11/03/2022
Department of Neighborhoods South Side Updates
Ohio Family Summit:
Drug overdoses are killing Americans at an unprecedented rate, with nearly 108,000 lives lost just this year alone. In this nationwide overdose epidemic, we know that we are stronger together. On November 16th from 9am-4:30pm, at the Ohio Family Summit, you can learn how the DEA can support you in your prevention work, share resources to identify and foster areas of potential collaboration between family groups and share resources where needed, bringing the community together to prevent addiction and reduce the number of fatal overdoses that occur each year. Please see attached letter for all registration details.
Winter Heating Assistance:
Winter Heating Assistance with IMPACT Community Action Network began on November 1st. To schedule an appointment and find out what documentation is needed, please see attachments.
Southside Social Worker:
I am excited to announce that the Southside now has a permanent Social Worker from Columbus Public Health! A sincere thank you to Twyla Jones who filled in this role for many months until it was filled. Michaelle Garcon comes to us with lots of Social Work experience and is ready to serve the Southside community! She will be at my office within the Reeb Ave Center on Tuesdays at 11am. She is available throughout the week for any and all social work related questions/concerns at: 614-645-1845 & [email protected]. Please welcome Michaelle to the Southside!
Small Business Support:
The Columbus Metropolitan Library is developing plans for a "Small Business and Nonprofit Center" at Main library, located at 96 S. Grant Ave. This dedicated space will offer many resources to support new entrepreneurs, existing business owners and nonprofit organizations in their work to meet their goals. Please take a moment to complete the following questions. This survey will take about 10-15 minutes to complete. Any questions or additional input can be directed to [email protected]. The link can be used to complete or share the survey: https://forms.office.com/r/ipF9BPWpXT
Keep Columbus Beautiful:
In October 2022, volunteers collected over 10,000 pounds more litter than October 2021! Thank you to all who continue to keep our neighborhoods clean! Want to learn more about Keep Columbus Beautiful and how to organize a litter clean-up in your neighborhood? Please check out this link: https://www.columbus.gov/publicservice/Keep-Columbus-Beautiful/
2022 Dr. Martin Luther King. Jr. Youth Oratorical Contest
The City of Columbus Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Youth Oratorical is taking place on Saturday, December 3, 2022. Winners of the City of Columbus Youth Oratorical Contest will have the opportunity to present at the MLK Jr. Breakfast and City of Columbus Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. program.
HOW TO ENTER:
1. Electronically: https://app.smartsheet.com/b/form/692272c253fb4d96ab7dceb5408f70c5
2. By mail or drop off to:
City of Columbus Department of Neighborhoods
c/o Gale Gray, 1410 Cleveland Ave, 2nd Floor Columbus, OH 43211
DEADLINE TO SUBMIT ORATION IS NO LATER THAN 5:00 P.M. FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 2022 Please contact Gale Gray for questions or additional information - [email protected] or call 614-645-1950
Voting:
A reminder that voting takes place next Tuesday, November 8th. For information on early voting, where your voting location is, views a sample ballots and much more, please visit Franklin County Board of Elections website: https://vote.franklincountyohio.gov/
City of Columbus to Host First-Ever Pumpkin Drop-Off to Encourage Composting
Halloween generates a significant amount of organic waste from pumpkins and gourds that end up in our landfill. To help Columbus achieve our Climate Action Plan goals of reducing 90% of organic waste from our landfill and making our city a more sustainable community, we are excited to announce the first-ever pumpkin drop-off event this year. It’s important that pumpkins do not mix with yard waste. Pumpkins do not decompose like grass clippings or leaves and are not acceptable for yard waste collection to avoid contaminating the waste stream. To help with that, the city is providing a new service to residents this year. During November, residents may drop off their pumpkins and gourds at the Division of Refuse Collection Alum Creek Station to be composted.
