News from the Eastside

Columbus Landmarks is accepting nominations for its Annual Design & Preservation Awards. Each year, Landmarks celebrates our city’s latest successes in historic preservation and urban design.  The nomination process is simple, free and intended for the general public. Landmarks will bestow six awards, including the prestigious James B. Recchie Design Award.

Nominations are due by Sept. 2. To submit a nomination, visit the Landmarks’ Web site www.columbuslandmarks.org or call the Landmarks’ office at 221-0227 to request a nomination form. Winners will be announced at the Annual Design & Preservation Awards Program on Nov. 6 at the newly restored Broad Street Presbyterian Church, 760 E. Broad St.

Reynoldsburg police holding blood drive

The Reynoldsburg Division of Police will host a blood drive from noon to 6 p.m. Sept. 5 in the main conference room of the police department. Appointments will begin at noon and run every 15 minutes. To schedule an appointment, contact Cheryl Kristy at 322-6932 or call 1-800-GIVELIFE.

Schwartz named new Communiteen Director

Halle Schwartz has been named the new director of the Florence Melton Communiteen High School. Communiteen is a two-year program that engages young adults in exploring their Jewish identity, using Jewish sources to discuss life issues such as family, sexuality, business ethics and other contemporary issues.

Communiteen, which is supported in part by the Columbus Jewish Federation, meets Sundays, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., from Sept. 14 through May 3 at the JCC. Registration is now open for those wishing to enroll.

For more information on Communiteen or to register, contact Schwartz at (614) 231-2731 or hschwartz@columbusjcc.org.

Attorney to give National Adoption Day seminar

Attorney Thomas Taneff will give a Training Seminar for National Adoption Day at 10 a.m. Sept. 8 at the Capital University Law School, located at 303 E. Broad St. The Seminar will be held in Classroom A-122.  

Taneff will focus on the adoption process as it pertains to finalizing a Franklin County Children Services Agency adoption.  He will provide insightful and useful information for both adoptive couples and their attorneys.

For addition information, contact Taneff at 241-2181 or e-mail at ttaneff@rrcol.com.

Reynoldsburg/Pickerington pig roast set for Sept. 20

The annual Reynoldsburg/Pickerington Rotary Pig Roast will take place at 6 p.m. Sept. 20 at Ken Hoover’s residence, 3177 Beaver Run Road. Dinner will be served at 7 p.m. Cost is $6 per Rotarian, $10 per guest and $5 per child. The event is held for potential members, family and friends. Sign up at Rotary meetings or RSVP to Sue Stadnicar at 314-3852.

Sick leave mandate to be addressed at luncheon

The Ohio sick leave mandate will be the topic of discussion at Reynoldsburg Area Chamber of Commerce’s monthly investor’s luncheon at 11:30 a.m. Sept. 4 at Parkside at Wesley Ridge (I-70 and State Route 256). Cost is $10 per reservation or $20 per person walk-in. For more information, call 866-4753.

Founders Day Dinner

Pickerington Violet Township Historical Society will hold its 22nd annual Founders Day Dinner at 6:30 p.m. Sept. 11 at the Pickerington Senior Center. The menu will consist of golden baked chicken with all the trimmings and will cost $13 per person. Children younger than 5 are $5. The program for the evening will be the Violet Township Fire Department by Chief Kenn Taylor. Order tickets by contacting Joan Heft at 837-5132 or Mary Herron at 833-0044. Reservation deadline is Sept. 8.

The Historical Society will also meet at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 2 at the lower level of the museum. The program will be "Putting the Fun Back in Funerals" by Karen Smith of the Fairfield Heritage Association.

Pickerington to hold 7th annual Petfest

This year’s "Olde Pickerington Village Petfest" will be held from 5 to 9 p.m. Sept. 5 along West Columbus Street in downtown Pickerington. Many pet rescue and adoption groups participate, as well as several pet vendors. Bring your pet and participate in the parade at 7:30 p.m., which will start at 80 W. Church St. There also will be a pet fashion show at 7 p.m. in the gazebo on the corner of Center and Columbus streets. For more information, call Deblin Jennings at 833-3803 or go to www.pickeringtonvillage.com.

Author to speak at Capital

Elizabeth Kolbert will speak at 7:30 p.m. Sept. 15 in Mees Hall at Capital University in Bexley. Her speech is part of The Gerhold Lecture Series. Kolbert is author of "Field Notes from a Catastrophe." For more information, e-mail Kay Slocum at kslocum@capital.edu.

Senior wellness clinic scheduled for September

The Franklin County Board of Health is offering a senior wellness clinic to adults age 50 and older from 9 a.m. to noon at Reynoldsburg Senior Center, 1520 Davidson Drive. While there is no charge to be seen by a nurse, donations are accepted. A minimal charge does apply for hemoglobin and cholesterol screenings if you choose to take advantage of those screenings. Cholesterol profile screens must be scheduled by calling 462-3719.

