Whats happening on the Westside

Paper recycling program

Parkview United Methodist Church’s paper recycling program is beginning its fifth year. Newspapers, junk mail, catalogs, and more can be dropped in the green and yellow recycling bins in the church’s parking lot, at 344 S. Algonquin Ave. No cardboard or telephone books.

PTSC exercise programs

The Prairie Township Senior Center hosts excercise programs free of costs throughout the week. The schedule is as follows:

Mondays – 10 a.m., Low Impact Aerobics

Tuesdays – 9:30 a.m., Gentle Stretchers

Wednesdays – 10 a.m., Conditioning Exercise

Fridays – 10 a.m., Gentle Stretchers

These programs are provided through a grant from Mt. Carmel hospital. For additional information, call 878-5110.

Committee members needed

The Greater Hilltop Area Commission seeks community members to serve on various committees for the 2007-2008 commission term. Committee members do not have to be members of the full commission. Interested persons can learn about the commission and get more information online at www.TheGHAC.com.

Awana Clubs

Awana Clubs for boys and girls, from three-years-old to sixth grade. These clubs meet on Wednesdays, from 6:45-8:30 p.m., at Briggs Road Baptist Church, 3231 Briggs Road. Call 272-7430 for more information.

GriefShare at local church

GriefShare recovery support group will be hosted by Cypress Wesleyan Church in Galloway each Sunday at 6 p.m. through Dec. 9.  The class will meet in the District Center, 457 Alton-Darby Creek Road (the brick building north of the church, close to the railroad tracks).  Children’s programs are being offered at the same time for infants through 12th grade at no cost. To register or to receive more information, call Debbie Brisentine at the church office, 878-8192 ext. 238, or visit the GriefShare Web site, www.griefshare.org.

Free healthy living courses

The Franklin County Commissioners will host a series of free lunch hour courses geared towards helping residents and county workers enjoy healthier lives.  The courses will be held each Wednesday through the end of the year and are open to the public. Those who attend the courses will receive lessons on healthy activities such as golf, ballroom dancing, cooking, exercise and more. Each session begins at 11:30 a.m. in the first floor lobby of the Franklin County Courthouse, 373 S. High Street. For the schedule of classes, visit www.FranklinCountyOhio.gov/Commissioners.

12 Step Recovery program

Friends Worship Center, 3030 Clime Rd., will host “12 Step Recovery: Celebrate Recovery” for all addictions including co-dependency every Thursday from 7-9 p.m. Come early, stay late for fellowship. For more information, call 279-1892 or 395-6309.

Briggs band alumni

Looking for past members of the Briggs High School marching band, flag corp. andmajorettes for a homecoming reunion. Contact Teresa Wamsley-Baker at briggsbandalumni@aol.com or 419-3358.

Ladies Auxiliary

Plans are underway to form a Ladies Auxiliary Group at AM VETS Post 300.  All post members are asked to participate in this open enrollment.  All women that are related to a Post 300 member (grandmother, mother, wife, daughter, sister, aunt) are encouraged to join and support our military families.  Please contact the Post Commander, Barbara Megoloff, at 614-276-8083 for more information.  Remember, all good deeds start with the family.          

Walkers’ bake sale

The Dodge Senior Center, 667 Sullivant Ave., will hold the Walkers’ Annual Homemade Cookie/Candy Bake Sale, Tuesday, Dec. 11, from 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Christmas luncheon

The Dodge Senior Center, 667 Sullivant Ave., will host a Christmas Luncheon Party, Thursday, Dec. 13, at 11:30 a.m.  Cost is $6 per person. Reservation deadline is Dec. 7. The luncheon will be followed by a holiday game, baskets of goodies for auctioning, plus more goodies to take home.  “The Man” will be here, too. As we did last year, please bring an unwrapped gift  up to age 11, for the  neighborhood childrens’ Christmas Party, marked for a boy or girl.

Bingo Thursday

Bingo Thursday will be held at the Dodge Senior Center, 667 Sullivant Ave., Dec. 13, at 12:30 p.m.  Bring $l worth of non-perishables goods and receive 3 cards; $2 worth gets 6 cards.

Valleyview leaf pick up

The Village of Valleyview will provide leaf pick up to residents Dec. 3. All leaf piles should be placed loosely in the flat portion of the road right-of-ways, not in ditches or alleys. No bags or boxes will be picked up, and no other yard waste except grass clippings may be added to the piles.

Hoge Memorial winter sale

There will be a winter version of the fall sale at Hoge Memorial Presbyterian Church, 2930 W. Broad St., on Dec. 8, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The sale will feature flea market treasures, toys, Christmas items, crafts, inexpensive gift baskets, baked goods and clothing. The public is welcome.

