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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 May 5 - 18, 2019 www.columbusmessenger.com Vol. XLV, No. 22 Westland area We Do Recover By Andrea Cordle is ready for Westside Editor John Gerlach grew up in Westgate with development a loving family. He graduated high school and held a steady job. “On the outside, everything looked By Amanda Ensinger alright but inside it wasn’t,” he said. Staff Writer Gerlach was an addict. About nine years ago, Gerlach acciden - Residents from the westside got the tally overdosed on a combination of drugs. chance to discuss economic development in He was found barely breathing in his their community and improvements they apartment. Medics arrived and adminis - would like to see in the region during a tered Narcan then rushed Gerlach to the recent stakeholder engagement event. hospital where he spent several days in On April 29, the Franklin County the intensive care unit. Economic Development and Planning “Now that wasn’t my last use or sobri - Department held a community meeting at ety date,” said Gerlach. Haydocy where they asked residents proj - See RECOVERY page 2 ects and improvements they would like to see on the westside. “Within our department, we are start - ing to plan for economic development on Inside the westside and we want to ensure what - ever economic development we do reflects Page 6 the community and is resident-focused,” said T. Alex Beres, assistant director of the Franklin County Economic Development and Planning. “In order to do this, we need to hear from you guys. We will use what we talk about tonight to continue more conversations and hopefully generate activity in the region.” During the stakeholder engagement conversation, residents were broken up into groups of six and discussed locations, Pets of the Week ................. 6 businesses and meeting spots they like on The Reel Deal .................... 12 the westside and things they don’t like. Among the items that residents liked Police Coverage included Carl Frye Park, Westland Area Township and county reach police Library, Doctor’s Hospital, Prairie services agreement Page 3 Township Community Center, Camp Chase Trail, Prairie Township Fire Student Population Station and Hollywood Casino. School district prepares for increase in Some of the items in the region that res - EL student population Page 4 idents didn’t like included the high crime in the region, businesses around the Hollywood Casino, and crime ridden BROAD ST. apartment complexes and nuisance prop - erties. PHYSICAL REHAB “There is real potential in parts of the 3072 W. Broad St., Cols., OH 43204 westside, but they need to be developed,” said Dan Fagan, meeting attendee. “For Messenger photo by Dedra Cordle 614-725-4720 example, if the Westland Mall gets devel - NEW oped the other side of the street has huge Here, kitty kitty NTS CLIE $ potential.” ONLY 29.95 One of the big conversations during the Sidney Huff, a 7-year-old from Galloway, entices a kitten named Lemongrass out ONE HOUR MASSAGE (Reg. $60.00) meeting was the recent report that the of a tunnel at the Humane Society of Madison County on April 27. Huff and her LaToyia Rose Sears portion of Westland Mall has been mother were at the shelter in West Jefferson to support the ‘Tour for Life,’ a coop - Licensed Massage Therapist purchased by LGR Weston, leaving the Dr. Evan Plante erative life-saving mobile service and adoption event. For more information on Chiropractic Physician See WESTLAND page 2 Lemongrass and the other animals up for adoption, visit www.hsmcohio.org. PAGE 2 - WESTSIDE MESSENGER - May 5, 2019 community events www.columbusmessenger.com Bike tour community gathering from 2 to 4 p.m. May well as provide an item that will be used for bring heavy-duty bags, boxes or carts to 19. The tour will start and end at Glenwood door prize drawings. Registration is being carry the bulk produce home. For more The Highland West Civic Association recreation Center, 1888 Fairmont Ave. For taken at the church office at 614-279-5286. information, call 614-279-3115 or visit will host a neighborhood bike tour and more information, visit www.high - No admission is being charged for shop - www.centralbaptistcolumbus.org. landwest.us. pers. Authors and venders sought Star Wars Celebration Fresh produce to be distributed to benefit church projects St. Mark’s Church will host a Star Wars Free fresh fruit and vegetables will be Celebration from 6:30 to 8 p.m. May 10 at St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church distributed on May 11 to qualified, low- 5200 Sullivant Ave. The event is for chil - is looking for authors and other vendors for income Franklin County residents. The dren ages 5 through 12. Free activities an event that’s