Category: Community Alert

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Door-to-Door Salespeople

With the warmer weather brings vendors out into the neighborhoods soliciting business. A few reminders about door-to-door sales people within the City of Columbus.

All door-to-door salespeople within the City of Columbus should have a license. Below are images of the 2024 versions.



These badges should be on display when vendors approach your home. When residents are approached by an unlicensed door-to-door sales person, they may call the police non-emergency number, in the moment, as police may be dispatched when available.

The License Section also shared new, preferred reporting methods for unlicensed door-to-door salespeople. Complaints should be sent to [email protected], and residents may also call in concerns to 614-645-6496 and leave a message, should no one pick up.

Information that would be beneficial to the License Section is the location of either an intersection or at least the name of the neighborhood, what company the individual says they are with, and the time of day of the incident.

More information about this topic can be found here – scroll down to “Door-to-Door sales: Know Your Rights“

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Park Closed Until Monday 10/2

Just a reminder that the work at the community park will be starting later today.

Please refrain from using the park surface and grounds during this time to allow the surface time to cure and dry.

Once completed the park will be closed until Monday 10/2. All caution tape will be removed at that time.

Thank you and have a wonderful weekend.

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Upcoming Park Closure

Please note that the VAT community park will be closed for a minimum of 48 hours later this week due to the sealing of the park playground surface. The exact date and timing is still to be determined as it is weather dependent. Caution tape and signage will be up to indicate the closure and residents should stay away from the grounds and treated surface while the sealing coat cures and dries.

Residents may resume using the park and grounds once all signage and caution tape has been removed.

Thank you for keeping our community and its park beautiful.

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VAT Snow Removal

Hello Neighbors,

In 2022 the Board heard many homeowners’ concerns about snow removal within our community. Many homeowners in courts and cul-de-sacs told us that by the time plows arrived, the snow was so packed down that plows did not drop their blades, and instead spread salt. Homeowners on main roadways often had slush and ice building up around curbs due to lack of drainage. All-in-all, homeowners dealt with icy streets to try to maneuver through and lots of frustration.

In response to these concerns, the Board has arranged for private snow removal within our community in 2023. It is our plan to continue with these services should they improve the safety of our community. There are some parameters for these services and they are outlined below:

  1. Snow removal will only occur once 4″ of snow has fallen (NOT forecasted)
  2. Snow removal will occur as quickly as possible within our contractors territory but a service time is not “guaranteed”
  3. Any salting services will remain with the city of Columbus

City of Columbus plows will still service our community however it is our goal that our private contracted services will clear our roadways faster once the snow stops. Making for clear and safer streets.

To take the best advantage of this service we kindly ask homeowners to do the following when heavy snow is in the forecast:

  1. Park all vehicles in garages or driveways to leave roadways clear.
    This is especially important within our courts and cul-de-sacs. If these vehicles stay off the street until plows come through it will greatly improve the quality of service we receive and the clearing of your streets.
  2. Do not throw snow from sidewalks or driveways into the streets once plowed.
    Keeping this additional snow away from streets will help make sure we take full advantage of this service.
  3. Take note of any drains near your curbs and sidewalks.
    Please keep sewer drains and gutters free from debris and uncovered from snow if you are able. Allowing this runoff to access drains will help keep streets safer from ice.
  4. Slow down.
    We have several icy corners within our community. Be sure to give plenty of stopping distance and allow your fellow residents ample space to make turns when snow and ice occur.

We hope residents find this new service an enhancement to our community and we will welcome feedback as snow events occur so we can follow up with our contractor as appropriate.

Safe driving everyone.

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Mosquito Spraying – 9/7 3:30-7AM

May be an image of standing and text that says 'Columbus Public Health Spray 火 Notice Check the weekly spray map at columbus.gov v/mosquito'

To help prevent and control disease, Columbus Public Health will conduct mosquito control starting Wednesday, 8/31 through Friday, 9/9, weather permitting.

Spraying will occur in the areas highlighted in the online map due to high mosquito populations and mosquitoes testing positive for West Nile Virus.

Currently our area is scheduled for spraying on Wednesday 9/7, from 3:30 – 7AM.

Check the spray map at columbus.gov/mosquito.

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Alert: Armyworms taking Ohio by surprise!

Hello Members of The Thornapple Association –

We were provided time sensitive information related to the growing infestation of Armyworms from Five Seasons Landscape (one of our service providers) and wanted to pass this along.

“We have recently seen an unanticipated infestation of Fall Armyworms in central Ohio. This armyworm is native to southern parts of the country but has migrated its way north due to some of the large summer Gulf storms we have experienced across our area.

The Fall Armyworm is different than the common Armyworm that is native to Ohio, which mostly causes damage in the spring to cereal crops such as wheat. We have seen lawns get devoured in just a few days once the Fall Armyworm larva starts to infest an area. Fall Armyworms feed on a range of plants, but they prefer turf, especially Bermudagrass, Fescues, Ryegrass, Bentgrass and Bluegrass. With all the rain that has fallen this year, most lawns are covered with lush green grass, and that has resulted in large populations of fall armyworms moving across lawns in a mass, devouring what seems to be every blade of grass.

