Ohio Cooperative Living – March 2024 - Midwest by Ohio Cooperative Living

OHIO

MARCH 2024

COOPERATIVE Midwest Electric, Inc.

Going dark Get ready for the great eclipse

ALSO INSIDE Balancing act

Meat and potatoes

Go fly a kite!

around

BE SAFE LIGHTNING 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

OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING • MARCH 2024

INSIDE

THE GREAT ECLIPSE

Ohio gears up for its ﬁrst total solar eclipse since 1908.

22 FROM MOONWALK TO SUN DANCE

The hometown of the ﬁrst man on the moon prepares for an astronomical weekend.

24 COSMIC CRESCENDO

A celestial symphony debut in Toledo pushes the boundaries of classical music.

ALSO

28 GO FLY A KITE

March weather often inspires folks to get outdoors for some high-ﬂying fun.

Cover image on most editions: Ohio will be the proverbial center of the celestial universe next month, when a total eclipse crosses the state for the first time since 1908 (photograph by Robert Schafer via Getty Images). This page: March, with its warming trends and blustery winds, typically sees the start of kite-flying season (photograph by italianestro via Getty Images).

MARCH 2024 • OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING

UP FRONT

Ask the expert Often in life, we need to balance the practical with the possible. This is especially so as we navigate the social and political demands to rapidly reduce the amount of carbon emitted from the energy we use. I have had the opportunity to serve for the past few years on the board of directors of the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI), the international research organization for the electric utility industry. EPRI has been at the forefront of research to determine pathways that may someday lead to achieving dramatically lower carbon emissions that could meet the stated goals of many nations, organizations, and businesses around the world. In my time on the board at EPRI, I’ve gotten a behind-the-scenes look at how our industry has been grappling with the many issues and concerns of rapid carbon emission reductions and identifying pathways that would allow us to meet those social and political demands. Among those concerns: • Addressing the shortcomings of wind and solar energy in meeting our 24/ 7/365 need for electricity. • Finding ways to dramatically increase electricity supply in order to reduce the amount of fossil fuel consumed by transportation, industry, and other domestic uses. • Recognizing — and getting constituents to recognize — the time frame that is required to develop promising new technologies from concept to commercial status to widespread use. • Acknowledging the cost of, and obstacles to developing and deploying, the large-scale infrastructure changes that will be needed to support new and emerging technologies. I’ve often discussed my concerns about the potentially catastrophic results of trying to go too far, too fast in reducing fossil fuel use to supply the electricity we all depend on for our daily health, safety, and economic well-being. So, instead of adding more of my own words to the discussion in this issue of Ohio Cooperative Living, we’ve invited Neva Espinoza, a distinguished research leader at EPRI, to write about what’s possible — as well as what’s practical — as the nation and the world transition to a lower-carbon future. These are diﬃcult and challenging issues. I hope you’ll read the article on page 4 to get an update on these eﬀorts. 2

OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING • MARCH 2024

Pat O’Loughlin

PRESIDENT & CEO OHIO’S ELECTRIC COOPERATIVES

EPRI has been at the forefront of research to determine pathways that may someday lead to achieving dramatically lower carbon emissions.

MARCH 2024 • Volume 66, No. 6

Ohio Rural Electric Cooperatives 6677 Busch Blvd. Columbus, OH 43229 614-846-5757 www.ohiocoopliving.com Patrick O’Loughlin Caryn Whitney Jeﬀ McCallister Amy Howat Crystal Pomeroy

4 DEPARTMENTS

President & CEO Director of Communications Managing Editor Associate Editor Graphic Designer

4 POWER LINES

Balancing act: The transition to a low-carbon economy must take consumers’ needs into account, says an industry expert.

Contributors: Margaret Buranen, Colleen Romick Clark, Getty Images, W.H. “Chip” Gross, Jill Moorhead, Catherine Murray, and Michael Pramik.

8 WOODS, WATERS, AND WILDLIFE

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.

10 CO-OP PEOPLE

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 Office, Consumer Protection Section, 30 E. Broad St., Columbus, OH 43215. Periodicals postage paid at Columbus, OH, and at additional mailing offices.

Spring on the wing: That ﬂash of red is a sure sign of winter’s demise. Good shepherds: Competitions

showcase the herding skills of co-op member’s beloved border collies.

13 GOOD EATS

Meat and potatoes: Want to get

right down to the basics? Chomp on some of this hearty chow!

17 LOCAL PAGES

News and other important information from your electric cooperative.

33 CALENDAR

National/regional advertising inquiries, contact

36 MEMBER INTERACTIVE

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

Pi(e) day: The month of March —

Cooperative members:

Please report changes of address to your electric cooperative. Ohio Cooperative Living staﬀ cannot process address changes. Alliance for Audited Media Member

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

speciﬁcally the 14th day — gives us yet another excuse to enjoy a favorite dessert.

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. MARCH 2024 • OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING

POWER LINES

Balancing act

The transition to a low-carbon economy must take consumers’ needs into account.

BY NEVA ESPINOZA

he U.S. electricity system is poised to change more in the next 30 years than it did over the past century. The main reason for such a rapid transformation: goals set by industry and government to lower carbon dioxide (CO2) by mid-century. As leaders aim to reduce CO2 emissions across the economy, electricity is key to bringing those ambitious goals within reach. But that ambition must balance aﬀordability and reliability.

Why electricity? The U.S. electric sector led all other sectors by reducing CO2 emissions by 35 percent between 2005 and 2022, primarily by shifting from coal to natural gas-fired generation and increasing solar and wind generation. The sector’s continued progress will become even more important as electricity grows to account for 40% to 60% of final energy (the electricity or fuel customers use to power homes, businesses, and transportation) in the decades ahead (see Figure 1). Leaders within and beyond the sector are focused on developing the right mix of resources to enable a lowcarbon future. While specific CO2 targets and the resources

available to achieve them can vary by region, the early steps of the carbon reduction journey have shown that: • Using every option at our disposal provides the greatest potential to balance aﬀordability and reliability for customers; • Maximizing the potential of emerging resources rests on industry and government collaboration; and • Today’s decisions will have real impacts on the future energy system, so intentional and risk-informed plans must balance competing priorities.

An all-options approach to CO2 reduction Making a dramatically lower-carbon future into a reality means combining established technologies with new resources. Electricity today is generated by a mix of dispatchable power (nuclear, gas, coal, hydropower, and energy storage) and variable resources (solar and wind). These resources need to complement one another to help keep the lights on every second of every day. Achieving emissions goals reliably and affordably depends on having access to the full portfolio of energy resources, as different resources are viable in different regions. In areas with conditions supporting renewable energy development, the U.S. will continue adding more wind and solar in the decades ahead. However, increased dependence on those variable renewable energy resources means there must be additional generation sources

2050

Electricity could rise to 43–59% of ﬁnal energy in a net-zero economy.

43–59%

2020

Electricity rose to ~20% of total ﬁnal energy.

~20%

1950

Electricity was ~3% of total ﬁnal energy

~3%

1893

EN ERGY CO N SU MPTION IN THE U.S.

Chicago World’s Fair, the ﬁrst large demonstration of electricity use.

Figure 1. As the U.S. transitions toward a low-carbon economy, electricity is projected to grow from 20% final energy in 2020 to 40% to 60% by 2050.

OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING • MARCH 2024

E N E RGY S U P P LY T EC H N O LO G I ES F ROM CON CE PT TO COM M E RCI A L I ZAT ION Concept

Development

Hydropower

Demonstration

Market Deployment

1849

Pumped Hydro Long Duration Energy Storage

Commercialization

1940 1880s

1960s

Nuclear Power

1940

1980

Combined Cycle Gas Turbines

~1950

~1995

Wind Power

~1955

~1998

Solar Photovoltaic

~1955

Advanced Long Duration Energy Storage

~1955

Enhanced Geothermal

~2010

1950s

Electric Industrial Heating

Early 1970s

Floating Oﬀshore Wind

1972

Carbon Capture Utilization and Storage

1977

Clean Hydrogen

2003

Advanced Nuclear

2007

Hydrogen Industrial Heating

2017 1850

1875

1900

1925

1950

1975

2000

2025

2050

Figure 2. History has shown that it takes decades for energy supply technologies to evolve from concept to commercialization.

available to meet customers’ needs when the wind is not blowing and the sun is not shining. As higher levels of variable generation capacity grow across the system, emerging technologies like energy storage and advanced controls could combine with demand-side management to help serve customers. But today, proven dispatchable electricity generation remains the primary resource that provides system ﬂexibility and reliability.

Driving progress through collaboration Turning to emerging technologies before they are ready to scale can amplify transition challenges. Industry leaders and decision-makers can help alleviate those challenges by aligning around realistic and practical deployment time frames. Consider the time it takes to develop new technologies. Historically, it has taken multiple decades to bring new generation options to market. Proven approaches to evolving the U.S. energy system have involved developing and testing technologies — including several full-scale demonstrations prior to industry-level deployment. Every time a new technology is deployed at scale, the resulting lessons learned help the industry build and operate the resource better the next time — more aﬀordably, more reliably, more resiliently, and more safely (see Figure 2).

Near-term decisions, long-term effects Through this energy transformation, balancing priorities is paramount. It requires considering decarbonization,

affordability, reliability, resilience, equity, and environmental impacts at each step. Incorporating the right mix of dispatchable generation in a grid that is growing increasingly dependent on variable renewables will be necessary to provide reliable and resilient electricity over time. Creating an affordable and reliable low-carbon future requires not only a clear understanding of the commercial viability of emerging technologies but also of the time it takes to scale them at an economy-wide level. It means determining the right mix of technologies to deliver the best results in a specific region — including new transmission lines, pipelines, and other infrastructure that requires additional time and investment. Today the U.S. electric sector is leading economywide decarbonization by employing a mix of existing resources, such as renewables, existing nuclear, and other technologies. An energy transition designed around customers’ needs rests on answering the tough questions through strategic research and development and making the right forwardlooking decisions to ensure affordability and reliability throughout the journey.

