Ohio Cooperative Living – February 2025 - Adams

OHIO

FEBRUARY 2025

COOPERATIVE Adams Rural Electric Cooperative

Snow days Co-op promotes safety in winter weather

ALSO INSIDE Investing in communities Snap, crackle, and pop Small-town media

Concern for community Electric cooperative employees and trustees around the state show their concern for the places they live, work, and serve in many ways.

Their generous support of the Community Foundation of Ohio’s Electric Cooperatives, through payroll deductions and one-time donations, has allowed the foundation to provide more than $173,000 in grants to dozens of organizations that are near and dear to our employees’ hearts in the last six years.

Cooperative Family Fund

Capital Area Humane Society

Stefanie Ronald Spielman Fund for McDonald

AHA! A Hands-On Adventure

St. Jude’s Human Childrens Connections

Breast House

Hospital Fund

Cancer Charities

Gracehaven, Inc.

Association of Louisiana Electric

Star Imagination Library Huckleberry House Children’s House Hunger Common Colony Alliance Tennessee Electric Project

Cooperatives disaster relief efforts

Ohio Governor’s

RESCUEDohio disaster relief efforts Ohio Ground Cats Leukemia & Cooperative Association

JR Memorial Worthington Resource Pantry Free Store Cruise for a Cure Lymphoma

Florida Electric Cooperatives Association - disaster relief efforts

Society Union Clear

NRECA International County 4-H Creek Saving Grace Autistic Self Scioto County Career Farm Technical Center to Kentucky Rural Cat rescue Advocacy Network benefit the Blake Rodgers Disaster Relief Memorial Scholarship Fund and local Ovarian Cancer Cooperative relief efforts Alliance of Ohio

BrAva Development LifeCare

American Red Cross Might Foundation Alliance’s Kentucky Rural Disaster Relief Children’s

“Meals on

Fund and local relief efforts Museum Dolly Parton’s Wheels”

Imagination

Niche Seekers Trevor Project Library of Ohio program

OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING • FEBRUARY 2025

INSIDE FEATURES 22 THROWBACKS

In an age of closures and conglomerations, rural media outlets survive by staying local.

27 ‘SUPER’ SUPPLIER

As in each of the previous LVIII Super Bowls, the game balls used on the field will come from the Wilson Sporting Goods football factory in Ada.

Cover image on most editions: “The Duke,” the Wilson Sporting Goods Co.’s nickname for its official NFL game ball, has been used for every play in every game since the creation of the league in 1941 — and every one of those balls has been handcrafted at the company’s factory in Ada. This page: Charles Barnett, a member of Holmes-Wayne Electric Cooperative, was inspired to submit this photo for this month’s Member Interactive, “Love Language,” after a passerby made a quick turnaround in his snow-covered driveway in West Salem and left some love-ly tire tracks in the freshly fallen snow.

FEBRUARY 2025 • OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING

1

UP FRONT

Our core mission A

ffordable and reliable electricity strengthens cooperative communities and enhances the lives of members wherever they are — on farms, in homes or schools, at their small businesses or large retail establishments, or even in industrial and manufacturing facilities. While it’s essential to meet our obligations to current cooperative members, we must also work to support economic development activities that help attract new people and enterprises to cooperative territories, with the aim of further benefiting these communities.

The value of service One area where co-ops typically excel is member service. Members of Ohio’s electric cooperatives can rely on someone answering the phone (or timely calling them back) when they have questions or need assistance, and that responsiveness shows up as part of what goes into co-ops’ consistently high member satisfaction scores. But it’s not just current co-op members who benefit from the high level of service. We also hear from developers who appreciate the willingness of our employees to help them get work done, whether that means assisting in developing new neighborhoods, constructing new businesses, or expanding existing facilities.

Driving economic development Affordable and reliable electricity and excellent member service are critical factors in attracting new businesses, homes, and neighborhoods to cooperative areas. But it’s also important that Ohio’s electric cooperatives actively engage with economic development agencies across the state and the rest of the country so developers and companies looking to establish operations understand all the benefits co-ops have to offer.

For the good of our communities Whether it’s providing a grant to help certify a cooperative site to make it more attractive to developers, or meeting with economic development groups to educate them on the cooperative business model and all its advantages, our co-ops play an important role in helping our communities grow stronger. Of course, it starts with our ability to provide affordable and reliable power, but it’s our cooperative work ethic and willingness to engage with interested parties in support of economic development that go even further to attract new members and grow our communities.

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OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING • FEBRUARY 2025

Craig Grooms

PRESIDENT & CEO OHIO’S ELECTRIC COOPERATIVES

It’s important that developers and companies looking to establish operations understand all the benefits cooperatives have to offer.

FEBRUARY 2025 • Volume 67, No. 5

Ohio Rural Electric Cooperatives 6677 Busch Blvd.

Columbus, OH 43229 614-846-5757 www.ohiocoopliving.com Craig Grooms Caryn Whitney Jeff McCallister Amy Howat Neal Kindig

4 DEPARTMENTS

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

Contributors: Colleen Romick Clark, Randy Edwards, Getty Images, W.H. “Chip” Gross, Catherine Murray, Karen Sottosanti, and Kevin Williams.

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

If you build it... An Ohio co-op

works to spur housing development as a way to drive economic growth.

8

8 WOODS, WATERS, AND WILDLIFE

Crossing the ‘River Jordan’:

ODNR’s Heritage of Freedom Trails commemorate Ohio’s part in the Underground Railroad.

10 CO-OP PEOPLE

10

Stepping out: Co-op member finds fun and acclaim in the world of Irish dancing.

13 GOOD EATS

Snap, crackle, and pop: These yummy but noisy bites are sure to take the sneak out of your snack.

13

17 LOCAL PAGES

News and other important information from your electric cooperative.

33 CALENDAR

What’s happening: February/

National/regional advertising inquiries, contact

Cheryl Solomon

36 MEMBER INTERACTIVE

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

33

Love language: Members share

Cooperative members:

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

Alliance for Audited Media Member

March events and other things to do around Ohio.

photos of the people who make them the happiest.

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.

FEBRUARY 2025 • OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING

3

POWER LINES

If you build it…

Ohio co-op works to spur housing development as a way to drive economic growth.

C

BY JEFF MCCALLISTER

hurch & Dwight, a multibillion-dollar manufacturing company, has expanded its Seneca County facility twice in the past five years, adding more than $90 million in machinery and new capacity and creating 140 new jobs in the process.

It might seem curious at first that companies like Church & Dwight continue to make that type of investment there — after all, the area is not exactly a sweet spot in terms of logistical ease, with no four-lane highway and rail accessibility that’s still a bit light.

And yet, that expansion is only a part of more than $800 billion in new business investments that have spurred creation of more than 3,400 new jobs — and retention of countless others — in the Seneca County area in the past decade. Tiffin, in fact, perennially earns recognition as one of the top “micropolitan” areas (populations between 10,000 and 50,000) in the U.S. for economic development.

The Tiffin-Seneca Economic Partnership (TSEP) has been active in finding ways to help the area beat some tilted economic odds — and Attica-based North Central Electric Cooperative has been an important partner in those efforts.

“As a not-for-profit electric cooperative, our role extends beyond supplying electricity; like co-ops everywhere, we aim to enhance the quality of life, work, and service in our communities,” says Ed VanHoose, NCE’s president

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OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING • FEBRUARY 2025

and CEO. “We not only keep the lights on, but we power economic growth.”

Co-ops are ideally positioned to be economic drivers within the communities they serve (see related story on page 6). First, they are locally owned and governed, and their employees live there, too, so they have a vested interest in the prosperity of those areas. Second, they often have access to funding through state and federal programs to help pave the way for the kind of investment those areas need.

Part of the stacked odds in Seneca County has been that employers have had difficulty finding employees. A study commissioned by TSEP found that, through all that recent growth there, a large proportion of those new jobs are being filled by employees who live elsewhere and commute to Seneca County to work.

“A lack of workforce housing is holding Seneca County back,” says Audrey Flood, manager of key accounts and economic development at NCE, which helped fund the study. “The community needs every type of housing, from very small rental apartments and condominiums to affordable single-family housing and luxury homes. The private market cannot fix the housing shortage problem without community support.”

So the co-op, which serves nearly 10,000 members — the majority of whom live in the more rural areas of Seneca,

Wyandot, and Crawford counties — is helping tilt the odds back in the community’s favor. After the jobs study came out, NCE joined with real estate agents, lenders, local builders, representatives from county offices, and other business and community members on a task force aiming to spur new residential development.

