Westerville September/October 2025

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

Christy Smiley Business/Office Manager

Megan Brokamp Editors

Jane Dimel

Ella Jay

Rachel Karas

Elise Conrad Editorial Assistants

Avery Gillis

Disha Hoque

Korrigan Craddock Contributing Writer

Rae Moro Media & Marketing Advisors

Laura Pappas

Circulation 614-572-1240

@westervillemagazine

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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 this publication may be reproduced without the written consent of the publishers. Westerville Magazine is a registered trademark of CityScene Media Group. Printed in the U.S.A. ©2025

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SeptemberOctober

Sept. 1-30

Make Your Own Papel Picado

All day

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

Mon., Sept. 1

Central Ohio Primary Care Run 4

The Health of It

8-10:30 a.m.

Westerville Sports Complex

325 N. Cleveland Ave. www.westervillechamber.com

Mon., Sept. 1

No School – Westerville City Schools

Labor Day www.westerville.k12.oh.us

Wed., Sept. 3

Pancake Breakfast

7:30-10 a.m.

Westerville Community Center 350 N. Cleveland Ave. www.parks.westerville.org

Sept. 5-21

Colder Than Here presented by Curtain Players

Sept. 5, 6, 12, 13, 19 & 20: 8 p.m. Sept. 14 & 21: 2 p.m.

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

Sat., Sept. 6

Miniature Horses – Dreams on Horseback 2-3 p.m.

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

Sat., Sept. 6

Taste of Tailgating 11 a.m.-4 p.m.

Market District 650 N. State St. www.westervillechamber.com

Sat., Sept. 6

WARM Second Annual Shopping Cart Shuffle 5K Run/Walk 9 a.m.

Westerville Sports Complex 325 N. Cleveland Ave. www.warmwesterville.org

Sept. 6-27

Westerville Saturday Farmers Market 9 a.m.-noon

COhatch/North High Brewing 240 S. State St. www.uptownwestervilleinc.com

Sun., Sept. 7

Ballet Folclórico Xochihua: Hispanic Heritage Month 2-2:30 p.m.

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

Mon., Sept. 8

Preparing Your Garden for Winter 6:30-7:30 p.m.

Westerville Public Library Uptown 125 S. State St. www.westervillelibrary.org

Wed., Sept. 10 & Oct. 1

Women in Business – Coffee Wednesdays

8:15-9:30 a.m.

Family Room Coffee & Bake Shop 545 S. Otterbein Ave. www.westervillechamber.com

Fri., Sept. 12

American Red Cross Blood Drive

10 a.m.-4 p.m.

Westerville Public Library Uptown

126 S. State St. www.westervillelibrary.org

Sat., Sept. 13

Genoa Township Fishing Day

9 a.m.-noon

Hilmar Park 6533 Hilmar Dr. www.westervillelibrary.org

Sat., Sept. 20

Costume Swap: Free Shopping Day 1-5 p.m.

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

Sun., Sept. 21

Auditions for The Revolutionists

7 p.m.

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

Oct. 1-31

Wizards & Wands Festival

All day

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

Oct. 3, 4, 10, 11, 17, 18, 24, 25 & 31

Uptown Ghost Story Tours

7-11 p.m.

Uptown Westerville Main Street www.visitwesterville.org

Sat., Oct. 11

Repair Café

9 a.m.-noon

The Point at Otterbein University 60 Collegeview Rd. www.sustainablewesterville.org

Thurs.-Sun., Oct. 16-19

The Great Westerville Pumpkin Glow

6:30-10:30 p.m. Heritage Park 60 N. Cleveland Ave. www.westerville.org

Mon., Oct. 20

CONNECTED Westerville

Networking Luncheon

11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. 5839 Chandler Ct. www.westervillechamber.com

Fri., Oct. 24

Mount Carmel St. Ann’s 4th Fridays –Midnight Madness

6-9 p.m.

Westerville City Hall 21 S. State St. www.uptownwestervilleinc.com

www.westervillemagazine.com

By Ella Jay

and Julie Reid/WPD

Meet the Chief

Holly Murchland appointed as Westerville’s first female police chief

Captivated as a child by the cinematic world of Wonder Woman and television’s plethora of police shows, Holly Murchland never imagined she’d one day follow in the footsteps of her on-screen idols, making history in her own way. Now, more than three decades after entering the law enforcement field, she’s done just that, making waves as Westerville’s first-ever female chief of police.

