Tri-Village January/February 2012

SPECTATORÊADMISSION:ÊAdultsÊ-Ê$10Ê(plusÊserviceÊcharge)ÊperÊdayÊinÊadvance;Ê$15ÊperÊdayÊatÊtheÊdoor;Ê 10Êyrs.Ê&ÊunderÊFREEÊifÊaccompaniedÊbyÊanÊadult.ÊIncludesÊaccessÊtoÊtheÊArnoldÊFitnessÊEXPO.ÊNoÊStrollersÊAllowed.Ê ForÊticketsÊcallÊTicketmaster,Ê800-745-3000ÊorÊwww.ticketmaster.com/arnold.

Empowering

We Can Help Your Child... Take Our Students’ Word For It!

Eric – Hilliard Davidson High School, 9th Grader

“Before coming to The Tutoring Center, I was getting a ‘C’ in math. Now, I am getting an ‘A+’ in Algebra. Even though I am getting straight A’s in everything and now on the Principal’s Honor Roll, I still like coming to The Tutoring Center because they really help me with new math concepts. They even gave me extra help with a Language Arts research paper, even though I am really in their Algebra Program.”

Francesca – Oak Creek Elementary, 5th Grader

“I really love going to The Tutoring Center. I wish I could go there every day. The instructors are really nice and they have helped me so much with my writing that all my homework seems easy now.”

Zach – Greensview Elementary, 2nd Grader

“Everyone at The Tutoring Center is very nice and it’s fun there. I really like their Toy Store and that I get to shop there every month if I work hard in my sessions.”

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The Forum at Knightsbridge is honored to be a longstanding and respected member of the Columbus community. We offer an uncompromising, high standard of living with all the warmth and hospitality of home, right here on our beautifully landscaped campus.

Experience the lifestyle you deserve…don’t wait a moment longer! Call for lunch and a tour to see why life at The Forum is better than ever!

781 Northwest Blvd., Suite 202 Columbus, Ohio 43212 614-572-1240 • Fax 614-5721241

Charles L. Stein

Kathleen K. Gill

Dave Prosser

Christa Smothers

Lisa Aurand

Duane St. Clair

Garth Bishop

Tessa Dufresne

Lindsay Friedman

Gail Martineau

Molly Pensyl

Gianna Barrett

Pam Henricks

Emily Steel

Lynn Leitch

Circulation:

Chief Executive Officer

President/Publisher

Chief Creative Officer Creative Director Editor

Contributing Editors

Contributing Writers Advertising Director Advertising Sales Controller

614-572-1240

www.trivillagemagazine.com

The Publishing Group Ltd. also publishes: CityScene Magazine www.CitySceneColumbus.com

Dublin Life Magazine www.DublinLifeMagazine.com

Westerville Magazine www.WestervilleMagazine.com

Healthy New Albany Magazine www.HealthyNewAlbanyMagazine.com

Pickerington Magazine www.PickeringtonMagazine.com

The publisher welcomes contributions in the form of manuscripts, drawings, photographs, or story ideas to consider for possible publication. Enclose a SASE with each submission or e-mail laurand@pubgroupltd.com. Publisher does not assume responsibility for loss or damage.

Tri-Village Magazine is published bimonthly in January, March, May, July, September and November. Subscriptions are free for households within the ciity limits of Upper Arlington, Grandview Heights and the Village of Marble Cliff. For advertising information or bulk purchases, contact Molly Pensyl at 614572-1256.

No part of this publication may be reproduced without the written consent of the publishers. Tri-Village Magazine is a registered trademark of The Publishing Group Ltd. Printed in the U.S.A.

JANUARY 2012

Jan.1-31

Art Exhibit: Doug Titchenal Grandview Heights Public Library, 1685 W. First Ave., www.ghpl.org For the entire month of January, the library will feature the work of local photographer Doug Titchenal.

Jan. 6

First Friday Movies!

3:15-5 p.m., Grandview Heights Public Library, 1685 W. First Ave., www.ghpl.org

Catch a new release DVD at the library. Bring a friend and a snack and enjoy a family-friendly film for grades K-5. No registration required.

Jan. 7

Meet Goldilocks

10:30 a.m., Upper Arlington Public Library, 2800 Tremont Rd., www.ualibrary.org

Children ages 3-7 can meet Goldilocks, the star of the upcoming Columbus Children’s Theatre production. She will perform a humorous bit from the show and be available for photos and autographs. Afterward, children can make a craft. Tickets are free, but required to attend.

FEBRUARY 2012

Feb. 3

Father/Daughter Valentine’s Date Night

6:30-8 p.m., Amelita Mirolo Barn, Sunny 95 Park, 4395 Carriage Hill Ln., www.uaoh.net/parks

Make special memories at this magical evening of dinner, dancing, entertainment and fun for girls ages 4-12. Attendees will be given a keepsake photograph. Space is limited and registration is $50 for UA residents, $55 for nonresidents.

Jan. 10

1-on-1 Career Coaching

3-5 p.m., Grandview Heights Public Library, 1685 W. First Ave., www.ghpl.org

Explore career options in a free 30-minute session in the library conference room with Fred Points of the Career Center at Jewish Family Services. Sessions must be reserved in advance by calling 614-559-0118.

Jan. 12

Music: Eric Nassau

7-8 p.m., Grandview Heights Public Library, 1685 W. First Ave., www.ghpl.org

Enjoy original songs by Columbus folk musician

Eric Nassau. The finger-style guitarist is known for his evocative lyrics and gentle vocals.

Jan. 14

Organize Columbus

Today’s Organized Home, 885 W. Fifth Ave., 614-754-8234

Purge your unwanted items and get organized. Today’s Organized Home will have a drop site to drop off items to donate. Door prizes and gift bags will be given away.

Jan. 16

Martin Luther King Jr. Day

No school for Upper Arlington or Grandview Heights.

