Community
Charles Dankworth, CFP® , CIMA®, CPWA® Senior Vice President–Wealth Management
Patrick Clark, CFP® Team Administrator
New Albany Wealth Partners UBS Financial Services Inc. 180 Market Street, Suite 200 New Albany, OH 43054 614-939-2202 newalbanywealthpartners@ubs.com
Romeo Vuticevski, CRPS® Senior Vice President–Wealth Management
Courtney Freed Registered Client Associate
advisors.ubs.com/newalbanywealthpartners
Kevin Snead, CFA Account Vice President
Amy Baker Client Associate
Kathleen K. Gill
Gianna Barrett
Dave Prosser
Gary Hoffman
Megan Brokamp, Maisie Fitzmaurice, Ella Jay, Rachel Karas
Korrigan Craddock, Elizabeth Cullinan, Madison Miller, Dylan Telerski
Elise Conrad, Avery Gillis, Disha Hoque, Maxwell Knauer
Rae Moro, Laura Pappas
CEO
President
Chief Creative Officer
Creative Director
Editors
Contributing Writers
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Darrin Bright, M.D.
Michael Sawyers
Lisa Hinson
Benita Jackson, M.D., M.P.H.
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New Albany Community Foundation
OhioHealth
Watch Stephanie’s story here or visit or thopedicONE.com.
Stephanie’s Orthopedic Practice MOST TRUSTED
After multiple injuries and surgeries -- to her hips, shoulder and spine -Stephanie is stronger than ever. She continues to pursue her passion for teaching and inspiring young athletes on and off the tennis court. She credits her physicians at Orthopedic ONE for sharing faith in her determination to recover and return to the game she loves.
Stephanie B., Tennis Instructor and Orthopedic ONE Patient
A Journey Worth Noting
As I reviewed the stories for this month’s issue, my eyes popped wide open as if a bolt of lightning penetrated my brain to remind me of my present state of health.
There it was.
Ella Jay’s story, A Better Fit, focusing on the advancement being undertaken by a local orthopedic physician on knee replacement surgery. Having had partial knee replacement nine years ago is not what prompted my stunned response, nor was it the fact that knee and hip replacements due to osteoarthritis (OA) have led to significantly increased demand for these surgeries.
Coincidentally, I’m working on this issue of Healthy New Albany Magazine after only two-days post op in which my new hip has become a fixture of my anatomy. My initial thought about writing my Glance column was to focus on Ella’s manuscript as a sequel to the prevalence of the number of people, especially the younger generation that are undergoing knee and hip replacement surgeries. Yes, I intended to bear light on the fact that most research shows that knee and hip replacements are not a result of running early on during one’s lifetime. In fact, research shows that physical activity enhances joint health.
Rather, I am going to make an assumption that many of you reading this column have had or will have some kind of joint replacement surgery.
This led to my ‘aha’ moment, or as I will more academically refer to as, a teachable moment whereby sharing my journey might resonate with
many of our readers. Hopefully my experience and wisdom will prove to be of value to many of you. My decision to undergo surgery and where it was to take place was guided by many hours of asking questions, researching patient satisfaction surveys, evaluating surgical approaches and gathering patient feedback, to name a few.
My surgery began on a Wednesday morning at 6:30 a.m. By 10 a.m. and out of recovery, the surgery team had me walking and shortly after was wheeled down to physical therapy.
I arrived home by 11:00 am and without much rest, propelled myself around my home via my walker. Thursday morning, I was in physical therapy where upon I transitioned to a cane.
More importantly my pain level was minimal and I was able to forgo needing opioids. Instead, I relied on a regimen of Tylenol.
I would also venture to say that I am probably older than the overwhelming
majority of our readers, and yet I began the road to recovery in an effortless a manner as possible. The reason for my post-surgery success was the result of a commitment to my health that included a planned program of fitness and staying engaged with my physical therapy exercises prior to surgery. This is the key to success from surgery.
Regardless of any health circumstances that may come your way, begin or maintain your health journey now.
While I am only at the beginning of my recovery, I am optimistic my journey will continue at its present pace. My goal is to walk a half marathon this fall. Not bad for an older dude.
Healthfully,
Phil Heit Executive Editor
Fri., July 4
Healthful events happening in and out of central Ohio
New Albany Independence Day 5K Race presented by the New Albany Symphony Orchestra
7:45 a.m., Market Square www.na5krace.com
Fri., July 4
New Albany Independence Day Parade and Fireworks
Parade: 11 a.m., Intersection of New Albany-Condit Rd. and Chatham Green Dr.
Fireworks: 10 p.m. www.newalbanyohio.org
Sat., July 5
Columbus Jazz Orchestra presents Red, White and Blues
8 p.m., Charleen & Charles Hinson Amphitheater, 170 E. Granville Rd. www.jazzartsgroup.org
Sun., July 6
Run Wild 5K presented by OhioHealth
8 a.m., Columbus Zoo & Aquarium, 4850 W. Powell Rd., Powell www.columbuszoo.org
Thurs., July 10
Free Summer Concert Series presents Buzz Bin
7 p.m., Charleen & Charles Hinson Amphitheater, 170 E. Granville Rd. www.newalbanychamber.com
New Albany Independence Day
5K Race presented by the New Albany Symphony Orchestra
Fri.-Sun., July 11-13
New Albany Youth Theatre presents The Wizard of Oz
July 11-13: 7 p.m.
July 12 and 13: 2 p.m.
Jeanne B. McCoy Community Center for the Arts, 100 E. Dublin Granville Rd. www.newalbanyyouththeatre.org
Sat., July 12
Picktown Palooza Freedom 5K
8:30 a.m., Victory Park, 100 Lockville Rd., Pickerington www.picktownpalooza.org
Tues., July 15
Free Family Flick Night presents The Little Mermaid
7:30 p.m., Charleen & Charles Hinson Amphitheater, 170 E. Granville Rd. www.newalbanyfoundation.org
Fri., July 18
Summer Movie Series presents Moana 2
6:30 p.m., Thompson Park, 5600 Thompson Rd. www.naparksohio.org
Sat., July 19
The Lemon Trails 5K Run/Walk
7 a.m., Hilliard Station Sixth Grade School, 5600 Scioto Darby Rd., Hilliard www.runsignup.com
Tues.-Sun., July 22-27
New Albany Dance Festival
Charleen & Charles Hinson
Amphitheater and the Jeanne B. McCoy Community Center for the Arts www.newvisiondanceco.org
Thurs., July 24
Free Summer Concert Series presents Yumbambe
7 p.m., Charleen & Charles Hinson
Amphitheater, 170 E. Granville Rd. www.hinson-amphitheater.com
Sat.-Sun., July 26-27
Summer Slam Pickleball Tournament
New Albany Pickleball Complex, 7300 Walnut St. www.naparksohio.org
Independence Day Parade
NewAlbanyOhio.org
Sat., July 26
Candy Race 5K
8 a.m., 9801 Hyland-Croy Rd., Dublin www.runsignup.com
Sat., July 26
Life Toolkit Series: Forest Therapy Walk
9:30 a.m.-noon, New Albany Library, 200 Market St. www.columbuslibrary.org
Sun., July 27
Taste of New Albany 5-10 p.m., Rose Run Park www.cm.newalbanychamber.com
Submit Your Event
Do you have an event you would like to submit to our calendar? Send details and photos to rkaras@cityscenemediagroup.com
Thurs., Aug. 14
AMP Up the ARTS Benefit featuring Michael Cavanaugh and New Albany Symphony Orchestra presented by The New Albany Community Foundation
8 p.m., Charleen & Charles Hinson Amphitheater, 170 E. Dublin Granville Rd. www.newalbanyfoundation.org
Fri., Aug. 1
Beau Schoener Memorial Golf Outing
9 a.m., New Albany Links Golf Club, 7100 New Albany Links Dr. www.nafirefightersfoundation.org
Sat.-Sun., Aug. 2-3
Pelotonia Ride Weekend www.pelotonia.org
Thurs., Aug. 7
Free Summer Concert Series presents Fleetwood Gold
7 p.m., Charleen & Charles Hinson Amphitheater, 170 E Granville Rd. www.hinson-amphitheater.com
Sat., Aug. 9
Last Buckeye Standing Backyard Ultra
7 a.m., Alum Creek State Park, Africa Rd., Galena www.greenswell.com
Sat., Aug. 9
Buckeye Moon Trail Runs
8 p.m., Alum Creek State Park Hiking Trail, Africa Rd., Galena www.greenswell.com
Tues., Aug. 12
Free Family Flick Night presents Shrek
7:30 p.m., Charleen & Charles Hinson Amphitheater, 170 E. Granville Rd. www.newalbanyfoundation.org
Fri., Aug 15
Blood Drive
Noon-4 p.m., Philip Heit Center for Healthy New Albany, 150 W. Main St. www.cm.newalbanychamber.com
Sat., Aug. 16
Artist Opening Reception for Marry Ann Sedivy & Nazli Brush – Vibrant Impressions
5-8 p.m., Hayley Gallery, 260 Market St. www.localohioart.com
Sat., Aug. 16
Summer Movie Series: Happy Gilmore
6:30 p.m., Bevelhymer Park, 7860 Bevelhymer Rd. www.naparksohio.org
Sun., Aug. 17
OhioHealth Grandview Yard Half & Quarter Marathon
7 a.m., 850 First Ave., Grandview Heights www.rungrandviewyard.com
Sat., Aug. 23
Life Toolkit Series: Sit Spot Exploration 9:30 a.m.-noon, New Albany Library, 200 Market St. www.columbuslibrary.org
Sat., Aug. 23
Big Band Dance Party 8 p.m., Charleen & Charles Hinson Amphitheater, 170 E. Granville Rd. www.hinson-amphitheater.com
New Albany Dance Festival Free Summer Concert Series
By Megan Brokamp
Competitors to Companions
New Albany Walking Classic® forms friendships through competition
Photos
Save the Date
2025 New Albany Walking Classic®
Sept. 7 at 8 a.m. Visit www.newalbanywalkingclassic.com to sign up and learn more about how to get involved as a walker, volunteer or vendor.