Thanks to a career built on passion, mentorship and a steady climb through the ranks, Murchland now leads a department she deeply admires in a community she’s proud to serve. With both spirit and humility, she’s stepping into her role with a people-first mindset and a clear vision for the future.

Leadership learned

Murchland holds a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from Anderson University, and is a graduate of the Northwestern University’s School of Police Staff & Command as well as the FBI Law Enforcement Development program.

She began her career in 1993 at Kettering Police Department, located near Dayton. There were very few female officers on staff at Kettering, but Murchland found mentorship early on in now-retired officer Kelly Pooler.

“She broke that ceiling a bit. She was very well-respected by the male and female officers alike,” Murchland recalls. “She came in, worked hard and was very tough. It made it easier for me that they already had an example of a female who was doing the job and doing it well.”

Murchland spent 25 years at Kettering, retiring as a lieutenant in 2018. From there, she brought with her experience in several different areas – supervision of patrol, communications, the detective bureau and property room – which helped her become the leader she is today.

“When you work in different areas, you understand the ‘Why’s’ of things, and it helps when supervising to be able to explain to officers why you’re doing (what you’re doing),” Murchland says. “I think it’s important for anybody that’s rising up the ranks to try and get into the different areas of a police department.”

Murchland also credits her success to a strong support system, beyond that of her female mentors.

“I had a huge support network of male officers too that had my back, so I can’t

stress enough that the men in my life have also played a role. My husband is also a huge (source of) support for me and has always encouraged me,” she says.

Making history

Murchland’s transition to Westerville was a result of perfect timing. Having served at Kettering for 25 years, she was nearing the department’s retirement age. Meanwhile, her husband, Bob, was working in Columbus – a lengthy, daily commute from Dayton. When the assistant chief position opened up in Westerville in 2018, Murchland knew the opportunity was meant to be.

“I was very content with each rank I was in. I wasn’t really looking at a chief’s position, but this community is a very special community,” she says. “When the opportunity presented itself, it was a no-brainer.”

Murchland joined the Westerville Division of Police in October of that year, serving as assistant chief until November of 2024 when she became acting chief. Earlier this year in June, she was appointed chief of police.

While Murchland is extremely honored and humbled to be the first, she says she doesn’t want to be the last.

“We have some excellent female officers already here that have great leadership potential. So, I’m hoping it inspires women in any line of work to know you can have

it all,” she says. “Keep working at it and keep pursuing it.”

Policing with purpose

Westerville is special in the way it constantly evolves – Murchland recognizes this and has concrete plans in place to ensure the police department can grow alongside its community.

“We have a very active community services bureau. We really make sure that, all throughout the year, we are planning and attending as many events as we possibly can,” she says.

From chatting with residents at community events, to following up on resident comments made during city council meetings, Murchland says every interaction

with a resident is an opportunity to remain connected with the community.

Staying connected with the community also entails emphasizing trust and transparency. According to Murchland, one way the department will continue to do this is by remaining accredited through the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, or CALEA.

“Not only does CALEA ensure we have policies and procedures in place, but we have to prove that we’re doing that, so that’s one way to make sure we’re doing what we say we’re doing,” Murchland says. “We want to make sure we’re doing that throughout our organization, so we will (also) be pursuing accreditation for our communication center as well as our training academy.”

In addition to accreditation, Murchland also has her sights set on expanding the department’s already-significant training impact, both in-house and beyond city limits.

“We have a state-of-the-art training room, indoor firing range and also a simulator here. There’s more and more need for reality-based training, and we are able to provide that here,” she says. “So, I’m trying to make us more of a training hub here for Ohio; and not just classes from central Ohio, but regional and national.”

As the department’s training influence broadens, more officers will be able to take advantage, lending to one of Murchland’s most prominent goals – making sure her officers are constantly training to be the best they can be.

Her other focus will remain on succession planning – building up well-rounded leaders from within.

“Succession planning is probably the biggest thing. (We want to be) mentoring the young leaders that we have here, because we have such great officers. They’re smart, they work hard, they’re invested in the community. I want to continue to nourish that,” Murchland says.

