Westerville Magazine March/April 2026

Westerville magazine

CityScene Media Group

1335 Dublin Rd., Suite 101C

Columbus, Ohio 43215 614-572-1240 • Fax 614-572-1241 www.cityscenecolumbus.com

Kathleen K. Gill CEO

Gianna Barrett President

Dave Prosser Chief Creative Officer

Isabella Gaydosh-Bruce Business/Office Manager

Jeannie Whitton-Smith Creative Director

Megan Brokamp Editors

Jane Dimel

Rachel Hanz

Ella Jay

Katarina Guy Editorial Assistants

Sandhya Kannan

Maggie Valentine

Rose Whaley

Korrigan Craddock Contributing Writer

Rae Moro Media & Marketing

Sarah Reese Advisors

Circulation 614-572-1240

@westervillemagazine

www. westervillemagazine .com

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Westerville Magazine is published bimonthly in January, March, May, July, September and November. For advertising information or bulk purchases, contact Rae Moro at rmoro@cityscenecolumbus.com. No part of

MarchApril

Sat., March 1

Westerville Symphony Masterworks II with Lou Harrison’s Piano Concerto featuring Sarah Cahill

5 p.m.

Fritsche Theatre at Cowan Hall 30 S. Grove St. www.westervillesymphony.org

Tues., March 3

Draw Together – Still Life Drawing

6:30-8:30 p.m.

Daylight Artist Collective 9 E. College Ave. www.visitwesterville.org

Nominate a Community Champion!

Do you know a local individual or group who has made an exceptional volunteer contribution to the Westerville community? Nominate them for the 2026 A. Monroe Courtright Volunteer Service Award by visiting www.westervillerotary. com. Nominations must be submitted by noon, March 20. If you have any questions, contact Janet Tressler-Davis at jtdavis4943@gmail.com.

Wed., March 4

Wine Down Wednesdays 5-7 p.m.

Renaissance Columbus Westerville-Polaris Hotel

409 Altair Pkwy. www.visitwesterville.org

Wed., March 4

Sarah Cahill: The Woods So Wild

7:30 p.m.

Battelle Fine Arts Center in Riley Auditorium 170 W. Park St. www.otterbein.edu

Sat., March 7

Uptown Cookie Walk Noon-4 p.m.

Uptown Westerville www.uptownwestervilleinc.com

Tues., March 10

Escape Room: Five Nights at Freddy’s 4-5 p.m.

Westerville Public Library 126 S. State St. www.westervillelibrary.org

Thurs., March 12

Preschool Storytime Special: Seeds of Caring & Musician Joanie Calem 11 a.m.-noon

Westerville Public Library 126 S. State St. www.westervillelibrary.org

March 13-29

Ms. Holmes & Ms. Watson – Apt. 2B presented by Curtain Players

Curtain Players Theatre 5691 Harlem Rd., Galena www.curtainplayers.org

Thurs., March 19

March Art Social 6-8 p.m.

Community Artists of Westerville 545 S. Otterbein Ave. www.communityartistsofwesterville.org

Fri., March 20

No School (K-12) – Westerville City Schools

Westerville Educator Day www.westerville.k12.oh.us

Sat., March 21

Saturday Night Live at Java Central 7-9:30 p.m.

Java Central 20 S. State St. www.uptownwestervilleinc.com

Fri., March 27

Sanders Frye: Man of Many Talents 6:30-7:30 p.m.

Westerville Public Library 126 S. State St. www.westervillelibrary.org

Sat., March 28

Spring Eggstravaganza 10 a.m.-noon

Hoff Woods Park 556 McCorkle Blvd. www.westerville.org

March 30-April 3

No School (K-12) – Spring Break Westerville City Schools www.westerville.k12.oh.us

Mon., April 6

Death Café – A Conversation with End-ofLife Doula

10-11:30 a.m.

Westerville Community Center 350 N. Cleveland Ave. www.westervillelibrary.org

Wed., April 8

Social Night at Daylight Artist Collective

6:30-8:30 p.m.

Daylight Artist Collective 9 E. College Ave. www.visitwesterville.org

Sat., April 11

Family Storytime with Twinkle the Service Dog

10-11 a.m.

