Westerville Magazine March/April 2015

Presto!

Magic Nate leaves ‘em laughing – without saying a word Otterbein Summer Camps Good Eats Club Silver Screen Seniors

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©2014 OhioHealth

“ I ♥ OhioHealth Westerville Medical Campus.”—Mike Ellis OhioHealth heart and vascular specialists connected quickly to save Mike’s heart.

“OhioHealth Westerville (Medical Campus) had everything. My family doctor. My cardiologist. The lab work. It was all there under one roof. I failed a stress test

and was sent downstairs to the emergency room. I knew I was in good hands. A

couple of hours and an ambulance ride later, I had my heart surgery at Riverside

Methodist. The way I see it, in a matter of a few hours I was fixed… literally, within seconds of the first stent being put in place, I stopped having symptoms. That, to me, was amazing.”

— Mike Ellis, Galena, OH

To view this and other patient stories, connect with us at OhioHealth.com/WestervilleStories

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Westerville

TM

magazine

Departments of

theatre & Dance & Music

CityScene Media Group 781 Northwest Blvd., Suite 202 Columbus, Ohio 43212 614-572-1240 • Fax 614-572-1241 www.cityscenecolumbus.com

present

Kathleen K. Gill President/CEO

Gianna Barrett Vice President, Sales

music and Lyrics by stephen sondheim

Dave Prosser Chief Creative Officer

Garth Bishop Managing Editor

Book by James Lapine

Hannah Bealer Assistant Editors Sarah Sole

Originally directed on Broadway

by James Lapine Orchestrations by Jonathan Tunick

Tessa Dufresne Contributing Editors Duane St. Clair

Bethany N. Bella Contributing Writers Matthew Kent Taylor Woodhouse

april 9-12 & 16-18, 2015 Fritsche theatre at cowan hall 30 s. Grove st., Westerville Box Office 823-1109 www.otterbein.edu/drama

how far would you go to make your wish come true?

Zach Maiorana Editorial Assistant Robin Weitzel Advertising Director

Julie Camp Advertising Sales Erin Dircksen Pam Henricks-Claxton

Into tHe WooDs is presented through special arrangement with music theatre International (mtI). all authorized performance materials are also supplied by mtI. 421 West 54th street, new York, nY 10019 phone: 212-541-4684 fax: 212-397-4684 www.mtIshows.com

Jamie Armistead Accounting Manager

Circulation 614-572-1240

SPRING FORWARD WITH A ...

City of Westerville Christa Dickey Community Affairs

Administrator

www.wester villemagazine.com CityScene Media Group also publishes: CityScene Magazine www.CitySceneColumbus.com Dublin Life Magazine www.DublinLifeMagazine.com Tri-Village Magazine www.TriVillageMagazine.com Healthy New Albany Magazine www.HealthyNewAlbanyMagazine.com Pickerington Magazine www.PickeringtonMagazine.com

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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 email hbealer@ cityscenecolumbus.com. Publisher does not assume responsibility for loss or damage.

The appearance of advertising in Westerville Magazine does not constitute an endorsement of the advertiser’s product or service by the City of Westerville.

Westerville Magazine is published bimonthly in January, March, May, July, September and November. For advertising information or bulk purchases, contact Robin Weitzel at rweitzel@cityscenemediagroup.com.

No part of this publication may be reproduced without the written consent of the publishers. Westerville Magazine is a registered trademark of CityScene Media Group. Printed in the U.S.A.

www.westervillemagazine.com

Inside 09

MARCH/APRIL 2015 VOL. 14 NO. 4

06 community calendar 09 city reporter

News and Information from the City of Westerville

City Reporter

News and Information from the City of Westerville

16 faces

Now You See Me Local magician had humble beginnings

19 Gone Camping

19

Otterbein offers summer fun through educational camps

20 in focus

The Gift of Fab

Cutting-edge technology and real-life

experience highlight Innovation Generation

22 Silver Screen, Golden Years

Central film festival puts local senior citizens in the limelight

24 living

24

There and Back Again

Westerville duo shows off changes since House Hunters episode

Spring Back Into Health!

Call for an appointment!

28 on the table

Students of Sustenance Heritage Middle School’s new after-school club offers students nutritious choices

30 bookmarks

Recommendations from the Westerville Public Library

Chiropractic Care • Physiotherapy

Rehabilitation • Therapeutic Exercises Nutritional Supplementation Soft Tissue Mobilization

Accepting New Patients!

614-776-4144 Find Westerville Magazine on Facebook and Twitter Read more online at WestervilleMagazine.com www.westervillemagazine.com

On the Cover: Nate LeGros Photo by Wes Kroninger Story, page 16.

Whitney McNary, DC 167 S. State Street Suite 190 Westerville, OH 43081

www.familysourcechiropractic.com March/April 2015 5

2015

SAT FRI THU 4 3 2 11 10 9 18 7 17 6 16 5 15 25 14 24 13 23 12 22 21 31 20 30 19 29 28 27 26

WED TUE MON 1 SUN

8

Michael David Salon

MARK YOUR CALENDAR!

HAIR • AESTHETICS • MASSAGE THERAPY • NAIL/MANICURE & PEDICURE

March 1

2015 Annual Rotary Fish Fry and Bake 11:30 a.m.-5 p.m., Otterbein University Campus Center, 100 W. Home St., www.westervillerotary.com

March 1

March 9-April 24

Senior Art Exhibitions Miller Gallery, Art and Communication Building, 33 Collegeview Rd., www.otterbein.edu

March 12-15

March March 27-29

Otterbein Opera Theatre: Cimarosa’s the Secret Marriage 8 p.m., Riley Auditorium at the Battelle Fine Arts Center, 170 W. Park St., www.otterbein.edu/music

Westerville North High School presents Hello, Dolly!

March 27-April 12 Westerville North High Curtain Players Theatre School, 950 County Line Rd., presents Cat on a Hot www.westervillenorth.com Tin Roof Curtain Players Theatre, March 15 5691 Harlem Rd., Galena, Westerville Symphony www.curtainplayers.org March 3-4 presents Ron Lykins Women in Philanthropy Masterwork Series II March 28 Summit 5 p.m., Fritsche Theatre at Serving Our Seniors Day Otterbein University, 1 S. Cowan Hall, 30 S. Grove St., 9 a.m.-1 p.m., Westerville Grove St., www.otterbein.edu www.westervillesymphony.org South High School, 303 S. Otterbein Ave., March 5-8 March 22 www.westerville.org/police Arnold Sports Festival Joyful Noise Concert Series: Throughout Columbus, www. Capitol University Chapel Choir March 28 Easter Beg Hunt arnoldsportsfestival.com 7:30 p.m., Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church, 1-4 p.m., Uptown March 7 Westerville, www.shopup 100 E. Schrock Rd. Lions Club Pancake Breakfast townwesterville.com 7:30-11 a.m., American March 29 Legion Young-Budd Post Westerville Boys in Blue 171, 393 E. College Ave., 7:30 p.m., Westerville Public www.westervillelions.org Library, 126 S. State St., www.westervillehistory.org Westerville Concert Band: Children’s Concert 3 p.m., Westerville Central High School, 7118 Mt. Royal Ave., www.westerville.k12. oh.us

16 East Main Street Westerville, OH 43081 614-891-9909 michaeldavidsalon.com

Arnold Sports Festival

Sponsored by the Westerville Visitors & Convention Bureau For more events, visit www.visitwesterville.org

6 March/April 2015

www.westervillemagazine.com

April April 2

Underwater Egg Hunt 6-8 p.m., Westerville Community Center, 350 N. Cleveland Ave., www.westerville.org

REDUCE taxes, fees, waste and stress by REVIEWING current financial products and strategies to see if you are placing yourself in the best DEFENSIBLE POSITION in these uncertain economic times.

