Ohio Cooperative Living – July 2025 - Union

OHIO

JULY 2025

COOPERATIVE Union Rural Electric Cooperative

Happy Independence Day! ALSO INSIDE Demanding times Fire towers Patriotic eats

WHERE WE LIVE WE HAVE MEMBERS

ACTIVELY

OUR COMMITMENT

As your not-for-profit electricity provider, we are your energy community. The power we provide does much more than keep the lights on; it plugs into the family, friends, and neighbors who make up your local electric cooperative.

OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING • JULY 2025

INSIDE FEATURES

23 BUCKEYE OF STEEL

As Superman again soars across movie screens the world over, Cleveland, the city where he was born, is finally reclaiming him.

28 DREAM BOATS

While classic Lyman watercraft still cruise Ohio’s waters, new ones are on the prowl for the first time since the last century.

32 SWIRLS, WHIRLS, TWIRLS, AND CURLS

The ancient art of paper quilling can be a different way to scratch that creativity itch.

Cover image on most editions: David Corenswet stars as the Man of Steel in DC Studios’ Superman, which opens in theaters this month. Much of the movie was filmed at familiar locations in Cleveland, where the creators of the iconic comic-book hero grew up (image courtesy of Warner Bros. Ent./DC Studios).

This page: Ohio's quilling enthusiasts create designs using spirals of paper, an art form popular in Europe during the Renaissance.

JULY 2025 • OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING

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UP FRONT

Liberty, challenges, and community

I

ndependence Day is a special time for Ohioans to honor the courage and hard work of our founding fathers, who overcame great struggles to create a nation where values like liberty, personal freedom, and self-governance could thrive. These same values continue to guide how Ohio’s electric cooperatives operate today.

Facing today’s energy challenges Demand for electricity in Ohio and across the country is growing quickly as new technologies, factories, and data centers all require more and more power all the time.

Unfortunately, it’s only going to get more difficult to meet that demand, as many reliable power plants that run on coal or natural gas have been targeted to close before the end of their useful lives — and new power plants are not being built fast enough to replace them.

While these challenges may not compare to what the founders faced in the struggle for independence, we should be inspired by their example, using teamwork, smart planning, and determination to make sure that electricity stays reliable and affordable for the future.

The government’s role in energy President Reagan famously said that government “help” can be terrifying, but the truth is that the government plays an important role in how the electric utility industry operates.

Regulations are needed to keep the power grid stable and ensure electricity is always available and affordable, and it seems as if the current administration is actively working to both revise existing rules and establish new ones that will enable our industry to meet the nation’s energy needs.

Your co-op is ready Ohio’s electric cooperatives are prepared to handle the challenges that lie ahead. We have enough power generation to serve our communities — with some room for growth — and because cooperatives are run by their members, we can make smart decisions about adding new resources when needed.

As we celebrate Independence Day, it’s important to think about the values that helped build our country, because it’s these same values that guide your co-op as we work to create a stronger future for our members. Remember, Independence Day is not just about remembering the past — it’s also about committing to a better tomorrow.

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OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING • JULY 2025

Craig Grooms

PRESIDENT & CEO OHIO’S ELECTRIC COOPERATIVES

President Reagan famously said that government ‘help’ can be terrifying, but the truth is that the government plays an important part in how the electric utility industry operates.

JULY 2025 • Volume 67, No. 10

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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

DEPARTMENTS

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

Contributors: Margaret Buranen, Colleen Romick Clark, Getty Images, W.H. “Chip” Gross, Jill Moorhead, Jamie Rhein, Catherine Murray, James Proffitt, and Damaine Vonada.

OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING (USPS 134-760; ISSN 2572-049X) is published monthly by Ohio Rural Elec­tric Co­op­eratives, Inc. It is the official com­munication link be­tween the elec­­­­tric co­operatives in Ohio and West Virginia and their mem­bers. Subscription cost for members ranges from $6.48 to $7.92 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

Demanding: Advancing

technologies — data centers in particular — present co-ops with a new and unique set of challenges.

10

10 WOODS, WATERS, AND WILDLIFE

Smokey’s house: Fire towers once

watched over the forests of Ohio and the nation.

12 CO-OP PEOPLE

12

Butterfly celebration: A Hocking Hills couple turns their family land into a nature conservation center.

15 GOOD EATS

Red, white, and chew: Serve

some patriotic fun for your holiday gathering.

15

19 LOCAL PAGES

News and other important information from your electric cooperative.

37 CALENDAR

What’s happening: July/August

National/regional advertising inquiries, contact

Cheryl Solomon

40 MEMBER INTERACTIVE

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

37

We all scream for ice cream!

Cooperative members:

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

Alliance for Audited Media Member

events and other things to do around Ohio.

What’s better on a hot summer day than a cold, melty treat? At right, Consolidated Cooperative member Robin Snow’s daughter, Candice, and grandchildren, Landon and Lillian, enjoy the flavor of the month.

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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.

JULY 2025 • OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING

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POWER LINES

Demanding The ever-increasing need for power presents both challenges and opportunities for electric co-ops and their members.

BY JEFF MCCALLISTER

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OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING • JULY 2025

N

ear New Albany, within about three miles of one another, stand three buildings — modern but rather plain and, but for their size, could even be described as nondescript. But you can hardly overlook the high-voltage power lines that dominate the space next to them.

They are data centers, giant buildings full of computers — one is owned by Google, one by Meta (the parent company of Facebook), and the other by Amazon Web Services. And they are far from unique. Even a quick online search shows no fewer than 50 such sites within a 50-mile radius of those three and more than 100 in the state. Many of those are in larger cities, but more and more sit on what, until recently, was rural farmland.

They are also super-sized users of electricity. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, data centers can consume as much as 50 times the energy per floor space as other types of commercial buildings. By themselves, each of those three centers near New Albany draws more power from the grid at any given moment than most of Ohio’s 24 local electric cooperatives draw at their peak.

Powering the digital frontier Data centers are the backbone of the internet. They store and manage everything from social media accounts to streaming services and internet shopping. When you do a Google search on your phone, it goes through a data center — and if that search uses AI, it takes up to 10 times more electricity than a regular search.

Wonder what it means to have your photos stored “in the cloud?” They are here.

Data centers already account for nearly 4% of the electricity use in the midwestern U.S. With AI demanding more and more power, forecasters predict that will grow to 12% by 2030 and 16% by 2039.

“Data centers are one of the biggest disruptors of electric grid operations in the last century,” says Ben Wilson, assistant vice president of power delivery engineering for Buckeye Power, the co-op-owned generation and transmission cooperative that provides power to Ohio’s 24 local electric distribution cooperatives. “There’s just an unprecedented amount of new demand coming online, and we are all, as an industry, trying to come up with a satisfactory answer on how it's all going to shake out.”

Power to the Buckeye State In Ohio specifically, the state’s peak electricity consumption is about 30,000 megawatts. American Electric Power, which owns the transmission lines that bring high-voltage electricity to much of the southeastern and central parts of the state, says it has agreements with various data companies to add 5,000 megawatts of load in Central Ohio alone — which would nearly max out the capacity of its existing Continued on page 6

JULY 2025 • OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING

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Data centers house computer equipment and other electronics that demand a huge amount of energy. But once construction is complete, they employ relatively few people.

Continued from page 5

transmission system. More transmission lines capable of carrying that much power can be built, though that traditionally takes a minimum of seven to 10 years.

And AEP alone has requests from other companies wanting to build new data centers that combined would use more energy than the current total load in the entire state. Ohio’s other investor-owned utilities and transmission carriers are in similar positions.

Since data centers hold so much sensitive electronic equipment, those facilities need not only a large quantity of power but also a supply that is steady and reliable. That means they can’t necessarily count on intermittent sources such as wind or solar. Instead, they need baseload generation — that always-available electricity provided by facilities like Buckeye Power’s Cardinal Plant.

Could co-ops take advantage?

Ohio co-ops focus first and foremost on the needs of their members, and so far, there are no mega-load data centers being served by Ohio co-ops. The prospect of attracting such a project, however, is intriguing — for most of Ohio’s co-ops, even a medium-sized data center would consume more power at any one time than the rest of its members combined.

where they’re located in terms of permanent jobs or supporting businesses development. And because of recently passed legislation that could allow data centers to generate their own power, even that enticing revenue stream may not be what it seems.

All that power demand creates other problems as well, because at the same time demand is growing so quickly, always-on sources of power are facing pressure to close. The U.S. Energy Information Administration expects coal-fired generation nationwide to drop to half of today’s levels by 2030, and that growing imbalance could threaten electric utilities’ ability to reliably keep the lights on.

That’s why co-ops’ member focus is so important. “Ohio's co-ops are on good, solid footing in terms of having sufficient generation capacity to serve their existing members.” says Buckeye Power CEO Craig Grooms.

“If a mega-load data center wants to locate in co-op territory, we are equipped to support it. Of course, we’ll implement strong risk-management practices to safeguard against potential cost increases that may arise due to the substantial infrastructure investments.”

Data centers bring numerous potential benefits to local communities — they create jobs, especially during construction; spur improvements to roads, bridges, and other infrastructure; and increase the local tax base.

Assessing the benefit Serving a data center, however, is not without risks. The up-front investment to upgrade needed equipment to serve the project would be significant, and if a data center would later shut down or relocate, those bills would still need to be paid.

Also, beyond that revenue stream, data centers bring only limited benefits to the communities 6

OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING • JULY 2025

The dark blue and the green areas represent the amount of power generation expected to be available from thermal and renewable sources in the coming years — an overall reduction as more thermal resources such as coal-burning power plants are retired. The pink lines, on the other hand, represent forecasts of how much generation will be needed as more data centers come online and more of everyday life is electrified. At the current rate, demand will overtake supply within two to three years.

Soaring demand After decades of flat or declining electricity demand, the United States is in the midst of a boom in power use.

Recent government data shows that power consumption nationwide is set to increase by at least 38 gigawatts between now and 2028. This trend would ordinarily be great news for the power industry. But government policies aimed at shutting down fossil-fuel-based generation and years-long delays in permitting and siting for new transmission lines are turning this power boon into a capacity crisis. Here are the primary demand drivers:

Electrification Electric vehicle adoption, electrification of home heating and industrial electrification are expected to increase overall U.S. energy consumption by 1% per year through 2026.

