Ohio Cooperative Living - May 2019 - Midwest

OHIO

MAY 2019

COOPERATIVE

Living

Official publication of Midwest Electric Inc. | www.midwestrec.com

2019 ANNU MEET AL I Satu N G rday , Jun E ffet E R F st bu nd

akfa ers a bre emb family m for ediate imm

PLEASE RSVP

St. M arys e1 High Memoria l Scho ol

Use the postage-paid card on the back cover!

$3,000 in

total cash prizes! with a

$500

first-place winner and a

$1,000

scholarship drawing!

Must be present to win

8:15 a.m.

Registration, free breakfast buffet, and activities begin 9:15 a.m.

Business meeting — lasts only 45 minutes!

• Grand Lake Health System health fair • $3,000 in cash door prizes • NEW $1,000 scholarship drawing • Meet your energy advisor • Booths on energy efficiency and renewable energy • Director elections results • Financial and service reports

Midwest Electric, Inc.

• Q&A with co-op leaders • Kids’ games and demonstrations

Official Notice

82nd Annual Meeting Saturday, June 1, 2019 • St. Marys Memorial High School

Agenda 8:15 a.m. ................................................... Registration 8:15-9:15 a.m............ Breakfast for Midwest Electric members and immediate family 9:15 a.m. ...........................................Business meeting All morning.................................... Variety of displays and presentations

• Begin your Saturday morning with breakfast at

the high school.

• Registered members will be eligible to win cash prizes — must be present to win!

• Please complete and return the postage-paid reservation card on the back cover or call in your reservation to the co-op office no later than May 29.

Please provide us with the number attending.

• The 82nd annual meeting will be held at Memorial High School in St. Marys, OH, at 9:15 a.m. on Saturday, June 1, 2019, to review the following and take appropriate action.

Health Fair Grand Lake Health System will hold a health fair at the Annual Meeting. For the fee services, please pay Grand Lake Health System at the annual meeting.

The Auglaize County Sheriff ’s Department will be available to take expired medications as part of the Drug TakeBack Program. ___Body mass index (free) ___Blood pressure/pulse ox (free) ___Iron (anemia screen, $15) ___Comprehensive metabolic panel (8-hour fast, $25) ___PSA screening ($40 ) ___Thyroid screening ($40) ___Cardio risk (lipid profile; $20, 12-hour fast) ___C-reactive protein ($25) ___Heel bone density (free) ___Dermascan (free) ___Diabetes screening (A1C) ($25) ___Vitamin D deficiency ($35)

Business Meeting Agenda Call business meeting to order .................................... Board President Larry Vandemark, 9:15 a.m.

Report on number of members present ....................................................................Larry Vandemark Reading and delivery of Official Meeting Notice ................Board Secretary/Treasurer Randy Heinl Presentation of minutes from 2018 annual meeting for approval.................................. Randy Heinl Guest/employee introductions .....................................................................................CEO Matt Berry Buckeye Power/Ohio’s Electric Cooperatives report .........Craig Grooms, VP Engineering & Operations Annual report of board president.............................................................................. Larry Vandemark Annual report of CEO ............................................................................................................ Matt Berry Member questions/concerns .................................................................................................. Matt Berry Report of Results of director election and bylaw changes ......Cooperative Attorney Courtney Burton Adjournment ................................................................................................................Larry Vandemark $3,000 in cash attendance-prize drawings and a $1,000 scholarship drawing at the conclusion of the meeting. Must be present to win.

OHIO

APRIL MAY 2019

COOPERATIVE Official publication of of Midwest Electric, Inc. | www.midwestrec.com Official publication Midwest Electric, Inc. | www.midwestrec.com

Heads up: Ballots coming soon!

ALSO INSIDE Reconnecting city with country Moonshine goes legit Inside the National Veterans Memorial

Living

Need Energy Advice?

Contact your electric cooperative Have questions about: • Energy efficiency?

• Renewable energy?

• Energy resources needed to expand or start your business?

We’re here to support all your energy-related projects.

Your electric cooperative is not-for-profit, locally operated, and owned by you.

OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING • MAY 2019

INSIDE FEATURES 26 DUTY, HONOR, COUNTRY

The new National Veterans Memorial and Museum in Columbus is a salute to service and sacrifice.

32 OUT OF THE SHADOWS White lightning goes legit as legal moonshine distilleries thrive in Ohio.

38 KAYAK KRAZE

PHOTO BY DAMAINE VONADA

Whether for fun or exercise, kayaking Ohio’s lakes is a perfect way to get out and enjoy nature.

Cover image on most issues: Ohio’s Lake Erie islands are a scenic wonderland, and an open-air Jeep is a great way to take them in. Outdoors Editor W.H. “Chip” Gross captured this image of a family enjoying some time on South Bass Island.

MAY 2019 • OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING 1

UP FRONT

Using our voice As you might imagine, electric cooperatives have a great story to tell. e talk about our history, about rural neighbors who banded together to bring W electricity to their homes and farms when no one else would.

We talk about the present, about the vital service we provide, and about our involvement in our communities — locally, nationally, and even internationally.

We talk about the future — about the challenges we see ahead; about how the cooperative business model helps us to make sound decisions; about how to keep the electricity co-ops provide affordable and reliable; about how we remain environmentally responsible; and about how we ensure that our employees return home safely to their families each and every day.

Talk about compelling. It feels like we should be shouting from the mountaintops.

Fortunately, there are better ways to get those stories out. Ohio Cooperative Living, of course, is a great way to share co-op stories with our members. Sometimes, however, our story requires a broader audience, or maybe we need to get into some nitty-gritty details — and that’s when we really get to stretch our voices.

For example, co-ops are active at statehouses around the country, and each spring, many of your co-op’s leaders head to Washington, D.C. We need to be sure that elected officials hear our stories firsthand, and that our concerns are considered when policies that affect your co-op are enacted. Legislative conferences are a necessary tool to make sure our voices get heard — and acted upon.

We share a heritage with RFD-TV network (profiled this month on page 4).

The name “RFD-TV” is a reference to “Rural Free Delivery,” the United States Postal Service’s system of delivering mail directly to rural patrons. Before RFD, farmers had a tough time getting mail delivery — sound familiar? Cooperatives were among the early investors that helped RFD-TV get off the ground. The network understands that co-op news is likely to affect a large portion of its audience, and they provide another platform to tell our story.

Our stories are good ones, and they’re fun to tell — and using our voice is important to our future.

2 OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING • MAY 2019

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

We need to be sure that elected officials hear our stories firsthand, and that our concerns are considered when policies that affect your co-op are enacted.

MORE INSIDE

May 2019 • Volume 61, No. 8

DEPARTMENTS 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: Brian Albright, Celeste Baumgartner, Colleen Romick Clark, Victoria Ellwood, W.H. “Chip” Gross, Toni Leland, Catherine Murray, James Proffitt, Damaine Vonada, and Kris 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. Nothing in this publication may be reproduced in any manner without written permission from Ohio Rural Electric Cooperatives, Inc. All rights reserved.

4 POWER LINES

Connecting city with country: Cooperative leaders reach a large rural audience with their messages through RFD-TV. Co-ops go to Washington: The NRECA Legislative Conference lets coops bring their issues directly to Congress.

8

4

CO-OP PEOPLE

Daylily delights: Hancock-Wood Electric Cooperative members grow an astounding array of perennial posies.

8

12 IN THE GARDEN

Butterfly farming: The right mix of plants can put the entire butterfly life cycle right in your own backyard.

17 GOOD EATS

Herbs: Whether from your kitchen garden or the produce aisle, herbs add a fresh flavor to dishes of all kinds.

12

20 CO-OP SPOTLIGHT For all advertising inquiries, contact

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

POSTMASTER: Send address changes to editorial and advertising offices at: 6677 Busch Boulevard, Columbus, OH 43229-1101

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.

Logan County Electric: One of Ohio’s smallest co-ops puts a priority on connecting with its members.

21 LOCAL PAGES

News and important information from your electric cooperative.

17

36 WOODS, WATERS, AND WILDLIFE

Lake Erie islands: Ohio’s three most remote campgrounds each have a unique appeal.

41 CALENDAR

What’s happening: May/June events and other things to do.

20

44 MEMBER INTERACTIVE

Sensory overload: Readers capture scenes that appeal not only to sight, but to hearing, touch, smell, and even taste.

44

MAY 2019 • OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING 3

POWER LINES

CONNECTING CITY WITH COUNTRY

BY JEFF MCCALLISTER

Marc Armstrong, director of government affairs for Ohio’s Electric Cooperatives, makes an appearance on RFD-TV to tout the state’s successful drive for participation in ACRE Co-Op Owners for Political Action.

4 OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING • MAY 2019

E

lectric cooperatives have a long history of providing service where there was an unfilled need. It’s a story that especially resonates with Patrick Gottsch.

In the late 1990s, Gottsch, then a sales executive for a successful livestock auction, looked at cable television lineups around the country and noticed something missing: there was no rural-focused programming anywhere on the dial.

He dedicated himself to filling that void, and by late 2000, had successfully launched Rural Free Delivery Television (RFD-TV) on DISH Network. “At first, when we didn’t have any money, all of our promotion was by word of mouth,” Gottsch says. “People would tell their friends about this dumb old rural network they had seen, and it resonated with them. Most of our audience, since they were rural, were electric co-op members, and the co-ops took notice.”

Soon, RFD-TV had an agreement with DirecTV, which had been founded with investments from the National Rural Telecommunications Council (NRTC) — mostly to provide television satellite programming to rural areas. NRTC had itself been founded by electric co-ops, the NRECA, and the National Rural Utilities Cooperative Finance Corporation (CFC).

The network soon was being broadcast by nearly all cable providers, and today, RFD-TV is available in more than 52 million homes.

“One of our major goals is to connect city with country,” Gottsch says. “A lot of people who live in urban areas grew up in rural areas.

They still vacation in rural areas. But there’s a wall being built between country and city, and so we need to do a better job communicating rural issues with people in the cities.”

The increasing viewership numbers have allowed RFD-TV to provide programming that does just that. What started out as a channel that was known for reruns of rural-focused shows such as Bonanza and The Lone Ranger now provides six hours of live rural-focused news each weekday — including from news bureaus in Chicago and Washington, D.C. — as well as other original or exclusive shows.

“RFD-TV is an obvious and effective place for us to go to get our messages out when we have something we need to say to a wider rural audience beyond our own co-op or even beyond our own state line,” says Patrick Higgins, director of communications at Ohio’s Electric Cooperatives. “Electric cooperative members around the country know that news presented on Market Day Report, for example, will be relevant to them.”

Ron Salyer, CEO of Pioneer Electric Cooperative in Piqua, was interviewed on Market Day to talk about ways electric cooperatives help members save money on their electric bills. Phil Caskey, CEO of Mount Gilead-based Consolidated Cooperative, has talked about efforts of cooperatives nationwide to bring broadband to rural areas. John Metcalf, CEO of Mid-Ohio Energy Cooperative in Kenton, talked about programs that get funding from co-op members’ donations through Operation Round Up. Officials from Ohio’s Electric Cooperatives, the statewide organization that provides services to the Ohio co-ops, are also in demand: President and CEO Pat O’Loughlin, Vice President Doug Miller, and Government Affairs Director Marc Armstrong all have made multiple appearances on RFD-TV in recent months — including updates from the Legislative Conference in Washington (see story on page 6).

“I still read every email and letter that comes in to this company,” Gottsch says. “In fact, we first added news shows because people wrote to say they were disillusioned by both local and national news, which did not cover rural areas unless there was some sort of disaster going on. So we invested heavily in that programming, and now people in rural areas turn to us first. Even people in urban areas are making sure they see what we talk about. We’re chipping away at that wall.”

MAY 2019 • OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING 5

CO-OPS GO TO

WASHINGTON T

he 2016 elections demonstrated the influence of rural voters — and, therefore, let elected officials know in no uncertain terms to pay attention to the needs of rural America.

While the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association has a team of government affairs professionals lobbying Congress every day, local cooperative leaders make an annual trek to Washington, D.C., every April so those federal policymakers hear directly from folks from their district or home state.

Co-ops from around the country send representatives to take part in the Legislative Conference, which this year wrapped up on May 1. Ohio’s electric cooperatives usually send about 65 trustees, CEOs, and key staff members as part of a full-court press that also includes appearances on such outlets as RFD-TV’s Market Day Report, to advocate for the policy positions that affect a co-op’s business and the service co-ops provide to their members.

“The Legislative Conference lets members of Congress put a face to the issues that they’ve been hearing about from our lobbying efforts,” says Marc Armstrong, government affairs director for Ohio’s Electric Cooperatives.

This year, the topics discussed have included tax policy, broadband funding, and the Rural Development Program.

Cooperative leaders get a chance to speak to their representatives, including Sen. Sherrod Brown (above) and Sen. Rob Portman (below), about important issues during the Legislative Conference each April.

Taxes Cooperatives are tax exempt, according to the IRS — if more than 85% of a cooperative’s income comes from members paying their bills, the cooperative is exempt from federal income tax. A 2017 change in tax law threatens that exemption, however, for coops that receive funding from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Co-ops are asking to fix the law to preserve that status.

Broadband Electric cooperatives provide power to many areas of Ohio that do not have adequate broadband connectivity.

Access to reliable, high-speed internet is vital to maintaining quality education, operating a business, and most effectively managing a farm. Co-ops support broadband funding and policies that encourage rural broadband deployment.

Rural development The United States Department of Agriculture’s Rural Development Program offers loans, grants, and loan guarantees to support electric, communications, and water infrastructure, as well as first-responder services and equipment. The program helps create jobs and supports economic expansion that is desperately needed in rural Ohio, so co-ops have asked their legislators to support the Rural Development Program and the services it provides.

6 OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING • MAY 2019

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MAY 2019 • OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING 7

CO-OP PEOPLE

Daylily

delights Hancock-Wood members make a name with an astounding array of perennial posies.

BY VICTORIA ELLWOOD PHOTOS BY MIKE ANDERS, ANN BRICKNER, CHARLIE HARPER, AND VICTORIA ELLWOOD

George and Ann Brickner (left) operate a plant nursery near Findlay that boasts more than 1,300 varieties of daylilies.

8 OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING • MAY 2019

V

elvet Eyes and Wild Horses. Strawberry Candy and Pink Bikini. Snow Prince.