raising funds for church fresh produce will be available at Central include crafts, pictures with Darth Vader, projects. The event will be held from 10 Baptist Church, 1955 Frank Road, begin - how to make a light saber and saber a.m. to 2 p.m. May 11 at the church, 2475 ning at 10:30 a.m. To assist in registration, demonstrations. For reservations email W. Broad St. Authors and other vendors bring a photo ID and your current address [email protected] or call 614-400- are being asked to pay $25 for a table as in Franklin County. You are asked to also 5669. WESTLAND Continued from page 1 Hour mall now open to redevelopment. need the city and county to come to the discussed during the meeting included 24 e Servic “We all know the news last week has table.” having a sit-down restaurant with a patio gotten everyone excited about the west - However, some residents were skeptical on the westside, having playgrounds, side,” said James Schimmer, director of the they would not see any benefits of the mall addressing the homeless issue, having Franklin County Economic Development being developed. more attractions for young people and and Planning. “However, this won’t be the “Once something good happens at reducing the cost of water service in the Franklin focus of the meeting tonight. We want to Westland Mall it will be annexed into the region. talk about the entire westside, not just city,” said Nancy Day-Achauer, westside Residents also suggested some ways to Heating and Refrigeration, Inc. Westland Mall.” resident and member of the Westland Area address these issues, including adding a OH License #20692 However, the mall still dominated the Commission. police substation, having tax incentives for SPRING IS HERE! conversation. When residents were asked “Westside residents have been condi - businesses, working with other jurisdic - Contact us NOW for your air conditioner tune up. to prioritize what they want to see tioned to not want more than we already tions and creating a master development $ improved in the westside, the mall was the have because we live on the westside,” plan. 100 OFF a new system replacement! top item discussed by all groups. added Janet Cahill, westside resident. “We Organizers will now take these ideas (614) 836-9119 “We need a multi-jurisdictional have not been treated equal and we should and go back to drawing board with next Free Estimates for Replacement Equipment approach to repairing the Westland Mall,” be.” steps for development for the westside. said Betty Jaynes, westside resident. “We Other improvement priorities residents RECOVERY $ 00 $1000 OFF 99 Contract or Continued from page 1 A/C Checkup Service Call Exp. 5-31-19 It was years later when Gerlach finally asked for help. Now, he child is an addict, they put their heads down and turn away. We is sober and giving thanks to those who helped him in his journey need to break down that stigma.” www.franklinheating.com to recovery. Last year, the Columbus Division of Fire responded to 3,387 “You have got to show gratitude,” said runs where Naloxone was used. The RREACT team helped con - Gerlach. “Gratitude is an action word.” nect more than 1,000 of those individuals to treatment providers Gerlach, along with the Desert Island or other social services. 1,-);?)6<-, Club, will host a We Do Recover event as “Addiction is difficult for families and it is a burden on society,” part of EMS Appreciate Week. The event said Parrish. “It takes a community to help someone recover.” *HW<RXU)UHH,QYHQWRUŮV*XLGH will take place from 12 to 5 p.m. May 19 at That is why Parrish called We Do Recover a “fantastic event,” Westgate Park, 3217 Wicklow Road in especially for the westside of Columbus. Columbus. “The westside is one of the hardest hit areas,” said the fire lieu - +)44 67? Gerlach said people are welcome to share tenant who grew up on the westside of Columbus. “It’s hard to see their stories of hope and say thank you to the area struggle but a lot of people are doing good work.” 0MTXQVOQV^MV\WZ[IVLQLMIXMWXTM[QVKM! ! the first responders who have saved lives. Gerlach said if not for the medics who arrived when he over - “Those guys (first responders) watch us dosed, he would not be alive. destroy ourselves over and over again,” said “Someone helped me when I could not help myself,” said 'DYLVRQFKDUJHVIHHVIRUVHUYLFHV Gerlach. “Then we thank them by fighting Gerlach. with them in the ambulance.” Parrish said events like We Do Recover give him hope. The Columbus Division of Fire Rapid “We see these people at their worst time. This gives us hope to Response Emergency Addiction and Crisis see the folks who have made it.” Lung Cancer? Team (RREACT) will have a booth set up at Gerlach said addiction is a disease that does not discriminate Asbestos exposure in industrial, the event.