Westerville Public Library

126 S. State St. www.westervillelibrary.org

April 9-18

Rodger’s & Hammerstein’s Cinderella presented by Otterbein University Theatre

7:30 p.m.

Fritsche Theatre at Cowen Hall 30 S. Grove St. www.otterbein.edu

Fri.-Sat., April 17-18

Otterbein Opera Theatre

7:30 p.m.

Riley Auditorium

170 W. Park St. www.otterbein.edu

Fri., April 24

Otterbein University: Jazz Ensemble Concert

7:30 p.m.

Riley Auditorium

170 W. Park St. www.otterbein.edu

Sun., April 26

Westerville Symphony Masterworks III: A Symphonic Celebration of American 250 5 p.m.

Fritsche Theatre at Cowan Hall 30 S. Grove St. www.westervillesymphony.org

By Rachel Hanz

and Ian Crumpler

If you have ever walked around Uptown Westerville to stop in a shop or meet up to grab a bite, there is a good chance you have run into Kevin and David Tolley.

Kevin is a happy-go-lucky black lab that is always excited and happy to say hello to strangers.

His owner, David Tolley, is also very upbeat and always stops to talk to people he meets. The pair are both Westerville residents, and Tolley is a musician and composer. You may have heard him play at a local church, event or perhaps throughout Disneyland in Paris and Tokyo.

From moving to Los Angeles and getting discovered on a late-night talk show to teaching about working in the music industry, Tolley’s career has provided unique opportunities that many may never experience.

A Life Composed

Pianist and composer David Tolley reflects on his career in the music industry

Midwest to West Coast

Born in Dublin in 1959, Tolley grew up as the seventh of eight children. He found his love of music when he was just 5, starting formal lessons two years later, and balancing music with sports, other extracurriculars and his schooling as the years went on.

When he hit the seventh grade, his family moved to Worthington. There, he would graduate from Worthington High School and the Fort Hayes Metropolitan Education Center in 1978, where he was one of its first graduates and valedictorian of his class.

The Ohio State University was his next stop, where he earned a Bachelor’s in Music Theory/Composition in 1980. Two years later he would earn a second Bachelor’s in Piano Performance as well as a Master of Music in Composition.

After graduation, Tolley was at a crossroads and had to decide if he wanted to go back to school or put himself out there.

“I started my first quarter of my doctorate, and I’m like, ‘What the heck am I doing?’” Tolley says. “I had been doing school, school, school since kindergarten and I’m like, ‘That’s not why I got into music.’”

So, Tolley packed up his Volkswagen Rabbit with everything he had and made the move out to the West Coast, knowing only one person there, taking a chance that would make a huge impact on his career.

Highs and lows

Within the first six months, as the holidays rolled around, Tolley became homesick. To cheer him up, his younger brother, Ritchie, visited, and the two got onto the set of The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson

Local Performances

Despite his busy schedule as a professor, Tolley has made time over the years to perform at some places and events in and nearby Westerville, including:

• Fundraisers and concerts at Liberty Barn Church, where he went to church growing up

• The Westerville Lions Club 95th Anniversary

• The Lakes Golf and Country Club

• New Albany Country Club

With pianist Horacio Gutierrez out due to an injury, Carson called upon the audience to find a stand-in and, after some nudging from his brother, Tolley volunteered and performed.

What started as an impromptu performance would lead to a secondary appearance on the show and countless opportunities down the road. For the next 20 years, Tolley worked as a freelance musician, doing everything from composing music for anime films, TV shows and a project with Steven Spielberg, to performing at the Beverly Hills Hotel and events attended and hosted by celebrities – including, on one occasion, Tolley’s favorite celebrity athlete, Muhammad Ali.

“Muhammad Ali came up from his birthday dinner, walked up and, and he wrote me a poem while I was playing the piano,” Tolley says.

Even as his career grew and took off, Tolley still had time to create a life outside of his work with a wife, four kids and a house that had a pool and an in-house studio.

