Heart of Ohio November/December 2018

SHARI NG TH E BEST OF OH IO

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2018

flight

TAKE

Meet Ohio School of Falconry founder Joe Dorrian and his birds

ALL ABOARD!

MAGGIE SHERIDAN

The Corner Field Model Railroad Museum is inspiring memories

Local high school student and National Spelling Bee finalist

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H E A LT H S Y S T E M

Enjoy the beautifully decorated shops of Wayne County this holiday season.

Watch Santa arrive in Downtown Wooster on Nov. 16 and you may see him again in Orrville on Nov. 23 for their Home for the Holidays. The Dalton Holidays Festival is Dec. 1-2.

Lehman’s, Kidron

The J.M. Smucker Company Store

www.Lehmans.com

330.684.1500

888.438.5346

and Cafe, Orrville www.smuckers.com

P. Graham Dunn, Dalton

Secrest Arboretum & Gardens, Wooster

www.pgrahamdunn.com

www.secrest.osu.edu

866.922.0306

Main Street Wooster 330.262.6222

www.mainstreetwooster.org

www.wccvb.com 1.800.362.6474 #getawayne

330.464.2148

Shisler’s Cheese House, Orrville

330.682.2105

www.cheesehouse.com

Ohio Light Opera Resident Professional Company of The College of Wooster 330.263.2345

www.ohiolightopera.org

Hampton Inn, Wooster 330.345.4424

Wooster Hotel & Conference Center

Hilton Garden Inn, Wooster 330.202.7701

243 E Liberty Street Wooster, Ohio 44691 330.264.7750 Fax 330.262.5840 bestwesternwooster@gmail.com

www.wooster.hamptoninn.com

www.wooster.stayhgi.com

Just Say, “Alexa, enable Visit Wayne”

CONTENTS November / December 2018

8

16

IN THIS ISSUE

MUST DO

8 Giving Wings to a Dream

6 Must-Do Events

14 Spelling Success

C O LU M N S

Joe Dorrian has turned his love of birds into a successful career with the founding of the Ohio School of Falconry Maggie Sheridan will always “bee” inspired after back-to-back trips to the Scripps National Spelling Bee in Washington, D.C.

16 Next Stop: Nostalgia

As one of the region’s newest attractions, Corner Field Model Railroad Museum is quickly becoming a family destination

21 The Multimedia Man

Local musician and video producer Henry J. Konczak has been entertaining crowds big and small for over 45 years

26 Making Music Through the Years

Stringed instruments from hammered dulcimers to mandolin to guitars — you name it and luthier Michael Allen of Cloud Nine Musical Instruments has probably made one

28 Love Where You Live

21

Five things to do near you this season to fend off the winter blues

32 Keeping Score

Strong man Josh Garrison wears many hats, from stay-at-home dad to competitive weight lifter

36 Making Financial Sense

Prep for the future using charitable trusts in your retirement planning

40 Ohio History 101

Learn the harrowing tail of Samuel Brady, a soldier in the Continental Army in the late 1700s

B E S T S H OT S 42 Give Us Your Best Shot

We love to go along with our readers — take us on your next getaway

Designer Julie McCready helps a family with many blessings decorate their new home

ON THE COVER: Meet feathered friends and take a lesson in the sport of falconry at the Ohio School of Falconry in northern Columbus. Photo by Laura Watilo Blake.

2 HEARTOFOHIOMAGAZINE.COM

From our home to yours,

Happy Holidays

mansfield

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IN F ROTM H ITS HI SESEUDEI TO R

HEART OF OHIO

A time for

REFLECTION

ollowing your dreams. That’s what this issue of Heart of Ohio is all about. As we catapult headlong into the holiday season, it’s easy to be swept up in the notion of gifts, yummy food and festive parties, forgetting what’s really most important this time of year — spending time with loved ones and remembering where we came from.

Though I have to admit, the food’s pretty important, too!

Pumpkin pie, anyone?!

As you read through these stories, you’ll meet a cast of characters who have led their childhood dreams to fruition. People like Joe Dorrian, who turned a boyhood fantasy of raising a falcon into a lifelong career by founding the Ohio School of Falconry, and Henry J. Konczak, who knew he was destined to be a musician from a young age when he received his first harmonica.

Then there are those who have transformed their skills and hobbies into staggering achievements, like Michael Allen of Cloud Nine Musical Instruments, a luthier who’s been turning his woodworking passion into music for more than 40 years, and Josh Garrison, a champion stay-at-home-dad and competitive power lifter capable of dead lifting over 750 pounds. Young Maggie Sheridan competed in not one but two National Spelling Bees in Washington, D.C., and Tom Elesh and his family opened the largest family-owned model railroad museum in the U.S., right here in the heart of Ohio.

As you prepare for the holiday hustle and bustle over the next couple of months, take a few moments to reflect on where you’ve been, the dreams you’ve followed and being thankful for those opportunities. Happy holidays!

PICTURED ABOVE

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Lute Harmon Jr. Claudia Plumley Jason Brill Kelsey Wagner Katharine Stevens Sonata Wilson Stephanie Park Emily Apgar Jessa Moser Schneider

ADVERTISING

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Newsstands and Distribution Steven A. Zemanek

Circulation Assistants Sarah Hughes Jon Robinson

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©2018 by Great Lakes Publishing. Heart of Ohio is printed and published bimonthly. Heart of Ohio is included with a subscription to Ohio Magazine to readers in Richland, Ashland, Huron, Crawford, Morrow, Marion, Knox, Wayne, Holmes and Wyandot counties. Reproduction or use of editorial or pictorial content is prohibited without written permission. Great Lakes Publishing is not responsible for errors, omissions or unsolicited material. Inclusion does not constitute an endorsement. POSTMASTER: Send change of address to HEART OF OHIO, 1422 Euclid Ave., Ste. 730, Cleveland, Ohio 44115.

