pickerington magazine june/july 2015

ALSO INSIDEViolet Festival

Fun’l Frenzy

Lego Contest

Cooking Up a Storm

L I V E W O R K P L A Y

Pickerington firefighter gathers ingredients for a reality show bid

The Official Magazine of the City of Pickerington and Violet Township

JUNE/JULY 2015

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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 Pam Henricks-Claxton 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.

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6 Calendar

9 News and Information from the City of Pickerington

11 News and Information from Violet Township

14 facesFired UpFirefighter and reality show hopeful tries his hand at United States of Burgers

17 in focus Staving Off HungerCommunity programs support households in need

19 Carry on, Wayward Celebration The Violet Festival returns this year with renewed vigor

21 Campus of CareOhioHealth Pickerington Medical Campus opens June 3

23 Creative ConstructsOrthodontics Lego contest helps patients build skill

24 student spotlightA Motivated MindPickerington junior is driven by challenges and sprituality

26 on the table Cakewalk

Family-owned food truck finds selling desserts to be a piece of cake

30 bookmarks

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community calendar Mark your calendar for these community events

June 2015

June 4-Sept. 24Olde Pickerington Farmers’ Market 4-7 p.m., Thursdays, 89 N. Center St., www.pickeringtonvillage.comThirty-plus vendors will offer an array of baked goods, fresh produce, crafts and more.

June 5Olde Pickerington Village PetFest 6-8:30 p.m., State Rt. 256, www.pickeringtonvillage.comThis annual event includes food and pet-related vendors as well as a 7:30 p.m. Pet Parade. Admission is free. Olde Pickerington Village shops and restaurants will be open along West Columbus Street.

June 5-6Pickerington-Violet Township Historical Museum Yard Sale 9 a.m.-8 p.m., June 5; 10 a.m.-3 p.m., June 6; Pickerington-Violet Township Historical Museum;

15 E. Columbus St.; www.pickerington historicalsociety.comDiscover value-priced antiques, collectibles, jewelry, toys and household items on the front lawn or lower level of the Histori-cal Museum. All proceeds sup-port the museum.

June 5-July 31Friday Night FlicksSycamore Park Amphitheater, 500 Hereford Dr., www.pickerington.netEight different films will be shown

over the summer. Visit the Parks & Recreation website’s Special Events page for a list of show times.

June 6-752nd Annual Spring Festival Car Show & Swap Meet8 a.m.-5 p.m., Fairfield County Fairgrounds, 157 E. Fair Ave., Lancaster, www.lancasteroldcarclub.orgOne of Ohio’s oldest car clubs celebrates spring. Events include a swap meet, car corral, cruise and 50-50 drawing. Awards will be given out on Sunday.

June 7-Aug. 2Sunday Summer Concerts7-8:30 p.m., Sycamore Park Amphitheater, 500 Hereford Dr., www.pickerington.netCheck the Parks & Rec-reation website’s Special Events page for the different shows offered each week.

June 13Meet L.M. Tinsley1-2 p.m., Pickerington Public Library, 201 Opportunity Way, www.pickeringtonlibrary.comMeet Pickerington resident and new author L.M. Tinsley. Attendants can purchase her novel, Mixed Emotions. A book signing will follow the meet-and-greet.

June 13-Aug. 29Vintage Kids 10 a.m.-3 p.m., Saturdays, Pickerington-Violet Township Historical Society, 15 E. Columbus St., www.pickerington historicalsociety.comThis special exhibit for children fea-tures vintage toys, games and cloth-ing, including an 1800s Bisque doll.

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http://www.lancasteroldcarclub

http://www.pickeringtonlibrary.com

http://www.pickeringtonhistoricalsociety.com

http://www.pickeringtonhistoricalsociety.com


CANAL WINCHESTER650 West Waterloo St.

Canal Winchester, OH 43110

PICKERINGTON550 Hill Rd. N

Pickerington, OH 43147

(614) 837-7126 www.spencefuneralhome.com

Each year, only two percent of funeral homes earn the Pursuit of Excellence Award from the National Funeral Directors Association. Ours is one of them.

Since 1982, the NFDA Pursuit of Excellence Award has been a hallmark for those funeral homes that are committed to providing exceptional service to grieving families and the community, while adhering to the highest ethical and professional standards. You and your family can trust our sta� to exceed your expectations – and provide award-winning service – before, during and after the funeral.

2014 Pursuit of Excellence Award

June 19Pool Family Fun Night6-9 p.m., Pickerington Community Pool, 11330 Stonecreek Dr., www.pickerington.netEnjoy an evening of activities with the family at the local pool. Regular admission applies.

June 20-Aug. 23Persistence of Nature Decorative Arts Center of Ohio, 145 E. Main St., Lancaster, www.decartsohio.orgThis free exhibit features paintings and sculptures by James Mason and paintings by Karen Rumora.

June 26-June 27Relay for Life of Pickerington-Reynoldsburg7 p.m.-9:30 a.m., Pickerington High School North, 7800 Refugee Rd., www.relay.acsevents.orgThe annual 18-hour relay includes walking to raise cancer awareness and benefits the American Cancer Society.

June 30 It’s A Bird, It’s A Plane … It’s A Superhero Water Balloon Fight!1-2 p.m., Pickerington Public Library, 201 Opportunity Way, www.pickeringtonlibrary.comMiddle and high school teens can attend this water fight event dressed as their favorite superheroes or villains. No registration is required.

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FREEYoga in the Park

Saturday Mornings, June - AugustVictory Park-Tennis courts/

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Bring yoga mat and bottle of water. Donations will be accepted for

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Darlene wants to give back to the community as a Certified Yogafit Instructor.

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July 2015July 4July 4th Celebration 4-11 p.m., Victory Park, 100 Lockville Rd., www.pickerington.netThe parade will begin at 6 p.m. with fireworks starting at 10 p.m. Enjoy the array of vendors situated in Victory Park as well as a variety of entertainment.