When: Nov. 1-30, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. (excluding Veterans Day and Thanksgiving Day)
Where: Division of Refuse Collection, 2100 Alum Creek, Columbus, Ohio 43207
Guidelines:
· Intact and decaying pumpkins, carved jack-o’-lanterns and gourds only
· No trash, food, recycling or other waste
· Remove candles and any other non-organic items
· Do not include pumpkins that have been painted or drawn on with permanent markers
If you can’t make it to our pumpkin composting drop-off, here are some alternative ways to help dispose of your pumpkins:
· Feed local wildlife in the winter
· Donate to local farms
· Compost at home
· As a last resort, toss them in the trash
Veteran’s Day Brunch
Please join Marion Franklin Rec Center on Veterans Day to honor and remember all who served. Please see attached for registration details.
Zoning Variances and Rezoning:
A reminder that the below website and tracker are a great resource if you are curious on active zoning applications in your neighborhood.
Webpage: https://www.columbus.gov/bzs/zoning/Zoning-Variances---Rezoning/
Link to Tracker: https://www.columbus.gov/devtracker
City of Columbus Launches Police Athletic League for Local Youth:
Last week, Mayor Andrew J. Ginther announced the Columbus Police Athletic League (PAL), a new partnership between the Columbus Recreation and Parks Department, Division of Police and Department of Neighborhoods in which officers volunteer to work with youth ages 6-18 in organized sports and other programs. “Columbus PAL is a great opportunity for law enforcement to further strengthen their relationships with our city’s youth and their families,” said Mayor Ginther. “By serving as mentors, coaches, advocates and role models, our officers will connect with the community on a more personal level – building the kind of trust, understanding and support that lasts a lifetime.” Five Columbus community centers will initially participate in Columbus PAL: Douglas, Adams, Marion Franklin, Sullivant Gardens and Blackburn. All volunteers will undergo a specific training course, which includes Columbus Recreation and Parks’ youth sports philosophy, a sports-specific curriculum, understanding the youth in our community, social-emotional learning, and modeling and teaching empathy. The public is also invited to take the training and volunteer. Columbus PAL will begin in December with basketball and eventually expand to include baseball, boxing, cheerleading, gymnastics, softball, soccer and summer camps. The department will consider adding other sports and programs in the future as well, such as lacrosse, cricket, pickleball and tennis. Anyone interested in volunteering must complete the Columbus PAL interest form. More information can be found on the Columbus PAL website.
List of Upcoming Southside and City Events:
Keep Columbus Beautiful Volunteer Appreciation:
From KickButt to Earth Day, Litter League to River Sweeps—Keep Columbus Beautiful volunteers go above and beyond to make Columbus a healthier and safer places to live. Please join KCB on Saturday, November 5th at 11am at 4260 Morse Road for a family friendly event celebrating this year’s award recipients and learn more about KCB. For more information please see attachment.
Souls to the Polls:
On Sunday, November 6th, Community Development for All People will be offering free rides for early voting at the Franklin County Elections office. Please see attachment for all details.
Community Day at Franklin Park Conservatory:
Community Day at Franklin Park Conservatory is the first Sunday of every month (the next one being Sunday, November 6th 10am- close). Residents of Columbus an Franklin County receive FREE General Admission, identification is required.
Empty Bowls:
Join the fight against hunger! The empty bowl program takes place on November 10th from 6-7:45pm at Schiller Recreation Center and raises funds for the MidOhio Foodbank. Please see attachment for all details.
Southside Neighborhood Book Club:
I am excited to announce a partnership with the South High Branch of the Columbus Metropolitan Library doing a Southside Community Book Club! Our first book club meeting will take place on Thursday, November 17th at 2:30pm. There are several of the books we are going to discuss on hold at the South High Branch for you to check out. Please see flyer for book details.
Community Resource Fair:
Please join State Representative Humphrey for a community resource fair on Saturday, November 19th from 11am-2pm at Barnett Community Center (1184 Barnett Road). Please see attachment for more details.
