CityScene

The Return Voyage

COSI's record-breaking Titanic exhibit returns with new features

By: Emily Gibb

The lavish and ill-fated RMS Titanic has been romanticized in popular culture since its tragic sinking in 1912 that resulted in the loss of more than 1,500 passengers in the icy northern Atlantic Ocean.

The nearly-15,000-square-foot attraction, Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition, has returned to COSI, with more than 350 artifacts from the Titanic, including 100 not seen before in Columbus, and 23 making their world debut.

Now you can wander among intimate remnants of the ship, including clothes, shoes, binoculars, dishes and jewelry from its passengers; feel the chill of an uncomfortably close iceberg; and take a journey through the grand ship’s construction. COSI “passengers” are given a pass that allows them to move throughout the vessel, with replicas of the Grand Staircase, a first-class cabin and a third-class cabin.

“You don’t feel like you’re in a science museum or at an exhibit. When you enter, you feel like you’re drawn back in time to 1912 – like you’re entering the ship,” says Kelli Nowinsky, COSI public relations and social media manager. “It’s a very moving, compelling story, unlike anything you’ll ever see. It’s a great exhibition.”

Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition runs through Sept. 6, 2010
Tickets: Adults (13-59) $23.75, Seniors (60+) $21.75, Youth (2-12) $16.75, Under 2 Free, COSI Members (adult/youth) $8/$7.

COSI is open seven days a week during the duration of the exhibit from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays, and from 12 to 6 p.m. Sundays. For tickets or more information, visit www.cosi.org.

Ohio Connections
Of the more than 2,200 passengers on the Titanic, 18 of them were headed back to Ohio. Some were Columbus natives returning home; others were looking for a new life in Akron. Here are some of their stories.

In the early 1900s, Akron’s rubber plants attracted hundreds of immigrants from Penzance, Cornwall, England. Richard George Hocking moved to Akron to work at the Diamond Rubber Plant a few years before turning 22. In 1912, he went back to Penzance to lead a group of 11 to America, more than half of whom were family members, including his mother, an aunt, two sisters and two nephews. As was the case with so many families on the ship, the women and children lived while the men perished.

Sarah “Sallie” Monypeny was born into one of Columbus’ wealthiest families in the early 20th century. She married fellow Ohioan Logan Newsom, from Gallipolis, and was cousins with Ohio Governor Judson Harmon. When Newsom died young, Sallie remarried Richard Beckwith, a real estate broker from New York, and began going by the name of Sallie Beckwith.

At the time, a world champion tennis player, Karl Behr, was attracted to Sallie’s daughter Helen. Sallie took Helen to Europe to escape from his aggressive pursuit; however Behr followed and maintained contact with Helen while there. After he heard that Sallie and Helen were planning to return to the United States via the Titanic, he bought a ticket aboard the ship, as well. All three of them survived the tragedy and, upon their return to the United States, Helen and Behr were married, with Sallie’s approval.

In 1905, Jessie Bruce and her parents emigrated from Scotland to the United States and settled on a farm close to Camp Chase, the former military prison and Confederate Cemetery outside of Columbus. She married William Trout in March 1911, but he died just six months later. To combat her grief, Jessie visited her grandmother in Scotland. Not scheduled to return until May, she decided at the last minute to buy a ticket for the Titanic to return to her parents sooner. She also survived the sinking and became a favorite source of journalists upon her return to Columbus.

John Thomas Sr. immigrated to America prior to the rest of his family, and began a clothing manufacturing venture which brought much success. He eventually traveled from Columbus back to his homeland of Lebanon (at that time, a part of Syria) in 1911 to get his 15-year-old son, John Jr. Although they planned to leave in late March, other family members decided to come, too, so they pushed back their departure and boarded the Titanic at Cherbourg as third-class passengers. Thomas’ niece, however, was the only one who would see a new life in America.

These stories are among many that are part of the Titanic exhibit, and provide a more personal look into one of the world’s most notorious disasters.

Preservation and Recovery
Throughout seven expeditions to the site of the Titanic’s wreckage by RMS Titanic, Inc., the only company that can legally retrieve objects from the area, more than 5,500 artifacts have been recovered. The objects range from porcelain dishes to a 17-ton section of the ship’s hull.

After spending years on the ocean floor, artifacts go through a meticulous preservation process. First, the objects undergo a careful process to remove rust and salt deposits. Once an object leaves the water and become exposed to the air, it must undergo an immediate stabilization process to prevent more deterioration. This process can take anywhere from six months to two years before an artifact can be further conserved by using a treatment compatible with its specific material. Metal, leather and wood objects, for example, require a process called “electrolysis,” which removes negative ions and salt. Chemical agents and fungicides are then used to remove rust and fungus. Also, a water-soluble wax replaces spaces in leather objects that were previously filled with debris and water.

Paper artifacts are first freeze-dried to remove water and then cleansed with specialized vacuums and hand tools that remove debris.

