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pickerington community calendar december 2024/january 2025
Through Dec. 12
Santa’s Mailbox
Any Time
Pickerington City Hall, 100 Lockville Rd. www.ci.pickerington.oh.us
Sun., Dec. 1
A Rock Mill Holiday 1 p.m.
Stebelton Park at Rock Mill, 1429 Rockmill Rd. N.W., Lancaster www.fairfieldcountyparks.org
Sun., Dec. 1
Winter at the Round Barn: Holiday Vintage and Made Market
10 a.m.-5 p.m.
Fairfield County Fairgrounds, 157 E. Fair Ave., Lancaster www.visitfairfieldcounty.org
Wed., Dec. 4
Brews and Blankets 2024 5-8 p.m.
Canal Winchester Chamber, 30 Liberty St., Canal Winchester www.business.canalwinchester.com
Thurs., Dec. 5
Ceramic Ornament
6:30-8:30 p.m.
Decorative Arts Center of Ohio, 145 E. Main St., Lancaster www.decartsohio.org
Thurs.-Sun., Dec. 5-8
Ohio University Lancaster Theatre presents A Christmas Carol Thurs. and Fri.: 7 p.m. Sat. and Sun.: 2 p.m.
Ohio University Lancaster Theatre, 1570 Granville Pike, Lancaster www.ohio.edu
Fri., Dec. 6
Pickerington Holiday Gathering and City Christmas Tree Lighting 5-8 p.m.
Olde Village Gazebo www.ci.pickerington.oh.us
Fri., Dec. 6
Pickerington Holiday Gift Market 5-8 p.m.
Combustion Brewery, 80 W. Church St. www.pickeringtonvillage.com
Would you like to submit an event for our calendar? Send details and photos to rkaras@cityscenemediagroup.com.
Dec. 6-15
Pickerington Community Theatre Presents Santa Claus Conquers the Martians Fri. and Sat.: 8 p.m. Sun.: 2 p.m.
Wigwam Event Center, 10190 Blacklick-Eastern Rd. N.W. www.pickeringtoncommunitytheatre.org
Sat., Dec. 7
Breakfast with Santa 8 a.m., 9:30 a.m., 11 a.m. 150 Hereford Dr. www.ci.pickerington.oh.us
Sat., Dec. 7
Santa Saturday 1-3 p.m.
Pickerington Main Library, 201 Opportunity Way www.pickeringtonlibrary.org
Santa’s Mailbox
Breakfast with Santa
Photos
courtesy of City of Pickerington
Sat., Dec. 7
Bloom Carroll Holiday Vendor Show
9 a.m.-3 p.m.
Bloom Carroll High School, 10 E. Waterloo St., Canal Winchester www.squarecanvasart.com
Thurs., Dec. 12
Pickerington Village Shop Hop
4-8 p.m.
Olde Pickerington Village, 21 Lockville Rd. www.pickeringtonvillage.com
Fri., Dec. 13
Women’s Leadership Coalition
8 -9:30 a.m.
Redbud Commons, 602 Redbud Rd. www.pickeringtonchamber.com
Tues., Dec. 17 and Jan. 28
Violet Township Women’s League Monthly Meeting
6:15 P.M.
American Legion Post 283, 7725 Refugee Rd. www.vtwl.org
Dec. 23-Jan. 4
Winter Break
No school for Pickerington Local School District www.pickerington.k12.oh.us
Mon., Dec. 23
Monday Makers - Holiday Ornaments
6-8 p.m.
Pickerington Main Library, 201 Opportunity Way www.pickeringtonlibrary.org
Tues., Dec. 31
Noon Year’s Eve
11 a.m.-1 p.m. Sycamore Plaza, 7861 Refugee Rd. www.pickeringtonlibrary.org
Tues., Dec. 31
Glass Town Countdown
10 p.m.-1 a.m.
Zane Square, 104 N. Broad St., Lancaster www.visitfairfieldcounty.org
Tues.-Wed., Dec. 31-Jan. 1
New Year’s Eve with Red Light Go
10 p.m.-2 a.m.
Finnegan’s Wake, 841 Hill Rd. N. www.facebook.com/ REDLIGHTGOColumbus
All events are subject to change. Visit websites for additional information.
Sun., Jan. 11
Surviving a Winter Hike
2 p.m.
Smeck Park, 395 Basil Rd., Baltimore www.fairfieldcountyparks.org
Thurs., Jan. 16
Healthy Meals on a Budget
6-7 p.m.
Pickerington Main, 201 Opportunity Way www.pickeringtonlibrary.org
Sat., Jan. 18
Magic Nate 1-1:45 p.m.
Pickerington Main Atrium, 201 Opportunity Way www.pickeringtonlibrary.org
Sat., Jan. 18
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Scholarship Breakfast 8:30-11a.m.
Reynoldsburg Community Church, 1636 Graham Rd., Reynoldsburg www.reynoldsburgcc.com
Mon., Jan. 20
Martin Luther King Jr. Day No school for Pickerington Local School District www.pickerington.k12.oh.us
Mon., Jan. 27
Monday Makers - Winter Sock Gnomes 6-8 p.m.
Pickerington Main, 201 Opportunity Way www.pickeringtonlibrary.org
www.pickeringtonmagazine.com
Glass Town Countdown
PICKERINGTON
NEWS & INFORMATION FROM THE CITY OF PICKERINGTON
A Holiday Message from the PPD
This holiday season don’t let the spirit of giving lull you into giving burglars, thieves and pickpockets a better chance to do their dirty work. Criminals love the holidays as much as everyone else, especially because it’s an opportune time for them. The Pickerington Police Department has advice to keep you and your family safe during the holidays.
If You Are Traveling
• Get automatic, variable timers for your interior lights.
• Ask a trusted neighbor to watch your home, shovel snow and even park their cars in your driveway from time to time so the house looks lived in.
• Stop your mail delivery or have it picked up every day by a neighbor or friend. If it piles up, it’s a good sign that no one is home.
If You Go Out for the Evening
• Turn on some interior and exterior lights, play music or turn on a TV so it seems like someone is home.
• Be extra cautious about making sure your doors and windows are locked when you leave, even if it’s just for a few minutes.
If You Are Out Shopping
• Stay alert and be aware of what’s going on around you. Are you being followed or does it seem like someone keeps looking at you? It could be a criminal sizing you up as a potential victim.
• Avoid carrying large amounts of cash; pay with a debit or credit card whenever possible.
• To deter pickpockets and purse-snatchers, be extra careful with purses and wallets. Carry a purse with the strap across your body, not dangling by the strap from one shoulder. Put your wallet in an inside coat pocket or front pants pocket.
Protect Your Vehicle
• Do not leave gifts or packages in plain view in your car. Remember the old cliché, ‘Out of sight, out of mind?’ The same idea applies to items in your car.
• Always lock your vehicle and store all items out of sight, either in your trunk or covered up. Breaking into an empty car isn’t worth a thief’s time. However, anything left in plain view – from your holiday gifts to spare change, sunglasses, laptops, cell phones or purses – may tempt a thief.
• If you have purchased a lot of gifts, consider returning to your home and dropping those packages off before going to another shopping location.
• Help prevent your vehicle from being stolen by always locking your car and using anti-theft devices.
• Never leave your vehicle running while you run inside your home or a store – even if for only a minute or two.
Holiday Package Theft
• Track deliveries online and confirm delivery has occurred. You can sign up for email notifications to track your packages from initial shipment to its arrival at your home, or the recipient’s address if you have the gift delivered directly. If you know a family member or neighbor will be home, ask them to pick up the packages as soon as they are delivered.
• Check with your employer about having packages delivered there instead of your house, so it can be received by a person and not left unattended on your porch.
After You Have Opened the Gifts
Following the holidays, burglars know that many households will have new, and oftentimes expensive items (gaming systems, computers, televisions), in them. In too many cases, residents make it easy for burglars to figure out which homes to target by putting out boxes that identify their new gifts in plain view with their garbage and recycling.
Avoid becoming an easy target by not leaving those boxes in your garbage pick-up locations for several days at a time. Instead, break or cut down any boxes you are throwing out and put them in garbage bags and place them inside a trash can. Or you can keep broken-down boxes inside your home until the day of your regular garbage pick-up.
Take a Holiday Inventory
The holidays are a good time to create an inventory of the expensive items you have in your home. Take pictures or make a video of the expensive items you have. List descriptions, make, models and serial numbers of these items.
