Forest Park Civic Association Meeting Minutes: April 8, 2025

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FOREST PARK CIVIC ASSOCIATION MEETING

Date: 8 April 2025

Location: Epworth United Methodist Church

Meeting called to order @ 7:00 PM by Ed Vanasdale 

The Pledge of Allegiance was recited.

Attendance was taken via roll call.

OFFICER REPORTS

President Ed Vanasdale – ed1vanasdale@gmail.com

  1. Ed will be stepping down from the role of president this year. He took on the role, for the second time, after the death of our late president, Scott Prigan. He will assume the role of past president in 2026.
  2. Ed wanted to thank everyone for the great work on Saturday at the membership envelope stuffing.

Guest Speaker: None

Vice President  Mark Bell – MarkBellncc@insight.rr.com

Wanted to also thank everyone for the great job on Saturday.

Secretary Lou Bernard – loubernard3@gmail.com

  1. Attendance:
  • Officers/Committee Chairs Present: EV, MB, LB, CL, MSg, RW, DVM, KVM, SL, LH, EM, MSt, TS, KG, DP, SB
  • Officers/Committee Chairs Absent: QM, AH
  • Area Reps in Attendance: 1, 3, 4, 5, 7, 9, 11, 12, 13
  • Area Reps Absent: 2, 6, 8, 10, 14
  • Total meeting attendance: 30
  1. Reviewed minutes from March; no changes or corrections needed, minutes have been approved and were entered into the official records.
  2. Attendance Sheet thru April: online

Treasurer Cheryl Lutman – cllutman17@gmail.com

  1. This is the last report for this fiscal year. We were 39 households shy of our target of 480.
  2. Mulch sales have begun, and we did get a few online orders in March. 
  3. We did get a few business memberships this year, but not the 10 we were shooting for.
  4. Our two big expenses this month were the printing of envelopes and data sheets for the membership drive, printing the Forester, and paying for security patrols. We have renewed our post office box.
  5. While we did end the year in the red, there were some extraordinary expenses that pushed us over. The Board has worked to trim expenses, the grant committee is working hard to find funds that way, but again, the biggest way to support us is with your household membership.

Public Relations Mary Sguerra –  marysguerra@howardhanna.com

Just a quick reminder that we have our Spring Forest Park Community Garage Sale on Saturday, May 17, 2025. Please turn in your garage sale entry form by Wednesday, May 15th.

Forester Editor Rita Woeste – forester_ed@fpcivic.org

  1. Forester Articles for May Issue due to me by Friday, April 18.
  2. Articles in May for the JUNE issue are due by Friday, May 16 (make sure Rita has info for Bikes/Trikes and any other details for the Northland 4th of July Parade).
  3. Thanks to Mary for finding a new delivery person for Larkwood in FPE, and Lou for finding new delivery people, although they have not been assigned an area.
  4. Area that need delivery folks for the Forester
    1. FPW – area 2, 1262-1324 Pegwood Ct. (23) & 1344-1387 Pegwood Dr. (13)
    2. FPE – area 11, 1655-1774 Pin Oak (29) 1608-1632 Sienna Ln. N (4) 4970-5029 Sienna Ln. (15) special instructions for 4975 Sienna Ln.
    3. FPE – Area 12,  2307-2425 Green Apple Ave. (29); 5262-5297 Blackgum Pl. (13); 5272-5301 Sweetgum Pl. (8) DO NOT Deliver to 5288 Sweetgum Pl.
    4. FPE – Still uncovered  1800-1868 Coghill Dr. (12), 1837-1872 Dandridge Dr. (9), 1841-1872 Judwick Dr.(8), 4901-4991 Lyle Rd. (16)

Supplemental Security Daryl Van Mercetta – dvanmercetta@gmail.com, Katie Van Mercetta – kvanmercetta@gmail.com, Dan Yandrich (CPD Liaison Officer) – dyandrich@columbuspolice.org 614.645.1418

  1. Officer Yandrich was not able to be in attendance tonight (scheduled vacation) so we do not have a report from him for this month, but based on the crime map it looks like there has still been a lot of theft from vehicles and properties in the apartments north and south of us, but Forest Park itself has been quiet and safe.
  2. Other than a few vacation request house checks (all secure), our security patrols have fortunately been uneventful with the exception of a deer that was hit by a car on Tamarack and reported by the patrol officer to Ohio Div. of Wildlife.
  3. Remember to keep your house and vehicles locked up and do not have anything visible in your vehicle that would tempt a thief.