Moonlit Masquerade. Dreamworld. Baby’s Got Blue Eyes.

Those alluring names are just a few of the thousands — literally thousands — of varieties of daylily. So captivating are these perennial posies, in fact, that Ann Brickner readily admits she is absolutely addicted to them.

“My favorite daylily is whichever one I’m looking at that very moment,” says Brickner, donning a set of daylily-themed earrings. “I do like them all, but I’m really drawn to the showy varieties with double blossoms. There’s one called Birthright that’s a rich coral color and is just gorgeous.”

Flag City Daylily Tour The Brickners’ nursery will be among seven stops on the fourth annual Flag City Daylily Tour in Findlay July 12–14.

The free, self-guided tour in and around town has been heralded as a “Daylily Ambassador of the U.S.” by the American Daylily Society.

Ann and her husband, George, along with their daughter, Michelle, own and operate Perennial Plant Peddler, a daylily and hosta plant nursery near Findlay that’s served by Hancock-Wood Electric Cooperative. The two acres of gardens on their property are surrounded by 180 acres of farmland, which George, who is retired from Marathon Oil, still farms with his brother.

The Brickners’ business boasts more than 1,300 daylily varieties and sells about 900 types during the warm-weather months. Most of their named plants are registered with the American Daylily Society, and the business is an official show garden for that organization. Other daylilies that grace the Brickner gardens are hybrids grown experimentally by Ann and Michelle.

“I’m passionate about daylilies because there are so many varieties out there, and with hybridization you are limited only by your imagination and creativity,” says Michelle, who helps run Perennial Plant Peddler on weekends and during the summer, when she’s not teaching at Cleveland School of the Arts. “It’s fun to imagine that maybe we could get a flower to look like this or like that. Could we make one that’s newer? Or taller? Or rufflier? Or more colorful? It taps into my love of the visual arts.”

Ann and George, who met at Heidelberg College and settled in the Findlay area more than 30 years ago, point to Michelle’s fascination with flowers for fueling their gardenlove. “As a kid, I’d sit around for hours looking at seed catalogs and say that I wanted to grow all of these different kinds of flowers,” Michelle says. Once her dad retired, he proposed the business idea … and Perennial Plant Peddler was launched.

It wasn’t all smooth sailing at first. They call their first year “the year of the flood.” The usually sedate Sand Run Ditch, which runs through their property and into the Blanchard River, overflowed that year in a major way.

“We want to turn people on to these spectacular flowers,” says Mike Anders, a retired professor of music at the University of Findlay, avid gardener, and co-founder of the event. “They are so much more than just the wild, orange daylilies you see in ditches along country roads.”

Anders, in fact, grows about 2,000 varieties of daylilies on his property, which also is served by Hancock-Wood Electric Cooperative and is a stop on the tour.

Daylilies are also very adaptable, he says.

“They’ll grow just about everywhere, even here in the Midwest. Even with my heavy, clay soil.”

“We had almost 3 feet of water all over our new daylily gardens, with wheat straw from the farm fields floating all over them,” says Ann. “We just rolled up our pant legs and got to work.”

They ended up not losing any of the young plants — partly because of the daylilies’ hardiness. “It had been pretty dry out,” Ann says, “and the plants were thirsty. After all that water, they just started to bloom like crazy.”

They’ve been blooming ever since, providing a riot of color all summer long. Even though they are aptly named daylily because each blossom on a stem only lasts one day, with careful planning you can enjoy months of multihued flower beds. “Daylilies primarily bloom in July and August,” Ann says, “but if you put in some varieties that bloom at different times, you can have flowers all summer.”

MAY 2019 • OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING 9

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IN THE GARDEN

Create your own

butterfly farm STORY AND PHOTOS BY TONI LELAND

M

any gardeners fill their space with flowers to attract butterflies, but how would you like to have a garden where the complete life cycle takes place? You can grow and raise your own butterflies, from eggs to interesting caterpillars to the beautiful winged creatures. With the right habitat, you can enjoy lepidoptera all season long and even host the same species in your garden year after year.

Familiar and popular Ohio butterflies include the black swallowtail, the great spangled fritillary, the eastern tiger swallowtail, and the beloved monarch. If you’ve seen these butterflies in your neighborhood, you can plan a garden to attract them to your yard.

Most butterfly and moth species have defined needs for producing the next generation, and providing those requirements is the key to the perfect butterfly nursery.

Butterflies love the sun, so your new garden (or chosen landscape bed) should ideally be in full sun. If that’s not possible, look for a space that receives at least six hours of afternoon sun. Keep in mind that newly hatched butterflies emerge from early spring until fall, so be sure to include nectar plants that are in bloom throughout the season.

The life cycle of a butterfly comprises three stages: egg, larva, and adult. The goal for your garden is to have all three, so that you can nurture each stage. Your first priority is providing plants for the adult females to feed on as they prepare to lay their eggs. A garden filled

12 OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING • MAY 2019

with flowers is important to attract those females, and knowing which nectar plants they prefer increases your chances for success. By also planting nearby “host” plants for newly hatched larvae, you’re ensuring that your butterfly ladies will stick around to fill the nursery.

The beautiful black swallowtail butterfly loves the nectar of butterfly bushes, zinnias, marigolds, pincushion flower, and dame’s rocket, but she will only lay her eggs on dill, celery, parsley, carrot, or Queen Anne’s lace. Plant attractive nectar flowers near your herb or vegetable garden or add Queen Anne’s lace or dill to an existing flower bed.

The great spangled fritillary and the smaller regal fritillary adults are partial to privet, zinnia, asters, bee balm, milkweed, and butterfly bush. This butterfly species lays her eggs only on violets. Violets grow low to the ground, so you can tuck them under the branches of a butterfly bush or among the zinnias, and the fritillaries will find them when they are ready to lay eggs.

Eastern tiger swallowtail butterflies are the most common swallowtail in Ohio. They’re also drawn to the butterfly bush, but lay eggs on yellow poplar and wild cherry. If you have such a tree on your property, consider putting in a nectar garden nearby to encourage the adults to stay in your yard. If you don’t have these trees but see eastern tiger swallowtails on a regular basis, then be sure to provide nectar sources for the females, even though you probably won’t see a caterpillar or cocoon.

NECTAR

LARVAE

GETTY

black swallowtail

monarch

Monarch butterflies are the darlings of the garden, and butterfly lovers are thrilled to find them in their flower beds. The most well-known of migratory butterflies, they travel from your Ohio garden to Mexico and back north again within their nine-month life span. The adults love the butterfly bush and other flowers, but to have monarchs raised in your garden, you must plant milkweed — the only host plant for monarch larvae.

All types of milkweed qualify, but the most frequently used are common milkweed (Asclepias syriaca) and

GETTY

GETTY

tiger swallowtail

GETTY

great spangled fritillary

butterfly milkweed (Asclepias tuberosa). A bit of advice: These plants can take over quickly, so you might want to have a special bed just for the monarchs, so that you can control the milkweed. Planting a butterfly bush in the same bed with the milkweed provides an adult food source, a host plant for eggs, and a larval food source.

Many other butterflies abound in Ohio, as well — painted lady, buckeye, mourning cloak, viceroy, red admiral, and many varieties of skippers. A little extra research will help you include those beauties in your new butterfly garden.

MAY 2019 • OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING 13

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READER RECIPE CONTEST

Meatless Monday

Ground rules • Entrants must be electric cooperative members or residents of an electric cooperative household.

Does your family do “meatless Mondays” or something similar? Are you a full-time vegetarian, or maybe just an occasional one?

For our 2019 Ohio Cooperative Living reader recipe contest, we’re looking for the best meatless main dish recipe in Ohio. Whether it’s extra hearty or more on the lighter side, send us your best!

The grand-prize winner will receive an Ohio-made KitchenAid stand mixer.

• To enter, write down your recipe, including all ingredients and measurements, directions, and number of servings. Then tell us the basic story behind your recipe — when, why, or how YOU do meatless. Is your recipe a family tradition, passed down through generations, or did you make it up one day out of thin air? A good back story can never hurt!

• Submissions may be an original recipe or one adapted from an existing recipe published elsewhere, with at least three distinct changes from the published version.

• On each recipe, include your name and address, a phone number and email address where you can be contacted, and the name of your electric cooperative.

• Entries should be submitted by email to memberinteract@ohioec. org, or sent to Catherine Murray, care of Ohio Cooperative Living, 6677 Busch Blvd., Columbus, OH 43229.

• Limit of three recipes per entrant.

Two runners-up will receive consolation gifts.

Entry deadline: May 16, 2019

BERLIN GRAVELY Millersburg, OH (330) 893-2421 Ask for Jaylin

FLORA’S SMALL ENGINE REPAIR Bradford, OH (937) 547-6897 Ask for Gabe

• Contest winners will be announced in the September edition of Ohio Cooperative Living.

STOLLER LAWN & GARDEN Orrville, OH (330) 682-7436 Ask for Ken

FOUR SEASONS LAWN & GARDEN Shiloh, OH (419) 896-3816 Ask for Norm

BOONE’S POWER EQUIPMENT Brookville, OH (937) 854-2396 Ask for Jabin

View the entire line of BCS Two-Wheel Tractors at www.bcsamerica.com.

16 OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING • MAY 2019

Herbs GOOD EATS

Whether from your kitchen garden or the produce aisle, herbs add a fresh flavor to dishes of all kinds.

RECIPES AND PHOTOS BY CATHERINE MURRAY

MAY 2019 • OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING 17

BASIL PESTO CHICKEN AND PASTA Prep: 10 minutes | Cook: 40 minutes | Servings: 4 1/3 cup pine nuts 4 tablespoons olive oil (divided) 4 cups basil leaves, washed 4 skinless, boneless chicken breasts and packed 12 ounces cherry tomatoes 6 cloves garlic 14 ounces dry pasta of your 2 ounces Parmesan cheese choice, cooked Lightly toast pine nuts in a dry skillet over medium heat, stirring often to avoid burning. To make pesto, use a food processor to blend pine nuts, basil, garlic, Parmesan, and 1 tablespoon olive oil. Smother top of chicken breasts with about half the pesto and place in baking dish.

Arrange tomatoes around chicken and bake 30–40 minutes at 350 F or until chicken is cooked through. Cool chicken for 5 minutes, then slice.

Add remaining tablespoon of olive oil to remaining pesto then toss with pasta. Top pasta with chicken and tomatoes. Serve hot.

Per serving: 725 calories, 31 grams fat (6 grams saturated fat), 62 grams total carbs, 2 grams fiber, 53 grams protein.

BRIGHT AND BOLD TABBOULEH SALAD Prep: 10 minutes | Servings: 4 la rge bunch parsley (curly or flat leaf), chopped 1/2 cup mint leaves, chopped 1 large tomato, chopped 1 small cucumber, chopped 1 cup cooked and cooled bulgur, quinoa, or couscous

1 lemon, juiced 2 green onions, finely chopped 2 cloves garlic, finely chopped 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/4 teaspoon pepper 1 teaspoon olive oil

Combine parsley, mint, tomato, cucumber, and grains. Add the rest of the ingredients one at a time, tasting as you go. Serve cold as a simple salad or top with feta, chickpeas, Kalamata olives, grilled chicken, or fish.

Per serving: 217 calories, 2 grams fat (0.5 grams saturated fat), 42 grams carbs, 5 grams fiber, 8 grams protein.

CRISPY ROSEMARY POTATOES Prep: 10 minutes | Cook: 30 minutes | Servings: 4 to 6 2 pounds redskin potatoes 2 tablespoons olive oil 1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon 1/4 cup rosemary (fresh or dried) kosher salt Preheat oven to 450 F. Wash potatoes well and cut into 1-inch chunks.

Rinse starch off potatoes, then place in a pot. Cover potatoes with water and add 1 tablespoon salt and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to simmer and cook until potato edges are soft but not cooked all the way through, about 5 minutes. Transfer potatoes to a heat-safe container with lid, drizzle with olive oil, then sprinkle with rosemary and remaining teaspoon salt. Cover container and shake to roughen edges of potatoes. Spread potatoes in single layer on baking sheet.

Bake 30 to 40 minutes, flipping potatoes every 15 minutes until brown and crispy. Serve immediately.

Per serving: 183 calories, 6 grams fat (1 gram saturated fat), 30 grams total carbs, 6 grams fiber, 3 grams protein.

18 OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING • MAY 2019

QUICK PICKLED GREEN BEANS Prep: 5 minutes | Cook: 10 minutes | Chill: 1 to 4 hours Servings: 10 1 pound green beans, trimmed 5 large sprigs fresh dill 2 cups water 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper 2 cups white vinegar 4 cloves garlic, finely chopped 1/2 tablespoon pickling salt Place beans in large bowl. In a small pot, combine water, vinegar, pickling salt, dill, cayenne pepper, and garlic. Bring to a boil. Remove from heat and pour over beans. Cool to room temperature, then cover and chill 1 to 4 hours before serving.

Store in an airtight container in refrigerator for up 2 weeks.

Per serving: 46 calories, 1 gram fat (0 grams saturated fat), 8 grams total carbs, 3 grams fiber, 2 grams protein.

MAY 2019 • OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING 19

CO-OP SPOTLIGHT

LOGAN COUNTY ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE

T

ucked against the base of Mad River Mountain in Bellefontaine is one of Ohio’s smallest coops, Logan County Electric Cooperative (LCEC).

What the co-op might lack in size, however, it makes up for in service. General Manager Rick Petty and his staff prioritize connections with their more than 4,600 consumer-members in their mission to provide local, safe, reliable, affordable electricity.

High points Bellefontaine boasts the highest point of elevation in Ohio — Campbell Hill, at 1,550 feet. Ohio Hi-Point Career Center sits atop the summit, giving the students inside an education with a view. Nearby is Mad River Mountain, which offers skiing, snowboarding, and snow tubing during the winter months. To the south, underground tours of Ohio Caverns and homestead tours of the Piatt Castles are available. Northwest lies Indian Lake, perfect for boating and fishing, but also the location of year-round events and activities for adults and families.

Marmon Valley Farm to the southeast offers horseback riding for individuals or groups as well as summer camp opportunities for kids.

The co-op’s small size doesn’t mean it doesn’t serve large consumers. The Honda plant in Russells Point is the coop’s biggest consumer. Additional large power consumers — including SpartanNash, Indian Lake Local Schools, Benjamin Logan Local Schools, Heartland Egg Farm, and World Class Plastics — enjoy reliable service from Logan County Electric Cooperative, as well.