Familiar Faces

During his time in California, Tolley had the opportunity to meet several well-known people from all walks of life, including:

• Previous Tonight Show host Johnny Carson

• Marie Callender’s founder Marie Callender

• Boxer and activist Muhammad Ali

• Actor and filmmaker Clint Eastwood

• Filmmaker Steven Spielberg

• Past U.S. Presidents Gerald Ford, Ronald Reagan, George H.W. Bush and Bill Clinton

Unfortunately, their world would be flipped upside down by a cancer diagnosis that would bring them back to the Midwest to be near family in 2005.

“We sold (our house) and packed the bags and moved back home for family support. I’m glad we did, but it was hard. I can’t deny it, it was very hard,” Tolley says.

Feeling lost and looking for a way to support his family, Tolley went back to OSU and completed his Doctorate in Music Composition, eventually landing a full-time teaching job at Delaware State University. Not wanting to uproot his

family again, Trolley began flying back and forth from Columbus to Delaware every week and still does to this day, even with his kids fully grown, because he loves the community.

New direction

As a professor of music and the director of the music industry program at DSU, Tolley loves connecting with his students and teaching them not only about the music world, but real life. Hoping to support them long past the classroom, he has stayed in contact with several students over the years by reviewing job contracts and giving career advice.

“I always say, ‘Look, I’m not an attorney, but I signed a lot of contracts. I’ve seen a lot of contracts, and I got burned by a lot of contracts out in LA,’ and so part of my education is street worthy,” Tolley says. “I always say, ‘Whatever you get out of this class is great, but I will always be an outside advisor for you, for free.’”

Saturday, April 11

3:00–6:00 PM

When he’s not working with students or traveling to campus from his College Avenue home, Tolley fills his time helping write music for musicals. His most recent project, a family-friendly Off-Broadway show called Mr. Puppy The Musical, was performed in New York last summer.

As he nears retirement in the coming years, he hopes to spend more time doing the one thing he fell in love with: creating music. Whether that is through the musicals he writes or the performances he gives, Tolley will never stop being a musician.

“I’m a full professor with tenure, and so in two years, I’ll retire, and keep on doing music,” he says. “I’ll probably do it until I die. I love to write.”

Rachel Hanz is the lead editor at CityScene Media Group. Feedback welcome at rhanz@cityscenemediagroup.com.

By Ella Jay

Sit, Stay, Support

Westerville Division of Police’s therapy dog, Chloe, comforts her community

Perfect partners

As Westerville Division of Police’s first certified therapy dog, Chloe has become a familiar sight to many Westerville residents. A 6-year-old blonde English Labrador retriever with soft brown eyes, a gently-wagging tail and a calming demeanor, her presence has become a beloved and reassuring one throughout the community. And whether you’ve spotted her padding into a classroom, greeting residents at a local event or curling up next to a first responder, you’ve seen Chloe doing what she does best: comfort.

Since joining WPD’s team a little over five years ago, Chloe has worked alongside Officer Mark Wojciechowski (or Officer Wojo). Wojciechowski has served with the WPD for just under 20 years, spending his first 11 as a patrol and field training officer before transitioning into his current Drug Abuse Resistance Education (D.A.R.E.) officer assignment in partnership with Westerville City Schools, a role he’s now held for nine years.

With Chloe’s therapy role aligning well with Wojciechowski’s work with students, it was a perfect match.

Puppy prep

Chloe was first welcomed to the department in 2020 after the idea of a WPD therapy dog program was introduced the year before by then-Chief Charles Chandler, who had seen the success of such programs at the Columbus Police Department and the Franklin County Sheriff’s Department.

“They brought some of their therapy dogs here on the one-year anniversary of our officers’ deaths (Anthony “Tony” Morelli and Eric Joering), and the Chief saw what an impact it had helping the officers and dispatch staff,” says Wojciechowski.

According to Lieutenant Greg Franey, whose duties in part consist of overseeing the D.A.R.E. program, Chloe was selected based on her patient temperament, calm demeanor and affectionate nature – all traits that typically make Labradors excellent therapy dogs.

Chloe’s first several months with WPD consisted of ample obedience training, followed by a 40-hour certification course in Cocoa, Florida. There, Chloe earned the AKC Canine Good Citizen certification through Brevard County Sheriff Office’s Law Enforcement & Multidiscipline Crimes Against Children Investigative Therapy Dog Course. Later, she also became certified through Alliance of Therapy Dogs, a nationally renowned organization.

