Ohio Cooperative Living - October 2024 - Hancock-Wood

OHIO

OCTOBER 2024

COOPERATIVE Hancock-Wood Electric Cooperative

Oh my gourd!

Pumpkins everywhere

ALSO INSIDE The cooperative difference Too much of a good thing Haunted restaurants

NATIONAL COOPERATIVE MONTH CO-OPS ARE COMMUNITY

Every October, we celebrate you.

After all, co-ops were built by members, for members, and are still owned by members like you.

Thank you for being a part of your co-op!

ohioec.org/purpose

OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING • OCTOBER 2024

INSIDE FEATURES 21

FRIENDLY SPIRITS

These haunted Ohio establishments have booze — and boos — on tap.

26 UNCONVENTIONAL WONDERS

Oddities of all kinds find a home — and an audience — at a unique Fairborn shop.

30 DO-SI-DO

Square dancing clubs call Ohioans to join the promenade.

Cover image on most editions: Ruger Lonsinger, 2, son of Pioneer Electric Cooperative member Sarah Lonsinger, can’t contain his excitement while picking out pumpkins at Young’s Jersey Dairy. See more member photos on page 36 and at www.ohiocoopliving.com.

This page: Maria and David Robinson, Elaine and John Stocker, David Kelley, Joe Michel, and Karen Spice enjoy an evening of square dancing with Dayton-area club Gem City Squares.

OCTOBER 2024 • OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING

1

UP FRONT

Time for a change

O

ur nation’s workforce has experienced significant shifts these past few years as a new generation of workers and leaders has started taking the place of aging baby boomers like myself. Now, as I prepare for my upcoming retirement in early January, I’m in the process of turning over the leadership of Ohio’s Electric Cooperatives and Buckeye Power to our next president and CEO. I have had the pleasure of working with Craig Grooms, our current chief operating officer, for more than 20 years. He has rich experience not only with electric cooperatives, but also with other electric and natural gas utilities and from his service in the U.S. Navy. I’m extremely confident in his abilities to lead our organization into the future, and I’m sure he will enjoy the same generous support that I have received from cooperative leaders and members not only here in Ohio but from cooperatives throughout the country.

He will begin in his new role at a time when the U.S. electric industry faces a seemingly unsolvable challenge: to balance consumers’ need for reliable and affordable electricity with industry demands for increased supply and government demands to dramatically reduce carbon emissions. But because of our long-standing focus on serving the needs of our consumer-members, electric cooperatives have plenty of experience balancing those kinds of competing interests and working toward win-win solutions. That means we are well positioned not only to meet our members’ needs, but to help shape reasonable, commonsense policies on a national level. I’m confident that Craig, along with the staff here at OEC and cooperative leaders throughout the country, will help guide us through the challenges ahead.

Thank you for the opportunity to serve in this important mission and for the support you have given me along the way. I have enjoyed every moment working on your behalf to help make our electric cooperatives as strong, unified, and forward-looking as I could.

Over the next few months, we will be busy ensuring a smooth transition of leadership and shaping plans for the future. I’m looking forward to this new experience, and I’m excited for the future.

2

OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING • OCTOBER 2024

Pat O’Loughlin

PRESIDENT & CEO OHIO’S ELECTRIC COOPERATIVES

I have enjoyed every moment working on your behalf to help make our electric cooperatives as strong, unified, and forward-looking as I could.

OCTOBER 2024 • Volume 67, No. 1

Ohio Rural Electric Cooperatives 6677 Busch Blvd.

Columbus, OH 43229 614-846-5757 www.ohiocoopliving.com Patrick O’Loughlin Caryn Whitney Jeff McCallister Amy Howat Neal Kindig

4 DEPARTMENTS

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

Contributors: Adobe Stock, Brian Albright, Margo Bartlett, Jodi Borger, Margaret Buranen, Colleen Romick Clark, Getty Images, W.H. “Chip” Gross, and Catherine Murray.

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 Berne, IN 46711, 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

Connection to the past:

Muskingum County icon is ever mindful of how co-ops changed people’s lives.

8

8 WOODS, WATERS, AND WILDLIFE

A glimpse of the past: Historical

reenactor offers a unique perspective on Ohio’s early inhabitants.

10 CO-OP PEOPLE

10

Gathering what’s left: Gleaners get farmers’ gift of fresh produce to people in need.

13 GOOD EATS

Autumn delight: Serve up a

seasonal meal centered on squash!

17 LOCAL PAGES

13

News and other important information from your electric cooperative.

33 CALENDAR

What’s happening: October/

National/regional advertising inquiries, contact

Cheryl Solomon

36 MEMBER INTERACTIVE

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

33

Oh my gourd! Pumpkins (and their

Cooperative members:

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

Alliance for Audited Media Member

November events and other things to do around Ohio.

gourdly relatives) make the perfect props for posing for autumn pictures.

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.

OCTOBER 2024 • OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING

3

POWER LINES

Connection to the past Muskingum County icon is ever mindful of how co-ops changed people’s lives.

STORY AND PHOTOS BY MARGO BARTLETT

D

orothy Montgomery is old enough to remember when the men from “the REA” (in this case, Guernsey-Muskingum Electric Cooperative) started digging holes, by hand, to set electric poles along her country road after the creation of the Rural Electrification Administration in 1935.

Each October, as cooperatives everywhere celebrate National Cooperative Month, Montgomery’s story is a reminder of how neighbors and small communities came together to bring power to the nation’s farms and rural countrysides when the big electric companies determined there wasn’t enough money to be made there.

Montgomery recalls the excitement that spread among her family and neighbors as more and more signed up to join the co-op to bring

4

OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING • OCTOBER 2024

electricity to their homes and farms — which had previously been lit by oil lamps or “Aladdin lamps.”

There’s one detail in particular, however, that is still fresh in her mind to this day. “I remember the shock if you stuck your finger in the socket,” she says. She’d been told doing that would hurt — “and it did,” she confirms. “Oil lamps never shocked you.”

Now 93, Dorothy is still a live wire, and she remains loyal to the co-op after all this time — mindful of just how much co-ops changed people’s lives in the 1930s and how they continue to do so to this day (co-ops, after all, are still owned by the members they serve and run by trustees elected by the local members to act in the members’ best interest, rather than to be motivated by profit for shareholders).

The big day Who could forget that Sunday evening back in 1939? Everyone gathered at the church, Dorothy remembers, and the sanctuary was packed.

Everyone waited … “then they turned on the lights,” she says. “Everything changed.”

Before the arrival of “the electric,” Montgomery says, her mother used a coal stove.

Because her mother “canned everything,” the stove often was roaring and the house was sweltering, especially on hot days. An electric refrigerator was a life-changer.

Each room in the house had a light socket and receptacle, Montgomery says. “It was amazing.”

former schoolhouse, which John carefully dismantled, labeled, and reassembled, board by board. He finished that project in 1960 and they lived there together until his passing in 2014. She still lives there on her own, though her daughter, local attorney Susan Montgomery McDonald, and Susan’s husband, James McDonald, own and operate McDonald’s Greenhouse and Corn Maze next door.

Montgomery also served four terms as a Muskingum County commissioner, and this year she’s being recognized for serving 70 years as a 4-H adviser.

That connection to 4-H is deeply personal to her, by the way. Not only does it serve as a connection to her childhood on the farm, but she also met John at 4-H Camp Ohio, where he was a lifeguard. “He tried to teach me to swim, but I never did learn,” she says.

Loyal to the co-op

Unlike with some families, the arrival of electric lights didn’t lengthen evenings much in her household. “Daddy was a getterupper in the morning,” she says, so the family continued to be early go-to-bedders in the evening.

“We haven’t mentioned the irons!”

Montgomery says, jumping back to those early days on the farm. Before electricity, she says, they had to use heavy metal irons, heated on the stove or fire, that would get so hot that the handles had to be covered with a cloth to pick them up.

Still, electricity had its rewards. “I think just to satisfy me, we had a radio. Just a little radio. And we had lights on the Christmas tree!” she remembers.

Toasters, too; Montgomery describes tripods that were placed on a coal or woodburning stove on which slices of bread would be “somewhat” toasted — which of course became appliances of the past when electricity was introduced.

Living legend Those early days on the farm, of course, were highly influential on the young Dorothy, and she has become an iconic figure around Zanesville and Muskingum County.

Montgomery graduated from Muskingum College and taught school for several years — mostly in Zanesville, but also for a time in Florida during the 1950s, when her husband, John, was stationed there in the Air Force. Among her pupils there, she remembers, were a group of first graders whose families were with the circus and lived in the circus trains.

When she and John returned to Muskingum County, they bought a

Brian Hill, general manager at GuernseyMuskingum Electric Cooperative, says he always looks forward to reminiscing with Montgomery at the co-op’s annual meetings each April.

“Dorothy has such vivid memories and tells such great stories,” Hill says. “She is truly an ambassador for Muskingum County and, really, all of rural southeastern Ohio. I think you could say that people like her are the reason that co-ops came into existence in the first place, and I, for one, really enjoy having that connection to the co-op’s history. It reminds you why we’re here.”

OCTOBER 2024 • OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING

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OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING • OCTOBER 2024

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OCTOBER 2024 • OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING

7

WOODS, WATERS, AND WILDLIFE

A glimpse

past

of the

Historical reenactor offers a unique perspective on Ohio’s early inhabitants.

S

STORY AND PHOTOS BY W.H. “CHIP” GROSS

itting beside a small campfire, its woodsmoke scenting the cool air of a perfect autumn afternoon, I could almost see the scene as vividly as the man seated across from me described it.

“The forest was vast,” he began, gesturing with a sweep of his hand, “stretching from Lake Erie all the way to the Ohio River. Many trees measured 5 to 6 feet through at their base — some even larger — towering skyward 150 feet or more. The only paths through the wilderness were game trails; the only roads were the rivers and streams that my people traveled by elm-bark canoe.”

The man across from me, Roger Moore of Mansfield, says he is “more than 70 winters old.” His shoulderlength gray hair was held behind his head on this day by a hair roach of turkey feathers. A large, round silver earring dangled from each ear, and a silver medallion hung from his neck. He wore a colorful trade-cloth shirt, leggings, and, of course, moccasins. His flintlock muzzle-loading rifle sat nestled in the crook of his arm.

