Heart of Ohio - Mar/Apr 2012

MAR/APR 2012

INSIDE: Walking in a Garden that Cultivates the Arts Ohio’s Native Trilliums

Smile…

Spring is almost here.

Milliron Everyday Heroes: Spirit Ohio “Sparkles”

When Sherri Grandy, owner of Potomac Bead of Medina, was considering owning her own business, she never thought it would be a bead store.

“I’ve never considered myself to be all that creative, and beading wasn’t my hobby. But once you get started looking at a business like Potomac Bead, you get caught up in the beauty and the excitement of all this, and you’re hooked. That’s what happened to me,” she gestured around the beautiful show room.

Warm and inviting, the exposed brick walls at Potomac Bead are lined with strings of glass, wood, copper, brass… almost any kind of bead you can imagine. And they are never at a loss for unique fittings or creative ideas to go with them.

Birthday parties, wedding showers, club meetings, any celebration goes up a notch when you arrange to have it at Potomac Bead.

Everyone has a good time, and everyone takes home a treasure!

Visit us on Facebook and you will find a listing of classes for all skill levels and interests.

Potomac Bead of Medina is located at 109 West Washington Street in Medina, Ohio.

Call for class times, 330.722.2555, visit us on Facebook for directions and details.

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6 TABLE OF CONTENTS

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FEATURES Walking in a Garden that Cultivates the Arts

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Living the Alpaca Life 12 Springtime Splendor: 30 Ohio’s Native Trilliums Decorating Family Style 34

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Spinning Straw Into Gold: 39 Today’s Straw House

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FROM THE EDITOR

If this month’s cover didn’t make you smile, then you’re just not paying attention! The Happy Goat is the work of talented artist Tiffany Kimmet. I just fell in love with him at her studio in Tiffin, and I hope you like him as much as I do.

We really have come a long way weather-wise, but standing here on the cusp of spring I thought you might enjoy a look back at winter’s coldest swim. The Polar Bear Jump is a charity event conducted each year by a grateful family working to give something back… it’s a heart-warming story about a very cold event!

Driving around you may have seen some tall and friendly, if unusual-looking critters peering at you over a fence or two. “Living the Alpaca Life” will give you some idea about those sweet faced animals and the people who raise them. Then read “Dad”, a story about fiber artist, Barbara Morejon, who turns yarn into the most unusual sculptures and wearable art.

This edition will also introduce you to some remarkable women. Read “Spinning Straw Into Gold” and meet Sister Jane Frances Omlor, a Tiffin Franciscan who is determined to show the world green is the way to go. (Look for “Adventures in a Corn Field” on my blog for the rest of the Straw House story.) And then for color, whimsy and just plain fun, there is nothing better than learning about Liz Pastor as you read “Walking in a Garden that Cultivates the Arts”.

Mike Greene has some insight into the makings of a good tennis coach; “A Lifetime in the Racquets” acquaints you with tennis pro, Ron Schaub. Naturalist Warren Uxley’s article about more beautiful Ohio flowers give us something to look forward to.

In this issue we welcome an article from a new contributor, Kym Lamb. “Finding a Home in a Virtual Neighborhood” is a must-read if you’re a fan of social networking or just thinking about creating a Facebook page of your own.

We thank all our contributing writers for their work on the magazine. What do you say we just consider the March/April edition, with a grinning goat on the cover, a formal introduction to spring here in the heart of Ohio?

To read more visit my blog at unremarkablewoman.blogspot.com.

Diana L. Coon, Editor Heart of Ohio magazine

“The Happy Goat” courtesy of Tiffany Kimmet Photography in Tiffin, Ohio www.subtleverse.com

Editor Diana L. Coon editor@heartofohiomagazine.com Sales & Marketing Debra Baker debra@heartofohiomagazine.com Contributing Writers Diana L. Coon Julie McCready Mike Greene Paula M. Cohen Guest Authors Graphic Designers Tami Shuck Tom Hofacre Circulation Becky Herrick maildept@sungraphicsinc.com

Heart of Ohio magazine is printed and published bimonthly by SunGraphics, Inc.

41 Longview Ave. E., Mansfield, Ohio 44903 Copyright 2010 pending, Heart of Ohio Magazine, LLC. ISSN 2158-8732. All rights reserved. Reproduction or use of editorial or pictorial content in any manner is prohibited without written permission. SunGraphics, Inc. and Heart of Ohio Magazine, LLC accept no responsibility for unsolicited material. While ensuring that all published information is accurate, the publisher cannot be held responsible for mistakes and/or omissions.

Distributed through local retailers, advertisers and by subscription.

Visit www.heartofohiomagazine.com for more information, or call 419.524.2127.

MAR/APR 2012

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On the cover:

Publisher SunGraphics, Inc. Diane K. Brown, President diane@sungraphicsinc.com

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

DEPARTMENTS Community Outreach

Tech Savvy

10 Come On In… The Water’s Fine!

42 Finding the Perfect Home in the Virtual Neighborhood

22 A New Start: Crestline Community Development

The Arts 15 A Fiber Artist’s Most Treasured Project: Dad 16 Ohio – The Heart of it All

Local Attractions 20 It Takes a (tiny) Village:

Little Buckeye Children’s Museum

55 Planning for a Long Retirement

IN EVERY ISSUE 3 From the Editor 32 Milliron Everyday Heroes

25 Senior Citizens Enjoy Spending

49 Restaurants & Eateries

Sports & Recreation 28 Ron Schaub: A Lifetime in the Racquets

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Money Matters

Health & Wellness Time on Hobbies

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46 High Tech meets History at OSR

Sp rin g is ju st arou nd th e co rne r. Do you ha ve an y specia l pla ns fo r your outd oo r spaces ?

Look for this image throughout the magazine to find out about our read ers’ plans to beautify their yards and gard ens.

MAR/APR 2012

56 Give Us Your Best Shot!

57 Ask the Communication Coach 60 The Last Word

Answer the next featured question on Facebook.

Go to www.facebook.com/heartofohiomagazine to find the featured question. Submit an answer and it may be printed in a future issue of Heart of Ohio magazine. And while you’re there, be sure to our page to receive updates on future issues of the magazine.

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Walking in a

garden

that cultivates the arts

A walk through Liz Pastor’s garden is very much like following Alice down the rabbit hole… but better. Years ago she purchased the house and property near Ashland, where she would begin her ongoing work of art.

Liz grew up in Medina in a home filled with music and the arts. Mother taught piano, and was a great collector, writing many articles about her collections. Her Father took up painting when he retired, and many of his paintings hang in Liz’s home today. She credits this love of beautiful things that her parents shared for her own appreciation of music, sculpture, painting, and metal sculptures.

“My love of music was always there, I can never remember a time when it was not my passion,” she says. By age 13 she was working with Boris Goldovsky in Cleveland, later following him to Boston to continue her studies. By age 16 she

was a student at the Longy school (now a part of the Bard school, in Cambridge Mass.) and eventually studied with Carl Friedburg in New York.

Today Liz Pastor is a Professor of Piano at Ashland University, where the Elizabeth Pastor Recital Hall can be found in the Center for Humanities. “When I first started teaching I think it was because I was in love with the music, but gradually it became about the students. I want them to excel, I want to challenge them, nurture them and have music become an important part of their lives,” Liz said.

Over the course of her career, Liz has worked with many talented students, including Sylvia McNair. A talented pianist and violinist, Sylvia also pursued her love of singing. When she was chosen to audition to sing at the Met she asked Liz to go with her for moral support. As it turns out Liz must be a great person to

www.heartofohiomagazine.com MAR/APR 2012

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Liz Pastor

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have with you on those very important days, because Sylvia also asked her to be matron of honor at her wedding.

Liz recalled the time that her California style house and property came on the market. “I looked at the property, and the grounds were just wild. The house had potential, but making it into the home I wanted looked to be a daunting task. Working with an architect to open up the inside, and a crew to clear the grounds outside, I got started and it has been a work in progress ever since,” she chuckles.

It’s no wonder Liz enjoys taking visitors through her large, light-filled house and over the extensive gardens she has built over the forty plus years she’s been there. The house is full of beautiful pieces of art, the colors, shapes and textures attracting the eye to every corner and surface of the room.

“Some of the pieces are from artists I follow, but some of the pieces are the work of talented students at the university art department.”

The gardens surrounding her home are a changing canvas that Liz has designed herself. In one part of the yard a huge tin man watches over things, looking as if he might be waiting for a MAR/APR 2012

visit from The Wizard of Oz. Wire sculptures of human forms recline in the greenery, fanciful creatures created from garden implements and machinery peek out from behind trees, and colorful faces and figures lure you along the path to search for more. Flowers, ferns and trees create a shade dappled backdrop for the art and the low slung house; the overall

feeling of the property is one of whimsy, tranquility and peace.

Teacher, community activist, artist, Liz Pastor defines her career as a teacher when she says, “It is amazing what happens to a student and how they develop. We set them on the road and hope they will continue to grow, change and share their gifts and interests with others.” •

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“ This winter seemed to last forever, so I want to get the yard cleaned up and get outside.

I don’t have a special project, just clean up. ”

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Come on in… the water’s fine!

January 1, 2012 was pretty mild temperature-wise, about 33 degrees. Of course, the day seemed much colder if you took into consideration the 45 mph wind coming across Charles Mill Lake as 193 people lined up and dove into the frigid water for a leisurely swim.

The 6th annual Polar Bear Dip fund raiser was a big success, raising over five thousand dollars for cancer research.

The first year, 2007, and this year, 2012, were the only years it wasn’t necessary to have a backhoe on hand to break the ice, sometimes five or six inches thick, for the event.

How does something like this get started? It takes a few things coming together, and this time it began like this: In 2006, Sheila Schrack was living in Ashland when she was diagnosed with colon cancer. Her son Adam wanted to do something to help, so he started a Relay for Life team to help raise funds for research. At the same time husband, Chad, had been diving into the lake in the winter with a friend for the past couple of years. He’d been unable to locate a Polar Bear jump anywhere close, so they did it themselves. When the two chilly swimmers tried to talk a third friend into joining them he commented, “You couldn’t pay me to do that!”. And that’s when the light went on for Chad.

The Relay for Life Team became the first Polar Bear Dip and it was scheduled for January 1, 2007, at 3:00 p.m. at Charles Mill Lake. Chad Schrack had put up fliers and badgered some friends into coming, but had no idea what to expect. “We had thirty or thirty-five people turn out to jump, and I’m pretty sure I knew about twentyfive of them. This year we had 193 people jumping, and I still only knew twenty-five of them,” Chad laughed. “We really didn’t do a very good job documenting the number of people who came that first year because, to be very honest, we didn’t think anyone would show up!”

This year over 300 people turned out to watch the swimmers. Sheila Schrack added, “We sell t-shirts and hot cocoa,

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MAR/APR 2012

Chad and Sheila Schrack

and take donations. To date we’ve raised over $30,000 for the American Cancer Society. People enjoy jumping and watching, some even show up in costume.

It’s just a good time for everyone involved.

Unfortunately cancer affects so many people, we just want to try and make a difference. My children were young when I was diagnosed, but I am so thankful I had the support of my family and husband. Now we just want to help other families in need.”

“We couldn’t do it without the added support of the Ashland County Sheriff ’s Dive and Rescue Team, the Mifflin Fire and Rescue, and the Charles Mill Lake Rangers. We’d like to thank everyone involved for supporting us and the efforts to raise money for a good cause,” Chad Schrack said.

Look for Polar Bear Dip Cold For The Cure on Facebook. •

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Living the Alpaca Life Alpacas were domesticated by the Peruvians in the South American Andes Mountains thousands of years ago. Unlike llamas, much larger animals used as pack animals, the smaller alpacas were valued for their luxurious fiber. They are camelids, close cousin of the camel, llama, vicuna and guanaco.

In a culture that was textile based, alpaca fiber was treasured. Inca weavers created everything from clothing to roofs from fibers gleaned from alpacas, llamas and from cotton.

When the Spanish Conquistadors invaded Peru they burned the textiles and killed the alpacas and llamas in the fields. The only thing that kept the creatures from extinction was the few animals the Andeans managed to smuggle into the hills.

Nearly 12% of all alpacas raised in the United States are raised in Ohio. The rich pasture land can support 6 to 10 alpacas per acre, making these grazers easy keepers for farmers.

Many alpaca farmers will add one llama to their herd. A much larger animal, the llama knows instinctively that he or she is the herd’s protector. It is not unusual for a llama to watch over the birth of a new cria, not leaving the side of the vulnerable alpaca until the birthing process is done. The newborn cria will weigh between fifteen and twenty pounds, born after a gestation period of from eleven to twelve months.

Alpaca farmers all seem to agree that the best part of raising alpacas is the “alpaca lifestyle”. They talk about the ease and enjoyment of tending these graceful

creatures, and the pleasure of seeing the end result when they are shorn. The animals live approximately twenty years, with long reproductive lives, and they produce fleece for their lifetime.

There are two kinds of alpacas: the Suri, with long, silky dreadlocks, and the Huacaya, which bears a dense, crimpy fleece and has a more wooly appearance.

They come in 22 different colors, recognized by the textile industry, and produce 5 to 10 pounds of wool each year.

Alpaca is warmer than regular wool, not prickly, and the fact that it has no lanolin means it is hypoallergenic.