July 10-19Pickerington Community Theatre presents 1776 July 10, 11 and 17, 8 p.m.; July 12 and 19, 2 p.m.; Heritage Elementary School, 100 N. East St., www.pickeringtoncommunitytheatre.orgPickerington Community Theatre’s summer show takes a blast to the past with a production featuring our coun-try’s founding fathers.

July 11TRY-athlon9 a.m., Pickerington Community Pool, 11330 Stonecreek Dr., www.pickerington.netThe second annual TRY-athlon gives kids the chance to attempt their first triathlon in a fun and friendly environ-ment.

July 19Bicentennial Pool DayNoon-8 p.m., Pickerington Community Pool, 11330 Stonecreek Dr., www.pickerington.netThe community pool is offering $2 ad-mission to commemorate 200 years. Attendees will also receive a souvenir bicentennial beach ball with admission.

July 23-Aug. 1Lancaster FestivalLocations around Lancaster, www.lancasterfestival.orgArt competitions, concerts and events for kids will be included in this year’s festival celebrating music and the arts.

July 25Youth Fishing Derby9:30-11 a.m., Sycamore Park Pond, 500 Hereford Dr., www.pickerington.netBring your own fishing pole and bait for this fun family activity at the local park’s pond. Prizes will be awarded in four different age categories for biggest fish and most fish caught.

July 25Young Adult Author Fest10 a.m.-5 p.m., Pickerington Public Library, 201 Opportunity Way, www.pickerington.netThe second annual Young Adult Author Fest gives teens a chance to meet their favorite writers. Events include discussion panels, writing workshops and book signings.

July 29-Aug. 1Pickerington Violet Festival Wednesday and Thursday 5-11 p.m., Friday 5 p.m.-midnight, Saturday 8 a.m.-midnight, Toll Gate Middle School, 12089 Toll Gate Rd., www.violetfestival.orgThe 17th annual Violet Festival is a four-day celebration of the Pickering-ton community with various events, activities and entertainment, includ-ing carnival rides, a parade, different performance acts and more than 15 food vendors.

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

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

I N S I D E


The City of Pickerington and the Pickerington Area Chamber of Com-merce have developed a strong busi-ness alliance that is founded on open communication and a strong vision for community growth.

“By having open lines of commu-nication, we have developed a strong partnership of support for the business community,” said Chamber President Theresa Byers.

Byers, who has been on the job as president less than a year, added, “We visit businesses together, share busi-ness concerns with each other and celebrate wins together.”

As part of this partnership approach to bringing business into Pickerington, City Development Services Director Joe Henderson said that when the City meets with any potential new business or developer, the entity receives a development folder about the multifaceted dynamics of the City and a Chamber letter welcoming it to Pickerington.

The partnership between City and Chamber provides an open conduit designed to help businesses succeed in Pickerington.

One of the most successful pro-grams that has made an economic dif-ference is the City’s Business Retention and Expansion (BR&E) program.

“The goal of the program is to meet with at least 50 businesses per calen-dar year and see how they are doing, what their future plans are and if there is anything we can do to help them,” Henderson said.

When the City Development team members meet with businesses, they are often accompanied by representa-tives from the Chamber.

This business outreach program provides partners with an opportunity to hear business concerns and good

news, and show their collaborative sup-port of the business community.

In addition, the Development Servic-es Department opens its doors the first Thursday of each month at 8:30 a.m. for the Chamber to host an Economic Development meeting at City Hall.

As part of the updates, businesses hear from representatives from the City, Chamber, Violet Township, Pickerington Public Library and Pickerington Local School District.

The City also sponsors, by ap-pointment, growth management meetings every Tuesday from 1-5 p.m. for businesses interested in meeting with the Development Ser-vices Department, which includes Planning and Zoning, Building and Economic Development Divisions and the Engineering Department.

To set up a Growth Management or Business Retention and Expansion meeting, businesses just need to con-tact the Development Services Depart-ment at [email protected].

“These meetings allow businesses direct access to department heads and staff who can assist with questions on development,” Henderson said.

City Manager Bill Vance said the strong working relationship between the City and Chamber is good for business and provides businesses with easy ac-cess to City leaders who attend Cham-ber events.

“We have taken time to get to know each other and shared our visions for the future. We have direct access to the right departments to assist members with the growth of their business, or to take care of any of their concerns,” Byers said.

Membership in the Chamber is open to any business interested in reaching the Pickerington market.

“Membership in the Pickerington Area Chamber starts as low as $99 for a home-based business and goes up to $500 with companies having more than 100 employees,” Byers said. “That means for roughly $8 to $40 a month, you are investing in the growth of your business.”

Besides connecting and networking businesses with other area stakeholders, membership benefits include discounted group health insurance, workers’ com-pensation and phone service; an afford-able way to market and promote busi-ness and opportunities to become more involved in the community.

“In almost every case, if you put a little effort into your Chamber member-ship, you will most definitely receive a return on your investment,” Byers said.

Byers and Henderson agree that the key to successful and sustainable business growth in Pickerington is working together as a team – in 2015 and beyond.

“The Chamber is excited to be a part of the growth, the celebrations and the fun that this year is going to bring,” Byers said. “We are excited about our strong relationship with the City, the township and the schools, and we continue to look forward to even more success.”

A Perfect PartnershipCity and Chamber aim to support local businesses

Chamber President Theresa Byers with Pickerington Mayor Lee Gray outside City Hall.

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Pickerington will be alive this summer with some hot, family-friendly events. Check out the event list to make sure you don’t miss anything.

15th annual Friday Night FlicksSycamore Park Amphitheater Sponsored by Fairfield Federal Bank Shows begin at dark.Planes, June 5Balto, June 12The Big Green, June 19Mary Poppins, June 26Remember the Titans, July 10Frozen, July 17Ratatouille, July 24Rudy, July 31

17th annual free Summer Concert SeriesSycamore Park AmphitheaterShows begin at 7 p.m.The British Invasion, June 7Ransom Band, June 14Phillip Fox Band, June 21Paradise Island Band, June 28Chris Logsdon, July 12Wet Bandits, July 19Red Hot Rhythm Review, July 26Floorwalkers, Aug. 2

4th of July CelebrationVictory ParkPark rides, 4 p.m.Parade, 6 p.m. Next Exit concert, 8 p.m. Fireworks, 10 p.m.