The power of human connections Petty strives to maintain strong connections to each of the co-op’s consumer-members. “It’s important to keep engaging members at a hand-to-hand, heart-to-heart level,” he says. “We really try, at every touchpoint, to connect.”

Petty’s philosophy manifests in a variety of forms; it might be an invitation to members to attend informational sessions about high-speed internet, visiting schools to teach children about energy, or having a one-on-one conversation with a member over breakfast. The co-op also has a robust Operation Round Up program, allowing members to contribute to school programs, homeless and domestic abuse shelters, programs for special-needs children, and more.

Petty is a believer in actions, not just words. “The messaging isn’t enough without the connection,” he says.

LCEC’s commitment to its membership allows employees to provide the best possible service to their consumermembers and to remain an active, engaged part of the Logan County community.

20 OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING • MAY 2019

MIDWEST ELECTRIC LOCAL PAGES

CO-OP NEWS

Midwest Electric and Paulding Putnam Electric co-ops consider consolidation

T

he boards of Midwest Electric and Paulding Putnam Electric Co-op (PPEC) have voted to conduct a comprehensive study of consolidating the two organizations. If the study results are positive and both boards agree to proceed with a consolidation, the decision would go before the membership of both cooperatives for a final vote.

An initial study by National Rural Utilities Cooperative Finance Corporation (CFC) estimates $11 million to $13 million in savings over a 10-year period. Currently, the two electric co-ops have a shared service program where they share a communications coordinator and an energy auditor. “It has been very beneficial in terms of cost savings and provides a glimpse of what could be possible with a full consolidation,” stated Midwest Electric CEO Matt Berry.

“A full study will be more comprehensive than the initial CFC study and will help answer specific questions such as where the savings would come from. Ultimately, the primary reason is meaningful, long-lasting financial savings for our members,” said Paulding Putnam Electric Co-op CEO George Carter.

The new study will be conducted this spring by the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association and will take eight weeks to complete. Throughout the coming months and after the study, both co-ops will communicate results with their members and employees at meetings and through a variety of communication channels. Berry and Carter said feedback, questions, and concerns will be solicited throughout the entire process.

At the end of the study process and after seeking member input, each board will determine whether to proceed with a recommendation to consolidate. If both boards recommend consolidation, the members of both cooperatives will vote on a proposal.

“Midwest Electric and Paulding Putnam Electric are small electric cooperatives — smaller than average,” said Berry. “That poses unique economic challenges, yet opens the door for us to consider alternative operational models. Because the delivery of cost-effective value is a priority for both organizations, we believe it’s in our members’ best interests that we thoroughly investigate whether a consolidation can deliver beneficial results to our members.”

“A decision to proceed with a full study is absolutely the right decision for both boards,” stated Carter. “They’re being very measured and thoughtful and not rushing into anything.

They’re taking a considerable amount of time to ponder this.

This is the most important decision the board will ever make.

They’re in a position where whatever decision they make, whether go or no-go, has a huge impact on the cooperative, its members, and its employees.”

“Because the delivery of cost-effective value is a priority for both organizations, we believe it’s in our members’ best interests that we thoroughly investigate whether a consolidation can deliver beneficial results to our members.”

Midwest Electric serves 10,772 members in west-central Ohio, while Paulding Putnam Electric Cooperative serves 13,063 in northwest Ohio and northeast Indiana. The two co-ops’ service territories meet at Van Wert and Putnam counties. Stay tuned to learn more about this study and potential joint venture.

Please contact me if you have any questions. You can call 800-962-3830 or email mberry@midwestrec.com.

Matt Berry, CEO

MAY 2019 • OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING 21

MIDWEST ELECTRIC LOCAL PAGES

$2 Million

Rural Economic Development Loans

$50,000

Annual Community Donations

$

2 Million

annual taxes Paid

OFFICIAL NOTICE OF 2019 ANNUAL MEETING Saturday, June 1 St. Marys Memorial High School, State Route 66 and U.S. 33 8:15 a.m. — Registration and breakfast • 9:15 a.m. — Meeting

Annual meeting • $3,000 in cash prizes • Kids’ activities • Free breakfast buffet • NEW $1,000 scholarship drawing - Any member or child of a member who will be a college or trade school student in fall 2019 is eligible.

Entrants must enter at the annual meeting and be present to win.

• Energy industry update; Q&A with co-op leaders • Co-op Owners for Political Action: learn how you can influence legislation that affects your cooperative

Health fair Grand Lake Health System will hold a health fair at Midwest Electric’s June 1 annual meeting. Several tests will be offered, some for free and some requiring payment, and a drug take-back service will be available.

For fee services, please pay Grand Lake Health System at the meeting.

• Body mass index (BMI). . . . . . FREE • Heel bone density. . . . . . . . . . . FREE • Blood pressure/pulse ox . . . . . FREE • Dermascan. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . FREE

• Comprehensive metabolic panel, including glucose (8-hour fast). . $25 • PSA screening. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $35 • Thyroid screening. . . . . . . . . . . . . $40

• Iron (anemia screen). . . . . . . . . . . $10

• Cardiovascular risk assessment (12hour fast) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $20

• Diabetes screening (A1C). . . . . . . $25

• Vitamin D deficiency. . . . . . . . . . $35 • C-reactive protein. . . . . . . . . . . . . $25

Drug take-back program The Auglaize Sheriff’s Department will be available to take expired, no-longer-used medications as part of the Grand Lake Health/Auglaize County Sheriff’s drug take-back program.

In the mail ...

WATCH FOR YOUR DIRECTOR ELECTION BALLOTS One member, one vote. It’s the democratic way and the cooperative way.

Watch your mail around mid-May for your ballot for the 2019 Midwest Electric Board of Directors election. If you’re a member, you’re allowed to vote for all districts.

You may vote by mail with the ballot and return envelope that will be sent to you. Alternately, you may vote online at www.midwestrec.com. The ballot will include instructions for online voting.

Your ballot must be received by our voting firm by 8 a.m. on May 29 in order to be counted.

Do not include any payments with your ballot. Do not send your ballot to our St. Marys office.

22 OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING • MAY 2019

500,000

$

2–3 Million $

99.97%

POWER AVAILABILITY

NO

Annual peak load control savings

Annual power system upgrades

LIVE

ELECTRIC RATE INCREASE SINCE

ANSWER PHONES

2010

$ ENERGY AUDITS

MEMBER REBATES

33 Million Patronage returned to our members

HOURLY, DAILY & MONTHLY ELECTRIC USE DATA

METERING

VOTING

Board seeks bylaw changes Vote in mid-May when your ballot arrives via mail A ballot will be mailed to you in mid-May for Midwest Electric members to vote in this year’s board of directors election. Additionally, the board is requesting your “yes” vote in favor of two proposed additions to the cooperative’s Code of Regulations.

The requested changes are summarized here. A complete copy of the current Code of Regulations is available on our website (midwestrec.com > My Co-op > Annual Meeting and Co-op Board) or by calling our office at 800-962-3830 from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Proposed change: Article IV — Directors Section 3 — Qualifications Amend item (a) as follows by adding the below bolded text in red: (a) No person shall be eligible to become or remain a member of the Board who:

(i) is not of legal age;

(ii) i s not a member and bona fide resident in the particular district within the service area of the Cooperative which he is to represent; or

(iii) i s in any way employed by or financially interested in a competing enterprise or a business selling electric power and/or energy, or supplies to the cooperative, or a business primarily engaged in selling electrical or plumbing appliances, fixtures or supplies to the members of the Cooperative. A member who has a distributed or renewable energy system primarily to offset their own facility use but may be selling limited overproduction to the cooperative is not excluded from serving on the Board.

Add item (c) as follows by adding the below bolded text in red: (c) No person shall be elected to or appointed as a member of the Board of Directors who is or has been during the preceding three years an employee of a statewide association of electric cooperatives, an electric generation and transmission cooperative, or other entity in which the cooperative is a member.

Note: The proposed change is an industry-recommended best practice that would prevent a conflict of interest.

Note: The current code may restrict a member who has renewable generation from serving on the board. The proposed change would allow such a member to serve on the board. We believe this to be more fair to all our members.

MAY 2019 • OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING 22A

MIDWEST ELECTRIC LOCAL PAGES

$2 Million

Rural Economic Development Loans

$50,000

Annual Community Donations

$

2 Million

annual taxes Paid

YOUTH PROGRAMS

Midwest Electric awards $11,000 in scholarships Marion Local High School’s Rachel Partington and Shawnee High School’s David Stirn captured top honors in the 2019 Midwest Electric scholarship competition. The two seniors each received a $2,000 scholarship.

Partington will go on to represent Midwest Electric in the Ohio’s Electric Cooperatives statewide scholarship competition in Columbus this spring, where a total of $38,200 will be distributed.

Second-place, $1,500 scholarships were awarded to Julia Beyke of St. Henry High School and Nicolas Frilling of Coldwater High School. Receiving third-place, $1,000 scholarship awards were Alexandria Bauer of Wapakoneta High School and Charles Walter of St. Marys Memorial High School.

These scholarship winners were selected from a field of 33 area high school seniors with a 3.5 or higher grade-point average whose parents are Midwest Electric members.

Partington, of Minster, plans to attend either the University of Toledo, University of Dayton, or University of Cincinnati, majoring in bioengineering or biomedical engineering. A Girl Scout for 12 years, Partington is also involved in volleyball and softball, holds a class officer position, serves on Student Council and National Honor Society, assists as a teacher’s aide and tutor, performs in school musicals, and is a Buckeye Girls State delegate. She has a 4.0 GPA and is ranked first in her class. Douglas and Tara Partington are her parents.

Stirn, of Lima, will attend Cedarville University and major in computer science. With six years of Science Olympiad experience, Stirn was also the highest-scoring junior and

Rachel Partington

David Stirn

Julia Beyke

Nicholas Frilling

this year’s secondhighest scoring senior in the Bluffton Annual Mathematics Competition.

A Spanish Club Charles Walter Alexandria Bauer officer, TEAMS Essay Captain, and a member of Big Brothers Big Sisters, Stirn is ranked second in his class with a 4.0 GPA. He is the son of Philip and Laura Stirn.

Beyke, of St. Henry, is deciding between multiple universities but plans to study exercise physiology or biomedical engineering with a pre-medical track. She has three years of experience as a vacation bible school music leader, four years as a varsity swimmer and team captain, and six years of giving swim lessons and lifeguarding. She is also involved in National Honor Society, band, and SADD. Beyke has a 3.89 GPA and is the daughter of Brad and Carmen Beyke.

Frilling, of Coldwater, will attend either Case Western, the University of Dayton, or Ohio Northern University and plans to major in aerospace engineering. An avid food pantry volunteer, mass server, and treasurer of the Columbian Squires for the past two years, Frilling also plays baseball,

How are scholarship winners chosen?

All students came to our office for a 15-minute interview with judges from Wright State University’s Lake Campus.

The judges score the students based on poise, appearance, personality, and intelligence, as well as their

22B OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING • MAY 2019

knowledge of electric cooperative issues. That score is combined with each student’s GPA, ACT, and level of community involvement, thus producing the top candidates.

500,000

$

2–3 Million $

99.97%

POWER AVAILABILITY

NO

$

Annual peak load control savings

Annual power system upgrades

ENERGY AUDITS

ANSWER PHONES

2010

to our members

MEMBER REBATES

LIVE

ELECTRIC RATE INCREASE SINCE

football, and basketball and is a member of the Industrial Technology Club and National Honor Society. Frilling has a 4.0 GPA and is the son of Jay and Beth Frilling.

Bauer, of Wapakoneta, will attend either The Ohio State University, the University of Toledo, or the University of Cincinnati and will major in chemical engineering. With 10 years of piano lessons under her belt and 15 years of dance lessons at the Dance Center in Wapakoneta, Bauer is also involved in 4-H, church youth group, Yearbook Club, cheerleading, National Honor Society, and the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. She has a 3.9 GPA and is the daughter of Mark and Christa Bauer.

Walter, of St. Marys, is considering the University of Toledo or Wright State University and will major in electrical engineering. He has raised dairy beef steers for nine years and served as a 4-H camp counselor as well as being active in boys varsity bowling and marching band.

The National Honor Society secretary, Walter has a 4.0 GPA and is the son of Greg and Sarah Walter.

33 Million Patronage returned

HOURLY, DAILY & MONTHLY ELECTRIC USE DATA

METERING

Midwest Electric will also be giving away an additional $1,000 scholarship at its annual meeting on Saturday morning, June 1, at St. Marys Memorial High School.

Registration and the free buffet breakfast for members starts at 8:15 a.m., with the business meeting at 9:15 a.m.

Applicants must be pursuing college or trade school in the fall of 2019 and have a minimum 2.5 GPA. Parents or the applicant must be a member of Midwest Electric.

It will be a random drawing done at the meeting; the student must be present to win.

Electric cooperatives know career preparation can be expensive. Midwest Electric is committed to empowering the communities it serves through one of its cooperative principles, “Education, Training, and Information,” which aims to uplift the next generation of leaders, provide local youth with resources to succeed, and give back to the members it exists on behalf of.

One thing is for sure: We definitely appreciate the youth of today and want to support them in any way we can!

Touchstone Achievement Scholarship winner Brooke Kuether of Marion Local High School won the $2,000 Touchstone Energy Achievement Scholarship, awarded to a student who has overcome a significant challenge in pursuit of their goals.

Keuther, the daughter of Ben and Kelly Keuther, is majoring in nursing at either the University of Toledo or Bowling Green State University.

Brooke Kuether

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ge 22

pa e 1 (see ay, Jun

o u r NEW w i n g r o f d n Atte p dra i h s r a l o ch $1,000 s Any member or child of a member who will be a college or trade school student in fall 2019 is eligible. Entrants must enter at the annual meeting and be present to win. Money will be disbursed in February 2020 following confirmation of enrollment and a minimum 2.5 GPA.

