pickerington magazine april/may 2016

ALSO INSIDEDrug Free ClubsPre-prom fashion showElementary school yoga

APRIL/MAY 2016

Pickerington’s Pop Star

T h e O f f i c i a l M a g a z i n e o f t h e C i t y o f P i c k e r i n g t o n a n d V i o l e t To w n s h i p

Singer-songwriter – and North grad –Spencer Sutherland

Pickerington’s Pop Star

More expert care than you expected, closer than you ever imagined.

OhioHealth Pickerington Medical Campus

Find a physician at OhioHealth.com/Pickerington

Windm

iller Dr

Refugee Rd Hill Rd N

256

Windm

iller Dr


256

OhioHealth Pickerington Medical Campus1010 Refugee Road, Pickerington, OH 43147

+ Your busy schedule just got a whole lot more

manageable with expert doctors, lab services,

physical therapy and imaging all in one place+ Expert, board-certified physicians right in your

neighborhood + 24/7 emergency care and the area’s only

outpatient surgery center

© OhioHealth Inc. 2016. All rights reserved. FY16-139-2-7803. 02/16.

http://www.ohiohealth.com/pickerington

3www.pickeringtonmagazine.com

More expert care than you expected, closer than you ever imagined.

OhioHealth Pickerington Medical Campus

Find a physician at OhioHealth.com/Pickerington

Windm

iller Dr


256

Windm

iller Dr


256

OhioHealth Pickerington Medical Campus1010 Refugee Road, Pickerington, OH 43147

+ Your busy schedule just got a whole lot more

manageable with expert doctors, lab services,

physical therapy and imaging all in one place+ Expert, board-certified physicians right in your

neighborhood + 24/7 emergency care and the area’s only

outpatient surgery center

© OhioHealth Inc. 2016. All rights reserved. FY16-139-2-7803. 02/16.

http://www.sciotodowns.com

http://www.ohiohealth.com/pickerington

4 www.pickeringtonmagazine.com

The Publisher welcomes contributions in the form of manuscripts, drawings, photographs or story ideas to consider for possible publication. Enclose a SASE with each submission or email [email protected]. Publisher does not assume responsibility for loss or damage.

The appearance of advertising in Pickerington Magazine does not constitute an endorsement of the advertiser’s product or service by the City of Pickerington.

Pickerington Magazine is published in June, August, October, December, February and April. Subscriptions are free for households within the city limits of Pickerington, Ohio. For advertising information or bulk purchases, email Amber Young at [email protected].

No part of this publication may be reproduced without the written consent of the publishers. Pickerington Magazine is a registered trademark of CityScene Media Group. Printed in the U.S.A.

CityScene Media Group also publishes:

CityScene Magazinewww.CitySceneColumbus.com

Dublin Life Magazinewww.DublinLifeMagazine.com

Westerville Magazinewww.WestervilleMagazine.com

Tri-Village Magazinewww.TriVillageMagazine.com

Healthy New Albany Magazinewww.HealthyNewAlbanyMagazine.com

pickeringtonmagazine

1335 Dublin Rd., Ste. 101CColumbus, Ohio 43215

614-572-1240 • Fax 614-572-1241www.cityscenecolumbus.com

President/CEO

Vice President, Sales

Chief Creative Officer

Creative Director

Managing Editor

Editor

Assistant Editor

Contributing Writers

Advertising Director

Advertising Sales

Accounting Manager

614-572-1240

Kathleen K. Gill

Gianna Barrett

Dave Prosser

Gary Hoffman

Garth Bishop

Hannah Bealer

Amanda DePerro

Gabrielle Benton Leah Kunnath

Sarah Sole Jessica Williams

Zoe Zeid

Amber Young

Julie Camp Lauren Prehm

Jamie Armistead

Circulation

www.pickeringtonmagazine.com

TM

wee

kend

scene

Looking for something to do?See what’s on the menu this weekend and beyond!Sign up for CityScene Magazine’s weekly event newsletter

Check out the NEW cityscenecolumbus.com

http://www.cityscenecolumbus.com


6 Calendar

9 News and Information from the City of Pickerington

11 News and Information from Violet Township

14 facesNew SensationPickerington pop singer pursues his passion for performing

18 in focus Keen on CleanNew high school clubs offer incentives for students to stay drug-free

20 around pickerington Photos from the community

22 student spotlightDouble VisionSenior Central twins have racked up accomplishments and leadership roles

25 Youthful Yogis Elementary school yoga program provides numerous benefits for students

27 Fashionably PhilanthropicPhotography studio’s pre-prom fashion show benefits charitable endeavors

29 on the tableMinds Behind the MenusA look at the motivations behind Pickerington’s school lunches

30 bookmarks

april/may 2016

p.14

www.pickeringtonmagazine.comOn the cover: Photo of Spencer Sutherland by Tyler Case

p.25

p.18

pickerington magazine

614-321-660119 West Columbus St., Pickerington

We can create your team uniforms, varsity jackets, corporate wear and spirit

wear! We also carry hats and compression sleeves.Your one stop shop,

Myers Custom Design!

Shirts pictured are available at our store for $20.00.

http://www.wesleyridge.com


april/may 2016

Through April 3Pickerington High School Central presents 9 to 5Pickerington High School Central, 300 Opportunity Way, www.pickerington.k12.oh.usCentral’s spring musical is based on the 1980 comedy film starring Jane Fonda, Dolly Parton and Lily Tomlin.

April 2First Museum Open House of 201610 a.m.-1 p.m., Pickerington-Violet Township Historical Society, 15 E. Columbus St.,www.pickeringtonhistoricalsociety.comThe society’s new prehistoric tool and arrowhead collection is on display at weekly open houses through Dec. 17.

April 5Beverly Lewis 7-8 p.m., Pickerington Public Library,

201 Opportunity Way, www.pickeringtonlibrary.orgNew York Times best-selling author Beverly Lewis visits the library for a dis-cussion and book signing in support of her latest novel, The Atonement.

April 7The Eastern Longhunter 7:30-9 p.m., Pickerington-Violet Township Historical Society, 15 E. Columbus St.,www.pickeringtonhistoricalsociety.comDave Reed gives an interactive show-and-tell on 18th-century frontiersmen.

April 13-17Pickerington High School North presents Catch Me if You CanPickerington High School

North, 7800 Refugee Rd., www.pickerington.k12.oh.usNorth presents its spring musical, based on the 2002 film about con man Frank Abagnale.

April 16Arbor Day Celebration 10-11 a.m., Willow Pond Park, Pruden Drive, www.pickerington.netSongs from the Pickerington Commu-nity Chorus, a flag presentation by Cub Scout Pack 256 and the planting of a bald cypress tree continue the city’s Arbor Day tradition.

April 17Hootenanny II2-4 p.m., St. Bernadette’s Parish Hall, 1325 Wheeling Rd., Lancaster, www.ohioglassmuseum.orgThis fundraiser featuring live music and a silent auction of blown glass items benefits the Ohio Glass Museum.

April 19PPL Book Club7 p.m., Pickerington Public Library, 201 Opportunity Way, www.pickeringtonlibrary.orgThe library’s main book club discusses All the Light We Cannot See by An-thony Doerr.