The group is working to identify large parcels that can accommodate a new subdivision with a variety of housing types and mixed uses — ideally with willing sellers and access to utilities. It will then need to be determined who would buy the land, who would own which type of parcels for development, what the market desires and can afford, and what specific infrastructure costs might be.

Likely enough, such a large, undeveloped parcel would fall within the co-op’s service territory, making it possible for NCE to access low-cost federal financing for the project.

“Seneca County’s workforce and economic development teams are doing really great work,” VanHoose says. “Our region has two private universities, plus Terra State Community College, a career tech center, and a lot of partnerships building pathways that connect students directly to industry and career opportunities right here. We won’t let a lack of workforce housing hold us back.”

FEBRUARY 2025 • OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING

5

Co-ops power economy in communities across the U.S.

T

he 900 or so electric cooperatives in this country deliver electricity to 42 million Americans in 48 states across 56 percent of the nation’s landmass.

In Ohio, the state’s co-ops serve more than 1 million people in 77 of the state’s 88 counties.

But electricity is not co-ops’ only priority. The entire electric co-op movement was born of a desire to improve people’s lives, and since they serve mostly rural and economically challenged counties, the enduring economic benefits they provide their communities is nearly as important.

“Affordable and reliable electricity is a key ingredient for a successful economy,” says Craig Grooms, president and CEO of Ohio’s Electric Cooperatives, the co-ops’ statewide service organization. “Electric co-ops have always been focused on the long-term success of local communities as they keep the lights on and power economic growth.”

According to a report commissioned by the national coop organization, local electric cooperatives supported about 623,000 American jobs and contributed $111 billion annually to gross domestic product from 2018 through 2022. Their activities have far-reaching impacts across the country — even in areas where co-ops do not serve consumers directly.

The report, Economic Powerhouses: The Economic Impacts of America’s Electric Cooperatives, details the economic benefits of a range of activities conducted by cooperatives. The generation, transmission, and distribution of electricity is the primary economic contribution, but that economic activity also includes capital investments, additional operations and maintenance expenses, and the disbursement of excess operating revenue returned to cooperative members as capital credits.

Many also participate in local and statewide economic development organizations and are able to channel state and federal grants and marketing help to attract businesses to their areas. Many also gather charitable donations from members through bill round-up programs and use that to provide business grants, fund local organizations, and offer scholarships.

“Electric cooperatives foster opportunities of all kinds in their communities,” Grooms says. “Since they are owned and governed by the members they serve, they have a powerful drive to keep improving the quality of life in those communities. It’s just who we are.”

Economic engines America’s electric cooperatives...

Invest $12 billion annually in local economies

provide 71,000 jobs

own $183 billion in assets 6

The entire electric power sector generates $880 billion in economic impact annually (5 percent of America’s GDP)

OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING • FEBRUARY 2025

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7

WOODS, WATERS, AND WILDLIFE

Crossing the ‘River Jordan’

ODNR’s Heritage of Freedom Trails commemorate the state’s part in the Underground Railroad.

A

BY W.H. “CHIP” GROSS

long the eastern edge of Alum Creek State Park in central Ohio runs a thoroughfare called Africa Road. I’ve lived in the general vicinity for years, and the road’s name always seemed a bit odd to me.

As it turns out, there’s a backstory behind it, dating back to the area’s significant role as a stop on the Underground Railroad. “Around 1847, in the community of East Orange — near what is today a crossroads just south of the dam at Alum Creek Lake — a church dispute over the issue of slavery led to the founding of a new antislavery Wesleyan church,” says Phil Hutchison, a spokesperson for the Ohio Department of Natural Resources. “The name ‘Africa,’ as applied to the new church and community, was initially meant as an insult, but abolitionists embraced it proudly.”

Late last fall, just off Africa Road in Alum Creek State Park, the ODNR unveiled the first of four planned “Heritage of Freedom” trails in the state commemorating Ohio’s contribution to the Underground Railroad. “The Underground Railroad is a key part of Ohio’s history,” says Mary Mertz, director of ODNR. “This Heritage of Freedom Trail serves as a visual history lesson and provides an immersive way to see what freedom-seekers faced in Ohio’s natural environment during this time in history.”

It is estimated that by the end of the Civil War (1861–1865), as many as 500,000 or more people had emancipated themselves from slavery via the Underground Railroad.

While moving from safe house to safe house, Black men and women, sometimes with children in tow, would travel by night, stopping to rest and hide during daylight hours in deep woods, swamps, caves, abandoned barns, or shacks — anywhere so as not to be seen.

I took in the three-quarter-mile-loop freedom trail at Alum Creek on a bleak winter day shortly after it opened.

Helped by seven interpretive signs spaced along the trail, I tried to imagine what enslaved people might have experienced while on the run during that season of the year — scared, cold, tired, hungry, poorly clothed, possibly ill.

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OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING • FEBRUARY 2025

“The Underground Railroad in central Ohio had two main branches,” Hutchison says. “The first began in Ripley near the Ohio River, where John Rankin, a guide — known as a ‘conductor’ — helped many enslaved people find their way north. This route went through Columbus, Worthington, Delaware, and the Alum Creek Friends Settlement near Marengo in Morrow County. It then continued north to Canada by way of many other safe

houses. The second branch of the railroad led from Columbus to Westerville, then farther north to the small settlements of Africa, Sunbury, and beyond.”

Secret signs or signals were often used to help freedomseekers and conductors identify one another. For instance, imitations of bird calls, ribbons tied to trees, and lanterns shining from windows helped people safely connect during the long, arduous, and dangerous journey north. The “River Jordan” was code for the Ohio River, as crossing it meant arrival into the free state of Ohio.

Of course, even though Ohio did not allow slavery, freedomseekers still had to rely on the Underground Railroad while traversing the Buckeye State on their way toward

Ask

chip!

Canada. The Fugitive Slave Act of 1850, a federal law, required that all escaped slaves, upon capture, be returned to their enslavers, and that officials and citizens of free states had to cooperate. The law was so controversial that it was one of the factors leading to the Civil War. It was not until President Abraham Lincoln’s issuing of the Emancipation Proclamation on January 1, 1863, that the era of slavery officially ended in America.

Three additional Heritage of Freedom Trails are being planned by ODNR: one each at East Fork (southwest Ohio) and Portage Lakes (northeast Ohio) state parks.

The location of the fourth is still yet to be determined.

The Heritage of Freedom Trail at Alum Creek State Park is located on the north side of the parking lot at the Galena boat ramp on Africa Road.

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

FEBRUARY 2025 2024 • OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING 9

Stepping

out

Co-op member finds acclaim and fun in the world of Irish dancing.

BY KAREN SOTTOSANTI; PHOTOS COURTESY OF SILPA SADHUJAN/WWW.RINCEANDREPEAT.COM

B

ella Rogers’ devotion to Irish dance has taken her around the world. It’s propelled her to competitions throughout the United States and Canada and across the pond in England, Ireland, and Scotland. But it all started when a 5-year-old Rogers took her very first Irish dance class at the invitation of a neighbor. “I immediately fell in love with the sport,” she says. “I loved the creativity of it.”

Rogers, 19, lives in Pickerington with her parents, Amber and Todd Rogers, members of Lancaster-based South Central Power Company, and her brothers, Brycen and Bennett. She says her family has always been supportive of her journey in Irish dance, a traditional dance form she describes as “a mix of ballet and tap.”

When a young Rogers realized how much she enjoyed dancing, she began taking lessons with instructor Joseph Moriarty at the ML Dance Academy in Reynoldsburg. She saw a production of the Riverdance Irish dancing

10

OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING • FEBRUARY 2025

spectacular when she was about 10 years old. (Moriarty is a former principal of the show.) “I loved it,” she says. “It was amazing. I thought, I want to be in that someday.”

In 2017, she began dancing at the Academy in Westerville, where she currently studies with instructors and World Irish Dance champions Byron Tuttle, a former Lord of the Dance and Feet of Flames dancer, and Edward Searle, a former Riverdance dancer. Since the studio moved to Westerville from Birmingham, England, in 2011, dancers who have trained at the Academy have won 25 World Irish Dancing championships in both the solo and team sections. “I’m very lucky to have a school so great so close,” Rogers says.

Irish dancers often take part in layers of competitions; Rogers has been competing solo and in teams for the past 10 years. There are local competitions called feis (in the Irish language), regional competitions called Oireachtas, and larger competitions, including the North

In Irish dance, the focus is on footwork and high kicks; dancers maintain a strict posture and keep their arms at their sides. To perform more rhythmic dances such as the hornpipe and treble jig, dancers wear “heavy” shoes with fiberglass tips and heels, similar to tap shoes. They wear “light” or soft shoes, like ballet slippers, to perform the reel and the slip jig.