In the 2024 New Albany Walking Classic, Heather Garner and Karen Saul finished in fourth and fifth place for women, crossing the finish line only 13 seconds apart.
Saul is an accomplished competitive race walker and the winner in the women’s division of the 2022 New Albany Walking Classic® Half Marathon and the 2023 New Albany Walking Classic® 5K. Garner, on the other hand, had never competed in a race when she signed up in 2023.
However, on race day, Garner walked up to the start line with a goal – to beat Saul’s 2023 winning time of 36:34.
A self-proclaimed “orchestra nerd,” Garner’s brass came in the form of trumpets and trombones instead of gold medals. However, when she saw an article from Healthy New Albany Inc. featuring Karen Saul and her consecutive wins, inspiration struck.
“When I saw the article about Karen, my husband looked up the (winning) time from the year prior and said, ‘You know, you should try and get that,’” Garner says. “Her time was really what I was reaching for.”
Striding to victory
Although Garner had never formerly competed in a race, walking has always been part of her routine. As founder and executive director of the New Albany Symphony Orchestra, walking gives Garner time to listen to music and strategize for upcoming programs.
“It clears my mind, and I do a lot of thinking when I’m walking,” Garner says. “It’s when I do a lot of my work: my mind work.”
While Garner’s daily walks are for leisure, she’s a quick walker by nature. Her typical pace teeters around a 13-minute mile, which is about 4.6 miles per hour.
However, to achieve her goal of beating Saul’s previous pace, Garner needed to kick things up a notch.
Garner did not have a set training plan, but she timed herself a few times throughout the summer to see if she was on par to beat Saul’s time.
“She didn’t know it, but she was my pace setter all summer,” Garner says.
Race day
As Garner waited for the shotgun start, she was filled with nerves.
“I had butterflies in my stomach when it was time to start, and I thought I was going to throw up,” Garner says. “It was like nothing I’d ever experienced before.”
As Garner eagerly waited behind the start line, she spotted Saul. Five minutes before the race began, she approached Saul, introduced herself and
Saul poses with Brutus at the 2024 Classic.
Competitive Walker
Saul discovered her love of race walking in 2005 when the Classic first started and has competed nearly every year since its inception. When the Classic introduced the half marathon for the first time, Saul won first place for women.
“I cried, I just was elated and blown away,” Saul says. “And it’s right in my backyard.”
After her half marathon win, she decided to pursue competitive race walking.
“The Classic definitely was (something) that inspired me to do it as a competition,” Saul says.
Speed walking, or race walking, is a fast-paced sport where one foot must stay in contact with the ground and the front leg must stay straight. Athletes use quick strides and a distinctive hip motion to maintain speed while following these rules.
The mechanics of speed walking rely on maintaining constant ground contact and keeping the leading leg straight until it passes under the body. To generate speed, walkers use rapid, short steps and a pronounced hip rotation to increase stride length without breaking form.
Saul currently competes with her team, Amp Up Sports, where she travels to participate in USA Track and Field competitions. In July of 2024, Amp Up Sports placed 10th out of 300 teams at the USATF National Championship.
explained how Saul’s story inspired her to compete.
“That morning, she was so sweet,” Garner says. “I didn’t know where to stand in line. I really didn’t know anything, and she took me under her wing.”
As the clock ticked down, the two racers quickly chatted and exchanged motivational messages. Then they were off.
“We weren’t necessarily going to walk together,” Saul says. “And then, before I know it, we were both next to each other.”
The two completed much of the race side by side, cheering on one another through each mile.
“As we started to come to the end, I knew how much that meant to her and me,” Saul says. “In the final stretch, I told
her, ‘Go for it. Go all out as much as you want. And she did.’”
In the end, Garner finished first in her age group, with a time of 36:13, and Saul finished just seconds behind her, with a time of 36:26.
Building bonds
Since competing in the walk together, the two have become fast friends. Saul has attended Orchestra concerts with her husband, and the two have kept in contact throughout the year.
“She just seems like she’s been a friend of mine for my whole life,” Garner says. “She’s one of those types of people.”
Saul has traveled across the country for race walking, but the bonds she has
built with the community through the Classic keep her coming back to New Albany year after year. From volunteers to friends made along the course, the draw of the Classic extends far beyond the New Albany neighborhood.
“I tell everybody about it,” Saul says. “I mean, what a wonderful thing to be able to have in our community to showcase to the world.”
Megan Brokamp is an editor at CityScene Media Group.
Feedback welcome at mbrokamp@cityscenemediagroup.com.
Saul and Garner race together at the 2024 Classic.
