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Events on the horizon in Westerville
July 4
Independence Day Celebration
all day, fireworks at 10 p.m.
Westerville Sports Complex
325 N. Cleveland Ave. www.westervillerotary.com
July 5, 12, 19 & Aug. 2, 9, 16, 30
Uptown Friday Nights
7-9 p.m.
City Hall Courtyard
21 S. State St. www.westerville.org
See page 8
July 6
Performance Dogs of Ohio
10 a.m.-10:30 p.m.
Hanby Park 115 E. Park St. www.westervillelibrary.org
July 6, 13, 20, 27 Aug. 3, 10, 17, 24, 31
Uptown Epic Beer Walks
2-4 p.m.
Uptown Westerville www.visitwesterville.org
July 7
Bend & Brunch: Yoga at North High
9:30-10:15 a.m.
North High Brewing 250 S. State St. www.westervillechamber.com
July 7, 14, 21, 28 & Aug. 4, 11, 18, 25
Summer Concert Series
6:30-8:30 p.m.
Alum Creek Amphitheater 221 W. Main St. www.westerville.org
July 8-12
BMX Summer Camp
9 a.m.-3 p.m.
Westerville BMX 535 Park Meadow Rd. www.westervillebmx.org
July 9 and 10
Summer Children’s Programs: Jumpers 10-11:30 a.m. and 1-2:30 p.m.
Inniswood Metro Gardens
115 E. Park St. www.inniswood.org
July 11-14 & 18-20
Beehive - The ’60s Musical 7:30 p.m. (matinees 2 p.m.)
Fritsche Theatre
30 S. Grove St. www.otterbein.edu
July 13-14
50th Westerville Area Chamber
Music & Arts Festival
10 a.m.-7 p.m. (closes 4 p.m. Sunday) Heritage Park and Everal Barn
60 N. Cleveland Ave. www.westervillechamber.com
See page 12
Uptown Untappd
July 13
Nature and Forest Therapy: Summer Walk
10 a.m.-12 p.m.
Blendon Woods Metro Park 4265 E. Dublin Granville Rd. www.westervillelibrary.org
July 18
11th Annual Westerville Back to School Bash
5-8 p.m.
Westerville North High School 950 County Line Rd. www.westerville.k12.oh.us
July 18
Parents’ Night Out
6:30-7:30 p.m.
Family Room Coffee & Bake Shop 545 S. Otterbein Ave. www.westervillelibrary.org
July 21
WesterFlora
12-6 p.m.
Franklin Park Conservatory 1777 E. Broad St., Columbus www.westerflora.net
July 23
Giant Bubble Show
2-3 p.m.
Westerville Public Library 126 S. State St. www.westervillelibrary.org
www.westervillemagazine.com
July 25-28
The Westerville Parks and Recreation Civic Theatre program presents Bye, Bye Birdie
7 p.m.
Westerville Central High School 7118 Mt. Royal Ave. www.parks.westerville.org
July 26, Aug. 23
Fourth Fridays
6 p.m.
Uptown Westerville www.westerville.org
July 28
Tapestry of a Town
1-5 p.m.
The Point at Otterbein 60 Collegeview Dr. www.westervillehabitatpartnership.org
Aug. 6
National Night Out
6-9 p.m.
Huber Village Park 362 Huber Village Blvd. www.westerville.org
Aug. 10
Uptown Untappd
6-10 p.m.
Uptown Westerville www.uptownwestervilleinc.com
Aug. 14
First day of school
Westerville City Schools www.westerville.k12.oh.us
Aug. 24
Summer Concert at Ridgewood Park
6-8 p.m.
Ridgewood Park 5410 Buenos Aires Blvd. www.westervillelibrary.org
Aug. 25
New Wave Nation
6:30-8:30 p.m.
Alum Creek Amphitheater
221 W. Main St. www.westerville.org
Aug. 25
A Few Minor Adjustments: Author Visit with Elana Hohl
3-4 p.m.