MAY 2019 • OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING 22C

$2 Million

MIDWEST ELECTRIC LOCAL PAGES

$

2 Million

Rural Economic Development Loans

annual taxes

$50,000

Paid

Annual Community Donations

ANNUAL REPORT

2018 INDEPENDENT AUDITOR’S REPORT FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2018 AND 2017 Balance Sheets

2018 2017

ASSETS

UTILITY PLANT Electric plant in service Construction work in progress

Less: Accumulated provision for depreciation and amortization NET UTILITY PLANT

NONCURRENT ASSETS Investments in associated organizations Notes receivable Deferred charges TOTAL NONCURRENT ASSETS

CURRENT ASSETS Cash and cash equivalents Accounts receivable, net of provision for doubtful accounts of $129,868 ($121,858 for 2017) Notes receivable Materials and supplies Other current assets TOTAL CURRENT ASSETS

TOTAL ASSETS

Statements of Cash Flow

2018 2017

CASH FLOW FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES $58,175,425 404,432 58,579,857

$57,671,610 538,411 58,210,021

(18,007,771) 40,572,086

(18,236,884) 39,973,137

Net margins $ Adjustments to reconcile net margins to net cash provided by operating activities: Depreciation and amortization Noncash capital credits Salvage and retirement adjustments for utility plant Benefit plan contributions in excess of expense Changes in assets and liabilities: Accounts and notes receivable Materials and supplies Other current assets Deferred charges Accounts payable and accrued expenses Total adjustments Net cash provided by operating activities

3,619,842 $ 3,046,854

1,629,988 (1,681,565) (220,725) (724,792)

1,590,562 (1,285,091) (325,260) (780,238)

(61,341) 63,429 3,751,289 147,217 152,070 3,055,570 6,675,412

(254,991) (22,254) (293,230) 129,503 (433,345) (1,674,344) 1,372,510

16,003,117 470,668 534,389 17,008,174

14,785,519 383,447 681,606 15,850,572

2,894,138

1,435,210

CASH FLOW FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES

2,306,301 149,281 411,215 1,150,511 6,911,446

2,360,809 120,653 474,644 4,901,800 9,293,116

$64,491,706

$65,116,825

Construction and acquisition of utility plant Proceeds from disposal of utility plant and aid to construction Proceeds from redemption of investments Purchase of investments Net cash used by investing activities

(2,228,937)

(1,490,606)

220,725 477,774 (13,807) (1,544,245)

325,260 327,180 (13,801) (851,967)

CASH FLOW FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES LIABILITIES AND EQUITIES

EQUITIES Patronage capital Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) Other equities TOTAL EQUITIES

LONG-TERM LIABILITIES Mortgage notes less current maturities Provision for pensions and benefits TOTAL LONG-TERM LIABILITIES CURRENT LIABILITIES Current maturities of long-term debt Accounts payable - purchased power Accounts payable - other Consumers’ deposits Accrued taxes Other current liabilities TOTAL CURRENT LIABILITIES

TOTAL LIABILITIES AND EQUITIES

$34,206,067 (928,089) 562,217 33,840,195

$32,098,544 (361,400) 505,405 32,242,549

24,167,187 1,959,052 26,126,239

26,137,529 2,117,155 28,254,684

1,141,304 1,738,937 104,382 183,586 836,870 520,193 4,525,272

1,387,694 1,714,101 37,897 175,066 810,640 494,194 4,619,592

$64,491,706

$65,116,825

Proceeds from long-term debt Payments on long-term debt Changes in cushion of credit Patronage capital credits retired Net cash used by financing activities

Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year

Cash and cash equivalents at end of year

11,775,000 (11,765,894) (757,664) (1,275,597) (2,024,155)

1,458,928 1,435,210

(1,503,612) 2,938,822

$2,894,138

$1,435,210

We have audited the accompanying financial statements of Midwest Electric, Inc., which comprise the balance sheets as of Dec. 31, 2018 and 2017, and the related statements of operations, comprehensive operations, equities and cash flows for the years then ended, and the related notes to the financial statements.

In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Midwest Electric, Inc., as of Dec. 31, 2018 and 2017, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for the years then ended in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

Circleville, Ohio March 20, 2019

22D OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING • MAY 2019

- (1,390,114) (826,618) (1,455,507) (3,672,239)

500,000

$

2–3 Million $

99.97%

POWER AVAILABILITY

Annual power system upgrades

NO

$

Annual peak load control savings

ENERGY AUDITS

MEMBER REBATES

LIVE

ELECTRIC RATE INCREASE SINCE

ANSWER PHONES

2010

33 Million Patronage returned to our members

HOURLY, DAILY & MONTHLY ELECTRIC USE DATA

METERING

ANNUAL REPORT Statements of Equities

Accumulated

Other

Other Comprehensive

Equities Income ( Loss) Balance at January 1, 2017

Net margins Unrecognized gains and losses related to the defined benefit postretirement plan Retirement of capital credits Discounted capital credits

Balance at December 31, 2017

Net margins Unrecognized gains and losses related to the defined benefit postretirement plan Retirement of capital credits Discounted capital credits

Balance at December 31, 2018

Total Equities

$454,269

$278,100

$30,378,423

$31,110,792

-

-

3,046,854

3,046,854

- - 51,136

(639,500) - -

- (1,326,733) -

(639,500) (1,326,733) 51,136

505,405

(361,400)

32,098,544

32,242,549

-

-

3,619,842

3,619,842

- - 56,812

(566,689) - -

- (1,512,319) -

(566,689) (1,512,319) 56,812

$ 562,217

$ (928,089)

Operating Statistics

Consumers (Average) Miles of Line Kilowatt-Hours: Purchased (Thousands) Sold (Thousands) Net Utility Plant: (Thousands) Per Consumer Cost Per Mile Interest Costs: Total Per Consumer Member Equity Current Ratio Electric Revenue Per Consumer Per Month KWH Sold Per Consumer Per Month Revenue Per KWH Sold Generation and Transmission as % of Power Cost

Patronage Capital

2018 10,792 1,621

2017 10,723 1,617

281,995 267,099

263,909 250,619

$40,572 $3,759 $25,029

$39,973 $3,728 $24,721

$980 $91 52.5% 1.6

$1,021 $95 49.5% 2.2

$242

$227

2,062 $0.117

1,948 $0.117

64.5%

63.6%

A copy of this annual report can be obtained by contacting Midwest Electric’s office or visiting midwestrec.com > My Co-op > Annual Meeting and Co-op Board.

$ 34,206,067

$ 33,840,195

Statements of Operations

2018 OPERATING REVENUES

$ 31,311,028

2017 $ 29,265,510

OPERATING EXPENSES Cost of power 20,194,896 18,609,789 Distribution expense - operations 1,931,436 1,861,182 Distribution expense - maintenance 1,311,905 1,236,657 Consumer accounts 496,814 431,662 Customer service and information 321,844 281,230 Sales 54,033 74,920 Administrative and general 1,566,008 1,494,030 Depreciation and amortization 1,629,988 1,590,562 Taxes 1,161,866 1,082,278 Other deductions 36,834 42,002 TOTAL OPERATING EXPENSES 28,705,624 26,704,312

OPERATING MARGINS BEFORE INTEREST 2,605,404 2,561,198 Interest on long-term debt (980,380) (1,021,202) OPERATING MARGINS AFTER INTEREST 1,625,024 1,539,996 Capital credits 1,761,417 1,296,367 OPERATING MARGINS 3,386,441 2,836,363

NON-OPERATING MARGINS (EXPENSE) Interest income Other income (expense), net TOTAL NON-OPERATING MARGINS

NET MARGINS FOR PERIOD

211,180 22,221 233,401

196,458 14,033 210,491

$ 3,619,842

$ 3,046,854

MAY 2019 • OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING 22E

$2 Million

MIDWEST ELECTRIC LOCAL PAGES

Rural Economic Development Loans

$50,000

Annual Community Donations

$

2 Million

annual taxes Paid

MESSAGE FROM THE CEO

OHIO’S FLAWED KWH TAX The lowdown on one of the nation’s highest hidden electricity taxes

T

he Ohio kilowatt-hour (kWh) tax is among the highest electricity taxes in America. It’s a hidden tax; the Ohio legislature created this tax about 18 years ago, and you probably never even knew about it.

It averages about $0.004 for every kWh of electricity that you use. It’s part of our electric rate that you pay every Matt Berry, CEO MBERRY@MIDWESTREC.COM month. We collect it from you, and send it all on to Columbus where it becomes part of the state’s general revenue fund. The state does not use this revenue for energy or electricity-related issues.

The average Midwest Electric member pays $100 a year in the kWh tax in your electric bill. The national average is $22 per year. Combined with property taxes on our distribution system, the average Midwest Electric member pays $183 a year.

As a whole, our members pay the state more than $1 million a year in the kWh tax, making it our fourth-highest expense.

Throw in property taxes, and you pay about $2 million a year, making these two taxes combined our third-highest expense.

We’re all for paying our fair share. We’re community-minded;

Annual Electric Tax Per Consumer $120.00

$100.00

$100.93

we are built by the communities we serve. Through our Community Connection Fund, our members donate $50,000 a year to area charitable causes. And our economic development revolving loan fund has provided nearly $2 million in lowinterest loans to area small business.

Our concern is that Ohio’s municipal utilities do not have to pay the kWh tax OR property tax, putting us at a competitive disadvantage and forcing rural Ohio to subsidize your municipal neighbors.

(Despite the tax difference and economic difference of serving a municipal area versus a rural area, we are very competitive.

When you factor in the tax difference plus the patronage cash back you receive as a Midwest Electric member, our electric cost is spot on with local municipals.)

The Ohio kWh tax also creates an incentive for towns to form a municipal electric company on paper only. They could contract the actual electric service with a utility, then the town could keep the kWh tax revenue for its local purposes. A village in northwest Ohio is attempting to do this.

Some distributed generation companies (i.e., wind) meet the definition of an electric utility when they generate, distribute, meter, and bill the consumer. The Ohio Department of Taxation has ruled that those companies should therefore pay the kWh tax. However, they’re not paying it, and they’re seeking legislation to be exempt from the tax that you have to pay.

$80.00

$60.00

$40.00

$21.76 $20.00

$0.00

Midwest Electric

U.S. Average

Source: National Rural Utilities Cooperative Finance Corporation

22F OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING • MAY 2019

These are just a few examples of how the Ohio kWh tax is flawed: it’s much higher than the national average, the state does not use the tax revenue for energy-related issues, it unfairly burdens rural Ohio, it creates unfair advantages for municipal utilities by exempting them from remitting the tax to the state, it incentivizes municipal electric companies to go after electric cooperative service area, and it incentivizes towns to create “paper” electric companies.

Our statewide association aims to address the Ohio kWh tax with our legislators. I wanted to take this opportunity to first educate you on our concerns. Stay tuned.

500,000

$

2–3 Million $

99.97%

POWER AVAILABILITY

NO

a

Annual peak load control savings

Annual power system upgrades

LIVE

ELECTRIC RATE INCREASE SINCE

ANSWER PHONES

2010

ELECTRIC BILL CHANGE

HEADS UP: Members will see Ohio kWh tax on bills All Midwest Electric members pay the Ohio kilowatt-hour (kWh) tax as part of your electric rate. It is not a new tax or charge.

Previously, it was bundled into other costs on your electric bill, but starting this month, it will be listed as a separate line item for additional transparency.

The Ohio kWh tax (among the highest in the U.S.) is: • $0.00465/kWh for the first 2,000 kWh monthly • $0.00419/kWh for the next 13,000 kWh monthly • $0.00363/kWh for all remaining kWh Created by the Ohio General Assembly in 2001, the Ohio kWh tax applies to electric distribution companies with end users in Ohio as well as commercial electricity purchasers. It’s Midwest Electric’s fourthhighest operating expense and costs the average Midwest Electric member $100 a year through your electric bills.

$

33 Million

ENERGY Patronage returned IMPORTANT MESSAGE AUDITS ELECTRIC, INC to our members MIDWEST

06029 COUNTY ROAD 33A VSAINT MARYS OH 45885-9762

Expect higher energy bills this month. The winter weather, plus holiday lighting and activities, might contribute to a

A TIWWXle EucrJ'Cooperative � higher electric bill this month. Contact us for an energy audit if MEMBER HOURLY, DAILYyou &wantMONTHLY help. 1-800-962-3830 REBATES 419-394-4110 or 1-800-962-3830 ELECTRIC USE DATA METERING

Fax: 419-394-8333 OFFICE HOURS: Monday - Friday 7:30 am - 4:00 pm NIGHT DEPOSITORY: Located at the front of the office.

Web site: www.midwestrec.com

Power Cost Adj/kWh

JOE DOE 1234 SOMEWHERE RD ANYTOWN OH 12345

11.06

NEW BILL SAMPLE (Ohio kWh tax listed) Account Number

1234 SOMEWHERE RD Present Read Previous Read 33711 30528

Actlvltv Since Last BIii

Other Adjustments

kWh Used 3183

I

1 REG Substation SHARPSBURG

Rate 01

SAmount

PREVIOUS BILL AMOUNT PAYMENT ENERGY CHARGE OHIO KWH ELECTRICITY TAX ROUNDUP AMT

-315.00 0.00

Balance Prior to this Billing

I Cycle

BIii Type

Current BIii information

315.00

Payments

kWh Multlnller 1.0000

SAmount

Previous Balance

a

I Status I I 1 I RESIDENTIAL

Service Address

999999999 Meter Number 88888888

0.00

6029 COUNTY ROAD 33A .

SAINT MARYS OH 45885-9762

Planning any digging projects this spring? Avoid expensive and dangerous mistakes, and call 8-1-1 first, to have underground lines located.

A T��Coq,erative �

419-394-4110 or 1-800-962-3830 Fax: 419-394-8333 OFFICE HOURS: Monday - Friday 7:30 am - 4:00 pm Service Period NIGHTFor DEPOSITORY: Located at the front of the office.

Webto site: www.midwestrec.com 01/15/2019 02/15/2019

315.00 -315.00 328.63 14.26 0.11

IMPORTANT MESSAGE

MIDWEST ELECTRIC, INC

Due Date

03/10/2019

Amount Due

343.00

If Received After

03/10/2019

Amount Due

363.58

Retain this copy for your records.

Current Average Per Day Cost 999999999

Power Cost Adj/kWh kWh ! Please return this portion with your payment Please do not staple, fold, or attach anything to this portion.!

JOE DOE 1234 SOMEWHERE RD ANYTOWN OH 12345

102

Total Amount Due 0.0139300

Make check payable to: Midwest Electric, Inc. Please write your check with blue or black ink only.