April 4

Spring Eggstravaganza 10 a.m., Highlands Park, 245 S. Spring Rd., www. westerville.org

April 4

Westerville Civitan Club Easter Egg Hunt 11 a.m., Westerville Community Center, 350 N. Cleveland Ave.

I invite you to sit with me for a casual conversation or attend one of my workshops designed to provide self-directed steps for the do-it-yourselfer and those seeking guidance towards achieving financial security. This might just be the opportunity you are looking for to REINVENT your finances!

Taste of Westerville

April 9-18

Otterbein University presents Into the Woods Fritsche Theatre at Cowan Hall, 30 S. Grove St., www.otterbein.edu

Please contact me for workshop information – either to attend one I have scheduled or to design one for your group or organization.

April 11

Spring Dash 5K 9 a.m., Westerville Central High School, 7118 Mount Royal Ave., www.springdash5k.com

April 11

Mount Carmel St. Ann’s 4th Friday: Uptown Alive

April 24-26

Westerville South High School presents Wildcat Dash Anything Goes 9 a.m., McNamara Park, 7049 Big Walnut Rd., Galena, 7 p.m., Westerville South www.columbusrunning.com High School, 303 S. Otterbein Ave., www.westerville.k12.oh.us April 16 The Incredible Edible Garden April 25 7-8 p.m., Westerville Public Westerville Civitan Club Katie Library, 126 S. State St., www.westervillegardenclub.com Dunning Spring Dance 6:30-8:30 p.m., Westerville Community Center, April 17 350 N. Cleveland Ave. Taste of Westerville 7 p.m., Crowne Plaza Columbus North, 6300 Doubletree Ave., Columbus, www.westervillechamber.com

April 24

Mount Carmel St. Ann’s 4th Friday: Uptown Alive 6-9 p.m., Uptown Westerville, www.visitwesterville.org www.westervillemagazine.com

REINVENT YOUR FINANCIAL FUTURE!

April 26

Westerville Symphony presents Ron Lykins Masterwork Series III 5 p.m., Fritsche Theatre at Cowan Hall, 27 S. Grove St., www.westervillesymphony.org

April 30

I welcome private appointments to discuss your personal financial needs. Appointments can be scheduled in my office or offsite to accommodate you.

Knowledge is power! Know and understand your personal financial position!

MOLLY MARIE HOUGH Wealth Strategist

CHA Animal Shelter Spaghetti Dinner 6:30-8:30 p.m., Everal Barn, 60 N. Cleveland Ave., www.chaanimalshelter.org 921 Chatham Lane, Ste. 302 Columbus, OH 614-534-1765 mhough@htk.com Registered representative of and securities and investment advisory services offered through Hornor Townsend & Kent, Inc. (HTK), registered investment advisor, member FINRA/SIPC. 130 Springside Drive Suite 100, Akron, Ohio 44333 330-668-9065 21st Century Financial, Inc. is independent of HTK A4TM-1204-02E2

March/April 2015 7

Please join Jack Hanna for the 10th Annual

ST. JUDE

Discover the Dream thursday, may 21, 2015 | 6 pm columbus zoo and aquarium 4850 powell road | powell, oh 43065 Come join us on our tenth anniversary with fine cuisine, courtesy of Catering by Cox and Preston Catering.

Enjoy cocktails, a raffle and live & silent auctions while supporting the life-saving work of St. Jude.

Individual ticket: $175 • Table of 10: $1,750 Sponsorships Available

stjude.org/discoverthedream St. Jude patient Angélica

Contact Lauren.Hanna@stjude.org | 614.488.3681 for more information. ©2014 ALSAC/St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital (19297)

8 March/April 2015

www.westervillemagazine.com

CityReporter News & Information from the City of Wester ville

Westerville Utilities Introducing Advanced Meters Starting this spring, installation of advanced metering systems will begin at the homes of City of Westerville Electric and Water Division customers. This transition is part of a phased citywide rollout of the Residential Advanced Metering Initiative (AMI). Commercial enterprises in Westerville have already had these devices installed.

What is an advanced meter?

An advanced meter is an electronic device that measures consumption of electric energy and water usage in intervals of an hour or less and communicates that information to Utility Billing. Customers will have the ability to observe their electric and water usage in near real time.

When will the advanced meters be installed?

The residential advanced metering installation process will begin in spring 2015 and is estimated to take approximately four

years to complete installations citywide. A tentative installation schedule and list of frequently asked questions are available at www.westerville.org/AMI. Residents have the ability to opt out of the Advanced Metering Initiative by completing an opt-out form at www.westerville.org/AMI. How will I track my electric and water usage?

A Customer Care Portal allows users to access their electric and water consumption data via a secure online portal available on the City of Westerville website.

Once the advanced metering system is

installed, customers are encouraged to register for a customer care account at www.westerville.org/customercare. Customers will be notified once their account is established and use a personal username and password to access their account. Users may view their home’s electricity and water consumption statistics on a daily, weekly, monthly and yearly basis.

Questions? Contact us: City of Westerville Electric Division Phone: 614-901-6700 email: AMI@westerville.org Online: www.westerville.org/AMI

Benefits of AMI

• Automated meter reading • Automated outage reporting • Ability for customers to track utility consumption There are no installation or monthly monitoring fees to install and use an advanced meter, and consistent with Ohio law, all utility-related account information is handled confidentially.

As the weather warms, the City will receive an influx of solicitation permits, which allow peddlers and sales personnel to approach homes for commercial or charitable purposes. The City of Westerville has procedures in place to regulate door-todoor sales and solicitations to minimize potential disruptions.

www.westervillemagazine.com

Three categories for which an individual or group may apply for a permit include: Canvassing for charitable or religious purposes This includes both solicitation of contributions and sales where the whole or any part of the proceeds are to be applied to charitable organizations.

Door-to-door sales of goods or services for future delivery This includes sales from a source outside the state of Ohio (interstate commerce) or from sources within the state of Ohio (intrastate commerce).

Peddling: sales of goods or services for immediate delivery When an individual or group wants to solicit in Westerville, it must select and specify its purpose and complete an continued on page 11

March/April 2015 9

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Door-to-Door Regulations in Westerville

News & Information from the City of Wester ville

Weather Safety Week Brings Important Reminders Weather Safety Week Events National Spring Severe Weather Awareness Week: March 1-7 Statewide Tornado Drill, Wednesday, March 4, 9:50 a.m.

National Flood Safety Awareness Week: March 16-20 Lightning, tornadoes and flooding. Unfortunately, all three are realities in the state of Ohio, all bringing serious risk if not properly recognized as dangerous weather phenomena. National Spring Severe Weather Awareness Week (March 1-7) encourages all of us to remember the facts about dangerous weather conditions.

Lightning Lightning often strikes outside of heavy rain and may occur as far as 10 miles away from any rainfall.

“Heat lightning” is actually from a thunderstorm too far away for thunder to be heard.

However, the storm may be moving in your direction.

Most lightning deaths and injuries occur when people are caught outdoors in the summer months during the afternoon and evening.

Lightning strike victims carry no electrical charge and should be attended to immediately.

Thunderstorms

Flooding

Thunderstorms may occur singly, in clusters or in lines.

Tornadoes may strike quickly, with little or no warning.

Some of the most severe occur when a single thunderstorm affects one location for an extended time.

They may appear nearly transparent until dust and debris are picked up or a cloud forms in the funnel.

Thunderstorms typically produce heavy rain for a brief period, anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour.

