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Dublin is a community that values innovation, progress and the pursuit of knowledge. Approximately 80% of our residents have a bachelor’s or graduate degree. Our schools consistently rank highly, and we have growing post-secondary options o ered by Ohio University and Columbus State Community College. In Dublin, learning is a way of life.
Dublin is a community that values innovation, progress and the pursuit of knowledge. Approximately 80% of our residents have a bachelor’s or graduate degree. Our schools consistently rank highly, and we have growing post-secondary options o ered by Ohio University and Columbus State Community College. In Dublin, learning is a way of life.
We know that education enriches lives and fosters a sense of belonging. That is why the City of Dublin and our partners are committed to providing the right environment for continued growth and engagement.
We know that education enriches lives and fosters a sense of belonging. That is why the City of Dublin and our partners are committed to providing the right environment for continued growth and engagement.
For example, the City o ers McDaniel Citizen U, a nine-week program that gives participants an inside look at the dedicated e orts it takes to maintain Dublin’s world-class services, entrepreneurial spirit and outstanding quality of life. Applications are accepted in the spring, and classes are generally held from late March through May.
For example, the City o ers McDaniel Citizen U, a nine-week program that gives participants an inside look at the dedicated e orts it takes to maintain Dublin’s world-class services, entrepreneurial spirit and outstanding quality of life. Applications are accepted in the spring, and classes are generally held from late March through May.
In 2022, we started Citizen U Jumpstart, a teen-oriented program that o ers students a behind-the-scenes experience with their local government. Students learn about di erent aspects of the City of Dublin’s operations, hear from sta members about their unique pathways to service and are introduced to potential career choices.
In 2022, we started Citizen U Jumpstart, a teen-oriented program that o ers students a behind-the-scenes experience with their local government. Students learn about di erent aspects of the City of Dublin’s operations, hear from sta members about their unique pathways to service and are introduced to potential career choices.
The Dublin Citizens’ Police Academy and Washington Township Citizen Fire Academy provide insights into the critical work of our rst responders. The Dublin Police Department hosts its 12-week program in the fall each year. It gives participants new perspectives about the law enforcement profession and covers topics such as criminal investigations, dispatching for 911 services, active threat response, tra c stops and more. Participants in the Citizen Fire Academy have the chance to climb, cut, smash, carry, crawl, pull and push their way through several re ghting, EMS and rescue techniques. Those classes are also hosted each fall.
The Dublin Citizens’ Police Academy and Washington Township Citizen Fire Academy provide insights into the critical work of our rst responders. The Dublin Police Department hosts its 12-week program in the fall each year. It gives participants new perspectives about the law enforcement profession and covers topics such as criminal investigations, dispatching for 911 services, active threat response, tra c stops and more. Participants in the Citizen Fire Academy have the chance to climb, cut, smash, carry, crawl, pull and push their way through several re ghting, EMS and rescue techniques. Those classes are also hosted each fall.
The Dublin Chamber of Commerce’s executive program known locally as Leadership Dublin is a unique experience of relationship building, learning, problem-solving, civic engagement and personal growth. The series aims to develop
The Dublin Chamber of Commerce’s executive program known locally as Leadership Dublin is a unique experience of relationship building, learning, problem-solving, civic engagement and personal growth. The series aims to develop
future and current community leaders and is designed for individuals who want to take the next step in their civic journey. Over nine weeks, generally between October and May, Leadership Dublin immerses participants into the inner workings of the organizations that work cooperatively to ensure the continued growth and prosperity of the Dublin community.
future and current community leaders and is designed for individuals who want to take the next step in their civic journey. Over nine weeks, generally between October and May, Leadership Dublin immerses participants into the inner workings of the organizations that work cooperatively to ensure the continued growth and prosperity of the Dublin community.
This year, Dublin City Schools launched DCS U, a platform for parents and community members to learn more about the district and its partners. This community conference includes 10 sessions and a resource fair, which focus on topics such as student wellness, athletics, academics and collaboration.
This year, Dublin City Schools launched DCS U, a platform for parents and community members to learn more about the district and its partners. This community conference includes 10 sessions and a resource fair, which focus on topics such as student wellness, athletics, academics and collaboration.
In addition to these various community academies, the Dublin Community Recreation Center (DCRC) o ers a diverse array of learning opportunities throughout the year. Whether you want to hone your crafting skills, dive into esports or learn a new language, the DCRC o ers countless options for learning and engaging. Find out details in the “Beyond the Books: A New Perspective on Learning” article later in this issue of Dublin Life
In addition to these various community academies, the Dublin Community Recreation Center (DCRC) o ers a diverse array of learning opportunities throughout the year. Whether you want to hone your crafting skills, dive into esports or learn a new language, the DCRC o ers countless options for learning and engaging. Find out details in the “Beyond the Books: A New Perspective on Learning” article later in this issue of Dublin Life
As we keep learning and growing together, Dublin will continue to be the most resilient global city of choice with the brightest of futures ahead.
As we keep learning and growing together, Dublin will continue to be the most resilient global city of choice with the brightest of futures ahead.
Megan O’Callaghan Dublin City Manager Megan O’Callaghan Dublin City Manager
OCT. 4
Taste of Dublin
5:30-7:30 p.m.
Dave Thomas Conference Center 1 Dave Thomas Blvd. www.dublinchamber.org
OCT. 5-15
Moby Dick’s Gone Missing presented by Abbey Theater
Nov. 5-7, 12-14; 7:30 p.m.
Nov. 8, 15; 1:30 p.m.
Abbey Theater of Dublin 5600 Post Rd. www.dublinohiousa.gov
OCT. 8
The British Invasion at Sundays at Scioto
5:30-7 p.m. Scioto Park 7377 Riverside Dr. www.dublinarts.org
OCT. 12
North Market Night Market
6-9 p.m.
North Market Bridge Park 6750 Longshore St. www.northmarket.org
OCT. 14
Running of the Bullies Walk and Bulldog Derby 9 a.m.
Dublin Community Recreation Center 5600 Post Rd. www.buckeyebulldogrescue.org
OCT. 19-20
Halloween Spooktacular Various times
Coffman Park 5200 Emerald Pkwy. www.dublinohiousa.gov
Dhruti Shah’s gambit for good through chess education
Like other kids, Shah spent much of her childhood juggling a multitude of different activities, but nothing grabbed her attention the way chess did. She possessed an inherent skill from a young age, but Shah humbly points to other motivations for pursuing the game.
“I found out I didn’t really have an artistic or athletic bone in my body,” Shah says, “so I decided I (was) going to continue chess from there.”
Jokes aside, Shah’s ability to excel in this layered strategy game at such an early age is one of the reasons she has found a passion for it during her 10 years of competition. Shah appreciates how accessible the game can be.
“It’s really powerful to me that if you’re 5 years old or 50 years old, you can be equally good at chess at any age,” she says.
First moves
Shah, a senior at Dublin Jerome High School, has achieved a lot throughout her professional playing career. She has won state and national titles including being named the Ohio Girls Online Champion in 2021.
On top of her chess titles, Shah has built a successful private tutoring business as well as a philanthropic chess academy all before graduating from high school.
