January 27, 2011
GVS director search moves forward By GARY SEMAN JR. ThisWeek Community Newspapers The search to find a new director of the German Village Society is in high gear. A committee composed of GVS board of trustees members and residents is talking to a number of potential candidates, said Norm Hall, the society board member in charge of the search. Hall said the committee would give an update — or possibly have a nomi-
nee — by the Feb. 7 board meeting. “We’re making progress,” he said. Any candidate would have to meet the board’s approval. The society received roughly 60 résumés, said board president Brian Santin, another member of the search committee. He said a handful of candidates would go through the interview process, which should start in a week or so. Santin said there is no rush to make a February deadline.
“The next couple of weeks are not going to break us,” he said. “If things fall into place, it would be nice, convenient. If not, that’s fine.” Russ Arledge has been filling the role as office manager for more than a year. He said he has submitted his name to be considered for the director’s position. Erin O’Donnell was the last person to hold the position of executive director, but she resigned in 2009. Prior to that, Jody Graichen, the current director of historic preservation programs for
the society, held the interim post for less than a year. Santin said the frequent changes in the position are a concern. “Sure, we’re worried about turnover,” he said. “We’re looking for someone who wants to make a long-term commitment to the community and the organization as a whole.” The new title — director, rather than executive director — reflects a change in duties. The new director will have overall responsibility for the society’s
finances, programs, operations and human-resources management. A salary range was not divulged. “We’re looking for someone who will be able to take initiative within the organization and run the daily operations while seeking appropriate and timely input from the board of trustees as we continue to strive to remain focused on our central mission of historic preservation,” Santin said. gseman@thisweeknews.com www.ThisWeekNews.com
Battling the elements
BATTLE AGAINST THE BORERS
Concrete and pets vulnerable to salt, deicers By GARY SEMAN JR. ThisWeek Community Newspapers
By Paul Vernon/ThisWeek
Volunteer Dave Tyndall (left) and Lindy Michael, chair of the German Village Society Arboretum Fund, put out a sign Jan. 23 in front of one of the oldest ash trees in Schiller Park. Volunteers and officials put up several signs asking residents for donations to treat and protect ash trees in German Village from the emerald ash borer.
Business-residential mix
Officials look to OSU for review of village By GARY SEMAN JR. ThisWeek Community Newspapers The business and residential mix in German Village could be the target of a comprehensive analysis this fall. Members of the German Village Society’s longrange planning committee are hoping to forge a relationship with graduate students in the city and regional planning program at The Ohio State University. “We feel to be a vibrant community we’ve got to have the right mix,” said Carolyn McCall, who chairs the committee. “But what is the right mix?” The committee has been in discussions with Roxyanne Burrus, the former administrator of neighborhood services for the city of Columbus and an adjunct professor at Ohio State. “They want to see if this is going to be a sustainable community. Is it still going to look like this
some type of professional study will take place. She said the village would present an interesting case study. “German Village is a unique area because the German Village is a unique area way it’s developed and the way it’s been able to because the way it’s developed and sustain itself, given its rich history and demographics the way it’s been able to sustain of the area,” she said. itself, given its rich history and Catherine Adams, owner of Caterina Ltd., which specializes in European houseware, gifts and art demographics of the area. for homes, said the balance has shifted in favor of residential over the years. ROXYANNE BURRUS “And we actually need and want businesses to be mixed in in order to keep German Village thrivadjunct professor and owner of Cartier Burrus ing and going forward,” said Adams, a member of the long-range planning committee and the Gerin 20 years?” said Burrus, the owner of Cartier Bur- man Village Business Community. rus, which specializes in community development Adams said she would like to see more boutique and planning. stores, such as her own. Burrus, a Reynoldsburg resident, said while the review has not yet been approved, she is hopeful See REVIEW OF VILLAGE, page A2
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Bricks are a big deal in German Village. Maintaining them also is a concern for many residents, especially in winter when salt is dispensed to melt away ice. The good news, according to one local expert, is that the brick itself is not harmed by salt or other deicing agents. Salt affects the mortar and materials that hold the brick in place, said Mark Clotts, manager of the brick department at Hamilton Parker Co., a distributor on the East Side. He recommends applying a breathable sealer, usually in spring or summer, and only when the surface is dry. “Everything you use you want to be breathable so if there’s any moisture in there, you want to get it out and if it’s out, you don’t want to let it in,” he said. Clotts urges light applications of salt and other compounds that melt ice because they have a corrosive effect on curbs, aprons and sidewalks made of concrete. Otherwise, the worst thing bricks will suffer is an unsightly film caused by salt deposits, or efflorescence, which washes away with water, he said. Many village residents also are concerned about caring for pets in winter weather. Dr. Bridget Burdick of the German Village Veterinary Hospital said it is not uncommon for dogs to develop contact chemical burns on their pads from prolonged exposure to salt. She advises rinsing their paws in water, trimming their nails and clipping the hair between their toes to keep salt from collecting in those areas. Burdick further recommends preventing pets from drinking out of puddles, as salt ingestion can lead to vomiting and diarrhea. While all salt compounds create some risk to animals, pet-safe options are recommended for those who own pets and even those who don’t, Burdick said. “I always think it’s worth a little extra money,” she said. See BATTLING THE ELEMENTS, page A2
Village Singers aim to hit high note with spring performance By GARY SEMAN JR. ThisWeek Community Newspapers Coming off a successful winter concert, the Village Singers are at it again. The German Village-based vocal group has begun rehearsing for its next show, “An American Songbook,” to be performed May 14 and 15 at the Meeting Haus, 588 S. Third St. “We’re walking through music from Stephen Foster to Stephen Sondheim.
That’s quite a span,” said Wayne Owens, founder and director of the group. Owens said the spring performance would include everything from Broadway to the blues and celebrate such performers as the Beach Boys, Patsy Cline and Willie Nelson. The concert will involve some additional musicians to reflect the style of music, he said. The group also is looking for new members. The next rehearsal will be held at 7 p.m. Jan. 31 at the Meeting
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Haus. All vocal ranges are accepted and no auditions are necessary. Vocalists must be members of the Village Singers and membership dues are $25 per season. Membership in Village Singers, established 10 years ago, is at an all-time high, Owens said. He said 34 vocalists performed in the winter show and he expects about the same number to sing in the spring performance. The group will rehearse weekly.
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In related news, Quinton Jones has returned as the group’s accompanist. Jones, a junior at Capital University, recently spent a semester studying at the Franz Liszt Academy of Music in Hungary. Nick Klein, also a student at Capital, filled in while Jones was away. Jones, who is studying piano performance and music composition at Capital, said it was an intensive program
A closer look The Village Singers vocal group has begun rehearsing for its spring show, “An American Songbook,” to be performed May 14 and 15 at the Meeting Haus, 588 S. Third St.
See VILLAGE SINGERS, page A2
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