of Delawar Count Snap 2017 SHJanuary 25, 2018 TS 2 Thursday, January 25, 2018 Snapshot of Delawar Count 2017 The Delaware Gazette • The Sunbury News Photo Credit | D. Anthony Botkin Photo Credit | D. Anthony Botkin Delaware County dispatcher Catharine Dobyns assisted a father in delivering his baby girl by giving Retail giant IKEA opened its Columbus location in June 2017 at the junction of Interstate 71 and instructions over the phone in January 2017. Dobyns was honored as a recipient of the Stork Award, Gemini Place in Delaware County. The 354,000-square foot facility is the 44th store the Swedish which is given to dispatchers who provide assistance in the delivery of infants via phone. Dobyns was company has opened in the United States. IKEA Columbus employs approximately 325 people. The given a lapel pin of a stork and her name was be added to a plaque with the other recipients of the store features 10,000 exclusively-designed items, a 450-seat restaurant, 41 inspirational room award. The plaque is displayed on the first floor of the county commissioners’ office on Sandusky settings, three model home interiors, and a supervised children’s play area. Street. Photo Credit | D. Anthony Botkin FACES The 91-degree summer weather didn’t keep families from walking down William Street to the 2017 St. Mary Festival last June. The heat didn’t seem to bother either Isabella Cook, left, or Skyler Hatten, right, as they took a spin on a and crocodile’s back. Sunbury area residents gathered on Memorial PLACES Day 2017 to pay tribute to the men and women who have given their Photo Credit | Anthony Conchel lives in military to Memorial Day 2017 services were held at Oak Grove Cemetery in Delaware paying the United States. tribute to the warriors who gave their lives for their country. The Boey family, from The honor guard from left, Abbie, Leslie, Avery, Kris and Alex put their hands over their hearts during the American Legion Pledge of Allegiance. Post #457 presented the colors during an emotional ceremony at J.R. Smith Park in Sunbury. Photo Credit | Gary Budzak The Delaware Gazette • The Sunbury News Snapshot of Delawar Count 2017 Thursday, January 25, 2018 3 Photo Credit | Ben Stroup Photo Credit | Ben Stroup Big Walnut High School’s Machaela Podraza (10) hammers Photo Credit | Ben Stroup home one of her seven kills during the OHSAA Division II Olentangy Orange High School’s Jason Schutte scores the Buckeye Valley High School senior Zach Kreft strides toward his second volleyball state championship match in November 2017 at game-winning run behind Gahanna catcher Cael Baker during consecutive OHSAA Division II cross country championship at the state Wright State University. Big Walnut lost to Parma Padua the seventh inning of the 2017 Division I regional baseball meet in November 2017. Kreft led from start to finish, crossing the line in Franciscan in the state final. The Golden Eagles finished the championship in Dublin. Orange won, 4-3, to advance to the 15:20.6, a full 21 seconds ahead of the runner-up at National Trail Raceway 2017 season with a 25-4 record, including a perfect 10-0 record OHSAA state tournament in Columbus. It marked the first in Hebron. He is a four-time state meet qualifier, four-time Mid Ohio in Ohio Capital Conference play. Athletic Conference champion, three-time district champion, two-time regional championship for the Pioneers baseball program. regional champion, and Academic All-Ohioan. Kreft has signed with the Orange lost in the state semifinals at Huntington Park. University of Notre Dame to continue his cross country career. Senior, Military, Veteran, First Responder Discounts Serving Delaware and Surrounding Communities TTM Mechanical is a family owned and operated HVAC business with thirteen years of experience. Tim was born and raised in Delaware and a graduate of Hayes High school. He enlisted in the United States Marine Corp in 1998 and was honorably discharged as a Sargent in 2002. "I was proud to serve my country and now I am proud to serve my community with integrity and fair business practices that you would hope to find in all of your small home town businesses.” Tim Morrow, Owner Operator • New ConstructionSenior, Military, Veteran, First Responder Discounts • Remodel • Replacement OH-70024915 Serving Delaware and Surrounding Communities 4 Thursday, January 25, 2018 Snapshot of Delawar Count 2017 The Delaware Gazette • The Sunbury News Photo Credit | Lenny C. Lepola Members of the Big Walnut High School Choirs filled the stage for the music department’s annual Spring Concert on May 11. School PRIDE Photo Credit | Lenny C. Lepola Big Walnut High School junior Isaiah Gillespie, left, took Photo Credit | Lenny C. Lepola advantage of a free AAA Ohio vehicle inspection during Big Walnut High School senior Madison Alshire used the