11.06 343.00

Amount Due If Received After 03/10/2019

FORMER BILL SAMPLE (Ohio kWh taxPrevious bundled in) Reading Meter Number !Billing Date 02/20/2019 l 88888888

Account Number

I Status I

Service Address

I

Actlvltv Since Last BIii

$Amount

315.00 Previous Balance Email Address: __________ _ Phone at this location: 555-555-5555 -315.00 Payments (Please make phone or address corrections here) 0.00 Other Adjustments Balance Prior to this Billing

For Service Period

I

■

SAINT MARYS OH 45885-9762 Current BIii information

■

I Cycle

$Amount 315.00 -315.00 342.89 0.11

PREVIOUS BILL AMOUNT PAYMENT ENERGY CHARGE ROUNDUP AMT

0.00

01/15/2019 to 02/15/2019

33711

BIii Type

363.58

RESIDENTIAL 1 REG I 1 kWh MultlDller MIDWEST kWh Used Rate INC. Substation ELECTRIC, 01 1.0000 060293183 COUNTY ROAD 33ASHARPSBURG

1234 SOMEWHERE RD 999999999 Present Read Previous Read JOEMeter DOE Number 33711 1234 SOMEWHERE RD 30528 88888888 ANYTOWN OH 12345

Due Date

03/10/2019

Amount Due

343.00

If Received After

03/10/2019

Amount Due

363.58

Retain this copy for your records.

! Please return this portion with your payment Please do not staple, fold, or attach anything to this portion.!

Make check payable to: Midwest Electric, Inc. Please write your check with blue or black ink only.

!

PLEASE NOTE:

!Billing Date 02/21/2019

HAVE QUESTIONS?

102

0.0139300

For more details, see CEO Matt Berry’s column titled “Ohio’s flawed kWh tax” on page at left.

Thank you for your understanding as we explain this complicated issue and strive to give you additional transparency.

Current Average Per Day kWh Cost

Total Amount Due

999999999 343.00

Amount Due If Received After 03/10/2019 Meter Number 88888888

Previous Reading 33711

It’s the same amount due. This is not

Please reach out to us at 800-9623830 so we can be sure you understand the bill you receive each month.

MIDWEST ELECTRIC, INC.

JOE DOE 1234 SOMEWHERE RD ANYTOWN OH 12345

06029 COUNTY ROAD a new charge and not an increase.

We33A

■

SAINT MARYS OH 45885-9762

are simply printing the Ohio kWh tax

Email Address: Phone at this location: 555-555-5555 (Please make phone or address corrections here)

separately for additional transparency.

That’s the value of being a not-forprofit co-op member!

MAY 2019 • OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING 22G

363.58

■

MIDWEST ELECTRIC LOCAL PAGES

$2 Million

Rural Economic Development Loans

$50,000

Annual Community Donations

$

2 Million

annual taxes Paid

POWER RESTORATION

Our priorities during outages We also give priority to emergency situations such as fallen lines.

We advise you to have a backup plan to move a seriously ill person to a safe place in the event of an extended outage. We cannot guarantee uninterrupted electric service to homes where serious medical conditions exist.

My neighbor has power Have you ever lost power only to see the lights still shining from your neighbor’s window? When this happens, it could mean the service line between your home and the transformer is damaged. Or, it could mean that a three-phase power line serves your neighborhood and you are served by a different line than your neighbor.

W

hen a major storm causes widespread damage to our electric system, our top goal is to restore service safely to the greatest number of members in the shortest amount of time. We have priorities for making repairs, determined by the number of members affected.

Those priorities, in order, are: 1. Transmission lines. These lines supply power to one or more substations. A problem with these lines could interrupt power to several thousand members and must be repaired before other parts of the system can operate.

2. Substations. A problem with a substation can affect several hundred members. When a major outage occurs, line crews inspect substations to discover if problems stem from transmission lines feeding into the substation, from the substation itself, or if problems exist down the line.

3. Main distribution feeders. These lines carry power from the substation. Each feeder serves a large portion of members from the substation.

4. Tap lines, or line sections. These branch lines serve a smaller group of members from the main feeder. The tap line will remain without power until the main feeder line is repaired.

5. Individual service. These serve a single residence, business, or farm. It may not do you any good for us to repair your service line if one of our main lines is still out.

Stay in the know During outages impacting a distribution feeder, substation, or transmission lines, we use our Facebook and Twitter pages and our website to provide the latest updates on the outage and restoration estimates. We typically do not provide updates on smaller outages affecting tap lines or individuals.

You can also enroll in outage notifications through your online SmartHub account (or mobile app), meaning we’ll send you alerts via text or email when your power is out, notifying you of the cause and letting you know when it’s restored.

Report an outage from your mobile device On your smartphone or tablet, search for SmartHub in the Apple or Android store.

After downloading the free app, search for Midwest Electric Ohio. Register and log in.

Tap the “Report Outage” icon, then “Report an Outage.” Verify your contact address. Add comments that will assist in the outage restoration (ex: “I heard a loud bang from the transformer”). Click “Submit.” This will report it directly to our mapping and dispatch systems.

You can also report the outage at 800-962-3830.

22H OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING • MAY 2019

500,000

$

2–3 Million $

99.97%

POWER AVAILABILITY

NO

$

Annual peak load control savings

Annual power system upgrades

LIVE

ELECTRIC RATE INCREASE SINCE

ANSWER PHONES

2010

ENERGY AUDITS

MEMBER REBATES

33 Million Patronage returned to our members

HOURLY, DAILY & MONTHLY ELECTRIC USE DATA

METERING

NOTES

Why does the power blink?

Blinks are created when a breaker, or switch, opens along any portion of the power system. The breaker usually opens because of a large, quick rise of electrical current.

This large rise, called a fault condition, can occur when a tree branch touches a line, lightning strikes, or a wire breaks.

When this happens, a relay senses the fault and tells the breaker to open, preventing the flow of power to the problem site. After opening, the breaker quickly closes. The brief delay, which allows the fault to clear, usually lasts less than two seconds.

Dave Waltermire

BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT COORDINATOR

of any trees or limbs located close to a power line.

Blinks affect all electrical equipment. An uninterruptible power supply (UPS) on your computer can help prevent information loss. UPS incorporates surge suppression technology with a battery backup and provides you some time to save whatever you were working on and exit your computer properly.

If the fault clears, every home or business that receives electricity off that power line experiences a blink — but not a prolonged outage. If the breaker protects a transmission line or substation, this could include thousands of accounts.

There are things we do to reduce the frequency of blinks. Tree trimming is probably the easiest, most common method. Please help us by letting us know

Get electric-use alerts via text SmartHub: Your all-in-one account manager Just like bank alerts that tell you when your bank balance hits a certain amount, you can get electricuse alerts from Midwest Electric. Go online to www. midwestrec.com, then click the red “SmartHub Bill Pay” button in the top right corner. We also have a free SmartHub mobile application.

After registering, click on the Notifications tab, then “Manage Contacts” to set up your email address or text phone number. Then click “Manage Notifications” to set your own electric use thresholds. When you use more electricity than your threshold, SmartHub will let you know. You can also analyze your daily, monthly, or annual use, comparing it to prior time periods to see what life changes caused bill differences.

You can even sign up to receive an alert when your power is out and when it’s restored. Sign up today to maximize your time and control your electric account.

MAY 2019 • OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING 23

$2 Million

MIDWEST ELECTRIC LOCAL PAGES

$

2 Million

Rural Economic Development Loans

$50,000

annual taxes

Annual Community Donations

Paid

Your neighbors powering your community. We are the cooperative, and the cooperative is you.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

OFFICE

06029 County Road 33A St. Marys, OH 45885 CONTACT

800-962-3830

ACCESS YOUR ACCOUNT ONLINE

www.midwestrec.com Report an outage and pay your bill through our free mobile SmartHub app.

Larry Vandemark, president James Wiechart, vice pres.

Randy Heinl, secy./treas.

Steve Bauer Bob Barnt Kathy Brake Gary R. Knapke Gary Profit Roger W. Rank Courtney Burton

OFFICE HOURS

Attorney

Monday–Friday 7:30 a.m.–4 p.m.

CEO

24 OHIO 20192018 22 OHIOCOOPERATIVE COOPERATIVELIVING • MAY LIVING • MARCH

A copy of Midwest Electric, Inc.’s Articles of Incorporation and Code of Regulations is available from the co-op office and online at midwestrec.com.

Call us to receive your copy.

@midwestrec

Matt Berry mberry@midwestrec.com

facebook.com/ midwestelectric

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Duty, Honor, Country National Veterans Memorial and Museum is a salute to service and sacrifice.

BY DAMAINE VONADA

26 OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING • MAY 2019

A

Vietnam veteran was exploring the then newly opened National Veterans Memorial and Museum (NVMM) when he saw another man, a veteran of World War II, and stopped him in his tracks with a “Thank you for your service.”

“It was a very moving moment,” says Shelley Hoffman, associate director of external affairs, who witnessed the scene. The poignant episode epitomizes NVMM’s unique mission: saluting every veteran from every branch of the U.S. military in every period of war and peace.

Neither a solemn war memorial nor a static weapons museum, NVMM pays tribute to the 40 million men and women who have served in the nation’s armed forces by collecting, preserving, and sharing their personal stories. “Most military museums have tanks or planes,” Hoffman says.

“We have voices.”

PHOTO BY AERIAL IMAGE SOLUTIONS

Indeed, storytelling is the museum’s defining element, and the voices that resonate throughout its exhibits are those of dozens of veterans representing different races, backgrounds, and types of military service. Visitors witness former Marine Corps Sgt. Jason Dominguez, whose Ohiobased Lima Company lost 23 members in Iraq, talk about visiting a fallen comrade’s grave. They hear Spc. 4 John Flinn, an Army dog handler and Purple Heart recipient, recall the hostility he encountered after returning from Vietnam. They listen to the tug-at-your-heart words of Chris Moe, wife of Air Force pilot and prisoner of war Thomas Moe, describing their reunion after his torturous years in the Hanoi Hilton.

Located along the Scioto River in downtown Columbus, NVMM was the brainchild of the late John Glenn, who, before he was a United States senator from Ohio and before he was an astronaut, was a Marine Corps aviator. “It was Senator Glenn’s vision to create a museum that was not specific to a particular conflict or branch of service,” Hoffman says. After President Trump signed a congressional act into law on June 21, 2018, it officially became the first and only national veterans’ museum.

The Columbus Downtown Development Corporation oversaw NVMM’s construction and utilized more than $80 million of private and public funding for a 53,000-square-foot museum building and an adjacent memorial grove. Designed MAY 2019 • OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING 27

alcove depicts the array of tasks performed aboard the Navy supercarrier George H.W. Bush, while an interactive “Where We Were” display lets visitors summon historical statistics about U.S. deployments.

by Allied Works Architecture of New York, the circular building consists of exterior bands of concrete that evoke the strength of the nation’s armed forces and culminate in a rooftop sanctuary with splendid views of the Columbus skyline. For the memorial grove, landscape architects from the OLIN design firm planned a 2.5-acre greenspace for remembrance and reflection.

In the Remembrance Gallery, colorfully striped windows mimic the campaign ribbons military personnel wear as badges of honor, but the focal point is a folded American flag surrounded by mirrors that give the illusion of infinite stars and stripes. Having been flown over the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington National Cemetery, that flag

NVMM’s permanent exhibits take visitors on a double journey through a gallery flanked on one side by a timeline of U.S. military history and on the other by themed alcoves that highlight common veterans’ experiences — including “Leaving Home” and “Oath of Office” — and relate individual stories via audio and video recordings. Along the way are personal memorabilia and photos, boot camp hats and backpacks that folks can try on, and footlockers that open to tell firsthand tales of leaving family and friends. A multiscreen installation in the “Our Jobs”

28 OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING • MAY 2019

PHOTOS BY DAMAINE VONADA

Visitors enter through the Great Hall, a soaring space with enormous windows and wall-mounted gold letters that spell out NVMM’s purpose: Honor, Connect, Inspire, Educate. “Senator Glenn came up with those objectives, and they’re the pillars of the museum,” says Hoffman. Suspended from the Great Hall’s ceiling are giant photographs showing veterans as they look today, as well as when they were in uniform. Those powerful images that greet visitors make a statement about why NVMM strives to honor veterans’ contributions, connect civilians to the nation’s 20 million living veterans, and inspire and educate people about the value of service.

PHOTO BY AERIAL IMAGE SOLUTIONS

represents the more than 2 million military members who lost their lives in service. Among them was Army Captain Leo Allen Bauer, and NVMM’s “Why We Serve” exhibit now showcases a 1964 letter he sent from Vietnam to his young daughters.

“Today I am part of the force that is fighting to preserve the United States and its freedoms for you and your children to enjoy just as Mother and I have, along with our parents and grandparents,” wrote Bauer. “I am here for many reasons — perhaps the biggest is love — love for my family, you two girls and your Mother; and for our country and its way of life.”

Ten months later, Bauer was killed in action, and his voice went silent forever.

The National Veterans Memorial and Museum, 300 W. Broad St. Columbus, OH 43215. 614-362-2800; www.nationalvmm.org.

MAY 2019 • OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING 29

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MAY 2019 • OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING 31

OUT OF THE

shadows

White lightning goes legit as legal moonshine distilleries thrive in Ohio.

BY BRIAN ALBRIGHT; PHOTOS COURTESY OF HOCKING COLLEGE

F

or centuries, moonshine has loomed large in the American imagination — the illegally produced liquor was a key part of the underground economy of many states in the South and in Appalachia. During Prohibition, backwoods moonshiners helped supply speakeasies across the country. NASCAR has its roots in the souped-up cars used by moonshine runners to transport booze. Moonshiners have been the subject of dozens of movies, hundreds of songs, and numerous TV shows, from The Dukes of Hazzard to Moonshiners, a reality show on the Discovery Channel.

In Ohio, New Straitsville was once considered the bootleg capital of the state, and the town still hosts an annual Moonshine Festival. However, until a few years ago, you couldn’t legally drink moonshine at the festival. Thanks to changes in federal and state liquor laws, not only can you now buy moonshine there, you can buy it right off the shelf just about anywhere in the state. The first legal moonshine distillery opened in New Straitsville in 2014, and several more such operations have been launched across the

32 OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING • MAY 2019

state ever since. “Moonshine is a big part of the culture and history of New Straitsville,” says Betty Young, the president of nearby Hocking College, which bought the distillery as part of its new fermentation science program. “This was the first distillery opened under the new Ohio laws, and it is a historic town when it comes to moonshine.”

