Images Licking County 2011

2011 | imageslickingcounty.com ®

What’s Online Take a peek inside the world’s largest Longaberger basket.

licking county, ohio

Here We Grow Again Horticulture thrives here

DRIVING FORCE Highway corridor forms to trumpet industrial parks

BEIJING OR BUST 88 locals travel to China sponsored by the lIcking county Chamber of Commerce

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2011 edition | volume 7 速

Licking County, Ohio co nte nt s F e atu r e s 6 driving force Highway corridor forms to trumpet industrial parks

10 Here We Grow Again Horticulture thrives here

16 BEIJING OR BUST 88 locals travel to China

d e pa r tm e nt s 4 Almanac 14 Biz Briefs

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17 Economic Profile 18 Image Gallery 20 Local Flavor 23 Health & Wellness 26 Arts & Culture 28 Sports & Recreation 30 Education 35 Community Profile 36 Through the Lens

on the cover Photo by Antony Boshier THK in Newark

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All or part of this magazine is printed on recycled paper containing 10% post-consumer waste.

Please recycle this magazine

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®

Licking County in action

Licking Count y, Ohio Project Manager mitch kline content director Lisa battles Proofreading Manager Raven Petty Content Coordinator Jessica Walker Staff Writer Kevin Litwin Copy Editor Jill Wyatt Contributing writer joe morris Media Technology Director Christina Carden Senior Graphic Designers Laura Gallagher, Jessica Manner, Janine Maryland, Kris Sexton, Vikki Williams Graphic Designer Rachael Gerringer Media Technology Analysts Chandra Bradshaw, lance Conzett, Michele Niccore, Marcus Snyder Photography Director Jeffrey S. Otto Senior Photographers Jeff Adkins, Brian McCord Staff Photographers Todd Bennett, Antony Boshier Web Content Manager John Hood Web project manager noy fongnaly Web Design Director Franco Scaramuzza Web designer II Richard stevens Web developer i Yamel Hall Web Account Manager Lauren Eubank Ad Production Manager Katie Middendorf Ad Traffic Assistants Krystin Lemmon, Patricia Moisan I.T. Director Yancey Bond I.T. support technician bryan foriest Senior Accountant Lisa Owens Accounts Payable Coordinator Maria McFarland Accounts Receivable Coordinator Diana Guzman Office Manager/Accounts Receivable Coordinator Shelly Miller Senior Integrated Media Manager Deshaun Goodrich Sales Support Manager Cindy Hall color imaging technician Alison Hunter Chairman Greg Thurman President/Publisher Bob Schwartzman Executive Vice President Ray Langen Senior V.P./Sales Todd Potter, Carla Thurman Senior V.P./Operations Casey Hester Senior V.P./Client Development Jeff Heefner Senior V.P./business Development Scott Templeton V.p./External Communications Teree Caruthers V.P./Custom Publishing Kim HOlmberg V.P./Visual Content Mark Forester

Don’t just take our word for it – see for yourself how great Licking County is in our quick videos at imageslickingcounty.com, highlighting a little bit of everything that Licking County has to offer.

V.P./Content Operations Natasha Lorens V.P./Sales Charles Fitzgibbon, Herb Harper, Jarek Swekosky Controller Chris Dudley Content Director/Travel Publications Susan Chappell Content Director/Business Publications Bill McMeekin Marketing Creative Director Keith Harris Distribution Director Gary Smith Executive Secretary Kristy Duncan Human Resources Manager Peggy Blake Receptionist Linda Bishop

Images Licking County is published annually by Journal Communications Inc. and is distributed through the Licking County Chamber of Commerce and its member businesses.

For advertising information or to direct questions or comments about the magazine, contact Journal Communications Inc. at (615) 771-0080 or by email at info@jnlcom.com.

For more information, contact: Licking County Chamber of Commerce 50 W. Locust St., Newark, Ohio 43055 Phone: (740) 345-9757 • Fax: (740) 345-5141 lickingcountychamber.com Visit Images Licking County online at imageslickingcounty.com

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©Copyright 2011 Journal Communications Inc., 725 Cool Springs Blvd., Suite 400, Franklin, TN 37067, (615) 771-0080. All rights reserved.

No portion of this magazine may be reproduced in whole or in part without written consent.

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The Association of Magazine Media Member

Custom Content Council

Member Licking County Chamber of Commerce

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What’s Online imageslickingcounty.com

Photos See more photos in our online photo gallery Get the inside scoop from our photographers’ blog

2011 | ImAGESlICkINGCOUNTy.COm ®

What’s Online Take a peek inside the world’s largest longaberger basket.

lICkING COUNTy, OHIO

Here We Grow Again Horticulture thrives here

Facts & Stats Dig deeper with in-depth data on industries, schools and more

DRIVING FORCE Highway corridor forms to trumpet industrial parks

BEIJING OR BUST 88 locals travel to China SpONSORED By THE lICkING COUNTy CHAmBER OF COmmERCE

Get a moving glimpse at favorite local places and attractions

Digital edition

Real estate

Easily share articles and photos on Facebook, Twitter or via email

Video

Learn about the local housing market and get started finding your place

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Almanac

Welcome to Licking County An introduction to the area’s people, places and events

A Basket Case It’s hard to miss the home office of The Longaberger Company – it’s the giant basket towering over the road.