American Nationals, called majors. If a dancer scores high enough in a major competition, he or she can qualify to compete in the World Championships, or Oireachtas Rince na Cruinne, which are usually held in Ireland or Scotland.

During competition season, Rogers rehearses every day, including weekends. One of the perks of her intense rehearsal schedule, she says, is the friendships the dancers form. Rogers describes some of her favorite moments as “being with my friends, my dance family, traveling, getting to celebrate together.” Once female dancers reach a certain level of competition, she says, they wear elaborate, custom-made competition dresses with long sleeves and short skirts, often made in Ireland.

To save themselves the trouble of repeatedly styling their hair in ringlet curls, female dancers, including Rogers, often wear “bun” wigs or full wigs while competing.

During her years of competition, Rogers has steadily progressed, improving her solo rankings with every contest. In 2024, she won titles at the Mid-America Oireachtas and the North American Nationals — both cherished highlights of her career. But her top stand-out moment, she says, was ranking second in her age group at the 2024 World Championships in Glasgow, Scotland. “I never imagined that I would get something like that,” she says.

Rogers will compete in Dublin, Ireland, at the 2025 World Championships in April, and will also dance in another Dublin — at the annual Dublin (Ohio) Irish Festival from August 1 to 3. “I’ve danced at [the Ohio festival] for seven years now with my dance school,” Rogers says. “We perform show routines choreographed by one of our instructors, Byron Tuttle, as well as routines from the famous Lord of the Dance and Riverdance. It’s always exhilarating getting to dance for such large crowds that really get into the performances.”

Later in August, Rogers will head back to Ireland to attend a weeklong session at the Riverdance Summer School, which doubles as an audition process for the iconic stage show. Students will rehearse with Riverdance professional dancers and, at the end of the week, perform in a showcase for family and friends. Students who have excelled during the session will also perform several group numbers with the professional dancers. If they do particularly well, they may be hired to join a professional Riverdance tour — a prospect that makes Rogers grin excitedly. “I would love to tour professionally,” she says. “It would be a dream, doing what I love most.”

FEBRUARY 2025 • OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING

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OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING • FEBRUARY 2025

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These yummy but noisy bites are sure to take the sneak out of your snack.

GOOD EATS

RECIPES AND PHOTOGRAPHS

BY CATHERINE MURRAY

HONEY CRACKLE CORN Prep: 15 minutes | Bake: 30 minutes | Servings: 12 to 24 10 cups plain popped popcorn 2 cups salted mixed nuts, coarsely chopped ½ cup salted butter

1 cup packed brown sugar ¼ cup honey 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Sort and discard any unpopped kernels from the popcorn. Spread popcorn and nuts across two 9x13-inch baking dishes (or one deep roasting dish). In a small saucepan over medium heat, melt butter, then stir in brown sugar and honey. Cook, stirring occasionally, until mixture comes to a full boil (about 6 to 8 minutes), then simmer without stirring for 5 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in vanilla. Pour hot mixture over popcorn and nuts, tossing to coat.

Bake at 250 F for 30 minutes, stirring every 10 minutes. The baking process will continue to evenly coat popcorn and nuts with caramel, and the caramel will change from gooey to crispy with a visible crackle texture. Remove from oven and spread mixture over a silicone mat or wax paper to cool. Store in airtight container for up to a week.

Per serving: 200 calories, 13 grams fat (4.5 grams saturated fat), 19 grams total carbohydrates, 14 milligrams cholesterol, 121 milligrams sodium, 2 grams fiber, 4 grams protein.

FEBRUARY 2025 • OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING

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A POP-ROCKIN’ VALENTINE’S COOKIE Prep: 30 minutes | Chill: 1 hour | Bake: 8 minutes | Servings: 15 to 25 ½ cup sugar 2 tablespoons shortening ¼ cup unsalted butter, softened 1 egg ½ teaspoon vanilla 1¼ cups flour

½ teaspoon baking powder ½ teaspoon salt 8 ounces canned vanilla frosting food coloring* 3 packets Pop Rocks candy*

*Use any color(s) to mix and match with Pop Rocks flavors for your occasion. Shown: dark pink, light pink, and white icing with strawberry- and cherry-flavored Pop Rocks.

With an electric mixer, beat together sugar, shortening, and butter until light and fluffy. Beat in egg and vanilla. In a medium bowl, mix flour, baking powder, and salt, then add to electric mixer until dough comes together. Form dough into a disk, cover, and chill for an hour.

Preheat oven to 400 F. On a floured surface, roll dough out 1/8 inch thick. Cut into heart shapes and place on an ungreased baking sheet.

Bake 6 to 8 minutes or until just slightly browned on the edges.

Immediately transfer to a cooling rack.

Up to 24 hours before serving: Mix food coloring into frosting for desired effect. Frost cooled cookies and store covered at room temperature. Refrigerate leftover icing. Just before serving, liberally sprinkle cookies with Pop Rocks. (Pop Rocks may melt into the icing over time, reducing the popping effect; they’ll still be delicious!)

Per serving: 174 calories, 5.5 grams fat (3 grams saturated fat), 29 grams total carbohydrates, 15 milligrams cholesterol, 96 milligrams sodium, 0.5 gram fiber, 1 gram protein.

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OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING • FEBRUARY 2025

Check it out!

See videos of some of our mouth-watering recipes being prepared at

www.ohiocoopliving.com

SNAP PEA AND APPLE BRUSCHETTA Prep: 30 minutes | Cook: 10 minutes | Servings: 8 16-ounce Italian loaf or French baguette, in ½-inch-thick slices olive oil for brushing salt and pepper for sprinkling 5 ounces sugar snap peas, diced 1 large Granny Smith apple, cored and diced 2 teaspoons honey 8 ounces herbed goat cheese Cut bread slices in half diagonally (if desired). Lightly brush both sides of bread slices with olive oil, then place flat on a baking sheet. Sprinkle tops with salt and pepper.

Preheat oven (or grill) to 400 F. Bake until lightly browned, about 5 minutes per side. Toss together snap peas, diced apple, and honey. Transfer goat cheese to a small bowl and microwave in 10-second increments, mixing each time, until soft and pliable. Lightly spread goat cheese onto bread slices, then spoon snap peas and apples on top. Serve immediately.

Makes about 16 slices.

Per serving: 260 calories, 9 grams fat (4 grams saturated fat), 19 grams total carbohydrates, 25 milligrams cholesterol, 551 milligrams sodium, 2 grams fiber, 10 grams protein.

EVERYTHING BAGEL SEED CRACKERS Prep: 5 minutes | Soak: 15 minutes | Bake: 50 minutes | Servings: 20 ½ cup whole flax seeds ¼ cup milled (ground) flax seeds 1/3 cup salted pepitas 2 tablespoons sesame seeds (black and/or white) 1 tablespoon poppy seeds 1 tablespoon dried minced onion 1 teaspoon garlic powder ¼ teaspoon salt 1¼ cups boiling water ½ teaspoon flaked or coarse sea salt In a medium, heat-safe bowl, mix together flax seeds through boiling water. Let soak 15 minutes. Cover a 12x16-inch baking sheet (or larger) with parchment paper. Pour mixture in the middle, then evenly spread to edges with a spoon or spatula.

Sprinkle with flaked or coarse sea salt.

Heat oven to 350 F. Place on middle rack for 40 to 50 minutes — cracker edges will curl slightly with browned edges and will be stiff when parchment is lifted off baking sheet. Let cool for a minute or two, then carefully remove parchment and break cracker into pieces. (If some pieces bend, continue baking those pieces in 5-minute increments until stiff.) Store in an airtight container at room temperature up to 2 weeks.

Per serving: 37 calories, 3 grams fat (0 grams saturated fat), 2 grams total carbohydrates, 0 milligrams cholesterol, 115 milligrams sodium, 1.5 grams fiber, 1.5 grams protein.

FEBRUARY 2025 • OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING

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ADAMS RURAL ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE LOCAL PAGES

MESSAGE FROM THE GENERAL MANAGER

Understanding factors that affect your energy bills

F

Erika Ackley

GENERAL MANAGER

ebruary brings some of the coldest weather of the year, and as our home heating systems work harder and longer to keep us warm, we typically see higher energy bills. There are a few key factors that affect electricity prices, as well as a few ways you can make a meaningful impact on home energy savings.

monthly facilities charge. This flat fee ensures the costs of equipment, materials, labor, and daily operations are covered for all members. To ensure reliable service, we must maintain the local grid, including power lines, substations, and other essential equipment.

