Bee Inspired
A local mom’s passion for children’s behavioral health
Investing in the future
Dedication meets dreams
Staying in the family
PROUDLY PRESENTS YOUR MAR/APR
Mon., March 3
Dr. Seuss Crafts
3:30-5 p.m.
Tremont Road Branch 2800 Tremont Rd. www.ualibrary.org
Tues., March 4
Podcasting 101
6:30-7:30 p.m.
Grandview Heights Public Library 1685 W. First Ave. www.ghpl.org
Wed., March 5 & Tues., April 22
Hastings M.S. Band Concert
7:30-9 p.m.
Hastings M.S. 1850 Hastings Ln. www.uaschools.org
Thurs., March 6 & April 3
Crochet Series
6:30-7:30 p.m.
Tremont Road Branch 2800 Tremont Rd. www.ualibrary.org
Thurs.-Sat., March 6-8
GHS Performing Arts Department presents: The Wizard of Oz
7:30 p.m.
Grandview Heights H.S. 1587 W. Third Ave. www.ghschools.org
Sat., March 8
Friends of UA Parks Volunteer Day
9 a.m.-noon Miller Park 1903 Arlington Ave. www.upperarlingtonoh.gov
Sat., March 8
Mindful Nature Walk & Tea Ceremony
2-3 p.m.
Tremont Road Branch 2800 Tremont Rd. www.ualibrary.org
columbus/osu
Community egg hunt, April 19
March 5-28
Concourse Gallery: Upper Arlington M.S.
Students Exhibit
Open M-F, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
Municipal Services Center 3600 Tremont Rd. www.upperarlingtonoh.gov
Sun., March 9
Miller Park Teen Service Club
2:30-3:30 p.m.
Miller Park Branch 1901 Arlington Ave. www.ualibrary.org
Tues., March 11
UAHS Choir Concert 7-9 p.m.
Upper Arlington H.S. 1625 Zollinger Rd. www.uaschools.org
Tues., March 11 & April 8
Cookbook Club
6:30-7:30 p.m.
Tremont Road Branch
2800 Tremont Rd. www.ualibrary.org
To submit your event for next issue’s calendar, contact mfitzmaurice@cityscenemediagroup.com.
Sun., March 16 & April 13
Grandview Heights Indoor Market 10 a.m.-1 p.m.
Larson M.S. Commons 1600 W. First Ave. www.grandviewheightsfarmersmarket.com
March 17-24
Upper Arlington Schools Spring Break www.uaschools.org
Tues., March 18
GHHS Jazz Ensemble Concert
7 p.m.
GHHS Auditorium 1587 W. Third Ave. www.ghschools.org
Thurs., March 20
Music in the Atrium: Kim Haffrey 6:30-7:30 p.m.
Grandview Heights Public Library 1685 W. First Ave. www.ghpl.org
March 24-April 14
12th Annual Herb & Veggie Plant Sale All day
Grandview Heights Public Library 1685 W. First Ave. www.ghpl.org
COMMUNITY CALENDAR
March 24-28
Grandview Heights Schools Spring Break www.ghschools.org
April
Concourse2-30Gallery: Upper Arlington H.S.
Students Exhibit
Open M-F, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Municipal Services Center 3600 Tremont Rd. www.upperarlingtonoh.gov
Sun., April 6
Bob Crane Community Center Ribbon Cutting
4 p.m.
Bob Crane Community Center 3200 Tremont Rd.
Mon., April 7
Cherry Blossom Celebration
5 p.m.
Mallway Park 2096 Arlington Ave. www.uacommunityrelations.com
Fri., April 11
Paint your Pet Night
6 p.m.
McKinley Field 1661 Goodale Blvd. www.grandviewheights.gov
Fri., April 11
The Bobcake Bash
6:30-9:30 p.m. 1587 W. Third Ave.
GHHS Gymnasium www.ghschools.org
Sat., April 12
UACA Easter Egg Hunt & Bunny Trail
10 a.m.
Thompson Park
4250 Woodbridge Rd. www.upperarlingtonoh.gov
Thurs., April 17
Coffee & Conversation with Supt. Andy Culp
8:30-9:30 a.m.
Larson Middle School 1600 W. First Ave. www.ghschools.org
Thurs., April 17
Egg Hunt for Pups
5:30 p.m.
Wyman Woods Park 1520 Goodale Blvd. www.grandviewheights.gov
Thurs., MoonlightApril 17
Egg Hunt for Adults
7:30 p.m.
