March 30, 2010

Looking for the perfect home?

Posted to Phil Giessler

The Sunday after Easter, April 11, 2010 is the day to visit many “for sale” houses being held open in the Columbus, Ohio area and nationwide! REALTOR® Nationwide Open House is being held throughout the country on the 11th. You may view our open houses, and we will direct you to other houses being held open when you visit one of our homes. These homes will be posted in the Sunday Dispatch on the morning of April 11, as well. According to the Columbus Board of Realtors, “this campaign will increase consumer awareness of the benefits of buying a home, give sellers an opportunity to increase the exposure for their home for sale and continue the effort to spread the word about the incredible homebuyer tax credits ending April 30.”

Posted By: Phil Giessler


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March 24, 2010

BIG HEARTS - The Annual Battle of Worthington

Posted to Columbus Attractions, Phil Giessler

Last week Worthington Kilbourne, one of two Worthington, Ohio high schools hosted the annual Battle of Worthington. Each year Worthington Kilbourne High School and Thomas Worthington High School alternate gyms for this event.

If you have not attended this wonderful event, you need to put it on your schedule for March, 2011. The Worthington Stars are made up of boys and girls with special needs from the community. Their opponents are middle school basketball players from the four Worthington middle schools. What an awesome evening! The cheerleaders for the Worthington Stars keep the crowd going and added to the excitement this year was the band from the Ohio School for the Blind.

The captain this year was Daniel, who while not playing basketball works at a local pizza shoppe Primo Pizza and is the “shred man” at our real estate office, Cam Taylor Co., Realtors. Realtor Greg Giessler and good friend Ohio State football player alum Dimitrious Stanley are pictured here with Daniel. Greg has volunteered for several years along with so many community people in putting this event together.

Parents, friends, school buddies, community leaders, teachers, and more friends attend this heart warming event which has been on going for close to 7 years or more. The camaraderie among the “Stars” is such a sight as they high five each other and make sure that each team member gets his or her chance to score. While the nation is watching March Madness, a group of us in Worthington, Ohio are cheering for the Stars.

Visit Worthington! We are a great community to call home!

Posted By: Phil Giessler


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March 22, 2010

Columbus, Ohio, what a great place to live!

Posted to Columbus Attractions, Downtown Columbus, Phil Giessler

Partly due to the current March Madness Basketball tournament, shown on national TV, Columbus, Ohio is getting the attention we have earned.  We are a place to call home and a great atmosphere to raise a family or to retire and live “where it’s happening.”

Columbus, Ohio is proud of The Ohio State University, located in and around central Columbus with branches located around the state.  Our academic standards are high, our athletic success is evident in our standings in men’s and women’s basketball, football, volleyball, soccer, and a wide variety of sports. Check out www.ohiostatebuckeyes.com to read for yourself!

A visit to Columbus, Ohio and surrounding suburbs, is well worth the short drive from anywhere in Ohio and the only way to get a true feel of buckeye spirit.  If you are too far away to drive, our easily accessible airport will bring you into the area and rental cars are readily available. Or, you can take a Greyhound bus which drops you right in the middle of the downtown activities, you can board a city bus which will take you almost anywhere within the city area or grab a taxi.  The best way to see the downtown is on foot!  So, bring your walking shoes!

However if you plan to visit Columbus, get to the downtown area which offers entertainment, dining, and over-night lodging. Partly due to the many things going on year round in Columbus, Ohio, the residential market is booming.  Attached are just two examples of our “downtown” listings in the exciting areas of the north market and around the area we call the Northbank. Full of wonderful spots to eat, shop , see a movie, visit a museum or spend several hours at the popular COSI learning exhibit, this is a prime center for entertainment of all kinds.  Plan to spend the day!

Not far and just East of the city of Columbus is  New Albany with its very popular Easton Town Center, has attracted people from all around the Ohio area and beyond. And, just a short drive north of the city, the Polaris Fashion Mall in the Westerville/Powell zip codes offers a truly great day of shopping, eating, or resting in the movie theaters. 

