Officials say fire was not intention of village’s tree lighting

The Clam photo by Margo McBeth: The traditional tree lighting ceremony in Sunbury ended in flames Dec. 13 when a spark in the wiring set the dead tree on fire while onlookers stare on. Despite Santa's firetruck escort, no firefighters were on scene at the start of the fire.

By: Bernerd Corral

SUNBURY–A traditional holiday event turned into a catastrophe when Sunbury’s signature Christmas tree caught fire during the annual tree lighting event.

Attendees of the tree lighting ceremony, held on the Sunbury square Dec. 13, expected to see the village’s oldest tree light up, but not in the way it happened.

“The lights came on and it was beautiful for about 30 seconds, then someone started screaming about a fire, and before we knew it the whole thing was up in flames,” said Gerard Arnold, Sunbury resident.

Village Administrator Hugo Ponteras said a spark somewhere in the wiring likely led to the fire after Mayor Sam Skooner flipped the switch to send power to the more than 1,000 lights on the tree.

“The tree did look a little brown when I was stringing on them lights last week,” said Skeeter Thomball, village maintenance employee. “Boy, that thing burned through faster than my wife through my paycheck.”

Ponteras said he thinks the 300-year-old tree was dead before it burned.

“I realize now the tree was probably dead for some time,” he said. “Those dry needles didn’t stand a chance against the 500 volts we had charging through those light strands.”

A fire truck was already present as Santa’s escort into town, but onlookers stood aghast before the flames as they waited for the firefighters to arrive on scene.

“We had loaned out our ladder to Santa,” said Fire Chief Dennis Gilliam. “So when the call came about the tree fire, we had to drive everyone over in the car designated for me, the chief. There were guys in full turnout gear sitting on each other’s laps.

“This just goes to show why voters need to approve our levies when they hit the ballot. We can’t operate with just one engine.”

The calamity was further fueled when firefighters discovered there were no hoses on the truck.

“We took the hoses out because they weigh so much,” said Hugh Jackson, who was dressed as Santa. “We were just driving me into town, so we didn’t think we needed the hoses. We wanted to be more fuel efficient. You know, go green.”

By the time firefighters aimed water at the tree, little more could be salvaged beyond a pile of ashy needles.

“We’re getting a fake tree next year,” Skooner said.

OSU, Columbus plan bitchin’ summer spot in Hilliard

By: BERNERD CORRAL

HILLIARD–Opponents of a boathouse on the Sciotto River are about to get a big slap in the face.

At the Nov. 17 meeting of Columbus City Council, OSU officials announced their intent to expand plans for a boathouse on the est bank of the Sciotto River in Hilliard.

“We’re going to add a beach house, or mansion, you might call it,” said George Sanderson, OSU development director.

The location, which is currently parkland behind the Society Terce subdivision, does not have what amounts to a beach, but OSU officials to plan to let that stop them.

“We’re going to truck in 100 tons of sand and make outselves a beach,” Sanderson said. ”Then we’re going to build ourselves a 2,000-square-foot pimp pad. We’re gonna get all the ladies.”

When Ohio State University and the City of Columbus proposed the installation of a boat house last spring Hilliard residents were far from happy. Columbus City Council is unsure how they’ll take this latest news.

“It’s pretty ballsy,” said Councilwoman Kathy Krumer. “But it’s OSU. We can’t, as a legislative body, stand up to OSU. They could destroy this city with the shake of a leg.”

Residents argue the boathouse would be better suited on the east bank, where other boathouses now reside.

OSU will use the $6 million, 40,000-square-foot site for the OSU women’s varsity rowing team and Greater Columbus Rowing Association, and says the west bank is preferred for it’s looks.

“It’s just prettier over there, all that parkland. It’s perfect for our big ass boathouse,” said OSU rowing team coach Sam Schnieder.

Schneider did not know what to think of the beach house.

“I’m just here for the rowing, man,” he said.

Opposition from both residents of Hilliard and the City of Hilliard has been ongoing for months, but the city’s hands are tied.

“We can’t really do anything about it,” said Hilliard Mayor Denny Wood. “The City of Columbus is all powerful. It doesn’t matter if it is our land, this is OSU, and we’re all OSU’s bitches.”

When asked about the opposition, witnessed through protests and the organization of several official groups, including the Anti-Rowing League, and the Women Against Land Use Coalition, or WALUS, Sanderson said he didn’t see how OSU could ever make them happy anyway. 

“We figured the residents are already pissed off. They can’t possibly get more teed-off.”

Columbus City Council approved OSU’s new plans unanimously at Monday’s meeting. OSU expects to start construction in the spring.

Doctor to bring perfect skin to Violet Township

By: BERNERD CORRAL

CANAL WINCHESTER — Bad skin beware. A new medical facility is preparing to go to emergency lengths to fight acne.

With the October groundbreaking, the completion of the Fairfield Medical Center, Mount Carmel joint emergency center in Violet Township is still almost a year away, but a second occupant is set to join.

The medical campus, designed to be a stand-alone emergency room with separate office buildings, will welcome the emergency facility of Dr. Brutta Pelle: dermatologist.

