C O MM UN I T Y

www.weinlandparkcivic.org

CIVIC

A S S OC I AT I ON
October 2013

Volume XIII

Issue 10

Meet your Neighbor: Erin Michel

A year ago, Erin Michel bought her first home here on

Summit Street. She looked at many properties before
settling on one of Weinland Parks new Neighborhood
Stabilization Program houses. A member of the League
of Women Voters, Erin had heard about the homes
during a forum on land use policy that included a
presentation on the WP Community Development Plan.

May 2012. City Year recruits 17-24-year-olds to provide

mentoring and academic intervention for at-risk youth
and direct service to parents and communities. First
placed at WP Elementary, Erin now oversees programs
at Mifflin High School to reduce drop-out rates by
helping freshmen make a successful transition to
10th grade.

While she was researching her home purchase, her top

priority was to find something centrally located that was
very walkable, with easy access to the freeway and bus
lines. But in the end, she also took particular note of
how people in WP greeted each other, even total
strangersand decided she wanted to be a part of the
neighborhood.

Now, Erin is on a first-name basis with her neighbors,

hanging out on her porch, freely offering compliments,
and keeping up with events in each others lives. I want
them to know who I am, and that they can come to me,
she says. Shed like to see more informal community
interaction, like cook-outs. She is also passionate about
improving the risky traffic situation on Summit Street,
especially at 7th and near the park. When you see Erin
around, please welcome her and introduce yourself!

After earning her masters in social work from Ohio

State University, Erin started working with City Year in

www.weinlandparkcivic.org

October 2013

Volume XIII

Issue 10

Good Things Are Happening...

Take a stroll past Hamlet and 8th to check out the

recently completed landscaping. These arent just your
ordinary flowerbeds. These are rain gardens, which allow
rainwater run-off from the houses to be soaked back into
the ground instead of running into the storm sewer. Not
only a sustainable, time-saving way to keep plants
nourished, these ecological powerhouses also reduce
erosion, flooding, and pollution to the Olentangy River,
and increase ground water.

Youve seen the signs: rush-hour parking restrictions

have been removed from Summit and North 4th Streets,
making 166 parking spaces available 24 hours/day! This
should have the added benefit of reducing car speeds
and improving safety. Chris Orban, co-chair of the Safety
and Mobility Committee, notes that this was a key
recommendation of our WP Mobility Plan. More improvements are ahead, with plans to resurface 11th and 5th New homes at 8th & Hamlet feature rain gardens
Avenues in 2014, and to resurface and add bike lanes to
Summit and North 4th in 2015.
The Civic Associations Health and Wellness commit Our monthly Saturday morning litter clean-up crew, tee is starting back up again. Please welcome your
neighbor Christine Happel as the new chair. Other good
led by Michael Wilkos, is still going strong! 18 people
committee news: Brandyn McElroy has signed on as the
showed up in September, and 16 members of Jennifer
Cheeks youth litter team were also out and about that new co-chair for the Safety and Mobility Committee.
weekend. Join us October 5 for some coffee and donuts Coming soon, Godman Guild is partnering with Boys
before heading out to help clean up WP.
and Girls Club to offer the R.I.S.E., an after-school
Renovation is starting on the historic apartment program for Weinland Park middle and high school
students. For information, call Anjanette at Godman
buildings on 11th Avenue between North 4th and Grant!
And construction will begin soon on brand-new market- Guild at (614) 294-5476, ext. 151.
rate houses on the west side of Grant Avenue, starting
near 6th Avenue and moving north.

Out of the Closet Opens in October

Keep an eye out: construction is nearing completion on Out of the Closet at 5th and High with the
grand opening targeted for Oct 12 or 19. Out of the
Closet will offer a thrift store, full-service pharmacy,
and free, walk-in, rapid HIV testing, counseling, and
referrals. Its part of a chain operated by the AIDS
Healthcare Foundation, a national organization that
provides medical, preventive, and educational
resources for HIV/AIDS patients. All but 4% of the
proceeds from the thrift store and pharmacy are
put back into providing services.
They will also be accepting applications for at least
2 jobsall the more reason to be the first in line for
the grand opening!

Calendar of Eventsmostly free!

Mon.Wed.
Thurs.Fri.
Sat.
Sun.
Mon.Thurs.
Every Fri.
Mon.Fri.
Every Tues.
Every Tues.
Every Wed.
Every Thurs.
Every Thurs.
Every Thurs.
Every Fri.
Sat., Oct. 5

9 a.m.6 p.m.
9 a.m.8 p.m.
10 a.m.8 p.m.
11 a.m.6 p.m.
3:306:30 p.m.
36 p.m.
10 a.m.3 p.m.
10 a.m.
6:30 p.m.
4:30 p.m.
4 p.m.
48 p.m.
5:30 p.m.
7:30 a.m.4 p.m.
10 amNoon
11 a.m.4 p.m.

October 2013

The Box: That Sweet Scioto River Water by

Jerry Dannemiller and Mary Jo Bole

Wexner Center

Homework Help Center, grades: K12

Northside Library

Job Help Center: Hands on Help, adults

Toddler and Preschool Storytime, ages 26
Family Storytime, all ages
Tween Time, ages 711
Fall Exhibition: Blues for Smoke
Thursday Night (free admission to galleries)

Northside Library
Northside Library
Northside Library
Northside Library
Wexner Center
Wexner Center

Civic Association Walking Club

Schoenbaum Ctr.