When you receive your monthly bill from Adams Rural Electric, you’re provided with a summary of how much electricity you used. You can even see how electricity use may have spiked on days when you used more electricity, such as a particularly chilly day or when you had company. But beyond your monthly energy consumption, there are external factors that can influence the cost of electricity.

Federal energy policies and regulations profoundly affect electricity costs. As energy generation shifts to the use of more renewable sources and stricter regulations govern traditional, always-available fuel sources, costly upgrades and technologies must be constructed and deployed. These additional costs are ultimately passed to consumers.

Fuel prices Adams Rural Electric purchases electricity from our power generation partner, Buckeye Power, at a wholesale cost, then we deliver that power to our local communities. The cost of generating and transmitting electricity accounts for a significant portion of the cost to provide electric service — and the cost of fuels that are used to generate that electricity, such as natural gas and coal, fluctuates based on supply and demand. We work closely with Buckeye Power to plan ahead and help stabilize electricity prices for our members.

Extreme weather While we can’t control the weather, we can review forecasts to prepare for times of extreme cold or heat, when we know the demand for electricity will increase. But when temperatures become extremely cold and the demand for electricity spikes, the price of electricity can also increase.

Infrastructure and equipment To cover the costs associated with providing electricity to your home or business, Adams Rural Electric members pay a

Energy policy and regulations

U.S. power consumption is expected to double by 2050.

Across the country, electric cooperatives are working with members of Congress to advocate for smart energy policies that reliably power our local communities.

You have control While many of these external factors are out of our control, we all have the power to manage our own energy use. Since heating and cooling account for a major portion of home energy use, adjusting the thermostat to the lowest comfortable setting is the most effective way to save energy and money.

You can also reduce energy use by reserving energy-intensive chores for off-peak times, such as early in the morning or later in the evening, when the demand for electricity is lower. Be sure to seal air leaks around windows, doors, and other areas where gaps are possible. This will help your heating and cooling system work less and improve the comfort of your home.

Adams Rural Electric is your local energy partner, and we’re here to help. As always, we will continue working diligently to provide you with reliable power at an affordable cost.

FEBRUARY 2025 • OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING

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ADAMS RURAL ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE LOCAL PAGES

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OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING • FEBRUARY 2025

Adams REC recognizes employees for years of service The cooperative recently recognized the following employees with milestones of service for 2024:

5 Years of service

5 Years of service

5 Years of service

5 Years of service

5 Years of service

5 Years of service

5 Years of service

5 Years of service

25 Years of service

Randy Johnson Right-of-way crew

Dewayne Sexton Purchasing and safety coordinator

Nathan Colvin Journeyman lineman

Cody Rigdon Journeyman lineman

Jacob Alexander Journeyman lineman

Brett Fawns Journeyman lineman

Zach Rowe Journeyman lineman

Jennifer Baughey Executive assistant

Erika Ackley General manager

Congratulations to each employee! Your many years of service and dedication are much appreciated and valued.

FEBRUARY 2025 • OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING

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ADAMS RURAL ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE LOCAL PAGES

Employee spotlight Brett Fawns has been a journeyman lineman at Adams Rural Electric Cooperative for five years. When asked what he enjoys about working at the cooperative,

Brett says he likes the hours so that he has time to spend with his family and work on his farm.

Outside of work, Brett enjoys working on his farm, where he has cattle and horses, and spending time with his son, stepdaughter, and fiancée.

TIPS TO AVOID

Happy Presidents Day Our office will be closed Feb. 17 in observation of Presidents Day.

ENERGY SCAMS Scammers will try anything to deceive utility customers, including a tactic that claims customers have overpaid their bill. If you receive a call, text, or email from someone claiming you overpaid a utility bill and need to provide your banking or credit card information to receive a credit, it’s likely a scam. In most cases, your utility will apply a credit to your account to cover future charges or refund an overpayment with a mailed check. 3500749900 Source: Utilities United Against Scams

ADAMS RURAL ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE, INC.

BOARD OF TRUSTEES

CONTACT

Charles L. Newman

937-544-2305 | 800-283-1846 www.adamsrec.com OFFICE

4800 St. Rte. 125 P.O. Box 247 West Union, OH 45693 OFFICE HOURS

Mon.–Fri., 7:30 a.m.–4 p.m.

OUTAGES

Report outages by calling the office or through your registered account on SmartHub. Do NOT report on Facebook as it is not monitored and could be missed.

20

Donald C. McCarty Sr. President Vice President

Kenneth McCann Secretary

Stephen Huff Blanchard Campbell William Wylie M. Dale Grooms William Seaman David Abbott

Jacob Alexander Samantha Barr Jennifer Baughey Curtis Burns Nathan Colvin Kacee Cox Brett Fawns Lindsay Gill John Hayslip David Henry Steve Hoop

Randy Johnson Samuel Kimmerly Rodney Little Trace Pistole David Ralston Cody Rigdon Zachary Rowe Hunter Ruckel Dewayne Sexton Mike Whitley

Erika Ackley General Manager

HIDDEN NUMBER BILL CREDIT

Each month, an account number is hidden in the local pages of the magazine. If you find your account number, please call the office by the end of the month for which it appeared. You will receive a $50 credit on your electric bill.

Your call affirms permission to publish your name as a winner in an upcoming issue of Ohio Cooperative Living magazine.

PAYING YOUR BILL Pay your bill using any of these methods: •

Online at www.adamsrec.com

•

SmartHub app

First State Bank–Georgetown, Hillsboro, Manchester, Peebles, Ripley, Seaman, West Union, and Winchester

•

Office walk-up windows

•

Telephone payment line: 1-844-937-1666

•

Mail

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Automatic payment

•

National Bank of Adams County–West Union

•

24-hour drop box at the office

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Nelson Hunter, WVNU’s longtime morning host, provides listeners with hand-picked adult contemporary music, announcements of goings-on in and around Greenfield, and even celebrity interviews.

Throwbacks In an age of closures and conglomeration, rural media survives by staying local.

BY KEVIN WILLIAMS

T

he phone rang at WVNU radio in Greenfield on a recent morning, and Nelson Hunter, the station’s longtime morning host, picked it up on the first ring. The caller was inquiring about a food pantry that needed volunteers. She had heard him read an announcement on the air a few days earlier.

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OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING • FEBRUARY 2025

“People call here thinking that we have the answer to every question,” Hunter says. “WVNU was the internet before the internet; for some around here, it still is the internet.” He reaches for a stack of papers, finds the report, and gives the caller the information. “Thank you — you’re a lifesaver!” the woman gushes.

Greenfield, with a population of just over 4,000, sits nestled among the quiet hills of rural Ross and Highland counties between Hillsboro, Washington Court House, and Chillicothe. A mural downtown celebrates the Patterson family, widely recognized as the first African American auto manufacturers in the United States. High school sports and county fairs are at least as important as anything going on anywhere else in the world.

It’s from here that WVNU, a tiny 2,300-watt radio station known as Lite 97.5, has been broadcasting adult contemporary hits from the second floor of a downtown office building for the last 30 years.

From another era From 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. each weekday, echoing into the diners and dollar stores within earshot of the 2,300-watt station, crackles the reassuring voice of Nelson Hunter — greeting sleepyheads, harried soccer moms, and coffeesipping executives over the airwaves with a soothing, chatty mix of music and talk. Hunter (most people know him simply as “Nelson”) is indispensable to people’s sunrises here, and just as reliable.

Nelson is a throwback to an earlier era of radio, when disc jockeys spun records, announced school closings, read obituaries and high school sports scores, and visited county fairs. While he no longer physically spins records in this digital age, he does hand-pick the tunes he plays — a rarity in radio today.

It’s not only neighborhood news filling those airwaves; celebrities, eager to talk about their latest book or movie, join in from faraway places (a booking agency in New York secures the interviews). Over the years, Nelson has chatted up the likes of Cher, Florence Henderson (“She was so nice,” he recalls), Valerie Harper, President Bill Clinton, and Joan Jett, to name only a few.

Meanwhile, as Hunter keeps the tunes playing, celebrities chatting, and school closings up to date, a robust support system of advertisers including grocery stores, car dealerships, and hospitals help keep WVNU afloat. Indeed, on a recent morning, a collection of commercials was airing for a hardware store, a bank, the local community college, and another bank.

Staying local WVNU was founded 30 years ago by local businessman Pat Hays and his wife, Elaine.