Once an artifact is sealed in a case, temperature, relative humidity and light levels can be controlled to protect it from further deterioration during worldwide exhibits.

Science of the Titanic – April 10
COSI will present a family workshop with a unique look at the science behind the Titanic. Geared toward children ages 6-12, the two-hour event will explain how the ship stayed afloat, why it sank and the changes made to future ships to avoid similar disasters. Young scientists eager to get a head start can download the “Float Your Boat” activity from the Family Workshops page of the COSI Web site. “Science of the Titanic,” runs from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 1:30-3:30 p.m. For more information, visit www.cosi.org.

Highlights of the Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition include:
• A 3,000-pound section of the ship’s hull
• Recreations of both first- and third-class accommodations
• Personal items, including a gentleman’s top hat, china etched with the logo of the elite White Star Line, binoculars and more
• A collection of perfume vials that belonged to a first-class passenger, recovered during a dive in 2000
• A simulated iceberg offering a sense of the environmental conditions at play on the night of the Titanic disaster
• A gallery devoted the Titanic’s Ohio connections

Pickerington Magazine

Change of "Art"

Pickerington resident leaves corporate world for creative world

By Emily Gibb

Some artists hone their craft in an act of juvenile rebellion, but Pickerington resident Christy Chen, 33, found her calling because she mimicked her father – a professional artist who died when she was only 15.

She began painting when she was about 10 years old and has yet to stop.

“When it’s in your blood, you almost don’t have a choice,” Chen says of growing up around paints and canvases. “I always dreamed about it when I was little, I just didn’t always know if I would be able to do it.”

At first, art wasn’t Chen’s full time job. She attended the University of Kentucky with an art major, but moved to Ohio before finishing and ended up in a corporate position as a manager with NetJets for 10 years. During this time, however, she was trying to get her work in galleries and different art shows, but it was difficult balancing the two.

But because painting had always been her favorite hobby and a therapeutic outlet, Chen says she eventually realized it was time to end her corporate career and devote time to her art. She left NetJets in 2009 to focus solely on her artwork. The move opened up a huge, creative Pandora ’s Box, as she not only paints, but also creates dolls and jewelry.

“(Working at NetJets) was a fun job the first eight years, but the last two were really stressful, and it’s taxing on your creative side,” Chen says. “Finally, one day I decided life is way too short, so I decided to do (art) full time.”

Now Chen paints at her own leisure. It also gives her more time to spend with her daughters, Cameron, 7, and Avery, 5, and watch them grow up. They inspire her, she says.

Her paintings mainly depict landscapes because of her love of weather, the sky and the colors found in nature. If she wasn’t an artist, she’d be a meteorologist, she says.

“You don’t want to paint something when you’re not in the mood. You can’t just wake up and do it. I always say that art should be inspired and not required,” she says.

If she’s not inspired to paint, then she works on a line of children’s dolls she creates for her online store, the Fuzzy Wuzzy Boutique (www.chengallery.com). She sews the dolls based off drawings made by her daughters. She’s been making pet beds and dog toys for 12 years and still sells those on the side, as well.

Chen wanted to start making children’s toys to create something that couldn’t be found in stores, so she started Fuzzy Wuzzy Boutique in September.

Chen says she loves making dolls and children’s items, and it gives her something to do while her artwork dries.

The name for the dolls comes from a stuffed bear she’s had since childhood, named after a popular children’s poem. Chen receives many e-mails from parents telling her how much their kids love the dolls.

“It makes me happy that all these little kids are happy,” Chen says.

Even though she is raising her daughters in an artistic environment, they seem to gravitate toward painting and drawing on their own, she says. They’ve never taken formal lessons, but they have strong creative sides.

“They’re better than I was when I was young,” Chen says.

Chen’s online store has become her most successful venue for selling her work. Rather than carrying around a large portfolio of her art, keeping it online allows her to only have to carry around her business cards that direct people to the Web site to shop what’s available.

She sells more paintings in Ohio than anywhere else, as people enjoy buying artwork from local artists, Chen says. But she is proud that she has sold paintings in all 50 states, as well as in Canada and Paris. By utilizing the Internet, she’s been able to reach people on a much larger scale.

This self-motivated creativity seems to run in the family. Chen’s father and sisters have also started their own businesses. One owned a flower shop for many years, and organized her own art show in Kentucky last spring that focused on pet portraits. The other creates cartoons and children’s art in Atlanta.

“I have the entrepreneur thing in my blood,” she says.

In addition to showcasing and selling her artwork through her Web site, Chen also has work on display at the Hayley Gallery in New Albany, and participates in fairs throughout the Columbus area.

In her spare time when she’s not making dolls or painting, she creates silver jewelry – mainly earrings and bracelets – that are also sold at the Hayley Gallery.

“I kind of jump around with hobbies,” Chen says. “I like to try everything out to see if I’m good at it.”

Emily Gibb is a contributing writer for Pickerington Magazine.