Immunization clinics scheduled for September

The Franklin County Board of Health is offering child and adult immunizations from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 1 to 3:30 p.m. Sept. 16 at Reynoldsburg FOE Hall #3261, 1623 Brice Road, Reynoldsburg, and from 1 to 3 p.m. Sept. 24 at Jeffrey Mansion, 165 N. Parkview Ave., Bexley. Required immunizations are available for a $10 administration fee to children ages 1 month to 18 years of age. There also is a $15 assessment fee that will be charged each visit. No one will be turned away due to inability to pay for childhood immunizations. Adult immunizations also are available at the clinic and vary in price according to the vaccine; however international travel immunizations are not available. For more information, call 462-3160 or visit www.franklincountyohio.gov/health.

Leadership Coalition to hold wine tasting event

The Women’s Leadership Coalition will hold a wine tasting event from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Sept. 9 at Fifth Third Bank, 1010 Old Diley Road, Pickerington. The guest speaker will be Dr. Karen Mantia, superintendent for Pickerington Local Schools. The event will be catered, along with a Jazz Trio Band, cartoonist and prizes. RSVP to Sabra Kershaw at 523-2437.

Civic club to meet Sept. 2

The Reynoldsburg Civic Club will meet at noon Sept. 2 at Max and Irma’s, 1904 Lake Club Drive. The program will be "History Stories in Greenlawn Cemetery," presented by Sandi Lattimer. Annette Plasterer will provide  Devotions. Vivian Gillis will serve as Hostess with Co-Hostesses Katie Phillips, Nettie Cowman, Dorothy Ball Ziegler and Biruta Buckenberger.

Register for children’s fall programs at Bexley Library

Registration is now being taken for Bexley Public Library’s fall 2008 children’s programs, set to begin the week of Sept. 15.

Babytime is a program for children ages 9 to 24 months and their caregivers. The 20-minute programs feature songs, bounces, and stories, and meets at 9:30 a.m. on Mondays and Wednesdays. Themes will include transportation and the farm.

Toddler Storyhour is a half-hour program for 2-year-olds and an adult, and meets at 10 a.m. Mondays and Wednesdays. The 30-minute programs will include stories, fingerplays and simple craft projects. Books about weather, cats and bedtime will be part of the 8-week session.

Three to 5-year-old children may participate in Preschool Storyhour held at 2 p.m. Mondays, 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Tuesdays, and 7 p.m. Wednesdays. Programs last about 45 minutes and include stories, crafts, games and songs.

"Explorers Club," a program for kindergarteners through third graders, will begin Sept. 24 and meets at 4 p.m. Wednesdays. Topics to be explored during the 6-week session include Australia and monkeys.

All programs, except for Explorer’s Club, require pre-registration. Call the Children’s Department at 231-2878 for more information and to register.

There is no fee for participating in any of the programs. The library is located at 2411 E. Main St.

Capital gallery to feature early works of Ansel Adams

The Schumacher Gallery at Capital University will feature "Ansel Adams: Early Works" from Sept. 2 to Oct. 16. Adams, a photographer, musician, naturalist, explorer, critic and teacher, is a giant in the field of landscape photography. This exhibition, featuring works from the 1920s through the 1950s, provides a fresh look at this legendary master. The show is organized by art2art Circulating Exhibitions of New York. There will be an opening reception from 5 to 7 p.m. Sept. 5. The gallery is located on the fourth floor of the library at the university, located at 1 College and Main in Bexley.

Fitness Challenge

The Mount Carmel Fitness Challenge, held in and around the city of Reynoldsburg, is now in its 15th year and continues to grow popular as participants of all ages and abilities have the opportunity to partake.

This year, the fitness challenge features a 10K run, a 5K run and an in-line skating roll.

This Labor Day event will be filled with recreation excitement for all.

New this year, the Crossroads 10K run will challenge contestants through the streets of Reynoldsburg. This 6-2 mile course is a revised version from the orginal 13.1-mile half marathon to allow a more manageable distance with a big race atompshere.

Complementing the Crossroads 10K run will be the returning Tomato Town 5K run. This 3.1-mile race allows for a broader range of participants to sign up and give it their all.

Join the Raider Roll In-Line 10K, an inline skating roll for speed, skills and a wonderful tour of Reynoldsburg’s city streets. The course will test your knack for small hjills, downhill streets, sharp corners and long straightways. The path has been thoroughly checked to assure a smooth roll.

For details on registration, contact Mary Hudson at 866-4888. To volunteer, call Benjamin Johnson at 920-7093.