Day-to-day dog

Since completing her training, Chloe has settled into her daily routine, traveling from school to school with Wojciechowski to educate students on how to make safe and healthy decisions. In total, the pair visits 11 different schools within the district, interacting with more than 700 fifth-grade students throughout each school year.

“The majority of our days are spent in elementary schools, primarily fifth-grade classrooms, but also with other kids in the hallways, and at occasional lunches and recesses,” says Wojciechowski. “Teachers

and office staff love her too… Most have dog treats behind their desks.”

Chloe assists Wojciechowski in his D.A.R.E. lessons by breaking the ice, as many young students may not be used to being around police officers, as well as by giving the kids something to look forward to at the end of their session. This reward system benefits Chloe too, as she’s a huge fan of belly rubs.

Not only does Chloe help students by reducing anxiety, improving focus and supporting emotional regulation, but according to Wojciechowski, she has helped

To learn more about Chloe, see her in action and check out her spot-on 2026 Super Bowl prediction, visit www.westerville.org/services/ police/community-services/ therapy-dog-program.

students in other ways. For example, she’s encouraged some to overcome their fear of dogs. She’s also often the staff’s go-to when a distraught student needs comfort.

“Some teachers will utilize her for that, like, ‘Hey, I’ve got a student that’s having a rough day. Can they spend a few minutes with Chloe?’” says Wojciechowski. “They’ll lay on the floor and pet Chloe for five minutes, and then be ready to go back to class.”

Comfort on call

Chloe’s role in the community extends beyond the classroom. In addition to her

work with students, she’s also a fixture at many community events – helping residents feel safe, supported and connected, and strengthening trust between the department and the community. She regularly attends Fourth Fridays, Cops and Kids Day, Safety City and National Night Out, among other events.

“A lot of the time, on Fourth Fridays, it’s not ‘Where’s Officer Wojo?’ it’s ‘Where’s Chloe?’” jokes Franey. “She’s usually just cooling down in the car.”

And, when the need is greater – following a critical incident, during a first responder debrief or during a time of crisis – Chloe is on call. Through her quiet

comfort, she helps first responders and staff throughout the division decompress and maintain overall wellness.

On other occasions, Chloe and Wojciechowski attend PTSD seminars for first responders.

“These are hardened law enforcement and paramedic people, but I’ve seen them come up to Chloe, hug her and just start crying,” says Wojciechowski. “You see the stress they’re feeling, and then the stress relief she brings, and it’s really pretty powerful, the effect she has.”

Off-duty

When she’s not hard at work, Chloe can be found napping on her beloved memory foam bed, at home with Wojciechowski chasing a tennis ball, partaking in her hidden hobby of predicting the winner of the NFL Super Bowl each year or enjoying her favorite activity of all time: eating.

But no matter where she is or what she’s doing, Chloe is always willing to lend a helping paw – making a difference in the lives of all who meet her.

“It’s been nothing but positive,” says Wojciechowski. “She’s such a good dog. She’s been a dream dog.”

Ella Jay is an assistant editor at CityScene Media Group. Feedback welcome at ejay@cityscenemediagroup.com.

Catch Chloe

Catch Chloe at her next community event, Safety City, June 1-12. Safety City is a fun and interactive program for incoming kindergarten and first-grade students to learn essential safety skills. Sessions will take place Monday through Friday, 9:30-11:30 a.m. and 12:302:30 p.m., at Robert Frost Elementary. To register your child or for more information, visit www.police.westerville. org/bureaus/community-professional-services-bureau/community-events/

Sustainable Style

WNHS Young Feminist Club opens Style Studio for peers in need of formal wear

By Sandhya Kannan

Photos by Sandhya Kannan

It’s that time of year again: prom season. The excitement of wearing a brandnew outfit on your special day is all you’re thinking about – but how will you ever repurpose it? As it turns out, there’s a number of ways to reuse old homecoming and prom dresses, shoes and suits, and Westerville North High School has already come up with an inclusive way to do so.

