By Nicholas Dekker 

Earlier this month, Michele Tackett and her mother-in-law Sheri Tackett celebrated their one-year anniversary as the new owners of Mrs. Goodman’s Baking Company. While the bakery has been around for more than 30 years, owned first by the Goodman family and then by the Alderman family, the Tacketts purchased it while both looking to make a life change. We caught up with Michele to learn more about their first year owning the bakery and what’s new!

Nick: How did you come to own Mrs. Goodman’s?
Michele: It’s a family effort. I met my husband in Connecticut. He is from Dublin, and we started a family and relocated here two years ago. My mother-in-law is retired; she’s my business partner and mentor. We threw out a lot of ideas of things to do, then we got wind that Mrs. Goodman’s was for sale – it was the perfect opportunity for a business as a family.

Nick: How has your first year been at the helm?
Michele: It’s been a whirlwind. I don’t know if it’s been six weeks or six years!

Nick: What updates did you make to the storefront?
Michele: The brand is amazing, the product is amazing. Worthington loves Mrs. Goodman’s and their products, but it needed a facelift. When we came in, we wanted people to feel the way when they enjoy the cakes, like you’re walking into your grandma’s kitchen. The color scheme and environment is light, bright, happy, it should take you back. We replaced the floors, ceilings, lights. My father-in-law Floyd built the cabinets. We installed the barn door to the kitchen, and opened the doorway a little. We brought the displays out, but it still feels bigger than before. We were always doing a little dance behind the counter, having trays and cakes balancing. 

Nick: And how about the baked goods?
Michele: We knew people loved Mrs. Goodman’s and their products, so we haven’t changed the recipes, but made some quality improvements to the ingredients, and added some new products. We’ve used the weekends to try a Danish, try cinnamon rolls – the cinnamon rolls have become a staple in our case. We do plain, pecans, and buttercream – that’s our most popular addition. 

We still do made-from-scratch cookies – we offer over 12 varieties, plus a dozen options of scones. We did swap one cookie – the chocolate, white chocolate, pecan. We swapped it with peanut butter chip. The pies are popular at Thanksgiving – we offer them year-round. Our pie crusts are homemade. The previous owners had a cupcake display, too – we keep them stocked, and offer new varieties.

We like to experiment with things, too, like our cookies and cream cake. We did a week of candy cakes – Heath, Almond Joy – we couldn’t keep them in stock.

Nick: And the reception has been good, from customers and employees?
Michele: We were blessed that Worthington was so loyal to Mrs. Goodman’s. There was some concern when word got out that there were new owners, but we haven’t changed the recipes. And we wanted to create a good work environment for our employees – listen to them, do what is within our means to fix – make it a positive and happy environment.

Meet Michele, Sheri, and their whole team when you visit Mrs. Goodman’s Baking Company. And be sure to pick up a cookie or two… or a scone… or a cinnamon roll, or a cake while you’re there.

Mrs. Goodman’s Baking Company
901 High St.
Worthington, OH 43085
614-888-7437
mrsgoodmans.com

By Nicholas Dekker 

Porch Growler opened its doors at 890 High Street last September. Porch Growler is a beer bar offering 60 taps of beer, plus bottled selections, and a comfortable spot to enjoy them. We caught up with owner Bill Adams to learn more about his passion for beer and how he brought a new gathering place to Worthington.

Nick: How long have you had an interest in beer?
Bill: I took a genuine interest in the taste of beer in the mid 90s when the precursors to modern day 'craft' started. Being able to try pale ales and winter warmers that didn't taste like Bud Light appealed to me. It just exploded for me in the early- to mid-2000s as craft brewers took things to new heights, introducing ever more creative varietals. I started homebrewing five years ago, which only helped increase my interest and knowledge of craft beer.

Nick: What led to you starting Porch Growler?
Bill: I reached a point in my career where I was working 60+ hours per week, but didn't share a passion for what I was doing compared to my coworkers. I felt if I was going to work so hard, I should do something I sincerely enjoy, not just something I could do well. My epiphany came while visiting one of the many craft tasting rooms that have popped up in town. I realized then what I could do to tie together passion and hard work, and the idea for Porch Growler was formed.