References: http://www.wikipedia.org http://www.gatewayalpacas.com http://www.alpaca-farms-breeders.com/

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Alpaca Meadows Farm Nine years ago Matt and Julie Petty were in the process of running several businesses and building a new house when they took their children to visit an alpaca farm. After that outing Julie started reading up on alpacas, and eventually she suggested they add a barn and some alpacas to the plans for the new house.

Matt Petty remembers, “There were distinct tax advantages to becoming alpaca farmers, but I didn’t want anything to do with something we had to feed and clean up after. I took the proposal to my accountant and told him he needed to talk me out of it. He said he couldn’t.

And so, with me kicking and screaming, we became alpaca farmers.”

Although it started as a hobby, eventually raising alpacas became the Petty family business. “We started small and then gradually added to our herd. We have had as many as 60, and we’ve had some national champions.

At the moment our herd is at 26, with two pregnant moms who should

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give birth within a month or so,” Julie Petty said.

“Although I didn’t want to be an alpaca farmer, it didn’t take me long to fall in love with these animals. At one point I had a side business delivering the animals all across the country. It is generally necessary to match the male and female for mating; artificial insemination is very difficult and the offspring cannot be added to the Alpaca Registry. I found myself transporting animals to every state in the union except Louisiana. It was profitable, but I was gone for weeks at a time and it defeated the whole reason we had ultimately become alpaca people. We wanted to simplify our lives and enjoy more family time,” Matt says.

“For us the change has been dramatic.

We’ve gone from getting out of bed to dress and drive to a business, to taking a cup of coffee to the barn. I know no matter how many alpacas are waiting for me over there I won’t hear any back talk. After 35 years in retail

Esmerelda

Three generations

Next page: Worner Way Farm MAR/APR 2012

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and the hotel industry this is great,” Matt added.

Matt jokes that the only things they knew about farming were learned from watching “Green Acres” reruns on TV, and Julie remembers how much fun they had learning about something so different from everything they knew. “We really had to read up on how to raise the alpacas, but one of our best sources of information has been other farmers. This is like a great big family, we all do this because we love the animals and it creates a bond. We’ve learned by doing, and we’ve done a lot,” she smiles.

“When we first started we even had trouble finding a veterinarian who knew how to treat an alpaca. We called one person who asked what breed of dog an alpaca was,” Matt chuckles. “One of the big advantages we have is the International Camelid Institute at the Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine. They are the experts, and we are fortunate to have this kind of facility so close if a serious problem should arise.

Also, our local vets have come a long way in the treatment of the animals, too.”

“One of the most endearing traits of alpacas is the fact that they are so good with children. As 4-H projects our kids halter-trained the young animals, then taught them to climb stairs and navigate an obstacle course. You can walk them just like a big dog,” Julie said. “Our children have learned so much from this lifestyle; actually, we all have.”

At their “Alpaca Meadows Farm” in Mansfield, the Petty family continues to raise alpacas and sell the wool and handmade items at their Farm Store. Julie teaches fiber art classes and makes many of the items herself. They offer farm tours, and Julie laughed as she remembered one tour in particular. “We had a baby who lost his mother and had to be bottle fed from birth. He was just like a puppy, and he followed us all over the yard. One bus tour came in to see the animals, and as they prepared to leave this little one followed the last tourist right up the bus steps and went inside as if he was ready to go with them!”

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Worner Way Farm Malinda Worner knows how well children and alpacas go together, because that’s how she discovered them.

“About four years ago my granddaughter became interested in alpacas, so we researched them. By April of 2008 we went to work on the farm, constructing a barn and laying out fence. We bought three males, and my oldest grandchildren, Kortney and Kristopher, helped with feeding and care,” Malinda said.

Over twenty years ago a club called Barnyard Buddies was created. Kids interested in 4-H took everything from cooking to raising farm animals, sewing, woodworking and farming. Then, three years ago, Malinda Worner was able to bring the alpaca program to the Richland County Fair.

In 2008, Malinda from Worner Way Farm and a friend from Valley View Alpacas took their alpacas to the Bellville Memorial Day parade. Marching with the Barnyard Buddies, and carrying a sign that said, “Alpacas and Us”, they marched down Main Street. “We walked the alpacas to the curb and let the crowd pet these unusual animals. We were a hit, winning the Mayor’s Award and a three-foot tall trophy. Everyone was so excited,” Malinda remembered.

This group learned from start to finish how yarn and products were created from the alpaca fleece. They were involved in shearing, skirting the fleece, and sorting for prime fiber. They washed the fleece by hand, then dried and colored the white fleece with Kool Aid and dyes. The dried fleece is carded to make it soft and ready for roving, and it can be felted with the rovings or spun into yarn.

“We took the kids to shows, and in a class of 30 to 40 children they learned showmanship and obstacle training.

There was even a costume class that had the handlers and the animals all dressed up. It was so much fun!” Melinda said.

“The first year we brought alpacas to the Richland County Fair we invited other people to come and show their animals, and they had to pull out more bleachers to seat the crowd. This past year we had

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Two generations — Maizie and son Bristol

Malinda’s granddaughter Kortney with Bounty

Malinda’s grandson Kristopher with Bounty

obstacle and showmanship classes and, at the end, we switched places so the adults did the showing and the kids did the judging just to mix it up. We want to grow the program with 4-H, as well as the open show. We encourage kids of all ages to call and hook up with us. If they need alpacas to work with they lease them one, or there are some that may be purchased,” Malinda explained.

To find out more about the program you may contact Malinda at Worner Way Farm, 419.989.5028 or email her at smithworner@rocketmail.com. • Malinda Worner with Bambi

THE ARTS

A Fiber Artist’s Most Treasured Project… Dad “Dad”

sculpture of him to treasure, but I have the stories he shared with me. I was able to express my heart through this piece, and I am not aware of any other sculpture of this kind,” she explained.

In 2010, Barbara’s one-piece, unspun wool hat entitled “River Dream”

“River Dream”

won the Juror’s Award at the Mansfield Art Center.

In 2011, her felt sculpture “Dad” took “Best in Show” at the Mansfield Art Center.

Barbara’s work is available at Enjoy in Ashland and Gallery in the Vault in Wooster. •

VISIT THESE ALPACA FARMS IN NORTH CENTRAL OHIO! Malinda 7231 State Route 13 Worner Bellville, Ohio

419-989-5028

Joe & Reba Matern

1051 Reed Road Mansfield, Ohio

419-589-3745 MAR/APR 2012

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Barbara Nell Morejon says art has been a part of her life since she was a child. Fiber and fiber art have always intrigued her, and for the last twenty-five years she has honed her skills in spinning, weaving, and making bobbin lace, but when a friend showed her felt making she was addicted.

When Barbara returned to the area in 2005 to help care for her aging parents, she was felting; both traditional wet felting and needle felting. To gain more knowledge of the art form she spent some unpaid time working at Morning Star Fiber, where she learned about fiber and its transformation from the animal to product.

Using fibers as common as sheep’s wool, or as rare as camel or yak, Barbara creates sculptures of animals, a whimsical character she has dubbed “Hippy Chick”, colorful hats, and she creates fiber sculptures of pets to scale for customers.

Traditional wet felting or needle felting are the two very different techniques that she uses, depending upon the demands of the project.

In 2011, Barbara undertook her most unusual and significant project. Caring for her ailing father, she is always looking for ways to keep him engaged. She asked if he would allow her to needle felt his likeness. He thought it sounded intriguing, and agreed.

“My Dad suffers from Parkinson’s, so his mind is still good even as his body fails him.

The bust took four months to accomplish, working for an hour or two at a time in the evenings. I started with a large ball of white wool that I needle felted one punch at a time, and I added blown glass eyes to the finished product. I was pleased with the outcome, but the added benefit was the time I spent with Dad. He shared stories about his life with me, and that time we shared was more precious than any gift I could ever receive. Now I not only have this

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Franz Welser-Möst, Music Director and The Cleveland Orchestra at Severance Hall Photo courtesy of Cleveland Orchestra

Ohio – The heart of it all

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by Amy McKay, Public Information Office Director, Ohio Arts Council Ohio has long been known for its innovation and creativity — from the Wright brothers and Thomas Edison to Maya Lin, James Thurber, Toni Morrison and rock ‘n’ roll — and its arts and cultural institutions are nothing short of outstanding. Every day, members of Ohio’s creative sector go about the vitally important work of connecting Ohioans to the arts, and for more than 46 years the Ohio Arts Council (OAC) has been charged with fostering and encouraging the endeavors of such institutions and individual artists.

The OAC, a state agency that funds and supports quality arts experiences to strengthen Ohio communities culturally, educationally and economically, was established on May 25, 1965, when

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MAR/APR 2012

Governor James Rhodes signed into law the act that created the agency. With his signature, Gov. Rhodes set in motion a dynamic cultural movement across the state with far-reaching significance for Ohio citizens.

From the world-class Cleveland Orchestra to the unique and beloved International Washboard Festival in Hocking County, the OAC readily serves Ohio’s remarkable range of nonprofit arts and cultural organizations. And while the major cities in Ohio may be home to the best-known arts institutions, individuals and smaller organizations from rural areas also make crucial contributions to the state’s artistic vitality. The OAC celebrates creative people and institutions in every corner of the state, offering grant

programs and services to all Ohioans in big cities and tiny communities alike.

During the FY2010-2011 biennium, the OAC awarded a total of $10.5 million in grants to Ohio artists, schools and organizations that produce or present arts programming. The activities and events presented by OAC grant recipients during the 2010-11 biennium provided more than 35.4 million arts experiences to Ohioans of all ages, including more than 10.2 million children.

The arts council makes every effort to preserve Ohio’s cultural heritage via operating and project support grants, awards for individual artistic excellence and mastery of a traditional art form, and grants for arts education. Depending on the program, grant awards range from

THE ARTS Quilt Barn Trails in Appalachian Ohio Photo by Kim Walker

Stuart’s Opera House Photo by Jason Meyer

Rhythm in Shoes at the Cityfolk Festival, Photo courtesy Cityfolk Photo by Andy Snow

In Nelsonville, the OAC has long supported Stuart’s Opera House — a linchpin in the revitalization of Nelsonville’s downtown business district.

After decades of disrepair, Stuart’s Opera House was renovated and reopened in 1997 to offer family entertainment, performing arts and educational activities, including the Nelsonville Music Festival, one of the region’s most popular outdoor music extravaganzas. Stuart’s Opera House is now a fixture in Nelsonville’s thriving Historic Square Arts District.

Our state is full of similar examples.

From Cleveland’s Gordon Square Arts District, which is expected to create 950 permanent jobs by 2013 and generate $317 million in economic output, to Dayton’s Oregon Arts District, the Arts Corridor on Montgomery Road in Cincinnati, Arts Place in St. Mary’s and Columbus’ Short North district, numerous arts-driven projects have received support from the OAC that has helped reinvigorate local economies.

Equally as important, the arts council has contributed significantly over the

Photo by Benjamin Pollock

years to the development of Ohio’s youth through a number of arts education programs. Project Jericho in Springfield, for example, is funded in part through the OAC’s Arts Partnership program, and it provides performing arts workshops, artist residencies and family performances for at-risk youth and families. Winner of a 2008 Coming Up Taller award from the President’s Committee on the Arts and the Humanities, Project Jericho is a lifechanging collaboration between the Clark State Performing Arts Center and the Clark County Department of Job and Family Services.

The OAC also coordinates Ohio’s annual Poetry Out Loud recitation competition, which is funded in part by the National Endowment for the Arts. Offered as a free program throughout Ohio, Poetry Out Loud is a unique and engaging way to

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$500 to more than $50,000, and they support a wide variety of activities. In fact, chances are you have taken part in an arts experience supported by OAC funds!

Across Ohio, the OAC has supported everything from the Quilt Barn Trails in Appalachian Ohio to the Passion Works Studio in Athens to the Cityfolk Festival, an award-winning, free, three-day music event in downtown Dayton that attracts more than 70,000 visitors. In 2010, the OAC provided support to 602 artists and nonprofit arts and cultural organizations that are a critical part of their community’s fabric of life. As part of Ohio’s creative economy, these arts and cultural organizations provide direct economic benefits to the state and their local communities by creating jobs, attracting new investments, generating tax revenues and stimulating tourism. They also play a key role in enhancing a community’s quality of life and thereby attracting and retaining a young, creative class of workers.

Such creative placemaking efforts have been supported by the arts council in numerous Ohio cities.

MAR/APR 2012

17

Jackson Hille, 2006 Poetry Out Loud Ohio and National Champion

138 Park Avenue West | Mansfield, OH 44902

Friday, April 27 at 8pm Saturday, April 28 at 8pm Sunday, April 29 at 3pm

Rachel Chandler, 2008 Poetry Out Loud Ohio Champion

All that jazz! One of the longest-running hits in Broadway history and winner of the Academy Award for Best Picture, you won’t want to miss this classic musical starring our very own Neos Dance Theatre and a talented local cast!

Directed by Michael Thomas.

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PRESENTED BY:

bring poetry into the classroom. High school students must memorize and perform classical and contemporary poetry, which helps them master public speaking skills, build self-confidence and learn about their literary heritage. In 2011, more than 8,000 students participated.

Are you an artist? Do you work for an arts-related institution? Or perhaps you are an arts educator? If the answer is yes, you might be eligible to apply for funding from the OAC. Please contact us with questions regarding OAC grant programs and resources. And if you’ve received a grant from us, we would love to hear how it impacted your work! Reach us at 614-466-2613 or oac.publicinformationoffice@oac.state.oh.us.

