Ohio Cooperative LIving - March 2021 - Paulding Putnam

OHIO

MARCH 2021

COOPERATIVE Paulding Putnam Electric Cooperative

annual Saturday, March 20, 2021 Begins at 10 a.m.

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VIRTUAL ANNUAL MEETING AGENDA 1.

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Call to order. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Board Chairman Dr. John Saxton Approve minutes from last year. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Saxton Treasurer’s report . . . . . . . . . . . . . Board Secretary-Treasurer Dr. Ron Black Chairman’s report. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Saxton President’s report . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . CEO George Carter Trustee election results . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Carter Code of Regulations results. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Black Introduction of new board member(s). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Saxton New/old business Adjourn

BALANCE SHEET

UNAUDITED For the year ending Dec. 31, 2020

Assets Plant Property and Investments: Total Plant. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 104,945,916 Construction work in progress. . . . . . . . . . $ 1,043,337 Accumulated Depreciation. . . . . . . . . . . . . $ (24,354,844) Net Plant. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 81,634,409 Investments: Invest. in Assoc. Org. - Patronage Capital. . $ 18,330,913 Associated Organization. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 2,407,354 Total Plant and Investments . . . . . . . . $ 102,372,676 Current Assets and Debits: Cash. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 1,412,109 Temporary Investments/Special Deposits.$ 1,622,275 Receivables . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 1,957,407 Merchandise Inventory. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 416,261 Other Current Assets. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 391,408 Total Current Assets and Debits. . . . . $ 5,799,460 Deferred Debits. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 157,286 Total Assets and Debits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$ 108,329,422

Liabilities and Equity Current Liabilities and Credits: Accounts Payable. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 3,748,199 Short-term Notes Payable. . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 3,200,000 Consumer Deposits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 184,025 Other and Accrued. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 2,062,230 Total Current Liabilities and Credits. . $ 9,194,454 Noncurrent Liabilities and Credits: Long-term Debt. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 29,419,859 Deferred Liabilities and Credits . . . . . . . . . $ 403,916 Total Liabilities and Credits. . . . . . . . . $ 39,018,229 Equity: Operating Margins Prior/Other. . . . . . . . . . $ 6,927,778 Memberships. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 67,052 Patronage Capital. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 62,316,363 Total Equity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 69,311,193 Total Liability and Equity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 108,329,422

STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS UNAUDITED

For the year ending Dec. 31, 2020 Revenue: Sales of Electricity. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 40,881,652 Interest Income . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 85,311 Other Income. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 26,714 Capital Credits. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 1,444,315 Total Revenue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 42,437,992 Expenses: Cost of Purchased Electric. . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 25,807,680 Cost of Maintenance on Lines, Poles, Rights-of-Ways, etc.. . . . . . . . . . . $ 2,501,590 Cost of Billing and Consumer Records. . . $ 478,875 Cost of Member Services. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$ 514,114 Cost of Administration and Office Operations. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 1,748,126 Depreciation Expense . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 3,296,921 Business Taxes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 1,237,540 Interest on Long-Term Debt. . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 1,289,827 Interest on Current Debt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 51,130 Total Expenses. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 36,925,803 Net Patronage Capital or Margins. . . . . . . . . $ 5,512,189

Please note these financials are pre-audit, due to printing time constraints. A complete copy of the audit report as presented by the firm of Bashore Reineck Stoller & Waterman, Inc., certified public accountants of Paulding, Ohio, is available for examination at the cooperative’s office during normal business hours.

OHIO

MARCH 2021

COOPERATIVE Paulding Putnam Electric Cooperative

Make a difference!

Sign up for Operation Round Up (page 20C)

Having a ball Interesting opportunities to pay it forward ALSOINSIDE INSIDE ALSO littlehelp help AAlittle Rodeo Rodeo generations generations Takingrefuge refuge Taking

WOMEN in Utilities Electric co-ops are dedicated to hiring a diverse workforce. The best service is cultivated by a diversity of backgrounds, opinions, education, and experiences.

ohioec.org/energy

OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING • MARCH 2021

INSIDE FEATURES

24 TAKING REFUGE Animal sanctuaries around the state let visitors get nose to snout with onceneglected pets and other wildlife.

29 GOOD FOR THE SOUL

Looking for opportunities to give back?

We’ve found a few interesting ways to volunteer in Ohio.

32 ALL IN THE FAMILY No longer confined to the Wild West, rodeo is a sport for everyone.

Cover image on most editions: At the Ohio Village in Columbus, volunteers share their love of history by playing in old-time exhibition baseball games. Huzzah!

This page: Russ Spreckelmeier rode in his first rodeo when he was 11, stayed at it through his six years in the Marines, and now serves as the announcer at Fox Hollow Rodeo in Waynesville.

MARCH 2021 • OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING 1

UP FRONT

Cooperative community partners W

e state it frequently, but it bears repeating: Electric cooperatives are member-owned community resources, primarily tasked with delivering power that is affordable and reliable and is produced in an environmentally responsible manner. Co-ops have a true concern for community because we are part of the community.

One of the key takeaways from that is the term “community resource.” Co-ops aren’t only locally governed and managed; they’re economic powerhouses in their communities, fueling homes, businesses, schools, health care facilities — you name it — while also serving as local strategic partners. They provide both much-needed financial incentives and human capital to maintain, expand, and preserve local community resources.

Co-ops do much more than keep the lights on.

We don’t often think about what it takes for our community to remain independent, safe, and responsive to changing needs.

Flip ahead to page 4 and you might be surprised at the level to which electric co-ops are ingrained into the fabric of your neighborhood. Cooperatives can be relied upon by our members to keep power flowing reliably and keep rates affordable but also to help their communities grow in good times and stay strong during tough times. We honor our traditions, respect the service of others, and value being good neighbors.

We look ahead to springtime and the change in the elements.

Like the weather, your co-op is changing with the times, but we advance with our members’ interests always as part of our plans.

2 OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING • MARCH 2021

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

Cooperatives can be relied upon by our members to help their communities grow in good times and stay strong during tough times.

MARCH 2021 • Volume 63, No. 6

Ohio Rural Electric Cooperatives 6677 Busch Blvd.

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

MORE INSIDE

4

DEPARTMENTS

Patrick O’Loughlin President & CEO

Patrick Higgins Director of Communications

Jeff McCallister Managing Editor

Rebecca Seum Associate Editor

Anita Cook Graphic Designer

Contributors: Margaret Buranen, Colleen Romick Clark, Randy Edwards, W.H. “Chip” Gross, Demi Martin, Catherine Murray, Wendy Pramik, 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

A little help: Electric co-ops work hard to keep their service reliable and affordable, while also helping out in their communities.

7

CO-OP SPOTLIGHT

Darke Rural Electric Cooperative: The Greenville-based co-op values its community connections, many of which are highlighted at local fairs.

8 CO-OP PEOPLE

Trufflemaker: A retired psychologist finds sweet success in her next career, as a chocolatier.

Cheryl Solomon

8

12 WOODS, WATERS, AND WILDLIFE

Boom to bust and back: Wood ducks survive tough times to thrive in the Buckeye State.

12

15 GOOD EATS

Cure-all: Curing not only preserves meat, it produces rich, deep flavor and a distinctive texture. Our recipes make delicious use of both of those traits.

19 LOCAL PAGES News and information from your

For all advertising inquiries, contact

7

15

electric cooperative.

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

36 CALENDAR

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.

What’s happening: March/April events and other things to do around the state.

40 MEMBER INTERACTIVE

In like a lion: Members share their

40

interpretations of March’s motto.

Visit Ohio Cooperative Living magazine online at www.ohiocoopliving.com! Read past issues and watch videos about our articles or our recipes. Our new 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.

www.ohiocoopliving.com MARCH 2021 • OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING 3

POWER LINES

A little

help

Electric co-ops work to keep their service reliable and affordable, but they also exist to help out when schools, businesses, or individuals in their communities need a hand.

BY JEFF MCCALLISTER

4 OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING • MARCH 2021

S

chool districts across the country struggled with how to continue their operations through the COVID-19 pandemic. How could they keep kids and teachers safe during in-building instruction? If schools went online, how could they assure that everyone had access to the same level of instruction? Even more complicated, what if they needed to do both?

community meetings that also included Ed VanHoose, general manager of Wellington-based Lorain-Medina Rural Electric Cooperative (LMRE), which serves Black River Schools.

VanHoose immediately began thinking about ways the coop could help. Black River and LMRE have a long history of partnerships. This time, VanHoose and his staff were able to take advantage of a program through LMRE’s financial institution, CoBank, that turned $5,000 in LMRE money into $10,000 that Black River Schools used to offset a good chunk of those COVIDrelated expenses. need and

That was the issue faced at Black River Schools in Medina County. Superintendent Chris Clark and the school board looked at the data and determined their best option was to keep in-person instruction “We saw a as much as possible. As a small, we acted. Doing what rural district — serving 1,200 is right and necessary students from Medina, Ashland, and Lorain counties — its schools for our members is at already had relatively small classes, the very core of what a most of which could be spread out to maintain 6 feet between cooperative does.” students during in-class learning.

“We saw a need and we acted,” VanHoose says. “Doing what is right and necessary for our members and community is at the very core of what a cooperative does.”

Electric cooperatives have that same attitude; Concern for Community is one of the defining principles at the heart — Ed VanHoose of what it means to be a cooperative, But the coronavirus did force after all, and co-ops show that concern changes. The district needed in lots of different ways. In the past few to find a way to teach the 230 months alone, Ohio cooperatives have supported the students who chose online instruction, while keeping Marion Palace Theatre, Marysville Uptown Theatre, Mercy those in the buildings safe with increased personal Unlimited in Wapakoneta, and New Washington Little protective gear and gallons upon gallons of sanitizer League — just to name a few. for hands and high-touch surfaces, as well as other incidentals that came up every day.

Sometimes co-ops are able to secure matching funds through initiatives like CoBank’s Sharing Success program.

