Ohio Cooperative Living - July 2020 - Lorain-Medina

OHIO

JULY 2020

COOPERATIVE Lorain-Medina Rural Electric Cooperative

Tropical treats Enjoy a taste of the islands

ALSO INSIDE Clearing power’s path Summer bird-feeding tips World’s longest yard sale

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For more information or to nominate someone, visit www.whopowersyou.com

ohioec.org/purpose

OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING • JULY JULY2020 2020

INSIDE FEATURES 24 ON WITH THE SHOW Vaudeville-era theaters in Ohio thrive after some TLC.

30 SHOP TILL YOU DROP The 127 Yard Sale, billed as the “world’s longest,” spreads out over nearly 700 miles through six states.

Cover image on most issues: When summer’s heat really settles in, there’s nothing like some homemade tropical treats, like this mango sorbet, to cool things down (photograph by Catherine Murray).

JULY 2020 • OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING 1

UP FRONT

Essentials M

ost of us are returning to nearly normal following months of lockdown. I’m thankful that Ohio has seen less severe health impacts than many parts of the country, but we’ve all seen tragic loss of life, a painful economic shutdown, and strained relations in urban communities across the country. This has been a difficult year for many.

I’m pleased to acknowledge with gratitude the many essential workers, who, through all of the chaos of the past few months, have continued to work every day to assure that we have the essentials of modern life. Among the thousands of heroes across the country who helped keep our society functioning are the electric cooperative employees and power plant workers who made themselves accessible each and every day to ensure a reliable supply of electricity to your homes and businesses.

Through extraordinary efforts, our lineworkers and plant operators remained largely healthy and available to keep our systems running and to make any needed repairs.

Thank you to all the essential workers who have kept us safe, secure, and fed throughout the past few months. We’ve come to appreciate some things that we may have taken for granted — even toilet paper, for instance. Let’s not forget to recognize the people who made it happen across dozens of industries that provide our essentials.

I hope you and your family enjoy a further return to a more normal lifestyle.

2 OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING • JULY 2020

Pat O’Loughlin PRESIDENT & CEO OHIO’S ELECTRIC COOPERATIVES

Through extraordinary efforts, our lineworkers and plant employees remained largely healthy and available to keep our systems running.

JULY 2020 • Volume 62, No. 10

MORE INSIDE Ohio Rural Electric Cooperatives 6677 Busch Blvd.

Columbus, OH 43229 614-846-5757 memberinteract@ohioec.org www.ohioec.org Patrick O’Loughlin President & CEO

Patrick Higgins Director of Communications

Jeff McCallister Managing Editor

Rebecca Seum Associate Editor

Anita Cook Graphic Designer

Contributors: Colleen Romick Clark, Victoria Ellwood, Hunter Graffice, W.H. “Chip” Gross, Catherine Murray, Damaine Vonada, Kris Wetherbee, and Rick Wetherbee.

OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING (USPS 134-760; ISSN 2572-049X) is published monthly by Ohio Rural Elec­tric Co­op­eratives, Inc. It is the official com­mun­ ication link be­tween the elec­­­­tric co­operatives in Ohio and West Virginia and their mem­bers. Subscription cost for members ranges from $5.52 to $6.96 per year, paid from equity accruing to the member.

POSTMASTER: Send address changes to editorial and advertising offices at: 6677 Busch Boulevard, Columbus, OH 43229-1101. Periodicals postage paid at Pontiac, IL 61764, and at additional mailing offices.

Nothing in this publication may be reproduced in any manner without written permission from Ohio Rural Electric Cooperatives, Inc. All rights reserved.

The fact that a product is advertised in Ohio Cooperative Living should not be taken as an en­dorse­ment. If you find an advertisement mis­leading or a product unsatisfactory, please not­ify us or the Ohio Attorney General’s Of­fi ce, Consumer Protection Sec­tion, 30 E. Broad St., Col­um­bus, OH 43215.

Periodicals postage paid at Colum­bus, OH, and at additional mailing offices.

DEPARTMENTS

4

4 POWER LINES

Power protectors: Co-ops improve service reliability by clearing trees and foliage from the power line right-of-way.

8 CO-OP SPOTLIGHT

Co-op standouts: Ohio’s Electric Cooperatives honors children of members with scholarship awards.

8

10 WOODS, WATERS, AND WILDLIFE

Nature’s clown prince: Eminently fun to watch, river otters have made a wildly successful comeback in the Buckeye State.

10

12 CO-OP PEOPLE

American spirits: Missy and Joe Duer specialize in early American fare at Staley Mill Farm and Indian Creek Distillery.

15 GOOD EATS

Taste of summer: Whether you’re sitting on an exotic beach or just dreaming of one, these tropical flavors fit right in.

12

19 LOCAL PAGES

News and information from your electric cooperative.

For all advertising inquiries, contact

Cheryl Solomon American MainStreet Publications 847-749-4875 | cheryl@amp.coop

Cooperative members: Please report changes of address to your electric cooperative. Ohio Cooperative Living staff cannot process address changes.

Alliance for Audited Media Member Ohio’s Electric Cooperatives is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

34 IN THE GARDEN

Summer birdfeeding: Increase the number of summertime visitors with these backyard tips.

15

37 CALENDAR

What’s happening: July/August events and other things to do around the state. Just make sure to confirm before you travel.

40 MEMBER INTERACTIVE

40

Corn-y: Knee-high by the Fourth of July? “Ears” to tons of summertime fun!

JULY 2020 • OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING 3

POWER LINES

POWER protectors Co-ops improve service reliability by clearing trees and foliage from the power line right-of-way.

BY HUNTER GRAFFICE

4 OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING • JULY 2020

I

t’s a common sight, especially during the spring and summer growing season — crews cutting away tree limbs and foliage that have gotten too close to nearby power lines.

Though the work is often arduous, the lineworkers conducting right-of-way (ROW) maintenance are an essential part of providing safe, affordable, and reliable electricity to consumermembers. “The ROW workers are the protectors of the power lines,” says Ken Hunter, line superintendent for The Frontier Power Company, the Coshocton-based electric distribution cooperative. “Without them, nothing else could function.”

Generally, anything within a set distance on either side of the lines, as well as above and below the lines, must come down to prevent contact — especially when storms roll through. Without ROW maintenance, obtrusive branches and limbs often can be blown into the lines, creating dangerous and costly power outages.

That maintenance generally involves co-op employees or contractors who maneuver alongside power lines in a bucket truck and remove vegetation with a chainsaw. However, when the foliage becomes too thick or terrain is impassable, they may need to call in less-traditional measures.

Frontier Power, for example, uses a spray crew, which carries a 200- to 300-gallon tank of water and chemicals used to regulate the growth. The real marvel, though, is a machine called the Jarraff — a long-necked tool that looks like something straight out of a Dr. Seuss book. The Jarraff moves on either all-terrain tires or tracks and has a neck that extends up to 75 feet with a 24-inch, 180-degree-rotating precision saw blade attached.

Hunter says the Jarraff is the most cost-effective method available, considering the terrain involved. “The crew can cover about 1,000 feet per day, far more than could be done with chainsaws and a bucket truck.”

While the giraffe-inspired machine is efficient, it does have its drawbacks. The machine can only be used to cut trees on the sides of wires, leaving trees under the power lines for workers and tree cutters.

In that case, workers climb trees with chainsaws, handsaws, and rope to remove the encroaching foliage. “We do the same thing every day, but everything is different as to how you do it,” says Hunter.

In southeast Ohio, Rio Grande-based Buckeye Rural Electric Cooperative uses an even more dramatic method to reach areas that would otherwise be completely inaccessible. A helicopter dangles an enormous chainsaw and flies alongside power lines to eliminate overgrown brush and foliage.

Jarraff Industries’ all-terrain tree trimmer (far left) features a 2-foot saw blade at the end of a 75-foot arm to trim out-of-the-way vegetation.

Lines located even further out of reach sometimes must be cleared by helicopter.

The chainsaw’s side-trim blade allows the helicopter to remove overhang around the power lines, while the angled saw can cut down dead or dangerous trees. Ed Mollohan, vice president of operations at Buckeye Rural, says the helicopter is incredibly expensive, but saves a lot of time. “What takes the helicopter a week to do would take a ground crew six months.”

Not only that, but the operators are so skilled that they can cut down trees using the angled saw without anything falling on the Continued on page 6

JULY 2020 • OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING 5

Continued from page 5

Coshocton-based Frontier Power Company uses a Jarraff all-terrain tree trimmer to clear foliage away from the power line right-of-way.

dangerous, though new features allow the saw to detach from its tether when it gets caught or hung up, which significantly increases the safety of the pilot and helicopter itself.

Mollohan says the helicopter has been the co-op’s most effective tool in battling the emerald ash borer, a beetle whose larvae kill ash trees. Hundreds of trees killed by the ash borer have had to be cut down so they don’t fall on power lines.

Mount Gilead-based Consolidated Cooperative employs an arborist on staff to help with ROW planning and healthy trimming practices. The arborist, David Tidd, says part of his job is to ensure the protection of trees as much as possible.

“All of our specifications are done to International Society of Arboriculture standards, which means we do our best to make proper pruning cuts that are in the best interest of the tree.” power lines. “There’s definitely a lot more reward than risk,” Mollohan says. “The use of the helicopter reduces outages significantly. We cut 3,000 trees off of right-of-way last year and about two-thirds of that was done by the helicopter.” The helicopters are often used in thick valleys and hills or national forests to reduce damage to nature that a truck might cause.

The helicopter cannot be used near homes or roads, and it has a few drawbacks: one, it’s costly; it’s also potentially

While some members occasionally object to having trees cut to maintain the ROW, Tidd says it’s always done carefully and with a plan. “We just received our 11th annual award from the Arbor Day Foundation for meeting safe and healthy cutting requirements. We don’t go out and remove just any old tree; we identify the specific needs and removals that are necessary.

Our cutting is about what’s healthiest for the tree, and that’s not just simply doing what looks the prettiest.”

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June 19-Oct. 3, 2020 Ohio’s ONLY Outdoor Passion Play!

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JULY 2020 • OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING 7

Co-op standouts OEC honors children of members with scholarship awards.

C

ooperative youth are the leaders of tomorrow, and Ohio’s electric cooperatives are proud to help outstanding students further their education.

Each of the 24 electric cooperatives in the state held scholarship contests this spring for children of members and selected one overall winner to compete for additional awards from Ohio’s Electric Cooperatives, the statewide

1st place, $3,800 Parker Hamilton, representing South Central Power Company Parker has embraced numerous opportunities to be a leader and a servant in his community, volunteering with his church’s mission team, his local United Way, and Autism Speaks, among other organizations.

cooperative services organization. This year, applicants were invited to submit two essays — one about the cooperative business model and one about making a difference. Independent judges reviewed the entries and awarded the top 10 applicants. Each of the students has an impressive list of academic achievements, volunteer experience, and leadership roles within their communities. Below are just a few highlights of their many accomplishments.

3rd place, $2,300 Megan Knicely, representing Guernsey-Muskingum Electric Cooperative While maintaining an immaculate academic record and impressive list of leadership activities, Megan was also a part of her school’s color guard, winter guard, choir, quiz team, and archery team.

2nd place, $2,800 Kirsten Etzinger, representing North Central Electric Cooperative

4th place, $2,200 Annie Seboe, representing Holmes-Wayne Electric Cooperative

Kirsten has been a longtime active member and competitor within 4-H and her school’s DECA chapter and plans to pursue an education in marketing and management..

