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westside Featuring our famous STEAK COMBO!! 4220 W. Broad St. (Across from Westland Mall) 614 272-6485 open 7 days a week April 7 - 20, 2019 www.columbusmessenger.com Vol. XLV, No. 20 Commissioners debate A grand Hilltop drop-in center By Josh Jordan Staff Writer Esther Flores, the founder of opening 1DivineLine2Health, was seeking a letter of support from the Greater Hilltop Area Commission for her new planned drop-in center at 2633 Sullivant Ave. By Dedra Cordle The request was discussed at the April Staff Writer 2 commissioners meeting, held at the Lauren Easley loves her local library. Hilltop Library. “We always come here,” said the The center would be a safe house and Galloway resident. provide food and shelter for women in At least once a week, she and her 2- need, whether they are homeless, drug year-old son, Milo will go to the addicts, victims of human trafficking or Westland Area Library in order to drop prostitutes. off the dozen or so books they had See CENTER page 2 checked out and then scour the shelves for more. “We like to refresh our supply,” said Easley. Inside But if there was one complaint she had about the library, it was its lack of a Page 6 designated space for children. “They didn’t have much of anything,” she said. “The area really consisted of books, one table and a few chairs.” When she heard last year that an expansion project for the youth services department was forthcoming, she was ecstatic. She even made a mental note to come out for the grand unveiling, when - ever that may be. When it finally occurred on March 23, six months after Pets of the Week ................. 6 the construction process began, she and The Reel Deal ..................... 6 Milo were one of the first visitors. Like so many others who came out to the West Broad business event, she was not at all prepared for Commissioners approve plan for busi - what the finished product looked like. ness to relocate to Target store Page 3 “It’s unbelievable,” Easley said. See LIBRARY page 2 Hilltop Market Study City’s analysis says there is plenty of opportunity for growth Page 5 Messenger photos by Dedra Cordle The Westland Area Library held a dedi - cation ceremony on March 23 to cele - BROAD ST. brate the completion of the youth serv - PHYSICAL REHAB ices department and teen area expan - 3072 W. Broad St., Cols., OH 43204 sion. The project added more than 3,600 square feet of space that will be 614-725-4720 used to host interactive programs like the one youth services librarian NEW S Jessica Smith (top right) led during the CLIENT $ ONLY ceremony. 29.95 ONE HOUR MASSAGE (Reg. $60.00) Right, this reading nook was a popular LaToyia Rose destination for children like Isaac Licensed Massage Therapist Dr. Evan Plante Linley, 5. Chiropractic Physician CPAGE 2 N- WETSTSEIDE R MESSENGER - April 7, 2019 www.columbusmessenger.com Continued from page 1 “My main concern is that there is an ele - Others in the room began speaking “More addicts will be coming into our to do it,” said commissioner Zerqa Abid. “I mentary school about 100 yards to the about their objections to the house moving neighborhood because it is free here,” said think nothing can work in any community east,” said Jay McCallister, commission into their neighborhood. Marilyn Wilson, a resident who lives near unless both neighbors and the service chairman. “I’m not sure about the location. Flores explained that the drop-in center the proposed site. providers are on the same page.” Also, to the west, everything is residential.” would only be open 40 hours per week and “It seems like I am always here to advo - The commission went on to vote down that those in need could only stay at the cate against people coming into our neigh - the request of support with 13 against and center for up to a year if necessary. borhood and deciding what we need in our one abstaining, but the conversation was “I know that people are afraid, but what neighborhood. Nobody has asked the not done. r 24 Hou about the women that are pregnant and neighbors. None of us have been asked “I would really love to work with all of rvice Se have no access to recovery,” said Flores. what our opinion is of this place,” said Lisa you to set up a couple meetings so that we “This is what we’re all about. If you want to Boggs, a Hilltop community resident and can talk about this issue and come up with make a difference, sometimes we have to activist. “There’s already a safehouse over a solution that is collaborative and figure look at the situation and not treat them there and it’s increased the prostitution in this out together,” said commissioner Nikol