March 2023

ISSUE 17

News Bites

South Side Spring Cleanup

We are having the Second Annual Spring Cleanup on Saturday, April 22nd from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the South Side. More information will be in the April newsletter.

Email Norman Deena with questions and to sign up.

Homebuyer Selection Drawings Coming Soon

Drawings in Weinland Park and Whitehall will likely be scheduled in March. Franklin Twp., Clinton Twp., and Mifflin Twp. will be scheduled in the coming months. If you know of someone that might be interested in a COCLT home, refer them to an orientation class to learn more about the process.

What's in the COCLT's Mail?

With the purchase of your home, you are aware that the COCLT remains in title to the land that your home resides on. There are times when we will receive mail that pertains to the land you are leasing.

Here are some examples that might require our staff to reach out and discuss:

Code Enforcement - When a code violation or warning is issued.

Housing Codes - public nuisance, garbage, graffiti, fences
Health, Sanitation, and Safety (Environmental) Codes - high grass, weeds, solid waste, and general sanitary maintenance of the property
Zoning Code - not related to residential land use
Nuisance Abatement Code - condition of blighted property

Water Bill - When payment is delinquent or service is turned off.

Permit Request - When a permit is requested for a project.

Land Lease Refresher

Section 9.3 Homeowner Must Reimburse the Land Trust of the Land Lease states "In the event the Land Trust shall be required to pay any sum that is the Homeowner’s responsibility or liability, the Homeowner shall reimburse the Land Trust for such payment and for reasonable expenses caused thereby."

Columbus Metropolitan Library

One year after Yellowstone Park became the first National Park, the same year Ulysses Grant began his second term as president, and a few years before the telephone was patented in 1876 and the light bulb in 1877, the Columbus Metropolitan Library was founded on March 4, 1873. The library was initially housed inside the original Columbus City Hall as a single reading room. Now, 150 years later, there are 23 library locations in Franklin County.

The Columbus Metropolitan Library is celebrating its birthday with Birthday Bashes on March 4th with family fun activities and refreshments at branch locations throughout Franklin County. More information can be found HERE.

Homeowner Tips

The 8th Wonder of the World

There is a pantry item that can be used to scour, scrub, and clean your home; in addition to pickle, preserve, and season your food: Vinegar. Try stretching its uses for:

All-Purpose Cleaner: Use 1 part distilled white vinegar and 4 parts water to clean your stovetop, fridge and freezer shelves, mirrors, and windows.

Drain Cleaner: Put a ½ cup of baking soda in the drain, add 1 cup of vinegar, and plug the drain. Let sit for 10 minutes while the fizzy reaction works to dislodge blockages in the drain. Rinse thoroughly with hot water.

Produce Wash: Mix 1 part vinegar with 3 parts water. Spray your produce a few times to fully coat it, and then rinse with water.

Clean Cutting Board: After washing your board with soap and water, spray it with vinegar, and then wash again (to eliminate the vinegar smell).

Things to Avoid: Knives; rubber parts or metal in appliances like coffee makers, toasters, washing machines, and dishwashers; hardwood floors; electronic screens; and stone, marble, limestone, or granite countertops.

And a word of caution - never mix vinegar with hydrogen peroxide or bleach. This can produce toxic vapors.

Spring Garden Planning

When you start planning your garden, you should consider location, sun exposure, moisture level, and soil type. Map out your garden space and choose your plants appropriately.

Central Ohio has a lot of clay in the soil. Mixing topsoil and a little bit of sand will keep your garden from retaining too much water. Using compost helps increase the nutrients in the soil. Coffee grounds can be very beneficial.

Determining the best time to plant is based on the last frost, which is April 28th for our area. You can start some plants (spinach, peas, kale, and carrots) from seeds indoors now and transfer them outside in April. Other plants like tomatoes and peppers should not be planted until May or June. Herbs like chives, dill, and parsley can be started in April, but basil and cilantro do best waiting until after the last frost date. Use the planting calendar HERE to help your planning.

You can download an app to help with planting schedules. Backyard Boss has a few suggestions HERE.

It is never too early to dream of warmer weather and home grown fruits, vegetables, and herbs.

Save Some $$$

Part 1

Making small changes can help save you money.

Switch Light Bulbs to LED: The average LED light bulb that is used five hours a day can save $10 to $20 in energy costs a year versus an incandescent bulb. LEDs last 15 to 20 times longer than incandescent bulbs, so they don't need replaced as often.

Wash Clothes in Cold Water: An estimated 75 to 90% of the energy your washer uses goes to warming up the water, so switching to colder water can lower your energy bill. Your clothes will get just as clean thanks to the efficiency of today's detergents.

Close Closet Doors: Each closet may hold a small amount of square footage, but you are still heating and cooling it if the doors are left open. Don't waste money on non-living areas of your home. Add up all the storage space, and it is the equivalent of a small room.

Cut Back on Paper Towels: Two rolls of paper towels a week add up to about $182 every year! Instead, try machine-washable shop towels. They clean up messes just as fast and can be reused. Save paper towels for messes that need to go straight into the trash, like oil and grease. Consider buying split sheet paper towels for smaller jobs.

Community Resource Highlight

Homes on the Hill CDC (HOTH) is a nonprofit HUD approved housing counseling agency and Community Housing Development Organization. The mission of HOTH is to strengthen neighborhoods by providing quality, affordable housing, advocacy, education, and supportive services to primarily low-to-moderate income individuals and families.

For over 30 years, HOTH has been building the foundation for economically stable families in the Hilltop neighborhood and throughout Franklin County. Today HOTH is at the forefront of creating affordable housing in Central Ohio by building new homes and rehabilitating vacant properties and selling or renting them to low-and-moderate income families.

HOTH also offers a Financial Capabilities Program that includes a free soft touch, tri-merge credit report review, a household budget planning session, and an actionable financial goal plan. This program is free and available in English and Spanish. The program allows participants to set their own financial goals, track their progress, and develop smart money habits with the help of HOTH’s financial coaches.

HOTH Financial Capabilities Program

All services are free of charge.

Call 614-275-HOME or email info@hoth-cdc.org to schedule an appointment.

Are you concerned about bills? Would you like to talk to someone about your financial goals?

Meet with a counselor at Homes on the Hill to get one-on-one financial counseling and guidance. HOTH's counselors are fully trained to provide assistance with budgeting, credit analysis, avoiding foreclosure, including working with your lender and discussing other available options. They offer assistance that provides general information about the types of resources and assistance available to get you back on track financially. Your credit score has likely improved now that you are a homeowner and paying your mortgage in a timely manner. It is a good time to reassess your financial situation.