First in her class and the recipient of a number of academic awards, Annie plans to pursue an education in biology.

8 OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING • JULY 2020

5th place, $2,100 Ryanna Tietje, representing Hancock-Wood Electric Cooperative

8th place, $1,800 Isabella Saylor, representing Butler Rural Electric Cooperative

An athlete, a dedicated student, and a leader in her community, Ryanna is also an entrepreneur, running her own cake and cupcake business.

Isabella competes in tae kwon do and has participated in seven shows in her school’s drama department. She plans to pursue an education in computer or mechanical engineering.

6th place, $2,000 Allison Knapp, representing Logan County Electric Cooperative

9th place, $1,700 Hannah Meyer, representing Tricounty Rural Electric Cooperative

Allison has served as president of her 4-H club and her school’s chapter of National Honor Society while volunteering to teach and lead children in her community.

Hannah earned superior designations at the district, local, regional, and state science fairs. She was president of National Honor Society and vice president of her class.

7th place, $1,900 Faith Griffiths, representing Firelands Electric Cooperative

10th place, $1,600 Jenna Brinkman, representing Mid-Ohio Energy Cooperative

Faith was Firelands’ representative to Youth Tour in 2018, and while in school, she mentored younger students, played in symphonic band, and served in National Honor Society.

Jenna plans to pursue an education in journalism at Bowling Green State University and has already completed extensive coursework at BGSU through the College Credit Plus program.

Row 1, left to right:

Additionally, OEC recognized the following honorable mention winners with awards of $1,400 each.

Elisabeth Ardrey Union Rural Electric Cooperative Karlie Blissenbach Carroll Electric Cooperative Riley Bunstine The Energy Cooperative Samantha Caskey Buckeye Rural Electric Cooperative

Lillian Dowdell Lorain-Medina Rural Electric Cooperative Morgan Dowler Paulding Putnam Electric Cooperative Emma Eckstein Midwest Electric

Row 2, left to right: Kaylee Ferguson Adams Rural Electric Cooperative

Emma Garee Consolidated Cooperative Blake Holthaus Pioneer Electric Cooperative Kaitlyn Richard The Frontier Power Company Adrianna Roth North Western Electric Cooperative Brock Shellhaas Darke Rural Electric Cooperative Sydney Westbrook Washington Electric Cooperative

JULY 2020 • OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING 9

WOODS, WATERS, AND WILDLIFE

Nature’s clown prince Eminently fun to watch, river otters have made a wildly successful comeback in the Buckeye State.

STORY AND PHOTOS BY W.H. “CHIP” GROSS

10 OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING • JULY 2020

N

o one wrings more fun out of life than a river otter. Unless, of course, it’s a family of river otters.

Wildlife biologists are hesitant to call much of this animal’s behavior “play,” but how else would you describe sliding down a slick, muddy creek bank on your belly, time after time; then, once in the water, executing perfect rolls and spins just because you can?

River otters inhabit nearly all of the rivers, larger streams, swamps, and marshes in Ohio, but that has not always been the case. Historically native to the Buckeye State, otters were extirpated by the early 1900s, then reintroduced by the Ohio Division of Wildlife beginning in 1986.

Over a period of seven years, 123 otters were live-trapped in Louisiana and Arkansas, then released in the Grand River, Killbuck Creek, Little Muskingum River, and Stillwater Creek watersheds. From those four modest stockings, the population expanded rapidly, and today, river otters have been confirmed in 75 watersheds in 83 of Ohio’s 88 counties.

John Clem, at the time a natural resources pilot (now long retired), transported the river otters to Ohio by air. “I would bring back about 25 otters per trip,” says Clem, “with four or five otters housed per cage. I vividly remember once getting my thumb too close to one of the cage openings and being bitten. The otter got me pretty good, too — his sharp front teeth penetrated all the way to the bone.”

Clem also recalled the heavy, musky odor that filled the airplane when the otters became stressed. “We eventually learned to hang tarps inside the plane so that the otters could not see humans or see the light of the sun when it shined through the airplane’s windows.

That seemed to calm them down. The project was a lot of work, but also a lot of fun and ultimately, very rewarding to have been part of.”

So, what does the future hold for Ohio’s river otters?

Katie Dennison is the Division of Wildlife’s current furbearer biologist and offers this look into her crystal ball: “The story of river otters in Ohio — and across

Best river otter viewing areas in Ohio: • Grand River Wildlife Area (Ashtabula County) • Mosquito Creek Wildlife Area (Trumbull County) • Killbuck Marsh Wildlife Area (Wayne and Holmes counties) • Stillwater Creek (Harrison and Tuscarawas counties) • Little Muskingum River (Monroe and Washington counties)

much of their North American range — is a true wildlife management success story. Prior to the reintroduction of river otters, efforts were initiated in Ohio and across the country to improve water quality and riparian habitats.

The otter reintroduction in Ohio likely would not have been as successful without those efforts.

“The Division of Wildlife has carefully monitored the river otter population since reintroduction and will continue to do so,” she says. “In future years, we expect to see continued growth of the otter population in areas of western Ohio where they are newly established and further expansion into other areas of the state, offering new opportunities for people to observe them.”

The second half of the 20th century was a time of restoration for Ohio’s wildlife. In addition to river otters, other high-profile species — wild turkeys, peregrine falcons, ospreys, and trumpeter swans — were also reintroduced and are once again flourishing in the Buckeye State. Additional such work continues yet today with other critters that might not be as readily observable or well known, but are just as important in re-creating and maintaining a healthy wild Ohio.

Ask

chip!

Email Chip Gross with your outdoors questions at whchipgross@gmail.com.

Be sure to include “Ask Chip” in the subject of the email.

To fuel a river otter’s constant energy, they may eat as much as 20% of their body weight daily in fish, aquatic insects, crayfish, snakes, and frogs.

JULY 2020 • OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING 11

CO-OP PEOPLE

AMERICAN SPIRITS Missy and Joe Duer specialize in early American fare at Staley Mill Farm and Indian Creek Distillery.

BY DAMAINE VONADA

O

n a splendid day in May when bright sunshine bathes Ohio and seems to portend progress against the coronavirus, Missy Duer arranges bottles of whiskey in the antique-laden tasting room at Indian Creek Distillery. She’s explaining why Elias Staley’s signature graces bottles of their straight-from-the-still white rye when her husband, Joe, pops in with a question.

“We got an order for 400 more hand sanitizers,” he says.

“Should we use those new labels you designed?” Nodding, Missy replies, “Yes, and we’d better print them ASAP.” The Duers are Pioneer Electric Cooperative members who live on Staley Mill Farm, where, in 1818, Elias Staley and his two brothers built a gristmill in the wilderness along Miami County’s Indian Creek.

12 OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING • JULY 2020

Elias, who was Missy’s maternal great-great-greatgrandfather, subsequently purchased the farmstead and, in 1820, constructed a distillery that produced double-distilled Staley Rye whiskey. During the Civil War, Elias shuttered the distillery to protest a federal alcohol tax, but after he died in 1866, his sons reopened the stills. Staley descendants continued making whiskey until Prohibition put them out of business.

Missy’s great-grandfather, George Washington Staley, foiled government revenuers by hiding Elias’ copper pot stills and distilling equipment inside the farm’s whiskey warehouse. Following her mother’s death in 2007, Missy inherited the farm, and she and Joe moved into the Federal-style farmhouse Elias erected in 1825.

“Since he was raised in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, they were talking his language.”

Today, Indian Creek Distillery produces about 5,000 bottles of artisan rye and bourbon per year, using grains grown in Darke County. “It’s an extremely small-batch distillery,” says Missy. “We use a slow, old-fashioned process that takes a long time to produce what we feel is authentic frontier whiskey.” Thanks to Elias’ venerable pot stills, the Duers also claim to operate America’s oldest working stills. “Nobody else has original stills and documentation like we do,” Missy says.

Elias never could have imagined hand sanitizer being made at a distillery on his farmstead. Yet from the time he produced the flour and whiskey that sustained early America to modern day, when the coronavirus is a fact of life, the Staleys have contributed a strong entrepreneurial thread to the fabric of the nation. For the Duers, Indian Creek Distillery is a way to perpetuate that legacy by naming products like Andy’s Old No. 5 Bourbon after an ancestor who made whiskey all his life and by introducing customers to the pioneer spirit through farm tours and whiskey tastings.

“This farm has always been the hub of my family’s life,” says Missy. “I grew up two minutes away and loved coming here as a girl. Now my grandchildren represent the farm’s eighth generation of Staleys, and they love it, too.”

“It’s such a blessing to carry forth an inheritance like this farm and the distillery,” says Missy, “and we feel a responsibility to do it passionately, thoughtfully, and well.”

Indian Creek Distillery at Staley Mill Farm, 7095 Staley Road, New Carlisle, OH 45344. 937-846-1443; www.staleymillfarmanddistillery.com.

Although Elias’ distillery fell into ruin, most of the structures comprising his frontier-era agricultural and industrial complex — including the gristmill and an 1820 sawmill — still exist. “The gristmill is Ohio’s oldest originally standing mill,” Missy says. “It has two 11-foot waterwheels and looks as if the Staley boys just put down their hammers and walked away.”

While sorting through two centuries’ worth of family letters, ledgers, furnishings, farm implements, whiskey jugs, and tools, the Duers had an “aha!” moment that prompted them to resurrect Staley Rye. “We realized that we could again make Elias’ whiskey on the farm because George Washington Staley had saved his old stills and his recipe,” says Missy.

While neither she nor Joe had distilling experience, they’re a can-do couple whose ventures have ranged from farming and construction to jewelry-making and a health food store. They hired Amish builders to construct a new stillhouse with simple, rustic-looking architecture that blends seamlessly with the farm’s historic buildings. “When I heard the Amish crew speaking Low German among themselves, it felt like Elias was saying ‘ja’ to our new distillery,” recalls Missy.

Missy Duer (top photo) and her husband, Joe (above), have reestablished the distillery originally opened by her great-great-greatgrandfather in 1820.

JULY 2020 • OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING 13

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GOOD EATS

Taste of summer

HAWAIIAN SPAM FRIED RICE Prep: 5 minutes | Cook: 15 minutes | Servings: 6 3 tablespoons vegetable oil 20 ounces pineapple tidbits, drained 2 eggs, lightly beaten 3 cups leftover cooked rice 1/4 teaspoon salt 2 teaspoons fish sauce 1/8 teaspoon pepper 2 tablespoons soy sauce 12 ounces Spam, diced 3 green onions, thinly sliced 2 cloves garlic, minced ketchup or Sriracha, optional 1 cup frozen peas 1 cup frozen diced carrots Heat 1 tablespoon vegetable oil in a large skillet over low heat.

Add eggs, salt, and pepper; cook through. Set eggs aside. Over medium-high heat, brown Spam with the remaining 2 tablespoons of oil. Add garlic and cook another minute. Toss in peas, carrots, and pineapple. Cook, stirring often until heated. Add rice, breaking up any clumps, gently tossing to combine. Pour in fish sauce and soy sauce. Reincorporate eggs and top with green onions. Stir occasionally until heated through, about 1 to 2 minutes. Transfer to serving dish(es). If you’d like to try the Hawaiian way of eating Spam fried rice, drizzle the top with ketchup (or Sriracha), if desired.

