A Season for Celebration
Gifting back to the community
Veterans Plaza at Mallway Park
Local Gift Guide
Grandview’s Civic Welfare Club Service Learning
Elegance Ease
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Photo by Gregor Gilliom
7:30–9:30 p.m.
Amelita Mirolo Black Box Theatre 1625 Zollinger Rd. www.uaschools.org
Nov. 1–2
Grandview Heights High School Theatre presents: Trap 7 p.m.
Grandview Heights High School 1587 W. 3rd Ave. www.ghschools.org
Sat., Nov. 2
Wool Spinning
2–3 p.m.
Upper Arlington Public Library - Lane Road Branch 1945 Lane Rd. www.ualibrary.org
Sat., Nov. 2
What’s in Our Water?
11 a.m.–noon
Grandview Heights Public Library 1685 W. 1st Ave. www.ghpl.org
Thurs., Nov. 7
Fall Fest
4–7 p.m.
Wyman Woods Park 1520 Goodale Blvd. www.grandviewheights.gov
Sat., Nov. 9
St. Andrew Holiday Bazaar
9 a.m.—4 p.m.
St. Andrew Parish Hall 1899 McCoy Rd. www.standrewparish.cc
Fall Fest
Holiday in the Heights
Sat., Nov. 9 & Dec. 7
Friends of UA Parks Volunteer Day
9 a.m.—noon
Nov. 9, Northwest Kiwanis Park 4800 Stonehaven Dr.
Dec. 7, Fancyburg Park (south side) 3375 Kioka Ave. www.upperarlingtonoh.gov
Thurs., Nov. 14
Family Story Time
10–10:30 a.m.
Grandview Heights Public Library 1685 W. 1st Ave. www.ghpl.org
columbus/osu
COMMUNITY CALENDAR
Fridays, Nov. 15–Dec. 13
Santa’s Mailbox
Upper Arlington Municipal Services 3600 Tremont Rd. www.upperarlingtonoh.gov
Sat., Nov. 16
Progressive Dinner
5–8 p.m.
Grandview Heights www.grandviewheights.gov
Sat., Nov. 16
CHA Animal Shelter Visit
10 a.m.—noon
Upper Arlington Public LibraryMiller Park Branch 1901 Arlington Ave. www.ualibrary.org
Always check websites for updated information.
Sat., Nov. 16
Stuffed Animal Clinic
10:30 a.m.–noon
Grandview Heights Public Library 1685 W. 1st Ave. www.ghpl.org
Sun., Nov. 24
Traditional Santa Visits
1–3 p.m.
Upper Arlington Public LibraryTremont Road Branch 2800 Tremont Rd. www.ualibrary.org
Mon., Dec. 2
The Grandview Singers Holiday Show
7–7:30 p.m.
Grandview Heights Public Library 1685 W. 1st Ave. www.ghpl.org
Tues., Dec. 3
Holiday in the Heights
3–8 p.m.
Grandview Avenue & First to Third Avenue www.grandviewheights.gov
Fri., Dec. 6
Winter Festival
6–8:30 p.m.
Mallway Park 2096 Arlington Ave. www.upperarlingtonoh.gov
Sat., Dec. 7
Holly Jolly Trolly
4–8 p.m.
Grandview Heights Parks & Recreation 1515 Goodale Blvd. www.grandviewheights.gov
Sat., Dec. 7
Breakfast and Brunch with Santa 9 a.m.–2 p.m.
Amelita Mirolo Barn 4395 Carriage Hill Ln. www.upperarlingtonoh.gov
Dec. 8 – 12
Christmas in the Park
Dec. 8, noon–9 p.m. | Dec. 9—12, 6—9 p.m.
Thompson Park 4250 Woodbridge Rd. www.uaca.org
Wed., Dec. 11
Grandview Cafe Trivia Night 7 p.m.
The Historic Grandview Cafe 1455 W. 3rd Ave. www.grandviewcafe.com
Breakfast and Brunch with Santa
Faces By Maggie Lardie
Returning the Favor
Jessica Grisez’ story of service
Philanthropic activities are typically a pastime for those seeking to create positive change in their community, but for Jessica Grisez, executive director of Upper Arlington Community Foundation, it’s a full-time career. Her leadership role at the foundation requires a deep sense of generosity and an undying commitment to the community, and luckily, Grisez knows no other way of living.