Business Representative Sheridan Landon – slandon52@gmail.com  No Report

Civic Action Officer  Position Vacant – 311 Meeting 6:30-7:00 before every FPCA general meeting.

COMMITTEE REPORTS

Welcome Committee Chair Laura Hayes – hayeslaura2@gmail.com

  1. Welcome new neighbors! It’s been a busy spring. 
  2. Laura has been supporting the grant committee and our web administration team and will have an update on welcome folders shortly! 

Volunteer Coordinator Erin Materu – mmateru@hotmail.com

  1. Thank you for approximately 30 volunteers that made the bulk mailing for the 2025 Membership.
  2. We are now gearing up for the mulch sale in May. 
  3. We still have 2 openings for delivery persons of the Forester. 
  4. Also, we had over 20 people request a tree. We had overflow requests after the deadline, so we will definitely reapply in the next round.
  5. Also the city is asking to meet with the New American Grant team to see where we are at before the five is the second installment of the money.

Membership Coordinator  Mike Stone – msto0103@yahoo.com

  1. Thanks to the wonderful 30 volunteers that helped us, we tied the FPCA time record of two hours to get almost 3,000 envelopes processed. Andy Hunt and Mike successfully delivered them to the post office Monday and everybody should be receiving them soon. Mike personally appreciates everyone who invested the time to make the endeavor successful.
  2. We can all help facilitate the success of the membership by keeping it a current topic with our neighbors and Forest Park friends. Please remind people about the membership campaign. You can even offer to collect their membership yourself and save them the stamp!! 

Social Activities Tiffany Smith – tsmith1599@yahoo.com

Looking for information on the 4th of July parade. Members of the civic association met with Tiffany after the meeting to get her up to speed on her role in the FPCA parade planning.

NCC Representatives Ken Gilbert – kgilbert78@att.net, Mark Bell – MarkBellncc@insight.rr.com

See full report in the Forester.

NCC Development Representative Ed Vanasdale – ed1vanasdale@gmail.com

NCC Development meeting – March 26, 2025

1 case was heard, see the report on the website under the “Development Reports” tab.

Grant Writing Committee Chair  Quentin Monden – q.monden@gmail.com  

  1. The grant committee has submitted our first grant application this year for the Columbus Tree Assistance Program (TAP). The grant is issued by the Franklin County Soil and Water Conservation District. Our application asked for $2,100 in funding to plant 20 native trees, and 2 requests for mature tree maintenance, in our neighborhood on residential property. We were fortunate to receive a letter of support from our Ohio House Rep, and Forest Park resident, Munira Abdullahi. We should hear if we were selected for the grant by the end of the month. Contact Laura Hayes for questions.
  2. We will be having a volunteer meeting to help implement the New American Grant.

Website Administrators Scott Biggs sbiggsmail@yahoo.com (Website/Facebook)   Dave Paul dwpaul@fpcivic.org (Website) Ashley Howard ahoward@ashleynicolecounseling.com (Instagram/Facebook)  

Our social media pages (website/Facebook/Instagram) are always – always being updated with new and upcoming info! Please check it out!! Please subscribe/follow/like us.

OLD BUSINESS

Mulch Sale Update: online orders are coming in and the order form is included in the April Forester. Deadline to order is April 18. Delivery day is Saturday, May 3 from 9 am until noon out of the Sequoia Pro Bowl parking lot. Fit volunteers are needed to lift bags of mulch! Order and pay online at fpcivic.org/mulch. ~ Scott Biggs, Area 5 Rep, The Mulch King

