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December 2012/January 2013 3 Calendar 5 News and Information from the City of Pickerington 7 News and Information from Violet Township
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faces Work in Progress Construction worker’s multimedia art is forever transforming his home
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in focus Presents of Pickerington
Pickerington Magazine’s Holiday Gift Guide shows off the city’s finest
14 Warming Hearts Violet Township firefighters help provide toys to children in need
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bookmarks Picks from the Pickerington Library Read more online at www.pickeringtonmagazine.com!
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www.pickeringtonmagazine.com CityScene Media Group also publishes: CityScene Magazine www.CitySceneColumbus.com Dublin Life Magazine www.DublinLifeMagazine.com Westerville Magazine www.WestervilleMagazine.com Tri-Village Magazine www.TriVillageMagazine.com Healthy New Albany Magazine www.HealthyNewAlbanyMagazine.com The Publisher welcomes contributions in the form of manuscripts, drawings, photographs or story ideas to consider for possible publication. Enclose a SASE with each submission or email gbishop@cityscenemediagroup.com. Publisher does not assume responsibility for loss or damage. The appearance of advertising in Pickerington Magazine does not constitute an endorsement of the advertiser’s product or service by the City of Pickerington. Pickerington Magazine is published in June, August, October, December, February and April. Subscriptions are free for households within the city limits of Pickerington, Ohio. For advertising information or bulk purchases, email Molly Pensyl at mpensyl@cityscenemediagroup.com. No part of this publication may be reproduced without the written consent of the publishers. Pickerington Magazine is a registered trademark of CityScene Media Group. Printed in the U.S.A.
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community calendar Mark your calendar for these community events DECEMBER 2012 Through Dec. 11
Dec. 1
Letters to Santa
Santa Saturday
Pickerington City Hall, 100 Lockville Rd., www.pickerington.net Children can write personal letters to Santa and drop them in the North Pole Express mailbox stationed in front of City Hall. If the child’s name and return address are included, Santa will write back.
1-3:30 p.m., Pickerington Public Library, 201 Opportunity Way, www.pickeringtonlibrary.org Enjoy crafts, games, music and a visit from Santa.
Dec. 6 Christmas Potluck
Through Dec. 19
6:30 p.m., Pickerington-Violet Township Historical Society Museum, 15 E. Columbus St., www.pickeringtonhistoricalsociety.com Bring a dish and celebrate with the Pickerington-Violet County Historical Society. The Pickerington High School Central girls’ choir will perform.
Violet Township Fire Department Toy Drive Violet Township fire stations, www.violet.oh.us See page 14.
Dec. 1 Breakfast with Santa
Dec. 7
8 a.m.-noon, Pickerington Senior Center, 150 Hereford Dr., 614-833-2211, www.pickerington.net Enjoy breakfast with Santa, crafts, music, baked goods and a Secret Santa shop. There will be three seatings: 8, 9:30 and 11 a.m. Purchase tickets at the Recreation Department, 100 Lockville Rd.
Olde Village Holiday Gathering 5-8:30 p.m., Olde Pickerington Village, www.pickeringtonvillage.com See page 8.
Dec. 7-18
Dorothy Steiger Memorial
Mitten Tree 8 a.m.- 5 p.m., Pickerington City Hall, 100 Lockville Rd., www.pickerington.net Donate new or gently used mittens, gloves, hats and other warm weather gear. Donations are accepted during regular business hours. The mitten tree lighting is at 4:30 p.m. Dec. 7.
Dec. 11 Musical Celebration Concert 7-9 p.m., Pickerington High School North, 7800 Refugee Rd., www.pickerington.k12.oh.us North presents a concert highlighting the talents of the students in its choir, orchestra and instrumental jazz programs.
Dec. 15
The Merry Mile 5 p.m., Pickerington City Hall, 100 Lockville Rd., www.pickerington.net Run, walk, skip, skateboard or cartwheel your way through this free event. Holiday festivities follow at the park.
Dec. 17 Band Holiday Concert
7-9 p.m., Pickerington High School North, 7800 Refugee Rd., www.pickerington.k12.oh.us The Harmon Middle School, Toll Gate Middle School and Lakeview Junior High School bands join forces to perform a holiday concert.
Dec. 17 Orchestra Christmas Concert 7:30-9:30, Pickerington High School Central, 300 Opportunity Way, www.pickerington.k12.oh.us
Dec. 18 North Band Winter Concert 7-9 p.m., Pickerington High School North, 7800 Refugee Rd., www.pickerington.k12.oh.us
Dec. 18 Ridgeview Choir Winter Concert 7:30-9 p.m., Pickerington High School Central, 300 Opportunity Way, www.pickerington.k12.oh.us The students of Ridgeview Junior High School perform.
