020311_ThisWeek_Olentangy

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February 3, 2011

Temporary sign rules draw complaints By BONNIE BUTCHER ThisWeek Community Newspapers

Powell’s city development committee this week was scheduled to examine complaints about the city code on temporary signs. City council asked city manager Steve Lutz to take the issue to the development committee for discussion.

Representatives of C. Williams Bistro and Windy City BBQ told council last month that their regular signs aren’t readily seen by passing motorists. Recently an employee from Powell’s zoning department removed their temporary A-frame signs. Temporary signs in that area of the city must be approved by the planning and zoning commission before use, city

officials said. The business owners were unaware of the requirement. Victoria Spring, whose son owns C. Williams Bistro, 26 Grace Drive, said they have been in business 19 months and are “just about breaking even now.” The restaurant has been named by a Columbus magazine as one of the best new restaurants in the greater metropol-

itan area and as having the best lobster risotto in the area, Spring said. “We’re trying to survive in this economy; there’s a problem,” said Spring. “I have an A-frame sign in front and the city tells us we can’t have it. I’m very disappointed. We advertise a lot but people still like to see that A-frame sign. I hope that you look at this and change the law and let us have the A-frame signs.

Downtown Powell does and I know that’s different than where we are, but we need as much help as we can get. To drive by, I don’t think (the sign is) that bad looking.” Cindy Anderson, owner of Windy City BBQ, 32 Grace Drive, also was concerned. Her restaurant is in the same comSee TEMPORARY SIGN, page A2

County disabilities levy approved; 911 levy coming

CANNED-FOOD DRIVE WINNER

By MICHAEL J. MAURER

again.” Commissioner Ken O’Brien, who is often the sole dissenting vote against spending measures, said he would prefer that a proposed 0.75-mill levy be broken into two parts, a 0.45-mill renewal and a 0.3-mill increase — but he said he would join his fellow commissioners in supporting this levy. Commissioner Dennis Stapleton spoke for more than five minutes about how voters in Ohio and nationwide sent a strong message that they no longer will be fooled by separate tax votes for popular services while other government services are not held under the available budget. He said he would support the levy. Commissioner Tommy Thompson said Delaware should have the “finest 911 service in the country,” and that he would support the levy. Powell police chief Gary Vest, chairman of the county 911 board,

ThisWeek Community Newspapers

By Chris Parker/ThisWeek

Jessica Fields prepares to present a trophy to Olentangy High School for its victory in the canned-food drive at the boys basketball game against Olentangy Liberty High School Saturday, Jan. 29. The two high schools collected food for People in Need Inc. of Delaware County.

For more than an hour on Jan. 26, the Delaware County commissioners discussed the merits of various options to pay for the county’s unified 911 emergency services, projected to require $21million to upgrade and operate during the next five years. Also at the meeting, commissioners approved a May levy for the county board of developmental disabilities in the amount of 2.1 mills for five years. The levy would raise $13.7-million over five years and would cost the owner of a $100,000 home $64.31 annually. Officials were surprised in November when a proposed 911 levy failed. “That was the first time ever a 911 levy had failed (in the city),” said city manager Tom Homan, asking the commissioners to act with unanimous support. “We don’t want to see that happen

See LEVIES, page A2

Event to educate parents, children about bullying By BONNIE BUTCHER ThisWeek Community Newspapers

The Goddard School will hold “Community Games” from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 5, at 8542 Owenfield Drive. The childcare company is holding the

community play day “to educate parents and young children on ways to combat bullying from a young age,” a press release said. Goddard is offering the free public event to help children develop friendshipbuilding skills. A total of 275 Goddard

schools are participating nationwide, said Sue Adair, director of education for the Goddard Systems Inc. Adair said it’s important to teach children about appropriate responses from early ages.“Preschool children will often engage in unfriendly interactions with

other children. It is the nature of growing During the event, Goddard School on up. In most cases, this type of behavior is Owenfield Drive will have a scavenger normal and not necessarily malicious. hunt and Lego fun, franchise owner Betty These types of minor social spats are re- Simcox said. ally learning opportunities and teachers Through activities like the scavenger can assist children in problem solving and See EVENT, page A5 talking about feelings,” Adair said.

Orange seeking grant to span U.S. 23 with bridge By BONNIE BUTCHER ThisWeek Community Newspapers

By month’s end, Orange Township will know if the Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission will award it a grant to bridge the east and west side of the township. The $1-million grant, if awarded, will help fund an estimated $1.5-million pedestrian and bicycle bridge over U.S. Route 23. The grant is from federal dollars slated for transportation enhancement. MORPC administers the grant. The bridge would cross U.S. 23 near the new Delaware County District Library Orange Branch under construction. It would connect the township park and pool off Gooding Boulevard on the west to a planned extension of Graphics Way on the east. “It’s a vital piece to the trail system,” said Beth Hugh, township maintenance and parks director. She said the bridge would be part of an overall plan to link Orange Township trails with those of adjacent townships, plus Highbanks and Preservation Parks of Delaware

County sites. “It ties the new library to the commercial development on the east side that will eventually happen. It’s the link for everybody who lives on the east side to ride their bikes to the pool and to soccer games,” Hugh said. Orange has no pedestrian crossing across U.S. 23. A study performed for the township by Floyd Brown Group said the planned location is the best site for the bridge. “This location coordinates the bridge with the existing and proposed traffic signals along U.S. 23 for sight and stopping distance associated with the traffic signals,” the documents said. The township recently learned its request had moved to the next stage in the competitive grant process. “We’ve been moved up in line and are two steps away from the final approval for us to get the $1million grant,” Hugh said. The township originally requested $1.3-million. To increase

Glen Oak PTO funds COSI on Wheels visit By BONNIE BUTCHER ThisWeek Community Newspapers

By Lorrie Cecil/ThisWeek

Olentangy Glen Oak Elementary School fifth-grader Iman Haji’s eyes grow wider as the cork pops off a test tube at the “It’s a Solid, It’s a Liquid, It’s a GAS” station, one of the stops on the COSI on Wheels “It’s Simply Chemistry” program at the school Friday, Jan. 28.

Students at Olentangy’s Glen Oak Elementary School put on goggles and explored COSI on Wheels’ chemistry experiment exhibits Jan. 28. The most popular experiment was making “super slime” said Sandra Burt, one of the school’s Parent-Teacher Organization members who organized the event. To make the slime, students mixed polyvinyl alcohol, sodium tetra borate and food coloring. Each child went home with a small container. In another popular activity, the students explored liquids, solids and the volume of gas. Students placed water in a test tube, dropped in a tablet of Alka-Seltzer and corked the test tube. Gas from the dissolving Alka-Seltzer popped the cork. “It gives the students a fun way to learn more about science,” Burt said. Pam Bachman, district director of elementary curriculum, said the program is beneficial to students. “Students are allowed time to visit several stations, where they can try things out first-hand. They are encouraged to explore, problem-solve, and experiment,” Bachman said. “COSI puts great effort into creating presentations that coordinate with our state standards. Buildings can select from several topics, determining what best fits with their students and current areas of study.” See COSI ON WHEELS, page A2

See ORANGE, page A2

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