Westerville Magazine March/April 2020 by CityScene Media Group

The Green Life

Green Haven Livingâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Angie Scheu April is Arts Month Westerville Student Education Foundation Pass the Perogies www.westervillemagazine.com

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t s e B s u ‘B 2020

Westerville

magazine

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Food Network Host & Judge 4 March/April 2020

A night out for moms and those who love them, all in support of a great cause.

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Inside

MARCH/APRIL 2020 VOL. 19 NO. 4

09 CityReporter News and Information from the City of Westerville

06 community calendar 09 city reporter

News and Information from the City of Westerville

15 faces

Going Green

Angie Scheu brings conservation to Westerville

18 in focus

April Showers Bring... Art!

April is Arts Month celebrates artistic kids, tweens and teens

20 90 Years and Counting

The American Association of University Women celebrates a milestone anniversary

22 Students Sound Off

A look back at the first year of the Westerville Student Education Foundation

24 The Accidental Accountant

Wanna-be comedian, accidental accountant and professional speaker

25 Around Westerville 26 living

Flipping Out

Local realtors give new life to Westerville condo

28 on the table

@westervillemagazine Read more online at WestervilleMagazine.com www.westervillemagazine.com

Pass the Perogies, Please!

Linda Laine shares a family recipe

30 Bookmarks

On the Cover Angie Scheu Photo by Jeffrey S. Hall Photography See page 15 March/April 2020

2020

SAT FRI THU 4 3 2 11 10 9 8 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

TWO FREE SESSIONS

Need a fitness solution that fits?

March

MARK YOUR CALENDAR!

March 1-4

Arnold Sports Festival Throughout Columbus, www.arnoldsportsfestival.com

March 3

Pancake Breakfast 7 a.m., Westerville Senior Center, 310 W. Main St., www.westerville.org

March 3

Meet the Author: Jodi Picoult 7 p.m., Westerville South High School, 303 S. Otterbein Ave., www.westervillelibrary.org

March 5-8

...inspiring results 580 Office Pkwy, Suite 120 Westerville, OH 43082

Jodi Picoult

614.427.2023 WWW.EXERCISECOACH.COM

Mamma Mia! Pancake Breakfast 7 p.m. March 5-7; 2 p.m. March 8; Westerville North March 12 High School, 950 County Line 2020 State of the Community Rd., www.wnhstheatre.org 6:30 p.m., The Point at Otterbein University, March 7 60 Collegeview Rd., Westerville Lions Club 33rd www.westerville.org Annual Pancake Breakfast 7:30- 11 a.m., The American March 14 Legion Hall, 393 College Ave., Tunes & Tales www.westervillelions.org Various, Westerville Library, 126 S. State St., www.westervillesymphony.org

March 23-27

Spring Break Westerville City School District, www.westerville. k12.oh.us

March 29

The Learning Academy is an educational childcare center for children 6 weeks to 12 years old. We believe learning through play promotes progress for children. Our research-based curriculum is designed to develop lifelong critical thinking skills.

Underwater Egg Hunt 10:30 a.m., Westerville Community Center, 350 N. Cleveland Ave., www.westerville.org

Mention this ad for 1 week of FREE tuition. Schedule your tour today at TLAOhio.com 1325 E. Walnut St., Westerville, OH 43081 614-948-2626 westerville@tlaohio.com 6 March/April 2020

Arnold Sports Festival www.westervillemagazine.com

April April 17-19

WCHS presents The Wizard of Oz Various times, Westerville Central High School, 7118 Mount Royal Ave., www.westerville.k12.oh.us

April 26

Masterworks 3 5 p.m., Fritsche Theatre, 30 S. Grove St., www. westervillesymphony.org

April 30

Meet the Author: Paul Gaus 7 p.m., Westerville Public Library, 126 S. State St., www.westervillehistory.org

Hoppin’ Hound Hunt

April 4

Easter Beg Hunt 1-4 p.m., Uptown Westerville, www.visitwesterville.org

April 4

Hoppin’ Hound Hunt 6-10 p.m., Rocky Fork Metro Park, 7180 Walnut St., www.bringfido.com

April 11

Westerville Bunny Hop 5K 8 a.m., Westerville Sports Complex, 325 N. Cleveland Ave., www.greenswell.com

April 17

Wellness and Vaccine Clinic 2-6 p.m., Mutts & Co., 837 Polaris Pkwy., www.savethislife.com

April 18

MY COUSIN’S COTTAGE

April 19

Quality Resale Home Furnishings & Décor

Westerville Uptown Art Hop 1-5 p.m., Uptown Westerville, www.uptownwesterville.com 9 to 5: The Musical 2-5 p.m., Westerville South High School, 303 S. Otterbein Ave., www.ohedta.org

April 21

Paul Gaus

April 30

The Crucible 7 p.m., Westerville North High School, 950 County Line Rd., www.wnhstheatre.org

Chamber Lunch and Learn Noon-1 p.m., Westerville Area Chamber of Commerce, 99 Commerce Park Dr. #A, www.westervillechamber.com

April 25

8th GBA Otterbein Classic Otterbein University, 1 S. Grove St., www.otterbeinuniversity.org

Good for your wallet, good for the planet! 614-899-6110 16 E. College Ave, Westerville OH 43081 www.mycousinscottage.com www.westervillemagazine.com

March/April 2020

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 25, 2020 11 a.m. | Columbus Athenaeum

C ON GRATUL ATIONS TO THE 2020 GOVERNOR’S AWARDS WINNERS ARTS ADMINISTRATION

Lora Snow, Gallipolis ARTS EDUCATION

Nigel Burgoine, Holland ARTS PATRON

It’s time to celebrate and support the arts in Ohio. Join us for the Governor’s Awards for the Arts luncheon.

