Pickerington October/November 2012

EVER BEFORE h AS LESS BEEN MORE .

Robotic-assisted suRgeRy now aVaiLabLe at Mount caRMeL east. Even less invasive. Even less scarring. Even less recovery time. You see the pattern. In the hands of the specially trained surgeons at Mount Carmel, robotic-assisted surgery is benefitting patients in more ways than ever. Using the da Vinci Surgical System, Mount Carmel surgeons are performing procedures for gynecology, urology, GI and lung conditions and more – and treating prostate cancer and other complex cases where, previously, minimally invasive surgery wasn’t possible for some patients. With this breakthrough surgical care available at Mount Carmel East, patients are discovering, every day, that less truly is more. Talk to your physician or call 614-234-LIFE for a referral to a surgeon specializing in robotic surgery or visit mountcarmelhealth.com.

mountcarmelhealth.com

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pickerington Magazine

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Oct. 6

Taste of Pickerington/Fall Fest

11 a.m.-3 p.m., Olde Pickerington Village, corner of Columbus and Center streets, www.pickeringtonchamber.com

Combining eating and shopping, this community tradition coordinated by the Pickerington Area Chamber of Commerce is a perfect way to support local businesses. Browse the Fall Fest section where vendors sell their products, and be sure to get your $1 food samples from area restaurants. Additionally, there will be live music and a spacious children’s area sponsored by the Pickerington Public Library.

Oct. 6-27

Lancaster Farmers Market

8 a.m.-noon, Saturdays, Job & Family Services parking lot, 239 W. Main St., Lancaster, www.lancasterfarmersmarket.org

Support local farmers, bakers and crafters by purchasing fresh fruits,

OCTOBER 2012

vegetables, herbs, baked goods and more. Special events, such as corn roasts and apple pie contests, will also take place this season.

Oct. 7-13

Fairfield County Fair Fairfield County Fairgrounds, 159 E. Fair Ave., Lancaster, www.fairfieldcountyfair.com

This event features attractions including tractor pulls, demolition derbies, horse races and a concert performance by the Oak Ridge Boys. Throughout the week, there will be various rides and exhibits available for all ages.

Oct. 13

Fashion with Class Fashion Show and Party

10:30 a.m., Lakeview Junior High School, 12445 Ault Rd., www.pickerington.k12.oh.us

This annual fashion show and basket raffle benefits the Pickerington Education Foundation.

Oct. 15

Central Orchestra Concert

7:30 p.m., Pickerington High School Central, 300 Opportunity Way, www.pickerington.k12.oh.us

Oct. 16

North Choir Fall Concert

7:30 p.m., Pickerington High School North, 7800 Refugee Rd., www.pickerington.k12.oh.us

Oct. 18

Central Choir Fall Concert

7:30 p.m., Pickerington High School Central, 300 Opportunity Way, www.pickerington.k12.oh.us

Oct. 18

Pout & Wine

5:30-7:30 p.m., Bella Cosmedica, 1577 Cross Creeks Blvd., www.bellacosmedica.com

Enjoy a wine tasting, tours, demonstrations and information on lip augmentation.

Oct. 20-Dec. 30 Two Centuries of Editorial Cartoons

Decorative Arts Center of Ohio, 145 E. Main St., Lancaster, www.decartsohio.org

The center presents an exhibit featuring works by cartoonists including Lancaster native Richard Outcault, considered the father of the modern comic strip.

Oct. 30

Haunted Village

6-8 p.m., Olde Pickerington Village, www.pickeringtonhistoricalsociety.com

Join the community for an evening of ghost tours and hay rides at this spectacularly spooky event. Beyond these activities, children can trickor-treat at local businesses in Olde Pickerington Village, but be sure to leave time to stop by the Pickerington-Violet Township Historical Society building for a walk through their Haunted Museum.

community calendar

Oct. 31

Tots Trick or Treat at City Hall

1:30-2:30 p.m., Pickerington City Hall, 100 Lockville Rd., 614-833-2211, www.pickerington.net

Dressed up in Halloween decorations, Pickerington’s City Hall will be open for little ghosts and goblins to collect candy before the community trick-or-treating begins. Children ages 2-5, accompanied by an adult, are welcome to attend.

