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.
Free Spanish/English classes
Free Spanish/English classes will be offered to anyone interested at the Free Store, 3030 Sullivant Ave., on Wednesdays, through May 28 from 7-8 p.m. Child care will be provided.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Free jewelry repair
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.
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.
Briggs class of 1978 reunion
The Briggs High School class of 1978 is in the process of contacting all alumni for the 30 year reunion. If you are an alumni, or know someone who is, contact the reunion committee at briggs1978@sbcglobal.net or call Ray France at 878-7554, Penny (Wilson) Nott at 875-4681, or Joe Bechemer at 425-4439. Call to pre-order to a commemorative t-shirt.
Columbus hydrant flushing
Beginning April 29, The Columbus Division of Fire will begin their annual three-month program to flush the city’s 24,000 fire hydrants, said Fire Chief Ned Pettus, Jr.
This year, hydrant flushing will be conducted in two phases. The Westside will be included in phase two, which will take place June 11 through July 22.
Hydrant flushings will be performed seven days a week, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Water could become cloudy or rusty during the flushing process, particularly in older neighborhoods. This condition is not a health hazard, and should clear up within 24-hours. However, residents in flushing areas should check their water before doing laundry because discolored water could stain laundered clothing.
Residents can call the Columbus Division of Fire’s Hydrant Hot Line at 645-4055 to obtain daily updates listing specific Columbus neighborhoods to be flushed. The hot line will be updated at 9 a.m. each day throughout the three-month hydrant maintenance program.
The city’s hydrants are flushed annually to test their performance and correct any problems that might interfere with their operation.
Free financial education
The Salvation Army West Mount Corp and STE Credit Union are sponsoring a free six-week financial education class. The class will be held weekly on Thursdays through May 22 between the hours of 3-4:30 p.m at the Salvation Army West Mount Corp, 2300 W. Mound St. The class is open to all adults and teenagers who want to succeed by learning about money management skills and positive financial behaviors. Planning, budgeting, investing, good debt vs. bad debt, checking accounts, insurance, and career planning are all topics that will be addressed.
To register for this workshop, call Keri Moser at 614-728-5931.
FHHS class of 1966
Franklin Heights High School, Class of 1966, will be holding a 60th birthday party reunion on Saturday, Aug. 2, from 12-6 p.m. at Heimat Haus, 4555 Jackson Pike (Route 104). Contact Becky (Sweazy) Malone for details and to RSVP by calling (614)801-9059 or e-mail bmalone@columbus.rr.com.
Youth Philharmonic auditions
The Youth Philharmonic of Central Ohio is accepting applications for advanced musicians, grades 8-12 for violins, violas, cellos, bass, flutes, oboes, clarinets, bassoons, trumpets, French horns, English horns, trombones, tubas and percussion. Auditions will be held 6-9 p.m. May 12 at Capital University, 6-9 p.m. May 19 at Worthington Kilbourne Middle School, and 6-9 p.m. May 20 at Otterbein College. Call 614-470-0739 or email ypco@hotmail.com for application and appointment. Visit the Web site, www.ypco.net for application and further information.
CHUM garage sale
Columbia Heights United Methodist Church will be holding a garage sale as part of Lincoln Village’s “Flea Fantasia” at its new building (775 Galloway Road) on Friday, May 16 (9 a.m.-4 p.m.), Saturday, May 17 (9 a.m.-3 p.m.), and Sunday, May 19, after church (approximately 11:30 a.m.).
CHS class of 1948
The Central High School class of 1948 will hold its 60th class reunion on July 13 at COSI from noon to 4 p.m. For more information contact John Allen at 875-4359, Bill Rector at 889-5608, Ardie Schirtzinger at 272-0295, Florance (Voss) McCarty at 876-2181 or Susan (Jones) Metzger at 901-2678.
Senior luncheon
There will be a senior luncheon on May 13 at noon at Westgate United Methodist Church, 61 South Powell Ave. This event is open to the public, donations will be accepted.
Spring Flea Fantasia
The Lincoln Village Residence Association will be hosting their annual Spring Flea Fantasia, a community wide flea market, on May 16-18 from 9 a.m.-6 p.m. The Prairie Township Senior center will have lunch available at the corner of Murray Hill and Darbyhurst at reasonable prices.
FOWP cleanup and planting
Friends of Westgate Park are hosting a spring cleanup and planting at Westgate Park on Saturday, May 17 from 9 a.m.-12 p.m. Meet at the recreation center’s parking lot doors. Dress for dirt! Gloves, bags, and litter grabbers will be available, along with limited garden tools. If you have a specific tool that you like (spade, shovel, pruners, etc.) bring it along. Call Lisa Grazier at 274-4382 or e-mail at lmgrazier@yahoo.com for more information.