Pickerington Community Pool Swim lessons, June 15-26, July 6-17 Family Fun Night, 6 p.m., June 19 Bicentennial Pool Party, July 19Family Luau Night, 6-9 p.m., Aug. 7

Other Summer EventsTRY-athlon, 9 a.m., July 11 10th Annual Youth Fishing Derby, 9:30 a.m., July 25

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

A Sizzling SummerPickerington greets the new season with a variety of events

The City of Pickerington recently hired a new wastewater treatment plant superin-tendent to manage its wastewater treat-ment plant, which processes 3.5 million gallons of water per day.

Glen Hacker, the former chief operator for the village of Johnstown’s wastewater treatment plant, replaced David Jackson, who retired.

“We are extremely pleased to have someone with Glen’s vast experience, knowledge, skills and leadership ability to manage our wastewater treatment plant,” said Pickerington City Manager Bill Vance.

Hacker started his career with Johnstown as a utility laborer in 2006.

Over the years, Hacker completed numerous certifications to work his way into the top position as chief operator of the facility in 2014.

Hacker said he is very pleased to work as an integral part of the City of Pickerington’s professional team and would like to continue to “improve the operation and performance of the wastewater treatment plant.”

Leading by ExampleCity chooses new wastewater treatment plant superintendent

To find more information or register for events, visit the City Parks and

Recreation website at www.pickerington.net.

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News and Information From

Violet Township

The United States has an infra-structure problem.

The deteriorating condition of infrastructure, especially our highway system, trickles down

to state and local governments as well. And Violet Township’s roadway network is no exception. While revenues (township funds to provide services) from gasoline taxes, motor vehicle license taxes and a portion of real estate taxes have remained stagnant, the cost of materials to repave our streets has increased nearly 300 percent within the past 10 years.

Unfortunately, local revenue sources have not kept up with these asphalt

increases. Ultimately, that affects the number of road miles the township can resurface each year. Resurfacing costs are upwards of $100,000 per mile. The 2015 annual paving budget is $275,000. This fact, coupled with losses of revenue from elimination of the estate tax and reduction of the Local Government Fund by the Ohio Legis-lature, give us no other funds to use to help maintain roadways.

Currently, Violet Township main-tains 105 lane miles of roadway in one direction – the distance from downtown Columbus to downtown Cincinnati. We are often asked, “When will my road get

repaved?” or “Can you put my road on the repaving schedule for this year?” Ten years ago, the Township’s philosophy was to resurface roads approximately every 10 years. Today, the number of years between paving cycles is greater than 20 years.

We will continue to strive to evaluate alternate cost effective technologies to keep our roads safe and maintained. In the meantime, we felt it was important to share the harsh financial realities local governments are now facing related to road maintenance, particularly as it relates to resurfacing our streets.

Construction JunctionWhen will my road be repaved?

By Greg Butcher, PE, MPA, Violet Township Engineer

From the Violet Township Fire Department


There are several myths that sur-round fire service.

Many are not true or are no longer relevant. Not every fire station has a brass pole. Not

every fire department has a Dalmatian dog. We no longer have red suspend-ers, and we never play checkers (unless it’s an app on a smart phone). One cliché is true: We place a high value on our food, cooking and meal time. Our standing cooking tradition is changing, though, as more of our members focus on eating healthfully.

This is how we’ve historically handled the cooking: At the start of each shift, someone from each station is desig-nated the day’s cook. Some crews may have a member who cooks every shift; others may rotate the position among members. The cook is responsible for collecting each crew member’s financial contribution into the kitty and shopping

for lunch and dinner. Crew members are on their own for breakfast. The contribu-tion amount and ingenuity of the cook determines the menu for the day.

Any remaining money rolls over to the next duty day that the cook works. The more frugal the cook, the more money he or she saves, thus paving the way for better or more expen-sive meals. Deficit spending is highly frowned upon and will usually get the cook quickly replaced.

This sounds simple, but that is rarely the case. Fire and EMS runs can play havoc with a finely prepared meal. Sometimes lunch does not occur until dinner time, and dinner, whether in-tended or not, can be served in multiple courses at various times. Some meals can only be reheated so many times before they are thrown away. Ordering

out on a frequent basis takes a rapid and serious toll on the kitty.

There are those among us who are naturally gifted connoisseurs of cuisine. There are those who are not. Having a staple dish when you are the cook of the day is a good thing. On the other hand, feeding the crew SpaghettiOs casserole may place you in the witness protection program. Balancing taste and budget is an art form. Feeding the guys and girls powdered soup mix and bologna every day builds character and the kitty. It also builds the ire of famished firefighters everywhere.

Luckily, the Violet Township Fire De-partment has been blessed with some great cooks over the last 20-plus years. We have also suffered under a few members who couldn’t cook a canned biscuit without turning it into something

Evolving EntréesChallenging the traditions of firehouse food

By Fire Chief Mike Little and Assistant Fire Chief Jim Paxton

Violet Township Fire Department crew members gather for a meal.

that resembled a hockey puck. As the generations change and mix within the fire service, mealtime is changing, too.

More and more of our firefighters are analyzing their fitness and diet routines. Using smoothie makers and juicers and following paleo, vegetarian and vegan diets can be challenging at home without even considering the firehouse. Some firefighters prepare their own meals, making it easier for the cook, but tough for the kitty.

As a profession, we are becoming much more aware of our food choices and what effect food is having on our bodies and our ability to perform our jobs. Collectively, we are striving to in-clude a sense of health and nutrition into our daily meals. As an organization, we have made the choice to promote better

health through better eating habits. We have realized the benefits far outweigh the costs, and we are committed to maintaining healthy firefighters.

