Gahanna Convention & Visitors Bureau Is Awarded A Chase 200Columbus Neighborhood Grant
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 22, 2012
CONTACTS:
Karen Eylon, Gahanna Convention & Visitors Bureau: keylon@visitgahanna.com/(614) 418-9114
Patty Donahey Geiger, PDG Communications: patty@pdgcommunications.com/(614) 325-6178
Gahanna Convention & Visitors Bureau Is Awarded A Chase 200Columbus Neighborhood Grant and Gahanna Celebrates 40 Years as “Herb Capital of Ohio” with the Opening of the “Herbal Trail”
(GAHANNA, OH) - The Greater Columbus Arts Council and JPMorgan Chase Foundation have announced that the Gahanna Convention & Visitors Bureau (GCVB) was awarded a $6,500 Chase 200Columbus Neighborhood Grant for the Gahanna Herbal Trail project. Twenty-three projects throughout Franklin County were funded for projects that fulfill the mission of the Columbus Bicentennial for honoring the past, celebrating the present and envisioning the future.
“This year Gahanna is celebrating its 40th anniversary as ‘Herb Capital of Ohio,’ so we had already started plans to launch the Herbal Trail on May Herb Day [May 12] and then we discovered the 200Columbus grant opportunity. The Herbal Trail project seemed a perfect fit for the Bicentennial mission, and we’re extremely grateful that the Greater Columbus Arts Council and the JPMorgan Chase Foundation agreed and awarded us with this grant. The additional funding will make it possible to expand the project far beyond its original scope,” said GCVB Director Karen Eylon.
Eylon said the community came together quickly to form a steering committee that worked through the grant-writing process with her. “The Department of Parks & Recreation made a major contribution to the project together with the Gahanna Parks & Recreation Foundation.”
A GCVB goal for the Herbal Trail will be to create a tourism product unique to Gahanna that Columbus-area residents will also be able to enjoy. The trail, Eylon said, will continue to evolve “as we envision the future” with Gahanna partner participation, offering opportunities for product development and initiatives that will enhance and “grow” Gahanna’s distinction and heritage as the Herb Capital of Ohio.
The Herbal Trail map will be available at the Ohio Herb Education Center, 110 Mill St., and will note the points-of-interest markers along the route. At a future date, these markers will also have a QR code. Two major components of the trail will relate to herbal culinary and garden stops, along with shopping, wellness and eco-learning.
Culinary sites will feature both food and beverages with herbal ingredients. While following the trail, visitors will have a variety of culinary herbal temptations. One such stop on the Herbal Trail, Mezzo, 130 Creekside Plaza, will open for lunch on Saturday, May 12, to commemorate May Herb Day and will offer a limited ala carte menu featuring herbal cuisine. If you’re in the mood for a sweet treat, another culinary stop is Sher Bliss Wine & Chocolate—loads of anti-oxidants here! (1394 Cherry Bottom Rd.) You’ll find them in the “Mint Truffle,” along with other delights.
Garden stops will also offer a variety of options, including visits to the beautiful Geroux Herb Gardens, the Sunrise Garden at Creekside Park and the historical herb gardens at the Gahanna Historical Society Settlement. The settlement includes a Certified Wildlife Habitat.
Events and demonstrations that feature herbs will be presented throughout the year. Following May Herb Day, the next event will be the Herbal Garden Party on Saturday, June 23, from 10:30 a.m. until 3 p.m. Bunnie Geroux, director, Ohio Herb Education Foundation, is inviting gardening enthusiasts to join her at the Geroux Gardens, along the Herbal Trail, to discover the benefits of herbal gardening, watch demonstrations, and enjoy a strolling lunch and generous samplings of herb seasoned culinary creations.
Herbal Trail Event Information:
May Herb Day, Saturday, May 12, at Creekside Park & Plaza; 123 Mill St.; 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.; Free event—for more information: 614-342-4380; www.ohioherbcenter.org
-True to its name, the event offers hundreds of culinary, medicinal and ornamental herbs for purchase. Experts on herbs will be available to answer questions about plantings.
