Ohio Cooperative Living - August 2022 - Butler

OHIO

AUGUST 2022

COOPERATIVE Butler Rural Electric Cooperative

Salad days

Our top readers’ recipes

ALSO INSIDE Powering communities

Change that makes an impact

Co-op members help local children through Community Connection

Starstruck in ALSO INSIDE Hocking Hills Powering communities Starstruck in Hocking Hills Geocaching fun Geocaching fun

BUILDING A NEW HOME? Contact your electric cooperative for free energy advice.

As a member of your local electric cooperative, you have access to free energy-saving tips and information. We’ve been your trusted source of energy advice for more than 80 years.

Contact your cooperative and learn about the latest energy-efficient technologies for running your new home.

ohioec.org/energy

OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING • AUGUST 2022

INSIDE FEATURES

24 E-GAMING IN THE OUTDOORS

Geocaching is a way to mix some exercise with a video-game-like challenge.

28 SMALL-TOWN GENIUS

Ohio inventor Charles Kettering was responsible for the car starter and nearly 200 other patents as well as a world-renowned cancer hospital.

32 BESTIES’ RETREAT

Stark County makes a case to host that girlfriends’ outing you know you’ve been hankering for.

Cover image on most editions: Catherine McSwain of West Union, a member of Adams Rural Electric Cooperative, won top prize in the 2022 Ohio Cooperative Living Reader Recipe Contest with her Strawberry Fields Steak Salad (photograph by Demi Martin).

This page: Beverly Pottmeyer, a Washington Electric Cooperative member, submitted this sunflower photo for our August Member Interactive section. See page 40 for more reader sunflower photos.

AUGUST AUGUST2022 2022 • • OHIO OHIOCOOPERATIVE COOPERATIVELIVING LIVING 1 1

UP FRONT

Working together for you C

ooperation among cooperatives is a principle ingrained in the cooperative business model and lived out by cooperative employees when we face challenges. This summer, we have already seen powerful storms tearing through much of Ohio — uprooting trees, breaking utility poles, disrupting electric service, blocking roads, and generally making a mess of things.

Some co-op members were without power for up to a week as tree damage was cleared and repairs were made. The article on page 4 details some of the efforts required to get the lights back on as quickly as possible, thanks to the hard work of cooperative employees and the assistance provided from across our cooperative network here in Ohio and six other nearby states.

We’ve also seen weaknesses in the broad power grid when hot weather follows strong storms — vulnerabilities that have resulted from a combination of aging infrastructure and premature retirement of older power plants. Cooperative leaders have been working together, in Ohio and across the country, to help policymakers recognize that now more than ever, people are depending on a reliable power grid. A diverse set of controllable, always-available power generation plants, like those owned and operated by Ohio’s electric cooperatives, makes our supply both more reliable and more affordable. That diversity allows us to better handle unexpected challenges not only from the weather but also from economic upsets.

Cooperatives continue to do our part by regularly investing in the infrastructure needed to generate and deliver power to your home. By working together, we have a stronger voice to advocate for clear-eyed, commonsense policies that serve the public interest.

We will continue to see hot summer days, cold winter nights, and damaging storms. Ohio’s electric cooperatives will continue to work together to provide you the best service possible.

2

OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING • AUGUST 2022

Pat O’Loughlin

PRESIDENT & CEO OHIO’S ELECTRIC COOPERATIVES

Cooperative leaders have been working together to help policymakers recognize that now more than ever, people are depending on a reliable power grid.

July 2022 August 2022 • Volume • Volume 64, 64, No.No. 10 11

Ohio Rural Electric Cooperatives 6677 Busch Blvd.

Columbus, OH 43229 614-846-5757 www.ohiocoopliving.com Patrick O’Loughlin Caryn Whitney Jeff McCallister Rebecca Seum Crystal Pomeroy

6 DEPARTMENTS

President & CEO Director of Communications Managing Editor Assistant Managing Editor Graphic Designer

Contributors: Jodi Borger, Colleen Romick Clark, W.H. “Chip” Gross, Vicki Reinhart Johnson, Neal Kindig, Shelby Bradford Moore, Catherine Murray, Wendy Pramik, and Damaine Vonada.

OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING (USPS 134-760; ISSN 2572-049X) is published monthly by Ohio Rural Electric Cooperatives, Inc. It is the official communication link between the electric cooperatives in Ohio and West Virginia and their members. Subscription cost for members ranges from $5.64 to $7.08 per year, paid from equity accruing to the member.

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

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

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

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

4 POWER LINES

Helping hands: After summer storms caused widespread outages in Ohio, co-ops from near and far jumped in to help.

10

6 Empowering employees: As

workplaces go, co-ops stand out by providing lots of qualities that define a great job.

10 CO-OP PEOPLE

Star struck: Brad Hoehne is

12

always looking up at the John Glenn Astronomy Park.

12 WOODS, WATERS, AND WILDLIFE

Specter of the forest: Stumbling upon a haunting, mysterious ghost pipe is one cause for celebration — and pictures.

15

15 GOOD EATS

Salad days: Our top reader recipe

takes advantage of fresh strawberries at their ripe, juicy peak.

19 LOCAL PAGES National/regional advertising inquiries, contact

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

News and information from your electric cooperative.

37 CALENDAR

37

What’s happening: August/ September events and other things to do around Ohio.

Ohio-based advertisers contact

Rheta Gallagher 614-940-5956 | rgallagher@ohioec.org

Cooperative members:

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

Alliance for Audited Media Member

40 MEMBER INTERACTIVE

Sunflowers: Readers love to pose with those giants of the garden.

40

Visit Ohio Cooperative Living magazine online at www.ohiocoopliving.com! Read past issues and watch videos about our articles or our recipes. Our site features an expanded Member Interactive area where you can share your stories, recipes, and photos and find content submitted by other co-op members across the state.

AUGUST 2022 • OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING

3

POWER LINES

Helping Hands

After summer storms caused widespread outages in Ohio, co-ops from near and far jumped in to help.

BY JEFF McCALLISTER

A

s Father’s Day approached this past June, so did a weather pattern that brought with it a series of storms across Ohio. The storms appeared initially to be strong, to be sure, but not out of line with the usual tempests that sweep through the Midwest every summer.

Over the next few days, however, the event distinguished itself as one of the most damaging and expensive weather-related calamities Ohio’s electric cooperatives had ever witnessed.

Analysis later showed that the first wave during the overnight hours of June 13–14 brought with it three tornadoes and a powerful macroburst storm just in a 53-minutes span, wreaking havoc on distribution and transmission systems across the state; all of the 24 electric distribution cooperatives in Ohio reported outages, including a few that suffered widespread damage — downed lines, broken poles — to their systems.

As the co-ops organized resources to restore the systems to turn power back on to their members, the next several days brought alternating extreme heat and additional powerful storm systems that made the work of restoring service both 4

OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING • AUGUST 2022

more dangerous and more plentiful. Problems on AEP’s high-voltage transmission network resulted in more than 100,000 central Ohio homes and businesses having their power intentionally shut off for long stretches of time.

Often, when summer (or winter) storms cause outages, the affected area is concentrated enough that the individual co-op can rally its own lineworkers to handle the repairs.

Occasionally, it’s bad enough that a nearby co-op will jump in to offer assistance and equipment to restore power.

This storm, however, officially classified as a derecho, affected so much of the state that Ohio co-ops initially had few workers to spare for those who were hit hardest. “This storm brought more damage to our cooperative than we’ve seen in the 28 years I’ve been here, and our neighboring cooperatives in Ohio were hit hard, too,” says Phil Caskey, CEO of Mount Gilead-based Consolidated Cooperative.

So the call went out around the region, and by midday on the first full day after the first storm, 17 crews from Kentucky had hit the road to help. By the next morning, crews from Pennsylvania, Indiana, and Virginia had arrived

to pitch in. In all, workers came from 14 co-ops in six states to join those from Ohio and West Virginia on the job. “The great part of belonging to a network of not-for-profit cooperatives is that we have hundreds of like-minded utilities across the country who are willing to pitch in, and we made great use of those resources,” Caskey says.

As each co-op’s power was restored, its linemen and those helping there moved on to the next affected area. Nearly all repairs were finished by June 23.

Miller noted that many Ohio co-ops were hit hard by the storm and still sent crews to co-ops with greater needs. “I’ve worked aid after several hurricanes,” Miller says. “The parts of Holmes and Wayne counties I saw right after this storm looked very similar to what I saw during Hurricane Hugo and Hurricane Katrina storm restoration — it was shocking to see such large trees down everywhere. The difference? A hurricane gives you time to plan.”

“For total amount of damage, it will likely surpass both the January 2005 ice storm and June 2012 derecho, two of the worst weather events in recent history,” says Dwight Miller, who in his role as director of safety training and loss prevention at Ohio’s Electric Cooperatives, coordinated the efforts.

By the numbers

In total, the jobs took nearly 13,000 hours of lineworker assistance. “We are so grateful to the folks who put their lives on hold to help us and to their home cooperatives who had to pick up the slack while they were gone, all so that our members could so quickly resume their own lives,” Caskey says.

Out-of-state mutual aid: 62 workers from 14 coops in six states put in about 7,600 hours of labor.

How Ohio electric cooperatives were affected Peak outage: about 72,000 Broken poles: more than 500 Co-ops requiring mutual aid: 7

In-state mutual aid: 67 workers from 15 Ohio coops put in about 5,300 hours of labor.

Workers from 14 cooperatives in six states — including the pair at left from Kenergy in Kentucky — came to Ohio to help repair distribution systems after a wave of June storms did widespread damage here.

AUGUST 2022 • OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING

5

Empowering employees

As workplaces go, co-ops stand out by providing the qualities that define a great job.

BY SHELBY BRADFORD MOORE

G

eorge Carter spent 17 years working in the electric cooperative industry before he became president and CEO of Paulding Putnam Electric Cooperative in Paulding in 2005. He says there are a couple of reasons he’s spent more than 30 years of his career at cooperatives: those who surround him, and the important work co-ops do in their communities.

The 24 electric cooperatives that power rural Ohio are focused on improving quality of life for co-op members and ensuring the long-term prosperity of the communities they serve. That focus, employees say, is what makes cooperatives different from other workplaces. When a team is focused on a common goal, especially one that makes a positive impact on communities they love, it often results in fulfilled employees.

“I have been blessed with a great group of employees who have always gone above and beyond expectations,” he says.

“It’s been easy to stay.”

It’s not unheard of, in fact, for someone to spend their entire career with the same co-op.

It’s a common sentiment among employees at electric cooperatives, because co-ops provide many of the qualities that define a great job: a close-knit team, community involvement, and growth opportunities, just to name a few.

After he graduated from high school, Anthony Smith had the opportunity to take a summer job at Marysville-based URE (Union Rural Electric Cooperative). That summer job, in turn, influenced his decision to study engineering in college.

Smith continued working at URE while he studied electrical engineering technology at Columbus State Community College and computer engineering technology at DeVry. He rose from his entry-level role drawing maps and drafting substation projects to eventually become the co-op’s CEO in 2017.

“Training and education are priorities for electric cooperatives, and I wish more people realized how innovative co-ops actually are when it comes to technology deployment,” Smith says. “On top of that, co-ops offer attractive employment opportunities and are some of the most people-oriented employers you can find.”

Growth opportunities offered by coops have also attracted prospective employees who are interested in switching George Carter represents Paulding Putnam Electric Cooperative at a community event.

6

OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING • AUGUST 2022

Above, employees at URE work as a team to support community initiatives; below, Brittany Root found that South Central Power Company provided the supportive environment she was looking for in a job.

industries. Brittany Root, member services representative at Lancaster-based South Central Power Company, worked in the corporate banking industry before becoming a stayat-home mom to her five children. When the opportunity to join South Central Power presented itself, Brittany felt encouraged by the support offered by the cooperative.

“I had just gone back to college to finish my bachelor’s degree when I began interviewing with South Central Power, and when I learned about the co-op’s tuition reimbursement program, it felt like a natural fit,” says Brittany. “I was excited to work with a company so closely involved with the community while also having the ability to grow in my own career.”

She recalls countless examples during her 17 years with HWEC when members of her team have quietly and humbly supported their neighbors — anonymously paying the bill of a struggling member, cutting wood to heat a sick member’s home, starting a meal train for a member in need. “What makes co-op employees so special,” Tate says, “is who they are when no one is looking.”

For information about working at electric cooperatives, visit www.ohioec.org/careers.

Brittany successfully completed her undergraduate program this spring and now holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in business from Ohio Christian University.

Since joining the co-op in 2019, she has taken on more of a leadership role that allows her to focus on the training and development of others in her department and offer them the same level of support she was given.

As someone who recruits and hires talent for her co-op, Robyn Tate, director of human resources and community relations at Holmes-Wayne Electric Cooperative in Millersburg, has an acute awareness of the characteristics of those who surround her.

“Cooperative employees are the salt of the earth. You truly do gain another family when you work at a co-op,” Tate says. “Our jobs go far beyond providing power.”

AUGUST 2022 • OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING

7

Feeding Your Need for New Ideas

Farm families like yours are growing their businesses to ensure their best farm futures.

Farm Bureau helps your competitive advantage by advocating for members, connecting you to a network of like-minded entrepreneurs and providing you with insights and business solutions to grow your bottom line.