Visit www.oac.ohio.gov for more information. •

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MAR/APR 2012

TICKETS 419.522.2726 mansfieldtickets.com

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Charles P. Hahn, CFP® Cleveland Financial Group Affiliated with Lincoln Financial Advisors Corp.

Member SIPC 108 North Main Street, Rear Building, Mansfield, Ohio 44902 Tel. 419.522.4333 • Fax 419.522.3303 • chuck.hahn@lfg.com CRN201005-2042432

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Mon – Sat. 11am – 4pm

Sundays 1pm – 4 pm • May 1st – September 9th

May 1st – September 8th

West Tower Tour • 1:00 1:45 2:30 3:15

General Tour of Building

East Cell Block Tour • 1:15 2:00 2:45 3:30 Hollywood Tour • 1:30 2:15 3:00 3:45

Admission: Adults $9.00 • Children & Seniors $7.00 100 Reformatory Road, Mansfield, Ohio 44905 • 419-522-2644 • www.mrps.org

44 West Fourth Street, Mansfield

419-522-2332 www.littlebuckeye.org Open Thur, Fri & Sat 10-5, Sun 1-5

MAR/APR 2012

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SELF GUIDED TOURS

19

LOCAL ATTRACTIONS

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It Takes a (tiny) Village Little Buckeye Children’s Museum If you’ve never been to a “children’s museum” you might be expecting displays of rocks and bones and dinosaurs. That kind of thinking is exactly what makes the explosion of colors, sounds and shapes such a wonderful surprise when you enter the Little Buckeye Children’s Museum (Little Buckeye) in downtown Mansfield.

Following the colorful path and the giggles of delighted children through the main floor, you’ll see a Tree House, Science Lab, the Theatre with a stage and costumes, and a Grocery Store with tiny grocery carts and food shelves. You’ll even find a Doctor’s Office and Post Office tucked into this little village of discovery.

Infants can enjoy a crawling area with mirrors, sounds and things to stimulate and intrigue them.

Little Buckeye Children’s Museum is probably different from anything you have seen; certainly it is unique in Mansfield and surrounding towns.

Children playing dress up and acting out stories; building and creating things using their imaginations; a place for children and families to interact, that’s the idea behind the Museum.

Donna Farland-Smith, the director and motivating force behind the Little Buckeye Children’s Museum, is also a Science Education Professor at The Ohio State University, and a mother. “My own children had enjoyed other Kinder classes, and I felt compelled to do something for young children to fill the void in this area.”

Having visited children’s museums in other cities, she had a good idea what she’d like to see in Mansfield. Delighted by Little Buckeye’s success, she is gratified by the community support and response that has gotten the project this far.

Putting together a business plan in April 2010, Donna approached Engwiller Properties, who gave her the use of the building at 44 West Fourth Street. With

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MAR/APR 2012

Lady Bug Lounge

the help of volunteers, she set to work clearing the first floor area. The RCDG education sector held their next meeting at the building, and she credits them with being instrumental in getting the ball rolling.

About that time, by sheer coincidence, Donna met Kevin Haring, a local who just happens to be a professional concept designer. Kevin has done work for water parks and children’s museums around the country, and he came on board to help with the Little Buckeye Children’s Museum’s creation. “Kevin is amazing. I didn’t know exactly what to do with the space, but he knew immediately, and the

ideas just started flowing,” Donna said.

The ball was rolling faster now.

“Help and volunteers were attracted to this project because they believed in it. We raised over $500,000 in money and in-kind donations, and the support has continued to grow. So many companies helped, so many individuals lent a hand. The way our community has embraced the concept has been heartwarming,” she explains.

April 28, 2010 was the grand opening and, with absolutely no idea of what to expect, the staff was amazed when 551 people visited The Little Buckeye Children’s Museum in just two hours. With an all-volunteer staff, the Museum was

A child-sized beauty shop for creative play

Musical pipes

visited by 700 people the first month of operation while they were open just three days a week. By June the number had risen to 950 visitors, and by July 1, 250 visitors a month came to Little Buckeye, now open Thursday through Sunday. One year later the staff is still 50% volunteers, whose support, with the continued support of groups dedicated to the project, remains vital to the success of Little Buckeye.

April 2012 will see another grand opening of sorts as Little Buckeye grows

Donna Farland-Smith pays the cashier, her son Leo, at the Little Buckeye Grocery

into the second floor. This expansion will increase the age appeal from birth to 9 years, to birth to 12 years. Some of the interactive displays for this newly created space include the McDonald’s Restaurants’ “Birthday Room”, Mansfield Assembly is providing funding and guidance on a “Disassembly Room”, and the “Schoolhouse” will be a resource for parents and kids on the way to kindergarten.

Your youngster can begin to explore the world within the walls of The Little

Buckeye Children’s Museum. Set aside some quality time to enjoy this experience with someone you love. • The Little Buckeye Children’s Museum is located at 44 West Fourth Street in downtown Mansfield. For complete details visit the website: www.littlebuckeye.org Thursday, Friday, Saturday 10 am – 5 pm Sunday 1 pm – 5 pm

www.heartofohiomagazine.com MAR/APR 2012

21

COMMUNITY OUTREACH

A New Start Crestline Community Development

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by Clayton J. Herold, Chairman, Crestline CDT Crestline is nestled in the rich farmland of eastern Crawford County.

Although its days as a bustling railroad center are now part of history, the village of 4,600 is once again “on the grow”.

The Sunrise Co-op Agribusiness complex dominates the west side of town.

A new K-12 school is under construction on the north side. Avita Health Care recently relocated offices to the former Crestline Memorial Hospital, bringing 65 new jobs to the community.

The Crestline Community Development Team (CCDT) is comprised of Village Mayor David Sharrock, Administrator Marc Milliron, Councilman Clayton Herold, business owners Mary Lammie, Su Rowles, John and Julie Rossington, and retired teacher Matt Smith. Its goal is to improve the profitability of existing businesses, attract new businesses, and re-establish a strong sense of community.

In early 2011, through a partnership with The Noah Project, a community survey was conducted. Input and suggestions from residents 12 and older was collected to reach an understanding of how the community envisions Crestline in the future.

CCDT’s first project, Shop Crestline, rewarded customers for shopping in Crestline. The Shop Crestline Card was endorsed by participating businesses, and once it was filled the card was good at

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participating businesses for discounts ranging from 10% off a purchase to a Free Oil Change.

The next project we partnered with the Noah Project to promote the Grow Green Initiative.

This initiative created community development dollars through monies collected at Innovative Recycling and Kurtzman Sanitation in Crestline. The effort was promoted by giving all local businesses Grow Green stickers and selling Grow Green t-shirts to local businesses and Village workers.

The CCDT hosted several Parties in the Park at the Central Park Gazebo which featured local bands and DJ’s as an after-hours event for everyone. Another summer project, Eye Candy Property of the Week, recognized well maintained homes in our community. A yard sign and featured space on Crestline’s Facebook Page for weekly winners culminated in an award plaque after a community vote in October. The event was so well received it will be repeated in 2012.

In September there was a city-wide Crestline Day celebration, and in November the Trash Mob led each community in Crawford County to spend

a couple of hours cleaning up litter and trash. The Crestline team was ranked #1 in the county.

To close out a productive year, the annual Memory Tree program gave citizens the chance to purchase commemorative lights on the tree located in front of Village Hall. The Lighting Ceremony was held December 7th, 2011, where the names of all those honored were read and the Memory Tree was lighted for the first time.

A citizens committee is hard at work on the 2012 Crestline Harvest Festival.

The 3-day event will feature great entertainment, food, rides, and family oriented activities. Be sure to mark September 20 – 22 on your calendar.

We’ve made great strides to revitalize the Crestline community and improve the opportunities for businesses to succeed — but this is just the beginning.

Former Crestline resident and father of two current NFL coaches, Jack Harbaugh said it best, “Who’s got it better than us? Nooo-body!”.

To follow our journey and for more information about the Crestline Community Development Team and their current projects, please visit us: www.facebook.com/crestlinecdt or www.crestlineoh.com. •

VISIT

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Subtle Verse Visit www.subtleverse.com

Ralph’s Joy of Living

Tiffin Glass Museum & Gift Shoppe History & Displays of Tiffin Glass

Burns Electric We Have It All

MLAD Graphic Design Services, LLC Graphic Design & Large Format Printing

The Wax Shack Unique Handmade Candles

The Angelus Beautiful Religious Artwork & Giftware

Tiffin Art Guild Where Local Artists Can Collaborate with Others

American Civil War Museum of Ohio

The Ritz Theatre 30 S. Washington St. Tiffin, OH 44883

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Tiffin Glass Collectors Club 27th Annual Show & Sale | Saturday & Sunday, June 23 & 24 | School of Opportunity, 780 E. Co. Rd. 20 | tiffinglass.org

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BRANDY WIRICK Authorized Agent

Local: 419-528-2567 Toll-free: 866-297-4049 www.BrandyWirick-insurance.com

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Independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. ®ANTHEM is a registered trademark of Anthem Insurance Companies, Inc. The Blue Cross and Blue Shield names and symbols are registered marks of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association.

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419-524-4144 800-860-5799 www.aaa5ohio.org OD5AAA@aaa5ohio.org

HEALTH AND WELLNESS

Senior Citizens Enjoy Spending Time on Hobbies

by Bev Rosich, Communications Manager, Ohio District 5 Area Agency on Aging, Inc.

What is a hobby? It is something you enjoy doing (or collecting) in your leisure time. Because we enjoy our hobbies and collections, we need to be aware that an innocent collection could easily become an obsession or you could be considered a hoarder if you have too much of a good thing!

Gun Toting Lady Ruth, a 75 year young woman (who prefers to say she is celebrating another anniversary of her 39th birthday) resides in North Central Ohio and collects Colts and Derringer guns, but she is the “pistol” of the bunch. Ruth has been around guns her entire life and started collecting seriously when she was around 30 years old. Ruth took a Self Defense and Safe Gun Handling course offered by the Richland County Sheriff ’s Department about 16 years ago. Ruth’s son said she knows her way around a gun after many hours of shooting at targets (nothing live) and clay pigeons with her husband, sons, daughter and family friends. However, Ruth did say if someone breaks into her house she’ll show them the Colt next to her bed — but probably not the end they would want to see up close and personal!

Many senior citizens enjoy typical hobbies such as coin and stamp collections, but some of the ones I have learned about have more ‘unusual’ hobbies that occupy their time.

moved to a new neighborhood and a neighbor shared venison meat loaf with her. That was enough to convince Pat to learn to hunt. She purchased a cross bow and set out to educate herself by watching hunting shows and dvds to learn everything she could about hunting.

Getting her first deer when she was 65, Pat was sitting on the ground in a chair (because of bad knees) and shot the deer, killing it instantly. She proceeded to field dress it herself and then her husband helped her drag it out of the field.

Pat also shoots a muzzle loader and a shot gun so that she has the entire deer season covered. When she needed to have knee surgery, Pat told her doctor the surgery would need to wait until after deer season!

30 Year Beekeeper Bill, a 90 year old resident of Mansfield, has been a beekeeper for more than 30 years. He got started with this hobby by helping a friend of his out and eventually got a hive of his own. Bill shared the process of collecting honey from the beehive and then processing it and finally bottling it. What do you do when you lose some of your bees? They can actually be ordered locally from another beekeeper — you just place an order for a ‘swarm’ and replace the ones who were lost in the hive.

There is a hobby to fit everyone’s needs, no matter what your age or physical ability!

Don’t let age stop you from following your dreams and doing something different… it’s never too late! • The Area Agency on Aging serves Ashland, Crawford, Huron, Knox, Marion, Morrow, Richland, Seneca and Wyandot Counties and can be reached at 419-524-4144 or 800-860-5799 or www.aaaa5ohio.org.

A Deer Hunting Passion where caring is key

TEAMRick & Karen RIEGEL Rick Riegel

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Karen Riegel

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1180 L e xington Ave nue • M ans fie ld • Ohio • 4490 7 MAR/APR 2012

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One of my female co-workers, Pat, who is a ‘mature’ Long Term Care Consultant at the Area Agency on Aging, enjoys hunting deer. A self-taught bow hunter, she got her first deer a couple of years ago. When asked how she got into deer hunting, she shared that although her father was a hunter, she had no desire to learn how to hunt until a couple of years ago. Pat and her husband had

25

ADVERTORIAL

‘Best’ doctors on MedCentral medical staff

by Cindy Jakubick, Corporate Director of Public Relations & Marketing, MedCentral Health System

Gregory Eaton, M.D.

Steven Nelson, M.D.

Two cardiologists and two ophthalmologists on the MedCentral Health System medical staff are listed among the “Best Doctors” in the country.

Cardiologists Gregory Eaton, M.D., medical director of MedCentral’s Heart Program and a partner with Mid-Ohio Heart Clinic and Steven Nelson, M.D., who works with Mid-Ohio Heart and in MedCentral’s Electrophysiology Laboratory again made the prestigious list. Dr. Eaton’s specialty is interventional cardiology and Dr. Nelson is an electrophysiologist.

Also making a repeat appearance on the 2011-2012 Best Doctors in America list are Ophthalmologists Leonard Quick, M.D., and Richard Selser, M.D., both of Ohio Eye Associates of Mansfield.

The Best Doctors list represents the top 5 percent of physicians in over 400 subspecialties of medicine in the U.S. This is the sixth consecutive time Dr. Eaton has received the honor; the fifth for Dr. Nelson, the fourth for Dr. Quick and second for Dr. Selser. All four physicians are board certified in their specialties.

