ThisWeek CW 07/23/2015

http://www.thisweeknews.com/content/stories/canalwinchester/news/2015/07/20/groveport-food-pantry-supporters-hope-to-remodel-building-move-operations.html

Since 1997, the Groveport Food Pantry has operated out of a small room in the basement of the Madison Township Community Center, but if supporters can raise enough money to make repairs to a building at 525 Cherry St., the pantry may finally have its own home.

Director Becky Soles said the donation of the Cherry Street building from the city of Groveport earlier this year will allow the pantry to expand to serve a growing client base and to finally be accessible to senior citizens and those with mobility issues.

However, she said, the building requires about $10,000 in repairs before the pantry can move in.

“We have a general contractor from one of our churches who is donating his time, along with several other contractors, so we’re just needing to purchase materials,” Soles said. “We operate solely off of donations as we don’t have any other source of revenue.

“We started in this basement serving about 25 families a month and when the economy tanked in 2007, we really increased how many people we serve. We’re serving about 100 families a month now.”

Golf outing

To continue meeting the food needs of its clients while also collecting donations to renovate 525 Cherry St., the food pantry will host a Fore for Food golf outing at 9 a.m., Friday, Aug. 21, at the Links at Groveport, 1005 Richardson Road.

The fee of $65 per person will include greens fees, a cart, lunch and a gift bag. Prizes will be awarded for the longest drive, closest to the pin, and the longest putt.

There is also a $100 hole sponsorship option which can be used to advertise a business or honor an individual.

“We’ve got some sponsors already for the golf outing and are looking for more, and we’re definitely looking for as many golfers as we can get,” Sole said. “If anyone who doesn’t golf wants to donate directly, they can do that as well.”

Registration for the golf outing is due Aug. 14 and can be completed by calling Mary Miles at 614-830-0721.

“We’re hoping for good weather. As long as it’s not raining, I think this will be a great event,” Soles said.

Proceeds will go toward making the Cherry Street building compliant with the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act, rehabilitating the bathrooms and repairing the heating and air conditioning systems.

“The rest of it is just a labor of love, elbow grease and lots of soap to clean it up and set it all up,” Soles said. “We hope to have access to the building by September and then be able to move in by the end of this year.”

ThisWeek CW 07/23/2015

http://www.thisweeknews.com/content/stories/canalwinchester/news/2015/07/20/groveport-obetz-will-partner-in-transport-program.html

The cities of Groveport and Obetz will partner in the Groveport Rickenbacker Employee Access Transit project to provide transportation from the closest area Central Ohio Transit Authority stop and Groveport businesses located in the Rickenbacker industrial area.

Groveport City Council voted unanimously July 13 to approve the partnership agreement with Obetz, along with the creation of a special Transportation Services Fund. The ordinance was approved as an emergency so shuttle buses can be ordered and delivered prior to the busy holiday season.

The agreement calls for Obetz to construct two new bus stop pads and to contribute about $38,000 for services in 2015.

In 2016, Obetz will pay all the costs for the bus for its route and one-third of the cost of a spare bus, operating fees and the cost of a transportation supervisor.

“We are requesting that each business contribute $5,000 toward the start-up of the program,” Groveport City Manager Marsha Hall wrote in a summary to council. “If all of the 23 businesses contribute, this will total $115,000.

“In order to be conservative, we are counting on at least 12 businesses contributing this in 2015, which totals $60,000.”

Hall said council’s decision to partner with Obetz would make the difference between three routes or two, and purchasing three or four shuttle buses.

“We can’t really order the shuttle buses until we know how many riders we’ll service and we won’t know that until we know about this contract,” she said.

“With the agreement signed with Obetz, we’ll run three routes with three buses and then have one spare standby bus.

“Bus Services Inc. provided us with the best offer for these shuttle buses and said that they can promise a 90-day delivery turnaround, which is really pushing it to get up and running by Oct. 1,” she said.

Groveport Finance Director Jeff Green said the original quote from Bus Services Inc. indicated company officials believed they could get the vehicles delivered in 60 days, but guaranteed delivery in 90 days. Once the buses are delivered, there will still be some detail work to be completed, such as adding GREAT decals to the vehicles, Green said.

