Westerville magazine
CityScene Media Group
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Columbus, Ohio 43215 614-572-1240 • Fax 614-572-1241 www.cityscenecolumbus.com
Kathleen K. Gill CEO
Gianna Barrett President
Jamie Armistead Vice President, Operations
Dave Prosser Chief Creative Officer
Maisie Fitzmaurice Editors
Rachel Karas
Garth Bishop Contributing Editor
Elliot Fryman Editorial Assistants
Maggie Lardie
Kate Shields
Wil Steigerwald
Amber Phipps Contributing Writer
Megan Brokamp Advertising Sales
Rae Moro
Laura Pappas
Aaron Gilliam Social Media Coordinator
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Westerville Magazine is published bimonthly in January, March, May, July, September and November. For advertising information or bulk purchases, contact Rae Moro at rmoro@cityscenecolumbus.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. ©2024
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Events on the horizon in Westerville
NovemberDecember
Fri., Nov. 1
Teen Night 5:30 p.m.
Westerville Community Center 350 N. Cleveland Ave. www.westerville.org
Fri., Nov. 1
Wizards & Wands Festival
9 a.m.-6 p.m.
Westerville Public Library 126 S. State St. www.westervillelibrary.org
Nov. 1-3
Westerville South H.S. Theatre presents Alice by Heart Fri. & Sat., 7-8:30 p.m. | Sun., 2-3:30 p.m.
Westerville South H.S. 303 S. Otterbein Ave. wshs.westerville.k12.oh.us
Sun., Nov. 3
Mark Twain Craft Bazaar
9 a.m.-3 p.m.
Westerville North H.S. 950 County Line Rd. marktwain.westerville.k12.oh.us
Mon., Nov. 11
Veterans Breakfast
8:30 a.m.
Renaissance Columbus Westerville-Polaris Hotel 409 Altair Pkwy. www.westerville.org
Nov. 14-17 & 21-23
Otterbein University Theatre presents Natasha, Pierre & the Great Comet of 1812 7:30-9:30 p.m.
Fritsche Theatre at Cowan Hall 30 S. Grove St. www.otterbein.edu
Thur., Nov. 14
Mental Health First Aid – Adult 8 a.m.-2:30 p.m.
Safex Training Center 140 N. Otterbein Ave. www.westervillechamber.com
Fri., Nov. 15
Puzzlepalooza
5:30-7:30 p.m.
Westerville Community Center 350 N. Cleveland Ave. www.westerville.org
Thur., Nov. 21
Silent Book Club
6-8 p.m.
Family Room Coffee and Bakeshop 545 S. Otterbein Ave. www.familyroomcoffee.com
Thur., Nov. 21 & Dec. 19
Parents’ Night Out 6:30-7:30 p.m.
Good Vibes Winery 2 S. State St. www.uptownwestervilleinc.com
Fri., Nov. 22
Evening of Elegance: Ruby Rendezvous 6-11 p.m.
Renaissance Columbus Westerville-Polaris Hotel 409 Altair Pkwy. www.westervillechamber.com
Sat., Nov. 23
Uptown Christmas Open House Snack & Stroll
1-5 p.m.
Uptown Westerville www.uptownwestervilleinc.com
Sun., Nov. 24
Holiday Kids Maker Market Event
1-3 p.m.
Westerville Community Center 350 N. Cleveland Ave. parks.westerville.org
Nov. 29-Dec. 21
Boy Scouts of America Troop 555 Christmas Tree Sale
Mon.-Fri., 5:30-8:30 p.m. | Sat., 8:30 a.m.6 p.m. | Sun., 11:30 a.m.-6 p.m.
Tremont Shopping Center 2160 Tremont Ctr.
Sat., Nov. 30
Small Business Saturday All Day
Uptown Westerville www.uptownwestervilleinc.com
Fri., Dec. 1
Christmas Tree Lighting
6 p.m.
Uptown Westerville www.uptownwestervilleinc.com
Dec. 2-9
Snowflake Castle
Mon.-Fri., 9-11 a.m. & 5-7:30 p.m. | Sat., 9-11:30 a.m. & 4-7:30 p.m. | Sun., 1-3 p.m. & 4:30-6:30 p.m.
Everal Barn and Homestead at Heritage Park 60 N. Cleveland Ave. www.visitwesterville.org
Dec. 6-8
Westerville Central H.S. Theatre presents Beauty & The Beast Fri., 7 p.m. | Sat., 2 & 7 p.m. | Sun., 2 p.m. Westerville Central H.S. 7118 Mt. Royal Ave. www.wchstheatre.net
Dec. 6-8
12 Days of Christmas Scavenger Hunt Uptown Westerville www.uptownwestervilleinc.com
www.westervillemagazine.com
Sun., Dec. 8
Rudolph Run 5K
2:30 p.m.
