Pickerington December/January 2022

T h e O f f i c i a l M a g a z i n e o f t h e C i t y o f P i c k e r i n g t o n a n d V i o l e t To w n s h i p

DECEMBER 2021/JANUARY 2022

Protect and Preserve

Jeff LaRe (from left), Mary Mertz, David Hague, Tammy Miller, Jeff Johnson

INSIDE Entrepreneur celebrates inclusion Music education saluted Preventing bullying

Wishing you a joyous holiday season filled with good health, love and happiness.

We are grateful for each customer and community we have the opportunity to serve. Thank you for trusting us to take care of you on your financial journey.

614-228-0063 | parknationalbank.com

pickerington magazine

volume 14, number 2 december 2021/january 2022

4 Calendar

1335 Dublin Rd., Ste. 101C Columbus, Ohio 43215 614-572-1240 • Fax 614-572-1241 www.cityscenecolumbus.com Kathleen K. Gill

Vice President, Sales

Dave Prosser

Chief Creative Officer Senior Editor

Cameron Carr

Associate Editor

Claire Miller

Assistant Editor

Amanda DePerro

Contributing Editor

Bre Offenberger Megan Roth Sarah Grace Smith Tess Wells

Editorial Assistants

Garth Bishop

Contributing Writer

Tracy Douds Dan Nase

Advertising Sales

Circulation

faces

Every Rose Has Its Horn

Rose Parade float and marching band recognize music education

17 Home for the Holidays

Celebrate the season with local events

Prehistoric in focus Preservation

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Two residents tend to Coyote Run, the state’s 140th nature preserve

22 Sweet as a Sugar Scrub

www.pickeringtonmagazine.com

Local entrepreneur succeeds in business and in celebrating inclusion

24 Battling Bullies

CityScene Media Group also publishes:

How to talk about and prevent bullying

CityScene Magazine www.CitySceneColumbus.com

26 on

Dublin Life Magazine www.DublinLifeMagazine.com

the table

Holiday Ham

Indulge in a holiday ham in your very own kitchen

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Healthy New Albany Magazine www.HealthyNewAlbanyMagazine.com

artist spotlight

Developing a Dream

Marvella Duarte Coon chased her passion for photography

Discover Grove City Magazine www.DiscoverGroveCity.com The Publisher welcomes contributions in the form of manuscripts, drawings, photographs or story ideas to consider for possible publication. Enclose a SASE with each submission or email bklein@cityscenemediagroup. com. Publisher does not assume responsibility for loss or damage.

The appearance of advertising in Pickerington Magazine does not constitute an endorsement of the advertiser’s product or service by the City of Pickerington.

Pickerington Magazine is published in February, April, June, August, October and December.

Subscriptions are free for households within the city limits of Pickerington, Ohio. For advertising information or bulk purchases, call 614-572-1240.

No part of this publication may be reproduced without the written consent of the publishers. Pickerington Magazine is a registered trademark of CityScene Media Group. Printed in the U.S.A. © 2021.

Pickerington Schools

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614-572-1240

Tri-Village Magazine www.TriVillageMagazine.com

Violet Township

12 News and Information from

Accounting Manager

Westerville Magazine www.WestervilleMagazine.com

the City of Pickerington

8 News and Information from

Creative Director

Brandon Klein

Jamie Armistead

President/CEO

Gianna Barrett

Gary Hoffman

6 News and Information from

28 Top Homes Sold in Pickerington 29 Luxury Living Real Estate Guide 30 bookmarks

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Recommended reads from Pickerington Public Library

On the cover: Jeff LaRe, Mary Mertz, David Hague, Tammy Miller and Jeff Johnson at the ODNR ceremony for Coyote Run. Photo by Jeff Hall.

www.pickeringtonmagazine.com PickeringtonMagazine

pickerington community calendar december 2021/january 2022 Nov. 6-Jan. 2 A Victorian Christmas

Dec. 1 Photos with Santa

Wednesday-Friday, 11 a.m.-4 p.m.

Saturday-Sunday, 1-4 p.m.

Decorative Arts Center of Ohio, 145 E. Main St., Lancaster 43130 www.decartsohio.org

2-7 p.m., Pickerington City Hall, 100 Lockville Rd. www.ci.pickerington.oh.us

Through Dec. 15 Santa’s Mailbox Pickerington City Hall, 100 Lockville Rd. www.ci.pickerington.oh.us

A North Pole Express mailbox will be placed in front of City Hall for children to write Santa and his helpers a letter for Christmas. Please include the child’s name and return address so Santa can write back!

Dec. 1 Wednesday Connects 8:30-9:30 a.m., Pickerington Senior Center, 150 Hereford Dr. www.pickeringtonchamber.com

“Connect for success” by gaining valuable business advice on pitching, networking, presenting, referring and more.

Thursdays through Jan. 20 Michael Robinson 6:30-9:30 p.m., Cardo’s Pizza & Tavern, 7897 Refugee Rd. www.cardospizzaandtavern.com

Come out for the sweet acoustic sounds of Michael Robinson as he performs live at Cardo’s on Thursday nights.

Dec. 3-17 Dorothy Steiger Memorial Mitten Tree 8 a.m.-5 p.m., Pickerington City Hall, 100 Lockville Rd. www.ci.pickerington.oh.us

Come help the City of Pickerington decorate its mitten tree with new or gently used mittens, gloves, hats and scarves that will be donated to Fairfield County Job and Family Services.

Dec. 3 Holiday Gathering 5-8 p.m., Olde Pickerington Village, 13 W. Columbus St. www.ci.pickerington.oh.us

Send photos of life in Pickerington to editor@ cityscenemediagroup.com for a chance to be featured in our August/September issue!

Deadline is May 31 Send up to 10 photos of people, pets, places or events for consideration.

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Dec. 4 Santa Saturday 1-3 p.m., atrium at Pickerington Main Library, 201 Opportunity Way www.pickeringtonlibrary.org

Join Santa, along with music, crafts and more, at this holiday family event.

Dec. 6 Book Chat 6-6:30 p.m., virtual www.pickeringtonlibrary.org

Come out for this family event featuring the lighting of the city tree, wagon rides, cookie decorating, holiday treats and more.

The Pickerington Library features new book selections on the first Monday of every month. Tune in for the December feature themed around magic.

Dec. 3 Holiday Gift Market

Dec. 9 First Drafts Book Club – Twenty-one Truths About Love

5-8 p.m., the Loft at Combustion Brewery & Taproom, 80 W. Church St., Ste. 101 www.pickeringtonvillage.com

Shutterbugs:

Holiday Gathering, Dec. 3

7-8 p.m., barrel room at Combustion Brewery, 80 W. Church St., Ste. 101 www.pickeringtonlibrary.org

A special feature of the Pickerington First Drafts focuses on books with buzz.

Farmers’ Market, the market will feature additional vendors offering holiday gifts for Space is limited so advance registration is recommended. the whole family.

Photos courtesy of the city of Pickerington

Visitors will see traditional Christmas displays from the reign of Queen Victoria (1839 to 1901) including nativities, Santas, Christmas cards and decorated trees from a variety of time periods in the Victorian era.

Santa is stopping by City Hall! Put on your favorite holiday gear, come say hello and take a special photo.

Submit Your Event

Do you have an event you would like to submit to our calendar?