Jan. 16

Film: Oscar Mania

6:30-8:30 p.m., Grandview Heights Public Library, 1685 W. First Ave., www.ghpl.org

The Grandview Library presents a collection of outstanding Oscar winners in honor of the 84th Academy Awards, including this evening’s selection, Grand Hotel (1932). Greta Garbo, John Barrymore and Joan Crawford star in this Best Picture winner set in a luxurious Berlin hotel.

J an. 17

Photo Tiles

3:30-4:30 p.m., Grandview Heights Public Library, 1685 W. First Ave., www.ghpl.org

Children in grades 4-6 can use personal photographs make ceramic tile art. Bring your own photos on flash drive. Registration required.

Jan. 18

Explore China: Xian and the Silk Road

Feb. 13

Where There’s Smoke, There’s Fire

6-7 p.m., Room 3, Recreation Station, 4737 Coach Rd., www.uaoh.net/parks

This class for ages 8-12 teaches primitive fire building skills using a bow drill, flint and steel, and a few other fun methods. The cost is $15 for residents and $17 for non-residents.

Feb. 14

Valentine’s Day Sock Hop

6:30-7:20 p.m., Upper Arlington Public Library, 2800 Tremont Rd., www.ualibrary.org

Ages 2-6 can make corsages and enjoy cookies and punch at this fun dance. Registration is not required.

Feb. 16

Music: Bird & Flower

7-8 p.m., Grandview Heights Public Library, 1685 W. First Ave., www.ghpl.org

This presentation from the Music in the Atrium

series features electronic pop and intimate folk music from songwriter Eve Searls.

Feb. 17

Pancake Breakfast & Senior Advisory Council

8:30-9:30 a.m. UA Senior Center Building 2, 1945 Ridgeview Rd., www.uaoh.net/seniorcenter

The annual all-you-can-eat pancake breakfast, catered by Chris Cakes, precedes the meeting where Treasurer Don Fellenz will report on the UA Senior Association’s expenditures. Audience members are welcome to make suggestions and ask questions, and door prizes are given away after the meeting. A donation of $2 is due by Feb. 15.

Feb. 18

Book Bash Mardi Gras

7- 10 p.m., Grandview Heights Public Library, 1685 W. First Ave., www.ghpl.org

This Mardi Gras celebration to benefit the

7-8 p.m., Upper Arlington Public Library, 2800 Tremont Rd.

Gene Gilliom, professor emeritus in social studies and global education at The Ohio State University, discusses the one-time Chinese capital city Xian, which was located at the end of the Silk Road and was home to some of China’s most notorious emperors, warriors and philosophers.

Jan. 21

Ohio Craft Museum Bookmaking Workshop for Families

11 a.m.-12 p.m., Upper Arlington Public Library, 2800 Tremont Rd.

Students in first through fifth grades and their caregivers can make a personalized own journal with the Ohio Craft Museum. Children will work to create a blank book using paper, ink and traditional bookmaking techniques. Registration is required and class size is limited to 10-20 people.

Jan. 23

Film: Oscar Mania

6:30-8:30 p.m., Grandview Heights Public Library, 1685 W. First Ave., www.ghpl.org

The Grandview Library presents a collection of outstanding Oscar winners in honor of the 845h Academy Awards, including this evening’s selection, It Happened One Night (1934), a screwball comedy directed by Frank Capra that won five Oscars.

Jan. 26

Winter Band Concert

7-8 p.m., Auditorium, Upper Arlington High School, 1650 Ridgeview Rd., www.uaschools.org

An evening concert featuring the UA high school band.

Grandview Library Endowment Fund will feature live music, heavy hors d’oeuvres and world famous raffle.

Feb. 19

Concert: Aisling

2-3 p.m., Upper Arlington Public Library, 2800 Tremont Rd. www. ualibrary.org

Come hear Aisling, a traditional Irish music band from central Ohio that features hammer dulcimer, fiddle, flute, tin whistle, mandolin, bouzouki, guitar, banjo and bodhran.

Feb. 21

Beastly Bites: Pet Treats 101

4-5 p.m., Upper Arlington Public Library, 2800 Tremont Rd,. www.ualibrary.org

Create treats for the favorite pet in your life, whether it’s a cat, dog or other critter. Materials will be supplied by the library and no nuts or nut products will be used. Registration is required.

Feb. 24

Mystery Night

7-9 p.m., Grandview Heights Public Library, 1685 W. First Ave., www.ghpl.org

Compete with your friends in this popular themed night for children in grades 5-8 and 7-12. Pizza and games are also included. Registration is required and begins Feb. 10. A donation of $2 is requested to offset the program cost.

Feb. 29

Accessory Swap

10 a.m. UA Senior Center Building 2, Room 204, 1945 Ridgeview Rd., www.uaoh.net/seniorcenter Swear that you have nothing to wear? Join some new friends to trade scarves, brooches, earrings, hats and other accessories. Cost is $2, due by Feb. 27.

For more events visit www.trivillagemagazine.com

UPPER ARLINGTON

Community Commitment at Concourse

UA gallery features Columbus gallery artists and elementary school students

By Tessa Dufresne

Marcia Evans Gallery

Contemporary original art pieces from the Short North’s Marcia Evans Gallery will brighten Upper Arlington’s Concourse Gallery in January.

Concourse Gallery is partnering with Marcia Evans Gallery to exhibit the creations of local, regional and national artists such as Trevor Boyle, John Donnelly, Michael Halliday, Karen LaValley, Barbara Mink, Annette Poitau and Linda Wesner.

“It is a great opportunity for art to get in front of a different audience in Upper Arlington and for the people of Upper Arlington to see different art,” says Lynette Santoro-Au, arts manager for the City of Upper Arlington.

The Marcia Evans Gallery is a unique space in the Short North showcasing new artists alongside seasoned ones, with styles ranging from landscapes to modern art.