Westerville Sports Complex 325 N. Cleveland Ave. www.runsignup.com
Dec. 12-14
Westerville North H.S. Theatre presents Silver Belles
Westerville North H.S. 950 County Line Rd. wnhs.westerville.k12.oh.us.
Fri., Dec. 13
Progressive Christmas Concert
7-9 p.m.
Uptown Westerville www.westervillehabitatpartnership.com
Sat., Dec. 14
“Whoville” Village 1-3 p.m.
Uptown Westerville www.uptownwestervilleinc.com
Sun., Dec. 15
Uptown Ugly Sweater Snack & Stroll Noon-4 p.m.
Uptown Westerville www.uptownwestervilleinc.com
Thur., Dec. 19
KidX Cookies & Claus
5-6:30 p.m.
Polaris Fashion Place 1500 Polaris Pkwy. www.westervillechamber.com
Fri., Dec. 20
Ice Sculpture Tour
5-10:30 p.m.
Uptown Westerville www.uptownwestervilleinc.com
–General Dentistry–Dr. Malik has more than 30 years of experience.
By Garth Bishop
High Maintenance
Longtime Otterbein carpenter – and holiday wreath-hanger –
Kenny Goble
Otterbein University students, parents and visitors might not recognize Kenny Goble if they see him on campus, but they’ll certainly recognize his handiwork.
Goble has been part of the facilities department at Otterbein for more than three decades. His job title is “carpenter,” but carpentry is just one part – albeit a significant part – of his work for the university over the past 31 years.
Hired at Otterbein in July 1993, when it was still Otterbein College, Goble has been there ever since. Shortly after he started working at the college, Goble met Otterbein’s then-president, Brent DeVore. DeVore asked him if he saw his work at Otterbein as a career, emphasizing that the school always appreciated career-minded employees.
Fortunately for DeVore, that was exactly what Goble had in mind, in large part because his working there presented an educational opportunity for his two daughters, Jocelyn and Cassidy. Both of them would go on to graduate from Otterbein – a big deal for Goble, he says, because it was an opportunity he didn’t have.
“I didn’t get to realize higher education myself, just trade,” he says.
Goble is well known among university faculty and staff for his commitment to students and the quality of his work, says Tim Priest, executive director of facilities management and planning at Otterbein. Priest, who has worked with Goble off-and-on since 1995, says he is always looking for ways to contribute.
“If we’re able to create some time for him, he can do just about anything,” Priest says.
Goble appreciates the community atmosphere of Otterbein, as well as the fact that every day on the job there is different. If he plots out a weekly to-do list on Monday morning, he says, there’s every possibility that he’ll have thrown it away by Monday afternoon as other needs materialize.
The facilities department is full of very talented tradesmen, Goble says, and other university staff and faculty often call upon them for projects that might otherwise be expensive or time-consuming. Goble has built cabinets, remodeled kitchens, put up walls and even custom-designed a rolling rack for stringed instruments.
“Whatever somebody can dream up, they usually run it by us first to see if we can do it in-house,” he says. “We manage
Photos courtesy of Kenny Goble and Otterbein University
Kenny Goble, far right, with (from left) son-in-law
Aaron Beeman, daughter Jocelyn Beeman, daughter Cassidy Goble and partner Anne Rothwell.
to get it done, which sometimes impresses me even after all these years.”
Just this past summer, Goble found out the university had gotten quotes to replace aging countertops in DeVore Hall, Priest says, and offered to replace them himself instead. The move probably saved Otterbein over $20,000, he says, with a higher level of workmanship to boot.
“That’s what Kenny does,” says Priest.
Because the facilities department is so collaborative, Goble says, he knows how to do far more than carpentry. One of his main non-carpentry duties is lock-andkey work, and he has replaced countless doors and locks across campus over his long career.
“When you want stuff done the right way, when you want someone to take charge of the situation, he’s that guy,” says Priest.
One of Goble’s earliest supervisors once told him that even a small patch job might be expected to last for 20 years, and Goble has always worked to ensure everything he builds or fixes will stand the test of time.
“If you put your name on something, you want it to be nice,” he says.
Perhaps his best-known project on campus is the massive wreath that goes up on Towers Hall when the holiday season approaches. Installation of that wreath has been Goble’s job since shortly after he started at Otterbein, and though the wreath itself has been replaced two or three times – it got significantly bigger after an ailing pine tree near Towers Hall was felled, accommodating more space for decoration – he’s gone up the ladder to hang it every year, save a handful of occasions on which he was recovering from illness or injury.