UWeekly OSU

Buckeyes mean business

OSU students go to New York, the concrete jungle where dreams are made.

By Emily Gibb

Throughout Winter Quarter, two groups of students from the Fisher College of Business at Ohio State University showed that they have what it takes to out-smart the competition when it comes to a good marketing campaign.Ivy League students have nothing on these Buckeyes.

Ten undergraduate students saw their names scroll across the Jumbotron in Times Square and received $5,000 after winning the American Eagle Outfitter's marketing competition. The students took first place during the final round of the competition on Jan. 26.

Although three groups from Fisher's Honors Cohort Program competed, only one made it to the semi-final round in Pittsburgh and eventually won, said group member Melissa McGhee.

For a half hour of every class during Fall Quarter, the group developed a full comprehensive marketing plan for the Back to School campaign for the denim segment of American Eagle Jeans. They began with research, moved on to do an analysis and ended with their creative ideas. The final result was their campaign titled "Do It In Denim."

"We were fairly confident that we did our best with the campaign ... The biggest rush was when we presented to the CEO of American Eagle, along with six other executives," McGhee said.

Additionally, a team of Fisher MBA students walked away with $50,000 Feb. 6 after winning Wake Forest University School of Business's 2010 marketing summit. The international case competition pinned Ohio State students up against schools such as Dartmouth, IESE-Barcelona and the London Business School, but the Bucks came out on top.

IBM challenged the students to spend 36 hours developing a comprehensive marketing plan to increase their business in Dubai. The presentation needed to last 40 minutes, including time for questions and answers. Having seven people helped to get all the work done, including an innovation framework, several mock print-ads and a 30-second commercial, as well a financial analysis to make sure it was a worthwhile project to be considered, said team captain Michael Hrostoski.

"Needless to say, we didn't get a whole lot of sleep that weekend," Hrostoski said.

Before they could reach that point though, the students had to go through a tight selection process, said Marc Ankerman, their coach and core professor in the Fisher College of Business. Ankerman coaches all Fisher case teams, including the CIBER competition, a Green Case Competition, the Minority Key Bank Case Competition and the Big 10 Case Competition, held annually at OSU in April.

The seven students selected came from the CIBER team and the Big 10 team from last year. The students then competed in an internal case competition, and needed to be the one of the winners, like best speaker or best presenter, Ankerman said.

"This was a "super-team" of our best students, so we were definitely in it to win it. I think we would have been a little disappointed coming home without the win," Hrostoski said.

Having both successful teams of undergraduate and graduate students might not be just a coincidence.

"I think the Fisher College attracts a special kind of student. One who not only has great technical ability, but also great interpersonal skills and a spirit of collaboration," Hrostoski said.

To put it simply, he calls it being "smart, but nice."

These "smart, but nice" students might have a year or two until they graduate, but they already have a jump start on their "real world" competition. They've already figured out what it takes to run a successful marketing campaign.

Originally Published: March 3, 2010

Because Ashley Upperman told me to...

I’m just going to throw this out there: I DON’T WATCH “JERSEY SHORE.” In fact, I loathe everything about it. I would much rather kill brain cells by drinking a bottle of Evan Williams while huffing rubber cement than submit myself to a half hour of this bullshit. One sight of “The Situation” and I am nauseated. Needless to say, I was not in attendance at Lodge Bar when he appeared. I had better things to do, such as devour $ 0.35 wings at Paninis.

“Jersey Shore” is destroying popular culture with every nickname, every catch phrase and every fist pump. They have infiltrated the media and college parties alike. It’s inescapable. Things were bad enough when “Speidi” became a household name after destroying “The Hills.” Now there are fist pumps. Fist pumps.

Now, do not confuse me with someone too good for trashy TV. I am no stranger to reality television. There are few things I enjoy more than watching fat people try to get skinny while secretly wishing that I was Jillian Michaels, or getting sucked into the world of obsessive hoarders crying over stuffed animals covered in fecal matter. But I can’t bring myself to watch “Jersey Shore.” There is no number of jager bombs for me to take to the face that will make it okay for me to subject myself to this kind of torture. If I have an infinite amount of drama in my own life, why do I want to watch someone else’s? It’s not entertaining. It’s not funny. Frankly, they’re so pathetic that I feel bad for them. I had a neighbor with a dog named Snooki, and, let me tell you, she was much cuter than the broad with the overly-teased hair will ever be.

They can take their fake tans, their bad hair and their illegitimate fame and shove it up their fat asses. At least the world became a better place the night this season ended. We can have some peace … until next season.

UWeekly OSU

Tapping into the local dance scene

More students join Tap Happenings at The Shoebox

By Emily Gibb

As part of the Ohio State University Arts Initiative, beginner and experienced dancers can learn and practice tap in the space known as The Shoebox.