Zone Initiative meeting

Assistant City Attorney, Jody Spurlock, will be speaking at a meeting regarding “The Zone Initiative,” a program started by Columbus City Attorney, Richard C Pfeiffer, to improve communication between the City Attorney’s Office, the Columbus Division of Police, Code Enforcement, the City Dept. of Health and Sanitation, neighborhood associations and other community organizations in order to aid in enhancing Columbus neighborhoods. The meeting will be held Tues, Dec. 4, from 7-8:30 p.m. at Westland High School’s ERC.

Café Christmas

The Cypress Wesleyan Church Women’s Ministry Team will host their annual Café Christmas Dec. 11, from 6:30-8:30 p.m., at the church, 377 Alton-Darby Creek Road, Galloway.  The evening includes Christmas carols, desserts and a hilarious speaker.  All women are welcome to attend. Humor columnist, author and speaker Rhonda Rhea will bring a smile to your face. Rhonda’s work can be seen in publications in the U.S., Canada and South Africa.  She has written hundreds of articles and has published several novels.

Tickets for Café Christmas are $5 and will be sold through Dec. 9. For more information, contact Susan Knight at 878-8192 ext 227.

Westland Band Boosters Christmas tree sale

Westland Band Boosters will hold their annual Christmas tree sale in the Kroger parking lot on the corner of Galloway Road and West Broad Street. The sale will start Nov. 23 and will run until all trees are sold. Hours are Monday through Friday, from 5-8 p.m.; Saturdays from 10 a.m. – 8 p.m.; and Sundays from 12-6 p.m. Prices for trees will start at $30.

Internet Safety Seminars

Hoge Memorial Presbyterian Church, 2930 W. Broad St., will be holding Internet safety seminars Dec. 5 and 12 from 6-9 p.m.  Both seminars will feature presentations by the Columbus Police Department. A representative from the online group Preverted Justice will also be speaking about the dangers of internet chat rooms and staying safe online.

There is no charge to attend but donations will be accepted for the purpose of continuing these seminars. Drinks and snacks will be provided both nights. Seating will be limited, so call the church office in advance at 276-5433, Monday thorugh Thursday, from 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. to reserve seats.

Westgate Secret Santa

Westgate Elementary PTA will hold their annual Secret Santa Dec. 7, from 6-8 p.m. at the school, 3080 Wicklow Road.  A children’s market will sell items for $1-$5, as well as holiday crafts, a silent auction and photos with Santa. Vendors are needed to set up tables and sell their goods. You must provide your own table, and there is a vendors fee of $5.  

Reserve your space today by calling Andrea Burnham at 343-3704. Secret Santa is an annual PTA fundraiser and all profits will benefit the students of Westgate Elementary.

Aglow meeting

Aglow, A network of caring women, will meet Dec. 11 at The Potter’s House, 3220 Lowell Dr., at 9:45 a.m. Continental Breakfast will be served at a cost of $5.

The speaker will be Lois Baker. She will speak on “Fresh Manna from Heaven” and minister in the gifts of the spirit. For reservations and information, call 263-0607 or 889-1708 by noon Dec. 7.

Winona’s Winter Wonderland

Winona’s Winter Wonderland will be held from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Dec. 1 at the Pride of Hilltop Lodge, 700 Athens St., off of Sullivant Ave. There will be holiday shopping, with vendor price ranges from $1-$150, and a children’s shopping area. There will also be gift wrapping, pictures with Santa, food, free parking and door prizes.

Westland Senior Citizens

The Westland Senior Citizens will meet Dec. 13 at Columbia Heights Methodist Church, 775 Galloway Road. the program will be presented by “CEA-R Notes,” a group of retired Columbus teachers. The meeting will begin at 11 a.m. and lunch will be at noon. Bring a dish of food to share. Euchre will follow the luncheon. For more information, call 878-8996 or 870-6476.

WCCWC meeting

The West Columbus Christian Women’s Club luncheon is to be held Tuesday, Dec. 11, from 12-1:45 p.m. at the Heritage Golf Club House, 3525 Heritage Club Dr., Hilliard. Cost is $14. Babysitting is free. Reservations and cancellations are required for the luncheon and nursery. Call Betty at 851-0611 or Audra at 777-5578. The guest speaker will be Susan Thomas with vocalist Karen Wheeler and special feature Chris Bokovac on “Edible Arrangements.”

Y’s Men Christmas tree sale

The Hilltop YMCA Y’s Men will be holding their annual Christmas tree sale at the YMCA, 2879 Valleyview Dr. Hours are Monday – Friday, 2-8 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday, 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Prices start at $25. Profits go to youth programs at the Y and Camp Wilson.

Breakfast with Santa Claus

Breakfast with Santa Claus will be held Saturday, Dec. 15 at 9 a.m. at Westgate United Methodist Church, 61 S. Powell Ave. Cost is $1 for breakfast and you will receive one Polaroid photo taken with Santa. Reservations are required. Call 274-4271 before Dec. 12.