As a child, Grisez was introduced to community involvement when she joined her local Girl Scout troop. This sparked an interest in giving back to the community, leading her to seek similar organizations. She dedicated much of her time to volunteering with local service groups, school clubs and student organizations, further nurturing her passion.
After graduating high school, Grisez attended the University of South Carolina and studied Public Relations. By joining a sorority, Grisez found she could continue doing what she loved while she earned her degree.
“I quickly fell in love with the nonprofit field in college,” says Grisez. “And I never left.”
Grisez’s philanthropic endeavors in college led her to Washington, D.C., where she interned for a summer with a national sexual assault hotline, Rape Abuse and Incest National Network (RAINN). While there, she wrote newsletters and press releases that conveyed the organization’s mission, but she soon discovered she could use her writing for more.
“I wrote my first letter asking for gifts to the organization. Checks came in the mail!” she says. “I fell in love with development and connecting people to their passions through philanthropy.”
Grisez found her way back to D.C. after college to work with the Children’s Law Center, a legal service provider for foster care children.
“I continued work in direct mail fundraising, helped launch a corporate giving program, and planned an annual 400+ person fundraising event at the Kennedy
Grisez speaking at UACF’s signature fundraising event, Heart of UA.
Bob Crane Center construction site in September 2024, (from left to right) Debbie McLaughlin, Jessica Grisez, Katie Freeland, Adam Muth and Jeff Anderson.
Center for the Performing Arts,” she says. “They were all ways to continue to connect people to our mission and support the district’s most vulnerable kids.”
In 2017, Grisez and her family moved to Upper Arlington, where she joined The Ohio State University advancement team at the College of Medicine. Her role brought her closer to the Columbus community and allowed her to foster connections between alumni and students through scholarship support.
As a self-described “fundraiser by training,” Grisez quickly became an active member of her local community outside of her job, collaborating with the Upper Arlington Rotary, Leadership Upper Arlington and Jewish Columbus.
From there, it was only a matter of time before Grisez began her work at the Upper Arlington Community Foundation. She started as a consultant with the foundation in 2021 and worked her way up in the ranks. In 2022, she was named executive director, a position that she finds exciting and rewarding.
“I continue to give back to my community and connect people to their passions today, tomorrow, and always. This is my dream job!” she says.
For Grisez, no day on the job is the same, as she spreads her time across a variety of projects. She considers the work of community foundations to be unlike that of similar organizations.
“What’s so unique about community foundations is we’re uniquely positioned to have an ear to the ground for community needs and connect those community members who are interested in helping enhance those projects,” she says.
CREATE UNFORGETTABLE MEMORIES
Explore our event center, now taking reservations for events starting in May 2025! Perfect for weddings, conferences, graduation parties, and more. Take advantage of our pre-opening special: book the full space by December 31, 2024, and receive a 25% discount.
HOLIDAY GIFT CARDS
Get a head start on your holiday shopping!
While membership sales begin in the New Year, UA Parks & Rec will offer gift cards for memberships beginning in November. It’s the perfect way to check off some gifts early!
OPENING SPRING 2025!
UACF presents a grant to help Equal UA launch their porch parties program. Pictured: (left to right) Courtney Shenk, Jessica Grisez, Cat Yamaguchi and Catherine Kennedy.
Michael Turnbull and Jessica Grisez with the Tri-Village Packers.
Family vacation in 2024 to Washington, DC with husband Casey Grisez, and twin boys Lou and Fitz.
Beach bound
$390
www.shopthreadonline.com
Tote bags
This handwoven and cruelty-free Havana Beach Tote combines luxury with style. Suitable for use ranging from beach days to everyday errands, this carry-all from THREAD is practical for any lifestyle.
the
Whodunit?
$18.95
www.storylinebookshop.com
Puzzle books
It may look like a suspenseful novel, however, this murder mystery, Murder Most Puzzling, is solved by putting together a 500-piece puzzle. Find this book and other unique literary gifts at Storyline Bookshop
Oh, Christmas tree
$35-125
www.magpiemarketantiques.com
Vintage ceramic tree
Magpie Market is the perfect place to shop unique vintage holiday items, including ceramic trees and figurines each full of timeless character and holiday cheer.