Send details and photos to bklein@cityscenemediagroup.com. www.pickeringtonmagazine.com

Due to health concerns, events are subject to change.

Visit websites for additional information.

Photos with Santa, Dec. 1

Jan. 21 LIVE at Combustion – Ian Thomas 7-10 p.m., Combustion Brewery & Taproom, 80 W. Church St., Ste. 101 www.combustionbrewing.com

Dec. 11 American Red Cross Blood Drive

Taking inspiration from rock, country, pop and blues, Ian Thomas will perform many popular favorites. Combustion encourages picking something up from a local food truck and stopping in for craft beer.

Is Buying or Selling a Home on your Christmas List?

Let Me Help You Check it off!

Janis L. Francis, Realtor

614-561-3199 janis@Homesbyjanis.net Call, Text or Email me Anytime!

10 a.m.-4 p.m., meeting room A at Pickerington Main Library, 201 Opportunity Way www.redcrossblood.org

Volunteer or give blood at the Red Cross Blood Drive. More information and opportunities available online.

Dec. 14 Stitching ’N the Stacks 6-7 p.m., digital classroom at Pickerington Main Library, 201 Opportunity Way www.pickeringtonlibrary.org

A monthly meeting for beginner and experienced crafters.

Dec. 16 Brown Bag Book Club – Get a Life, Chloe Brown 1-2 p.m., digital classroom at Pickerington Main Library, 201 Opportunity Way www.pickeringtonlibrary.org

Bring a meal or snack to this lunchtime book club meeting.

Dec. 21 Pickerington Public Library Book Club – Holes 7-8 p.m., meeting room A, Pickerington Main Library, 201 Opportunity Way www.pickeringtonlibrary.org

Live at Combustion Ian Thomas, Jan. 21

Your Hometown Realtor Since 1997!

Jan. 29 5th Annual Ryan’s Rave to Save 6:30-11:30 p.m., Wigwam Event Center, 10190 Blacklick-Eastern Rd. N.W. www.ryanreebfoundation.org

Founded six years ago after the tragic suicide of Ryan Joseph Reeb, this annual event raises awareness for suicide prevention. Funds support the Signs of Suicide Program through New Horizons of Fairfield County, which brings suicide prevention programs into the Fairfield County school districts. The event features dancing, appetizers, a live band and DJ, a bar, raffle baskets, and more.

The Pickerington Public Library’s longestrunning and largest book club.

Jan. 18 Pickerington Public Library Book Club – Miss Cecily’s Recipes for Exceptional Ladies 7-8 p.m., meeting room A, Pickerington Main Library, 201 Opportunity Way www.pickeringtonlibrary.org

The Pickerington Public Library’s longestrunning and largest book club. www.pickeringtonmagazine.com

For the most recent information on events and hours, visit www.pickeringtonlibrary.org

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INSIDE

PICKERINGTON

N E W S & I N F OR M AT I O N F R O M T H E C I T Y O F P I C K E R I NGT ON

Three unique businesses set up shop in Pickerington As the shopping and restaurant world continues to evolve, the City of Pickerington has been fortunate to weather the changing tides of retail. Three unique businesses have opened in the past few months and they’re offering customers anything but typical shopping and dining experiences.

GN International Grocery The pandemic has revealed a trend that food and shopping for meal ideas at grocery stores has become even more popular. In response to that growth, the GN International Grocery has opened a 25,000 square foot operation located at 859 Windmiller Dr. behind Kroger.

The store is open seven days a week from 8 a.m.10 p.m. Govin Ghimiray is an owner, and one of his goals is to get products from all over the world into this Nepali-owned grocery.

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www.pickeringtonmagazine.com

Photos courtesy of City of Pickerington

Buff City Soap Located next to Starbucks at 10709 BlacklickEastern Rd. N.W., Buff City Soap not only sells soap – it makes it inside its store daily. Buff City Soap was founded in 2013 in Memphis, Tennessee. Its company mission is “to create handmade products that are free of harsh ingredients and full of nourishing plant-based goodness.” The Pickerington store operates 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Monday through Thursday; 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Friday and Saturday; and noon-6 p.m. Sunday.

Products include bar soap, laundry soap, bath bombs and much more. Buff City Soap store manager Taylor Ducharme said customers can partake in making their own soap and the store regularly hosts bath bomb and soap-making parties. All products are free from parabens, phthalates, animal fats and harsh chemicals.

Customers can help staff make the product behind the counter, customize their own products and have the store to themselves for a personal, after-hours party.

Currently, guests can find a wide variety of produce, snacks, proteins and more throughout the large Pickerington market. This includes flavors of Lay’s brand chips – such as India’s Magic Masala – that are normally only found in Asia; Nongshim, a brand of North Korean bowl noodles; and Rumpum, an instant soup billed as “the most popular snack in Nepal.”

GN International Grocery is the largest Nepali-owned grocery store in the United States.

Ghost Kitchen If you’ve ever used a food delivery service like DoorDash or GrubHub to bring you a hot delicious meal, then you’ve probably figured out that the meal had to be prepared somewhere

nearby, and it may not necessarily be the branded restaurant that you ordered from. Enter the concept of a “ghost kitchen” that prepares those takeout-only meals. The pandemic has accelerated this concept, and customers using food apps are an increasing trend.

Ghost kitchens can be anywhere, and a new local example is the space in the Shoppes at Hunters Run that was recently vacated by The Corner, which will be moving to 1751 Hill Rd. N. By design, ghost kitchens are food prep operations with no waiters, no dining room and a limited public presence. So the next time you think you notice a storefront that looks empty, it may just be a ghost kitchen that is quietly contributing to Pickerington’s local food options.

Snow Removal: How You Can Help City Workers Do not park your car on the street (if possible) during periods of snow removal.

Push or shovel the snow to the LEFT side of your driveway if you can.

Residents and business owners are responsible for clearing sidewalks.

Make sure the postal carrier can reach your mailbox for delivery.

Please note: We are unable to plow individual driveways.

Congratulations to City Councilwoman Jaclyn Rohaly, winner of the 2021 ATHENA Leadership Award presented by the Pickerington Area Chamber of Commerce.

The City is not responsible for damage to basketball poles or other items in the roadway The City of Pickerington appreciates your cooperation and strives to provide safe roads within the City. Allow extra time and slow down during snow events.

If you have any questions, please call the Service Department at 614.833.2292.

Upcoming Events Santa’s Mailbox November 24-December 15 Pickerington City Hall 100 Lockville Road

www.pickeringtonmagazine.com

Photos with Santa December 1 2-7 p.m.

Pickerington City Hall 100 Lockville Road

citydirectory Pickerington City Hall, 100 Lockville Rd.

(All numbers prefixed with the 614 area code)

Building Services ..................... 833-2221 City Clerk/Council..................... 837-3974 City Manager........................... 837-3974 Development Services.............. 833-2204 Engineering Services ............... 833-2221 Finance Services...................... 837-3974 Human Resources.................... 837-3974 Income Tax Division.................. 837-4116 Mayor’s Office (Lee A. Gray)............................ 837-3974

Holiday Gathering December 3 5-8 p.m.

Olde Pickerington Village

Mayor’s Court.......................... 837-3974

Dorothy Steiger Memorial Mitten Tree December 3-17 8 a.m.-5 p.m.

