Ohio Cooperative Living - January - Paulding Putnam

JANUARY 2022

COOPERATIVE Paulding Putnam Electric Cooperative

Saying goodbye Celebrating 26 years of service ALSO INSIDE Key to reliability Do-gooders Sledding

Building the next generation of

LEADERS

We’re building the next generation of leaders by supporting their education through programs like college scholarships, the Washington, D.C., Youth Tour, Be E3 Smart energy curriculum for school classrooms, and energy efficiency demonstrations.

Contact your electric cooperative to learn more about its youth programs.

ohioec.org/purpose

OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING • JANUARY 2022

INSIDE FEATURES

22 ‘LET US DO GOOD’ Restaurant in tiny Osgood has a mission to feed people’s minds, bodies, and souls.

27 A LITTLE OF EVERYTHING Looking for something a little different?

Here are a few lesser-known Ohio spots of interest.

30 DIGITAL PIONEER Today’s most common online activities originated with Ohio’s own CompuServe.

Cover image on most editions: January’s the time for cold mornings and frosty windows like in this scene captured in Hudson, Ohio (photograph by Kryssia Campos/Getty Images).

This page: Projects to replace aging bits of the electric transmission system can cost upward of $3 million per mile of electric line. See page 4 to read how co-ops strive to balance affordability and reliability of electric service as they advocate for modernization of the grid (photo by Ben Wilson).

JANUARY 2022 • OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING 1

UP FRONT

Looking ahead A

s it does every year, the flip of the calendar brings both opportunities and challenges, and while our challenges for the coming year are significant, the prospects for 2022 seem exciting. The importance of Ohio’s electric cooperatives getting it right — meeting our challenges and seizing those opportunities — is as important as it’s ever been.

Safe, reliable, and affordable electric service has been our mission since electric cooperatives first began serving members 85 years ago. It’s never been good enough to get one or two of those right; we’ve always focused on all three, and we face challenges and see opportunities in each of those areas in the coming year.

Our training and development programs are an essential building block of everything we do. We’re currently training 125 apprentice lineworkers from cooperatives across Ohio and providing courses for more experienced lineworkers in new and emerging work practices. Additionally, directors of each Ohio electric cooperative keep current with courses on governance, new technologies, and business planning, and our new Leadership Edge program develops skills for future cooperative leaders. Together, these programs ensure your cooperative is operating with the best possible policies and procedures.

We continue to look for potential operational improvements at our power plants. As they represent the largest portion of our cost structure, they provide opportunities for efficiencies. At the same time, our “all-of-the-above” supply mix is designed to meet your needs during any type of weather. We expect more challenging environmental regulations in the coming year, and we’ll persist in balancing environmental improvements with impacts on cost and availability.

Finally, the network of high-voltage transmission lines that move power from our power plants to your local cooperative’s facilities are undergoing significant changes (see our story on page 4). We purchase transmission service from investor-owned utilities, and newer transmission lines are bringing about higher costs. We’re always vigilant to ensure your interests are represented in the planning and development of those new facilities, because we must realize the most value from those increasing costs.

Wishing you all a happy and safe new year.

2 OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING • JANUARY 2022

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

Safe, reliable, and affordable electric service has been our mission since electric cooperatives first began serving members 85 years ago. It’s never been good enough to get one or two of those right; we’ve always focused on all three.

JANUARY 2022 • Volume 64, No. 4

Ohio Rural Electric Cooperatives 6677 Busch Blvd.

Columbus, OH 43229 614-846-5757 www.ohiocoopliving.com

4 DEPARTMENTS

Patrick O’Loughlin President & CEO

Jeff McCallister Managing Editor

Rebecca Seum Associate Editor

Anita Cook Graphic Designer

Contributors: Jodi Borger, Colleen Romick Clark, Victoria Ellwood, Getty Images, W.H. “Chip” Gross, Catherine Murray, and Patty Yoder.

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 $5.52 to $6.96 per year, paid from equity accruing to the member.

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

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

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

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

4 POWER LINES Key to reliability: The power plant generates electricity 24/7, and your co-op delivers it to you whenever you need it. But how does electricity get from the plant to the co-op?

8

8 CO-OP PEOPLE Sheep-shape: Wool producers raise the ‘baa’ in Ohio’s agricultural economy.

10

10 WOODS, WATERS, AND WILDLIFE Attracting ‘Big Bird’: Pileated woodpeckers are a spectacular sight — if you can get them to come around.

12 Whooo’s there? Ohio Cooperative Living readers help a professor’s owl study yield some surprising results.

12

13 GOOD EATS Olive my love: People either love ’em or hate ’em, but we offer some mouthwatering dishes to tempt even the most ardent olive-bashers.

17 LOCAL PAGES

For all advertising inquiries, contact

Cheryl Solomon

News and information from your electric cooperative.

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

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

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

13

33 CALENDAR What’s happening: January/ February events and other things to do around Ohio.

36 MEMBER INTERACTIVE Sledding: Hills plus snow equals fond memories for our readers.

36

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.

JANUARY 2022 • OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING 3

POWER LINES

Key to reliability Significant investment in transmission goes a long way toward keeping the lights on.

BY JEFF MCCALLISTER

New transmission poles installed in Washington County are taller and much stronger than the original poles, some of which were on the verge of simply toppling over before they were replaced (photograph by Ben Wilson).

4 OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING • JANUARY 2022

J

udy Mercer was just sitting down with her family — all 16 of them — for Thanksgiving dinner in 2014 when the lights in their house near Wingett Run suddenly went dark.

Judy and her husband, Larry, and their grown kids and their families — most in the group are members of Marietta-based Washington Electric Cooperative — just rolled with it. They lit some candles and got right on with their meal, and power eventually was restored sometime in the middle of the night. Then, almost exactly a month later, on Christmas Eve, the family had gathered once again for dinner when it happened again. This time, the lights stayed off until well into the next day.

“I’ve lived in the country my whole life, so honestly, I’m used to it,” Judy says. “We were actually thankful because we knew that there were linemen already out working on the problem even by the time we called it in, but that was when we got our generator.”

That area in and around Wayne National Forest in northeastern Washington County had long suffered from the least reliable electric power of any electric cooperative territory in Ohio, and the main reason is that the AEP transmission lines that bring electricity into the area dated back to the very beginning of Washington Electric in 1940.

“So much of the old infrastructure that was put in place right as electrification was first coming to rural areas — you can just imagine those folks saying, ‘This equipment will last for the next 50, 60, 70 years,’” says Tom Schmidt, principal planning engineer for Buckeye Power, the cooperative that generates and delivers the electricity to Ohio’s distribution cooperatives. “Well, that was 80 years ago. Those poles and lines are not only coming of age, but much of the system is also actually well beyond the end of its useful life, and it needs to be replaced.”

Three-legged stool Most people who think even a little about their electricity probably understand two of the components involved in lighting their homes. Co-op members see the distribution part every day when they look at the lines coming from the poles to their homes. Those who have toured the Cardinal Plant certainly understand generation, or the production of electricity. Ohio cooperatives own their distribution network as well as the generation station.

It’s the third component, transmission, that is least noticed or understood — even though it’s such a significant portion of every electric bill. Other utilities own the transmission lines, and cooperative members pay to use the services from that network.

“Transmission is the way that the electricity gets from the power plant to the local cooperatives’ facilities. The

co-op then distributes that power to individual homes and businesses,” Schmidt says. “It’s supplied from outside companies like AEP, FirstEnergy, Dayton Power and Light, and Duke. Buckeye Power and the co-ops are in constant contact with all of those companies to advocate for better reliability and fair rates.”

“Well more than half of the outage minutes here are because of transmission issues.

Those are the really memorable outages where half the county is dark and power doesn’t come back on for a long time.”

“When the power goes out, most folks will think it’s because a squirrel got into a transformer or something like that, within the distribution system,” says Ben Wilson, Buckeye Power’s director of power delivery engineering.

“But Ohio electric cooperatives report that well more than half of the outage minutes here are because of transmission issues. Those are the really memorable outages where half the county is dark and power doesn’t come back on for a long time.”

Addressing the need That was the case for the outages at the Mercer family’s holiday celebrations a few years ago. The substation that delivered power to their part of the county was at the end of an old and failing transmission line that Buckeye Power had been lobbying for years to have upgraded.

“Unfortunately, upgrading is never a simple matter of just running a new line,” Schmidt says. “The poles that carried the line have to be replaced, and the service upgraded and voltage standardized — a lot of technical stuff — along with all the paperwork, acquiring new land or leases, conforming to regulations that had changed completely since those lines first went up. In heavily forested and hilly terrain like that, it’s not unheard of for new transmission upgrades to cost $3 million for every mile of line.”

Federal regulatory agencies have begun recognizing the need for improved transmission and have begun to update rules to make it more attractive for companies to make the kind of significant investments that are needed.

AEP transmission recently completed an 18-mile stretch of new power lines in and around Wayne National Forest, and work is underway for 25 more. Judy Mercer says that since the upgrade, the widespread power outages that used to happen so regularly have become a rarity.

Continued on page 6

JANUARY 2022 • OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING 5

Judy and Larry Mercer posed with their then-new granddaughter, Lily, shortly before their lights went out on Christmas Eve in 2014.

Continued from page 5

“Buckeye Power uses outage data to influence decisions on where those investments are taking place,” Schmidt says. “We can be a squeaky wheel when we need to be, and we’re able to come in and say, ‘Hey, we know you’re going to be spending a lot of money, so how about spending it in these places where our members are receiving substandard service?’ We’ve been pretty successful getting them to agree.”