The VTFD recently brought in a nutri-tionist to aid in our food selections. This has enabled the department members to discover smarter ways to shop and more healthful ways to eat. We will miss the days of beef stroganoff, spicy chicken pockets and chicken parme-san. The old adage of “eat until you are tired” is gone, replaced with discussions of fruit, salads and portion control.

Some food-related traditions still live on. Every Saturday night is typically still pizza night. You still have to buy ice cream when you accomplish or encounter something for the first time. And, like many families, we can still

discuss and solve many of the prob-lems facing the world or encountered throughout the day while sitting around the dinner table. The food prepared in the firehouse has produced some good meals, some good times and some really good friends.

Moving forward, we hope the food also produces healthier firefighters and a healthier lifestyle.

Photos courtesy of the Violet Township Fire Department


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

VTFD members come up with a variety of creative ways to make meals for their coworkers.


Since his high school days, Andy Smith says he was interested in the culinary arts.

It all started with an ad-vanced foods class, where Smith

learned how to follow recipes and prepare basic meals.

Food was his passion, he says, but he had another calling. As a senior in high

school, he joined his uncle on a ride-along and got to witness the operation of a fire department firsthand.

“I knew that’s what I wanted to do,” Smith says. “I got to see everything associ-ated with the job, (from) helping people to the close family aspect.”

Joining the Violet Township Fire Depart-ment in 1996 might have seemed a far cry

Fired Up

Firefighter and reality show hopeful tries his hand at United States of Burgers

faces By Hannah Bealer

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from a culinary career but, in 2014, cooking for his fellow firefighters nearly landed Smith a gig on Food Network’s Cutthroat Kitchen. More importantly, it got him noticed.

Smith says he and his coworkers ap-plied for Cutthroat Kitchen after they dis-covered a casting call for an episode cen-tered on firefighters. Smith says he felt like the Violet Township Fire Department would be a perfect fit.

“Somebody’s got to do (the cooking),” Smith says. “We are here for 24 hours.”

Smith has done the math: He and his coworkers are on the clock for nearly one-third of their life.

On a typical day, Smith says, there are about six people to feed. Each person contributes $10 to the food budget, and someone will head out to the grocery store to shop for ingredients.

“We’re not preparing run-of-the-mill meals,” Smith says, adding that, in the summertime, they like to break out the grill. “(The department’s kitchen) is like a mini-restaurant, if you think about it.”

Reuben sandwiches are a favorite among the department, Smith says. He likes to cook anything that can be thrown on the grill and is testing out new ways to cook chicken, such as smoking it.

Luckily for Smith, preparing meals has never felt like a burden.

“It’s a lot of fun,” Smith says. “I never really thought about (participat-ing in a cooking reality show) until (Cutthroat Kitchen) came along. I really

enjoy cooking; it’s not like it’s a chore or a requirement.”

For Cutthroat Kitchen, Smith submit-ted photos of food prepared at the sta-tion. The dishes varied quite drastically, from grilled asparagus and mushrooms to hearty chicken dinners.

Smith calls it a “virtual resume.” Along with the photos of food, Smith sent along lifestyle photos as well, showing photos that showed the department out and about and having fun.

It was a nationwide hunt, Smith says. He made it through several stages of the process, including a Skype interview with the producers. Smith says he had never used Skype before, so it was somewhat intimidating.

Cutthroat Kitchen has a twist: The four competing chefs each start with $25,000 and can purchase opportunities to sabo-tage one another. These sabotages include

Andy Smith stands outside the Violet Township Fire Department.

Roasted garlic asparagus prepared on the grill. This is one of many photos Smith submitted to Cutthroat Kitchen.

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forcing a competitor to collect ingredients using only his or her hands, or eliminating another contestant if the sabotager’s dish was judged the worst.

“It’s just a lot of craziness you would never expect in the kitchen,” Smith says.

Smith advanced until the last step.“I got up to the point where they

would’ve flown me out for taping in Los Angeles,” he says.

If he gained anything from the pro-cess, though, Smith says he learned more about what reality cooking shows are looking for in its contestants.

That knowledge will come in handy as Smith starts the audition process for his next endeavor: a spot on the Esquire net-work’s new series, United States of Burgers.

The six-part competition series is set to premiere this summer, and Smith de-scribes it as a nationwide hunt for Amer-ica’s best burger. The show will feature anyone from casual cooks to the more sea-soned fanatics.

A producer involved in the Cutthroat Kitchen casting process encouraged Smith to move forward for a spot on United States of Burgers. In April, he had his first inter-view with a Los Angeles casting producer.

Smith says contestants compete with their own burger recipes. That, he says, will be a bit more challenging. Hamburg-ers aren’t his specialty.

“We don’t cook a lot of hamburger (at the fire department),” Smith says. “So, now I’m thinking, ‘What’s it going to take to win?’ The hamburger can’t be traditional.”

But if cooking for the fire department has taught Smith anything, he says, it’s how to be adaptable. On any given day, he has to make sure his coworkers are satis-fied with what he’s putting on the table.

“You find out really fast if people don’t like your cooking here. You learn who doesn’t like what,” Smith says. “You really build your database up by doing it for so many years.”

Hannah Bealer is an assistant editor. Feedback welcome at ssole@cityscene mediagroup.com.

Chicken and kabobs prepared on the grill; another Cutthroat Kitchen photo submission.

Pulled pork with pepperoncini. For his photo submissions, Smith was encouraged to submit photos of meals prepared at the fire department.

“It’s a lot of fun. I never really thought about (participating in a cook-ing reality show) until (Cutthroat Kitchen) came along. I really enjoy cooking; it’s not like it’s a chore or a requirement.”

Andy Smith

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in focus

Staving Off HungerCommunity programs support households in need

By Sarah SolePhotos courtesy of the PCMA Food Pantry of Pickerington

Twenty-seven percent of stu-dents in the Pickerington Lo-cal School District receive free or reduced price lunches. For the second year running,

the district will provide some support to households during the summer, when students don’t have access to the free and reduced price lunch federal program.