Oct. 31

Community Trick or Treat

6-8 p.m., throughout Pickerington

Get your costume on and help spread the Halloween spirit. For two hours, Pickerington residents will pass out candy to children combing the streets for sugary treats.

Nov. 3

Pickerington High Schools

Antique & Craft Show

9 a.m.-3 p.m., Pickerington Central High School, 300 Opportunity Way, www.pickerington.k12.oh.us

Browse a wide variety of products from more than 100 dealers and artists at this 28th annual show.

Nov. 3

Olde Village BeanFest

11 a.m.-4 p.m., Olde Pickerington Village, www.pickeringtonvillage.com

This outdoor festival, sponsored by the Old Pickerington Village Business Association and the Pickerington Recreation Department, features an amateur chili cook-off, live music, children’s activities, food concessions, shopping and a burrito-eating competition among local police officers and firefighters.

Nov. 10

United Way of Fairfield County

5K Run/2 Mile Walk

7:30 a.m. registration, 9 a.m. run/walk, Fairfield County Fairgrounds, 157 Fair Ave., Lancaster, www.uwayfairfieldco.org

Stay in shape while benefiting a good cause at this annual event, sponsored by Peoples Bank.

Nov. 11

Sherman House Museum

Special Civil War Exhibit

1-4 p.m., Sherman House, 137 E. Main St., Lancaster, www.fairfieldheritage.org

For one day only, get an exclusive look at the battle flag from the Civil War’s 10th Ohio Volunteer Cavalry. The flag will be on loan from the Ohio Historical Society. Free guided museum tours will be available for all veterans.

Nov. 11

Lancaster Community Concert: High Street Stompers

3 p.m., Fairfield Union High School, 6401 Cincinnati-Zanesville Rd. NE, Lancaster, www. lancastercommunityconcerts.com

Faculty members of The Ohio State University School of Music perform Dixieland music.

Nov. 14

Orchestra Fall Concert

7 p.m., Lakeview Junior High School, 12445 Ault Rd., www.pickerington.k12.oh.us

The Pickerington High School North and Lakeview Junior High School orchestras join forces for a concert.

Nov. 27

Franklin County Public Health Immunization Clinic

9:30 a.m.-3 p.m., Pickerington Public Library, www.myfcph.org

Walk-ins only and shots are available for children and adults.

Jerry, Technician, Columbus

NEWS & INFORMATION FROM THE CITY OF PICKERINGTON

A Brand-New Pickerington.net

The city of Pickerington’s revitalized website will navigate users to the pages important to them within three clicks of a mouse.

By the end of September, the website – www. pickerington.net – is expected to be completely updated to make it more vibrant with new graphics, photographs and a slideshow on the homepage as well as the restructuring of links to provide valuable tools to users.

A newly formed voluntary IT committee, consisting of employees whose departments see a great deal of activity from the website, played a major role in helping the city to streamline it. Because the city can determine the number of times people view the site and particular pages, visitors to the city site also contributed to the updates.

The updated website will also allow people to use their cell phones or home computers to register concerns and then track how the city is addressing the challenges.

Rock Out

“With many residents having so many responsibilities, it is important to us that they can get what they need when they need it – whether it is to report a street light out, a clogged drain on their street, a tree that has been damaged or a code enforcement issue that could be of concern, or to register for recreation programs the city offers,” said Lana Messmore, webmaster and administrative assistant to the human resources department.

Site users can also sign up to be notified through email or text messaging when there is an emergency in the city, such as road closings and boil orders.

“Pickerington cannot sustain our city’s priority operational goals that center on providing the highest levels of results-orientated customer service if we

cannot offer timely services and support information to the citizens and property owners we work for,” said Pickerington City Manager Bill Vance. “To ensure the highest levels of results-orientated customer service and to maintain our city’s success, we must create new, enhanced opportunities for our residents.”

Passport Preparation

The city of Pickerington may just be your passport for your U.S. Passport.

Since the Pickerington City Clerk’s office began processing passports in 2004 for the U.S. Department of State, the clerk has processed more than 2,300 applications without any errors or delays.