Pickerington City Hall 100 Lockville Road For more information on these events, visit www.pickerington.net

Streets.................................... 833-2292

Parks and Recreation............... 833-2211 Police Services......................... 575-6911 Service Department Utility Billing............................. 833-2289 Utility Maintenance................... 833-2292 Water Plant.............................. 833-2290 Waste Water Plant.................... 837-6490 Water Reclamation.................. 837-6470 7

News and Information From

Violet Township Holiday Decorating Safety Tips

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www.pickeringtonmagazine.com

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oliday season is upon us and that means decorating will happen in our homes and office spaces. While decorating creates a festive atmosphere and adds color to our drab Ohio days, it also adds the potential for fires if not done correctly. More than one-third of home decoration fires are started by candles and two of every five decoration fires occur because the decorations are too close to a heat source (National Fire Protection Association, 2019). In Christmas season, tree fires are rare but very destructive when they do happen. A heat source too close to the tree or an electrical problem causes 50 percent of the Christmas tree fires (NFPA, 2019). This year the Violet Township Fire Department is providing you some seasonal decorating safety tips.

Decorating Safety Tips: • Choose decorations that are flame resistant or flame retardant • Keep lit candles away from decorations and any other flammable items

• Place candles out of reach of children and pets • ALWAYS make sure to blow out candles before leaving the home or going to bed • If hanging lights, make sure to use only lights rated for outdoor use • Never use nails to hang lights; only use clips • Make sure to turn off all lights before leaving the home or going to bed Christmas Tree Safety Tips: • Pick a tree with fresh, green needles that do not fall off when touched • Cut 2 inches off the tree base before placing in the stand

• Only use tree lights that have the label of a recognized testing laboratory (UL as an example) • Strings of lights that show wear, have broken cords or loose bulb connections should be replaced • Never use candles to decorate the tree • Always turn off the tree lights before leaving the house or going to bed If you have any questions about holiday safety or any other fire-related safety issue (other than emergencies), please call us at 614-837-4123. We are here for you 24 hours a day, every day. As always, remember we are your “Friends for Life.”

• Add water to the tree stand daily • Make sure the tree is at least 3 feet away from any heat source (fireplaces, radiators, vents, candles or lights)

The Violet Township Firefighters Holiday Toy Drive The Violet Township Fire Department will once again be looking for community support for our Holiday Toy Drive. We have several options available this year for in-person, contactless and virtual donations.

As always, you may drop off NEW, UNWRAPPED toys or gift cards in the lobby of any Violet Township Fire Station between Nov. 22 and Dec. 23, 2021.

We have expanded our popular drive-thru event to TWO days this year.

From 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Dec. 11-12 you can drive-thru, without ever leaving your vehicle, at our station at 8700 Refugee Road, Pickerington and drop off a NEW, UNWRAPPED toy.

We have also partnered with Amazon and Target to have your donations delivered directly to the Violet Township Fire Department Toy Drive Headquarters.

This allows you to make your donation directly from your home or office. Be sure to select ‘ship to Violet Township Fire Department Toy Drive’ on your order. A PayPal link for monetary donations has also been added.

Follow the Violet Township Firefighters Toy Drive page on Facebook for updates.

Target: http://tgt.gifts/vtfdtoydrive

Amazon: https://www. amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ ls/2OR5E73JR8EYR?ref_=wl_share

PayPal: http://paypal.me/vtfdtoydrive www.pickeringtonmagazine.com

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Outdoor winter activities can include bird feeding and wildlife watching

By Tommy Springer, Wildlife and Education Specialist for Fairfield SWCD The winter season seems to be a slow time for finding outdoor activities to enjoy. Frigid temperatures, blustery winds and mixed precipitation turn playgrounds, parks and even residential sidewalks into virtual ghost towns compared to the bustle of summer. Organized sports switch from grassed fields to the climate-controlled comfort of indoor arenas, and there’s something to be said about snuggling under a warm blanket in front of a TV or tablet to enjoy your favorite show or movie.

But, if you are one that is prone to feeling the effects of cabin fever, there are several family-friendly options that can get you out of the house and into nature. The simplest of these is to bundle up in a couple layers of warm clothes and take a walk or drive to your

nearest park and just enjoy the sights and sounds of the world around you.

Violet Township, the City of Pickerington and neighboring communities have numerous options all within a 10-minute or less commute. Busey Road Park, Harmon Road Park and Sycamore Creek Park offer small natural oases within the developed area with larger parks such as Pickerington Ponds and Blacklick Woods metro parks providing a much-expanded area to explore and observe.

Wildlife viewing adventures in the winter tend to be more successful, and sometimes more enjoyable, due to the lack of leaves, perennial plants and underbrush that provides camouflage and hiding places for wild animals during the summer. Pair this with a lack of mosqui-

toes, biting flies, spider webs and other annoying insects and it’s a win-win!

Plus, with park visitor numbers typically much lower than the summer crowds, you’ll likely find less competition for trail space and the wildlife will often be more active during daylight hours with the reduced human encroachment as well.

However, if you’re someone who weighs risks such as frostbite, hypothermia or slipping on an icy sidewalk and decides it’s just safer to stay at home during inclement weather, that doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy wildlife watching. You can always make them come to you by putting up a feeder containing sunflower seeds, songbird mix or shelled corn in your own yard.

The birds, squirrels and deer won’t take long to discover an easy meal and will readily gobble down any offerings, even those placed mere feet from your house. By locating the feeder adjacent to a convenient window, you can enjoy the luxury of observing the resident wildlife from a recliner or the dinner table.

Whether you prefer an active, outdoor approach or the more passive method of putting up a feeder, wildlife watching can provide hours of entertainment during the winter months.

How to Reach Us Violet Township Administrative Offices 10190 Blacklick-Eastern Rd. Pickerington, OH 43147 614-575-5556 www.violet.oh.us Violet Township Fire Stations Phone 614-837-4123 Fire Chief: Michael Little #592: 8700 Refugee Rd. #591: 21 Lockville Rd. #593: 2365 Taylor Park Dr. Violet Township Service Center Phone: 614-382-5979 490 Center St. Pickerington, OH 43147 10

www.pickeringtonmagazine.com

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This is where you go to get better.

Watch Greg’s story here or visit orthopedicONE.com.

News How Community Input is Shaping PLSD’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Journey

By Dr. Michael Jackson, Diversity and Engagement Director

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CAC groups held virtual meetings beginning in Oct. 2020.

ents, community members, building administrators, the superintendent, and board. Each group was headed by a board member.

In summer 2021, select administrators, the board and the CAC initiated the second phase of the district’s diversity efforts. This group used CAC recommendations to strategically plan a four-pronged DEI initiative focusing on student development, family-school-community partnerships, policies and curricula, and faculty/staff development.

This phase of the work was guided

by Dr. Arianna Howard of Plant-ASeed Educational Consulting, who partnered with the district during the 2020-21 school year. Dr. Howard supports the district’s DEI efforts through training, coaching and consulting district office personnel, board members, building leaders, school counselors, and certificated staff.

She is the author of the PLSD Guiding

Document resource which encapsulates CAC recommendations.

