This Week In The Westerville News – April 27-May 3, 2026

Restoration crews have finished tuckpointing the southern exposure of the Sharp House on Africa Road and have shifted their work to the western side of the historic brick home, continuing the first phase of repairs to one of Westerville’s few remaining structures directly tied to the Underground Railroad.

Here’s a day-by-day look at the stories published in The Westerville News over the past week. You’ll find local government, public safety, community updates, and other Westerville news below.

    •  Planting Season Begins At Yarnell’s – Westerville Jazz Orchestra Photos
      Yarnell Farm was readied for soybean planting as the surrounding East of Africa development nears completion, while the Westerville Jazz Orchestra opened its summer concert series at the American Legion Hall. (The Westerville News)
    • Sharp House Update At East of Africa – Yarnell Farm Planted In Soybeans
      Restoration work continued at the historic Sharp House on Africa Road, while McNamara Farms planted soybeans at Yarnell Farm before rain moved through the area. (The Westerville News)
    • Highlands Preps For Summer – Metzger Park Gets Nature Upgrade – Business Briefs
      Crews prepared Highlands Park Aquatic Center for its May 23 opening, volunteers planted 450 native trees and shrubs at Metzger Park, and local business updates included Vertiv’s acquisition of Strategic Thermal Labs. (The Westerville News)
    • Becoming A Journalist At the Westerville History Museum
      The Westerville History Museum opened “Public Opinion: Beyond the Headlines in Westerville,” an exhibit that asks visitors to investigate local history through the tools and habits of journalism. (The Westerville News)
    • Renovating, Repairing, Reusing, and Repotting
      Construction began on Westerville Public Library improvements, Sustainable Westerville prepared for ReUseAPalooza, and Inniswood Metro Gardens held its annual plant sale. (The Westerville News)
    • Hydrant Flushing Clears Sediment
      Westerville Public Service crews began annual hydrant flushing, clearing sediment from more than 2,500 hydrants while testing hydrants and nearby valves for emergency readiness. (The Westerville News)

​Also included in each week’s Sunday edition is a roundup of news from cities around Westerville, recent obituaries, and a calendar for the upcoming week. Subscribers get this in their email each Sunday evening.

The Westerville News is a reader-supported publication by Gary Gardiner, a lifelong journalist who believes hyper-local reporting is the future of news. This publication focuses exclusively on Westerville—its local news, influence on Central Ohio, and how surrounding areas shape the community.

Reader funding, including subscribers, protects editorial independence, so coverage is guided by journalists rather than owners or corporate profit goals. It also reduces pressure to chase clicks, letting the newsroom focus on stories worth readers’ time. And it helps keep the site accessible to everyone, including people who can’t pay or live in places where a free press is under threat.