Whats happening on the Westside

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.

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.          

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.

GriefShare seminar

GriefShare seminar and support group (for those grieving the loss of a loved one) will meet at Cypress Wesleyan Church, 377 Alton-Darby Creek Road, each Sunday at 6 p.m. through April 6. For more information or to register, call Debbie Brisentine at the church office, 878-8192, ext. 238. There is also children’s programming available each Sunday for infants through high school age  – some require pre-registration so ask about that when you call. Log on to www.griefshare.org or www.cypressonline.net for more information.

DivorceCare seminar

DivorceCare recovery seminar and support group will meet at Cypress Wesleyan Church, 377 Alton-Darby Creek Road, each Sunday at 6 p.m. through April 6. There will also be one session held the morning of Saturday, Feb. 2. For more information or to register, call Debbie Brisentine at the church office, 878-8192, ext. 238.  There is also children’s programming available each Sunday for infants through high school age – some require pre-registration so ask about that when you call. You can also check out the DivorceCare Web site, www.divorcecare.org or the church Web site, www.cypressonline.net, for more information.  

Free AARP help

Dodge Senior Center, 667 Sullivant Ave., is offering free AARP help on Thursday, Jan 31. through April 10 by appointment. Call Dodge at 645-3176 to schedule.  Appointment times are 9, 10 and 11 a.m., as well as 12 noon. Bring your copy of last year’s tax forms and any other necessary information.

VFW Post 6065

VFW Post 6065 will hold their meetings on the third Thursday of each month at 5 p.m. Meetings last about one hour and are held at the Prairie Township Senior Center, 4656 West Broad St. Those interested in getting involved or volunteering time should attend a meeting. The Ladies Auxilary meets at 6:30 p.m. The motivations of the VFW are patriotic, historical, and educational. They strive to perpetuate the memory and history of thier dead, and to assist their widows and orphans. Call Will Davis at 309-0171 for further information.

St. Paul Benefit Bank

The Benefit Bank at St. Paul Lutheran Church will have trained people available on Thursdays from 2-4 p.m. and every other Saturday from 9 a.m. to 12 noon to assist individuals through the initial paperwork to receive the following services:

•Food Stamps

•Healthy Start/Healthy Families

•Title 20 Child Care Subsidies

•Ohio Works First

•Medicare Savings program

•HELP (Home Energy Assistance Program)

•Voter Registration

The church is located at 55 Pasadena Ave., just west of Doctor’s Hospital. Call 878-4715 for more information.

Help available at NDCC

Are you in the midst of a life transition? New Directions Career Center (NDCC), a non-profit, United Way agency, offers individuals support to enter or re-enter the work force – regardless of their ability to pay. Their licensed counselors take a holistic, individualized approach to seminars and workshops focusing on career building techniques with the ultimate goal of achieving financial independence though fulfilling employment. Additionally, the four week, New Directions class is designed exclusively for women re-entering the workforce after a death, divorce, addiction, depression, etc. Placement services are available to program graduates.

For more information on programs, services, or scholarships contact Meredith Kitts at 849-0028.

Free clothing and lunch

New Hope Church, 3060 W. Broad St., will provide free womens, mens and some children’s clothing Jan. 26, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Free lunch will also be provided. All are welcome. This is a monthly event. Read the Westside Messenger for information on future dates.

Valleyview open council seat

The Village of Valleyview Council is currently accepting resumes for an open council seat that was not filled in the last election. The term of the seat is from Jan. 1, 2008 to Dec. 31, 2012. Send or drop off all resumes to Village Hall by Jan. 28.

 In your resume, list all qualifications and reason for seeking the position.

Note: All applicants must be a resident of the Village to be considered.

Fund-raising vendor fair

The South-Western City Schools District Council of PTA’s is hosting the 6th annual fund-raising vendor fair.  

