May 12, 2011
Schiller cottage in line for a facelift By GARY SEMAN JR. ThisWeek Community Newspapers Some residents will proceed with plans to beautify the caretaker’s cottage house in Schiller Park, despite losing out on grants from the city of Columbus. And, as is the case with many local projects, the plans will rely on the generosity of people in the neighborhood.
Sara McNealey, who chairs the German Village Society’s parks, public spaces and community events committee, said the total cost of sprucing up the space is $4,500: $1,500 for an irrigation system and $3,000 for planting and “hardscape” work, which in landscaping refers to paved areas like sidewalks. “It does not all have to be done right now,” she said. She said improving the space is im-
portant because the cottage is on this year’s Haus und Garten Tour, slated for June 26. Actors’ Theatre of Columbus leases the cottage, believed to have been built in 1935, from the Columbus Recreation and Parks Department. John S. Kuhn, artistic director for the theater troupe, said “any improvements would be a welcome step forward.” “The cottage itself is this charming brick two-story building,” he said. “And
there’s nothing there. There’s no landscaping around it. There are bare spots where the grass doesn’t grow. In the 10 years I’ve been associated with Actors’ Theatre, I don’t remember any flowers, shrubbery, anything here.” To celebrate Earth Day, Columbus Mayor Michael B. Coleman and the Franklin County Board of Commissioners awarded grants to dozens of community gardens.
Although McNealey’s committee applied for funding, it did not receive any money. The German Village Society did receive $1,000 in grant money and an additional $50 in plant contributions from the Scotts Miracle-Gro Co. to support three gardens and new signage for Huntington Gardens in Schiller Park. See SCHILLER COTTAGE, page A5
‘Busloads’ expected to attend ‘Village Valuables’
SIGNS OF SPRINGTIME
By GARY SEMAN JR. ThisWeek Community Newspapers
Photos by Andrea Kjerrumgaard/ThisWeek
Above: Linda Friedman (left) helps Michael Wolfe pick out plants at the German Village Garten Club’s annual GartenMarkt sale May 7 at the Meeting Haus. Left: Ronnie Romito and Marguerite Hernandez-Romito look at an artwork tree made of pieces of metal and glass bottles. Right: Blue orchids were among the many plants available for sale during the GartenMarkt. The event is a fundraiser for the Garten Club.
It’s spring cleaning — German Village style. Village Valuables, described as central Ohio’s largest yard sale, will be held throughout the neighborhood from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, May 14. “It is a spectacle,” longtime participant Jerry Glick said. “You would not believe the things up for sale.” Glick said the sale is so big, people often plan their vacations around it. “There are busloads of people who come, even from out of state, for this because it’s like 300 yard sales at one time in one neighborhood,” he said. Glick and friends will sell everything from furniture to books to Ohio State paraphernalia. He’ll even have a sailboat — well, at least a picture of one. The real thing is docked at Buckeye Lake. Village Valuables started as an add-on to the Haus und Garten Tour but broke off as its own event because it didn’t fit in with the mission of the tour, Glick said. “We thought it was best to have all your yard sales at once,” he said. Pat and Patty Phillips, who live on Lathrop Street, won’t have anything for sale but intend to take advantage of the deals in the neighborhood. Patty Phillips said it’s a great way for German Village residents to connect over some beverages See VILLAGE VALUABLES page A2
Village Singers
Concert will pay homage to American songwriters By GARY SEMAN JR. ThisWeek Community Newspapers
Germania club to roll out the rouladen May 15 By GARY SEMAN JR. ThisWeek Community Newspapers Don the bundhosen, trachten shoes and alpine hats: Schmeckfest is returning to the Germania this weekend. Offering more than 25 German dishes, the second annual event will be held from 1 to 4 p.m. May 15 at the club, located at 543 S. Front St. in the Brewery District. Tickets, $10 each, can be purchased in advance by calling John Kneller at (614) 898-9022. They will be reserved at the door. On the day of the event, tickets will be $12 at the door. Schmeckfest is a fundraiser for singers of the
Germania and Columbus Swiss Club, who will be doing a two-week tour of Germany, Austria and Switzerland. Money raised will pay for the groups’ accompanist and director to attend the tour. Thea Klabunde, president of the Germania, said club members are pitching in to make the fare for the Schmeckfest, taken from the German word “schmecken,” which means “to taste.” Participants can sup on a wide variety of fare, including rouladen, sauerbraten, schnitzel and spaetzle, plus such desserts as black forest cake, cream puffs and strudel. It is an all-you-can-eat event, but takeout will not be permitted, Klabunde said. German dancers also will be performing during Schmeckfest.
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“It’s a lot of work,” she said. “But we have a lot of volunteers, a lot of good helpers, not just the people going on tour, but Germania members. It’s one big happy family.” About 450 attended the inaugural event last year. “It was a lot of fun for the people who came to eat and for the people who served the food,” said Kneller, who is going on the two-week tour this year. The format is somewhat different this year, member and singer Kathleen Megown said. There will be several different stations to cut down on
The Village Singers will close out their 10th season with two performances this weekend at the German Village Meeting Haus, 588 S. Third St. “An American Songbook” will feature music from an all-American lineup spanning several generations, from Stephen Foster to Jimmy Van Heusen to Michael Jackson. The concerts are slated for 7 p.m. Saturday, May 14, and 2 p.m. Sunday, May 15. Admission is $10. Selecting the music for the spring show might have been the most difficult task, said Wayne Owens, founder and general manager of the group. See VILLAGE SINGERS, page A2
See GERMANIA, page A2
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