Ohio Cooperative Living – November 2022 - Hancock-Wood

Thank y

VETERANS

November

Veterans Day

Veterans Day

Ohio electric cooperatives are honored to employ veterans of the U.S. armed forces. We are grateful for their service to their country and to their local community and appreciate their character and contributions on the job.

MERRY AND BRIGHT

2022 HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE

Adapting to meet your needs

Our mission to provide you with a reliable, affordable, and environmentally responsible supply of electricity is an everevolving job. For example, our investment in environmental control equipment at Cardinal Plant over the years has made our waste streams cleaner than ever. It also has allowed us to beneficially re-use the combustion byproducts from our coal-fired generation facilities in a variety of useful ways. We are adapting our processes to keep costs down and reduce our environmental impacts, saving money and providing useful materials to other industries — a real win-win. I hope you’ll read the article on page 4 to learn more.

Meanwhile, lack of investment, onerous federal regulations, and global conflict continue to strain our energy industries. Supplies of natural gas, oil, coal, and other energy sources remain tight. These factors result in cost pressures on not only electricity generation, but all forms of energy that we need in our daily lives.

Your electric cooperative continues to work to keep costs down, employ innovative ideas in work processes, and support policies that result in keeping a reliable supply of energy available to our homes and businesses.

As Thanksgiving approaches later this month, I want to thank you for your continued patronage of and support for your electric cooperative. We exist to have a positive impact on the communities we serve, but our strength comes from our unity of purpose and from your support for what we do.

Wishing you all a happy and blessed Thanksgiving holiday.

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

We are adapting our processes to keep costs down and reduce our environmental impacts.

Ohio Rural Electric Cooperatives

6677 Busch Blvd. Columbus, OH 43229 614-846-5757 www.ohiocoopliving.com

Patrick O’Loughlin President & CEO Caryn Whitney Director of Communications Jeff McCallister Managing Editor

Rebecca Seum Assistant Managing Editor

Crystal Pomeroy Graphic Designer

Contributors: Victoria Ellwood, Colleen Romick Clark, Getty Images, W.H. “Chip” Gross, Catherine Murray, and Damaine Vonada.

OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING (USPS 134-760; ISSN 2572-049X) is published monthly by Ohio Rural Electric Cooperatives, Inc. It is the official communication link between the electric cooperatives in Ohio and West Virginia and their members. Subscription cost for members ranges from $5.52 to $6.96 per year, paid from equity accruing to the member.

POSTMASTER: Send address changes to editorial and advertising offices at: 6677 Busch Boulevard, Columbus, OH 43229-1101. Periodicals postage paid at Pontiac, IL 61764, and at additional mailing offices. Nothing in this publication may be reproduced in any manner without written permission from Ohio Rural Electric Cooperatives, Inc. All rights reserved. The fact that a product is advertised in Ohio Cooperative Living should not be taken as an endorsement. If you find an advertisement misleading or a product unsatisfactory, please notify us or the Ohio Attorney General’s Office, Consumer Protection Section, 30 E. Broad St., Columbus, OH 43215. Periodicals postage paid at Columbus, OH, and at additional mailing offices.

DEPARTMENTS

4 POWER LINES

Hidden value: When coal burns at the co-ops’ power plant, it produces more than just electricity.

8 WOODS, WATERS, AND WILDLIFE

Birding vs. hunting: An important lesson in conservation came from Ohio’s duck hunters.

10 CO-OP PEOPLE

Cider season: There’s always something delicious happening at the Laurelville Fruit Farm.

13 GOOD EATS

Easy as pie: The ultimate comfort food comes in lots of shapes, sizes, and flavors.

17 LOCAL PAGES

News and information from your electric cooperative.

33 CALENDAR

What’s happening: November/ December events and other things to do around Ohio.

36 MEMBER INTERACTIVE

Cooperative members:

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

Alliance for Audited Media Member

Ohio’s Electric Cooperatives is an equal

Salute: For Veterans Day, members put their respect on display — such as in this photo of Emma and Joey Foster (right) at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific at Punchbowl Crater, submitted by thier parents, North Central Electric Cooperative members Anthony and Becca Foster.

our

at www.ohiocoopliving.com!

or our recipes. Our site features an

area where you can share your stories, recipes, and

by other co-op members across the state.

Hidden value

When coal burns at the co-ops’ power plant, it produces more than just electricity.

BY JILL MOREHEAD

The Cardinal Power Plant is difficult to miss. Perched along the Ohio River in Brilliant, the coal-burning generation station with its massive stacks is an iconic vision for anyone who traverses the Ohio River Scenic Byway between Martins Ferry and Steubenville.

The plant provides electricity to more than a million Ohioans who live and work in electric cooperative-served areas through Buckeye Power, the cooperative created by Ohio’s electric co-ops to provide the electricity they deliver to members. With close to 300 employees, it’s a major economic force in the region. It’s also an economic force for co-ops — beyond production of electricity that powers those co-op homes and businesses, it also produces marketable products that help keep its energy as affordable as possible.

A byproduct with value

In simple terms, the act of combustion produces heat, water, and carbon dioxide, and depending on the fuel being burned — in this case, coal — there are other byproducts.

Ohio’s electric cooperatives have invested more than

Gypsum is loaded from this landfill near the Cardinal Plant in Brilliant and taken to market. This cell, which once was a small mountain of product, has now been removed entirely.

$1 billion in environmental systems to keep most of those other byproducts contained. One such system, the scrubbers, removes sulfur dioxide and converts it to synthetic gypsum. Synthetic gypsum has many uses, and it’s a key component in wallboard used in homes and businesses.

A change in market

The United States construction industry is forecast to grow by between 5% and 8% over the next several years, according to industry studies. Coupled with the fact that a few other power plants have been shuttered, that creates a greater demand — and less available supply of — synthetic gypsum. “Buyers that may have at one time bought gypsum from a power plant that was nearby now have to go farther to find good-quality gypsum,” says Randy Keefer, director of fuel procurement and byproduct sales at Buckeye Power.

As demand for gypsum has grown, Cardinal Plant employees have set about improving the consistency and quality of the gypsum through the scrubbing process. “We go through a lot of testing to make sure that the gypsum we produce is

within specification for buyers,” says Cardinal Plant manager Bethany Schunn. Currently, the plant is selling nearly all of its synthetic gypsum production due to high demand.

Reclamation

That demand has allowed Cardinal to sell gypsum that had previously been placed in the plant’s EPA-permitted, on-site landfill, which covers many acres. “Recently, the demand is so high that companies want us to dig older gypsum out of the landfill and sell it to them,” Schunn says. “We sell 35,000 to 40,000 tons a month from the landfill alone.”

“Thanks to the efforts and foresight of Cardinal’s landfill operators to keep gypsum segregated from other coal-

Turning waste into dollars

In 2014, Cardinal Plant sold about 215,000 tons of synthetic gypsum, while more than 560,000 tons went into the landfill.

These days, it’s rare that any gypsum produced through the scrubbing process becomes landfill. Of more than 2 million tons of synthetic gypsum produced from 2019 to 2021 , just a shade less than 99 % was sold for wallboard, cement, or agricultural use. Gypsum sales are projected to account for nearly $13 million in revenue in 2022 and even more in 2023 and 2024 .

But gypsum isn’t the only marketable coal byproduct, according to Buckeye Power’s Randy Keefer. Fly ash, the wispy substance left from burning coal, is an ingredient in concrete, while bottom ash, a much heavier, denser product, is used to treat snowy, icy roadways.

Sales of fly ash are projected to double to about $1 million annually — perhaps more — in the next few years, while sales of bottom ash have been consistently about $100,000 per year.

While that may not make a huge difference on individual electric bills — maybe a couple of dollars to the average co-op member each month — it does contribute to the bottom line, and every bit helps.

combustion residuals, we’ve found that the quality of the landfill gypsum remains very good for wallboard production,” says Keefer. In fact, one of Cardinal’s landfill cells that once contained 400,000 tons of gypsum has been completely removed and sold. Workers are now digging into a second cell, which contains up to 1.4 million tons of gypsum — and the plant has a contract to reclaim and sell all of that as well.

Keefer says that’s a good thing, not only for the company but for the environment, since it delays the need to construct additional landfills. But it also helps control costs for members who get their electricity from Buckeye Power (see sidebar above).

“Buckeye Power is not-for-profit,” Keefer says. “We exist solely for the purpose of providing low-cost energy to our members. Anything that we can do to reduce our cost to produce electricity has a direct impact. It’s our job and goal to provide reliable, competitively priced energy for our members.”

“We go through a lot of testing to make sure that the gypsum we produce is within specifications for buyers.”

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WOODS, WATERS, AND WILDLIFE

Birding vs.

“There’s a singular reason that some of the best Lake Erie marshes in Ohio have been saved from destruction. One reason, two words: duck hunters. It sounds blunt and oversimplified, but from the viewpoint of wildlife, duck hunters saved the marshes.”

You might expect that to have been uttered by a waterfowl hunter. Kenn Kaufman, however, is not a hunter and never has been. Rather, he is one of North America’s best-known birding experts. The author of a dozen field identification guides and natural-history reference books, Kaufman also wrote the 1997 birding classic Kingbird Highway. He and his wife, Kimberly, the executive director of Black Swamp Bird Observatory in Oak Harbor, live in northwest Ohio.

