The Colonial Hills Civic Association

Although our recent Colonial Hills Civic Association’s 4th of July Extravaganzas have been spectacular and flawlessly executed, we have to say that our over 60 volunteers this year truly knocked it out of the park for our CHCA’s 80th 4th of July celebration and our nation’s 250th birthday!

Such a wonderful event took months of preparation, with the following Event Chairs spending countless hours planning, and then managing and performing various key tasks for our event: Overall Event Chair Alan Miroslaw, CHCA VP/Events; Amanda Rule, Mandie Dewine and Ashley Chaney, Planning and Logistics Chairs; Jeff Spain and Courtney Jolley, 5K Race Chairs; Ron Sears, Midway Pavilions and Activities Chair; and Mary Ann Ogle and Robin Ogle, Kiddie Parade Chair and Co-Chair.

All the activities from last year were back – a double lane slip ‘n’ slide, little kids bounce house, big kids bounce house, dunk tank, face painting, and a plethora of fun midway games and activities including Plinko, Go Fish, Duck Pond, Ring Toss, Lollipop Tree, Bubble Whack, Riot Ball, Gravity Well, Axe Throw and Color Your Own Stickers. And Randy Sanders graciously provided the very special addition to our midway of displays of authentic Ancient Artifacts made during the 10,000-year prehistoric period, which promoted the local Columbus Archeology Chapter. And the eats were also delightful: the Colonial Hills Cub Scout Pack 331 provided wallet-friendly and delicious burgers, hot dogs, chips and pop; the Cotton Candy Lady was here, and new for this year, there were cold DQ treats, which were even more wallet-friendly – free! – due to the most generous sponsorship of our event by Cynthia MacKenzie CYMACK Real Estate!

The winners in our competitions were:

Race Results

The 5k Race Co-Chairs Courtney Jolley and Jeff Spain and their volunteers again made this event run like clockwork, where Courtney and Jeff first successfully obtained a new race timing company, and then expertly managed publicity and signup, such that the runners could again have a first-class competition, where everyone could enjoy the 47th running of this event through our beautiful Colonial Hills course.

We congratulate everyone who participated, runners and walkers, and especially the overall winning male and female runners, with the following outstanding times:

• Jason Mehalic (16:09.32)
• Emily Banthin (21:01.42)

Please search the Race website Results tab for searchable and age group results: https://runsignup.com/Race/OH/Worthington/RunthroughtheHills.

2026 Kiddie Parade Winners, by Category

Kiddie Parade Chair Mary Ann Ogle, along with her Co-Chair Robin Ogle, again planned and conducted this traditional 4th of July event, which started after the 5k Race awards had been handed out. Every year Mary Ann and Robin turn what could be exuberant chaos into an orderly parade circling Selby Park, deftly maintaining safety for all, from the smallest paraders to the older would-be speedster bicyclists.

And to ensure safety for the regular Kiddie Parade modes of transportation, but let kids with e-bikes and e-scooters participate this year, Mary Ann let these kids line up after the traditional parade was over and the course was cleared, and then zoom two laps around the park.

Mary Ann and Robin thank their judges: Kay Hoffman, Kathy Moore, Kris Wethington, and Jessica Eloringer, for taking the time to come out and perform the very hard task of selecting the most festive decorations in the parade. These difficult decisions resulted in these winners in the following categories:

Bicycles
1st place tie- Eli Thines (7yrs) -Bald Eagle, and Hannah Hughes (7yrs) -Lady Liberty
2nd place – Annalise (9 yrs) and Reily Sherman (7 yrs)
3rd place tie- Marin Reed (4.5yrs), and Joey (5yrs) and Emily Mittelman (3yrs)

E-Bikes and E-Scooters (New Category this Year)
1st place- Jack Kaumeyer (6 yrs)
2nd place- Beckett Klopfer (13yrs)

Strollers
1st place- Merritt Bednar (2yrs)
2nd place- Clark Bednar (8mo)
3rd place – Makayla Waters (1yr)

