Water Tank Getting Paint, First Farm Market Opens, and Mother's Day Observance
Wrapped in White: Restoration Begins on Hoff Woods Water Tower
Westerville’s Hoff Woods water tower is now encased in massive protective sheeting as part of a long-overdue repainting and maintenance project. The fabric shroud, draped from the top of the tank to the ground, gives the familiar structure a strange new presence — part construction site, part temporary sculpture.
At the top of the tank, a lone worker secured by a safety harness adjusted the cables holding the protective sheeting in place. The worker’s silhouette stands out against the pale fabric and blue sky, serving as a vivid reminder of the hands-on labor involved in the restoration effort.
From an aerial perspective, the water tower stands above the surrounding neighborhood. At ground level, construction equipment and trailers gathered around the base look small in comparison, emphasizing the size of the structure and the extensive restoration work underway.
The covering helps contain paint and debris during sandblasting and recoating, which are standard procedures for extending the tank's service life. Similar work is planned for the Otterbein water tank after the City Council approves a plan to replace the original contractor.
The Maxtown (Hoff Park tank) project was first awarded to Municipal Tank Utilities (MTU) in April 2022 for $343,500, followed by a $357,500 contract for the Otterbein tank in April 2023. Both jobs were intended to be completed together by November 2023. However, MTU never began the work, prompting months of failed negotiations with city staff.
The city declared MTU in default in July 2024 and terminated the agreement in September. No money was paid out under the original contracts.
Old Republic Surety Company, which backed the projects with performance bonds, brought BRZ Coatings to take over. BRZ is now working under a new contract that sets a completion date of June 17, 2025. Old Republic is covering the $88,500 cost difference between MTU’s original Maxtown contract and BRZ’s $432,000 agreement.
Farmers Market Opens
The Westervelt Farm Market at Africa Road and Polaris Parkway opened this weekend. If the weather proves good for local farmers, it will offer spring vegetables and fruits by the end of the month. Saturday’s most popular items were spring flowers and fresh-popped popcorn.
City Manager Monica Dupee said at last week’s city council meeting that the Africa Road and Polaris interchange will be closed sometime near the middle of the month to install another portion of sanitary sewer for East of Africa, similar to the longer section at Africa and County Line Road.
Progress at County Line Road is delayed because of weather problems and unexpected structures beneath the existing roadway. However, that portion of the sewer installation is expected to be finished before the Polaris intersection is closed.
Hurst Family Honors Loved Ones on Mother's Day
The Hurst family spent Sunday afternoon at Blendon Central Cemetery, tending to their grandparents', mother's, and father's graves in a heartfelt Mother's Day ritual.
Equipped with brushes, bottled water, and fresh flowers, siblings and grandchildren cleaned the headstones, pulled weeds, and shared memories as they worked together. Each grave marker received careful attention, reflecting the strong bond that continues to unite the family across generations.
Their gathering was just one of many throughout the cemetery, where families commemorated the day with acts of remembrance. Flags, bouquets, and trinkets adorned the landscape, but for the Hurst family, the shared effort—hands in the grass and sun on their backs—mattered most.
The Green Grape Report
Food Review by Gary Gardiner
Prices for several weeks are holding at higher prices, with the average price above $2.50 a pound.
Walmart
Brand - Green grapes from Chile.
Price - $2.37
Appearance - Bright color with few flaws.
Size - Larger than a cherry tomato.
Crispiness - Solid, juicy, crisp.
Taste - Exceptionally sweet.
PLU Code - 4022
The Review
After the review several weeks ago, when grapes from every Westerville grocery store were reviewed, I went directly to Walmart this week, the sweetness winner from that test. It was a great idea.
The $2.37 per pound grapes in approximately two-pound plastic bags are the largest, firmest, and sweetest reviewed this season.
The grapes are loosely bunched with long stems, each hanging on a lengthy pedicel, making it easy to sort through the stem for the next grape during snacking.
These Chilean grapes offer a balance of flavor and texture. Their sweetness comes from natural sugars like fructose and glucose, their crispiness from abundant water, and a mild tartness from a minor tannin.
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