Red, White & BOOM!
Celebrate our nation's independence at Red White & BOOM! Friday, July 3rd in Downtown Columbus. Come for the fireworks, food, fun, live entertainment and much more! Follow the links below for the Red, White & BOOM! home page, and information on parking at Veterans Memorial.
Stay and Play in Franklin County
Vacation season is here, but that doesn't mean you need to pack a bag. Why not consider all that Columbus and Franklin County have to offer? Head across town to catch a pro baseball or soccer game, take the kids to COSI or the Columbus Zoo, enjoy one of our many outdoor festivals-there's plenty of fun for everyone, and it's all right at your doorstep. For information on the Columbus Clippers and reserving a shelter at a Metro Park, check out the links below. For details on other local destinations and activities, you can go to www.experiencecolumbus.com.
Upcoming Events
Mondays:
Free Glucose Screening - Courthouse Lobby, 9:00 a.m. to 1 p.m.
03/02—Summer:
Mound Street Construction
County offices closed in observance of Independence Day
07/03:
Red, White & BOOM!
07/06:
Voter Registration Deadline for August 4th Special Election
07/11:
Household Hazardous Waste Pickup—Jefferson/Plain Township—
New Albany
07/13:
Economic Development & Planning—Blendon Community Plan Meeting
07/18—07/25:
Franklin County Fair
from the Auditor
Franklin County's Annual Financial Reports for the year ending December 31, 2008 are now available. Click the link below to read the reports online, or to request copies.
A three mile section of State Route 315 from I-670 to North Broadway will be under construction beginning June 15, 2009. Crews will work on several bridges and the pavement to improve conditions for the 70,000 vehicles that use this gateway every day. There will be two lanes of traffic maintained in each direction during the construction period. For more on this project, click the link below.
from the Board of Health
On June 11, the World Health Organization (WHO) officially raised the current level of influenza pandemic alert for the H1N1 flu from phase 5 to 6, thereby declaring an influenza pandemic. This status change was made based on the worldwide spread of H1N1, not based on the severity of the virus. To learn more about the H1N1 flu and the WHO Pandemic Preparedness Phases, follow the links below.
from the Board of Elections
A special election will be held August 4th. See the Board of Elections website for information on voting procedures, identification requirements, provisional ballots, and more. To check your registration status or polling location, or review your sample ballot online, click the link below.
When the weather warms up, people naturally head for the water, but ignoring basic water safety can cause a swim or a boat ride to turn tragic. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), over 3500 people drowned in 2005, and more than one in four drowning victims are children under 14. Learn about ways to play safely in the water and minimize the risk of an accident by following the link below.
from Board of Health
Summer is the season for graduation parties, barbeques, vacations, and all kinds of outdoor fun. Unfortunately, it also brings ticks and mosquitoes. To learn how to protect you and your family against summer's nemeses, follow the links below.
from Children Services
If you find yourself or someone you know in a crisis situation with an unwanted or unable to be cared for infant, there is an option that will protect the baby and protect your identity. Abandoning a baby in an unsafe place with no help in sight is never the right decision. Ohio law protects parents from criminal prosecution when they choose a safe alternative for the infant. Franklin County Children Services, along with local hospitals, law enforcement and other medical staff are joining together to help you and the infant. As a community service, professionals from Franklin County Children Services are available to speak to local groups and organizations on this topic. For further information, call 614-341-6017, Email vjmccrut@fccs.co.franklin.oh.us, or click the link below.
from Animal Control
Every year on or near July 4th, many dogs become frightened by fireworks. They may exhibit strange behavior, or even try to run away. Franklin County Animal Control has a list of tips that will help you keep your dog calm and safe during the celebrations. Click the link below for details.
The Franklin County Commissioners have committed to going green, and now there's a web page for news and information on environmental initiatives. Building upon the Commissioners' pledge to promote sustainable principles in their policy decisions, Franklin County government agencies have instituted a wide variety of innovative programs and practices designed to protect the environment. Click the link below to access the web page.
