German Village Society

Survey: Kids Programming

admin — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 13:20:17 +0000

Help us choose which quality children’s programming to bring to the Village!

Perhaps you’ve read in the newspapers that Director Shiloh Todorov wants to bring added programming to Fest Hall.

Now we need to hear from you! Parents, tell us what kinds of children’s programming you would like in the Village. Should we engage music or language educators? Dancers or scientists? How old are your children? What price sensitivities do you have?

Shiloh’s conversations with some of the city’s finest educators are well under way. Now she needs to hear YOUR voice — what do you want for your kids?

Take the survey here, and be sure to share it with any of your neighborhood friends!

N4N Jan. 26

admin — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 16:23:03 +0000

Click to read Neighbors4Neighbors from January 26.

Photos Enhance Archive

admin — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 13:36:47 +0000

Some days, history walks in and finds you. Read about these photos here, and see more on our Facebook page.

South End History Lesson

admin — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 13:29:39 +0000

A slice of South Side history walked through our door at the Meeting Haus last week, and the house files and Fischer Archives are richer as a result.

Susie Lehman called up operations manager Russ Arledge a few weeks back and said she wanted to bring her uncle, Carl Meyers, down to Columbus from his Westerville home.

Carl’s life crisscrosses South Side history from his birth in 1925 inside the house still standing at 575 Siebert St., to his boyhood home at 101 E. Sycamore St., to his sale in 1962 of his mother’s home at 708 City Park Ave.

Susie, Carl and another niece, Sharon Lehman, showed up at the Meeting Haus after touring German Village and the South Side, swapping memories and snapping pictures. They brought with them a copy of every family photo they could directly link to German Village so we could archive them. What a gift!

Read the full column on ThisWeekNews.com. See more photos on our Facebook page.

Highway Plans Spotlighted

admin — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 13:49:25 +0000

Changes to the proposed 70/71 corridor and the highways’ effects on German Village were spotlighted on NBC 4 Thursday evening. Check out the report here. German Village Society Director Shiloh Todorov and German Village Business Community member Katzinger’s are featured.

Board of Trustees Emeritus Bill Curlis attended Thursday night’s 70/71 update with ODOT. Here are highlights from the meeting:

Phase I construction is fully funded, including the new retaining wall at the AfriCentric School, construction of which will begin in a few months. Phase I ends at Long Street (I-71 South).

ODOT is moving forward with planning phases two and three even though they have no money to construct anything.

Phase 4 is moving forward with planning and has just awarded the GPD Group to design the bridges over High, Third and Fourth Streets.

The logic, ODOT shared, for planning that is 20-30 years out is that the federal government has in the past looked to spend money for “shovel ready” projects and ODOT wants to be shovel ready with the 70/71 project. There is also still speculation that a new Highway Bill might raise the gasoline tax or that a new highway/infrastructure stimulation bill might occur and move things forward more quickly.

N4N January 19, 2012

admin — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 22:04:37 +0000

Click here to read our newsletter online.

Membership Strong

admin — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 18:19:42 +0000

The German Village Society’s financial picture features a very strong bottom line, and kudos go this week to the Membership Committee and Bob Jackson for their work to make that so. Individual memberships are already up significantly over last year and we’re only 19 days into the new year! Of those, 61 percent of members choose to support GVS at levels above basic membership.

The story is so strong, it appeared in This Week Newspaper.

The German Village Business Community has grown 37 percent over last year’s membership numbers to this point. Additionally, advertising sales in the upcoming two-year membership directory (due out March 20) have already more than doubled the 2009 book.

Last year, membership accounted for 21 percent of our budget so these outstanding numbers portend an excellent 2012. Thank you volunteers — AND THANK YOU MEMBERS!

N4N Jan 12, 2012

Brian Santin — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 19:38:28 +0000

The Weekly Digest

January 12, 2012

Shiloh Todorov, Editor

Help Us Make ‘Neighbors’ Even Better

With a new director in place and new branding guidelines for the German Village Society coming soon, now is the perfect time to take a fresh look at Neighbors 4 Neighbors — German Village Society’s weekly electronic newsletter — and we want your input. Please take this survey to help us make N4N a powerful communications tool for its audience – YOU!

Be A Historic Preservationist!