April 22-May 1Pickerington Community Theatre presents Return to the Forbidden Planet Pickerington Christian Church, 575 Diley Rd., www.pickeringtoncommunitytheatre.orgShakespeare’s The Tempest and 1956 B-movie Forbidden Planet are com-bined for a jukebox musical featuring songs such as “Teenager in Love,” “Great Balls of Fire” and “Shake, Rattle and Roll.”

Submit Your EventDo you have an event you would like to submit to our calendar? Send details and photos to [email protected].

pickerington community calendar Mark your calendar for these community events

Phot

os: B

ever

ly L

ewis

cou

rtesy

of P

icke

ringt

on P

ublic

Lib

rary

, Eas

tern

Lon

ghun

ter c

ourte

sy o

f Pic

kerin

gton

-Vio

let T

owns

hip

Hist

oric

al S

ocie

ty,

Arbo

r Day

cou

rtesy

of C

ity o

f Pic

kerin

gton


April 30-May 1NARI Home Improvement ShowcaseThroughout central Ohio, www.trustnari.orgImpressive remodeling projects from around Columbus are featured in the local chapter of the National Asso-ciation of the Remodeling Industry’s biannual tour.

May 5Columbus Clippers Baseball History 7:30-9 p.m., Pickerington-Violet Township Historical Society, 15 E. Columbus St., www.pickeringtonhistoricalsociety.comJoe Santry, Clippers historian and director of communications, gives a rundown on the team’s past.

May 6Olde Village Chocolate Hop 6-8:30 p.m., Olde Pickerington Village, www.pickeringtonvillage.comParticipating businesses around Olde Pickerington Village offer chocolate treats for this annual event.

We are a family-owned and operated Fitness Club. Everything is handled in club and we are not a corporation.

IGNITE FITNESS859 Windmiller Drive • Pickerington, OH 43147 • 614-856-9715

www.fitignite.com/

Gym HourS • Monday - Thursday 5AM - 11PM• Friday 5AM - 9PM• Saturday 8AM - 8PM• Sunday 8AM - 6PM We offer personal training andtanning as well.

CHIld waTCH• Monday - Saturday mornings

9AM - 12PM • Monday - Thursday evenings

4:30PM - 8PM • Friday evenings

4:30PM - 6PM

IGNITE FITNESS AD 01-12-16-1DRM

Mailed to EVERY homeowner and business in Pickerington and Violet Township

The Official Magazine of Pickerington and Violet Township

GET NOTICED. Contact Amber Young today for great [email protected]

Choc

olat

e Ho

p ph

oto

cour

tesy

of P

eggy

Por

tier

magazine

http://www.trustnari.org/

http://www.fitignite.com


May 7Tyler’s Light 5K Run/Walk10 a.m., Toll Gate Elementary School, 12183 Toll Gate Rd., www.tylerslight.comThis annual 5K raises money and support for Pickerington-based drug awareness organization Tyler’s Light.

May 12Discover the Dream6 p.m., Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, 4850 W. Powell Rd., Powell, www.stjude.orgThis annual fundraiser benefiting St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital features cocktails, dinner, a patient speaker and live and silent auctions.

May 13Pickerington Area Chamber Golf Challenge10:30 a.m.-6:30 p.m., Cumberland Trail Golf Club, 8244 Columbia Rd. SW, Pataskala, www.pickeringtonchamber.comThe Pickerington Area Chamber of Commerce’s 28th annual Golf Chal-lenge includes lunch and dinner.

May 14Touch-a-Truck10 a.m.-noon, Pickerington Community Pool, 11330 Stonecreek Dr. S., www.pickerington.netTrucks, cars, fire engines and more are available for children to explore.

May 14Big Comic Show 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Pickerington Public Library, 201 Opportunity Way, www.pickeringtonlibrary.orgComic artists from all around central Ohio converge on the library to share and sell their work.

May 21High School Graduation9 a.m. North, noon Central, World Harvest Church, 3595 Gender Rd., Canal Winchester, www.pickerington.k12.oh.usThe class of 2016 turns its tassels.

May 21-Aug. 14Edith Head and CompanyDecorative Arts Center of Ohio, 145 E. Main St., Lancaster, www.decartsohio.orgLavish costumes by Hollywood de-signer Edith Head and her contempo-raries are once again featured at the center, following its hugely successful Head exhibit in 2014.

May 28Pool Opening DayNoon-8 p.m., Pickerington Community Pool, 11330 Stonecreek Dr. S., www.pickerington.netIt’s the first day of the season for the pool, which remains open through Sept. 5.

Live music Wednesdays, Fridays, and

saturdaysExtensive whiskey and bourbon selection including 15 Irish whiskies, and 25 Scotch

whiskies.

Wide selection of domestic, import and craft beers with over 50 different beers available

and 18 craft and domestic beers on tap.

Pool tables, steel tip dart boards, Keno and pull tabs.

Finnegan’s Wake841 Hill Rd N, Pickerington, OH 43147

(614) 834-7010 www.FinnegansWake-OH.com

Check us out on Facebook

Finnegan’s Wake Ad 11-06-15-2DM

WE’REHIRING!

We’re looking for: •entry-level,forklift,

operationssupervisorsandmanagers

•temporary,temp-to-hire anddirecthire

6013GroveportRoadGroveport,OH431251-614-836-4775www.prologistix.com

april/may 2016 continued

pickerington community calendar

Phot

o co

urte

sy o

f Pic

kerin

gton

Pub

lic L

ibra

ry

http://www.finneganswake-oh.com

http://www.prologistix.com

PICKERINGTON NEWS & INFORMAT ION FROM THE C ITY OF P ICKER INGTON

I N S I D E


Skateboarders and in-line skaters in Pickerington will have something more to jump about this summer.

Last year, several students met with Pickerington Mayor Lee Gray to discuss the need for improvements and up-grades to the Randy Hughes Skate Park at Sycamore Creek Park.

As a result, $50,000 was included in the City Manager’s budget proposal after the Mayor met with the students. City Council approved the budget.

The skate park, which was built in 2004, is open to the public from dawn to dusk and is used all year as long as there is no snow or ice on the features.

The park was named after former mayor and city councilman Randy Hughes, who was involved in the initia-tion of the skate park and was a “cham-pion of youth activities.”

The skate park consists of modular ramps, adjustable rectangular rails and obstacles, including a quarter pipe, bank, grind box and three-sided pyra-mid with curb rail, bank to bank, and spine and bank.

Rebecca Medinger, Pickerington di-rector of Parks and Recreation, said that the park is used by adults and youth on a regular basis.

“It promotes another opportunity for recreation within our community,” Medinger said.

While anyone can use the skate park, bicycles, motorized vehicles and scoot-ers are not allowed in the park area.

The park also prohibits loud music, tagging, smoking and/or tobacco prod-ucts, alcoholic beverages, graffiti, glass containers, food, beverages, fighting, and profanity.

The use of protective gear such as helmets, elbow pads, kneepads, wrist pads and ankle pads is also strongly recommended.

Getting GreenerPickerington’s annual Arbor Day celebration approaches

The lush landscape of the City of Picker-ington and its many parks will be enhanced with more greenery on Arbor Day.

As part of its celebration each year, the City takes time to teach students about the importance of trees to the life of Pickerington and plants a new tree in the City to mark the occasion.

