Central Ohio News Briefs - March 8, 2026
Dublin
Transit improvements — Central Ohio Transit Authority stop upgrades along Sawmill Road will begin March 9, adding concrete pads, benches, and canopies at five bus stops.
Healthcare expansion — OhioHealth Dublin Methodist Hospital held a groundbreaking for an expansion project.
Business acquisition — Dublin-based Quantum Health announced its acquisition of CirrusMD, expanding its digital healthcare services.
Festival announcement — The Dublin Irish Festival revealed part of its 2026 entertainment lineup, including Gaelic Storm as a headliner.
Sports — Dublin native Emma Sears was scheduled to appear in the U.S. Women’s National Team match against Canada in Columbus on March 4.
Gahanna
State champion — Gahanna Lincoln senior Kael Clous won the OHSAA Division I boys bowling state championship at HP Lanes with a 720 series. The team also placed fourth, the best finish in program history.
Retail development — A furniture retailer purchased the former Union Bank building at 461 Beecher Road and plans to open its first Central Ohio location.
High school honors — The Ohio Prep Sports Media Association released the 2025–2026 All-Central District boys and girls basketball teams, including several Gahanna athletes.
Genoa Township
Housing development — Delaware County’s State of the Market report highlighted two subdivisions in Genoa Township: The Courtyards on Big Walnut and Ravines at Hoover.
Planning process — Township officials are reviewing results from the Genoa Township Master Plan survey and discussing annexation agreements related to Hoover Reservoir parcels.
Grove City
Recreation center debate — City Council continues discussing possible locations and partnership models for a future recreation center, with another meeting scheduled for March 16.
Seasonal event — Grove City launched its Bunny Hunt 2026 community event on March 5.
College sports — Grove City fell 10–8 to Roanoke in men’s lacrosse on March 3.
Hilliard
Energy infrastructure proposal — AEP Ohio hosted a public open house on plans to install 228 natural-gas fuel cells to power an Amazon Web Services data center. Residents raised questions about emissions and safety.
Public safety — Hilliard police officer Jeff Long revived a resident after a cardiac arrest using CPR and a defibrillator.
Business opening — A new Dunkin’ location is preparing to open at 3635 Data Point Court.
Business services — Columbus Marketing Experts announced a digital marketing growth program focused on healthcare and local service industries.
Lockbourne
Community event — The village hosted a Fish Fry on March 5.
Obituary — Funeral Mass for John Joseph Ciardelli Sr., 94, was held March 6 at Mother of Sorrows Chapel in St. Joseph Cemetery.
Obetz
Planning hearing — The Planning and Zoning Commission will hold a public hearing March 18 regarding a variance request for a 6-foot chain-link fence at 1662 Meriline Avenue.
Council schedule — Committee of the Whole meetings will begin Monday, March 9.
Powell
Business closure — Be Fit Café at 10259 East Main Street closed after about 13 years in business.
Coworking expansion — COhatch opened a new downtown Powell coworking and event campus, with a rooftop lounge planned for later this spring.
Reynoldsburg
Agriculture recognition — Governor Mike DeWine and Lt. Gov. Jim Tressel proclaimed March as Ohio Agriculture Month during an event in Reynoldsburg highlighting the state’s agriculture industry.
Apartment fire — Three residents escaped an early-morning fire at an apartment on Baldwin Place; one person was taken to a hospital as a precaution.
State meeting — The Ohio Department of Health scheduled a meeting of the Ohio Newborn Screening Advisory Council in Reynoldsburg on March 6.
Sunbury
High school sports — Big Walnut defeated Westerville South 48–42 in boys basketball on March 5.
West Jefferson
Layoffs — GXO Logistics announced it will close its West Jefferson facility, resulting in layoffs of more than 100 workers.
Police technology — West Jefferson police implemented body cameras with built-in language translation to improve communication with non-English-speaking residents.
Local policy — Village Council passed a resolution opposing large-scale data center development, citing infrastructure and noise concerns.
Worthington
Wildlife management — Worthington’s deer management program has removed about 100 deer since Jan. 1 as part of a multi-year effort to reduce herd size.
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.
Reader funding, including subscribers, protects editorial independence, so coverage is guided by journalists rather than owners or corporate profit goals. It also reduces pressure to chase clicks, letting the newsroom focus on stories worth readers’ time. And it helps keep the site accessible to everyone, including people who can’t pay or live in places where a free press is under threat.
Explore more hyper-local reporting by subscribing to The Hilliard Beacon, Civic Capacity, Marysville Matters, The Ohio Roundtable, Shelby News Reporter, This Week in Toledo, and Into the Morning by Krista Steele.