Love the Village? Be part of preserving its past, plotting its future and researching the quirky stories that make us who we are. The Board of Trustees has reaffirmed the German Village Society’s dedication to historic preservation and education, as well as advocacy and promotion for preservation efforts. The mission-centric committee – Historic Preservation Committee – needs lots of new volunteers to bring energy and ideas to the table. Join us on Thursday at 6 p.m. at the Meeting Haus to kick off 2012 actively carrying out our preservation mission! Email Director Shiloh Todorov for details.

More Visitors Pound The Bricks

The world loves German Village! Did you know our Visitors Center patronage rose to 5,439 in 2011 from 4,043 in 2010? Wow! These figures do NOT include those who come for formal tours or special events, according to Russ Arledge’s Board of Trustees report. For all of 2011 over 3,000 volunteer hours were devoted to the Visitor Center.

WELCOME NEW MEMBERS!

Look who has joined us this fall and winter! Welcome, neighbors and friends:

Kelly Jones

Pamela Ryan

Elaine& David Nagle

Megan Mirick & AJ Weber

Elizabeth Werner

Ali Moallem

Michael Rourke & Rachel Milella

Sunny Cataland & Kelly Deibel

Kristin Graff & Tage Rosendahl

Jean-Marie Zeitouni

Shiloh & Dimiter Todorov

Diana Hausman

Harlin & Rebecca Robinson

Scott Motley

Margaret Branum

Nathan & Kaitlin Sockman

Richard & Pamela Thompson

Buzz Thomas

Michael & Claudia Fergang

Kristen Anderson

Arjun Beri

Cathi Jones

Nick Balow

Michelle Wong & Joe Halabi

Amanda Smoliniec & John Noble

David Muller & Laurie Arsenault

Rebecca Milnes

Jennifer Arthur

Linda Benson

Joe Kurzer

Stan & Kim Turner

Tara Hower

Jane Taylor

Debbie Harr

Gledhill, Robbins & Talis

Cross City Church

MAX the Salon, A Charles Penzone Salon

Winans Chocolates & Coffees

Skillet, Rustic.Urban.Food

Love The Village? Help Us Welcome Visitors

Look at how much fun our sister act has in the Visitor Center. That’s Dorothy Hughes and Madeline Hicks.

Do you love life in the German Village and just want to crow about it? We’re always looking for Visitor Center volunteers to welcome guests. With a very simple training, you can give a day a year or a day a month — or anywhere in between — to welcome our visitors.

The Visitor Center will be open on the Saturday and Sunday of holiday weekends this summer and on the Friday after Thanksgiving, since there are a lot of visitors at these times. Sunday Visitor Center hours start on April 1 and run through Village Lights.

Volunteers are needed to staff the Visitor Center in 2012 on Saturdays and Sundays, including over the above holiday weekends. Meet people from around the block and around the world — its an easy way to give back and have fun. Please contact Pam Bergeron (PamBergeron@columbus.rr.com).

Fred & Howard Honor Gains Support

Trustee Beth Ervin and an informal group of friends have been thinking about how best to honor Fred and Howard for their many contributions over the years to German Village and to the German Village Society. Beth told the Board of Trustees meeting on Monday that there were two ideas to memorialize Fred and Howard in German Village. Last week, Beth presented both to the German Village Commission for conceptual review. One, an arch at an entrance to German Village, was fraught with concerns and is not being pursued. The second, a bronze sculpture of Fred and Howard sitting on a bench in front of Haus Frau — the store they owned and ran for many years — has been well received. Next steps are to identify an artist with a portrait sculpture background as well as a foundry in order to secure some preliminary cost estimates.

Know A Great Financial Firm?

The German Village Society is seeking an investment advisor for the endowed, restricted, and designated funds that total almost $550,000. If you know of a firm that might be interested, please forward this Request for Proposals (RFP) description to them. This is a terrific opportunity for the right company to help with the investment advice and management of funds to generate revenue for the Society.

Proposals are being accepted now, and we urge interested firms to submit their information by January 27 at 1 p.m. (EST) for best consideration. The Finance Committee is grateful for your support and interest.

