Dublin Life February/March 2023

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Dublin City Manager Megan O’Callaghan INSIDE Health and Wellness in Dublin Explore with Dublin Parks Pass Dublin’s ARTboxes Dublin Schools Fall Sports www.dublinlifemagazine.com New Face of Dublin
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February/March 2023

6 City of Dublin

8 Community Calendar

10 faces

Serving Her Community Dublin City Manager Megan O’Callaghan shares her story and her goals

14 city of dublin

FitBiz: Workplace Health and Wellness

16 in focus

One Adventure to Another

Explore 60+ parks around the city with the Dublin Parks Pass

20 Person Before Patient

Local doctor shares personal story of moving to Dublin and growing professionally

22 Healthy Minds, Healthy Lives

Mental health and wellness initiatives at Dublin City Schools

26 Mental Health Crisis Intervention Dublin Police partner with local resources to improve mental health crisis intervention

30 good ProvidingideasHealth Care to All Dublin health providers address health disparities in local community

32 ARTifacts

Dublin’s ARTboxes

Creative ARTeries provide free projects, art supplies

34 student spotlight

Athletic Achievers

Dublin Schools highlight fall sports accomplishments and winter season outlook

36 dublin dishes

Carrot Cake and Community Washington Township Fire Department shares its dedication to the community and a sweet treat

38 living Drinking for Two Bourbon bar makes local home complete

42 luxury living real estate guide

43 top homes sold in dublin

44 write next door

Destination Spain

A journey to Europe and travel tips

46 bookmarks

p16

February/March 2023 • 5 www.dublinlifemagazine.com
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On the Cover Megan O’Callaghan Photo by Ray LaVoie p38
inside

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CommunityCalendar

February/March

All events are subject to change. Visit websites for more information.

FEB. 1-28

Sledding and Ice Skating Coffman Park

5200 Emerald Pkwy. www.dublinchamber.org

FEB. 9-18

Evolution Theatre Company presents Forbidden Broadway

7-8:30 p.m.

The Abbey Theater of Dublin 5600 Post Rd. www.evolutiontheatre.org

FEB. 10 AND MARCH 10

Sales Connection Breakfast Series

8:30-9:30 a.m.

Dublin Chamber of Commerce 129 S. High St. www.dublinchamber.org

FEB. 11

Valentine’s Day Market

9 a.m.-noon

North Bridge Park 6750 Longshore St. www.bridgepark.com

Six Weeks to Wellness!

Dublin Community Recreation Center 5600 Post Rd. www.dublinchamber.org

FEB. 2

Healthy Eating Starts at Home

1-2 p.m.

FEB. 9

PT Talk: Injury Prevention 1-2 p.m.

FEB. 16

A Healthy Cooking Demo 1-2 p.m.

FEB. 23

Yoga 1-2 p.m.

MARCH 2

Executive Group Coaching 1-2 p.m.

FEB. 15

Orchestra Winter Concert

7-8:30 p.m.

Dublin Jerome High School

8300 Hyland-Croy Rd. www.dublinschools.net/Jerome

FEB. 21

Winter Choir Concert

7-8:30 p.m.

Dublin Jerome High School

8300 Hyland-Croy Rd. www.dublinschools.net/Jerome

FEB. 23

Warm Up Columbus

8 a.m.

Metro Fitness and Colliers International 655 Metro Place S. www.runningintheusa.com

MARCH 2-5

Arnold Sports Festival – Running Events

10:30 a.m.

Greater Columbus Convention Center 400 N. High St., Columbus www.arnoldsports.com

MARCH 3-12

Original Productions Theatre presents Abundant Life

7:30 p.m.

Abbey Theater of Dublin 5600 Post Rd. www.dublinohiousa.gov

MARCH 9

State of the Community Evening The Exchange 6520 Riverside Crossing Dr. www.dublinohiousa.gov

MARCH 9-11

Dublin Jerome High School presents Shrek – The Musical 7 p.m.

Dublin Jerome High School 8300 Hyland-Croy Rd. www.dublinschools.net/Jerome

8 • February/March 2023 www.dublinlifemagazine.com
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February/March 2023 • 9 www.dublinlifemagazine.com Sponsored by For more events, visit dublinlifemagazine.com MARCH 11 St. Patrick’s Day Parade 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Historic Dublin 1 W. Bridge St. www.dublinohiousa.gov MARCH 11 Dublin Lion’s Club Pancake Breakfast 7:30-11 a.m. John Sells Middle School 150 W. Bridge St. e-clubhouse.org/sites/dublin_oh/ MARCH 17, 18 Fado St. Patrick’s Day Event Fado Pub & Kitchen 6652 Riverside Dr. www.bridgepark.com MARCH 17 Columbus Official St. Patrick’s Day Bar Crawl 4 p.m. www.pubcrawls.com MARCH 18 Tutankhamun: His Tomb and His Treasures COSI 333 W. Broad St., Columbus www.cosi.org MARCH 20-24 Dublin City Schools Spring Break www.dublinschools.net Your Dublin Experts! We sell more Dublin homes than any other realtor! Each office is independently owned and operated. Visit all of our newest listings at dublinhomes.com 7702 RED • 1+ Acre lot! • Walkout Lower $550,000 7303 DEACON • 12th Hole of Tartan Fields Golf Course •Walkout Lower Level! $1,199,900 264-9999 8142 WINCHCOMBE • Lake Front & Pool! • 1st Floor master suite $725,000 6024 GLENBARR • Muirfield CC Golf • Stunning Renovation $399,900 We’re Proud Announce That Close Connection Moved To Historic Downtown Dublin Spring Is Times SO 614-726-9070 Committed, Knowledgeable, Trusted for over 30 Years

Serving Her Community

Dublin City Manager Megan O’Callaghan shares her story and her goals

10 • February/March 2023 www.dublinlifemagazine.com
Photos by Ray LaVoie faces by

Stretching more than 760 feet across the Scioto River, this bridge connects the historic side of Dublin with Bridge Park and is not only a unique feature for the Dublin community, but also the first of its kind in the world.

This unique and innovative project was completed with the help and support of the City of Dublin’s new City Manager Megan O’Callaghan.

O’Callaghan, who stepped into her new role on Oct. 1, is no stranger to the community. She has lived in the Dublin area for more than 20 years and served the community since 2014, working in several different capacities during that time.

Although she now serves as the chief administrative and law enforcement officer for the city, O’Callaghan has long been on the public service path.

Always serving the people

Growing up 40 minutes north of Dayton in Sidney, Ohio, O’Callaghan eventually moved to Columbus, where she attended The Ohio State University.

There she earned a bachelor of science in civil engineering and went on to work for the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) for several years as an engineer working on transportation projects.

Although she enjoyed her work, she wanted to broaden her knowledge and do more for her community, and de cided to go back to school for an ad vanced degree.

O’Callaghan began taking evening classes at Capital University Law School while working full-time at ODOT and, over the course of four years, earned her law degree graduating magna cum laude.

With additional knowledge and ex periences under her belt, O’Callaghan took on a new role in local government as deputy director of the City of Colum bus Department of Public Service for four years before returning to ODOT as deputy director responsible for statewide construction and contracts.

As the 2010s approached, O’Callaghan had fallen in love with Dublin after living

February/March 2023 • 11 www.dublinlifemagazine.com
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in the area for almost 10 years. So, in 2014, when she heard about a job opening with the city, she jumped at the opportunity.

Over the next few years, O’Callaghan held several positions, including deputy city manager, chief finance and development officer, chief operating officer, and director of public works. She is committed to innovation and technology, including leading the popular GoDublin customer service app and the SnowGo system that provides residents with real-time snow removal information.

Loving the city and its people

Though she served various roles and departments with the City of Dublin, O’Callaghan says one similar thread tied all her roles together: the joy and commitment her coworkers brought to their jobs.