Roots in Prohibition Moonshine is a colloquial term for high-proof, unaged whiskey that, for most of the history of the country, was made and distributed illegally. While largely associated with states like Kentucky, West Virginia, and North Carolina, illegal stills also flourished in southern Ohio before, during, and after Prohibition. For years, bootleg liquor provided an important source of income in a part of the state with limited economic opportunity.

In Ohio, moonshine is primarily made from corn, which goes through a mash process. After the mash ferments, it is loaded into a still and heated to release the alcohol vapor. The vapor is collected and condensed into the whiskey. To get a higher proof, the moonshine often is redistilled in a doubler or thumper.

“Moonshine is something you had to make quick. There’s no time for aging or mellowing, so you had to make a better spirit that could be consumed straight off the still,” says Vinnie

Carbone, owner of Canal Spirits Distillery in Canal Fulton, near Akron, where patrons can sample and purchase bottles of his Apparition moonshine.

Carbone was familiar with moonshine (his family hails from Kentucky), but spent most of his adult life working for the county sewer department. While that job wasn’t glamorous, it did lead him to the vacant basement location where his still now sits. “Canal Fulton is a town full of history,” Carbone says. “I had serviced this building and I knew it had an old basement that wasn’t used. I approached the owner about renting it, and we struck a deal.”

Taking advantage of the craft craze With the recent explosion of small craft breweries and regional wineries, craft distilling seemed to be the next logical step. Hocking College bought the New Straitsville distillery a year ago and hosted its first event there during the 2018 Moonshine Festival.

The college is currently working on a rebranding and development effort and plans to manufacture a variety of moonshines, as well as rum and a coffee liqueur.

As part of the fermentation science program, the facility will serve as both a business and a laboratory for

students to gain hands-on experience (they can also learn how to operate a brewery or winery).

According to Young, the college is helping to create a workforce for what is emerging as an important piece of the economic development puzzle in southern Ohio and other parts of the state. Microdistilleries can be tourist draws and help foster growth of other nearby businesses, such as restaurants. “We don’t start anything here that doesn’t lead to jobs or business development, and the fermentation program has been a great add-on to our culinary program,” she says.

In addition to traditional moonshine, most distilleries offer flavored varieties — Canal Spirits sells apple pie and blackberry flavors, among others.

“That’s part of the fun,” Carbone says. “You get to see what you can create and make it different and interesting.”

In New Straitsville, Hocking College plans to have a new moonshine product ready for release at this year’s Moonshine Festival.

This year’s Moonshine Festival will take place in New Straitsville, May 23–27. For more information, visit https://www.facebook.com/Newstraitsvilleohio.

Betty Young and Sean Terrell of Hocking College (left) cut the ribbon on the New Straitsville Distillery during the 2018 New Straitsville Moonshine Festival. Hocking College purchased the New Straitsville Distillery from its original owners, and plan to use the facility as a living lab for its fermentation science program. Opposite page: Hocking College students in period clothing pose with the distilling equipment in New Straitsville.

Ohio Moonshine Distilleries Mill Street Distillery 10 Mill St., Utica, Ohio 43080 http://millstdistillery.com/ Hocking Hills Moonshine 519 E. Front St., Logan, Ohio 43138 www.hockinghillsshine.com Canal Spirits Craft Distillery 103 S. Canal St. Canal Fulton, Ohio 44614 www.canalspiritscraftdistillery.com New Straitsville Distillery 105 W. Main St. New Straitsville, Ohio 43766 Stillwrights Distillery 5380 Intrastate Drive, Fairborn, Ohio 45324 https://stillwrights.com Darke County Moonshine Company 3911 OH-722, New Madison, Ohio 45346 https://www.facebook.com/darkecomoonshine

MAY 2019 • OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING 33

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WOODS, WATERS, AND WILDLIFE

LAKE ERIE

Islands

Ohio’s three most remote campgrounds each have a unique appeal.

STORY AND PHOTOS BY W.H. “CHIP” GROSS

W

hether you enjoy tent camping or drive the largest motorhome on the road, there’s a campsite awaiting you on the Ohio islands of Lake Erie. Accessible by ferry, South Bass, Middle Bass, and Kelleys Island state parks offer a unique camping experience close to home.

No one knows the Lake Erie islands better than Steve Riddle. Raised on Middle Bass, Riddle spent a 30-year career managing the three island parks for the Ohio Department of Natural Resources. Today, he is the police chief of Put-In-Bay, the small village on South Bass Island.

“Of the three islands, South Bass appeals more to adults — people who enjoy nightlife, live music, gift shops, those sorts of things,” Riddle says, “but there is also a part of the island that is alcohol-free and kid friendly.”

As for Middle Bass Island, Riddle described it as having a much more remote feel. “There are far fewer people, and the island is not nearly as commercialized,” he says. “In fact, there are only a couple of places to get something to eat and only one general store. Middle Bass draws people who simply want to kick back, relax, and enjoy the natural beauty of a Lake Erie island.”

As for natural beauty, Kelleys Island is Riddle’s favorite.

“The island maintains a large natural area,” he says.

“There is no way to drive to that particular part of the island — you have to walk. A nearly mile-long boardwalk crosses various habitats and stretches from the middle of the island all the way to the shoreline.”

Access to South Bass (Put-In-Bay) and Middle Bass islands is by passenger and vehicle ferry from the northern tip of the Catawba Peninsula. To access Kelleys Island, board the ferry from the Marblehead Peninsula.

From either location, it’s only a quick, 20-minute boat ride to the islands — the start of the fun!

All three islands are birding hot spots, attracting not only water birds but also many migrants, as various species use the islands as stepping stones across the lake during spring and fall.

Not to be forgotten is the world-class walleye fishing that surrounds the islands. Last summer’s fishing was the best in years, and with walleye populations in the lake currently high, this summer promises to be just as good — so plan to take your boat along or hire a charter for the day.

There are Lake Erie sunsets aplenty waiting for you in 2019, and now is the time to make plans.

W. H. “Chip” Gross (whchipgross@gmail.com) is Ohio Cooperative Living’s outdoors editor and a member of Consolidated Cooperative.

For more information about camping at Ohio’s Lake Erie islands state parks, go online to http://parks.ohiodnr.gov. Ferry information can be found at www.millerferry.com and www.kelleysislandferry.com.

36 OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING • MAY 2019

South Bass Island The most tourist-oriented of the three islands, South Bass hosts some 1.5 million visitors annually. Beginning your vacation with a visit to the top of the 352-foot Perry’s Victory and International Peace Memorial gives a spectacular view of all the Lake Erie islands, including those in Canada. Other family activities include museums, a butterfly house, mini-golf, cave tours, wineries, arcades, and of course, shopping. Nightlife at Put-In-Bay offers dozens of restaurants and pubs.

Most visitors tour the island on rented golf carts or bicycles.

Middle Bass Island A smaller island than South Bass, Middle Bass is less frequented by summer visitors, therefore less developed and quieter. The shoreline state campground is not as large as on South Bass, but offers the same beautiful lake and shoreline views. Historic Lonz Winery is part of the state park and worth a visit. If you’d like to bring along a boat, a large, modern, state-owned marina is located near the campground.

Kelleys Island The largest of Ohio’s Lake Erie islands, Kelleys is the most family-oriented. Its landscape is dominated by pristine rocky shorelines and pebbly beaches, and deep glacial grooves cut into the bedrock are evidence of massive, mile-thick glaciers that scoured the Great Lakes thousands of years ago. Hike miles of trails at the state park or, as on South Bass, tour the entire island by rented golf cart or bicycle.

MAY 2019 • OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING 37

kraze

KAYAK Whether for fun or exercise, relaxation or a different way to see wildlife and meet new people, kayaking on Ohio’s lakes is a perfect way to get out and enjoy nature.

STORY AND PHOTOS BY CELESTE BAUMGARTNER

38 OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING • MAY 2019

O

hio has a delightful abundance of lakes and rivers to explore, and a kayak is the perfect way to do it. A happy thing about lakes: There are no worries about paddling upstream or needing an extra car and a pickup place downstream. Just relax and enjoy the view, or make it aerobic and paddle hard.

If fishing is your fancy, wet a line and see what’s biting.

Like birding or nature watching? Take binoculars and a camera. From your kayak, you can spot that elusive bird flitting in the treetops, get close to the turtles sunning on rocks, and watch the fish swimming beneath you.

Plenty of Ohio’s state parks have lakes, many rent kayaks, and all are worth investigating. “Most of our state parks have a water feature,” says Susie Vance, spokesperson for the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Parks and Watercraft.

“With the increased popularity in paddling and the availability for accommodations, we’ve been able to put ADA-accessible kayak launches into many of our lakes.”

Keep in mind that if you have your own kayak, rather than a rental, you must have a registration for it — just like a boat — available through ODNR. In mid- to late summer, the lotus flowers are blooming at Cowan Lake in Wilmington. It’s an absolute profusion. In August or September, visit Adams County to see the freshwater jellies in pristine Mineral Springs Lake. The operators charge a small launch fee at this privately owned lake.

Kathy Jett likes being outside and has made some great friends kayaking. She helps to head up the weekly TriState Kayakers Meetup paddles at East Fork Lake.

“In the evenings when it’s calm at dusk, the water can be like a sheet of glass,” she says. “We’ve seen deer, owls, eagles and their nests, all the birds, turtles, fish. I’ve had two fish jump in my kayak!”

Continued on page 40

MAY 2019 • OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING 39

Continued from page 39

Clendening Lake in Harrison County is a whopping 1,702 acres, mostly long, narrow, and — with a 9.9 horsepower limit — quiet. “It is incredibly scenic,” says Curtis Wagner, ODNR Division of Wildlife. “You feel transported to the Great North!”

Mogadore and La Due Reservoirs, near Akron, are also both still waters and popular for kayaking; La Due, in fact, is a hot spot for shorebird and waterfowl watching, Wagner says.

Mike Mainhart is an Ohio State Park naturalist and certified kayak instructor. He leads kayaking expeditions at Mosquito, Guilford, and Milton state parks.

“It is awesome to paddle up and see these warblers from the water,” he says. “We also get a lot of migrating waterfowl in the spring. You can get close to the animals in a kayak. It’s great for photography.”

Mainhart is an avid kayak fisherman, and his free time often finds him casting a line at Pymatuning or Mosquito Lakes. “They are the best inland lakes for walleye fishing,” he says. “In the spring, we also do a lot of crappie fishing.

Kayaks are great for getting to places that you can’t get to from the shore or in a boat.”

For info, visit http://parks.ohiodnr.gov/boating and pick your park.

Be safe — go with a friend, or tell someone where you’re going and when you’ll return, and don’t forget your lifejacket!

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“Mosquito Lake is awesome because it’s big,” he says.

“There are so many different opportunities, depending on where the wind blows, plus it is such a huge fishing lake — great for kayak fishing. Big motors are allowed, but I like to kayak the shoreline because that’s where you see all of the cool stuff.”

Mosquito also is home to lots of bald eagles and osprey, and there are nesting boxes for prothonotary warblers.

While Mainhart never paddles close enough to disturb the birds, it’s a great viewing opportunity, he says.

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concerts, Kids’ Fishing Derby, Grande Parade, educational programs/activities, Walleye 5K Run & Walk, carnival rides, and vendors. 419-734-5503, www.facebook.com/ WalleyeFest, or www.walleyefestival.com.

MAY 24–26 – Buckeye Farm Antiques Annual Show, Shelby Co. Fgds., 655 S. Highland Ave, Sidney.

International tractors and engines, threshing and corn shredding, corn shelling demo, truck and tractor pulls, large flea market. Car, truck, and motorcycle show Sun. 11 a.m.–4 p.m. 937-596-6812 or www.buckeyefarmantiques.com.

MAY 25–OCT. 12 – The Great Sidney Farmers Market, 109 S. Ohio Ave., every Sat., 8 a.m.–noon. Fresh produce, MAY 17–18 – Hamler Country Fest, St. Rte. 109, baked goods, jams and jellies, crafts, plants, and flowers.

Hamler. Tickets available at the gate or in advance: 937-658-6945 or www.sidneyalive.org.

Fri. $15, Sat. $20. Two exciting days of great country MAY 27 – Memorial Day Horsemanship Clinic, Wyandot music and fun. Open seating under roof; bring lawn County Equine Rescue Facility, Indoor Arena, 4658 St. Rte. chairs. Cornhole tournament; autographed memorabilia 199 S., Carey. With Hannah Campbell Zapletal, certified auction. Primitive on-site camping available. 419Monty Roberts instructor. Rain or shine. 419-294-4477.

748-7459, hamlercountryfest@gmail.com, or www. hamlercountryfest.com.

MAY 27 – Memorial Day Service, Perry’s Victory MAY 18 – CMP Monthly Air Rifle and Air Pistol Matches, and International Peace Memorial, 93 Delaware Ave., Put-in-Bay, 11 a.m. Free. 419-285-2184 or www.nps.

Camp Perry, 1000 Lawrence Dr., Port Clinton. Free gov/pevi/index.htm. admission and parking. Rental equipment available for a small fee. 419-635-2141 ext. 707, lsherman@thecmp.org MAY 28–JUN. 2 – Alumapalooza, 420 W. Pike St., (Lue Sherman), or www.thecmp.org.

Jackson Center. A family-friendly festival for people who love Airstream travel trailers. Open to Airstream MAY 18 – Antique Car Gathering, Sauder Village, 22611 owners and non-owners alike. Informative seminars, fun St. Rte. 2, Archbold, 10 a.m.–5 p.m. Nearly 100 antique cars will be on display in the Historic Village — most older presentations, trailer open houses, cooking demos, and than 1942, with some dating back to the early 1900s. 800- factory tours. Runs concurrent with Jackson Center’s Community Days festival. 813-200-8877 or http:// 590-9755 or https://saudervillage.org. alumapalooza.com.

MAY 18–19 – The Fantastic Tiffin Flea Market, Seneca MAY 29 – Bike Week Dice Run, 109 W. Lakeshore Dr., Co. Fgds., 100 Hopewell Ave., Tiffin, Sat. 9 a.m.–4 p.m., Sun. 9 a.m.–3 p.m. Free admission and parking; handicap Kelleys Island. $10 per person. Take a ferry ride to Kelleys accessible. 250 to 400 dealers per show, featuring a wide Island ($5), where registration begins at 10 a.m. Tour the island, making various stops to roll the dice. Return a variety of merchandise. 419-447- 9613, tiffinfleamarket@ completed scorecard to The Casino by 4:30 p.m. Drawing gmail.com, or www.tiffinfleamarket.com. at 5 p.m. 419-746-2360 or www.kelleysislandchamber.com.

