The Westerville News

Westerville School Board Reviews Policy Changes Tied To New Ohio Laws

Gary Gardiner — Tue, 15 Sep 2026 10:31:22 GMT

Wilfredo Medina is congratulated by the Westerville School Board and Superintendent Angie Hamberg after receiving his diploma as a summer graduate of Westerville South High School

The Westerville City Schools Board of Education heard the first reading Monday on seven policy changes, including new rules governing student participation in extracurricular activities outside their home schools and access for certain youth organizations.

The policies are part of a larger group of 22 that the district received for review following summer legislative changes. Chief Personnel and Policy Officer Scott Reeves said the remaining policies will come before the board in groups at upcoming meetings.

Two of the most significant additions address the Student Athlete Mobility Act and school access for designated youth membership organizations.

Student Athlete Mobility Act

A new Student Athlete Mobility policy would allow some public high school students to participate in extracurricular activities at another public high school when their school does not offer the activity.

The policy is required under Senate Bill 276 and, despite its name, applies beyond athletics. Superintendent Angie Hamberg said it could include clubs, citing chess club as an example.

Participation would require approval from the superintendents of both the student’s home district and the district where the student wants to participate.

“It is not automatic,” Reeves said.

Students would have to meet the same academic, nonacademic, and financial requirements as students enrolled in the receiving school. In sports requiring tryouts, approval would allow a student to try out but would not guarantee a place on the team.

Students in districts with multiple high schools generally would have to seek the activity within their district first. For example, a Westerville student whose school does not offer an activity would first need permission to participate at another Westerville high school. If denied, the student could petition a neighboring district.

Westerville’s neighboring districts under the policy are Columbus, Worthington, Olentangy, Big Walnut, New Albany, and Gahanna-Jefferson.

Petitions would be due no later than two weeks before the official start of an activity’s season. Students could not participate in the same activity at more than one high school during the same school year or use the policy to seek a different competitive level.

Board President Kristi Meyer asked whether students would have to petition each year. The proposed policy does not explicitly require annual petitions, though Meyer said requiring students to reapply “makes sense.”

Youth organizations could receive access to students.

The board also heard the first reading of a Youth Membership Organization Access policy required under Senate Bill 19.

The proposal would give specified federally chartered youth organizations opportunities each school year to recruit and provide information to students. They include Big Brothers Big Sisters of America, Boy Scouts of America, Boys & Girls Clubs of America, Civil Air Patrol, Future Farmers of America, Girl Scouts of America, Little League Baseball and Softball, Marine Corps League, and Naval Sea Cadet Corps.

A qualifying organization could request up to 10 consecutive minutes to speak with students during the school day, but not during instruction in a core subject. Organizations also would receive at least one opportunity each school year to display recruitment materials and use existing district digital communication channels.

Parents or guardians would be notified before a presentation and could withhold consent for their child to participate.

Meyer asked whether the law limits which grade levels organizations may approach. Reeves said it does not, meaning a covered organization could request access to elementary students, subject to notification and parental consent requirements.

Board members also asked whether organizations not named in state law would receive the same access. Reeves said they would not.

The covered organizations are “expressly written in Senate Bill 19 and the ORC that it translates to,” Reeves said.

Other policies under review

The board also heard first readings of revisions covering interscholastic athletics, student medications, public records and school board vacancies, resignations and removals.

Athletics changes include eligibility requirements for incoming ninth-graders, who would have to pass at least four courses during the final grading period of eighth grade. High school students must pass at least five one-credit courses or their equivalent during the preceding grading period. The district also requires a minimum 1.75 grade-point average.

Medication revisions address prescription and over-the-counter drugs, student self-administration and emergency treatment, including naloxone for an apparent opioid overdose.

Public records revisions address requests and transmission of records, including provisions allowing the district to limit records sent by U.S. mail to 10 per month in certain circumstances. Other revisions update rules for school board vacancies and removals, including protections for board members deployed while serving in the U.S. armed forces or Ohio National Guard.

The policies were presented for first reading and were not up for adoption Monday. Reeves said the district uses two readings to allow the public to comment before approving policies.

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The Green Grape Report’s Greatest Report

Gary Gardiner — Mon, 14 Sep 2026 10:31:38 GMT

Kroger emailed me a graphic advertising that I could “save a bunch” on grapes with “their juiciest, in-season flavor we look forward to every year.”

There were two problems.

The Kroger on Schrock did not have any bagged green grapes on Saturday or Sunday when I visited. The Kroger on Maxtown had none on Saturday and three bags on Sunday afternoon.

The price was $2.79 a pound both days.

No grapes. No bargain.

Meijer, meanwhile, had green grapes for 50 cents a pound.

I made three trips over two days. The shelves were fully stocked. The grapes were cold.

And delicious. And juicy. And sweet. And plentiful.

Market District also had green grapes, but they cost even more than Kroger's.

So how did Meijer do it? I have a theory.

How is it that Kroger barely has bagged green grapes at $2.79 a pound, Market District has them at an even higher price, and Meijer has a seemingly endless supply at 50 cents a pound for two straight days?

I’m not a conspiracy nut, but I wonder if Meijer’s fruit buyers saw an opportunity and bought as many green grapes as they could for the Westerville market.

Maybe a grower or distributor had a lot of grapes that needed to move quickly. Maybe Meijer agreed to take a huge quantity in exchange for a very low price. Maybe the 50-cent grapes were simply a loss leader designed to get people through the doors.

Or maybe it was some combination of all three.

Whatever the explanation, Meijer did not treat this like one of those grocery specials where the advertised item disappears before most people ever get to the store.

They had grapes. Lots of grapes. Cheap grapes.

They devoted a surprising amount of refrigerated shelf space to them, and every time I went back, there were more.