Neva Espinoza is vice president for energy supply and low-carbon resources at EPRI, the Electric Power Research Institute. MARCH 2024 • OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING

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WOODS, WATERS, AND WILDLIFE

Male red-winged blackbirds usually make their first appearance in Ohio in early March, while females arrive a couple of weeks later.

p ring S on the

OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING • MARCH 2024

wing

That flash of red is a sure sign of winter’s demise. STORY AND PHOTOGRAPH BY W.H. “CHIP” GROSS

his time of year, when most Ohioans can’t stand much more of winter, a certain songbird begins arriving in the Buckeye State with a promise that yet another spring is on its way. Red-winged blackbirds are a common migrant through the state; the males arrive first, typically in March (though appearing as early as mid-to-late February some years), and females follow a few weeks later. Ubiquitous, conspicuous, and easy to identify, male red-winged blackbirds are a stunning glossy black, their wing epaulets — lesser wing coverts — flashing a vibrant red, highlighted by a yellow bottom-edge stripe. The sight of males bobbing on cattail stalks and sound of their familiar, gurgling “kon-ka-reee” song are sure signs that spring weather is not far off. Even though that song is welcoming to our ears, it’s actually a shouted warning to other male redwings — in essence saying, “This is my turf, pal, back off!” The males jockey for breeding territories that they aggressively defend when challenged by other males. Male redwings will even chase away much larger birds of other species. For instance, you may have seen a redwing harassing a red-tailed hawk or vulture, and both of those raptors are many times the blackbird’s size. Highly polygamous, a male redwing may entice as many as a dozen or more females to nest within his territory. But the mottled-brown, nondescript females are not always faithful to the harem master, either. Recent DNA studies have shown that not all females within a breeding territory bear offspring fathered by the resident male. Famed ornithologist John Eastman wrote of redwings, “Males often stray when seeking food or vacant territories, frequently trespassing onto occupied territories. When they do, they cover their red ‘badges’ with black scapular feathers of the wing so that only the lower yellow margins of the epaulet show, thus reducing chances of being attacked by the territory holder.”

Ask

CHIP!

The atlas of Breeding Birds in Ohio estimates the Buckeye State’s population of red-winged blackbirds at more than 1.5 million. Eastman added, “Casual observation might indicate large amounts of variation in size of red patches among male redwings. The fact is that all males have epaulets of about the same size but, unless displaying, the birds often cover them to a greater or lesser degree.” Red-winged blackbirds are considered by ornithologists to be one of the most abundant birds in North America, with their continental numbers estimated at well over 100 million. The second and most recent atlas of Breeding Birds in Ohio, published in 2016, estimates the Buckeye State’s population at more than 1.5 million. Like many songbirds, female redwings may nest more than once per season — two or possibly even three times is not uncommon. Egg incubation takes only 11 to 13 days, with the young birds fledging in about two weeks. During late summer and early autumn, immediately after the breeding season, adults and young gather into migratory flocks in anticipation of their trip south for the winter. Often joined by other species of blackbirds, huge flocks can build throughout the fall. In November 1989, a single, mixed flock of blackbirds in Ottawa County along Lake Erie was estimated at an astonishing 140,000 birds. When feeding along the ground, such mega-flocks often appear to “roll” across harvested crop fields. It’s an impressive sight, as the birds in the rear of the flock continually fly up and leapfrog over those birds in the lead. So, take heart, winter-weary Buckeyes: If redwings haven’t arrived in your area just yet, they’re well on their way … guaranteed!

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

MARCH 2024 • OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING

CO-OP PEOPLE

G ood shepherds Competitions showcase the herding skills of co-op member’s beloved border collies. BY MARGARET BURANEN

eth Murray didn’t quite know what she was getting into when she adopted her first border collie, a rescue, from the Parkersburg (W.Va.) Humane Society. “At the time, I had a horse, and since (the dog) was young and wanted to herd something, she herded the horse,” says Murray, a retired veterinarian and a member of Lancasterbased South Central Power Company. “The first time she was kicked, I thought she would smarten up.” After a couple more incidents, however, Murray decided she’d better divert the dog’s attention, or else. While border collies are even-tempered and eager to please, Murray says that they don’t always make good household pets, because if they don’t have another outlet, they will herd household pets or children (or horses). So Murray soon had a small flock of sheep on her farm near Lynchburg, and after watching their interaction, she decided to get into competitive sheepdog trials, a sport in which handlers direct their dogs to move sheep around a field and into enclosures. The breed’s natural herding instincts are sharpened by training and practice in herding sheep or cattle. Murray says that “some people send their dogs to trainers, but I really enjoy training them myself.” She now has five smooth-coated border collies — and a bevy of awards and recognitions. Three of the dogs — Rena (the youngest,

OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING • MARCH 2024

Working sheepdogs are nearly always border collies, and border collies are nearly always black and white, though Beth Murray (left page, with Petra) says she has seen some that were red and white, blue merle, or almost entirely white with just a few black markings (photographs courtesy of Beth Murray).

named for Murray’s sister because “they share the same temperament”) and littermates Audrey and Petra — participate in trials with Murray, and all three qualified to participate in the national championships last year. Her two oldest dogs have retired from top-level competition, but since Pi, now 12, can still do the easier novice-level classes, the dog has a special role: giving Murray’s handler student an experienced dog with which to learn the skills. For a beginning competitor, Murray says, “training is hard with a puppy. You know nothing and the dog knows nothing.” She says it takes about four years for a dog and handler team to be good enough to compete in open classes, the most challenging. There are five commands a sheepdog must learn: basically, go left, go right, stop, go to the sheep, and a recall signal meaning “That will do.” While handlers are permitted to use voice commands, they typically use whistles or hand signals to direct the dogs. “If the dog is far away, he can’t hear your voice unless you yell, and yelling sounds to him like anger,” she says. “He thinks he has done something wrong and gets anxious or confused.” So five different whistle sounds convey the commands without causing stress. Murray says that the dogs “learn your style, read your body language, predict what you want them to do.” But she also notes that

some sheep are smart enough that “they can size up dogs. They learn what they can get away with.” In each round of competition, the dog must, within a certain time frame, move a herd of sheep from one pen to another, driving the sheep around a post or two on the way. In the more advanced classes, the dog must also separate one sheep, marked by a ribbon or a spray of paint across its fleece, from the rest of the herd and get it into a different pen. Murray says there are lots of variables that can make a difference during competition; sometimes a competitor’s turn comes in the afternoon when the sheep are hot and tired and therefore less cooperative, or other times you just have bad luck. Usually, though, when a team makes a mistake, “99% of the time it’s the handler’s fault, not the dog’s,” she says. Murray says competing in sheepdog trials requires a lot of learning for both handler and dog. The process involves training, watching successful handlers, and, through persistence, finally being able to compete with top handlers and their dogs. “There’s nothing like that moment when your dog gets it, when they’re really partnering with you,” she says. “Dogs have such a desire to do what you want them to, and on a day when you and your dog work well together, get a good group of sheep, and the stars are aligned just so, you can actually beat that top handler that day. But the big prize is always going home with your wonderful dogs.” MARCH 2024 • OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING

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OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING • MARCH 2024

Meat & potatoes Get right down to the basics and chomp on some of this hearty chow!

GOOD EATS

SHEET PAN STEAK AND FRIES Prep: 15 minutes | Cook: 30 minutes | Servings: 4 1½ pounds medium russet potatoes 2 tablespoons olive oil, plus more for greasing 4 cloves garlic, minced 1½ teaspoons Italian seasoning ¼ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese

1 to 1½ teaspoons salt 1 teaspoon fresh black pepper 1 pound 1-inch-thick top sirloin steaks, patted dry ½ teaspoon garlic powder

Preheat oven to 375 F. Slice potatoes in half lengthwise; lay ﬂat side up, then slice in half lengthwise, then in half again, making wedges. In a large bowl, toss potato wedges with olive oil, minced garlic, Italian seasoning, Parmesan cheese, and a sprinkling of salt and pepper. Coat a 12 x 18-inch baking sheet with olive oil and spread seasoned potatoes in a single layer. Bake 20 minutes, tossing halfway through, until golden brown. Switch oven to broil. With a spatula or tongs, move potatoes to one side of the baking sheet and lay steaks on the other. Sprinkle both sides of steaks with salt, pepper, and a small amount of garlic powder. Broil approximately 4 minutes per side for medium-rare. Remove from oven and serve. Per serving: 413 calories, 23 grams fat (8 grams saturated fat), 1,012 milligrams sodium, 88 milligrams cholesterol, 24 grams total carbohydrates, 4 grams fiber, 27 grams protein.

MARCH 2024 • OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING

SAMOSA MEAT AND POTATO PIE

ITALIAN SAUSAGE AND POTATO SOUP Prep: 10 minutes | Cook: 25 minutes | Servings: 6 6 cups chicken or 1 tablespoon olive oil 14 ounces bulk Italian sausage vegetable stock 15.5-ounce can of cannellini 1 large onion, diced small beans, drained and rinsed 2 teaspoons dried oregano 1 large bunch kale, torn 2 teaspoons fennel seeds into medium pieces 1 teaspoon garlic powder 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar 1 pound Yukon gold potatoes, cut into 1-inch cubes Heat oil in a large stockpot over medium-high. Brown sausage in oil, breaking it up into small pieces until cooked through. Set aside sausage in a covered bowl. Reduce heat to medium and sauté onions in the same stockpot, stirring regularly for 7 minutes until soft and translucent. Add oregano, fennel, and garlic powder, stirring another minute. Add potatoes and stock. Cover, turn heat to high, and bring to a boil; reduce to a simmer and cook until potatoes are fork-tender — start checking after about 7 minutes. Stir in beans, kale, and reserved sausage, cooking until kale wilts and soup is heated through. Stir in vinegar and serve. Per serving: 336 calories, 12 grams fat (3 grams saturated fat), 761 milligrams sodium, 27 milligrams cholesterol, 34 grams total carbohydrates, 8 grams fiber, 24 grams protein.

OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING • MARCH 2024

Prep: 1 hour | Bake: 1½ hours | Servings: 8 2 tablespoons olive oil 1 medium yellow onion, diced small 1 teaspoon garam masala 1 teaspoon ground ginger 1 teaspoon coriander 1 teaspoon turmeric

1 teaspoon cumin 1 teaspoon salt ½ teaspoon garlic powder ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper 1 pound lean ground beef 1 cup water

1 pound gold or red potatoes, peeled and cut into 1-inch cubes 1 tablespoon cornstarch 1 tablespoon water 1 cup frozen peas

3 cups all-purpose flour 1 teaspoon salt 1⁄3 cup water 1 cup lard or unsalted butter 1 large egg, beaten

Heat oil in a large skillet over medium. Sauté onion until soft and translucent, about 5 minutes. Stir in spices (garam masala through cayenne) and cook an additional 2 minutes. Add beef and cook, breaking into small pieces until no longer pink, 6 to 8 minutes. Stir in 1 cup water and potatoes; cover and let steam until potatoes are just soft, about 20 minutes, stirring every 5 minutes. Mix cornstarch and a tablespoon of water with a fork until smooth. Stir cornstarch and peas into potato mixture for 3 minutes; remove from heat and keep covered while making the crust. Whisk flour and salt in a large heatproof bowl. Make a well in the center. In a small pot, melt lard or butter into 1⁄3 cup water. Immediately pour into the well of the flour. Quickly stir the wet into the dry with a large spoon or spatula. Once cool enough to handle, knead dough until it comes together in a smooth ball. Keep a third of the dough covered. On a piece of parchment paper, roll out the rest of the dough into a 1⁄8-inch-thick circle. Transfer into an 8-inch springform pan, pressing it into the bottom and against the sides, patching any holes and allowing some to overlap the pan’s edges. Add the filling and smooth out the top. Roll the reserved dough into a 1⁄8-inch-thick circle and press tightly against the top of the filling and into the corners. Fold, pinch, and seal the two overlapping edges into the pan. Move rack to lowest position in oven and preheat to 400 F. Cut a small hole in center of pie crust to allow steam to escape, then brush top with beaten egg. Place pan on baking sheet and bake 1 to 1½ hours, until the top is firm and a deep golden brown. Let cool for an hour before removing from pan, then slice and serve. Per serving: 599 calories, 36 grams fat (13 grams saturated fat), 365 milligrams sodium, 84 milligrams cholesterol, 48 grams total carbohydrates, 4 grams fiber, 19 grams protein.

LOW-PREP SLOW COOKER BREAKFAST CASSEROLE Prep: 10 minutes | Cook: 4 or 8 hours | Servings: 8 30-ounce bag frozen shredded hash browns 1 pound diced ham 8 ounces shredded cheddar cheese

4-ounce can chopped green chiles 12 eggs 1 cup milk 1 teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon pepper

Liberally grease the pot of a 4-quart slow cooker. Break up hash browns while they're still in the bag, then layer half of the hash browns, ham, then cheese into the bottom of the slow cooker. Spread green chiles across the top, then repeat with the second half of the potatoes, ham, and cheddar. In a large bowl, whisk eggs, milk, salt, and pepper. Pour egg mixture over the layers. Cook covered on low for 7 to 8 hours or high for 3 to 4 hours. Toward the end of the cook time, see if water has collected on the top of the casserole (from the frozen hash browns). If so, remove lid to let excess liquid steam off for the remainder of the cook time. Per serving: 378 calories, 19 grams fat (8.5 grams saturated fat), 1,453 milligrams sodium, 303 milligrams cholesterol, 24 grams total carbohydrates, 2 grams fiber, 26 grams protein.

Check it out! See videos of some of our mouth-watering recipes being prepared at

www.ohiocoopliving.com MARCH 2024 • OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING

d u Foun Have yo Value t the Bes l? in Trave

Latin America Tours Days Price Costa Rica Natural Paradise 8 $995 Costa Rica & Manuel Antonio 8 1095 Panama Tropical Adventure 8 995 Guatemala, Atitlán & Antigua 8 995 Guatemala, Tikal & Rio Dulce 8 995 Mexico’s Colonial Heritage 8 995 Mexico’s Ancient Civilizations 9 995 Mexico’s Copper Canyon 8 1295 Dominican Republic 8 TBA Belize & Ambergris Caye 8 1295 USA & Canada Tours Grand Canyon, Bryce & Zion 8 1795 Mt Rushmore & Yellowstone 8 2095 New England & Fall Colors 8 1895 Nova Scotia & Maritimes 9 TBA Canadian Rockies & Glacier 9 1995 Tax & fees extra Scan to See for Yourself Costa Rica 8-Day $995 Tour THE #1 IN VALUE FULLY GUIDED TOURS SINCE 1952

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2024 Reader Recip e

Email your recipes to memberinteract @ ohioec.org memberinteract@ or send by U.S. Mail to Catherine Murray c/o Ohio Cooperative Living 6677 Busch Blvd. Columbus, OH 43229 Include your name and address, contact info, and the name of your electric cooperative.

Entry deadline: March 15 Winning recipes will be published in our June 2024 issue.

OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING • MARCH 2024

MIDWEST ELECTRIC LOCAL PAGES MESSAGE FROM THE CEO

YOUR COOPERATIVE VALUE

MATT BERRY, CEO

mberry@midwestrec.com

Value and stability are cornerstones of your electric cooperative. Our electric rates remain competitive with our peers, plus we give the added value of the cooperative difference!

Our value-added services — programs such as peak load control, automatic payment options, advanced metering, and energy efficiency rebates — help us run efficiently and maintain stable rates. Your participation helps you and helps your cooperative. And to think, electricity costs less than $7 per day for the average member: Consider the value of everything that provides for your family! Here’s a summary of some of our value-added programs for you:

Rebates on appliances and home efficiency Make your home more comfortable and energy efficient: Rebates for electric water heaters, heat pumps, geothermal, ENERGY STAR refrigerators, insulation, air conditioners, and more are available.

Payment options Get a monthly bill credit if you’re on our Auto Pay through a bank account or a credit/debit card. Get an additional credit if you switch to our paperless billing through SmartHub (e-bill). Other payment options are in person at our office, mail, online, over the phone with a check or card, or at MoneyGram locations. Plus, there’s never a fee for any of our payment methods!

Reduced electric rate: save up to $120 a year versus the standard rate Our reduced electric rate provides a discount when compared to our standard residential rate, but it’s only for members with

an electric water heater and a heat pump or geothermal. A load management switch is required for most rebates and our special rate. Please call for details.

Reliability We invest $3 million to $4 million a year in our electric distribution system, for equipment replacements, line rebuilds, tree trimming, pole testing, and more. We use the most effective technology, including our new Distribution Automation system to restore power faster. As a result, power is available to our members 99.94% of the time. We’re working with the transmission companies to improve the reliability of their power supply to our distribution substations.

SmartHub (E-bill) On SmartHub, view your monthly, daily, and hourly electric use; start service orders; update your account information; sign up for or update Auto Pay; sign up for High Usage Alerts; and, of course, pay your electric bill. At www. midwestrec.com, you’ll find instructions on how to register.

Community Connection Fund Thanks to the 90 percent of our members who round up their electric bills and donate those pennies to this fund, we’ve provided more than $1.3 million to more than 1,100 local charitable causes since 1998. Local groups are welcome to apply for funding. Please email jjohns@midwestrec.com or call 800-962-3830. Continued on page 18

MARCH 2024 • OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING

MIDWEST ELECTRIC

YOUR COOPERATIVE VALUE Continued from page 17

Economic development

Board representation and elections

We have awarded more than more than $3.1 million in low-interest loans to area small business, supporting hundreds of local jobs.

Your board of directors is composed of Midwest Electric members like you. And they’re elected by you — one member, one vote. It’s the governing body that steers our direction when it comes to electric rates, patronage payments, and reliability investments, and the board sets policies and goals.

Patronage cash back You have financial equity in your cooperative based on your electricity purchases. Since our beginning, we’ve paid back more than $42 million to our members. For the average member, the annual November credit is close to one month’s electric bill.

Energy audits Sometimes, your questions can be answered over the phone by our experts. Or, we’ll come to your house to do a free energy audit to help identify sources of energy use and provide suggestions for savings. Call for details.

Outage alerts and high usage alerts Thanks to our metering and billing technology, you can set your electric use threshold, and you’ll get an alert by text and/or e-mail if your electric use exceeds that threshold for daily or hourly limits. The High Usage Alerts can make you aware of high use much more quickly than waiting 30 days for the next bill. We also send text alerts when power is out and when it’s restored. For larger outages, check our Facebook page and live outage map at midwestrec.com.

Live answer When you call our office during normal working hours, you’ll be greeted by courteous, knowledgeable member service reps. (You may get a computer answer during highcall periods, and after hours.)

Load management Power costs more during extreme high use periods. Load management is our peak demand savings program that helps the cooperative save more than $600,000 annually in power costs. Peak control times occur less than 1% of all the hours in a year. Please try to reduce your use during the extreme hottest and coldest hours to help us save money for you.

EnviroWatts You can purchase electricity from renewable sources for just $2 extra per month without buying and maintaining solar panels or windmills on your property. Call us for details.

Advanced metering infrastructure Our meters provide power outage information and integrate with our outage management and mapping systems to help pinpoint outage areas and speed up restoration efforts. They also provide daily and hourly readings, and voltage and “blink” readings.

Scholarships Each year, we award $11,000 in scholarships to high school seniors whose parents are members. We also award a scholarship at our annual meeting in June.

New construction or upgrades

Builders, developers, new homeowners — we aim to serve your requests as quickly as possible. And if you’re looking to build or add on, we can help you plan for energy efficiency.

Political advocacy More than 700 Midwest Electric members belong to America’s Electric Cooperatives Political Action Committee, to help us fight on your behalf in Columbus and Washington, D.C., to keep electricity affordable and reliable. Join the fight by going to www.midwestrec.com/PAC Thank you! I welcome your feedback on the job we’re doing…

HELP US FIND THESE PEOPLE Midwest Electric is trying to locate past members who may be entitled to unclaimed patronage cash back paid in December 2019.. This searchable list is available on our website at www.midwestrec.com > My Co-op > Patronage Cash Back and then the Unclaimed patronage cash back tab. If you recognize a name on the list, notify the person. If the person is deceased, let one of their relatives know about the unclaimed check. The person, relative, or guardian must contact our office for the check to be issued. After proper notification, any unclaimed funds from December 2019 will be reassigned to current members following the guidelines established in the cooperative’s Code of Regulations. 18

OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING • MARCH 2024

2024 election information and code changes Join the team BOARD ELECTIONS

RUN FOR THE BOARD

You have an opportunity to give back and serve your community by running for a seat on the board of directors. This may be your chance to help set Midwest Electric’s policies, direction, and strategic focus. For this year’s elections, petitions may be filed by members who reside in: District 2 (3-year term): Allen and Putnam counties District 3 (3-year term): Van Wert County District 4 (3-year term): Mercer and Darke counties

Any member residing in a district up for election may become a candidate by obtaining a petition form from the co-op’s office and obtaining at least 15 valid signatures of members who reside within that district.

How to apply

Candidates must complete the official petition packet and turn it in to the co-op’s office after March 17 and no later than 8 a.m. on May 3. Call us at 800-962-3830 for a petition packet or to learn more.