Insecticides may need to be utilized to control large populations of Fall Armyworms from causing catastrophic damage to turf areas. Even if you have received an insect/grub application this year from Five Seasons Landscape, you may need to have an additional application of insecticide applied to control the infestation of this insect.

Fortunately, the Fall Armyworm only feeds on the upper portion(leaf) of the grass plant, so many times the plant will recover on its own. It is important to keep the crown of the grass plant moist during this recovery period by supplemental watering/irrigation. Also, an application of fertilizer can help the turf recover faster if there is adequate moisture, by providing nutrients to encourage new leaf growth. Your brown lawn may look bad for a couple of weeks, but in most cases the turf will recover with proper care.”

For more information, contact Five Seasons Landscape | www.fiveseasonslandscape.com
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Alert: Playground Area Closed Sat (6/12) for 48 hours!!!

Attention Homeowners and Friends.  The company that provides maintenance to our playground equipment and surface will be doing some repair work on Saturday, June 12th, to fill some holes that are in the surface.  This process will take between 36-48 hours to properly cure.  All areas of the park, outside of the playground equipment and safety surface will still be open for use.  Please help us let Pro-Techs people make these repairs properly by avoiding this area this weekend.  The area should be cleared by Monday am!!  And if you find yourself enjoying the park this weekend, please help us keep the foot traffic off this area.

Our apologies for the late notice but it is weather and availability dependent.

Thank you for your support and assistance.

VAT Board

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Solar Energy Systems

For some time, The Thornapple Association Board has maintained active  participation on the Ohio Legislative Action Committee for residential communities.  In the last year, committee efforts have been focused on solar energy legislation.  As a result, under the direction and advice of the association attornies, The Thornapple Association Board has adopted Solar Energy System design guidelines  which are in compliance with both the Thornapple governing documents and forthcoming Ohio Solar Energy System legislation.  Please see the VAT HOA Community Handbook, p. 26.

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Community Park Pride

Dear neighbor,
Over the past several months board members and other concerned homeowners have witnessed an increase in community park vandalism. The vandalism has ranged from the destruction of park signs, shelter gutters, lighting, waste containers, and play equipment to continuous littering.  The littering problem is occurring with and without the presence of waste containers.

There are two primary issues of concern.  Number one, many of the youth we have witnessed engaging in destructive behavior are 9yrs. and older and all have been unaccompanied by an adult.  Number two, while some of the youth are VAT residents, others are not.  Some youth have been dropped off from communities several miles away.

As much as we welcome visitors, it is important to remember that the community park is for the intended use of VAT residents. The association must first serve the interests of homeowners whose dues pay for the maintenance, improvements, and vandelism repairs in the community.  Visitors from other communities such as Thornapple Highlands and Thornapple Grove are welcome as guests provided that they are accompanied by a VAT resident, have adult supervision, and conduct themselves in a respectful manner.

All homeowners are encouraged to take an active role in ensuring a safe and well-maintained community park.  Please take the time to talk to your children about what is happening at our park.  Discourage dangerous and destructive behavior like climbing on walls and equipment that is sized for small children.  Your role also includes the authority to request any unsupervised child under the age of 14 years or anyone engaging in disrespectful or unsafe behavior to leave the community park.  In addition, we all love seeing the youth engaged in pickup games at the park.  Please remind your children that the properties near the park are not an extension of park property.  We must be respectful of abutting properties and their boundaries by asking permission of the homeowner before entering their property.

Thank you for your support in addressing this community matter and remember: the best deterrent to vandalism is adult supervision.

Sincerely,
The Thornapple Association, Inc.
Board of Directors

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IMPORTANT NEWS: BEGGARS NIGHT CHANGE

 

Attention All Village at Thornapple, Thornapple Highlands, and Thornapple Grove Residents

Due to inclement weather that is forecasted for Thursday, October 29th, we have decided to SAVE beggars night for the kiddos of our adjoining neighborhoods.  We will be moving beggar’s night to

 Friday, October 30th from 6pm-8pm

With the blessing of the HOA’s and the City of Columbus Division of Police Special Events, we have been able to make this adjustment for our community ONLY, but we also need YOUR help.  If you plan on participating in beggars night this year, please do-so only on FRIDAY and do not send your kids out in the rain on Thursday.  All standard beggar’s night procedures should be followed on Friday. If you wish to participate, please leave a front porch light on.  If your light is off, we will make sure to skip your house.  Also, if you would like to participate but have COVID concerns…  Please feel welcome to leave a basket of treats at the end of your drive or porch stoop and we will hold our kids accountable for taking only 1 piece.  We want everyone to feel as though they can participate in a safe manner this year in our community on FRIDAY, October 30th from 6pm-8pm. 

 

If you have any questions or need any further clarification to the update, please contact Jennifer at (614)707-3079.

Let’s make it a VERY HAPPY HALLOWEEN for the kids of THORNAPPLE FRIDAY, October 30th 6pm-8pm!!! 

©2025 Thornapple Association, Inc.