McKinley Field P & R 1661 Goodale Blvd. www.grandviewheights.gov
Fri., BreakfastApril 18 with the Bunny
10 a.m.
Wyman Woods Shelter House 1520 Goodale Blvd. www.grandviewheights.gov
Fri., April 18
Pre-Teen Egg Party
6-8 p.m.
Wyman Woods Shelter House 1520 Goodale Blvd. www.grandviewheights.gov
Sat., April 19
Community Egg Hunt
10 a.m.
Wyman Woods Park 1520 Goodale Blvd. www.grandviewheights.gov
Sat., April 19
Fairy House Building 10 a.m.-noon
Miller Park Branch 1901 Arlington Ave. www.ualibrary.org
Tues., April 22
Grandview Heights H.S. Orchestra Concert
6 p.m.
GHHS Auditorium 1587 W. Third Ave. www.ghschools.org
Wed., April 23
GHS Middle School Band Concerts grades 5-6: 6 p.m., grades 7-8: 7 p.m.
GHHS Auditorium 1587 W. Third Ave. www.ghschools.org
Thurs., April 24
Grandview Heights H.S. Band Concert
7-8 p.m.
GHHS Auditorium 1587 W. Third Ave. www.ghschools.org
Thurs., April 24
Jones Middle School Spring Band Concert 7:30-9:30 p.m.
Jones M.S. 2100 Arlington Ave. www.uaschools.org
Thurs.-Sat., April 24-26
UACT Presents: The Box Set 7:30-9:30 p.m.
Upper Arlington H.S. 1625 Zollinger Rd. www.uaschools.org
Tues., April 29
UAHS Orchestra Concert
7-9 p.m.
Upper Arlington H.S. 1625 Zollinger Rd. www.uaschools.org
Egg Hunt for Pups, April 17
By Frances Denman
Beyond Behavior
Local mom supports Upper Arlington community
Everyone remembers important milestones – graduating with a degree, earning a big promotion, buying a dream house. For Taylor Germain, Upper Arlington mom and local business person, being a mother and impacting the community are her greatest achievements and passions. A mom, teacher and long-time caregiver, Germain dedicates her time to addressing pediatric mental and behavioral health. Her mission is to bring mental and behavioral health awareness to her family and community and to combat stigmas surrounding child mental wellness.
“I feel like my motivation is both my professional background and my kids,” Germain says. “They’re seven, five and three.”
Hooked from the beginning
Born and raised in Washington D.C., Germain says she first began her career at a school in Maryland where she worked as a personal aide for children with autism. She was later promoted to a social skills teaching position before moving to Columbus in 2013, where she attended graduate school at The Ohio State University for applied behavior analysis in the special education program. She then began a position at Nationwide Children’s Hospital in the autism spectrum center.
“I was always really drawn to what they call challenging behavior that kids with autism use as a way to communicate, because sometimes they can’t communicate in appropriate ways, and I was hooked from the beginning,” Germain says. “That kind of blossomed into more of a wider passion for mental health when I had my kids.”
After becoming a stay-at-home mom, Germain remained motivated by her former students and sought a way to continue serving the children in her community. As a result, she helped establish the Beehive Alliance in 2019, a nonprofit
organization seeking solutions for pediatric behavioral and mental health in Upper Arlington. The organization now has 40 members, most of whom are a part of the Upper Arlington community, she says.
“I loved working with kids with autism, they’re just such a special, unique community and I just fell in love so immediately with behavioral health in general,” Germain says. “I’ve just been inspired by all of the kids that I worked with, I remember almost all of their names.”
When she’s not working as a mom or community leader, Germain can be found needlepointing, on vacation with her family in Naples, Florida or hanging with college friends on her annual girls’ trip.
Combating stigmas
According to Germain, the team at Beehive Alliance has now raised more than $400,000 for the Nationwide Children’s Hospital Behavioral Health Pavilion.
Without the backing of her community, Germain says she never could have
realized the impact she has with her message. She’s incredibly happy with the way her community has taken a stance against mental health stigmas with her.
“I’m proud that the community cares about mental health,” Germain says. “I’m so proud that they support kids and people think that it’s important.”
Germain believes that mental and behavioral wellness should be valued and experienced by both adults and
Photos courtesy of Taylor
Germain
Taylor Germain with her husband, John.