Visit us to learn about all the city housing offers: www.camtaylor.com.  We will be happy to give you a tour of the city, if you are interested in moving to Columbus.  This visit includes a drive around the area, and if desired, visits to  our very strong school systems  to meet with counselors there.  We can help you with any home you may be interested in and we are experts in the real estate market, just having received the Awards for Excellence from the Leading Real Estate Companies of the World® conference in early March, 2010. 

Residential homes and the condominium market in Central Columbus and beyond is booming.  Call us at 1-800-848-6996 or visit us at www.camtaylor.com.

Come see what Columbus, Ohio offers!

 

Posted By: Phil Giessler


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March 20, 2010

March Madness

Posted to Phil Giessler

For those of you who do not pay attention to basketball much, like my wife, this will not be too exciting. But to me, this is a super charged time of the year….March Madness! The time when basketball is available on TV all the time, the time my beloved Ohio State University Buckeyes, get to show off their skills. As the Big Ten Champs we are off to a great start in the March Madness tournament.

Many readers may be aware that Columbus, Ohio is famous for its support for its teams. Be it for basketball Buckeyes, coached by Thad Matta, or the famous OSU Buckeye football team, coached by Coach Tressel, Columbus folk all cheer as if they attended OSU (some did/some did not) and all support the teams with enthusiasm and vigor. As well, the women’s teams are fully supported by our town and they, too, are awesome to watch, especially the women’s basketball team.

The next opportunity to cheer for our beloved Buckeyes is tomorrow, Sunday, March 21 at 2:20 against Georgia Tech. Go Bucks!

Another thrill is about our boys a bit south of Columbus, at Ohio University. Their basketball team outran Georgetown on Thursday and moved on to the second round which plays today at 3:25 against Tennessee.

There will be lots of noise in Columbus, Ohio this week-end and we are proud Buckeyes!

Posted By: Phil Giessler


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March 18, 2010

Transportation in Columbus, Ohio

Posted to Phil Giessler

When you are thinking of buying or selling a home in the central Ohio area, we hope you will think of Cam Taylor Co., Realtors.

Cam Taylor Co. Realtors was established in the north arc of Columbus in 1968.  For 40+ years we have served thousands of buyers and sellers.  As well, we are part of a national/international network of companies, Leading Real Estate Companies of the World® (LeadingRE). We can relocate clients literally across the world and back.  Visit our website to learn more about LeadingRE.

Columbus, Ohio is comprised of many communities/suburbs as well as the central city itself. All communities are convenient to the 270 outerbelt  which circles the city and route 71 which runs north and south through Columbus. 

Bicycling has become a popular activity in Columbus and with the Olentangy bike trail, commuters or recreational riders can travel from as far north as the Worthington Hills area, just south of Powell, under Rt.161 to downtown Columbus.  The path is parallel to the Olentangy River and is a very scenic ride.  Vehicles are bike friendly, so many travel the main roads by bike to go to work or school at the Ohio State University.  Check www.interstate-guide.com or www.considerbiking.org for information. 

For those who wish to travel to the downtown area from as far north as Worthington, they can take the COTA bus which makes many stops along the way.  We recently took our 3 and 7 year old granddaughters on their first public bus ride.  This was quite an education and a fun experience for all.  www.cota.com provides you with a schedule and route for the city busline.  Thanks to the support of the community, COTA now offers a more comprehensive bus service, with extra routes and longer hours of operation. Today, COTA operates throughout Franklin County, and parts of Delaware, Fairfield, Licking and Union Counties.

Should you choose to drive to downtown in the evening for a show at the Palace Theater or Ohio Theater, consider parking at the parking provided under the Capitol building.  Information is available at http://www.statehouse.state.oh.us.

Visit Columbus, Ohio where there is much to be seen as you travel via bus, bike or automobile.

