May 5, 2011
Westboro church to speak at WKHS By CANDY BROOKS ThisWeek Community Newspapers
Members of the Westboro Baptist Church might picket at Hilliard Darby High School next Tuesday, but the purpose of their visit is to speak to a class at Worthington Kilbourne High School. They have been invited by teachers to address the U.S. Political Thought and Radicalism class. Church members also addressed the class in December. The church is known for its hate mes-
sages. In recent years, its members have picketed at the funerals of soldiers killed Students need to unin action, claiming that God is killing derstand there are people the soldiers to punish the country for like that out there. homosexuality. About 10 years ago, they visited Worthington twice, picketing Worthington MARC SCHARE churches on Sunday mornings. — school board president They claim the churches promote homosexuality. The group will hold a protest from The choice of where to picket ap7:10 to 7:40 a.m. May 10 at the Hilliard parently was random. A Westboro high school. spokesperson told The Columbus Dis-
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patch that when the members are invited somewhere, they pick someplace nearby to hold a protest. The government course at Worthington’s high school has a long history of inviting extremist groups to speak. Among past speakers have been the Ku Klux Klan and peace groups. The idea is to expose students to a wide variety of viewpoints to encourage them to question and think about what the groups believe and how they continue to exist in society.
The students are able to process not only the message but also what the targeted audiences must be feeling, said Marc Schare, president of the Worthington Board of Education. He said he believes it is better for students to learn about such topics in a safe, controlled environment. The visitors are asked to not interact with students outside class. He and the rest of the school board See SPEAKER, page A2
Cops crack down at dangerous intersections By CANDY BROOKS ThisWeek Community Newspapers
By Adam Cairns/ThisWeek
A sign at the corner of Riverglen Drive and High Street marks the northeast boundary of the Village of Riverlea. The village, which has petitioned to be annexed into the city of Worthington, has asked that the signs remain if it becomes part of Worthington.
Riverlea, city set for annexation talks By CANDY BROOKS ThisWeek Community Newspapers
The city of Worthington should assume the cost of fixing the village of Riverlea’s roads and sewers without assessing village residents, according to a list of proposals from Riverlea annexation commissioners. That is one of the proposals presented to the city in an April 15 memo. That and other issues are expected to be addressed by the three Riverlea and three Worthington commissioners as they negotiate an annexation agreement over the next 100-plus days. The second meeting of the commission is scheduled for 4 p.m. today (Thursday, May 5) at the Worthington Municipal Build-
ing, 6550 N. High St. The commission is charged with coming up with an annexation agreement to be presented to the councils of Riverlea and Worthington before it goes before voters of both municipalities. The work of the commission must be completed within 120 days of April 10, when Worthington City Council voted to proceed with the request from Riverlea to consider annexing the village into the city. Riverlea commissioners Scott Gordon, Kirk McHugh and Eric MacGilvray started the negotiation process with their proposals, to which the city responded with a list of issues to be discussed. “This memorandum serves simply to
identify the issues without stating positions on them and is not intended to be a response to your memorandum of April 15,” an April 29 memo from Worthington annexation commissioners Bob Chosy, Lou Goorey and Robert Schmidt stated. Riverlea’s memo was in the form of issues and positions, beginning with a proposal that Riverlea residents not be taxed differently from Worthington residents in the event of annexation. The idea of assessing Riverlea residents for road and sewer repair was raised during a recent Worthington City Council meeting. According to the most recent city esSee TALKS, page A2
The new, bright yellow “Target Enforcement Area” signs that have sprung up at two Worthington intersections are not meant to be pretty; they are meant to improve safety. Two Worthington City Council members objected to the appearance of the signs during council’s May 2 meeting, but Police Chief Jim Mosic said they would stay in place for another 60 to 90 days. The signs announce to motorists that police are watching carefully to try to reduce the number of crashes at the city’s two most dangerous intersections: High Street at Granville Road and North High Street at Wilson Bridge Road. By using such engineering improvements as new signs and pavement markings, education about the potential dangers of the intersections and increased enforcement of traffic laws, the police hope to put a dent in the number of accidents. “Our goal is to ensure that motorists and bicyclists have a safe route through the city,” Mosic told council. Council member Bonnie Michael said she endorses the program but has received calls from residents who object to the aesthetics of the new signs.
A closer look The signs announce to motorists that police are watching carefully to try to reduce the number of crashes at the city’s two most dangerous intersections: High Street at Granville Road and North High Street at Wilson Bridge Road.
One resident said they are eyesores; another said they give an unfriendly feel to the city, Michael said. Council member Bob Chosy said he would like to see fewer signs, not more. “I understand what you’re doing, but I hope those signs are there for as short a period of time as possible,” he said. Council member Joseph Davis said he had no problem with the signs. Informing motorists about increased enforcement is better than ambushing them, he said. Police will increase enforcement of laws regarding speed, red lights and failure to yield or to leave an assured clear distance ahead, Mosic said. More cruisers and bicycle patrols will be visible during the program, which began May 1. See SIGNS, page A2
City concert raises money for aid to Japan fund By CANDY BROOKS ThisWeek Community Newspapers
A city concert on April 26 raised nearly $2,500 to help with the relief efforts in Japan. “We had a great turnout, a full house,” city public-information officer Anne Brown said. The benefit featured local musicians and performances by young musicians from Sayama, Japan, which is Worthington’s sister city.
The Worthington International Friendship Association (WIFA) sponsored the event, which was held at the McConnell Arts Center (MAC). The J. Liu restaurant donated refreshments. Brown said she continues to receive donations, which totaled $2,447 as of May 2. The money will go to American Red Cross’Japan Earthquake and Pacific Tsunami Relief Fund. Sayama, 60 miles northwest of Tokyo, was only slightly damaged by the earthquake and
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tsunami. Residents who have been in touch with WIFA said the rolling blackouts are over and food and gas supplies are plentiful, but concerns remain about long-term effects of damage to nuclear plants. Sayama’s mayor sent a video greeting that was played and interpreted for the crowd during the concert. “I think they are really appreciative of Wor-
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thington stepping up and doing this,” Brown said. Local groups that performed include the Dublin Taiko Drummers; Worthington Kilbourne Singers; Thomas Worthington Saxophone Quartet; Capriccio Vocal Music Ensemble; Worthington Hills Elementary Choir; Nicole Charles Flute Studio; and Columbus Japanese Language School instrumentalists. cbrooks@thisweeknews.com www.ThisWeekNEWS.com
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