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PHOTO BY CHRIS CASELLA

KELSEY WAGNER Heart of Ohio Managing Editor

The nyckelharpa is a traditional Scandinavian instrument. Michael Allen has been crafting stringed instruments like this for over 40 years.

editor@heartofohiomagazine.com Managing Editor Kelsey Wagner Art Director Jessa Moser Schneider Production Manager Alyson Moutz Editorial Advisors Diane Brown Diana Coon Business Development Manager Mike Greene Sales Associate Sarah Barker Contributing Writers Diana Coon, Rhonda Davis, Alexandra Greenberg, Mike Greene, Chuck Hahn, Chuck Jakubchak, Julie McCready, Bill Smith, Pam Spence Contributing Artists Laura Watilo Blake, Chris Casella, Karin McKenna, Matt Shiffler

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MUST DO

MUST-DO EVENTS NEAR YOU TO FEND OFF THE WINTER BLUES

By Alexandra Greenberg

CHRISTMAS AT KINGWOOD

BUCKEYE BOOK FAIR

Not many people get the opportunity to meet and greet their favorite writers, but Ohioans can at the 31st annual Buckeye Book Fair. Thousands of attendees mingle with fellow book lovers, purchase discounted titles and meet the almost 100 authors and illustrators at Northeast Ohio’s largest all-day author-signing event. The event’s proceeds support literacy programs in Ohio’s schools, libraries and other organizations, too.

Nov. 3 n Fisher Auditorium 527 N. Market St., Ste. 2, Wooster 330-262-2103 buckeyebookfair.com

6 HEARTOFOHIOMAGAZINE.COM

Live music, decorated trees and a gorgeous greenhouse set the scene for a wonderful Christmas at Kingwood.

The local tradition combines the beauty of Kingwood Center Gardens with the special feeling you only get during the holiday season. Make sure to stop and admire the stunning 18-foot Christmas tree, decorated in a Light up the Holidays theme to make the event a memorable holiday experience for the entire family.

Nov. 24–Dec. 30 n Kingwood Center Gardens 50 N. Trimble Rd., Mansfield 419-522-0211 | kingwoodcenter.org

WINDOW WONDERLAND

Kick off the holiday season with a spectacular Christmas scene in Downtown Wooster.

Decorated storefront windows are unveiled while a children’s choir, beautifully lit trees and hot cocoa and yummy treats add to the Christmas spirit in the public square. Horse and carriage rides warm hearts before Santa Claus and his reindeer join the celebration on a truly magical evening.

Nov. 16 n Downtown Wooster 330-262-6222 | mainstreetwooster.org

LEFT PAGE: PHOTO BY STEVE UPPERMAN; RIGHT PAGE: PHOTOS BY THE DAILY RECORD, DESTINATION MANSFIELD

MARION POP-N-DROP

You’ve never experienced New Year’s Eve like you will in Marion’s Historic Downtown. Hours before the popcorn ball drops at the annual Pop-n-Drop, shop for gifts and enjoy delicious food at local businesses and family-owned restaurants that line the city streets.

Steaming hot chocolate under twinkling lights keeps you and your family warm before midnight fireworks light up the sky to ring in the New Year right.

Dec. 31–Jan. 1 n Downtown Marion 740-802-7329 | downtownmarion.com

CANDLELIGHT HOLIDAY TOURS OF THE BIG HOUSE

Catch a glimpse into the life of Pulitzer-Prize winning novelist Louis Bromfield on a candlelit tour of the gorgeous home he resided in. Learn about Bromfield’s life before and during his time at Malabar Farm and experience the beauty that inspired his famous novels in the glow of candlelight. Enjoy freshly baked cookies and warm cider during the festive evening, and you may even catch a glimpse of Santa Claus.

Nov. 30–Dec. 9 n Malabar Farm State Park 4050 Bromfield Rd., Lucas 419-892-2784 | malabarfarm.org

NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2018 7

IN THIS ISSUE

8 HEARTOFOHIOMAGAZINE.COM

dream GIVING WINGS TO A

By Pam Spence | Photos by Laura Watilo Blake

Joe Dorrian is one happy guy. The Columbus native has been able to fulfill a childhood fantasy of becoming a Master Class falconer and has also been able to use that skill to create a business he is passionate about. Four years ago, Dorrian opened the Ohio School of Falconry and since then has educated people of all ages about the fascinating world of raptors, birds of prey and the sport of falconry.

NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2018 9

DID YOU KNOW?

Falconers have a positive impact on bird populations.

e has also created hands-on workshops for corporate clients, using his birds to stress the importance of trust in development of strong leadership skills and building of strong teams. His is the only falconry school in the country to offer this kind of programming.

His journey began in fifth grade when he read a book that captured his imagination.

The book was My Side of the Mountain by Jean Craighead George. It’s about a boy who runs away from his family in New York City and goes to live in the mountains. He lives by himself in the woods, captures a peregrine falcon and trains it.

Although Dorrian lived in an urban neighborhood in Columbus and not in the mountains, minor details didn’t bog down his vivid imagination.

“I had a leather glove and a whistle,” says Dorrian.

“I imagined catching a bird like that, taking it home, keeping it in the garage and training it — which, of course, never happened. That was my big fantasy.” But around the time he turned 12, sports and girls started to get in the way of this childhood dream and he moved on.

Hatching an interest

Dorrian grew up, got married, had kids, graduated from

10 HEARTOFOHIOMAGAZINE.COM

The Ohio State University and worked as an organizational and leadership development consultant for over 20 years for places like Huntington Banks and OhioHealth.

After finishing up his graduate program, as fate would have it, he received an Amazon gift card. “I started wondering what I should buy with my gift card. So, I typed in ‘falconry’ and the first thing that popped up was a book called North American Falconry and Hunting Hawks by Frank Beebe.”

Dorrian was sucked in immediately. It rekindled his interest and he devoured the book. “My wife Kim and I were on vacation, and she complained that I never left the hotel room!” says Dorrian. To her credit, Kim is now comfortable living with an owl perched in her living room and having two kids who both handle birds.

The more time he spent training birds, the more Dorrian began to see the connections between what he taught in his leadership and team building courses and how he trained birds of prey. “I became fascinated by the dynamics of the relationship between the birds and myself,” he says. “A good partnership with a raptor is built on trust, and I realized it was the same thing I had been teaching all along in my leadership and team development work. Trust is the foundation of all relationships, whether it be with hawks or humans.”