Also medical director of MedCentral’s cardiac catheterization laboratory, Dr. Eaton directs cardiovascular clinical research at his medical practice and at MedCentral.

He is board certified in cardiovascular diseases and interventional cardiology. He earned his medical degree at The Ohio State University College of Medicine in 1986 and completed a fellowship in his specialty at OSU. Dr. Nelson is the lead physician in MedCentral’s electrophysiology laboratory. Electrophysiology is the study of the heart’s electrical system. Treatment may include a

Leonard Quick, M.D.

Richard Selser, M.D.

pacemaker or implantable defibrillator. He is board certified in cardiology and clinical cardiac electrophysiology. He, too, earned his medical degree at OSU in 1981. He completed fellowships in cardiology and electrophysiology at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor.

A Mansfield native, Dr. Quick earned his medical degree at the University of Cincinnati in 1980 and completed his specialty training at OSU. Dr. Selser earned his medical degree at Louisiana State University School of Medicine in New Orleans in 1981. He completed fellowship training in cornea and external disease at the University of Michigan. Before relocating to Mansfield, Dr. Selser served as medical director of the Southern Eye Bank for 11 years.

Physicians anonymously nominate each other to the Best Doctors list. An exhaustive peer-review survey by thousands of doctors determines the doctors to be included on the list. Then Best Doctors analyzes the evaluations and reviews as many as 100 pertaining to a single doctor. Only those doctors rated the best by other doctors make the list. The physicians also must go through regular evaluations.

335 Glessner Avenue, Mansfield, Ohio 44903 419-526-8000

“ The minute the seed catalogs arrive I start to plan my vegetable garden. This year I a m going to have some vertical growing spaces like some I saw in a magazine. I a m investigating trellises and wire to use for vining plant materials. ”

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home & kitchen supply

27

Keeping Score Ron Schaub

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A Lifetime in the Racquets There is nothing sinister about the racqueteering I refer to in the title line of this story. I’m talking about the sport of tennis, and Ron Schaub has built his life around the game. He has also played a significant role in making tennis relevant, if not downright fun, for thousands of people; men and women, boys and girls, in this part of Ohio.

Growing up in this area, Ron graduated from Mansfield St. Peter’s High School in 1975, where he was a member of some pretty good Spartan basketball teams. But tennis was “his” sport and he was good enough to play it at the collegiate level; first at Edison College in Ft. Myers, Florida, and at Ohio University his last two years.

Upon graduation from the Athens, Ohio campus, Ron took a job at the Wooster Racquet Club. In 1982, he made the move to the Lakewood Racquet Club in Lexington where he succeeded Jerry Lorentz as the head pro. He’s been there ever since and has become a legend of sorts. That’s a description that would make the 6'2", curly-haired tennis junkie cringe with embarrassment. In fact, getting Ron to talk about himself at all is more difficult than getting Donald Trump to NOT talk about himself.

I was, however, able to learn more about the Lakewood icon from those who have worked with him for the last 2 or 3 decades; most notably, Pat Wirick and Polly Earick. Pat had already been working at Lakewood for 9 years by the time Ron arrived. If she had any nervousness, as often happens when a new top gun shows up where you earn your paycheck, it was soon dispelled.

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Pat said she could tell from the beginning that Ron loved tennis, but he loved kids even more. Perhaps, she added, because he is one himself.

That was the common theme expressed by everyone I talked with: Ron’s ability to relate to the kids. Polly Earick, who has worked alongside Ron at Lakewood for 23 years, said one of the ways he cements his relationship with the youngsters is by assigning most of them “nicknames”.

If you drop by the racquet club on a late afternoon when school is out and the teens and pre-teens are rocketing forehands and backhands at one another, you’ll undoubtedly hear Coach Schaub’s booming voice shouting encouragement to Big Al, Python, Zero or Andy Roddick.

You don’t know who is being singled out but they do and, if you are lucky enough to earn a nickname, you’re part of the “in crowd”.

Ron is also the father of two daughters and a son, who have all made their marks on the local and state tennis scenes.

Melissa, the oldest, won a state singles championship at Lexington High School.

She moved on to play collegiately at the University of Tennessee and is now an assistant coach for the Ohio State women’s team. Son, Ty, played at

with

Lexington, then Ohio State, and now serves as an assistant coach at the University of Pennsylvania. Courtney is a senior at Cumberland College in Tennessee and, yes, plays tennis there.

Besides sharing the same last name, Melissa, Ty and Courtney also had the same high school tennis coach… DAD. Ron decided in 1994 that he would like to coach at the high school level, and it just so happened that Lexington was looking for someone to lead their program. Who better to hire than the guy whom every member of the team had grown up with and learned the game from… Ron Schaub? He inherited the coaching duties for not just the boys’ team, but the girls’ team, as well.

So, how has he done? Well, his girls’ teams have won 4 state championships, and Ron has one boys’ state title on his resume as the coach at Lexington. The Lakewood Racquet Club has obviously played a huge part in stamping this area as one of the centers of excellence for high school tennis in the Midwest. It’s a versatile facility in that there are six indoor and six outdoor courts on which up and comers from all parts of Ohio have developed their skills. Ron estimated around 50 of his student players from the club have gone on to play tennis at some collegiate level.

One of the better known of that group was Ty Tucker. When he was making his mark in the junior tennis circles, Ty

Ron with two of his star pupils, Rachel Nelson, 2011 State Singles Champ and Courtney Earnest, 2011 Runner-up

would drive to Lakewood from Zanesville just to train under Ron. At one time, Tucker was the #1 player in his age group in the country. After four years on the pro circuit, Ty decided he would give coaching a shot. He did, and has yet to look back after 13 years as the head coach of the Buckeye men’s team at The Ohio State University; his alma mater. He was an assistant for 2 seasons before that.

The two (Schaub and Tucker) still talk to one another on a regular basis and Ty freely admits he sometimes leans on his coaching mentor for advice and support.

He added that Ron doesn’t often insert his opinions, but when he does talk tennis, you listen. It’s always been that way

between the two said Ty; when he was honing his game as a youngster under Schaub’s critical eye; facing struggles as a pro on the circuit; or, now as they share “coach/speak” about the game.

This story may read as though the Lakewood Racquet Club is a place for only the young. Nothing could be further from the truth. On any day you’ll find people of both sexes and all ages playing as if they’re on center court at the U.S. Open, and their coach is the same guy who teases and challenges the kids at other times. Ron’s a moving motivational speaker who can deliver a tennis tip and, at the same time, elicit a laugh while dropping in a perfectly placed lob.

Tennis has suffered around the country in the wake of the difficult economic times of recent years, and the number of world class American players who have built worldwide name recognition has declined.

The Lakewood Racquet Club has certainly felt the pinch but Pat Wirick, who has been there since the club opened in the 70s, said membership and usage has stayed pretty much the same over the years. Undoubtedly, much of the player retention and attraction can be attributed to Ron Schaub.

Lakewood is open 7 days a week, and Ron is around on most of them; putting in 12 to 14 hours Monday through Friday , and working many weekends as well.

But, he does have more interests than just the game of tennis. He’s an all-around sports fan who you might just catch a glimpse of early on weekday mornings, perusing the News Journal, Dispatch and Plain Dealer sports pages at the Starbucks in the Lexington Avenue Kroger Store.

Rumor has it that Ron is also a trivia whiz who jogs and bikes. But, the truth is Ron Schaub is never really happy unless he has a racquet in his hand and someone across the net with whom to share the game. •

2004 Lexington Boys State Champs coached by Ron

Mike Greene’s voice and face have been familiar to the sports fans of North Central Ohio for decades now.

He did play-by-play for hundreds of high school and college football and basketball games over the years and still does selected Ashland University football games on television. He also hosted a popular SportsTalk show on WMFD-TV for a dozen years.

www.heartofohiomagazine.com

MAR/APR 2012

29

Springtime Splendor:

Ohio’s Native Trilliums

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by Warren Uxley, Naturalist for the Crawford Park District

Early spring is a time of tectonic change in the natural world: the warming temperatures bring with it the resurrection of long dormant forms of life. Nowhere is this change more obvious than in the forests of Ohio.

Chorus frogs and spring peepers begin calling and the explosion of wildflowers sets this time apart from the other seasons of the year.

Woodland wildflowers are in a race against time. Trout lilies, spring beauties, hepaticas and the harbinger of spring — to name just a few — must all emerge, leaf out, flower and then produce seed before the trees come into leaf and cut-off the sunlight necessary to fuel growth.

Perhaps the most eagerly anticipated of Ohio’s spring wildflowers are the trilliums. Often large and very showy, trilliums can brighten any woodlot. The large-flowered trillium (Trillium grandiflorum) was made Ohio’s official wildflower largely because of its ability to transform a landscape with its massive, extravagant displays of snow-white color.

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Trilliums are a large and diverse group of plants. Close to forty species can be found in North America with another half dozen in far eastern Asia.

Here in Ohio, there are seven trillium species. Two of those plants are in serious trouble in the Buckeye state. The prairie trillium (T. recurvatum) is listed as threatened while the painted trillium (T. undulatum) is considered endangered by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources. These two species reach the limits of their geographic range in Ohio; the painted trillium becomes more common in Appalachia while the prairie trillium comes into its own just a little further west.

All trillium species show the same fundamental form. A stem (technically it’s called a peduncle) supports three leaves in a circler pattern or whorl. Rarely there are two or even four leaves, which are the result of tissue damage early in development. The leaf whorls are parallel to the ground. Each trillium flower has three colored petals and there will always

be six evenly spaced pollen-bearing anthers surrounding three stigmas that are fused together at the base. Trilliums never produce more than one flower but they won’t flower every year.

Trilliums can be separated into two separate “subspecies”. There are the pedicellate trilliums in which the flower is

separated from the three leaves by a short pedicel or stalk, and the sessile trilliums in which the flower is stalkless and therefore in direct contact with the leaves.

Additionally, in the stalked trilliums the flower petals open wide in a flat, showy display — this makes the reproductive parts of the flower clearly visible. In the stalkless trilliums the petals stand erect in an elongated pyramid that envelops the anthers and stigmas.

Many trillium species have more than one variety or form. This means that the color and shape of the flower petals can be quite variable across the plant’s range.

In Ohio, the toad trillium (T. sessile) or toadshade — a very common stalkless species — will most often have flower petals that are red or red-brown in color, but yellow flowers are frequently seen.

Another abundant plant, the drooping trillium (T. flexipes), is normally pure white but red-brown colored flowers are not unusual.

By far the most variable species is the red trillium (T. erectum). As the name implies, this plant is usually red in color but it can be pale yellow, white, red or a red-brown or some shade in between. And, if this were not confusing enough, the red trillium is known to hybridize with at least four other species. In Ohio, the drooping trillium is the only species that hybridizes with the red trillium. But, ancestral forms of the red trillium that go back thousands of years may have contributed genetic

material from species that are no longer found in Ohio. There are times when it may be best to just step back and appreciate the flowers for what they are and marvel at the forces that have shaped them through the millennia.

This jumbling of the gene pool has effects that go beyond the obvious shape and color of the petals. Over the past decade many trillium species have gone into a precipitous decline. White-tailed deer have a fondness for trilliums – they are like candy to them. The large-flowered trillium has suffered a significant reduction in numbers as a result of our exploding deer population. But there are some — but not all — populations of the red trillium that are resistant to deer browsing. Like the variability of the flower color, there is variability in the resistance to deer. Deer resistant strains of the red trillium may be contributing their resistance when they hybridize with other plants.

The trilliums are a favorite among many people and while our increasing deer herds are the primary cause of trillium declines, people have contributed by digging plants. Trilliums do not often transplant successfully; mature plants have intimate relationships with their surrounding soils. There are trillium seedlings commercially available that do offer the opportunity to add these beautiful plants to a wooded landscape.

More than ever, our trilliums need our responsible appreciation. •

Photos by Warren Uxley Opposite page, left to right: Large-flowered Trillium (T. grandiflorum) Ohio’s state flower is a classic stalked trillium. The flower is separated from the leaves by a short stalk and the white petals open in a flat, showy display.

The yellow anthers separate it from other white trilliums.

Yellow and Red-brown Trillium (T. sessile) The toad trillium is a typical sessile type.

The flower is not stalked but sits on the leaves and the petals stand erect forming a long pyramid. The petals are usually red but can be red-brown or yellow.

Below, left to right: Drooping Trillium (T. flexipes) Drooping trilliums are typically white but a red-brown form is not unusual. It is known to hybridize with the red trilium.

Red Trillium (T. erectum) The red trillium is the most variable of all the trilliums. The petals are normally red but white, pale yellow and red-brown colors also occur. All color forms will have very dark ovaries at the center of the flower.

everyday Spirit Ohio “Sparkles” Steve and Rhonda Fuller, owners of Spirit Ohio Sports Academy At Spirit Ohio Sports Academy (SOSA) in Lexington, Ohio, Steve and Rhonda Fuller think everyone deserves a chance to have fun and compete. Thousands of kids join competitive cheerleading programs all over the country, but there are some who cannot. That’s why, four years ago, they created the Spirit Ohio “Sparkles”.

As a member of Spirit Ohio’s Sparkle team, special needs athletes have the opportunity to experience the thrill of performance through this sensational sport. These kids have practice each week, and build on the skills that they have the ability to do.