The Franklin County Commissioners are now on Twitter, the micro-blogging site that lets users post updates 140 characters long (known as “tweets”) to answer the question “What are you doing?” To follow the Commissioners' tweets, go to http://twitter.com/FranklinCoOhio.
from Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission
The Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission (MORPC) released its top 40 regional high-crash intersections for years 2005-2007. The top 40 intersections are ranked based on a formula that considers number of crashes, traffic volume and severity. Click the link below to read the press release.
from Children Services
While graduation is an exciting time for all graduates, it is even more so for children under agency care due to adverse circumstances. This graduation year, 110 youth in the custody of Children Services graduated from high school, received their GED's, or completed educational skills. The graduates have a wide range of plans for their futures. Many will attend local colleges such as Columbus State Community College, The Ohio State University, and the University of Toledo. They plan on becoming nursing assistants, caterers, musicians, auto mechanics, and construction workers. Click the link below to see pictures of some of the graduates.
from Children Services
Children Services has set the bar high for 2008 and beyond. But our children deserve no less. Franklin County Children Services is the agency responsible for the care and protection of the county's abused, neglected and troubled children. For more information on adoption, foster care or volunteering, call 614-341-6060. To read the report, click the link below.
from SWACO
Need to get rid of an old TV? Maybe you've bought a new set for the digital transition, or maybe the old one just quit working. Instead of letting it sit around, you can recycle it, as well as old computers and other electronics. The Solid Waste Authority of Central Ohio (SWACO) maintains a list of organizations that offer this specialized recycling service. Click the link below for details.
from SWACO
U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) has announced new legislation that would expand the use of municipal solid waste as a source of clean energy. The Rubbish to Renewables Act of 2009 would create jobs and increase demand for clean energy technology such as that used in SWACO's Green Energy Center. Click the link below to read the press release.
from Board of Commissioners, Treasurer, and Prosecuting Attorney
If you find that you are having trouble paying your mortgage, or if you are in foreclosure, you need to call for help. Free counseling assistance is available to struggling homeowners regardless of income.
The Franklin County Board of Commissioners, Treasurer, and Prosecuting Attorney have collaborated on a Homeowner Helpline. Calling First Link at 211 will connect you to a local non-profit housing counseling agency that can determine what type of help is best for you. See the link below for details.
The 2009 Franklin County Fair will be held from July 18 through July 25 at the Franklin County Fair Grounds in Hilliard. The Franklin County Commissioners' Pie Judging Contest will be held on Thursday, July 23 at 11 a.m. in the Senior Activities Tent. This year's flavor is peach. For more on the Franklin County Fair, click the link below.
from Children Services
Join us August 15 for FamJam, a Family Enrichment Festival. Come to Franklin Park from 11am until 2 pm and enjoy the live entertainment (featuring performers from the Be A Star Talent Showcase, among others), food, festivities, and informational booths. This celebration is held to heighten awareness about the needs of children under Children Services' care. For more information, please call 614-278-5987.
from Children Services
Franklin County Children Services offers many resources to help citizens promote child safety. The new Guidelines for Reporting Abuse brochure contains tips for recognizing child abuse and neglect, information about the alternative response program and mandated referrals, statistics of abuse in Franklin County, and a flow chart of the referral process. Online videos highlight the moving journeys of those who have overcome child abuse and neglect. You can also sign up for the Children Services eNewsletter for up-to-date news and information from the agency. See the links below to access the guidelines and videos, or to sign up for the eNewsletter.
from Metro Parks
The Passport to Metro Parks program offers outdoor enthusiasts a great chance to enjoy the beauty and wonderment of nature right here in Central Ohio. Individuals or teams of up to six can participate. Complete 20 questions or activities to be entered into a grand prize drawing. Click the link below to read the flyer.
from Children Services
Franklin County Children Services helps thousands of abused, neglected, and troubled children each year. Many children and older youths under the care of the agency depend on volunteers and mentors to guide them through difficult times. Just a few hours of your time each month can make a world of difference in a child's life. Click the link below to learn more.
from ADAMH
Every day, Franklin County ADAMH helps people who struggle with addiction and mental illness. Their stories can educate as well as inspire. In the words of one man who overcame drug addiction with the help of ADAMH, "Success isn't easy, but it's worth it." Click the link below to read the stories.
Your garden is in. Whether you plant vegetables or flowers, have you thought about the cost of using tap water for your thirsty plants? Let's bring back a frugal, environmentally friendly practice of our grandparents: harvesting rain water to use in the garden. The old cistern is the new rain barrel. Generally holding between 40 and 60 gallons, rain barrels sit by your gutter downspout and collect rain water through either a downspout diverter, or by the addition of an elbow to the downspout. Rain water runoff entering the storm drain system is carried to streams and rivers where it contributes pollutants, raises the water temperature, and causes stream bank erosion. For more information on rain barrels and other backyard conservation practices, click the link below.
from Metro Parks
While you're enjoying the outdoors in Franklin County's Metro Parks, remember that 12 of the 15 Parks have designated pet trails. Why not include your furry friends in the fun? Dogs and cats must be controlled and leashed at all times, and must remain in designated areas. For more on pets at the park, see the Metro Parks Pet Trails page.
If you don't have a dog to take to the park, but you're thinking about getting one, visit the Franklin County Dog Shelter to learn about all the advantages of adopting. You might just meet your new best friend!