PROPOSED CHANGES TO THE CODE OF REGULATIONS You’re not just a customer, you’re a member-owner. You have a vote on any proposed changes to our Code of Regulations. The Midwest Electric Board of Directors is asking for your support to approve the following proposed code updates. You’ll receive a ballot in mid-May for this spring’s director elections along with the proposed code changes. You can vote by mail or online. Full verbiage of the changes is available on our website and will be published next month, along with more information on the 2024 Annual Meeting. The changes are being proposed to save time during the annual meeting, save the co-op mailing and election costs if no members choose to run for a board seat, legitimize virtual attendance at meetings, and give flexibility for potential special meetings.

ARTICLE III, SECTION 7. Order of Business Adding the following: 1. Members shall be provided in writing prior to the meeting the notice of the meeting and proof of the due publication or mailing thereof, or the waiver of notice of the meeting, as the case may be, and the unapproved minutes of previous meetings of the members and taking of necessary action thereon. Removing the following: 3. Reading of the notice of the meeting and proof of the due publication or mailing thereof, or the waiver or waivers of notice of the meeting, as the case may be.

4. Reading of unapproved minutes of previous meetings of the members and taking of necessary action thereon.

ARTICLE IV SECTION 2. (a) Election Procedure Adding the following: If only one individual is nominated to run for election for a Director position scheduled for election by members at the Member Meeting, then the individual presiding at the Member Meeting may announce that the nominated individual is elected by acclamation and no vote is required.

SECTION 3. Qualifications (b) Changing the number of years before a former employee can be on the board from three to five years.

SECTION 8. Absences of Directors Adding the following, for regular board meetings: Attending the meeting by virtual or telephonic means shall not be considered an absence if in accordance with the Policy Manual.

ARTICLE V SECTION 2. Special Meetings Changing verbiage: A special meeting may be held anywhere in the service territory.

SECTION 5. Executive Committee Adding the Vice President as a member of the Board Executive Committee.

MARCH 2024 • OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING

18A

MIDWEST ELECTRIC

6 perks of your co-op membership Have a child? Midwest Electric offers scholarships and job shadowing opportunities. We sponsor various school activities, like after-prom, ball teams, and community events to support the children of our members!

You’re part of a not-for-profit, communityfocused utility that has your best interests at heart. We communicate honestly, maintain transparency (annual reports are always available), offer advice about renewable energy options, and welcome ideas for how we can better empower the communities we serve.

$100s are available to you through energy efficiency rebates, home improvement project savings, and our special reduced rate. Energy monitoring tools are available through SmartHub, our comprehensive account management software and free app.

Your neighbors are our employees! Our staff is local, so the issues that affect you affect us. Your feedback is taken seriously, and your calls to our office during regular business hours are answered by a warm, local voice — not a robot.

You can run for the board of trustees and make your voice heard! Each year, several seats on our board come up for election. Each trustee is democratically voted in by the membership, so control is maintained by members.

We put money back in your pocket! You own a share of our profits (or margins) based on your electric use. We use the margins to maintain power reliability, and then return money to you as patronage cash back at a later date.

Meet Angie McCollum, our new member service representative Angie comes to us with more than 20 years of experience in customer service. She was the office manager at Whitney Painting & Sandblasting/Sunset Cylinder/ Miami Erie Propane. Angie has an Associate of Applied Business degree from the University of Northwestern Ohio. 18B

OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING • MARCH 2024

She lives in St. Marys with her husband, Shane, and two sons. Her oldest son, Wyland, currently serves in the United States Marine Corps and is stationed at Camp Lejeune in North Carolina. Their youngest son, Colton, is a freshman and plays football, so they have spent the last few months cheering on the Roughriders. They enjoy visiting Wyland in North Carolina and spending time in Florida at Pensacola Beach.

We are member-driven Being a member of Midwest Electric means so much more than paying your electric bill each month. As a member, you are also an owner of the co-op and have the power to help influence the future of Midwest Electric. Because we work for you, we take your feedback seriously while striving to maintain your trust and best interests.

3 valuable ways we serve you:

1. Dedicated to our communities

Midwest Electric’s Community Connection Fund donated $60,000 to local charities last year, thanks to 90% of members who rounded up their electric bills. Safety is our priority. We provided 1,300 individuals electric safety demonstrations last year.

2. Superior power reliability

Our linemen work around the clock to provide you with reliable power. Calls are answered live by our friendly, helpful member service representatives. We strive to keep you informed with real-time outage and peak alert notifications via text.

3. At-cost, stable rates

As a not-for-profit, we provide stable, competitive rates. We offer rebates and energy audits to help you save, and our peak load management program helps keep rates low.

As a Midwest member, for only $1, you could: Cook with an air fryer for 6 hours

Use a vacuum for 10 hours

Watch TV for 83 hours

Run a ceiling fan for 110 hours

Learn more about how your cooperative serves you at www.midwestrec.com MARCH 2024 • OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING

18C

MIDWEST ELECTRIC

$3.3 million in investments in power reliability and electric operations in 2024

idwest Electric is budgeting $3.3 million in investments in power reliability and electric operations in 2024.

and branches are a primary cause of power outages and blinking lights.

Primary 2024 work plan components:

• Pole testing in the St. Henry substation area. All 33,000 of Midwest Electric’s poles are tested on a 10year cycle for sturdiness and reliability. Typically, less than 1% fail the test, and those are replaced.

• Continuing the multiyear installation of a distribution automation (DA) and supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) system, which will reduce the length of major outages by using automation to remotely and quickly transfer load (or “backfeed”) from one source to another. The goal is to eventually make this switching capability available system-wide to 17 substations and metering points. • Tree trimming in the Macedon substation and the Jonestown, Rockford, and Spencerville metering point areas. Tree pruning is performed on a five-year cycle throughout the co-op’s 1,536 miles of power line. Trees

• Purchase of new equipment including meters, transformers, line reclosers, voltage regulators, and poles. • Additional information technology (IT) hardware and software as technology expands deeper into our electric operations areas such as digital electric meters, SCADA, DA, and remote monitoring and control. “Our engineering staff does an impressive job of planning for the future growth and power reliability needs of our members, and the operations crews are dedicated to restoring power safely and efficiently,” says CEO Matt Berry. For updates on construction throughout the year, follow Midwest Electric on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and our website: www.midwestrec.com. Have questions about upcoming construction in your area? Give Midwest Electric’s office a call at 800-962-3830.

Call 811 before you start any digging project

18D

OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING • MARCH 2024

TREE SEEDLING reimbursements from Midwest Electric Midwest Electric has a special offer to help you plant trees in the right place this spring. We will reimburse you for buying a tree seedling packet from your local Soil & Water Conservation District (SWCD). • Special offer limited to the first 300 members; limit $15 reimbursement. Purchase must be from the SWCD to be reimbursed. • The reimbursement will be in the form of an electric bill credit. You must send us your receipt or proof of purchase to receive the reimbursement.

Instructions:

Contact your local SWCD. Typically, they require an order form that can be mailed or downloaded from their websites, and they require payment when your order is placed. Deadlines are usually in early March. Seedling delivery is normally mid-April. The SWCD typically sends out a postcard with the pickup time and location.

ways to help limit tree trimming 1. Plant trees in the right place. Trees that will be <40 feet should be planted at least 25 feet away from power lines (>40 feet should be at least 50 feet away).

• Allen County SWCD, 419-223-0846 • Auglaize County SWCD, 419-738-4016 • Mercer County SWCD, 419-586-3289 • Van Wert County SWCD, 419-238-9591 • Darke County SWCD, 937-548-1715 • Shelby County SWCD, 937-492-6520 • Putnam County SWCD, 419-523-5159

Did you know electric utilities are required to trim trees and other types of vegetation that grow too close to overhead power lines? We know you love your trees, and we will do everything we can to avoid trimming them. Here’s how you can help:

2. Don’t block pad-mounted transformers. Plant shrubs at least 10 feet away from transformer doors and 4 feet from transformer sides.

3. Report dangerous branches. If you spot a tree or branch that is dangerously close to power lines, please let us know.

FT.

Trimming improves safety for all. Let’s work together to enjoy the beauty of trees and reliable electricity. MARCH 2024 • OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING

MIDWEST ELECTRIC

We want to hear from

YOU!

If you receive a call or email asking you to take a survey about your satisfaction with Midwest Electric, it is legitimate.

Your opinions help us to serve you better. In April, we will again be working with NRECA Market Research Services to complete a member satisfaction survey. The surveys will be conducted both by phone and email, but not everyone will be contacted. If you are contacted, we would greatly appreciate a few minutes of your time to share your opinions of the cooperative. We strive to provide all members with safe, affordable, reliable, and clean electric service. All information is confidential. BOARD OF DIRECTORS

OFFICE

06029 County Road 33A St. Marys, OH 45885 CONTACT

800-962-3830

ACCESS YOUR ACCOUNT ONLINE

www.midwestrec.com Report an outage and pay your bill through our free mobile SmartHub app.

OFFICE HOURS

Monday–Friday 7:30 a.m.–4 p.m.

24 OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING • MARCH 2024 20

James Wiechart, president Randy Heinl, vice pres. Kathy Brake, secy./treas. Steve Bauer Bob Barnt Gary R. Knapke Roger W. Rank Larry Vandemark Adam Johnson Attorney

CEO

Matt Berry mberry@midwestrec.com

A copy of Midwest Electric, Inc.’s Articles of Incorporation and Code of Regulations is available from the co-op office and online at midwestrec.com. Call us to receive your copy. FIND US ON:

Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, and YouTube.

On April 8, the moon’s orbit will place it directly between Earth and the sun, casting nightlike darkness on a path starting in the South Pacific at about 11:42 a.m. Eastern time and ending about five hours later somewhere over the North Atlantic. The 100-mile-wide path of totality (where the event will be seen as a total eclipse) goes directly across Ohio — darkening Dayton, blacking out Bowling Green, enshadowing Chardon. In the center of that path, the total eclipse will last for nearly four minutes. The first bits of the partial eclipse will be seen — weather permitting, it should be stressed — in the town of Harrison, in Hamilton County, seconds before 1:52 p.m., and be last visible in Conneaut at the extreme northeastern tip just past 4:31 p.m. Following are a few ideas for some spectacular viewing around the state. Don’t miss out; the next total eclipse visible in Ohio won’t happen until 2099. MARCH 2024 • OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING

From moonwalk to sun dance The hometown of the first man on the moon prepares for an astronomical weekend.

BY MICHAEL PRAMIK

n July 20, 1969, every eye in Wapakoneta (and, of course, around the world) was ﬁxed on the sky. The tiny city’s native son, Neil Armstrong, was up there, making his “one small step for a man, one giant leap for mankind.”