Learn more at OhioFarmBureau.org

8

OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING • AUGUST 2022

Business Solutions for Members health care • workers’ comp program savings • energy program • temporary worker services • legislative, regulatory, legal risk management information • financial and insurance products and services • legal education • StoneX member benefit • market intel • property crime watch program

WATERFURNACE UNITS QUALIFY FOR A 26% FEDERAL TAX CREDIT THROUGH 2022

Lasting is believing.

patriotair.com

ebertsheatingandcooling.com

geothermalcentralohio.com

knueve.com

raysrefrigeration.com

Holgate Holgate Hardware (419) 264-3012

Marion Wenig’s Inc. (740) 383-5012

Sidney Lochard Inc. (937) 492-8811

wenigsinc.com

hottingergeothermal.com

Mansfield Eberts Energy Center (419) 589-2000

kesslerheating.com

Gahanna Custom A/C & Htg (614) 552-4822

fairfieldgeothermal.com

Findlay Knueve & Sons Inc. (419) 420-7638

customairco.com/geothermal

federalheating.com

Canal Winchester Kessler Htg & Clg (614) 837-9961

Dresden Federal Htg & Clg (740) 754-4328 federalheating.com

Findlay Knueve & Sons Inc. (419) 420-7638 knueve.com

Gahanna Custom A/C & Htg (614) 552-4822

customairco.com/geothermal

Groveport Patriot Air (614) 577-1577

patriotair.com

Holgate Holgate Hardware (419) 264-3012 Kalida Knueve & Sons Inc. (419) 420-7638 knueve.com

Sarka Electric (419) 532-3492

Medina Sisler Heating (330) 722-7101

sislerwaterfurnace.com

Mt. Vernon Cosby Htg & Clg (740) 393-4328

cosbyhc.com

New Knoxville New Knoxville Supply (419) 753-2444

newknoxvillesupply.com

Lancaster Fairfield Heating (740) 653-6421

Sunbury Westin Air (614) 794-1259

geothermalcentralohio.com

Toledo Overcashier & Horst (419) 841-3333

ohcomfort.com

Waverly Combs Htg & A/C (740) 947-4061

combsgeopro.com

Kalida Knueve & Sons Inc. (419) 420-7638

cosbyhc.com

Mansfield Eberts Energy Center (419) 589-2000

ebertsheatingandcooling.com

Marion Wenig’s Inc. (740) 383-5012

wenigsinc.com

Medina Sisler Heating (330) 722-7101

sislerwaterfurnace.com

Mt. Vernon Cosby Htg & Clg (740) 393-4328

cosbyhc.com

Wellington Wellington Indoor Comfort (440) 647-3421

geosourceone.com

Mt. Vernon Cosby Htg & Clg (740) 393-4328

New Knoxville New Knoxville Supply (419) 753-2444

The Reliable Renewable is a trademark of WaterFurnace International, Inc.

Holgate Holgate Hardware (419) 264-3012

fairfieldgeothermal.com

Columbus Geo Source One (614) 873-1140

combsgeopro.com

patriotair.com

newknoxvillesupply.com

The Reliable Renewable is a trademark of

Chillicothe Accurate Htg & Clg (740) 775-5005 accurategeothermal.com

Columbus Geo Source One (614) 873-1140

Groveport Patriot Air (614) 577-1577

geosourceone.com

knueve.com

Sarka Electric

ebertsheatingandcooling.com

9

International, Inc.LIVING AUGUST 2022WaterFurnace • OHIO COOPERATIVE

Sidney Lochard Inc. (937) 492-8811

hottingergeothermal.com

Newark Hottinger Geothermal (740) 323-2330

visit us at waterfurnace.com

Kalida Knueve & Sons Inc. (419) 420-7638

Bowling Green United Home Comfort (419) 352-7092 unitedhomecomfort.com

Canal Winchester Kessler Htg & Clg (614) 837-9961 kesslerheating.com

Chillicothe Accurate Htg & Clg (740) 775-5005 accurategeothermal.com

Coldwater Ray’s Refrigeration (419) 678-8711 raysrefrigeration.com

Columbus Geo Source One (614) 873-1140 geosourceone.com

Defiance Schlatters Plbg & Htg (419) 393-4690 schlattersgeothermal.com

sarkaelectric.com

Sunbury Westin Air (614) 794-1259

sarkaelectric.com

Coldwater Ray’s Refrigeration (419) 678-8711

unitedhomecomfort.com

visit us at waterfurnace.com

newknoxvillesupply.com

ohcomfort.com

Groveport Patriot Air (614) 577-1577

Coldwater Ray’s Refrigeration (419) 678-8711

Sarka Electric (419) 532-3492

wenigsinc.com

customairco.com/geothermal

accurategeothermal.com

Waverly Combs Htg & A/C (740) 947-4061

ohcomfort.com

Toledo Overcashier & Horst (419) 841-3333

geothermalcentralohio.com

knueve.com

Sunbury Westin Air (614) 794-1259

Marion Wenig’s Inc. (740) 383-5012

Gahanna Custom A/C & Htg (614) 552-4822

Chillicothe Accurate Htg & Clg (740) 775-5005

Wellington Wellington Indoor Comfort (440) 647-3421

The Reliable Renewable is a trademark of WaterFurnace International, Inc.

Wellington Wellington Indoor Comfort (440) 647-3421

combsgeopro.com

schlattersgeothermal.com

Defiance Schlatters Plbg & Htg (419) 393-4690

Lancaster Fairfield Heating (740) 653-6421

knueve.com

kesslerheating.com

New Knoxville New Knoxville Supply (419) 753-2444

schlattersgeothermal.com

Dresden Federal Htg & Clg (740) 754-4328

When you pay good money (419) for something, you think it should last.

532-3492 sarkaelectric.com We agree. Especially when it’s your family’s comfort.

Geothermal is the only renewable that provides reliable operation 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.

Waverly Combs Htg & A/C (740) 947-4061

sislerwaterfurnace.com

raysrefrigeration.com

Defiance Schlatters Plbg & Htg (419) 393-4690

Toledo Overcashier & Horst (419) 841-3333

Medina Sisler Heating (330) 722-7101

Newark Hottinger Geothermal (740) 323-2330 Bowling Green United Home Comfort (419) 352-7092

The lifespan of even the most expensive conventional a/c is just 15-18 years. With a WaterFurnace geothermal unit, you can expect a lifespan of 25 years—sometimes even more. Plus, the life visit us at waterfurnace.com expectancy of the underground infrastructure is at least double that. Longer unit life means less cost to you and less waste in our landfills. And that makes WaterFurnace the better choice.

The lifespan of even the most expensive conventional a/c is just 15-18 years. With a WaterFurnace geothermal unit, you can expect a lifespan of 25 years—sometimes even more. Plus, the life expectancy of the underground infrastructure is at least double that. Longer unit life means less cost to you and less waste in our landfills. And that makes WaterFurnace the better choice.

Geothermal is the only renewable that provides reliable operation 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.

When you pay good money for something, you think it should last.

We agree. Especially when it’s your family’s comfort.

CO-OP PEOPLE CO-OP PEOPLE

STAR STRUCK G

Brad Hoehne is always looking up at the John Glenn Astronomy Park.

BY DAMAINE VONADA

etting Brad Hoehne to stand still for a photo isn’t easy. The director of John Glenn Astronomy Park (JGAP) is so enthusiastic about sharing the wonders of the universe with visitors that he constantly points out the brightest stars, waves his arms to demonstrate the paths of comets, or makes circles with his hands to show how the orbits of Earth and Mars bring them closest together every 26 months.

10

OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING • AUGUST 2022

PHOTO COURTESY BRAD HOEHNE/JOHN GLENN ASTRONOMY PARK

“It’s a joy to talk to people about astronomy,” says Hoehne. “I’ve been stargazing most of my life, and this park is a great way to bring others into the fold and get them interested in science in general.”

Served by South Central Power Company, the park sits on an open patch of land within Hocking Hills State Park.

It’s named for the Ohio-born-and-bred astronaut who was the first American to orbit the Earth. JGAP opened in 2018, but Hoehne had been thinking for years about creating a venue where the public could connect with the cosmos. “I got the idea in 2003,” he says. “I was giving a talk about the Perseid meteor shower, and a woman mentioned that it would be great to have a place to look at the stars on her own without having to pay something or drive for a long distance.”

While hikers and outdoors-lovers prize the pristine scenery and fantastic rock formations in southeast Ohio’s Hocking Hills, the region’s distance from big city lights also makes it a natural destination for amateur astronomers. “This place is about as dark at night as it gets in Ohio,” Hoehne says.

He certainly ought to know about the Buckeye State’s nocturnal skies. Hoehne, who is from Columbus, has been studying them ever since he was a preschooler and snagged a plastic telescope on a trip to COSI. Although his day job is working as a medical photographer and illustrator at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Hoehne

has devoted countless nights to astronomy, serving as president of the Columbus Astronomical Society and presenting numerous programs at Perkins Observatory in Delaware. “I started volunteering at the observatory in 1994 because I wanted to be there to view Comet Shoemaker-Levy 9 when it crashed into Jupiter,” he says.

“It’s a joy to talk to people about astronomy,” says Hoehne. “I’ve been stargazing most of my life, and this park is a great way to bring others into the fold and get them interested in science in general.”

The Friends of Hocking Hills State Park raised more than $1 million to build JGAP, and Hoehne worked closely with members of the nonprofit organization to design it. He also enlisted help from his wife, Lucia Hieida-Hoehne, who used her architecture training to turn his concepts into reality by acting as the dark park’s construction manager. “I did the fun work, and she did the grunt work,” Hoehne says, grinning.

Near the plaza, a small observatory houses one of the largest telescopes in Ohio — a Dobsonian with a 28-inch mirror that Hoehne calls JGAP’s “wow” telescope — as well as a special solar telescope for observing the sun.

Though people can bring their own telescopes to JGAP anytime, Hoehne typically only opens the observatory’s roof and conducts programs on Fridays and Saturdays.

Late summer is the best time to see the Milky Way at JGAP.

PHOTO BY DAMAINE VONADA

JGAP features a circular plaza proportioned to convey a sense of the solar system’s magnitude. The plaza is 80 feet in diameter, representing the size of the sun. Inside are a round bench measuring 7.5 feet in diameter and an 8.25-inch diameter sphere that indicate the relative sizes, respectively, of Jupiter and Earth. Flanking the plaza are stone pillars that earn the structure the nickname “Ohio’s Stonehenge.” The pillars have slots that channel shafts of sunlight on the days that start each season. The slots on the plaza’s east side catch sunrises on the solstices and equinoxes, and the ones on the west side catch the sunsets, Hoehne says.

“December 8,” says Hoehne, “is going to be ideal because Mars will appear at its best and brightest in the night sky.”

Learn more about John Glenn Astronomy Park and its programming at www.jgap.info or www.friendsofhockinghills.org.

Brad Hoehne (above right) is director of the John Glenn Astronomy Park (viewed from above at right), which sits inside Hocking Hills State Park and affords the opportunity to photograph spectacular views of the night sky — such as the photo on the left that Hoehne took of the Milky Way.

PHOTO COURTESY BRAD HOEHNE/JOHN GLENN ASTRONOMY PARK

And at the end of the year, the view of Mars should be positively heavenly, for Earth and the Red Planet once again will circle near each other.

AUGUST 2022 • OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING

11

WOODS, WATERS, AND WILDLIFE

Specter of the forest STORY AND PHOTOS BY W.H. “CHIP” GROSS

I

enjoy reading — always have. One of my favorite books is Wilson Rawls’ 1961 classic, Where the Red Fern Grows. The author reveals the origin of the title of his fiction novel through his young protagonist, Billy Colman, who lived in the Oklahoma Ozarks: “I had heard the old Indian legend about the red fern. How a little Indian boy and girl were lost in a blizzard and had frozen to death.

In the spring, when they were found, a beautiful red fern had grown up between their two bodies. The story went on to say that only an angel could plant the seeds of a red fern, and that they never died; where one grew, that spot was sacred.”

Ohio has its own version of a “red fern,” a plant eerie and haunting, mysterious and ephemeral, yet at the same time beautiful and delicate — it’s known as “ghost plant” or “ghost pipe.” Native American tribes were familiar with it, which is why the plant is sometimes also called “Indian pipe.” To botanists, it is Monotropa uniflora.

The plant grows in such deep, dark forests and is so short-lived that I’ve only seen a handful during a lifetime of wandering the woods. One was growing along the Appalachian Trail in Virginia, spotted during a day hike with my wife. Several other plants I’ve stumbled across here in Ohio (not literally, thankfully), but not often. Each serendipitous find is truly a special event to be celebrated and, of course, photographed.

12

OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING • AUGUST 2022

“They’re pretty common but also pretty easily overlooked, as they have no bright colors to catch one’s eye,” says Jim McCormac, retired from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources and one of Ohio’s leading botanists. “They tend to bloom during the dog days of summer, when not as many people are traipsing about the woods with all the heat, humidity, and biting deer flies. The plant’s been documented in at least 50 Ohio counties and probably occurs, or has occurred, in all 88.”

An herbaceous perennial, ghost plants are usually waxy-white, sometimes a pale pink, and often flecked with black specks. Even more rare, such as Wilson Rawls’ storied fern, a few ghost plant variants can be colored a deep red.

Ghost plants lack the green coloring of most plants because they do not produce chlorophyll. Rather, they are (big-word alert) mycoheterotrophs, simply meaning they feed on fungi associated with certain trees, often beeches. This parasitic relationship allows the ghost plant to live on the forest floor in areas of dense canopy cover, where summer sun cannot penetrate.

Usually, several individual plants grow in a group, as high as a foot tall, looking like white, scaly clay pipes that have been stuck into the ground on their stems.

A good time to search for ghost plants is a few days after a rainfall.

Above: A ghost plant found in Ohio; left: A ghost plant found along the Appalachian Trail, McAfee Knob, near Roanoke, Virginia.

Now, mid- to late-summer, is the time of year to look for a ghost plant. Take a hike at a state park, state nature preserve, or another mature forest location to search for one. And to prepare for the experience, you just might read Where the Red Fern Grows.

If you happen to know of any food or medicinal value associated with ghost plants and would like to share that information, you may contact me by email at whchipgross@gmail.com. I will then, in turn, share the information with other OCL readers in a future online “Ask Chip” column.

Ask

CHIP!

Email Chip Gross with your outdoors questions at whchipgross@ gmail.com. Be sure to include “Ask Chip” in the subject of the email.

Your question may be answered on www.ohiocoopliving.com!

www.ohiocoopliving.com AUGUST 2022 • OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING

13

— A DELICIOUS GIFT — FROM PERDUE FARMS! — A DELICIOUS GIFT — For a limited time, enjoy this special introductory package of tender, juicy Perdue chicken. Plus, dessert’s on us!

FROM PERDUE FARMS!

For a limited time, enjoy this special introductory package of tender, juicy Perdue chicken. Plus, dessert’s on us!