Westerville Public Library 126 S. State St. www.westervillelibrary.org
Joining our Team Emily Malik Bartko, DDS Dr. Malik’s daughter 2024 graduate of The Ohio State University College of Dentistry.
R Malik,
–General Dentistry–Dr. Malik has more than 30 years of experience.
Photo by Brenda Turner
By Tyler Kirkendall
One Passion,
Two Players
Uptown Friday Nights musicians share their stories
Bob May
“I don’t teach music, I share it.”
This is the mantra of Bob May, a retired architect who performs live music at Uptown Friday Nights outside the historic bank on State Street.
For May, music isn’t all about numerals and technique; it’s about what sounds good, not what is “correct.”
May’s unique approach is hardly surprising given how his playing days began.
While studying at the University of Illinois School of Architecture, May was a “gandy dancer,” a slang term for someone who lays railroad tracks. He saved up $200 to buy a 12-string Gibson guitar he saw an ad for in the paper, thus beginning his hard-to-believe origin story playing music.
“I was trying to learn how to play it, taught myself two or three chords and one morning a janitor came by…He pushed my door open of the dorm room, took the guitar and tuned it – which it’s very difficult to tune a 12-string – and he took out these finger picks,” May says, showing off the metal tips on his index and middle fingers, plus a plastic one on his thumb.
“He put these in my hand,” May says. “He says can you play a D chord? Do this. (May starts picking up and down, alternating fingers.) Then he left.”
During the next few mornings, May received micro-lessons in guitar picking from the janitor.
When May asked him how long he’d need to practice each chord, the janitor replied, “Until you can talk to your mother on the phone and do that.”
May has a rare eye condition called Central Serous Retinopathy, which makes his ability to play so sharply even more impressive. It also means he never uses sheet music or notes, only his memory.
“I have these blind spots and I have a very difficult time reading,” May says.
His visual impairment came about gradually. He previously watched other guitarists’ fingers to see which chords they were using, but now he exclusively learns songs by ear.
He says there is one song he’s still figuring out after 50 years
“My primary care physician asked me about that. I said ‘I memorize everything,’ and she said ‘Well how many songs do you know?’ I said ‘300, maybe 400,” May says. “She said ‘Don’t ever quit. That’s poetry, mathematics and dexterity.”
courtesy of Dave Holtzapple and Tyler Kirkendall
Bob May
Dean Gledhill
A couple of years ago May asked to play open mics at Java Central and was given a time slot.
After Debbie Bennati, president of the Westerville Uptown Merchants Association, heard him play at Java Central, she offered him a gig during Uptown Friday Nights at his now signature sidewalk stage outside the bank.
He didn’t perform to earn money. The first time someone opened his guitar case to drop in some change, he thought they were trying to steal his equipment. Now he uses patrons’ money for his granddaughter’s piano lessons.
It’s the human connection that keeps May playing. From Mennonite church fundraisers to Java Central on Friday nights, the audience tends to find May more than he seeks out the spotlight.He and a friend, Ken Parson – who also plays Java Central and Uptown Friday Nights –say that Westerville is their favorite place to play because everyone is easygoing, friendly and attentive.
During an Uptown Friday Night in May 2024, I witnessed May in action as the warm heart on his sleeve attracts visitors of all kinds. He greets new spectators after each song, often offering them the chance to play his guitar a little bit just so he can watch their faces light up.
After a boy rolled up on his skateboard and watched May play a song, he told May that he also plays guitar. May quickly offered up his mic and his prized guitar and let the boy play several songs.
“This is what it’s all about,” May says.
You’ve never been the retiring type.
Why
start now?
At Westerwood, feeling younger never gets old, starting with the biggest backyard in Columbus, our 23-acre wildlife refuge Friendship Woods. Together our welcoming residents and staff have created a truly inspiring place of kinship, caring and discovery.
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Dean Gledhill
At 10 years old, Dean Gledhill’s passion for guitar was cemented for life, as he shares his inspiration as a musician with countless icons such as Bruce Springsteen, Tom Petty, George Thorogood, Billy Joel and many others who all started playing guitar after The Beatles redefined “cool” on The Ed Sullivan Show on Feb. 9, 1964. He doesn’t remember how he got it, but he remembers every detail of his first guitar.