In order to apply for a passport, individuals must be U.S. citizens and bring with them to the clerk’s office a valid driver’s license, passport photos and a certified birth certificate.

passport, valid for 10 years, costs $110, while a child’s passport, valid for five years, costs $80. Each has a separate $25 processing fee.

Routine passports are usually issued within four to six weeks.

If adults need passports sooner, the cost of an “expedited passport” is $182.72. The separate $25 processing fee is also required, and an additional $18.95 must be paid if the application needs to be sent to the processing center by overnight mail.

City Hall in Pickerington is really rocking! At the request of Pickerington Mayor Lee Gray, Cracker Barrel in Pickerington on Aug. 24 donated two comfortable rocking chairs. The chairs are located in front of City Hall to allow visitors to make themselves at home.

While Pickerington has experienced tremendous growth over the last several years, the mayor wants residents to know that Pickerington has not lost its hometown atmosphere. Showing off the new chairs are (left to right) restaurant retail manager Kathy Simmons, Mayor Gray and restaurant general manager Amy Mostaka.

“While the birth certificate must be mailed with the application, it is returned once the passport is processed,” said Lynda Yartin, Pickerington’s city clerk.

Passports are processed on a walk-in basis from 8:30-11:30 a.m. Monday through Friday. A routine adult

Expedited passports are usually received in two weeks.

If future travelers have questions regarding passports, passport cards or requirements for minors, they can contact the city clerk at 614-8373974, ext. 1138, or they can email her at lyartin@pickerington.net.

News and information from the City of Pickerington city directory

cityprofile: David Jackson

When David Jackson goes to work for the city of Pickerington each day, the chief operator of water reclamation for the wastewater treatment plant on Hill Road knows that he has what some consider a “dirty job,” but he manages it well.

Jackson has been the chief operator for Pickerington since November 2010, and he has more than 24 years of experience in wastewater and water treatment, including a Class III Wastewater Treatment Operating License from the Environmental Protection Agency.

The chief operator is also a member of the American Water Works Association and the Ohio Water Environment Association.

“I am responsible for the operation and maintenance, testing and EPA compliance for around $30 million worth of treatment plant equipment and five remote pumping stations,” said Jackson.

In 2011, the Pickerington plant, which has two fulltime and two part-time EPA certified operators and one administrative assistant, treated approximately 703 million gallons of sewage.

“At the Hill Road South plant, our current average daily flow is just over 2 million gallons per day,” Jackson said. “The Water Reclamation Lab performed more than 7,592 routine analyses and many other evaluations.”

In addition to managing the plant and the pumping stations, Jackson works with a variety of electrical contractors, control specialists, equipment technicians and employees in the contract lab, which handles a portion of the city’s compliance testing.

“We have very talented people who are doing their best with some very good equipment. There is always room to improve, and I am constantly striving for that. But right now, we are in great shape,” he added.

Mark Your Calendars

Haunted Village

Oct. 30, 6-8 p.m., Columbus Street, Olde Pickerington Village

The city of Pickerington is scaring up its annual celebration with ghostly tours, hay rides, a storyteller, a haunted house, museum access, a garden, trick-ortreating and a pumpkin-carving contest.

Prizes for the “most original” and “most creatively” carved pumpkins will be awarded for artists age 8 and under, 9-17, and adult. In order to compete, carvers must register their creations with the Parks and Recreation Department (614-833-2211) before Oct. 29.

Sponsored by the city’s Parks and Recreation Department, Olde Pickerington Village Business Association, Pickerington Lions Club and Rock Factory.

Tots Trick-or-Treat at City Hall

Oct. 31, 1:30-2:30 p.m., City Hall, 100 Lockville Rd.

Little pumpkins, pirates and princesses, and all of their other costumed friends ages 2-5, are special

guests at this Halloween event. With an adult in hand, tots can parade around the “bootifully” decorated City Hall in their costumes and experience a family friendly trick-or-treat.

Community Trick-or-Treat

Oct. 31, 6-8 p.m.