During settlement, the Buckeye State lost an estimated 95% of its original wetlands, much of that the Great

Black Swamp, which once covered nearly all of northwestern Ohio and northeastern Indiana. That gigantic region was a haven for wildlife of all sorts — not just waterfowl — as the water slowly drained into the vast marshes that ringed the western edge of Lake Erie from Toledo to Sandusky.

But what saved at least some of those marshes from becoming yet more farmland or other types of development were private duck hunting clubs, whose members banded together to keep the lakeside habitat in its original state year after year, decade after decade.

The price for such management was not small, however, and simple economics gradually took its toll. One club after another was eventually forced to sell its property. Fortunately, state and federal governments were ready to

An important lesson in conservation came from Ohio’s duck hunters.

STORY AND PHOTOS BY W.H. “CHIP” GROSS

Buy a duck stamp?

Even if you’re not a hunter, you can help support waterfowl management in Ohio by purchasing a state/federal duck stamp. The sale of federal duck stamps has raised more than $1.1 billion for wildlife conservation since its inception in the 1930s, preserving some 6 million acres of wetland habitat nationwide.

hunting

Had it not been for Ohio’s duck hunters, much of Ohio’s marshland, which is so important to both birding and hunting today, may well have been lost to development.

buy. Waterfowl conservation groups such as Ducks Unlimited helped, too. Today, many of those historic shooting grounds are now national wildlife refuges and state wildlife areas, open to both birders and hunters.

Two of the largest are Magee Marsh Wildlife Area and Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge, both located southeast of Toledo along State Route 2. Adjacent to one another, the two refuges make up the largest wetland complex in the state, encompassing nearly 7,000 acres. Other public wetlands in the area include Maumee Bay State Park, Howard Marsh, Metzger Marsh, Navarre Marsh, Pipe Creek, and Mallard Club Marsh wildlife areas.

Those tens of thousands of wetland acres would have been irretrievably lost had it not been for waterfowl hunters. The duck clubs’ original intentions may well

have been self-serving — after all, most members just wanted to shoot ducks — but nevertheless, the long-term benefits of those marshes for wetlands wildlife today have proven inestimable.

“Whether birders like it or not,” says Kaufman, “it’s a fact that our sensational birding today in northwest Ohio rests on a foundation of habitat built by duck hunters. Magee Marsh, for instance, famous around the world as a place to see spring warblers and other songbirds, was saved because it was a duck club before it was turned over to the state of Ohio.”

Some 30 private duck hunting clubs — such as Winous Point Shooting Club — still exist in the Lake Erie region, maintaining thousands of acres of marsh, providing habitat for not only waterfowl and other migratory game birds but all types of wildlife. So, if you have ever enjoyed a day birding the Lake Erie marshes, thank a duck hunter. And if you’ve not yet taken the opportunity to experience this pristine natural area of our state, make plans to go.

Wildlife conservation history is important because it provides perspective and a better understanding and appreciation for the wild species we enjoy today.

W.H. “Chip” Gross is Ohio Cooperative Living’s outdoors editor. Got a question you’d like to ask Chip? Send an email to whchipgross@gmail.com.

CO-OP PEOPLE

Cider season

There’s always something delicious happening at the Laurelville Fruit Farm.

STORY AND PHOTOS BY VICTORIA ELLWOOD

It was the antics of a wily and very hungry fox that serendipitously led to the creation of an applegrowing enterprise and cider mill that are still going strong more than a century later.

Back in 1911, George Bowers and a friend started a chicken-raising business on 30 acres of hilly land near Laurelville, according to George’s grandson, Bob. “My grandfather was a rural mail carrier, first on horseback and then by truck, and decided to raise chickens, too. But one night, a fox came along and got all of the chickens. A few apple trees were already growing on the hillside, so they scrapped the chicken business and switched to apples.”

That launched what is now the Laurelville Fruit Company, with Bob at the helm, following in some wellworn family footsteps.

“My dad took over the farm after World War II,” he says, “and growing up in the ’60s, I remember working my tail off to help out. Some of my high school friends and I would get up at 5 o’clock in the morning and make a thousand gallons of cider before school started, and then jug it when we got home. But it was fun, we didn’t think of it as work.”

Today, the Laurelville Fruit Company orchards include “40 acres of apple trees, a couple acres of peaches, and just a smidgen of plums, cherries, and nectarines,” says Bob from his favorite perch in a rocking chair inside the Laurelville sales room.

The popular retail shop is open July to December, and sells 12 to 15 different kinds of apples (Bob’s favorite is the tart Winesap variety). But it’s the cider — produced each fall with a vintage rack-and-claw cider mill — that’s the main attraction here.

The sought-after Laurelville Fruit Farm cider is made from a mix of sweet and tart, red and yellow apples. But the big difference is in the filtering. “Most ciders are not filtered, but ours is,” Bob says. “It makes for a more pleasant cider, and tastes just like biting into a fresh apple. It’s the only cider I’ll drink.”

The shop also houses a slushie machine that turns out refreshing cider slushies each fall. “They’re really good; cider has just enough sugar in it to freeze to the right consistency.”

The fruit farm shop is located smack-dab in the middle of tiny Laurelville, but the orchards are on acreage outside of town. Bob and his wife, Sherry, live close by on her family’s farmland, in the middle of 200 acres of row crops. Their home, a few rental properties, orchard

buildings, the retail sales room, and a huge cold storage room are all served by South Central Power.

Bob raised three daughters … none of whom plan to take over the reins of the fruit farm. A local family has helped the Bowers clan run the business for two generations. “When they’re ready to retire, I’ll probably retire too,” Bob says. “But I hope whoever buys the place will let me keep on sitting right here in my rocking chair.”

Laurelville Fruit Farm, 16181 Pike St., Laurelville, OH 43135. 740-332-2621.

Sherry and Bob Bowers grow and sell 15 varieties of apples from the Laurelville Fruit Farm, but their shop is best known for its sweet-and-tart cider.

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Easy as

RECIPES AND PHOTOGRAPHS BY CATHERINE MURRAY

Easy-as-pie apple hand pies

Prep: 30 minutes | Cook: 25 minutes | Servings: 12

3 cups of tart apples (peeled and diced small)

1 tablespoon lemon juice

1⁄3 cup sugar 2 tablespoons cornstarch

½ teaspoon cinnamon ¼ teaspoon nutmeg dash of salt 15-ounce refrigerated pie crust

1 egg yolk 2 tablespoons water 1 cup powdered sugar 2 tablespoons milk

In a medium saucepan, toss together diced apples and lemon juice. In a small bowl, mix together sugar, cornstarch, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt. Add sugar mixture to apples and cook over medium heat until it begins to bubble. Turn heat down to low and simmer 2 to 3 minutes as mixture thickens. Remove from heat and let cool completely.

Line two baking sheets with parchment paper. On a lightly floured surface, roll disks of pie dough out flat. With a 4-inch round cookie cutter, cut dough into circles. Mold scraps together and roll out to the same thickness. Cut more circles and repeat until all dough has been cut into circles and transferred to the parchment-lined sheets with a spatula.

In a small bowl, whisk egg yolk with water to create an egg wash. With a small spoon, place a small amount of the apple filling in the center of each dough circle. Lightly brush edges of dough with egg wash, then fold each circle over the filling, creating half-moons. Pinch the edges closed and crimp with a fork. Brush tops with egg wash. Transfer baking sheets to refrigerator for at least 15 minutes.

Preheat oven to 375 F. Remove baking sheets from fridge and cut a few small slits in the top of each hand pie to allow steam to vent. Bake 20 to 25 minutes, or until golden brown, switching racks halfway through. Let cool 10 minutes, then transfer to cooling racks. In a small bowl, whisk together powdered sugar and milk until smooth. Brush tops of pies with glaze and let set a few minutes before transferring to an airtight container. Pies keep for 2 days at room temperature or 4 days in the fridge. Makes approximately 12 hand pies.

Per serving: 275 calories, 9 grams fat (2 grams saturated fat), 18 milligrams cholesterol, 217 milligrams sodium, 48 grams total carbohydrates, 2 grams fiber, 2 grams protein.

Bananas foster cream pie

Prep: 20 minutes | Cook: 15 minutes | Chill: 3 hours | Servings: 6

1 blind-baked or graham cracker pie crust

1 cup packed dark brown sugar

½ teaspoon ground cinnamon

6 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened and cut into chunks

4 large bananas, ripe but firm

¼ cup + 1 tablespoon dark rum (Myers’s or Bacardi)

1½ cups milk (2% or whole milk)

5.1-ounce package instant vanilla pudding mix

1 tablespoon cold water

½ teaspoon gelatin powder

1½ cups heavy whipping cream

1 tablespoon sugar ½ teaspoon vanilla

Have a blind-baked traditional pie crust or a graham cracker crust (which would add more sweetness to the pie) ready to go in a pie pan.