Performer and OSU tap instructor Jenai Cutcher is an artist in residence in the newly renovated arts spaces, better known as Arts in the Alley in the South Campus Gateway. After completing an English degree from OSU, Cutcher began her six-year career as a professional dancer in New York City. She returned to OSU to complete her master's in dance and has since stayed as a faculty member, helping to spark a re-growth in tap interest.

"The longer I've been around ... people start to realize that tap is still thriving," Cutcher said.

Karen Bell, dean of the Ohio State College of the Arts and associate vice president of the Arts Initiative, approached Cutcher about the Allied Arts program through the Arts Initiative and becoming an Artist in Residence.

Bell's aim is to keep artists in Columbus, and Arts in the Alley is one way to gain interest in the arts around campus and the Columbus area. She was also instrumental in organizing the OSU Urban Arts Space, located downtown in the former Lazarus Building, Cutcher said.

At The Shoebox, the walls exhibit paintings while the wood floor remains reserved for tappers. Exemplifying artist collaboration, one painter's work was directly inspired by the performance art taking place at the studio. Sarah Weinstock, who exhibited her work in The Shoebox throughout December and January, came up with the idea to paint the bottoms of Cutcher's shoes before she tap danced over the canvas. Currently, through February and March, the walls display the vibrant paintings of Adam Brouillette.

Because of spaces in the area like The Shoebox and the Gateway Film Center (formerly Landmark's Gateway Theatre), students have more opportunities to present their art. Before, the only university-sponsored stage made available to OSU tap students was through the elective classes' end-of-the-quarter performance called the "Informance."

Cutcher began an adult beginner-level tap class last fall and, despite a slow start, Cutcher said interest has picked up this winter. She acquires one new person almost every class. Dancers of all experience levels are welcome to join.

"If you've heard about it, you're the one we want to come," Cutcher said. "It's part of the tap tradition."

For more advanced dancers, Cutcher also runs a class called Tap Happenings. She encourages participants to bring their own choreography or ideas they would like to share or practice. The sessions are designed to be more like a tap lab than a tap class.

"We choose what we do so it's not so much of a teacher-student setting," said Tap Happenings frequenter and senior Jackie Laroche.

Gradute student Justin Ziniel began tap dancing a year and half ago through the elective classes. He enrolled in Cutcher's Tap 2 class this quarter, and also participates in the Adult Beginner Class and Tap Happenings.

"I try to take advantage of the most opportunities I can to tap dance," Ziniel said.

Tap Happenings is every other Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. and the beginner class starts at 5:30 p.m. each Wednesday. For more information, visit www.jamjamproductions.org.

Originally Published: February 24, 2010

CityScene

Open Season

Galleries offering a more intimate art-buying experience

By: Emily Gibb

Art patrons in Columbus now have a convenient – and more intimate – vehicle to peruse and inquire about local pieces.

While Short North galleries have long benefited from the high-traffic monthly Gallery Hops, more serious collectors can plan on a quieter, more personal experience at the fledgling Short North Seasonal Open Houses.

Happening every three months, the galleries (eight participated in December’s event) open up on a Sunday afternoon to offer art, advice and a chance for collectors and first-time buyers alike to learn more about pieces of interest – whether currently exhibited or obscured in storage.

The idea for these events was conceptualized at the “Gallery Summit” — an initiative held in spring 2009 for shops and businesses in the district to network and collaborate with a goal of increased exposure. The first open house was held on June 21, 2009.

“We were thinking of ways to promote the galleries in addition to Gallery Hop, to educate the public, give them an opportunity where they might spend a little more time in the galleries and appeal to patrons and collectors,” says Jeanie Auseon of Studios on High.

A major objective of the open houses is to shatter misconceptions about art galleries, such as the notion that patrons will walk in and expect to be snubbed unless they want to buy artwork, according to Kelly Cousins, assistant director of the Mahan Gallery.

“Even though that’s not the case at all with any of these galleries, there’s still that perception, and the open house gives people a chance to feel like they can interact with the staff a lot easier. It’s a friendlier format,” she says.

The galleries create a more casual setting during the open houses compared to the Gallery Hops, which people often view as a “fancier, night-on-the-town, date night type of affair,” Cousins says.

With a relaxed atmosphere, smaller crowds and a relaxed Sunday afternoon environment, the open houses focus on just on the art, making it more convenient – and perhaps less intimidating – for potential buyers and serious collectors.

“It’s more laid back so a lot of people that maybe don’t understand art aren’t scared to ask questions, and I really like that,” Cousins says.

So far, the format seems to be working.

“I have definitely noticed that on the open house days, people kind of linger longer than if they’re just stopping in during the week, and they’re more perceptive to asking questions,” Cousins says.

Whether or not they’re actually buying art isn’t the only benefit of the events. Holly Featherstone, from the Kathryn Gallery, says even if open house patrons are in and out quickly, they’re still exposed to the gallery and therefore might be inspired to return.

Each gallery handles Sunday open houses differently – some include artist visits or schedule exhibit openings with drinks and appetizers, some schedule sales around the events and others open up their storage space to show off non-exhibited work.

