Westerville September/October 2023

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Dave Prosser Chief Creative Officer

Rachel Karas Editors

Tyler Kirkendall

Maisie Fitzmaurice Assistant Editor

Garth Bishop Contributing Editors

Amanda DePerro

Nathan Mader Editorial Assistants

Grady Libertini

Katie Giffin Contributing Writers

Megan Brokamp

Brandon Klein Digital Editor

Rae Moro Advertising Sales

Laura Pappas

Aaron Gilliam Social Media Coordinator

Dates and events are subject to change. Check with event organizers before attending.

Boards and Commissions

Vacancies for 2023

Planning Commission

Four year term - one vacancy

Board of Zoning Appeals

Four year term - two vacancies

Uptown Review Board

Three year term - two vacancies

Parks and Recreation Advisory Board

Three year term - four vacancies

Personnel Review Board

Three year term - one vacancy

Volunteer Peace O cers Dependents Fund Board

One year term - two vanancies

Volunteer Fire Fighters Dependents Fund Board

One year term - two vacancies

Applications Available

Sept. 8, 2023

Submission Deadline Oct. 20, 2023

Fridays through Sept. 29

Uptown Friday Nights

6:30-8:30 p.m. Uptown Westerville  www.visitwesterville.org

Saturdays through Sept. 30

Westerville Saturday Farmers Market 9 a.m.-noon

Westerville City Hall  21 S. State St. www.westerville.org

Sept. 1

American Red Cross: Blood Drive  10 a.m.-4 p.m.

Westerville Public Library  126 S. State St. www.westervillelibrary.org

Sept. 4

No School – Labor Day

Westerville School District www.westerville.k12.oh.us

Sept. 7

School Supply Decorating 4-7 p.m.

Westerville Public Library 126 S. State St.  www.westervillelibrary.org

Sept. 8-24

Curtain Players presents Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street Curtain Players Theatre 5691 Harlem Rd. www.curtainplayers.org

Sept. 10

Westerville Education Foundation presents Grow and Glow 2023 Noon-6 p.m.

Minerva Park Middle School 5002 Farview Rd.  www.westervilleeducationfoundation.com

Sept. 10

Sounds of Summer 6:30-8 p.m.

Alum Creek Amphitheater 221 W. Main St.

www.parks.westerville.org

Sept. 11; Oct. 9

Book Club at Westerville Senior Center 2:30-3:30 p.m.

Westerville Senior Center 350 N. Cleveland Ave. www.westervillelibrary.org

Westerville Saturday Farmers Market

Sept. 15; Oct. 20

Flights and Bites

5-8 p.m. Market District  650 N. State St. www.westervillechamber.com

Sept. 16

Genoa Township Fishing Day 9 a.m.-noon

Hilmar Park 6533 Hilmar Dr. www.genoatwp.com

Sept. 16

Read to Lead/Write

1-4 p.m.

Java Central Café and Roaster 20 S. State St. www.javacentral.coffee

Sept. 21

Huntington Bank presents Business After Hours

5:30-7:30 p.m. Huntington Bank  790 N. State St. www.westervillechamber.com

Sept. 22

4th Friday on the Lawn: Chalk Mural

3:30-8:30 p.m.

Westerville Public Library 126 S. State St. www.westervillelibrary.org

Sept. 22

Mount Carmel St. Ann’s Fourth Friday Festivals

6-9 p.m. Uptown Westerville  21 S. State St. www.uptownwestervilleinc.com

Sept. 23; Oct. 21

Creative Pens Writing Group

3-5 p.m.

Westerville Public Library 126 S. State St.  www.westervillelibrary.org

Sept. 27

Multicultural Business Expo presented by Telhio

5:30-7:30 p.m.

COhatch Westerville 240 S. State St.  www.westervillechamber.com

Sept. 28

Re-Slice of Westerville

5-9 p.m.

COhatch Westerville 240 S. State St.  www.westervillechamber.com

Oct. 1-31

Wizards and Wands Festival

Westerville Public Library 126 S. State St.  www.westervillelibrary.org

Oct. 3

Haunted Westerville  10 a.m.-6 p.m. Westerville Public Library 126 S. State St.  www.westervillelibrary.org

Oct. 8

Lions Club 95th Anniversary Party The Point 60 Collegeview Rd. www.westervillelions.org

Oct. 19

The Great Westerville Pumpkin Glow  7-11 p.m.