LEFT: Sedosa is a Harris' hawk — a social North American raptor. CENTER: Four-month-old Faith is a saker-lanner hybrid falcon.

RIGHT: Dr. Hoo is a common barn owl, a species found worldwide. BELOW: Henson, the Eurasian Eagle Owl, was aptly named

so by Dorrian's daughter because of its resemblance as a baby to a character from Jim Henson’s The Muppets.

He decided to integrate both streams of his expertise and opened the Ohio School of Falconry in 2014, based April through December at Camp Mary Orton in northern Columbus. The purpose of the school, he explains, is engagement and education. He works with corporate clients in leadership and team development as well as with many schools, libraries, communities and conservation groups.

Dorrian focuses on the birds and the rich interspecies relationship that comes from working together.

“We approach all students and clients as novice falconers,” he says.

Beyond the nest

At its core, falconry is a hunting sport, with roots extending back into ancient history. “Falconry is pursuing game species with raptors,” he explains. “You train raptors to hunt with you; it’s a partnership.”

When falconers go out hunting, the birds fly free and could leave at any time. In fact, some people assume that falconers must starve the birds to make them hunt, but that isn’t true.

Raptors are highly opportunistic and learn very quickly whether they can trust you or not. They also learn to fly back to you to get the meat on your glove. The birds are fed every day and have a safe, warm place to sleep at night. It’s a good deal for the birds — they know when they are well off!

“Falconers are enthusiastic conservationists,” says Dorrian.

“We are committed to the care of the birds as well as to the care of the hunted species and the environment we all share.”

It is illegal to harm raptors in any way, as they are protected by federal law. Licensed falconers, however, are allowed to trap young birds with the proper federal permits.

Government studies have found that 90 percent of all birds of prey will die within the first six months of their lives. Many of the hazards birds face are man-made — like transformers, cars and windows. Others die from ingesting poisoned rats and mice, or insects that have been sprayed with insecticides.

“Falconers have a very positive impact on the bird population,” says Dorrian. “We’ll work with, let’s say, a redtailed hawk. We might catch a young bird and train him to the glove with available meat. During the fall hunting season, we will hunt with that bird four to five times a week, allowing the bird to eat anything that it catches and saving the leftovers for a later feeding. When spring comes, we fatten the bird up and turn it loose, back into the wild.”

“When I was 12, I used to tell my dad I wanted to be the best falconer in the world.

And now, I am a decent falconer but I am a very good educator.”

–JOE DORRIAN, OHIO SCHOOL OF FALCONRY

The Ohio School of Falconry works in cooperation with the Ohio Bird Sanctuary, the Medina Raptor Center and the Ohio Wildlife Center. They call the school when they have a report of an injured raptor, which then sends someone out to safely transport injured birds in for care.

NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2018 11

IN THIS ISSUE

We have a saying: ‘one bird, one wife; two birds, no wife; three birds, no life.’ Just as nature is always in balance, it is important to work on maintaining good relationships with your partners, both human and avian.

–JOE DORRIAN, OHIO SCHOOL OF FALCONRY

It is illegal for the general public to hold or handle raptors under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1972, so you have to be a licensed falconer and have a permit to handle or fly them.

The primary birds used for hunting in Ohio, says Dorrian, are red-tailed and Harris' hawks. Hawks will follow falconers from tree to tree, waiting for the falconer to flush out small game, like rabbits and squirrels. Falcons, on the other hand, primarily eat other birds and need wide-open spaces to fly effectively, as they usually circle the falconer from a pitch (height) of 600 to 1,000 feet.

Teaching others to fly

Dorrian’s favorite part has been working with school programs. He and his birds have done presentations in many STEM (science-technology-engineering-math) programs, for both students and teachers, and this past summer he participated in Air Camp for middle school students through Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton.

Dorrian currently owns approximately 20 birds, including a Eurasian eagle owl, screech and barn owls, red-tailed and Harris' hawks, peregrine and hybrid falcons, and a European common buzzard. With all of his birds, he says it is a challenge at times to keep his life in balance. “It’s a big responsibility 12 HEARTOFOHIOMAGAZINE.COM

training and caring for that many birds on a daily basis.

Getting away for family vacations can become a real problem.”

He talks a lot about that when working with apprentices.

“We have a saying: ‘one bird, one wife; two birds, no wife; three birds, no life.’ Just as nature is always in balance, it is important to work on maintaining good relationships with your partners, both human and avian.”

Dorrian serves as an inspiration and a role model for many people he encounters. “We all have our dreams,” he says. “When we are kids, we might dream of becoming a famous basketball star, singer or rocket scientist. Then life comes along and gets in the way. But that doesn’t mean that you can’t participate in those dreams in different ways. You might have to re-imagine and ask yourself how you can make this a part of your life now.”

“When I was 12,” shares Dorrian, “I used to tell my dad I wanted to be the best falconer in the world. Now, I'm a decent falconer, but I am a very good educator.”

Indeed, Dorrian fulfills his mission statement on a daily basis: to educate and engage people and teach them to appreciate the amazing world of raptors.

For more information about the Ohio School of Falconry, visit ohioschooloffalconry.com.

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IN THIS ISSUE

Success

SPELLING

Maggie Sheridan will always “bee” inspired after back-to-back trips to the Scripps National Spelling Bee in Washington, D.C. By Rhonda Davis he spelling whiz from Richland County advanced to the national competition in 2017, where she finished 23rd out of a field of 291.

This year, Sheridan qualified for nationals again, but faced an expanded field of 516 spellers. She came away with a tie for 42nd after missing the finals test cut by only two points.

“I just like learning new words, and seeing what words you get to spell,” Sheridan says of the competitions. “I did get pretty nervous though, even for the local bees. But as soon as I got up to the microphone, I just focused on the task at hand.”

Sheridan’s name is famous on the spelling circuit.