Beehive Alliance team members (left to right) Kate Hesketh (President), Germain (Founder), Megan Hall (Vice President)
children. She implements a family focus towards addressing these issues in both her business and personal life, helping parents in the community have access to important resources to evaluate their children’s mental wellness.
“I just feel so strongly about all of this pediatric mental health stuff so that we can try to get people thinking about it earlier so that people aren’t waiting their whole lives to be diagnosed with something, or they’re struggling their whole lives when they could’ve gotten help at a much earlier age,” Germain says.
According to Germain, mental illness isn’t a “casserole disease,” meaning a child diagnosed with bipolar disorder is not going to receive the same support from their community that someone with a physical sickness might. Germain wants her children to be unaffected by these stigmas and feel comfortable talking about their mental health concerns and struggles as they get older.
“We all want physical health and mental health to be held to the exact same standard,” Germain says. “I use the strategies that I’ve learned every day in my household.”
More time to play
As children become exposed to social media and technology at earlier ages, Germain says the need for pediatric mental and behavioral health services are more necessary than ever.
“There’s no evidence that shows that social media is healthy really for anyone, if you think about our usage of social media as well, but we’re adults who have fully formed brains and kids don’t,” Germain says.
Passionate about this issue, Germain says she’s also involved in Upper Arlington’s Okay to Delay chapter, a national initiative to deter children from getting online at early ages.
“The idea is that you delay the smartphone until 14 and then no social media until 16 because the data has shown that girls’ and boys’ mental health suffers greatly when given access to social media at an early age,” Germain says. “My kids aren’t there yet so maybe I’ll feel differently but my husband and I both feel really strongly about the social media part of it.”
Germain says she hopes for a return of play-based childhoods, and a world where children aren’t so overloaded, overcommitted and pressured by schools and parents to perform. Instead, she believes they should have more time to simply play. “It feels like their childhood is getting cut shorter and shorter than it used to be,” Germain says. “It’s starting younger and younger and it’s just so much overscheduling and pressure to be somewhere at a certain time.”
Looking forward
One of Germain’s goals going forward, she says, is to expand the Beehive Alliance into other Columbus neighborhoods to get more people involved in mental health advocacy. She also hopes to connect more with schools, bring parents of school-aged children more resources and focus more on teens in the community. “One of our goals is to have families weave this into their everyday lives,” Germain says.
“As we know, in middle school and high school, mental health becomes even more important for kids to think about and for parents to have the resources available that they need to support their kids through those times.”
Because of her love for the autistic community, she additionally hopes to incorporate services into schools to help children communicate and interact with their classmates with autism.
“When I see my kids being really kind to other people or talking about their feelings, that’s really rewarding to me,” Germain says. “It makes me feel like me and my husband are doing something right to bring mental health into our family.”
Frances Denman is an editorial assistant at CityScene Media Group. Feedback welcome at feedback@cityscenemediagroup.com.
By Ella Jay
Investing in the Future
Grandview Heights Schools conservation and music programs receive $400,000 alumni donation
This past year, Grandview Heights Schools received a generous donation of $400,000 from two alumni, Warren Klink (Class of ‘59) and his wife, Carolyn Guggenaster Wyman (Class of ‘60).
“We have always stayed connected to our midwestern roots and the community that supported us,” Klink says. “Now, we want to show our gratitude and pay it forward to today’s students.”
Hopes and visions
Now residing in the Beaux Arts Village of Washington state, Klink is an award-winning landscape architect in both the U.S. and Great Britain as well as a Navy Seabee veteran. Wyman is a professional musician.
With Klink’s life work in mind, the couple’s original donation was meant to go solely towards the district’s conservation program.
However, after the pair visited in 2024, Wyman identified a need for new instruments after speaking with the band director, and they decided to increase their donation funds to support the music program as well.
“So many doors open to students through music. As a musician, I know that when a student finds joy and success in music class, it leads to better attendance, engagement and success in school,” Wyman says.
Intentional impact
The Grandview Heights Schools staff and administration are extremely grateful for the donation.
“It’s very generous. It shows that Warren and Carolyn are very committed to the community of Grandview,” Angie Ullum, chief academic officer at Grandview Heights Schools, says. “And of course, we’re just humbled and thankful.”
Similarly, Jessica Fields, a 21stcentury learning coach at Grandview Heights Schools, was ecstatic upon hearing the news.
“I’m excited about it because we have very environmentally-minded teachers who have passions around (our conservation program). It’s a great fit for us,” Fields says.