The “my people” he speaks of — and traces his lineage to through one of his grandfathers, a fullblooded Native American — were a mixed-race group (modern-day anthropologists term it a “tri-racial isolate”) known as the Carmel Indians. They lived in

8

OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING • OCTOBER 2024

Ohio’s Highland and Meigs counties until as recently as the early 1900s.

Moore inherited his striking facial features from his grandfather. They are so characteristic of the Eastern Woodlands culture of North American Indians that artists and filmmakers have long sought him out to pose for paintings or appear in documentaries. They also add a certain authenticity to his work as an Indian reenactor, during which he offers those vivid descriptions of the Ohio country of a century or more prior to statehood in 1803.

“About 30 years ago, I was contacted by the artist Robert Griffing, who lives in western Pennsylvania,” Moore says. “He paints pictures of early Eastern Woodlands Indians, and his original oils sell for tens of thousands of dollars. He asked if I would come to his studio and model for him. We eventually ended up at the Smithsonian’s Heinz History Center in Pittsburgh, where he had me dress in all types of authentic Indian garb while he took hundreds of photos that he later referenced while creating his paintings. I’ve since been featured in dozens of Robert Griffing’s works.”

What Moore is too modest to mention is that his image graces the cover of Robert Griffing’s first book, published in 2000, The Art of Robert Griffing: His

“Because of the popularity of his artwork, I began hearing from national filmmakers.”

Journey into the Eastern Frontier. Two other books in the series have since followed: The Native Art of Robert Griffing: The Journey Continues (2007) and The Historical Art of Robert Griffing: An Amazing Journey (2018). If you’re a fan of American Indian history — as I am — any of those three volumes will overwhelm you with its detail and historical accuracy about early Native Ohioans.

“It was my association with Robert Griffing that really opened the door for me as an Indian reenactor,” Moore says. “Because of the popularity of his artwork, I began hearing from national filmmakers.”

He portrayed Chief Hendrick of the Mohawk in a four-part PBS miniseries, The War That Made America, about the French and Indian War, and has appeared in half a dozen or so documentaries produced by the History Channel and A&E, as well as other similar productions.

Those years as a reenactor, he says, have given him some insight into the people he portrays. At the conclusion of our campfire chat, he offered a point of view not often recognized about those early Native Americans who lived in the Ohio country: “Historically, Indians have been depicted as a people to be feared. And during times of war with the whites or enemy tribes, that was certainly true; they were fierce frontier fighters,” he says. “But they were protecting their way of life, their families, villages, and land. Like you and me today — Indian or white — we would have done no different.”

Ask

chip!

W.H. “Chip” Gross is Ohio Cooperative Living’s outdoors editor.

Email him 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

OCTOBER 2024 • OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING

9

CO-OP PEOPLE

Gathering

what’s left

Gleaners get farmers’ gift of fresh produce to people in need.

In the first half of 2024 alone, volunteers from the Society of St. Andrew in Ohio gleaned more than 60,000 pounds of food — including copious cabbages — from fields and orchards.

BY MARGARET BURANEN; PHOTOS COURTESY SOCIETY OF ST. ANDREW

I

t’s a good kind of problem for farmers to have: After an unexpectedly seasonable winter and growing season, the Champaign Berry Farm in Urbana produced an unexpected bumper crop of one of its mainstays this year.

“Peaches are very weather-dependent,” says Cathy Pullins, co-owner of the farm and a member of Pioneer Electric Cooperative. “This year we had such a warm winter that the crop was way larger than we had anticipated.”

Obviously, an unexpected bounty is preferred to the alternative, but it still presents some issues to deal with. The farm often donates food to local churches and food banks, but this year’s bumper crop called for something more, and Pullins knew right away what to do with the extra peaches.

“We saved a certain section of the orchard for the gleaners,” she says. “I told the [professional] pickers not to pick those peaches. We like to give back to the community and to those in need. That’s one of our purposes in life.”

10

OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING • OCTOBER 2024

Gleaning, described in the Bible’s book of Leviticus, is the practice of collecting leftover crops from farmers’ fields after they have been commercially harvested. Sometimes farmers will intentionally leave a portion for gleaners, though sometimes a farmer can’t find enough workers to pick the produce, or a wholesaler orders less produce than the farmer anticipated.

Rather than leave the perfectly good, but unharvested and unsold, produce to spoil or plow it under, the farmer offers it to volunteers who come and pick it and then transport it to a food bank for distribution to hungry clients.

Pullins called Sue Plummer, program coordinator at the Ohio chapter of the Society of St. Andrew in Cincinnati.

The interfaith, nonprofit Society of St. Andrew is the largest field-gleaning organization in the country, mobilizing 30,000 to 40,000 volunteers each year to gather unharvested crops. In Ohio, St. Andrew volunteers gleaned more than 60,000 pounds of food from fields and

Volunteers from the Society of St. Andrew glean peaches from the orchard at Champaign Berry Farm.

A young volunteer for the Society of St. Andrew shows a cabbage gleaned in the group’s ongoing efforts to pick excess produce and provide it to food banks for people in need.

orchards in the first half of 2024 alone. Plummer arranged for some volunteer gleaners to come to the Champaign Berry Farm, pick the peaches, and then transport them to a food bank. They’ve made several return trips throughout the growing season.

“St. Andrew’s is very nice to work with,” Pullins says. “Sue takes care of everything.” When Plummer hears from a farmer that produce will be available for gleaning, she schedules a picking time, then posts that information online for volunteers, who sign up to go to the farm and do the gleaning. Picking shifts last two to three hours.

When Plummer first heard about gleaning, she was running a community garden in Walnut Hills. In 2019, she began working part time for a grant project on gleaning. In 2022 she started working in her current full-time position.

Plummer often gets to help with the gleaning. “If I’m needed, I go. I really love it.”

She says that people who volunteer to do gleaning “tend to be individuals, rather than in groups. We get short notice from growers that a crop is ready for picking, maybe only a

Pioneer Electric Cooperative members Mike and Cathy Pullins welcomed gleaners to share in this year’s bumper crop of peaches at their Champaign Berry Farm in Urbana.

couple of days. Then it’s a scramble to get people who can show up then.”

Many volunteer gleaners are retired, because they have the most flexible schedules, though plenty of college students come out, mostly in the summer. Older children are welcome if they are supervised by their parents. Fortunately, Plummer has a lot of regular volunteers, but she can always use more, and more farmers donating food, too.

Plummer says the general public would be surprised “at the amount of food we end up getting, at all the beautiful produce we can deliver to hungry people.” In Ohio, most gleaning work begins at the end of June, and then can go into December for potatoes, root vegetables, and apples.

“The connections I make with farmers, volunteers, people at agencies, that’s the best part of my job,” Plummer says.

“Farmers’ work is so hard, to grow what they grow. They don’t like waste. They’re so grateful when they come [to learn about gleaners], because farmers are some of the most generous people I’ve met.”

OCTOBER 2024 • OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING

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OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING • OCTOBER 2024

87001

®

Autumn GOOD EATS

RECIPES AND PHOTOGRAPHS BY CATHERINE MURRAY

delight

Serve up a seasonal meal centered on squash!

CREAMY COMFORT RAVIOLI Cook: 20 minutes | Servings: 4 12 ounces ravioli (filled with chicken, mushrooms, or cheese) 3 tablespoons salted butter ¼ cup chiffonade fresh sage leaves 3 garlic cloves, minced 8 loose cups fresh kale leaves

1 cup heavy whipping cream 1/3 cup vegetable or chicken broth 8 ounces cooked and diced butternut squash salt and pepper to taste

Cook ravioli according to package directions, then drain and set aside. In a large skillet or Dutch oven, melt butter over medium heat. Add sage; stir until small brown specks can be seen in the butter, about 5 minutes.

Immediately turn heat down to low, add garlic and kale, and cover with lid, cooking until kale is lightly wilted.

Stir in cream and broth, then add squash and gently boil until slightly thickened, about 5 minutes. Add ravioli and heat through. Salt and pepper to taste.

Per serving: 532 calories, 38 grams fat (22 grams saturated fat), 37 grams total carbohydrates, 169 milligrams cholesterol, 438 milligrams sodium, 7 grams fiber, 17 grams protein.

OCTOBER 2024 • OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING

13

SHEET PAN PORK WITH ACORN SQUASH Prep: 20 minutes | Cook: 35 minutes | Servings: 4 1½ to 2 pounds acorn squash 1 to 2 tablespoons olive oil, divided ½ teaspoon salt, divided 1 pound thick-cut boneless pork chops ½ teaspoon garlic powder

1 tablespoon honey 2 large apples ¼ teaspoon black pepper rosemary, sage, and/or thyme (3 to 6 sprigs or 1 to 2 teaspoons dried)

Preheat oven to 400 F. Cut squash in half from stem to end.

Scoop out the seeds, discarding strings. Pile seeds on a large baking sheet; drizzle with oil and sprinkle with salt.

Spread out in an even layer and bake 7 to 10 minutes until roasted golden and crispy. Scrape into a small bowl to cool.

Slice squash halves into ½-inch-thick crescent moons. On the same baking sheet the seeds were on, place pork chops in the middle; rub with oil and sprinkle with garlic powder and salt, then flip them over. On one side of the baking sheet, pile squash and toss with oil and honey, then spread squash evenly in a single layer around the pork chops.

Dice apples; spread among the squash. Sprinkle everything with garlic powder, salt, pepper, and herbs. Bake 20 to 25 minutes or until the thickest part of the pork reaches 145 F. Serve with roasted seeds sprinkled on top.

Per serving: 333 calories, 14 grams fat (4 grams saturated fat), 29 grams total carbohydrates, 78 milligrams cholesterol, 357 milligrams sodium, 3 grams fiber, 25 grams protein.

CAPERS AND COURGETTES Prep: 10 minutes | Servings: 4 2 or 3 small zucchini, ends trimmed 1 lime, juiced 1 to 2 tablespoons capers ¼ cup shaved Parmesan cheese A light and refreshing appetizer that’s simple to prepare.