The exhibit at Concourse Gallery will be a show of twodimensional, mostly abstract pieces. It runs Jan. 5-27, with a public reception from 5-7 p.m. Jan. 12. The reception includes ArtSpeak, a formal opportunity for guests to hear featured artists explain their processes, and time for casual talk with the artists and Marcia Evans, the gallery’s namesake.

Elementary Schools

Upper Arlington elementary schools’ student artists will show off their hard work at Concourse Gallery Feb. 1-24.

Students whose works will be featured hail from Barrington, Greensview, St. Agatha Catholic, St. Andrew, Tremont, Wellington, Wickliffe and Windermere elementary schools.

Barrington Elementary School art teachers Gwen Davis and Lou Tiberi say they believe art education is vital for the curriculum and the community because its core skills are key in the 21st Century global world.

Each school will contribute between 20 and 35 pieces, depending on the size of the school, totaling more than 180 student works.

“(The exhibit) gives a chance for students to excel in different ways, other than academics or athletics,” says Loraine Severance, an art teacher at Greensview Elementary School. “This is an opportunity for students with different learning styles to get recognition.”

Santoro-Au says students tell her years after their art was shown at the gallery that they will always remember the experience.

“I like the partnership,” says Santoro-Au. “It provides an established, professional setting for the students’ work and it shows the creativity happening at our schools.”

Concourse Gallery is located at 3600 Tremont Rd., Upper Arlington. It is open Monday through Friday from 8 to 5 p.m. For more information, contact Concourse Gallery at 614-5835310 or visit www.uaoh.net.

Tessa Dufresne is a contributing writer. Feedback welcome at laurand@pubgroupltd.com.

Park City, Utah by Trevor Boyle

Marking Time by Linda Wesner

THE VILLAGE OF

MARBLE CLIFF

Marble Cliff Plans Dublin Road Improvements in 2012

For many years, the main north-south road leading northwest from Columbus was known as Dublin Pike. That dirt road, which followed the Scioto Indian Trail and the Scioto River, is today’s five-lane paved Dublin Road, a heavily traveled highway and part of the state transportation network.

During 2012, Dublin Road will undergo several phased improvements, including rehabilitating and replacing storm sewers, street repaving and, subject to funding through Columbus Department of Recreation and Parks, an extension of the Scioto Trail Bikeway to the intersection of West Fifth Avenue and Dublin Road.

Marble Cliff shares financial responsibility for Dublin Road maintenance with the Ohio Department of Transportation and the City of Columbus. The Village maintains the underground utilities and traffic control devices along its quarter-mile stretch of Dublin. ODOT maintains the pavement surface. The City of Columbus maintains the traffic signal at West Fifth Avenue and Dublin Road under a service contract with the Village of Marble Cliff. The City of Columbus will bear the cost of constructing and maintaining the Scioto Trail Bikeway.

Motorists will first experience lane closures in January 2012 as storm sewer pipes under Dublin Road and the outfalls above the Scioto River are rehabilitated. Old corrugated metal pipes, installed many years ago when Dublin Road was widened, have deteriorated, causing water ponding, depressions, erosion and unplanned lane closures for spot repairs.

The storm sewer rehabilitation project, led by Village Engineer Louis McFarland from the engineering firm of Burgess and Niple Ltd., was awarded to the lowest and best bidder, Nutter Excavating LLC. The proposed work will require lane restrictions along

Dublin Road beginning in January 2012 and lasting until the end of May 2012. Construction will be sequenced such that one lane of traffic in each direction is maintained throughout the duration of the project.

Due to the size of the storm sewer rehabilitation project, Marble Cliff submitted and was awarded a grant from the Ohio Public Works Commission to cover 74 percent of the $195,000 project cost. The grant requires no repayment.

“Village officials worked very hard to submit a request for OPWC funding in a timely manner that would coincide with the other scheduled work along Dublin Road. The Village is pleased and honored to be selected for the grant,” says Mayor Kent Studebaker.

Later in the fall of 2012, the state of Ohio will resurface Dublin Road from Trabue Road southeast past Cardigan Avenue. At this time, ODOT expects to sequence construction so that one lane of traffic in each direction is maintained.

Plans are being finalized by the City of Columbus Department of Recreation and Parks to extend the Scioto Trail Bikeway from the current terminus near the Riversedge Business Park to the southeast corner of West Fifth Avenue and Dublin Road. The paved bikeway is to cross Dublin Road at the Stella Court traffic signal and continue northward on the east side of Dublin into Marble Cliff. When the bikeway is installed, Marble Cliff has asked that new crosswalk signals and handicapped ramps also be installed at the intersection of West Fifth Avenue and Dublin Road. A construction schedule has not been finalized yet for this project, but activities may begin as early as the summer of 2012.

Income Tax Filing Information for 2011

Last year, the Marble Cliff Village Council adopted regulations requiring all residents of to file a local income tax return with Marble Cliff for tax year 2011.

Unless meeting the requirements for exemption from filing, all residents – including residents who have their income tax withheld by their employers – must file a local return for Marble Cliff. Owners of rental property in Marble Cliff are also required to file a local income tax return for Marble Cliff, even if they have experienced a loss for the tax year.

The City of Columbus administers Marble Cliff’s income taxes. This means that residents will use the Marble Cliff line on City of Columbus income tax forms to file their required Marble Cliff tax return. Tax forms will be available at the Marble Cliff Village Hall at 1600 Fernwood Ave. They may also be obtained by calling the City of Columbus Income Tax Division at 614-645-7370 or by downloading the forms from the Columbus Income Tax Division website: www.columbustax.net.

Additional information about Marble Cliff’s income tax requirements – including requirements for exemptions, a list of common categories of taxable income and an informative Q&A – is available at www.marblecliff.org/tax.htm.