Begin by measuring out the brown sugar, cinnamon, softened butter, and rum. With peel still on, cut 3 bananas in half, then slice in half lengthwise, following the curve of the banana. Set aside. In a large, wide skillet (stainless steel is best), place brown sugar, then cinnamon, then butter. Turn stove to medium-high heat and slowly stir as the sugar and butter begin to melt. Stir constantly to prevent sugar from scorching, about 3 minutes. Carefully peel and add quartered bananas to skillet, curve-side down; cook another 3 to 4 minutes, spooning sauce over the bananas and moving them around a bit. Turn off heat and add 1⁄4 cup rum. Using a long lighter or kitchen torch, catch the rum on fire, swirling the pan constantly until the flames disappear, about 30 seconds. (If you’d rather not use fire, continue cooking another minute on the stove.) Remove from heat and let cool 10 minutes.

www.ohiocoopliving.com/videos

Watch videos of our recipes being prepared and pick up tips to create these recipes at home!

Meanwhile, place vanilla pudding mix in a medium bowl and whisk in milk until smooth. Let rest a few minutes to thicken. Using tongs or a wide spoon, line pie crust with the cooked bananas slice-side down. Stir remaining sauce to break up any sugar. Fill in any holes where you can see the crust with the sauce. Pour half of the remaining sauce in with the pudding, whisking until smooth, then spoon pudding mixture over the bananas in an even layer. Cover pie and refrigerate 3 hours. Transfer remaining sauce to a microwavable container with lid and refrigerate.

When ready to decorate and serve, place cold water in a small microwavable bowl and sprinkle gelatin powder over it. Let sit for 5 minutes, then microwave for 10 to 15 seconds until just melted. Using a stand mixer, beat heavy whipping cream, sugar, and vanilla on medium speed. When it begins to thicken, slowly drizzle in the melted gelatin and continue beating on medium-high until stiff peaks form. If desired, pour in tablespoon of rum and beat to incorporate. Slice remaining banana into ½-inch rounds.

Pull pie out of refrigerator and decorate with whipped cream and banana slices. Warm up remaining bananas foster sauce in microwave for 20 seconds or so and drizzle over top. Refrigerate for up to 3 days.

Per serving: 551 calories, 19 grams fat (4 grams saturated fat), 35 milligrams cholesterol, 438 milligrams sodium, 96 grams total carbohydrates, 4 grams fiber, 4 grams protein.

Overnight pan pizza pie

Prep: 25 minutes | Rest: 8+ hours, then 2 hours | Cook: 20 minutes | Servings: 4 2½ cups bread flour, plus more for dusting 2 teaspoons salt

1 teaspoon instant yeast 1 cup + 3 tablespoons water

2 teaspoons + 2 to 4 tablespoons olive oil 1½ cups pizza sauce

2 cups shredded mozzarella or other cheese of your choice

Toppings of your choice

Notes: Toppings shown are pepperoni with basil and Greek feta and Kalamata olive with red onion, olive oil, and roasted garlic. Dough can be stored in the fridge for up to 3 days in a sealed zipper bag before baking, or in the freezer for a month. If baking both pizzas at the same time, you’ll need two 10-inch cast-iron skillets or cake pans. Nutritional info is based on a plain cheese pizza.

In a 4-quart bowl (dough will need lots of room to rise), combine flour, salt, yeast, water, and 2 teaspoons olive oil. Mix with hands or a wooden spoon until no dry flour remains. Tightly cover bowl with plastic wrap so edges are sealed. Let rest 8 to 24 hours at a room temperature of between 65 and 75 F. Dough will rise significantly during this time. (If room temperature isn’t within this range, the time may need to shrink or expand to accommodate.)

Dust dough with flour and transfer to a floured surface. Split into two equal pieces. Take one of the pieces and tuck the dough underneath itself and rotate 5 to 10 times until it forms a smooth, tight ball. (Don’t knead or work the flour into the dough, just shape and tuck.) Repeat with other piece. At this point, you can refrigerate or freeze the dough for later use, or continue making the pizza. To store for later, seal in zipper bags, removing excess air. Once brought back to room temperature, continue the steps below.

Pour 1 to 2 tablespoons olive oil into the middle of two pans, then use each dough ball to spread and fully coat the surface of the pans with oil. With the open palm of your hand, press dough down, flattening it slightly. Cover tightly with plastic wrap and let dough sit at room temperature between 65 and 75 F for 2 hours. (At temperatures above or below this range, dough may rise faster or slower.)

After 2 hours, dough should be close to reaching the edges. Use your fingertips to press dough around until it reaches every corner. Pop any large bubbles you see. Small bubbles are fine to leave and some will pop naturally. Lift up edges of the dough to let any air bubbles escape from underneath.

Preheat oven to 550 F — this is not a misprint, the oven will be very hot! (If oven doesn’t reach 550 F, heat to 500 F and bake an extra 3 minutes.) With the back of a spoon, spread pizza sauce evenly across each dough, reaching all the way to the edges. Sprinkle cheese to the edges and add your preferred toppings.

Transfer one or both pans to the oven and bake 12 to 15 minutes, switching racks halfway through, until top is bubbly and bottom is crisp when lifted up with a thin spatula. Remove pizzas from oven and transfer to a cutting board for easy slicing. Serve immediately.

Per serving: 500 calories, 18 grams fat (4 grams saturated fat), 8 milligrams cholesterol, 1,595 milligrams sodium, 71 grams total carbohydrates, 4 grams fiber, 14 grams protein.

Rustic cottage pie

Prep: 30 minutes | Cook: 30 minutes | Servings: 4

2 pounds Yukon gold potatoes, cut into 1-inch chunks

2 tablespoons salted butter

1 tablespoon olive oil

1 medium onion, diced

2 large carrots, diced

2 ribs celery, diced

1 pound lean ground beef

1 tablespoon cornstarch

11⁄2 cups beef broth

3 cloves garlic, minced

1 cup peas (or diced green beans)

1 cup corn 1 large tomato, diced

2 cups chopped fresh spinach

2 tablespoons fresh sage (or 1 teaspoon dried)

1 tablespoon fresh thyme (or 1⁄2 teaspoon dried)

1⁄2 teaspoon each salt and pepper

Summer or winter, fresh or frozen ingredients, this meal is sure to satisfy. Place diced potatoes in a large stockpot covered with water and boil 10 to 15 minutes, or until a fork can easily skewer a chunk of potato. Drain potatoes, place in a bowl with butter, and mash to desired texture. Cover and set aside.

Meanwhile, heat a large skillet over medium. Sauté onion, carrots, and celery in oil for 5 minutes. Add meat and crumble and cook until browned. Place cornstarch in a small bowl. Whisk in a little bit of the beef broth until a paste is formed, then whisk in the rest of the broth. Slowly pour into skillet with beef, add garlic, and continue cooking until sauce has thickened. Mix in peas, corn, tomatoes, spinach, sage, thyme, salt, and pepper.

Preheat oven to 375 F. Place meat mixture in the bottom of a deep pie dish, casserole dish, or cast-iron skillet. Spread out smooth, then spoon mashed potatoes all the way to the edges. Place pie in oven with a cookie sheet underneath for any bubbling liquids that may leak over the edge. Bake 25 to 30 minutes. Potatoes should be slightly browned.

Per serving: 577 calories, 18 grams fat (7 grams saturated fat), 117 milligrams cholesterol, 468 milligrams sodium, 60 grams total carbohydrates, 12 grams fiber, 45 grams protein.

MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT AND CEO

New petition process in 2023

During the annual meeting last June, HancockWood members voted to change how our members can participate in running for our board of trustees. The old nomination process was changed to a petition process. In 2023 , any qualified member in districts 2 , 7 , or 8 can obtain the petition to get 20 signatures and have their name appear on the ballot. By voting to change this process, our members allowed the co-op to save money and not send out a large mailing each year to ask for nominations. This change will save the cooperative thousands of dollars each year. If you are a member in districts 2 , 7 , or 8 and are interested in serving on the board, please consider running in our election next year. The petition deadline will be on March 10 , 2023 . To obtain a petition, see our website, www.hwe.coop, or visit our o ce.

Also happening this month is a chance to vote in our special election. The deadline for the ballots to be cast is Nov. 14 . During this special election, the members will be asked to vote on a Code of Regulations change to reduce the number of districts in our service area. Due to the timing of this change, the need for a special election is necessary to make the change before the next annual meeting and our regular election schedule. If the board-recommended code change is passed by the membership, the board will be reduced from 10 members to nine.

The current Hancock-Wood Electric Cooperative board is made up of 10 board members, each representing one of the 10 districts in our service area.

One board member is nearing the end of his term limit at Hancock-Wood and the board determined this was a good opportunity to investigate redistricting our service area and eliminating one district to reduce costs to our members.

Another reason the board chose to move forward with this special election is that it will be a cost savings to the cooperative by having one less board member. Voting to reduce the number of districts will save the cooperative approximately $ 20 ,000 per year. After some of our research, we also learned many of the other co-ops in Ohio and surrounding states have nine or fewer board members — we are one of the only cooperatives with 10 . Having an odd number of board members will also help reduce the possibility of a tied vote.

Bill Barnhart PRESIDENT & CEO

The board members and management of HancockWood Electric feel this is the opportunity to make a change to improve the co-op, and we hope the membership will take into consideration the many benefits to our members of reducing a board district. Please feel free to call our o ce at 800 445 4840 if you have any questions about the redistricting or email us at info@hwe.coop.