The seven-story structure, which has served as the company’s headquarters since December 1997, is 160 times the size of the company’s mediumsized market basket. With 180,000 square feet, the building comprises offices and a 30,000-square-foot atrium. The Longaberger headquarters is open to the public on most days.

I’ll Take the Works There’s always something fun to see or experience at The Works: Ohio Center for History, Art & Technology, which is a Smithsonian-affiliate museum in downtown Newark filled with dozens of entertaining exhibits.

This interactive learning center features an array of interesting and educational opportunities, such as hands-on activities, live science shows and a studio where glass is turned into art.

And it’s not just for kids – the museum hosts adult-oriented events, such as Art Night Out and the annual Cocktails by the Fire, which focuses on glassblowing amidst food, drinks and music.

Photo Courtesy of Eric George

The County’s a Stage

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From large venues to intimate spaces, traveling shows to locally mounted productions, Licking County residents have a variety of choices when it comes to enjoying live performances.

Midland Theatre, one of the area’s opulent movie houses in the 1920s, has been restored and offers a broad range of musical, comedy and drama events, both traveling and homegrown.

Less lavish but equally entertaining, the Weathervane Playhouse puts on shows each summer, and has been growing by leaps and bounds since its humble beginning in a barn in 1969.

The Licking County Players, once known as the Welsh Hills Players, are also finding success each season they perform. Established in 1979, the group puts on eight shows each year.

Fast Facts

We All Scream

n Geographically speaking, Licking County is the secondlargest county in Ohio.

Appropriately making its home in Licking County, Velvet Ice Cream is Ohio’s largest independent ice cream maker.

The Utica-based company was established in 1914 and has become a Midwest ice cream manufacturing powerhouse.

Guests can visit its Ye Olde Mill production facility and enjoy tours of the ice cream-making process, as well as the on-site old-fashioned ice cream parlor, visitors’ center and museum complete with interactive exhibits.

Serving up signature flavors including Butter Pecan and Cashew, Buckeye Classic, Vanilla Lovers Trio and Chocolate Lovers Trio, it’s no wonder Velvet Ice Cream remains on the Licking County dessert scene.

n Cranberry Bog, a rare floating bog situated on Buckeye Lake, is one of the few of its kind in the country. n The Licking County Courthouse was constructed in 1878 for $190,000 and today is one of the most architecturally beautiful buildings in all of Ohio. n Heath City Water Park offers a lazy river, multiple water slides and the 500,000-gallon Olympic Pool.

Licking County At A Glance Population Licking County: 166,492 Newark: 47,573

William C. Schenck are credited with the official founding of the county, named for the Licking River, in 1802.

Location Licking County is in central Ohio, about 30 miles east of Columbus.

For More Information Licking County Chamber of Commerce 50 W. Locust St., Newark, OH 43055 Phone: (740) 345-9757 www.lickingcountychamber.com

Beginnings G.W. Burnet, John Cummins and

What’s Online

Licking County

Take a virtual tour of Licking County, courtesy of our awardwinning photographers, at imageslickingcounty.com.

Hartford

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Columbus m

LICKIN G

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Pataskala Kirkersville 70

n Buckeye Lake State Park is classified as an unlimited horsepower lake, but pontoons, sailboats, canoes and rowboats are also welcome.

St. Louisville

Johnstown

Alexandria

n Construction of the Ohio Canal began in Heath in 1825.

Utica

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n Licking County has more than 50 sites on the National Register of Historic Places, including four national historic districts.

Granville

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Hanover

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Newark Heath

Hebron Buckeye Lake

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Gratiot

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Driving

Force Chamber organizes industrial park manufacturing corridor

Story By Kevin Litwin | Photography By antony boshier

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he largest manufacturing corridor in central Ohio now exists in Licking County, along Interstate 70 at Ohio State Route 79.

The 79|Seventy Advanced Materials Corridor boasts a port authority and three industrial parks, and includes more than 500 undeveloped acres that are “shovel ready” for future industrial sites.

The four entities in the corridor are the Heath-NewarkLicking County Port Authority, Mid-Ohio Industrial Park, Newark Ohio Industrial Park and McMillan Business Center.

They are home to advanced materials-based companies that deal with products such as silicon, quartz, polymers, steel, aluminum, ceramics, glass, wood, ag/bio, organics, food, fiberglass and foam.

Marketed by the Chamber The concept of an advanced materials corridor originates from the Licking County Chamber of Commerce.

“We are marketing the port authority and three industrial parks as one whole economic corridor, while each entity markets itself individually,” says Cheri Hottinger, president of the Licking County Chamber of Commerce.

Benefits for a company locating to the corridor include convenient access to rail service, 11 million square feet of

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industrial buildings, land for all sizes of buildings and excellent infrastructure. Companies already doing business along the corridor include Bayer, Boeing, Dow, Englefield Oil, Kaiser Aluminum and Samuel Manu-Tech.

Hottinger says any in-state and out-of-state companies involved with advanced materials are welcome to relocate to the 79|Seventy Corridor.

“For example, Tamarack Dairy is in the corridor but even though milk isn’t necessarily thought of as an advanced product, the company uses advanced materials in their processing,” she says.“Advanced materials of all types are being made and shipped here in Licking County.”

A brief background on the port authority and three industrial parks in the 79|Seventy Advanced Materials Corridor is as follows: Heath-Newark-Licking County Port Authority This port authority was established in Heath in 1995 on privatized land that was formerly Newark Air Force Base, and the U.S. Air Force is still a tenant. More than a dozen employers with 860 total employees are currently housed at the port authority, accounting for a $50 million annual payroll.

