Gahanna OH Real Estate

From the Midwest;Brief article

Admin — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 02:55:25 +0000

Over the last couple of days, Secretary Duncan traveled across
theMidwest, participating in several events. First, he delivered a
keynote address at the
National
Collegiate
Athletic
Association’s (
NCAA) Convention in Indianapolis.
His remarks focused on encouraging college sports
programs–especially
football and basketball programs–to
strike a healthier balance between academics and athletics. He
directlyappealed to college and university leaders to work
collectively through the
NCAA and conference leadership to do
more to support the educational interests of student athletes,
simplify
NCAA rules, and develop faster and
better-targeted enforcement. Next, he hosted a town hall on
education and the economy with students and educators at Miami
Valley Career Technology Center in Clayton, Ohio. On site, he
discussed adult education and the role that career and technical
training plays in rebuilding the economy. He was joined by the
Department’s Assistant Secretary for Vocational and Adult Education
Brenda Dann-Messier. Then, he joined Vice President Biden at
Lincoln High School in Gahanna, Ohio, to discuss the importance of
college and steps the Administration has taken to keep college
affordable across the country.

Also, today, Deputy Secretary Miller will join the Vice
President at Central Bucks High School-West in Doylestown,
Pennsylvania, to discuss college affordability.

Article source: http://msn.foxsports.com/collegefootball/story/From-the-MidwestBrief-article-15339305

Gahanna’s Belli advances to state in two events

Admin — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 02:55:23 +0000

AARON BLANKENSHIP

ThisWeek Community Newspapers

Wednesday February 22, 2012 12:14 PM

Morgan Belli of the Gahanna Lincoln High School girls swimming and diving team wasn’t satisfied with the way she performed in the Division I district meet Feb. 18 at Ohio State, even though she swam well enough to qualify for the state meet in both of her individual events.

The sophomore placed second in the 200-yard individual medley in 2 minutes, 5.2 seconds behind Upper Arlington’s Lauren Comer (2:00.48) and finished fourth (57.3) in the 100 backstroke behind Comer (55.66), Watterson’s Michele Rielly (55.77) and Watterson’s Camey Rabold (55.86).

The top two finishers in each swimming event at district automatically qualified for the state meet Friday, Feb. 24, and Saturday, Feb. 25, at Branin Natatorium in Canton. In addition, 16 at-large state berths were awarded for each swimming event based on district times statewide.

The top three finishers in boys diving and top four finishers in girls diving also advanced to state.

“This week, we don’t have school (Feb. 20 or Feb. 21), so that will be a good opportunity to rest and focus on the upcoming weekend,” coach Erin Darrah said. “On Friday, it will be important for (Belli) to have good prelim swims to set up for finals. She’s done this before and she’s a fierce competitor, so she knows what she needs to do to get the job done.”

Last year, Gahanna scored 30 points at state to finish 20th behind champion UA (286), as Belli placed fourth in the 200 IM (2:04.65) and 100 back (56.21).

As Belli begins her full taper, she is aiming for a top-three finish in both events. Darrah believes her state experience will give her an edge this season. Belli is seeded sixth in the 200 IM and 10th in the 100 back.

“With a big meet like this, it’s always easier the second time around,” Darrah said. “You know what to expect and how it works. Morgan does have some experience with bigger meets, so I think she’ll handle it well.”

Belli is the Lions’ lone state qualifier for the second consecutive season.

Gahanna scored 56 points at district to place 13th behind champion UA (522) as 27 teams scored.

Maddie Rapp placed 11th (339.7) in diving, and Belli, sophomore Annie Devaney, junior Allison Mason and sophomore Kirstyn Thomas finished 12th in the 200 freestyle relay in 1:44.62.

•The boys team scored 13 points at district to place 22nd behind champion UA (435) as 26 teams scored.

Dillon Wagoner placed seventh (398.1) in diving to miss qualifying for state for the second consecutive season by four positions.

Chris Chang finished 16th in the 100 breaststroke in 1:03.33 and Josh Vandervort, Chang, Beau Snoad and Jon Chang finished 17th in the 200 medley relay in 1:46.72.