“Contrary to what anyone may think, these expenses But many also make use of a donation program that allows have not been just a drop in the bucket, and there has their consumer-members to round up their electric bills, not been much help forthcoming from the state or federal and the co-ops in turn use that money for small grants to government,” Clark says. “All of our COVID-related organizations and individuals in need of help. Ohio co-ops expenses have really added up.” distributed more than $1.2 million in member donations As entities everywhere were figuring out how to deal through those programs last year. with those and other issues, Clark spent time in several Continued on page 6 Ed VanHoose (left) and Kathryn Grasz (right) from LorainMedina Rural Electric Cooperative present a check to Black River Local Schools to help offset COVID-related expenses.

MARCH 2021 • OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING 5

Co-ops’ community involvement goes beyond monetary donations. Ohio co-ops, for example, have organized Honor Trips to Washington, D.C., for area veterans (above and right) and the planning and installation of new signs that welcome visitors to town.

Continued from page 5

That money went to groups like the Homeward Bound Dog Shelter of Ashland County, through Firelands Electric Cooperative in New London; the Ohio Dyslexia Center in Fresno, through Coshocton-based Frontier Power Company; and Hope’s Closet in West Chester Township, through Butler Rural Electric Cooperative in Oxford.

Guernsey-Muskingum Electric Cooperative helped a Wills Township family stay off the streets by paying an unexpected medical bill. The Marion Fire Department purchased three new water rescue suits with a grant from Mid-Ohio Energy Cooperative in Kenton.

Co-ops’ concern for their communities, however, goes beyond monetary donations.

Nearly every co-op offers scholarships to children of members as those students prepare for life after high school.

Many cooperatives conduct food drives throughout the 6 OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING • MARCH 2021

year and only added to their pace in 2020 as the COVID-19 pandemic increased the need at food banks across the state.

Millersburg-based Holmes-Wayne Electric Cooperative has sponsored four Honor Trips to Washington, D.C. Helped by donations from community sponsors, the co-op has made it possible for nearly 100 veterans and their escorts to take what’s described as the trip of a lifetime.

Co-ops also encourage employees to show local community pride through service projects. With support from Paulding-based Paulding Putnam Electric Cooperative (PPEC), employee Peter Niagu put together and implemented a plan to install welcome signs to greet visitors entering the town.

“Part of being a cooperative is being a vital part of our community,” says PPEC President and CEO George Carter.

“Cooperatives help build a better America, and that starts with making a better, more empowered local community.”

CO-OP SPOTLIGHT

DARKE RURAL ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE

D

arke Rural Electric Cooperative in Greenville serves about 5,000 members in Darke, Preble, and Mercer counties in west-central Ohio, along the Indiana border. Darke REC prides itself on being an engaged part of its community and offering exceptional service, along with affordable, reliable electricity that its members expect.

Community involvement Darke Rural Electric’s Operation Round Up program allows consumer-members to round up their electric bills and donate the change to local charities and organizations. More than $414,000 has been donated since 2004. Darke REC awards $6,000 in scholarships each year to graduating seniors who are children of members and sponsors high school sophomores’ and juniors’ participation in the annual Youth Tour to Washington, D.C. Across Ohio, county fairs are the highlight of the summer, not only for youth involved in 4-H projects, but for many members of the community. One of Darke REC’s most important events is The Great Darke County Fair in August, one of the longest running and most robust county fairs in Ohio. Members who visit the cooperative booth at the fair can learn about new programs, receive a gift, and register to win bill credits. Darke REC also partners with Butler Rural Electric Cooperative to host the Preble County Junior Fair Exhibitor Picnic on move-in day of the county fair, providing a meal for the young exhibitors and their families.

National Trail High School is a cooperative member, and each year, Darke REC sponsors Cooperative Night at a football game to connect with the community and support the school’s athletic program.

Things to do Darke County’s proximity to the metropolitan area of Dayton makes it a popular destination for weekend or day trips and offers visitors a variety of options for dining, activities, and entertainment. A few don’t-miss highlights: • Bear’s Mill is a water-powered mill outside of Greenville that still grinds grain using traditional methods. The Mill Gallery features rotating art exhibits and events throughout the year, including tours, a candlelight Christmas walk, and a fall open house, which make it a popular tourist destination.

• Operated by the Darke County Historical Society, the Garst Museum offers over 300,000 American and Ohio historical artifacts.

• Shawnee Prairie Preserve and Nature Center is the largest park in the area and hosts the Prairie Days Festival, where visitors can observe and participate in pioneer-era activities, such as blacksmithing, candle making, and apple butter stirring.

Co-op Spotlight appears regularly in Ohio Cooperative Living to give a glimpse into the land and the people of Ohio’s 24 electric cooperatives.

MARCH MARCH 2021 • OHIO 2021 • OHIO COOPERATIVE COOPERATIVE LIVING 7 LIVING 7

CO-OP PEOPLE

Trufflemaker Retired psychologist finds sweet success with her next career, as a chocolatier.

BY MARGARET BURANEN

F

or years, Janet Bowers would make truffles as gifts for friends and colleagues, but, she says, “Never in my wildest dreams did I think I could do it professionally.” After all, she already had a full-time job as a practicing psychologist.

How things can change: Now her typical workday results in 1,200 dipped, dressed, and luscious chocolates, boxed and out the door.

Bowers, a member of South Central Power Company, grew up in Chillicothe and went on to work for the National Park Service and as a schoolteacher before deciding to earn her doctorate in clinical and forensic psychology.

She enjoyed her professional practice in Evergreen, Colorado, where the mountain town’s proximity to trout streams for fly fishing was a bonus. When she inherited her grandmother’s Wren Valley Farm, however, she knew it was time to return to Ohio. Back in the Buckeye State, she kept at her psychology practice for a few more years until she retired. Her retirement lasted about a week — exactly the time it took her to realize that “this retirement thing is not going to work for me.”

As she tried to decide what to do with her newfound free time, Bowers considered things she liked, and she hit upon chocolate. Wren Valley Truffles was born. She spent a year learning about chocolate, took some formal classes, and shadowed professional candymakers. She spent a lot of time

8 OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING • MARCH 2021

trying out recipes and flavor combinations. “Good chocolate is a combination of chemistry and artistry,” Bowers says. “It’s fun, and there’s always something to learn.”

The most challenging aspect of being a “Chocolate needs chocolatier in the beginning, she says, was respect, but it should simply working with the always be fun.” chocolate, learning how — Janet Bowers to heat it to the precise temperature at which it develops a high gloss and a crisp snap when it is bitten into — which took about a year for her to perfect.

Bowers says that her psychology background helps her as a chocolatier “in marketing and reaching out to people and in naming the truffles. I enjoy people, and I loved my psychology career. A lot of my skill sets just rolled over.”

Bowers likes to try new filling flavors for the Wren Valley truffles, but, she says, “I don’t make it again if I don’t like it.”

The truffles get a lot of repeat sales, but molded chocolates — bunnies, mice, fish, bears, hedgehogs — sell well, too. So do Wren Valley’s candy bars, including one with the design of a nautilus fossil, an allusion to Bowers’ undergraduate major in geology.

“I source ingredients from local suppliers as much as possible,” Bowers says. Her suppliers include Snowville Creamery, Dirty Girl Coffee, Spring Hollow Farm for maple syrup, Hartzler Family Dairy for butter, and Wildflower Lane Honey.

Bowers enjoys working with brides and event planners to create truffles and other artisan chocolates for weddings and special events. She decided not to open her own shop or offer mail-order service, but to remain a wholesale operation supplying her goods to area businesses.

She does take local special orders and delivers them to Hocking Hills Winery for the customer to pick up. The newest chocolate creations are frequently market-tested at the winery and later announced on the Wren Valley Truffles Facebook page.

Bowers says that her goal was always to create “Old World-style European truffles for people who understand what good chocolate is.” She adds, “Chocolate needs respect, but it should always be fun.”

Besides Hocking Hills Winery, Wren Valley’s truffles and other artisan chocolates are available at Glen Laurel Scottish Inn, Keller Market House, Hocking Hills Moonshine, and other area restaurants, lodges, and retreats.

Wren Valley Truffles, www.wrenvalleytruffles.com or 740-332-0773.

Janet Bowers had been retired for about a week before she realized she was going to need something else to fill her time. She turned to a favorite hobby: making chocolate. Her Wren Valley Truffles are available at select locations, mostly in the Hocking Hills region.

MARCH 2021 • OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING 9

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10 OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING • MARCH 2021

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MARCH 2021 • OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING 11

WOODS, WATERS, AND WILDLIFE

From boom to bust and back again Wood ducks survive tough times to thrive in the Buckeye State.

STORY AND PHOTOS BY W.H. “CHIP” GROSS

Y

oung wood ducks have a tough start in life. Hatched in a tree cavity 50 feet or more from the ground, they have less than a day to rest and dry their downy feathers after fighting their way out of the eggshell before their mother decides it’s time to leave the nest.

Flying down to the base of the tree, the female woody begins calling to her brood of possibly a dozen or more ducklings. Hearing her voice, they react instinctively: One at a time, they climb to the edge of the nest hole and launch themselves into the air. Weighing only a few ounces and still two months from being able to fly, a duckling tumbles end over end, hits the ground — hard — but bounces up like a little ping-pong ball and scurries to its mother.

When the hen is sure that all her offspring have gathered, she leads them quickly to the nearest stream, pond, swamp, or marsh. Though the ducklings are now safer than they were on land, they’re not yet totally out of danger. From below, a snapping turtle or largemouth bass would like nothing better than to make a meal of an

12 OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING • MARCH 2021

unsuspecting duckling. From above, a great blue heron or other avian predator could easily take one as well.

But if a young wood duck survives those many dangers — and is a male — it will mature into one of the most strikingly beautiful waterfowl in all of North America.

If female, its plumage will be grayish-brown, providing camouflage for next spring when it raises its own brood of young ducklings, usually in the same area it was reared.