Shah founded the Knightingales Chess Academy, which offers free chess lessons to aspiring players all over the world, when she was in middle school. She was inspired to build the academy after diving into the world of competitive chess and seeing that it was overwhelmingly male-dominated.
Although the Knightingales camps are a large-scale operation today, her work started with humble beginnings – in the basement of her parents’ house.
“I was pretty young,” Shah says. “I biked around my neighborhood passing out chess camp flyers.”
Her basement lessons gained traction around the community, and attendees quickly began reaching out for private lessons. Soon, Shah partnered with local Dublin organizations like The Miracle League of Central Ohio and Forever Dub-
From the moment chess phenom Dhruti Shah picked up her first pawn at age 6, she felt the transformative power of the game.
lin to pair her passion for chess with philanthropic efforts.
Now, she gives private lessons to more than 50 students and teaches hundreds in her community the rules of chess through free camps.
Although Shah’s business had already made a significant impact in Dublin, she had a vision to take Knightingales Chess Academy further. She set her sights on a trip to India, a country booming with appreciation for chess.
After contacting several organizations in India, Shah paired with JJCT Trust, an Indian institution that empowers children with disabilities, and she in 2021 prepared to host her first event in Ahmedabad.
During the event, Shah led students through an immersive crash course on the rules of chess before conducting a tournament with her new trainees. The response was overwhelmingly positive, and Shah’s first international event was a massive success, attended by more than 300 people.
After Ahmedabad, Shah spent the remainder of her time in India visiting multiple different cities and spreading her knowledge to eager participants. Shah ignited a passion for chess in numerous minds that summer, but she
says her goals extended beyond the lines of competition.
“It was kind of to raise awareness to the fact that they can do anything,” she says.
Though Shah is incredibly driven and hardworking, and has a deeply seated love for chess, building Knightingales Chess Academy was no easy feat.
In India, Shah faced difficulties in translating an already complicated game for people with whom she did not share a native language. In some of the cities she visited, Shah faced barriers with regional dialects.
However, she found that through patient communication with students, aid from her parents and the handy help of Google Translate, she persevered.
Yet there were still more obstacles to hurdle. The first stages of chess lessons can often be tedious for chess students, and she must find ways to keep young minds engaged.
“That’s my job as a chess coach,” Shah says, “to make it as interesting as possible for them, just to make sure they stick with it.”
Shah uses engaging tools such as education games – including Jeopardy! and Kahoot! – to add healthy competition to learning sessions.
And though Shah spends much of time as a teacher, she still has titles to defend
and claim, and has gained wide recognition in her competitive chess career. She currently is ranked among the top three female chess players in Ohio and represented the state in the All-Girls National Chess Championship.
Shah describes her appearance in the national event as the height of her competitive career.
“It was definitely exhilarating,” Shah says. “It was amazing to see people my age, girls like me, playing chess. It was so beautiful to see people who also thought that chess was their defining moment.”
It is clear from both Shah’s professional and competitive endeavors that chess is more than just a game; it’s something she plans to take with her into the future.
Shah plans to expand the Knightingales Chess Academy by continuing her camps, both in Dublin and in India, building upon its impact.
Additionally, she hopes to play collegiate chess after she graduates from Jerome in spring 2024. No matter where life may take her, Shah will always bring her passion with her.
“I think we play chess to explore possibilities,” she says. “You can do almost anything on the chessboard, and whatever is happening outside of your life, when you’re in that moment on the chess board, everything fades away except for that game.”
Megan Brokamp is contributing writer at CityScene Media Group. Feedback welcome at feedback@cityscenemediagroup.com
by Hannah Black Photos courtesy of City of Dublin
Did you know there is a worldclass space right in your backyard where you can embark on a modern educational journey? The Dublin Community Recreation Center (DCRC) is a valuable place to expand your horizons through a variety of interactive classes ranging from beginner level to expert.
When you hear the word “learning,” you might think of sitting in a classroom, watching a teacher at a whiteboard and taking those dreaded tests. While learning something new can be daunting, there are many ways to go back to “school” without the pencils, without books and certainly without a teacher’s dirty looks.
Learning a new skill or developing a fresh hobby doesn’t have to be boring or intimidating. With a variety of options, from art and languages to esports and senior programs, the City of Dublin offers a wide range of ongoing educational opportunities.
“Recreation is ageless – it’s active, it’s engaging,” says Jennifer Vosters, adult/ older adult recreation program supervisor at the DCRC.
Vosters, who works at the City’s stateof-the-art recreation center, points to the broad slate of programs residents can choose from, including everything from fine arts, dance classes and pet first aid to nature walks, retirement training and a variety of guest speakers. There has never been a better time than now to learn a new skill or connect with your neighbors in a hands-on way, she says.
“With anyone that we work with, like our instructors, we always make sure it is never a direct sale of anything but rather it is a learning opportunity,” Vosters says, noting that people who are interested in a topic, but may not be sure about if they want to commit, can request to observe a class. DCRC staff members want to ensure you find the right fit.
After taking a level two Japaneselanguage course, a student, Amy Roiz says, “The teacher was on point, well-prepared in his teaching and had the students learn at a pace which was fair to the students. He was always on time and gave ample time for understanding.”
Maybe sports at the recreation center aren’t your thing. Sometimes you just want to play your favorite video game, but that can get lonely. Introducing esports!
The DCRC opened its esports center, known as the Respawn Lounge, this past July, which is the first of its kind in the city. DCRC staff members invite anyone 10 years and older to try their hand at 10 different gaming options. Each game can be accessed by the player’s personal ac-
count, so you don’t have to worry that you’ll lose your place in the game.
“While we have heard rumblings of esports being discussed in our field of Parks and Recreation at the national and state level, we have not really seen a fully developed esports initiative in a recreation setting, so we are glad to be doing some trailblazing work for our region,” says Dublin Director of Recreation Services Tracey Gee.
The esports center is available for dropin hours, hosted events, tournaments and leagues.
As part of the City of Dublin’s strategic framework, being a resilient city accessible to all is a community-wide goal. That means making all types of learning opportunities available for everyone.
The DCRC provides a wide range of adaptive programs for people with disabilities who need extra support finding resources and classes tailored to their needs. Specific examples of adaptive classes are arts and crafts, money management and adaptive aquatic lessons, but any class can be made inclusive.
The DCRC’s adaptive resources coordinator works with patrons on specific accommodations to the center’s existing programming and aims to teach, engage and connect participants with one another.
So, how to begin? Maybe you don’t know where to start, or going to a class or meeting with people intimidates you, but you still want to learn about what kind of programs Dublin has. The City offers a Healthy Guide to educate its community members in a way that is unlike any other.
With this interactive digital brochure, Dublin lays out all available programs and registration information to its community members. Produced three times a year, the
Healthy Guide is a resource to stay in the know about local programs for all ages, ranging from toddler to senior.
“Anyone who is interested in recreational programs, activities and information on the Dublin Community Recreation Center should check it out! We get about 17,000 views for each season’s publication,” says Kelly Rigano, DCRC recreation administrator.
There are several ways to access the Healthy Guide. Residents can visit the recreation center and pick up a hard copy or view it digitally on the City of Dublin’s website.
Whether you plan to dive into the world of esports, learn Japanese or ask for an accommodation of a class you’ve been eager to try, the DCRC is your next creative outlet.