A different elementary school in the City is selected each year to help with the Arbor Day festivities, said Picker-ington Parks and Recreation Director Rebecca Medinger.

“This year, Sycamore Creek Elemen-tary School third-graders were chosen. City staff does a small presentation at the school for the third-graders about the history of Arbor Day,” Medinger said. “Af-terward, the students are to write a small essay on what trees mean to them.”

The celebration of Arbor Day on Sat-urday, April 16, will begin at 10 a.m. at

Willow Pond Park. The outdoor event is free and open to the public, and includes songs from the Pickerington Com-munity Chorus and a flag presentation

by Cub Scout Pack 256.A brief history of the bald cypress

tree will be presented by Steve Malone before the actual tree is planted at the park.

Mayor Lee Gray will also proclaim the day Arbor Day in Pickerington and ac-cept Pickerington’s 23rd Tree City USA award from Ohio Department of Natural Resource representative Lisa Bowers.

“The Tree City USA program pro-vides direction, assistance and national recognition for your community. It’s the framework for a healthy, sustainable urban forestry program for your town. And the benefits are substantial,” ac-cording to the Tree City USA website.

At the celebration, the winning third grade essay will also be announced.

While Arbor Day is a single day set aside to recognize the importance of trees in our country, Medinger said the

Skating OnwardRandy Hughes Skate Park undergoes improvements


News and information from the City of Pickerington

citydirectoryPickerington City Hall, 100 Lockville Rd.(All numbers prefixed with the 614 area code)

Building Services ....................833-2221

City Clerk/Council ....................837-3974

City Manager ..........................837-3974

Development Services .............833-2204

Engineering Services ..............833-2221

Finance Services .....................837-3974

Human Resources ...................837-3974

Income Tax Division .................837-4116

Mayor’s Office (Lee A. Gray) ...........................837-3974

Mayor’s Court .........................837-3974

Parks and Recreation ..............833-2211

Police Services ........................575-6911

Service Department

Streets ...................................833-2292

Utility Billing ............................833-2289

Utility Maintenance ..................833-2292

Water Plant .............................833-2290

Waste Water Plant ...................837-6490

Water Reclamation.................. 837-6470

City celebrates it every day by actively planting, maintaining and removing decaying trees on the City streets and in the parks to make sure that Pickering-ton’s landscape remains beautiful.

Globally MindedProcess your passport in Pickerington

The City of Pickerington is your pass-port for international travel.

Since 2004, the City has been a passport processing center for the U. S. Department of State.

Pickerington City Clerk Lynda Yartin said residents used to have to go to Columbus to have their information processed.

“When I learned the Department of State was authorizing city clerks to pro-cess passports, I went through the pro-cess of being appointed an acceptance agent by the Department of State,” Yartin said. “I wasn’t sure if our residents would take advantage of this. However, I felt we should offer the opportunity.”

In the first year Yartin pro-cessed passport applications, the city clerk handled 335 passports. Since that time, she has been averaging about 300 each year.

“I like to think that we provide a good quality service with little waiting time and can accommodate the schedule of most individuals,” Yartin said.

Any U.S. citizen may apply for a U.S. passport in person.

The City takes passport applications on a walk-in basis Monday through Friday from 8:30-11:30 a.m. at 100 Lockville Rd. If someone needs an afternoon ap-pointment, arrangements can be made within one or two days by calling City Hall at 614-837-3974.

Residents need to bring with them a completed application form, which can be obtained online at www.travel.state.gov or one can be picked up at City Hall.

In addition to a completed applica-tion, residents need a certified original birth certificate that is issued by the state in which they were born and has the state seal on it. Yartin said that cer-tificates issued by hospitals, counties, etc. are not accepted for passports.

Applicants also need to bring with them a passport photo that meets State Department guidelines. These photos can be obtained at many local locations, including Sam’s Club, CVS, Walgreens, Drug Mart and AAA.

The cost of a passport book is $110 for an adult and $80 for children under the age of 16. A passport card costs $30 for adults and $15 for children un-der 16, but it can only be used for land

and sea border crossings in the western hemisphere.

“You may not use the card for any international air travel,” Yartin said. “So if you are driv-ing to Mexico or Canada or on a Caribbean cruise, you could use the card. However, if you are flying into Mexico or Canada, you must have the passport book.”

There is also an additional $25 processing fee for each applica-tion. All fees, which are set by the State Department, for the pass-port must be made by check or

money order. Yartin said the processing fee may be paid by check or cash and it is a separate payment from the passport fee. If a person is in a hurry to obtain a passport, there is a charge to expedite the process.

Children under 16 looking to obtain passports must have the signatures of both parents. Children ages 16 and 17 are only required to have the signature of one parent.

“These are the standard requirements; however, there are several circumstanc-es that can apply when getting a child’s passport,” Yartin said. “If there are special considerations, it is best to call and ex-plain the situation so we will know exactly what may be needed.”

A passport is valid for 10 years for adults and five years for children.

Fortunately for residents, the City of Pickerington is their passport for travel.

Mark Your CalendarCity Parks Open: April 1Early Bird Pool Season Passes:

Through April 30Touch-a-Truck: May 14Pickerington Municipal Pool

Opens: May 28Pond Management Workshop at

Sycamore Creek Park Pond: April 28, 6-8 p.m.; sponsored by Fairfield Soil and Water and City of Pickerington. Call 740-653-8154 to register.

http://www.travel.state.gov

http://www.travel.state.gov


News and Information From

Violet Township

Time never actually stands still. Memorable moments occur, both good and bad, that seem to slow time down, but it never stops. Seasons continue to change, our community continues to transform.

As public servants, the Violet Town-ship Fire Department (VTFD) must continually evolve. It is our responsibility to adapt to the changing needs of the community, and adjust to factors, such as weather, that are beyond our con-trol. Our best tools in this process are training and education. We try to match our training and educational needs with environmental opportunities as well as

a host of various instructional classes, conferences and seminars.

The membership of the VTFD at-tempt to utilize the opportunities brought on by the colder winter months, by practicing and perfecting the required skills for cold weather operations. Much of this training centers on cold water and ice rescue techniques. Much of the winter, the department opts to train indoors a little more frequently, focusing on classroom, lecture and skill station curriculums. The VTFD uses this time to renew paramedic skills through courses such as Advanced Cardiac Life Support and Advance Stroke Life Support.

As spring arrives, nature revives itself with new life. Days become longer and warmer. Yards become greener, flora begin to bloom. The warmer weather allows the VTFD to refresh skills and tactics better suited for outdoor applica-tions. With the onset of spring, members

Team TrainingFire Department spends the winter season learning new ways to save lives

By Assistant Fire Chief Jim Paxton


of the VTFD will continue to expand their proficiencies and knowledge.

We will be embarking and participat-ing in the many and varied disciplines that comprise the VTFD service capabili-ties. We will be honing and enhancing existing skills as well as developing new ones. Some of this training will take place on site, in or near the stations. Some of the training will occur around the central Ohio region, while other specialized training opportunities will be captured beyond the state’s boundaries.

Locally, the VTFD will strive to improve the survival rates of patients suffering from cardiac arrest. This will encompass several components. As part of the Metropolitan Emergency Consortium-EMS (MEC-EMS), depart-ment members will be taking part in a Resuscitation Academy this spring. This will be the second such class hosted by MEC-EMS.

