N4N Feb 11, 2010

 
 
Remembering
Jeannine Morbtizer
  
We lost a beloved neighbor this week – Jeannine Morbitzer, who passed away on Tuesday.  The long-time resident was 77 years old, raised 11 wonderful children, and was preceded in death by a loving and devoted husband, James J. Morbitzer.  Jeannine, James and family have owned and operated ABC Gas Repair on South Front Street since 1952. Jeannine was a familar face in the Village, donating her time as a regular volunteer in the Visitor’s Center and taking part in numerous Village activities. 
 
In our neighborhood, it’s hard *not* to know a Morbitzer, and Jeannine was matriarch to them all…
 
 -  Mark and Chris Lucas on East Sycamore Street (Chris is one of the 11 Morbitzer children).
  -  Nancy and Tom Gross on Lazelle Street (Nancy, a Morbitzer daughter, created an award-winning Mother May I? basket in Mrs. M’s honor a few years ago).
 -  Realtor Steve and jewelry designer Teresa Morbitzer (parents of Mrs. M’s youngest grandchildren, Rachael and Slane).
 -  Tim Morbitzer and Giancarlo Miranda, who live on Mohawk Street.
 -  Norm Hall, because her heart really was big enough to believe 11 wasn’t quite enough children.
 -  Brad and Kathy Martensen (yet another one of the Morbitzer girls). 
. -  Brad and Nick Martensen, grandsons who own and operate Village Coney, on East Whittier
 -  Son Ben’s children, Jaquelyn (Jacks) and Chris, who attended St. Mary School and who have grown up in German Village thanks to the home base their grandmother provided on Fifth Street.
  
Calling hours on Thursday are from 2 to 4, and from 6 to 8 p.m., at the Schoedinger Midtown Chapel.  Funeral Services will be held at 9:30 a.m. tomorrow (Friday).  Those wishing may contribute to the German Village Society or the American Lung Association in her memory.

German Village Gala
 
The band has been booked; chefs have planned their menus; and the tribute video is being edited!  If you haven’t made reservations to the German Village Society’s 50th Anniversary Gala, please do so today.  Only 250 tickets will be sold, and they are going fast.  This very special event will take place Saturday evening, February 27th, at the Grange Insurance building on South High Street.  Your $75 ticket gives you parking in the Grange garage, cocktails and food stations by our neighborhood’s signature restaurants, live music, host Andrea Cambern and – as they say – much, much more!  Villager John Clark and WBNS10TV, who teamed to produce our award-winning visitors video a few years ago, are hard at work on an all-new program.  John promises plenty of surprises this time around, as we visit with friends – past and present – who made the dream of our Society a reality.  In addition to the already long list of great restaurants and bakeries printed on our invitation, we welcome Juergen’s to our list of sponsors who have come on board to help provide the evening’s fare.  This is the signature event of our year-long 50th Anniversary celebration.  Don’t be left out!  Call the Meeting Haus at 614-221-8888, or log on at germanvillage.com to join the festivities.

Volunteer Opportunities!
As the German Village Society prepares to celebrate 50 years, it’s an excellent time to reflect on our organization’s collaborative relationship with the City of Columbus.  Joint venture in civic relations have been instrumental in getting us to where we are today.  Thus, we are asking for your continued support of civic issues by joining our newly revitalized committee. 

Crystal Seamon, the chair of the GVS Civic Relations Committee, is seeking individuals who are interested in serving on the committee.  Interested in the I-70/I-71 re-design?  Cooper Stadium development plans?  The Good Neighbor agreement with Nationwide Children’s Hospital?   All of these topics and more are of vital concern to the vitality of German Village. 

If this sounds like something you would be interested in, please contact Crystal (crystalseamon@gmail.com) for more information.  Your neighborhood thanks you!