Slice zucchini in thin strips or rounds, discarding the first and last (dark peel). Arrange on a plate or platter. Evenly sprinkle zucchini with lime juice, capers, and Parmesan cheese, and serve.

Per serving: 40 calories, 2 grams fat (1 gram saturated fat), 4 grams total carbohydrates, 5 milligrams cholesterol, 169 milligrams sodium, 1 gram fiber, 3 grams protein.

14

OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING • OCTOBER 2024

PUMPKIN SUNSHINE BREAD Prep: 15 minutes | Bake: 55 minutes | Servings: 16 1¾ cups flour 1¾ cups sugar 1 teaspoon baking soda 2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice ½ teaspoon salt

15-ounce can pure pumpkin puree 2 large eggs ½ cup vegetable oil 1 orange, zested, and 1/3 cup of the juice

Preheat oven to 350 F. In a large bowl, mix flour through salt.

Make a crater in the middle and add all remaining ingredients.

Stir well but do not overmix. Grease two 9x5-inch loaf pans and evenly divide batter between them. Bake 45 to 55 minutes, or until toothpick comes out clean. Cool completely before removing from pan and slicing.

Per serving: 217 calories, 8 grams fat (1 gram saturated fat), 35 grams total carbohydrates, 23 milligrams cholesterol, 133 milligrams sodium, 1 gram fiber, 2.5 grams protein.

OCTOBER 2024 • OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING

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OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING • OCTOBER 2024

• Free of dealer markup.

• Protection against inflation and deflation.

• Gold offers financial cover during geopolitical uncertainty.

• Good portfolio diversifier.

GOLD RESERVE

Strict limit of 10 per house hold, per lifetime. For new clients only.

HANCOCK-WOOD ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE MESSAGE FROM THE GENERAL MANAGER

Co-ops power communities with purpose Communities come in all shapes and sizes. Some are based on geographical proximity, some are based on shared interests or hobbies, and some communities can even be found in virtual spaces like social media groups. Regardless of where or how they are formed, communities can bring people together and create a sense of belonging.

Hancock-Wood Electric Cooperative is deeply committed to our consumer-members, and we’re glad you are part of the electric cooperative community.

This month, more than 30,000 cooperatives across the U.S. are celebrating National Co-op Month. It’s a time to reflect on all the aspects that set cooperatives apart from other types of businesses, but more importantly, it’s a time to celebrate the power of co-op membership.

Electric cooperatives are not-for-profit utilities that are built by the communities they serve. For Hancock-Wood Electric our mission has always been to provide you with reliable power. We care about your quality of life, and because we are locally operated, we’re uniquely suited to meet our members’ evolving energy needs.

Beyond the business of electricity, our employees and directors are equally invested in our local community.

Why? Because we live here, too. That’s why we work hard to support local economic development projects, youth programs and scholarships, charitable giving initiatives, and additional programs that make our community a better place to call home.

All co-ops, including Hancock-Wood Electric, are guided by the Seven Cooperative Principles, which embody the values and spirit of the cooperative movement. These seven principles are a framework to help all co-ops navigate challenges and opportunities while remaining true to our purpose:

Bill Barnhart

PRESIDENT & CEO

1. Open and Voluntary Membership: Co-op membership is open to anyone who can use the co-op’s services.

2. Democratic Member Control: Members make decisions that shape the cooperative. Why? Because co-ops are created by the members, for the members.

3. Members’ Economic Participation: Members contribute money to the co-op to make sure it runs smoothly now and in the future. At Hancock-Wood Electric, this happens through paying your energy bills.

4. Autonomy and Independence: Co-ops are independent and can operate on their own, which ultimately benefits the members.

5. Education, Training, and Information: Co-ops continuously focus on education to ensure employees have the training and information they need to make the co-op successful.

6. Cooperation Among Cooperatives: Co-ops share with and learn from other cooperatives. We help each other out in times of need because we want other co-ops to thrive.

7. Concern for Community: All cooperatives work for the greater good of the local communities they serve. Coops give back to their communities to help them thrive and grow.

This October, as we celebrate National Co-op Month and the power of membership, we hope you will recognize the many aspects that set electric cooperatives apart.

Our mission is reliable power. Our purpose is people — the local communities we’re proud to serve.

OCTOBER 2024 • OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING

17

HANCOCK-WOOD ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE

1. History of stable rates In a time when material costs have risen by an average of 32% to 215% in the past year, Hancock-Wood Electric has made great efforts to keep member rates stable. With an average daily cost of less than $6 a day, the cooperative has introduced Time-of-Day rate adjustments to help members better manage their electricity usage. In a testament to HWE's commitment, the cooperative returned a remarkable $3.1 million in patronage refunds this year, the largest amount distributed in the past 25 years. Unlike for-profit utilities, Hancock-Wood's primary goal is to provide electricity at the lowest cost possible for its members.

2. Timely restoration efforts Hancock-Wood Electric Cooperative offers a membership value that extends far beyond just reliable electricity. The cooperative's commitment to its members is evident in many ways, highlighting four key reasons why being a part of Hancock-Wood is valuable!

When power outages happen, Hancock-Wood Electric’s dedicated lineworkers are on standby, ready to fix and restore service around the clock. Members can receive real-time outage information through the cooperative's mobile app and website. Significant restoration efforts include new services installed, meters tested, and extensive line inspections. The Arlington Substation Rebuild Project, initiated in 2023, will enhance services for approximately 600 members in the Arlington area, demonstrating the cooperative’s proactive approach to maintaining reliable service.

3. Unmatched power reliability ith an annual investment of $5 million to $7 million W in electric system upgrades, Hancock-Wood Electric prioritizes power reliability. In 2023, the cooperative managed a total of 918 outages, with an average outage length of just 81 minutes. Members can be assured that Hancock-Wood is implementing the most effective strategies for power and system efficiency.

4. Operation Round Up and community engagement

Hancock-Wood Electric Cooperative exemplifies what it means to serve its members with reliability and dedication to community. Being a member means more than just receiving electricity — it means being part of a cooperative that truly values its members.

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OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING • OCTOBER 2024

Giving back to the community is incredibly important to Hancock-Wood Electric. The Operation Round Up initiative allows members to contribute spare change, raising more than one million dollars for area charities since its creation in 2008. Operation Round Up has supported local organizations and initiatives, such as fire departments, educational institutions, and food banks. Additionally, Hancock-Wood hosts a variety of member appreciation events, including the Findlay Children’s Museum event and the annual Member Appreciation Drive-Thru celebration, showcasing the co-op’s commitment to valuing membership.

Volunteer needed for Community Trust Fund Board In October, members in all districts are eligible to run for our Community Trust Fund Board. The CTF board is a five-member board, separate from the Hancock-Wood Electric Cooperative board, that reviews all the Operation Round Up grant applications quarterly and approves applications for assistance, based on demonstrated need and funds available.

Operation Round Up is a program which rounds up participating member’s bills to the nearest dollar then combines each amount for grants to local organizations and individuals in need. The funds have helped support our local communities in the 10 counties served by Hancock-Wood Electric since 2008.

The board is responsible for reviewing applications prior to their quarterly meetings on the third Monday of February, May, August, and November and attend four board meeting per year.

If you are interested in running for the CTF Board, please contact Leslie Guisinger at leslie@hwe.coop or 419-257-5015. Applications must be received by Oct. 15, 2024.

Operation Round Up Program Grants more than $20,000 to local nonprofits In August, the Community Trust Fund Board, which oversees the Operation Round Up grant program, awarded six grants to the following organizations: • Allen Township (Van Buren) Fire Department for PPE. • Findlay Digital Academy for computer upgrades.

• Findlay Hope House for Eviction Prevention Program.

• Forest-Jackson Public Library for Wonder Books.

• Cooperative Family Fund for grief and loss of co-op employees.

• NRECA International for electricity for farmers in Guatemala.

The next quarter’s grant applications are due on October 21, 2024. Please visit www.hwe.coop for more information about the requirements and how to apply for a grant.

OCTOBER 2024 • OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING

19

HANCOCK-WOOD ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE

Hancock-Wood Electric Cooperative's affiliate Prism Propane has all your propane needs.

Services we provide: Residential heating Commercial heating Forklift cylinder refill Propane autogas Agricultural gas Grill cylinder refill

Call 877-887-7476 for pricing details

Hancock-Wood will be closed on Monday, Oct. 14, for an employee training day.

CONTACT 800-445-4840 FAX: 419-257-3024 WEBSITE www.hwe.coop OFFICE 1399 Business Park Drive South P.O. Box 190 North Baltimore, Ohio 45872-0190

BOARD OF TRUSTEES

Bill Barnhart

William Kale

President and CEO

Chairman

Lee Anne Dierksheide Vice Chair

Duane Fry Secretary

Charles Beagle Ed Crawford Tim Phillips Max Rader Ron Riegle Brian Terry

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OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING • OCTOBER 2024

PAYMENT OPTIONS online, dropbox, office, by phone, or automatic bill pay HAVE A STORY SUGGESTION? Email your ideas to: leslie.guisinger@hwe.coop

Spirits Friendly

These haunted Ohio establishments have booze — and boos — on tap.

BY BRIAN ALBRIGHT

I

n the 19th century, Ohio held a crucial place in the national transportation system as Americans gradually gained access to wider and wider areas of the country.

Construction of the Ohio and Erie Canal connected Lake Erie to the Ohio River, creating an inland water route from the East Coast to the Gulf of Mexico. The National Road was the first major highway in the country and brought many thousands of settlers westward through the state. That’s not even to mention Ohio’s role as a part of the Underground Railroad.

As a result, busy inns and taverns sprouted all over, and quite a few of them are still in business today. These centuries-old establishments are rich in history — and in some cases, ghosts. Below, we have listed some of the more notable haunted watering holes in the state for anyone interested in dinner with the departed, or an overnight stay with the spirits.

The Crosskeys Tavern 19 E. Main St., Chillicothe; www.facebook.com/crosskeystavern

This Irish-style tavern opened in the early 1970s, but the building is well over 100 years old and is the previous home of the Chillicothe Baking Co., the Wissler Electric Co., Stones Grill Restaurant, and several other businesses.

