Best of Northland 2015

Thursday, May 28, 2015

BEST OF

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Best of Northland | Thursday, May 28, 2015

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Know your saving options Everyone knows the importance of having money saved, but we also know that sometimes life can get in the way. Unexpected expenses such as family or health emergencies, being laid off from a job, car problems or simply needing a new furnace can quickly drain a savings account without proper planning. Here are a few options to help grow your savings.

1. Find the savings account that’s right for you: Most banking institutions offer many different savings accounts with different interest rates, and it’s important to find the one that fits your plan. Perks such as automatic savings transfer or higher interest rates based on the amount in your account are just a few things to consider. At Telhio Credit Union, the “Own the Change� program allows you to sweep debit purchases rounded up to the nearest dollar into your savings account – like putting your spare change in a jar and then earning interest on it!

2. Consider a Health Savings Account: During a health emergency, finances are the last thing you want to worry about. Health care costs can accumulate quickly, even after your insurance covers some of the expenses.Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) can help offset most, if not all of your out-ofpocket expenses, and can be used for you, your spouse and your dependents.

3. Get higher rates by saving more over time: If you can afford to place your money in deposit for a set period of time, a certificate of deposit might be right for you. Money markets and high yield checking accounts are also good options. Telhio has outstanding rates on these products. More information is available at telhio.org.

Telhio is open to anyone who lives, works, worships or goes to school in Franklin, Fairfield, Delaware, Licking, Madison, Pickaway and Union counties.. Founded in 1934, Telhio is a not-for-profit financial cooperative where its members are also its owners. Telhio offers six branching offices throughout central Ohio and nearly 4,000 shared branching locations nationwide. Federally insured by NCUA. Additional coverage up to $250,000 provided by Excess Share Insurance Corporation, a licensed insurance company.

How bulk cooking can make meals easier Healthy family meals can get lost in the shuffle of busy schedules. Convenience may win out when parents are short on time, and it’s hard not to be enticed by the ease of fast food or the lure of frozen foods. While these options are certainly fine on occasion, there is a more nutritious solution for time-crunched families.

Planning is a big part of enjoying a homecooked meal, and cooking in bulk can help families enjoy more homecooked meals. By thinking ahead about meals, you can more easily enjoy homecooked

dinners than if you were to wait until the last minute to think about what’s for dinner.

If bulk cooking is a foreign concept, the following are some resources to help you along. • Get started by browsing cookbooks, online recipes or speaking with friends and family members about their favorite meals, especially those that may be popular with younger eaters. Concentrate on a specific meal each day.

Dinner is the meal many families hope to share, as breakfast and lunch are often eaten outside of the home. Make a list of the

ingredients that go into your family’s favorite meals, selecting recipes that use many of the same ingredients. • Wait until you have a free schedule and ample time to go to the store to shop for all of your supplies. Have a list on hand and check off each item as you find it. Cooking in bulk also means you can buy in bulk. Very often bulk-size foods are discounted, saving you both time and money.

Shop for the staples that are needed for most meals, including fresh herbs, cheese, spices, oil, and whatever flavorings your family finds most

On the cover

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Ella Saint-Juste, 4, plays on the slide Wednesday, March 18, at Maize Manor Preschool in Columbus. A committee of community residents and organizations began efforts in January 2014 to raise money to replace worn equipment and build a new playground. (Photo

by Joshua A. Bickel, ThisWeekNews.com)

appealing. Large bags of rice and potatoes also are handy to have available. • Take advantage of warehouse club membership fees or manufacturer or store coupon deals on multiple buy specials. Buying jumbosized packages of food makes more sense when you intend to cook in bulk. • Clean out the refrigerator and freezer, as you will need plenty of room to store your ingredients, and later, your prepared meals. Figure out when you will be doing the cooking so you know what will need to be refrigerated or frozen once you return from the supermarket. • Establish a dedicated cooking day. Many bulk cookers cook on the weekend. You may be able to have a spouse or friend take the children for the day so there will be no interruptions. • Gather all items that need to be chopped or sliced and set them aside.