69 OFF $6 9 O

$

FF

For A Limited Time

Perdue Farmer’s Feast

ENJOY 6

2 Trays – Diced Chicken Breasts (2.4 lb.)

For A Limited Time 2 Trays – Chicken Breast Strips (2.4 lb.)

2 Trays – Thin-Sliced Chicken Breasts (2.4 lb.)

Perdue Farmer’s Feast 1 Bag – Boneless Chicken Breasts (2 lb.)

2 Trays – Diced Chicken Breasts (2.4 lb.)

1 Package – Organic Ground Chicken (1.5 lb.)

2 Trays – Chicken Breast Strips (2.4 lb.)

4 Twice Baked Stuffed Potatoes (20 oz.)

2 Trays – Thin-Sliced Chicken Breasts (2.4 lb.)

FREE - 2 Chocolate Truffle Cheesecakes (7 oz.)

1 Bag – Boneless Chicken Breasts (2 lb.)

FREE - 2 Strawberry Cheesecakes (7 oz.)

1 Package – Organic Ground Chicken (1.5 lb.)

FREE - 2 New York Cheesecakes (7 oz.)

4 Twice Baked Stuffed Potatoes (20 oz.)

78 .99 $ 78

FREE ENJOY 6 FREE HANDMADE CHEESECAKES

HANDMADE CHEESECAKES

$148.91* Separately Truffle Cheesecakes (7 oz.)

FREE - 2 Chocolate

.99

$

Your - 2 Strawberry Cheesecakes (7 oz.)

FREE Price - 2 New York Cheesecakes (7 oz.)

FREE

Call

Your Price

1.800.473.7383

$148.91* Separately

Ask For

Feast 50

— OUR CHICKEN ARE RAISED WITH — Call Ask For No Antibiotics Ever 100% Veg Fed

1.800.473.7383

Feast 50

– OR –

www.PerdueFarms.com/feast50 — PERDUE FARMS PERKS — – OR – Guaranteed Quality Home Delivery

www.PerdueFarms.com/feast50

Offer Expires 11/30/2022. Not valid with any other offers. *Savings shown based on total of single item base price. Introductory S&H added per address. Only available in select states. Limited one order per household. Valid for new customers only. Visit Perduefarms.com or call 1.800.473.7383 for full Terms and Conditions. *All pictures — for OUR CHICKEN ARE — PERDUE FARMS PERKS —safe delivery. shown are illustration purposes only.RAISED Product isWITH frozen at— peak freshness and carefully packaged in eco-friendly shipping material to ensure

No Antibiotics Ever

100% Veg Fed

Guaranteed Quality

Home Delivery

Offer Expires 11/30/2022. Not valid with any other offers. *Savings shown based on total of single item base price. Introductory S&H added per address. Only available in select states. Limited one order per household. Valid for new customers only. Visit Perduefarms.com or call 1.800.473.7383 for full Terms and Conditions. *All pictures shown are for illustration purposes only. Product is frozen at peak freshness and carefully packaged in eco-friendly shipping material to ensure safe delivery.

14

OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING • AUGUST 2022

GOOD EATS

READER RECIPE CONTEST

Salad days!

Grand-prize winner’s recipe is best when strawberries are at their ripe, juicy peak.

LEAD PHOTO BY DEMI MARTIN; RECIPE PHOTOGRAPHY BY CATHERINE MURRAY

C

atherine McSwain has made her Strawberry Fields Steak Salad for years — it’s her husband’s favorite meal, after all. The day she got a little tired of serving store-bought dressing with it, however, was the day it went from really good to exceptional.

McSwain’s entry earned the top prize — a KitchenAid stand mixer — in this year’s Ohio Cooperative Living reader recipe contest that asked for your best salad recipes.

Continued on page 16

AUGUST 2022 • OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING

15

Grand-prize winner

Continued from page 15

STRAWBERRY FIELDS STEAK SALAD Prep: 10 minutes | Cook: 10 minutes | Servings: 2

For dressing:

4 tablespoons orange marmalade 5 tablespoons white wine vinegar 3 tablespoons grapeseed/canola oil

2 tablespoons water ¼ teaspoon garlic powder 2 pinches kosher salt

Mix all of the above in any order you like … it tastes great no matter what you put in first.

For salad:

4 cups arugula or romaine ½ cup shredded mozzarella

8 ounces sliced strawberries 6-ounce ribeye steak

Grill or pan-fry ribeye steak that has been salted liberally. Set aside until ready to cut into thin strips. Prepare strawberries by slicing into pieces. Arrange salad topped with mozzarella cheese; add strawberries and then strips of steak on top. Dress with marmalade mixture to finish.

16

OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING • AUGUST 2022

More than 300 submissions rolled in from around the state, ranging from simple garden salads to mayo-based egg or tuna concoctions, and a surprising number of gelatin-based dishes mixed with anything from maraschino cherries to cottage cheese — there are lots of different kinds of dishes referred to as salad.

Catherine, a member of Adams Rural Electric Cooperative in West Union, says her salad is especially popular in early summer when she gets strawberries that are at the peak of ripeness — but oh, that dressing!

“The orange marmalade dressing just came to my mind one day when I was having a craving for something a little bit different than the usual dressings I buy from the store,” she says. “I had been watching cooking shows for a few years and felt adventurous enough to give making a concoction of my own a whirl.”

Runner-up

ORANGE CREAM FRUIT SALAD

Prep: 10 minutes | Servings: 8 to 10 3.4-ounce package instant vanilla 20-ounce can pineapple tidbits, pudding drained 16-ounce can peach slices, drained 1½ cups milk 1/3 cup frozen orange juice 11-ounce can mandarin oranges, concentrate drained ¾ cup sour cream 2 medium firm bananas, sliced 1 medium apple, chopped In a large bowl, combine fruits and set aside. In a small bowl, beat pudding mix, milk, and orange juice concentrate for 2 minutes. Add sour cream and mix well. Spoon over fruit and toss to coat. Cover and refrigerate for 2 hours.

Donna Calloway, a member of Pioneer Electric Cooperative in Piqua, has been making her

version of this fruity classic for more than 30 years, since she got the basic recipe from her husband Brian’s grandmother. Now she serves it to her five grandchildren.

“This one has been handed down over many years,” Donna says. “It’s simple to make, and you can expand the recipe for however large your crowd might be — I used to serve it at birthday parties for all three of my kids.”

Donna Calloway, Piqua

AUGUST 2022 • OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING

17

Carole Okuley, Bluffton

Runner-up

CUCUMBER ASIAN SALAD Prep: 15 minutes | Servings: 4 3 tablespoons light soy sauce ¼ cup sesame oil 1 teaspoon lime juice 1 teaspoon ground ginger ¼ cup packed light brown sugar 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar 3 to 4 cups sliced mini cucumbers, ¼ inch thick 1½ tablespoons sesame seeds

¼ cup finely diced onion 4 finely diced mint leaves (optional) 1 Bosc pear, peeled, halved, seeded, sliced in ¼-inch slices, and cut into approximately inch-long pieces 2 tablespoons grated carrot 3 tablespoons slivered almonds ½ of a red bell pepper, sliced like matchsticks

Whisk together first six ingredients, then add the rest. Mix well to coat; let marinate a minimum of 2 hours or overnight. Toss a few times to coat well while marinating.

Check it out!

Have you tried one of our recipes?

Do you have a recipe to share with other Ohio co-op members? Visit the Member Interactive page on www.ohiocoopliving.com to find recipes submitted by our readers and to upload yours.

Carole Okuley, a member of St. Marys-based Midwest Electric, enjoys

experimenting with recipes and food of all kinds. When her nephew married a woman from Taiwan, Carole was inspired to incorporate some Asian-inspired flavors into her cooking. When the call for entries came out, she says she just looked around her pantry to see what she could come up with, and this spur-of-the-moment cucumber salad impressed our judges with its unique combination of ingredients enough to award her a runner-up prize.

“I will often just use whatever I have in the refrigerator and pantry,” Carole says. “I don’t think I would ordinarily put pears into something like this, but I happened to have some, so I thought I’d try it. I’m glad I did.”

18

OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING • AUGUST 2022

www.ohiocoopliving.com While you’re there, check out a video of a few of our recipes being prepared.

BUTLER RURAL ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE

Back to school,

BACK TO ENERGY SAVINGS

The days are turning shorter, vacation is over, and kids are heading back to school. It’s the perfect time to get more serious about saving energy. These quick, cost-saving tips will help you adjust your energy use to match your family’s new routine.

Program your thermostat You can save a lot of energy by adjusting the thermostat to match your family’s school and work schedule. Why waste energy keeping an empty house comfortable?

Wi-Fi-connected, programmable thermostats optimize savings and convenience by automatically adjusting temperatures based on your schedule. Butler Rural Electric Cooperative recently began offering a rebate to members who install a new smart thermostat in their home. See page 20G for more details.

Get smarter with power strips Electronic devices like TVs, game consoles, and chargers continue to draw power, even when no one is home to use them. Advanced power strips provide a smart, energy-saving solution. They automatically cut power to devices when they’re not in use.

Draw the curtain on heat gain Close window treatments when you leave for the day. This will help block solar heat gain that gets trapped inside your home. Otherwise, your air conditioning system works harder, even at a higher, energy-saving setting.

Close the door on energy waste As you’re packing lunches, you may find yourself opening and closing the refrigerator door a lot. This makes the refrigerator work harder to maintain a consistent temperature and keep things cool.

David Evans

PRESIDENT, BOARD OF TRUSTEES

Take out everything you need at once and close the door quickly. This makes lunch ingredients easier to access and quicker to pack while saving time and energy.

Call a pro Summer heat and humidity can be hard on your home.

Call a qualified professional to inspect and clean your HVAC system to ensure it’s running efficiently.

Also consider a home energy audit through Butler Rural Electric Cooperative. Our trained, professional employees will inspect your home and provide you with a set of customized recommendations that will improve comfort and efficiency all year long. Call us at 513-8674400 to schedule your energy audit.

Ohio sales tax holiday on school supplies and clothing Aug. 5–7

AUGUST 2022 • OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING

19

BUTLER RURAL ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE

August is COMMUNITY CONNECTION MONTH 8,992 + 34 MEMBERS EMPLOYEES donate to Butler Rural Community Connection, helping fire departments, emergency management services, and schools in the counties we serve.

[

THAT’S 78% OF OUR MEMBERS!

]

THANK YOU!

to those who contribute to Community Connection.

Your donations have funded

OVER $1.4 MILLION IN GRANTS

REAL PEOPLE. REAL RESULTS.

5 co-op members serve on the

Community Connection board of trustees. > They volunteer their time > Review hundreds of grant applications > And meet twice a year to select grant recipients

to improve our community!

A Community Connection grant purchased an infant treadmill to help Butler County children with disabilities learn to walk.

Another grant funded a local summer camp focused on STEM projects for elementary students.

This year, Butler Rural Community Connection helped fund an Explorer Mini, which helps young children with mobility impairments.

DONATE TO COMMUNITY CONNECTION butlerrural.coop > Community > Community Connection > Donate APPLY FOR A COMMUNITY CONNECTION GRANT butlerrural.coop > Community > Community Connection > How to Apply

20

OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING • AUGUST 2022

BUTLER RURAL ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE

O XF O R D ’S U PT O W N M U SI C CO N CE R T SE R IE S Thank you to the members and guests who joined us in June for Oxford’s first Uptown Music Concert of the summer! The Klaberheads performed for the crowd and set a great tone for the rest of the concerts in the summer series.

Butler Rural Electric Cooperative sponsored the concert, providing the community with a free outdoor event.

The Uptown Music Concert Series continues through August. Visit enjoyoxford.org for a schedule and a list of performers.

OFFICE CLOSES EARLY FOR FUNDRAISER Our office will close at 11 a.m. Friday, Aug. 12, for our Links to Community Connection Golf Outing. We host the outing each year to raise money for Butler Rural Community Connection.

AUGUST 2022 • OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING

20A

BUTLER RURAL ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE

Seven Mile’s Oktoberfest This year’s Oktoberfest will be Friday, Aug. 19, and Saturday, Aug. 20, in the Community Park at 400 Walnut Street in Seven Mile. The event is from 5 p.m. to midnight each night.

Friday’s entertainment will be presented by The Klaberheads from 7 to 11 p.m. Miss Jacque will perform Saturday from 7 to 11 p.m. Other entertainment will include Poker, Stein Holding, and Nagelbalken.

Visitors will have a choice of different authentic German

Co-op

foods including brats, metts, German potato salad, sauerkraut, Limburger sandwiches, goetta, schnitzel, pretzels, cream puffs, German chocolate cake, strudel, and more. The festival will have a great selection of beer, including craft beer on tap and in cans. Soft drinks and water will also be available.

Admission is $5 per person each evening. The playground will be open and children 12 and under are admitted free with parents. Veterans are admitted free with military ID.

welcomes new employee

In June, Butler Rural Electric Cooperative welcomed Joe Chewning as our new systems technician in the IT department. Joe will support, develop, maintain, and troubleshoot the cooperative’s computer network applications, servers, and software.

Joe grew up in Liberty, Indiana, where he lives with his wife, Olivia, and their four daughters. Their daughters, Madalyn, Scarlett, Elsie, and Ainslee, stay busy with gymnastics, soccer, softball, and dance.

Joe received his associate degree in information technology and PC support from Ivy Tech Community College in Richmond, Indiana. He enjoys golfing and camping with his family, and his favorite local restaurant is Skyline Chili in Oxford.

Right, Butler Rural Electric Cooperative’s Systems Technician Joe Chewning with his family.

winners

BILL CREDIT 20B

OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING • AUGUST 2022

Did you attend our annual meeting in April? If so, you could be the winner of a $50 bill credit! All attendees who did not win bill credits at the meeting are eligible to win. Congratulations to the June winners!

Jerome A. Armbruster • Gerald Bell • David Dove Gerald Kirby • Susan E. Rooney

BUTLER RURAL ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE

The

power of giving

Butler Rural Electric Cooperative members help local children through Community Connection Most people can explore the world around them with ease, but for 1-year-old Brynn Holthaus, simply moving her little legs seems like a nearly impossible feat. Brynn was diagnosed with spina bifida before she was born and underwent a fetal surgery repair when her mom, Natalie, was just 25 weeks pregnant.