Data centers

65%

Driven by explosions in artificial intelligence, cryptocurrency and cloud computing, total U.S. data center load is projected to increase by 65% by 2050.

Economic growth Residential power consumption is expected to increase by 14% to 22% through 2050 due to increases in population and steady economic growth.

Manufacturing growth/onshoring New, expanding and “onshored/reshored” manufacturing capacity driven by federal incentives is expected to increase industrial demand by 13,000 GWh per year.

Key products: EVs, batteries, semiconductors, solar power components Forecast

Total demand Analysts predicted in 2023 that U.S. peak demand will increase by at least 38 GW over the next five years, nearly double the growth rate predicted in 2022.

2027 Forecast

835 GW

852 GW

2028

JULY 2025 • OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING

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Smokey’s

house Fire towers once watched over the forests of Ohio and the nation.

STORY AND PHOTOS BY W.H. “CHIP” GROSS

T

he Natural Resources Park at the southeast corner of the Ohio Exposition Center (also known as the state fairgrounds) is an 8-acre oasis in what is otherwise a vast sea of concrete.

If you’re planning to attend the Ohio State Fair, July 23 to August 3, you really should stop by. And if you have young children in tow, the 15-foot-tall animatronic Smokey Bear is sure to be a hit. The very bright bruin somehow mysteriously knows the identity of the boys and girls strolling past with their parents and greets the kids by name.

Smokey, of course, is best known as the star of the longest-running public service announcement campaign in American history, cautioning people since 1947 on behalf of the U.S. Forest Service to “remember ... only YOU can prevent forest fires.”

That’s why it’s appropriate that standing behind the giant Smokey at the state fairgrounds is a second icon of Ohio forest management history: the 60-foot Armintrout Fire Tower.

At least 48 fire towers once stood on state, federal, and private lands across the Buckeye State — 39 of which were operated by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Forestry. The first, Copperhead Fire Tower, was erected at Shawnee State Forest in 1924. The last one in use, Green Ridge at Pike State Forest, closed 56 years later in 1978 as aircraft became more commonly used for wildfire detection.

The retired Armintrout tower was relocated from Pike County to the state fairgrounds in 2016.

Fire towers are memorable not only for the important purpose they once served, but also for the people they attracted to staff them as lookouts. Years ago, the outdoors humorist Patrick McManus wrote an article for Sports Illustrated titled “Wild Life in a Room with a View,” in which he described the types of people who applied for the federal jobs.

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OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING • JULY 2025

“The experience of the Forest Service suggests that no particular kind of individual is ideally suited to life in a tower suite, and the recruits who show up for training early each summer prove to be a strangely mixed lot: prim lady schoolteachers, college professors, ministers’ wives, loggers, vacationing businessmen, farmers, grandmothers, coeds, honeymooners, old marrieds, beauty queens, students, female truck drivers, ex-marines, and cookie-baking housewives; in short, just about anyone who can shake off the fetters of routine life for three months.”

The candidates also may or may not have possessed much experience or knowledge about the outdoors. For instance, McManus related the story of one fire tower lookout who nervously radioed his supervisor that “big, hairy beasts are ganging up around the foot of my tower.” Going outside for another check, the lookout quickly ran back to the radio yelling, “Now they’re coming up the stairs!” Fearing the worst, the supervisor jumped in his pickup truck and raced to the fire tower, only to find a family of pack rats playing on the lower levels of the stairway.

But there were legitimate dangers.

Fire towers were equipped with lightning rods, yet could still be hit by lightning, producing an effect much like sitting inside an exploding bomb.

“Rangers consider the first lightning storm as the qualifying exam for their new lookouts,” McManus wrote. “Up to then, they’re amateurs. After it, they’re pros.”

One particular lookout qualified as a pro during his first night on the job, his tower being struck by lightning nine times! McManus wrote, “Asked if he would like a few days off to pull himself together, the lookout said no, he would stick to his post — an obvious case of shell shock.”

Still standing In addition to the Armintrout Fire Tower at the state fairgrounds, nine others remain in the state; seven are owned by the ODNR Division of Forestry and two are owned by the U.S. Forest Service: • Ash Cave: Hocking Hills State Forest • Atkinson Ridge: Zaleski State Forest • Blue Rock: Blue Rock State Forest • Brush Ridge: Tar Hollow State Forest • Copperhead: Shawnee State Forest • Mohican: Mohican-Memorial State Forest • Scioto Trail: Scioto Trail State Forest • Snake Ridge: Wayne National Forest Headquarters, Nelsonville • Shawnee Lookout: Hocking County

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 JULY 2025 • OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING

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CO-OP PEOPLE

Butterfly C E L E B R AT I O N

Couple turns family land in the Hocking Hills into a nature conservation center.

STORY AND PHOTOGRAPHS BY JAMIE RHEIN

T

he 21-acre slice of the Hocking Hills on State Route 374, about halfway between Pine Creek and Laurel Run southeast of Rockbridge, has been in Christopher Kline’s family since 1863. The once-vast acreage was gradually parceled out to family members as it was passed down through generations, and Kline has fond memories of visiting his grandfather, who farmed strawberries, potatoes, and corn on this particularly pristine patch of paradise.

“My grandpa quit farming as he got older, but he still mowed the agricultural field for a long time,” Kline says.

“He finally grew tired of messing with the hill.”

When Kline and his wife, Kris, members of Lancasterbased South Central Power Company, acquired the land, they weren’t sure exactly what they were going to do with it.

“We could cut for timber, but that didn’t seem fulfilling,” he says. Finally, they decided to fall back on what they know. Christopher has a master’s degree in plant biology from Ohio University and served as education director at the Grange Insurance Audubon Center in Columbus. He also was interpretation

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OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING • JULY 2025

specialist at Franklin Park Conservatory, where he was known as “The Butterfly Guy.” “I know butterflies, and we both know how to educate,” he says. They decided to create a place centered on the well-being of southeastern Ohio butterflies, and soon enough, Butterfly Ridge was born, with a mile-long trail winding through a variety of butterfly-friendly habitats.

Worn-out farmland became pollinator-heavy prairie.

Overgrown woods became havens as a threedimensional checkerboard of forest openings was carved out. Wetlands were tamed with a boardwalk. A tree house presents high-level views of all of it.

For more butterflies...

Butterfly Ridge is one of 14 stops on the Hocking Hills Butterfly Trail. Maps and passports are available at the Hocking Hills Regional Welcome Center in Logan, or they can be downloaded at www.explorehockinghills.com/hocking-hillsbutterfly-trail.

Butterflies may be the headliner at Butterfly Ridge, but at night, moths take center stage.

Each Saturday from June through August, owners Christopher and Kris Kline illuminate bright white backdrops that draw ’em in like, well, like moths to a flame. Look for polyphemus, silk, rosy maple, imperial, and cecropia moths among the night visitors.

Bees are also part of Butterfly Ridge’s repertoire, and visitors will find a pollination display with fascinating bee and pollination facts (like, there are 200,000 pollinator species around the world and 20,000 of them are bees).

Flora is a vital part of the butterfly-attracting scheme, and markers help visitors identify the plants that are particularly popular with fluttering friends. Bird’s-foot violets, plantain orchids, and downy rattlesnake plants dot the edges of the trail and lace the ground through the trees. As butterfly season peaks, wild bergamot and purple coneflowers bloom. “We’re big fans of native Ohio thistle, bush clover, mountain mint, and sneezeweed — and the little native bees love it, too,” Kline says.

Visitors to Butterfly Ridge can look for the small white Henry’s elfin butterfly in early spring. The flutters of yellows, oranges, browns, and blacks of the silver-spotted skipper, eastern tiger swallowtail, little wood satyr, and eastern comma are later arrivals (butterfly guides are available in the gift shop).

May to early June and late July to early August. Rain, cloudy days, and temperature fluctuations can influence butterfly appearances.

“To me, that’s the fun thing,” Kline says. “You walk the trail and you don’t know what you’ll see. The way I look at it, we are like a butterfly safari.”

If butterflies are shy when you visit, it’s still a beautiful place to just come and experience, and visitors can gather a bevy of butterfly know-how. In fact, helping people become environmental stewards is an important part of Butterfly Ridge’s mission. “One of our big things is giving out information so people can steal our ideas and make a butterfly garden themselves.”

Butterfly Ridge, 17864 State Route 374, Rockbridge.

740-204-5372; www.butterfly-ridge.com.

Butterfly sightings are not guaranteed for visitors, though, even during peak butterfly seasons from late

JULY 2025 • OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING

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GOOD EATS

chew

Red, white &

RECIPES AND PHOTOGRAPHS

BY CATHERINE MURRAY

Serve some patriotic fun for your holiday gathering.

BACKYARD BASH COOKIE

Prep: 15 minutes | Bake: 20 minutes | Chill: 1+ hours | Servings: 12 1½ cups flour ½ teaspoon baking powder ½ teaspoon baking soda ¼ teaspoon salt ½ cup butter, softened ½ cup packed brown sugar FROSTING 4 tablespoons butter, softened 1+ cups powdered sugar* ½ teaspoon vanilla

½ cup sugar 1 large egg 1 teaspoon vanilla ½ cup semi-sweet chocolate chips ¼ cup red and blue M&M candies

1 tablespoon meringue powder or cornstarch (optional)* 1+ teaspoons milk or cream*

In a small bowl, mix together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Set aside. In a large bowl with mixer on medium speed, beat butter, brown sugar, and sugar until light and fluffy. Add egg and vanilla and beat until combined. Add flour mixture (beating slowly at first) until just combined. With a spatula, fold in chocolate chips.

Preheat oven to 350 F. Grease a 10-inch round springform pan; evenly press dough to the edges. Sprinkle with M&Ms, lightly pressing them into dough. Bake 18 to 20 minutes, until golden brown. Cool to room temperature on a rack. Meanwhile, make the frosting: Beat butter until fluffy, then mix in powdered sugar and vanilla until smooth. Add a bit of milk or cream for ease of piping.

Run a butter knife along the inside edge of the springform pan to loosen. Unlock springform and remove the side of the pan.