According to Ullum, the schools have some ideas set in place but precise plans for how and where the conservation donation funds will be allocated are still in the infancy stage.
Right now, what is most important is making sure that the proper time is taken to research how the funds will be distributed and used.
“We’re trying to make sure that we are being intentional with the resources we want here at the schools,” Fields says. “We’re going to ensure the life of this by, first, spending time investigating to make the right choices.”
GHS Orchestra
Photo courtesy of Hayley Head
When it came to how the music program should spend its portion of the donation, the answer was a bit more straightforward. With the help of Wyman’s and the band director’s recommendation, much of the money was spent buying new instruments for the music department. According to Ullum, the funds have also allowed for the department to expand its strings program.
“Giving the students the opportunity to learn and grow as musicians on new instruments is just an amazing gift,” Fields says.
Gaining momentum
One critical step the district is taking during this conservation project planning process is making sure to include the voices of multiple local resources and professionals in the discussion.
For example, the conservation program has been working closely with organizations such as the Franklin County Soil and Water Conservation District and the Solid Waste Authority of Central Ohio (SWACO).
Fields is also looking forward to elevating the donation’s impact through con-
sulting with Dr. Tim McDermott, an assistant professor and agriculture and natural resource educator at The Ohio State University’s College of Food, Agriculture, and Environmental Sciences. McDermott will help guide the program by assisting with the design of new professional development strategies for teachers and bringing expertise to a new project the program will be implementing.
That project will consist of incorporating pollinator gardens into the school’s curriculum and outdoor space. Currently, the district is working to identify the best spot in which to build them.
“One of Warren’s goals is for this to be an inter-generational project, that there are students that are all grades K-12 working on this,” Fields says.
Adhering to Klink’s vision, the pollinator gardens will be a project taken on by both the high school’s advanced placement (AP) environmental science class and the middle school’s garden club. It will also serve as a great opportunity for older students to interact with, teach and provide enrichment to those in younger grade levels.
As students work to design the gardens, Fields says that the goal is to help them become more aware of the role of pollinators and the importance of fostering native plants. Students will have the opportunity to visit a local plant nursery to learn more about native plants, specifically which ones pertain to the area.
The bigger picture
While Klink and Wyman’s donation will be used to directly enhance the conservation and music programs, Ullum and Fields are certain that it will indirectly benefit the entire school district and community as a whole.
A group of teachers is currently working on investigating district-wide science curricula to identify how to best integrate the new initiatives provided by the donation into all science-based classes.
“We’re hoping to bring (more) classes into the pollinator gardens to get handson experience,” Fields says.
Once established, the pollinator gardens will act as a lab setting for multiple science and environment-related classes, not just the AP Environmental class and
middle school garden club. Students of all ages will get the chance to partake in garden experiments such as soil testing.
real life) that could benefit the environment,” Fields says.
“The questions that students have and the authenticity of this really allows for students to have that connection to the outside world and the environment,” Fields says.
As the planning process continues and more specific goals are identified, the district is looking forward to the new and exciting learning opportunities that will come with it, and the ways in which those opportunities will benefit students of all ages and the community of Grandview Heights.
“We’re just very humbled by the donation and we’re doing our best to make sure that we’re investing the time and learning to make sure that we make the best choices,” Ullum says. “To see Grandview alumni continuing to come back and be so generous and stay part of the community even when they live hundreds of miles away, I think that’s a wonderful role model to show how to give back to the community.”
“(This project) is going to be able to allow them to see the easy moves or shifts that they could make (at home and in
In terms of the bigger picture, Ullum and Fields are hoping that students will be able to take some of what they learn in the pollinator gardens and translate it to benefit the environment using their gardens at home.
Ella Jay is an assistant editor at CityScene Media Group. Feedback welcome at ejay@cityscenemediagroup.com.
Warren Klink and his wife, Carolyn Guggenaster Wyman
The Gift of Reading
UA bookstore collects hundreds
of
books for Nationwide Children’s Hospital
By Rachel Karas
When Janine Sickmeyer began collecting donated books from community members at her store, she never imagined the final count would reach 600.
Through the support of the community, Storyline Bookshop collected and donated hundreds of books for children and their families at the Nationwide Children’s Hospital this past December.
Sickmeyer and her team plan to carry the energy of this successful donation drive forward as they plan future events and fundraisers to continue supporting their community.