Two larger tenants are Boeing and Goodrich, with

THK, one of the big-name companies calling Newark Ohio Industrial Park home, manufactures components of mechanical and electronic systems – most notably the Linear Motion Guide mechanism (bottom left).

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Goodrich recently moving into the first floor of a new two-story spec building that just opened on the property.

“Goodrich had several scattered offices at our facility for many years, and our new Horton Building allows the company to consolidate everything under one roof,” says Rick Platt, president and CEO of the Heath-Newark-Licking County Port Authority.

Mid-Ohio Industrial Park This park encompasses 300 acres, 193 of which are currently built out. A total of 25 businesses are on-site employing 550 people, and 1.2 million square feet of building space exists.

“The rest of the acreage is greenfield-ready with all the utilities,” says Roney Murphy, president of Mid-Ohio Development Corp. “We even recently built a new connector road called Thornwood Drive that opened up the final 107 acres for tractor trailer access.”

Newark Ohio Industrial Park The 600-acre park is home to a diverse manufacturing base of 43 companies that accommodate 4,800 employees.

“The park opened in 1968 and is home to big-name companies such as Bayer, Dow, Momentive and THK,” says Robert O’Neill, president of Southgate Corp. that oversees Newark Ohio Industrial Park as well as McMillan Business Center. “Newark Ohio Industrial has rail service and is only a mile from I-70.”

McMillan Business Center This 200-acre facility is a mixed-use center for offices, medical buildings and industry-based tenants.

There are six industrial companies doing business in McMillan Business Center – Anomatic, Arboris, Holtz Industries, International Paper, Tamarack Dairy and Universal Veneer.

Resins and plastics at Polymer Technologies and Services, Inc., one of the advanced materials-based companies of the Licking County manufacturing corridor Left: Bayer is another company already doing business along the corridor.

Info About Industrial Parks

Heath-NewarkLicking County Port Authority Acres: 350

Mid-Ohio Industrial Park Acres: 300

Newark Ohio Industrial Park Acres: 600

McMillan Business Center Acres: 200

Number of businesses there: 43

Number of industries there: 6

Number of businesses there: 13

Number of businesses there: 25

Number of total jobs represented in the park: 860

Number of total jobs represented in the park: 550

Number of total jobs represented in the park: 4,800

Number of total jobs represented in the park: More than 1,000

Available space for future projects: 150 acres

Available space for future projects: 107 acres

Available space for future projects: 50 acres

Available space for future projects: Only land for offices is available

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It’s in Our

Nature Licking County’s horticulture industry is thriving

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Story By kevin litwin | Photography By antony boshier

ore than 50 varieties of tomato plants and 40 varieties of peppers are for sale at Wilson’s Garden Center in Newark, and it also has one of the largest selections of annuals and perennials in central Ohio.

“We’re known for having the unusual, the newest and the best,” says Shelli Berry-McDaniel, horticulturist at Wilson’s Garden Center. “When it’s veggie planting or flower planting time, there’s no busier place than us.”

Licking County is home to several landscaping and horticulture businesses that continue to grow strong in 2011, with Wilson’s being one of the most successful. Business has been so good that owners Ned and Mitzie Wilson added 19,800 square feet of new greenhouses to their operation in April 2010.

“We now have a total of 28 greenhouses to grow a wide assortment of herbs, roses, vegetables, Easter lilies, poinsettias, water plants and shrubs,” Berry-

McDaniel says. “Wilson’s employs up to 60 people throughout our busy season.”

Branching Out Another horticulture success in Licking County is McCullough’s Tree Service, based locally for nearly 35 years. The company plants and prunes trees for customers whose properties can include golf courses, historic mansions, homeowners associations, schools and college campuses.

“We have corporate giants for customers such as AT&T and Chase, along with the little grandmother who lives down the street and wants a red maple planted in her front yard,” says Wess McCullough, president of McCullough’s Tree Service. “Our company prides itself on communicating well with customers and being on time.”

McCullough says the best-growing trees in Licking County are oak, maple, hackberry, pine, spruce, fir, red maple and sugar maple.

Shelli Berry-McDaniel, horticulturist at Wilson’s Garden Center, a successful horticulture business in Licking County

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“And don’t forget about the Ohio buckeye, especially in this state,” he says. “Trees grow well in Licking County and there are heavily forested areas still in this community.”

Rooted in the Classroom Licking County is also home to Ohio’s only full-time accredited horticulture training program for adults. The Career and Technology Education Center of Licking County, or C-TEC, offers the program that takes one year to complete.

“People think that anyone can do professional landscaping, but that is far from the truth,” says Lois Whyde, Professional Landscape and Nursery Training (PLANT) program coordinator at C-TEC. “We teach students about pesticides, insects, fertilizers and plant identification, and the students are familiar with more than 300 local plants, trees, shrubs, evergreens, annuals and perennials once they graduate.”

Whyde says the course involves 560 hours of class work

with an additional 200-hour internship.

“We even offer a Spanish class because more and more Latinos are being hired for this industry, and local employers don’t have anyone to speak Spanish to them,” she says.

Other Growth Companies There are several other businesses devoted to keeping Licking County lush and green. Among them is Timbuk Farms, which began in 1952 as a Christmas tree farm and today sells wholesale plants to retail garden centers – and still sells Christmas trees. The Dawes Arboretum dates back to 1929 and today is an 1,800-acre park that includes eight miles of hiking trails, a four-mile auto driving tour, a Japanese garden, Dutch Fork wetlands and an observation tower. And Cedar’s Lawn and Garden Center in Newark is a retail operation with more than 15,000 plants.