“They have a passion for service. They are dedicated to providing top-notch customer service and making Dublin a worldclass city,” O’Callaghan says. “There’s definitely a culture of excellence throughout the team, and the entire team works hard each and every day to live up to that culture of excellence.”

O’Callaghan says that drive impacts the community by providing opportunities for residents, businesses and visitors, but also

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Megan O’Callaghan and her kids, Melanie and Jack, at the Christmas tree lighting in Dublin.

by creating a safe and welcoming environment for all.

She has even experienced this firsthand as she has watched her daughter and son grow up in Dublin. Melanie, who is in fourth grade, and Jack, who is in first grade, both attend Wyandot Elementary School and are involved in their community, too, through sports and other activities.

Her family has always enjoyed attending community events, riding bikes around the various Dublin parks and frequenting the city’s North Pool near their home.

To O’Callaghan, what makes Dublin the perfect place is how it is a caring and engaged community that also balances honoring its past while constantly striving for improvement through innovation.

“We’re very proud of our traditions and our history,” O’Callaghan says. “But we’re also recognized as a visionary community that advances big ideas and projects, all with the goal of enhancing the quality of life for our residents and also ensuring our economic and environmental sustainability.”

Looking to the future

O’Callaghan says she is honored to be chosen by Dublin City Council as the sixth city manager of Dublin and is excit-

ed to continue working with its dedicated and insightful members.

“They’re here to serve our residents, and they really care about the community,” O’Callaghan says. “And that’s very important and their work truly shows they do a great job. They’re visionary. They’re willing to make bold decisions and they have the best interests of our residents in mind.”

O’Callaghan is moving forward guided by the city’s new strategic framework – adopted by the council last year – which has countless goals related to the city’s economic, fiscal and environmental stewardship as well as the physical, mental, social and emotional wellbeing of its people.

Over the next year, O’Callaghan says there will be several important planning initiatives conducted around the city, including a community plan update, economic development strategic plan update, parks and recreation plan update, a speed management program and a Dublin area housing study, that will help inform future changes as well.

As city manager, O’Callaghan is responsible for the day-to-day operations for the city and also reports to and is an adviser for the council as they make decisions regarding finances and future needs for the city.

O’Callaghan believes she also brings a lot of unique experience and perspective to her new position as a professional engineer and attorney and with state and local government experience.

She hopes to use her understanding of state and federal funding opportunities, as well as the relationships she has built over the years to help advance the city.

With all the things she will be taking on in her new role, O’Callaghan says the thing she is most excited for is the opportunity to connect with and serve her community even more.

“I really have a passion for local government. And I think it’s an amazing opportunity to get to serve the community in which I live and in which my kids get to go to school,” O’Callaghan says. “I’m a people person. I really enjoy engaging with our residents and community partners. I enjoy helping people (and) bringing people together. Dublin is a remarkable city and together we will make it even better.”

Rachel Karas is an editor at CityScene Media Group. Feedback welcome at rkaras@cityscenemediagroup.com.

FitBiz: Workplace Health and Wellness

After a long day at your job, health and fitness might not be at the top of your priorities, especially when it’s already dark before you even leave work for the day.

Going home, changing into cozy sweats and ordering a pizza sounds like a much easier alternative. While excuses are easy to find, what if your workplace already had a wellness plan in place – one that doesn’t require you to leave the office?

FitBiz is the City of Dublin’s corporate wellness initiative. It began in 2018 and provides a wide variety of wellness options for Dublin businesses, including nutrition services, fitness presentations and health coaching from qualified professionals vetted directly by FitBiz.

Businesses can also choose from a vast array of fitness classes focused on physical and mental health such as mat Pilates, relaxing flow yoga and wellness walks to name a few.

“FitBiz began because we know we have more than 4,000 businesses in Dublin, but a lot of them are small businesses,” says Mollie Steiner, Recreation Services administrator at the City of Dublin and co-developer of FitBiz. “These businesses don’t always have onsite fitness centers like larger corporations or somebody on staff who’s devoted to health and well-being programming. So, we wanted to make it easy for them to provide health and wellness opportunities for their employees without a lot of added work.”

After signing up for FitBiz, businesses do not need to worry about the necessary equipment. Based on whatever class the business selects, FitBiz will provide the equipment needed – like mats and dumbbells – as long as the business can provide an adequate space. Classes have taken place in conference rooms, cafeterias or big

enough areas to house the number of employees who are signed up for the course.

Additionally, there is no need to worry about classes taking time during the workday. FitBiz participants can try courses during lunchtime or after hours, with typical sessions lasting between 30 minutes and an hour. Employees can easily outline which health classes to try, shaking things up between a “Creating Healthy Habits” wellness presentation one month and Zumba the next.

Overcoming Pandemic Problems

FitBiz had a successful first two years, but like many businesses, the program had to change course after the 2020 global pandemic. Before COVID-19, FitBiz primarily provided onsite programs in which an instructor came to the place of business to teach whichever course the business had selected for its employees. However, that was not an option once isolation became a requirement for the world’s safety.

“We know that businesses are more likely to get higher participation if their employees don’t have to go somewhere else,

so we wanted to come onsite and provide programs for them, and that’s what we did up until 2020 when everything shut down,” Steiner says.

“That’s when we expanded our services by partnering with The Ohio State University and Syntero,” Steiner says. “In addition to the onsite programming, we came up with a menu of virtual options that we can offer.”

Currently, FitBiz offers both onsite and virtual programs to best meet the individual company’s needs and comfort level. Hybrid options are also available in which an instructor can come to a business and stream the program for any employees who are choosing to work from home.

“It is so easy to select and schedule programs with FitBiz,” says Samantha Lynch, front office coordinator at Veeva Systems, Inc. “We did the wellness presentations and everyone truly appreciated having that information available to them. It was easy to digest and add to everyday life.”

Veeva Systems is not the only business to have employees that have been positively affected by the program.

14 • February/March 2023 www.dublinlifemagazine.com
city of dublin
FitBiz focuses on in-person and virtual health and wellness programming for businesses, including nutrition courses and Zumba and weightlifting classes.

“I have received feedback that associates experienced positive lifestyle changes following FitBiz programming,” says Michelle Rupp, learning and development specialist at WD Partners, a customer experience innovation firm. “Some associates shared that they plan to keep up with activities they’ve learned about through the programming on a regular basis.”

As businesses evolve post-quarantine, Steiner is ready to face any challenge FitBiz may encounter while recognizing that no two businesses are the same. She notes that each business comes with a unique set of workers and interests that can benefit from the specialized FitBiz programming.

“I always tell companies when I talk to them that just because you might not see something on our list of programming doesn’t mean that we can’t do it,” Steiner says. “I’m 99.9% sure we can put a program together based on their employees’ needs.”

Additionally, corporate discounts are available to any employee of a Dublin business, with a corporate membership rate of $24.75 per month through the Dublin Community Recreation Center (DCRC). Any employee may visit the DCRC and provide a recent pay stub to receive these benefits.

Steiner says FitBiz strives to provide a simple and easy plan to help Dublin employees stay on top of their physi-

cal and mental health goals. During our busy day-to-day lives, it can be difficult to prioritize ourselves, so she explains that FitBiz allows Dublin businesses to care for the health of their employees and empower them to make positive choices.

“We all know that health and wellness is important to businesses and employees, but because of everything we have been dealing with the past few years while trying to survive personally and professionally, it might not have been at the top of their list,” Steiner says.

“So, hopefully as we begin 2023, and as we’re slowly coming out of the challenges of the pandemic, companies will begin trying to map out what their health and wellness programming might look like.”