Hannah Black is an intern for the City of Dublin. Feedback welcome at cpi@dublin.oh.us.
The best way for people to learn about the latest programs at the DCRC is to flip through the Healthy Guide each season. Anyone interested in signing up for programs can scan the QR code.
It is no secret that the number of families residing in Dublin is growing. Nor is it a secret that one reason for that growth is the reputation of the Dublin City School District.
Cassie Dietrich, public information officer for the district, says some of the elements that draw families to the schools are the diversity and the faculty’s emphasis on learning for all students.
“Kids get a lot of life experience in the Dublin City School District that they might not get elsewhere,” Dietrich says. “Our student body has students from more than 100 countries and they speak more than 70 different languages. We know from research that people love our staff, that our teachers do a fantastic job educating kids and students are first always.”
Furthering efforts to help every student, the district introduced extensive literacy programs during the 2022-2023 school year, including the 95 Core Phonics Program and an emphasis on early intervention to better recognize dyslexia and other literacy challenges.
“Literacy is the foundation of everything that kids do,” Dietrich says. “So it’s very important that kids are literate and have the tools that they need to learn those basic reading and writing skills, as that is the foundation for all the other subject areas that we teach.”
To account for population growth and housing developments in the northwest area of the city, Dublin Jerome High School added two new wings ahead of the 2023-2024 school year.
In fall 2020, a new building opened that houses Abraham Depp Elementary and Eversole Run Middle. Even with the addition of Abraham Depp, schools in the northwest area are crowded and the district brought modular classrooms to the school.
Hopewell Elementary also opened in 2020 to aid with the expansion of the southeast area of the city.
All of these construction projects were made possible due to the approval of a bond and levy in 2018.
The issue and permanent improvement levy also supported renovations to one of the district’s oldest buildings, Dublin Coffman High School.
Both Coffman and Dublin Scioto high schools will have updated athletic facilities including baseball/softball batting facilities. Scioto also will see updates to its press box, weight room and Kindness Cafe, when all projects are completed.
To acquire funds for growing and maintaining the nationally ranked facilities and programs the schools offer, the district is seeking support on a bond and levy, both of which resident taxpayers will vote on in November.
If voters support the bond and levy in November, the district will use the funds in part to continue expanding its facilities to meet the growing student population, especially at the elementary school level. The district hopes to add a new building to help alleviate capacity issues at Abraham Depp.
The district also hopes to expand its preschool building, as it is in need of additional space. Construction costs have increased by over 80% since 2018-2019,
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which has created challenges for the school district as it expands.
“We have a responsibility to educate every student that lives in the Dublin City School District boundaries,” Dietrich says. “While growth does change the way our classrooms look as more students move in, we continue to do everything we can with the resources we are provided to give students the experience they deserve.”
The proposed legislation is a 7.9 mill operating levy with an additional no-newmillage $145 million bond issue.
If passed, the levy will raise taxes by $276.50 per $100,000 of property value before any upcoming reappraisals.
These funds will be put back into the community through several projects including school building improvements, sports facilities/field improvements, expansions to support the growing student body, upgraded playgrounds to promote safety and engagement, and replacement of old ventilation systems and fire alarms. These funds will also help support extracurriculars and career programs.
What changes would come if voters approve?
Preschool
• Additions/expansion to the existing building
Elementary schools
• New playgrounds for Chapman, Pinney, Riverside, Scottish Corners, Thomas and Wright
• Full HVAC replacement for Riverside
• New school building
Middle schools
• New track for Davis, Grizzell, Karrer and Sells
• New tennis courts for Davis, Grizzell and Karrer
• Fire alarm upgrades for Davis and Sells
• Elevator replacement for Sells
• New roof for Sells
High schools
• New asphalt for Jerome and Scioto
• New turf fields for Coffman, Jerome and Scioto
• Elevator replacement for Coffman, Scioto and Emerald Campus
• New chair lift for Coffman and Scioto
• New tennis courts for Jerome
• New track for Jerome
• HVAC upgrades for Scioto
• Fire alarm upgrades for Scioto, Coffman and Jerome
What changes could happen if voters do not pass the issues?
• No new staff with the exception of special education due to state regulations
• Increase to fees for participation in athletic and extracurricular activities
• Elimination of nonessential school trips
• Increased class sizes
• Redistricting of all elementary and middle schools
• Potential elimination of certain courses including advanced placement (AP), International Baccalaureate (IB), fine arts, performing arts, world languages, courses with low class sizes and others
For more information about the 2023 levy and bond issue, visit www.dublinschools.net and click the Levy Information page
Photos by Ray LaVoie
As drills buzzed, hammers pounded and dust flew during the construction of Bridge Park’s new Italian restaurant Valentina’s, 3,444 ceramic tiles were carefully being laid on the pillar at the corner of Riverside Drive and Bridge Park Avenue.
These colorful handcut tiles created a beautiful mosaic, titled In the Neighborhood, capturing some of the birds, flowers and other wildlife found in Dublin.
This artwork, created by seasoned ceramic artists duo Eric Rausch and Jen Kiko, has expanded Dublin’s growing public art collection.
The process that brought this piece together was different from others that Public Art Manager Ava Morgan has worked on for the Dublin Arts Council. This time Crawford Hoying, the developer of Bridge Park, approached them for guidance.
“They had a great vision and intention of using art to create a destination and provide a sense of place with something unique for Bridge Park,” Morgan says, “so they approached Dublin Arts Council and said, ‘Look, we have a budget for this. We just need help finding the right artist.’”
And that is when the council connected with Rausch.
Rausch is a full-time artist specializing in clay and ceramics who began creating art long before he graduated from The Ohio State University in 2007 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts. In 2014 he was named Emerging Arts Leader by the Greater Columbus Arts Council, and he’s managed an art studio at the Cultural Arts Center for several years.
While he was originally brought on as a consultant, he and his wife, Kiko,
For a fun way to interact with the new art, stop by the Dublin Arts Council for a field guide that can help you identify each of the birds, bugs and flowers adorning the column. Can you spot all 35?
submitted a successful proposal for the piece. Once their idea was approved, they got right to work.
“We walked the bridge when we first got here to think about, ‘How will this piece live in this area? How will it feel like something different, but also very much fit into the architectural surroundings?’” Rausch says.
After visiting the site – as well as taking in the details and ambiance of Valentina’s – the two felt inspired and began designing.
With the idea secured after visiting Valentina’s, the artists chose to decorate the column with flora and fauna from the average Ohioan’s backyard. Kiko, an artist and teacher in the Westerville City School District, drew up the details.
Once the design was finished, Rausch and his lead assistant Krissy Beck meticulously cut and labeled every tile to ensure that the finished mosaic would come together perfectly around the column.
After months of cutting, firing, painting and finishing each tile by hand, it was time to install them.
Placing the tiles around the curvature of the column was difficult, but Rausch was able to lay each tile down in the correct position before the doors opened at Valentina’s.
Looking back on the process, both Rausch and Kiko are happy with how it turned out and are grateful for the opportunity to showcase their art.
“This piece is kind of a love letter to Dublin,” Kiko says.
With this piece completed, Morgan says the council will continue bringing more art to Dublin.