Stop and smell the flowers
$8
www.glennavesoap.com
Rose Clay Bar Soap
Glenn Avenue Soap Company’s environmentally-friendly and naturally made castile soaps smell fantastic and help nourish the skin. This rose clay bar soap is made with high-quality essential oils.
Baked happy
$6.95
www.theoriginalgoodieshop.com
Apple cinnamon bread
Make the holiday season sweet with this delicious apple cinnamon bread from The Original Goodie Shop
These and many other sweet treats and baked items are also available for purchase online.
Smells great
$49.99
www.3rdandsycamore.com
Assorted eau de cologne
Discover 3rd and Sycamore — full of artisanal hand-crafted personal hygiene products, including a selection of minimal ingredient colognes.
Sweater weather
$49
www.shopvernacular.com
Fuzzy checker-print sweater
Keep warm and cozy during the colder seasons with this originally-designed checkered sweater from Vernacular. Its earthy tones make it a must-have versatile piece for any wardrobe.
Professional partier
$174
www.fabtique.clothing
Tailored terracotta blazer
The rich autumn hues of this blazer from Fabtique make for a fantastic stand-out piece in a professional wardrobe. Wear it for an everyday workday or a special event!
Flower power
$119.99
www.flowergalaxyohio.com
Block-O Wall Hanger
Flower Galaxy’s wide range of hand-picked flowers provides perfect gifts during the holiday season. If someone you know is celebrating an Ohio State graduation this December, pick up this floral Block O-inspired wall hanger.
Wonder wool
$36
www.yarnitanddash.com
Woolstok Bundle Kit
Cozy up this winter with one of the 27 color options of yarn made from premium, Highland Peruvian Wool. Available at Yarn It and Dash. Grab enough to make anything from a beanie to a scarf that’ll warm them up for the cold months.
Go Bobcats!
$28
www.stateofdevotion.com
Grandview Heights T-shirt
Leaf me be
$42
www.shopivycourt.com
Plant Care Essential Kit
For those plant lovers in the family, give the gift of nutrients and growth serum to their greenhouse. The kit, available at Ivy Court Plants + Home, includes growing concentrate, protectant spray and enriched powder to strengthen the plant and its roots.
Sport your local pride with unique t-shirt designs perfect as stocking stuffers. All proceeds from State of Devotion’s sales go directly towards student activities.
Lush locks
$78
www.finefeathershop.com
Hair Silk Peptides Soft Hydrating Hair Serum by Agent Nateur
Combat the harsh winters with hydrating hair serum that’ll leave your hair feeling soft and luxurious no matter the climate. Winter doesn’t need to be dry with moisturizing hair and skin products from Fine Feather Shop
Crown jewel chocolate
$16.95
www.winanschocolate.com
Handcrafted Chocolate –Signature Gift Box
Celebrate the holiday season with Winans wide selection of premium chocolates. Premium chocolates such as caramels, peanut butter delights, butter toffee and melt-aways make for decadent Christmas gifts.
Ignite their flame
$35
www.pennandbeech.com
4 oz. candle gift sets
Nothing says home for the holidays like Penn & Beech’s unique, hand-selected soy candles. The individually-packed candle sets are composed of themed scents that are customizable. For real frizzer $10.99 www.discgolfmart.com Aviar Driver
For those disc golf fanatics, supply them with colorful and unique discs they can use all year long. Durable, and made with quality plastics, the discs at Disc Golf Mart are a gift that could last a lifetime.
25 CAREFULLY CURATED ANTIQUE & VINTAGE SELLERS IN ONE BRIGHT & BEAUTIFUL BOUTIQUE
LOCATED AT KENNY CENTRE MALL (JUST SOUTH OF HENDERSON) @magpiemarketantiques
1125 Kenny Centre Mall (614) 929-5264 Open Monday-Saturday 10-6:00, Sunday 12-5:00
Add a touch of elegance to your holiday decor with this scalloped dish available at Haus & Home by Haus Studio. Crafted from sustainable mango wood and finished in a charming antique white. Its timeless design makes it a perfect fit for any festive style, whether serving treats or as a lovely centerpiece.
The Grandview Civic Welfare Club raises money for families in the community Golden Anniversary in Grandview
By Amber Phipps
Since 1920, The Grandview Civic Welfare Club (GCWC) has provided opportunities for women to connect and establish friendships. One hundred years later, the women in the club continue to come together and assist their community in a variety of ways. They’re dedicated, caring and passionate about their outreach programs and fundraisers.
