February 3, 2011
Lighting, sign installed at crosswalk By JENNIFER NOBLIT ThisWeek Community Newspapers
Dublin continues to look into improvements at a Historic Dublin crosswalk where a pedestrian was killed after being struck by a vehicle in December. Improvements, including additional lighting, were made at the crosswalk at the North High and North Street inter-
section last week, and city staff continues to mull over signs and other modifications to improve safety. The effort comes in the wake of the death of Stephanie Auer, 44, of Columbus. Auer was crossing North High Street shortly before 7 p.m. on Dec. 28 and was struck by a minivan. She died at the Ohio State University Medical Center Dec. 30.
The incident remains under investigation by Dublin police. A petition drive to improve the crosswalk is under way and currently has more than 500 signatures, Christian Toms told Dublin City Council members at a Jan. 24 meeting. “We understand the city has recognized the dangerous nature of this intersection, particularly dangerous to
pedestrians,” Toms said. Toms also thanked city staff for efforts completed so far. Placards were placed in the middle of Historic Dublin crosswalks Jan. 7. “We hope to see this dangerous intersection improved and that any planned changes are executed as soon as possible,” Toms said. Council members received a Jan. 20
staff report on efforts to improve safety at the crosswalk. Options under review for the crosswalk include additional illumination, overhead signs, a motiondetection activated system and the HAWK system. “I think you can be assured that council likewise wants to see a timely soluSee LIGHTING, SIGN, page A2
District purchases 2.3 acres on Coffman Road By JENNIFER NOBLIT ThisWeek Community Newspapers
Dublin City Schools purchased 2.3 acres for $235,000 north of the central office on Coffman Road. Dublin school board members on Jan. 24 unanimously approved the purchase of the land at 7060 Coffman Road that previously housed a preschool. A 1,900-square-foot building that has been vacant for some time sits on the land, said public information coordinator Doug Baker. “It need some work, but it’s very structurally sound,” superintendent David Axner told board members last week. The district is not sure exactly what the new building will host, but Axner said the West Bridge Academy on Bridge David Axner Street in Historic Dublin has There’s a possibility seen a lot of two pre-schools could be growth. “There’s a put over there. That frees possibility two up two classrooms (at pre-schools elementary schools) … could be put There are a lot of over there,” he said. “That possibilities in regard to frees up two using this. classrooms (at elementary DAVID AXNER schools) … — schools superintendent There are a lot of possibilities in regard to using this.” Axner said the funds to purchase the property come from savings in construction funded by the $50-million bond passed by voters in 2008; about $750,000 in savings has been realized during different projects around the district. The district also has some extra money from See SCHOOL BOARD, page A2
“
”
By Chris Parker/ThisWeek
Instructor Troy Dramble, center, watches as students Luke Johnson, left, and Joe Cassidy, work on prototypes at Dublin Coffman High School for a Buckeye Regional FIRST robotics competition in Cleveland.
81-member high school robotics team bound for learning, championships By JENNIFER NOBLIT ThisWeek Community Newspapers
Robotics can be addictive. At least, that’s what some of the 81 members of the Dublin High School Robotics team think. The team that includes students from Coffman, Jerome and Scioto high schools has been meeting since Jan. 8 when this year’s challenge was issued by FIRST, or For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology, the nonprofit organization that leads the FIRST Lego and robotics leagues for students around the world. Faculty leader Greg King said FIRST does a kickoff each year, an-
nouncing the game robots will play. This year students must build a robot that can place tubes on pegs around a field. A mini-robot that races to climb up a pole is also on the to-do list. “It’s all going to be on a basketball court,” he explained. Last week Dublin’s robotic team, Bad Robots, was concentrating on design and a gear box. The team meets five times a week and has to be finished by Feb. 22, when the robot is shipped to the team’s first competition of the year in Cleveland. “The robot will be about 155 pounds,” King said. “It’ll be five-feet tall in the starting configuration, but will be able to reach (up) 10 feet.”
At the Buckeye Regional in Cleveland, the Bad Robots will face more than 50 teams from Ohio, Canada, Indiana, New York, Pennsylvania and Maryland April 7-9. While most students who participate go onto work in the science, technology, engineering and mathematics ( STEM) field, they get help in the form of mentors from Ohio State University and the community. In fact, King said, the majority of mentors participated in the robotics league when they were in high school. “One is an (alumnus) of the team,” he said of one community mentor. “Most (mentors) have done robotics before… Most of our grads have gone
into STEM fields. That’s the goal of the program. It helps because we send a lot of kids to OSU and they come back to mentor. We can use their expertise and they can train another generation of students.” Coffman junior Lucas Beaufore said he hopes to mentor after he graduates. “If I go to OSU or somewhere that has a team nearby, I’d love to (mentor),” he said. “There’s a high return rate. It’s really hard to leave. We have a guy who was a senior when the team formed who’s still a mentor.” Molly Zemper, a Coffman junior, agreed about the return rate. She’s See ROBOTICS, page A2
Bridge Street corridor plan moves forward $4M St. Brigid By JENNIFER NOBLIT
renovations, expansion finished
ThisWeek Community Newspapers
Dublin City Council checked off another goal on its list of Bridge Street corridor plan objectives this week. Council members, along with members of the Planning and Zoning Commission, Board of Zoning Appeals and Architectural Review Board, met to reach a “common understanding” of the plan and hear from consultants. Dublin began the Bridge Street corridor study in 2009. It is a redevelopment guide of Dublin’s core that extends along state Route 161 from the Sawmill Road area to the U.S. Route 33 and I-270 interchange. The plan, which will likely be realized over the next 20 to 30 years, encourages walkable, mixed-use development.
By JENNIFER NOBLIT ThisWeek Community Newspapers
One of council’s 2010-11 goals is to “complete the Bridge Street corridor plan to provide a vision for the corridor, which will reinforce the city’s long-term competiveness, create a vibrant and walkable environment with a dy-
namic mix of land uses and housing types, and that enhances the city’s long-term sustainability.” City council adopted a vision in October, along with a schedule for studies, code and other details all set to be completed this year.
The Jan. 31 meeting with city commissions was another goal, set to create a “common understanding” among the groups of the Bridge Street corridor plan, said See BRIDGE STREET, page A5
DIRECTORY News: (740) 888-6100 editorial@thisweeknews.com Sports: (740) 888-6054 sports@thisweeknews.com Retail ads: (740) 888-6000 www.thisweeknews.com/advertise Classified: (740) 888-5003 classified@thisweeknews.com Customer Service: 1-888-837-4342
St. Brigid of Kildare Church marked a close construction Jan. 30 when the church was blessed during mass. The church at 7179 Avery Road began the $4-million renovation and expansion project 11 months ago, and Columbus Diocese Bishop Frederick F. Campbell, the Dublin Singers and a bagpipe player helped dedicate the building Sunday. The work that added 4,188 square feet to the church was done on time and on budget, said Sarah Moore, director of development. “We ended up getting it done earlier than we thought. It was on time and on budget,” she said. “It’s really successful. Everyone seems really pleased with the expansion. We went up by 500 seats, but it’s not too overwhelming. It still feels like a See ST. BRIGID OF KILDARE, page A2
Who has the
BEST SALAD
in Columbus? View exclusive videos, stories, photos and more. Connect with other fans, parents and athletes. CHAT WITH YOUR FRIENDS, CHEER ON YOUR TEAM.
Find out online at ThisWeekNEWS.com/readerspoll Readers Poll of the best Columbus restaurants.