Country Living January 2017 Lorain-Medina by American MainStreet Publications

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Official publication of your electric cooperative www.ohioec.org

The ice men cometh Winter brings world-class ice carvers to Ohio Also Inside:

Remembering John Glenn Hearty winter soups The iconic FFA emblem Member Interactive: Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s sooo cold!

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ohioec.org

ALL OF OUR LINES ARE CUSTOMER SERVICE LINES. Some deliver electricity. Others deliver information. All must deliver on the Ohio’s Electric Cooperatives mission: to provide you with service that’s just as dependable as the energy you count on us for every day. Learn more about your locally owned and operated Ohio electric cooperative at ohioec.org.

YOUR SOURCE OF POWER. AND INFORMATION.

D C

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inside COVER STORY

23 THE ICE-MEN COMETH Perrysburg’s Winterfest will host the U.S. National Ice Carving Championship — which will help decide who provides decorations at the next Winter Olympics.

F E AT U R E S

A PATH OF SERVICE The Ohio’s Electric Cooperatives’ annual Youth Tour of Washington, D.C., has inspired generations of future leaders.

HOMETOWN HERO

Even when orbiting the Earth, John Glenn always remembered his s rural roots in New Concord.

15 SOUP’S ON!

There’s nothing like a steaming bowl of hearty soup to chase away those wintertime chills.

30 UNIVERSAL LETTERING

A Van Wert company made (and still makes) history by producing the iconic blue jackets worn by Future Farmers of America.

32 A HELPING HAND

From the “Nigerian Prince” to Medicare schemes, older Ohioans often find themselves targets of con artists. Ohio non-profit group Pro Seniors can help.

30 D E PA R T M E N T S 2 COOPERATIVE CONNECTION

15 FOOD SCENE

4 POWER STATION

19 LOCAL CO-OP PAGES

10 CO-OP PEOPLE

34 JANUARY CALENDAR

12 WOODS, WATERS, AND WILDLIFE

38 MEMBER INTERACTIVE

14 OHIO ICON

JANUARY 2017

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Cooperative Connection PAT O’LOUGHLIN, PRESIDENT & CEO • OHIO RURAL ELECTRIC COOPERATIVES & BUCKEYE POWER

Ohio cooperatives look forward to

20I7

LAST YEAR AT THIS TIME, I provided you with our 2016 cooperative to-do list. As we begin 2017, I’ll take a moment to reflect on the past year and provide a look ahead at our plans for 2017. During 2016, Ohio’s Electric Cooperatives successfully: • Brought modern electric service to the residents of the remote village of La Soledad, Guatemala. We left with memories of a lifetime and provided hope for generations to come. • Kicked off the OurSolar program and are nearly halfway through the construction of 20 community-based solar power systems across Ohio that will provide energy to our member-owners well into the future. • Worked collaboratively with your local electric cooperative, as well as with Ohio’s large investor-owned utilities (which control the high-voltage grid that we are connected to), and achieved significant reliability improvements in the delivery of power across Ohio. The result? Fewer power outages. • Provided grants for four community site development efforts, which we hope will result in the establishment of new businesses in the communities that we serve.

• We will work with state and federal officials to develop more flexible and cost-effective ways to achieve environmental goals. • As American Electric Power moves away from its traditional role as an Ohio power plant owner/operator, we will develop plans to transition our longterm partnership for the operation of our power plants. • We will continue to expand and improve our efforts to support job creation, economic development, and member satisfaction across the communities that we serve. We hope to keep you informed of these efforts through the year in this, your monthly member magazine. In March, look for an updated, redesigned publication, based on reader recommendations. Above all else, as we look ahead to next year, I thank you for your continued support and patronage of your local electric cooperative. Together, we are better and stronger. God bless you and yours in the New Year. 

• Via survey of our member-owners, achieved our highest-ever American Customer Satisfaction Index rating (85, for those keeping score). While the results from the past year are gratifying, we still have much work to do in the year ahead: • We will expand and improve our job training and development program for electric line workers.

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January 2017 Volume 59, No. 4

Ohio Rural Electric Cooperatives 6677 Busch Blvd. Columbus, OH 43229 614-846-5757 memberinteract@ohioec.org www.ohioec.org

Patrick O’Loughlin Patrick Higgins Jeff McCallister Samantha Rhodes

President & CEO Dir. of Communications Managing Editor Associate Editor

Contributors

Cheryl Bach, Colleen Romick Clark, W.H. “Chip” Gross, Adam Specht, Damaine Vonada, Kevin Williams, Margie Wuebker, and Diane Yoakam COUNTRY LIVING (ISSN 0747-0592) is the official publication of Ohio Rural Electric Cooperatives, Inc. With a paid circulation of 294,359, it is the monthly communication link between the electric cooperatives in Ohio and West Virginia and their members. Nothing in this publication may be reproduced in any manner without specific written permission from Ohio Rural Electric Cooperatives, Inc. All rights reserved.

ohioec.org Check out the mobile-friendly website and digital edition of Country Living, as well as other timely information from Ohio electric cooperatives.

JA N UA R Y 2 0 1 7

Official publication of your electric cooperative www.ohioec.org

JA N UA RY 2 0 1 7

Official publication of your electric cooperative www.ohioec.org

The ice men cometh Winter brings world-class ice carvers to Ohio Also Inside:

Remembering John Glenn Hearty winter soups The iconic FFA emblem Member Interactive: It’s sooo cold!

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The ice men cometh Winter brings world-class ice carvers to Ohio Also Inside:

New website feature

Remembering John Glenn Hearty winter soups The iconic FFA emblem Member Interactive: It’s sooo cold!

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All Country Living stories now published online For those of you who prefer reading on your tablets or smartphones, fret not — starting in December 2016, the Country Living staff decided to publish all the magazine’s print stories and features at www.ohioec.org so they can be enjoyed by readers across multiple platforms. Feel free to share our content on social media, too, so those who don’t receive the print version in the mail every month can still catch up on Ohio news.

Follow Ohio’s Electric Cooperatives on social media Search for Ohio’s Electric Cooperatives on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and YouTube to learn about careers with co-ops and how co-ops make a difference in communities across Ohio.

Alliance for Audited Media Member

National advertising representatives: NATIONAL COUNTRY MARKET, 800-NCM-1181 State advertising representatives: Sandy Woolard 614-403-1653 Tim Dickes 614-855-5226 The fact that a product is advertised in Country 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, or call 1-800-282-0515. Periodicals postage paid at Columbus, OH and at additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to editorial and advertising offices at: 6677 Busch Boulevard, Columbus, OH 43229-1101

Cooperative members: Please report changes of address to your electric cooperative. Country Living staff cannot process address changes.

DID YOU KNOW? When it comes to craft beer, Ohio ranks fourth in overall production among all U.S. states. Over 1,385,000 barrels of craft beer were brewed in Ohio in 2015, supporting nearly 11,000 Ohio jobs. A whopping 173 craft breweries are currently operating in Ohio, with nearly 70 more in the planning stages. To top it off, craft beer consumption per capita in Ohio is about 5.1 gallons per adult.

In this issue:

New Concord (p.6) Lancaster (p. 10) Dayton (p. 14) Perrysburg (p. 23) Van Wert (p. 30) Cincinnati (p. 32)

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POWER STATION

S T O R Y BY A DA M S P E C H T

A PATH OF SERVICE Youth tour inspired participant to a career in government FOR 38 YEARS, the Ohio’s Electric Cooperatives Youth Tour to Washington, D.C., has given high school students a unique perspective on our nation’s capital and the electric cooperative world. It is a fundamentally different experience than any other youth trip to D.C. It is a more personal, more engaging, and more rewarding experience — one where participants can meet new people from around the state and Greg Moody the country while broadening their knowledge of our government institutions. Youth Tour changes lives and inspires careers in public service. And it is an experience only available to children of electric co-op members.

Catching the bug In 1983, Greg Moody was a teenager living on Guernsey-Muskingum Electric Cooperative lines. His family operated a farm just south of New Concord, on land that now sits within The Wilds wildlife preserve.

On June 10, 1983, Moody, who was selected by GuernseyMuskingum to represent the cooperative, departed for Youth Tour with 29 other teens from rural Ohio. “I remember it as my first experience with a group of people I didn’t know in advance,” Moody said. “The bus ride out was awkward — the ride back was filled with friends.” While in D.C., Moody had the opportunity to meet his House representative — Congressman Clarence Miller, a Lancaster Republican who served in Congress from 1967 to 1993.

Scholarships another example of co-ops’ commitment to education Times change, but one constant is Ohio electric co-ops’ commitment to youth education and development. Each of Ohio’s electric coops conducts a local scholarship program for high school students, and all 24 cooperatives have either

maintained or increased their funding for scholarships over the past five years. In 2016, in addition to local scholarships, Ohio’s Electric Cooperatives awarded $69,600 worth of academic funding to Ohio students. That amount will grow

to $75,600 for this year’s program, with scholarships offered to children of cooperative staff and cooperative members. Between local and statewide programs, Ohio co-ops now grant well over $100,000 in scholarship awards to exceptional young people.

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Greg Moody graced the pages of Country Living magazine a couple of times in 1983 stories about the Youth Tour. In one (above), his group takes a rest on the Capitol steps, and in the other (at left), he’s shown speaking at Guernsey-Muskingum Electric Cooperative’s annual meeting.

Moody cites that meeting as a formative experience in his life. “It’s where I got the bug for political activity,” Moody said. “Youth Tour made government seem more accessible.”

From Youth Tour to the Kasich Administration A few years later, Moody applied as an intern in Congressman Miller’s office, and he credits his Youth Tour experience for giving him the insight and confidence to succeed in government. “When I applied for the internship, I could visualize Congressman Miller’s office and knew where it was relative to the Capitol,” Moody said. “That makes a difference in being able to imagine yourself involved in important decisions.” Moody’s career in public service officially began in the 1990s, when he became a budget associate for the U.S. House Budget Committee. The committee chair at the time, Congressman John Kasich, tasked Moody with researching the impact of Medicaid on federal spending. Since then, Moody has become an influential expert on government health policy, serving in both public and private sectors, working to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of government health programs. In January 2011, Kasich, by then the governor of Ohio, once again enlisted Moody to aid in efforts to improve health care, tapping him as director of the Office of Health Care Transformation. In this role, he is currently responsible for coordinating strategic planning and budgeting across six state health and human services-related agencies. Moody grew from a farm kid in rural Ohio to a

renowned and influential health policy expert — and Youth Tour helped make it happen.  Youth Tour 2017 will be held on June 9-15. Contact your local electric cooperative for full application details and to verify your cooperative participates in the program.

Looking ahead: Youth Tour 2017 Thirty-three years after Greg Moody’s Youth Tour experience, the program has grown and changed in a few notable ways, but the core focus remains: promoting the importance of government and public service to young electric cooperative members. Adam Specht, director of the Ohio’s Electric Cooperatives Youth Tour, encourages any high school sophomore or junior from a co-op family to apply for the program. “In my five years assisting with Youth Tour, I’ve seen many shy, modest young people burst out of their shells — all within a five-day span,” Specht said. “It’s a fantastic opportunity for a high school student to learn more about government and meet some great new friends. “I cannot wait to see what these fantastic young people accomplish in the future. And I hope their experience on Youth Tour contributes to their future success.” —Jeff McCallister

JANUARY 2017

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S T O R Y BY JEFF MCCALLISTER

John Glenn: 1921-2016

Native son remembered as hero, friend to rural America

NO MATTER HOW BIG A HERO HE BECAME, through his pioneering work as a test pilot and astronaut or his service to the state and country as a United States senator, John H. Glenn Jr. never forgot his rural roots — and that made him a friend to electric co-op members everywhere, says Darrel “Cubby” Cubbison, the retired longtime member services manager at Guernsey-Muskingum Electric Cooperative. “John’s father was a plumber in New Concord, and I think that, growing up, they both expected that John would follow in those footsteps,” Cubbison says. “Now, rural people of that time did not have electric water pumps — they didn’t have refrigerators, no electric gadgets, not even lights in the barn, but water, that was the main thing. “I was 4 years old when my family got electricity, right when John was going around with his father to install water pumps at farms all over, and so he was always well aware of what a big deal it was for electricity to come to the rural areas.” Glenn, of course, did not go into the family business. He became the first American to orbit the Earth and was elected to four terms in the U.S. Senate, where he was a champion of issues on aging, science, and nuclear proliferation, among many others. He died Dec. 8 at the Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center in Columbus. He was 95.