Charles H. Dater Foundation, Cincinnati BUSINESS SUPPORT OF THE ARTS

Nicolettecinemagraphics, Columbus COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AND PARTICIPATION

Reserve your spot today! Your $50 ticket includes the award ceremony luncheon and dessert reception.

Jorma Kaukonen’s Fur Peace Ranch, Pomeroy

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AND PARTICIPATION

Joan Perch, Elyria

INDIVIDUAL ARTIST

Jesse Ayers, Canton

oac.ohio.gov/governorsawards Our Media Partners:

INDIVIDUAL ARTIST

Andy Snow, Dayton With Support From:

Award Artist: Barry Underwood Artwork: Euclid Beach by Barry Underwood | Design: Formation Studio

NEWS FROM THE CITY OF WESTERVILLE • JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2020

CityReporter www.westerville.org

You Count: U.S. Census Responses Have Big Impact on Local Funding Every household in the country will receive an invitation to participate in the U.S. Census by April 1. For the first time, citizens are invited to complete their surveys online, in addition to the traditional mail and phone options. Accurate census “Ohio loses responses are crucial at least $1,200 to helping the federal government determine in federal how many seats a state funding for receives on the U.S. every person House of Representatives, informs decisions not counted to redraw congressioin the U.S. nal and state legislative boundaries. Importantly, Census.” responses also tell the federal government how to allocate more than $675 billion in funding for programs like schools, public safety, health care, affordable housing and more. The state of Ohio received more than $33.5 million through federal spending programs informed by 2010 census data. Census representatives say every person living in a household, ages 1-100-years old, should be counted in surveys. According to the bureau, the state loses at least $1,200 in federal funding for every person not counted in a household survey. A non-partisan government agency, the bureau is mandated by the U.S. Constitution to conduct a census every 10 years. Responses are kept confidential and only used to produce statistics. Personal details cannot be accessed by law enforcement, nor can they be used to determine individual eligibility for government benefits. Find a list of census stations and more information about this civic opportunity at www. westerville.org/census. www.westervillemagazine.com

Charter Review Committee Accepting Feedback Through mid-March Speaking of decennial opportunities for civic engagement, residents have until Friday, March 13 to provide feedback to the Westerville Charter Review Commission about the charter. First adopted in 1964, the Home Rule Charter gives the city government of Westerville greater local control and flexibility than the statutory form. The Charter, which serves as a “mini constitution” for the City, requires Westerville City Council to appoint a commission of “five qualified electors of the Municipality holding no other office, appointment or employment in the government of the Municipality as members” every 10 years. The group is charged with reviewing the current Charter and, if they see fit, recommending changes for City Council’s recommendation. Review the Charter and provide feedback at www.westerville. org/charter. March/April 2020

CityReporter

Public Safety Profile

An Open Letter from Chief Charles Chandler to Future Recruits Dear Future Westerville Police Recruit: You woke up this morning and looked in the mirror – what did you see? Did you look past yourself and imagine what it would be like to serve the Westerville community? Perhaps, you saw yourself as a proud member of our team, patrolling and responding to this beloved community in times of distress and need alongside your brothers and sisters in blue. Maybe you saw yourself walking along the streets of Uptown Westerville during a community event and interacting with grateful residents.

By now, I’m willing to bet you know that the men and women of the Westerville Division of Police serve this community and, in turn, the community takes care of us too. That’s what we do here in Westerville. That’s what makes us strong. So again I ask: Did you look past yourself this morning? If you answered yes, we’d like to meet you. Learn more about what it means to wear the WPD badge at www.westerville.org/joinwpd. Chief Chandler

LIGHT OHIO BLUE Honoring Police

Mark Your Calendars: Residents will again be invited to help “Light Ohio Blue” May 8-15. This is a great time to show your support of Westerville Police by displaying blue lights and ribbons. Other Important Dates: • National Police Week | May 10-16 • Peace Officer Memorial Day | May 15

Westerville Firefighters/Medics Help Develop Life-Saving Pediatric Equipment Westerville Fire Division (WFD) medics are among the first to carry pediatric CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure) equipment full-time to treat infants and children in respiratory distress. Westerville’s team worked with manufacturers to develop a tubing piece for the apparatus to facilitate the airflow needed for small patients. Nationwide Children’s Hospital partnered with WFD to equip all medic vehicles with equipment. Brian Miller, Westerville Division of Fire Chief, says the equipment could help medics avoid the invasive procedure of emergency intubation for children with better long-term outcomes. “Westerville’s firefighters and medics have always been on the leading edge of innovation. We were among 10 March/April 2020

the first in the state to carry adult CPAP equipment in the field, which is now considered standard intervention for emergency care. It’s our goal that this equipment for child intervention becomes similarly standard,” Chief Miller said. Part of the innovation will be monitoring data to push for the manufacturing of a full kit for pediatric use, says Chief Miller. The pediatric kits include about $100 in equipment (tubes, ports, masks, depending on size); four kits have been assembled for each of the medics responding to medical emergencies in and around Westerville. The current kit may only be used once. Chief Miller says there’s more work to do to plot the path forward for the manufacturing of a kit that can be

distributed and used by EMS providers everywhere. Learn more about the Westerville Division of Fire at www.westerville. org/fire. www.westervillemagazine.com

