More than 800 students from Pickerington's two high schools will be recognized June 1 when the district and community bid farewell to the respective classes of 2013.

Volunteer a few hours and enjoy an entire weekend of blues and jazz for free.

Subsequent to a public hearing May 14, the Pickerington Planning and Zoning Commission unanimously approved the rezoning of an 8.96-acre tract of land off Diley Road from R-4 residential to O suburban office.

The Columbus Recreation and Parks Department hopes to expand the reach of its summer lunch program to help serve more hungry kids throughout central Ohio.

The Pickerington Area Chamber of Commerce conducted its annual Athena International workshop, luncheon and awards ceremony, titled "A Day of Athena," Friday, May 17, at Ohio University-Pickerington.

The Violet Township Fire Department has taken delivery of another crucial piece of machinery in its life-saving arsenal.

Move over rental bikes -- you've got four-wheel competition.

Pickerington-area residents will honor America's fallen heroes on Memorial Day Monday, May 27, with the help of Pickerington's David Johnston American Legion Memorial Post No. 283, which has a number of events planned in observance of the national holiday.

Kyle Planck, who will graduate from Pickerington High School North next weekend, recently wrapped up an already decorated senior year by earning a National Merit Scholarship.

A Pickerington High School Central freshman took another step toward what he hopes will earn him the rank of Eagle Scout by leading a project to build carnival games for a local elementary school.

Members of Pickerington's Boy Scout Troop 256 last month were among a select group invited to train with and observe activities of cadets at the United States Military Academy.

A Toll Gate Middle School teacher who helps struggling students improve learning and catch up academically with classmates has been named the Pickerington Local School District's Teacher of the Year.

Upcoming programs and events at the Pickerington Senior Center, 150 Hereford Drive, are listed below. For information, call 614-837-3020.

Programs offered by the Pickerington Parks and Recreation Department, 100 Lockville Road, are listed. For more information call 614-833-2211.

A coalition of nine Pickerington-area churches joined forces Saturday, May 11, to bestow random acts of kindness and perform good deeds throughout the city.

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The Pickerington High School Central Marching Band next week will pay thanks to area veterans, military personnel and senior citizens during its annual Tribute to Patriots concert.

The odds of Pickerington being awarded a grant from the Ohio Department of Transportation for the state Route 256-Diley Road "roundabout" proposal appeared to City Engineer Greg Bachman to be a long shot back in March.

The Eastland Career Center Peace Club was recognized as a Gold Star Group by the Ohio Department of Transportation.

Dawn Lemley, Treasurer/CFO of Eastland-Fairfield Career and Technical Schools, was honored with Ohio Association of School Business Officials Central Region's Distinguished Service Award at the annual OASBO conference.

* Syracuse University has announced its dean's list for the fall 2012 semester. Jennifer M. Pence of Pickerington, a student in the College of Arts and Sciences, was named to the list.

Pickerington is in the process of enlisting the services of HDR Engineering Inc. to design a new groundwater well to help meet its increased demands for water.

It is not hard to locate Dorothy Peterson.

Pickerington police are still looking for a man a Pataskala woman said followed her on state Route 256 and later said he was a police officer when she said she was calling the police.

Filmmaker Nick Suclescy will debut his oddball comedy, The Tequila Renaissance, May 11 at Studio 35 in Clintonville.

Food trucks operating in some of the busiest areas of Columbus will become part of a seven-month pilot program aimed at establishing new rules for the mobile vendors.

The addition of the Columbus Metropolitan, Worthington and Southwest Public libraries to the Central Library Consortium will mean a disruption to library computer systems later this month as the new consortium members transition to the new catalog.

For Rachel Kreidler, everyday is Mother's Day.

Violet Township is one of 50 Ohio townships chosen to participate in the Townshipwide Systematic Signage Upgrade Program, an Ohio Department of Transportation program which allows eligible townships to receive new safety and advanced warning signs.

Pickerington High School North has received a $250 Year-End Celebration Grant from AAA Ohio Auto Club to help fund a substance-free after prom event, Saturday and Sunday, May 11-12.

Young-adult fiction author Laura L. Smith writes not just to entertain, but to get people -- particularly young girls -- talking about difficult topics.

A Pickerington junior high school student last month was invited to visit Washington, D.C., to perform a ballet routine at a national ceremony honoring children of Reserve and National Guard members.

Pickerington High School Central last week announced the 10 highest-performing students academically in its class of 2013.

Teaching cardiopulmonary resuscitation to as many community members as possible is the goal of "Community CPR Day" May 18 at Pickerington High School Central, 300 Opportunity Way.

For more than 60 years, a group of Columbus-area men have sought to keep a piece of Americana alive through four-part, harmonized singing.

After a three-month search, the city of Pickerington has chosen a replacement for outgoing City Engineer Greg Bachman.

Brad Shimp likes to joke that great things happen after he leaves a job.

Pickerington High School North seniors have less than a month before graduation, and last week the school announced its "Decem Decori" for the class of 2013.

Pickerington's three-member Board of Zoning Appeals unanimously approved variance applications by McDonald's Restaurants, located at 1091 Hill Road North, at its April 25 meeting.

The spirit, excitement and adventure of motorcycling is being celebrated in an art exhibit titled "2 Wheels plus Motor, A Fine Art Exhibition" at the American Motorcyclist Association Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum in Pickerington.