The average tornado moves southwest to northeast, but tornadoes have been known to move in any direction.

Warm, humid conditions are highly favorable for thunderstorm development.

The average forward speed of a tornado is 30 mph but may vary from stationary to 70 mph.

About 10 percent of thunderstorms are classified as severe – producing hail an inch or larger in diameter, having winds of 58 mph or higher or producing a tornado.

Lightning Prediction System in Westerville Parks In an ongoing effort to provide the safest park facilities possible, the City of Westerville maintains a lightning prediction system at several parks throughout the City. These 10 March/April 2015

Tornadoes

Peak tornado season is late spring through early summer in the northern states.

Tornadoes are most likely to occur between 3-9 p.m., but can occur at any time.

systems are primarily located in parks that host athletic activities such as soccer and baseball, including Alum Creek North Park, Sports Complex, Heritage Park, Towers Park, Huber Village Park, Walnut Ridge Park, Hoff Woods Park and Highlands Park.

Flash floods are the No. 1 weather-related killer in the U.S. Flooding may result from the spring thaw, when frozen land prevents melting snow or rainfall from seeping into the ground. Add spring storms, and the result is often serious spring flooding.

A flash flood is characterized by rapid flooding of low-lying areas in less than six hours caused by intense rainfall from a thunderstorm or several thunderstorms.

Do not walk or drive through moving water. Six inches of moving water can make you fall. If you have to walk in water, walk where the water is not moving.

These systems operate by detecting increases in static electrical charge in the air and activating an audible signal and flashing strobe light to indicate potential lightning. When the alarms are activated, outdoor activities in these areas should www.westervillemagazine.com

Know the Terms The National Weather Service is responsible for issuing severe weather watches, warnings and advisories to alert the public when dangerous weather conditions are expected.

• Watch: A weather watch means that there is the potential for a dangerous weather event or that the conditions exist.

• Warning: A weather warning means that a dangerous weather event is imminent. Immediate action must be taken to protect life and property.

• Advisory: A weather advisory means weather conditions that are less serious than a warning are imminent. These events may cause a significant inconvenience, and if caution is not exercised, it could lead to a situation that may be threatening to life and property.

Weather Warning Sirens Everyone in Westerville on Wednesdays at noon is familiar with the outdoor warning siren testing, which is managed and coordinated by Franklin County Emergency Management and Homeland Security (FCEM&HS). The signal is tested each week to ensure it’s in good working order in the event of an emergency.

FCEM&HS manages a Siren Watch Program with the help of volunteers to ensure each outdoor warning siren is working properly. Citizen volunteers in each of Franklin County’s 42 jurisdictions help keep eyes and ears alert to the system.

Weather permiting, Siren Watchers monitor and report on one assigned outdoor warning siren every Wednesday after the noon test. Reports are completed online or via phone call to FCEM&HS. For more information, visit www.fcemhs.com/CitizenPreparedness/ SirenWatchProgram.aspx. www.westervillemagazine.com

Public Safety Profile

Serving Our Seniors Day Older adults, their caregivers and crime prevention professionals will come together again in late March to talk about the strategies and resources to enjoy a safe, healthy environment. The ninth annual Serving Our Seniors Day will take place 8 a.m.-1 p.m. March 28, at Westerville South High School.

This program was designed by the Westerville Division of Police to serve older adults in the community who are often at high risk as fraud and crime targets. Educational topics and interactive sessions examine subjects including insurance fraud and scams, identity theft protection, personal safety and security solutions, caregiving aid, and estate planning.

“Last year was a record for us in terms of attendance and vendors,” said Preston Tartt, Westerville Police Crime Prevention Specialist. “This year we’re adding live music and new programming, including emergency prepardness.”

Onsite health screenings will also be available, including hearing tests, diabetes and vision screenings, and walk/balance tests.

“This is also a great opportunity for seniors and caregivers to get involved in their community,” said Tartt. “Many Westerville volunteer organizations participate, so if anyone is interested in volunteering, this is a great place to come check them out.”

If you believe you have been the victim of identity theft, fraud or a crime, please contact the Westerville Division of Police at 614-882-7444. For more information, visit www.westerville.org/police.

We’d like your feedback!

Please email us if you have a question or comment about the content in the City Reporter pages. email: communityaffairs@westerville.org

DOOR-TO-DOOR continued from page 9 application. A permit request then goes into a three- to five-day queue for approval.

This allows the City to conduct a background check on the individual or group and process the application. Each approved applicant is given a Solicitors Identification Card and instructed to carry it at all times and produce it upon request.

Approved solicitor permits are listed on the City website by company name, permit date and expiration, and permit number. Residents may access the page by the “Government” tab, selecting “Clerk of Council” and then “Solicitor Information.”

To access the solicitation permit, visit www.westerville.org/permits.

Individuals and groups are required to display their permits during solicitations.

Any solicitor unable to produce a permit, or anyone demonstrating suspicious behavior, can be reported to the Westerville Division of Police at the non-emergency line: 614-882-7444.

Additionally, Westerville follows Ohio Revised Code 1345.22, which gives the buyer the right to cancel a home solicitation sale until midnight of the third business day after the buyer signs an agreement or offer to purchase. Solicitors are required to show written notice of cancellation that will be shown and explained to residents.

Any resident may post a “No Solicitation” sign on their property. This process is coordinated by the Clerk of Council’s office at City Hall. For more information, call 614-901-6410.

March/April 2015 11

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be suspended, and everyone should seek shelter until the all-clear signal is given: Following three short blasts of the siren, the strobe will cease to flash.

While these systems are meant to predict lighting, it is important to remember they should never replace common sense. A common phrase to remember: “If you hear it, clear it.” Immediately move to safety, even if the warning system has not been activated.

It’s important to seek shelter immediately when weather conditions turn severe.

If you are in an open area and cannot get to shelter, move to the lowest area you can find, such as a ravine or valley.

News & Information from the City of Wester ville

Staff Profile

Steve Morlan Named 2014 Employee of the Year Each December, the City of Westerville recognizes outstanding employees who have demonstrated excellent performance, productivity, loyalty, pride and responsibility. “Employee of the Year” candidates are nominated by their peers and/or supervisors. A committee comprised of City staff reviews the applications, selecting recipients of the Excellence in Service Award and one Employee of the Year. In December, Steve Morlan was named the 2014 Employee of the Year.

Congratulations on this achievement.

What does this award mean to you?

The City has a very large pool of talented and dedicated employees who give their best, not only to the citizens, but their coworkers as well. With my new responsibilities – from full-time dispatcher to radio programming and dispatching combined – I get to meet employees from each department and see the teamwork and problem-solving that goes on. There are many people who deserve this award, and I feel honored to have won it.

Where are you from originally?

I am originally from Detroit, Mich. My family moved down to Columbus when I was young. In 1989, I moved my family to Westerville, and we have been here ever since.

How did you come to work for Westerville?

I worked for the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office (FCSO) in the radio room for about five years, and an opening was advertised for the Westerville position. I loved my job at Franklin County, but I was thinking about the gas and travel time I would save if I were able to work in Westerville. I was offered a position in Westerville and started in April 2001.

How did you come to be in this profession?

I dispatched for a courier company and was responsible for keeping track of about 125 drivers on one radio channel, getting packages and documents delivered in one hour or less. One of the drivers asked me if I was interested in dispatching for public 12 March/April 2015

safety. I asked him why, and he said he had just retired from the radio room at FCSO and thought I would do well in the profession.

So I drove Downtown, took the test and was offered a position at the sheriff’s office.

How has technology changed the way you work?