Growth is the Goal

Willis of Ohio sets expansion plans in motion

For the past few months, international business Willis of Ohio has worked alongside Continental Realty and Nationwide Realty Investors to move from its previous location in Upper Arlington to a bigger facility at 775 Yard St. in Grandview Heights.

The company intends to continue expansion and hire those who will deliver great customer service to clients.

“We have looked at multiple sites around Columbus and ultimately decided that Grandview Yard provides us the best opportunity to grow our business. They have been great partners in helping us find a location,” says Frank McKain, regional partner of Willis of Ohio.

Willis of Ohio provides insurance, risk management advising and employee benefits. The corporation has had a pres-

ence in Ohio for the past 25 years with offices in the Columbus and Cleveland areas.

The company has more than 400 offices in 120 countries all over the world. It employs more than 17,000 people, approximately 100 from Ohio and 95 of them in the Columbus area. The business has also converted the Sears Tower of Chicago into what is slowly becoming known as the Willis Tower.

The group is known for its effort to create innovative and improved tactics to better serve clients and their interests as they partner together in order to better performances and alter the business world to better fit customers’ needs.

“We just want to deliver great client service and grow to be the best in class insurance advisor in Columbus,” McKain says.

Reactions to the current shift include excitement, anticipation and satisfaction in regards to finding an ideal building for the company.

“It’s a great location and it lends itself to a new identity for our firm,” McKain says. “It’s a beautiful building, with great visibility (and) development, and the energy is just electric.”

The goal in relocating the Willis of Ohio offices is to mirror the overall intentions of the company.

“We wanted an office building that matches our commitment to our clients and grow in Columbus,” says McKain.

Through moving to a new venue, Willis of Ohio has also set its sights on a new goal as the firm begins to take steps to move in a different direction.

HEIGHTS

By Lindsay Friedman

City of Grandview Heights

Get Organized, Grandview!

Today’s Organized Home wants to help promote better organization in people’s homes by providing a destination for purging unwanted items. A “drop site” will be held on Jan. 14 in the store’s parking lot, located at 885 W. Fifth Ave. Residents can drive through and drop off items they want to donate. Door prizes and gift bags will also be given away to those in attendance.

A trade show featuring various vendors teaching organizing classes will be held inside. For more information, call Today’s Organized Home at 614754-8234.

“We want to take Willis to the next level in Columbus, and we see our location in Grandview Yard as a fundamental step to do that,” McKain says.

The company moved into the building Dec. 19 and is currently open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. McKain says he anticipates a smooth and easy transition.

“We greatly appreciate our partnership with Continental Realty, Nationwide Realty Investors and the city of Grandview,” says McKain. “The Grandview Yard will help us continue to grow.”

Lindsay Friedman is a contributing writer. Feedback welcome at laurand@ pubgroupltd.com.

Grandview Heights High School Presents Oklahoma! March 8-10

Grandview Heights High School students are in the throes of preparation for the annual winter musical. This year, a cast of 50 students will perform the 1943 Broadway musical Oklahoma!, a romantic comedy featuring the love story of cowboy Curly McLain and farm girl Laurey Williams in the school’s auditorium, 1587 W. Third Ave.

Performances are scheduled for 8 p.m. March 8-10, with an additional matinee slated for 2 p.m. March 10. Calamity dates in case of inclement weather are 7 p.m. March 11-13 and 3 p.m. March 11. General admission tickets cost $8 and will be on sale in the high school office beginning Feb. 27, and at the door before each performance.

faces By Gail Martineau

I Am Woman,

Michele Rapp’s club insipires women to live their dreams now, not later

Hang from a flying trapeze. Learn to belly dance. Go dog sledding. Hold a baby tiger.

For many, these activities are entries on the bucket list – some of which may never be crossed off. But for Michele Rapp and a growing group of women, these are monthly activities, thanks to the Ladies Explorer Club.

Rapp, 43, is the founder of the organization, which strives to get women to bond and do outside-thebox activities, all while increasing self-confidence and self-worth.

It all started just over a year ago when Rapp and a group of five of her girlfriends got together for a “no fish, no fowl, no meat” dinner party. The idea was that each participant would plan an adventure as a way to bring balance to the group’s busy, working-mother lifestyles. Rapp’s dinner was their first adventure.

The meal included exotic vegetarian foods from Whole Foods and other natural, organic places. The women didn’t know they weren’t eating chicken. But when it was the other women’s turns, they were stumped as to what they should plan. Rapp started getting phone calls asking for help planning the next big adventure.

“I love planning; I could see it coming to fruition,” says Rapp, who lives in Upper Arlington with her

Woman, Hear Me Explore

husband, Dave, and her sons, Hunter and Jake.

She figured that if her close friends needed this release, there had to be scores of other women who did, too.

The Ladies Explorer Club came to life with about 20 core members traveling south to the Cincinnati Circus Company, where 15 women took to the ropes and did the flying trapeze – including Rapp’s 72-year-old mother, Sondra Slone of Dublin.

“I got the most lovely e-mails after that saying how empowered they were,” Rapp says.

She immediately saw a change in herself, too.

“I was stepping outside of my comfort zone,” she says. “I was a better mom and a better wife. It was almost like a gift to be able to escape for two hours and have nothing else to think about but the task at hand.”

Since that first outing, Rapp and her group, which has grown to number more than 200, have only gotten more adventurous.

The group averages about 10 outings each month, which range from cooking classes and painting to curling and exotic pole dancing.

Members of the group, who pay an annual $99 fee, get discounts on each event, as well as a discount to return to each of the adventure locations on their own. Any woman can attend any of the events, regardless of membership. One of the best features of the club, Rapp says, is that women can schedule the activities they want to attend and ignore the others.

In February, 10 members of the group will take a long weekend trip to Michigan’s Upper Peninsula to go dog sledding. Plans also are in the works for a trip to an elephant rescue sanctuary in Thailand.