Goblins, witches and other costumed characters will be visiting their neighborhood haunts for trick-or-treat. Motorists are encouraged to take extra precautions when driving due to the number of children enjoying Halloween.

Breakfast with Santa

Dec. 1, 8 a.m.-noon, Pickerington Senior Center, 150 Hereford Dr.

Parents can begin purchasing tickets for children wanting to have breakfast with Jolly Old St. Nicholas Nov. 5 at the Pickerington Recreation Department, (100 Lockville Rd.). The cost is $5 per person; children age 2 and under are free. Make checks payable to the Pickerington Senior Center.

In addition to sharing a table with the man of the hour, attendees can enjoy a Secret Santa Shoppe, holiday music, a kids’ craft station, a bake sale and an opportunity to talk and take pictures with Santa and Mrs. Claus.

Olde Village Holiday Gathering

Dec. 7, 5-8:30 p.m., Columbus Street, Olde Pickerington Village

The annual holiday celebration includes a tree lighting ceremony, horse-drawn carriage rides, strolling carolers, free children’s activities, Santa and a chance to shop in the village for special holiday gifts.

Businesses and homeowners within the Olde Village limits may also begin registering for the holiday lighting and decorating contest on Nov. 19 at the Recreation Department. All contestants must complete the entry form by Dec. 4. Winners of the event will be announced during the festivities.

Santa’s Mailbox

Nov. 21-Dec. 11, City Hall, 100 Lockville Rd.

Pickerington has a direct mailing route to the North Pole. Children can place their letters to Santa in a North Pole Express Mailbox in front of City Hall. Santa and his elves will write back as long as they have the child’s name and address.

Dorothy Steiger Memorial Mitten Tree

Dec. 7-18, City Hall, 100 Lockville Rd.

Pickerington residents can warm the hearts, hands and heads of many area children with gifts of mittens, gloves, hats and other cold weather gear that adorn the Memorial Mitten Tree before they are distributed to those in need.

Violet Township

By Nancy Lee, Director, Pickerington Senior Center

Pickerington Senior (Community) Center

As Pickerington has grown, so has its Senior Center.

Today, there are activities targeted toward a variety of interests, including ballroom dancing from 6-7 p.m. every Wednesday. Educational seminars are held frequently on topics related to health care and financial planning issues for seniors. Social activities include card parties, euchre tournaments, fellowship dinners, bingo games, crafts, quilting, strength classes, square dancing and watercolor classes. A membership luncheon with a presentation is held the third Tuesday of the month at noon. The Senior Center sponsors trips all around the world and a variety of local overnight and day trips.

The Pickerington Senior Center is not just a senior center; it is a community center available for use by residents, civic organizations, churches and others. The venue

can seat up to 200 attendees and is a perfect setting for baby showers, bridal showers, wedding receptions, book clubs, church services, business meetings and seminars, and the list goes on. The facility is equipped with a kitchen.

For more information on how to reserve the building, please contact the center at 614-837-3020.

For those interested in becoming a member of the senior center, the membership fee is $12.50 per year for persons aged 50 years and over. The fee includes use of the senior center building, a month-

ly newsletter and access to a number of programs and activities, including lifeline screenings, health seminars, flu shots and educational workshops.

The center is located at 150 Hereford Dr.

By Daniel Pillitteri, Friends of Violet Township Dog Park

One Great Year, One Great Park, One Great Community and One Great Big Bunch of Happy Dogs!

On Aug. 14, 2010, Violet Township officially opened the Violet Township Dog Park. The park is a result of a joint effort between the township and the community to provide the first off-leash dog park in Fairfield County. The community came together under the leadership of a nonprofit organization, the Friends of Violet Township Dog Park. The group led the effort for fundraising and planning the many aspects of a successful dog park.

The benefits of the dog park have been realized in the daily usage of the park, even in the extreme temperatures experienced this summer. It is not unusual to see 30 to 40 dogs and owners romping in the park

on any given evening. Many users have formed friendships and know the names of dogs that visit on a regular basis.

The physical activity for the dogs, the benefits of pet socialization and the bonding of canine and human friends has been tremendously successful. Unofficial blogs and Facebook sites have been created extolling the benefits of the park.