UPCOMING EVENTS
JULY
Healthy New Albany Farmers Market
New Albany Independence Day 5k
Independence Day Parade
City of New Albany Fireworks Display
Columbus Jazz Orch: Red, White & Blues
Farm Animal Event at New Albany LIbrary
Healthy New Albany Farmers Market
Free Summer Concert Series: Buzz Bin
Ealy House Museum Open
Free Family Flick: The Little Mermaid
Healthy New Albany Farmers Market
NA Parks & Rec Movie: Moana 2
Ealy House Museum Open
New Albany Dance Festival
Healthy New Albany Farmers Market
Free Summer Concert Series: Yumbambe
Summer Slam Pickleball Tournament
Ealy House Museum Open
of New Albany Healthy New Albany Farmers Market
Beau Schoener Memorial Golf Outing
Pelotonia
Ealy House Museum Open
Healthy New Albany Farmers Market
Free Summer Concert Series: Fleetwood Gold
Ealy House Museum Open
Free Family Flick: Shrek at Hinson Amphitheater
Healthy New Albany Farmers Market
Amp Up the Arts: The Music of Billy Joel
NA Parks & Rec Movie: The Wild Robot
Hayley Gallery Artist Opening Reception
Ealy House Museum Open
Healthy New Albany Farmers Market
Touch-a-Truck
Columbus Jazz Orchestra: Big Band Dance Party
Ealy House Museum Open
Healthy New Albany Farmers Market
Ealy House Museum Open
New Albany Symphony: Bernstein in Story & Song
New Albany Symphony: Sensory Friendly Concert
New Albany Walking Classic
Hayley Gallery Artist Opening Reception
New Albany Community Update Breakfast
The Challenge Music Festival at Abercrombie
Canine Companions DogFest 2025
New Albany Fall Family Music Fest
By Maisie Fitzmaurice
Virtual Healing
New Albany CEO offers innovative treatment post-stroke
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, an individual in the U.S. suffers a stroke every 40 seconds. While some recover fairly well, others are left with cognitive or even physical dysfunctions that can negatively affect their quality of life and independence.
A rehabilitation program is usually the first step toward recovery after a stroke. To aid with the process, neurologists, engineers and researchers – including those right here in New Albany – offer stroke patients additional tools and treatments to ensure the best recovery results possible.
When it hits
If a stroke patient is stable but showing signs of dysfunction or difficulty carrying out everyday activities and tasks, rehabilitation therapies are implemented almost immediately.
The type of therapy a patient will undergo depends on what movement or cognitive function is impaired.
For example, someone who has limited control of their arm following a stroke may improve through constraintinduced movement therapy, which entails only using and moving the affected arm to strengthen or restore the mind-body connection. However, someone experiencing cognitive decline after a stroke, such as memory loss, may complete a visual image exercise instead.
According to Dr. Omar Ahmad, founder and CEO of NeuroAnimation in New Albany, some post-stroke patients –no matter what traditional therapy they undergo – have lingering issues, due to brain damage to areas of the brain that control movement, motor skills and cognitive-emotional processing.
“That’s why stroke sufferers often exhibit very similar characteristics after the event, and they recover their movement back, some of it, but they hit a plateau, and they can’t move beyond that,” Ahmad says.
Breaking through
At Johns Hopkins University, Ahmad and Dr. John Krakauer led the Kata Design Group, a team of biomedical engineers and researchers crafting a therapy technique to push patients past the plateau. This meant targeting the undamaged areas of the brain that can be upregulated and plasticity-promoted.
“Blood flow and brain growth are very symbiotic, so when more blood goes
to a particular region of the brain, if you could target it there, it creates new networks. It creates new blood vessels. It creates new brain cells and those new brain cells recruit more blood, so if you’re doing a specific task involving a certain region of the brain, blood goes to that region of the brain,” he says.
The team analyzed trial results from past stroke treatment studies, hoping to find what treatment strategies work and
Dr. Omar Ahmad
which don’t. He concluded that commonly used rehabilitation methods weren’t the most efficient for healing.
“If someone asks you to just pick up something and move your joint 1,000 times, that’s going to do nothing to move you beyond that plateau, you have to do things that are engaging the brain while you’re moving continuously,” he says.
Through their findings, they began developing the building blocks for a concept that would later become NeuroAnimation therapy.
Brain games
Ahmad’s professional journey began in computer science and engineering, which led him to pursue neuroscience and biomedical engineering. With those combined skills, he was able to create an innovative 3D space simulation that successfully pushes stroke patients past their recovery plateau.
This unique simulation exercise is a huge aspect of NeuroAnimation therapy. While it is an intense brain workout, it feels more like a virtual reality game than therapy.
To engage with the program, a patient enters a room and is immersed in a 3D simulation controlled by staff. The pa-
tient uses their movements to control an avatar and perform different tasks.
This takes therapy to the next level as the brain works to move the body in specific ways it likely wouldn’t during everyday tasks and activities.
“I came up with the idea of neural animation, that if we’re able to stimulate movement where you’re continually moving in a complex 3D way, and you’re always learning new movements, you never know exactly what you’re doing, you have to learn it again,” he says.
Not only is the therapy fun and challenging, it has already been shown to be effective in fostering neuroplasticity through intense mind-body connection exercises, leading to newly formed neuropathways, increased blood flow and even brain growth.
“Rehab got you to a certain point. We could double that. And it was a huge result, we confirmed the result recently in a second trial in 2025,” he says. “These are people who are told they’re not going to get any better, that there’s nothing they can do, or that you’re going to get to a certain point, and you can’t move beyond that. Patients deserve better and we have the strongest science in the world to show that you can push someone beyond that, and we know exactly how to do it.”
Connecting with the Community
While Ahmad could have chosen anywhere to open his first NeuroAnimation facility, he chose New Albany due to its health-conscious culture, medical innovation and residents’ passion for preserving and enhancing their cognitive and motor functions. He hopes that by making his home here, he could connect with other physicians and serve those in the community who will resonate with or would potentially benefit from his therapy program.
“We have some great partners here in the area. I think the health systems here are very receptive to working with us once their therapy options are exhausted or done,” he says. “They (can) send their patients here to really push it beyond and it’s a testament to just how amazing this community is.”
Maisie Fitzmaurice is an editor at CityScene Media Group. Feedback welcome at mfitzmaurice@cityscenemediagroup.com.
A patient uses the 3D space simulation.
Residents drive success of New Albany’s growing waste reduction program
New Albany’s waste reduction efforts were born out of the City’s Strategic Plan. Through interviews and community surveys, residents voiced strong support for sustainability and identified waste reduction as a priority area. In response, City Council formed the Sustainability Advisory Board (SAB) in 2021 – a group of residents tasked with advising Council on how to translate those values into action.
One of SAB’s earliest focus areas was expanding opportunities for responsible recycling and waste disposal. Their recommendations built on early conversations about hosting household hazardous waste and paper shredding events and quickly led to the launch of the City’s
first e-waste drive in 2022. The turnout far exceeded expectations.
“We thought we might collect some old cellphones,” says Adrienne Joly, who oversees the City’s Administration Department. “Instead, we filled our trailer and realized just how much interest there was.”
Since then, the program has expanded steadily. The City has hosted separate household hazardous waste drives, added seasonal recycling programs for items such as pumpkins, holiday lights and political signs, and eventually combined the household hazardous waste drive, e-waste drive and an inaugural paper shredding drive into one comprehensive event in April of this year.
Record-breaking year
This year’s waste reduction drive saw more than 1,200 vehicles come through the service facility in three hours – nearly three times the turnout from last year.
Staff and volunteers worked long hours to accommodate as many residents as possible, but the overwhelming response required some vehicles to be turned away once capacity was reached.
Despite the logistical challenges, the event made a significant impact:
• A total of 20,897 pounds of electronic waste were collected and diverted from landfills – a 176 percent increase from 2024.
Community volunteers assist a New Albany resident in unloading hazardous household waste.
Photos courtesy of the City of New Albany
• More than 6,000 pounds of paper were shredded securely.
• Final totals for household hazardous waste are still being calculated but are expected to be similarly strong.
City staff, volunteers, vendors and Council members were all hands-on deck for the event. Council member Kasey Kist, who serves as City Council’s Sustainability Advisory Board liaison, was on-site throughout the day.
“The turnout was incredible – proof that our community is serious about sustainability,” Kist says. “Let’s build on this momentum and make waste reduction part of our everyday habits.”
Community values on display
The popularity of the event reflects more than just convenience – it speaks to New Albany residents’ desire to make responsible choices and live out the values identified in the City’s Strategic Plan.
“People feel good knowing they’re doing the right thing,” Joly says. “This program removes the barriers that sometimes prevent people from recycling or properly disposing of items. We’re making it easier for our community to act on what they already care about.”