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community calendar
JANUARY 2013
DECEMBER Continued
Dec. 19
Jan. 3
Sounds of Christmas Concert 7:30-9:30 p.m., Pickerington High School Central, 300 Opportunity Way, www.pickerington.k12.oh.us
Back to School
Dec. 20
Jan. 9
Lakeview Choir Winter Concert 6:30-8:30 p.m., Pickerington High School North, 7800 Refugee Rd., www.pickerington.k12.oh.us Celebrate the season with the Lakeview Junior High School choir.
Dec. 21
Senior Citizens Luncheon 12:30-1 p.m., Pickerington Senior Center, 150 Hereford Dr., www.pickerington.k12.oh.us Lunch is provided free at the Pickerington Senior Center’s monthly luncheon.
Jan. 11
Holiday Break Begins Pickerington schools are out until 2013.
Dec. 27 CityScene Movie Night: Les Miserables 5:30 p.m., Arena Grand Movie Theatre, 175 W. Nationwide Blvd., www.arenagrand.com Enjoy discounted prices on tickets, beer and cocktails starting at 5:30, then, at 7, catch the latest big-screen adaptation of the much-loved Broadway musical Les Miserables.
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Pickerington schools are back in session after holiday break.
Assisted Living
Ridgeview Teen Night 7-9:30 p.m., Ridgeview Junior High School, 130 Hill Rd. S., www.pickerington.k12.oh.us Ridgeview’s Teen Night events offer teenagers the opportunity to socialize in a fun, safe environment, with activities including dancing, basketball, dodgeball and other games.
Jan. 21-24 Restaurant Week
Plus . . .
Throughout Pickerington, 614-8371958, www.pickeringtonchamber.com The Pickerington Area Chamber of Commerce presents another Restaurant Week event, following up on the success of the first one in August. Special food offerings and deals will be available at a variety of local restaurants. For a list, visit the Chamber’s website or call the number above.
Jan. 22 Franklin County Immunization Clinic 9:30 a.m.-3 p.m., Pickerington Public Library, 201 Opportunity Way, 614-525-3719, www.pickeringtonlibrary.org Stay healthy this winter and get your necessary immunizations. The clinic is closed from 12:30 to 1 p.m.
Jan. 22 Not Your Mother’s Library Book Club
www.pickeringtonlibrary.org The book club, open to people of all ages who love to read, discusses Learning to Swim by Sara J. Henry.
Jan. 25 Lakeview Teen Night 7-9:30 p.m., Lakeview Junior High School, 12445 Ault Rd., www.pickerington.k12.oh.us Like its Ridgeview counterpart, Lakeview’s Teen Night offers two and a half hours of fun and safe entertainment, including dancing, basketball, pingpong and video games.
Jan. 29 Central vs. North Varsity Boys Basketball 7:30 p.m., Pickerington High School North, 7800 Refugee Rd., www.pickerington.k12.oh.us The boys varsity basketball teams at Central and North go head-to-head.
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INSIDE
PICKERINGTON
N E W S & I N F OR M AT I O N F R O M T H E C I T Y O F P I C K E R I NGT ON
Any Requests? The City of Pickerington is gaining an extra set of eyes. Citizens can now log onto the City’s website at www.pickerington.net to provide a crime tip, report a code violation or even request a pothole be fixed. On the City’s updated home page, there is a “City Request Center” (CRC) link in the middle of the page that allows residents to click on a tab and report a problem. When they open the CRC link, residents have four options on a drop-down bar to choose from: code violations, crime tips, public information requests and service requests. If they are making a service request, there is a place to check-mark the type of assistance needed. Requests for service suggestions range from curb/sidewalk repair to the pick-up of dead animals on roadways. There is even a box to mark “other” if none of the 11 categories applies to the situation. While other cities have similar “3-1-1” services, this enhanced, interactive website program was designed specifically for Pickerington, and does not direct the user to “frequently asked questions” as a way of dealing with the challenge, according to Lana Messmore, the City’s webmaster and administrative assistant to the human resources director.
“Those usually go to a page of frequently asked questions and will direct the visitor to the appropriate place in the website in which to accomplish their goal,” Messmore said. The Pickerington site allows residents to immediately report a problem without having to navigate through pages to decide what they should do. Residents can report situations anonymously if they choose. If they desire a response back, they can enter their email address. “We hope for continuous improvement of the City’s responsiveness though a 24/7, easy-to-use community request center; a citywide system for prioritizing and expediting service calls; and simplified tracking of responses to requests, which allows for staff performance analysis and reporting,” Messmore said. Residents do not have to be near a computer to send a request for help to the City. “Residents can pull up our website on their cell phones and access the same forms they would at home on their computer without having to download a special application, or they can still call in as they have in the past,” Messmore said. If a resident prefers to speak directly to the department, the City has recorded a directory of personnel and departments.