WNHS’s Young Feminist Club (YFC) created the Style Studio, a clothing network for students and community members to obtain free formal wear for special occasions.

How it all began

WNHS Spanish teacher Beth Henman took charge of the Young Feminist Club when she realized how many students wanted to discuss feminist topics.

“Students came and wanted to talk about feminist issues or women’s rights. It’s something I’m passionate about, so I thought, ‘Sure, I’ll add another club to the mix,’” Henman says.

The YFC has been around for longer than Henman can remember, but its goal to promote gender inclusivity has never changed. The club focuses on several projects, such as period drives, undergarment drives for women’s shelters and awareness activities to teach about issues relevant to today’s adolescents.

The Style Studio began as one of the YFC’s projects when Henman realized how much formal attire students bought and never wore again. She knew these pieces of clothing could be passed on and shared amongst members in the community.

“You wear them for one dance, and then they sit in the closet and you don’t wear them over again,” Henman says. “The idea (for Style Studio) is kids will be willing to turn over some of their formal wear, not just for Westerville North, but for anyone in the community.”

Racking up

Starting with collecting shoes, Henman spread the word by posting announcements to the Westerville Family Facebook Group, calling attention to the school’s clothing drives.

Community members and peers began donating more apparel, and Henman soon realized they would need a designated area for the Style Studio to store the clothes and allow students to access them.

Style

“(In the early stages of the Style Studio it) was just a few dresses. But then, we got with the secretary (of WNHS) and she said, ‘I can create a space for you, because this is going to grow bigger and bigger,’” Henman says.

Today, the Style Studio has its own room at WNHS, with a designated changing area, numerous racks filled with all styles and sizes of dresses and suits, and collections of shoes lining the walls.

“We tell people to take whatever they want, and whatever they need. If it keeps it out of landfills, that’s a great idea,” Henman says.

Finding meaning

When forming the Style Studio and adopting her role as the YFC advisor, Henman began with a simple mission to empower and engage the community – something she tries to remember when planning meetings or activities for the club.

“Whatever we do, I try to think, ‘Am I, and are we empowering and engaging the school, community or ourselves?’” she says.

With members from all high school grade levels, discussions among the club vary greatly, including topics such as current events and feminism-specific issues. The students strive for calm and organized discussions that allow everyone’s voice to be heard.

Sophomore Mizuki Jordan, a member of the YFC, says the club is an outlet for her to speak on issues students don’t normally get to discuss. Jordan likes that the club focuses on Women’s History Month

and domestic awareness issues, while also being a free space for her peers to come together and share their experiences.

“It’s nice to have a place where I can talk about the things I worry about in the world,” Jordan says.

Through the Style Studio, students also have the opportunity to express themselves through fashion without having to pay large amounts of money for dresses or shoes they may wear only once. The club is a resource open to community members as well.

“It’s nice to create that sense of community where anyone can come, get what they need, and be together in that intimate environment to look their best for whatever event they have coming up,” Jordan says.

Goals for the future

The YFC and Style Studio’s attendance varies among grades at the high school, but the club’s diversity influences students to join and take part in the discussions.

The Fairy Goodmothers and the Otterbein Women’s Club in Westerville also provide formal and informal attire for any occasion.

“I think we could do more to promote it more. I would love to make sure we get all grades represented,” Henman says.

She also hopes the Style Studio will one day grow beyond Westerville so more members in the Columbus community can benefit from the donated attire.

“I don’t think it needs to be specific to Westerville North. If other kids want to donate, that’s fine. If other kids want to come for items, that’s fine too,” Henman says.

Sandhya Kannan is an editorial assistant at CityScene Media Group. Feedback welcome at feedback@cityscenemediagroup.com.

By Katarina Guy

Photos by Amanda Stevens and Kendyl Householder

Bound for Brilliance

Three full-ride scholarship winners from WSHS share their stories

After years of striving toward academic excellence and contributing to their communities, three Westerville South High School seniors have earned full, four-year scholarships to attend university.

Mark Chavez, who will attend Yale University; Akeelah Omoniyi, who will attend Northwestern University; and Sami Pedro, who will attend Stanford University, are among QuestBridge’s 2025 cohort of Match Scholarship Recipients.