She represented Lexington Junior High School as a fifth-grader at the 2015 county spelling bee, but has collected trophies at the tri-county and regional levels since then. In fact, the 14-year-old has competed in 13 spelling bees in the last four years, winning six of them outright.

“I just like learning new words, and seeing what words you get to spell. I did get pretty nervous though, even for the local bees. But as soon as I got up to the microphone, I just focused on the task at hand.”

–MAGGIE SHERIDAN

Maggie, the daughter of Mark and Debbie Sheridan of Mansfield, has even spelled on stage with a familiar face — her triplet sister, Katie. In February, the girls finished first and second, respectively, in the tri-county bee. At the county bee, they came in first and fourth.

First words

Mark Sheridan says spelling came easy for “Maggs,” who recited the alphabet at 18 months and was reading as a toddler. “I remember my wife and I were in the kitchen and Maggie was in her high chair, and Maggie was actually 14 HEARTOFOHIOMAGAZINE.COM

reading everything in a book. She was sounding it out. She even read vacuum cleaner manuals.”

To prepare for her 2018 bees, the spelling champion and straight-A student practiced daily and used a computer program called Hexco Academic, which gives an audio of the word, along with its definition and other relevent information, then lets Maggie attempt to spell the word.

Sheridan said she has many fond “bee” memories over the years, but admits the most notable — and the one that made national news — was during the 2017 national bee, when she correctly spelled “whirlicote,” (a luxurious carriage) with only one second left on the clock.

“I felt kind of desperate but didn’t know what to do, and all this time I was getting closer to my two-minute time limit,” she says of the buzzer-beater. “So I just spelled what I thought I heard and I was overjoyed. That’s one I’ll probably remember for the rest of my life.”

The “Whirlicote Girl’s” priceless reaction aired on ABC World News Tonight, plus her photo made the cover of U.S.A. Today. “It was absolutely an out-of-body experience,” her father remembers. “She just went wild, throwing her arms up in the air. And then to get all that publicity on top of it — she was in all her glory.”

With all the notoriety from last year, all eyes were on Sheridan when she returned to D.C. in May. She was interviewed by ESPN, which aired parts of the competition, for a contestant profile. Some of that footage was shown during the intro to the show and during the finals broadcast.

Letters of tomorrow

Now a high school freshman, Maggie has officially “aged out” of spelling bees, but she hopes to one day land a college job as part of the production crew at the national event. “I’ve pretty much moved on from it. I think it’s so crazy that it’s over now, but hopefully in college I can get back into it again,” she says.

The spelling journey didn’t just give her a deeper understanding and appreciation of the English language.

It taught her a life lesson on how to accept defeat and be “gracious in victory.” And if you ask any good speller, that spells success.

SO I JUST SPELLED WHAT I THOUGHT I HEARD [WHIRLICOTE] AND I WAS OVERJOYED.

That’s one I’ll probably remember for the rest of my life.

NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2018 15

nostalgia

IN THIS ISSUE

NEXT STOP:

By Chuck Jakubchak | Photos by Karin McKenna

The Corner Field Model Railroad Museum is filled with surprises at every turn for people of all ages.

16 HEARTOFOHIOMAGAZINE.COM

From architecture to automobiles to people, the tiny towns at Corner Field are impressively crafted to perfection. You could spend hours taking it all in and still have to come back for more. See merry-go-rounds, churches, neighborhoods and an amusement park brought to life in small scale.

As the year draws to a close, families gather to spend time together and enjoy the spirit of the season. Oftentimes, this means taking a trip down memory lane, reflecting on the magic of the holiday season as a child. t’s easy to relive the past at one of Ohio’s newest attractions, the Corner Field Model Railroad Museum in Middlefield. Since its opening late last year, the model railroad layout has been the largest family-owned model railroad museum in the United States and is the culmination of years of collecting and planning.

Tom Elesh and his wife, along with their two children, have taken model railroad layouts to an extreme. The museum’s display utilizes more than half a mile of train track, hundreds of trains, 1,200 buildings, countless vehicles and a city inhabited by thousands of tiny people. Walls surrounding the display are decorated with murals and mirrors to enhance the reality of the layout.

Strategically placed push buttons allow guests to interact with several buildings — from activating a fire station to washing a car to triggering service at Mel’s drive-in diner.

Perfect down to the details

The entire museum is a marvel to anyone who enters.

Watching people as they pass through the entrance hallway and turn the corner towards the model train layout, nearly everyone has the same look of amazement and the word “wow” on their lips.

Walking through the display is a sensory overload. Trains chug along through countless settings, their realistic whistles tooting, and the faint smell of engine smoke lingers in the air. There is much to see and absorb as you walk around the 4,500-square-foot space.

The meticulous details of Corner Field are impressive and require sufficient time to fully appreciate: the stunning church hosts a wedding that has been in process for 60 years; a hunter continues to pursue a fox that cleverly retreats to his den in the nick of time; the cast from the movie The Sandlot

plays on a baseball field; and even Rudolph and his friends (including a miniature Abominable Snowman) hang out in Santa Land.

Engines chug through urban, industrial and rural settings, and reflect eras from the 1940s to today. The most popular portion of the track is the operating amusement park — complete with replica rides from the late 20th century like “The Bug”, “Round Up” and “Snowflake Paradrop.”

At the center of the model train layout is the turntable, which allows resting locomotives to mechanically switch onto the active tracks. The turntable positions engines precisely in line with the feeder track. A speaker projects the booming voice of the unseen railyard dispatcher that directs the activity and ensures the safe movement of the locomotives.

Aside from admiring the layout, strategically placed push buttons allow guests to interact with several buildings — from activating a fire station to washing a car to triggering service at Mel’s drive-in diner.

Corner Field is a family destination that was 60 years in the making. More than just a collection of miniature trains and buildings — it is a microcosm of life. Though you can’t ride any of the trains, they will, all the same, transport you to a place full of wonderment and the spirit of youth.

For more information about the Corner Field Model Railroad Museum, visit cornerfieldmodelrailroadmuseumandhobby.com

Reminisce...