The goal of the Resuscitation Academy is to improve cardiac arrest survival rates, one community at a time. Across the country, survival rates are extremely variable. The highest survival rate of 62 percent is in and around Seattle and King County, Wa.

There are approximately 40 com-munities in the United States that have rigorously measured and reported their survival rates. As proven in Seattle and King County, EMS systems in conjunc-tion with their personnel and leadership can learn the steps and processes needed to improve survival (Resuscita-tion Academy website, 2016).

As a member of MEC-EMS, VTFD has recently become cooperative owner of High Fidelity CPR mannequins and a High Fidelity Patient Simula-tor. Simply put, these advanced skill assessment devices will provide more accurate simulations and feedback for paramedics as they further develop the skills they learn through the resuscita-tion academy.

The Resuscitation Academy will be taught and presented by faculty and team members from the Seattle and King County area. Attendees will learn how to define the cardiac survival rate in the host community, improve meth-ods of data interpretation and report-ing, and devise a plan of action and a method to measure the plan’s effect on cardiac arrest survival.

Not only will the members of the Fire Department continue working on the enhancement of their skills throughout the year, they will also be reaching out to the community for assistance and involvement in improving the survival rates of cardiac arrest. Firefighter/Para-medic Michael Proctor will be unveiling a plan to offer training of compres-sions-only CPR to all and any willing participants in the area. This training will only take approximately five minutes to complete, and could mean the differ-ence between life and death.

Although there is much work and planning yet ahead, the Violet Township Fire Department, Truro Township Fire Department and Whitehall’s Division of Fire are collaborating with Mt. Carmel Health System to develop a community paramedicine-based pilot program to further improve the health and welfare of the communities.

Community paramedicine is a rela-tively new concept to the state of Ohio. It values that the patient is the center of the health care equation. It creates a framework targeting three areas:

• Improving the patient’s experience of care;

• Improving the health of the popula-tion; and

• Reducing the cost of care. The concept of community para-

medicine has played a pivotal health care role in various parts of the country for nearly 10 years. Initially, community paramedicine was introduced in rural areas that had limited means or access to health care. Today, the concept has been transformed to fit any community, regardless of the demographics.

New legislation allows paramedics to conduct non-emergent, in-home visits in an effort to identify and resolve issues that may have led to hospital readmissions or unwanted emergency room visits. By networking with the patient’s health care providers, com-munity paramedics can bridge the gaps between hospital stays, doctor’s appointments, emergency responses and in-home care. The program targets communication as a key piece in bridg-ing all the players of the patients care system: EMS, personal or specialized physicians, emergency rooms and hospitals, as well as social and emo-tional support.

If you or someone you know, would like more information about this pro-gram, email us at [email protected], or call 614-837-4123 to speak with Lt. Postage.

We train, we respond, we evaluate, we adapt and we educate each day so that we can fulfill the mission of an-swering the community’s needs.

We are honored to serve and look forward to being your Friends for Life.

Got Potholes?

It is that time of year when potholes are appearing with the freeze/thaw cycles.

Violet Township can help! If you see a pothole, please report it at:

[email protected] us with as much

location detail as possible, and this will enable potholes to be filled as quickly as possible. Thank you and please share!

mailto:[email protected]


The Drug Enforcement Administra-tion’s National Prescription Drug Take Back Day has been scheduled for Sat-urday, April 30, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Violet Township Service Center. Participants are asked to enter the event from the North Center Street entrance.

The Fairfield Soil and Water Conser-vation District – in cooperation with Vio-let Township; Fairfield County Sheriff’s office; Lancaster-Fairfield County Recy-cling & Litter Prevention; Family, Adult & Children First Council; and Prevention Works for a Drug Free Fairfield County – will be participating in the event.

This event marks an ongoing effort to rid the Pickerington community’s medi-cine cabinets of potentially dangerous drugs, particularly controlled substanc-es. Only prescription pills and capsules will be collected. No aerosols, inhalers, liquids, creams, gels, ointments, pow-ders, patches, suppositories, syringes or IVs will be accepted. We ask that you black out all personal information or remove labels before bringing contain-ers to the disposal site.

Residents disposed of nearly 100 pounds of pills at this event that was held in the spring and fall. That was 100 pounds that was not discarded in the trash or flushed down the sink or toilet, leading to potential contami-nation of groundwater and waste-

water treatment plants and causing harm to aquatic life and the human water supply.

Electronic recycling is also available at this event. The following electronic items may be dropped off at no cost: computers, laptops, printers, cables, mouses, keyboards, discs, electronic clocks, VHS/DVD players, radios and cell phones. Nearly 10,000 pounds of electronics were recycled from these same events.

No items containing chlorofluoro-carbons (CFCs), commonly utilized as refrigerants or as propellants in aerosol cans, will be accepted. A certified facil-ity, such as the Lancaster Transfer Sta-tion on Ewing Street in Lancaster, must handle the disposal of this compound.

Computer monitors will be ac-cepted at no additional cost if they are included as part of an entire computer system. However, there will be a $3 disposal fee for computer monitors delivered without a processor tower. Televisions will be accepted at the event at a cost of $1 per diagonal inch. Only cash and checks will be accepted as payment for disposal fees.

Call the Fairfield Soil and Water Conservation District office at 740-653-8154 or the Fairfield County Sheriff’s office at 740-652-7900 for more infor-mation about prescription drug dispos-

al. Call Chad Reed at Litter Prevention and Recycling at 740-681-4423 with any electronic recy-cling questions.

For those un-able to attend, the Family, Adult & Child First Council, through Preven-tion Works for a Drug Free Fairfield County, has placed a drug drop-off box for prescription

drugs at the Pickerington Police De-partment located at 1311 Refugee Rd. Needles and liquids are not permitted for disposal.

We look forward to seeing everyone on Saturday, April 30 as we continue to rid Pickerington and Violet Township of unused medications.


Violet Township Administrative Offices

12970 Rustic Dr.Pickerington, OH 43147

614-575-5556 www.violet.oh.us

Violet Township Fire StationsPhone 614-837-4123

Fire Chief: Michael Little#592: 8700 Refugee Rd.#591: 21 Lockville Rd.

#593: 2365 Taylor Park Dr. (behind hhgregg)

Violet Township Service CenterPhone: 614-382-5979

490 Center St.Pickerington, OH 43147

How to Reach Us

Save the Date: Saturday, April 30

Drug Collection and Electronics Recycling Event ScheduledBy Chad Lucht, CPESC, Senior Urban Specialist, Fairfield SWCD


NewSensationPickerington pop singer pursues his passion for performing

facesBy Sarah Sole


Spencer Sutherland’s childhood antics aren’t too different from those of many others’: Performing variety shows with siblings, recording them-selves singing their favorite songs.

But Pickerington native Sutherland is one of a decidedly smaller group who turned long-held passions for performing into careers. He has opened for national performers including Ariana Grande and Zendaya and has played shows across the country in such locales as Kansas, Texas, Illinois and Georgia.

The 23-year-old says the experience has been incredible. Opening for larger acts has also given him inspiration for his own performances.

