June 1, 2011
Photos by Lorrie Cecil/ThisWeek
United States Navy Hospital Corpsman 2nd Class Alexis Miller wipes away tears as her son, Machiah, a second-grader at Scioto Darby Elementary School, introduces her to his friends. (Below) Machiah tries on his mother’s uniform hat.
Second-grader gets surprise visit from his ‘hero’ By GARY BUDZAK ThisWeek Community Newspapers
“Hi, baby,” Alexis Miller said as she walked into the classroom in her United States Navy uniform. “Mommy!” cried 7year-old Machiah Miller, who hadn’t seen his mother since last year. Machiah ran into his mother’s arms and hugged her. Alexis picked Machiah up, his face buried into her shoulder. “Now I’m breaking down,” Alexis said. “At first, I tried to play it cool, but as soon as I saw him, of course I just melted.” “Boys and girls, we have a special visitor,” Linda Vertal told her second-graders at Scioto Darby Elementary School just
as the school day of May 26 drew to a close before the Memorial Day weekend. “Machiah’s mom has returned from overseas in serving our country. Let’s give her a hand for all the hard work she’s done for us.” The children burst into applause, and one boy persistently asked Alexis, “Did you help kill Osama (bin Laden)?” “How about some cupcakes?” the Hospital Corpsman 2nd Class replied. Machiah’s godparents, Hilliard residents KaTanya and Eugene Ingram, passed out vanilla and chocolate cupcakes topped with plastic Spiderman rings to the students, but only after they had washed United States Navy Hospital Corpsman 2nd Class Alexis Miller hugs her son, Machiah, after surprising him in
See SECOND-GRADER, page A2 his classroom on May 27. Miller has been on deployment and hadn’t seen her son since June 23, 2010.
Hilliard Relay For Life slated for June 11-12 By GARY BUDZAK ThisWeek Community Newspapers
It started in 1985 with one man raising $27,000 to fight cancer by walking around a track for 24 hours in Tacoma, Wash. Now Relay For Life is the world’s largest fundraiser, according to the Amer-
ican Cancer Society. The Relay For Life of Hilliard will take place from 2 p.m. June 11 to 8 a.m. June 12 at Hilliard Davidson High School, 5100 Davidson Road. Registration can be made at the event for $10. Participants are encouraged to raise $250 or more if possible. As of May 26, there were 18
teams, 124 participants and $6,805 raised for the Relay of Life of Hilliard. The event has come a long way in the 26 years since Dr. Gordy Klatt took that first step. According to the society, more than 3.5 million people in 5,000 communities in the United States and in 19 other countries participate in the Relay.
The event has some established traditions, too. The Relay starts with a Survivors Lap to celebrate individuals’ victories over cancer. After dark, there’s a Luminaria Ceremony to recognize those lost to the disease, and participants walk a lap in silence. There’s also a Fight Back Ceremony.
Carrie Nichols, income development representative for the ACS, said the Hilliard Relay brings in 150-200 volunteers, and many of the participants are from Hilliard. Each team will have at least one representative on the track all See RELAY, page A2
Pushcart vendors OK’d by council Hilliard-Rome Road By GARY BUDZAK ThisWeek Community Newspapers
Sometime this summer, pushcart vendors selling food and beverages could be a common sight in Hilliard. Hilliard City Council unanimously approved an ordinance at its May 23 meeting to regulate and permit pushcarts and pushcart vendors at certain locations and hours. Pushcarts are human-powered carts with two wheels, and measure 4 feet wide, 9 feet
long and 6.5 feet tall, with a 10-gallon litter container attached and an optional umbrella. The pushcarts would sell only prepackaged or pre-prepared food and beverages, said Tracy Bradford, assistant law director. Vendors would not cook from the cart. The food items must be prepared in a commissary licensed by the Franklin County Board of Health. Applicants must be 18 or older, have proof of insurance, and an agreement with See PUSHCART, page A2
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A closer look Applicants must be 18 or older, have proof of insurance, and an agreement with a licensed food service where the vendor will prepare or pick up the food daily. The vendors will also have to pass a background check. The application fee is $100, and permits must be renewed annually.
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emorial Day was not conceived to be the kickoff to summer activities or as a reason to schedule a three-day weekend. It was established to recognize the nation’s military veterans who died while fighting for their country. In keeping with efforts to recognize and honor the sacrifices and service of military veterans, ThisWeek Community Media is launching Honoring Heroes, a continuing series through which we will share the stories and remembrances from and about local men and women who are either on active duty or retired from service. As part of covering their beats, our reporters often
1940’s
widening under way By GARY BUDZAK ThisWeek Community Newspapers
actually switched traffic over on May 20, and what that means is they’re on temporary pavement so that we could start working on the new part of the road.” In this ODOT project, HilliardRome Road will be widened on a two-mile stretch between Roberts Road and Westchester Woods
Drivers who travel on HilliardRome Road know that it’s been construction season. “It started in earnest in February and March (with utility work),” said Ohio Department of Transportation spokesperson Nancy Burton. “It took a while, but we See HILLIARD-ROME, page A7
hear about and write about veterans leaving for overseas or coming home at the end of a tour of duty. We’ve covered funeral services of those who have sacrificed their lives. We’ve written about soldiers who arrive at their homes or their children’s schools to unexpectedly surprise their delighted families. We know many more stories are out there, waiting to be told. We want to tell them. And we need your help. If you have a story idea about a friend, family member or colleague, let us know by emailing editorial@ thisweeknews.com, with the subject line, “Honoring Heroes.” Honoring Heroes isn’t just a ThisWeek Community Media project: It’s about sharing history.
Buckeye Tailgaters
Friday, June 10, 2011• 6:00-8:00 pm
PHOTOS To see photos from the graduation ceremonies from all three high schools, including Bradley’s first graduation ceremony, visit page B7.
Live Entertainment! 6 weeks, 6 big acts Diving with the Decades! Hilliard Family Aquatic Center 3850 Veterans Memorial Drive www.HilliardOhio.gov
FREE admission after 5:00 pm to those born in the “decade of the week”!