Uniquely Gahanna | Fall 2023

ORTHOPEDIC ONE BREAKS GROUND IN GAHANNA, TWO GAHANNA TEENS COMPETE ON THE NATIONAL STAGE, SEXTON’S BURGER BAR PREPARES TO OPEN + UPCOMING EVENTS IN THE CITY Cover: Brenda Johnston, Executive Director of Gahanna Residents in Need (GRIN)

This quarterly publication is provided by The City of Gahanna

We play like it matters.

Because it does.

It’s our job to make sure she’s ready, and not just academically. With more than 90 state championship titles, our athletic programs instill the confidence and character she needs to take the world head on.

We invite you to tour our world.

Ready to thrive.

Katie

Class of 2025

CA Uniq Ga Katie Sept..indd 1

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9/9/23 8:23 AM

Monthly Standards

Contents 20 COVER STORY Gahanna Residents In Need (GRIN) opens the doors of their new facility to better serve the Gahanna community.

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10 MEET THE CITY You call, they answer! Meet the members of the Utility Billing Division who serve our residents each day.

12 DEVELOPMENT NEWS

14 BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT

Sexton’s Burger Bar gets ready to open, Orthopedic ONE makes a home in Gahanna and Romanoff Group grows in the City.

Deadstock, a popular Gahanna store, welcomes customers from around the world.

18 COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT

24 PARKS & RECREATION

28 PARKS & REC

The Gahanna Community Chorus began as a hobby for many, but it will soon take them to big places – including the Big Apple.

Santa, lights, and holiday cheer! Learn what goes into making the Holiday Lights Celebration, presented by Visit Gahanna, a spectacular show year after year.

Are you shopping for someone who already has everything? Consider a Golf Course membership that provides unlimited play and outdoor fun!

UNIQUELY GAHANNA • FALL 2023

16 RESIDENT SPOTLIGHT Two Gahanna Lincoln High School seniors compete on the national stage in traditionally male-dominated sports.

RESOURCES

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Inside Gahanna From the Mayor

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Numbers to Know If you have any questions, or if we can be of assistance to you, please do not hesitate to contact us directly: City Hall (Front Desk): (614) 342-4000 Code Enforcement: (614) 342-4022 Engineering: (614) 342-4050 Mayor's Court: (614) 342-4080 Mayor's Office: (614) 342-4045 Parks & Recreation: (614) 342-4250 Police (non-emergency): (614) 342-4240 Public Service (general): (614) 342-4005 Trash, Recycling, and Water Bills:

(614) 342-4440 Streets, Streetlights, and Potholes:

(614) 342-4425 Senior Center: (614) 342-4265

ur city is thriving, with endless opportunities to connect and grow. Whether an individual resident, a new or expanding business, or a community organization, the stories featured in this edition of Uniquely Gahanna reaffirm that our city and our citizens are aiming for and reaching new heights.

For two Gahanna seniors, the sky is not the limit – but is limitless. Read the story of how they aimed high and are now excelling on national levels while breaking barriers along the way.

Gahanna Residents in Need, affectionately known as GRIN to true Gahannians, has served our community for more than 50 years. Now they have a brand-new location that will allow them to expand food offerings and resources, enabling them to broaden their reach and their support. In this edition, their dedicated staff and volunteers share the growing impact that this new space will have on their ability to help those most in need in our community.

Over the last two years, Gahanna has experienced historic economic growth, and that trend is continuing through 2023. Learn about the latest – and largest – medical practice that has chosen Gahanna and the Crescent at Central Park as its new home, and the Gahanna businesses that have decided there’s no place like home to expand and grow their operations as they plan for the future.

The incomparable songstress Ella Fitzgerald once said that “music is the universal language … it brings people closer together.” The Gahanna Community Chorus is doing exactly that by connecting residents through song.

Hear how this talented group is making beautiful music together and enriching our city.

We have a community that we can be proud of because of the work that is being done by our most important asset: our residents. As we continue to move Gahanna forward, these stories – our collective story – will always remain the heart of our city.

-Laurie Jadwin L AU RIE JADWIN • MAYOR

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Events Calendar

These events are tentative and subject to change.

Please confirm event details in advance.

Sunday, November 11

Saturday, December 2

VETERANS DAY CEREMONY Veterans Memorial Park, 11 a.m.

Presented by Gahanna Veterans Memorial Committee

THE SANTA RACE 5K AND LITTLE REINDEER DASH Creekside Plaza, 9 a.m.

Presented by Visit Gahanna

Join us at this annual ceremony and brick dedication as we honor Gahanna’s veterans and all those who have served our country. More information can be found at GahannaVets.org.

Dress up in your most festive holiday attire for the annual Santa Race 5k and Little Reindeer Dash! For event information and to register, visit TheSantaRace.com.

Sunday, November 19

Saturday, December 2

HOLIDAY LIGHTS CELEBRATION Creekside District, 3-6:30 p.m.

