Westerville In Review - November 2025
Call to Artists: Honoring Westerville’s Black War Veterans. One of Twelve Murals Planned For Semi-Quincentennial. - November 1, 2025
Announces a mural commission focused on Black men and women from Westerville who served in the armed forces, inviting artists to submit concepts that connect military service, memory, and local history.
From 4 Stars to Fiscal Crisis: Westerville Schools at Breaking Point - November 1, 2025
Westerville City Schools, which posted a 3.5-star overall rating and strong gap-closing results, heads into the Nov. 2025 election facing a bitter dispute over a proposed 0.75 percent earned income tax that district leaders say is needed to offset levy defeats, flat state funding, and recent cuts totaling about $4.8 million, while critics argue the district has mismanaged spending, holds ample reserves, and is asking working families to shoulder an unnecessary and permanent tax burden.
Summer Ends When Boats Leave Hoover - November 1, 2025
Uses the final boat removals at Hoover Reservoir as a quiet marker of the season’s end, paired with a Saturday calendar of local events.
Beyond the Balance Sheet: Is Westerville Focused on the Right Future? - November 2, 2025
Third in a three-part series that questions whether Westerville’s long-term choices about growth, services, and schools match the community values residents say they want to protect.
Call to Artists — Westerville’s Festival and Fair Grounds. One of Twelve Murals Planned For Semi-Quincentennial. - November 3, 2025
Invites proposals for a mural that captures Westerville’s long history of fairs, festivals, and community gatherings on its public grounds.
Sloppy Joes and Pulled Chicken. The Green Grape Report. - November 3, 2025
A seasonal column tied together two Westerville rituals. Holiday craft bazaars and the arrival of Autumn Crisp grapes. The piece reflected on the quiet economy of church-run food tables, where Sloppy Joes and pulled chicken on white buns draw crowds as reliably as handmade goods, offering comfort, memory, and a sense of belonging.
School Levy Is A “Yes” - November 3, 2025
Editorial that argues in favor of the Westerville schools’ income tax, framing the measure as necessary to keep class sizes, programs, and staffing from eroding.
Call to Artists — Westerville’s Inventive Spirit and Games. One of Twelve Murals Planned For Semi-Quincentennial. - November 4, 2025
The city and the Westerville History Museum are seeking artists for a mural depicting the community’s history of fairs and public entertainment, from the Westerville Tri-County Fair to Minerva Park, as part of the America 250 Westerville History Mural Project. Submissions are due Dec. 1, 2025, with a $1,000 commission for the selected artist and installation planned for 2026.
East of Africa Update. State and County Line Traffic Troubles. United Voices In One Westerville Choir. - November 4, 2025
Bridge construction over Alkyre Run began as part of the East of Africa development, with crews also installing new water and storm sewer lines ahead of a future roadway linking Africa Road to Westar Boulevard, while traffic was periodically disrupted at County Line and North State Street during signal and underground cable upgrades. The week also brought a community moment as the One Westerville Choir, made up of students from Central, North, and South high schools, performed a joint concert highlighting unity across the district.
Tax Gets Voter Approval As Does Liquor Options. New School Board and City Council Members. Meter Amendment Loses. (With Updates and Corrections) - November 5, 2025
Westerville voters approved a 0.75 percent earned income tax for schools Tuesday, along with multiple local liquor options, while rejecting a charter amendment to replace digital utility meters. The school tax, expected to generate about $24.3 million annually, applies only to earned income and follows a year of budget cuts and staff reductions. Voters also elected Kristina Meyer, Tatjana Brown, and Anisa Liban to the Westerville school board, and Kelly Stocker and Daniella Beckham to City Council, while returning Megan Reamsnyder and Aaron Glasgow to four-year terms.
Call to Artists — Westerville’s Good Citizens. One of Twelve Murals Planned for Semi-Quincentennial. - November 5, 2025
Requests mural designs that highlight residents and organizations whose civic work quietly shaped Westerville.