Election timeline:

• Nov. 14, 2022: Election closes, all ballots must be returned prior to this date, and the online voting will end.

• Election results will be announced via our website and Facebook page after this process and, if approved, the co-op will move forward with redistricting.

2022 ACRE meeting

The 2022 ACRE meeting took place in September. Members enjoyed a free breakfast and heard political updates from State Senator Rob McColley, State Representative Jon Cross, and leaders from Ohio’s Electric Cooperatives. We appreciate all our members who take an active role in participating in the ACRE program. For more information and to learn how you can participate, visit https://voicesforcooperativepower.com or call our office.

Amplex Internet update

As many members know, Hancock-Wood announced its terms with Amplex Internet services in March of 2022. Hancock-Wood Electric Cooperative has agreed to terms with Amplex Internet that will allow Amplex to provide fiber-optic internet service throughout Hancock and Wood counties. Fiber service provides speeds up to 1,000 Mbps (gigabit fiber) and is the most reliable type of internet connection. To see the current progress, visit https://amplex.net/ residential-fiber to see their updated map.

Why

solar?

Think Energy $mart

with Bruce

Learn before you buy: common HVAC acronyms

Fall is a popular time of year to

(heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) equipment, so this is a good time for me to define some common terms you may hear if you shop for a new furnace or air conditioner.

Below are some common acronyms used in the HVAC industry. Understanding these terms will help you if you are replacing your heating or cooling equipment.

AFUE: Annual Fuel Utilization E ciency

This measures how efficiently your fossil-fuel burning furnace uses its fuel. A 95% AFUE furnace allows 95 of every 100 BTUs generated to enter the structure, and 5 BTUs exhausted outside.

BTU: British Thermal Unit

This is a unit of heat. It is the amount of heat required to raise the temperature of one pound of water one degree Fahrenheit. It is approximately the amount of heat generated by burning one wooden kitchen match. HVAC equipment is rated by how many BTUs it produces or removes per hour.

SEER: Seasonal Energy E ciency Ratio

SEER is how the efficiency of an air conditioner is measured. The total BTUs removed during a typical cooling season is divided by the energy input. The higher the SEER rating, the less energy the unit will consume. If you are considering replacing your HVAC equipment, please visit https://www.hwe.coop/saveenergy/saving-energy-links/ for more information. You can also contact me directly at bruce@hwe.coop or 419-257-5025. I will be happy to answer any questions you have.

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Merry bright and Merry bright and

The season kicks off in style with an enlightening tradition in Medina.

STORY AND PHOTOS BY DAMAINE VONADA

Candles have symbolized the Christmas season for centuries, but how many places become merry and bright because they’re the home of a company that produces millions of candles every year? Medina can claim those bragging rights because in 1869, Amos Ives Root — aka “the bee man” — began manufacturing beekeeping equipment in the northeast Ohio town. His family-owned business transitioned to beeswax candles in the 1920s, and today, Root Candles is one of the nation’s leading candlemakers.

The candle industry is so, well, deeply rooted in Medina that locals proudly say they can tell which candles are being poured by the fragrances wafting out of the factory. No wonder the town ushers in the holidays with its uniquely homegrown Medina Candlelight Walk, a three-day event that commences on the Friday before Thanksgiving. Organized by Main Street Medina and the City of Medina, the Candlelight Walk features thousands of candles aglow and agleam inside luminarias placed all along the walkways and perimeter of downtown Medina’s park-like Public Square. Two miles’ worth of LED lights also adorn the trove of Victorian buildings that surround

Public Square, and in the heart of the square, a splendid Christmas tree sparkles inside the white gazebo, a lacy-looking Italianate bandstand that is as ornate as it is beloved by the community.

“People feel that the Candlelight Walk is very familyfriendly,” says Main Street Medina’s interim director, George Sam. “Visitors come in generations from grandparents to babies, and they love to walk around the square, enjoy all the beautiful lights, and pose for pictures in front of the gazebo’s Christmas tree.”

Featuring traditional Yuletide activities such as a parade and visits with Santa, the Candlelight Walk attracts about 50,000 people every year. With genuine candlelight charm and a picture-perfect setting, the event exemplifies the glad tidings of small-town America, and it’s easy to imagine George Bailey shouting “Merry Christmas!” to folks on the square or the Gilmore Girls joining in the caroling at the gazebo. Indeed, says Sam, “Visitors often tell us, ‘I feel like I’m in a Hallmark movie.’”

During the Candlelight Walk weekend, businesses throughout the nine-block Public Square Historic District

Left, Root Candles’ Flagship Store in Medina gears up for the holiday season. Right, Santa shops for stocking stuffers from among candles in a bevy of sizes and fragrances.

and adjacent South Town District not only extend their hours but also debut Christmas window displays — including a model railroad at Ormandy’s Toys and Trains and Courthouse Pizzeria’s festively decorated pans and paddles. In addition, historic displays from New York City department stores are on permanent exhibit at Castle Noel, a year-round attraction founded by Mark Klaus (yes, that’s really his name!) that is famous for its fantastic collection of Christmas movie props and costumes.

Christmas shopping on the square is a one-of-a-kind experience that’s all about shopping small. The Candlelight Walk’s shuttle bus ferries shoppers around town to independently owned boutiques and specialty stores, where they’ll find everything from imported Polish pottery to designer clothing to sewing supplies and quilts. Along the way, there’s plenty of local flavor, too. Circles on the Square makes seasonal caramel apple, pumpkin spice, and peppermint bark donuts. Miss Molly’s Tea Room is a favorite for homemade soups, quiche, and chicken salad. Candyapple & Co. hand-dips candy and caramel apples with dozens of delectable flavors and toppings.

Medina’s quintessential shopping destination — Root Candles Flagship Store — is only a short shuttle ride away from the square and occupies A.I. Root’s original beekeeping and candle factory on West Liberty Street.

Built in 1878, the handsome red brick structure contains a 22,000-square-foot retail wonderland brimming with upscale home décor items and, of course, a superb selection of candles in assorted shapes, sizes, and seasonal scents such as Mulled Cider, Hollyberry, and Candy Cane. For the Candlelight Walk, the store’s community room also hosts a holiday market where area artisans, crafters, and makers sell their wares.

Although Root Candles is the Candlelight Walk’s title sponsor, it’s Medina’s singular community spirit that makes the event’s Christmas spirit possible. Numerous businesses fund all the activities, and more than a hundred volunteer “elves” from a variety of organizations routinely do their part. To create the Candlelight Walk’s signature luminarias, for example, Plastipak Medina donates more than 2,000 plastic jugs, high school students fill each jug with sand and three Root candles (one for every day of the event), the Odd Fellows place the jugs around the square, and every evening, Boy Scouts light and monitor the candles.

38th annual Medina Candlelight Walk, Nov. 18, 10 a.m.–Nov. 20, 6 p.m. Free admission. www.mainstreetmedina.com/candlelight-walk.html.

Left, the display at Ormandy’s Toys and Trains delights visitors during the Candlelight Walk and throughout the season; right, Circles on the Square has a flavor of donut for just about everyone.

Ohio Cooperative Living’s 2022

BY DAMAINE VONADA

Granted, Santa’s workshop is at the North Pole. But we think his helpers must live in Ohio. Why? The state is chock-full of artisans, crafters, and makers who create unique and useful items that are sure to bring comfort and joy — plus plenty of smiles — during the holidays.

Boston Stoker Coffee Co., Vandalia

Owned and operated by members of the Dean family for nearly 50 years, Boston Stoker sources directly from farmers, then roasts and packages its coffees at the company’s roastery in Vandalia. Its Original Grogg is a perennial favorite among flavored coffee lovers, but Boston Stoker also produces Spiced Grogg for fall and Minted Grogg for the holidays. Tip: Boston Stoker’s sample packs and subscriptions make excellent gifts. customerservice@bostonstoker.com; 937-890-6401; www.bostonstoker.com

Bess Paper Goods & Gifts, Cincinnati

At her West Benson Street shop, Kristin Joiner not only designs the artwork and composes witty messages — for example, “Happy Ugly Sweater Season” — for her Christmas and Hanukkah cards, but she also prints them one at a time on an 1882 letterpress named Bess. Joiner uses paper sustainably made from recycled cotton, and her repertoire of handmade goods includes ornaments and miniature paper trees.

kristin@besspapergoods.com; www.besspapergoods.com; 513-748-6955

Cassie’s Country Cupboard, Celina

Since Cassie Menchhofer refuses to use ingredients that she wouldn’t feed to her own family, her baking and soup mixes never have preservatives, MSG, or artificial colors and flavors. Although her bestsellers include Garlic & Herb Beer Bread Mix and Sweet Corn Bread Mix, she also makes seasonal products — including Cranberry White Chocolate Cookie Mix, Pumpkin Cranberry Bread Mix, and a unique Sweet Potato & Black Bean Chili Mix — that are delicious and easy to prepare. cassie@cassiescountrycupboard.com; 419-852-0839; www.cassiescountrycupboard.com