It’s also said to be haunted by a ghost affectionately known as Harold, who may be the spirit of a man murdered in the alley behind the bar in the early 20th century.

While no one’s seen Harold, he’s been reported to have reached out and touched startled employees, turned lights off and on, opened doors, and occasionally caused cold spots. Harold’s presence merits the Crosskeys an occasional spot on the Chillicothe Ghost Walk, part of the Chillicothe Halloween Festival (Oct. 11–13) — though it’s not an official stop on this year’s walk.

Interestingly, Chillicothe is also home to the Wobbly Ghost Tavern (289 E. Main St.), which is not haunted, but does have an annual Halloween Party.

OCTOBER 2024 • OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING

21

The Golden Lamb 27 S. Broadway St., Lebanon; www.goldenlamb.com

The Golden Lamb has been in business since 1803 and has played host to a dozen U.S. presidents and a wide array of celebrities and politicians. According to legend, it is also home to a number of ghosts, including a young girl and a gaunt-looking man, and it has been dubbed Ohio’s most haunted restaurant by the Food Network.

The Golden Lamb’s official historian, John Zimkus, says the little girl has sometimes been identified as Henry Clay’s daughter Eliza (who died in Lebanon when she was 12) or Sarah Stubbs, the niece of one of the owners during the 19th century. There are a number of suspects when it comes to the identity of the gaunt man, whose appearances are sometimes accompanied by the smell of cigar smoke.

Perhaps it’s Supreme Court Justice Charles R. Sherman (father of Lancaster native William Tecumseh Sherman), who died at the Golden Lamb in 1829. Or Albert Stubbs, a previous owner who died behind the lobby desk in 1914.

Zimkus, however, thinks it’s Clement Vallandigham, an attorney and 19th-century anti-war Copperhead who was accused of treason and exiled to Canada — but eventually returned to practice law in Ohio. While defending a murder suspect in Lebanon, Vallandigham wanted to prove that the victim may have accidentally shot himself during a scuffle. Practicing for his courtroom demonstration in his room at the Golden Lamb, Vallandigham inadvertently shot himself in the stomach. He died from his wound, but proved his theory of the case — his client was acquitted.

“If anyone has a right to wander our halls as a spirit,” Zimkus says, “it’s Clement Vallandigham.”

Clay Haus

123 W. Main St., Somerset; www.clayhaus.com Clay Haus, built as a private residence in the early 19th century along the Zane’s Trace roadway in what is now Somerset, has hosted notable visitors such as President Andrew Jackson (cousin of original proprietor George Jackson) and Henry Clay through the years. It’s now a German-American restaurant, and its owners and guests have reported hearing furniture moving, doors slamming, and other strange and unexplained noises. Ghostly visitors have been spotted throughout the building.

Ghost hunters visit often to investigate the paranormal activity there, and the restaurant’s website displays their reports, photos, and recordings so you can judge for yourself.

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OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING • OCTOBER 2024

The Buxton Inn Restaurant 313 E. Broadway, Granville; www.buxtoninn.com

Opened in 1812, the Buxton may be haunted by its former innkeepers. Massachusetts transplant Orrin Granger opened the original tavern in 1812, and the location also functioned as a stagecoach stop and post office. It was bought by Major Horton Buxton in 1865, then by retired opera singer Ethel “Bonnie” Bounell in 1934. Currently the Buxton consists of the main house and four other historical homes with 25 guest rooms, as well as a tavern and restaurant.

In addition to its long history, the hidden doors and staircases that existed on the property over time (it was purportedly an Underground Railroad stop and later a speakeasy during Prohibition) have added to its ghostly atmosphere, and guests and staff often report strange noises and eerie feelings. The spirits of Granger and Buxton are said to still roam the place, and the mysterious Lady in Blue, who has appeared with a phantom feline, is said to be the ghost of Bounell, who died in the inn, and her beloved cat, named “Major Buxton.”

The Red Brick Tavern 1700 Cumberland St., Lafayette; www.facebook.com/redbricktavern37

The Red Brick Tavern originally opened in 1837 in Lafayette (just north of London) along the route of the National Road as a stagecoach stop and an inn. The tavern closed in 1859, and the building operated as a schoolhouse for a while before being converted back into a tavern in the 1920s.

With such a long and storied history, it’s not surprising that a few ghosts may call it home — including a phantom that may be the spirit of the original owner’s wife (who committed suicide when she found out he was unfaithful) and a ghostly piano player. The current owners, brothers Kyle and Travis Massey, haven’t noticed anything too peculiar since they bought the then-shuttered tavern in 2021, but they are well aware of the building’s haunted reputation.

“The previous owner told us stories about the ghosts, and we have learned more as we uncovered the history of the place,” Kyle Massey says. “People have told us about pictures moving, or having eerie feelings.”

Learn more about haunted bars, restaurants, hotels, and other locations via the Haunted Ohio series of books by Chris Woodyard, available at www.hauntedohiobooks.com.

The Masseys have not personally experienced anything paranormal, even when they have spent the night in the building. The Red Brick has not offered lodging in decades, but Massey says they hope to change that once additional renovations are complete — then guests can see for themselves whether anything strange happens at the Red Brick Tavern after dark.

OCTOBER 2024 • OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING

23

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(Continued on next page)

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Everyone is calling to get FastHelp, the sleek new medical alert device because it instantly connects you to unlimited nationwide help everywhere cell service is available with no contracts, no deposits and no monthly bills ever.

OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING • OCTOBER 2024

SPECIAL ADVERTISEMENT FEATURE (Continued from previous page)

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monitored help buttons you wear around your neck, or require expensive base station equipment or a landline are the equivalent of a horse and buggy,” Lawrence says.

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HOW TO GET IT: IF BORN BEFORE 1956: Use the rebate coupon below and call this Toll-Free Hotline: 1-800-330-4294 DEPT. HELP8318 IF BORN AFTER 1956: You cannot use the rebate coupon below and must pay $299 Call: 1-800-330-9423 DEPT. HELP8318 THE BOTTOM LINE: You don’t need to shop around. We’ve done all the leg work, this deal is too good to pass up.

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The medical alert device slugfest was dominated by two main combatants who both offer old style monitored help buttons that come with a hefty bill every month. But now Universal Physicians, the U.S. based heavyweight, just delivered a knockout blow sending the top rated contenders to the mat with the unveiling of FastHelp. It’s the sleek new cellular embedded medical alert device

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FASTHELP IS COVERED BY A 30-DAY MONEY BACK GUARANTEE LESS SHIPPING AND A 1 YEAR LIMITED WARRANTY. FASTHELP IS A 4G CELLULAR DEVICE. FASTHELP WILL NOT BE ABLE TO MAKE 911 CALLS WHEN CELLULAR SERVICE IS NOT AVAILABLE SUCH AS IN REMOTE OR HIGH DENSITY AREAS. WE SUGGEST TESTING CELLUL AR CONNECTION BEFORE USE. SEE OWNERS MANUAL. FASTHELP USES GPS TRIANGUL ATIONS TO APPROXIMATE YOUR LOCATION WHEN YOUR DEVICE IS TURNED ON. DR. HOWREN IS A COMPENSATED MEDICAL ADVISOR AND FRANK MCDONALD IS AN ACTUAL USER AND COMPENSATED FOR HIS PARTICIPATION. OH RESIDENTS ADD 6.5% SALES TA X. UNIVERSAL PHYSICIANS 7747 SUPREME AVE, NORTH CANTON, OH 44720.

OCTOBER 2024 • OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING

25

wonders Unconventional

Oddities of all kinds find a home — and an audience — at a unique Fairborn shop.

BY JODI BORGER

C

herish Harrell first started collecting oddities (and later selling them) when she attended huge conventions like Cincinnati’s HorrorHound or one of the giant regional Days of the Dead events.

Soon, though, she realized that perhaps there was a market for her eclectic and bizarre collection outside of the crowds at the big-city convention centers, and this month, Harrell celebrates the seventh anniversary of opening the Secret Chamber House of Oddities and Artwork in her hometown.

“I wanted a place where people could see those things and have access to them without having to deal with the convention life,” Harrell says. “So I brought it back home to Fairborn.”

The Secret Chamber is not just a store; it’s a hub of creativity and community.

“We host art shows based on themes like Friday the 13th or cryptids,” says Harrell. “We also host themed classes that include making spell kits, crystals, or spooky terrariums.”

Among the events that draw the biggest crowds are the photo shoots with Krampus, a half-goat, half-demon monster from central European folklore that punishes misbehaving children at Christmastime; and the evil bunny during Easter.

Stepping into the Secret Chamber, visitors are greeted by an array of interesting and extraordinary items.

“We have an authentic two-headed baby buffalo and an iron tiger that came from the Americana amusement park carousel ride,” Harrell says. “We also have skeletons, haunted dolls, and a ghost cat who is always causing havoc in the shop — tripping people, knocking things off shelves ... a lot.”

The items inside the Secret Chamber are sourced from a network of artists and sellers across the country, as well as oddity stores, flea markets, and roadside sales wherever she finds them.

One of the highlights of the Secret Chamber is its $5 haunted dungeon museum, open to anyone over the age of 18. “It’s a collection of my own of things that have been brought to me or I have acquired, including a large amount of said-to-be haunted items, serial-killer memorabilia, and funeral and morgue supplies,” Harrell says. “We even have a visiting skeleton named Rosie.”

Beyond its often spine-chilling collections, the Secret Chamber aims to be an inclusive haven for all.

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OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING • OCTOBER 2024

“I want a sanctuary for the weird. Everyone should feel like they have a place to go,” she says.

“Unlike other oddity stores, I wanted mine to be based on everyone, not just the dark kids obsessed with black and death. I want that cosplay kid in bunny ears, that anime adult, or even that guy who acts like a dog. ‘Weird’ isn’t just Wednesday Addams.”

drove three or four hours just to see you. It creates a constant challenge to bring new things people have never experienced.”

Of course, Harrell also sees plenty of visitors who make a trip to the Secret Chamber an annual event.