That is the part that interests me. Selling grapes for 50 cents a pound is one thing. Having enough good, cold, fresh grapes to keep several displays full for an entire weekend is another.

There is, of course, another possibility.

Perhaps Meijer has been reading The Green Grape Report and decided it wanted a favorable review.

If so, 50-cent green grapes are an excellent way to get my attention.

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Westerville Sports - September 13, 2026

Gary Gardiner — Sun, 13 Sep 2026 23:41:55 GMT

Friday, Sept. 18

• Westerville Central football hosts Olentangy Berlin, 7 p.m.

• Westerville North football plays at Delaware Hayes, 7 p.m.

• Westerville South football hosts Big Walnut, 7 p.m.

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Westerville Calendar - September 14-20, 2026

Gary Gardiner — Sun, 13 Sep 2026 23:41:45 GMT

Monday, September 14, 2026

• Mindful Breathing for Seniors - 11:30 a.m.–noon - Westerville Senior Center
• Book Club at Westerville Senior Center - 2:30–3:30 p.m. - Westerville Senior Center
• Vinyl Record Wall Art - 4–5 p.m. - Westerville Public Library
• Board of Education Meeting - 6 p.m. - Early Learning Center, 936 Eastwind Dr.
• Book to Movie Club - 6:30–7:30 p.m. - Westerville Public Library

Tuesday, September 15, 2026

• Canva Craft. Viva Cultura Buttons - 2–3:30 p.m. - Westerville Public Library
• City Council Regular Meeting - 7 p.m. - Justice Center, Huber Village Blvc.
• Poetry Discussion and Open Mic - 7–8:30 p.m. - Westerville Public Library

Wednesday, September 16, 2026

• Lunchbox Concert. The Castros - 11:30 a.m.–1 p.m. - Java Central Café, 20 S. State St.
• Small Business Summit - 3–5 p.m. - Grizzlybird Brewing Company
• Finance and Facilities Board Committee Meeting - 4:30–5:30 p.m. - Westerville Public Library
• PROS Community Open House - 6–8 p.m. - Westerville Community Center, 350 N. Cleveland Ave.
• WACKY Kids and Youth Art Workshop. Explosion Books - 6–8 p.m. - The Point at Otterbein, 60 Collegeview Road
• Human Resources Board Committee Meeting - 6:15–7:15 p.m. - Westerville Public Library
• Westerville Writers Group - 7 p.m. - Westerville Public Library, Meeting Room D
• Westerville Book Discussion Group - 7–9 p.m. - Westerville Public Library

Thursday, September 17, 2026

• Westerville Industry and Commerce Corporation Meeting - 9:30–10:30 a.m. - Westerville City Hall, 21 S. State St.
• Small Business Toolkit. How to Start a Business in Ohio - 10 a.m.–noon - Westerville Public Library
• Weight and Witness Public Reception - 4–6 p.m. - Fisher Gallery, Roush Hall, Otterbein University
• Introduction to Fly Casting - 6–7:30 p.m. - Hoover Reservoir, Lower Dam Parking Lot No. 3, 7370 Sunbury Road
• Community Artists of Westerville Art Social - 6–8 p.m. - Family Room Coffee & Bake Shop, 545 S. Otterbein Ave.
• Cookbook Club. Hispanic Latino Heritage Month - 6–7 p.m. - Westerville Public Library
• Stained Glass Workshop with Kara Chapin - 6–9 p.m. - Daylight Artist Collective, 9 E. College Ave.

Friday, September 18, 2026

• Uptown Friday Nights - 6:30–8:30 p.m. - Uptown Westerville
• Uptown Concert Series. Johnthan Hape - 7 p.m. - City Hall Courtyard, 21 S. State St.
• Curtain Players. The Sunshine Boys - 7:30 p.m. - Curtain Players Theatre, 5691 Harlem Road

Saturday, September 19, 2026

• Westerville Saturday Farmers Market - 9 a.m.–noon - COhatch and North High Brewing parking lots, 240 S. State St.
• Historic Window Restoration Fundraising Breakfast at Blendon 339 - 9–11 a.m. - Blendon Masonic Lodge No. 339, 130 S. State St.
• Art Fun at Westerville Farmers Market - 9 a.m.–noon - COhatch and North High Brewing parking lots, 240 S. State St.
• Autumn Arborfest - 10 a.m.–2 p.m. - Alum Creek Park North, 221 W. Main St.
• Costume Swap. Free Shopping Day - 1–4 p.m. - Westerville Public Library
• Westerville Sings Broadway. An America 250 Celebration - 6:30 p.m. - Alum Creek Park North Amphitheater, 221 W. Main St.
• Live Music at Java Central. John Morgan - 7–9:30 p.m. - Java Central Café, 20 S. State St.
• Curtain Players. The Sunshine Boys - 7:30 p.m. - Curtain Players Theatre, 5691 Harlem Road

Sunday, September 20, 2026

• Apple Cidering. Bring the Farm to You - 2–3 p.m. - Westerville Public Library

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Westerville Obituaries - September 13, 2026

Gary Gardiner — Sun, 13 Sep 2026 23:41:06 GMT

Offie Bartley
November 12, 1929 – September 8, 2026

Offie Bartley, 96, of Pikeville, Kentucky, passed away Sept. 8, 2026. He was born to Willard and Hama Kiser Bartley and was one of 13 children.

A businessman with a strong work ethic, Offie owned Capital Tool Grinding and Hi-Lite Plastic Products, businesses he built with his family over many years.

His faith was central to his life. He served as elder and moderator of Mt. Judia Old Regular Baptist Church and spent many years preaching and guiding his family through his religious beliefs.

Offie was married to Peggy for 73 years before her death. They were known for their devotion to one another, their faith, and their shared love of cooking and bringing family together.