It is gratifying to see so many human users of the park ensuring proper etiquette of their pets. The park has posted established rules that encourage responsible pet ownership and participation. Observance of these rules has been consistent and has created a positive environment.

People with questions about park maintenance, parking or other general issues have found the township staff to be very responsive when contacted.

The success of the Violet Township Dog Park has generated visitors from Lancaster, Reynoldsburg, Lithopolis and beyond. It has also driven other groups to begin planning and fundrais-

How to Reach Us

Violet Township Administrative Offices

12970 Rustic Dr. Pickerington, OH 43147

614-575-5556 www.violet.oh.us

Violet Township Fire Stations

Phone 614-837-4123

Fire Chief: John Eisel

#592: 8700 Refugee Rd.

#591: 21 Lockville Rd.

#593: 2365 Taylor Park Dr. (behind hhgregg)

Violet Township Service Center

Phone: 614-382-5979

490 Center St.

Pickerington, OH 43147

ing for additional parks in Fairfield County. A grant of $10,000 has been made to a group in Lancaster to develop a similar park in the Lancaster area.

Donations to help with the maintenance and upgrades to the park are appreciated and may be sent to the Friends of the Violet Township Dog Park, care of Target Business Services,

Fire Department Open House

Oct. 14, 2012

1-3 p.m. Station 592

8700 Refugee Rd.

Please review the park rules, and by all means, bring your canine pets to the park! You will find a wonderful park and a great group of people all supported by an outstanding township support team.

We will have a Fire Safety House where children can enter a non-hazardous smoke-filled environment and learn how to get out of their home in case of fire. We will also teach kids how to get down and crawl under smoke. Coupons for free batteries for smoke detectors will be available. Representatives from Ohio Fire and Safety will be on hand to inspect and/ or service your fire extinguisher. You will be able to purchase or order a fire escape ladder for your second floor area. Coupons for free goodies, balloons and cookies will be given out, and an appearance by Sparky the Fire Dog and picture opportunities for kids dressed up in fire department bunker gear will round out this fun and educational day.

12920 Stonecreek Dr. #B, Pickerington, OH 43147.

A Special Message from Fire Chief John Eisel Technological Advancements Making a Difference During the Critical First Hour of a Cardiac Event

I wanted to take this chance to share one of the many advancements in emergency service delivery that we are using to improve care for our patients in the Emergency Medical System.

One of these advances provides the opportunity for improved cardiac care, which can produce better patient outcomes from cardiac events.

A heart attack is triggered when one of the coronary arteries becomes blocked. When the artery is blocked and the blood cannot flow adequately, symptoms begin to show and can be visible on the patient’s electrocardiogram (EKG). What happens to muscle that is denied blood flow, which is needed to supply the muscle with oxygen? The muscle tissue begins to die, damaging the heart.

Treatment begins with an immediate call to 9-1-1 and early access to emergency medical services (EMS). A trained, professional dispatcher asks a series of questions and provides instruction (location, what the problem is, patient history and any pre-arrival instructions). While that is going on, another dispatcher alerts the closest crew and directs it to the patient’s location.

Upon arrival, the crews evaluate the patient, and if the illness is cardiac-related, they view the patient’s EKG with a state-of-the-art heart monitor/defibrillator. The EKG is then transmitted to the receiving hospital via a Bluetooth connection from the medic vehicle, which carries a device that provides a secure “hot spot” to facilitate the transmission. The paramedics then transport the patient in a timely fashion using the Opticom traffic management system, while treating the symptoms and monitoring the patient’s condition.

Once the EKG has been received, the emergency room physician reviews the EKG and passes it along to the on-duty

cardiologist. If the EKG indicates the patient is having a serious heart condition, or STEMI (ST Elevated Myocardial Infarction), provisions are made to have the cardiac catheterization lab staff waiting for the arrival of the patient, and the medic crew is instructed to bypass the emergency room and deliver the patient directly to the cardiac catheterization lab, where invasive procedures are performed to remove or reduce the blockage of the coronary artery that caused the heart attack.

So, what does all this mean? Very simply stated:

Time is muscle.