“It was this big old monster acoustic guitar and the strings, they felt like bridge girders,” Gledhill says. “It’s a wonder I could even play it at all; it wasn’t a little kid’s guitar.”
A “mail-order guitar from JCPenney” was his first foray into playing electric.
His history of shows in garages and basements through his adolescence kept his playing abilities sharp, and his repertoire of songs is always growing. While Gledhill was originally interested in classic rock, once he was introduced to blues music his focus completely shifted.
“Some friends said, ‘You need to listen to this (Eric) Clapton guy and that was real cool; I was a huge Clapton fan for many years,” Gledhill says.
Now a retired architect – a purely coincidental parallel with Bob May –Gledhill assembled the Juke Jammers with his friends,
bassist Mark Henry and drummer John Addison. They met over the last few years in various musical contexts, and their tagline states their mission: “Keepin’ the Blues Alive.”
The Juke Jammers perform shows all over Columbus, and Gledhill says they play whatever their audience responds to. If they play a retirement community, they will play Elvis and other “oldies,” he says. If they play the Creekside Blues & Jazz Festival© in Gahanna, they lean harder into a blues setlist.
On select Fridays, you can find the Juke Jammers at Rotary Park across from the Church of the Messiah on the corner of State and Home Street.
“We’ve got a big huge list of songs and we’ll just pick one and just mix it up with no real strict setlist,” Gledhill says. “We’ll play Uptown Westerville and anytime that people are sitting and actually listening, then you want to kind of have a setlist so you don’t slow down and stall out.”
Tyler Kirkendall is an editor at CityScene Media Group. Feedback welcome at tkirkendall@cityscenemediagroup.com.
Beyond the music:
the 2024 Dublin Irish Festival has something for everyone!
From our whiskey tastings, Irish food, Celtic canines, 5K and kids dash, sports activities, athletic demonstrations, dance and play performances, Irish history and literary presentations. To genealogy, shopping, Pot O’Gold Playland for the wee folk and more, we invite you to find what ignites YOUR Irish spirit August 2-4.
PURCHASE TICKETS
Juke Jammers
By Maisie Fitzmaurice
The 2024 Music and Arts Festival is held July 13-14 at Heritage Park & Everal Barn. Admission is $2 (cash or Venmo) and kids 10 and under are free.
More information can be found at www.westervillechamber.com.
Good as Gold The Music and Arts Festival turns 50
In January 1974, the Westerville Area Chamber of Commerce (WACC) announced the replacement of the town’s annual fair with a Music and Arts Festival. Little could anyone imagine the huge success the event would become.
Former WACC President Doris Hoffman, Former Festival Organizer Elly Creager and about 25 volunteers organized the first-ever Music and Arts Festival. It was held on July 7 on State Street, within an area bounded by Home Street and Park Street.
It was an extremely hot and humid day, but that didn’t stop an estimated 10,000 to 20,000 at tendees from coming to celebrate the art and music in the community.
The festival included more than 200 artists as well as live entertainment including performances by the Columbus Chorus of Sweet Adelines and the Westerville Commu nity Band. The Wester ville Promenaders got the crowd on their feet with square dancing.
Fifty years later, attendance stays high and the fest has become a highlight of summers in Westerville.
“We have a little old and new in our community and that’s one of the old pieces that has maintained,” says WACC President Janet Tressler-Davis. “…We’ve had to reinvent it a couple of times but it’s the energy of the managers of this festival that keep it moving.”
The festival has become a homecoming
celebration for residents as they enjoy a weekend filled with fun and nostalgia.
“Some people buy the shirt every year so they collect the festival shirts, and I do think often people come in from out of town that maybe were from Westerville to come back to see their parents but then they want to make sure they come the festival weekend,” Tressler-Davis says.
Did you know? The first Music and Arts Festival included a bread-making competition. It was rumored that the festival would be deemed bread-themed which led to controversy when a Westerville resident wrote to the Columbus Dispatch sharing their disapproval over the potential theme. The chamber denied it, saying the mention of the possible bread theme was merely a joke.