Spirit Ohio absorbs the expenses for awards, while instructors and kids from other SOSA programs lend a hand to help

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The Spirit Ohio Sparkle Team

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coach this team. “We started out with one coach and a single girl,” Steve explained, “then a few more girls, and then another coach. Now there are 20 Sparkles and as many volunteers helping with this team. Kids from other teams will take a break to help or stay after class and pitch in. We’re not short on available hands when the Sparkles are in the building!”

The Sparkles learn a cheerleading routine and perform that routine at several cheer competitions throughout the year. A generous donor from the local community provided money for uniforms, and that donor would have been buying a lot fewer uniforms if not for the efforts of team member mom, Shannon Mahoney.

“Shannon has been instrumental in growing

this team and keeping things organized.

She does everything, from keeping an updated bulletin board posted in the gym to altering uniforms if the need arises.”

Working with the kids in any of our programs is rewarding and fun, but working with our special needs kids is an honor,” Steve said, “it’s one of the most heartwarming things you’ll ever see.”

Spirit Ohio Sports Academy is located at 235 Lexington Industrial Drive, in Lexington, Ohio. You can also find them on the web at www.spiritohioallstars.com or look for them on Facebook: Spirit Ohio Sports Academy/Spirit Ohio All Stars. •

Milliron Industries and Heart of Ohio magazine understand that we all know heroes. They are the people who have displayed courage or leadership in an effort to benefit others. We need your help to tell their stories by introducing your hero to the readers of Heart of Ohio magazine. The nominees for “Everyday Heroes” are a person or group of people who have shown their selflessness in one or more of the following ways: (1) Led the way to correcting a hardship or injustice; (2) Overcome adversity and by example has helped others do the same; (3) Served the country and/or community above and beyond normal expectations.

Nominees must live in the heart of Ohio and be willing to have their story and picture in the magazine, on the website, and in the offices of Milliron Industries.

Email your story to: editor@heartofohiomagazine.com or send to: Heart of Ohio magazine P.O. Box 1406 Mansfield, Ohio 44901

MAR/APR 2012

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“ We will probably do what we did last year, and that is plan like crazy and forget about it when the weather gets nice. ”

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Decorating

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family style

Several months ago, my sons and I each celebrated “milestone” birthdays: Graham 21, Gabe 18 and I, 50. We decided to celebrate the events with a family vacation to the Bahamas. For six days, my husband and I enjoyed spending time with our grown sons, laughing, loving and forecasting life with them. I felt extremely blessed and fortunate to have this time with my sons and I hope that as they grow older, we can enjoy a close relationship with them and any other loved ones who enter their lives.

In my years of decorating with clients, I have seen families who have been able to attain this type of life: parents who remain close with their children as they travel themselves through adulthood. Most times, the parents maintain this closeness by traversing the country to the locations where their cherished “young ones” now reside with their own spouses and “little blessings”… grandchildren!! While the time spent together is memorable, generally, the living conditions would rather be forgotten with too many people in close quarters!

Don and Jennie live in Mansfield, Ohio, but their three sons are located from the Carolinas, to the Caribbean, and west to Colorado. Recently, their son and his wife who are in Denver, Colorado contacted Don and Jennie with a proposition. The couple had found a 1920s split bungalow in the desirable downtown neighborhood of Washington Park. The location of the home was perfect for their professions, but their finances could not support purchasing both sides of the property.

The proposition: would Don and Jennie consider purchasing the other half of the split? That way, they would have their

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MAR/APR 2012

own place to reside when visiting and when they weren’t, the young couple would manage the property as a “Vacation Rental by Owner (VRBO)” property for the parents. Heads shook yes, papers were signed, and my newest journey in decorating was to begin…

Don and Jennie scheduled an appointment with me in mid-November and asked me to review the floor plans of the new home that they had purchased in Denver. They also brought along photos of the empty environment and asked that I give them some direction on how to decorate the home to appeal to a VRBO renter. They were aware that I had designed other turn-key properties in Ohio, Florida, Alabama and France and felt overwhelmed by the process. We were only 15 minutes into the

conversation about their new venture when I said to them, “Why are you trying to do this by yourselves? Why not take me with you? I will do all of the shopping and selecting of every item necessary to decorate and outfit the home in the Denver area. All you need to do is show me what you like, push shopping carts AND bring LOTS of credit cards!”

Heads shook yes, papers were signed, and my newest journey in decorating continued…

December 1, 2011 It’s 5:00am and the three of us are headed to the Cleveland airport. My bags are packed with clothing and shoes, but more importantly, tape measure, paint fans, and lists of items that in TWO DAYS we will purchase to completely

outfit the Denver home! We depart with clear skies in Ohio and land in a Denver snowstorm with 6 inches of snow on the ground. “Ignore the snow,” I declare, “we got work to do!”

11:00am:

3:00pm: The three of us arrive at WOW! Home Furnishings. I have a professional relationship with the owner and manager of this store through my travels in the furniture industry and I have called ahead to request assistance for our furniture purchasing needs. WOW! is a

8:00pm: Exhilarated, yet exhausted, we meet Don and Jennie’s son and daughter-in-law for dinner and I see for the first time the closeness of this family and smile through my weariness in the knowledge that I am helping a family remain connected.

December 2, 2011 8:00am:

We are back in the home reviewing our purchases from the day before, meeting again with contractors and painters to review progress, and then off again for more shopping.

12:00pm: It’s a five hour shopping spree at IKEA! As much as I attempt to prepare Don and Jennie for the experience, their eyes cross and heads swoon the minute we walk through the door…

“Don’t be afraid,” I tell them like a comforting mother to her children.

“Listen to me, watch my eyes, and don’t wander off the path without your mother!”

We all laugh, and off we go, to purchase kitchen, bathroom, and bedroom necessities, along with bookcases and other accessories. Six shopping carts and one flat bed cart later, we are loading the van! Are we done? Oh, no! It’s off to Target we go…

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We’ve picked up 2 hours of time change in our favor, so we are already at the home, ready to do the initial walk through and meet with the contractors and painters to discuss any changes to the environment. Paint colors are chosen, rooms are measured, photography of every room angle is completed and workers are given instructions for bathroom and kitchen updates.

refurbished Home Depot Expo building with 88,000sq. ft. of furniture displays.

It would be quite overwhelming to attempt to shop in an environment like this when one needs a whole home of furniture,but that’s why Don and Jennie have brought me! In five hours, we have every piece of furniture that we need for the house. Nearly all pieces were chosen directly from the showroom floor, but a few upholstery items are being special ordered from Norwalk Furniture, my favorite furniture manufacturer that has their product in the WOW! store in Denver. The delivery of all the furniture is scheduled for when we return in January to set the home, and the three of us high five on a job well done!

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7:00pm: The van is unpacked. Pizza is ordered and wine is uncorked. We make lists of additional items needed, and book tickets for our return trip in January when we will receive the furniture and set the home. Don and Jennie hug their kids goodbye and we’re off to bed. We have a 10:00am flight back to Ohio.

Two days. 48 hours. Shopping is complete!

January 12-15 2012 It’s 5:00am and we’re on the road again to the Cleveland airport, heading back to Denver for the set of Don and Jennie’s home. No snowstorm in Denver this time, but there’s a major one headed for Ohio and we fly away just in time to miss the event!

We arrive at the house by 11:00am and review the completed environment with its fresh paint, polished wood floors, updated bathrooms, and completed various other projects. By noon, the WOW! Home Furnishings truck arrives, and for the next several hours furniture is placed, lamps are set, beds are made and the house begins to look like a home. Over the course of the next couple of days, we continue to shop for incidental items, small accessories and window treatments.

Evenings are spent with Don and Jennie’s son and daughter-in-law hanging pictures, installing window treatments and shooting photography for the VRBO website.

The work is completed. The home has taken on its personality well, and

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5:00pm: Manned with two shopping carts per person: one pulled, the other pushed, we strategically maneuver the isles of Target for sheets, comforters, towels, shower curtains, appliances, artwork and other accessories.

The only reason we stop? Fear of not having enough room in the van! And right we were… there was just enough room for me to sit in the back and hold tenderly the bag containing wine glasses. This girl was gonna need some wine after her day!

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MAR/APR 2012

everyone is happy with the results. Jennie cooks dinner in the kitchen for the first time, Don uncorks the wine, and the “kids” set the table for the first dinner. We all sit down together and Don extends his hands. Each family member grabs the other’s hands, and mine are gathered up as well.

Don recites a beautiful prayer of thanks for life, for family, and for this new home.

And I smile sweetly, and am reminded that I decorated… family style! •

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Sister Jane Omlor, the catalyst behind “Little Portion Green” and project manager, watches the progress from above.

Spinning Straw Into Gold…

Today’s Straw House source was the rain collected in a cistern, so we drove the road daily for drinking water. The wells in the area had been polluted and destroyed by mountain top mining. We heated with wood, which we cut ourselves,” she remembered.

Early in 2000, Sister approached Marrow Bone Development, the local mining company, about a deserted building that stood at the bottom of the mountain. She decided the building could be put to good use, and her vision for an education center began with the purchase of that building for one dollar. “It took four months to disassemble and move the structure to the top of the mountain where we lived. With the help of volunteers, some high school students and many college students, we were able to reconstruct the building in about 18 months. We used every single piece of that building, nothing went to waste.” Sitting on 500 acres of ground put into a land trust by Edwina Pepper, The Web of Life Ecology Center provides educational

services to the community, and is a summer camp and adult retreat for visitors from all over the country and the world.

By 2006, the difficult living conditions had taken their toll on Sister Jane’s health.

She knew it was time to leave this work, and began to think about her next assignment. “The sisters and I prayed, and I realized God wanted me back here in Tiffin, Ohio, so this is where I am. I love to build things, and through my work with the Franciscan Earth Literacy Center (FELC), and my past experiences, I decided to propose to the FELC Board the creation of a demonstration home. We began to build the first passive solar straw bale house in this area. If the certification process wasn’t so expensive, it could have been the first certified passive straw bale house in the U.S. We opted out of that prestigious honor,” she said.

Today she is the catalyst and spokesperson behind the current Project S.T.R.A.W. (saving today’s resources in awesome ways). With the help of many

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Sister Jane Frances Omlor, a Tiffin Franciscan, is a potter by trade and builder by nature. She taught at St. Francis High School until responding to a calling for a new assignment in Spencer, West Virginia.

There, in addition to her other duties, she built a traditional straw bale house. Today the twenty by twenty straw and stucco building is still used as a chapel.

“In those days, this was 1996, we didn’t worry a lot about being ecologically correct, so the stucco was Portland cement, lime and sand,” she said. Today we have used earthen plaster, consisting of clay, sand and straw — much more earth friendly.

A few years later, Sister Jane once again followed a call and found herself living on a mountain top, eight miles off a main road, in Mingo County, West Virginia, the heart of that state’s southern coal fields.

“It took forty minutes to travel those eight miles from the main road, and the only thing that could make it up that road was a four wheel drive. Our only water

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Little Portion Green will be used as an educational and demonstration facility to teach young and old alike how to use natural building materials.

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volunteers and the expert work of project manager, Michael Brown, the house, named Little Portion Green, is well on it’s way to completion this summer. One of the project’s claims to fame is that they are the first project in the U.S. to use a new insulating material called Milcell.

The concrete slab floor was poured, over 24,000 pounds of this unique insulation made from 100% recycled glass bottles.

Although it is only manufactured in Germany at the moment, the first plant scheduled to open in this country will be located in Central Ohio.

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Students from Bridges Community Academy on the campus of St. Francis applying clay straw MAR/APR 2012

Looking very much like any other house, the straw bale structure has walls that are 20 inches thick. The outside is finished with breathable exterior sheathing, the straw bale walls are on the inside and are covered with three coats of earth plaster (clay, sand and straw mixture). Molding and shaping the earth plaster over the interior straw bales, the workers hang a piece of rope at the top of the wall. This hanging line is used to make sure the wall is straight and level as they apply the plaster. The first coats of plaster have more sand; the final layers have less

to create a smoother finish. The pleasing result is a smooth wall that curves into the window wells and embraces the door frames in a natural clay color and texture.

The goal of the project is to produce a house that is net zero energy, meaning the house will use no more energy than it produces. To that, end the straw house is equipped with a wind turbine, solar panels, and a forward reaching heat pump system (a ductless mini split), and an energy recovery ventilation system to provide fresh air in the tightly sealed house.

Walking through the construction Sister Jane explained, “The majority of heat loss is through the windows in a house.

We have equipped the straw house with triple pane Loewen windows in a south facing design to make the environment work with us, not against us.”

The Little Portion Green house will be home to Sisters Jane Frances Omlor and Janet Hay, but it will also be used as an education and instruction facility. “We want to teach people that a passive house with or without straw bales is an affordable, energy efficient, natural and sustainable way to build.

It is possible to build beautiful, environmentally friendly homes right now, and we owe it to future generations to do that,” said Sister Jane Frances.

Tim Meeker from Tiffin plastering

The Franciscan Earth Literacy Center plans to share the knowledge gained by building the Little Portion Green straw bale house with the public. Director Mike Conner explains, “We are working on an elementary curriculum that focuses on renewable resources and energy efficiencies to be used during field trips to our site. At a later time we hope to develop a program aimed at adults, offering workshops geared toward trade organizations and individual home owners who want to increase their knowledge about these important topics.”

To find out more about the Little Portion Green straw bale house visit the website at: www.projectstraw.com. •

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Inside Little Portion Green.