If you’re a Dublin business, Steiner says to look into FitBiz as a way to take care of your employees’ physical and mental health, encouraging motivation or calming meditation in the workplace. While we cannot predict what the future looks like, Steiner says with FitBiz’s flexibility, you can take control of what your work wellness plan looks like this year. FitBiz

works to acknowledge and embrace the inevitability of change while focusing on fun bonding experiences with coworkers.

“We’re not always offering the same old, same old. We are trying to stay on trend, and we know that needs have probably changed from where we were three or four years ago,” Steiner says. “We try to cover all the dimensions of wellness in terms of what we offer. But, we’re always looking to evolve.”

If you are a Dublin business owner interested in FitBiz programming, reach out to Mollie Steiner at msteiner@dublin.oh.us or call at 614.410.4553. FUN FACT: Non-corporate DCRC members also have access to FitBiz courses. Learn more at DublinOhioUSA.gov.

Cadyn Healy is an intern for the City of Dublin. Feedback welcome at cpi@dublin.oh.us

February/March 2023 • 15 www.dublinlifemagazine.com
Mollie Steiner, Recreations Services administrator with the City of Dublin, co-developed business-health initiative FitBiz alongside former City employee Kyle Kridler in 2018.

One Adventure to Another Explore 60+ parks around the city with the Dublin Parks Pass

As spring approaches, get outside and visit a Dublin park near you with the Dublin Parks Pass. In partnership with OhioHealth, the Dublin Park Pass is a digital passport that helps you keep track of all your adventures through the 60plus parks across the city. In addition, with every park you check in to, you’ll receive one entry into a grand prize raffle.

“We wanted to share all the different experiences and amenities that Dublin parks offer,” says marketing director of Visit Dublin Ohio, Sara Blatnik. “You can filter through anything from public art to historical assets to where there are public restrooms.”

Whether you’re searching for a field to play a pickup soccer game, a calming nature walk or thrilling waterfall, the pass gives Dublin residents and visitors the power to find an adventure from the screen of their smartphone.

To register for the Dublin Park Pass, go to www.visitdublinohio.com and follow the instructions on the Dublin Park

Coffman Park

Located in the center of Dublin, Coffman Park is also home to Dublin’s Developmental Building. This park truly has it all, from a playground and skate park to recreation paths and pickleball and tennis courts. Coffman Homestead, one of Dublin’s oldest homes, also sits on the property for history buffs to explore.

As the site of the annual Dublin Irish Festival, Coffman Park is also the mostvisited park in Dublin. Though it transforms into an Irish wonderland during the

16 • February/March 2023 www.dublinlifemagazine.com in focus
Pass page. Raffle prizes will be announced throughout the summer. Indian Run Falls

first weekend of every August, it’s quiet and serene the rest of the year.

Additional park features include a winter ice rink, basketball courts and volleyball along with various public art pieces throughout the park.

Indian Run Falls Park and Trail

Indian Run Falls, nestled behind John Sells Middle School, is perhaps one of Dublin’s most surprising parks. Its rushing water and cascading waterfalls make it a breathtaking sight. Walk the trails and take in the scene from the viewing decks and picnic shelters – this park may occupy a small footprint, but its beauty is easy to get lost in.

Riverside Crossing Park

As one of Dublin’s newest parks, Riverside Crossing offers the unique opportunity to explore through both downtown

February/March 2023 • 17 www.dublinlifemagazine.com
Playing disc golf in Dublin parks Riverside Crossing Park

Dublin and Bridge Park. Grab a coffee or pick up some ice cream before you take a walk along the fountains and falls. Paved paths run up and down the length of the river, leading visitors right to the city’s one-of-a-kind pedestrian bridge connecting Historic Dublin to Bridge Park.

Ballantrae Community Park

Known for its three giant dancing hares, Ballantrae Community Park is known around the community as “Bunny Park.” It’s the perfect place to cool down during the summer, from May through September, with its splash pad and the Dublin South Pool right across the street. Paths wind and wrap around the park in all directions with a large pond near the front to fish in.

Scioto Park

If you went sledding in Dublin this winter, there’s a chance you went to Scioto Park. This park has a large hill, perfect for all ages to go sledding. Scioto Park is also home to a 12-foot-tall stone memorial to Chief Leatherlips, a historic and local Wyandot Native American figure, as well as a playground and views of the Scioto River. Throughout the summer, the annual Sundays at Scioto Concert Series brings live bands and food trucks to the park.

Balgriffin Park

Grab your disc golf set and head over to Balgriffin Park to play the nine-hole disc golf course. Located off of Woerner Temple Road, this park has an array of activities for the whole family. If you’re not a disc golfer, you might enjoy the park’s play set, picnic areas and pond for fishing.

Kobe Collins is an editorial assistant at CityScene Media Group. Feedback welcome at feedback@cityscenemediagroup.com.

18 • February/March 2023 www.dublinlifemagazine.com
Ballantrae Summer Splash Pad Scioto Park’s Chief Leatherlips Monument Coffman Park’s reservable shelter and green space. Balgriffin Park
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Person Before Patient

Local doctor shares personal story of moving to Dublin and growing professionally

Konstantinos Demertzis went into family medicine because he is interested in the human as much as the patient. In his more than 20 years of practice, his commitment to the whole person hasn’t changed, even as the country he lives and works in has.

Demertzis became a faculty member at OhioHealth and the assistant program director for the family medicine residency program at Dublin Methodist Hospital in August 2022.

“I’m looking to solve everyday problems of people so definitely it’s the human part of the profession that makes me go to work every day,” Demertzis says.

His journey to Dublin with his family began across the Atlantic on a small,

middle-class island in Greece called Samos. Demertzis was born and raised on Samos, met his wife, Despina, there and practiced medicine there before moving to the United States in 2016.

He attended medical school in Ancona, Italy, after which he served as a military physician during a year of mandatory military service. He completed a residency in family medicine at the General Hospital of Samos.

Before leaving for the U.S., Demertzis worked in private practice and for the National Health System of Greece as a family doctor in the Regional Medical Center of Chora and Community Health Clinic of Karlovasi for five years.

Both of his wife’s parents are from Samos, and the family ended up in Dublin because that’s where his in-laws live now. Despina was born in Canton and raised mostly in Dublin.

While it was a tricky move professionally for Demertzis, it was the best move for the couple and their three children to leave Greece and move close to family in the U.S.

As a foreign medical graduate, Demertzis had to complete another residency through the U.S. system, which he did at Dublin Methodist Hospital. Before taking that on, he spent a year with the OhioHealth Physicians Group Quality Department.

“The experience is an interesting one because you have to change your mindset,” he says. “In the sense of when you’re in training the first time, you’re a newbie and you need to learn a lot of things. And when you go again through the same process, you have a background and you have to find a way to continue being a learner in terms of stepping down from what you were, be humble and grow again. Regain trust with people. And it’s a very interesting process for sure and difficult, because you kind of need to step back as a person a bit and be patient to regain what you had before.”

Before accepting his current position, Demertzis completed a quality and safety fellowship at Riverside Methodist Hospital.

He says his multicultural background is an advantage to his medical practice. When he encounters patients who are immigrants and may not speak English well, he says he knows exactly what they’re going through and puts in the extra effort to ensure they understand the care they’re receiving.

“Already having the experience to come from another country, or to have an experience like I did my med school in another country, in a different language makes me be very understanding and tolerant of the difficulty of that kind of encounter,” Demertzis says. “Because you have to understand one of the most difficult encounters that we have is when there’s a language barrier.”

That same process of being understanding, patient and interested in the person also helps him see the larger context of what his patients are dealing with and how that affects them.

“Understanding that many of the problems that we’re dealing (with) in the office has nothing to do with diseases, (but) sometimes has to do with socioeconomic problems,” he says. “And this is a very important part of being a doctor and understanding and taking care of the person instead of just a patient.”