Kenny Goble with his son-in-law, Aaron Beeman, and grandson, Braxton Beeman, at his installation ceremony as worshipful master of Blendon Masonic Lodge #339.
Christopher Brown MD, MPH, FACP
Students often cheer on the department when they see the wreath and other holiday decorations going up in mid-to-late November, Goble says. He and his colleagues recently added colorful lighting around the wreath to improve the ambiance.
“I have so many friends in the community who’ll come by and say, ‘Oh, hey, I just saw the wreath on Towers,’” he says.
Goble is heavily involved in the setup for the graduation ceremony and takes a
great deal of pride in making it look good as a reward for students’ hard work. He’s always working that day to ensure the ceremony goes off without a hitch – except, of course, for the two years when he got to see his daughters receive their diplomas.
“He cares about the kids at Otterbein, so he wants to make sure they have the best experience here,” Priest says.
His family connections to Otterbein go beyond his daughters’ attendance there.
Goble’s cousin was a campus police officer there; his uncle, Robert Brown, and his great-uncle, Sherman Brown, both worked as carpenters there. In fact, Sherman retired shortly after Goble was hired, and Goble took over many of his responsibilities.
“Our family always had a reputation for being hard workers,” says Goble. “That’s something I always pride myself on.”
In addition to his work at Otterbein, Goble serves the larger Westerville com munity as a member of Blendon Masonic Lodge #339. He’s been a Freemason for 14 years, and this year, he serves as the lodge’s worshipful master, essentially its president.
Goble says that the Freemason phi losophy has charity at its core, and that’s what drove him to be part of it. Here in Westerville, Blendon 339 annually gives out $1,000 college scholarships to three students – one from each high school – and also hosts a fish fry in the spring, with 100 percent of proceeds going to Westerville Special Olympics.
Goble and his partner, Anne Rothwell, have a total of three grown children –Goble’s two daughters and Rothwell’s son – and two grandchildren.
Garth Bishop is a contributing editor at CityScene Media Group. Feedback welcome at feedback@cityscenemediagroup.com.
Kenny Goble with other members of Blendon Masonic Lodge #339 at the Lodge’s annual fish fry fundraiser benefiting Westerville Special Olympics.
By Elliot Fryman
Holiday Gift Guide
1 | Cold Hard Crystals
Amethyst
$26 • www.somethingspecialshoppe.com
Different beauties hidden underneath us are unearthed and on sale at Something Special Shoppe, including this lovely purple amethyst. These crystals can be placed anywhere, in any room, to brighten a home or office.
2 | All the Tunes
Vinyl records
Varies • www.facebook.com/CindaLouShop
A Gal Named Cinda Lou has a variety of different items for you to browse, but for the audiophiles, it has a vast record collection. Get many different genres of unique albums here, from old to new favorites.
3 | Brew, Dude
Artisan teas
$4.99-8.99 • www.blueturtleteaandspice.com
For those who appreciate an afternoon cup of tea, Blue Turtle Tea & Spice may have the right brew. The shop carries various kinds of tea leaves and equipment appropriate for any time of the year, but nothing beats old-fashioned hibiscus tea on a winter morning.
4 | Find Your Roots
Kukui oil
$17.95 • www.purerootsboutique.com
Pure Roots Boutique sells hygiene and skin care products made locally, and this Kukui oil from Elemental Blue is a great gift option. It is a versatile moisturizer for the whole body and an excellent addition to any skin care routine.
5 | Oh, Deer!
Retro sitting doe with wreath
$18.95 • www.edwinloyhome.com
The holiday season is a great time to give a special gift unique to winter. Edwin Loy Home has many such products, including this retro sitting doe.
6 | Get Pitted
“Olive You” gift bag
$55 • www.atwistonolives.com
A Twist on Olives has the finest cooking oils and olives located right in the heart of Westerville. Many of its packages carry different ingredients that add pizzazz to any recipe. It’s the perfect gift for the home chefs in your life, and who knows – maybe you’ll get to sample what they make! 1 2 3 5 6 4
7 | Snow’s Goes
Erin Gray Luxe Cross Bracelet
$15 • www.stoneandsparrowapparel.com
While Stone & Sparrow Apparel specializes in clothing and fashion, it also carries these glamorous bracelets, as well as notepads and miniature Christmas trees. These gifts make great stocking stuffers!
8 | Scent-sational
Baltic Amber candle
$26 • www.blendcandleco.com
If your loved one would like to fill their home with a new aroma, look no further than Blend Candle Co. This Baltic Amber candle can be purchased today, but you can also come and blend your own candle scent with as many as three different fragrances.