The 28-passenger shuttle buses will cost about $60,000 each. That is expected to be offset by a lease agreement and cost-sharing between the municipalities and participating companies.

“It has always been assumed that the businesses will pay for their riders,” Hall said. “A per-ride cost is the fairest way to distribute the costs to the businesses. To determine a per-ride cost, we took COTA’s current ride numbers for line 81, which is 530 per day, and added an additional 50-percent increase for a total estimate of 800 rides per day.

“We then divided that into per-day total program costs,” she added. “We determined the per-ride ticket cost to be $1.25. This is how we arrived at $60,950 in ticket costs for the period of Oct. 1 through Dec. 31.”

Businesses will be required to pay $1,000 to participate in the program annually.

Hall said she hopes the service will continue to grow, both because of popularity with riders and employers and continued commercial development in the Rickenbacker area.

ThisWeek CW 07/16/2015

http://www.thisweeknews.com/content/stories/canalwinchester/news/2015/07/13/groveport-madison-schools-new-contract-gives-teachers-base-pay-raises.html

The Groveport Madison Board of Education signed what was called a “historic” agreement last week with the Groveport Madison Local Education Association, setting in place a new contract with the teachers union.

The deal is for three years, plus a one-year extension.

The contract includes base-pay increases of 2.5 percent in years one and two and a 2-percent increase in year three for teachers, counselors, school nurses and other certified employees.

The one-year extension will give those employees another base-pay increase of 2.5 percent.

Board members voted unanimously Wednesday, July 8, to approve the union-ratified agreement, which includes base salary increases and new language to allow the district to begin hiring additional teachers beginning in January.

Union President Joy Bock said GMLEA members voted unanimously to accept the tentative agreement at the Tuesday, July 7, general membership meeting.

“Since 2008, teachers have received no base increase in salary except a 1.25-percent increase in March of 2011,” she said. “Also, in two of those years, they did not receive step increases. Teachers agreed to these sacrifices in their pay in order to help the district regain solid financial ground.

“Although GMLEA members didn’t get their steps reinstated, we are pleased that the administration and board of education recognized our dedication, hard work and sacrifices by agreeing to base pay increases.”

This is the first time in 38 years that an agreement has been reached prior to the contract expiration, Bock said as she and union Vice President Zac Casperson joined school board President Nathan Slonaker to sign the agreement.

The old contract was due to expire July 31. The new contract starts Aug. 1.

“I want to thank both negotiating teams and Joy we look forward to working with you and your team going forward,” Slonaker said. “This was a historic agreement in both breadth and length.”

The GMLEA also agreed to modify insurance payments, replacing a dollar cap with a percentage amount.

According to a joint statement released by the district and the GMLEA, this change will help the district save on health-care costs and allow for any savings to be used for educational purposes.

“I want to commend both teams,” Superintendent Bruce Hoover said. “They did an outstanding job coming together on an agreement and I think it represents the work of the district over the past five years getting us here today.

“I think it is fiscally responsible to the taxpayers and to the overall goals of the district as a whole, helping us stay competitive over the next four to five years.”

Bock added that she hopes that the agreement helps the district attract the best teachers when hiring opens up in January.

“Our hope is that this change will allow the district to attract the cream of the crop,” she said. “The teachers are very excited to be starting the school year with a ratified contract.”

ThisWeek CW 07/16/2015

http://www.thisweeknews.com/content/stories/canalwinchester/news/2015/07/13/macintosh-nursing-home-project-clears-council-hurdle.html

It was a split vote, but the MacIntosh Co. received city council approval last week for zoning text changes related to construction of a skilled nursing and assisted care facility in Canal Winchester.

At council’s July 7 meeting, Councilmen Steve Donahue and Will Bennett both voted against a change to the site development text to allow for the facility, while members Bobbi Mershon, Marilyn Rush-Ekelberry, Joe Abbott and Rick Deeds voted in favor.

Originally, the 7.5-acre lot east of Gender Road and south of Fox Hill Drive was approved for 34 condominium units in 2006, but the faltering real estate market at the time halted those plans.