If your home is ever burglarized, having a detailed inventory can help identify stolen items and make insurance claims easier to file. Make sure things like TVs, computers, gaming systems, cameras, jewelry and power tools are on the list.
Celebrate Responsibly
The holiday season is a time for celebration. Many times, these celebrations involve alcohol. Drinking and driving is a danger to everyone on the road. If you choose to drink alcohol at a party, a family gathering or work function, don’t drive. Have a designated driver, take a cab, call a sober friend or relative or use Uber. Have fun, but remember to celebrate responsibly.
Welcome New Businesses
Mitten Tree
The 34th annual Dorothy Steiger Memorial Mitten Tree will be at City Hall Dec. 1-13. Drop off your new or gently used mittens, gloves, hats and scarves and they will be donated to Fairfield County Job and Family Services and then distributed to children and families in need.
The City of Pickerington is looking to fill vacancies on several boards and commissions. Interested candidates must be registered to vote and live in the city limits to be considered. Applications are available on the city’s website: www.pickerington.net under the government tab.
Snow Removal
Do not park your car on the street during periods of snow plowing. Push or shovel the snow to the LEFT side of your driveway if you can.
Residents and business owners are responsible for clearing sidewalks. Make sure the postal carrier can reach your mailbox for delivery.
Please note: We are unable to plow individual driveways.
The City is not responsible for damage to basketball hoops or other items in the roadway.
The City of Pickerington appreciates your cooperation and strives to provide safe roads within the City. Allow extra time and slow down during snow events. If you have any questions, please call the Service Department at 614.833.2292.
Upcoming Events
Santa’s Mailbox
Nov. 27-Dec. 13
Pickerington City Hall 100 Lockville Rd.
Holiday Gathering & Tree
Lighting
Dec. 6
5-8 p.m.
Olde Pickerington Village
Breakfast with Santa Dec. 7
8, 9:30, and 11 a.m.
Pickerington Senior Center
Price: $10 (1 & under Free)
Tickets available at www.pickerington.net
Tickets will not be sold at the event.
For more information on these events, visit www.pickerington.net
News and Information From Violet Township
Prevention of the Dreaded F.O.G. Clog
By Lauren Vires, Wildlife & Education Specialist
What is F.O.G.?
Fats, Oils and Grease, oh my! As natural by-products of cooking, it’s easy to accidentally let these substances slip down the drain during kitchen cleanup. It’s in the best interest of your home, business and community at large to take great care to avoid this.
F.O.G. can include butter, margarine, shortening, lard, cooking oil, and grease from bacon, sausage, ground beef and more.
As temperatures increase during cooking, these substances melt into their liquid form. Once they wash down the drain and begin to cool, they solidify into a smelly clog creating sludge. If a clog does occur, it could lead to a backup of sanitary sewage in your basement, floor drains, bathrooms and sinks. Hiring a plumber to come fix the issue could become a costly endeavor.
Preventing the F.O.G. clog catastrophe!
How do you prevent such a catastrophe? Stop the F.O.G. in its tracts! During kitchen cleanup, assess what F.O.G. substances there are and prevent them from going down the drain.
Best Management Practices at Home:
• Pour grease from cooking pans into a can to cool. Once it has solidified, dispose of it in the trash.
• Wipe excess F.O.G. residue off work area surfaces as well as cooking pots, pans and utensils with a paper towel to dispose of in the trash.
• Scrape food scraps off plates into the trash instead of a garbage disposal to reduce any solids from going down the drain.
Best Management Practices for Commercial Facilities:
• The practices listed above apply to commercial facilities as well.
• Create a regular cleaning and
maintenance routine for hood filters and fryers. Food grade paper can be used to soak up oil and grease under a fryer basket.
• Grease traps utilized in your facility should receive regular maintenance and cleanings.
• After mopping grease off the floor, let the dirty water sit overnight. The F.O.G. will cool and float to the top of the bucket. This can then be removed and disposed of in the trash and the rest of the water can be disposed of normally.
• Kitty litter or another absorptive material should be kept on hand to use in case of a F.O.G. spill. Once the F.O.G. has been absorbed, sweep it up and dispose of it in the trash.
Maintaining a F.O.G.-free environment
Not only can F.O.G. have a negative impact on our sanitary sewer systems, but it can be detrimental to our local wildlife and water resources. Trashcans, dumpsters and grease storage receptacles should always have lids that are properly sealed.
If not, the smell of F.O.G. and other trash can attract wildlife like raccoons, opossums, skunks, foxes, rats and
more. These animals make a huge mess while grabbing a bite to eat, and it is not ideal to be attracting them to our homes and businesses where they may try to take up residence. These food items are also not healthy for our local wildlife and attracting many animals to the same location night after night can create an easy place for disease transfer to occur.
Another good reason for properly sealing trashcans, dumpsters and grease storage receptacles, is to prevent a spill. If a spill were to occur, the F.O.G. and other trash could end up down a storm drain that leads directly to our local waterways.
It’s a good idea to avoid storing these receptacles right next to the storm drain in case of an accident. F.O.G. in our waterways would not only add excess nutrients that can cause algal blooms, but it would also float on the water’s surface potentially coating wildlife that live there and disrupting the ecosystem’s balance.
The F.O.G. has lifted
Letting F.O.G. slip down the drain can be detrimental to our homes, businesses, communities and environment. Proper maintenance of F.O.G. during kitchen cleanup is an easy way we can all prevent the dreaded F.O.G. clog! For additional information check out the Ohio Department of Health’s homeowner information related to sewage treatment systems: odh.ohio.gov/ know-our-programs/sewage-treatmentsystems/INFORMATION-FOR-HOMEOWNERS
From the Fire Department
Hoilday Safety
Holiday season is upon us and that means decorating will happen in our homes and office spaces. While decorating creates a festive atmosphere and adds color to our drab Ohio days, it also adds the potential for fires if not done correctly.
More than one third of home decoration fires are started by candles and two of every five decoration fires occur because the decorations are too close to a heat source (NFPA, 2019).
During the Christmas season, tree fires are rare but very destructive when they do happen. A heat source too close to the tree or an electrical problem causes 50 percent of the Christmas tree fires (NFPA, 2019).
This year the Violet Township Fire Department is providing some seasonal decorating safety tips.
Decorating Safety Tips:
• Choose decorations that are flame resistant or flame retardant
• Keep lit candles away from decorations and any other flammable items
• Place candles out of reach of children and pets
(fireplaces, radiators, vents, candles or lights)
your tire pressure, wiper blades and keep at least a half tank of gas at all times.
• To avoid frostbite or hypothermia, dress in layers and limit your time outdoors. Mittens are recommended over gloves and always keep your head and ears covered.
• If sledding, make sure your equipment is in good condition. Never sled head first or on/ around frozen bodies of water. Again, dress warmly and in multiple layers to avoid frostbite or hypothermia.
• If you are going to shovel the snow, please remember to start slow and take it easy. Shoveling snow can put significant strain on your body, especially your heart. Stretch before you begin and take frequent breaks. Remember that snow is heavier than it looks. If you experience chest pain or shortness of breath, stop immediately and call 9-1-1.
• ALWAYS make sure to blow out candles before leaving the home or going to bed
• If hanging lights, make sure to use only lights rated for outdoor use
• Never use nails to hang lights; only use clips
• Make sure to turn off all lights before leaving the home or going to bed
Christmas Tree Safety Tips:
• Pick a tree with fresh, green needles that do not fall off when touched
• Cut 2” off the tree base before placing in the stand
• Add water to the tree stand daily
• Make sure the tree is at least three feet away from any heat source
• Only use tree lights that have the label of a recognized testing laboratory (UL as an example)
• Strings of lights that show wear, have broken cords or loose bulb connections should be replaced
• Never use candles to decorate the tree
• Always turn off the tree lights before leaving the house or going to bed
Winter will be upon us soon. Here are a few tips to follow to make your winter outings fun and safe:
• Always prepare and check your vehicle before going anywhere. Make sure the battery is charged and your tires have sufficient tread depth (no less than 2/32 of an inch per theNational Safety Council). Also check
If you have any questions about holiday/winter safety or fire-related safety issues, please call us at 614-837-4123. We are here for you 24 hours a day, every day. As always, we are your “Friends for Life.”