After years of resisting overtures from national radio conglomerates, they sold it in 2024 to Jacksonbased Total Media, which operates more than a dozen such stations in nine small towns around southeastern Pat Hays and his wife founded radio station Ohio and just WVNU in Greenfield 30 years ago. across the river in West Virginia (they both have stayed on with the company). Total Media is owned by Alan Stockmeister, a lifelong Jackson resident and entrepreneur who currently serves on the board of trustees at Ohio State University.

“That local aspect is the most important part of what we are doing,” says Gary Mincer, Total Media’s VP and general manager. “There’s no one even close to us in terms of that local coverage that our stations provide to their communities, while at the same time helping local businesses find marketing solutions that they otherwise wouldn’t have. That’s always been the vision of our founder and owner: to be a part of these local communities and improve people’s lives.”

WVNU (along with all the Total Media stations) has kept up with the times, though, and has Continued on page 24

FEBRUARY 2025 • OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING

23

A mural in downtown Greenfield celebrates the Patterson family, widely recognized as the first African American auto manufacturers in the U.S. Continued from page 23

joined the streaming era. Anyone anywhere in the world can listen to the local shows live on each station’s website. Afterward, most of the programming comes in from satellite, though the stations do longer blocks of local programming for high school sports or during county fair week — when WVNU, for example, broadcasts all day, announcing the names of 4-H and bake-off winners.

Publisher Deborah Cook and a staff of three keep the paper going. She says print still has a place, at least in the string of small towns the Hub serves.

Not just radio

And that’s the point of local media, says Kent State University assistant professor of journalism Andrea Lorenz. The local press acts as a “civic glue” that holds small towns together, and when it disappears, communities become fragmented.

Just as local radio hangs on in an age of conglomeration, small-town newspapers also often play a role. While newspapers nationwide continue to shut down, according to Axios, at an average rate of more than two per week over the past few years, that hasn’t stopped the presses at places like Total Media’s Telegram in Jackson and Vinton counties or the Attica Hub in Seneca County.

The larger metro dailies may be a shell of what they once were, but the Hub, for one, continues to go to press each week much as it has for the past 128 years. It has survived by carving out a niche as an “auction newspaper,” publishing scores of auctions each week while maintaining its local news chops.

A recent edition featured advice on keeping backyard bird feeders full, news from the local school board meeting — and dozens of auction announcements.

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OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING • FEBRUARY 2025

“There are still a lot of people that do not have social media or the internet,” Cook says. “People still want to see their kid’s pictures in the paper.”

The role of local media

“Rural areas sense a loss of community, especially when they don’t have the keystone media that once connected us all,” Lorenz says, adding that when the local newspaper goes away, people go to other sources for their news, and that can cause fragmentation and polarization.

But Lorenz stays optimistic despite the grim environment for newspapers. “There are a lot of great start-ups,” she says. “Many people are putting their brains to how can we fix it — not to bring back what used to be, but how can we make it better.”

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‘Super’

supplier As in each of the previous LVIII Super Bowls, the game balls used on the field will come from the Wilson Sporting Goods football factory in Ada.

BY RANDY EDWARDS

FEBRUARY 2025 • OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING

27

I

n the small Hardin County village of Ada, the play clock begins ticking about two weeks before the first snap of America’s most-watched sporting event.

The Super Bowl, after all, is a particular point of pride in Ada, because the regulation NFL football used for every kickoff, every pass, every point scored — and yes, even every fumble — is handcrafted at the Wilson Sporting Goods Co.’s football factory there.

The clock starts as soon as the NFC and AFC championship games end, deciding which two teams will face off in the Super Bowl. By tradition, a group of Wilson employees gathers at the plant to watch the conference championship games, which this year were scheduled for Jan. 26. As soon as those games end, partially finished balls are stamped with the winning teams’ names and logos, stitched, inflated, and shipped out to arrive in plenty of time for the kickoff.

“As soon as they know who wins, they are making these balls and they are shipping them out,” says Lindsay Hollar, director of the Ada Area Chamber of Commerce.

“The guys just want to get their hands on them.” Hollar doesn’t work for Wilson, but like lots of people in and around town, she speaks with a sort of proprietary pride about the local treasure that is the Wilson football.

Each year, more than 120 employees at the Ada factory make 500,000 footballs, at a pace of about 2,500 each day. “It truly puts Ada on the map,” Hollar says. Ada is probably better known, at least in-state, as the home of Ohio Northern University, and Wilson is certainly not the area’s largest employer, but it’s the Ada-made NFL football that brings nationwide recognition — especially among sports fans, and particularly in February. “They know that since 1955, every football that has been used in the NFL and in a Super Bowl has been handmade by people in our community.”

This year’s Big Game, Super Bowl LIX, is scheduled for Sunday, Feb. 9, at Caesars Superdome in New Orleans. More than 100 million viewers will tune into the game, and all eyes will be on “The Duke,” the name Wilson gives to the game day balls.

That tradition will continue into the future, thanks to a partnership extension announced last year by Wilson and the NFL, a partnership that goes back to 1941. To mark the occasion, Wilson unveiled a brand-new, $15 million factory in Ada, which, at 80,000 square feet, is twice the size of the former plant.

“Renewing and expanding our relationship with a partner so ingrained into our culture is paramount for the league to continue to

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OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING • FEBRUARY 2025

grow the game,” says Ryan Samuelson, the NFL’s vice president of consumer products. “And the opening of the new football factory is a testament to Wilson’s commitment to NFL football.”

The Ada community is equally invested in this partnership, Hollar says, and celebrates it each year with the Made in Ada Wilson Football Festival.

Organized by the chamber in late August, the festival is timed to coincide with the launch of the professional football season. “We have fun, tailgate style,” she says, with music, food, games, and the ceremonial lowering of a giant replica Wilson football — Times Square style — from a crane.

And with Ohio’s two NFL cities, Cleveland and Cincinnati, about equidistant from Ada, the festival sometimes features visits from team “superfans” like Cleveland’s Gus “Pumpkinhead” Angelone and the “Bengals Captain,” Jeremy Conley.

The multiyear NFL partnership extension and the new factory are significant victories for Ada. Village officials confirm that for a while, Wilson considered other locations for the new factory. The village offered some incentives, including some road improvements, to keep it in Ada, says Jamie Hall, the village administrator. But he credits Wilson’s employees, most of whom are local and have been making footballs for decades, for the company’s decision to stay put.

PHOTOS COURTESY WILSON SPORTING GOODS CO.

“The decision for staying in Ada was pretty much the existing workforce they had in Ada and the relationship they had with the community,” Hall says.

With the new football factory, the company resumed tours, which had been interrupted by the pandemic.

There is a gift shop in the new space, along with some historic exhibits. Hollar hopes these new features will bring more visitors to the town and trigger additional economic development.

“It’s really kind of brought a new life to downtown Ada,” she says. “Our hope is that if you’re coming to a tour at Wilson, you’ll come visit our downtown, stop at a restaurant, or visit the downtown bars.”

Hall says the connection to Wilson and the NFL is key to the town’s future. “When I am out traveling, it only takes about two or three sentences before I mention I’m from Ada and that’s where they make all the footballs for the NFL. That really helps a lot in terms of opening doors.”

FEBRUARY 2025 • OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING

29

SPECIAL ADVERTISEMENT FEATURE

Doctor urges seniors to carry medical alert device Seniors snap up new medical alert device that comes with no monthly bills People don’t always do what their doctor says, but when seasoned veteran emergency room physician, Dr. Philip B. Howren, says every senior should have a medical alert device, you better listen up.

“Seniors are just one fall away from being put in a nursing home,” Dr. Howren said. “With a medical alert device, seniors are never alone. So it keeps them living independently in their own home.

That’s why seniors and their family members are snapping up a sleek new medical alert device that comes with no monthly bills ever,” he said.

Many seniors refuse to wear old style help buttons because they make them look old. But even worse, those medical alert systems

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“This slick new little device is designed to look like the pagers doctors wear every day. Seniors love them because it actually makes them look important, not old,” Dr. ■ NO MONTHLY BILLS: “My wife had an old style help button that came Howren said. hefty bills every month and she was embarrassed to wear it because FastHelp is expected to hit store with it made her look old,” said Frank McDonald, Canton, Ohio. “Now, we both shelves later this year. But spe- have FastHelp™, the sleek new medical alert device that our grandkids cial newspaper promotional give- say makes us look ‘cool’ not old,” he said. With FastHelp, seniors never aways are slated for seniors in se- have to worry about being alone and the best part is there are no monthly bills ever. lect areas. ■

Seniors born before 1961 get new medical alert device with no monthly bills ever It’s just what seniors have been waiting for; a sleek new medical alert device with no contracts, no deposits and no monthly bills that instantly connects you to free unlimited nationwide help with just the push of a button for a one-time $149 price tag that’s a real steal after today’s instant rebate The phone lines are ringing off the hook.