“I said, ‘One day, I want to do this,’” says Rapp, who has been a lifelong animal lover.

Rapp is having the time of her life, she says, and feels she is being called to help these women find themselves.

“You know when you know?” she says. “I had one of those ‘a-ha’ moments. Just to see these women smile; they’re pulled in so many directions. You only have one life to life, and you have to make the most out of it.”

And she hopes to inspire even more women this year.

Rapp’s 2012 goals include expanding to the Cincinnati, Cleveland and Dayton areas, in which she already has heard from a number of interested women.

She recently filed for and received limited liability company status and hopes to spread her business model around the country.

“I see it as a tree with branches,” she says.

For more information about the Ladies Explorer Club, visit www.ladiesexplorerclub.com.

Upper Arlington resident Gail Martineau is a contributing writer. Comments and feedback welcome at laurand@ pubgroupltd.com.

“I was stepping outside of my comfort zone. I was a better mom and a better wife. It was almost like a gift to be able to escape for two hours and have nothing else to think about but the task at hand.”

By Duane St. Clair

Condition Commanders

Father-and-son team stresses importance of fitness

Health is a family matter for Rex Holman and his father, Mike.

Rex, a part-time Upper Arlington firefighter and former champion wrestler at The Ohio State University, follows the lead of his father, a retired lawyer who lives in Jefferson Township.

Since his years working in a downtown Columbus law office and raising two athletic sons in Upper Arlington, Mike’s avocation has been physical fitness and workouts. A physically fit specimen at 69, Mike’s fitness and workouts, as well as his nutrition, have become his advocacy.

Rex, an Upper Arlington High School graduate, is a partner in his father’s continued all-out efforts to stay physically fit and encourage others to do the same. Father and son share author credit for new book Take Command! Be Lean, Energized & Strong and, together, run the website www.takecommandtoday.com.

Mike and Rex are self-publishing 2,000 copies of their fact-filled, 360page, soft-back manual for sale online, with more copies planned for print and bookstore distribution early this year.

Mike did all the writing, and Rex’s role was to read the manuscript and make suggestions. The book has many pictures of exercise techniques, as well as charts and tables on everything from calorie counts to exercise routines and schedules.

The book could almost be Mike’s autobiography. Mike draws heavily from his background as a Navy pilot, which he uses as a platform to explain how to program one’s life, including dealing with possible letdowns and planning ex-

ercises. His flying career after graduating from the U.S. Naval Academy is at the root of the book title.

He uses other anecdotes, such as vacations spent in Key West, to launch other aspects of his fitness advocacy in a manual filled with information about nutrition and how to plan proper meals.

Mike is at once dedicated, ambitious and outspoken in his conversations about fitness and the associated diet and exercise through which “you can turn back the clock” to overcome aging, become physically healthy and better enjoy life.

His near-evangelistic outpouring is carried on to a large extent on the Internet and through social networking. He writes frequent blog posts that discuss issues relating to health and fitness, such as the excess sugar and salt in the processed foods in many people’s diets and methods to fit exercise into the work day.

Mike works out 45 to 90 minutes a day, depending upon which types of exercise he is doing in the well-equipped

workout room in his basement. The home gym features weight and aerobic equipment he has acquired over the years. Some days, his workout centers on aerobics on a treadmill or elliptical, while others focus on weightlifting. All days – he misses just five or six a year, Mike says –involve extensive stretching, both before and after a workout.

Seniors in particular can use exercise to stave off or even reverse the loss of muscle mass. The cliché is true, Mike says: “Use it or lose it.”

He is a big advocate of eating a healthful diet, which he says most doctors don’t stress.

“We don’t eat out a lot. The food’s good here” at home, Mike says.

He avoids less-than-healthful ingredients by reading packaging labels and gathering nutritional information from other sources. Dinner on a particular evening might be a Caesar salad and a home-mixed dressing. He doesn’t eat red meat, but mentions chicken frequently.

“When I’m cooking, it’s pretty good,” with each meal typically featuring a grain, a vegetable and a protein, Mike says.

Mike’s efforts have rubbed off on Rex and have reached as far as the firehouse, where Rex sometimes fixes meals for his crew.

“At the firehouse, the drivers are the cooks,” Rex says.

His influence has resulted in more healthful meals for his crew, “at least when I’m cooking,” he says. He did lose one small battle – Saturday is still pizza night – but Rex usually fixes his with less cheese and no pepperoni, which he says is “the worst thing you can eat.”

Rex has two daughters, ages 8 and 3, so his at-home diet isn’t as stringent as his father’s.

“I lean on comfort foods from time to time,” he concedes.

“I’m not quite as passionate as (Mike) is,” Rex says, but he, too, works out at home and with equipment available on the job. Rex’s workouts are focused on weight training so that he stays in good shape, which helps for those times when his job requires all-out, nonstop exertion.

A healthful lifestyle is accessible to all, Mike says.

“Anyone can do it. Plan what you eat and eat what you plan,” he says. “Get rid of all that bad stuff in the house; never eat out of the container.”

Duane St. Clair is a contributing editor. Comments and feedback welcome at laurand@pubgroupltd.com.

The Future of Fitness

Parks and recreation departments keep a close eye on community wellness

The many recreational opportunities offered by the Grandview Heights and Upper Arlington aren’t just for entertainment – the cities are working hard to keep residents healthy for years.

“We believe that personal enrichment or personal wellness almost has to be a component of everything we offer,” says Upper Arlington Recreation and Parks Director Tim Moloney.

Both cities’ efforts begin with youth programming.

Grandview Heights tries to set children up for a life of fitness with its own youth offerings, many of which skew toward very young children. Soccer Buddies is aimed at ages 5 and 6, its children’s dance program is aimed at ages 4 and 5, and JumpBunch

programs are for ages 3-5, helping children develop balance and motor skills that will be useful for staying in shape.