How to Reach Us
Violet Township Administrative Offices 10190 Blacklick-Eastern Rd. Pickerington, OH 43147
614-575-5556 www.violet.oh.us
Violet Township Fire Stations Phone 614-837-4123
Fire Chief: Michael Little #592: 8700 Refugee Rd. #591: 21 Lockville Rd. #593: 2365 Taylor Park Dr. Violet Township Service Center Phone: 614-382-5979
490 Center St. Pickerington, OH 43147
News
Pickerington High School students named National Merit Commended Scholars
By Jacqueline Bryant
Pickerington Local Schools is proud to announce that eight students have been named National Merit Commended Scholars in recognition of their exceptional performance on the 2023 Preliminary SAT/ National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT).
Each year, the National Merit Scholarship Program recognizes approximately 50,000 students based on the results of junior year PSAT/NMSQT scores. This distinction places them among the top two to three percent of PSAT takers nationwide, a significant academic achievement.
The Commended Scholars are:
Pickerington Central High School: Aarya N. Guntupalli; Julian J. Oconer; Anshuman A. Yadav.
Pickerington North High School: Nathaniel Cleaver; Arsema Dessalew; John Healy; Blaine Meier; Elijah Rahm.
National Merit Commended Scholars are recognized for their outstanding potential for academic success in college. While these students will not advance as National Merit Scholarship Semifinalists, their high scores are noteworthy accomplishments and can bolster their college applications. Each Commended Scholar will receive a Letter of Commendation from the National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC) through their high schools, in recognition of their performance.
The exact score needed to become a Commended Scholar varies each year, but it typically falls within a Selection Index range of 207-212. Although there are no monetary awards associated with this honor, some Commended Scholars may qualify for Special Scholarships provided by corporate sponsors, with notifications for those candidates to be made in November.
This recognition highlights the academic talents of these students and shows their potential for future success.
Congratulations to our National Merit Commended Scholars!
Pickerington students receive the National Merit Commended Scholar recognition from PLSD Board of Education.
faces
By Maisie Fitzmaurice
Photo by Jeffrey S. Hall Photography
Can Do Colleen
Getting to know the woman behind the bookshelves
Retired Pickerington librarian, Colleen Bauman, has a backstory more intriguing than fiction.
You may know her from Pickerington Public Library where she worked in various roles for 26 years before retiring in September. However, you may not know how she became the face of the Pickerington Library.
Library lady
As a young girl, Bauman loved being in the library and spent her recess and free time there, stocking shelves and helping out in any way she could.
Living in Pickerington as a stay-at-home mom to two boys in the ‘90s, Bauman loved to take her younger son to Storytime at the library while the oldest was at school. During one of these read-aloud events, the youth librarian, who knew Bauman as a Sunday school teacher at their church, asked if she could lead a Storytime for her while she was on vacation.
Bauman agreed and eventually hosted more Storytimes before taking a part-time position, and later a full-time position at the library. While there, she worked under four directors and did everything from assisting visitors to updating computer software.
“It was a fun job to have, but it also felt like you had a purpose,” she says. “It’s the biggest social service all in one. You’re constantly helping and I like to help people, so connecting people with resources, helping them find what they need, not just in books, but just in general. I listen to people’s stories and figure out who they need to be connected to.”
Bauman says her favorite part of working at the Pickerington Public Library was connecting with the community and creating engaging programming such as a Harry Potter party that attracted 300-400 attendees. She was also integral in the birth of Violet the Cow, the library’s beloved mascot.
“(Violet is) our reading ambassador, and being able to take her out and about in the community and in parades and listen to kids say, ‘Oh, it’s the library cow!’ and ‘Love you, Violet,’ and ‘Why doesn’t your bell ring, Vio -
let?’ and so we had all of these speaking points for the staff,” Bauman laughs.
Equality and fighting stigmas are very important to Bauman. When she saw the number of adults with disabilities who visited the library and had no programming specifical -
Colleen Bauman and her husband, Bob
Photo courtesy of Colleen Bauman
ly for them, she decided to change that. She took a training course at The Ohio State University and created the Next Chapter Book Club specifically for adults with disabilities.
“Libraries should be the hub of the community, they should be that place where everybody can connect,” she says. “Anybody can become isolated. This is their place where they are always accepted and everybody can find a place there. It doesn’t matter who they are, or what their economic situation is, the library is the place where they can be accepted.”
A whole new family
Around five years ago, Bauman’s birth certificate listing her birth mother’s name was unsealed. She decided to reach out to obtain her family’s medical history.
She used research tools at the library to find her biological mother’s address and sent a letter. Bauman’s halfbrother wrote back, letting her know their mother lived in an assisted living facility and was experiencing symptoms of dementia. Unfortunately, Bauman’s father had passed away years before.
Her half-brother then showed the letter to Bauman’s halfsister who rejected the idea that they had a half-sibling. When they approached their uncle about it, he told them he had actually been looking for her and reached back out to Bauman.
Eventually, Bauman met her two half-siblings and an aunt and uncle for dinner in Indiana, where she was born.
A perfect pair
Bauman and her three siblings were all adopted from different families as infants. When her parents divorced, she moved in with her father in Worthington Hills where she met her current husband, Bob.
Bob just so happened to also be adopted and lived on the same street as Bauman.
“It was kind of a fun thing that we just knew about each other and I remember when (his family) brought his little brother home,” Bauman says. “And (he remembers when) I
Speaking with them she learned that coincidently her mother had also been a librarian all her life.
Now that she knew her biological family history, she found answers to many of the questions she’d had all her life. She has since stayed in touch with her biological family and she and Bob have even vacationed in Florida with them. They plan to get together more in the future and over the holidays.
“It’s a whole new family and you find out your whole history because you grow up and you think, ‘Are you Irish? Are you German? What are you?’” she says. “I grew up never knowing who I looked like, and now that I’ve had kids, (some say) ‘Your oldest really looks like you,’ He does, but he kind of looks like his dad, and now that I have pictures of my parents, he really looks like my dad,” she says.
Colleen Bauman and The Pickerington Public Library mascot Violet the Cow
Courtesy of Colleen Bauman
took my little sister to show and tell when we got her because that was my baby doll.”
The two eventually grew apart after graduation and Bauman married and raised her two sons, Patrick and Jamie, with a different partner.
But, as fate would have it, they reconnected over social media years later after Bauman split from her first husband. Having known each other’s families and upbringing, it was easy for them to revert to the happy, playful kids they once were.
The two have since built a life together sharing their similar sense of humor and love of traveling. They have taken trips around the world including to Germany and Hawaii, and also own a condo in Florida.
Now that both are retired, Bauman and Bob recently moved into a house in Westerville to be closer to their young grandchildren, Micah and Ben, and Bauman’s mother.
“(Bob) inherited two grown sons when we got married and now we have grandchildren who think that Grand-Bob is the best thing ever,” Bauman says.
Closing the chapter
Bauman looks back on her time in Pickerington fondly as does the community. Over the years, Bauman has received awards and recognitions from the City and other civic organizations including a Key to the City. Her two sons grew up and graduated from Pickerington schools.
As of 2024, the City of Pickerington recognizes Aug. 22 as Colleen Bauman Day.
“In Pickerington, faith is important and family is important. It was very nice to work in a community like that and live there,” she says. “I volunteered for years with the American Cancer Society and just seeing who was affected by things like that, there’s a lot of heart in Pickerington, there are a lot of volunteers, and they give back to their community, it’s important to them.”
Maisie Fitzmaurice is an editor at CityScene Media Group. Feedback welcome at mfitzmaurice@cityscenemediagroup.com.
Discover Your Passions in Retirement
Wesley Ridge provides each resident with opportunities to participate in a variety of activities to explore their passions.
“The majority of our resident artists never had the opportunity or time to do any kind of art, so we’re starting from scratch and seeing how they grow in their talent. You’re getting creative in these classes, and it’s so fulfilling to see people come out of their shells.” -Cheryl, Activity Specialist at Wesley Ridge
Photo by Jeffrey S. Hall Photography
By Maggie Lardie
$58
www.charleyandme.co
Holiday Wreath
This year, bring a festive feel to your home with this one-of-akind holiday wreath that will brighten any space. Find it, and other unique festive decorations at Charley and Me Craft Co.
$25
www.combustionbrewing.com
Combustion Brewery Beanie
Show your local pride with a multi-colored
The perfect purse
$58.99
www.rubyjoyboutique.com
Hadley Woven Sling Bag
This chic woven string bag from Ruby Joy Boutique is available in six colors and is easily secured with high-quality locks and zippers in addition to a cardholder.
