Franklin Park Conservatory

1777 E. Broad St.

Columbus, OH 43203

Family Fun:  A Sunday Afternoon Painting

Sunday, February 5^th

11:00 am – 2:00 pm

Try your hand at pointillism painting with cotton swabs, inspired by George Seurat’s A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte

http://www.fpconservatory.org/programsfamilyfun.htm

Main Library

96 S. Grant Ave.

Columbus, OH 43215

Family Storytime

February 4, 2012

11:00 am Story Cove

Reading is a family affair.  Join us for stories, songs and fun.

Teen and Tween Gaming

Show off your gaming skills and make new friends while playing games of all kinks.

Ages 8-11 and 12-17

2:00 pm in the activity room

http://events.columbuslibrary.org/evanced/lib/eventcalendar.asp

Columbus Museum of Art

480 E. Broad St.

Columbus,, OH 43215

1^st Saturdays

Recommended for families with children ages 3-8

February 4

This spirited drop-in program allows adults and children to have fun and explore art together! Each 1^st Saturdays program celebrates an artist, current exhibition or theme from the CMA collection and includes an interactive gallery game, hands-on art project and a related arts performance such as music, storytelling, or theatre.

Family Sundays

February 5

Recommended for families with children ages 6 and older

Family Sundays are lively drop-in events that provide a variety of opportunities for families to enjoy and discover art together!  Each Family Sunday features an artist, current exhibition, or theme and includes gallery activities, art making, and a related arts performance.

http://www.columbusmuseum.org/learn-about-art/for-families/index.php

http://www.columbusmuseum.org/visiting/calendar-and-events/

Grange Insurance Audubon Center

505 W. Whittier St.

Columbus, OH 43215

Audubon Afternoons

Every Saturday and Sunday

1:00 pm – 3:00 pm

Hike with an educator though out the park, participate in activities inside and outside the center and just have fun.

http://grange.audubon.org/

The North Market

59 Spruce St.

Columbus, OH 43215

Live Music

February 4

Angela Perley

11:00 am – 1:00 pm

http://www.northmarket.com/activities-and-events/2012-01-14/live-music

COSI: Center Of Science & Industry

333 W. Broad St.

Columbus, OH 43215

Various events and programs

http://www.cosi.org/

http://www.cosi.org/families

The Wellington School in Upper Arlington offers programming aimed at helping parents navigate successful child-rearing. Check out its spring lineup here.

Steve Morbitzer

Call or Text
Mobile: 614-329-1662
http://www.facebook.com/steve.morbitzer

German Village residents owe a big thanks to the extraordinary commitment of time, skill and eloquence exhibited by Bill Case over the last few weeks relating to the opposition to the Cooper Park project.  President of the German Village Society is a volunteer position and Bill assumed that role in October.  When it became apparent that the Board of Zoning Appeals was going to have a hearing on this matter Bill went beyond the call of duty in his efforts to learn about the issue, research the zoning laws and proposed restrictions, and meet with city officials and the developer.  I know that these meetings took hours and hours of his time.  He became well-versed in the details of this project and was well-prepared to represent the concerns of the residents of German Village.

I attended the hearing on December 20.  This hearing lasted until near midnight and Bill Case was a resolute and strong voice to oppose this project and to offer reasonable and thoughtful suggestions on future management of the project if approved.  Others from German Village participated in the hearing, offering comments and suggestions.  I appreciate their involvement and don’t intend to minimize their efforts.  I just had the opportunity to know personally of the commitment of Bill Case and wanted to express my thanks to him for his efforts for all of the residents of German Village.

Just this year, German Village has:

• Won designation by the APA as one of America’s Top 10 neighborhoods.
• Been mentioned among the nation’s top real estate markets for pedestrian-friendly, urban neighborhoods by the New York Times.
• Hosted the 51^st annual Haus und Garten Tour – widely imitated by other neighborhoods – for thousands of guests from around the city, state and nation.
• Hosted dozens of events for community groups, brides and birthdays in addition to our own yoga classes and first-of-its-kind art workshop and exhibit series.
• Collaborated with the Recreation and Parks Department on the purchase and installation of new playground equipment in Schiller Park.
• Welcomed 10,000 visitors from all over the world, including during extended Sunday hours during our peak visitor season.
• Welcomed several dozen school groups to learn more about our immigrant past and the future we are building here every day as Caretakers of a Legacy.
• Created a first-of-its kind partnership with local artists to create workshops and a year-end exhibit and sale in Fest Hall.