Whether you’re sitting on an exotic beach or just dreaming of one, these tropical flavors fit right in.

RECIPES AND PHOTOS BY CATHERINE MURRAY

Per serving: 669 calories, 24.5 grams fat (7.5 grams saturated fat), 93 grams total carbohydrates, 4 grams fiber, 18 grams protein.

JULY 2020 • OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING 15

MANGO DAIQUIRI SORBET Prep: 10 minutes | Chill: 8 to 12 hours | Servings: 4 1/3 cup water 3/4 cup white rum, 80 proof (40%) 1/3 cup sugar 4 cups frozen mango chunks 3 tablespoons lime juice Notes: For a nonalcoholic version, stir mixture every hour for 4 hours after covering and placing in the freezer to prevent ice crystals from forming, then continue to freeze for remaining time. If using fresh mango, cut and freeze chunks before starting this recipe. Pour water into a small, microwave-safe dish. Heat in microwave until boiling. Add sugar and stir until dissolved. Add lime juice and rum (optional), then place dish in freezer until cooled, about 15 minutes. With a food processor, puree frozen mango, slowly adding the sugar/water mixture until very smooth.

If sorbet tastes too sweet, add more lime juice or mango. Pour into a freezable container and smooth out top with a spatula. (Metal containers aid in freezing faster.)

Cover and place in the far back of the freezer for 8 hours. If the sorbet hasn’t frozen to a scoopable consistency, blend in 1/4 cup cold water and freeze for 2 more hours.

Repeat if needed. Let sorbet soften on the counter to scoop more easily. Serves 4.

Per serving: 261 calories, 0.6 grams fat, 0.2 grams saturated fat, 42 grams total carbohydrates, 3 grams fiber, 1.5 grams protein.

CHIMICHURRI SWEET PLANTAIN BOWL Prep: 20 minutes | Marinate: 1 to 2 hours | Cook: 20 minutes | Servings: 4 1 small shallot 1/4 teaspoon turmeric 3 garlic cloves 1/4 cup water 2 15-ounce cans black beans, mostly small bunch flat-leaf parsley drained handful fresh cilantro 2 large, ripe plantains (almost fully black 1 teaspoon dried oregano with some yellow spots) 3 tablespoons red wine vinegar 4 tablespoons coconut oil 1/3 cup olive oil 2 cups cooked brown rice 1/2 teaspoon salt 1 cup sliced radishes 1 tablespoon coconut oil 1 avocado, sliced 1 small yellow onion, chopped handful fresh cilantro sprigs 2 cloves garlic, minced 1 lime, cut into wedges 1 tablespoon chili powder 1/2 teaspoon cumin Peel shallot and garlic cloves, then finely chop. Remove stems from parsley and cilantro; finely chop the leaves. Transfer all to a bowl with a lid. Mix in oregano, vinegar, olive oil, and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Wait 15 minutes, then test flavor balance. If sauce tastes bland, sprinkle in some more salt and/or add a few more dashes of vinegar. Cover and marinate in refrigerator for 1 to 2 hours.

In a skillet, heat 1 tablespoon coconut oil over medium heat. Sauté chopped yellow onion and 2 minced garlic cloves until soft. Add chili powder, cumin, and turmeric; stir, cooking 1 minute. Pour in 1/4 cup water, stir, then mix in black beans.

Heat until bubbling, then reduce to a simmer to keep warm.

Peel plantains by running a knife down the middle and peeling back the skin. Cut plantains into half-inch slices on a sharp diagonal. Heat 4 tablespoons coconut oil in a large cast-iron skillet over medium heat until the tip of a plantain slice dipped in the oil sizzles. Working in batches, place slices in a single layer with space between them and cook 2 to 3 minutes on each side until they are a deep golden brown. If the plantains are browning too quickly or start to burn, turn down the heat so they can continue to cook on the inside. If the oil isn’t sizzling and the plantains are taking too long to brown, turn up the heat so they don’t absorb the oil and become soggy. Flip with a heat-proof spatula or tongs. Transfer plantains to a plate until all of them are finished cooking.

Spoon heated rice, black beans, and plantains into shallow bowls. Top with radishes, avocado, cilantro sprigs, and lime wedges. Drizzle with chimichurri sauce.

Per serving: 1,258 calories, 36 grams fat (8 grams saturated fat), 197 grams total carbohydrates, 35 grams fiber, 46 grams protein.

16 OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING • JULY 2020

COCONUT FLAN Prep: 20 minutes | Cook: 40 to 50 minutes | Servings: 8 5 eggs 12-ounce can evaporated milk ½ cup sugar 15-ounce can coconut milk 1 teaspoon vanilla 1 cup shaved coconut 1 cup sugar Preheat oven to 350 F. Place 1 cup of sugar in a small saucepan over medium heat. Using a heat-proof spoon, continuously stir sugar as it begins to clump, then melt into a golden-brown sauce. Remove from heat immediately and carefully pour into a 9-inch flan (or pie) dish. Protect your hands with a towel or oven mitts. Quickly tilt dish to evenly coat the bottom and up the sides before the syrup hardens (it will become a hard, sugarlike candy).

With a whisk, beat eggs, 1/2 cup sugar, and vanilla in a medium bowl until blended but not foamy. Mix evaporated milk and coconut milk in a medium saucepan. Heat until steaming but not bubbling. Very slowly whisk hot milk into the egg mixture to avoid curdling.

Place the sugar-coated dish in a roasting pan/casserole dish large enough that it can hold the dish without the sides touching the edges of the pan. Evenly pour the egg mixture over the hardened sugar. Move to preheated oven, then pour hot water

into the bottom of the roasting pan, avoiding the flan dish, until water reaches halfway up the side of the flan dish. Cover roasting pan with aluminum foil.

Bake 40 to 50 minutes, checking at 30 minutes and every 10 minutes after. Insert knife about 1 inch from the center of the custard. If knife is clean when pulled out, the custard is done.

If any custard clings to the blade, bake a few minutes longer and test again. Flan should still be wiggly in the center. When done, remove from oven and cool at room temperature in the water bath. Once cooled, gently loosen edges with the tip of the knife. Invert onto a large serving dish. Be sure to use a dish deep enough to contain the sauce that’ll drip down the sides. Cut into 8 slices, serve with sauce spooned over top, and sprinkle with the shaved coconut. Serve warm or cold.

Store in refrigerator.

Per serving: 384 calories, 21 grams fat (16 grams saturated fat), 46 grams total carbohydrates, 2 grams fiber, 8 grams protein.

JULY 2020 • OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING 17

The Best Heating, Cooling, and Hot Water System You deserve an HVAC system that’s good for your wallet and the environment. Make every spot in your house the best spot with a Hydron Module geothermal system, built in the Heartland of America.

Contact your local Hydron geothermal installer today or visit hydronmodule.com.

Chilltex

Pro-Aire Heating & Air Conditioning

Shafer Heating & Cooling LLC

Danco Enterprises

Roberts Plbg & First Geo

Simpson Heating & Air

Geothermal Professionals

Roessner Energy Products Inc.

Steve & Ted’s Services, Inc.

Anna, OH | 937-710-3308 Springfield, OH | 937-969 - 8440 Northeast OH | 440-543-5740

St. Clairsville, OH | 740-695-9948 Wooster, OH | 330-621-1286 Coldwater, OH | 419-678-4858

Hillsboro, OH | 937-466-2755

New Philadelphia, OH | 330-339-1177 Anna, OH | 419-628-2645

Homeland Geothermal, LLC Logan, OH | 740-407-1379

COOPERATIVE CALENDAR

PHOTO CONTEST

Ohio Cooperative Living magazine is looking for photos from Ohio and West Virginia electric cooperative members to use in its 2021 cooperative calendar. We’re interested in seasonal scenes from each month of the year — images that really “pop” and convey a sense of time and place.

Photo subjects must be interesting and the shot well planned and framed.

If their images are chosen for publication, amateur co-op photographers could earn $100 or more.

Rules • One photo entry per member.

• High-resolution, color, digital images only.

• No prints, slides, or proof sheets — no snail mail! Send submissions by email attachment only to photo@ohioec.org.

• Photo format must be horizontal and capable of filling an 8 x 11-inch image area.

• Include an explanation of the photo — the where, what, when — as well as who took the shot.

• Include your name, address, phone number, and the name of your co-op.

Deadline for submission: Aug. 17 • photo@ohioec.org

18 OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING • JULY 2020

• Shots featuring people who can be identified within the photo must be accompanied by a signed publication release.

LORAIN-MEDINA RURAL ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE LOCAL PAGES

Key co-op topics with Ed COVID-19: Cooperative strong Often, in times of great adversity, we see the true strength of our rural communities. For the cooperative program, the virus outbreak certainly challenged our member-owned, not-for-profit business model to prove itself. After all, we exist solely to serve our members, and so, during this challenging time, your cooperative took measures to help those in our communities who needed it. Obviously, the recent pandemic presented the entire nation with a lot of new problems and issues, and no one was immune.

During the pandemic, the cooperative worked quickly and with a purpose to stay on top of the ever-changing orders and recommendations from federal, state, and local officials. For the benefit of our members, we stuck to our mission, stayed true to our vision, and adhered to our values before, during, and after this extraordinary time.

Cooperative values mean a commitment to community that goes beyond just providing base-level services.

work, and others have had severe limitations put on their income. With the cooperative value of commitment to our members in mind, and following the governor’s stay-at-home orders, your board authorized the waiving of late fees for bill payments and suspended disconnects for our members until the order was lifted.

Ed VanHoose Of course, the power bill for the GENERAL MANAGER cooperative as a whole continues to arrive, and we do recognize that we have a responsibility to all our members to operate in the black, especially as a not-forprofit organization. Therefore, we continue to encourage any member experiencing financial issues related to the COVID-19 pandemic to contact us to discuss all available options.

Mission Statement To provide our member-owners with highly reliable electric service, superior customer service, and innovative energy solutions at competitive prices.

The first thing we did to protect our members and employees was to postpone, limit, or cancel in-person meetings. When one of our members or employees hurts, it hurts the heart of the organization.

Unfortunately, we were forced to reschedule your Member Appreciation Day at Cedar Point to 2021. While the decision to cancel proved hard for your board, they simply could not, in good conscience, risk exposing the membership in a large group gathering. Your employees look forward to coming back together again with our members next year for the continuation of the newly revamped Member Appreciation Day. Your board also realized the potential negative financial implications of the virus. Many people have been out of

I am especially proud of the board for taking proactive measures to help those struggling with their bill.

The board of trustees recognized the financial hardships of our members and approved the early giveback, by way of a credit on your bill, of your annual capital credits. Thanks to the hard work of all the cooperative employees, we were able to process our members’ credits in May rather than the usual November/December timeframe.

Lastly, we moved our annual meeting to a virtual format.

In addition to protecting our employees and members, we hope this will improve participation by allowing members to connect with us anywhere and under any circumstance. At the time of writing this, we have not held our meeting, but we suspect many of our members will enjoy this new experience, and we will strive to make it easy and as social as an in-person meeting. In the end, we want all of our members to take away that our mission, vision, and values are all designed to work for you and, together, we will remain #CooperativeStrong.