Technology is a blessing and a curse. When I started dispatching, we punched a clock with run cards and wrote everything down. Now we use computers and type everything out. I remember having to stay on the phone with people for very long periods of time, trying to figure out where they were when they didn’t know their location. Now we utilize GPS, which makes our job of finding people who need City Manager David Collinsworth presents the Employee help easier and faster. This is of the Year award to Steve Morlan. the blessing.

Technology also creates expectations.

Friday, June 29, 2012: The National We are expected to have the latest technol- Weather Service called it the North Ameriogy seen in the movies or TV. Technology can derecho. The power went out for most is expensive and grows so fast. Once you of the city, trees were knocked down and decide on a product, there is always going the generator didn’t work in the police to be something faster and better within a building. It was chaos. Some of our phones year or less. It never fails. This is the curse. were down, and we were getting police, fire and medical runs over the radio from What is a typical day for you like in FCSO and Dublin. We were using flashEmergency Dispatch? lights to see what we were writing while Dispatching is full of variety. It is hard trying to keep track of the medic runs and to say what you are going to be doing each calls for service for all departments. We day. We answer 911, non-emergency police were working to keep track of the resources and fire, and some administrative phone we had and establish everyone’s location. lines. We listen to multiple radio channels Representatives from the police and fire depending on what position we are sitting departments came into the radio room to at each day. We dispatch police, fire and help us manage our resources due to the medics where needed, and the service and volume of things going on in the radio electric departments after hours. We also room. The City Manager also came in to enter warrants and stolen articles into com- help. It was rewarding because I was able to puter systems, run license plates, perform be part of a huge effort by all departments criminal history checks and enter informa- to help Westerville recover from the damtion on missing persons into the National age it incurred.

Crime Information Center database.

What is something about your position What is the most rewarding that people may not know? experience you have had working I was on a committee that was responfor the City? sible for having all police departments www.westervillemagazine.com

What do you do in your leisure time?

I like going to classic car shows and drag racing (legally at the race track). I like learning anything related to computer technology or smartphone app development.

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE 2014 EXCELLENCE IN SERVICE AWARD WINNERS Bassem Bitar, Senior Planner, Planning & Development John Friley, Line Worker, Westerville Electric Division Margie Fugate, Horticulturist, Parks & Recreation Terry Jahn, Firefighter, Westerville Division of Fire Dan Mullin, Accounting Supervisor, Finance Mike Phillips, Recreation Administrator, Parks & Recreation Dennis Seligman, Deputy Director, Public Service Sande Siler, Administrative Secretary, Westerville Parks & Recreation (Senior Center) Tara Trigg, Accounting Assistant, Westerville Electric Division The City of Westerville also recognizes departments that demonstrate excellence year-round in creating a culture of safety, encouraging health and wellness and saving public dollars. These these awards recognize the collective efforts of staff and management in collaboration, creativity and coordination.

• The sixth annual Safety Matters Award: Westerville Electric Division • The first annual Wellness Award: Westerville Electric Division • The first annual WeSave Department of the Year: Westerville Parks & Recreation • The first annual WeInnovate Department of the Year: Information Systems www.westervillemagazine.com

Mark Your Calendars Bunny Hop 5K Saturday, April 4 8 a.m. 5K; 9 a.m. Kids Dash Alum Creek Park North The Bunny Hop 5K goes in and around Alum Creek Park North (221 W. Main St.), including portions of the leisure/ bike paths. The route is family-friendly, so participants may bring jogging/walking strollers. Registration fees are $30 ($25 early registration, ends March 7) and $35 the day of the race. Registration is online at www.premierraces.com.

Spring Eggstravaganza Saturday, April 4 10:30 a.m.

Highlands Park Baseball Fields Ages 3-8, Free The annual Spring Eggstravaganza egg hunt is sponsored by the Westerville Lions Club. Colored eggs and special prizes are spread throughout the fields for an 11 a.m. dash. Arrive early to find the right field (kids line up according to age) and bring a basket.

The event is held rain or shine, so dress for the weather.

Income Tax Filing Due Wednesday, April 15 Income tax forms are available on the City of Westerville website for 2014 income tax, due April 15. Visit www. westerville.org/incometax or look for links from the front page of the site to access forms and helpful links. The Income Tax Department offers assistance to all filers, including form preparation, expanded office hours and e-filing services. Extended office hours will be offered April 11, 8 a.m.- noon and April 14, 7 a.m.-6 p.m. For more information, contact the department or stop by the office to speak with a representative.

64 E. Walnut St. Westerville, Ohio 43081 Phone: 614-901-6420 Fax: 614-901-6820 email: incometax@westerville.org Regular Office Hours: Monday through Friday 8 a.m.-5 p.m.

Resident Survey Outcomes Now Available Westerville residents rate City programs, services The City of Westerville has posted outcomes from the 2014 Resident Survey, a report revealing resident attitudes and opinions on City programs and services. The report is available on the City’s website.

Consistent with other community surveys conducted by the City, residents continue to offer positive and high ratings for City services, programs and staff. In fact, 91.9 percent of residents state they are very satisfied with the overall quality of services provided by the City.

For the full text of the report, including ratings for specific departments and programs, as well as community demographics of survey respondents, please visit www.westerville.org/survey.

BY THE NUMBERS

224

Number of rooms on the eight floors expected in the new Marriott Renaissance hotel to be located at Westar Place. The hotel is expected to break ground later this year.

March/April 2015 13

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in Franklin County access one another’s police radio channels to make it seamless for all police departments to work together. Prior to this, if we needed the Columbus Division of Police helicopter to help us in a search, a Westerville officer would have to switch his or her radio to a different channel to hear the chopper and switch back and forth to talk. Now, the CPD chopper comes to our radio channel and talks to us directly, which is safer than switching radio channels back and forth.

News & Information from the City of Wester ville

A Year of Shutterbugs Every year, the “Shutterbugs” submitted photo feature that runs in the July/August edition of Westerville Magazine has been overwhelmingly popular. For that reason, we’ve decided to give our readers more opportunities to send in their photos and feature one per issue in this space for 2015 This issue’s photo was submitted by John Baker.

Please send photo submissions to westervillemag@gmail. com by March 31 to be considered for the May/June issue. Photos must be high-resolution and horizontal.

Westerville Community Contacts FIRE/MEDICAL/POLICE EMERGENCY . . . . 9-1-1 Gas/Carbon Monoxide Leaks. . . . . . . . . 9-1-1 Mental Health Resources. . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-1-1 Fire, non-life threatening emergency. . 882-2213 Police, non-life threatening emergency . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 882-7444 City Website. . . . . . . . . . . www.westerville.org Community Affairs ... . . . . . . . . . . ... 901-6411 Animal Control. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 901-6863 Animal Removal (dead at roadside). . . 901-6740 Cemeteries. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 901-6740 City Manager’s Office . . . . . . . . . . . 901-6400 TDD. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 901-6413 Clerk of Council. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 901-6410 Digging (Ohio Utilities Protection Service) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 800-362-2764 Economic Development. . . . . . . . . . . 901-6403 Electric Division. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 901-6700 Electrical Outages. . . . . . . . . . . . . 901-6700 Street Lights. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 901-6700 Tree Trimming Near Electric Lines. . . 901-6700 Finance Department . . . . . . . . . . . . . 901-6440 Fire Division Headquarters. . . . . . . . 901-6600 CPR/First Aid Training. . . . . . . . . . 901-6600 Human Resources. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 901-6406 Income Tax . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 901-6420 Leaf Collection. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 901-6740 Mayor’s Court. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 901-6419 TDD. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 901-6418 Parks & Recreation Department. . . . . 901-6500 Inclement Weather Hotline. . . . . . . 901-6888 Administration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 901-6530 Community Center . . . . . . . . . . . . 901-6500 Everal Barn & Homestead . . . . . . . 901-6570

Parks Maintenance. . . . . . . . . . . .