9 | Save the Stem
Ohio wine glasses
2 for $15 • www.mezawineshop.com
Meza Wine Shop specializes in a wide range of wine and foods. Quench your thirst and show off your Ohio pride with these Ohio wine glasses.
0 | A Santa-mental Gift
Santa bell
$9.99 • www.amishoriginals.com
Amish Originals has many seasonal items in stock this winter season, including holiday decorations. This ceramic Santa bell could be a cute way to call the family to the table for a holiday meal.
a | Never Run Out of Steam
Coffee beans and grounds
$20 • www.javacentral.coffee
A hot cup of Joe is always a treat, and Java Central may have the flavor you’re looking for. Try out their selection of coffees from different regions of the world, such as this Colombian medium roast.
b | Nailed It!
Gel manicure
$25 • www.westerville.salon
Hands do a lot of work - give your loved one’s hands some TLC with a gorgeous gel manicure from Fantasy Coiffures. This gift is perfect for tweens, teens and adults all the same.
c | Timeless Trinkets
Uranium glass syrup dispenser
$45 • www.westervilleantiques.com
Westerville Antiques presents a blast from the past with its unique and rare collectibles. Uranium glass sets containing items such as this syrup dispenser are among the many options that would make great gifts for your favorite antique collector.
www.westervillemagazine.com
Imported Extra Virgin Olive Oils and Balsamic Vinegars 614-823-8800
www.atwistonolives.com 44 N. State St. • Westerville, OH
Holiday Special:
$20 Spa Manicure with $5 Holiday Nail Art
Safely offering hair, nail, waxing, facial and other specialty spa services 100 S. State Street • Located in Uptown (614) 882-3651 www.Westerville.salon
Shop Local
| Ride in Style
Novel bike safety reflectors www.westervillebikeshop.com
A thriving local shop for the past 50 years, Westerville Bike Shop can supply you with all the necessary biking equipment and accessories. If you are looking for something a fellow biker can use to add a little personality to their bike, you can find plenty of stickers and decorations here, including these pizza reflectors, sold by the slice!
e | Focus on Art
Artisan photo frame
$14 • www.ohioartmarket.com
A special photo needs a special display, and Ohio Art Market has what you need. These are stylish, colorful and locally made in Franklin County.
f | Burn Slow
Cocodrilos
$14.50 • www.thegovernorscigarlounge.com
Cigars are a way to unwind for this holiday season, and The Governor’s Cigar Lounge has many fine cigar options. This set of cocodrilos is one of the many sets that make a great gift.
g | New to You
Tree Canvas
$44.99 • www.mycousinscottage.com
Spruce up your home, decorate with style and add those must-haves to your kitchen, all while saving money on new and gently used items. My Cousin’s Cottage carries a wide collection of consignment home furnishings and décor, including this one-of-a-kind canvas.
Elliot Fryman is an editorial assistant at CityScene Media Group. Feedback welcome at feedback@cityscenemediagroup.com.
Redefining Fatherhood and Forgiveness
Westerville author shares his family’s story of trauma and healing
By Maisie Fitzmaurice
Photos courtesy of Brian Ahearn
As a young boy, Westerville resident and author Brian Ahearn saw his father as a hero. He knew him as a charismatic Marine veteran and a successful businessman who loved to shoot pool at the bar with his friends.
But as he got older, Ahearn started to see that his father wasn’t much of a hero after all. He watched his father verbally and physically abuse his mother and be unfaithful to her. Eventually, his parents divorced, and his once-positive image of his father crumbled.
By educating himself on the impacts of trauma, Ahearn changed his outlook on his father and their relationship. His new book, His Story, My Story, Our Story: Eternal Lessons of Fatherhood, Sacrifice, and Service, shares his family’s story and guides others toward healing.
A deeper understanding
As an adult, Ahearn confronted his father about the abuse his mother endured. His father had since remarried, and Ahearn asked him how he’d feel if he were to hit his then-wife, just as he had hit Ahearn’s mother.
“He goes, ‘If I ever find out you laid a hand on her, I’m gonna f****** kill you.’ And I said, ‘What if you found out it was five years ago?’ He goes, ‘I don’t care, if I ever found out you touched her, I will f****** kill you,’” Ahearn says. “And I said, ‘Good, now you know how I feel about the divorce. It doesn’t matter that it was 12 years ago for me, it’s right now and I want answers.”
“It dropped from the head to the heart,” he says. “If I had been 22, 23, and I had been in Vietnam and I had seen people getting killed, your whole world is just transformed by that. I don’t know that I would have acted any differently. I started to have much more empathy and grace for my father. It didn’t mean the things he did weren’t wrong, but who are we to judge if we don’t know how we would respond to that?”
Pondering further, he realized his father’s behavior was likely an expression of the pain he was harboring alone.
