Laura Franks reports 11% price increase for Bexley CPI First Quarter, 2010.

February 3, 2010. This is Laura Franks reporting the Bexley Consumer Price Index for the first quarter, 2010.

The Bexley CPI reports on the aggregate prices paid for a uniform basket of merchandise purchased at retail in Bexley and nearby retail stores.

The Bexley CPI measures the change of prices for typical retail purchases made by Bexley residents.

The Bexley Consumer Price Index can be compared to the price changes reported by the Bureau of Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor. The comparison can provide useful information for Bexley consumers about local price changes compared to price changes in other parts of the United States.

As of the first quarter, 2010 compared to the fourth quarter, 2009, Bexley prices showed an 11% increase. Of the three(3) items that were discounted last quarter, two(2) were returned to their pre-sale cost and the other item, although still on a markdown had actually had its sale price raised 26%.

Of note: this is the highest total cost we’ve seen since the inception of the Bexley CPI in October 2007. The highest total previously was in the third quarter 2009.

Even though we have a significant increase in prices this quarter I still conclude that it is always nice to live in Bexley.

This is Laura Franks for the WCRX-LP, 102.1 FM Bexley Consumer Price Index Report.

Bexley Public Radio Foundation broadcasting as
WCRX-LP, 102.1 FM, Local Power Radio
2700 E. Main St., Suite 208
Columbus, OH 43209
Voice (614) 235 2929
Fax (614) 235 3008
Email wcrxlp@yahoo.com
Blog http://agentofcurrency.blogspot.com

Bexley Public Radio Foundation is exempt from federal taxes under IRC Section 501(c)(3). Donations are deductible from federal income taxes for individuals who itemize. Checks may identify the payee as Bexley Public Radio Foundation or WCRX-LP, 102.1 FM.

Design is copyright 2010. All rights reserved. Bexley Public Radio Foundation. Text is copyright 2010. All rights reserved. Laura Franks.

John Matuszak, senior correspondent Bexley Public Radio says "farewell" to Bexley.

.
.
This is a difficult goodbye to write. It ends 14 years of reporting on Bexley and the eastside communities through print and radio, 14 years of friendships and memorable moments with countless numbers of people.

I came to Columbus from Athens, Ohio, to work for Associated Press, and after that nine-month assignment ended, I was hired as the managing editor and eastside editor for the Columbus Messenger. Because of the reputation of the schools, the attractive location, the library, the Drexel, Capital University, Johnson's ice cream, and everything else Bexley has to offer, my wife and I decided to buy a house and raise our daughter here.

At the paper I immediately started meeting the remarkable people who call this area home. One of my first encounters was with David Bott, a local musician who regaled me with the tale of the vacation he and his wife, Cathy, had taken to California. Through a friend, they romped, unescorted, through a Hollywood backlot and were hired as extras for "Mr. Wrong," a movie starring Ellen D.G.neres. It mad a great feature story (although on the front page I mistakenly placed a photo of the Botts dressed as Mexican bandits next to a story about renovations to the Whitehall jail).

Later, on a trip to New Orleans, the Botts drove through the tiny burg of Bexley, Miss., the only town in the U.S. to share a name with the suburb. Our paper ended up bringing the unofficial mayor of Bexley, Miss., Carolyn Nicholson, to meet the official Mayor David Madison during the Fourth of July festivities. She even rode in the parade and won a trophy.

This is to give you an idea of how much fun this job has been, meeting the artists, activists, elected officials, educators and others who contribute to their communities and the world. There have been so many of those "Wow, I get paid for doing this" moments, from meeting Ralph Charles, at 99 the world's oldest licensed pilot (two months before David Letterman interviewed him, to riding in a 1927 biplane with Amelia Earhart's cousin.

I was able to sound off in columns as "The Gas Man's Son," sometimes indulging my alleged sense of humor.

I got to know author and Bexley native Bob Greene, his talented sister and mother, D.G. Fulford and Phyllis Greene. There were my friends at the JCC and Gallery Players, Cassandra Tellier at Capital's Schumacher Gallery, the people at the Far East Pride Center - the list is endless.

Of course there were the "I get paid for doing this?" times during long meetings as part of the Blue Butt Brigade. But it has always been a privilege to bring the news to residents.

After my stint with the Messenger ended, I can't express enough gratitude to Kurt Weiland for allowing me to continue to report and stay in touch through Bexley Public Radio, to write for the blog and to indulge my latent interest in broadcasting. I think Bexley Public Radio is a tremendous asset and it will only get better and continue to grow - with community support.