Reliability comes at a price Of course, those upgrades have a price. “Even in the best circumstances, no one ever loves getting an electric bill, but that’s especially so when it keeps going up,” Schmidt says.

“Right now, those increases are almost entirely because of transmission upgrades.”

“Transmission increases are universal and have affected all electricity users — not only our members, but customers of AEP, Duke Energy, FirstEnergy, DP&L,” Wilson says. “We work hard to make sure that cooperative members see the benefits of those investments.”

Buckeye Power, from its outset, has been committed to balancing affordability and reliability. The co-ops realize that the transmission improvements have had an impact on their members’ bills, but there’s no question those upgrades are significantly improving reliability. Buckeye Power’s staff will continue to advocate for improvements that benefit electric cooperative members, who often live in areas that need them most.

“Every electric distribution cooperative in the state has its own No. 1 transmission reliability concern, and we try to get in front of everyone’s No. 1,” Wilson says. “In some cases, that means small improvements that go a long way. Some, like Washington’s, are colossal in scope — and there are a couple more like it that are lining up. But there’s always a new No. 1, and as long as transmission companies are spending the money, we’re just going to keep picking them off the list.”

6 OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING • JANUARY 2022

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CO-OP PEOPLE

Sheep-shape Wool producers raise the ‘baa’ in Ohio’s agricultural economy.

BY MARGARET BURANEN

O

hio, believe it or not, is the largest wool-producing state east of the Mississippi River. Sheep farms here come in all sizes, from larger commercial operations to small boutique plots.

Multigenerational Rick Moore is the seventh generation in his family to raise sheep at Cottage Hill Farm near Cadiz in Harrison County. The farm began as a land grant signed by James Madison in 1816.

Moore’s son Steven and his father, Stanley — still active at 88 — farm with him.

The foundation of Moore’s flock is 250 purebred Merino ewes. In alternating years, some are bred to purebred Merino rams and continue the line of high-quality wool production, while others are crossed with other breeds to produce lambs for meat.

“Quality always sells,” Moore says. “Merino wool that’s really white, not a lot of grease in it, with 3½- or 4-inch-long staple fibers, gets the high dollar.” The diameter, or micron, of the wool fibers also affects price — the smaller the diameter, the finer the wool. Wool from the Moores’ Merinos measures 15 or 16 microns, compared to 18 or 19 for coarser wool from other breeds of sheep.

The Moores’ farm follows an annual schedule. Ewes that don’t have lambs in a given year, along with the rams, are shorn each May by a professional shearer, and

8 OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING • JANUARY 2022

the fleeces are carefully stored in the barn hayloft. The Moores then sell their wool, by the pound, directly to textile mills.

Moore says the best part of raising sheep is “to see them outside on green grass in the spring. That’s got to be as close to heaven as it gets. We’re truly blessed.”

Rare breeds Cheryl Dunlap’s sheep-raising and wool-producing business is called Old Orchard Romneys and Romeldales. It’s a small, specialized operation located in Lore City, where she’s a member of GuernseyMuskingum Electric Cooperative. Dunlap says her family has raised sheep for as long as she can recall. “I remember being in the barn when I was a toddler, watching my grandfather and uncles shear sheep. I had sheep in 4-H, and my kids were in 4-H with sheep, too.”

After her children were finished with 4-H, however, she says the farm became empty and quiet, so she bought five ewe lambs to raise, intending to keep one and sell the others. She soon learned that all sheep are not created equal, and hers were difficult and unruly.

“A friend had Romney sheep. The ewes were so docile, so I gave my flock to a cousin and got a flock of Romneys,” she says.

Not long after, she added Romeldales, a rare breed whose status the Livestock Conservancy lists as “threatened.”

“It’s super hard to find [a Romeldale] not related to what you already have,” she says. “Their breeding pool is extremely small.”

Dunlap sells the fleeces her sheep produce exclusively to handspinners, who prefer the natural cream, gray, and tan shades produced by her Romneys and Romeldales. She says her fleeces are also preferred because they’re clean. Very clean.

Dunlap’s sheep wear blankets year-round. She bought a wringer washer just for their blankets, which she changes often.

That kind of effort helped Dunlap win the fleece championship at the Maryland Fleece and Wool Festival a few years ago — which put her on the radar of hand-spinners. One hand-spinner buys every fleece Dunlap has from her Border Leicester sheep.

“When I first started, I got $8 to $12 a pound for wool,” Dunlap says.

“Now I get $18 to $30 a pound because my sheep wear blankets.

The hand-spinners are willing to pay for clean, quality wool.”

Off to market When it comes time to sell their wares, many farmers find their way to Mid-States Wool Growers Cooperative Association in Canal Winchester, where producers from 23 states sell their fleece. MidStates is a member of South Central Power Company.

“We sell to textile mills and to exporters who sell to textile mills in other countries,” says Dave Rowe, Mid-States’ general manager.

Cheryl Dunlap (opposite page), holds Susie, the oldest of the original 12 Romneys with which she started her current flock. Her sheep wear blankets year-round (bottom photo) to protect their wool (photos courtesy of Cheryl Dunlap).

Rick Moore (top photo) says seeing his sheep outside on a green pasture is “as close to heaven as it gets,” though new mothers (middle photo) stay inside where it’s warm until April (photos courtesy of Rick Moore).

The cooperative operates year-round. When wool arrives, it is inspected and graded, then stored in the warehouse until either an order arrives or Rowe calls a buyer and sells it directly. Rowe says that for a typical order, “we’re going to be moving by shipping containers or semis, in 43,000-pound lots. It has to be a large quantity that makes the freight [cost] worth it.”

JANUARY 2022 • OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING 9

WOODS, WATERS, AND WILDLIFE

Attracting ‘Big Bird’ Pileated woodpeckers are a spectacular sight — if you can get them to come around.

STORY AND PHOTOS BY W.H. “CHIP” GROSS

T

he largest woodpecker in North America lives in the Buckeye State, and for years I tried unsuccessfully to lure one to my home birdfeeders — and, ultimately, within camera range. Crow-sized with a 30-inch wingspan and sporting a large, blood-red crest, the pileated woodpecker is a spectacular bird, but it’s also one of the most wary, secretive, and elusive wild critters in all of Ohio’s forests.

As the photos with this story attest, I eventually achieved my goal of attracting and photographing pileated woodpeckers up close. But I have to give credit where it’s due — I had a little help.

Bird Watcher’s Digest (www.birdwatchersdigest. com) is an outstanding national birding magazine that has been published bimonthly in Marietta, Ohio, by the Thompson family for more than 40 years. In reading the March/April 2020 issue, I came across a short article by birder Tom Coleman of Bloomington, Indiana, titled “My Mega Suet Feeder.” In the story, he described making an oversized suet feeder that attracted pileated woodpeckers.

He said he once even had four birds on the feeder at the same time! I was skeptical, but thought I’d give it a try.

Coleman began by taking one-inch wire mesh and shaping it into a square, five inches per side. He wired it together, then added a wire-mesh bottom, leaving the top of the tube open.

The length of his feeder was 24 inches. He said that 23 commercial suet cakes filled the feeder, stacked flat one upon another.

To save a few bucks, I tweaked Coleman’s approach. Instead of the commercial suet cakes, I stopped by my local butcher shop and bought beef fat at $1 per pound; it took 10 pounds of the fat to fill my feeder.

I then wired the feeder about six feet off the ground in a tree near the window of my home office and waited. And waited.

10 OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING • JANUARY 2022

The word “pileated” is pronounced PILE-e-ated meaning “capped,” referring to the bird’s crest.

And waited. For weeks no pileated woodpecker appeared.

The smaller, more common woodpeckers frequenting my birdfeeders loved all that beef fat, but they were not what I was after.

I tried that experiment during late winter of 2020 before taking the feeder down in the spring. Undaunted, I hung the feeder again in November of 2020, and guess what? A male pileated arrived about a month later! He’s been a regular visitor ever since, readily posing for photo after photo. He even brought along his mate late last winter. I believe the large feeder made the difference because it provides not only abundant food but a large surface for the pileateds to land on.

Pileated woodpeckers are found across the state but are most prevalent in the larger forests of southern and eastern Ohio.

A mated pair requires as much 100 acres of mature woodland habitat, so it may take a while for them to find your feeder, as it did with mine. But once they do, they’ll remember your generous offering of suet or beef fat and return often.

Pileated woodpeckers were all but extirpated from Ohio by 1900, due to the extensive deforestation that took place as the state was being settled. The good news is that Ohio forests are expanding once again, now covering about a third of the state, which provides new woodpecker habitat. As a result, the pileated population in the Buckeye State is on the increase.

You’ll know there are pileated woodpeckers in your area by the large holes they chisel in rotting trees with their stout bill while searching for insects. The holes are generally ovalshaped, measuring as much as a foot wide and 2 feet long, with woodchips scattered at the base of the tree. A pileated woodpecker’s call is also telling — a repeated, very loud and raucous woika, woika, woika that carries long distances.

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 JANUARY 2022 • OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING 11

Readers help owl study yield surprising results.

STORY AND PHOTOS BY W. H. “CHIP” GROSS

Regular readers of Ohio Cooperative Living may recall a story that ran exactly a year ago titled “Give a hoot,” describing a statewide wintering-owl study to be conducted by Blake Mathys, an Ohio Dominican University associate professor and Union Rural Electric Cooperative member. Mathys asked for readers’ participation in the study, and co-op members responded in droves.

“More than 1,600 owl sightings were reported to the project,” says Mathys. “Of those submitted, about half were able to be assigned to species with some certainty, based on a submitted photo, recording, or description.”

