Tri-Village January/February 2013

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www.cityscenecolumbus.com

Charles L. Stein

Kathleen K. Gill

Dave Prosser

Christa Smothers

Lisa Aurand Garth Bishop Duane St. Clair

Rose Davidson

Heather McCray

Sarah Sole

Alex Wallace

Molly Pensyl

Gianna Barrett

Julie Camp

Pam Henricks

Sadie Bauer

Lynn Leitch

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President/Publisher

Chief Creative Officer

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Contributing Editors

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Through Jan. 31

Art Exhibit: Deb and Tom Baillieul Grandview Public Library, 1685 W. First Ave., www.ghpl.org

See paintings and fiber art by local artists Deb and Tom Baillieul.

Through Feb. 28

Zumba Gold Classes

6 p.m. Mondays, 8 p.m. Wednesdays, Grandview Center, 1515 W. Goodale Blvd., www.grandviewheights.org

Women ages 50 and older are invited to dance and enjoy a fun, low-intensity workout.

Through Feb. 28

Hit and Miss Chair Volleyball

10 a.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays, Grandview Center, 1515 W. Goodale Blvd., www.grandviewheights.org

Men and women ages 50 and older can develop skills to compete in chair volleyball.

Jan. 5

Meet Snow White

10:30 a.m., Upper Arlington Public Library,

Feb. 2

Chilly Open

Noon-5 p.m., Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, 4850 W. Powell Rd., Powell, www.wendyschiliopen.com

This annual fundraiser is run by the Westerville Sunrise Rotary Club and supports a variety of local children’s charities. Highlights include live music by the Debits, children’s activities, raffles, a silent auction and food from 30 local restaurants.

Feb. 2

Grandview Heights/Marble Cliff Education Foundation Gala

6:30-11:30 p.m., LC Pavilion, 405 Neil Ave., Columbus, www.ghmcef.org

Join the Education Foundation for its annual fundraiser, this year themed Rock.Paper.Scissors. Proceeds go toward the foundation’s grants to programs that expand educational opportunities, encourage lifelong learning and promote school, family and business partnerships.

Feb. 4

Grandview Center Volunteer Club and Happy Hour

5 p.m., Grandview Center, 1515 W. Goodale Blvd., www.grandviewheights.org

Enjoy a cocktail and provide input on activities, events and expansion of the Grandview Center.

2800 Tremont Rd., www.ualibrary.org

Bring your children to meet the cast of Columbus Children’s Theater’s upcoming production of Snow White. The cast performs a short scene and is available for autographs afterward.

Jan. 7-31

Quilts: New Year New Inspiration

Concourse Gallery, Upper Arlington Municipal Services Building, 3600 Tremont Rd., www.uaoh.net

Enjoy this exhibition of quilts, created by the Ohio Art Quilt Alliance, on display throughout the month.

Jan. 7-28

Film: Noir After Dark

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

Enjoy a film noir classic each Monday evening at the library. Selections this month are Criss Cross (Jan. 7), The Woman in the Window (Jan. 14), Odds against Tomorrow (Jan. 21) and The Big Combo (Jan. 28).

Jan. 10

Presidential Inauguration Trivia

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

Feb. 4-25

Poitier

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

Enjoy a selection of movies featuring Oscar-winning actor Sidney Poitier. Offerings include Blackboard Jungle (Feb. 2), The Defiant Ones (Feb. 11) and Lilies of the Field (Feb. 25). Popcorn is provided.

Feb. 5-April 25

Concourse Gallery: Upper Arlington Schools

8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday, Concourse Gallery, 3600 Tremont Rd., www.uaoh.net

Enjoy works from Upper Arlington City Schools.

Feb. 6

Food and Mood

7-9 p.m., Upper Arlington Municipal Services Center, 3600 Tremont Rd., www.uaoh.net

In this interactive workshop, learn to make better food choices in order to stay energized and happy. The cost is $22 for Upper Arlington residents and $26 for non-residents.

Feb. 7

A Sweet Night Out

6:30-8 p.m., Schakolad Chocolate Factory, 3219 Tremont Rd., www.uaoh.net

Enjoy a tour of the factory, try molding chocolate and sample various chocolates. Registration is $25 for Upper Arlington residents and $30 for non-residents.

Test your presidential knowledge with trivia and fun facts in celebration of the presidential inauguration.

Jan. 15

Tubes and Marbles: Hands-on Science Program

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

Students in grades 3-5 can explore the world of science and engineering by crafting a cardboard and roll tube structure for marbles.

Jan. 17

Ribbon Cutting and Open House

10:20 a.m., National Church Residences at Mill Run, 3550 Fishinger Blvd., Hilliard, www.nationalchurchresidences.org

Visit the senior living and health care facility National Church Residences at Mill Run, formerly Traditions at Mill Run, located on the outskirts of Upper Arlington to see the results of a recent remodel and expansion. A ribbon cutting ceremony and celebration takes place from 10:30 a.m.-noon and an open house runs from 4-6 p.m.

Feb. 9

Writing and Reflection with Mimi Chenfeld

Noon-5 p.m., Amelita Mirolo Barn, Sunny 95 Park, 4395 Carriage Hill Ln., www.uaoh.net

Spend a fun, creative day with author, educator and writer Mimi Brodsky Chenfeld and learn writing techniques at this class, which is open to all ages. Bring a packed lunch. Cost is $10 per person. Pre-registration is required by Feb. 1.