Wood ducks — native to the Buckeye State — are doing quite well, with a strong population in Ohio, but that has not always been the case. During the 1800s, as Ohio’s virgin forests were cleared to make way for cities, towns, and farm fields, the natural nesting cavities in those giant trees disappeared, and the number of wood ducks plummeted. Some wildlife biologists even predicted the extinction of the wood duck by 1930.

Thanks to an aggressive nest-box program during the latter half of the 20th century, the wood duck was rescued from oblivion and its numbers restored.

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 Of course, that effort was spearheaded by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Division of Wildlife.

“Our staff installed and monitored wood duck nesting boxes — thousands statewide — near wetlands and ponds on both public and private lands in every county of Ohio during the 1980s,” says Mike Reynolds, executive administrator for wildlife management and research with the division. “Then we continued to distribute nesting boxes and plans to private landowners, which helped turn the tide and make this beautiful bird a common species once again in the Buckeye State. Today, both birding enthusiasts and waterfowl hunters are reaping the rewards of that remarkable recovery.”

Wood ducks also had a surprise ally in their fight to survive. As beavers — those large, extirpated rodents — gradually returned to the state after their own period of diminishing numbers, their constant dam-building created additional wood-duck-friendly wetlands.

Today the most numerous species of breeding duck in Ohio, wood ducks — as well as other migratory waterfowl — will be returning to the Buckeye State this month.

Now, then, is the time to grab a pair of binoculars and get outside to enjoy them. Just appreciate while doing so that you will be seeing the tangible results of a successful wildlife recovery program accomplished many decades ago by a combination of wildlife professionals and private citizens working together.

Want to help?

If a wood duck survives the many dangers it faces as a duckling (and it’s a male), it grows up to become one of the most strikingly beautiful waterfowl in North America.

If you’re a landowner with a pond, swamp, or other water area and would like to benefit wood ducks and other wildlife, you can erect a few nest boxes.

Plans can be obtained by calling 1-800-WILDLIFE and requesting Nest Box Plans (Publication 419) or by visiting www.ohiodnr. gov, clicking on “Go & Do,” and finding “View Wildlife” for a list of Ohio wildlife field guides.

MARCH 2021 • OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING 13

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Before refrigeration, curing — generally, covering a cut in salt — was the only way to preserve meat.

It has the added benefit of producing rich, deep flavor as well as distinctive texture, and these dishes make delicious use of both.

RECIPES AND PHOTOS BY CATHERINE MURRAY

BOLOGNA BREAKFAST CUPS Prep: 5 minutes | Cook: 15 minutes | Servings: 3 6 slices bologna ½ cup shredded cheddar 6 small eggs 1/8 teaspoon black pepper 1 tablespoon bacon bits 1 tablespoon diced scallions Preheat oven to 375 F. Grease a muffin tin or 6 ramekins. Shape a slice of bologna into each cup and sprinkle cheddar on top. Crack one egg into each cup. Lightly season with black pepper. Bake 15 to 20 minutes, checking regularly until eggs are lightly set. Remove from oven and sprinkle with bacon bits and diced scallions. Carefully remove bologna cups and serve immediately.

Per serving: 291 calories, 22 grams fat (8 grams saturated fat), 307 milligrams cholesterol, 3 grams total carbohydrates, 0 grams fiber, 20 grams protein.

MARCH 2021 • OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING 15

PEPPERONI SPINACH SALAD Prep: 10 minutes | Servings: 6 1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil 1/3 cup balsamic vinegar 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning 1 clove garlic, minced 10 ounces cherry or grape tomatoes, halved 2 tablespoons minced red onion

8 ounces fresh mozzarella pearls (or shredded mozzarella) 15.5-ounce can garbanzo beans, drained 6 ounces tri-color rotini pasta, cooked ¼ pound chopped pepperoni 10 ounces fresh spinach

Note: Red or white wine vinegar can be used in place of balsamic vinegar.

In a small bowl, mix together dressing ingredients — olive oil, vinegar, Italian seasoning, and garlic.

In a large bowl, toss together tomatoes, red onion, mozzarella pearls, garbanzo beans, pasta, and pepperoni. Add dressing, stirring to coat. Pasta mixture can marinate overnight or be served immediately. Dress plates with spinach and top with pasta mixture.

Per serving: 671 calories, 32 grams fat (9 grams saturated fat), 61 milligrams cholesterol, 605 milligrams sodium, 66 grams total carbohydrates, 14 grams fiber, 34 grams protein.

PASTRAMI QUICK KNISHES Prep: 20 minutes | Cook: 25 minutes | Servings: 8 2 tablespoons salted butter 2 tablespoons spicy or Dijon mustard 1 small onion, diced ½ pound sliced and diced pastrami 2 cups shredded green cabbage 17.3-ounce package frozen puff 1¼ cups water pastry sheets 1 cup instant mashed potato flakes 1 egg, whisked 2 tablespoons mayonnaise 3 tablespoons sesame seeds Preheat oven to 350 F. Melt butter in a medium skillet over medium heat. Sauté onion and cabbage until soft, about 10 minutes. Remove from heat and strain off any excess liquid. Boil water and mix in mashed potato flakes, mayonnaise, and mustard.

In a large bowl, mix pastrami, cabbage, and mashed potato mixtures. Roll out pastry dough to 10 x 10 inches and cut into eight 5 x 5-inch squares. Liberally fill each square of dough with potatopastrami filling. Fold corners diagonally two at a time, stretching pastry to close comfortably, then pinch at the top. Fold open corners clockwise and push together to seal. Place on a lightly greased baking sheet. Brush each knish with egg wash and sprinkle with sesame seeds. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes or until golden.

Per serving: 508 calories, 32 grams fat (9 grams saturated fat), 50 milligrams cholesterol, 637 milligrams sodium, 42 grams total carbohydrates, 2 grams fiber, 14 grams protein.

16 OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING • MARCH 2021

While you’re there, see a video of some of our tasty dishes being prepared.

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

ST. PATTY’S CORNED BEEF HASH Prep: 10 minutes | Cook: 25 minutes | Servings: 4 2 pounds russet potatoes, diced 4 cloves garlic, minced 3 tablespoons unsalted butter 1 teaspoon paprika 1 tablespoon olive oil 1½ tablespoons Worcestershire sauce 1 small onion, diced salt and pepper to taste 1 pound diced corned beef In a large pot, boil potatoes in salted water until just barely tender, 5 to 7 minutes. In a large cast-iron skillet (or nonstick electric skillet), heat butter and olive oil. Add onion and cook on medium 3 to 4 minutes or until soft. Turn up heat to medium high and add potatoes and corned beef. Depending on the size of your skillet, this may need to be done in batches. To produce crispy and browned edges, stir only occasionally for about 10 minutes. Add garlic, paprika, and Worcestershire sauce, season with salt and pepper to taste, and cook another minute or two.

Serve with poached or fried eggs, cooked cabbage, sauerkraut, or a side salad.

Per serving: 474 calories, 27 grams fat (12 grams saturated fat), 94 milligrams cholesterol, 1,141 milligrams sodium, 40 grams total carbohydrates, 6 grams fiber, 20 grams protein.

MARCH 2021 • OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING 17

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PAULDING PUTNAM ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE LOCAL PAGES

MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT

Hope isn’t canceled ...

and neither is your annual meeting!

Last year, at the last minute, our annual meeting was moved to a virtual format due to the pandemic. This worked very well, George Carter PRESIDENT AND CEO as over 400 members and guests tuned in to the broadcast. We had to change many business practices due to COVID-19 and put up “Hope isn’t canceled” billboards to remind our members we all must remain strong during this hardship.

SAVE THE DATE for your ANNUAL MEETING WHEN: Saturday, March 20, at 10 a.m.

WHERE: Virtually on Facebook LIVE and YouTube WHY: Win a bill credit, hear your board election and Code of Regulations results, and more!

Many employees and their families have been impacted by the COVID-19 virus. The impacts of the virus will be felt, for many of us, for years to come. Although it was a difficult year, your cooperative performed very well because of the hard work and dedication of our great employees.

The 2021 annual meeting will again be a virtual event on Saturday, March 20, beginning at 10 a.m. The meeting will be broadcast on social media through Facebook Live and YouTube Live. You will be updated on the financial condition of the co-op and receive the election results for the trustee elections and the update to the Code of Regulations. Members who comment on the video will also be entered to win a bill credit.

This year’s election process has been exciting. For the first time in several years, the Code of Regulations is being updated for more flexibility to meet the needs of the cooperative. The changes will allow the cooperative and its board to function better in the electronic and virtual environment we find ourselves in. We have an open seat in District 8, as current trustee, Doug Fortman, has chosen not to seek reelection. We had three members submit petitions to run for this seat, and we had a contested election in District 7 as well. These are examples of the cooperative principle of Democratic Member Control. Members exercise their right to vote on the code changes and who represents them on the board. I hope you will all tune into the annual meeting broadcast to see the results of these elections.

The annual meeting is a great time to talk to members and for members to meet employees and board members. We do not want to lose this important interaction. The annual meeting may be virtual, but we are hopeful of hosting our Member Appreciation Day in July of this year. If the pandemic situation allows for large gatherings, we will be hosting our members for this event. Please follow our social media or check our website for details.

Finally, this issue includes some new faces to welcome to our cooperative family. Tim Bowley is our new operations manager. He replaces Ted Slusser, who retired in January.

Samantha Kuhn has been promoted to marketing and communications manager. Kathy Kuckuck is our new parttime cashier, and Hunter Kauser has joined us as a summer intern in the engineering department.

Don’t miss your chance to win CASH! Simply comment on our virtual annual meeting livestream video on Saturday, March 20, at 10 a.m. on Facebook and YouTube live! All members who leave an appropriate comment on the video will be entered to win.

