NEWCOMERSTOWN — Mayor Pat Cadle said the village has received over $1 million in grants in the past year, including over $674,000 towards cleaning up the site of the former Simonds-Heller factory on the south side of the village.
Speaking at his monthly mayor’s breakfast, Mayor Cadle said the funds will go towards remediating the brownfield site, hopefully clearing the way towards development in the area. The mayor said he has received interest in building senior citizen housing at the site and additional condominiums in the area facing the Tuscarawas River.
Another project moving forward is the new Municipal Building to be located in the former Morgan Pharmacy building. The mayor said bid opening for the remodeling project is set for April 5 and the hope is to have the building open by the end of September.
Mayor Cadle also touched on paving projects for 2022, which include finishing up some projects not finished in 2021. Two of the delayed projects include alleys behind Hill Auto and Marstrell Auto Parts and the Beaver Street extension, which the mayor said has some 12 inches of paving that has to be ground down in order to create drainage. Other projects include Canal Street from Pilling Street to N. College Street and the parking lot and upper road at Cy Young Park.
The mayor said there has been interest from electric car battery companies in sites at the Newcomerstown Industrial Park and said the billion-dollar development of Intel near New Albany will provide supply chain opportunities locally.
One of the bigger issues facing the village, the mayor said, is the need for housing.
“We need housing,” Mayor Cadle said. “We have land and we have people willing to build.”
The mayor noted the village will begin having bins for leaf and yard debris and said there will be bins for a community clean-up later this spring.
Journey’s End
Journey’s End Ministries, a Christian ministry outreach located on River Street, noted operating hours are 9-11 a.m. and 3-5 p.m. on Mondays and Wednesdays.
The ministry partners with the Akron-Canton Regional Food Bank to help reduce hunger. The 501c3 non-profit organization is operated by a staff of volunteers, representing many of the area churches. The ministry also receives contributions from many local businesses.
Services are based on income eligibility, based on the latest income guidelines set by the Ohio Dept. of Job and Family Services. The food pantry is open for one visit per family per week. Accounts are limited to one per household.
Student honor
Caitlin Green, senior at Newcomerstown High School, has been awarded the Lester Marrison Teacher Book Grant of $1,000 by the Ohio School Boards Association. She competed against 219 other school districts across 19 counties in Northeast Ohio to win this grant. Caitlin will be attending The Ohio State University this fall to major in education.
Academic support
Newcomerstown High School will start an after-school academic support program called GAP on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 3:15 p.m. to 5:15 p,m., continuing through the end of the school year.
The school will have academic teachers here to work with students to become more successful academically.
Any questions, contact the main office at 740-498-5111.
Down Syndrome Day
The Newcomerstown Middle School observed World Down Syndrome Day on March 21.
Students and staff were encouraged to wear crazy, mismatched socks to school on that day to call attention to World Down Syndrome Day, which celebrates the lives of people with Down syndrome, raises awareness about the condition and highlights the role that people with Down Syndrome play in their communities. In honor of the day, people around the world are sharing photos and videos of their mismatched socks using the hashtag #RockYourSocks.
The day is celebrated March 21 because the date symbolizes the three copies of the 21st chromosome, the genetic anomaly which leads to Down Syndrome. Typically, the nucleus of each cell contains 23 pairs of chromosomes, but an extra copy occurs in people with Down syndrome, altering the course of development.
The sock is meant to represent the typical shape of a chromosome. The variety of socks is meant to represent the variety of people with Down Syndrome.
Student of the Month
Savanna Button was chosen as the February Student of the Month, with her nomination noting, “Savanna regularly impresses her teachers with her effort and hard work. She is detail oriented and strives for perfection in her assignments. Her dedication to her education is evident in all she does. Savanna is a pleasant young lady with a sharp sense of humor and makes others smile with her witty personality. Her maturity and work ethic should be a model to others.”
Savanna said her favorite subjects are math and history; favorite television show, “Heartland”; likes to watch Netflix and play on her phone in her free time; greatest achievement being on the honor roll; greatest fear, snakes; future career, welding; dinner with one person, “My sister or my mom, and I would order a well-done steak and mac and cheese with mashed potatoes; person she looks up to, “My mom.”
Free concert
There will be a free community concert featuring the Dover High School Steel Drum Band and Jazz Band at noon Saturday, May 21, outside the Olde Main Street Museum, Canal Street, Newcomerstown. This concert, arranged by ARTSNCT, will launch the arts center’s Free Performance Series.
To submit an item for “In The News,” email the information to rbooth7747@gmail.com.
