ThisWeek CW 07/31/2014

http://www.thisweeknews.com/content/stories/canalwinchester/news/2014/07/28/aep-ohio-opens-groveport-recycling-facility.html

Groveport is now home to the first and only AEP Ohio appliance recycling facility.

The new facility, 5700 Green Pointe Drive N., opened at the beginning of July as part of a partnership between AEP Ohio and JACO Environmental Inc.

“This is another great addition to the city of Groveport. Not only does it add to our workforce, it provides an excellent service to residents,” City Administrator Marsha Hall said.

The facility, which is owned by AEP Ohio and run by JACO Environmental, employs about 25 people, including pickup crews and recycling workers.

Through the end of next month, AEP is offering a bonus to anyone looking to recycle their old, inefficient appliances.

“This new recycling facility not only increases our ability to keep up with demand, but it demonstrates our dedication to Ohio’s energy-efficiency efforts,” AEP Ohio program manager Deanna Gilliland said via email.

“With a simple phone call, our customers can schedule a free pickup of their appliance, save money, help the environment and for a limited time, receive an increased $60 incentive for choosing to recycle.”

According to spokesman Matt Z’Berg, AEP Ohio is fully funding the facility and rebate program, which pays customers who recycle their old refrigerators and freezers a $50 incentive. AEP has raised the incentive to $60 until Aug. 31.

“The appliance recycling program is one of a suite of programs designed to reduce energy consumption and thereby avoid the need to build additional power plants,” Z’Berg said via email.

“Essentially, it is less expensive to pay customers to reduce consumption through energy efficiency than it is to build expensive generating facilities. Plus, it has the added benefit of reducing pollution and conserving resources through recycling, while also disposing of harmful substances in an environmentally responsible manner.”

Z’Berg said Groveport was chosen because the site met the company’s needs in several ways.

“It was an ideal choice for many reasons in our search for a facility within AEP Ohio territory,” he said. “The new facility fit our logistics requirements, both in terms of physical size and Groveport itself having easy access to highways.”

Z’Berg declined to disclose the company’s investment in the facility.

Customers interested in participating in the appliance recycling program may call 877-545-4112 or visit aepohio.com to schedule a pickup.

ThisWeek UA 04/21/2011

http://www.thisweeknews.com/live/content/upperarlington/stories/2011/04/20/new-kitchen-encourages-addition-of-cooking-classes.html?sid=104

Taste the flavors of spring with LifeLong Learning & Leisure’s eight new spring session cooking classes.

“We were able to beef up our cooking courses thanks to the kitchen at the new Recreation Station,” LifeLong Learning & Leisure assistant Kate Erstein said.

The Recreation Station, at 4737 Coach Rd., previously was home to the Upper Arlington Fire Station 73 and now, as a city Parks and Recreation facility, the building has retained its large kitchen suitable as a cooking classroom.

Included in the new offerings are: a cheese making course, healthy eating courses, simple French cuisine, a wine tasting, olive oil tasting and a Vietnamese dining experience.

LifeLong Learning & Leisure used deal-of-the-day website Groupon (www.groupon.com) April 6 to market its spring food courses. The deal was $20 for $40 worth of classes.

The promotion sold out, Erstein said, and classes are being added to meet the demand from both the people who took advantage of the Groupon, as well as other returning and new students.

“I was interested in learning how to make cheese, so I put up a Craigslist ad for a cheese instructor,” Erstein said. “We are able to get a good diversity of instructors this way. Anyhow, the cheese course was so popular it sold out right away – we’re trying to schedule a second session now.”

Most of the food classes are open to a maximum of 15 students.

Taking advantage of the new cooking classroom, travel instructor Shawnie Kelley and her pastry chef sister, Mandy Jones, are looking forward to teaching both French cooking technique as well as the cultural importance of each dish.

“Our goal is to take the intimidation out of French cooking and show that it’s not all butter and heavy cream,” Kelley said. They will teach three courses: Great Crepe Escape, Provence on a Plate and The French Market.

A few of the class offerings will occur offsite, including a wine tasting with light finger foods at Gallo’s Kitchen & Bar, a beer tasting at Barley’s Smokehouse & Brewpub and two courses on meat selection, preparation and grilling at Huffman’s Market.

Lac Viet Vietnamese Restaurant will be the host of the spring session’s Diversity Dining program. The program features a different culture to explore each session and students enjoy a full meal with a presentation about the culture behind the food.

For more information on the spring food classes as well as other LifeLong Learning and Leisure spring courses, visit www.uaoh.net or call 614-583-5332.