These recognitions and events don’t happen without the Society. GVS employee Jody Graichen submitted the winning APA application; the work of Streetscape, Long-Range Planning and the GVBC committees, among others, create the environment that attracts the New York Times’ attention; the Technology Committee worked with a technology donor to create an amazing site perfect for smartphone users; Haus und Garten is an undertaking of dozens of dedicated volunteers under the guidance of our own resident professional events planner; Parks and Public Spaces is dedicated to Schiller and our other shared places; the Visitors Center is staffed with nearly 30 knowledgeable volunteers who welcome guests and guide students.  Much of what you love about German Village is spurred on by the German Village Society.

And here’s a peek at what’s ahead in 2012: new Director Shiloh Todorov is working with the Board of Trustees, staff and a number of key committees to develop:

• More exhibit and education options at the Meeting Haus.
• A series of workshops for property owners aimed at explaining historic preservation and why it’s important.
• Refreshed electronic communications.
• A 200 Columbus celebration in German Village.
• Refreshed tour options for students and adults alike.
• Strategies to collaborate with the city on Third Street plans.

These are future-focused initiatives to strengthen our community and increase its prestige even more. But it takes a set of visionary supporters to help us see old and new projects to fruition. Is that visionary you? Will you use this gift-giving, tax-optimization season to go a little further for German Village? German Village promises to use those funds to go a little further for you.

Scroll to the bottom of this page now and click the DONATE button to give now.

And don’t forget, if you haven’t yet renewed your membership for 2012, you can take advantage of 2011 tax advantages and renew at 2011 prices when you do so by December 31. Click here to renew.

Thanks for your consideration, and happy holidays.

Sincerely,

Bill Case

German Village Society President

Wasn’t Third Street wonderful to stroll during last Sunday’s Village Lights? Stores bustled  with eager shoppers; lights blazed; and bands performed  Christmas carols that have been heard on Third Street during the holiday  season for over 150 years. Everyone had that nice warm glow, and the heavy mist of the evening did not spoil the undeniable magic that was in the air!

The concept  of “magic on Third Street” is a good one to  keep in mind  as our  community prepares  for a town-hall  meeting to consider  the GVS’s Streetscape Committee’s  (“the Committee”) recommendations for future improvement and development of what is really the “Main Street” of German Village. Yes,  Third Street is great; but we can make it a still better community centerpiece.   Wouldn’t it be transformative if  the street could be become a place that is ”magical”  all the time? You get a chance  on December 14 at 6 p.m. at the Meeting House  to contribute to the discussion that we hope someday will culminate in making  that magic a reality.

The Committee , chaired by village resident Tim Bibler, recently submitted a list of recommendations to  the GVS  board of directors.  The Streetscape Committee report can be found here. This  Committee was formed to assess various options for improvement of the “Third Street Corridor” resulting from an engineering study by the firm of Kinzelman, Kline, and Gossman (“KKG”). KKG’s  study was funded by a  $250,000  grant  diligently sought and obtained by GVS  from the  City of Columbus  in 2003.  As part of the KKG process,  input was sought in three public forums, one of which resulted in a significant redirection of the focus of KKG’s efforts.  Jody Graichen, our Historic Preservation officer, offered advice to make sure that nothing proposed would be injurious from a preservation perspective.  Meanwhile, the GVS  also secured Mayor Michael Coleman’s support for GVS efforts  to obtain outside grant funding for Third Street improvements  ultimately emanating from the Committee’s  work.