Glenn was born July 18, 1921, in Cambridge, and his father moved the family to nearby New Concord two years later, to a home about a three-minute walk from what is now the GMEC office. He met his future wife, Annie, while both were still toddlers, and they remained together until his death. They both attended elementary and high school in New Concord and attended Muskingum College. When the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor, Glenn quit school to enlist and become a military pilot, and he and Annie were married in April 1943 — right after he finished his flight training and earned his commission in the U.S. Marines. After a successful run as a combat pilot and a test pilot, he was selected as one of the original seven Mercury astronauts. He was subsequently chosen to man the Friendship 7 and become the first American in orbit on Feb. 20, 1962 — cementing his status as an American hero. He won his first term in the U.S. Senate in 1974, and remained there until he retired in 1999. He was still a senator, in fact, when he returned to space at age 77 aboard the space shuttle Discovery in 1998. Cubbison’s parents had been friends with Glenn’s — their mothers were neighbors growing up — and Cubbison says he had plenty of contact with Glenn as part of his work for GMEC and in representing 4-H through Ohio State University Extension. “We went to Washington many times while he was there and he always made time for us because he knew what we were talking about was important,” Cubbison says. “You know, he was one of the most honest, honorable people I’ve ever known, and he was also one of the most down-to-earth,” Cubbison says. “Besides all the things everyone knows about, he did a lot of things silently and almost invisibly that made a lot of difference in the lives of everyone in the nation, including for rural America, and he was never very far away in his thoughts from New Concord.” 

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FOR YOUR NEW OHIO'S ELECTRIC COOPERATIVES MEMBER MAGAZINE

7 —

TO A MAILBOX NEAR YOU

 JANUA RY 2017

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Republicans gained one seat in both the Ohio House and the Ohio Senate in the November 8 election. Here is the roster of legislators who will convene Jan. 3 for the 132nd General Assembly.

OHIO SENATE Senator Cliff Hite Senate Building 1 Capitol Square Columbus, OH 43215 Auglaize, Defiance, Fulton, Hancock, Hardin, Henry, Logan, Paulding, Putnam, Van Wert, Williams Senator Randy Gardner Senate Building 1 Capitol Square Columbus, OH 43215 Erie, Fulton, Lucas, Wood

Senator Edna Brown Senate Building 1 Capitol Square Columbus, OH 43215 Lucas Senator Matt Huffman Statehouse 1 Capitol Square Columbus, OH 43215 Allen, Auglaize, Champaign, Shelby, Darke, Logan, Mercer

Senator Kevin Bacon Senate Building 1 Capitol Square Columbus, OH 43215 Franklin

Senator Gayle ManningMajority Whip Senate Building 1 Capitol Square Columbus, OH 43215 Huron, Lorain

Senator Bill Coley Senate Building 1 Capitol Square Columbus, OH 43215 Butler Senator Bill Beagle Senate Building 1 Capitol Square Columbus, OH 43215 Darke, Miami, Montgomery, Preble Senator Peggy Lehner Senate Building 1 Capitol Square Columbus, OH 43215 Montgomery

Senator Joe Uecker Senate Building 1 Capitol Square Columbus, OH 43215 Adams, Brown, Clermont, Lawrence, Scioto Senator Charleta B. Tavares- Asst. Minority Leader Senate Building 1 Capitol Square Columbus, OH 43215 Franklin

Senator Shannon Jones Senate Building 1 Capitol Square Columbus, OH 43215 Butler, Hamilton

Senator Stephanie Kunze Senate Building 1 Capitol Square Columbus, OH 43215 Franklin

Senator Lou Tehrar Senate Building 1 Capitol Square Columbus, OH 43215 Hamilton

Senator Bob Peterson Senate Building 1 Capitol Square Columbus, OH 43215 Pickaway, Clinton, Fayette, Gallia, Highland, Jackson, Pike, Ross, Vinton, Lawrence

Senator Cecil Thomas Senate Building 1 Capitol Square Columbus, OH 43215 Hamilton

Senator Bob D. Hackett Senate Building 1 Capitol Square Columbus, OH 43215 Clark, Madison

Senator Kris Jordan Senate Building 1 Capitol Square Columbus, OH 43215 Delaware, Franklin, Knox Senator Troy Balderson Senate Building 1 Capitol Square Columbus, OH 43215 Athens, Fairfield, Guernsey, Hocking, Morgan, Pickaway, Muskingum Senator Larry Obhof Senate Building 1 Capitol Square Columbus, OH 43215 Richland, Ashland, Holmes, Medina Senator Dave Burke Senate Building 1 Capitol Square Columbus, OH 43215 Crawford, Marion, Morrow, Sandusky, Seneca, Union, Wyandot Senator Frank LaRose Senate Building 1 Capitol Square Columbus, OH 43215 Wayne, Stark Senator Scott Oelslager Senate Building 1 Capitol Square Columbus, OH 43215 Stark Senator Frank Hoagland Senate Building 1 Capitol Square Columbus, OH 43215 Monroe, Noble, Vinton, Washington, Athens, Belmont, Carroll, Harrison, Jefferson, Meigs Senator Jay Hottinger Senate Building 1 Capitol Square Columbus, OH 43215 Coshocton, Holmes, Licking, Perry, Tuscarawas Senator Joe Schiavoni Statehouse 1 Capitol Square Columbus, OH 43215 Columbiana

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OHIO HOUSE Representative Scott Wiggam 77 S. High St. Columbus, OH 43215 Wayne

Representative Bernadine Kent 77 S. High St. Columbus, OH 43215 Franklin

Representative Niraj J. Antani 77 S. High St. Columbus, OH 43215 Montgomery

Representative Mark J. Romanchuk 77 S. High St. Columbus, OH 43215 Richland

Representative Hearcel F. Craig 77 S. High St. Columbus, OH 43215 Franklin

Representative Jeffery S. Rezabek 77 S. High St. Columbus, OH 43215 Preble, Montgomery

Representative Theresa Gavarone 77 S. High St. Columbus, OH 43215 Wood

Representative Thomas E. Brinkman 77 S. High St. Columbus, OH 43215 Hamilton

Representative Mike Ashford 77 S. High St. Columbus, OH 43215 Lucas

Representative Robert R. Cupp 77 S. High St. Columbus, OH 43215 Allen

Representative Jonathan Dever 77 S. High St. Columbus, OH 43215 Hamilton

Representative Teresa Fedor 77 S. High St. Columbus, OH 43215 Lucas

Representative Timothy E. Ginter 77 S. High St. Columbus, OH 43215 Columbiana

Representative Louis W. Blessing III 77 S. High St. Columbus, OH 43215 Hamilton

Representative Michael Sheehy 77 S. High St. Columbus, OH 43215 Lucas

Representative Adam Miller 77 S. High St. Columbus, OH 43215 Franklin

Representative Bill Seitz 77 S. High St. Columbus, OH 43215 Hamilton

Representative Derek Merrin 77 S. High St. Columbus, OH 43215 Lucas, Fulton

Representative Kristin Boggs 77 S. High St. Columbus, OH 43215 Franklin

Representative Brigid Kelly 77 S. High St. Columbus, OH 43215 Hamilton

Representative Kirk Schuring 77 S. High St. Columbus, OH 43215 Stark

Representative Anne Gonzales 77 S. High St. Columbus, OH 43215 Franklin

Representative Catherine Ingram 77 S. High St. Columbus, OH 43215 Hamilton

Representative Thomas West 77 S. High St. Columbus, OH 43215 Stark

Representative Heather Bishoff 77 S. High St. Columbus, OH 43215 Franklin

Representative Alicia Reece 77 S. High St. Columbus, OH 43215 Hamilton

Representative Christina Hagan 77 S. High St. Columbus, OH 43215 Stark

Representative Mike Duffey 77 S. High St. Columbus, OH 43215 Franklin

Representative Marilyn Slaby 77 S. High St. Columbus, OH 43215 Stark, Holmes

Representative Wes Retherford 77 S. High St. Columbus, OH 43215 Butler

Representative David Leland 77 S. High St. Columbus, OH 43215 Franklin

Representative Fred Strahorn 77 S. High St. Columbus, OH 43215 Montgomery

Representative Candice Keller 77 S. High St. Columbus, OH 43215 Butler

Representative Laura Lanese 77 S. High St. Columbus, OH 43215 Franklin

Representative Michael Henne 77 S. High St. Columbus, OH 43215 Montgomery

Representative Margaret Conditt 77 S. High St. Columbus, OH 43215 Butler

Representative Tim Hughes 77 S. High St. Columbus, OH 43215 Franklin

Representative Jim Butler 77 S. High St. Columbus, OH 43215 Montgomery

Representative Paul Zeltwanger 77 S. High St. 77 S. High St. Columbus, OH 43215 Lorain

JANUARY 2017

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CO-OP PEOPLE

S T O R Y A N D P H O T O S BY DA M A I N E V O N A DA

RockmilL Brewery Lancaster-area business’s specialty saisons are good for what ales you “ROLLING HILLS” MAY BE AN apt initial description for the terrain surrounding Rockmill Brewery, but it hardly does justice to a bucolic landscape where knolls and valleys hug the Hocking River’s headwaters, and backroads snake past bountiful fields and whiteboard fences. In that splendidly rural setting near Lancaster, South Central Power Company customer Rockmill Brewery occupies 20 acres of a former horse farm. The stables now contain its brewhouse, and the barn has morphed into a rustically chic tasting room — complete with stone fireplaces and sweeping views 10

of a pristine pond. “Our brewery is only 30 minutes south of Columbus, but it offers an escape where people get out of the city and into the countryside,” says Matthew Barbee, who owns and operates Rockmill Brewery with his mother, Judy Jones. Because his maternal grandfather was a vintner, Barbee developed an appreciation for wine at a young age, and after studying business at Miami University, he even trained as a sommelier in Chicago. While working in California, Barbee discovered the possibilities of beer when he ordered a Saison Dupont at

a restaurant. “The server popped the cork and these wonderful aromatics wafted over me,” Barbee recalls, “I said to myself, ‘Whoa! This isn’t beer.’” Of course, he soon learned that, indeed, saison is beer — specifically a fruity, highly carbonated ale traditionally brewed by farmers in Belgium’s Wallonia region. After a test of the water on his family’s old horse farm revealed that its minerality was similar to Wallonia’s water, Barbee decided to tap that terroir. He returned to Ohio and started a microbrewery specializing in Belgian-style saisons.

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M s

b c b W h t 3 i c h l

s b

The back patio at Rockmill seemingly transports customers to a different time and place, with views of the nearby pond and woods.

Matt Barbee and his mother, Judy Jones, own and operate Rockmill Brewery near Lancaster, which draws in customers for a tasting of their specialty: saisons.

“I studied the Columbus craft brewing scene and had a lot of confidence in my palate,” says Barbee, “but I’m a self-taught brewer.” When the brewery opened in 2010, he made saison one barrel at a time. Today, Rockmill produces 30 barrels weekly, and its offerings include saison, witbier, dubbel, and cask-aged tripel. In homage to its heritage, the brewery’s logo and labels depict horses. Since its tasting room only serves Rockmill ales, customers bring their own food, experiment

with pairings, and enjoy the farm’s ambiance. Barbee, in fact, likens the brewery experience to picnicking. “People feel transported to another place when they’re here,” he says. “We’ve really created our own picnic culture.”  DAMAINE VONADA is a freelance

writer from Xenia. Rockmill Brewery, 5705 Lithopolis Road NW, Lancaster, OH 43130. For information about the brewery and tasting room hours, telephone 740-205-8076 or visit www.rockmillbrewery.com.