Spina bifida is a condition that affects the spine, when a neural tube does not close all the way. When this

happens, the backbone that protects the spinal cord doesn’t form and close as it should, often resulting in damage to the spinal cord and nerves. Because spina bifida typically causes physical disabilities, Brynn wasn’t able to take her first movements toward walking.

Brynn’s parents, Natalie and Cody Holthaus, are Butler Rural Electric Cooperative members who live in Reily Township. Natalie, a Spanish teacher at Monroe Senior Continued on page 20D

Above, the Butler County Board of Developmental Disabilities purchased an Explorer Mini with help from Butler Rural Community Connection and NuMotion, a mobility solution and medical supply company.

AUGUST 2022 • OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING

20C

BUTLER RURAL ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE

Continued from page 20C

High School, was introduced to Kathy Fleenor, a physical therapist for the Butler County Board of Developmental Disabilities. Kathy, also a Butler Rural Electric Cooperative member who lives in Morgan Township, works with children from birth to 3 years old.

Kathy saw the overwhelming need for physical therapy equipment that could help Brynn and other Butler County children. Kathy submitted a grant application to Butler Rural Community Connection, which awards grants to local organizations. She requested funds to purchase an Explorer Mini for the Butler County Board of Developmental Disabilities.

The Explorer Mini is a powered mobility solution that facilitates self-initiated movement and early exploration for young children with mobility impairments. The device typically costs about $3,000 and helps assist children with independent mobility.

Fleenor’s grant request was approved, and an $867 Community Connection grant was awarded to the Butler County Board of Developmental Disabilities to help pay for the Explorer Mini in June. NuMotion, a mobility solution and medical supply company, supported the purchase of the Explorer Mini with a facility discount. The remaining funds were provided by the Butler County Board of Developmental Disabilities.

The Explorer Mini promotes safe, stable, upright postures while providing opportunities to improve strength, endurance, and postural control. Using developmental resources like the Explorer Mini ensures a healthy and productive start in life.

Brynn was one of the first children to use the new Explorer Mini, which was set up in the Holthauses’ home to enhance participation in Brynn’s natural environment.

“I’m excited for Brynn to be able to chase her older brother, Marc, when they play,” said Natalie. “We can’t wait to watch her grow and develop while being able to move around a lot more.”

The Explorer Mini will stay in the Holthauses’ home for about a month and Brynn will use it for a few minutes each day. Many children with spina bifida begin movement in basic manual wheelchairs, so giving them the opportunity to explore their environment with power gets children excited to explore places they may not have been able to access otherwise.

Kathy will visit Brynn at home every two weeks to assist with her physical therapy. “Innovative technology like the 20D

OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING • AUGUST 2022

About Butler Rural Community Connection Community Connection gives grants to local nonprofit groups in Butler, Preble, Hamilton, and Montgomery counties.

Co-op members and employees contribute to Community Connection by rounding up their monthly electric bills to the next highest dollar amount or by making donations throughout the year.

The Community Connection board of trustees chooses grant recipients twice per year. These voluntary board members are co-op members and are separate from Butler Rural Electric Cooperative’s board of trustees. They will meet Sept. 14 to award fall grants.

Community Connection is a separate entity from Butler Rural Electric Cooperative.

Donating to the program is voluntary and does not affect the cooperative’s rates.

We hope the lives of our members have been touched by Community Connection.

We are thankful for the continued support of members and employees who donate to the program.

Apply for a Community Connection grant

butlerrural.coop > Community > Community Connection > How to Apply The fall application deadline is August 31.

Donate to Community Connection

butlerrural.coop > Community > Community Connection > Donate

BUTLER RURAL ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE

Above, clockwise from top left, Permobil representative Kelly Ball teaches Brynn how to move using the Explorer Mini. Permobil is the manufacturer of the Explorer Mini; Kathy Fleenor, a physical therapist for the Butler County Board of Developmental Disabilities, helps Brynn use the Explorer Mini; Kathy Fleenor, Natalie Holthaus, and Brynn Holthaus at the Holthauses’ home for physical therapy; Brynn using the Explorer Mini for the first time.

Explorer Mini improves strength and endurance and provides good practice for kids to explore independent mobility,” said Kathy.

The goal is for Brynn to stand more and learn how to take steps. Using the Explorer Mini will help with her growth and development in mobility. It has a removable seat, which will help Brynn learn to stand and move more freely in the future. Brynn is also using a pediatric treadmill that was purchased using a Community Connection grant in 2015.

The anticipated results for Brynn are multidimensional, affecting not only her physical development but also her social and cognitive progress. Parents and physical therapists consider the Explorer Mini a game-changer.

After Brynn finishes using the Explorer Mini, it will be moved to another child’s home within Butler County.

The Butler County Board of Developmental Disabilities only has one Explorer Mini but is hopeful to get more.

AUGUST 2022 • OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING

20E

BUTLER RURAL ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE

Celebrating 36 YEARS

Greg Phillips retires from Butler Rural Electric Cooperative In June, we celebrated Greg Phillips and his retirement from Butler Rural Electric Cooperative. Greg worked at the cooperative for 36 years, most recently serving as the director of corporate services.

During his time at Butler Rural Electric Cooperative, Greg considered the needs of our members and how he could 20F

OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING • AUGUST 2022

best serve them every day on the job. He was a hardworking and dedicated employee, and we will greatly miss his skill and leadership.

Greg looks forward to traveling and spending time with his family during retirement. We wish him a long and happy retirement. Congratulations, Greg!

BUTLER RURAL ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE

Four reasons to get a smart thermostat Have you considered purchasing a smart thermostat but haven’t taken the plunge? Let’s look at the top benefits smart thermostats offer to help you decide.

Decrease energy costs An average American household spends $1,000 to $2,000 annually on heating and cooling. Equipping your HVAC system with smart technology can help you stay comfortable and save year-round.

A smart thermostat allows you to program a schedule with set temperatures based on your routine. You can be comfortable at home when you need it and stop wasting energy heating or cooling an empty house when you’re away. With these intelligent devices, you’ll likely save at least 10% on heating and cooling.

Easy temperature control One of the best things about smart thermostats?

You don't have to stick to a schedule. Unlike regular programmable thermostats, smart thermostats offer the flexibility of switching up your settings whenever you’d like and from wherever you’d like. You can adjust your schedule or change the current temperature setting in real time through a smartphone-connected app.

Smart thermostats can also adjust settings for you.

It learns your habits and daily routines and makes adjustments accordingly. A smart thermostat can even interact with other devices, such as your smartphone or fitness tracker, to tell how soon you’ll arrive home or when you’ll wake up. Based on that data, the thermostat

can automatically adjust the settings without you lifting a finger. Cool, right?

Enhanced safety features It’s not all about comfort and saving money; smart thermostats can make your home safer, too. Many smart thermostats are equipped with safety settings that can turn your HVAC system on or off — depending on the situation — and alert you immediately.

If your home reaches a temperature at which your pipes could freeze, a smart thermostat can turn on the heat.

Some smart thermostats can also sense carbon monoxide leaks or smoke and turn off the heat as a precaution.

Track your energy use Smart thermostats can also help you adjust habits to save energy. Many provide reports or allow you to access your analytics in an app to observe how your energy use has changed over time.

A smart thermostat can predict how your current habits will likely affect your energy costs over time and even suggest what you can change. That means you can save even more in the future.

Ready to upgrade? Smart thermostats are easy to install thanks to easy-to-understand instructions that guide you as you go. Plus, Butler Rural Electric Cooperative offers a rebate to members who install a new smart thermostat in their home. See below for more details.

You’re just a purchase, delivery, and quick install away from enjoying these energy-saving benefits!

Butler Rural Electric Cooperative is offering a rebate to members who install a new smart thermostat in their home. The thermostat must be purchased and installed between July 1, 2022 and June 30, 2023.

SMART THERMOSTAT REBATE G E T U P T O $ 1 5 0 P E R I N S TA L L E D T H E R M O S TAT

THERMOSTAT REQUIREMENTS: • ENERGY STAR® certified smart thermostat • Wi-Fi connected at a home with broadband access • Installed in compliance with applicable federal, state, and local agency standards butlerrural.coop/content/smart-thermostat-rebates

Rebate is limited. Offer expires when funds are depleted on a first-come, first served basis, or when program is discontinued. A maximum of two rebates per residential member home.

AUGUST 2022 • OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING

20G

BUTLER RURAL ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE

Searching for board members like you!

Who can become a board member?

Butler Rural Electric Cooperative is owned by our members and is governed by a nine-person board of trustees. Board members are members like you — they receive electricity from the co-op and live in your community. Board members are nominated by district and are elected at large. The board of trustees make decisions that affect the entire membership and represent the interests of all members.

Members living in districts 6, 7, and 8 can run for and be elected to serve on the board of trustees this year.

Members in these districts will receive a notice in the mail in August to let them know they can run for the board of trustees.

Board elections are held in three of our nine districts each year. Members elect trustees to serve three-year terms and vote each spring online, by mail, or through SmartHub.

Board seats up for election in 2023 Three board seats are up for election in 2023 — District 6 (Reily Township), District 7 (Hanover and St. Clair townships), and District 8 (Harrison and Morgan townships).

Ronald Kolb currently holds the seat for District 6, Michael Tilton holds the seat for District 7, and Robert Spaeth holds the seat for District 8. These board members can run for reelection in 2023 if they choose.

To be a candidate for the board of trustees, your account with Butler Rural Electric Cooperative must be in your name. This means your name must appear on your bill from Butler Rural Electric Cooperative.

What are board members responsible for?

Board members meet with the co-op’s attorney, general manager, and management staff each month and work together to make important decisions that impact our day-to-day operations.

Board members spend around 25 hours each month attending meetings and conferences. This includes attending board meetings on the last Wednesday of each month at Butler Rural Electric Cooperative’s office in Oxford. The meetings begin at 9 a.m. and typically conclude by 1 p.m. They also attend conferences in Columbus and national meetings with varying locations.

ELECTION TIMELINE JULY 2022

AUGUST 2022

SEPTEMBER 2022

NOVEMBER 2022

11th Nominating committee meets with co-op’s attorney to discuss the committee’s responsibilities and the election.

Members living in districts 6, 7, and 8 receive mail and email notices letting them know they can run for the board of trustees.

19th Nominating committee meets with attorney to discuss board candidates and develop a plan to recruit candidates.

7th Deadline for members to apply to run for the board of trustees.

20H

OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING • AUGUST 2022

15th Nominating committee interviews members running for the board and selects up to two candidates for each district after the interviews.

BUTLER RURAL ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE

Board members complete training courses covering the roles, responsibilities, knowledge, and skills needed to govern the co-op. These courses address governance, financial decision-making, strategic planning, and current and emerging issues.

What qualifications are required to become a board member?

The cooperative is committed to having a diverse group of board members to allow for a wide array of opinions, backgrounds, and perspectives. You do not need to have electric or utility knowledge to become a board member.

A trustee orientation is provided to newly elected board members to learn about the cooperative business model and the electric utility industry.

Are board members paid for their time?

The co-op provides compensation (per diem) for serving on the board. The average annual compensation for Butler Rural Electric Cooperative’s board members is $13,700. Board members do not receive health insurance through the co-op.

Nominating committee Eighteen members serve on our nominating committee.

These members are responsible for finding board candidates each year.

The nominating committee began accepting candidate applications in August. Members who apply to become a board candidate will be verified as members in good standing and will undergo background checks.

Qualified applicants will attend interviews with the nominating committee at the co-op’s office Nov. 15.

The committee will select candidates to appear on ballots after the interviews.

The committee met July 11 to discuss their responsibilities and review the election process. The meeting was led by Butler Rural Electric Cooperative’s attorney, Lee Geiger.

The committee will meet again Sept. 19 to review completed board candidate information forms, discuss potential candidates, and develop a plan if they lack qualified candidates.

Learn more!

Learn more about board member requirements, responsibilities, and the time commitment of a trustee by viewing our Trustee Handbook at butlerrural.coop > About Us > Board of Trustees > How to Become a Trustee or call us at 513-867-4400 and we will mail you a copy.

If you’re interested in becoming a board member, fill out the Trustee Interest Form at butlerrural.coop > About Us > Board of Trustees > How to Become a Trustee. This form is similar to an application and allows the co-op and the nominating committee to learn more about the candidate and confirm membership. You can also contact Julie Abbott, the cooperative’s director of administration, at 513-8674402 or juliea@butlerrural.coop if you’re interested in running for the board of trustees.

DECEMBER 2022

JANUARY 2023

MARCH 2023

April 2023

30th Petitions due at co-op’s office. Qualified members can submit petitions with 25 member signatures to run for the board.

9th Nominating committee interviews candidate(s) who filed petitions, if needed.

27th Election begins.

Members can vote for one candidate in each district.

Voting is completed by mail, online, or through SmartHub.

25th Election ends 27th Annual meeting Election results announced during annual meeting.

AUGUST 2022 • OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING

21

BUTLER RURAL ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE

SAVE TIME AND MONEY WITH PAPERLESS BILLING & AUTO PAY 1. Logwith in to SmartHub. For the last BILLING several years, members have experienced issues PAPERLESS

2. Click on “Billing & Payments” then “Auto Pay Program.” thethe timely monthly bills and payments. Paperless Avoid clutterdelivery of paperofbills and eliminate printing billing and Auto Pay avoid the stress of waiting on the mail and mailing costs! Follow these steps to sign up: 3. Onand the right side of the page, select “Sign Up For Auto submitting a payment on time — they happen automatically Pay”each then “Bank Account.”

1. Log in to SmartHub. month.

4. Follow the instructions and continue paying your bill 2. Click on “My Profile” then “My Information.” until your statement reads “Automatic Payment – DO 3. Select “Update My Paperless Settings.”

