In honor of Memorial Day, Kroger’s Columbus Division is offering a discount to military members.

All active and former service members and their dependents are eligible for a 10% discount when they present a valid military ID and Kroger Loyalty Card at checkout on May 26, according to a Kroger press release. Kroger associates who are active duty or veterans are eligible to receive this Memorial Day discount on top of their regular 10% “Our Brands” discount, allowing them to save a total of 20% that day.

“Kroger’s Columbus Division is proud to salute America’s heroes this Memorial Day,” Mark Bruce, corporate affairs manager for Kroger’s Columbus Division, said in the press release. “We offer this special discount in gratitude as families gather to remember the contributions of our servicemembers who gave the ultimate sacrifice while serving our country.”

The discount excludes alcohol and tobacco products, fuel, money orders, taxes, postage stamps, gift cards and certificates, lottery purchases, promotional tickets, CRV, prescriptions and guest or customer services and fees.

Additionally, Kroger’s Columbus Division locations are currently offering discounted prices on backyard grilling items for the holiday weekend, including burger patties, hot dogs, buns, cheese slices, potato salad, baked beans, potato chips and chocolate chip cookies, according to the press release.

Reporter Emma Wozniak can be reached at ewozniak@dispatch.com, or @emma_wozniak_ on X, formerly known as Twitter.

Supermarket chain Kroger is offering a one-day discount to its senior loyalty members across Columbus and Cincinnati.

Shoppers ages 55 and up can receive a 5% discount on their in-store purchases at any of Kroger’s 217 locations in Columbus and Cincinnati on Wednesday, said Mark Bruce, corporate affairs manager for the company’s Columbus division. Seniors must either present a Kroger loyalty card or sign up on the day in order to be eligible, Bruce said.

“Providing fresh, affordable food at the lowest price is our main mission for customers,” Bruce said. “We offer digital deals, we offer digital coupons, everyday low prices, but every now and then, if we can just provide that additional discount to help our customers stretch their dollar a little bit farther, that’s what we’re trying to do.”

In a Monday press release, the company stated the discount can be used on items like food, household goods and over-the-counter medications. The discount does not apply to “alcohol, tobacco, fuel, gift cards, prescriptions, and other restricted items,” the release states.

Though this discount has occurred in the past, Bruce said it doesn’t take place on regular intervals, so he cannot confirm when the next installment might be.

Reporter Emma Wozniak can be reached at ewozniak@gannett.com, or @emma_wozniak_ on X, formerly known as Twitter.

AI-assisted summary Several central Ohio bakeries and bars are offering Pride-themed food and drink specials throughout June.

These specials include rainbow bagels, cookies, doughnuts, scones, a unicorn bar and a Protect the Dolls cocktail benefiting the Kaleidoscope Youth Center.

Looking for a sweet treat to celebrate Pride Month?

Restaurants and bars across central Ohio are holding food and drink specials during the month of June to celebrate Pride.

Here is a list of baked goods and beverages in central Ohio for celebrants to continue eating and leaving no crumbs — literally — all month long.

Bake Me Happy

Kicking off the list is the LGBTQ+-owned, gluten-free bakery Bake Me Happy, which announced its June specials early in the month.

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The bakery has Ohio Pride cookies back again through the end of June and a Pride scone, featuring a birthday cake flavor with white chocolate chips, sprinkles and a cake crumble on top.

It also announced on June 12 a Unicorn Bar, made of Rice Krispies, to be available at both 500 E. Whittier St. in Columbus and 6750 Longshore Drive in Dublin through the end of the month.

Cobra

The “Good Night Bar,” located at 684 S. High St., is now serving the Protect the Dolls cocktail.

Containing Watershed vodka and Four Peel Gin, the drink features the flavors of hot honey, acidified pineapple, aquafaba and, interestingly, tomato water.

Proceeds from this drink are donated to the Kaleidoscope Youth Center.

Pattycake Bakery

After holding a fundraiser for TransOhio that raised over $3,000, Pattycake Bakery announced its rainbow unicorn cookies will be available through the end of June.

The worker-owned bakery offering vegan treats is located at 3870 N. High St.

Plenty O’Cookies

Plenty O’Cookies makes art both in sugar and spice.

For custom cookies supporting a “self-taught cookie baker” and local drag artist, customers can place an order via the custom order form on the bakery’s website, plentyocookies.com.

Donna’s Delicious Dozen

The Columbus doughnut shop, located at 5322 N. Hamilton Road, announced the return of its Pride box of rainbow doughnuts.

Available through the end of the month, customers can order a half or full dozen of the colorful, buttercream doughnuts.

Sammy’s New York Bagels

Rainbow bagels are back at Sammy’s.

According to the shop’s website, the bagels are available throughout June, while supplies last. Customers can use the site to see if their home lies in an area eligible for home-bagel delivery.

Yellow Springs Brewery

Brewed in celebration of Pride, the Just Be Nice sour ale is back at Yellow Springs Brewery.