WUMC senior luncheon

Westgate United Methodist Church, 61 S. Powell Ave., will host a senior luncheon Dec. 11 at noon. The entertainment will feature Christmas Bingo and a group from the Gilley Center will be performing. Open to the public. Donations accepted.

Help your child read

The Columbus Speech and Hearing Center is hosting, “Helping Your Child Learn to Read: What Parents Need to Know,” free information sessions for parents of children in kindergarten and first grade.

All sessions are from 7-8 p.m. Locations and dates of the sessions are as follows:

•Dec. 4 – Whetstone Library, 3909 N. High St., Columbus

•Jan. 9 – Upper Arlington Main Library, 2800 Tremont Road, Upper Arlington

•Jan. 16 – Hilliard Library, 4772 Cemetery Road, Hilliard

•Jan. 23 – Westerville Library, 126 S. State St., Westerville

For more information contact Marianne LaRosa at the Columbus Speech and Hearing Center, 263-5151.

Exercise for seniors

Seniors are invited to exercise on Tuesday and Thursday mornings from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. at St. Paul Lutheran Church, 55 Pasadena Ave. Men and women aged 50 to 90 and up have exercised at the facility since 2001. The instructor leads each session with warm-ups, play balls, resistance bands, hand weights, some low-impact aerobics and balance activities. Each participant can adapt the routine to his/her comfort level. The cost is $35 for each eight-week session. Call the instructor, Lori Vazquez, at 989-4595 with questions.

PTSC “Soup-er” Saturday

The Prairie Township Senior Center, 4656 W. Broad St., will be holding thier monthly “Soup-er” Saturday, Dec, 15 from 12-2 p.m. Featured will be “15 bean” soup, corn bread and salad, for a $2.50 donation. This event is open to the public. For more information, call 878-5100.

West High alumni luncheon

The West High School Alumni Association will hold its annual Christmas Luncheon on Saturday,  Dec. 8, at the Fawcett Center, 2400 Olentangy River Road.

The social hour begins at 11 a.m. with lunch served at noon. Cost is $25 per person. All alums are invited. Contact Ed Schmidt for reservations at 878-2956.

There will be a silent auction with proceeds going to the scholarship fund. Among the items up for auction are donations from Nancy Wilson, Michael Redd and Eddie George.

Live nativity scene

There will be a live nativity at Parkview United  Methodist Church, 344 S. Algonquin Ave. (across from Westgate Park) on Saturday, Dec. 8, from 5:30 p.m. till 8:30 p.m.

Westland Mall craft show

There will be a craft show at Westland Mall Dec. 8 and 9. There will be many handmade gifts for Christmas.

Christmas Dinner Theatre

On Dec. 15, Columbia Heights United Methodist Church, 775 Galloway Road, is presenting “Angels, Lambs, Ladybugs & Fireflies,” a Christmas dinner theatre featuring their Youth and Chancel Choirs. The cost is $6 for a spaghetti dinner served at 5:30 p.m. and the show beginning at 6 p.m. Contact the church office at 878-4530 for information.

PTSC “Lunch and Learn”

Prairie Township Senior Center, 4656 W. Broad St., is sponsoring “Lunch and Learn” sessions as follows:

•Dec. 5 – Kyle Hostletler of HBWn Columbus will discuss identity theft.

•Dec. 19 – Sheila Price of Mt. Carmel will discuss medigold coverage.

These sessions, including lunch, begin at 11 a.m. and are free and open to the public. For information and reservations, call 878-5110.

St. Paul Advent services

Advent services will be held at St. Paul Lutheran Church, 55 Pasadena Ave., Wednesdays, Dec. 5, 12 and 19. Soup supper will be at 6:15 p.m. with worship service at 7 p.m. Everyone is welcome. The church is located two blocks west of Doctor’s Hospital. Call 878-4715 for information.

Angels announce Christmas

Meet the angels of the Sunday School and Puppet Ministry on Sunday, Dec. 16 at 10:30 a.m. Worship Service is at St. Paul Lutheran Church, 55 Pasadena Ave., two blocks west of Doctor’s Hospital. Call 878-4715 for more information.

GUMC’s Christmas Carol

Glenwood United Methodist Church will present its production of “From Humbug to Hallelujah: Learning Lessons from a Christmas Carol,” Dec. 2, 9, 16, 23 and 30. Service starts at 10:15 a.m.. The church is located at 2833 Valleyview Dr., on the corner of Valleyview and Hague Ave.

Free clothing and lunch

New Hope Church, 3060 W. Broad St., will provide free womens, mens and some children’s clothing Dec. 22, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Free lunch will also be provided.