The Delaware Gazette Co.

If you didn’t catch the Ohio Wesleyan University football team’s convincing 68-9 season-opening win over Bluffton Thursday night, admission to OWU’s next game, Saturday against visiting John Carroll, is your chance to catch up. The game, free for everyone, will cap the day’s Bishop Backers Fall Community Day celebration. A free pre-game tailgate with the Battling Bishop and Safety Pup mascots on hand is also planned.

POWELL – The Worthington Companies Foundation, which includes Worthington Enterprises and Worthington Steel, and The McConnell Foundation are making a historic $10 million philanthropic investment to support the upcoming John F. Wolfe Aquarium, The Wilds, and the Columbus Zoo’s conservation programs, furthering work in animal wellbeing, education, conservation, and connecting people with wildlife. The gift is the second-largest philanthropic commitment in Columbus Zoo’s history and reflects a longstanding relationship with Worthington Enterprises, Worthington Steel and the McConnell family.

The Delaware Township Board of Trustees is responsible for the governance of more than 2,000 residents not living in the city of Delaware, and more than 12 miles of roads. Here’s a summary of the board’s meetings in the first half of the year.

Talk about starting the season in style.

Main Street Delaware’s First Friday event was highlighted by a Back-to-School Bash featuring a rock-climbing wall, numerous giant inflatables, live music from a local band, yard games, free popcorn and more.

Deonte Robinson scored a pair of second-half touchdowns and Eric Eichel had two interceptions, one a pick six, to lead the Olentangy Orange football team to a 28-7 non-league win over host Olentangy Friday night in Lewis Center.

By now, we are all aware that Dolly Parton, “Queen of country music,” died recently. Her life has been characterized as “rags to rhinestones,” growing up dirt poor in eastern Tennessee but rising to the heights of the entertainment world. Along the way, she became known for her song-writing creativity, personal faith and integrity, outsized personality and appearance, and generosity. Even those like myself, unfamiliar with country music, have felt the loss. One of her best-known songs, “Coat of Many Colors,” a tribute to her mother, wove the hard-scrabble reality of Appalachian life and family solidarity with a Biblical theme of loving sacrifice.

COLUMBUS — The Ohio Department of Commerce Division of State Fire Marshal invites elementary school-aged students across Ohio to break out their crayons, colored pencils and markers to help highlight the importance of fire safety as part of the 2026–2027 Fire Safety Poster Contest. Held annually, the contest encourages young learners to explore fire safety concepts and visually demonstrate their understanding of fire prevention.

LEWIS CENTER — It’s a feeling like no other: the first bite of a warm, gooey cookie, straight out of the oven. Whether a sunny summer day or a cozy winter night, a fresh batch of baked goods is always the right move. At Something Sweet Bake Shop, there are plenty ready to greet you. With blondies, cookies and brownies available, the cottage industry bake shop has become a local hit, and it’s easy to see why; high-quality ingredients and hard work shine through in every bite.

It is hard to believe, but this month marks 25 years since the attacks that took the lives of nearly 3,000 people in New York, at the Pentagon, and in a field in Pennsylvania. September 11, 2001 began as just a normal day, but forever changed countless families and communities across the nation. I will always extend my heartfelt respect and condolences to the families of those who died, and I show honor to the first responders whose courage caused them to run toward danger, to the ordinary people who stepped forward to help strangers, and to all those whose lives continue to reflect the strength and resilience born from that difficult day.