Questbridge is a national non-profit organization that endeavors to support accomplished high school students pursue a fulfilling future by making educational, career and life-enhancing opportunities more accessible. Chavez, Omoniyi and Pedro are three out of several thousand applicants selected to receive this scholarship and matched with esteemed universities.

Built on belonging

When reflecting on their time at Westerville South High School, all of the students shared one thing in common: their involvement in the International Culture Club.

“(I was) struggling to connect… because I was in a new environment and not having many experiences to fall back on,” says Omoniyi.

She spent her middle school years with her family in Nigeria and returned to the U.S. at the start of her high school career. Though the transition was difficult, Omoniyi says that the International Culture Club provided her a space to interact with a diverse group of people and become involved with community-based practices.

Chavez shares a similar sentiment that the International Culture Club and his role as Class Officer helped him get out of his shell, be more courageous and connect with others. Following that personal

growth, Chavez identified a lack of other opportunities for connection and created Latino Club to further elevate community spirit and bridge cultural gaps.

Powered by purpose

Although a path to university is not guaranteed, these students have always worked to build upon the foundation set for them by their families.

Both Chavez and Pedro express that they’ll be pursuing university degrees as a way to honor the life of opportunities provided to them by their parents. Chavez says that attending university is about continuing what his parents have established and making them proud by being the first person in his family to graduate from an university.

Omoniyi’s motivation comes from her mother.

“(My mother) always drove the fact that education is power… we all start from different standpoints in life based on economic and cultural background, but education is what really differentiates (people),” Omoniyi says.

Beyond the books

While their academic achievements are impressive, these students shine just as brightly outside of the classroom.

When she’s not spending time creating or playing games on the computer, Pedro enjoys bowling for Westerville South High School’s competitive bowling team. That said, while researching universities, Pedro discovered that many of them do not have

their own bowling team. Consequently, she is keen to start a bowling team at Stanford.

Chavez likes to keep himself entertained with YouTube videos, video games and playing with his younger brother.

“What I really love, though, is playing the cello,” says Chavez. “It is very important keeping that musical aspect (of myself).”

Chavez, first and foremost, enjoys the music, but also delights in the friendly competition between himself and his friends during orchestra. He plans to explore the musical arts culture at Yale.

For as long as she can remember, Omoniyi has found herself getting lost in a book. Like many young people, Omoniyi says that growing up, she felt a little restricted on what she could do, and that books helped to illuminate how much the world has to offer. Thus, Omoniyi is excited to pursue her dreams and to entertain her younger thoughts of ‘What would I do if I could,’ while enrolled at Northwestern University.

As these students complete their final year of high school, they offer a few words of advice to those who may be considering college.

Chavez compares college preparation to climbing Mount Everest: “The climb may be daunting… but once at the top, it’s like feeling a breeze of air… you just feel more elevated because you have this opportunity to do so much more.”

To aspiring college students, Pedro leaves a simple yet powerful sentiment: “Believe in yourself. Do not commit to failure even before you’ve tried.”

Katarina Guy is an editorial assistant at CityScene Media Group. Feedback welcome at feedback@cityscenemediagroup.com.

Laura Stimmel AVP, Branch Manager, Mortgage

& Consumer Lender lstimmel@middlefieldbank.com

614.890.7832

NMLS: 769696 Westerville Branch 450 Altair Parkway

By Maggie Valentine

Trusting the Process

A collaborative approach to a bathroom remodel

When homeowner Debbie decided the primary bathroom in her Highland Lake’s home needed an update, she knew exactly who to call. When it comes to home renovations, Bill Maibach of Custom Home Works has been her go-to remodeler. Having previously worked together on multiple projects in her former home in Dublin – such as on a sunroom project and kitchen upgrades –they decided to team up again.

Function first

The primary bathroom remodel was done to improve accessibility and safety. With that goal in mind, features such as nonslip tile, a larger shower with a oneinch lip for future wheelchair accessibility and grab bars were added.

