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Westerville Magazine March/April 2015

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Page 1: Westerville Magazine March/April 2015

www.westervi l lemagazine.com

Magic Nate leaves ‘emlaughing – without sayinga word

Presto!Otterbein Summer Camps

Good Eats Club

Silver Screen Seniors

Page 2: Westerville Magazine March/April 2015
Page 3: Westerville Magazine March/April 2015

©2014 OhioHealth

A FAITH-BASED, NOT-FOR-PROFIT HEALTHCARE SYSTEMRIVERSIDE METHODIST HOSPITAL + GRANT MEDICAL CENTER + DOCTORS HOSPITAL + GRADY MEMORIAL HOSPITAL

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“ I ♥ OhioHealth Westerville Medical Campus.”—Mike Ellis

OhioHealth heart and vascular specialists connected quickly to save Mike’s heart.

“OhioHealth Westerville (Medical Campus) had everything. My family doctor. My cardiologist. The lab work. It was all there under one roof. I failed a stress test and was sent downstairs to the emergency room. I knew I was in good hands. A couple of hours and an ambulance ride later, I had my heart surgery at Riverside Methodist. The way I see it, in a matter of a few hours I was fixed… literally, within seconds of the first stent being put in place, I stopped having symptoms. That, to me, was amazing.” — Mike Ellis, Galena, OH

To view this and other patient stories, connect with us at OhioHealth.com/WestervilleStories

Page 4: Westerville Magazine March/April 2015

4 March/April 2015 www.westervillemagazine.com

CityScene Media Group781 Northwest Blvd., Suite 202

Columbus, Ohio 43212614-572-1240 • Fax 614-572-1241

www.cityscenecolumbus.com

The publisher welcomes contributions in the form of manuscripts, drawings, photographs, or story ideas to consider for possible pub-lication. Enclose a SASE with each submission or email [email protected]. Publisher does not assume responsibility for loss or damage.

The appearance of advertising in Westerville Magazine does not constitute an endorsement of the advertiser’s product or service by the City of Westerville.

Westerville Magazine is published bimonthly in January, March, May, July, September and November. For advertising information or bulk pur-chases, contact Robin Weitzel at [email protected].

No part of this publication may be reproduced without the written consent of the publishers. Westerville Magazine is a registered trade-mark of CityScene Media Group. Printed in the U.S.A.

www.wester vi l lemagazine.com

CityScene Media Group also publishes:CityScene Magazine

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www.TriVillageMagazine.comHealthy New Albany Magazine

www.HealthyNewAlbanyMagazine.comPickerington Magazine

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Westervillemagazine

TM

Kathleen K. Gill President/CEO

Gianna Barrett Vice President, Sales

Dave Prosser Chief Creative Officer

Garth Bishop Managing Editor

Hannah Bealer Assistant Editors Sarah Sole

Tessa Dufresne Contributing Editors Duane St. Clair

Bethany N. Bella Contributing Writers Matthew Kent Taylor Woodhouse

Zach Maiorana Editorial Assistant

Robin Weitzel Advertising Director

Julie Camp Advertising Sales Erin Dircksen Pam Henricks-Claxton

Jamie Armistead Accounting Manager

Circulation 614-572-1240

Christa Dickey Community Affairs Administrator

City of Westerville

Departments of theatre & Dance

& Musicpresent

how far would you go to make your wish come true?

Into tHe WooDs is presented through special arrangement with music theatre International (mtI). all authorized performance materials are also supplied by mtI. 421 West 54th street, new York, nY 10019 phone: 212-541-4684 fax: 212-397-4684www.mtIshows.com

music and Lyrics by stephen sondheim

Book by James Lapine

Originally directed on Broadway by James LapineOrchestrations by Jonathan Tunick

april 9-12 & 16-18, 2015Fritsche theatre at cowan hall30 s. Grove st., WestervilleBox Office 823-1109www.otterbein.edu/drama

Corner of Polaris Pkwy & Cleveland Ave.

614-682-6214 NorthstarFamilyDental.com

SPRING FORWARD WITH A ...

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Brooke H. Buller, DDSChristina M. Kulesa, DDS

Page 5: Westerville Magazine March/April 2015

March/April 2015 5www.westervillemagazine.com

InsideNews and

Information from the City of Westerville

City Reporter

Read more online at WestervilleMagazine.com

Find Westerville Magazine on Facebook and Twitter

MARCH/APRIL 2015VOL. 14 NO. 4

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06 community calendar

09 city reporter News and Information from the City of Westerville

16 faces Now You See Me Local magician had humble beginnings

19 Gone Camping Otterbein offers summer fun through educational camps

20 in focus The Gift of Fab Cutting-edge technology and real-life experience highlight Innovation Generation

22 Silver Screen, Golden Years Central film festival puts local senior citizens in the limelight

24 living There and Back Again Westerville duo shows off changes since House Hunters episode

28 on the table Students of Sustenance Heritage Middle School’s new after-school club offers students nutritious choices

30 bookmarks Recommendations from the Westerville Public Library

On the Cover:Nate LeGros

Photo by Wes KroningerStory, page 16.

19

Spring BackInto Health!Call for an appointment!

Chiropractic Care • Physiotherapy

Rehabilitation • Therapeutic ExercisesNutritional Supplementation

Soft Tissue Mobilization

Accepting New Patients!614-776-4144

Whitney McNary, DC167 S. State StreetSuite 190Westerville, OH 43081

www.familysourcechiropractic.com

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6 March/April 2015 www.westervillemagazine.com

March 12015 Annual Rotary Fish Fry and Bake11:30 a.m.-5 p.m., Otterbein University Campus Center, 100 W. Home St., www.westervillerotary.com

March 1Westerville Concert Band: Children’s Concert 3 p.m., Westerville Central High School, 7118 Mt. Royal Ave., www.westerville.k12.oh.us

March 3-4Women in Philanthropy SummitOtterbein University, 1 S. Grove St., www.otterbein.edu

March 5-8Arnold Sports Festival Throughout Columbus, www.arnoldsportsfestival.com

March 7Lions Club Pancake Breakfast 7:30-11 a.m., American Legion Young-Budd Post 171, 393 E. College Ave., www.westervillelions.org

March 9-April 24Senior Art ExhibitionsMiller Gallery, Art and Communication Building, 33 Collegeview Rd., www.otterbein.edu

March 12-15Westerville North High School presents Hello, Dolly!Westerville North High School, 950 County Line Rd., www.westervillenorth.com

March 15Westerville Symphony presents Ron Lykins Masterwork Series II5 p.m., Fritsche Theatre at Cowan Hall, 30 S. Grove St., www.westervillesymphony.org

March 22Joyful Noise Concert Series: Capitol University Chapel Choir7:30 p.m., Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church, 100 E. Schrock Rd.

March 27-29Otterbein Opera Theatre: Cimarosa’s the Secret Marriage8 p.m., Riley Auditorium at the Battelle Fine Arts Center, 170 W. Park St., www.otterbein.edu/music

March 27-April 12Curtain Players Theatre presents Cat on a Hot Tin RoofCurtain Players Theatre, 5691 Harlem Rd., Galena, www.curtainplayers.org

March 28Serving Our Seniors Day 9 a.m.-1 p.m., Westerville South High School, 303 S. Otterbein Ave., www.westerville.org/police March 28Easter Beg Hunt1-4 p.m., Uptown Westerville, www.shopup townwesterville.com

March 29Westerville Boys in Blue7:30 p.m., Westerville Public Library, 126 S. State St., www.westervillehistory.org

Sponsored by the Westerville Visitors & Convention Bureau

MARK YOUR CALENDAR!

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For more events, visit www.visitwesterville.org

March

Arnold Sports Festival

Michael David SalonHAIR • AESTHETICS • MASSAGE THERAPY • NAIL/MANICURE & PEDICURE

16 East Main StreetWesterville, OH 43081

614-891-9909michaeldavidsalon.com

Page 7: Westerville Magazine March/April 2015

March/April 2015 7www.westervillemagazine.com

April REINVENT YOUR

FINANCIAL FUTURE!