Rockmill Tavern Opened in autumn 2016, Rockmill Tavern is a bar and restaurant that brings Rockmill Brewery’s farmstead ales and aesthetic to Columbus’s Brewery District. The menu is small but focuses mightily on foods that complement saisons — cheeses, charcuterie, and Barbee’s personal favorite, ribeye. 503 S. Front St., Columbus, OH 43215; 614-732-4364; www.rockmilltavern.com

JANUARY 2017

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WOODS, WATERS, AND WILDLIFE

Are

COYWOLVES

In 2009, nineteen-year-old Taylor Mitchell was a rising star in Canada’s folk-music world. She had just released her first album, had been invited to perform at the Winnipeg Folk Festival, and was nominated for a Canadian Folk Music Award as Young Performer of the Year. Her life couldn’t have been better. But her life suddenly and violently changed when, in October, she decided to take a break from touring and visited Cape Breton Highlands National Park in Nova Scotia, Canada.

STORY AND PHOTOS BY W. H. “CHIP” GROSS

headed for Ohio?

HIKING ALONE ALONG POPULAR SKYLINE TRAIL, Mitchell was savagely attacked by two, possibly three, coywolves. Two other hikers soon came upon the surreal scene, drove off the coywolves, and contacted park rangers. The mauled young woman was quickly placed on a medical helicopter to Halifax. Unfortunately, due to deep bite wounds over her entire body and extensive blood loss, she died. Wildlife biologists determined the grisly incident to be a deliberate act of predation on the part of coywolves. A cross between a coyote and a wolf, coywolves are wild hybrid canines that differ from coyotes in that they have longer legs, larger jaws, smaller ears, and a longer body (4 to 5 feet, including tail), as well as a bushier tail. Coywolves are also heavier than coyotes, weighing anywhere from 35 to 45 pounds or more. In addition, coywolves tend to hunt in packs like wolves, whereas coyotes hunt by themselves or in pairs. “Coywolves are definitely different from the coyotes we have here in Ohio,” said Suzie Prange, PhD, a furbearer specialist and research biologist with the Ohio Division of Wildlife. “They’re larger because they have a bit more wolf DNA in them. Ohio coyotes tend to have more dog DNA.”

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A coyote (pictured at left) is smaller and more dog-like, while a wolf (pictured below) is burlier and significantly heavier. Coyotes typically outlive wolves in the wild. A coywolf (pictured at top of page 12) is a cross between the two, taking on the wolf-like tendency to hunt in packs.

COYOTE

WOLF

Prange explained that the hybriding process began about a century ago when wolves became extirpated from most of the U.S. east of the Mississippi. As a result, coyotes from western states began moving east, filling that predator niche. When they reached the Great Lakes, the population split, with some coyotes going north of the lakes into Canada and some going south into and through Ohio. Those that went north interbred with wolves, picking up wolf DNA; those that went south interbred with dogs, picking up dog DNA. Coywolves now inhabit eastern Canada, the New England states, and a few states along America’s eastern seaboard. So, are coywolves headed for Ohio? Prange said that she wouldn’t be surprised. “Probably what we’ll eventually see, due to interbreeding, are animals that are a little larger than the current coyotes in Ohio,” she said. “Coywolves are not necessarily more aggressive than coyotes toward hu-

mans and domestic animals, but because of their size, they could potentially be more dangerous to both.” However, Prange quickly added that she is more afraid of coydogs (a coyote-dog hybrid) than she would be of coywolves (a coyote-wolf hybrid), because coydogs are less afraid of humans. “When I’m in the field trapping for research purposes, and I trap a coyote, I’m not afraid of it,” she said. “Using proper techniques, the animal can be easily and safely handled. But if I catch a coydog or even a feral dog, and other such animals are hanging around in a pack, that can be a dangerous situation because those animals have a reduced fear of humans due to the dog DNA they possess.”  W.H. "CHIP" GROSS is Country Living’s outdoors editor. He would like to hear from you about any outdoor-related story you might like him to investigate, and can be reached by email at whchipgross@gmail.com.

JANUARY 2017

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ICON

S T O R Y A N D P H O T O S BY DA M A I N E V O N A DA

The Pine Club Dayton Location: South of downtown Dayton near the University of Dayton campus. Provenance: Housed in an understated brick building that originally contained a grocery store, The Pine Club has been in the same spot ever since Jim Sullivan started the steakhouse in 1947. After buying The Pine Club in the 1950s, Lloyd Meinzer enlarged its bar and dining room but kept the knotty pine paneling that not only inspired the restaurant’s name but also enhances its cozy atmosphere. Current owner David Hulme purchased The Pine Club in 1979. Although he periodically updates equipment, Hulme has carefully preserved the restaurant’s retro character and steaks-and-chops menu. “The Pine Club looks exactly as it did in 1947,” says Hulme. “The bar has the same stools and wooden railing, which is well-worn after 70 years of our wonderful customers’ elbows.” Significance: Now a Dayton landmark, The Pine Club is nationally known for its food and service. In recent years, the Food Network selected The Pine Club as one of the nation’s top two steakhouses; the New York Times named it — along with the “21” Club in New York and Bouillon Chartier in Paris — one of the world’s greatest old dining institutions; and food critics for publications such as Gourmet and Saveur have praised it as a consummate American steakhouse. What’s the secret of its success? Says Hulme: “We work hard to consistently provide value for our customers and build relationships with them.”

Currently: After 70 years in business and four generations of customers, The Pine Club still hand-cuts steaks and makes everything from salad dressings to its ever-popular stewed tomatoes in-house. “The restaurant has served stewed tomatoes every night for 70 years, and I think I’d be run out of town if we ever took them off the menu,” says Hulme. While filet mignon, strip-loin, and bone-in ribeye are The Pine Club’s best-selling steaks, other signature dishes include shrimp cocktail, onion rings, and creamed spinach. In keeping with its old-school atmosphere, The Pine Club doesn’t serve desserts, accept credit cards, or take reservations. Even President George H.W. Bush and wife Barbara had to wait for a table. It’s a little-known fact that: The Pine Club sells a variety of boxes containing its steaks, salad dressings, and stewed tomatoes online, and every order includes Pine Club placemats and cocktail napkins.  The Pine Club, 1926 Brown St., Dayton, OH 45409. Opens at 4 p.m. Mon.–Sat. For additional information, telephone 937-228-5371 or visit www.thepineclub.com.

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FOOD SCENE

SOUP’S ON! There’s nothing like a bowl of hot soup to chase away wintertime chills. Made in a slow cooker or a Dutch oven, a fragrant concoction of meat, vegetables, and other ingredients provides a hearty ‘welcome home’ at the end of the day — with leftovers ideal for later lunches.

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R E C I P E S BY M A R G I E W U E B K E R A N D D I A N E YOA K A M P H O T O S BY C H E R Y L B AC H

FOOD SCENE

Wintertime Beef and Barley Soup 2 lbs. beef stew meat, cut into 1-inch pieces 1 Tbsp. canola oil 5 cups water 4 medium carrots, chopped 4 celery ribs, chopped 1 large onion, chopped 1 can (14½ oz.) diced tomatoes, undrained 2 Tbsp. tomato paste 1/3 cup frozen peas 4 tsp. beef bouillon granules 1 tsp. dried oregano 1 tsp. thyme

1 tsp. basil 1 tsp. parsley flakes ½ tsp. salt ¼ tsp. pepper 1 cup quick-cooking barley In a Dutch oven, brown meat in oil on all sides; drain. Add water, carrots, celery, onion, tomatoes, tomato paste, peas, bouillon, and seasonings. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 50 minutes or until meat is tender. Stir in barley; cover and simmer an additional 10 to 15 minutes longer or until barley is tender. Yields 8 servings.

Bean and Barley Soup

4 tsp. olive oil 1 large onion, chopped 1 medium fennel bulb, cored and chopped 1 clove garlic, minced 1 tsp. dried basil 1 (15 oz.) can cannellini or other white beans, rinsed 1 (14 oz.) can fire-roasted diced tomatoes 6 cups low-sodium vegetable broth ¾ cup quick-cooking barley 1 (5 oz.) package baby spinach ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese ¼ tsp. black pepper

Heat oil in large pot over medium-high heat. Add onion, fennel, garlic, and basil; cook, stirring frequently, until tender and just beginning to brown, 6 to 8 minutes. Mash ½ cup beans. Stir the mashed and whole beans, tomatoes, broth, and barley into the pot. Bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce heat to medium and simmer, stirring occasionally, until the barley is tender, about 15 minutes. Stir in spinach and cook until wilted, about 1 minute. Remove from heat and stir in cheese and pepper. Yields 6 to 8 servings. Per serving: 322 calories, 3.9 g total fat (0.5 g saturated fat), 19.3 g fiber and 18 g protein.

Lite Chicken Chili

4 cups chopped yellow onions (about 3 onions) 3 tsp. olive oil, plus more for chicken 1/8 cup minced garlic 2 red bell peppers, cored, seeded, and diced 2 yellow bell peppers, cored, seeded, and diced 1 tsp. chili powder 1 tsp. ground cumin ¼ tsp. cayenne pepper, or to taste 2 tsp. sea salt, plus more for chicken 2 (28 oz.) cans whole peeled tomatoes, undrained ¼ cup fresh basil, minced 3 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces Freshly ground black pepper

In large pot, cook onions in oil over medium-low heat for 10 to 15 minutes, until translucent. Add garlic and cook for 1 more minute. Add bell peppers, spices, and salt. Cook for another minute, until fragrant. Crush tomatoes by hand or pulse 6 to 8 times using food processor until coarsely chopped. Add tomatoes and basil to the pot and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer, uncovered, for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add diced raw chicken and simmer another 20 minutes. Season to taste with black pepper. Makes 6 servings. Per serving: 244 calories, 8.5 g total fat (1.9 g saturated fat), 4.3 g fiber and 24 g protein.

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M H

WHITE CHICKEN CHILI

2 whole skinless ch icken breasts 6 cups water 2 chopped onions 1 medium green pepper, diced 1 Tbsp. vegetable oil 2 garlic cloves, mi nced 2 to 3 4-oz. cans chopped green chilies 1 to 2 diced jalape no peppers (remove seed and membrane to lessen heat) 2 tsp. ground cumi n

1-1/2 tsp. dried or egano 1/4 tsp. cayenne pepper 1/2 tsp. salt 3-lb. jar navy bean s, undrained* 1 to 2 cups shredd ed cheese Sour cream Salsa

Place chicken in 5-quart slow cook er. Add water. Cover and cook on low 3 to 4 ho urs or until t ender. Remove ch icken from slow cooker, leaving broth. Cube and se t aside. Sauté onio ns and green peppers in oil in skillet about 3 to 5 minutes until softened. Add ga rlic and cook un til fragrant, 30 to 60 seconds long er. Add chilies, ja lapeno peppers, cumin, oregano, pe pper, and salt. Saut é 2 minutes before transferrin g to chicken brot h in slow cooker. Add navy beans. Cover and cook on low 30 to 60 minutes. Add chick en and cheese be fore serving, allowing meat to warm and cheese to melt. Top with sour cream and sa lsa before serving. *Note: To use dried navy beans, cover 3 cups navy beans with water in a saucepan, so aking overnight. Drain in the morn ing and cover wi th fresh water. Cook in saucepan on low 7 to 8 hour s or until t ender. Drain exce ss moisture before stirring into chicken and brot h. Yields 6 to 8 se rvings.