A new beginning
As someone who spent much of her career as an entrepreneurial tech founder, Sickmeyer may seem an unlikely candidate to open a bookstore. But, for those who know her, the shift was no surprise.
“I’ve always been an avid reader,” Sickmeyer says. “And then having four children that are all big readers, it really helps to have experience in the kid’s area as well.”
She found a storefront in Tremont Center in 2023, and within a year, Storyline Bookshop was up and running.
Making an impact
Nationwide Children’s Hospital has also held a special place in Sickmeyer’s heart for years, thanks in part to her mother’s job at the hospital.
“The work they do in the community and the city and outside of Ohio, it blows me away,” Sickmeyer says. “And we were like, ‘If we’re talking about who we want to work within the city, it was definitely Nationwide Children’s.’”
Photo by Megan Leigh Barnard
Photo by Megan Leigh Barnard
Sickmeyer connected with Kathy Hickman, the associate director of corporate partnerships at Nationwide Children’s, to learn more about the needs of the children and families receiving care at the hospital.
“You’ve got these families and these kids, and a lot of times, they don’t have enough access to options for books because they can’t bring in used material,” Sickmeyer says. “We were like, ‘This is a way that we can work with them. We can bring in books for all ages.’”
With help from Hickman and her team, Storyline received wooden butterfly ornaments decorated by patients at the hospital. On the back of each ornament was the name, age and style of book a patient was looking for.
Books Galore
Here are some of the most popular children’s books Sickmeyer and her team see flying off the shelves:
• Dogman graphic novels by Dav Pilkey
• The Wild Robot book series by Peter Brown
• Impossible Creature book by Katherine Rundell
• Who Would Win? books by Jerry Pallotta
• Anything Bluey or Taylor Swift
Photo courtesy of Storyline Bookshop
Photo courtesy of Storyline Bookshop
So, each time a customer came in, they could take a butterfly, find a book to fit its description, purchase it and add it to the box of donations.
At the end of the fundraiser, Sickmeyer estimates the total value of the donated books was close to $8,000.
Although the team at Storyline enjoyed watching people find good books to donate, it was the stories they heard from those who stopped in that stayed with them.
“So many people from outside of the city were coming in specifically because they heard about this campaign and they wanted to contribute,” Sickmeyer says. “And they told us stories. ‘Our daughter was in Children’s for a year and we just want to give back.’”
Doing more for the future
With 600 new books in hospital waiting rooms, the Ronald McDonald House and close-to-home centers, the crew at Storyline plans to keep the momentum going.
In February, another fundraiser was hosted near Valentine’s Day where patrons could buy a book and make cards for patients at Nationwide Children’s.
While she already has plans to put up the butterfly tree again this December, Sickmeyer is excited to find new ways to partner with Nationwide Chil -
by
dren’s to continue working with the community to provide books to the patients and their families.
Rachel Karas is the lead editor at CityScene Media Group. Feedback welcome at rkaras@cityscenemediagroup.com.
Photo
Megan Leigh Barnard
By Korrigan Craddock
Dedication Meets Dreams
From high school stages to professional stages in New York City, Allie Gomez has always been center stage. Having already won multiple awards for her theater and dance performances, Gomez is now pursuing those passions at New York University.
Finding her love of dance in fourth grade, Gomez discovered her passion for the arts at a young age. Although she didn’t begin theater until sixth grade, it has been in her life for as long as she can remember.
“I also was drawn to the musical theater style of dance a lot, which was a category at competitions I would go to. And I kind of found myself gravitating towards that fun, very entertaining, lively style,” says Gomez.
Every year for her birthday, Gomez recalls her aunt taking her to the Ohio Theatre to see whatever show was in town. Starry-eyed, she remembers watching The Lion King and thinking the cast running through the audience at the beginning of the musical was the coolest thing ever.
Although Gomez was regularly on stage, she was also a student council member and co-president during her senior year of high school.
She was also the dance captain for a vocal ensemble group, a member of the Tri-Village Rotary High School Club and a First Community Church L.I.F.E. guard.
Gomez’ involvement in the arts included school musicals, the Upper Arlington Vocal Music Program, Short North Stage internship and competitive dance at K Studios.
Recent Upper Arlington graduate pursues the arts in NYC
Getting on stage
She fully commits herself to every role, whether it’s holding weights up to prepare for Lumière’s costume in Beauty and the Beast or running while singing to build stamina and working with a vocal coach for her role as Cady Heron in
Mean Girls. Gomez also trains mentally for her roles by creating a notebook for each performance where she explores her characters emotionally and intellectually. For Gomez, the preparation and rehearsal process, especially when everything comes together, is her favorite part of performing.