He is survived by his children, Maggie Maynard, Eunie Music, June Bailey, Daniel Bartley, and Susan Evangelista and Timothy Evangelista; six grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; and six great-great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Peggy; son Maximillion Bartley; and sons-in-law Timothy Maynard, Ronald Music, and James Bailey.

Offie will be remembered for his faith, devotion to family, work ethic, and the businesses he built.

Paul Alan Wagner II
August 9, 1977 – August 30, 2026

Paul Alan Wagner II, 49, passed away unexpectedly Aug. 30, 2026. He was born in Columbus and graduated from Westerville North High School in 1995 and Franklin University.

Paul was known for his loyalty to family and friends, his distinctive sense of humor, and his willingness to help the people he cared about. He enjoyed telling jokes, sharing stories, and bringing his own offbeat perspective to everyday life.

His interests included reading, podcasts and audiobooks, painting miniatures, Dungeons & Dragons, video games, horror and science-fiction movies, puzzles, trivia, and board games. He was also an aquarist and animal lover.

Paul especially valued time with his wife, including their morning coffee together, and took great pleasure in good food and sweets.

He will be remembered for his creativity, humor, curiosity, and devotion to the people and animals he loved.

Margaret Eva (Grigsby) ODaniel
April 23, 1934 – August 29, 2026

Margaret Eva ODaniel, 92, formerly of Westerville, Ohio, passed away Aug. 29, 2026, at Mother Angeline McCrory Manor. She was born in Springfield, Kentucky, the oldest of four sisters, and attended St. Catherine Academy and St. Catherine College.

She married Joseph ODaniel in 1956, and the couple moved to Columbus before settling in Westerville in 1961. Margaret raised five children while working for more than 25 years in administrative roles at several schools, including Columbus Academy in Gahanna.

Margaret was known for her cooking, especially homemade rolls, fried chicken, soups, and salads, and for her quilting and needlepoint. She gave many of her handmade pieces to friends and family.

After retiring, she traveled extensively in Europe and the United States. She later returned to school at Otterbein University, where she completed a degree in English in 2002. Her return to college was featured in the university’s Towers magazine in 2001.

Margaret will be remembered for her devotion to family, long career in education, creativity, love of travel, and determination to complete her college degree later in life.

Jack R. Horlocker
Born date unavailable – September 5, 2026

Jack R. Horlocker, 88, of Westerville, Ohio, passed away Sept. 5, 2026, surrounded by family. He graduated from Westerville High School in 1956.

Jack worked as a meat cutter at Brownies Meat Market and Rhodes Meat Market and later became co-owner of Red Barn Meat Company.

An avid golfer, he later cut grass at Muirfield and Blackhawk Golf Course. He held the second tee time at Blackhawk on Saturday mornings for 35 years. Jack also enjoyed playing cards and following the Ohio State Buckeyes, Columbus Blue Jackets, NASCAR, and professional golf.

He especially enjoyed watching his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren compete in sports and other activities.

Jack is survived by his wife of 67 years, Barbara Horlocker; children Julie Waaland and Kim Waaland, Jackie Kaser and Jim Kaser, and Wendal Horlocker and Susie Horlocker; seven grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; sisters Charlene and Wanda; brother-in-law Larry Dixon and Kathy Dixon; and longtime friend and golf partner Dave Bumgarner.

He was preceded in death by his parents, June and Wendal Horlocker, and sister Ginny.

Marsha Hummel Dooley
June 9, 1947 – September 9, 2026

Marsha Hummel Dooley, 79, of Westerville, Ohio, passed away Sept. 9, 2026, at Kobacker House in Columbus. She was born in Covington, Kentucky, to Joseph G. and Mary E. Grove Hummel.

Marsha met her husband, Joseph C. Dooley, at Xavier University. During his military career, the family lived and traveled around the world, and Hawaii held a special place in her life. The couple was married 49 years before his death.

A devoted Catholic, Marsha was active in her church and community and was known for her willingness to serve others. Family remained central to her life, and she especially valued her roles as mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother.

She is survived by her children, Erin Madigan and Nicholas Madigan, Kevin Dooley and Jennifer Dooley, and Meghan Kluse and Michael Kluse; nine grandchildren; great-granddaughter Clara Madigan; and siblings Tom Hummel, Mary Jo Hummel, Joe Hummel, Barbara Ludwig, Mitzi Kuebbing, and Becky Horvath, along with their spouses.

She was preceded in death by her husband, retired Col. Joseph C. Dooley, and her parents.

Marsha will be remembered for her faith, devotion to family, service to others, and the many friendships formed during a life shaped in part by military service and travel.

Jackie Poston
Born date unavailable – September 10, 2026

Jackie Poston, 73, of Westerville, Ohio, passed away Sept. 10, 2026, at home surrounded by family. She graduated from Worthington High School and The Ohio State University, where she was a member of Pi Beta Phi sorority.

Jackie was an active member of St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church. She enjoyed water skiing, snow skiing, and bicycling.

She is survived by her husband of 53 years, Greg Poston; daughters Tammy Lovelace and Doug Lovelace, and Pam Rehring and Steve Rehring; grandchildren Austin, Hunter, Eric, Luke and Owen Lovelace, and Raiter and Titan Rehring; great-granddaughter Amelia Lovelace; brother Brad Wylie and Susan Wylie; sister-in-law Sherry Daubenmier and Chuck Daubenmier; and extended family and friends.

Jackie will be remembered for her devotion to family, active faith, and enjoyment of outdoor activities.

Michael J. Kapral
September 7, 2026

Michael J. “Mike” Kapral, 61, of Westerville, Ohio, passed away Sept. 7, 2026, surrounded by family. He was born in Charleston, West Virginia, to Michael and Sandra Kapral and was raised in Ripley, West Virginia.

Mike attended Marshall University, where he played intramural sports and was a member of Alpha Sigma Phi. His competitive nature and mathematical ability remained defining traits throughout his life.