NOT PAY!” Paperless Billing

WIN $50

Two $50 bill credit drawings each WIN $50! costs. In 2020, members enrolled in paperless billing saved the We’re giving away $50month bill credits to members enrolled

Paperless billing avoids the of paper 4. Move the “Paperless” status onhassle the right side bills and helps the ofcooperative the page to save ON. money by eliminating printing and mailing

cooperative these programs each month! Members enrolled in both AUTO PAY $29,874! With paperless billing, your bill isindelivered As a thank you for tothe your email inbox on the day it’s calculated. programs will have two chances to win each month.

Avoid stress of missing a payment or having a late participating, each month fee. With Auto Pay, your payment will be taken out of your Kelcy Waite from Fairfield Township won thewe $50 To sign up for paperless billing, log in to your SmartHub account through December will account on the due date. Follow these steps to enroll: paperless billing bill credit and Nathan Patterson from

and click on “My Profile” and “Update My Paperless Settings.” give away one $50 bill credit Township won the $50 bank draft bill credit Then, toggle the “Paperless” setting to ON on the right Madison side of the to members enrolled in in June. page. paperless billing and one $50 bill credit to members Auto Pay with Bank Account enrolled in Auto Pay with Auto Pay with Bank Account avoids the stress of BOARD missingOFa TRUSTEES Tom Wolfenbarger Bank Account.

Members GENERAL MANAGER David Evans a payment or having a late charge. You will continue to receive enrolled in both programs PRESIDENT bill so you can review all charges and information. Since your will have Jade twoGuthrie chances to win COMMUNICATIONS REPRESENTATIVE Robert Hoelle payment is deducted from your checking or savings account, you each month.

VICE PRESIDENT will never have to remember to update a new card number or Winners SMARTHUB will be notified Jim Meador CONTACT Access your electric use, pay your SECRETARY TREASURER expiration date. The payment is automatically taken out of&your and announced in Ohio 513-867-4400 bill, and report outages through account on the due date stated on the bill each month.

You can Lee P. Geiger butlerrural.coop Cooperative Living magazine. our free SmartHub app.

ATTORNEY terminate at any time with 10-days advance notice.

OFFICE

Jay T. Hasbrook To signBeckett up for Auto 3888 Stillwell Road Pay with Bank Account, log in to SmartHub Kolb and click on “Billing & Payments” and “Auto PayRonald Program. ” On Oxford, Ohio 45056 Thomas L. McQuiston the right side of the page, select “Sign Up For Auto Pay” and James O’Brienthen OFFICE HOURS “Bank Account.” Follow the instructions and continue Robertpaying Spaeth Monday through Friday Mike Tilton your bill until your statement reads “Automatic Payment – DO 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

TRUSTEES

NOT PAY!”

22

If you do not use the internet, contact our office by calling 513867-4400 for an enrollment form.

OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING • AUGUST 2022

BUTLER RURAL ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE

To access SmartHub, BUTLER RURALor visit butlerrural.coop download the free app.

BUTLER RURAL ELECTRIC

N OR TH A MER I CA’S

SP E

CI A

1 Selling Walk-In Tub

#

Featuring our Free

LO

FFE

R

Shower Package

Now you can finally have all of the soothing benefits of a relaxing warm bath, or enjoy a convenient refreshing shower while seated or standing with Safe Step Walk-In Tub’s FREE Shower Package! ✓ First walk-in tub available with a customizable shower ✓ Fixed rainfall shower head is adjustable for your height and pivots to offer a seated shower option ✓ High-quality tub complete with a comprehensive lifetime warranty on the entire tub ✓ Top-of-the-line installation and service, all included at one low, affordable price

Now you can have the best of both worlds–there isn’t a better, more affordable walk-in tub!

Call today and receive a

FREE SHOWER PACKAGE PLUS $1600 OFF FOR A LIMITED TIME ONLY

Call Toll-Free 1-888-670-4233

www.BuySafeStep.com With purchase of a new Safe Step Walk-In Tub. Not applicable with any previous walk-in tub purchase.

Offer available while supplies last. No cash value.

Must present offer at time of purchase.

Call Today for Your Free Shower Package

1-888-670-4233 FINANCING AVAILABLE WITH APPROVED CREDIT

CSLB 1082165 NSCB 0082999 0083445

AUGUST 2022 • OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING

23

E-GAMING

in the outdoors Geocaching is a way to mix some exercise with a videogame-like challenge.

BY VICKI REINHART JOHNSON

24

OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING • AUGUST 2022

G

eocaching — a smartphone version of hide-and-seek — turns GPS technology into a family-friendly game for getting outside.

If you’re looking for a way to get your kids or grandkids out from behind their electronics and into the sunshine and fresh air, geocaching might be the hobby you seek. It combines physical exercise with the mental challenge of finding hidden caches.

When it was created 22 years ago, it was described as a “high-tech treasure hunt,” and though geocaching has evolved over the years, the basic premise remains the same. GPS coordinates are used to track down caches, or “treasure” hidden in containers. From the first cache hidden near Portland, Oregon, the number of caches has grown in two decades to well over 2 million worldwide, according to www. geocaching.com, the hobby’s worldwide coordinator. There’s sure to be a few near you right now.

There’s no digging involved. Caches are hidden above ground. They can range from shoebox-sized containers to micro-caches a few inches long, but you’ll know what you’re looking for before you begin.

Getting started involves downloading the geocaching.com app on your smartphone ahead of time and making a plan. It’s free, but there’s a paid version that goes more in-depth for people who find they enjoy the hunt.

Also in preparation, gather a few small items — known as “swag” — to leave in the caches you find. Tiny caches don’t have items to exchange, but larger ones do. For example, if you have kids along, they might choose a small toy to take from a cache and leave one in return. Adults can find a piece of treasure for themselves and leave keychains, decorated rocks, or just about any small token in return.

Before setting out, explore the app or the geocaching.com website to find a few caches near your home or near the location you want to visit. There usually are lots of caches at parks, but they also can be found in towns, at historical sites, at businesses, and lots of other places. Each cache has a listing in the app that offers details and hints for finding it.

During the hunt, use your phone to navigate to the location shown on the map. It will get you within 30 feet of your prize. Then start searching. Larger caches are usually easier to find in the beginning. The app has a rating system that will give you an idea of the difficulty of the find and the difficulty of the terrain. Containers are sometimes left in the open, but others are cleverly hidden.

Continued on page 26

AUGUST 2022 • OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING

25

Continued from page 25

After you find a cache, take it a short distance away from its hiding place before opening to avoid giving away the exact location. It isn’t required that you exchange items in the cache, but finding “treasure” is fun, especially for kids.

You can take a swag item and leave an item of the same approximate value, but nothing edible or perishable.

Sign the logbook with your geocaching.com username and the date, and then carefully close the cache and put everything back as you found it for the next person.

Some caches contain collectibles, trackable items, or geo-coins. In some cases, multiple caches must be found to solve a puzzle.

In the beginning, just know that if you take a “trackable” item, you have an obligation to place that item in a new cache within a week or two. “Trackables” have a unique tracking number that you can look up on the website to get details about where the item has been and where it’s going.

While geocaching is an activity unto itself, the game has been combined with other types of recreation such as bicycling, orienteering, and even paddling rivers and streams. There are organized events sponsored by state organizations such as Ohio Geocaching Association (www.ohgeo.org) and regional groups.

Traveling Ohio’s geo-trails In May, Coshocton Ring Trail launched, offering more than 40 caches based on J.R.R. Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings series. An exclusive coin can be earned by finding 16 of the caches and completing the passport with the code words and cache numbers. Passports are available at visitcoshocton. com/geotrail.php with clues available at geocaching.com and on the geocaching app.

In fall 2021, Destination Seneca County launched its Seneca County Geo Trail, highlighting 20 sites in the towns of Tiffin and Fostoria, the rural villages across the county, historical places, and county parks.

To earn the official Seneca County Geo Trail coin, you must find 15 out of the 20 caches. Anyone who completes all 20 caches also receives a trackable tag. Complete a passport by finding the code words in each cache. Passports can be found online at www.destinationsenecacounty.org/ seneca-county-geo-trail.

To find geocaches near you, simply sign up for a free (or paid) membership to geocaching.com and search for the area you want to visit by city name or county name (including “Ohio” or the state you want to visit for best results). Here is a small sampling of the many geocaching themes to be found in Ohio: • Spirit Quest tours, which feature cemeteries • Hocking Hills Adventure GeoTrail • “Tour the World Cities” series, which can be found in cities/towns/villages with the same name as a foreign city • Cache series with food-related themes such as doughnuts or coffee shops • Cache series related to historical sites • Challenge caches that require people to answer questions or solve puzzles that lead them to a cache

26

OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING • AUGUST 2022

A True American Classic!

Get Morgan Silver Dollars by the Pound!

It’s been more than 100 years since the last Morgan Silver Dollar was struck for circulation. The most revered, most-collected vintage U.S. Silver Dollars ever, the Morgan had a well-earned reputation as the coin that helped build the Wild West. Cowboys, ranchers, outlaws... they all preferred “hard currency” Morgan Silver Dollars in their saddle bags, to flimsy paper money favored by Easterners at the time.

These 90% Silver Dollars were minted from 1878 to 1904, then again in 1921. They came to be known by the name of their designer, George T. Morgan, and they were also nicknamed “cartwheels” because of their large weight and size.

Fewer Than 15% of Morgans Still Exist

Sadly, coin experts estimate that fewer than 15% of all Morgan Silver Dollars ever minted still exist today, due to the ravages of time and to U.S. government legislation that authorized the melting of hundreds of millions of Morgan Silver Dollars for their fine silver.

Our buyers are constantly on the lookout for Morgans and we’ve assembled a limited supply of these desirable Silver Dollars. Which is how we’re able to give you the opportunity to add them to your collection...by the pound!

Get Morgan Silver Dollars by the Pound!

That’s right! You can get a full pound of 1878 to 1921 classic American Morgan Silver Dollars—all in very good collector condition, with fully-visible dates and mint marks—GUARANTEED! Simply call 1-877-564-6468 to learn more and secure collector-grade U.S. Morgan Silver Dollars, the coins that built the Wild West, by the pound. PLUS, receive a BONUS American Collectors Pack, valued at $25, FREE with every order. Call now, before our limited supply is gone, gone, gone!

FREE SHIPPING! Limited time only. Standard domestic shipping only.

Not valid on previous purchases.

SPECIAL CALL-IN ONLY OFFER

Call 877-564-6468 Offer Code PKA156-01 GovMint.com • 1300 Corporate Center Curve, Dept PKA156-01, Eagan, MN 55121 Dates will vary. GovMint.com® is a retail distributor of coin and currency issues and is not affiliated with the U.S. government. The collectible coin market is unregulated, highly speculative and involves risk. GovMint.com reserves the right to decline to consummate any sale, within its discretion, including due to pricing errors. Prices, facts, figures and populations deemed accurate as of the date of publication but may change significantly over time. All purchases are expressly conditioned upon your acceptance of GovMint.com’s Terms and Conditions (www.govmint.com/ terms-conditions or call 1-800-721-0320); to decline, return your purchase pursuant to GovMint. com’s Return Policy. © 2022 GovMint.com. All rights reserved.

Actual size is 38.1 mm

r Dollars 90% Silve ound! by the P

BONUS

American Collectors Pack $25 Value–FREE with every order

AUGUST 2022 • OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING

A+

27

Small-town genius

Ohio inventor was responsible for the car starter and nearly 200 other patents as well as a world-renowned cancer hospital.

BY W.H. “CHIP” GROSS

W

hen automobiles were first being developed more than a century ago, they were as dangerous to start as they were to drive. You didn’t just turn a key in the ignition or press a button on the dashboard as we do today. Rather, early car and truck engines were started by turning a hand crank that, at times, could suddenly and violently reverse direction and “kick back,” resulting in a person suffering a broken arm — or worse.

When one man was actually killed in such an accident, Henry M. Leland, the head of Cadillac, was determined to put an electric self-starting device on his cars. When his engineers failed to come up with a self-starter small enough to be practical, Leland turned to Charles F. Kettering. Kettering and his new company, Delco, accomplished the task quickly and efficiently, and electric self-starters first appeared on Cadillacs in 1912.

Born in Loudonville, Ohio, in 1876, Charles Kettering

was the fourth of five children in his family. Poor eyesight caused him headaches in grade school, but he persevered to attend the College of Wooster before transferring to Ohio State University in Columbus.

However, continuing eye problems eventually forced him to withdraw, and he took a job at the Star Telephone Company in Loudonville as foreman of a line crew.

28

OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING • AUGUST 2022

“People won’t ever remember how many failures you’ve had, but they will remember how well it worked the last time you tried it.”

Depressed at not being able to complete his education, Kettering applied his innate, unique thinking to his job. As a result, his spirits gradually revived. No doubt helping him recover mentally during those early years was meeting his future wife, Olive Williams of Ashland, Ohio. Eventually his eye condition improved enough that Kettering was able to return to college, graduating in 1904 from OSU with a degree in electrical engineering.

Kettering was hired out of college by National Cash Register (NCR) in Dayton to work in its research lab, where he distinguished himself as a practical inventor, securing 23 patents for the company in just five years.

“I didn’t hang around much with the other inventors and the executive fellows,” he is famously quoted as saying. “I lived with the sales gang. They had some real notion of what people wanted.”

Scenes from the Kettering chronology (counterclockwise from top left): As a foreman of a telephone line crew in the midst of his college years; working on his revolutionary electric car starter; and making a speech in 1944 during one of his many return trips to Loudonville — the photo on the opposite page shows how Kettering was warmly greeted when he visited.

A colleague at NCR, Edward Deeds, eventually persuaded Kettering to partner with him and turn his talents toward the growing automotive industry. He and Deeds recruited other NCR engineers to join them nights and weekends tinkering in Deeds’ barn. The group became known as the “Barn Gang,” eventually incorporating as the Dayton Engineering Laboratories Company — better known as Delco — with Charles Kettering as its head. In 1916, Delco was sold to United Motors for $2.5 million — equivalent to about $60 million in today’s dollars — making Kettering and the other Delco founders a tremendous amount of money for the time.

From that point forward, Kettering’s professional

career skyrocketed. He eventually acquired 186 patents, was the head of research at General Motors for 27 years, and was even featured on the cover of Time magazine on Jan. 9, 1933. One of Kettering’s co-workers at GM described him as “one of the gods of the automotive field, particularly from an inventive standpoint.”