BES F

Memories of Christmas Past - Youngstown, Ohio The Arms Family Museum is magically transformed for their 11th annual display of vintage and collectable holiday decorations.

Don’t Miss It! November 17th through January 6th 12:00pm-4:00pm; Thursdays until 7:00pm, Closed Mondays & Holidays

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Wander into your favorite local restaurant or watering hole on Friday or Saturday night and there’s a good chance you will find some excellent entertainment, compliments of Henry.

Henry J. Konczak, that is.

NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2018 21

IN THIS ISSUE

onczak has been a musician for over 45 years, with 35 of those years spent on the road. He first knew he wanted to be a musician after seeing a band play at the Mifflin Elementary School Lawn Fete.

“I was hooked,” Konczak says. “I asked my dad for a guitar, but he bought me a harmonica instead. He told me that if I learned to play it, then we’d think about a guitar.” And learned to play he did — he learned “Taps,” the traditional military tune. After playing the song over and over for months on end, his dad finally gave in and bought him that five-dollar guitar. “Still, my first real gig was playing the harmonica for Mifflin Mother’s Club,” Konczak remembers. The rest, as they say, is history.

As a young man, Konczak opened for name acts in Northeast Ohio before traveling the country playing hotels

Reeling it in

and resorts. “It was tough, but it was a great way to learn,” he says. Today those outlets are gone for young musicians.

There are fewer and fewer places to play new music and perfect your craft. “I guess that explains my soft spot for young artists,” he said.

22 HEARTOFOHIOMAGAZINE.COM

When Konczak decided it was time to settle down, he opened his company Henry J. Productions, based in Canton. He started writing and producing TV commercials for local and statewide businesses, along with music videos.

He also produced Random Acts of Music for statewide cable systems. “For 10 years we promoted talented young people and their music, and it became a very popular cable show. I think I had one of the first home-based TV shows.

Many of the videos were shot in my own living room!”

Henry shares.

Just over two years ago, the business was moved to Mansfield.

Henry J. Productions still creates television commercials and promotions, music videos and even composes original jingles.

Konczak continues to play at local restaurants and wineries around the area. “If you are a real musician, you never outgrow the need to perform,” he says.

Waiting for a creative unveiling is Konczak’s He has truly perfected the art of promoting latest video, “Back Stage Baby,” a song and his business by promoting Mansfield. Online script he wrote for local singer Jai Merina. you can see an extensive grouping of his Filmed at the Renaissance Theatre, “Back commercial work as well as music videos, some Stage Baby” is “a Broadway show in four set in and around the city using his crew of minutes,” says Konczak. There’s no doubt this talented and creative friends and performers. is a fresh, jazzy video that holds your attention “I enjoy promoting local artists, some from start to finish. performing their own original music. I write The video will be unveiled at a private the skits, and then combine that with a cast of screening at The Cabin in Ashland on Nov. 7. characters that I am lucky to call my friends.

“I’m excited to see the reaction to this video,” The result is local faces and places in music says Konczak. “Some people say it’s the best videos that promote the area as well as my thing I’ve done. I do know I’m looking forward business. It’s a creative win-win,” Konczak to releasing it to the public. ” says. His recently released song cover of “Little –HENRY J. KONCZAK Bit O’ Soul” by Music Explosion has had more For more information about Henry J. Konczak, visit than 4.7 thousand views on Facebook in just a few weeks. henryjkonczak.com.

His YouTube music videos have more than 239,000 views.

My first real gig was playing the harmonica for Mifflin Mother’s Club.

NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2018 23

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Michael Allen has built more than 1,300 hammered dulcimers over his career — and counting.

IN THIS ISSUE

music THROUGH MAKING

THE YEARS

By Pam Spence | Photos by Chris Casella

Michael Allen of Cloud Nine Musical Instruments is used to fielding questions. When people ask him what he does, he replies, “I’m a luthier.”

They often respond: “What’s that?” make stringed musical instruments,” he tells them. “You make guitars?” they ask.

“I’ve made a few; but mostly I make hammered dulcimers,” he responds. “What are those?” they wonder. And so it goes.

These questions are not too surprising — skilled craftsman are less common than they used to be. Hammered dulcimers were fairly common in the United States until the early part of the 20th century when they all but disappeared, edged out by the common piano.

An instrument of the ages

The hammered dulcimer is a large trapezoidal instrument with multiple bridges and strings, played with wooden hammers. The instrument 26 HEARTOFOHIOMAGAZINE.COM

“I have always been a builder ...

By the time I was in middle school, I had built a full-sized pool table.”

–MICHAEL ALLEN

originated in ancient Persia in about 900 A.D. and spread both east and west into Asia and Europe, where it was adapted and incorporated into diverse musical traditions. The hammered dulcimer, forerunner of the piano, was brought to the U.S. in the 1700s and was often used by settlers in early church services.

For more than 40 years, Allen has been making hammered dulcimers and other folk instruments from his workshop in Central Ohio.

“I have always been a builder,” he says. “From the time I was a little kid, my dad would give me scraps of wood from his workshop and I would carry them off and hammer things together. By the time I was in middle school, I had built a full-sized pool table.”

The nyckelharpa is an instrument used in traditional Scandinavian music. With the rise of YouTube, the niche instrument has been gaining in popularity in the last few years in classical, Celtic and world beat music.

His building skills served him well in securing a parttime job in high school and into college. He became a model builder for a prominent architectural firm in Columbus and entered the architectural program at The Ohio State University in the early 1970s.

Though Allen had played violin in the Upper Arlington High School orchestra, it was at OSU that he really got into playing music again. Instead of the formal, classical music repertoire he had played in school, however, he began fiddling for fun with friends who had embraced traditional Appalachian (“old-time”) music. They formed a band — The Turkeys in the Straw — and often played on the street around campus and at community gatherings.

The turning point

He first saw a hammered dulcimer when a visiting musician, Mark Davis, sat in with the band. Allen was intrigued by the instrument and thought about building one, just for fun. Davis showed him a pamphlet from the Smithsonian Museum, written by Sam Rizzetta — a West Virginia dulcimer builder and player. Included in the pamphlet were instructions on how to build one.