Call to Artists — Muscogee Nation at Central College. One of Twelve Murals Planned for Semi-Quincentennial. - November 6, 2025
Asks artists to explore the historical ties between Central College and the Muscogee Nation, pushing the community to recognize deeper layers of local history.
Getting Ready For Veterans Day and Walnut Boat Ramp Looks Very Different - November 6, 2025
Westerville marked the approach of Veterans Day by installing its annual “Honoring Our Heroes” banners throughout Uptown, displaying photos, names, ranks, and service branches of local veterans along State Street. Major reconstruction continued at the Walnut Boat Ramp at Hoover Reservoir, where the original ramp has been removed, shoreline erosion stabilized with riprap, and work begun on a wider, ADA-compliant dual-dock system expected to reopen in spring 2026.
Getting To Know City Council’s Newest Members - November 7, 2025
Kelly Stocker, a Westerville South High School government teacher, and Daniela Beckett, a small-business operations director and Colombian immigrant, were elected to Westerville City Council on Tuesday, bringing two first-time officeholders with young families to the dais. Kelly Stocker ran a low-key, values-focused campaign backed by the Westerville Progressive Alliance and said she plans to represent all residents as she transitions from teaching civics to practicing it. Daniela Beckett, who emphasized family, business experience, and community balance, said her win reflects a desire for fresh perspectives while honoring Westerville’s roots. Both said they are preparing for the learning curve ahead and are eager to begin council work in January.
Call to Artists — Route 3/State Street. One of Twelve Murals Planned for Semi-Quincentennial. - November 7, 2025
Calls for mural proposals that show how State Street and old Route 3 have changed from highway corridor to community main street.
New To the School Board. Water Main Break on West Walnut Dowsed. - November 8, 2025
First-time candidate Tatjana Brown won a seat on the Westerville Board of Education, saying she plans to serve as a parent-focused listener while balancing academics, finances, and transparency following voter approval of the school income tax. In separate city work Friday, crews repaired a broken 50-year-old cast-iron water main on West Walnut Street near Grove Street after a rupture sent water across the roadway. Workers replaced the damaged section and restored service the same day, with permanent resurfacing planned.
Call to Artists — Westerville Wetlands. One of Twelve Murals Planned for Semi-Quincentennial. - November 8, 2025
Seeks art that tells the story of glacial geology, wetlands, and the ecological roots under today’s neighborhoods.
Seed Collecting and The Green Grape Report - November 10, 2025
Volunteers gathered Saturday at Inniswood Metro Park to clean and sort native plant seeds during a hands-on workshop led by the local Wild Ones chapter, preparing material for a January seed swap and encouraging backyard conservation. The event paired quiet, communal work with practical instruction, while the accompanying Green Grape Report noted that Autumn Crisp grapes continue to dominate grocery shelves, highlighting how patented, licensed fruit varieties now shape what consumers buy and how modern agriculture operates.
How The Westerville News Is Changing Its Approach to Social Media - November 10, 2025
Explains a shift away from chasing comments on platforms and toward serving subscribers directly, making the case that local news survives through readers, not algorithms.
East of Africa Update. Waffles, Coffee, And Tea On South State. - November 11, 2025
Combines a construction status report on East of Africa with a quick look at the cluster of breakfast and coffee spots emerging along South State Street.
Veterans Day Events Pay Tribute to Sacrifice and Service. First Snowfall’s Color. - November 12, 2025
Westerville marked Veterans Day with a sunrise wreath-laying at the Westerville Veterans Memorial, followed by a breakfast at the Renaissance Hotel. Veterans were honored with remarks, a mayoral proclamation, and a choir performing each military branch anthem, closing the morning with a group photo that brought the attendees together in the ballroom.