“Skin conditions affect all of us,” the Italian-born doctor said. “We all have skin. We can all be plagued by its maladies.”

GeofferyHolmes, communications coordinator with Fairfield Medical Center, said Pelle’s practice was welcomed onto the emergency campus so the facility could offer a wider variety of emergency care.

“Dr. Pelle will offer immediate care to those suffering from any variety of skin conditions,” Holmes said.

Holmes emphasized, however, Pelle does not offer burn care.

“This is not to be confused with a burn ward. We have no intention of offering that,” Holmes said. “The nearest burn ward will still be in Columbus.”

But when one thinks of emergency care, dermatology is not necessarily the first line of medicine to come to mind.

“But skin care is essential!” Pelle said vehemently. “The appearance of ones skin, be it on the face or on the rear, affects our daily lives. It affects people’s perception of us. I bet when people talk to you, they stare at your cheek scar. Don’t you want them to look you in the eye?”

Pelle received her bachelors degree from Wright State University and went on to earn her doctorate from Miami University.

Pelle explained why she was drawn to dermatology.

“Good skin ran in my family,” Pelle said. “So imagine my surprise when on prom night an overbearing zit starts blooming on my forehead.”

Pelle went silent, caressing her forehead, as she recalled the trama.

“I didn’t have bangs to hide the thing, so what could I do? I skipped my only chance to dance with Marcus Baush because of a skin condition. I won’t let that happen to another girl,” she said.

The Fairfield Medical Center, Mount Carmel emergency facility is expected to be open by fall 2009.

Unemployed bankers to sell classic lemonade

Clam photo by Margo McBethThe lemonade stand of John Bartholemew and Josiah Hunter is a work in progress. Their funds ran out before purchasing lemonade mix.

By: BERNERD CORRAL

PICKERINGTON–The dreadful impact of a faltering economy has been felt by everyone; one group of Pickerington residents, however, have reacted to the downturn, and their job loss, with an innovative twist on a childhood moneymaker.

John Bartholemew and Josiah Hunter are in the process of opening their own business: a lemonade stand.

Bartholemew and Hunter, not only neighbors on Magnolia Way in Pickerington, but also coworkers at the Chase Bank, lost their executive positions with the national bank when times got tough.

“My friends always called me ‘Big Spenda’ because I couldn’t help but spend the big bucks I pulled in at Chase,” Hunter said. “Unfortunately, this meant I had no savings to fall back on when I got the axe. I had to come up with a new job, and quick.”

Bartholemew found himself in a similar predicament.

“I have four kids and house wife,” he said. “And their ain’t no way I’ll be using food stamps, ya dig?”

When their job hunts turned up no quick leads, the Magnolia Way residents knew they had to create jobs for themselves.

“We thought, what is a business that maybe already exists, but hasn’t been brought to its fullest potential?” Hunter said.

And that is when the entrepreneurs came across a child’s lemonade stand with a line of adults and children stretched down the block.

“We were like, ‘if a kid can do it, we can do it better,’ ” Bartholemew said.

Bartholemew and Hunter wanted to pursue a more mature look than the folding table and poster board look they saw down the block, however. The duo used funds from their unemployment checks to buy the materials and labor to build a traditional-looking stand.

Bartholemew explained, “We wanted to prey on consumers’ desire for, what do you call it, old stuff?” 

“Nostalgia,” Hunter said, finishing his partner’s sentence.

So an old-fashioned wooden lemonade stand with painted wooden sign reading simply “Lemonade $5″

“We kind of blew all our unemployment dough on the supplies and labor to build the stand,” Bartholemew said. “My wife said we should have built it ourselves. What does she think we are, engineers? I ain’t getting paint on my hands.”

The partners now find themselves in a financial prediciment, leading to the high anticipated cost of a refreshing drink.

“We had to make an executive decision when painting the sign how much the lemonade would cost,” Hunter said. “We decided the only way to get us back on our feet would be $5.”

Susie Henderson, the girl whose lemonade stand inspired the businessmen, said she wishes them well, but she won’t be raising her price.

“My mom says I’m not allowed to sell my lemonade for more than 25 cents,” the 7-year-old said. “I might start selling pink lemonade if they steal my business, though.”

Hunter and Bartholemew have yet to consider the possibility of “exotic” lemonade flavors.

“Right now we don’t have the money to buy the lemonade powder packets,” Hunter said. “Our unemployment checks ran out last week.”

Bartholemew said they might seek a small business loan from Chase.

“It’s the least thsoe bitches can do after firing our asses,” he said.

Bartholemew’s wife, Camilla, said she hopes they make money.

“I’m glad he’s being productive, but I don’t think they took the smartest path,” she said.

Hunter and Bartholemew went before Pickerington City Council Monday, Nov. 17, to request a rezoning to allow for the retail stand in Hunter’s front yard. Council members told the men they would have to submit the request to the board of zoning appeals, which is set to meet Nov. 24.

When interviewed, Councilman Jim Trevias said he doubts the variance will be approved.

“You can’t just build a permanent business fixture on a piece of property zoned residential,” he said. “They may allow that sort of shit in Upper Arlington, but in Pickerington we like to keep things classy.”