Village Singers Ready To Sing, Swing

Rehearsals for the Village Singers spring show, “The Envelope Please,” begin next Monday, January 16, at 7 p.m. in Fest Hall. All voices are welcome as new members. Village Singers are also looking for musicians who play instruments in percussion, string, and brass.

The groups’ 2012 Pub Crawl Golf Tour begins Tuesday, February 7, and runs for six consecutive Tuesdays at local pubs. This event helps to raise funds for the Leventhal Foundation that has given the Village Singers grant monies over the years. For more information, contact Wayne (wowo@columbus.rr.com).

Read more on ThisWeek.com.

Watch Them Bloom

The Greater Columbus Growing Coalition (GCGC) had leftover bulbs from a Bicentennial project and offered to share them with the Friends of Schiller. Seven hundred bulbs were planted around the Umbrella Girl and the Schiller Monument. Now standby for glorious spring color! Many thanks to the GCGC and to Strader’s Garden Center for the contribution.

Meeting Haus Closed Monday

In observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, the Meeting Haus will be closed on Monday.

Neighbors In The News

Learn Along With Us! Gazette covers our yoga and watercolor classes, and we’re planning more!

Check out these photographs German Village photographer Larry Hamill took of the newest Urban Metro Park in Central Ohio. Beautiful!

German Village Is Mobile This Week shows how to visit us on your smart phone.

Committee Proposes Fred, Howard Tribute This Week describes efforts to memorialize Fred & Howard.

Check Out GVC Vice Chairman’s Project Great pics!

Don’t wait for Thursday to see news stories. Follow us on Facebook!

Fun Committee Sets 2012 Dates

FEBRUARY

Mid Winter Spaghetti Dinner, February 12, 2012 , 6 p.m. – Fest Hall, $7 per person. Kids are free!

Villagers and friends, please join us for spaghetti, salad and bread provided by our friends at Village Coney. Bring your own beverages. Reservations are a must.

MARCH

How does a Fun Committee Bowling Event at Wayne Webb sound for Sunday, March 25, 3-5 p.m.? I’ve reserved lanes and space in the bar area. Join us!

JUNE

German Village Night at Huntington Park – June 8

Celebrate German heritage and cheer the Clippers with your neighbors!

NOVEMBER

Chili Today, Hot Tamale! November 11, 6 p.m. – Fest Hall $7 per person. Kids are free!

Chili and cornbread will be served for this fun, neighborhood autumn get-together. Bring a salad or dessert to share. Reservations are a must.

Caretakers Award Date Set

Mark your calendars now for our annual award celebration: Caretakers of a Legacy. It will be the evening of Thursday, May 3.

Each year, in celebration of Preservation Month, we honor three projects that are especially deserving of the name “Caretakers of a Legacy.” This Award program is co-sponsored by the German Village Society and Commission. Award winners are chosen by the German Village Commission in three categories:

The Preservation Award

Awarded to a property owner in recognition of an outstanding example of restoration, preservation or maintenance of a property or architectural element in German Village.

The Commissioners Award

Awarded to a property owner in recognition of a recently completed project that contributes to the architectural, historic, and aesthetic character of German Village and that shows sensitivity to the streetscape and surrounding properties.

The Chairman’s Award

Awarded to a property owner, an individual, an organization, or a business entity in recognition of an outstanding contribution to the historic, architectural, or aesthetic character of German Village and to the community’s quality of life.

Another award, given by the German Village Society, is The President’s Award, which is awarded to a property owner, an individual, an organization, or a business entity by the German Village Society in recognition of an outstanding contribution to the historic, architectural, or aesthetic character of German Village and to the community’s way of life.

Schedule Your Meeting Space

German Village staff is working intently to make full use of our meeting spaces, and we need your help. As we reach out to people and organizations to bring art, education and community groups to Fest Hall and the Scheurer Room, we need to know when committees plan to meet. Before you schedule your next meeting (regular, standing meetings are already on the calendar), reach out to Shiloh or Russ to make sure we have space for your meeting date. We want to make you comfortable FIRST! So let us know when you’d like to meet — just email german@germanvillage.com.

You Can “Check-Off For History” This Year!

History advocates have a new and convenient way to demonstrate their support for history and preservation in Ohio. For the first time, taxpayers will be able to donate a portion of their income tax refund to the Ohio Historical Society. The 2011 Ohio individual income tax forms provide a “tax check-off” option-a blank box on where those receiving a refund can designate an amount of it for donation.