Franklin like garbage.” our area.” Madison. “I would love to take this on as The house is not a rehabilitation center, The commissioners expressed concern my project for the rest of the year to work Heating and Refrigeration, Inc. but the facility would partner with groups about how the drop-in center would be with the residents and the work that Ms. who will help those in need. However, it is operated. Flores is doing so that we can solve this OH License #20692 up to each individual if they participate. “We do need to know more plans. We issue together.” SPRING IS HERE! need a clear understanding of what your All parties agreed. Contact us NOW for your air conditioner tune up. program is going to do and how is it going $100 OFF a new system replacement! (614) 836-9119 community events Free Estimates for Replacement Equipment Free produce at St. Agnes Touch-a-Truck Free fresh produce will be distributed The Prairie Township Community $ 00 $ 00 99 10 OFF on April 26 beginning at 3 p.m. at St. Center will host a Touch-a-Truck event Contract or Agnes Catholic Church, 2364 West Mound from 12 to 2 p.m. May 18 at 5955 West A/C Checkup Service Call St. Patrons are asked to please bring a Broad St. For more information, contact Exp. 5-31-19 photo I.D. and proof of a current address in the community center at 614-907-7990 or www.franklinheating.com Franklin County. The produce will be dis - visit www.prairietownship.org. tributed on a first come, first served basis as supplies last. LIBRARY Continued from page 1 After rounding the corner near the Barnhart. main entrance, the patrons came across a Having worked at the library for nearly piece of chalk art from youth services two decades, Barnhart has seen the librarian Jessica Smith that depicts a growth of the patronage and been a wit - scene from Frances Hodgson Burnett’s ness to the need for the expansion of all classic children’s novel, “The Secret departments, particularly for youth servic - Garden.” As both book and expansion proj - es. ect share a theme of exploration and dis - “It’s been pretty cramped for a long covery, a “cement path” woven into the car - time,” she said. pet leads visitors to an archway filled with Barnhart said she was excited when the stuffed animals that welcome them to the expansion project began, but didn’t realize sensory room. There, the space is filled just how much space would be added. with books, puzzles, reading nooks, multi - “I knew it was around 3,600 square feet ple tables, computers and furniture. of new additions, but seeing it firsthand is Upon leaving the sensory room, the something else,” she said. “It’s a little over - path takes visitors to the youth services whelming, having all of this space.” program area that will primarily be used Still, she knows it will be put to good to host public reading events and activi - use. ties, such as the popular Storytime series “We have so many programming plans that is held throughout the year. for the future,” she said. “And now we’ll “With all of this new space, people won’t actually have the space for it.” have to sit on other people when they Judging by the comments from the chil - Just Enrolling K-8K-8 attend these events,” said Jane Barnhart, dren and adults alike, they too plan to take Ask about our early entrance kindergartenkindergarten programprogram the youth services team lead. “Children advantage of the expansion. and parents can be together as they take “I like it a lot,” said Cadence Williams, Tuition is FREE!FREE! part whereas it used to be children in one a kindergartner at Darby Woods ENROLLINGENROLLING NOW for NOW for 2019-20202018-2019 schoolschool year!year! room, parents in another.” Elementary. “I like the play area. I like to Hurry, spots fill upup quickly!quickly! Adjacent but separate to the program read too.” area is a section for teens where they can “We will definitely be coming back,” browse books on the tree shelf, use special - said Hilliard resident Jessica Linley, who ized tables to access the Internet or just came to the dedication with her 5-year-old take a few moments to chill out. son Isaac. “It’s such a lovely place to be.” “It’s just a neat space for teens,” said www.columbusmessenger.com April 7, 2019 - WESTSIDE MESSENGER - PAGE 3 Government Focus Commissioners approve plans for vacant Target site By Josh Jordan store at 3720 West Broad Street. ers and the community showed concern that no trucks would be allowed to park on Staff Writer “What we’re looking to do is bring our about the amount of trucks coming and site, even with the large parking lot out entire operation over from Fisher Road and going from the facility, but Solstice Sleep front.