Madam President
Each year, a president is selected for a one-year term. Current President Marytherese Croarkin took over the position from previous president, Blanche Luczyk. Croarkin came to Grandview in 1988 after moving from Chicago with her husband. She’s been an active member of the club since 2015.
The upcoming vice president, Michelle Kozak, who joined the club fulltime in 2020, has discovered friendships and opportunities with GCWC.
“I’ve always loved the programming; the speakers have been great. I just enjoy having that opportunity provided that you can come and learn something new and visit with people,” Kozak says. “The social component is good, and I also like helping people in the communities.”
More than a club
GCWC is more than just a group that meets monthly at the local library. A major aspect of the club is the raffles and fundraisers done throughout the year. According to Croarkin, the primary purpose is to set up scholarship funds for students at Grandview Heights High School.
“We want it to be for everybody
GCWC Meetings are held at the Grandview Heights Public Library on the second Wednesday of each month, from September through May. It costs $10 to participate. While it was historically a club for women, the club welcomes everyone, regardless of gender, who is interested in supporting the community.
who wants to further their education and doesn’t necessarily have the funds to do that,” says Croarkin.
The scholarship fund isn’t the club’s only initiative. It also raises money for specific community needs. The outreach grows every year as more members get involved.
In August 2023, GCWC donated $200 in Target gift cards to a family in the area that needed financial assistance. During October of that same year, the club also provided a few hundred dollars to the children of a retired school custodian to cover the cost of funeral expenses.
Each year, GCWC provides gift cards to families in need. In total, they’ve gifted around $4,800 to support 30 children in the city.
Throughout last spring, the civic club helped raise money for three sixth graders to attend a summer camp that costs $222 per person. The club also raised an astounding $3,751 at the Spring Silent Auction.
They expect to continue raising money and supporting Grandview Heights residents in 2025.
“We get a lot of positive support on our work with the school, and we always get lovely notes from the kids,” says
Join the club
The club frequently hosts speakers local to Grandview Heights who are experienced and passionate about their careers and life goals. In the past, the club welcomed stand-up comedians, physicians, neurologists, reporters, business owners, authors and so many more as featured speakers.
This includes the women who founded the first female-owned bank in Ohio. In March 2024, Lisa Berger and Ilaria Rawlins of Fortuna Bank spoke to the club about their careers and the challenges they face as entrepreneurs.
As a pastry business owner herself, Kozak also spoke at the club a few years
With so many connections to the city, the civic club makes an exceptional effort toward giving back and building life-long relationships with families and businesses. Croarkin has seen a tremendous increase in outreach initiatives and their goal for the upcoming year is to continue increasing their club’s visibility to the community.
“We’ve had live music, great food and it was a great way to include the community, and also raise awareness because, for a while, we were one of those groups that nobody knew was there,” says Croarkin. “But we continued to outreach to the community so people can participate.”
GCWC began as a club for women to grow, and to gather to collect funds to contribute to the city. As the organization expanded and more women became rou-
tinely active members, the club became a notable group in Grandview and Marble Cliff. With roughly 100 members and 3050 attending monthly meetings, the club has gained full interest and support from its members.
Amber Phipps is a contributing writer at CityScene Media Group. Feedback welcome at feedback@ cityscenemediagroup.com.
By Maisie Fitzmaurice
Students Take Action
Tri-Village students’ volunteer spirits
No matter a student’s reason for volunteering – whether it’s National Honor Society requirements or beefing up their college applications – many say they walk away from the experience with a new perspective.
For Grandview Heights High School (GHHS) and Upper Arlington High School (UAHS) students, volunteer opportunities are endless, allowing them to go outside their daily surroundings and interactions and assist others in their community.
“We’re not in a bubble, there’s a whole world out there, and people don’t always have the things that we have, and just to open their minds to seeing different situations (other) than their own,” says Kristi Urig, advisor for the service-focused extracurricular organization known as Key Club, at GHHS.
Service learning
In both districts, service learning is extremely important for each student’s de-
velopment. Service learning differs from community service as it takes concepts learned in class and uses them for community service purposes.
For example, UAHS’s AP Spanish students travel to elementary schools in the district to provide Spanish lessons.