An operator is also always available to assist. For easy access, a list of City employees and department extensions can be downloaded and printed from the “Public Information” button on the website home page so that City services are always at your fingertips.
Service Department Stays Busy The City of Pickerington is a carefully groomed place for residents to live, work and play. As a result of the dedication of the 11 employees of the City’s Service and Utilities Department, new investors are taking a second look at the vibrant Violet City. To attract new people to Pickerington while keeping it a wonderful place for residents to live, City crews stress attention-to-detail activities from picking up trash and debris along the roadways to the timely filling of pesky potholes. City employees take the time to responsibly maintain beautiful hanging flower baskets in Olde Pickerington Village, care for City parks that invite
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children and sports enthusiasts to play, and rise to the occasion to perform at a minute’s notice when Mother Nature dumps a ton of snow on the City or when summer storms uproot trees or create other weather-related safety hazards. In addition to these services, City crews are responsible for maintenance of 53 center line miles of roadways, water and wastewater operations, street sign installation, leaf pick-up, mosquito fogging, tree maintenance, grass mowing, and water meter reading. While their “to do” list never seems to end, these crews know how important their job is to the residents of the City.
“I appreciate the proactive, attention-to-detail, results-driven approach that our City Services Department brings to work every day,” said Pickerington City Manager Bill Vance. “All involved believe that a community’s success is based upon its establishing a status of continual improvement where our City’s collectively beneficial results are perpetual, visible and increase in frequency as time goes by,” he added. To keep Pickerington’s residential neighborhoods in good condition, the Services Department has initiated an adopt-a-subdivision program. “We choose a different subdivision each month and dedicate a day or two when all of our 11
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News and information from the City of Pickerington
citydirectory Pickerington City Hall, 100 Lockville Rd.
(All numbers prefixed with the 614 area code)
“Service Department” continued Service Department employees trim trees, sweep streets, repair and replace signs, and paint hydrants in the summer months, said Pickerington Service Director Edward Drobina. “The City has very hardworking employees who take pride in their jobs. I am very fortunate to work for the residents of Pickerington along with a great support staff,” Drobina said. On the Utility side, to respond to sewer challenges even more quickly, the City has purchased a sewer jet trailer to relieve sewer backups. In the
past, the Department had to call in a contractor for sewer cleaning, according to Drobina. In 2013, the Department is also going to establish programs for water tank maintenance, valve maintenance and replacement, hydrant tracking and painting, and the cleaning and videoing of sanitary sewer lines. These programs are designed to spot potential challenges before they become big problems for City residents so that Pickerington remains a beautiful place to call home.
Building Department ................ 833-2221 City Council............................. 837-3974 City Manager........................... 837-3974 Development Department......... 833-2204 Engineering Department .......... 833-2221 Finance Department................. 837-3974 Human Resources.................... 837-3974 Income Tax Division.................. 837-4116 Mayor’s Office (Lee A. Gray)............................ 837-3974 Mayor’s Court.......................... 837-3974 Parks and Recreation............... 833-2211 Police Department.................... 575-6911
cityprofile: Jan Eichner While some people worry about figuring their personal income taxes and getting them turned in to the City of Pickerington on time, Jan Eichner has about 11,000 taxes to calculate each year. Since 1989, Eichner has worked in the payroll and income tax department for the City, including the last nine years as the tax administrator. “I feel a friendly face, a sympathetic ear and a cooperative spirit in collecting and fairly administering taxes are musts for a local tax office. We are there to help our citizens fulfill and understand their tax obligations,” said Eichner. On Jan. 1, 2013, Eichner, who was the first parks and recreation director for the Village of Pickerington, will end her 32 years of service with the City and turn over the reins of the tax department to Kim Pulley, a former auditor with the state of Ohio and a private firm. The Pickerington Income Tax Department is responsible for collecting the City’s largest revenue source, which provides funding for City services and programs for 18,000 residents. “What I will remember most about Jan is her ability to interact with the residents and turn the not-so-pleasant job of tax collections into an opportunity to educate,” said Chris Schornack, Pickerington’s finance director. “Jan has handled residents with grace, openness and humor,” he added. When Eichner started with the tax department, Pickerington was a village of 600 people. Under her leadership, the department was able to keep up with managing the income taxes of a rapidly growing City with just a few people by “embracing technology.”