Time is of the essence, and the blockage must be removed or reduced to re-establish the blood flow to the heart muscle affected. When these improvements are implemented, the time from the paramedics’ arrival and the patient’s delivery to the cardiac catheterization lab is greatly reduced, thanks to technological advancements and cooperation between the paramedics and the receiving hospital.

Faster access to advanced emergency cardiac care saves lives and improves the quality of life for those affected. The American Heart Association recommends the patient be in the cardiac catheterization lab undergoing invasive procedure within 120 minutes of arrival to the ER. Hospitals in the central Ohio area average a time of 55 to 60 minutes in accomplishing this benchmark.

All of our career emergency response personnel are trained to the paramedic

level and are required to renew their Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) certifications every two years. Our response vehicles are equipped with state-of-the-art equipment, medications and protocols to help your worst day become better.

We are “Your friends for Life.”

Know the Symptoms

When a person is experiencing a heart attack, the signs and symptoms may include:

• Chest discomfort: Most heart attacks involve discomfort in the center of the chest that lasts more then a few minutes, or that goes away and comes back. It can feel like uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, fullness or pain.

• Other upper body discomfort: May include pain or discomfort in one or both arms, the back, the neck, the jaw, or the stomach.

• Shortness of breath: With or without chest discomfort.

• Other signs: May include breaking out in a cold sweat, nausea or lightheadedness.

faces By Olivia Ohlin

An Admirable Activist

Pickerington senior embodies the generous spirit of volunteerism

WWhen it comes to giving back to her community, Dorothy Peterson doesn’t mess around.

The Pickerington senior citizen is part of no fewer than seven organizations dedicated to service and charity.

She settled in Pickerington after a life spent in various locations throughout the Midwest, and her connection to the community is too strong for her to ever envision leaving, she says.

“People are so friendly and caring here,” Peterson says. “I’ve never lived anywhere where I felt such a close community feeling.”

Peterson was named Volunteer of the Year at the PCMA Food Pantry of Pickerington in 2010, and just this year was nominated for induction in the Ohio Senior Citizens Hall of Fame by food pantry Director Dianna Kassouf. Though dedicated to her work at the food pantry, that’s hardly the only place Peterson helps out.

Locally, Peterson is part of Friends of the Pickerington Public Library, the Pickerington Violet Township Historical Society and the Violet Township Women’s League, and is an active member of Prince of Peace Presbyterian Church. She’s also involved with Touching Little Lives, a Circleville-based nonprofit dedicated to helping newborns, and an organization that gives scholarships to women pursuing college degrees.

Each organization and group promotes volunteerism and giving back to the community. Whether she’s raising money for a scholarship, serving families at the food pantry or knitting scarves for the Special Olympics with the Women’s League, Peterson truly enjoys offering her time.

“I have the time to volunteer and feel I should give back since I have gained so much in this community,” she says.

Though her level of volunteerism has certainly increased in recent years, Peterson has worked to do good her whole life.

Although she admits not volunteering as much in the past due to a busier lifestyle, she has dedicated 53 years to nursing and public health.

In 1943, 18-yearold Peterson knew she wanted to become a nurse. With World War II underway, she joined the U.S. Cadet Nurse Corps to help with the high demand. She left her small hometown of Ottawa, Ill. for Chicago to attend St. Bernard’s School of Nursing at Loyola University and worked in a civilian hospital to replace nurses who were needed to treat soldiers.

“Nursing was very rewarding right off the bat,” says Peterson. “I felt it was really my niche.”

After the war, she left Chicago and the Cadet Nurse Corps and worked at a hospital in Ottawa before marrying and moving to Wisconsin. Peterson eventually left hospital work and became a public health nurse.

Peterson moved from Wisconsin to Michigan and, after 28 years there, she retired and set her sights southward. She chose to move to Pickerington two years after retirement in 1998 to be closer to her children and grandchildren.

Since becoming a Pickerington resident, Peterson has felt welcome.

“It’s not easy to leave somewhere you’ve lived for so long,” she says. “I anticipated it (would be) hard to start all over, but it turned out to not be hard at all.”