“We train our teachers to use service learning as a teaching strategy in their classrooms,” says Jeanne Gogolski, career development/service-learning coordinator at UAHS. “Basically (that entails) using your gift, talents and skills, things you’re learning in school, to make a difference
or to help someone, or become a change maker. It’s authentic learning at its best.”
A Day for Service
In 2023, GHHS hosted its first Day of Service. Instead of going to class that day, students attended a mini-conference where volunteer organizations and community institutions shared their purpose and actions while letting the students know how they could get involved.
“I know that a lot of kids were interested in Huckleberry House because they serve kids their age…dog shelter came
out, so that was real popular…Girls on the Run, which is headquartered here in Grandview, they’ve got a good response,”
Marc Alter, an educator at GHHS who led the Day of Service, says.
UAHS has an incentive for sophomores, juniors and seniors to commit six hours of their summer break to volunteering. If they complete those hours, they can skip the first day of school without receiving an unexcused absence.
“(The students) recognize that they’ve done something special, Gogolski says. “So those students, we’re really proud of
GHHS students volunteering in Costa Rica.
UAHS AP Spanish students help elementary schoolers learn the language.
Key Club gives students a service-focused community.
it, they get to choose whatever they want to do, and they tend to choose things that matter to them, related to animal care or climate change or politics, or they’re engaged with their religious communities.”
Near and far
One of Gogolski’s favorite student volunteering stories began with a call from The Coventry Senior Living asking if some high school volunteers could assist
residents with tasks including using their tech devices.
“(The Coventry) calls me and goes, ‘I only have 25 seniors here, and I’ve already had more 25 kids volunteer to come over and help,’ which I thought was really amazing,” she says.
Supporting people and causes in the community is certainly something to celebrate. However, some students decide they’d rather assist communities outside their own, often very far from home.
UAHS students have traveled all over the world to provide services including
Organizations visit GHHS for Day of Service, 2023.
Many students volunteer at assisted living facilities.
Local Organizations for Teen Volunteers
These are just a few organizations in the area that offer volunteer opportunities.
• Girls on the Run www.girlsontherun.org
• Families4Families www.families4families.org
• Franklin County Dog Shelter and Adoption Center www. dogs.franklincountyohio.gov
• Start Talking Grandview www.starttalkinggrandview.org
• Upper Arlington Senior Center www.upperarlingtonoh.gov/ senior-center
• Upper Arlington Public Library www.ualibrary.org
• Grandview Heights Public Library www.ghpl.org
• Heart 2 Heart Food Pantry www.h2h.fcchurch.com
Find additional organizations on our online edition!
teaching English and conducting physical labor such as building homes and other structures. Over the years, students have been everywhere from Puerto Rico to Russia to lend a hand.
In 2023, a group of GHHS students visited Costa Rica on a service trip. They spent hours doing physical labor in the scorching tropical heat and didn’t let it break their spirits.
Urig says some of the students’ parents reached out to tell her that the trip made a huge impact on their children. Through the service trip, many of the students experienced a culture different from their own.
“We were making the sidewalk to the stands to this soccer field, another group was painting a fence that surrounded the soccer field…then after we got all done with that community service, we sat down and had lunch with the community. The women in the community came and fixed us lunch, and then we got to sit we got to sit down and eat with them,” she says.
What’s in it for me?
A huge incentive for many students to volunteer is to qualify for the National Honors Society or to graduate with honors. But, even if this is their initial reason for volunteering, they’ll most likely gain much more than just service hours.
“Once you’ve given (volunteering) a try, I think you discover what a joyful thing it is to help other people and how it impacts your own mental health,”
Gogolski says. “What we’ve discovered is, getting back (to in-person learning), your feeling of confidence and being able to be out in the community doing things is something that we had to work on, believe it or not.”
Maisie Fitzmaurice is an editor at CityScene Media Group. Feedback welcome at mfitzmaurice@ cityscenemediagroup.com.
Live Your BEST LIFE
The Forum at Knightsbridge isn’t just a top-rated senior living community–it’s home, sweet home. Our team has been here for decades, friends are around every corner and we have activities for every interest. It’s all right here, just for you!
GHHS students creating yarn using plastic.