Art therapy $40 www.paintandescape.com
Take Home Painting Kit
Choose from more than 150 designs to find the right Take Home Painting Kit at Balloons Paint and Escape. The kit includes everything you need from a pre-sketched canvas and brushes to a blending plate, disposable apron and more.
Energy boost
$17.50
www.porterscoffeeandbakery.com
Papua New Guinea Roteps
This dark-roasted coffee with hints of dark cherry and white chocolate has a flavor that will please any coffee lover’s taste buds. Get this flavor and more at local favorite, Porter’s Coffee House and Bakery.
Chill & unwind
$49.99
www.bodyacheescape.com
Massage Gun
This massage gun, available at Body Ache Escape Wellness Center, is great for releasing muscle tension after a long and tiring day.
Pick up the pace
$165
www.columbusrunning.com
New Balance Men’s Fresh Foam Running Shoes
Whether you’re taking up running for the new year or training for the next Columbus Marathon, these shoes from Columbus Running Company will make you feel comfortable and supported.
$60
www.pickeringtoncommunitytheatre.org 2025 Community Theatre Season Tickets Give the gift of performing arts this holiday season with a pass to all of Pickerington Community Theatre’s 2025 shows.
www.thehumblecrate.com
Candy/Nut Dispenser The snacking fiend in your life will love this unique handmade wood dispenser made by The Humble Crate, perfect for whenever they want a sweet treat.
By Maisie Fitzmaurice
Library’s Local Legacy
The history behind the community’s first library building
Implemented through funds allocated by the Carnegie Corporation, there are more than 1,795 locations in America currently or formerly used as a Carnegie public library. Some of these buildings are still designated as Carnegie libraries, while many others have taken on different lives in the years following the funding program’s end in 1919.
The birth of Pickerington’s Carnegie Library, located in Olde Pickerington Village, began with the seven members of the Violet Township Public Library Board of Trustees holding their first meeting in 1909, later applying for the Carnegie Library grant in 1911.
Unfortunately, they didn’t qualify for the grant at that time because the Village of Pickerington and Violet Township refused to agree on implementing a tax to maintain the free public library.
In 1915, construction began after a resolution was reached requiring the Village of Pickerington and the Library Board to agree to raise at least $1,000 annually in taxes (around $32,000 when adjusted for inflation today). The library was officially dedicated in 1916.
Pickerington’s Carnegie Library has even more historical significance than others, as Pickerington was one of, if not the, smallest community to qualify for the $10,000 grant (an estimated $315,000 when adjusted for inflation) in 1915.
This building featured a raised basement with a community room and a room for the trustees, gas, heating, lighting, indoor plumbing and, thanks to later renovations, a wheelchair lift. The community room became a common meeting space and was used as such until just a few years ago.
The library became home to the estimated 2,100 books, previously kept in a school building. By the mid1940s, that number had risen to 4,500 books when they also added stormproof windows and fluorescent lights.
In 1961, the library was officially renamed Pickerington Public Library. It was the village’s dedicated main library until the early ‘90s, when room for new technologies, including computers, was needed. As you’re probably aware, the current main library is located off Opportunity Way.
Now, the former library is occupied by PickeringtonViolet Township Historical Society’s history museum, keeping the building a place for learning. It has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 1993.
In the museum are Native American artifacts, retro appliances from Moore’s Pool Hall, former graduating classes’ photos, historical documents and photographs and more, as the historical society’s dedicated individuals work to preserve precious Pickerington lore.
Maisie Fitzmaurice is an editor at CityScene Media Group. Feedback welcome at mfitzmaurice@ cityscenemediagroup.com.
Warrior’s CompanionLoyal
Family turns their battle into a blessing for others
By Maisie Fitzmaurice
On a warm June morning, the Central Ohio Cyclones youth baseball team took their positions on the diamond, ready to fight to win.
The players sported orange leukemia awareness ribbons on their helmets, showing their support for their absent teammate, Brady Martin, who was fighting for something even bigger: his life.
Now, three years later, Brady and his family – mother Kristin, father Chris, sister Aubrey and brothers Blake and Cooper – have shown their support to tens of thousands of people by gifting them plush ‘battle pups,’ and letting them know they’re not alone in their fight, either.
“If we can’t find joy in our circumstances, then let us be joy in someone else’s,”
- Kristin Martin
Brady was only 9 years old when he was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia, a cancer that attacks blood and bone marrow. His case was very rare due to a genetic mutation, and he was one of only 65 documented cases with this aggressive mutation. The numbers weren’t on his side, and his family had to hope and believe – against all odds – that he would pull through.
During one of Brady’s many trips to Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Kristin suggested he show kindness to another patient to help boost their spirits and his own. They went to the gift shop and sent a stuffed animal to the room where a baby lay
with its family, recovering from an openheart surgery that was needed at birth.
Gifting the plush toy to the family filled Brady with joy, and he wanted to do it again, and again, and again. Since dogs were his and his family’s favorite animals, they decided a stuffed version of the loyal companion would be a great gift for those needing comfort and support.
Thus, the Martins’ organization, Way to Battle, and its battle pups, were born.
“We could call them battle pups because they’re with you in the battle, and for our family, we had been praying for our family to be armed with strength for the battle we were in,” Kristin says. “Each dog has a collar, and on the back, it says, ‘armed with strength,’ because we pray that everyone who gets a battle pup will know that they have been armed with strength for whatever battle they’re facing.”
The Martins (left to right) Brady, Blake, Kristin, Cooper, Chris and Aubrey, stand in their Battle Pups workshop.
Photo by Maisie Fitzmaurice
No one battles alone
At first, Way to Battle was focused on serving other children and families affected by cancer, but that changed after Kristin and Chris reluctantly allowed their kids to give a pup to every player on the Ohio State soccer team.
“Two or three days later we went back to another game and some of the parents of those young men came up to us crying, and said, ‘You have no idea the impact your family and your story has made on our son. Our son was going through a lot of depression, our son had been injured and had missed the season’…One boy was contemplating ending his life because things were really hard… that’s when we went, ‘Woah, this is so much bigger than just childhood cancer. This is for everyone, always.’”
Since then, battle pups have been sent around the world to an estimated 40,000 people, including survivors of natural disasters, grieving loved ones, hospital patients and more. They partner with schools’ guidance departments, police departments, care facilities and fire departments to reach people in need of hope and kindness.
As a result, battle pups have, and continue to, offer support for any and everyone. Whether it’s a child having surgery
or an older adult taking their last breath, battle pups have been at their side.
“We get to celebrate and be with those that don’t necessarily have the ribbon of the month as we like to say, because a lot of people know September is childhood cancer awareness month, and so we like to be there for all of the other months and for all of the other people who maybe don’t have that ribbon,” Kristin says.
Bringing Helpful to Your Home
A chain reaction
The Martins’ story and acts of kindness have inspired others to join in and help in any way they can, including a supporter who voluntarily removes the limbs of battle pups and sews them up to gift to amputees.
Kristin says that Way to Battle’s funding currently doesn’t come from commercial partners. It comes from those who believe in their mission.
After a traffic incident killed three Tuscarawas Valley High School students in Zoarville, Ohio, Way to Battle donated more than 2,000 battle pups to the school’s grieving students.
“We had one family from that community who gave us enough financially to cover that entire give, which was $20,000 because they wanted us to be able to say ‘yes’ to the next community that needed us in that way,” Kristin says. “And (that community) turned out to be Indian Lake, then a gentleman from Indian Lake rented a trailer and loaded it full of battle pups and drove them to North Carolina…it’s literally linking and tying all of these communities and places together through the things they’ve been through.”
Coming out victorious
After a long battle, this December will mark two-years cancer-free for Brady. While his family, friends and medical team kept their spirits high during his worst moments, it was still a miracle for them to witness his recovery.
“It’s hard for (his oncologist,) like emotionally, just because kids like him didn’t used to survive,” Kristin says. “He’s a case that did not have a high percentage or good outlook for survival, and so the fact that if you walked into this room, you
Thanks to the additional space in the new warehouse, Ways to Battle has expanded its battle pup offers to include more than 20 different dog breeds.
Photos by Maisie Fitzmaurice
Kristin Martin’s deeplypersonal collection of journal entries, originally shared with friends and family through social media during Brady’s battle with cancer, are compiled and published in her emotional book sharing her family’s story, Through the Battle, available to buy on Way to Battle’s website: www.waytobattle.com.
would never have guessed that he has been through everything he’s been through, and the outlook was so bleak, and so here he is playing soccer and baseball and school and everything.”