Shaping a legacy

As Murchland looks to the future, her vision for the Westerville Division of Police is both forward-thinking and deeply rooted in service.

From expanding accreditation and embracing cutting-edge technology, to fortifying officer training and developing the next generation of leaders, she’s committed to building a department that’s as adaptive as it is community-centered – strengthening the department’s legacy of trust, excellence and connection.

“I just want to stress how very honored and humbled I am to have this opportunity,” Murchland says. “I don’t think I would have wanted to do it anywhere but Westerville.”

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

Beyond the Badge

When Murchland is not at work, you may catch her doing something unexpected – traveling with her daughter, Morgan, who participates in beauty pageants.

Murchland has two daughters – Madeline and Morgan – who are a geologist and firefighter paramedic, respectively.

“We’re all in male-dominated fields. The opportunity to be girls and do something that’s more feminine is just fun,” Murchland says.

By Korrigan Craddock

Path to Freedom

Westerville’s role in the Underground Railroad  •

September is International Underground Railroad Month, serving as a time to recognize and honor the courage and sacrifice of those who were involved. According to the Westerville Historical Society, Westerville played an important role in Underground Railroad connections throughout Ohio.

Raising tensions

Despite its name, the Underground Railroad wasn’t underground or a railroad – it was a system of people and places dedicated to providing refuge for enslaved African Americans escaping to freedom. These freedom seekers were often hidden

in a variety of places such as attics, barns and underneath floorboards.

“(The name) just means that they disappeared completely as if they went underground, and they disappeared so quickly that it was as if a train pulled up and whisked them away,” Beth Weinhardt, president of the Westerville Historical Society, says.

In 1850, Congress passed the Fugitive Slave Act, making it illegal to help freedom seekers. Anyone caught helping enslaved people faced fines up to $1,000 (more than $41,000 today) or imprisonment, while the freedom seekers themselves risked being recaptured and facing severe punish-

ments. Freedom seekers didn’t know who they could trust or where to go, and they had limited resources. That law increased the value of enslaved people and intensified both the efforts to capture and to help them leading up to the Civil War in 1861.  Ohio played a critical role in the network with more than 40 recognized sites across the state, including several right here in Westerville. Its central location in Ohio made it a key stop between the Ohio River and freedom in Canada. The Ohio River was difficult and dangerous for freedom seekers to cross due to it being a natural border between free and slave states, but it was a perfect halfway point.

The Underground Railroad was a fluid movement. Because involvement was so dangerous, the network of people and places was constantly shifting and evolving. The secretiveness of the network makes it difficult to know exactly who was involved and where. However, there are Westerville residents that were known to be a part of it.

Westerville abolitionists

Westerville was home to multiple people involved in the abolitionist movement. Here are a few of the most notable:

George Stoner

George Stoner arrived in Westerville in 1852 from Maryland. His father had orig-

inally been a slave owner but chose to free his slaves, which was unusual at the time.

Stoner primarily operated an inn that also served as a tavern on South State Street, but he was also a stagecoach driver between Columbus and Westerville. He would transport freedom seekers in the luggage compartment of his coach.

“I think you can make a case that he came north from Maryland and to Ohio to be part of the Underground Railroad,” says Weinhardt. “He opened the business in 1852 and was immediately moving freedom seekers. And in 1863, when the Emancipation Act was declared by Abraham Lincoln, he sold

that business. It was like his purpose for owning it was done.”

Stoner’s house still stands today near the corner of Walnut and State Street.

The Sharps

The Sharp family was among one of the first families to settle in Westerville, arriving in 1809. Sharp and his seven sons were active and open members of the Anti-Slavery Society. In 1849, the Sharps’ house was built on North State Street. Two of his sons’ homes were built off Africa Road.

The Hanbys

Bishop William Hanby moved his family from Rushville, Ohio to Westerville in 1853. The Hanbys had already been an active part in the abolitionist movement in Rushville and continued once settling in Westerville. The Hanbys would hide freedom seekers in their barn, provide evening meals and arrange transportation to points further north. William was also very vocal about his opposition to slavery, especially the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850. The Hanby House originally stood where the Church of Master stands now, but was eventually moved to its current location on West Main Street.

A Hanby House Story

One well-known story from the Hanby House paints the picture of the constant danger freedom seekers faced.