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local Pages Lorain-Medina Rural Electric Cooperative

22898 West Road | P.O. Box 158 | Wellington, Ohio 44090 440-647-2133 or 1-800-222-LMRE www.lmre.org

LMRE to add solar energy to its power mix BY TERRY MAZZONE, DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS, MEMBER AND COMMUNITY RELATIONS

A new community solar program from Lorain-Medina Rural Electric Cooperative will be making renewable energy easy and affordable for its members. The OurSolar program gives LMRE members the opportunity to purchase subscriptions to the electricity produced by panels at a solar array to be located behind LMRE’s office in Wellington Township. Members can subscribe to the output from up to five panels, and LMRE will measure the energy produced by each panel every month and calculate it into the member’s bill. The cooperative expects to break ground on the solar array in late February or early March. The new program is expected to roll out this summer. “At LMRE, we believe in strength in numbers,” said Markus Bryant, LMRE general manager. “Installing a renewable energy project on your own can be expensive and difficult for most people. However, by working together as a cooperative, we can make it a more affordable and viable option.” On a first-come, first-served basis, members will be able to purchase the energy output of as many as five panels in 1-, 5-, or 10-year subscriptions. A five-panel subscription is estimated to generate approximately 175 to 200 kilowatt-hours (kWh) per month, which is 15 to 20 percent of an average member’s monthly energy use. It is estimated that each panel will produce about

400 kWh annually. The typical LMRE residential member uses about 15,000 kWh annually. The LMRE project is part of Ohio electric cooperatives’ $4 million investment in OurSolar. Twenty-three cooperatives from across the state are participating. OurSolar reflects LMRE’s balanced approach to electricity generation. While most of the power supplied to LMRE will continue to be produced by coal-fired generators that are among the cleanest of their kind in the world, OurSolar gives cooperative members the option to supplement that baseload power — that is, coal-based electricity production that is highly reliable and always available — with locally produced renewable energy. “Our goal remains delivering power to our members at the lowest possible cost,” Bryant said. “As part of that goal, we want to give our members the option of adding renewables to their energy mix in the easiest and least expensive way possible. It also will give LMRE and Ohio’s electric cooperatives experience in integrating solar energy into our power mix.” A subscription to a single panel is expected to cost less than $2 per month. Joining the program requires a commitment of at least one year, but in the event of a home move, participating members can transfer their subscription to another LMRE member. 

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HIGH SCHOOL SOPHOMORES AND JUNIORS:

Pictured in front of the Supreme Court Building are Lorain-Medina Rural Electric Youth Tour representatives from Black River, Samuel Brantley (left) and Jonathan Meredith, during their all-expenses-paid, weeklong trip to Washington, D.C.

Interested in a life-changing leadership experience in Washington, D.C.?

June 9-15 While on Youth Tour, you’ll visit: World War II Memorial Jefferson Memorial White House United States Capitol Supreme Court Smithsonian Institution Lincoln Memorial Vietnam War Memorial Korean War Memorial Washington National Cathedral Arlington National Cemetery ... and much more!

What is Youth Tour?

The Ohio’s Electric Cooperatives Youth Tour is an annual leadership program sponsored by Lorain-Medina Rural Electric. It’s a weeklong, all-expenses-paid trip to Washington, D.C., that gives high school students the opportunity to meet with their congressional leaders at the U.S. Capitol, make new friends from across the state and country, and see many of the famous Washington sites. Electric cooperatives from 43 states will send about 1,600 students this year for the annual tour. Will you be one of them?

To apply for the Youth Tour... Successful applicants: • must be a high school sophomore or junior. • must be a son, daughter, or legal ward of a Lorain-Medina Rural Electric member living on the cooperative’s lines and receiving electric service from the cooperative at the time of selection.

Application deadline is Feb. 24 Applicants will receive the information necessary to study for the test when their application is received.

• must submit an application along with grade transcripts indicating cumulative credit hours and grade-point average. • must submit a letter of recommendation from a guidance counselor, principal, teacher, or community or organization advisor. Applicants will be required to take a test consisting of true/ false and short essay questions about electric cooperatives on March 9.

For more information and to apply, visit www.lmre.org or call Lorain-Medina Rural Electric at 1-800-222-LMRE. 20

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local Pages Lorain-Medina Rural Electric Cooperative

Rate adjustments effective Jan. 1 BY BRIAN E. BARR, ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS AND MARKETING

Residential Rate Schedule Comparison The new residential rate schedule for Lorain-Medina Cooperative Service and Fees Rural Electric Cooperative will be effective Jan. 1 and Schedule TOD-A will be reflected on members’ February bills. 2016 Rate New Rate The difference between on-peak and off-peak elecBasic Service Charge $28.25 $30.25 tric generation charges will increase from 2.5 to 3 First 1,000 kWh $.022577 $.023072 cents per kilowatt-hour (kWh). This change in the Over 1,000 kWh $.016405 $.016913 difference between on-peak and off-peak generation Purchase Power Charges charges is not a rate increase. When the rate difference *Schedule TOD-A — Single-Phase General Service Rate is altered, the on-peak rate increases while the off-peak On-peak hours rate decreases proportionately. per kWh $.095183 $.097917 “The actual cost spread between on-peak and offOff-peak hours peak hours is between 3.5 to 4 cents per kWh,” Loper kWh $.070183 $.067917 rain-Medina Rural Electric General Manager Markus *Table does not include the purchased power adjustment, Bryant said. “To reach that point, the cooperative has which varies month-to-month based on the cost of power. been gradually increasing the spread annually by oneWINTER TIME-OF-DAY SCHEDULE half cent per kWh.” Sept 23 - May 22 On-peak hours: 6-9 a.m. and 5-10 p.m. weekdays and Thanksgiving This change in the time-of-day rate better reflects Off-peak hours: weekends, Christmas, and New Year's Day the cost of power purchased from Buckeye Power, LMSUMMER TIME-OF-DAY SCHEDULE RE’s wholesale power supplier. On-peak hours refer May 23 - Sept 22 to times when electricity demand is the highest and On-peak hours: 2-10 p.m. weekdays Off-peak hours: weekends, Memorial Day, Independence Day, and Labor Day therefore more expensive. Off-peak hours occur during periods of lower consumption, which is less expensive. The basic service charge will increase from $28.25 to $30.25. This fee has been adjusted annually for the past eight years. Members pay the basic service charge regardless of how much electricity is used each month. It offsets some of the fixed costs of providing electric service, such as the cost of poles, wires, transformers, and other necessary equipment. The increase in the monthly service charge allows the cooperative to keep pace with ongoing maintenance and replacements to its 1,530 miles of distribution lines.

Peak alerts possible during

cold winter weather

Subzero winter weather may lead to peak alerts being issued by Lorain-Medina Rural Electric Cooperative and the 23 other electric cooperatives serving Ohio. The Polar Vortex of 2014 was the first time in several years that LMRE and the Ohio electric cooperatives had to “shed load,” or reduce electricity use, in the winter to keep power generation costs in check. Over the past several years, Ohio cooperatives have become summer-peaking utilities, and load-shedding during the winter months was not necessary. A peak alert does not mean LMRE’s wholesale power supplier, Buckeye Power, is unable to meet the electric generation need of Ohio’s electric cooperatives. Rather, it is a significant cost-controlling method that helps keep rates in check. If necessary, peak alert notices will be posted on LMRE’s website, www.lmre.org, on Facebook, through e-mail, and aired on local radio stations (WEOL, WOBL, WDLW, WNCO).

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In The Spotlight Alignments and brakes are only the beginning at Jack’s in Brighton Township

BY BRIAN E. BARR, ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS AND MARKETING

Jack Gugliemotto always dreamed of owning an auto repair shop. Fifteen years ago, he brought that dream to life. “I worked for another company for 15 years, and I knew when I bought this property with the buildings that I was going to open my own business,” Gugliemotto said. Gugliemotto opened Jack’s Alignment and Brake Service on Sept. 10, 2001, as he puts it, “the day before the big day.”

Employee Andy Whitmann makes repairs on a customer’s truck.

Jack Gugliemotto takes pride in keeping his customers on the road.

“I’m a very goal-oriented person,” Gugliemotto said. “When you work for someone else, you only have so much control of your goals, and I didn’t like that. I like to have more open doors.” Don’t let the “alignment and brake” name fool you. Gugliemotto and his employee, Andy Wittman, perform most general automotive repairs on cars and light trucks. “Andy and I do just about all general auto repair, including suspension, front end, new tire mounting and balancing, computer diagnostics, emissions, and even some exhaust work,” Gugliemotto said. He typically discusses the possible problems with the customer before he begins his work. “I want to be honest and let them know the 20B

range of possibilities,” Gugliemotto said. “It’s just the honest thing to do. It’s being realistic.” Gugliemotto says this level of communication is why so many people trust him with their vehicles. “I always find out why you’re bringing your car in,” he said. “Not what you think is wrong with it. Tell me what you’re experiencing and that helps us determine what really needs fixed.” Winter driving can be hazardous, but having a vehicle in proper driving condition can go a long way to help avoid accidents, Gugliemotto said. “In winter, the number one priority is tires,” he said. “Proper tread is needed for traction, especially on snowy, slushy roads. Brakes need to work properly for best stopping. The coolant system is important, too. If your car won’t heat up, it can’t defrost the windshield. Wipers help with visibility, too. But beyond wipers, the washer fluid tank and pump need to work, and be sure to use proper washer fluid for winter. Those are a must for safely driving in our bad winters. Those are all critical. You have to be able to see, control, and stop.” 

Jack’s Alignment and Brake Service 48240 St. Rte. 18, Wellington, Ohio 44090 440-647-0609; jacksbrake@gmail.com

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local Pages Lorain-Medina Rural Electric Cooperative

People Fund grant brings vision to department Wellington Fire District upgrades masks with state-of-the-art thermal imaging units BY BRIAN E. BARR, ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS AND MARKETING

The Lorain-Medina Rural Electric People Fund awarded the Wellington Fire District a grant for nearly $4,400 to purchase four thermal imaging cameras. These Scott Sight thermal imaging units are attached to the firefighters’ masks for hands-free use. “They allow our firefighters to see through heavy smoke to see hot spots in a structure that are normally obstructed by the heavy smoke,” Assistant Fire Chief Bill Brown said. “These small units allow our firefighters to look at a small screen out of the corner of their eye,” Fire Chief Mike Wetherbee said. “They replace much larger, bulky pieces of equipment.” They were told they are among the first to A firefighter mask with a thermal imaging unit attached (left). The Scott acquire this state-of-the-art technology that will Sight thermal imaging unit ready to be attached to a mask (right). help limit property damage and possibly even save lives. The Wellington Fire District is one of the largest districts in Ohio, covering 125 square miles, including Wellington, Brighton, Huntington, Penfield, and Pittsfield townships in southern Lorain County, plus the village of Wellington. This is essentially the same area where many LMRE members live and work. “I want to say thank you to everyone who contributes to LMRE’s People Fund,” Wetherbee said. “We appreciate being supported the way we are, and LMRE is certainly a large supporter of the Wellington Fire Department. We appreciate being able to work alongside LMRE to help the residents of the townships we cover.” 

(Above) A thermal image, as seen by firefighters using the new thermal imaging units. (Right) The new Scott Sight thermal imaging units are small and lightweight. JANUARY 2017

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2016 election pendulum swing BY MARKUS I. BRYANT, GENERAL MANAGER

’m sure you are as relieved as I am that the 2016 elections are behind us, along with the television and radio ads, political mail, and telephone survey/fundraising calls. Later this month, a new president will be sworn in, and many are wondering what the future really holds. This is especially true of your local electric cooperative, our Ohio Rural Electric Cooperatives statewide association, and our National Rural Electric Cooperative Association. We are preparing to deal with major shifts in national energy and environmental policies. Two things are immediately apparent about the 2016 presidential election. It was both a “pocketbook” and a “pendulum” election. This month’s cartoon illustrates both qualities. As you can see, Mr. Wallet and Ms. Purse are thinking about possible changes in U.S. energy and envi-

Part 64

ronmental policy direction. It was a “pocketbook” election because the voters were clearly worried about the lack of job growth, keeping their jobs, and the general lack of wage growth, all of which are needed to put spendable income in the voters’ wallets and purses. They also were concerned about the impact of increasing government regulations on businesses contributing to the slow growth in jobs and wages, and threatening job security as higher costs were sending U.S. companies offshore.

