Link Ahead with the City of Dublin, Ohio

June is Pride Month and we enthusiastically join the many celebrations to welcome, honor and support the LGBTQ+ community.   Supporting EVERYONE is also a citywide initiative that's 24/7: every day, every week, every month.   You're about to meet a young leader who'll go as far in law enforcement and in life as she wants to go. Amber McCloskey is a Dublin Police Officer and City LGB...

Where, might you ask, does such as event exist?  Right here at the 2023 Dublin Corporate Charity Cup! Lindsay and Bruce take this podcast on the road to Scioto High School which hosted this year's two-day event.   In a word, it was packed .   There were 20 events from basketball to volleyball to pickleball.  Plus, food trucks, pep rallies, and plenty of new friends and relationships to foster...

Not only will you be in the know of our premiere headliner this Independence Day holiday, but this episode is chock full of entertainment scoop.  Dublin's Director of Community Events, Alison LeRoy has booked them all from Earth Wind & Fire to Joe Walsh, Sheryl Crow to Rick Springfield.  She's back again to take you behind the scenes on negotiations and yes -- shall we say -- the qui...

So you want a great beach read for the summer?  Check.  How about a captivating biography or scintillating mystery?  Check.   Hey, we can't leave out the kids.   What can keep them engaged and happy at the library once school is out?  Check.   This episode of Link Ahead has it all thanks to the expertise of local librarian Chrissie Harris.  She actually buys books for the entire Columbus Publ...

For this episode, we broke new ground by recording a 'live' panel discussion at City Hall to envision Dublin's future.   The City is embarking on an updated long-term community plan and residents will have many opportunities in the coming year-plus to tell us what you want that future to look like. The panel discussion had three truly exciting layers of input from our guests: City M...

Did you know our great city kept more than 17,000 new plastic water bottles out of last year's Irish Festival?  Or that our green fleet of city vehicles saves residents tens of thousands of dollars?   Plus, did you know those plastic DORA cups are recyclable?   There's so much our city is doing in front and behind the scenes to forge our sustainable path of the future.  City Management A...

Kent Mercker has never taken baseball, or, for that matter, his life, for granted. Many people know about the accolades: three World Series appearances, one championship and a solo no-hitter against the Dodgers, over an 18-year career. He's the most dominant pitcher to ever graduate from a Dublin City Schools and with a new MLB season starting now, we had to ask him how the Reds and Guardians...

Another first for our City of Dublin podcast.  Our first international recording and what a day it was with our official Friendship City of Dublin, Ireland.   Lindsay and Bruce are usually together hosting each episode at City Hall but for this one, Lindsay joined Bruce just minutes after taking in the St. Patrick's Day Parade in Ireland ! She's part of a small delegation there on offici...

The 2023 St. Patrick's Day Parade is almost here, and this year's Grand Leprechaun, Deb Papesh, has her shamrock-adorned hat already ready to go! That's no surprise if you know Deb.  She's the quintessential Dublin organizer, collaborator and volunteer who's been omni-present since moving here in the mid-90's.  She and her husband raised two girls in Dublin City Schoo...

Dublin City Council member Christina Alutto never thought she'd serve in public office, but service runs in her family; it's a natural fit. Her career in non-profits and higher education administration gives her a unique perspective to city governance, and she shares with Lindsay and Bruce a common denominator in all three - providing dedicated service to people. As you'll also undo...

There have never been more jobs available at the local government level nationally, and the City of Dublin is always on the lookout for the best talent. The calendar says winter but the City is already in full hiring mode for seasonal jobs in spring and summer, and get this - the pay for ALL of those jobs has been increased! The City needs more than lifeguards and camp counselors, too. You can sta...

We have many firsts on Link Ahead and if it weren't for the rain, we would have logged another cool one;  our first guest to bicycle to City Hall for our podcast recording.  She would have done it!  Vice Mayor Cathy de Rosa knows Dublin's 130+ miles of paved paths because she bikes them and loves them!   She's also a self-professed data geek so she, Lindsay and Bruce really dive int...