During the month of June, the dis-trict will again make food available at Tussing Elementary School for house-holds in need. During the Summer Feed-ing Program, lunch will be served from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. to children ages 1-18. Students do not have to qualify for the free and reduced price lunch program or even reside in the district.

More than 50 percent of Tussing’s students are on the free and reduced price lunch program. The USDA, which sponsors both the summer and the in-school lunch programs, mandates that schools must meet at least that percent-age to host federally sponsored summer lunch programs.

Judy Riley, food service supervisor for the district, says the goal last year was to serve at least 100 students per day, a goal the district met. Donatos and the Colum-bus Zoo and Aquarium partnered with the district last year as well. This year, Donatos and the zoo will again join the district.

On Mondays, Donatos will provide pizza. On Tuesdays, the Ohio State Ex-tension Office of Fairfield County will

sponsor nutrition education and physical activities. On Fridays, the Pickerington Public Library will sponsor reading along with arts and crafts. The zoo and Donatos will also provide prizes and giveaways.

Chicken nuggets, chicken tenders, corn, fruit cups, green beans and stuffed-crust pizza will be some of the foods

A church group provides lunch sacks for PCMA Food Pantry of Pickerington clients.

The PCMA Food Pantry of Pickerington will hold its first Food Truck Frenzy on June 14 at Seton Parish grounds, 600 Hill Rd. Proceeds raised by sponsorship and a percentage of food truck sales go directly to the pantry.


featured in meals. An alternate lunch in-cluding yogurt, a cheese stick, graham crackers, fruit, vegetables and milk will be available. All meals must be eaten on site.

When Pickerington schools were closed for snow days this past winter, the importance of the federal free and reduced lunch program became evident, says PCMA Food Pantry of Pickerington Director of Community Relations and De-velopment Barbara Meek. Many parents called the pantry requesting emergency food packets.

Even when school is in session, chil-dren represent a significant portion of those served by the PCMA Food Pantry. In March, the pantry served 155 households, or 548 individuals, Meek says. Forty-one percent of that number was children un-der 17 years of age.

On average the food pantry sees be-tween 160-195 households per month, or between 500-650 individuals, Meek says. That number tends to decrease in the summer, since gardens provide some households with more produce. Still, the pantry’s produce, also more readily avail-able in the warmer months, tends to be popular then as well.

The summer season also means time off from school, when some households

must search for alternatives to the free and reduced lunches students receive when class is in session. Thanks to the donations of a local church, over the summer the pantry gives lunch sacks with items such as crackers and apples to clients to have in addition to their eight-day, 24-meal-per-person monthly food allowance.

“We go through those quickly,” Meek says of the lunch sacks.

The pantry will also again get summer support from local fire departments. Dur-ing Pack the Pantry, which takes place from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on June 20, various fire departments will collect food and house-hold items. The items collected at the three Violet Township Fire Houses (2365 Taylor Square Dr., 8700 Refugee Rd. and 21 Lock-ville Rd.) will go to the pantry.

Clients come to the pantry for vari-ous reasons, including divorce, unem-ployment and health issues, Meek says. Some are retirees trying to make ends meet on a fixed income. Many visit spo-radically, during the months that bills or other hardships make buying food dif-ficult. While some people assume that clients are homeless, the majority have stable residences. Some, though, are tem-porarily homeless, perhaps living with someone else.

“Our confidentiality is really impor-tant,” Meek says.

The pantry is available for residents of the Pickerington Local School District. Clients must prove residency with a util-ity bill from the last three months and must be at or below 200 percent of federal poverty guidelines. Clients can make ap-pointments via the Fairfield County food pantry line before shopping days (Mon-days 6:30-8:30 p.m., and Thursdays and Saturdays 10 a.m.-noon). Because PCMA is a choice pantry, clients can choose their food from among various donations.

A nonprofit, the pantry is an agency of the Mid-Ohio Foodbank and receives gen-erous funding from the United Way. Most of its food comes from the food bank, lo-cal churches and the school district. The Hill Road Kroger also donates produce, bread and sweets on Thursdays and Sat-urdays. Monetary donations are also put to good use, as the pantry can purchase $10 of food from the food bank for every dollar it raises.

Sarah Sole is an assistant editor. Feedback welcome at [email protected].

Donations can be made online to the food pantry at www.pcmafoodpantry.com. Food donations can be made during client hours (Mondays 6:30-8:30 p.m. and Thursdays and Saturdays 10 a.m.-noon). Those who would like to hold food drives for the pantry can call 614-834-0079. The pantry is closed on major holidays and the fifth Monday, Thursday and Saturday of each month.

During holidays and the rest of the year, PCMA volunteers make sure the pantry is packed with food.


http://www.pcmafoodpantry.com


The Pickerington Violet Festival is returning after a one-year hiatus.

After 16 years of celebrat-ing Pickerington and Violet Township’s hospitality uninter-

rupted, the Violet Festival was forced to close up shop for the first time. In 2014, festival organizers found themselves with-out a venue to hold the festival in, and the popular local attraction closed down for a year.

On July 29, however, it’s back and will run through Aug. 1, powered by re-juvenated excitement in the community.

This year, the festival has moved to the Toll Gate middle and elementary schools’ campus. The new location offers more room than the festival enjoyed previ-ously, creating the opportunity for a thor-oughly reimagined layout.

“The event will work out to be bigger and better than it’s ever been,” says Chris Stein, president of the Violet Festival.

In addition to local musical acts par-ticipating each day of the festival, includ-ing the Bryon Shepherd Band and Radio Tramps, this will be the first year in which the Violet Festival will feature two nation-ally renowned headliners in the same year. On July 31, country music duo LoCash will take the main stage, while Aug. 1 will bring classic rock legend Kansas to Pickerington.

