Hardheaded…and Proud of It

Move over Lance Armstrong. A new favorite to win the 2012 Tour de France has been unveiled. He resides right here in New Albany and is that stud on the right wearing his trademark yellow cycling jersey, the same one he modeled on the cover of Bicycling. OK, so I obviously would fail a polygraph. I did not appear on the cover of Bicycling, but at least the other self-proclaimed niceties are modestly stated. Or are they?

Let’s examine reality, now. I am not a member of the cycling community, but I do frequent Starbucks on weekend mornings and mingle with the dozens of riders dressed in their multicolored jerseys that are decorated with logos depicting a consortium of corporate entities. We chat for a few minutes before they begin their 65-mile journey to Granville and beyond. Me, I just sit around with some friends and enjoy a Pike Place Roast.

Yet, I do share a commonality – and reality – with my cycling colleagues. I make sure I wear a bicycle helmet whenever I mount my Pee Wee Hermanlike two-wheeler. Unfortunately, I cannot say the same for an inordinate number of individuals who live in our wonderful community.

I am all too frequently taken aback by the number of children I notice riding bicycles and not wearing helmets, even when accompanied by their parents.

Here’s reality, not fantasy. Cycling contributes to the highest number of fitness-related traumatic brain injuries seen in emergency rooms. Wearing a helmet reduces head injury by 85 percent. While Ohio has no mandate that requires bicycle helmets be worn, many local communities have managed to enact their own legislation.

New Albany, are you listening? Take note. I am hardheaded when it involves the safety of our children.

In this issue of Healthy New Albany Magazine, Police Chief Mark Chaney offers bike safety tips, with the first recommendation being, "always wear a helmet." You will read about the awesome group of women, Girls with Gears, that gathers weekly to train for Pelotonia as well as for the camaraderie that cycling with others provides.

Enjoy a fascinating piece about Val Jorgensen who has cultivated a very successful farm. Read about how Healthy New Albany came into being. And, of course, you will be updated on the latest happenings in our community, all with the idea of promoting your health and safety.

Healthfully,

Phil Heit, Executive Editor

Nov. 9

What's happening in and out of New Albany

Saturday Mornings

Family Story time

11-11:30 a.m., New Albany Branch Library, 200 Market St., www.columbuslibrary.org Share stories and songs with your family.

Wednesday Afternoons

Teen Gaming

3-4 p.m., New Albany Branch Library, 200 Market St., www.columbuslibrary.org

Teens can come after school and play old and new video games.

Nov. 5

14th Annual Hollyday

Craft Bazaar

9 a.m.-3 p.m., Church of the Resurrection, 6300 E. Dublin-Granville Rd., www.newalbanychamber.com

More than 70 crafters will be at this year’s fair, which also features a raffle, door prizes and a bake sale. Tickets cost $1 and enter you to win a Longaberger Basket door prize.

Nov. 5

Get Fit Family Day

11 a.m.-3:30 p.m., COSI, 333 W. Broad St., www.cosi.org

Learn about fitness with your family with programs from the Central Ohio Diabetes Association and the YMCA. Also, take part in interactive programs like the Incredible Human Machine. Activities are free with COSI admission.

Nov. 5

Rotary Honors Veterans

5K Walk/Run

9 a.m., Alum Creek State Park, 3615 S. Old State Rd., Delaware, www.premierraces. com/2011Races/RHV.html

This 5K will help support the Honor Flight program, which flies veterans to Washington, D.C., for free to visit memorials honoring their time in the military.

Nov. 6

Columbus International

5K Walk/Run com/2011races/international.html

9 a.m., Franklin County Veterans Memorial, 300 W. Broad St., www.premierraces.

The Columbus International Program is sponsoring this 5K. Entry fee is $25 preregistered, and $30 day of the race.

Nov. 6-Dec. 1

Dribble Camp

1:30 or 2:30 p.m., Bevelhymer Park, 7860 Bevelhymer Rd., www.naparks.org

Learn better basketball skills with this weekly program on Mondays, for children in grades K-1 and 2-5.