Hotline volunteers needed

Caring volunteers are urgently needed to answer the Suicide Prevention Hotline. Because the hotline is answered 24 hours a day, it is vital to recruit and train enough volunteers to cover all shifts.

Volunteers at Suicide Prevention Services will receive 50 hours of training before they begin to answer the hotline. Volunteers make a commitment to answer the hotline for six hours a week for six months and many volunteers choose to continue working once they have completed their original commitment.

Volunteering for Suicide Prevention brings special rewards: training that will prove useful in many life situations, the chance to meet and work with an incredible group of caring people and the opportunity to save lives.

Training for the fall class of volunteers will begin in late September and end in November. Volunteers then work their weekly shifts from December through May.

To learn more about the program or to volunteer, call Mary Brennen-Hofmann or Susan Jennings at 299-6600.

Literacy volunteers needed

The Columbus Literacy Council is holding an information session about tutoring and other volunteer opportunities from 9:30 to 11 a.m. Sept. 20 at the Columbus Literacy Council office, 195 N. Grant Ave. Register at www.columbusliteracy.org or call Norma Wetzel at 221-5013.

Local dentist awarded

The Academy of General Dentistry is pleased to announce that Brian Best, DDS, of Reynoldsburg received the prestigious Mastership Award during the AGD’s Convocation ceremony, a commencement celebration that recognizes AGD member’s commitment to excellence in dental education. Held at the AGD’s Annual Meeting & Exhibits on July 19 in Orlando, Fla., Best accepted this award along with more than 80 other recipients.

The Mastership Award is the highest honor available in the AGD and one of the most respected designations in the profession. This accomplishment meets the highest criteria for professional excellence. To accomplish this, Best completed 1,100 hours of continuing dental education in the 16 disciplines of dentistry, including 400 hours dedicated to hands-on skills and techniques.

Wilkinson named director

Jennifer Wilkinson has been named the new director of JCC North Preschool, replacing Nikki Henry, who now is serving as the director of JCC College Avenue Preschool in Bexley.

Licensed in Early Childhood Education, Jennifer holds a master’s degree in education from the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana, as well as a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Michigan.

JCC early bird season subscription sale

An early bird season subscription sale is going on now through Nov. 1, offering 20 percent discounts on Gallery Players’ 60th season subscriptions orders. The prices for a season subscription for all four shows are: JCC Member, $35; JCC Senior Member (60+), $30; Non-member, $45; and Non-member senior (60+), $40. For more information on the upcoming Gallery Players season, visit the Gallery Players Web site at www.jccgalleryplayers.org or call 559-6248.

Free event highlights artists

Are you an educator, school administrator or arts enthusiast? Join the Greater Columbus Arts Council at the 2008 Artist Preview Night and learn more about arts education opportunities for central Ohio classrooms. This year’s Artist Preview Night will take place from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m. Sept. 16 at Veterans Memorial, 300 W. Broad St. Nearly 100 artists, all of whom are participants in GCAC’s Artists-in-Schools program, will showcase their talent at this annual, free event. GCAC’s Artists-in-Schools links professional artists and arts groups with K-12 schools and community groups, as well as private sector businesses, organizations and individuals. Reservations are not required for the 2008 Artist Preview Night. Contact Oulanje Regan at 221-8625 with questions regarding Artist Preview Night or GCAC’s Artists-in-Schools program.

Community carnival Sept. 7

The Cassingham Elementary  PTO will host a Community Carnival from 2 to 5 p.m. Sept. 7 on the grounds of the Cassingham complex. Pre-sale tickets  will be  made available during the week of Sept. 2-5 and will cost $10 per child. Admission will cost $12 on the day of the event. The Carnival will feature food from Bexley Pizza Plus, a raffle, arts & crafts, Luke the Juggler, a dunk tank, inflatables and many games like a Hula Hoop contest and sack relay races.  The event is set to kick off with a Fun Run for children. All are welcome to attend. For more information, contact Michele Welker at welkerhome@gmail.com.

Farmers’ Market

The Reynoldsburg Farmers’ Market will be open for business from 3:30-6:30 p.m. every Thursday until Sept. 25 in Huber Park on Davidson Drive, just south of  Main Street. For information about becoming a vendor or other questions about the Reynoldsburg Farmers’ Market contact Nadine Morse, market manager at (614) 322-6832.  

JCC winter cruise

The JCC Travel Group is planning a Caribbean cruise on board the Emerald Princess for 10 days beginning Feb. 8, 2009.