Pipe frosting around the edges. Place cookie in an airtight container in the fridge. Chilled cookie should be easy to remove from springform base. Slice into wedges to serve. *To prevent buttercream from melting on hot summer days, increase the amount of powdered sugar or mix in a tablespoon of meringue powder or cornstarch, and a bit of milk or cream for easier piping.

Per serving: 324 calories, 15 grams fat (9 grams saturated fat), 46 grams total carbohydrates, 45 milligrams cholesterol, 115 milligrams sodium, 1 gram fiber, 3 grams protein.

JULY 2025 • OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING

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STAR-SPANGLED CHARCUTERIE Prep: 40 minutes | Servings: 12 to 16

2 pints blueberries 1 pound strawberries 1 pint cherry tomatoes 12 ounces cured meats, sliced (salami, pepperoni, prosciutto) 16 ounces white cheeses, sliced (brie, havarti, provolone) 8 ounces crackers Rinse and pat dry the blueberries, strawberries, and cherry tomatoes. Fill a square or rectangular dish with blueberries and place in the top left corner of a large rectangular platter.

With mini cookie cutter stencils and paring knife, cut some provolone into star shapes and place on top of the blueberries.

On the board next to the blueberry dish, arrange alternating rows (stripes) of red foods (cured meats, cherry tomatoes, strawberries) and white foods (cheese and crackers) until the board is full.

Note: Wait to add crackers to board until ready to serve. Flag is built on an 18x22-inch board.

Per serving: 261 calories, 15 grams fat (8 grams saturated fat), 20 grams total carbohydrates, 48 milligrams cholesterol, 840 milligrams sodium, 2 grams fiber, 14 grams protein.

FOURTH OF JULY HUMMUS Prep: 15 minutes | Servings: 12

2 15-ounce cans chickpeas, drained and rinsed 12-ounce jar roasted red peppers ¼ cup tahini 3 tablespoons red wine vinegar 1 small garlic clove 1 teaspoon ground cumin salt to taste paprika for sprinkling blue and white tortilla chips Place chickpeas in a large food processor along with half of the roasted red peppers. Finely dice remaining peppers and set aside. Hold onto any remaining liquid in the jar. Add tahini, vinegar, garlic, and cumin to food processor. Process ingredients together, slowly drizzling in the liquid from the jar of red peppers until hummus is smooth and creamy. Adjust to taste with salt or vinegar. Transfer hummus to a serving bowl, sprinkle with paprika, and cover with finely diced red peppers.

Serve with blue and white tortilla chips.

Per serving: 280 calories, 12 grams fat (1.5 grams saturated fat), 39 grams total carbohydrates, 0 milligrams cholesterol, 297 milligrams sodium, 5 grams fiber, 7 grams protein.

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OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING • JULY 2025

PATRIOTIC JELL-O SQUARES Prep: 1 hour | Chill: 4 hours | Servings: 24

1 ounce (4 envelopes) unflavored gelatin powder, divided 6-ounce box blue (berry) Jell-O mix 6-ounce box red (strawberry, cherry, or raspberry) Jell-O mix 14-ounce can sweetened condensed milk boiling water and cold water In a medium heat-safe bowl or large measuring cup, add 1 envelope of unflavored gelatin and ¼ cup cold water. Stir to moisten, let soak for 3 minutes, then add the blue Jell-O powder and immediately pour in 2½ cups boiling water. Stir until completely dissolved, then cool to room temperature.

Coat a 9x13-inch baking dish with nonstick spray and place flat/level in the fridge. Stir Jell-O mixture once more, scraping bottom, then pour it into the dish.

In a medium heat-safe bowl or large measuring cup, add 2 envelopes of unflavored gelatin and ½ cup cold water, stirring to moisten. Let soak 5 minutes, then stir in 1 cup boiling water until fully dissolved. In a separate bowl, mix condensed milk with 1 cup boiling water, then mix into unflavored gelatin.

Stir to combine, then cool to room temperature, stirring once more. When the blue layer is set, stir the milk mixture once more and pour it on top of the blue layer.

In a medium heat-safe bowl or large measuring cup, add 1 envelope of unflavored gelatin and ¼ cup cold water. Stir to moisten; let soak for 3 minutes. Add the red Jell-O powder and immediately pour in 2½ cups boiling water. Stir until completely dissolved, then cool to room temperature. When the milk layer is set, stir the red mixture once more, then pour it over the top of the white layer. Chill 4 hours until fully set. With a long, thin knife, slice into squares (5 cuts on 13-inch side, 3 cuts on 9-inch side for 24 pieces) and arrange on a serving platter.

Per serving: 111 calories, 1.5 grams fat (1 gram saturated fat), 22 grams total carbohydrates, 6 milligrams cholesterol, 77 milligrams sodium, 0 grams fiber, 3 grams protein.

Check it out!

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

www.ohiocoopliving.com JULY 2025 • OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING

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OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING • JULY 2025

URE LOCAL CONNECTIONS MESSAGE FROM THE CEO/PRESIDENT

URE RATE UPDATE

ELECTRIC AND NATURAL GAS RATE ADJUSTMENTS

At URE, we work hard to operate as efficiently as possible to reduce rate impacts. This year, we will be implementing rate adjustments in response to generation and transmission rate changes, inflation, and other external factors, as well as completing the three-year plan developed to address to the cost increases we have experienced here at URE. These adjustments will allow us to continue operating the business responsibly.

For Rate A, applicable to homes and most small businesses, the generation cost will be increasing from $0.04133 to $0.04198 per kilowatt-hour — that’s a very small increase of about six hundredths of a cent.

The Rate A distribution energy charge will remain stable at $0.03661 for all kWh sold in Rate A, while the monthly distribution service charge will increase from $30 to $35. The minimum charge will remain the same at $35 per month.

For an average home, this will result in an increase of about 2.7% over the course of a year.

For Rate T, applicable three-phase services, which applies primarily to larger commercial loads, the generation energy charge will decrease from $0.02000 to $0.01680, and the generation demand charge will increase from $8.03 to $9.28225 per kW. For the distribution services portion of the three-phase bills, the distribution demand charge will increase from $3.50 to $4.50 per kW, while the distribution energy charge will decrease from $0.01355 to $0.01059 per kWh.

rather than energy (kWh).

Here are the natural gas rate changes you’ll see on your August bill:

Anthony Smith CEO/PRESIDENT

Small Gas Service – Residential and Small Commercial (Natural Gas Rate SGS) – This is the typical service for homes.

The natural gas monthly service charge increases from $35 to $40. The per-CCF natural gas charge drops from $0.20 to $0.15. These costs partially offset each other, and the impact varies depending on usage, but an average member’s total annual costs are expected to increase by about 3.6%.

Medium Gas Service – Commercial (Rate MGS) – This is for larger gas accounts common at businesses and restaurants. The natural gas monthly service charge increases from $125 to $168. The first 250 CCF will decrease from $0.305 to $0.27, all gas from 251 to 1000 CCF will decrease from $0.255 to $0.22, and any gas sold over 1,000 CCF will decrease from $0.225 to $0.19. These rate changes mostly offset each other.

Though energy costs are rising, electric and natural gas remain great values relative to the continued increases we’ve seen throughout the economy.

URE and our partners at Buckeye Power are doing everything we can to ensure our members continue to retain a safe, reliable, and affordable source of energy. Everything we do here at URE is with your benefit in mind because we’re owned by you, our members – and that’s the cooperative difference.

Overall, the Rate T charges mostly offset and will result in more cost emphasis on peak demand (kW)

JULY 2025 • OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING

19

Many cooperatives, one strong voice in Washington One electric cooperative doesn’t have much influence on federal policy. But hundreds of cooperatives, working together, provide a strong voice that can encourage legislators to consider the concerns and needs of co-ops and their members.

Such strength in unity is what brings leaders from co-ops around the country to Washington, D.C., each April for the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association’s Legislative Conference. This year, about 70 leaders from Ohio cooperatives and our statewide association joined nearly 2,000 colleagues from other states for the two-day conference. URE was represented by Mike Aquillo, CXO/VP member services.

The stakes are high. Federal regulations affect generation and transmission cooperatives’ ability to produce and transport the electricity needed to power the homes and businesses of members of distribution co-ops like URE. Federal policy also directly influences how efficiently and cost-effectively co-ops like ours can make system improvements to provide the reliable, affordable energy our members need and expect.

During the legislative conference, we met with Rep. Jim Jordan’s office, Rep. Mike Carey, and Sen. Jon Husted and discussed a number of key topics, including: • Environmental Protection Agency regulations: The previous administration ushered in a suite of EPA rules that were harmful to power generation, imposing significant new costs and threatening the reliability of electricity for cooperatives.

• Permitting reform: The federal government has enacted many regulations that make it difficult to obtain permits for new infrastructure to increase

20

OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING • JULY 2025

and improve electrical generation, transmission, and distribution. As the demand for power increases, we need to be able to act more quickly in permitting and siting projects that will ensure there’s enough energy being produced and getting where it needs to be to meet our members’ needs.

• The Rural Utilities Service loan program: Since their advent in the 1930s, electric co-ops have been able to use federal loans to build and improve infrastructure to ensure rural areas have access to adequate electricity.

We’re asking legislators to support continued funding for RUS loans, which are an important part of how co-ops finance key projects. Cooperatives borrow through these loans then repay them with interest, so it’s a win-win situation for the co-ops and the treasury.

Generally, we get a good reception from Ohio’s elected officials when we talk to them. We’re familiar faces, we come back every year, and our legislators like to hear what’s on the mind of electric co-ops.

We’re grateful for the time and attention Ohio’s elected officials give us and truly value their ongoing support of electric cooperatives across the state. Their partnership plays a critical role in helping us provide safe, reliable, and affordable energy to our members. We’re proud to work alongside them on the issues that matter most to the communities we serve.

This annual conference is a great grassroots show of force that reminds legislators of the importance of electric co-ops and constituents in rural areas.

Cooperatives aren’t necessarily the biggest voice in Washington, but when we come together, we amplify our voices for the benefit of our co-ops and our members.