Nov. 9

Learn the Ropes: A Beginner’s Primer on Climbing

6-8 p.m., Scioto Audubon Metro Park, 400 W. Whittier St., www.metroparks.net

Learn the basics in this free rock-climbing course. Gear is provided and basic skills like knot tying and belaying are taught.

Nov. 12

Breathe Deep Columbus

5K Walk/Run

11 a.m., North Bank Park, 311 W. Long St., www.LUNGevity.org/columbus

This timed 5K walk/run is in memory of Frank Lerner and raises money for lung cancer research.

Nov. 12

Fall Into Winter 13.1

2 p.m., Wildwood Park, 785 W. Broadway, Granville, www.tacosports.org

Take part in this half marathon in historic Granville.

Nov. 17

A Remarkable Evening

6-10 p.m., Wexner Party Barn, 1 Whitebarn Rd., www.newalbanyfoundation.org

Former U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice will headline the New Albany Community Foundation’s largest fundraiser, held again this year at the estate of Les and Abigail Wexner. Rice is now a professor of political science and political economy at Stanford University. The event is sold out.

Inside New Albany Outside New Albany KEY:

Nov. 18

Center for Historical Research Seminar: Tamara Mann – From Pastoral Care to Health Care: The First National Conference on Aging, 1950

3:30-5 p.m., Dulles Hall at The Ohio State University, 230 W. 17th Ave., www.history.osu.edu

This seminar will explore how age should be defined and how the elderly should be cared for and viewed in American society. It also explores the shift in the American lifespan.

Nov. 30

A Holiday Celebration

7:30 p.m., Jeanne B. McCoy Community Center for the Arts, 100 W. Dublin-Granville Rd., www.mccoycenter.org

Enjoy the holiday classics by award-winning singer, songwriter and pianist Jim Brickman.

Dec. 3

Jingle Bell Run/Walk for Arthritis

10 a.m., Downtown Columbus, www.jinglebellruncolumbus.kintera.org

Get in the holiday spirit with the Arthritis Foundation’s Jingle Bell Run/Walk 5K.

Dec. 4, 11, 18

Men’s 30+ Basketball

4 p.m., Bevelhymer Park, 7860 Bevelhymer Rd., www.naparks.org

Men over 30 can play basketball in an open gym on Mondays in December.

Dec. 4

Holiday Celebration at the Plain Township Fire Station

Time TBA, 9500 Johnstown Rd., www.plaintownship.org

Join members of the Plain Township Fire Department and celebrate the holidays.

Dec. 4

Ealy House Open House

Time TBA, 6359 Dublin-Granville Rd.

Celebrate New Albany’s history alongside the New Albany-Plain Township Historical Society.

Dec. 11

2011 Holiday Run

9 a.m., Sharon Woods Metro Park, 6911 Cleveland Ave., Westerville, www.m3ssports.com

Join the group for a four-mile scenic run through Sharon Woods Metro Park. Great for runners and walkers. The post-race celebration includes hot chocolate and holiday cookies.

Dec. 18

New Albany Symphony presents Holiday Spectacular

3 p.m., Jeanne B. McCoy Community Center for the Arts, 100 W. Dublin-Granville Rd., www.newalbanysymphony.com

Enjoy a holiday concert that includes both the New Albany Symphony and the New Albany branch of the Columbus Children’s Choir. Arrive to the concert early to participate in children’s activities and for a chance to win a holiday gift basket. The symphony also will be collecting canned goods for the Mid-Ohio Food Bank.

Dec. 19

Mondays at the Movies

4-6 p.m., Lori Schottenstein Chabad Center, 6220 E. Dublin-Granville Rd., www.friendscolumbus.com

Volunteer or join in for The Friendship Circle’s Mondays at the Movies, geared toward children with special needs and their families.

Dec. 31

Running in the New Year

4 p.m., First Presbyterian Church, 110 W. Broadway, Granville, www.tacosports.org

This 5K run begins at the Granville First Presbyterian Church.

Nov. 30

For more events and to subscribe to our calendar, visit us online at healthynewalbanymagazine.com

Dec. 4

Dec. 18

By Cara Laviola