The presence of these enormous names in the lineup reflects a significant step forward for the Violet Festival and represents its success as an upcoming venue. More than 30,000 visitors are ex-pected to attend over the course of the

By Zach Maiorana

The 2013 Violet Festival included a performance by Survivor, a 5K race and a performance from the Pickerington Central Marching Tigers.

Carry on,Wayward Celebration

The Pickerington Violet Festival returns this year with renewed vigor

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four-day celebration, mak-ing the festival the largest event in the community.

To organize something of this size, the board as-sembled a staff of hundreds of volunteers. The event also relies heavily on par-ticipation from local busi-nesses, which are offering their sponsorships and giv-ing $20,000 in resources to the organization effort.

But all the work isn’t just for a weekend of fun.

“In 2013, the festival in-vested more than $25,000 back into the local community,” Stein says, “including a $3,500 donation to the Pickerington Food Pantry.”

Through charitable donations, busi-ness partnerships and general exposure for the area, planners hope the festival will inspire a helpful boost in consumerism and stimulate the local economy.

Some of the businesses that will ben-efit a great deal from the advantages of-fered by the Violet Festival are the food vendors who will serve there. Normally, as many as 16 food trucks, carts and booths would dot the festival grounds. This year, organizers may choose to increase to 18-20 vendors.

The food served will be a mixture of-fering considerable variety. There will be Jewish, Greek and Asian dishes in addi-tion to a wide range of fair food, including elephant ears and fried bananas.

One of the most memorable parts of the festival will take place on Saturday: the Car & Bike Show.

The show will be open for viewing with $10 admission at noon Aug. 1 and will last through the afternoon until 4:30 p.m., when the judges will announce the awards. Commendations include plaques for the top 35 cars and top 10 bikes, along with the Best of Show award.

Other popular events include the Violet Festival Parade, which will begin at 6:30 p.m. July 31 at Pickerington High School Central before moving through town and looping back to the high school.

Runners have a chance to participate in the Diley Ridge 5K dash, a run that takes place at 9:15 a.m. Aug. 1. Children can join the fun in the Kids’ Fun Run, which is free and begins at 8:45 a.m.

“Whether it is the carnival rides, the food, the national entertainment line-up, the parade, or the car and bike show, the Picker-ington Violet Festival has something for fami-lies and individuals of all ages,” Stein says.

Zach Maiorana is a contributing writer. Feedback welcome at [email protected].

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The concert crowd takes in a performance by Survivor.

Festival visitors browse vendor goods.

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This summer will mark the begin-ning of new health opportunities for Pickerington residents.

On June 3, the OhioHealth Pickerington Medical Campus, a

$35 million project, will open for patients. The 146,000-square-foot facility will have approximately 100 employees when it opens, and about 75 percent of that number will be new jobs.

The campus, located at 1010 Refugee Rd., will feature a 24/7 Emergency Care Center, outpatient surgery, rehabilitation and sports medicine, imaging, laboratory

services, and heart and vascular services. Physicians will include general surgery, heart and vascular, OB/GYN, oncology, or-thopedics, primary care, sports medicine, and women’s health. OhioHealth plans to continue adding additional services with-in the next year, including neurology and breast surgery.

While some existing OhioHealth-affili-ated caregivers will move to the new cam-pus, others will remain where they are. Two doctors from the Pickerington Max Sports Center, located at 1797 Hill Rd. N., will move to OhioHealth Pickerington Medical

Campus. Three OhioHealth Primary Care physicians on Stonecreek Drive will also move to the new campus. OhioHealth Sleep Services on Clint Drive will stay put, as will the Reynoldsburg OhioHealth Urgent Care center and the OhioHealth Primary Care physicians located at 417 Hill Rd. N.

In the future, the campus will also be home to private physicians.

OhioHealth will also lease 2,000 square feet of its facility to Pickerington Local Schools for $1 per year for the dis-trict’s science, technology, engineering and math program.

By Sarah Sole

Campus of CareOhioHealth Pickerington Medical Campus opens June 3

Photo by Sarah Sole


The campus has room for growth, says Rob Davies, director of the Pickerington Medical Campus. The site and parking lot oc-cupy approximately 18-20 acres of the 61 to-tal acres OhioHealth owns near the southwest corner of State Rt. 256 and Refugee Road.

“As Pickerington grows, OhioHealth is growing with it,” Davies says.

OhioHealth did extensive research to determine what services would be best for Pickerington residents.

“We were very deliberate,” says Jason Theadore, interim president of OhioHealth Neighborhood Care.

OhioHealth, assisted by outside firms, met with many Pickerington community members and researched what their expec-tations were for a new OhioHealth campus. The existing OhioHealth physician partners in Pickerington also had valuable insight about for what services their patients were required to look elsewhere. Community leaders, including the Pickerington Local School District and the Mayor’s Office, were involved in the discussions.

Ultimately, the feedback from the vari-ous sources was similar, Theadore says. The desire was for Pickerington residents to have access to a wide range of specialties at one community location.

Providing easy and safe access to the OhioHealth campus was paramount for

both OhioHealth and the city of Pickering-ton, Mayor Lee Gray says. To achieve this, the city extended Stonecreek Drive from Rt. 256 to Refugee Road.

With cooperation from the city, the school district and OhioHealth, the city used tax increment financing on the OhioHealth property. With that revenue, Refugee Road will be widened to better accommodate traf-fic expected from the new campus and the eventual commercial interest.

These changes are a far cry from the Pickerington Gray knew when he first served as mayor in the 1990s. When he was initially elected, the city itself had more than 5,000 residents, Gray says. Now, the city has close to 20,000 people.

The service industry grows according to the population. Pickerington has two big health care providers in the area: Diley Ridge Medical Center in Violet Township, and now OhioHealth on Refugee Road. While OhioHealth is in the city’s corporate boundaries, Diley Ridge is not.

“They have really stepped up to the plate and have been a great corporate part-ner,” Gray says of OhioHealth. “It’s just an-other win for the Pickerington community.”

Sarah Sole is an assistant editor. Feedback welcome at ssole@cityscene mediagroup.com.