Chocolats Latour, Cincinnati

Shalini Latour uses natural ingredients — think chocolate from Colombia and local dairy products, fruits, and herbs — for the artisan sweets that she crafts at the Chocolate Bee, the production and retail space she shares with Bee Haven Honey. Latour specializes in hand-painted chocolates with adventurous flavors such as mint julep and pistachio matcha, and her ingeniously shaped Christmas confections include pretty Peanut Butter Ornaments and boozy Sloshed Snowmen. 513-591-0085; www.chocolatslatour.com

Dancing Bee Market and Studio, Mount Vernon

Although Energy Cooperative member Jami Ingledue makes all-natural soaps and body products at her studio and retail store in Mount Vernon, ingredients like the pumpkin in her Pumpkin Spice Soap often come from her farm just outside of Gambier. Containing essential oils of frankincense and myrrh, Ingledue’s goldand-black Three Kings Soap is ideal for Christmas gifting, and the daily surprises in her Advent Calendar include body butters, lip balms, and scrubs. 740-398-0795; www.dancingbeefarms.com

Klingshirn Winery, Avon Lake

Toast your near ones and dear ones with customized labels on wines that Lee Klingshirn produces and bottles on the farm where his family has been growing grapes since the 1920s. The labels come in a variety of designs, can be personalized with your own message, and are available on Klingshirn wines: Riesling, Vidal Blanc, Country Blush, Golden Chablis, and Vin Rosé. info@klingshirnwine.com; 440-933-6666; www.klingshirnwine.com

Meg’s Makeshop, Kelleys Island and Medina

Hancock-Wood Electric Cooperative member Megan Pucek makes wonderfully fragrant, imaginatively embellished candles that she retails at her Kelleys Island storefront during the summer and online throughout the year. Her signature cereal candles — Fruity Loops, Cap’n Crunch, Cinnamon Toast Crunch, and more — look good enough to eat, while the hardto-find scents in her Gentleman’s Collection include Leather Jacket and Fresh Cut Grass. megsmakeshop@gmail.com; www.megsmakeshop.com; 419-504-1562

Milligan’s Maple Syrup, Athens and Columbus

Customers often say that Milligan’s is the best maple syrup they’ve ever tasted. Kevin Milligan uses sap sourced from his family’s tree farm near Athens to make Grade A pure maple syrup as well as Grade A bourbon barrelaged pure maple syrup. Both varieties have been featured on the Food Network and are available in a gift box that includes pancake mix. kevin@milligansmaple.com; www.milligansmaple.com; 614-562-7739

Miloray, Columbus

Sara Powers hand-crochets a menagerie of cute and cuddly stuffed toy animals that include bunnies, teddy bears, pandas, a unicorn, and even a platypus. A stay-at-home mother of two, she also takes orders for custom animals and makes newborn knit beanies and blankets using her own patterns. milorayco@gmail.com; www.etsy.com/shop/milorayco

Ohio Is Home, Athens

Tim Martin’s store in uptown Athens may be small, but it carries a mighty nice selection of Christmas ornaments made from locally sourced cherry wood. Martin designs, engraves, and hand-sands the baubles in-house, and his Ohioshaped ornaments vary from snowflakes to state symbols such as a cardinal. 740-249-4421; www.ohioishome.com

Ohio Till Farmstead, Marysville

First-generation farmers and Union Rural Electric Cooperative members Tim and Michelle Schacht use organic and regenerative practices on their small farm near Marysville. Their first product — Avalon Ruby Red Popcorn — was named for Marysville’s recently renovated Avalon Theatre, while their Henry’s Yellow Dynamite Popcorn is an heirloom variety bursting with big, buttery-tasting kernels. tim@ohiotillfarmstead.net; 330-416-2140; www.ohiotillfarmstead.net

backyard shed where Aaron Buckley made a leather tote bag for his wife Erin’s birthday. Eleven years later, they not only produce leather handbags, backpacks, briefcases, and more in a 5,000-square-foot building but also have 15 employees. Made of domestic hides tanned in North America, River City Leather’s goods are so sturdy that they come with a lifetime guarantee. chris@ rivercityleather.com; 740-4464172; www.rivercityleather.com

Toledo Lamp Company, Toledo

At their combination showroom, studio, and lighting store at the Erie Street Market, Mitchell and Scott Antesky design and construct eye-catching, conversation-starting, one-of-a-kind lamps out of upcycled items ranging from Toledo scales to vintage blenders. Their quirky gumball machine lamps are filled with colorful orbs, and their heartshaped pipe lamps will surely light up the life of someone you love. cbgventuresllc@gmail.com; www.toledolampcompany.com; 419-913-1815

members of a local family, Ultimate Sack produces foam bean bag chairs that offer a comfy alternative to conventional seating. The company makes several models sized for both children and adults, and customers can choose their own covers from multiple fabric and covers options. www.ultimatesack.com; 877-871-7159

Water Dog Woodworking, Medina

Self-taught woodworker Jonathan Schodowski made furniture for his own home before starting a home décor company. Schodowski uses lumber exclusively from Medina County, and because he favors natural finishes, the beauty of the wood grain shows through on his popular live edge charcuterie boards, three-wick candle holders, and beer flight boards. waterdogwoodworking@ gmail.com; www. waterdogwoodworking.com

Wax + Wane Handmade, Circleville

South Central Power Company member Katie Mallow’s durable, lightweight, and comfortable-to-wear jewelry is made from moldable polymer clay and features her own custommixed color palette. Mallow fashions each piece in her home studio, and her bestselling earrings sport geometric shapes and hoopstyle ear wires.

waxandwanehandmade@gmail.com; www.etsy.com/shop/ waxandwanehandmade/

2022 CALENDAR NOVEMBER/DECEMBER

NOV. 23 – Holiday Lights Grand Illumination, downtown Sidney, 6 6:30 p.m. Spectators are asked to gather on the courthouse square to see the lighting. Programming will take place primarily on the east side of the courthouse lawn, with lights being visible all around the square. https://sidneyalive.wpcomstaging.com/events.

NOV. 25–DEC. 31 – Lake of Lights, Saulisberry Park/ France Lake, 13344 St. Rte. 67 W., Kenton, 6 9 p.m. daily. Drive-through lighting event. Special events held on the weekends. 419 675 2547 or lakeoflights08@gmail.com.

COMPILED BY COLLEEN ROMICK CLARK

Sat. 9 a.m.–4 p.m., Sun. 11 a.m.–4 p.m. Free. Fine handmade juried crafts, gifts, and holiday decorations. Collecting donations for Toys for Tots, too! 419 842 1925 or www.toledocraftsmansguild.org.

NOV. 30–DEC. 4 – Christmas Tree Festival, Allen County Museum, 620 W. Market St., Lima, Wed./Thur./ Sat. 10 a.m.–5 p.m., Fri. 10 a.m.–8 p.m., Sun. 12 5 p.m. 419 222 9426 or www.allencountymuseum.org.

NOV. 9 12 – “Angels in the Attic” Crafts Show, Ross Historical Center, 201 N. Main Ave., Sidney, Wed.–Fri. 10 a.m.–7 p.m., Sat. 9 a.m.–5 p.m. $3. Handmade crafts of all kinds by local artists. Complimentary refreshments and door prizes. 937 570 8834, mcstreb@hotmail.com, or on Facebook.

NOV. 12 – SCARF’s Night Out, The Palazzo, 309 S. Main St., Botkins, 7 p.m. Doors open at 6 p.m. $35/ person. Fundraiser for the Shelby County Animal Shelter’s spay and neuter program. Dinner, comedians, and a finale ball drop. Purchase tickets at www.helpshelbycountyanimals.com.

NOV. 18–DEC. 31 – Lights Before Christmas, Toledo Zoo, 2 Hippo Way, Toledo. Over 1 million lights, the Big Tree, and hundreds of illuminated animal images. 419 385 5721 or www.toledozoo.org.

NOV. 19 – Bowling Green Community Holiday Parade, Main Street, Bowling Green, 10 a.m.–noon. Free. This year’s theme is “Toys, Trains, and Candy Canes.” www.bgchamber.net/annual.

NOV. 20 – University of Findlay Orchestra: “Baroque to Romantic,” Winebrenner Bldg., University of Findlay, Findlay, 3 p.m. Free, but tickets required. www.marathoncenterarts.org.

SOUTHEAST

THROUGH DECEMBER – Athens Art Market, 1000 E. State St., Athens, Sat. 9 a.m.–noon. Handcrafted local artisan-made works. Variety of artists changes weekly. www.facebook.com/athensartguild or https://athensartguild.org.

THROUGH DECEMBER – Athens Farmers Market, 1000 E. State St., Athens, Sat. 9 a.m.–noon; Wed. 9 a.m.–1 p.m., April–November. 740 593 6763 or www. athensfarmersmarket.org.

THROUGH JAN. 2 – Dickens Victorian Village, Wheeling Avenue, Cambridge. Stroll downtown to view scenes depicting life in 1850s England, featuring life-sized, handmade mannequins wearing real vintage clothing. 800 933 5480 or www.dickensvictorianvillage.com.

THROUGH JAN. 2 – Guernsey County Courthouse Holiday Light Show, Cambridge, 5:30 9 p.m. nightly. Four different light and music shows performed each evening. 800 933 5480 or www.dickensvictorianvillage.com.