Photos courtesy of Allie Gomez
Gomez as Cady Heron in Mean Girls.
Gomez wins Best Actress in Leading Role.
Gomez in Beauty and the Beast as Lumière.
GRAND OPENING
“It’s definitely made me more confident in myself,” Gomez says. “It’s been a good way of showing myself what I can do and what can be done with a bunch of people.”
Her dedication has paid off in remarkable ways. As a sophomore, Gomez earned a CAPA Marquee Award nomination for her performance as Peggy Sawyer in Upper Arlington High School’s production of 42nd Street
Two years later, she ended her high school career winning the 2024 CAPA Marquee Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role for her portrayal of Cady Heron in Mean Girls
Winning this award meant taking a trip to New York City for the awards, where she connected with other performers from across the country, including other students
Photo
Gomez as Cady Heron in Mean Girls.
Gomez at the 2024 CAPA Marquee Awards.
and professionals. She also got the opportunity to perform on a Broadway stage and go to the Tonys.
“I remember hearing about the Jimmy Awards in middle school and I was like, ‘Oh I want to go to those so badly. That seemed so cool,’” Gomez says. “And then I couldn’t actually believe I made it there.”
The next act
Gomez is now pursuing a Collaborative Arts degree at New York University where she’s exploring a wide range of artistic disciplines including painting, crocheting, film and backstage theater.
Her parents are incredibly proud of her and are her biggest supporters, although they joke about her being the first in the family not to attend The Ohio State University. During her first semester this past fall, she had the opportunity to participate in a site-specific dance class that performed outside of St. Mark’s Church and in an academic building. The piece involved gargling water, movement and themes of one’s inner child.
As she continues her academic and artistic careers, Gomez remains open to where her future may lead.
While she would love to one day perform on Broadway, she is still learning what she would like to do. What she knows for sure is that she wants a career in the arts, continuing her passion for theater and dance.
“Anything I do has a dance element in it,” Gomez says. “But I’m so excited to see where it goes, and I’m thinking of broadening my horizons now.”
Korrigan Craddock is an editorial assistant at CityScene Media Group. Feedback welcome at feedback@cityscenemediagroup.com.
Fun Fact
Gomez found her love of running while training for her part as Cady Heron in Mean Girls.
By Ella Jay
Tri-Village Treats Must-try sweet spots
The Tri-Village community has a rich history of sweet traditions and treats. From old-fashioned, family-owned businesses to trendy, new shops, there’s sure to be a dessert destination to satisfy every sweet tooth. Here’s a look at just a few of those must-try spots.
The Original Goodie Shop
Born in Upper Arlington, this family-owned cookies and cakes business is expanding its offerings to include cheesecakes, scones and specialty Italian dessert tiramisu, alongside more savory options including pot pies and quiche, as it celebrates its 70th anniversary in 2025.
A Goodie Shop staple, the Giant Flippo Donut is a must-try that has been enjoyed by customers since the ‘60s.
Lion Cub’s Cookies
Lion Cub’s Cookies started as a small pop-up business in 2019, blossoming into a store-front business in 2021 thanks to the support of the community. Now, the store is known for making some of the best cookies in Columbus, with a dedicated staff that hand-makes dough daily from scratch.
The store’s fresh, “ooey-gooey” monster cookies come in 80+ rotational flavors. While classic flavors are always available, “monthly rotators” and “weekly wonders” are announced on the first of each month and on Mondays.
Chocolate Café
Chocolate Café is a woman-owned, local business that offers it all. The dessert and pastry menu includes muffins, scones, cinnamon rolls, cookies, cakes, brownies, buckeyes and more. This café also offers a full menu of breakfast, lunch, brunch and dinner options.
Additionally, Chocolate Café offers a variety of chocolate and fruit arrangements, as well as assortments for special occasions.
Toft’s Grand Scoop
The newest edition to Toft Dairy’s family-owned legacy, Toft’s Grand Scoop is a new take on a delicious tradition. Originating in Sandusky, Ohio, Toft Dairy began in 1900 with Chris and Matilda Toft selling raw milk by horse-drawn wagon to local residents. Today, Toft Dairy is the state’s oldest dairy and is famous for its selection of more than 50 ice cream flavors.