NEW BUSINESS/ANNOUNCEMENTS/IDEAS

  1. Thank you 311! I’d like to remind our neighbors the importance of taking action, no matter how small. On my way to work last week I noticed a new city tree planted on Sandalwood and Cottonwood had been struck by a car and uprooted. I put in a 311 ticket, and alerted a neighbor to see if they could help. With the support of our neighbors, and 311 the tree was replanted and staked. It’s a small thing, but our actions have big impacts. Please be vigilant in protecting and caring for our neighborhood! ~Laura Hayes, Welcome Committee Chair
  2. Our guest speaker from last month extended her thanks for hosting her. She gladly reported that 15 new sign-ups from residents came in and signed up for programs. ~Michael Cote
  3. Woodwark Rec Center will be hosting Columbus’s Earth Day celebration and are looking for volunteers. You can register HERE! or at the rec center. ~Michael Cote

Meeting adjourned at 7:54 PM

Meeting minutes submitted by Lou Bernard, Secretary, FPCA

Be a part of the pasrk - Join the Forest Park Civic Association

What does your $30 FPCA membership do? A lot.

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What does your $30 do?

Some benefits of FPCA membership are easy to see. Some are not.

You can join the FPCA online right now.

Across Columbus, you can see the difference between neighborhoods that have an active civic association and those that do not.

We are not a homeowner’s association. We do not enforce neighborhood rules. We are a civic association that works to benefit all Forest Park residents.

Membership in the FPCA is only $30 per household. The FPCA is entirely run by volunteers who are residents just like you. That means every dollar is used to directly benefit our neighborhood.

We are dedicated to transparency and publish our Treasurer’s Report every month in The Forester newsletter. Our volunteer treasurer also provides an update at every FPCA monthly meeting (I invite you to join us for our next meeting).

What do you get for your annual membership contribution? Some benefits are obvious because you see them every day.

Benefits that you see:

  1. We pay to maintain the landscaped islands at the Satinwood Pl. entrances at Karl Rd.
  2. We recently paid to replace all Welcome to Forest Park signs at all entrances to Forest Park East and West.
  3. We pay to print The Forester newsletter every month and pay for the bags which allow volunteers on your street to hang the newsletters on your door.
  4. We pay the professional supplemental security patrol officers who regularly drive through the neighborhoods in their marked cars. Planning a vacation? Every FPCA member can request free home checks with the form in each Forester newsletter, at www.fpcivic.org or by emailing our volunteer Supplemental Security Coordinator Daryl Van Mercetta at dvanmercetta@gmail.com.
  5. We pay for the welcome folders and printed materials that we drop off to new residents who just moved into our neighborhood. These packets include information about Forest Park, maps of the streets, nearby businesses, voter registration information, and other helpful items to make our new neighbors feel at home.
  6. We pay for programs that recognize neighbors for their beautification efforts in the annual Beautification Contest, rewarding our neighbors who enrich our streets with improvements.
  7. We pay for supplies to build our float for the Northland Fourth of July Parade.
  8. We pay for awards for kids who decorate their bikes and trikes in the Fourth of July Parade.
  9. We pay for printing and postage to mail our annual Membership Packet to nearly 3,000 households, encouraging residents to join the FPCA.
  10. We pay for advertising to promote two Community Garage Sales each year, attracting buyers from around Central Ohio.
  11. We pay to design and print the Forest Park Directory, which is updated every several years and delivered to all member households.
  12. We pay for neighborhood social events.

Some benefits are not obvious but are just as important.

Benefits that you do not see:

  1. We pay dues to the Northland Community Council. The NCC is a critical organization that represents 26 area civic associations and organizations in the Northland area. The NCC represents more than 100,000 households and ensures that the City of Columbus recognizes Northland as an important political voice. Two FPCA volunteers currently serve on the commission and provide detailed reports at every FPCA meeting. The NCC is our most effective connection to the City of Columbus and makes recommendations to the city on behalf of Forest Park residents. Among many other services, the NCC protects us from many development and zoning plans that would harm our neighborhoods and maintains a direct two-way channel to city officials.
  2. We pay for insurance that is required for our non-profit organization.
  3. We pay for a P.O. Box and office supplies that are necessary to conduct our operations.
  4. We pay for payment processing fees that are necessary for online membership payments.

Join your neighbors today with your FPCA Membership

You can join the FPCA right now and pay online.

We also welcome your participation and talents.

Want to learn more and get involved? Join us at our next monthly meeting.