Though a partial remodel, the project did require some tearing out and rebuilding. For example, typical bathrooms in the Highland Lakes community feature Whirlpool tubs and smaller showers, but for this renovation, Maibach flipped the room’s layout to add the larger walk-in shower with an added bench. In place of the Whirlpool tub, Maibach installed a standalone soaker tub, to Debbie’s surprise.

“(The tub) is kind of something she’s always wanted. So that was a little perk added to necessity,” Maibach says.

The doors in the bathroom were also a focal point. They decided the original doors should remain in order to match the closet door, but there was one caveat: the separate door to the toilet swung inward, creating an accessibility issue. So they simply changed the originial door into a pocket door.

“They wanted a pocket door there and bigger if they need wheelchair access or just crutches. Just kind of planning ahead,” Maibach says.

In the details

Throughout the process, many decisions were thoroughly thought over by Debbie and even tested before installation, including the non-slip tiles.

“I brought a bunch of samples home and got my feet wet, and I tried to choose all the ones that were least slick. I’m happy with it,” Debbie says.

Debbie even assisted with sourcing some materials. For the shower walls, she wanted a specific color of Swanstone, a high-impact durable surface material, which was not available at the supply store. But, after a call to the manufacturer in Missouri, Debbie discovered there was a Swanstone wholesaler in Hilliard, and she made the drive and ordered it for Maibach.

In the end, Debbie selected modern, gray paint and tiles with a mix of black and brushed bronze hardware for the aesthetics of the bathroom. The black countertops and large glass block window remained the same, allowing plenty of natural light to flow into the space.

Longterm comfort

While the renovation took place over several weeks, Debbie made many of the decisions from her vacation home in Florida, leaving Maibach and his crew to

complete the project. Without Pinterest or any research, Debbie discussed over the phone with Maibach the project design.

“It was long wanted, not long planned,” Debbie says.

Their years of working together continued to pay off. When Debbie returned from vacation, the bathroom was in good shape and Maibach discussed more suggestions with Debbie and her husband for an agingin-place remodel.

Overall, the project showcases that both modern trends and accessibility enhancements can be prioritized to benefit homeowners for years to come.

“I just want to be able to stay here. I don’t want to start thinking about moving someplace just because one of us is not able to get around right,” Debbie says.

Maggie Valentine is an editorial assistant at CityScene Media Group. Feedback welcome at feedback@cityscenemediagroup.com.

Top Homes

Westerville home prices increased by 1.9 percent in December 2025 compared to the previous year. In December, homes sold for a median price of $400,000. On average, homes in Westerville sold after 39 days on the market, the same as the previous year. There were 29 homes sold in December 2025, down from 46 last year.

5633 Travis Pointe Ct.

3 beds, 3.5 baths

$1,600,000

Sold 1/9/26

7930 Thornbush Dr. 4 beds, 4.5 baths

$1,200,000

Sold 12/30/25

5259 Sorrento Ct. 3 beds, 3.5 baths

$970,000

Sold 12/10/25

6954 Lakeside Ct. 4 beds, 2.5 baths

$960,000

Sold 12/4/25

6050 Medallion Dr. W 4 beds, 3.5 baths

$810,000

Sold 12/30/25

5552 Quail Hollow Way 5 beds, 4 baths

$810,000

Sold 12/16/25

5090 Oakmont Pl. 4 beds, 3.5 baths

$785,000

Sold 1/28/26

8369 Manitou Dr. 3 beds, 2.5 baths

$717,027

Sold 12/15/25

5694 Piermont Ct. 4 beds, 3.5 baths

$715,000

Sold 1/23/26

5386 Medallion Dr. W. 4 beds, 3.5 baths

$715,000

Sold 12/22/25

8255 Harvest Wind Dr. 4 beds, 3.5 baths

$708,500

Sold 1/29/26

5542 Troon Pl. 4 beds, 3.5 baths

$693,000

Sold 1/5/26

All information is collected from Redfin and Franklin County Auditor.

By Ella Jay

Photos by Ella Jay

Food for Thought

Otterbein Promise House marks 10 years of feeding students and breaking down barriers

When students founded the Otterbein Promise House in April of 2016, it was built upon a simple pledge: “We’re going to make a promise to our peers that no financial barrier will get in their way of success.” Now, a decade later, the student-led food pantry has grown into a vital campus resource that not only addresses food insecurity, but helps students navigate any and all barriers that may stand between them and their diploma.