Heritage Park  60 N. Cleveland Ave. www.parks.westerville.org

Oct. 20-Nov. 5

Curtain Players Theatre presents Early One Evening at the Rainbow Bar and Grille

Curtain Players Theatre 5691 Harlem Rd. www.curtainplayers.org

Westerville Pumpkin Glow

Mountain Man

The extreme adventures of Steve Polovick

faces By Maisie Fitzmaurice

Photos by Ray LaVoie and Ann Polovick

W

Westerville resident and former Marine Steve Polovick never shies away from a challenge. Whether it’s working with at-risk youth or climbing the tallest peak in North America, he deliberately puts himself in situations others would not dare to.

Always looking for a new way to push himself, Polovick began the extreme sport of mountaineering more than 20 years ago. He has summited several challenging mountains including Oregon’s over 11,000-foot Mount Hood, Washington’s nearly 14,500-foot Mount Rainier and, most recently, Denali.

Denali mountain in Alaska has the highest summit in North America, reaching over 20,000 feet in elevation, with a formidable climate that only experienced climbers dare to scale. It has been said to be as difficult or harder to climb than the world’s highest peak of Mount Everest.

In May 2023 after three weeks on Denali, Polovick and his climbing team of other military veterans reached the summit. After braving often minus-40 degrees Fahrenheit weather, the team completed a feat that only about half of those who attempt achieve.

Typically a well-composed man, Polovick says he could not contain his emotions when realizing they had made it to the peak.

“We were kind of looking like drunken snowmen probably at that point,” he says. “The energy, the emotion, everything came out of nowhere. Five of us summited, five grown men, all military veterans, every single one with little frozen tears.”

Polovick’s extreme hobby hasn’t come without accidents and injuries. Months after his climb in May, Polovick is still treating frostbite on his fingers and toes.

High-altitude mountaineering is a dangerous sport, and Polovick has experienced it firsthand. During one solo climb, he took a tumble that convinced him to take a year off of climbing to consider

Dr. James Foster, D.P.M.

Dr. John Slomsky, D.P.M.

hit by a wind gust that picked me up and took my crampons, tangled them into my pants and just threw me off a ledge.”

whether it was something he wanted to keep doing.

“I got hit by a wind gust that picked me up and took my crampons, those are the spikes on the boots, tangled them into my pants and just threw me off a ledge, onto another ledge, that cascaded onto another ledge and it was absolutely the end of my life and I knew it,” he says.

Thankfully, Polovick survived the fall and eventually worked up the courage to continue climbing the following year.

But mountaineering isn’t Polovick’s only passion. He has been a social worker for more than 30 years, mostly working with children and teenagers.

In a field as demanding as social work, many people find themselves too burnt out to continue past a decade. While Polovick says his job is exhausting, he loves that kids are typically more willing to change their behaviors compared to adults.

“If you can pull that kid along through those fundamentals, not only do you keep them away from some of the other darker things in the world, but you really help them to tap into what their strengths are and what their identity is going to be,” Polovick says.

One of the most rewarding parts of Polovick’s job is seeing people not only survive, but thrive. A special memory

he looks back on was when he helped an incarcerated young woman complete her GED, allowing her to leave prison.

“She kind of burst into tears and jumped in my arms and realized that she was not just going home, but that she was going to be able to start a normal life,” he says. “But it’s a hard thing to get an opportunity from the system sometimes when it’s not set up to give opportunities.”

Outside of work, he leads youths as a volunteer coach for the Westerville Youth Baseball and Softball League.

He volunteered to coach more than 10 years ago when his now 16-year-old daughter Emma started tee-ball at 4 years old. Like his job in social work, Polovick says he enjoys watching the young players’ skills and self-confidence grow over the years.

While Polovick is a part of many people’s support systems, he himself has important people in his life who support him.

Polovick has lived in Westerville for over 20 years. He currently lives with Emma and his wife Ann, and has three adult children, Patrick, Mark and Kate. Polovick’s family all express how proud they are of him, which fills him with pride and motivates him.

Polovick says he greatly appreciates everything Ann does for him.

“I don’t think anybody does a lot of climbing without having a very strong base camp somewhere. She is absolutely my base camp, my biggest fan and biggest critic, but I wouldn’t do half of the things that I do without that kind of support,” he says.