 

2025 FPCA Budget Meeting

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2025 FPCA Budget Meeting

12 March 2025

Epworth United Methodist Church

Attendance: Ed Vanasdale (President), Mark Bell (Vice President), Lou Bernard (Secretary), Cheryl Lutman (Treasurer), Daryl Van Mercetta and Katie Van Mercetta (Supplemental Security), Mary Sguerra (Public Relations), Rita Woeste (Forester Editor), Laura Hayes (Welcome Committee), Scott Biggs (Website Administrator), Erin Materu (Volunteer Coordinator), and Mike Stone (Membership Coordinator)

Meeting called to order at 7:12 PM

  1. Cheryl did a quick review of the budget and asked for questions or suggestions.
  2. The Island Maintenance budget was discussed. The amount spent was too much last year. Mary Sguerra will be discussing the island maintenance costs with landscapers and getting new bids.
  3. The Forester will be printed March thru December, with Nov/Dec as a combined issue; Jan/Feb will be online only.
  4. There is a $628 budget deficit. To make a balanced budget we need 10 business memberships, and 480 home membership.
  5. The new budget was voted on and approved to be put forth before the members at the next meeting for a vote.

Meeting adjourned at 8:44 PM

To see the new and revised budget, look in this month’s Forester or online.

Forest Park Civic Association Meeting Minutes: March 11, 2025

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FOREST PARK CIVIC ASSOCIATION MEETING

Date:  11 March 2025

Location: Epworth United Methodist Church

Meeting called to order @ 7:03 PM by Ed Vanasdale 

The Pledge of Allegiance was recited.

Attendance was taken via roll call.

OFFICER REPORTS

President Ed Vanasdale – ed1vanasdale@gmail.com  No Report

Guest Speaker: Ambrosia Lamar (manager from Woodward Park Recreation Center). Ambrosia gave a very informative talk about all of the many programs that Woodward is offering. The presentation, discussion, and Q & A session was lively and engaging. There are so many programs going on at the center most of those in attendance never knew about them. Please check them out – this is your community resource – your tax dollars are working hard at Woodward Park Rec Center. https://columbusrecparks.com/community-center/woodward-park/

Vice President  Mark Bell – MarkBellncc@insight.rr.com  No Report

Secretary Lou Bernard – loubernard3@gmail.com

  1. Attendance:
  • Officers/Committee Chairs Present: EV, MB, LB, CL, MSg, RW, DVM, KVM, SL, CA, LH, EM, MSt, TS, KG, DP
  • Officers/Committee Chairs Absent: QM, SB, AH
  • Area Reps in Attendance: 1, 2, 3, 4, 9, 11, 12, 13
  • Area Reps Absent: 5, 6, 7, 8, 10, 14
  • Total meeting attendance: 30
  1. Reviewed minutes from February, no changes or corrections needed, minutes have been approved and were entered into the official records.
  2. Attendance Sheet thru March: Online

Treasurer Cheryl Lutman – cllutman17@gmail.com

  1. No memberships of any kind were received in February.  
  2. Expenses include the Forester printing, security patrols, and an expense relating to the Trunk or Treat Event.

Public Relations Mary Sguerra –  marysguerra@howardhanna.com  

  1. Upcoming Community Garage Sale on Saturday,  May 17th
  2. Also Gabby’s Night Cookout (Potluck) will be Saturday, June 11th more details to follow

Forester Editor Rita Woeste – forester_ed@fpcivic.org

  1. Articles by the end of the week. This Forester will be mailed out due to it being the membership drive month.
  2. We need volunteers to deliver the Foresters. You will need to deliver only eight times a year. Please help us out.
  3. March Forester

Supplemental Security Daryl Van Mercetta – dvanmercetta@gmail.com, Katie Van Mercetta – kvanmercetta@gmail.com, Dan Yandrich (CPD Liaison Officer) – dyandrich@columbuspolice.org 614.645.1418

See the report in the Forester.

Business Representative Sheridan Landon – slandon52@gmail.com  

Been out to 3 different businesses. Trying to get smaller businesses who may be interested in a cheaper way to advertise.

Civic Action Officer  Vacant

COMMITTEE REPORTS

Welcome Committee Chair Laura Hayes – hayeslaura2@gmail.com

  1. Thank you, Katie, for helping update the 2025 Membership form. We hope the changes are approved this week and we can print the updated form for the new welcome folders. (Changes were approved at the budget meeting on 12 March).
  2. We are still working on gathering updated resources for the welcome folders, if anyone wants to volunteer some time to help in this effort, please contact me! 614-736-8812 thanks.