MAR/APR 2012

41

Finding the Perfect Home in the

Virtual Neighborhood “Location, Location, Location” is the number one rule of physical real estate, but in virtual neighborhoods a better motto is “Connections, Connections, Connections”.

What Is Social Media?

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Let’s step back a moment. Some of you may not be familiar with virtual real estate.

Simply put, social media is an internet tool used to allow two-way or “social” communication. Communities created by these tools are called virtual neighborhoods.

Les Giblin, in his book How to Have Confidence and Power in Dealing with People, believes “the one common denominator to all success and happiness is other people.”

We should not be surprised then that the top 3 internet social media sites as of January 2012, Facebook, Twitter and Linked In, receive over 1 billion unique visits per month. Wikipedia lists over 200 social media sites for sharing. Topics range from general sharing, like Facebook and include very specific sites such as Ravelry.com for the “guerrilla artist” end of the knitting and crocheting community.

Other names you might be familiar with are My Space, Google+, CafeMom, Ning and Meetup.

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This article will focus on Facebook, with more than 800 million active users around the world, and roughly 200 million in the United States, or two-thirds of the population.

We obviously are people seeking… but why? What motivates the 2 billion of us who are connected to the web, to be and stay there?

Why Are We Choosing Cyber Homes?

Physical home ownership can be a full time job so why are we creating and managing virtual homes too?

Scientific research suggests Facebook use is motivated by two primary needs: (1) the need to belong and (2) the need for self-presentation. The study defines social networking sites (SNSs) as internetbased services that give individuals three major capabilities: • the ability to construct a public or semi-private profile, • identify a list of other users with whom a connection is shared, • view and track connections made by individuals and others I agree with the research, but as a social media coordinator and community builder my experience with social media users demonstrates one key component missing from this report; service to others.

The internet has created a way for us to reach people and information in a way the average person could not have touched just 15 years ago. I recently explained it to a client as being able to extend a virtual hand to increase our social impact.

What Do People Do On Facebook?

Be Social. Facebook is used for keeping in touch. It is used for discussions. It can even be used for revolutions! (Look at Egypt). People play games, give opinions, and share their talents and knowledge. Friends can send invitations and cards of encouragement.

MAR/APR 2012

Families separated by miles are sharing pictures and watching each other grow in videos. It is even being used as a memorial for those that have passed on.

Who Is Using Facebook?

One of the most effective ways to present information on the internet is through a picture called Infographic.

Of a total global audience of 794,925,380 the United States represents 65.80%, or 157,418,920 accounts. Women are leading the charge at 55%, and 18 to 34 year olds represent almost half of all users in the USA. Realtors describe 4 types of home buyers; highly motivated, serious searchers, bargain hunters, and casual lookers. Interestingly we find similar personality traits as people select their virtual homes.

The Vacation Home: Highly Motivated They will deck out their home with all the amenities (called “apps”) and invite you over for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

They will tell you and show you pictures of their kids, grandkids, vacations and the zits on their nose. They will ask you to read and comment on their status (when you comment it is called leaving your “status”), their poetry and blogs, even edit their life story. These send you requests to play games and join every activity they love. They’re the first to comment on your status, remember your birthday with an e-card (electronic greeting card), encourage with inspiring quotes and send private messages of concern.

The Office: Serious Searcher They created their personal Facebook for one thing; Marketing, Marketing, Marketing. Let me correct that, FREE Marketing. Yes, I said Facebook is free.

From a business standpoint it is a VERY

The

Demographics of Facebook United States – January 17, 2012

Total Users % Online Population Total Global Audience:

794,925,380

United States Percent online users: 65.08%

157,418,920

Percent online users 0 100

Not Pictured: Hong Kong, Maldives, Palestine, Singapore, Taiwan

10 Fastest Growing Over Past Week 1. Pakistan 28.57% 1,308,360 2. Israel 7.25% 227,480 3. Cyprus 7.16% 37,020 4. Martinique 30.65% 29,680 5. Benin 27.84% 28,360 6. Libya 5.14% 19,140 7. Estonia 2.70% 11,760 8. United States 0.00% 6,660 9. Brazil 0.01% 5,120 10. Mexico 0.01% 3,960

Facebook Users

By Gender

Facebook Users

By Age 55-64 8%

Female 55%

Male 45%

65 & up 13-15 5% 4% 16-17 6%

45-54 13%

18-24 24%

35-44 17% 25-34 23%

source http://www.checkfacebook.com/

The Efficiency: Bargain Hunter This Facebook user will have a blank profile picture (called an avatar). These are the tenants that leave mailbox nameplates blank. They want to come and go without being seen or heard but they want the benefits of the shared wisdom of the community. 90% of consumers online trust recommendations from people they know; 70% trust opinions of unknown users. (Econsultancy, July 2009) A dear friend commented “I don’t want to be on Facebook, but I want to know what is going on. I can’t go anywhere without someone asking did you see this or that on Facebook?”

While being invisible is tempting, it is not the way to get the most out of social media. A conversation works best when both parties participate. Bargain hunters are some of the most valuable contributors to the community once they commit and join. They are problem

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10 Largest Countries 1. United States 157,418,210 2. Indonesia 41,777,240 3. India 41,399,720 4. Brazil 35,157,560 5. Mexico 30,989,300 6. Turkey 30,959,340 7. United Kingdom 30,469,680 8. Philippines 27,033,680 9. France 23,542,580 10. Germany 22,119,300

tempting environment to tap in to.

Originally set up for personal use, it has quickly grown as the new face of internet business ownership. Any business owner will tell you word of mouth advertising provides the most loyal clients, and there are a lot of mouths working in this neighborhood!

WARNING: If you are using your personal Facebook Page solely for marketing your business — CEASE and DESIST. Business pages are specifically designed for marketing, and promise the fastest way to lose friends is to push your business agenda into their personal world.

Facebook also reserves the right to close your account if you choose to try this.

I have a personal page and a business page. I suggested my business page to my friends and they chose whether they wanted to hear about my business by “liking” my business page. Wouldn’t it be nice if we could choose to like or not like some of our real neighbors!

Included in this category are the rebels with a cause. There are pages specifically for a cause, organization or group. Educate yourself about which is best for you and respect your friends by giving them the choice to hear you or they will stop listening all together!

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information and experiences can change their impact over time.

No Time and I Don’t Know These are the most common complaints real or virtual. We all struggle to make more time and life requires continuing education whether you read a book, watch a video, take a class or read a Facebook article post.

How do you choose which virtual home fits you?

solvers and researchers who continually seek answers and do the homework. They can appreciate the Facebook marketplace for buying and selling goods and services.

FACT: Social Media is not going away anytime soon! The one universal currency that we use in this post-modern world is information. We are in the Information Age and learning to use these tools secures the platform for your voice to be heard in the global conversation.

www.heartofohiomagazine.com

Home Sweet Home: Casual Lookers

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The majority of Facebook friends are casual lookers. 80% of our populations are called the stable group who are focused and immensely loyal. They keep the peace and spread the love and are always considerate of others needs. They create basic personal page with a picture and adjust their privacy settings to friends and family. They will make comments to help others grow and are of service to others; the foundation of any community.

Just like a real neighborhood, GREAT virtual neighborhoods must be full of humans and their personalities.

So Why Isn’t Everybody on Facebook?

I wouldn’t be an honest neighbor if I didn’t mention the reasons while people choose NOT to use Facebook. The top 5 reasons are: MAR/APR 2012

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

aste Of Time W Privacy No Time Don’t Know How To Use It Don’t Know Much About It

Facebook does require Time Management: How Much Time Are We Spending?

The ability to access Facebook from computers and phones keeps us plugged in around the clock. In May of last year a Nielsen report showed Americans spent an average of 12.30 minutes on Facebook every day that month.

If you tend to get lost in activities I suggest purchasing a timer before signing up. This is something people know long before they waste time in Facebook.

Determine your motivation and expectation for joining. Your virtual property can be a vacation condo you visit once every six months, or a daily motivation like a jogging buddy.

Set Limits. My friend Chris has a 40 friend limit. If you want to be his friend, someone gets the boot. Decide how many relationships you want to start with.

Educate yourself. Take a class or learn from a friend. Find out about the different types of pages, apps and privacy options.

Try it. Do not fear joining a neighborhood because of what you do not know, instead risk learning something new to connect you to opportunities you’ve never had.

Remember: Just like your real home, you have a front door that you can choose to answer or not. •

Privacy Facebook is a glass house. While it offers privacy settings, it is your responsibility to use common sense. Don’t accept friend requests from everyone just so you can brag about how many Facebook friends you have. Nothing says you have to accept requests from your ex’s or your classmates that gave you wedgies. There are people that do not have the best of intentions, so make good choices. Every piece of information leaves an internet breadcrumb, obvious when the newest Facebook update, The Timeline, rolled out in December.

Reading a status from a year ago shows how

Kym Lamb is a Social Media Manager, Coach and Designer. Her company, Integrity Project Management, assists people in becoming involved, informed and innovative with their internet presence. Kym has a BBA from Mt. Vernon Nazarene College and is a Certified Human Behavior Consultant and Wellness Motivational Coach.

Send questions or comments to kymlamb@integrityprojectmanagement.com or call 419-571-0204 or read her blog at http://integrityprojectmanagement.com.

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Ready for a career change?

Not ready to retire?

Been downsized?

Ready to gain new skills?

CALL US! 419.589.6363 We can help you stay a step ahead by providing you with current workforce skills.

Programs Leading to Certification include:

Come learn with us!

• Receive quality, hands-on training from instructors with a wealth of industry experience and expertise.

• Learn in state-of-the-art lab facilities.

“ We moved to a condo last fall so we only have a small outdoor patio. I a m searching magazines for ideas to maximize my little space. ” Kathy S. Mansfield

Administrative Office Technology Automotive Technology Clinical Care Specialist Cosmetology Dental Assisting Industrial Electrical Maintenance Phlebotomy/EKG Precision Machining/CNC State Tested Nurse Aide Welding

Take that step and stay ahead! It’s never too late!

Improving technical skills for our local adult workforce for over 30 years

www.madisonadultcc.org

Element of Art

Phone: 419-522-2965 Gallery Hours: Tue-Fri 10-5, Sat 10-3

s t u d i o / g a l l e r y

96 North Main Street, Mansfield, Ohio 44902

OVER 200 USED VEHICLES 1493 Park Ave. West | Mansfield 419.529.4000 | 800.762.8824

mmgauto.com MAR/APR 2012

www.heartofohiomagazine.com

Element of Art Studio / Gallery is a non-profit art gallery that showcases the artistic talents of individuals with developmental disabilities affiliated with Richland Newhope Industries, Inc. Because the space doubles as a studio, the public has the opportunity to interact with the artists as they create unique artwork including but not limited to painting, photography, jewelry, and ceramics.

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TECH SAVVY

High Tech meets History at OSR One of the most popular tourist attractions in north central is the Ohio State Reformatory (OSR) (the Reformatory) in Mansfield. The hulking structure is a combination of three architectural styles, designed to inspire inmates to change their lives to prevent coming back to its cold, stone walls. From the day the cornerstone was laid in 1886 to its closing in 1990, OSR was home to over 155,000 men.

The Mansfield Historical Preservation Society was formed to save the architectural wonder from demolition. For over twenty years the organization has worked to raise funds for restoration and preservation, and the Ohio State Reformatory in Mansfield continues to be a work in progress.

Today the OSR Historic Site receives visitors from all over the world. Each year sixty to seventy thousand tourists, movie buffs, thrill seekers and paranormal investigators walk through the halls of the majestic structure.

www.heartofohiomagazine.com

The Challenge As the Reformatory has grown in popularity the Preservation Society has been forced to address a new challenge.

As the size of the crowds increased, the demand for qualified volunteer tour guides also increased, to the point that it was nearly exhausting the existing volunteer base. Finally, a technical solution was found to help keep up with the tours; hand held audio devices and directional signs were added to help accommodate the tourists. While these additions were helpful, they fell short of telling the whole story and addressing

46

MAR/APR 2012

the varying interests of the visitors.

To help design a system that would address the specific needs at OSR, the Historical Preservation Society approached locally owned and operated DRM Productions, in Mansfield.

“The board wanted a high-tech device that blended into the architecture. The difficulty was going to be designing something that fit into those two worlds,�

Damron said.

To meet that challenge, Dave Damron and Bob Jones brought their team to the table to create something that would inform and enhance, without detracting from the tourists experience.

The Solution

Dave Damron and Bob Jones of DRM Productions

It was decided that eight interactive video kiosks would be placed throughout the site to tell the story of OSR. The kiosks would allow visitors to decide how much information they wanted to hear and in what order.

Each kiosk, built by a local cabinet maker, is designed to look like an old floor model radio from the 1930’s. It houses a 30-inch flat panel touch screen and all the tech to support it. DRM technicians installed Apple Mac Mini’s which were programmed to be easily updated as new video pieces are added. Timers, amplifiers, speakers and key switches were used to complete the A/V experience and control each unit.

DRM then produced high-definition video and media which was site specific for a kiosk, as well as other media which would be loaded onto several units to take advantage of each location.

A typical kiosk might feature any of the following information: ■ Historic building and site information.

■ Guard and inmate interviews, with stories of escape attempts and day-to-day life experience behind the walls.

■ 3D building animations to help visitors visualize where they are and where they go next.

■ Explanations of things that happened in the area where a kiosk is located.

■ Hollywood stories of this particular area and how it was used.