Peterson knew one way to make a smooth transition to a new town is to quickly make friends. That’s why she decided to step up her volunteering.

She had heard about the food pantry in passing one day and thought it might benefit from her assistance. Since then, she has given much of her time helping others.

Peterson is greeted with smiles and hugs from the many friends she has made at the food pantry. She also has had the opportunity to work alongside younger people, whom she commends for their community involvement early on in life.

“It’s so nice to see the young people volunteer. They’re so needed, too,” she says. “It probably brings them out of themselves and makes them think of others. Once they start doing that as

youngsters, it carries on throughout their whole lives.”

Peterson also credits the food pantry for sparking her passion for volunteering, and it continues to be the organization closest to her heart. The moment she realized her work truly made an impact on the community was when the economy took a downturn a few years back and need dramatically increased.

A young mother turned to the food pantry shortly after her house was repossessed. She arrived in tears with her three small children and she said they wouldn’t know what to do without this source of food. Peterson says the experience made the biggest impression on her and solidified her belief that people undoubtedly need a place like the food pantry to be available.

With her vast array of involvements, Peterson remains humble. Describing herself as “speechless,” she says she can’t imagine being inducted into the Senior Citizens Hall of Fame.

“There are so many outstanding people in the community who volunteer and I am just so honored to be recognized,” she says.

In her spare time, Peterson enjoys spending time with her three grandchildren and two children who live nearby. She’s also an avid reader and loves to knit.

Peterson is so grateful for all of the things she has learned and people she has met through being an active community member. She doesn’t have plans of slowing down any time soon and intends to continue being a familiar face in Pickerington.

Olivia Ohlin is a contributing writer. Feedback welcome at gbishop@city scenemediagroup.com.

Pets on Parade

Animals and their owners come out to socialize at annual PetFest

PPickerington residents love their pets, and that fact is never more obvious than it is the day of the Olde Village PetFest.

This year’s PetFest was held Sept. 7. While it was primarily dogs accompanied by their owners that packed West Columbus Street in Olde Pickerington Village, they were not the only animal companions to attend – cats, rabbits, snakes, a bird, a turtle and a ferret were among the other creatures.

Take a look at some of the photos Pickerington Magazine shot at PetFest. Which furry (or scaly) companion is your favorite?

Above: Cassidy Wilson with her ball python, Ekans

Left: April, a mixed shorthair cat

Above: Suchiko, a ferret

Top Right: Halo, a border collie

By Stephan Reed

The Palate of Pickerington Competition highlights cuisine of the community

IIn a world full of easily accessible chain restaurants and fast food drive-thrus, it can be easy to forget about the unique flavor of local businesses.

But for the past 14 years, the Pickerington Area Chamber of Commerce and its Taste of Pickerington competition have put the spotlight back on regional restaurants.

“We do this competition every year to highlight our local businesses,” says Chamber President Helen Mayle. “It really builds up the local spirit.”

At 2011’s Taste of Pickerington, A Taste to Remember Catering took home the title of Pickerington’s tastiest establishment courtesy of its barbecue pulled and roasted chicken.

“We … have lived in Pickerington for 13 years and owned our business for four years, but this was the first year we entered the competition,” says Sabra Kershaw, who co-owns A Taste to Remember with her husband, Eric. “It was such a nice surprise to win last year. We weren’t expecting it.”

Each year’s winner, chosen by a panel of local celebrity food judges, is rewarded with a purple spatula trophy that represents both Pickerington and the element of taste. When the next competition rolls around, the winner returns the trophy and enters the competition in

hopes of taking it home again.

“We are surely going to be in it this year,” Sabra says. “We’re going to try our best to come out on top again.”

Sabra notes the business’ originality and creativity as the keys to their 2011 capture of the coveted trophy.

“Everything we make is completely from scratch,” she says. “We try to provide the freshest foods for our customers.”

A Taste to Remember also hosts the wing-eating competition at the Taste of Pickerington, which pits two local football teams against each other in a feasting frenzy. Students from Pickerington High Schools North and Central stuff themselves to see who can come out on top and earn bragging rights as wing-eating champs.