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Starting at precisely 8:30am this morning the Pre-Store Release begins for the sleek new medical alert device that comes with the exclusive FastHelp™ One-Touch E 911 Button that instantly connects you to unlimited nationwide help everywhere cell service is available with no contracts, no deposits and no monthly bills ever.

“It’s not like old style monitored help buttons that make you talk to a call center and only work when you’re at home and come with hefty bills every month. FastHelp comes with state-of-the-art cellular embedded technology. That means it works at home or anywhere, any- ■ FLYING OUT THE DOOR: Trucks are being loaded with the new medical alert devices called FastHelp. They are now time cell service is available being delivered to lucky seniors who call the National Rebate Center Hotline at 1-800-330-4294 DEPT. HELP8439 today.

(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 • FEBRUARY 2025

SPECIAL ADVERTISEMENT FEATURE (Continued from previous page)

man by instantly connecting you directly to highly trained 911 operators all across the U.S. There’s absolutely nothing to hookup or install. You don’t need a land line and you don’t need a cell phone. Everything is done for you.

“FastHelp is a state of the art medical alert device designed to make you look important, not old. Old style monitored help buttons you

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HOW TO GET IT: IF BORN BEFORE 1961: Use the rebate coupon below and call this Toll-Free Hotline: 1-800-330-4294 DEPT. HELP8439 IF BORN AFTER 1961: You cannot use the rebate coupon below and must pay $299 Call: 1-800-330-9423 DEPT. HELP8439 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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PROS: It’s the sleek new medical alert device that comes with the exclusive FastHelp One-Touch E 911 Button that instantly connects you to free unlimited nationwide help everywhere cell service is available with no contracts or deposits. It connects you to the vast available network of cellular towers for free and saves seniors a ton of money because there are no monthly bills ever making this deal irresistible. Plus it’s the only medical alert device that makes seniors look important, not old.

CONS: Consumers can’t get FastHelp in stores until later this year. That’s why it’s so important for seniors born before 1961 to call the National Rebate Center Hotline within the next 21 days. For those who miss that deadline, the sleek little medical alert device will set you back over $300 bucks.

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whether you’re out watering the garden, driving in a car, at church or even hundreds of miles away on a tour or at a casino. You are never alone. With just a single push of the One-Touch E Button you instantly get connected to free unlimited help nationwide with no monthly bills ever,” said Jack Lawrence, Executive Director of Product Development for U.S. based Universal Physicians.

“We’ve never seen anything like it. Consumers absolutely love the sleek new modern design and most of all, the instant rebate that practically pays for it and no monthly bills ever,” Lawrence said.

FastHelp is the sleek new medical alert device with the best of combinations: a quality, high-tech engineered device that’s also an extremely great value because there are no monthly bills ever.

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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 that cuts out the middle-

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OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING • FEBRUARY 2025

REGISTER HERE

2025 CALENDAR

FEBRUARY/MARCH

COMPILED BY COLLEEN ROMICK CLARK

CENTRAL

dispatchshows.com/home-and-garden-show.

FEB. 16 – Fairfield County Antique Tractor Club Toy Show and Sale, Fairfield Co. Fgds., AAA and Ed Sands Bldgs., 157 E. Fair Ave., Lancaster, 9 a.m.–3 p.m. $2; under 12 free. 740-407-2347 (Doug Shaw) or www.fairfieldcountytractorclub.com.

FEB. 16 – Great Backyard Bird Count: Bird Hike and Citizen Science, Park District Headquarters, 16405 U.S. 23, South Bloomfield, 8–11 a.m. Join the park district naturalist for a winter bird hike in which you will help identify and count the birds.

Beginners welcome. To register, email mellis@ pickawaycountyohio.gov. See website for more details: www.pickawaycountyparks.org/events.

FEB. 17 – Cupid’s Bow Archery, Alum Creek FEB. 7, MAR. 7 – First Friday Art Walk, downtown Amphitheater, 2911 S. Old State Rd., Delaware, 2–4 Zanesville, 5–8 p.m. Come downtown on the first p.m. Get an introduction to archery and try it out for Friday of each month, when all our participating yourself, with our special targets for the season of galleries, studios, and small businesses are open at love! First come, first served. Closed-toe shoes and the same time! https://artcoz.org/arts-district-map. presence of a guardian for children are required.

FEB. 15 – Great Backyard Bird Count: Bird Hike and https://ohiodnr.gov/go-and-do/plan-a-visit/ Citizen Science, Pickaway Trail, 23742–23700 Canal find-a-property/alum-creek-state-park.

Rd., Circleville, 8–11 a.m. Join the park district FEB. 20 – Winter Group Walk: Thursday Trail Tour, naturalist for a winter bird hike in which you will help Pickaway Trail, 23742–23700 Canal Rd., Circleville, identify and count the birds. Beginners welcome. To 9:30–11:30 a.m. To register, email mellis@ register, email mellis@pickawaycountyohio.gov. See website for more details: www.pickawaycountyparks. pickawaycountyohio.gov. Please dress to be outside and for a walk along various trail surfaces. An adult org/events. must accompany all children under 12. Program will FEB. 15–23 – Central Ohio Home and Garden be canceled in the case of inclement weather. www.

Show, Ohio Expo Center, Bricker and Celeste Bldgs., pickawaycountyparks.org.

717 E. 11th St., Columbus, Sat. 11 a.m.–8 p.m., Sun. 11 a.m.–6 p.m., weekdays 11 a.m.–7 p.m. $10–$15; 7 and FEB. 22–23, MAR. 2 – Maple Syrup Tours, Dawes under free. Exhibitors in remodeling, landscaping, and Arboretum, Main Shelter House, 7770 Jacksontown home improvement, nine indoor gardens, demos and Rd., 1–2:45 p.m. Take a guided walk along the trail to discover the many ways maple syrup has been made presentations, local experts, and much more! www.

throughout history. At the end of the trail, peek inside the log cabin and taste a sample of this all-natural treat! Tours included with Arboretum admission and will be first come, first served, with groups leaving every 15 minutes. 740-323-2355 or www.dawesarb.org.

FEB. 22 – Wild Threads: Led Sewing Craft Workshop, Park District Headquarters, 16405 U.S. 23, South Bloomfield, 10–12 p.m. Registration required; limited spots. Join us for this nature-inspired sewing workshop. Sewists from beginner to experienced welcome. To register, email wcaudill@ pickawaycountyohio.gov. Sewing machines and all supplies will be provided, or bring your own tools if desired. See website for full details: www. pickawaycountyparks.org.

FEB. 27–MAR. 2 – Arnold Sports Festival and Arnold Expo, Columbus Convention Center, 400 N. High St., Columbus. Hundreds of booths with the latest in sports equipment, apparel, and nutrition, plus three stages hosting unique, non-stop competitions and entertainment. See website for schedules and ticket prices. www.arnoldsports.com.

MAR. 9 – New Albany Symphony Orchestra: Choral Fantasy, McCoy Center for the Arts, 100 W. Dublin-Granville Rd., New Albany. $10–$25.

614-469-0939 or www.newalbanysymphony.com.

MAR. 14 – Rhonda Vincent and The Rage, Cornerstone Global Methodist Church, 207 S. Court St., Marysville, doors open 6 p.m., concert at 7 p.m. $30. Part of the Marysville Winter Bluegrass Series.

Entertainment, food, homemade pies on-site.

937-642-4712 or www.marysvillewinterbluegrass.com.

WEST VIRGINIA

MAR. 21–22 – West Virginia Comedy Festival, Robinson Grand Performing Arts Center, Clarksburg.

7–9 p.m. Celebrating its 10th anniversary, this is the state’s largest annual celebration of Appalachian comedy and comedians, and it’s bigger and better than ever. https://tickets.therobinsongrand.com.

MAR. 1–2 – West Virginia Fishing, Hunting, and Outdoor Sports Show, Hazel and J.W. Ruby Community Center, Mylan Park, Morgantown (I-79 Exit 155). The largest outdoor show in the region, with over 200 vendors. Seminars and demonstrations, celebrities, attractions, and giveaways. www.wvoutdoorsportsshow.com.