■ Paranormal activity

The Ohio State Reformatory Listed on the

“101 Thing to Do Before You Die”

2012 TOUR SEASON

SELF GUIDED TOURS

GUIDED TOURS

Mon – Sat. 11am – 4pm

Sundays 1pm – 4 pm • May 1st – September 9th

May 1st – September 8th

West Tower Tour • 1:00 1:45 2:30 3:15

General Tour of Building

East Cell Block Tour • 1:15 2:00 2:45 3:30 Hollywood Tour • 1:30 2:15 3:00 3:45

Admission: Adults $9.00 • Children & Seniors $7.00 100 Reformatory Road, Mansfield, Ohio 44905 • 419-522-2644 • www.mrps.org

SAFE. SECURE. SCHMIDT.

The Result

Schmidt Security Pro

Offering the latest security and safety systems to protect your home, business and most importantly, your family.

FIRE EQUIPMENT & INSPECTIONS INTEGRATED CCTV & ACCESS CONTROL RESIDENTIAL SECURITY

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For information on DRM Productions, visit drminc.com.

For information on the Mansfield Reformatory or the Mansfield Reformatory Preservation Society, visit mrps.org.

EMERGENCY RESPONSE SYSTEMS (ERS)

Toll Free 866.526.4747 | Mansfield 419.526.4747 Wooster 330.263.4747 | Mt. Vernon 740.393.4747 Ashland 419.281.1717 | Marion 740.387.4747

Schmidt Security Pro : 241 Mansfield Industrial Parkway Mansfield, Ohio 44903 6481 Kinney Road Mount Vernon, Ohio 43050 MAR/APR 2012

www.heartofohiomagazine.com

Surveys show that the project has been a big success. The retro designed kiosks add to the overall visitor experience, and the level of information that can be shared with tourists has increased dramatically.

Board President Ed Meehan described the Society’s positive reaction to the project, “We could not be happier. The units look great and we can easily change, update or add content as more becomes available.

In this day and age we knew that technology could help us, we just didn’t know how. DRM Productions brought all the elements together with the know-how to carry it out.” •

47

Allure Studios Full Service Salon and Day Spa

Scott E Sharrock Ins Agcy Inc Scott Sharrock, Agent 10 Plymouth Street Lexington, OH 44904 Bus: 419-884-1395

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includes 1 hour massage or facial, manicure and spa pedicure

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48

“ My dad is going to finish last year’s project, and that is an outdoor kitchen.

Last year we got the patio, this year it will be the grill and furniture. ” Tiffany M. Wooster

Call Today!

419.525.8700

Member FDIC

JOIN US FOR:

Wine & Beer Making Classes Wine & Beer Tastings Please Call for Times and Dates

EQUAL HOUSING

LENDER

Disclosures are available by calling the telephone number listed in this ad for details about credit costs and terms.

MITCHELL’S ORCHARD & FARM MARKET       

Fresh Unpasteurized Cider Made Weekly September To March 36 Varieties of Apples - Select Varieties in Store thru February Largest Selection of Wines & Imported Beers in the Area Holmes County Cheese & Trail Bologna Ohio & Organic Wines OPEN YEAR ’ROUND Wine & Beer Making Supplies Monday – Saturday Gifts & Baskets 9:00 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.

1217 TR 1153 • ASHLAND, OH 44805 • 419-207-0746 MAR/APR 2012

&

ReStaurants Heart of Ohio is proud to feature some of Ohio’s great local eateries.

Use the key below to find the perfect place to go for your night out or lunch on the go.

Eateries

Be a part of the next B Breakfast

Outdoor Seating

Br Brunch

Family-Friendly

L Lunch

Reservations

D Dinner

Happy Hour

TO Takeout

Wheelchair Accessible

GG Grab ‘n’ Go

Find us on Facebook

Average dinner entrée price $ $10 or less $$ $11-$20 $$$ $21-$30

$$$$ $31 or more

Restaurants Eateries

&

Contact Debra Baker debra@heartofohiomagazine.com 419.961.7464 419.524.2127

The Sand Wedge Grill Open Year Round

at

Full Service Restaurant & Bar www.deerridgegc.com

Mon – Thu • 11am – 8pm Fri & Sat • 11am – 9pm Sun • 11am – 7pm

• Easter Buffet – please call for details and reservations.

• Weddings and Receptions and Meeting rooms available.

• Call to book your golf outing for the 2012 season.

900 Comfort Plaza Drive | Bellville

Call 419-886-7090 for reservations

The Alcove Restaurant & Lounge 116 S Main St, Mt Vernon, 740.392.3076 www.alcoverestaurant.com Dining M-Th 11:30-9, F-Sa 11:30-9:30 Lounge 11:30-10, F-Sa 11:30-11 TO D L The Alcove first opened in December 1911, now 100 years later, we are proud to say we are still the place to come for quality food & service. Daily lunch & dinner specials, our famous Alcove prime rib on Friday and Saturday, intimate cocktail lounge, private banquet rooms, catering services. $$

Athens Greek Restaurants 41 N Main St, Mansfield, 419.524.5620 M-Sa 11-8 41 S Lexington-Springmill Rd, Ontario M-Sa 11-9 TO D L Best gyros outside New York. Closed Sundays & major holidays. $

t w ith Start the day righ st.

Granter’s breakfa

Broken Rocks Cafe & Bakery 123 E Liberty St, Wooster, 330.263.2949 www.brokenrockscafe.com M-Th 9-9, F-Sa 9-10 TO D B L

Lunch with us or take it with you.

Bromfield’s at Mohican State Park Lodge

www.heartofohiomagazine.com

Have a Grinder for dinner… we’re open til 7.

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1098 CR 3006, Perrysville, 419.938.5411 www.mohicanstateparklodge.com M-Su Breakfast 8-10:30, Lunch 11-2, Dinner 5-8 TO D B L

GRINDER REMINDERS Call or fax your order to:

419-774-8911 FAX

419-774-9321

We can cater your business meeting or family gathering!

MAR/APR 2012

Casual dining with upscale appeal.

Hand crafted pasta, pizza, soup, salad, sandwiches, steaks and dessert. Artisan breads baked daily. Wine list and full bar. Open for breakfast lunch and dinner. Gift cetificates available $$

At Lexington Ave. and Trimble Rd. Adjacent to CVS Pharmacy Open Mon. – Fri. 6AM to 7PM , Sat. 7AM to 3PM

www.grantersgrinders.com

Open Daily. While overlooking gorgeous views of Pleasant Hill Lake, dine on one of our locally farm-raised beef dishes including our delicious signature halfpound burger or one of our outstanding pasta dishes. Full-service lounge, banquet spaces and catering available. $$

Brown Derby Roadhouse 3985 Park Ave W, Ontario, 419.529.2959 www.brownderbyontario.com M-Th 4-10:30, F 3-11:30, Sa 12-11:30, Su 11:30-9 TO D The one true Roadhouse. A relaxed and fun atmosphere. We hand select and cut our steaks fresh daily. Our USDA Prime and Choice steaks are cooked western style over open hardwood flames. St. Louis BBQ ribs, great seafood selection, over the top sides, draft & bottle beer, specialty drinks & wine. $$

Catering to Your Taste!

Located At The Brown Derby Road House Our Professional Staff will create the Perfect Event!

Complete Catering and Banquet Service from 25 to 1,500 guests.  Wedding Receptions  Rehearsal Parties  Bridal Showers  Creative Customized Menus  On & Off Premise Catering  Special Events

Thanks fo r Voting u s the Best Aga in!

City Grille & Bar 37 E 4th St, Mansfield, 419.709.9199 T-Th 11-10, F 11-11, Sa 4-11, Closed 2-4 Bar T-Th til 11, F-Sa til 1am TO D L

Your Every Event Caterer

American cuisine. Family-friendly, casual full-service restaurant & bar. $

419-529-2959

Coolridge Golf Course Diner

For more information visit our website www.ontarioeventcenter.com

591 Vonhoff Blvd, Mansfield, 419.521.5159 M-Sa 6-7, Su 6-2 TO GG D B L Home-cooked meals, friendly atmosphere.

Prime Rib Friday 4-7. Daily Specials. $

Ed Pickens’ Café on Main 28 N Main St, Mansfield, 419.522.7699 www.cafeonmain.net M-F 8-3 TO Br L

Empress Express 1041 Park Ave W, Mansfield, 419.524.4200 M-Sa 11-9 TO D L Our food is fresh, made to order.

Limited delivery. $

The Kenyon Inn & Restaurant 100 W Wiggin St, Gambier, 740.427.2202 www.kenyoninn.com Breakfast M-F 7-9:30, Sa 8-10 Brunch Su 9-2, Lunch M-Sa 11-2 Dinner Su-Th 5-8:30, F-Sa 5-9 TO Br D B L A charming atmosphere awaits you at The Kenyon Inn on the campus of Kenyon College. We offer delicious food, fine wine and tantalizing desserts. Live music in the summer during our Party on the Patio series and introducing our newly enlarged and renovated private room for special occasions and corporate needs. $$

Fresh, never frozen.

Always homemade.

• Prime Rib • Steak • BBQ Ribs

• Burgers • Wings • Seafood

Tue, Wed, Thu, Sun | 11am - 10pm Fri & Sat | 11am - 11pm CLOSED MONDAY

The Mill Street Bistro Bar 21 Mill St, Norwalk, 419.663.3663 www.millstreetbistrobar.com D We use our own farm-raised elk, buffalo and beef. $$$

Voted best BBQ of Mid-Ohio 2010 & 2011 844 St. Rt. 97 West, Bellville, OH 419.886.2159 MAR/APR 2012

www.heartofohiomagazine.com

We can provide a complete range of services for groups of 20 to 600.

Continental breakfasts to full service wedding receptions, we can fulfill all your needs for a seamless event. Our soups, salads, entrees, sides, and desserts are all made at our facility in downtown Mansfield. Visit www.cafeonmain.net. $

3985 Park Ave. West - Ontario Email: staff@ontarioeventcenter.com

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Be a part of the next

Restaurants Eateries

&

Contact Debra Baker debra@heartofohiomagazine.com 419.961.7464 419.524.2127 Oak Park Tavern 2919 St Rt 430 E, Mansfield, 419.589.2637 www.oakparktavern.com Tu-F 11-10, Sa 3-10, Su 3-9 TO D L

Enjoy fine dining in a casual atmosphere. $$

Ontario Event Center 3985 Park Ave W, Ontario, 419.529.2959 www.ontarioeventcenter.com TO Br D B L Full service banquet and catering facility.

Can accommodate 25-1500 off site and 300 on site. Breakfast, lunch, dinner menu or custom menu per your request.

Located at the back of the Brown Derby Roadhouse corner of Rt 314 and Rt 309 (Park Ave West). Voted “Best Banquet Facility” again! See display ad for more. $$

Casual, relaxed atmosphere. Steaks cut fresh daily, USDA prime choice steaks hand selected, aged to perfection, flame-broiled, seasoned with Steve’s special blend. Rotisserie roasted prime rib, fresh seafood, pasta & chicken dishes.

Great sandwiches. Kids’ menu. Wine & beer selections from around the world. Voted “Best Prime Rib” again. $$

TJ’s Restaurant 359 W Liberty St, Wooster, 330.264.6263 www.tjsrestaurants.com M-F 11-9:30, Sa 4:30-9:30 TO D L Steaks, seafood, chicken, pasta, daily specials in a relaxed atmosphere. $$

Troyer’s Dutch Heritage Restaurant

MAR/APR 2012

www.tablegroovyfood.com

V&M Restaurant 104 Main St, Bellville, 419.886.3569 www.vandmrestaurant.com TO D B L

Virginia BBQ

Daily Breakfast, lunch, dinner specials over 60 years! Homemade pies. $

149 E. Jones Street Millersburg 330-674-0023

Tues – Thurs: 11 - 2:30pm L 4:30 - 7pm D Fri: 11 - 2:30pm L 4:30 - 8pm D Sat: 4 - 9pm D

Traditional Amish country cooking. Buffet, menu, family-style. Open 7 days. $$

Spearman’s Restaurant 26155 Coshocton Rd, Millwood, 740.599.7617 M-Sa 7-7:45 Su 8-7:45 TO D B L

TABLE is a voice in the movement towards real food — food that is alive from the garden, TABLE’s own farm, locally and sustainably farmed. TABLE, where impeccable training and the love of hospitality meet HOURS ranks: Come!

720 St Rt 97 W, Bellville, 419.886.7070 www.troyersdutchheritage.com M-Sa 7-8, Su 11-4 TO Br D B L

Enjoy 50s / 60s atmosphere. Breakfast served all day! Homemade pies. $

620 S Main St, Mt Vernon, 740.392.1282 M-Sa 5:45-8, Su 7-3 TO D B L www.heartofohiomagazine.com

3101 Park Ave W, Ontario, 419.529.9064 www.stevesdakotagrill.com M-Th 4-10, F 4-11, Sa 12-11, S 11-8 TO D L

What’s the best thing about small town Bellville? Many think it’s the V&M Restaurant. Breakfast, lunch, dinner – The meals are home cooked with consistent quality that draws people from near and far. Great food at pleasant prices, served with a smile. $

Southside Diner

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Steve’s Dakota Grill

625 Lexington Ave, Mansfield, 419.522.7427 www.virginiabbq.com M-Sa 11-8, Su 12-7 TO D L Genuine Southern BBQ and fresh side items. Catering available. $

Send a tasty message to clients or friends!