The Taste of Pickerington features a festival atmosphere and is accommodating to families, Sabra says.

“People walk around on a beautiful day and try all sorts of local food,” she says. “The community really supports us. They really embrace their small business owners.”

This year’s Taste of Pickerington will be held on Columbus Street in Olde Pickerington Village on Oct. 6. In addition to the many culinary options, a salsa band will provide live entertainment. There is no fee to get into the event, but each vendor charges $1 per taste.

“There’s a large variety of food and entertainment here,” Mayle says. “That $1 could get you an entrée, a piece of pizza, a dessert or a drink. They’re all pretty big portions and it’s a part of an all-around fun time.”

Stephan Reed is a contributing writer. Feedback welcome at gbishop@city scenemediagroup.com.

Sabra and Eric Kershaw, owners of A Taste to Remember

A Taste to Remember won the 2011 Taste of Pickerington with its barbecue pulled and roasted chicken.

Barbecue Pulled Chicken with Southwestern Coleslaw

Ingredients

• Whole chicken; 4-5 lbs.

• 2 Tbsp. onion powder

• 1 Tbsp. paprika

• ¼ tsp. salt

• ¼ tsp. pepper

• 4 cups barbecue sauce

• 16 oz. shredded cabbage

• 8 oz. black beans (canned)

• 8 oz. frozen corn (thawed)

• 4 oz. shredded carrots

• 1 tsp. cumin powder

• ½ tsp. chili powder

• 6 oz. coleslaw dressing

• ¼ tsp. cayenne pepper (optional)

• sliced jalapeño peppers (optional) Directions

1. Clean and rub chicken with garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, salt and pepper.

2. Bake chicken at 350 degrees until it reaches 165 degrees between the breast and thigh. Do not touch the bone.

3. Let the chicken rest 20 minutes. Pull meat off the bones, discarding the skin and bones.

4. Shred meat and toss into barbecue sauce.

5. In another bowl, combine slaw dressing, cumin and chili powder. Add salt and pepper to taste.

6. Mix both together.

7. Place chicken and slaw on your favorite roll and enjoy.

Unique Eatery Located in the Heart of Old Pickerington Village!

By Colleen Cassidy Bauman, Pickerington Public Library Community Services Coordinator

Pugs in a Bug

By Carolyn Crimi

Six pudgy pugs hop in a car and take a spin through locales from country and city to desert and beach, encountering other dogs in other vehicles along the way and teaching young readers about counting.

Oogy: The Dog Only a Family Could Love

By Larry Levin

Oogy had been used as bait for fighting dogs when he was just a few months old. He had been left to die until the police rescued him and the staff at Ardmore Animal Hospital saved his life. The Levins, whose sons are themselves adopted, were unable to resist Oogy’s charms and decided to take him home.

Giant George: Life with the World’s Biggest Dog

By Dave Nasser with Lynne Barrett-Lee

He was the runt of the litter when Dave and Christy Nasser brought him home, but the family’s blue-eyed “baby” grew up to become almost 5 feet tall, 7 feet long and 245 pounds. The book tells the Great Dane’s tale from puppy to tallest dog in history.

Social Media for Seniors

By Studio Visual Steps

Senior citizens looking to boost their tech savvy can use this book to learn more about Facebook, Twitter and all other levels of social media, with screenshots and step-by-step instructions to make things simple.

Google for Seniors: Get

Acquainted with Free Google Applications: Google Earth, Maps, Reader, Docs, Sites, Chrome

By Studio Visual Steps

Google offers a wide variety of free software and services online, and this guide gives seniors detailed instructions on building websites, creating documents and using applications.

The Modern Grandparent’s Handbook:

The Ultimate Guide to the New Rules of Grandparenting

By Dr. Georgia Witkin

With this book, grandparents can learn how to connect with their grandchildren online and off, how to contribute to their emotional development and boost their IQ, the secret hidden stresses of being a grandparent and how to deal with them, the three things they should never say to their son- or daughter-in-law, and more!

Session 2: Oct.22 - Dec.21

Session 3: Jan. 6 - March 22

Session 4: March 4 - April 27