The cruise will depart from Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., and include ports of call at Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Barbados, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Thomas, and Princess Cay, Bahamas. Pricing starts at $970 for an inside cabin, $1,250 for an ocean view cabin, and $1,599 for a balcony cabin. Prices are per person, double occupancy, and include 10 nights on board the Emerald Princess, all cruise features on board the ship, and all meals and entertainment. For information, contact Tour Leader Peggy Kaplan at (614) 235-8813 or (614) 560-5652.

Rosary reunion

The Holy Rosary class of 1953 will hold its 55-year class reunion at the Jessing Center at the Josephinum on Sept. 7. For information call Mary Jane (Pumphrey) Ritter at (740) 929-2942.

Bexley Farmers’ Market

The Bexley Farmers’ Market will be open for business in front of Bexley City Hall on Saturdays through October. Hours are from 10 a.m. till 1 p.m.  Central Ohio farmers will be featuring a variety of fresh fruits, vegetables, herbs, flowers and much more.

Short term radon kits

The city of Bexley, in conjunction with the Franklin County Board of Health, has free, short term radon testing kits available for residents to check radon levels in their homes.

Radon is odorless, tasteless, and invisible, but it could be a problem in a home. Radon comes from the natural decay of uranium found in nearly all soils. According to to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, indoor radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the U.S. and leading cause among non-smokers.

To pick up a free radon testing kit, visit the Bexley Muncipal Building, 2242 E. Main St., Monday through Friday during normal business hours. For information call the Franklin County Board of Health at (614) 462-3859 or visit www.franklincountyohio.gov/health

Briggs class of 1993

Briggs High School Class of 1993 is looking for former classmates for the 15-year reunion. The reunion is in the planning phase and those involved would welcome anyone interested in helping out.  The plan is to have the event sometime in the latter part of October, 2008.  Interested alumni can contact Mark Clanin at mclanin@wowway.com or call Michael Crist at 274-9692. Leave contact information and note if you can help.

Picktown Smack Down

On Sept. 14, a "Picktown Smack Down" challenge will be held at Pickerington’s Victory Park at 1 p.m. The event will include fan car bash, dunk tank, trivia contest, best dressed fan and more. The challenge will answer the age old question.. "Who has the best fans – the Cleveland Browns or the Pittsburgh Steelers?" Proceeds from the event will fund Pickerington Kiwanis support of Pickerington Central, Pickerington North, and Bloom-Carroll Key Clubs, and other community based programs including local non-profit organizations that benefit children.

Food pantry reorganizes

The PCMA Food Pantry of Pickerington is the new name of the reorganized food pantry for the Pickerington area.

The Pickerington Christian Ministerial Association (PCMA) and other concerned citizens organized the food pantry in the early 1990s.  After several months of study the Food Pantry and the PCMA are strengthening their ties to one another in an effort to expand and better serve the community.  

Kathy Vogt became the new director in July and the new phone number is (614) 284-1205. The Web address is now PCMAfoodpantry.com.   Hours of operation remain Monday from 7 to 8 p.m. and Thursday and Saturday 10 a.m. to noon.  

The PCMA Food Pantry serves families located within the boundary of the Pickerington Local School District, providing canned and dried foods, meat and personal items for those in need. The food pantry is located on the lower level of the Pickerington Historical Society (former Carnegie Library) on Columbus Street.  Anyone interested in volunteering or contributing to this ministry, can contact the director Kathy Vogt.

Chamber hosting golf event

The Reynoldsburg Area Chamber of Commerce will host its 2008 "Get Into the Swing" golf classic Sept. 10 at Willow Run Golf Course, State Route 161 and State Route 310. The event, a four-person scramble, begins at 11:30 a.m. with lunch and registration. A shotgun start begins at 12:30 p.m. Cost is $85 per person, $300 per team, and includes green’s fees, riding cart, special treats, lunch and a steak dinner at conclusion of play. Registration deadline is Sept. 2. For more information, contact the Chamber office at (614) 866-4753.

GCAC sets grant deadline

The Greater Columbus Arts Council is currently accepting Project Support grant applications from central Ohio arts organizations. Applications are due in the GCAC office, located at 100 E. Broad Street, Suite 2250 by 5 p.m. Sept. 2.

Project Support grants provide funding for specific activities that are distinguishable from an organization’s ongoing operations and programming. Project Support is defined as special, one-time activities such as performances or exhibitions with specific dates, budgets, objectives and evaluation plans. Organizations may request funding for items such as personnel, outside fees and services, space rental, travel associated with the project, production expenses, development and fundraising costs and remaining operating expenses.

New applicants are required to make either a personal or phone appointment to discuss an application prior to the deadline.

For more information or to request a Project Support application and guidelines, contact Ruby Classen at (614) 224-2606 or email your request to grants@gcac.org. The application and guidelines can also be downloaded from www.gcac.org. The next deadline for Project Support grants will be in April.

Military wives hosting lunch