Get your camera ready. It’s time for

Send us your photos for the annual Shutterbugs issue of Pickerington Magazine!

Images should be of: People/Pets, Places and Events in the Pickerington areaDeadline: June 30 Email hi-res digital files to [email protected]

Images can be in color or black and white. The top photos will be featured in the August /Septemberissue of Pickerington Magazine. Up to 10 images may be submitted per person.

All images must be submitted as digital, high resolution photos.

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It started off as a hobby. Dr. Robert Forche had always en-

joyed playing with Legos, and when his son, Dylan, took an interest in the ac-tivity, they began collaborating on some complicated projects. Some of their cre-ations, such as the Taj Mahal and the Eiffel Tower, sit on display in the operating room at Kristal & Forche Orthodontics in Olde Pickerington Village.

But what began as a simple pastime between father and son has turned into a popular competition for patients.

This summer marks Kristal & Forche’s fourth annual Lego contest, running from June 1 to Aug. 15. During this time, pa-tients can construct any orthodontic-themed sculpture out of Legos for the chance to win a $200 gift card to the Lego Store. Kids can submit photos of their cre-ations online via Facebook or email, or bring the creation into the office for the staff to judge.

“Every year, (the contest) has gotten bigger and bigger,” says Dr. Forche’s wife and practice manager, Alison. “We proba-bly had a good 25 entries last summer. And they build these creations from scratch. To sit down with Legos and come up with a creation … it’s unbelievable.”

In past years, Kristal & Forche has received all kinds of Lego structures, such as teeth, the doctors and assistants, the opera-tory area, and even the hot chocolate machine that sits in the practice’s waiting room.

“You would think you would have 25 people show up with a tooth with braces on it, but that’s not what you get,” Alison says. “You get a window of what resonates with them when they come to the office, whether it’s the doctor, the assistants, the way the office is laid out. It could be anything.”

The Lego contest provides children the opportunity to exer-cise their brains and creativity during the summer, Alison says. Rather than going to the Lego Store and purchasing a kit that contains instructions and a set number of bricks, kids can be flexible in creat-ing whatever structure they want.

The staff at Kristal & Forche enjoys this oppor-tunity to celebrate children’s creativity and connect with their patients on a more personal level.

“We’re so fortunate in what we get to do with our patients, to be seeing them over a one- or two-year period and watching them grow and develop,” Alison says. “You get to know them well, you get to know their personalities, and this is a whole new way that their personalities are displayed for us.”

For more information about Kristal & Forche’s 2015 Lego contest, visit www.kfortho.com.

Taylor Weis is a contributing writer. Feedback welcome at [email protected].

Orthodontics Lego contest helps patients build skill

By Taylor Weis

Dr. Robert Forche and son Dylan display some of their Lego creations.



Pickerington High School North Se-nior Lavonca Davis’ academic record is anything but typical – ranked

ninth in her class, she is in two honors and three AP classes – but her true dedica-tion becomes even more apparent in her extracurricular commitments.

As a member of Sunny Side Up, North’s leadership and service organiza-tion, Davis is committed to developing her communication skills and positively affecting her community.

Her resume doesn’t stop there, however.Davis is on the varsity golf team, and

she’s become one of central Ohio’s top fe-male golfers. She was also an ensemble member of her school’s spring musical, The Wedding Singer. She runs a Bible study, On Pointe with Christ, where she works with the Water Project, a nonprofit organization that helps to provide safe drinking water to international commu-nities. Going into her 12th-grade year, the highly productive student was also a member of the high school yearbook staff.

Yearbook is her favorite activity.

student spotlight By Zach Maiorana Photos by Melanie DeFazio

Student Spotlight is a new feature in Pickerington Magazine, featuring a student from a different area high school in every issue.

A Motivated MindPickerington junior is driven by challenges and spirituality

Pickerington High School North Senior Lavonca Davis vastly improved her golf game from seventh to eighth grade.

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“I have a lot of freedom to put my own style into it and pick my own top-ics,” Davis says. “Everyone is responsible for taking care of their own business, and that freedom makes it all chill.”

Often, challenges she experiences along the way push Davis to work even harder. Such was the case with her AP chemistry class.

“When I first started, it was challeng-ing because it was so new,” Davis says. “I like the challenge, and I like going into something without knowing anything, so I can learn more about it.”

And the fruits of her motivations show in what she does and where she’s going.

Davis started golfing the week before seventh grade tryouts but, in her words, she was “horrible.” Still, she learned from her experience and came back in eighth grade to become the No. 1 golfer on the team, continuing to improve over the year.

Davis hopes to continue on a college team and use her athletic scholarship to further fund her success.

After she graduates from high school, Davis plans to attend Vanderbilt Univer-sity for chemical engineering. Afterward, she hopes to attend Harvard Law School and practice corporate law and contract law, or perhaps become a sports agent.

But Davis approaches her future with characteristic modesty.

“I would just love to be successful and to live in a comfortable place where I don’t have to worry about the necessities,” she says. “I want to be able to provide.”

Davis lives with her parents and her little sister, Zhanner. She golfs with her sister, who is in eighth grade. Lavonca says that she values her close relationship with Zhanner.

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“We hang out a lot, and we drive to random places to go get food and hang out – or we just sit around and watch Net-flix,” she says.

Davis describes her dance teacher, Angie Smith, as her biggest hero.

“I’ve been dancing with her since I was 3, and my parents say she’s like my second mom,” Lavonca says. “She started my Bible study group, and she helped me with my faith. She helped me become closer to God and pushed me to go to church.”

Zach Maiorana is a contributing writer. Feedback welcome at ssole@cityscene mediagroup.com.

Davis, left, spends time with younger sister Zhanner.

http://www.mmains.net


on the table By Elizabeth Tzagournis Photos courtesy of Fun’l Frenzy

CakewalkFamily-owned food truck finds selling desserts to be a piece of cake


From its employees to its recipe, Fun’l Frenzy is a family affair.