Neighborhood Best Practices Conference, $5

preregistration, call (614) 227-8715
Civic Association Litter Clean-Up & Newsletter
Distribution with coffee, donuts, and fruit
Teen Wex Lab: Photography Now and Looking
Back: Blues for Smoke (workshop), scholarships available, call (614) 292-6493
Super Sunday: Now Hear This! (free activities
and tours)
Civic Association Communications Committee
Civic Association Housing Committee
Civic Association Steering Committee
Neighborhood Network
Financial Literacy Workshops, to register call
(614) 247-1983

Columbus Downtown High School

Weinland Park shelter house
Wexner Center

Sun., Oct. 6

Noon5 p.m.

Mon., Oct. 7
Tues., Oct. 8
Wed., Oct. 9

6:308 p.m.
5:307 p.m.
5:308:30 p.m.
68 p.m.

Sat., Oct. 12

9 a.m.1 p.m.

Wed., Oct. 16

6:30 p.m.

University Area Commission

Thurs., Oct. 17
Fri.Sun., Oct.
1820

5:307:30 p.m.

Civic Association Safety & Mobility Committee

Northwood & High Bldg.

(2231 N. High St.)
Pride Center

9 a.m.7 p.m.

Community Yard Sale

Along 6th St.

9 a.m.1 p.m.

Financial Literacy Workshops, to register call

(614) 247-1983

Godman Guild

68 p.m.
68 p.m.
6:30 p.m.

Civic Association Development Committee

Civic Association Monthly Meeting
University Area Review Board

Godman Guild
Schoenbaum Ctr.
Northside Library

Highball Masquerade on High, $5; children are

free from noon4 p.m. on Sat.

High St., between Short North and

Arena District

Artist Talk: Glenn Ligon

Teen Program: Quay Brothers Shorts Screening
and Discussion (workshop, free)
City of Columbus Trick or Treat Night

Wexner Center

Sun., Oct. 20
Wed., Oct. 23
Thurs., Oct. 24
Fri., Oct. 25
Sat., Oct. 26
Tues., Oct. 29

4:30 p.m.

Thurs., Oct. 31

38 p.m.
68 p.m.

Free Adult Education Classes

Wexner Center
Godman Guild
Godman Guild
Godman Guild
Godman Guild
Godman Guild

Wexner Center
All over WP!

preparation, customer service certification, ESOL, and job

readiness and placement. No pre-registration required. Just
The next round of sign-ups for adult education classes at show up, on time, for one of the sessions and get started
Godman Guild are scheduled for Oct. 1 from 58:00 p.m. fulfilling your potential! 303 E. 6th Avenue, (614) 294and Oct. 2 from 9 a.m.noon and 14 p.m. Topics 5476, www.godmanguild.org.
include earning your GED, academic enrichment, college

www.weinlandparkcivic.org

October 2013

Why you should be at the Civic

Well, there is the free food But seriously: if you want to connect with people in your community, then the monthly Civic meeting is a good place to
start. We have some of the most engaged residents in Columbus, with a
diverse range of interests. Find out what is planned for your neighborhood.
Vote on important changes. Get answers and voice your opinion. Talk to our
officers and committee chairs one-on-one. Find out how you can help. If you
want to be heard, you have to show up!
Fall is fast approaching, which means its getting dark a lot earlierso bike
lights are more important than ever. The city requires them after dark, and
we still have some left over from our Safety Grant. Bring your bike to this
months Civic meeting to get lights (see calendar for date and time).
A select few of our neighbors have been participating in long-term training
to develop their leadership and entrepreneurial skills. At Octobers meeting,
the Weinland Park Leadership and Entrepreneurial Institute will share with
us what they have learned and what they will be up to next.

Volume XIII

Issue 10

Kroger & Civic Offer

$5 Shopping Carts
Weinland Park residents can now
purchase a personal shopping cart for
just $5 (a 75% savings)! Pick one up at
the Godman Guild from 9 a.m.5 p.m.,
MondayFriday (303 E. 6th Ave.,
(614) 294-5476). Hurry, supplies are
limited.
The Civic Association is grateful
to Kroger and The Columbus Foundation for quickly responding to our
concerns about maintaining access to
fresh and convenient food in light of
the new cart security system. Happy
shopping!

Sixth Street Yard Sale!

One of our new neighbors, Kimberly Golden, is organizing a yard sale along
6th Street from 9 a.m.7 p.m. on Oct 1820. Support your community and
get to know your fellow residents! Welcome her and call (614) 725-2952 to
lend a hand.

Joyce Hughes, President

email: jhughes005@columbus.rr.com
Diane Dixon, Vice President
Lydia Yoder, Secretary
email: jason.lydia.yoder@gmail.com
Omar Qureshi, Treasurer
email: omar.m.qureshi@gmail.com

If you have any story ideas for the

newsletter, please email us!
communications@weinlandparkcivic.org

4th Wednesday of the month

6 p.m.
Schoenbaum Family Center
175 E. 7th Ave.
Next to Weinland Park Elementary
Free dinner provided!

Ideas for next months edition are due by

the second Monday of the current month.