Presented by Visit Gahanna

Ohio Herb Center, 11 a.m.-12 p.m.

Presented by Ohio Herb Center

JOURNALING IN THE GARDEN

Celebrate the start of the holidays in Gahanna with this magical afternoon of activities that will include giant snow globes, live musical performances, ice sculptures and more. At dusk, the Jolly Ol’ Elf will arrive to lead the crowd in the lighting of the Holiday Lights display and tree! For details, see VisitGahanna.com.

Learn how journaling can provide not only valuable information from a botanical perspective but also a spiritual connection with the plants.

Herb Center classes are held quarterly on a variety of topics, and more information can be found at OhioHerbCenter.org

Beginning Friday, December 1

Friday, December 8 + Saturday, December 9

WINTER HERBAL COCKTAIL TRAIL Presented by Visit Gahanna

THE POLAR EXPRESS EXPERIENCE The Gahanna Sanctuary, 7-9 p.m.

Presented by Make Gahanna Yours

The popular Herbal Cocktail Trail returns with seasonal herb-infused libations to continue inspiring more happy hours, date nights, and gatherings with friends. More information can be found at VisitGahanna.com.

Wear your pajamas, bring a blanket and relax as the Make Gahanna Yours elves serve hot chocolate and cookies while you watch The Polar Express. After the movie, Santa and Mrs. Claus will visit for pictures. Attendees will receive a silver bell, just like the movie. For ticket information, visit www.Facebook.com/MakeGahannaYours.

Beginning Saturday, December 9 VISITS WITH SANTA Ohio Herb Center, 11 a.m.-1 p.m.

Presented by Visit Gahanna

↑ Runners begin at the starting line for the Santa Race 5K. Credit – Visit Gahanna

Visit with Santa for photos and share your wish list with him! Reserve your time slot by visiting OhioHerbCenter.org. Because of limited availability, there is a fee to reserve your spot that will be refunded after your photo is taken.

Side Notes The City of Gahanna will proudly celebrate the 175th anniversary of its founding in 2024. Residents, businesses and organizations in the community are coming together to help plan this milestone event in our city’s history, and we need you! Whether it is gathering history and stories, planning events, or connecting with others in the community, there are plenty of ways you can help. Scan the QR code to learn more about the 175th Anniversary celebration and join a volunteer committee!

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Monthly Standards

In The Know

↑ Bill Sams, Frank Walker and Terry Warren at the Iwo Jima Memorial

Honor Flight Columbus: Gahanna Veterans Experience Mission of a Lifetime

By Dan Pearlman

Honor Flight Columbus continues to fly veterans to Washington, DC to visit the monuments and memorials built in honor of their service and in recognition of the freedom they helped to preserve.

By the end of this year, the nonprofit organization will have flown nearly 130 missions, taking more than 9,000 veterans to the Nation’s capital. Among the more recent veterans to participate in the unforgettable trip are three members of the Kiwanis Club of Gahanna. Frank Walker and Terry Warren are Navy veterans, while Bill Sams is an Air Force veteran.

“I had a number of friends that had been on it,” said Walker.

“They encouraged me to go. My wife felt that I should do it. I just felt that I was 86, and maybe it’s something I ought to do at this time.”

Shortly after they returned, Walker was very happy he had taken the trip – calling it “amazing” and expressing gratitude for the volunteers who helped make it happen.

“I was just amazed at the amount of people that were there that greeted us in the morning, stayed with us all day and kept us informed of everything,” he said. “The people, the directors – they were just fantastic.”

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Rich Gandarillas, also a member of the Kiwanis Club of Gahanna, serves as an Honor Flight Columbus Guardian.

As a Guardian, he helps to ensure the safety and wellbeing of the veterans who are traveling on the missions.

Gandarillas was excited to celebrate his fifth mission as a Guardian with fellow Kiwanians Walker, Warren and Sams.

“Some veterans avoid Honor Flight participation because they have already visited most or all of the memorials,” Gandarillas said. “The Honor Flight Columbus experience is significantly different. From being honored throughout the day of the mission, to being encouraged to share their experiences and knowledge, to the Welcome Home ceremony that celebrates their service, there is nothing like the Honor Flight mission.”

Gandarillas, Walker and most of the veterans who participate in the Honor Flight hope more veterans take the trip in the future.

“This is something you ought to experience,” Walker explained.

For more information on the Honor Flight Columbus, visit www.HonorFlightCMH.org.

↑ GJPS Assistant Superintendent Jill Elliott, Mark Lowrie and GLHS Principal Jessica Williams – Photo Credit: Aimee Amer

The State’s Top Teacher: Gahanna Lincoln’s Lowrie Named Ohio Teacher of the Year

By Erick Starkey

Although teaching was not always his dream, Gahanna Lincoln High School broadcast journalism teacher Mark Lowrie has found his passion in the classroom and has been named the 2024 Ohio Teacher of the Year by the Ohio Department of Education.