On the Table By Maggie Lardie
Lions Club dedicates a cookbook to seniors
Easy recipes that are as nutritious as they are delicious
The Tri-Village Lions Club has a long history of going above and beyond to meet the needs of their community, so when an idea for a way to assist their seniors arose, the Lions were quick to pounce. Inspired by the Tri-Village Packers program that ensures healthy meals for students during school vacations, the Lions promote nutritious meals for seniors via a new cookbook.
Although the Tri-Village Lions created a cookbook in the past, they wanted this book to cater specifically to the needs of seniors. This meant focusing more on the specific nutritional benefits of each ingredient and providing simpler, less elaborate recipes.
With these goals in mind, Lion Katie Foley began her research, which included consulting dietitians and gastroenterologists, watching Netflix documentaries and referencing cookbooks she had at home.
Foley quickly discovered that many people have the wrong idea when it comes to eating healthy.
“Most of the recipes have the grams of fiber, grams of protein and grams of fat and we’re focusing on that more than calories,” Foley says. “In this book, we suggested people might move out of their comfort zones and try some different cuisines that have proven to be a little more nutritious, and I think that was an important thing.”
Foley learned that while certain classic meal staples (steak, for instance) are delicious, they aren’t necessarily suitable for everyday meals.
However, Foley says that while nutritional and caloric needs are important, at the end of the day food is meant to be enjoyed. To accommodate this, the Lions designated an “Entertaining” section of the book, which contained more indulgent recipes.
“There ought to be some joy in cooking and eating. I had to wrestle with the idea that food is medicine, or food is punishment - it really isn’t. It’s supposed to be a joyful thing when people are together and eating. Even eating by yourself, just savoring the food,” Foley says.
Coming Together
While Foley was tasked with researching suitable recipes, Lion Jane Jarrow headed the publishing process. Hoping to find someone to design the cookbook pages, Jarrow contacted the local high school and found two students
willing to contribute. From there, Jarrow provided the students with a few layout examples and left the students to work independently.
“I’m most proud of those girls. I was blown away by what they were able to do,” she says. “That design was theirs and it’s just magnificent.”
Jarrow is adamant about highlighting other local organizations besides the Tri-Village Lions in the cookbook, and she thanks the Upper Arlington Senior Association for providing a grant to cover the majority of printing costs.
Local organizations were offered a free, black-and-white ad space in the book which would help spread the word about what they contribute to their community.
“Those pages from the community groups make this not just another cookbook. This is a Tri-Village cookbook. This is about us. And that’s what our goal has been,” Jarrow says.
Looking Ahead
Once the cookbooks were printed, they were distributed in various locations around the Tri-Village area. To the delight of the Lions, the books flew off the shelves.
“I dropped off 35 of them at the Upper Arlington Library on a Friday afternoon, and on Monday morning they contacted me and said, ‘Have you got any more?’” Jarrow says.
Luckily, the Lions plan to give the people what they want and hope to have more copies available in time for the holiday season.
“There are so many aspects of life that you can’t control and that don’t give much joy, so those things that are such a given, like food, just embrace that. I think that’s what cookbooks really try to do,” Foley says.
Maggie Lardie is an editorial assistant at CityScene Media Group. Feedback welcome at feedback@ cityscenemediagroup.com.
Jackie Giulivo, Dietitian contributor
Sarah Hollinger, Culinary contributor
By Elliot Fryman
All Eyes on Envision Henderson
Upper Arlington discusses plans for the Henderson Road corridor
This past year, the City of Upper Arlington announced the Envision Henderson project, a plan to renovate the northern gateway to the city.
The Henderson Road corridor, which runs from Stonehaven Drive and Chevy Chase Court to Reed Road, is known for its accessibility to thriving businesses and neighborhoods. Thousands of people use this street daily for travel, work and leisure, and with Columbus’s population projected to reach more than three million by 2050, those numbers will likely increase.
Currently, the south side of Henderson is Upper Arlington while the north side of the street is City of Columbus. The Columbus side is part of a zoning code update initiative for the City of Columbus that focuses on key corridors throughout the city and seeks to modernize zoning along the corridors to promote more dense, vibrant, mixed-use growth and development and support alternative modes of transit. The plan prioritizes encouraging housing growth, facilitating transit alternatives, connecting people with job opportunities, and providing equitable access to vibrant neighborhoods to enhance the quality of life for all residents.
The zone allows for buildings up to five stories, and up to seven stories if a project meets the threshold for an affordability bonus by providing a certain percentage of affordable housing units. The zoning framework also provides minimum and maximum setbacks, open space requirements and ground floor façade coverage minimums.