Feb. 12

Sweetheart Luncheon with Johnny Steiner

11:30 a.m., Upper Arlington Senior Center, 1945 Ridgeview Rd., www.uaoh.net

Those age 50 and older can enjoy a delicious lunch and hear local entertainer Steiner perform his show Some Enchanted Evening, featuring the music of George Gershwin and others. Lunch begins at 11:30 a.m., with entertainment following at 12:15 p.m. Cost is $10 by Feb. 8.

Feb. 17

Sunday Concert: QUBE

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

The string quartet from the Columbus Symphony Orchestra brings their extraordinary talent to the UA library.

Feb. 21

An Evening with Mr. Puppet

7-8 p.m., Grandview Heights Public Library,

Jan. 25

Solve it: Mystery Night

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

Students in grades 5-9 team up to try to solve a mystery and win prizes. Games and pizza will be provided afterward. A $2 donation is requested.

Jan. 26

Red Cross Babysitting

9 a.m.-3 p.m., Upper Arlington Municipal Services Building, 3600 Tremont Rd., www.uaoh.net

Learn child care, first aid, supervision skills, accident prevention and rescue breathing and become a Red Cross certified babysitter at this class for ages 11-15. Registration is $65 for UA residents and $75 for non-residents.

Jan. 30

Choral Masterworks

7 p.m., Trinity United Methodist Church, 1581 Cambridge Blvd., www.trinityumchurch.com/concertseries.htm

The Upper Arlington High School Symphonic Choir and the Hastings and Jones Middle School Honor Choir present two choral masterworks accompanied by an orchestra.

1685 W. First Ave., www.ghpl.org

The whole family will enjoy this puppet/ventriloquist show.

Feb. 26

Edible Landscaping: Pretty and Productive

6:30-8:30 p.m., Upper Arlington Municipal Services Center, 3600 Tremont Rd., www.uaoh.net

Learn how to incorporate herbs, vegetables and berries into your home garden at this class taught by Marcia Fox of Garden Muse Designs. Cost is $22 for Upper Arlington residents, $26 for non-residents.

Feb. 28-March 3

Arnold Sports Festival

In and around downtown Columbus, www.arnoldsportsfestival.com

The largest multi-sport festival in the nation returns to Columbus for its 25th year. New events the Arnold Scottish Highland Games, the Arnold Party with the Pros at Hollywood Casino and the Arnold, Champions & Legends Sunday Morning Showcase join such stalwarts as the Arnold Classic and the Arnold Fitness Expo on this year’s agenda.

Feb. 28

Music: Canned Goods

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

Local music group Canned Goods plays American jazz, blues and country with unique instruments.

Kids Combat Community Hunger

UA teacher earns grant to fund service-learning program

By Alex Wallace

If knowledge is power, then Molly Miely’s sixth grade class at Jones Middle School is well-equipped to fight childhood hunger.

Miely, a language arts and reading teacher, recently received a $5,000 Sodexo Foundation School Engagement Grant to lead her students in a semester-long service learning program to help study and address childhood hunger in the community.

The program officially kicked off during Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week, Nov. 10-18, and runs through the end of April, coinciding with Global Youth Service Day. But students started learning about hunger even sooner, beginning with Packing the Streets, a service-learning day project in September, during which they packed 120 meals for the homeless.

Packing the Streets was created seven years ago by Jones teachers. Students have always loved the program, Miely says, and it inspired her to focus on hunger and see what else the kids could do.

“I think our kids are really great resources, and we need to tap into that,” Miely says.

Students from Jones and Buckeye middle schools participated in a Youth Summit on Hunger at Mid-Ohio Foodbank. First, the students took a tour of the food pantry and together responded to scenarios involving hunger. The students then responded to the question, “What can we do to make sure no one goes hungry?”

The students generated lots of ideas and solutions to combat childhood hunger, Miely says.

One specific idea was to offer free popcorn to attendees at a Columbus Clippers baseball game in exchange for a donation of one canned good. Sodexo would provide the popcorn, and the donations would benefit the Mid-Ohio Foodbank. This event may take place in April close to Global Youth Service Day.

Miely’s students will continue to build off these ideas throughout the year and carry out some of the students’ ideas.

On Feb. 13, 250 sixth-graders will tour the food bank and participate in another planning session, and in March, the

food bank will host a Critical Issues Summit for students from several schools, adults, community agencies and Americorps to tackle the issue of childhood hunger and homelessness.

Throughout the spring, Miely’s students will work together to create flyers, coupons, brochures, posters and public service announcements that address the issue of hunger. The kids will distribute their projects to the community, inviting donations for the school’s “food line” on April 26, when Miely and her students will walk together to the local food pantry, picking up donations along the way. At the pantry, the kids will sort, count and load the shelves.

Miely says service-learning projects like these make the kids feel good and want to continue to help others. As an added benefit, the service learning ties into the curriculum at Jones, giving teachers the chance to enrich the curriculum and work with the students on issues they are passionate about. As an example, the students are writing about their project’s impact and reflecting on what hunger means to them.

“The learning is deeper. The kids are more engaged because they feel like they are making a difference,” Miely says. “It’s great when kids can change the world, and that’s what service learning does.”

Alex Wallace is a contributing writer. Feedback welcome at laurand@cityscenemediagroup.com.

THE VILLAGE OF Frank Monaco: A Life of Service Above Self

MARBLE CLIFF

It has taken many people to help Marble Cliff become the wonderful village it is today. One of those people is Frank Monaco, who gave 32 years of service to the Village as councilman, treasurer, council president and mayor. Upon his retirement from his own career in the early 1970s and with available free time, Frank was asked by then-Mayor Paul Falco to serve as Village treasurer.

