May 19, 2011
Superintendent search
Two new names on list of four finalists By CANDY BROOKS ThisWeek Community Newspapers
A deputy superintendent from Dublin and the superintendent from Licking Heights have joined the list of finalists for the Worthington Schools top job. The Worthington Board of Education plans to name a new superintendent next Monday, May 23, at it regular meeting. The person chosen will replace Melissa
Conrath, who is retiring. Only if the board has trouble choosing between two candidates will a public forum be called so that residents can meet the finalists and offer opinions. The finalists, who will meet with a panel of chosen community leaders this week, are: Trent Bowers, assistant superintendent - coordinator of human resources, Worthington City Schools.
Michele Evans, superintendent, Canton City Schools. Thomas Tucker, superintendent, Licking Heights Local Schools. Michael Trego, deputy superintendent, Dublin City Schools. Tucker and Trego were recruited for the position following the first round of interviews. Board president Marc Schare said from the beginning of the process that he ex-
pected candidates to be recruited. The recruitment process involves a phone call from one of the district’s consultants from the Educational Services Center. Because no written correspondence takes place until after the phone call, candidates can avoid having their names publicly released until late in the process, when the candidate knows he or she will be a finalist for the position.
Tucker’s application was filed May 9, Trego’s May 12. The 19 original applications were made in early April. Tucker has been superintendent at Licking Heights since 2008. Previously, he was director of secondary curriculum for Hilliard City Schools from 2006-08 and principal with Hilliard 2001-06. His present salary is $120,000. See FINALISTS, page A2
Council warned of loss of state funding By CANDY BROOKS ThisWeek Community Newspapers
By Eric George/ThisWeek
Owner Meg Hardison and interior designer Kimberly Baker have opened Peacock Lane Home at 615 High St. in the former Maple Lee location.
Peacock Lane brings color back to former flower shop By CANDY BROOKS
downtown scene, already helping to plan special events for both the neighborhood and the shop, which will show the works of local artists alongside a wide array of home furnishings. The furniture and accessories that fill the bright store are old and new. Consignment pieces are displayed with new items ranging from infant clothing to antique jewelry. There is also new jewelry, designer handbags, ceramic pots, custom pillows, handpainted furniture. Turnaround is fast, so merchandise changes almost daily. Baker, who has worked in home furnishings for many years, offers a full range
ThisWeek Community Newspapers
Peacock Lane Home has made its nest at Maple Lee. The new home furnishings store opened its doors to a welcoming crowd during the farmers market on May 9. “We’ve had a really positive response,” said Kimberly Baker, an interior designer who opened the shop with Meg Hardison. Baker has been in the Worthington area since the 1980s. Hardison is a retired teacher who moved here a year ago. The two are eager to become part of the
of interior design services. She will take on new buildings or one room, and hopes to do seasonal decor as well. Right in the shopn, customers can choose floor coverings, custom window treatments, even custom pillows. Carol Osterstock of Sophisticate Silks makes silk flower arrangements in the shop as well. Make no mistake, though, this is no longer a flower shop. The owners appreciate the history of Maple Lee, and have preserved some of the architectural details, such as the See SHOP, page A2
The city of Worthington will lose more than half of its state funding from the Local Government Fund (LGF) over the next two years. Then the real trouble begins. In 2013, the state of Ohio plans to eliminate the estate tax, which will permanently reduce local revenues by an average of about $600,000 a year. Worthington City Council knew the financial outlook was grim, but learned the approximate size of the hit at its meeting on May 16. City finance director Molly Roberts delivered the bad news. The city is prepared to handle the local government revenue reductions next year, said city manager Matt Greeson. It is the following years that will probably force spending cuts directly attributable to the loss of state funds. The current version of the Ohio biennial budget, being discussed in the Ohio Senate prior to an expected early summer approval, reduces the amount of money municipalities receive from the (LGF). In 2010, Worthington received $868,987, which equals 4 percent of the city budget. Under the proposed state budget, that amount will be $825,538 in 2011; $569,621 in 2012; and $421,216 in 2013. The second big hit will be from the elimination of the estate tax, which is currently written into the state budget to be eliminated in 2013. The city’s estate tax revenues
fluctuate. In 2005, it received $972,263. In 2010, it was $383,545. The five-year average is $604,303, which is 2.87 percent of the city’s general fund budget. “That will certainly have a dramatic impact on our budget,” said Roberts. Greeson said he would write a letter to Worthington’s state legislators expressing council’s concern about the proposed budget cuts. He will “walk the line” when expressing council’s opinion on the elimination of the estate tax, he said. In past discussions, council president Lou Goorey said he understands the need to do away with the estate tax. He said he knows people who moved to Florida to escape the tax. But council member Scott Myers disagrees. Ohio residents do not move to Florida to escape the estate tax; they move there for the weather, he said. Also at the meeting, council: Thanked Michael Kellar, fleet manager, for his 42 years of service to the city. Kellar is retiring. Swore in Stephen Mette as sergeant with the Worthington Division of Police. Mette has worked for the department for five years. He was the Division’s Officer of the Year in 2010, Crime Stoppers Officer of the Year in 2008, and has received many chief’s citations for his work. Heard a complaint from council member Bob Chosy about See FUNDING, page A2
Bigger, better ‘green’ Residents can festival returns win some bucks By CANDY BROOKS
ThisWeek Community Newspapers
Last year, two stay-at-home moms decided to put together a small gathering to spread the word about the local “green” movement. Held on the Village Green, it was called, naturally, Green on the Green. The event was more popular than Karen Ferris and Kate Midnight could have imagined. Demand for booth space exceeded expectations, and some had to be turned away. This year’s Green on Green will be held this Saturday, May 21, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. This time three quadrants of the Green (instead of one) have been set aside for community groups and vendors aimed at the growing interest in green living.
“This year, we’re adding two more corners of the Village Green, more food vendors, and live music,” said Ferris. In conjunction with the event, there will be an electronic recycling drop-off in front of Thomas Worthington High School. Everyone is invited to bring their used electronics. The event will benefit the stadium turf project at the school. The event grew out of Big Green Head, a website devoted to the promotion of green living that was founded by Ferris and Midnight. They describe it as “a monster on a mission to change people’s perceptions about going green.” The festival encourages visitors to unearth their green sides as well.
playing the ducks By CANDY BROOKS ThisWeek Community Newspapers
Take a quack at winning $500. Buy a duck for 5 bucks from the Worthington A.M. Rotary. If it wins the Worthington Duck Race on Memorial Day, you will take home $500. That is how the duck race works, according to Bill Grindle, who is organizing the race for its second run. “Last year’s race was a lot of fun and helped us to raise money to help people in need in our community,” he said. To take a chance on a duck, go to www.worthingtonduckrace.org, or buy a duck at the farmers market on Saturday. On Memorial Day at noon, the ducks will be launched onto the Olentangy River near the end of Tucker Drive. Spectators are invited to watch the launch, to cheer on the ducks along the way, to make sure no ducks are left behind. The finish line is under the bridge at Granville Road. The race is expected to take 60 to 90 minutes.
See GREEN, page A2
DIRECTORY News: (740) 888-6100 editorial@thisweeknews.com Sports: (740) 888-6054 sports@thisweeknews.com
In this edition: Read about Amazing Student Volunteers across central Ohio.
food and wine expand your tastes Presented by:
Retail ads: (740) 888-6100 adservices@thisweeknews.com Classified: (740) 888-5003 classified@thisweeknews.com Customer Service: 1-888-837-4342
Also online at www.ThisWeekNews.com/Volunteers
Visit ThisWeekNews.com/foodandwine