Leave ample time to chop or slice, which can take a lot of time. Use all of your available cooking resources, such as the grill, stovetop, oven, and slow cooker, at once.

Then just drop the ingredients in as necessary. • Have plenty of freezer-safe storage containers on hand. Divvy up the meals into containers and label clearly. Now each day of the week you have a fast meal that can be heated up in no time.

Fresh bread and a salad may be the only other components you need.

ThisWeekNews.com

Best of Northland | Thursday, May 28, 2015

Food storage and safety tips Buying in bulk can reduce trips to the supermarket and save you money. When buying in bulk, you can cook perishable foods all at once or store foods for later use. When taking the latter approach, there are certain storage and safety tips home cooks can take to ensure their food stays fresh and safe to eat.

Wash later Wash produce and fresh foods prior to eating. If items are washed before they are stored, the moisture trapped can accelerate spoilage.

Lettuce and other leafy vegetables are the exception. Wash these items and drain thoroughly. Afterward, store in a sealed bag with paper towels, which will absorb excess moisture.

Separate meat and poultry

Individual pieces of meat and poultry should be separated before freezing, as this makes it easier to take out the right portions when defrosting for meals.

Small, thin packages will freeze faster and more evenly than other types of containers. They will also defrost quickly for use later on.

Keep hands clean when handling raw foods by placing one hand in a small plastic sandwich bag to grab the pieces of chicken or meat. Then turn the bag inside out on your hand

Happy Druggist Pharmacy is here to help you with healthcare In December 2014, Joe and Robin Craft, both pharmacists, purchased Family Medical Pharmacy from the previous owner, Maria Mascio, and changed the name to Happy Druggist Pharmacy. Robin and Joe wanted a positive, sunny image that made people smile when they thought of the pharmacy—thus, the name Happy Druggist Pharmacy!

Our pharmacist manager is Mark Robbins. Please stop in and meet him and all the other incredible staff who want to help you with your healthcare needs.

We provide the following services to make your life easier: We accept most insurance plans – There have been a few glitches with insurance plans, but we think we have most of that sorted out now. Not sure if we accept your insurance? Just ask.

Delivery – We deliver. Ask if we can bring your medicine right to your door.

Immunizations – Get flu or pneumonia shots here. Mark, our other pharmacists, and pharmacy students can

Be prepared Before buying a large amount of food, ensure that your refrigerator and freezer are in good working order. Use a food appliance thermometer to get an accurate reading of the internal temperature of the freezer and refrigerator. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration recommends refrigerators be kept at or below 40 F (5 C), and the freezer at or below zero (-18 C). A refrigerator or freezer that is too warm can cause the growth of unhealthy bacteria in stored foods and decrease the shelf life of stored items.

Purchase freezer-safe plastic storage bags or containers to hold divided food. Also have a permanent marker handy to label containers with the date and type of food enclosed.

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and the piece of food.

Place these wrapped pieces into a freezer-safe bag. The double layer of protection will safeguard against the formation of ice crystals and freezer burn, which can affect flavor.

Bulk ground beef or turkey purchases are another popular buy. Place in a large storage bag and flatten the ground meat as much as possible. Use a spatula to indent the meat almost through to the bottom in a grid pattern. This perforation allows you to access as much of the frozen meat as necessary.

Defrosting The USDA advises to defrost foods properly to avoid foodborne illnesses. Freezing suspends bacteria trapped in food indefinitely. Improper defrosting practices can cause that bacteria to grow. If the food is not

cooked thoroughly, illness can result.

Plan ahead to defrost foods in the refrigerator.

It can take up to a day for this method of thawing, so plan meals well in advance.

A cold-water bath also can defrost foods. They should be in a leak-proof package, and the bag should be submerged in cold tap water, changing the water every 30 minutes so it continues to thaw. Small packages of meat, poultry or seafood —about a pound—may thaw in an hour or less.