“I told Paul I had a lot to learn but would give it a shot,” Frank says.

“By the time I retired from the Village, I think I had held every job. The jobs took time to do them right, and I enjoyed every moment. Back then, there was no Village Hall like there is today on Fernwood Avenue. Our records were stored at Gus’ Restaurant on Dublin Road. Council would meet for dinner there and adjourn upstairs for meetings. We had great camaraderie and served out of pride for community, certainly not for the $5-10 pay! Things were simpler then; a time when Mayor Falco and I would walk the Village to find repairs needing attention.

“For 28 years, our one-man ‘service department,’ W. A. ‘Dutch’ Biemesderfer, dependably did anything to keep the Village neat and orderly, such as snow removal, leaf pickup and trash collection. There were some tough times, but we did what we had to do. Of course, the cooperation we received from the City of Grandview Heights and the Grandview school district certainly helped!”

Frank fondly remembers the Village picnics held in August, the Village Christmas trees and holiday parties, and the annual Music in the Park summer music series. Not only did Frank start the

music series, he presided over the Village’s Mayor’s Court. He is particularly proud of the fountain installed on Cambridge Island. “I felt our nice Village should have a fountain just like all the villages in the old country (Italy),” Frank says.

Born in Columbus to Italian immigrant parents, Frank was raised near Cleveland Avenue and East Fifth Avenue, graduating from Aquinas High School. While his wife, Mary, and daughter Carol stayed in Columbus, Frank served in the Navy and Marine Corps for three and a half years as a Pharmacist Mate 2nd Class during WWII. Upon discharge, he returned to Columbus and worked in the State Auditor’s Office.

He then joined the Prudential Life Insurance Company and worked in sales for 30 years before retiring and taking on the role of Village treasurer.

During that span, he and Mary moved to their home on Cambridge Boulevard in Marble Cliff and raised Carol, Frank Jr. (who was a Marble Cliff Councilman), Cathy and Mary Lynn “DeeDee” Monaco. He and Mary welcomed 28 grandchildren and more than 15 great-grandchildren during their 63 years together, mostly spent on Cambridge Boulevard, until Mary passed away in 2005. At age 92, Frank now comfortably resides at First Community Village.

“I wish I was 15-20 years younger and could serve the Village again. I encourage residents to take pride in their community and serve when called upon. If they do, they should put service over personal ambition or desires in order to move their community forward,” he says.

Former Marble Cliff Mayor Frank Monaco sits on his well-recognized car on Cambridge Boulevard in 2000. Photo courtesy of Ken Frick Photography

Centennial Celebration

Industrial parts distributor achieves 100 years of success

By Rose Davidson

A century is a long time, no matter how you measure it – and Grandview Heights-based W. W. Williams hopes it is just the start of its long-term success.

W. W. Williams, founded in 1912, is a leading distributor of industrial products to customers around the country. The company provides parts, services and repairs to companies such as Carrier, Isuzu and Mercedes-Benz, and also provides logistical solutions, including warehousing and powertrain component remanufacturing.

Current Chairman and CEO Bill Williams is the great-grandson of founder William Wallace Williams, Sr.

Though highly successful now, the company had a humble beginning, Williams says.

“We started out with a single office down on Spring and High (streets) Downtown selling construction equipment,” says Williams.

In 1920, the company expanded to its current location at 835 Goodale Blvd., which serves as the corporate headquarters. Williams says Grandview has been a comfortable and convenient location for the company to call home, noting its central location, easy accessibility and “great infrastructure in terms of support services.”

While the company was small at

first, events over the past century have allowed W. W. Williams to increase the span of services it provides.

In the 1960s, highway projects and coal mining propelled the company into significant growth. Then, in the 1970s and ’80s, the company shifted its focus to diesel engines and automatic transmissions, Williams says.

“With that, it’s led us into various other areas,” says Williams. “We sort of used our core diesel engine business as an opportunity to find new fields that are related, both product-wise and geographically.”

W. W. Williams has now grown to have more than 30 locations across the U.S. and northern Mexico and has more than 1,000 employees, including five family members who work full-time. Williams says family has remained a constant in the business.

“At the top has always been family leadership,” says Williams. “We’ve been very fortunate.”

The company commemorated its centennial anniversary in December. Williams says the company was opened in 1912 – a bit ahead of schedule – at the request of his greatgrandmother. She was very superstitious, Williams says, and did not want the company

to be founded in a year that included the number “13.”

Because the company couldn’t find record of the exact date on which it opened for business, the employees settled on Dec. 12, 2012 as the day to celebrate – 12-12-12. At the headquarters’ open house, employees, shareholders and customers were invited to honor the company’s success. W. W. Williams also held a celebratory luncheon at which one customer won a Harley-Davidson motorcycle.

As for the future, Williams is already working out the details for the next 100 years. He says the company has taken on new product lines and is actively looking for other companies to acquire. He also has hopes of breaking into a new sector of the industry.

“We are working to get involved with the natural gas industry, both from the exploration side, (and) we’re also reaching out to convert diesel engines and automobiles to run on natural gas,” says Williams.

Rose Davidson is a contributing writer. Feedback welcome at laurand@ cityscenemediagroup.com.

Bill Williams

HEIGHTS

News & Information from the City of Grandview Heights

Education Foundation Gala

Rock. Paper. Scissors. supports educational excellence

Intended to join the new with the old, Rock. Paper. Scissors., the Grandview Heights/Marble Cliff Education Foundation’s annual Gala, will be held Saturday, Feb. 2. Local favorite Paul’s on Fifth will cater a gourmet dinner and Watershed Distillery will again create a signature drink for the evening. The event will move to a new venue, The LC Pavilion in the Arena District, 405 Neil Ave.