JULY 2020 • OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING

19

LORAIN-MEDINA RURAL ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE LOCAL PAGES

Official notice of virtual meeting Lorain-Medina Rural Electric Cooperative 84th Annual Meeting of Members In accordance with the regulations of Lorain-Medina Rural Electric Cooperative, Inc. (LMRE), the Board of Trustees hereby gives notice that the 84th Annual Meeting of Members will be held on Tuesday, July 14, 2020, starting at 6 p.m. However, out of an abundance of caution for our members in this ever-changing time of public health issues, the Board of Trustees for LMRE has decided to hold this meeting electronically via Zoom. To register for the meeting, please visit the

TUESDAY, JULY 14, 2020 STARTING AT 6 P.M.

To register for the Zoom meeting, please visit the hyperlink located on the Lorain-Medina Rural Electric website homepage at www.lmre.org.

Members who attend will receive a $25 credit on their bill.

20 OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING • JULY 2020

short link https://bit.ly/3cE7anC or the direct link https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_ YTnand4gQsKCjQsSKfNZPQ. As the meeting will now take place electronically, members who attend will receive a $25 credit on their bill. Only one credit per member account.

If you have any questions about this meeting or its process, please contact the LMRE office at 800-222-LMRE.

LORAIN-MEDINA RURAL ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE LOCAL PAGES

Have you used your Co-op Connections card lately?

While the fundamentals of the program are still the same: a member benefit offering co-op member-owners discounts at participating retail businesses, Co-op Connections has made significant enhancements to add value and improve access and convenience for shoppers.

Currently, 511 co-ops in 46 states participate in the program, with more than 32,000 local and national business discounts available to cooperative members and employee cardholders. Together, they generate over $100 million in savings to date.

Cooperative members can go to www.connections.coop to view the national program’s website with a roster of local businesses as well as national corporations, such as rental car companies, hotels, and retailers.

Co-op Connections has gone beyond the card with new online and digital deals that will help members save on the go. A free smartphone app includes a digital membership card customized with North Central’s logo, a GPS deal finder, and a new Roadside Assist feature.

The app allows members to redeem and track savings at participating providers, whether they are in their hometown or a place they visit while traveling.

Now, a member can simply show their phone to the salesperson for the deal their shop offers right on the app.

New features on www.connections.coop include travel perks to help members save on their next trip, vacation, or family getaway. Cruises, timeshares, and hotels are heavily discounted through this new service. Members can even get exclusive discounts to attend concerts and sporting events.

There is also a Cash Back Shopping Assistant that provides savings at more than 3,000 popular websites like Target, Bass Pro, Macy’s, and Walmart.

The Healthy Savings portfolio continues to provide discounts to a national network of pharmacies, dentists, optometrists, eyeglass retailers, chiropractors, and more.

There is no better time than now to sign up for the cooperative’s Co-op Connections program. Download the app today on your smartphone.

Improve your home with a home energy loan from NCB Occasionally, Lorain-Medina Rural Electric Cooperative’s trusted energy advisors visit members for an energy walk-through and will share significant energy savings opportunities only to discover the member has no financial means to make the recommended upgrades.

Seeing the financial struggle as a barrier to energy efficiency, Lorain-Medina Rural Electric Cooperative partnered with the National Cooperative Bank for members to access competitive consumer loans to make desired energy upgrades at their home.

NCB’s loan programs provide five- to eight-year secured and unsecured fixed-rate loans, for amounts as low as $3,000, with the ability to finance 100% of the project costs.

Eligible home energy upgrades include generators, ENERGY STAR appliances, EV chargers, geothermal heat pump installations, and more.

For more information on the financing options and to apply for a home energy loan, please visit ncelec.org.

Under the Member Services tab, select Home Energy Loans. You can also contact NCB’s Brittney Baldwin at bbaldwin@ncb.coop or 866-499-3517.

All products offered are subject to National Cooperative Bank, NA guidelines. Banking products and services provided by National Cooperative Bank, NA. Member FDIC. NCB NMLS#422343.

JULY 2020 • OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING

20A

LORAIN-MEDINA RURAL ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE LOCAL PAGES

DON’T FORGET TO VOTE! Voting closes 11:59 a.m. on Friday, July 10

Gary Rowland District 1

Rodney “John” Eaton District 4

Brenda Wolfe District 7

The most cost-effective method to cast a ballot is online at the cooperative’s website, www.lmre.org.

Happy birthday, America!

LMRE will be closed July 3 to observe Independence Day. We wish our members a safe and happy holiday weekend!

LORAIN-MEDINA ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE, INC. CONTACT

800-222-LMRE | 440-647-2133 www.lmre.org OFFICE

22898 West Road Wellington, Ohio 44090 OFFICE HOURS

8 a.m.–5 p.m.

BOARD OF TRUSTEES

GENERAL MANAGER

Rodney L. Eaton

Edward VanHoose

President, District 4

Gary L. Rowland

Secretary, District 7

Keith E. Lowe

HAVE A STORY SUGGESTION?

Brenda J. Wolfe

Treasurer, District 8

James R. McConnell Trustee, District 

Richard K. Indoe Trustee, District 9

Judy A. Pickworth Trustee, District 5

Kathleen E. Norton Fox Trustee, District 3

Joe Swinko Trustee, District 6

20B OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING • JULY 2020

LOCAL PAGES EDITORS

Justis A. Clifford, Director of Communications Teri E. Lease, Communications Manager Holly M. Storrow, Communications Specialist

Vice President, District 1

Email your ideas to: lmrememberservices@fesco-oh.org

STRONG

&

UNITED

2019 Lorain-Medina Rural Electric Cooperative

Annual Report

JULY 2020 • OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING 20C

Cooperative strengthens values and mission in 2019

SAFETY AND COMMITMENT TO COMMUNITY The continued support of our membership and communities allowed Lorain-Medina Rural Electric Cooperative to have another successful year full of changes and improvements for staff and members alike.

In 2019, LMRE was evaluated through the Rural Electric Safety Achievement Program (RESAP), a comprehensive system-wide inspection program available from the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA), to improve safety on all levels. LMRE improved scores overall from the previous inspection and was recognized for its dedication to becoming even more safety-aware at all levels.

The initiative honors cooperatives that voluntarily partner with statewide safety leaders to incorporate RESAP elements, including a dedication to safety, continuous improvement, and enhanced performance, into their own safety initiatives. NRECA considers all areas of the cooperative — management commitment, daily operations, and staffing — during its assessment of participating electric cooperatives’ safety programs.

On-site observations were performed by employees of Ohio’s Electric Cooperatives, the Columbus-based statewide association that works on behalf of the state’s 24 not-for-profit rural electric cooperatives, as well as by long-serving members of the statewide electric cooperative network.

Cooperative Members

13,604

20D OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING • JULY 2020

Additionally, LMRE held its first Ohio Cooperative Youth Day in 2019. Students from local high schools traveled to the Ohio Statehouse to meet with area legislators and learn how government decisions impact their communities and lives. The trip included a tour of the Statehouse, recognition on the Ohio Senate floor during a session, and a stop at the Ohio’s Electric Cooperatives office to learn more about the cooperative business model.

The Lorain-Medina Rural Electric People Fund continued the tradition of providing grants to organizations and individuals to help improve the well-being and functionality of our communities. Our members’ support of this fund allowed the cooperative to grant $83,440 to 29 organizations and individuals in 2019, impacting emergency service providers, local schools, and many others.

As your electric cooperative, we strive to be your source of information on everything from energy efficiency to electrical safety and reliability. As we make our way through 2020, our focus will remain on you, the member, and doing what we can to continue to serve you as we have for over 80 years.

Counties Served

5

Cooperative Employees

37

YOUR NEIGHBORS, YOUR TRUSTEES President

Rodney L. Eaton District 4

Richard K. Indoe District 9

Vice President

Secretary

Treasurer

Gary L. Rowland District 1

James R. McConnell District 2

Keith E. Lowe District 8

Kathleen E. Norton Fox District 3

Judy A. Pickworth District 5

Erie County FLORENCE TWP

Brenda J. Wolfe District 7

District 2

District 3

NEW RUSSIA TWP

HENRIETTA TWP

!

WAKEMAN

CAMDEN TWP

!GRAFTON

GRAFTON TWP

LaGRANGE TWP

PITTSFIELD TWP

!

LIVERPOOL TWP

LaGRANGE

District 6

District 5

WELLINGTON TWP

BRIGHTON TWP

Huron County

COLUMBIA TWP

!KIPTON

Lorain County CLARKSFIELD TWP

EATON TWP

CARLISLE TWP

OBERLIN

!

WAKEMAN TWP

Joseph Swinko District 6

PENFIELD TWP

!

WELLINGTON

LITCHFIELD TWP

YORK TWP

CHATHAM TWP

LAFAYETTE TWP

District 4

District 1 NEW LONDON TWP

!

ROCHESTER

SPENCER TWP

HUNTINGTON TWP

ROCHESTER TWP

!

!

SPENCER

District 9

Medina County

NEW LONDON

RUGGLES TWP

SULLIVAN TWP

TROY TWP

WESTFIELD TWP

!LODI

HOMER TWP

!

HARRISVILLE TWP

District 7

WESTFIELD CENTER

!BURBANK WEST

!SALEM

!

SAVANNAH

CLEAR CREEK TWP

ORANGE TWP

Ashland County

JACKSON TWP

District 8

CONGRESS TWP

CANAAN TWP

Wayne County

JULY 2020 • OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING

20E

SAFETY AND OPERATIONS CONSTRUCTION AND MAINTENANCE Lorain-Medina Rural Electric’s continued dedication to line maintenance and system improvements played a large role in keeping reliable electric service available to our members throughout 2019.

Tree and animal-related issues caused 49% of the 504 outages experienced by LMRE members. This number was only slightly higher than the 10-year average of 470 outages per year, but severe weather in the early part of the year played a factor in this increase as well.

The average length of time members were without power decreased slightly in 2019 compared to 2018, averaging 2.5 hours. This continued trend of service reliability is thanks in part to the cooperative’s dedication to strong preventive maintenance programs, such as pole replacements, right-of-way clearing, and regulator change-outs.

504

number of outages vs. 480 in 2018

1,542

miles of electric line vs. 1,540 in 2018

10.9

members per mile vs. 10.7 in 2018

20F OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING • JULY 2020

The cooperative’s aggressive right-of-way and vegetation management program is crucial to providing reliable electricity to our members and continues to be a main focus in preventive maintenance. Projects such as reducing span length between poles, regular pole testing, tree trimming, and removal of trees and vegetation from trouble areas all help to reduce outages for members, as vegetation issues remain one of the main contributors to outages.

“Our goal is to keep outage times to a minimum,” says Operations Manager Tim Rising. “We couldn’t do that without the dedication of our line crews and upgrades made by our engineering department.”

LMRE also continued to interconnect the cooperative’s various substations with fiber-optic line. This increases the communication abilities of the SCADA system and leads to improved service and reliability for all members.

2 hr 30 min average outage length vs. 2 hr 50 min in 2018

16,805

total meters served vs. 16,731 in 2018

91,299

kWh OurSolar output vs. 78,330 kWh in 2018

“We’re proud to be recognized for the safety culture that we’ve fostered,” says Ed VanHoose, general manager of Lorain-Medina Rural Electric. “One of our guiding principles embraces safety as a core value. We maintain and continually develop our safety improvement measures so that we can deliver reliable, affordable power to our members.”

JULY 2020 • OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING

20G

ENGAGING WITH OUR MEMBERSHIP

The members of Lorain-Medina Rural Electric are the heart of the cooperative, and it’s our mission to provide safe, reliable, and affordable electricity to each and every one of you. Beyond that, we also strive to be the trusted source for all your energy information. Home energy walk-throughs, rebates for improved energy efficiency, and solar information are just a few of the ways the cooperative works with members to meet all our shared energy goals.