REDUCE taxes, fees, waste and stress by REVIEWING current financial products

and strategies to see if you are placing yourself in

the best DEFENSIBLE POSITION in these

uncertain economic times.

I invite you to sit with me for a casual conversation or attend

one of my workshops designed to provide self-directed steps for the do-it-yourselfer and those seek-ing guidance towards achieving

financial security. This might just be the opportunity you are looking for to REINVENT your finances!

Please contact me for workshop information – either to attend one I have scheduled or to design one

for your group or organization.

I welcome private appointments to discuss your personal finan-

cial needs. Appointments can be scheduled in my office or offsite to

accommodate you.

Knowledge is power! Know and understand your personal

financial position!

MOLLY MARIE HOUGHWealth Strategist

921 Chatham Lane, Ste. 302 Columbus, OH 614-534-1765

[email protected] representative of and securities and investment advisory services offered through Hornor Townsend & Kent, Inc. (HTK), registered investment advisor, member FINRA/SIPC. 130 Springside Drive Suite 100, Akron, Ohio 44333 330-668-9065 21st Century Financial, Inc. is inde-pendent of HTK

A4TM-1204-02E2

April 2Underwater Egg Hunt6-8 p.m., Westerville Community Center, 350 N. Cleveland Ave., www.westerville.org

April 4Spring Eggstravaganza10 a.m., Highlands Park, 245 S. Spring Rd., www.westerville.org

April 4Westerville Civitan Club Easter Egg Hunt 11 a.m., Westerville Community Center, 350 N. Cleveland Ave.

April 9-18Otterbein University presents Into the WoodsFritsche Theatre at Cowan Hall, 30 S. Grove St., www.otterbein.edu

April 11Spring Dash 5K9 a.m., Westerville Central High School, 7118 Mount Royal Ave., www.springdash5k.com

April 11Wildcat Dash9 a.m., McNamara Park, 7049 Big Walnut Rd., Galena, www.columbusrunning.com

April 16The Incredible Edible Garden7-8 p.m., Westerville Public Library, 126 S. State St., www.westervillegardenclub.com

April 17Taste of Westerville7 p.m., Crowne Plaza Columbus North, 6300 Doubletree Ave., Columbus,www.westervillechamber.com

April 24Mount Carmel St. Ann’s 4th Friday: Uptown Alive6-9 p.m., Uptown Wester-ville, www.visitwesterville.org

April 24-26Westerville South High School presents Anything Goes7 p.m., Westerville South High School, 303 S. Otterbein Ave., www.westerville.k12.oh.us

April 25Westerville Civitan Club Katie Dunning Spring Dance6:30-8:30 p.m., Westerville Community Center, 350 N. Cleveland Ave.

April 26Westerville Symphony presents Ron Lykins Masterwork Series III5 p.m., Fritsche Theatre at Cowan Hall, 27 S. Grove St., www.westervillesymphony.org

April 30CHA Animal Shelter Spaghetti Dinner6:30-8:30 p.m., Everal Barn, 60 N. Cleveland Ave., www.chaanimalshelter.org

Taste of Westerville

Mount Carmel St. Ann’s 4th Friday: Uptown Alive

Page 8: Westerville Magazine March/April 2015

8 March/April 2015 www.westervillemagazine.com

Contact [email protected] | 614.488.3681 for more information.

Please join Jack Hanna for the 10th Annual

ST. JUDE Discover the Dream

©2014 ALSAC/St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital (19297)

thursday, may 21, 2015 | 6 pm

columbus zoo and aquarium 4850 powell road | powell, oh 43065

Come join us on our tenth anniversary with fine cuisine,

courtesy of Catering by Cox and Preston Catering.

Enjoy cocktails, a raffle and live & silent auctions while

supporting the life-saving work of St. Jude.

Individual ticket: $175 • Table of 10: $1,750

Sponsorships Available

stjude.org/discoverthedream

St. Jude patient Angélica

Page 9: Westerville Magazine March/April 2015

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CityReporterNews & Information from the City of Westerville

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Westerville UtilitiesIntroducing Advanced Meters

As the wea the r warms, the City will receive an influx of solicitation permits, which allow peddlers and sales personnel to approach homes for commercial or chari-table purposes. The City of Westerville has procedures in place to regulate door-to-door sales and solicitations to minimize potential disruptions.

Three categories for which an individual or group may apply for a per-mit include:

Canvassing for charitable or religious purposes

This includes both so-licitation of contributions

and sales where the whole or any part of the proceeds are to be applied to charitable organizations.

Door-to-door sales of goods or services for future delivery

This includes sales from a source outside the state of Ohio (interstate com-merce) or from sources within the state of Ohio (intrastate commerce).

Peddling: sales of goods or services for immediate delivery

When an individual or group wants to solicit in Westerville, it must select and specify its purpose and complete an

continued on page 11

Starting this spring, installation of advanced metering systems will begin at the homes of City of Westerville Electric and Water Division customers. This tran-sition is part of a phased citywide rollout of the Residential Advanced Metering Initiative (AMI). Commercial enterprises in Westerville have already had these devices installed.

What is an advanced meter? An advanced meter is an electronic de-

vice that measures consumption of electric energy and water usage in intervals of an hour or less and communicates that infor-mation to Utility Billing. Customers will have the ability to observe their electric and water usage in near real time.

When will the advanced meters be installed?

The residential advanced metering in-stallation process will begin in spring 2015 and is estimated to take approximately four

years to complete installations citywide. A tentative installation schedule and list of frequently asked questions are available at www.westerville.org/AMI. Residents have the ability to opt out of the Advanced Me-tering Initiative by completing an opt-out form at www.westerville.org/AMI.

How will I track my electric and water usage?

A Customer Care Portal allows users to access their electric and water consump-tion data via a secure online portal avail-able on the City of Westerville website. Once the advanced metering system is

installed, customers are encouraged to register for a customer care account at www.westerville.org/customercare. Cus-tomers will be notified once their account is established and use a personal username and password to access their account. Us-ers may view their home’s electricity and water consumption statistics on a daily, weekly, monthly and yearly basis.

Questions? Contact us:City of Westerville Electric DivisionPhone: 614-901-6700email: [email protected]: www.westerville.org/AMI

Benefits of AMI • Automated meter reading • Automated outage reporting • Ability for customers to track utility consumption

There are no installation or monthly monitoring fees to install and use an advanced meter, and consistent with Ohio law, all utility-related account infor-mation is handled confidentially.

Door-to-Door Regulations in Westerville

Contact [email protected] | 614.488.3681 for more information.

Please join Jack Hanna for the 10th Annual

ST. JUDE Discover the Dream

©2014 ALSAC/St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital (19297)

thursday, may 21, 2015 | 6 pm

columbus zoo and aquarium 4850 powell road | powell, oh 43065

Come join us on our tenth anniversary with fine cuisine,

courtesy of Catering by Cox and Preston Catering.

Enjoy cocktails, a raffle and live & silent auctions while

supporting the life-saving work of St. Jude.

Individual ticket: $175 • Table of 10: $1,750

Sponsorships Available

stjude.org/discoverthedream

St. Jude patient Angélica

Page 10: Westerville Magazine March/April 2015

10 March/April 2015 www.westervillemagazine.com

News & Information from the City of Westerville

Weather Safety Week Brings Important Reminders

Lightning, tornadoes and flooding. Unfortunately, all three are realities in the state of Ohio, all bringing serious risk if not properly

recognized as dangerous weather phenomena. National Spring Severe Weather Awareness Week (March 1-7) encourages all of us to

remember the facts about dangerous weather conditions.

Lightning

Lightning often strikes outside of heavy rain and may occur as far as 10 miles away from any rainfall.

“Heat lightning” is actually from a thunderstorm too far away for thunder to be heard. However, the storm may be moving in your direction.

Most lightning deaths and in-juries occur when people are caught outdoors in the summer months during the afternoon and evening.

Lightning strike victims carry no electrical charge and should be attended to immediately.