“It’s a … spontaneous, energetic group of very young kids with age-appropriate sports activities,” says Grandview Parks and Recreation Director Sean Robey. The program is “trying to set a foundation for moving on to items that require a little more motor skill and concentration.”

While physical activity is a big part of Upper Arlington’s youth programming – running the gamut from tumble and dance classes for very young children to organized sports such as volleyball and softball – there’s more for kids than just sports. The city’s camps are a particularly effective way to keep the kids active when school is not in session, and

The Grandview Heights Parks and Recreation Department offers a variety of programs for kids, adults and seniors.

its educational programs such as cooking classes help children establish good health habits early, says Moloney.

“It transitions right into our adult programming with our lifelong learning and leisure offerings,” Moloney says.

Adult fitness programs are UA’s most demanded activities, and staffers make sure to offer what residents are looking for to stay fit – from standard aerobics classes to more specific programs like Zumba. The focus on adult health then transitions into the city’s focus on health for its senior citizens.

The creation of a small fitness room in the Upper Arlington Senior Center 15 years ago has led to a serious expansion of senior fitness programming, Moloney says. The center’s most recent step was to purchase a NuStep recumbent cross trainer.

“Fifteen years later, we’ve turned it into a 30-by-60 room with the most modern equipment available,” he says.

Health seminars and a weekly Weight

Watchers program are some of Grandview’s more successful non-physical wellness offerings. The city has also flirted with cooking and nutrition education classes for children, but has found those programs less appealing to young people than to adults.

Grandview’s two full-time recreation supervisors do their fair share of monitoring new trends and opportunities in fitness offerings – reading publications and other cities’ recreation brochures, attending conferences, using their personal connections. That helps the department keep abreast of new developments and old concepts that are experiencing new surges in popularity.

“Those include things like kickball, which is a fairly new program and, believe it or not, is very popular among some of our young adults,” says Robey.

The UA Recreation and Parks Department’s employees also read periodicals, talk to customers and participate in activities to ensure they stay up to date on the

latest developments. The city was one of the first in central Ohio to organize a senior softball league, for instance, and now that program is huge, Moloney says.

“Our professional staff really try to stay at the forefront of what is happening in the field of fitness,” he says.

Another important component of UA’s fitness focus is its trail system. Most of its parks have looping trails to make walking and running simple, some of which were originally dead-end trails until the city heeded residents’ wishes and completed them. Thompson Park has a multiuse trail with fitness stations along the route – such trails were popular in the 1980s when the Thompson Park trail was built, and though the fad faded for a time, the Thompson Park trail is becoming popular again today.

Grandview offers its own set of trails, the most popular of which is probably the loop around the perimeter of the C. Ray Buck Sports Park, Robey says. The

Students in Grandview Heights’ adult tap dance class pose for a photo prior to a social event.

A cross-country skiing or snowshoeing outing at Highbanks Metro Park is one of Upper Arlington’s many winter offerings.

The Upper Arlington Recreation and Parks Department offers a variety of programs for children and seniors, as well as everyone in between.

city has been working on plans to connect more of its trails, which residents identified as a priority in a 2007 questionnaire.

Promoting good nutrition is another important step toward keeping residents healthy. Upper Arlington has a number of adult and youth classes focused on aspects of nutrition, while Grandview Heights points to the community plots at Wallace Gardens as opportunities for residents to explore not only nutrition, but also outdoor work and camaraderie.

“You’re getting at least three or four benefits from doing that,” Robey says.

Garth Bishop is a contributing editor. Feedback welcome at laurand@ pubgroupltd.com.

Knott

By Lindsay Friedman

Bodybuilder lives a life full of athletics and immense motivation

Always the athlete, Grandview Heights native Sue Knott has done it all – track, gymnastics, cheerleading.

Recently, Knott has added one more to the list: international figure bodybuilding.

Some might assume her two aunts –Sue and Sandra Knott, figure bodybuilders who worked with famous trainer Jim Lorimer and have made appearances at the Olympics and the Pan American Games – inspired the addition, but Sue made the decision on her own.

“I started looking for something and this fell into my lap,” Knott says. “A friend of mine was involved in bodybuilding and he invited me to check it out. I’ve competed every year since.”

Since 2005, Knott has spent three years competing on the local level in central Ohio and three additional years on the national level. She was recently awarded professional status and a sponsorship from Liquid Sunrise, a tanning salon, after winning the North American Championships in September. Knott plans to begin her professional career this spring at the Arnold Sports Festival right here in Columbus, slated for March 1-4.

“I’m excited and nervous. It’s my first ever professional show and it’s a big stage to step on,” she says. “It’s a chance to represent my coaches, my supporters and myself.”

Just a Girl

On competition day, contestants participate in an individual prejudging before taking the stage. As a subjective competition, female figure bodybuilding is based solely on physique such as wide, shapely shoulders and legs, a narrow waist, and an overall lean and feminine look.

“I try not to put a whole lot of value on how I place and focus on bringing out the best package I can during the week of the show,” says Knott. “It’s a chance to network, so I plan on enjoying the day, the atmosphere and the excitement of it all.”

Knott, who has participated in 16 competitions already, is committed to a strict schedule of workouts and dieting beginning at 5:30 a.m. four to five days a week. Her day includes 20 to 40 minutes of cardio, lifting for one to two and a half hours at the gym, and six meals.

“You have to have tunnel vision during competition season. A lot of it is hard work, day in and day out sticking with diet and training,” says Knott. “The most important component is my diet. I have to become creative in the kitchen with my meals.”

In between workouts and meals, Knott has found free time to travel, attend sporting events and visit her support group of friends and family.

“My family has always been supportive. It took time for them to get used

to it. They look at me funny sometimes because of what I do, but they have always been there,” says Knott. “My coaches and the girls I train with have also really helped. We have developed a unique bond because we all go through this together.”