Coutanya Coombs Reflects on City Council Exit - November 13, 2025
Coutanya Coombs will leave Westerville City Council in December after losing her re-election bid, closing a four-year term she said was marked by policy work, rising partisanship in a nonpartisan race, and backlash over housing issues. Coombs said voter conversations often centered on party labels rather than local priorities, and that her advocacy for attainable housing drew misunderstanding and online harassment. She also cited internal tensions on council but said she remained focused on service, including regional air-quality efforts. Coombs said she plans to stay active as a community advocate and urged incoming officials to engage critics, maintain independence, and rely on professional staff.
Uptown Gift Card Begins New Way To Shop Uptown - November 14, 2025
Uptown Westerville Inc. has launched an updated digital Uptown Community Gift Card, allowing shoppers to buy and send prepaid cards by email for use at participating Uptown businesses, with no expiration and use limited to the district. The program replaces an earlier physical card managed by a volunteer merchants group, avoids state regulatory hurdles tied to unused balances, and is designed to keep spending local while giving recipients flexibility across shops, restaurants, and services.
New Bricks and Minifigs Store Brings Lego Fans Together in Westerville - November 15, 2025
Bricks and Minifigs opened a new store offering rare and collectible Lego sets, bulk bricks, minifigures, and party space for children, expanding a concept that buys and resells used Lego while giving builders a place to find missing pieces and discontinued sets.
Marib Coffee Brings a Taste of Yemen to Westerville and The Green Grape Report - November 17, 2025
Marib Coffee offers a bright, welcoming space that blends Yemeni coffee traditions with a wide modern menu, drawing patrons who tend to stay rather than grab drinks to go. The review highlights careful service, strong pastries like baklava and kunafa, and a menu that ranges from traditional Yemeni brews to flavored lattes, smoothies, and refreshers, creating a setting that feels communal and unhurried. The accompanying Green Grape Report notes that late-season Autumn Crisp grapes at Kroger are at their peak this week, with unusually high sweetness, firm texture, and better value than competing green varieties.
East of Africa Update. City Council Public Hearing on Zoning and Development. Traffic Signal Upgrades at Polaris and Africa. - November 18, 2025
Paving continued this week on new roads inside Westerville’s East of Africa development as crews laid base asphalt on a roundabout and connecting streets ahead of winter, while residents renewed concerns about traffic spilling onto Hoff Road and city officials said a final routing decision has not been made. Work also began on a large culvert and bridge linking Africa Road to Westar Boulevard over Alkyre Run. Separately, Westerville City Council is set to hold public hearings on revisions to a mixed-use plan near Polaris Parkway, a rezoning request on Central College Road, and proposed updates to fencing and landscaping codes. Traffic delays were reported at Polaris Parkway and Africa Road as crews replaced signal equipment with state patrol directing vehicles.
City Council Collegiality and Concerns About Development Projects - November 19, 2025
As the year draws to a close, Westerville City Council marked its second-to-last meeting with moments of reflection and a full slate of public business, highlighted by gestures honoring outgoing members Michael Heyeck and Coutanya Coombs and by extensive hearings on three development-related ordinances. Council members raised questions about traffic, environmental impacts, and neighborhood connectivity tied to a mixed-use project near Polaris Parkway and a rezoning request on Central College Road, while also advancing technical updates to fencing and landscaping rules. All measures move to final readings at the next meeting, which will close the current council lineup and the public service terms of Heyeck and Coombs.
Millstone Creek Park Prepares for a New Chapter - November 20, 2025
Fourteen years after opening, Millstone Creek Park is set for a full playground redesign as the city shifts from basic accessibility toward true inclusive play. City Council approved funding for a new, ground-level layout that replaces the original tall structure and long ramps with connected play zones that use the site’s natural slope, improve sightlines, and encourage shared play among children of all abilities. The project reflects how park design standards have changed since 2011 and is part of a broader update of Westerville parks, with construction expected to be completed in 2026.