Since adopting the Public Art Master Plan in 2021, the council has worked closely with the city to enhance the lives of Dublin residents and make the city a destination for visitors.
The Art in Public Places program has brought about pieces such as the Chief Leatherlips Monument in Scioto Park and Field of Corn (with Osage Orange Trees) near Frantz Road, with each going through an extensive review process by the council. Although In the Neighborhood is not technically a part of this program, it has added to the discussion around public art in Dublin.
For future projects, Morgan says the council hopes to establish a Public Art Review Committee made up of community members to review ideas and proposals. Although she does not foresee that happening before next year, Morgan is excited about the opportunity it may present.
“This way the public art process really does reflect the community at large. It’s not just the Arts Council or the City that’s making decisions. It’s truly a communitydriven process,” Morgan says. “The more opportunities we can provide for the community to provide their feedback or opinions, the more successful our public art collection and programming will be.”
Rachel Karas is an editor at CityScene Media Group. Feedback welcome at rkaras@cityscenemediagroup.com.
With more than 60 public art pieces around Dublin, there is plenty to see and the Art in Public Places Mobile Tour is a great way to learn about each one. The tour includes a map with 21 stops and audio recordings from the artists or administrators close to the public art projects. Read more at www.dublinarts.org.
Do you believe in ghosts? If you ask Becky Schisler, creator of the Dublin Ghost Walk – also known as the Olde Town Ghost Tour –she’ll tell you she’s seen one with her own eyes.
Years ago, Schisler was outside her business on South High Street when she saw a man in the neighboring business’ window. The shop had closed for the day and she was surprised that someone was still there. When she later asked an employee about what she saw, she was told not to worry – it was just their friendly ghost, Pete.
Schisler was inspired to start the walk not only by her personal spectral experience but by a ghost tour she attended in Gettysburg. Since then, she has been collecting stories of ghost encounters
in downtown Dublin as well as speaking with longtime residents to understand the area’s history.
“After that (Gettysburg tour), I thought, I could totally do that in Dublin,” Schisler says. “So I just went around and started talking to everybody that I could in the area and when I felt like I had enough material, I put it all together and advertised the tour.”
This fall marks the 13th year of the walk. In addition to spooky ghost stories, Schisler also makes an effort to share her historical knowledge with the group, as it often goes hand-in-hand with each haunting backstory.
“They like to hear the history and partly it’s a fun thing to do at Halloween,” she says. “A lot of people are into ghosts now.”
There are some individuals who believe they can feel the presence of a spirit more easily than others. Schisler refers to these people as “sensitives.” She says when
”Ghosts are attracted to people who can hear them or see them.”
Large
Fresh local apples and cider
Indian corn, corn stalks, straw bales and more fall décor
U-Pick pumpkins available (separate hours and location)
Huge selection of farm fresh jams, jellies, baking mixes and local honey from our market.
Enjoy our bakery offering an assortment of fall baked goods, locally roasted coffee, and more.
these people are around there’s often more paranormal activity.
“Ghosts are attracted to people who can hear them or see them, so it really stirs things up,” Schisler says. “At one of my locations, the people who moved into it, they were like, ‘There’s nothing going on here.’ And they just weren’t open to it.”
Sensitive or not, Schisler says some hauntings are so profound that anyone could be affected by it.
“Sometimes people will be taking pictures with their phones, and their phones will malfunction or they will get strange pictures, I have had that happen,” she says. “Also, with Pete, sometimes people feel like he’s right there next to them and he does occasionally touch people.”
Schisler’s business doesn’t only attract those looking for a fun seasonal activity. She says it isn’t uncommon for people to show up with ghost-hunting equipment and return to take the tour multiple times, often bringing others with them. She believes the growth in the popularity of ghosts in entertainment has contributed to more people taking an interest in paranormal activity.
“Everybody used to say, ‘There’s no such thing as ghosts,’ and it was like a taboo thing almost. But then, frankly, I think the show Ghost Hunters kind of broke that all open,” she says.
Many people have had their own experiences with the paranormal, whether it is during the walk or in a different setting. Being interested in ghosts herself, Schisler loves when people share their experiences with her.
“Some people have had experiences and they’ll come back and tell me about it,” Schisler says. “They pull me aside and tell me stuff. That’s the most fun part about it.”
Maisie Fitzmaurice is an assistant editor at CityScene Media Group. Feedback welcome at mfitzmaurice@cityscenemediagroup.com
The tour runs through the month of October on Friday and Saturday evenings. To attend the tour, arrive at the Dublin Chamber of Commerce at 7 p.m. to sign in. Tours start at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $10, cash only. Attendees are guided through the two-hour tour, traveling a distance of about half a mile. While the level of horror during the tour is relatively low and tolerable for most, the Dublin Ghost Walk is not recommended for children under age 12.
After she watched her cousin build a lasting friendship with a German student through Dublin Community Church’s Young Ambassadors program, Isabel Kuck knew she also wanted to join.
The program brings a German student to live with the young ambassador’s family in Dublin for a summer, and the following summer, the Dublin student travels to Germany to stay with the German ambassador’s family.
The first group of German young ambassadors arrived in Dublin in 2016, sparking the ongoing exchange program and partnership between the Dublin Community Church and a church in the city of Unna in Germany.
Kuck’s cousin’s ongoing relationship with her German ambassador is a testament to the program’s success.
“During Christmas, they will still FaceTime and the whole family gets to say hello,” Kuck says. “Just seeing my cousin’s relationship with her partner from Germany, even after she left, made me realize how strong the connection was that they formed, and I knew I would want to form that with someone as well.”
Reverend Becky Sunday from the Dublin Community Church serves as leader of the exchange program, which is part of a broader partnership with the Heartland
Conference of the United Church of Christ. With shared German heritage throughout the United Church of Christ, the covenant relationship among the churches came naturally and is something the group is always looking to expand.
Building relationships with new friends and families is the most powerful aspect of this experience, Sunday says. There’s a lot to learn from one another, especially among different cultures.
“(Experiences like this) help us understand how we live in a pluralistic society and explore how our diversity makes us stronger as a community together,” Sunday says.
The group of German students arrived on June 17 this summer, starting the new rotation of young ambassadors. The idea is for the ambassadors to soak everything in and learn about a new culture or way of life, Amy LaDu, assistant leader of the Young Ambassadors program, says.
“We wanted to give the Germans a taste of what it’s like to live in Dublin and Ohio,” LaDu says. “We took them to pool parties at church members’ houses, we
went kayaking on the Scioto River and, of course, they tried Graeter’s.”
Among the excursions around Dublin and central Ohio, the young ambassadors also spent their summer hiking at Hocking Hills, visiting Kings Island, seeing the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center in Cincinnati and even traveling up north to see Niagara Falls. This year’s program was built around a theme of diversity.
The group spent multiple days volunteering at the Dublin Food Pantry and spent time visiting several colleges such as The Ohio State University, to see a big campus, and Heidelberg University in Tiffin, to experience a smaller campus.
In Dublin and Germany, the situation with the host families is similar where the goal is to treat the visiting student as a part of the family. Having been a chaperone with the program for many years, LaDu explains how every morning her last host family in Germany would go to their small market to get food for the day and how common small markets are there.