• Special Occasions • Thank You Gifts • Congratulations

Cakes, Cookies, Teas & more…

1. Choose the treat 2. Send us your gift list 3. Tell us when to ship 837 Lexington Ave. Mansfield 419.525.2868

www.eatmorbundt.com

Is QR for you?

THE OHIO AIR NATIONAL GUARD HAS PROTECTED US, NOW IT IS OUR TURN TO PROTECT THEM! The Department of Defense announced the discontinuance of the C-27J aircraft program including the mission of our 179th local guard unit. We need to tell Congress to REINSTATE the C-27J program.

YOU CAN HELP!

Go to chooserichland.com and click on the airplane to send an email to Congress.

Call 419.755.7234 for additional information.

Thank you, Richland Community Development Group, Media Sector.

You may have noticed these mysterious barcodes throughout Heart of Ohio magazine.

With these quick response codes, you can link to a website, send a text, add contact info, map your location and more — all through your smartphone!

Reduce, Reuse, Repurpose.

Restoring refinement to old items

Heart of Ohio will create and print your own QR code in any half or full page ad. Call us today for more info.

419.524.2127

Habitat wants your new / used bath and kitchen cabinets, windows, doors, light fixtures, lumber, tile, tools, furniture and more.

Stop in at our store for some great finds! It’s open to the public.

To make a donation or schedule a pickup, call

in Wayne County

330.264.4999

Most donations are tax-deductible.

1451 Spruce Street Extension, Wooster, OH 44691 | www.waynehabitat.org

Scan this QR code with your smartphone to map the location of Heart of Ohio / SunGraphics, Inc.

Media • Business Networking Project Consulting P.O. Box 3822 Mansfield, OH 44907 mike@migreps.com

cell 419.565.1249 bus 567.247.4736

www.migreps.com MAR/APR 2012

www.heartofohiomagazine.com

MiGreps LLC Mike Greene Reps

53

www.halmaxfield.com “ Last year it was su mmer before I even got around to thinking about flowers, so I want to get them earlier this year. ” Carol P. Lexington

REAL ESTATE CO., INC.

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Hal Maxfield, CCIM, SIOR

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Commercial REALTOR® grstpsg@yahoo.com

Commercial REALTOR® jpbtpsg@yahoo.com

Local, out-of-county, out-of-state and out-of-country properties

380 N. Main St. • Mansfield, OH 44902 419-524-0010

MOTHER’S / FATHER’S DAY SPECIAL Treat Mom or Dad to a massage! $10 OFF 1Hour Massage Gift Certificates

M

Therapeutic Care

assage, LLC

787 Park Avenue West, Mansfield 419-747-CARE (2273)

Royalwood Ltd.

Supplies for beading, basket & seat weaving

NO TAX SALE Monday, April 16

Let us pay your taxes on merchandise purchased at What Goes ‘Round today!

GIFT CERTIFIC AT

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Irish Waxed Linen Thread Mizuhiki & Embellishment Cords Beads, Threads & Wires 517 Woodville Rd. Tools & Kits Mansfield, Ohio 44907 Books & Patterns 800-526-1630 And much, much more… www.RoyalwoodLtd.com

www.heartofohiomagazine.com

Store Hours

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Monday – Friday Saturday

10am – 5pm 10am – 3pm

What Goes ‘Round Thrift Shoppe is filled with an eclectic mix of donated items, including clothing and accessories, shoes, jewelry, bridal attire, furniture, household goods, small appliances, and more!

All proceeds from the store benefit Hospice of North Central Ohio.

113 North Main Street, Mansfield, Ohio 44902

419.522.2890 MAR/APR 2012

64 E Main St

Lexington

419-884-6135 ynotcycling.com

MONEY MATTERS

Planning for a Long Retirement

by Charles P. Hahn, CFP® in conjunction with Lincoln Financial Advisors/Sagemark Consulting, a division of Lincoln Financial Advisors, a registered investment advisor or Lincoln Financial Securities Corporation Americans are living longer than ever, thanks to advances in health care, improved diets and better exercise. A 65-year-old today can reasonably expect to live another 15 or 20 years; among retired couples, there is a 50% chance one spouse will live past 90, according to the Society of Actuaries.

This is great news of course. But, it also presents you with a significant financial challenge: making sure your money lasts as long as you do. The possibility of running out of money is one of the biggest risks many retirees will face in the years ahead. The challenge: If you are close to retirement, it’s more important than ever to think about how to make your money last by addressing some key issues. For example:

Your spending habits

Your portfolio A longer retirement gives inflation more time to erode your purchasing power. Conventional wisdom is to become less aggressive with your investments as you near retirement. The problem is that bonds and other fixed-income investments

Your withdrawal strategy The amount of money you draw from your portfolio each year will have a big impact on whether or not your savings can go the distance. In the past, retirees often could safely withdraw 8% a year or more from their portfolios to cover living expenses. That’s not often the case anymore. Withdrawing more than 5% a year (adjusted for inflation) can significantly boost the risk that you may run out of money during retirement.

To help generate a steady stream of income for a period of years or over your entire lifetime, consider annuitizing a portion of your portfolio to cover necessities. An annuity can be your own guaranteed account to cover the necessities in life. (Guarantees are based on the claims paying ability of the issuer.)

Think of your other investments as the bucket that allows you to live your dreams, the ones you feel comfortable doing knowing the necessities are covered.

Your health care costs An extended retirement may mean a greater need for specialized medical care down the road — and with fewer employers offering lifelong health insurance; the burden will fall largely on individuals. Therefore, your plan also should set aside some assets to pay for long-term care. Care in an assisted living

unit costs $2,968 a month on average, according to AARP* — an amount that can quickly deplete a retirement portfolio.

That makes it imperative to plan for unforeseen medical and health care problems before they occur.

If you review your situation and discover that you’re not as well prepared as you’d hoped, don’t panic. There are plenty of smart moves you can make to get on track. You might consider looking for ways to build up your retirement savings – for example, by saving more or investing any bonus or inheritance you receive.

Another option is to increase your investment allocation to stocks and high-yielding fixed income instruments if you can handle the risk or vehicles that will help to ensure a lifelong income stream. An additional alternative is to join the growing number of Americans who are choosing to delay retirement or work part time in retirement to generate additional income. In short, you have options.

The key is to start planning now. But since your situation is likely to change over the years, you’ll need to meet with your financial planner periodically to discuss your financial plan, how it is performing and if changes have occurred that could affect your plan.

By giving yourself as much time as you can to implement a comprehensive financial plan — and to review it along the way — you’ll increase your chances of achieving a comfortable and secure retirement, and live the life you’ve dreamed of for decades to come. * “What Does Long-Term Care Cost? Who Pays?” (www.aarp.org/families/caregiving/caring_help/ what_does_long_term_care_cost.html), accessed April 2009.

MAR/APR 2012

www.heartofohiomagazine.com

Don’t assume that your expenses will decline significantly once you leave the workforce. The old rule of thumb that you’ll only need about 70% of your preretirement income no longer makes sense for most of us. Retirees today and in the future are likely to be much more active than previous generations and will pursue lifestyles that require more money.

True, some expenses may go down; you may, for instance, downgrade to a smaller home. But others — such as travel and leisure, healthcare and prescriptions — will almost certainly increase.

may not keep up with inflation. This means you’ll probably want to start your post-career life with a healthier allocation in growth-oriented investments such as stocks. Stocks have had a better track record outpacing inflation than other forms of securities, although they also carry greater risk and volatility.

55

! t o h s t s e b r Give us you Whether you’re vacationing, exploring or just relaxing with a cup of coffee, we would love to see you enjoying your copy of Heart of Ohio magazine.

Submit your photo, and you just might see yourself in a future issue!

Send your photo to: editor@heartofohiomagazine.com

Isabelle Morrison enjoyed Heart of Ohio while on vacation in Punt a Cana, Dominican Republic.

g with him Heart of Ohio alon ok to ay w lo ol H from el D here many scenes w , l ra ed th Ca r te . to Glouces movies were filmed the Harry Potter

www.heartofohiomagazine.com

World Champion dart throwers and former Mansfielders, Charlie and Scott Butler, read Heart of Ohio with visiting Mansfield friend Caro l Secrist and sponsor/owner of Toscos Sports Bar.

56

Mark and Donna Baki took Heart of Ohio magazine along with them to Emerald Isle, NC with their son and daughter-in-law, Cameron & Nicole Wagoner, grandson Ayden and granddaughter Gabby.

MAR/APR 2012

COMMUNICATION COACH by paula m. cohen

I have a personal blog and part of the information I provide to readers is a blogroll, which is a list of other blogs I think my readers would find useful. I have a friend who wants me to list her blog on my blogroll, so she can increase traffic to her site. The problem is I don’t think her blog is very good; it’s not something I would recommend to anyone. She doesn’t research the topic to provide new/useful information for readers, offer possible solutions to problems, or ask her readers to share their ideas. The few times I’ve looked at her blog, which hasn’t been updated in months, I feel as if I’ve wasted my time reading it. She only provides a general overview of the problem… something readers are already familiar with. I feel recommending her blog would have a negative impact on my credibility. I can’t think of any delicate way of handling this. Do you have any ideas?

M M, Columbus

Help! I hate my daughter’s boyfriend.

“Amy” is a thirty year old teacher that is pretty, outgoing, and has lots of good friends. She has been engaged twice before, and is now on the verge of getting engaged to “Fred,” her boyfriend of five months. Fred is quiet to the point of rudeness, has little career potential, and is of a different religion. He rarely accompanies Amy to family functions, but when he has he’s been more interested in his phone than in conversing with us. I have spoken with Amy’s friends about their relationship and most of them agree with me — she can do much better than Fred. What can I say to get Amy to understand that Fred is not a suitable husband for her?

M N, Glenview, IL

It’s really a shame that arranged marriages have gone out of style. You could have selected a future husband for Amy with all the attributes that are important to you — someone with an impressive career, a charming personality, and who is of the “right” religion. Who cares what she wants! Mom knows best, right?

Amy is thirty years old. Speaking with your daughter’s friends about Amy and Fred’s relationship really takes “helicopter” parenting to a new level. From your description she appears capable of making her own decisions, which, as her mother, should make you proud. You did your job well. You don’t have to like what your adult kids do, but you do need to accept and respect their decisions; constant harping only makes things worse. Amy is well aware that you disapprove of her almost-fiancé, and I’m sure Fred is clued into your feelings, too. Spending an afternoon having a root canal would probably be less painful for him than spending an evening at your house.

Trust your daughter’s judgment, be nice to Fred, and stop gossiping with her girlfriends. I don’t have a crystal ball, so I don’t know what the future holds for those two. However, I can say with certainty that if you continue down the path you’re on you will push your daughter away and possibly future grandchildren, too. Please sit down with your daughter privately, apologize for your overbearing behavior, and let her know that she can count on your support for whatever the future holds. Then get out an old apron, grab a pair of scissors, and cut those apron strings off. Best wishes!

Paula M. Cohen is the owner of TrineVentures, a communications consulting business that helps organizations meet their communication needs through a variety of programs.

Send comments or questions for this column to trineventures@hotmail.com.

MAR/APR 2012

www.heartofohiomagazine.com

Through personal blogs, writers look to catch the attention of, entertain, and inform their audience. Blogrolls are used to attract and increase readership. Links should be reciprocal with other blogs, spreading “link-love” to a wider audience.

All good writers need to continually ask themselves if what they are putting out there is audience-centered. Since you are sure that linking to her blog will not help your audience in anyway, you are going to have to deliver the bad news to your friend in a manner that makes it sound like this is a rational, well-thought out business decision.

In this case, I favor using email to deliver the news. Using this communication channel will allow you to carefully organize your points, control the wording, and set the tone. Also, since you will not be face-to-face, you will not be thrown off by your friend’s verbal and nonverbal responses. The message should start with a relevant, supportive opening statement (a “buffer”) that helps soften

the impact of the news to come. Try something like, “I certainly appreciate the offer to be part of my new online venture.”

Next, explain that you’ve carefully analyzed the relevant information. Be honest, and give reasons that will help lead your friend to the conclusion that this was the best business decision given the situation. Put the actual bad news in the middle of the paragraph, and quickly follow up with more discussion of your reasons. Do not apologize for your decision! Remember, it should appear that it’s the only logical decision under the circumstances. Use positive, impersonal language to distance the reader from the bad news.

Make your closing friendly and supportive. Since this is a friend, and you would like to retain her goodwill, it would be appropriate to suggest other blogs you’ve come across that might be a better fit for her writing.

Once again, keep it positive by stressing what you can do — not what you can’t do.

Hopefully, your friend will accept your decision and the two of you will be able to keep your business dealings and friendship separated.

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Together as a community, we love telling our stories. Stories of amazing people and places. Stories of days gone by and of those legends that came before us, as well as those who promise to amaze us in the future. Our vision is that from city to city and from state to state, others will come to appreciate the pride we share as we enjoy living in the heart of Ohio.

When a New York couple read about the Reformatory Ghost Tour in our Fall 2011 issue, they made Mansfield a destination trip. And when a Mount Vernon couple read Julie McCready’s “Decorating with Passion” article, they decided to ask for Julie’s help in their complete renovation. After reading about the Tree Frog Canopy Tours in Loudonville, an adventurous group from Delaware vowed to make ziplining an annual event. These and many similar stories have become topics of discussion throughout the community, helping to make our vision come to life.

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