Art Exhibits
 
Village artist Donna Burns welcomes an international exhibit to her Art at 185 studio.  The recent digital prints of Professor John Choi, of South Korea’s SunChon National University, go on display Monday, at 185 East Columbus Street.  The studio will be open to the public from 1 to 5 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday, from February 15th through March 15th.  For more information, you may call Donna at 614-542-0840 (studio) or 614-444-6644 (home).  You may also drop her an e-mail at dsbgv@ameritech.net.
Also, neighbors Paolo and Patty DeMaria want you to know about a very special exhibit at the Columbus’ Main Library.  “Defintions of Character” is a collection of self-portraits by members of Creative Arts of Women, a group of female artists and arts appreciators, several of whom are from German Village and Schumacher Place.  The exhibit continues through February 19th.
 

Comedy in the Village
“Comedy in the Village” is a new show at Columbus Maennerchor, featuring the best stand-up comics in the area.  The first show, on Saturday, February 20th, will be hosted by German Village resident and attorney Dean Masello.  (Yes, lawyers have a sense of humor!)  Also featured on opening night will be Mike Paramore, Laura Sanders, Darrell Dawson, Jeff Burgstrom and Chris Coen.  Tickets are $5 at the door, and dinner is available.  Winter got you down?  Go have a good laugh, and support our local talent!

Kitty Rescue Needs You!
Bill Doughton, of Merion Village, submits the following:  The Columbus Kitty Rescue & Adoption Center remains in CRITICAL need of cash, material donations, volunteers and loving homes.  All the cats and kittens in this facility have been rescued from circumstances in which the animal would have suffered or not survived.  Columbus Kitty Rescue is a non-profit facility, serving Merion Village, Schumacher place and German Village.  Visitors are welcome to open houses each Saturday afternoon from noon to 3, at 368 East Whittier.  For more information, contact Jenny at 614-581-5123 or Barb at 614-499-0526.  You may also visit them on the web at columbuskittyrescue.org. 
 
Meet Diane Keaton
Our friend, Marilyn Vutech, wants you all to know about an upcoming fundraiser that will allow you to help the Women’s Fund of Central Ohio, and have the opportunity to meet Oscar-winning actress Diane Keaton.  The occasion is the 10th Annual Women’s Fund’s “Keyholder” event – to be held Wednesday, May 5th, at the Ohio Theatre.  Through Keyholder, the Women’s Fund highlights current and past grant partners to help raise awareness of projects that serve women and girls.  When you buy a $50 ticket, you can make a tribute to a woman or girl in your life.  The recipient will then receive a copy of this year’s Tribute book, containing her story.  Buy your tickets before they go on sale to the general public.
 
All proceeds from this spectacular event are used to provide grants that promise social change for women and girls completing the cycle of giving and establishing women’s position as the key holders of social change.
 
Marilyn adds:  One other option is for folks to get together and buy a $5,000 corporate sponsorship.  That gets the group of buyers 10 passes to the event, and five “after event” party passes to meet Diane Keaton in a more intimate setting.
 
For additional information check out the web site for this group: 
http://www.womensfundcentralohio.org, or contact Marilyn at vutech.ruff2@realliving.com.

Fest Hall Dance
Here’s an opportunity to do something fun and different for Valentine’s Day this year.  Grab your sweetie or some friends and come dance the night away – Saturday, February 13th, in the Warner Fest Hall.  Arrive at 7 p.m. for an hour-long Beginning Swing Dance Lesson with SwingColumbus.  Then, from 8 to 10, enjoy open dancing with a live, six-piece jazz band!  Enjoy refreshments, door prizes, even a raffle.  Don’t have a dance partner?  No worries!  And no experience necessary.  Tickets are $20 for individuals, $35 for couples.  This event is being held in support of Hixon Dance, a Columbus-based, non-profit modern dance company.  For more information, and to buy tickets, visit hixondance.org.