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Service Department Streets.................................... 833-2292 Utility Billing............................. 833-2289 Utility Maintenance................... 833-2292 Water Plant.............................. 833-2290 Waste Water Plant.................... 837-6490 “Jan initiated various upgrades to the software system, including electronic filing, which reduces the amount of paperwork received by the department while increasing the accuracy of the returns received,” Schornack said. As a result of improvements in technology, taxpayers can now log onto an account they create on the City’s website and check what they owe and what they have paid. When taxes are due, residents can even make credit card payments online and businesses can electronically pay their bills. While Eichner enjoys her job and keeping pace with technology, she decided to retire this year as a result of personal tragedy and triumph. In January 2012, she was diagnosed with a very rare form of cancer of the lymph nodes and began chemotherapy treatments. In May, her 45-year-old son Kevin passed away from Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). A few months later, Eichner’s father died while she was in the hospital undergoing colon surgery to remove another cancer. Eichner is now cancer-free and is being watched regularly to guard against any reoccurrences. “They say, ‘What doesn’t kill us makes us stronger,’ and I feel I can conquer almost anything after this year’s events. I now know I am a survivor, in more ways than one, and can use my experience to encourage others in similar circumstances,” Eichner said.
In 2013, taxpayers will benefit from Eichner’s work long after she has left the department. In the New Year, taxpayers will be able to e-file tax returns with a new online e-filing system. In preparation for Eichner’s retirement and to keep the department running smoothly, the City hired Pulley in April as her successor. “I am leaving my department in the very capable hands of Kim Pulley and we have discussed that philosophy and she is onboard with it,” Eichner said. “Of course, it is with mixed feelings that I leave a place that has been such a huge part of my life for so long. But I don’t live far and you can bet they will see my face often around City Hall,” she added. Pulley, who holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Muskingum College, said she has “big shoes” to fill. Already, she is impressed with the city that has grown over the years, but has maintained its “familyfriendly” atmosphere. One of the challenges of her new job is to help the city move forward in collecting delinquent taxes. “Nobody likes to pay taxes, but we try to be as friendly and as helpful as we can be,” Pulley said. Pulley will acquire all the tax duties of the department when the New Year rings in on Jan. 1.
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News and Information From
Violet Township By Susan Hite, food pantry representative
We Are Pickerington Food Pantry The PCMA Food Pantry of Pickerington was founded more than 30 years ago by local churches dedicated to providing emergency food assistance to families in need residing within the Pickerington Local School District. The pantry’s former home was in the basement of the Carnegie Building. In March 2012, the pantry moved to a larger site at 70 Cross St., where it continues to provide service to an increasing number of clients. It’s staffed by more than 70 volunteers and one part-time director. Clients of the food pantry range in age from infants to seniors. Some visit our pantry occasionally while others require a greater helping hand after suffering a debilitating illness or loss of employment. All have reached a point in their lives when they need a helping hand to assist them in this basic need of food. The food pantry extends that hand of support in a kind, respectful manner, offering food and encouragement. The holidays are a particularly difficult time of year for our clients. We offer special assistance by providing Thanksgiving and Christmas meal baskets. These bas-
kets are assembled by local churches, civic groups and community organizations. Clients are especially appreciative of the kindness shown them during the holidays. Community support is the lifeline of the food pantry. Individuals and organizations have cared for the food pantry in a variety of ways. Many want to know how they can help. Here’s how you can be a supporting member of this community effort: Donate Your Time! Time commitments can be as little as a few hours a month or as many as you can share! All really make a difference! • Work in our food pantry: Sort and shelve food for distribution, assist with unloading and stocking of deliveries. • Assist clients with shopping: Sign up for work during client hours, help register clients, act as a shopping guide. • Work in our office: Answer telephones, assist with data entry, help with mailings. • Organize a food drive: A perfect opportunity for schools, churches and civic groups. Collected donations
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may be dropped off during client hours or call for a special delivery. • Donate fresh produce from your garden: Drop off donations during client hours. Donate Money! Your tax-deductible contributions are essential to maintaining our food sources and housing them in a place accessible to clients. • Checks and cash donations are accepted year-round and are tax-deductible. Make checks payable to PCMA Food Pantry of Pickerington, P.O. Box 914, Pickerington, OH 43147. • Support us during our annual Plaza of Lights campaign, through Dec. 31. • Make a donation through payroll deduction at your place of employment. Call us for important information. Remember us in your prayers! 70 Cross St., Pickerington, OH 43147 Phone: 614-834-0079 Client Hours: Mondays, 6:30-8:30 p.m.; Thursdays and Saturdays, 10 a.m.-noon