Lowrie began his professional career in broadcast TV, working for 12 years between WSYX and WBNS in Columbus and WOIO/ WUAB in Cleveland. When his passion for that career began to wane, a conversation with his old high school football coach got him thinking about taking his talents to the classroom. Lowrie decided to go back to school and become a teacher.

“During my first field experience, I knew I was in the right place,” Lowrie said. “I loved being in a school and working with the kids. I still had a passion for TV and this was a way to pass on that passion. It was just in a different capacity.”

The career change originally took Lowrie to Marion L. Steele High School in Amherst, Ohio, where he worked for 18 years. While there, he led the broadcasting program to 55 Regional Student Production Awards (SPA) and three National SPAs, also known as Student Emmys. Lowrie was looking to move to the Columbus area, and after the retirement of Tom Gregory, the previous broadcast journalism teacher, Lowrie found a home.

“Personally, I made the change for all the right reasons,” Lowrie said. “Professionally, it was a huge risk because I had already built the program I always wanted to build and I knew that coming to Lincoln would take me back to square one. In the end, I believed in myself and my ability to relate to students and to start over and do it again.”

Since arriving at GLHS, Lowrie has taken the broadcast program to the next level. He teaches four classes at the high school, including Lincoln Live, the daily broadcast class. Under his direction since 2018, Lowrie’s students have tallied 24 Regional SPAs and four National SPAs, including the Student Emmy for Best Broadcast and Best Sportscast last year.

Those recognitions for his students and programs did not go unnoticed. Lowrie was nominated by fellow GLHS teacher Jennifer

Candor for the Ohio Teacher of the Year. Over the summer, he was named the Regional Teacher of the Year, then was named one of four finalists for the Ohio Teacher of the Year. He gave a keynote presentation followed by a panel interview before being selected as the winner.

“When I first learned that I am the 2024 Ohio Teacher of the Year, I couldn’t help but think about all the students I’ve had during my 23-year career who got me here and I started to get choked up,” he said. “They got me here. Nobody enters teaching with the goal of earning awards or recognitions. We do it to impact kids. I felt like this is a gift from my former and current students at both schools.”

Lowrie was recognized by state and local dignitaries in front of his students at an assembly on September 7. Nearly 100 of his students showed up for a “mystery” presentation and were surprised and elated as they celebrated their teacher.

“I was honestly so proud when I found out,” GLHS senior and Lincoln Live Executive Producer Katie Bailey said. “I was shocked throughout the whole process just because there are so many teachers in Ohio.”

Bailey is not alone in noticing Lowrie’s dedication to her fellow students.

“Mr. Lowrie is the one who has inspired my love of journalism,” GLHS senior and Lincoln Live Executive Producer Dalina Houangvilay said. “Without him, I would not have discovered what I want to do with my life. He introduced me to broadcast journalism and allowed me the space to grow and develop a deep passion for it.”

As the Ohio Teacher of the Year, Lowrie has a year full of learning ahead. He has plenty of professional growth opportunities scheduled this year, as well as some recognition events, but he is still focused on his students.

“I’m driven and nearly obsessed with the continual growth of our TV program,” he said. “We never settle. We never sit still. We are all, both the students and I, always pushing to make our program bigger and better. We never stop and that’s one thing I love about my job here.”

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City + Development

Meet The City

The members of the City’s Utility Billing Division are responsible for assisting residents with questions regarding their bills, trash, and recycling, as well as processing payments, issuing installer licenses, and maintaining databases for accuracy. Meet the team that serves you each day.

DEREK CASPER Customer Service Supervisor Derek Casper recently joined the City as the Customer Service Supervisor in the Public Service Department. Prior to his current position, he served in the Ohio Army National Guard for six years and later worked in several customer-oriented roles, including serving as the statewide School Safety Tip Line Administrator at the Ohio School Safety Center. In his new role, Derek is focused on ensuring that Gahanna residents receive the highest level of professional customer service possible. ♦

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DONNA HARPER Senior Utility Billing Specialist A city team member for over 22 years, Donna Harper serves as the Senior Utility Billing Specialist, where she assists residents with questions and issues related to public services. Her favorite part of her job is interacting with Gahanna residents on a daily basis. For Donna, the people, parks, and variety of amazing events that happen throughout the City make working in Gahanna that much more enjoyable. ♦

KATHERINE MOOREHOUSE Utility Billing Specialist Katherine Moorehouse is a Utility Billing Specialist in the Division. Before assisting residents with public service matters, she worked in the City’s Parks & Recreation Department where she helped to take care of the City’s parks and provided support for community events. Katherine is happy to work in a city with such beautiful parks and wonderful residents. ♦

PEYTON WILSON Utility Billing Specialist Peyton Wilson is one of the City’s newest Utility Billing Specialists. She grew up in Gahanna and is thrilled to be raising her kids in the same supportive and growing community. Peyton loves the fact that she is able to work with and assist her fellow Gahanna residents, and she says that her coworkers and residents make her job enjoyable. Her family loves Gahanna’s schools, neighborhoods, and people, and she can’t imagine raising her kids anywhere else. ♦

CIARA LOFTUS Utility Billing Specialist Ciara Loftus also recently joined the City as a Utility Billing Specialist. Before coming to Gahanna, she worked in the Department of Public Utilities for the City of Columbus.

