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March 3, 2011

Brennan says he’ll seek re-election Despite cancer diagnosis, mayor will run for second term By JEFF DONAHUE ThisWeek Community Newspapers Bexley Mayor John Brennan announced Feb. 22, that he will be fighting two battles this year — and intends to win both. Brennan told Bexley City Council John Brennan

that he has been diagnosed with cancer and that he will seek a second term in office in November. “Last week I had gallbladder surgery and during the sur-

gery, they found some cancer in my body,” Brennan said. Brennan said he was scheduled to undergo more tests last week and would likely start treatment this week. I had a scan today. “I’m going to The James (Cancer Center) on Monday to consult with a

doctor there and probably within a week or so, I’ll be starting my first treatments,” he said. Brennan said the diagnosis led him to move up the announcement that he will seek re-election in November. “I was going to announce at the stateof-the-city on March 15 that I am seek-

ing a second term as mayor, but instead of waiting that long, I’d like to announce that tonight,” he said. “I’m going to fight this. I’m going to get through this. “I appreciate everybody’s prayers and support,” Brennan said. “This has See BRENNAN, page A3

Zanner to serve on school board until January By JEFF DONAHUE

Joan Fishel said Zanner will not

ThisWeek Community Newspapers be a candidate for the final two

Photos by Eric George/ThisWeek

(Above) Local Matters executive director Michael Jones cooks for Leslie Fulford and Michael Weinstock at the annual Bravo! Bexley Education Foundation fundraiser event at the DSW Home Office on Feb. 26. (Below) Attendees mingle during the annual fundraiser event.

Bravo! reaches $100,000 goal By TARA STUBBS-FIGURSKI ThisWeek Community Newspapers The Bexley Education Foundation’s annual Bravo! fundraiser has met its $100,000 goal, according to event organizers. BEF executive director Charlene Morgan said at least 750 people attended this year’s event at DSW headquarters, 810 DSW Drive. While that number was slightly lower than last year’s estimated attendance of 800, Morgan said she was pleased with the turnout. “We had many, many new friends this year,” she said. See BRAVO!, page A3

years of Peterson’s term. Former Bexley City Schools Fishel said the appointment was District school board president logical; Zanner recently served on Susan Zanner will return to the the board and is familiar with the board later this month. district’s operations and challenges. Board members voted 4-0 on “It was my thought process that Feb. 23 to appoint Zanner to the someone who is coming off for vacant seat on the five-member such a short period of time, that it board created by the resignation would be beneficial to get someof Diane Peterson. one with experience if they were The appointment came during available,” Fishel said. “Not only a special 8:30 a.m. board meeting has Susan been twice elected by in the Cassingham Complex Com- the voters of Bexley; she has been munity Room. chair of the levy campaign. Her Peterson, a experience will two-term board be invaluable to member, reA closer look us as we move signed Feb. 14, forward this citing personal Since more than half of Diane year, dealing reasons. Her res- Peterson’s term remains, Zan- with possible ignation was ef- ner can only serve through state budget fective Feb. 28. Dec. 31, 2011. The remain- cuts and our Peterson has not ing two years of the unexpired u p c o m i n g elaborated on term will be on the ballot in teacher negotiher decision to November. Board President ations.” leave the board Joan Fishel said Zanner will A former since the an- not be a candidate for the final teacher, Zanner nouncement of two years of Peterson’s term. is the parent of her resignation. two Bexley According to High School state law, the board was required graduates and has another student to appoint a replacement within who will graduate from BHS this 30 days of the effective date of Pe- spring. terson’s resignation. Zanner was first elected to the Since more than half of Peter- school board in November 1999. son’s term remains, Zanner can She was re-elected in 2003 and only serve through Dec. 31, 2011. served as board president in 2004. The remaining two years of the Zanner resigned from the board unexpired term will be on the bal- for health reasons in December lot in November. Board President 2006.

Frequent winter storms have kept city crews busy By TARA STUBBS-FIGURSKI ThisWeek Community Newspapers It has been a busy winter for workers in the Bexley Service Department. Winter storms have required the use of more salt and more work for Bexley snow removal crews, according to service director Bill Harvey. To date, Bexley has used about 950 tons of salt to battle winter weather, Harvey said.

“We normally plan around 800 tons,” he said. “This is a little more than normal.” The Ohio Department of Transportation provides salt to the city. Bexley is paying about $59 per ton for salt, Harvey said. At this time last year, the city had used between 500 to 600 tons of salt and city officials were paying $57 a ton. Harvey said salt costs have been more than anticipated this year. He said service department per-

sonnel have made at least nine trips to pick up salt since the year started. The city has spent about $8,000 on overtime, Harvey said, but that wasn’t necessarily all for snow removal. That total also doesn’t count what the city spends on snow removal during the normal work day, information that isn’t tracked by the city. “That (overtime) is probably a little higher than we normally go,” he said. “We have had nine or