Photos courtesy of Westerville Area Chamber and the Westerville History Museum
Celebrating the Golden Jubilee
When planning this year’s festival, the organizers focused heavily on inclusivity and accessibility.
“I think it’s an important and needed addition to our festival because everybody can make art and we have a lot of really talented artists,” says Stacey Rusterholz, communications and community outreach manager at the Westerville Area Chamber of Commerce.
Partnering with community organizations including All Our Friends, the Westerville Chamber is adding an exhibition titled Community Corner: Showcasing Art Through Ability, which will display pieces created by adult artists with disabilities. It will be located on the second floor of Everal Barn with the youth art exhibition.
“Representation is important but we didn’t want to make those decisions without including people who live and work with people with disabilities every day, their voice and their ideas and their insight is what mattered,” Rusterholz says.
Other additions include a bike rack, a pet station to keep your dog hydrated and alcoholic seltzers that will be sold alongside beer at the Saturday evening concert.
This year’s evening concert headliner is LDNL also known as Lt. Dan’s New Legs with Southbound 23 as the opening act. Community favorite Southbound 23 plays popular country music covers, and LDNL is a pop, hip-hop and general variety group. While LDNL does have a released EP, they mostly play covers of top 40 favorites that will have the crowd dancing.
Along with the musical entertainment, Magic Nate will be roaming through the park perplexing attendees with his magical street performance-style tricks.
One of the most prominent aspects of the festival is the jury-selected art show. This year more than 120 artists and exhibitors will showcase art in various mediums from acrylic paint to pottery. The youth exhibit will feature art from children and teens ages 2-18.
Hungry festival-goers can choose a meal from 20 food vendors before heading to one of the three stages to watch one or more of the 30+ live performances during the weekend.
“We want people to be able to see diversity represented on our stages and our food as well so we try and have a nice mix of different types of food, cultures represented,” Rusterholz says.
Why should adults have all the fun? Kids can enjoy face painting, yard games, balloon twisting and more.
For the love of Westerville
While WACC is the official festival organizer, it takes dedication from the entire community to hold the event year after year.
The City of Westerville installed outdoor electric outlets around festival grounds to save food trucks and vendors from using generators. To make things even easier for vendors, the city has parking plans in place to create seamless setup and tear-down experiences.
Trees are planted to provide shade for both vendors and festival attendees and Westerville Parks and Recreation provides parking through the Westerville Sports Complex Lot with a shuttle running to the festival grounds over the weekend.
Since 1974, the festival has shifted locations several times but has found an ideal
home in Westerville Parks and Recreation’s Heritage Park & Everal Barn. The indoor air-conditioned barn offers a temperature-controlled environment for artwork, but also a place to stop and cool off.
The Arts Council of Westerville is also heavily involved in the festival, joining its planning committees, assisting as judges in the art competitions and organizing the youth arts and crafts activities.
“I think the festival is becoming an important place for (the Arts Council) to showcase everything that they’re doing to the wider community itself,” Tressler-Davis says. “Their growth is a testament to what is going on in the community and the desire for more local art and music.”
Transportation logistics have also been a joint effort between the festival organizers and COTA discussing ways to make bus rides to the festival more accessible.
Back to business
While the event helps to celebrate the Westerville community as a whole, it was created by local businesses and chamber members. Almost all festival volunteers own or assist in operating a business in the area.
“I think sometimes people think that the festival is put on by the City of Westerville
and it’s great visibility for Westerville, we won’t take that away, but that’s not the reason why we do it,” Tressler-Davis says. “Really, it’s our businesses saying thanks to the community for their patronage and for businesses to be able to grow here in the community.”
WACC has found that the festival continues to benefit local businesses even after the Sunday tear-down through exposure and giving businesses an opportunity to promote themselves.
“Attendees are coming to the festival, yes, but they’re also frequenting Westerville businesses bringing in additional income and revenue and having a positive economic impact on our community,” Rusterholz says.
