270 Huber Village Fire
Westerville police and firefighters stood outside the house at 270 Huber Village Blvd. after the house was damaged by fire Thursday afternoon, perplexed over the oddity of recent events at the house.
The fire was contained to the kitchen, and two residents sat outside in a neighbor's yard as police and firefighters began an investigation.
This is the third emergency at this address, beginning in November of 2024, when a visitor discovered a man dead in a bed in the house. During the investigation, Westerville police found an IED that the Columbus Police Bomb Squad disarmed.
Last week, Westerville police assisted the Delaware Drug Task Force in serving a search warrant at the house. Four people in the house were arrested.
Ohio Health Damaged By Fire
Westerville Fire Department is investigating a small fire extinguished by the sprinkler system at the Ohio Health hospital on Polaris Parkway and Africa Road on Thursday afternoon. The hospital was evacuated when firefighters arrived.
The fire was minor, confined to one office on the second floor. A portion of the east wing was closed as workers cleared water in the office from the sprinkler system.
Middlefield Bank’s New Home
Contractors began excavating the ground for the new Middlefield Bank building and parking lot at Cleveland Ave. and Altair Parkway, adjacent to Smark Park, which is also under construction.
When construction is complete, the bank will sign the deed for its current location on State Street to the city in exchange for the property for the new bank. The city will then own the Citizen Bank building, a historic landmark.
The city is expected to sell the building to a developer, as it did with the old post office when the police department moved to Huber Village Blvd. The city has also said it plans to sell 64 East Walnut after the renovation of City Hall is complete and all government offices are under one roof.
Tasting Westerville
The Westerville Area Chamber of Commerce Taste of Westerville filled the main room at the Renaissance Hotel with the tastiest small portions and large appetites to be in the same room at the same time since last year’s event. More than 30 Westerville restaurants help celebrate the culinary variety of the city in the annual event.
The annual Taste of Westerville showcased food, wine, and beer from Chamber member restaurants.
May Day Protest
A group of protesters, angry at the Trump administration, stood on the sidewalks at City Hall on Thursday, continuing a series of rallies that began on April 6.
The smaller group than the other two rallies stated their purpose and viewpoint with signs and chants as rain squalls moved across Uptown during the one-hour protest.
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