CityReporter

City Improves Digital Customer Service with New Mobile Application, Service Portal Beginning in April, residents will have new-and-improved digital tools to “Tell Westerville” about a service need via a new mobile application and online service request portal. Now named “Tell Westerville,” the improved services build upon the familiar customer service branding established through the City’s Twitter account. Users will need to download the new mobile application since the old one named “My Westerville,” will no longer be supported. Powered by See.Click.Fix., the mobile application will feature a sleek new design that is easy to use. To download this digital extension of the City’s customer service team, simply visit your mobile application store (Google Play, Apple App Store) and search “Tell Westerville” to download. The new service request portal will retain the same functionality as before, with an option to submit through the City’s website at www.westerville.org/ servicerequest.

Economic Development Profile

City Marks Back-to-Back Intelligent Community Designations

The City is celebrating its second consecutive designation as one of the Intelligent Community Forum’s (ICF) 2020 “Top7” Intelligent Communities in the world. The City plans to celebrate the achievement with an Innovation Expo this spring. Details will be posted as they are available to www.westerville.org. Westerville is one of two cities from the United States (the other being Hudson, Ohio) on the 2020 Top7 list. Both communities are celebrating back-to-back designations for ICF’s Smart21 and Top7 lists. The other 2020 Top7 communities are: • Adelaide, South Australia, Australia • Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia • Hamilton, Ontario, Canada • Tallinn, Estonia • Hudson, Ohio, USA • Markham, Ontario, Canada The ICF evaluates communities on the basis of their performance in six key indicators: broadband connectivity, knowledge workforce, innovation, digital equality, advocacy and sustainability. www.westervillemagazine.com

The Westerville Partnership (comprised of the City, Otterbein University, Westerville City Schools, Westerville Public Library and Westerville Area Chamber) and key business community stakeholders collaborated on the application for inclusion on these international lists. Westerville will host an ICF cofounder in March or April for an on-site visit and assessment to observe the City’s infrastructure, programs and partnerships. The process culminates on June 18 with the announcement of the 2020 Intelligent Community of the Year at the annual ICF Summit, hosted by the City of Dublin, Ohio (a Top7 community in 2010 and 2011). Learn more about the ICF at www.intelligent community.org. March/April 2020

CityReporter

Green Programs Roundup

City Springs into Pilot Food-Waste Composting Program

On the “wheels” of successfully deploying 14,000 64-gallon curbside recycling carts, the City is offering residents yet another convenient and environmentally friendly program with a pilot food-waste composting dropoff program beginning this spring. Now, residents can place compostable food items in marked 64-gallon receptacles at City facilities, located at 350 Park Meadow Rd. and 469 Westdale Ave., 24-hours a day, seven days a week. The containers will be serviced weekly by Columbus-based GoZERO. Westerville is one of four communities that received grants from the Solid Waste Authority of Ohio (SWACO) to start or expand community composting from the organization. “We're able to offer this program to residents free of charge thanks to a grant covering 75% of the cost up to $9,240 from SWACO's Community Waste Reduction Grant program” said Kevin Weaver, Westerville Public Service Director. “Our goal is to divert at least 10 tons of food waste from the landfill through this program.” In early fall, the City will evaluate the success of the program and determine whether the program will continue to be offered. It’s not the first time the City has partnered with SWACO to bring a green program to residents. Last year’s recycling cart deployment and subsequent “Recycle Right” initiative in partnership with the organization saw a over 8% increase in curbside recycling from May-December 2019. Learn how you can participate in food-waste recycling at www.westerville.org/composting.

Looking for more ways to “Go Green”? Consider these programs: Recycle Your Refrigerator, Freezer The Westerville Electric Division encourages residents to trade in old, inefficient refrigerator or freezer units in exchange for a $50 pre-paid VISA debit card or digital debit card download.

Recycle Old Batteries Visit the Westerville Electric Division (139 E. Broadway Ave.) 24/7 to safely recycle batteries. Accepted types include: lithium (rechargeable), lead acid wet cell (vehicles) and typical household (AA, AAA, C, D etc.)

Remember to “Recycle Right” Westerville is definitely “on a roll” with an increase in curbside recycling participation in the last year. Refresh yourself on recycling rules at www.westerville.org/ recycling.

Get BusinessWISE Are you a decision maker at a local commercial or industrial business? Look into the City’s incentive program for sustainable facility upgrades like HVAC and lighting fixtures. www. westerville.org/businesswise. 12 March/April 2020

www.westervillemagazine.com

CityReporter

“Westerville Helps” Expands Financial Assistance Options The City of Westerville is reinvesting dollars back into the public by expanding its financial assistance program. “Westerville Helps” offers qualifying residents assistance to help pay toward utility bills, sidewalk maintenance and home improvements. Residents who are located within the city limits and meet certain household income criteria may apply for one of several programs to help manage financial hardship. Westerville Helps was developed to re-invest some funding back into the community for public aid in certain categories.

