Be sure to read the Westside Messenger to find out what’s going on in your neighborhood! To submit events and announcements to this section, e-mail information to westside@columbusmessenger.com.
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.
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.
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.
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:
•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.
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. 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.
CLC information session
The Columbus Literacy Council is holding an information session about tutoring and other volunteer opportunities Jan. 3, from 6-7:30 p.m. The session will be held at the CLC office, 195 N. Grant Ave. Register at www.columbusliteracy.org or call Norma Wetzel at 221-5013 ext. 215.
Blockwatch expansion
There has been so much interest from the surrounding area that it is time to expand the Haldy, North Huron and North Westmoor Blockwatch. Along with that expansion comes a name change. The blockwatch name is now the Great Western Blockwatch Association.
The new, expanded area now covers Haldy Avenue, North Huron, North Westmoor, North Westgate, North Brinker, Orel Avenue, North Roys, North Chase and North Powell, along with all homes on Steele Avenue west of Hague.
There is also a new e-mail address: gwblockwatch@sbcglobal.net. The old e-mail address will also remain active.
If you live in this area and are willing to help by serving as a block captain, contact the blockwatch. Because blockwatch manpower and resources are limited, not all streets will receive fliers for every meeting so be sure to watch the Westside Messenger for announcements for meeting times.
The next meeting is scheduled for Feb. 7 at 7 p.m. at Hoge Memorial Church.
Hoge Memorial happenings
The following holiday events are scheduled to take place at Hoge MemorialPresbyterian Church, 2930 West Broad St. All people are invited!
•December 15, 9 to 11 a.m. – Kids Christmas Crafts
•December 16, 10 a.m. – Children’s Christmas Program
•December 23, 10 a.m. – Christmas Reader’s Theatre
•December 24, 7 p.m. – Christmas Eve Service
Rock on Sullivant
Rock on Sullivant is an after school program sponsored by the Westside Free Store Ministries, 3030 Sullivant Ave. Qualified adult and high school volunteers will be present to help, teach and mentor students on Wednesdays after school until 6 p.m. This program begins Jan. 16 and is free of cost. For more information and to receive required registration information, call 351-5480.
St. Paul Lutheran Church
St. Paul Lutheran Church, located at 55 Pasadena Ave., Will hold Christmas Eve services Dec. 24. Services for the evening include:
6:30 p.m. – Children’s Choir, family service and Holy Communion.
8:30 p.m. – Candlelight service and Holy Communion.
11 p.m. – Candlelight service and Holy Communion.
A Christmas presentation
Abundant Life Tabernacle’s Children’s Ministries Department is presenting “The Season Without Jesus is Treason” on Sunday, Dec. 23 at 10:30 am. The church is located at 35 Derrer Road. For questions or for more information, e-mail admin@abundantlifetabernacle.net or call 279-5433.
“Open Your Heart”
Parkview United Methodist Church, 344 S., Aloquin Ave., presents “Open Your Heart,” a musical candlelight Christmas Eve, at 7 p.m. Dec. 24.