Also a Gahanna resident, Ciara is excited for the opportunity to be involved in and work for the community in which she resides. Her favorite part of Gahanna is the strong sense of community and pride that residents feel for their city. ♦

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City + Development

Development News

↑ Jamie Sexton, Stephen Jordan, Braxton Miller and Joey Sexton – Sexton’s Burger Bar Owners

Burgers, Brothers and Braxton Coming to Gahanna

By Dan Pearlman

One of Gahanna’s hottest pizza shops is branching out into the burger world and bringing a tantalizing new restaurant concept to the City.

Gahanna natives Joey and Jamie Sexton, owners of Sexton’s Pizza, along with Stephen Jordan and former Ohio State quarterback Braxton Miller, are launching a burger bar that is certain to become a favorite destination for residents and visitors.

Sexton’s Burger Bar will open at 921 East Johnstown Road, in the former location of Poochi Café (right around the corner from Sexton’s Pizza). The new restaurant is expected to open in time for customers to watch the Buckeyes take on That Team Up North, while enjoying a burger, fries, or pizza and a drink.

“The whole concept is to get families here,” Jordan said.

“We want it to be a family-friendly Friday night hangout when you’re looking for something to do.”

The signature item on the Burger Bar menu will be the smash burger. As the name implies, the smash burger will include smashed thin patties with crispy laced edges. Additionally, the Burger Bar will feature the fan favorite hand-cut fries, which the Sextons recently removed from the menu at their pizza shops solely to help keep up with the rising popularity of their pies.

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The new family-friendly restaurant will also have plant-based burgers, a soft serve ice cream machine, a bar and multiple televisions to watch a variety of sporting events.

Another benefit of the location - customers will be able to order food from Sexton’s Pizza and eat it in the Burger Bar and vice versa.

As for Miller, he is thrilled to be a co-owner of this new concept in Gahanna.

“I’m super excited and super blessed,” he said. “I think this is a prominent location, and the prominent time is right now. I’m ready to get started, and I’m super excited about it.”

Customers will have many opportunities to meet Miller, both in the restaurant and on the expansive patio just outside the front door. He will also appear at tailgates, serving the Burger Bar’s products, prior to Ohio State football games.

“Being able to know me as a person outside of being an athlete – I think that’s very important,” Miller said. “They [fans] only see you on TV. They don’t really know your life and know you as a person, outside of just watching you making plays and highlights and stuff like that. The times I’m going to be here, I’m going to be interactive, and I’m just going to be like a regular human, which I am.”

As for Joey and Jamie Sexton, they are excited to be introducing the Burger Bar concept in Gahanna.

“We don’t want to be anywhere else to start a new concept,” said Joey Sexton. “To me it feels homey. We get tons of support, just from people knowing where I grew up or my brother grew up.”

↓ Orthopedic ONE’s Chief Operating Officer Brooke Burns, Chief Executive Officer Mark D’Aloisio, Gahanna Site Manager Courtney Taylor, Physician and Managing Partner Joel Politi, MD, Physician and Managing Partner Jonathan Feibel, MD, and Gahanna Mayor Laurie Jadwin celebrate the groundbreaking of the practice’s new facility at the Crescent at Central Park.

Orthopedic ONE Makes a Home in Gahanna

The Romanoff Group Growing in Gahanna

By Brooke Ebersole

By Dan Pearlman

Orthopedic ONE, the largest physician-owned orthopedic surgery practice in Ohio, has chosen Gahanna as their next location for expansion.

The latest addition to the Crescent at Central Park, Orthopedic ONE’s new location will be clearly visible from I-270 and will include 60,000 square feet of physician clinic space representing all orthopedic specialties, expanded physical and occupational therapy space, and MRI services. The new facility will eventually replace their current office at 170 Taylor Station Road.

"As a practice, we've been serving patients in Gahanna and the surrounding areas for many years at our location on Taylor Station Road in Columbus," said Joel Politi, MD, Physician and Managing Partner, Orthopedic ONE. "The opportunity to relocate this office to the new Crescent Park development allows us to increase our clinical and therapy space and offer a facility that is more convenient and accessible to residents."

The estimated $20 million project will initially bring 215 physicians and associates to Gahanna, with an annual total payroll of approximately $28 million. Once in the new facility, Orthopedic ONE expects its Gahanna workforce to increase by roughly 10 percent within the first 10 years of operation.

“This is a significant project for Gahanna,” said Mayor Laurie Jadwin.