He developed a particular passion for poker, especially PLO8 and Big O, and built lasting friendships through the game. He was known at the table for his quiet, calculated style and later taught and coached his wife, Lynn, in the game.

Mike is survived by his wife of 33 years, Lynn Kapral; daughter Sydney Kapral and Matthew Laneve; and mother Sandra Kapral. He was preceded in death by his father, Michael Kapral, in 1989.

Family was central to Mike’s life, and he took particular pride in his daughter’s accomplishments. Shortly before his death, he was able to walk Sydney down the aisle at her Aug. 29 wedding.

He will be remembered for his gentle nature, humor, competitive spirit, and devotion to his family.

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The Westerville News is a reader-supported publication by Gary Gardiner, a lifelong journalist who believes hyper-local reporting is the future of news. This publication focuses exclusively on Westerville—its local news, influence on Central Ohio, and how surrounding areas shape the community.

Regional News Briefs - September 13, 2026

Gary Gardiner — Sun, 13 Sep 2026 23:40:43 GMT

Central Ohio News Briefs: News Reported Sept. 7–12, 2026

Public safety, government policy and transportation led Central Ohio’s local news during the week, alongside school updates, community events and high school sports.

Gahanna

Gahanna-Jefferson Public Schools released revised attendance-boundary maps for the 2027–28 school year. District officials said the revisions affect fewer than 250 elementary and middle school students and protect students who were moved during the previous redistricting process from being reassigned again. The district published the updated maps Sept. 8.

Galena

Delaware County commissioners approved a petition to annex about 58.4 acres of the former Debolt Farm in Berkshire Township into Galena. Galena Village Council must still approve the annexation. The village Zoning Commission will review proposed development plans and make recommendations to council.

Grove City

A group of Grove City fathers completed a 24-mile run over 24 hours Sept. 10 and 11 to mark the 25th anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks. The effort raised money for the Tunnel to Towers Foundation, which assists injured service members, first responders and families of fallen public-safety personnel.

Arts in the Alley will return Sept. 18–20. The annual downtown festival will feature work by regional artists, live entertainment and community activities.

Groveport

The Wheels of Color gathering at Three Creeks Metro Park added a 5K on Labor Day in memory of Master Sgt. Tyler Simmons, an Ohio airman who died in 2026. The Sept. 7 race joined the event’s car show and community activities.

Hilliard

COTA began service on Line 30 on Sept. 7, giving Hilliard riders a direct transit connection through Upper Arlington and Ohio State University to downtown Columbus. The route is part of the agency’s September service changes and expands fixed-route access on the region’s northwest side.

Hilliard held its annual Sept. 11 remembrance at First Responders Park. The memorial includes steel recovered from the World Trade Center and honors those killed in the 2001 attacks.

Johnstown

The Johnstown Downtown Development Association held Fall Fest on Sept. 12. The afternoon event brought vendors and family activities to downtown Johnstown, with Murdoch’s Ranch & Home Supply serving as the presenting sponsor.

On the football field, Johnstown-Monroe defeated Mount Vernon 37–30 on Sept. 11. Northridge also won, edging Lakota 23–22 in a nonconference game.

Lockbourne

A 13-year-old girl missing since July 2024 was recovered from a home in the 900 block of Hibbs Road during Operation Meridian, a monthlong U.S. Marshals Service initiative that located 79 missing children across Ohio. Authorities said the girl was found concealed in a basement crawlspace. Her mother was arrested on an outstanding Franklin County warrant.

New Albany

New Albany resident Alaina Buckingham was among six Central Ohio children selected for the National Down Syndrome Society’s Times Square video presentation on Sept. 12. The annual presentation featured photographs of people with Down syndrome from across the country.

New Albany’s boys golf team won the OCC-Ohio championship, and Elijah Hall-Bromberg earned the conference’s player of the year award. The football team added a 28–21 road victory over Upper Arlington on Sept. 11.

Canine Companions announced that DogFest will be held Sept. 20 at its North Central Training Center. The fundraiser will celebrate service-dog partnerships and support the organization’s training and placement programs.

Obetz

The 2026 Obetz Zucchinifest concluded Sept. 7 at Fortress Obetz. The final day included New Ohio Wrestling, rides, animal encounters and zucchini-themed food and vendors.

Powell

Powell City Council awarded Strawser Paving Co. a $2,996,266.74 contract for the city’s 2026 Street and Path Maintenance Program. Work will include road resurfacing, shared-use path and sidewalk repairs, and curb-ramp improvements.

Powell residents Carter Cherry and Samuel “Sammy” Rodriguez Barreto were featured in the National Down Syndrome Society’s Sept. 12 Times Square video.

Reynoldsburg

Mayor Joe Begeny ordered the immediate shutdown of Reynoldsburg’s Flock Safety license-plate reader system Sept. 9, citing concerns about transparency and possible misuse of the data. The city removed the cameras as it reviewed its policies and participation in the surveillance network.

A community resource center also opened to help residents recover from recent flooding. The center offered supplies and assistance from local agencies and relief organizations, including help addressing mold and other damage left by flooded basements.

Sunbury

Big Walnut shut out Delaware Hayes 46–0 in varsity football Sept. 11, extending a strong start to its 2026 season.

West Jefferson

West Jefferson’s Week 5 football game against Springfield Catholic Central was canceled because of injuries on Catholic Central’s roster. West Jefferson instead played Cedarville on Sept. 11 and won 44–6.

Worthington

Worthington will conduct another controlled deer reduction from December 2026 through February 2027, with a possible extension into March if needed. The city plans to use U.S. Department of Agriculture sharpshooters after its previous operation removed 100 deer in eight days.

Opponents of a 20-acre redevelopment at 445 E. Dublin-Granville Road are collecting signatures for a referendum that could place the project before voters. City Council approved the Elford Development proposal July 20. Plans call for 246 housing units.