The event will take place in the commons at Westland High School, located at 146 Galloway Road, in Galloway, on Feb. 2 from 9 a.m. to noon. Fund raising vendors will be showcasing products available for fund raisers for spring and fall. The event is open to the public. The council is inviting all PTA/PTSA’s, booster groups, trip advisors, and school staff.  

For more information, contact Diane Walker at 276-8828.

CCHS music competition

The Central Crossing High School Instrumental Music Department has announced their 6th annual “Indoor Winterguard and Drumline MEPA Competition” to be held at CCHS on February 2-3. Saturday hours are 10 a.m. -10 p.m. and Sunday 9 a.m. -5 p.m. This competition will host over 130 different performing units from across Ohio and adjacent states. Each day will have its own awards ceremony as there are actually two separate competitions. The contest will be open to the public with admission at the door. Adults aged 19-61 will be charged $8 all day, youths 7-18 are $7 and under 6 are free. Questions may be directed to Justin Hibbitt, assistant director of bands at CCHS, by calling 801-6543 or e-mailing Justin.hibbitt@swcs.us. or by visitng the Web site, www.centralcrossingband.org.

Busy Bee Playtime

Busy Bee Playtime is held every Thursday morning from  10 a.m. to noon at Sharon Mennonite Church in Plain City. Busy Bee Playtime is held in the church’s fellowship hall, where there is room for children ages 0-5 to play and fellowship together. It is a chance for the children to play while the adults watch over them and also visit with each other. Near the end of the playtime, we have a short circle time to sing songs together.    

All children need to be accompanied by a parent, grandparent, or caregiver. There is no cost. You are welcome to come late or leave early since this is an “open gym” format. The program runs through the end of May. The church is located at 7675 Amity Pike in Plain City. For more information, e-mail busybees@sharonmennonite.org or call the church at 614-873-8290.

NDCC financial seminar

New Directions Career Center, a non-profit, United Way agency, is offering a free workshop to support job seekers with financial concerns. The two-hour program addresses how to handle the financial challenges often prompted by unemployment.

Presenter Reggie Thomas of Huntington Bank will share how to prioritize financial goals and obligations, talk with creditors when you cannot pay bills, maintain housing and insurance, effectively employ strategies for spending less, and much more.  

The workshop, open to women and men, will be held Jan. 29 from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. at New Directions Career Center, 370 S. Fifth St., Suite G-1. There is no charge to attend the event but participants must register by calling 849-0028, extension 100.

Gantz scholarship

Gardens at Gantz volunteers are offering a scholarship of up to $1,000 to a student interested in studying landscaping, horticulture, sustainable living or conservation at an accredited college or university. They are also offering a $500 grant to an organization with a gardening related project.

Applicants must be residents of the South-Western City School District. The application deadline is March 31. Contact gantzedu@wideopenwest.com for additional details and applications.

WCCWC luncheon

The West Columbus Christian Women’s Club luncheon is to be held Tuesday, Feb. 26, from noon to 1:45 p.m. at the Heritage Golf Club House, 3525 Heritage Club Dr., Hilliard. The cost is $14, inclusive. Babysitting is free, and reservations and cancellations are required for the nursery.

Guest speaker will be Terri Sevinsky of Strongsville; vocalist will be Karen Wheeler; special feature for the day is Cathy Sherman of Carriage House of Flowers.

For reservations, call Betty at 861-0611, or Audra at 777-5578.

PTSC “Soup-er” Saturday

The Prairie Township Senior Center, 4656 W. Broad St., will be holding their monthly “Soup-er” Saturday, open to the public, on Jan. 19, from 12 noon to 2 p.m. Featured will be chili and vegetable soup for a $2.50 donation. For further information, call 878-5110.

PTSC Lunch and Learn

Prairie Township Senior Center, 4656 W. Broad St., is sponsoring Lunch and Learn sessions during the month of January. All sessions begin at 11 a.m., include lunch, and are free and open to the public. For more info, call 878-5110. The schedule is as follows:

•Jan. 23 – Patricia Williams of Summerville at the Pinacle will discuss “Senior Living.”