PARKS & RECREATION

Financial assistance includes reduced or waived fees for registration fees, daily passes and recreation facility passes. AMOUNT | $100 per person/year; $500 per family/year. Credit only ELIGIBILITY | Programs, membership passes. Must meet Federal Free and Reduced Lunch Program Eligility criteria* to apply. FUNDING SOURCE | Westerville Parks Foundation

UTILITY BILLING

AMOUNT | $500 per calendar year. Credit only. Use for one month or to cover several months. ELIGIBILITY | Past-due bills only. Only residents. Tenant or owneroccupied. Not intended for water leaks. Must meet Federal Free and Reduced Lunch Program Eligility criteria* to apply. FUNDING SOURCE | Opt-in $1 per month at 10% participation = $18,000 annually APPLICATION | All year www.westerville.org/utilitybilling

APPLICATION | All year www.westerville.org/parks

SIDEWALK MAINTENANCE

HOME IMPROVEMENT

AMOUNT | 50% up to $1,500 credit only OR five-year, 0% interest property assessment

AMOUNT | Reimbursement up to 50%; $5,000 individual max; $20,000 annual program amount.

ELIGIBILITY | Single-family, owner-occupied for 12 months. All taxes current.

ELIGIBILITY | Single-family, owner-occupied for 12 months. Agree to remain five more years. All taxes current. Maximum HH Income < Westerville Median HH

Must meet Federal Free and Reduced Lunch Program Eligility criteria* to apply. FUNDING | General Fund ABOUT | Care of sidewalks APPLICATION | April 1 of each year; www.westerville.org/forms

ABOUT | Exterior home remodeling projects. Windows, doors, porch, patio, siding, landscaping, lighting, handicap ramps, exterior paintings Roofs, gutters not eligible; may be considered part of match APPLICATION | www.westerville.org/forms

ALL APPLICATIONS ACCESSIBLE ONLINE www.westerville.org/forms * Must submit documentation to demonstrate financial eligibility www.westervillemagazine.com

March/April 2020

CityReporter

New Pilot Service Makes Uptown Parking Spaces Easier to Spot The City is making it easier to find public parking in Uptown Westerville thanks to a new smart parking application, powered by ParkingGenius. The mobile service is set to launch with the City’s new “Tell Westerville” mobile application in April. The service is also available for download through the App Store and Google Play Store. The mobile application indicates only the number of open spaces and cannot be used to reserve specific parking spots. Find more information on the City’s website at www.westerville.org/uptown.

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 .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . ... 901-6400 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 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 901-6591 Highlands Park Aquatic Center. . . . 901-7665 Recreation Program Center. . . . . . . 901-6531 Senior Center. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 901-6560 Shelter Information. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 901-6515 Urban Forestry. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 901-6598 Permits Building . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 901-6650 Burning. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 901-6600 Parade/Block Party . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 901-6410 Security Alarm. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 901-6482 Zoning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 901-6650 14 March/April 2020

Planning & Development Department. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 901-6650 Planning, Engineering & Zoning. . . 901-6650 Traffic Engineering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 901-6670 Code Enforcement. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 901-6816 Police Division Headquarters. . . . . . . 901-6450 Administration. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 901-6470 Detectives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 901-6475 Patrol . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 901-6482 Recorded Information Line. . . . . . . . 901-6879 Records . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 901-6450 Service Department. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 901-6740 Sewer Emergencies. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 901-6740 Sewer Line Maintenance. . . . . . . . . 901-6740 Stormwater Hotline. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 901-6740 Street Emergencies. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 901-6740 Street Maintenance Repairs. . . . . . . 901-6740 Trash/Recycling Collection. . . . . . . . 901-6740 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

All area codes are 614 unless otherwise noted.

Contact City Council Council Chairperson Mike Heyeck Michael.Heyeck@westerville.org Vice Chairperson Craig Treneff Craig.Treneff@westerville.org Mayor Kathy Cocuzzi Kathy.Cocuzzi@westerville.org Vice Mayor Valerie Cumming Valerie.Cumming@westerville.org Alex Heckman Alex.Heckman@westerville.org Diane Conley Diane.Conley@westerville.org Kenneth L. Wright Kenneth.Wright@westerville.org

City Manager Dave Collinsworth 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 Westerville Division of Fire: @WestervilleFire

www.westerville.org www.westervillemagazine.com

faces

By Zoë Glore Photo by Jeffrey S. Hall Photography

Now the owner of Green Haven Living – a Westerville home furnishings shop that focuses on sustainability and wildlife conservation – Scheu continues her work in environmentalism. And to think it all began with that childhood book. The business is a perfect platform to educate others about the impact they can have on the world by going green. Green Haven Living is a member of the Sustainable Furnishings Council, a nationwide group of businesses that aims to help companies reduce negative environmental impact. “A lot of my direct efforts come in explaining to customers what these companies are doing as an example of having a choice in purchasing,” says Scheu. “They can either purchase something that’s made in a very unconscious way or something that is much more responsible, minimally impactful and contributes to some type of cause.” Scheu is a member of Sustainable Westerville and Simply Living, both central Ohio conservation One of Scheu’s passions organizations. She also works is wildlife conservation. She holds closely with the Ohio Wildquarterly events at Green Haven Living life Center, which she funcalled Wild Saturday, where she draises for. With so much invites the community to learn about innovation and new ideas developing in sustainabilnative Ohio wildlife, visit with animals ity, Scheu is grateful to have and donate to the Ohio support from her community Wildlife Center. and her family. Her husband and two daughters are always willing to lend a helping hand with her advocating duties. “(My daughters) definitely want to help,” Scheu says. “They’re here a lot on the weekend, coming in and helping me with the store and events.” Moving forward, Scheu wants to better understand and familiarize herself with the needs of the community. Being environmentally conscious can be a difficult long-term plan, but Scheu believes anyone is capable of more – especially Westerville. “I think a lot of it comes down to consumption. We are people. People are going to consume by nature,” says Angie Scheu recalls attending a book fair with some friends in elScheu. “It’s really being more mindful ementary school. While browsing, Scheu discovered 50 Ways Kids Can of how you’re consuming, what you’re Save the Earth. Her friends questioned why she would ever want to consuming, what it’s made of, where it read something like it, but she did – cover to cover. came from, who made it and at what

Going Green Angie Scheu brings conservation to Westerville

www.westervillemagazine.com

March/April 2020

introducing...

cost. It’s a choice. A choice to shop more consciously and locally. That alone is a much smaller footprint.” Zoë Glore is an assistant editor. Feedback welcome at zglore@cityscenemediagroup.com.