The Hanbys would hide freedom seekers in the barn outside of their home until dark. When evening hit, the freedom seekers would be brought inside for an evening meal before the townspeople involved would help move them further north.

One night, a man arrived shaking violently from head to toe. His teeth were chattering so much that he couldn’t eat. When someone asked what was wrong, he explained that he saw a wanted poster with his name and description on it, offering a large reward for his return. He was terrified someone would turn him in. The townspeople quickly placed him in a wagon and moved him out of central Ohio as fast as they could.

“We don’t really know if he made it to freedom, but we do know that this is an experience of many freedom seekers. People went to great lengths to capture them and enslave them again,” says Weinhardt.

Africa Road

In 1859, a group of freed African Americans from North Carolina settled in East Orange, Ohio, near what is now the Alum Creek Lake area. The group had been enslaved by Miriam Alston, who put in her will to grant them freedom and have her agent help them relocate for a new life up north. One of the white neighbors referred to the area as “Africa” due to many of the residents having darker skin. The name stuck for about 100 years. Today, Africa Road stands as a memorial.

MUSIC IS LIVE IN COLUMBUS!

Thomas Alexander

Thomas Alexander was born in Granville in 1842 and was brought to Westerville as a young boy. Alexander was a two-term mayor of Westerville and worked closely with Benjamin Hanby to help freedom seekers move north.

Alexander also operated a business on College Avenue where he made window weights that were used in the state capitol building, his patented windmill design and more. In the mornings, Alexander would pick freedom seekers up from the Hanby House and transport them further north by hiding them underneath his windmill parts or the other things he was transporting.

Korrigan Craddock is a contributing writer at CityScene Media Group. Feedback welcome at feedback@cityscenemediagroup.com.

“Darling Nelly Gray”

One of the most influential songs against slavery came from Westerville.  In 1842, a freedom seeker named Joseph Selby arrived at the Hanby’s house while they were living in Rushville. Selby’s love, Nelly Gray, had been sold to a distant plantation. Selby planned to go to Canada to earn money to buy her freedom. Tragically, Selby died while at the Hanby’s, leaving a huge impression on Benjamin Hanby, who was only 9 years old at the time.

Years later, when he was a college student at Otterbein, Benjamin and his father witnessed a slave auction in Kentucky. This experience stunned Benjamin. After witnessing the slave auction and still remembering Selby’s tragic love story, Benjamin wrote the song “Darling Nelly Gray.” The song became widely popular in the 1850s and was later covered by famous Black artists such as Louis Armstrong.

Education in Motion

The Big Bus brings learning right to your doorstep

By Avery Gillis

by Avery Gillis

Weather in Ohio can be unpredictable. The summer heat, however, is a constant companion. Visiting The Big Bus this summer, the heat was no less intense, but attendance was booming. Tables were set up under tents and the bus’s awning as the children of Abbey Lane Apartments practiced their reading, writing and math skills. Often, new attendees would ride up on bikes and scooters, curious to see what this big blue bus was all about.

The bus is full of a variety of educational tools but when asked what their favorite part was, the response was unanimous: “The books!”

Reading is a major priority for The Big Bus. Along with a personal mini library on board, The Big Bus partners with Westerville Public Library to bring a wide selection of books right to the communities, making sure every child enjoys the chance to pick their own book.

First stop

A unique approach to after-school learning, The Big Bus was founded by Tracy Davidson, a former member on the Westerville City Schools Board of Education, in 2022. The organization is a nonprofit that helps refugee and new American families learn English and get the educational support they need to thrive in Westerville and beyond.

The program was inspired by Davidson’s experience listening to the needs of mothers in the community.

“(Davidson) was specifically talking to a neighborhood that happened to be a Somali community … and time and time again, they came up with (the fact) that they needed help with tutoring and help with homework for their children. That was instantly where she came up with this idea,” Kelly Gurich, executive director of The Big Bus, says.

Shortly after Davidson’s revelation, the wheels of The Big Bus began to roll: a board was established, and a school bus was renovated to serve as a mobile classroom for students in preschool through fifth grade. The bus features seating, a mini library, a game center and even solar panels.

