The start of a new year is always cause for hope and optimism. Here I share a few hopes and dreams for the coming year in Forest Park. You can add a few too.

• We finally finished getting the 501c3 designation … Finally! … Really!! … Thus we become eligible to seek grants for community building and service activities. Your creative imagination and efforts will be a great help in such endeavors! We’ll also be able to get some 501c3 considerations that help us with another project: to move our technology infrastructure to association-owned accounts, to prevent catastrophe should Dave or yours truly suddenly no longer be available.
• A break from the pandemic!!!! … I don’t know about you, but I’m ready for the pandemic to at least move to an endemic, preferably to disappear in the rear-view mirror. Please do everything you can to encourage everyone you know to do their part: vaccinations, masks, vaccinations, etc.
• A Crew Supporters’ Shield +PLUS+ MLS Cup annus mirabilis. (Let’s throw in advancement in the World Cup for the red, white and blue! … and maybe for a few other favorites.)
• More marching bands in the Northland Independence Day parade: … Northland, Beechcroft, DeSales, .. more!!! … Maybe since we are the only traditional 4th of July parade in the City of Columbus, we can invite every Columbus City Schools high school. Private schools and near suburbs are welcome too. Let’s party!

Consider how YOU can be involved in making Forest Park an even BETTER place to live.

See you soon! It’s so good to be sharing a place we can all call HOME.
Your president, Scott Prigan.
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If you’d like to submit preferences for ways to get involved, you can visit the F.P.C.A. Volunteer Form, or just get in touch: Contact F.P.C.A.

The fall color of autumn leaves is rapidly fading, and the grey dread of Winter is descending. … But fear not, for we are going to Light Up Forest Park!

Usually around Thanksgiving I join many of you in putting up lights and holiday decorations. Since I happen to be Christian, I actually look at the start of Advent (preparing for Christmas), and the end of Epiphany (season of “light” following Christmas), as the time for the lights to be up — also the darkest part of the year.

Hanging the lights can be a challenge, especially if the weather turns rude. I’m not going to climb the extension ladder to the peak on the front of the house if it’s icy. I’ll just grumble while I do when it’s merely cold.

At the beginning of November, I noticed lights were on at a neighbor’s house. “Oh boy! They are eager beavers,” I thought. Then I thought again. The light went on! … My neighbors have Nepali heritage; they are celebrating Diwali! … Oh boy, another good reason for lights in the dark months! (Perhaps I should consider putting the lights up even sooner, in honor of my neighbors?!)

Diwali is a festival of light celebrated by our neighbors whose heritage is from a variety of places in Asia. It comes in mid-October to mid-November, in accordance with the traditional calendar, timed by a new moon (Nov. 4 this year). Diwali celebrates “victory of light over darkness, good over evil, and knowledge over ignorance.” Now that sounds worthy of celebration.

Enjoy the season of hanging lights, whether it be for Diwali, Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, another holiday, or just plain enjoyment. I’ll also be enjoying your lights.

See you soon! It’s so good to be sharing a place we can all call HOME.

Your president, Scott Prigan.
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30 years ago, Northland Mall was still a BIG DEAL “place to go” for shopping in Columbus — and there were many booming businesses along the Morse Road strip.

20 years ago Northland Mall was featured on the Ghost Malls website — and a significant number of the businesses on the strip were struggling. … But positive developments were starting to move! New people filled with new hope (many in a new country) were moving in. These folks saw good housing in a good neighborhood. They saw the empty storefronts as an opportunity. They perceived the value of the area and were eager to join us! Some came as renters first, some bought homes immediately, some established businesses. People from 4 continents recognized Forest Park and Northland as a place they could call HOME!

Today the empty storefronts on Morse Road are GONE — essentially fully occupied, and 161 is soon to follow. Most of these are local businesses, run by local people — not chains that cut and run if the company has a bad quarter. (Remember the Olive Garden, busy and prosperous, but still pulled out. … and the chains eventually seek to follow the local entrepreneurs back into the neighborhood.)

I encourage you to visit these neighbors. Tell them about the Forest Park Civic Association. Invite them to JOIN F.P.C.A., both as families (if they reside in Forest Park proper), and as businesses. There are a couple of fine fellows who can help them join as well:

Business Representative: Sheridan Landon, sheridanlandon@yahoo.com, 614-515-0783
Asst. Business Rep.: Alan Ray, aray.bergahorn@gmail.com, 614-506-3386

See you soon! It’s so good to be sharing a place we can all call HOME.

Your president, Scott Prigan.
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See the recent Columbus Dispatch story that inspired my thoughts:
New census data show Asian, other minority residents driving Northland’s population growth

References:
Contact FPCA
Join FPCA
online Business Membership Form