He says he received reports from 87 of Ohio’s 88 counties, with only Jefferson County in eastern Ohio lacking. The top five counties for reported submissions were Hamilton (19.4%), Franklin (7.6%), Butler (6.1%), Warren (5.4%), and Clermont (4.8%).

Whooo’s there?

Two of the more exciting reports were from rural residents who had long-eared owls roosting literally right outside their windows.

“I visited both locations,” Mathys says. “One was in Union County and the other in Allen County. It was quite an experience to stand in a bedroom and look out the window at longeared owls perched just a few feet away.”

Overall, eight species of owls were recorded: barred owl, barn owl, Eastern screech owl, great horned owl, long-eared owl, Northern saw-whet owl, short-eared owl, and snowy owl.

While Mathys had not finished his analysis as of early November, the data seem to support his hypothesis that there are a lot more owls around than previously thought. “For instance, Union County had only two longeared owls ever reported to eBird before this study, but between submitted reports and targeted searches, five long-eared owls were found there during last winter alone,” he says.

“Overall, it was a very successful project, and I really want to thank all my fellow co-op members who participated by sending me sighting information.”

For more details of the winteringowl study, contact Blake Mathys at mathysb@ohiodominican.edu.

12 OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING • JANUARY 2022

GOOD EATS

Olive my love

People either love ’em or hate ’em — but here are some mouthwatering dishes to tempt even the most ardent olive-bashers.

RECIPES AND PHOTOGRAPHS BY CATHERINE MURRAY

VALENCIA ORANGE AND OLIVE SALAD Prep: 20 minutes | Servings: 6 5 Valencia oranges 16 ounces black olives, drained 1 small red onion

10 to 20 sprigs fresh thyme ¼ cup high-quality olive oil fresh ground black pepper

Cut the Valencia oranges crosswise into ½-inch-thick slices. Place on a round platter, overlapping each slice. Slice the red onion into thin rings, then cut the rings in half.

Layer onion sections on top of the orange slices. Drizzle with olive oil, sprinkle with sprigs of thyme, then add pepper to taste. Cover entire dish with a lid or plastic wrap and refrigerate for 3 to 8 hours to let the flavors meld. Salad can be eaten with or without utensils, removing the orange peel before eating.

Per serving: 237 calories, 17 grams fat (2 grams saturated fat), 0 milligrams cholesterol, 660 milligrams sodium, 24 grams total carbohydrates, 7 grams fiber, 2 grams protein.

JANUARY 2022 • OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING 13

MEATLOAF ITALIANO Prep: 15 minutes | Cook: 45 to 50 minutes | Servings: 6 1½ pounds lean ground beef 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning, divided 1 small onion, finely diced 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder 1 cup old fashioned oats ½ teaspoon onion powder 15 ounces tomato sauce, divided 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese 6.5 ounces chopped black olives, divided Preheat oven to 375 F. In a large bowl, combine ground beef, onion, oats, half of the tomato sauce, about three-fourths of the black olives, and 1 teaspoon of the Italian seasoning. Shape into a loaf and bake in an oven-safe dish covered with aluminum foil for 45 to 50 minutes.

In a small saucepan, combine remaining tomato sauce, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, and onion powder. Cook over low heat, 3 to 5 minutes, stirring constantly. Spoon sauce over meatloaf and sprinkle with cheese and remaining olives. Return to oven for about 5 minutes, until cheese is melted. Slice and serve with mashed potatoes, pasta, or your favorite vegetables.

Per serving: 394 calories, 13.5 grams fat (4 grams saturated fat), 105 milligrams cholesterol, 744 milligrams sodium, 26 grams total carbohydrates, 5 grams fiber, 41 grams protein.

BAKED KALAMATA AND FETA PASTA Prep: 15 minutes | Cook: 50 minutes | Servings: 5 16 ounces grape tomatoes ¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes 1 shallot, sliced vertically ¼ teaspoon salt 3 to 5 cloves garlic, smashed ¼ teaspoon pepper 1 cup Kalamata olives, pitted 10 ounces rotini pasta 14-ounce can quartered artichoke hearts, drained fresh parsley for garnishing (optional) ¼ cup olive oil 8-ounce block of feta cheese Preheat oven to 400 F. In a large ovenproof baking dish, toss together the tomatoes, shallot, garlic, olives, artichoke hearts, and most of the olive oil. Place feta into the center of tomato mixture and drizzle top with remaining olive oil. Sprinkle entire dish with crushed red pepper, salt, and pepper. Bake 45 to 50 minutes, until tomatoes are bursting and feta is golden on top.

Let cool for a few minutes.

Meanwhile, cook pasta according to package instructions. Reserve some of the pasta water before draining. When feta and olive mixture has cooled down a little, stir together with a bit of the pasta water to make a sauce. Toss pasta with feta/olive sauce, sprinkle with parsley, and serve.

Per serving: 467 calories, 24 grams fat (9 grams saturated fat), 82 milligrams cholesterol, 958 milligrams sodium, 50 grams total carbohydrates, 7 grams fiber, 17 grams protein.

14 OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING • JANUARY 2022

GOOD EATS

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.

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

HERB AND OLIVE FISH FILLET Prep: 5 minutes | Cook: 13 minutes | Servings: 5 ½ cup unsalted butter 2 garlic cloves, minced or finely grated 1 tablespoon olive oil ½ teaspoon fennel seeds 1 cup mixed cured olives, pitted and sliced vertically 5 cod fillets, 1 inch thick (about 6 ounces each) 1 tablespoon capers Note: Olive varieties that will work well: Castelvetrano, Spanish Manzanilla, Kalamata, Moroccan, or Picholine.

Heat oven to 350 F. Heat a large, ovensafe skillet over medium. Add butter and oil, cooking until butter melts and starts to sizzle. Stir in olives, garlic, and fennel for another minute or so. (If your fish is thinner than 1 inch, cook the olive/butter mixture a few minutes longer.) Carefully place fish fillets in skillet. Spoon some butter mixture on top of each fillet to baste, then transfer skillet to the oven.

2 tablespoons chopped fresh dill black pepper to taste

Bake until fish is opaque and flaky, 10 to 15 minutes, basting once more halfway through until internal temperature of fish reaches 145 F. Remove from oven.

Transfer fillets to serving plates, equally distributing olive/butter mixture. Sprinkle with pepper and fresh dill.

Per serving: 276 calories, 20 grams fat (9 grams saturated fat), 86 milligrams cholesterol, 365 milligrams sodium, 4 grams total carbohydrates, 1 gram fiber, 22 grams protein.

JANUARY 2022 • OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING 15

PAULDING PUTNAM ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE LOCAL PAGES

MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT

NEW YEAR, NEW CHANGES Service charge increase For the first time since 2018, the cooperative will be increasing rates. This month, January, the monthly residential service charge will increase by $2.05 to a total of $35. For the average residential member, this amounts to just over 1% a month. Although it is difficult to increase rates, a 1% George Carter increase over four years is a fair PRESIDENT AND CEO and reasonable increase. This increase is necessary because the cost to provide service has increased in recent years. This includes the cost of materials to fix and maintain our electric system.

The monthly service charge recovers the cost to install, fix, maintain, and upgrade all the facilities from our local substation to your home meter. When you consider all the parts involved from the substation to your home, it is a bit overwhelming. The cost of those items continues to increase (see the infographic on page 18A), and those costs must be recovered for your cooperative to remain financially stable.

I understand the cost impact to members. However, the total cost to provide service to your home is just over a dollar per day, and when looking at the total average bill, it’s still under $6 per day. Your cooperative works hard to provide a high level of service while keeping your cost fair and reasonable. I believe that one rate increase in four years and an average cost per day below $6 meets our goal of fair and reasonable while still providing you the reliable service you depend on.

Best wishes to Mary Another substantial change at the cooperative will be the retirement of Mary Arend. Mary has served the members of the cooperative for 26 years. She has been a very dedicated member service representative, helping countless members over those years. Her helpful ways and knowledge of our system will be missed. Read more about Mary in her Q & A on page 18D. I want to wish Mary and her husband, Rick, a long and happy retirement.

PPEC ranks top 20% for reliability Maintenance costs continue to increase, but without proper maintenance, reliability decreases at a fast rate. If the components of the electric system are not maintained properly, replaced regularly, and upgraded as necessary, service to your home or business will be impacted negatively. Over the past several years, your cooperative has improved outage numbers, restoration times, and overall member outage statistics. In fact, the most recent national study shows Paulding Putnam Electric in the top 20% of all cooperatives nationally for reliability. For cooperatives our size, we rank fourth out of 58 electric cooperatives our size.

The average PPEC member’s daily cost for electricity is $6.

That’s less than a specialty pizza! ... Can you think of a better value?

JANUARY 2021 • OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING 17

PAULDING PUTNAM ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE

2022 reliability projects PPEC plans $3.6 million in power investments and construction to improve service This year, Paulding Putnam Electric Cooperative is planning $3.6 million in system improvements that will directly increase the co-op’s service reliability and maintain existing facilities. Due to rising costs, especially with wholesale power costs and the COVID-19 pandemic, PPEC will be implementing a small increase to the service charge for residential members beginning on the January billing statement. This is the first increase PPEC has had since 2018 and represents only a 1.2% increase for the average residential member. The residential service charge will be $35 per month starting in January (see page 18A).

To maintain the high standard of service PPEC members expect, primary components of the 2022 work plan will include: • A budgeted 20 miles of line rebuilds across Ohio and Indiana, as well as sectionalizing to reduce outage minutes. Keeping members’ lights on is a priority!

• Installing and upgrading new sectionalizing equipment for improved reliability, system durability, and reduced outage time.