Microwaves also have a defrost setting. Just remember to cook foods immediately afterward if you defrost them in a microwave.

Purchasing larger quantities of food can save money and time.

Proper storage and food handling afterward ensures meals will be safe and tasty.

Best of Northland Thursday, May 28, 2015 sales director: Doug Dixon retail sales manager: Heather Kritter design & production: Chris Lutzko Annie Wise

account executives: Gail Fullerton Kevin Mahan Ruthanne Roork

Best of Northland is a special advertising supplement to ThisWeek Community News. Best of Northland is not responsible for opinions and views expressed in the paid advertisement in the business profiles. All real estate advertising herein is subject to the federal Fair Housing Act, which makes it illegal to advertise “any preference, limitation or discrimination because of race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familiar status, or national origin, or intention to make any such preference, limitation or discrimination.” We will not knowingly accept any advertising for real estate which is in violation of the law.

All persons are hereby informed that all dwellings advertised are available on an equal opportunity basis.

administer vaccines, including hepatitis A and B, tetanus, diptheria, and pertussis for adult patients.

Medication Therapy Management (MTM) – A pharmacist or pharmacy student will review your medications with you.

Personalized service and counseling – You can always talk to a pharmacist in person about your medications or any questions you may have about your health.

We’re social – Follow us on Facebook for things happening in the store.

Online access to your prescriptions – View and refill your prescriptions from home. Sign up on our web site: druggist4u.com RefillRx mobile app – Download the app and refill your prescriptions via your phone. A link to the app is on our web site.

Now Open

Stop by and see the difference

Mark Robbins, PharmD, RPh Call and ask for Mark to say hello!

We will be randomly picking 2 callers per WEEK DAY to win a free 16” one topping pizza at Borgatas!

With qualifying new or transferred prescriptions filled at Happy Druggist Pharmacy, receive

$1000

OFF

*

* Limitations apply. See store for details.

5770 Karl Rd. • Columbus

(614) 847-3784

druggist4u.com/happy

Best of Northland | Thursday, May 28, 2015

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Performance Academies: Providing high-qu Performance Academies (PA) implements an innovative program offering small class sizes (18:1) to students in grades K-8 in an extended school day (8 a.m. to 4 p.m.) with two hours of daily reading instruction, one and a half hours of math, one hour of science and social studies, daily fitness (in martial arts, tennis and soccer), daily character education and allday kindergarten.

With 13 campuses across urban Ohio and Detroit, PA serves 3,600 students and their families in Columbus (5), Dayton, Springfield, Cincinnati (2), Toledo, Detroit (3) and now Cleveland.

Our Northland Preparatory

and Fitness Academy (NPFA) campus is located at 1875 Morse Road in Columbus, Ohio. NPFA currently serves 285 students in grades K-8.

Some key academic data about NPFA includes:

• Northland Prep and Fitness Academy outperformed Columbus Public Schools in 12 out of 14 fourteen testing categories.

• 84% of Northland Prep and Fitness Academy third graders passed the Third Grade Reading Guarantee, compared to 69% for Columbus Public.

• 72% of all students tested passed the Ohio Reading

test.

• Call (614) 318-0600 for more information or to enroll your child Students of our Ohio charter schools perform well on state mandated tests, typically outperforming their local district peers. Six of ten earned a value-added grade of “A” or “B” in 2014. All three MiamiValley charter schools (greaterDayton area) were among the ten highest performing charters in the area.

Overall, 82% of PA third graders satisfied the Third Grade Reading Guarantee by the end of the school year, with many remaining scholars satisfying the requirement by the end of the summer.

This compares favorably with Dayton (65%), Columbus (69%), and Toledo (76%), where are schools are largely located.

PA scholars outperform not just the local districts, but the State of Ohio as a whole with its two core student demographics, African-American and Special Education students (see included tables).

