Westerville In Review - July 2025
Above Westerville - A Photo Gallery - July 1, 2025
Crews installed new antennas near the Otterbein Avenue water tower before renovation work on the structure. Home construction began at the Farms at Uptown on the north side. Hanby Alley was paved after underground utility upgrades. Heatherdown Drive neared reopening with new asphalt and striping to follow. Even a photo of dark clouds over the Village at Central College marked another moment in a community that kept moving forward.
Council’s Summer Break Begins - July 2, 2025
Council wrapped up business before its summer break by adopting the 2026 tax budget, easing zoning rules on accessory structures and accessory dwelling units, updating city code to match recent state law, and aligning board and commission procedures with council policies. Members also approved a contract for new furniture at the renovated City Hall, which remains on schedule with a move-in expected in May 2026. Closing remarks from members ranged from praise for community engagement and city staff to calls for continued focus on housing and quality of life while acknowledging the strain of public service.
Sapling Continues Growing on Hoover Dam as Warm, Wet Weather Fuels Growth - July 3, 2025
Warm, wet weather helped a cottonwood sapling and weeds continue growing from a crack in the face of Hoover Dam, a spot previously expected to be cleared during maintenance. Preparations also continued for the July 4 celebration, including morning races, a parade through Uptown, concerts at the Sports Complex, and fireworks launched from Heritage Park, along with road closures and parking changes for both morning and evening events.
Uptown Review Board Approves State and Main Changes - July 4, 2025
The Uptown Review Board approved façade updates at State and Main for the former Morgan’s Treasures building. The project for Stone and Sparrow will uncover original transom windows, repaint the exterior in lighter green tones, and add updated signage, including a shared blade sign with Edwin Loy Home. Three vinyl window decals were also allowed after the board agreed the design fit the historic corner storefront.
July 4th Photo Gallery- Fireworks and Parades - July 5, 2025
Photos from Independence Day highlighted early morning parades, neighborhood bike events, and the evening fireworks show. Families lined State Street for the annual procession. Kids dressed in red, white, and blue rode decorated bikes in Springview. The night ended with fireworks over the Sports Complex, lighting the sky above a full crowd.
Breakfast Should Be Enough For The Day - July 7, 2025
A breakfast sandwich from the Saturday Farmers Market took the spotlight in a recent food review, featuring sourdough, scrambled eggs, Baby Swiss, and pork sausage. A separate grape report found standard green grapes at Aldi priced at $1.99 per pound with average flavor, noting better varieties are expected as the California harvest arrives.
East of Africa Sanitary Update and Aerial Westerville - July 8, 2025
The first phase of sanitary sewer construction for the East of Africa development finished with a manhole installed near the Yarnell Farm fields, as work continued toward Polaris Parkway. A strong storm brought heavy rain and brief flooding. Construction advanced at Towns on the Greenway, where townhomes are listed above $650,000. Liberty Lane reopened after reconstruction with final paving planned, alongside continuing work on Heatherdown Drive.
Roadside Westerville: A New Series Highlighting The City - July 9, 2025
A new “Roadside Westerville” series began with a look at the Gideon Hart House, the community’s oldest surviving home built in 1820 on South Hempstead Road. The piece outlined its role in early settlement and its continued use as a private residence. The update also noted City Hall renovations remain on schedule, with staff expected to move back into the building in May 2026.
Music and Arts Festival This Weekend - July 10, 2025
The 51st Westerville Music & Arts Festival returned to Heritage Park and Everal Barn with more than 130 artists, three stages of live music, food vendors, children’s activities, and a youth art exhibit. The community also saw Westerville Central girls soccer players promoting their upcoming car wash with a scavenger hunt through Uptown.
Walmart Renovations, South State Paving, Corbin’s History Discussion, and News Briefs - July 11, 2025
The Board of Zoning Appeals approved temporary use of the Big Lots lot for storage during Walmart’s Schrock Road renovation, expected to finish in November 2025. Overnight paving continued at State Street and Huber Village Boulevard. The Westerville History Museum hosted a program revisiting the 1870s Whiskey Wars and their role in shaping the city’s dry identity. A brief rainbow appeared over Hoover Reservoir. Other notes included a Frog Friday event at Highlands Wetlands, a new Horizon Science Academy campus opening on Executive Parkway, and a regional award honoring the adaptive reuse of the former post office on South State Street.
Al Surette, 100-Year-Old WWII Marine Corpman - July 12, 2025
Al Surette was honored at the American Legion Hall on his 100th birthday as a former Navy corpsman who served with the Marines in the Pacific during World War II. He landed in the first wave at Saipan at age 18, earned the nickname Morphine for the medical syrettes he carried, and later saw combat on Tinian. Speakers praised his service and lifelong example while family, friends, and local military personnel joined the celebration.