As the assistant program director of the family medicine residency program, Demertzis says the way they practice is slightly different because most of the physicians there are in training. Although it may take more time to get in and out of the appointment due to the training process, Demetzis says they are thorough.

“I can assure you there are so many layers of taking care of the patient there,” he says. “And that is expected because we are a training facility and that is something that in my eyes, if I was a patient, maybe we deal with annoying waiting before, but I would want to have it at the level of how many eyes look at me every time that I’m going there.”

20 • February/March 2023 www.dublinlifemagazine.com
Claire Miller is an editor at CityScene Media Group. Feedback welcome at cmiller@cityscenemediagroup.com Konstantinos Demertzis and his family
February/March 2023 • 21 www.dublinlifemagazine.com Pure Dublin The Official Magazine of the City of Dublin Since 1999 FOR ADVERTISING INFORMATION CALL LAURA PAPPAS AT 614.572.1250 • CITYSCENECOLUMBUS.COM

Healthy Minds, Healthy Lives

Mental health and wellness initiatives at Dublin City Schools

22 • February/March 2023 www.dublinlifemagazine.com
Photos courtesy of Dublin City Schools

Equipped with mental health specialists, peer leaders, counselors and other resources, Dublin City Schools is taking on several new initiatives to address student mental health issues.

“We take a lot of care to make sure that their mental health needs are getting addressed as best we can,” says Tyler Wolfe, director of student well-being at Dublin City Schools.

The initiatives tackle suicide prevention and awareness in primarily middle and high schools. Health class instructors are trained to conduct SOS, or Signs of Suicide, protocols to identify students who have suicide or self-harm ideations and intervene to allow them to receive the care that they need.

“We identify kids who have situations that impede their ability to learn,” Wolfe says. “We have mental health specialists in our buildings, we have contact with Syntero, and we have an array of school counselors and we do a ton of projects throughout the district.”

This year, the district created a studentled program called Hope Squad to further address high-schoolers’ mental health needs.

The Hope Squad’s primary focus is bringing suicide awareness and prevention initiatives to high schools. Hope Squad team members are first nominated by their peers and assessed by a team of faculty. They are then trained to identify signs of suicide and intervene appropriately. Though not

February/March 2023 • 23 www.dublinlifemagazine.com
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certified counselors, peer leaders are still a great resource for students in need.

ROX, a national organization headquartered in Ohio, focuses on helping female students in fifth through twelfth grade. Dublin City Schools work closely with ROX and hope to expand the ROX program even further.

“ROX focuses on self-concept, selfimage, self-confidence, perseverance, selfesteem and taking initiative and leadership skills for female students,” Wolfe says.

Life Sports, a positive youth development program, is a summer program offered in partnership with The Ohio State University and provides opportunities for students to participate in sports, specifically those who would not otherwise be able to.

“We provide this free, positive youth development program in the summertime, completely free, for students to participate in sports and wellness activities throughout the summer,” Wolfe says. “Last summer, we had 120 students participate and this next summer we are hoping to expand that to 240 students and include fourth-, fifth-, sixth-, seventh- and eighth-graders.”

All programs actively collaborate with one another, as well as with staff, parents and students, to provide students with adequate wellness resources to support their life in school.

Dublin City Schools prides itself on strong great partnerships with The Ohio State University, Nationwide Children’s Hospital and all Hope Squad partners. But the district isn’t stopping there –more wellness initiatives are on the horizon to help address even more of the students’ needs.

“I think that they are great because they provide opportunities for kids that are beyond just the academic opportunities,” Wolfe says. “Also, I think it helps them to have an avenue to address some of their mental health needs as best we can in a public school setting.”

Claire McLean is an editorial assistant at CityScene Media Group. Feedback welcome at feedback@cityscenemediagroup.com.

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Serving as a Dublin Police officer comes with the expectation of properly handling sensitive situations. These skills can be especially important for calls to intervene in a mental health crisis.

In many communities, Dublin included, those who struggle with mental illness are not alone. Hundreds of thousands of Ohioans struggle with mental health issues every day.

A study done in February 2021 by the National Alliance on Mental Illness found that roughly half-a-million Ohioans reported symptoms of anxiety and depression and 19 percent said they were unable to get proper treatment.

Without the treatment these individuals need, symptoms and negative behaviors can escalate, sometimes leading to a mental health crisis where the individual puts themselves or others in danger. In these situations, law enforcement is often contacted to intervene.

Calls for police intervention in mental health related situations, often referred to as “wellness checks,” are not unusual for police departments across the country. A study done by the American Psychological Association found that nearly 20 percent of all emergency calls in the U.S. are mental health or substance abuse related.

Greg Lattanzi has experienced these situations firsthand. He has served as an officer with the Dublin Police Department for 17 years and has been the deputy chief of police for more than three.

Mental Health Crisis Intervention

Dublin Police partner with local resources to improve mental health crisis intervention

26 • February/March 2023 www.dublinlifemagazine.com

Lattanzi says all Dublin Police officers undergo 40 hours of Crisis Intervention Training (CIT) to help prepare themselves to manage mental health-related calls. During this training course, mental health clinicians lead presentations and exercises to educate officers on these types of responses.

“You’re exposed to a variety of different situations and scenarios that give the officers an opportunity to interact with individuals to see what works, see what may not work, to ensure that they are communicating in a way that would be effective by gaining feedback from trained mental health professionals in their communication style and

their ability to deescalate those situations,” he says.

Even with CIT, Lattanzi believes that while police officers do what they can to deescalate these situations, mental health professionals are best equipped to help the individual in need of treatment.

“From a police department perspective, we understand that responding to mental health crises is part of our duties, but also that there are better resources than the police department to help an individual through a mental health crisis,” he says.

Because of this several people – including members of the city’s police department, Syntero counseling, the Chief’s Advisory Committee, the Community

Inclusion Advisory Committee and other mental health resources – have banded together to collectively promote mental health services and foster positive police interactions in the community.

Lattanzi says Dublin is proud to be home to people of many different cultures and backgrounds but navigating cultural differences and beliefs concerning mental health and police interaction can be a challenge.

“Dublin is an extremely diverse community, there’s well over 100 languages that are spoken within our school district and we wanted to put something together because mental health is not necessarily viewed the same way throughout every culture,” he said.

February/March 2023 • 27 www.dublinlifemagazine.com

To discuss solutions and provide education on this issue, the police department, in partnership with Syntero counseling and the Chief’s Advisory Committee, hosted a town hall focused on mental health and crisis intervention as it relates to cultural differences, last November.

Over 15 mental health resources that serve the central Ohio area were present at the meeting. Some of which offer support specifically for different nationalities, races and minority groups.

“Let’s say there was a discussion about depression. Certain languages don’t necessarily have words that translate to depression,” Lattanzi says. “An individual who may be struggling with that can talk to somebody about what they’re struggling with and best understand what resources are available to them.”

A secondary goal of the town hall was to break down the stigmas surrounding mental illness and seeking treatment.

“We need to normalize the conversation around this for our community and make people comfortable in seeking out the resources that they may need without the fear of judgment,” Lattanzi says.

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When proper measures aren’t taken to keep a person suffering from a mental health crisis safe, there can be devastating consequences, including loss of life. According to the Ohio Suicide Prevention Foundation, nearly five people die by suicide in Ohio daily.

Mental health groups in the area and the Dublin police department are all working together to save people one crisis intervention at a time.

“Sometimes when individuals find themselves in a mental health crisis, it does jeopardize their personal safety,” Lattanzi says. “As someone who lost a family member to suicide, I do find that it’s important to have this type of conversation in a public venue, because there are individuals that are struggling with mental health, that don’t ever talk about it, they don’t ever get the help that they need.”

28 • February/March 2023 www.dublinlifemagazine.com
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Providing Health Care to All

Dublin health providers address health disparities in local community

With Dublin’s wealth of amenities, great schools and kind neighbors, it’s no surprise that it’s become home to a growing immigrant population. And with that means a unique patient population in need of attentive health care.