RECENT REVIEW OF EPA RULES A WIN FOR RELIABILITY Electric cooperatives are applauding a recent series of actions announced by the Environmental Protection Agency. These actions would alleviate reliability and cost challenges for electric co-ops across the U.S. The EPA said it will review and reconsider the Biden administration’s power plant greenhouse gas rule. The agency also plans to reconsider other rules hindering America’s energy production, including the mercury and air rule, ozone transport rule, and power plant wastewater rule. The EPA will also address a number of fundamental problems with the coal ash program and take other actions to promote American energy while protecting the environment.

The National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, the national trade association that represents electric cooperatives in D.C., flagged concerns with these rules in a letter to EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin in January.

NRECA CEO Jim Matheson met with Zeldin at the EPA’s headquarters to discuss these issues. The letter served as a policy road map recommending ways the EPA could address harmful regulations for electric co-ops while ensuring reliable and affordable power and promoting a healthy environment.

The recent EPA announcements are another critical step that puts our nation on a path toward a more reliable and resilient electric grid — and not a moment too soon. The demand for electricity is skyrocketing, yet unrealistic public policy decisions are forcing always-available generation resources to retire faster than they can be reliably replaced.

Electric cooperatives appreciate the EPA’s recent actions that could bolster American energy dominance with sound policies that protect our environment — without leaving American families in the dark.

JULY 2025 • OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING

20A

Congratulations!

Passwaters receives degree Sam Passwaters recently received his diploma from West Virginia University at Parkersburg, graduating with an associate of applied science degree in technical studies.

In partnership with the Central Ohio Lineworker Training (COLT) program, WVUP offers an accelerated track to an associate degree by combining COLT training, coursework, and on-the-job training with traditional college coursework. This program is available to all lineworkers training at COLT and those who have completed their COLT program in years past.

Sam’s journey toward higher education began after he started working at URE in 2019 and enrolled at COLT the following spring. He says the experience “opened up the opportunity for me to get my associate degree and training to become a lineman. That’s the best of both worlds.”

Furthering his education wasn’t always part of the plan. “It wasn’t something I became interested in until my early 20s,” Sam says. “Being a lineman is a great job that I enjoy doing, but I kept finding myself wanting more. So I decided to go back to school and get my degree.”

The road wasn’t easy. With a wife, two young kids at home, and monthly on-call responsibilities, time management quickly became one of his biggest hurdles. “There were nights I had to stop my son from getting into something, get called out for work, then come back hours later and still try to meet a deadline,” he says. “My wife deserves a lot of credit, too. She would take the kids out or keep them quiet so I could focus. It was definitely a team effort.”

Despite the sacrifices, Sam says he has no regrets.

“If someone asked if I would do it again, the answer is yes. Looking back, it was stressful at times, but the feeling of accomplishment afterward brings so much joy and relief.”

Sam also believes that continued learning is essential in the lineworker profession. “Furthering my education and keeping up to date on the latest and greatest technology helps me and my peers work safer and 20B

OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING • JULY 2025

“I appreciate the time and effort Sam poured into the education he received through the Ohio COLT program and WVUP. Raising a young family while working full time and taking college coursework is a difficult feat. It’s been exciting to partner with Sam as he progressed into a skilled Journeyman line technician and then furthered his formal college education.

Congratulations, Sam!” – Anthony Smith, URE CEO become more well-rounded,” he says. “Line work is hard on your body, and someday you may want that job in the office — so don’t ever stop learning.”

He encourages other lineworkers to take advantage of the COLT and WVUP partnership, just as he did.

“I would recommend this program to all linemen,” he says.

“You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream.” — C.S. Lewis Sam’s journey is proof of that. “I never thought I’d be someone going back to school,” he says. “But I’m glad I did. You don’t have to have it all figured out right away — just keep moving forward, keep learning, and keep pushing yourself.”

CARDINAL POWER PLANT TOUR WEDNESDAY | OCTOBER 1, 2025 URE is excited to offer this unique opportunity to members who are interested in learning about what it takes to generate electricity. Members will get a tour of the best-in-class facility and learn all about how it’s been outfitted with state-of-the-art environmental controls.

The Cardinal Power Plant is located on the Ohio River in Brilliant, Ohio.

Buckeye Power’s Cardinal Plant provides power to the 24 electric cooperatives in Ohio. The plant has invested millions of dollars into environmental upgrades — making it one of the cleanest coal-fired power plants.

The 2025 Cardinal Power Plant Tour is scheduled to take place Wednesday, October 1. This scenic, one-day trip is free to URE members and includes an interesting and informative guided walking tour of the plant.

The bus will depart from URE’s office in Marysville at 7 a.m. SHARP and arrive back to the URE office at about 5 p.m.

Since the power plant can be a potentially hazardous area, tour participants must be at least 12 years old, unless specifically authorized. Assumption of Risk and Release of Liability Forms will need to be signed. There will be a considerable amount of walking, several flights of stairs, and going through some hot and dusty areas. Members with health concerns, those who require assistance walking, or those who cannot walk more than a half-mile without resting should not take the tour.

If you are interested in attending this year’s tour and would like to request your seat(s) on the Cardinal Plant tour bus, please contact URE by email at services@ure.com. Please include your name(s), phone number, and address — submit information before September 1. Space is limited and seats are available on a first-come, first-served basis.

JULY 2025 • OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING

20C

e

ativ r e p o Co

y a d h t you

EXPLORE THE OHIO STATEHOUSE WITH YOUR COOPERATIVE!

URE is looking for high school sophomores and juniors to attend this year’s Cooperative Youth Day in Columbus!

Do you know a high school student interested in history, government, and the political world? Encourage them to apply for this year’s Cooperative Youth Day, being held on THURSDAY, OCT. 23, 2025.

Applying is easy! Students can fill out the online application beginning in July for this year’s trip.

Questions? Contact URE via email at services@ure.com, or give us a call at 937-642-1826.

cooperative youth Day includes:

• Tour of Ohio Statehouse • Lunch, transportation • Visit with state legislators from the co-op, and a t-shirt!

• Ohio Statehouse Museum Cooperative Youth Day is also a great introduction to Youth Tour to Washington, D.C., and students will be given additional information on this once-in-a-lifetime co-op opportunity during Youth Day. 20D

OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING • JULY 2025

applications available in july

ure.com

WE

OUR LOCAL 4-HRS

Is your child participating in a county fair livestock or special interest sale?

URE proudly supports and encourages 4-H and FFA members who are showcasing livestock and special interest projects at our local county fairs. We understand the hard work, dedication, and time it takes to prepare for fair week, and we’d love to hear about your experience!

To be considered for purchase at this year’s fair sales, please scan the QR code and complete the 4-H/FFA Fair Participant Recognition form on our website within 14 days of your sale. This form replaces the need for a written buyer letter.

Be sure to include a photo with your animal or project — we enjoy seeing you with your animal or project!

Best of luck, and we look forward to seeing you at the fair!

https://link.ure.com/fair-participation-form JULY 2025 • OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING

21

Pole Testing

URE’S CONTRACTOR MAY BE IN YOUR AREA Our contractor, American Energy Services, will be pole testing in the Washington and York townships. Approximately 1,435 poles will be inspected by AES trucks and four-wheelers.

This inspection involves the crews digging around each pole to inspect the pole’s condition.

They will then be installing a preservative treatment on the poles to prolong the poles’ life.

Please call our office at 937-642-1826 during regular business hours (7:30 am to 4 pm Monday - Friday) with any questions.

CONTACT

937-642-1826 | ure.com Email: services@ure.com OFFICE 15461 U.S. Highway 36 Marysville, Ohio 43040 OFFICE HOURS

Mon. – Fri. 7:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

BOARD OF TRUSTEES

Steve Patton Chairman

4 of JULY TH

The URE office will be closed on Friday, July 4th.

URE LOCAL CONNECTIONS Anthony Smith CEO/President

Dan Westlake Vice Chairman

Mike Aquillo

Dale Scheiderer Treasurer

Laura Hutchins

Jeff Wilson Secretary Clifford Collins Mark Lotycz Jeff Reinhard Trustees

22 OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING • JULY 2025

Happy

CXO/VP Member Services

Director of Communications

e y e k c u B Steel of

akes a m o r ts. rhe o e o p r u d s e st g ld’s fir veland-for r o w The is Cle L MOORHEAD h o t

BY JIL return

rman became a “Up, up, and away!” Before Supe of hope imagined global icon, he was a glimmer by two Jewish in a Glenville bedroom. Forged sion and teens during the Great Depres irit of Cleveland, shaped by the steel-tough sp t of this city as Superman is as much a produc he is of Krypton...

JULY 2025 • OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING

23

I

n 1933, 11th graders Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster began crafting a character who would become the first comic-book superhero. Their early version of Superman was a villain, but by 1938 — in the pages of Action Comics #1 from what is now DC Comics — he had evolved into the symbol of truth and justice known worldwide. Raised in Cleveland’s Glenville neighborhood, both boys were the children of Jewish immigrants, delivering groceries to help their families survive the Great Depression.

Superman was their way of imagining a better world.

“Superman is one of Cleveland’s greatest exports,” says Valentino Zullo, assistant professor of English at Ursuline College and co-director of the Rustbelt Humanities Lab. “We’re not exporting steel; we’re exporting culture. The superhero genre was created here.”

That culture is more than mythology — it’s history. Cleveland’s influence is built into Superman’s DNA: His job as a journalist echoes the student newspaper the creators worked on, the Glenville Torch; his resilience mirrors the city’s own fight through industrial decline. Even his nickname — the Man of Steel — was inspired by Cleveland’s booming steel industry.

The story of Superman is also the story of the American immigrant. “He’s from a dying planet,” Zullo says. “He gets a last chance, but it’s also his first chance. That mirrors the journey of so many immigrants trying to make a home in a new world.”

That resonance is being rediscovered today, especially in Cleveland, where Superman is experiencing a long-overdue homecoming. A new DC Studios movie, Superman, directed by James Gunn, was filmed in the city in 2024, with scenes shot at recognizable landmarks like the Arcade and the Cleveland Public Library.

According to Bill Garvey, president of the Greater Cleveland Film Commission, the production brought more than $77 million in direct spending to northeast Ohio and created thousands of jobs.

“Clevelanders feel ownership of this story,” Garvey says. “This is where it all started. It was emotional to finally bring Superman home.”