MARCH 2021 • OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING 19

PAULDING PAULDING PUTNAM PUTNAM ELECTRIC ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE COOPERATIVE LOCAL LOCAL PAGES PAGES

PAULDING PUTNAM ELECTRIC CO-OP 2020 Official Annual Meeting Minutes — March 21, 2020 The 83rd Annual Meeting was held at Paulding Putnam Electric Cooperative, Inc. headquarters building, Paulding, Ohio. Dr. John Saxton, Board Chairman, called the meeting to order at 10 a.m. The meeting was held as a video conference due to restrictions on meeting size issued by the State & Federal governments. The meeting was being broadcast on the internet via Facebook Live. Chairman Saxton began the meeting by reciting the Pledge of Allegiance.

Chairman Saxton noted the meeting notice had been mailed to all members on February 26, 2020 and this notice contained the meeting agenda. He stated he was dispensing with the reading of the notice as it had been certified as mailed to all members. He stated the agenda would be approved as mailed.

Chairman Saxton noted the minutes to the meeting held on March 16, 2019, had been mailed to all members in the recent issue of Cooperative Living and Indiana Connections magazines. He dispensed with the reading of the minutes as they were certified as mailed to all members and the minutes would stand as approved as mailed.

and those investments were improving reliability and reducing outage time. Mr. Carter reviewed construction work that had been completed in 2019 and explained some of the bigger projects planned for 2020. He stated no rate increase was planned for 2020; however, he explained increases may be seen in the wholesale power cost adjustment (WPCA) as transmission cost would likely increase 2% or 3% during 2020.

Mr. Dangler gave the Treasurer’s Report. He stated his written report appeared in the Cooperative’s Annual Report and members could obtain a copy at the office or review the audit report upon request. He further stated the audited financial report was completed by the local firm of Bashore, Reineck, Stoller & Waterman. The CPA firm had issued an unqualified, or clean, audit opinion.

Mr. Carter stated the scholarship judging had recently been completed by Defiance College and the results would be posted on the cooperative website.

Chairman Saxton began his remarks by thanking the membership for participating in the video conference.

Chairman Saxton took some time to review the board’s strategic responsibilities and to discuss the board’s role in strategic planning.

Mr. George Carter was called upon to present the trustee election results. Three (3) Districts (1, 6, and 9) were up for election: Trustees Joseph Kohnen (District 1), Dr. John Saxton (District 6) and Dr. Ronald Black (District 9) were re-elected by affirmation.

Mr. Carter gave the President’s report. He stated the cooperative had invested in improving the electrical system

There being no further business to come before the meeting, Chairman Saxton declared the meeting adjourned.

Mr. Carter said the interviews for the Youth Tour had been delayed. Following the interviews, the winners would be announced and posted on the website.

Energy Efficiency | Tip of the Month Turn down your water heater tank thermostat! For every 10 degrees you turn it down, you’ll save 3% to 5% on your bill. Most water heaters come preset at 140 degrees, which has the added risk of scalding. PPEC recommends most households lower it to 120 degrees.

Source: www.energy.gov

20 OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING • MARCH 2021

DID YOU SEE OUR NEW WEBSITE?

We revamped our website based on member feedback to give you easier navigation and more mobile-friendly accessibility. Check it out at www.PPEC.coop.

The snow on this roof ENERGY EFFICIENCY has melted, which

The snow on this roof hasn’t melted, which can be an indication that the attic IS well insulated.

can be an indication that the attic IS NOT well insulated.

3 steps to an energy efficient attic Peter Niagu

Attics are a great place to look if you want to get the most bang for your buck on energy efficiency investments.

Attics are often the place where warm air leaks out of the home in winter or into the home during summer.

Trouble spots include anything that comes through the attic floor, such as recessed lights, the chimney, the attic hatch and pipes, and ducts or wires coming through the attic floor.

Sealing. It’s best to properly seal these trouble spots before adding or improving the insulation. Invest a small amount of money in the necessary supplies, like caulk, expanding foam, or weatherstripping, to seal any air leaks in your attic.

ENERGY ADVISOR

Ventilation. Many attics are under-ventilated, which allows moisture and heat to build up. Moisture causes harmful mold and wood rot. During the summer, a poorly ventilated attic is prone to overheating, which can bake shingles and shorten their life. In winter, a warm attic can melt snow on the roof, causing it to run into your gutters and then freeze, causing ice dams.

Proper attic ventilation lets air flow from a low point to a high point. This is usually done by installing soffit vents and insulation baffles around the perimeter, plus vents near the peak of the roof. If there’s no way to install attic ventilators, an attic fan can be installed to provide mechanical assistance to exhausting overheated air.

Insulation. The three main types of insulation for attics are loose-fill, batt, and rigid. Whichever type you have,

it needs to provide a high-enough level of insulation, measured in R-value. For Ohio, energy.gov recommends an R-value between 49 and 60.

Batt and rigid insulation will often have the R-value printed on them. Loose-fill, which is blown in, is the most common for attic floors, and its R-value is approximately its depth in inches multiplied by 2.8. Generally speaking, your attic should have 14 to 24 inches of loose-fill insulation.

If you have loose-fill insulation that is less than the recommended amount, you should be able to simply add more on top of it, as long as there aren’t any moisture, rodent, ant, or termite problems. If your existing loosefill insulation was installed before 1990, it could be vermiculite, which may be contaminated with asbestos.

Asbestos can cause cancer when particles are released into the air, so it’s a good idea to have the insulation tested. If it’s contaminated, have it removed by a professional before beginning work.

Remember to seal and insulate any walls in the attic that border conditioned space, such as skylight openings.

Some of these steps can be challenging, so consider hiring a professional contractor. If you’re a DIY pro and decide to do some of the work on your own, be aware of potential hazards. Disturbing old wiring can cause shorts in your electrical system, and roofing nails will often pierce the attic ceiling. Always keep safety in mind when working in the attic, especially when it comes to balancing on rafters.

These tips will help you take the next steps to a more energy-efficient attic.

MARCH 2021 • OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING 20A

PAULDING PUTNAM ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE LOCAL PAGES

Stay Comfortable.

S

pace heating and cooling account for a large portion of the average home’s energy use. A programmable or smart thermostat can help you control the temperature of your home and save energy.

WHERE ARE YOUR ENERGY DOLLARS GOING?

Find out using our suite of energy calculators and other efficiency tools to help you conduct your own home audit, find DIY projects to print, and much more!

Visit PPEC.coop and click the “My Energy” tab. If you need additional help or want details on a free home energy audit by phone, give us a call. Our team of energy experts are here to help you lower your bill — that’s the not-for-profit cooperative difference!

e u l a v

THE

UNBEATABLE

OF ELECTRICITY

Your average daily cost of electricity is less than a Big Mac! The average PPEC member’s electric bill is less than $6 per day! Just think of everything you receive for that value: heating, showering, cooking, laundry, TV & electronics, phone charging, lights, and much more!

20B OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING • MARCH 2021

OPERATION ROUND UP

Operation Round Up donates

$10,060 to 5 local causes

Payne Volunteer Fire Department

Oakwood Library Association

Antwerp Local Schools

Hands of Hope

Synergy Learning Center

Members of Paulding Putnam Electric recently donated $10,060 to five local charities and community projects through the cooperative’s Operation Round Up program. About 75% of our members round up their electric bill and donate those pennies to this fund, making a huge impact in our northwest Ohio and northeast Indiana communities.

As your co-op, we are

empowered

• Antwerp Local Schools; $2,160 for six special-needs desks

• Payne Volunteer Fire Department: $2,000 for a positive pressure ventilation fan and cones

Ready to make a difference in your community with your spare change?

Help us get to 100% member participation! To sign up, please call 800-686-2357 or visit PPEC.coop and click the Programs tab, then Operation Round Up.

to do more. Here are the latest donations:

• Oakwood Library Association; $2,000 for building maintenance costs for their Cooper Community Branch

and school supplies for students • Hands of Hope Pregnancy Services in Paulding; $1,900 for new course curriculums

• Synergy Learning Center in Van Wert; $2,000 for food, clothing,

KNOW A LOCAL NON-PROFIT THAT NEEDS FUNDING? Tell them to apply for a grant through PPEC’s Operation Round Up program. Special consideration is given to those organizations or projects that make the most impact for the greatest number of people. Learn more at PPEC.coop under our programs tab, or call our office.

MARCH 2021 • OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING 20C

PAULDING PUTNAM ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE LOCAL PAGES OPERATIONS UPDATE

2021 WORK PLAN HIGHLIGHTS

Co-op budgets $4 million in power reliability investments

...all with no rate increase!

This year, Paulding Putnam Electric Cooperative is planning $4 million in investments for system improvements that will directly increase the co-op’s service reliability and maintain existing facilities — all without an electric rate increase for residential or commercial members. PPEC knows it’s been a tough year for members and works hard to control costs while optimizing member service.

Primary components of the 2021 work plan include: • A budgeted 31 miles of line rebuilds across Ohio and Indiana, as well as sectionalizing to reduce outage minutes. Keeping your lights on is a priority!

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

• Testing 4,435 utility poles in Brown and Jackson townships in Paulding County, Ohio, and Monroe Township in Putnam County, Ohio. Poles are tested on a rotating cycle for sturdiness and reliability; any that fail the test will be replaced.

• Right-of-way maintenance and tree trimming in parts of Indiana’s Allen County and in Ohio’s Putnam and Van Wert counties. Trees and branches falling into power lines are a primary cause of power outages and

20D OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING • MARCH 2021

blinking lights, so keeping them in check helps reduce reliability issues.

“Our engineering staff does an impressive job of planning for the future growth and the power reliability needs of our members,” says PPEC Operations Manager Tim Bowley, who replaced long-time employee Ted Slusser after Ted’s retirement in January. “Our crews’ track record shows they are dedicated to restoring power safety and efficiently.”

President and CEO George Carter elaborated, highlighting rate stability and co-op membership perks, which customers of investor-owned utilities don’t see.

“Our members can rest assured that we are working to replace aging facilities, increase efficiency, and improve our service reliability — all without raising rates and also returning $2.2 million in capital credits last month to members,” Carter says. “That’s the not-for-profit cooperative difference.”