This is very different from the large grocery stores in the United States, like Costco and Sam’s Club, which always shocks the German ambassadors.
“Going to a different country at that young age really broadens their horizons,” LaDu says. “To sum it all up, I think although there are a lot of differences between the two different countries, there are so many more similarities and that just makes life so much more global.”
With the program being a two-year cy cle, the local experience in Ohio is com plete for the German group that will now wait for their Dublin partners to arrive in Germany next summer.
“There were many tears when we said goodbye, but we are so grateful we have this whole year to keep in touch with our German friends, whom we look forward to seeing when we travel to Germany next summer,” Sunday says.
While Kuck and the rest of the young ambassadors in Dublin get excited for their travels next summer, they plan to stay connected with their partners through texting and social media in the meantime to continue learning about each other’s lives and cultures.
“I just wanted to gain a better idea of what other cultures do and what other people do from around the world and I’m really glad that I did because I made a lifelong friend,” Kuck says. “I feel like there’s a part of me that already lives in Germany.”
Grady Libertini is an editorial assistant at CityScene Media Group. Feedback welcome at feedback@cityscenemediagroup.com.
Photos courtesy of the Dublin Arts Council and Todd Smith
“It was a crazy spectacle! A column was being moved under the suspended boat, then lined up. Visitors happened by in that dramatic moment. When it fell into place, they applauded and cheered,” says Dublin Arts Council’s Public Art Manager Ava Morgan. “Seeing that spontaneous, non-facilitated action gave me the opportunity to witness what public art can do.”
Morgan recalls the installation of The Boat in the Field by artist Ilan Averbuch, recently dedicated in Dublin’s M.L. “Red” Trabue Nature Reserve.
She sees public art and community engagement as synonymous.
“Members of the community witnessed the installation for a week and a half. It
was a great opportunity to see the labor, effort and science it takes to orchestrate the installation of a public artwork,” she says. “Ilan was there every day wearing a hard hat, not immediately recognizable as the artist. People were taken by surprise and were able to lean in, shake hands, ask questions and light up as they experienced this rare opportunity to be with a public artist at work.”
Arts education is integral to Dublin’s public art experience.
An ARTbox, inspired by the Little Library concept, is being installed near The Boat in the Field, programmed with openended prompts to spark imagination and assist the viewer in assigning meaning to the artwork.
Viewers are encouraged to leave written responses in the ARTbox with future opportunities for audio and digital responses under consideration.
Dublin’s public art collection can be explored via a cell phone tour with 22 stops featuring captioned recordings by the artists. This tool allows the listener to get inside the mind of the artist, sharing their vision and inspiration in their own voice.
Dublin Arts Council’s Sense of Place Fieldbook is available for those interested in deeper exploration. The guide focuses on Dublin’s large-scale permanent collection – including prompts to explore the inner workings of public art through drawing, writing and listening exercises – and can be accessed through website download or picked up at Dublin Arts Council.
Public art doesn’t take place in a vacuum. The process is dynamic, truly a collaboration with and of the public.
Dublin’s program is managed in partnership between Dublin Arts Council and City of Dublin, but the momentum and relevancy depend on the public being involved.
“Education isn’t accomplished in one direction; it’s reciprocal,” Morgan says. “Dublin Arts Council and the artists learn from the community and reflect back. The practice involves active listening, observation and ‘seeing’ the community.”
Dublin Arts Council provides myriad opportunities for community members to get involved in the process – from behindthe-scenes artist talks to forums and community presentations – with feedback always encouraged.
Special public art events also provide learning opportunities. Averbuch has been making small-scale boats since he was a child, so during the August dedication of The Boat in the Field, guests were encouraged to make their own boat out of paper and found objects. Using sycamore bark, twigs and pinecones, guests were invited to make vessels as a symbol of personal voyage and adventure.
Last year, Dublin Arts Council hosted a residency for artist Todd Smith, whose popular human exoskeleton Exuvia are found in select trees in Dublin. While sharing his inspiration and process, Smith invited community members to create their own exoskeletons. These creations were assembled into temporary abstract artworks and displayed at Dublin Arts Council.
Plans are underway for additional events in the coming year, including a gathering inspired by Watch House by Todd Slaughter in Dublin’s Coffman Park. Dublin Arts Council will work with partners to reinforce the relevancy and discovery of the sculpture, which is reminiscent of a house and planetarium bridging a prehistoric Indigenous mound. An artist talk and landscape activation are being planned.
All three tenets of Dublin Arts Council’s mission to engage the community, cultivate creativity and foster lifelong learning through the arts are embedded in
the essence of public art. Public art is truly for everyone of all ages and abilities. It is reflective of the community, there is no entry fee and it’s “come as you are.”
“I believe that public art is essential, as it invites us to experience ourselves and our environment in new ways,” Morgan says. “As we come upon an artwork, we see, hear and feel things anew. We observe, wonder, sense and play with heightened humanity. This full-bodied engagement sparks our curiosity and can restore our connection and belonging to the places we inhabit.”
Janet Cooper is the retired Director of Engagement for Dublin Arts Council. She contributes regularly to Dublin Life Magazine.
In the midst of the back-to-school hustle at Dublin City Schools, a man by the name of Brian Kern can be found quietly working behind the scenes.
As treasurer and chief financial officer of Dublin City Schools, Kern holds one of the two highest positions in the district, the other being Superintendent Dr. John Marschhausen. Kern spends his days deeply entrenched in numbers, as evidenced by the white board in his office that is covered with mathematical calculations.
In Ohio, a school superintendent and treasurer are often the only two district employees who report directly to the Board of Education. The roles, while interdependent, are very different, with each working toward continuous improvement in their expertise area while sharing the responsibility of achieving district goals.
Like a superintendent, a school treasurer must have an approved license through the Ohio Department of Education. They must also complete 180 hours of continuing education every five years.
While Kern isn’t always front and center, the work he does is just as critical to the success of Dublin City Schools. Kern, who is supported by twelve staff members in the treasurer’s office, is responsible for all accounting, payroll and financial reporting in the district, as well as employee benefits and wellness.
From publishing the annual budget to forecasting revenue and expenditures, and serving as the secretary to the Board of Education, the work rarely wanes. Nor does Kern’s commitment to managing the district’s finances with integrity and transparency.
“We take the role of managing money very seriously here. My team is reliable, hardworking and accurate,” Kern says.
A graduate of Heidelberg University’s accounting and public administration programs, Kern first kicked off his finance career at the Auditor of State’s Office. He worked his way up to audit manager before exiting for a career at a certified public accounting firm.
In 2003, Kern accepted his first role with Dublin City Schools as budgetary coordinator. Four years later, he was promoted to assistant treasurer before being hired by Olentangy Local School District (OLSD) in 2013 as their treasurer and chief financial officer. After gaining valuable experience at OLSD, Kern returned to Dublin City Schools to serve in his current role.
The many awards around Kern’s office are evidence that, in a world where financial mismanagement often makes headlines, integrity and transparency are key at Dublin City Schools.
“We’ve had a clean audit for at least the last 20 years, if not longer,” Kern says. “We’ve won Auditor of the State awards numerous times, many with distinction.”
One of these includes an award from the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) for Excellence in Financial Reporting, one of multiple on Kern’s wall.