Just as we care about the energy needs of our members, we also care for the needs of the communities where we live. From sponsoring community events to providing scholarships and hosting events such as Action Committee for Rural Electrification (ACRE) meetings and Cardinal Power Plant tours, LMRE makes its best effort to have a positive impact on the communities we serve.

Whether it’s providing energy information or a helping hand, LMRE strives to be here when you need us.

COMMUNITY/SCHOOL EVENTS

5

safety demonstrations

$10,000

48

students attended Youth Day

scholarship funding

2

students attended Youth Tour in Washington, D.C.

SOCIAL MEDIA ENGAGEMENT

1,949

Facebook followers

1,860 Facebook likes

Students from the Lorain County Joint Vocational School’s electrical program participated in the 2019 Cardinal Power Plant tour in Brilliant, Ohio.

20H OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING • JULY 2020

MAKING A DIFFERENCE

332 rebates

IN THE COMMUNITIES WE SERVE

$118,364 total amount in rebates

>50

home energy assessments provided to co-op members

Fair sponsors Lorain County Fair Medina County Fair

JULY 2020 • OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING

20I

The Lorain County Sheriff's Office Bomb Squad received funding from the People Fund to purchase new bomb detection equipment.

GIVING BACK WITH THE PEOPLE FUND

The Lorain-Medina Rural Electric Cooperative People Fund celebrated 20 years of giving back by granting 29 organizations and individuals more than $83,440 in 2019.

29

$83,440

621

$1,603,460

total number of grants awarded in 2019

total number of grants awarded since 1999

total dollar amount funded in 2019

total dollar amount funded since 1999

$10,284

$26,391

grants awarded to public safety services

grants awarded to community organizations

20J OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING • JULY 2020

Updated medical supplies, new band instruments, community outreach programs, and more were all donated as a result of the generosity shown by LMRE members who participate in Operation Round Up and contribute to the People Fund. The Lorain County Sheriff’s Office Bomb Squad received the largest grant in 2019 of $9,557.58 for new and upgraded equipment and tools. Emergency services, including several fire departments; schools; health and wellness providers; churches; and community-focused events also received funding through the LMRE People Fund in 2019.

The People Fund board is proud to have been able to assist a number of LMRE members in 2019, including five who were given emergency grants due to house fires within the cooperative’s service territory.

$5,440

$8,102

grants awarded to local schools

grants awarded to members

GRANTED IN 2019

IN REVIEW Lorain-Medina Rural Electric Cooperative members received their capital credits refunds on their December bill in 2019 after a refund totaling $1,651,976 was approved by the board of trustees at its October meeting. LMRE has now issued more than $27.4 million to its members since 1982.

The total refund was approximately 14% more than 2018 and is made of two components — LMRE’s portion and a portion returned to the cooperative by Buckeye Power, LMRE’s wholesale power supplier.

The cooperative retains annual margins to provide working capital for new construction, equipment, and system improvements throughout the cooperative’s service area. If LMRE’s revenues exceed expenses for the year, the excess allocates back to the members in the form of credits on an individual basis.

The amount credited to individuals is determined by how much electricity a member purchases during the year, as well as the rate at which the member is billed. The total amount refunded also increases the longer a member remains with LMRE as along as his or her electric use remains consistent.

$28,570.72 $500,966.30

Pre-2011. . . . . . $ 15,345,835 2011. . . . . . . . . . . $ 1,225,230 2012 . . . . . . . . . . $ 1,066,974 2013. . . . . . . . . . . $ 1,293,643 2014 . . . . . . . . . . . $ 1,281,641 2015 . . . . . . . . . . $ 1,294,082 2016.. . . . . . . . . . . $ 1,619,517 2017. . . . . . . . . . . . $ 1,237,770 2018 . . . . . . . . . . . $ 1,450,184 2019 . . . . . . . . . . . $ 1,651,976 Total . . . . . . . . . $ 27,466,852

$1,616,060.18

$851,688.66

$209,988.64

Review of capital credits refunds

TOTAL PROPERTY TAX PAID IN 2019

$24,845.86

JULY 2020 • OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING

20K

BALANCE SHEET

alance Sheet

2019

2018

$ 59,209,022

$ 57,433,376

23,397,036

20,277,015

408,249

750,235

1,842,550 1,221,518

242,768 4,747,597

4,042,710 496,846 173,378 198,839 7,975,841

4,076,006 815,090 208,200 10,089,661

$ 90,990,148

$ 88,550,287

$ 28,512,455

$ 29,829,624

1,717,082

1,572,500

660,540

625,630

50,138

86,484

54,460,642

50,578,488

2,375,619 1,896,785 1,316,887 5,589,291

2,690,939 1,937,581 1,229,041 5,857,561

$ 90,990,148

$ 88,550,287

ASSETS UTILITY PLANT lN SERVICE, NET INVESTMENTS DEFERRED CHARGES, less current portion CURRENT ASSETS Cash and cash equivalents Restricted cash Accounts receivable, consumer, less reserve of $70,777 for 2019 and $133,296 for 2018 Materials and supplies and inventories Current portion of deferred charges Prepaid expenses TOTAL CURRENT ASSETS TOTAL ASSETS

EQUITIES AND LIABILITIES

LONG-TERM DEBT, less current portion ACCUMULATED POST RETIREMENT BENEFIT CUSTOMER DEPOSITS DEFERRED CREDIT PATRONAGE CAPITAL/RETAINED EARNINGS CURRENT LIABILITIES Accounts payable Accrued expenses Current portion of long-term debt TOTAL CURRENT LIABILITIES TOTAL EQUITIES AND LIABILITIES

20L OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING • JULY 2020

STATEMENT OF REVENUE AND EXPENSES Statement of Revenue and Expenses REVENUES OPERATING EXPENSES Purchased power Operations Maintenance Consumer accounting expense Adminstrative expense Depreciation Taxes TOTAL OPERATING EXPENSES OPERATING MARGINS BEFORE OTHER ITEMS OTHER OPERATING ITEMS, NET Patronage revenue Interest expense TOTAL OTHER OPERATING ITEMS, NET OPERATING MARGINS NON-OPERATING ITEMS, NET Interest and dividend revenue All other, net TOTAL NON-OPERATING ITEMS, NET NET MARGINS

2019

2018

$ 39,410,209

$ 40,244,097

23,123,568 2,450,531 1,964,158 967,971 2,057,983 2,589,550 1,434,549 34,588,310

24,442,931 2,339,656 1,840,985 935,928 2,466,586 2,682,944 1,460,575 36,169,605

4,821,899

4,074,492

1,205,229 (1,259,302) (54,073)

2,083,340 (1,334,839) 748,501

4,767,826

4,822,993

165,281 35,811 201,092

245,618 (15,816) 229,802

$ 4,968,918

$ 5,052,795

WHERE YOUR PAYMENT GOES EACH MONTH

JULY 2020 • OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING

21

22898 West Road P.O. Box 158 Wellington, OH 44090

800-222-5673

22 OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING • JULY 2020

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On with the show Vaudeville-era theaters in Ohio thrive after some TLC.

BY VICTORIA ELLWOOD

G

hosts in McConnelsville. Windmills in Bellefontaine. A Venetian courtyard in Tiffin. Fleur-de-lis flourishes in Marietta.

These are the designs, décor, and delightful lore woven into the vaudeville-era theaters still found in towns across Ohio. The atmospheric theaters were built as opulent palaces for “talkies” and traveling shows in the 1920s and ’30s, when the theaters boasted bright marquees, extravagant lobbies, and exotic designs.

“Atmospheric theaters were all the rage, designed to transport the audience to glamorous or magical places,” says Joyce Barrett, executive director of Heritage Ohio.

The theaters’ ornate interiors mimicked Italian piazzas and art deco architecture, Grecian ruins, and Spanish courtyards. They often created the sense of being outdoors, with painted clouds and twinkling electric “stars.”

Many of the extravagant theaters eventually fell into disrepair as downtown venues were abandoned in favor of shopping mall-based cinemas, while others met their demise in the form of a wrecking ball.

Many, however, have been rescued. “Smaller communities are rediscovering these jewels in their midst and are returning them to their historic grandeur,” says Barrett. Here are a few notable examples:

The Ritz Theatre, Tiffin In 1928, small-town Tiffin had 18,000 people and a whopping four downtown theaters luring audiences to a night at the movies.

With 1,500 seats, the Ritz Theatre was called “the quarter-million-dollar theater,” designed as a modern marvel unlike any other.

24 OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING • JULY 2020

“The Ritz was built in the Italian Renaissance style, making visitors feel like they were outside a beautiful villa in Venice,” says Michael Strong, executive director. “Getting all dressed up and going to the movies was the thing to do.”

Today, the Ritz is the only one of the four vaudeville-era theaters still standing. It operated as a movie house until the 1970s, when big-screen cinemas opened. Destined to be torn down, it was purchased at a sheriff’s auction for $35,000 and continued to show an occasional movie. Tiffin’s local theater association later mounted a capital campaign, and in 1998, the Ritz was treated to a $6.6 million renovation.

“An addition was constructed, the stage rebuilt, fire exits and new carpet added, and the ornate murals restored,” Strong says.

Bread dough was ingeniously used to clean the aging paintings. “Think of playing with Silly Putty. Workers used a ball of soft, sticky bread dough to carefully lift the old dirt off the surface of the paintings.”

The Ritz Theater in Tiffin was purchased at a sheriff’s auction and saved from demolition. It has since undergone a $6.6 million renovation.

JULY 2020 • OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING 25

Holland Theatre, Bellefontaine The Holland Theatre is the only atmospheric theater in America that mimics a quaint, 17th-century Dutch village. Opened in 1931, it was adorned with brick-and-timber facades of buildings, two working windmills (which still creak a bit as they turn), tulip-filled window boxes, a starry sky, and even a cloud machine.

It was a group of sixth graders who got the ball rolling to save the Holland when it closed in the 1990s, recalls teacher Kris Swisher, now president of the theater board. “The students knew they could make the community aware of the theater’s fate,” she says. “They created a ‘Step Up and Save the Holland’ program, organized a parade, and produced a play called As the Windmill Turns.” The community came together, and Logan County Landmark Preservation was formed.

Armed with a grant and the community fundraising campaign, the board commenced a top-to-bottom renovation that was in full swing by April 2019. Just six months later, the theater reopened its doors with a packedhouse concert by Judy Collins.

“Everything was repaired, revived, and repainted — down to each brick,” says Swisher.

“It was a huge effort to restore this community asset, bringing new energy to our thriving downtown.”

Peoples Bank Theatre, Marietta Originally called the Hippodrome, Marietta’s vaudeville house opened in 1911. Destroyed by fire a few years later, it reopened in 1919 with 1,200 seats, a huge stage for Broadway-style plays, a giant silver screen, an orchestra pit, and an early version of geothermal air conditioning.

In its heyday, it hosted stars like Boris Karloff, Kitty Wells, Sonny James, and Ernest Tubb.

Over the years, the theater changed hands (and names) several times. Most recently, a $7.5 million restoration project returned the landmark to its former glory. It reopened as Peoples Bank Theatre in 2016.

26 OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING • JULY 2020

The one-of-a kind Holland Theatre in Bellefontaine (left) was saved in large part thanks to the efforts of a group of local sixth graders.