“All of our boys finished with their best times,” assistant coach Josh Buergel said. “Jon Chang finally broke a minute in the 100 back (placing 25th in 59.71). Chris Chang swam real well as a senior, and it was important for him to finish on a high note as a senior.”

Article source: http://www.thisweeknews.com/content/stories/gahanna/sports/2012/02/21/belli-advances-to-state-in-two-events.html

New owner in store for Creekside

Admin — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 02:55:20 +0000

Marla K. Kuhlman

ThisWeek Community Newspapers

Wednesday February 22, 2012 1:23 PM

City and business leaders are about to welcome Strathmore Development Co., a Michigan-based company poised to become the new Creekside owner about a year after it went into foreclosure.

Court-appointed receiver Ohio Equities LLC filed a motion in Franklin County Common Pleas Court last week, recommending that the court approve the $10.5-million sale of the three-building, 360,000-square-foot project to the East Lansing-based Strathmore.

The pending sale, requiring court approval, would give Strathmore ownership of three buildings on the site.

The $60-million mixed-use development includes 71 upscale condominiums, only 11 of which have been sold.

Creekside Park, the plaza and the garage are owned by the city and are not part of the deal, said Brian Hoyt, the city’s public-information manager.

“The city’s investment is sound,” Hoyt said. “We are excited that the process is moving forward and look forward to working with the new owners of the Creekside development.”

Amy Evans, director of the Olde Gahanna Community Partnership, told ThisWeek that local businesses and groups are excited about a new Creekside owner.

“This is our backyard, and it’s more than a development project; it’s a big part of our community,” she said. “So we want to welcome them as a new business, but we primarily want to welcome them as new neighbors. And we look forward to meeting the new tenants they bring to our neighborhood.”

Evans said it has been nerve-racking to see vacant space after vacant space and hear that people have been interested in the spaces, but that it’s all waiting on the new ownership.

“We hope there may now be someone proactively looking to fill those spaces,” she said. “The current businesses in Olde Gahanna have worked so hard over the past few years. It will be nice to inject some more energy and excitement into the area.”

Alleging a default of more than $30 million worth of loans on the Creekside property, lender Huntington Bank in late February 2011 filed suit against Columbus development firm Stonehenge Co. and its affiliate, Gahanna-Creekside Investments LLC.

Huntington agreed to advance funds to Mark S. Froehlich, director of asset restructuring services for Ohio Equities, as the court-appointed receiver in the foreclosure proceeding.

The three privately owned portions of the project were put up for bid in late June, leading to nine serious offers, Froehlich said.

Four of the offers were from local entities, and five were from outside central Ohio, according to court documents. Seven of the nine submitted best and final offers by July 11.

The purchase price of $10.5 million is $1.5 million more than the next-highest offer of the seven, according to documents.

Froehlich told ThisWeek his main goal is to get the best price possible and to get the deal completed expeditiously for the benefit of the community.

According to Strathmore’s website, the development company is involved in all aspects of both commercial and residential projects and has completed several complex brownfield redevelopments, retail and office centers, residential communities and historic renovations.

In addition to its base in Michigan, Strathmore also has an office in Fort Myers, Fla. Its current development projects are in various Michigan and Florida locations.

Gahanna Mayor Becky Stinchcomb said she’s looking forward to working with the new Creekside owner, saying Strathmore would bring new funding, energy and retailers to the area.

“I will encourage the new owners to also work hard with the existing tenants to establish new leases and create the critical mass of businesses needed to truly make Creekside a destination location, as was originally planned,” she said.

Stinchcomb said the new owner has said he plans to complete not only the unfinished retail space but also all of the condos within the next year.

That would bring more permanent residents downtown and more foot traffic and would help all of the retailers there, she said.

Creekside opened in June 2008.

Situated on the 3.5 acres along the Big Walnut Creek, the 240,000-square-foot Creekside development includes 59,710 square feet of office space, 49,350 square feet of retail space and 71 luxury condominiums.