After a  painstaking evaluation of  the KKG report,  previous  public comment, Jody’s input, and  potential costs,  the Committee concluded  that Third Street should be  more pedestrian- and bicycle-friendly.  To achieve this, the Committee  proposed  bricking the street and locating double bicycle lanes on the street’s west side. It is the Committee’s  expectation that these measures would significantly calm traffic.  The Committee reasons that if automobile traffic is slowed, then pedestrians will feel more at ease . They will mingle and shop;  our  merchants will prosper. All of our safety improves in other ways, too:  the addition of pedestrian lighting, additional street lighting, proper drainage, fewer poles and therefore fewer driver distractions, and safer sidewalks are part of the proposal before you on December 14.   The Committee’s report also contains practical recommendations relative to curbing, drainage, and street-crossing  utility wires which  are designed to further enhance security, maintenance and upkeep of Third Street.

The German Village Commission is weighing in on the plans. Last month, the GVS board considered and approved the Committee’s  recommendations. The GVS board unanimously decided that  further input from the residents and business owners was both desirable and necessary.  Before moving forward with a plan that could impact German Village for decades to come,  the board deemed it important that all segments of our diverse community be heard – Society members and residents alike.

Understand that  Third Street improvements are not going to happen overnight!  Nothing is funded; it is  likely to take years to finance all or parts of these proposals. But the prospect of hard work over a long period of time  never deterred  Frank Fetch, Fred Holdridge, and countless other champions of German Village from advancing the cause of our community. Once the  GVS has  heard from the public about how Third Street  should look  in the future, and balanced that against the expert recommendations of the Committee, the GVS Civic Relations Committee will be meeting with city officials in an effort to obtain a detailed assessment of the costs that would be incurred in completing the various portions  of the improvements  contemplated in the final GVS recommendations. Before we seek grants or other funding for the work, proper homework requires that we know the associated costs  of the work involved.

When the city planners of long ago laid out Third Street, they were dealing with different considerations.  The Golden Hobby Shop was a school. The Book Loft was a grocery store. Horses did not zoom down Third Street with the rapidity of the horseless carriages that were to come. Now our community has an opportunity to update our “Main Street” in a way that will best serve not just us, but succeeding generations too!  Sorcery does not come easy, but we can all do our part to  ”unleash the spell”  that will transform  Third Street into a magical place all the time for those  who live, work, and visit here!

The GVS wants to thank the tireless efforts of the Streetscape Committee. Chairman Tim Bibler, Brian Santin, Will Eylar, Janet Druen, Jay Panzer, Ned Thiell, Jay Smith, Catherine Adams and countless others along the 8-year path that brings us to Wednesday’s public hearing  have labored tirelessly and expertly to make far-sighted but pragmatic  recommendations. We also thank Nelson Genshaft who has agreed to serve as moderator for the public meeting on Wednesday, December 14, 6 p.m. at the Meeting House.  Don’t miss it – your input is critical to this project!

She’s dressed!

_________________________________________________________________________

Psst! 

I just got a tip from The Umbrella Girl herself that she’s preparing to dawn her holiday wear VERY soon. A note addressed to the Society that came in with this morning’s mail, signed by The Umbrella Girl, said she’s planning to surprise us this year with a new look. TUG reminds us she’s been standing watch at Schiller Park for 15 years this year!

This will be my first look at her winter attire, and I hope she’s ready for the fashion show by Sunday for Village Lights! In addition to the 10,000 luminaries the businesses will put out this weekend, Bert Stevens reports that the Deadheaders will place 500 luminaries around Huntington Garden and The Umbrella Girl for the night. That will really give us all an excuse to get to the park as part of our Sunday night shop-hopping!

We are already well into an amazing holiday season in the Village. The Garten Club’s Big Red Bash was Sunday in an absolutely decadent Fest Hall. Will Eylar finished up his blockbuster weekend by helping spruce up my office and the GVGC has dressed up the exterior of the Meeting Haus for all of our guests to enjoy. Friday is the tree lighting at Frank Fetch Park, Saturday is Actor’s Theatre’s Madrigal Dinner, Sunday is the blockbuster Village Lights, next weekend are Saturday and Sunday Village Singers performances in Fest Hall, December 11 is Casseroles and Carols, December 17 is the Free Store Christmas Store at 946 Parsons, and our amazing businesses have a whole slate of holiday events and specials planned.