A Day Without Trash

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9 a.m. @ Java Central Café and Roaster Bring a mug or travel cup and Java Central will fill it with your order. 10 a.m. @ the grocery store Prepare for your waste-free grocery trip with reusable produce bags, glass jars and reusable grocery bags. Avoid any plastic or non-recyclable material. For example, if you purchase granola that comes in a package, try opting for a self-serve and self-scoop granola. For meat and seafood, ask your butcher over the counter to use your glass containers instead of the plastic packaging. Noon @ the office Instead of heading to the water cooler every hour with a plastic or Styrofoam cup, bring a reusable water bottle to refill throughout the workday. Additionally, the average office worker uses 10,000 sheets of copy paper each year. To reduce your daily usage, go an entire day by emailing important documents to coworkers and clients or use online presentations instead of handing out agendas at meetings. 6 p.m. @ dinner When eating out, there’s a few ways to reduce your trash intake. Ask for no straw in your beverage. Bring cloth napkins, and if the restaurant uses plastic utensils, bring travel silverware. Instead of using a to-go plastic cup, bring a reusable water bottle. It’s always a good idea to bring extra Tupperware as well, just in case you want to take home leftovers. 9 p.m. @ home Not-so-fun-fact: Toothbrushes are in the top five most commonly found trash item during beach cleanups. Switch to bamboo toothbrushes, which are made of compostable materials. If you’re really dedicated to going entirely waste-free, try an Alum stone, a plastic-free deodorant. For face wash, switch to an alternative that’s in a bar shape.

16 March/April 2020

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in focus

By Lydia Freudenberg

April Showers Bring... Art! April is Arts Month celebrates artistic kids, tweens and teens

an you imagine reaching into a computer and pulling out whatever is on the screen? For example, what if you could Google puppies, reach in and suddenly you’re holding one? What if this transformed your arms into pixilated skin? Now what? Is the pixelated skin worth endless amounts of adorable internet puppies? It may seem wild, but it’s actually the plot to Daria Lesmerises’ original piece, Pixels. The young student submitted her work for the 2019 Celebrate the Arts Writing Contest in the 6-8 grade category and won first place. Daria is just one of many talented sixth through eighth-grade entrants, including her older sister, Kyra Lesmerises. The event, held by the Arts Council of Westerville, Westerville Public Library and the ThisWeek Westerville News & Public Opinion, highlights hundreds of writers in the community. Still, this is just one event that celebrates April is Arts Month in Westerville. Throughout April, the community showcases different mediums and artists of all ages, especially kids as they grow into their creative talents. A Powerful Pen In 2007, the Arts Council of Westerville felt something was missing in April is Arts Month. “Our mission is to appreciate all of the arts, so in addition to visual artists – painters and those types of talents – we wanted to encourage and highlight writers in the spotlight,” says Linda Wilkins, chairperson for the Creative Writing Contest and past president of the Arts Council of Westerville.

18 March/April 2020

Now entering its 14th year, the Creative Writing Contest is divided into five age groups and about 300 artists submit entries – approximately 200 which are K-12 students. Topics range from fantasy to historical, cover themes ranging from depression to compassion, and highlight pets, hobbies, travel, nature, and more. 2019 writing winners, grades K-2 and 3-5 All participants are receive an invaluable award - becoming a published in the contest but is still ecstatic about her author in a book that showcases all submit- first-ever win last year. ted work. In 2019, the winners' publica“I was really proud of myself since this tion came in at 232 pages. As for winners, was one of the years where I wrote the they get the chance to perform a reading of story early on instead of procrastinating. It their work at the awards reception paid off, so I was super excited,” she says. “I think that children appreciate the op- “If you’re really competitive like me, this portunity to be in the spotlight and to have contest really makes you push your writing their individual works respected, honored abilities so you can do your best.” and remarked upon,” Wilkins says. “You In the end, Kyra and Daria say winning would not believe the pride that each of is still just a perk. these writers brings.” “It’s always interesting to see what other Now 16 years old, Kyra has participated people wrote about and get new ideas,” in the Creative Writing Contest since first Kyra says. grade. The young writer creates fictional “My favorite part of participating is, short stories and took home the gold in of course, the writing part because I love 2013 for Boys are Aliens and again in 2015 writing,” Daria says. for Barbie Doll Factory. She says flipping through the book and seeing her work in 2020 Celebrate the Arts print is her favorite part. Writing Contest Reception “Even if I didn’t win, it’s always a nice Congratulate the winners and listen to original feeling to read your work in a published works at the Westerville Public Library on Sunday, book along with other people’s work,” she April 26. All winners along with its respective says. “There is no con to submitting; it’s second, third and honorary mention winners just another outlet to let your ideas and will receive a copy of Celebrate the Arts Writing Contests 2020, which features all submissions. creativity shine.” Additional copies are available at the library. Like her older sister, Daria also started participating in the writing contest in first Grades K-5 | 2 p.m. grade and also finds joy in fictional stories. Grades 6-adults | 3 p.m. Now 12 years old, she has always placed www.westervillemagazine.com