This year’s auction will introduce an innovative automated bidding, donations and payment process. Mirror-

ing the increased use of technology within the school district, BidPal offers attendees an easy and fun approach to bidding through the use of handheld devices, and offers increased opportunities for sponsors to reach attendees. Strong partnerships among businesses, community members and schools are an integral part of a successful community.

The Gala is also a time to honor the Grandview Heights Teacher of the Year and other special guests. The Foundation complements our out-

standing school system by supporting educational excellence by funding projects, resources and materials not available through district operating budgets.

The auction co-chairs this year are Elaine Broderick, Sharla Thomas and Janet Callison.

For information about sponsorships, attending the event or to donating items to the auction, please contact the co-chairs at ghmcef.gala.info@ gmail.com.

2013 Grandview Heights City Council

Back row, left to right: Milton Lewis, P’Elizabeth Koelker, Susan Jagers and Steve Gladman

Front row, left to right: Edward Hastie, President Steve Reynolds and Vice President Anthony Panzera

The Brain Behind the BIAOH

Suzanne Minnich

faces By Heather McCray photography by Lisa Aurand

Grandview Heights woman heads up brain injury education and advocacy group

IF yoU HAD talked to Suzanne Minnich 35 years ago, she would’ve told you she wanted to be a French teacher.

Today, Minnich is the executive director for the Brain Injury Association of Ohio. She’s been the director for 26 years and loves it.

“I found the mission (of BIAOH) to be very compelling, and I found it very exciting to work on the ground floor in an organization that focuses on awareness and education and quality of life for people with brain injuries and their families,” Minnich says. “(At the time) there was no (state government department) for people … with brain injuries.”

After graduating from Alexandria, Ohio’s Northridge High School in 1968, Minnich studied French and education at The Ohio State University. However, due to a shortage of teaching positions at the time of her graduation, she wound up in another field.

“I ended up working for (Franklin) County … with kids with disabilities from various causes,” Minnich says. “I had to research how to teach kids with developmental disabilities, so I signed up for courses at Ohio State for certification, and (then) I pursued a master’s degree in special education.”

She married her husband, John O’Connell, in 1979. They bought a home in Grandview Heights, where they still live, and Minnich became a stay-athome mom. When their daughter was still young, Minnich began looking for a part-time job. In 1986, she was hired by the founders of BIAOH.

BIAOH is a nonprofit statewide advocacy and education organization that

tries to improve services and support for Ohioans with brain injuries and their families, and to promote prevention of brain injuries.

Traumatic Brain Injuries – which are caused by a bump, blow or jolt to the head or a penetrating head injury – disrupt the normal function of the brain. The lingering effects of a TBI range widely, from full recovery to chronic fatigue and slight memory problems, to more severe effects that render the patient unable to return to a former career or normal life.

Even though 75 percent of TBIs are mild, the overall number of injuries is high. Each year, at least 1.7 million people in the United States sustain a TBI. Of those, about 52,000 die and 275,000 are hospitalized, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website.

Minnich’s work covers a wide array of responsibilities – everything from grant applications to paying the electric bill to public speaking. She even recently attended a hearing for House Bill 143, which passed in December.

“We’re very excited about it,” Minnich says of the bill. “This (bill) makes sure that young athletes and coaches are educated … about identifying the signs and symptoms of a concussion … and requires that before that child can go back in, they … have to be evaluated to see if the concussion symptoms have resolved.

“If their brains are not allowed enough time to heal in between (multiple concussions), that results in long-term disabilities common to brain injuries,” Minnich says.

Minnich also attends a monthly TBI support group meeting at the Grandview Heights Public Library.

“The support group meeting is … a time for people to share and contribute to the conversation in a setting where they feel comfortable to be honest about the struggles they’re having,” Minnich says.

“It’s most meaningful for people to hear from other people with brain injuries … to be able to speak freely and let other people respond, perhaps with a practical tip or how you can use your cell phone to be a memory prompt,” Minnich says. “And to hear them honestly tell their story and how they work to surmount it to have a good quality of life with family, friends and in the community, it’s very inspiring.”

It wasn’t until recently that Minnich realized that she is related to someone with a TBI.

“My dad was a great guy, and he had what we thought were just personality quirks,” Minnich says. “When he was 14 … (my father) was injured – a cable let loose and hit him in the head – and I think he had five days of posttraumatic amnesia as a result. … That meant that he had a brain injury.”

Looking back, Minnich concludes that her father’s memory problems and occasional inflexibility to changes were related to his injury. But they did not get in the way of providing for his family.

“Nobody would’ve ever thought that (he had a TBI),” Minnich says. “(That’s) one of the difficulties – the disability (from TBI) can be completely invisible, (the person) looks and walks and talks fine. … (People with TBI) can still be brilliant and

“I found the mission (of BIAOH) to be very compelling, and I found it very exciting to work on the ground floor in an organization that focuses on awareness and education and quality of life for people with brain injuries and their families.”

Power With great Power comes great responsibility.

phenomenal in lots of areas, but they’ll still have struggles in other areas.

“They’re just phenomenal, interesting people who have to, sort of, reinvent themselves, and become the new Vicky or John,” Minnich says. “As part of the brain injury organization, it has been wonderful to work with them.”

In addition to her job, Minnich likes to garden, read medieval historical novels, and travel to Denver to visit her daughter, Jenn O’Connell.