Historic Neighbor Shares Plans For Property

A neighbor of German Village shared with the Board of Trustees on Monday its exciting plans to restore Green Lawn Abbey and redevelop the site as a lovely park for area residents to enjoy. Perched on a rise overlooking Greenlawn Avenue at 700 Greenlawn, the Abbey is a majestic early 20th century mausoleum, built in the neoclassical style.

Sited on a 2-acre parcel, the area surrounding the building has been cleared of debris and brush. Board Member and Past President of the Green Lawn Abbey Preservation Association Kate Matheny told the German Village Society Board that a Master Plan was developed under the guidance of Franklin Park Conservatory staff. Landscape architects were McGill Smith Puncheon of Cincinnati, a company formed in the 1800s and landscape engineer of record for Spring Grove, a cemetery designed by Central Park designer Fredrick Law Olmstead, since its inception in 1860.

Ms. Matheny presented site plans showing new plantings, an expansive lawn for programs, and attractive ingress and egress, as well as additional parking.

Completed in 1927, this architectural gem is listed on the National Register of Historic Places in recognition of its fine styling and high quality craftsmanship.

The Abbey is always open on Memorial Day. Also we will be hosting a vintage car show on Sunday, July 8. Read more about Greenlawn’s plans in this This Week story.

Neighbor Needs Support

Fred Tingley is recuperating and might enjoy a card or visit from his friends and neighbors. Fred is at Whetstone Gardens rehab center and the address is 3710 Olentangy River Road, 43214, Room 144. His phone is 340-0595.

Membership Committee Meeting Is January 26

The German Village Society Membership Committee will have its first meeting of 2012 on Thursday, January 26 at 6 p.m. at the Meeting Haus. If you are interested in helping on the committee, please come join us! This first meeting will be spent thinking creatively about how to gain and retain members of the Society. If you plan to attend, please RSVP to Erin O’Donnell, Membership Committee Chair, erin.odonnell@eodconsulting.net.

Food Bank Offers Thanks, Seeks Volunteers

Pastor Jim Doonan said the Food Pantry ministry was truly blessed in December by the abundance of extra food donated by the Stewart Avenue school students, individual donors, Giant Eagle, and Barcelona restaurant. And a large thank-you was offered to those who donated cash. Rev. Doonan said he couldn’t fulfill his mission if it wasn’t for neighbors’ extravagant generosity of time.

Please put these dates on your serving calendar: Our Mid Ohio Food Bank food pick up will be next Wednesday, January 18th, 9:00 a.m. The pantry will be open the following week, Tuesday, January 24, Thursday, 1/26, and Saturday, 1/28, 8:45a.m. until noon. Contact Rev. Doonan if you can serve.

Keep Track Of 2012

Still on sale in the Visitors Center: one-of-a-kind Larry Hamill image calendars. Hamill’s calendars are $10 each, and Larry is graciously splitting the profits with GVS. Thanks, Larry!

Snow Removal Needed

Beck Street resident Kathy Kralovic is looking for someone to shovel/blow sidewalk and driveway. Please give her a call at (837) 999-8227.

International Encounters?

Have you had an “international experience” because of your life in German Village? Here’s an example: Norm Burns and Pat Gramelt were working the Visitors Center this fall when Nuremberg residents Simone Broders and Hartmut Hering visited. They had a cordial conversation — and then this holiday season, both Pat and Norm received beautiful Christmas cards with photos from the holiday season in Germany. We’d like to share our international ties and stories in an upcoming This Week column, so email your stories to todorov@germanvillage.com.

Directory Deadline: January 31

Please remember to mail or deliver the yellow postcard that came with your membership renewal letter. The postcard gives you an opportunity to edit and confirm your contact information in the upcoming two-year GVS membership directory. Members who do not return the card BY JANUARY 31 will not be listed in the directory.

Also remember that new individual and household price levels are now in effect. Individual membership is $50 and household membership is $75. You may renew with the membership materials mailed to you or by visiting www.germanvillage.com.

Upcoming Events to Keep Your Kids Busy

Villager and parent of two young Villagers Steve Morbitzer is frequently asked how he finds fun and different things to do with his kids. Here is his list of upcoming events to share with other parents.