24

OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING • JULY 2025

This summer, that homecoming becomes Siegel permanent. Thanks to the efforts of the — Jerry an Kapl Gary by and Shuster Society, led iling unve is d elan Clev — Siegel’s second cousin n. ntow dow of t hear a Superman plaza in the ion Situated outside the Huntington Convent ot 19-fo a res featu Center, the installation r, stainless-steel Superman on a soaring pilla l’s Siege ter, Shus l, Siege plus bronze statues of and ), Lane Lois for on wife, Joanne (the inspirati e. insid es cloth ’s Kent k a phone booth with Clar

Where to See Superman in Cleveland • Siegel’s Boyhood Home: Drive down Kimberly Avenue between East 105th Street and Parkwood Drive to see the commemorative fence featuring Action Comics #1 panels.

• Superman Plaza (opening July 2025): At Ontario Street and St. Clair Avenue, outside the Huntington Convention Center.

• Cleveland Hopkins International Airport: Welcome display celebrating Superman’s Cleveland roots.

• Cleveland Public Library: Home to a vast collection of Superman memorabilia and site of ongoing Superman-related events.

• Cleveland History Center: Hosts rotating exhibits featuring the city’s role in pop culture history.

,” “He’s an intergenerational symbol of hope know Kaplan says. “And we want the world to he was born right here.” effort The plaza is the culmination of years of l’s Siege red resto by the society, which also ve orati mem com lled boyhood home and insta At #1. ics Com n fencing panels from Actio Cleveland Hopkins Airport, travelers are e to greeted with a display that reads, “Welcom n.” bega d legen Cleveland, where the e, For comic-book artist and writer Sina Grac t that legend is very much alive. His recen Youth, graphic novel, Superman: The Harvests of . “I ence was deeply inspired by Cleveland’s resili says. e was so taken by the spirit of the city,” Grac eries, “There are old factories turned into brew wanted I neighborhoods reinventing themselves. that city Smallville to have the same vibe — a big still feels like a small town.”

Grace will be in Cleveland this July for the movie release, taking part in events at the the Cleveland Public Library, home to one of try, coun the in s ction largest Superman colle TV including memorabilia from the comics, shows, and films. n Chuck Colletta, a professor at Bowling Gree ry, histo o State University who teaches superher me beca believes Superman endures because he rican something more than a character: an Ame ic, com myth. “Even if someone’s never read a te. toni they know Lois Lane. They know Kryp Superman is part of our culture.” part of And now, after more than 85 years, he’s too. , Cleveland’s cityscape

JULY 2025 • OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING

25

Photo contest Ohio Cooperative Living is looking for photography submissions from electric cooperative members to be considered for use in our 2026 wall calendar. Appropriate subjects include landscapes, animal, floral, or wildcard (photos taken in Ohio will be given stronger consideration).

Winning submissions will receive a cash prize.

Requirements

For more information, scan the QR code below.

 One photo entry per household.  High-resolution, color, digital images only.  Only JPEG or TIF file formats will be accepted.  Please send submissions by email attachment only to photo@ohioec.org.  Photo format must be horizontal and capable of filling an 8x11-inch image area.  Provide an explanation of the photo — the where, what, and when — as well as who took the photo.  Include your name, address, phone number, and the name of your co-op.

Submission deadline AUGUST 16, 2025

YOUR LOCAL WATERFURNACE DEALERS: Ashland Comfort Control (419) 281-0144 comfortcontrolohio.com

Marion Wenig’s Inc. (740) 383-5012 wenigsinc.com

Sunbury Westin Air (614) 794-1259 geothermalcentralohio.com

Medina Sisler Heating (330) 722-7101 sislerwaterfurnace.com

Toledo Overcashier & Horst (419) 841-3333 ohcomfort.com

Holgate Holgate Hardware (419) 264-3012

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

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

Wellington Wellington Indoor Comfort (440) 647-3421

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

New Knoxville New Knoxville Supply (419) 753-2444 newknoxvillesupply.com

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

Sarka Electric (419) 532-3492 sarkaelectric.com

Portsmouth Accurate Htg & Clg (740) 353-4328 accurategeothermal.com

Bowling Green United Home Comfort (419) 352-7092 unitedhomecomfort.com Chillicothe Accurate Htg & Clg (740) 775-5005 accurategeothermal.com

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

Gahanna Custom A/C & Htg (614) 552-4822 customairco.com/ geothermal Groveport Patriot Air (614) 577-1577 patriotair.com

Mansfield Eberts Energy Center (419) 589-2000 ebertsheatingandcooling. com

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

26

OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING • JULY 2025

Sidney Lochard Inc. (937) 492-8811

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You may not realize it, but your home is sitting on a free and renewable supply of energy. A WaterFurnace geothermal comfort system taps into the stored solar energy in your own backyard to provide savings of up to 70% on heating, cooling and hot water. That’s money in the bank and a smart investment in your family’s comfort. Visit waterfurnace.com to learn how to tap into your buried treasure.

visit us at waterfurnace.com/Ohio WaterFurnace is a registered trademark of WaterFurnace International, Inc. 1.ENERGY STAR rated units qualify for 30% through 2032, 26% through 2033 and 22% through 2034

JULY 2025 • OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING

27

While classic Lyman watercraft still cruise Ohio’s waters, new ones are on the prowl for the first time since the last century.

STORY AND PHOTOGRAPHS BY JAMES PROFFITT

T

he colors of the hull can vary — white, yellow, blue, turquoise — but just about anyone on Lake Erie knows the classic Lyman lines: a deep bow with lapstrake wood, a certain wave-busting flare, the captain’s easygoing air of pride.

The original Lyman Boat Works in Cleveland was founded in 1875, relocating in 1928 to Sandusky, where most of its fleet of more than 60,000 vessels was produced. The company stopped making wooden boats in 1973, though it continued with fiberglass until the early 1980s, when it capsized in bankruptcy.

After all that time, thousands of wooden Lymans still ply the waters — most of them on Lake Erie — and they have a fierce following.

Perhaps the fiercest is Tom Korokney, a.k.a. “Doc Lyman.”

He purchased the tooling, jigs, fixtures, and archived records from then-defunct Lyman during bankruptcy and moved it all to Lexington in Richland County.

“I’ve used the tooling to duplicate parts through the years,” he says. “And the documentation — I’ve got all the original hull records.” Those records, Korokney says,

Nolan Ross’ 26-foot Lyman Offshore making way on Lake Erie (photo courtesy of John Ross).

You don’t have to buy a vintage boat these days to get on the water in true Lyman style. Thanks to Tom Korokney’s saving everything he did from the Lyman factory and a Seville company’s COVID-fueled need to keep employees busy, new Lymans

28

OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING • JULY 2025

are being built for the first time since the original company went under more than 40 years ago.

Adam Sublett operates Benchmark Craftsmen in Seville, which has designed, fabricated, and managed displays for trade shows, museums,

and other customers since its founding 50 years ago by Adam’s father, Nate. But when COVID struck, operations came to a standstill.

“I knew if these craftsmen were let go or laid off, I wouldn’t get them back,” Nate says of his employees. “So we

Nate Sublett, above, with one of his freshly minted modern Lyman boats. A typical Lyman, right, sitting outside, uncovered and patiently awaiting a loving restoration.

are sought after by folks who desire historical papers, including certificates of authenticity, for their boats.

And while he’s backed off restoration and repair work these days, Doc Lyman, 73, is still the boats’ No. 1 cheerleader. He spent four years writing Lyman Boats: Legend of the Lakes, published in 2004. He also hosts a Lyman podcast, founded the Lyman Boat Owners Association, and currently is working to establish a Lyman museum in Sandusky.

“There’s a lot of Lyman boats that have been in families for years,” he says. “Especially the smaller ones. They tend to survive because a lot of times they’re just weekend boats, so people take them home and they go in the garage. There’s a lot of second- and third-generation outboards that have been out there for years.”

That’s not lost on Kenny Kreutzfeld, of K&M Restorations in Marblehead, who says folks come to him with an old Lyman that may have been their parents’ or grandparents’ and they’d like to see it back on the water.

got busy.” Adam and Nate came up with the idea to relaunch Lyman, and Chippewa Boatworks was born.

They got in touch with Kurt Cerny, a marine architect and yacht designer in Annapolis, Maryland. Cerny grew up spending time between North

He points to one Lyman in his shop, surrounded by vintage equipment such as a band saw from the late 1800s, a Bridgeport drill press from 1938, and a power hammer dating from World War II: “This one here, it’s been in the family since it was new or almost new,” he explains. “That’s pretty common.”

Kreutzfeld says boats like the 26-foot Lyman he’s currently working on (named The Five Pecks) are the most in demand.

“It’s definitely what everyone wants nowadays,” he says as he carefully glues together two pieces of white oak.

“It’s a pretty good boat for just about everything. They do real well in Lake Erie, especially since they got the weight distribution just right, a deep-V hull up front — zips through the water just right. Fifteen to 20 miles per hour and you can cut through just about anything.”

“We’re trying to preserve the legacy with a museum here in the near future,” Korokney says. “And the most important thing: We’re going to continue to keep these classic works of art floating.”

Olmstead and Marblehead, where he remembers listening to his father and uncles debate the merits of their boats. He says all of those conversations inevitably ended with something along the lines of “But nothing handles these waters like that old Lyman we had.”

So they traveled as a group to make their pitch to Korokney.

“We went to see Tom and those crazy archives he hauled out of the Lyman factory,” Nate says. “We went through Continued on page 30

JULY 2025 • OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING

29

Continued from page 29

drawing after drawing after drawing and picked one we wanted to pattern our work after. Curt went back to Annapolis and came up with a design, and we went for it.”

Nate says the process was not without challenges. While many of the Benchmark employees were boaters, none had actually built a boat before.

But they figured it out. Now, Chippewa produces three handmade models, all based on a 1957 Lyman Runabout, 16.5 feet in length.

But these are definitely not your grandparents’ Lymans.

“They’re all-wood hulls, mahogany with lapstrake construction,” Nate says, standing in front of one of three new Lymans at the Catawba Island Boat Show recently. “But every piece of wood is fully epoxy-coated and soaked. All the finishes are modern, so there’s no sanding and varnishing

Chippewa Boatworks’ new Lymans don’t include classic dials and gauges. All things mechanical are seen on a digital screen or a cellphone.

to keep up with like you had to do with the old Lymans.”

