July 27, 2011
Triangle project update
Scioto Darby roundabout nears completion By GARY BUDZAK ThisWeek Community Newspapers
The next phase of the Hilliard triangle project began last week, which will complete the work at the Scioto Darby Road/Main Street roundabout. According to city transportation engineer Letty Schamp, during this phase of construction: Northbound and southbound traffic on Main Street will be maintained around
the center island. Scioto Darby Road will be closed to through traffic across Main Street; however, right turns will be permitted (east and west sides) at the intersection. The section of Scioto Darby Road between Main Street and High School Drive may continue to be closed during daytime work hours to allow workers to safely finish work in the median. Cemetery Road will continue to be used as the detour, but most traffic can
use High School Drive and/or the Main Street/Cemetery Road roundabout to maneuver around this closure. Work along Scioto Darby Road near Memorial Middle School will continue. Two-way traffic through this area will be maintained. All other roads will remain open to traffic. Access to local businesses will be maintained.
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We’re hoping the roundabout out at Main and Scioto Darby is completely done by the time school starts. The work along Scioto Darby road near Memorial Middle School will hopefully be done towards the end of September. So that will be the main work that will still be going on when school starts.
LETTY SCHAMP — city transportation engineer
See TRIANGLE PROJECT, page A2
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‘Night Out’ allows police, public to mingle By GARY BUDZAK ThisWeek Community Newspapers
Hilliard residents, especially those near Tinapple Park, can attend the free “National Night Out” from 6-8 p.m. Aug. 2 in the park, sponsored by the Hilliard Division of Police. “This is only our second year,” said officer Kris Settles, one of the organizers of the local event. “This stuff has been going on since the early ’80s. We missed the boat a little bit, but now we’re trying to get both feet into the fire.” Last year, Hilliard police held the event at Hoffman Trails Elementary. “We had a large turnout for our first year,” Settles said. “Last year, we gave away two bikes and a bunch of bicycle helmets.” But Settles said they want to visit different neighborhoods each year, which is why they’ll be at Tinapple Park next week. He said they distributed flyers to area residents. Sponsored by the National A closer look Association of Town Watch (NATW), the Officer Kris Settles said 28th annual Hilliard’s NNO may include National Night K-9 demonstrations, an Out (NNO) is a accident investigation van, crime/drug premotorcycle units, and Norvention event wich Township vehicles. that has milPrizes will be awarded, and lions of people there will be assorted in more than games and free food. 15,500 communities in North America participating annually. According to the NNO website, “NATW is a nonprofit crime prevention organization which works in cooperation with thousands of crime watch groups and law enforcement agencies throughout the country.” “We’re registered with NATW,” Settles said. “We follow along with their guidelines and use their suggestions.” Settles said Hilliard’s NNO may include K-9 demonstrations, an accident investigation van, motorcycle units, and Norwich Township vehicles.
By Lorrie Cecil/ThisWeek
Hilliard Davidson High School junior Natalie Weber plays her violin on the chemotherapy floor at the James Cancer Hospital on July 22 as Jean and Ron Schintzius listen. Weber began playing the violin in the fourth grade and has been playing for patients and guests at the James for about a month.
Student’s violin comforts cancer patients By GARY BUDZAK ThisWeek Community Newspapers
Natalie Weber has experienced the healing power of music firsthand: Her father had colon cancer a couple of years ago. “I remember he told me after one of my violin lessons that was the only thing that helped him calm down and feel better after going through chemotherapy,” Weber said. Robert Weber, now senior director of pharmaceutical services at the Ohio State University Medical Center, noticed someone playing the piano at the James Cancer Hospital, and told his daughter about it. This summer, Natalie Weber is one of the 20 MusicCare volunteers who per-
form a couple times a week in various areas of the James for cancer patients. “The MusicCare program holds tremendous value at The James, as it brings beautiful live music into the hospital environment,” said Alejandra Ferrer, music therapist and coordinator for MusicCare. “The music helps to normalize the unfamiliar medical setting and aids in the quality of stay/wait time for patients and their families. Both patients and staff report the soothing and calming benefits hearing a MusicCare volunteer brings.” “I wanted to do that, because I saw how much of an impact cancer had on my life, and I wanted to help other people with it,” Natalie said. “It’s re-
ally helped a lot of people, and it has helped me, too.” Natalie is going into her junior year at Davidson High School. “She’s a mature and conscientiousenough girl that can handle some of the difficult aspects of doing something like that,” said Mark Sholl, director of orchestras at Davidson. “Obviously she wouldn’t have done it if she weren’t a caring-enough kid. She’s ideally suited to do something like this.” Weber said she plays slow folk songs that are familiar-sounding and soothing, but “once in a while they’ll request ‘Somewhere over the Rainbow’ or something like that.” Ironically, Weber said she doesn’t like hospitals, but she does like to
help those in need. Sometimes, her playing has helped patients and families get through particularly trying times. “A lady came up to me because she saw me standing with my violin and said, ‘Were you the one playing the violin up on the eighth floor?’ I said yes. She said, ‘You saved my husband’s life today.’ “I just looked at her. She said, ‘My husband was having a lumbar puncture (spinal tap), and you started playing at the exact moment when he was going to have this done. You completely calmed down the entire room and you got all of us through it.’ “It’s those types of things that make you want to come back and play for people,” Weber said.
See NNO, page A4
Farmers say they like Hilliard’s market Record heat was tough on livestock, fair attendance By GARY BUDZAK
ThisWeek Community Newspapers
Vendors at the Hilliard Farmers Market say they like the market’s location and its customers. “It’s a good crowd, and they bring up lots of different questions that some of the other markets don’t,” said Vicky Hinschlager of Oink Moo Cluck Farms. The Johnstownbased farm sells pork, beef and chicken at six farmers markets. “You have more of a conversation with people instead of them just wanting to buy,” she said. “They’re more interested in knowing where the beef comes from, instead of, ‘do you have chicken?’” “The farm market has been going really well, other than the weather. (Either) it’s a little too hot or it’s raining,” said Alexa By Lorrie Cecil/ThisWeek Coughlin of Wishwell Farms, whose Belle- Betty Havener looks over the broccoli at the Wishwell Farms stand at the Hilliard Farmers See FARMERS SAY, page A4 Market July 19. The market will held from 4-7 p.m. every Tuesday through August.
You have a hole in your house.
By JESSICA WHITE ThisWeek Community Newspapers
With highs in the upper 90s and humidity well over 50 percent, Franklin County Fair workers said had anticipated decreased attendance for the 2011 event. “This is the hottest it’s ever been,” said Michelle Cordle, who has attended the fair with her family for the past 10 years. “It’s dead compared to every other year.” On the bright side, no one had to wait in line. Alyssa Justus, who sells livestock at the fair’s annual auction, said she had to wash her animals with cold water three times a day to keep them from fainting. “You step outside and right when you put your boots on, See FRANKLIN COUNTY FAIR, page A2
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