“Landscaping and horticulture are industries that continue to thrive in Licking County,” Whyde says.

Shoppers have a variety of choices at Wilson’s Garden Center, from plants and flowers (above) to decorative pots (top right). Top left: A McCullough’s Tree Service employee trims a tree for a customer in Granville.

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Business

Biz Briefs Businesses – both large and small – that help define licking county’s economic climate

Scorecard Business At A Glance

$2 million Annual retail sales

$10,136 Retail sales per capita

$160,000 Annual hotel and food sales

12,154 Total number of firms Source: U.S. Census QuickFacts

HEARTLAND BANK Biz: Banking Buzz: Celebrating 100 years in the banking business, Heartland Bank has long been a community staple in Licking County. Its focus on relationship banking has helped it build a reputation as a customer-oriented bank, differentiating itself from larger corporations.

Services include personal banking from credit cards to loans, as well as business services. www.heartlandbank.com 14

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BUCKEYE WINERY Biz: Wine store Buzz: Opened in 2007, Buckeye Winery brings the flavors of fine wines from all over the world into its little store on the square in downtown Newark. Larry and Kathie Morrison, owners of the winery, ship in juices from top wineries and prepare the wines in the store. Customers are also offered the opportunity to make their own wines. www.buckeyewinery.com

Photo Courtesy of Attitudz Hair

ATTITUDZ HAIR Biz: Styling salon Buzz: Attitudz Hair is a locally owned, full-service salon that has been operating at the same location in Heath for nearly 20 years. All stylists have a minimum of 10 years of experience, and each customer is offered a free consultation along with a complimentary shampoo and style.

Services offered include haircutting, coloring, texture/perming services and corrective coloring. attitudzhair.com

BUXTON INN Biz: Hotel Buzz: As Ohio’s oldest continuously operated inn, the Buxton Inn offers guests a unique traveling experience and a long history. Built in 1812, the inn once operated as the city of Granville’s first post office, and ran under of slew of different names and owners. Today, the Buxton Inn remains a popular getaway. Guests enjoy a peaceful setting complete with seven dining rooms. www.buxtoninn.com

MARTIN MUSIC Biz: Music dealer Buzz: Martin Music is Ohio’s oldest Martin guitar dealer. In addition to guitars, the Newark store sells other instruments and accessories, such as keyboards, pianos, guitar amps and PA systems. Rentals and instrument repair are also available. A wide variety of lessons are offered, from vocals to instruments including guitar, bass, fiddle, drums and more for beginner, intermediate and advanced players. www.martinmusic.com

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Business

Chamber Report Chamber organizes 88-person trip to China

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heri Hottinger was so impressed with a trip she took to China in March 2010 that she decided to return there – with 87 of her friends.

The president of the Licking County Chamber of Commerce organized an Explore China excursion that took place April 13-21, 2011. Hottinger needed to recruit at least 10 interested people for

the trip to happen, and 88 people signed up.

“I visited China in 2010 with an American Chamber of Commerce Executives group, and the trip’s organizer, Citslinc International, asked if I’d like to eventually put together a local Licking County group to visit China,” Hottinger says. “Citslinc

only books trips to China and is very efficient and organized, plus they offer an excellent price for the entire package.”

$2,011 in 2011 The price was $2,011 per person, which included round-trip airfare from New York’s JFK Airport to Shanghai, as well as four- and five-star hotel stays, three full meals a day, English-speaking tour guides, intracity air and ground transportation, and admission to all tours and attractions.

“All participants had to somehow get to JFK and then everything else was taken care of,” Hottinger says.

“To experience China for $2,011 in the year 2011 was an amazing deal. I even took my two teenage daughters.”

Great Wall

• Ten school districts with rigorous curriculums preparing the workforce of tomorrow • Clearly defined and articulated pathways to post-secondary education and workforce credentialing • A business/community advisory council enlisting local business leaders to create activities that provide relevance for what students are learning • The Licking County Education Service Center (ESC) providing the relationship “glue” to keep us working together in creating cooperative programs across all districts

Ages 10 to 80

Licking County Educational Service Center 675 Price Rd. Newark, Ohio 43055 (740) 349-6084 www.lcesc.org

The nonstop New York-to-Shanghai flight took 14.5 hours. Once in China, the nine-day excursion included visits to the 4,000-mile-long Great Wall, Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City, Longevity Hill, Kunming Lake and the Ming Tombs. There was also a trip to the Temple of Heaven, which dates back to 1420 A.D. and is where emperors have historically prayed to the heavens for good harvests.

“The trip featured a packed itinerary with the travelers doing interesting things each day from 8 a.m. to around 7 p.m.,” Hottinger says. “We also toured factories and companies, including a visit to the National Embroidery Institute to see silk embroidery – a Chinese craft with a 1,000-year history.”

www.heartofohiotechprep.org

Local School Districts: Johnstown-Monroe • Lakewood • Licking Heights • Licking Valley • North Fork • Northridge • Southwest Licking

Hottinger adds that the April 2011 trip featured passengers ranging in age from 10 to 80.

“This trip offered something unique for everyone, from the business leader to the college student to the adventurous traveler,” she says.