PA has had two “School of Promise” award winners— Toledo Preparatory and Fitness Academy, and Springfield Preparatory and Fitness Academy.

Longitudinal analysis

Performance of special education students 2014 Reading

Math

State of Ohio

51%

42%

PA

57%

48%

6%

6%

Difference

Performance of African-American students 2014 Reading

Math

State of Ohio

63%

50%

PA

65%

56%

2%

6%

Difference

demonstrates that, the longer students stay in a PA school, the better they perform. See, for example, the strong middle school at our Middletown campus.

Parents consistently give PA academies strong support, as demonstrated by parent survey data.

Our schools have a strong record of legal compliance and fiscal success as demonstrated by contract renewals and over 100 strong financial audits.

PA academies have won Auditor of State awards for

fiscal excellence.

No PA academy has ever closed. No PA academy has ever been placed on “Probation” or “Suspension.”

The PA management team includes seasoned charter school specialists in all areas of school management and administration. Its core leadership team has over 60 years of combined charter experience.

Visit our website to learn more about our schools at www.performanceacademies. com/ohio-schools/columbus/.

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Best of Northland | Thursday, May 28, 2015

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uality K-8 public school choices since 2002

100%

NPFA Compared to Columbus City, 2014

75%

50%

25%

0% 3rd Read 3rd Math 4th Read 4thMath

5thRead

5thMath

5th Cci

NPFA

6thRead

6thMath

7thRead 7thMath

Columbus City

8thRead

8thMath

8thSci

Best of Northland | Thursday, May 28, 2015

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54 years doing business in Northland Pizza House, a Columbus landmark since 1961, celebrated 54 years in the restaurant business in March 2015.

Along the way, they’ve collected numerous awards and gained countless loyal customers with their delicious made-from-scratch Italian dishes and their warm hospitality.

Owner Billy Colasante attributes much of their success to family ownership. “Not being part of a corporation puts us in a minority these days, but we feel that it gives us a leg up.” He has been the owner for the past 24 years, and runs the business

with Nick, Todd, Dakota, Damien and Melany.

Mr. Colasante is a Columbus resident who grew up in this area and feels a strong connection to the community.

One of the ways he demonstrates this is by sponsoring numerous youth athletic teams and programs. The community has been expressing appreciation for this family business by continually recognizing Pizza House with various awards and accolades. Some of these include AOL’s City’s Best Pizza, Town Favorite Channel 6 Clean Plate Award, Columbus Monthly’s “Best Pizza

in Town,” 2010 and 2011 SNP and 2014 ThisWeek Community News Readers Choice Award for “among the best pizza in Columbus,” and even recognition from the Ohio House of Representatives for success in business.

The reason for that success is not hard to understand: the recipes and menu are the same as they were 54 years ago, all family recipes. Some perennial favorites are lasagna, calzones (they are huge), and a variety of pizzas, including delicious white pizza and pesto pizza. Glutenfree items are available also, such

as ravioli and pizza. Meatballs and sauces are made fresh daily. Quality ingredients and preparation are the standard every day. With over 4,000 square feet of space, there is plenty of room to accommodate all the Pizza House regular customers as well as newcomers. Billy Colasante and his family are so appreciative to the Northland community for their faithful support over the years and are excited to continue to provide quality food to their beloved community. Stop in today and meet the family and staff at Pizza House.

OVER 54 YEARS IN BUSINESS 1961 - PRESENT

ur Try o ee n fr glute too! i raviol

Enjoy our Gourmet Pizzas Gluten Free

Crust Now Available!

Sauces and dough made fresh daily.

We offer a full line of Italian Dinners.

www.pizzahousecolumbus.com

p 7 days d Open a week 747 E. Lincoln Ave. Columbus, Ohio 43229

(614) 885-3121 Winner of numerous awards!