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News and information from Violet Township
Olde Village Holiday
By Sandy Melillo, president, Olde Village Pickerington Business Association Each year, the Olde Pickerington Village Business Association (OPVBA) hosts an Olde Village Holiday in Olde Pickerington Village. Visitors to the celebration may participate in carriage rides, listen to stories of the season being read at the Pickerington-Violet Township Historical Society, hear carolers singing as they stroll throughout the village, receive a holiday treat from Deblin Designs, have a picture taken with Santa and his elves, or enjoy a number of other activities planned for the evening of Friday, Dec. 7. The evening is highlighted by the ceremonial lighting of the Village Tree by City of Pickerington dignitaries. The OPVBA is a membership organization representing and promoting businesses located in Olde Pickerington
Village. It is the purpose of the group to unify the businesses, examine challenges faced by all and increase awareness of shops and offices located there. For more information about the OPVBA, please contact any member of the organization or visit the website www.pick-
It’s Not Too Late to Winterize
By Chad Lucht, Senior Urban Specialist, Fairfield Soil and Water Conservation District The leaves have been raked and the lawn has been mowed for the final time. There are things around the house that one should do to prepare for winter: Start with the lawnmower and other gaspowered engines. Use a fuel stabilizer to help them start more easily in the spring. A good stabilizer can be found at any auto parts or home improvement store. Next, if garden hoses will remain outside, disconnect them from the outside spigot to prevent damage to the pipes. Drain the hoses to prevent a water leak in the spring. It is always a good idea to drain hoses, even if they will be hanging in the garage, basement or other structure for the winter. Then, to prepare your rain barrel for the winter months, drain the barrel, re8
eringtonvillage.com; a list of members may be found there. All are welcome to attend the Olde Village Holiday celebration on Dec. 7, beginning at 5 p.m. and continuing until 8:30 p.m. Shops and restaurants will be open during the event.
How to Reach Us Violet Township Administrative Offices 12970 Rustic Dr. Pickerington, OH 43147 614-575-5556 www.violet.oh.us
move the diverter and install the winter cover to keep water away from the foundation of your home. The barrel may remain in its location outside as long as the water is drained from it. Finally, check the gutters on your home to make certain they are securely attached and free from leaves and debris so they will function properly. Now that your summer equipment and your home have been prepared for their winter nap, it’s time to wake up one piece of equipment: the snow blower! Check all the fluid levels and start the snow blower to ensure everything is working prop-
Violet Township Fire Stations Phone 614-837-4123 Fire Chief: John Eisel #592: 8700 Refugee Rd. #591: 21 Lockville Rd. #593: 2365 Taylor Park Dr. (behind hhgregg) Violet Township Service Center Phone: 614-382-5979 490 Center St. Pickerington, OH 43147 erly. Nothing would be more disappointing than waking up and having to shovel snow by hand. www.pickeringtonmagazine.com
From the Violet Township Fire Department
www.violet.oh.us
Technology Advancements in the Fire Service: Mobile Data Computers By John Eisel, Violet Township Fire Chief
Technology has played an everemerging role in our industry, just as it has in every other, improving efficiency and access to information with the goal of improving service delivery. The role of the Mobile Data Computer (MDC) has become a vital link to providing service in several ways. Each response vehicle in our fleet is equipped with several technology pieces to make this successful. It begins with a ruggedized mobile laptop computer that is mounted in each vehicle and wired to the vehicle’s power system. The computer is loaded with specific software that includes a state-of-the-art mapping program, developed by firefighters, which provides directions to the crews responding to incidents. Prior to the mapping program, paper maps that detailed each subdivision in our service area had to be maintained. In some cases, new maps were drawn by www.pickeringtonmagazine.com
hand and copied, and each map book had to be updated, requiring much time and talent to be sure they were accurate. Updates to the current mapping program are accomplished with a simple jump drive and require minimal time. Future plans are to have all map updates pushed back through the system, requiring minimal or no labor to update. The files from which the maps are developed come from each county’s Global Information Systems (GIS) files, and are formatted for our use. This provides the most up-to-date and accurate files available, including the ability to view overhead Ortho files (similar to a satellite view). The MDC is also connected to the Internet through a secure device that provides a broadband connection to the dispatch center. This allows crews to view the address, nature and type of call they are responding to, and any specific
instructions or information that the crews may need. This program is a direct link to the dispatch center that provides realtime, accurate information in regard to emergencies. This interactive information program is linked to the mapping as well and will automatically link the address to the map. We also have the ability to identify any special hazards that may exist for a particular address or building. Target maps can also be linked to specific addresses, which can include building plans, photos and specific, detailed instructions. By having this technology and a link to the World Wide Web, the possibilities are endless and continually evolving. These devices have assisted us in providing a more efficient service and the ability to access resources in time of need.