Posted By: Phil Giessler


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March 12, 2010

Leading Real Estate Companies of the World® Convention

Posted to Phil Giessler

Returning from Las Vegas to Columbus, OH, I was filled with appreciation and excitement regarding where the real estate industry is headed and how much we at Cam Taylor Co., Realtors have accomplished this past year.

The personal attention, follow through and sincere appreciation for our clients’ needs is what we are all about. If you are interested in listing, selling or buying a second home, anywhere in the central Ohio area, United States or internationally, please call us. We love referrals! www.camtaylor.com.

    

Remember we cover all price ranges, starter homes to million dollar homes, condos, patio homes, single family homes. We cover the entire north arc of Columbus, Northwest, North, Clintonville and Beechwold, and Northeast. We cover Worthington, Dublin, Olentangy, New Albany, Westerville, Hilliard, Grandview, Pickerington and Upper Arlington. If you need help determining exactly what you can afford, we can recommend lenders to do the math! If you need help preparing your home for market, we have many contractors we can recommend. We are here to help you get to the closing table, call us at 614-888-0307.

Posted By: Phil Giessler


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March 09, 2010

Bored?

Posted to Columbus Attractions, Phil Giessler

Oh my. It was around 4:00 and I was out walking our red fox lab when two elementary school students passed by. I said hello and asked, “how are you?” The boy, around 4th or 5th grade, without a moment to think answered, “bored.” These children were returning from a long day at school and to give them the benefit of the doubt, I will say they were tired and ready to relax. But bored?

How can a 10 year old be bored in Worthington, Ohio? Not only do we have libraries, parks, playgrounds, after school programs, and any sport you can think of, there are educational websites to relax and play. Bored? So sad that our children need to be entertained 24/7 and require immediate gratification.

So, bored? Visit these sites:

These are just a few of the websites I found. There are so many more.

PLUS, there is nothing like a walk outside or a bike or scooter to avoid boredom. The best sleep follows outside playtime and with the weather getting better each day, push those kids outside! You can grab a book, sit at the front window and watch them having fun.

Posted By: Phil Giessler


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March 08, 2010

Friendship

Posted to Phil Giessler

One of life’s greatest treasures, we believe, are the friendships we make over a lifetime. Some people say to have one good friend for life is a wonderful thing. We are fortunate to have friends we have made through childhood, our years as students at Ohio State University, work related friends through Cam Taylor Co., Realtors, and neighbors and friends through our church, Worthington Presbyterian Church.

Recently we have had opportunities to gather with old and new friends. One good friend, made through the real estate industry, who has recently marked his “30+60” birthday is pictured to the left. This wonderful man works with vigor, 24/7 in the real estate industry. The stories he tells, and never repeats, are inspiring, hilarious, and captivating. It makes one think the old days really were the “good old days.” As he tells it, life was simple, more personal, and much fun. Relationships were fostered that lasted years, until death. Work was often culminated with a handshake, without all the paperwork today’s laws require. People trusted people, relied on people and the camaraderie among friends was precious.

As well, we recently joined with a group of newly made friends, pictured here. The theme of the gathering was “pizza and pictures.” Each was asked to bring 20 pictures of the favorite spots they had traveled. This was an education in European travel to us, as we have traveled less. Such fun was had as we laughed through the evening talking about our personal adventures all around the world. Pizza from Rotolo’s in Linworth, Ohio was yummy, too!

Posted By: Phil Giessler


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March 05, 2010

Great places to eat in Columbus, Ohio

Posted to Columbus Attractions, Phil Giessler

Our favorite spot to eat and get away from the hectic pace is the North Star Restaurant in Columbus, Ohio. We first visited the original location on High Street around the Short North area. A darling young couple, Katie and Kevin Malhame opened the location several years ago. It was so popular among the Columbus people that they opened the second North Star, further north on High Street, just south of Henderson Rd. Healthy food, freshly squeezed orange juice, great coffee, green tea and the best pancakes in the city and granola and yogurt are just a few of the morning specials. Lunch begins at 11 and dinner is served. Now they are planning another location at Easton. Katie and Kevin really know how to serve their public with healthy and mouth-watering food. Much of the food is purchased from local vendors/farmers. Visit the restaurant group at www.TheNorthstarCafe.com. We highly recommend this as a favorite spot to eat and get away from the maddening crowd.