“Tons of people come back year after year, some visiting family, others making me a destination on their way through,” Harrell says. “I don’t think people understand the advantage of being so close to the [National Museum of the U.S. Air Force] or highway junctions like Interstates 70, 75, and 675. People put me on their map.”

The shop showcases items from a variety of cultures, including Indian burners, Mexican artwork, Day of the Dead, New Orleans voodoo superstitions, and even Bigfoot — and it’s garnered a significant following, drawing visitors from near and far.

“A lot of people want to see what the Secret House of Oddities and Artwork offers, and because I refuse to sell online, the only way you can buy from me is to come to my store. It’s pretty awesome to hear on a daily basis someone say this is their favorite store or the coolest place they’ve ever been,” Harrell says.

“Last summer, we even had Alice Cooper visit.”

Harrell’s favorite moments are when she witnesses the excitement of visitors discovering something truly unique.

“I love when people walk around excited, and I hear them whispering, ‘OMG, that’s amazing.’

It’s pretty cool when someone tells you they

Despite its spooky leanings that might suggest otherwise, the Secret Chamber is not just a seasonal attraction; in fact, Harrell says that while Halloween obviously inspires folks to drop in, the fascination doesn’t stop on the Day of the Dead.

Harrell is committed to keeping the shop’s contents fresh and exciting, and she also keeps it visible and active out in the community, participating in charity events such as the Vampire Ball on Oct. 5 at Fairborn’s Phoenix Theater; the Living Dead Prom in June; and an animal welfare fundraiser.

“I believe you have a better experience coming other times because we, and several other places on the street, are open all year round without the crowds,” Harrell says. “We are a lifestyle for many, and I will never stop coming up with fun, weird ideas.”

The Secret Chamber House of Oddities and Artwork 17 W. Main St., Fairborn, OH 45324 Open noon–6 p.m.

Tuesday through Saturday

OCTOBER 2024 • OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING

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U.S. residents hit Jackpot with ‘Old Vegas’ Casino Rolls Up for grabs for the next 21-days: Casino Rolls loaded with rarely seen American Eagle Ike Large Dollar Coins just like the old Casino Slots paid out, all coins are decades old and never to be minted again by the U.S. Gov’t American Eagle Casino Roll Handout: Strict limit of 6 ‘Old Vegas’ Casino Rolls per caller has been imposed “It’s like hitting the jackpot on an old Vegas Slot Machine decades ago,” said Mary Ellen Withrow.

That’s because for the next 21 days everyone can get these rarely seen ‘Old Vegas’ Casino Rolls, but only those who beat the 21-day order deadline.

These full 15 count ‘Old Vegas’ Casino Rolls are filled with historic American Eagle Ike Large Dollar coins like the ones from 1976 and earlier that were used decades ago in slot machines in the world famous Casinos.

It’s amazing that these Old Vegas Casino Rolls are up for grabs. Just holding one in your hand reminds you of walking down the Vegas Strip in the glory days of Elvis, Dean Martin, Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jr., Peter Lawford and Joey Bishop. It just makes you feel good.

“I’ll tell you this, it’s the best gift you could ever give someone. It’s actually the perfect gift for any occasion. Everyone you give one of these ‘Old Vegas’ Casino Rolls to will never forget your generosity and they’ll be the envy of all who see them,” Withrow said.

“We’re bracing for thousands of U.S. residents who will be calling to get these ‘Old Vegas’ Casino Rolls over the next 21 days. That’s because these rolls are not torn, faded, ripped or beat up. They are in brand-new pristine collector condition. And here’s the best part. These are full 15 count ‘Old Vegas’ Casino Rolls loaded with the same American Eagle Ike Large Dollar Coins like the coins used to fill the world famous casino slot machines decades ago, and there can never be any more so there’s no telling what they could one day be worth,” Withrow

■ VEGAS SLOTS: Shown above is a post card from the famous Dunes Casino. The hotel opened on the strip in 1955. Over the years, millions have flocked to the world famous Las Vegas Casinos like the Dunes hoping to hit the jackpot. Of course many hit big time, and now for the next 21-days everyone who calls will feel like a winner too. That’s because the last ‘Old Vegas’ Casino Rolls filled with American Eagle Ike Large Dollar Coins like those that filled the “loose” Casino Slots decades ago are now actually being handed over to today’s callers who beat the 21-day deadline. explained.

Today’s callers need to remember this. These are not ordinary rolls of coins you get at a bank or credit union. These ‘Old Vegas’ Casino Rolls contain old American Eagle Ike Large Dollar coins commemorating the Rat Pack days of the early 1970’s when Las Vegas Casinos were all the rage. These rolls are now being released from the private vaults at the Lincoln Treasury, each with 15 U.S. Gov’t issued American Eagle Ike Large Dollar Coins dating back to 1976 and earlier.

We won’t be surprised if thousands of people claim the six roll limit before they’re gone.

That’s because after the rolls were sealed with these U.S. Gov’t minted American Eagle Ike Large Dollar Coins, each veri-

fied to meet a minimum collector grade quality of very good or above, the dates and mint marks are unsearched to determine collector values and the rolls are now securely sealed. That means there’s no telling what’s in each roll.

“My advice, get as many as you can, stash them away in a safe place to pass down from generation to generation,” Withrow said.

“Just imagine how much these remaining ‘Old Vegas’ Casino Rolls could be worth someday.

The American Eagle Ike Large Dollar Coins alone are decades old and are never to be struck again by the U.S. Gov’t,” Withrow confirmed.

Withrow knows a thing or two about money, she is retired 40th Treasurer

of the United States of gas’ Casino Rolls are being America and now is the urged to call right away. If Executive Advisor to the lines are busy keep calling.

Lincoln Treasury.

All calls will be answered All readers of today’s over the next 21 days. newspaper publication trying to be the first to get the Free Dollar Coin with every ‘Old Vegas’ Casino Roll just need to call the Hotline at 1-888-373-4041 and give the Promo Code IKE184 beginning at 8:30 am this morning.

The TollFree Hotlines are expected to be overwhelmed. That’s Minted in Philadelphia, Denver why everyone and San Francisco featuring a hoping to get majestic eagle swooping over the their hands on moon’s surface commemorating the original Lunar Landing. these ‘Old Ve-

American Eagle Ike Large Dollar

‘OLD VEGAS’ CASINO ROLLS ARE DELIVERED IN LINCOLN TREASURY VAULT BOXES WITH A CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICITY. LINCOLN TREASURY, LLC IS NOT AFFILIATED WITH THE U.S. MINT, THE U.S. GOVERNMENT, A BANK OR ANY GOVERNMENT AGENCY. IF FOR ANY REASON WITHIN 30 DAYS FROM SHIPMENT YOU ARE DISSATISFIED, RETURN THE PRODUCT FOR A REFUND LESS SHIPPING AND RETURN POSTAGE. THIS SAME PROMOTIONAL OFFER MAY BE MADE AVAILABLE AT A LATER DATE OR IN A DIFFERENT GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION. OH RESIDENTS ADD 6.5% SALES TAX. LINCOLN TREASURY, 8000 FREEDOM AVE, NORTH CANTON, OH 44720. ©2024 LINCOLN TREASURY. P4444 OF23587R-1

28

OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING • OCTOBER 2024

(Continued from previous page)

How to get the ‘Old Vegas’ Casino Rolls: The Call-In Hotlines open at 8:30am (EST) this morning. Callers who beat the 21-day Release deadline are guaranteed to get them for less than $7 per coin that’s only $98 for the full 15 count ‘Old Vegas’ Casino Rolls loaded with decades old American Eagle Ike Large Dollar Coins. That’s the lowest price ever offered and a real steal for these one of a kind ‘Old Vegas’ Casino Rolls. Important: if any remain after the 21-day deadline the price skyrockets to $255 per roll.

CALL TOLL-FREE: 1-888-373-4041 and mention promo code: IKE184. Or you can order by mail by writing “Casino Rolls” on a piece of paper with your name and full address with your remittance of $98 for a single roll (your choice of roll), or $294 for three rolls (Las Vegas Sign, Roulette, One Arm Bandit), or $588 for all six rolls and mail to: Lincoln Treasury, Promo Code: IKE184 PO Box 9971, Canton, OH 44711. You can also go online: LincolnTreasury.com/6 and use promo code: IKE184 at checkout to claim the discount.

LAST CHANCE: You’ve heard the old saying, “When they’re gone, they’re gone”. That’s why today’s Public Release may be the best chance the public gets to own one of these ‘Old Vegas’ Casino Rolls. And here’s the best part. The price is right, in fact it’s a steal for callers lucky enough to beat the 21-day deadline and get the ‘Old Vegas’ Casino Rolls for less than $7 per coin.

FREE US GOVERNMENT ISSUED LADY LIBERTY PRESIDENTIAL DOLLAR COIN WITH EVERY CASINO ROLL

With each Casino Roll, a US Gov’t issued Lady Liberty Presidential Dollar Coin is included FREE. These coins will also never be minted again. Your free Dollar Coin will come in uncirculated condition and protected in a capsule ensuring its safety and protection. When you get the maximum number of Casino Rolls, you’ll also get six of these beautiful presidential dollar coins while they last.

JACKPOT: It’s like hitting 777 on an old Vegas “one armed bandit”.

That’s because the dates and mint marks of the 15 American Eagle Ike Large Dollar Coins from decades ago are now sealed away in each roll exclusively by the Lincoln Treasury so you never know what you might find. Call this toll-free hotline: 1-888-373-4041 and use promo code: IKE184. Choose from one roll, three rolls, or the maximum of all six rolls.

■ HOW MUCH ARE THE ‘OLD VEGAS’ CASINO ROLLS WORTH: There’s no way to tell, but at less than $7 per coin you better believe they’re a real steal. That’s because the dates and mint marks of the U.S. Gov’t issued American Eagle Ike Large Dollar Coins are sealed away inside the 15 count ‘Old Vegas’ Casino Rolls. Coin values always fluctuate and there are never any guarantees, but each ‘Old Vegas’ Casino Roll contains American Eagle Ike Large Dollar coins that are decades old. Any scarce coins, regardless of their value that you may find inside the sealed ‘Old Vegas’ Casino Rolls are yours to keep. One thing that is known is these are the only ‘Old Vegas’ Casino Rolls known to exist and you can only get them by calling the toll-free line listed in today’s announcement.