– Kevin Litwin

Plus: C-TEC • Heath City Schools • Granville Exempted Village Schools • Newark City Schools

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economic profile Business climate Manufacturing industries and agriculture almost equally make up Licking County’s economy. The county is the fourth-largest agricultural producing county in the state and is home to more than 100 manufacturing, research and development businesses.

income

$25,722 Per Capita Income

Tax Structure

$56,522

1%

Average Annual Household Expenditure

County Sales Tax

6%

Transportation

State Sales Tax

Licking County Transit Services 763 E. Main St. Newark, OH 43055 (740) 670-5185 (800) 350-7071 www.lcounty.com/lctb

7% Total Sales Tax

major employers Licking County Memorial Hospital 1,600 employees Victoria Secret/ Limited Brands 1,307 employees State Farm Insurance Company 1,235 employees Licking County Government 1,090 employees Newark City SD 900 employees Denison University 720 employees Anomatic Corporation 650 employees Owens Corning Corporation 643 employees Ohio State University at Newark / Central Ohio Technical College 630 employees Park National Bank 625 employees

Newark-Heath Airport 530 Heath Rd. Heath, OH 43056 (740) 522-6968 www.newarkheathairport.com

workforce

53,885 Total Workforce

77% White-Collar Jobs

23% Blue-Collar Jobs

Economic Resources Licking County Chamber of Commerce 50 W. Locust St. Newark, OH 43055

(740) 345-9757 Fax (740) 345-5141 www.lickingcounty chamber.com

Government Offices Licking County 20 S. Second St. Newark, OH 43055 (740) 670-5000 www.lcounty.com City of Newark 40 W. Main St. Newark, OH 43055 (740) 670-7500 www.ci.newark.oh.us City of Heath 1287 Hebron Rd. Heath, OH 43056 (740) 522-1420 www.heathohio.gov Village of Granville 141 E. Broadway Granville, OH 43023 (740) 587-0707 Fax: (740) 587-0128 www.granville.oh.us City of Pataskala 621 W. Broad St. Pataskala, OH 43062 (740) 964-2416 www.ci.pataskala.oh.us

education

24% Associate Degree

21% Bachelor’s Degree

13% Graduate Degree

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Image Gallery

Blown glass by Aaron Buchholz at The Works Staff Photo

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Downtown Newark Staff Photo

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Local Flavor

Turning the Tables Old favorites, new faces combine to create innovative restaurant and cuisine scene

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ith everything from pot roast to pasta and sopapillas to salsas, even the pickiest palates can find plenty to like on the Licking County restaurant scene.

There’s American and international cuisine to be had for starters, and fresh breads and pies for those who are preparing their own tables. And these family-owned businesses are a part of the community as well, so it’s like dining out with friends every time.

Riley’s Bakery Newark’s third-oldest business, Riley’s Bakery, has been turning out legendary custom cakes, pies and breads for more than 80 years. All of those, not to mention the legendary doughnuts, are made from scratch – not a preservative in sight.

Over the years the bakery has grown to add a line of deli products and catering, and continues to be a local landmark in downtown Newark.

La Paloma Restaurants

Antony Boshier

Still looking for something to precede the sweet stuff? Try the sopapillas at one of La Paloma’s three restaurants in Newark, Heath or Mount Vernon. No matter what you pick off the menu, be assured that it’s from a family recipe brought by Gabriel and Marcia Buena when they settled here in 1975 and opened their first restaurant.

The sopapillas rule the day,

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Pecan nut rolls, peanut butter cookies and cut cookies are specialties at Riley’s Bakery.

filled with everything from beef and cheese to chicken or vegetables, and all tucked into a flaky crust created by Marcia Buena to resist the frying oil.

The Grill on Twenty First For fare with roots a little closer to home, be sure to check out The Grill on Twenty First, part of a growing chain that now includes The Grill Works Deli and the Grill’s Chop House.

The three are the brainchildren of restaurateur Eric Mason, who launched his first restaurant in 2007 and has been growing in every direction ever since.

The menu is upscale-casual at The Grill on Twenty First, ranging from soups and pizzas to an array of sandwiches, including Reubens and BLTs. More traditional menu items include the pot roast and pork osso buco, which are almost as popular as the 28-ounce signature Porterhouse, served strip style for one or two diners.

There’s also a lounge area that’s become a favorite watering hole for locals, and a second area that serves as a gathering place, so that adults and families alike can enjoy an evening out all under one roof.

The Grill at the Works, housed within The Works science and technology museum, takes care of patrons and nearby workers with a full deli-style operation.

The latest addition is Grill’s Chop House, another successful Mason adventure in downtown Newark’s former Natoma restaurant.

– Joe Morris

• A family-owned distributor, established in 1928 • Featuring Anheuser-Busch, InBev products • Gift shop on premises offering Anheuser-Busch, InBev merchandise • Chamber gift certificates accepted HOURS: Mon.-Fri. 8-5, Sat. 9-Noon “We are dedicated to building awareness of effective solutions within our communities to promote responsible drinking, and prevent underage consumption and drunk driving.”

1190 E. Main St. • Newark, OH 43055 • (740) 349-8686

Living green starts from the ground up.

Living green is making sure the air in your home is healthy for your family to breathe. Test your home for radon and build radon-resistant. It's easy. That's living healthy and green.

Just call 866-730-green or visit www.epa.gov/radon

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Staff Photo

Health & Wellness

The John and Mary Alford Pavilion on the Licking Memorial Hospital campus

Healthy Growth Licking Memorial Hospital adds, expands facilities, services and technology

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icking Memorial Hospital is the nicest place you never want to go.

