Council Briefs

Seasons of Life

In November 2021, I was enjoying the outdoors on a sunny afternoon, riding my bicycle to pick up litter along the Marvin Holt Trail. On the way to the trail that day, I saw a couple walking toward me with litter grabbers picking up trash. I stopped and met Al and Marilyn Reeves for the first time. They are relatively new to Grove City, having moved here from the west side in June 2020. We clearly had something in common, each of us doing our small part to keep Grove City beautiful. It impressed me in that brief exchange that they felt it was their civic responsibility to take care of the area around them. I realized the three of us were like-minded in our unique “season of life.”

Being a retired senior citizen, for many of us, the long workhours and busy days of raising our children are in the rearview mirror. It is a time to slow down a bit, ponder and discover what gifts we can offer to make our community better. It’s living with purpose in our twilight years.

Our community is blessed to have many seniors giving back and contributing to the richness of our city. There are many engaged seniors, especially women, who are just flat out “getting things done.” They value keeping healthy, exercising, meeting people and trying to make something better than how they found it. I am so encouraged when I meet people like Al and Marilyn Reeves.

I caught up with them again recently in our Quail Creek neighborhood, where we’d first met. That area was available to be adopted in the Grove City Adopt-a-Street/Park program. I asked them to consider formally adopting Quail Creek Drive, perhaps they could even engage more citizens around them in incorporating this in their daily walks. As Al put it, “We are already going out and getting our daily walk in. Cleaning up as we do it gives us a chance to contribute to the community.

If you are interested in coordinating a cleanup event in your neighborhood or adopting a street or park, call 614-277-3058 or visit bit.ly/GCadopt.

It gives us a sense of connection when we do this and easily see the results for all of us to enjoy.” After visiting with them this past week, they signed up for the program.

The Keep Grove City Beautiful Committee offers the Adopt-a-Park/Street program mentioned above. It is a very efficient program that can easily engage seniors, like-minded citizens, civic groups, schools and the faith community to help us keep our city clean. However, the committee also offer this opportunity for neighborhood clean ups as needed. It can supply the grabbers, bags, gloves and vests. It even provides a pick-up service for bagged trash upon completion. Please think about this and consider how you can be involved in such community service. More can be learned about the programs at bit.ly/GCadopt.

Finally, I believe our citizens, in all of their unique seasons of life, can find fulfillment in helping keep our city clean. We are best when our citizens and the city work together as one. I hope that for all of us every day can be a Keep Grove City Beautiful Day.

Al and Marilyn Reeves help to keep Grove City beautiful during their walks.

Mark Sigrist Council Member At-Large

Grove City Council members: Randy Holt, Ward 2; Christine Houk, Ward 3; Ted Berry, Council President, Ward 1; Mark Sigrist, At-Large; and Roby Schottke, Ward 4.