ThisWeekNews.com

Best of Northland | Thursday, May 28, 2015

Friendly staff invites you to stop by the Train Station The Train Station opened in 1974, and has been under the current family ownership since 1988. Exclusively model trains, The Train Station carries full starter train sets and individual items and accessories in HO, N, O, and G scales, including popular names like Lionel and LGB. The store has an operating HO display layout for inspiration, Stop by and see the great selection at The Train and a Thomas Playtable Station, 4430 Indianola Ave., Columbus, Ohio or for children. The Train Station also features one give them a call at (614) 262-9056. of the largest assortments everything from a simple table top or of Thomas Wooden around the Christmas tree display to Railway in central Ohio. DVDs, books, an elaborate layout with the latest magazines, calendars, mugs, hats and hobby technologies like sound and pins are also available. digital control.

The Train Station’s friendly Like us on Facebook to stay up to staff covers a wide range of model date on the latest product arrivals and railroading knowledge and experience, model railroading news. and will be sure to help you with

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THE TRAIN STATION Exclusively Model Trains

Authorized Lionel Value Added Dealer Thomas Wooden Railway ailway

G, O, HO, ns and N scale trains Books, Magazines, DVDs, Puzzles, Coffee Mugs, Hats, ats, Scenery Hours: Mon.-Thurs. 10-6, Friday 10-8, Sat. 10-6, Sun. 12-5

Visit us at

www.trainstationohio.com

4430 Indianola Ave. Between Morse & Cooke Rd., West of I-71

614-262-9056

OVER 40 YEARS OF PROVIDING CENTRAL OHIO WITH MODEL TRAINS AND ACCESSORIES

Thrift to save and save the planet

“

For more than 25 years, Ohio Thrift has been a great destination for barIt’s great that we are a part of gain hunters and those the solution and not the problem.” who enjoy thrifting. With — KEVIN TEHRANCHI nine central Ohio locaDistrict Manager of the Northern Lights tions filled wall-to-wall Ohio Thrift location at 3551 Cleveland Avenue with new and pre-loved items, it is highly unlikely you will walk out without a real shame the amount of unnecesa great deal. sary waste in our country. Currently While Ohio Thrift is already known only about 15% of unwanted clothing, for their everyday low prices and amazfootwear and other textiles are reused ing half-off sale days, not too many or recycled in the US. Hopefully future people know that the company is also a generations can increase that number major contributor to our communities dramatically.” recycling program. In addition to the So not only is Ohio Thrift helping you pre-loved items that find new homes to be fashionable and budget friendly, through their stores, Ohio Thrift rethey are helping the community and cycles several million pounds of clothing, shoes, purses, books and cardboard planet in their commitment to being green. And that is good for us all! each year.

For more information on store “It’s great that we are a part of the locations and available products, find solution and not the problem”, says Ohio Thrift Stores on your favorite Kevin Tehranchi, District Manager of social media or visit their website at the Northern Lights Ohio Thrift locawww.ohiothriftinc.com. tion at 3551 Cleveland Avenue. “It is

REUSE REDUCE RECYCLE

ohiothriftinc.com

Ohio Thrift Store

Northern Lights Shopping Center • 3551 Cleveland Ave.

Northland native promotes the importance of oral health Promoting and educating the importance of oral health is a passion for Dr. Leah Tate who is a native of the Northland area. “The mouth is the gateway to the rest of the body and many complications like heart disease and diabetes can be linked to a person’s oral health,” says Dr. Tate. “We work hard to make people feel comfortable about coming to the dentist.”

Northside Family Dental located at 5770 Dr. Leah Tate Karl Road is the office DDS of Dr. Leah Tate, DDS. Dr. Tate who also is an adjunct faculty member at The Ohio State University and Columbus State Community College graduated from Columbus Alternative High School in 1994. She graduated from The Ohio State University School of Dentistry in 2006, and in 2011 was excited about the opportunity to

Dr. Leah R. Tate, DDS 614-846-8340 5770 Karl Rd. Suite 100 www.northsidedds.com open an office in the community that she grew up in. According to Dr. Tate, “I’m happy to serve the people of the Northland community, and promote the importance your gums and teeth have with your overall health.”