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faces
Story and photos by Garth Bishop
Work in Progress Construction worker’s multimedia art is forever transforming his home
T
The interior of Brett Stager’s house is always under construction. And you’ve never seen such an artistic construction site. Stager, 48, a Pickerington resident, has been in the construction business for 30 years. He is the owner of Stager Roofing Co., which started out as a roofing company before evolving into a general construction company. Over the course of his career in construction, Stager had innumerable opportunities to explore different metals and other construction materials, and he soon began experimenting with leftover materials that might otherwise be thrown away. An art lover to begin with – in particular, a fan of abstract sculptures and paintings and a big Picasso buff – Stager began making art out of metal, soon branching out to other materials such as wood, granite, glass, paint and acrylics. “I don’t think that there’s one (material) I haven’t used,” he says. When he gets an idea or sees materials at a job site that he thinks he can reuse, Stager, who has no formal training as an artist, lets the inspiration carry him and gets to work on a new piece as soon as he can. “I have to do it, or else it drives me crazy,” he says. His work is constantly evolving; after a piece has hung in the house for some time, Stager may be inspired to make alterations to it and move it elsewhere. “He’ll hang a piece of art and then take it down and do more, and it’s completely different,” says Lisa Kessler, Stager’s girlfriend. Stager’s other endeavors have contributed to his artwork as well. He doesn’t have any machines for bending pieces of metal, so he does the bending himself – an area where his background in powerlifting comes in handy. 10
Brett Stager
“It is absolutely as old-style as you can get,” says Stager. “I just find ways to bend stuff.” The scope of Stager’s artistic endeavors is obvious as soon as one sets foot in his house – pieces of multimedia art are visible in every direction, taking up prominent places on the walls without ever making them appear cluttered. And the pieces hanging on the walls aren’t the only fruits of Stager’s labor – he also designed some of the furniture, accessories and décor. He even installed a huge, glass-bottomed balcony that hangs over the living room. “Anything you see in the house, I built,” he says. Stager can point to any item in the house and explain what materials it contains and how he got it to look the way it does. Pieces of red granite are arranged in triangles on metal poles protruding from a stone base. A plaster of Paris face was painted red and black, broken into pieces, and mounted on an aluminum rack. A huge slab of wood was burned with a torch, then scraped off to different extents in different places to create multiple colors without paint. A huge sheet of
leather was painted with a picture of an otherworldly creature. The basement is designed with an industrial look. For a piece with two concentric rings, Stager used poured concrete and fiberglass mesh to reinforce the rings so they can move around. One wall hosts a long piece of ground and painted aluminum; another has what looks from a distance to be an abstract painting, but on closer inspection is recycled aluminum and steel rebar in an aluminum frame from commercial building windows. The basement is also where Stager keeps his exercise equipment, and it’s rounded out by a slot machine, a pinball machine, a foosball table, an air hockey table and a 60-inch flat-screen TV. Midway up the stairs to the second floor is a piece of concrete backer board that was colored with glass, solder, paint and even crayons. In a room at the top of the stairs, near the glass balcony, is a long, two-inch-thick slab of Styrofoam laced with stainless steel cable. www.pickeringtonmagazine.com
GET NOTICED! Contact Molly today for special first-time advertising rates. Molly Pensyl 614.572.1256 mpensyl@cityscenemediagroup.com
A walkway connects the second floor to the balcony, which is reinforced with beams. The surface of the balcony itself is ¾-inch polycarbonate, the kind of glass used in bulletproof windows, and three of its four corners host sculptures. On one of the walls around the balcony is a huge painting of a woman colored in blue, painted on wood from a coffee table that was going to be thrown out. “I just turned it over and used it for something to paint on,” Stager says. Though his artwork is only visible these days to people who visit his house or Facebook page, Stager is looking for more exposure – and, he hopes, opportunities to parlay his work into support for charities, particularly those related to multiple sclerosis. It’s a cause close to Stager’s heart. After struggling with the disease for years, his mother, Susan Wolfe, lost her battle with MS earlier this year. Kessler recalls a time when Wolfe was confined to a wheelchair but wanted to see her son’s artwork, so Stager physically lifted her wheelchair and carried it around the house, including up and down stairs, so she could get a look at everything. Stager has also used his abilities to help the Pickerington Local School District. A piece he donated to Diley Middle School – the school’s principal, Heather Hedgepeth, is a neighbor of Stager’s – fetched $2,500 at an auction, with all the proceeds going to the schools. Garth Bishop is editor of Pickerington Magazine. Feedback welcome at gbishop@cityscenemediagroup.com. www.pickeringtonmagazine.com