To combat the health disparities between different groups within the Dublin community, OhioHealth and Ohio State Outpatient Care Dublin created multiple avenues for children and adults to get the treatment they need.

In 2020, OhioHealth’s family medicine department and the Dublin Methodist Hospital partnered with Davis Middle and Hopewell Elementary Schools to provide adequate health care to children.

These schools were chosen, according to OhioHealth philanthropy advisor Brianne McFarland, because a higher number of students there take part in the free or reduced lunch program, and these schools had higher rates of vaccine noncompliance than other area schools.

Today, the children at those schools can receive vaccinations, sports physicals and wellness checks with the approval of a parent or guardian. For 2023, OhioHealth expects a 15-20 percent increase, or 170180, in vaccinations and an additional 10 percent increase, or 60-70, in well-visits.

Dr. Amir Dada is a resident physician for Dublin Methodist Family Medicine Program and a Dublin native. Dada says he is heavily involved in this partnership alongside Dr. Rebecca Grant, an assistant program director for Dublin Methodist Family Medicine Program at OhioHealth,

as they go to the schools often to help provide health care.

“I have a very sincere passion for helping the community I come from and treating patients from underserved backgrounds,” Dada says. “When I look at the students we’re providing services for, many of their parents don’t speak English since they’ve come from immigrant backgrounds, and I can relate since my parents are refugees from Afghanistan.”

Dan Like, chief administrative officer for ambulatory services at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, also shares a passion for helping the Dublin community.

Growing up in Dublin for most of his life and being an OSU alum, Like knows exactly what Dublin needs regarding health care.

According to Like, one of the focuses for Ohio State Outpatient Care Dublin is to “improve access to care and make care more convenient for our patients and prospective patients.” They do this by offering a wide array of medical services, Like says, including primary care, physical therapy, outpatient surgery and procedures, and walk-in care, allowing patients to get emergency service assistance with lower costs.

“One of the opportunities the medical center has is to improve access to care and make care more convenient for our patients and prospective patients,” Like says. “We’ve found that when we’ve opened these outpatient care centers, it’s not just the local residents of the city of Dublin, but people will travel from afar to receive Ohio State care.”

Along with the university’s cost-effective treatments, Ohio State has a partnership with Lyft, which uses a development account to pay for transportation for individuals that have difficulty getting to and

30 • February/March 2023 www.dublinlifemagazine.com
good
ideas

from their appointment and a collaboration with COTA, the Central Ohio Transit Authority.

“When we look at our ambulatory expansion, we try to partner with COTA and look at where the bus lines are to see where public transportation is, how proximal it is to our outpatient care facilities,” Like says. “And if there isn’t a bus line close by, how can we partner with COTA to see if one could be added?”

Ohio State Outpatient Care Dublin has another program called Community Care Coach. It provides primary care, vaccinations, and women’s health services with two exam rooms, a lab and a registration area.

Launched in February 2022, it was quickly shut down due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, it is now in service in the Columbus and Dublin area.

“We partner with many different churches and community groups around the city of Columbus and Dublin in order to bring service to those communities,” Like says.

OhioHealth has a similar program known as Wellness on Wheels, or WOW, which has been in place since 2017. This project has brought mobile units to different communities to provide health care to those in need.

At first, WOW only focused on mammograms; however, after realizing the need for more care, OhioHealth began providing additional services like annual physicals and wellness exams, diabetes treatment, hypertension treatment, and ultrasounds.

For McFarland, these programs are essential to the community, and their accessibility needs to be more known.

“Providing the education of what options are available for them is essential in promoting health care,” she says. “What often happens is individuals think a treatment is not there, but they simply don’t know about it.”

Despite all of the services OhioHealth offers, Grant believes the immigrant population in Dublin needs more health assistance and information about what’s available to them.

“There is a larger immigrant population than most realize and sometimes language is a big barrier, alongside not having insurance,” Grant says. “Health care is only one piece of the disparity; the other is education. … Education is the great equalizer,

and allowing students not to miss school and get convenient health care sets them up for a better future.”

Like also believes many individuals need to focus on Dublin residents’ diversity and socioeconomic status.

“I think people who aren’t in Dublin don’t realize the diversity and socioeconomic status of residents of Dublin,” Like says. “I’m always thinking about

how we can continue to provide more accessible services to the residents of those areas. As a community and as partners, we need to work together to ensure that we’re just not bringing all of our services to the northwest side.”

February/March 2023 • 31 www.dublinlifemagazine.com
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Mariah Muhammad is a contributing writer at CityScene Media Group. Feedback welcome at feedback@cityscenemediagroup.com

ART

Dublin’s ARTboxes

Creative ARTeries provide free projects, art supplies

“They’re arteries of art that reach so many different people in the community,” says Dublin Arts Council Steward Chris Hirschfeld.

Hirschfeld is an ARTbox Steward, a volunteer who maintains one of Dublin Arts Council’s six vessels placed in highly trafficked areas of the community. ARTboxes serve as little art libraries, through which quarterly art projects and supplies, along with information and community engagement opportunities, are offered free of charge.

A 35-year Dublin resident herself, Hirschfeld has maintained the ARTbox in Scioto Park on Riverside Drive for about 18 months.

“It’s always been mine,” she says. “I adopted the ARTbox. … I’m the foster parent. I feel responsible for it. I keep it full and love seeing children enjoying it.”

Created in pandemic response

“When Dublin Arts Council closed our facility during the pandemic, we felt a need

32 • February/March 2023 www.dublinlifemagazine.com
ifacts
Photos courtesy of Dublin Arts Council and the artists Wishes will be placed on bamboo stalks at the ARTboxes in July. The ARTbox at Dublin Arts Council is one of six throughout Dublin. Others can be found in Scioto Park, Kaltenbach Park, the Frog Park in Historic Dublin and several other places around the community.

to extend our reach into the community,” says Dublin Arts Council Development and Education Manager Katy Marque. “We worked with City of Dublin staff and reviewed survey data to strategize and select sites with greatest reach to most members of our community.”

Dublin Arts Council defines community as those who live, work, visit, play and learn in Dublin.

The initial five ARTboxes were installed in late summer and early fall 2020 with members of the Dublin Arts Council staff visiting them every other week. The first boxes were filled with “Connect” public art discovery booklets, sketch books and colored pencils.

“The response was overwhelming,” Marque says. “We distributed 500 packs per month on average, and six to eight months later, added a sixth ARTbox, by request, in Bridge Park.”

After the first year, it became evident that help was needed to maintain the ARTboxes and create the packets of materials inside. Invitations were sent to Dublin Arts Council’s patron email list, and 75 community volunteers signed up for the first event.

“We were able to assign a Steward to each box and also create a support team for packing,” Marque says.

Takeovers and Takeaways

As the ARTboxes’ popularity has grown, Dublin Arts Council continues to add to the experience. Currently, visitors can discover Dublin’s public art cell phone tour and dream about what they’d like to see, featuring a Model Magic project with foam clay.

In March, visitors will discover a deep dive into fractals, repeating patterns that promote wellness. The ARTbox activity connects to Dublin Arts Council’s gallery exhibition that opens March 7, and will include coloring pages that combine art and nature activities.

Dublin Arts Council will also partner with two local organizations for monthlong “takeovers” of the ARTboxes. In May, Dublin

Area Art League members will feature minidisplays of artwork in each of the six boxes, along with make-and-take activities, created with the artists and Dublin Arts Council staff.

A Tanabata project featuring bamboo installations and tags, to be inscribed with visitors’ wishes, will be added by Japan-America Society of Central Ohio (JASCO) in July. The takeover also includes origami kits and grab-and-go projects associated with the traditional Star Festival, celebrated on July 7.

