Whats happening on the Westside

Mindful Mothers craft bazaar

Mindful Mothers Club of London announced that the Spring Craft Bazaar will be Saturday, March 17, from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m., at Choctaw Lake Lodge, 2875 Oneida Drive, London. Area arts and crafts makers will display and sell their creations and merchandise. Approximately 40 arts and crafts vendors will be displaying a variety of wares, including Easter crafts and unique spring decorations, folk art, handmade silk bags, baby quilts, OSU Buckeye crafts, and much more. The Easter Bunny will be visiting and available for pictures from 11 a.m. -1 p.m. for $3.  A lunch/snack bar will be available, as well. Mindful Mothers Club is a member of the Ohio Child Conservation League, a non-profit, non-sectarian, educational organization whose members are interested in conserving our greatest natural resource – our children! For more information, contact Chantal Weldon at 740-852-2082.

Free clothing and lunch

New Hope Church, 3060 W. Broad St., will provide free womens, mens and some childrens clothing, March 22, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Free lunch will be provided. All are welcome. This is a monthly event. Read the Westside Messenger for future dates.

FHHS jazz band dinner

The annual Franklin Heights High School jazz band’s jazz dinner and dance will be held April 18 from 6-11 p.m., at the Berwick Manor Restaurant.  Following the dinner, the jazz band will perform. Tickets are $25 per person for adults and $15 for children 11 and under. Contact Brenda Lenihan at 871-0645 or Cyd Ball at 278-7847 for more information or to by tickets. Tickets should be purchased in advance. All profits from this event will benefit the Franklin Heights High School band.

Discover Ready Night

Bishop Ready High School is hosting Discover Ready Night on Tuesday, March 18, at 7 p.m. at the high school, located on the corner of Mound Street and Salisbury Road. The event is for parents and guardians of elementary school students in grades five through eight.

This an opportunity to learn about the academic, sports, and co- and extra-curricular programs and financial aid/student scholarship programs that the school offers.

For more information, call Mr. Joe Lang, Director of Admissions at Bishop Ready, at 276-5263, ext. 201.

PTSC Lunch and Learns

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

•March 19, John Meyers of Sunset Cemetery will discuss “Services Offered”

•March 26, Monica Mayer of UCP Gracie Kindig will discuss “Volunteerism”

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

PTSC hosts seminars

The Prairie Township Senior Center, 4656 W. Broad Street, will be hosting the following seminars:

•March 14, a representative from Edward Jones will be at the center from 1-3 p.m. to answer questions about investments. No appointment is needed.

•March 15, at 1 p.m., LVRA will sponsor a “Clean and Safe” program about graffiti at the center, presented by the Franklin County Sheriff’s Department.

•April 4, Joyce Johnson of the Breathing Association will discuss “Better Breathing”

For more information, call 878-5110.

Free Spanish/English classes

Free Spanish/English classes will be offered to anyone interested at the Free Store, 3030 Sullivant Ave., on Wednesdays, beginning March 26 through May 28 from 7-8 p.m. Child care will be provided.

Holy Week and Easter services

St. Paul Lutheran Church, 55 Pasadena Ave., has announced its Holy Week and Easter services:

•Palm Sunday, March 16, 8 and 10:30 a.m. worship services; 9:10 a.m. Sunday school.

•Maundy Thursday, March 20, 7 p.m. worship services, sharing Holy Communion.

•Good Friday, March 21, 7 p.m. worship service.

•Easter Sunday, March 23, 6:30 a.m. sunrise service; 7:30 a.m. breakfast (guests welcome); 8:30 and 10:30 a.m. festival worship services, Holy Communion shared at both services. No Sunday School.

Call 878-4715 for more information or log onto www.stpaulcommunity.com.

Easter Egg Hunt

Abundant Life Tabernacle, 35 Derrer Road, is having an Easter Egg Hunt for children 11 and under on March 23. The hunt will take place following Easter service, which begins at 10:30 a.m. There will be prizes, candy and eggs. Anyone with questions should e-mail admin@abundantlifetabernacle.net or call 79-5433.  