The family continues to grow their organization, and in October, the Martins moved their organization into a warehouse space in Canal Winchester where they stock and ship packages as well as handle administrative work. They have also expanded their selection of dog plush options so each family member could have their own unique pup.
Anyone can go to www.waytobattle. com to send a battle pup to someone they
feel needs a little support. Each package shipped comes with the plush pup and a wristband, an item added after Kristin noticed some kids would cut their pup’s collar off and wear it when they didn’t have their battle pup around.
Shop & Dine
“We help serve in child protective services, so kids in foster care, kids that are currently going through traumatic court trials for abuse…they would put (the collars) on their ankles so that they would have them in the courtroom, that they would know that they weren’t alone,” Kristin says.
Their new headquarters also harbors a couple of supportive spaces, outfitted with chairs, couches and toys, used for conducting hard conversations. The Martins had a similar space for difficult conversations with their children during Brady’s battle. That space is where Blake talked with Kristin and bravely agreed to be a bone marrow donor for his brother.
“We’re a place of people who know what that kind of pain feels like,” Kristin says. “Some of the stories that people open up and tell us, it’s very humbling to be a vessel in that way. That people know that this is a safe space, that they can come and be open with where they’re at in whatever battle they’re facing.”
Maisie Fitzmaurice is an editor at CityScene Media Group. Feedback welcome at mfitzmaurice@ cityscenemediagroup.com.
Pickerington Village
This Holiday Season
Bob’s BBQ Combustion Brewery and Taproom
FYN & Co. Mercantile
The Humble Crate, Artisan Marketplace
A Little Bit Celtic (online)
Porters Coffee and Bakery
Rags 2 Riches
Resale Furniture & Antiques
The Ritzy Rose (online)
Ruby Joy Boutique
Kristin Martin puts together a battle pup package with her daughter, Aubrey.
By Elliot Fryman
Breaking Barriers
The future of Pickerington North’s Girls Varsity Wrestling Team
Five years ago, there was just one girl wrestling at Pickerington North High School. Now, the Panthers have a rapidly-growing Girls Varsity Wrestling team.
Pickerington North is known for its athletics in many different sports, and the women’s wrestling division is a group that found success with its first member and hasn’t stopped winning since.
Maggie Mann
The first female high school wrestler at Pickerington North was Maggie Mann, who wrestled for three years without any other female team members. She went on to place seventh at state when the region still required her to face male opponents, an accomplishment that has inspired many girls to pick up the sport.
“She was a varsity wrestler,” says Reagan Knapp, current team captain. “She
was there before girls wrestling was an OSHAA sport, so she would wrestle with the guys, and she would still do really well. I’d say she’s definitely a role model. I know that took a lot personally.”
The impact she left invoked an interest in the sport that had never occurred in the school’s history. She is still remembered by her former underclassmen, and admired for her strength and ambition.
Heading into the season
Multiple members of the team participated in state competitions last year, reaching great achievements and making great memories as well.
“When I won my finals match,” Knapp says, “all the girls that were on the team rushed onto the mat with me at the very end. It was such a team bonding moment.”
Preparations for the upcoming season began in September and the team is primed for another great season. To help grow the team, the team has open wrestling mats after school ahead of each season where interested can learn how to wrestle, review the fundamentals and get advice from Herman Moultrie, who stepped into his new role as head coach this year.
“The biggest thing is just to teach as much as you can,” Moultrie says. “We have a lot of wrestlers teaching other wrestlers, and that’s a great thing. Students learning from other students. And so hopefully, we are ready to rock and roll.”
While women’s wrestling still may not have as many athletes as it’s male equivalent, members of Pickerington North’s team feel the open
John Copas (far right) stands with members of Pickerington North girls wrestling team at the pre-regional tournament last year.
Courtesy of Sarah Hayes
Pickerington North student Claire Hayes (right) has her hand raised after winning a match.
Courtesy of John Copas
mats and supportive environment has helped them grow a strong team and bond.
“We’ve definitely been trying to get more girls out here at open mats before the season starts,” says Kenleigh Ballance, a freshman at Pickerington. “They can see what wrestling’s all about because it is kind of scary at first, but if you come and do some practices, it does get better. And I feel like it has gotten a lot of girls ready.”
What’s to come
This season has several major matchups lined up including schools such as Westerville North and Watkins Memorial. Several members of the team have their eyes set on making it to and placing at state and other regional tournaments this season.
While they may be a newer team, the chances of a great season are high with their new coach and captain leading the way. As they look to the future, members of the team hope more girls at Pickerington North can share in their love of the sport.
“Wrestling is great,” says Claire Hayes, a sophomore at Pickerington North. “It gives you confidence, but it doesn’t make
Elliot Fryman is an editorial assistant at CityScene Media Group. Feedback welcome at feedback@ cityscenemediagroup.com.
you seem like a boy. You can still be feminine and be a wrestler.”
Reagan Knapp (left) practices an double leg takedown with teammate Kayla Colon.
Courtesy of Herman Moultrie
Serving the Soul
Women support each other and their community through Women’s League
While the Violet Township Women’s League, VTWL, began as a spinoff of the Welcome Wagon group in 1999, the purpose and mission statement remain the same: build a foundation on community service and volunteerism; encourage, appreciate and respect participation through suggestions and fresh inspirations; engage new ideas; and develop and promote friendships and fellowship.
The VTWL is widely known for its community service projects, including annual scholarships presented to local students seeking higher education, however some people may not know it is also a close-knit family of generous women who enjoy coming together to support each other and the community.
The club also has an immense passion for food and sharing generational recipes. Members value coming together to share a meal or snack during and outside of general meetings.
Those who may not have family dinners often look forward to spending time with their VTWL family, celebrating friendship through food. If you ask a member, they’ll say you can taste the love in every bite.
Each meeting is packed full of fun with raffles, lively activities, informative programs; and an opportunity to sign up for special interest groups such as playing euchre, Bunco or Tripoley and going out for a meal.
With the cold months here, the group shares some delicious and filling crockpot recipes that are easy-to-share with family and friends.
VTWL meetings start at 6:15 p.m. at the American Legion Post at 7725 Refugee Rd., in Pickerington. The group invites everyone to join. For additional information visit www.vtwl.org.
• 2 cans cream of potato soup
• 1 can evaporated milk
• 1 can (17 oz.) whole kernel corn (drained)
• 1 Tbsp. butter or margarine
• 6 slices bacon (fried, crisp and crumbled)
• Green onions sliced (to taste)
• Pepper (to taste)
Mix together and cook over low heat in crock pot until warm.
Members of the Violet Township Women’s League almost always have food at every meeting.
Crockpot Corn Chowder
Crockpot Banana Nut Bread
• 1/3 cup shortening
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 tsp. baking powder
• 1/2 tsp. baking soda
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 1 cup mashed ripe bananas
• 1/2 cup chopped walnuts Cream together shortening and sugar; add eggs and beat well. In separate bowl sift together dry ingredients; add to creamed mixture,
alternating with mashed bananas, blending well after each addition. Stir in chopped walnuts. Pour into well-greased 4-6 cup covered bread pan (or use an empty l lb. coffee can and cover loosely with foil). Pour 2 cups of hot water into crockpot. Place bread pan (or coffee can) on rack or trivet in crockpot. Cover crockpot and cook on high for 2 to 3 hours or until bread is done. Serve warm or cold.
Crockpot Chicken & Vegetable (Mississippi Mud Style)
• 2 boneless chicken breasts
• 2 cups whole green beans, frozen or fresh
• 5 medium red potatoes cut in chunks
• 1 pkg. dry ranch dressing mix
• 1 pkg. dry chicken gravy mix
• 1 stick of butter (8 Tbsp.)
• 1/3 cup water
Wash and place green beans on one side of the crockpot. Place potatoes on the other side and the chicken in the center. Combine the dry mixes then sprinkle evenly over the chicken. Place the stick of butter on top. Slowly pour water on vegetables (not chicken). Cook on low heat for six to eight hours until chicken is done and tender.
Top homes sold in Pickerington
September house prices went up roughly 8.9 percent, compared to last year, with a median price of $454,000. Most homes sold in an average of 41 days of being put on the market, four days more than last year, with total of 33 homes having sold this September. (Data from Redfin)
All information is collected from the Fairfield and Franklin County Auditors.