The bus made its first stop at Abbey Lane Apartments and has since expanded

We have students that come on the bus and say they want to live there! “ ”

to make stops at Newcastle Townhomes and Charring Cross neighborhoods, developing a weekly schedule to expand access to educational resources.

Most recently, Big Bus II – a donated COTA bus – was launched to extend programming to middle and high school students and help increase access for students of all ages.

Meeting a need – on wheels

There are opportunities for homework help around Westerville, so why is there such need for academic support within these communities? It all comes down to one major factor: accessibility.

“There’s after-school programming at the library, but you still need to be able to access those. That was the hurdle that most of these families see,” Gurich says.

Especially if both parents are working, families might not have reliable access to transportation to get children to and from after-school tutoring. A more flexible, mobile program was needed – and that’s what The Big Bus provides.

Since its start, the bus has quickly become a fun staple for children in the community, as students often run out to meet the bus.

“You’d think we had an ice cream truck,” volunteer Veronica Johnson says.

Games, puzzles and crafts are just as much a part of the programming as reading and math, making The Big Bus not only an educational space for students, but a fun one as well.

“You hear language skills being developed as well as working toward a common goal,” Board Vice Chair Nancy McFarland says.

The space is designed to be warm and welcoming. Its inviting atmosphere not only creates a safe place for learning, but also helps facilitate trust and connection –not just between kids and volunteers, but also amongst the kids themselves.

“We have students that come on the bus and say they want to live there!” Gurich says.

Creating access, building community

As the program grew, the team realized there was a need to support the students’ families as well. Additional programming was added for parents and caregivers – meant to assist with everything from learning English to the ins and outs of school registration.

“We do our best to focus on serving the entire family. We do preschool all the way through 12th grade, but also the parent initiative,” Gurich says. “They wanted to learn to speak English to be able to help their children with their homework.”

Volunteers are a major part of what keeps the wheels turning on The Big Bus. While

According to Community Refugee & Immigration Services (CRIS), Columbus, Ohio is a popular resettlement area and home to a multitude of diverse cultures. In fact, Columbus welcomes the second largest Somali population in the country.

not a requirement, many volunteers are current or retired educators from around the area, and some even come directly from teaching at school to teach on the bus. They are not only a great resource for the kids and families, but they also foster an even deeper connection with their students by working with them one-on-one.

With its multigenerational approach and team of board members and volunteers, The Big Bus is committed and equipped to meet arising needs of the community.

Looking down the road

While the bus was born out of a need for homework help, The Big Bus programming runs through the summer to provide education to students all year long. During the summer, the emphasis is on making sure that the skills learned in school are kept sharp so the kids can keep building on them once the new school year begins.

Since its beginning, The Big Bus has amassed more than 50 registered volunteers, completed more than 150 visits and made an economic impact of more than $20,000.

As such a young program, the advancements The Big Bus has made are impressive. The team aspires to add even more buses, eventually expanding to a fleet that serves an even larger area.

“We are a really innovative program that’s new and fresh but we are strong and we are expanding quickly, and the need, more than ever, is out there,” Gurich says.

Avery Gillis is an editorial assistant at CityScene Media Group. Feedback welcome at feedback@cityscenemediagroup.com

By Disha Hoque

Photos courtesy of Heather Ivery, Linda Kuffour and Adam Wilkins

In the Fast Lane

Westerville hurdlers compete at middle school state championship

Meet the three standout middle school hurdlers from Westerville who wrapped up their track seasons with impressive performances and places on the podium at the 2025 7th & 8th Grade State Track Meet.

John Kuffour – Blendon Middle School

After encouragement from friends to join Blendon Middle School’s track team, John Kuffour’s athletic success is still a shock to the incoming high-schooler.

Kuffour started his first season racing the 100-meter dash but grew interested in hurdling after watching friends at practice. After trying the event, he was hooked. By watching film with his coaches and staying late at practices, he quickly improved.

“I came into the season just wanting to finish it and just have fun,” says Kuffour. “I didn’t think I was going to go to (states) at all. That was shocking.”

That outlook inspires his teammates as well, says Coach Rich Fechter, the boys head track and field coach at Blendon, but it’s Kuffour’s dedication that earned him a spot on the state podium.

“He (always) wants to go harder, he always says ‘Let me do a couple more,’” says Fechter. “(When) it’s time to go home, ‘Okay, let me do a couple more.’ His work ethic is as good as anyone I’ve ever coached.”

