Columbus Dispatch Editorial: Filling in... As cities face trim event expenditures, volunteers will be vital

Editorial: Filling in

As cities face trim event expenditures, volunteers will be vital

The Columbus Dispatch

January 7, 2011  

The hard fact that most cities will have less, if anything, to spend on fun and frivolity in the coming year could have an upside.

In communities that manage to muster volunteers and private contributors to keep civic traditions alive, those parades, festivals and other fun events will be even more meaningful.

Many communities already have cut back on such nonessential spending in the past two years. For 2011, with the strong likelihood that state funding to local governments will be slashed, more have cut city-sponsored celebrations from their budgets.

To keep them going, event organizers are seeking new sponsors and putting out the call for volunteers to take tickets, sell concessions, man the arts-and-crafts table and all the other tasks that make for a fun community event.

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Emerald Ash Borer – What You Should Know

Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) is an invasive insect first discovered in Detroit, Michigan in 2002.  It attacks all varieties of ash trees.  EAB is now found throughout Ohio, which is under quarantine to help prevent its spread.  EAB has recently been found in, and is spreading throughout The City of Gahanna.

What to look for: Once infested, trees may show little sign of the pest for the first year or two.  The larval stage of EAB feeds under the bark of trees, cutting off the flow of water and nutrients. They emerge as an adult the following year leaving a D – shaped exit hole (PIC).  Adults are dark metallic green, ½” in length and 1/8” wide (PIC).   The EAB flies from early May until September.  Ash trees that become infested with EAB typically die within five years. 

Parks & Recreation Foundation Donation Made in Bob Toopes Memory

Pictured from left to right: 

Lee Tucker, Chair of the Parks & Recreation Foundation,

Ruth Toopes, Teri, Toopes, Dave Toopes

By Mike Musser,
Recreation Superintendant

Show Your Class.  These words touched so many students who passed through the halls of Gahanna-Jefferson Schools for many years.  They were the words of teacher, Bob Toopes.  Bob dedicated so much of his life towards the shaping of young student’s minds both in and out of the classroom.  That is one reason why his untimely death in 2009 was felt by so many.

New Development in Gahanna begs the questions, “What isn’t going on in Gahanna?”

By Leah F. Evans

City of Gahanna
Economic Development Manager

 As part of the Development Department I am often asked “What’s going on in Gahanna?”  My answer is usually “What isn’t going on in Gahanna?” 



Take a quick drive around our community and you will see what I mean.  From the multi-million dollar renovation of the Giant Eagle on N. Hamilton Road to the recent opening of the Hamad Family Chiropractic on Havens Corner from the clearing and leveling on new land for industrial development on Claycraft Road to the Grand Re-Opening and Expansion of Music Go-Around at Stoneridge. 


There is always a lot going on: new signage, events, new business locations, existing business renovations.  And this activity is as much a testament to the Gahanna community as it is to the recovering economy.  By supporting locally owned businesses we create an environment where business owners can be successful and reinvest in the community through other job creation, taxes, community service, and utilizing other local businesses. 



Volunteering in Gahanna with the Parks & Recreations Department

By Donna Shea

Front Desk Coordinator

Deaprtment of Parks & Recreation

The City of Gahanna Department of Parks & Recreation is present in the community year-round, and as such, has an on-going need for volunteers of all ages for its events and programs!

If you are looking for an opportunity to give back to your community, are in need of service hours for civic, school or church organizations, or like to have fun while being a part of a city function, give the department a call today! 

Read More to Learn How!

A Day in Creekside Park & Plaza in Photos: December 10, 2010

Click any photo to see full size.

Lagoon Falls in the Creekside Plaza
(Photo by Brian Hoyt, City of Gahanna)



Bright Lights of the Winter Wonderland
(Photo by Brian Hoyt, City of Gahanna)

Welcome to the City of Gahanna’s Official Blog

By Becky Stinchcomb
Mayor of Gahanna

Thank you for taking the time to discover our new blog for the City of Gahanna.  There are so many ways to communicate these days and in our continuing effort to reach out to as many of our citizens as possible, we have launched this blog.

Mayor Becky Stinchcomb

Our hope is that this format will allow us to share ideas, news and most importantly, get your feedback.  One of our primary goals for this blog is to have a conversation and see what issues are important to the Gahanna community.  Now I realize that sometimes this may be feedback that is less than positive but that is ok.  We are interested in both positive and constructive feedback on the issues.  This should be a forum to share and discuss ideas.  I invite everyone to follow the conversation, share your views and respect others’ opinions as well.

This blog will be an ever-growing dialog and format for communications.  We hope to share some insight into your City government and introduce you to those who serve you every day.  Some posts may be serious while others may be light-hearted in nature.  But we hope that every post helps readers learn more about the City of Gahanna and how its residents, businesses and visitors are served.

Please let us know what you want to hear about.  If you have a topic that you would like us to write about, or an issue you would like for us to discuss, become a member of this blog by clicking 'Follow' and let us know.  All that we ask is that everyone’s opinions and ideas are respected. 

We look forward to your participation!