Items commonly dropped off included TVs, computers and paint cans. While fewer cellphones are showing up –a sign that residents have already cleared out older devices – some unexpected and nostalgic items still appear each year.
Council member Kasey Kist helps move e-waste into designated recycling bins.
Growing responsibly
As the event grows, so does the City’s effort to manage it effectively. Joly noted that the team is actively reviewing feedback and exploring ways to improve logistics and accessibility. While seasonal opportunities for recycling are regularly available through the City, there are new efforts underway to discover interest in other areas of sustainability.
The City is preparing to pilot a curbside compost pickup program in a local neighborhood, which will help gauge interest
in year-round organics recycling and potentially further expand the City’s sustainability offerings.
Thinking regionally, acting locally
While the Waste Reduction Drive occasionally draws participation from outside New Albany, the City encourages nonresidents to take advantage of regional options that are available year-round. This helps keep New Albany’s event manageable and focused on serving its own community. Here are some alternative drop-off resources:
• SWACO Household Hazardous Waste Facility –www.swaco.org/195/household-hazardous-waste
• Ohio Drop Off Recycling Centers –www.ohiodropoff.com/Gahanna.htm
• DKMM Solid Waste District –www.dkmm.org/hazardous-waste
• Recycle Right Search Tool –www.recycleright.org/recycling-locations
Sustainability starts at home
From nostalgic electronics to everyday household items, New Albany’s Waste Reduction Program continues to give residents a safe, convenient and meaningful way to care for their homes and their environment. It’s a community-led success – and a model of how small steps, when made easy and accessible, can create lasting impact.
Household hazardous waste is sorted into the appropriate collection bins.
Celebrate Summer in New Albany
July and August are event-packed this year, and you don’t want to miss any of it! From reworks and free concerts, to shing derbies and big trucks, there is something for everyone to enjoy.
TOO FLY FOR THE 4TH OF JULY
ursday, July 4 | 11 a.m. Parade, 10 p.m. Fireworks
New Albany is refreshing its Independence Day celebration with a stronger focus on you, our residents. From more local parade entries to a brand new Inclusivity zone, this is a celebration for everyone! So, start your day with the classic parade at 11 a.m., then watch our fantastic reworks display from your favorite New Albany spots starting around 10 p.m. If you, or anyone you know, is need of accommodations, contact (communityevents@newalbanyohio.org)
Learn more: newalbanyohio.org/independence-day-2025
Celebrate summer with music, food, and friends! Doors open at 6:30 p.m. and the bands take the stage from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Bring in food and beverages from the farmers market or your favorite local restaurants and enjoy the DORA. ere’s something for everyone! So, mark your calendars and make a night of it—just don’t forget to bring your lawn chair or blanket.
ursday, July 10 - Buzz Bin (90s cover band)
ursday, July 24 - Yumbambé (Latin jazz) ursday, August 7 - Fleetwood Gold (Fleetwood Mac tribute)
Learn more: newalbanyohio.org/SummerConcertSeries
COPS AND BOBBERS
Saturday, July 19 | 9 a.m. to Noon
Join New Albany Police at Bevelhymer Park Pond for a youth shing derby. is event is open to kids ages 5 to 15 with prizes for biggest, smallest, and most sh. Free hot dogs, police gear demos, and fun for the whole family — just make sure to bring your own rod! Bait available while
Saturday, August 23 | 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
See, touch, and explore the City’s biggest vehicles at 7800 Bevelhymer Rd. A sensory-friendly experience will take place from 9 to 10 a.m. then open to all until 12:30 p.m. Free hot dogs, water, and chips provided. Connect with the people and tools that keep New Albany moving!
For additional information on these events and other activities taking place in New Albany throughout the year, scan the QR code or visit: newalbanyohio.org/events
Our annual look at New Albany through the lenses of its residents.
Shutterbugs
Korrigan Craddock
Shayne Hanz
Elizabeth Hans
Ella Wise
Ashley Holt
Shutterbugs
Korrigan Craddock
Shayne Hanz
Ashley Holt
Shutterbugs
Debbie Holt
Korrigan Craddock
Ashley Holt
A Better Fit
Alternative technique personalizes knee implants
By Ella Jay
For decades, knee replacement surgeries have utilized a one-size-fits-all method, following a standardized technique known as mechanical alignment.
This process positions knee implants in a straight, consistent line between the hip, knee and ankle, passing through the center of the knee. While mechanical alignment helps distribute weight evenly across the knee joint, possibly leading to the longevity of the implant, it ignores one crucial factor: a patient’s natural anatomy.
As a result, orthopedists have begun to explore an alternative approach known as kinematic alignment.
What is kinematic alignment?
Kinematic alignment, unlike mechanical alignment, aims to duplicate the position of the patient’s own, unique joint surfaces, restoring the knee’s natural, full range of motion prior to developing arthritis.
“The results of (the) mechanical alignment technique have been pretty good… but as with any endeavor in medicine, we’re trying to continually improve,” says Dr. Robert N. Steensen, an
orthopedic surgeon and founding member of Orthopedic ONE. “Kinematic alignment is personalized. Just like people are different sizes and shapes, they have legs that have slightly different alignments too, and kinematic alignment tries to match their alignment to respect their natural anatomy.”
By replicating the knee’s unique angles and joint lines, kinematic alignment may lead to a more natural-feeling knee replacement, allowing the knee to move more smoothly and improving function.
Kinematic alignment also eliminates the need to release ligaments during surgery, which otherwise could impact the knee’s stability and function.
“In a way, you could say mechanical alignment is making the knee fit the technique or the implant, whereas (with) kinematic alignment, we’re making the technique fit the bones,” Steensen says.
This is achieved partially thanks to updated tools, including a flexible instrument set known as the MicroPort Kinematic Alignment set. These tools allow doctors to dial into the knee at any given angle when previous instruments were only able to cut into the bone at a standard angle.
“I’ve been involved with kinematic alignment for 10 years, and when I first looked around, there weren’t instruments that I felt were to my satisfaction. So, I helped design some instruments,” Steensen says. “I’ve used those instruments for seven years now, and I’ve been very pleased, I’ve seen the benefits.”
Photos courtesy of OrthopedicONE
Dr. Steensen works with a patient.
Mechanical alignment joint angle vs. kinematic alignment joint angle.
Benefits
In addition to surgical improvements, kinematic alignment offers additional longer-term benefits
Thanks to the better fit achievable through the procedure, patients also experience less pain after their implant, recover faster, return to everyday activities sooner without complication and maintain stable results long after surgery.
“It’s a newer approach, but it’s gaining popularity in an almost exponential way, and I think that’s because the results are seeming to be improved over mechanical (alignment),” Steensen says.
Multiple studies have shown promising results through short- and long-term analysis of kinematically aligned implants and patient-reported outcome measurements.
One study, published by the National Institutes of Health, found a significant improvement in patient-reported outcome measurements, with a sharp drop in pain levels within the first three months of receiving an implant. Patients also reported their new knees felt more natural over time, with satisfaction scores im-
Dr. Steensen’s General Tips for Knee Health
Watch your weight. A substantial amount of excess weight can put stress on the joints.
Maintain your strength. Regular strength training is not just beneficial for the knees and joints, but also crucial for overall health. To strengthen muscles around the knee, try exercises such as squats, lunges, hamstring curls, calf raises and straight leg raises.
Tailor your activities. If your usual exercise begins to trouble your knees, consider switching to low- or non-impact activities such as walking, cycling, swimming, yoga or Pilates.
Consider past injuries. A knee injury, even in youth, can increase the risk of needing a replacement later in life. Consult your doctor sooner rather than later if experiencing troubles.
proving steadily between three months and two years.
That same study also found no risks of implant failure or second surgery from malalignment and reported no detriments to implant longevity.
To help patients better understand why kinematic alignment can be so
beneficial, Steensen likes to use a simple analogy.