Thunderstorms

Thunderstorms may occur singly, in clusters or in lines.

Some of the most severe occur when a single thunderstorm affects one location for an extended time.

Thunderstorms typically produce heavy rain for a brief period, anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour.

Warm, humid conditions are highly favorable for thunder-storm development.

About 10 percent of thunder-storms are classified as severe – producing hail an inch or larger in diameter, having winds of 58 mph or higher or producing a tornado.

Tornadoes

Tornadoes may strike quickly, with little or no warning.

They may appear nearly trans-parent until dust and debris are picked up or a cloud forms in the funnel.

The average tornado moves southwest to northeast, but tornadoes have been known to move in any direction.

The average forward speed of a tornado is 30 mph but may vary from stationary to 70 mph.

Peak tornado season is late spring through early summer in the northern states.

Tornadoes are most likely to occur between 3-9 p.m., but can occur at any time.

Flooding

Flash floods are the No. 1 weather-related killer in the U.S.

Flooding may result from the spring thaw, when frozen land prevents melting snow or rainfall from seeping into the ground. Add spring storms, and the result is often serious spring flooding.

A flash flood is characterized by rapid flooding of low-lying areas in less than six hours caused by intense rainfall from a thunderstorm or several thunderstorms.

Do not walk or drive through moving water. Six inches of moving water can make you fall. If you have to walk in water, walk where the water is not moving.

Weather Safety Week EventsNational Spring Severe Weather

Awareness Week: March 1-7Statewide Tornado Drill,

Wednesday, March 4, 9:50 a.m.National Flood Safety Awareness

Week: March 16-20

Lightning Prediction System in Westerville Parks

In an ongoing effort to provide the safest park facilities possible, the City of Wester-ville maintains a lightning prediction system at several parks throughout the City. These

systems are primarily located in parks that host athletic activities such as soccer and baseball, including Alum Creek North Park, Sports Complex, Heritage Park, Towers Park, Huber Village Park, Walnut Ridge Park, Hoff Woods Park and Highlands Park.

These systems operate by detecting increases in static electrical charge in the air and activating an audible signal and flashing strobe light to indicate potential lightning. When the alarms are activated, outdoor activities in these areas should

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Weather Safety Week Brings Important Reminders

be suspended, and everyone should seek shelter until the all-clear signal is given: Following three short blasts of the siren, the strobe will cease to flash.

While these systems are meant to predict lighting, it is important to remember they should never replace common sense. A common phrase to remember: “If you hear it, clear it.” Immediately move to safety, even if the warning system has not been activated.

It’s important to seek shelter immedi-ately when weather conditions turn severe. If you are in an open area and cannot get to shelter, move to the lowest area you can find, such as a ravine or valley.

Know the TermsThe National Weather Service is respon-

sible for issuing severe weather watches, warn-ings and advisories to alert the public when dangerous weather conditions are expected. • Watch: A weather watch means that there

is the potential for a dangerous weather event or that the conditions exist.

• Warning: A weather warning means that a dangerous weather event is im-minent. Immediate action must be taken to protect life and property.

• Advisory: A weather advisory means weather conditions that are less serious than a warning are imminent. These events may cause a significant inconve-nience, and if caution is not exercised, it could lead to a situation that may be threatening to life and property.

Weather Warning SirensEveryone in Westerville on Wednes-

days at noon is familiar with the outdoor warning siren testing, which is managed and coordinated by Franklin County Emergency Management and Homeland Security (FCEM&HS). The signal is tested each week to ensure it’s in good working order in the event of an emergency.

FCEM&HS manages a Siren Watch Program with the help of volunteers to ensure each outdoor warning siren is working properly. Citizen volunteers in each of Franklin County’s 42 jurisdictions help keep eyes and ears alert to the system.

Weather permiting, Siren Watchers monitor and report on one assigned outdoor warning siren every Wednes-day after the noon test. Reports are completed online or via phone call to FCEM&HS. For more information, visit www.fcemhs.com/CitizenPreparedness/SirenWatchProgram.aspx.

Weather Safety Week EventsNational Spring Severe Weather

Awareness Week: March 1-7Statewide Tornado Drill,

Wednesday, March 4, 9:50 a.m.National Flood Safety Awareness

Week: March 16-20

application. A permit request then goes into a three- to five-day queue for approval. This allows the City to conduct a background check on the individual or group and process the application. Each approved applicant is given a Solicitors Identification Card and instructed to carry it at all times and produce it upon request.

Approved solicitor permits are listed on the City website by company name, permit date and expiration, and permit number. Residents may access the page by the “Government” tab, selecting “Clerk of Council” and then “Solicitor Information.” To access the solicitation permit, visit www.westerville.org/permits.

Individuals and groups are required to display their permits during solicitations. Any solicitor unable to produce a permit, or anyone demonstrating suspicious be-havior, can be reported to the Westerville Division of Police at the non-emergency line: 614-882-7444.

Additionally, Westerville follows Ohio Revised Code 1345.22, which gives the buyer the right to cancel a home solicitation sale until midnight of the third business day after the buyer signs an agreement or offer to purchase. Solicitors are required to show written notice of cancellation that will be shown and ex-plained to residents.

Any resident may post a “No Solicitation” sign on their property. This process is coordinated by the Clerk of Council’s office at City Hall. For more information, call 614-901-6410.

DOOR-TO-DOOR continued from page 9

Public Safety Profile

Serving Our Seniors Day Older adults, their caregivers and crime prevention professionals will come to-

gether again in late March to talk about the strategies and resources to enjoy a safe, healthy environment. The ninth annual Serving Our Seniors Day will take place 8 a.m.-1 p.m. March 28, at Westerville South High School.

This program was designed by the Westerville Division of Police to serve older adults in the community who are often at high risk as fraud and crime targets. Edu-cational topics and interactive sessions examine subjects including insurance fraud and scams, identity theft protection, personal safety and security solutions, caregiving aid, and estate planning.

“Last year was a record for us in terms of attendance and vendors,” said Preston Tartt, Westerville Police Crime Prevention Specialist. “This year we’re adding live music and new programming, including emergency prepardness.”

Onsite health screenings will also be available, including hearing tests, diabetes and vision screenings, and walk/balance tests.

“This is also a great opportunity for seniors and caregivers to get involved in their community,” said Tartt. “Many Westerville volunteer organizations participate, so if anyone is interested in volunteering, this is a great place to come check them out.”

If you believe you have been the victim of identity theft, fraud or a crime, please contact the Westerville Division of Police at 614-882-7444. For more information, visit www.westerville.org/police.

We’d like your feedback!Please email us if you have a question or comment about

the content in the City Reporter pages. email: [email protected]

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safety. I asked him why, and he said he had just retired from the radio room at FCSO and thought I would do well in the profession. So I drove Downtown, took the test and was offered a position at the sheriff’s office.

How has technology changed the way you work?

Technology is a blessing and a curse. When I started dispatch-ing, we punched a clock with run cards and wrote everything down. Now we use comput-ers and type everything out. I remember having to stay on the phone with people for very long periods of time, trying to figure out where they were when they didn’t know their location. Now we utilize GPS, which makes our job of finding people who need help easier and faster. This is the blessing.

Technology also creates expectations. We are expected to have the latest technol-ogy seen in the movies or TV. Technology is expensive and grows so fast. Once you decide on a product, there is always going to be something faster and better within a year or less. It never fails. This is the curse.

What is a typical day for you like in Emergency Dispatch?

Dispatching is full of variety. It is hard to say what you are going to be doing each day. We answer 911, non-emergency police and fire, and some administrative phone lines. We listen to multiple radio channels depending on what position we are sitting at each day. We dispatch police, fire and medics where needed, and the service and electric departments after hours. We also enter warrants and stolen articles into com-puter systems, run license plates, perform criminal history checks and enter informa-tion on missing persons into the National Crime Information Center database.

What is the most rewarding experience you have had working for the City?