Dublin City Schools is also AAA rated, the highest-issued credit rating assigned by S&P Global, and has been recognized as a healthy workplace by the Healthy Business Council of Ohio seven times.
“Our financial forecasts are always within 1 to 2% of our actual expenditures. We have the best financial team out there. I’d put them up against anybody,” Kern says.
Speaking of the team, his supporting cast includes Assistant Treasurer Tyson Hodges. Hodges, who graduated from The Ohio State University, also started his career at the Auditor of State’s Office. He focused on performance audits, including special projects that worked to uncover fraud and mismanagement of funds.
After nine years with the State Auditor, Hodges accepted the role of Assistant Treasurer at Hamilton City Schools in Butler County, Ohio before coming to Dublin City Schools in 2017. Hodges is currently a trustee with GFOA and serves as the treasurer of the central Ohio chapter of the Ohio Association of School Business Officials (OASBO). Kern has also held volunteer roles with both organizations.
In a post-pandemic era of ever-tightening budgets, Kern and Hodges have tackled evolving challenges while steadfastly upholding their commitment to the highest standards of fiscal responsibility. This year is more of the same, as the pair work through their second levy experience together at Dublin City Schools.
In 2018, the Dublin community passed a combined operating levy, permanent
The volume of work in the Dublin City Schools Treasurer’s Officer is noteworthy. In fiscal year 2023, the district wrote 8,750 checks and produced 11,833 purchase orders.
improvement levy and bond issue – the first “trifecta” levy in the district’s history. After stretching the new revenue over five years, the Board of Education approved a resolution this July to place a 7.9-mill operating levy and a $145-million nonew-millage bond issue on the November 2023 ballot.
“We owe it to our community, our students and their families to be open about how we manage their resources,” Kern says. “The five-year forecast shows that the district is deficit spending and will deplete our cash balance by fiscal year 2026.”
The intricacies of school finance, especially how schools in Ohio are funded, make explaining how levy issues impact schools and taxpayers challenging. Property values, tax millage and the effect of House Bill 920 are just some of the many things that a person must learn to understand the inner workings of school funding.
A comprehensive Levy Information page on the district’s website includes numerous visuals that Kern and Hodges helped craft so that stakeholders know the facts.
No matter the outcome, Kern and his team remain dedicated to uphold the trust bestowed upon them as stewards of taxpayer dollars.
“Even though we are behind the scenes, our work supports the people in the classrooms,” Kern says. “We want the best education possible for our students, so we make the best decisions we can with the information and resources we have.”
Annual Veterans Story Event
Thursday, Nov. 9 3:30-6 p.m.
Dublin Scioto High School
Visit the district’s website www.dublinschools.net for more information.
Special celebrations like Veterans Day, Memorial Day and the Fourth of July are great times to remember and give thanks for the sacrifices military personnel and families go through on a daily basis. Since these sacrifices are continuous, there are those who try to do more outside of those annual holidays.
Enter the Dublin Scioto High School’s Purple Star Club: a dedicated group of students whose mission is to honor and recognize veterans and their families with year-round support.
“When you think about our military personnel, and you think about everything they stand for, it’s what you hope to find in people,” says John Witt, an advisor for the Purple Star Club and a social studies teacher at Scioto. “So much time is given to benefit others when others may go about their daily job or life and not realize that that’s happening.”
Scioto was recognized by the state of Ohio as a Purple Star School in April 2022 due to its students with military-connected families and its support of veterans.
Witt says the recognition came with a feeling of responsibility to carry on with their support of veterans, and with the help of a small handful of passionate students, the Purple Star Club was born last year.
One of those passionate students is senior and founding member Gabe Shaw, who is a part of the club’s leadership team. Shaw says he became invested in the club because he felt there was a disconnect between young people and support for veterans, and he wanted more year-round recognition.
“I wanted to help the people who aren’t recognized,” Shaw says. “At the end of the day, they’re people too, and if they need help, there should be people there to help them instead of us just walking around and acting like, ‘Oh, they served,’ and that’s all.”
While the club does host its fair share of large events around Veterans Day and other important dates, Witt says its plethora of smaller activities – such as birthday and holiday cards or special ceremonies at school sporting events – have their own powerful impact.
“Just to have five minutes of recognition, it blows them away. They’re overwhelmed, the emotions flow,” Witt says. “They get caught up, they get teary eyed, as do the children and the spouses and everyone else who accompanies them. So, it’s just a really cool thing.”
Other small gestures of gratitude the club has performed include fundraisers, distributing purple roses to militaryconnected staff throughout the school district, sending various cards to veterans and their families through their mailing list, and spreading holiday cheer to two Dublin retirement communities near the end of the year.
While year-round recognition is important, the club still hosts larger events to make a special impact. Megan Piatt, a sophomore who is also a part of the club’s
leadership team, says she enjoys the events where she can make personal connections with veterans.
“We did a breakfast in April before school one day, and I thought that was really fun because we had all the veterans on our staff join us, and we got to hear all their stories,” Piatt says. “Now I have connections with those teachers. If I see them in the hall we’ll wave at each other, and it’s just nice to know that there are teachers now that I can go to because I wouldn’t have known them or talked to them all if it wasn’t for those interactions.”
One of the largest events the club participates in is the Annual Veterans Story Event where students connect with a veteran to write up and gather anything that helps tell their story on a poster board.
Now in its 10th year, Witt says the event features a choir performance, guest speakers and tables featuring memorabilia and over 200 individual projects for veterans both present and past. Following the presentations, students can gather in small groups for a round table discussion with veterans in the community who stay to answer questions.
“Veterans show up who are part of not just the Dublin community, but the Columbus community and the greater community,” Witt says. “They’ve made it very clear to the students how much what they do matters.”
Shaw and Piatt say they hope to get more people in the community involved in their mission by growing the club through more events and to have a greater network with both students and veterans.
“Anyone can thank (veterans), or anyone can do all these things for them, even if you don’t have a direct person in your family, or like a friend who went through what they did,” Piatt says. “It’s for anyone.”
Nathan Mader is an editorial assistant at CityScene Media Group. Feedback welcome at feedback@cityscenemediagroup.com.
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Spooky tricks and tasty treats fill the air this autumn in Dublin.
Two days of scary fun will have ghouls howling throughout the central and south ends of Coffman Park with the Halloween Spooktacular. Thursday, Oct. 19 from 4-8 p.m. and Friday, Oct. 20 from 1-5 p.m. you can find festive games, crafts, carving demonstrations, food trucks and a DJ to keep the monsters mashing.
All of this year’s events will be lurking outdoors again to provide more space for fun. Anticipating about 7,500 residents throughout Dublin, these Halloween games and activities are for all ages with costumes encouraged.
There will also be a haunted playground for little ghosts along with a petting zoo. Both days a sensory tent will be available for those who need a calming space with sensory-friendly activities and equipment.
More than 20 local businesses and community organizations will be handing out sweet treats during the Trunk-or-Treat Trail.
Dublin residents and families in the Dublin City School District can reserve up to five free children’s tickets per household for limited trail times. The trails will open Thursday at 4:15 p.m. and Friday at 1:15 p.m. and accompanying adults and infants do not need tickets to enter the trail. Guests should only enter the trail line during the given time slots.