Central College Christian School Showcasing Visual Arts You can’t celebrate April is Arts Month without showcasing paintings, drawings and the like. Sponsored by the Arts Council of Westerville, student artwork will soon fill the walls of the newly remodeled Westerville Community Center. Art teachers from Westerville City Schools collect exemplary works from students for the six-week showcase – the first three weeks dedicated to elementary students and the later weeks for middle and high school students. Amy Roush, an art teacher at Westerville South High School, says the exhibit ignites inspiration and boosts creative confidence, especially for young artists. “The younger kids also seeing the art – we’ve had discussions on whether middle school and high school should be together – but it gives them inspiration for what they want to do,” Roush says. “My kids whose art is chosen to put into the show, they are absolutely thrilled.” Since the venue can’t accommodate for much 3-D work – Roush says she’d love to see a community art center in Westerville – most of the works are paintings, photographs, drawings and mixed media. Roush says displaying artwork by students is vital to their creative development. “I just think part of the process is seeing your work displayed,” she says. “Sometimes it makes you see things and appreciate things you didn’t see or appreciate when you’re in the studio. The natural feedback you get from others, it’s a self-esteem boost. It’s an accomplishment to be chosen and that’s wonderful for high school kids or anybody.” 2020 Westerville City Schools Art Show Enjoy dozens of original works at the Westerville Community Center during April is Arts Month. The Elementary Show will host a reception alongside the exhibit on April 19 from 1:30-2:30 p.m. Elementary Show | March 30-April 19. Secondary Show | April 20-May 2 For more information on kids-themed events during April is Art Month, visit www.westerville.magazine.com. Lydia Freudenberg is an associate editor. Feedback welcome at lfreudenberg@cityscenemediagroup.com. www.westervillemagazine.com

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90 Years and Counting The American Association of University Women celebrates a milestone anniversary By Rocco Falleti

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or 90 years, the American Association of University Women has continued to empower, encourage and support graduate women in the Westerville area through an active and tight-knit group. The AAUW remains one of the world’s largest sources of funding exclusively for graduate women and continues to fight sex discrimination at all levels of education. Within the Westerville community, it provides scholarship opportunities and, most importantly, education to members. Westerville resident Janice Eddey first found out about this organization when she graduated from high school in San Luis Valley, Colorado. “They invited all the valedictorians to a lunch and congratulated us, and at that point I had never heard of them,” Eddey says. “I told myself after that meeting, if I ever graduated college, I wanted to become a member.” Eddey stuck to her word and has been a chartered member since 1966 – yes, she’s been a member for more than 50 years. She’s served in a number of leadership positions including secretary, president and treasurer, a role she had for 13 years

and only recently relinquished. “My first interest in AAUW was the fact that they were trying to empower women,” Eddey says. “That has been the major goal all this time.” Community Support It’s no secret how much Eddey enjoys and believes in the work that the Westerville branch of the AAUW does throughout the year. Recently, the organization started allowing those with an associate’s degree to join in hopes of boosting membership and participation. The meetings are where Eddey says members will find the most benefit. She is a firm believer in the power relationships within the group carry. “They send a message that you need to continue learning your whole life,” Edwww.westervillemagazine.com

dey says. “Every single time I’ve been to a meeting, I always come home saying, ‘This is some place I can continue to learn at.’” The AAUW provides scholarships to three high school seniors in the Westerville community every year and sends an additional two students to the Be WISE Camp. The camp is geared toward girls entering seventh or eighth grade. It’s a weeklong residential camp held at Denison University and features programs and activities in math and science. In order to support these programs, the AAUW fundraises throughout the year. While celebrating 90 years is an amazing achievement and Eddey remains grateful for the continued efforts, she’s not wasting too much time celebrating. After all, there’s still work to be done. “Ninety years is great, but we hope to continue this work a lot longer,” Eddey says. “We hope to continue our service to Westerville and continue to empower women here and throughout the country.”

What Can Members Expect? The Westerville branch of the AAUW is a fellowship of women who are community oriented, intellectually curious and lifelong learners. A major focus is on the young women of the Westerville community. Members are invited to attend the monthly meetings that cover topics of equality and activism as well as historical and present-day topics such as Westerville history, book talks and much more. From a national standpoint, the AAUW helps fight for civil rights and workplace equality, and also assists in publishing research on women that provide a source of funding exclusive to graduating women. If you’re interested in joining, the Westerville branch meets the second Thursday of the month at 7 p.m., September through May. For more information, contact President Karen Delong at karen.s.delong@gmail.com or WOW members Anita Dean at ataileydean@aol.com or Janet Laster at janetflaster@ gmail.com.

