Local activists in central Ohio are trying to save a century-old downtown orphanage that officials say has become a hazard and must be torn down. Last week, county commissioners in Newark announced they would seek bids for the demolition of the crumbling Licking County Children's Home. That came after a large section of the building's facade crashed to the ground, leading the county to fence in the three-story brick building. Two local business owners asked commissioners to reconsider. They are seeking support for restoring the building and converting it to a job-training center and affordable housing. The orphanage opened in 1886 and got decommissioned in 1975. After that, it served a number of tenants before closing in 2009.
Mike Foley joined WCBE in February 2000, coming from WUFT in Gainesville, Florida. Foley has worked in various roles, from producing news and feature stories to engineering Live From Studio A sessions. A series of music features Foley started in 2018 called Music Journeys has grown into a podcast and radio show. He also assists in developing other programs in WCBE's Podcast Experience. Foley hosts The Morning Mix, a weekday music show featuring emerging and established musicians, our Columbus-area and Ohio-based talent, and additional artists that inspire him.