Seeded 19th in the 100-meter hurdles, Kuffour ran a time of 16.1 seconds – blowing that projection away, and ending the championship meet in seventh place.

Addie Wilkins – Blendon Middle School

Though Addie Wilkins already excelled in competitive gymnastics and cheerleading, she decided to try something new in seventh grade by joining the track team. Her first season ended with a ninth-place state finish in the 200-meter hurdles and school records in both the 100-meter dash and 200-meter hurdles.

Wilkins juggled her newfound love of running alongside competitive gymnastics, all while keeping her grades up.

“I would go to track right after school, and then come home and study for a little bit… and then I would go to gymnastics,” says Wilkins. “If I had anything in the morning, I would just wake up earlier. I think I had a pretty good schedule.”

Despite late evenings at gymnastic meets and rigorous workouts on the track, practice remained the highlight of her day.

“I barely had any days I didn’t want to go to track, it just lifted up my whole personality,” says Wilkins. “It was so fun.”

Seeded 18th after qualifying for state, Wilkins ran the 200-meter hurdles in 30.34 seconds and placed ninth. Now, she’s aiming higher.

“For me, it wasn’t about beating other people,” says Wilkins. “It was about beating myself and my own goals.”

Madison Ivery – Walnut Springs Middle School

Madison Ivery, a Walnut Springs Middle School student, started running on the Delaware Cheetah’s track club at age 6, encouraged by her dad. At 11, she joined the Plus 2 University Track Club and began hurdling.

“(My dad) would always bring (hurdles) up, just kind of as a joke,” says Ivery. “But then I started watching people actually do hurdles, and I just felt like I had to do it.”

Excited to run for Walnut Springs in seventh grade, Ivery missed about two months of the spring season due to injury and was unsure she’d be able to compete. Despite this, she remained persistent.

Ivery bounced back with a strong finish, placing fourth in 100-meter hurdles and 12th in the 200-meter hurdles at state.

Those wins followed an undefeated regular season and a fourth-place finish in 100-meter hurdles at the New Balance Nationals in Philadelphia.

Ivery also holds the Walnut Springs school records for the 400-meter dash, 100- and 200-meter hurdles and the 1600-meter relay.

“The things kids learn from sports are so much bigger than (awards),” says Skip Ivery, Madison’s father and WSMS’ head girls track and field coach. “(They learn) how to balance multiple priorities like school, track, basketball, friends, chores… and (how to) do it well.”

Disha Hoque is an editorial assistant at CityScene Media Group. Feedback welcome at feedback@cityscenemediagroup.com.

By Avery Gillis

Welcome Home, Westerville

The BIA Parade of Homes returns to central Ohio

The Building Industry Association’s Parade of Homes returns to the Westerville area to showcase the best in central Ohio home design. With more than 50 participating properties, this year’s Parade promises to be an event packed with cutting edge home design.

A tradition started in the 1950s, the Parade of Homes has sought to bring the expertise of local builders directly to potential residents. For the past four years, the Parade has expanded outside of showcasing homes in a single development, fostering an even greater sense of community throughout the Columbus area.

This year, a variety of homes will be presented in Sunbury and Galena from designers such as M/I Homes, Wayne Homes and Ardent Communities.

M/I Homes features a single-family property located in the highly anticipated Miller Farm community in Galena. The four-bedroom, three-and-a-half-bath home boasts a spacious open concept that is perfect for residents who love hosting friends and family. The luxurious home features a three-car garage, full basement, walk-in pantry and stainless-steel modern finishes in the kitchen and bathrooms.

Wayne Homes features a single-family home located in Sunbury. The homesteadstyle property features four bedrooms and two-and-a-half bathrooms with a main floor primary suite. The interior of the home is flooded with natural light from unique floor-to-ceiling windows in the two-story great room.

The Parade of Homes also features properties outside of standard singlefamily homes. Ardent Communities will feature one-bedroom, two-bedroom and three-bedroom apartments in the Carlton at Berkshire community in Sunbury.

Located in a flourishing area, the community offers something for everyone. From a relaxing day at the resort-style pool to shopping and dining out, residents can expect a multifaceted living experience

alongside high-quality interiors with modern finishes.