600 E. Courtright Dr.
4 beds, 2.5 baths
$594,900
Sold 10/11/24
90 Catalpa Ct.
4 beds, 3.5 baths
$520,000
Sold 10/1/24
133 Robinette St.
4 beds, 2.5 baths
$475,000
Sold 9/24/24
687 S. Manchester Cir.
4 beds, 2.5 baths
$470,000
Sold 10/8/24
645 Raab St.
4 beds, 2.5 baths
$470,000
Sold 9/30/24
182 Longleaf St.
4 beds, 2.5 baths
$434,500
Sold 9/17/24
588 Cherry Hill Dr.
3 beds, 2.5 baths
$421,000
Sold 9/18/24
11635 Chanticleer Dr.
4 beds, 2.5 baths
$396,000
Sold 9/19/24
11705 Chanticleer Dr.
3 beds, 2.5 baths
$354,900
Sold 9/23/24
25 Violet Dr.
3 beds, 1.5 baths
$307,000
Sold 10/16/24
206 Pioneer Cir.
3 beds, 2.5 baths
$284,000
Sold 10/9/24
477 Meadows Blvd.
3 baths, 2.5 baths
$280,000
Sold 10/4/24
Real Estate Section
Infectious Generosity: The Ultimate Idea Worth Spreading
By Chris Anderson
Recent years have been tough on optimists. Hopes that the Internet might bring people together have been crushed by the divisiveness of social media. But Chris Anderson believes there’s a pathway back from outrage to optimism. It all comes down to reimagining the role that one of the most fundamental human virtues –generosity – can play in our connected era.
Warren and Bill:
Gates, Buffett,
and the Friendship that Changed the World
By Anthony McCarten
Few friendships have had such far-reaching implications for the world, from finance to technology to philanthropy, as that between Bill Gates and Warren Buffett. After meeting at a party in 1991, their growing
friendship would affect each man and lead to change on a grander scale, culminating in the development of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, one of the largest charitable foundations in the world.
Murder at Vinland
By Alyssa Maxwell
observation of harmless philanthropy is proven wrong the following morning when one of the houseguests from the luncheon becomes mysteriously and dangerously ill.
Winning by Giving
By
Nancy Kelly Allen
A fundraiser for a Rhode Island Audubon Society brings Emma to Vinland, the Viking-themed seaside home of her relative where the guest of honor is Edith Roosevelt, wife of Vice President Theodore Roosevelt. Emma is struck by the contrast of the Viking warrior-inspired elements in the house and the genteel cause of bird protection. Emma’s
Teaches readers about philanthropy and the importance of helping others. Highlights ways we can help one another, such as donating our time, work and/ or money.
Franklin Helps Out
[TV tie-in adaptation written by Paulette Bourgeois; illustrated by Sean Jeffrey, Mark Koren and Jelena Sisic]
Franklin shows some philanthropy by pitching in and helping.
Make Your
Own lunch: How to live an epically epic life through work, travel, wonder, and (maybe) college
By Ryan Porter College isn’t right for everyone, and as tuition costs continue to rise, more young people are choosing an alternative to the fouryear degree. This book empowers and guides young people to discover new ways to pursue their interests and gain experience through travel, philanthropy and more.
9 a.m.-8 p.m.
& Saturday 9 a.m.-6 p.m.
JumpBunch Sports, Fitness, & Fun
PRESCHOOL PROGRAMS
SuperTots Hockey
Bally Mini Soccer Stars
Your little one needs to get out moving and you need a program just right for their size. Search no more! Weekly JumpBunch classes begin with kidfriendly warm-ups and exercises. The class “Coach” will then introduce participants to individual skills, equipment and simple rules of a different sports/fitness activity each week. Coaches praise and encourage children while helping them develop coordination, teamwork and confidence. Each session concludes with games, obstacle courses and cool downs to keep kids engaged and moving throughout the session. Participants should dress to be very active. Adult/parent participation is required for all children under 3. For more information, go to JumpBunch.com
SFF-01 18-36 Months
Sep 9 - Oct 21 Mo 6 Weeks 6-6:30pm
*No class Oct 14
Fee: $87 City Resident Discount Fee: $69
SFF-02
Introducing HockeyTots, a fun-filled youth program for kids aged 2-5. Our mission is to spark a passion for floor hockey through non-competitive play. Children learn stick handling, passing, and shooting while emphasizing communication and teamwork. Enroll your child today for an exciting sporting adventure!
STH-01
2-3 Years
Sep 4 - Oct 9 We 6 Weeks 5:00-5:30pm Fee: $107 City Resident Discount Fee: $85
STH-02
4-5 Years
Sep 4 - Oct 9 We 6 Weeks 5:45-6:15pm Fee: $107 City Resident Discount Fee: $85
Location: Sycamore Creek Park, Basketball Court 500 Hereford Dr
Soccer Shots
3-5 Years
Sep 9 - Oct 21 Mo 6 Weeks 6:30-7pm
*No class Oct 14
Fee: $87 City Resident Discount Fee: $69
Location: Sycamore Creek Park, Pickering Shelter 300 Covered Bridge Ln
Bally Little Ballers Basketball
Bally Sports Group provides children with a fun and educational first basketball experience! Players are taught the fundamentals of dribbling, shooting, passing, rebounding, defense, and the concept of game play. The curriculum incorporates teaching styles that help this age group build and understand the skills that are taught by utilizing fun terminology and engaging activities. A positive and encouraging atmosphere is created in which kids learn proper sportsmanship. Each week players participate in developmentally appropriate instruction and modified, recreational game play.
LB-01
4-5 Years
Nov 5 - Dec 10 Tu 6 Weeks 5:30-6:30pm Fee: $107 City Resident Discount Fee: $85
LB-02
4-5 Years
Jan 14 - Feb 18 Tu 6 Weeks 5:30-6:30pm Fee: $107 City Resident Discount Fee: $85
Location: Violet Baptist Church 8345 Blacklist Eastern Rd
SuperTots Basketball
Dribble, shoot, pass, and defend—HoopsterTots transforms basketball skills into an interactive playground! In our game-based classes, toddlers/ preschoolers not only learn the fundamentals of passing, dribbling, shooting, and defense but also hone essential motor skills. Through engaging activities, they develop coordination, balance, and fine motor control. The emphasis is on individual skill development, providing a solid foundation for their budding basketball journey. It’s a competition-free, skill-building extravaganza where every session is a slam dunk of fun and learning. All you need is a water bottle; we’ll take care of the rest, ensuring your little hoopster thrives on and off the court!
STB-01
2-3 Years
Sep 5 - Oct 10 Th 6 Weeks 5:00-5:30pm Fee: $107 City Resident Discount Fee: $85
STB-02
4-5 Years
Sep 5 - Oct 10 Th 6 Weeks 5:45-6:15pm Fee: $107 City Resident Discount Fee: $85
Location: Sycamore Creek Park, Basketball Court 500 Hereford Dr
Soccer Shots is an engaging children’s soccer program with a focus on character development. We positively impact children’s lives on and off the field through our best-in-class coaching, communication and curriculum. Each session focuses on basic soccer skills and incorporates those skills in a fun, noncompetitive environment. All equipment is provided.