“The economic impact to our community – with the addition of highquality jobs and capital investment, will be tremendous for the City and for our school district. We are thrilled to welcome Orthopedic ONE to the Crescent at Central Park and look forward to continuing our work with them as they prepare to grow their practice in Gahanna.”

"We are constantly exploring opportunities to provide physicianowned, high quality orthopedic care closer to home to our growing patient population throughout central Ohio," said Politi. "This new facility will address increasing demand for both orthopedic specialty care and orthopedic therapy services in Gahanna and surrounding communities."

The new facility is expected to open in fall 2024.

Romanoff Group, the electrical and HVAC contractor with a storied history in Gahanna, has chosen to invest in its future and grow its business in the City.

Romanoff, which has operations in multiple states, has been based in Gahanna for more than 20 years. The company employs over 1,000 individuals company-wide with more than 370 based in Gahanna.

Recognizing that the business had outgrown its current location in the City’s industrial section, company leaders began exploring other options that would accommodate their future growth plans – which included possibly relocating their corporate HQ out of Ohio. They eventually made the decision to purchase 977 Gahanna Parkway (the former home of ADB Safegate), which will allow Romanoff to keep its employees in Gahanna and grow its management team from 49 to more than 60 employees within the next five years, also increasing the company’s total estimated payroll by about $2 million. In preparing for its move, Romanoff will invest approximately $2 million in building improvements to prepare its new facility.

“The City’s investment in this company is minimal compared to the number of jobs retained and created,” said Shannon Hamons, the City’s Director of Economic Development. “The payroll taxes for approximately 400 employees and the continued property taxes paid on the existing structure create a win-win situation for Romanoff and the community.”

Matt Romanoff, CEO of the Romanoff Group of Companies, is excited for the business’s continued growth in Gahanna.

"Expanding our Gahanna headquarters is both a business decision and a commitment to the community that's been key to our success,” he said. “This is a long-term investment, not just in our company, but also in local job retention. We value our long-standing partnership with the City of Gahanna, which has been instrumental in making this expansion possible."

Romanoff plans to move into its Gahanna Parkway facility in early 2024.

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Business Spotlight

STEPPING INTO

DEADSTOCK The Gahanna store is growing in popularity among residents and celebrities

By Dan Pearlman

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Tucked along with other small businesses in Stoneridge Plaza is a hidden gem that is attracting shoppers from Gahanna and from around the world.

Buckeye football players, professional athletes, famous musicians, and many central Ohio residents visit and rely on Deadstock for their designer streetwear and often hard-tofind shoes.

Entrepreneur Chase Rowe opened the store, located near El Vaquero, about 2.5 years ago and has watched its popularity grow.

“Before I started the store, I had a lot of clientele in this vicinity, so it felt like the right spot,” said Rowe. “It’s a good plaza as well. There are a lot of surrounding businesses that we get business from.”

↓ Ohio State football players after shopping at Deadstock

Deadstock specializes in selling new, straight out of the box Nike Air Force 1 shoes, Air Jordans and more. The store also carries a variety of clothing options in brands that include Chrome Hearts, Purple, and Rhude.

Rowe prides himself on the variety of what the store offers and the fact that everything sold in the store is brand new and authentic.

“We always keep a bunch of sizes,” he explained. “The last thing I want is for somebody to come in and not be able to find their size, so we pride ourselves on that. We have a lot of repeat customers. Everybody comes back. Everybody’s happy, and everyone shops with confidence.”

At a time when online shopping continues to surge, Rowe believes a positive element of his store is that customers can see, feel and try on their clothes prior to making a purchase.

Dara Deitz, a Gahanna mother, stopped by the store for the first time in September. Knowing that her son loves the sneakers they sell, she brought him to the store the next day.

“It’s really nice because they [the shoes] are hard to find,” she explained. “A lot of times, we order online, so having an actual storefront is great. It’s instant gratification.”

Deadstock operates two locations, as Rowe’s business partner owns and operates a store in Milwaukee. His plan, however, is to focus on Gahanna as he watches his business and client base continue to grow.

“We can’t complain about how the start has been,” he said. “We’ve got the clientele. It really makes no sense for me to go anywhere else, other than to maybe expand the store, make it bigger and add more products, but we like being in the area.”

Deadstock often promotes its new products online at DeadstockCbus.com and on Instagram @deadstockcbus.

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Resident Spotlight

↑ Emily Leeseberg and London Studer

The National Stage Two Gahanna Teens are Breaking Barriers in the Sports They Love

By Dan Pearlman

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“If you want to work toward something and that’s something you really want, take it and don’t ever let go of it.”

Two Gahanna students are both at the top of their respective sports, competing on a national level and helping to break barriers along the way.

London Studer and Emily Leeseberg, seniors at Gahanna Lincoln High School, are blazing trails in traditionally maledominated sports. Studer dominates on the baseball diamond, while Leeseberg is a force on the wrestling mat.

