Mayor’s Visit To Library Highlights the Homework Help Center

GAHANNA, Ohio (March 12, 2012) – Gahanna Mayor Becky Stinchcomb toured the Gahanna location of the Columbus Metropolitan Library to learn more about their Homework Help Center. This free resource for the community offers tutoring, computers, resource books and welcoming spaces to study and learn.

Library manager Mary Campanili shows
Mayor Stinchcomb  theirHomework Help Center



During her tour, library manager Mary Campanili introduced Mayor Stinchcomb to some of the dedicated and friendly volunteers who assist students every day. She commented that this center is a great community resource that is really driven by volunteers and local residents who donate their knowledge and time.

Mayor Stinchcomb speaks with some of the dedicated
and friendly volunteers who assist students.

Mayor Stinchcomb said that she is always impressed by the library's resources and the role that it plays as a community builder for Gahanna.

The library system, which won the 2011 National Medal for Museum and Library Service, provides a variety of services ranging from activities, job center support, research tools and more.

The local Gahanna branch is located at 310 Granville Street and is open Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. – 9 p.m., Friday from 9 a.m. – 6 p.m., Saturday from 9 a.m. – 6 p.m. and Sunday from 1 p.m. – 5 p.m.

For more information about the Homework Help Center and the Library, click here or call them at 614-645-2275.

Ask City Hall: Why does the City have cameras at many of its intersections?

By Michael Andrako

Deputy Director
Department of Service & Engineering

The City utilizes two methods of vehicle detection for its traffic signals.  An actuated traffic signal is one that will rest in green for a main street until it detects a vehicle on the side street or turn lane. 

Most of the signals in Gahanna are at least partially actuated.  The sensor the signal uses to detect a vehicle is either a loop of wire cut into the pavement that measures inductance triggered by the presence of metal within the loop area or a video feed from a fixed camera that uses the change in pixels in predetermined zones to indentify vehicle presence. 

Many of the cameras you may see mounted at a traffic signal are monitoring vehicle presence within a given approach or lane.  If video detection is being utilized at an intersection, there may be as little as one camera or as many as four depending on which directions require the presence of a vehicle for the signal to change.

In addition to the fixed video detection cameras, the City also has Pan-Tilt-Zoom (PTZ) cameras to monitor traffic on some of the major corridors throughout the City much like ODOT has on their freeway system.  All of these cameras are pendent style mounts with a clear glass dome which protects the camera from the elements. 

A listing of all the locations of our video detection cameras and PTZs can be found on our City maintained traffic signals map.

For more information about the City's Streets Division, visit them online by visiting http://www.gahanna.gov/departments/service/street.aspx 

Continued Public Art…in Gahanna

Last September, the Public Arts Steering Committee of the Gahanna Parks and Recreation Foundation unveiled its first piece of public art in Creekside Park. 

The Committee is reconvening to discuss the continued downtown arts presence as well as other opportunities for public art in Gahanna.  Please join us at 6pm on Wednesday, January 18 in the Finance Conference Room on the second floor of City Hall (200 South Hamilton Road).  If you are not able to attend, but are interested in becoming involved, please email Brandi Braun at brandi.braun@gahanna.gov.

Ask City Hall: Metering Traffic Lights on the Hamilton to the I-270 Ramps

Pam S. of Gahanna asked, “I have noticed the new metering traffic lights on the Hamilton to I-270 ramps. But I cannot figure out why they have a light on the back side? Which would face wrong-way traffic - coming "up" the down ramp. What gives?”

We asked the Department of Service Deputy Director, Michael Andrako for the answer.

“It is for enforcement. The Police would be sitting just past the meter on the ramp. They monitor it from the back and when they see a violation they can begin pursuit without having a line of cars in front of them,” Andrako said.

“Also, if you are wondering why they are usually not functioning, they are activated only when I-270 reaches a certain level of congestion. This is monitored by detection units near the meters.”

Thanks for your great question Pam. 

Do you have a question for City Hall?  Email us at information@gahanna.gov .

City Employees Donate Their Own Time and Money To Help Others

Presents for local families are wrapped and prepared

 for delivery to Gahanna Residents in Need (GRIN). 

(Photo by Brian Hoyt, City of Gahanna)

Employees of the City of Gahanna annually participate in the Gahanna Residents In Need (GRIN) Adopt-a-family program.  This program allows members of the community to donate time, gifts and money to help those who need a little help during the holidays. 

This year city employees adopted two families and each family had two children.  Not only was money raised for gifts, but the families were also provided with a gift card to the local Gahanna Kroger for groceries and other items they may need.

Nancy Savage, who works in the Mayor’s Office, led the charge to collect donations and purchase items. “It was really nice seeing everyone pitch in and help,” Savage said.  “I live and work in Gahanna, so I was proud to be able to help those in my own community.”

Since 1998, GRIN has supported families in the Gahanna area by meeting a wide variety of needs. To learn more about GRIN or to get involved, visit them online at www.grin4gahanna.org.

  

Holiday Shopping Safety Tips From the Gahanna Division of Police

Holiday Shopping Safety Tips

This holiday season, don’t let the spirit of giving lull you into giving criminals a better chance to do their dirty work. They do some of their biggest business during the holiday season. People are rushing around, stressed out and careless, trying to get everything done. It’s enough to make a crook giddy with holiday joy! Here are some tips on how to safely celebrate the holiday season.

City Invites Residents & Visitors to Submit Photos That Shows ‘Any Day in Gahanna’

Gahanna is a proud, diverse community that means something different to everyone.  In keeping with this spirit, the City of Gahanna is asking residents and visitors to submit pictures of Gahanna for a project called ‘Any Day in Gahanna.’  Photos that are selected will be featured on homepage of www.Gahanna.gov and the City’s Facebook page, www.Facebook.com/CityofGahanna.

“When we redesigned Gahanna.gov, we really wanted visitors of the website to get a feeling of what Gahanna is about,” said Brian Hoyt, Gahanna’s Public Information Manager. “Who better to highlight the many scenes around Gahanna than residents and visitors?”

Photographs may be submitted via email to information@gahanna.gov and should include the photographer’s name, when and where the photo was taken and should state that the City of Gahanna may use their photograph for public use and display.

Photographs will be chosen based on how well they show different scenes in Gahanna as well their technical and artist quality, Hoyt said.

Residents and visitors of Gahanna are encouraged to submit their photographs beginning in the month of December.