While Hoffman has since passed away, Tressler-Davis believes wholeheartedly that she and the other organizers of the first festival would be overjoyed to see the event today.
“I think she’d be very proud with what has happened,” she says. “It’s definitely expanded a lot more than I think she ever thought it would.”
Maisie Fitzmaurice is an editor at CityScene Media Group. Feedback welcome at mfitzmaurice@cityscenemediagroup.com.
Eye AcrossCareBorders
Making vision care accessible to a Somali community
By Amber Phipps
Nothing could stop Somali immigrant, Khadro Awad Mohamud, an optometrist living in Westerville, from pursuing her dreams.
With the gumption and determination that rivals even the most motivated individuals, Mohamud spent seven years in optometry school to earn her degree before traveling 7,750 miles back to her home country of Somalia, bringing her knowledge to those without access to professional vision care.
“My plan is to establish an eye hospital in Somalia, especially in my city so the people will not have to travel to another city to get eyecare,” says Mohamud.
Setting Goals
While living in Somalia, Mohamud realized that many areas of the country didn’t have access to vision care or reliable doctors, resulting in visual impairments, blindness and diseases that could be treated with the proper attention.
“In America, we can see a doctor or optometrist every year whenever you need. In Somalia, they don’t have that opportunity,” says Mohamud. “They have to travel to another city to see an optometrist and I realized that a lot of people, even my family, go blind because of the lack of eye doctors, so I wanted to prevent blindness in Somalia.”
With her goal in mind, Mohamud pursued a degree in optometry. While they aren’t medical doctors, optometrists attend optometry school rather than medical school to earn a doctoral degree.
After Mohamud graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Optometry and Visual Science in 2015 from Al Neelain University in the city of Khartoum, Sudan she traveled to the United States where she earned a Master’s degree through the Pennsylvania College of Optometry at Salus University in Elkins Park, Pennsylvania.
“So when I became a citizen of the USA and I had my Master’s degree from the USA, that was my biggest dream,” says Mohamud. “So right now, I had everything that I dreamed.”
But, to achieve her dream of providing accessible eyecare services in Somalia, Mohamud would need to gather a community of individuals who were just as compassionate as she was.
Global Outreach
When she moved to Westerville to be with her now husband, Abdirahman Mohamed in 2020, Mohamud connected with the Westerville Lions Club and joined in August 2023. One of the many services the Westerville Lions supports is providing care
Photos courtesy of Khadro Mohamud
to the visually impaired. Mohamud found her community and developed connections.
“They helped me because whenever you have a project, you have to ask them if they will help you decide on a project that will benefit your community, and they will nominate your project,” says Mohamud.
With the help of members from the Westerville Lions, Mohamud organized a sister club in Bosaso, Somalia in January 2024. The goal was to create a connection between her two communities and establish the first Lions Club branch in Somalia.
Along with five volunteers, Mohamud conducts screening tests to determine eye health or potential problems with vision for the residents of Bosaso.
Since starting the clinic, Mohamud has conducted free eye examinations for more than 100 residents in Bosaso.
“…We also did our orientation to the teachers and the students in some schools in Bosaso to teach the people how to protect their eyes and when you need to see a doctor,” she says.
With the newly established eye clinic in Somalia, Mohamud is determined to
continue expanding and reaching more individuals in need of eye care.
Her drive is exemplified through the goals she continues pursuing in both Westerville and Somalia. Mohamud has plans to establish a hospital in Bosaso so residents won’t have to drive hours to receive proper eye surgery or attention.
Along with the development of the hospital, her goal is to bring in more optometrists as a way to care for more patients. She has plans to make these dreams a reality through dedication and collaboration with the Westerville Lions.
“The main thing that inspires me from the Lions Club is how they serve the community as volunteers. They are doing amazing projects,” says Mohamud. “So that has inspired me to do more things for my community.”
Aside from the clinic and club involvement, Mohamud continues to educate residents through a book she wrote and published in Somalia about vision care and treatment. The proceeds from her published book go towards free vision screenings and eye examinations at local schools throughout Bosaso and Westerville.