GWB spring cleanup
Spring cleanup Day for the Great Western Blockwatch area will be May 17 at 10 a.m. Meet in the parking lot at Hoge Memorial Church on West Broad Street. Doughnuts and juice will be served starting at 9:30 a.m. This is a pre-approved way for students of the Columbus City School district to add to their required community service hours.
Westland Area Commission
The next meeting of the Westland Area Commission will be held at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 21, at Doctors’ Hospital, 5100 W. Broad St. Area residents are encouraged to attend the meeting and speak with commission members about concerns they have in the community.
FHHS debuts piece
On May 19 at 7:30 p.m., the Franklin Heights High School symphonic band will debut a piece of music written by James Swearingen. “Nightflight,” was commissioned by the Franklin Heights band boosters in honor of Tiffany Loukinas, a former band member who died tragically in an automobile accident in 2006.
“Nightflight” will be played during the FHHS graduation concert in the high school auditorium. In addition to the symphonic band, the concert band, string orchestra, and jazz ensembles will be performing. The public is welcome to attend this event. Admission is $3 at the door.
CCS kindergarten roundup
If you have a child who will be five years-old on or before September 30 and you live inside the Columbus City Schools district, now is the time to enroll for full-day kindergarten for the upcoming 2008-09 school year.
By registering early your child will have the opportunity to visit their new school and meet the principal before school starts. Parents will also receive valuable information about how to further prepare their child for kindergarten and what to expect. For additional questions, or to determine your child’s assigned school, contact the FACTline at 221-FACT from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
West Broad kindergarten roundup
West Broad Elementary will host parents of incoming kindergartners for the 2008-2009 school year on May 21 from 12:45-1:45 p.m. Register for kindergarten and see a typical kindergarten experience, and meet the staff. Those unable to attend should register between April 23 and May 30. Each parent will receive helpful information for kindergarten success and each student will receive a gift. To register, parents will need to provide the child’s birth certificate, immunization record, social security number and address verification.
Free clothing and lunch
New Hope Church, 3060 W. Broad St., will provide free women’s, men’s and children’s clothing clothing May 24, 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.
CCHS Spaghetti dinner
The Central Crossing High School band boosters will sponsor a spaghetti dinner on May 18 from 1-3 p.m. in the cafeteria of the high school to benefit the band programs.
Entertainment will be provided by the CCHS jazz band. Tickets for the dinner are $5 per person and includes spaghetti, bread, salad, dessert and a drink. A raffle will also be held for $1 per ticket. Presale dinner tickets can be obtained by contacting Stephanie Arnold at 853-1031.
CCHS car wash
The Central Crossing High School band will sponsor a car wash at Broadway Wash and Lube, 3118 Broadway in Grove City, on May 17 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Band students will be drying cars and proceeds from each wash will benefit the band program. The rain date for this event is May 24 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
PTSC “Lunch and Learn”
The Prairie Township Senior Center, 4656 West Broad St., is hosting free “Lunch and Learn” sessions in May. These sessions begin at 11 a.m., are open to the public, and include lunch. The scheduled sessions are as follows:
•May 7, Amy Shaffer, of The Convalarium, will present “Downsizing.”
•May 14, Michelle Dooley, of Health Care Odyssey, will present “Hospice 101.”
•May 21, Marsha Glaser and Stact Weimer of Senior Independence will present “Respecting Choices.”
AARP driving course
The Prairie Township Senior Center, located at 4656 West Broad St., will host a driver’s training course for senior citizens ages 50 and over. This will be a two part class, held May 13 and May 15 from 10 a.m. to 2:20 p.m. Bring a sack lunch. Cost is $10. At the end of the course, participants will recieve a certificate of completion for insurance discounts. There will be no actual driving involved. For a reservation or more information, call PTSC at 614-878-5110.
Senior health fair at YMCA
The HIlltop Branch of the YMCA, 2879 Valleyview Dr., will host a health fair on May 15 in celebration of Older Adults Month. The information and health fair can help people make better choices for a healthier future. The YMCA will host over 25 health care professionals and exhibitors, health screenings and fitness demonstrations. There will be a SilverSneaker mini-class, plus hourly fitness and facility tours.
Seniors attending the fair will receive a free Hilltop YMCA day pass to use in the month of May.
There will be give-away gifts for the first 50 people that attend. This event offers a fun day with games and door prizes while learning more about good health and local adult health care services.
CLC Information Session
The Columbus Literacy Council is holding an Information Session about tutoring and other volunteer opportunities on Friday, June 20, from 1-2:30 p.m. the session will take place at the CLC office, 195 North Grant Ave. Register at www.columbusliteracycouncil.org or call Norma Wetzel at 221-5013.