Despite these factors, Knott still has difficulty establishing a balance in her daily life due to her strict dietary requirements.

“When you have to pack your own cooler (of food) or can’t go out and have a drink, it’s difficult,” she says. “Family and friends have to be understanding about your social life and your diet.”

So far, these struggles have yet to deter Knott from putting in the necessary dedication and work ethic, making her become a role model for other young women.

“At times I do feel like that when I’m working with younger girls. It wasn’t my intention when I first started out but, its something I enjoy and I share a passion for,” she says. “I’m trying to go out there and do my best and represent my self in a good healthy manner. It’s something I will be able to carry on my entire life and have taught to other people, allowing them to get on healthier tracks as well.”

During her years in the figure competition world, Knott has taken note of the stigma female bodybuilders face.

“When you have to pack your own cooler (of food) or can’t go out and have a drink, it’s difficult. Family and friends have to be understanding about your social life and your diet.”

“When people realize what I do, there’s a flood of questions. They always want a quick fix,” says Knott. “They think I spend hours working out, but really, it’s only like an hour a day. Most people look at us and think we lift a ton and starve ourselves, but I eat a lot and it’s a very scientific and calculated process. We are still feminine; I’m still a girl.”

Despite some negative attitudes from acquaintances, Knott plans to continue her career as a professional figure bodybuilder.

“I enjoy working and pushing myself and have had some great people that have motivated me and guided me to help get to the next level,” says Knott. “I’ve been competing since 2005 and haven’t taken a year off yet, and have no plans of doing so.”

Lindsay Friedman is a contributing writer. Feedback welcome at laurand@ pubgroupltd.com

living By Lisa Aurand

Attached to Her Art

It may be a smaller space than she’s used to, but the garage of Elena Osterwalder’s Upper Arlington home has been the birthplace of some of her largest artistic works to date.

For 30 years, Osterwalder put brush to canvas, learning the transparency of oil paints and how layering them affects color. Finally, a bout with breast cancer gave the 70-year-old a change in medium.

“I decided it was better not to be working anymore with (carcinogenic) paints,” Osterwalder says. “I was us-

ing all the cadmiums … so I thought about it and I decided to go with totally organic colors.”

In pursuit of a more natural alternative to dangerous cadmium, which the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency considers a probable human carcinogen, Osterwalder turned back to her Mexican roots. Dried cochineal, parasitic beetles that live on cacti, have been used for centuries to create a vibrant red color. She learned of cochineal on a trip to Oaxaca, Mexico, where she visited an art paper workshop and saw hand-

made paper dyed with natural colors.

Osterwalder crushes the tiny cochineal insects with a coffee grinder, mixes them with a little lime juice and distilled water, and lets the pigment marinate for a few days in a glass jar. The dye darkens as it ages, deepening to almost black after five days. When she’s ready to use it, Osterwalder will boil the dye for 15 minutes, finishing the process.

All of this takes place in the garage studio, where Osterwalder works on a large table fashioned from sawhorses

Upper Arlington artist often spends all day in her garage-turned-studio

ABOVE: Osterwalder displays a work in progress, made with paper she pulled apart and stitched back together with hand-dyed alpaca wool yarn. BELOW: Osterwalder uses mulberry bark Amate paper created by Mexican artisans.

and plywood from a home improvement store. Color-splattered carpet remnants on the floor are the only record of each individual batch; no two are ever the same, she says.

Once cooled, the dye is poured into a shallow plastic bin, where pieces of handmade Amate paper soak in the rich color. Osterwalder also uses turmeric to create yellows and oranges, indigo for deep blues, and Campeche wood to create blacks and navy blues. After the paper is dyed, it dries between two sheets of waxed paper. Then Osterwalder might stack it with other sheets, pull it apart or crumple it.

Some pieces end up mounted in frames behind glass. Others – like the 475-piece installation displayed at the Rhodes Tower in 2007 – are laid out on the floor, side by side. That project was funded by a

“We’ve done four projects with Dave Fox in three years and their team continues to hit home runs. Our quality of life has improved because of what they bring to the table and our home has become more enjoyable.”

John and Betsy S.

~

grant from the National Association of Latino Arts and Culture.

One finished installation, now housed in Osterwalder’s studio, consists of bundles of crumpled, woven paper hung from thick, dyed hemp rope.

These pieces are about the destruction of handmade goods and the modern preference for machine-made items.

“I feel bad that these natural things are disappearing,” Osterwalder says.

Her artwork can be seen online at www. elenaosterwalder.com or in a retrospective at Art Access Gallery in Bexley from March 2-April 19. Her work is currently on display in galleries in Switzerland, Israel and Korea, but is rarely displayed in the U.S. other than at Art Access, which has represented Osterwalder for the last decade.

“It’s been very well accepted in Europe because they tend to be more ecologically minded than the United States,” Osterwalder says.

Whether or not her work receives critical acclaim in America, Osterwalder continues to come to her studio and “talk” to her art, moving the scraps of paper until they are arranged just the right way, and encouraging her six grandchildren to notice the colors in nature.

Lisa Aurand is editor of Tri-Village Magazine. Feedback welcome at laurand@ pubgroupltd.com.

Exercise Eats

Nourish your body with these pre- and post-workout foods

Simple Seasoned Black Beans

From Vegetariana by Nava Atlas Serves 6

If revving up your exercise schedule is on your list of New Year’s resolutions, remember to stop and grab a bite before heading out for an early-morning run.

Christine Zoyhofski, owner and certified instructor at Jazzercise in Lewis Center and Upper Arlington, recommends starting the day by rehydrating your system with a glass of water. She suggests feeding your body a small energy-boosting snack, such as a medium banana, low-fat plain yogurt or 12 almonds.

Morning workouts should be followed by a larger breakfast to replenish energy and build muscle, Zoyhofski says. Muscles are most receptive in the 20 minutes immediately following a workout. Packing in protein, which helps muscles recover after strenuous activity, and carbohydrates, used to replenish energy, is essential.