“We’re not all alike. We’re different in mission and in focus. For instance, Mahan (Gallery) brings up inventory that they don’t have space to show continuously. It would be to collectors’ advantage to see things they normally would not have access to,” Auseon says.

Studios on High brings in one of their 18 resident artists to provide demonstrations and create art while customers browse what is already on display.

“Each of the galleries can use their unique structure to the public’s benefit,” Auseon says.

The Sherrie Gallery tries to coordinate exhibit openings during the quarterly events, with an artist on hand to answer questions.

“The intention is to make it more focused on art for people who are really interested. It’s a chance to educate people,” says Owner Sherrie Riley Hawk.

Gallery owners and managers are excited to see the fledgling event off and rolling, and are working on more marketing and advertising to attract more potential buyers. Hawk, Auseon and Cousins all concur there has been a sizeable growth in peoples’ interest in art, but that doesn’t always translate into a growth in purchased art. They’re hoping that changes in the event’s second year.

“I’m really excited to get this off the ground and build it into a bigger avenue for people to come down here. I’m expecting it to grow a lot in 2010,” Cousins says.

The next Short North Seasonal Open House is from 1-4 p.m. March 21. Other open house events are scheduled for June 20, Sept. 19 and Dec. 19. Participating galleries are noted by a silver balloon on display. More information and maps are available at www.shortnorth.org.

Emily Gibb is a contributing writer for CityScene.

Upper Arlington Magazine

Green ThumbsGarden club's focus for 2010 is miniature gardens By Emily Gibb

What began during the 1960s as a neighborhood welcome wagon has grown into a flourishing group of women and men passionate about home gardening.

The Serendipity Garden Club has since become a place for the young and the old, first-time gardeners and professionals, as well as an educational resource for horticulture and floral design.

“We have all age groups, from people who are having their first baby to people who are retired and enjoying their grandkids. Some of the founding members are actually still active in the group,” says club president Winnie Garabis.

Once a month, 10 months out of the year, the 25 members rotate meeting in each other’s homes. They socialize, eat and, most importantly, listen to a program from a club expert or an outside professional who is brought in to teach the group new tricks and ideas for their home gardens.

“We’ve had professors from Columbus State. We have people from local garden centers that are specialists in a particular area, and we have some pretty expert people in our club (who) do presentations,” Garabis says. “There actually have been instructors from the national level (in our club), so we’re just lucky to have that expertise to draw from.”

Every June, they replace their usual meeting with a Garden Hop to tour some of their fellow members’ gardens. During last June’s Garden Hop, club members fell in love with long-time member Nancy Heber’s miniature landscape (also sometimes called a “fairy garden”), so they decided to make it the club’s 2010 focus to learn more about such gardens.

Heber is glad to teach fellow gardeners about miniature gardens. For 12 years, she taught horticulture for national garden clubs in 28 different states after retiring in 1992. Previously, she worked at Greenview Elementary School as an instructional specialist.

According to Heber, miniature gardens are lower maintenance than the typical home garden.

“Miniature landscapes allow you to garden without major demands,” Heber says. This makes them perfect for gardeners with limited space or time.

To avoid common misconceptions, Heber says she prefers the phrase “miniature landscape.”

“We’re not putting fairies in our yards,” she says.

The first step in constructing a miniature landscape is to find a suitable container.

“There are a variety of ways to approach it,” Heber says. Anything like a “trough, planter, whiskey barrel, etc.” can be used.

When deciding what to put in the container, Heber recommends planting small ferns, various types of thyme, selaginella, hens and chicks or different types of sedum. For gardeners planning to leave the container out during the winter, dwarf wintergreens can be used, as well. But if not, it’s important to winterize the garden so it will be in optimal shape for the following year.

To incorporate some extra flair into a miniature landscape, decorative objects can be added, such as a miniature wheel barrel, deck chair, or other items intended for small landscapes. Serendipity member Beth Veldey makes fairy garden furniture, and will to teach the group at a spring session. The club also tentatively plans to visit A Proper Garden, 5840 Olentangy River Rd. in Delaware, where there are many options for miniature landscapes.

For those looking to start their own gardens, Garabis’ first advice is to join a garden club and start learning as much as possible. Heber agrees, and gives the example of one member who couldn’t tell the difference between weeds in her yard and Hostas when she first joined. Now, she is a master judge.

“You can come and learn a lot,” she says.

Emily Gibb is a contributing writer for Upper Arlington Magazine.


BONUS:
Heber has plenty more gardening tips for fellow UA residents and gardeners, such as:

For watering indoor plants:
* Don’t use tap water straight from the faucet. Allow it to come to room temperature and age for at least 24 hours. It’s best to let it sit for 36-48 hours.
* Keep the water in a container, such as a well-washed milk jug, so it’s ready when your plants are.
* Allowing water to sit at room temperature gets rid of chemicals and chlorine, which can kill your house plants.