OCTOBER 2024 • OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING

29

i s d o o D Square dancing clubs call Ohioans to join the promenade.

BY MARGARET BURANEN

O

n just about any night of the week, though certainly on almost every Friday and Saturday, there’s bound to be a square dance happening somewhere in Ohio.

According to the Ohio Corporation of Dance Clubs, there are more than 70 square dancing clubs around the state — and that’s only those that are members of the corporation; numerous other clubs are independent of that organization.

Centerville first grade teacher Kathy Crow and her husband, Doug, a retired engineer, say there’s a reason for square dancing’s popularity — especially as compared to traditional ballroom dancing. “It’s easier to learn,” Kathy says. “The only requirement is that you can listen and follow the caller’s direction. You don’t even have to move to the beat of the music.”

The Crows got into square dancing by chance. They went to dinner late one summer evening to a restaurant where many of the other patrons were wearing what they later learned to be traditional square-dancing attire: the women in ruffled skirts worn over fluffy crinolines, and men in

30

OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING • OCTOBER 2024

western-style shirts that matched or complemented their partners’ outfits.

Curious, Kathy and Doug struck up a conversation with a few of the other diners and realized they had stumbled into a local club’s social event. One dancer gave them a flyer about lessons offered by the club, and they decided to give it a try.

When the lessons began that autumn, the Crows were there, and they’ve been dancing ever since. They’ve found that square dancing offers some significant benefits. “It’s easy for beginners to learn, and learning the different calls helps your brain,” she says. It’s also effective exercise that isn’t dependent on good weather. “Two hours of dancing is like walking 5 miles,” she says.

It’s also social — as they found out during that very first interaction, club members often go somewhere with other dancers before or after an evening of dancing. But it’s broader than that. They dance with their local club, Gem City Square Dancers of Kettering, but also visit other Ohio clubs, and they also travel to state and national squaredancing conventions. “We’ve haven’t missed a national square-dancing convention since 2012,” Doug says.

The Gem City Squares near Dayton, one of more than 70 square dancing clubs around Ohio, offers regular twice-monthly dances, lessons, and special events.

Through those conventions and other dance-related travel, they’ve become friends with other square dancers all over the U.S. Kathy says that square dancing is popular in other countries, too. And since the calls are always in English, an American can join in square dancing anywhere.

Doug adds that square dancing is fun, you don’t need a partner, and it’s cheap, for both lessons and dances.

Admission to a dance, which includes snacks provided by club members, is typically about $8 to $10. The admission fees are to pay for the caller and sometimes rental for use of a hall.

Square dancing involves sets of four couples who each stand on one side of their own square. A caller tells the dancers what moves to do, to either live or recorded music.

“There are two types of square dancing,” Doug explains.

“In the hoedown-type, you swing your partner by the elbow. The modern western that we do is more gentle.”

Kathy and Doug Crow say square dancing is a great way to have fun, exercise, and socialize.

Kathy notes that occasionally a caller will announce that the next dance is “hot hash” style. “That means the caller calls the moves as fast as he can, and the dancers move as fast as they can. I dance with a 94-year-old man every Monday and he can dance hot hash. Dancing that way definitely keeps your brain and your body active.”

“There are 100 moves in square dancing,” she explains.

“That sounds like a lot, but the majority of them are easy to do, like ‘all join hands and circle left,’ and some are combinations of two moves.”

There are different levels of square dancing, from beginning to advanced. Square dance clubs include on their websites the dance levels they host.

Many of them also list a specific time for round dancing, which can be waltz, fox trot, tango, or any other type of ballroom dance. The couples all dance in the same direction around a big circle.

Kathy says that more experienced square dancers are always willing to help beginners. “We all work together to help less-qualified dancers learn the moves. And callers will announce some dances as ‘high-low’ so new dancers know there will be advanced dancers to help them.”

To find a club near you, visit https://squaredanceohio.com/federations-councils/ to find a list of regional councils, then search those groups to find individual clubs within that region. Many clubs offer reasonably priced lessons, which often begin in the fall.

OCTOBER 2024 • OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING

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2024 CALENDAR CENTRAL

THROUGH OCT. 26 – Coshocton Farmers Market, 22442 Co. Rd. 1A, Coshocton, Sat. 8:30 a.m.–noon.

Fresh, locally grown, in-season produce; baked goods; and handmade artisan crafts. For the most up-to-date information about vendors who will be attending the market, visit www.facebook.com/ coshoctonfarmersmarket or email market.manager@ coshfarmmarket.org.

THROUGH OCT. 27 – Rock Mill Days, Stebelton Park at Rock Mill, 1429 Rockmill Place NW, Lancaster, Wed./Sat. 11 a.m.–2 p.m., Sun. 1–4 p.m. Tour the restored 1824 gristmill, walk the covered bridge, and view the waterfall near the headwaters of the Hocking River. 614-321-4833 ext. 103 or www.fairfieldcountyparks.org/events.

OCTOBER/NOVEMBER THROUGH OCT. 31 – Corn Maze and Fall Fun Farm, McDonald’s Greenhouse and Corn Maze, 3220 Adamsville Rd., Zanesville. 740-452-4858 or www. mcdonaldsgreenhouse.com.

THROUGH NOV. 14 – Exhibit: Spacewalkers, Peggy R. McConnell Arts Center, 777 Evening St., Worthington.

Stephanie Rond’s latest body of work, her largest collection of new work in 10 years, is a series of street art installations and indoor work that reimagines what—and who—deserves to be made visible in public space. www. mcconnellarts.org.

OCT. 4, NOV. 1 – First Friday Art Walk, downtown Zanesville, 5–8 p.m. Come downtown on the first Friday of each month, when all our participating galleries, studios, and small businesses are open at the same time!

See website for a map of current participants: https:// artcoz.org/arts-district-map.

OCT. 16–18 – Ohio World Organization of China Painters Show/School, 145 E. Main St., Lancaster, 11 a.m.–4 p.m. Free. Hand-painted, one-of-a-kind china display. Visit the Wendel garage to see china painters in action, creating beautiful porcelain art. 740-681-1423.

OCT. 16–19 – 117th Circleville Pumpkin Show, downtown Circleville, Wed. 9 a.m.–10 p.m., Thur.–Sat. 10 a.m.–10 p.m. Free. Giant Pumpkin Weigh-in at Court and Main Sts., Wed. 9:15 a.m. Two parades daily, 3:30 and 8 p.m.; Sat. parade 8 p.m. only. Pumpkin products of all kinds, rides, live entertainment, craft and food

COMPILED BY COLLEEN ROMICK CLARK

vendors, the Giant Pumpkin Pie, and much more! www. pumpkinshow.com.

OCT. 18–20 – Apple Butter Stirrin’ Festival, Historic Roscoe Village, 600 N. Whitewoman St., Coshocton, Fri./ Sat. 10 a.m.–6 p.m., Sun. 10 a.m.–5 p.m. $5–$8; under 12 free. Homemade apple butter cooked over an open fire, live music, free crafts for kids, 100+ craft and food vendors, canal boat rides, lantern tours, and more!

740-623-6567 or www.roscoevillage.com.

OCT. 19–20 – Education of Yesterday 20th Annual Farm Show, 3685 Cass Irish Ridge Rd., Dresden (intersections of St. Rtes.16 and 60), 10 a.m.–5 p.m.

Antique tractors, trucks, construction; train rides; working in the fields and displays; kids’ events, music, and food. 740-754-6248 or www.facebook.com/ educationofyesterday.

OCT. 26 – Cemetery Hike at Pickaway Trail, Circleville, 1 p.m. Join us for a walk on the Pickaway Trail and take a short detour along the Richards Family Cemetery. Registration required: mellis@ pickawaycountyohio. gov. Dress for the fall weather and terrain. www.pickawaycountyparks.org.

OCT. 26 – Monster Mash, Marion Palace Theatre, 276 W. Center St., Marion, 11:30 a.m.–2:30 p.m. Held in conjunction with downtown’s Monster March.

Free. Kids can enjoy exciting game stations with plenty of goodies to win. Hot dogs, popcorn, and drinks available for purchase. 740-383-2101 or www. marionpalace.org.

OCT. 30 – Anniversary of Chief Logan’s Speech, Logan Elm Park, Circleville, 5:30 p.m. Join us as we commemorate the 250th anniversary of the historical day Chief Logan gave his famous speech under the Elm Tree. Registration required: mellis@ pickawaycountyohio.gov. Program will be canceled in the case of inclement weather. An adult must accompany all children under 12. www. pickawaycountyparks.org.

NOV. 2 – Annual Holiday Bazaar, The Anchor Church, 1365 Chamberlain St., Zanesville, 9 a.m.–2 p.m. Crafts, holiday décor, books, gifts, home décor, baked goods, sweet treats, tumblers, and more!

Vendor space available: 740-586-4352 (Candace) or https://theanchor.churchcenter.com/registrations/ events/2401405.

NOV. 9 – “Ohio-Erie Canal History,” Canal Park, 23352 Canal Rd., Circleville, 10 a.m. Learn more about the historic features of the canal that can be found at the park. Registration required: mellis@ pickawaycountyohio.gov. Program will be canceled in the case of inclement weather. An adult must accompany all children under 12. www. pickawaycountyparks.org.

NOV. 9 – Veterans March and Ceremony, Canal Winchester, 10 a.m. March begins at Frances Steube Community Center, 22 S. Trine St., and ends at Stradley Place, 36 S. High St., for the ceremony. Free pancake breakfast for veterans and their families 8:30–10 a.m. at the Community Center. 614-834-9915 or www. canalwinchesterohio.gov.

NOV. 14 – “Voyage in Verses: Poets as Spacewalkers,” Peggy R. McConnell Arts Center, 777 Evening St., Worthington. An unforgettable evening of poetry and art hosted by poet Cynthia Amoah, who will also be one of the performers bringing Stephanie Rond’s Spacewalkers exhibit to life. www. mcconnellarts.org.