NOV. 25–JAN. 1 – North Pole Express, 12505 Co. Rd. 99, Findlay, Fri./Sat. 5:30 9 p.m., Sun. 5:30 8:30 p.m. $4; 12 and under, $3. Hop on board our quarterscale locomotive for a trip through a magical winter wonderland. Visit with Santa and Mrs. Claus on select days. 419 423 2995 or www.nworrp.org.

NOV. 25–JAN. 8 – “Hayes Train Special” Model Train Display, Hayes Library and Museums, Spiegel Grove, 1337 Hayes Ave., Fremont. Free; donations accepted. Operating model train display runs through an intricate Victorian holiday scene. Interactive buttons, multi-tier layout. 419 332 2081 or www.rbhayes.org.

NOV. 26 – Blaze of Lights Festival, N. Main St., Bluffton, 5 8 p.m. Free. Kick off the Christmas season with a parade, live entertainment, a lighting ceremony featuring the Ream folk art collection, and other festive activities. Parade starts at 5 p.m. 419 369 2985 or www. explorebluffton.com/blaze-festival.

NOV. 26 – 1920s Holidays on Main Street, Sauder Village, 22611 St. Rte. 2, Archbold, 6 9 p.m. $8–$15; 5 and under free. We will be “decking the halls” with holiday lights, 1920s window décor, and a 20-foot Christmas tree. Enjoy 1920s holiday activities, tasty treats, and more. Preregistration required. www.saudervillage.org.

NOV. 26–27 – “Crafts for Christmas” Craft Show, Lucas County Recreation Center, 2901 Key St., Maumee,

NOV. 1–DEC. 12 – Holiday Treasure Hunt, locations throughout Hocking Hills. Shop at locally owned stores for a chance at the grand prize! Find treasure map and instructions at www.explorehockinghills.com/things-todo/holiday-treasure-hunt.

NOV. 4–DEC. 17 – National Museum of Cambridge Glass Holiday Hours, 136 S. 9th St., Cambridge, Fri./Sat. 12 4 p.m. $6, Srs. $5, under 12 free. 740 432 4245 or www.cambridgeglass.org.

NOV. 12 13 – Ironton Wizardfest, Ro-Na Cultural Arts Center, 310 S. 3rd St., Ironton. Live performances, exotic animals, handmade crafts, Appalachian cultural demos in broom making, blacksmithing, open fire cooking, woodcarving, and more. www.irontonwizardfest.com.

NOV. 17 – Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Peoples Bank Theatre, 222 Putnam St., Marietta, 8 10 p.m. $29–$108 https://peoplesbanktheatre.com/event/nitty-gritty-dirtband-2022

NOV. 18 – Blue Öyster Cult, Peoples Bank Theatre, 222 Putnam St., Marietta, 8 p.m. $45–$145. https:// peoplesbanktheatre.com/event/blue-oyster-cult-2022

NOV. 18 20 – Festival of Trees and Christmas Market, 216 Collins Ave., South Point, 10 a.m.–7 p.m. View and bid on beautiful Christmas trees and wreaths decorated by businesses and students from Lawrence County. Handmade arts and crafts, Santa Claus and live reindeer, horse-drawn wagon rides, and much more! 740 377 4550 or http://lcfestivaloftrees.com/index.html.

NOV. 19 – City of Merry-Etta Christmas Tree Lighting, Armory Lawn, Marietta, 7:30 8:30 p.m. Join us as

DEC. 3 – Annual Holiday Open House, Amos Memorial Public Library, 230 E. North St., Sidney, 11 a.m.–2 p.m. Free. Visits with Santa and Mrs. Claus, a petting zoo, games, singalongs, and more! www. shelbycountylibraries.org.

DEC. 3 – Christmas of Yesteryear, Ross Historical Center, 201 N. Main Ave., Sidney, 11 a.m.–4 p.m. Free. Decorate a gingerbread house, make wreath and clay ornaments, and enjoy popcorn and chestnuts roasted on an open fire! Santa will be available for photos. Train display at 115 E. North St. 937 498 1653 or info@ shelbycountyhistory.org.

DEC. 3 – Winter Wonderland, downtown Sidney, 1 8 p.m. Join us for a day of fun, including activities at the Amos Library, holiday pop-up shops on the square, Christmas of Yesteryear, and much more! Evening ends with Parade of Lights at 6:30 p.m. 937 658 6945 or https://sidneyalive.wpcomstaging.com/events.

DEC. 8 – Lights of Spiegel Grove, Hayes Library and Museums, Spiegel Grove, 1337 Hayes Ave., Fremont. Free. Enjoy Christmas lights, sleigh rides, a gingerbread house contest, hot chocolate and popcorn, and the “Hayes Train Special” model train display. 419 332 2081 or www.rbhayes.org.

DEC. 10 – “Bells, Brass, and Bows,” Lima Civic Center, 7 Town Square, Lima, 7:30 p.m. The Lima Symphony Orchestra and Chorus present their beloved holiday concert featuring traditional favorites and holiday singalongs. 419 222 5701 or www.limasymphony.com.

we welcome the holiday season by lighting the city’s Christmas tree. www.mariettaohio.org.

NOV. 26 – Merry-Etta Christmas Parade, downtown Marietta, 6 7 p.m. Our annual evening holiday parade will include floats, dancers, carolers, and much more, all complete with festive Christmas lights. As usual, Santa Claus will make his appearance in the parade at the very end! www.mariettaohio.org.

NOV. 26–DEC. 18 – Santa Train, Hocking Valley Scenic Railway, Nelsonville Depot, 33 W. Canal St., Nelsonville, daytime departures Sat./Sun. 11 a.m. and 2 p.m., evening rides Fri./Sat. 6 p.m. $16–$21, under 3 free. Santa boards the train and visits with each child as the train traverses the historic Hocking River Valley. 00www.hvsry.org/trainlist/#santa.

DEC. 2 – The Family Sowell / Mt. Sterling Bluegrass, Pennyroyal Opera House, off I-70 at exit 198, Fairview, 7 p.m. $15; 12 and under free. Doors and kitchen open at 5 p.m. 740 492 0375 or www.pennyroyalbluegrass.com.

DEC. 9 – Authentic Unlimited (formerly Quicksilver) / Three Rivers Bluegrass, Pennyroyal Opera House, off I-70 at exit 198, Fairview, 7 p.m. $15; 12 and under free. Doors and kitchen open at 5 p.m. 740 492 0375 or www. pennyroyalbluegrass.com.

DEC. 10 – Christmas in Ash Cave, 27291 St. Rte. 56, South Bloomingville, 5 7 p.m. Free. Come bundled up to enjoy a lighted stroll to Ash Cave, with warm refreshments, fun activities, and a visit from Santa! www.thehockinghills.org.

2022 CALENDAR

NORTHEAST

NOV. 4 5 – Christmas Open House, Hartville Hardware, 1315 Edison St. NW, Hartville. www. hartvillehardware.com.

NOV. 18 – Window Wonderland, downtown Wooster, 7 p.m. Free. Decorated storefront windows, lighting of the giant Christmas tree, horse-drawn carriage rides, live reindeer, holiday treats, activities, and best of all, Santa descending from the rooftops to hear each child’s wish list! 330 262 6222 or www.mainstreetwooster.org.

NOV. 18 20, 25 27 – Christmas Wonderland, 213 W. Canal St., Newcomerstown, 12 6 p.m. Free; donations appreciated. The Olde Main Street Museum recalls the Christmas of yesteryear, with storefronts decorated in beautiful Christmas tree and wreath arrangements. Decorated trees can be had for a donation. 740 498 7735 or www.facebook.com/NewcomerstownHistoricalSociety.

NOV. 19 – Dr. Michelle Rae Bebber and Dr. Metin Eren: “Kent State Experimental Archaeology Lab,” Fort Laurens Museum, 11067 Fort Laurens Rd., Bolivar, 11 a.m.–noon. Free. 330 874 2059 or www. fortlaurensmuseum.org.

NOV. 19–DEC. 31 – “Songs of the Season” Mansion Tours, Victorian House Museum, 484 Wooster Rd., Millersburg, Sun.–Thur. 1 4 p.m., Fri./Sat. 1 8 p.m. Each room has a popular Christmas carol as a theme. Over 15,000 lights outside. 330 674 0022 or www.victorianhousemuseum.org.

NOV. 20 – Jeff Varga: “How I Found Guy Clark,” Wadsworth Public Library, 132 Broad St., Wadsworth, 2 3 p.m. Free. Varga will discuss the influence of American country-folk singer-songwriter Guy Clark on his songwriting and musical journey. 419 853 6016 or www.ormaco.org.

NOV. 20 – Medina Flea Market of Collectables, Medina County Fgds. Community Center, 735 Lafayette Rd., Medina, 9 a.m.–3 p.m. $2. Early bird special admission: 6 9 a.m., $3. A treasure trove of vintage items and collectables. 330 948 4300 or www.conraddowdell.com.

