In Columbus Ohio: Glen Echo: 'Pocket neighborhood'

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clipped from www.dispatch.com Glen Echo Ravine might be among Columbus' underappreciated assets, a green and inviting getaway that winds below a sometimes loud and belligerent city. While a nearby train horn bellows and a jet angling for a Port Columbus landing roars overhead, a visitor can descend into a little tranquillity, wandering an area that looks more like the rolling hills of western Pennsylvania than tabletop central Ohio. It's a big reason that people have chosen to live nearby. But its seclusion also has led some to believe that neighborhood leaders and City Hall don't listen to their needs. "It shows distinctly how isolated we are," said Martha Buckalew, a longtime neighborhood leader who helped lead an unsuccessful effort two years ago to break away from the University Area Commission and join the Clintonville Area Commission. Working together in a Glen Echo community garden are, from left, Trish Dehnbostel, left, of Local Matters; Marty Robertson and Phil Hampe. Click here to enlarge" /> Glen Echo: 'Pocket neighborhood'

Thousands tell the Franklin County Board of Revision their homes have lost value

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clipped from www.dispatchpolitics.com Droves of property owners are coming to the Franklin County Courthouse armed with area sales prices, reappraisals and a plea: Lower my taxes. And, largely, they're winning. Fueled by economic desperation or thrift, a record number of property owners are arguing that their homes or businesses are no longer worth the amount used to calculate their taxes. The Board of Revision has heard 1,470 of the 6,700 appeals filed; an additional 1,000 decisions are nearly done. Ninety percent of the time, the board has agreed with owners and granted a lower valuation. The high success rate, however, may be misleading. The board front-loaded the easiest cases -- those in which homeowners submitted obvious proof to support a quick judgment. A drop in valuation doesn't translate dollar-for-dollar to a lower tax bill. Taxes are calculated by multiplying the value of a property by the millage of local levies. People are scared, Testa said, and that's fueling the rush to his office.

J. Gumbo's Opens Tomorrow at 31 East Gay Street Downtown

clipped from www.columbusunderground.com On Tuesday at 11am, J. Gumbo’s will open their doors at 31 E. Gay Street (corner of Gay & Pearl in the former Skambo space) and start serving up a variety of Cajun and Creole dishes. The revamped space has preserved the seating areas both upstairs and downstairs, and will also have patio seating available out front. Their walk-up window in Pearl Alley will be utilized for phone orders to-go, and an outdoor tent will be set up outside on Tuesdays and Fridays during the Pearl Market for sampling. The management team stated earlier today that their hours should run from 11am to 10pm Monday through Saturday, and that a liquor license is currently being obtained. Happy hour specials will be offered, and live music will accompany specials on certain evenings. Wallspace in the downstairs area will be dedicated to featuring local artists and will be rotated on a monthly basis. A wall mural is being commissioned for the upstairs dining area. More information can be found online at JGumbos.com.

Goodale Park Music Series Returns This Weekend

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clipped from www.columbusunderground.com By Walker | July 8, 2009 2:26pm | Filed under Events, Music | Comments The Short North Sunday Jazz series has become a well known outdoor summer music event in Goodale Park. But funding was cut from the Columbus Department of Parks & Recreation who hosted the event, and it was forced to be cancelled for 2009. Thankfully, community leader Alexandra Kelley decided that she would volunteer her time, energy, and connections to keep the festival alive. The name has changed to the Goodale Park Music Series, but the enjoyment should remain the same. We conducted a quick Q&A with Alex to find out more about the event, which starts up on Sunday. Q) What prompted you to step up to save this music event series? A) Goodale Park is one of my favorite places in the world. I loved those lazy Sunday afternoons lying on a blanket with friends listening to live music.

First tenants at Grandview Yard unveiled

clipped from columbus.bizjournals.com Plans for the first phase of the Grandview Heights mixed-use development include a 126-room hotel, a fitness center and a 90,000-square-foot office building. The city’s planning commission will consider the Hyatt Place hotel, Urban Active fitness center and a planned Jason’s Deli in the office building as conditional uses. The preliminary and final development plan must go through the commission as well as Grandview Heights City Council. Construction on the three buildings and the first phase of road and utility projects could begin as early as late August. The office, hotel and fitness center should open in fall 2010, said Nationwide Realty President Brian Ellis.

Oktoberfest Cancelled by GVS for 2009

clipped from www.columbusunderground.com Update: The rumor has been confirmed. Oktoberfest has been cancelled. The rumor mill is buzzing this morning with unconfirmed news that Oktoberfest has been cancelled for 2009. If it turns out to be true, it should come as no surprise, as the changes to the event location and structure have caused a lot of turmoil between German Village residents, the German Village Society, and new GVS Executive Director Erin O’Donnell. According to this news story published in This Week News yesterday, Director O’Donnell has resigned yesterday after serving less than seven months in the position. She mentions that the budget of the GVS is not in good shape, and new fundraising is needed. Oktoberfest serves as one of the main annual fundraisers for the organization, and if it were cancelled it would probably mean a pretty large blow to GVS operations. Update #2: Apparently, an anonymous $20,000 bribe donation was was given to GVS to keep Oktoberfest from happening this year

How to Prepare Your Home Before Vacation

Summer vacations can be the perfect time to kick back and relax. And you don’t want you have to worry about the safety of your home while you’re away. To ensure that your home is well protected and cared for, pre-vacation prep is a must.

Nobody likes returning home from a relaxing vacation to find, dead plants, over-stuffed mail boxes or even worse, burglary. Here are some things that can help ensure your peace of mind when you’re away on vacation.


Security Is Top Priority

Security is probably the first issue people think about when going on vacation. Purchasing light timers is a cheap, fast and easy way to create a home security system. Be sure the timing is staggered so that your lights don’t come on at the same time each day. If you do have a home security system, it may still be necessary to use light timers. Also, alert your security company of your absence. If you are leaving cars behind while vacationing, park them in the driveway to give the illusion that somebody is home. And of course tell your neighbors. They will keep an extra watchful eye on your home while you’re away.


Maintaining Your Property

A yard will stay well maintained for about seven days before it begins to look overgrown. If you’re on vacation longer than that, make sure you hire someone to care for your lawn, flower and vegetable garden—even if it’s just the neighbor boy looking to make some extra summer money.

Managing the mail and newspapers is also important. If you’re going away for an extended amount of time, you may want to request that the post office halt the delivery of your mail altogether. Otherwise, have a friend or trusted neighbor pick up your mail and newspapers.


Vital Odds and Ends

Make it a point to turn off the stove and unplug the dishwasher, coffee pot and other small appliances before you leave. Also, make sure to unplug larger appliances like your television and computer so that a potential storm doesn’t cause your electronics to power surge and start a fire.

If you have pets at home, make sure you have secured a spot at the vet for them or friend who is willing to play with them and let them out daily.

And of course, close and lock all windows.