“I learn something different from every person that I watch,” he says. Sutherland says his sound has evolved since he released his first single, the

dance-pop tune “Heartstrings,” in 2013. Last year saw the release of his first EP, Unveiled, a set of acoustic tracks. He describes his newest single, “Bad Influence,” released Dec. 1, as moving in more of an R&B direction.

“It’s definitely a pop song,” he says. Sutherland is also featured in a new song by Cincinnati-based pop/rap group

Round2Crew called “California Time” and has played a handful of shows with them, including one at Rumba Café in Columbus in March.

The genres Sutherland gravitates toward as an adult have their roots in the music he listened to as a child. His parents frequently listened to classic pop mu-sic and old R&B, including Elvis and Marvin Gaye.

Sutherland’s interest in music stayed with him as he grew older. At Picker-ington High School North, he was involved in choir, plays and musicals, and was even part of a quartet. At 18, he decided to teach himself guitar.

Spencer Sutherland performs during a Dec. 4 trip to Diley Middle School.

Phot

o by

Tyl

er C

ase

Phot

o co

urte

sy o

f Pic

kerin

gton

Loc

al S

choo

ls


“I didn’t have a way to perform live,” he says.

Playing every day for hours, Suther-land spent a year studying the instrument before he began getting the hang of it. He did the same with piano, though he ad-mits guitar is his stronger suit.

Sutherland wrote his first song around the same time, channeling the

emotions surrounding a relationship with a girlfriend he had at the time. Part of the journey of being an artist, he says, is looking back to “see how much you evolved.”

During the last couple of years of high school, Sutherland began per-

forming in restaurants around Picker-ington and Columbus for $20 per show or a free meal. It was a demanding schedule, playing seven nights a week. On school days, he would wake up at 6 a.m., attend class, then stay for re-hearsal for a musical. From there, he

Sutherland visited Diley and Harmon middle schools during his December return to Pickerington.

Phot

o co

urte

sy o

f Pic

kerin

gton

Loc

al S

choo

ls

Cooking with the Stars GalaAn Evening in Tuscany at Villa MilanoThursday, June 16, 2016 VIP-5:30 Gala-6:30

Mingle with celebrities, enjoy samples from the best restaurants in Central Ohio and partake in auctions while providing funding for life-saving programs and services for those with kidney disease.

To purchase a table or tickets: 614.882.6184

National KidneyFoundation®


RELATED READS


• Cardiac nurse and country singer Christy Angeletti

• Bands to know in central Ohio• Piano tuner to the stars Doug Brandt• Indie folk-pop duo the Castros• Irish folk ensemble the Ladies

of Longford

NJWCONSTRUCTION.COM

DEFINING & REFINING LIFE...

It’s all about Trust, Value & Details

740.654.8227

would go perform at a restaurant, get-ting home at 10 p.m.

Still, Sutherland enjoyed himself de-spite the hectic lifestyle.

“I was loving every second of it,” he says.His first concert outside of Ohio was

a show in Raleigh, N.C. “It was so incredible to me that I was

hours away from home playing music for people,” he says.

While he gets the usual nerves before a performance, Sutherland loosens up by joking around with his band and crew backstage.

“I’ve found that relaxing right before leads to a better show,” he says.

Sutherland had been traveling back and forth between Pickerington and Los Angeles to work with producers. Eight months ago, he took the plunge and moved out west for good.

“It’s a lot less crazy than I thought,” he says.

Working with a handful of pro-ducers, Sutherland has approached composing songs in a variety of ways. Sometimes, he adds lyrics to an existing track a producer has made. Other times, he goes in with his own acoustic guitar songs. His favorite approach is simply starting from scratch.

“There are no parameters,” he says. And Sutherland is still practicing his

guitar. Just recently, he was learning how to do guitar solos.

“I don’t think you can ever stop learning,” he says.

This past winter, Sutherland visited Pickerington students at Diley and Har-mon middle schools during a trip home, performing songs and talking to kids. As a central Ohio native, he appreciates how lucky he is.

“It helps you keep a very humble at-titude,” he says.

Sarah Sole is a contributing writer. Feedback welcome at [email protected].

LETYOU CAN

#SnoMoOhio

www.SnoMoOhio.comwww.SnoMoOhio.com

http://njwconstruction.com



http://www.snomoohio.com


F or all young people, the pitfalls of drug use are many, and almost always result in serious consequences.

Needless to say, then, being drug-free bestows numerous advantages. And in Pickerington, those rewards entail more than just the absence of trouble.

Both Pickerington high schools are now members of Drug Free Clubs of America. Pickerington High School North joined midway through the 2014-15 school year, and Pickerington High School Central signed on at the beginning of this school year.

More than 500 Pickerington students are participating: about 320 at North and 202 at Central.

The Pickerington Local School Dis-trict was introduced to the program by Ty-ler’s Light, a Pickerington-based nonprofit dedicated to educate on and prevent drug addiction. It’s named for Tyler Campbell, a North graduate who died of a heroin over-dose in 2011 after initially getting hooked on prescription painkillers.

Drug Free Clubs of America is a na-tional organization into which schools opt on an individual level. At North and Cen-tral, joining Drug Free Club is no differ-ent from joining any other extracurricular

club – Spanish Club, Drama Club, etc. – and it’s student-led and student-driven.

“(Drug abuse) is in every suburban community in central Ohio and the state of Ohio,” says Wayne Campbell, president of Tyler’s Light and father of its namesake. “It won’t go away by itself.”

Student leaders with Tyler’s Light brought the suggestion to join directly to school officials, says Alicia Newbury, a health teacher and North’s club adviser.

“The minute that they started talking, in my head, I thought, ‘I’m on board,’” Newbury says.

To join, students fill out an applica-tion and pay a small fee. A few weeks af-ter sign-up finishes, the schools bring in representatives from Diley Ridge Medical Center, who volunteer their time to drug-test members.

Testing takes place over the course of a day and a half, with students being pulled out of class a few at a time. In addition to taking blood tests, they fill out anonymous surveys and, after they’re done, head back to class with bags of goodies.

Testing takes place at a hospital in Kentucky, and results are sent to Drug Free Clubs’ national headquarters in Washing-ton, D.C. After the initial round of testing,

in focusBy Garth Bishop

Drug Free Clubs of America members at Pickerington High School North pose for their yearbook photo.

Keen on Clean

New high school clubs offer incentives for students to stay drug-free

Phot

o co

urte

sy o

f Pic

kerin

gton

Hig

h Sc

hool

Nor

th


the national organization draws names ev-ery month or two for random testing.

Those students who pass are issued reward cards, each with a photo and the club logo.

“They get to use that for the rest of the year, October through October,” says Newbury.

Some 25 Pickerington businesses par-ticipate in the rewards program, and the vast majority of those asked – Campbell estimates 95 percent – have agreed to be part of it. Reward card incentives include discounts, freebies, gift cards and parties at such businesses as Buffalo Wild Wings, Raising Cane’s, Dairy Queen, Skyline Chili, Cold Stone Creamery, W.G. Grind-ers, Roosters Wings, Donatos Pizza and Rule 3.

“We are hoping that it is going to be hard for local businesses to say no to students who are supporting and partici-pating voluntarily in this program,” says health teacher Melissa Dyer, Central’s club adviser.