With a deep, fruity aroma from blueberry and black currant, the ale is on tap at the Yellow Springs-based brewery’s Clintonville taproom and kitchen at 2855 Indianola Ave.

Want to add to this list? Email reporter Sophia Veneziano at sveneziano@dispatch.com to share with the community.

Sophia Veneziano is a Columbus Dispatch reporter supported by the Center for HumanKindness at The Columbus Foundation. She may be reached at sveneziano@dispatch.com. The Dispatch retains full editorial independence for all content.

AI-assisted summary Columbus Crew are finalizing a deal to sign French midfielder Hugo Picard to a U22 initiative contract.

Picard played for French Ligue 2’s Guingamp last season, scoring three goals in 34 games.

Picard will be the Crew’s sole U22 initiative player after the departures of Alex Matan and Marino Hinestroza.

The Crew are finalizing a deal with French midfielder Hugo Picard from French Ligue 2’s Guingamp to a U22 initiative contract, a source has confirmed.

Picard, who was in Columbus for the Crew’s 1-0 victory over the Philadelphia Union on June 29, has skipped traveling with Guingamp during July’s preseason training camp.

The 22-year-old finished his third season with Guingamp in May, recording three goals in 34 games, and had one season remaining with the club on his current contract.

When the deal for Picard is complete, he will become the Crew’s second U22 initiative player, joining Ibrahim Aliyu, whom the Crew traded for in April. (He had previously played for the Houston Dynamo.) The Crew lost both of their U22 initiative players from last season, with forward Alex Matan’s contract expiring and forward Marino Hinestroza being transferred to Atletico Nacional after being on loan to the Colombian club.

A U22 initiative player can be signed at a reduce budget charge, which is the amount of a player’s salary and transfer fee that counts against the club’s salary cap.

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bmackay@dispatch.com

@brimackay15

This story was updated to correct for an inaccuracy.

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AI-assisted summary Candlelight Concerts, presented by Fever, is celebrating its sixth anniversary with discounted tickets for Columbus residents.

The concerts, held at venues like the Short North Church and the Ohio Statehouse, offer a wide range of musical genres, from classical to contemporary.

Columbus audiences can enjoy upcoming performances from July 25 to Sept. 19.

Though it may feel as if the immersive candlelit orchestra experience is new to Columbus, one organization is celebrating its sixth anniversary in July.

Candlelight Concerts, a musical experience hosted by global entertainment platform Fever, is celebrating six years of performances across 150 cities around the world.

As a thank-you to Columbus fans who fill the seats in the Short North Church, 25 W. Fifth Ave., and the Ohio Statehouse, 1 Capitol Square, guests can receive 20% off using a special local voucher for tickets purchased directly through the Fever app until Aug. 15; use code CDLCOLUMBUS25.

Columbus became a regular city for Candlelight to host concerts, just four years after the program debuted in 2019.

“Six years is both short and long, but it gives us time to reflect on the footprint we’ve had,” said Candlelight’s team leader, Peter Sourbis. “We definitely see that people love Candlelight in Columbus, and we want to give back on our end.”

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If you have yet to experience the flickering of thousands of LED candles while enjoying the sounds of your favorite classic or contemporary hits, there’s a little something for everyone — 8 years old and older — in upcoming concerts from July 25 to Sept. 19.

View the full July to September schedule below or at feverup.com.

July 25 at 6:45 p.m., Short North Church: Tribute to The Beatles

July 25 at 8:45 p.m., Short North Church: A Tribute to Taylor Swift

Aug. 10 at 6:30 p.m., Columbus Museum of Art, 480 E. Broad St.: Tribute to Fleetwood Mac

Aug. 10 at 8:45 p.m., Columbus Museum of Art: Neo-Soul Favorites with songs by Prince, Childish Gambino and more

Aug. 22 at 6:45 p.m., Short North Church: A Tribute to Adele

Aug. 22 and Sept. 19 at 9 p.m., Short North Church: Queen vs. ABBA

Sept. 7 at 6:30 p.m., Columbus Museum of Art: The Best of Hans Zimmer

Sept. 7 at 8:45 p.m., Columbus Museum of Art: Coldplay vs. Imagine Dragons

Sept. 19 at 6:45 p.m., Short North Church: A Tribute to Green Day

“If you love classical music, you’re going to love candlelight, because you can come see Vivaldi, Beethoven, Mozart, but if you like contemporary music, you’re also going to love our tribute to The Beatles, Taylor Swift, Fleetwood Mac, Coldplay and so on.”

As the years go by, Sourbis said Candlelight will continue collaborating with venues to widen the variety of the concerts accessible to all, including in spaces like the Columbus Museum of Art.

“Our growth has been exponential, and it has allowed us to work with beautiful venues and offer opportunities for everyone to come see the shows we put on,” Sourbis said.

“No matter how many guests we have come in year-round, we want each show to have that same intimate feeling that we’ve always had.”

Candlelight will also host shows in Cleveland and Cincinnati.

Trending features reporter Amani Bayo can be reached at abayo@dispatch.com.