As for the future, Polovick says he hopes to relocate with Ann and go south of the border and is considering entering a new career as a nurse.

“If we could do some work with a population that we can really serve and not do too much paperwork, I have a feeling that that would be like a whole second career,” he says.

After summiting Denali and suffering from severe frostbite on his toes, Polovick decided that would be his last climb. But after his climbing team, the Veterans Adventure Group, invited him to join them in climbing Aconcagua, he couldn’t decline. This December he will be breaking out his crampons, once again, with the goal of summiting the tallest mountain in South America.

“Not sure if I’m technically a “quitter” for not being able to quit climbing, just trying to learn how exactly to quit,” he says

Maisie Fitzmaurice is an assistant editor at CityScene Media Group. Feedback welcome at mfitzmaurice@cityscenemediagroup.com.

By Katie Giffin

Curriculum of Kindness

Students strengthen friendships through week of activities

While getting out the backpack and buying fresh school supplies can be exciting when starting a new school year, for many students, going back to school can also be a stressful and lonely time.

Since making friends isn’t always easy, programs like Start with Hello from The Sandy Hook Promise aim to reduce feelings of isolation through community building.

The Sandy Hook Promise, founded after the 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting in Newtown, Connecticut,

provides a number of in-school programs that teach students empathy as a way to reduce social isolation, according to the Sandy Hook Promise website.

Start with Hello is a week dedicated to teaching students how to reach out to one another, find commonalities and create a safer school environment. This program, incorporated in schools across the nation, is having a very real impact in Westerville.

“There is something to be said about generosity. When people give to each other, you can really see a change in both

the receiver and particularly the giver,” says Jessie Martin, director of student well-being at Westerville City Schools. “When these kids are making something for someone else, the joy on their face to then give it to that peer – those are always really powerful moments.”

Westerville started incorporating Start with Hello at some of the elementary schools in the district in 2017 and the program has now grown to encompass all of the district’s elementary schools. This year, Westerville City Schools is working

Photos courtesy of Westerville City Schools

to extend the program into secondary schools with the hope of getting every school involved.

“We’re all about where you belong. That sense of belonging is really important for students to want to come to school every day, to want to come and learn from their teachers,” Martin says. “So that’s why this program is so important to us.”

At the core of the program is a three-step guide: see someone alone, reach out and help, and start with hello. Schools, including the Westerville school district, can sign up for the program through www.sandy hookpromise.org and receive educational materials that equip students with the tools to identify and help a lonely or struggling classmate. The program is adaptable across grades with age-appropriate specialized activities.

For elementary school kids, some of Westerville’s schools host a spirit week, during which students wear their favorite

color and talk to others wearing the same color. Students also have the opportunity to make cards for other students while they learn how to spot students who might need a friend.

“Students are super engaged in these really interactive activities, whether it’s a social bingo game or scavenger hunt, they find ways to relate to their peers more. So they’re having opportunities to offer kindness and to offer generosity to one another,” Martin says.

Outside of teaching social inclusivity and social-emotional awareness, a key component for this program is teaching students about feeling comfortable coming to adults with concerns.

“We often see after a Start with Hello week students coming up to other adults with concerns about another student or maybe worries they have on their own. So adults can address things quicker,” Martin says.

While the specific activities students participate in vary from classroom to classroom, all the activities center on creating safer schools for kids, Martin says.

In the past, the schools have hosted green outs, when everyone wears green in honor of the week, but each elementary school does something unique. Whittier created a thank you tree for students to recognize trusted adults, Pointview created a promise chain to hang in the main hallway, Wilder students created a Where We Belong art piece and Robert Frost students sent hello grams to fellow classmates, according to an article from Westerville City Schools.

Start with Hello week runs this year Sept. 18-22. Parents will receive an email about upcoming activities a few of weeks in

inclusivity activities and discussion topics beyond the classroom as they continue the conversation about building community with their kids.

“The program is really designed to cre-

to just equip our students with the skills to do that,” Martin says.

Katie Giffin is a contributing writer at CityScene Media Group. Feedback welcome at

As the leaves change and the weather gets colder, it’s time for kids to go back to school or enter the classroom for the first time.