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” tab at www.PPEC.coop.

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

Staff changes & new faces PPEC announces several staff and position updates: •

Operations Manager Tim Bowley (Monticello, Indiana) was hired to replace retiree Ted Slusser.

•

Kathy Kuckuck (Paulding, Ohio) was hired as a part-time cashier.

•

Engineering Intern Hunter Kauser (Paulding, Ohio) was hired after a successful Paulding High School “Panthers to Careers” job discernment program.

•

Samantha Kuhn (Defiance, Ohio) was promoted from communications coordinator to marketing and communications manager after Erika Willitzer’s departure.

Hunter Kauser

Samantha Kuhn

OPERATIONS MANAGER TIM BOWLEY

PART-TIME CASHIER KATHY KUCKUCK

PERSONAL LIFE: My wife,

PERSONAL LIFE: I’ve been

Melissa, and I have been married for 20 years and have three sons, two granddaughters, and three grandsons. We have temporary housing in New Haven, Indiana, and are looking for a place to move after our home sells.

DUTIES: Manage line crews and make a smooth

married to my husband, Bill, for 19 years. We have four very active children: Dylan is 17, Carlea is 16, Xander is 13, and Kayde is 11. We live in Paulding, Ohio.

DUTIES: I’ll be covering the front desk – member

transition after Ted’s retirement.

service, taking payments, answering phones … anything that’s needed.

MOTIVATION: I was a lineman at Carroll White REMC

MOTIVATION: I’ve run my own business for 12 years.

in Monticello, Indiana, for 13 years and moved into the line superintendent position of the south office four years ago. I wanted to come here because the reputation of PPEC and the people who work here is highly regarded around both the states of Ohio and Indiana.

I saw the opportunity to work part-time back in the workforce, and this seemed like the perfect fit!

HOBBIES: I collect glass insulators and dabble in woodworking when I have time. I enjoy watching my grandkids play baseball, football, and softball. I have umpired fastpitch softball and baseball off and on for the last 10 years or so.

FUN FACT: I am a Purdue fan and a Dallas Cowboys fan (I know, I know) from living in Texas for a time as a child and learning to play football there. You had to be a fan of Dallas or Houston, and I couldn’t bring myself to root for a team called the Oilers!

HOBBIES: I am a full-time, on-location photographer.

That was a hobby that turned into a career. I love watching, playing, and coaching basketball.

FUN FACT: I am addicted to cruising! I try to go on multiple cruises a year. If you see me on break, don’t be surprised to see me searching for cruise deals.

Want to see more of our employees?

Like our social media pages on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, or Twitter for action shots of our linemen, employee contests, holidays, and much more!

MARCH 2021 • OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING 21

PAULDING PUTNAM ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE LOCAL PAGES

We want to hear from you!

Your thoughts and opinions about Paulding Putnam Electric Cooperative help us to serve you better.

In March and April, PPEC will be working with NRECA Market Research Services to complete member satisfaction surveys.

The surveys will be both by phone and email, but not everyone will be contacted. If you are contacted, we would greatly appreciate a few minutes of your time to share your opinions of the cooperative.

We strive to provide all members with safe, affordable, reliable, and clean electric service. By participating in the survey, you will help us make decisions that benefit you, your family, and your neighbors.

Thank you!

All information is confidential.

If you receive a call or email asking you to take a survey about your satisfaction with PPEC, it is legitimate. We appreciate your time!

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 Douglas Fortman Ken Niese William Dowler Trustees

22 OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING • MARCH 2021

Norm Cook

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

Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, and Pinterest

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taking refuge Animal sanctuaries around Ohio let visitors get nose to snout with once-neglected pets and other wildlife.

STORY AND PHOTOS BY WENDY PRAMIK

A

full-figured pig named Baby lounges, unruffled, in a puddle of mud at Sunrise Sanctuary in Marysville. A lone duck waddles past, oblivious to the prodigious porker to its left.

As the afternoon sun breaks overhead, more and more animals emerge from the grounds’ timeworn structures — a red barn, a small house, a rickety flatbed truck.

Here, such nonchalance is not only widespread among the denizens, it’s a welcome sign of contentment.

Sunrise Sanctuary is a permanent refuge for more than 170 discarded farm and companion animals, a collection that includes rats, bunnies, cats, dogs, pigs, goats, sheep, llamas, cows, horses, donkeys, chickens, ducks, peacocks, and turkeys.

“Our babies are all unique and special souls that are loving, thoughtful, and funny individuals,” says Sandy Horvath,

24 OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING • MARCH 2021

the animals’ primary caretaker. “They’re not just numbers.

They are special beings deserving of our love and respect.”

All around Ohio, animal sanctuaries provide respite and relief for misfit animals, whether they’ve been abused or neglected or simply moved on to greener pastures after their working days ended.

All kinds of styles Ohioans can pay many of these fine friends a visit — sometimes by appointment, as visitation and admission policies vary. Some sanctuaries and rescues allow animals to remain for life. Others rehabilitate wild animals and release them back into nature. Others socialize animals and prepare them for adoption.

Mindy Mallett founded Sunrise, a nonprofit charity, in 2001 to provide a dash of dignity for animals that had been forgotten. Here, they freely roam the spacious

Animals of all kinds shelter safely — either for rehabilitation or to live out their lives in comfort — at a number of animal sanctuaries in Ohio.

grounds, where they meet up with picture-snapping visitors on select Saturdays during “Open Barn Days.”

Volunteers such as Horvath operate the farm, which depends on donations from the public.

“We hope that once they get to know these animals, they see them in a different light,” Horvath says.

Offering hope, offering homes Most sanctuaries offer a place where animals can be loved and respected. It took one pot-bellied pig named Janice to convince Annette Bragg to establish Happy Trails Farm Animal Sanctuary, in Ravenna, in 2001. Bragg caught wind of the pig and decided to rescue her. She later adopted Janice’s buddy, George, and built a log cabin to house them.

Happy Trails now is home to about 130 animals that roam an 11-acre track. Out of the 190 animals the sanctuary rescued last year, 170 were adopted.

They include Amish horses, which stewardship coordinator Lissy Kuhn says often are rescued from the Continued on page 26

Meet some of these sheltered animals — watch the video at ohiocoopliving.com/sanctuary.

MARCH 2021 • OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING 25

Ducks and chickens (below) are among the discarded farm or companion animals that live at Sunrise Sanctuary in Marysville.

Animal sanctuaries around Ohio Ohio Wildlife Center, Powell: Visit the state’s largest wildlife hospital just north of Columbus. You’ll encounter about 50 animal ambassadors that represent a small percentage of the more than 6,000 patients the center treats yearly. 614-734-9453, www.ohiowildlifecenter.org.

Ohio Bird Sanctuary, Mansfield: A 90-acre, wooded retreat where you can encounter birds being cared for after suffering mishaps or illnesses, including several eagles and various species of hawks.

419-884-4295, www.ohiobirdsanctuary.com.

Continued from page 25

auction block, which can spell an uncertain future.

“They’re really sweet horses,” she says. “The farmers feel a lot better when they can retire their horse versus taking them to auction.”

Finding some-bunny to love The Ohio House Rabbit Rescue in Columbus specializes in bunnies, helping them to socialize with the ultimate goal of going to a new home.

That’s important, because there are hundreds of unwanted pet rabbits that emerge each year in the Buckeye State. Rabbit Rescue is all about giving them a new life, one that includes regular meals and lots of love.

The shelter has been around since 2013 and houses about 40 rabbits in private pens that contain all they need. Staff are happy to match visitors with the perfect bunny companion to welcome into their home.

Butternut Farm Wildcat Sanctuary, Johnstown: Homeless wildcats and related species find a home in a rustic abode 25 miles northeast of Columbus, which runs solely on donations. 937-336-6276, www.facebook.com/ButternutFarmsWildcatSanctuary.

Southern Ohio Wolf Sanctuary, Chesapeake: A haven for about two dozen wolfdogs — crosses between a dog and any of a variety of wolf breeds. 740-451-9653, www.southernohiowolfsanctuary.com.

Forever Safe Farm Animal Education Center, Salem: The rolling hills of eastern Ohio are a forever home to more than 100 rescued and retired animals.

You’ll see a range of animals including camels, horses, alpacas, raccoons, and wallabies. 330-7278909, www.foreversafefarm.org.

Island Safe Harbor Animal Sanctuary, Port Clinton: An appointment-only rescue center near Lake Erie that provides a healthy environment for animals that are old, sick, or even terminally ill. 419-960-7487, https:// islandshas.wixsite.com/ishas.

Ohio Pet Sanctuary, Cincinnati: A combination pet supply store and rescue center that focuses on small animals including birds, rabbits, guinea pigs, cats, ferrets, small rodents, and reptiles. 513-388-9998, www.ohiopetsanctuary.com.

Glen Helen Raptor Center, Yellow Springs: Learn all about raptors, including hawks, kestrels, and owls, at the center, part of Glen Helen Nature Preserve, which helps broken birds and provides education about their role in our lives. 937-769-1902, www.glenhelen.org.

Lasa Sanctuary, Wooster: There are more than 130 farm animals living peaceably in a bucolic Wayne County spread that promotes kindness to animals and a vegan lifestyle. www.lasasanctuary.org.

26 OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING • MARCH 2021

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Volunteer-minded folks in Cleveland might work as mentors with refugee students, a perfect way to learn about other cultures while helping people who need it.

soul

Good for the Looking for ways to give back? We’ve found a few interesting ways to volunteer in Ohio.

BY PATTY YODER

Volunteering is not only good for the community — it’s good for you, too. In fact, studies show the act of volunteering boosts physical and mental health and may even help you live longer.

Ohio has an abundance of good causes to donate your time to. Here are five unique volunteer opportunities that could be a great fit for someone in your family.