The 227-bed facility was founded in 1898, and has been a growing part of the community ever since. By working to improve technology, services and facilities, the hospital continues to roll out treatments and programs that make the region it serves a healthy place to live.

Top 100 Hospital Licking Memorial, a part of Licking Memorial Health Systems, has been recognized repeatedly

by Solucient, a health-care business-intelligence firm, as a Top

100 Hospital. It’s an award that only goes to facilities achieving excellence in patient care and safety, efficiency, financial performance and community service. LMH is one of only three hospitals in central Ohio to be so honored. It also has been named to Thomson Reuters’ national list of 100 Top Hospitals 10 times.

New Facilities The hospital has undergone major remodeling in recent years, completing such ambitious projects as a new and expanded critical-care pavilion that ties into the emergency room, an improved women’s imaging center, and an

updated and enlarged maternity services department with 16 mother-baby suites containing private bathrooms with showers, cable television, new flooring and reclining chairs. Other innovative services for mothers include massage therapy, as well as a gourmet dinner for new parents.

Betsy Eaton O’Neill Health Resource Center LMH has also opened the Betsy Eaton O’Neill Health Resource Center, a place for patients, their families and friends, and medical professionals to find information about illnesses and treatments, as i m ag e s l i c k i n g c o u n t y. c o m

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well as emotional care and other issues. Volunteers with clinical backgrounds staff the center, and its amenities include computers with Internet access, reference manuals, anatomically correct models of internal organs, healthrelated journals and much more.

Urgent Care Center

New And Renewed Accreditations LMH’s many other departments also continue to lead the way, as

evidenced by their accreditation by national organizations. The radiology department has received accreditation from the American College of Radiology for its MRI and computer tomography, as well as its emergency department system. In addition, the LMH laboratory has earned the Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval for meeting and exceeding national standards for health-care quality and safety.

– Joe Morris

photos by Antony Boshier

LMH also has moved many services off-site as well, opening the Licking Memorial Urgent Care Center at its Pataskala Health Campus. The urgent-care center

is an extension of the hospital’s emergency department, and offers diagnosis, treatment and management of urgent medical conditions and minor trauma. The center also features several new physician practices, including gastroenterology, heart care, otolaryngology, surgical services and urology.

Clockwise from top left: A mural entitled A Common Thread at Licking Memorial Hospital; John and Mary Alford Pavilion at LMH; Licking Memorial Urgent Care Center at the Pataskala Health Campus

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A skylight in the lobby of the Licking Memorial Urgent Care Center

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Arts & Culture

Family Time Arts, entertainment scene attracts all ages

W

hether it’s a showcase of elaborate glassware, an interactive history lesson or a good old-fashioned musical, Newark seems to always have something to do that the whole family can enjoy.

Raise the Curtain Some of the more popular attractions are the county’s two theater companies – Weathervane Playhouse and the Licking County Players. Both offer a variety of

musicals, comedies and dramas.

Born in a barn on July 8, 1969, Weathervane Playhouse is Ohio’s longest-running summer stock company. Today it is housed in a 300-seat theater, and recent productions have included South Pacific, The Musical Comedy of Murders of 1940, Ragtime, Songs for a New World and Beauty and the Beast.

Weathervane Playhouse also hosts summer workshops for kids and teenagers.

On Newark’s Main Street The Licking County Players presents an eight-show season of musical and dramatic plays.

Opened in 1967, this all-volunteer, award-winning company began as the Welsh Hills Players, performing at the Plymouth United Church of Christ.

Now the company owns its own 100-seat building on Newark’s Main Street, which originally housed a funeral home

The Weathervane Playhouse production of Into the Woods from the 2009 season

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and the Salvation Army. Running year round, the company offers Suitcase Theater, Dinner Theater and children’s workshops. Past performances have included The Kitchen Witches, Pack of Lies, Hello Dolly, Jeckyl & Hyde, The Sound of Music and Hansel and Gretel.

The company also has several memorials on the property that honor past and present members.

The gold stars in the lobby recognize individuals and companies that have made contributions to the theater over the years.

History and Histrionics The National Heisey Glass Museum, which features more than 4,500 pieces of glassware produced in Newark by A. H. Heisey & Company from 1896-1957, is another popular attraction. Opening in 1974, the museum is run by the Heisey Collectors of America Inc. and is located downtown in Veterans Park.

The museum showcases hundreds of patterns in all known colors, including pressed glass, brown, etched, cut and colored glass. The museum also consists of the historic Samuel D. King residence, an 1831 Greek Revivalstyle home that was saved from demolition and moved to Veterans Park in July 1973.

Gimme The Works The Works: Ohio Center for History‚ Art & Technology gives visitors an interactive way to learn about the history, technology and artistic accomplishments of the surrounding communities. It’s known for rotating its exhibits to keep the learning experience fresh throughout the year. The center also features warmweather concerts in the courtyard, summer art camps for kids and various lecture series.

– Kevin Litwin

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Sports & Recreation

Ideal for Busy Bodies Licking county recreation options are numerous

The Lou and Gib Reese Ice Arena is home to hockey teams, figure skating classes, curling competitions and much more.

Antony Boshier

R

ecreation opportunities are easy to spot in Licking County.