Northside Family Dental accepts most insurance companies and is currently accepting new patients. Please call to speak with a member of the staff at (614) 846-8340. Visit Northside Family Dental on Facebook or the company website www.northsidedds.com for more information.

“Dr. Tate grew up in North Columbus and has come back to serve because she cares about the oral health of this community.”

New Patient Special! $29 Exam and X-Rays Walk ins Welcome Accepts Most Insurance

Best of Northland | Thursday, May 28, 2015

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Make the most of small living spaces Tiny houses are a recent phenomenon and have spurred many businesses — from builders to decorating experts — looking to connect with consumers who want to go small. The small house movement advocates for living simply in small homes, some of which can be as small as 100 square feet or less.

Although living in a tiny house is not for everyone, many people prefer small-space living to living in larger, more spacious homes and apartments.

For those looking to make the most of their small living spaces, there are ways to make such living arrangements feel larger.

• Light is your friend. Establish adequate lighting in a room that includes at least three working lights. Varied light sources from different angles will eliminate dark corners and shadows that can make a space feel smaller.

Lighting also can draw the eye where you want it and distract attention from the room’s flaws.

• Make use of vertical space. Homes where space is at a premium may have limited storage areas. An often-overlooked storage option is vertical space.

Space above doors, shelving, and areas above cabinetry are ideal places to store items. Use hooks on walls to keep belongings off the floor.

• Choose light-colored paint. Choose lighter hues for your home furnishings and wall colors. You do not have to limit this to white (unless landlords require white walls). Pale colors will help reflect light and can make the room seem larger than it really is. Using a dark color on the flooring can make other lighter shades really pop in contrast.

• Conceal the clutter. If you cannot

Try to keep personal belongings to the utmost minimum in a home, when making the most of small living spaces. You might experiment with clever ways to keep items out of sight. Furniture that serves dual purposes can help with this task.

Storage ottomans will conceal small toys or linens and also provide seating options in a room when guests come over.

keep personal belongings to the utmost minimum in a home, experiment with clever ways to keep items out of sight.

Furniture that serves dual purposes can help with this task. Storage ottomans will conceal small toys or linens and also provide seating options in a room when guests come over. A dresser can be used as a dining room buffet piece, and the numerous drawers can hold knickknacks or silverware. Furniture with built-in, hidden storage is well worth the investment when living spaces are limited.

• Create dual-purpose rooms. Lack

of space means getting creative with the space you do have. A nook in your bedroom can be devoted to a miniature home office. Perhaps you can establish a crafting center in a portion of your laundry room. Garages have long served as catch-all spaces in homes.

Apart from storage, they can be subdivided for home gyms or even a place to gather and watch a ballgame.

• Hang mirrors to ‘expand’ rooms.

Mirrors can trick the eye into believing there is more space in a room. Mirrors melt away room borders and can accelerate the flow of light. Hanging

them throughout your home can make spaces seem larger.

• Think about built-in furniture. Traditional furniture may not be practical for small spaces and can waste a lot of room. Custom-built furniture is often the way to go to maximize the area you do have. Employ a little do-it-yourself initiative as well, customizing items for the perfect fit.

• Work with a designer. If you’re having difficulty making a small space work for you, consult with an interior designer or a contractor for some ideas.

Vintage • Shabby Chic • Furniture • Decor • Collectibles

HUGE Sales Event 70% Off Sale*

Saturday, May 30th only • 9 am - 4 pm *Some exclusions apply. Offer cannot be combined with other discounts, coupons or promotions.

Find Spring Savings at

Located in the Busch Boulevard Centre 1005 Mediterranean Ave.

614-565-1306 Thursday 10 am - 4 pm Friday 10 am - 4 pm Saturday 9 am - 4 pm

Resale Shop

All proceeds benefit Cat Welfare Association

www. catwelfareohio.org