The pocketbook rules

A cooperative must stay closely connected to its members. We know from long experience that our members expect reliable electric service at an affordable cost. That is why my first Emperor’s New Clothes editorial in October 2010 stated we would examine energy and environmental policy with a four-part yardstick: Is it affordable, reliable, fair, and achievable? The bottom line in serving our members’ electricity

U.S. ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY PENDULUM Obama – U.S. “global warming” priority

Trump – U.S. “energy independence” priority

1. Signed U.N. Paris climate agreement with U.S. funding $3 to $4 billion for global warming programs 2. EPA Clean Power Plan (CPP) to reduce carbon emissions in the electric industry 3. Restrict production of coal, oil, and natural gas by regulations

1. Cancel Paris agreement and stop payments to U.N. global warming programs to reduce carbon emissions 2. Rescind “job-destroying” EPA regulations, including CPP 3. Save coal industry, approve Keystone pipeline, and eliminate moratoriums on energy production on federal lands and restrictions on new drilling technologies 4. Promote all energy sources to achieve American energy dominance and independence, don’t pick energy “winners and losers,” and remove obstacles to exploration

4. Promote and subsidize wind and solar as the preferred energy sources to reduce coal, oil, and natural gas use to reduce carbon emissions 5. Environmental regulations, such as “social cost of carbon,” should focus on long-term global warming threats — 50 to 100 years in the future 6. Federal regulations test: Does it promote environmental goals? 20D

5. Environmental regulations should focus on “real” immediate clean air and drinking water problems, such as Flint, MI, water quality emergency 6. Federal regulations test: Is it good for the American worker?

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local Pages Lorain-Medina Rural Electric Cooperative

needs is that the power flows when they flip the switch and their electric bill is affordable. In my experience serving our members, all other issues are really secondary. October 2010 also was near the middle of President Obama’s first term. We had realized by then that he was really serious about keeping his campaign promise quoted in a Jan. 17, 2008, San Francisco Chronicle interview: “Under my plan of Cap-and-Trade, electricity rates would skyrocket,” and “so if somebody wants to build a coal-powered plant, they can; it’s just that it will bankrupt them because they’re going to be charged a huge sum for all that greenhouse gas that’s being emitted.” So for the last eight years, much of your local cooperative’s board and management’s time, as well as that of the leadership of our statewide and national associations, has been spent on defense trying to prevent President Obama from being successful in keeping his promise. With the help of our members, through their letters, postcards, and membership in ACRE Cooperative Owners for Political Action®, we have been mostly successful. We prevented our coal power plants from being bankrupted and we still supply competitively priced electricity today. However,

under the Environmental Protection Agency’s current rules, no one can build a new coal-fired power plant without a carbon dioxide capture and storage system, which has not yet been economically and successfully demonstrated.

The pendulum swing

It was a “pendulum” election because candidate Clinton basically campaigned to continue and/or build upon President Obama’s energy and environmental policies. However, candidate Trump’s campaign policies are almost exactly opposite as shown by the “U.S. Energy and Environmental Policy Pendulum” chart on page 20D. This doesn’t mean we can now declare victory and quit paying attention to U.S. energy and environmental policy debates. Your board and I, along with our statewide and national associations, will continue to keep watch and actively participate in the political process. We ask you to keep informed and continue your participation in Co-op Owners for Political Action. If you aren’t already a member, please consider joining. Information on Co-op Owners for Political Action can be found at www.lmre.org. As one of my trustees often says, “If you aren’t at the political table, you’ll likely wind up on the menu.” 

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Notice of Nondiscrimination In accordance with federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its agencies, offices, employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity (including gender expression), sexual orientation, disability, age, marital status, family/parental status, income derived from a public assistance program, political beliefs, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity, in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA (not all bases apply to all programs). Remedies and complaint filing deadlines vary by program or incident. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.) should contact the responsible Agency or USDA’s TARGET Center at 202-720-2600 (voice and TTY) or contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at 800-8778339. Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English. To file a program discrimination complaint, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, AD-3027, found online at http://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint_filing_cust.

html and at any USDA office, or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint form, call 866-632-9992. Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by: (1) mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights 1400 Independence Avenue, SW Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; (2) fax: 202-690-7442; or (3) e-mail: program.intake@usda.gov. This institution is an equal opportunity provider.

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The office is closed Jan. 2. We wish you a safe and happy holiday season! Emergency service is available at 440-647-2133 or 1-800-222-LMRE.

Board of Trustees

Local Page Editors

Rodney L. Eaton, President.............. District 4 Gary L. Rowland, Vice President.....District 1 James R. McConnell, Secretary........ District 2 Keith E. Lowe, Treasurer................... District 8 Richard K. Indoe, Trustee................ .District 9 Judy A. Pickworth, Trustee................District 5 Roy R. Norris, Trustee........................ District 6 Brenda J. Wolfe, Trustee....................District 7 Kathleen Norton Fox, Trustee......... .District 3

Terry F. Mazzone, CCC Teri E. Lease, Communications Manager

General manager

Office Hours 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. Weekdays *** 24-hour Night Depository Access *** Budget billing, Co-op AutoPay, E-Bill payment programs available *** Bills due 24th of month

Lorain-Medina Rural Electric Cooperative 22898 West Road P.O. Box 158 Wellington, Ohio 44090 Office and Trouble Calls: 440-647-2133 Toll-Free: 1-800-222-LMRE www.lmre.org E-mail: lmre@fesco-oh.org

Markus I. Bryant

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local Pages Lorain-Medina Rural Electric Cooperative

Graduating Seniors:

Have you overcome unique and significant personal challenges on your way to academic excellence? Earn the Touchstone Energy® Achievement scholarship!

Earn up to

$3,100

in scholarships • $1,000 scholarship from Lorain-Medina Rural Electric • $2,100 statewide scholarship from Ohio’s Electric Cooperatives • Application deadline: Jan. 20 to Lorain-Medina Rural Electric office

Do you have a child graduating this year?

• Find it online at www.lmre.org • Call the co-op at 1-800-222-LMRE or stop by the co-op office • Pick one up from your high school guidance counselor

If so, he or she could earn up to

$6,500

IN SCHOLARSHIPS

The two first-place winners will be eligible to earn up to $3,500 in additional scholarship money from Ohio’s Electric Cooperatives. They will travel to Columbus on April 12for the statewide scholarship competition. Applicants who have received “fullride” scholarships (i.e., scholarships that cover the cost of tuition, room, board, and books) to the schools of their choice are not eligible for scholarships from LMRE or statewide scholarships from Ohio’s Electric Cooperatives. Applicants must be graduating seniors who have all basic credits for college or proper vocational or technical school entrance.

To get an application:

The finalists in the LMRE scholarship competition will be interviewed on March 2.

Application must be received by Lorain-Medina Rural Electric Cooperative no later than Jan. 20.

Applicant must be the child or legal ward of an LMRE permanent residential member receiving service for the duration of the 2016-2017 academic year (Aug. 2016-June 2017).

Applicants must have a cumulative grade-point average of 3.5 or above on a 4.0 scale or an equivalent standing on a nontraditional scale.

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Applications due Jan. 20, 2017, to LMRE office

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Don Foster

Clearing the Air Replace air filters regularly for efficient heating and cooling More than half of your monthly energy bill goes toward keeping your home comfortable. While air filters prevent pesky dust and annoying allergens from clogging your heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system, dirt — like plaque in aging arteries — builds up over time. If left unchecked, a dirty filter strains a home’s heart and forces the HVAC system to work harder to push conditioned air through tight spaces. This results in higher energy bills and—potentially—system failure. Checking, changing, or cleaning your filter once a month saves money and extends the life of your home’s HVAC system. To help schedule monthly checkups, write the date on the side of the filter so you know when it needs to be checked again.

Filter facts

Successful filters have a short life span — the better a filter catches dirt, the faster it gets clogged and must be cleaned or replaced. Leaving a dirty air filter in place cuts a home’s air quality and reduces HVAC system airflow. A clogged air filter makes the unit work harder to move air. It can actually make your blower motor use more amperage because it needs to work harder to move the air. More amperage means more electricity, and more electricity used means more cost for you. While removing a clogged filter altogether relieves pressure on the system, the system can’t perform well without one. Unfiltered dust and grime accumulate on critical parts like the evaporator coil, causing unnecessary wear and tear.

Monthly checkup

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) advises checking an air filter once a month and replacing it at least every three months. It’s critical to inspect and replace filters before seasons of heavy use, like summer and winter. If you have pets or smokers in the home, filters clog quickly. Remodeling projects or furniture sand20H

ing adds more dirt than normal; a filter may need to be changed before the average three-month life span expires. Turn your heating and cooling system off before checking your filter. Slide the filter out of your ductwork, and look for layers of hair and dirt. Run a finger across the filter. If the finger comes away dirty or there’s a line left on the filter, it’s time for a change. When replacing the filter, make sure the arrow on the filter indicating the direction of the airflow points toward the blower motor. To help schedule monthly checkups, write the date on the side of the filter so you know when it needs to be checked again. Once you’ve made the change, turn your system back on. Want more ways to save? Take the home energy savings tour and see how little changes add up to big savings at www.TogetherWeSave.com.  Sources: ENERGY STAR, U.S. Department of Energy, American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers, Environmental Protection Agency, Home Depot, 3M, Permatron.

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local Pages Lorain-Medina Rural Electric Cooperative

Heat up some savings with a new water heater A rebate from Lorain-Medina Rural Electric will put $125 to $500 in your pocket Lorain-Medina Rural Electric Cooperative offers rebates for the installation of a qualified electric water heater. The cooperative has energy-efficient, commercial-grade Marathon water heaters available for members.* Rebates range from $125 to $500, depending on the size and type of water heater. Members receive a $1.50 monthly credit on their electric bill for installing the required load control switch. Some of the requirements include: - Must be a minimum 50-gallon tank - Must be greater than 91 percent efficiency - Must install a load control switch on the electric elements Call 440-647-2133 or 1-800-222-LMRE for more details. *Installation and 10-year service plan no longer offered.

Time to replace your old refrigerator or freezer? LMRE now offers $100 rebate Take advantage of Lorain-Medina Rural Electric Cooperative’s $100 rebate for new ENERGY STAR®-rated refrigerators and freezers. Plus, a new ENERGY STAR-rated appliance will save up to 25 percent of the cost to operate that old appliance. To receive the rebate, members must show proof of purchase and proof of disposal or of recycling of the old appliance. The cooperative offers rebates for insulation and duct sealing, digital thermostats, geothermal upgrades, and more. For more information regarding any rebate program, call 440-647-2133 or 1-800-222-LMRE.

JANUARY 2017

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Plocal ages Lorain-Medina Rural Electric Cooperative electric water heater from the cooperative or another source. Some of the requirements include: • must be a minimum 50-gallon tank • must be greater than 91 percent efficiency • must have a load control switch installed

Electric Water Heater Rebate Lorain-Medina Rural Electric is offering a rebate to its members for the installation of a new, qualified electric water heater. Members may purchase an energy-efficient, commercial-grade Marathon

Rebates range from $125 to $500, depending on the electric water heater purchased. Members will also receive a $1.50 monthly credit on their electric bill for installing the required load control switch. The cooperative has a list of qualified water heater installers. Contact the member services department at 440-647-2133 or 800-222-5673 or by e-mail at lmrememberservices@fesco-oh.org for more information about this rebate and all other rebates available.

Bundle up for winter storms Are you ready for winter’s cold grasp? Snow and ice are inevitable when dealing with winter storms, but being prepared can make a world of difference. Lorain-Medina Rural Electric recommends the following tips to help you prepare for wintry blasts. Prepare a winter survival kit Severe winter storms often bring heavy accumulation of ice and snow, which can lead to downed power lines and extended outages. LMRE crews will work hard to restore power, but having a winter survival kit on hand is a smart idea. • Food: Store food that does not require cooking, such as canned goods, crackers, dehydrated meats, and dried fruit. Keep a large supply of water on hand. Ready.gov recommends 5 gallons per person. • Medication: Be sure to refill all prescriptions in the event of a major power outage. • Identification: Keep all forms of identification handy, such as driver’s licenses, photo IDs, and Social Security cards. Bank account information and insurance policies are also good to have on hand. • Other items: First aid kit, blankets, flashlight, battery-powered radio, and batteries.