The Whispering Page opened Sept. 3 at 661 N. High St. The independent bookstore sells books alongside coffee, pastries and alcoholic beverages.

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EMWTTSFM - In Good And Bad Weather

Gary Gardiner — Sat, 12 Sep 2026 10:31:04 GMT

Rain is forecast for Saturday’s Farmers Market. Rain and a flash flood warning. There’s nothing to fear.

When a concerned bystander tells me it’s raining and that I should be careful with myself and my cameras, I respond in a way that seems to show little concern for either.

“I was born wet,” I offer as a brief explanation for my attitude. I say it in a way intended to elicit a smile, perhaps a brief laugh, while acknowledging their concern.

I follow it with, “Of course, I was born wet, naked, and angry. Pick two,” often holding up two fingers in the 1968 peace-sign configuration as a hidden message to relax.

I’m fine getting wet. I’ve been there from the beginning. Since that birth experience, I’ve learned to always wear clothes and not let anger control me.

Saturday will also mark one of the market’s final three days. Soon the rain will turn to snow. I’ll be bundled in multiple layers of natural-fiber clothing, and the anger at the market’s closing will begin to give way to gleeful anticipation of next spring.

Until then, there is the freezer.

On Saturday, I’ll stock up on the foods I can count on to carry me through those months when the smell and feel of farm-fresh corn, beans, and tomatoes are just memories, and their grocery-store versions are tasteless, unappetizing wannabes.

My freezer will yield market bratwurst, sausage, pork chops, hot dogs, and bacon from local farms, giving me something from the market long after the vegetables are gone.

I’ll walk through the market in the rain, unconcerned that I’ll get wet. Done that before.

I’ll step across the anger threshold and into thoughts of bratwurst on the grill for the Super Bowl; pork chops with rice, black-eyed peas, and stewed tomatoes on New Year’s Day; and a cup of dark roast coffee with a Sunday omelet rolled over bacon pulled from the freezer.

I only wish I had a larger freezer.

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Honoring Sacrifice For All Who Serve

Gary Gardiner — Fri, 11 Sep 2026 10:30:52 GMT

The ceremonies at First Responders Park on Friday will mark the 25th anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks.

The observance is the latest in a series of smaller, quieter remembrances that have marked the date at the park over the years, often drawing firefighters, police officers, veterans, families and residents to the memorial built around a piece of steel from the World Trade Center.

The anniversary also comes after 25 years of military service and sacrifice that followed the attacks, including the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Westerville residents and families were among those affected by that service. Some deployed overseas, some returned wounded, and some died while serving. Others came home carrying injuries and experiences that continued to affect them long after their military service ended.

That broader sense of sacrifice is one reason a retired Marine with family ties to Westerville has changed the way he thanks veterans. Rather than saying, “Thank you for your service,” he says, “Thank you for your sacrifice,” a phrase meant to recognize the full list of effects that military service can require.

Those effects are also reflected in local graves and memorials.

One is the grave of Spc. Zachary Taylor Myers, who died in Iraq on Sept. 8, 2009, at age 21. His grave marker identifies his Army service, Iraq deployment, Bronze Star Medal and Purple Heart. Beneath that record are the words, “Miss me, but let me go.”

Friday’s ceremony will return attention to the events of Sept. 11, 2001, and to the first responders who died that day. But the anniversary also marks the beginning of a period of military service whose costs continued for years afterward.

At First Responders Park, the twisted steel from the World Trade Center remains the physical link to that morning.

The ceremony Friday will ask the community to remember not only what was lost on Sept. 11, but also the service and sacrifice that followed.

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At C-40, Westerville Will Remember Where It Was On 9/11

Gary Gardiner — Thu, 10 Sep 2026 10:30:54 GMT

When C-40, the mangled steel recovered from the World Trade Center, arrived in Westerville in 2009, Tom Ullom placed his hand on it and prayed. Other Westerville firefighters and police officers stood around him. Beneath his hand was steel that had once been part of the North Tower, twisted and scarred by the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.

The steel would become the centerpiece of Westerville’s Firefighters Memorial, later renamed First Responders Park, a physical connection between central Ohio and a place hundreds of miles away where nearly 3,000 people died. But before it became a monument, it was something to touch, to grieve over and to pray beside.

On Friday, as Westerville marks the 25th anniversary of the attacks, Ullom will stand near that steel again. First responders and residents will gather around C-40 to remember a day that, even a quarter-century later, is often recalled with a simple question: “Where were you on 9/11?”

For those old enough to remember, the answer can come quickly. They may have been in a classroom, an office, a firehouse, or at home with a television on. Some remember a phone call saying something had happened in New York, then watching as the enormity of the attacks became clear.

The question asks more than where someone was. It asks what they saw, whom they worried about and what they felt as the events of that morning unfolded. Those gathered at the memorial Friday will bring their own answers, along with memories of the agony and worry that swept across the country that day.

For younger people in the crowd, Sept. 11 is different. It is history rather than memory, something learned through photographs, recordings and the accounts of people who witnessed it. C-40 helps bridge that distance by giving them a physical connection to the place where the attacks occurred.

Ullom can tell visitors where the steel once stood in the North Tower. C-40 spanned floors 98 through 101 on the tower’s north face, directly above the area where American Airlines Flight 11 struck the building. A graphic mounted on the wall beside the steel helps tell that part of its story.

That provenance changes the way the steel can be viewed. C-40 is not simply wreckage removed from Ground Zero. It came from a particular place in the tower, close to one of the most recognizable wounds left by the attack.

In indoor presentations, Ullom also uses a photograph of that side of the North Tower. The image shows the enormous opening left by the impact, and its perspective corresponds with the graphic displayed beside C-40 at the memorial.

