August 4, 2011
Anti-crime summit scheduled for Aug. 10 By KEVIN PARKS
ThisWeek Community Newspapers
As the Clintonville Area Commission’s safety liaison, District 7 representative Dave Southan keeps his ear to the ground to stay on top of crime in the neighborhood. Lately, that ear’s been getting pretty sore. “I’ve had it,” Southan said. Last week, the commission member announced that he was calling an anti-
crime summit for Wednesday, Aug. 10. Billed as “Neighbors Against Crime,” the gathering will start at 7 p.m. in the Charity Newsies b uilding, 4300 Indianola Ave. Dave Southan Southan said he expects to have representatives of the Columbus Division of Police, various other city departments and members of the Fraternal Order of Police Capital
City Lodge No. 9 on hand for the meeting. “I’ve had countless calls from people who are concerned about the crime in Clintonville,” Southan said, “and they want something done about it. They’re tired of going to bed at night frightened that they might wake up and find someone standing over them.” Recent weeks have brought reports of burglaries, auto break-ins, door-todoor scams, vendors operating without a permit and “Dumpster divers who go
throughout the neighborhood (and) some of them are pretty unsavory,” according to Southan. The latter, he said, do more than just pick through trash. They also, in some instances, walk up into yards or take items from the backs of pickup trucks, claiming, if caught, that these things were being thrown out anyway. “We need help,” Southan said. “I’ve invited everyone from the mayor’s office on down. I hope to pack that buildSee ANTI-CRIME SUMMIT, page A4
A closer look Commission member Dave Southan announced that he was calling an anti-crime summit for Wednesday, Aug. 10. Billed as “Neighbors Against Crime,” the gathering will take place starting at 7 p.m. in the Charity Newsies building, 4300 Indianola Ave.
Clintonville Tour of Homes postponed to 2012 By KEVIN PARKS
ThisWeek Community Newspapers
By Dave Yunker/ThisWeek
(Above) Brian Gara and Naureen Crossmaker help clear brush from Glen Echo ravine July 30. (Below) Shelby Conrad, right, helps Columbus city employee Tyrone Fagain feed brush into a chipper machine at the ravine. The cleanup was part of an ongoing project to start an urban arboretum in south Clintonville.
First arbor etum plantings set for October By KEVIN PARKS
ing this week. McLaughlin, who in all probability will serve as chairman, said that two officers have been appointed in advance of the official formation of the board. One is “webmistress” Kim Kovarik, who is helping to keep interested parties informed of developments, and the other is Jason V. Advani as treasurer. The treasurer’s post had to be filled, according to McLaughlin, because the arboretum steering committee is already spending some of the money received in grants from the Jeffrey Fund of the Columbus Foundation by United Crestview Area Neighbors and Friends of the Lower Olentangy Watershed. McLaughlin, former District 1
ThisWeek Community Newspapers
The Lower Olentangy Urban Arboretum is beginning to sprout — wings, that is. The ambitious project is moving forward on a variety of fronts, according to Mike McLaughlin of Mike the steering McLaughlin committee behind the effort to create the arboretum. For one thing, bylaws and a proposed constitution for a board to oversee the project have been circulated and the formalization of the group was scheduled at a meet-
See URBAN, page A3
Workshops aim to help owners of older homes By KEVIN PARKS
ThisWeek Community Newspapers
Nothing wants to remain a house for long. Wood rots. Foundations subside. Paint peels. Metal rusts. Shingles slide. Lots and lots of other unpleasant and potentially expensive things can go wrong with the parts and pieces of a house. At the half-century mark, even the best-built home is going to show its age and require some tender loving care. Because much of the local housing stock falls into that category or
facility, 933 E. Gay St. For $5, owners of older homes A closer look may attend a session from 9 to 11 a.m. to find out how to identify and The next in a series of “Old House DIY Workshops 2011” will be resolve common maintenance isheld on Saturday, Aug. 13, at the Community Properties of Ohio sues. The fee for a session on wood training facility, 933 E. Gay St. restorationfrom 1 to 5 p.m. costs For $5, owners of older homes may attend a session from 9 to 11 $10. During the latter hands-on a.m. to find out how to identify and resolve common maintenance workshop, attendees will learn how issues. The fee for a session on wood restoration from 1 to 5 p.m. to stabilize rotted wood, use wood costs $10. During the latter hands-on workshop, attendees will consolidants and epoxies and prelearn how to stabilize rotted wood, use wood consolidants and pare restored wood for painting. epoxies and prepare restored wood for painting. The workshops, titled “Nuts and Bolts: The Basics of Home Mainis e ven considerably older , the The next in a series of “Old House tenance,” are being put on with fundColumbus Landmarks Foundation DIY Workshops 2011” will tbe held ing received from the United Way has embarked on a local preserv a- on Saturday, Aug. 13, at the ComSee WORKSHOP, page A5 tion initiative. munity Properties of Ohio training
food & wine
The second weekend of September this year was to have brought not only the annual Clintonville Tour of Homes, but also the 10-year anniversary of 9/11. Now, it will only be the solemn observation of the worst terrorist attack in the history of the United States. This year’s Clintonville Tour of Homes will not take place. Because the annual major fundraiser for the Clintonville Community Fund would have coincided with the 10-year anniversary of Sept. 11, 2001, board members announced last week that they have decided to postThe 2012 tour will pone the event until the second be held in the historic week of Separea of Old Beechwold tember 2012. and will be partnered “It w as a very, very difwith Columbus’ ficult decision bicentennial to make,” Clincelebration. Organizers tonville Comand volunteers for the munity Fund president Todd tour will be focusing on Lusch said. coordinating with other Although local organizations and Lusch acted as spokesman, the events with plans to announcement make the 2012 tour an was signed by overwhelming all members of the board. The success. others are vice STATEMENT FROM president Marisa Martin, treasCLINTONVILLE urer Carole W. COMMUNITY FUND Tomko, secretary Abby Rosenberger and Tom Lamb, homes tour chairman. In their joint statement announcing the cancellation, board members wrote: “The 2012 tour will be held in the historic area of Old Beechwold and will be partnered with Columbus’ bicentennial celebration. Organizers and volunteers for the tour will be focusing on coordinating with other local or ganizations and events with plans to make the 2012 tour an overwhelming success. “This decision was difficult for board members to make, but out of respect of those who provided service to our nation, members felt a tour of homes would not be appropriate for this year. Your understanding and support is appreciated and we look forward to working with and seeing you at next year’s tour.” Initially, according to Lusch, board members planned to go ahead with the fundraising tour in the Old Beechwold area in spite of it f alling on the same weekend as the 9/11 anniversary. Nearly 3,000 people died in the attacks, in-
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See TOUR OF HOMES, page A5
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