Highlands Park Aquatic Center. . . .

Recreation Program Center. . . . . . .

Senior Center. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Shelter Information . . . . . . . . . . . .

Urban Forestry. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Permits Building . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Burning. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Parade/Block Party. . . . . . . . . . . .

Security Alarm . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Zoning. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Planning & Development Department . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Planning, Engineering & Zoning . . .

Traffic Engineering . . . . . . . . . . . .

Zoning Enforcement . . . . . . . . . . .

Police Division Headquarters. . . . . . .

Administration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Detectives. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Patrol. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Recorded Information Line. . . . . . . .

Records . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Service Department. . . . . . . . . . . . .

Sewer Emergencies. . . . . . . . . . . .

Sewer Line Maintenance . . . . . . . .

Stormwater Hotline. . . . . . . . . . . .

Street Emergencies . . . . . . . . . . . .

Street Maintenance Repairs . . . . . .

Trash/Recycling Collection. . . . . . .

901-6591 901-7665 901-6531 901-6560 901-6515 901-6598 901-6650 901-6600 901-6410 901-6482 901-6650.

901-6650 901-6650 901-6670 901-6660 901-6450 901-6470 901-6475 901-6482 901-6879 901-6450 901-6740 901-6740 901-6740 901-6740 901-6740 901-6740 901-6740

All area codes are 614 unless otherwise noted.

Water Emergencies . . . . . . . . . . . 901-6740 Water Line Maintenance . . . . . . . . 901-6740 Traffic Violations. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 901-6419 Tree/Storm Damage (in right of way) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 901-6591 After hours. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 901-6790 Tree Trimming (in right of way). . . . . . . 901-6598 Utility Billing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 901-6430 askutilitybilling@westerville.org Water Plant. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 901-6770 Other Community Service Contacts Airport—Port Columbus. . . . . . . . . . . 239-4083 Concord Counseling Services. . . . . . . 882-9338 COTA Bus Service. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 228-1776 Delaware County General Information . . . . . . . 740-548-7313 Franklin County Board of Health. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 525-3160 Property Taxes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 525-3696 Voter Registration . . . . . . . . . . . . . 525-3100 Mount Carmel St. Ann’s Hospital. . . . . 898-4000 Westerville Area Chamber of Commerce . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 882-8917 Westerville Area Resource Ministry . . . 899-0196 Westerville City Schools . . . . . . . . . . 797-5700 Westerville Historical Society . . . . . . . 891-0821 Westerville Library . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 882-7277 Westerville Visitors & Convention Bureau. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 794-0401

We st e r v i l l e Ci t y Coun cil

Like us on Facebook! www.facebook.com/cityofwesterville Follow us on Twitter: All-City news and information: @tellwesterville Westerville Electric Division: @WvilleElectric Westerville Parks & Recreation: @WestervillePark Westerville Division of Police: @WestervillePD

Ci t y M a n a g e r Dave Collinsworth

Chair Craig Treneff Vice Chair Larry Jenkins Mayor Diane Fosselman Vice Mayor Kathy Cocuzzi John Bokros Michael Heyeck L. Pete Otteson

www.wester ville.org 14 March/April 2015

www.westervillemagazine.com

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Vote for Columbus’ best arts, entertainment, food and events for CityScene Magazine’s fourth annual Best of the ‘Bus! Voting is open through April 15!

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March/April 2015 15

faces

By Duane St. Clair Photography by Wes Kroninger

Now You See Me Local magician had humble beginnings

M

agician Nate LeGros entertains Westerville with his magic tricks and makes his audiences laugh – without saying a word.

The 28-year-old, who performs as Magic Nate, finds much of his audience in Westerville, where he grew up. He started learning tricks at age 10 while he was a student at McVay Elementary School, next to the family home he shared with his parents, Joe and Aggie, two sisters and a brother.

His first trick – learned from a book, a Christmas present from his grandmother – was making a piece of silk vanish in his palm.

The second, which he still uses to this day, was a trick in which he appears to transform three pieces of rope of different lengths into a single piece.

His first performance was at a talent show at McVay. His curiosity and enthusiasm for magic waxed and waned during his formative years.

Before heading off to The Ohio State University to major in English, the Westerville North High School student worked at RalphotoStudio as a photographer’s assistant, helping determine

16 March/April 2015

www.westervillemagazine.com

Ron Lykins, Inc. CPAs the identities of those posing for team and event photos at Westerville South High School.

He wasn’t the best student at OSU, LeGros admits. He played on a club rugby team, as he had in high school.

Even though he relied on a counselor to help with scheduling, after five years, he learned he still needed two more years of course work to earn a degree.

LeGros left school and worked for the Cheryl’s Cookies call center that eventually morphed into a 1-800-Flowers.com center.

During the two years he was there, he practiced tricks as a hobby, often entertaining new employees after they finished training.

He was dubbed Magic Nate.

Out of work and determined to be a magician, LeGros decided to do it full-time, but he had no bookings or money to buy or build large tricks.

“I had to be a street performer,” LeGros says.

LeGros had to carry his equipment in a large bag and work from a small table. His first impromptu shows were at Westerville’s 4th Friday events, where he set up on the sidewalk in front of Ralphoto, with the owner’s permission.

When he took his unsigned act to the Westerville Area Chamber of Commerce Music & Arts Festival, he was asked to leave. However, organizers noted the popularity of his series of five-minute shows.

LeGros says they paid him to come back.

He has held sidewalk performances at the Columbus Arts Festival, the Grove City Browsing Broadway event and the Reynoldsburg Tomato Festival, among other Central Ohio events.

For sidewalk shows, attracting kids is key.

“Kids love the stuff, but adults will try to walk away,” he says. “People will watch the kids watch me.”

Early on, LeGros says, speaking was a part of his show. But when his sister, Emily Fermier, who teaches American Sign Language at OSU, asked him to perform at a deaf community picnic, he realized speaking would be fruitless.

LeGros found the challenge interesting.

“I always liked clowns and mimes,” he says.

LeGros created ways to present tricks or illusions that entertained the audience in silence. He opted to keep his mouth shut and hands busy from then on.

“I wanted to be good when I performed.

I had to be good no matter what audience,” LeGros says. www.westervillemagazine.com

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The equipment for most shows fits in LeGros’ car. Only a very large show, which features a “floating lady” illusion, requires a truck and perhaps two hours to set up. For a while, he used a trick where he caught a bullet in his teeth, but it didn’t work because “everything else in the show was so funny,” LeGros says.

Three years ago, his life became a tad more serious as he and high school sweetheart Meredith Phillips were married. The Ohio Dominican University graduate is a private school teacher.

LeGros won’t, of course, reveal how tricks are performed, but he often tells kids the basics of some. A primary lesson involves how to conceal coins – he gives them flat washers – in the palm.

After practicing, they show it to their mothers and proclaim, “I made a coin disappear.”

While he can’t say how many tricks he knows, LeGros explains there are a dozen different ways of doing just one, such as using one hand or the other.

Usually, someone from the audience is included, whether it’s for a card trick or being the victim in the arm chopper trick he used for his deaf audience. Two carrots and a volunteer’s arm are inserted

into holes in a device, and a sharp blade is quickly lowered. The vegetables are sliced in two, but the arm is not cut.

“It’s hilarious. There’s confusion, intense fear, laughing,” LeGros says. “The volunteer’s the hero.”