As many of you know, I spent five years living in the nation’s capital, and I put German Village on a par with Georgetown and Old Towne Alexandria for beautiful, magical Christmas locations. Omaha’s Old Market did well, too, but none have truly embraced and preserved their historic feel like we have.

Let’s be present in every moment this amazing season has to offer in German Village. Take time to support a local business, check on a neighbor, make a new friend – and come visit us here at the Meeting Haus. I’d love to get to know you better.

But visitors to our fine 223 acres may think FIRST of us as a fun business district. And boy do we have a bright business community!

This week has provided dozens of shining examples. I had the chance to sit in on my first German Village Business Community meeting on Tuesday morning. Our business members are busily and excitedly planning the marquis event of the Christmas season (marquis not just for the Village but for all of Columbus): Village Lights. Our businesses work together to put on this magical evening and thousands of Central Ohioans crowd into the Village to participate.

(By the way: Do you have an hour or two to make Village Lights magical? Volunteer! It’s easy: http://bit.ly/s8qBJY)

Barcelona Restaurant turns 15 this month and they are jamming November with celebratory events. I ran into nearly every Villager I’ve formally met during my tenure so far during the official birthday party last Sunday. Thanks to Scott and his crew for such a fine and fun event!

I’ve been out in a set of our businesses to meet and greet the public – what a great excuse to spend more time in our coffee shops and restaurants! Don’t forget, I’d still love to see YOU at one of these upcoming stops:

Friday, November 11 – 5-6:30 p.m. at The Old Mohawk
Saturday, November 12 – 10-11 a.m. at Bakery Gingham
Wednesday, November 16 – 7:30-9 a.m. at Starbucks
Tuesday, November 29 – 6-7:30 p.m. at T. Murray’s
Thursday, December 1 – 7:30-9 a.m. at Winan’s
Wednesday, December 14 – 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m. at Katzinger’s

Bierberg is back open for holiday goodies! One of our newest GVBC members got a very nice write-up in the Dispatch Weekender!  Way to go Easy Street Cafe!

As I wrote on Caterina Ltd.’s Facebook wall on Sunday: Just finished a 10K and SO GLAD to have my lavender products to soothe post-race!

It is Dine Originals week and no fewer than nine of our GVBC members are whipping up tasty special meals at rock-bottom prices. Details are here.

Our realtors are working every day to bring new neighbors and future friends, our dentists, chiropractors, accountants, insurers and investment advisors are helping keep our bodies and bank accounts healthy. And we are so lucky to be able to walk to these kinds of services and many more.

That’s one more reason why German Village is just that special!

Last Sunday, 50 pets brought their moms and dads to Schiller Park for a dog-eat-dog costume contest. It killed me to miss it, but Erin O’Donnell, David Schooler, Greg Gamier, Jeff Lowe, Rev. Mary Kay and John Carter, Jay and Marianne Smith, Steve Kahn, Lonni Thompson, John and Jan Clark (as they say, it takes a Village) put on what I’m told was one heck of a cute event. The hands-down winner for photographs I saw (courtesy John Clark) has to be this one.

I, like so many of you, am a proud dog mom. I see more dogs in the Village than I can spend time stopping, stooping and petting and still get to my destination. I love it. This is one of those neighborhoods – just like my Old Town Alexandria neighborhood – that takes its dogs to heart.

One Villager told me last week he’d lost a dog recently and I was afraid we were both going to be in tears. Another brings his dachshund in to the Visitors Center to volunteer alongside him. Two more had to take a chilly seat outside Cup O Joe Thursday evening in order to accommodate bringing their dog on a date.

I love it!

