MOUNT VERNON—Anyone who knows Michelle Englebach knows her favorite saying is “whoo-hoo.” There were whoo-hoos aplenty on Thursday at the ribbon-cutting ceremony for Pine Hill Independent Senior Living.
“This has been a long time coming,” she said. “If any of you were here 20 months ago for the groundbreaking ceremony and thought I was excited then, are you kidding me? There are so many whoo-hoos I don’t know where to start.”
Englebach is CEO of the Ohio Eastern Star Home. Phase 1’s 40 independent-living apartments are on the north side of the OESH campus, at the intersection of Eastern Star and New Gambier roads.
She said she looked at a piece of paper with a small drawing of the apartment building for a year and a half. Now, she said, it is hard to comprehend its size.
Englebach noted that it had been an amazing journey and thanked her board of trustees, Pine Hill staff, Equity Construction Solutions, and Berard and Partners architects.
ECS Executive Vice President Austin Wathen recalled his first meeting with Englebach six or seven years ago.
“She said ‘I have a vision. We have 20 extra acres, and we want to develop this,’” he said.
“And then you walked us through the new additions you had already done,” he reminded Englebach. “To go from that to today, it truly speaks to your vision as a leader, your resiliency, your determination, and bringing alongside you all the people to accomplish this.”
Englebach said that although ECS is Columbus-based, the site leadership team lives in Knox County. Additionally, 85% of the subcontractors who built the facility are from Knox County.
“We are so grateful for that and so proud that that has occurred,” she said.
Pine Hill: passion and grace
The OESH partnered with Park National Bank and the USDA Rural Development to finance the $25 million project.
Jonathan McCracken, state director of Ohio USDA Rural Development, said it seems just like yesterday everyone gathered for the groundbreaking ceremony for Pine Hill.
“We were saying these are big, complicated projects, and you all made it less complicated,” he told Englebach.
“Again, a shout out to the Ohio team, but a huge thanks to her. These projects aren’t possible without passionate — and I want to emphasize passionate — advocacy. And that’s Michelle and the whole executive board and the construction team of people hitting deadlines and making this happen. So big thanks to the RD team.”
McCracken said the ribbon cutting is just the latest example of what Ohio Eastern Star means in Knox County and how USDA can partner with local communities to invest in a place people want to live, stay, and raise their families.
“Michelle makes a great point. We helped finance this, but this is employing people directly in Knox County. It’s keeping money in your community, it’s keeping people in your community, and attracting people in your community.”
Carol Grubaugh, executive director of the Knox County Chamber of Commerce, said it has been a wonderful, exciting adventure watching the facility progress.
“We’re happy to congratulate them for this beautiful facility,” she said.
Grubaugh presented Englebach with a proclamation from Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose. She noted one paragraph in particular:
“Communities like Pine Hill create opportunities for seniors to age gracefully and comfortably while having access to the highest quality medical care at their own doorstep, making Ohio a better place to live for people of all ages.”
“I thought this really encompassed what the goal was,” Grubaugh said.
Quality of life
Mayor Matt Starr congratulated everyone who worked to bring Englebach’s vision to life.
“This beautiful new edition marks a significant step forward in supporting independence, comfort and quality of life for all the residents and people who call Mount Vernon home,” he said.
“Ohio Eastern Star Home has a very proud history of compassion, care, and service, and Pine Hill truly reflects that in every single detail.”
He said it is important to the city to have a place to live where residents can enjoy privacy and independence while being part of a warm, welcoming community.
“This is an exceptional place that offers a wonderful part of that choice and values dignity and choice and makes sure people really truly feel at home,” he said.
“Your work really is going to have a lasting impact on many people’s lives. Thank you for staying true to your mission.”
Englebach read OEHS’s mission statement: The Ohio Eastern Star Home is dedicated to leading the way into the future while providing the highest quality of services and enriching the lives of all we serve. Our innovation and adaptability support our environment for growth and promote our commitment to being an industry leader.
“I know that’s a lot of words, but Pine Hill just really represents in every way our mission statement and I am just so excited about that,” she said. “We are an industry leader. We are the only long-term, continuing care retirement community in Knox County, and that is so exciting.”