I will be writing and editing for the Herald-Palladium in St. Joseph, Mich.. It is a vibrant community and popular summer lakeside resort in the southwest corner of the state, 90 miles from Chicago and 30 miles from South Bend, Ind. You may see occasional dispatches from me on the cultural scene.

There is a young man in the H-P newsroom who worked for the Dispatch a few years ago. He fondly recalls attending screenings at the Drexel, lamenting that St. Joseph doesn't have an art cinema.

I am looking forward to my move, but I am reminded even there that Bexley truly is a special place to live. It needs all of you to keep it special.

John Matuszak

Spanish Language News by David Alexander for Bexley Public Radio.

.
Your Spanish language lesson for the week of Monday February 8 through Friday February 12, 2010. Follow along with David Alexander as he reads some news items in Spanish language.

Questions?

Email David Alexander at wcrxlp@yahoo.com or call the station at (614) 235 2929.


TUESDAY FEBRUARY 9, 2010

Laura Chinchilla primera presidenta electa en la historia de Costa Rica. (Laura Chinchilla- the first women president elect in the history of Costa Rica.)

En los comicios del pasado domingo la candidata socialdemócrata logró una avasalladora victoria con un 47% del voto, convirtiéndose en la primera mujer elegida para la presidencia del país centroamericano. Lo que es más, fue la primera campaña de una candidata del género femenino en la historia de la política costarricense. Considerada la discípula del presidente Óscar Arias, que gobierna el país desde 2006, Chinchilla nació en el año 1959 en San José y a lo largo de su carrera ha desempeñado diversos cargos como diputada, ministra, y vicepresidente de la República. Además tiene un título de Ciencias Polícias de la Universidad de Costa Rica y un máster en Políticas Públicas de la Universidad de Georgetown en EEUU. En cuanto a política aboga por el comercio como vía de desarrollo pensando concluir con éxito tratados de libre comercio con La Unión Europea y China además de aclarar previos acuerdos con México y Estados Unidos. (el 8 de enero, Agencia EFE)

presidenta electa- president elect (female)

historia- history

los comicios- elections

avasalladora victoria- resounding victory

género femenino- female gender

costarricense- Costa Rican

la discípula- disciple (female)

su carrera- her career

cargos- positions

vía desarrollo- a mean of development

tratados de libre comercio- free trade agreements

previos acuerdos- previous agreements


Congreso Nacional Latino critica a Obama por falta de apoyo de reforma migratoria. (National Latino Congress criticizes Obama for lack of support for immigration reform)

El cuarto Congreso Nacional Latino terminó este pasado fin de semana con un aire pesimista, con delegados del cuerpo acusando al presidente Obama de dar la espalda a la reforma migratoria y la regulación del estatus de los indocumentados. A estas alturas se ve muerta cualquier oportunidad que se dé paso a una reforma bajo el gobierno Obama. Además de apoyar la medida de reforma propuesta por Luis Gutiérrez, el congresista demócrata por Illinois, que pretendía normalizar la población indocumentada, se denunció Operación Streamline, por la cual la Oficina de Inmigracón y Aduanas acelera los procesos judiciales en contra de inmigrantes ilegales. Al congreso asistieron cientos de delegados de todo el país, representando una docena de organizaciones hispanas como la Liga de Ciudadanos Latinoamericanos Unidos (Lulac) y el Fondo para la Educación y Defensa Legal del México Americano (Maldef) entre otras. (www.elcomercionewspaper.com, el 8 de enero, Notimex)

el cuarto- the fourth

este pasado fin de semana- this past weekend

delegados- delegates

dar la espalda a - turning his back on

la reforma migratoria- immigration reform

los indocumentados- the indocumented

a estas alturas- at this point/stage

procesos judiciales- legal prosecution, trialing of

inmigrantes ilegales- illegal immigrants



MONDAY FEBRUARY 8, 2010

Chubascos azotan México. (Heavy rains hit Mexico)