The schools themselves mete out re-wards, too, often suggested by students. One of the most popular for both is a set of parking spaces near the entrance to the school, raffled off monthly to club members.

“Kids love that,” Campbell says. “They can show up right before the bell rings.”

Other district-level prizes include prom tickets, school play tickets, occasional line-jumping privileges and a free cookie in the cafeteria one day a month.

If a member fails a drug test, the national organization contacts his or her parents, initially to check whether the student might be taking a de-tected substance for a legiti-mate reason – think medicinal marijuana in states where it’s legal. If no such reason is forth-coming, the parent will be sent some talking points to address the issue, along with contact information for the Kentucky hospital’s director of re-habilitation and counseling.

The goal is to not only keep students off drugs, but to unite them in opposition – from the heavily involved honor student with a 4.0 GPA to the student with average grades and no club memberships.

“This gives them an opportunity to be part of something that’s good and healthy, and have the recognition and social status of being in this big club,” Campbell says.

Though a handful of other Ohio school districts have implemented Drug Free Clubs, Pickerington is the first dis-

trict to implement it in central Ohio. It won’t be the last, Campbell says, as he has seen interest from other local districts, particularly in Licking County.

“Having fewer students who use sub-stances not only benefits the students them-selves, but creates a positive and safe school and learning environment,” says Dyer.

Being part of an anti-drug group helps cut into the power of peer pres-sure by giving students another group of peers. The random testing aspect and reward system also give students a con-venient out should they find themselves being pushed to use drugs.

Members of Pickerington High School Central’s Drug Free Clubs of America line up for their own yearbook photo.

Phot

o co

urte

sy o

f Pic

kerin

gton

Hig

h Sc

hool

Cen

tral

Students pose for a picture at the March 6 Rule 3 party for club members.

Phot

o co

urte

sy o

f Alic

ia N

ewbu

ry


“Surveys throughout the country … say that 70 percent of students try drugs and alcohol for the first time under mild peer pressure from friends,” Campbell says.

Students have been struck by how many of their peers are participating. The clubs do not have regular meetings, and testing sessions only pull in 10 to 15 stu-

dents at a time, so it wasn’t until North’s and Central’s entire clubs were called together for their yearbook photos that many participants realized their sheer numbers – and how many other people they knew were part of it.

“As an adviser, it was cool to sit there and listen to them, and hear the comments like, ‘Wow, look how many people signed up to be part of this,’” Newbury says.

For more information on Tyler’s Light, visit www.tylerslight.com.

Garth Bishop is managing editor. Feedback welcome at [email protected].

Rule 3 hosted Drug Free Clubs members for a party in early March.

RELATED READS


• 100+ Women Who Care, which raised money for Tyler’s Light

• Local filmmaker’s opiate awareness effort

• Addict-turned-professor “Dr. E”

Phot

o co

urte

sy o

f Alic

ia N

ewbu

ry

Around PickeringtonWant your snapshots to appear in print? Send your high-resolution photos to [email protected] along with your name and a caption!

Pickerington Local Schools Celebration of Excellence: Feb. 29Photos courtesy of Pickerington Local Schools

Pickerington Area Chamber of Commerce Annual Dinner & Awards Celebration: Feb. 4Photos courtesy of Pickerington Area Chamber of Commerce

Please join Jack Hanna for the 11t h annual

Discover the Dreamst. jude

THURSDAY, MAY 12, 2016 • 6:00 PM

Columbus Zoo and Aquarium 4850 Powell Road | Powell, OH 43065

Cocktails. Dinner. Live and Silent Auction. Patient Speaker. Fine Cuisine courtesy of Catering by Cox and Preston Catering

TICKETS $175TABLE OF 10 $1,750

Sponsorships Available

Contact Emily Blanding • 614.488.3681stjude.org/discoverthedream

1335 Dublin Road, Suite 110F | Columbus, OH 43215

St. Jude patient Allana, age 3,

nervous system cancer

©2015 ALSAC/St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital (23014)

http://www.stjude.org/discoverthedream


Student Spotlight features a student from a different area high school in every issue.student spotlight By Leah Kunnath Photos courtesy of the Bauers family

Senior year of high school is often a chaotic time in a young person’s life, and a look at a 12th-grader’s sched-

ule can be a harrowing experience.Now, wrap your mind around two

such schedules side by side.Twins Steven and Maria Bauers,

both finishing up their senior year, have been deeply involved in activities and made substantial contributions to their community in their time at Pickering-ton High School Central, ranging from academics and athletics to charity work and nominations for homecoming king and queen.

With a 3.8 GPA, Maria is a member of the high honor roll. She played varsity vol-leyball for four years, two of them as team captain, a leadership role she relished.

“Junior year, everyone on the team is asked to write down two or three names of people who would make a good captain,” Maria says.

Maria also dedicates her time to Cen-tral’s Club Hope, which raises money and awareness for families affected by cancer. Steven is also a member.

During her sophomore year, Maria was vice president of the club, then held the title of president her junior and senior

years. Over the past four years, the club has raised $10,000 for families affected by cancer. Under Maria’s leadership, mem-bers have sold T-shirts and conducted raf-fles and silent auctions at football games, among other efforts.

Maria has also been a part of several mission trips to Haiti, conducted through Grace Fellowship. During the summers before her junior and senior years, she engaged in relationship-building activi-ties and talked to residents of Haiti towns about the group’s mission.

She plans to attend Ohio University in the fall, pursuing nursing as her field of

Double VisionSenior Central twins have racked up accomplishments and leadership roles


Above left: Steven Bauers runs cross country at Pickerington High School Central. Center: The Bauers twins were named homecoming king and queen in the fall. Right: Maria Bauers plays varsity volleyball for the Tigers.

RELATED READS


• More on Club Hope• More on the biomedical sciences

program• St. Brigid pastor, born a twin• Fellow Haiti mission tripper Bailee Mann

study. She hopes to one day be able to work with children.

Like his sister, Steven is an accomplished athlete. A three-sport athlete – track, soccer and cross-country – Steven receives his 12th varsity letter this season. Evidently, leadership runs in the family, as Steven is also a two-year captain of the soc-cer team.

“Being captain gave me a nice opportunity to learn from the other talented members of the team, and work with them more close-ly,” he says.

Aside from his work on the field, Steven is also a dedicated student. He has a 4.2 GPA and is a distin-guished honor student. He has a deep passion for sci-

ence and has taken several STEM classes, including a biomedical sciences class at the OhioHealth Pickerington Medical Campus.

Steven plans to study engineering in college and, eventually, pursue a career in medicine. Steven has yet to decide on a college destination, but plans to continue running wherever he ends up.

Leah Kunnath is a contributing writer. Feedback welcome at [email protected].

Maria participates in a mission trip to Haiti through Grace Fellowship.

30 EAST BROAD STREET, 33RD FLOOR, COLUMBUS, OHIO 43215-3414 | 614-466-2613

OAC.OHIO.GOV | @OHIOARTSCOUNCIL| #ARTSOHIO

Complete the story at oac.ohio.gov/identity.

Expression is an essential need.

By better illustrating our story, we can better help you express yours.

It’s time for a new identity.