I began my work as the director of diversity and engagement in Aug. 2021 to lead the next phase of this important work. I have been observing and assessing the climate and culture in each of the district’s 15 schools. Using the PLSD Guiding Document, I am identifying diversity and engagement liaisons for each building. Once trained, these liaisons will provide critical building level support and community engagement for DEI initiatives for years to come. I believe that even though systemic change is an incremental process, PLSD is well positioned to grow in substantive and sustainable ways with the support of its board and community.

PLSD is committed to becoming a leader in DEI from the hiring and retention of a diverse workforce to graduating a globally inclusive citizenry. Stay tuned!

www.pickeringtonmagazine.com

Photo courtesy of Pickerington Local School District

The Pickerington Local School District (PLSD) is delighted to share an update on the progress being made in the district’s diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) efforts over the past two school years along with a snapshot of how community input is shaping our diversity journey.

In the summer of 2020, in addition to preparing for the uncertainty of a global pandemic, the PLSD Board of Education placed an increased focus on diversity, equity and inclusion efforts at the forefront of its plans for the coming school year. Essential to this endeavor was community engagement. The board disseminated a community survey to narrow the focus for diversity initiatives and established a Citizen Advisory Committee (CAC) on diversity in Sept.

2020. Over 200 community members responded to the survey, and survey participants identified the following top five diversity issues that they felt needed to be addressed: 1. Staff bias and general lack of knowledge regarding diversity 2. Student bias and general lack of knowledge regarding diversity (including student resources and language barriers) 3. Recruitment and retention of minority staff 4. Curriculum 5. Discipline These topics became the focus for the CAC groups to tackle for the next nine months. The CAC consisted of 94 individuals including current and past students, district educators, par-

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faces

By Garth Bishop

Photos courtesy of Saluting America’s Band Directors.

Every Rose Has Its Horn

Nearly 300 band directors from all 50 states will perform in a band alongside the float.

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www.pickeringtonmagazine.com

Rose Parade float and marching band recognize music education

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hanks to the hard work of his wife and others in the community, a tribute to a beloved Pickerington high school band director has grown, in the four years since his death, into a tribute to high school band directors all across the United States.

Michael Sewell started as band director at Pickerington High School in 1981.

He remained there when the school became Pickerington High School Central Karen Sewell wanted the foundation inspired by her late husband to honor band directors across in 2003 and until his retirement in 2015. America with similar values.

Sewell died in 2017 at age 59. Not long after, his widow, Karen Sewell, established the Michael Sewell Foundation.

Sewell led his high school’s band to the Tournament of Roses Parade – commonly known as the Rose Parade – in Pasadena four times (1993, 1996, 2006 and 2010) during his tenure in Pickerington.

It only made sense for the foundation to connect with the parade in some way.

After seeing a tremendous outpouring of community support at Sewell’s memorial service, Karen and band parent Jim Kuebler, who had organized those four trips to Pasadena, started brainstorming ways to bring the Pickerington high school bands back to the Rose Parade.

The bands did, in fact, return in 2019. But Karen and the foundation had bigger plans – plans that would eventually become Saluting America’s Band Directors. That’s the name of the animated float that will lead a marching band consisting entirely of marching band directors at the Rose Parade on Jan. 1.

“We wanted a float that captured the fun and excitement and family feeling students, directors and fans get when a marching band takes the field,” Karen says.

The float was designed by Artistic Entertainment Services. It features three 15 ½-foot tall band members – playing the bass drum, piccolo and trombone – and an equally colossal director that may, Karen says, bear some resemblance to Michael. The foundation wanted to take inspiration from everything Michael did for music and music students in Pickerington and to bring attention to the hard work of band directors all The float for Saluting America’s Band Directors will send 15 ½-foot tall band members into the Rose across the country.

Parade on Jan. 1.

www.pickeringtonmagazine.com

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procession to 2022. The band now anticipates some 280 directors, ages 19 to 73, coming from all 50 states and Mexico to play “Seventy-Six Trombones” from The Music Man. “We found out last year how important bands were … when they weren’t there, especially at the college level,” Karen says.

In addition to the band directors, several community figures will be recognized and ride on the float itself, includ-

ing former Pickerington Local Schools Superintendent Dan Ross, who played a key role in recruiting and raising awareness for the float project, and Janelle Guirreri, a former Pickerington marching band member and current music teacher at Fairfield and Violet elementary schools.

Members of the Pickerington community can be part of the float by buying a rose in honor of a band director, important musical figure or even a parent who diligently drove them to rehearsals. The names will then be part of the float itself, the bottom of which will be covered with live roses. Contributions can be made at www.banddirectorsalute.org.

Though Karen says Michael might think an entire float and marching band in the Rose Parade a bit much, he would have been thrilled about the promotion of music education and the life skills it imparts.

“He loved his students and teaching in Pickerington and loved having his students shine in service projects around the central Ohio area,” she says. “The combined concerts at Labor Day, the annual Memorial Day concert at … Central for Veterans and military, the performances and collecting for Ronald McDonald House – it all started with Mike.”

The foundation has sponsored an award, the Tournament of Roses Michael D. Sewell Service Through Music Award, every year since 2017. It recognizes, with a $500 stipend and a framed trophy and picture, a participating Rose Parade band that practices and values service to others.

“This was the ultimate lesson Mike Sewell always strived to teach to his students,” Karen says.

In addition to its Rose Parade involvements, the foundation supports the arts in Pickerington, including the schools’ music and theater programs as well as Pickerington Community Theatre and Pickerington Community Chorus.

The organization has also worked with the Pickerington High School North band to raise $6,000 to purchase shoes for a Puerto Rico marching band that lost a substantial amount of equipment to Hurricane Maria in 2017. Karen hopes to continue with those initiatives to expand the foundation’s local-level work beyond Pickerington in the future.

Garth Bishop is a contributing writer.

Feedback welcome at feedback@ cityscenemediagroup.com.

The Rose Parade float’s band director bears some intentional resemblance to Michael Sewell.

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www.pickeringtonmagazine.com

Photo courtesy of Saluting America’s Band Directors.

“There are a lot of Mike Sewells out there who deserve recognition and celebrating,” Karen says. “If we can focus attention on the importance of music education for a few minutes and get them some thank-yous, our efforts have been worth it.”

Saluting America’s Band Directors quickly became an involved process.

There were 150 directors already signed up to march in 2021 when COVID-19 struck, pushing plans for the float and

Home for the Holidays Celebrate the season with local events

By Claire Miller

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friendly event from 5-8 p.m.

Dec. 3. The event takes place on Columbus Street and various locations nearby with the lighting of the city tree at the gazebo at 7 p.m.

he holiday season in Pickerington is on the road back to normalcy. While residents and visitors will have to wait for some traditions, such as Breakfast with Santa, to return in the future, there are plenty of local opportunities to get in the holiday spirit this year!

Holiday Gift Market www.pickeringtonvillage.com

Santa’s Mailbox

If you missed out on Black Friday and Cyber Monday shopCity Hall will collect letters for Santa ping, consider supporting local Holiday Gathering through Dec. 15. Due to high demand, a businesses at the Holiday Gift special mailbox is set up to drop off letMarket from 5-8 p.m. Dec. 3 at ters headed to the North Pole. Pickerington has the inside track the loft at Combustion Brewery & Taproom. The market will with the man in the red suit, so Pickerington children are sure include favorite farmers’ market vendors in addition to holiday to get a reply. Just make sure to include the child’s name and gift vendors. address so Santa’s elves know where to return the letter. www.ci.pickerington.oh.us

Photos with Santa www.ci.pickerington.oh.us

Santa Claus is coming to Pickerington! Families can come out for this free photo opportunity from 2-7 p.m. Dec. 1. To keep Santa healthy for Christmas Eve, attendees are asked to wear a mask and stay socially distanced throughout the event.