News & Information from the City of Westerville

Steve Morlan Named 2014 Employee of the Year

Staff Profile

Each December, the City of Westerville recognizes outstanding employees who have demonstrated excellent performance, productivity, loyalty, pride and responsi-bility. “Employee of the Year” candidates are nominated by their peers and/or supervisors. A committee comprised of City staff reviews the applications, select-ing recipients of the Excellence in Service Award and one Employee of the Year. In December, Steve Morlan was named the 2014 Employee of the Year.

Congratulations on this achievement. What does this award mean to you?

The City has a very large pool of talented and dedicated employees who give their best, not only to the citizens, but their co-workers as well. With my new responsibili-ties – from full-time dispatcher to radio pro-gramming and dispatching combined – I get to meet employees from each department and see the teamwork and problem-solving that goes on. There are many people who deserve this award, and I feel honored to have won it.

Where are you from originally?I am originally from Detroit, Mich. My

family moved down to Columbus when I was young. In 1989, I moved my family to Westerville, and we have been here ever since.

How did you come to work for Westerville?

I worked for the Franklin County Sher-iff’s Office (FCSO) in the radio room for about five years, and an opening was adver-tised for the Westerville position. I loved my job at Franklin County, but I was thinking about the gas and travel time I would save if I were able to work in Westerville. I was offered a position in Westerville and started in April 2001.

How did you come to be in this profession?

I dispatched for a courier company and was responsible for keeping track of about 125 drivers on one radio channel, getting packages and documents delivered in one hour or less. One of the drivers asked me if I was interested in dispatching for public

City Manager David Collinsworth presents the Employee of the Year award to Steve Morlan.

Friday, June 29, 2012: The National Weather Service called it the North Ameri-can derecho. The power went out for most of the city, trees were knocked down and the generator didn’t work in the police building. It was chaos. Some of our phones were down, and we were getting police, fire and medical runs over the radio from FCSO and Dublin. We were using flash-lights to see what we were writing while trying to keep track of the medic runs and calls for service for all departments. We were working to keep track of the resources we had and establish everyone’s location. Representatives from the police and fire departments came into the radio room to help us manage our resources due to the volume of things going on in the radio room. The City Manager also came in to help. It was rewarding because I was able to be part of a huge effort by all departments to help Westerville recover from the dam-age it incurred.

What is something about your position that people may not know? 

I was on a committee that was respon-sible for having all police departments

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in Franklin County access one another’s police radio channels to make it seam-less for all police departments to work together. Prior to this, if we needed the Columbus Division of Police helicopter to help us in a search, a Westerville offi-cer would have to switch his or her radio to a different channel to hear the chopper and switch back and forth to talk. Now, the CPD chopper comes to our radio channel and talks to us directly, which is safer than switching radio channels back and forth.

What do you do in your leisure time?I like going to classic car shows and

drag racing (legally at the race track). I like learning anything related to com-puter technology or smartphone app development.

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE 2014 EXCELLENCE IN SERVICE AWARD WINNERSBassem Bitar, Senior Planner, Planning & Development

John Friley, Line Worker, Westerville Electric Division

Margie Fugate, Horticulturist, Parks & Recreation

Terry Jahn, Firefighter, Westerville Division of Fire

Dan Mullin, Accounting Supervisor, Finance

Mike Phillips, Recreation Administrator, Parks & Recreation

Dennis Seligman, Deputy Director, Public Service

Sande Siler, Administrative Secretary, Westerville Parks & Recreation (Senior Center)

Tara Trigg, Accounting Assistant, Westerville Electric Division

The City of Westerville also recognizes departments that demonstrate excellence year-round in creating a culture of safety, encouraging health and wellness and sav-ing public dollars. These these awards recognize the collective efforts of staff and management in collaboration, creativity and coordination.

• The sixth annual Safety Matters Award: Westerville Electric Division

• The first annual Wellness Award: Westerville Electric Division

• The first annual WeSave Department of the Year: Westerville Parks & Recreation

• The first annual WeInnovate Department of the Year: Information Systems

Mark Your Calendars

Bunny Hop 5KSaturday, April 48 a.m. 5K; 9 a.m. Kids DashAlum Creek Park North

The Bunny Hop 5K goes in and around Alum Creek Park North (221 W. Main St.), including portions of the leisure/bike paths. The route is family-friendly, so participants may bring jogging/walking strollers. Registration fees are $30 ($25 early registration, ends March 7) and $35 the day of the race. Registration is online at www.premierraces.com.

Spring EggstravaganzaSaturday, April 410:30 a.m.Highlands Park Baseball Fields Ages 3-8, Free

The annual Spring Eggstravaganza egg hunt is sponsored by the Wester-ville Lions Club. Colored eggs and special prizes are spread throughout the fields for an 11 a.m. dash. Arrive early to find the right field (kids line up according to age) and bring a basket. The event is held rain or shine, so dress for the weather.

Income Tax Filing DueWednesday, April 15

Income tax forms are available on the City of Westerville website for 2014 income tax, due April 15. Visit www.westerville.org/incometax or look for links from the front page of the site to access forms and helpful links. The In-come Tax Department offers assistance to all filers, including form preparation, expanded office hours and e-filing ser-vices. Extended office hours will be of-fered April 11, 8 a.m.-noon and April 14, 7 a.m.-6 p.m. For more information, contact the department or stop by the of-fice to speak with a representative.

64 E. Walnut St.Westerville, Ohio 43081Phone: 614-901-6420Fax: 614-901-6820email: [email protected] Office Hours: Monday through Friday 8 a.m.-5 p.m.

Resident Survey Outcomes Now AvailableWesterville residents rate City programs, services

The City of Westerville has posted outcomes from the 2014 Resident Sur-vey, a report revealing resident attitudes and opinions on City programs and services. The report is available on the City’s website.

Consistent with other community sur-veys conducted by the City, residents con-tinue to offer positive and high ratings for City services, programs and staff. In fact, 91.9 percent of residents state they are very satisfied with the overall quality of services provided by the City.

For the full text of the report, including ratings for specific departments and

programs, as well as community demographics of survey respondents,

please visit www.westerville.org/survey.

224Number of rooms on the eight floors

expected in the new Marriott Renaissance hotel to be located at Westar Place. The hotel is expected

to break ground later this year.

B Y T H E N U M B E R S

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FIRE/MEDICAL/POLICE EMERGENCY . . . 9-1-1Gas/Carbon Monoxide Leaks . . . . . . . . 9-1-1Mental Health Resources . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-1-1Fire, non-life threatening emergency . 882-2213Police, non-life threatening emergency . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 882-7444City Website . . . . . . . . . . . www.westerville.orgCommunity Affairs .. . . . . . . . . . . ... 901-6411Animal Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 901-6863Animal Removal (dead at roadside) . . 901-6740Cemeteries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 901-6740City Manager’s Office . . . . . . . . . . 901-6400 TDD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 901-6413Clerk of Council . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 901-6410Digging (Ohio Utilities Protection Service) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 800-362-2764Economic Development . . . . . . . . . . 901-6403 Electric Division . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 901-6700 Electrical Outages . . . . . . . . . . . . 901-6700 Street Lights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 901-6700 Tree Trimming Near Electric Lines . . 901-6700Finance Department . . . . . . . . . . . . 901-6440Fire Division Headquarters . . . . . . . 901-6600 CPR/First Aid Training . . . . . . . . . 901-6600Human Resources . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 901-6406Income Tax . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 901-6420Leaf Collection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 901-6740Mayor’s Court . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 901-6419 TDD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 901-6418Parks & Recreation Department . . . . 901-6500 Inclement Weather Hotline . . . . . . 901-6888 Administration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 901-6530 Community Center . . . . . . . . . . . 901-6500 Everal Barn & Homestead . . . . . . 901-6570

