A squabble over chickens, the opening of the grand McConnell Arts Center, and an about face on a school levy kept headline writers busy in 2009.

The economy continued to wreak havoc with the bottom lines of the city, schools, and library, with each being forced to reduce spending and to wonder aloud about something called sustainability. Both the city and the schools warned the community that more cuts and probably more taxes will be needed to continue operating in the manner to which it has become accustomed.

Probably the most talked about story in years was the brouhaha over backyard chickens. After Andy Rozmiarek learned he was in violation of city ordinances by keeping his three birds in a coop in his East New England Avenue backyard, he asked city council to consider changing the law.

Then the chickens were killed by two dogs, accusations flew, the community was divided. And nothing happened. The issue seems to be permanently tabled.

The schools placed two operating levies on 2009 ballots. The first, a 7.4-mill levy, was defeated 60-40 in May. The second, a 6.9-mill incremental levy, was approved by a similar margin in November.

School officials threatened huge cuts to programs and staff if the November levy had failed. Many were concerned about the possible reductions, but the loudest message sent during both campaigns came from residents concerned about ever-increasing teacher salaries.

The teachers' union agreed to no increase in base salary in 2011-12, but the issue is one that promises to continue into coming years.

The other continuing story that peaked in 2009 was the McConnell Arts Center. It was more than a decade in the planning, but at its grand opening in November the community seemed overwhelmingly pleased with the sleek, modern facility that was developed within the historic Packard Annex.

Names in the news included Lt. Doug Francis, who left the Worthington Division of Police to become deputy, then chief, in Hilliard; Bill Owens, who was named Small Business Person of the Year; Steve Gandee, who retired as Worthington's finance director; and John Butterfield, who opted to not seek re-election to a second term on council.

Well-known residents who died in 2009 include Sondra Davis, Saul Seigel, and 20-year-old Greg Tilton, a soldier who grew up in Worthington and died shortly after returning from a tour of duty in Iraq.

City officials said they were optimistic that the new owners of Worthington Square would work with the city to breath life back into the struggling retail center. General Electric Financial had purchased the mall from Columbus Retail, Inc., in December.

Voters learned they would be asked to approve an operating levy for the schools in May.

Jason Liu changed the name of Jason's Restaurant to J. Liu's after a chain called Jason's Deli moved to Dublin and laid claim it's federally registered name.

Chickens made quite a squawk in Worthington for several weeks after East New England Avenue resident Andy Rozmiarek asked Worthington City Council to change the law restricting chickens to only a few large lots in the city. Rozmiarek and his family kept three chickens in a coop in their backyard.

The school board decided to place a 7.4-mill levy on the May ballot.

The Rozmiarek chickens were killed by two dogs that got into the coop on a Sunday morning. The dogs had been running at large, and either broke into the coop or were allowed to enter by a person who cut the chicken wire with cutters. Rozmiarek asked council to continue its consideration of overly restrictive chicken laws.

A three-story brick office building was proposed to replace the current building at 933 High St.

The city-owned building at 752 High St. was recommended for commercial rezoning by the Municipal Planning Commission. The rezoning, which was eventually approved by council, allows for the former library and school administration building to become a restaurant, bookstore, farmers market, or even a theater.

MedVet opened an addition for cancer patients. Pets there undergo surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation treatment for cancer.

A group of canine enthusiasts gathered to plan for a dog park in Worthington.

Sharon Township Trustees began looking for new headquarters for its police department after negotiations between the trustees and the Memorial Board broke down. The police and other township employees had worked out of Sharon Township hall, 137 E. Granville Road, for 33 years.

Lt. Doug Francis, one of Worthington's best-known officers who had been with the police department for 23 years, was hired as deputy chief in Hilliard.

Sharon Township police moved into office space on Olentangy River Road, just south of Olentangy Village Center.

Jon Cook, former director of the Houston Center for Contemporary Craft and director of operations for Ballet Met, was named as the first director of the McConnell Arts Center.

The campaign for the upcoming school levy heated up. At a meeting sponsored by Educate Worthington, critics said teachers should not be receiving large raises while other people are struggling financially. Meanwhile, in an unusual move, Worthington City Council endorsed the 7.4-mill levy.

A group of volunteers announced plans to open a food pantry to serve Worthington residents in need.

It was announced that city income tax revenues were down 5.78 percent in the first quarter of the year, leaving city officials pondering cuts in programs, projects, and personnel.

The 7.4-mill operating levy for the schools was defeated by a vote of 5,353 to 3,649 - a nearly 60-40 margin. School officials at first blamed the economy. After talking to community members, some board members traced the defeat to a lack of a sense of urgency, a shortcoming in convincing voters that the board had been fiscally responsible, and too much of a raise for teachers granted in the latest contract.

Well-known Worthington contractor Bill Owens was named Small Business Person of the Year by the Worthington Area Chamber of Commerce.