“Often times, when people return from exercise, they reward themselves with a big meal,” says Zoyhofski. “It’s always important to eat until satisfied and not eat until full. Portion control is very important.”

A good breakfast could include one whole egg, which provides protein and a generous amount of nutrients such as vitamin D and choline. Add in some vegetables for fiber and vitamins for

a delicious omelet, and pair it with a piece of whole wheat toast for carbohydrates and an eight-ounce glass of fresh orange juice. Another of Zoyhofski’s suggested post-workout breakfasts is a half-cup of oatmeal with a handful of berries and nuts.

Before an afternoon or evening workout, jolt out of the mid-day slumps with fresh fruit and a sprinkling of nuts blended in low-fat plain yogurt, a low-fat granola bar or celery and peanut butter, some of Zoyhofski’s ideal choices.

Even the best foods eaten before a workout can ruin it without proper digestion. Depending on the size of the meal, allow time for the body to absorb the food in order to get the most benefit from it.

Zoyhofski’s suggestions for a smart post-workout dinner are one cup of whole wheat pasta topped with a small grilled chicken breast and spinach or a vegetable stir-fry.

The guideline: Pre-workout foods should have energy-enhancing nutrients, and post-workout meals should have both protein and carbohydrates. Zoyhofski recommends always avoiding spicy foods, simple sugars and fats.

Tessa Dufresne is a contributing writer. Feedback welcome at laurand@ pubgroupltd.com.

This quick and easy meal is hearty and satisfying served over hot cooked brown rice or quinoa. Put some fresh, steamed veggies with it and you have a complete meal. You can use leftovers on a bed of lettuce, topped with tomatoes, onions and avocado, for a vegetarian version of a taco salad.

Ingredients:

• 2 tablespoons olive oil

• 1 cup chopped onion

• 3 cloves garlic, minced

• 4 cups canned black beans

• Juice of ½ lemon, or more to taste

• 1 teaspoon ground cumin

• ¼ cup chopped fresh parsley

• Salt and pepper to taste

Heat the oil in a large saucepan. Add the onion and sauté over moderate heat until translucent. Add the garlic and sauté until the onion is golden. Add the beans, along with about ½ cup of liquid from the can. Mash some of the beans with the back of the spoon, enough to thicken the liquid. Add the remaining ingredients and simmer over very low heat for 10-15 minutes, then serve. Zoyhofski suggests adding freshly chopped cilantro and fat-free cheddar cheese to switch up the flavor.

Crunchy Ranch Chickpeas

Serves 4

Ingredients:

• 1-15 oz. can of chickpeas

• Powdered ranch salad dressing mix

• Nonstick cooking spray

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Spray a sheet pan with nonstick cooking spray. Drain the chickpeas well, rinse and dry on paper towels to absorb any moisture. Spread the chickpeas out in a single layer on the pan. Bake 20 minutes, then shake the sheet pan to rotate the chickpeas. Bake an additional 20 minutes until chickpeas look golden brown and somewhat shriveled. Remove from oven, spray with nonstick cooking spray and then sprinkle with powdered ranch mix to taste. Shake pan to coat all sides with the ranch powder. Let cool 5 minutes before eating.

Mix up the flavor by using different spices and seasonings such as garlic or curry.

Children’s Books

Rah, Rah Radishes: A Vegetable Chant

By April Pulley Sayre

(Ages 3-8)

Children often cheer for cookies over veggies, but this colorfully creative chant coupled with bright illustrations may help encourage little ones to try something new on the next visit to the farmer’s market.

Adult Books

Good Growing: A Kid’s Guide to Green Gardening

By the editors of Klutz

(Ages 6 and up)

A good way to stay healthy is to grow nutritious foods right at home. This spiral-bound gardening book shows easy, step-by-step instructions for growing sprouts, vegetables, herbs, flowers and more.

The Budding Chef

Edited by Kate Kuhn

(Grades 5 and up)

Easy, fun cookbooks for kids are excellent tools for teaching the lifelong lesson of cooking at home instead of stopping at the drivethrough. This title will teach children how to make their own meals, snacks and desserts too! Also in this series is The Budding Gardener.

POP! The Invention of Bubble Gum

By Meghan McCarthy

(Ages 6-10)

Part of a healthful lifestyle is learning where foods come from and what they contain. Bubble gum may not be a part of a healthy diet, but this interesting, easy-to-read nonfiction book may inspire children to start to ask even more questions and head to the nonfiction section of the library.

American College of Sports Medicine

Complete Guide to Fitness & Health

Edited by Barbara Bushman

This book offers the most current activity and nutrition guidelines, along with exercises, activities and programs for every age and fitness goal. This guidebook makes adding, enhancing or customizing a fitness and health routine safe and effective – for life.

Good Housekeeping Drop 5 Lbs: The Small Changes, Big Results Diet

By Heather K. Jones.

Registered dietician Jones offers simple weight loss tactics. She tells readers how to shop, eat, exercise and deal with holiday parties and restaurant meals by offering hundreds of ideas for small and very doable changes in one’s diet that can add up to significant weight loss.

Our Bodies, Ourselves (Ninth

Edition)

By the Boston Women’s Health Book Collective

The 40th anniversary of this women’s health bible continues to offer the latest information about reproductive health, menopause and aging, sexuality, relationships, gender identity, domestic violence, and much more.

YOU, on a Diet: The Owner’s Manual for

Waist Management

(Revised, Updated)

By Michael F. Roizen, M.D. & Mehmet C. Oz, M.D.

Roizen and Oz, America’s most trusted doctor team, redefine what a healthy figure is and convince you that the key number to focus on isn’t your weight, but your waist size. The book includes the easy to learn, follow and maintain YOU Diet and YOU Workout.