According to an article from Edutopia, the preschool years are some of the most important when it comes to a child’s brain development. Additionally, children aged 2-7 learn best through play. So how can you keep your child learning while still encouraging fun? Here are some classes that promote learning through the practice of play.

Westerville Public Library

The library offers a variety of events geared toward younger children to get them learning and preparing for kindergarten.

Toddler Time

Toddler Time

Classes to keep preschoolers learning beyond the desk

By Katie Giffin

“All of our programming is also thinking about mirroring the setting that you might have in school,” Annamarie Carlson, youth services manager at the Westerville Public Library, says. “So we’re giving kids opportunities to learn, to get excited, to have fun, but also to sneak in some of those educational pieces along the way.”

Each week, the library hosts storytimes for babies, toddlers, preschoolers and the whole family. This Saturday morning event includes songs, stories and activities, and invites parents and their little ones to just show up and have fun.

If the kids need to shake off some extra energy, the library also offers an outdoor story trail at Johnston-McVay Park, Hilmar Park and Ridgewood Park. Stop at the signs along the trail to find the next page of the story while exploring the great outdoors.

From Sept. 5-15, a furry friend makes its home at the library as part of their partnership with Bring the Farm to Youth. The program will bring a live rabbit to the library and a presentation on Sept. 5 that educates visitors on how to take care of rabbits. Children will have the opportunity to pet the rabbit throughout its stay at the library.

In October, the library gears up to celebrate spooky season with all different types of learning.

Visit on Oct. 7 to solve puzzles and complete challenges in an escape room or attend the Wizards and Wands Festival, a fantasy extravaganza with the promise of hands-on learning, which takes place Oct. 27. Midwest Falconry and Gator Dave will give presentations on birds of prey

Photos courtesy of George C. Anderson, Annamarie Carlson and Tamara Murray

and small reptiles while kids will have the opportunity to interact with the animals and take pictures. COSI will also bring science experiments and demonstrations to the festival. Children’s entertainers Zach Morgan and Matt Jergen will also perform.

Westerville Parks and Recreation Community Center

The Westerville Parks and Recreation Community Center offers sports, movement, art, music and language classes for preschoolers.

“The main focus of all the programs is introducing those gross motor skills, but it’s also an opportunity to socialize with other (kids) their age or to meet new friends that are all throughout Westerville,” Chelsea VanAssche, program supervisor at the Westerville Parks and Recreation department, says.

Classes like Kinderdance give younger kids the chance to develop their motor skills while learning numbers and colors through dancing. Superhero Bootcamp, a new class being offered this fall, is a superhero-centric

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class where kids dodge fireballs, avoid hot lava and play Ghostbuster tag.

“It’s almost like a preschool gym class with that superhero focus,” VanAssche says.

PreK Parkour is another class that helps kids learn motor skills while allowing them to explore their wild side safely. The community center is also introducing tumbling this fall for younger kids to learn the basics of gymnastics.

Outside of the gym, the community center also offers classes such as Fabulous Fall Fun, Toddler Time Round Up and Crazy Art Adventures. These art classes integrate lessons about the seasons changing, storytimes and different art techniques through crafts. This class gets messy, so be prepared for post-crafting cleanup.

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The community center also offers French and Spanish classes for preschoolers that teach elements of the language’s culture while incorporating basic vocabulary through games. The community center is also adding a new language to the list this year: Baby Sign Language with parents.

Katie Giffin is a contributing writer at CityScene Media Group. Feedback welcome at feedback@cityscenemediagroup.com.

Looking for fun for the whole family? Check out Grow and Glow on Sept. 10 presented by the Westerville Education Foundation. A free event at Minerva Park Middle School, the festival aims to celebrate the Westerville City School District with food and fun.

“The goal of Grow and Glow is celebrating the community’s commitment to education,” Andrea Drago, Interim Executive Director of the Westerville Education Foundation, says.

Experience Columbus will host a giveaway and Westerville Public Library will host a storytime event with Pete the Cat and Baby Shark. Animals from the Farm at Walnut Creek offer hands-on learning. Watch artist Lauren Voiers work on a mural, or learn about the science of pickleball with Shocking Discoveries.

The festival will also feature student performances from Westerville High School’s Marching Band and Choir and food trucks such as On the Fly Pizza Guy and Chef Hiro.