WCCWC Luncheon
The West Columbus Christian Women’s Club Luncheon is to be held Tuesday, May 27, from 12-1:45 p.m. at the Heritage Golf Club House, 3525 Heritage Club Dr., in Hilliard. Cost is $14, inclusive. Guest speaker is Lynn Hodge, vocalist is Lavonne Bardell and special feature is “Fabric Post Card.” Call Betty at 851-0611 or Audra at 777-5578 to make or cancel reservations. For more information, call Mary Green at 876-6155.
CLC Information Session
The Columbus Literacy Council is holding an Information Session about tutoring and other volunteer opportunities on Thursday, May 22, from 6-7:30 p.m. the session will take place at the CLC office, 195 North Grant Ave. Register at www.columbusliteracycouncil.org or call Norma Wetzel at 221-5013.
Bowling for charity
Saxton Real Estate is sponsoring a Bowling for Relay for Life event, for all proceeds to benefit the American Cancer Society. The event will be held at Western Lanes, 500 Georgesville Road, on June 7, from 6-8:30 p.m. Cost is $20 for adults and $9 for each child, and includes, pizza, soda and a maximum of three games of bowling. Shoe rental is free. To register or for more information, call Kim Sothard at 883-1401, or Jerry Hunt at 883-1421. Lanes are limited.
PT Memorial Day services
The Prairie Township Trustees invite the public to attend the annual Memorial Day services at the township cemeteries on Monday, May 26.
A service will be held at Galloway Cemetery at 9:30 a.m., conducted by the Grove City Memorial Veteran of Foreign Wars Post 8198. They will place flags on veterans’ graves.
A service will also be held at Alton Cemetery at 11:30 a.m., conducted by the Camp Chase Post 98 of the American Legion, VFW Post 6065 and AMVETS Post 1928. They will also place flags on the veterans’ graves.
Blood drive and care wash
Abundant Life Tabernacle, 35 Derrer Road, is hosting a Red Cross Blood Drive on Saturday, May 24 from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. A free car wash will also be going on from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. To make a blood donation appointment or if you have any questions, e-mail ttatman@abundantlifetabernacle.net or call 614-279-5433. Walk ins are also welcome.
Camp Chase Blockwatch to meet
Camp Chase Blockwatch is hosting their annual spring meeting on Thursday, May 29 at 7 p.m. at the Hilltop Branch of the Columbus Metropolitan Library. The Columbus Division of Police Canine Unit will be there with their a dog, as will Police Liaison Officer Ken Ramos, Code Enforcement Officer Danielle Weber, Community Crime Patrol and others. Light refreshments will be served. Crime does not respect boundaries, therefore, all area residents are welcome to the meeting, including those outside of the Camp Chase Blockwatch area. For more information, contact Lisa Grazier at 274-4382 or lmgrazier@yahoo.com.
MOPS to meet
Mothers of preschoolers are invited to join together from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. at the May 21 MOPS meeting, sponsored by Life In Christ Fellowship, for a couple hours of adult discussion and fun. Each mom is asked to bring her favorite appetizer or snack – enough for 3 or 4 bites for 12 other moms.
Pam will lead another discussion to complete this year’s “The Home Factor” theme and will also give a peak at her personal faith. Kathy will keep attendees busy with a new craft, and plans for a June play date/picnic will be finalized.
Children ages 0-5 will love the MOPPETS program or being cared for in the nursery.
This MOPS group meets in the New Life Church located at 2020 S.R. 142 NE, West Jefferson. There is no charge. Call Pam 614-853-2532 or Lois 614-878-3535 for more information or directions.
Career Academy spring plant sale
The Greenscape Design students at the South-Western City Schools Career Academy will host the annual spring sale on May 17 from 9 a.m. to noon at the center, 4750 Big Run South Road. They will sell hanging baskets, bedding plants and decorative planters to name a few. All the plants are hand-grown by the juniors and seniors in the program. Proceeds will go towards school programs. For additional information, contact Steven Still at 801-3455.
BR althletes move on
Bishop Ready High School seniors Mark Louks and Shea Brintlinger will be playing sports on the college level next year.
Louks, who played basketball for four years at Bishop Ready and football for two years, will be playing basketball at Otterbein College. While at Ready, he was known for his football exploits, having been named 1st Team All-District his junior year and 2nd Team, All-Ohio his senior year. He is an Honor Roll student and has been a member of Bishop Ready’s student council for all four years and was a Ready Ambassador. He also does volunteer work at his parish church, St. Mary Magdalene, and for the Red Cross.
Brintlinger will be attending Dayton University and will be playing football there. He played baseball, basketball, and football for each of his four years at Bishop Ready. He is an Honor Roll student and served on the school’s student council and yearbook staff. In addition, Brintlinger does volunteer work at his parish church, St. Margaret of Cortona, and for the Red Cross.