One figure is visible in the photograph: a woman standing in the gash in the side of the building. Ullom identifies her as Edna Cintron, who survived the initial impact of the plane but died when the North Tower collapsed.

The building's scale can make her hard to notice at first. Once you notice her, however, the image takes on a different meaning. The dark opening in the tower is no longer only a record of structural devastation. Someone was still alive inside it.

The photograph also carries a Columbus connection. Amy Sancetta, who earlier worked for The Columbus Dispatch and also freelanced for The Associated Press in Ohio, took. Her assignments included the familiar mix of newspaper work: features, sports and news.

On Sept. 11, 2001, Sancetta, now a staff photographer for AP, was in New York covering her tenth U.S. Open for The Associated Press. What had begun as another sports assignment put her in the middle of a day unlike any she had photographed before, one that would change her life and the lives of millions of others.

Among the images she made was the photograph Ullom now uses to help explain the history surrounding C-40. In the accompanying video, Sancetta describes that day in her own words — what she witnessed and photographed, and how she came to understand that her world, like everyone else’s, had changed.

Twenty-five years later, the photograph and the steel have become part of how the story is passed from one generation to another. People will gather around C-40 on Friday not because a piece of twisted steel can explain everything that happened on Sept. 11, but because it makes the distance between Westerville and lower Manhattan a little smaller.

It gives them something to stand beside as they remember those who died, those who responded, and those whose lives were altered in ways large and small.

And for many who gather there, the steel may call up once more the question Americans have asked one another for a quarter-century:

Where were you on 9/11?

Editor’s Note: Ceremonies begin at First Responders Park at noon.

Otterbein honors 9/11 victims with flag memorial

Nearly 3,000 flags fill the lawn in front of Towers Hall at Otterbein University this week in remembrance of the 2,977 people killed in the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

The memorial, organized by Otterbein’s Office of Inclusion and the Office of Social Justice and Advocacy, uses flags representing the victims' nationalities. Each flag corresponds to a victim, with 62 countries represented in the display. Of the 2,977 victims, 2,605 were American citizens.

Students, faculty and staff volunteered to place the flags on the lawn.

The display will remain in place until 9 a.m. Monday, Sept. 14.

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Westerville Council Tells Staff To Outline Sale Options For 64 East Walnut

Gary Gardiner — Wed, 09 Sep 2026 10:31:32 GMT

Westerville City Council directed staff Tuesday to return with options for how the city could sell 64 E. Walnut St., keeping a potential sale of the five-acre property alive despite public feedback favoring continued city ownership and opposing several elements of a redevelopment plan the council rejected in June.

All seven council members gave the administration an informal go-ahead after a 2-hour, 21-minute work session. Council did not vote to sell the property, choose a developer, or approve a new development proposal.

“This does not mean we’re saying we’re selling or not selling,” council Chair Megan Czako said after polling her colleagues. “We are just saying let’s understand the process and go from there.”

City officials spent much of the session tracing staff’s recommendation to sell the property to more than a decade of council-approved plans and policies. Economic Development Director Rachel Ray called the presentation “a master class in comprehensive planning and city administration and policy governance.”

City Manager Monica Dupee and Planning and Development Director David Efland said the 2016 Imagine Westerville Community Plan provides the clearest direction. It calls for selling the building at 64 E. Walnut for private redevelopment after city departments moved elsewhere.

A 2018 campaign video and fact sheet for the Justice Center bond issue also said 64 E. Walnut and two other city properties would be sold. However, Dupee acknowledged the sale was not included in the ballot language itself.

Other city plans recommend higher-density mixed-use development, housing, a boutique hotel, additional parking and trail connections in or around Uptown. No single plan requires all of those uses at 64 E. Walnut.

Dupee said staff combined those ideas at Walnut Street because the city owns the property and few other five-acre sites are available near Uptown. Asked whether selling the property was the clearest instruction contained in the plans, Dupee replied, “One hundred percent.”

She also emphasized that council could change that policy.

“There are no right or wrong answers on Council,” Dupee said. “There are only consequences.”

The discussion followed council’s June 2 rejection of a purchase contract with Continental Real Estate Cos. The proposed development included 247 apartments, an 81-room boutique hotel, a restaurant and commercial space, and a parking structure.

The proposal prompted heavy public opposition, packed council meetings and a petition the city said collected more than 1,600 signatures in less than two days.

After rejecting the contract, council directed the administration to return with the city’s goals for the property, the sources behind those goals, an explanation of the sale and development process, opportunities for public participation and information about traffic studies, potential sale prices and tax revenue.

Public feedback collected since then has pointed away from several elements of the Continental proposal.

Traffic was the most frequently cited concern. Participants also repeatedly raised school and child safety, parking, building height, density, and compatibility with the surrounding neighborhood.

Opposition to a hotel appeared at nearly every workshop table, according to the city’s written report, which described the final round of comments as showing “a strong, near-universal ‘no hotel’ sentiment.”

The report also recorded frequent opposition to large or dense development and recurring interest in reusing the existing building, leasing the property or pursuing a public-private arrangement that would allow the city to retain control. A performing arts or cultural center was the leading workshop response when participants were asked to suggest a revenue-generating use.

The presentation shown to council Tuesday did not include the written report’s characterization of hotel opposition as nearly universal or its references to leasing the property as an alternative to a sale.

A separate Uptown United survey showed similar opposition to the rejected proposal. Among 792 unique responses, about 80% opposed a boutique hotel, 75% opposed apartments, and 84% favored continued city ownership of the property.

Neither survey was scientific, and the two used different methods and questions. Participation was voluntary; the city did not ask respondents whether they lived in Westerville, while Uptown United relied on self-reported residency.

Even with those differences, both reports identified substantial concern about traffic, safety, scale, parking and neighborhood character, along with strong opposition to a hotel — positions at odds with major elements of the rejected Continental proposal.