Dorothy Steiger Memorial Mitten Tree www.ci.pickerington.oh.us

Now in the tradition’s 31st year, spread the holiday cheer with a donation of new or gently used mittens, gloves, hats and scarves for Fairfield County Job and Family Services. Donations can be placed around the Memorial Mitten Tree in the lobby of City Hall from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Dec. 3-17.

Pickerington Community Theatre presents Magic Tree House: A Ghost Tale for Mr. Dickens Jr. www.pickeringtoncommunitytheatre.org

Pickerington Community Theatre presents a heartwarming holiday tale based on a title in the best-selling children’s series, Magic Tree House. Pamela Villarreal directs the adaptation of one of Mary Pope Osborne’s award-winning books. In the tale set in Victorian London, the main characters Jack and Annie befriend legendary author Charles Dickens and learn about the significance of charity and kindness. Catch a performance at the Wigwam Theater at 8 p.m. Fridays and 2 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays running Dec. 3-12.

Santa Saturday www.pickeringtonlibrary.org

Pickerington Public Library will be hosting its annual Santa Saturday event in the atrium of the library. Enjoy music, crafts and, of course, a visit from Santa 1-3 p.m. Dec. 4.

Violet Township Fire Department Toy Drive www.violet.oh.us

Dorothy Steiger Memorial Mitten Tree

Pickerington Holiday Gathering www.pickeringtonvillage.com/events

Many activities will be reimagined for this year, but the Pickerington Holiday Gathering will still offer a free, familywww.pickeringtonmagazine.com

Help spread holiday cheer by donating to the fire department’s toy drive Nov. 22-Dec. 23. Donations can be made in person, contactless and online. Make physical donations at the lobbies of any Violet Township fire station during the drive.

Stay inside your vehicle Dec. 11-12 during the drive-thru dropoff events at Violet Fire Station 592, 8700 Refugee Rd., from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Donations can also be made online through Target and Amazon.

Claire Miller is the assistant editor. Feedback welcome at cmiller@cityscenemediagroup.com.

17

in focus

By Bre Offenberger

Prehistoric Preservation 18

www.pickeringtonmagazine.com

Two residents tend to Coyote Run, the state’s 140th nature preserve

Photo by David Hague

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www.pickeringtonmagazine.com

he establishment of Ohio’s newest nature preserve started with a local couple who wanted to restore the property to an earlier state – one predating European settlement.

The now 900-acre Coyote Run property, Ohio’s 140th designated nature preserve, was a project David Hague and Tammy Miller started about 15 years ago when it became evident that natural green spaces were losing out to urban development, Hague says. Inspired to make a change, the couple bought their first farm in Pickerington.

Straddling Pickerington and Violet Township, Hague says Coyote Run takes its name, which it shares with a small creek running through the preserve, from the last large predator in the area – excluding humans. He believes coyotes deserve just as much respect from environmental projects as the flora and animal life that get more frequent recognition.

Hague and Miller were inspired to dedicate part of their private land to a state nature preserve by Jeff Johnson, chief of the Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Natural Areas and Preserves.

Johnson saw firsthand the impressive commitment to eliminating non-native invasive species on the couple’s property, all while continuing to add more parcels to their land.

“The goal is to let nature take its course,” Hague says. “State parks may do that, (they) usually do not.”

Coyote Run officially received state nature preserve status in September, which means it has the highest form of protection the state can provide to a federal wilderness area, Hague says. This means that the ODNR is approved to oversee the preserve, making certain that it’s permanently safeguarded while also permitting educational and research opportunities on the private land.

Early on, the couple worked with the Fairfield Soil and Water Conservation District to develop a prairie as well as study up on how to discern and control invasive plant species. As more land became available, Hague and Miller seized upon it, expanding their farmland and conservation project to the massive area it has now become.

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degrees coincide with rain, Hague says, magic happens.

“You get this mass exodus of salamanders,” Hague says. “From a couple feet under the ground, they pop up, even through snow. They will walk cross country to the pool that they were born in, and that starts the vernal pool season.”

Vernal pools fill up with water and several types of vertebrates appear for a four- to five-week span. The animals then disappear, and the pools dry up.

Photos by Jeff Hall

To schedule a visit or learn more about Coyote Run programs, visit its Facebook page or email tmfp@icloud.com.

Vernal pools, which Hague compares to wetlands in the woods, are part of the land’s significance. More than 90 percent of Ohio’s vernal pools have been lost to development. Vernal pools contain a lot of biodiversity and Hague argues they’re worth protecting.

The pools form on a seasonal basis under special circumstances. During late winter or early spring – usually the first week of February – when two consecutive nights with temperatures above 40

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Photo by David Hague

A salamander at Coyote Run

Photo by David Hague

Photo by Jeff Hall

“They’re very sensitive to having good forest around them and just being left alone,” Hague says. “As humans, we’ve done neither.”

Coyote Run hosts seasonal programs Jeff Johnson, chief of the Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Natural Areas and as well, such as tree identification, birding Preserves, speaks with a reporter during the September event in which Coyote Run was officially and mushroom forays. The preserve also designated as Ohio’s 140th nature preserve. attracts waterfowl to its farm pond and can make an ideal location for viewing celestial events.

As its acreage has increased, the project has grown well beyond managing the land though, Hague says. He and Miller also work with local politicians to arrange visits and get their restoration efforts as much coverage as urban development.

The pair has partnered with ODNR, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, The Ohio State University, Hocking College and other organizations to learn and implement best practices for their work. They also plan to continue efforts to spread community awareness by sponsoring pro-

Photo by David Hague

A visitor holds up a dragonfly during a tour of Coyote Run. The preserve holds dragonfly identification programs.

David Hague holds up a bird at Coyote Run. The preserve is heavily populated by a plethora of different types of birds. www.pickeringtonmagazine.com

grams through ODNR, Hocking College and the Fairfield County Park District, which is remodeling a donated house for Coyote Run’s headquarters.

Since Coyote Run is surrounded by a heavily populated area, Hague says it’s incredible that he and Miller have managed to restore so much land, especially with what they want to do moving forward.

The goal, Hague says, is for this project to continue for the next 500 years at minimum. Eventually, Hague and Miller

intend to pair up with organizations to continue the project beyond their own lifetimes, and the objective will always remain the same.

“This (is all) to protect a forest environment that is home to a number of wetlands and vernal pools,” Hague says. “It is important to save what remains.”

Bre Offenberger is an editorial assistant.

Feedback welcome at feedback@ cityscenemediagroup.com.

21

Sweet as a Sugar Scrub Local entrepreneur succeeds in business and in celebrating inclusion

By Tess Wells

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Sugar scrubs are Drossel’s favorite product, because they’re easy to make and beneficial for the user.

the business smoothly – the same as any entrepreneur.

“I know what her strengths are, and I know what her weaknesses are,” Shelli says. “I do help her with this business, I do the marketing and I do all the label making. In terms of the production, we kind of work on that together.”