“If you had a flat tire, you would take it off and put a new wheel exactly where it was, right? You wouldn’t say, ‘Let’s move it a half inch forward,’ because then it wouldn’t line up with the axle,” he says. “The knee has an axis of
Summary
This
rotation (too), and when we do kinematic (alignment), we’re trying to match that axis of rotation.”
Improvement, not replacement
While yielding favorable results, it is
important to note that kinematic alignment is unlikely to completely replace the use of mechanical alignment.
“Mechanical alignment (is) a good thing, (it) has done wonders for people. This is more of a tweaking… ‘Can we make it better?’” Steensen says.
Both techniques have strengths and weaknesses, and the optimal choice is ultimately contingent upon each individual patient’s anatomy.
“If somebody’s leg was pretty straight already… they may not notice much of a difference,” Steensen says. “But if somebody was, for instance, a bit bowlegged, and you restored them back to the way they were before… they may feel better with that knee than they would if (it) was made perfectly straight.”
Still, Steensen wishes to see continued research involving the alternative technique, viewing it as contributive toward perpetual growth within the oprthopedic field and, ultimately, better patient recovery.
“The goal is to give them pain relief and restore their function and stability so they can forget they had a knee replacement,” Steensen says.
Ella Jay is an assistant editor at CityScene Media Group. Feedback welcome at ejay@cityscenemediagroup.com.
A visual representation of Dr. Steensen’s flat tire analogy.
Planet Protectors
New Albany graduates champion sustainability and environmental advocacy
Rio Hall and Sophia Barnes have been taking small steps to create big changes at New Albany High School. The two co-chair the school’s environmental club, however, their passion for the planet extends far beyond that.
The pair first teamed up sophomore year, when Barnes was looking to get involved.
“I really wanted to join the environmental club, and then Rio was actually the one that helped me get on the board,” Barnes says. “She was on the board her sophomore year, and then she got me on the board for my junior year.”
Since then, they have taken New Albany by storm and started a composting program in the cafeteria, implemented recycling in all classrooms and installed no idling signs in the parking lot.
Although their time at New Albany High School has come to an end, both Hall and Barnes say this is just the beginning of their environmental advocacy journeys.
How it started
Hall and Barnes got an early introduction to the importance of the environment and sustaining it. For Barnes, it was
her dad who showed her not only why advocacy matters, but how to go about it.
“I think my biggest inspiration is probably my dad. (He) is a fifth-grade science teacher at New Albany, and so when I was younger, I used to do a lot of outdoor activities and outdoor labs that got me interested in environmental science,” Barnes says.
For Hall, it was her volunteer work that inspired her to look for ways to get engaged in high school.
The New Albany High School Environmental Club poses for a picture outside the Easton E3 Learning Lab.
Photos courtesy of New Albany High School, Rio Hall and Sophia Barnes
“I think my environmental club interest kind of started out when I was a freshman,” Hall says. “I did a lot of volunteer work in the community, and then I ended up doing this tree planting event with the environmental club my freshman year. That ended up going really well, and I decided to try and get on the board and keep that interest going.”
Work beyond high school
While the two are very proud of what they’ve accomplished at New Albany, they have their sights set on new beginnings, while also making sure to smooth the transition for those running the environmental club after them.
Hall will be attending Lafayette College where she will study environmental engineering. She visited back in January and fell in love immediately.
“I applied because I knew they had a really good engineering program, but I visited, and I immediately knew that I wanted to go there,” Hall says. “It was right away, I toured their engineering building and got to meet a lot of the faculty members. And I just loved it.”
Barnes will be attending Elon University to study public policy and environmental studies. For her, it was an easy
decision as well.
“It was one of my tops right away,” Barnes says. “I loved the liberal arts feel of it. I loved the small class sizes. It just felt like I could fit in there. And I think one of the big things was they care a lot about sustainability.”
While both are excited about what’s to come, they still have work to do in New Albany. When talking about transitioning leadership, they expressed a nervous excitement.
“I definitely think that the majority of high school students need a lot of con-
Hall and Barnes rep their soon-to-be colleges with spirit wear.
The Environmental Club at the 2024 Teen Eco Summit
Barnes and Hall at graduation.
vincing. Or maybe (are) not that excited about a composting program,” Hall says. “But what has really been impressive to me is (the) individual students who have so much passion about the environment. I think that a lot of the people who are in our club want to work really hard to get these projects off the ground, and are very excited to have new projects.”
They believe their generation will play an important role in the future of environmental advocacy and hopefully preservation.
“Once people in our generation start to pursue their own passions and jobs and go to college and get that experience, I think, as a collective, that frustration can turn more into drive,” Hall says. “I’m really hopeful that a lot of this can be changed in the future, so we can see significant shifts.”
Maxwell Knauer is an editorial assistant at CityScene Media Group. Feedback welcome at feedback@cityscenemediagroup.com.
Club members pose at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium.
By Avery Gillis
Fact or Fiction
Exploring the health benefits of apple cider vinegar
The use of vinegar in medicine dates back to Ancient Greece and the physician Hippocrates who suggested the substance as a means of cleaning wounds and fighting infection.
While the modern Hippocratic oath would probably discourage this usage, vinegar (especially the apple cider variety) offers a wide range of health benefits as well as some common myths that continue to be associated with its high acetic acid content.
Breaking the myth
Adding apple cider vinegar (ACV) to your diet for a boosted metabolism may seem enticing, however the correlation between the two is not as impactful as some think.
A randomized clinical trial published in the Journal of Functional Foods found that in a sample of 39 overweight and obese adults, the group consuming ACV along with a reduced calorie diet lost more weight than the group that only used a reduced calorie diet.
Initially, the results seem promising, but taking a closer look at the study produces more questions than answers. For instance, the study was only conducted over a period of 12 weeks. Would longerterm use of the ACV produce the same results? What exactly is it about ACV that might cause weight loss?
When comparing the results of similar studies on ACV and weight loss, a literature review published in Current Developments in Nutrition found that only four out of six studies reviewed replicated these results. None of the long-term studies were found to produce the same results.
One study published in the International Journal of Obesity suggests that vinegar’s contribution to weight loss lies in its success as an appetite suppressant rather than a metabolism booster. Participants in that study reported a greater amount of weight lost in a short period but also reported greater levels of nausea as well.
Hidden benefits
The benefits of vinegar on metabolism are too sparsely researched to yield a concrete conclusion. Luckily, apple cider vinegar can be incorporated into a healthy diet for a range of health benefits beyond the scale.
According to the American Heart Association, one of the most strongly supported claims for the benefits of ACV is that it slightly lowers blood glucose levels in those with type 2 diabetes.
Several studies have reported reduced fasting blood glucose in partici-
pants that consume ACV as compared to those who don’t.
One study from Frontiers in Clinical Diabetes and Healthcare found that when drinking ACV along with recommendations for a healthy diet, A1C (a test that measures the average amount of blood glucose over a span of three months) percentages dropped from 9.21 percent to 7.79 percent.
Outside of its blood sugar benefits, ACV can also be helpful for a healthy gut biome due to its fermentation.
According to Harvard Health Publishing, in the age of processed goods, fermented foods and products are paramount to replenishing one’s microbiome. The natural probiotics found in ACV can aid in digestion, improving gut health and indirectly improving cellular health, as reported by Cleveland Clinic
Safely supplement
Apple cider vinegar is known for being intensely acidic, so much so that drinking it straight could erode tooth enamel and weaken the esophagus over time. It is important to consider how to safely include ACV into your diet to yield the best results.
If you are opting to drink ACV before a meal, diluting it with water lessens the intensity, making it safer to consume long-term.
Another way to include ACV in a healthy diet is by using it in cooking. By adding it to salad dressings or sauces, the
moderate benefits of ACV can be combined with the benefits of healthy food for a meal jampacked with nutrients and probiotics while also taming the sourness of the vinegar.