Volunteer Coordinator Erin Materu – mmateru@hotmail.com

  1. We have over 20 households and counting for the Tree grant!
  2. Will be contacting people to help with the April membership stuffing.
  3. We may have found a person to take over the position of the Civic Action/311 officer. Updates next month.

Membership Coordinator  Mike Stone – msto0103@yahoo.com

  1. We are set for our membership envelope stuffing day on Saturday, April 5th at Schoedinger-North.  Right now, unless we need to adjust to accommodate Schoedingers, the arrival time will be between 12:30-1:00 PM and we will start stuffing at 1:00 PM.  
  2. Last year was AMAZING and we are hoping to replicate our two hour pace. To do so, we could use 20-22 stuffers.
  3. For the period following the post office delivery date (April 7th), we wish to coordinate with our amazing social media team to help keep the drive current, particularly for the period before Independence Day and would love to hear other ideas to make that possible.  
  4. Discussions were held to make the mulch sale open only to FPCA members. This idea was voted down. It is a significant fundraiser for the FPCA and will be open to all FP residents.

Social Activities Tiffany Smith – tsmith1599@yahoo.com   No Report

NCC Representatives Ken Gilbert – kgilbert78@att.net, Mark Bell – MarkBellncc@insight.rr.com

See the full report in the Forester

NCC Development Representative Ed Vanasdale – ed1vanasdale@gmail.com

See the full report on our website: https://www.fpcivic.org/development-reports/

Grant Writing Committee Chair  Quentin Monden – q.monden@gmail.com  

  1. We had a meeting on 02/16/2025 and currently applying for the Columbus Tree Assistance Program (TAP) Grant (due March 31, 2025) – https://www.franklinswcd.org/columbus-tree-assistance-program
  2. Laura’s Update: We have 20 people who would like trees, they all need to sign a release form and pick what type of tree they’d like to be submitted along with our proposal. We also spoke with Henry Stahl from the Franklin Soil and Water Conservation District and he said we have a strong proposal. Lastly, we plan to contact our Ohio State House Representative and Forest Park resident, Munira Abdullahi to ask if she’d like to submit a letter of support for our application. 

Website Administrators Scott Biggs sbiggsmail@yahoo.com (Website/Facebook)   Dave Paul dwpaul@fpcivic.org (Website) Ashley Howard ahoward@ashleynicolecounseling.com (Instagram/Facebook)  

We have updated the Mulch Sale web page at fpcivic.org/mulch to get ready for the 2025 Mulch sale. As in past years, orders and payments are accepted online (in addition to manually using the paper form in the April 2025 Forester newsletter). We will promote the sale via the website, social media and in the Forester.

From Ashley: I have been researching social media management programs and will trial a free program. These will allow us to schedule posts ahead of time to allow for more timely and consistent content. Finally, these programs offer other marketing and analytic features. Some of them make it easier to manage multiple accounts from a centralized location; however, those will require paid accounts. Many of the social media management programs offer discounts for non-profits if we decide that we need a paid account in the future. 

OLD BUSINESS

The sign that was run over (again) on the corner of Pegwood and Satinwood is in the process of being replaced by the city. (Note: The sign has been replaced as of March 17th)

NEW BUSINESS/ANNOUNCEMENTS/IDEAS

Our 2025 FPCA MULCH SALE starts in April

The FPCA will hold a 2025 Mulch Sale for all Forest Park households again this year. We deliver bags of mulch to your house. No lifting, no mess, and you support your civic association! Mulch orders begin in April with driveway delivery on Saturday, May 3. The sale is completely run by volunteers so no money is spent on administration. Every paper and online order raises money for the FPCA. Look for details in your April Forester, on the FPCA social media and on this website. We are looking for fit, young volunteers to help deliver mulch on May 3 from 9 a.m. to noon. Find more information at www.fpcivic.org/mulch.

The Board of Trustees will meet on March 12th for the 2025 Budget Meeting. (Minutes are posted online and in the Forester.)