However, she and Drossel have overcome struggles of their own before Gray Pony Gifts was even thought of.

Drossel’s dad and Shelli’s husband, Steve, passed away from ALS in 2016. After Drossel’s brother, Seth, graduated from high school in 2020, she and Shelli moved from the Toledo area to Pickerington to be closer to family, as Shelli is originally from Baltimore, Ohio.

Before the move, Drossel thoroughly enjoyed her time working at a coffee shop.

Relocating meant she would need to find a new job.

Photos courtesy of Shelli Drossel

ydney Drossel is a multitalented entrepreneur. Not only does she own and operate her own business, Gray Pony Gifts, she also creates the business’ natural body care products and organizes orders inside and out of Pickerington.

But the business also serves an important purpose: celebrating inclusion.

Drossel has autism and, since the business inception in January, she has worked side by side with her mom, Shelli, to create products and sell them on Etsy, the business’ website and at farmers’ markets. Gray Pony Gifts offers all-natural body products such as bath bombs, lip balm and sugar scrubs. Drossel’s bio on the Gray Pony Gifts Etsy page perhaps says it best: “It’s about your abilities, not your disabilities!”

Although Shelli provides some operational assistance, Drossel is the brain behind the products from concept to creation, thinking up exfoliating sugar scrubs, relaxing bath soaks and even bug-bite itch relief sticks. In Pickerington, supporting local is easy – especially when the business’ inventory is all-natural.

“I use essential oils for most of my stuff,” Drossel says. “Except for the coconut vanilla, I use vanilla extract.”

Drossel learned about using essential oils to create delicious and calming scents from her grandma, Judy. Gray Pony Gifts utilizes scents ranging from a seasonal cozy autumn spice to a summery ruby red grapefruit.

Shelli says that, aside from the occasional bump in the road, Drossel runs

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Call or Book Online 614.408.8096  AceHandymanServices.com

From the first idea to the final packaging, Drossel takes the lead for her business.

“We had pursued job coaching. She did have a job outside of the home for about two months, but, unfortunately, it didn’t work out,” Shelli says. “It is a little difficult to find people accepting of others that have social difficulties.”

Undeterred, Drossel took matters into her own hands. Using some holiday money, she purchased a laptop and supplies to make several batches of coconut vanilla sugar scrub. It was an immediate hit.

“She only made 15, and she sold out in one day,” Shelli says. “Then she started thinking of other scents.”

Gray Pony Gifts is deliberately named, inspired by a shared passion between Shelli and her late husband.

“When my husband and I met, I had a gray Mustang, an ’88, and then the year that he died, he bought a gray Mustang Cobra,” says Shelli. “People call them ‘ponies,’ and they were both gray, so that’s how we came up with the name.

It’s just in honor of him.”

Drossel says she plans to keep creating new products, such as essential oil rollers and seasonal bath bombs, and of course continue to make the products her customers already know and love, including sugar scrubs, her favorite. “(Sugar scrubs are) easy to make, and they moisturize your skin and exfoliate your skin,” Drossel says.

To learn more about Gray Pony Gifts, visit grayponygifts.square.site.

From Small Repairs to Larger Updates, We Are Your Trusted Home Ally. ©2021 Ace Handyman Services, Inc. All rights reserved. Locally owned and independently operated Franchise.

Tess Wells is an editorial assistant.

Feedback welcome at feedback@ cityscenemediagroup.com.

www.pickeringtonmagazine.com

23

Battling Bullying How to talk about and prevent bullying

By Sarah Grace Smith

Stronger Together at Homecoming

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Workshops at Toll Gate Elementary School

At home, it’s important to listen to a child and make sure to acknowledge their experience.

When she was growing up, Ellwanger remembers that bullying was treated as a rite of passage. Parents didn’t take it as seriously and often saw it as an experience all children go through. She says that mentality has been left in the past.

“You don’t want to downplay it,” Ellwanger says. “You don’t want to try and normalize or invalidate the child’s feelings.”

The Other Side No parent wants their child to be a bully, but it’s important that parents watch for bad behavior and teach their children the difference between appropriate and inappropriate actions. After all, it’s best to catch the behavior as early as possible.

If a parent notices a child developing poor behavior, Ellwanger recommends promptly reaching out for support via a group like Stronger Together. She also suggests contacting a therapist or school counselor. www.pickeringtonmagazine.com

Photos courtesy of Melissa Ellwanger

ne out of every five children in the United States is bullied, according to a National Center for Education Statistics study of students ages 12-18.

When a child is being bullied, it can be an emotional experience for both the child and parents. As a parent, it’s important to address the situation as soon as possible and get the child help. But how do you even begin to handle such a situation?

Melissa Ellwanger, an economics and world history teacher at Pickerington North High School, has experience with the topic as a teacher and as a parent. After her own daughter experienced bullying in fourth grade, Ellwanger founded PNHS’s anti-bullying club.

Schools, Ellwanger says, can be a great resource for parents when their child experiences bullying, even if bullying is happening outside of class.

“Reach out to the child’s principal or counselor,” Ellwanger says. “If it’s not a kid at school, I would still reach out to the school.”

In addition to providing resources, the school will usually open up an investigation to determine whether bullying occurred and the best way to proceed, she says. The investigation will be conducted using interviews, documents and any other evidence.

The Official Magazine of Pickerington and Violet Township

Advertise “I’m a huge advocate for therapy,” she says.

Oftentimes, a child becomes a bully because they are dealing with an underlying issue that needs to be addressed.

“Instead of punishing the bully, we need to kind of unpack what’s going on there and give them the support they need,” Ellwanger says. “The kids who are bullying need just as much help as the kids who are being bullied.”

If a child engages in bullying, parents should address them gently and try to find out what lies at the root of the problem. Each child is unique and will require a different approach. Some may be ready to address the problem head-on while others may need a roundabout approach to the topic. Either way, the subject needs attention.

“Don’t think (bullying behavior will) get better or go away on its own,” Ellwanger says. “It has to be addressed.”

Popular media offers helpful resources for talking about bullying, she says. The documentary Bully explores five different families’ experiences with the topic. While the themes are a bit intense, the documentary can serve as a conversation starter with a child.

Ellwanger recommends the sites www. stopbullying.gov and www.pacer.org as additional resources. Remember to review the material before sharing it with a child to ensure it’s age-appropriate and suitable for the child in question.

watch for references to the bullying of another child.

“If (you) know the child’s parents, (you) can approach them,” Ellwanger says.

“If (you) don’t feel comfortable, (you) can contact the school, the school counselor or a club like (Stronger Together).”

No matter how the matter is approached, Ellwanger stresses the need to follow through and ensure that some action is being taken.

Teaching children the value of providing support in a bullying situation can demonstrate the proper steps to take while also showing the ways peers can help if needed.

A supportive community can be a strong deterrent against bullying, too.

Encouraging a child to get involved in extracurriculars such as sports and clubs provides the benefit of a supportive environment, a network of trusted friends and advisors, and the skills to manage their time.

“I find that kids who are connected do better,” Ellwanger says.

She also recommends Brooks Gibbs’ Squabbles, a conflict resolution approach that’s available as a card game and as school programming.

Ellwanger particularly emphasizes teaching children the importance of words.