MAY 19 – Shelby County Coin Club Coin Show, VFW Post 4239, 2841 Wapakoneta Ave., Sidney, 10 a.m.–3 p.m. MAY 29–JUN. 1 – Dennison Railroad Festival, Historic Center Street District, downtown Dennison. Train exhibit, 937-339-5437. rides, food, games, activities, and entertainment for all MAY 23–27 – Main Street Port Clinton Walleye Festival, ages. Car and Motorcycle Show on Sat., registration Waterworks Park, Port Clinton. An array of free live

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THROUGH OCT. 27 – Blennerhassett Voyage Package, North Bend State Park, 202 North Bend Park Rd., Cairo. $130 package includes one night of lodging for two at

North Bend, plus two tickets for a sternwheeler ride to and from Blennerhassett Island, a wagon ride tour of the island, a tour of Blennerhassett Mansion, and passes for the Blennerhassett Regional History Museum.

304-643-2931, www.northbendsp.com, or www. blennerhassettislandsatatepark.com.

JUN. 1 – Taste of Parkersburg, corner of 3rd and Market Sts., Parkersburg, 5–11 p.m. Savor food, wine, and beer from local restaurants. 304-865-0522 or www. downtownpkb.com.

JUN. 7–9 – Fostoria Glass Society of America Convention and Elegant Glass Show, Moundsville Ctr. Bldg., 901 8th St., Moundsville. Held in the historic West Virginia State Penitentiary. 304-843-4128 or www. fostoriaglass.org.

beginning 10 a.m., judging at 12:30 p.m. Parade Sat. 5 p.m. 740-922-6776 or www.dennisonrailroadfestival.org.

JUN. 8–9 – Ghost Town Spring Crafts and Antiques Festival, 10630 Co. Rd. 40, Findlay, Sat. 9 a.m.–4 p.m., Sun. 10 a.m.–4 p.m. A family event featuring crafts and antiques, live music by East of Cheyenne, performances

by Wild West actors, food and beverages, and a 24-ft. climbing wall for the kids. Sat. car show. www.facebook. com/Ghost-Town-Findlay-Ohio-1525098627787387.

JUN. 8–9 – Power of Yesteryear Club Annual Spring Show, Wood County Historical Museum, 13660 County Home Rd., Bowling Green (off I-75, exit 179, east 1/2 mile).

Set-up day is June 7. 419-819-9355, powerofyesteryear@ gmx.com, or www.powerofyesteryear.org.

JUN. 9 – Free Events at Fort Recovery, Fort Recovery State Museum, 1 Fort Site St., Fort Recovery. Unveiling of new exhibits at 2:30 p.m. Speaker at 3 p.m. 419-375-4384 or find us on Facebook.

JUN. 15 – Antique Tractor Show, Sauder Village, 22611 St. Rte. 2, Archbold, 10 a.m.–5 p.m. Historic tractors from the 1920s to the 1960s will be on display. Tractor pedal pulls for the kids, plus hands-on activities as part of Agriculture Adventures Week. 800-590-9755, aaron. hughs@saudervillage.org, or www.saudervillage.org.

JUN. 15 – Fulton County Breakfast on the Farm, Henricks and Krieger Dairy, 14692 Co. Rd. 16-3, Fayette, 9 a.m.–1 p.m. Free, but registration appreciated. This is your chance to visit a family dairy, learn about milk production, walk through fields, and gain understanding of how food is produced. Register at www.go.osu.edu/ fultonbotfregister2019. More information on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter, or 419-337-9210.

JUN. 15 – “Take Me to the Rivers” Jazz Festival, Kingsbury Park, 118 Auglaize St., Defiance, 3:30–9:40 p.m. $5; children and students free. Gates open at 3:30 p.m., music starts at 4 p.m.; kids’ activities 4:30–6:30 p.m.

Bring lawn chairs or blankets; bring cash for food, drinks, and memorabilia. www.defiancejazzfestival.com or www. facebook.com/events/330238640938818/.

PLEASE NOTE: Ohio Cooperative Living strives for accuracy but urges readers to confirm dates and times before traveling long distances to events.

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

Continued on page 42

MAY 2019 • OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING 41

2019 CALENDAR

MAY/JUNE

Continued from page 41

MAY 18 – “200 Years of Fashion” Tea, Historical Society of Mount Pleasant, Elizabeth House Tea Room, 479 Union St., Mount Pleasant, 1 p.m. Adults $9.50; under 12, $5. Call to register: 740-633-1809.

MAY 24–26 – Great Lakes Fiber Show, Wayne Co. Fgds., Wooster. Free. Fiber-related crafts, competitions, wool fleece show and sale, knitting and crocheting. Also Angora rabbits, a sheep show, children’s activities, and food. 740-686-2172 or www.greatlakesfibershow.com.

MAY 27–AUG. 1 – Fort Steuben Summer Concert Series, Berkman Amphitheater, Fort Steuben Park, 120 S. 3rd St., Steubenville, every Thur., 6:3–9:00 p.m. Bring a MAY 16–18 – Spring S Spree, Crowne Plaza Hotel, 7230 blanket and picnic basket and enjoy a free concert at this site overlooking the Ohio River. 740-283-1787 or www.

Engle Rd., Middleburg Heights. Hosted by Cuyahoga Valley S Gauge Association. Over 100 tables. Door prizes, oldfortsteuben.com. raffles, and clinics. 440-243-4040 or www.sspree.info.

JUN. 1 – Lorain County Beekeepers Association Field Day, St. Rte. 162, Spencer, 10 a.m., rain or shine. Free.

MAY 17 – Adult Swim: “Cheers to New Friends,” Lunch tickets available for $10; must be purchased in Greater Cleveland Aquarium, 2000 Sycamore St., advance: gargas1@frontier.com. For more info, visit www.

Cleveland, 7–10 p.m. $30–$40 admission includes hors loraincountybeekeepers.org. d’oeuvres, tasting tickets, and a souvenir glass. $20 “designated driver” option available. Say hello to lovable JUN. 1–2 – Ohio Valley Frontier Days, Historic Fort pups and kittens looking for their “fur-ever” homes. 216Steuben, 120 S. 3rd St., Steubenville, 10 a.m.–8 p.m., Sun. 862-8803 or www.greaterclevelandaquarium.com.

11 a.m.–5 p.m. $6, C. (6–12) $3, under 6 free. Celebrating MAY 18 – Birthday Celebration Luncheon for Cleveland early American life with soldiers, surveyors, settlers, and Native Americans; crafts, games, music, presentations, and Northern Ohio Doll Clubs, Villa Croatia Party Ctr., and colonial dancing. 740-283-1787 or www.

34900 Lakeshore Blvd., Eastlake, 10 a.m.–3 p.m. $85. oldfortsteuben.com.

Handicap accessible. “Fashions Through the Decades” with speaker Pam Judd. Vendors, bingo, raffles/helpers, JUN. 11–14 – Greek Food Festival, Holy Trinity display and exhibit. Registration required. 440-785-4183, Greek Church, 300 S. 4th St., Steubenville. 11 a.m.–9 pdutchman@roadrunner.com, www.clevelanddollclub. p.m. Experience the tastes and sounds of Greece wordpress.com, or www.dollclubs.com. with traditional foods, music, and dance plus tours of the beautiful church. 740-282-7770 or www.

MAY 18 – Fairlawn Spring Avant-Garde Art and Craft holytrinitygreekfest.com.

Show, St. George’s Fellowship Centre, 3204 Ridgewood Rd., Fairlawn, 10 a.m.–5 p.m. $3, under 12 free. www.

JUN. 7–9 – Bacon Fest, Kelley’s Island Wine Co., 418 avantgardeshows.com.

Woodford Rd., Kelleys Island. “Bacon takeover” menu served all weekend. Pig roast, bacon-themed cocktails, MAY 18 – Heirloom Doll Society Doll Show and and fun activities. Prizes awarded for “Best Bacon Attire”!

Sale, Williamsfield Community Ctr., 5920 U.S. 322, 419-746-2678, abbey.kiwineco@gmail.com, or www.

Williamsfield, 10 a.m.–3 p.m. Adults $4, children $2. kelleysislandwineco.com.

Coupons not accepted. Free parking. Handicap accessible. Contact Lynne Anne Morrow at 440-344JUN. 8 – International Wine at the Mill Festival, 7747 or circlemranch25@gmail.com.

Loudonville, noon–10 p.m. Enjoy nearly 100 varieties of

international and Ohio wines, domestic beers, live music, and great food. $10 adults over 21, $1 ages 10–20, under 10 free. 419-541-0161 or www.wolfcreekmill.org/events. html. See Facebook page for updates.

JUN. 8–9 – Quailcrest Farm Spring Garden Fair, Quailcrest Farm, 2810 Armstrong Rd., Wooster, Sat. 10 a.m.–4 p.m., Sun. 11 a.m.–4 p.m. Over 60 artists and craftsmen among the gardens. 330-345-6722 or www. quailcrest.com.

JUN. 9 – Kelleys Island 5 & 10K Run/Walk, begins at Memorial Park, 112 Division St., Kelleys Island. Registration begins at 8 a.m., race at 10:45 a.m., followed by awards ceremony. Pre-registration $20 online, ending one week before race day; day of race, $25. 419-746-2360 or www. kelleysislandchamber.com.

JUN. 14–15 – Simply Slavic Festival, Federal Plaza East, downtown Youngstown, preview Fri. 7–11 p.m., Sat. 12 p.m.–midnight. Preview admission free. Sat. admission $5, under 12 free. Showcases the rich traditions of the Mahoning Valley’s diverse Eastern European community.

Live music, folk dance performances, homemade food, children’s learning areas, educational exhibits, and ethnic vendors. www.simplyslavic.org.

JUN. 15 – “The Babies Are Here” Open House, Our Little World Alpacas LLC, 16800 Cowley Rd., Grafton, 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Free. Come see our newest crias (babies). Learn about alpaca care and feeding and about processing the fiber. Locally hand-knitted products for sale. 440-724-7070 or www.ourlittleworldalpacas.com.

JUN. 15 – Beachcliff Handmade Fest and Feast, Beachcliff Market Square, 19300 Detroit Rd., Rocky River, 11 a.m.–4 p.m. Free admission and parking. New festival featuring food from all your favorite Beachcliff restaurants.

Come hungry and ready to shop! Includes an Avant-Garde Art and Craft Show with artisans/crafters selling their original handmade items. www.avantgardeshows.com.

JUN. 15 – Steubenville’s Dean Martin Hometown Celebration, Fort Steuben Park, 120 S. 3rd Street, Steubenville, 9 a.m.–9 p.m. Street festival featuring music, vendors, food, entertainment, car show, 5K walk/run, and much more. 740-283-4935 or www.visitsteubenville.com.

SOUTHEAST

MAY 29–JUN. 2 – National Road Yard Sale, throughout Guernsey and Belmont counties. Find bargains, antiques, fresh produce, furniture, and more as you shop the sales along Historic U.S. 40. www.oldstorefrontantiques.com.

MAY 31–JUN. 2 – Southern Ohio Farm Power of the Past: Antique Tractor and Machinery Show, Pike Co. Fgds., Piketon. Vintage tractors and farm equipment and demos. Hit and miss engines, working sawmill, wood carver and blacksmith, flea market and craft items, food, and kids’ activities. Truck and tractor pulls Sat. 7 p.m., car show Sun. Parts vendors wanted. Contact Steve Dean (president) at 740-289-4124.

JUN. 8 – Ruff Truck, Fairgrounds, Old Washington. Race begins at 7:30 p.m. $5 per person, under 11 free. 740260-9909 or www.cambridgelions.com.

JUN. 8–9 – Lucasville Trade Day, Scioto Co. Fgds., 1193 Fairground Rd., Lucasville. $3, under 13 free. Free parking. 937-728-6643 or www.lucasvilletradedays.com.

JUN. 15 – National Road Bike Show and Ribfest, Historic Downtown Cambridge, 11.am.–8 p.m. Enjoy bikes, ribs, and music all day! 740-439-2238 or www. downtowncambridge.com.

NORTHEAST

THROUGH SEPT. 27 – Rise and Shine Farmers Market, 2135 Southgate Pkwy., Cambridge, Fridays, 8 a.m.–noon.

740-680-1866.

THROUGH DEC. – Athens Farmers Market, 1000 E. State St., Athens, Wed. 9 a.m.–1 p.m., Sat., 9 a.m.–noon.

Organic and conventionally grown fresh produce, meats, eggs, cheeses, honey, maple syrup, flowers and nursery plants, baked goods, breads, herbs, teas, jarred product, and much more. 740-593-6763 or www. athensfarmersmarket.org.

MAY 16–18 – Southern Ohio Forest Rally, Chillicothe, Portsmouth, and McArthur. Running in Shawnee Forest, Zaleski Forest, Scioto Trails Forest, and downtown

42 OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING • MAY 2019

Chillicothe. The largest rally in the U.S. and Canada for the past two years. 740-844-3488 or www. southernohioforestrally.com.

MAY 17 – Bluegrass Concert: Donna Ulisse and the Poor Mountain Boys, Pennyroyal Opera House, I-70, exit 198, Fairview, 7 p.m. Doors and kitchen open at 5 p.m. $15; children under 12 admitted half-price. Special guest: Chestnut Ridge. No advance ticket sales; come early for best seating. www.pennyroyalbluegrass.com.

MAY 24–26 – Feast of the Flowering Moon Festival, Yoctangee Park, Chillicothe, Fri./Sat. 10 a.m.–10 p.m., Sun. 10 a.m.–6 p.m. Free. A family-oriented event featuring Native American music, dancing, traders and exhibits, mountain-men encampment depicting life in the 19th century, arts and crafts show, entertainment, and food. www.feastofthefloweringmoon.org.

MAY 24–26 – Muskingum Valley Trade Days, St. Rte. 78, Reinersville. Large flea market. 740-558-2740.