Site amenities include 10,000 square feet of public plaza, seven ornate water features, a conference and events center with a 6,000-square-foot ballroom, a public park with waterfront access and a below-street-level lagoon.

The development included a $45-million private-sector investment and $16.7-million public-sector contribution.

Article source: http://www.thisweeknews.com/content/stories/gahanna/news/2012/02/21/new-owner-in-store-for-creekside.html

Move over, Zagat’s: Gahanna students wield stars

Admin — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 02:55:16 +0000

Goshen Lane Elementary School second-graders doled out five-star ratings to their favorite places around town while learning to back up their opinions with solid facts and details.

Teacher Angie Buchert said her students read online reviews of restaurants and other businesses and talked about what makes a good review.

“We quickly saw that the best reviews were the ones that told us details about why a place was so good or bad,” she said. “We then talked about personal experience being the key to a quality review. Students chose places that they had a strong opinion about and had been often enough with their families to write an informed review.”

Aidan wrote about Gahanna Lanes.

“Every Tuesday I go bowling at Gahanna Lanes,” he wrote. “Gahanna Lanes is a fun place. I would give them five stars. They have two prize machines and they have Mario there, too. You can get necklaces and glowing skulls. They also have friendly workers. If the ball gets stuck, they help you. The first time I played, they helped me. At the end of bowling, we have a party. We eat pizza and have pop or water. They have three big screens … That’s why Gahanna Lanes is a five-star place.”

Adrianna wrote compelling copy for Zoombezi Bay.

“Hi! Welcome to Zoombezi Bay! Zoombezi Bay is a really fun place for you! The rides are fun,” she wrote. “One reason Zoombezi Bay is a five-star place is because they have lots of slides. You get poured by a giant bucket, too. It is really fun! Another reason Zoombezi Bay is a five-star place is because of the wave pool. The wave pool makes big waves when they blow the whistle. The whistle is really loud.”

Ra’Yana and Jayla collaborated on their review of Skate Zone 71, calling it “a skating rink for all ages.”

“You can play games, laser tag, hang around and eat pizza, or just skate,” the girls wrote. “It is lots and lots of fun. So much better than any other skating rink. You have multiple choices of food and drink. You can eat pizza, chicken wings, Icees, cotton candy, sherbet, pretzels, cake and cupcakes and lots and lots of different kinds of pop and juice. They also have lots of songs like Lady Gaga, Katy Perry, Niki Minaj, Taylor Swift, Justin Beiber, Willow Smith, Beyonce … They have lots of games. They have more than 12 games. Pretty awesome, isn’t it?”

Chayni praised a popular vacation spot.

“Universal Studios in Orlando, Florida, is the best amusement park in the universe … The workers are friendly, it’s clean most of the time, the price is expensive but it’s worth it!” she wrote. “Also you can get express passes for the rides but they don’t work for Harry Potter, which is really messed up because it has the longest line … Always go to the restaurant at Jurassic Park no matter where you are at because it has better food. But don’t drink there. Save your thirst for butter beer at Harry Potter. It’s the best!”

Nicholas reviewed the Chiller.

“The Chiller is a five-star place because you can play hockey and skate,” he wrote. “Some of the staff are nice. When you take lessons the staff are nice. They show you how to stop on ice. They show you how to go backwards. The snack bar staff are nice because we are nice to them. They smile and say ‘What do you want?’ You can get little cheeseburgers.”

Buchert said the students branched out to reviewing movies and books, posting reviews on Internet sites such as Yelp.

“The students were very motivated about their work,” she said. “The more we talked about the purpose of a review, the more they wanted their reviews to be helpful to others in their community. They realized the importance of accuracy and honesty in their work.”

Buchert said students learned one of the mandates of the new common core graded source of study: to be able to express an opinion and back it up with evidence.

“They also learned that their opinion is valuable to others in our community,” she said. “They are pleased and excited to be contributing members of a larger group.”

Article source: http://www.snponline.com/articles/2012/02/22/multiple_papers/schools/allghrevie_20120221_0708am_5.txt

Gahanna’s Belli advances to state in two events

Admin — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 02:55:03 +0000