 City finance director Matt Stiffler may have the best and simplest way yet to explain the differences between property taxes and income taxes in Dublin.  He explains that and several more financial concepts on this episode in such conversational, easy to understand language that it's no wonder he's often called upon to speak publicly about city finances.  Matt gives us a history lesson...

 It's a first for Link Ahead as Lindsay and Bruce welcome two​ guests who likely know more about the Dublin business community than almost anyone in our city:  Dublin Chamber of Commerce COO Jenny Amorose and City of Dublin Economic Development Director Jennifer Klus.   Both of these women meet with hundreds of businesses week after week to constantly update their needs, wants, victories and...

John Reiner has served our City since 1997 and has been an integral part of Dublin's smart growth, diverse economy and enviable lifestyle. He's also a tremendous cheerleader for all of those things and so much more. John talks to Lindsay and Bruce about how trips to Europe influenced his vision for our community as friendly and walkable. He also shares some possible future plans coming t...

Did you know the volunteer outreach program in our great city is a model for the country?   For many years now, other great cities nationally have come to us and asked, 'How do you do it?'   They want to know how we rally and organize our volunteers to help with so many things from hosting great events to keeping our city sparkling clean.   So, we asked the woman who has led the charge f...

As Bruce and Lindsay joked with our new city manager, can it get any more Dublin than Megan O'Callaghan taking over as the new top executive?  Kidding aside, Megan's vast and dedicated career led her straight to this moment of leadership, and she lays out her broad vision for Dublin as a world-class home and leader in business, sustainability and service. She's also a working mother...

If Dublin's outgoing City Manager, Dana McDaniel, had ever taken up juggling, he'd likely become a quick master.   In the last 30 years, not only did he climb the ranks to lead our city but also climbed to the highest levels of the Ohio National Guard, served abroad in wartime and, along with his wife, raised two daughters too.  Dana talks with Bruce and Lindsay about how he managed thos...

You ever wonder how Dublin gets so many visitors, accolades and mentions not just all over the country but all over the world?  Yes, it's because we're .. ahem .. a great city but it also takes a great deal of marketing expertise, coordination, and planning with our friends at Visit Dublin Ohio .  Their marketing director, Sara Blatnik, joins Lindsay and Bruce to talk about that very det...

School safety is a prominent focus for Dublin Police Chief Justin Páez, especially in August with a new academic year beginning. Chief Páez approaches school safety issues from the perspective of an experienced law enforcement officer, police chief and parent of five. In fact, every one of his kids have been part of Dublin City Schools. He chats about Dublin Police and school leaders, who worked t...

Link Ahead hosts, Lindsay and Bruce, bring you streetside to the Dublin Irish Festival as the massive set up is well underway for the largest 3-day Irish Festival on Earth! After this year, it may well be even bigger, too! Check out these numbers: 535 performers, 1,500 dancers and 65 musical acts. There are new attractions like comedians coming to DIF for the first time, plus something you likely...

Summer is in full swing and that means residents are enjoying our parks, splashpads, and pools.   Plus, with Link Ahead guest, Parks and Recreation Director, Matt Earman, we get some scoop on the 2022 Irish Festival which is back and in full swing at Coffman Park!  We're talking 1500 dancers, 500 more artists and performers plus 100 vendors. Matt also talks future projects like updating the D...

This is Mayor Fox's first appearance on Link Ahead and she came ready to discuss a wide range of topics including Dublin's vision to lead not just Ohio but the world in connectivity and sustainability.    She loves history and she tells stories about Indian Run Falls and finding time for some peace and quiet.  Her career background is health care and she discusses how Dublin has position...

Executive Director of the Memorial Tournament, Dan Sullivan, invited Lindsay and Bruce to Muirfield Village to record this episode and talk about everything:  no Covid restrictions, the golfers and the weather to watch this week.  Plus, his favorite spectator spot on the course, the return of the Bogey, and his surprising story about serving those world famous Muirfield milkshakes!   Dan also talk...

It’s one of the most anticipated announcements of the year – who will headline Dublin’s Independence Day evening concert?  Community Events Director Alison LeRoy shares the news first on this episode of Link Ahead.  Plus,  a really cool, added touch for this year's headliner?  He's a megastar, sure, but this is a homecoming for him too.  You'll also hear about the complicated proces...