“People are going to process these events differently. Some of it’s socially unacceptable, right? Like physical abuse or not being faithful to the person that you’re married to,” he says. “It’s more socially acceptable in the creation of art, or physical activity. So what I took away from it is that some people have no other means of expression, and this is a picture of what’s happening with them.”
Rewriting the story
Ten years before he died, Ahearn’s father finally acknowledged that he had been living with post-traumatic stress disorder. He wrote about his experiences to share with Ahearn, as he worked to understand the mental state he had been living in for decades.
“I hope I’m a much better person a year, five, God willing, 10 years from now,” Ahearn says. “I hope I’m a much better person then than I am today, and I think he was definitely on that trajectory, as he kind of dealt with his demons and just tried to enjoy life.”
His father struggled to give him answers and Ahearn couldn’t begin to understand why his father acted the way he did until he read Bessel van der Kolk’s The Body Keeps the Score, a widely read nonfiction novel discussing trauma and how it affects your brain, body and outward interactions.
After reading, Ahearn got emotional thinking about the inner turmoil his father must have experienced due to his time in the Marines.
Ahearn was working on a letter to his father, but didn’t finish it before his passing. He then began writing his book, which was published this past June.
In the book, Ahearn writes about his experience as the son of a Marine veteran and the complexities that came along with that. He also appears on interviews and podcasts to discuss his book and advocate for mental health awareness.
Through these efforts, Ahearn started a chain reaction of healing for fathers and their sons.
“I had a podcast host who said, ‘I haven’t talked to my dad in years,’ but after we had our conversation on the show, I called him and I’m going to go out to
Ahearn and his father.
Boise, Idaho and see him,” Ahearn says. “It’s a deeply, deeply personal look, and to know that it’s touching other people’s hearts is very gratifying.”
A new generation
Ahearn and his wife, Jane, have a daughter, Abigail, now 28.
In Ahearn’s father’s letter to him, he wrote about experiencing violence in his childhood. Ahearn noticed the dysfunctional dynamics and domestic violence he grew up with. He and Jane decided Abigail would grow up much differently, and they tried their hardest to break the cycle.
“Only a month or two ago, as my wife and I were hanging out with (our daugh-
ter), she just said, ‘You know what, I’ve had a good life. I love this neighborhood and where I grew up, and I know I’m loved, I’m secure, and all that,’” Ahearn says. “She said ‘I wouldn’t have done anything different if I were you guys.’”
While Ahearn’s experience growing up with his father had its negatives, there are a couple of values his father instilled in him that he has been able to pass on to Abigail: never quit and exercise self-discipline.
While in college, Abigail failed a class twice. Instead of throwing in the towel, she took the course again and passed.
“I’m more proud of that than any of the A’s that she might have gotten,” Ahearn says.
Healing our heroes
Ahearn hopes that, through his book, other veterans may learn from his father’s mistakes and examine their unhealed trauma. He includes information regarding how to start a conversation about getting help. He also discusses breaking the stigma surrounding treating mental health conditions.
He often uses professional athletes as examples. One such athlete is Olympic gymnast Simone Biles, he says, who openly shares her mental health challenges, showing us that even the best athletes in the world get help from mental health professionals.
“I like to say, let the air out of the balloon so you don’t burst and wonder why,” he says. “I think there should probably be proactive programs. … Not everybody will take to it. Some will think they don’t need it. But who knows how many you might catch who could possibly go the wrong way because they don’t have anyone else to talk to?”
Maisie Fitzmaurice is an editor at CityScene Media Group. Feedback welcome at mfitzmaurice@cityscenemediagroup.com.
Mental Health Resources
• Suicide and Crisis Lifeline – dial 9-8-8 www.mha.ohio.gov
• Dial 2-1-1 www.211.org
• Adult Alcohol Drug and Mental Health Board of Franklin County www.adamhfranklin.org
• Mental Health America of Ohio www.mhaohio.org
• NAMI Mid-Ohio www.namimidohio.org
Domestic Violence Resources
• National Domestic Violence Hotline: 800-799-7233 or text BEGIN to 88788 www.thehotline.org
• Westerville Center for Family Safety and Healing: (614) 722-8293 www.familysafetyandhealing.org
• CHOICES for Victims of Domestic Violence (Franklin County- 24/7 crisis hotline): (614) 224-4663 www.lssnetworkofhope.org/choices
• Where’s the Line Campaignwww.wherestheline.info
• Ohio Domestic Violence Networkwww.odvn.org
-Dorothy,
By Amber Phipps
Girls Rule at Westerville Schools
ROX program strengthens female students’ confidence
After a study at The Ohio State University detailed the challenges girls and women face in situations they didn’t feel prepared to handle, school districts across the country have implemented a program to help students tackle those challenges
That program, Ruling Our eXperiences (ROX), identifies difficult situations and equips girls with the resources and knowledge needed to take them on.