“I had a small workshop on Hudson Street in Clintonville that I rented for $50 a month. I had been making artists’ easels to earn some money,” he says. “I took measurements from Mark’s instrument, which was made by Dennis Dorogi, and made my first dulcimer.” When he took it over to the Columbus Folk Music Center on High Street, they bought it from him on the spot.

Being a student and always strapped for cash, Allen decided to make more. He made two the next time, sold those and made three more. “And I just kept going,” he says.

Allen began making instruments in batches, loading them up his car and hitting the road to sell them to music stores in Ohio, Michigan, Colorado and New England.

He also began vending at music festivals including the Coshocton Dulcimer Days held in Roscoe Village in 1978, the now defunct Black Swamp Festival in Lima, the Bob Evans Farm Festival in Gallipolis and the Buckeye Dulcimer Festival in Ashley.

The life of a luthier

Over the years, Allen has changed his hammered dulcimers — improving them, refining them, building various sizes and configurations. He has added dampers, reduced strings and added bridges. He currently offers dulcimer models in both standard and fully chromatic.

The rise of the internet and eBay in the 1980s dramatically changed the way he does business. He even has international customers and has shipped instruments to Japan, France, Bermuda and England.

“I never imagined that I would actually make a career out of making dulcimers,” says Allen. During his 40-plus years as a luthier, however, he has built over 1,300 hammered dulcimers. He has also built a small number of custom instruments, including a long necked bouzouki, mandolin, several guitars and, most recently, a nyckelharpa — an instrument used in the traditional music of Scandinavia.

“It has some structural commonality with a violin,” he says. But instead of using fingers on the strings to form the notes, the player presses wooden keys, which create a mechanical stop on the strings. It has four strings that are bowed and 12 sympathetic strings, which resonate and sound as the other strings are played.

Two years ago, Allen saw Emilia Amper and her band, Ode, in concert. Amper is the world champion nyckelharpa player.

“I was fascinated,” he says. “So my daughter-in-law, Cris, who also works in the shop, found a nyckelharpa construction manual translated from Swedish available for sale online.”

He decided to give it a go and started a batch of three instruments. It took about two years to finish the first batch, which is already spoken for by Allen’s fiddle-playing friends.

He expects the next batch will be quicker, and with the nyckelharpa on the rise in Scandinavian music as well as classical, Celtic and world beat music, he anticipates a demand.

As he starts taking the unique instrument to festivals and posting pictures on his Facebook page, Allen prepares to respond to the questions again. “What is that thing? What is it called? And how the heck do you play it?”

For more information about Michael Allen and Cloud Nine Musical Instruments, visit cloudninemusical.com.

NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2018 27

IN THIS ISSUE

28 HEARTOFOHIOMAGAZINE.COM

thanks giving

DECORATING FOR ‌ A HOME OF

Love Where You Live

By Julie McCready

When Brenda Frecka and her husband Dave sat down with her doctors in July of 2017, there were a lot of questions flying around the room concerning her newly diagnosed cancer. What type? Breast cancer. How aggressive? Extremely.

Treatment plan? Chemotherapy, surgery and radiation. How long does treatment last? About a year, if all goes well.

NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2018 29

IN THIS ISSUE

In the Cory home, a neutral pallet accented with teals and blues provides a soft, relaxing space for the family to relax in. The kid- and adult-friendly space is ready to be lived in and loved by its new owners, including the newest member of the family.

A home fit for a family

I have worked with the Frecka family since 2007, designing and decorating for their business and many of their homes.

When it came time to transition daughter Katie Cory and her family to the Delaware area, I was more than up to the task.

Katie and I have worked together on her previous homes, so it was easy to take the pressure off of she and her husband, Nate Cory, who were busy chasing a toddler and expecting baby No. 2, who was born at the end of August.

30 HEARTOFOHIOMAGAZINE.COM

The Corys had found a newly remodeled home in a lovely neighborhood minutes away from Katie’s parents and knew it would be right for their growing family. We were happy with most of the updates, but decided to change out the wood flooring on the first floor and carpeting on the second floor.

We trusted Steve Frankhouse of My Floors in Galion to help us get exactly the look we were after, as we’ve partnered with him on the Cory’s previous homes. Frankhouse steered us to the right product for young children and daily life.

We created a neutral pallet of grays and creams for the larger pieces of upholstery, and accented them with teals and blues to create a cohesive look throughout the open-plan first floor. Many of the rooms feature deep and comfortable furniture created by Norwalk Furniture, a custom-order, artisan furniture manufacturer in Ohio.

The Corys can snuggle into the corners of the great room sectional for family time, rest on the chaise in the playroom or settle into a fireside chair after the children have been put to bed for some adult quiet time.

A new double front door opens to a stunning foyer flanked by a richly paneled library to the right and an expansive dining room to the left. A farmhouse dining table is surrounded by lighter colored wood dining pieces and linen captains chairs, and is punctuated by a colorful wool rug below and reclaimed wall décor. Atop the dining table sits a display of thanksgiving … for health, life, love and family.

Cheers to the Frecka family as they celebrate Brenda and yet another season of life!

Now that’s what I call decorating for … a home of thanksgiving.

About Julie McCready . Julie McCready

is a residential/commercial designer with over 20 years of furniture and design experience.

McCready, along with a talented team of designers, offers complimentary in-home design services for clients purchasing furniture at McCready Interiors/Norwalk The Furniture Idea, which she and husband Tom have owned since 1996. In 2018, the McCready family celebrates 94 years in the furniture business.

CENTER PHOTO COURTESY OF BERTHA BISHOP OF B.L. BISHOP PHOTOGRAPHY

ow Brenda also knew that some questions would be coming her way from the doctors and nurses, and she was more than ready for them. Was she prepared for this battle? You bet. Does she have a strong support network? The best! What is that network? Her faith and her family.

It’s not often that such confidence is expressed at one of the most difficult times in one’s life, but Brenda was more than confident about her battle ahead. She knew that she had the best army in her corner, so she met her cancer diagnosis head-on, surrounded by exactly what she had professed to those doctors — her faith and her family. “B,” as her friends call her, or “Bebe,” as her grandkids call her, started the chemotherapy, followed it with surgery, rallied through radiation and on April 4, 2018, rang the bell for her last treatment.