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By Maisie Fitzmaurice

Certified Job Ready student spotlight

Westerville North student receives real-life career experience

Between class work and extracurriculars, many students who get a job during their high school years might find themselves babysitting or working in a restaurant.

That is unless you’re Shrey Shyamalan, a Westerville North senior whose job includes testing and repairing high-grade medical equipment. Shyamalan is one of the few distinguished students to receive the OhioMeansJobs-Readiness Seal upon graduation.

Through Westerville City Schools’ Work-Based Learning program, Shyamalan earned an internship with the local medical equipment distribution company Right Way Medical. In the job, he learns what working in the technology industry is all about and the experience ensures he can jump into college and a career with confidence.

Putting in the work

Shyamalan became interested in pursuing computer science at a young age, and began learning to code through the internet.

“I mostly tinker around online,” he says. “Seeing basic coding websites, creating websites, apps, that sort of thing, and that helped me realize how much I liked programming and just computer science in general.”

While his internship didn’t involve a lot of code and programming, he gained valuable career experience. Although he had never considered it before, his internship helped him discover his interest in biomedical technology, which he is considering pursuing in the future.

During Shyamalan’s internship with Right Way Medical, which started in June, most of his work focused on IV pumps which taught him how they operate.

“I knew what an IV pump was, but I didn’t know anything about the process

of testing it, and now, more or less, I’d say I can test some of them by myself,” he says.

Shyamalan’s personal goals are simply put but difficult in practice: to work hard and be dependable. Dan Saylor, biomedical manager at Right Way Medical, says Shyamalan has definitely exhibited these characteristics during his time working there. Saylor was impressed with how Shyamalan takes initiative, repairing and testing pumps by himself after only a couple of weeks at the company.

“He wants to do things fast and do things at a pace that is comfortable, and man, I’d say (he is) a good hard worker and I like to see that,” Saylor says. “It’s nice to see young kids out there that still want to put in work.”

Practicing passions

Outside of his education and budding career, Shyamalan also plays the piano and is on the tennis team. He also spends a lot of time with his family, often going on walks or traveling. He says he trusts his parents to give him advice and support when he needs it.

“I’d say my parents, they’ve helped me a lot,” Shyamalan says. “They kind of helped me understand the business as well. I occasionally go talk to them about, you know, what I’ve been doing and they can provide some insight.”

As for the future, Shyamalan is still considering what he wants to study or what university he wants to attend, but based on his already-decorated career and work acumen, it’s a safe bet that he’ll see success in whatever he chooses.

Shyamalan says he is grateful for the hands-on experience and hopes the program will continue so that other students can have internships they can learn from and enjoy.

“I think it’s just the practical experience,” he says. “Getting out of the classroom and actually doing physical things with an actual company will help me in the future.”

Photo by Maisie Fitzmaurice

Maisie Fitzmaurice is an assistant editor at CityScene Media Group. Feedback welcome at mfitzmaurice@cityscenemediagroup.com.

Shrey Shyamalan and Biomedical Manager Dan Saylor work in a lab developing medical equipment.

living By Katie Giffin

Coming to Town

BIA brings the Parade of Homes back with more to see

The Building Industry Association of Central Ohio’s 2023 Parade of Homes invites home buyers, builders and enthusiasts to tour Ohio’s best new builds. This year the parade features two homes from Westerville that prioritize spacious luxury living for young professionals and families. These homes feature access to local parks and an easy commute to downtown Columbus and other surrounding attractions.

The Residences at Phillips Farm offer ranch-style, single-family builds with two bedrooms, two bathrooms and a two-car garage. Near Highway 161 and I-270 and close to Rocky Fork Metro Park, the Hoover Dam Nature Trail and shopping centers like

Photos courtesy of M/I Homes and Wilcox Communities

The Residences at Phillips Farm

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Every Parade home showcases fascinating features and interesting details, but one element is a winner. Look for the blue ribbon that designates that feature in each home. Scan the QR code next to it and you get registered for a chance to WIN.

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Uptown Westerville and Easton, the location offers access to fitness and recreation opportunities alike. With outdoor living areas and community amenities like a 24hour fitness center, an on-site dog park and a clubhouse, the Wilcox Communities prioritizes spacious and low-maintenance living at a comfortable price.