Twin brothers Donald and Ronald Dill were grand marshals of the 89th Memorial Day Parade.

The chicken issue returned to city council, with public sentiment seemingly evenly divided. Some residents wanted to keep all fowl out of backyards, while others said they would like to see a limited number of chickens permitted. Council seemed in favor of rewriting the city code. The issue was to return at a later meeting, but by the end of the year, it had not.

City finance director Steve Gandee announced plans to retire to take a job with the Regional Income Tax Agency (RITA).

Worthington Libraries Director Meribah Mansfield joined library directors across the state in urging residents to contact Gov. Ted Strickland to object to a proposed $227.3-million cut in state funding to libraries.

The community mourned the lost of one of its most colorful characters. Saul Seigel, 82, continued his busy social and community life until his final day, when he died of an aneurysm.

The city, schools, and library combined to hire consulting firms to gauge community perceptions and satisfaction. Each paid $25,000. The information will be used to plan the future of each.

City council members said they were shocked at the condition of some city buildings that were showing signs of premature aging. They approved requests for proposals from architectural firms to oversee a $550,000 building improvement program. More money will be needed to replace the leaking entryway at the community center.

The Worthington Food Pantry opened in a donated building at the United Methodist Children's Home.

When asked what positions or programs should be reduced if voters did not approve a November operating levy, many residents at a public forum answered with a common refrain: cut teachers salaries and benefits.

Sondra Davis, 67, was found dead in her Sharon Springs Drive home. Davis was a familiar figure in Worthington, almost daily seen walking with a backpack and hiking boots. She was also the mother of Allen Davis, who is in prison for shooting at teenaged girls after they walked onto the Davis property in August 2006.

A 6.9-mill incremental levy was placed on the November ballot. The first time used in Worthington, an incremental levy goes into effect in stages over three years.

The school received an "excellent with distinction" on its annual state report card. It is the highest ranking a district can receive.

John Butterfield announced he would not seek a second term on Worthington City Council. He said he was disappointed that council had not taken steps to strengthen the local economy. For four years, he had attempted - and failed -- to persuade council to hire a full-time economic development director.

Filing election petitions for council seats were Lou Goorey, Michael Duffey, Dave Foust, D.J. Falcoski, Scott Myers, and Doug Smith. Smith was disqualified because his petition did not have the required number of signatures.

No one stepped up to challenge incumbents David Bressman, Jennifer Best, or Marc Schare, each of whom announced intentions to run for re-election to the school board.

After years of work by local volunteers, Old Worthington was accepted by a state advisory board to be listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

School officials issued a list of deep cuts that would go into effect if the operating levy did not pass.

The Worthington teachers' union agreed to accept no increase to their base pay in the 2011-12 school year. Worthington Education Association president Pete Scully called the concession "being part of the solution."

Thirteen young adults were arrested by the Franklin County Sheriff's Department in a drug sweep in the Worthington school district. Some of the drug transactions took place at the Worthington Dairy Queen and Worthington Square. The most popular drug involved was brown heroin.

Bird Houk Collaborative was hired by Worthington City Council to lead the way in what leaders hope will be redevelopment of the south side of East Wilson Bridge Road.

The McConnell Arts Center held a "soft" opening with a concert and the opening of an exhibit by Worthington artists Dorothy Gill Barnes.

Worthington schools operating levy campaign chair Jennifer Economus said she was "very confident" the 6.9-mill levy would pass.

In a turnaround of the May levy returns, the 6.4-mill incremental operating levy was approved by a 60-40 margin.

Scott Myers was elected to Worthington City Council, along with incumbents Lou Goorey, Mike Duffey, and Dave Foust.

John Oberle and Linda Jarrett were elected to the Sharon Township Board of Trustees.

James Roper and Andrew English were elected to the Perry Township Board of Trustees.

The grand opening of the McConnell Arts Center was a hit, with hundreds turning out to admire the new MAC, which was more than a decade in the planning and development stages.

The Architectural Review Board approved solar panels for Evening Street Elementary School.

Sara Small, 24, of the Far North side, was sentenced to five-and-a-half years in prison for hitting a man with her car on Schrock Road on July 28, 2008. Small left the scene of the accident and the victim, Domingo Aparicio, died. She admitted she was texting at the time of the accident, and had been drinking.

Maple Lee Flowers, a downtown landmark that had served generations of Worthington families, closed its doors at the end of the holiday season. It moved to a site on U.S. Route 23 north of Powell Road.

U.S. Army Pfc. Greg Tilton, 20, died at Ft. Riley, Kansas, shortly after returning from serving a year in Iraq. Tilton grew up in Worthington and was the son of Tim and Brenda Tilton of Morning Street.

City council approved a $22.3-million operating budget. It included cuts of $600,000, salary freezes for non-union employees, and borrowing from capital funds.