Nick: Do you have any personal favorite breweries or styles?
Bill: These days, I tend to gravitate towards anything imperial (a term that generally indicated an elevated stacking of ingredients to reach an enhanced flavor profile), especially IPAs and stouts. They carry a higher ABV, so I find I drink less than before, to keep myself out of trouble. ;-) I'll refrain from attempting to narrow down the list of great breweries I enjoy (just too many to name).

Nick: How did you find the location?
Bill: I spent 10 months searching for the right location. I wanted density, walkability, and accessibility. Our location in Old Worthington easily checked all these boxes and more. I'm thrilled with the neighborhood... and neighbors!

Nick: What's the response been in your first few months?
Bill: The locals have been simply tremendous. They seek me out with a handshake and a heart-felt 'thank you' for bringing this concept to Worthington. The Chamber and area businesses (including Pizza Primo and Mrs. Goodman's Bakery) have been very supportive as well. I am humbled by everyone's support and encouragement.

Nick: What are your plans for the future of Porch Growler?
Bill: We're excited to share a few new additions heading into 2019. We're starting sales of spirits (focusing on bourbon to start) and will have periodic 'small batch' educational tastings in our event room to support that aspect of the business. We also will be starting a Trivia Night on Tuesdays starting in late January. Lastly (for now), we look forward to establishing ourselves as a MASSIVE Columbus Crew backer bar for the upcoming season starting in March. Go Crew! 

Nick: Are you from Worthington originally?
Bill: I'm originally from Ocean City, New Jersey, and moved to central Ohio in elementary school. My family moved to the Worthington Hills neighborhood six years ago and we've loved the inclusive nature of the local community. We couldn't image living anywhere else.

Visit Bill and his team at Porch Growler, 890 High Street in Old Worthington. See tap lists, upcoming events, directions, and more details at porchgrowler.com.

Issue 39 Electric Aggregation for Worthington will be on our November 6 ballot

What you need to know:

The Goal To use community buying power to:

1) save households money on their electric bills, and

2) purchase renewable energy.

o If Issue 39 passes, Council will be able to solicit and review actual competitive bids. According to the consultant selected by City Council to guide the City through the process, the average savings will have the possibility to be approximately 6-8% of the customer’s electric bill. This is based on figures from electric suppliers who currently have aggregations in AEP.

o Sourcing renewable energy is the second component of the electric aggregation contract. Electricity from all sources goes into the grid, so the electricity received in Worthington will not come directly from renewables. However, Worthington’s supplier would have to certify that there is supply to meet our usage, so we would be contributing to the demand for renewables.

o Electric Aggregation in Worthington will be an Opt-Out program. Any resident or small business can leave or join the program at any time with no cost or penalty.

o If Issue 39 passes, the City of Worthington will be eligible to be certified by the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio to aggregate. PUCO has strict requirements which Worthington must follow. https://www.puco.ohio.gov/be-informed/consumer-topics/governmental-energy-aggregation-local-community-buying-power/

o Electric Aggregation has been available in Ohio since 2000 and nearly one-third of Ohio residents are in an aggregation program. https://www.puco.ohio.gov/emplibrary/files/Util/GIS/Electric_Maps/Electric_Govt_Aggregators_ANSI_A.pdf

o ThisWeek article on Issue 39 http://www.thisweeknews.com/news/20181009/power-play-issue-39-would-let-worthington-buy-electricity-in-bulk

o This is the language you will see on the ballot:

“Shall the City of Worthington, County of Franklin, Ohio have the authority to aggregate the retail electric loads located in the City and enter into service agreements to facilitate for those loads the sale and purchase of electric, such aggregation to occur automatically except where any person elects to opt-out?”

o City of Worthington FAQs https://www.worthington.org/DocumentCenter/View/5039/ElecAggFlyer-FAQ-for-web?bidId=

Old Worthington features a lot of favorite events year-round: the Holiday Open House, the Farmer’s Market, concerts on the green, 4th of July fireworks, the Chocolate Crawl. And now there’s a new event in town: the Craft Crawl!