One that tells the story of creativity in Ohio and illustrates it.

http://www.ohio.gov


It may only meet for a brief period once a week, but a Pickerington elementary school yoga club has made a noticeable

difference in the students who participate.Yoga started as a hobby for Violet

Elementary School physical education teacher Hope VanGundy, and quickly transformed into a constructive activity for some of her third- and fourth-grade students. She is a certified yoga instruc-tor, and saw the possibility that it might be useful for her students, too.

“I personally have witnessed the posi-tive benefits that yoga offers the mind, body, and spirit,” says VanGundy. “I knew yoga would be extremely valuable to to-day’s students.”

The club meets once a week during the students’ recess time. Students com-mit to regular attendance via a permis-sion form.

VanGundy also teaches at Tussing Ele-mentary School, so if she’s not able to come in, art teacher Emily Steele takes over. The students do more creative projects and

Youthful Yogis

Elementary school yoga program provides numerous benefits for students

By Zoe Zeid

Phot

os c

ourte

sy o

f Hop

e Va

nGun

dy


team-building activities during the art por-tion of the club.

“I feel that the students have gained better social skills and confidence while be-ing a part of this yoga/art club,” Steele says. “I have seen students work better in a small group setting because of their experiences with smaller groups in yoga/art (club).”

One of Steele’s favorite parts of the program, she says, is that the art portion of the club “allows for the students to use their imagination more and develop a last-ing love for learning.”

VanGundy is amazed with some of the insight that the members of her club have about the world around them, she says.

Marissa Groves, a fourth grade teacher at Violet, shared this quote by Quaker mis-sionary Stephen Grellet with her students: “I shall pass through this world but once. Any good therefore that I can do or any kindness that I can show to any human being, let me do it now. Let me not defer or neglect it, for I shall not pass this way again.”

Groves asked her students to respond to the quote and one student, a member of the yoga club, gave an insightful response: “I think this means that I should be kind and loving to others. I should do what is right not wrong. For I have only one life in this world and I want to live it.”

VanGundy says she has been ap-proached by multiple parents about how the students love being a part of the pro-gram, and she hopes that students will con-tinue to want to be a part of it in the future.

Zoe Zeid is a contributing writer. Feedback welcome at [email protected].

RELATED READS


• Yoga for toe injuries• Yoga for Parkinson’s disease

Summer with us...and get ahead!

Spending some of your summer vacation at Ohio University’s Lancaster Campus or Pickerington Center is a great opportunity to pick up extra courses that seamlessly transfer to your major at another institution or

just take that class you’ve always been interested in exploring.

For more information:www.ohio.edu/lancaster740.681.3310

Discover the MARBURN Difference

June 30 - July 29 SUMMER PROGRAMS

AVAILABLE PROGRAMS:Language (grades 2-6)

Phonemic Awareness (grades K-1)Mathematics (grades 3-8)

Smart Art/Writing (grades 7-8)Discover 3D Printing (grades 9-12)Discover Robotics (grades 6-8)

614.433.0822 | www.marburnacademy.org

ENROLL TODAY!

http://www.ohio.edu/lancaster

http://www.marburnacademy.org


Prom is an im-portant concern for a lot of fashion-minded high school students at this time of year, but in Pickerington, char-ity has been on their minds, too.

For six years, Olde Pickerington Village-based David Beckham Photography has held an annual fashion show, featuring spring fash-ions and prom dresses.

As models, owner David Beckham uses participants in his Senior Model Program, which recruits stu-dents in grades 10-12. They participate in multiple photo shoots throughout the year and earn service hours volunteering at local nonprofits such as Faith Mission and the Community Kitchen.

There are now 36 girls from 15 area high schools in the program.

“The fashion show was just some-thing I wanted to do to reward the senior models,” Beckham says. “Around 80 peo-ple showed up that (first) year.”

This year’s show was held Feb. 19 at C3 Church. As usual, proceeds from ticket sales went toward the volunteer work the models do as part of the program.

“I cover all of the costs of the show, so 100 percent of the $10 ticket cost goes toward buying food,” Beckham says. “Many people buy tickets to show sup-port for the models.”

In 2015, the students were able to vol-unteer four times at east Columbus-based Community Kitchen, which serves up to 300 people, and almost once a month at

downtown Columbus’ Faith Mission. They provided the food for those they served with the $4,500 raised from the spring fashion show. The models also make a donation to Risen Son Ministries, part of Brace Fellow-

ship in Pickerington, and volunteer there once or twice a year.

“I have been involved with Faith Mis-sion for over 20 years, so it seemed like a perfect combination to combine the fash-ion show with the fundraiser for the senior models,” Beckham says. “Parents love it.”

All of the gowns worn for the show were donated or lent by boutiques in and around central Ohio. These include Be Social in Gahanna, Uniquely Yours in Circleville, Fashion Story in Lancaster and Gowntastic in the Beechwold area. Lubna

FashionablyPhilanthropicPhotography studio’s pre-prom fashion show benefits charitable endeavors

By Gabrielle Benton

Photos courtesy of David Beckham Photography


Designs, an international custom design shop based in Columbus, provided some pieces to the show as well.

“Each donation gives twice, because it buys food for the homeless and gives the kids an opportunity to serve,” says Beckham.

Jessie Weidner, a junior from Picker-ington Central High School, started work-ing with Beckham a year ago, so this was her second time participating in the fash-ion show.

“I didn’t really know how to get in-volved in the community before working with Beckham,” Weidner says. “I always try to get my friends involved. Before this program, I was really shy, and now I’ve broken out of my shell. You meet great people, do great things and get to help the community out.”

For Weidner, the fashion show is one of the highlights of being a senior model.

“You get to wear beautiful dresses and clothes and walk down a runway in front of your family and friends,” she says.

This year’s show was sold out, with more than 600 people attending and over $8,000 raised.

“The most important thing for me isn’t the fashion show – it’s the preparing

meals and doing all the work in between – and that’s why I’m doing it,” says Beckham.

Gabrielle Benton is a contributing writer. Feedback welcome at [email protected].

magazine

TM

Central Ohio’s most-read arts and entertainment

magazine!

CONNECTDON’T MISS OUT - SUBSCRIBE TODAY!

Get daily updates at cityscenecolumbus.com

Prizes, ticket packages, deal alerts & more!

Supporting central Ohio’s visual and performing arts since 1999

JULY 2015[$2.25]

www.cityscenecolumbus.com

JUNE 2014 [$2.25]www.cityscenecolumbus.com

AUGUST 2014 [$2.25]

www.cityscen

ecolumbus.com

Luxury Living what’s your style?

Showcase your home listings to every

homeowner in the Pickerington area. Your listings will also appear in the digital edition of the magazine, hosted on the Pickerington

Magazine home page: www.pickeringtonmagazine.com

Contact Amber Young today for more information: 614-572-1243

[email protected] a healthy response from your ads in

PICKERINGTON MAGAZINE!

Realtors:

RELATED READS


• Senior photo hotspots in Pickerington• Elaborate “prom-posals”

http://www.cityscenecolumbus.com


For Judy Riley, food has been a lifelong preoccupation.

“My degree is in food nutrition, so I’ve always had a passion for the food business,” says Riley.