ROX has empowered girls in schools and various other industries since 2011. There are now ROX programs in 40 states in the U.S., and
each year, more than 17,000 girls participate in the program and engage in a companion course that aims to build their confidence and decision-making skills.
Dr. Lisa Hinkelman, an educator at the Department of Counselor Education at OSU’s College of Education and Human Ecology, conducted the study. She then developed the ROX curriculum, designed to be integrated into the school day for girls interested in participating.
“The whole curriculum is 20 lessons, and some are self-defense, so we actually have pads they use to work on strikes and different self-de-
Photos courtesy of Westerville City School District
fense poses,” says Jessie Martin, director of student well-being at Westerville City Schools. “They talk about healthy communication, healthy boundaries, coping skills for stress, and a lot of activities are hands-on.” These lessons not only taught them vital information but also built up their confidence.
Martin oversees ROX programming across the district and is amazed at the impact it has had.
“A few of our school counselors have been part of ROX for at least 10 years,” says Martin. “We had between 30-50 female students per year that participated.”
Over the past two years, more school counselors throughout Westerville have been requesting funding for ROX program training, prompting the Westerville Education Foundation to provide grants.
“We went from 30-50 females getting into the program to 220 in grades 5-12 last year,” says Martin. “We figured out how to secure funding going forward to continue to offer the program, so this year will be the first year that there will be ROX groups in every school.”
Westerville eXperiences
Before implementing the ROX program, school counselors went through a multiday training session, after which they were given access to the entire curriculum for implementation the following school year.
During the school day, counselors and social workers pull students from study halls and lunches to participate, ensuring that instructional times aren’t interrupted.
“ROX does a Girls’ Index, … a survey that they give across the nation to gather information on how girls feel in school and how girls feel in social relationships,” says Martin. “ROX looked at the Girls’ Index and then compared it to some of our Westerville participants.”
According to the National Girls’ Index, 79 percent of girls report that they are “under so much pressure they feel like they are going to explode.” An internal Westerville survey after implementation showed that 86 percent of ROX girls learned “healthy ways to manage stress and emotions.”
Participants have also said they feel more comfortable standing up for themselves if they’re being made to feel uncomfortable, and more freedom to share their opinions.
According to the study conducted by ROX in Westerville, 82 percent of girls say they feel more confident handling challenging situations after joining ROX.
The future is female
Martin hopes to continue to grow participation in Westerville’s ROX program and the district is working to establish more funding and community partnerships.
“All those that identify as female, from grades five through 12, at some point in their Westerville career, will have an opportunity,” says Martin. “Of course, no one’s made to participate in this program, but just that they would have the opportunity.”
Amber Phipps is a contributing writer at CityScene Media Group. Feedback welcome at aphipps@cityscenemediagroup.com.
By Amber Phipps
Renovate to Accommodate
Home modifications for disability accessibility
Given all the costs, options and safety concerns, making necessary disability-accommodating changes to a home can be a Herculean task, underscoring the importance of proper research and preparation.
Visually Impaired
For those with visual impairments, additional light fixtures to illuminate dim areas in the home make an easy modification. Replacing traditional flooring with nonslip tiles is a smart way to reduce the risk of slipping or tripping over items or liquids on the ground, allowing individuals with visual impairments to walk confidently around the home. Tactile strips in front of doorways and stairwells are another great option.
Organizational components such as shelves, cabinets and plastic dividers make it easier to independently find household items. Labeling them in braille may make things even easier for those with severe visual impairments.
Hearing impaired
For those with hearing loss, it’s important to remove obstacles such as oversized furniture or larger décor that could complicate face-to-face communication. An open floor layout can be very accommodating.
These individuals may not be able to hear alarms, so switching out traditional alarms with strobe lights or vibrations offers greater safety.
Deaf-friendly communities such as Westerville’s Columbus Colony offer more options. This specialized housing is managed by employees who are fluent in American Sign Language and offers interpreters, communication tools such as write boards and built-in accessibility features.
Physically impaired
Modifications for physical disabilities should create an environment conducive to mobility. Clearing out hallways, removing mats and rugs, adding railings, and swapping out light switches for motion sensors are a few options for preventing injuries.
Replacing traditional doorknobs with handles makes it easier to open and close doors. Another essential modification is grab bars in bathrooms, bedrooms, kitchens and hallways. Suction cup grab bars are easy to install and offer additional protection when moving around the house. Another option is to remove doors from bedrooms or secluded areas to ensure that accidents or injuries don’t go unnoticed. Other helpful options include:
• For homes with multiple levels, a chair lift can mitigate complications when walking up and down stairs.