•Jan. 30 – Joyce Thomas of Heartland Hospice will speak about Alzheimer’s disease.

Chili and Soup Cook Off

Parkview United Methodist Church, 344 S. Algonquin Ave., will hold their annual Chili and Soup Cook Off on Saturday, Feb. 16 at 5 p.m. in the fellowship hall. For more information, contact Bette Fisher at 274-7293 or Marianna Scott at 274-9231.

CLC Information Sessions

The Columbus Literacy Council is holding Information Sessions about tutoringand other volunteer opportunities on Jan. 26 and Feb. 23, from 9:30 – 11:30 a.m. The sessions will be held at the CLC office, 195. North Grant Ave. Register at www.columbusliteracycouncil.org or call Norma Wetzel at 221-5013 ext. 215.

St. Mary Open House

St. Mary Magdalene School will hold an Open House for perspective students and their families Jan. 27, from 12:30 to 2 p.m. This is an opportunity to learn about the school and its programs and take a tour of the buildings. Information on registration, tuition assistance and the voucher program will be available. For questions, call 279-9935 or visit the Web site at www.saintmarymag.org.

Anti-gang seminar

The Great Western Blockwatch, in association with the Columbus Division of Police, is proud to present an anti-gang seminar. Everyone within the Westside Messenger’s distribution area is invited and encouraged to attend.

This meeting will be held Feb. 7, at 7 p.m. at Hoge Memorial Presbyterian Church, 2930 W. Broad St. and is free of charge. The special speaker is Detective Thad Alexander of the Columbus Division of Police Anti-gang Unit.

Detective Alexander will present information on how to recognize and protect ourselves from gangs as well as inside information to the inner-workings of specific gangs across the country and gangs right here on the Westside of Columbus.

“Aglow” meeting

“Aglow,” a network of caring women, will meet Feb. 12, at The Potter’s House, 3220 Lowell Dr., at 9:45 a.m.

Continental Breakfast will be served at a cost of $5.

Our speaker will be Rev. Scott Kelso, Steering Committee Chairman of C-CAM.  Through the lessons and experiences he will share, each one can learn how God wants to ignite you to fulfill your life’s destiny and use you to pass that flame on to others. Men are invited.

For reservations and more information, call 263-0607 or 889-1708 by noon Friday, Feb. 8.

OHC openings

The Ohio Hispanic Coalition has immediate openings available for individuals who speak fluent English and any other foreign language within the Interpreter Services department.  

Languages in high demand include: Spanish, Somali, Portuguese, Russian, East Asian (more specifically Mandarin and Cantonese) and American Sign Language (ASL).  All languages accepted!

Interested individuals are encouraged to apply in person Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at: Ohio Hispanic Coalition, 6161 Busch Blvd., Suite 311, Columbus, Ohio 43229.

First Saturday at Greenlawn

The Tyler family, one of the oldest African American families in Franklin County, is the topic for the Feb. 2 First Saturday at Green Lawn program which celebrates Black History Month.

Kelly McCoy Williams will be talking about the matriarch of that family, Ann Fowler McCoy, one of the many family members at Green Lawn. Ann Fowler McCoy was the first member of the family to arrive in Ohio, settling in the Buckeye State in 1817.

Among her descendants were a Columbus newspaper reporter, a well-known pharmacist on the east side of Columbus, and television reporter Dana Tyler, formerly with a local station, but  now in New York.

The program will be held at 11 a.m. at the Huntington Chapel at Green Lawn, 1000 Greenlawn Ave. The program is free and open to the public.

First Saturday programs, offered every month, celebrate the life of people interred at Green Lawn who had an impact on life in Central Ohio. The programs are free and open to the public.

The program is one of the many activities offered by the Green Lawn Volunteers.