City staff emphasized areas where public preferences were less unified, including interest in arts space, a market, housing and open space.

The differences between the two surveys became part of council’s discussion near the end of Tuesday’s session.

Dupee described Uptown United as a special-interest group and recommended that council not invite it to present. Czako deferred further discussion until a later meeting.

Dupee also addressed suggestions that the city retain the building for an arts center or lease it to another organization. She said the city legally could own and lease such a facility but recommended against doing so without a partner capable of raising millions of dollars and operating it.

Staff continued to argue that private redevelopment would return the land to the property-tax rolls and generate recurring revenue. Dupee said the property’s eventual use and annual tax production were more important than its one-time sale price.

The administration will next return with possible methods for selling the property, including a direct sale, auction, or request for proposals with conditions. If council decides to pursue one of those methods, it would discuss restrictions on a potential sale at another meeting.

Czako said no sale would appear on a council agenda until those preliminary discussions were completed.

“There’s no movement going to be happening on this property,” she said.

For now, 64 E. Walnut remains city-owned. The Continental proposal remains rejected, no replacement project has been submitted, and council has not voted to sell the property.

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Council Work Session To Review Answers Before Next Move On 64 E. Walnut

Gary Gardiner — Tue, 08 Sep 2026 10:30:45 GMT

64 East Walnut Street

Westerville City Council will hear Tuesday how city administrators answered the questions council required them to address before any new proposal for 64 E. Walnut St. can return for consideration.

Council unanimously rejected a proposed sale and redevelopment of the approximately 5.2-acre property June 2. The plan called for 247 apartments, an 81-room boutique hotel and restaurant, and a 400-space parking garage, including 100 spaces reserved for public use. The city would have sold the property for $2.5 million to an entity connected to Continental Real Estate Cos.

After rejecting the agreement, council directed the administration to return with information on four subjects: community goals for the property, the city’s development-review process, the financial effects of a potential sale and redevelopment, and how the city determines the price of publicly owned property.

Council asked the city to compile goals and priorities from resident comments, council priorities, and city planning documents, including the community plan and economic development strategy.

It also asked for an explanation of how development proposals move through City Council, zoning review, and the Planning Commission, including the traffic-study process. Council asked how proceeds from the sale of public property are handled, where revenue from a sale and redevelopment of 64 E. Walnut could go, and how a sale and resulting tax revenue would affect city finances.

The city has said no legislation, sale proposal, or development item involving the property will return to council until that information has been presented publicly.

Tuesday’s work session is also expected to include a summary of comments collected during and after an Aug. 11 community workshop.

The city used facilitated table discussions during the workshop and offered the same questions through an online survey and printed comment cards. Participants were asked what they valued about the property, what goals should guide its future, and what ideas they had for its use.

The workshop report and complete results had not been posted on the city’s project page as of Monday. The page continued to state that consultants would prepare the report and present it at Tuesday’s work session.

The session begins at 7 p.m. Tuesday at the Westerville Justice Center, 229 Huber Village Blvd. The city has said 64 E. Walnut will be the sole subject.

Residents may attend and submit written comment cards but will not be permitted to ask questions, make public comments or respond to remarks by city officials or council members. Work sessions are used for city presentations, council questions and discussion rather than formal legislative action.

Council members also received results of a separate survey conducted by Uptown United, a local residents’ group formed in opposition to the rejected redevelopment proposal.

The group said it created the survey after months of conversations with residents to measure the importance of recurring concerns, what tradeoffs people would accept and which priorities were shared most broadly.

Uptown United reported receiving 828 submissions between July 25 and Sept. 3. It removed 36 submissions with repeated digital fingerprints and included 792 responses in its analysis.

Of those respondents, 86% identified themselves as Westerville residents. About 27% said they lived in Uptown or Old Westerville, meaning most respondents lived elsewhere in the city or outside Westerville.

Respondents also reported frequent use of the area. About 88% said they visited Uptown at least weekly, and 70% said they visited the library, Hanby Park, the Ohio-to-Erie Trail, or parking areas adjacent to 64 E. Walnut at least weekly. About 83% described themselves as somewhat or very familiar with discussions about the property.

Continued public ownership received one of the survey’s strongest responses. About 84% said the city should definitely or probably retain ownership of the property. About 5% said it should definitely or probably sell, while 86 respondents expressed no preference.

A related question found that about 76% considered it very or extremely important for the city to retain ownership of strategically located public properties in Uptown.

Preservation also drew broad support. About 38% said the existing building should be renovated and reused if feasible, while another 36% said preservation and renovation should receive equal consideration with demolition and new construction. About 6% preferred demolition and complete redevelopment.

Safety and compatibility ranked among respondents’ highest considerations for future decisions. Pedestrian safety, school safety, public safety, traffic, and compatibility with the surrounding neighborhood repeatedly ranked above hotel accommodations, housing opportunities, and tax revenue, according to charts in the group’s report.

Tax revenue was not dismissed: about 65% considered it at least somewhat important. But respondents assigned greater importance to safety, compatibility and several community uses.

The survey did not identify one dominant preferred use for the property. Support was divided among a community gathering space, educational or community services, a civic arts center, additional green space, and a farmers or public market.

Hotels and apartments drew the greatest opposition, with 79% opposing a boutique hotel and 74% opposing apartments.

Parking produced a clearer result. About 81% wanted the current 205 public parking spaces maintained or increased if possible. Eighteen respondents supported reducing the number, while 128 expressed no preference.

The survey also asked about the city’s public-engagement process. About 42% said they were somewhat or very dissatisfied, compared with about 29% who said they were somewhat or very satisfied. Another 213 respondents were neutral.

Conversational meetings between residents and the city, along with continued online information and surveys, were the two most frequently requested forms of future participation.