Next month, on April 8, 2024, to be exact, all eyes again will be gazing moonward — albeit this time with safety shades in place — for another astronomical event of historic signiﬁcance, and Wapakoneta, like cities and towns across Ohio and all over North America, is over the moon with excitement. For the ﬁrst time since Ohio’s infancy, the Buckeye State is in the path of a total eclipse of the sun, and Wapakoneta is almost directly in the center of that path. Viewers there will see the beginning of the eclipse shortly before 2 p.m., experience totality for nearly four minutes a little after 3 p.m. (with the maximum at 3:11 p.m.), and then watch it as partial again until about 4:25 p.m. Those two and a half hours will be the climax of a weekend full of celebration as Wapak, along with cities,

“Who’s going to come and watch the sun for four minutes? Probably a million people will.” towns, parks, businesses, and private citizens across the state, is preparing for an onslaught of visitors. “The last one in this area was in 1806,” says Logan Rex, curator of the Armstrong Air and Space Museum in Wapakoneta. “Who’s going to come and watch the sun for four minutes? Probably a million people will.” April 8 is a Monday, and while Ohio is just one of the 13 U.S. states where people can see it in totality, Wapakoneta — being the hometown of the moon’s most famous visitor — takes special pride in planning a busy weekend full of events to mark the occasion. “Wapakoneta is not only a prime location to witness this cosmic phenomenon but also an ideal destination to celebrate the celestial spectacle,” says Jackie Martel, executive director of the Wapakoneta Area Chamber of Commerce. Armstrong museum oﬃcials began preparing for the event nearly eight years ago, when oﬃcials traveled to Missouri to witness the August 2017 solar eclipse there and see how towns and other entities reacted. “The No. 1 consistent thing we learned was: Do not run out of solar eclipse glasses,” Rex says. “There were a couple of places that did, and it was borderline mutiny.” Rex expects up to 35,000 people to descend upon Wapakoneta over the eclipse weekend, and the Armstrong museum is a natural landing spot for visitors. Plans there include multiple tours, educational events, and outdoor concession vendors, as well as an extensive selection of eclipse-related merchandise — including an ample supply of eclipse-viewing safety glasses — in the museum gift shop.

Chas Fagan’s bronze statue of 15-year-old Neil Armstrong — ready for the eclipse (photo courtesy of the Armstrong Air and Space Museum).

OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING • MARCH 2024

“It’s a great blessing,” Rex says, “that this great, astronomical event is going over our museum dedicated to the moon.”

If you go to Wapakoneta While the Neil Armstrong museum may be the epicenter of Wapakoneta’s eclipse celebration, it’s not just the museum that’s abuzz with the event. Businesses around the city and Auglaize County and others are planning a cluster of special events, including: • A four-day Eclipse Festival at the Auglaize County Fairgrounds with live music, food trucks, a vendor market, and special family activities. • Live music parties at local businesses and event centers. • Guided bus tours of “Wapakoneta as Neil Armstrong Knew It.” • A celestial psychic fair. • A space-themed film festival at the historic Wapa Theatre. • A special “eclipse sermon” at St. Paul United Church of Christ, Armstrong’s church, on the Sunday before the eclipse. • Riverside Art Center in downtown Wapakoneta is selling a collection of T-shirts and other eclipse memorabilia. • The Neil Armstrong Airport in New Knoxville plans to roll out the red carpet to flyers and their passengers to hang out and watch the eclipse. Manager Tom Bergstrom says there will be onpavement parking spaces for about 70 aircraft, with a food truck, DJ, and other activities, although the airport will be closed to vehicular traffic. More events can be found at www.wapaksolareclipse. com, an eclipse information website maintained by the chamber, which lists event schedules, accommodations, and even a local restaurant “Moon Menu Trail,” offering eclipse-themed specials.

How to safely watch a solar eclipse • Carefully look at your solar filter or eclipse glasses before using them. If you see any scratches or damage, do not use them. • Always read and follow all directions that come with the solar filter or eclipse glasses. Help children to be sure they use handheld solar viewers and eclipse glasses correctly. • Before looking up at the bright sun, stand still and cover your eyes with your eclipse glasses or solar viewer. After glancing at the sun, turn away and remove your filter — do not remove it while looking at the sun. • The only time that you can look at the sun without a solar viewer is during a total eclipse. When the moon completely covers the sun’s bright face and it suddenly gets dark, you can remove your solar filter to watch this unique experience. Then, as soon as the bright sun begins to reappear very slightly, immediately use your solar viewer again to watch the remaining partial phase of the eclipse. • Never look at the uneclipsed or partially eclipsed sun through an unfiltered camera, telescope, binoculars, or other similar devices. This is important even if you are wearing eclipse glasses or holding a solar viewer at the same time. The intense solar rays coming through these devices will damage the solar filter and your eyes. • Talk with an expert astronomer if you want to use a special solar filter with a camera, a telescope, binoculars, or any other optical device.

MARCH 2024 • OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING

ALONG THE PATH OF TOTALITY: A SELECTION OF OUT-OF-THIS-WORLD EVENTS

Cosmic crescendo A s anticipation for the upcoming solar eclipse builds, the Toledo Symphony Orchestra and the publishing and distribution company ADJ•ective New Music will unveil a celestial symphony that pushes the boundaries of classical music. The collaboration aims to redefine Gustav Holst’s iconic suite The Planets. The symphony will perform the works March 22 and 23 at the Toledo Museum of Art.

Departing from Holst’s mythological inspiration, however, the new work delves into the scientific facets of the planets. “Holst was thinking about the Roman gods, but we are delving into the science behind the planets,” says ADJ•ective co-owner Jamie Leigh Sampson. “We wanted to create something that went beyond the traditional boundaries of classical music.” The concert, which also includes Holst’s original works, will be a multimedia experience. Recent images of space, carefully choreographed to the music, will be projected by art and science group KV 265. Two years ago, Merwin Siu, artistic administrator for the Toledo Alliance for the Performing Arts, brought up the idea of working with ADJ•ective for this performance. The Planets brings together nine composers from the collective, each contributing a movement inspired by a specific planet. The composers engaged in detailed discussions with the University of Toledo’s Department of Astronomy to infuse authenticity into their compositions by understanding the scientific nuances of each planet. “Planets actually vibrate at frequencies, though too low to be heard by the human ear,” Sampson says. “We discussed orbital frequencies, the speed of planetary travel, and even the potential to hear these vibrations.” For example, Sampson is taking on Jupiter, the final movement. Her brass-heavy five-minute piece partially focuses on the mathematical relationships between two of the planet’s moons, which Sampson replicates with harmonies moving at different rates that come together at the end. —JILL MOORHEAD

For more details and ticket information, see www.artstoledo.com/ events/2024/03/22/toledo-symphony/the-planets.

OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING • MARCH 2024

Total Eclipse Fest 2024,

April 6–8. Cleveland’s Great Lakes Science Center and NASA Glenn Research host a three-day celebration at North Coast Harbor in downtown Cleveland. The outdoor, family-friendly event will feature hands-on science activities, food vendors, entertainment, and free eclipse viewing glasses (while supplies last). The Cleveland Orchestra will perform a family concert at 1:30 p.m. on Sunday, with an out-of-this-world program of galactic proportions featuring Richard Strauss’s Also sprach Zarathustra (well-known to fans of 2001: A Space Odyssey), music from Star Wars, and more, paired with stunning images from the Hubble Telescope, the International Space Station, and NASA’s photo archives. NASA experts will be on-site throughout the fest to engage with the public and share ways NASA studies the sun and uses that information to understand its impact on Earth and our solar system, and NASA-TV will be broadcasting live from the event.

See www.greatscience.com for more details.

Cleveland Monsters vs. Rochester Americans,

March 30. The Cleveland Monsters of the American Hockey League look to eclipse the Rochester Americans in a 3:15 p.m. faceoff at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse. All fans in attendance will receive a Total Solar Eclipse Survival Pack, which includes a pair of Monsters eclipse glasses and a commemorative T-shirt. www.clevelandmonsters.com.

Ohio State Parks viewing/camping, April 6–8. At least 17 of Ohio’s state parks are located within or very close to the path of totality, and most feature expansive vistas that will provide amazing views of the eclipse. Anticipating large crowds, most parks have organized plenty of eclipserelated programming. As of mid-February, limited electric and non-electric campsites were still available within the totality zone. Reservations (www.reserveohio.com) are required for camping, and no reservations will be taken that include April 8 arrivals or departures. Visit www.ohiodnr.gov/go-and-do/see-the-sights/solareclipse-2024/solar-eclipse-2024 for details.

Elope at the Eclipse, April 8. The signature event of

Seneca County’s Solar Eclipse of the Heart event occurs at the Kalnow Amphitheater, 155 E. Market St. in Tiffin, at the climax of the eclipse, when couples can exchange or renew their vows at the peak of totality. Event organizers offer a free, all-inclusive experience including a dedicated officiant, complimentary first toast, live music, photographer, and a specially crafted wedding cake. The only caveat is that couples must have a valid marriage license in order to get married

at the event — licenses will not be available that day, so some advance research and planning is crucial. Other Seneca County events include a bingo game that takes visitors to various Seneca County locations throughout the weekend for a chance to win gift cards and the Out of the Dark Glow 5K at dusk on Saturday. Visit www.destinationsenecacounty.org/2024-solareclipse-in-seneca-county for details.

Total Solar Eclipse at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force, April 8. Bring a chair or a blanket and

enjoy the wide-open views of the sky from the museum grounds, 1100 Spaatz St., Dayton. Dayton will experience 2 minutes and 43 seconds of totality, beginning at 3:09 p.m. Museum is open 9 a.m.– 5 p.m. 937-255-3286.

Solar Eclipse Fly-in, April 8. The Union County Airport,

760 Clymer Road in Marysville, will host a Fly-In from 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Pilots are encouraged to fly in early and enjoy a BBQ lunch featuring Triple P Barbeque Co. before the eclipse. Once the airport parking ramp is full, the airport will be closed until after the eclipse. Admission is free. www.unioncountyohio.gov/Airport-Authority.

The Solar Eclipse at the Top of Ohio, April 8.

Experience the total eclipse from the highest point in the state. Campbell Hill, within the city of Bellefontaine, is home to the Ohio Hi-Point Career Center, on the path of totality. Students and staff will host a viewing event, with family activities and games throughout the day (viewing glasses will not be provided, so guests should bring their own). Tickets are available at www.eventbrite.com/e/thesolar-eclipse-at-the-top-ofohio-tickets-522551685157. Bellefontaine and Logan County also have numerous other events planned for the weekend. Visit www.locoeclipse.com for more details.