Parks Maintenance . . . . . . . . . . . 901-6591 Highlands Park Aquatic Center . . . 901-7665 Recreation Program Center . . . . . . 901-6531 Senior Center . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 901-6560 Shelter Information . . . . . . . . . . . 901-6515 Urban Forestry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 901-6598Permits Building . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 901-6650 Burning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 901-6600 Parade/Block Party . . . . . . . . . . . 901-6410 Security Alarm . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 901-6482 Zoning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 901-6650 Planning & Development Department . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 901-6650 Planning, Engineering & Zoning . . 901-6650 Traffic Engineering . . . . . . . . . . . 901-6670 Zoning Enforcement . . . . . . . . . . 901-6660Police Division Headquarters . . . . . . 901-6450 Administration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 901-6470 Detectives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 901-6475 Patrol . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 901-6482 Recorded Information Line . . . . . . . 901-6879 Records . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 901-6450Service Department . . . . . . . . . . . . 901-6740 Sewer Emergencies . . . . . . . . . . . 901-6740 Sewer Line Maintenance . . . . . . . 901-6740 Stormwater Hotline . . . . . . . . . . . 901-6740 Street Emergencies . . . . . . . . . . . 901-6740 Street Maintenance Repairs . . . . . 901-6740 Trash/Recycling Collection . . . . . . 901-6740

Water Emergencies . . . . . . . . . . 901-6740 Water Line Maintenance . . . . . . . 901-6740Traffic Violations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 901-6419Tree/Storm Damage (in right of way) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 901-6591 After hours . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 901-6790Tree Trimming (in right of way) . . . . . . 901-6598Utility Billing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 901-6430 [email protected] Plant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 901-6770Other Community Service ContactsAirport—Port Columbus . . . . . . . . . . 239-4083Concord Counseling Services . . . . . . 882-9338COTA Bus Service . . . . . . . . . . . . . 228-1776Delaware County General Information . . . . . . . 740-548-7313Franklin County Board of Health . . . . . . . . . . . . . 525-3160 Property Taxes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 525-3696 Voter Registration . . . . . . . . . . . . 525-3100Mount Carmel St. Ann’s Hospital . . . . 898-4000Westerville Area Chamber of Commerce . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 882-8917Westerville Area Resource Ministry . . 899-0196Westerville City Schools . . . . . . . . . 797-5700Westerville Historical Society . . . . . . 891-0821Westerville Library . . . . . . . . . . . . . 882-7277Westerville Visitors & Convention Bureau . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 794-0401

Westerville Community Contacts All area codes are 614 unless otherwise noted.

Wes t e r v i l l e C i t y Coun c i lChair Craig TreneffVice Chair Larry JenkinsMayor Diane FosselmanVice Mayor Kathy CocuzziJohn BokrosMichael HeyeckL. Pete Otteson

C i t y Manage rDave Collinsworth

www.westerville.org

Follow us on Twitter:All-City news and information: @tellwestervilleWesterville Electric Division: @WvilleElectricWesterville Parks & Recreation: @WestervilleParkWesterville Division of Police: @WestervillePD

Like us on Facebook! www.facebook.com/cityofwesterville

News & Information from the City of Westerville

A Year of ShutterbugsEvery year, the “Shutterbugs” submitted photo feature that runs in the July/August edition of Westerville Magazine has been overwhelmingly popular. For that reason, we’ve decided to give our readers more opportunities to send in their photos and feature one per issue in this space for 2015

This issue’s photo was submitted by John Baker.

Please send photo submissions to [email protected] by March 31 to be considered for the May/June issue. Photos must be high-resolution and horizontal.

Make your voice heard!

2015

Voting is open through April 15! Winners will be featured in the July issue of CityScene.

ci tysceneco lumbus.com

Vote for Columbus’ best arts, entertainment, food and events for CityScene Magazine’s fourth

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Page 15: Westerville Magazine March/April 2015

March/April 2015 15www.westervillemagazine.com

Wes t e r v i l l e C i t y Coun c i lChair Craig TreneffVice Chair Larry JenkinsMayor Diane FosselmanVice Mayor Kathy CocuzziJohn BokrosMichael HeyeckL. Pete Otteson

Make your voice heard!

2015

Voting is open through April 15! Winners will be featured in the July issue of CityScene.

ci tysceneco lumbus.com

Vote for Columbus’ best arts, entertainment, food and events for CityScene Magazine’s fourth

annual Best of the ‘Bus!

WE WANT

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Page 16: Westerville Magazine March/April 2015

16 March/April 2015

faces By Duane St. Clair Photography by Wes Kroninger

Local magician had humble beginnings

Now You See Me

Magician Nate LeGros entertains Westerville with his magic tricks and makes his audiences laugh – without saying a word.

The 28-year-old, who performs as Magic Nate, finds much of his audience in Westerville, where

he grew up. He started learning tricks at age 10 while he was a student at McVay Elementary School, next to the family home he shared with his parents, Joe and Aggie, two sisters and a brother.

His first trick – learned from a book, a Christmas present from his grandmother – was making a piece of silk vanish in his palm.

The second, which he still uses to this day, was a trick in which he appears to transform three pieces of rope of different lengths into a single piece.

His first performance was at a talent show at McVay. His cu-riosity and enthusiasm for magic waxed and waned during his formative years.

Before heading off to The Ohio State University to major in English, the Westerville North High School student worked at RalphotoStudio as a photographer’s assistant, helping determine

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March/April 2015 17www.westervillemagazine.com

614 839-9163 portraitsbywes.com East College Ave., Westerville, Ohio

Remember...

Family.

Now You See Me

the identities of those posing for team and event photos at Westerville SouthHigh School.

He wasn’t the best student at OSU, LeGros admits. He played on a club rugby team, as he had in high school.Even though he relied on a counselor to help with scheduling, after five years, he learned he still needed two more years of course work to earn a degree.

LeGros left school and worked for the Cheryl’s Cookies call center that eventually morphed into a 1-800-Flowers.com center. During the two years he was there, he prac-ticed tricks as a hobby, often entertaining new employees after they finished training. He was dubbed Magic Nate.

Out of work and determined to be a magician, LeGros decided to do it full-time, but he had no bookings or money to buy or build large tricks.

“I had to be a street performer,” LeGros says.

LeGros had to carry his equipment in a large bag and work from a small table. His first impromptu shows were at Westerville’s 4th Friday events, where he set up on the sidewalk in front of Ralphoto, with the owner’s permission.

When he took his unsigned act to the Westerville Area Chamber of Commerce Music & Arts Festival, he was asked to leave. However, organizers noted the pop-ularity of his series of five-minute shows.

LeGros says they paid him to come back. He has held sidewalk performances at

the Columbus Arts Festival, the Grove City Browsing Broadway event and the Reyn-oldsburg Tomato Festival, among other Central Ohio events.

For sidewalk shows, attracting kids is key. “Kids love the stuff, but adults will try

to walk away,” he says. “People will watch the kids watch me.”

Early on, LeGros says, speaking was a part of his show. But when his sister, Em-ily Fermier, who teaches American Sign Language at OSU, asked him to perform at a deaf community picnic, he realized speaking would be fruitless.

LeGros found the challenge interesting.“I always liked clowns and mimes,”

he says. LeGros created ways to present tricks or

illusions that entertained the audience in silence. He opted to keep his mouth shut and hands busy from then on.

“I wanted to be good when I performed. I had to be good no matter what audience,” LeGros says.

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Page 18: Westerville Magazine March/April 2015

18 March/April 2015 www.westervillemagazine.com

The equipment for most shows fits in LeGros’ car. Only a very large show, which features a “floating lady” illusion, requires a truck and perhaps two hours to set up. For a while, he used a trick where he caught a bullet in his teeth, but it didn’t work because “everything else in the show was so funny,” LeGros says.

Three years ago, his life became a tad more serious as he and high school sweet-heart Meredith Phillips were married. The Ohio Dominican University graduate is a private school teacher.

LeGros won’t, of course, reveal how tricks are performed, but he often tells kids the basics of some. A primary lesson involves how to conceal coins – he gives them flat washers – in the palm.

After practicing, they show it to their mothers and proclaim, “I made a coin disappear.”

While he can’t say how many tricks he knows, LeGros explains there are a dozen different ways of doing just one, such as using one hand or the other.