Brenda, Dave and their children have always been a close group and have counted on one another’s support and encouragement during all seasons of life. She constantly leads the charge for her family of four children, their spouses and 11 grandchildren. So when the head of the “B-hive” fell ill, the family knew exactly what they needed to do. Gathered together in their pink “B-lieve” shirts, they sent Brenda off with prayers and well wishes. And at the end of her journey, they greeted her with a pink balloon drop and looked to the future for more family time and life together.

But what they also realized was that they no longer wanted distance to separate them from daily life together.

So one by one, each of the four children has or is making the move to Delaware to enjoy being closer to Brenda and Dave, who moved there in 2015.

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C O LU M N S

STRONG BODY, STRONGER HEART Keeping Score . By Mike Greene | Photos courtesy of the Garrison Family

Josh Garrison and his wife Jordan with their four daughters.

About Mike Greene Since graduating from Muskingum College, Mike Greene has spent most of his working life in sports media. He has worked at radio and TV stations around Northeast and Central Ohio, including as a sports talk show host for WMFD-TV in Mansfield. He has been writing his Keeping Score column for Heart of Ohio for the past 10 years.

I’ve spent many a Friday night in the fall seated in the press box at a high school football stadium describing what was happening on the field. During my football and basketball “play by play” days, I was fortunate enough to witness the performances of some outstanding athletes.

I can’t remember the names of all of them, but a few do come immediately to mind. One of those is Josh Garrison of Triway Local School District. He was an All-Ohio running back in football and won All-Ohio accolades as a member of the Titan’s basketball team as well.

Back then, Garrison packed about 225 pounds on his nearly 6'1" frame, which made him a good-sized linebacker/running back. Despite his bulk, Garrison could stroke a jump shot with the best of them.

Garrison also played baseball, but when it came time to select a sport to play at the next level, he chose football, which he admits was his 32 HEARTOFOHIOMAGAZINE.COM

favorite. He signed on with Division III powerhouse Mount Union. However, just a few practices in, he started experiencing severe migraines. He was shut down from working with the team and was examined by neurologists and other specialists to determine the seriousness of this setback.

The news was not good — the doctors told Garrison that it might not be worth trying to continue his football career. Disappointed but willing to accept the news, he pursued his teaching degree from Ohio University, where his now wife, Jordan, was studying to become a doctor.

A family man Garrison and his wife were married in 2005.

Shortly after, while she was still busy with her residency and he was teaching and coaching, the first of their four daughters, Kenasyn, came along. Daughters Myla, Eilee and Remi followed, all about a year and a half apart. When baby No. 2 arrived, the Garrisons found themselves struggling to deal with their demanding jobs while trying to be caring parents.

After much discussion and prayer, the two decided the solution that made the most sense was for Jordan to concentrate on becoming the best doctor she could while Josh focused

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Aside from taking care of his family, Garrison also participates in powerlifting competitions.

on the parenting chores. In other words, he would become “Mr. Mom.” I should tell you that most men who stay at home to take care of the kids while the wife goes to work every day are not nearly as physically imposing as Garrison. While he had given up on his football dream, he had continued to work out with weights as a power lifter.

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The young man who had been a two-sport All-Ohioan and weighed 225 pounds had now added about 60 pounds of muscle and bulked up to between 275–285 pounds. And just in case you’re into statistics, Garrison has a 34-inch waist and a 62-inch chest, which means that he does not buy his clothes off the rack. Actually, he has his own tailors — his mother and his mother-in-law, who are willing to use their sewing skills to help him expand his wardrobe.

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Garrison fishing with his daughters Kenasyn, Myla, Eilee and Remi.

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Garrison uses his workouts to provide information on how the body works, mainly because he values his health and fitness tremendously. As for the parenting of four girls, he said that the hardest thing at first was realizing what all had to be done. Jordan took a position at the Wooster branch of the Cleveland Clinic five years ago and is now a family practice physician there.

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With their schedules and responsibilities, you might wonder if there is ever time for Jordan and Josh to enjoy a date night. The answer is that the girls’ grandparents are more than happy to watch them so that mom and dad can get away. But when they do have free time, they prefer to use it enjoying things as a family.

The Garrison girls, like most youngsters, are busy with all sorts of activities, and dad is usually involved as well. He’s been a coach on some of their softball teams, and as they grow older, he’ll find other ways to stay active in the lives of all four.

As you can imagine, the girls know that they have a dad who doesn’t look like most of the other kids’ dads. Think about it: can any of them bench press 585 pounds, dead lift 765 pounds or squat 815 pounds?

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full-time dad is that when the girls start dating in a decade or so, Garrison can feel comfortable that the boyfriends will most certainly treat Kenasyn, Myla, Eilee and Remi politely and respectfully. If they don’t, they’ll have him to answer to.

As we ended our talk, Garrison shared with me that he never dreamed of being where he is today. Being a stay-at-home parent has been his biggest challenge and responsibility yet. It’s taught him humility and patience, and he absolutely has no regrets.

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C O LU M N S

USING CHARITABLE TRUSTS IN YOUR RETIREMENT PLANNING Brought to you by Charles P. Hahn, CFP® in conjunction with Lincoln Financial Advisors*

About Chuck Hahn Chuck Hahn, CFP® is a registered representative and investment advisor of Lincoln Financial Advisors Corp., a brokerdealer and registered investment advisor offering insurance through Lincoln affiliates and other companies. The provided information should not be construed as legal or tax advice.

Land “rich” and cash “poor.” That describes Jim and Angela in a nutshell. While they actually live quite comfortably on their professional incomes, they are getting closer to retirement age and are looking for ways to supplement the income they expect from their employers’ retirement plans.

By far the largest asset they own is a tract of unimproved real estate that Angela received from her parents. Part of her family’s former farm, the property is located in a prime new development area, which has increased its value over the past few years.

But the land provides no current income.