Scooters
1st place- Reis Cheidley (4yrs)
2nd place- Jude Lochlear (6yrs)
3rd place- Stella (3yrs)

Wagons and Floats
1st place tie- Rowan (6yrs) and Massie (2yrs) Best
2nd place tie- Noah Mertz (17yrs) and Eliza Hardin (19mo)
3rd place- Jasper Blake (2yrs)

Dogs and Walkers
1st place- Mod and Tommy Schraff
2nd place- Betty Klopfer

Notes: If you did not collect your prize ribbon at the awards presentation on the 4th, Mrs. Ogle will give your ribbon to you at any Civic Association meeting at the shelter house. If there are any corrections to this information please e-mail the CHCA webmaster at willpearce@columbus.rr.com.

Watermelon Eating Contest Winners, by Category

The firm, but immensely entertaining, judge for the two contests made sure that the following winners were the first in their age group to finish their slice so that absolutely, and indisputably, no red was showing:

Youth- E. Mertz
Adult- Dan Everhart

(And now for the photos – please click the “Continue reading” link below to see these pics which have the descriptions given below – photographer credit: CHCA Webmaster)

_01 Selby Park, 7:38 AM
_02 Volunteers (top to bottom) Co-Chair Courtney, Lis and Christine check in runners
_03 Runners are being checked in – #2
_04 Officer Farmer will lead the race
_05 The runners gather at the starting line
_06 The start of the 47th Annual Run Through the Hills 5k!
_07 The runners and walkers are on their way
_08 Jason wins the race!
_09 Wesley crosses the finish line in second place
_10 David crosses the finish line in third place
_11 Emily wins female overall first place
_12 Jeff and Courtney present a medal
_13 Courtney presents medal to Jeff, male 60+ first place
_14 Ready to start the Kiddie Parade
_15 Mary Ann and Chris direct Kiddie Parade traffic
_16 Mary Ann prepares to start the E-Bike Parade
_17 The E-Bike Parade has started
_18 The CHCA 4th of July midway has opened! Jessica manages the double-lane Slip ‘n’ Slide
_19 Dunk Tank Low Ball
_20 Meredith gets dunked!
_21 Karen manages the Big Kids Bounce House
_22 From left, Brittany and Sema at the Duck Pond
_23 At the Lollipop Tree
_24 The inscrutable results of the traditional game Plinko make it a favorite, year after year
_25 The Gravity Well game
_26 Randy Sanders, Columbus Archaeology Chapter, presents authentic Ancient Artifacts made during the 10,000-year prehistoric period
_27 Randy Sanders presents authentic Ancient Artifacts which Mary Ann and Leslie are viewing
_28 The Riot Balls are rarely all stationary, but contestants are allowed prizes anyway
_29 Axe Throw is one of Ron’s new games from 2025
_30 The mayhem of Bubble Whack, one of Ron’s new midway games from 2024
_31 Go Fish is a traditional favorite
_32 Barret helps with the new activity Color Your Own Stickers
_33 Under the Big Tent
_34 Colonial Hills Cub Scout Pack 331 provided delicious burgers, dogs, chips and pop!
_35 The Colonial Hills Cub Scout Pack 331’s burgers and dogs grilling operation — thank you!
_36 Ashley in front of the Cotton Candy Lady
_37 Volunteers Mandie, David and Chris take a break
_38 Volunteer Lindsy at the Ticket Booth — VP/Events Alan at left
_39 Volunteer Sema at the Ticket Booth – at right, Planning Chair Amanda and VP/Events Alan
_40 Face painting
_41 Girl Scouts booth
_42 Volunteer Max at the DQ freezer
_43 Emcee Chris
_44 Colonial Hills Neighbors
_45 The Midway — Thank you, Ron!
_46 No-nonsense Judge John explains that the winner will be the first to have absolutely no red showing on their slice!
_47 Judge John points at the youth winner of the watermelon eating contest
_48 Judge John presents the adult winner of the watermelon eating contest with his prize package