As the district food services super-visor for Pickerington Local Schools, Riley designs the menus that serve more than 10,000 students per year. She and other food services staff combine their knowledge of food, student input and national macronutrient guidelines to offer Pickerington stu-dents tasty and healthful lunches.

“We get together once a month and dis-cuss the menus,” says Riley, who has been with the district for nine years. Her experience in food management spans more than 27 years.

Beth Hooser, a food services worker at Toll Gate Middle School, has been with Pickerington since 2005. She was previously in catering.

“We get to suggest some recipes,” says Hooser.Both food services staff and students periodically suggest

items they’d like to see on the menu. “We’re getting ready to introduce cheese calzones instead of

ones with meat, which was (students’) idea,” Hooser says. The school recently began doing a sub bar day – another

student suggestion.As prices of proteins such as beef and poultry have risen,

Riley and the staff have been inspired to come up with new ways to satisfy protein requirements. Beans have become a convenient and well-received supplement.

“At the K-6 level, we’ve introduced nacho munchables,” says Riley. “We didn’t really think they would take off, but they did.”

Nacho munchables consist of whole grain nacho chips, salsa, a choice of beans, cheese and a fruit.

Hummus packs, hummus with bread and dipping vegetables, have become popular choices as well, Hooser says. The ground chickpeas in hummus serve as a source of protein.

“We serve them with local, gluten-free bread,” she says.

In addition to the sub bar, a soup bar is offered on Fridays and a salad bar is always offered. Riley says she’s noticed the figures of lunches purchased spike on days that teriyaki chicken salad is offered, and Hooser notes that her students are fond of strawberry yogurt parfaits.

“They love the strawberry yogurt parfaits with granola,” Hooser says.

“We definitely try to make sure that we put things on the menu that the students want to eat,” says Riley.

Jessica Williams is a contributing writer. Feedback welcome at [email protected].

on the tableBy Jessica Williams

Minds Behind the MenusA look at the motivations behind Pickerington’s school lunches

Strawberry Yogurt Parfait

Ingredients8 oz. strawberry yogurt2 oz. fresh strawberries2 oz. fresh blueberries2 oz. granola cereal

DirectionsLayer berries and granola with yogurt in a cup or bowl and serve.

Teriyaki Chicken Salad

Ingredients4 oz. Romaine lettuce1 piece teriyaki chicken1 hard-boiled egg2 oz. shredded cheese½ cup chow mein noodles2 oz. mandarin oranges2 oz. grape tomatoes1 packet (approximately 2 Tbsp.) sesame dressing

DirectionsIn a salad bowl, combine all ingredients, finishing with dressing, and serve.

Judy Riley

RECIPES

Above: One of the district’s salad bars. Right: Nacho munchables.

RELATED READS


• Fighting hunger among Pickerington students

• Corporate cafeterias

Phot

os c

ourte

sy o

f Pic

kerin

gton

Loc

al S

choo

ls


The AtonementBy Beverly Lewis

The library is excited to host award-winning, New York Times bestselling author Bev-erly Lewis on April 5 at 7 p.m.! Celebrate the release of her lat-est novel, The Atonement.

“The mistakes of the past haunt Lucy Flaud, who years ago stopped attending the ac-tivities for courting-age young people in her hometown of Bird-in-Hand. Now 25 and solidly past the age of Amish courtship, Lucy has given up any hope of marriage, instead focusing her efforts on volunteering in both the Plain and fancy communities of Lancaster County. Yet no matter how hard Lucy strives, she feels uncertain that she’ll ever find redemption.” – From the publisher

Brush of Wings By Karen Kingsbury

“From No. 1 New York Times bestselling author Karen Kingsbury comes the third novel in an unforgettable series about divine intervention and the trials and triumphs of life for a group of friends. The team of angels walking is busier than ever in this epic battle between life and death. Brush of Wings is a poignant tale

of love, sacrifice, and the power of faith.” – From the publisher

A Girl’s Guide to Moving On By Debbie Macomber

“In this powerful and uplifting novel from No. 1 New York Times bestselling author Debbie Macomber, a mother and her daughter-in-law bravely leave their troubled marriages and face the challenge of starting

over. Leaning on each other, Nichole and Leanne discover that their inner strength and capacity for love are greater than they ever imagined.” –From the publisher

Private Paris By James Patterson and Mark Sullivan

“There’s no time for sightsee-ing when Jack Morgan stops by the Paris office of Private, the world-class investigation firm for which he works. Even as he’s asked to find the granddaughter of client Sherman Wilkerson, several leading cultural figures are found dead, with just a graffiti tag connecting the two cases.” –Library Journal

Warriors: Dawn of the Clans #5: A Forest Divided By Erin Hunter

“Discover the origins of the warrior Clans in the fifth book of this thrilling Warriors prequel series. The Dawn of the Clans arc takes readers back to the earliest days of the Clans, when the cats first settled in the forest and began to forge the warrior code. The spirit-cats have spoken: to survive, the cats from the mountains must

grow and spread like the Blazing Star. Clear Sky believes the only way to grow is to band together again, but few cats are willing to ally with him. While Tall Shadow plans to establish a new camp in the pine forest, River Ripple is content by the water, and Wind Runner has made her own home on the moor. The time has now come for all cats to decide where they will live – and where their allegiances truly lie.” –From the publisher

By Colleen C. Bauman, Community Services Coordinator, Pickerington Public Library

Introducing a new service from the Pickerington Public Library: Automatic Holds! Get on the list for your favorite authors. All you need to do is log in with your PPL card and subscribe to more than 30 authors, and we will place you on hold for their newest books. Perfect if you’re a fan of James Patterson, Janet Evanovich, Nora Roberts and other bestselling authors!

Library Hours:Monday-Thursday 9 a.m.-8 p.m. Friday & Saturday 10 a.m.-6 p.m.Sunday 1-5 p.m.

bookmarks

Coming soon to the Pickerington Public Library

We’re the best at getting them ready for battle. The best at getting them back in the game. And the best at bringing their goals into reach. We’re the sports medicine experts at Nationwide Children’s Hospital and we’re the best equipped to treat all sports injuries including concussions, rehab sports injuries or prevent them from happening in the first place. So, if your athlete is 18 or under, don’t risk their career to anyone else.

Visit NationwideChildrens.org/Sports-Medicine.

There’s only one sports medicine leader

for student athletes.

http://www.nationwidechildrens.org/sports-medicine

mountcarmelhealth.com

LET’S GET OFF THE COUCH.

LET’S GET OUR YEARLY CHECK-UP.

LET’S EAT HEALTHIER.

At Mount Carmel, we’re working tirelessly toward a healthier you.

Because we understand that taking good care of you when you’re

well is as important as providing the best care when you’re not.

A healthier you means fewer visits to the doctor for you and your

family, and less need to find an emergency room in the middle of

the night. And more time doing the things that really matter — for

you and the people you love. The way we see it, quality of life and

quality of healthcare go hand in hand.

Let’s take care of today. So tomorrow can be even better.

68571 Mount Carmel EAST • TCOT Ad • Pickerington Magazine • TRIM: 8.25"w x 10.875"h (LIVE: 7.25" x 9.875") • 4c • rlf • V1/FINAL-3/15/16 >> FULL VALUE

http://www.mountcarmelhealth.com/fast

pickerington magazine april/may 2016

Documents