Heather McCray is a contributing writer. Feedback welcome at laurand@city scenecolumbus.com.

Preventing Traumatic Brain Injury

“We are all at risk for a TBI, but there are things we can do to reduce that risk,” says Dr. Jennifer Bogner, vice chairwoman of research for the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at The Ohio State University.

To Help Prevent TBI:

1. Buckle up and use appropriate car seats for children.

2. Wear a helmet whenever riding a motorcycle, playing contact sports or engaging in an activity that places you at risk for a fall at height or speed (e.g. bicycling, horseback riding) or for being hit in the head (e.g. baseball).

3. Make the home safer for older adults and young children.

4. Drink alcohol responsibly and don’t use illegal drugs. “Misuse of alcohol or other drugs substantially increases the risk that you or someone else will be seriously injured,” Bogner says.

To learn more about Traumatic Brain Injury, visit www.cdc.gov/Traumatic BrainInjury. To find a TBI support group near you, visit http://biaoh.org/ BIAOHresources.htm.

By Rose Davidson

Working as One

Two counseling organizations combine to enhance patient care

BoTH DUBLIn CoUnSeLInG

Center in Dublin and Northwest Counseling Services in Upper Arlington have long track records of helping members of their respective communities. Each has 35 years of experience in providing mental health and substance abuse treatments – and now the two are putting their collective experience to use as one united organization.

The nonprofit organizations had worked together on programs in the past, but when the two boards of directors met to discuss the consolidation of services, the conversation eventually led to a unanimous vote to merge as a single entity.

“A lot of this is occurring because of multiple budget cuts to nonprofits, especially in the behavioral health care arena,” says Julie Rinaldi, executive director of Dublin Counseling Center. “Health care reform is making the health care environment different for all of us, so some of the smaller providers have been having ongoing conversations about how we can become more efficient.”

To assist with the merger, the organizations received some funding from the Columbus Foundation, as well as Franklin County’s Alcohol, Drug and Mental Health (ADAMH) Board.

“The Columbus Foundation and the ADAMH Board really pitched in to help,” says Hollie Goldberg, interim executive director for Northwest Counseling. “Once our two boards decided to merge, we had access to an organizational consultant, fiscal consultants and legal consultants.”

The new legal name of the parent company will be Syntero. The name originates from the Greek word “syntiro,” meaning “support.” Rinaldi says the word resonated with both organizations as a value that was shared deeply.

However, because each organization is committed to preserving its own community identity, the title will only be used behind the scenes of the company.

“Our boards (of directors) feel like it’s very important that we keep our names as is,” says Rinaldi. “That’s what people know and that’s what people recognize. We want to send the message that we’re not going away; we’re here and we’re going to be even more available.”

At the top of the agenda for the combined agency is enhancing patient services in both communities. The merge is being called “a marriage between two equals.” In that spirit, the companies are working to blend together programs that may already be strong at one location, but not at the other.

“One of the things we’re really excited about with this merger is that Northwest has a very strong older adult outreach program,” says Rinaldi. “We’re hoping we can expand on that.”

As the director of the Older Adults Program, Goldberg says

the program provides services that may not be associated with mental health, but are still very valuable to the aging community. As part of the program, social workers and volunteers help the elderly in many aspects of life, from assisting with errands to counseling grieving widows and widowers.

“The Older Adults Program is really different from our mental health services because all you have to do is be someone who’s 60 or older and having some kind of problem in life,” says Goldberg. “It doesn’t have to be a mental health issue.”

Rose Davidson is a contributing writer. Feedback welcome at laurand@ cityscenemediagroup.com.

W-Bill Neutzling

On August 1, 2012, Members First became a Pathways Financial Credit Union.

We have joined together with two other respected Central Ohio credit unions, Powerco and Western, to acquire the added strength and stability to do more for our members and to ensure a successful future.

Our goal is to make banking easier and to be your trusted partner in achieving your financial goals.

Step in Time

Senior line dancers never miss a beat when it comes to exercise

neITHeR RAIn, nor sleet, nor knee replacement surgery will stop the Grandview Jolly Steppers.

The long-running Grandview Heights Parks and Recreation line dancing program is going strong after more than 30 years. So are the Jolly Steppers – a group consisting of some baby boomers, but more senior citizens – thanks to their commitment to the group, says Mary Bova-Ervin, who has taught them since 1981.

“Some danced before, but some never danced and always wanted to,” Ervin says. “It’s good for … mental sharpness – learning the steps – (and) it’s good physically.”

Line dancing provides the seniors with a host of health benefits, from mental acuity to muscle tone and balance.

“It’s good exercise,” says Thelma Sibio, a longtime group member in her 80s. “I come when I can, but I can’t dance like I used to.”

The routines Ervin teaches forces the seniors to work their minds as well as their bodies.

“They can’t just get out there and do them without thinking, and it keeps them motivated,” Ervin says.

In addition, the movement builds muscle and keeps bones strong. Regular physical exercise is frequently prescribed as a prevention and treatment for osteoporosis – one that Ervin says has proven effective for the Jolly Steppers.

Current Jolly Steppers are, left to right: (back row) Dee Williams, Sam Pallotta, Dick Entler, Betty Affeldt, teacher Mary Bova-Ervin, Sharon Arthur, Betty Lahr, Dick Sherran and Sophia Vernon; (seated) Eiko Hans, Mary Lou Wright, Thelma Sibio and Lori Storin; (kneeling) Gloria DiPietro and Mary Herkins; (not pictured) Bill Molengraft, Alice Early, Dianne Monroe, Dorothy Spiva, Harriet Shea, Helen Reed, Judy Pierce, Dorothy Gath, Judy Taylor, Laura Lewis, Tony Petrella and Sherri Soble.