MARCH 2024 • OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING

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MARCH 2024 • OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING

BY MARGARET BURANEN

Go fly a kite!

hen spring’s first warm breezes blow over Ohio’s landscapes, there are plenty of folks — children and adults alike — who think, “It’s a great day to fly a kite!” And it’s not always just a daydream — groups across the state gather to send their kites skyward at the first opportunity. Among them are members of P.I.G.S. Aloft in West Chester. Weather permitting, group members fly their kites every other Sunday afternoon on the lawn of the Voice of America Museum of Broadcasting. The group’s name is a clever allusion to Cincinnati’s history as well as the group’s reason for existence. “Cincinnati used to be the pork-processing capital of the U.S.,” says longtime member John Graves of Fairfield, a

OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING • MARCH 2024

retired registered nurse, who also explains that “P.I.G.S. Aloft” stands for “People Interested in Getting Stuff Aloft.” “We don’t collect dues or elect officers,” Graves says. “We just get together to fly our kites and have fun. Anyone is welcome to join us.” Graves began flying kites more than 20 years ago. He was then working a stressful job in psychiatric nursing. A kite festival was being held nearby, so his wife, Bridget, suggested that they go see it, as a diversion for him. “I saw so many people walking around, looking up, with smiles on their faces,” Graves recalls. “I bought myself an $11 sled kite and started flying it with help from some people there. It’s been downhill ever since.” Sled kites, he explains, are the simple, roughly rectangleshaped kites held together with crossed spars running

Kites come in all shapes and sizes — as evidenced by John Graves’ 16-foot pig kite.

March weather often inspires folks to get outdoors for some high-flying fun. top to bottom. “It’s the kind we make to fly with kids,” he says. “You can buy kites for kids that are pirate ships or airplanes, but they’re really hard to put together. These are easy.” From that first small sled kite, Graves’ collection of kites has grown in both number and size. With a laugh, he admits that he doesn’t know the exact number in his collection, but it’s “lots!” “I’ve got a pig, teddy bears, cats, kittens, fish — I have another pig kite that is 16 and a half feet in diameter,” he says. “My largest kite is 100 square feet, and the others are about 20 square feet. They are a challenge to fly; one person can get them aloft, but you can’t fly them by hand. You have to stake them to the ground (with highstrength line).”

Jim Gibson of Cuyahoga Falls serves as vice president of the Cleveland-based Ohio Society for the Elevation of Kites (pun intended). Gibson’s then 3-year-old son got him started in kite flying nearly 40 years ago. While visiting his grandparents on their farm near Galion, the young boy saw a kite in a store and asked his dad to buy it. That enjoyable experience led to more kites and more kite flying. The family even got into the habit of taking kites along on their camping trips. Gibson, a retired restaurant manager and owner, has become particularly interested in the challenge of train kites — individual kites tied together, like a train of railroad cars. Continued on page 30

MARCH 2024 • OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING

Kite safety Fly kites in open areas away from traffic, trees, and power lines. Never try to retrieve a kite caught in a power line. Never fly kites during a storm.

Continued from page 29

He once spent three weeks making 100 individual kites and connecting them to each other, and after Thanksgiving dinner that year at his in-laws’ farm, he tied the string of kites to his van and drove the van into a field to get the kites aloft. “Every nearby farmer drove over to see what was going on,” he recalls. He especially likes to make and fly single-line fighter kites. In fighter kite competition, the kite flier tries to score points by making their kite touch their competitor’s kite. A fighter kite’s direction and angle are controlled by pulling on strings. A kite can be flown from a single line, two lines, or four lines, depending on the kite’s shape and size and/or the flier’s preference. Beginners are advised to stick to single lines, because keeping multiple lines from tangling together can be challenging. Over the years, Gibson has bought or been given numerous types of kites. Like Graves, he hasn’t counted the total number of kites he owns, but “it’s quite a few.” He prefers medium-sized kites over the larger ones, though he does have a trilobite-shaped kite that measures 55 feet and an octopus kite with a 75-foot tail. The Gibsons generally fly their kites at Edgewater Park, just beyond downtown Cleveland, with other members of the Ohio

OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING • MARCH 2024

Society for the Elevation of Kites. Weather permitting, OSEK fliers are there the second Sunday afternoon of each month. Anyone interested in kites is welcome to stop by. They also still like to incorporate kite flying into their camping trips, such as at an informal annual kite fliers weekend each July at Maumee Bay State Park in Oregon. OSEK also hosts a kite festival each August. “I’ll put a train kite in the air or go fly my fighter kites and practice moves with them,” he says. “My wife stays with it and enjoys just talking to people who are nearby.”

The Cleveland International Kite Festival will take place from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Aug. 11 at Edgewater Park in Cleveland. See www.osekcleveland.org for details.

MARCH 2024 • OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING

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2024 CALENDAR

MARCH/APRIL

COMPILED BY COLLEEN ROMICK CLARK

MAR. 23 – Lauer Farms 1944 Militaria Show, City Club, 144 S. Main St., 3rd floor, Lima, 9 a.m.–5 p.m. $5. Buy, sell, or trade militaria items from all eras. Advertise or recruit for your living history or reenactment event. www.visitgreaterlima.com/calendar. MAR. 23 – Maple Syrup Festival, Williams Co. Fgds., Montpelier, 8 a.m.–noon. Contact the Williams SWCD at 419-636-9395 for more information or email amichaels@ williamsswcd.org. MAR. 23 – Market Day and Fiber Festival, Wood Co. Fgds., Junior Fair Bldg., 13800 W. Poe Rd., Bowling Green, 9 a.m.–4 p.m. $1. Demonstrations, roving, fleeces, exotic fibers, handcrafted items, homespun yarns, dyes, books, spinning and weaving equipment and supplies. Lunch MAR. 6, APR. 3 – Down on the Farm Story Time, available. https://blackswampspinnersguild.godaddysites. Proving Ground Farm, 5670 E. Twp. Rd. 138, Tiffin, 10 com or find us on Facebook. a.m. Stories and activities are geared for preschool-age MAR. 24 – Findlay Spring Model Train Show, Northwest children and focus on farming and nature in a picturesque Ohio Railroad Preservation Inc., 12505 Co. Rd. 99, Findlay, outdoor setting. Families welcome! 419-447-7073, 10 a.m.–3 p.m. $5; free for 12 and under if accompanied www.conservesenecacounty.com, or follow Seneca by adult. Vendors will be displaying and selling model Conservation District on Facebook. trains, toy trains, and railroad memorabilia. Quarter-scale MAR. 15–16 – West Liberty Hello Spring Shop Hop, train rides available (adults $3, kids $2). 419-423-2995, downtown West Liberty. Discover great spring specials at www.nworrp.org, or www.facebook.com/nworrp. our downtown shops! Explore a wide selection of unique MAR. 30 – NWORRP Easter Egg Hunt, Northwest Ohio items and enjoy exclusive sales and discounts. www. Railroad Preservation Inc., 12505 Co. Rd. 99, Findlay, 10 mywestliberty.com. a.m.–2 p.m. $3; 12 and under, $2 (includes a train ride). MAR. 16 – Lima Irish Parade, downtown Lima, noon–1 Continuous scavenger egg hunt for all ages, with a chance p.m. Free. www.facebook.com/LimaIrishParade. to win a “Golden Ticket” good for the 2024 season. Fun and treats for all! Quarter-scale train rides continue until 4 MAR. 16 – “Spring for the STARS” Vendor and Craft p.m. 419-423-2995, www.nworrp.org, or www.facebook. Fair, Elida Elementary School Gymnasium, 300 Pioneer Rd., Elida, 9 a.m.–3 p.m. $2; children admitted free. Over com/nworrp. 40 vendors with handcrafted items and great gift ideas. APR. 5–7 – Disney Descendants: The Musical, Encore Concessions available. For information, email Nicole Oen Theater, 991 N. Shore Dr., Lima, Fri./Sat. 7:30 p.m., Sun. at noen@elida.k12.oh.us. 2 p.m. $10; 10 and under, $5. Brand-new musical jamMAR. 22 – Here Come the Mummies, The Ritz Theatre, packed with comedy, adventure, Disney characters, and hit songs from the films. Presented by McDonald’s Youth 30 S. Washington St., Tiffin, 7:30 p.m. $25–$40. For Theatre. www.amiltellers.org. mature audiences only. 419-448-8544, info@ritztheatre. org, or www.ritztheatre.org. APR. 5–7 – First Fridays Spring Shop Hop, downtown Bellefontaine. Say goodbye to winter and hello to fresh MAR. 23 – BluesFest 2024, Veterans Memorial Civic and Convention Center, #7 Town Square, Lima, 7–11 p.m., new merchandise throughout downtown! Exclusive doors open at 6 p.m. $15 advance, $20 at door. Hosted by discounts available at each store when you use your Shop the Greater Allen County Blues Society. Headliner is Sonny Hop passport. www.firstfridaysbellefontaine.com. Moorman. www.facebook.com/events/678681214092662. APR. 5–8 – Solar Eclipse of the Heart in Seneca County, various locations countywide, Fri. 8 a.m.–Mon. 7

NORTHWEST

WEST VIRGINIA

MAR. 22–24 – Wheeling Polka Festival, Oglebay Park, Wilson Lodge, 465 Lodge Dr., Wheeling. $19–$24; 3-day package $52. Enjoy the area’s most acclaimed polka performers, dancing, and delicious Polish food! 740-310-7023 or www.oglebay.com/polka.

p.m. Explore everything there is to love in Seneca County while witnessing a once-in-a-lifetime event, the 2024 total solar eclipse. Special offerings and events throughout the county. www.senecaregionalchamber.com. APR. 6 – Lima Symphony: Fauré and Dvořák with Tower Duo, Veterans Memorial Civic and Convention Center, #7 Town Square, Lima, 7:30 p.m. $10–$35. 419222-5701 or www.limasymphony.com. APR. 6–8 – Moon Glow Over Main Street, downtown Bellefontaine. Experience the absolute wonder of a total solar eclipse in the highest point of Ohio! Bellefontaine is in the path of totality, meaning a complete eclipse. Beat the rush and arrive early! For event details, visit www. firstfridaysbellefontaine.com. APR. 8 – Solar Perspectives, Piatt Castle Mac-A-Cheek, 10051 Township Rd. 47, West Liberty. Free. Experience the total solar eclipse at this location south of the centerline of the path through Ohio. Attend a watch party on an open lawn or view the eclipse from a select spot for photographers. A Cincinnati Observatory Center representative will be on hand to answer questions. www. piattcastle.org. APR. 8 – Total Eclipse Viewing Party, Northwest Ohio Railroad Preservation Inc., 12505 Co. Rd. 99, Findlay, gates open at 10 a.m. $5 per car. Join us to watch the total solar eclipse from our museum grounds. Quarter-scale train rides available (adults $3; 12 and under, $2). Live entertainment by local artist Chris Salyer. Food truck onsite. 419-423-2995, www.nworrp.org, or www.facebook. com/nworrp. APR. 8 – Total Solar Eclipse Logan County, locations throughout the county. Visit www.locoeclipse.com for details on events planned for this once-in-a-lifetime experience. APR. 10 – Celtic Woman, Veterans Memorial Civic and Convention Center, #7 Town Square, Lima, 7:30 p.m. $40–$80. Dynamic show blending traditional and contemporary Irish music and culture, with Irish dancers, bagpipers, and an array of traditional instruments. 419224-1552 or www.limaciviccenter.com/celticwoman. APR. 13 – Night Ranger, The Ritz Theatre, 30 S. Washington St., Tiffin, 7:30 p.m. $55–$85. 419-448-8544 or info@ritztheatre.org, or www.ritztheatre.org.