Meeting adjourned at 8:07 PM

Meeting minutes submitted by Lou Bernard, Secretary, FPCA

Forest Park Civic Association Meeting Minutes: February 11, 2025

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FOREST PARK CIVIC ASSOCIATION MEETING

Date: 11 February 2025

Location: Epworth United Methodist Church

Meeting called to order @ 7:00 PM by Ed Vanasdale 

The Pledge of Allegiance was recited.

Attendance was taken via roll call.

OFFICER REPORTS

President Ed Vanasdale – ed1vanasdale@gmail.com

All officers and committee chairs were asked to bring one goal that they have for their position for 2025.

Goal for 2025: To bring more synergy to the organization and continue to work with everyone to bring in more new faces into the FPCA.

Guest Speaker: None

Vice President  Mark Bell – MarkBellncc@insight.rr.com  No Report

Goal for 2025: To become more knowledgeable about the workings of FP, and to get to know the members of the NCC.

Secretary Lou Bernard – loubernard3@gmail.com

Goal for 2025: To get us up and running with either Google Workspace for Nonprofits or Microsoft 365 for Nonprofits.

Attendance:

  • Officers/Committee Chairs Present: EV, MB, LB, CL, RW, DVM, KVM, SL, LH, EM, MSt, TS, KG, QM, SB, AH
  • Officers/Committee Chairs Absent: MSg, DP
  • Area Reps in Attendance: 2, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13
  • Area Reps Absent: 1, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14 (vacant)
  • Total meeting attendance: 23
  1. Reviewed minutes from Jan., no changes or corrections needed, minutes have been approved and were entered into the official records.
  2. Attendance Sheet thru Feb: View HERE

Treasurer Cheryl Lutman – cllutman17@gmail.com

Goal for 2025: To continually keep accurate records for this year.

January was a very quiet month. 2 new household memberships, a few expenses and some advertising dollars. 

Public Relations Mary Sguerra –  marysguerra@howardhanna.com Absent

Save the Dates:

The Spring Community Garage Sale will be Saturday, May 17

Gabby’s Night – Potluck Gathering will be Saturday, June 7th

Forester Editor Rita Woeste – forester_ed@fpcivic.org

  1. Link to page of Forester DUE DATES for year 2025 is located via a link in the online minutes.
  2. Need articles/Ads/Photos by no later than Saturday Feb 15th,  this will be the first PRINTED Forester for 2025, let’s make a GOOD one!
  3. Will need help with delivery of bags to deliverers this month PLEASE
  4. Looking for new ADs for 2025

Goals for 2025: 

  1. Work with Grant committee to make multi-lingual Forester issue that celebrates/informs folks about Forest Park East/West
  2. Update delivery list, create easier/functional way to contact delivery folks
  3. Look to fill the position of person counting/distributing Foresters (I have been doing that in addition to my publisher job for 2+ years now.)

Supplemental Security Daryl Vanmercetta – dvanmercetta@gmail.com, Katie Vanmercetta – kvanmercetta@gmail.com, Dan Yandrich (CPD Liaison Officer) – dyandrich@columbuspolice.org 614.645.1418

See report in the Forester.

Business Representative Sheridan Landon – slandon52@gmail.com  No Report

Goals for 2025: 1) to get 10 more business members for this year, and 2) to create a way to contact people instead of just going door to door.

Civic Action Officer  Vacant

COMMITTEE REPORTS

Welcome Committee Chair Laura Hayes – hayeslaura2@gmail.com

  1. I have spent January finalizing materials that will go into the 2025 welcome folders.
  2. I am getting ready to assemble the next round, and purchased ink and paper to print on.
  3. Goal for 2025: To be able to track memberships coming in through the welcome folders.

Volunteer Coordinator Erin Materu – mmateru@hotmail.com

Goal for 2025: To get a working list of people who want to volunteer and to rework the membership form concerning volunteer opportunities.

Membership Coordinator  Mike Stone – msto0103@yahoo.com

  1. April stuffing for membership envelopes.
  2. We are working on getting the database updated. Thank you notes were sent out virtually and through the mail.
  3. We are 6 weeks away from the April stuffing.
  4. Goal for 2025: The information chain needs to be better established. Mike is frustrated because he is not getting membership info in a timely manner. He is working on cleaning up this process.