M/I Homes returns to the parade this year with Townes at Hamilton. This community features single-family townhomes with open-concept floor plans and modern farmhouse exteriors. With two to three bedrooms, two and a half to three bathrooms and a two-car garage, this community is designed with families in mind. A central green space and access to Hoover Reservoir and Rocky Fork park promotes an active lifestyle. Additionally, the community is a short drive from downtown Columbus.

Katie Giffin is a contributing writer at CityScene Media Group. Feedback welcome at feedback@cityscenemediagroup.com

Townes at Hamilton

Maker’s Monument Mark Reigelman

Jazz Duets, Omar Shaheed

Portals for Nature, Miss Birdy

FOR MORE INFORMATION AND TO VIEW THE PARADE MAP VISIT BIAPARADE.COM

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Luxury Living

5683

The Powell Buehler Group (614) 915-4588

COLDWELL BANKER REALTY ThePowellBuehlerGroup.com

The Powell Buehler Group (614) 915-4588

7455 Center Green Dr., Westerville – Wow, beautiful Romaelli & Hughes custom built home located on a premium (almost) 1 acre lot! Walk to schools, parks & Westerville bike/walking trails! $717,000.

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The Powell Buehler Group (614) 915-4588

1912 County Rd. 24, Marengo – Stunning hard to find 51+ acres with 2 large ponds, horse barn with 2 stalls, fenced pasture with water bibs, walking trails, once had an airplane strip, utilities also located by the 2nd pond. $1,030,000.

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INCONTRACT

The Powell Buehler Group (614) 915-4588

6222 Sawgrass Way, Westerville – A dream home in the prestigious Highland Lakes community! Located on a generous 1/2 acre cul-de-sac lot, this captivating home boasts an updated kitchen w/ quartz counters, tile backsplash, SS appliances & tile floors. $600,000.

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SOLD SOLD

Todd Stone (614) 397-1231

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Connie Sadowski (614) 943-0025

Rare find in Westerville. First floor owner’s suite w walkout to polywood deck overlooking backyard. First Floor Laundry & additional owners suite upstairs & three more bedrooms total of 5 BR, 3 full & 1 half bath. New SS appliances, granite counters with eat in kitchen, dining room, 3 season room addition for quiet time Partial finished basement w greatroom.

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Todd Stone (614) 397-1231

5739 Cairo Rd., Westerville – Wonderfully kept and recently updated in 2020, this 3 bed, 2 bath, ranch home in the Westerville School district is just minutes to Uptown, Hoover Dam, shopping, dining, highway access and more! Offering granite countertops, custom cabinets, newer appliances, heated 1-car attached garage, mudroom, and plenty of storage! Large kitchen with first floor laundry and sliding back door. $271,000.

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4587 Ravine Rd. Westerville – 5 Bedrooms 3 full and 3 half baths on 2.22 acres!! Located on a beautiful wooded setting in Rolling Ridge, this 5894 sq ft home features wood floors, high ceilings, and a sun-room overlooking the huge back yard with lovely landscaping and ample trees! Fully finished basement that includes bar and half bath! Huge 2-story 3 car garage and more. $725,000.

Marshfield Dr., Westerville – Open floor plan within the desirable Village at Albany crossing community! $305,000.

The price of Westerville homes decreased by 3.3 percent from last year to June 2023, with the current median price being $390K. On average, homes in Westerville sold after 33 days of being on the market, compared to 32 days last year. A total of 61 homes were sold in June this year, down from 74 homes sold last year.

By Nathan Mader

Pack it Up Tips and tricks for perfecting the packed lunch

School is back in session, and for many parents that means the added stress of planning and packing up a healthy lunch your kid will actually eat.

Whether it’s dealing with picky eaters, special dietary needs, or the battle between packing something healthy and delicious, packing your child’s lunch in the morning can be more complicated than it seems. However, with some tips and a little practice, you’ll be able to update even the plainest lunches, and with healthy alternatives too.

Chartwells K12, a food management company specializing in school lunches, annually publishes a list of 10 food and lunch trends that will be popular with kids in the upcoming year. For 2023, some of Chartwells’ recommendations include ecofriendly and locally grown foods, diverse meals from different cultures, healthy spins on classic favorites and more vegetablecentered lunches.