Lou and Gib Reese Ice Arena Reese Ice Arena is available to hockey teams, figure skating classes and curling competitions, and is open to anyone ages 3 and up. There are learn-to-skate classes as well as open-skate events seven days a week.

Staff Photo

HEATH CITY WATER PARK

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Heath City Water Park has a lazy river attraction‚ two large water slides and an activity pool with water cannons. The facility also boasts a 50-meter Olympic pool‚ two diving boards and a shade shelter.

Hollander Pool Hollander Pool in Newark holds 500,000 gallons and sports three water slides‚ a shelter house‚ playground‚ snack bar‚ locker rooms and restrooms.

Numerous Trails Trails go from the east in Hanover into Newark, to the west past Granville and Alexandria, and into the northwest portion of the county, ending in Johnstown.

Cherry Valley Road in east Granville to Johnstown provides a 28-mile round-trip adventure.

Baseball Diamonds A dozen baseball diamonds are available at Newark’s Everett‚ Carson-Metz‚ Denman‚ Wells‚ Levin and Reddington Road parks.

Levin Park also has two competition softball diamonds. In Heath‚ Hoback Park features five Little League baseball fields and a basketball court‚ and John C. Geller Park has two softball fields.

Soccer Fields The Newark Area Soccer Association offers leagues for ages 6 through 19‚ with games at its complex on Baker Boulevard.

Reddington Road Park also has soccer fields.

Golf Courses There are 17 courses in the immediate area. Granville leads the way with four golf venues, and the communities of Johnstown, Newark and Pataskala have three apiece. Alexandria, Heath, Hebron and Nashport all have one course.

Buckeye Lake State Park Buckeye Lake State Park is the oldest state park in Ohio, and its primary draw is the lake itself.

Two public swimming areas are open from Memorial Day to Labor Day, and winter options include ice boating, ice skating, crosscountry skiing and ice fishing.

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The John L. and Christine Warner Library and Student Center is used by students from both Central Ohio Technical College and Ohio State University-Newark. photo by antony boshier

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Education

College Town Higher education, training flourishes on COTC, OSU-Newark, Denison campuses

W

hether it’s a high school grad looking to obtain a college degree, a worker who wants to gain some additional training or a community member out to pick up some new knowledge, the higher-education community in Licking County stands ready to help.

Central Ohio Technical College Students from more than half of Ohio’s 88 counties make their

way to COTC’s Newark and other local campuses, and the college continues to set enrollment records. Major campus renovations and additions have seen to it that housing’s up to snuff for all the new enrollees, while academic programs continue to expand in every direction as well.

More than 31 associate degree and certificate programs are available at COTC, as well as specific technical-training courses

for students and local workers.

Along with Ohio State University at Newark, COTC has also been included in the G.I. Jobs 2011 list of Military Friendly Schools, which honors the top 15 percent of colleges, universities and trade schools doing the most to add veterans as students. The two schools also continue to expand their many workforcedevelopment partnerships such as the Workforce Development and Innovation Center, and between

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them enroll more than 5,000 students per semester at their shared campus.

the Ohio State University at Newark OSU at Newark also has been adding to both its physical and academic presence to ensure that it continues to meet the community’s needs both now and in the future.

Bachelor’s programs in education, nursing, general business, English, history and psychology can be obtained here, as well as master’s degrees in early/middle childhood, integrated teaching and learning, and social work.

The university also plays a vital

role in the community that surrounds it, recently winning a $400,000 grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities for its tourism-growth program. The effort by OSU’s Newark Earthworks Center in tandem with the Center for the Electronic Reconstruction of Historical and Archeological Sites at the University of Cincinnati will focus on materials to enhance the Ancient Ohio Trail, a driving tour of Ohio that explores the largescale earthworks built by ancient American Indian cultures in central and southern Ohio.

Denison University It’s no slower on the campus of Denison University, where

Above: Ohio State University at Newark students work in a chemistry lab Right: William Howard Doane Library on the campus of Denison University

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students from around the world benefit from an ever-expanding roster of programs and facilities.

In addition to almost 48 courses of study and multiple preprofessional programs, the school is also rightfully known for its quality athletics. That’ll be even more visible soon, as Denison is in the midst of a $38.5 million renovation and expansion of the Mitchell Recreation and Athletics Center to house its growing varsity athletics programs.

Among its offerings will be a new natatorium with an Olympicsize pool and hall of fame area.

The entire eco-friendly facility, set to open in 2013, is being built according to LEED standards.

– Joe Morris

photos by Antony Boshier

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visit our

advertisers C-TEC www.c-tec.edu COTC www.cotc.edu Davis-Shai House www.davisshaihouse.com First Federal Savings www.firstfedohio.com Heath City Water Park www.heathohio.gov Heath/Newark Hampton Inn www.heathnewark.hamptoninn.com Kendal at Granville www.kag.kendal.org Licking County Educational Service Center www.lcesc.org Licking County Job & Family Services www.lickingcountyjfs.com Licking County United Way www.lcuw.net Licking Memorial Health System www.lmhealth.org Matesich Distributing www.matesichbeer.com Ohio State Newark/COTC www.newark.osu.edu Packaging Corporation of America www.packagingcorp.com Prudential Integrity One Realtors Kelly Parker & Patti Urbatis www.pattiurbatis.com Reese, Pyle, Drake & Meyer PLL www.rpdm.com The Dawes Arboretum www.dawesarb.org The Energy Cooperative www.theenergycoop.com The Jerry McClain Companies www.jerrymcclainco.com The Links at Echo Springs www.thelinksatechosprings.com The Works www.attheworks.org Tony Adams Agency www.thetonyadamsagency.com Wilson, Shannon & Snow Inc. CPAs www.wssinc.net

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6039-TR12260M_TGB_Livability.indd 1

3/22/10 11:40:09 AM

community profile Snapshot Licking County, adjacent to rapidly sprawling Columbus, possesses all the qualities that provide good living in a good community.