The first annual Craft Crawl takes place Wednesday, October 3, from 6-9 p.m. in Old Worthington.

It’s a celebration of two types of craft: craft beer and craft projects. It’s a chance to visit the many spots in Old Worthington that serve craft beer, all while getting your craft on at the skilled maker studios around the neighborhood.

Here’s how it works:

1. You purchase a ticket online HERE. (Quickly! They will sell out.)

2. The evening of October 3, check in at the COhatch Hardware Store (752 High Street).

3. When you check in, sign up to do two craft projects (valued at $15-30 each) at a participating merchant:

AR Workshop
Branch Line Leather Co.
The Candle Lab
Igloo Letterpress
Sew to Speak
Shift Studios 

4. Get a deal on craft beer at one of these venues:

Dewey’s Pizza
Everest Cuisine
The Half Pint
House Wine
La Chatelaine
The Whitney House
Worthington Inn

The Craft Crawl will be a D.O.R.A. event, so you can purchase a drink at one of the participating locations to enjoy while you stroll between projects, or while you simply walk and shop around the neighborhood! Many of the shops will be open late, and Worthington’s Matt Steidle will be playing live music at Dewey’s Pizza.

The First Annual Craft Crawl
Wednesday, October 3
6-9 p.m.
Get tickets here!

By Nicholas Dekker

Anyone with even passing familiarity of the Worthington area knows that there are plenty of great places to eat, and at A Taste of Worthington, you’ll get a chance to taste it all!

Think of it like a big block party, with food, drinks, family games, and good neighborly fun. Put on by the Worthington Area Chamber of Commerce, A Taste of Worthington features 50-60 appetizers, entrées, and desserts from 25 area restaurants. Guests even get to vote on their favorite bite of the evening.

Food will be on hand from eateries like Cameron’s American Bistro, Dairy Queen, J. Gilbert’s, J. Liu, Jet’s Pizza, The Whitney House, and many more. Everest Cuisine, Eddie Merlot’s, Tomatillos, Woodys Wing House and Yappy Greek will make their debut at this year’s event!

There will be plenty of tastes, like refreshing gazpacho from Cameron’s, hearty barbacoa tacos from Tomatillos, filet tips with mashed potatoes from Eddie Merlot’s, samosas and momos from Everest, baby back ribs from J. Gilbert’s, beef tenderloin from Willow Brook, J. Liu’s popular lettuce wraps and Jason’s spicy chicken, pork sliders and satay from Star Lanes, banh mi sandwiches from Whitney House, and much, MUCH more!

Of course, you’ll need to finish with a sweet treat. So Mrs. Goodman’s will be on hand with cookies, mini pies, and tartlettes. Willow Brook will feature double strawberry chiffon cake with mascarpone buttercream. Or you can finish with a cold dessert from Graeter’s, Dairy Queen, and Kona Ice.

Most dishes from the participating restaurants range from $1-7.

To pair with all these delicious eats, guests can enjoy everything from Signature Wines’ offerings, White Claw spiked seltzers, and craft beers from Worthington’s own Zaftig Brewing.

But it’s not just about eating (although that’s a big part of it!). A Taste of Worthington will also feature live music from Matt Steidle & That’s the Breaks, B + K, Blue Jays Jazz and Funk Band, and Megan Hoover & Co.

The kids will keep busy at the play area (supervised by Kiddie Academy) and a bounce house provided by the Ohio National Guard.

There’s no need to register ahead of time! You can pay at the gate: $3/person or $5/couple. Kids 6 and under are free, and parking is free, too!

A Taste of Worthington is presented by the Worthington Area Chamber of Commerce and sponsored by The Shops at Worthington Place and Wright-Patt Credit Union.

A Taste of Worthington 2018
Friday, July 27
5:30-10 p.m. (rain or shine)
In the parking lots between 400 and 450 W. Wilson Bridge Rd. (the OfficeScape Corporate Center)