The Peoples Bank Theatre in Marietta (two photos below) hosted stars such as Boris Karloff and Ernest Tubbs in its heyday. After its 2016 renovation, it now hosts high-end touring shows, musical acts, and movies.

The Twin City Opera House in McConnelsville (bottom left corner) has been in continuous operation since 1892.

“Amazingly, no photos exist of the interior of the theater prior to 1949,” says Hunt Brawley, executive director of the French Revivalinspired venue. “But an original mural of an alpine mountain scene, discovered on the fire curtain suspended above the proscenium, was used as the template for the renovation.”

Today, the theater offers upper-end touring shows, major concerts, movies, and more.

“Marietta is a historical gem, and the town has a nice tourism aspect to it,” Brawley says. “The theater just enriches our visitors’ experiences.”

Twin City Opera House, McConnelsville Television crews from Sweden recently contacted Twin City Opera House in hopes of producing a paranormal program there. The Swedish show is just one of the ghost-hunting programs intrigued by the theater’s fabled spirits, which include a giggling 10-year-old, a man stabbed in the ballroom in the early 1900s, and a “shadow man” who lurks by an alley doorway. But has Adam Shriver, executive director, ever encountered any ghosts?

“No,” he admits, “but then I try to avoid putting myself in any position where I might.”

The theater has been in continuous operation since 1892, when traveling shows arrived by riverboat. Over the years, it has presented everything from vaudeville and movies to concerts and commencements. Last fall, a $900,000 restoration project facilitated a host of structural, electrical, and decorative upgrades.

Shriver, who grew up in the small southeastern Ohio town, remembers going there as a kid. He says McConnelsville’s rather isolated location makes it the perfect place for the entertainment venue. “We’re the county seat, but we’re at least a half hour from bigger towns like Athens, Marietta, and Zanesville,” he says.

Sitting prominently on the town square, the opera house “is on the precipice of McConnelsville’s renaissance,” he adds, where the historic and walkable downtown is a big draw for residents and visitors … and perhaps some pesky spirits.

Watch a video about these remarkable restorations at www. ohiocoopliving.com/ohiotheaters.

JULY 2020 • OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING 27

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THE WORLD’S LONGEST

Shop till you drop over hundreds of miles up and down U.S. Route 127.

STORY AND PHOTOS BY W.H. “CHIP” GROSS

One person’s trash is another person’s treasure, and there will be plenty of both at the 127 Yard Sale, scheduled this summer for Aug. 6 through 9. What began in 1987 as a way to tempt travelers off interstate highways and onto the byways and back roads of Tennessee now stretches 690 miles across six states: Michigan, Ohio, Kentucky, Tennessee, Georgia, and Alabama.

The “world’s longest yard sale” is held annually during the first weekend of August, with some 2,200 vendors and hundreds of thousands of people attending. My wife and I dropped by for an afternoon last summer near Eaton, Ohio, and found making stop after stop not only fun but addictive.

A four-day, late-summer party for yard-sale junkies, the majority of the route follows U.S. Highway 127, which crosses Ohio north to south along the entire western edge of the Buckeye State. There are literally hundreds of vendor locations spread along the way, including seven “major vendor stops” in Ohio.

More information for both yard-salers and vendors can be found online at www.127yardsale.com. The site features an interactive route map, and there is even a countdown clock showing the days, hours, minutes, and seconds until Thursday, Aug. 6!

By the way, you don’t happen to have any old Elvis Presley records for sale, do you?

30 OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING • JULY 2020

Vendors use any means available to draw in visitors — and sometimes, even their signs are for sale.

If you’re a collector of anything — glassware, for example — chances are it will be for sale along U.S. Highway 127 from Aug. 6 to 9.

“Yard sale” can be a bit of a misnomer; vendors set up their displays in all sorts of spots along the route.

JULY 2020 • OHIO 2020 • OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING 31 LIVING 31

Some vendors specialize in certain types of goods; this one had all sorts of music-related items such as a violin and an antique radio.

Need saddles and a horse collar?

Odds are, you’ll come across some if you look long enough.

Yard-saler’s transportation or another item for sale? It never hurts to ask.

Vendors often include sentimental touches to their displays, like this old-time photo among a selection of military helmets.

32 OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING • JULY 2020

Adventurous and patient yard-salers can find a little bit of everything for sale over the course of 650 miles of sales along Highway 127.

Typically, several vendors set up alongside one another to make for a more efficient shopping experience.

You never know what you’ll find at any given stop along the “world’s longest yard sale.”

JULY 2020 • OHIO 2020 • OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING 33 LIVING 33

IN THE GARDEN

summer

Birdfeeding

Increase the number of summertime visitors with these backyard tips.

BY KRIS WETHERBEE PHOTOS BY RICK WETHERBEE

O

ne of the favorite pleasures of summertime for many backyard and garden enthusiasts is watching the songbirds that arrive for the season.

Not only does the population of local birds increase as newborn chicks hatch all summer long, but migratory birds stop by for visits, too, hoping for a tasty snack.

Feeding birds in summer differs from other seasons.

The weather is significantly hotter, which means making some changes in what and how you offer food. As summer temperatures soar, shade is always a welcome break, especially from noon to mid-afternoon. Place your feeder where it won’t be in the glaring sun during the heat of the day. If you offer suet cakes, it’s best to switch to doughbased ones that don't melt or spoil in the heat.

Natural seed supplies are low this time of year, so follow these tips to keep your feathered friends healthy and full.

Feed birds quality food When looking for birdseed, avoid any containing debris such as empty shells, sticks, or stones. Seed should be as dust-free as possible.

Pass on any birdseed mixes that contain milo, wheat, sorghum, or red millet. White proso millet is the exception — birds that feed on the ground enjoy it — but don’t choose a blend with white millet as the main ingredient.

Do the “pinch test” on black-oil sunflower seeds. When you pinch a single seed with your fingernails, the oil from the split seed should dot your fingers. If it does, then the quality is good.

Diversify your offerings Black-oil sunflower seeds (with or without shells) and any form of suet are sure bets for attracting beautiful songbirds in summer, but you can increase the attraction and keep them coming back to your feeders when you serve a variety of treats tempting to backyard birds.

Offer seeds, nuts, fruit, and suet to ensure a diverse source of good nutrition for the bird species in your

34 OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING • JULY 2020

area. Varying the menu helps attract the greatest variety of discerning diners.

Feeder strategies Instead of one feeder with one kind of food, try placing a variety of bird feeder types at different heights, each with a different mix of food.

Certain seeds are best served in specific feeders. For example, dish-and-bowl feeders are great for serving seeds and seed blends as well as dried mealworms, fruit, and suet. Traditional tube feeders are good allpurpose feeders and essential for any backyard birdfeeding station — especially for finches, nuthatches, and other small birds that cling.

Keep the squirrels away Stock your feeders with seeds that birds love but squirrels hate, such as safflower seeds, nyjer seed, and white millet.

Some companies offer lines of hot and spicy birdseed that is a safe and humane way to discourage squirrels — birds love the hot spicy flavor, while squirrels do not.

Bring your tape measure out to help determine feeder placement. The average squirrel can jump 4 feet vertically from the ground and at least 10 to 12 feet horizontally from a tree or other object. Put your feeder on a pole 15 feet away from the nearest jump-off and make sure it is 5 feet off the ground. You can also attach an 18-inch-diameter baffle on the pole below the feeder to keep squirrels from climbing up the pole.

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◊ submit photos ◊ see videos ◊ watch our recipes being created or share your own

www.ohiocoopliving.com 36 OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING • JULY 2020

2020 CALENDAR

JULY/AUGUST

PLEASE NOTE: Because of the developing coronavirus situation, many of these planned events may have been postponed or canceled. Please seek updated information before traveling.

COMPILED BY COLLEEN ROMICK CLARK

antlers) 2 p.m. Band Night: Spoiled Rotten (X-mas attire) 8 p.m.–12 a.m. Fee if not camping: $2.50 per person, 4 yrs. and under free. 419-448-0914 or www. walnutgrovecampground.co.

JUL. 25 – Good Ole Summertime Festival, North Baltimore, 8 a.m.–midnight. Car show, craft/flea market, 5K run, golf tournament, games, live music, and food.

Festival ends with fireworks display at the park. 419-2571916 or www.facebook.com/events/432212547468780.

JUL. 25 – Rally for Women, Sauder Village, 22611 St. Rte. 2, Archbold, 10 a.m.–5 p.m. Celebrate the 100th anniversary of women’s right to vote! See the inaugural performance of “Rally,” an outdoor reenactment of a THROUGH AUG. 7 – Limaland Motorsports Park Races, 1920s-era women’s rally, and take part in the march 1500 Dutch Hollow Rd., Lima, 7:30–10:30 p.m. Sprints, down the Village’s “Main Street.” 800-590-9755 or UMP Modifieds, Thunderstocks, and more! Pit gates open www.saudervillage.org. at 4:30 p.m., grandstand gates 5 p.m., warmup laps 6:30 JUL. 26–AUG. 1 – Shelby County Fair, Shelby Co. Fgds., p.m. See website for updates. www.limaland.com.

655 S. Highland St., Sidney. Domestic and livestock THROUGH OCT. 10 – The Great Sidney Farmer’s shows, 4-H exhibits, amusement rides, demolition derby, Market, Courthouse Square, 109 S. Ohio Ave., Sidney, tractor pull, local band performances, delicious food, every Saturday, 8:00 a.m.–noon. Free. Fresh produce, and a week full of entertainment! 937-492-7385, https:// crafters, baked goods, jams, jellies. 937-658-6945 or shelbycountyfair.com, or find us on Facebook. www.sidneyalive.org.

JUL. 30–AUG. 2 – Northwest Ohio Antique Machinery JUL. 18 – “Take Me to the Rivers” Jazz Festival, Association Show, Hancock Co. Fgds., 1017 E. Kingsbury Park, 118 Auglaize St., Defiance, 3:30–9:40 Sandusky St., Findlay. Garden tractors and Briggs & p.m. $5, children and students free. Gates open at 3:30 Stratton engines. 419-721-4987 or www.facebook.com/ p.m., music starts at 4 p.m.; kids’ activities 4:30–6:30 p.m. NorthwestOhioAntiqueMachineryAssociation.

Bring lawn chairs or blankets; bring cash for food, drinks, and artist memorabilia. www.defiancejazzfestival.com or AUG. 1 – Defiance County Hot Air Balloon Festival, 20399 Airport Rd., Defiance. $10 per car. Tethered hot www.facebook.com/defiancejazz. air balloon rides, marketplace for shopping, festival food, JUL. 25 – Christmas in July Weekend, Walnut Grove inflatables, and carnival rides for the kids. Bring a chair or Campground, 7325 S. Twp. Rd. 131, Tiffin. Prizes for blanket. 419-782-3510, www.defianceballoonfest.com, or best decorated sites, toy collection for local children, www.facebook.com/defianceballoonfest. kids’ crafts 11 a.m., wiffle ball (wear Santa hat/elf hat/

NORTHWEST

WEST VIRGINIA

JUL. 22–24 – ForestCraft Days, Yew Mountain Ctr., 9494 Lobelia Rd., Hillsboro. $50. Explore primitive woodland skills with expert presenters. Each day has a theme: fire, food, and fiber. Hands-on activities include primitive fire making, wild foraging and food preparation, cordage, and weaving. Suitable for unaccompanied children ages 7–18, and adults who wish to participate with younger children or on their own. Come for the day, or spend the night and do the whole program. 3​ 04-6534079 or www.yewmountain.org/forestcraft.html.