Things to remember for spring:
*The yard clean-up process is important. Pick up any leaves and debris to get rid of any diseases or pathogens in the yard.
* Pruning is important. Know how to prune, when to prune and what to prune.
* Also, know when to plant. Do your research when thinking about what to plant so they will last.

Westerville Magazine

Honor and Glory

Night of Heroes Gala kicks off celebrations of fire division's 150th anniversary

By: Emily Gibb

In 1860, Ordinance 7 allowed Westerville to have 25 full-time firefighters, with volunteers who came when called by a bell. That’s a far cry from today’s 88 firefighters at three different stations, who use high-tech engines and hoses to keep residents safe.

In 2010, the Westerville Division of Fire will recognize its past, present and future with a year-long celebration honoring its 150th anniversary. Several anniversary events will take place through the year, beginning with the Night of Heroes Gala Feb. 20. This event begins at 6 p.m. at the Villa Milano Banquet & Conference Center, 1630 Shrock Rd.
“It truly is focusing on the fire division, and focusing on the community, too. It’s to recognize the people involved in Fire Service,” says John Bokros, a battalion chief and gala PR committee member.

Guests can look forward to an evening hosted by NBC4 news anchor Cabot Rea, a Westerville resident, and enjoy entertainment by singer/songwriter Eric Gnezda. A silent auction will benefit the Firefighters Memorial in First Responders Park, which is under construction next to the firehouse, says Mayor Kathy Cocuzzi, who is also a member of the gala’s PR committee.

“We’ve been working on this project for two years now, and seeing the contributions made and hearts we’ve touched for 150 years has been the coolest thing,” Bokros says.

Also this year, the Sound the Siren Expo and Muster will be held Aug. 14 at Hoff Woods Park, and the Fire Prevention Week Open House “Grillin and Chillin” event will take place Oct. 3. These events are open to the public.

“We are viewing this as a community celebration,” says firefighter and paramedic Brian Miller, who is also co-chairperson for the gala.

Mostly community members, not firefighters, comprise the gala’s planning committee, and these residents are looking forward to recognizing the division’s service. For Bokros, it is meaningful they have taken the time to volunteer and get involved.

“We’re excited to celebrate the people that put their life on the line for us,” Cocuzzi says.

Tickets to the Night of Heroes Gala are $30 each and are available online. There are also private tables (which seat 10 people) for $300 and corporate sponsored tables for $350. For more information, visitwww.celebratewestervillefire150.org.

Emily Gibb is a contributing writer for Westerville Magazine.

BONUS:

Historical fun facts about the Westerville Division of Fire:

• The Westerville Division of Fire was originally named the “Franklin Fire Guards” when it was founded in 1860.
• From 1931 until 1966, the division gave free room and board to Otterbein College students who were there during the day to staff the trucks and other duties around the fire station.
• Volunteer firefighters were once called to duty by a bell in the middle of town. They knew what part of town the fire was in by the number of rings. The bell can be found hanging today above the doors of Station 11.
• During the Christmas tree lighting ceremony in Uptown Westerville, the fourth of July Parade, and other special events, community members can get a glimpse into the past with the 1950 Seagraves fire truck that the division still owns.

Pickerington Magazine

School of Rock

Rock Factory's One Union Project teaches the basics

By: Emily Gibb

They write, perform and record their own songs. They cover the classics – from the Ramones, to Black Sabbath and Nirvana – as well as newer bands such as Queens of the Stone Age or Shiny Toy Guns. They play at festivals, parties and venues all over Central Ohio just as any other local band would.

The difference, however, is the One Union Project group is comprised of kids ages 10 to 15. Members take lessons in guitar, bass, piano, drums or voice at the Rock Factory Art and Music Studio in Pickerington, which also provides guidance in song-writing, performing and recording. The studio also takes care of booking and promoting shows and events.

Audiences won’t hear Madonna or the Jonas Brothers at a One Union Project show. A genuine love for rock ‘n’ roll and performing joins the band members together, which reflects in their songs and performances.

“Before the show, they are pretty pumped up,” says Corinne Corbett, owner and art director of the Rock Factory. “After the show, they’re still pumped, but tired. It takes a lot of energy for kids to put on that kind of show.”

One song that really gets them excited is a medley they perform of two Black Sabbath songs: Paranoid and War Pigs.

“They mix them together and it’s really cool,” Corbett says.

The band consistently grows and changes as old members move on and new members join the program. Rock Factory encourages its older members to start their own bands or to join another so they can apply what they’ve learned on a larger scale.

One Union Project gets behind-the-scenes support from family, friends and volunteers. They all work together to nurture a creative environment for the development of the children and teenagers, Corbett says. Also, all of the volunteers or teachers who get involved play in local bands or work professionally in the arts.