“Everybody was constantly telling me that I wasn’t going to make it, I would never go to college for this or I would have to eventually switch over to softball,” Studer explained. “I just decided that in my head, that was not what was going to happen.

I was going to continue to work at it and just push myself to be as strong as the boys.”

That mentality and work ethic has paid off over the years and continues to do so.

Studer was the only girl on her teams as she grew up and developed her baseball skills. While a freshman and sophomore, she played first base for the GLHS junior varsity baseball team.

Last year, she was on the varsity team, where she batted .500 in regular season games. But her baseball career has taken her far beyond the borders of Gahanna.

Earlier this year, Studer traveled to the Chicago Cubs’ spring training facility in Mesa, Arizona, to compete for a roster spot on the United States Women’s National Baseball Team and a chance to compete for the World Cup. There, she competed against nearly 60 other players, and ultimately was one of 20 players selected for the team.

“They were kind of looking for an older team this year, so I was pretty surprised that they took me,” she said. “I think they took four girls under18 this year, and that was it.”

Studer played in Team USA’s three scrimmages before departing for Thunder Bay, Ontario for the World Cup qualifying games. Unfortunately, her play was limited due to injury, but Team USA won all five of its games and qualified for the Finals, which will be held next year in Thunder Bay. While Studer is recovering from her injury and setting her sites on both the upcoming GLHS season and the World Cup, Leeseberg is preparing for her upcoming wrestling season.

“There’s a feeling I get from wrestling that I don’t get from any other sport that’s just amazing,” she said.

From the time she began wrestling at 10 years old, Leeseberg has competed against both boys and girls. Her father, Jamie Leeseberg, is the GLHS Girl’s Wrestling Coach. Over the years, he has watched as more and more girls have picked up the sport.

“At the time, [Emily’s] freshman year, she was the only girl in the room,” he said. “Then, it was four girls. Then, it was five or six girls, and now I’ve got 12 on the roster this year.”

As wrestling has grown in popularity, Emily Leeseberg has continued to improve on the mat. Earlier this year, she competed as a member of Team Ohio in the 2023 U.S. Marine Corps Junior & 16U Nationals, which was held in July in Fargo, North Dakota.

“I had a really awesome time there,” she said. “For the actual wrestling, I didn’t get the results I wanted, but the experience was amazing. We got access to some of the best coaches in the state and got to practice with the best girls in the state, so it was just an excellent and amazing opportunity.”

Leeseberg is looking forward to the GLHS season, as she hopes to qualify for the high school girl’s state tournament for the fourth consecutive year.

As seniors, both she and Studer also have their sights set on the future. Both hope to compete at the collegiate level, with Studer’s dream being to ultimately play in Major League Baseball.

Naturally, both teens’ biggest fans are their parents. Scott Studer shared this advice for other parents of young girls who develop an interest in sports and activities that are traditionally male-dominated.

“If I’m talking to another parent of another girl, let her do what she wants to do,” he said.

That advice comes as the athletes hope to see more young women like themselves competing in the future.

“If you want to work toward something and that’s something you really want, take it and don’t ever let go of it,” London Studer said. “If you want it, then you have to go for it. You have to take it and you have to run away with it.”

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Community Spotlight ↓ Kate Cremean, Founder and Director of Gahanna Community Chorus, leads choir practice

THE GAHANNA COMMUNITY CHORUS OFFERS PITCH PERFECT CONNECTIONS 18

UNIQUELY GAHANNA • FALL 2023

By Brooke Ebersole

For many, Mondays signal the start of a long work or school week. But for the members of the Gahanna Community Chorus, Mondays represent the chance to come together and do what they find most fulfilling – making beautiful music together.

“This is an organization and activity that literally brings generations together,” said Kate Cremean, Founder and Director of the Gahanna Community Chorus. “There’s something special about singing in a group. We are making music with the purpose of sounding beautiful, and we meet that challenge every single week.”

↓ Gahanna Community Chorus performs at Holiday Lights Celebration. Photo Credit – Visit Gahanna

Cremean, who is also a music educator at Hawthorne Elementary School in Westerville, has designed the Chorus to give members something to look forward to all year long.

“Many of our members came from Gahanna Community Theatre. At that time, the Theatre put on one show per year. So we would rehearse and become close for 10 weeks, and then have to wait an entire year to be together again,” said Cremean. “I wanted something that was flexible enough for everyone’s busy schedules and lives and allows for making music through the academic year.”

The Chorus operates on a trimester schedule with three performances per year: the Holiday Lights Celebration, Winter Dinner Theatre, and a new cathedral performance will take place this Spring in Downtown Columbus. A few members of the Chorus will even be travelling to New York City next June to perform in several cathedrals in Midtown Manhattan.

“The music is a mixture of sacred and secular. We perform a variety of music at the different shows so there’s truly something for everyone,” Cremean said.

“Our Spring Cathedral performance will sort of be a hometown version of those concerts. This is a real thrill. We’re even having a piece commissioned for us specifically for that concert.”