Rocco Falleti is an associate editor. Feedback welcome at rfalleti@cityscenecolumbus.com

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Students Sound Off A look back at the first year of the Westerville Student Education Foundation By Sophia Fratianne

he Westerville Education Foundation’s mission is “To enrich the learning experience and broaden the minds of our students through the funding and support of innovative educational programs.” Let’s start at the beginning. Unfortunately, school budgets aren’t limitless, but many teachers’ passions are. To bridge that gap – to provide grants to teachers whose projects aren’t covered under the school budget – the Westerville Education Foundation was born. While the group was an immediate success, it soon realized that many students had ideas that weren't being heard. “Education is about the students, so it is very important to include them and their perspectives in this process,” Executive director of the Westerville Education Foundation. This was a gap even the Westerville Education Foundation wasn’t equipped to bridge. So, the Westerville Student Education Foundation (WSEF) was created. The group began its journey with three local high schools in early 2019: Westerville North, Westerville Central and Westerville South. The group’s mission is to better support the entire student body. Now, a year later, the impressive list of achievements made by the Foundation’s students continues to grow. The WSEF helps the school community tackle issues such as mental health, the environment, inclusion, safety and school curriculum. Topics brought to the school board by the WSEF allow for fresh perspectives and innovative solutions to issues that were only discussed for years. The students have a say and an opportunity to make real change. From student mentorship programs to emergency situation training, the stu22 March/April 2020

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Premier Choice dents work hard to implement solutions. In 2019, for example, students sat with the director of food services to discuss reducing waste in the school cafeterias and worked alongside their vice principal to create better awareness and resources for mental health. This year, plans are already in motion to create a school board policy to improve environmental sustainability and update school initiatives already in place. “The students are incredible,” Moidu says. “They’re going to change the world.” Similar to the foundation for teachers, students in the WSEF can also apply for grants to fund projects. This allows students the opportunity to turn ideas into reality. Student president and senior at Westerville South, Cassie Cotter, says the WSEF divides responsibilities between its

marketing committee, grant committee and board development committee. The students plan and apply for grants to fund their ideas. Moidu says by offering students the tools they need to make a difference early on, they don’t need to wait until later on in life to create real change. It’s rare that such responsibility and power is earned by a group of young adults. “Last year confirmed that young people already have ideas but can also create new paths to a solution,” Moidu says. “It’s great that from a young age, the students are able to see the impact they can have.” Sophia Fratianne is a contributing writer. Feedback welcome at feedback@cityscenemediagroup.com.

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If you’re interested in supporting the Westerville Education Foundation, visit An Artful Affair on April 25 from 7 a.m.-1 p.m. at Lakes Golf & Country Club. www.artfulaffair.info. www.westervillemagazine.com

March/April 2020

The Accidental Accountant

Wanna-be comedian, accidental accountant and professional speaker By Mallory Arnold

hen Peter Margaritis was 17, he was set on becoming a stand-up comedian. His father’s response? “Nope. Be a Certified Public Accountant.” Although he followed his father’s advice, Margaritis remained true to his sense of humor and a love for comedy. While attending Case Western Reserve University for his master’s degree, he began performing stand-up. “I got a lot of laughs,” he says. “I was told that I was similar to Jeff Foxworthy, and that lit a fire underneath me.”

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Although completing his degree was no laughing matter, Margaritis continued his stand-up, getting attention in Cleveland, Columbus and Cincinnati. He finished his graduate work, became a CPA and still found time to hop onstage for comedy shows. Then, disaster struck. “I had a traumatic experience onstage that made me say, ‘That’s it – I’m keeping my day job,’” Margaritis says. He was around 19 or 20 when he was emceeing a professional comedy show in Columbus, initially having a blast. Unfortunately, he totally flummoxed the names of the comedians performing and was brutally grilled for it afterwards. “Every ounce of confidence left me,” he says, a hint of cringe in his voice. True to his word, he kept at his day job, though the accounting profession wasn’t exactly tickling his funny bone. “When I first started, it was like there was no air in the office,” Margaritis says. “No one spoke, and all these skills I had from comedy and improv were useless.” However, it takes more than a bad performance to keep a comedian quiet. Margaritis chose to apply his humor in an unconventional way. He’s now a full-time professional public speaker and travels around the country giving talks about leadership and communication to mostly accountants. Believe it or not, Margaritis applies what he’s learned in comedy and improv to business. “Improv isn’t just about being funny or winging it, it’s taking education and experience and applying that to certain situations,” he says. “Realizing this was my big ‘aha’ moment 20 years ago.” He views improv as a leadership tool to motivate people in the workplace.

“Improv actors always end with two words: ‘Yes, and?’ because it inspires conversations,” Margaritis says. “It’s about parking your ego, having respect for others and listening to understand rather than listening just to respond.” Most people would never imagine uttering “hilarious” and “accountant” in the same sentence, but Margaritis proves otherwise. “I’ve met a very small group of funny accountants,” he admits. “I even know a stand-up who is a CFO – but, we’re few and far between. His wife, Mary, is the biggest test to his humor, as getting a big belly-laugh out of her makes him feel like he must have said something good. Margaritis has lived in Westerville with his wife and son, Stephen, for 25 years. Stephen graduated from Westerville Central High School last year and is now at Columbus State University. We ask what he would say if Stephen ever wanted to be a stand-up comedian – would he react like his father? “I would never tell him no,” Margaritis says immediately. “If he wanted to try something, then I would absolutely encourage that.” Margaritis hints that he’d love to hop back onstage himself, giving comedy another shot. To that, all we can say is, yes, and? Mallory Arnold is an editor. Feedback welcome at marnold@cityscenemediagroup.com. www.westervillemagazine.com

Around Westerville

Westerville Public Library Innovation Lab Opening Jan. 27 Photos courtesy of Westerville Public Library

