ThisWeek CW 08/06/2015

http://www.thisweeknews.com/content/stories/canalwinchester/news/2015/08/03/tin-man-due-for-retirement.html

After years of discussions and requests from neighbors that it be removed, Groveport’s aged “Tin Man” water tower near Front and Blacklick streets will come down.

At the July 13 meeting of City Council, Administrator Marsha Hall said the updates to the city’s water systems have progressed far enough that the Tin Man finally can be decommissioned and removed.

“If you remember, we had residents come in very upset because of their properties being within the fall zone of the Tin Man water tank a couple years ago, and so it was always our intent that instead of trying to rehab it, we wanted to take it out of service,” Hall said.

In 2013, resident Jacqueline Papai tearfully addressed council about how her home sale at 131 Front St. had failed to finalize after the buyer’s inspector took issue with the house being in the “fall-zone” of such an aged structure.

The water tower, which dates back to the 1930s, is considered structurally sound due to annual tank maintenance programs, but is no longer an efficient component of the Groveport water system.

Hall said the tower will be emptied in the coming months as the rehabilitation on the city’s newer water tower wraps up.

The emergency water service connection with the city of Columbus, completed last year, was the other necessary component of the system to allow for the retirement of the Tin Man.

“We’re able to do this now because of the new tank rehabilitation finishing up and the emergency connection with city of Columbus. But we can’t take it down until we can empty it,” Hall said. “It will come down this fall.”

Isler Demolition Inc., a Michigan-based company, will complete the demolition and scrapping of the steel structure.

“They are going to take it down for $12,000, and they’ll haul it away, but we won’t really have to pay anything due to the scrap metal value we’ll get in return,” Hall said.

ThisWeek 08/06/2015

http://www.thisweeknews.com/content/stories/canalwinchester/news/2015/08/03/money-supplies-sought-for-back–to-school-projects.html

As summer vacation draws to a close, two community organizations are helping prepare students for the school year ahead.

Canal Winchester Human Services is collecting donations for its 10th annual Tools for Schools campaign and the Groveport Moose Lodge is collecting monetary donations for a new Backpack Fundraiser in conjunction with the Center for Groveport Madison Human Needs.

This year, the Groveport Moose Lodge is also soliciting financial donations to provide backpacks and supplies to Groveport Madison students as part of a program of the Center for Groveport Madison Human Needs.

Monetary donations can be made online at center4gmhn. org or mailed to P.O. Box 542, Groveport, Ohio 43125.

Groveport Madison families requesting supplies do not need to register in advance. Instead, a parent should bring a driver’s license or state identification and one current lease or utility bill to the Groveport Madison High School cafeteria from 2 to 4 p.m., Sunday, Aug. 9, where they will be given the school supplies.

For the past 10 years, Canal Winchester Human Services has worked with area businesses, churches and residents to provide families in need with backpacks and school supplies for children attending the Canal Winchester and Bloom Carroll school districts.

Canal Winchester Human Services Administrator Penny Miller said this program can determine if a student will be able to fully participate in their education.

“A book bag filled with school supplies can cost as much as $30 to $50 and for families who already struggle to provide basic needs, it is sometimes very difficult, if not impossible, to provide this as children prepare for school,” Miller said. “Without the required supplies, students are disadvantaged because they don’t have the tools to succeed.

“Teachers are challenged to make sure that learning isn’t compromised because their students might not be able to participate fully.”

Donations of school supplies and backpacks for the Tools for Schools program can be dropped off at several locations throughout Canal Winchester, including the Frances Steube Community Center, 22 S. Trine St.; the Community Food Pantry, 360 W. Waterloo St.; Faith United Methodist Church, 15 W. Columbus St.; Hope UMC, 83 E. Columbus St.; David’s United Church of Christ, 80 W. Columbus St. and David Evangelical Lutheran Church, 300 Groveport Pike, all in Canal Winchester

Donations also may be dropped off at Lithopolis UMC, 80 Market St., Lithopolis.

Financial donations for Tools for Schools can be made online at cwhumanservices.org or mailed to Canal Winchester Human Services, 22 S. Trine St., Canal Winchester, Ohio 43110.

Families requesting supplies for the Canal Winchester and Bloom Carroll districts need to register by calling 614-834-3888 or via aletha.cwhs@gmail.com.

“Just as it’s hard to be successful in the work force without proper tools, it can be difficult for students to reach their full potential if they aren’t equipped with the tools needed. With the help of our donors, we want to make sure that every student can begin the school year fully prepared,” Miller said.

ThisWeek 08/06/2015

http://www.thisweeknews.com/content/stories/canalwinchester/news/2015/08/03/madison-township-speeding-cars-on-wingate-road-remain-a-concern.html

Residents once again have approached Madison Township officials with concerns about speeding through neighborhoods, asking for engagement with Franklin County to install traffic-calming devices.

At the July 15 trustees’ meeting, Wingate Road resident Amber Knapp said targeted police enforcement along her street had helped, but when the police leave, Wingate becomes a speed zone for traffic cutting between the busier Noe Bixby and Hamilton roads.

“We have a speeding problem on Wingate. It’s an easy cut across from Hamilton Road over to Noe Bixby Road, and the police helped out by placing an officer on our street, and (Road Superintendent Dave Weaver) placed some targeted enforcement area signs below the speed-limit signs, but that hasn’t really helped over the long run,” Knapp said.

She said the new Family Dollar store situated across the intersection from Wingate Road, on the west side of Hamilton Road, has exacerbated the traffic issues.