The sister Lions Club in Somalia has supplied countless community members with their eye care needs. This dream was made a reality through the hard work of Mohamud, the community of individuals who supported her and her ability to set goals and chase her dreams no matter what obstacles stood in her way.
“I will never stop, I will keep trying until I do it and until I prove I can do it,” says Mohamud.
Amber Phipps is a contributing writer at CityScene Media Group. Feedback welcome at aphipps@cityscenemediagroup.com.
June 1 – August 25, 2024
Members of the Westerville Lions’ sister club in Bosaso, Somalia.
Mary Ann Schell
Levine
Peter Kourlas, M.D.
Jarred Burkart, M.D. Shabana Dewani, M.D. Andrew Grainger, M.D. Joseph Hofmeister, M.D. Augustine Hong, M.D. Elizabeth Kander, M.D.
Erin M.Bertino , M.D.
Nse Ntukidem, M.D
Thomas Sweeney, M.D.
Emily Saul, D.O.
Anish Parikh, M.D.
Joy Tang, M. D.
Kavya Krishna, M.D.
Shylaja Mani, M.D.
Erin Macrae, M.D.
Michael Ozga, M.D.
Jake Ruffer
A Little Bit of Italy
Traditional Italian colors bloom in Westerville home renovation
When one Westerville couple moved into a new condo during the COVID-19 pandemic, they felt that the two-story house was nice but it needed to feel more like home.
Many rooms, including the kitchen and bathroom, felt a little too dark for their taste. Blacks, whites and grays rounded out the color scheme. They wanted to lighten the place up and accentuate the Italian-inspired design that characterized the neighborhood.
“When we walked in, it was a lovely home,” the homeowners say. “But we wanted to make it our own, brighten it up.”
They called local interior designer Anne Rogers hoping to infuse the condo with their own personalities.
When in Rome
Rogers and the homeowners drew on the Italian villa-style homes of the surrounding community along with the style preferences of the couple to emphasize natural light and weave a vibrant, natural Mediterranean color scheme throughout the entire condo.
The kitchen’s central island took on an elegant sage hue, while a bright yellow standing tub appeared in the bath.
Rustic exposed brick bloomed along the pantry and powder room walls as well as the dining room ceiling. The brick is accessorized with built-in shelves, transporting the couple to Italy while still being practical.
Room For Two
Renovating during the pandemic, the couple met supply chain challenges and experienced long-term lifestyle adjustments.
As the two were working from home, they sought a shared workspace that comfortably accommodated both of their new full-time work-from-home schedules. Rogers concocted a layout that is both aesthetic and functional. The dark, wooden one-desk office space transformed into a white-shelved display of personal treasures, with room for two desks.
After work, the homeowners have fun downstairs in a bar area anchored by a pool table and showcasing their personal art collection. Crowning the space are four pendant lights, custom-made by an artist. Art from their collection adorns the walls.
“They both love fine art,” Rogers says. “What really makes that space unique is their furnishings and their artwork … Those light fixtures were just how they like things. They like really unique, beautiful things that aren’t too crazy, but kind of gave it an uplift.”
Rogers noted the colorful house’s exemplification of traditional decor which is prominent in the Columbus, Ohio area compared with sleeker and more minimal modern styles that use less color.
Changing Things Up
The homeowners say the renovations are a product of hours of collaboration, planning and personal attention to detail which stretched the project past the boundaries they had originally imagined, moving from updating a few rooms to transforming the whole condo.
“If someone’s going into this, it’s important to pull in the right team to pull the ideas together,” the homeowners say. “Anne, she took us comfortably out of our comfort zone, proposing colors and designs that we wouldn’t have considered.”
While Rogers may have tweaked the colors and size of the workload, her clients couldn’t be happier living in the final product.
“I don’t have a favorite spot,” the homeowners say. “Anywhere you go in the home, you sit down and look around and it’s upscale and beautiful but functional. It is low-key and comfortable kind of like (our) personalities.”
The project resulted in a bit more than just home updates:
“They were lovely people to work with,” the homeowners say.