Stay warm and safe If an outage occurs, you should plan for an alternate heating source. A fireplace, propane space heater, or wood-burning stove would be sufficient. Fuel and wood-burning heating sources should always be vented, and make sure carbon monoxide and smoke detectors are working properly. Always practice extreme caution when using alternate heating sources. Follow these tips, and your family will stay warm in the event of a power outage. For more information on preparing for winter storms, visit www.ready.gov.

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S T O R Y BY DA M A I N E V O N A DA

THE

ICE MEN

COMETH

Perrysburg’s Winterfest is one of several 2017 festivals that will feature some of the world's best ice sculptors

Chad Hartson sits in a 2017 Lamborghini he carved out of ice for the 2016 Detroit International Auto Show.

JANUARY 2017

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Courtesy Butler County Visitors and Convention Bureau

THE HIGHLIGHT OF February’s Winterfest in Perrysburg will be the U.S. National Ice Carving Championship, but Chad Hartson, who owns one of the nation’s largest ice-sculpting companies — Ice Creations in Napoleon — and is himself a former world champion, won’t be a contender. “The National Ice Carving Association (NICA) sanctions the event,” explains Hartson. “Since I’m president of its board and helping organize the championship, I can’t be competing too.” A veteran of more than 100 ice-sculpting contests, Hartson led a team that carved seven fullsized cars — ranging from a 1957 Chevy to a 2017 Lamborghini — out of ice for Detroit’s 2016 International Auto Show. At Winterfest, not only will he be demonstrating his talents, but his company also is supplying the blocks of ice for the U.S. Nationals. “It’s the qualifying event for the cultural side of the Winter Olympics and will bring top ice sculptors to Perrysburg,” says Hartson. 24

Like many professional ice sculptors, Hartson was introduced to carving in culinary school. As a teenager, he worked in a restaurant in his hometown of Wauseon and later enrolled in the University of Akron’s culinary arts program with the goal of becoming a chef. The curriculum included learning to carve fruits and vegetables into decorative shapes, but Hartson further honed his skills by studying sculpture at the university. “I was able to take sculpture classes at the same time as I was getting culinary training,” he says. “Those classes led me into other art forms like ice, sand, and salt, and they helped me to refine what I do.” After culinary school, Hartson shifted from chef to sculptor and started Ice Creations in 1998. Today, he appears in the Food Network’s food art competitions, and his company produces everything from bagged ice cubes to drink luges to elegant ice centerpieces with state-of the-art computerized equipment.

opposite: W.C. Johnston/Getty Images

Damaine Vonada (2)

The ice sculptures (above) are always a big draw at the Hamilton IceFest, coming January 20–21. Fans and festival-goers are treated to a nearly endless variety of subjects.

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l cou purchases last. Non-transferable. Origina Offer good while supplies4/21/17. Limit one coupon per customer per day. presented. Valid through

Courtesy Chad Hartson/Ice Creations Damaine Vonada

Ice-A-Fair, Vermilion, Feb. 4, 2017 — the harbor town provides a picturesque setting for 60+ ice sculptures, Lolly the Trolley rides, and a flaming finale, the “Fire & Ice” tower. 440-963-0772; www. mainstreetvermilion.org Winterfest, Bowling Green, Feb. 10-12, 2017 — besides ice sculptures, it offers ice skating and hockey. 800-866-0046; www.visitbgohio.org Medina Ice Festival, Medina, Feb. 18-19, 2017 — luminous ice sculptures make Medina’s town square seem magical. www.mainstreetmedina.com

For more information, go to HarborFreight.com or see store associate.

Mohican Winter Fest, Loudonville, Jan. 13-17, 2017 — showcasing carvings by Aaron Costic from Broadview Heights’s Elegant Ice Creations, it includes ice dancing and model trains. 419-994-2519; www.discovermohican.com IceFest, Hamilton, Jan. 20-21, 2017 — the “City of Sculpture” is ideal for ice carvings, and this biennial event will present space-themed sculptures. www.cityofsculpture.org; www.gettothebc.com/ events.

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When Hartson began his business, ice sculptures were a luxury item only seen at highend weddings and country club parties. Recent advances in tools and technology have dramatically reduced the man-hours needed to complete an ice sculpture, making them more affordable and sophisticated. “Twenty years ago,” notes Hartson, “we didn’t have the power tools, specialty bits, or die grinders that have resulted in today’s much more detailed and elaborate structures.” As ice sculptures increased in popularity, so did seasonal festivals where artful carvings helped to chase away the winter blues. “Ice sculpting events are a good fit for towns like Perrysburg that are lively during winter,” says Hartson. “They get people out of the house, bring them downtown, and help them be more active.” According to chairperson Kati McDougle, Winterfest 2017 will feature about 200 different ice sculptures that are either created during the competition or commissioned by Perrysburg businesses and organizations. The three-day event also includes wine and beer tastings, unique edibles from local restaurants, and an entertaining children’s area complete with costumed superheroes. “At Winterfest,” says McDougle, “people can do some shopping, enjoy all the activities, and watch ice sculptors bring their beautiful carvings to life.” 

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Courtesy Chad Hartson/Ice Creations

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JANUARY 2017

S T O R Y A N D P H O T O S BY DA M A I N E V O N A DA

UNIVERSAL

LETTERING

Van Wert company made – and still makes! – history with the FFA jacket WHEN GENERAL MANAGER Cory Hoops gives tours of the Universal Lettering Company’s Van Wert facility to Future Farmers of America (FFA) members, it’s often an eye-opening experience for them. “I remember this schoolgirl telling us she had no idea that so much labor goes into producing FFA jackets,” says Hoops. “She was excited and amazed to see how hers was made.” Started in the 1920s to provide agricultural education, work experiences, and leadership training to farmboys, the National FFA Organization has evolved

into a congressionally chartered, intra-curricular organization that now includes girls, with specific provisions for including minorities and city kids. Some middle school and collegiate chapters exist, but most FFA members are high-schoolers studying everything from aquaculture and agribusiness to food science and natural resources. While the Indianapolis-based organization has experienced growth and change over the years, two FFA icons have remained constant — the blue and gold

the

On the wall at Universal Lettering is a display of FFA jackets from different eras — though they have stayed mostly the same since their 1933 debut. 28

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Anatomy of the

EMBLEM

Dating back to 1928, the venerable Future Farmers of America emblem that appears on members’ jackets consists of several symbols representing the FFA and agriculture. Here’s a guide to the emblem’s elements and their meanings. Eagle: Freedom Adapted from the U.S. coat of arms, the emblem’s eagle stands for our freedom and our ability to explore new agricultural horizons. Agricultural Education and FFA: Learning and Leadership The words and abbreviation displayed on the emblem indicate the combination of learning and leadership necessary for progressive agriculture.

Owl: Knowledge Traditionally associated with wisdom, the owl denotes the knowledge required for success in the industry of agriculture.

Plow: Labor and Tillage of the Soil Cultivating the soil is the backbone of agriculture and the historic basis of our nation’s strength.

True Colors The FFA colors – national blue and corn gold – were inspired by the star-studded blue field of the American flag and the nation’s golden fields of ripened corn. National blue likewise is the color of the FFA’s jackets.

Rising Sun: Progress The image for a new day signifies the prospect of a future filled with opportunities.

Cross-Section of an Ear of Corn: Unity Grown in every state of the nation, corn is the foundation crop of American agriculture, and thus a fitting foundation for the FFA emblem.

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A it

Cory Hoops, general manager of Universal Lettering, shows off one of the iconic FFA jackets that his company helped bring to the masses. 30

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emblem that adorns the back of every FFA jacket, and the blue corduroy jackets themselves. The jackets have been part of FFA’s official dress uniform for 84 years, and countless young people have worn them with pride. “The jacket gives FFA members confidence and makes them feel that they’re part of something larger than themselves because it’s so steeped in tradition,” notes Lee Anne Shiller, division director of the organization’s membership and merchandise services. The jacket originated after the advisor of the Fredericktown FFA chapter contacted Van Wert’s Universal Uniform Company. “Dr. Gus Lintner had seen a blue corduroy jacket with a chenille bulldog on the back in a store window,” says Hoops, “and he asked Universal Uniform, which was our company’s predecessor, to produce a similar one for his chapter.” When the Fredericktown band members sported them while performing at FFA’s 1933 national convention in Kansas City, the new jackets looked so handsome that the delegates voted to adopt the design. Styled with long sleeves, a pointed collar, and buckle tabs at the waist, the FFA jacket has stayed basically the same since 1933. “There have been only subtle changes because the jacket is so important to FFA members,” says Hoops. While jackets initially had front snaps, square pockets, and an embroidered emblem, current jackets have a zipper, rounded pockets, and a patch emblem. Until hard times forced it into bankruptcy in the late 1980s, Universal Uniform made about 150,000 FFA jackets annually. Lima CPA Mark Hoops and other investors revived the business in 1991. They renamed it Universal Lettering, acquired high-tech sewing and embroidery equipment, and eventually moved its operations to a modern industrial park. Today, Universal

A Universal Lettering employee works to assemble a jacket before it goes onto the embroidery machine (below).

FFA by the numbers n n

n n n

Student members – 649,355 Local chapters in the United States, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands – 7,859 Alumni members – 225,891 Alumni chapters – 1,934 Members’ annual earnings through hands-on work – $4 billion Six states with largest FFA membership: • Texas – 115,630 • California – 83,917 • Georgia – 40,881 • Oklahoma – 27,205 • Ohio – 25,806 • Missouri – 25,784

Lettering produces branded apparel as well as custom chenille patches for clients that include 4-H clubs, varsity sports teams, marching bands, corporations, and clothing companies. As for FFA jackets, most are now made in Vietnam, but Van Wert workers still play a major role in producing and delivering them. “Universal Lettering cuts and sews about 25 percent of all the jackets, but we do 100 percent of the embroidery and shipping to FFA members,” says Hoops. “We’ll ship about 80,000 jackets this year.” Each FFA jacket consists of 26 individual pieces of cotton fabric, and from attaching the emblem on the back panel to double-stitching seams, Universal Lettering employees complete 35 separate sewing operations to make a jacket. During the busy season, they turn out 1,000 jackets with customized embroidery every day. “Starting the second week in September, we embroider 24/7 for two months,” says Hoops. Imported FFA jackets cost $50, but for an extra $15, members can buy a made-in-the-USA jacket from Universal Lettering. For additional fees, the company also tailors new jackets and, in a nod to its singular FFA heritage, re-letters vintage ones. “Our workers put a lot of care into every stitch,” says Hoops. “They think about the extraordinary number of FFA jackets that have been made in Van Wert over the years, and some are FFA moms themselves.” 