What can they do?

Angela could sell the land to a developer now or at retirement and invest the proceeds in income-producing investments. Either way, she and Jim would lose a substantial portion of the property’s appreciation to capital gains tax.

A better strategy might be to establish a charitable remainder trust (CRT). To implement this strategy, Angela would transfer the land to an irrevocable trust 36 HEARTOFOHIOMAGAZINE.COM

created to provide lifetime payments to her and Jim. At the death of the surviving spouse, the trust property would be transferred to a charitable organization Angela has named in her trust agreement.

With a CRT, generally the trustee can sell the trust property and reinvest the proceeds without having to pay any immediate tax on the gain. Thus, Jim and Angela would have more money invested toward retirement than if they had sold the land and invested the proceeds themselves. Jim and Angela could invest their tax savings outside of the trust to produce additional income.

Income options

A CRT can be structured either as an annuity trust or as a unitrust. The type of

CRT chosen determines how payments from the trust are calculated. If Angela chooses a charitable remainder annuity trust (CRAT), she and Jim will receive annual payments of a set percentage of the trust’s initial fair market value. The percentage must be at least 5 percent and cannot exceed 50 percent.

A charitable remainder unitrust (CRUT) would pay Jim and Angela an annual income based on the fair market value of the trust property, revalued each year. Again, the percentage must be at least 5 percent and cannot exceed 50 percent. If the trust investments perform well, the income will increase. Some people prefer to use a CRUT because it can provide a hedge against inflation. A CRUT can also accept additional gifts, whereas a CRAT cannot.

There are two other CRUT features that might appeal to Jim and Angela. First is the option to limit the annual payments to the trust’s income in any year when the trust’s income is less than the fixed percentage amount (a net-income CRUT or NICRUT).

Second is the ability to include a “makeup” provision (a net-income makeup CRUT or NIMCRUT). The makeup provision would require the trustee to make higher payments in years in which the trust income exceeds the fixed percentage amount, to the extent that payments in prior years were less than the fixed percentage.

How would these features help Jim and Angela? When they establish the CRUT, Angela could transfer the land and Jim could transfer a small amount of income-producing investments or cash to be invested. The trust could hold the land until Jim and Angela are ready to retire, paying them the income from the investments in the meantime. Then, the trustee could sell the appreciated land and invest in securities that would produce a current income for their retirement.

Even if the investment income exceeds the fixed percentage set for their CRUT, the makeup provision would require the trustee to pay the excess to Jim and Angela to compensate for the earlier years of low income.

Charles P. Hahn, CFP® Cleveland Financial Group Affiliated with Lincoln Financial Advisors Corp.

Member SIPC 108 North Main Street, Rear Building, Mansfield, Ohio 44902 Tel. 419.522.4333 • Fax 419.522.3303 • chuck.hahn@lfg.com CRN201005-2042432

Protection, too A CRT may also offer some protection from creditors. Depending on the laws of their state, inserting spendthrift clauses in their trust agreement could protect the trust property from creditors. (In some states, spendthrift protection is applied automatically by statute.) Jim and Angela should be aware, though, that certain states extend spendthrift protection only to trust beneficiaries other than the trust grantor(s).

A charitable remainder trust can be used to help accomplish numerous financial planning objectives. However, complex legal requirements must be met to secure many of the benefits a CRT offers. You’ll want to consult with your professional advisor before deciding to use a CRT in your financial planning. And, if you decide to establish a CRT, seriously consider using an experienced professional trustee, such as a bank or the charity itself, to administer your trust.

*The content of this material was provided to you

by Lincoln Financial Advisors for its representatives and their clients. This article may be picked up by other publications under planner’s bylines.

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C O LU M N S

BRADY’S LEAP Ohio History 101 . By Bill Smith

About Bill Smith

Bill Smith was born in Fremont and graduated from Tiffin Calvert High School to attend Tiffin University. He recently retired from RFME Insurance in Mansfield after being in the insurance business for 40 years. He was previously board president of the Ohio Bird Sanctuary and enjoys drawing and watercolors in his spare time.

Samuel Brady was born in Shippensburg, Pennsylvania, on May 5, 1756. He was the oldest of 13 children, born to Captain John and Mary Brady. Growing up in the harsh Northwest Territory, Samuel developed into a very athletic and powerful man. In 1775, he enlisted in the Continental Army and fought alongside his father and brother James in the battles of Boston (1775), New York (1776),Trenton (1776), Princeton (1777) and Brandywine Creek (1777).

40 HEARTOFOHIOMAGAZINE.COM

scout and report on tribal strength and camp locations in and around Lower Sandusky (now Fremont). The rangers encountered a large American Indian war party and were eventually overrun. Brady was captured and was to be burnt at the stake. As the fire was burning around him, he managed to free his hands while the guard was looking away. He escaped and ran day and night with his captors in hot pursuit. He covered nearly 100 miles before he was close to being recaptured.

PHOTO BY LAURA WATILO BLAKE

Brady established himself as a fearless fighter against the British, but is better known for his actions against the American Indian tribes that were in alliance with the British.

He developed a fierce dislike of American Indians after his uncle was killed, along with his uncle’s family. Brady’s brother and father were fatally injured by American Indians in 1778 and 1779, respectively.

In 1780, under orders from George Washington, Brady led a team of rangers to

Brady’s Island

When he came across the Cuyahoga River near Kent, Brady saw that a group of American Indians was already at the normal crossing point awaiting him. He ran downriver and eventually found a point where he could attempt to leap across the ravine to the other side — 25 feet above the river and 22 feet to the other side. He survived the jump and managed to hide in a lake that night, beneath a fallen tree, breathing through a reed. His pursuers eventually assumed he was either dead or had escaped, and he was able to make it to Fort McIntosh.

Brady died from pleurisy on Dec. 25, 1795 in Virginia. Brady’s name, however, lives on.

The lake Brady hid in is now called Brady’s Lake, an island in the Sandusky River in Fremont is named Brady’s Island and the Ohio turnpike plaza between mileposts 193 and 209 is called Brady’s Leap Plaza.

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