Student artists, family volunteers

Andrea Berg, an intervention specialist with Dublin City Schools, is a Steward for the ARTbox in Kaltenbach Park on Cara Road. Her daughters, Libby, 16, and Maddie, 14, have entered their artwork in Dublin Arts Council’s emerging exhibition of student artwork, set to open Jan. 10. When an opportunity to give back arose, they answered the call.

“We’ve gone to Kaltenbach for years. Every time we go, there are a mass of kids around on the playground and families in the park. I always want to fill the box and then watch from the car,” Berg says. “It’s so nice to be part of this and it’s important for my girls to take time to do something for someone else.”

Berg also involves her parents, who live in a Dublin senior living community. She

notes that they like to cut, sort and talk, turning the activity into a social opportunity that contributes to the community.

Berg is an advocate for the ARTboxes, including them in her “Getting to Know You” slides at school. She encourages others to look for them, go to the parks and check them out.

“These are so cool,” she says. “I can’t believe it’s free!”

Connecting with community

Hirschfeld also advocates for the ARTboxes, while connecting with park visitors. She recalls talking with a man who was in town for the Dublin Irish Festival, visiting Dublin’s parks and ARTboxes. She recalls how he loved the experience.

She also connected with a mother and daughter who are regulars, waiting excitedly for her to arrive with new supplies, and a person assisting a young adult visitor with a physical disability into a van. They were “blown away,” and so grateful and appreciative when she offered them the art kits.

“It’s just the timing of things that bring people joy,” says Hirschfeld. “Maybe they needed that, that day.”

Janet Cooper is director of engagement for the Dublin Arts Council. Feedback welcome at feedback@cityscenemediagroup.com.

Dublin Arts Council’s ARTboxes

ARTbox locations, maps and project information

www.dublinarts.org/community/artboxes

Become a Dublin Arts Council Steward

Katy Marque

marque@dublinarts.org; 614-889-7444

Dublin Area Art League

www.dublinartleague.org

Japan-America Society of Central Ohio (JASCO)

www.jas-co.org

About Tanabata

web-japan.org/kidsweb/explore/calendar/july/tanabata.html

February/March 2023 • 33 www.dublinlifemagazine.com
A peek inside the Kaltenbach ARTbox with the Berg family. Steward Chris Hirschfeld connects with her adopted ARTbox and visitors at Scioto Park. Libby Berg (left), sister Maddie and mom Andrea maintain the ARTbox at Kaltenbach Park.

Athletic Achievers

Dublin Schools highlight fall sports accomplishments and winter season outlook

Fall means going back to school, Friday night lights and fall sports in full swing. After sending multiple teams to state playoffs and bringing home regional titles, Dublin Schools had a lot to cheer about as their 2022 fall seasons came to a close.

After starting off strong, Dublin Jerome’s varsity football team ended the season with a 9-3 record; they were 3-2 in

conference play. Dublin Scioto also made the playoffs.

Dublin Coffman’s varsity football team finished the season second in conference with a 7-4 record and continued on to playoffs against Marysville.

Dublin Coffman’s Athletic Director Duane Sheldon says the team’s journey to the playoffs this season is a testament to the program’s growth.

“We’re really proud of the coaching staff and the athletes and how hard they worked to put themselves in that position. That is our new coach’s second year, so it was a great accomplishment,” says Sheldon.

Dublin dominated the soccer arena with the Dublin Coffman’s girls varsity soccer team. The team was undefeated at home, finishing with an 11-3-4 record, which qualified them for the playoffs.

Dublin Jerome’s girls varsity soccer team finished their season 18-2-1, finishing first and undefeated in their conference. Jerome qualified for playoffs and went on to win two of their playoff games. The boys varsity soccer team at Dublin Jerome also finished first in their conference and won their first playoff game against St. Francis DeSales.

Off of the soccer field and onto the trails, the Dublin Coffman girls varsity cross country team finished the

34 • February/March 2023 www.dublinlifemagazine.com
student spotlight
Dublin Jerome’s Varsity XC team wins OCC title Dublin Jerome Varsity Girls Volleyball team

season sixth in the region with junior Olivia Oiler finishing 10th in the regional meet.

Over at Dublin Jerome, the girls cross country team broke school records by finishing second at regionals while the boys varsity cross country team finished as the district runner up. This year marked the team’s third consecutive year of bringing home either first or second with junior Sam Ricchiuti and senior Josh Razor both qualifying for state.

At Dublin Scioto, the girls varsity volleyball team continued their history of victory with 20 wins in four consecutive seasons. In their 2022 fall season, the team ended 20-5, winning three playoff games and going undefeated at home.

The varsity girls volleyball team at Dublin Jerome experienced a season of record-breaking success with 23 wins in a single season. The team also won the program’s first OCC championship and Central District championship, sending them to the Super 16 for the first time in the school’s history.

Dublin Coffman’s girls volleyball team also took a victory lap after winning 19 of their games.

The senior class – Gabriella Durham, Leah Shumate and Annabelle Straty –led the team toward success this season, says Sheldon.

“Their leadership really showed this year and took us back to regionals,” Sheldon says. “Those teams have a tremendous work ethic and play with a tremendous level of urgency. I call it a ‘championship level of urgency,’ which is what it takes to be successful.”

Dublin Schools have now shifted their focus to winter sports. Updates for Dublin’s winter sport season can be found on each school’s athletic page.

Katie Giffin is a contributing writer at CityScene Media Group. Feedback welcome at feedback@cityscenemediagroup.com

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Carrot Cake and Community

Washington Township Fire Department shares its dedication to the community and a sweet treat

In 1937, a group of volunteers banded together to provide fire protection services for the townships of Washington, Perry and Dublin. Though the area was at the time rural and spread out, the initial volunteers saw a need in the community and answered the call.

In the 85 years since its inception, the fire department has only become more embedded in and dedicated to the community.

Fire Chief Alec O’Connell has been with the department for 34 years, and was named chief in 2014. Throughout his years of service, O’Connell has witnessed the city of Dublin and Washington Township flourish, intensifying his passion for the area.

“We have to be really into the community. … It’s all about meeting their needs,” O’Connell says. “If it’s a fire or EMS run then we obviously do that, but the fire service over the years has changed in the sense that it’s full service. … People call in and have water leaking, they call the fire department, that’s exactly what we do. We just want to be there for them.”

O’Connell stresses that the department is always happy to help, rain or shine, just like the community has been there for the department.

“They’ve always been there for us. The community has supported us and been great to us,” O’Connell says. “We know that they work hard for their money and

they support this department. … We want to be that neighbor where they know us.” Along with supporting the community, the department is also dedicated to making sure that its staff has access to mental health resources.

36 • February/March 2023 www.dublinlifemagazine.com
dublin dishes

“Our goal is to put together a robust mental health program so that they have counselors to talk to. We have several things from peer support to counseling to a chaplain,” O’Connell says.

Like many fire departments, employees work in shifts of 24 hours followed by 48 hours off. That means members of the department often do chores and cook together like a family away from family. One of O’Connell’s – and the department’s –favorite firehouse family recipes is carrot cake with cream cheese icing.

Connor Quinn is an editorial assistant at CityScene Media Group. Feedback welcome at feedback@cityscenemediagroup.com.

Carrot Cake with Cream Cheese Icing

Cake

• 2 cups sugar

• 2 cups flour

• ½ tsp. salt

• 1 tsp. vanilla extract

• 4 eggs

• 1 ½ cups oil

• 1 tsp. cinnamon

• 2 tsp. baking soda

• 3 cups grated carrots

• 1 cup nuts (optional)

Combine all ingredients, except for carrots and nuts, in a bowl. Beat mixture, with high intensity, until thoroughly incorporated. Add carrots and nuts, carefully folding them in. Bake at 350 degrees for 45-60 minutes. Allow the final product to completely cool before adding cream cheese icing.