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in focus
Find more gift ideas online at www.pickeringtonmagazine.com
Presents of
Pickerington Pickerington Magazine’s Holiday Gift Guide shows off the city’s finest
Turn Back Time
Stop by Bella Cosmedica to pick up a gift that does it all – antioxidant protection, DNA repair, skin firming action and sun protection, on top of providing a youthful look that lasts all day. Stop the Clock by Prescribed Solutions, $155, will help a friend do all of his or her skin care in one shot. www.bellacosmedica.com
Best of the Nest
Lifestyle boutique Feather Your Nest has a huge assortment of furniture, decorations and accessories, but if know someone looking to do a little decorating of his or her own, check out these chalk paints from CeCe Caldwell’s Paints. They’re $32 per can and have a variety of uses. www. featheryournestnews.blogspot.com
Speak Now Old Picture, New Life
A cherished old photo can be new again thanks to the digital restoration services offered by Artframe. A typical job ranges in price from $50-100 and includes a CD with the original and restored images and a standard photographic print, though customers can order custom prints as well. www.artframe.us
When is a speaker not a speaker? When it’s the Lil’ Wiz, available at Preferred Wireless. The $99 gizmo is a mini vibration surround speaker, which means it can essentially transform any flat surface into a speaker. www.pwstores.com
Knockout Workout
Know someone looking for a new kind of workout? Boxing and kickboxing are the main tools used for fitness at Title Boxing Club, which opens this month in Pickerington. Prices vary on the club’s year-long memberships, and each membership this holiday season comes with a Title Boxing bag containing a water bottle, a T-shirt, wraps, boxing gloves and more. www.titleboxingclub.com 12
www.pickeringtonmagazine.com
Wrap it Up
Ace of Diamonds
Someone on your list is in need of some relaxation, and Allvera Body Wrap and Wellness Center has a wrap for that – a package including a full-body treatment, herbal body wrap and ionic foot detox bath. The three-hour treatment costs $100. www.allvera.com
Lafonn jewelry promises “flawless beauty within reach,” and that’s exactly what your friends and loved ones will get with these earrings, $175, at Wendel’s Diamond Jewelers. Wendel’s also carries a variety of items from the highly popular Pandora jewelry line. www.wendelsjewelers.com
A Fashionable Combination
Take a Tumble
Scarf jewelry – scarves with jewelry attached – is growing in popularity, and Deblin Designs has plenty of it for those looking to give a unique gift. The items, ranging from $9-11, are particularly popular among older audiences who might have a harder time fastening a small jewelry clasp. www.deblinonline.com
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By Brenda Layman
Warming Hearts
Violet Township firefighters help provide toys to children in need Red Toy Drive collection boxes have become a familiar holiday season sight in the Pickerington community, and they’re out and ready to receive donations at 20 locations again this year. The Violet Township Fire Department’s firefighters organize the annual event. About the second or third week of November, signs are posted at all three fire stations. Firefighter James Barber is in charge for the third year. “The event began several years ago, when Kroger approached a couple of our older members,” Barber says. “It’s just gotten bigger and bigger since then.” More than 900 families were served last year. “Demand increases every year,” says Lt. Gregg Goodwin, who preceded Barber as organizer of the drive. “The whole department participates. It’s a full-time job for two or three guys, even with the help of volunteers, to manage all the donations during the drive.” Along with Barber and Goodwin, Lt. Dave Belcher, Lt. Don Searls and department secretary Kristi Huskey direct the Toy Drive. The firefighters have important partners in their effort. The Pickerington Girl Scouts collect donations and also assist with the drive-through drop-off day, which will take place on Dec. 15 this year. “We’ll have someone stopping by to drop something off every 10 or 15 minutes,” says Goodwin. “We try to make sure there is a firefighter there to thank
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them. By the middle of December, we’ve turned our training room into toy central.” The Pickerington Local School District also collects donations, and Harmon Middle School is heavily involved, targeting gifts for teens including bicycles and electronics. The department receives many toys for the little ones, but always has a big need for gift items for older children, Goodwin says. Gift cards are especially welcome. Several area churches collect donations as well, and the St. Vincent de Paul Society also contributes to the effort. Families in the Pickerington school district are served first, and then the rest of the donations are distributed throughout Fairfield County. Pickerington families come in and do their “shopping” in groups. Diane Williams of Maywood Mission coordinates eligibility, pickup and delivery of items bound for the rest of the county. The Toy Drive makes a big difference in the mission’s ability to meet needs, Williams says. “If it wasn’t for them, we wouldn’t make it,” she says. “We have a lot of people come in at the end, because we are the last agency in the community still providing help at that time. We served 1,500 children last year.”