Through this project, Upper Arlington will be gaining full control of the Henderson Road Right-of-Way through the roughly one-mile planning area. The transfer in ownership will allow the city to direct needed fixes along the corridor, improving safety and aesthetics. The transfer of ownership is like a property sale and begins with a full survey of the 12-acre land area. The planning team completed the survey in May 2024, and this will be used to prepare a deed.
With the project in its ‘idea phase,’ negotiations for funding, policy and site concepts around Henderson Road and the northern edge of Upper Arlington are developing. At the western edge of the planning area, the Live + Work Neighborhood concept proposes a new community that blends traditional office parks with resi-
Discussions about the future of this area are ongoing. To ask questions or share your thoughts regarding the Envision Henderson project, you can email the city directly at planning@uaoh.net.
Visit the City of Upper Arlington website, www.upperarlingtonoh.gov, for updated information as it becomes available.
dential neighborhoods, creating a green, walkable district.
Steven Schoeny, city manager of Upper Arlington, proposed Envision Henderson as well as other projects in Upper Arlington, including the Lane Avenue Planning Study and the Kingsdale MixedUse Project. Schoeny is working with MKSK, a local urban planning firm.
The city held multiple in-person meetings this spring and summer, as well as two virtual meetings to gather residents’ feedback. Some of these suggested changes are in collaboration with other initiatives within Franklin County, such as connecting urban spaces to local nature trails and preparing for possible traffic changes due to the LinkUS bus expansion.
Other proposed initiatives are much bigger, including swapping busier inter-
Current view of Henderson Road looking east.
sections with roundabouts and incorporating an abundance of greenery to give the area a completely different look.
While the addition of roundabouts was initially pitched for aesthetic reasons, Schoeny found that adding a roundabout would be the safest solution for traffic and pedestrians. Some citizens are nervous about these inclusions, particularly the roundabouts, but many responded positively to the changes.
“I think everybody gets a little bit worried when you start talking about roundabouts, but over the last 10-15 years, as folks have gotten more used to seeing them… people understand and they’re more comfortable driving them,” says Schoeny.
As for the greenery, many in the community favor adding trees and other plants to beautify the area but Schoeny believes the main draw to these features is the potential safety benefits.
“A lot of what was in (our designs) was really focused on making the streets safer for everyone,” he says. “That includes folks who are not in their cars, who are choosing to walk, bike, take an electric scooter, whatever the case may be, and provide the appropriate level of separation so that folks are safer and feel safer…”
Regardless, the area’s aesthetics is still at the forefront. Unlike a prior project focused on Lane Avenue that emphasized housing and dining, Schoeny and his team directed their attention to making Henderson Road a place for small businesses to thrive.
“I think the things that we have learned from the Lane Avenue experience are (that) people and businesses respond well to a well-designed street. If you do the right things with the street… people respond really well to it…” he says.
He believes these proposed changes will be important in promoting ‘active retail’ and not ‘big boxes.’ The plans are meant to attract new, unique businesses to the Henderson Road corridor.
These initiatives are designed to benefit the city’s economy and attract new community members into the area while making it full of resources necessary for living and working in Upper Arlington including new housing opportunities, restaurants, workspaces and commerce.
“So, if you’re going to have an office, you better have an office that has a lot of things around it,” Schoeny says. “You have to have that amenity-rich office in order for your office project to be successful…
That’s where the question really comes up — How are we going to react to that? And how do we recognize that everything today has to be mixed-use, and incorporate elements of housing, office, retail and food and beverage into those spaces?”
According to the city website, the planning team compiled feedback from the second round of community conversations and began drafting a plan this fall. The draft will be shared with the public during a community open house, where participants will be asked to prioritize recommendations and help city leaders determine where to begin. The team plans to conclude the visioning project this winter and start implementation planning in the spring of 2025.
Elliot Fryman is an editorial assistant at CityScene Media Group. Feedback welcome at feedback@ cityscenemediagroup.com.
WARMEST SEASON’S GREETINGS
Lisa Diemer, Agent
3040 Riverside Dr Ste 209 Columbus, OH 43221 (614) 488-9445 ldiemer@amfam.com
From our family to yours, may peace, love and laughter decorate your world this holiday season.