While it may not be a cure-all miracle substance, safely adding small amounts of apple cider vinegar to your diet along with healthy food is a good way to boost your overall health and wellness.
Avery Gillis is an editorial assistant at CityScene Media Group. Feedback welcome at feedback@cityscenemediagroup.com.
Recognize the Risk
Fostering national and international awareness to decrease sepsis mortality
Sepsis is a life-threatening medical condition that can affect anyone at any time. Awareness and a quick diagnosis are important factors in limiting its effects – especially because sepsis is frequently undetected or misdiagnosed during the early stages, which is when it’s typically the most treatable.
While sepsis can’t always be prevented, increased awareness and understanding risks can help. Organizations locally and around the world are raising awareness by setting up initiatives regarding the condition.
Deadly infection
Dr. Paul Zeeb, an emergency medicine physician at Mount Carmel, says sepsis can be very deadly.
“Sepsis is a killer. Sepsis is an abnormal response by your body to infection, which results in organ damage, organ failure and frequently death,” says Zeeb.
Sepsis can develop from any infection which can range from something as small as a bug bite to more serve infections such as pneumonia. Certain groups of people are at higher risk including young children, the elderly and those who have chronic illnesses or impaired immune systems.
Zeeb says the most common sepsis causes he has seen are from urinary tract infections, pneumonia, skin infections, chronic medical problems such as diabetes and post-surgical complications.
According to Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), each year about 31 million people globally develop sepsis and about 6 million die from it. Sepsis is responsible for about 20 percent of all deaths globally.
Zeeb says there are ways you can reduce the risk of sepsis such as keeping up with vaccinations, practicing good hygiene such as washing hands, taking medications and other simple infectious disease protocols.
Global knowledge
Organizations are now identifying sepsis as a major health crisis and are developing programs to combat it.
Last fall, PAHO approved a new strategy and action plan to address sepsis that will be implemented starting this year through 2029. The goal of the initiative is to strengthen the public health response to sepsis through increased social awareness and community involvement in healthcare.
The action plan is split into three, main strategic areas.
The first strategic area is raising awareness and early detection by enhancing education and research of sepsis.
The second is preventing infections, as it is the most effective way to prevent sepsis. PAHO wants to focus on expanding vaccination coverage, improving access to water and sanitation and strengthening hygienic control practices in healthcare facilities.
The third and final strategic area is ensuring equitable access to healthcare. This will help ensure rapid and effective diagnosis and treatment at all levels of care.
PAHO is not the only organization addressing sepsis.
Sepsis Alliance saves lives and reduces sepsis through multiple avenues such as public education and awareness, healthcare professional education and training, patient support and advocacy, and research.
Last fall, Global Sepsis Alliance also launched a sepsis initiative. The 2030 Global Agenda for Sepsis aims to alleviate human, societal, healthcare and economic burdens of sepsis.
“We saw an increase of sepsis during (the COVID-19 pandemic). I think (it) had a lot of people starting to pay attention to infectious diseases,” says Zeeb. “Sepsis was a complication for a lot of patients who suffered from COVID.”
Local impact
Sepsis doesn’t just affect people across the globe but also in central Ohio.
Dr. Paul Zeeb
Photo courtesy of Mount Carmel Health Systems
Know the Signs
When it comes to sepsis, remember “It’s About Time.” Watch for:
Temperature: higher or lower than normal
Infection: may have signs and symptoms of an infection
Mental decline: confused, sleepy, difficult to rouse
Extremely ill: severe pain, discomfort, shortness of breath
Information gathered from www. sepsis.org
“If you look at our admissions to the hospital, (sepsis) vastly outnumbers the admissions for, let’s say, heart attack or stroke. It is a common condition,” says Zeeb.
A key focus area of the Ohio Hospital Association (OHA) is reducing sepsis mortality.
OHA has comprised more than 124 hospitals in Ohio for a statewide sepsis initiative. Mount Carmel is one of the many entities involved in the initiative.
The organization continues to send data to OHA to help it gather more research and information.
In 2020, Sepsis Alliance named OHA a Sepsis Hero in recognition for its work in reducing sepsis mortality by bringing awareness and improving sepsis management throughout the state.
Jackie Berkowitz, D.D.S., M.S. Diplomate, American Board of Orthodontics
“I think more people are aware of heart disease, stroke, complications of injuries than they are of sepsis,” says Zeeb. “I think we can talk more about how you could prevent or reduce your risk of sepsis.”
Korrigan Craddock is a contributing writer at CityScene Media Group. Feedback welcome at feedback@cityscenemediagroup.com.
Cultivating Connections
New Albany fosters socialization and community connections
Humans are a fairly sociallydependent species. Socializing with each other is not only crucial for society, it also benefits individual mental and physical health.
It’s important to not only socialize at a young age, but also to continue doing so throughout adulthood. From parks and public spaces to events and groups, New Albany offers many ways for residents to socialize and build healthy relationships.
Why is it important?
The connections you form from socializing have lasting effects.
“We are social animals by nature, so we tend to function better when we’re in a community and being around others,” Dr. Craig Sawchuk, a Mayo Clinic psychologist, wrote in a 2019 article.
Socializing increases your sense of happiness and well-being while, in return, helping you live longer.
According to the CDC, social connections can improve physical and mental health by managing stress, anxiety and depression. Socializing can also sharpen memory and cognitive skills.
The CDC also reports that highquality relationships can help people live healthier lives. It can reduce the risk of chronic diseases and serious illnesses such as heart disease, stroke and dementia.
Housing communities foster connection
New Albany is very pedestrian friendly, with sidewalks in almost every neighborhood connecting residents to one another.
The walkability extends to multiple communities throughout the city such as Hampsted Village.
It is within easy walking distance of major New Albany staples such as New Albany-Plain Local Schools and the New Albany Branch of Columbus Metropolitan Library.
New Albany has more than 80 miles of trails in and around the community.
New Albany residents at the community garden
Photos courtesy of the City of New Albany
Public spaces
Check out these public spaces where you may run into or make a new friend:
• Rose Run Park
• Wexner Community Park and Wexner Pavilion
• Bevelhymer Park New Albany Pickleball Courts
• Thompson Park
• Taylor Farm Park New Community Garden
• Philip Heit Center for Healthy New Albany
• Charleen & Charles Hinson Amphitheater
• Jeanne B. McCoy Community Center for the Arts
It’s the type of neighborhood where you can walk your child to school, then head out for your morning run or grab a coffee, and maybe even run into other families along the way.
If you are looking for big venues to host private events such as weddings, corporate events, holiday parties and banquets, the New Albany Links Club and New Albany Country Club offer spaces to suit your event needs.
These tight-knit communities foster strong connections between residents as both clubs have amenities that get people mingling such as gyms, pools, golf courses and pickleball courts. From big events like golf tournaments to weekly pickleball games, the clubs offer many ways to stay active and bring people together.
Meeting your neighbors is a great way to be social. Albany Woods offers public spaces that spark connections such as the community garden and the dog park. Community gardens such as the one at Taylor Farm Park and The Garden for All are a great ways to connect while growing your own food.
Sharing a meal with someone can be a great way to make a new friend or catch up with an old one. The senior living communities such as the Avalon of New Albany, Nottingham Trace and New Albany SeniorLife Neighborhood help break the ice with multiple shared living spaces.
What you can do in your home
Hosting a get together in your own space can also be a great way to connect with people.
The entrance of your home can set the tone for the gathering. Warmer colors such as reds, oranges and yellows, as well as soft neutrals, can make a space feel cozier and more inviting.
Seating plays a major role in how people interact. Arranging your furniture in a gentle horseshoe shape encourages conversation rather than focusing on a television. Offering a wide variety of comfortable seating is important to pay attention to as well.