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

FEBRUARY 2025 • OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING

33

2025 CALENDAR

FEBRUARY/MARCH

NORTHEAST

FEB. 14–17 – Medina Ice Festival, downtown Medina. Speed carving contests, individual and team ice-carving competitions, Fire & Ice display, ice sculpture garden. www.mainstreetmedina.com/ medina-ice-festival.html.

FEB. 15 – Cleveland’s Valentine Love Jam, KeyBank State Theatre, Playhouse Square, Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, 8 p.m. $59.50+. Featuring The Whispers, Con Funk Shun, and Lenny Williams.

216-241-6000 or www.playhousesquare.org.

FEB. 16 – Flea Market of Collectables, Medina County Fgds. Community Center, 735 Lafayette Rd. (St. Rte. 42), Medina, 9 a.m.–3 p.m. $3. Early-bird special admission, 6–9 a.m., $4. Browse a treasure trove of vintage items and collectibles. 330-948-4300 or www.conraddowdell.com.

FEB. 21 – Ernie Haase and Signature Sound: Decades of Love Tour, Ohio Star Theater, 1387 Old Rte 39, Sugarcreek, 7 p.m. $55–$75 plus fees.

Purchase tickets at 855-344-7547 or www. ohiostartheater.com.

FEB. 21–MAR. 2 – Cleveland Auto Show, IX Center, One I-X Dr., Cleveland. $12–$15; 6 and under free.

SOUTHWEST

THROUGH MAR. 26 – 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.

FEB. 9–11, 16–18, MAR. 2–4 – Artist-in-Residence Vicki Murphy: “Mosaics,” Hueston Woods State Park Lodge, 6301 Park Office Rd., College Corner. Free;

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Concept, pre-production, and production vehicles, plus indoor test drives, vehicle giveaway, classic car show, and more. www.clevelandautoshow.com.

FEB. 22 – Brite Winter, West Bank of the Flats, 1051 Old River Rd., Cleveland, Sat. 1–11 p.m. $12–$17; under 12 free. Community festival featuring music, art, games, food, and more. www.britewinter.com.

FEB. 27 – “Catalyst for Change,” McKinley Presidential Library and Museum, 800 McKinley Monument Dr. NW, Canton, 6 p.m. $25; includes soup, bread, and dessert. Education Director Ally Carlson will explore how the assassination of William McKinley changed the Secret Service forever, from a primary role of combating counterfeiting to protecting the president. Preregistration required; deadline Feb. 20. 330-455-7043 or www.mckinleymuseum.org/events.

MAR. 1–2, 8–9 – Maple Syrup Festival, Malabar Farm State Park, 4050 Bromfield Rd., Lucas, 12–4 p.m. Free. Historic and modern syrup-making demonstrations, horse-drawn wagon rides, food and maple products for sale, and self-guided tours of the historic Big House. 419-892-2784 or www. malabarfarm.org.

MAR. 1–23 – Chatham’s Annual Sausage and Pancake Breakfast, presented by the Chatham Fireman’s Association, Chatham Memorial Hall (former VFW Hall), 6299 Avon Lake Rd., Chatham, Sat./Sun. 9 a.m.–3 p.m. Adults $12, Srs. $11, Children $8. Contact Steve Arters at 330-635-0958 or Frank Keeling at 330-410-6237 for additional information.

MAR. 1–31 – Ice Wine Festival, Wineries of the Grand River Valley, Sat. 11 a.m.–5 p.m., Sun. 12–5 p.m. Each of the seven participating wineries will provide samples of their ice wines along with a complimentary appetizer. www.grandrivercellars. com/events/22nd-annual-ice-wine-festival-monthof-march.

MAR. 2 – Jazz Brunch Fundraiser and Mardi Gras, Our Lady of the Cedars, 507 S. Cleveland Massillon Rd., Fairlawn, 12–2:30 p.m. $60/person. Featuring vocalist Carol Leslie and a jazz trio. Brunch includes a cocktail and a hearty Southern buffet. Bid on auction items and enjoy a Mardi Gras celebration. Attendance limited, so book now: www.ormaco.org or 419-853-6016.

MAR. 8 – Yakov Smirnoff, Ohio Star Theater, 1387 Old Rte 39, Sugarcreek, 7 p.m. $53–$73 plus fees.

Purchase tickets at 855-344-7547 or www. ohiostartheater.com.

MAR. 8–9 – Antlers and Anglers Sportsman’s Event, Ashland Co. Fgds., 2042 Claremont Ave., Ashland, Sat. 10 a.m.–4 p.m., Sun. 11 a.m.–4 p.m.

Annual event celebrating the great outdoors, from hunting and fishing to biking and water sports. www. armstrongonewire.com.

MAR. 9 – Live at the Library: Jen Maurer, Wadsworth Public Library, 132 Broad St., Wadsworth, 2–3 p.m. Free. Maurer will be playing guitar and singing a variety of covers of blues, swing, jazz, and country standards as well as original tunes. Seating is on a first-come, first-served basis. 419-853-6016 or www.ormaco.org.

MAR. 11 – Pat Masalko and Jamieson Bowman: An Evening of Irish Music, Canal Fulton Public Library, 154 Market St. NE, Canal Fulton, 6:30–7:30 p.m. Free.

Seating is on a first-come, first-served basis.

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

MAR. 14 – Jim Brickman, Ohio Star Theater, 1387 Old Rte 39, Sugarcreek, 7 p.m. $48–$68 plus fees.

Purchase tickets at 855-344-7547 or www. ohiostartheater.com.

register online or at the lodge. Receive instruction on mosaic making and precision tool use to create small mosaic murals that will be installed throughout the lodge. 614-265-6845 or https://ohiodnr.gov/ go-and-do/plan-a-visit/find-a-property/huestonwoods-state-park.

FEB. 14–16 – Miami County Home and Outdoor Living Show, Hobart Arena, 255 Adams St., Troy, Fri. 2–6 p.m., Sat. 10 a.m.–6 p.m., Sun. 10 a.m.–4 p.m. $6; 12 and under free with paid adult. 937-339-7963, donna@westernohiohba.com, or www. miamicountyhomeshow.com.

FEB. 22 – Winter Hike, Caesar Creek State Park, 8570 E. St. Rte. 73, Waynesville, 10 a.m.–3 p.m.

Moderate 3-mile guided hike; all ages welcome. Wear sturdy shoes, bring water, dress for the weather. Take an optional route to the Nature Center for bean soup, cornbread, and snacks, available as a fundraiser. https://ohiodnr.gov/go-and-do/plan-a-visit/ find-a-property/caesar-creek-state-park.

FEB. 22–23 – Mid-America Offroad Expo (formerly Dayton Off Road and Outdoor Expo), Roberts

Centre, 123 Gano Rd., Wilmington, Sat. 9 a.m.–6 p.m., Sun. 10 a.m.–4 p.m. $10; 12 and under free. Vendors, rig competition, raffles. Fun for the whole family!

513-217-7345 or www.daytonoffroadexpo.com.

FEB. 22–23 – 20th Century Cincinnati Vintage Modern Expo, Sharonville Convention Center., 11355 Chester Rd., Cincinnati, Sat. 12–5 p.m., Sun. 10 a.m.–4 p.m. $10–$15; tickets good both days; under 18 free. Preview 9–11 a.m., $30–$40; includes weekend pass. Vintage modern furniture, lighting, decorative objects, housewares, pop culture gems, and fashion. 513-951-6626 or www.20thcenturycincinnati.com.

MAR. 6–8 – Cincinnati International Wine Festival, Freestore Foodbank Distribution Center, Rosenthal Way, Cincinnati. Must be 21+; picture ID required. www.winefestival.com.

MAR. 8 – Butler Philharmonic Orchestra: “Viennese Nights,” Sorg Opera House, 63 S. Main St., Middletown, 7:30 p.m. $25. 513-895-5151 or www.butlerphil.org.

OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING • FEBRUARY 2025

NORTHWEST

FEB. 5, MAR. 5 – 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 that focus on farming and nature.

Families welcome! 419-447-7073, www. conservesenecacounty.com, or Seneca Conservation District on Facebook.

FEB. 7–9, 14–16 – Live Theatre: Ordinary People, Van Wert Civic Theatre, 118 S. Race St., Van Wert, Fri./ Sat. 7:30 p.m., Sun. 2 p.m. $14–$16. The play delves into the aftermath of tragedy within a family, exploring themes of grief, communication breakdown, and the resilience of the human spirit in the face of extraordinary loss. 419-238-9689 or www.vwct.org.