• Upgrading substation equipment in the Columbus Grove and Convoy substations. This will improve service reliability and extend the lifespan of these substations, raising their performance to meet today’s higher standards.

• Completing PPEC’s smart metering system upgrade, which will finish out the co-op’s latest work plan.

This gives PPEC the ability to provide members with additional, improved service data, which enables members to monitor usage trends and make more informed energy efficiency decisions through their online SmartHub account.

• Testing 4,800 poles in Paulding, Benton, Blue Creek, and Latty townships in Paulding County. Poles are tested on a 10-year rotating cycle; any that fail the test are replaced.

18 OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING • JANUARY 2021

• Extensive underground line extensions into the expanding subdivisions in New Haven, Indiana.

“With the rising material costs and shortages from the pandemic, PPEC has the been very proactive in securing material needs for the upcoming year’s work plan,” says PPEC Engineering Manager Steve Kahle. “We were able to plan ahead, meaning we can continue to make important system investments and still be good stewards to our members.”

As a not-for-profit, democratically operated distribution utility, Paulding Putnam Electric Co-op returns members’ patronage (their portion of equity in the co-op, based on electric usage) to them as capital credits. Last month, PPEC returned $2.3 million in capital credits to current and former members.

“The PPEC trustees and employees work hard to deliver electric power that is reliable, safe, and cost-competitive with our neighboring utilities,” says PPEC President and CEO George Carter. “Be assured that we are working to replace aging facilities, increase efficiency, and improve our service reliability — all while returning $2.3 million in capital credits last year to members.”

For updates throughout the year, follow PPEC on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or YouTube. You can also sign up for our monthly email newsletter under the “News & Media” tab at www.PPEC.coop.

Have questions about upcoming construction in your area? Give our office a call at 800-686-2357.

INCREASE EFFECTIVE JAN. 1 RATE ADJUSTMENT REMINDER

Need assistance? See below.

Service charge adjustment offsets

rising costs of reliable service

Service charge increase effective Jan. 1, 2022, for all residential accounts As the cost of goods (transformers, poles, wire, etc.) we require to bring you reliable energy increases, PPEC must examine rates accordingly. Before implementing any increase, your co-op’s staff and board review cost-of-service studies and consider the effects on the membership. Our goal is to hold costs as low as possible while ensuring access to safe, affordable, and reliable power.

In November, the co-op’s board approved a flat monthly service charge increase of just over $2 per month for all residential members. This adjustment brings the monthly residential service charge from $32.95 to $35. This is the first rate change since March of 2018, and represents a 1.2% average increase for each residential member. This change is reflected in the “distribution” section (back page) of your monthly billing statement. There is no change to the rate you pay per kilowatt-hour.

Service charge explained A flat monthly $35 maintenance fee to provide electricity on demand The service charge is a set monthly fee charged to all members to help recover costs of the equipment needed to deliver power to your meter.

The service charge (included under the “Distribution Charges” section of your bill on the back side) covers the cooperative’s fixed costs such as line equipment, property taxes, and other items needed to provide electricity on demand. This also includes items like line maintenance, tree trimming, and administrative costs. The co-op incurs these costs regardless of an individual’s energy use.

These investments are necessary to provide the high-quality electric service our members expect and deserve. Rather than asking members to pay the full upfront cost of what it takes to deliver power to the home, the service charge helps manage these costs over time. Regardless of how much energy you use, PPEC still has to cover the cost of ensuring electricity is there if you want it.

Residential members will see the new rate on the bill you receive in January. To see a breakdown of PPEC’s rates, visit www.PPEC.coop/rates-billing.

Managing your bill and payment assistance We know even small increases in your energy costs can be tough to manage. That’s why we offer options like budget billing, a special time-of-day rate, free home energy audits with a recommendation report, and rebates for energy-efficient appliances and other home upgrades.

Financial resources and community assistance programs are available for those struggling with payments. Visit www.

PPEC.coop/bill-payment-assistance for a list of resources or give our office a call. We also offer payment arrangements, but members must contact us early in the process.

Rising equipment costs The cost of goods needed to deliver electricity to your home has risen over the last four years — especially with the COVID-19 pandemic affecting supply chains. Our last increase was in 2018, so you can see the direct price increases from that time to now.

THEN (2018)

- VS. -

NOW (2021)

TRANSFORMER

$ 697

$ 872

POLE

$ 185

$ 175.40

WIRE

$0.62/foot

$0.75/foot

JANUARY 2021 • OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING 18A

PAULDING PUTNAM ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE

Are portable space heaters efficient for my home?

Small space heaters are meant to do exactly as their name says: heat a small space. Unfortunately, many people use portable space heaters to heat their entire home, which can really take a toll on your energy bills. The truth is, whether or not you should use space heaters really depends on your home’s efficiency and energy needs.

If you’re using a space heater to compensate for problems in your home, like inadequate insulation, drafty windows and exterior doors, or an inefficient heating system, space heaters are not a practical solution. Your best bet is to improve the overall efficiency of your home. If you’re on a tight budget, caulking and weatherstripping around windows and exterior doors is a low-cost, easy way to save energy. Depending on the size of your home, adding insulation can be a great next step. Loose fill insulation typically costs $1 to $1.50 per square foot. Taking these proactive energy-saving measures rather than relying on space heaters for supplemental warmth can reduce your heating and cooling bills for years to come.

Perhaps your home is energy efficient but you’re coldnatured and want a specific room to be cozier than the rest. In this case, a space heater may work for your needs.

A good comparison is ceiling fans — we use ceiling fans in the summer to cool people, not rooms. A space heater can be used in a similar way during winter months.

Only use a space heater in small spaces that you’re occupying and, if Peter Niagu possible, try to shut off other rooms ENERGY ADVISOR to contain the warmth provided by the space heater. If you decide to use a space heater to heat a small area in your home, make sure the heater is properly sized for the space.

A word about safety: The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission estimates more than 25,000 residential fires are associated with the use of space heaters every year, resulting in more than 300 deaths. If you must use a space heater, purchase a newer model that includes the most current safety features and make sure it carries the Underwriter’s Laboratory (UL) label. Choose a thermostatically controlled heater to avoid energy waste and overheating and place the heater on a level surface away from foot traffic when in use. Always keep children and pets away from space heaters.

Consider alternative ways to stay warm, like extra layers of clothing or UL-approved electric blankets. If you have hardwood or tile floors, lay down area rugs to provide additional insulation (and appeal!) and maintain warmth.

If you’re looking for alternative ways to save energy and increase comfort in your home, contact me at 800-6862357. I’m here to help you manage your energy use.

Tips to ditch the space heater Space heaters are energy hogs, and older models can be extremely dangerous. This winter, ditch the space heater and try these alternative solutions to stay cozy.

• Use an electric blanket to keep warm during the night.

• Caulk and weatherstrip around all windows and doors to prevent heat loss.

• Consider adding insulation to your attic and around duct work.

18B OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING • JANUARY 2021

High school sophomores, juniors, and seniors!

Interested in a life-changing leadership experience in Washington, D.C.?

What is Youth Tour?

The Ohio’s Electric Cooperatives Youth Tour is an annual leadership program sponsored by Paulding Putnam Electric.

It’s a weeklong, all-expenses-paid trip to Washington, D.C., that gives exceptional high school students the opportunity to meet with their congressional leaders at the U.S. Capitol, make new friends from across the state and country, and see many of the famous Washington sights.

Please note that Youth Tour 2022 is subject to change due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Ohio’s Electric Cooperatives and the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association are continually monitoring state and federal guidance and will adjust plans accordingly if needed.

For more information and to apply, visit www.ppec.coop/youth-tour or call PPEC at 1-800-686-2357.

2022 GRADS

We are giving away more than

$5,400 Children of Members in our

Scholarship program!

• Visit www.ppec.coop/scholarships • Call the co-op at 800-686-2357 • Stop by our office: 401 McDonald Pk. Paulding, OH • Ask your guidance counselor

Deadline to apply is Feb. 11 JANUARY 2021 • OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING 18C

PAULDING PUTNAM ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE EMPLOYEE RETIREMENT

26 years of smiling service After 26 years of service to the members of Paulding Putnam Electric, Member Services Representative Mary Arend is ready for retirement. Members who call PPEC have most likely been greeted by the friendly “Hello, this is Mary,” and can feel the warm smile on the other end of the line.

Mary joined PPEC in 1996 with the billing department.

Previously she worked for The State Bank in Paulding for 20 years.

We had a chance to sit down and ask Mary to reflect on her time at PPEC and the changes she has experienced over a quarter-century of service.

Tell us about your background and family.

I have been married to Rick Arend for 42 years, living in Paulding County. I have two sons, Ryan and John. Ryan is married to Amy and has a daughter, Malayna, in the Dayton, Ohio area. John lives in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, with our grandson, Vihaan.

What are you most proud of?

My biggest accomplishments were the birth of our sons, Ryan and John, and being married to my husband, Rick.

Want to see more? Watch Mary reminisce on her coop career on our YouTube channel or our website: www.PPEC.coop/Mary-Retirement.

18D OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING • JANUARY 2021

What will you remember fondly?

I have many memories of how the members of the co-op, in times of outages, were so willing to help the employees in times of crisis, such as the Christmas 2007 ice outage and the November tornado of 2012. It was nice to see the cooperative and the community come together to get power back on.

Members brought in food and thank you cards for the crews.

How do you plan on spending time during retirement?

I’d like to spend more time with my two grandchildren and my family and do some traveling with Rick around the country. Our first stop will be Philadelphia to visit my son’s house.