Social Activities Tiffany Smith – tsmith1599@yahoo.com

Goal for 2025: Wants to get acquainted with her position and all of the people involved with the FPCA.

  1. Asked for a list of established events: The Northland 4th of July Parade, Bikes-n-Trikes, Trunk or Treat, and National Night Out
  2. Another of her passions is families, moms, and babies and their needs.
  3. She is looking for people to work with her and find the focus.

NCC Representatives Ken Gilbert – kgilbert78@att.net, Mark Bell – MarkBellncc@insight.rr.com

Ken’s Goal for 2025: To represent the diverse residents of Forest Park to the best of his ability.

See report in the Forester and a link HERE.

We need to get our nominations into NCC for the Volunteers of the Year Award at the NCC banquet.

NCC Development Representative Ed Vanasdale – ed1vanasdale@gmail.com

See the NCC Development report here.

Grant Writing Committee Chair  Quentin Monden – q.monden@gmail.com 

Goal for 2025: To foster a vibrant community where residents are empowered with healthier more connected lives.

  1. Quentin introduced members of his committee.
  2. We had an Emergency Meeting on January 30th to discuss and plan the next steps for supporting New Americans and immigrants in the Forest Park Area due to the increased presence and raids performed by ICE (U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement)
  3. We met with a member of https://www.crisohio.org/ – Community Refugee & Immigration Services to discuss the best way for our community to support the immigrant community in our area. 
    1. The best 3 ways we identified:
      1. Provide supportive information (via Forester) at the Karl Rd Columbus Metro Library.
      2. Provide the same information at North YMCA – Information will be in Forester
      3. Purchase and donate to CRIS Ohio commonly requested non-perishable items from Costco in bulk to help families in need.
  4. Wants to have a table at the Elevate Northland event to help spread the word of who we are.

Website Administrators Scott Biggs sbiggsmail@yahoo.com (Website/Facebook)   Dave Paul dwpaul@fpcivic.org Absent (Website)    Ashley Howard ahoward@ashleynicolecounseling.com (Instagram/Facebook)  

Our website/Facebook page is always – always being updated with new and upcoming info! Please check it out!! Please subscribe/follow us.

Goal for 2025: Scott’s goal is to revamp and modernize our website.

OLD BUSINESS None

NEW BUSINESS/ANNOUNCEMENTS/IDEAS

  1. Sign Committee: The sign on the corner of Satinwood and Pegwood was rundown again. A 311 report was filed and Devin was contacted. The city is in the process of replacing it.
  2. We have decided to hold the 3rd Annual FPCA Mulch Sale in the Spring!!

Meeting adjourned at 8:20 PM

Meeting minutes submitted by Lou Bernard, Secretary, FPCA

Forest Park Civic Association Meeting Minutes: January 14, 2025

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FOREST PARK CIVIC ASSOCIATION MEETING

Date: 14 January 2025

Location: Epworth United Methodist Church

Meeting called to order @ 7:04 PM by Ed Vanasdale 

The Pledge of Allegiance was recited.

Attendance was taken via roll call.

OFFICER REPORTS

President Ed Vanasdale – ed1vanasdale@gmail.com

Slate of Candidates for 2025 was read by the secretary. There are 2 positions open: the Civic Action/311 Officer, and Area 14 Area Representative. The slate was accepted. Vote was taken and all volunteers were elected to their positions.

Guest Speaker: Sarah Pomeroy – Senior Assistant City Attorney, Zone Initiative at Columbus City Attorney Zach Klein’s Office. 

  1. Sworn in officers, committee chairs, and area representatives. 
  2. Explained the different areas that her position deals with. 
    1. Shared info about area hotels – they have major issues with 2 hotels in the area and are working them through the court process. They will have approx. 60 days to come into compliance, or will be ordered to shut down.
    2. Working closely with the Community Shelter Board to help their process move smoothly and help with issues they may have.
    3. They work with liquor licensing and filing injunctions if people are breaking the law.
    4. They work with the apartments in the area – with owners, tennants, HUD, and other governmental agencies.
  3. City Attorney Zach Klein’s Zone 1 Community Safety Meeting will take place on January 23, 2025, 6:00 p.m. and will be at the Northern Lights Columbus Public Library, 4093 Cleveland Avenue. The meeting will be a chance for folks to speak directly with Zach about safety issues and concerns they have in the community.
  4. Sarah’s contact info: 614-645-8619 scpomeroy@columbus.gov