Trick or Treat in the City of Dublin lines up this year with the official Halloween holiday, taking place throughout the city on Tuesday, Oct. 31 from 6-8 p.m.
Here are some family-friendly recipes to try if you have any leftover candy at the end of the holidays.
Grady Libertini is an editorial assistant at CityScene Media Group. Feedback welcome at feedback@cityscenemediagroup.com.
Pretzel Bark
• Three 12-oz bags of candy melts (use only yellow, orange and white for extra Halloween flair!)
• 1 cup broken-up pretzels
• 1 cup candy corn
• 1 ½ cups of Reese’s Pieces (yellow and orange colors recommended)
Lay out 18 inches of parchment paper. Melt candy melts according to package directions and separate the colors in different scoops on the parchment paper. Swirl the colors together, but do not over mix and create one solid color. Once spread out, place the pretzels, candy corn and Reese’s Pieces gently into the top of the mixture before it sets. Allow at least 30 minutes to harden before breaking it up.
Recipe courtesy of Parade Media Group. www.parade.com. Copyright 2019. All rights reserved.
Hosting the neighborhood? Double or triple the quantities for a party size!
• 24 circle or square shaped pretzels
• 24 pieces of candy corn
• 24 Hershey’s Hugs
Preheat oven to 250 degrees Fahrenheit. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and place pretzels on top. Unwrap Hershey’s Hugs and place one on each pretzel. Place sheet in the oven until kisses melt (about four minutes). Remove the sheet from the oven and press candy corn into the top of each Hershey’s Hugs candy, flattening it out. Place back in the oven for an additional 30 seconds to a minute and cool off before enjoying.
Recipe courtesy of Sally’s Baking Recipes. www.sallysbakingaddiction.com. Copyright 2023. All rights reserved.
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Anyone who has experienced a medical emergency knows that every second counts – the sooner care comes, the better the chances for a full recovery.
Currently, the closest emergency room for most Dublin residents is OhioHealth Dublin Methodist Hospital and Emergency Department. Dublin Methodist is known for providing high-quality care, but for residents on the east side of town it can sometimes be a 10- to 15-minute drive, or longer, to get there.
Thankfully, this side of town will soon receive a new facility closer to home. Expected to open in 2025, Mount Carmel plans to add another hospital to its central Ohio-based health care system, located right off of the I-270 outerbelt’s Sawmill Road exit. This location will potentially support 260,000 people in the primary service area alone.
Planning for this new hospital began in 2021. Meg Peugh, director of business development at Mount Carmel, says the location was picked intentionally due to the needs of patients in the area.
“We think that there’s adequate care offered in other parts of the Dublin community, but this is on the far east side and borders Columbus right there at Sawmill Road, and so we think that we’ll be able to provide the most needed care at that location,” she says.
The close-to-home location isn’t the hospital’s only benefit to residents in the area seeking care. In the new location, patients will have access to surgeries, imaging, diagnostic care and more all in the same building. This facility will not only house an emergency department and inpatient beds, but an outpatient lab as well as primary and specialty care offices.
Peugh believes it’s important to offer an array of services to patients in a location that is close to home.
“We believe that having both inpatient and outpatient is the best approach to be able to provide that comprehensive level of care,” she says.
On the other side of the river, The Ohio State University’s Outpatient Care Facility offers over 20 specialty care offices such as urgent care, gynecology, mental health, dermatology, orthopedics and more. Kyle Steinbauer, director of operations at the Dublin facility, agrees that housing multiple care specialties and doctors allows for more efficient care for patients.
“Instead of sending messages or referrals between departments, many providers simply walk down the hall,” he says.
Like the new Mount Carmel hospital and Ohio State’s Care Facility, Dublin Methodist also offers outpatient services such as dermatology, urology and pulmonary care.
The Ohio State facility is fairly new and has only been open for a year, but Dublin Methodist has been treating Dublin residents for 15 years, opening in 2008 as the city’s first hospital according to Dublin Methodist President Armin Rahmanian.
Even though it is the oldest hospital in the city, Dublin Methodist is far from outdated. The hospital expanded both in
2012 and 2019 to keep up with the city’s growing population. In summer 2023, the hospital also introduced additional operating rooms.
In the near future, Dublin Methodist plans to add a trauma unit. Currently, the closest hospital with a trauma unit is Riverside Methodist. It is roughly 20-30 minutes or more away for most Dublin residents.
All of these care facilities have partnered with the city and have one goal in mind: serving Dublin residents by meeting their health needs.
“Being the first hospital and the only hospital in Dublin, we started our relationship with the city very early on,” Rahmanian says. “Leadership is developing a report that talks about the health needs of our community, and we were invited to participate in that and analyze the data and help the city understand how we can play a role in improving the health of our community.”
Maisie Fitzmaurice is an assistant editor at CityScene Media Group. Feedback welcome at mfitzmaurice@cityscenemediagroup.com.
Steve Smith (614) 205-3394
7464 Watkins Rd., Ostrander – Incredible opportunity to own a home based or commercial business! Charming brick farmhouse situated on a 4.05 acre lot, stretched over 2 parcels of land. Land can potentially be subdivided by approval of the township. 3 large barns w/electric, & silo, great for advertisement purposes, located on site. Farmhouse interior has been well maintained. Hardwood floors & wood trim throughout. $950,000.
KELLER WILLIAMS CONSULTANTS REALTY www.SteveSmithAssociates.com
Alli Close (614) 726-9070
4875 Lytfield Dr. – Must see to fully appreciate! Gorgeous HW floors & 2 story bridal staircase. Stunning woodwork highlights each room & showcases newer windows. Kitchen w/custom cabinetry & quartz counters. HUGE vaulted GR w/wrap around windows. Large bedrooms w/tons of closet space! Back composite deck is the entire length, perfect for dining al fresco! $775,000.
CUTLER REAL ESTATE www.dublinhomes.com
Neil Mathias (614) 580-1662
22100 Johnson Rd. – Are you an outdoor enthusiast or looking for your own private preserve to build a home? Then this is the perfect property for you! Consisting of 48 acres, including 20+acres of untouched woods, 1 acre pond, & grassland/wetland preservation area with a large 40x80 metal barn with electricity for all your toys, plus a small primitive hunter's cabin back in the woods. It is a truly beautiful piece of ground. $725,000.
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Steve Smith (614) 205-3394
1912 Barnard Dr., Powell – Adorable & updated 1-story home, perfect curb appeal in the desirable Smoky Ridge Estates. Entry w/vaulted ceilings, luxury vinyl planking, & a cozy wood burning fireplace w/brick mantle. Layout is open & bright. Kitchen boasts neutral painted cabinets, new nonporous & scratch resistant quartz countertops, ample storage, & a dining space w/neighborhood views. Fenced yard w/ deck & pergola. $279,9000.
KELLER WILLIAMS CONSULTANTS REALTY www.SteveSmithAssociates.com
Carolyn Redinger (614) 679-1274
Counter Kitchen & EX-LG Great Rm,3rd BR/Den, 2.5 BA, Enclosed 3 Season Rm, Deluxe Lndry, Safe Rm+Storage! Minutes to Shopping! $565,000.