Unas fuertes lluvias azotaron el centro de México causando inundaciones y aludes de lodo que resultaron en la muerte de 11 personas. En concreto, el alud sepultó varios coches en el camino de la Ciudad de México a Valle Bravo, un popular destino turístico para los habitantes de la capital. Asimsimo la policía declaró que podía haber aún más muertos que siguen sepultados dentro de los vehículos. El estado occidental de Michoacán también experimentó el desbordamiento de ríos e inundaciones con la subsiguiente damnificación de viviendas y otros edificios importantes. (lta.reuters.com, el 7 de enero, Henry Romero)

chubascos- strong rains

fuertes lluvias- strong rains

inundaciones- flooding

aludes de lodo- mud slides

coches- cars

los vehículos- the vehicles

damnificación- damage, destruction

viviendas- dwellings

edificios- buildings


Se celebra reunión extraordinaria de Unasur en Quito. (Unasur has special meeting in Quito)

Unasur (La Unión de Naciones Sudamericanas) se reúne en Quito esta semana para entablar discusiones acerca de ayudas humanitarias a Haití tras el terremoto que sufrió el país caribeño el pasado 12 de enero. En total, acudirán a la capital ecuatoriana los mandatarios de Paraguay, Fernando Lugo; Venezuela, Hugo Chávez; y Colombia Álvaro Uribe, además del canciller de la Argentina, Jorge Taina. Para dar un ejemplo de los esfuerzos de los estados miembros, hasta la fecha el país de Venezuela ha donado 10 mil toneladas de comida, además de mandar a más de 236 voluntarios como médicos, bomberos, y rescatistas a las zonas afectadas de Puerto Príncipe, la capital haitiana. (confirmado.net, el 7 de enero, ANDES)

reunión- meeting

ayudas humanitarias- humanitarian aide

el terremoto- the earthquake

el pasado 12 de enero- this past January 12

el país caribeño- Caribbean country

canciller- chancellor

estados miembros- member states

10 mil toneladas de comida- 10,000 tons of food

voluntarios- volunteers

médicos- doctors

bomberos- firemen

rescatistas- rescue workers


El colectivo editorial de WCRX-LP
La fundación de la radioemisora pública de Bexley
transmite a través de WCRX-LP 102.FM, Local Power Radio
2700 E. Main St., Suite 208
Columbus, OH 43209
Voice (614) 235 2929
Fax (614) 235 3008
Email wcrxlp@yahoo.com
Blog http://agentofcurrency.blogspot.com

La fundación de la radioemisora pública de Bexley está extenta de impuesto federales bajo la sección 501 (c) del IRC. Cualesquiera donaciones se pueden deducir de los impuestos federales para indiviuos que detallaren sus deducciones. Cheques pagables a Bexley Public Radio Foundation o WCRX-LP, 102.1 FM. El diseño es copyright 2010. Todos los derechos reservados. La radioemisora pública de Bexley. El texto es copyright 2010. Todos los derechos reservados. David Alexander

Bexley Public Radio Foundation broadcasting as
WCRX-LP, 102.1 FM, Local Power Radio
2700 E. Main St., Suite 208
Columbus, OH 43209
Voice (614) 235 2929
Fax (614) 235 3008
Email wcrxlp@yahoo.com
Blog http://agentofcurrency.blogspot.com

Bexley Public Radio Foundation is exempt from federal taxes under IRC Section 501(c)(3). Donations are deductible from federal income taxes for individuals who itemize. Checks may identify the payee as Bexley Public Radio Foundation or WCRX-LP, 102.1 FM.

Design is copyright 2010. All rights reserved. Bexley Public Radio Foundation. Except for news report text, translation and other text is copyright 2010. All rights reserved. David Alexander.

Taste of India postponed.

Taste of India scheduled for Saturday night February 6 has been postponed because of the weather. The event sponsors will announce the rescheduled date.

Bexley Public Radio senior correspondent John Matuszak accepts job with Michigan's Herald-Palladium.

Bexley Public Radio senior correspondent John Matuszak has accepted a reporting and editorial job with a Michigan community newspaper. The newspaper is the Herald-Palladium and it reports news for St. Joseph, Michigan.

The city of St. Joseph is a summer lakeside resort in the southwest corner of the state, 90 miles from Chicago and 30 miles from South Bend, Ind.

Bexley Public Radio has requested John to send us dispatches on sailing regattas and other festivals in the St. Joseph area.

John has a fifteen year career reporting on Bexley and Eastside Columbus suburbs. His knowledge of Bexley's civic history gave value to his readers. John's insatiable interest in culture can be seen in any catalogue of his stories but his especial reporting interest was in the written word.

During the span of his career reporting about Bexley, John developed friendships with the writers who call Bexley their home. Some of John's literary friends grew up in Bexley; others have made Bexley their new home. If they were writers, John would find them and write about them.