Describing his perseverance, can-do attitude, and knack for invention, Kettering is quoted as saying, “People won’t ever remember how many failures you’ve had, but they will remember how well it worked the last time you tried it.”

Yet for all his wealth and national fame, Charles Kettering never forgot his small-town roots, returning to Loudonville occasionally to visit family and friends.

In August 1946, on his 70th birthday, the town threw an elaborate celebration for Kettering, and he brought along with him a fellow inventor who happened to also live and work in Dayton: Orville Wright. Yes, that Orville Wright, half of the famous Wright brothers team who had invented and flown the world’s first airplane in 1903.

Various schools and colleges are named for Kettering, as is the Dayton, Ohio, suburb. His many philanthropic works include financing the building of Kettering Hospital in Loudonville in 1957. Today, he is remembered through the eight Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center locations in New York City. In southwest Ohio, the Kettering Health Network includes nine hospitals and medical-center campuses.

Charles F. Kettering died in 1958 at the age of 82.

Yet after all the ensuing years, at least two Kettering scholarships are still presented annually to graduating Loudonville High School students. One scholarship is awarded in the field of agriculture; the other, not surprisingly, for science and technology.

AUGUST 2022 • OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING

29

CALL FOR ENTRIES

COOPERATIVE CALENDAR

Photo Contest

Ohio Cooperative Living magazine is seeking photography submissions from our electric cooperative members. Submissions may fall within the following categories: best wildlife, best landscape, best floral, and best overall photo. Winning submissions will receive a cash prize and be published in the 2023 edition of the cooperative calendar. For more information, visit OhioCoopLiving.com/calendar.

Requirements • • • • • • •

One photo entry per household.

High-resolution, color, digital images only.

Only JPEG or TIF file formats will be accepted.

Please send submissions by email attachment only to photo@ohioec.org.

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

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

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

Deadline for submission: August 15, 2022 30

OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING • AUGUST 2022

ADVERTISEMENT

The Invention of the Year

The world’s lightest and most portable mobility device Once in a lifetime, a product comes along that truly moves people. Introducing the future of battery-powered personal transportation . . . The Zinger.

Throughout the ages, there have been many important advances in mobility. Canes, walkers, rollators, and scooters were created to help people with mobility issues get around and retain their independence. Lately, however, there haven’t been any new improvements to these existing products or developments in this field. Until now. Recently, an innovative design engineer who’s developed one of the world’s most popular products created a completely new breakthrough . . . a personal electric vehicle. It’s called the Zinger, and there is nothing out there quite like it.

“What my wife especially loves is it gives her back feelings of safety and independence which has given a real boost to her confidence and happiness! Thank You!” –Kent C., California The first thing you’ll notice about the Zinger is its unique look. It doesn’t look like a scooter. Its sleek, lightweight yet durable frame is made with aircraft grade aluminum so it weighs only 47.2 lbs. It features one-touch folding and unfolding – when folded it can be wheeled around like a suitcase and fits easily into a backseat or trunk. Then, there are the steering levers.

They enable the Zinger to move forward, backward,

Now available in a Joystick model

Available in Green, Black and Blue (shown) 10”

turn on a dime and even pull right up to a table or desk. With The Zinger folds to a mere 10 inches. its compact yet powerful motor it can go up to 6 miles an hour and its rechargeable battery can go up to 8 miles on a single charge. With its low center of gravity and inflatable tires it can handle rugged terrain and is virtually tip-proof. Think about it, you can take your Zinger almost anywhere, so you don’t have to let mobility issues rule your life.

Why take our word for it? Call now, and find out how you can get a Zinger of your very own.

(Zoomer Chair)

Call now and receive a utility basket absolutely FREE with your order.

Joystick can be mounted on the right or left side for rider’s comfort

Please mention code

when ordering.

enjoying life never gets old™

The Zinger and Zoomer Chairs are personal electric vehicles and are not medical devices nor wheelchairs. They are not intended for medical purposes to provide mobility to persons restricted to a sitting position. They are not covered by Medicare nor Medicaid. © 2022 Journey Health and Lifestyle

ACCREDITED BUSINESS A+

85246

mobility | sleep | comfort | safety

1-888-693-8420 117350

Besties’ retreat Best friends (above, from left, and shown on opposite page) Katie Helfrich, Kim Fulks, Stephanie Snee, Marella Murphy, Summery Rowlands, and Brittany Buch pose for pictures while embarking on a night out with Canton Food Tours.

Stark County makes a case to host that girlfriends’ outing you know you’ve been hankering for.

STORY AND PHOTOS BY WENDY PRAMIK

L

ike many moms whose children play sports in school, Kim Fulks of North Canton has formed close friendships with other moms just like her.

Their sons play football, and the moms regularly meet at practices, games, and other extracurricular activities that define their roles as parents.

But during one warm, breezy evening in mid-spring, Fulks and five other football moms exchanged their hoodies and sweatpants for dresses and sandals, creating a one-of-a-kind girlfriends’ getaway.

They embarked on a night out with Canton Food Tours, a service that local entrepreneur Barbara Abbott established a decade ago as a fun way to explore the city through its assorted eateries.

32

OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING • AUGUST 2022

And as she lightly dips a spoon into a bowl of turtle soup at Bender’s Tavern, Fulks says she relished the opportunity to kick back without a game result, homeschooling chores, or the uncertainty of the pandemic to worry about.

“Having that chance to take a break and get away from the kiddos and everyday crazy life is a breath of fresh air,” says Fulks, an aesthetician instructor in nearby Uniontown. “We need it. It gives me motivation to keep things going.”

The Canton area caters to moms with an abundance of great food, shopping, and other laid-back ways to get your kicks. Abbott offers food tours with flexible start times to accommodate those with little ones in school — moms can enjoy a day tour and still be on time to pick up their kids or have dinner ready for them after they get off the bus.

“I’ve certainly seen an increase in girls’ outings for our food tours,” Abbott says. “There’s a need in general for people to reconnect, and the tours are a great way to do so.”

The moms chose the “Evening Hall of Fame City Food Tour,” which lasted a few hours and was led by a tour guide. They dined on gourmet hot dogs and selected a card game from thousands of options at Milestone Games.

Then, they popped into Bender’s Tavern for a slow-paced dinner with wine before sampling calzones and meatballs at Johnny Lookout’s Pizza Tavern. They picked up takeout at Basil Asian Bistro and visited an art gallery. Along the way, they learned how Canton earned its reputation as the “Hall of Fame City.”

That was especially fun for one of the moms, Stephanie Snee, of Jackson Township, who organized the night out. Snee teaches kindergarten and said she loves the city’s football history, including the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

“It was such a fun moms’ night out,” she said.

“I’m a type-A planner, but it’s kind of nice to let someone take over.”

The food tour is one of several ideas to set up a girls’ getaway for a day in the Canton area. Turn the page to discover a few others.

Continued on page 34

AUGUST 2022 • OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING

33

Continued from page 33

Have high tea and cute sandwiches

Gal pals seeking an afternoon bite with a dollop of elegance will enjoy the Dragonfly Tea Room in Canal Fulton.

Situated inside one of the area’s oldest homes, the tearoom is the perfect spot for sipping tea and noshing on finger sandwiches and scones smeared with Devonshire cream. High tea, accompanied by petite goodies neatly stacked on tiered trays, is served from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday.

Take a seat inside the darling dining room, decorated with teapots and doilies, or sit outside on the breezy patio. Each customer’s tea arrives in separate teapots, which are delightfully mismatched.

Tiffany Craney opened the tearoom in the city’s historic downtown in 2011, but the business quickly outgrew its space. In 2019, Craney moved it to a spacious lot along the Tuscarawas River that used to be an art gallery and glass studio, tripling its size.

Also on-site is a bed-and-breakfast above the tearoom, a gift shop, and the adjacent Dragonfly Winery, which offers flatbread pizzas to go along with nearly a dozen types of wines. The tearoom and winery are popular spots for wedding showers and baby showers.

Enjoy spirits, music inside a Tuscan-inspired chapel

If a visit to Gervasi Vineyard is on your bucket list, take the girls to the Still House for a taste of the 55-acre, Tuscan-inspired wine resort.

Opened in late 2018, the 10,000-square-foot chapel is modeled after the 17th-century St. Gervasio church in Denno, Italy, where owner Scott Swaldo’s grandmother was baptized. The vaulted ceilings, stained glass windows, and iron chandeliers set the stage for a tour of the cutting-edge distillery where wine-barrel bourbon, rose vodka, and orange gin are made.

The Still House is a coffee shop by day and lounge by night, with extensive selections of spirits, cocktails, draft beers, wines, and live music. It offers more than 120 varieties of bourbon, whiskey, tequila, and other spirits.

“We try to keep it fun and light-hearted in here,” says Maria Terez, a barista and bartender at the Still House.

“You can pop in anytime.”

Terez recommends a Lush Blush, made with Gervasi Spirits Sinner’s Blush Rose Vodka and strawberry purée. Those strong of heart might enjoy the Wrath of the Bean, a showstopper drink made with Gervasi’s Wine Barrel Bourbon, Grand Marnier, Fernet-Branca, and Gervasi’s bold cold-brew coffee and served in a French press with dry ice.

Gal pals gather for tea and treats at Dragonfly Tea Room in Canal Fulton (left), while sisters Elith Rizo and Adela Rizo strike a pose at Gervasi Vineyard (below).

34

OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING • AUGUST 2022

Dori Heck displays a glass of sangria at the Sangria Stand in Massillon (above) while Janet Hoover (left) inspects merchandise there. Spots such as Sangria Stand or the Shops at Hartford Kitchen in Hartford (below) offer lots to do in a single stop.

Sip sangria, rent a ball gown in downtown Massillon

Dori Heck opened the Sangria Stand in downtown Massillon to appease a growing number of moms who’d developed a taste for the delicious, homemade wine-and-fruit drinks she served from her front porch.

“They’d yell out their minivans, ‘You got that sangria today?’” says Heck, seated outside her bar and boutique. “Yeah, come on up.”

At the time, Heck, originally from Redondo Beach, California, was selling vintage clothing on Etsy. She collected high-end gowns during her travels, and women would inspect the clothing while drinking sangrias.

“I’d come home from work, and there’d be 10 women drinking on our porch,” says her husband, Matt. “Our daughter described it as a lemonade stand with sangria.”

So, in 2014, Heck decided to meld the two hobbies into one business. She secured a liquor license and opened the Sangria Stand. Now, women come to hang out, shop, and sip the cool, fruitinfused wine while checking out gowns for sale and rent.

Shop your heart out in Hartville

Whether it’s a bedazzled jean jacket or the new Star Wars-patterned Vera Bradley backpack, you’ll find all the latest trends at the Shops at Hartville Kitchen in Hartville.

The 25,000-square-foot retail space is part of an even bigger shopping hub that’s home to a gigantic hardware store, flea market, and the Hartville Kitchen, where you can order meatloaf with mashed potatoes with a slice of Dutch apple pie and even see a live dinner show.

The center holds periodic ladies’ nights, which include dinner and a presentation of some of the hottest items for sale at the shops.

AUGUST 2022 • OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING

35

MARKETPLACE

America’s Original

Field & Brush Mower

M e t al Roofi ng & Pol e B arns

• MOW FIELD GRASS up to 8' high • CUT BRUSH up to 3" thick • Mow field • grass Engines up up to to 22 HP 8' high • Decks up to 34" wide

4799 Salem Ave. Dayton , Oh io

•• Cut brush Power steering up to 3" thick

USA

• Engines up to 22 HP

ENGINEERED AND BUILT

• Decks up Assembled in the USA domestic and tousing 34" wide

(937) 503-2457

foreign parts.

ManseaMetal. com

PLUS ALL-NEW Commercial Grade XD Series with hydrostatic drive!

DRfieldbrush.com !

LE

SA

FREE SHIPPING

SOME LIMITATIONS APPLY

West Virginia

FREE Catalog!

Call Toll-Free 888-212-8569

Reach 300,000 of your best customers OHIO

Experience

HIDDEN GEMS OF AMERICAN HISTORY

AUGUST 2022

COOPERATIVE

Learn more at GreaterParkersburg.com

Official publication of your electric cooperative | www.ohioec.org

Salad days

Our top readers’ recipes

ALSO INSIDE Powering communities Starstruck in Hocking Hills Geocaching fun

BARNS WANTED FOR RECLAIM We pay up front.

Completely insured A+ rating with the BBB.

Ohio Cooperative Living has been a valued presence in rural Ohio homes and businesses for the past 60 years. 83.4% of our readers have taken action from something they have seen in Ohio Cooperative Living.

36

OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING • AUGUST 2022

Call/Text 567-232-2500 www.allohiobarn.com

Pond Chemicals / Management Certified Aquatic Applicators Custom / Pond Aeration Water Features / Fountains De-Icing www.diversifiedpondsupplies.com

419-738-0167

sales@diversifiedpondsupplies.com 15069 Blank Pike Rd. Wapakoneta, OH 45895

2022

COMPILED BY COLLEEN ROMICK CLARK

AUGUST/SEPTEMBER

CALENDAR

AUG. 19–21 – Fairfield County Antique Tractor and Truck Show, Fairfield Co. Fgds., 157 E. Fair Ave., Lancaster. Free. Toy show, hit-miss engines, steam engines, field demos, kiddie tractor pull, garden and tractor pull, children’s activities, craft show. Pancake breakfast on Saturday. Contact Doug Shaw at 740-4072347 or Glen Bader at 740-304-4170 (camping).

AUG. 28 – Lancaster Community Band Concert, Rising Park, 1120 N. High St., Lancaster, 4 p.m. Free. Please bring a blanket or lawn chair. 740-756-4430.

SEP. 2–5 – Obetz Zucchini Festival, Fortress Obetz, 2050 Recreation Trail, Obetz, Fri. 5–11 p.m., Sat./Sun 11 THROUGH AUG. 14 – CAPA Summer Movie Series, a.m.–11 p.m., Mon. 12–6 p.m. Free. National and local Ohio Theatre, 55 E. State St., Columbus, Wed.–Sun. 7:30 entertainment on two stages, rides, games, car show, p.m., Sun. matinee 2 p.m. $6. America’s longest-running merchants, food, and all things zucchini! 614-491-1080 or classic film series. 614-469-0939 or www.capa.com. www.obetzzucchinifest.com.