Rock Factory has a full stage area with lighting, sound and special effects, so kids can get experienced in a setting similar to a live performance. This also makes it a great place for local and national bands to play shows. Bands from as far away as Canada have appeared there, even though Rock Factory has only been open for a year. Rock Factory is designed differently from a typical music lesson studio, as it leases space for independent musicians, art instructors or bands who want practice space.

The openness of the studio gives students a chance to interact and promote themselves with more experienced musicians and artists. The students can learn from them and network at the same time.

Younger children with an inner rock star can also participate in the “My First Rock Band” program at Rock Factory, which is designed for kids ages 6 through 10. It gives them a basic overview of rock ‘n’ roll and is coordinated by volunteers. The Rock Factory hosts this and other programs through the Pickerington Parks and Recreation Department.

Rock Factory Studios is located at 449 Hill Rd. North in Pickerington. For more information, call 614-735-4715 or visitwww.rockfactorystudios.org.

Emily Gibb is a contributing writer for Pickerington Magazine.

CityScene

Star-Crossed and Love Struck

Classic Shakespeare takes over Columbus

By: Emily Gibb

Romance, mischief and tragedy will grace the stages of downtown Columbus as Shakespeare takes over the city just in time for Valentine’s Day.

The opera rendition of the classic play, Romeo and Juliet, premiered on April 27, 1867 in Paris, France. Almost 150 years later, the famous Shakespearean tale is still captivating audiences around the world. Opera Columbus brings the story to life Feb. 12 and 14 at the Ohio Theater, 39 E. State St.

The timeless tragedy of an ill-fated romance stars two real-life married couples: Jonathan Boyd and Malinda Haslett as Romeo and Juliet, and Elise Des Champs and Brian Banyon as Stephano the page and Friar Lawrence.

“We’re excited that we’re doing it over Valentine’s weekend. It’s a great opera to do over (that time),” says Press Southworth, executive director of Opera Columbus.

To complement the timing, Opera Columbus is offering patrons promotional packages that include tickets to the opera and “Vocal Valentines,” by local singers, says Eric McKeever, director of education and outreach. These singers can come dinner, work or somewhere else special to enjoy this twist on the traditional Valentine.

Romeo and Juliet is set to the music of 19th century composer, Charles Gounod, with lyrics sung entirely in French with English supertitles. Accompanying the singers is the Columbus Symphony Orchestra, conducted by William Boggs, artistic director for Opera Columbus. John Hoomes is directing the production. Hoomes is the general and artistic director for Nashville Opera, as well as a freelance director who works throughout North America.

While all of this is happening, just down the street will be another Shakespearean adaptation.

Set to the music of another 19th century composer, Felix Mendelsson, and choreographed by former BalletMet artistic director, David Nixon, BalletMet’s performances of A Midsummer Night’s Dream run Feb. 8-14 at the Capitol Theater, 77 S. High St. Nixon’s choreography of A Midsummer Night’s Dream first premiered in 2000, but this time around it will be shown with a bonus feature: a world premiere ballet by choreographer Ma Cong.

“We are very excited to bring back Mr. Nixon’s entertaining work. We are also very much looking forward to working with Ma Cong, who is a very dynamic young choreographer who challenges the dancers to be their best in a very fulfilling way,” says Gerard Charles, Balletmet artistic director.

Audience members can look forward to a good balance of a strong classical ballet and an adventurous contemporary piece. “The combination will showcase the diverse talent of our company, energize the audience in two different ways and demonstrate the vitality of dance,” Charles says.

The new work runs approximately 25 minutes as a section of the complete production. Performance times and ticket information is available at www.operacolumbus.org and www.balletmet.org, respectively.

Emily Gibb is a contributing writer for CityScene.

City Scene Web Exclusive

A Monumental Experience

Exhibit explores Columbus' obscure areas

By: Emily Gibb

Broken concrete lying among rail lines, blocks of road salt waiting for snow, birch growing in cracked limestone - all are remnants of forgotten urban characteristics. These neglected or obscure spots are not the the beautifying landmarks of Columbus we're used to seeing. However, they represent a side of the city that a new exhibit at the OSU Urban Arts Space aims to expose and explore.

The Monuments of Columbus came out of the collaboration of students, faculty and others in the Knowlton School of Architecture at The Ohio State University. It looks at the city through piles and ruins in an effort to pay respect to, but still reinterpret with their own spin, the 1967 essay by Robert Smithson, “A Tour of the Monuments of New Jersey” that focuses on bridges, pipes and parking lots.

Smithson’s essay urged its audiences to look closely at the infrastructural landscapes supporting and defining cities and towns.

“The main goal is to expose and frame landscapes and sights in Columbus that have a particular idiosyncrasy, and sights that are in transition between industrial and post-industrial phases,” says Sarah Cowles, assistant professor in the Knowlton School. The project grew from a similar seminar that Cowles presented about landscape representation.

While Columbus is full of named districts, says Cowles, this work is to call out and represent the forgotten areas. The work on display includes inventories, mappings, experimental geographies, sonic tours and imagined and projected futures for the landscape of Columbus.