German Village Landmark of the Week

This week’s landmark started as the home of a baker in 1888, and currently inspires such questions as how tough are women rugby players and can Koi fish find happiness at Schiller Park.

Visit www.thisweeksgvlandmark.com for more information.

~ David Randall, German Village House Histories

Lost & Found Pets

Find the latest postings for Lost & Found pets on the German Village Society website by rolling over the I Live Here tab located at the top of the website page and clicking on Lost & Found, or by clicking on the following link: http://germanvillage.com/community/lost-pets.

Mark Your Calendars…

Here’s a look ahead at 2012. Join us!

01.16.12 Meeting Haus Closed – MLK Day

Village Singers Tryouts – Fest Hall

Garten Club – Scheurer Room

01.17.12 Yoga – 9:30 a.m. – Fest Hall

Streetscape – Scheurer Room

01.19.12 Historic Preservation Committee meeting, 6 p.m.

Yoga

*all meetings/events are held at the Meeting Haus unless otherwise noted

Please support Neighbors4Neighbors and other German Village Society efforts by joining as a member. Call the Meeting Haus at 614.221.8888 or visit our website, www.germanvillage.com.

If you have items for Neighbor4Neighbors Weekly Digest, please send them to
neighbors4neighbors@germanvillage.com. Deadline for weekly submissions is Tuesday at 5pm.

Urgent posts may be phoned to the Meeting Haus, 614.221.8888

or e-mailed to german@germanvillage.com.

German Village Society
Meeting Haus ▪ 588 South Third Street ▪ Columbus, Ohio 43215
P: 614/221.8888 ▪ F: 614/222.4747 ▪ www.germanvillage.com
neighbors4neighbors@germanvillage.com

German Village Society Mission Statement: Members of the German Village Society
serve as caretakers of a legacy dedicated to retaining the character and distinction
of the past, while creating a thriving and contemporary community in German Village.

GV goes mobile!

Brian Santin — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 17:29:46 +0000

www.germanvillage.com is now mobile-friendly!

Thanks to a kind donation from a neighbor in German Village, the germanvillage.com website has now gone mobile! Yep, that’s right, go ahead and check out germanvillage.com on your mobile-friendly device (iPhone, Android, Blackberry, etc) and see how neat the interactive new site is. You can easily search for restaurants, shops, and parks or take a historical walking tour. Best of all, the mobile site is GPS enabled, meaning that it will detect where you are actually located in the neighborhood and provide you with an easy to see map and directions of how to get where you are going. Sounds pretty great, right?! Well go check it out ~ just type www.germanvillage.com in your mobile device browser and you will be automatically taken to the new site. Let us know what you think and provide us with any feedback you can. Enjoy!

N4N Jan 5, 2011

Brian Santin — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 17:28:09 +0000

The Weekly Digest

January 5, 2012

Shiloh Todorov, Editor

Visit Us From Your Smart Phone

New for the near year — visit germanvillage.com on your smart phone for a completely new digital mobile experience to help you navigate one of Columbus’s oldest and most popular neighborhoods.

The site is outward facing – it is meant to help visitors navigate our businesses and our history on their own. Visitors can find maps to local businesses, follow their own historic walking tours and find event listings. This is perfect for the person who needs quick information concerning the German Village community on their mobile device.

The site is based on the same “shop-dine-stroll” concept as the GVBusinessCommunity.com site. German Village Business Community is a committee of the German Village Society. Initial navigation on the mobile site includes the following categories: shop, dine, stroll, stay, services, events, donate.

Each storefront listing includes a photo, a short description and a map of where the business is and where you are.

The stroll sub-navigation includes: Tours, where users have the option to access each of the three walking tours as previously developed by the GVS Historic Preservation Committee. Group tour information is also available; Parks contains information including GPS coordinates for each of the parks in the community; Architectural Details includes some of the most prominent details that embody the historic character of German Village -additionally, there will be photos and descriptions; and History is an abbreviated timeline of the German Village Society.

Also from the landing page, click “services” to find the nearest dentist, investment advisor, dry cleaner, church and more.

The site went into beta testing on Thanksgiving. It represents a big 21st century initiative for our 19th century neighborhood, showing once again how we blend the contemporary with the historic.