What will you miss most about PPEC? Spending time with my co-workers and the cooperative members I have gotten to know and had the pleasure of speaking with over the years. I will miss everyone!

Members support our community Over $13,000 in grants benefit local organizations Members of Paulding Putnam Electric Cooperative recently donated $13,050 to ten local charities and community projects through the cooperative’s Operation Round Up program. About 75% of PPEC members round up their electric bill and donate those pennies to this fund, making a huge impact in the co-op’s northwest Ohio and northeast Indiana communities.

The most recent donation recipients include: • Christmas for Kids/Coats for Kids Program through Northwestern Ohio Community Action Commission, Inc (NOCAC); $1,500 for coats, food, and supplies to Paulding County kids.

• Crime Stoppers of Greater Fort Wayne; $500 for new signage in the New Haven, Indiana area • Delphos Middle School; $1,500 for the positive behavior program • Paulding High School; $1,800 for a wood planer

• Paulding Soccer Club; $1,500 to purchase benches and trash cans • Power2Change; $1,000 for class supplies • Putnam Co. Homecare & Hospice; $1,000 for lowincome patient services • St. Rose of Lima School (Monroeville, Indiana); $2,000 for playset replacement • Wayne Trace Schools (Grover Hill and Payne Elementary); $750 to help start a mentoring program • YWCA of Van Wert; $1,500 for AED and CPR training.

Organizations can apply for Operation Round Up assistance by contacting Samantha Kuhn at skuhn@ppec.coop or visiting www.ppec.coop/operation-round. If you want to participate by rounding up your monthly bill, call PPEC’s office at 800-686-2357. The average member’s donation is about $6 per year.

JANUARY 2021 • OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING 19

PAULDING PUTNAM ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE LOCAL PAGES

$2.3 MILLION

BACK TO MEMBERS: 1

PPEC tracks how much electricity you use throughout the year.

2

At year’s end, we complete financial matters and see if any margins are left.

3

The board allocates the margins to members as capital credits, based on electric use.

4

When our financial condition permits, the board pays out capital credits.

5

We notify you of how and when you’ll receive your capital credits payment.

One of the major benefits of being a cooperative member is that you receive capital credits, which is like money back from your power company. Last month, we paid out $2.3 million to our members!

This perk is unique to co-ops because we don’t have shareholders, like investor-owned utilities.

Our members (that ’s you) are the owners! That ’s the cooperative difference.

How do capital credits work?

Money remaining after PPEC’s bills are paid each year is known as margins (it is the margin between income and expenses). This money is used for capital expenditures, such as building or replacing lines, and is not paid back immediately. This becomes your investment or equity in the company. In a for-profit company, this money would be called profit. To be a true not-for-profit cooperative, we believe this money should be returned to you. We call it capital credits.

We keep track of your capital credits in a special account. You receive a notice each year on your April bill, telling you how much money from the previous calendar year’s margins was allocated to your account. This is money we will eventually

refund to you or your estate. The amount of capital credits allocated to your account is in proportion to the dollar amount of electricity you used. In other words, if you paid for 1% of the power we sold, you would receive a 1% share of the margins left over at the end of the year. If a member passes away, we pay all capital credits at its net present value.

When will I get my capital credits?

They usually are issued or returned to you in December. If you’re a current member, you’ll see this as a credit on your energy bill. If you’re a past member owed capital credits, you will receive this refund as a check in the mail. This is why it’s important to keep your address updated with us, even after you move.

BOARD OF TRUSTEES

Dr. John Saxton Chairman

Timothy Derck CONTACT

Vice Chairman

1-800-686-2357 www.ppec.coop

Dr. Ronald Black

OFFICE

401 McDonald Pike Paulding, Ohio 45879 OFFICE HOURS

7:30 a.m.–4 p.m.

Attorney

George Carter President/CEO

HAVE A STORY SUGGESTION? Secretary/Treasurer

Steve McMichael Jay Dangler Joseph Kohnen Adam Schnipke Ken Niese William Dowler Trustees

20 OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING • JANUARY 2021

Norm Cook

Email your ideas to: skuhn@ppec.coop FIND US ON:

Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube, and Instagram

Finally . . . a better mobility solution than Scooters or Power Chairs.

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‘Let us do good’ Restaurant in tiny Osgood has a mission to feed people’s bodies, minds, and souls.

STORY AND PHOTOS BY JODI BORGER

K

aren Homan wouldn’t categorize herself as anything more than ordinary — a farmer’s wife, a mother, a grandmother. What she has helped to create in the small Darke County community of Osgood, however, is nothing short of extraordinary.

Homan, with the help of local families and businesses, has built a unique restaurant and ministry called Do Good, in the middle of what is known as the Land of the Cross-Tipped Churches in west-central Ohio. In October 2021, less than two years after opening its doors, Do Good reached the milestone of $1 million donated to local causes.

Homan, who started the project with no previous experience running a business, says she was guided by the Holy Spirit after she was called to action while in her kitchen one day.

“There was a voice telling me, ‘There are many good people in the world, but they are not coming to my churches. People are so busy with work, schedules, and children that they don’t have time for me — but they will go out to eat,’” says Homan, a member of St. Marys-based Midwest Electric.

While admittedly hesitant and concerned about whether she would have to sell the family farm to help pay for it, Homan got to work. She says she was skeptical at first, and often tested the voice by setting deadlines to receive often even large donations, but they were always met; she never had to sell the farm.

She says she was guided to various people along the way, from architects and business consultants to a chef and other staff — many of whom she didn’t know and most of whom she anticipated would think she was crazy — who helped her make the mission a reality.

Although Homan had wondered if a busier, more traveled area would be better, the Osgood location has been a perfect fit. The restaurant sits on the corner of four counties — Darke, Auglaize, Mercer, and Shelby — and, as people from different towns contributed, she says it felt like the restaurant and ministry were shared by everyone.

The restaurant seats 150 patrons in a main dining room, small side area, and upper room that overlooks the main floor and features a large Last Supper mural. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner menus developed by head chef Alicia Vanderpool offer something for everyone, including a take-home family casserole option.

22 OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING • JANUARY 2022

There are more than 360 people who work at the restaurant and ministry — 45 paid employees and the rest volunteers — including Homan, who often will spend upward of 50 hours per week helping out in some way or another. She credits the staff for Do Good’s success.

“I have no idea how it all runs so smoothly. I don’t know how to do a lot of the things around here, but somehow it just works,” says Homan.

The waitstaff accepts tips, but they don’t take those tips home; instead, they’re donated to a specified individual or family in need each month. The million dollars raised in tips and donations in the first 20 months of operation was spread among more than 20 local individuals, families, and causes.

“Some people may not want to give to charity, but people will leave a tip because it’s customary,” says Homan. “They feel good because that tip helped a person or family in their community. People have been abundantly kind and generous.”

While this wasn’t necessarily what Homan had planned for this stage of her life, she says she finds joy in being able to spread the ministry, and she’s always on the lookout for more ways to bring people together to “do good.”

In addition to the restaurant, Do Good has added a baby outreach, which provides free blankets and caps or bonnets to area newborns; Bible studies for youth, teens, and adults; exercise classes; tutoring for K–12 students; honor meals for volunteers from local organizations; and a health and wellness clinic to serve the community. The restaurant grounds have expanded and now include a rosary garden, a children’s memorial garden park, and a splash pad.

“There’s always such a joy and peace when I talk to people, and I’ll see their recognition that God is real, she says. “Just to know people are coming to recognize God is joyful — and the apple dumplings are pretty good, too.”

Do Good Restaurant and Ministry, 25 W. Main St., Osgood, OH 45351. Open Monday through Saturday. 419-582-GOOD (4663) or www.dogoodrm.com.

JANUARY 2022 • OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING 23

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24 OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING • JANUARY 2022

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

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JANUARY 2022 • OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING 25

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everything a little of Looking for something a bit different? Here are some lesser-known Ohio spots of interest.

BY VICTORIA ELLWOOD

Popcorn and pencil sharpeners, minerals and merry-go-rounds, Great Lakes, and greatbig cuckoo clocks: Ohio has a plethora of pretty amazing things to explore. Here’s just a sampling of our state’s perhaps lesser-known museums, collections, and interesting sights.

1

Langsdon Mineral Collection, Celina Back in 2006, local collectors Ron and Ruth Langsdon donated much of their extensive collection of rare minerals to the Mercer County District Library in Celina. The Langsdon Mineral Collection includes more than 900 stunning specimens of minerals from all over the world — from a peacock-colored bornite and raspberry garnet to azurite, amethyst quartz, and an enormous, polished piece of jade. The collection, housed in 27 glass cases, is open for self-tours anytime the library is open and attracts local residents, schoolchildren, Scout troops, and visitors from across Ohio.

www.langsdonminerals.org

1

JANUARY 2022 • OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING 27

2

National Museum of the Great Lakes, Toledo The National Museum of the Great Lakes tells aweinspiring stories of the Great Lakes through 500 photographs, 250 artifacts, 45 interactive exhibits, a 617-foot iron ore freighter, and a historic tug. The tales span hundreds of years — from the fur traders in the 1600s to the Underground Railroad operators in the 1800s, rum-runners in the 1900s, and the sailors on the thousand-footers today.

https://nmgl.org

3

Wyandot Popcorn Museum, Marion The Wyandot Popcorn Museum is housed inside Marion’s Heritage Hall – the town’s historic U.S. Post Office that dates back to 1910. Allow a couple of hours to explore the circus-themed museum, which boasts an impressive collection of turn-of-the-century popcorn wagons, peanut roasters, and the world’s largest collection of popcorn antiques.