• For outdoor living areas, ramps provide individuals with wheelchairs or canes a way to get in and out of the house with ease.
• In-home support or specialized community living may be viable for individuals with physical disabilities or limitations. There are daytime services, such as those offered through Open Door Columbus, that offer support and engaging activities for people with mobility difficulties. This includes an art studio, on-the-job support, group outings and theater performances.
Cost of remodeling
Depending on the scale of the remodel or service, home accessibility modification costs can quickly add up. That’s why it’s
important to establish a budget and a plan before diving into a project.
From $50 worth of light switch adjustments to stairlifts ranging from hundreds to thousands of dollars, the cost of accommodating different needs varies.
Wall mounts and grab bar prices can start as low as $20 apiece, increasing up to $50 for stainless steel bars. Non-slip flooring is priced at an average of $2 per square foot.
Ramps can range from $200-$5,000 depending on the length and material. Stairlifts are typically priced around $2,500-$5,000 because of the installation process and mechanics. Make sure to check with your healthcare provider for pricing options.
Amber Phipps is a contributing writer at CityScene Media Group. Feedback welcome at aphipps@cityscenemediagroup.com.
It’s important to recognize the Fair Housing Act and what it means for individuals with disabilities and their homes.
According to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, the Fair Housing Act “protects people from discrimination when renting or buying a home, getting a mortgage, seeking housing assistance, or engaging in other housingrelated activities.”
Under this legislation, persons with disabilities can’t be discriminated against when acquiring housing and housing accommodations.
Top Homes Sold in Westerville
Westerville home prices were up 9 percent this August, compared to August of last year, with a median price of $409,000. On average, properties spent 34 days on the market before sale, compared to 29 days last year. There were fewer homes sold in August, with 44 sold, compared to last August’s 49 homes sold.
706 Bigham Ridge Blvd.
4 beds, 3.5 baths
$730,000
Sold 9/5/24
1317 Spagnol Ln.
4 beds, 2.5 baths
$655,000
Sold 8/30/24
1375 Spagnol Ln. 4 beds, 3 baths
$625,800
Sold 8/16/24
1211 Laurel Dr. 4 beds, 2.5 baths
$562,500
Sold 8/5/24
94 E. Lincoln St.
4 beds, 1.5 baths
$550,000
Sold 8/14/24
193 Hamilton Ave.
2 beds, 1 bath
$535,000
Sold 9/4/24
1120 Carousel Ct. 4 beds, 2.5 baths
$520,000
Sold 8/19/24
701 Waterton Dr. 4 beds, 2.5 baths
$519,000
Sold 8/23/24
476 Liberty Ln. 4 beds, 2.5 baths
$505,000
Sold 9/4/24
1235 Crooked Tree Ct. 4 beds, 2.5 baths
$492,000
Sold 8/2/24
504 Woodlake Dr. 3 beds, 2.5 baths
$485,000
Sold 9/4/24
1274 Winfree Dr. 4 beds, 2.5 baths
$479,000
Sold 9/3/24
All information is collected from the Franklin County Auditor’s Office.
By Elliot Fryman
Photos by Elliot Fryman
Hot on the Scene
The story behind locally-owned Flavor and Fire Foods
The opening of a spicy new walking taco hotspot in Uptown Westerville last summer is just the latest milestone for locally-owned Flavor and Fire Foods.
The salsa-and-hot-sauce company, owned by Westerville couple Mike and Debra Laviolette, has long emphasized its community connections as a key part of its journey. All of the company’s 75 products are manufactured in its facility off Old County Line Road.
“Deb and I started the company in 2015,” says Mike. “When we first started, we had one brand, which was Clamlube. That was the original brand that we started with, and we grew that into 11 different products.”
The company took a big step forward when the Laviolettes bought CaJohns Fiery Foods – which had also been headquartered in Westerville – from previous
owner John Hard in 2019. The purchase included Cajohns’ merchant space at the North Market.
“He sold us that brand, as well as all the recipes for those products, so that grew our entire product line substantially,” Mike says.
The North Market stall has made a big difference for Flavor and Fire, as have the awards the company has won for its recipes. The sauces and salsas have placed among the top three competitors at prominent hot sauce competitions such as the Chili Pepper Awards and the Fiery Food Challenge at Fort Worth’s ZestFest event.
Flavor and Fire was recently introduced to new audiences thanks to a collaboration with Reynoldsburg-based Pepper Ninja Hot Sauce. The sauce, Ninja Napalm, is featured in the current season of the YouTube talk show Hot Ones.