The Grandview location currently offers 24 of those handdipped, ice cream flavors, including four rotating flavors. Also available are soft-serve ice cream options, homemade milkshakes, sundaes, flurries and cookie and ice cream sandwiches.
Johnson’s Real Ice Cream
The oldest ice cream shop in Columbus, Johnson’s Real Ice Cream shares a meaningful and family-inspired history with TriVillage. The shop has now been proudly family-owned and operated for 75 years and has expanded to include several other, smaller locations.
Johnson’s Real Ice Cream serves 55 flavors of ice cream and sorbet. Also offered are cakes, pies and novelty dessert items such as ice cream sandwiches and chocolate-covered bananas. The company offers catering options as well, either via its traveling ice cream truck or sundae bars in a box.
Ella Jay is an assistant editor at CityScene Media Group. Feedback welcome at ejay@cityscenemediagroup.com.
These companies don’t just satisfy sweet tooths – they make sure to give back to the communities that support them and ensure that customers receive only the best of the best.
Lion Cub’s Cookies donates a portion of its proceeds to organizations including Pelotonia and Ronald McDonald House, and is a Butterfly Business Hero partner with Nationwide Children’s Hospital.
Toft Dairy sources its ingredients exclusively from local, family farms and has received pledges from each farm to refrain from using synthetic growth hormones in their milk production. Since arriving in Grandview, it has donated over $10,000 to local youth programs.
Johnson’s Real Ice Cream partners with the nonprofit, A Kid Again, to donate a portion of its proceeds through its Every Scoop Counts program. The company also donates to school-related causes and spirit nights.
The Goodie Shop has held fundraisers for and donated money to many causes including dog rescues, Alzheimer’s and breast cancer research and local nonprofits and initiatives.
Dedicated to protecting and preserving what’s important to you
For over 55 Years, Carlile Patchen & Murphy LLP has provided legal excellence to businesses, families and individuals.
By Korrigan Craddock
Staying in the Family Coming full circle
Upper Arlington high school sweethearts Madeline and Austin Fu recently bought and remodeled Madeline’s childhood home.
“We had a unique opportunity,” Madeline says. “The timing was right. My parents had kind of a vision of one of their kids living in this house.”
Although she had years of memories attached to the home, Madeline was hesitant at first about buying it from her parents. However, after remodeling the space, the Fu’s are grateful and excited about their future in the home.
Family history
Madeline’s parents bought the house in 1997 and remodeled the space in 2008 to make it their own. Years later, the Fu’s have done the same, putting their own personal touches on the space.
The Fu’s began the remodel around Labor Day in 2024 and completed the project before Thanksgiving. The project was not a total home makeover. Rather, it included changes to better fit the couple’s lifestyle through updates to the kitchen, living room and powder room. (For example, their cooking habits differ from Madeline’s parents. The couple uses the
Before
stove more often, while her parents use the oven.)
The project was done by Haus Studios, with the design process led by Amy Fix in collaboration with Tyler Swartzmiller, the principal designer. By coincidence, Fix is the mom of one of Madeline’s childhood friends. Fix reflects on how meaningful it was to help Madeline with the remodel since she watched her and her daughter grow up.
LOCATED AT KENNY CENTRE MALL
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@magpiemarketantiques
1125 Kenny Centre Mall (614) 929-5264
Open Monday-Saturday 10-6:00, Sunday 12-5:00
“I still had little Madi’s phone number from the eighth grade in my phone,” says Fix.
The couple prioritized functionality, especially in the kitchen. The remodel included putting in a speed oven, vent to the
After
Before After
outdoors, a new refrigerator and fixing the peninsula. The living room originally had big built-in cabinets that took up a lot of space. The cabinets were taken out, which opened up a lot of space and allowed the original fireplace to stand out.
Swartzmiller and Fix say the remodel was straightforward and it went as smoothly as it could. The Fu’s Haus Studios team agree that the communication and the process went really well. Swartzmiller and Fix worked hard to help the Fu’s create a space that works for them.
“We wanted something timeless and classic,” says Swartzmiller. “This can grow with them and their family for the next 20 years.”
One seemingly small but impactful change was the addition of a hidden trash can. While it might not sound exciting, the couple loves it. Previously, the trash can was in another room to prevent their dog from getting into it. They would have to walk into another room to throw away their trash.
The kitchen has always been a significant part of the home’s identity. Madeline’s family hosts family gatherings in the home. Her family is passionate about cooking which made the kitchen and dining room a central gathering space for holidays and family events.