2 4

www.wyandotpopcornmus.com

4

World’s largest cuckoo clock, Sugarcreek In the center of Sugarcreek’s Swiss Village is the world’s largest cuckoo clock; at more than 23 feet tall and 24 feet wide, it was once featured in the Guinness Book of World Records. Every half hour, visitors can watch as a cuckoo bird appears, followed by a dancing couple and Swiss polka band.

https://visitsugarcreek.com/visit-the-worldslargest-cuckoo-clock.html

5

American Sign Museum, Cincinnati Cincinnati’s American Sign Museum is the largest public museum dedicated to the art and history of commercial signs in the U.S. Its 20,000 square feet of space explores a century of American sign history.

Visitors can see everything from early, pre-electric signs adorned in gold leaf to art-deco neon signs, modern plastic examples, and even an inviting display that re-creates a typical American main street.

https://www.americansignmuseum.org

6

Ohio River Museum, Marietta Explore the history of the Ohio River at this Marietta museum, which includes three buildings of exhibits tracing the river’s historic importance, including the golden age of the steamboat, and the ways the river has transported people and cargo for hundreds of

28 OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING • JANUARY 2022

6 1 — courtesy Mercer County District Library; 2 — courtesy National Museum of the Great Lakes; 3 — courtesy Wyandot Popcorn Museum; 4 — courtesy Village of Sugarcreek; 5 — courtesy American Sign Museum; 6 — courtesy Ohio River Museum; 7 — courtesy Merry-GoRound Museum; 8 — courtesy Pencil Sharpener Museum.

3 years. The centerpiece is the W.P. Snyder Jr., the last of the steam-powered stern-wheeled towboats in America.

There’s also a flat boat reproduction, a restored shanty boat, hand-crafted boat models, and artifacts like pilot wheels, boat whistles, and bells. Open April–October.

https://mariettamuseums.org/ohio-river-museum

Merry-Go-Round Museum, Sandusky From traditional painted ponies to pigs and zebras, frogs, dogs, and sea monsters, lots of carousel animals can be found at the enchanting Merry-GoRound Museum. Celebrating the art and history of the carousel, the museum is housed in the former Sandusky Post Office. It features a working, fully restored Herschell Carousel; with its oom-pah-pah organ music providing the backdrop, riders can choose from 21 spinning animals, all led by Stargazer, the circa-1915 lead horse.

7

www.merrygoroundmuseum.org

Pencil Sharpener Museum, Logan The Rev. Paul Johnson started collecting pencil sharpeners in the 1980s. After his death, his family wanted others to enjoy his collection, too, and the Pencil Sharpener Museum was established. The compact museum — housed in a tiny building at the Hocking Hills Welcome Center — spotlights more than 3,400 pencil sharpeners. You’ll find everything from traditional handcranked metal sharpeners to those shaped like globes and pianos, cars and cannons, birds, dolls, airplanes, ships, and even fast food.

5

7

8

www.explorehockinghills.com/things-to-do/artsmuseums/museums/pencil-sharpener-museum

8

JANUARY 2022 • OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING 29

Digital pioneer

Today’s most common online activities originated with Ohio’s own CompuServe.

BY PATTY YODER

I

t’s a debate that’s been raging for more than 30 years — something that’s part of almost everyone’s lives, yet every day, people stumble over how to pronounce a three-letter word that describes a digital image: “GIF.” Does it have a hard “G,” like “gift,” or should it sound more like the peanut butter?

Ohioans have the home-court advantage in the debate. New Milford resident Steve Wilhite, in fact, is the computer engineer who developed the Graphics Interchange Format in the 1980s. In the decades since then, he’s used a classic TV ad to teach people how to say it: “Choosy developers choose GIF.” Wilhite invented the GIF while he worked at CompuServe, an early tech company that was based in central Ohio. Although the name may not mean much to anyone under 40, CompuServe played a pivotal role in the early days of the Information Age. Digital breakthroughs still in use today originated there, including online shopping, stock research, and self-serve airline tickets.

The CompuServe team poses for a company photo outside its Columbus headquarters in 1996. At its peak, CompuServe had 135 employees.

30 OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING • JANUARY 2022

Golden United Life Insurance founded CompuServe in 1969 as a computer time-sharing service. A decade later, as the personal computer began making its way into American homes, the company saw an opportunity to reach consumers. In 1979, CompuServe Information Service (CIS) was born.

For a monthly fee, subscribers could access a world of news and information as fast as their 300-baud modems could deliver it (in comparison, today’s slowest DSL lines are roughly 200 times faster; broadband can transport data nearly 1,000,000 times faster).

At the time, both CIS and home computers were new, so something as simple as a mouse could cause confusion — does it work like a TV remote? A sewing pedal? Can you clean it in the dishwasher? — so CompuServe’s customer service team often focused on teaching members computer basics, like how to double-click or change a password. The monthly CompuServe Magazine offered pages of tips for getting the most from the service.

Cleveland native Bill Louden was on the original CIS team. His memories include brainstorming with bright, creative, and practical thinkers “throwing things at a whiteboard to see what would stick” in the new digital world. “The CompuServe times were very heady because you were trying things that had never been tried before,” Louden says. “For something like the CB Simulator, we borrowed a metaphor from another world.”

CB Simulator was the world’s first real-time chat service, named for the citizens’ band radio craze of the day. On a Friday, CompuServe employees wondered if the concept could translate to the digital space. By Monday, Sandy Trevor had developed a working prototype. Like its 3-D counterpart, CB Simulator offered 40 channels of conversation and soon became the coolest online place to be. Strangers who wouldn’t have otherwise met became lifelong friends, business partners, and even couples: George Stickles of Dallas and Debbie Fuhrman of Phoenix fell in love there and were the first couple to be married on the Among the CompuServe firsts: CB Simulator in 1983.

Cutting edge

CompuServe is also the source of early digital shopping. Members could browse catalogs and purchase goods from Tiffany and Co., the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and Neiman Marcus. It was exciting, if a bit tricky. 1980s computers did not display photos of products, so all shopping happened by text (search YouTube for a video of the early CompuServe Electronic Mall — it’s well worth three minutes of your time.)

Forums, similar to today’s Facebook groups, became the heart of the information service. Each forum covered a topic, such as music, collecting, or gaming. Fans mourned the passing of Jerry Garcia in the RockNet forum. Veterans reunited in the Military forum. Joining a forum meant abiding by its rules of conduct, and trolls were swiftly warned to keep the conversation civil or face being banned.

CompuServe dominated cyberspace through the 1980s and 1990s, when it reached more than 3 million subscribers. But competition grew fierce, and America Online (AOL) soon became the digital darling. In a complex $1.3 billion deal, AOL bought CIS, and the CompuServe network went to WorldCom in 1998.

From the original network team to the company’s last survivors, CompuServe employees know they were part of a unique moment in internet history. They still stay in touch through a private Facebook group and occasional reunions. According to Louden, the 1980s were special, but the digital era is just getting started.

“Many of the visions we had then are reality today, but not all of them,” he says.

“Some of those visions are still yet to come.”

• First consumer email service • First real-time chat service • Coining the term “email” • First online newspaper (The Columbus Dispatch) • First online shopping • First global chat, featuring sci-fi author Arthur C. Clark • First online news conference from the White House (Vice President Al Gore, 1994) • First online multiplayer game (MegaWars) • First rock star event with the Rolling Stones’ Mick Jagger • First song available for download (Aerosmith’s “Head First”)

JANUARY 2022 • OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING 31

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2022 CALENDAR

JANUARY/FEBRUARY

NORTHWEST

JAN. 22–23 – Lima Symphony: “Bach by Candlelight,” Sat. 7:30 p.m., Trinity United Methodist Church, 301 W. Market, Lima; Sun. 4 p.m., Immaculate Conception Church, Celina. Join us as we honor the works of the master himself, Johann Sebastian Bach, and those of his sons, Johann Christian and Carl Philipp Emanuel. 419-222-5701 or www.limasymphony.com.

JAN. 29 – BRM Exotic Expo, Howard Johnson Lima, 1920 Roschman Ave., Lima, 10 a.m.–3 p.m. $5, under 12 free. Reptiles, exotics, live and frozen feeders, caging, and supplies. www.brmexpo.com or www. facebook.com/BRMEXPO. JAN. 29 – Night Ranger, Veterans Memorial Civic and Convention Ctr., 7 Town Square, Lima, 7:30 p.m. $20–$100. 419-224-1552 or www. limaciviccenter.com.

JAN. 29 – Prom Dress Consignment Sale, 109 S. Ohio Ave , Sidney, during office hours. Dresses and accessories at great prices. Dresses can be consigned through Jan. 27. 937-658-6945 or www.sidneyalive.org.

SOUTHEAST

JAN. 13 – Get the Led Out, Peoples Bank Theatre, 222 Putnam St., Marietta, 8 p.m. Starting at $29.

GTLO has captured the essence of the recorded music of Led Zeppelin and brought it to the concert stage, delivering the music live like you’ve never heard before. www.peoplesbanktheatre.com.

JAN. 22 – Wild Treks, Shawnee State Park, 4404 St. Rte. 125, West Portsmouth, 3–5 p.m. Learn what mammals you might encounter in southern Ohio.

Search for and identify wildlife tracks and signs,

COMPILED BY COLLEEN ROMICK CLARK

FEB. 5 – Ice-A-Fair, 685 Main St., Vermilion, times to be announced. Free. A daylong winter event for the entire family, featuring glittering ice sculptures on display and ice carving demos throughout the day.

Ends with a towering Fire and Ice display. 440-9630772 or www.mainstreetvermilion.org.

