City of Gahanna Update Newsletter

CITY NEWS

City to Kickoff Design Decal Contest to Increase Awareness about the Dangers of Distracted Driving

The City of Gahanna has joined forces with Impact Teen Drivers,

a nonprofit organization committed to ending reckless and distracted driving, the number one killer of teens in America to help increase awareness about the dangers of distracted driving. The City partnered with Impact Teen Drivers after learning about their exhaustive efforts across the state and their work with Brock and Sara Dietrich to share the story of their daughter, Sydnee Williams, a Gahanna student who was tragically killed in 2013, after she lost control of her car while texting and driving.

In an effort to bring greater awareness about this important issue to the community, the City will kick-off a distraction-free driving decal design contest. Winners of the contest will have a chance to compete for a $50 gift card and the opportunity have the design featured on various City Service vehicles.

"We decided to host a design decal contest to help raise greater awareness in our community about the dangers of distracted driving," said Abby Cochran, Interim Director of Human Resources, City of Gahanna. "Since the City's service vehicles are visible throughout our community, we thought having these decals prominently displayed on our fleet would serve as a great reminder to all of us to maintain safe driving habits at all times. We are excited about the contest and look forward to all the entries that are submitted."

Images may be drawn free hand or graphically created. Designs should fit within a 3 ½ x 5 inch space, either portrait or landscape. Designs may be submitted electronically at [email protected] with "City Decal Contest" in the subject line of the email. Submissions may also be delivered in person or via U.S. mail to:

Gahanna City Hall

Human Resources

200 S. Hamilton Rd.

Gahanna, OH 43230

The deadline for all submissions is February 1, 2016. Winners will be announced via the City's Twitter and Facebook pages the week of February 15, 2016.

For more information, contact the Human Resources department at [email protected] or Impact Teen Drivers at [email protected].

Click here to download a copy of the design template, rules and submission guidelines.

Community Invited to Attend the GoForward Gahanna Listening and Learning Workshops

The community is invited to attend the upcoming GoForward Gahanna Listening and Learning Workshops. Don't miss your opportunity to help set future priorities for our city on a variety of topics ranging from parks and recreation to transportation.

If you have ideas on how we can make Gahanna the best place to live, work and play then we invite you to attend one of the upcoming meetings.

Date	Topic	Time	Location
Jan. 24	Community Involvement	3 - 4:30 p.m.	Gahanna Senior Center 480 Rocky Fork Blvd.
Jan. 26	Parks & Recreation	6 - 7:30 p.m.	Gahanna Senior Center 480 Rocky Fork Blvd.
Jan. 27	Roads & Infrastructure	6 - 7:30 p.m.	Gahanna Senior Center 480 Rocky Fork Blvd.
Jan. 28	General Meeting (Ward 4)	6 - 7:30 p.m.	High Point Elementary 700 Venetian Way
Feb. 2	Youth & Student Engagement	3 - 4:30 p.m.	Gahanna Lincoln High School 140 S. Hamilton Rd.
	General Meeting (Ward 3)	6 - 7:30 p.m.	Gahanna Lincoln High School 140 S. Hamilton Rd.

For more information about GoForward Gahanna visit www.GoForwardGahanna.org or for frequent updates, make sure you "like" our Facebook page.

Stay Active this Winter with the Gahanna Herb Group

Stay active this winter with the Gahanna Herb Group and a variety of activities at the Ohio Herb Education Center. The group meets once a month to study in depth one herb and learn hands-on techniques from the culinary, wellness and craft areas. Herbs will be looked at from botanical, historical, folkloric, wellness and energetic points of view

January activities include exploring Herbal Teas, creating Herbal Candles, introducing Herb Tonics for Kids and constructing Terrariums: Worlds in Miniature. These activities are ideal for the novice or expert who want to explore the many uses of herbs in a local, hands-on learning environment.

For more details, click here or contact the Ohio Herb Education Center at 614.342.4380.

Warm Up with Thoughts of Summer Camp

Camp Registration Day is Saturday, February 27 from 9 a.m.-12 p.m. at Gahanna City Hall, 200 S. Hamilton Road. Register for camp on this day to receive Early Bird prices and make installment payments. To register for Gahanna summer camp programs, parents/guardians must have complete proof of residency (if applicable), a current health insurance card, a completed 2016 Summer Camp Registration form (available at www.Gahanna.gov) and review the parent handbook and sign acknowledgement of 2016 Parent Handbook.

Camp Scholarships are available and made possible through the Gahanna Parks & Recreation Foundation to make camp accessible for all Gahanna kids. Please call 614.342.4250 for details. Camp spots are limited and filling up quickly, so don't delay in registering.

Easier Payment Options Now Available for Pool Memberships

Your membership with Gahanna Aquatics just got better! Not only do members have access to both Hunters Ridge Pool and Gahanna Swimming Pool, but now, members may choose to be billed in a series of installment payments. No more mandatory lump payments. Installments will occur on a pre-determined payment date.

Purchase a membership before May 1, 2016 for a series of three monthly payments or before June 19, 2016 for two monthly payments. Membership includes entry into both pool facilities and free or reduced entry fees for special events throughout the pool season. For more details contact Parks & Recreation at 614.342.4250 or click here for details.

COMMUNITY NEWS & EVENTS

Gahanna Lincoln High School Presents Diaspora 2016

For the fourth year, more than 50 Gahanna Lincoln students will present the Diaspora showcase, in honor of Black History Month.

The program is directed by Johnel Amerson, school psychologist; Donja Bridges, English teacher; Tia Holliman, dean of high school curriculum and instruction and Keah Germany, work and family life teacher. Approximately 50 students make up the cast, who auditioned for the show and have been rehearsing after school for several weeks.

Featured pieces include theater monologues, song, dance, rap and spoken word performances. This year, the Lionettes (GLHS dance team) will also be performing.

Students will present their show on Sat., Jan. 30 at 7 p.m. in the Gahanna Lincoln High School auditorium. Doors will open at 6 p.m. and admission is donation only; all donations will support Gahannathon (occurring the same evening,) benefiting the Children's Miracle Network.

For more details, contact Gahanna Lincoln High School at 614.417.7065.