“Three words can save a life,” she says.

“Three words can also hurt someone. (We need to) teach kids that what they say to each other really matters.”

Preventive Steps Sarah Grace Smith is an editorial Even if a child isn’t experiencing or assistant. Feedback welcome at feedback@ engaging in bullying, it’s important to cityscenemediagroup.com. www.pickeringtonmagazine.com

magazine

Stronger Together 2019-20 yearbook photo

to EVERY homeowner and business in Pickerington and Violet Township

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on the table

By Megan Roth

Holiday Ham

Indulge in a holiday ham in your very own kitchen

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After opening during the pandemic, Rick’s Freshmade Cafe and Catering moved from a truck to a storefront in May 2020.

with him on weekends and basically the cooking end of it through my mom and my stepfather.”

With that restaurant know-how comes an understanding of the importance of the holidays for business.

Mishleau doesn’t want to replace a home-cooked meal, but he aims to lessen the burden during an already busy time of year.

“We do a lot to make (picking up food) a speedier process for people to prepare at home for holiday meals,” he says. “We’ll do the dressings, the mashed potatoes, the green bean casserole.”

Rick’s Freshmade also offers holiday hams and prime rib for people to prepare at home with a recipe, including a signature brown sugar glaze.

A sandwich platter from Rick’s Freshmade Cafe and Catering

RICK BROWN’S SUGAR GLAZE Recipe courtesy of Rick Mishleau

Ingredients 1 cup packed light brown sugar ½ cup clover honey 3 tbsp. cider vinegar 2 tbsp. Dijon mustard 2 tbsp. yellow mustard 1 tsp. ground cinnamon ½ tsp. each of onion powder, garlic powder, ground sage, dried parsley, ground nutmeg, ground ginger, ground cloves, paprika ¼ tsp. each of pepper, ancho chili powder 26

Directions Preheat the oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit. Place the boneless ham in a shallow roasting pan. Using a sharp knife, score the surface of the ham with ¼-inch deep cuts in a diamond pattern. Cover with a piece of foil and bake for one to one ½ hours or until a thermometer reads 130 degrees Fahrenheit.

Megan Roth is an editorial assistant.

Feedback welcome at feedback@ cityscenemediagroup.com.

While the ham bakes, take your provided glaze out to warm up at room temperature – or, use a mixture of the ingredients listed to create your own. When the ham is up to temperature, take it out of the oven. Using a heat-proof spatula, spread the glaze over the ham. Bake again, uncovered, for 15-30 minutes longer or until a thermometer reads 140 degrees Fahrenheit.

www.pickeringtonmagazine.com

Photos courtesy of Rick’s Freshmade Cafe and Catering

pening a business is never an easy undertaking, but Rick Mishleau had it especially tough – he opened his business during a pandemic. With a catering trailer and an insatiable desire to serve good food to his community, Mishleau pulled it off without a hitch.

Mishleau started his deli-style catering business, Rick’s Freshmade Café & Catering, in February 2020.

“We were selling premade meals out of our catering trailer,” he says. “That way, people still had the opportunity to get something. We didn’t actually start storefront business until May.” Since opening the storefront, Mishleau’s business has grown steadily, now serving pastries, salads, meats, sandwiches and more.

Raised in the restaurant business, Mishleau had a firm foundation for steady growth.

“I’ve always wanted to have my own small business,” he says. “My stepfather was a chef and I apprenticed under him. My father owned taverns. I learned front-of-thehouse business from my father when I was

artist spotlight

By Cameron Carr

Developing a Dream

Marvella Duarte Coon chased her passion for photography

Photos courtesy of Marvella Duarte Coon

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arvella Duarte Coon came to the United States with a plan: spend three months learning English then go back to Venezuela and keep building a corporate career. More than 21 years later – happily settled in Pickerington with her photography business, a husband and two kids – that isn’t quite how things worked out.

Duarte Coon describes herself as a dreamer, someone who always chases after her wildest aspirations, no matter the cost.

That mindset put her on a path to stay in the United States, to seek out volunteer opportunities and, eventually, to leave her safe career path and pursue her passion for photography by starting her own business.

“I am a person that commits,” she says.

“If I want something, I will do whatever it takes.”

Photography had always been an integral part of Duarte Coon’s life. She easily transitioned her desire to capture intimate moments with her family and friends and a commitment to empowering and uplifting others into her photography work. But it wasn’t easy – it took moving continents and starting a family to set her on this journey.

Initially, traveling to the United States to study English as a second language at the University of Findlay served as yet another step in the path she’d already set out on.

Even with her ambition, she quickly realized that learning a new language would take considerably longer than anticipated, and three months in the U.S. turned into a year.

As conditions in Venezuela destabilized around the turn of the century, Duarte Coon chose to stay in Ohio and continue her education. One year turned into another and Duarte Coon found herself with two master’s degrees, two daughters and a husband.

Now, Duarte Coon and husband Tim Coon’s daughters, Sophia and Alexa, are 8 and 6 years old.

Duarte Coon’s father bought an old camera as a Christmas gift for her in 2017, and it was a lightbulb moment for her.

“Working so much as a project manager really consumed a lot of my life and I was missing these first months, first years with my daughters,” she says. “Even though prowww.pickeringtonmagazine.com

Marvella Duarte Coon runs her business, Heartfelt Photography, in Pickerington, where she lives with her husband, Tim Coon, and daughters Alexa (left) and Sophia (right).

fessionally I was very satisfied about what I had accomplished, personally I wasn’t. So, I was at a point where I needed to find an answer to what I needed to do to change things to be better, and to feel happier, and to be with my family and not miss those moments.”

Duarte Coon threw herself into photography, practicing endlessly, watching videos and even hiring a photographer to mentor her. In six months, Heartfelt Photography was born.

Taking early inspiration from the photos she regularly took of family, friends, travel and events, Duarte Coon now uses her skills to capture cherished moments for others.

“I love to bring happiness and success to other people,” she says. “One of the most beautiful things to me is to have photographs because those represent stories and those memories bring us happiness.”

Understanding the desires of a client and how to achieve their goal is one of the most important parts of Duarte Coon’s work. While some know exactly where they’d like to take photos and how they want them to look, many seek a photographer’s insight.

“I visualize the session: If it was me, what would I do?” she says. “What would I

do if it would be for me and my family? You always want the best.”

Photography has also presented Duarte Coon with a way to give back to the central Ohio community. Though the amount of volunteer photography she can do is limited, she has a rich volunteering life beyond that including work at senior centers and more than a decade with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Ohio.

“If we can touch at least one life and make it better, it’s very powerful,” she says.

Having achieved so many of her own dreams – learning English, settling in the United States, beginning her own photography business and, her biggest dream of all, becoming a mom – Duarte Coon sees her contributions to others as a necessary part of her life as well.

She continues to preach the same wisdom that led her to a career in photography.

She believes that, just like she is, everyone is capable of following their own dreams.

“Life is all about dreams,” Duarte Coon says. “If you really need to make a change in your life and start from zero, do it.”

Cameron Carr is the associate editor. Feedback welcome at ccarr@ cityscenemediagroup.com.

27

Top homes sold in Pickerington All information is collected from the Fairfield and Franklin County auditors’ offices.