John's work with Bexley Public Radio followed the same subjects as his written reports: culture and civic affairs. Every Wednesday, together with his long-time reporting colleague Dianne Garrett, John hosted Bexley Public Radio's "Eastside News Round-up." John regularly covered Bexley city hall and city council. Cultural events at Eastside venues were also part of his regular beat. John's trademark black round frame eyeglasses were familiar in city hall and local art galleries.

John found some delight in his Wednesday reporting on city hall events a day before his print competitors whose deadlines were Thursday. John reported the news on air a full twenty-four hours before his print competitors.

The value of having a career journalist at Bexley Public Radio included John's depth of community knowledge brought to each reporting task.



Bexley Public Radio senior correspondent John Matuszak interviews interim Bexley library director Sue Studebaker.


In the week prior to last November election, John produced a special five-day program broadcast from the Bexley Public Library. The library had a proposal for an increased property tax and John wanted to demonstrate the importance of the library to the local community. John and Dianne Garrett hosted the five-day long broadcast from the library's browsing room. Some guests were interviewed, others read favorite poems and passages from books. Authors, students, local faculty and teachers were guests and performers.

The levy passed with a seventy-four percent favorable vote. Local pols say that this is the highest favorable vote for a money issue in the Ohio's history. John, with his usual irony, said he is happy to take credit for the successful vote.

Bexley Public Radio congratulates John on his new undertaking and we wish him well.

Bexley Public Radio Foundation broadcasting as
WCRX-LP, 102.1 FM, Local Power Radio
2700 E. Main St., Suite 208
Columbus, OH 43209
Voice (614) 235 2929
Fax (614) 235 3008
Email wcrxlp@yahoo.com
Blog http://agentofcurrency.blogspot.com

Bexley Public Radio Foundation is exempt from federal taxes under IRC Section 501(c)(3). Donations are deductible from federal income taxes for individuals who itemize. Checks may identify the payee as Bexley Public Radio Foundation WCRX-LP, 102.1 FM.

Design is copyright 2010. All rights reserved. Bexley Public Radio Foundation. Text is copyright 2010. All rights reserved. WCRX-LP editorial collective.

A Taste of India POSTPONED reported by Bexley Public Radio.

A Taste of India has been postponed becasue os the inclement weather. A new time and date will be announced by the sponsors.

Experience a selection of authentic Indian cuisine prepared under the direction of chef Saleem Mohammad.

POSTPONED. Saturday February 6, 2010, at Christ Lutheran Church, 2314 E. Main St. In Bexley across E. Main St. from Capital University. Dinner begins at 5:30 p.m. POSTPONED.

Donation $15.00 adult, $10.00 student and $5.00 children.

Chef Saleem will discuss the menu items, recipes and spices of this Indian dinner.

This event is a fundraiser to help support a Service-Learning experience for sixteen Capital University undergraduate students.

Saleem is a professor of social work at Capital University and volunteers his time and skill as a chef to help students raise money for a learning experience in the Indian subcontinent.



The students enrolled for the Service-Learning event are Adam T. Wetterhan , Ashley Blouin, Breanne E. Daly, Caitlin J. Tedrow, Courtney E. Winterberger, Courtney N. Crowder, Emma C. Helms, Heidi L. Bretz, Joseph T. Mayer, Kaitlin R. Winter-Eulberg, Lauren A. Hartfelder, Matthew R. Hazzard, Megan E. Neubauer, Sarah L. Wharmby and Zachary A. Simpson.

The students and three faculty will go to Kolkata, India for three weeks during the 2010-2011 winter break. Capital is planning this trip with International Partnership for Service-Learning and Leadership.

During the day, students will work in one of Mother Teresa’s Homes for Orphans. Classes will be offered in the afternoon. Evenings will be for study and fellowship. On the weekends, students will travel India with excursions to places of cultural interest.

Students will earn a total of six credit hours for two courses: Indian History and Culture and Service Learning in which students will be provided an opportunity to critically examine and reflect upon their spiritual journey through Indian culture and their encounter with abject suffering and poverty.


Other opportunities to support this Service-Learning educational program.

David Belcastro, a professor in the Capital University religion department, offers Yoga instruction. Ten lessons for $100 ($50 students). All proceeds support the service-learning experience in India. The Yoga lessons are held mornings at 6:00 a.m. in the Capital Center field house. For more information on Yoga classes, contact David Belcastro: Voice 236-6771 or email: dbelcast@capital.edu.