Leap of Faith Dance Company Father Daughter Dance Feb. 8 Photos courtesy of Leap of Faith Dance Company

Want your snapshots to appear in print? Send your high-resolution shots to our photo account, marnold@cityscenemediagroup.com. Include your name and caption information.

living

By Grace Lenehan Vaughn

Flipping Out Local realtors give new life to Westerville condo

“T

urn something ugly into something beautiful.” That’s the motto that realtors and remodelers Craig and Samantha Buehler live by. The husband and wife team are full-time realtors at The Powell Buehler Group in Westerville, but also started dipping their toes into the art of flipping houses a few years ago. Now, they have four official projects under their belt with many more on the way. One of their recent flips was a three-bedroom condo in Little Turtle, Westerville – but it wasn’t a little task. “We went through (the house) and right when you opened the door it smelled like cigarette smoke,” says Craig. “There were paintings on the wall and where they took them off, you could see stains because of all the nictoine. There were drips down the wall from all the nicotine. The ceiling had different black spots and brown spots Craig and Samantha from it.” Buehler All in all, the condo, which had been a rental for years, had to be gutted. Craig and Samantha, along with their contractors, deep-cleaned, replaced floors, ripped out the kitchen, replaced drywall, gave the walls fresh paint, installed new lights and appliances, and more. Additionally, the former owners built a DIY loft in the master bedroom that wasn’t structurally sound, so that was removed. While the couple was prepared for most of these updates, there was one problem that caught them off guard. “The whole place smelled, so we figured it was just the smoke and pets. Eventually, we got to work on the bathroom in the

26 March/April 2020

master,” says Samantha. “The tub was so damaged we had to rip it out. That’s when we got up in there and found a family of dead raccoons.” Despite the long list of challenges, Buehlers reinvented the condo with hardwood floors, granite counter tops and stylish decor. They originally bought the home for $100,000, put $60,000 worth of work into it and ended up selling it for $193,000 to a former client. Not only did the project give the buyer

a beautiful place to call home, but it also had positive impact on the surrounding neighborhood. “We helped the guy selling it because he had a nightmare on his hands, so he got some money for it,” says Craig, “and the neighbors like it a lot better because now there’s someone actually living there that owns it.” “Since it sold, that area has popped off,” adds Samantha. “The whole neighborhood has gotten instant equity just from those

www.westervillemagazine.com

“We really wanted to do a flip in that area because it reminded us of when we met, and we know the potential of the area.” bad ones getting off the books and selling for higher, so that’s huge.” House flipping is not an easy job, but the Buehlers love it. And the Little Turtle condo was especially memorable for them. “We loved it because I actually used to live in those condos,” says Craig. “That's actually the condo Samantha sold to me as a realtor when we met. We really wanted to do a flip in that area because it reminded us of when we met, and we know the potential of the area.” Grace Lenehan Vaughn is a contributing writer. Feedback welcome at feedback@cityscenemediagroup.com.

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on the table By Mallory Arnold

Pass the Perogies, Please! Linda Laine shares a family recipe

oday we’re welcomed into Westerville Garden Club’s Publicity Chair Linda Laine’s kitchen. What’s for dinner? Laine’s Westerville-famous homemade perogies. “My grandma had a big family, so she was always cooking these big meals,” Laine says. “She taught me how to make them when I was 8 years old.” She suggests this mashed potatostuffed pasta for rainy days. She makes extra dough and freezes it so she can whip up a batch whenever the craving calls. Laine recommends dipping finished perogies in sour cream or frying them with onion.

Linda Laine’s Perogies Recipe courtesy of Linda Laine. Dough ingredients • 4 cups of flour • 2 eggs • 1 Tsp. salt • 1 2⁄3 cup cold water Potato filling ingredients • 3 or 4 golden potatoes • ¾ cup of butter • Kraft Extra Sharp Cheddar Cheese • ½ cup chopped onions

Directions for dough Put flour into a mixing bowl and make a small hole in the middle so there’s a well. Add two eggs and at least a cup of water. Mix together. Add more water if needed. Knead the dough until it feels silky. Ball up the dough. Put flour into a plastic bag, put the dough inside and let sit for an hour. Take out and knead one more time, put it back in the bag, and let sit for another 15 minutes. Directions for potato filling Place potatoes in a large saucepan and cover with water. Bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce heat, cover and simmer 10-15 minutes or until tender. While potatoes are boiling, use a skillet to sauté onions in butter until tender. Drain potatoes. Over low heat, stir potatoes until steam has evaporated. Drain so there's no water left - you don't want any moistness. Use a blender or hand-mash potatoes. Add cheese, salt, pepper and onions.

28 March/April 2020

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Directions for perogies Press dough flat onto floured surface. Laine doesn't use a roller, she creates a nice round circle instead. Cut dough into triangle shapes and put into the palm of your hand. Ball up cooled potato filling and press into dough. Wrap in half and pinch all the way around so that the perogie is sealed. Place wrapped perogies onto wax paper-covered cookie sheet. Boil a pot of water (no approximate amount of water) and put perogies in. Once they are done, theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll float to the top of the water. Put a bit of butter into a bowl and pour perogies in to cover. Serve with sour cream is desired.

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weekendscene

bookmarks

From the Westerville Public Library

Westerville Magazine March/April 2020

Articles inside

Bookmarks

on the table

living

The Accidental Accountant

faces

Around Westerville

city reporter

90 Years and Counting

Students Sound Off

community calendar

in focus