fish tank lunchtime at the high school on April 18. AAA Ohio Vehicle Photo Credit | Lenny C. Lepola in the high school’s Ag Science Department for her project on Inspectors Gary Smith, center, and Matt Scholl, right, inspected It was Winter Homecoming at Big Walnut High School last Friday Aquaponics on Feb. 9. Alshire raised Perch in the tank, and on a floating belts, hoses, tires, lights, fluid levels, and battery on Gillespie’s evening (Jan. 6). The 2017 Winter Homecoming King and Queen platform on top of the water she raised bean sprouts, creating a clean, car and found a reverse light burned out and a cracked power are Alex Kelso and Alex Brehm. nearly self-supporting eco-system. steering belt. Gillespie, who plans to repair the problems himself, said the AAA inspection was a valuable experience. The Delaware Gazette • The Sunbury News Snapshot of Delawar Count 2017 Thursday, January 25, 2018 5 Photo Credit | Lenny C. Lepola The 2017 Big Walnut High School Junior/Senior Prom was held last Saturday evening (April 29) at Villa Milano Banquet and Conference Photo Credit | Lenny C. Lepola Center in Westerville, and one highlight of the evening is the selection One class of Big Walnut Elementary School second grade students pose for a photo after planting their portion of a raised bed of each year’s Prom King and Queen. The 2017 prom queen is senior Alex garden behind the school in March. The teachers involved and BWE Instructional Facilitator Susan Monfort said the project is Brehm, the prom king is senior Nahom Buckles. Big Walnut High School’s not only about life science’ that it also ties into many other aspects of the second grade curriculum. 2017 Graduation Ceremony will be held at 7 p.m. on Saturday, May 20, at the high school’s football stadium. Join Bun’s Restaurant for Valentine’s Day Guitar Strings, Picks, Tuners Your local music shop for unique items! New & Used Instruments Guitar, Bass & Ukulele Lessons 14 West Winter Street • Delaware, Ohio 43015 Cort, Kala, Teton Guitars, Fishman, Line 6, Kustom & ZT Amps, Picks, Tuners, Strings, Straps & More 740-363-3731 Repairs by Mike Cox, 37 years of experience 11 1/2 W. WINTER ST., Delaware (Off of “Short Cut Alley”) Bunsrestaurant.com OH-70025686 Open Tues.-Fri. 11-6 & Sat. 10-5 • 740-363-9283 6 Thursday, January 25, 2018 Snapshot of Delawar Count 2017 The Delaware Gazette • The Sunbury News A year of PROGRESS Photo Credit | Brandon Klein Vonnie DiGenova, wife of former Delaware City Council member Joe DiGenova, smiles during the dedication ceremony for DiGenova Way in June Photo Credit | Lenny C. Lepola 2017. Joe DiGenova, who served on city council for 25 years, passed away Sansotta’s Fresh Italian Sunbury Manager Ralph Cirillo, center with scissors, cuts a ceremonial ribbon, officially opening the at the age of 71 in March 2017 following an illness. The road leading to the new restaurant in the Sunbury Mills Plaza on Feb. 14. To Cirillo’s left is restaurant owner Joe Sansotta. Delaware Area Community Center YMCA, formerly known as Veterans Drive, was renamed in honor of DiGenova. He was a Vietnam veteran and Bronze Star recipient who served in the United States Air Force. He was the driving force behind so many positive community projects in Delaware, including the Veterans Memorial Plaza located at the YMCA. Photo Credit | D. Anthony Botkin The U.S. Post Office at Kilbourne closed its doors for the final time on Friday, Aug. 18, 2017. Reasons cited included the condition of the building and the Photo Credit | Lenny C. Lepola possible health and safety issues related to the age of the structure. Patrons Fun in the Jungle, the Big Walnut area’s new family fun center, opened for business with a traditional ribbon cutting ceremony began receiving mail at their homes for the first time ever after the post on Jan. 20. Owner Drew Tuttle, center with the scissors, said Fun in the Jungle features four main attractions - a huge play office was shuttered. The post office had been in existence for almost 180 space for children 12 and under, a video arcade suitable for any age, mini-bowling for any age, and virtual reality booths. years. The Delaware Gazette • The Sunbury News Snapshot of Delawar Count 2017 Thursday, January 25, 2018 7 of Innovation YEARS and Excellence Founded in 1842, Ohio Wesleyan has become one of the nation’s premier liberal arts institutions. Today, OWU continues to build on its legacy of innovation and excellence with: More than 90 majors including business The OWU Connection – your pathway to administration, communication, data analytics, environmental a better future. Your OWU Connection experience can include science, film studies, Middle Eastern studies, nutrition, social interdisciplinary learning, travel, research, creative projects, and justice, and special education – all added since 2016.