Uptown United did not release respondents’ written answers to the survey’s final open-ended question. The group said some respondents entered material they did not want shared publicly and that it would determine later how those responses could be handled. The report therefore provides aggregate results but no direct quotations from individual respondents.

Residents also used the city’s Plan Westerville Community Check-In page to comment on 64 E. Walnut. Commenters proposed uses for the East Walnut property. Comments specifically addressing the site generally favored public or community uses, additional parking, and development compatible with surrounding neighborhoods.

One resident proposed “a combined parking garage/community or market type space.” Another called for a year-round farmers market and suggested locating the previously proposed hotel near Cleveland Avenue and Main Street instead.

Other suggestions included an arts and performance center, public space for entertainment and vendors, a small local movie theater, an Uptown grocery store, and additional space for Parks and Recreation programs.

Several residents also urged the city to favor smaller-scale development and seek public input earlier in the planning process.

One commenter called on the city to “pursue incremental urbanization as opposed to mega-developments to retain pedestrian scale and authenticity.” Another asked the city to let residents react to plans for streets, buildings and parks “well before they are set in stone.”

The comments were not unanimous. Some residents used the broader planning page to support less-expensive, higher-density housing for younger adults, family-sized apartments and mixed-use projects with workforce housing. Those comments did not specifically propose placing that housing at 64 E. Walnut.

City staff and consultants are expected to present their summary of the workshop responses and related public comments on Tuesday. Council members will then be able to question the findings and discuss what, if anything, should happen next at 64 E. Walnut.

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Green Grape Report Covenant Broken - Base Ball the Old Fashioned Way Photo Gallery

Gary Gardiner — Mon, 07 Sep 2026 10:30:21 GMT

I violated the green grape covenant.

Green grapes are less than $2 a pound. They are plentiful. All are crisp and sweet. It’s not worth the time, effort, and gas money to travel as much as I did to get grapes for this weekly report. Again, as I did last week, I bought too many and will suffer the consequences, especially after eating nuts and grains. But…

Obituaries - September 6, 2026

Gary Gardiner — Sun, 06 Sep 2026 22:21:54 GMT

Joseph Carl Vulpio Jr.
October 10, 1967 – August 6, 2026

Joseph Carl “Joe” Vulpio Jr., 58, of Westerville, Ohio, passed away unexpectedly on Aug. 6, 2026. He was born in Parma to Joseph C. Vulpio Sr. and Mary Lou Sculley Vulpio. He graduated from Midpark High School in 1986 and later attended The Ohio State University.

Football officiating was a major part…

Westerville Calendar, September 7-12, 2026

Gary Gardiner — Sun, 06 Sep 2026 22:21:43 GMT

Monday, September 7, 2026

• Labor Day - All day - Westerville
• Westerville Public Library Closed for Labor Day - All day - Westerville Public Library, 126 S. State St.
• Run For The Health Of It 5K, 1 Mile Run/Walk and Youth Fun Run - 8–10:30 a.m. - Westerville Sports Complex, 325 N. Cleveland Ave.

Tuesday, September 8, 2026

• Baby Storytime - 9:30–10 a.m. …

Westerville Sports - September 6, 2026

Gary Gardiner — Sun, 06 Sep 2026 22:21:20 GMT

North hands Central first loss, 14-6

Westerville North quarterback Ethan Stewart threw for 188 yards and two touchdowns as the Warriors defeated crosstown rival Westerville Central 14-6 on Sept. 4.

The victory improved North to 2-1 and handed Central its first loss of the season. The Warhawks also fell to 2-1 after opening with shutout victories over Mari…

Regional News Brief - September 6, 2026

Gary Gardiner — Sun, 06 Sep 2026 22:21:08 GMT

Dublin

A proposed senior-living development at 4178 Bright Road is drawing opposition from nearby homeowners concerned about its design and compatibility with surrounding neighborhoods.

The preliminary proposal calls for a continuum-of-care facility on 17.6 acres southwest of Bright Road and Emerald Parkway. Dublin’s Planning and Zoning Commission discuss…

EMWTTSFM - The Gentle Exchange On Saturday Morning

Gary Gardiner — Sat, 05 Sep 2026 10:30:33 GMT

There is something tender about the way people hold food at the farmers market.

A bunch of broccoli is gathered in both hands like flowers. Tomatoes rest in open palms. Green beans, peppers, and squash are held against the chest so none escape.

These are ordinary groceries, yet for a few seconds, they are precious. Even an ear of corn receives the careful…

Rooftop Bar In Uptown Give New Skyline View - Library Adding Murals To Liven Entrances

Gary Gardiner — Fri, 04 Sep 2026 10:30:39 GMT

A new rooftop bar on North State Street will give patrons a new view of the Uptown skyline.

The Uptown Review Board unanimously approved plans Thursday for Uptown Deli and Brew to expand into the former Edward Jones offices at 37-39 N. State St. and add what city staff says will be Uptown’s first rooftop patio.

The project would further expand the Cabilov…

Herbicide Spraying at Boyer Nature Preserve Prompts City Review of Maintenance Practices

Gary Gardiner — Thu, 03 Sep 2026 10:30:35 GMT

“Keep off ” sign at entrance to Boyer Nature Preserve

Boyer Nature Preserve sits at the end of East Park Street. A narrow path, in places barely wide enough for two people to walk side by side, circles an Ice Age kettle pond formed as glaciers that once covered much of North America and extended into Ohio retreated.

Last week, Westerville Parks and Recrea…

Council Returns From Summer Break To Familiar Topics

Gary Gardiner — Wed, 02 Sep 2026 10:31:02 GMT

Although 64 East Walnut was not on Tuesday’s City Council agenda, it dominated the citizen-comment period that preceded the council’s reading and action on its scheduled agenda items.

Residents questioned whether the city’s reset of the process is truly open-ended, challenged the premise that the property must generate revenue, raised concerns about tran…