Established by Pickerington residents Stacee and Ronnie Roy about eight years ago, the food truck offers fun-nel cakes that are unique in that they are never prepared in advance but, rather, made from scratch using a longtime fam-ily recipe.

The duo made the decision to take their treats to the public one day while the family was eating them together, Sta-cee says. She and her husband looked at each other and realized the opportunity they had.

Stacee and Ronnie’s five children also help out with the family business.

“It’s absolutely a family affair. We could not do this without our family be-ing involved,” Stacee says. “They get so excited about getting to participate in the family business, (and) they enjoy helping the customers.”

Customers can find Fun’l Frenzy in locations such as sporting games, schools, festivals, corporate events or anywhere else the Roys can pull up their food truck. Fun’l Frenzy is a product of a family recipe.


The demand for, and excitement sur-rounding, Fun’l Frenzy has delighted Sta-cee and her family.

The Roys are serious about their quest to be the best funnel cake food truck. They even offer people who buy funnel cakes from competitors the opportunity to “flop” a competitor’s cake with a Fun’l Frenzy cake at no cost and experience the difference.

Through “flops” and samplings, they have gained a strong following.

“Our recipe is so distinct, and we aren’t just using a generic mix. You can taste the difference, they’re so fresh,” Sta-cee says. “We call it a frenzy because it’s a funnel frenzy. We definitely change peo-ple’s minds about funnel cakes.”

The cakes are topped with fresh strawberries, whipped cream, chocolate

and honey. Rather than offer a wide array of menu items, they focus on quality over quantity. In addition to funnel cakes, their menu includes deep-fried Oreos cooked in the funnel cake mix. Stacee says prices

are kept low so that everyone can enjoy their delicious cakes.

“All funnel cakes are not the same. You have to try it to see the difference,” Stacee says. “It’s that wowing the cus-tomer, and we think that’s how you keep people coming back and looking for you.”

Elizabeth Tzagournis is a contributing writer. Feedback welcome at [email protected].

Fun’l Frenzy employs two food trucks and is looking to expand to a third truck. Its busiest season is the summer months from mid-June to August, and it is typically booked every weekend. Event times and

locations can be found on its website, www.funlfrenzy.com.

Stacee Roy with daughters Rhani (middle) and Ramiya (right)


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The Everything Organic Baby Meals Cookbook

By Adams MediaDeciding what to feed our

children is one of the most im-portant choices we make for them. This book introduces how to create an organic table and shop for the correct kitchen equipment, tools and gadgets. Includes weekly organic menus that cover 4- to 6-month-olds and the whole family.

Love Me, Feed Me: Sharing With Your Dog the Everyday Good Food You Cook and Enjoy

By Judith JonesIn this delightful new

cookbook for dogs, food editor and author Judith Jones shares more than 50 home-cooked recipes. Salmon cakes, wild mushroom risotto and shep-herd’s pie are all suitable for two- or four-legged family mem-bers. Jones even shares how her four-legged friend helps her clean up the sticky pans – with his tongue.

Soul Food Love: Healthy Recipes Inspired by One Hundred Years of Cooking in a Black Family

By Alice Randall and Caroline Randall Williams

This cookbook tells the tale of five kitchens and the three generations of women who cooked and created in them. Recipes from kitchens in Georgia, Alabama, Ten-nessee, Detroit, Chicago and Harlem are featured. The recipes in this book have

been simplified from Caroline’s kitchen. Wherever you get your ingredients, you will taste a healthier future while still connecting with history through taste and flavors.

Meet Your Baker By Ellie Alexander This fictional account tells the

story of Juliet Montague Capshaw, who grew up in Ashland, home of the Oregon Shakespeare Festival. After graduating from culinary school, she sailed off on the high seas as an assistant pastry chef. Now back home in the family bakery, Torte, Juliet is hoping to heal her broken heart and figure out her life. Instead, the festival’s newest board member is mur-dered. Juliet’s high school sweet-heart, Thomas, just happens to be the investigator on the case. Can Juliet have her cake and eat it too?

Quench: Handcrafted Beverages to Satisfy Every Taste and Occasion

By Ashley English and Jen Altman

This beverage book in-cludes recipes and pictures for everything from blue-berry lemonade to a perfect chocolate milkshake and real

chai “tea.” You will learn how to infuse liquor, make a lovely Irish cream for the holidays and step up your Hot Toddy game. Who doesn’t love a caramel apple in the fall? Try the Caramelized Apple Cider Punch for a grown-up treat.

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

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

Expert urgent care. Only for kids.

On Diley Road or East Broad.At Nationwide Children’s Hospital, we know kids. How to treat them when they’re sick. And how to keep them well. We also know how important it is to have urgent care right nearby. Every Close To HomeSM Center with Urgent Care is staffed by experts ready to deliver the most advanced care to your kids. Every day.

For hours, maps and other urgent care locations, visit NationwideChildrens.org/Urgent-Care-Services.

http://www.nationwidechildrens.org/urgent-care-services

67624 • Mount Carmel • DILEY RIDGE MEDICAL CENTER • Pickerington Mag Ad • TRIM: 8.25”w x 10.875”h (LIVE: 7.25x9.875) • 4c • rlf • V1-5/13/15 >> FULL VALUE

MichelleLocal Event Volunteer

CARING FOR YOU. CARING FOR THE COMMUNITY.

Diley Ridge Medical Center is proud to be a part of the lives of the people in this special community. After all, this is our home too. Many of our staff live right here. Our children attend the same schools. That’s why the services you receive at Diley Ridge come with the extra care and personal attention you expect from people in your community. From an emergency staff that is efficient and focused on you to our high-quality imaging, lab and women’s services, Diley Ridge is a place where you’re always respected and welcomed. Putting people and community first, with quality healthcare and a personal touch. Diley Ridge Medical Center. Caring for the community. Caring for you.

DileyRidgeMedicalCenter.com

http://www.dileyridgemedicalcenter.com

pickerington magazine june/july 2015

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