Promise-turned-pantry

In 2015, a panel of Otterbein students gathered for a conference to discuss the hidden costs of college.

“Every single one of the students on that panel talked about being hungry,” says Dean of Student Engagement Melissa Gilbert. “Within two weeks of talking about a food pantry, other people on campus said, ‘Yes, this is an absolute need.’”

Taking advantage of a Resident Life space with an already-converted room fit for a food pantry, students quickly got to

Learn more about and support the Promise House’s mission by staying connected on social media, @promise_house, or visiting www.otterbein.edu/cse/promise-house.

work; forming an executive team, creating business and communications plans, designing logos and throwing a launch party complete with a ribbon cutting.

With help from local partners, the House truly came to life. Students met with Westerville Area Resource Ministry (WARM), a longtime partner of Otterbein’s, to learn how to properly set up and run the pantry. Gilbert says Mid-Ohio Food Bank and AmeriCorps stepped up to the plate as well, sending advocates to help train and manage student volunteers.

Today, the House receives help and donations from all over – faculty and staff, Church of the Master United Methodist, St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church and private donors, among several others.

“Over the past 10 years, we’ve probably had more than 400-some private donors who fund us with cash donations, which are extremely important for us,” Gilbert says. “That helps us fill the shelves and buy supplies.”

In fact, one of the largest donations made to the House, an industrial-sized refrigerator and freezer, was privately funded. The new fridge and freezer made it possible for the pantry to also stock fresh food, which comes directly from the Otterbein Community Garden.

“The direct connection between the Garden and the Promise House is something we’re very proud of,” says Gilbert. “It was critical… teaching students how to grow their own food (because) food insecurity is not just about hunger, it’s also about access.”

Other donations the House receives but cannot keep are given to the Otterbein Thrift Shop, and any unused fresh food is composted.

Stigma-free support

Recognizing that hunger is, oftentimes, just the tip of the iceberg, the Promise House has become a holistic hub for community-based support. Its pantry also includes school supplies and personal hygiene items, and the House connects students with a plethora of other resources.

These resources help address needs related to academics, financial stability and employment, technology, clothing and household items, health, transportation, housing and social programs. Additionally, the House offers emergency mini grants, giving students up to $75 at a time and up to $300 over the course of their Otterbein career.

Jen Pittel, an Otterbein graduate who recently joined the Promise House team as a resource navigator, specializes in leveraging those support systems to make them more accessible.

“My day-to-day work looks like creative problem solving, researching and investigating. Students come in with unique needs, and I see what resources exist for them… and how we can assist,” Pittel says.

Part of what makes the House a community hub is also its student-led, stigma-free environment. Students don’t

just visit to grab groceries or cook; they also come to hang out, study and even gain hands-on skills through volunteer or paid positions.

For example, Faith Withrow, a sophomore at Otterbein and a Promise House coordinator, says her role makes the Promise House less intimidating to utilize.

“As peers, we’re on the same level. You have genuine conversations, and there’s no extra pressure,” Withrow says. “I’m the first point of contact (when students walk in), making sure they’re welcomed and not being judged. I tell them, ‘I go to the Promise House all the time, it’s an amazing resource.’”

Community at the core

During the 2024-2025 school year, the Promise House served 1,966 students and awarded 98 emergency grants – but its impact extends far beyond the numbers. Rooted in Otterbein’s longstanding commitment to community service and student success, the House has become a place where connection, belonging and stability are just as vital as the resources themselves.

“Otterbein as a whole is very supportive, and the Promise House is part of that support,” says Withrow. “We’re like a family here.”

As the House looks forward to another decade of supporting students, Gilbert and Pittel say they’d like to focus on building up programming related to financial wellness, life skills and nutrition-based education.

“We help our students understand how to navigate barriers to success and give them resources, but we also want to help them build skills to navigate the rest of the world,” says Gilbert.

Ella Jay is an assistant editor at CityScene Media Group. Feedback welcome at ejay@cityscenemediagroup.com.

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