Also, there are no dials or gauges at the helm — just a digital screen that communicates directly with the boat’s engines (which can also wirelessly send readings and other info to a phone or other device). “It’s as modern as it gets,” he says.

Nate says there are a handful of companies making new wooden boats these days — but there’s only one Lyman. “Old or new,” he says, “any Lyman on the water definitely gets attention.”

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S curls wirls, rls,

i w t s, whirl and

Members scratch that creativity itch with the ancient art of paper quilling.

BY MARGARET BURANEN

L

ike many during COVID, Lillian Cooper and her mother, Clarissa, searched and searched for activities to do at home — all the better if they came upon an art form they hadn’t tried before.

Lillian already enjoyed doing origami (the Japanese art of paper-folding), so when she found the ancient art of quilling, also known as paper filigree, it seemed like something she could get into.

The Coopers, residents of Orient and members of Lancaster-based South Central Power Company, found a book about quilling at their local library, read online articles, and watched instructional videos on YouTube; that research solidified their interest, and they ordered the special paper and tools online.

Terri Riddle of Loveland, a painter who works mostly in oils and acrylics, got interested in quilling after her husband gave her a Cricut machine, which can cut paper in custom, specialized ways. Riddle had a project in mind, but realized she needed to learn quilling to finish the parts that the Cricut couldn’t handle — so she taught herself.

She finds quilling both satisfying and relaxing. “It’s a very beginner-friendly craft,” she says. “You can do it while watching TV, and the designs can be simple or more complex.”

Riddle, a member of the Deerfield Township Art Alliance, found she enjoys sharing quilling with other people, so she started teaching filigree classes in 2022. This year she’ll teach 30 or more classes at several locations.

32

OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING • JULY 2025

Terri Riddle added quilling to her creative toolbox and enjoyed it so much, she began teaching classes in the ancient art.

Quilling has been practiced for centuries, perhaps even as far back as ancient Egypt, though it was particularly popular in Europe during the Renaissance. It takes its name from the tool its first practitioners used: a bird feather. To create a piece of quilling art, the artist threads one end of a strip of paper through a slit in the quill, the modern tool modeled after those feathers of old. Then, keeping even tension on the paper, the quill is spun or twirled so that the strip of paper coils tightly around it.

One by one, each tiny coil is placed on edge and glued onto a piece of paper or within a frame.

Cooper says that the most challenging part is keeping the tension consistent on the paper coil.

It’s not hard to learn, she says, “but you have to have some fine-motor skills.” She enjoys turning her quilling art into jewelry, such as pendants for necklaces or earrings.

Riddle, who has sold her paintings at art shows for years, now also sells her framed quilling work and greeting cards right alongside them.

These days Cooper, now 17 and a rising senior in high school, alternates quilling projects with other forms of art that she enjoys — crocheting, origami, amigurumi (crocheting stuffed animals), and wool felting among the favorites. She’s taken art classes at school and hopes to take more in college, and she’s already taught a class in quilling for adults, with her mom serving as her assistant.

Riddle says she meets many adults who say they aren’t creative, but people who take her classes are frequently surprised at what beautiful art they can make with quilling. “I always tell people,” she says, “you’re never too old or too young to learn.”

JULY 2025 • OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING

33

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OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING • JULY 2025

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2025 CALENDAR

JULY/AUGUST

CENTRAL

THROUGH OCT. 3 – First Friday Car Show, 122 N. Court St., Circleville, 5–9 p.m. Enjoy a night of classic cars, community fun, and a vibrant uptown atmosphere. All cars welcome! www.pickaway.com.

THROUGH OCT. 25 – Coshocton Farmers Market, Skip’s Landing, 22375 Co. Rd. 1A, Coshocton, Sat. 8:30 a.m.–noon. Locally grown produce, baked goods, and artisan crafts. Rain or shine. www. facebook.com/coshoctonfarmersmarket or email market.manager@coshfarmmarket.org.

JUL. 10–AUG. 28 – Exhibitions at the MAC, Peggy R. McConnell Arts Center, 777 Evening St., Worthington. Free. Two exhibitions will be on display: My Voice and Dance by Said OladejoLawal and In Good Company by Linda Hutchinson.

The public is invited to an opening reception for the artists on July 10 at 6 p.m.; and to a guided gallery tour by Oladejo-Lawal on Aug. 7, 7–8 p.m., and by Hutchinson on Aug. 21, 7–8 p.m. www. mcconnellarts.org.

JUL. 13–AUG. 24 – CAPA Summer Movie Series, Ohio Theatre, 55 E. State St., Columbus, Wed.–Sun. 7:30 p.m., Sun. matinee 2 p.m. Series showcasing classic films and cult movies. “Cartoon Capers” Sat. 10 a.m. 614-469-0939 or www.capa.com.

JUL. 17–20 – Miami Valley Steam Threshers Association Annual Reunion, Pastime Park, Plain City. Our featured tractor will be Massey Harris– Massey Ferguson. Come and learn how farming was done many years ago. Enjoy scenic tractor rides, a Grand Parade on Friday, and truck/tractor pulls on Saturday. For more information, visit www. mvsteamshow.com.

JUL. 19 – Boogie on the Blacktop: Radio City, 135 E. Main St., Circleville, 6–11 p.m. Enjoy an electrifying

WEST VIRGINIA

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mix of rock, pop, and crowd favorites as the band takes the stage for a high-energy performance under the summer sky! www.pickaway.com.

JUL. 19 – Christmas in July Craft and Vendor Show, Fairfield Co. Fgds., 157 E. Fair Ave., Lancaster, 9 a.m.–3 p.m. Over 130 vendors, lunch items, Santa, kids’ crafts, face painting, and more!

Sponsored by Fairfield County 4-H Advisory Board.

Proceeds benefit county trips and scholarships.

For vendor/crafter information, email Cindy at cag8845@gmail.com.

JUL. 19 – Uptown Classic 3-on-3 Basketball Tournament, 122 N. Court St., Circleville. Teams of three will compete in an exciting streetball showdown in the heart of the town. Register at www.teamsideline.com/sites/uptowncircleville/ home. More information available at www.facebook. com/UptownCircleville/events.

JUL. 24 – Thursday Trail Tour: Pickaway Trail, 23742–23700 Canal Rd., Circleville, 9:30–11:30 a.m. Free. Please dress to be outside and for a walk along various trail surfaces. An adult must accompany all children under 12. Program will be canceled in the case of inclement weather. For questions, email mellis@pickawaycountyohio.gov.

JUL. 24–26 – Goodtime Quilters Quilt Show, Ohio Christian University, Maxwell Center, 1476 Lancaster Pike, Circleville, 9 a.m.–4 p.m. Cash-only admission: $8 per day, $12 for 3-day pass. 150+ quilt display, raffle items, vendors, food, door prizes, demos, knife/scissor/garden tool sharpening. 740-332-6344 (Barb Harwood) or www.goodtimequilters.org.

JUL. 24–26 – 7 Mile Bluegrass Festival, 415 Lancaster Pike, Circleville. Enjoy a weekend of bluegrass music and provide needed support to our veterans! Admission is 7 non-perishable food items (never cash!) each day you attend; food collected is then donated to local veterans groups. Vernon McIntyre’s Appalachian Grass performs July 24, 6–7 p.m. 740-701-0834, billytex74@outlook.com, or https://festival2025.com/the-7-mile-bluegrassfestival-2025-lineup.

JUL. 25–26 – Canal Winchester Blues and Ribfest, downtown Canal Winchester, Fri. 5–11 p.m., Sat. noon–11 p.m. Free admission. Summer street celebration featuring live blues music, world-class ribs, a variety of quality non-rib food options, and a beer garden for ages 21 and over.

614-270-5053, info@destinationcw.org, or www. bluesandribfest.com.

JUL. 26 – Black Wing Summer Blast Car Show, 3722 Marysville Rd., Delaware, 10 a.m.–1 p.m.

Proceeds benefit Ohio Clay Target League – 6th to 12th grade youth shooters. Family-friendly, fun-filled day, 10 a.m.–5 p.m., also includes raffle, manufacturer rep expo, food trucks on-site, and more! 740-780-5287 or https://blackwingsc.com/ summer-blast.

JUL. 26 – Down on the Farm, Mount Oval Historic House and Farm, 3601 Emerson Rd. (off U.S. 23 S.), Circleville, 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Free admission. Antique tractors, animals, farmers market, demos, dulcimer music, Amish wares and food, ice cream, and much more. House tours $5. Call PCHS at 740-474-1495 or see the Mount Oval Historic House Facebook page.

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

AUG. 1–3 – Annual Farm Days, Morrow Co. Fgds., 195 S. Main St. (U.S. 42), Mount Gilead. $5; under 12 free. Featuring Oliver and Cockshutt tractors and equipment. Sponsored by Morrow County Antique Tractor and Equipment Assoc. 740-885-4038 (Dwight Murphy) or www.morrowcountytractor.com.

AUG. 2 – Intro to Fishing, Canal Park, 23352 Canal Rd., Circleville, 8 a.m. Beginner-friendly program in which you will learn the basics of fishing, including how to cast, bait a hook, and identify common fish species. Fishing poles and bait will be available, but feel free to bring your own! Open to ages 5 to 15; children under 12 must be accompanied by adult.

For questions or to register, please email mellis@ pickwaycountyohio.gov.

AUG. 7 – Thursday Trail Tour: Park Headquarters (West Loop), 16405 U.S. Highway 23, South Bloomfield, 9:30.–11:30 a.m. Free. Program will be canceled in the case of inclement weather.

Please dress to be outside and for a walk along various trail surfaces. An adult must accompany all children under 12. For questions, email mellis@ pickwaycountyohio.gov.

JUL. 12, 26 – Myths of the Mountains, Fort New Salem, 81 Settlers Lane, Salem. $8; 10 and under free with paying adult. Lamplight guided tour (about 1 hour) led by period-dressed guides, with each cabin housing a storyteller who spins tales of Appalachia. Gates open at 8 p.m.; groups begin tours every 10 minutes. 304-695-2220 or www. fortnewsalemfoundation.org.