“Quite a few of them have fallen and they didn’t break anything,” she says. “I think it makes you agile, and when you fall, your muscles aren’t loose.”

The Jolly Steppers are extraordinarily dedicated to the group, which meets Mondays and Wednesdays from 1-2:30 p.m.

“No matter what, they’re out there dancing,” Ervin says.

Ervin also leads a Zumba class for seniors, and some of the Jolly Steppers attend that class as well.

“They come to all of that and they’re really energetic,” Ervin says. “You can see that dancing keeps them alive.”

Ervin describes Rosella Holly, a close friend who died from cancer in May 2012. Holly danced all through her chemotherapy treatments, Ervin says. The music and movement kept her vibrant during her illness.

At a recent Wednesday class, 14 out of about 30 Jolly Steppers, dressed in black pants and shirts and sequined silver vests, showed off their moves to a variety of tunes, including a Jersey Boys medley and Michael Jackson’s Beat It

Eiko Hans, who had a knee replacement five weeks prior, dances blithely

through the steps with the help of a cane. Another member, Dick Entler, has a little more difficulty and relies on his cane more. He and a few other members take some breaks to rest while the others keep going with kicks, steps and turns.

“When they’re hurting, they hurt worse if they sit still, so they come no matter what,” Ervin says. “You feel better if you exercise.”

That fact has proven true for Ervin, too. She credits the Jolly Steppers with helping her carry on after her husband, Terry, died unexpectedly 12 years ago. They needed her, she says.

“They’re fun. I really love them. They keep me grounded.”

Wherever they go, the Jolly Steppers cause a stir with their lively performances. The group performs at a variety of events around central Ohio and has even taken its unique brand of dance to a much larger stage at the National Independence Day Parade in Washington, D.C.

Of course, the Jolly Steppers’ demographics means that most of the members who participated in the parade back in 2002 are no longer with us, but the high turnover doesn’t detract from the group’s tight-knit family feel, says Mary Lou Wright, who joined when she retired in 1996.

“I like the friendship of all of them. It’s like family,” says Wright, who won’t reveal her age.

Wright had heard that there was a line dancing class at the Recreation Center; her lifelong love of dance drew her to check it out.

The Jolly Steppers perform at the Taste of Grandview in October 2012.

Sam Pallotta and Dee Williams waltz during one song as the rest of the group line dances.

“I liked to dance; I always liked to dance,” says Wright, who leads the group when Ervin is unavailable.

The Jolly Steppers – fixtures at community events, including the Our Lady of Victory Festival, the St. Christopher Parish Festival, the Lazy Daze of Summer Festival and the Columbus Italian Festival – are regularly called upon to perform at nursing homes and in cancer wards.

“We really like to make people smile, and it just seems like we do when we go out there and dance,” Ervin says.

The group plans to perform dem onstrations at several health fairs this year, but specific dates haven’t been set as of press time.

“They enjoy it. They look forward to it,” Wright says of the public’s reaction to Jolly Steppers performances. “They always do, even if we’re not always up to par.”

Lisa Aurand is editor of Magazine. Feedback welcome at lau rand@cityscenemediagroup.com.

By Sarah Sole

Inner Strength

Strongman competitions give Grandview Heights alum focus

AFTER SEvEN YEARS competing as an amateur bodybuilder in strongman events across the country, Grandview Heights High School alumnus Joe Stanton is headed to the Arnold Classic.

The competition is part of the Arnold Sports Festival, held March 1-4 at the Greater Columbus Convention Center.

While the sport has put Stanton’s physical endurance to the ultimate test, it has also left a mark on him mentally.

Stanton was 26 when he was introduced to strongman competitions. “I was a wild seed,” he admits of his youth. He credits strongman for giving him a focus.

“It kind of saved my life in a way,” he says.

Though Stanton competes at three to four events per year across the U.S., the Arnold Classic will be his biggest competition ever. In March, he will compete against 40-50 other contestants for a pro-card and the chance to compete against professionals at the Arnold World Championship in 2014.

“I’m going to train like I’ve never trained before,” Stanton says.

The 33-year-old’s current training regime is spread out across four days. Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, Stanton hits the gym after work for two and a half hours. On Saturdays he rises at 5 a.m., arriving at training by 6:30 a.m. and working there until 11.

A father to two boys, ages 2 and 4, Stanton must juggle his intense training regimen with family duties and a career

Photo

in information technology recruiting. Though some people tell the family to slow down, Stanton says, he makes his busy schedule work.

“If you want it all, you have to do it all,” he says.

Strongman has been a huge part of the family’s life for the past seven or eight years, says Stanton’s wife, Brandi. The Stantons, who have been together 12 years and married for six, often work as well-oiled machine.

“He calls me ‘Coach,’” Brandi says.

In addition to being a “work-at-home mom,” as she defines it, Brandi is also responsible for her husband’s diet. She typically spends two to six hours preparing a meal plan for just three days, cooking rice and different types of meat. Stanton eats three large meals and three smaller meals per day. Still, Brandi isn’t complaining about the time spent in the kitchen. She says she likes to cook.

Her husband plans his training around his children’s activities. Sometimes the boys will go to the gym with their parents. Family life for the four of them includes a healthy diet and an active lifestyle.

Growing up, Stanton always led a physically active life, excelling at any sport he tried. At Westerville South

High School, he played football, track and men’s volleyball. After moving to Grandview, he participated in track his sophomore year and ski club his senior year.