While many of the members are lifelong Gahanna residents, the Chorus is made up of residents from neighboring cities as well.

“It was important for me to stay in Gahanna where the support for music programs is so strong,” Cremean said. “But we really encourage anyone in the Central Ohio space to join us, and we’re grateful to have Mifflin Presbyterian allowing us to utilize their space.”

With 93 members, the Chorus reached an alltime high number of participants in 2023. With the ages of members ranging from 20 to 85, Cremean says a chorus is one of the few things that parents, grandparents, children, and in-laws can all enjoy together.

“Where else can you find an activity that engages everyone the way singing does?” Cremean said. “It’s so rewarding to see siblings who don’t see each other all the time come together each week to make music.”

For Karie and Tom Gregory, Monday night chorus practice even doubles as date night for them. Karie Gregory explained that she hopes to see more new faces join the Chorus in the future.

“People don’t need to be afraid to join it,” she said. “I think we have a terrific sound. The concerts are definitely a really great quality, but that’s because there are so many people with so many levels of musicianship and voice types coming together under some really excellent direction.”

The Chorus rehearses on Monday evenings from 7 to 9 p.m. at Mifflin Presbyterian Church. For information on the Chorus (including how to join), please visit: sites.google.com/view/ GahannaCommunityChorus.

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Cover Story Board members and staff celebrate the opening of GRIN’s new facility ↓

Serving the Community at New Expanded Facility

By Dan Pearlman

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Volunteers stock the shelves at GRIN’s new facility ↓

Over the last 50 years, Gahanna Residents in Need (best known as GRIN) has occupied multiple locations throughout the City as it has served the community. No location, however, has provided the level of opportunities to support Gahanna residents than the organization’s newest facility at 161 Granville Street.

Immediately next door to its previous location, the new space opened in September. It is a 6,400-square-foot facility that is more than double the size of GRIN’s previous location.

“The potential that we now have to serve the community is just breathtaking to me,” said Brenda Johnston, Executive Director of GRIN. “I see the families that we serve on a daily or weekly basis and the need is there. They are so excited to be able to get more things, because we will be able to offer more.”

According to Johnston, the need for a larger facility became clear as the number of families GRIN was serving significantly increased during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Through September, GRIN served more than 8,000 families that live in the Gahanna-Jefferson Public School District or in the 43230 zip code this year. Among those served are more than 200 children who participate in the pantry’s Weekend Supplemental Food program – a program able to be provided thanks to the support of six local churches.

Johnston believes the benefits of the new facility are “immeasurable.” She explained that the additional space allows GRIN to store a larger amount of food onsite, thereby reducing the

time spent transporting items. In addition, the pantry is now able to offer more of a variety of items to clients, allowing it to serve more diverse populations. The new facility also has a bigger lobby than in the prior space, which means that families can now wait for their appointments indoors rather than in their cars or on the sidewalk.

“We’ll be able to keep them warm in the winter and cool in the summer,” Johnston said.

The feature that excites Johnston more than any other is the space to meet with families privately to discuss their needs and how GRIN can best help them.

“We are going to interview them and see what other things they need and resources that they are not aware of that we can direct them toward,” she explained. “They may be resources that we do not provide, but we know will help them. We want to build that relationship and be able to help connect them with resources so that they can get on their feet. That is our goal.”

Johnston notes that there are many helping hands that work to assist those who rely on GRIN for support. In addition to a small staff, the organization largely operates with the assistance of many volunteers from both Gahanna and beyond. Sandy Weber, for example, began volunteering nearly 15 years ago after she retired.

“When all of a sudden I wasn’t doing anything except for myself, I thought it was time to get back out there and do something constructive,” she said. →

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Cover Story

“we have a good solid ground right now that's going to stick with the community for a long time. i'm very proud to work with grin.”

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Gahanna Mayor Laurie Jadwin, GRIN Executive Director Brenda Johnston and Program Director Beth Bentley celebrate the opening of GRIN’s new facility ↓

Weber volunteers as a shopper with GRIN, assisting clients once or twice a month as they walk the pantry aisles and select their items. She is among the many people grateful for GRIN being a resource for those in need in the community.

“We have a good solid ground right now that’s going to really stick with the community for a long time,” she said. “I’m very proud to work with GRIN.” The families Weber and all of the volunteers serve are unquestionably grateful. Among the individuals who are thankful is Yolanda Baynes, a Gahanna grandmother who assumed custody of her grandchildren in 2014 and continues to rely on GRIN as she raises them.

“It’s a miracle for me,” Baynes said, reflecting on how she would have raised her grandchildren if she had not received the guidance and the support offered by the staff, Board and volunteers. “I would have just kept struggling. The Lord is good. He sent me GRIN, and the main thing is they do it from the heart.”

To volunteer with GRIN or to learn more about their resources, visit GRIN4Gahanna.org.