NOV. 22–JAN. 7 – Steubenville Nutcracker Village and Christmas at the Fort, Steubenville Visitor Center, 120 S. 3rd St., Steubenville. Free. Over 180 life-size, handcrafted

nutcrackers are on display downtown, while Fairytale Friends welcome visitors at Fort Steuben Park 24/7 Enjoy the Advent Market, hayrides, the Holly Trolley, kids’ activities, and much more. 740 283 4935 or www.steubenvillenutcrackervillage.com.

NOV. 25 – Lehman’s Black Friday in the Country, Lehman’s Hardware, 4779 Kidron Rd., Kidron, 9 a.m. Storewide savings, hourly deals, free refreshments, and breakfast and lunch specials in the Cast Iron Cafe. 800 438 5346 or www.lehmans.com.

NOV. 25 26, DEC. 3 4, 10 11 – Santa Train, Lorain & West Virginia Railway, Wellington. Board our seasonally decorated train for a short ride and a chance to visit Santa. Children under 12 receive a bell. Ride lasts between 30 and 50 minutes and goes approximately 1 5 miles, then backs up. www.lwvry.org.

NOV. 25 27, DEC. 2 4, 9 11, 16 25 – Medina County Fair Drive-Thru Holiday Lights, Medina Co. Fgds., Medina, Fri./Sat. 6 10 p.m., Sun. and weeknights 6 9 p.m. $10 per car; $20 per 15-passenger van; $50 per bus. www.medinaohiofair.com.

NOV. 26 – Christmas at the Depot, Orrville Railroad Heritage Society, 145 Depot St., Orrville, 3 9 p.m. 330 683 2426 or www.orrvillerailroad.com.

NOV. 26 – The Handmade Market, Historic Painesville Railroad Museum (aka NYC Painesville Depot), 475 Railroad St., Painesville, 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Free. Shop local, buy handmade, and preserve history at the museum! 440 655 4455, PRRMevent@att.net, or www.painesvillerailroadmuseum.org.

NOV. 26–27, DEC. 3 – Christmas in the Alpaca Barn, 16800 Cowley Rd., Grafton, 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Come enjoy an up-close and personal look at these wonderful peaceful creatures. Shop for unique gifts at the Farm Store. 440 477 4300 or www.ourlittleworldalpacas.com.

NOV. 30 – Stephan Haluska: “Minimalist Electronic Harp Lullabies,” Medina County District Library, 210 S. Broadway St., Medina, 6:30 p.m. Free; reservations recommended. The harpist will present a collection of his own compositions. 419 853 6016 or www.mcdl.info.

DEC. 2 4 – The Nutcracker, Ohio Star Theater, 1387 Old OH-39, Sugarcreek. 330 473 2879 or www.holmescenterforthearts.org.

DEC. 2 4, 9 11 – Candlelight Holiday Tours of Malabar Farm, 4050 Bromfield Rd., Lucas, Fri./Sat. 5 8 p.m., Sun. 12 4 p.m. $4–$6. Tour the Big House while it’s decorated for the holidays. Enjoy entertainment, cookies, and warm refreshments. 419 892 2784 or www.malabarfarm.org/events.

DEC. 3 – Christmas Down on the Farm, Tis the Season and Schrock’s Amish Farm, 4363 St. Rte. 39, Berlin. Bring the family out for sleigh rides, gingerbread house decorating, Christmas cookies, and more. 330 893 3604 or www.schrocksvillage.com.

DEC. 3 – Dr. George Johnson: “History of the Santa Claus,” Historic Zoar Village School House, Zoar, 11 a.m.–noon. Free. 800 262 6195 or www.historiczoarvillage.com.

DEC. 3 – Light Up Shreve, Shreve, 2 7 p.m. Parade, shopping, contests, games, Santa, caroling, and lighting of our Christmas tree. www.shrevedreaming.com/ lightupshreve.

DEC. 3 – Sights and Sounds of Christmas Parade, downtown Steubenville, noon–1 p.m. 740 283 4935 or www.facebook.com/SteubenvilleChristmasParade.

DEC. 3 – Sports Card Show, Hartville MarketPlace and Flea Market, 1289 Edison St. NW, Hartville, 9 a.m.–4 p.m. Free. 30 vendors selling sports cards, memorabilia, autographs, and more. www.hartvillemarketplace.com/events.

DEC. 3 4 – Christmas in Zoar, Historic Zoar Village, Sat. 10 a.m.–6 p.m., Sun. noon–4 p.m. $10; 12 and under free. See the village all decked out in Christmas splendor. Self-guided tours; extended shopping. Treelighting ceremony on Dec. 5 at 6 p.m. 800 262 6195 or www.historiczoarvillage.com.

DEC. 4 – Canton-Akron Comic, Toy, and Nostalgia Convention, St. George Event Center, 4667 Applegrove St. NW, North Canton, 10 a.m.–4 p.m. $5; free for 6 and under. 330 462 3985, jeff@harpercomics.com, or www.harpercomics.com.

DEC. 4 – Model Railroad and Toy Show, Medina County Community Center, Medina Co. Fgds., 735 Lafayette Rd., Medina, 9 a.m.–3 p.m. $7 330 948 4400 or www.conraddowdell.com.

DEC. 8 – The Kramers Dinner Concert, Hartville Kitchen Restaurant and Bakery, Hartville, 5:30 8:30 p.m. www.hartvillekitchen.com/events.

DEC. 9 – WinterFest, Hartville MarketPlace and Flea Market, 1289 Edison St. NW, Hartville, 5 9 p.m. Free. Horse-drawn carriage rides, ice carvings, delicious treats, pictures with Santa, and much more! www.hartvillemarketplace.com/events.

DEC. 10 – Breakfast with Santa, Hartville MarketPlace and Flea Market, 1289 Edison St. NW, Hartville, 8 11 a.m. www.hartvillemarketplace.com/events.

DEC. 11 – Massillon Train and Toy Show, Massillon Knights of Columbus Hall, 988 Cherry Rd. NW, Massillon, 10 a.m.–3 p.m. $5; free for 12 and under. 150+ tables. All gauges, parts, running layouts, farm and vintage toys, diecast models, NASCAR items, and more. Food and drink available. 330 262 7488 or http://cjtrains.com/shows.

DEC. 11 – Neo5 Brass Quintet: “An Afternoon of Holiday Tunes,” Wadsworth Public Library, 132 Broad St., Wadsworth, 2 3 p.m. Free; reservations recommended. 419 853 6016 or www.ormaco.org.

WEST VIRGINIA

NOV. 10–JAN. 8 – Winter Festival of Lights, Oglebay Resort, 465 Lodge Dr., Wheeling. More than 1 million lights and over 90 displays throughout the 6-mile drive. $25 requested donation per car will be valid for entire festival season. https://wheelingcvb.com/events/winter-festival-of-lights.

DEC. 2 4 – Victorian Christmas Homes Tour, Julia-Ann Square Historic District, Ann Street, Parkersburg. Join us for a tour of historic homes that will be decked out in festive Christmas décor. Details available at www. greaterparkersburg.com/events/20th-annual-victorianchristmas-homes-tour.

Get listed in our calendar

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

NOV. 8, DEC. 13 – Inventors Network Meeting, virtual, 7 p.m. Educational presentations and discussion about the invention process. 614 470 0144 or www. inventorscolumbus.com.

NOV. 18–JAN. 1 – Butch Bando’s Fantasy of Lights, Alum Creek State Park Campgrounds, 3311 S. Old State Rd., Delaware, Sun.–Thur. 5:30 9:30 p.m., Fri./Sat. 5:30 10 p.m. $20 per car on weekdays, $30 on weekends. Season pass $80 3-mile drive-through light show. 614 412 3499 or https://butchbandosfantasyoflights.com.

NOV. 19 – Columbus Miniature Society Miniature Show and Sale, 1220 Bethel Rd., Columbus, 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Free. More than 150 exhibits of miniature and scale work from local artists. $5 admission to sales floor. www.columbusminiaturesociety.org.

NOV. 19 – Harding Mistletoe Craft Show, Harding High School, 1500 Harding Hwy. E., Marion, 9 a.m.–3 p.m. Free. cathyhamilton1345@gmail.com or find us on Facebook.

NOV. 20 – Buckeye Comic Con, Courtyard Marriott Columbus West, 2350 Westbelt Dr., Columbus, 10 a.m.–4 p.m. $5, 6 & under free. Hourly prizes, special guests, food truck. 330 462 3985, jeff@harpercomics.com, or www.harpercomics.com.

NOV. 20 – Zanesville Handbell Festival, Grace UM Church, 516 Shinnick St., Zanesville, 7 p.m. Local handbell choirs perform to usher in the holiday season. Freewill offering taken. www.centraltrinityumc.com or “Thursday Music Club” on Facebook.

NOV. 25 – Friends of the Park Holiday Bazaar and Craft Show, Lake Park Pavilion, 23253 St. Rte. 83 N., Coshocton, 9 a.m.–3 p.m. 50+ tables of handmade crafts, ornaments, holiday décor, candles, woodcrafts,

SOUTHWEST

THROUGH DEC. 28 – Bluegrass Wednesdays, Vinoklet Winery, 11069 Colerain Ave., Cincinnati, Wed. 6:30 8:30 p.m. (not Nov. 9). Free entertainment by Vernon McIntyre’s Appalachian Grass. Reservations recommended. 513 385 9309, vinokletwinery@fuse.net, or www.vinokletwines.com.