But it’s Stanton’s current sport that has taken a toll on his body.

“This sport’s brutal,” Stanton says of strongman, which has left him with a couple of herniated discs and back problems.

Strongman competitors “very rarely” compete at 100 percent health, Stanton’s coach, Rick Freitag, says; they usually compete with some amount of injury.

“There’s a lot of pain in the sport,” Freitag says.

Part of Freitag’s instruction involved teaching Stanton how to recognize when he could push his body to its limits and when he needed to take a rest. After about five or six years of working with Stanton, Freitag says he notices Stanton has improved the most in his mental discipline.

“When he tries at something, he gives it his all. He gives 110 percent every time,” Freitag says.

Sarah Sole is a contributing writer. Feedback welcome at laurand@city scenemediagroup.com.

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Gift of studio inspires emerging artist

Home is Where the Art is

ARTIST CHRISTINE GUILLOT RYAN’S home studio was a Christmas present.

In her studio – and elsewhere in her rustic, wooded-hillside home in Upper Arlington – Ryan creates modular mixed media paintings of an abstract nature. Many of her works adorn walls – and some shelves – throughout the home.

As an emerging artist, Ryan was thrilled to get the workspace, cramped though it may be, to expand her growing interest in painting. It was especially meaningful to her because her son, Jacoby, now 12, gave up the room that had been his playroom for her.

Typically, the family is conservative with gift-giving at Christmas, Ryan says. When it was time for her present, her husband, Dave, and Jacoby led her down a hallway to the room that had a sign: Mom’s Art Studio.

The gift turned out to be even more perfect than they originally thought.

“Thirteen days later, I got laid off,” Ryan says. She was a website designer for a company that was forced to downsize in the economic downturn.

“It was one of those moments I felt worse for (the owner) than (myself). I ended up freelancing for him,” Ryan says.

With plenty of time to spare and some money coming in to support her hobby, she began doing more painting. Ryan opted not to set up a studio at a communal art center, preferring to stay home, where she does her design work parttime and where she can spend more time with her son.

Her easel is a table than can be folded to allow more room to spread her work on the floor. The closet is filled with art supplies. Other items are stored in cabinets along the back wall, but the room is not overly cluttered. The storage space is handy.

One might liken Ryan’s art creations to scrapbooks, except there are no whole, readily identifiable pieces of paper in them.

She has a paper cutter in her studio with which she cuts long, narrow strips of large pictures, charts or Xerox copies of things such as old book pages and money. One painting has a narrow strip that shows the waves on her electrocardiogram.

It takes a complex series of five to eight steps to complete a piece of art. Ryan creates modules of canvas on wood frames, usually four of the same size, and applies a base of acrylic paint. Her imagination has already been at work and the base matches a theme she has in mind.

“Often when I start, I think I know the best way to go, but end up going another way. It’s like life,” she says. Pieces of paper or other material are applied and pasted in place with special mediums. More acrylic is applied. She adds more painting by hand and perhaps more images.

Her style ultimately came with the studio “gift” from her husband and son, which included three 1’ x 3’ canvases. She wanted to do one piece but wasn’t sure how to put them together. She painted three pieces. “I never fixated on one. It was so much fun,” she says.

Hearing Ryan describe what one of her works depicts is interesting. Her thinking might be considered abstract. She tells how copies of circular wood Bingo numbers are blended in. Copies are made at a nearby FedEx, “My favorite place. I’m there all the time. I bring all sorts of things … books, architectural materials, Odyssey vases,” Ryan says.

In several pieces, she has used distorted images of items such as vases or watches, created by moving them as the copy machine scans. To depict joy, items such as candy, Christmas decorations and music are combined.

The unusual aspect of Ryan’s finished works is that they are done in square or

rectangular pieces, or modules, made of canvas stretched over wood frames. She usually uses four modules for each piece, although some have two or three, and she has gone well beyond four as well. The modules can be displayed in a variety of positions – stacked vertically, spread horizontally, left in a square – and they still create a finished piece of art.

“Some ideas are not overly beautiful, but I want the pictures to be meaningful. You can look at some of these for two years and it always changes – like life,” Ryan says.

Ryan has found her niche. With degrees in art and graphic arts, she’s combining them and doing what she wants, where she wants and at her own pace.

With her computer design work supporting her art expenses, and a supportive and cooperative family, Ryan sounds

like she’ll be in that studio – or perhaps an expanded version – for some time.

“I have all these ideas in my head and I do not want to die before I make them real,” she says.

Ryan’s work will be displayed in a show at the McConnell Arts Center, 777 Evening St., in Worthington from Jan. 10-March 3. For information, contact C@GuillotRyan.com

Duane St. Clair is a contributing editor. Feedback welcome at laurand@ cityscenemediagroup.com.

Enlightened Eating

A MENTION OF “fast food” typically conjures thoughts of drive-thru windows, jumbo-sized drinks and greasy bags of fries. But at least one Grandview Heights eatery is on a mission to change that.

Owner John Wagner opened Yogi Perogi, which serves variations on the Polish pierogi, in April 2012.

Wagner has a history of investigating food; he holds a bachelor’s degree in human nutrition from Cornell University and master’s degrees in cultural anthropology and human ecology from the University of Missouri and the University of New Mexico, respectively. While in graduate school, Wagner became fixated on the direct connection between nutrition and health.

“As I was researching (nutritional ecology), I got into all the different aspects of food distribution and production, and all of the insanity of processed foods and how that tied in with health,” says Wagner.