For more information Universal Lettering Company — 419-238-9320; www.universallettering.com National FFA Organization — 317-802-6060; www.ffa.org JANUARY 2017

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Pr se Te on

a e o m h in r in e h

th w

o h s is

PRO SENIORS

Cincinnati company helps older citizens resolve issues that can arise with aging

MIDDLETOWN WAS ONCE a bustling steel and paper manufacturing hub along the banks of the Great Miami River in southwest Ohio. The majority of manufacturing jobs disappeared in the downsizing waves of the 1980s and 1990s, leaving behind an older population — including many elderly on fixed incomes and government assistance. It was against this backdrop that T.E. Baines, a volunteer for Middletown-based advocacy group Ohio Pro Seniors, met Bill Rogers, a longtime resident of the area. 32

Baines had given a presentation on navigating Medicare, and during the question-and-answer session afterward, Rogers spoke up and remarked that he was a victim of the very Medicare fraud that Baines was counseling how to prevent. “Did you report it to police?” Baines asked. Rogers said he had. In fact, a Middletown detective had been trying to get to the bottom of it for quite some time to no avail. The man had been receiving statements showing that a provider he had never heard of had been billing him

la a m r s to is li h

BY K E V I N W I L L I A M S

and Medicare for services he never received, and it was causing problems for Rogers when he went for his various medical appointments. Baines decided to get Pro Seniors involved. Pro Seniors, founded in 1975, is a nonprofit organization with a mandate to help society’s oldest members with the sometimes complicated issues of aging. The organization dispenses legal assistance, serves as a Medicare watchdog, and offers an ombudsman service for those in long-term care. Pro ’ mission is to help the quality of life for Ohioans

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S th th a a O to

s fa o th n

fo h fa s p L

Pro Seniors often draws crowds at its presentations (left), while volunteers such as Ted Baines (at right) work with individuals on their issues.

over 60. After a lot of sleuthing and backand-forth with Medicare and the errant biller, Pro Seniors figured out the problem and recovered the man’s money. In this case, Rogers hadn’t been a victim of anything intentionally malicious. His is a relatively common name, and an innocent mistake (a wrong digit was entered by someone, somewhere) had snowballed into a big problem. “Medicare can be confusing, but the answers are there if you know where to find them,” Baines says. His role gives him a great deal of fulfillment. “I like the idea of helping, and I believe in service,” he says. “I think part of being a citizen is doing more than your share.” Life for those in the aging population can be one of dizzying change and speed, even for the sharpest minds. And in a predominantly rural area without the menu of services that many cities are able to offer, that can add to a feeling of isolation. Pro Seniors serves as a lifeline to those in rural areas, with help literally a phone call away. The phone line is busy at Pro Seniors’ Cincinnati office. Calls to the legal hotline, which has served the state since 1981, come in from all over the state. Pro Seniors serves as a vital line of defense for older Ohioans, and services are available to any Ohioan age 60 or over. Retirement communities and senior centers across the state, in fact, practically have Pro Seniors on speed dial as a means to connect their customers with the help they need. “I have worked with Pro Seniors for many years and have referred hundreds of older adults and their family members to Pro Seniors,” says Karen Hill, director of independent living for the Otterbein Lifestyle Community, a senior

residential living complex in Warren County. “They do a wonderful job of sharing information and helping people with all kinds of concerns with their many different programs.” Scammers take advantage of a trusting population that has wealth, and Pro Seniors has become a versatile and valuable resource to combat these scams. “There are just so many more different types of media today to reach victims,” says Mary Day, program associate for Pro Seniors. “All the different ways of communicating today have created more opportunities to try to victimize that target audience. They are home, they pick up the phone and read every piece of mail.” While someone taken in by the

Jamaican lottery scam and others of its ilk have little chance of recovering their money, Pro Seniors can help ensure it never happens again by dispensing sound advice: “Close the bank account, notify credit bureaus, and we highly recommend a credit freeze,” Day says, adding that for $5 one’s credit can be essentially “locked” so that a would-be scammer runs into a firewall when trying to take out a loan or open a credit card. “We provide victims with information as to what their next step is, what their rights are and what their responsibilities are,” Day says. “We equip people to take the next step.”  KEVIN WILLIAMS is a freelance writer from Middletown.

Pro Seniors at a glance Founded in 1975, Pro Seniors, Inc., is a Cincinnati-based nonprofit organization dedicated to serving all Ohioans over the age of 60, regardless of income. Services offered include but are not limited to: n Help resolving Medicare claims and fraud issues via Pro Seniors' Senior Medicare Patrol. n Help with long-term care issues via the Pro Seniors ombudsman program. n Legal guidance and help with a variety of issues ranging from identity theft to tenant-landlord issues. Website: www.proseniors.org Phone: 513-345-4160 or toll-free in Ohio at-800-488-6070

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JANUARY 2017 CALENDAR

NORTHWEST THROUGH JAN. 8 – Hayes Train Special Exhibit, Hayes Museum, Spiegel Grove, Fremont, Mon.–Sat. 9 a.m.–5 p.m., Sun. 12–5 p.m. $7.50, Srs. $6.50, C. $3. 419-3322081 or www.rbhayes.org. JAN. 1 – North Pole Express, 12505 Co. Rd. 99, Findlay, 5–8 p.m. $3, C. $2. 419-4232995 or http://nworrp.org. JAN. 3 – America’s Boating Course, Sandusky Power Squadron, 215 E. Market St., Sandusky, 6 p.m. This course provides you with basic boating knowledge to decide what type and size boat you need, what to do when meeting another boat in a crowded waterway, and how to recognize and handle hazards. 419-626-6655 or www.usps.org. JAN. 6 – Silver Screen Classics: Gone With the Wind, Valentine Theatre, 400 N. Superior St., Toledo,7:30 p.m. $5. 419-2422787 or www.valentinetheatre.com. JAN. 7 – Silent Movie Night: Harold Lloyd’s Safety Last, Pemberville Opera House, 115 Main St., Pemberville, 7:30 p.m. Featuring Lynne Long on the piano. 419-2874848 or www.pembervilleoperahouse.org. JAN. 7–8 – Tri-State Gun Show, Allen Co. Fgds., 2750 Harding Hwy., Lima (2 miles east of Lima on St. Rte. 309), Sat. 8:30 a.m.–4 p.m., Sun. 8:30 a.m.–3 p.m. $5, free for members, under 18 free. Over 400 tables of modern and antique guns, knives, hunting equipment, and associated collectibles for purchase. 419-647-0067 or www.tristategunshow.org. JAN. 13–14 – 6th Annual Camp Perry Open: Civilian Markmanship Program, 1000 N. Lawrence Rd., Port Clinton. This year’s match will include a three-position air rifle competition, an international air rifle (all standing) event, a pistol course of fire, and an optional clinic. Spectators welcome. 419635-2141 or http://thecmp.org. JAN. 18 – Dance Theatre of Harlem, Valentine Theatre, 410 Adams St., Toledo, 7:30 p.m. 419-242-3490 or www.valentinetheatre.com. JAN. 21–22 – Lima Symphony: Mozart by Candlelight. Two locations: Trinity United Methodist Church, Lima, Sat. 7:30 p.m. Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, Ottoville, Sun. 4 p.m. $20, Stds. $10. 419222-5701 or www.limasymphony.com. JAN. 26–29 – Greater Toledo Auto Show, Seagate Convention Ctr., 401 Jefferson Ave.,Toledo, Thur. 3–9 p.m., Fri. 12–9 p.m., Sat. 10 a.m.–9 p.m., Sun. 10 a.m.–5 p.m. $7, Srs./Stds. $5, under 9 free. Displays of the latest and greatest models and automotive technologies from 26 different manufacturers. 419-255-3300 or http://toledoautoshow.org.

PLEASE NOTE: Country Living strives for accuracy but strongly urges readers to confirm dates and times before traveling long distances to events. Submit listings AT LEAST 90 DAYS prior to the event by writing to Country Living, 6677 Busch Blvd., Columbus, OH 43229 or events@ ohioec.org. Country Living will not publish listings that don’t include a complete address of where the event takes place or a number/website for more information.

NORTHEAST THROUGH JAN. 8 – Steubenville Nutcracker Village and Advent Market, 120 S. 3rd St., Steubenville. Over 75 life-size, handpainted nutcrackers in an outdoor display. 866-301-1787. THROUGH FEB. 28 – After Christmas Sale at Tis the Season, 4363 St. Rte. 39, Berlin. Save 50% storewide (collectibles not included) at Ohio’s largest year-round Christmas shop. 330-893-3604 or www.tistheseasonchristmas. com. JAN. 4–8 – Ohio RV Supershow, I-X Center, One I-X Center Dr., Cleveland, Wed.–Fri. 12–9 p.m., Sat. 10 a.m.–10 p.m., Sun. 10 a.m.–6 p.m. $13, under 12 free. $10 parking. America’s largest indoor recreational vehicle show. 330678-4489 or http://ohiorvshow.com. JAN. 7 – Snow Dogs Train Show, presented by Cuyahoga Valley S Gauge Association, UAW Hall, 5615 Chevrolet Blvd., Parma, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. $6, under 12 free. Free parking. All-gauge show with over 150 tables. Buy, sell, or trade new and used trains. Watch operating layouts. 440-526-9864, 330-405-1425, macsir@aol.com, or www.cvsga.com.

J THROUGH JAN. 5 – “A Storybook Christmas,” Zanesville and Muskingum Co. locations, Sun.–Thur. 6–9 p.m., Fri. and Sat. 6–10 p.m. Drive by or walk to view the storybook-themed decorations at nearly 100 participating businesses. 740-455-8282, 800-743-2303, or www.visitzanesville.com.

JAN. 14–15 – Medina Gun Show, Medina Co. Community Ctr., 735 Lafayette Rd. (St. Rte. 42), Medina, Sat. 9 a.m.–5 p.m., Sun. 9 a.m.–3 p.m $6. One of the area’s largest gun shows, with 450 vendor tables. 330-948-4400, jim@ conraddowdell.com, or www.conraddowdell. com. JAN. 21 – Northern Ohio Fly Fishing Expo, Cuyahoga Valley Career Ctr., 8001 Brecksville Rd., Brecksville, 9 a.m.–4 p.m. $10, C. (13–18) $5, under 12 free. Demos, seminars, fishing gear and supplies, and more. http://ncff.net/ expo2017. JAN. 21 – “Genealogy Hacks: Tips, Tricks, and Techniques for Online Genealogy Research,” Richland Co. Chapter, Ohio Genealogical Society Meeting, OGS Library, 611 St. Rte. 97 W., Bellville, 1 p.m. Lecture by Mary Jamba. Free and open to the public! 419566-4560, sunda1960@yahoo.com, or www. rootsweb.ancestry.com/~ohrichgs/. JAN. 27–29 – Cleveland Motorcycle Show, I-X Center, West and East High Bay, One I-X Center Dr., Cleveland, Fri. 3–8 p.m., Sat. 9:30 a.m.–9 p.m., Sun. 10 a.m.–5 p.m. $16, free for 11 and under. $10 parking. 216-265-7005 or http://motorcycleshows.com.

JAN. 7 – Antique and Collectible Old Toy Show, Lakeland Community College (AFC Auxiliary Gym), 7700 Clocktower Dr., Kirtland, 9 a.m.–2 p.m. $6, C. (6-12) $2. Pressed steel, diecast, Japanese tin, mechanical toys and robots, dolls, and much more. Contact Tom at 216-470-5780 or www.neocollectibletoys.com.

JAN. 28 – Winter End Train Meet, presented by Great Lakes Division, Train Collectors Association, UAW Hall, 5615 Chevrolet Blvd., Parma, 10 a.m.–3 p.m. All-gauge show with over 175 tables. New and old trains to buy, sell, or trade. Watch operating layouts. Single ticket $6, Family $8, under 12 free. Parking free. 440-665-0882, emularz1124@aol.com, or www.greatlakesTCA.com.

JAN. 8 – Mohican Winter Hike, Mohican State Park, 3116 St. Rte. 3, Loudonville, 10 a.m–1 p.m. Choose from 5K, 10K, or a guided nature hike led by a park naturalist. Trails run from moderate to difficult. Campfire, hot soup, cookies, and drinks will be provided after the hike. 419-994-5125 or http://parks.ohiodnr. gov/Mohican.

JAN. 29 – Winter Model Train Show and Swap Meet, presented by Norwalk & Western Railroads, Eastern Division ,German’s Villa, 3330 Liberty Ave., Vermilion,10 a.m.–3 p.m. $5, under 10 free. All scales, operating layouts and displays, model train supplies, railroad historical items, DVDs, videos and, books. 419706-8038 or www.norwalkandwesternrr.com.