MARCH 2021 • OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING 29

Get golfers back onto the links Golfers living with the effects of a stroke, Parkinson’s disease, or other neurological conditions can get back into the game, thanks to OhioHealth Fore Hope. The golf therapy program provides physical, cognitive, and social benefits, but it requires a helping hand, since balance is often an issue. Volunteers tee up golf balls, position putters, and perform other simple tasks that make a big difference.

Mindy Derr started Fore Hope in 1989 to help her father, an avid golfer, reconnect with his clubs after an illness.

Today, 20 volunteers assist 70 central Ohioans with year-round programming.

“When we’re on the golf course, we need as many people as we can get,” Derr says. “Our volunteers act as cheerleaders, help with stretching, and talk golf. They love golf, and they understand that people need hope.”

OHIOHEALTH FORE HOPE www.ohiohealth.com/services/ neuroscience/our-programs/forehope 614-566-4242; ForeHope@ohiohealth.com

Train for a race with a visually impaired runner Dee Char believed her running days were behind her when a retinal degenerative disease affected her vision.

Several years later, she was inspired to try again after a legally blind woman won Cincinnati’s Flying Pig marathon.

Today, Char uses United in Stride to connect with sighted runners near her Dayton home and while traveling so she can run safely outdoors. Volunteers share their pace, running goals, and interests online, then meet local visually impaired runners to go for a one-time run, train for a marathon, or anything in between. Although the organization offers tutorials, runners have to find their own style, Char says.

“There’s no one way to guide someone, so it’s something you figure out together,” she says. “Some runners want constant communication. Some use a tether or a cane. Some pairs get so good at it that they don’t need to use words anymore.”

UNITED IN STRIDE www.unitedinstride.com info@unitedinstride.com 30 OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING • MARCH 2021

Experience another culture without leaving town Cleveland-area volunteers can help refugee students from Burma, Afghanistan, Syria, and other faraway places establish American roots through Refugee Response.

Twice a week, mentors visit students’ homes to help them strengthen literacy and math skills, build good study habits, and learn to navigate school technology.

In return, mentors gain insights into another culture and form lasting relationships with resilient families who are part of their community.

“The program is not about test prep or achieving a certain score,” says Naila Paul, Refugee Response director of education. “It’s about building confidence and a positive attitude toward education.”

REFUGEE RESPONSE www.refugeeresponse.org 216-236-3877; info@refugeeresponse.org

Play vintage baseball Travel back in time by joining a baseball team that plays by 1860s rules (underhand pitching, no gloves, no helmets, no balls and strikes). The Ohio Village Muffins and Diamonds share their love of history through exhibition games. Volunteers act as players, umpires, scorekeepers, and historic interpreters who explain the game to audiences in Ohio and beyond, along with the appropriate way to cheer (“Huzzah!”).

Longtime player and advisory board chair Aaron Seddon said both men and women played baseball in the 19th century, and today’s games make history accessible to people of all ages.

“Vintage baseball is a way to step back into history, but the outcome of the game has yet to be determined, which makes it exciting,” he says.

OHIO VILLAGE MUFFINS (men’s team) www.facebook.com/OhioVillageMuffins OHIO VILLAGE DIAMONDS (women’s team) www.facebook.com/theohiovillagediamonds

Ride through a national park on a heritage railroad More than 1,200 volunteers donate their time to the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad, a nonprofit historic railroad that offers educational trips through the Cuyahoga Valley National Park and the Ohio and Erie Canalway. They do everything from refurbishing train cars to helping out in the gift shop.

“Some of our volunteers are carrying on the legacy of their fathers or grandfathers who worked on the railroad. Others rode the train as kids. Some are looking to give back and meet new people,” says Sherri Lemley, manager of volunteer relations. “Our volunteers are the lifeblood of our organization.”

CUYAHOGA VALLEY SCENIC RAILROAD www.cvsr.org; 800-468-4070 MARCH 2021 • OHIO 2021 • OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING LIVING 31 31

No longer confined to the Wild West, rodeo is a sport for everyone.

BY RANDY EDWARDS; PHOTOS BY DEMI MARTIN/NEW VIEW PHOTOGRAPHY

family All in the R

uss Spreckelmeier won his first rodeo prize money at age 11, riding a steer. It was $8, which was both not very much and just enough. “Man, I knew it, then. I knew, this is what I’m gonna do. In all honesty, it felt like a natural talent.”

Spreckelmeier, 57, of Springboro, Ohio, has been riding bulls and broncs ever since, even throughout his six years of service in the Marines. At 5 feet, 5 inches and 155 pounds, Spreckelmeier says, “I wasn’t made for football. Couldn’t play basketball. But the chicks all liked it ’cause I rodeoed. Wore Wranglers and boots to school every day.”

By strapping on spurs and mounting the bucking broncs, he was following in the bootprints of his father, Richard Spreckelmeier, who learned to ride horses bareback in California, during his stint in the Marines.

“Rodeo was really popular in California at the time. They had some real stock out there,” the senior Spreckelmeier says. “When I came back to Ohio, they were just playing around with Wild West shows and such.”

That was in 1959, but in the past half century, rodeo in the East has spread from county fairs to Madison Square Garden. Throughout the U.S. and Canada, it’s become a big-ticket sport, and like the county fairs that spawned it, rodeo is often

32 OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING • MARCH 2021

a family activity centered around a love for horses. Think of it as a variation on dressage or show jumping, with more adrenaline and broken bones.

Horses are the unifying thread that connects the Spreckelmeier family. Russ Spreckelmeier’s greatgrandfather, a Dutch immigrant, opened a blacksmith shop in Cincinnati’s Over-The-Rhine neighborhood, and his grandfather was a blacksmith and horse trainer.

Russ also trains horses on his Diamond S Ranch in Springboro, but like many in his family, rodeo always

Modern rodeo has origins that go back at least to Latin American vaqueros, who competed at fiestas to demonstrate their dexterity at the vocational skills of their trade: riding, roping, and otherwise wrangling large livestock.

From those roots, it has developed into a sport that attracts more than 43 million fans, according to the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association, the oldest sanctioning body for the sport. The sport continues to grow in popularity at countless independent events

Rodeo is a family-oriented activity in which those of all ages can participate. Russ Spreckelmeier (opposite page and above right) rode his first steer at age 11, following in his father’s footsteps. Though he no longer rides, he serves as announcer at Fox Hollow Rodeo in Waynesville, where he helps promote the next generation of riders.

has been his first love. Richard, Russ’ father, eventually gave up riding himself, starting his own rodeo and bucking bull breeding operation, and later moving it to New Bern, North Carolina, where he still hosts rodeo events at age 84. Russ’ brother, Casey, rode bulls as a younger man and served as announcer at the family’s North Carolina rodeo. Russ’ daughter, Laura, competes in barrel racing, in which riders and their horses engage in a high-speed and exhilarating demonstration of horsemanship around a cloverleaf track.

and those associated with newer organizations, like the Southern Extreme Bull Riding Association. Based in North Carolina, it sanctions more than 450 events across the U.S. each year, including the bull riding at Fox Hollow Rodeo in Waynesville, Ohio. Fox Hollow is one of the few rodeos in the region that hosts events year-round, and on one September Saturday night, about 800 fans gathered at Fox Hollow to watch the action and cheer on the bull riders as they fought to stay on their mounts for the 8 seconds required to post a score.

MARCH 2021 • OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING 33

Fox Hollow Rodeo, 1909 E. State Route 73, Waynesville, OH 45068. Open every Saturday year-round, with outdoor events from April through October. www.foxhollowrodeo.com.

Now out of the riding game, Russ Spreckelmeier still trains horses when he’s not announcing at the weekly rodeo in Waynesville. (photo by Randy Edwards)

Fox Hollow’s summer venue is an outdoor dirt arena surrounded by a pipe rail fence. At the center of the ring that night was none other than Russ Spreckelmeier.

He doesn’t yet use the word “retired” — he won his last saddle bronc title in 2017 at the National Professional Armed Forces Rodeo Association — but these days you’re most likely to find Spreckelmeier astride his Appaloosa as the announcer at Fox Hollow. In a western shirt, knotted neckerchief, and black cowboy hat, he serves as emcee and cheerleader, leading the invocation, coaxing the youngest contestants through the “mutton bustin’” event, offering encouragement to the riders, and rousing the crowd.

After four decades of rodeo, Spreckelmeier has seen his share of “wrecks” — rodeo slang for any number of things that can go wrong when riding large animals. He’s broken numerous bones and has several steel bars permanently implanted in his body. His worst wreck, in 2001, led to his being airlifted to the hospital after a bull stepped on his head. Both his eye sockets were rebuilt, leaving one eyebrow permanently cocked, giving him a look of someone who can’t believe you just asked him why he kept riding after that.

“I did think about quitting then,” he says. “In fact, I told everyone I was going to quit. But I missed the crowd, the sounds. I missed the lights. I don’t know. They say rodeo is a bad drug. I guess it is.”

As the sun faded at Fox Hollow and the large overhead lights lit up the dirt arena, Spreckelmeier called on the crowd to make some noise. “We don’t have a professional cheering section, folks. It’s up to you!”

The crowd roared its approval. All was well.

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2021 CALENDAR

MARCH/APRIL

NORTHWEST

the production team, and Maestro Crust must enlist the help of the world’s greatest detective to solve the case. Fun for the whole family! Livestreamed at www. limaciviccenter.com.

MAR. 20–21 – Spring Crafters’ Showcase, Tam-OShanter Exhibition Ctr., 7060 Sylvania Ave. (1/2 mile west of McCord Rd.), Toledo, Sat. 9 a.m.–4 p.m., Sun. 11 a.m.–4 p.m. Free admission and parking. Enter drawings to win gift certificates, and look for Balloon Bonanza show specials. 419-842-1925 or www. toledocraftsmansguild.org/shows.html.