Wagner set out to promote the message that eating better can lead to feeling better. After working at North Market Polish deli Hania’s Olde World Cuisine, he decided to create a restaurant that focused on a quintessentially Polish delicacy: the pierogi, dumplings made with unleavened dough and filled with various ingredients.

“I saw the excitement people had for them,” says Wagner. “It seemed like a really versatile food because you can combine so many foods together.”

Wagner has created a variety of pierogi options, and he changes these of-

ferings with the seasons to ensure customers experience the benefits of fresh, nutritious fruits and vegetables.

The pierogies are made entirely from whole ingredients, and there are no preservatives, chemicals or food colorings in any of Wagner’s menu items. He says this sets his restaurant apart from the typical fast food destination.

“That’s really not ‘the secret’ but that’s what makes it taste so much better –because your body recognizes those things,” says Wagner. Roughly 80 percent of the ingredients are sourced directly from Ohio.

Among Wagner’s always-available varieties is The Original – a pierogi filled with potato and cheese, topped with grilled onions and sour cream. Wagner classifies it as “comfort food,” but says this doesn’t mean it’s an unhealthy option.

“People think that stuff is not healthy, but as long as those ingredi-

ents are real, it’s not necessarily bad for you,” says Wagner.

Other flavors include The Traditional (mushroom and swiss topped with grilled sauerkraut and white pepper cream sauce), The Greek (spinach and feta with tzatziki) and The Reuben (corned beef, swiss and sauerkraut topped with homemade Thousand Island dressing). Each pierogi sells for $2 to $2.50, and two or three would be enough to make a meal for most people.

The menu also offers healthy salads and soups, including Greek-inspired Avgolemono Soup, which features chicken, lemon and orzo.

Wagner praises the health properties of ingredients such as garlic, which can function as an antibiotic, and sauerkraut, a food known for its power as a digestive aid. He even uses water filtered through reverse osmosis in his cooking to eliminate unwanted chemicals and toxins that may be found in tap water.

Although Wagner works hard to promote healthful eating, he recognizes that it can be difficult to find pure foods, no matter where one looks.

Yogi Perogi offers a healthful take on “fast food”

“Even at the grocery store, it’s a challenge,” says Wagner.

In addition to the small dining room and take-out operation at Grandview Center, Wagner offers frozen pierogies for customers to take and cook at home, and he is working to expand to grocery store freezers.

By getting the word out about the healthfulness of his ingredients, Wagner hopes people can feel that they’re buying quality foods when they purchase his products.

Rose Davidson is a contributing writer. Feedback welcome at laurand@city scenemediagroup.com.

Avgolemono Soup

INGREDIENTS:

• 2 chicken breasts, raw

• 1 onion, halved

• 3 eggs

• 3-4 lemons

• 10 peppercorns

• 3-4 bay leaves

• 1 lb. orzo

• 1 Tbsp. oregano

• 2 Tbsp. sea salt

DIRECTIONS:

Fill a large pot with one gallon of water, chicken breasts, onion, peppercorns and bay leaves and bring to a boil. Continue to simmer until chicken is cooked thoroughly.

In a separate bowl, whip eggs into a froth, then slowly add lemon juice to the mixture. Remove chicken from the pot and let cool. Strain the broth and set aside roughly two cups of hot broth and slowly add it to the egg/lemon juice mixture while beating.

Add orzo to the remainder of the strained broth and do not bring the mixture back to a boil. Instead, stir while simmering until orzo is soft but not fully cooked, then add in the egg/lemon/broth mixture.

Pull and dice the chicken into small bits and return to soup. Add oregano and salt to taste.

Children’s and young Adult Books

ABC Dentist: Healthy Teeth from A to Z

By Harriet Ziefert (Ages 3-6)

This colorful, informative book explaining what a child might encounter at the dentist’s office is a fun read to help diminish fears about the dentist and teach kids how to keep teeth healthy.

I Like Old Clothes

By Mary Ann Hoberman (Ages 3-8)

A little girl and her brother have fun playing dress-up and imagining the history behind some of their hand-medowns. This book is a cute approach to explain that all treasures need not be new.

Adult Books

McKenna, Ready to Fly!

By Mary Casanova (Ages 8-12)

McKenna, from the American Girl Today series, has been out of gymnastics for a while due to an injury. As she is about to start practicing again, she discovers her time away has opened her eyes to other interests, too.

Son

By Lois Lowry (Ages 12+)

Fans of The Giver series will not want to miss this conclusion to the quartet. Characters and elements from the first three books are all tied together to make up this final, intriguing story.

Perfect Health Diet: Regain Health and Lose Weight by Eating the Way You Were Meant to Eat

By Paul and Shou-Ching Jaminet

Paul Jaminet, formerly an astrophysicist at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, and his wife, molecular biologist/cancer researcher Shou-Ching Jaminet, found themselves suffering from chronic illness and used their scientific training to devise a specific diet that restored their health.

American Grown: The Story of the White House Kitchen Garden and Gardens Across America

By Michelle Obama

Through telling the story of the White House Kitchen Garden, Obama explores how increased access to healthful, affordable food can improve health for families across America and explores ideas on how to create community and urban gardens. Obama combines discussion of healthy eating with promotion of her “Let’s Move” initiative.

Eat to Lose, Eat to Win: Your Grab-N-Go Action Plan for a

Slimmer, Healthier You

By Rachel Beller

Nutritionist Rachel Beller offers up step-by-step action plans for weight loss and optimal health. Beller’s book guides you through meal planning to shopping to eating with science-based nutrition.

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