Paper recycling at Parkview

Parkview United Methodist Church, 344  S. Algonquin Ave., is providing the community with recycling bins for paper products. Bring newspapers, magazines, junk mail, etc., to the green and yellow bins in the church parking lot. No cardboard or phone books will be accepted.

Spaghetti Dinner

New Horizons United Methodist Church, at 1669 Harrisburg Pike, will hold a spaghetti dinner on April 19, from 4-7 p.m. Cost is $7 per person.

March MOPS meeting

The Life in Christ Fellowship MOPS (Mothers Of PreSchoolers) meeting will be March 19. Registration begins at 9:15 a.m., then enjoy a light breakfast at 9:30. There is no charge.  Your children have fun with stories, music, crafts and a snack in their own MOPPETS program (with babies cared for in the nursery).  Meanwhile, mothers will continue exploring this year’s theme, “The Home Factor,” with a DVD Home Tour entitled “The Great Room – Style on a Budget.”  The guide, Shari, will show how she used her creativity born of a tight budget and a sense of the significance of beauty to create her very special home.  To complete the meeting, help will be provided with various sewing projects mothers may have been putting off, such as hemming a pair of slacks, mending a seam, or just sewing on buttons. Are you needle-and-thread challenged? Bring one or two items that need some stitching! This MOPS group meets in the New Life Nazarene Church located at 2020 State Route 142 NE, West Jefferson. It’s not too late to join. Call Pam at 614-853-2532 or Lois at 614-878-3535 for more information.

Flashlight Easter egg hunt

An Easter egg hunt will be held at  Columbus West Church Of God, 5109 Palmetto St. on March 22. Children in preschool through third grade will hunt from 10 a.m. to noon and the fourth to fifth grade’s turn is from 7-8 p.m. Fourth and fifth-graders need to bring a flash light – they will be hunting in the dark! Call 878-6808 for more information.

Fifth Annual Youth Clinic

Westland Cougar Baseball will hold its Fifth Annual Youth Clinic at the Westland Recreation Center. Dates are March 29 from 11 a.m.-2 p.m., and March 30 from 2-5 p.m. Students aged 7-18 will work on their baseball skills. Cost is $40 and includes a t-shirt. For more information call or e-mail coach David Daniels at 851-7000 or david.daniels@swcs.us; or Mike Simms at 893-4498 or coachmike@wideopenwest.com. Registration forms can be downloaded at www.westlandcougars.com.

SWAC March meeting

The Southwest Area Commission meets on the third Wednesday of each month. The March meeting will be March 19, at 7 p.m. at the New Horizons United Methodist Church, 1665 Harrisburg Pike. The agenda will include discussion of health issues that are important to the community.  Visit the Web site, www.columbusswac.org, for additional information about the commission. The commission welcomes the involvement of area residents.  The commission boundaries are the Scioto River on the east, I-270 on the south, the railroad tracks west of Harrisburg Pike on the west, Mound Street to Mt. Calvary to Greenlawn Avenue on the north. The commission can be contacted through our Web site, or by phone at 562-4728.

St. Cecilia Holy Week

St. Cecilia Church, located at 434 Norton Road (corner of Norton Road and Sullivant Avenue), will host the following events during Holy Week:

Tenebrae Service – The Saint Cecilia Choir is presenting a Service of Tenebrae, March 17, at 7:30 p.m.  The service lasts about 75 minutes and is comprised of sacred motets, readings from Lamentations, sung psalmody, and anthems that reflect the suffering and triumph of Holy Week.

The Passion of Christ, in detail – A detailed examination of the passion and death of Christ will be presented on March 19 at 7 p.m. in the St. Cecilia Parish Center. Lay Catechist Tony Stout has given this moving talk numerous times over the years to churches, youth groups and prison ministries. This presentation is a pathological analysis of the physical aspects of Jesus’ crucifixion. Not for the faint of heart, yet essential for understanding the profound sacrifice He paid for our salvation. The presentation includes stirring musical accompaniment by Tony’s twin brother Dwayne. Child care will be provided. Due to the graphic nature of the program it is not recommended for children under 13.