LeGros stays busy doing paid shows – prices range from $100 to $850, depending on length and number of shows per appearance. His shows include side-

walks, kids’ birthdays, social gatherings and fundraisers.

He appeared last fall in Westerville’s Got Talent, where he was judged best unique act. He has done fundraisers for Highland and McVay elementary schools this winter and the Westerville Education Foundation last fall. For those, he turns over 35 percent of the admissions.

His finale is two tricks: swallowing a twisted balloon and three “disappearing” balls and cups. During sidewalk shows, he displays a large “applause” sign. He also puts out a bucket and a sign: “If you liked it, $1; If you really liked it, $5; If you really, really liked it, $10; If you hated it, $20.”

While numerous websites sell complex magic tricks and explanations on how to do them, LeGros is skeptical of such enterprises.

“It’s not so much about the secrets as it is about the other guy wanting to make money. They’re fully willing to tell you a secret for a (high) price,” he says “Magic should be used as entertainment, not how much money you can make,” LeGros says.

Duane St. Clair is a contributing editor.

Feedback welcome at hbealer@cityscenecolumbus.com.

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Gone Camping Otterbein offers summer fun through educational camps

RetuRns to Columbus foR ouR 2nd yeaR July 27-31, 2015

By Taylor Woodhouse Photos courtesy of Otterbein University

T

hough Otterbein University’s varied summer camp offerings have changed over the years, a few stalwarts are always on the schedule for the Campers of various skill levels take to the enlightenment of music and horse lovers.

In years past, the line-up of camps pasture on Otterbein’s horses at the Knowlton Center for Equine Science. for middle and high school students has included such subjects as computer programming, theater, poetry and writing.

This year, chief among the offerings are the school’s most popular sessions: Equine Camp and Summer Music Experience.

Both camps are day camps designed for enthusiasts in each subject who want to learn from Otterbein faculty and other professionals.

Young musicians perform a concert for an Otterbein has hosted the Equine Camp audience of their parents and peers at the since 2010. It is open to both middle and Otterbein Summer Music Experience Camp. high school students.

“It’s really designed for middle school camp, they, like their Equine Camp counstudents who love to compete, but it’s also a terparts, have the opportunity to perform great opportunity for beginner, middle and in front of their parents. The camp is for advanced middle and high schoolers who high schoolers only.

Another camp offered this summer just love riding,” says Jill McCullough, one is the invitation-only Martin W. Essex of the summer camp coordinators.

Students ride one and a half to two hours School for the Gifted and Talented. a day and attend a variety of lessons. The Students from New Albany-Plain Local, lessons include everything from equine Westerville City and Olentangy Local nutrition and first aid to horse handling schools will be chosen by their districts and care. The camp is an English-style rid- to attend.

“It’s a very academically rich ing camp, so participants must come camp for talented and gifted equipped with their own boots, DATES students,” says McCullough. breeches and helmet. On the Equine: In existence since 2011, the last day, parents may visit to 8 a.m.-4 p.m., Mon.-Thurs., Essex Camp is the only sleepwatch their children ride June 1-5, 8-12, 15-19, away camp of the three and show off what they July 13-17, 20-24, 27-31. camps offered this summer. have learned.

The final week is restricted to For more information Summer Music Exriders age 10 to 13. or to register for camps, perience has undergone Music: visit www.otterbein.edu/ a revamp as it enters its 9 a.m.-4 p.m., June 8-12 summercamps. Otterbein third year. Nicholas Ross, Essex: also offers a variety of sumassociate professor of music June 14-20 mer sports camps, with suband director of keyboard studies jects including soccer, football, at Otterbein, heads up the camp with volleyball, basketball, lacrosse. support from other faculty and staff.

Attendees may choose among three instrumental concentrations – guitar, Taylor Woodhouse is a contributing strings and piano – as well as vocal music writer. Feedback welcome at and music composition. On the last day of hbealer@cityscenecolumbus.com. www.westervillemagazine.com

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in focus

By Garth Bishop

The Gift of Fab

Cutting-edge technology and real-life experience highlight Innovation Generation

F

rom solving real-world business problems to drafting three-dimensional renderings, students in Westerville City Schools have a variety of new learning opportunities thanks to the district’s partnership with Innovation Generation.

This is the first year Innovation Generation curriculum has been offered.

Innovation Generation, based in Reynoldsburg, works with 15 central Ohio school districts to provide technological opportunities to which their students might not otherwise have access. And the programs do more than expand students’ knowledge; they allow students the chance to obtain college credit, or work toward professional certification.

“It connects the learning that happens in school with how it can benefit the student beyond school,” says Scott Reeves, executive director of secondary academic affairs for Westerville.

The curriculum is funded by a $14.4 million Straight A Fund grant from

the state, along with investments from such entities as Battelle, JPMorgan Chase and Columbus State Community College. Though this is the first year Innovation Generation curriculum has been offered in schools, the Central Ohio Compact – a partnership among businesses, schools and the government, convened

by Columbus State to improve from 30 to 60 the percentage of Ohio The MIT Mobile Fab Lab travels among Westerville’s workers with education middle schools. Photo by Garth Bishop beyond high school by ety of things, from key chains and coins to 2025 – was formed in 2012.

In Westerville, students can participate vinyl stickers and 3-D playground models.

The advanced manufacturing and robotin three programs: business logistics, health career and advanced manufacturing ics classes are offered this year to seventhgraders, with curriculum expanding into and robotics.

From the outside, the later grades as students in the program most recognizable part of get older. The lab visits each Westerville the Innovation Genera- middle school twice per semester.

Not only does it introduce students tion program is the MIT Mobile Fab Lab, used in to technology they might not otherwise the advanced manufactur- have, the curriculum also fosters an ining and robotics curricu- terest in science among students who, lum. Most school districts up to that point, did not find the field that participate have a Fab appealing, says Anne Baldwin, career tech (short for “fabrication”) and college readiness coordinator for the Lab packed with equip- school district.

Though specifically associated with the ment that can either be used in the mobile class- Innovation Generation curriculum, the Fab room or removed for use Lab and its equipment can be used by any in the schools themselves. teacher who knows how to use them.

The health curriculum is reflected in two Among the equipment students can use high school-level courses: principles of bioare a 3-D printer, ro- medical science and human body systems. botic arm, wood router, An additional course, medical interventions, milling machine, lathe will be offered for 2015-16. About 150 Westerville Central High School students study gel system and vinyl cutter. students are in the program now. electrophoresis as part of the health career curriculum.

Course work includes using biology They have the chance to Photo courtesy of Westerville City Schools design and build a vari- and medicine to study a fictional death

20 March/April 2015

www.westervillemagazine.com

Students at Heritage Middle School used the Fab Lab’s 3D printer to make scale models of playgrounds. Photo by Garth Bishop

through autopsy reports, medical history and treatments; building organs and tissues on a specialized mannequin; monitoring body functions through software; and utilizing gel electrophoresis to examine DNA strands.

“Students are doing science while they’re learning science,” says Baldwin.

Students following the health care pathway will be able to take Columbus State courses while still in high school and, eventually, earn accreditation as pharmacy technicians or clinical lab assistants.

Business logistics students have only one class to take in 2014-15: computer concepts and applications, offered at the high school level and providing dual credit with Columbus State. In 2015-16, supply chain management will be added to the curriculum, and students will be able to earn hours toward certification or an associate’s degree in the field, which is growing in popularity.

“Central Ohio is actually a logistics hub for the nation,” says Baldwin.