Adding a sturdy coffee table can be an easy addition that offers a place for drinks, snacks or even a card game.
Kitchens often become a gathering point, especially when food is involved. Adding a passthrough window can open the space and encourage flow between rooms. Bar stools can be
a nice addition to add more seating and have a causal place for your guest to sit while you finish up cooking.
If you prefer outdoor gatherings, especially during warm summer months, there are plenty of additions you can add to make a fun and inviting environment.
A fire pit naturally creates a circular seating area and invites fun activities such
Groups that foster socializing
Check out these organizations to make connections:
• Senior Connections
• IDEA (Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Accessibility)
• Community Connector
• New Albany Community Foundation
as roasting marshmallows or sharing old stories.
A grill or an outdoor kitchen can become a centerpiece for an event with causal conversation and shared meals.
Setting up sports equipment and lawn games can keep kids and adults entertained.
Korrigan Craddock is a contributing writer at CityScene Media Group. Feedback welcome at feedback@cityscenemediagroup.com.
Rose Run Park
Residents visit the Healthy New Albany Farmers Market
BENEFITING ARTS & CULTURE IN NEW ALBANY
Hosted by The New Albany Community Foundation
the New Albany Symphony Orchestra
Thursday, August 14
Gates open at 7pm for a picnic dinner and wine prepared by Cameron Mitchell Premier Events
Performance starts at 8pm With the New Albany Symphony and Maestro Luis Biava
Presented by e New Albany Community Foundation
Sunday, September 28
Activities for Children at 2pm Performance at 3pm Nationwide Children’s Hospital Meet and Greet with Tim at 4pm
newalbanyfoundation.org
Adult tickets $20. Children under 18 require a free ticket. Scan this QR code for tickets or visit newalbanyfoundation.org for more information.
From Market to Table
Healthy New Albany Farmers Market offers fresh finds and two easy seasonal recipes
There’s something special about Thursday afternoons in New Albany. The scent of fresh herbs and sweet kettle corn in the air, live music fills the square, and neighbors catch up while browsing tables filled with just-picked produce and handmade goods. It can only mean one thing: the Healthy New Albany Farmers Market is back for another season.
Now in its 15th year, the market runs every Thursday from 4-7 p.m. through Aug. 28 at Market Square. Each week features a diverse mix of local farmers, bakers, artisans, food trucks and community organizations. It is the perfect place to shop for produce, grab a bite to eat or simply enjoy the atmosphere with friends and family.
Photos
And for those looking to turn fresh ingredients into flavorful meals, Healthy New Albany’s Nourish cooking classes offer inspiration and practical know-how. These hands-on workshops help home cooks feel more confident using seasonal ingredients.
To celebrate peak summer produce, Chef Sharon Dunn, HNA Nourish Pro-
Street Corn Salad (6-8 servings)
gram coordinator, shared two of her favorite recipes that make the most of what you’ll find at the market this time of year.
The summer market runs weekly through August, but Healthy New Albany also hosts a monthly indoor market during the fall and winter, making it easy to support local growers and makers yearround.
Perfect for cookouts or weeknight dinners
• 6 ears of fresh corn, husked
• 4 scallions
• 2 jalapeños
• 1 red bell pepper
• 1⁄3 cup sour cream
• ¼ cup mayo
• 1 tsp. chipotle chili powder
• Zest and juice of 1 lime
• 1 garlic clove, micro grated
• 15 oz. can black beans
• ½ cup Parmesan Romano cheese, grated
• ¼ cup cotija cheese, crumbled
On a grill or grill pan, grill the corn (8-10 minutes), scallions (2-3 minutes), jalapeños (2-3 minutes) and bell pepper (6-8 minutes), turning to mark all sides. Let cool slightly. Cut the corn off the cobs and medium dice the veggies. In a bowl, combine sour cream, mayo, chili powder, lime zest and juice as well as garlic. Add beans and chopped veggies; season with salt and pepper. Toss with Parmesan Romano. Transfer to a serving bowl and sprinkle with cotija.
Watermelon Lime Agua Fresca (8-10 servings)
Summer in a glass
• 8 cups seedless watermelon, 1-inch pieces
• 2 cups water
• 1⁄3 cup lime juice
• 2 tbsp. agave or honey
• 1⁄8 tsp. salt
In a high-speed blender, process watermelon and water until smooth. Strain through a fine mesh strainer into a 2-quart pitcher. Stir in lime juice, agave/honey and salt. Adjust lime or sweetness to taste. Serve over ice.
The Farmers Market proudly accepts SNAP/EBT benefits, and SNAP participants are eligible for Produce Perks, which doubles the fruits, vegetables and produce-producing plants participants can purchase with a $1-for-$1 match. Whether you’re picking up produce or learning new ways to prepare it, Healthy New Albany makes it easy and enjoyable to eat seasonally, shop locally and connect with your community.
What’s the Buzz About BugFest?
Photos
Hands-on insect adventure for all ages
returns for its second year
Get ready to meet the creepy, crawly stars of the natural world at the second annual BugFest, Healthy New Albany’s free, family-friendly celebration of insects and the vital role they play in our environment.
On Thursday, Aug. 14 from 10 a.m.-noon, Bevelhymer Park will transform into a lively space for exploration and discovery. Kids and families can enjoy crafts, games and nature activities while learning directly from entomologists and science educators. The entire event is designed to spark curiosity and invite participants to see the natural world in a new way.
At the heart of the event is the BUGmobile. This custom-built mobile insect zoo features live arthropods, interactive exhibits and displays that are equal parts educational and entertaining.
Operated by The Ohio State University’s Department of Entomology, the BUGmobile brings the insect world to life. Visitors can observe, and even hold, creatures such as Madagascar hissing cockroaches, Australian walking sticks and desert millipedes. The experience is guided by knowledgeable staff who make science approachable for visitors of all ages.
BugFest began with a simple idea.
“When I first saw the BUGmobile at a fair, I was blown away,” says Kelli Pence, the interim program director at Healthy New Albany. “It was so hands-on, so educational, and the kids just lit up. We knew we had to bring it here.”
The event is hosted in partnership with New Albany Parks and Recreation and takes full advantage of Bevelhymer Park’s wide-open space. Families can explore shaded areas, use nets to search for bugs, and visit nature-themed booths and vendors. Confirmed partners include the New Albany Branch Library, Franklin County Soil and Water Conservation District, and Garden for All. Each group will offer engaging, bug-related activities such as discovery stations, giveaways and bug book displays.
Last year’s BugFest exceeded expectations, drawing a larger crowd than anticipated. Organizers are planning for even more this year.
Memorable highlights from last year include monarch and moth displays, bug-catching adven-
Kids interact with different insects at the 2024 BugFest.
tures and soil tables filled with worms and mud for painting and play.
“You could tell it really stuck with the kids,” says Pence. “They weren’t just looking, they were discovering, exploring, asking questions.”
BugFest also offers a natural entry point to Healthy New Albany’s youth nature programs, which emphasize creativity, movement and sensory learning. From Tiny Trailblazers for preschoolers through Adventure Eagles aimed at grades 4-6, each program provides age-appropriate opportunities to connect with nature through handson play and outdoor exploration.
“Some kids need space to explore on their own terms,” Pence says. “Events like BugFest give them a chance to connect with nature in a way that’s meaningful to them.”
BugFest is free to attend, with registration recommended but not required. To learn more or sign up, visit www.healthynewalbany.org.
Kids enjoy BugFest’s hands-on activities and nature-themed educational booths.
By Elizabeth Cullinan, Librarian at the New Albany branch of the Columbus Metropolitan Library
Healthy New Albany Bookshelf Reviews
Good Nature: Why Seeing, Smelling, Hearing, and Touching Plants is Good for Our Health
By Kathy Willis, 2024
Have you ever wondered why being surrounded by nature makes you feel better? Packed with scientific research, this book explores what happens in our bodies, physically and mentally, when we interact with nature. It provides readers with practical ways to incorporate nature into their everyday lives. The simplest changes to our environment, such as having a plant in your home, can have lasting effects on the body’s ability to be happier and healthier.