Posted By: Phil Giessler


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March 03, 2010

Sports Festival

Posted to Phil Giessler

Arnold Schwarzenegger’s sports festival comes to Columbus, Ohio this weekend. Events begin Thursday, March 4 and run through March 7. It’s the world’s largest multi-sports event with 170,000 fans, 18,000 athletes, and 44 sports. In addition to the well known body building events, other sports include cheerleading and dance, archery, gymnastics, sports photography, active living sports for seniors, and cross fit kids.

Venues include Central downtown at Veterans Memorial and in the arena district at the Greater Columbus Convention Center, Nationwide Arena, Dispatch Ice Haus, Lifestyle Communities Pavilion. All sites in the arena district are within an easy walk from each other. More info at arnoldsportsfestival.com.

Posted By: Phil Giessler


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March 02, 2010

North Market Columbus Ohio

Posted to Columbus Attractions, Downtown Columbus, Phil Giessler

Columbus’ only public market with bakeries, candy makers and meat offerings. This outstanding area of north downtown Columbus is comprised of independent shoppes and local farmers who bring their produce to the market. March 3 offers a Chef Series cooking class, March 6, the piano Peddler and March 7, another cooking class with seafood suppers. Columbus trendy short north area is just west of High St. Between Vine and Spruce. It features 35 venders with a variety of offerings. Included are knitted items to fresh fish and poultry. Visit www.northmarket.com.

Posted By: Phil Giessler


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March 02, 2010

Children's Activities

Posted to Columbus Attractions, Phil Giessler

With spring right around the corner here in the central Ohio area, but winter weather still holding on, parents are seeking entertainment ideas for their children. Libraries are a great and free place to entertain kids. Most libraries have children story times for pre-school children and schedules can be found on community websites. Just type into Google the community (Worthington, Upper Arlington, Dublin, Powell, New Albany, Westerville, Hilliard, Grandview, Clintonville, Columbus) you are looking for and select from there. As well, the Franklin Park Conservatory is a wonderful place to take children. Blooms and Butterflies begin March 13 and is awesome, enthralling entertainment for kids of all ages. Check out a multitude of activities here. You will find a calendar of events with suggested age appropriateness. An especially enjoyable place is the Railroad Museum in the Upper Arlington, Northwest Columbus area. This offers a ride in a small train around the site as well as a tour of an authentic train, just like in the old days! Birthday parties are held there as well as community events. You can visit their website here. Remember, spring is just around the corner so hang in there and soon the children will be running outside again! Have fun!

Posted By: Phil Giessler


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March 01, 2010

Schools in Central Ohio

Posted to Columbus Attractions, Phil Giessler

Recently our granddaughter was fortunate to be selected to participate in a reading intervention program at a central Ohio elementary school. Her interest in reading is blooming but her ability to read “chapter books” which seemingly is her goal, is a bit slow. She is taken from the classroom every day of the school week, for 30 minutes one on one participation, with a reading specialist. She tells us they write words in the sand and do lots of fun things. She does not mind at all being taken out of the classroom and is able to make up her missed lessons in the room at another time or as a homework assignment. We see her progressing rapidly and she is almost ready to attack the “chapter books” she so strongly wishes to read. Many of the Columbus area schools and suburbs offer reading intervention in the elementary schools.

Worthington, Upper Arlington, Dublin and Olentangy school systems are outstanding programs and to learn more about the school systems in the central Ohio area visit http://ilrc.ode.state.oh.us.

Posted By: Phil Giessler


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