AUG. 8–10 – Dulcimer Festival, Fort New Salem, 81 Settlers Lane, Salem, Fri. 5–9:30 p.m., Sat. 9 a.m.–9:30 p.m., Sun. 9:30 a.m.–3 p.m.

Concerts, Appalachian artisans, and handson music workshops. 304-695-2220 or www. fortnewsalemfoundation.org.

Send us your event Submit listings AT LEAST 90 DAYS in advance to

events@ohioec.org.

Ohio Cooperative Living will not publish listings that don’t include a complete address or a number/website for more information.

JULY 2025 • OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING

37

2025 CALENDAR

JULY/AUGUST

NORTHEAST

Valley Rd., Seville, 7 p.m. Free. All-female folk group from Columbus will sing and play Appalachian folk songs on fiddle, guitar, banjo, and upright bass. 419853-6016 or www.ormaco.org.

JUL. 25 – Back Porch Swing Band, John Streeter Garden Amphitheater, 2122 Williams Rd., Wooster, 6:30 p.m. Free. The band plays a variety of good “old-timey” music, from Americana standards and early country to foot-tapping swing and early rock and roll. In the event of rain, concert will be held inside the Secrest Welcome and Education Center. 419-853-6016 6016 or www.ormaco.org.

JUL. 25–26 – SAR Meeting and Ceremony, Fort THROUGH AUG. 7 – Fort Steuben Summer Laurens, 11067 Fort Laurens Rd. NW, Bolivar, 10 a.m.–4 Concert Series, Fort Steuben Park, 120 S. 3rd St., p.m. In addition to the annual meeting, the Sons of Steubenville, Thur. 7–9 p.m. Free. Featuring a variety the American Revolution will perform a traditional of live musical performances. 740-283-1787 or www. D.C.-style Changing of the Guard ceremony in front of oldfortsteuben.com. the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. 330-874-2059 or THROUGH AUG. 31 – Steubenville Catfish www.fortlaurens.org.

Crawl, downtown Steubenville. A dozen 8-footJUL. 26–27 – Zoar Antiques Show, Historic Zoar long, intricately painted catfish will be on display Village, 198 Main St., Zoar, 10 a.m.–4 p.m. $12; 12 around the downtown; grab a map and find them and under free. Shop from high-quality artisans and all! Maps available at Leonardo’s Coffeehouse, antique dealers, enjoy a juried craft and art show, and 159 N. 4th St., Steubenville, or online at www. tour historic buildings. Variety of dealers, artisans, and steubenvillenutcrackervillage.com/catfish.html. folk artists throughout the village. 330-874-3011 or JUL. 12–13 – Ashland County Yesteryear www.historiczoarvillage.com.

Machinery Club Annual Show, Ashland Co. Fgd., JUL. 27 – Millersburg Food Run 10K/5K and 1-Mile 2042 Claremont Ave., Ashland. Featuring Buckeye Race, Hipp Station, 62 N. Grant St., Millersburg, Regional Cockshutt Club. Also toy show, Ashland 8 a.m. Registration opens at 7 a.m. Cost: $8-$45.

Model Railroad Club, food vendors, flea market. Car Funds raised go to the Love Center Food Pantry. show and kiddies’ pedal pull on Sunday. 330-465https://runsignup.com/Race/OH/Millersburg/ 3387 (Kevin Williard), rwilliard1966@yahoo.com, www. MillersburgFoodRun. yesteryearmachinery.org.

JUL. 28–AUG. 3 – Columbiana County Fair, JUL. 15–19 – Ashland Chautauqua 2025: Breaking 225 Lee Ave., Libson. 330-424-5531 or www.

Barriers, Ashland. Living history performances and columbianacountyfair.com. daytime workshops on Lucille Ball, Wernher Von Braun, Annie Sullivan, Steve Jobs, and more. Evening JUL. 28–AUG. 3 – Medina County Fair, 720 W. Smith performances held at the Myers Memorial Band Shell Rd., Medina. 330-723-9633 or www.medinaohiofair. at Brookside Park, Ashland. info@ashlandchautauqua. com. org, www.ashlandchautauqua.org.

JUL. 31–AUG. 2 – Northern Ohio Chevelle Show, Best Western Plus, 15471 Royalton Rd., JUL. 19 – The Redbuds: An Evening of Acoustic Strongsville. Chevelles, Malibus, El Caminos, Sprints, Folk Music, Buffalo Creek Retreat, 8708 Hubbard

Beaumonts, and Lagunas. DJ, games, door prizes, raffle, 50/50, and entertainment. Proceeds will benefit the Marines Toys for Tots program. www. northernohiochevelleclub.com.

AUG. 1 – First Fridays on Fourth, 155 N. 4th St., Steubenville, 6–10 p.m. Free. Nineties-themed celebration features crafts, games, food trucks, live music, and activities to stimulate the imagination. www.theharmoniumproject.org/first-Fridays.

AUG. 1–3 – Silver Kings of Yesteryear Festival, Mary Fate Park, 200 Sandusky St., Plymouth.

Featuring Silver King and Plymouth tractors. All brands of antique tractors and farm-related equipment welcome. Swap meet for Silver King parts all weekend. Vendors, entertainment, raffle items, and 50/50. 567-275-1105 or silverkingtractors@gmail.com.

AUG. 2 – Jazz under the Stars: Chris Hovan’s Organic Trio, Uptown Park, Medina, 7 p.m. Free.

Tapping into the current Hammond organ revival, the group revisits the classic organ combo genre, covering modern jazz repertoire and jazz standards.

Bring your lawn chairs, blankets, and picnics. In the event of rain, concert will be held at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 317 E. Liberty St., Medina. 419-8536016 or www.ormaco.org.

AUG. 2 – Zoar Free Speaker Series: “The Ohio Tea Company,” Historic Zoar Village, 198 Main St., Zoar, 11 a.m.–1 p.m. The speaker will discuss the history of tea and tea customs. Open to the public with free parking near the School House. 330-874-3011 or www. historiczoarvillage.com.

AUG. 10 – Cliff Habian Trio, Wadsworth Public Library, 132 Broad St., Wadsworth, 2–3 p.m.

Free. Three of northeast Ohio’s finest jazz musicians: Cliff Habian on piano, Jeff Slater on upright bass, and Eric Everett on drums. Seating will be on a first-come, first-served basis. 419-853-6016 or www.ormaco.org.

AUG. 11–17 – Jefferson County Fair, 1505 Friendship Park Rd., Smithfield. 154th annual celebration of agricultural achievements and fun for all. https:// thejeffersoncountyfair.com.

SOUTHWEST

AUG. 2 – Biergarten Band Night, Liberty Home German Society, 2361 Hamilton Cleves Rd., Hamilton.

Doors open at 5 p.m. Food, music, and German beer.

German band Vereins Musikanten plays 6–10 p.m.

513-571-6198, https://libertyhome.net, or Liberty Home Association Facebook page.

AUG. 2 – Vernon Fest, Famous Old Time Music Co., 1196 Ross Millville Rd., Hamilton, noon–11 p.m. $10– $15. Featuring Vernon McIntyre’s Appalachian Grass plus other fine regional bands. Guest appearance by jazz guitarist Michael Wingfield. Raffles, “split the pot,” and door prizes! Food and drink for sale on-site. Bring a lawn chair. 419-568-1220, vernon@iglou.com, or www.fotmc.com/vernon-fest.

AUG. 7–10 – World’s Longest Yard Sale, locations along U.S. 127 through Greenville. www.127yardsale.com.

AUG. 8–14 – Miami County Fair, Miami Co. Fgds., 650 N. County Rd. 25A, Troy. Competitions, entertainment, harness racing, tractor pulls, art exhibits, games and rides, and much more. 937-3357492 or www.miamicountyohiofair.com.

THROUGH AUG. 25 – Rib City BBQ & Bluegrass, 746 NW Washington Blvd., Hamilton, Mon. 7–9 p.m.

Free admission. Enjoy an evening of lively bluegrass music by Vernon McIntyre’s Appalachian Grass. Call 513-829-7427 before traveling.

THROUGH AUG. 27 – Bluegrass Wednesdays, Vinoklet Winery, 11069 Colerain Ave., Cincinnati, Wed. 6:30–8:30 p.m. 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.

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OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING • JULY 2025

JUL 19 – Vernon McIntyre’s Appalachian Grass, Garber Nature Center, 9691 OH-503 N., Lewisburg, 7–9 p.m. Join us for a fun evening of special mountain music. 937-962-5561, pcpdevents@gmail.com, or www.preblecountyparks.org.

JUL. 20–26 – Butler County Fair, Butler Co. Fgds., 1715 Fairgrove Ave., Hamilton. Family-style fun, with down-home food, handmade crafts, farm animals, tractor pulls, rodeos, plus bluegrass music! Vernon McIntyre’s Appalachian Grass will perform July 20, 7:30–9 p.m. www.butlercountyohfair.org.

JUL. 25–27 – Annie Oakley Festival, Darke Co. Fgds., Gate 5, Greenville, Fri./Sat. 9 a.m.–9 p.m., Sun. 9 a.m.–5 p.m. Family-friendly festival honoring Darke County’s most famous daughter, with western arts, cowboy mounted shooting, shooting contests, musical performances, and much more. www. annieoakleyfestival.org.

JUL. 26–27 – Gathering at Garst, 205 N. Broadway, Greenville, Sat. 10 a.m.–8 p.m., Sun. 11 a.m.–5 p.m.

Free. Live historical reenactments, booming cannons, and engaging encampments, plus modern fun with artisan vendors, food vendors, local brews, and live music. www.darkecountyparks.org/gathering2025.

NORTHWEST

JUL. 13 – Malinta Days Festival, Monroe Twp. Fire House, 8931 Co. Rd. K-2, Malinta, 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Free admission/parking. Flea market, music by EZ Pickens, chicken BBQ and other food, bounce houses, wagon rides, tour of historical caboose, train station, barn and auction. All kids’ activities are free.

419-966-9909 or www.facebook.com/Malintafest.

JUL. 18–19 – Family Fun Weekend: “Mid-Summer Celebration,” Northwest Ohio Railroad Preservation Inc., 12505 Co. Rd. 99, Findlay, 1–4 p.m. $5. Games, quarter-scale train rides, bounce house, and other family-friendly activities and events. 419-423-2995, www.nworrp.org, or www.facebook.com/nworrp.

