February 17, 2011
GVS eyes capital initiative in 2012 Campaign-planning group recommends projects for public, private spaces By GARY SEMAN JR. ThisWeek Community Newspapers The German Village Society has been urged to launch a capital campaign next year that would fund a variety of programs, including historic preservation and improvements to public spaces. A campaign-planning group has submitted a report to the GVS offering potential projects for the fundraising effort.
The nine-member group was formed by the society in 2009 by then-GVS board president Brigid Butler. Historic preservation is at the top of the list, along with enhancements to parks, Third Street improvements and continued funding of the Meeting Haus. Just how much should be raised and how long the effort should take hasn’t been determined. Brian Santin, president of the GVS board, said he’s intrigued by the report.
“The results of the campaign planning group were very interesting, well developed and certainly provide a solid foundation upon which future fundraising efforts may be based,” he said. Janet Druen, who co-chaired the planning group, said the endeavor is about continuing the legacy of German Village, now in its 51st year as an official neighborhood. “I think it needs to be both capital improvements to public spaces and even
private spaces if we think it’s something that would help the neighborhood,” she said. “And people are attracted to the historic preservation.” Druen said the planning group met for about 18 months to determine what local residents value and the vision for the neighborhood. Society vice president Mike Yarbrough will head up a development committee to determine the next course of action. The campaign-planning group recom-
mended that the GVS board of trustees seek the community’s input. Jim Nichols, a member of the GVS board and co-chair of the planning group, said because of the current economy, the capital campaign should not start this year. The last campaign was considered vastly successful, bringing in $900,000 from 1990 to 1995, Nichols said. See CAPITAL INITIATIVE, page A2
Haus und Garten Tour
Organizers hope events entice tour visitors to stay all day By GARY SEMAN JR. ThisWeek Community Newspapers
By Lorrie Cecil/ThisWeek
German Village resident David Randall, owner of German Village House Histories, researches the origins, owners and occupants of historic homes and businesses in the neighborhood and creates documents for sale — like the three pictured above —that display the information along with photos of the properties.
Local homes and businesses
Resident reviving history of properties By GARY SEMAN JR. ThisWeek Community Newspapers David Randall is trying to keep interest alive in the histories of local homes and businesses by documenting their pasts. Randall, who lives on East Beck Street, is the owner of German Village House Histories, which thoroughly researches each property, down to the time it was built, who lived there and the occupations of its inhabitants. Some date back to before the Civil War. He started the business, at the urging of his wife, Alison, in 2004 after retiring from a state job. Curious about the history of his own house, Randall went to the Columbus Metropolitan Library and began a page-by-page search of old city directories. His wife helps with some of the research.
Prior to 1888, the streets were numbered randomly, he said. “It was all tricky,” he said. “It was very hapHe’s doing something nobody’s hazard.” For $35, Randall can prepare residents a onedone. Some of this stuff you page document with cursive text surrounding wouldn’t know otherwise. He’s an updated picture and registry on his website dug up a lot of information on — www.germanvillagehousehistories.com — where additional biographical information can these old buildings. be found. A framed copy is $50. “What I hope to do is have all streets in the CARL JACOBSMA village represented, if not all the houses, all the streets,” he said. co-owner of The Book Loft Randall said he has completed about 60 pieces. The project has not only helped him understand The project stuck. Randall then began to doc- more about the community’s history, he said — ument other parcels using the same method. he’s also gotten to know many of his neighbors. The database took four years to complete, but the research hasn’t always been easy. See REVIVING HISTORY, page A2
“
Officials for the 2011 German Village Haus und Garten Tour plan to offer more entertainment opportunities in an effort to boost attendance. The 52nd annual tour is slated for June 25. A pretour event is planned the evening of June 24. “The whole idea is to have a true destination day,” said Chris Hune, who chairs the Haus und Garten Tour. “You come in the morning and stay all day.” On June 25, Actors’ Theatre of Columbus will be staging a matinee performance of “The Scarlet Pimpernel” in Schiller Park. Meanwhile, live music will be performed in Frank Fetch Park. Placards will be placed throughout the neighborhood, advertising other community events held during the year. The MarketPlatz will be reconfigured this year, with the help of the German Village Business Community, said Catherine Adams, who is organizing the event. Rather than having one MarketPlatz, the tour will be highlighted with clusters of retailers, restaurants with prepared foods, beverage sales and entertainment, Adams said. “We’re bringing MarketPlatz to the route,” she said. Tour organizers are also looking at creating new social media opportunities, such as a Twitter account and Facebook page, although those details have not been finalized, Hune said. “We’re looking for every avenue we can to get the message out,” she said. The honorary chair of this year’s event is Pat Gramelt, who has volunteered every year since the first tour. “Pat is just the epitome of a German Village volunteer,” Hune said. “She does it very quietly, unassuming. She’s the kind of volunteer every organization needs because she’s there whenever you need her.” This year’s theme is “Celebrating the FUN (Friends und Neighbors) of German Village.” The committee has selected nine homes, representing a wide variety of architectural styles, and five gardens, which always include spots in Frank Fetch and Schiller parks. Hune said additional homes and gardens likely would be selected. See HAUS UND GARTEN TOUR, page A2
Eleven candidates for city council to run in May 3 primary By GARY SEMAN JR. ThisWeek Community Newspapers For the first time since 2005, there will be a primary election battle for Columbus City Council. A quartet each of Republicans and Democrats and three Libertarians had their petitions certified Feb. 15 by the Franklin County Board of Elections.
The GOP ticket includes Matt Ferris, Alicia Healy, Joe Healy and Daryl Hennessy. The Democrats seeking office are council incumbents Andrew Ginther, Hearcel Craig, Zachary Klein and Michelle Mills. Two placeholders, Donald Klco and Zachary Roberts, will be replaced by Klein and Mills on the primary ballot.
DIRECTORY News: (740) 888-6100 editorial@thisweeknews.com Sports: (740) 888-6054 sports@thisweeknews.com Retail ads: (740) 888-6009 jwillis@thisweeknews.com Classified: (740) 888-5003 classified@thisweeknews.com Customer Service: 1-888-837-4342
Mark Noble, Andrew Ullman and Robert Bridges were certified on the Libertarian ticket. Genaro Garcia did not collect the required number of valid signatures. In an officially nonpartisan race, the eight top vote-getters from the May 3 primary will seek four open seats on council this fall. Meanwhile, there will be no primary
Still looking for fun things to do with your money? Find things to do for $10 or less with the Cheap Thrills blog at www.ThisWeekNews.com.
race for Columbus mayor. Democratic incumbent Michael B. Coleman, who is seeking a fourth term, will square off against retired police Sgt. Earl Smith, a Republican, in November. Mayoral hopeful Paul Nerswick, an independent, did not get the 1,000 valid signatures needed to put him on the primary ballot. “We’re a little dismayed,” he said of
his campaign. “We wish it could be different.” Nerswick, who lives in the Northland area, wouldn’t rule out the possibility of running for mayor in the future. “We were ready for this race, though,” he said. “We thought we had a good See MAY 3 PRIMARY, page A2
food and wine expand your tastes
Presented by:
Visit ThisWeekNews.com/foodandwine