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Parks Feature

LIGHTING UP GAHANNA

for the Holidays 24

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The holiday season is a time of warmth, joy, and togetherness. In Gahanna, this festive spirit officially arrives with the annual Holiday Lights Celebration, scheduled for Sunday, November 19. As the year winds down and the temperatures drop, this event transforms the Creekside District into a winter wonderland that captures the hearts of residents and visitors alike.

Visit Gahanna, which is responsible for organizing and presenting the celebration each year, begins thinking about the holiday season while many residents are still enjoying summer weather.

“The Holiday Lights Celebration has been a staple for our community, so it’s incredibly important to us that we carry on a successful tradition each year,” said Lori Kappes, Executive Director of Visit Gahanna.

“We start planning for the event long before most people are even thinking about Christmas or winter!”→

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Parks Feature ↓ Photo Credit – James DeCamp Photography

Holiday Lights Schedule

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3-6 pm

Free Holiday Activities

4 pm​​

Ice Sculpting Show

3-6 pm

Live Music and Dance — Holiday Stage

6 pm ​​

Santa Processional

3-5:30 pm

Free Carriage Rides and Trackless Train Rides

6:15 pm ​

Tree Lighting Ceremony and Fireworks

UNIQUELY GAHANNA • FALL 2023

This year, the holiday kickoff event is sponsored by Nth Degree.

“Our sponsors and community organizations are what make this event and so many other events like it possible,” Kappes said. “We’re so lucky to have businesses in our community that care about making these celebrations successful.”

For the City’s Department of Parks & Recreation, preparing for the Holiday Lights Celebration means an “all-hands-ondeck” approach to the holiday season, as the event also features the official unveiling of the holiday lights at Creekside Park.

“The holidays are a busy time for everyone, and our Parks and Recreation Department certainly isn’t exempt,” said Gahanna Parks Superintendent Zac Guthrie. “We work hard to make this event successful, and it’s one we look forward to all year.”

Parks and Recreation crew members begin their work to transform the Creekside District into a winter wonderland around the first week of November. The team will spend more than 500 hours installing lights, dancing musical globes, holiday village houses, and many other decorations that will be enjoyed by tens of thousands of people during the months of November and December.

With more than 300,000 bulbs on display, there is certainly no shortage of lights for residents and visitors to take in before January. It will take crews roughly two days just to wrap all of the trees with lights.

“It takes time and elbow grease to make any event successful, but this is one we start to look forward to when the weather turns cold,” Guthrie said. “It really is worth it when you see how many people gather at Creekside so they can celebrate together.”

Gahanna residents haven’t been the only people to take notice of the beautiful display of lights. For the last two years, the holiday lights at Creekside have been listed on the “Ohio Holiday Lights Trail” by the State’s tourism agency, Tourism Ohio. In 2022, Gahanna’s Creekside Park was one of only 55 locations to be highlighted as the “best lights shows in the State.” This year, the members of the Parks & Recreation Department are aiming to keep their place on that honored list.

On the evening of the Holiday Lights Celebration, while Santa takes center stage to lead the tree lighting countdown, Parks & Recreation crew members will use new technology to illuminate the tree. They’ll be using an application that not only turns the lights on and off, but also controls the colors and flashing cadence of the lights.

“The updated technology we have access to now just makes it that much cooler,” said Chelsea Heppert, Recreation Supervisor. “We used to manually control the lights, and it was restrictive of what we could do. The opportunities have really expanded now.”

“The most rewarding part is seeing how happy this celebration makes kids and adults alike,” Kappes said. “It’s one of those events that just keeps you smiling long after it ends.”

The Holiday Lights Celebration will take place in the Creekside District on Sunday, November 19, from 3 to 6:30 p.m. For more information on the event and other holiday activities, go to VisitGahanna.com.

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Parks & Recreation

Parks & Rec Resources For a detailed list of Fall programs and events, check out the Gahanna Parks & Recreation Fall Program Guide. → Visit the City’s new website at Gahanna.gov for additional parks and programming information! ↓

2024 Pool Memberships Don’t let the cooler weather keep you from thinking about next summer! Pool memberships grant you unlimited access to both the Gahanna Swimming Pool and the Hunters Ridge Pool, discounted programs, and discounted or free admission to all pool special events! Memberships will go on sale on December 1. Be among the first to buy yours at Gahanna.gov!

*The Parks & Rec Winter Program Guide will be hitting your mailbox in the coming weeks. Don't miss information on upcoming activities and events!

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Golf Course Memberships Looking for the perfect holiday gift for the golfer in your family? Consider purchasing a membership to the Gahanna Municipal Golf Course! Memberships are good for one year from the date of purchase. They include year-round unlimited play, pending weather and course conditions and excluding play or other scheduled events. Carts and other rental equipment are not included in membership rates. For more information contact the Golf Course at (614) 342-4270.

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Parks & Recreation

Rental Facilities

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EXPLORE THE POSSIBILITIES!

NOW OPEN AT COSI Purchase tickets here ©2023 Mattel, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

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