OCTOBER 2024 • OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING

33

2024 CALENDAR

OCTOBER/NOVEMBER

NORTHWEST

THROUGH OCT. 12 – The Great Sidney Farmer’s Market, 109 S. Ohio Ave., every Sat. 8 a.m.–noon.

Vendors from all around the area provide great food, crafts, and more! 937-658-6945 or www.sidneyalive.org.

THROUGH OCT. 20 – NWORRP Pumpkin Train, Northwest Ohio Railroad Preservation Inc., 12505 Co. Rd. 99, Findlay, Sat./Sun. 1–5 p.m. $3; 12 and under, $2. Ride our quarter-scale train to the pumpkin patch, then return to the station. Additional charge for pumpkins. 419-4232995, www.nworrp.org, or www.facebook.com/nworrp.

THROUGH OCT. 26 – NWORRP Halloween Express, Northwest Ohio Railroad Preservation Inc., 12505 Co. Rd. 99, Findlay, Fri./Sat. 6:30–9 p.m. $3; 12 and under. $2. Take the family on a non-scary Halloween train ride to see the Halloween decorations after dark. 419-4232995, www.nworrp.org, or www.facebook.com/nworrp.

OCT. 2, NOV. 6 – Down on the Farm Story Time, Proving Ground Farm, 5670 E. Twp. Rd. 138, Tiffin, 10 a.m. Stories and activities geared for preschoolage children focus on farming and nature in an outdoor setting. Families welcome! 419-447-7073, www.conservesenecacounty.com, or find Seneca Conservation District on Facebook.

SOUTHEAST

THROUGH OCT. 26 – The Frankenstein Experience at Haunted Mountain, Sugarloaf Mountain Amphitheater, 5968 Marietta Rd., Chillicothe, Thur.–Sat. 6:30 p.m. $10–$40. Enjoy a live production, haunted trail, films, escape rooms, and more! www.hauntedmountain.org.

THROUGH OCT. 27 – Glassburn’s Fun Farm, 283 Church St., Bidwell. Corn maze, corn pit, culvert slides, pedal car track, pumpkin patch, duck racing, and more.

740-645-6531 or www.facebook.com/glassburnsfunfarm.

THROUGH NOV. 2 – Athens Farmers Market, Athens Community Center, 701 E. State St., Athens, Wed. 9 a.m.–noon. Open year-round Sat. 9 a.m.–noon. Voted Ohio’s favorite farmers market! 740-593-6763 or www. athensfarmersmarket.org.

34

OCT. 19–20 – Findlay Flea Market, Hancock Co. Fgds., 1017 E. Sandusky St., Findlay, Sat. 9 a.m.–4 p.m., Sun. 9 a.m.–3 p.m. Free admission. New, used, and vintage items, crafts, and more. Vendors welcome. 419-619-0041 (Christine) or findlayfleamarket@gmail.com.

OCT. 19, 26 – NWORRP Trick or Treat Halloween Train, Northwest Ohio Railroad Preservation Inc., 12505 Co. Rd. 99, Findlay. $3; 12 and under, $2. Take a ride around our tracks and enjoy the Halloween displays. No scary sights — just fun and treats for all! 419-423-2995, www.nworrp.org, or www.facebook.com/nworrp.

OCT. 24 – Fourth Thursdays Pumpkin Walk Trickor-Treat, downtown Lakeview. Dress in your favorite costume, grab some grub from the best food trucks in town, and gather stamps on your Shopping Passport as you fill your bag with treats from local businesses. www. facebook.com/downtownlakeviewohio.

OCT. 26 – Murder Mystery Dinner, Vera Events, 330 E. Court St., Sidney, 5:30–9 p.m. $35–$45/person. A real-life game of Clue complete with a lovely dinner and more! www.sidneyalive.org/eventscalendar/murdermystery-dinner-2.

OCT. 27 – Autumn Games and Halloween Customs, Piatt Castle Mac-A-Cheek, 10051 Township Rd. 47, West Liberty, 4 p.m. Have fun with nature by making toys and decorations using grains and playing games with acorns. Hear spooky stories and help scare the ghosts by coming in costume. Ends with Trick or Treat and a bonfire (weather permitting). www.piattcastle.org.

OCT. 31 – Halloween Spooktacular, 129 N. Detroit St., West Liberty. Free. Bring the whole family to the village for an unforgettable evening filled with bouncing, face painting, costumes, and trick-or-treating. www. mywestliberty.com.

NOV. 1–2 – West Liberty Christmas in the Village, 129 N. Detroit St., West Liberty. Discover unique gifts and holiday decorations in the inviting village atmosphere of

our stores. Enjoy Christmas music as you explore our vast selection of seasonal items. www.mywestliberty.com.

NOV. 1–3 – First Fridays Holiday Open House, 100 S. Main St., Bellefontaine. Kick off the holiday shopping season in downtown Bellefontaine! Your shopping passport unlocks discounts and raises money for local families in need. www.firstfridaysbellefontaine.com.

NOV. 2 – 16th Homemade Craft Sale and Lunch, Shiloh Church, 2100 Co. Rd. 5, Delta, 9 a.m.–4 p.m.

Baked goods and peanut brittle, custom jewelry, wood crafts, woven items and rugs, holiday and Christmas décor, and much more! Homemade lunch 11 a.m.–2 p.m. (or till gone). Benefits Sparrow’s Nest Women’s Shelter.

419-533-2083.

NOV. 2 – Tri-State Gun Show, Allen Co. Fgds., 2750 Harding Hwy., Lima, Sat. 8:30 a.m.–4 p.m., Sun. 8:30 a.m.–2 p.m. $6; under 18 free (must be accompanied by adult). 419-647-0067 or www.tristategunshow.org.

OCT. 18 – Fleetwood Gold: A Fleetwood Mac Tribute, Majestic Theatre, 45 E. Second St., Chillicothe, 7:30 p.m. $28–$40. www.majesticchillicothe.net.

OCT. 18–20 – Fall Festival of Leaves, downtown Bainbridge (Ross County), Fri./Sat. 10 a.m.–10 p.m., Sun. 10 a.m.–5 p.m. Free. This festival held in “Leaf Country, USA” features an arts and craft show, live entertainment, midways, parades, an antique tractor show, and more. www.fallfestivalofleaves.com.

OCT. 19 – Rule the Roost, Buzzard’s Roost Nature Preserve, 514 Redbird Lane, Chillicothe, 8 a.m. $40–$99.

Distances include 7K, 12-hour solo, and 12-hour 2-person relay. https://ultrasignup.com/register.aspx?did=113093 OCT. 26 – Chillicothe Halloween Parade, North Paint Street, downtown Chillicothe, 8 p.m. Free. Join the Chillicothe Jaycees and the community for a parade to celebrate the season! www.visitchillicotheohio.com.

OCT. 27 – Annual Food Truck or Treat, Brad Lightle Park, Frankfort, 11 a.m. Free admission. There will be plenty of family fun with food trucks, entertainment, and more activities. www.visitchillicotheohio.com.

NOV. 1 – Comedy Night: Killer Beaz, Majestic Theatre, 45 E. Second St., Chillicothe, 7 p.m. $35–$60. From Discovery Channel’s hit series Moonshiners. www. majesticchillicothe.net.

NOV. 1 – Recycle the Cheer, Marietta Main Street, 241 N. Front St., Marietta, 5–7 p.m. We’re teaming up with the Salvation Army of Washington County to collect

donations of new and used holiday decorations to redistribute to area families. Help us spread the cheer! www.mariettamainstreet.org/events.

NOV. 1–3 – Fall Scrapbooking Crop, Adena Mansion and Gardens, 847 Adena Rd., Chillicothe, Fri./Sat. 9 a.m.–9 p.m., Sun. 9 a.m.–4 p.m. $60/day or $130/ weekend. Join us for 31 peaceful hours of crafting! www.adenamansion.com.

NOV. 1–JAN. 1, 2025 – Dickens Victorian Village, downtown Cambridge. Stroll the streets to view scenes depicting life in Victorian England, featuring life-sized, handmade mannequins wearing real vintage clothing.

800-933-5480 or www.dickensvictorianvillage.com.

NOV. 1–JAN. 1, 2025 – Guernsey County Courthouse Holiday Light Show, Cambridge, 5:30–9 p.m. nightly.

(Nov. 1–4 begins at 6:30 p.m.) Four different light and music shows performed each evening. Extended hours on selected dates. 800-933-5480 or www. dickensvictorianvillage.com.

NOV. 2 – Welcome to the Holidays Craft Show, Sardis Community Center, 37184 Mound St., Sardis, 9 a.m–3 p.m. Crafts and homemade food. 740-213-5843 or www. facebook.com/sardisohcc.

NOV. 9 – 80s Hair Band Experience, Majestic Theatre, 45 E. Second St., Chillicothe, 7:30 p.m. $43–$65. Bring on the Aqua Net and tight pants … it’s time for the Best Hair Bands in the Land. Three-act homage to Poison, Def Leppard, and Bon Jovi. www.majesticchillicothe.net.

OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING • OCTOBER 2024

NOV. 2–9 – Holiday Shop Hop, Sidney. Shop at local small businesses either downtown or beyond; enter a drawing to win a grand-prize gift basket of items donated by each stop! www.sidneyalive.org.

NOV. 3 – Puck-I-Huddle Fall Craft Show, St. Marys Memorial High School, 2250 St. Rte. 66, St. Marys, 12–4 p.m. Cash donation for admission. Handmade item vendors, direct vendors, concessions. 419-300-4611, info@stmarysohio.org, or www.stmarysohio.org.

NOV. 9 – Bob Ross Painting Class, Lima Public Library, 650 W. Market St., Lima, 1–4 p.m. Free; registration required. For ages 16 and older. Get ready to make some happy little memories as you create your own Bob Ross masterpiece. 419-228-5113 or www.limalibrary.com.

NOV. 9 – Walk with a Doc, Lima Family YMCA, 345 S. Elizabeth St., Lima, 9–10 a.m. Join physicians for this free, informative, and fun walking program. No membership required. www.limaymca.net/walk-witha-doc.