376 Hill Rd. S. 5 beds 1.5 baths $580,000 Sold on 9/22/21

117 Sparrow Ct. 4 beds 1.5 baths $395,000 Sold on 9/30/21

192 Kohler St. 4 beds 2.5 baths $536,865 Sold on 9/24/21

205 Asbury Ct. 4 beds 2.5 baths $384,016 Sold on 9/23/21

219 Kohler St. 4 beds 2.5 baths $432,565 Sold on 9/24/21

443 Hill Rd. S. 4 beds 2 baths $380,000 Sold on 10/12/21

136 Fox Glen Dr. E. 4 beds 3.5 baths $415,000 Sold on 9/27/21

49 Grisby Ln. 4 beds 3.5 baths $375,000 Sold on 9/16/21

12337 Ebright Ln. 3 beds 2.5 baths $415,000 Sold on 10/15/21

11400 Chanticleer Ter. 3 beds 2.5 baths $373,000 Sold on 9/20/21

138 Highland Ridge Dr. 4 beds 2.5 baths $412,910 Sold on 9/22/21

366 Linden Cir. 4 beds 2.5 baths $370,000 Sold on 9/20/21

“The only reason we would give Sam 5 stars would be because we can’t give him more.”

#1 (614) 56 1-3201

Selling Real Estate Team & Realtor® in Central Ohio 2017–2020 439 Transactions Closed in 2020

Source: Columbus MLS & Trendgraphix

All reports presented are based on data supplied by Columbus REALTORS. Report published January 21, 2021 based on sales data available from January 1, 2020 – December 31, 2020. All properties, all counties combined.

Neither the Association nor their MLS guarantee or are in any way responsible for the data accuracy. Data maintained by the Associations or their MLSs may not reflect all real estate activities in the market. Information deemed reliable but not guaranteed. Top Producer - Market Share Report. Copyright Trendgraphix, Inc. Samuel Cooper DBA Sam Cooper Team

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what’s your style?

Sam Cooper (614) 561-3201 sam.cooper@herrealtors.com

Sam Cooper (614) 561-3201 sam.cooper@herrealtors.com

393 Flat River Street | Sold $350,000 Remarkable home in the Villages at Sycamore Creek, separate 1st floor home office, great room with fireplace, formal dining room, remodeled kitchen with granite counters, white cabinetry, stainless steel appliances, pantry & eating space, 1st floor home office, full basement, owner’s bedroom with walk in closet, bath with soaking tub, fenced in backyard with patio, covered front porch.

13414 Needham Place NW | Sold $475,000 Remarkable home in the highly desirable Glenshire Subdivision. 1st floor home office w/ french doors, formal living and dining room, great room with fireplace, kitchen with granite counters & stainless steel appliances, backyard deck and patio with hot tub, finished LL with wet bar, full bath and rec rooms, owners bedroom with walk in closet & bath with soaking tub.

SOLD BY SAM COOPER – HER REALTORS

SOLD BY SAM COOPER – HER REALTORS

Real Estate Section Showcase your home listings to every homeowner in the Pickerington school district.

Your listings will also appear in the digital edition of the magazine, hosted on the Pickerington Magazine home page: www.pickeringtonmagazine.com

Contact Dan Nase today for more information: 614-572-1243 dnase@cityscenemediagroup.com

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29

bookmarks

Submitted by Colleen Bauman, Community Engagement Manager at the Pickerington Public Library

Book titles to add to your holiday reading list!

Adults: The Color of Dragons

dazzling novel from the Pulitzer Prize- and National Book Awardwinning Colson Whitehead. – Publisher

by R. A. Salvatore, Erika Lewis An action-packed, romantic pre-Arthurian tale of the origins of magic (and Merlin).

Maggie’s powers are especially fickle. With no one to help her learn to control her magic, the life debt that she owes stretches eternally over her head, with no way to repay it. Until she meets Griffin, the king’s champion, infamous for hunting down the draignochs that plague their kingdom. Neither has any idea of the destiny that they both carry, or that their meeting will set off a chain of events that will alter every aspect of the life they know – and all of history thereafter. – Publisher

Teens/YA:

Go Tell the Bees That I Am Gone

by Marie Myung-Ok Lee Seventeen-year-old Ellen Sung just wants to be like everyone else at her all-white school.

But hers is the only Korean American family in town, and her classmates in Arkin, Minnesota, will never let her forget that she’s different. At the start of senior year, Ellen finds herself falling for Tomper Sandel – a football player who is popular and blond and undeniably cute – and, to her surprise, he falls for her, too. Now Ellen has a chance at a life she never imagined, one that defies the expectations of both her core friend group and her strict parents. But even as she stands up to racism at school and disapproval at home, Ellen discovers that her greatest challenge is one she never expected: finding the courage to speak up and raise her voice.

by Diana Gabaldon The highly anticipated latest entry in the Outlander series. Jamie Fraser and Claire Randall were torn apart by the Jacobite Rising in 1746, and it took them 20 years to find each other again. Now the American Revolution threatens to do the same. It is 1779 and Claire and Jamie are at last reunited with their daughter, Brianna, her husband, Roger, and their children on Fraser’s Ridge. Having the family together is a dream the Frasers had thought impossible. Meanwhile, the Revolutionary War creeps ever closer. And with the family finally together, Jamie and Claire have more at stake than ever before. – Publisher

Cloud Cuckoo Land

by Anthony Doerr The heroes of Cloud Cuckoo Land are children trying to figure out the world around them, and to survive. In the besieged city of Constantinople in 1453, in a public library in Lakeport, Idaho, today, and on a spaceship bound for a distant exoplanet decades from now, an ancient text provides solace and the most profound human connection to characters in peril. They all learn the story of Aethon, who longs to be turned into a bird so that he can fly to the paradise of Cloud Cuckoo Land, a better world. Like Marie-Laure and Werner in All the Light We Cannot See, Konstance, Anna, Omeir, Seymour, the young Zeno, the children in the library are dreamers and misfits on the cusp of adulthood in a world the grown-ups have broken. – Publisher

Harlem Shuffle

by Colson Whitehead Harlem Shuffle’s a gloriously entertaining novel of heists, shakedowns and rip-offs.

This ingenious story plays out in a beautifully recreated New York City of the early 1960s. It’s a family saga masquerading as a crime novel, a hilarious morality play, a social novel about race and power, and ultimately a love letter to Harlem. But mostly, it’s a joy to read, another 30

Skin of the Sea

by Natasha Bowen Simi prayed to the gods, once. Now she serves them as Mami Wata – a mermaid – collecting the souls of those who die at sea and blessing their journeys back home. But when a living boy is thrown overboard, Simi does the unthinkable – she saves his life, going against an ancient decree. And punishment awaits those who dare to defy it. – Publisher

Finding My Voice

Dear Justyce

by Nic Stone An incarcerated teen writes letters to his best friend about his experiences in the American juvenile justice system. Vernell LaQuan Banks and Justyce McAllister grew up a block apart in the southwest Atlanta neighborhood of Wynwood Heights. Years later, though, Justyce walks the illustrious halls of Yale University … and Quan sits behind bars at the Fulton Regional Youth Detention Center. Through a series of flashbacks, vignettes and letters to Justyce – the protagonist of Dear Martin – Quan’s story takes form. What leads a bright kid down a road to a murder charge? Not even Quan is sure. – Publisher

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