“I would say we are now friends,” Rogers agrees.
Jake Ruffer is an editorial assistant at CityScene Media Group. Feedback welcome at feedback@cityscenemediagroup.com.
new appliances in 2023, is a culinary haven for aspiring chefs. Relax on the screened porch overlooking the backyard! $365,000. COLDWELL BANKER REALTY ThePowellBuehlerGroup.com
748
The Powell Buehler Group (614) 915-4588
light. Gourmet kitchen with granite counters & top tier appliances. Renovated baths, 1st floor laundry and backyard retreat including a spacious deck. $565,000.
COLDWELL BANKER REALTY ThePowellBuehlerGroup.com
The Powell Buehler Group (614)
baseball, basketball, picnic areas, playgrounds in Hoff Woods Park. Upgraded lighting, hardwood floors, custom blinds; Kitchen with stone backsplash, new hardwood cabinets, Corian counters, pull-out pantry, upgraded appliances, 1st-floor owner’s suite
Top Homes Sold in Westerville
In April 2024, Westerville home prices were up 15.1% compared to last year, selling for a median price of $420K. On average, homes in Westerville sell after 28 days on the market compared to 28 days last year. There were 50 homes sold in April this year, which is up from the 37 last year. (Data from Redfin)
806 Memories Ln. 4 beds, 3.5 baths
$835,000
Sold 4/23/24
708 Waterton Dr. 4 beds, 2.5 baths
$591,000
Sold 4/19/24
395 Mainsail Dr. 4 beds, 2.5 baths
$575,100
Sold 4/22/24
807 Waterton Dr. 4 beds, 2.5 baths
$571,000
Sold 4/4/24
125 S. Knox St. 3 beds, 2 baths
$565,000
Sold 4/2/24
665 Cherrington Rd. 4 beds, 2.5 baths
$565,000
Sold 5/15/24
748 Collingwood Dr. 4 beds, 3.5 baths
$565,000
Sold 5/21/24
482 Deer Run Ct. 4 beds, 2.5 baths
$560,000
Sold 4/2/24
930 Charterhouse Ct. 4 beds, 2.5 baths
$548,000
Sold 5/7/24
790 Watten Ln. 4 beds, 3.5 baths
$540,000
Sold 5/1/24
417 Six Pence Cr. 3 beds, 2 baths
$523,000
Sold 4/4/24
527 Deer Run Ct. 4 beds, 2.5 baths
$520,900
Sold 5/24/24
All information is collected from the Franklin County Auditor Office.
photo taken by Ruby Stone, Age 7
By Mary Nader
Photos courtesy of Masie Fitzmaurice and Unsplash
Fill Up for Fido
Splashing, slobbering summer
Hydration is a key part of staying safe and healthy, for man or dog alike. While you’re having fun in the sun, don’t forget about your furry friends.
The American Kennel Club advises that “adult dogs need about one ounce of water per pound of body weight per day.” This means that a 15-pound terrier would need about a standard water bottle’s worth of water while a 70-pound golden retriever would need a whole 2-liter bottle’s worth.
Whether you’re grabbing a coffee or shopping in Uptown, keeping your dogs hydrated throughout the day is integral. Keeping your dog hydrated can be as simple as carrying around a collapsible
water bowl, many of which come with carabiners to latch onto leashes, purses and belt loops for convenience.
While lakes and pools might help Fido fight off the heat, swimming can tire out your dogs and lead to dehydration. Caring for your dog after a swim can look like placing a cooling mat in the shade for them to relax on, or rewarding them with pet-friendly pupsicles.
When visiting Alum Creek State Park you can keep your dogs hydrated and cool by visiting the Friends of Alum Creek Dog Park. With three fenced-in water areas, the off-leash dog park offers an expansive area for your dogs to swim and play without getting too thirsty.
Though the summer is already a difficult time for dogs to keep their paw pads healthy, water softens these pads, leaving them susceptible to breakage. If they’re wet from a swim or you’re planning on taking your pet for a hike at the Hoover Reservoir or one of the city’s many parks, be wary of the temperature of paved paths.