WesterFlora and The British Are Coming! - July 19, 2025
The WesterFlora tour invites residents into neighborhood gardens. A second item notes a British themed performance coming to town.
CATS AT North and The W Files Continues - July 17, 2025
The W Files walking tour returned with summer dates exploring unusual Uptown history. At Westerville North, Westerville Civic Theatre staged a high-energy production of CATS with a large cast, live orchestra, and four performances.
Big Bus Benefit and “Good Trouble” Protest - July 18, 2025
A fundraising dinner in Uptown supported The Big Bus program, which uses two converted buses to provide free educational services in local neighborhoods. The event aimed to raise $20,000 to continue tutoring and family learning programs this fall. In a separate event, a small group gathered outside City Hall for a “Good Trouble Lives On” protest, joining a nationwide effort criticizing federal policies and showing solidarity with immigrant families.
EMWTTSFM and Not The Music and Arts Festival - July 14, 2025
A review criticized the Music and Arts Festival for lacking standout artists and even missing the expected corn dogs, prompting a creative hot-dog taste test at home. The latest Green Grape Report noted firmer grapes at Meijer but continued frustration with high prices and ordinary flavor.
Lime Pond Relining, Antonio’s Closing This Weekend, and Walmart Upgrade Begins. - July 15, 2025
Crews worked to install a protective liner in a lime pond at the city’s water plant to prevent contamination, though rain has slowed progress. Antonio’s Pizzeria announced it will close July 19 after 20 years, citing a dispute with its landlord and planning a farewell event. Renovation of the Schrock Road Walmart began with storage containers placed in the adjacent Big Lots lot as the project ramps up.
East of Africa Update, City Hall Windows, City RFPs, and Culver’s - July 16, 2025
Drainage pond work and utility installation continued at the East of Africa site, while window replacement advanced at City Hall as part of the renovation. The city issued multiple RFPs, including updates to its parks and community plans, new audio-visual equipment for City Hall, and a storm sewer inspection project. A new Culver’s is expected to open in October near Hamilton Road and Route 161, the closest location yet for local fans.
Planning A New Aldi. Lime Pond’s First Covering. - July 24, 2025
Developers presented a revised concept for the long-planned Zumstein South site at Polaris Parkway and Worthington Road that would add an Aldi as the anchor while preserving office as the primary use. The Planning Commission offered feedback before a formal plan is submitted. Crews also continued repairs at the city’s water treatment plant, pulling heavy plastic liner into place to fix a leaking lime retention pond.
Pharmacy Celebrates 150 Years Serving Westerville - July 25, 2025
Uptown Pharmacy marked 150 years in business with a look back at its evolution from early apothecary practices and soda fountains to modern compounding and immunization services, continuing a lineage of drugstores at 23 N. State dating to 1872.
Rain, Lightning Spoil Fourth Friday. The Lined Lime Pond. - July 26, 2025
Lightning and heavy rain forced Fourth Friday to wrap up early after a brief rush of families enjoyed bubble entertainment. The city finished laying protective plastic in a lime retention pond at the water plant, with welding work next. The Westerville Jazz Orchestra scheduled a July 27 make-up performance at Alum Creek Park Amphitheater..
An Ordinary Way For EMWTTSFM. Plus, Grapes. - July 28, 2025
A farmers market trip inspired a simple steak-and-eggs breakfast for Sunday, while the weekly Green Grape Report found firm, mildly sweet grapes at Meijer, valued more for their satisfying snap than flavor.
East of Africa Update - July 29, 2025
Stormwater infrastructure work advanced on the East of Africa site while the city installed a new liner in a lime sludge pond to stop leaks, and business updates included Grizzlybird Brewing preparing a full kitchen and pinball expansion in August along with Vertiv announcing a data-center equipment acquisition and a partnership focused on future nuclear-powered cooling systems.
Bubbles and Coffee For A Tuesday - July 30, 2025
A giant bubble show drew a packed crowd to the Westerville Public Library, delivering circus stunts and bubble tricks ahead of a final weekend performance at the farmers market. A new Biggby Coffee drive-thru is also moving forward in the Meijer parking lot on Polaris Parkway, bringing another fast-service option to the area once construction is complete.
Westerville From The Air - July 2025 - July 31, 2025
July’s aerial gallery captured key moments across the city including ongoing renovation work at City Hall, construction of Smash Park, progress on stormwater and utility upgrades at East of Africa, newly lined lime ponds at the water treatment plant, fresh paving on South State Street, townhome construction at Towns on the Greenway, and seasonal scenes such as Fourth of July fireworks, boating on Hoover Reservoir, and fast-moving summer storms.
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.
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