NOV. 19 – Hometown HoliDazzle Illuminated Parade and Festival, downtown Wilmington, 10 a.m.–9 p.m., parade begins at 7 p.m. www.hometownholidazzle.com.

NOV. 19 – Hometown Holiday Horse Parade, South Broadway, Greenville, 7 p.m. The lighted parade includes horse-drawn carriages, wagons, riders, and buggies. 937 548 4998 or www.downtowngreenville.org.

NOV. 25 – Grand Illumination, downtown Troy, 5 8:30

and much more! Lunch served 11 a.m.–2 p.m. 740 622 7528 or www.coshoctonlakepark.com.

NOV. 25–26 – Heart of Christmas Craft Show, Mike Clum Auction Gallery, 7795 U.S. Hwy. 22, Rushville, 9 a.m.–3 p.m. Free. Shop in our 1800s barn, filled with thousands of items to help you find that perfect gift! 740 215 7999 or www.theheartofchristmas.com.

NOV. 25–26 – Winter Craft – Vendor Fair, Fairfield Co. Fgds., 157 E. Fair Ave., Lancaster, 9 a.m.–3 p.m. Join us for Black Friday and Small Business Saturday. Visit our ELF for a free gift. 740 974 4055, wintercraftvendorfair@ yahoo.com, or www.facebook.com/WinterFair2022

NOV. 26–27 – Scott Antique Market, Ohio Expo Ctr., Bricker and Celeste Bldgs., Columbus, Sat. 9 a.m.–6 p.m., Sun. 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Free. 800 1,200 exhibit booths. www.scottantiquemarkets.com.

NOV. 29 – Card Making with Pam DeGood, Marion Palace Theatre, 276 W. Center St., Marion, 5:30 7:30 p.m. $45. Learn card making from a professional calligrapher. No calligraphy experience required. Registration closes Nov. 22 740 383 2101 or https://mptinternet.choicecrm.net/templates/MPT/#/events.

NOV. 30–DEC. 31 – A Storybook Christmas, Zanesville and Muskingum County. Explore Dresden, New Concord, and Zanesville as each town and business is decorated in a storybook theme. Enjoy concerts, parades, carriage rides, shopping, and more. Nightly light and music show at the Muskingum County Courthouse Sun.–Thur. 5 9 p.m. and Fri./Sat. 5 10 p.m. 740 455 8282 or www.visitzanesville.com.

DEC. 2 – Pickerington Holiday Gathering, Columbus and Center Streets, Pickerington, 5 8 p.m. Christmas tree lighting at 6 p.m. Activities all around the Olde Village: horse-drawn wagon rides, ice carving, reindeer petting, circulating trolley, mini train rides, strolling carolers, Holiday Gift Market, pictures with Santa, kids’ activities, and more. 614 382 2452 or www.pickeringtonvillage.com.

DEC. 2–4 – Christmas at the Palace, Marion Palace Theatre, 276 W. Center St., Marion, Fri./Sat. 7:30 p.m., Sun. 2 p.m. $15–$25. Marion’s favorite community tradition is guaranteed to get you and your family in the holiday spirit. 740 383 2101 or www.marionpalace.org.

DEC. 2–4 – Christmas Walk at Lancaster Camp Ground, 2151 W. Fair Ave., Lancaster, Fri. 4 8 p.m.,

p.m. Join us for our annual Christmas tree lighting, the arrival of Santa Claus, and more activities. www.troymainstreet.org.

NOV. 26 – Christmas Preview Open House, Historic Bear’s Mill, 6450 Arcanum-Bear’s Mill Rd., Greenville, 11 a.m.–5 p.m. The Mill Store will be stocked with seasonal décor and gift items. Grinding demonstrations with the miller at noon, 2 p.m., and 4 p.m. 937 548 5112 or www. bearsmill.org.

DEC. 2 – Candlelight Walk Open House, Historic Bear’s Mill, 6450 Arcanum-Bear’s Mill Rd., Greenville, 6 9 p.m. Enjoy a crisp walk in the woods along candlelit paths surrounding the mill. 937 548 5112 or www.bearsmill.org.

DEC. 2 – Christmas on the Green, downtown Piqua, 6 9 p.m. Community caroling, horse-drawn carriage rides, children’s activities, and live entertainment. 937 773 9355 or www.mainstreetpiqua.com.

DEC. 2 – First Friday Concert Series: Harps of Grace, First United Methodist Church, 120 S. Broad St., Middletown, noon–1 p.m. Capture a moment of peaceful reflections by listening to a harp ensemble playing Christmas favorites to open the holiday season. Bring your lunch if you like. 513 423 4629 or www.myfumc.net.

DEC. 2–4 – Christmas in the Village, downtown Waynesville. Shopping, dining, horse-drawn carriage rides, carolers and choirs, costumed characters, and daily visits from Santa Claus.

Sat./Sun. noon–8 p.m. Free. Christmas light displays with decorated cottages and RVs, Santa’s workshop, candlelight dinner, tree auction, craft vendors, live music, and more. 740 653 2119

DEC. 3 – Gingerbread Cottage Craft Show, Westerville South High School, 303 S. Otterbein Ave., Westerville, 10 a.m.–3 p.m. $5, under 12 free. Juried craft show, concession and bake sales, raffle, musical performances by our band students. Donations of canned goods accepted for W.A.R.M. www.gingerbreadcottage.org.

DEC. 3 – WinterFest and Tree Lighting, downtown Lancaster, noon–4:30 p.m. Free. Horse-drawn carriage rides, visits with Santa, scavenger hunt, holiday music, and much more! Be sure to stay downtown for the tree lighting at the bandstand. www.visitfairfieldcounty.org.

DEC. 3–4 – Dickens of a Christmas, Ohio Village, 800 E. 17th Ave., Columbus, Sat. 5:30 9 p.m., Sun. 1 5 p.m. $9–$16; free for 3 and under. See Charles Dickens’ festive and enduring vision of Christmas come to life. 800 686 1541 or www.ohiohistory.org/events/ dickens-of-a-christmas.

DEC. 3, 10 – Christmas Candlelighting Ceremony, Roscoe Village, Main Stage, 600 N. Whitewoman St., Coshocton, 6 p.m. Free. Share in the village tradition of lighting the giant Christmas tree (7 p.m.). Christmas Crafts both days (tickets required): learn candle dipping, Christmas card making, and tin punching. 740 622 7644 or www.roscoevillage.com.

DEC. 4 – Lancaster Community Band Holiday Concert, Faith Memorial Church, 2610 W. Fair Ave., Lancaster, 2 p.m. Free. 740 756 4430

DEC. 10 – Buckeye Model Train and Railroad Artifacts Show, Ohio Expo Center, Lausche Bldg., Columbus, 9 a.m.–4 p.m. $7, under 12 free. www.gserr.com.

DEC. 10 – Franklin County Holiday Craft Show and Bake Sale, Franklin Co. Fgds., Edwards Bldg., 5035 Northwest Pkwy., Hilliard, 8 a.m.–2 p.m. Handmade and home-crafted items only. www.facebook.com/ events/614311123521019

DEC. 10–11, 17–18 – Zanesville & Western Scenic Railroad Santa Rides, 5700 St. Rte. 204, Mt. Perry, 2 7 p.m. $5–$9, under 3 free. Trains depart hourly. Bring unwrapped new children’s toy in the original packaging or a donation to the local food pantry for a discounted ride. 674 595 9701 or www.zwsr.org.

513 897 8855 or www.waynesvilleohio.com.

DEC. 3 – Christmas at the Johnston Farm, 9845 N. Hardin Rd., Piqua, 6:30 p.m. Reservation event. www.johnstonfarmohio.com.

DEC. 3 – Piqua Holiday Parade, downtown Piqua, 2 p.m. Kids can visit with Santa after the parade in the lobby of the Fort Piqua Plaza. www.mainstreetpiqua.com.

DEC. 3 – Walkin’ in a Winter Wonderland, Shawnee Prairie Preserve, 4267 St. Rte. 502, Greenville, 6 9 p.m. Walk along the (hopefully) snow-covered trails as you follow 400+ candle-lit lanterns leading you to the Log House, where you can warm yourself by the fire, visit with our pioneer volunteers, and enjoy a seasonal treat! 937 548 0165 or www.darkecountyparks.org.

DEC. 4 – Annual German Village Christmas Walk, North 2nd Street, Hamilton, noon–5 p.m. Free. Enjoy the holiday decorations, horse-drawn carriage rides, tour historic homes/businesses porches, musical events, crafters, and visit Santa. www.gettothebc.com.

DEC. 7 – Lebanon Horse-Drawn Carriage Parade and Festival, downtown Lebanon, 10 a.m.–8 p.m. Parades at 1 and 7 p.m. www.facebook.com/lebanoncarriageparade.

DEC. 10–11 – Dayton Christkindlmarkt, 1400 E. Fifth St., Dayton, Sat. 10 a.m.–5 p.m., Sun. noon–3 p.m. Celebrate the centuries-old Christmas market tradition that originated in Germany. 937 223 9013 or www.daytongermanclub.org.

Salute!

Brammer