A Chartwells survey found one in three students rated vegan or vegetarian options as extremely or very important when

choosing lunch at school, so don’t be afraid to throw in more plant-based foods and talk with your kid about what they feel is important in their diet.

Infusing school lunch classics with hearty alternatives is also important to keep your kid healthy and enjoying their meals, especially since not every child is thrilled with the idea of eating more fruits and vegetables. Suggested alternatives include replacing the jelly with strawberries, mashed blueberries or sliced bananas in a PB&J and using mashed sweet potatoes in a sloppy Joe.

Chartwells also predicts smoothies to become a big hit with kids, and replacing their juice, soda or energy drink with a tasty blend of their favorite fruits can be the perfect boost they need to make it through the day.

Another fan-favorite method is the classic build-your-own lunch. Let your child make their own lunch and throw in some healthy and tasty ingredients like hummus, nuts and whole grain bread, your kid can use to create their own desired lunch. This can make food prepping fun, may lead to

some creative flavor combinations and encourages independence.

Whether it’s sandwich meats and veggies, pizza toppings, or salad ingredients, giving your kid the tools to create an eating experience they enjoy can be just what they need. You can even try throwing in yesterday’s leftovers or breakfast-for-lunch options for build-your-own tacos if needed.

Not all these strategies can be effective right away if your kid is a particularly picky eater, but with a little patience, even the most stubborn children can expand their palates.

One trick is to start off small with new foods. Your kid might hate the idea of strawberries replacing the jelly in their PB&J, but starting with just a few small pieces and a little less jelly and working your way up can get them accustomed to the change.

Surprisingly, according to a study by the University of Eastern Finland, letting younger kids play with their food can also help them use all their senses to become familiar with new foods, which is where the build-your-own lunches can really shine.

Nathan Mader is an editorial assistant at CityScene Media Group. Feedback welcome at feedback@cityscenemediagroup.com.

Peanut Butter, Apple and Raisin Sandwich

• 2 slices of your preferred bread

• 1 tablespoon creamy peanut butter

• ¼ apple, thinly sliced

• 1 tablespoon golden raisins

• Ground cinnamon

Spread peanut butter on one slice of the bread. Top with apple slices, raisins and a dash of cinnamon. Cover with the other slice of bread.

Photo by Nathan Mader

bookmarks

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

The Oldest Student: How Mary Walker Learned to Read

by Rita L. Hubbard (Juvenile Biography)

At the age of 116, Mary Walker reached and attained a lifelong dream: learning to read. This is an inspirational story that encourages us to continue learning, no matter our age.

This is a School

by John Schu (Picture Book)

As a new school year starts, this picture book shows the wonderful ways that a school can create a community for sharing and learning.

Schools Around the World

by

Brenna Maloney (Juvenile Non-Fiction)

Journey to faraway places like the Australian outback, Iceland and Bangladesh to see what school is like. Kids will be fascinated by the photographs and fun facts about schools around the world.

I Love My Teacher!

by Francis Gilbert (Reader)

A young girl loves school and continues learning at home by pretending to be just like her teacher. The cheery illustrations and large font are perfect for new readers.

Recommended Adult Reads from Mindy Bilyeu, Adult Services Librarian

The Teachers: A Year Inside America’s Most Vulnerable, Important Profession by Alexandra Robbins (Non-Fiction)

Alexandra Robbins goes behind the scenes to tell the true, sometimes shocking, always inspirational stories of three teachers as they navigate a year in the classroom.

Where Coyotes Howl by Sandra Dallas (Fiction)

Set in 1916, the two-street town of Wallace is not exactly what Ellen Webster had in mind when she accepted a teaching position in Wyoming, but within a year’s time, she’s fallen in love – both with the High Plains and with a handsome cowboy named Charlie Bacon.

Lessons Learned and Cherished: The Teacher Who Changed My Life by Deborah Roberts (Non-Fiction)

Renowned ABC journalist Deborah Roberts curates a collection of essays, letters and musings from celebrity friends and colleagues that share how teachers changed them and helped them get to where they are today.

A Most Tolerant Little Town: The Explosive Beginning of School Desegregation by Rachel Louise Martin (Non-Fiction)

A portrait of the first school to attempt to implement court-ordered desegregation in the wake of Brown v. Board of Education focuses on its impact on Clinton, Tennessee, a small town living through a tumultuous turning point for America.