MAY 24–27 – Oak Hill Festival of Flags, Aetna Park, 316 W. Main St., Oak Hill. More than 2,000 flags on display and festive decorations around the town. Rides, crafts, food booths, an old car show, contests and games, historic exhibits like Oak Hill’s one-room school, a quilt show, children’s activities, and 5K run. 740-682-9956 or www.oakhillfestivalofflags.org/index.html.

CENTRAL

THROUGH MAY 19 – Muskingum County K-12 Student Art Exhibition, Zanesville Museum of Art, 620 Military Rd., Zanesville, Wed./Fri./Sat. 10 a.m.–5 p.m., Thur. 10 a.m.–7:30 p.m. www.zanesvilleart.org.

THROUGH AUG. 3 – “Luminous: Encaustic Works by Barbara Vogel,” Zanesville Museum of Art, 620 Military Rd., Zanesville, Wed./Fri./Sat. 10 a.m.–5 p.m., Thur. 10 a.m.–7:30 p.m. www.zanesvilleart.org.

THROUGH OCT. 26 – Zanesville Farmers Market, Muskingum Co. Fgds., 1300 Pershing Rd., Zanesville, every Sat., 9 a.m.–12 p.m. Starting in June through September, the market is also open every Wed. 4–7 p.m. at North 3rd Street. www.zanesvillefarmersmarket.org.

THROUGH OCT. 27 – Rock Mill Weekends, Stebelton Park at Rock Mill, 1429 Rockmill Place NW, Lancaster, every Sat. and Sun., 12–4 p.m. Free. Tour the restored 1824 gristmill, and enjoy Hocking River Falls.

Grinding demos on May 26. 740-681-7249 or www. fairfieldcountyparks.org.

MAY 17–18 – Ohio Camera Collectors Society Show, Sale, and Auction, Embassy Suites by Hilton, 2700 Corporate Exchange Dr., Columbus, Fri. 12–5 p.m., Sat. 9 a.m.–2 p.m. $5 donation for admission; students with IDs

SOUTHWEST

free. Location subject to change, so call beforehand. 740358-6390 or http://historiccamera.com/club/occs.

MAY 19 – Dragonboat Race, Westbank Park, 181 S. Washington Blvd., Columbus, 9 a.m.–4 p.m. See the dragon dance, lion dance, Asian kites, and lanterns. https://asianfestivaldragonboat.org.

MAY 23–26 – Rowing Nationals, Dillon Lake, 5265 Dillon Hills Dr., Nashport. www.sraa.net.

MAY 25–26 – Asian Festival, Franklin Park, 1755 E. Broad St., Columbus, Sat. 10 a.m.–8 p.m., Sun. 10 a.m.–6 p.m. Free. A celebration of Asian culture, including dance, music, martial arts, food, and more. http://asian-festival.org.

MAY 25–27 – Utica Sertoma Ice Cream Festival, Ye Olde Mill and Velvet Ice Cream Co., 11324 Mt. Vernon Rd., Utica. $5 per car. Parade, music, pony rides, car show, games, arts and crafts, great food, and ice cream, of course! 740892-3921 or www.sertomaicecreamfestival.com.

MAY 27 – Memorial Day Celebration, Veterans Memorial Park, 154 Commerce St., Lockbourne. Parade starts at noon, followed by a service honoring women in the military and all veterans. 614-491-3161.

MAY 29–JUN. 1 – Deercreek Dam Days Festival, Williamsport, Wed./Thur. 4–10 p.m., Fri. 4–11 p.m., Sat. 11 a.m.–11 p.m. Free admission. Fun for the whole family, with music, food, games, and rides for all ages.​www. deercreekdamdays.com.

MAY 31, JUN. 1–2, 7–9 – High School Musical, Zanesville Community Theatre, 940 Findley Ave., Zanesville, Fri./Sat. 8 p.m., Sun. 2:30 p.m. Based on the Disney Channel original movie. 740-455-6487 or www.zct.org.

JUN. 2– Zanesville Memorial Concert Band, Zane’s Landing Park, west end of Market Street (along river), Zanesville, 7 p.m. Free. www.zmcb.org.

JUN. 6–8 – Hot Air Balloon Festival, Coshocton Co. Fgds., 707 Kenilworth Ave., Coshocton, Balloon

workshops, demos, and delicious food. 937-552-2196, 937-773-6825, or www.bradfordrrmuseum.org.

JUN. 1–2 – Troy Strawberry Festival, Great Miami River Levee and downtown Troy. Free parking and shuttle service. Strawberry cuisine and a variety of foods. Unique, handmade wares by over 125 top art and craft exhibitors Strawberry pie eating contest, diaper derby, corn toss, children’s area, and free entertainment. 937-339-7714 or www.gostrawberries.com.

JUN. 7–8 – Banana Split Festival, Denver Williams Park, 1100 Rombach Rd., Wilmington, Fri. 4–10 p.m., Sat. 10 a.m.–10 p.m. Free. Enjoy food booths, live music, games, 5K run, classic car cruise-in and car show, and, of course, MAY 18 – Food Truck Rally, Miami Co. Fgds., North County Rd. 25A, Troy, 11 a.m.–9 p.m. Free admission. banana splits! wilmingtonbanana@gmail.com or www.

Teams of the area’s finest food trucks showcase their bananasplitfestival.com. best dishes. 937-335-7492 or www.homegrowngreat. JUN. 8 – Canal Music Fest, Tipp City Park, 35 Parkwood com/event/food-truck-rally-competition.

Ave., Tipp City, 7 p.m. Free. Local 80s cover band Stranger and Dogs of Society present “The Ultimate Elton Rock MAY 29 – “Oxford in Bloom” Garden Tour, Oxford, 9 a.m.–5 p.m. A tour of five privately owned gardens. $15 in Tribute.” Bring your chair and join us for an evening of tunes and good neighbors. www.tippcityartscouncil.com. advance; $17 day of tour. www.desfleurs.org.

JUN. 8 – Old Fashioned Strawberry Festival, 4782 MAY 30–JUN. 2 – Milford Frontier Days, American Cincinnati Brookville Rd., downtown Shandon, 10 a.m.–5 Legion grounds at 450 Victor Stier Dr., Milford. A big kickoff parade, great food, and family fun. 513-831-2411 or p.m. Free admission. Celebrate everything strawberry!

Enjoy fresh food and produce, including strawberry www.frontierdaysmilford.com. shortcake and ice cream. Local vendors and artists, JUN. 1 – Bradford Railroad Heritage Festival, antique tractor show, plus live Welsh harp music and organ downtown Bradford, 10 a.m.–4 p.m. $5, under 13 free with music. 513-860-4194 or www.gettothebc.com/events. a paying adult. Train layouts, model train and historical train vendors, children’s activities, entertainment, exhibits, JUN. 8 – The Village Gathering, Caesar’s Creek Pioneer Village, 3999 Pioneer Village Rd., Waynesville, 11 a.m.–8

launches at dawn and dusk, “night glow,” balloon race; entertainment, carnival rides, foods, and crafts. 740-6224877, 800-338-4724, or www.visitcoshocton.com.

JUN. 7 – First Friday Art Walk, Zanesville, 5–8 p.m. Stroll the streets of downtown Zanesville while touring over 35 participating galleries, studios, and local businesses. www.artcoz.org.

JUN. 7 – PetFest, Victory Park, Lockville Road and Park Alley, Pickerington, 6–8 p.m. Free, family-friendly event.

Food and pet-related vendors. Bring your pet, but use leashes, please. www.pickeringtonvillage.com.

JUN. 7–8 – Oorang Moorang: LaRue Goes Quackers, corner of St. Rtes. 37 and 95, LaRue, Fri. 5–10 p.m., Sat. 7–9 p.m. Car show, parade, and concert on Fri. 5K run Sat. 8 a.m., registration 7 a.m.

Duck race on Scioto River at about 5 p.m. Contact Barbara Stofcheck at 740-262-3191.

JUN. 7–9 – Columbus Arts Festival, downtown riverfront, Columbus, Fri. 11 a.m.–10:30 p.m., Sat. 10 a.m.–10:30 p.m., Sun. 10 a.m.–5 p.m. Free. Nation’s top artists and craftspeople, music, theater, dance, art activities, and food from Columbus’s finest restaurants.

614-224-2606 or www.columbusartsfestival.org.

JUN. 9 – Summer Avant-Garde Art and Craft Show, Makoy Event Ctr., 5462 Center St., Hilliard, 10 a.m.–4 p.m. $3, 12 and under free. www.avantgardeshows.com.

JUN. 13–15 – Washboard Music Festival, Main St., Worthington Park, Logan. Free. Ohio’s most unique music and arts festival. 740-277-1806, washboardfestival@gmail. com, or www.washboardmusicfestival.com.

JUN. 15 – Earth Angel Super Cruise-In Car, Truck, and Motorcycle Show, Fairfield Co. Fgds., Lancaster, 10 a.m.– 5 p.m. $15 in advance, $18 at gate. New Frontiers concert at 7 p.m. Free with cruise-in admission; for concert only, $5 grandstand seating, $10 table seating. 740-332-4713 or www.earthangelfoundation.org.

p.m. $5 donation per person; under 13 free. Buegrass, old-time, and dulcimer music at the log cabin village with crafts, artisans, and demos. Stages; jamming; open-mic kids’ stage. Square dance. Bring your own seating. 513594-7855 or www.caesarscreekpioneervillage.org.

JUN. 8–9 – Family Days at the Johnston Farm, Johnston Farm and Indian Agency, 9845 N. Hardin Rd., Piqua. Explore the family home of John Johnston with hands-on activities, costumed interpreters, and demos; visit the Historic Indian and Canal Museum; and take a relaxing ride on the General Harrison of Piqua. 800-7522619, 937-773-2522, or www.johnstonfarmohio.com.

JUN. 8–9 – Hueston Woods Arts and Crafts Fair, Hueston Woods State Park, Pioneer Farm, 6929 Brown Rd., Oxford, 10 a.m.–5 p.m. $4, under 12 free. Juried art show featuring artisans from the region. Showcased art includes paintings, stained glass, sculpture, photography, embroidery, furniture, and more. 513-523-8005 or www. gettothebc.com/events.

JUN. 13–SEPT. 13 – Sculptures on the Square, Prouty Plaza, downtown Troy. Twenty life-sized Seward Johnson sculptures will be featured along with other works of art by regional artists. 937-339-5455.

JUN. 15 – Vintage in the Village, 6 S. 3rd St., Tipp City. A new, reimagined, and exciting take on beloved festivals of the past. The festival will host unique booths featuring handmade, vintage, and antique items, as well as food trucks and children’s activities. www.downtowntippcity.org.

MAY 2019 • OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING 43

MEMBER INTERACTIVE

1

2

4

5

SENSORY OVERLOAD 3

6

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7

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1. Rafters of the poultry barn at the Ohio State Fair.

Emily Bartlett South Central Power Company member

2. How farm kids take an allergy test!

My grandson, Ryker Kenworthy.

Julie Puckett Pioneer Electric Cooperative member

3. Sunset off Long Island on Indian Lake.

Rebecca Dixon Logan County Electric Cooperative member

4. Beautiful summer flower.

John Erwin

7. Rowan Fyffe overwhelmed by goats.

Christina Stevens

Union Rural Electric Cooperative member

South Central Power Company member

5. I was thrilled to capture this amazing double rainbow on camera with the American flag in the foreground.

Antoinette Hawk

8. I stopped by to see if the flowers on the farm had bloomed. They had.

Alissa Painter

Guernsey-Muskingum Electric Cooperative member

Lorain-Medina Rural Electric Cooperative member

6. Our grandson, Grant, right before impact, realizing maybe this wasn’t such a good idea.

Leslie Swonguer

9. Trevor Wilson and Jeffrey and Jaime Bolon, experiencing a multisensory moment with carrots fresh from the garden.

Patty and Larry Quaglia

Logan County Electric Cooperative member

South Central Power Company members

Send us your picture!

For August, send “Dog days of summer” by May 15; for September, send “Back to school”

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

44 OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING • MAY 2019

Call before you dig!

Know what’s below—dial 811 before any project that requires digging.

ohioec.org/purpose

Underground utilities, such as gas, water, and electric lines, can be a shovel thrust away from turning a spring project into a disaster. Play it safe by dialing 811 three days before digging to find out where utility lines run on your property. It’s free, fast—and may save a life!

Door Prize Registration Card

DOOR PRIZE

and bring it to the meeting.

This is your registration card for door prizes.

DOOR PRIZE

COMPLETE THIS CARD AHEAD OF TIME

IMPORTANT: DO NOT ENLARGE, REDUCE OR MOVE the FIM and POSTNET barcodes. They are o Special care must be taken to ensure FIM and POSTNET barcode are actual size AND placed proper to meet both USPS regulations and automation compatibility standards.

PLEASE COMPLETE THIS BREAKFAST RESERVATION CARD

and mail it to our office or call us by May 29 if you plan to join us for breakfast at the June 1 annual meeting at St. Marys Memorial High School!

2019 ANNUAL MEETING Saturday, June 1

NO POSTAGE NECESSARY IF MAILED IN THE UNITED STATES

BUSINESS REPLY MAIL FIRST-CLASS MAIL

PERMIT NO. 1

ST MARYS OH

POSTAGE WILL BE PAID BY ADDRESSEE

MIDWEST ELECTRIC INC PO BOX 10 ST MARYS OH 45885-9900

Artwork for User Defined (3.5" x 5") Layout: sample BRM card with IMB.lyt April 10, 2012

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YOUR MAP TO

St. Marys Memorial High School, State Route 66 & U.S. 33, St. Marys

Registration: 8:15 a.m.

Breakfast: 8:15 a.m.

Meeting: 9:15 a.m.

66 33

St. Marys Memorial H.S.

COMPLETE THIS CARD AND BRING TO THE MEETING!

Annual Meeting Registration

Midwest Electric, Inc.

Home phone (_______)_________________________ Email______________________________________ Signature____________________________________

COMPLETE THIS CARD ahead of time and bring it to the annual meeting at St. Marys Memorial High School, Saturday, June 1, to register for door prizes.

Midwest Electric, Inc. Annual Meeting Breakfast Reservation Return this card by May 29 Total number of breakfast reservations: Adults_________ Children_________ Name___________________________________________ Address__________________________________________ City, State, ZIP_____________________________________ Phone Number____________________________________ Email Address____________________________________

REMEMBER

If you plan to join us for breakfast, please send in the reservation card or call us by May 29. The caterer needs an accurate count of the number of people to serve.