A good rule of thumb to help avoid injury is to press your palm or bare foot against the concrete for a few seconds. If it’s too hot for us, it’s too hot for them. Cooler alternatives, like grass or gravel paths, when walking, running, or hiking will help keep your dog’s pads in good shape.
Remember, when you’re thirsty, your dog is probably thirsty too. If you find yourself reaching for your water bottle, open up that collapsible bowl and pour some out for your furry friend too.
Mary Nader is a contributing writer at CityScene Media Group. Feedback welcome at mnader@cityscenemediagroup.com.
Westerville Magazine Editor Maisie Fitzmaurice’s own furry friend, Eva.
Doggie Dos and Don’ts
In moderation, dogs can consume a certain selection of human foods. You won’t have to worry if these fall into your pet’s bowl:
• Berries and watermelon
• Vegetables, like carrots and corn
• Fully cooked, lean meats
• Small amounts of cheese
• Coconut meat
Though, many of us know that man’s best friend doesn’t take kindly to chocolate, there are a multitude of foods and snacks that also contain harmful toxins to dogs, including:
• Avocados
• Milk or dairy products
• Nuts
• Grapes and Raisins
• Coffee or caffeine
Owner and Son, Uptown Westerville 1994
From the Westerville Public Library
For online library resources such as ebooks, digital magazines, kids activities and more, visit www.westervillelibrary.org
Recommended Youth Reads from Katie Ross, Youth Services Librarian
Old Friends
By Margaret Aitken (Picture Book)
Marjorie loved knitting, baking and gardening with her Grandma and wants to share her interests with new friends. Marjorie discovers an opportunity to meet new friends at the local senior citizen center but is quickly dismissed as “just a kid” by the center’s director. With determination, Marjorie finds a way to join the seniors, who reveal that they too are still kids at heart.
Project PAWsome: Saving Shelter Pets One Bow Tie at a Time by Sir Darius Brown (Non-fiction)
Love animals? Love to sew? Sir Darius Brown, the founder of Beaux & Paws, shares with readers how creativity, ingenuity and a
vision turned the bow tie into a life changing item. The bow ties sewn are given to shelter animals to help them get adopted. Photos and stories of the animals adopted, along with a tutorial on how to make a bow tie, make for an inspiring read.
Friends Fur-Ever by Saadia Faruqi (Juvenile Fiction)
Imaan really wants a pet dog, but her Mom always says, “no!” Imaan and her friends come up with a plan to start a Must Love Pets pet-sitting business. Their first customer? Sir Teddy. Taking care of a dog is not as easy as the girls think, and their pet-sitting business will test their friendship. Perfect for readers transitioning to longer chapter books.
Adult Reads from Mindy Bilyeu, Adult Services Librarian
Vera Wong’s Unsolicited Advice for Murderers by Jesse
Q. Sutanto (Fiction)
Vera Wong is a lonely little old lady who lives above her forgotten tea shop in the middle of San Francisco’s Chinatown. Then one morning, Vera trudges downstairs to find a curious thing – a dead man in the middle of her tea shop. In his outstretched hand, a flash drive. Vera doesn’t know what comes over her, but after calling the cops, she swipes the flash drive from the body and tucks it safely into the pocket of her apron.
The Mostly True Story of Tanner & Louise by Colleen Oakley (Fiction)
Twenty-three-year-old Tanner Quimby needs a place to live. So, when an opportunity to work
as a live-in caregiver for an elderly woman falls into her lap, she takes it. Tanner wants nothing to do with the uptight old woman until she starts to notice weird things. Like, why does Louise keep her garden shed locked up tighter than a prison? And why is the local news fixated on an international jewelry thief that looks eerily like Louise?
Dogland: Passion, Glory, and Lots of Slobber at the Westminster Dog Show by Tommy Tomlinson (Non-fiction)
Are those dogs happy? How about pet dogs – are they happy, too? Those questions sparked a quest to venture inside the dog show world, in search of a deeper understanding of the bond between dogs and humans that has endured for thousands of years.