THROUGH AUG. 1 – Limaland Motorsports Park JUL. 19 – Eats on the Street, downtown Kenton, Races, 1500 Dutch Hollow Rd., Lima, 7:30–10:30 5–10 p.m. Free to attend. Food trucks, live music p.m. Pit races include Sprints, UMP Modifieds, featuring multiple bands, draft beer, kids’ fun zone, Thunderstocks, and more! Pit gates open at 4:30 car and bike show. 419-673-4131 or www.facebook. p.m., grandstand gates 5 p.m., warmup laps 6:30 com/KentonHistoricCourthouseDistrict. p.m. Schedule subject to change. Check www.

JUL. 25 – Fourth Thursday Food Truck Rally and limaland.com for the most current information.

S’More Walk, downtown Lakeview, 5–8 p.m., rain THROUGH OCT. 11 – The Great Sidney Farmer’s or shine. Food, fun, shopping, entertainment, and Market, 109 S. Ohio Ave., every Sat. 8 a.m.–noon. more. www.facebook.com/downtownlakeviewohio.

Vendors from all around the area provide great food, JUL. 25–27 – Hamler Summer Fest, Community crafts, and more. 937-658-6945 or www.facebook.

Park, 100 S. First St., Hamler. $5–$7; under 16 com/sidneyfarmersmarketoh. admitted free with parent. Polka bands, German THROUGH SEP. 14 – NWORRP Museum Summer food, and fun. Parade on Saturday will celebrate Hours, Northwest Ohio Railroad Preservation Inc., Hamler’s 150th anniversary. Kids Day on Sunday.

12505 Co. Rd. 99, Findlay, Sat./Sun. 1–4 p.m. $3; 419-966-3187 or www.hamlersf.com.

12 and under, $2. Quarter-scale train rides, model train displays, museum tours, games, play area, and JUL. 26 – Flair on the Square, 1 Courthouse Square, Bryan, 10 a.m.–8 p.m. Free. Juried art fair, emerging more. 419-423-2995, www.nworrp.org, or www. artists exhibit, food trucks, live music, hands-on art facebook.com/nworrp. projects, performing arts, and more. See the complete JUL. 2, AUG. 6 – Down on the Farm Story Time, schedule at www.flaironthesquare.com.

Proving Ground Farm, 5670 E. Twp. Rd. 138, JUL. 26 – Vernon McIntyre’s Appalachian Tiffin, 10 a.m. Stories and activities geared for Grass, Ottawa Metro Park, 2632 Ada Rd., Lima, preschool-age children that focus on farming and 7 p.m. Free. Enjoy an evening of lively bluegrass nature. Families welcome! 419-447-7073, www. conservesenecacounty.com, or Seneca Conservation music featuring lightning-fast instrumentals, close harmonies, and entertaining novelty songs.

District on Facebook.

Stadium-style seating in the amphitheater or bring a lawn chair. 419-221-1232 or 419-223-1025,

jampd@jampd.com, or www.jampd.com/parksfacilities/ottawa-metro-park.

AUG. 1 – Annual Charity Car Show, 617 King Ave., Lima, 5–8 p.m. Free to spectators. Registration starts 4 p.m. ($10 fee). Classic and modern cars, motorcycles, Jeeps, trucks, and more. Raffle, door prizes, online auction, hot dogs, and ice cream treats! All proceeds benefit Family Promise, supporting families in need. www.visitgreaterlima. com/calendar.

AUG. 2 – Bloomville Block Party, Bloomville Veterans Memorial and Beeghly Park, 10 a.m.–11 p.m. Live music, vendors, beer garden, 50/50 drawing, raffles, games, bingo, and free kids’ rides.

Parade at 11 a.m. www.facebook.com/groups/ bloomvillekids.

AUG. 5 – National Night Out, downtown Sidney, 5:30–8:30 p.m. Free. Activities and more promoting a positive relationship with police, first responders, and community. 937-658-6945 or www.sidneyalive.org.

AUG. 7–10 – Bucyrus Flea Market, Crawford Co. Fgds., 610 Whetstone St., Bucyrus, 9 a.m.–3 p.m.

Free admission. 419-569-7008 (David M. Staats) or www.crawfordcofair.com/annual-events.

AUG. 8–10 – St. Marys SummerFest, Skip Baughman Stadium Complex, 240 S. Front St., St Marys, Fri. 5 p.m.– Sat. 12 a.m., Sat. 12 p.m.–Sun. 1 a.m., Sun. 12–10 p.m. Food, games, craft show, rides, car show, fireworks, parade, and free entertainment, including live music each night and an Elvis tribute artist Sun. 1 p.m. 419-300-4611, info@ stmarysohio.org, or www.stmaryssummerfest.com.

AUG. 9–10 – 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. Food trucks on-site. For more information, contact Christine at 419-619-0041 or futrellcg1@gmail.com or find us on Facebook.

JUL. 18 – ABBAFAB: The Premier ABBA Experience, Majestic Theatre, 45 E. Second St., Chillicothe, 7:30 p.m. $39–$59. www.majesticchillicothe.net.

JUL. 20 – Echoes of the Sea, Sugarloaf Mountain Amphitheatre, 5968 Marietta Rd., Chillicothe, 8 p.m. $16.50–$21.50; under 12, $14. A new musical production that tells the story of a daring young man joining a pirate crew in hopes of finding a better life on the sea. https://tecumsehdrama.com/eent/echoesof-the-sea.

JUL. 26–27 – Frankfort Sunflower Festival, downtown Frankfort, Sat. 8 a.m.–10 p.m., Sun. 8 a.m.–4 p.m. Free. Family fun for all ages.

Concessions, car show, kiddy tractor pull, games, live music, 5K, baby contest, sunflower contest (biggest, tallest, etc.), photo contest, cornhole tournament, pie auction, and craft tent. www.sunflowerfestival.net.

AUG. 1–2 – Deerassic Classic Giveaway and Expo, Deerassic Park Education Center, 14250 Cadiz Rd., Cambridge. Outdoor exhibitors, raffles, prizes, food, and entertainment. Purchase tickets by phone or online. 740-435-9500 or https://deerassicclassic.com.

AUG. 2–9 – Ross County Fair, 344 Fairgrounds Rd., Chillicothe. Food, rides, games, live entertainment, and much more for the whole family. 740-775-5083 or www.rosscountyfair.com.

AUG. 7–9 – Antrim Community VFD’s Annual Fireman’s Festival, 20217 Cadiz Rd., Freeport.

Starting at 5 p.m. each day, we will be serving on-site, open pit-cooked chickens, ice cream, and lots of other food choices. Free, live musical entertainment, kids’ games, raffles, and everyone’s favorite, “the nickel pitch.” Royalty crowned Thur. evening; firemen’s parade Fri. 7 p.m.; tractor parade Sat. 9 a.m.; kiddie pedal pull Sat. 6:15 p.m. Email antrimvfdtreasurer@ yahoo.com or check out Chief’s Corner or Antrim Fire Department on Facebook.

AUG. 7–10 – Rivers, Trails, and Ales Festival, East Muskingum Park, 310 Front St., Marietta. A downhome celebration of paddling, road and mountain biking, and fine local ales. Also enjoy live music, kids’ activities, and the RTA Adventure Expo. www.rtafest. com or www.facebook.com/RTAfest.

AUG. 8–10 – Salt Fork Arts and Crafts Festival, Cambridge City Park, Edgeworth Avenue, Cambridge, Fri. 12–6 p.m., Sat. 10 a.m.–6 p.m., Sun. 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Free. Award-winning artists and craftsmen, local artists and community partners, glass-blowing classes, student art, Appalachian heritage art demos, live entertainment, Ohio-made products, concessions.

740-584-0652 or www.saltforkfestival.org.

SOUTHEAST

THROUGH AUG. 31 – Tecumseh!, Sugarloaf Mountain Amphitheatre, 5968 Marietta Rd., Chillicothe. $20–$75. Sit beneath the stars as sheer spectacle surrounds you with a herd of galloping horses, live military cannon in action, and dazzling battle sequences. www.tecumsehdrama.com.www. tecumsehdrama.com.

THROUGH NOV. 27 – Athens Farmers Market, Athens Community Center, 701 E. State St., Athens, Wed. 9 a.m.–noon. Open year-round Sat. 9 a.m.– noon. 740-593-6763, www.athensfarmersmarket.org, or www.facebook.com/afm.ohio.

JULY 2025 • OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING

39

MEMBER INTERACTIVE

ice cream!

We all scream for

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5

6

1.

Our grandchildren, Cooper, Autumn, and Landon VanScoy, enjoying ice cream at Belle Center Dairy.

— Jeff and Dawn Balser

4.

2.

Our kiddo, James, on vacation in Virginia Beach.

— Sherri Nuttle

5.

My husband, James Fox, enjoying a very large ice cream cone from Netty’s in Lakeside Marblehead.

— Janet Fox, Buckeye Rural Electric Cooperative member

Don’t worry: Our grandson, Woody, had help with his “kitchen sink” ice cream at Walt Disney World.

— Stanley and Patti Ware, Carroll Electric Cooperative members

6.

Grandchildren and great-grandchildren making ice cream at my parents’ home.

— Elizabeth McDougle, North Central Electric Cooperative member

Logan County Electric Cooperative members

Paulding Putnam Electric Cooperative members

Holmes-Wayne Electric Cooperative member

3.

Send us

YOUR picture!

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Grandson Owen Warnecke enjoying a SpongeBob ice-cream treat on a hot day.

— Della and Kevin Wenninger

For October, send “Fall foliage” by July 15. For November, send “Thanksgiving table” by August 15.

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

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

OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING • JULY 2025

Be

SAFE LIGHTNING around

If you hear thunder, you are close enough to get struck by lightning.

Seek shelter indoors: • Refrain from using corded electrical devices • Avoid running water, including baths and showers, and stay away from windows • Stay in shelter until 30 minutes after the last thunder If you can’t get to shelter: • Avoid open fields and hilltops • Stay away from tall, isolated trees and objects • Spread out from others if you’re in a group

ohioec.org/purpose

UNI