“It’s nice that it’s still in the family. We continue to have family get-togethers in that same dining room,” says Austin.
The Fu’s are excited to continue making memories in their new home. Their first gathering in the remodeled space was for Lunar New Year.
“It’s really exciting to be in our space, and it really feels like our home now,” says Madeline.
Korrigan Craddock is an editorial assistant at CityScene Media Group. Feedback welcome at feedback@cityscenemediagroup.com.
This spring, say goodbye to yardwork
You can spend days raking, trimming, pruning, mowing, edging, weeding and starting up your irrigation system this spring… or mere minutes by contacting us.
Top homes sold in the Tri-Village area
Tri-Village home prices were down by 4.1 percent in December 2024 when compared to the previous year. Homes sold for an average price of $283K. On average, homes sold in 33 days on the market in Tri-Village compared to 40 days in the previous year. Six homes were sold in December 2024, down from 12 sold in the previous year. (Data from Redfin)
2249 Yorkshire Rd.
4 beds, 4 baths
$1,930,000
Sold 12/04/24
1336 Ridgeview Rd.
4 beds, 2.5 baths
$1,750,000
Sold 1/13/25
1189 Glenn Ave.
3 beds, 3 baths
$1,600,000
Sold 1/13/25
1050 Broadview Ave.
4 beds, 3.5 baths
$1,550,000
Sold 1/27/25
1890 Tremont Rd.
3 beds, 5.5 baths
$1,365,000
Sold 12/18/24
2363 Wickliffe Rd.
3 beds, 1.5 baths
$1,300,000
Sold 12/06/24
2800 Squires Ridge
4 beds, 3 baths
$1,275,000
Sold 12/13/24
1105 Ormsby Pl.
3 beds, 2 baths
$1,105,000
Sold 1/10/25
4020 Patricia Dr.
5 beds, 4.5 baths
$1,095,400
Sold 12/10/2024
2003 Beverly Rd.
3 beds, 2.5 baths
$1,000,000
Sold 12/23/24
2356 Eastcleft Dr.
4 beds, 2.5 baths
$925,000
Sold 12/03/24
4532 Benderton Ct.
4 beds, 3.5 baths
$905,000
Sold 12/04/24
My Feet Go by Ammi-Joan Paquette (ages birth-3)
This board book celebrates the things human feet can do. Feet can dance, climb trees and rocks, and bring friends and loved ones together. People of all ages and abilities are represented throughout this rhyme-filled, colorful story.
Dim Sum Palace by X. Fang (ages 3-6)
Liddy is going to the Dim Sum Palace with her family for the first time tomorrow. As she’s trying to fall asleep, she dreams of many dim sum-themed adventures, including falling into some dumpling batter!
Wildflower Emily: A Story About Young Emily Dickinson by Lydia Corry (ages 7-10)
Written and illustrated as a graphic novel this biography focuses on the adventures of Emily and her giant dog and companion, Carlo. Dickinson’s poems and letters to family and friends plus a timeline and fun facts are included.
Slugfest
by Gordan Korman (grades 5-7)
A talented athlete named Yash attends a summer school class (known as Slugfest) with a small number of his classmates. With the guidance of their gym teacher, the group forms an unlikely friendship. This story
is full of unique characters and teaches lessons about friendship, truth, fairness, fake news and assumptions.
The 5 Principles of Parenting: Your Essential Guide to Raising Good Humans by Aliza Pressman (adult) Take it from Dr. Aliza Pressman, cofounder of the Sinai Parenting Center, there is no such thing as an “ideal” family. Parents and children can thrive in all kinds of family settings. Once you define your core family values, i.e., what makes a human good, you can build confidence in your parenting decisions by using the “Five Rs” (relationship, reflection, regulation, rules and repair) to guide your children toward goodness.
No One Talks About This Stuff: Twenty-Two Stories of Almost Parenthood edited by Kat Brown (adult) Described by its editor as a “support group in a book,” this collection of personal essays gives heartfelt expression to what often goes unsaid. Parenthood, for some, is not a straightforward journey, and these twenty-two writers offer profound insight into the emotional impact of childlessness — by choice, and not by choice, infertility, miscarriage, stillbirth, in-vitro fertilization, surrogacy, birth defects, childhood trauma, life and loss.
To be great is to be misunderstood. April 12 - Sept. 1, 2025