MAR. 12–14 – Lima Noon Optimist Club’s Home and MAR. 26–27 – Home Sweet Home Vintage Business Expo, Allen Co. Fgds., 2750 Harding Hwy., Inspired Market and Home Show, Allen Co. Fgds., Lima, Fri. 6–9 p.m., Sat. 12–9 p.m., Sun. 12–5 p.m. $2. 2750 Harding Hwy., Lima, Fri. 5–9 p.m., Sat. 9 Home improvement products and services, ranging a.m.–6 p.m. $10 for Fri. and Sat. admission; $5 for from windows and doors to new painting and concrete Sat. only; under 13 free. Vintage, rustic, farmhouse, techniques, and from landscaping ideas to hot tubs shabby chic, antiques, and repurposed items, from and spas. Over 160 booths featuring more than 100 clothing and home décor to jewelry and handmade vendors. Proceeds from the show support numerous treasures. Food trucks on site. 419-230-1756, Lima-area youth activities. 567-242-3513 or http:// homesweethomevintagemarket@gmail.com, or https:// limaoptimist.com. homesweethomevintagemarket.com.

MAR. 20 – “Sherlock Holmes and the Case of the MAR. 27 – Bid for Our Kids, online auction, 12 p.m.

Missing Maestro,” virtual concert. Free. The Maestro Primary fundraising event of the year for St. Charles is missing and there is an imposter on the podium! and Lima Central Catholic schools, featuring auction Who is this imposter, and who tried to kidnap the items, raffles, mystery boxes, and more. 419-222Maestro from his dressing room right before the 4276 (Emily Miller), emiller@apps.lcchs.edu, http:// concert? Everyone is a suspect, from the orchestra to lima.simpleviewinc.com, or www.facebook.com/ events/363855931553372.

NORTHEAST

talented young string musicians present their final concert of the season. 419-522-2726 or www. rentickets.org/events.

MAR. 26 – MY Theatre: Godspell, Renaissance Theatre, 138 Park Ave. W., Mansfield, 7 p.m. $15. A sensory-friendly version will be presented Mar. 25 at 6:30 p.m. 419-522-2726 or www.rentickets.org/events.

APR. 3 – “How to Trace Your Ancestors in Scotland,” Western Reserve Historical Society online event, 1–2 p.m. Free. Presented by Amanda Epperson, this program will help you uncover your Scottish heritage, from identifying your immigrant ancestor to tracking down records in the old country. You’ll learn about church records, civil registrations, censuses, MAR. 7 – Cleveland Comic Book and Nostalgia and more, plus how to find them in online databases Convention, Doubletree by Hilton Clevelandand in archives. Registration is required to receive the Westlake, 1100 Crocker Rd., Westlake (I-90 exit 156), event access link and corresponding information. 21610 a.m.–4 p.m. $5, under 7 free. 41st year of great 721-5722 ext. 1108 or www.wrhs.org/events. collector shows! 330-353-0439, jeff@harpercomics. com, or www.harpercomics.com.

APR. 7–20 – Cleveland International Film Festival, 2510 Market Ave., Cleveland. 216-623-3456 or www.

MAR. 13–14 – Antlers and Anglers Sportsman’s clevelandfilm.org.

Showcase, virtual event. Annual event celebrating the great outdoors, from hunting and fishing to hiking APR. 9 – Brian Culbertson: The XX Tour, Akron Civic and water sports. Check out our Facebook page for Theatre, 182 S. Main St., Akron, 8 p.m. $37–$57+. VIP details. www.armstrongonewire.com. tickets available. New date; tickets purchased for the previous date will be honored. www.akroncivic.com.

MAR. 20 – Mansfield Symphony Orchestra: West Side Story, Renaissance Theatre, 138 Park Ave. W., APR. 10 – Chocolate Fest Cleveland, Lago Custom Mansfield, 8 p.m. $15–$40. Leonard Bernstein’s Events, 950 Main Ave. #120, Cleveland, 5–9 p.m. masterpiece musical will be presented in concert form $25–$50. An event for everyone, featuring samples by the Mansfield orchestra and featured vocalists. from chocolate vendors, wine and chocolate pairing 419-522-2726 or www.rentickets.org/events. classes, truffle making classes, a chocolate martini bar, craft beer, wine, and food. www.eventbrite.com.

MAR. 21 – Mansfield Symphony Youth Strings: Spring Concert, Renaissance Theatre, 138 Park APR. 10–11 – Strongsville Spring Avant-Garde Art Ave. W., Mansfield, 3 p.m. $10. The region’s most and Craft Show, Strongsville Ehrnfelt Recreation Ctr.,

36 OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING • MARCH 2021

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MAR. 27 – Maple Syrup Festival, 619 E. Main St., Montpelier, 8 a.m.–noon. Contact the Williams SWCD at 419-636-9395 ext. 3, email amichaels@ williamsswcd.org, or visit https://wcofair.com/eventscalendar.

APR. 3 – Hayes Easter Egg Roll, Spiegel Grove, Hayes Presidential Library and Museums, Fremont, 11 a.m.–3 p.m. Free, but tickets are required to limit crowd size; choose from three one-hour sessions.

Admission is three hard-boiled colored eggs. Children ages 3–10 are invited to participate in a variety of egg games that replicate the famous White House Easter Egg Roll started by President Hayes. Prizes, games, crafts, and visits with the Easter Bunny. 419-332-2081 or www.rbhayes.org.

APR. 9–10 – Southern Gospel Expo, Trinity Friends Church, 605 N. Franklin St., Van Wert, Fri. 5 p.m., Sat. 4 p.m. Free. Gospel groups from around the country.

Food court available each night. 419-238-2788 or www.trinityvw.com.

APR. 10 – Lima Symphony Concert: “Toward the Unknown Region,” Veterans Memorial Civic and Convention Ctr., 7 Town Square, Lima, 7:30 p.m. $25–$35. The voices of the Lima Symphony Chorus will inspire with some of the most reflective choral music ever written: Brahm’s Nänie, Vaughn Williams’ Toward the Unknown Region, and Dvořák’s Concerto for Cello and Orchestra. www.limaciviccenter.com.

18100 Royalton Rd., Strongsville, Sat. 10 a.m.–4 p.m., Sun. 11 a.m.–4 p.m. $3, under 12 free. Features artists and crafters selling their original handmade items.

Full concession stand on site. 440-227-8794 or www. avantgardeshows.com.

APR. 11 – Bob Patetta: The Real “Roots” Music, online concert, 2 p.m. Free. A singer-songwriter specializing in blues, rock, and folk, Patetta has been performing and recording on guitar, harmonica, and vocals for over 50 years. Livestream at www. facebook.com/ormaco.inc.

APR. 11 – Canton Comic Book, Toy, and Nostalgia Convention, St. George Event Ctr., 4667 Applegrove St. NW, North Canton, 10 a.m.–4 p.m. $4, under 7 free.

New big comic and toy show! 330-353-0439, jeff@ harpercomics.com, or www.harpercomics.com.

APR. 11 – Chris Perondi’s Stunt Dog Experience, Akron Civic Theatre, 182 S. Main St., Akron, 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. $15–$25. New date; tickets purchased for the previous date will be honored. www.akroncivic.com.

APR. 11 – Singin’ in the Rain, Renaissance Theatre, 138 Park Ave. W., Mansfield, 3 p.m. $5. See one of the best musicals of all time as it’s meant to be seen, on the big screen! 419-522-2726 or www.rentickets. org/events.

APR. 13 – Whose Live Anyway? at Akron Civic Theatre, 182 S. Main St., Akron, 8 p.m. $32.50– $49.50. New date; tickets purchased for the previous date will be honored. The current cast members of the Emmy-nominated TV show Whose Line Is It Anyway? present their new improv show — 90 minutes of improvised comedy and song all based on audience suggestions. www.akroncivic.com.

PLEASE NOTE: Because of the developing coronavirus situation, many of these planned events may have been postponed or canceled. Please seek updated information before traveling. and join us on Zoom as art educator Sarah Robison conducts the class. Open to all painting experience levels. A painting supplies list will be provided in advance, or you can pick up a supply box at the Conservatory for $10. Register online at www. fpconservatory.org/events.

MAR. 19–20 – Outdoor Life/Field & Stream Expo, Ohio Expo Ctr., Bricker Bldg., 717 E. 17th Ave., Columbus, Fri. 2–9 p.m., Sat. 9 a.m.–7 p.m. Hundreds of exhibitors, demos and displays, trophy contests, free seminars, gear and equipment, shooting ranges, and more. https://10times.com/ohio-deer-turkey.

MAR. 21 – Columbus Toy and Game Show, Ohio MAR. 9, APR. 13 – Inventors Network Meeting, Expo Ctr., Lausche Bldg., 717 E. 17th Ave., Columbus, virtual event, 7 p.m. Meetings held the second 8 a.m.–4 p.m. $10; early buyer, 8–9 a.m., $14; under Tuesday of each month. Educational presentations and 11 free. Buy, sell, and trade new and used toys, video discussion about the invention process. For information, games, and collectibles at Ohio’s largest gathering call 614-470-0144 or visit www.inventorscolumbus.com. of vintage collectors and dealers. Play free arcade MAR. 13 – St. Patrick’s Day Reverse Parade, Darree games, see iconic showcars, and play in video game Fields, 6259 Cosgray Rd., Dublin, 11 a.m.–1 p.m. tournaments! www.ctspromotions.com.

Free. See bagpipers, giant inflatables, Irish dancers, MAR. 21 – New Albany Symphony Orchestra: performances, and other attractions from the comfort “Musical Giants,” livestreamed from McCoy of your car. 614-410-4545 or https://dublinohiousa.gov/ Community Ctr. for the Arts in New Albany, 3 p.m. visiting-dublin/st-patricks-day-parade. $20. World premiere performance of Adam Roberts’ MAR. 14 – Buckeye Comic Con, Courtyard Marriott Concerto for Percussion and Orchestra, performed Columbus West, 2350 Westbelt Dr., Columbus (I-270 by the uber-talented Cameron Leach. Also on the at Roberts Rd. exit 10), 10 a.m.–4 p.m. $5, under 7 program, Beethoven’s masterpiece The Eroica free. Featuring local guest creators. 330-353-0439, Symphony and Hovhaness’ And God Created Whales, jeff@harpercomics.com, or www.harpercomics.com. featuring projected humpback whale imagery and real-life captured whale sounds. Buy the livestream MAR. 19 – “Virtual Paint and Sip: Floral Cascade,” link at www.newalbanysymphony.net. virtual class, 6–8 p.m. $18–$20. Grab a beverage

CENTRAL

MAR. 21 – “The Times of Our Lives and the Glassware We Were Using,” Ohio Glass Museum’s Gallery, 124 W. Main St., Lancaster. $6, Srs. $5, C. (6–18) $3, under 6 free. Opening day of this exhibition featuring Depression glass and much more. 740-6870101 or www.ohioglassmuseum.org.