FEB. 13 – Soap Making, Carter Historic Farm, Loomis Community Room, 18331 Carter Rd., Bowling Green, 5:30–7:30 p.m. Free. Lard is often considered a byproduct of the butchering and cooking process; it can, however, be used to make soap for your family and friends. Join us to learn this process and its history. To register, go to https://reservations. woodcountyparkdistrict.org/programs.

SOUTHEAST

THROUGH APR. 13 – “St. Clair’s Defeat Revisited: A New View of the Conflict,” Mound City Group Visitor Center, 16062 St. Rte. 104, Chillicothe, 9 a.m.–4 p.m. Free. This exhibit introduces you to the complex history of St. Clair’s Defeat on November 4, 1791, and its context and aftermath with respect to the nine Tribal Nations who orchestrated this great defeat of the U.S. military. www.nps.gov/hocu.

FEB. 14 – Winter Hike, Salt Fork State Park, 14755 Cadiz Rd., Lore City, 1–3 p.m. Join the park naturalist on a 1.8-mile Valentine’s Day hike. Meet at the Stonehouse Trail parking lot (NOT the museum).

Weather-appropriate clothing and sturdy footwear

FEB. 15 – Magic in the Greenhouse, J.C. Reuthinger Memorial Preserve, 30730 Oregon Rd., Perrysburg, 10–11 a.m. Free. Learn about plant conservation efforts, the benefits of native plants, and how you can incorporate what you learn into your gardening. Zoom participation is an option. To register, go to https:// reservations.woodcountyparkdistrict.org/programs.

FEB. 17 – Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner, Ritz Theatre, 30 S Washington St., Tiffin, 7 p.m. $5. Enjoy the classic movie on the big screen. 419-448-8544 or www.ritztheatre.org.

FEB. 17 – Presidents’ Day Celebration, Spiegel Grove, Hayes Presidential Library and Museums, Fremont, 9 a.m.–5 p.m. Free. There will be a variety of events and activities throughout the day, including self-guided tours of the museum. You may also sign up for a tour of the first floor of the Hayes Home.

419-332-2081 or www.rbhayes.org.

FEB. 18 – Intro to Beekeeping, J.C. Reuthinger Memorial Preserve, 30730 Oregon Rd., Perrysburg, 6–8 p.m. Free. We will explain what is involved with becoming a beekeeper, including the sticky parts and the sweet rewards. To register, go to https:// reservations.woodcountyparkdistrict.org/programs.

FEB. 22 – Burning Snowman Fest, Dock’s Beach House, 252 W. Lakeshore Dr., Port Clinton, 12–10 p.m. $25 + fee. For 21 and older. Say goodbye to winter as we burn down our giant snowman! Live entertainment, brews, cocktails, fire dancers, vendors. All proceeds go to charity. 419-357-6247 or www.facebook.com/ BurningSnowman.

FEB. 22 – Craft Circle, Carter Historic Farm, 18331 Carter Rd., Bowling Green, 1–4 p.m. Whether you have decades of experience or just started last week, crafters of all ages can stop by for an afternoon of

craftin’. Please bring your own materials, projects, and questions! To register, go to https://reservations. woodcountyparkdistrict.org/programs.

FEB. 22 – Wild Game Feed, 7575 Twp. Rd. 131, Tiffin, 44883, 6 p.m.–? Food to include deer, rabbit, bear, turtle, elk. Raffles. Gun raffle drawing that night. See Facebook page for Sandusky River Coon Hunters.

FEB. 28 – Josh Turner, Ritz Theatre, 30 S. Washington St., Tiffin, 7:30 p.m. $60–$90.

419-448-8544 or www.ritztheatre.org.

MAR. 1 – Glass City Wine Festival, Glass City Center, 401 Jefferson Ave., Toledo. $30–$40. Toledo’s premier wine, food, and shopping festival. www. glasscitywinefestival.com.

MAR. 2 – “Acoustics for Autism” Music Festival, 300 block of Conant and surrounding area, Maumee, Sun. 11:45 a.m.–Mon. 2 a.m. Free for all ages. 100 bands on nine stages. Proceeds go to provide support, information, resources, and financial assistance to families affected by autism. www. acousticsforautism.com.

MAR. 7–9 – Lima Noon Optimist Home Show, Allen Co. Fgds., 2750 Harding Hwy., Lima, Fri. 4–9 p.m., Sat. 10 a.m.–8 p.m., Sun. 12–5 p.m. Over 160 booths featuring more than 100 vendors. Various home improvement products and services are showcased.

Proceeds help fund youth activities in the Lima area.

419-230-9361 or www.limaoptimist.com/home-show.

MAR. 8 – Lima Symphony: “Carmen and Bolero,” Veterans Memorial Civic and Convention Center, #7 Town Square, Lima, 7:30 p.m. $10–$45. Delight in the seductive melodies from Bizet’s Carmen Suites, revisiting your favorite selections from this cherished opera, then return to the world of ballet as we conclude with Ravel’s Bolero. www.limasymphony.com.

recommended. Weather dependent. https://ohiodnr. gov/go-and-do/plan-a-visit/find-a-property/salt-forkstate-park.

FEB. 16 – Ross County Bridal Show, Unioto Middle School Auditorium, 1565 Egypt Pike, Chillicothe, 1–4:30 p.m. Come plan your special day with us.

Vendors, games, door prizes, mini massages, and makeovers. For more information, contact T&T Advertising at 740-649-6177.

FEB. 22 – Comedian Jon Reep: The Carolina Reeper, Majestic Theatre, 45 E. Second St., Chillicothe, 7:30–9 p.m. $35–$50.

FEB. 27 – Josh Turner: This Country Music Thing Tour, Peoples Bank Theatre, 222 Putnam St., Marietta, 8 p.m. $68+. www.peoplesbanktheatre.com.

MAR. 1 – Dailey & Vincent, Peoples Bank Theatre, 222 Putnam St., Marietta, 8 p.m. $32+. www. peoplesbanktheatre.com.

MAR. 1 – The McCartney Project: Beatles, Wings, and McCartney Tribute, Majestic Theatre, 45 E. Second St., Chillicothe, 7:30 p.m. $25–$37. America’s #1 live-concert tribute to Sir Paul, performing the best of the Beatles and the epic hits of Wings! www. majesticchillicothe.net.

MAR. 1 – Statehood Day Celebration, various historical sites, 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Free. Enjoy special programming at the Ross County Heritage Center, Adena Mansion and Gardens, Lucy Hayes Heritage Center, and the Ross County Genealogical Society. www.visitchillicotheohio.com.

MAR. 7–8 – Home, Garden, Business, and Travel Expo, Pritchard Laughlin Civic Ctr., 7033 Glenn Hwy., Cambridge. 740-439-6688 or www. cambridgeohiochamber.com.

MAR. 8–9 – Maple Sugaring in the Hills, Hocking Hills State Park, 19852 St. Rte. 664, Logan, 12–4 p.m.

Meet at the historic cabin behind the Old Man’s Cave Visitor Center. Take a step back in time to see how maple sugar has been processed over the years. A local producer will be on-site selling delicious goods. https://ohiodnr.gov/go-and-do/plan-a-visit/ find-a-property/hocking-hills-state-park.

MAR. 1 – Winter Hike, Scioto Trail State Park, 144 Lake Rd., Chillicothe, 10 a.m.–12 p.m. Follow the changes of the winter season into early spring along the 1.6-mile Church Hollow Trail. Difficult terrain, so dress for the weather and wear good hiking shoes.

Pack drinking water and binoculars if you have them. https://ohiodnr.gov/go-and-do/plan-a-visit/ find-a-property/scioto-trail-state-park.

FEBRUARY 2025 • OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING

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MEMBER INTERACTIVE

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1­­ — Kendall and Aubrey Hibbard, ready for Valentine’s Day! Becca Hibbard, Mid-Ohio Energy Cooperative member.

2­­— Our grandson, Cyrus, receiving kisses from his mommy! Bonnie & Dwayne Holleron, Pioneer Electric Cooperative members.

3­­— My husband, Ray Ladrick, made me laugh during our first dance at our wedding. We have been dancing and laughing for 29 years. Jill Ann Ladrick, South Central Power Company member.

4­­— My husband and me, at the Stan Hywet Gardens. Nancy Powell, Lorain-Medina Rural Electric Cooperative member.

5­­— My grandson, Ayden, was giving his little sister, Lyndi, a kiss through the window. Marge Weitzel, Midwest Electric member.

6­­— Some of my great-grandchildren: Reese, Jensen, and Ellie. Barbara Wells, Washington Electric Cooperative member.

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

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