-The Herbal Trail; for more information; contact the Gahanna Convention & Visitors Bureau 614-418-9114
Herbal Garden Party, Geroux Gardens, 200 S. Hamilton Rd., Saturday, June 23,
-10:30 a.m. – 3 p.m.; Tickets $10, a strolling lunch, along with generous food samplings included; for tickets and more information, contact Bunnie Geroux, director, Ohio Herb Education Foundation, 614-471-1048
-Herbal gardening demonstrations and herb seasoned culinary creations
Background and Additional Information:
In 1972 the Ohio Legislature designated Gahanna as “Herb Capital of Ohio.” One woman, Jane “Bunnie” Geroux, made it all possible through her tireless efforts, knowledge and passion for herbs. She soon founded and became director of the Ohio Herb Education Foundation, established in the Ridenour house, a historic Gahanna home on W. Johnstown Rd. The herb program expanded with the addition of the Gahanna Department of Parks & Recreation’s Ohio Herb Education Center (OHEC) located in the heart of Gahanna’s Creekside District in the Nafzger-Miller house which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. www.ohioherbcenter.org
Chase 200Columbus Neighborhood Grant for Gahanna Herbal Trail Steering Committee:
-Karen Eylon, director, Gahanna Convention & Visitors Bureau
-Tony Collins, director, City of Gahanna, Department of Parks & Recreation
-Zac Guthrie, City of Gahanna, Department of Parks & Recreation
-Leah Evans, deputy director, City of Gahanna, Department of Development
-Lee Tucker, president, Gahanna Parks & Recreation Foundation
-David Andrews, Gahanna Planning Commission
-Mary Campanelli, manager, Columbus Metropolitan Library, Gahanna Branch
A wide-ranging group of participating organizations and businesses are working collaboratively to present the Herbal Trail with the Gahanna Convention & Visitors Bureau spearheading the promotion to visitors:
Culinary Participants:
-94th Aero Squadron Restaurant
-Cap City Fine Diner & Bar
-Cold Stone Creamery
-Crazy Goat Coffee
-Gahanna Pizza Plus
-Gatsby’s Bar & Grill
-Mediterra Restaurant & Bar
-Mezzo
-Ohio Herb Education Center
-Old Bag of Nails
-Rick’s Coaches
-Rotelli Pizza Pasta Perfect
-Sher Bliss Wine & Chocolate
-Signatures Bar & Grill
-The Pour House Tavern
-The Wine Guy, Wine Shop Wine
-Wyandotte Winery
Garden Points of Interest
The gardens demonstrate a broad spectrum of ways to cultivate herbs—container gardening, raised bed, goosefoot, and more. Interpretive materials will be provided.
-Geroux Herb Gardens offer an urban oasis filled with a variety of herbal gardens: the Culinary Garden, Scented Garden, Shade Garden, Rock/Biblical Garden, Pond Garden and Medicinal Garden. (206 S. Hamilton Rd., next to Gahanna City Hall)
-Ohio Herb Education Center gardens surround the historic Nafzger-Miller house, illustrating a variety of herbs and methods for planting. (110 Mill St.)
-NEW: The Community Gardens at Friendship Park have a new look. More than 80 raised bed gardens have been installed in the renovated garden plots available in 4-foot x 4-foot and 4-foot x 8-foot plots ready for planting. beginning April 28. Raised beds help reduce weeds and soil compaction, and allow for closer spacing of plants—perfect for herbal gardening. In addition the Community Gardens feature herb gardens and rain gardens maintained by Gahanna’s Department of Parks & Recreation. (160 Oklahoma Ave.)
-Sunrise Garden at Creekside Park, along the scenic boardwalk on the banks of Big Walnut Creek. This garden is in the shape of a goose footprint, providing narrow paths between the plantings.
-Goosefoot Garden at the Gahanna Historical Society Settlement. The design originally created a way for women in long skirts to easily negotiate picking herbs or flowers. (101 S. High St.)
-The Wine Guy, Wine Shop, Wine Bar & Bistro displays large outside planters filled with growing herbs. (500 Creekside Plaza)
-McDonalds planted herbs along with native plantings outside the new restaurant. They also installed a bio-retention swale, a type of rain garden. that collects runoff from hardscape surfaces. (298 S. Hamilton Rd.)
For more information about the Herbal Trail, visit www.visitgahanna.com or call the Gahanna Convention & Visitors Bureau at 614-418-9114 or 1-866-GAHANNA
The Gahanna Convention & Visitors Bureau (GCVB) is a 501(c)(6) non-profit organization funded by a local hotel tax and partner support whose mission is to promote Gahanna as a vibrant destination by connecting the people and places of our community which contributes to economic prosperity. The GCVB annually presents the Creekside Blues & Jazz Festival and Holiday Lights! Parade & Season.
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