Submit your event!

Submit listings AT LEAST 90 DAYS prior to the event to: Ohio Cooperative Living 6677 Busch Blvd. Columbus, OH 43229 or send an email to events@ohioec.org. Ohio Cooperative Living will not publish listings that don’t include a complete address or a number/website for more information. MARCH 2024 • OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING

2024 CALENDAR

MARCH/APRIL

NORTHEAST

River, 9 a.m.–2 p.m. Handmade crafts, baked goods, health and wellness products, wood items, knitted and crocheted goods, and much more. www.facebook.com/ events/947832112977659. MAR. 16–17 – Railfest 2024, Lakeland Community College, Athletic and Fitness Center, 7700 Clocktower Dr., Kirtland (St. Rte. 306 at I-90, exit 193), 10 a.m.–4 p.m. $9–$16. Model railroad dealers and exhibitors, layouts and displays, flea market, and more. Food available. 440-357- 8890, 216-470-5780, or www.railfest.org. MAR. 16–17 – Vintage Decoys and Wildlife Art Show and Sale, Holiday Inn Cleveland South, 6001 Rockside Rd., Independence. Carving contests, hands-on demos, Saturday night auction, and more. www.odcca.net. MAR. 1, 8, 15, 22 – Beginner Beekeeping Class, Life MAR. 18–19 – Rhythm of the Dance, Ohio Star Theater, Church, 1033 Elm St., Grafton, 7–9 p.m. Offered by Lorain County Beekeepers Association to those new to the hobby 1387 Old Rte. 39, Sugarcreek, Mon. 7 p.m., Tues. 1 p.m. $39–$58. Combining Irish dance and Celtic music or who have struggled in the past with beekeeping. $50 with the most up-to-date stage technology, this two-hour class fee includes 1-year LCBA membership and monthly extravaganza takes audiences on an exhilarating, energynewsletter. www.loraincountybeekeepers.org. packed time trip through the ages. Purchase tickets at MAR. 2–24 – Chatham Annual Sugarbush Pancake 855-344-7547 or www.ohiostartheater.com. Breakfasts, Chatham Memorial Hall, 6299 Avon Lake MAR. 18–APR. 14 – The Great Steubenville Eggsibition, Rd., Chatham, Sat./Sun. 9 a.m.–3 p.m. $12; Srs. $11; under downtown Steubenville, 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Free. Forty 10, $8. Credit cards accepted. Sponsored by Chatham giant Easter eggs, designed and painted by more than Volunteer Fireman’s Assoc. For information, call 330-41020 different local artists, will be strategically hidden in 6237 or 330-635-0958. downtown businesses for an all-city, all-ages Easter egg MAR. 2, 9, 16, 23, 30 – Grand River Valley Ice Wine hunt! For details, visit www.steubenvillenutcrackervillage. Festival, noon–5 p.m. $10 per person at each stop. Each com/spring-eggsibition.html. of the seven participating wineries will provide samples MAR. 21 – Jimmy Fortune, Ohio Star Theater, 1387 Old of their ice wines along with a delicious appetizer and a commemorative glass. www.grandrivercellars.com/events/ Rte. 39, Sugarcreek, 7 p.m. Purchase tickets at 855-3447547 or www.ohiostartheater.com. ice-wine-trail. MAR. 10 – Ms. Honey Bee’s High Tea, Wellington Eagles, APR. 4–6 – Ohio PinBrew Fest, Metroplex Expo Center, 631 S. Main St., Wellington, doors open 12:30 p.m. You are 1620 Motor Inn Dr., Girard. Over 100 pinball machines, new cordially invited to bring a friend and join the Lorain County and old, plus arcade games, craft beers, local food, and more. www.pinbrewfest.com. Beekeepers Association for an afternoon of music, food, raffles, door prizes, costume prizes, and of course, tea. APR. 6 – Spring Fling, Brunswick Auto Mall Arena, $28/individual or $156/table of 6. Advance ticket purchase 15381 Royalton Rd., Brunswick, 10 a.m.–4 p.m. 100 required. www.loraincountybeekeepers.org. vendors and crafters, food, bar, raffles, and 50/50. All MAR. 16–17 – Hometown Vendors LLC Craft and Vendor proceeds will benefit A Special Wish. www.facebook.com/ Show, Rocky River Civic Center, 21016 Hilliard Blvd., Rocky events/292679166870205.

APR. 6–7 – Hello Spring Craft and Vendor Show, Brook Park Recreation Center, 17400 Holland Rd., Brook Park, 10 a.m.–3 p.m. Free. www.facebook.com/ events/676356581105607. APR. 6–8 – Total Eclipse Fest, North Coast Harbor, downtown Cleveland. Free, outdoor, family-friendly science and arts festival hosted by the Great Lakes Science Center and NASA’s Glenn Research Center. Food vendors, entertainment, free eclipse viewing glasses (while supplies last), and more, including free concert by the Cleveland Orchestra, Sun. 1:30 p.m. www.greatscience.com/explore/ events-programs. APR. 7 – Canton-Akron Comic, Toy, and Nostalgia Convention, St. George Event Center, 4667 Applegrove St., North Canton, 10 a.m.–4 p.m. $5; 6 and under free. Free parking. Comic and toy vendors, guest comic creators, hourly prizes. 330-462-3985, jeff@harpercomics.com, or www.harpercomics.com. APR. 7 – Erin Nicole Neal: “Vietnam War Protest Songs,” Wadsworth Public Library, 132 Broad St., Wadsworth, 2–3 p.m. Free, but reservations recommended. The Mentor-based musician will perform numerous Vietnam War protest songs as well as discuss influential singersongwriters and what inspired them to write these songs. Register at www.ormaco.org or by calling 419-853-6016. APR. 7 – Medina Model Train and Toy Show, Medina Co. Fgds. Community Center, 735 Lafayette Rd., Medina, 9 a.m.–3 p.m. $7. Model trains, planes, cars, and more. 330948-4400 (Vikki Conrad) or www.conraddowdell.com. APR. 8 – Streetsboro Total Solar Eclipse, Streetsboro City Park, 8970 Kirby Lane, Streetsboro, 11 a.m.–4 p.m. Entertainment, food trucks, education, free viewing glasses, and more! www.facebook.com/ events/2389220367933900. APR. 13 – Stark Vintage Market, St. George Event Center, 4667 Applegrove St., North Canton, 9 a.m.–3 p.m. $5, under 12 free. Wide variety of antiques, collectibles, artisan wares, and repurposed household goods. 330-495-3044 or www.starkvintagemarket.com.

SOUTHEAST

$20–$27.50. www.majesticchillicothe.net. MAR. 24 – Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Peoples Bank Theatre, 222 Putnam St., Marietta, 8 p.m. $49–$144. www.peoplesbanktheatre.com. MAR. 29 – Edgar Loudermilk Band, Pennyroyal Opera House, off I-70 at exit 198, Fairview, 7 p.m. $20 (cash only); 12 and under free. Kitchen and doors open at 5 p.m. Come early for best seating. 740-827-0957 or www. pennyroyalbluegrass.com. APR. 6 – “Nature’s Bounty: Cultivating a Sustainable Lifestyle,” Washington State Community College, 710 Colegate Dr., Marietta, 9:30 a.m.–3:30 p.m. $40. Learn how to transform a traditional landscape into a productive, biodiverse garden. Fee includes continental breakfast and lunch. Call OSU Extension at 740-376-7431 or visit https://washington.osu.edu/events. APR. 6 – Spring Craft Show, Scioto Township Hall, 164 S. Watt St., Chillicothe, 12–5 p.m. Free. Handcrafted items by local crafters. www.visitchillicothe.com. APR. 13 – McGuffey Lane, Majestic Theatre, 45 E. Second St., Chillicothe, 7:30 p.m. Doors open 6:30 p.m. $20–$25. 740-772-2041 or www.majesticchillicothe.net.

MAR. 9 – Leprechaun Chase 5K, Yoctangee Park, 1 Enderlin Circle, Chillicothe, 9 a.m. (packet pickup 8–9 a.m.). $30. Bring the entire family and celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with a great run in the park. Register at www.speedysneakers.com. MAR. 9 – Miller’s Automotive Swap Meet and Car Show, Ross Co. Fgds., 344 Fairgrounds Rd., Chillicothe, opens at 9 a.m. $8, under 14 free. Open to all motorsports from restoration to racing, including race

cars, tools, hot rods, apparel, collectibles, rat rods, gokarts, and more. www.millersswapmeet.com. MAR. 9 – Winter Concert Series: Jimmy Mowery, Majestic Theatre, 45 E. Second St., Chillicothe, 7:30 p.m. $10–$20. www.majesticchillicothe.net. MAR. 15–16 – River City Blues Festival, Lafayette Hotel, 101 Front St., Marietta. $35–$40; weekend pass, $100. Thirty-first anniversary of the festival that brings together some of the most talented blues performers from around the country. 740-376-0222 or https://bjfm. org/blues-festival. MAR. 16 – National All-Cambridge Benefit Auction, Pritchard Laughlin Center, 7033 John Glenn Hwy., Cambridge, preview at 8:30 a.m., auction at 9:30 a.m. $2. All glass in auction guaranteed to be Cambridge. Links to auction catalog and pictures on www.cambridgeglass.org. MAR. 21 – Roots and Boots: Collin Raye, Sammy Kershaw, and Aaron Tippin, Peoples Bank Theatre, 222 Putnam St., Marietta, 8 p.m. $68–$168. www. peoplesbanktheatre.com. MAR. 23 – Brass Metropolis: Chicago Tribute, Majestic Theatre, 45 E. Second St., Chillicothe, 7:30 p.m.

OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING • MARCH 2024

CENTRAL

MAR. 1, APR. 5 – First Friday Art Walk, downtown Zanesville, 5–8 p.m. Come downtown on the first Friday of each month, when all of our participating galleries, studios, and small businesses are open at the same time! Visit the Artist Colony of Zanesville’s website for a map of current participants: https://artcoz.org/artsdistrict-map. MAR. 14, APR. 11 – Inventors Network Meetings, Rusty Bucket, 3901 Britton Parkway, Hilliard, 43026 (614-777-5868, MyRustyBucket.com), 7 p.m. Informal meetings for networking and invention-related discussion. 614-470-0144 or www.inventorscolumbus. com. MAR. 15 – Rhonda Vincent and The Rage, Cornerstone Global Methodist Church, 207 S. Court St., Marysville, doors open 6 p.m., concert at 7 p.m. Part of the Marysville Winter Bluegrass Series. Entertainment, food, homemade pies on-site. 937-642-4712 or www. marysvillewinterbluegrass.com. MAR. 15–17 – Open Season Sportsman’s Expo, Ohio Expo Center, Bricker Bldg., 717 E. 17th Ave., Columbus. $10 advance, $15 at door; 12 and under free. Hundreds

SOUTHWEST

THROUGH APR. 24 – 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 MAR. 2–3, 9–10 – Annual Maple Syrup Festival, Hueston Woods State Park, 6301 Park Office Rd., College Corner, 12–4 p.m. Free. Take a hayride from the beach to the top of the trail, hike with a guide through Big Woods State Nature Preserve, and learn the art of maple syrup production. Enjoy pancakes at our lodge 8 am.–1 p.m. ($7–$9). Food, drinks, and maple syrup will be sold throughout the day. 513-5236347 or www.ohiodnr.gov/go-and-do/plan-a-visit/ find-a-property/hueston-woods-state-park.

of exhibitors, demos and displays, trophy contests, seminars, shooting and archery ranges, and more. www. openseasonsportsmansexpo.com/ohio. MAR. 16 – Sewing Smorgasbord, Sheridan Middle School, 8660 Sheridan Rd., Thornville, 9 a.m.–3:30 p.m.; doors open 8:15 a.m. $10 fee. The clothing and textile update of the year, featuring 40 classes, 18 exhibitors, fabric fair, sewing machine raffle, two fat-quarter raffles, and new this year, three “themed” basket raffles! Attend classes of your choice; no preregistration required. 740-405-7891, crshuster1@gmail.com, or https://perry. osu.edu. MAR. 17 – Columbus Toy and Game Show, Ohio Expo Center, Lausche Bldg., 717 E. 17th Ave., Columbus, 9 a.m.–4 p.m. $15; 10 and under free; early buyer (8–9 a.m.) $20. Buy, sell, and trade new and retro toys, video games, and collectibles. Door prizes every hour, Pokémon tournament, celebrity guests. www. ctspromotions.com. MAR. 20 – “Andrea Doria: A Famous Sea Disaster and a Survivor’s Story,” Marion Palace Theatre, 276 W. Center St., Marion, 7:30 p.m. Donation cover charge. Julia Hansen shares her personal story of being rescued at sea as a young girl and provides insight into the bygone era of Atlantic passenger travel. 740-383-2101 or www.marionpalace.org. MAR. 23 – Grace Blackford, Marion Palace Theatre, 276 W. Center St., Marion, 7:30 p.m. $22. 740-383-2101 or www.marionpalace.org. MAR. 24 – Columbus Spring Avant-Garde Art and Craft Show, Makoy Event Center, 5462 Center St., Hilliard, 10 a.m.–4 p.m. $3, under 12 free. Artists and crafters selling their original handmade items. Full

concession stand on-site. 440-227-8794 or www. avantgardeshows.com. APR. 5–7 – Columbus Home Improvement Show, Ohio Expo Center, Kasich Hall, 717 E. 17th Ave., Columbus, Fri. 12–6 p.m., Sat. 10 a.m.–6 p.m., Sun. 11 a.m.–5 p.m. $5, under 18 free. See the latest innovations and design trends from hundreds of exhibitors. Local remodeling and building experts will be on hand to answer your questions. www.homeshowcenter.com/ overview/columbushome2. APR. 6–7 – The Little Mermaid Jr., Logan High School Theatre, 14470 OH-328, Logan. Adult $10, child (2–11) $5. Presented by the Hocking County Children’s Chorus. Tickets available online or at the door. https:// hockingcochildrenschorus.org or find us on Facebook. APR. 8 – Solar Eclipse Fly-In, Union County Airport (KMRT), 760 Clymer Rd., Marysville, 11 a.m.–3:30 p.m. Free. The airport is in the zone of totality for almost 3 minutes! Fly in early and have a great BBQ lunch before watching the eclipse. Once the parking ramp is full, the airport will be closed until after the eclipse. www.unioncountyohio.gov/Airport-Authority or www. facebook.com/UCAAKMRT. APR. 11–14 – Equine Affaire, Ohio Expo Center, 717 E. 17th Ave., Columbus. $10–$16 advance; 6 and under free. The nation’s premier equine expo and equestrian gathering, featuring training clinics, seminars, demos, exhibits, equine entertainment and competition, and much more. 740-845-0085 or www.equineaffaire.com. APR. 13–14 – Daffodil Show and Sale, Bryn Du Mansion, 537 Jones Rd. NE, Granville, 12–6 p.m. Free. Hosted by the Granville Garden Club. www. granvillegardenclub.org.

MAR. 15, APR. 19 – Bluegrass Night, Fibonacci Brewing Company, 1445 Compton Rd., Cincinnati, 7–9 p.m. Free. Enjoy lively bluegrass music by Vernon McIntyre’s Appalachian Grass, a wide variety of craft beers at the Beer Garden, and food truck eats. 513832-1422 or http://fibbrew.com. APR. 6 – Cabin Fever Arts Festival, Southern State Community College, Patriot Center Gymnasium, 100 Hobart Dr., Hillsboro, 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Free. A showcase of handcrafted quality arts and crafts. Live music; food trucks. cabinfeverartsfestival@gmail.com or www.appartguild.com. APR. 6–8 – Total Solar Eclipse at Hueston Woods State Park, 6301 Park Office Rd., College Corner. Visit the Nature Center for special presentations and activities. Join us at the park to view the eclipse Mon. 3:08–3:19 p.m. For details, call 513-524-4250 or visit www.ohiodnr.gov/go-and-do/plan-a-visit/find-aproperty/hueston-woods-state-park. APR. 6–8 –Total Solar Eclipse at Sycamore State Park, 10561 Providence Pike, Dayton. Free. Visit the Overlook Picnic Area throughout the weekend for special presentations and activities and view the eclipse Mon. 3:08–3:19 p.m. For details, call 513-5244250 or visit https://ohiodnr.gov/go-and-do/plan-avisit/find-a-property/sycamore-state-park. APR. 7 – The Butler Philharmonic Chorus: “Broadway Meets Blockbuster,” SORG Opera House, 63 S. Main St., Middletown, 3 p.m. $20. Facebook: @officialbutlerphil or www.butlerphil.org.

APR. 8 – Solar Eclipse Experience, Garber Nature Center, 9691 OH-503 N., Lewisburg, 1:30–4:30 p.m. Free family program. Free CE/ISO solar safety sunglasses and children’s activities (limited space). Registration required. 937-962-5561, pcpdevents@ gmail.com, or www.preblecountyparks.org. APR. 8–13 – A Fine Art Exhibit and Contest, Tipp Center, 855 N. 3rd St., Tipp City. Area artists are invited and encouraged to participate. Please read the entry information and submission rules and guidelines prior to registering on our website (deadline Mar. 24): www.tippcityartscouncil.com/ exhibit. APR. 13 – An Art Affair: A Fine Arts and Crafts Vendor Show, Tipp Center, 855 N. 3rd St., Tipp City, 10 a.m.–5 p.m. Free. Browse the exhibition entries and vendor booths to find amazing art created by over 60 local artists. Local musicians and dancers will provide the entertainment. Food trucks will be on-site. 937-543-5115 or www.tippcityartscouncil.com/ an-art-affair.html. APR. 13 – Vernon McIntyre’s Appalachian Grass, China Garden Buffet, 1108 W. Kemper Rd., Cincinnati, doors open at 6 p.m., music starts 7 p.m. $25. Enjoy lively bluegrass entertainment and a fine buffet dinner. Early-bird ticket holders get priority choice of seating. 513-607-1874, fotmc@iglou.com, or www.eventbrite.com/e/chinese-breakdown-dinnertickets-472324273617.

MARCH 2024 • OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING

Pi(e) Day

MEMBER INTERACTIVE

1 My grandson, Camden, making his own apple pie from scratch. Katie Grubba, South Central Power Company member. 2 My mother, Jan Broering, is my favorite pie maker! The last couple of years, she has provided the pies on “Pi Day” at Marion Local High School (my favorite is her raspberry cherry pie). Dale Broering, Midwest Electric member. 3 My daughters, Emma (6) and Claire (3), getting ready to eat a cherry pie. Amy Sims, South Central Power Company member. 4 My mother, Alma Benson, baked three kinds of pies: good, better, and best. Beth Grim, Lorain-Medina Rural Electric Cooperative member. 5 Thomas Weaver making pie crusts with Great-Aunt Julie. Thomas Weaver, North Central Electric Cooperative member. 6 I love looking for unique wonders in the sky; one day, there it was — pi in the sky! Judy Ugie, The Frontier Power Company member.

Send us YOUR picture! For June, send “Scenic inland shores” by March 15; for July, send “Sand castles” by April 15. 36

OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING • MARCH 2024

Scan the QR code or upload your photos at www.ohiocoopliving.com/memberinteractive. Your photo may be featured in our magazine or on our website.

Interested in electrical line work? Youth in grades 9 to 12 can join their local co-ops and the Ohio Farm Bureau for a free hands-on look at line work and other careers within the electric industry at

Friday, May 31, 2024

at the Central Ohio Lineworker Training Facility ● 5265 State Route 95, Mount Gilead, OH 43338

Deadline to Apply:

April 15, 2024 For information and to register, scan the QR code or email info@exploreag.org.

All ExploreAg programming is offered FREE to students, thanks to the generosity of sponsors through the Ohio Farm Bureau Foundation who believe strongly in cultivating the next generation of curious and inquisitive agriculturalists.