THROUGH SEP. 24 – Sunbury Farmers Market, 9 E. SEP. 3–5 – Canal Winchester Labor Day Festival, Granville St., Sunbury Square, Sunbury, Sat. 9 a.m.–noon. downtown Canal Winchester, Sat./Sun. noon–11 p.m., Mon. 740-513-9192. noon–6 p.m. Free. Musical performances on two stages, parade, car cruise-in, food vendors, farmers market, kids’ THROUGH OCT. 29 – Coshocton Farmers Market, rides, ice cream social, Columbus Zoo animals, and more.

300 block of Main Street, Coshocton, Sat. 8:30 a.m.–12 p.m. Fresh local-grown produce; artisans with handmade 614-837-7493, or www.cwlaborday.org. crafts. www.facebook.com/coshoctonfarmersmarket.

SEP. 3–5 – West Jefferson Ox Roast, Garrette Park, 3 Fellows Ave., West Jefferson. Entertainment, food, rides, THROUGH OCT. 29 – Delaware Farmers Market, 20 arts and crafts, kiddie pedal pull, contests, car show, Winter St., Delaware, Sat. 9–12 p.m. 740-362-6050 or bicycle tour, and more. Grand parade Sat. noon; on www.mainstreetdelaware.com/event/farmers-market.

Monday, our famous “Ox Roast” sandwiches! 614-879THROUGH OCT. 29 – Zanesville Farmers Market, 9287 (Jeff Pfeil) or www.westjeffoxroast.org.

Adornetto’s, 2224 Maple Ave., Zanesville, Sat. 9 a.m.– noon. Starting in June through August, the market is also SEP. 8–10 – Marion Popcorn Festival, downtown Marion, 11 a.m.–midnight. Free. Parade Thur. 6 p.m. open Wed. 4–7 p.m. www.zanesvillefarmersmarket.org.

Rides, games, arts and crafts, free entertainment, corn THROUGH OCT. 30 – Rock Mill Days, Stebelton Park at toss tournament, food, and, of course, popcorn for all!

Rock Mill, 1429 Rockmill Place NW, Lancaster, Wed./Sat. 10 740-387-FEST (3378) or www.popcornfestival.com. a.m.–2 p.m., Sun. 1–4 p.m. Free. Tour the restored 1824 gristmill, walk on the iconic Rock Mill Covered Bridge, and SEP. 9–10 – Lithopolis Honeyfest, 5 E. Columbus St., Lithopolis, Fri. 3–7 p.m., Sat. 10 a.m.–7 p.m. enjoy Hocking River Falls. Weather permitting. 740-681Honey tasting, honey extraction, honey bake-off, bee 7249 or www.fairfieldcountyparks.org. beards and beekeepers, honey bee education, mead AUG. 9, SEP. 13 – Inventors Network Meeting, competition, free kids’ crafts, and more. 614-769-3824 or virtual, 7 p.m. Educational presentations and discussion www.lithopolishoneyfest.com. about the invention process. 614-470-0144 or www.

SEP. 9–11 – Columbus Dispatch Home and Garden inventorscolumbus.com.

Fall Show, Ohio Expo Ctr., Bricker Bldg., 717 E. 17th Ave., AUG. 14–20 – Muskingum County Fair, Muskingum Columbus. Find ideas and inspiration to make your home Co. Fgds., 1300 Pershing Rd., Zanesville. Information and and backyard more functional and beautiful. Connect schedule available at www.muskingumcofair.com.

CENTRAL

WEST VIRGINIA

AUG. 19–20 – Parkersburg Homecoming Festival, Second St., Parkersburg. Free. Parade, pageants, live music, rides, vendors, food, Rubber Ducky Derby, and more. www.parkersburghomecoming.org.

AUG. 20 – “Reflections of the Putnam Daughters During an Afternoon Tea,” Blennerhassett Museum, 137 Juliana St., Parkersburg, 12:45–1:45 p.m. $5. Learn

in-person with local experts in remodeling, kitchen, bath, décor, and outdoor living. More than 170 companies represented. www.dispatchshows.com/home-andgarden-show.

SEP. 9–11 – Mantua Potato Festival, Buchert Memorial Park, Mantua, Fri. 6–11 p.m., Sat. noon–11 p.m., Sun. 1–6 p.m. Free; $5 parking. Live music, carnival rides, games, kids’ activities, contests, parade Sun. 1 p.m., beer tent, spud favorites including pierogies, potato pancakes, and fresh-cut french fries. 330-352-6099 or www. mantuapotatofestival.org.

SEP. 9–11 – Columbus Oktoberfest, Ohio Expo Ctr., 717 E. 17th Ave., Columbus, Fri. 5–12 p.m., Sat. noon– midnight, Sun. noon–8 p.m. Free; parking fee. Food, fun, arts and crafts, kids’ activities, entertainment, beer, polka, and more. www.columbusoktoberfest.com.

SEP. 10 – David Church in Concert, Logan High School, 14470 OH-328, Logan, 6–9 p.m. Reserved tickets $25–$30, general admission $20. 740-974-9885 or www.davidchurch.net.

SEP. 11 – Columbus Paper, Postcard, and Book Show, Ohio Expo Ctr., 717 E. 17th Ave., Columbus, 9 a.m.–4 p.m. $6. Old paper items, postcards, books, photographs, sports and non-sports cards, ads, and much more, along with supplies to store and protect your collections.

614-206-9103 or www.facebook.com/Columbus-PaperShow-134469001768.

SEP. 11 – Central Ohio Symphony: “Mainly Mozart Moments,” Marion Palace Theatre, 276 W. Center St., Marion, 2:30 p.m. Adults $20, students $10. 740-383-2101 or www.marionpalace.org.

SEP. 14 – United Way Kick-Off and Community Care Day, Ed Sands Bldg., Fairfield Co. Fgds., 157 E. Fair Ave., Lancaster, 7:45 a.m. Volunteers will meet at the fairgrounds and then head out to participate in hands-on projects throughout Fairfield County. www. uwayfairfieldco.org/kickoffcare-day.

SEP. 15 – Clint Black in Concert, Knox Memorial Theater, 112 E. High St., Mount Vernon, 8 p.m., doors open at 7 p.m. $58–$125. The country music legend and multiple Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter will perform his iconic hits. 740-462-4278 or www.mvac.org/ events.

historical tidbits about the Putnam and Blennerhassett families along with proper afternoon tea etiquette of the 1800s. www.greaterparkersburg.com/events.

SEP. 3–5 – West Virginia Sunflower Festival, Sunset Berry Farms, 791 Sunset School Rd., Alderson.

Sunflowers, farms, food, and fun. 304-646-3784 or https://tinyurl.com/2s3t4tb5.

Make sure you’re included in our calendar!

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

AUGUST 2022 • OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING

37

2022

AUGUST/SEPTEMBER

CALENDAR

NORTHEAST

SEP. 2 – First Fridays on Fourth, 155 N. 4th St., Steubenville, 6–10 p.m. Free. Monthly themed celebration featuring art, crafts, games, food trucks, live entertainment, and activities to stimulate the imagination. www.theharmoniumproject.org/first-fridays.

SEP. 2–5 – “Light Up KI,” locations throughout Kelleys Island. Homes, businesses, and boats docked at our marinas will be decked out with lights and decorations during Labor Day weekend as a show of pride for our community. Prizes given in separate categories; judging on Saturday night. Come explore the island at night! www.kelleysislandchamber.com.

AUG. 18–21 – Lexington Blueberry Festival, Community Park, Plymouth Street, Lexington, Thur./Fri. SEP. 3 – Tom O’Grady: “An Astronomical Expedition 4–10:30 p.m., Sat. 12–11 p.m., Sun. 11 a.m.–10:30 p.m.

by Canal and Stagecoach,” Historic Zoar Village, School Blueberry games, car and bike show, big wheel race, live House, Zoar, 11 a.m.–noon. Free. 800-262-6195 or music, parades, pageants, food, and more. www.historiczoarvillage.com. www.lexblueberryfest.com.

SEP. 3–4 – Annual Art Festival, 3rd and Market Sts., AUG. 19 – Hot Potatoes: “Blues and Swing with a Big Toronto. Free. Diverse selection of handmade arts and Easy Touch,” John Streeter Garden Amphitheater, 2122 crafts, continuous live entertainment, and a large variety Williams Rd., Wooster, 6:30–8:30 p.m. Free. In the event of delicious food. http://focusintoronto.com/festival. of rain, the concert will be held at Fisher Auditorium, 1680 SEP. 4 – Creston Labor Day Car Show, Creston Madison Ave., Wooster. 419-853-6016 or www.ormaco.org. Community Park, 175 N. Main St., Creston, registration AUG. 20 – Mark Cory: “Colonel Crawford,” Fort 8–11 a.m. ($10–$15), car show noon–3 p.m. Free for Laurens Museum, 11067 Fort Laurens Rd., Bolivar, 11 spectators. Prizes, concessions, music, entertainment. a.m.–noon. Free. www.fortlaurensmuseum.org.

330-435-6021 or www.crestonvillage.org/car-show.

AUG. 21–28 – Lorain County Fair, 23000 Fairgrounds SEP. 4–18 – “Celebrate the Constitution,” Historic Fort Rd., Wellington. Ohio’s second-largest county fair.

Steuben, 120 S. 3rd St., Steubenville, Mon.–Sat 10 a.m.–4 440-647-2781 or www.loraincountyfair.com. p.m., Sun. 11 a.m.–4 p.m. Annual exhibit and activities focusing on the nation’s founding document and the AUG. 27–28, SEP. 3–5 – Great Trail Arts and Crafts issues and personalities of the time. 740-283-1787 or Festival, Great Trail Festival Grounds, 6331 Canton www.oldfortsteuben.com.

Rd., Malvern, 10 a.m.–5 p.m. $5–$7, under 10 free. A celebration of American folk art, with distinctive arts and SEP. 9–11 – Mantua Potato Festival, Buchert Memorial crafts, living history, period music and dancing, and much Park, Mantua, Fri. 6–11 p.m., Sat. noon–11 p.m., Sun. 1–6 more. 330-794-9100 or www.greattrailfestival.com. p.m. $5; parking fee. Live music, rides, potato-themed

419-562-2728 or www.bucyrusbratwurstfestival.com.

AUG. 18–20 – National Tractor Pulling Championships, 13800 W. Poe Rd., Bowling Green. $21–$46; kids 10 and under free. Camping package available. 419-354-1434 or www.pulltown.com.

AUG. 19–21 – Bremenfest, Crown Pavilion, 2 W. Plum St., New Bremen. Food, games, 5K and 1-mile Fun Run, car and motorcycle show, live music, parade, pageant, and much more. http://bremenfest.com.

AUG. 20–21, SEP. 10–11 – The Fantastic Tiffin Flea Market, Seneca 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 accessible. 250 to 400 dealers per THROUGH OCT. 15 – Great Sidney Farmers Market, show. 419-447- 9613 or www.tiffinfleamarket.com.

109 S. Ohio Ave., Sat. 8 a.m.–noon. 937-658-6945 or www.sidneyalive.org.

AUG. 27 – Fort Meigs After Dark Lantern Tour, Fort Meigs, 29100 W. River Rd., Perrysburg, 8 p.m. $10–$15.

AUG. 13–14 – “Sixty Years’ War for Ohio: Registration and pre-payment required. 419-874-4121 or American Revolution,” Fort Meigs, 29100 W. River www.fortmeigs.org.

Rd., Perrysburg. $7–$12; ages 5 and under free.

Living history encampment and battle reenactment AUG. 30–SEP. 5 – Van Wert County Fair, Van Wert Co. commemorating the long fight for the Ohio Country. 419- Fgds., 1055 S. Washington St., Van Wert. 419-238-9270 or 874-4121 or www.fortmeigs.org. www.vanwertcountyfair.com.

AUG. 17–20 – Pemberville Free Fair, 405 E. Front SEP. 6–11 – Alumapalooza, 420 W. Pike St., Jackson St., Pemberville, One of the last free fairs in Ohio! Two Center. Family-friendly festival for people who love parades, rides, food, bingo, and more. 419-601-1970 Airstream travel trailers; open to owners and non-owners (Randy Jennings), 419-287-4848 (Carol Bailey), alike. Informative seminars, fun presentations, trailer www.pembervillefair.org. open houses, cooking demos, and factory tours.

813-200-8877 or http://alumapalooza.com.

AUG. 18–20 – Bucyrus Bratwurst Festival, downtown Bucyrus. Grilled brats and many other festival foods, SEP. 2–5 – S.C.R.A.P. Antique Tractor Show, White parades, pageants, arts and crafts, contests.

Star Park, 960 Twp. Rd. 60, Gibsonburg. $5/day.

NORTHWEST

38

OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING • AUGUST 2022

contests and games, parade Sun. 1 p.m., beer tent, and spud favorites such as perogies, potato pancakes, and fresh-cut french fries.

330-352-6099 or www.mantuapotatofestival.org.

SEP. 10 – Treasure Island Day, throughout Kelleys Island, 9 a.m.–5 p.m. Treasure seekers can find unique items at great prices. Maps available at the Island Market, Unc’l Dik’s, and Kelleys Island Chamber Office. www.kelleysislandchamber.com.

SEP. 10–11 – Appalachian Ohio Antique Power Club Fall Gathering, Harrison Coal & Reclamation Historical Park, 43672 Stumptown Rd., New Athens, Sat. 11 a.m.–6 p.m., Sun. 9 a.m.–4 p.m. $5. 330-401-5129 or www.facebook.com/appalachianohioantiquepowershow.

SEP. 10–11 – Old Construction and Mining Equipment Fall Show, Harrison Coal & Reclamation Historical Park, 43672 Stumptown Rd., New Athens, Sat. 10 a.m.–6 p.m., Sun. 9 a.m.–4 p.m. $5. Operating and static displays of antique construction and mining equipment, crawlers, trucks, models, and more. oldironshow@yahoo.com or www.facebook.com/ocmes.