Vice President Mark Bell – MarkBellncc@insight.rr.com – No Report

Secretary Lou Bernard – loubernard3@gmail.com

  1. Attendance:
  • Officers/Committee Chairs Present: EV, MB, LB, CL, MSg, RW, DVM, KVM, SL, CA, LH, EM, TS, KG, QM, SB, AH
  • Officers/Committee Chairs Absent: MSt, DP
  • Area Reps in Attendance: 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 9, 11, 12, 13
  • Area Reps Absent: 1,6,8,10,14
  • Total meeting attendance: 30
  1. Reviewed minutes from Dec. 2024, no changes or corrections needed, minutes were approved and were entered into the official records.
  2. Attendance Sheet for January 2025

Treasurer Cheryl Lutman – cllutman17@gmail.com

  1. Reviewed reports from November and December. Reports were approved.
  2. The first half of our grant from the City of Columbus was received! The Grant Committee is busy making plans to put those funds to work and are excited to see what they do!
  3. We received two new household memberships, some advertising dollars and donations to our various function areas. Expenses included finishing paying for the island maintenance and our security patrols.

Public Relations Mary Sguerra – marysguerra@howardhanna.com – No Report

Forester Editor Rita Woeste – forester_ed@fpcivic.org

February 2025 issue will be ONLINE only – just like the January copy.  Due date for articles/photos/ads is January 25th please. 

Supplemental Security Daryl Van Mercetta – dvanmercetta@gmail.com, Katie Van Mercetta – kvanmercetta@gmail.com, Dan Yandrich (CPD Liaison Officer) – dyandrich@columbuspolice.org 614.645.1418

See report in the Forester.

Business Representative Sheridan Landon – slandon52@gmail.com  – No Report

Civic Action/311 Officer  Vacant

COMMITTEE REPORTS

Welcome Committee Chair Laura Hayes – hayeslaura2@gmail.com – No Report

Volunteer Coordinator Erin Materu – mmateru@hotmail.com – No Report

Membership Coordinator  Mike Stone – msto0103@yahoo.com – No Report

Social Activities Tiffany Smith – tsmith1599@yahoo.com – No Report

NCC Representatives Ken Gilbert – kgilbert78@att.net, Mark Bell – MarkBellncc@insight.rr.com

See Report in Forester

NCC Development Representative Ed Vanasdale – ed1vanasdale@gmail.com  No Report

Grant Writing Committee Chair  Quentin Monden – q.monden@gmail.com – 

  1. The Board of Trustees met with the members of the Grant Writing Committee on Dec. 18 to make sure there was alignment between the Committee’s goals and the goals of the FPCA. The minutes were posted online and in the Forester.
  2. The first grant installment check for $2500 was received on 12/28. 

Website Administrators Scott Biggs sbiggsmail@yahoo.com (Website/Facebook)   Dave Paul dwpaul@fpcivic.org (Website) Absent Ashley Howard ahoward@ashleynicolecounseling.com (Instagram/Facebook)  

Our website/Facebook page is always – always being updated with new and upcoming info! Please check it out!! Please subscribe/follow us. If you have any information that you would like posted, please contact one of the above 3 people.

OLD BUSINESS

Concerning the FP signs, it was suggested to try to get the city to replace all of the signs that have been removed/damaged. Tabled until January. Update: Devin Deal responded that he felt this was a reasonable request and that we should collect and submit all of the information about the previous sign to 311 and let him know when we do that so he can help facilitate the completion of the project.

NEW BUSINESS/ANNOUNCEMENTS/IDEAS

  1. The Board of Trustees met with the members of the Grant Writing Committee on Dec. 18 to make sure there was alignment between the Committee’s goals and the goals of the FPCA. The minutes were posted online and in the previous Forester.
  2. All officers and committee chairs should have 1 goal for the year ready to present for next month.

Meeting adjourned at 7:50 PM

A short Board of Trustees meeting was called after the general meeting. No minutes were taken.

Meeting minutes submitted by Lou Bernard, Secretary, FPCA