Cats in the News
 
Jeanne Tranter, one of our favorite friends of animals, submits the following two items:  The first is regarding a lovely, big old white cat who lives on Sycamore, near Beech. Rory likes to go outside from time to time and sit on the front porch.  He had been outside for maybe 20 minutes last Thrusday evening shortly after 6, when some horrible person (apparently) drove by and shot him. The good news is, he is going to be okay. He was rushed to MedVet, and was back “home” by the weekend.  But this was a really scary thing.  If anyone saw anything, please let Jeanne know. Rory was rescued from the streets as an adult, and just will not stay in; most cats will.

Secondly, Jeanne and her husband Hal rescued a lovely young (two or three-year old) unneutered male cat from Ebner Street near Kossuth last week. They first saw him on Wednesday night (2/3/10).  He has neither a microchip nor a collar.  They have already had him tested (negative, so he is moving in temporarily with their other fosters!) and was being fixed earlier this week.  If anyone is missing this lovely, light-orange boy, please claim him.  Otherwise, Jeanne and Hal will begin trying to find him a permanent, new home.  He is very, very loving.
Jeanne can be contated at:  614.581.0979 (cell) or by e-mail at jtranter@trantercommunications.com

Yoga on Hold
 
Tuesday yoga classes (9:30 a.m.) have been canceled for the next two weeks – Tuesday, February 16th and Tuesday, February 23rd.  Meanwhile, please do your bending and stretching somewhere else.

Happy Valentine’s Day!
   
Every year, we hear of folks struggling with ideas for what to give their sweethearts for Valentine’s Day.  At N4N, we have some ideas for you.  Take a look around our neighborhood and think about all the resaurants, bakeries, florists, gift shops and art galleries we have.  We’re sure you’ll find just the right gift for your someone special.  And, you’ll be helping to keep these great businesses in German Village.
 
We leave you with a few Valentine’s Day quotes…in case they come in handy this weekend.  
 
“Grow old along with me; the best is yet to be.” Robert Browning
It’s not the men in my life that count; it’s the life in my men.”  Mae West
 
One of the keys to happiness is a bad memory.  Rita Mae Brown

 
Love is much nicer to be in than an automobile accident, a tight girdle, a higher tax bracket or a holding pattern over Philadelphia.  Judith Viorst

Love may not make the world go round, but I must admit that it makes the ride worthwhile. Sean Connery

 
Love is like an hourglass, with the heart filling up as the brain empties.  Jules Renard
 
“Ruff, Ruff, Bark, Bark, Growl.” – Casey Aron Clark, City Park Avenue (pictured above)
Mark Your Calendars
Feb. 15/Monday, 6:30 a.m.  GV Garten Club Membership Meeting – Scheurer Room
Feb. 16/Tuesday, 6 p.m.  Streetscape Committee – Scheurer Room
Feb. 18/Thursday, 7 p.m.  Garten Markt Committee meeting – Scheurer Room
Feb. 21/Sunday, 6:30 p.m.  Fun Committee’s Spaghetti Supper – Warner Fest Hall
Feb. 22/Monday, 6 p.m.  Executive Committee – Neighborhood Room
Feb. 22/Monday, 6 p.m.  Go Green Committee – Scheurer Room
Feb. 24/Thursday, 7 p.m.  Garten Markt Committee meeting – Scheurer Room
Feb. 25/Thursday, 10:30 a.m.  GVBC Executive Board – Scheurer Room
Feb. 25/Thursday, 12:30 p.m.  Police Lunch Meeting – Scheurer Room
Feb. 25/Thursday, 6 p.m.  Historic Preservation Committee – Meeting Haus
Feb. 27/Saturday, 7:30 p.m.  GV 50 Gala – “A Taste of The Good Life” – Grange Insurance Building         
March 01/Monday, 6 p.m.  Board of Trustees Meeting – Fest Hall
March 02/Tuesday, 4 p.m.  German Village Commission – Scheurer Room
          

All German Village Society committee meetings are open to the public.  We encourage you to attend, and to take part.  For those planning to attend the monthly police luncheon, you are invited to bring your own meal

Be Sociable, Share!

•