Specific areas include the Whittier Peninsula, Nelson Road Water Treatment Plant, The Salt Mountain, Columbus Coated Fabrics, Olentangy Underbelly and Spruce Yard.

There is a mix of art and analytical pieces strategizing how the landscapes could be used more productively, Cowles says.

The Monuments of Columbus is on display through Dec. 12 at the OSU Urban Arts Space, 50 W. Town St. For directions, hours or more information, visit www.uas.osu.edu.

Dublin Life

Rebirth

Muirfield Square reinvents itself as a vital office park

By: Emily Gibb

The Muirfield area might be best known for stunning houses and high-caliber golf, but tucked away in the middle of it all is a working community also contributing to the area’s foundation.

“(Muirfield Square) is a thriving economic center inside Dublin, most specifically Muirfield Village,” says Bill Cseplo, owner of Muirfield Village Office Suites and a Muirfield Square Owners Association member.

That hasn’t always been the case. Built in the 1980s as retail space – with tenants including a restaurant and grocery store – the area was developed 10 or 12 years before there were enough people living in the area to support the establishments, Cseplo says.

In 1981, Muirfield Village had 30 homes. Now it has more than 2,350. The square has since shifted from retail space to an office park, with various tenants working in medical care to pet care to financial care. There are currently 170 employees in the location, and eight owners occupy space in the center’s nine buildings.

Partially hidden from the street because of the surrounding trees and small hill, many residents are not aware of these businesses, says Linda Moran, MSOA member and vice president of human resources at Meeder Financial.

Now that new life has moved in, employers hope to spread the word about their services and the economic value they contribute.

“In the summer of 2009, building owners developed the Muirfield Square Owners Association to help highlight what is available,” Cseplo says.

Part of the challenge is changing the perception residents have that it is a “dead shopping center,” Moran says.
In order to reintroduce the center to the city, members are planning to launch a Web site in early 2010, increase advertising exposure and participate in community events. While more people discover what’s behind the grassy barrier between Muirfield Drive and Muirfield Square, the MSOA will continue working to strategies to gain support.

“We really do add to the community and we want people to know that,” Moran says.

Emily Gibb is a contributing writer for Dublin Life.

Upper Arlington Magazine

Extreme Makeover

UA Fire Station 72 renovations near completion

By: Emily Gibb

A little more than one year and $6.3 million later, the new Reed Road fire station is nearing completion. But with the ongoing construction, it hasn’t mattered if the Upper Arlington firefighters of Fire Station 72 are in the middle of moving, training or even in the middle of the night – they have not been compromised.

The new station’s proximity to the old facility has allowed firefighters to stay on duty during the transition, allowing them to both move and work smoothly.

“It’s unusual that moving will require walking just a few feet from one building to another,” says Dan Kochensparger, public information officer for the UA Fire Division. “It’s an average person’s moving day magnified.”

Cooperating weather has also helped construction stay on track. The Fire Division anticipated construction would last about 12 months. The groundbreaking ceremony was held Oct. 6, 2008, and firefighters are expecting to move in around Thanksgiving.

The new, 32,000-square-foot building features many added conveniences, including three times more space – the old station has 10,000 square feet – and is the right size for the staff and vehicles, Kochensparger says.

The facility also meets national standards with its new decontamination center for gear, medical waste or other other items returning from a response situation with harmful substances on them.

“There is a traditional idea that (the firefighters) jump out of bed at night and into their gear, but actually this is a safety issue,” Kochensparger says. The decontamination room is between the truck entrance and the station’s living space so firefighters don’t take unhealthy particles in with them.

The current station has a lower level shooting range for police officer training and yearly testing. The new facility carries this idea over, and includes ammunition storage, fire arms repair, a workout facility and offices for police training and community relations staff, which were have been housed in an office on Zollinger Road.

Police and fire staffs will be on the same floor, creating a new partnership with more opportunities to interact with the law enforcement side of public safety, Kochensparger says.

All of these added features will allow firefighters to participate in on-site tactical training with built-in training elements, such the standpipe system built in the stairs. Buildings with certain heights are required to have a standpipe system in their stairwell, similar to hoses encased in hotel stairways. If needed, firefighters may connect their hoses from outside and take them inside wherever they need to go, eliminating the inconvenience of dragging hoses up stairs.

The crew can train where they are and respond to emergencies thanks to the building’s multiple uses, Kochensparger says.

With the new firehouse, even the community can experience the upgrades. A 1930 Seagraves fire truck, called Engine 1, will be visible from windows facing Reed Road.

“Engine 1 is currently kept at another location that is already jammed with storage,” Kochensparger says.

A garage door will give the antique truck an appearance that it is another response vehicle and also also make it accessible to drive to community events. There will also be a room decorated with historical pieces from the fire department, which will be open to the public.

For more information on the new station or the UA Fire Division, visit www.uafire.org.

Emily Gibb is a contributing writer for Upper Arlington Magazine.