Parks Projects Progress - November 21, 2025
Westerville park projects continued moving at different paces across the city this week, with demolition at Highlands Park clearing the way for a new baseball shelter, accessibility upgrades underway at Alum Creek Park North, and trim repairs starting at Olde Town East Park. Crews also poured the foundation for the North Star sculpture at Sycamore Trail Park, a major public art installation planned for next spring. At the same time, larger efforts remain unresolved, including the long-studied renovation of Metzger Park, which still lacks a timeline, and plans to rebuild a historic Shinto shrine, which remain on hold as the city reviews location and design options.
Uptown Openings Took Time But Worth It - November 22, 2025
Two long-awaited Uptown Westerville projects opened this week as Stone and Sparrow debuted its rebuilt storefront in the former Morgan’s Treasure space and Birdie Books reopened in a fully renovated home on North State Street. After months of construction delays tied to structural repairs, Stone and Sparrow revealed a brighter interior that restores exposed brick and the original tin ceiling, while Birdie Books unveiled expanded shelving, wider aisles, a children’s section in its original rear space, and a café area still to open. The openings drew steady foot traffic and marked a milestone for Uptown after a year of visible construction and anticipation.
W.A.R.M. Distributes Thanksgiving Meals to 600 Families in Drive-Through Event - November 24, 2025
Westerville Area Resource Ministries distributed complete Thanksgiving meals to 600 families Saturday during a drive-through event on Heatherdown Drive, with volunteers loading cars with turkeys, produce, pantry staples and children’s activity packs as lines stretched into the former Chase Bank parking lot. The annual effort highlighted W.A.R.M.’s broader food security programs, including its Choice Market, Share Bac a Pac school meals and the summer kids lunch initiative, and came as the organization prepares for a leadership transition with Executive Director Ben Jay set to retire at year’s end and longtime operations director Chad Maxeiner stepping in as interim director.
East of Africa Update. Walkway Taking Shape, Concrete Donuts, and Hay Fields Showing Green - November 25, 2025
Construction at the East of Africa site continued this week with crews installing concrete pilings and steel supports for a new boardwalk along the project’s largest stormwater pond. Emerging hay fields now add visible green space to the site, helping preserve the land’s agricultural tax status as development advances.
Floral shop proposal gets early look from Planning Commission - November 26, 2025
The Planning Commission gave an early look to a proposal to turn the vacant former bank at Cleveland Avenue and West Main Street into a Connells Maple Lee Flowers and Gifts shop. Commissioners raised no concerns, calling the use low impact and compatible, with rezoning and public hearings required before City Council review.
Westerville Christmas Parade Returns Under New Leadership - November 27, 2025
Westerville’s Christmas parade will return Dec. 6 after a one-year absence, with the event now organized by Good for Westerville following the Lions Club’s withdrawal last year. The parade will run Saturday morning through Uptown, restoring a decades-old tradition under new leadership and a revised weekend schedule that pairs the parade with other holiday events.
Small Business Saturday: Why Uptown Westerville Matters - November 28, 2025
Small Business Saturday in Uptown Westerville highlighted the role of locally owned shops that have shaped the district for generations, from long-standing businesses like Talbott’s Flowers, Schneider’s Bakery, and the Uptown Dairy Queen to newer stores that grew from small beginnings into State Street fixtures. The mix of family businesses, first-time owners, and reinvestment by local entrepreneurs has helped Uptown remain stable through changing retail trends, with owners restoring historic buildings, keeping profits local, and building customer loyalty that continues to define the area’s character.
New Life at Good Vibes Winery - November 29, 2025
Tonjia Coverdale, a longtime Westerville resident and former technology executive, has taken over Good Vibes Winery in Uptown after a 28-year tech career, turning an unplanned visit into a new chapter as a small business owner. Drawn by the shop’s sense of connection and community, Coverdale has begun shaping the winery around gathering and shared experiences, with plans to expand music, arts, and wellness events while building on Good Vibes’ role as a welcoming neighborhood space rooted in relationships rather than transactions.
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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