FEB. 5–6 – Tri-State Gun Show, Allen Co. Fgds., 2750 Harding Hwy., Lima (2 miles east of Lima on St. Rte. 309), Sat. 8:30 a.m.–4 p.m., Sun. 8:30 a.m.–3 p.m. $6, free for members, under 18 free. Over 400 tables of modern and antique guns, edged weapons, and sportsmen equipment. 419-647-0067 or www. tristategunshow.org.

FEB. 10–13 – Greater Toledo Auto Show, Seagate Convention Ctr., 401 Jefferson Ave., Toledo, Thur. 3–9 p.m., Fri. 12–9 p.m., Sat. 10 a.m.–9 p.m., Sun. 10 a.m.–5 p.m. $8, Srs./Stds. $6, under 10 free. Displays of the latest and greatest models and automotive technologies. 419-2553300 or http://toledoautoshow.org.

FEB. 11–12 – Winterfest BG Chillabration, Bowling Green, Fri. 5–11 p.m., Sat. 10 a.m.–11 p.m. Free.

Come out for “The Coolest Weekend of the Year,” featuring the Frozen Swamp Tent, winter market, chili and soup cookoff, craft beer and wine, ice garden, ice sculpting demos, ice skating, horsedrawn carriage rides, and other entertainment.

419-353-9445 or www.winterfestbgohio.com.

FEB. 12 – An American in Paris, Niswonger Performing Arts Ctr., 10700 St. Rte. 118 S., Van Wert, 7 p.m. $45–$79. Inspired by the Academy Award-winning film, the new musical transports the audience to postwar Paris, where romance is in the air and youthful optimism reigns. Gershwin’s soaring

and make a plaster cast to take home. Wear hiking shoes. 740-858-6652 or http://parks.ohiodnr.gov.

FEB. 5 – Sammy Kershaw and Collin Raye, Vern Riffe Ctr., 940 Second St., Portsmouth, 8 p.m. $58.50–$78.50. Special guest: Alex Miller. 740351-3600 or https://vrcfa.com.

FEB. 10 – Oak Ridge Boys, Peoples Bank Theatre, 222 Putnam St., Marietta, 8 p.m. Starting at $54. www.peoplesbanktheatre.com.

FEB. 12 – Birding Caravan, Shawnee State Park, 4404 St. Rte. 125, West Portsmouth, 9 a.m.–1 p.m.

Meet at the lodge. Join local ornithologists Dave and Joyce Riepenhoff and naturalist Jenny on a journey around the park, forest, and river bottoms in search of ducks, geese, eagles, hawks, and other birds.

Bring your binoculars. 740-858-6652 or http://parks. ohiodnr.gov.

FEB. 12 – Contemporary Gun Makers and Allied Artists, Campus Martius Museum, 601 Second St., Marietta, 9:30 a.m.– 4 p.m. Features the work of several dozen traditional gunmakers from around the Ohio Valley as well as other craftsmen who

melodies are matched by gravity-defying dance as the world rediscovers the power of love and the chance for new beginnings. 419-238-6722 or www. vanwertlive.com/events/detail/an-american-in-paris.

FEB. 12 – Lima Symphony: “American Voices,” Veterans Memorial Civic and Convention Ctr., 7 Town Square, Lima, 7:30 p.m. $10–$25. Join us for an evening of contemplation and celebration of Black History Month as the symphony presents George Walker’s Lyric for Strings; Samuel Barber’s Knoxville: Summer of 1915 featuring renowned soprano Katherine Jolly; the songs of Florence Price; and William Grant Still’s Symphony No. 1 “Afro American.”

419-224-1552 or www.limaciviccenter.com.

FEB. 15 – Ballet Folklórico de México, Veterans Memorial Civic and Convention Ctr., 7 Town Square, Lima, 7:30 p.m. $29–$69. One of the world’s most popular dance companies, the Mexican folkloric ensemble presents dances in costumes that reflect the traditional culture of Mexico. 419-224-1552 or www.limaciviccenter.com.

FEB. 15 – Potted Potter: The Unauthorized Harry Experience — A Parody, Valentine Theatre, 410 Adams St., Toledo, 7:30 p.m. $59–$79. All seven Harry Potter books (and a real-life game of Quidditch) condensed into 70 hilarious minutes.

Created by actors Daniel Clarkson and Jefferson Turner, the show is perfect for ages 6 to Dumbledore (who is very old indeed). 419-242-2787 or www. valentinetheatre.com.

work in the manner of the 18th and 19th centuries.

Also includes horn makers, hunting bag makers, leather workers, tinsmithers, cabinet makers, and other allied trades. 740-373-3750 or www. campusmartiusmuseum.org.

FEB. 12 – Sweetheart Hike, Shawnee State Park, 4404 St. Rte. 125, West Portsmouth, 3–5 p.m. Meet at the lodge. Take a stroll with a loved one along a quiet forest road. See and climb historic Copperhead Firetower. Bundle up! 740-858-6652 or http://parks. ohiodnr.gov.

FEB. 12 – Winter Hike, Burr Oak State Park, 10220 Burr Oak Lodge Rd., Glouster, 10 a.m.–1:30 p.m.

Free. Join other outdoors enthusiasts for a great day of hiking! Hike lengths are 1, 3, 5, and 8 miles.

Wear sturdy footwear and dress for the weather.

Enjoy free bean soup and corn bread after the hike at the lodge. 740-767-3570 or http://parks.ohiodnr. gov/burroak.

JANUARY 2022 • OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING 33

2022 CALENDAR

JANUARY/FEBRUARY

JAN. 15–16, FEB. 12–13 – Medina Gun Show, Medina County Fgds. Community Center, 735 Lafayette Rd., Medina, Sat. 9 a.m.–5 p.m., Sun. 9 a.m.–3 p.m. $7.

Over 450 tables of displays. 330-948-4400 or www. conraddowdell.com.

JAN. 23 – Flea Market of Collectables, Medina County Fgds. Community Center, 735 Lafayette Rd., Medina, 9 a.m.–3 p.m. $2. Early bird special admission: 6–9 a.m., $3. A treasure trove of vintage items and collectables.

330-948-4300 or www.conraddowdell.com.

JAN. 28–30, FEB. 4–6 – Kalamazoo, Fremont Community Theatre, 1551 Dickinson St., Fremont, Fri./ THROUGH FEB. 6 – Immersive Van Gogh Exhibit, Sat. 7:30 p.m., Sun. 2 p.m. 419-332-0695 or www.

Lighthouse Artspace Cleveland, 850 E. 72nd St., fremontcommunitytheatre.org.

Cleveland. $39.99–$54.99. Experience Van Gogh’s art in a whole new way — through digital immersion! This light- JAN. 29 – TCA Great Lakes Division Train Meet, UAW Hall, 5615 Chevrolet Blvd., Parma, 10 a.m.–3 p.m. $6. For and-sound spectacular features two-story projections information, contact Charlie Easton at 216-233-6135 or of the artist’s most compelling works. Wander through ceastonoh@gmail.com, or visit www.greatlakestca.org. entrancing, moving images that highlight Van Gogh’s brushstrokes, detail, and color, truly illuminating the mind FEB. 5 – Mid-Winter Stamp and Coin Show, Mozelle of the genius. www.vangoghcleveland.com.

Hall, Ashland Co. Fgds., 2042 Claremont Ave., Ashland, JAN. 13–17 – Cleveland Boat Show, I-X Ctr., 1 I-X Center 10 a.m.–3 p.m. Free. Stamp dealers and coin dealers, and a U.S. Postal Service booth. For more information, Dr., Cleveland, Thur./Fri. 12–9 p.m., Sat. 10 a.m.–9 p.m., contact Tom Zuercher at 419-496-1317.

Sun./Mon. 10 a.m.–5 p.m. $16, under 7 free. Dozens of exhibitors are set to welcome you back to the in-person FEB. 5 – Sports Card Show and Memorabilia, Hartville boat show experience. We’ve added even more seminar Marketplace and Flea Market, 1289 Edison St. NW, programs, live music, and special features to the show, Hartville, 9 a.m.–4 p.m. Free. For the entry level collector which still includes crowd favorites like Twiggy the Water- to the seasoned veteran; 35 vendor tables selling sports Skiing Squirrel! www.clevelandboatshow.com.

NORTHEAST

cards, memorabilia, autographs, and much more. 330877-9860 or https://hartvillemarketplace.com/events/ sports-card-show.

FEB. 6 – Medina Model Train and Toy Show, 735 Lafayette Rd. (St. Rte. 42), Medina, 9 a.m.–3 p.m. $7. 330948-4400 (Vikki Conrad) or www.conraddowdell.com.

FEB. 9–MAR. 19 – “Reimagining America: The Maps of Lewis and Clark,” Historic Fort Steuben, 120 S. Third St., Steubenville, Mon.–Fri. 10 a.m.–4 p.m. This traveling exhibit uses large-scale reproductions of historic maps, photos, and explanatory text to show how America looked before the journey of Lewis and Clark, and what it looked like after. 740-283-1787 or http://oldfortsteuben.com.

FEB. 11–20 – The Great Big Home and Garden Show, I-X Center, 1 I-X Center Dr., Cleveland. See website for schedule. Explore hundreds of exhibits, engage with more than 1,000 experts, and tour featured homes and the garden showcase. 440-591-6974 or www. greatbighomeandgarden.com.

FEB. 13 – Mansfield Train Show, hosted by Denny’s Trains, Richland Co. Fgds., Fairhaven Hall, 750 N. Home Rd., Mansfield, 10 a.m.–3 p.m. $7, under 13 free. Over 100 tables of quality train-related items. Several operating layouts. Hourly Denny Dollar drawings. For more information, contact Dennis Breese at 419-606-7934 or coaltrain3@hotmail.com, or visit www.cleveshows.com.

