Discovering Westerville

Ep. 8 - John Brooks, BTTS Events

Today’s conversation is with John Brooks. John is a lifelong resident of Westerville and a graduate of Westerville City Schools. These days, he finds himself serving in a different role within the community as a business owner and real estate investor. John owns and operates BTTS Events which owns seven venues across central Ohio, delivering hundreds of memorable events annually with their hosting, catering, and floral businesses. During our time together, John and I discuss his business, and their recent decision to serve as presenting sponsors for the return of the Christmas Parade in 2025. We talk about our love for this community and our thoughts on the importance of community engagement to keeping it the thriving place that it is. Finally, John shares some stories from his involvement with recent projects like Highbank Distillery and Begin Cafe while giving a small glimpse of what might be on the horizon for Uptown. I’m excited to share this fantastic conversation with you between myself and John. Enjoy. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit goodforwesterville.substack.com [https://goodforwesterville.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]

Ep. 7 - School Earned Income Tax Issue Part 2: Response and Closing

This episode is Part 2 of a 2-part series where we take a deep dive into the Earned Income Tax Issue being proposed by Westerville City Schools. We hear arguments from both sides of this important issue in an effort to help the community make an informed decision this Fall. If you haven’t already, be sure to check out the first episode (linked here [https://goodforwesterville.substack.com/p/ep-6-school-earned-income-tax-issue]) where each side made their opening case to the public - you - for consideration. Additionally, you can visit Good For Westerville’s website where you will find resources from both sides (linked here [https://www.goodforwesterville.com/local-elections-matter]). While we cover a lot of ground during our conversations, this is a complex topic, and we encourage everyone to research the sources, ask questions, and share with your neighbors. Being an informed voter is Good For Westerville. In today’s episode, you will again hear from both sides. This time, they were asked to respond to the opposition before making their closing argument. Each side was also supplied with several questions from the community that they referred to during their research. Thank you to Emma, John, Doug, and Lindsay for their time spent sharing their research with me. I learned a lot from both conversation, and I hope you do, too. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit goodforwesterville.substack.com [https://goodforwesterville.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]

Ep. 6 - School Earned Income Tax Issue Part 1: Make the Case

In today's episode, we will be listening in on two separate conversations. Both are with members of our community who have been investing tremendous time and energy into spreading information about the upcoming Earned Income Tax Issue. This issue is being proposed by Westerville Schools for a vote on November 4th, 2025. As voting day approaches, they want you to hear what they have to say before you vote. The catch? They land on opposite sides of this important issue. In the first part of this two-part series, you will hear from both sides of this issue as they make their case to you, the voter. Next time, we will regroup to hear their response to the opposing view, their answers to resident questions, and their closing arguments. We hope you find this project information and helpful as you prepare to make a decision on how to vote this Fall. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit goodforwesterville.substack.com [https://goodforwesterville.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]

Ep. 5 - Pam Allen and Don Foster, Olde Methodist Cemetery Restoration

On today’s episode, I share with you a conversation that I had with Pam Allen and Don Foster about a project they have been working on to restore the Olde Methodist Cemetery in Uptown. Pam serves as the volunteer historian at Church of the Messiah, where she researches the 200-year history of the church and its relationship with the community. Don is a longtime Westerville resident who has been researching and writing about Otterbein and Westerville history for many years. These two were brought together for a project to restore Olde Methodist Cemetery, an often forgotten burial ground. Within this cemetery lie the remains of over 200 individuals dating back to the 1830s, including individuals significant to the founding of both Westerville and Otterbein University. This is a wide-reaching conversation during which Pam and Don share several stories from their research and time on this project, including stories about Westerville’s involvement in the Abolitionist movement, among others. We top it off with discussion about the process and value of preserving history to our community. I found this conversation to be fascinating dive into our community’s history, and I’m excited to share it with others. Enjoy. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit goodforwesterville.substack.com [https://goodforwesterville.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]

Ep. 4 - Megan Ada and Joshua Cook, Asterisk Supper Club

Today’s conversation is with Megan Ada and Joshua Cook, owners and operators of Asterisk Supper and the recently opened Ampersand Asian Supper Club, both located in the heart of Uptown Westerville. During our conversation, we get a behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to open and operate a restaurant. They share with us their experience with developing a concept, creating a vision, and training staff to carry the vision to their clients. We also talk about the importance of small businesses like theirs and others to a community like Westerville. I had a great time getting to know these two and hearing their passion for this industry and their work. I hope you enjoy my conversation with Megan Ada and Joshua Cook. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit goodforwesterville.substack.com [https://goodforwesterville.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]