Cream Cheese Icing

• 5 1⁄3 cups powdered sugar

• 8 oz. cream cheese

• 2⁄3 cup margarine, softened

• Carnation (evaporated) milk

Mix all ingredients in a bowl, adding enough Carnation Milk until desired spreading consistency. Pour or spread on top of cake.

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Drinking for Two Bourbon bar makes local home complete

Below the serene kitchen and main floor of a local family’s home lies a new space for close family and friends, great conversation, and the smoky American cornerstone that is bourbon.

Basement bars are not a new concept; however, since the world shut down during the COVID-19 pandemic,

basement bars and collectible liquors continue to spike in popularity as some individuals are most comfortable drinking at home.

Susan and Geoff Retz are no different. Beginning in late November 2021, the couple decided to remodel the area between the main floor and the basement in their split level home.

“Geoff has always liked bourbon,” Susan says. “We had a ledge in the basement filled with bottles, so one day we were sit-

ting around and had the idea to make a bar instead of having these bottles sit everywhere.”

After discussing it for a while, the couple eventually decided to create a bar area. The couple reached out to an employee from The Cleary Company, who has a trusted 28-year track record in central Ohio, to bring a little piece of the Bourbon Trail home.

38 • February/March 2023 www.dublinlifemagazine.com

After assessing the space, Cleary gave the couple a few options to choose from, and after reaching a consensus, the remodeling began.

Although COVID-19 and the resulting supply chain challenges were still peaking, the company was able to complete the renovation in a short period of time.

“We were surprised because the timing between idea and completion went faster than we thought it could,” Susan says.

Though the space was created for Geoff’s bourbon collection, he didn’t always imagine making a room in the home specifically for bourbon. He says while his interest in bourbon began slow, he amassed a collection quickly.

“About six years ago, I started getting into bourbon, then all of a sudden, it started to get out of control,” Geoff says.

Though the renovation was complete in mid-January 2022, the Retzes took their time to deliberately choose the layout, color scheme, accessories and, of course, which bourbon varieties they would feature.

Aside from the bourbon itself, the couple’s favorite bar components include the floating shelves to display the liquor, the built-in cabinets below the bar with waterfall glass, and the wood grain and colors. In addition, the barrel top is also a nice piece of decoration that the Retzes love.

February/March 2023 • 39 www.dublinlifemagazine.com
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Though they initially mulled over including a sink and mini fridge in the space, they decided that it wasn’t worth sacrificing space. What did make the cut, however, was Geoff’s limited edition Angel’s Envy Cellar Collection Tawny Port Finish bourbon, which starts at $250 – a prized possession.

Susan and Geoff say they had a wonderful experience working with The Cleary Company to build their own bourbon bar and incorporating it into the already established home.

“I think it’s a fun experience, we had so much fun figuring out all the pieces and parts and where we wanted everything to be,” Susan says. “So, to those interested in doing what we did, don’t be afraid of projects like this, especially if you have a contractor you trust that’ll help you through it.”

Mariah Muhammad is a contributing writer at CityScene Media Group. Feedback welcome at feedback@cityscenemediagroup.com

40 • February/March 2023 www.dublinlifemagazine.com
LET’S CREATE SPACES you love to live in NEW STUDIO 1064 Goodale Blvd. Grandview Ohio 43212 HausStudioDesigns.com (614) 398-4287 @hausstudiocolumbus

Luxury Living

what’s your style?

Steve Smith (614) 205-3394

13200 Hickory Ridge Rd., Plain City – Just outside of Plain City you will find this little slice of real estate heaven. 10 acres with a large pond, 3300 square-foot home and large outbuilding. Huge mother-in-law suite with separate entrance. Close to Route 33. 4 bedrooms, 3 bath. Geothermal heat. $799,900.

Steve Smith (614) 205-3394

0 Clark Shaw Rd., Powell – 15 acres to build the home of your dreams! Great opportunity for development in Olentangy schools! Close proximity to the proposed Steitz Rd. extension! Gas, electric, water & sewer also in close proximity to the build site!

KELLER WILLIAMS CONSULTANTS REALTY www.SteveSmithAssociates.com

Alli Close (614) 726-9070

5845 Kilbannan Ct. – Ultimate entertaining home built just 12 years ago! Designed with Irish pub feel, views of the 10th green & 11th tee! Numerous amenities include party room w/ GC views, full length back deck, upstairs 3 season room & private screened porch. 18 hole Putt Putt course in the lower level! Truly unique! $1,699,000.

CUTLER REAL ESTATE www.dublinhomes.com

KELLER WILLIAMS CONSULTANTS REALTY www.SteveSmithAssociates.com SOLD

Carolyn Redinger (614) 679-1274

SOLD! Well Maintained Historic Home – Marketed both nationally & locally featured. Gorgeous polished hardwood floors, custom woodwork, panel & pocket doors, sketched stained glass window, an updated kitchen, 2 staircases & a dreamy 3rd floor! Let us

• Real Estate, Property Mgt. & Feng Shui CRB, CRS, GRI, ABR, PSA, CSD, SRES, SRS, AHWD, MRP, FSIM • www.InfinityLiving.org

42 • February/March 2023 www.dublinlifemagazine.com
Contact Laura Pappas today for more information: 614-572-1250 lpappas@cityscenemediagroup.com Don’t miss your opportunity to showcase your home listings to every homeowner in Dublin. Your listings will also appear in the digital edition of the magazine, hosted on the Dublin Life Magazine home page: dublinlifemagazine.com Another GREAT home we found for our buyers in Dublin. Call us if you would like help with your home search and/or listing. KELLER WILLIAMS
www.StrangeHomeTeam.com
& Lorie
(614) 361-8853
INFINITY
CONSULTANTS REALTY
Mike
Strange
showcase your outstanding home features!
LIVING

The price of Dublin homes went up 8.9% in November 2022, with the median price being $443K, in comparison to last year. On average, homes in Dublin sold within 45 days of being on the market, 10 more days than last year. A total of 58 homes were sold in November this year, down from 80 last year.

Top Homes Sold in Dublin

February/March 2023 • 43 www.dublinlifemagazine.com
43016 7028 Corazon Dr. 4 beds 4.5 baths $1,050,000 Sold 12/8/22 6996 Ballantrae Lp. 9 beds 5.5 baths $925,000 Sold 11/7/22 5754 Glendavon Pl. 9 beds 6.5 baths $893,000 Sold 12/15/22 4107 Brinsworth Dr. 8 beds 5.5 baths $855,000 Sold 11/17/22 5760 Ballantrae Pl. 8 beds 5.5 baths $729,000 Sold 11/7/22 8220 Campden Lakes Blvd. 8 beds 5.5 baths $690,000 Sold 12/05/22 43017 5480 Ashford Rd. 9 beds 7 baths $1,526,000 Sold 11/2/22 4969 Pesaro Way
beds 4.5 baths $1,349,000
12/13/22
Quin Abbey Ct. W
beds
11/28/22
Crossgate Ct.
beds 7 baths $1,003,750
11/28/22 6278 Memorial Dr. 11 beds 6 baths
11/3/22 7580 Bellaire Ave. 8 beds 5 baths $750,000
11/16/22
7
Sold
6106
10
7.5 baths $1,325,000 Sold
8031
S 11
Sold
$840,000 Sold
Sold
Information gathered from Franklin, Delaware and Union County Auditors

Destination Spain

A journey to Europe and travel tips

Are you currently planning a trip to Europe? There is no time like the present!

The euro and the American dollar are closer in parity than they have been in 20 years, meaning the conversion rate is nearly a 1:1 ratio. That means you get more for your American dollar when traveling to and within the European Union. So, what can you do? Pick a European destination from your bucket list and start packing!