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34 OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING • JANUARY 2022

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JAN. 11, FEB. 8 – Inventors Network Meeting, virtual meeting, 7 p.m. Educational presentations and discussion about the invention process. Meetings are held the 2nd Tuesday of each month virtually. 614-470-0144 or www. inventorscolumbus.com.

JAN. 15 – Logan Frozen Festival, Main Street, Logan.

Free. Fun community event, with ice carvings on display, ice carving demonstrations, musical entertainment, and more. 740-385-2750.

JAN. 15–16 – Columbus Weddings Show, Ohio Expo Ctr., Kasich Hall, 717 E. 17th Ave., Columbus, 11–5 p.m. $12 online, $15 at door. Central Ohio’s largest wedding show!

THROUGH FEB. 6 – Immersive Van Gogh Exhibit, 940 Here’s your chance to talk in person with more than 100 Polaris Parkway, Columbus. $39.99–$54.99. Experience of the area’s most experienced wedding professionals, Van Gogh’s art in a whole new way — through digital who can help bring your dream wedding to life. www. immersion! This light-and-sound spectacular features cbusweddings.com. monumental projections of the artist’s most compelling JAN. 22–23 – Scott Antique Market, Ohio Expo Ctr., works. Wander through entrancing, moving images Bricker and Celeste Bldgs., 717 E. 17th Ave., Columbus, that highlight Van Gogh’s brushstrokes, detail, and Sat. 9 a.m.–6 p.m., Sun. 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Free admission; color, truly illuminating the mind of the genius. www. $5 parking. 800 exhibit booths. info@scottantiquemarket. columbusvangogh.com. com or www.scottantiquemarkets.com.

JAN. 7–16 – Ohio RV and Boat Show, Ohio Expo JAN. 28–30 – Columbus Golf and Travel Show, Ohio Center, 717 E. 17th St., Columbus, Wed.–Fri. 12–8 p.m., Expo Ctr., Kasich Hall, 717 E. 17th Ave., Columbus, Fri. Sat. 10 a.m.–8 p.m., Sun. 11 a.m.–5 p.m. Hundreds of 12–6 p.m., Sat. 10 a.m.–6 p.m., Sun. 10 a.m.–4 p.m. $12, campers and boats from over 21 dealers, plus camping under 12 free. The East Coast’s largest presentation of gear, equipment, and related products. Discounts golf equipment, apparel, and accessories, all under one available; see website. info@ohiorvandboatshow.com or roof. Representatives from local and national golf resorts www.ohiorvandboatshow.com. will be on hand to help you plan your next golf vacation.

JAN. 7–FEB. 6 – Movies at the Palace, Marion Palace www.columbusgolfandtravelshow.com.

Theatre, 276 W. Center St., Marion, Fri. 7:30 p.m., Sat./ FEB. 4–5 – Lancaster Antique Show, Fairfield Co. Sun. 2 and 7:30 p.m. Titles to be announced; check Fgds., Ed Sands Farm Bureau Bldg., 157 E. Fair Ave., website for updates. Enjoy watching classic films on the Lancaster. Reception and early buying Fri. 6–8 p.m.; $10 big screen with family and friends. 740-383-2101 or www. admission includes both days. Show Sat. 9 a.m.–2 p.m.; marionpalace.org.

CENTRAL

SOUTHWEST

THROUGH JAN. 21 – “Colors and Rhythms in Nature: The Work of Tim Ryan,” Harmon Museum, 105 S. Broadway, Lebanon. 513-932-1817 or www. wchsmuseum.org/artshow.html.

THROUGH FEB. 23 – Bluegrass Wednesdays, Vinoklet Winery, 11069 Colerain Ave., Cincinnati, 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. 513-385-9309 or vinokletwinery@fuse.net.

JAN. 14–16, 19–23 – Cincinnati Boat, Sport, and Travel Show, Duke Energy Convention Ctr., 525 Elm St., Cincinnati. $12–$13 online, $14 at door, under 12 free.

See website for times and updated schedule of events.

From travel destinations to boating, fishing, and hunting, find everything you need to plan your next outdoor adventure. www.cincinnatiboatshow.com.

JAN. 21–23 – Deer, Turkey, and Waterfowl Expo, Duke Energy Convention Ctr., 525 Elm St., Cincinnati, Fri. 3–9 p.m., Sat. 10 a.m.–9 p.m., Sun. 10 a.m.–5 p.m. $12 online, $14 at door, under 12 free. https:// cincinnatideerandturkeyexpo.com.

JAN. 21–23, 28–30 – Greater Cincinnati Remodeling Expo, Sharonville Convention Ctr., 11355 Chester Rd., Sharonville, Fri. 12–7 p.m., Sat. 10 a.m.–7 p.m., Sun. 10:30 a.m.–5 p.m. $5, under 18 free. Talk to the most knowledgeable remodeling and building experts in the area about your home improvement projects. See innovative displays showcasing the latest trends in design and product offerings. www.homeshowcenter. com/overview/Cincinnati.

$6. More than 35 dealers specializing in country and period antiques, stoneware, decorative arts, and more.

614-989-5811 or www.facebook.com/Lancaster-AntiqueShow-880461438718380.

FEB. 4–6 – Ohio Log Home and Timber Frame Show, Ohio Expo Ctr., Rhodes Ctr., 717 E. 17th Ave., Columbus, Fri. 1–7 p.m., Sat. 10 a.m.–6 p.m., Sun. 10 a.m.–4 p.m. $10 online, $15 at door; admission good for all three days. Under 18 free. Meet the industry’s top log home and timber frame builders, suppliers, experts, and rustic furniture makers. 866-607-4108 or www. loghomeshows.com.

FEB. 11–13 – Columbus Fishing Expo, Ohio Expo Ctr., Bricker Bldg., 717 E. 17th Ave., Columbus, Fri. noon–7 p.m., Sat. 9 a.m.–6 p.m., Sun. 9 a.m.–4 p.m. $12; threeday pass, $25. Three days of sport fishing education and fun, with educational seminars, speakers, and activities to expand your knowledge of fishing. 614-361-5548 or www.nationalfishingexpos.com.

FEB. 12 – Dueling Pianos, Marion Palace Theatre, May Pavilion, 276 W. Center St., Marion, 6 p.m. $25. Whether you’re in the mood for Journey or Lady Gaga — you say it, they play it! Howl at the Moon’s entertainers go headto-head singing and playing your favorite music requests from the classics to today’s hits. 740-383-2101 or www. marionpalace.org.

FEB. 13 – Columbus Bottle Show, Doubletree Inn, 175 Hutchison Ave., Columbus, 9 a.m.–2 p.m. $3. Early admission, 7–9 a.m.; $20. Sponsored by the Central Ohio Bottle Club. 740-703-4913, rtmoody@juno.com, or www.fohbc.org.

JAN. 22 – Masters of Soul, Clark State Performing Arts Ctr., Kuss Auditorium, 300 S. Fountain Ave., Springfield, 8 p.m. $32–$48. A celebration of the legendary songs and performers that defined Motown and soul music.

866-722-8587 or www.springfieldartscouncil.org.

FEB. 3–6 – Cincinnati Auto Expo, Duke Energy Convention Ctr., 525 Elm St., Cincinnati. $11, under 13 free. See website for times and updated schedules.

Explore the latest features and technology in new cars, trucks, SUVs, crossovers, and hybrids from your favorite manufacturers. Interactive exhibits, test drives, and much more. Fun for the whole family! https:// cincinnatiautoexpo.com.

FEB. 5 – Go-Kart Swap Meet, Roberts Centre, 123 Gana Rd., Wilmington, 8 a.m.–3 p.m. $15 ages 12 and older, $10 ages 7–11, under 6 free. Hosted by the Ohio Valley Karting Association. Asphalt and dirt karting along with quarter midgets and other racing categories.

250+ vendors. New and used equipment and parts; educational and tech seminars. For information, call Scott at 513-259-8449. Register online at www.ovka. com/swap-meet.

JANUARY 2022 • OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING 35

MEMBER INTERACTIVE 1

Sledding 2 1. First time sled riding for Mason, with his older sisters Masey and Madelynn.

Renee Stein Frontier Power Company member 2. My grandson, Camden, shoveling the snow and getting ready to go sledding.

Katie Grubba South Central Power Company member 3. Here I am, ready to ride in Elmore, Ohio, in 1945 at age 6.

Jeannene Shemeth Consolidated Cooperative member

3

5

4. My daughter, Sarah, and our dog, Snoopy, enjoying a sled ride down the hill in our backyard.

Nancy Powell Lorain-Medina Rural Electric Cooperative member 5. Cousins sledding: my son, Hudson; daughter, Logyn; nieces Harper and Hazel; and nephew Huitt.

Brittany Clinehens Pioneer Electric Cooperative member

4

Bel ow: We love collecting sleds — they make for great scenery on our country farm.

Chris West Frontier Power Company member

Send us your picture! For April, send “Scout’s honor” by Jan. 15; for May, send “Chasing waterfalls” by Feb. 15.

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

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

36 OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING • JANUARY 2022

Here’s a

sweet

deal!

candy bar

1936.................................................$0.05 2022.................................................$1.50

Price Increase: $1.45

electricity per kWh

1936..................................................$0.05 2022...................................................$0.11

Price Increase: $0.06

We know you like your chocolate smooth and your electricity affordable.

For more than 80 years, we’ve helped keep it a stable value. www.ohioec.org

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