SHOT-01
2-3 Years
Sep 3 - Oct 22 Tu 8 Weeks 5:30-6pm Fee: $129 City Resident Discount Fee: $104
SHOT-02
2-3 Years
Sep 7 - Oct 26 Sa 8 Weeks 3-3:30pm Fee: $129 City Resident Discount Fee: $104
SHOT-03
4-5 Years
Sep 3 - Oct 22 Tu 8 Weeks 6:15-6:45pm Fee: $129 City Resident Discount Fee: $104
SHOT-04
4-5 Years
Sep 7 - Oct 26 Sa 8 Weeks 3:45-4:15pm Fee: $129 City Resident Discount Fee: $104
Location: Sycamore Creek Park, Soccer Field 1 300 Covered Bridge Ln
Bally Little Sluggers T-Ball
Bally Sports Group’s Little Sluggers is a great introduction to the game of baseball for young children. Using age appropriate activities, players will be introduced to fundamentals of baseball in an atmosphere that is supportive, fun and prevents children from feeling pressured. Each week, the program will include an instructional portion that will introduce players to batting, base running, fielding, throwing and catching. A modified game will also be played each week. Parent participation is strongly encouraged to allow the program to run smoothly. The Little Sluggers T-Ball program will provide your child with a fun and positive tball experience, encouraging future participation. Each player receives a team shirt and hat. Glove is required. Optional: cleats and bat
LS-01
3-4 Years
Sep 8 - Oct 6 Su 5 Week 12-1pm Fee: $113 City Resident Discount Fee: $90
Location: Sycamore Creek Park, Softball Fields 1 & 2 500 Hereford Dr
Bally Sports Group leads an age appropriate program that utilizes fun games and activities to teach the fundamentals to beginning soccer players. Coaches focus on teaching the basics of dribbling, passing, scoring and the concept of game play. Proper sportsmanship is emphasized in a positive and encouraging atmosphere enabling children to enjoy learning soccer while also having fun being physically active. Each week will include both developmentally appropriate instruction as well as recreational, non-competitive game play. Each player receives a team shirt. Shin guards required. Optional: cleats and soccer ball (size 3)
MSS-01
3-4 Years
Sep 5 - Oct 10 Th 6 Weeks 5-6pm Fee: $107 City Resident Discount Fee: $85
MSS-02
5-6 Years
Sep 5 - Oct 10 Th 6 Weeks 6-7pm
Fee: $107 City Resident Discount Fee: $85
Location: Sycamore Creek Park, Soccer Field 1 300 Covered Bridge Ln
Lil Kik
Directed by Grandmaster Stephens of Free Spirit Karate Clubs. Tae Kwon Do skills help build strength, agility and coordination. Students will learn at their own pace, and most importantly, will have fun, fun, fun! Social skills and coordination drills are wrapped together with our unique self-defense techniques.
LK-01 3-7 Years
Sep 19 - Oct 24 Th 6 Weeks 5:30-6pm
$104 City Resident Discount Fee: $83
Nov 7 - Dec 19 Th 6 Weeks 5:30-6pm *No class Nov 28
$104
Jan 2 - Feb 6 Th 6 Weeks 5:30-6pm Fee: $104 City Resident Discount Fee: $83
LK-04 3-7 Years
Feb 13 - Mar 20 Th 6 Weeks 5:30-6pm Fee: $104 City Resident Discount Fee: $83
Location: American Free Spirit Karate 5953 E Main St, Columbus, OH 43235
Cold Stone Creamery Tour
Join us for a fun and interactive preschool ice cream shop tour! Kids will get to see how their favorite frozen treats are made, then unleash their creativity by making their own custom ice cream creation to enjoy at the end. Class hosted by Spectrum of Sweets & Cold Stone Creamery.
CCT-01
3-6 Years
Jan 25 Sa 1 Day 10-11am
Fees: $29 City Resident Discount Fee: $23
Location: Cold Stone Creamery 1718 Hill Rd
Bally Shooting Stars Basketball
YOUTH PROGRAMS
Skyhawks Basketball
Kids in Karate
Bally Sports Group provides children with a fun and educational first basketball experience! Players are taught the fundamentals of dribbling, shooting, passing, rebounding, defense, and the concept of game play. The curriculum incorporates teaching styles that help this age group build and understand the skills that are taught by utilizing fun terminology and engaging activities. A positive and encouraging atmosphere is created in which kids learn proper sportsmanship. Each week players participate in developmentally appropriate instruction and modified, recreational game play.
SS-01
6-8 Years
Nov 5 - Dec 10 Tu 6 Weeks 6:30-7:30pm Fee: $107 City Resident Discount Fee: $85
SS-02
6-8 Years
Jan 14 - Feb 18 Tu 6 Weeks 6:30-7:30pm Fee: $107 City Resident Discount Fee: $85
Location: Violet Baptist Church 8345 Blacklist Eastern Rd
Bally Minor League Baseball
Bally Sports Minor League Baseball is a great introduction to coachpitch baseball for beginning baseball players. The program utilizes instruction including batting, fielding, throwing and catching. The program will also include a modified, non-competitive game each week. Bally Sports staff will lead each team’s instruction, although parent participation is strongly encouraged. Bally Sports strives to emphasize the importance of great sportsmanship by creating an encouraging atmosphere that helps players build self-esteem and future participation. Each player receives a team shirt and hat. Glove is required. Optional: cleats and bat
MLB-01
5-7 Years
Sep 8 - Oct 6 Su 5 Weeks 1-2:15pm Fee: $113 City Resident Discount Fee: $90
Location: Sycamore Creek Park, Softball Fields 1 & 2 500 Hereford Dr
This fun, skill-intensive program is designed for beginning to intermediate players. Using our progressional curriculum, we focus on the whole player - teaching sportsmanship and teamwork. Boys and girls will learn the fundamentals of passing, shooting, ball handling, rebounding and defense through skill-based instruction and smallsided scrimmages.
SB-01
Directed by Grandmaster Stephens of Free Spirit Karate Clubs. Tae Kwon Do skills help build strength, agility and coordination. The mental aspects build self-confidence, self-control and mental-discipline. From kids to adults, it is great for the whole family. Everyone can benefit from this class.
KIK-01
6-8 Years
Sep 10 - Oct 8 Tu 5 Weeks 5:15-6:15pm Fee: $107 City Resident Discount Fee: $85
SB-02
9-12 Years
Sep 10 - Oct 8 Tu 5 Weeks 6:30-7:30pm Fee: $107 City Resident Discount Fee: $85
Location: Sycamore Creek Park, Basketball Court 500 Hereford Dr
Skyhawks Beginning Golf
6 Years and Older
Oct 17 - Dec 19 Th 8 Weeks 6-7:30pm
*No class Oct 31 and Nov 28
Fee: $87 City Resident Discount Fee: $69
KIK-02
6 Years and Older
Jan 2 - Feb 20 Th 8 Weeks 6-7:30pm
Fee: $87 City Resident Discount Fee: $69
KIK-03
6 Years and Older
Feb 27 - Apr 24 Th 8 Weeks 6-7:30pm
*No class Apr 17
Fee: $87 City Resident Discount Fee: $69
Skyhawks Beginning Golf is powered by Payne Stewart Golf Experiences, the recommended entry-level golf program for PGA Junior Golf Camps. The unique, games-based play program and modified learning equipment make it easier for kids to hit the ball and experience early success. Putting, chipping, pitching and full swing, are all taught through games, simple repetitive motions and learning rhymes that make it easy for young kids to remember and repeat. Specially designed, age appropriate golf equipment is provided.
SBG-01
6-8 Years
Sep 9 - Oct 7 Mo 5 Weeks 5:15-6:15pm Fee: $107 City Resident Discount Fee: $85
SBG-02
9-12 Years
Sep 9 - Oct 7 Mo 5 Weeks 6:30-7:30pm Fee: $107 City Resident Discount Fee: $85
Location: Sycamore Creek Park, Soccer Field 1
300 Covered Bridge Ln
Location: American Free Spirit Karate 5953 E Main St, Columbus, OH 43232
Self Defense/ Kung-Fu
Led by Don Prozy, a 7th level blackbelt in Poekoelan Kung Fu with 30 years experience, you will learn the foundations of basic self-defense including self-defense holds, strikes, and kicks. Strength training, balance, and flexibility conditioning will also be a key factor in this exciting class! Come learn self defense and bring the whole family!
SDK-01
7 Years and Older
Aug 29 - Oct 3 Th 6 Weeks 5:30-7pm
Fee: $129 City Resident Discount Fee: $104
SDK-02
7 Years and Older
Oct 10 - Dec 12 Th 6 Weeks 5:30-7pm
*No class Oct 17 and 31, Nov 21 and 28
Fee: $129 City Resident Discount Fee: $104
SDK-03
7 Years and Older
Jan 9 - Feb 13 Th 6 Weeks 5:30-7pm
Fee: $129 City Resident Discount Fee: $104
Location: Violet Baptist Church 8345 Blacklist Eastern Rd
Engineering Marvels Winter Day Camp
Students will spend the day exploring engineering through fun, hands-on projects like building balloonpowered cars and catapults, sparking creativity and problem solving. Perfect for young inventors!
EM-01
6-12 Years
Dec 30 Mo 1 Day 9am-3pm
Fees: $80 City Resident Discount Fee: $64
EM-02 6-12 Years
Feb 6 Th 1 Day 9am-3pm
Fees: $80 City Resident Discount Fee: $64
Location: Pickerington Public Library 201 Opportunity Way
YOUTH PROGRAMS
Christmas Cookie Decorating
Let your creativity shine in our Christmas cookie decorating class, perfect for kids ages 8-14. Learn fun techniques to design beautiful holiday cookies in a lively and festive atmosphere. Class hosted by Spectrum of Sweets & Cold Stone Creamery.