Nine volunteers led the committee that created the mobile site. They represented residents and business owners, plus board members and staff.

The mobile site was donated to the German Village Society by an anonymous donor, and built by that donor. Thank you!

New Office Space Greets New Year

A group of donors worked with professionals over the holidays to transform the Meeting Haus office space. New paint and flooring were added, along with glass doors for the office suite and the Scheurer Room. The space is more thoughtfully laid out now and the back office has been transformed into a Historic Preservation Room where the house files live and can be comfortably examined. We are still putting things back where they belong, but you should make plans to stop through and see for yourself soon!

Make Sure You Are Listed in 2012-2013 Directory

Keep Track Of 2012

Still on sale in the Visitors Center: one-of-a-kind Larry Hamill image calendars. Hamill’s calendars are $10 each, and Larry is graciously splitting the profits with GVS. Thanks, Larry!

Strike A Pose At Meeting Haus

Join us at the Meeting Haus for yoga. We offer three weekly session at these times and rates.

International Encounters?

Wife Of Early GV Commissioner Passes

Josie Merkle’s mother, Mary Jo Gockenbach, passed away on Tuesday at the age of 86. Her husband, Pete Gockenbach, was one of the first German Village Commission members, and as president of Dollar Savings, he made many loans to property owners who were acquiring or restoring their homes in German Village. Our heartfelt sympathy to Josie and her family.

Support Local Theatre

Ludwig van Beethoven fights through his failing health, his encroaching deafness and his poverty to work with mystifying obsession on his Diabelli Variations. Two centuries later, Katherine, a terminally ill musicologist, navigates a tenuous relationship with her daughter and the onslaught of her disease, even as she marches forward with determination to discover the true origins of Beethoven’s most confounding creation. It’s a beautiful and evocative story about the inspirations that get us through our darkest days, and family we find when we need it most.

Reserve your tickets

for “33 Variations” by Available Light Theatre. Featuring Emily Bach, Acacia Duncan, Matt Hermiz, Adam Humphrey, Josie Merkle, Nate Roderick, and David Tull.

Pets Need Floss, Too

German Village Veterinary Hospital is observing February’s National Pet Dental Health Month by offering specials on dental cleaning. In January and February, feline dental procedures are $15 off and canine dental procedures are $20 off. In addition, all pets who get a professional dental cleaning will be rewarded with a FREE home dental care item of your choice. (Up to a $19 value). Remember, Pets have teeth too!!
Leah Estrella, Office Manager
German Village Veterinary Hospital
1200 S. High St.
Columbus, OH 43206
(614)444-9696

Muse Gallery Hours

Muse Gallery, at 188 E. Whittier St., apologizes to patrons who may have tried to stop by in the new year. A family emergency temporarily closed its doors, but it will be open today until 6 p.m., tomorrow and Saturday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday noon to 5. If you have any questions or need help with anything at all, please feel free to call Hali at 614-565-8813.

Kight Studio 551 Work Takes Road Trip Downtown

An exhibition of large landscape and oceanscape monoprints by Sandra Kight of Kight Studio 551 in German Village will be on display through February in the lobby gallery of Dinsmore & Shohl LLD, 191 Nationwide Boulevard West. Small monoprints will be on display the month of January at the Marcia Evans Gallery in the Short North, 8 East Lincoln Street.

German Epiphany Service

Holy Trinity Lutheran Church (2001 Northwest Boulevard in Upper Arlington) will celebrate Epiphany, the Feast of Three Kings, Friday, January 6, at 7 p.m. It will be celebrated in the German language–”die Erscheinung des Herrn.” The Germania Singing and Sport Society will lead the service-in-song, commemorating the arrival of the three kings with their gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. For further information call Holy Trinity at 614-486-9433 and www.holytrinitylutheran.info/.

“Like” Your Neighbors

Wonder what’s up in Schumacher Place? Like them on Facebook.

While you’re at it, like German Village Society and German Village Business Community.

Upcoming Events to Keep Your Kids Busy

German Village Landmark of the Week

This week’s landmark started as the home of blacksmiths, later street car operators, and for the last forty years the practice of dentistry.

Today, we welcome a new member of this profession to German Village.