In its fifth year, a North Lewisburg program is hoping to ease the back-to-school burden for hundreds of Triad students.
The Cool Tools 4 School event will be hosted by the North Lewisburg United Methodist Church on Wednesday, Aug. 14, from 6-8 p.m. The event, which provides school supplies and other services, could support 200 students this year according to organizers.
Pastor Karen Montgomery of the Methodist Church approached North Lewisburg Village Council Tuesday night to seek assistance with a road closure for the event. Activities will take place in the church building and parking lot.
“It’s open to every kid in the community,” Montgomergy said.
Event programmers are seeking to increase the number of participants from the 140 students assisted last year and settled on some new partnerships to bring in more youngsters.
Montgomery explained that community donations and sponsorships allow organizers to gather school supplies like many other back-to-school programs, but Cool Tools 4 School will also provide options that can’t be put in a backpack. The event will assist students in getting back-to-school haircuts and provide eye exams, physicals and even immunizations.
“It’s a wonderful event,” North Lewisburg Mayor Cheryl Hollingsworth said.
Numerous community organizations, including the Union County YMCA and United Way, will take part in the event. Montgomery said any business in the area is welcome to attend, so long as they provide some type of resource for students at the event.
The program is also supported to cash donations, including $1,200 raised by participants in the vacation Bible school at Montgomery’s church.
“We can always use more,” the pastor said of the community donations.
Montgomery said the church works with Triad teachers and administrators to develop the program and counts on school officials to help get the word out to students.
Council agreed to close a portion of Gregory Street, between the church and the village fire department, during the event.
A Townsend Street resident was also on hand at the meeting to seek a remedy for water collecting on his property. The homeowner, who did not provide his name, said he understands this summer’s rainfall has been unusually high, but the water has killed his grass and is approaching the foundation of his home.
Village Administrator Andy Yoder said he and engineers working for the village have looked into the issue and identified the problem, but a solution is not going to be easy.
Yoder said a one-inch drainage tile servicing the area has broken down and is disjointed. It is also buried beneath other utility lines, meaning simply replacing it is not an easy job.
The resident said he could take measures to protect his house, but such options would push the water another direction and become a problem for his neighbors.
Yoder said he would meet with the resident to try to create a plan, though he wasnt’ sure how much could be done.
“I just don’t know what the remedy is,” Yoder said. “I’m being honest with you.”