Each episode of the show sees host Sean Evans sit down with a celebrity to conduct an interview while both eat increasingly spicy chicken (or vegan chicken) wings. Episodes have topped 100 million views, with recent guests having included Will Smith, Serena Williams, Chris Hemsworth and Ariana Grande.
“The biggest draw with the hot sauce, though, is just the community,” says Debra. “They’re all very friendly. They love to share their experiences. They love to help each other. … Everybody wants to succeed and wants you to succeed because the better you do, the better they do.”
Flavor and Fire is dedicated to building relationships with its customers and find-
ing the right hot sauces for their individual tastes, the owners say. Its Westerville storefront has a serving bar for sampling a variety of products, with food and beverage options to cool off.
Heat is never the company’s focus, Mike says. Instead, the mission is to put flavor first and help people with their true taste preferences.
“Anybody can buy super-hot peppers, get some vinegar, get some salt, maybe a little sugar, maybe a little garlic, and they can make a sauce that is flaming hot,” says Mike. “But does it taste good? It’s not balanced. … No matter what the pepper is, whether it’s chipotle … or Carolina Reaper… we always try to find that balance in having that flavor profile hit you first before the heat hits you.”
A lot of this balance relies on Debra, who manages many of the company’s recipes and culinary decisions.
“There’s a certain amount of adjustment that needs to be done so the product is balanced, so that has a lot of layers,” she says. “There’s some research and development that goes into how to develop sauces.”
The founders are working to turn their new location at 20 S. State St. into a major community meeting space, and planning different events to host there.
“We really want to make this a place where people come and hang out and, for the curious, to come and check out the hot sauce,” Debra says. “I’ve contacted a couple of (animal) rescues and talked about doing some adoption events. … It’s almost become a little bit of a fad where people have their own wing-eating challenge or hot sauce tasting, and we can provide those kinds of things here.”
Elliot Fryman is an editorial assistant at CityScene Media Group. Feedback welcome at feedback@cityscenemediagroup.com.
Fun Fact
The Flavor and Fire Foods logo is a rooster, a symbol of strength, bravery and good luck, says Debra Laviolette. However, the design goes a little deeper. When you look closely, you can see that each part of the rooster is a flame, even the pupil of its eye!
Puzzle & Game Swap
From the Westerville Public Library
For online library resources such as ebooks, digital magazines, kids activities and more, visit www.westervillelibrary.org
Recommended Youth Reads from Katie Ross, Youth Services Librarian
Gift & Box by
Ellen Mayer (Picture Book)
Many children may eagerly await a package sent by a long-distance relative. Have you ever wondered what the journey might be like for the gift and its box? A satisfying conclusion that children will recognize might inspire them to create their own story.
A Time to Celebrate: Explore Festivals from Around the World by Kate Baker (Juvenile Non-fiction)
Kids can travel the globe to learn about some of the most important holidays and
festivals celebrated around the world. More than 40 lift-the-flaps make this an interactive traveling adventure.
A World of Cookies for Santa: Follow Santa’s Tasty Trip Around the World by M.E. Furman (Juvenile Holiday)
Discover the many sweet and savory treats children around the world leave for Santa and his reindeer. You may discover a new treat or tradition for greeting Santa. Some may even surprise you! Recipes for some of the world’s sweet treats are included at the back of the book.
Recommended Adult Reads from Mindy Bilyeu, Adult Services Librarian
A Booze & Vinyl Christmas: Merry Music-and-Drink Pairings to Celebrate the Season by Andre Darlington (Non-fiction)
Whether you’re planning your Ugly Christmas Sweater Party or spending a quiet evening at home by the stockinglined fireside, make the season bright with this guide to 40 favorite holiday albums from the 1940s to the present. Each entry features liner notes on the album and accompanying boozy beverage recipes that complement the music or connect the drink to the artist.
The Christmas Tree Farm by Melody Carlson (Fiction)
When Madison McDowell returns from several years of teaching overseas, she
has high hopes of picking up where she left off at her family’s Christmas tree farm in Oregon. Damage from a recent wildfire has left the farm in sad shape. And to top it off, her former high school flame, the nowwidowed Gavin Thompson, has plans to break Madison’s heart again by turning his neighboring property into a dusty, noisy dirt bike track for his daughter.
The Unofficial Home Alone Cookbook by Bryton Taylor (Non-fiction)
It’s your kitchen – you must defend it! Whether you’re fending off the Wet Bandits or just a hungry family member trying to snag the last slice of cheese pizza, The Unofficial Home Alone Cookbook is here to keep hunger at bay. Perfect for nostalgic Home Alone fans looking to recreate that “I made my family disappear!” magic.