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In July 2023, Dublin home prices sold for a median price of $551K, up 7.4% compared to last year. Homes in Dublin sold after 34 days on the market on average, compared to 35 days last year. A total of 64 homes were sold this July, compared to 76 homes last year.
Quiz: What are Solly, Boba and Moby? Do you need a clue? Baby Ktan and CuddleBug also fall into this category.
A few months ago, I might have guessed that these were new characters on Cartoon Network, but now I know better.
In August I was promoted to the honorable role of grandmother by way of a beautiful baby boy named Anthony. He was a hefty eight pounds and nine ounces, and so far, his favorite pastimes are sleeping, nursing and cuddling. I can help fill two of those needs, and want to be loving and supportive without being intrusive to the new family unit.
I am also trying to stay up to date on the newest baby trends, including swaddling the munchkin like a burrito and the latest infant carriers made by, wait for it, Solly, Boba and Moby!
My son, Christopher, and his sweet family live in North Carolina, so I have to navigate the long distance plus my mother-in-law status. I asked for advice from the Facebook group, Dublin Moms in the Know, and received dozens of supportive suggestions.
Sara Miles remarked that her parents live in Michigan and always bought two copies of each children’s book. They would keep one and send the other to their grandkids, and would FaceTime on Sundays to read to the girls as they followed along.
“It was a special way for them to stay connected,” Sara wrote.
Cute outfits and stuffed animals are certainly fun to buy, but new parents really need help with food and cleaning during those first few months.
Dublin resident Nycole Van Horn said that her aunt stayed with them and was an angel on earth.
“She didn’t ask me what to do, she jumped in and did it,” Nycole wrote. “She did laundry, cleaned the house, planned and executed meals, and left me with a full freezer of easy-to-reheat snacks and dinners.”
If you aren’t a cook, Janice Joos said to consider DoorDash or Uber Eats gift cards for easy meal delivery.
Jacquie Poe stated that her in-laws paid for house cleaning for two months and Carrie Fulton suggested hiring a lawn mowing service. Laura Moir said a friend cleaned her bathrooms which made her feel more together and taken care of.
Hiring a postpartum doula is another great option. Kirsten Pitini owns Ohio Baby Co. in Columbus, which provides care for the whole family including cooking, light cleaning, infant care, errands and even overnight help.
Marianne Dellostritto said she and her husband stayed in a hotel the first week their grandchild was born to allow the new family to bond. When we went down to North Carolina, we rented an Airbnb five minutes away so we could limit our visits and not be a burden. I also tried to take care of Christopher’s golden retriever by feeding, walking and playing with her, and sweeping up her fur.
Many Dublin moms and grandmoms suggested ways to record the first year and
beyond. Kath Jackson and Alyse Smith said to give the baby an email address and send them notes, photos and anecdotes over the years. You can gift them the email password and access to a treasure trove of fun personal stories on their 18th birthday.
Tracie Patten said that her mom offered to keep a journal of every notable milestone.
“All I had to do was call her and relay the story and she’d write it in ‘the book,’” Tracie wrote. “It was a win-win because I didn’t have to add another chore to my list and my mom felt very in-the-know.”
Jana Eaton commented that if you are handy with a camera, try and capture some sweet moments of mom with baby.
“Moms have too few photos of themselves because we are usually the ones taking the pictures,” Jana says.
Another cute idea is to take a photo of the newborn in a 12-month-old onesie. Continue to do that every month for a year and you can look back at all the amazing stages of growth.
Grandparents can take advantage of the state income tax deduction when investing in a 529.
“A few dollars per month won’t seem like much, but in 18 years it will add up and be very appreciated,” Sara Hall wrote.
Rachel Watson stated that her in-laws started a 529 at birth for each of her children and now it is going to pay for a year of college.
At this point my plan is to let my son, daughter-in-law and new grandson know that they are loved unconditionally, forever. I will be encouraging as they adjust to life as a family of three, managing two careers and a home away from both families.
I will also ask for guidance, remembering that baby Anthony needs to be swaddled, sleep on his back in an empty bassinet or crib and have tummy-time.
Seeing our children grow up to have their own children is one of life’s greatest blessings. I look forward to building sandcastles, baking cookies and reading Christopher’s favorite books to his son. But for now, I’ll just enjoy the baby snuggles.
Colleen D’Angelo is a Dublin Life columnist and freelance writer. She and her husband, Tony, raised three children in Dublin over the last 25 years.
Colleen enjoys playing and teaching pickleball; walking her pup, Mason; and traveling internationally. You can reach her at colleendangelo1@gmail.com.
lpappas@cityscenemediagroup.com
A Dangerous Education: A Novel by Megan Chance
Rosemary Chivers has just accepted a position as a reform teacher at a school for troubled girls. Her reason? To find her long lost daughter. But getting close to her students in an attempt to narrow down the search proves more deadly than she ever imagined. Set in McCarthy-era America, A Dangerous Education is a page-turning novel about the power of secrets and the strength of a mother’s love.
the damage done by Indian boarding schools and the historical massacres of Indigenous people, A Council of Dolls is ultimately a story of hope.
The Exceptions: Nancy Hopkins, MIT, and the Fight for Women in Science
by Kate Zernike
The Better Half: A
All the pieces of Nina’s life have fallen into place. She’s accepted her dream job, her daughter is thriving at school and there’s finally time to take a long-overdue girls’ trip with her best friend. But when things quickly begin to veer off course, Nina is stuck deciding between salvaging Plan A or embracing Plan B. Alli Frank and Asha Youmans’ new novel is full of heart, humor and life’s unexpected joys.
Through breathtaking prose, PEN Awardwinning author Mona Susan Power tells the moving stories of three women in her newest novel. Sissy, Lillian and Cora are born decades apart into different worlds, but their lives are woven together through shared experiences and the dolls each carries. Though a devastating novel about
In her new book, Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter Kate Zernike tells the gripping story of 16 female scientists who stood up to discrimination in academia and changed the world forever. In 1999, Nancy Hopkins, a molecular geneticist working at MIT, was through with the constant sexism impacting her pay, resources and the credit awarded to her for her contributions. With endless determination and help from her brilliant colleagues, Hopkins fought for equal opportunities for women in science, and won.
Class: A Memoir of Motherhood, Hunger, and Higher Education
by Stephanie Land
Who has the right to go to college?
Stephanie Land, the New York Times bestselling author of Maid, is seeking the answer. Land had ambitions of higher education, but barriers like paying for college while still affording to put food on the table relentlessly stood in her way. Class is the inspirational story of how Land fought for her dreams despite every obstacle thrown her way by the American education system.
Editor’s note: To be added to the Dublin Life Book Club mailing list or for more information, email kgill@cityscenemediagroup.com. The club will meet Thursday, Oct. 26 at 7 p.m. Location TBD.
Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI by
David Grann
Based on the true-life murder mystery of how members of the Osage Indian Nation in Oklahoma came to power and were killed. After more than 24 Osage were killed, the newly created F.B.I. took on one of its first major homicide investigations.
Hide your valuables
Whether a resident or a visitor, we want you to have a safe, enjoyable time in our city. The Dublin Police Department reminds you to follow these important steps to keep your property secure. Thank you.
Take it with you
Remember your keys
Lock your vehicle