Wild Wonder: What Nature Teaches Us About Slowing Down and Living Well
By Stephen Proctor, 2024
Nature can be the best teacher when it comes to appreciating moments of solitude, mindfulness and wonder. In this book, drone photography brings a new perspective to the natural world. Awe-inspiring photographs of nature’s most amazing scenes accompany pages of quotes and reflections on living well.
Get Grounded, Get Well: Connect to the Earth to Improve Your Health, Well-Being and Energy
By Stephen Sinatra, MD, Sharon Whiteley and Step Sinatra, 2023
Through many studies, it’s been scientifically and medically proven that embracing nature can significantly improve health. The act of connecting with nature is called grounding. This process uses the energy from the Earth’s surface to return the body to a balanced state of homeostasis. By increasing natural endorphins, grounding can improve circulation, stress and inflammation which is the leading cause of many of today’s biggest health problems.
Awakening Artemis: Deepening Intimacy with the Living Earth and Reclaiming Our Wild Nature
By Vanessa Chakour, 2021
Blending her own personal story with a vast knowledge of plants, this author explores the transformative power connection with nature has on mental and physical healing after traumatic experiences. Each chapter focuses on the characteristics of one specific medicinal plant while emphasizing self-discovery and emotional resilience. Readers will be encouraged to embrace their inner wild and cultivate a deeper intimacy with the Earth as they forge a personal path of growth and healing.
The Well-Gardened Mind: The Restorative Power of Nature
By Sue Stuart-Smith, 2020
Time spent gardening is another way in which connecting with nature can have a great effect on our mental and physical wellbeing. Drawing from personal anecdotes, historical insights and contemporary research, this author highlights the ways in which gardening and working with your hands can promote resilience and spiritual renewal. Furthermore, readers will find the importance of reconnecting with the Earth through gardening as our lives are evermore urbanized and driven by technology – a message emphasized throughout the whole book.
The Secret Therapy of Trees: Harness the Healing Energy of Forest Bathing and Natural Landscapes
By Marco Mencagli and Marco Nieri, 2019
This book looks to reconnect readers with the natural environment and presents the science behind green therapies like forest bathing and bioenergetic landscapes. The research is backed with multiple scientific studies to highlight that increased exposure to green spaces can help improve health concerns and result in lower blood pressure, improved memory and cognitive function as well as contribute to an overall healthier immune system. Practical tips are also provided for incorporating nature into daily life, such as choosing plants that assist in air purification for indoor environments or taking a moment for a mindful walk.
Top homes sold in New Albany
New Albany home prices increased 34 percent in April 2025 compared to the previous year. Homes sold for a median price of $1,159,000 in April 2025. A total of 11 homes were sold both in April 2025 and 2024. On average, homes sold after 49 days on the market compared to 30 the previous year. (Data from Redfin.)
All information is collected from the Franklin County Auditor’s Office.
15 Highgrove
6 beds, 7 baths
$3,900,000
Sold 4/8/25
4131 Reynoldsburg New Albany Rd. 5 beds, 6 baths
$3,000,000
Sold 4/24/25
3965 Lewis Link Dr. 5 beds, 4.5 baths
$2,600,000
Sold 4/23/25
4220 Gunston Hall 4 beds, 5.5 baths
$2,153,500
Sold 4/24/25
37 Ealy Crossing N. 4 beds, 4.5 baths
$2,085,000
Sold 5/6/25
5980 Babbitt Rd. 3 beds, 2.5 baths
$1,700,000
Sold 4/11/25
3940 Lewis Link Dr. 4 beds, 3.5 baths
$1,400,000
Sold 4/30/35
4065 Chelsea Green W. 4 beds, 4.5 baths
$1,200,000
Sold 4/8/25
7552 Alpath Rd. 4 beds, 3.5 baths
$1,159,000
Sold 4/1/25
6915 Central College Rd. 4 beds, 2.5 baths
$1,150,000
Sold 5/5/25
6892 Rosewell Ln. 4 beds, 4.5 baths
$1,110,000
Sold 5/8/25
7474 King George Dr. 3 beds, 4.5 baths
$1,023,000
Sold 5/7/25
REAL ESTATE MARKETPLACE
4056 Courter - Listed at $3,900,000, this extraordinary over 8,900 sq. ft. estate on 30+ acres east of New Albany is a private equestrian retreat. Fully rebuilt in 2016–17, it features a grand 2-story great room, chef’s kitchen, spa-like primary suite, wine tasting room, and 4-stall horse barn. Perched atop the property with stunning views, this home blends luxury, nature, and privacy in one truly breathtaking setting.
NTH DEGREE TEAM AT COLDWELL BANKER www.nthliving.com
5-level split offers 4 bedrooms and 2.5 baths. Large dining room, cozy family room, and first-floor laundry. Kitchen boasts ample cabinet space, stainless steel appliances, and inviting bar seating. Primary bedroom suite with dual vanity and walk in closet. The second floor has 3 beds and 1 full bath. Lower
Attached two-car garage. Lauren.davie@evrealestate.com
4400 Shull Rd, 43230 | Nestled on 5 gated acres, this estate offers privacy, natural beauty, and modern comfort minutes from city conveniences. A fenced property surrounds a scenic pond, home to abundant wildlife. The chef’s kitchen has high end SS appliances, custom cabinetry, large island, and a casual Dining area. First-floor primary suite overlooks the pond and features hand-hewn 1800s Ohio barn planks. $1,600,000.
NTH DEGREE TEAM AT COLDWELL BANKER www.nthliving.com
Enjoy an open floor plan, natural light, and no yard work—HOA handles lawn and snow care. Relax or entertain on the fenced-in patio. Close to The Goat, Easton, dining, shopping, and more. Effortless living at its best!
537-5376 jeanl@newalbanyrealty.com
Aspinwall N. | Over $300,000 in carefully planned renovations were recently completed, enhancing and perfecting the interior of this all-brick home in the highly sought-after Upper Fenway neighborhood. The fully remodeled kitchen features dual islands w/ Platinum Quartzite countertops, brand-new Thermador appliances, a wine refrigerator, and a built-in bar. A fully remodeled Owner’s suite now offers a spacious, beautifully designed retreat. Simply stunning! $1,480,000
COLDWELL BANKER REALTY ThePowellBuehlerGroup.com Showcase your home listings to every homeowner in the New Albany school district. Your listings will also appear in the digital edition of the magazine, hosted on the Healthy New Albany Magazine home page: www.healthynewalbanymagazine.com
7061 Hill Gail Drive, New Albany | $190,000 Move-in
New Albany Community Foundation concludes 12th Lecture Series season
The New Albany Lecture Series concluded its 12th season on April 30 when speaker Chris Walker, Director of Amazon Web Services’ (AWS) Sustainability Organization, was interviewed by Axios Senior Reporter Sara Fischer. The discussion centered around environmental sustainability, including the best environmental practices and trends to reduce environmental impact. The 2025-26 series will kick off in October with a discussion on health and well-being with Pelotonia Vice Chair and Founder Doug Ulman interviewing Good Morning America Co-Anchor and author Robin Roberts.
Photos by James DeCamp courtesy of
Bess and Nick Eley
Leslie Caimi and Esther Larson
Chris Walker and Sara Fischer
Chris Harbold and Susan Pryor
Carolyn Jackson and Emily Smith
Mariah Anderson, Alex Jensen, Heather Dardinger and Miles Hebert
Craig Mohre, Kyle Utz and David DaCunha
Stephanie Christie, Carolyn Jackson and Merle Madrid
Yacid Rodriguez and Sabina Scott
Low Wait Times. Expert Care.