Usually, someone from the audience is included, whether it’s for a card trick or being the victim in the arm chopper trick he used for his deaf audience. Two carrots and a volunteer’s arm are inserted

into holes in a device, and a sharp blade is quickly lowered. The vegetables are sliced in two, but the arm is not cut.

“It’s hilarious. There’s confusion, intense fear, laughing,” LeGros says. “The volun-teer’s the hero.”

LeGros stays busy doing paid shows – prices range from $100 to $850, de-pending on length and number of shows per appearance. His shows include side-

walks, kids’ birthdays, social gatherings and fundraisers.

He appeared last fall in Westerville’s Got Talent, where he was judged best unique act. He has done fundraisers for Highland and McVay elementary schools this winter and the Westerville Education Foundation last fall. For those, he turns over 35 percent of the admissions.

His finale is two tricks: swallowing a twisted balloon and three “disappearing” balls and cups. During sidewalk shows,

he displays a large “applause” sign. He also puts out a bucket and a sign: “If you liked it, $1; If you really liked it, $5; If you really, really liked it, $10; If you hated it, $20.”While numerous websites sell

complex magic tricks and explanations on how to do them, LeGros is skeptical of such enterprises.

“It’s not so much about the secrets as it is about the other guy wanting to make money. They’re fully willing to tell you a secret for a (high) price,” he says

“Magic should be used as entertain-ment, not how much money you can make,” LeGros says.

Duane St. Clair is a contributing editor. Feedback welcome at [email protected].

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March/April 2015 19www.westervillemagazine.com

RetuRns to ColumbusfoR ouR 2nd yeaRJuly 27-31, 2015

Gone CampingOtterbein offers summer fun through educational camps By Taylor WoodhousePhotos courtesy of Otterbein University

Though Otterbein University’s var-ied summer camp offerings have changed over the years, a few stal-

warts are always on the schedule for the enlightenment of music and horse lovers.

In years past, the line-up of camps for middle and high school students has included such subjects as computer pro-gramming, theater, poetry and writing.

This year, chief among the offerings are the school’s most popular sessions: Equine Camp and Summer Music Experience.

Both camps are day camps designed for enthusiasts in each subject who want to learn from Otterbein faculty and other professionals.

Otterbein has hosted the Equine Camp since 2010. It is open to both middle and high school students.

“It’s really designed for middle school students who love to compete, but it’s also a great opportunity for beginner, middle and advanced middle and high schoolers who just love riding,” says Jill McCullough, one of the summer camp coordinators.

Students ride one and a half to two hours a day and attend a variety of lessons. The lessons include everything from equine nutrition and first aid to horse handling and care. The camp is an English-style rid-ing camp, so participants must come equipped with their own boots, breeches and helmet. On the last day, parents may visit to watch their children ride and show off what they have learned.

Summer Music Ex-perience has undergone a revamp as it enters its third year. Nicholas Ross, associate professor of music and director of keyboard studies at Otterbein, heads up the camp with support from other faculty and staff.

Attendees may choose among three instrumental concentrations – guitar, strings and piano – as well as vocal music and music composition. On the last day of

camp, they, like their Equine Camp coun-terparts, have the opportunity to perform in front of their parents. The camp is for high schoolers only.

Another camp offered this summer is the invitation-only Martin W. Essex School for the Gifted and Talented. Students from New Albany-Plain Local, Westerville City and Olentangy Local schools will be chosen by their districts to attend.

“It’s a very academically rich camp for talented and gifted

students,” says McCullough. In existence since 2011, the

Essex Camp is the only sleep-away camp of the three camps offered this summer.

For more information or to register for camps, visit www.otterbein.edu/

summercamps. Otterbein also offers a variety of sum-

mer sports camps, with sub-jects including soccer, football,

volleyball, basketball, lacrosse.

Taylor Woodhouse is a contributing writer. Feedback welcome at [email protected].

Young musicians perform a concert for an audience of their parents and peers at the Otterbein Summer Music Experience Camp.

DATES

Equine: 8 a.m.-4 p.m., Mon.-Thurs.,

June 1-5, 8-12, 15-19, July 13-17, 20-24, 27-31.

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Campers of various skill levels take to the pasture on Otterbein’s horses at the Knowlton Center for Equine Science.

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20 March/April 2015 www.westervillemagazine.com

in focus By Garth Bishop

The Gift of Fab

From solving real-world business problems to drafting three-di-mensional renderings, students in Westerville City Schools have a variety of new learning oppor-

tunities thanks to the district’s partnership with Innovation Generation.

This is the first year Innovation Genera-tion curriculum has been offered.

Innovation Generation, based in Reyn-oldsburg, works with 15 central Ohio school districts to provide technological opportuni-ties to which their students might not other-wise have access. And the programs do more than expand students’ knowledge; they allow students the chance to obtain college credit, or work toward professional certification.

“It connects the learning that happens in school with how it can benefit the student beyond school,” says Scott Reeves, execu-tive director of secondary academic affairs for Westerville.

The curriculum is funded by a $14.4 million Straight A Fund grant from

the state, along with investments from such entities as Battelle, JPM-organ Chase and Colum-bus State Community College. Though this is the first year Inno-vation Generation cur-riculum has been offered in schools, the Central Ohio Compact – a part-nership among busi-nesses, schools and the government, convened by Columbus State to improve from 30 to 60 the percentage of Ohio workers with education beyond high school by 2025 – was formed in 2012.

In Westerville, students can participate in three programs: business logistics, health career and advanced manufacturing and robotics.

From the outside, the most recognizable part of the Innovation Genera-tion program is the MIT Mobile Fab Lab, used in the advanced manufactur-ing and robotics curricu-lum. Most school districts that participate have a Fab (short for “fabrication”) Lab packed with equip-ment that can either be used in the mobile class-room or removed for use in the schools themselves.

Among the equip-ment students can use are a 3-D printer, ro-botic arm, wood router, milling machine, lathe system and vinyl cutter. They have the chance to design and build a vari-

ety of things, from key chains and coins to vinyl stickers and 3-D playground models.

The advanced manufacturing and robot-ics classes are offered this year to seventh-graders, with curriculum expanding into later grades as students in the program get older. The lab visits each Westerville middle school twice per semester.

Not only does it introduce students to technology they might not otherwise have, the curriculum also fosters an in-terest in science among students who, up to that point, did not find the field appealing, says Anne Baldwin, career tech and college readiness coordinator for the school district.

Though specifically associated with the Innovation Generation curriculum, the Fab Lab and its equipment can be used by any teacher who knows how to use them.

The health curriculum is reflected in two high school-level courses: principles of bio-medical science and human body systems. An additional course, medical interventions, will be offered for 2015-16. About 150 students are in the program now.

Course work includes using biology and medicine to study a fictional death

Cutting-edge technology and real-life experience highlight Innovation Generation

The MIT Mobile Fab Lab travels among Westerville’s middle schools. Photo by Garth Bishop

Westerville Central High School students study gel electrophoresis as part of the health career curriculum.Photo courtesy of Westerville City Schools

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March/April 2015 21www.westervillemagazine.com

through autopsy reports, medical history and treatments; building organs and tissues on a specialized mannequin; monitoring body functions through software; and utilizing gel electrophoresis to examine DNA strands.

“Students are doing science while they’re learning science,” says Baldwin.

Students following the health care pathway will be able to take Columbus State courses while still in high school and, eventually, earn accreditation as pharmacy technicians or clinical lab assistants.

Business logistics students have only one class to take in 2014-15: computer concepts and applications, offered at the high school level and providing dual credit with Columbus State. In 2015-16, supply chain management will be added to the curriculum, and students will be able to earn hours toward certification or an associate’s degree in the field, which is growing in popularity.

“Central Ohio is actually a logistics hub for the nation,” says Baldwin.

The district has been establishing partnerships with local businesses to provide real-world experience to students participating in Innovation Generation programs. Companies can host field trips, donate equipment, give presentations and even ask classes to work on solutions to industry-related problems.

“(Understanding) the logistics of a com-plex organization is an incredibly valuable skill,” says Reeves.