The district has been establishing partnerships with local businesses to provide real-world experience to students participating in Innovation Generation programs. Companies can host field trips, donate equipment, give presentations and even ask classes to work on solutions to industry-related problems. “(Understanding) the logistics of a complex organization is an incredibly valuable skill,” says Reeves.

The district is working with businesses such as Polymer Ohio and the Ohio Manufacturing Extension Project as well as the Westerville and Columbus chambers of commerce to forge agreements and put together advisory boards for the Innovation Generation curriculum.

Garth Bishop is managing editor.

Feedback welcome at gbishop@cityscenemediagroup.com. www.westervillemagazine.com

The Twang’s All Here

Central freshman takes his banjo skills to Arnold talent competition

By Hannah Bealer Photos courtesy of Gary and Nancy Conkel

C

ory Conkel has only been playing banjo for seven months, but he will be one of only 20 finalists competing at the Arnold’s Quest for Talent show.

In late January, about 100 hopefuls auditioned at Westerville North High School.

Conkel, a Westerville Central High School freshman, says being selected out of such a large group was rather shocking.

“I was pretty excited,” he says.

“There were 94 people who auditioned, so I was honored they picked me out of all that.”

Conkel, who takes takes banjo lessons, says that leading up to the competition he’ll be clocking in some extra hours of practice.

A love for bluegrass and country music is what piqued his interest in the instrument, Conkel says, adding he already has experience with the guitar and violin.

“I’ve always liked the sound of (the music),” he says.

Talent show finalist Cory Conkel, a Olivia Bushong, a junior at Central, freshman at Westerville Central High will be competing alongside Conkel School, plays the banjo. as a dancer.

The Arnold’s Quest for Talent show will be held March 7 at the Arnold Kids Fitness EXPO, a new addition to the Arnold Sports Festival. The Kids Fitness EXPO will be held March 7 and 8 in the Ohio Expo Center’s Bricker Building.

For more information, visit www.arnoldsportsfestival.com/kids-expo.

Hannah Bealer is an assistant editor. Feedback welcome at hbealer@cityscenecolumbus.com.

March/April 2015 21

By Matthew Kent Photos courtesy of Westerville City Schools

Silver Screen, Golden Years Central film festival puts local senior citizens in the limelight

T

he red carpet will be rolled out again this spring for a film festival featuring the life stories of Westerville’s senior citizens.

The event, now in its third year, has seen plenty of success.

The films spotlight individuals at the Westerville Senior Center. The festival was created by Westerville Central High School English teacher Susannah Lee, who helps guide her students through much of the behind-the-scenes work, which involves interviews, video editing and other preproduction aspects.

The event is scheduled for April 28.

The idea for the senior citizens’ film festival initially began after Lee visited www. edutopia.org, a website for the George Lucas Education Foundation. It led her to www.iEARN.org, a nonprofit organization made up of schools and youth organizations that allow classroom projects to be shared with one another.

Lee discovered one international project that focused on folk tales and interviews with elders across the globe.

“I thought, ‘That’s amazing, that’s a cool idea,’ and it started getting me thinking because I really wanted to have my students do things that have an authentic audience.

I feel like school is so much like writing for their teacher, or they don’t see what they’re doing as having relevance, so the project just came from that iEARN project that was going on internationally,” Lee says.

After speaking to someone whose mother had recently passed away, Lee found herself reflecting on her own life experiences.

“It made me start thinking of my own grandparents, and how I didn’t ask the questions that I wanted. Those two things combined made me say that this would be a really great project, and the kids would learn a lot, and (it) would get them involved in the community,” she says.

Westerville Education Challenge, a private organization that provides funding for creative projects in the district, was able to provide a financial boost to the project after Lee wrote a grant that later allowed her to purchase five iPads. In addition, the film festival has received monetary support from the Westerville Education Foundation and Westerville Central High School Boosters club.

Juniors and seniors enrolled in Lee’s film and literature course at Central have edited film and interviewed residents at Westerville Central High School students wait by the red carpet. the Senior Center who 22 March/April 2015

Each senior citizen who participates in the project commits to four interviews and provides still photos.

were willing to share their stories. Each participant commits to four interviews.

Still photos are incorporated into the films as well, says Lee. “For them, it’s an experience of learning how to interview people and find out information … then they have to do research about what they’ve learned from their senior citizen. It kind of triggers them to go find out more, so they do that, and then they cut and edit films, so they learn how to put that process together in a way that makes sense,” Lee says. “It’s entirely student-driven. They do all the interviews, they design the way the film looks and put it together.”

Many senior citizens are forthcoming in the stories of their lives, Lee says, and the film is powerful when it is finished.

The day of the film festival is anything but ordinary, she says, describing it as being a red carpet event filled with cameras and flowers in a setting that allows seniors citizens and their family members to see excerpts of their own films. The event also includes a reception and gift bags with items donated by area businesses.

“I love that point because the kid sees how important this was to the senior citiwww.westervillemagazine.com

D MITE UNLI SSES! CLA

1 Initiation Only $ zens because all their family members are all emotional,” Lee says. “It’s magical to watch it, and once that day happens, it’s when all that hard work comes together, and you get to give a gift to someone who’s given so much to the kids.”

Senior Center Manager Jeff Althouse says he also enjoys the interaction between the residents and students. “(No one) has the same story. They’re all pretty unique to that individual, and just to hear their life experiences and the way they interact with students is one of the things that I enjoy most. I think the public will appreciate that as well,” Althouse says.

Lee is particularly proud of her students for their efforts.

“It is the most rewarding (thing) I’ve ever done as a teacher. I get to witness my students really blossom from these shy, nervous kids. They’re so proud of what they’ve made, and they really understand what they’re giving the people,” she says.

“I think the kids get the understanding (that) what they’re doing is much bigger than themselves.”

Matthew Kent is a contributing writer.

Feedback welcome at hbealer@cityscenecolumbus.com.

Participating students edit film and interview residents on their own. www.westervillemagazine.com

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March/April 2015 23

living

By Hannah Bealer

Photos courtesy of Sam Ross and Meredith Jones

There and Back Again Westerville duo shows off changes since House Hunters episode

U

ptown couple Meredith Jones and Sam Ross made local headlines when their 105-year-old home was featured on HGTV’s House Hunters last July.

Now, the couple is headed back to the popular reality show to show off all the improvements they have made to their South Knox Street home.

The episode, set to air this month, will show Jones and Ross alongside two other couples. It’s a more condensed version of their first episode, which featured the couple searching for their Meredith Jones dream home. and Sam Ross Off air, the search was basically over. By the time House Hunters came to Westerville to film in December 2013, Jones and Ross had already purchased their home in October. The show requires participants to buy a house before they can be featured, so for theatrical purposes it films the couple looking at two additional homes before settling on their actual property.

Jones and Ross have quite a bit to show off in their next installment. When sending producers her updates, Jones said she felt like they hadn’t done much work.

But the program was eager to film again for its House Hunters: Where Are They Now? spinoff.

Walking into the foyer of the three-story, five-bedroom home, Ross says his favorite part is the new floors. When the house was purchased, he says, the floors were beaten up and in fairly rough shape.

Now, he says, the hardwood is back to its beautiful, original color and state.

To the left of the foyer sits the living room. Everything has been repainted, and 24 March/April 2015

Above: Before and after shots of the couple’s kitchen Below: The dining room features contemporary overhead lighting and a stove fashioned into a bar.

www.westervillemagazine.com

Above: Before and after shots of the home’s new hardwood floors – Ross’ favorite new feature Below: The master suite, located in the third floor’s attic space

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March/April 2015 25

the ceilings were resurfaced, Ross says.

The ceiling was once fitted with fiberglass tiles. One of the more dramatic changes is the addition of overhead lights. The home did not have overhead lights before, and their inclusion required a lot of electrical work, Ross says.