This once-sleepy agricultural community of farmers, hunters and tradespeople has grown to more than 160,000 people.

household information

38 Median Resident Age

28% Age 19 and Under

46% Age 20-54

transportation

23 minutes Median Travel Time to Work Closest Major Airport:

Port Columbus International Airport 4600 International Gateway Columbus, OH 43219 (614) 239-4000 columbusairports.com

Climate

26%

84°

Age 55 and Over

Port Columbus International Airport is approximately 22 miles from Licking County.

95%

Cost of Living

July Average High

17

°

January Average Low

41” Annual Rain Fall (vs. National Average Annual Rain Fall of 37”)

White

2%

Eastern

Median Household Income

Black

1% Hispanic

time zone

$63,656

2% Other

$112,252 Median Home Price

$785 Median Rent for a Two-Bedroom Apartment

This section is sponsored by

You’re a neighbor, not a number.

Providing Insurance and Financial Services Tony Adams, Agent – (740) 349-8055 1248 W. Main St. • Newark, OH www.thetonyadamsagency.com

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Through the Lens

Get the Story Behind the Photo Now that you’ve experienced Licking County through our photos, see it through the eyes of our photographers. Visit imageslickingcounty.com to view our exclusive photographers’ blog documenting what all went in to capturing those perfect moments.

From Our Photo Blog: Licking County As spring comes to Tennessee, I assume it has come to the whole country. For example, my most recent trip was to Licking County, Ohio. It was by no means -41 degrees or anything like that, but it was still several weeks behind Tennessee. So there I was with only short sleeves, not even a light jacket packed, and I had an assignment at Wilson’s Garden Center. I was not living up to the Boy Scout motto: Be Prepared.

Well, if you can’t be prepared, you might as well be lucky. And lucky I was.

Wilson’s Garden Center has an amazing indoor space full of flowers, and has a really helpful horticulturist, Shelli BerryMcDaniel. So despite my inability to remember that changes in the seasons are not the same time at all latitudes, I was able to come away with some nice photos. I hope you enjoy looking at them as much as I enjoyed taking them.

Posted by antony boshier

More Online See more favorite photos and read the stories behind the shots at imageslickingcounty.com.

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State-of-the-Art

Heath City Water Park E AFFORDABL RATES!

• Five pools • 30-foot rainbow and speed slides • 660-foot lazy river • 600-gallon water bucket

Patti Urbatis Owner/Broker (740) 587-7042 www.pattiurbatis.com Kelly ParKer Realtor, GRI (740) 334-9777 www.kellyparkerhome.com

• Drop slides • Activity pool and much more!

OPEN DAILY June & August – 12-6:45 p.m.

July – 12-7:45 p.m.

1287 Hebron Rd. • Heath, OH (740) 522-4049 www.heathohio.gov

120 1/2 E. Broadway Granville, OH 40323

BOOK A TEE TIME on our website or by calling

(740) 587-1890 The Links at Echo Springs Golf Course 1890 Loudon St. • Johnstown, Ohio 43031 Visit us at: www.thelinksatechosprings.com

GIVE. ADVOCATE. VOLUNTEER.

LIVE UNITED.

Licking County United Way 740-345-6685 www.lcuw.net

CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS www.wssinc.net

Bookkeeping • Tax Estate Planning • Auditing Financial Planning • Computer Consulting 10 W. Locust St. • Newark, OH 43055 (740) 345-6611 Serving Licking County for Over 50 Years

Davis-Shai House

A Licking County Cultural Center, An Elegant Meeting Place • Cultural events • Teas & Friday lunches • Dinner theatres & musical performances • Cooking & decorating classes • Holiday dinners & events • Corporate meetings • Bus groups • Wedding events • Private parties

301 Central Pkwy. • Heath • 740.788.8942 • www.davisshaihouse.com

Assisted Living deveLopment • mAnAgement new ResidentiAL ConstRuCtion • ResidentiAL RemodeLing new CommeRCiAL ConstRuCtion • CommeRCiAL RemodeLing 51 N. Third St. • Ste. 701 • Newark, OH 43055 740.345.3700 • 740.345.7732 Fax • www.jerrymcclainco.com

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Ad Index

33 C-TEC

c3 Davis-Shai House

3 First Federal Savings

c3 Heath City Water Park

c2 Heath/Newark Hampton Inn

27 Kendal at Granville

16 Licking County Educational Service Center

33 Licking County Job & Family Services

c3 Licking County United Way

c4,22 Licking Memorial

Health System

21 Matesich Distributing

31 Ohio State Newark/COTC

27 Packaging Corporation of America

c3 Prudential Integrity One Realtors Kelly Parker & Patti Urbatis

29 Reese, Pyle, Drake & Meyer PLL

29 The Dawes Arboretum

15 The Energy Cooperative

c3 The Jerry McClain Companies

c3 The Links at Echo Springs

c3 The Works

35 Tony Adams Agency

c3 Wilson, Shannon & Snow, Inc. CPAs