JUL. 29–AUG. 2 – Appalachian String Band Music Festival, Camp Washington-Carver, Clifftop.

AUG. 1 – Annual Doll and Teddy Bear Show and Sale, Sauder Village Founders Hall, 22611 St. Rte. 2, Archbold, 10 a.m.–5 p.m. Antique dolls and teddy bears, modern collectibles, accessories and supplies, doll appraisals and re-stringing, and doll-themed activities. 800-590-9755 or www.saudervillage.org.

AUG. 2 – “Interrupted Odyssey: Ulysses S. Grant and the American Indians,” Fort Recovery State Museum, 1 Fort Site St., Fort Recovery, 3 p.m. Free presentation by author Mary Stockwell. 419-375-4384, www. fortrecoverymuseum.com, or search “Fort Recovery Historical Society” on Facebook.

AUG. 4 – National Night Out, 109 S. Ohio Ave., Sidney, 5–9 p.m. We will join more than 16,000 communities nationwide to promote police-community partnerships; crime, drug, and violence prevention; safety; and neighborhood unity. 937-658-6945 or www.sidneyalive.org/events.

AUG. 7–8 – Kids’ Weekend, Walnut Grove Campground, 7325 S. Twp. Rd. 131, Tiffin. Fri. 8:30 p.m., family outdoor movie. Sat. 9–10 a.m., kids’ fishing derby; 11 a.m.–2 p.m., face painting, crafts, hot dogs, ice cream bar, and kids’ Bingo; 2–6 p.m., inflatable water slide. Park visitor fee if not camping: $2.50 per person, 4 yrs. and under free.

419-448-0914 or www.walnutgrovecampground.co.

AUG. 13–15 – Lincoln Highway BUY-WAY Yard Sale, locations along and near U.S. 30 across the state, including Crawford, Wyandot, Hardin, Hancock, Allen, and Van Wert counties. www.historicbyway.com.

AUG. 14 – The Amazing Downtown Race, Sidney, 5:45 p.m. Clue sheets passed out at 5:55 p.m. Teams of four race through downtown for a chance to win great prizes!

Registration required. All team members must be age 21 and over. 937-658-6945 or www.sidneyalive.org/events.

A mountain-top gathering of musicians and friends, with contests, concerts, workshops, square dances, camping, and a hymn-sing. West Virginia masters are presented to an audience of more than 3,000 musicians and string band music lovers from around the world. www.wvculture.org/stringband.

Make sure you’re included in our calendar!

Submit listings AT LEAST 90 DAYS prior to the event to Ohio Cooperative Living, 6677 Busch Blvd., Columbus, OH 43229 or send an email to events@ohioec.org. Ohio Cooperative Living will not publish listings that don’t include a complete address or a number/website for more information.

JULY 2020 • OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING 37

2020 CALENDAR

JULY/AUGUST

PLEASE NOTE: Because of the developing coronavirus situation, many of these planned events may have been postponed or canceled. Please seek updated information before traveling.

NORTHEAST $3, Family $12 (max. 2 adults, 3 children). Food and beverages available for small donation: hamburgers and hot dogs, 12–6 p.m.; hobo stew and hobo beans cooked over an open wood fire, 1–6 p.m. Costume contest, free face painting, music by the Miracle Band 1–3 p.m. Author Barbara Hacha will talk about hobo life and will be signing copies of her book. 216-470-5780, prrm@att.net, or www. painesvillerailroadmuseum.org.

JUL. 25–26 – Zoar Harvest Festival, downtown Zoar, Sat. 10 a.m.–5 p.m., Sun. 10 a.m.–4 p.m. $10, free for ages 12 and under. More than 60 dealers of high-quality country antiques and unique finds. Artisan showcase tent featuring JUL. 17–19 – Island Fest, Memorial Park, 112 Division handmade folk art, furniture, and fine crafts. Horse-drawn St., Kelleys Island. Free. A waterfront craft festival wagon rides, food and beverages, live music, building featuring Ohio artisans and local crafters, DJ, street tours, and more. https://historiczoarvillage.com. dances, parade, and fireworks. Food and beer available AUG. 2 – Chardon Arts Festival, Chardon Square for purchase. This year’s theme is Summer Olympic (intersection of Rtes. 4 and 66), 10 a.m.–5 p.m. Free.

Games. 419-746-2360 or www.kelleysislandchamber.com. Juried show hosts over 100 artists, both local and out JUL. 19 – Hale Farm and Village Car Meet, Hale Farm of state, featuring works in a variety of genres. Includes and Village, 2686 Oak Hill Rd., Bath, 10 a.m.–2 p.m. food vendors and rides on Lolly the Trolley! http:// $6–$12, free for kids under 3 and active military. Explore chardonsquareassociation.org. cars from car clubs, enthusiasts, private collectors, and AUG. 2 – Millersburg Food Run, Hipp Station Rails-tothe Crawford Auto-Aviation Museum. Admission also Trails, 62 N. Grant St., Millersburg, registration 7 a.m., includes access to the living history museum. 330-666start time 8 a.m. Timed 5K and 10K courses and untimed 3711 or www.wrhs.org/events/hfv-car-meet-2020.

1-mile course; runners, joggers, walkers — all welcome.

JUL. 23 – Taste of Downtown, Wooster, 6–9 p.m.

Proceeds benefit the Love Center Food Pantry. Every Downtown restaurants come together to showcase participant receives a ticket for a gift basket giveaway; their best dishes in sample-size portions. Various anyone can be a winner! Entry fees vary by age and local performers will be featured from our Sounds of race. https://runsignup.com/Race/OH/Millersburg/ Downtown performance series. Beer and wine garden MillersburgFoodRun. included. www.facebook.com/events/546645299254695. AUG. 3–9 – Columbiana County Fair, 225 Lee Ave., JUL. 24–26 – F.A.R.M. and Gas Engine Show, New Lisbon. Details and updates available online: http:// London Park, 2 Blake St., New London. Contact Robert columbianacountyfair.org or www.facebook.com/ Hamar at 419-908-0419.

Columbiana-County-Fair-274830784327.

JUL. 25 – Hobo Day, Painesville Railroad Museum, 475 Railroad St., Painesville, 10 a.m.–8 p.m. $5, C. (3–12)

SOUTHEAST

THROUGH SEP. 25 – Rise and Shine Farmers Market, 2135 Southgate Pkwy. (near Tractor Supply Co.), Cambridge, Fridays, 8 a.m.–noon. 740-680-1866 or find us on Facebook.

JUL. 11, 25, AUG. 8 – MOV’n Dragons, Marietta, 9–11 a.m. Free. Open to men, women, and youth 12–18 (parental permission required). No experience necessary; all fitness levels welcome. Meet at the Marietta High School Boat House, 812 Gilman Ave. Experience the Muskingum River in a dragon boat, learn about dragon boating, and try out paddling with the MOV’n Dragons team. Sign up at www.facebook.com/MOVnDragons or call 740-434-5638.

JUL. 17–19 – Sweet Corn Festival, Muskingum Park, 300 block of Front St., Marietta, Fri. 5–9 p.m., Sat. 11 a.m.–8 p.m. Enjoy fresh local roasted sweet corn, pedal

38 OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING • JULY 2020

AUG. 3–9 – Medina County Fair, 720 W. Smith Rd., Medina. Celebrating 175 years! 330-723-9633 or www. medinaohiofair.com.

AUG. 6–8 – Silver King and Plymouth Tractor Show, Town Square, Plymouth. Held at the same time as the Plymouth Volunteer Fire Dept. Chicken BBQ Festival.

Contact Kyle Bell at 567-203-3182.

AUG. 7–9 – Rockabilly Ruckus, Trumbull Co. Fgds., 899 Everett Hull Rd., Cortland, Fri. 12–8 p.m., Sat. 9 a.m.–8 p.m., Sun. 9 a.m.–6 p.m. $15/day or $30/ weekend (does not include camping); kids under 11 and active military/first responders free. Pre-1979 car show and all-weekend cruise-in, “kicker-era” motorcycle show on Sunday, live rockabilly bands, kids’ activities, and family fun. https://rockabillyruckus.com or find us on Facebook: “Rockabilly Ruckus Ohio.”

AUG. 8–9 – Civil War Reenactment, Hale Farm and Village, 2686 Oak Hill Rd., Bath. $12; under 13, $6.

Two-day tickets available. Reenacted battle, speeches by President Lincoln, cavalry mounted drills, artillery demos, and Camp Chase Fife and Drum Corps performances. https://www.wrhs.org/events/civil-war-reenactment-2020.

AUG. 8–9, 15–16, 22–23 – Shaker Woods Festival, 44337 County Line Rd., Columbiana. $8, under 13 free.

No pets. More than 200 of the best juried crafters and artisans in the country, each dressed in Shaker period clothing while demonstrating and selling their remarkable handmade wares, including Shaker brooms, pottery, blown glass, furniture, and much more! Enjoy a relaxing walk through the beautiful woods and gardens. www. shakerwoods.com.

AUG. 13–15 – Lincoln Highway BUY-WAY Yard Sale, locations along and near historic U.S. 30 across the state, including through Columbiana, Stark, Wayne, Ashland, and Richland counties. www.historicbyway.com.

AUG. 6–8 – Antrim Community VFD Fireman’s Festival, 20217 Cadiz Rd., Freeport, starting at 5 p.m. each night. Open-pit BBQ chicken, ice cream, noodles, and much more. Live entertainment, kids’ games, raffles nightly. Parade Friday at 7 p.m. For more information, email landsmama2@yahoo.com.

AUG. 6–9 – Rivers, Trails, and Ales Fest, East Muskingum Park, 310 Front St., Marietta. A full weekend of paddling, road and mountain biking, hiking, train running, and enjoying regional craft beers in historic Marietta. www.facebook.com/RTAfest.

AUG. 7–8 – Deerassic Classic Giveaway and Expo, Deerassic Park Education Ctr., 14250 Cadiz Rd./U.S. 22, Cambridge. Outdoor exhibitors, stage shows, raffles, prizes, food, and entertainment. 740-435-9500 or https:// deerassic.com.

AUG. 8–15 – Ross County Fair, Ross Co. Fgds., 344 Fairgrounds Rd., Chillicothe. www.rosscountyfair.com.

AUG. 14–16 – Salt Fork Arts and Crafts Festival, AUG. 4–8 – Betty Zane Days, City Park, 401 S. 4th Cambridge City Park, Cambridge, Fri. 12–7 p.m., Sat. 10 St., Martins Ferry, Tues.–Fri. 5–10 p.m., Sat. 10 a.m.–10 a.m.–7 p.m., Sun. 10 a.m.–4 p.m. A juried festival that p.m. Named after the legendary local Revolutionary War showcases high-quality art in a variety of mediums. heroine, this event celebrates the community’s rich history Musical performances, tasty concessions, craft classes, and features a 5K run, firefighter water battle, amusement and programs for kids. 740-705-6866 or www. rides and games, food and craft vendors, and nightly saltforkfestival.org. entertainment. 740-633-1481 or find us on Facebook. tractor pull, corn hole tournament, corn eating contest, car and truck show, kids’ activities, and more. www. mariettasweetcorn.com.