The district is working with businesses such as Polymer Ohio and the Ohio Manu-facturing Extension Project as well as the Westerville and Columbus chambers of commerce to forge agreements and put together advisory boards for the Innovation Generation curriculum.

Garth Bishop is managing editor. Feedback welcome at [email protected].

Students at Heritage Middle School used the Fab Lab’s 3D printer to make scale models of playgrounds. Photo by Garth Bishop

The Twang’s All HereCentral freshman takes his banjo skills to Arnold talent competitionBy Hannah BealerPhotos courtesy of Gary and Nancy Conkel

Cory Conkel has only been playing banjo for seven months, but he will be one of only 20 finalists competing at the

Arnold’s Quest for Talent show.In late January, about 100 hope-

fuls auditioned at Westerville North High School.

Conkel, a Westerville Central High School freshman, says being selected out of such a large group was rather shocking.

“I was pretty excited,” he says. “There were 94 people who audi-tioned, so I was honored they picked me out of all that.”

Conkel, who takes takes banjo lessons, says that leading up to the competition he’ll be clocking in some extra hours of practice.

A love for bluegrass and country music is what piqued his interest in the instrument, Conkel says, adding he already has experience with the guitar and violin.

“I’ve always liked the sound of (the music),” he says.

Olivia Bushong, a junior at Central, will be competing alongside Conkel as a dancer.

The Arnold’s Quest for Talent show will be held March 7 at the Arnold Kids Fitness EXPO, a new addition to the Arnold Sports Festival. The Kids Fitness EXPO will be held March 7 and 8 in the Ohio Expo Center’s Bricker Building.

For more information, visit www.arnoldsportsfestival.com/kids-expo.

Hannah Bealer is an assistant editor. Feedback welcome at [email protected].

Talent show finalist Cory Conkel, a freshman at Westerville Central High School, plays the banjo.

Page 22: Westerville Magazine March/April 2015

22 March/April 2015 www.westervillemagazine.com

By Matthew Kent Photos courtesy of Westerville City Schools

Silver Screen, Golden YearsCentral film festival puts local senior citizens in the limelight

The films spotlight individuals at the Westerville Senior Center. The festival was created by Westerville Central High School English teacher Susannah Lee, who helps guide her students through much of the behind-the-scenes work, which involves interviews, video editing and other pre-production aspects.

The event is scheduled for April 28. The idea for the senior citizens’ film fes-

tival initially began after Lee visited www.edutopia.org, a website for the George Lucas Education Foundation. It led her to www.iEARN.org, a nonprofit organization made up of schools and youth organiza-tions that allow classroom projects to be shared with one another.

Lee discovered one international project that focused on folk tales and interviews with elders across the globe.

“I thought, ‘That’s amazing, that’s a cool idea,’ and it started getting me thinking be-cause I really wanted to have my students do things that have an authentic audience. I feel like school is so much like writing for their teacher, or they don’t see what they’re doing as having relevance, so the project just came from that iEARN project that was going on internationally,” Lee says.

After speaking to someone whose mother had recently passed away, Lee found herself reflecting on her own life experiences.

“It made me start thinking of my own grandparents, and how I didn’t ask the questions that I wanted. Those two things combined made me say that this would be a really great project, and the kids would learn a lot, and (it) would get them in-volved in the community,” she says.

Westerville Education Challenge, a private organization that provides funding for creative projects in the district, was able to provide a financial boost to the project after Lee wrote a grant that later allowed her to purchase five iPads. In addition, the film festival has received monetary sup-port from the Westerville Education Foundation and Westerville Central High School Boosters club.

Juniors and seniors en-rolled in Lee’s film and literature course at Cen-tral have edited film and interviewed residents at the Senior Center who

were willing to share their stories. Each participant commits to four interviews. Still photos are incorporated into the films as well, says Lee.

“For them, it’s an experience of learning how to interview people and find out in-formation … then they have to do research about what they’ve learned from their senior citizen. It kind of triggers them to go find out more, so they do that, and then they cut and edit films, so they learn how to put that process together in a way that makes sense,” Lee says. “It’s entirely student-driven. They do all the interviews, they design the way the film looks and put it together.”

Many senior citizens are forthcoming in the stories of their lives, Lee says, and the film is powerful when it is finished. The day of the film festival is anything but ordinary, she says, describing it as being a red carpet event filled with cameras and flowers in a setting that allows seniors citizens and their family members to see excerpts of their own films. The event also includes a reception and gift bags with items donated by area businesses.

“I love that point because the kid sees how important this was to the senior citi-

The red carpet will be rolled out again this spring for a film festival featuring the life stories of Westerville’s senior citizens.

The event, now in its third year, has seen plenty of success.

Westerville Central High School students wait by the red carpet.

Each senior citizen who participates in the project commits to four interviews and provides still photos.

Page 23: Westerville Magazine March/April 2015

March/April 2015 23www.westervillemagazine.com

zens because all their family members are all emotional,” Lee says. “It’s magical to watch it, and once that day happens, it’s when all that hard work comes together, and you get to give a gift to someone who’s given so much to the kids.”

Senior Center Manager Jeff Althouse says he also enjoys the interaction between the residents and students.

“(No one) has the same story. They’re all pretty unique to that individual, and just to hear their life experiences and the way they interact with students is one of the things that I enjoy most. I think the public will appreciate that as well,” Althouse says.

Lee is particularly proud of her students for their efforts.

“It is the most rewarding (thing) I’ve ever done as a teacher. I get to witness my students really blossom from these shy, nervous kids. They’re so proud of what they’ve made, and they really understand what they’re giving the people,” she says. “I think the kids get the understanding (that) what they’re doing is much bigger than themselves.”

Matthew Kent is a contributing writer. Feedback welcome at [email protected].

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Page 24: Westerville Magazine March/April 2015

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living By Hannah Bealer Photos courtesy of Sam Ross and Meredith Jones

There and Back AgainWesterville duo shows off changes since House Hunters episode

Uptown couple Meredith Jones and Sam Ross made local headlines when their 105-year-old home was fea-tured on HGTV’s House

Hunters last July. Now, the couple is headed back to the

popular reality show to show off all the improvements they have made to their South Knox Street home.

The episode, set to air this month, will show Jones and Ross alongside two other couples. It’s a more condensed version of their first episode, which fea-tured the couple searching for their dream home.

Off air, the search was basically over. By the time House Hunters came to Westerville to film in De-cember 2013, Jones and Ross had already purchased their home in October. The show requires participants to buy a house before they can be featured, so for theatri-cal purposes it films the couple looking at two additional homes before settling on their actual property.

Jones and Ross have quite a bit to show off in their next installment. When sending producers her updates, Jones said she felt like they hadn’t done much work. But the program was eager to film again for its House Hunters: Where Are They Now? spinoff.

Walking into the foyer of the three-story, five-bedroom home, Ross says his favorite part is the new floors. When the house was purchased, he says, the floors were beaten up and in fairly rough shape.

Now, he says, the hardwood is back to its beautiful, original color and state.

To the left of the foyer sits the living room. Everything has been repainted, and

Meredith Jones and Sam Ross

Above: Before and after shots of the couple’s kitchen

Below: The dining room features contemporary overhead lighting and a stove fashioned into a bar.

Page 25: Westerville Magazine March/April 2015

March/April 2015 25www.westervillemagazine.com

Above: Before and after shots of the home’s new hardwood floors – Ross’ favorite new feature

Below: The master suite, located in the third floor’s attic space

Page 26: Westerville Magazine March/April 2015

26 March/April 2015 www.westervillemagazine.com

the ceilings were resurfaced, Ross says. The ceiling was once fitted with fiberglass tiles. One of the more dramatic changes is the addition of overhead lights. The home did not have overhead lights before, and their inclusion required a lot of electrical work, Ross says.

The couple’s dining room also features contemporary, overhead lighting. A stove, original to the home, is positioned in the corner and used as a makeshift bar. There are two sets of shelves, also original, that flank the path from the living room to the dining room.