MAR. 23 – “Herb Gardening,” virtual class presented on Zoom, 6–7:30 p.m. $20–$25. Learn how easy herbs are to grow. Master gardener Nancy Lahmers discusses the basics of garden design We will also cover some historical uses of these plants. Register online at www.fpconservatory.org/events.

APR. 8 – “Incorporating Native Perennials in Your Garden,” virtual class presented on Zoom, 6–7:30 p.m. $20–$25. Dianne Kadonaga of Sunny Glen Wellness teaches a step-by-step process to transform urban lawns into native perennial, plant-pollinator beds. Register online at www.fpconservatory.org/ events.

APR. 8–11 – Equine Affaire, virtual event. The nation’s premier equine exposition will take place online this year, complete with education, shopping, competition, and more! Visit the website and social media for exhibitor information and other virtual content, plus exciting updates about upcoming events and special features. www.equineaffaire.com.

APR. 10 – Amy Grant, Marion Palace Theatre, 276 W. Center St., Marion, 7:30 p.m. $32–$54. Rescheduled from 2020. “The Queen of Christian Pop” will take the Palace stage for the first time. 740-383-2101 or www. marionpalace.org.

MARCH 2021 • OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING 37

2021 CALENDAR

MARCH/APRIL

SOUTHEAST

MAR. 20 – An Insider’s Tour, Campus Martius Museum, 601 Second St., Marietta, 1:30–3:30 p.m.

Museum admission plus $10. Take a deeper look at the early settlers who are the focus of David McCullough’s latest book, The Pioneers. Learn about their lives, their possessions, and the home of General Rufus Putnam. Stories narrated by William Reynolds, the museum’s historian and a research contributor to McCullough while writing his book.

Registration required. 740-373-3750 or www. campusmartiusmuseum.org.

SOUTHWEST

MAR. 1–31 – Madness in March, EnterTRAINment Junction, 7379 Squire Ct., West Chester. Visit our A-Maze-N FunHouse, which includes our wacky tilt room, endless mirror maze, vortex tunnel, and more, for the low price of only $4.97. Plus, you can buy hot dogs for only 50¢ each (not for take-out orders). https://entertrainmentjunction.com/calendar.

APR. 1 – Celtic Woman Celebration: The 15th Anniversary Tour, Aronoff Ctr., Proctor and Gamble Hall, 650 Walnut St., Cincinnati, 7 p.m. Starting at $42.75. 513-621-2787 or www. cincinnatiarts.org/events.

APR. 1–MAY 21 – Spring Celebration, EnterTRAINment Junction, 7379 Squire Ct., West

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

MAR. 20 – Paul Francis Quarter, Majestic Theatre, 45 E. Second St., Chillicothe, 7:30 p.m. $5–$12. Enjoy the music of the Grammy Awardwinning drummer, educator, and Chillicothe native, who has worked extensively with some of the world’s greatest musicians. 740-772-2041 or www.majesticchillicothe.net.

MAR. 23 – National Cambridge Glass Collectors All-Cambridge Benefit Auction, Pritchard Laughlin Ctr., 7033 Glenn Hwy., Cambridge. $2. Over 400 items listed; pictures available at https://auctions. mvsg.org/thumbnails.php?album=587. 740-432-4245 or www.cambridgeglass.org.

MAR. 26–27 – Ordinary Days, Stuart’s Opera House, 52 Public Square, Nelsonville, 7:30 p.m. $12, Stds. $8. The lives of four young New Yorkers intersect as they search for fulfillment, happiness, love, and cabs in COVID times. Through a score of vibrant and memorable songs, their experiences ring startlingly true to life. See the show in person or via livestreamed video. 740-753-1924 or www. stuartsoperahouse.org.

APR. 2 – “Major Pauline Cushman, Spy of the Cumberland,” Campus Martius Museum, 601

Second St., Marietta, noon–1 p.m. Free. Reservations required. Guest speaker Valerie Hamill presents the interesting history of Pauline Cushman, the only female officer of the Civil War. 740-373-3750 or www.campusmartiusmuseum.org.

APR. 8 – Clint Black, Peoples Bank Theatre, 222 Putnam St., Marietta, 8 p.m. $68+. New date; tickets purchased for the previous date will be honored.

One of the most successful singer/songwriters of the modern era, Clint surged to superstardom as part of the fabled Class of ’89, reaching #1 with five consecutive singles from his triple-platinum debut, Killin’ Time. He followed that with a string of platinum and gold albums throughout the ’90s. He wrote or co-wrote every one of his more than three dozen chart hits, part of a catalog that produced 22 #1 singles. www.peoplesbanktheatre.com.

Chester. Purchase a Do-It-All ticket to visit the world’s largest train exhibit and our famous A-Maze-N FunHouse, plus get another ticket to visit us again for more fun on another day. https:// entertrainmentjunction.com/calendar.

APR. 2–3 – Crooked Smile Music Fest, 4035 OH-502, Greenville. $50/weekend pass. For ages 16 and up. Featuring some of the best independent roots, country, blues, and folk bands in the country. crookedsmilemusic@yahoo.com or find us on Facebook.

APR. 2–3 – Mid-Century Songbook: Ella, Nat, and More, Cincinnati Music Hall, 1241 Elm St., Cincinnati, 7:30 p.m. Join conductor John Morris Russell and the Cincinnati Pops for a program filled with favorites from the Great American Songbook. The Apr. 2 performance will be livestreamed simultaneously; link and details available at www.cincinnatiarts.org/ events/detail/mid-century-songbook-ella-nat-more.

APR. 8–18 – Family Series: Snow White, Aronoff Ctr., Proctor and Gamble Hall, 650 Walnut St., Cincinnati. See website for times and prices. Who’s the “fairest of them all”? Find out in the regional premiere of this fully staged ballet featuring the Cincinnati Ballet Second Company. 513-621-2787 or www.cincinnatiarts.org/events.

WEST VIRGINIA

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.

38 OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING • MARCH 2021

APR. 9 – Phil Dirt and the Dozers, Majestic Theatre, 45 E. Second St., Chillicothe, 8 p.m. Be transported to another time and place, the classic rock ’n’ roll of America’s golden years, as the Dozers perform the intricate vocal harmonies of the Beach Boys, Four Seasons, Eagles, and many more to perfection. 740772-2041 or www.majesticchillicothe.net.

MAR. 27–28 – Historical Arts Workshop: Horn Engraving, Prickett’s Fort, 88 State Park Rd., Fairmont, 9 a.m.–5 p.m. $75–$85. Master horn builder Willy Frankfort. Designed for the beginner as well as the more advanced horn builder. If you have a powder horn that you would like to engrave, bring it! 304-363-3030, info@prickettsfort.org, or www. prickettsfort.org/register.

APR. 8–11 – School of the Longhunter, Prickett’s Fort, 88 State Park Rd., Fairmont. $40–$45. An intense weekend of instruction, exploring the role of early frontiersmen on the American frontier.

Space is limited and registration is required.

304-363-3030, info@prickettsfort.org, or www. prickettsfort.org.

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MEMBER INTERACTIVE

In like a lion

1

2

4

3

1. Looking across the pasture to my father-in-law’s barn on a March day.

Cynthia Carsey Union Rural Electric Cooperative member 2. One of my favorites at the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo. Jerry Bodner Lorain-Medina Rural Electric Cooperative member

3. Our golden retriever, Kodiak, enjoying a seat in the snow.

Valeria Manemann Pioneer Electric Cooperative member 4. My grandsons, Jayden and Tyler, having fun playing in the March snow and building a snowman.

Sally Trivanovich South Central Power Company member

Send us your picture! For June, send “Ohio countryside” by March 15; for July, send “A day at the beach” by April 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 • MARCH 2021

Need

Energy

Advice?

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

• Renewable energy?

• Energy resources needed to expand or start your business?

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

After all, co-ops were built by consumers like you and still exist today for the sole purpose of serving our communities.

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

OFFICIAL NOTICE

BOARD OF TRUSTEES District 1

Paulding Putnam Electric Cooperative, Inc. 85th Virtual Annual Meeting of Members

Joseph Kohnen

District 2 William Dowler

Saturday, March 20, 2021, begins at 10 a.m.

Livestream video on Facebook and YouTube

District 3 Tim Derck District 4 Jay Dangler District 5 Steve McMichael District 6 Dr. John Saxton District 7 Ken Niese District 8 Douglas Fortman District 9 Dr. Ronald Black

Notice is hereby given that the annual meeting of the members of Paulding Putnam Electric Cooperative will be held virtually starting at 10 a.m. on Facebook and YouTube LIVE. The following matters will be discussed and acted upon: 1. Reports of the trustees and officers.

2. Report of trustee election results.

How to watch your 85th Annual Meeting Virtual Livestream Event Facebook.com/Paulding.Putnam.EC YouTube.com/PauldingPutnamElectricCoop

WIN CASH BY WATCHING YOUR ANNUAL MEETING VIDEO Comment on any one of the meeting livestream videos starting at 10 a.m. to be entered to win bill credits! It’s THAT easy.

Plus, hear co-op updates, projects, election results, and more... all from the comfort of your home!

Facebook.com/Paulding.Putnam.EC YouTube.com/PauldingPutnamElectricCoop