Saleem Mohammad will be presenting A Taste of India dinners as fund-raisers in six other Ohio locations during the coming months. He can be contacted at Voice 236-7214 or email: smohamma@capital.edu.

Professor Mohammad will be interviewed on the Bexley Public Radio morning show Thursday February 4 at 11:00 a.m. Tune in to 102.1 FM and 98.3 FM.

Bexley Public Radio Foundation broadcasting as
WCRX-LP, 102.1 FM, Local Power Radio
2700 E. Main St., Suite 208
Columbus, OH 43209
Voice (614) 235 2929
Fax (614) 235 3008
Email wcrxlp@yahoo.com
Blog http://agentofcurrency.blogspot.com

Bexley Public Radio Foundation is exempt from federal taxes under IRC Section 501(c)(3). Donations are deductible from federal income taxes for individuals who itemize. Checks may identify the payee as Bexley Public Radio Foundation WCRX-LP, 102.1 FM.

Design is copyright 2010. All rights reserved. Bexley Public Radio Foundation. Text is copyright 2010. All rights reserved. WCRX-LP editorial collective.

Police Chief Larry Rinehart writes about recent wave of local burglaries for Bexley Public Radio.

From December 29, 2009, to January 22, 2010, our city experienced eight burglaries in the area of College and Sheridan Avenues.

About half of those victims were Capital University students, some home for the holidays when the crimes were committed.

As I write this, we have a good picture of one suspect and we continue to work the crimes very aggressively. Our officers take this spike in burglaries personally.

Putting the criminals in jail is a top priority.

Our police officers and detectives have a very good track record in solving these type of crimes.

For instance, in a ten day period over the holidays we arrested three separate groups of thieves who were committing daytime burglaries in other parts of Bexley.

One of those groups made it a practice to burglarize homes in Bexley and in other communities via the COTA bus system. That was a first for me.

Unfortunately, no community is immune from this scourge.

Our task is often more challenging due to our proximity to some depressed communities and the major roads that pass through our city. In spite of that, our officers, with the help of vigilant community members and some good community watch groups, do a great job of stemming the tide of crime.

In 2008 we received and responded to 13,665 calls for police service. In 2009 that number dropped to 12,370, in large part due to our pro-active police patrol and crime mapping; we intervened and interacted with criminals before a resident had to call the police.

In 2008 we filed 632 charges on people. In 2009 that number rose to 782, again due to good patrol and investigative police work. In 2008 we made 474 physical arrests. That number rose to 628 in 2009, further evidence of effective patrol and investigative work.

While our detective hours required to solve crimes and bring criminals to justice is significantly increasing (mostly due to the types of crimes; ID theft, etc.), the amount of reported crime committed in our city is not increasing.

We have actually seen a decrease of burglaries and Breaking & Entering crimes from 132 in 2007 to 115 in 2008 to 104 in 2009.

As shown by the increase in charges filed and physical arrests, criminals are coming to Bexley in slightly larger numbers.

However, through vigilant police patrol and effective investigation, along with help from a vigilant community, we are effectively interacting with more criminals than ever, before they commit their crime and before the community calls the police department to report a crime.

Even though we put more patrol cars on the street on every shift than any other 2.5 square miles in Franklin County that I know of, our recent arrests of burglars was due to vigilant residents keeping a watchful eye out in their neighborhoods and quickly calling the police when they observed suspicious, out of place activity.

Even though in 2009 we put well over 200,000 miles on police cars patrolling our city, we still need the help of watchful community members to catch criminals and keep our city safe. We hope that this Spring will see the rise of even more community watch groups.

We also need residents and landlords to keep our Bexley homes secure by ensuring that doors and windows lock securely.

Several of our recent burglaries were of residences where every door and window did not lock correctly, allowing criminals easy access. We are working with the Capital University Police Department to spread these safety points to their student population.

Rest assured that your police department is working diligently to discourage criminals from coming to Bexley and to arrest those who come here and commit crimes. As always, we welcome your input, tips, and vigilance in this effort.

If you see a crime in progress call 911. If you see potentially suspicious activity, have information about a crime, or are interested in finding out more about how to start a block watch, call the police non-emergency number at 559-4444. Thank you, Larry Rinehart


Larry Rinehart
Chief of Police
City of Bexley, Ohio
614 559-4444