Valerie Gregger with Altercare of Canal Winchester, located near the MacIntosh location at 6725 Thrush Drive, said adding an additional 125 beds for assisted care and skilled nursing will overwhelm the market for these services in Canal Winchester, leading to potential job losses and facility closures.

Residents Julia and Nick Grilli, who have spoken out against the development at every public review of legislation related to it, reiterated their concerns last week and again called for more screening of the facility as well as the addition of a fountain in a proposed pond to help mask noise.

Project architect Russ Garber said he had already incorporated additional screening and a pond fountain into the plans but would be willing to consider further changes as the process continues.

“Throughout this public process, we’ve been grateful for all the concerns and a forum to address them,” Garber said. “MacIntosh strives to be a good neighbor, provide good services and be a good employer.

“We have listened to concerns and moved parking away from the back, increased landscaping and moved items,” he said. “We’ve included more mounding and landscaping. Also, we’ve heard about the need for the facility and the state-published bed needs as well as there being an independent study showing the need for these beds here.”

Although changes to the site development text have been approved, the MacIntosh Co. will still be required to submit development plans to the Canal Winchester Planning and Zoning Commission and complete that approval process prior to breaking ground.

ThisWeek CW 07/16/2015

http://www.thisweeknews.com/content/stories/canalwinchester/news/2015/07/13/cars-take-center-stage-at-eighth-annual-cruise-in.html

Canal Winchester car buffs are invited to show off their rides at the eighth annual Cruise-In Car Show to be held in conjunction with the final Music & Art in the Park summer concert series on Friday, July 17.

The free event is scheduled from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. at Stradley Place, 36 S. High St. Food concessions will be available, although picnics are welcome and attendees are encouraged to bring lawn chairs or blankets because seating is limited.

One person who will be on the minds of many at the car show this year is the late Bob McDorman, longtime owner of Bob McDorman Chevrolet in Canal Winchester and a well-known collector of cars and automotive memorabilia.

McDorman sold his dealership in 2011 to Wyler Automotive, but retained a 15-percent interest so he could officially retire after 50 years in business. He died May 27, just a few months shy of his goal.

The Cruise-In Car Show is now sponsored by Jeff Wyler Chevrolet.

“In recent years, Jeff Wyler Chevrolet has graciously stepped up to take on the sponsorship of the Music & Art in the Park Cruise-in, providing awards and dash plaques for the registrants,” Mayor Michael Ebert said. “We really appreciate everything they are doing for Canal Winchester.

“We will be saying a few words about Bob McDorman as well, as a former sponsor, and how he is already and will be missed by our community in the future,” he added.

Cruise-In awards will include People’s Choice, Mayor’s Choice, Band’s Choice, Sponsor’s Choice and Farthest Traveled. Complimentary dash plaques will be given to the first 50 registrants.

Participants can register from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. the evening of the event or register online.

Ebert, who still owns the 1967 Pontiac GTO he had purchased in 1978, said he hopes the weather cooperates to encourage a good turnout. He said while he enjoys picking the Mayor’s Choice award winner, it is the People’s Choice that he sees as the real prize.

“I don’t get many opportunities to show my ’67 any more, but the very first time I did, it was early 1980 at the Cavalcade of Cars and Stars at the fairgrounds and I won the People’s Choice award over more than 300 other vehicles,” Ebert said.

“As a judge for the Mayor’s Choice, I generally lean toward originality of the ’50s- and ’60s-era vehicles, but I have chosen rods and custom cars in the past that have wowed me.

“All restored vehicles are a great pleasure to view as they truly are pieces of art.”

In addition to live music and other performances at Music & Art in the Park, several family-friendly activities are planned.

“The series concludes with musical entertainment from the Gas Pump Jockeys, performance art by Joy Unspeakable Productions, and balloon animals by BugaBoo the Clown,” said Amanda Lemke, events and communications coordinator for the city. “Other activities will include games and photo props by Canal Winchester pageant queens and children’s crafts, courtesy of Goddard School.

“Also, the Canal Winchester Art Guild artists will offer art displays and live demonstrations, as well as some pieces for purchase.”