SEP. 10–15 – Wayne County Fair, Wayne Co. Fgds., 199 Vancouver St., Wooster. 330-262-8001 or www.waynecountyfairohio.com.

SEP. 11 – Strauss Duo: “Sounds of Seasons,” HeARTland, 8187 Camp Rd., Homerville, 2 p.m. Free.

Violist Michael Issac Strauss and cellist Cathleen Parlow Strauss will perform solo and duo works. In the event of rain, the concert will be held at Homerville U.M. Church, 8964 Spencer Rd., Homerville.

419-853-6016 or www.ormaco.org.

Featuring CO-OP tractors and equipment with Ohio-built engines. Antique cars/trucks, tractor pulls, primitive demonstrations, flea market, auction, food, and much more! 419-307-4265 or www.S-C-R-A-P-inc.org.

SEP. 2–5 – West Liberty Labor Day Festival, West Liberty Lions Park, St. Rte. 245, east edge of West Liberty.

Country Legends concert on Saturday (www.countrylegendscs.com) and CAIN in concert on Sunday (free), antique farm equipment and parade, flea market, crafts, classic car cruise-in, food vendors, and kids’ activities. www.westlibertylions.org.

SEP. 2–8 – Fulton County Fair, Fulton Co. Fgds., 8514 St. Rte. 108, Wauseon. $5, under 16 free. www.fultoncountyfair.com.

SEP. 10 – Lima Area Concert Band: “American Road Trip,” Veterans Memorial Civic Ctr., 7 Town Square, Lima, 7:30 p.m. Featuring tuba player Jason Roland Smith. Purchase tickets at https://limaareaconcertband.org/2022-season.

SEP. 10–11 – Toledo Lighthouse Waterfront Festival, Maumee Bay State Park, 1750 State Park Rd. #2, Oregon.

Live music, arts and crafts including nautical items, lighthouse stories, kids’ activities, food, and silent auction.

Boat rides to lighthouse, weather permitting ($35). 419691-3788 or www.toledolighthousefestival.com.

SEP. 14–17 – Apple Week, Sauder Village, 22611 St. Rte. 2, Archbold, 10 a.m.–5 p.m. Visit our 140-year-old cider mill; enjoy apple treats from the bakery. Special applethemed recipes and activities.

800-590-9755 or www.saudervillage.org.

SOUTHEAST

THROUGH SEP. 4 – Tecumseh!, 5968 Marietta Rd., Chillicothe, Mon.–Sat. 8 p.m. $25–$45. Experience the epic, action-packed production showcasing the life story of the Shawnee leader. www.tecumsehdrama.com.

THROUGH SEP. 28 – Courtside Open Air Market, 801 Wheeling Ave.., Cambridge, Fri. 8 a.m.–noon. Local plants, produce and flowers, handmade goods, and homemade baked goods. 740-680-1866 or find us on Facebook.

THROUGH DECEMBER – Athens Farmers Market, 1000 E. State St., Athens, Sat. 9 a.m.–noon; Wed. 9 a.m.–1 p.m., April–November. 740-593-6763 or www.athensfarmersmarket.org.

THROUGH DECEMBER – Athens Art Market, 1000 E. State St., Athens, Sat. 9 a.m.–noon. Handcrafted local artisan-made works. Variety of artists changes weekly. www.facebook.com/athensartguild or https://athensartguild.org.

SOUTHWEST

THROUGH AUG. 25 – Uptown Music Concert Series, Uptown Park, Oxford, every Thursday at 7 p.m. Free.

513-523-8687 or www.enjoyoxford.org.

THROUGH SEP. 28 – Bluegrass Wednesdays, Vinoklet Winery, 11069 Colerain Ave., Cincinnati, every Wed. 6:30–8:30 p.m. Enjoy dinner, wine, and an evening of free bluegrass entertainment by Vernon McIntyre’s Appalachian Grass. Reservations strongly recommended. 5133-385-9309, vinokletwinery@fuse.net, or www.vinokletwines.com.

THROUGH SEP. 29 – Summer Concert Series, The Square, Liberty Center, Thur. 6–9 p.m. (weather permitting). A different live band each week. www. liberty-center.com/events/summer-concert-series-2.

AUG. 12–18 – Miami County Fair, Miami Co. Fgds., 650 N. County Rd. 25A, Troy. $6 day pass; under 9 free.

937-335-7492 or www.miamicountyohiofair.com.

AUG. 13–14 – Biplane Ride Weekend, WACO Historical Society, 1865 S. Co. Rd. 25A, Troy. Experience the thrill of a lifetime with a ride in an open-cockpit biplane! $200

AUG. 15–20 – Meigs County Fair, Meigs Co. Fgds., 41850 Fairgrounds Lane, Pomeroy. $8. 740-992-6954 or www.themeigscountyfair.com.

AUG. 17–20 – Nelsonville Parade of the Hills, Public Square, Nelsonville. Free entertainment, pie contest and auction, regional art, parades, concessions, midway, and carnival. Old-time fiddlers’ contest on Friday.

740-753-4346 or www.paradeofthehills.org.

AUG. 20 – Cambridge Classic Cruise-In, downtown Cambridge, 9 a.m.–4 p.m. From hot rods to Harleys, there is something for everyone! 740-439-2238 or www.downtowncambridge.com.

AUG. 21 – Barton Polkafest, Firemen’s Field, 52176 Barton-Blaine Rd., St. Clairsville, noon–8 p.m., music, dancing, Polish food and more. 740-695-3029.

AUG. 27 – “Sand in the Streets” Volleyball Tournament and Beachfest, downtown Chillicothe, 8 a.m.–10 p.m. $5. The second-annual event returns to downtown with 300 tons of sand on the streets.

Enjoy dancing in the sand after the tournament as Funky Brewster plays some of your favorite tunes. www.downtownchillicothe.com.

SEP. 3–6 – Washington County Fair, 922 Front St., Marietta. $10. 740-373-1347 or www.washcountyfair.com.

SEP. 2–4 – Portsmouth River Days Festival, Court Street Landing, Ohio Riverfront, Portsmouth. Longest continuous-running festival in Ohio. Live music, children’s activities, boat races, and great food. www.friendsofportsmouth.com.

for a 10- to 12-minute ride. 30-minute ride ($350) can be scheduled at your convenience.

937-335 9226 or www.wacoairmuseum.org.

AUG. 19–27 – The Great Darke County Fair, Darke Co. Fgds., 800 Sweltzer St., Greenville. $7, under 12 free. $7; $25 for 9-day pass.

937-548-5044 or www.darkecountyfair.com.

AUG. 20 – Annual Farm Toy Show, Highland Co. Fgds., 9447 Smart Rd., Hillsboro, 9 a.m.–3 p.m. $3. 937-3933215, 937-393-3752, or www.facebook.com/SWOFTCC. AUG. 26 – Bluegrass Night, Fibonacci Brewing Company, 1445 Compton Rd., Cincinnati, 7–9 p.m. Free.

Enjoy an evening of lively bluegrass music by Vernon McIntyre’s Appalachian Grass. Wide variety of craft beers and food truck eats available.

513-832-1422 or http://fibbrew.com.

AUG. 27 – Tipp City Trans Am Cruise In, 6 S. 3rd St., Tipp City, 5–9 p.m. Free. Registration 5–7 p.m. ($10); awards and door prizes at 8:30 p.m. Dash plaques to first 250 entries. Open only to Firebirds, Formulas, Firehawks, Trans Ams, and GTAs. 50/50 drawing, door prizes, food, entertainment, walking tour, live DJ. www.homegrowngreat.com/event.

AUG. 27 – Tour De Donut Ohio, downtown Troy. A unique bicycle event, where your ability to eat donuts is just as important as your ability to ride your bicycle fast!

Kick off the weekend on Aug. 26 with the Donut Jam in downtown Troy, 5–10:30 p.m., for an evening of music, drinks, and fun. www.thetourdedonut.com.

SEP. 2 – First Friday Concert Series: Miami Valley Klezmer Ensemble, First United Methodist Church, 120 S. Broad St., Middletown, noon–1 p.m. Free;

SEP. 3 – Caterpillar Round-Up, Highlands Nature Sanctuary, 7660 Cave Rd., Bainbridge, 1–4 p.m. Free.

937-365-1935 or www.arcofappalachia.org.

SEP. 3, 5 – “Laboring Downtown — Historical Industries in Chillicothe,” Sat. 2–4 p.m., Mon. 10 a.m.– noon. $5–$15. Walking tour of downtown Chillicothe to explore the history of the working-class employers in and near the business district — many of whose buildings still stand. 740-775-4036, ihs@horizonview.net, or https://visitchillicotheohio.com/event.

SEP. 5–11 – Belmont County Fair, Belmont Co. Fgds., 45420 Roscoe Rd., St. Clairsville. $10. www.belmontcountyfair.org.

SEP. 9–11 – Murder Mystery Dinner, Adena Mansion and Gardens, 847 Adena Rd., Chillicothe, 6 p.m. $50–$55. Hone your skills as a rookie crime-solver in an entertaining atmosphere filled with great food and mystery. www.adenamansion.com.

SEP. 9–11 – Ohio River Sternwheel Festival, Front and Greene Sts., Marietta. Sternwheeler races, pageants, car show, live music, food, fireworks, 5K, and more.

800-288-2577 or https://sternwheel.org.

SEP. 11 – Barton VFD Polka Dance, Firemen’s Field, 52176 Barton-Blaine Rd., St. Clairsville, 2–6 p.m., food, raffles, and more. 740-695-3029.

SEP. 12–18 – Guernsey County Fair, Guernsey Co. Fgds., Old Washington. 740-489-5888 or www.guernseycountyfairgrounds.org.

handicapped accessible. Bring your lunch if you like.

Unique mix of Eastern European klezmer melodies blended with percussion and Afro-Cuban dance beats.

513-423-4629 or www.myfumc.net.

SEP. 3–5 – Fort Rowdy Gathering, Covington Community Park, 140 W. Broadway St., Covington, Sat. 10 a.m.–8 p.m., Sun. 10 a.m.–7:30 p.m., Mon. 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Free. Experience what life was like in a small, bustling trading village in the late 1700s and early 1800s.

Homemade food, arts and crafts, demonstrations, contests, and other entertainment.

937-473-5439 or www.fortrowdy.org.

SEP. 9–11 – Clinton County Corn Festival, Clinton Co. Fgds., 958 W. Main St., Wilmington (enter from gate on 268 S. Nelson Rd.). Featuring Oliver and related companies. Corn Olympics, antique tractor pulls, horse pulls, antique cars and trucks, hit and miss engines, steam engines, demos, homemade food, and much more. 937-383-5676 or www.cornfestivalonline.com.

SEP. 10 – Troy Porchfest, downtown Troy, 10:30 a.m.–7 p.m. Over 40 bands in a hodgepodge of styles and genres will be playing throughout the Southwest Historic District on porches, patios, yards, and lots. Pick up a walkable map of the event and choose your favorite bands. There will be food trucks and artisan tents. www.troyhayner.org.

SEP. 15–18 – Old Timers Days Festival, 123 N. Main St., Peebles. Free. Parades, pageants, contests, raffles, kiddie tractor pull, giant RC racers, power wheels derby, live music, and much more. Car, truck, and motorcycle show Sunday starting at 9:30 a.m.; $15 registration. 937587-3749 or https://oldtimersdaysfestival.yolasite.com.

AUGUST 2022 • OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING

39

MEMBER INTERACTIVE

MEMBER INTERACTIVE

My daughter-in-law, Hilary, reflecting on the beautiful sunflowers. Julie Finnegan, North Central Electric Cooperative member

My daughter, Avery, and me at the Coshocton Sunflower Festival.

Jenna Regula, Frontier Power Company member

Enjoying a beautiful sunny day in the sunflower fields. Lorrie and Doug Wilber,

Lorain-Medina Rural Electric Cooperative members

Sunflowers Sunflowers grown in our “Boaty McBoatface” garden bed. Megan Gibson, Consolidated Cooperative member

Talon, enjoying our sunflower field.

Kristin Holbrook, North Western Electric Cooperative member

Our twin granddaughters, Emery and Laine, in the back of our daughter’s 1970 Ford 100 pickup truck. Rob and Janet Fulton,

Logan County Electric Cooperative members

Our grandson, Emmitt, in the sunflower field his grandpa, Dave, planted last summer. Kelly Freund, Paulding Putnam

Electric Cooperative member

Send us your picture!

For November, send “Salute!” by Aug. 15; for December, send “Candy Canes” by Sept. 15.

Upload your photos at www.ohiocoopliving.com/memberinteractive.

Your photo may be featured in our magazine or on our website.

40

OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING • AUGUST 2022

RECHARGE YOUR BATTERIES!

With rechargeable smart technology, you can power through chores while spending time doing activities that energize you.

Whatever way you prefer to recharge, electric cooperatives will be here to power your life, today and in the future.

ohioec.org/energy

Specializing In Post Frame Buildings Call Toll Free (855) MQS-3334

• Free Estimates

www.mqsstructures.com

40’x60’x12’ • Garage/Hobby Shop

Delivery Fees May Apply

STRUCTURES, LLC Installed

30’x40’x10’ • Garage/Hobby Shop

•2-10x10 Garage Doors

•2-9x8 Garage Doors

•1-3’ Entry Door

•1-3’ Entry Door

•Sof�it/Wainscot Optional

30’x60’x12’ • Storage Building

Installed

•Sof�it Optional

24’x32’x10’ • Garage/Hobby Shop

•1-60’ Sidewall Open •5-12’ Bays •3’ Overhang On Front

30’x36’x10’ Horse Barn with 8’ Lean-to

Installed •10’ Split Slider w/Windows •1-3’ Entry Door •3-4’x7’ Dutch Doors •Sof�it Optional

Installed

Installed •2-9x8 Garage Doors •1-3’ Entry Door •Sof�it Optional

30’x48’x16’ • Drive Thru RV Storage

Installed •2-12x14 Garage Doors •1-3’ Entry Door •Sof�it/Wainscot Optional