May 19, 2011
32 seek development services post By NATE ELLIS ThisWeek Community Newspapers Pickerington has received 32 applications from candidates seeking to succeed Susan Crotty as the city’s development services director. City manager Bill Vance said on Tuesday, May 17, he hopes to have a new development services director in place by sometime in July.
As of the April 30 deadline, 32 people had applied for the position, which as advertised, would pay $75,000. Additionally, Violet Township has proposed the township and city share the services of Joy Davis, Violet Township’s current economic development specialist. Violet Township director of operations Bill Yaple suggested the move in a letter received by the city on May 13.
“I would like for you to consider cost sharing with Violet Township for the position of an economic development person,” Yaple wrote. “I would like for us to discuss the possibility of sharing Joy Davis, Violet Township economic development specialist, with the city of Pickerington, which may in the future reduce both of our costs for that position.” As of ThisWeek’s Tuesday press time,
Vance said the township’s offer is intriguing because it potentially could save Pickerington money and it would provide for a regional approach to economic development. However,Vance said that the city’s development services director, in addition to driving economic development in Pickerington through business recruitment, retention and expansion, should also have land-use expertise and be able to work
with the city’s current planning staff. “If we were to pursue the option made available by the township, we would have to seek some additional, supplementary planning services,” Vance said. “The candidates we’re seeking, ideally, would have experience in economic development and planning department services.” See DEVELOPMENT POST, page A2
District to change K-4 grade, progress analysis
SHADES OF SUMMER
By NATE ELLIS This Week Community Newspapers
Lions Club a $100 entry fee, which goes toward the fundraising efforts, and donates its pizza for the taste tests. Admission is $4 per person, which entitles attendees to sample each pizza at the challenge by way of a “blind” taste test. Members of the public then will vote for “Best Overall Pizza,” “Best Sauce” and “Best Crust.” A “celebrity judges” panel, including Pickerington Mayor Mitch O’Brien, Boy Scout Troop 256 scoutmaster Jerry Pritchard, Kiwanis Club representative and former Pickerington City Councilman Mike Sabatino and GOOD Program founder Ron Derry and his wife, Pam, also will participate in a blind taste test.
The Pickerington Local School District is planning to change the way it evaluates and charts student progress in kindergarten through fourth grade. For decades, PLSD students and parents have relied on quarterly report cards, which gave letter grades, to chart academic progress. That will change for students in grades K-4 next school year, as the district seeks to implement a new evaluation system that complies with evolving state standards and, district officials said, is designed to more accurately analyze student progress. “We hope to give parents a better picture of their student’s progress under the new (state) standards,” said Susan Chamberlain, an academic coach at Fairfield Elementary. According to Chamberlain, the Ohio Department of Education created the new “standards-based” reporting system, which lists the most important skills students should learn in each subject at a particular grade level. It also is designed to chart student progress, rather than their average grades, over a course of weeks. Instead of letter grades, students receive marks that show how well they have mastered the skills. They will receive an “N” if they haven’t met the grade level standard, a “P” if they are making progress toward meeting the grade level standard and an “M” if they are meeting the grade level standard. An “E” will be given to students who consistently exceed grade level standards. “The marks might show whether the student is advanced, proficient, basic or below basic for each standard or they might be numbers representing whether students meet, exceed or approach each standard,” a PLSD document called “Rethinking Report Cards” states. “Students usually get separate marks for effort and work habits, which are important for parents to keep tabs on even if these characteristics aren’t included in the assessment of the student’s academic skills.” Instead of receiving individual grades for specific curriculum areas, the standards-based re-
See PIZZA CHALLENGE, page A2
See DISTRICT, page A6
By Tim Revell/ThisWeek
Jason Cunningham finds a use for his umbrella on a rare rain-free day this spring as he shields his sleeping 4-year-old daughter, Camree, from the sun during a softball game between Pickerington High School Central and Upper Arlington on May 12. See sports, page B1.
Lions Club ‘Pizza Challenge’ marks 10 years By NATE ELLIS This Week Community Newspapers An annual fundraiser that helps support community programs while establishing bragging rights for local pizza shops will reach a milestone on May 26. The Pickerington Lions Club will host its 10th annual “Pizza Challenge” at 7 p.m. that day at the Pickerington Senior Center, 150 Hereford Drive. The popular event draws up to 250 attendees each year and helps raise money that allows the local Lions Club to support signature aid efforts, such as getting eye exams and eyeglasses for those with visual problems, and the GOOD Program, which works to teach children in the Pickerington Local School District how to overcome physical and other adversities.
The challenge also is an opportunity for local pizza lovers to sample a cross-section of pies sold in the community and to vote for the ones they like the best. “It’s a fun fundraiser,” said Brian Fox, Pickerington Lions Club president. “Because it’s a public event, 100 percent of the proceeds go to our charitable programs. So all of the money raised goes back into the community to help people and programs.” At ThisWeek’s press time on May 17, King’s, Catalina’s, Romeo’s, Hungry Holies, Classic Pizza, Juno’s and Credo’s had agreed to enter their pizzas in the challenge. Others interested in joining the competition can do so by calling (614) 833-4728. Each pizza business that participates pays the
Fifth annual Pickerington ‘Kidz Festival’ scheduled for May 22 By NATE ELLIS This Week Community Newspapers The fifth installment of an annual festival to provide free fun to local children will take place this weekend in Victory Park. Years ago, Pickerington resident Lenni Male hoped to keep local parents connected to events and activities that could benefit children, or just give them opportunities to be kids.
The result was Male’s creation of www.pickeringtonkidz.com, which contains events listings and information about community programs that provide learning and recreational opportunities for local children. Since then, Male also decided to establish a one-day celebration of Pickerington kids, as well as her brand, Pickerington Kidz. This year will mark the fifth anniversary of the latter endeavor, when the
DIRECTORY News: (740) 888-6100 editorial@thisweeknews.com Sports: (740) 888-6054 sports@thisweeknews.com
“Pickerington Kidz Festival” is held in Victory Park from noon to 4 p.m. on May 22. “We’re celebrating five years this year,” Male said. “It’s a continuation, and every year we try to change things up to make it bigger and better than the year before.” Depending on Mother Nature, Male said, the festival typically attracts 2,500 to 4,000 people to the park. The live entertainment available this year on the park’s tennis courts will in-
clude bands, gymnastics, theater performances, cheerleading shows and dog obedience presentations. “About every 20 minutes, we will have a new activity coming on,” Male said. Kids’ games and activities will be spread throughout the park. A traditional favorite, an inflatable “bounce house,” also will return this year, with supervision from festival co-sponsors, the Pick-
In this edition: Read about Amazing Student Volunteers across central Ohio.
A closer look The live entertainment available at this year’s “Kidz Festival” on the park’s tennis courts will include bands, gymnastics, theater performances, cheerleading shows and dog obedience presentations.
See FESTIVAL, page A2
food and wine expand your tastes Presented by:
Retail ads: (740) 888-6035 sdame@thisweeknews.com Classified: (740) 888-5003 classified@thisweeknews.com Customer Service: 1-888-837-4342
Also online at www.ThisWeekNews.com/Volunteers
Visit ThisWeekNews.com/foodandwine