection event. Franklin County Public Health, in conjunction with Columbus Public Health, will hold the tire collection from 9 a.m. to noon on May 13 at Brobst Park, 5321 Winchester Pike, Canal Winchester.
The event is open to all residents of Franklin County, as well as Canal Winchester residents residing in Fairfield County. Individuals may bring up to 10 rimless tires per household to the event for proper disposal at no cost to them. Only passenger vehicle tires without rims will be accepted.
Tires pose a public health risk if left unattended or disposed of improperly. Tires provide the perfect location for standing water to form, creating a habitat for mosquitoes. It is on the water that the mosquito larvae grow and hatch. By properly disposing of any junk tires, potential hot spots are avoided.
During the 2022 tire drive at Brobst Park, 860 tires were collected and properly disposed of through the partnering public health agencies.
The event will also have free larvicide tablets for residents to take home and put in rain barrels, decorative water fixtures, and any other place with standing water to prevent mosquitoes from hatching. Residents do not need to turn in tires in order to receive the larvicide tablets.
To report problem areas for mosquitoes or to request service, visit mosquito.myfcph.org/request-for-service/ or call (614) 525-BITE (2483).
Officials to serve at Kris Sims Relay For Life Dinner
Canal Winchester’s elected officials will wait tables to earn tips for Relay for Life.
On May 17 from 5–7:30 p.m., Canal Winchester Mayor Michael Ebert and city council members will serve dinner at the Canal Winchester Community Center, located at 45 E. Waterloo St. The three-course meal will include a house salad and bread, spaghetti and meatballs, iced tea, lemonade, coffee, and a dessert. The cost is $10 per adult and $5 per child (10 and under). Tickets can be purchased at the door the night of the event while supplies last. Cash, check, or credit cards will be accepted and parties will be seated on a first-come, first-served basis. Carry-out will be available.
The event is a charity fundraiser for the city’s Relay for Life team, The Village People 4 A Cure. The dinner is named in honor of the late Kristen Sims, who worked to bring Relay for Life to Canal Winchester. All tips and dinner proceeds will benefit Relay for Life, American Cancer Society. Donations are tax deductible and receipts will be available upon request.
In addition to the dinner, visitors can purchase raffle tickets for a variety of prizes, including a season pass to the Canal Winchester Municipal Pool. Tickets for the raffle will also be sold at the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life event on June 24 at the Canal Winchester High School, where the winners will be announced.
CW hydrant flushing
Canal Winchester’s Division of Water opens fire hydrants around the community twice each year during its fire hydrant flushing schedule.
This allows water to flow through pipes, enhancing water quality by flushing sediment from mainline pipes. Flushing also verifies proper operation of hydrants and valves, and maintains firefighting capabilities. Spring fire hydrant flushing will take place between 8 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. through May 5.
If you see hydrant flushing crews working, please drive carefully and treat them like any other road construction crew. If you see a hydrant being flushed on your street, avoid running tap water, your washing machine, or your dishwasher until flushing in the area is complete.
During or immediately after hydrant flushing, tap water may come out with sediment that causes discoloration. Although a slight discoloration may last for a few hours, it does not affect the taste or quality of the water. This discoloration only affects the appearance of the water and poses no health threat.
Should you experience discoloration or other difficulties resulting from hydrant flushing, the water department suggests the following:
•If water pressure or volume seems low, check your faucet screens for trapped particles.
•If you encounter discolored water, shut your water off and wait several minutes. After waiting, check the clarity by running cold water for a few minutes to allow the new water to flow into your pipes. If the water is still discolored, wait a few more minutes and check again. In some cases, it may be a few hours before the water is completely clear.
•Avoid washing laundry during the scheduled flushing hours. After hydrants in your area have been flushed, wait until water runs clear from your tap, then begin with a load of dark laundry before doing lights or whites.
To learn more about the city’s fire hydrant flushing program, including when the City will be flushing in your area, contact Canal Winchester’s Division of Water at 614-837-5623.
Culinary students prepare for state competition
The 2023 FCCLA regional competitions have been completed and students from the Eastland-Fairfield Career & Technical Schools Culinary Arts program represented well. Sixteen EFCTS students have advanced to the FCCLA state competition, which will be held on April 23.
The regional competition was held at Eastland Career Center on March 11 and welcomed additional career technical centers from around the area to compete. Students from the Eastland-Fairfield Culinary Arts program accounted for 16 state qualifiers and 20 who claimed Gold, Silver, or Bronze status.
State qualifiers in Culinary events competed on April 22 at Columbus State Community College. Those engaging in Career Development events will compete April 27-28 during the state leadership conference at the Ohio Expo Center.
A list of local state qualifiers and Gold, Silver, or Bronze finishers is below.
Culinary Math Management: Bethany Engle (Sr., Canal Winchester) – Silver; Garde Manger: Ryan Traylor (Jr., Groveport Madison) – Gold; Product Development: Brittany Tolentino Galvin (Sr., Groveport Madison) – Gold; Ian Tolbert (Jr., Canal Winchester) – Gold; Hospitality, Tourism, Recreation: Emaleigh Arcand (Jr., Groveport Madison) – Silver; Culinary Arts: Marvin Figueroa (Jr., Groveport Madison) – Bronze.
CW BPA competition
Students in Canal Winchester Schools’ Business Professional of America performed well at the recent state competition. The following students placed in the top 10 at the state level: Deepen Cheetri, 5th place in Small Business Management Team; Anuj Dahal, 5th place in Small Business Management Team; Jonathan Redmon, 5th place in Small Business Management Team; Cesar Cortina, 7th place in Network Administration using Cisco; Drew Webb, 9th place in Personal Financial Management; Rylee Daily, 9th place in Prepared Speech; Nathan Hagan, 9th place in Python Programming; Aaron Lewis, 10th place in Business Law & Ethics; Olivia (Parker) Dickerson, 5th Place in Video Production
The following students qualified for the national competition and will be going to Anaheim, Calif., to compete against students across the country: Sam Howard, 2nd place in Interview Skills; James DeLaTorre, 4th place in Network Administration using Cisco; Cameron Moreland, 3rd place Network Design Team; Oliver Bell, 3rd place Network Design Team; Jonathan Rausch, 3rd place Network Design Team; Savanh Vongsavath, 3rd place Network Design Team.
Cannoot headed to Boston
Canal Winchester High School sophomore Uma Cannoot earned acceptance to the High School Music Composition Intensive Workshop at the prestigious Berklee Conservatory of Music in Boston this summer. A singer and bass guitarist, Cannoot is a member of the CWHS Symphonic Choir, Select Vocal Ensemble, Advanced Music Theory Class, and Steel Band.