Westgate Easter egg hunt

Westgate Recreation Center, 455 S. Westgate Ave., will be holding its annual Easter Egg Hunt on Saturday, March 22, at 10 a.m. Plan to arrive at the park by 9:45 a.m. The hunt is divided into five age groups and is held for children ages 11 and under. This outdoor event is held rain or shine.  Call 645-3264 for more information.  

“The Last Supper”

A live dramatization of Leonardo da Vinci’s “The Last Supper” will be presented Thursday, March 20 at 7 p.m. at Parkview United Methodist Church, 344 S. Algonquin Ave. The Westside Methodist cluster of churches and members from several local churches will be involved in the production. All are welcome to see the 1494 painting come to life. The production is free and open to the public.

WNA meeting rescheduled

The meeting of the Westgate Neighbors Association scheduled for March 9 was snowed outand has been rescheduled for March 16, from 2-4 p.m. in the community room of the Hilltop branch of the Columbus Public Library.

CHUMC preforms “Is It I?”

Columbia Heights United Methodist Church, 775 Galloway Road, will present the moving drama, “Is It I?” on Thursday, March 20 at 7 p.m. This living dramatization of Leonardo da Vinci’s painting, “The Last Supper,” captures the moment the word “betray” has fallen on the ears of Jesus’ disciples.

Holy Communion will be served to all who attend the close of the drama. There is no charge, a freewill offering will be accepted.

Crossroads UM egg hunt

Crossroads United Methodist Church, on the corner of Briggs Road and Hague Avenue, will host an Easter egg hunt on Saturday, March 21, at 11 a.m. This event will be held inside or outside depending on the weather.

Potter’s House Easter Services

The Potter’s House Church of God, 3220 Lowell Dr., will hold Easter Sunday Services on March 23 at 9 and 11 a.m. Pastor Tim Oldfield will preach the Easter message.

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.

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.

PTSC exercise programs

The Prairie Township Senior Center hosts exercise 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.

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.         

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. 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 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 Auxiliary 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 their 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.

Paper tax preparation at PTSC

The Prairie Township Senior Center, 4656 West Broad St., will be offering paper income tax preparation for senior citizens. This service is courtesy of AARP and Mr. Ed Haney, volunteer coordinator. There is no charge for this service, but you must call the center, at 878-5110, for an appointment. Bring the following: your 2006 tax return, your social security card, and all tax papers for 2007.

Free jewelry repair for seniors

Bill Higgins of the Prairie Township Senior Center, 4656 West Broad St., will offer free jewelry repair to senior citizens on the second and fourth Thursday of each month, at the center, starting at 1 p.m. This service will continue as long as the service is needed. For more info, call the center at (614) 878-5110.

Golden Age Center

The Salvation Army Golden Age Center, 2300 W. Mound St., invites anyone aged 60 or over to attend on Tuesdays and Thursdays, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., for lunch, crafts, movies, BINGO, games, health and fitness, and fun. Call Ellen Marvin, senior director, at 274-7600, ext. 108, one day in advance to reserve lunch for $1.25 per day. Trips are available for $9 per month.

CLC Information Sessions

The Columbus Literacy Council is holding Information Sessions about tutoring and other volunteer opportunities on March 19 and April 2, from 6-7:30 p.m. The sessions will be held at the CLC office, 195 N. Grant Ave. Register at www.columbusliteracy.org or call Norma Wetzel at 221-5013.

Gang hotline

The Columbus Division of Police is conducting a six month pilot project using the phone number 645-GANG (4264). Citizens in Columbus are encouraged to leave a detailed message about gang activity in their neighborhood. The Division is using this number specifically for information associated with gang activity.  Other information not pertaining to gangs should be referred to 645-4545.