in Medina! Meet Me

WITH ITS ECLECTIC BLEND of old town charm and ample city amenities, Medina, some might insist, is at the center of the universe. Especially after the August dedication of the Helios Project — an outdoor exhibit that scales our solar system down from 10 billion miles in diameter to a more navigable walk in the park.

“To my knowledge there’s nothing exactly like it anywhere in the whole world,” said Larry Johns, owner of Medina-based McJak Candy Co., and creator of the Helios Project.

The exhibit begins with a stainless steel representation of the sun, located behind Spokes Café, on Broadway Street, south of Public Square. From there one can visit and learn about the planets with a comfortable stroll across the scaled down solar system. “The size of the universe is fascinating,” Johns said. “If it were correctly placed, Pluto would

By Ken McEntee

be way out past On Tap [a bar and grill on Route 18, east of I-71, about 4 miles away from the trailhead]. I had to move it in more than three miles because the trail doesn’t go far enough.”

Once you leave the solar system, you can continue your exploration of the Milky Way and other galaxies to gain perspective about the immense size of the universe.

Johns said the project was inspired by a “solar system walk” and a series of YouTube videos that discussed the size of the universe. “I tried to share something I found interesting or quirky about each of the stops — each planet or each galaxy,” Johns said. “For example, I don’t think a lot of people realize that Saturn’s rings are relatively recent compared to the age of our solar system. They’ll eventually disappear again. The idea was to have this be educational, but in a fun way.”

Johns hopes schools and other groups will incorporate a walk through the Helios

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