Artistic rendering of Henderson Road looking east with a roundabout replacing the traffice signal the Henderson and Reed intersection.
Top homes sold in the Tri-Village area
Tri-Village home prices dropped 15.8 percent in the last 12 months leading up to June, with a median selling price of $310,000. On average, homes in Tri-Village were on the market for 41 days, much longer than the 24-day average a year ago. Six homes sold in June this year, down from seven last year.
All information is collected from the Franklin County Auditor’s Office.
3117 Asbury Dr. 5 beds, 7 baths
$2,420,000
Sold 8/20/24
2121 Cambridge Blvd. 4 beds, 3.5 baths
$1,665,000
Sold 8/5/24
2298 Brixton Rd. 4 beds, 4 baths
$1,440,000
Sold 8/20/24
2357 Brandon Rd. 4 beds, 2.5 baths
$1,350,000
Sold 9/18/24
2138 Cheshire Rd. 5 beds, 3.5 baths
$1,300,000
Sold 9/23/24
2278 Cambridge Blvd. 5 beds, 3.5 baths
$1,225,000
Sold 9/10/24
2630 Canterbury Rd. 2 beds, 3 baths
$1,075,000
Sold 9/3/24
3946 Fairlington Dr. 4 beds, 4 baths
$1,010,000
Sold 8/8/24
2481 Farleigh Rd. 3 beds, 2.5 baths
$1,010,000
Sold 9/26/24
1796 Bedford Rd. 4 beds, 4.5 baths
$1,000,000
Sold 9/19/2024
4153 Edgehill Dr. 3 beds, 3 baths
$950,000
Sold 9/5/24
2734 Lymington Rd. 4 beds, 2.5 baths
$946,000
Sold 8/21/24
Submitted by Grandview Heights Public Library
Kids and Teens: Philanthropy
No Matter What...We All Belong
by Becky Davies
Filled with colorful illustrations, rhyming and some touch-and-feel cut-outs for little ones, the book delivers the affirming message that no matter our language, when and what we celebrate, what we look like, or where and how we live, we are all important.
acts include offering to help someone fix something, encouraging another to do something difficult and appreciating nature around them. A reader’s note is included to help children learn and notice ways to be kind in their everyday lives.
Follow the Moon Home
by Phillipe Cousteau and Deborah Hopkinson (grades 2-6)
The Sound of Kindness
by Amy Ludwig VanDerwater (ages 2-5)
A child and an adult go on a ‘kindness walk’ to witness simple, but genuine, acts of kindness. These
While in summer school in South Carolina, Vivienne’s class project is to identify a problem in the community. After a visit to the beach, she learns that the nesting sea turtles are having trouble getting to the ocean safely. She and her classmates research the turtles and start a campaign that inspires the community to help.
JOB OPPORTUNITIES WITH UA PARKS & REC
The Bob Crane Community Center is opening in the spring and Upper Arlington Parks & Recreation is hiring part-time positions for shift manager, front desk, child watch, gym, e-sports, fitness and building staff. In addition, contractual opportunities for fitness, recreation programs and personal trainers. The Department is also seeking seasonal and part-time staff for summer camp, facility rentals, lifeguards, pool office, park maintenance and tennis to support active, healthy and safe recreational experiences.
BECOME PART OF OUR TEAM TODAY!
The Night War
by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley (grades 6-8)
During World War II, twelveyear-old Miri and her parents flee their home in Germany to live as Jewish refugees in Paris. Eventually, all the Parisian Jews are rounded up and transported to an unknown, but likely dangerous, place. Because Miri speaks French fluently, she escapes and ends up in a Catholic boarding school where she must hide her identity.
The Bodyguard Unit
by Clement Xavier, Lisa Lugrin, and Albertine Ralenti (grades 7-12)
This biographic graphic novel explores a little-known aspect of the women’s suffrage movement in England. Jiu-jitsu instructor Edith Garrud taught suffragettes how to protect themselves during protests that were becoming increasingly violent. This method was controversial but it helped to attract more attention to the cause. Photographs and cartoons from local newspapers throughout the book accompany the text.
Grandview Heights Public Library www.ghpl.org
Upper Arlington Public Libraries Tremont Road Branch, Lane Road Branch and Miller Park Branch www.ualibrary.org parks@uaoh.net (614) 583-5300