CCD-01
8-14 Years
Dec 14 Sa 1 Day 10-11am Fees: $37 City Resident Discount Fee: $29
Location: Cold Stone Creamery 1718 Hill Rd
Cake Pop Decorating
ADAPTIVE & INCLUSIVE
Christmas Cookie Decorating
ADULT PROGRAMS
Zumba Fitness
Join us for a fun and inclusive cookie decorating experience! We’ll provide step-by-step guidance in a supportive environment to create festive holiday cookies while celebrating creativity and individuality. Class hosted by Spectrum of Sweets & Cold Stone Creamery.
CSD-01
10-17 Years
Dec 14 Sa 1 Day 9-10am Fees: $37 City Resident Discount Fee: $29
Location: Cold Stone Creamery 1718 Hill Rd
Cold Stone Creamery Tour
Get creative in our cake pop making class for kids ages 8-14! Learn to craft and decorate your own tasty Valentine cake pops in a fun, energetic environment perfect for budding young bakers. Class hosted by Spectrum of Sweets & Cold Stone Creamery.
CPC-01
8-14 Years
Feb 8 Sa 1 Day 10-11am Fees: $37 City Resident Discount Fee: $29
Location: Cold Stone Creamery 1718 Hill Rd
Spy Academy Winter Day Camp
Students will create DIY spy gadgets and analyze fingerprints in this exciting one day program. Packed with engaging projects and secret missions, it’s ideal for young spies eager for adventure.
SA-01
6-12 Years
Jan 2 Th 1 Day 9am-3pm Fees: $80 City Resident Discount Fee: $64
SA-02
6-12 Years
Feb 7 Fr 1 Day 9am-3pm Fees: $80 City Resident Discount Fee: $64
Location: Pickerington Public Library 201 Opportunity Way
Bring your little ones for a special behind-the-scenes tours of our ice cream shop. They’ll explore how ice cream is made and get handson as they create their very own ice cream treat, all in a supportive, sensory-friendly environment. Class hosted by Spectrum of Sweets & Cold Stone Creamery.
CST-01
5-10 Years
Jan 25 Sa 1 Day 9-10am Fees: $29 City Resident Discount Fee: $23
Location: Cold Stone Creamery 1718 Hill Rd
Cake Pop Decorating
Join us for a fun and inclusive cake pop decorating experience! We’ll provide step-by-step guidance in a supportive environment to create festive holiday cake pops while celebrating creativity and individuality. Class hosted by Spectrum of Sweets & Cold Stone Creamery.
CSP-01
10-17 Years
Feb 8 Sa 1 Day 9-10am
Fees: $37 City Resident Discount Fee: $29
Location: Cold Stone Creamery 1718 Hill Rd
Zumba® is a latin based dance fitness program. We “visit” cultures all around the world through the magic of dance. This is a judgement free zone, and no dance experience is needed. Bring water along with you, and be prepared to work, laugh and have fun; all while making those calories cry (sweat). Tammy is a licensed Zumba® instructor and current ZIN™ member. For more information, please visit www.facebook. com/ZumbaWithTammyTyler.
ZF-01 18 Years and Older
Sep 23 - Dec 2 Mo 11 Weeks 6-7pm
Fee: $80 City Resident Discount Fee: $64
Location: Pickerington Senior Center, 150 Hereford Dr
ZF-02
18 Years and Older
Oct 3 - Jan 9 Th 11 Weeks 6-7pm
*No Class Oct 31, Nov 28, Dec 26 & Jan 2
Fee: $80 City Resident Discount Fee: $64
Location: Violet Baptist Church 8345 Blacklist Eastern Rd
Pickleball Leagues
Come compete this upcoming season in the Pickerington Pickleball Doubles League. The league will be self-officiated and self-scored with 8 teams max. Each team is guaranteed 7 games with the top 4 teams advancing to the season tournament. Teams can consist of 2 males, females or co-ed. Sign up one person per team. Participants will need to bring their own paddles and balls.
League Descriptions:
2.5 & Below – The 2.5 & Below League is not a league intended for players to learn the sport for the first time. Players in this league must understand the rules and game settings.
3.5 & Below – The 3.5 & Below League is designed for advanced pickleball players who can sustain short rallies and have competed in tournament play.
Doubles 2.5 & Below 18 Years and Older
Sep 3 - Oct 22 Tu 8 Weeks 5:30pm & 6:30pm
$60 per team
Doubles 3.5 & Below 18 Years and Older
Sep 4 - Oct 23 Wed 8 Weeks 5:30pm & 6:30pm
$60 per team
Location: Sycamore Creek Park, Pickleball Courts 1 & 2 500 Hereford Dr
SPECIAL EVENTS
SPECIAL EVENTS
Registration is complete with full payment. Accepted methods of payment include: Cash, Checks made payable to City of Pickerington, and VISA and MasterCard. City of Pickerington charges a $35 returned check fee.
ONLINE
Register for select Parks and Recreation activities 24/7 with online registration at www.pickerington.net or on your smart phone by scanning the code.
IN PERSON
Register in person from 8:00am-5:00pm Monday-Friday at the Parks and Recreation Department located at City Hall, 100 Lockville Road across from Victory Park.
Email a copy of the Registration form found at www.pickerington.net to recreation@pickerington.net.
BY MAIL
Send completed registration form and full payment to: City of Pickerington, 100 Lockville Road, Pickerington, OH 43147
DROP BOX
Drop off your registration form and full payment after normal operating hours in the secure drop box located at City Hall and your registration will be processed the next business day.
Trails and Open Space Pickerington, Ohio
Pictures Wanted
Send scenic pictures enjoying one of the parks or programs to pics@pickerington.net. Pictures may be posted on the City’s Facebook page or be used in future Program Guides.
Park Watch
Please be alert to safety hazards, vandalism and other crimes in our parks. Report crimes to Pickerington Police Department at 614-575-6911.
7. No fires except in designated areas.
8. Hunting and trapping is prohibited.
9. Pets must be on a leash no longer than 6 feet at all times and owners must pick up after their pets.
10. No swimming, wading, or boating.
11. Catch and release fishing only.
12. No motorized vehicles except in designated areas.
13. Alcoholic beverages are prohibited.
Violation of any park rule may lead to ejection from the park or prosecution under the laws of the City of Pickerington.
PARK / FACILITY RESERVATIONS
8995
Reservations accepted!
Reserve space for your family reunion, birthday party, or graduation party beginning March 1 for April 1-October 31, 2024.
Facility Reservations
1. Facilities may be reserved throughout the year from April 1 - October 31. Reservations will be accepted after March 1 of each year. Restroom facilities are not available from November 1 - April. Reservations must be made at least 72 hours in advance. Additional information available at www. pickerington.net.
2. Full payment is required when submitting reservation applications.
3. Any person or organization holding an approved application shall receive a refund only if the Parks and Recreation Department is given proper notice to cancel prior to two (2) weeks from the scheduled date of use. A Refund Request Form must be submitted, and there is a $15 processing fee to cancel a reservation.
4. In the event of rain or extreme weather conditions, as determined by the Parks and Recreation Department, reservations will be rescheduled if possible.
5. The group or organization using the facilities shall assure that:
a. All park rules are followed.
b. Damages made to the facilities or equipment during their time of use shall be their financial responsibility.
c. Facilities shall be left clean and neat.
Facility amenities for all park spaces available for reservation can be accessed online at www. pickerington.net.
Time Slots
9:00am-1:00pm 1:00pm-5:00pm 5:00pm-9:00pm
2024 Facility Reservation Fees
$80 Fee
$40 City Resident/Non-Profit Discount Fee
*Fees are charged per time slot for each reserved space.
Diley Road Softball Fields Shelter 2
Diley Road (Seats approx. 30)
Sycamore Creek Park Pickering Shelter 300 Covered Bridge Lane (Seats approx. 80)
Sycamore Creek Park Hilltop Shelter 280 Hilltop Drive (Seats approx. 50)
Willow Pond Shelter 209 Pruden Drive (Seats approx. 50)
Victory Park Terry O’Brien Shelter 75 Lockville Road (Seats approx. 95)
Simsbury Disc Golf Course Shelter 625 East Columbus Street (Seats approx. 50)
Sycamore Creek Park Moorhead Shelter 481 Hereford Drive (Seats approx. 50) (no electricity available)