Not much changed in the kitchen, the couple says, adding that they have new appliances and an island.

The first floor is Jones’ favorite part of the house, she says, adding that she loves how “bright and shiny” it is.

“The living room and dining room had the most dramatic changes with lights, walls, floors and ceiling,” Jones says.

The second floor leads up to Ross’ favor-ite part of the house — a room that Jones has fondly nicknamed his “nerd nook.” House Hunters was trying to get away from the concept of a man cave, she says, and asked her to come up with another name for the room that houses Ross’ extensive film and comic book collection.

Because of copyright issues, the “nerd nook” could not actually be featured on the program. In the room is Ross’s Xbox and

a flat-screen television. He also has action figures and posters set up around the room.

“There are probably about 200 (films) and 300-400 comic books,” Ross says.

The couple says it was amazing how the producers of the show knew what images could and could not be filmed, and they were quick to remove them from the sight of the cameras.

Across from the “nerd nook” is one of the five bedrooms, turned into a giant walk-in closet. Both Jones and Ross use the closet, though it was Jones’s idea to outfit it with a chandelier. There are steps in the room that lead to the third story – or the attic – where the couple’s master suite sits.

The master suite has the appeal of a loft. There’s a reading nook by a set of windows that also serves as a dog bed, a corner used for office space and an at-tached master bathroom.

Out of all the older homes the couple considered, they said they didn’t find an-other one with as much attic space.

“It’s nice having that third-floor retreat,” Jones says.

Overall, the couple say they are be-yond pleased with the way their house has evolved into a home. So pleased, in fact, that they can’t think of a single thing they would change about their experience with HGTV.

“I don’t think there’s anything we regret doing,” Jones says. “We would definitely do it again. We did do it again.”

Hannah Bealer is an assistant editor. Feedback welcome at [email protected].

Before and after: The path from the living room to the dining room

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Page 27: Westerville Magazine March/April 2015

March/April 2015 27www.westervillemagazine.com

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Page 28: Westerville Magazine March/April 2015

28 March/April 2015 www.westervillemagazine.com

Students of Sustenance

on the table By Bethany N. Bella Photos courtesy of Marty Wicks

Heritage Middle School’s new after-school club offers students nutritious choices

In an increasingly health-conscious community, Heritage Middle School is looking to improve the lives of its students through proper nutrition.

Marty Wicks, Heritage science teacher and personal trainer, has initiated a program on how to pick and prepare nutritious foods.

“The main goal of this club is to show students how to make better food choic-es,” Wicks says. “I’m always concerned about the fitness levels of students, as well as adults.”

The program, called Good Eats Club, is open to sixth-, seventh- and eighth-grade students at Heritage.

Students in the club meet twice a month on Tuesdays after school.

On the first Tuesday of each month, a group of roughly 25 students researches healthful food options and their respective nutritional content.

After two weeks, students return and make the already-prepared healthful dishes for any parents and teachers with a taste for the delicious and nutritious.

In a meeting last fall, students in groups of four to six were researching which fruits and vegetables would be the most nutritious to prepare in juices.

“We also used the remains of the pulp to bake muffins” afterward, Wicks says.

So far, the club is merely in its beginning stages, but Wicks hopes its support will grow over the next few years.

“We’ve not had time to move for-ward with many things we’d like to do to make the experience more re-warding,” Wicks says. “I’ve not had the time to teach my students about crop rotation, to inform students on the best way to rotate crops for healthful produce. I’d like to begin getting into this area next fall.”

Good Eats Club is not just about eating more leafy greens. Its under-lying mission is to give students an opportunity to create a healthy, ho-listic lifestyle that includes proper nutrition, exercise and the ability to make nutritious choices.

“It’s not all about eating,” Wicks says. “It is about a well-rounded approach on eating, how the effects of produce have a long-lasting effect on the human body and how to keep your immune system in check.”

In January, the club researched and prepared healthy pasta dishes for Heri-tage parents and teachers.

Be on the lookout for a Good Eats recipe book –– it’s on Wicks’ ever-growing list of additions to the club.

Mark your calendars for April 17. The annual Taste of Westerville, showcasing the culinary offerings of Westerville Area Chamber of Commerce member businesses, will be held from 7-10 p.m. at Crowne Plaza Columbus North, 6500 Doubletree Ave. The event was sold out last year. Admission is $45 per person and includes all food and beverage costs, and this year the event features a wine and beer tasting as well as a raffle and silent auction.

The club, a group of roughly 25, meets on the first Tuesday of each month.

The club has researched and prepared healthful dishes for their parents and teachers.

Good Eats Club’s mission is to give students an opportunity to practice living healthfully.

Page 29: Westerville Magazine March/April 2015

March/April 2015 29www.westervillemagazine.com

Students of Sustenance

Healthful pasta recipe

• ¾ lb. carrots, peeled and thinly sliced

• Zest and juice of 1 navel orange, zest removed in strips with a veg-etable peeler

• Salt• 3 cups penne rigate • 3 oz. sharp cheddar cheese, shredded • 1 Tbsp. chopped tarragon• Freshly ground white pepper

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. In a medium saucepan, combine the carrots with the zest, juice and ¼ cup of water. Season with salt and bring to a boil. Cover and simmer over moderate heat until the carrots are soft, about 30 minutes. Discard the zest. Transfer the carrots and any liquid to a blender and purée until very smooth.

Meanwhile, in a large saucepan of boiling salted water, cook the pasta un-til al dente. Drain the pasta, reserving 1 cup of the cooking water.

Return the pasta to the pot. Add the reserved water and the carrot purée and cook over moderate heat, stirring frequently, until the pasta is coated with a thickened sauce, about 5 minutes. Stir in three-fourths of the cheese and cook, stirring until very creamy, 2 to 3 minutes longer. Stir in the tarragon and season with salt and white pepper.

Transfer the pasta to a medium bak-ing dish and top with the remaining cheese. Bake until the cheese is melted and lightly browned, about 20 minutes. Let stand for 5 minutes before serving.

The silky carrot purée mixed with the cheddar is a source of vitamin A and helps reduce the amount of fat in the recipe.

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Page 30: Westerville Magazine March/April 2015

30 March/April 2015 www.westervillemagazine.com

Recommended Reads from Susan Carr, Youth Services Librarian

Recommended Reads from Megan Chrusciel, Adult Services Librarian

bookmarks From the Westerville Public Library

Gift Days (picture book)

By Kari-Lynn Winters Nassali loves school, but since her mother’s death, she is staying home to care for her siblings. Her brother Matovu devises a way to give his sister time to follow her dreams.

The Bug in Teacher’s Coffee and Other School Poems (reader)

By Kalli DakosPlayful poems de-scribe the school day from the point of view of the school build-ing, the classroom supplies, a class goldfish and play-ground equipment.

The Girl from the Tar Paper School (juvenile biography)

By Teri Kanefield When Barbara Rose Johns organized and led a 1953 student strike at a Virginia high school, her actions were key to influencing the Brown v. Board of Educa-tion ruling that ended state-sanctioned segregation.

Girls Like Us (teen)

By Gail Giles Two graduates from a high school special education class tell their funny, moving and gut-wrenching stories as roommates during their first independent living experience.

Teach Like Your Hair’s on Fire By Rafe Esquith Teachers and par-ents can adopt the techniques, exer-cises and innova-tions used to propel children from some of the most challeng-ing backgrounds in the nation to Ivy League schools.

How to Think Like Leonardo da Vinci By Michael J. Gelb Seven steps to limitless potential for creativity and learning are based on the notebooks, art and inventions of one of mankind’s greatest thinkers.

Thinking, Fast and Slow By Daniel Kahneman This groundbreaking tour of the mind is a lively conversation about how we think and offers tech-niques for guard-ing against mental glitches that get us into trouble.

The Last Lecture By Randy Pausch Diagnosed with terminal cancer, Pausch delivers his last lecture: Over-come obstacles and seize every moment. Time is all we have – and we have less than we think.

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Page 31: Westerville Magazine March/April 2015

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