The couple’s dining room also features contemporary, overhead lighting. A stove, original to the home, is positioned in the corner and used as a makeshift bar. There are two sets of shelves, also original, that flank the path from the living room to the dining room.

Not much changed in the kitchen, the couple says, adding that they have new appliances and an island.

The first floor is Jones’ favorite part of the house, she says, adding that she loves how “bright and shiny” it is.

“The living room and dining room had the most dramatic changes with lights, walls, floors and ceiling,” Jones says.

The second floor leads up to Ross’ favorite part of the house — a room that Jones has fondly nicknamed his “nerd nook.”

House Hunters was trying to get away from the concept of a man cave, she says, and asked her to come up with another name for the room that houses Ross’ extensive film and comic book collection.

Because of copyright issues, the “nerd nook” could not actually be featured on the program. In the room is Ross’s Xbox and

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Before and after: The path from the living room to the dining room

a flat-screen television. He also has action figures and posters set up around the room.

“There are probably about 200 (films) and 300-400 comic books,” Ross says.

The couple says it was amazing how the producers of the show knew what images could and could not be filmed, and they were quick to remove them from the sight of the cameras.

Across from the “nerd nook” is one of the five bedrooms, turned into a giant walk-in closet. Both Jones and Ross use the closet, though it was Jones’s idea to outfit it with a chandelier. There are steps in the room that lead to the third story – or the attic – where the couple’s master suite sits.

The master suite has the appeal of a loft. There’s a reading nook by a set of windows that also serves as a dog bed, a corner used for office space and an attached master bathroom.

Out of all the older homes the couple considered, they said they didn’t find another one with as much attic space.

“It’s nice having that third-floor retreat,” Jones says.

Overall, the couple say they are beyond pleased with the way their house has evolved into a home. So pleased, in fact, that they can’t think of a single thing they would change about their experience with HGTV. “I don’t think there’s anything we regret doing,” Jones says. “We would definitely do it again. We did do it again.”

Hannah Bealer is an assistant editor.

Feedback welcome at hbealer@cityscenecolumbus.com. www.westervillemagazine.com

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March/April 2015 27

on the table By Bethany N. Bella

Photos courtesy of Marty Wicks

Students of Sustenance

Heritage Middle School’s new after-school club offers students nutritious choices

I

n an increasingly health-conscious community, Heritage Middle School is looking to improve the lives of its students through proper nutrition.

Marty Wicks, Heritage science teacher and personal trainer, has initiated a program on how to pick and prepare nutritious foods.

“The main goal of this club is to show students how to make better food choices,” Wicks says. “I’m always concerned about the fitness levels of students, as well as adults.”

The program, called Good Eats Club, is open to sixth-, seventh- and eighth-grade students at Heritage.

Students in the club meet twice a month on Tuesdays after school.

On the first Tuesday of each month, a group of roughly 25 students researches healthful food options and their respective nutritional content.

Good Eats Club’s mission is to give students an opportunity to practice living healthfully.

28 March/April 2015

After two weeks, students return and make the already-prepared healthful dishes for any parents and teachers with a taste for the delicious and nutritious.

In a meeting last fall, students in groups of four to six were researching which fruits and vegetables would be the most nutritious to prepare in juices.

“We also used the remains of the pulp to bake muffins” afterward, Wicks says.

So far, the club is merely in its beginning stages, but Wicks hopes its support will grow over the next few years.

“We’ve not had time to move for- The club, a group of roughly 25, meets on the first ward with many things we’d like to Tuesday of each month. do to make the experience more rewarding,” Wicks says. “I’ve not had the time to teach my students about crop rotation, to inform students on the best way to rotate crops for healthful produce. I’d like to begin getting into this area next fall.”

Good Eats Club is not just about eating more leafy greens. Its underlying mission is to give students an opportunity to create a healthy, holistic lifestyle that includes proper nutrition, exercise and the ability to make nutritious choices.

“It’s not all about eating,” Wicks says. “It is about a well-rounded approach on eating, how the effects of produce have a long-lasting effect The club has researched and prepared healthful on the human body and how to keep dishes for their parents and teachers. your immune system in check.”

In January, the club researched and Be on the lookout for a Good Eats recipe prepared healthy pasta dishes for Heri- book –– it’s on Wicks’ ever-growing list of tage parents and teachers. additions to the club.

Mark your calendars for April 17. The annual Taste of Westerville, showcasing the culinary offerings of Westerville Area Chamber of Commerce member businesses, will be held from 7-10 p.m. at Crowne Plaza Columbus North, 6500 Doubletree Ave. The event was sold out last year. Admission is $45 per person and includes all food and beverage costs, and this year the event features a wine and beer tasting as well as a raffle and silent auction. www.westervillemagazine.com

Healthful pasta recipe • ¾ lb. carrots, peeled and thinly sliced • Zest and juice of 1 navel orange, zest removed in strips with a vegetable peeler • Salt • 3 cups penne rigate • 3 oz. sharp cheddar cheese, shredded • 1 Tbsp. chopped tarragon • Freshly ground white pepper Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. In a medium saucepan, combine the carrots with the zest, juice and ¼ cup of water. Season with salt and bring to a boil. Cover and simmer over moderate heat until the carrots are soft, about 30 minutes.

Discard the zest. Transfer the carrots and any liquid to a blender and purée until very smooth.

Meanwhile, in a large saucepan of boiling salted water, cook the pasta until al dente. Drain the pasta, reserving 1 cup of the cooking water.

Return the pasta to the pot. Add the reserved water and the carrot purée and cook over moderate heat, stirring frequently, until the pasta is coated with a thickened sauce, about 5 minutes.

Stir in three-fourths of the cheese and cook, stirring until very creamy, 2 to 3 minutes longer. Stir in the tarragon and season with salt and white pepper.

Transfer the pasta to a medium baking dish and top with the remaining cheese. Bake until the cheese is melted and lightly browned, about 20 minutes.

Let stand for 5 minutes before serving.

The silky carrot purée mixed with the cheddar is a source of vitamin A and helps reduce the amount of fat in the recipe.

www.westervillemagazine.com

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bookmarks

From the Westerville Public Library

Recommended Reads from Susan Carr, Youth Services Librarian

Gift Days

(picture book)

By Kari-Lynn Winters Nassali loves school, but since her mother’s death, she is staying home to care for her siblings.

Her brother Matovu devises a way to give his sister time to follow her dreams.

The Bug in Teacher’s Coffee and Other School Poems (reader)

By Kalli Dakos Playful poems describe the school day from the point of view of the school building, the classroom supplies, a class goldfish and playground equipment.

The Girl from the Tar Paper School

(juvenile biography)

By Teri Kanefield When Barbara Rose Johns organized and led a 1953 student strike at a Virginia high school, her actions were key to influencing the Brown v. Board of Education ruling that ended state-sanctioned segregation.

Girls Like Us (teen)

By Gail Giles Two graduates from a high school special education class tell their funny, moving and gut-wrenching stories as roommates during their first independent living experience.

Recommended Reads from Megan Chrusciel, Adult Services Librarian INSIDE

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By Randy Pausch Diagnosed with terminal cancer, Pausch delivers his last lecture: Overcome obstacles and seize every moment.

Time is all we have – and we have less than we think.

The Westerville Public Library 126 S. State St. • Phone: 614-882-7277 • www.westervillelibrary.org Mon.-Thurs.: 9 a.m. – 9 p.m.; Fri. & Sat.: 9 a.m. – 6 p.m.; Sun.: 1-6 p.m. www.westervillemagazine.com

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