JUL. 18 – Samson/Obrist Woods Guided Hike, Pike County. The Samson and Obrist Rock House Preserve, one of the Arc’s newest preserves, protects a mature forest composed of sizeable oaks, dogwoods, tulip poplars, maples, and sassafras trees, as well as an impressive rock shelter. Space is limited and registration is required. https://arcofappalachia.org/guided-hikes.

JUL. 24–26 – Frankfort Sunflower Festival, downtown Frankfort. Free. See website for updated information and schedule. www.sunflowerfestival.net.

JUL. 25 – Mud Ninja Extreme Challenge, J.L. Parker Farm, 2093 Pricer Ridge Rd., South Salem, 9 a.m.

Entrance fees: $70 for adults, $29 for kids. Spectators free! An action-packed day of fun and excitement with over 25 obstacles and 5 km of extreme terrain. Celebrate with food, beer, and music. www.mudninja.com.

and awareness for canine cancer and sarcoma. http:// hankkabelsarcomafoundation.com. 740-974-2811.

JUL. 16–19 – Miami Valley Stem Threshers Annual Show and Reunion, Pastime Park, 370 N. Chillicothe St., Plain City, Fri./Sat. 7 a.m.–9 p.m., Sun. 8 a.m.–1 p.m. $5. Gas and steam engines, antique tractors, truck and tractor pull, live demonstrations, parades, and family fun.

614-296-5814 or www.mvsteam.com.

JUL. 18–19 – JEGS SPEEDweek/SPORTSnationals Qualifying and Eliminations, National Trail Raceway, 2650 National Rd. SW, Hebron. 740-928-5706 or https:// nationaltrailraceway.com/event-schedule.

JUL. 25–26 – “Christmas in July” JEGS ET Series #9 THROUGH OCT. 24 – Delaware Farmers Market, and #10, National Trail Raceway, 2650 National Rd. SW, Delaware Co. Fgds., 236 Pennsylvania Ave., Delaware, Hebron. Includes craft bazaar on Sunday. 740-928-5706 Saturdays 9–12 p.m. The market will continue, but it or https://nationaltrailraceway.com/event-schedule. has been temporarily relocated from downtown to the fairgrounds. 740-362-6050 or www.mainstreetdelaware. JUL. 29–AUG. 9 – Ohio State Fair, Ohio State Fgds., 717 E. 17th Ave., Columbus, daily 9 a.m.–10 p.m. $6–$10, com/event/farmers-market. under 6 free. $5 parking. 888-646-3976 or www.

THROUGH OCT. 31 – Zanesville Farmers Market, ohiostatefair.com.

Muskingum Co. Fgds., 1300 Pershing Rd., Zanesville, JUL. 30–AUG. 1 – Goodtime Quilters Guild’s Annual every Sat., 9 a.m.–12 p.m. June through August, the Quilt Show, Ohio Christian University, 1476 Lancaster market is also open every Wed. 4–7 p.m. at North 4th Pike, Circleville, Thur./Fri. 9 a.m.–5 p.m., Sat. 9 a.m.–4 Street. www.zanesvillefarmersmarket.org. p.m. $6 daily, 3-day admission $10. More than 150 quilt JUL. 10–12 – Lilyfest, Bishop Educational Gardens, displays, quilt raffle, door prizes, silent auction, demos, 13200 Little Cola Rd., Rockbridge, Fri. 10 a.m.–6 p.m., Sat. knife sharpening. www.goodtimequilters.org.

10 a.m.–5 p.m., Sun. 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Free. A celebration of arts, crafts, music, and gardens in the Hocking Hills. 740- JUL. 31–AUG. 1 – Blues and Ribfest, downtown Canal Winchester. Free. Family event featuring live blues 969-2873, www.lilyfest.com, or find us on Facebook. music, world-class ribs, a variety of quality non-rib food JUL. 11 – Hank Kabel Sarcoma 5K Walk/Run Fest, options, children’s activities, fan-cooled dining areas, Fairfield Co. Fgds., Lancaster. An event to raise money and a beer and wine garden. 614-270-5053 or www. bluesandribsfest.com.

CENTRAL

Candlelight tour Fri. 4–10 p.m. Living history encampment with reenactors representing eras ranging from the French and Indian War to the American Civil War. Antiques, live music and entertainment, arts and crafts, and food vendors. 937-548-5250 or www. gatheringatgarst.com.

JUL. 26–AUG. 1 – Butler County Fair, Butler Co. Fgds., 1715 Fairgrove Ave., Hamilton. 513-892-1423 or https:// butlercountyohfair.org.

AUG. 1 – Chaparral Prairie Nature Preserve Guided Hike, West Union (Adams County), 10 a.m. Join naturalists John Jaeger and Dave Keuhner on a guided hike to JUL. 12–18 – Montgomery County Fair, Montgomery view the Blazing Star showcases. Space is limited and Co. Fgds., 645 Infirmary Rd., Dayton. 937-224-1619 or registration is required. https://arcofappalachia.org/ www.montcofair.com. chaparral-prairie-hike.

JUL. 20 – Music at the Mound with Steve Free, Serpent AUG. 6–9 – World’s Longest Yard Sale, locations along Mound, 3850 OH-73, Peebles, 1 p.m. Free. $8 parking U.S. 127 through Greenville. www.127yardsale.com. fee. Join the acclaimed singer/songwriter for an open air AUG. 8 – Down a River, Down a Beer, downtown concert. http://arcofappalachia.org/steve-free.

Piqua near the Great Miami River, 6–10 p.m. Craft beer JUL. 24–26 – Annie Oakley Festival, Darke Co. tastings and river activities to benefit and promote Fgds., South Show Arena Area, 800 Sweitzer St., river corridor stewardship. Food trucks and fun! www.

Greenville. Honoring Darke County’s most famous mainstreetpiqua.com. daughter, the festival features shooting contests, fast AUG. 9 – Art on the Commons, Lincoln Park Civic draw competitions, bullwhip exhibitions, Little Miss Commons, Kettering, 11 a.m.–5 p.m. One of the and Mr. contests, food, a car show, and more. www. most popular Dayton-area art festivals returns for annieoakleyfestival.org. its 32nd year! Come shop for fine arts and crafts by JUL. 25–26 – Gathering at Garst, 205 N. Broadway, 100 talented artists from around the country while Greenville, Sat. 10 a.m.–8 p.m., Sun. 11 a.m.–5 p.m. you enjoy live entertainment and tasty concessions.

SOUTHWEST

JUL. 31–AUG. 2 – Dublin Irish Festival, Coffman Park, 5600 Post Rd., Dublin, Fri. 4 p.m.–midnight, Sat. 11 a.m.– midnight, Sun. 11 a.m.–8 p.m. $10–$15, under 13 free; $25 for 3-day pass. The best of Irish dance, music, art, and culture at the world’s largest three-day Irish festival. www. dublinirishfestival.org.

AUG. 1 – JimBo’s Annual Cruise-In for Kids, JimBo’s Burgers & Beers, 23356 St. Rte. 56, South Bloomingville.

Open to all makes and models of cars, trucks, motorcycles, UTVs, and tractors. $10 entry fee; must be present by 5 p.m. for judging. Cash prizes for Best of Show and 4 Sponsor Choice winners, 25 additional trophies including 5 Best of ’99+. Enjoy live music by Stages, 3–8 p.m. All money raised goes to local families.

740-412-1875.

AUG. 11 – Inventors Network Meeting, Rev1 Ventures for Columbus, 1275 Kinnear Rd., Columbus, 7 p.m. The focus of this month’s meeting is “The Purposes of Prototyping.”

614-470-0144 or www.inventorscolumbus.com.

AUG. 13–15 – All Ohio Balloon Fest, Union Co. Airport, 760 Clymer Rd., Marysville. Thur. $40 (includes AOBF concert), Fri. $30, Sat. $10; under 11 free. Nightly Launch 6 p.m., Nightly Glow 9 p.m., weather permitting.

Bring your own lawn chairs. 937-243-5833 or www. allohioballoonfest.com.

AUG. 15 – Hillbilly Nationals Demolition Drag Racing, National Trail Raceway, 2650 National Rd. SW, Hebron, 5–11 p.m. See website for details and updates. 740-9285706 or https://nationaltrailraceway.com/event-schedule.

937-296-0294 or www.playkettering.org/art-programsevents/art-on-the-commons.

AUG. 12–15 – “Nature’s Choir: A Course in Insect Music,” Highlands Nature Sanctuary, 7660 Cave Rd., Bainbridge. When first learning insect songs, it will likely appear that you are surrounded by an impenetrable wall of sound. Join musician Lisa Rainsong, creator of Listening to Insects, and Wil Hershberger, author of the book, CD, and blog Songs of Insects, as they discuss how to recognize the summer singers and their songs. Space is limited and registration is required. $450/person registration fee includes nine meals and all curriculum. 937-365-1935 or https://arcofappalachia.org/natures-choir.

AUG. 14–15 – Annual Wine Festival, Hanover Winery, 2165 Morman Rd., Hamilton. Check website for schedule of events. 513-863-3119, www.hanoverwinery.com, or find us on Facebook.

AUG. 14–16 – Miami Valley Music Fest, Troy Eagles Campground, 2252 Troy-Urbana Rd., Troy. This annual festival combines art and giving, showcasing the region’s best musicians and artists plus providing grants to charity organizations. Family-friendly fun! www. miamivalleymusicfest.com or www.facebook.com/ miamivalleymusicfest.

AUG. 14–20 – Miami County Fair, Miami Co. Fgds., 650 N. County Rd. 25A, Troy. $5 daily, under 9 free, season ticket $20. Competitions, entertainment, harness racing, tractor pulls, art exhibits, games and rides, and great food. 937-335-7492 or www.miamicountyohiofair.com.

JULY 2020 • OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING 39

Corn-y

MEMBER INTERACTIVE

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2.

1. Lily and Sam enjoying their first corn on the cob.

Cheri Raphael Firelands Electric Cooperative member 2. Summer fun: Madi sharing her ear of corn with her father, Al. Sue Robertson Guernsey-Muskingum Electric Cooperative member

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3. K nee-high by the Fourth of July?

This corn was chest-high on my 2-month-old son, David, by the fourth of June!

Julie Richards Holmes-Wayne Electric Cooperative member 4. This is our grandson, Jaxyn, eating corn on the cob last August. He loved it!

James Madison Carroll Electric Cooperative member 5. K aty thinks the best place for corn is at the Millersport Sweet Corn Festival.

David and Tiffany Heidell South Central Power Company members

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6. My grandson, Luke, harvesting corn last summer. Does it get any better than fresh corn on the cob for lunch?

Kathy DeHass Holmes-Wayne Electric Cooperative member 7. My grandson, Jayden, at an event getting to play in a giant corn box.

Katie Grubba South Central Power Company member 8. My son, Andrew, in May 2019.

Matthew Bader South Central Power Company member

Send us your picture!

For October, send “Scary!” by July 15; for November, send “Young chefs”

by Aug. 15. Upload your photos at www.ohioec.org/memberinteractive — and remember to include your co-op name and to identify everyone in the photos.

40 OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING • JULY 2020

AT OHIO’S ELECTRIC COOPERATIVES WE WORK HARD TO HELP OUR NEIGHBORS — ACROSS THE STREET OR AROUND THE GLOBE

For the third time since 2016, Ohio cooperative lineworkers strung life-changing electricity through mountainous terrain in Guatemalan villages, changing lives for generations.

Lighting the world, one village at a time.

ohioec.org/purpose