NORTHEAST

THROUGH OCT. 12 – Plant and Animal Fiber Exhibit, McCook House Museum, 15 S. Lisbon St., Carrollton, Fri./Sat. 10 a.m.–5 p.m. $3. See a variety of handmade items from local crafters including baskets, rush, reed, caned bottom chairs, woven rugs, wall hangings, knitted and crocheted items, and much more. 330-437-9715 or kathorn4120@gmail.com.

THROUGH OCT. 31 – Corn Maze, Beriswill Farms, 2200 Station Rd., Valley City, Tues./Wed. 11 a.m.–4 p.m., Thur.–Sun. 11 a.m.–6 p.m. Test your sense of direction in this 5-acre maze. See website for additional activities.

330-350-2486 or http://beriswillfarms.com.

OCT. 5–6, 12–13, 19–20 – Fall Foliage Tours, Lorain and West Virginia Railway, 46485 St. Rte. 18, Wellington, departure time 1:30 p.m. The perfect way to spend an

SOUTHWEST

THROUGH OCT. 27 – Barn-n-Bunk Fall Festival Weekends, 3677 Wayne Madison Rd., Trenton, Sat./Sun. 12–5 p.m. Free admission/parking. Duck racing, pottery painting, face painting, fall favorite foods, pumpkin picking, hayrides, and much more! 513-988-9211 or www.barnnbunk.com. ​THROUGH NOV. 27 – Bluegrass Wednesdays, Vinoklet Winery, 11069 Colerain Ave., Cincinnati, Wed. 6:30–8:30 p.m. Enjoy dinner, wine, and an evening of free entertainment by Vernon McIntyre’s Appalachian Grass. Reservations recommended. 513-385-9309, vinokletwinery@fuse.net, or www.vinokletwines.com.

WEST VIRGINIA

OCT. 11–12 – Blennerhassett Island Mansion by Candlelight, Blennerhassett Island Historical State Park,

hour or two on a Saturday or Sunday in October. Tickets available at the station on days of operation. 440-6476660 or www.lwvry.org.

OCT. 11–12, 18–19, 25–26 – Ghost Tours of Zoar, 198 Main St., Zoar, 6:30–8:30 p.m. $19. Learn about supernatural encounters shared by staff, visitors, and residents of Zoar on a walking tour of the village. For ages 12 and over. Reservations required. 800-262-6195 or www.historiczoarvillage.com.

OCT. 18 – Wine on Rails, Lorain & West Virginia Railway, 46485 St. Rte. 18, Wellington, 7 p.m. $38.50 ticket includes wine; $25 designated driver ticket. Must be 21 or older. Enjoy tasting a variety of wines as you travel leisurely through southern Lorain County. Ride lasts about 1-1/2 hours. 440-647-6660 or www.lwvry.org.

OCT. 19 – Hartville Coin Show, Hartville MarketPlace and Flea Market, 1289 Edison NW, Hartville, 9 a.m.–3 p.m. Over 30 vendors of vintage and new coins, precious metals, and paper currency, plus food and indoor shops. www.hartvillemarketplace.com/events.

OCT. 19 – Sweetest Day Train, Lorain & West Virginia Railway, 46485 St. Rte. 18, Wellington, 6 p.m. $38.50 ticket includes wine; $25 designated driver ticket. Must be 21 or older. Enjoy a variety of wines and a sampling of chocolates as you travel leisurely through southern Lorain County. Ride lasts about 1-1/2 hours. 440-647-6660 or www.lwvry.org.

OCT 25–26 – Old Uniontown Quilt Guild Quilt Show, Ashland Co. Fgds., Mozelle Hall, 2042 Claremont Ave., Ashland, Fri. 9 a.m.–5 p.m., Sat. 9 a.m.–4 p.m. $5/adult; free for children. Vendors, raffles for a sewing machine, quilts, and various other quilt-related items. www. olduniontownquiltguild.com.

OCT. 27 – Model Railroad and Toy Show, 735 Lafayette Rd. (St. Rte. 42), Medina, 9 a.m.–3 p.m. $7. Trains and planes and things that GO! Get a jump on your Christmas shopping. 330-948-4400 (Vikki Conrad) or www. conraddowdell.com.

NOV. 1–2 – Season’s Splendor Arts and Crafts Show, Fisher Auditorium and Shisler Conference Ctr., Madison Ave., Wooster, Fri. 5–9 p.m., Sat. 9 a.m.–4 p.m. Free.

Over 100 booths, handcrafted items only; no commercial vendors. Food available. www.festival.net.

NOV. 10 – Gruca White Ensemble: “Expanding the Boundaries of the Classical Experience,” Wadsworth Public Library, 132 Broad St., Wadsworth, 2–3 p.m. Free.

Seating is on a first-come, first-served basis. 419-8536016 or www.ormaco.org.

THROUGH NOV. 30 – Pumpkin Blow, Neusole Glassworks, 11925 Kemper Springs Dr., Cincinnati, Wed./ Thur. 10 a.m.–6 p.m., Fri.–Sun. 10 a.m.–8 p.m. $55 per 30-min. session. Must be age 5 or older. With the help of our professional glassblowers, you can blow your own pumpkin from hot molten glass. Reservations required.

513-751-3292 or neusoleglassworks@hotmail.com.

OCT. 11–13 – Wheat Ridge Olde Thyme Herb Fair and Farm Festival, Grindstone Farm, 817 Tater Ridge Rd., West Union, 10 a.m.–5 p.m. $5 parking/carload.

Artisans, herbs and herbal products, crafters, antiques, homemade foods, pumpkin cannon, antique tractor show, pumpkins, gourds, mums, live entertainment, petting zoo. 937-544-8252 (Kim Erwin).

OCT. 18, NOV. 15 – Bluegrass Night, Fibonacci Brewing Company, 1445 Compton Rd., Cincinnati, 7–9 p.m. Free. Enjoy lively bluegrass music by Vernon McIntyre’s Appalachian Grass, a wide variety of craft beers at the Beer Garden, and food truck eats. 513-8321422 or http://fibbrew.com.

OCT. 19 – Hay Wagon Ride, Wagers’ Memorial Park (Devils Backbone), 1301 OH-725 W., Camden, 11 a.m.–3 p.m. Free. Ride the hay wagon to and from the Black Walnut Festival. Registration required.

937-962-5561, pcpdevents@gmail.com, or www. preblecountyparks.org.

OCT. 19–20 – Black Walnut Festival, downtown Camden, 9 a.m.–5 p.m. 135+ vendors! Artisan crafts, fall produce, antiques/collectibles, parade, car and truck show, Kid Zone, wagon tours, food trucks, and more. Don’t forget the homemade ice cream! www. camdencomeback.org/black-walnut-festival.

NOV. 2 – Vernon McIntyre’s Appalachian Grass, Sterling Bluegrass Jamboree, 29 E. Main St., Mt. Sterling, 7 p.m. The music kicks off at 6 p.m. with the Sterling Bluegrass Band. Home-cooked food and really fine pies available on-site. 614-323-6938 or www. sterlingbluegrassjamboree.com/upcoming-events.

NOV. 7–9 – Industrial Strength, Roberts Convention Centre, 123 Gano St., Wilmington. Doors open Thur. at 4 p.m., Fri./Sat., at 10 a.m. $35–$150. Indoor music festival featuring the best in bluegrass and American roots music. 937-372-5804 or www.somusicfest.com.

NOV. 9 – Holiday Horse Parade, downtown Piqua, 7 p.m. Free. See horse-drawn carriages, hitches, and riders, all outfitted with holiday lights, making their way down Main Street. 937-773-9355 or www. mainstreetpiqua.com.

137 Juliana St., Parkersburg. $27–$37; reservations required. Board the Island Belle sternwheeler at Belpre, Ohio, and travel back in time to an 18th-century party at the magnificent mansion. Enjoy horse-drawn wagon rides, period music, and other activities.

Harvest Supper offered both evenings ($10–$20); advance reservations required. 304-420-4800 or www. blennerhassettislandstatepark.com.

OCT. 19 – Fall Fort Day, Fort New Salem, 81 Settlers Lane, Salem, 10 a.m.–5 p.m. $7; under 10 admitted free with paying adult. Kids’ and family activities, costumed interpreters, cabin tours. Food available for purchase.

304-695-2220, director@fortnewsalemfoundation.org, or www.fortnewsalemfoundation.org

NOV. 13 – An Evening of Wine, Music, and Celebration, Cambria’s Bistro, 132 Main St., Wadsworth, 6 p.m. $50 per person, includes first drink. Join us at our annual dinner to celebrate the 14th anniversary of ORMACO. Seating limited to 100 people, so book early.

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

Having an event?

Let us include it in our calendar!

AT LEAST 90 DAYS prior to the event, send an email to events@ohioec.org, or mail your information* to: Ohio Cooperative Living 6677 Busch Blvd.

Columbus, OH 43229

sure to include all contact information! *OhioMake Cooperative Living will not publish listings that don’t include a complete address, phone number, or website for more information.

OCTOBER 2024 • OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING

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MEMBER INTERACTIVE

Oh my gourd!

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1 — My granddaughter, Melody, at a Florida pumpkin patch. Kimberly Gardner, South Central Power Company member.

2 — Our daughter, Harper Lou, hauling in her pumpkins. Josh Boley, Washington Electric Cooperative member.

3­­ — The 25th-largest pumpkin in the world, grown in our backyard! Heidi Treadway, South Central Power Company member.

4 — Our grandson, Lawson Rieman, planted seeds in the landscaping around his home. His mom and dad allowed them to grow, and this is his first harvest! Rose Gerschutz, Paulding Putnam Electric Cooperative member.

5 — My granddaughter, Meredith Aubery, enjoying a fall Ohio day. Lara Uhl, South Central Power Company member.

6 — Our grandson, Walker, at Fulks Farm in Crown City, Ohio. Roy and Marilyn Jones, Buckeye Rural Electric Cooperative member.

Send us YOUR picture!

For January, send “On the slopes” by Oct. 15. For February, send “Love language” by Nov. 15.

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

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

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OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING • OCTOBER 2024

Election

Day

Nov. 5, 2024 • Polls open 6:30 a.m.–7:30 p.m.

Your vote is your voice!

BE A CO-OP VOTER Visit vote.coop to find your polling place.

HAN