My dachshund pair is Louis and Dimo. Louis is a full-bred mini who is 8 years old and had no idea he’s only 10 pounds. He struts down the road and tries to fight every mastiff, St. Bernard and Labradoodle he sees. Their moms and dads get a good laugh. Dimo (a Bulgarian name in honor of my husband’s family’s town) is 10 and some kind of doxie/min-pin/beagle/?? mix. He has never met a human who was a stranger and we’re just lucky he hasn’t decided to go home with a friend – he’d be happy as a clam.

I hope you get to meet them sometime soon.

In the meantime, indulge my family album below – and give your pet whatever its species a warm hug for me.

-by Director Shiloh Todorov

I had the pleasure Thursday of attending my first monthly Police Luncheon, put on by the German Village Society each fourth Thursday of the month. While I learned a number of new things about how community policing works in our 222 acres, the thing that stuck with me is what I learned about community.

Really, it was a reminder about what I already know about community.

What I learned from Commander Mike Woods, the supervisor for all of Zone 5 (which includes German Village, Merion Village and others), is that police action is driven entirely by statistics. Officers can only act when they see a “hot spot” and the only way they know there’s a hot spot is repeated, repeated calls. Cmdr. Woods said that, in other words, what happens in German Village is that neighbors essentially look out for each other by calling police each and every time they see something suspicious. That creates a huge database of calls, which drives the statistics, which drives the way the Police Department uses its limited resources.

Cmdr. Woods went to great lengths to point out that we do not get special police treatment in the Village. Instead, we treat ourselves – and each other – as special.

It is the heart of what it means to be a community.

I grew up in a small town. OK, how small just came to mind when I said that? Now think smaller. OK, smaller still.

My hometown of Hampton, Nebraska, has 432 residents. It is an hour west yet from Lincoln on Interstate 80. No, it is not the end of the earth, but there is a nice view of said from there.

Small towns are not necessarily communities, but mine was. When a farmer fell ill in October, other families pitched in to harvest the crop. When Booster Days arrived in June, my family costumed up the pet pig or the Shetland pony or the basset hound or the Lamancha goat (depending on the year) and joined everyone else along the parade route. We fought to keep our corner grocery store alive. We voted over and over to raise the levy and keep our own school open.

It is that cocoon of community from which I came that makes me feel so good about my new job in German Village.  Already, my new neighbors and friends are looking out for me and telling me how I can help look out for them.

Sometimes, neighbors and friends and community members have a coffee or chat over beers. To that end, I’d like to invite you to come out and see me in the community. In case you missed it in this week’s N4N, here’s where I’ll be and when. Stop by!

Friday, October 28 – 3:30-5 p.m. at Juergen’s
Tuesday, November 1 – 2:30-4 p.m. at Pistacia Vera
Thursday, November 10 – 7:30-9 a.m. at Cup O Joe
Friday, November 11 – 5-6:30 p.m. at The Old Mohawk
Saturday, November 12 – 10-11 a.m. at Bakery Gingham
Wednesday, November 16 – 7:30-9 a.m. at Starbucks
Tuesday, November 29 – 6-7:30 p.m. at T. Murray’s
Thursday, December 1 – 7:30-9 a.m. at Winan’s
Wednesday, December 14 – 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m. at Katzinger’s
Bring your ideas, concerns, German Village stories and interests. I am trying to get to know the Village through its people, so make plans to meet me and tell our story! Look for the GVS logo on my laptop.

Whether your passion is gardening, civic affairs, historic preservation, singing, or just plain having a good time with friends and neighbors, membership in the German Village Society provides opportunities for all who live in this unique place.  As your president, I am witnessing the important and fun things that GVS does up close. And if you were in my shoes, you would share my awe with the spirit that makes it all go!  So let’s spend a day together in my first week on the job.  Take a left turn with me when entering the Meeting House and say hello to the volunteers who man our Visitors Center!  These folks are the face of German Village to the busloads of people who come from long distances to experience this great place. Their warmth lights up the room!

Now, let’s enter the office, which is abuzz with activity. Volunteer Bob Jackson is finalizing plans for publication of the membership directory: an extremely useful publication for keeping track of your friends and neighbors. Hardworking Russ Arledge is on the computer setting up one of the countless meetings we have at the aptly named Meeting House.  Our new director, Shiloh Todorov, is in the office, too. It takes just a brief conversation with Shiloh before you conclude that she is a dynamic leader who is destined to do great things for German Village.