Maywood Mission sends a truck to the fire station four times during the drive. The gifts are shipped to Lancaster, then packaged and delivered to families. “Diane has been a tremendous asset. She does a lot of our footwork, and we really appreciate her,” says Barber. Families can apply for assistance through their children’s guidance counselors, Fairfield County Job and Family Services, and Fairfield County 211. All applications are screened to ensure that recipients reside in the county, meet eligibility requirements and are not registered with multiple agencies. “We want to make sure that we take care with distributing the generous donations people give,” says Williams. “We have established lists, so we know most of the people we serve.” Williams has been with Maywood Mission for 10 years, and she has seen the need for assistance increase significantly in that time, particularly in the last few years. The mission also distributes food boxes, food cards, gasoline cards, blankets, heaters, warm clothing and coats to adults. “The firefighters do a really good job,” she says. “We also want to thank the community for their support. It was amazing last year. I enjoy this. This is my favorwww.pickeringtonmagazine.com
Christmas Dinner Food pantry also seeks donations during holiday season
ite time of the year. There are plenty of people out there who are really hurting, and this really makes a difference.” Interested in making a donation? The department is still accepting new, unwrapped toys – as well as gift cards and monetary donations – through Dec. 19. Items can be dropped off at all Violet Township fire stations and a number of local businesses as well. Locations and updates can be obtained by calling 614-382-5952, emailing toys@violet.oh.us or visiting the Violet Township Firefighters Toy Drive page on Facebook.
Toys aren’t the only items needed around this time of year. The PCMA Food Pantry of Pickerington invites community residents to contribute food, cash or checks. The food pantry has moved to its new, expanded location behind Little Tigers Preschool and next door to The Sign Shop, at 70 Cross St. in Olde Pickerington Village. The food pantry serves qualified residents of the Pickerington Local School District, who may sign up to receive Christmas food baskets. Donors can drop off food during client hours Mondays from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., and Thursdays and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to noon, or make donations through the organization’s website at www.pcmafoodpantry.com.
Pickerington resident Brenda Layman is a contributing writer. Feedback welcome at gbishop@city scenemediagroup.com.
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bookmarks
By Colleen Cassidy Bauman, Pickerington Public Library Community Services Coordinator
How do Dinosaurs Say Merry Christmas? and How Do Dinosaurs Say Happy Chanukah? By Jane Yolen Those naughty dinosaurs are back to show that they have the most fun during the holidays, and their fans won’t be kept waiting to see what they get up to next.
Ella Bella Ballerina and the Nutcracker By James Mayhew Just in time for the holidays, sweet Ella Bella returns for her fourth appearance in a story based on a famous ballet – this time, a dreamlike interaction with the cast of The Nutcracker, where she is magically swept into a performance of the ballet.
Gooseberry Patch Big Book of Holiday Cooking: Celebrate Year-Round with Favorite Family Recipes By Gooseberry Patch From trick-or-treaters’ taco soup to homemade gifts for the upcoming holidays, this cookbook has everything – with beautiful color pictures, too!
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Rainbow Magic Special Edition: Cheryl the Christmas Tree Fairy By Daisy Meadows Christmas cheer has disappeared! Everything begins to go wrong for two girls spending Christmas at a cabin in the woods, and once the two figure out who’s responsible, they have to work quickly to set things right before it’s too late.
The Ultimate Volumetrics Diet: Smart, Simple, Science-Based Strategies for Losing Weight and Keeping it Off By Barbara Rolls and Mindy Hermann This book contains concise nutritional charts, useful food shopping tips, game plans for eating out and much more for after the holidays, when the New Year’s resolutions are made. Centered around Volumetrics, named the Most Effective Diet of 2011 by The Daily Beast, this is an award-winning diet plan sure to bring results.
Fifty Shades of Chicken: A Parody in a Cookbook By F.L. Fowler Written by a former 4H executive who finally plucked up the courage to peck out a cookbook, this juicy offering is filled with 50 chicken recipes, each more seductive than the last. Recipes for Sticky Chicken Fingers, Vanilla Chicken, Bacon-Bound Wings, Learning-to-TrussYou Chicken and more will make you blush!
Pickerington Public Library 201 Opportunity Way 614-837-4104
Hours of Operation: Monday-Thursday 9 a.m.-8 p.m., Friday/Saturday 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Sunday 1-5 p.m.
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