Community Corner

🌱 Patch AM: How a Columbus principal ended up representing 16,000 school leaders nationwide

Be sure to catch New Year's Eve Party on the Columbus Patch calendar

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Hello again Columbus! We’re bringing you the latest town highlights. Don’t miss out, keep going! ☀️

In today's newsletter:

  • How a Columbus principal ended up representing 16,000 school leaders nationwide
  • How one fallen tree left over a thousand Columbus homes in the dark
  • How one Columbus nonprofit is quietly feeding families afraid to go out

Also on today's calendar: New Year's Eve Party and 9 more events.

Find out what's happening in Columbusfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

Today's riddle: The world champion tongue twister just got arrested! 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

Find out what's happening in Columbusfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

  • Tuesday: Mostly cloudy, windy and cold, with a high of 28 and low of 24 degrees.
  • Wednesday: A few afternoon snowflakes, temps: high: 33, low: 13. ⛄️ Brr!
  • Thursday: Very cold with low clouds, with a high of 25 and low of 18 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

1. Central Ohio principal takes on new leadership role (nbc4i.com) — A longtime Columbus City Schools principal is now leading elementary school principals nationwide as president of the National Association of Elementary School Principals. Avondale Elementary’s April Knight, with 35 years in education, is advocating in Washington for better federal funding, Title I support, and solutions to teacher shortages. She says her Columbus experience shapes how she champions principals and students across the country.
   

2. Strong winds knock down trees, cause power outages across central Ohio (10tv.com) — Strong winds snapped a massive tree along Cooper Road in northeast Columbus, cutting power to more than a thousand residents and leaving homes dark and cold. AEP Ohio deployed thousands of workers, expects most customers restored by early evening, and urges Columbus-area residents to sign up for outage alerts as scattered problems continue across central Ohio.
   

3. Nonprofit bridges gap for families in fear of ICE (nbc4i.com) — Immigrant families in Columbus are staying home out of fear of recent ICE enforcement, so local nonprofit Our Helpers is delivering food and essentials directly to their doors. The woman-led group has shifted from its free store model to round-the-clock deliveries, relying entirely on community donations to keep Franklin County families fed and emotionally supported during “Operation Buckeye.”
   

4. Ohio Beef Council and Ohio Cattlemen's Foundation to Host BEEF 509 Program in Columbus (ocj.com) — Cattle producers from around Ohio are invited to Columbus on February 27–28, 2026, for the intensive BEEF 509 training at Ohio State’s Animal Science Building on Fyffe Road. The two-day, hands-on program walks participants from live cattle evaluation through harvest, grading, and cutting, with team profits scored on real carcass results. Space is limited to 30 people, and registration closes January 20.
   

5. Ohio cannabis advocates launch referendum effort challenging new hemp and marijuana law (10tv.com) — Columbus-based beverage canner Pilot Canning could lose key THC drink business under Ohio’s new hemp and marijuana law, which bans intoxicating hemp products outside dispensaries by mid-March. Advocates are launching a statewide referendum drive to overturn Senate Bill 56, arguing it defies 2023 voters’ approval of recreational marijuana and threatens thousands of small businesses.
   

📸 Around Columbus

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🗓 Upcoming Events in Columbus

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📣 Columbus Shout Outs!

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Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.

 

Thank you 👏👏👏 to the local businesses for making Columbus PatchAM possible:

  • Mindsee.it — (646) 663-8317
    Teach your kids they can achieve the impossible!

Click here to show your appreciation! 💚

Want to see your business here? Click here to connect with local customers.

💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

  • My autistic toddler has started using the potty by himself again!
    He was afraid after the fire but he faced his fears and has been going potty again! Ty for the suggestions everyone! I appreciate yall (Nextdoor Central North Linden)
  • Update: Pet Reunited
    Tydus, a dog who went missing in Columbus, OH, has been safely reunited with their family after 4 hours, 1 minutes. More details here https://www… (Nextdoor Walnut Heights)
  • Cameron Mitchell Restaurants posted a job opening for GUEST SERVICES (Part Time with weekend availability) -BUTCHER & ROSE in Columbus. Apply here.
  • Buffalo Lodging Associates, LLC posted a job opening for Part time Hotel Night Auditor in Columbus. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Columbus here.

Ok Columbus! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: I hear they’re giving him a really tough sentence.
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!

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