If it’s the third Thursday of the month, you and I will attend the Police Luncheon, where the officers of the 11th Precinct bring us up to date on their activities, and discuss how we as residents can partner with them to prevent crime. After this informative lunch, why don’t you and I walk down to Schiller Park, where one of the many gardening groups under the GVS umbrella is working to coax the last bit of color out of this season’s flowers!  After this visual treat, let’s go home and turn our respective computers online to review GVS’s weekly electronic newsletter: “Neighbors For Neighbors.”  What events are coming up? What missing dogs should we be on the lookout for?

How about we check out what’s happening at the Meeting House in the evening? Open the door and we immediately hear the wonderful sounds of the Village Singers practicing upstairs in Brent Warner Fest Hall for its annual Christmas concert. The Scheurer Room has a committee meeting in session. Tonight it’s the Streetscape Committee; it is forming plans which GVS will ultimately submit to the City of Columbus regarding long-term improvements for Third Street, the primary commercial area of German Village. If we had been here last night together, we would have seen the Long-Range Planning Committee in action. That committee is presently considering an ambitious project called “Aging in Place,” which could provide needed services to our senior citizens. Tomorrow night, the Historic Preservation Committee will be congregating.

Fun? This week, it’s the Monster Bash, where adult Halloween revelers will be visiting our house along with several others in the Beck, Jackson, and 6th Streets area. Yes, adult beverages will be served!

Just received an e-mail from John and Jan Clark, our co-chairs of the 2012 House and Garten Tour regarding preliminary plans for that event, which is the biggest one on the calendar and our primary fund raiser (and fun raiser). Another message just arrived inviting the GVS to play a game of pre-1890s baseball against the Ohio Muffins in Schiller Park next summer. The committee chair wants me to play, too!  Gee! Didn’t know that was part of my presidential duties!

Well, you get the idea!  And that’s just a snapshot of what goes on here. GVS really has something for everybody. From my perspective, you haven’t really experienced German Village until you join and get involved in GVS. I recommend that if you haven’t joined yet; give it a shot. It’s not expensive.  I invite new members and old to come see Shiloh to discuss your interests.   She will help steer you in the right direction. I know you will find GVS membership to be rewarding, and I bet you will make lots of great friends.

My First Week

-by Director Shiloh Todorov

I’m wrapping up my first three-day week on the job and already I am overwhelmed!

Overwhelmed at the warmth of the welcomes delivered in person, by email, Facebook and phone.

Overwhelmed by the passion and successes and strength of this community and its members.

Overwhelmed to be greeted by a flood of great headlines, including:

• The nationally significant award given by the American Planning Association and celebrated with visits not only from local dignitaries including City Council members Zach Klein and Eileen Paley, but by our very own Jody Graichen!
• USA Today coverage of the award — bring on the new tourists!
• Sunny 95′s brilliant decision to award Jerry Glick with its Hometown Heros recognition.
• Over 213 hours were donated by the Society’s Visitor Center volunteers in September. They welcomed guests from South Africa, Czech Republic, England, Switzerland, West Indies, Canada, lots from Germany as always, as well as visitors from MD, IL, MI, PA, TX, CA, IN, LA, NY, WA, UT, DE, MN, GA, KY, and MA. Thanks to these dedicated Society volunteers! You can meet people from all over the world, too! Volunteer!
• Monster Bash is nearly sold out and there’s still a week before we trick or treat.

And we haven’t even come to Sunday’s Annual Meeting yet. Phew!

Thank you to Russ and Jody and Bob and Erin for patiently answering my newbie questions.

Thank you to Bill and Bill and Darci and Mary and Mike for setting me on a great course for the week.

Thank you to the search committee for offering me this amazing opportunity.

To a person, I have loved every new friend I have met. I look forward to getting to know each of you better, and to add more names and faces to my evolving network of dedicated community members that make the German Village Society special.

Stop in and see me.