Although I have explored 12 countries in Europe over the course of several trips, Spain has always been one of my favorites. Part of my enjoyment comes from my comfortability not only with the language many speak since I studied Spanish for eight years, but also the Spaniards’ cosmopolitan yet laid back vibe. The slang term “buena onda” literally translates to “good wave,”

and is used to describe Spain’s laid back attitude, where locals just see where the day takes them.

I went on my fourth trip to Spain this fall, and each one has come with its own unique adventures.

After college graduation I backpacked through Europe and northern Africa for three months. I had a Eurail Pass that enabled me to travel by train anywhere, anytime. Madrid left an indelible impression on me as a livable city with incredible architecture, including the art museums and the Royal Palace. That was my first time enjoying tapas and sangria around 4 p.m., relaxing or taking an evening stroll at El Retiro Park, then going out for dinner at 10 p.m.

Most U.S. flights go to Madrid, making it an excellent place to start your Spanish excursion. Choosing your next stop will be more difficult as there is adventure in every direction. I have traveled to the north near the French border to San Sebastian, Bilbao and Pamplona, where I saw the Running of the Bulls. Portugal is to the west and also an amazing country to visit.

Heading south, I recommend cities like Cordoba, Granada, Sevilla, and the coastal cities of Malaga and Marbella. In Sevilla, I was awed by the cathedral and learned how to dance the Sevillana, a particular version of flamenco dancing. In Granada, you must visit the Alhambra, one of the best-preserved palaces of the historic Islamic world.

44 • February/March 2023 www.dublinlifemagazine.com
write next door
The Corpus Christi festival is also an amazing one-week party and a 500-yearold tradition. Take the high-speed train east to Barcelona and explore the Gothic

architecture of Antoni Gaudi. From there you can catch a quick and inexpensive flight to the Balearic Islands of Mallorca, Menorca and Ibiza.

Each region of Spain is unique in its culture, dialect and cuisine. Even the tapas and famous paella rice dishes will vary distinctly from one area to another. Take your time experiencing different bars and restaurants and ask locals for advice and recommendations. Spaniards are a proud people and will be happy to share their culture with you.

Colleen D’Angelo is a Dublin Life columnist and freelance writer. She and her husband, Tony, raised three children in Dublin over the last 25 years. Colleen enjoys playing and teaching pickleball; walking her pup, Mason; and traveling internationally. You can reach her at colleendangelo1@gmail.com.

Advice before you go on your next trip

Get or update your passport

Make sure your passport is valid for at least six months past your trip. You don’t need a visa for Europe but you will for most Asian countries, so always check travel requirements.

Check medical requirements

Stay up to date on vaccination and COVID testing as well, since each country’s requirements for testing and vaccines vary.

Set up phone and money plans

Call your phone service provider and make sure you have a travel pass plan. Also contact your bank and credit card companies to alert them of the dates and countries on your itinerary. Be wary of using credit cards abroad as they sometimes charge you a 3 percent conversion fee. You can order euros in advance from your bank and use your debit card for purchases or to withdraw more cash from ATMs.

Bring

plenty of chargers and adapters

Check which electrical adapter you need to bring, as not all European countries use the same type. You can also purchase a universal travel plug adapter that can be used internationally. A power pack is also a good idea so you never have to worry about your phone or camera being charged.

Be

mindful of what’s in your suitcase

Pack well in advance so you can continue to edit your choices. Layers are key instead of carrying a bulky coat. Make sure you have

a medical kit with your prescriptions, a basic antibiotic, cortisone cream, antihistamine and allergy medication. Comfortable shoes are mandatory and can make or break your trip. Accessorize with scarves or inexpensive jewelry instead of packing an entire new outfit for each day. Don’t forget a rain jacket and to dress modestly if touring religious sites.

Make space for souvenirs

Try to leave lots of room in your suitcase for clothes and souvenirs. It is fun to shop abroad and bring home unique items, but you may have to buy or bring an extra duffel bag to fit everything.

Stay mindful and safe

For safety reasons, my carry-on is always a backpack and my purse is a cross-body so that my hands are free. Men should also use a money belt or cross-body bag as pickpockets love wallets in back pockets.

Be prepared when flying

For the plane, pack a book, headphones, Kindle or whatever keeps you occupied. Always carry on an extra change of clothes in case luggage gets lost and snacks in case you are delayed and hungry.

Remember to relax and enjoy

Bring your patience, because traveling is not a race. It is about the journey and experiences which sometimes include waiting in long lines, delays and cancellations. Smile, be friendly, see where the day takes you and treasure all of the memories you make.

February/March 2023 • 45 www.dublinlifemagazine.com
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bookmarks

From the Dublin Branch of the Columbus Metropolitan Library

The Swimmers: A Novel

Every day, the same few people take to the lanes of a local university swimming pool. While little is divulged about this group, we know one thing about them all – they are swimmers. It’s recreational, sure, but it’s what they do. And for one swimmer, Alice, it’s the routine that’s holding her life together. But when cracks begin appearing at the bottom of the pool, it’s deemed unswimmable and permanently closed. For many, the loss is disappointing, but for Alice and her family, it’s devastating. Without her daily habit, nothing is preventing the floodgates holding back Alice’s dementia from opening. The Swimmers shares what happens to Alice, her daughter and her husband as her illness begins to overtake her.

On Rotation

Angela’s life is going perfectly according to plan. She’s attending a top medical school, she’s dating a successful man and she has a great group of friends. Even though it is actually her parents’ plan, she’s still worked hard for it. But when everything starts going wrong for Angela, it hits her like a quarter life crisis. She has to figure out what’s next, but that means figuring out what went wrong in the past. And at the height of her confusion, a man she absolutely does not have time for waltzes into her life. How is she going to move forward after realizing she wasn’t leading the right life? And what is she going to do about the handsome man who seems like a bad idea, but who sees her for who she really is?

The Invisible Kingdom: Reimagining Chronic Illness

Chronic illnesses have silently affected millions of people for decades. But these diseases aren’t always taken seriously, and those suffering are often misunderstood and misdiagnosed. Journalist Meghan O’Rourke is no stranger to the ways those with invisible illnesses are treated – she’s suffered for years with one herself. In The Invisible Kingdom, O’Rourke shares her personal story along with interviews and thorough research to shed light on issues still very much in the dark to help give a voice to those who have been quietly suffering for so long.

Speak: Find Your Voice, Trust Your Gut, and Get from Where You Are to Where You Want to Be

Thousands of people are propelled forward everyday by the voice of one woman: Tunde Oyeneyin. She’s a cycling coach at Peloton, and through her encouragement and empathy, Oyeneyin has already inspired and empowered those who tune into her classes and Instagram Live series. But she’s not stopping there. In her new book Speak, she opens up about the lessons she’s learned on her journey, as well as some bumps she’s hit along on the road. From growing up with her Nigerian family in Texas and moving to Los Angeles to work as a makeup artist, to finally moving to New York City and becoming a Peloton instructor, Oyeneyin has learned that there are five elements to living joyfully: surrender, power, empathy, authenticity and knowledge.

46 • February/March 2023 www.dublinlifemagazine.com
Contact Laura today for special first-time advertising rates! Get Noticed! Laura Pappas 614.572.1250 lpappas@cityscenemediagroup.com
Dublin Life Book Club Selection Editor’s note: To be added to the Dublin Life Book Club mailing list or for more information, email kgill@cityscenemediagroup.com. The club will meet Tuesday, Feb. 28 at 7 p.m. Location TBD. The One Hundred Years of Lenni and Margot: A Novel by Marianne Cronin Seventeen-year-old Lenni Pettersson and 83-year-old Margot Macrae form a unique friendship as they each are dying of different illnesses. When the two begin their quest to make 100 paintings together, untold stories from both of their lives surface as they strive to leave their mark on the world.

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