“Last evening, 20 cars went by and 13 of them were clearly speeding. This happens mostly in the evening,” Knapp said. “We have a lot of older residents, and we don’t have sidewalks to take walks on; and it’s a pretty smooth street so people can whiz right through, so it’s unsafe to walk along the street and that’s a problem.”

Trustee Gary McDonald said as with other areas of Blacklick Estates, the township has no power to install traffic-calming devices on its own and is required to approach the county with issues.

“A lot of residents are concerned, but checking with on-site supervisors at Family Dollar about the traffic flow, they were very evasive about not wanting to talk about it.

“So at this point in time, the traffic flow and changes to the roadway are up in the air; We can try and control the traffic going onto Wingate but we have no other control of that intersection,” McDonald said.

Knapp asked about the possibility of installing speed bumps or rumble strips on Wingate; however, those types of traffic-calming devices require approval from the county, as well as the completion of a traffic study.

In recent years, the township has approached the county for similar requests and has been denied based on the findings of the traffic studies.

McDonald asked staff to bring up the issue with the county engineer again.

In the meantime, Trustee Victor Paini asked Police Chief Ken Braden to use the speed-monitoring wagon on Wingate Road and station officers during peak traffic times.

Knapp said the afternoon rush hour is the worst for speeding, and she thanked the township for offering to resume the targeted enforcement.

ThisWeek CW 08/06/2015

http://www.thisweeknews.com/content/stories/canalwinchester/news/2015/08/03/new-police-contract-officers-detectives-receive-3-percent-pay-raises-in-deal.html

Groveport City Council unanimously approved a new three-year contract with Fraternal Order of Police Capital City Lodge 9 on July 27, giving 15 city police officers and detectives a 3-percent pay raise in each of the three years.

Police Chief Ralph Portier said a separate agreement covering police sergeants has yet to be negotiated.

The new pact was retroactive to July 2.

In addition to pay increases, the contract increases the amount of compensatory time allowed to be banked by an officer, up from 40 hours to 56 hours. Officers will also be given an additional personal day each calendar year, up from one day to two.

In addition, the new contract includes language clarifying that all new hires will start at Step 1 of the pay rate table. Shift differential pay for all shifts between 2 p.m. and 6 a.m. will now receive an additional $1.05 per hour increase as well.

Officers also will receive a $100 increase in their annual uniform and equipment allowance, up from $800 to $900 per year.

“I’d like to publicly thank the negotiating teams and the police department for such a quick and positive outcome on this contract,” Groveport Mayor Lance Westcamp said.

The new contract agreement runs through July 2018, and includes very few changes from the previous contract, according to Portier.

“I’m very pleased the both the administration and our collective bargaining team came together and worked this out so quickly,” he said. “This is now the second time we’ve managed to do a contract in only three or four bargaining sessions.”

He thanked city Finance Director Jeff Green and Administrator Marsha Hall “for working with us to get this done.”

ThisWeek CW 07/30/2015

http://www.thisweeknews.com/content/stories/canalwinchester/news/2015/07/27/blues–ribfest-cool-music-hot-food-draw-ever-larger-crowds.html

For the sixth year, Destination Canal Winchester will once again transform the city’s downtown into Ohio’s capital of rockin’ roots music and smokin’ hot barbecue with the Blues & Ribfest.

On Aug. 7 and 8, the air around historic Canal Winchester will fill with barbecue smoke and the sounds of some of the nation’s best blues acts. The free festival will take place from 5 to 11 p.m. Friday and noon to 11 p.m. Saturday at the intersection of High and Waterloo streets. Both roads will be closed to vehicle traffic in the historic downtown area.

Parking will be available in the areas adjacent to festival grounds with additional handicapped-accessible parking in designated areas on West Waterloo and North High streets.

Last year, more than 33,000 people turned out for the weekend and event organizers believe this year’s lineup of food and music is bound to bring larger crowds.

Destination Canal Winchester Executive Director Bruce Jarvis said the growth has been surprising but that the event resonated with audiences.

“Nobody was more shocked than we were when our goal of drawing 5,000 visitors was exceeded with an estimated total of more than 20,000 visitors the very first year; that’s when we realized that we had struck a chord with the public,” Jarvis said.

Jarvis said he believes the continued growth is due to everyone involved — not just the musicians and food vendors, but the volunteers and sponsors as well.

“This year marks the strongest blues lineup we’ve ever assembled. On the barbecue side, we’re honored to welcome several rib masters from the national barbeque circuit back to Canal Winchester. They will be competing fiercely against each other for trophies and bragging rights,” Jarvis said.

“And if ribs aren’t your thing, there is a solid roster of over 20 other specialty food vendors, including the famous Schmidt’s Sausage Truck, to satisfy almost any taste or budget. Maybe the best part of all this is that there is no charge for getting in to experience some of the finest live blues and barbecue to be found anywhere at any price,” he said.

At this year’s event, there will be continuous live blues music from 20 acts performing on two stages, in addition to children’s activities, fan-cooled dining tents and the popular beer and wine garden. Jarvis said the $1 pony rides are back this year, too.

“Friday’s stage headliner is the Ori Naftaly Band, hailing from Memphis, while closing Saturday night will be master guitarist Chris Duarte, who will be laying down some crowd-pleasing electric blues,” Jarvis said.

“On the solo-duo stage, Rip Lee Pryor, son of blues harp master Snooky Pryor, and the Inner Vision Band, an amazing group of talented blind musicians, will perform,” he said.

“I don’t think you can beat the combination of classic live American blues, barbecue wood smoke and the beautiful backdrop of downtown Canal Winchester. It is clean, fun and offers something for everyone in the family.”

For more information and a full entertainment schedule, go to bluesandribfest.com.