These homes and more will be available for touring during the Parade as guests are encouraged to take in each unique detail and connect with local builders. The 2025 Parade of Homes will run from September 18-28 from noon-6 p.m. each day. For more information visit www.biaparade.com

Avery Gillis is an editorial assistant at CityScene Media Group. Feedback welcome at feedback@cityscenemediagroup.com

Westerville home prices increased by 8.4 percent in June 2025 compared to the previous year. Homes sold for a median price of $470,000. In June 2025, 45 homes were sold compared to 48 the previous year. Homes in Westerville sold after on average of 29 days on the market compared to 31 the previous year. (Data from Redfin)

5533 Stillwater Ave.

4 beds, 4 baths

$870,000

Sold 7/15/25

6339 Autumn Crest Ct.

4 beds, 4.5 baths

$870,000

Sold 7/8/25

5204 Somerset Ave. 4 beds, 4 baths

$735,000

Sold 6/22/25

6536 Wesley Way 3 beds, 3.5 baths

$722,000

Sold 6/30/25

5657 Freeman Rd. 3 beds, 3.5 baths

$715,000

Sold 7/1/25

5645 Travis Pointe Ct.

4 beds, 3.5 baths

$671,520

Sold 7/10/25

All information is collected from Redfin.

5741 Ridgewood Ave. 4 beds, 2.5 baths

$660,000

Sold 7/1/25

6962 Whitetail Ln. 4 beds, 3 baths

$630,000

Sold 7/9/25

516 Woodview Rd. 4 beds, 3.5 baths

$625,000

Sold 7/14/25

5321 Gillen Way 3 beds, 3 baths

$608,000

Sold 7/17/25

6635 Bowery Peak Ln. 4 beds, 2.5 baths

$595,000

Sold 6/30/25

5528 Cypress Ct. 4 beds, 3 baths

$585,000

Sold 7/3/25

By Disha Hoque

Photos courtesy of mapleandmango.com and Straders Garden

Fall Into Autumn

Harvesting,

planting and cooking to maximize your garden this fall

After long, hot days tending to produce in the summer, fall is the time to celebrate and enjoy all of the flavors of your garden. Here are a few ways to ensure your harvest goes smoothly.

Harvesting Pumpkins

Make sure to harvest these fall favorites before the first frost. This ensures the seeds are still salvageable and can be replanted in the spring. Before harvesting, check if the skins of the vegetables have hardened. If knocking on the pumpkin creates a hollow

sound, the pumpkin is ready to harvest. After collecting, leave the pumpkin outside to cure the vegetable and intensify its flavor prior to cooking or baking.

Apples

If planted in early spring, along with proper pruning and fertilization, this crisp fruit will be ready to pick by fall, just in time for seasonal pies, salads and cobbler. Although the time to harvest and the correct color to harvest depends on the type of apple planted, they are typically ready to pick once the apple’s green tint is replaced with a white and yellow cast.

Sweet potatoes

Harvesting before the first frost and on a cloudy day without recent rain ensures these sensitive yams do not sun-scald once dug up. Before removing the vines of the plant, finding the crown or thickest stem of the plant will save time searching for the potatoes. To cure and ensure longevity, avoid washing after first harvesting. Instead, brush off excess soil and store the potatoes in a garage or warm basement for about a week.

Planting

Just because the weather is cooling down, doesn’t mean your gardening hobby has to. Plenty of plants can survive the chillier autumn months.

FUN FACT: Planting in colder temperatures turns starch in plants into naturallyoccurring sugar, cutting bitter flavor tones and making produce sweeter.

Greens

Fall’s cooler temperatures allow leafy greens such as kale, romaine, spinach and various lettuces to thrive. Planting peas, such as snap, snow and shelling, during September is another opportunity to diversify winter plates.

Roots

The cooler temperatures allow root vegetables such as beets, radishes, carrots and turnips to flourish. These mighty vegetables can withstand unexpected colder temperatures and early frosts.

Brassicas

Cabbage, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, bok choy and broccoli are flavorful plants that will be ready to harvest late November through January if planted in the fall months.

Disha Hoque is an editorial assistant at CityScene Media Group. Feedback welcome at feedback@cityscenemediagroup.com.

Pumpkin and Beetroot Salad

Recipe and photo courtesy of Maple & Mango

Salad

• 2 lbs. of peeled and cut pumpkin/squash

• 4 beets

• 1 tbsp. olive oil

• 1 tsp. olive oil

• 1 tsp. sea salt

• Pine nuts

• Pumpkin seeds

• Arugula, spinach, other greens

• Black pepper

Dressing

• 2 tbsp. olive oil

• 2 tbsp. apple cider or balsamic vinegar

• 1 tbsp. maple syrup

• 1 tsp. Dijon mustard

• Salt and pepper to taste

Preheat oven to 400 F.

Cube pumpkin and place on baking sheet. Coat pumpkin and beets with olive oil, salt and pepper before wrapping the beets in foil and placing everything in the oven.

Roast beets and pumpkin for 45 minutes to one hour, flipping pumpkin cubes halfway through. Remove from oven and open beet foil packages to allow steam to escape. Set aside to cool.

Prepare dressing by whisking together ingredients.

Slice and cut cooled beets.

Assemble salad by tossing together roasted pumpkin and beets with dressing. Then add in remaining ingredients.

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Wizards & Wands Festival

October 1-31, 2025

Experience the magic of your library. westervillelibrary.org/wizards

From the Westerville Public Library

For online library resources such as ebooks, digital magazines, kids activities and more, visit www.westervillelibrary.org

Recommended Youth Reads from Katie Ross, Youth Services Librarian

School Is Wherever I Am     By Ellie Peterson (Picture Book)

Does school and learning only happen within a building? A curious boy ponders this question and shares the many ways that the world outside the classroom provides opportunities for learning.

Flat Cat: The Class Pet by Tara Lazar (Picture Book)

What could a cat do if it was flat? A flat cat can do some amazing things! When he accidentally arrives in his neighbor’s classroom, he finally gets to show off his skills. This is a quirky back-to-school book that will make kids giggle.

Olu’s Teacher: A Story about Starting Preschool by Jamel C. Campbell (Picture Book)

Many children are nervous about starting preschool. They may wonder what their teacher is like. What will the other kids be like? This is a reassuring story that preschool holds amazing opportunities for discovery and that teachers are there to help them learn and grow.

Recommended Adult Reads from Mindy Bilyeu, Adult Services Librarian

Expect Great Things! How the Katharine Gibbs School Revolutionized the American Workplace for Women by Vanda Krefft (Non-fiction)

It’s a safe bet that most of the secretaries on the TV series Mad Men would have attended the Katharine Gibbs School in New York City. Krefft turns the notion of a “Gibbs girl” on its head, showing us that while the school was getting women who could type 90 words per minute into the C-suite, its more subversive mission was to get them out of the secretarial pool to assume positions of power on the other side of the desk. And Gibbs graduates did just that, tackling the sexism of the era and paving the way for 21st-century women to succeed in any profession.

Spell Freedom: The Underground Schools That Built the Civil Rights Movement by Elaine Weiss (Non-fiction)

In the summer of 1954, educator Septima Clark and small businessman Esau Jenkins travelled to rural Tennessee’s Highlander Folk School, an interracial training center for social change founded by Myles Horton, a white southerner with roots in the labor movement. There, the trio united behind a shared mission: preparing Black southerners to pass the daunting Jim Crow era voter registration literacy tests that were designed to disenfranchise them. Together with beautician-turned-teacher Bernice Robinson, they launched the underground Citizenship Schools project, which began with a single makeshift classroom hidden in the back of a rural grocery store. By the time the Voting Rights Act was signed into law in 1965, the secretive undertaking had established more than 900 citizenship schools across the South, preparing tens of thousands of Black citizens to read and write, demand their rights – and vote.

Lessons from My Teachers: From Preschool to the Present

by Sarah Ruhl (Non-fiction)

Based on her popular class at Yale, this masterful, intimate essay collection from one of our greatest living playwrights and teachers, Sarah Ruhl, is a testament to the singular impact of teachers across every stage of our lives. Anchored in stories both personal and universal, drawing on Ruhl’s experiences with her parents and children, with schoolteachers, creative influences and beyond, Lessons offers an uplifting perspective on our basic human need to teach and learn from each other as we navigate the surprising paths that shape our lives.