JAN. 12–16 – Mid-America Boat Show, I-X Center, 1 I-X Center Dr., Cleveland, Thur.–Fri. 12–9 p.m., Sat. 11 a.m.–9 p.m., Sun. 11 a.m.–6 p.m., Mon.11 a.m.–5 p.m. $14, Srs. $12, free for 12 and under. 440-899-5009 or www.clevelandboatshow.com.

THROUGH JAN. 1 – Annual Collison Festival of Lights, 5601 Westfall Rd. SW, Lancaster, dusk to 10 p.m. 740-969-2283.

JAN. 13–15 – Mohican Winter Fest, 131 W. Main St., Loudonville. Free. See over 25 elegant ice sculptures. Ice carving demos, fire spinning, Train Expo, and entertainment. 419994-2519 or www.discovermohican.com.

CENTRAL THROUGH JAN. 2 – State Auto’s Christmas Corner, 518 E. Broad St., Columbus. Free. Historic life-sized Nativity display. Lighting times: Mon.–Thur. 6–8 a.m., 5–11:30 p.m., Fri. and Sat until 12:30 a.m. 614-464-4946 or www.facebook.com/ christmascorner.

JAN. 6–8 – Columbus Build, Remodel, and Landscape Expo, Greater Columbus Convention Ctr., Halls E and F, 400 N. High St., Columbus, Fri. 12–7 p.m., Sat. 10 a.m.–7 p.m., Sun. 10 a.m.–5 p.m. $6, under 18 free. JAN. 6–15 – Ohio RV and Boat Show, Ohio Expo Ctr., 717 E. 17th St., Columbus, Wed.–Fri. 12–8 p.m., Sat. 10 a.m.–8 p.m., Sun. 11 a.m.–5 p.m. $12, C. (6–13) $3, 5 and under free. www.ohiorvandboatshow.com. JAN. 7 – “Tea Blending for Wellness,” Ohio Herb Education Ctr., 110 Mill St., Gahanna, 1–2 p.m. Learn about dried and fresh herbs and how to mix them for healthful teas. 614-342-4380 or www.gahanna.gov. JAN. 20–22 – Midwest Sports Spectacular, Cardinal Hall, Ohio Expo Ctr., 717 E. 17th Ave, Columbus, Fri. 3–8 p.m., Sat. 10 a.m.–6 p.m. followed by auction, Sun. 10 a.m.–5 p.m. Free admission on Fri., $10 for Sat./Sun. pass. Sports collector cards, vintage and new collectibles, memorabilia, autograph signings. http://goldstarsportsmarketing.com/MWSS-2017. JAN. 22 – Mutts Gone Nuts, Marion Palace Theatre, 276 W. Center St., Marion, 3 p.m. Comedy duo Scott and Joan Houghton and their hilarious pack of pooches have created a comedy dog thrill show like no other. $15–$25, Stds. $10. 740-383-2101 or www. marionpalace.org. JAN. 27 – Gas Pump Jockeys, Marion Palace Theatre, May Pavilion, 276 W. Center St., Marion, 7:30 p.m. $15. Super-charged oldies/retro band takes audience on a musical journey back in time. 740-383-2101 or www.marionpalace.org. JAN. 26–28 – 47th Annual Ohio Power Show, Ohio Expo Ctr., 717 E. 17th Ave., Columbus, 9 a.m.–4 p.m. $10/carload. Displays of new agricultural, construction, and outdoor power equipment from more than 500 companies. Educational seminars every day. 614-889-1309 or www.omeda.org/ powershow. JAN. 27–29 – Johnson’s Log Home and Timber Frame Show, Ohio Expo Ctr., Rhodes Bldg., 717 E. 17th Ave., Columbus, Fri. 1–7 p.m., Sat. 10 a.m.–6 p.m., Sun. 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Registration Sat./Sun. at 9:30 a.m. $12, under 18 free. www.loghomeshows.com. JAN. 29 – Wedding Expo and Show, Hilton Polaris, 8700 Lyra Dr., Columbus, 11 a.m.–4 p.m. Fashion shows 12:30 and 2:30. $5 advance, $8 at door. 937-550-4138 or www. ohiobridalexpos.com.

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SOUTHEAST THROUGH JAN. 2 – Dickens Victorian Village, Wheeling Ave., Cambridge. Outdoor display of Dickens-era scenes and life-sized, handmade mannequins wearing real vintage clothing. 800-933-5480 or www.dickensvictorianvillage.com. THROUGH JAN. 2 – Guernsey Co. Courthouse Holiday Light Show, Wheeling Ave., Cambridge, 5:30–9 p.m. 800-933-5480 or www.dickensvictorianvillage.com. JAN. 15 – Bridal and Prom Showcase, Pritchard Laughlin Civic Ctr., 7033 Glenn Hwy., Cambridge, 12–4 p.m. $5. 740-4397009 or www.pritchardlaughlin.com. JAN. 21 – Hocking Hills Winter Hike, 19852 St. Rte. 664 S., Logan, 9 a.m.–3 p.m. See the beauty of Hocking Hills in the winter as you hike from Old Man's Cave to Ash Cave, with a stop at Cedar Falls for soup and muffins. 740685-6841 or www.hockinghills.com. JAN. 28 – Country on the Carpet, Pritchard Laughlin Civic Ctr., 7033 Glenn Hwy., Cambridge, 7 p.m. Put on your dancing shoes and enjoy a night full of country and bluegrass music. 740-439-7009 or www. pritchardlaughlin.com.

C O M P I L E D BY C O L L E E N R O M I C K C L A R K

JAN. 28 – Forgotten Places and Spaces Walking Tour, 3-4:30 p.m. $20. Tours depart from the monument on the Courthouse lawn and are guided by a costumed interpreter who leads the group from building to building. 740705-1873 or www.ohiomadegetaways.com.

JAN. 13–15 – Cincinnati Golf Show, Duke Energy Convention Ctr., 525 Elm St., Cincinnati, Fri. 5–9:30 p.m., Sat. 11 a.m.–7 p.m., Sun. 11 a.m.–5 p.m. Deals on equipment and clothing, pro tips, and info about the best places to golf near and far. www. cincinnatigolfshow.com.

SOUTHWEST

JAN. 13–15, 18–22 – 60th Annual Cincinnati Travel, Sports, and Boat Show, Duke Energy Convention Ctr., 525 Elm St., Cincinnati. www.cincinnatiboatshow.com.

THROUGH JAN. 1 – Holiday Lights on the Hill, 1763 Hamilton-Cleves Rd., St. Rte. 128, Hamilton, Fri.–Sun. 6–10 p.m. $25 per car. 513-868-1234 or http://pyramidhill.org/ holiday-lights. THROUGH JAN. 3 – Christmas at the Junction, EnterTRAINment Junction, 7379 Squire Court, West Chester. Take a “Journey to the North Pole,” where you'll meet Santa and Mrs. Claus. 877-898-4656. JAN. 7–8 – Wedding Expo and Show, Dayton Convention Ctr., 22 E. Fifth St., Dayton, 11 a.m–4 p.m. $5 advance, $8 at door. Fashion shows 12:30 and 2:30. 937550-4138 or www.ohiobridalexpos.com.

JAN. 14–15 – 69th Annual Lebanon Antique Show and Sale, Warren Co. Fgds., 665 N. Broadway, Lebanon, Sat. 10 a.m.–5 p.m., Sun. 11 a.m.–4 p.m. Browse antique American and Continental furnishings and decorative arts, textiles, jewelry, primitives, folk art, and fine art. $8 at the door, $6 online. Good both days! Free to WCHS members. www.wchsmuseum.org. JAN. 14 – "A 2,000 Mile Voyage Down the Yukon River," Cedar Bog Nature Preserve, 980 Woodburn Rd., Urbana, 10 a.m. $10, $5 CBA/OHC members. Presented by Dave Dyer, Curator of Natural History, Ohio History Connection. 937-4843744, caerwin23@gmail.com, or www. cedarbognp.org.

JAN. 20–21 – IceFest, 345 High St., Hamilton. The largest ice carving festival in the region. This year’s theme: “To Boldly Go Where No One Has Gone Before.” ice carving competition, ice sculptures on display. 513-844-8080 or www.cityofsculpture.org/icefest.html.

WEST VIRGINIA THROUGH JAN. 8 – Oglebay Winter Festival of Lights, Oglebay Resort and Conference Ctr., 465 Lodge Dr., Wheeling, Sun.–Thur. until 10 p.m., Fri. and Sat. until 11 p.m. World-famous light show covering 6 miles and featuring 80 larger-than-life displays. Per car donation is requested and is valid for the entire festival season.Trolley tours offered. 877-436-1797 or www.oglebay-resort.com/festival.html. JAN. 28 – 2017 Honey Bee Expo, West Virginia University–Parkersburg, Rte. 47. $20 advance, $25 at door, C. (under 12) $8. All-day conference dedicated to the honey bee and the hobby of beekeeping. Classes for all levels. www.movba.org.

Send us your photos! If we use your photo in our Member Interactive section, you’ll get a Country Living tumbler. For July, send us your favorite patriotic pictures depicting the American Spirit by Feb. 15. For August, send us photos of “It’s so hot!” by March 15. Guidelines: 1. One entry per household per month. 2. Upload your photos at www.ohioec. org/memberinteractive or by U.S. mail: Editor, Country Living, 6677 Busch Blvd., Columbus, OH 43229. 3. Include your name, mailing address, phone number or e-mail, the name of your electric co-op, the month you’re submitting for, and who the person(s) in the photo is, as well as an explanation of the photo. If you do not provide this info, we cannot print your submission. 4. Send a self-addressed stamped envelope if you want anything returned.

JANUARY 2017

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MEMBER INTERACTIVE

IT’S SO

Much to our surprise, our cat, Chester, used to lie on the back of our dog, Rufus. I guess Rufus was much warmer than that cold ground! Needless to say, they were great friends.

COLD! Yellow shafted flicker in the snow. Janet E. Tyler Buckeye Rural Electric Cooperative member

Lynne Smith Guernsey-Muskingum Electric Cooperative member

This is how cold it got in January 2015. It’s the Muskingum River at the dam near the Y-Bridge in Zanesville, Ohio. The falls pushed the thick ice and made it crack! Myron and Sharon Dawson Guernsey-Muskingum Electric Cooperative members

My husband, Doug Miller, and me — this was taken about 50 yards straight out from the Marblehead lighthouse. It seemed like a balmy winter day with the hint of spring in the air when we decided to walk down, and we were shocked to find about 50 to 100 people already there. Lorie A. Wilber Lorain-Medina Rural Electric Cooperative member

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Janice Thomas South Central Power Company member

Four of the five Nestor children enjoying a cold 1970s winter day in New London. Margaret Nestor Firelands Electric Cooperative member

My granddaughter Rachel so bundled up, she couldn’t get up! Beth Schey Tricounty Rural Electric Cooperative member

Dakota Kiefer playing for the Butler County RedHawks. Karen Rupp Butler Rural Electric Cooperative member

My daughter Leonora tastes some snow and finds out it’s really cold! Lisa Zemancik Holmes-Wayne Electric Cooperative member

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My son James Ferris in 2006, clearly too cold! Dawn Ferris Buckeye Rural Electric Cooperative member

My granddaughter Aubrey Schwartz is too cold to move her arms to make a snow angel. Donna Montgomery South Central Power Company member

Wintry day at Jackson Lake in Oak Hill. Bobby Barnett Buckeye Rural Electric Cooperative member

Send us your photos! If we use your photo, you’ll get a Country Living tumbler. For July, send us your favorite patriotic pictures depicting the American Spirit by Feb. 15. For August, send us photos of “It’s so hot!” by March 15. Guidelines: 1. One entry per household per month. 2. Upload your photos at www.ohioec.org/memberinteractive or by U.S. mail: Editor, Country Living, 6677 Busch Blvd., Columbus, OH 43229. 3. Include your name, mailing address, phone number or e-mail, the name of your electric co-op, the month you’re submitting for, and who the person(s) in the photo is, as well as an explanation of the photo. If you do not provide this info, we cannot print your submission. 4. Send a self-addressed stamped envelope if you want anything returned.

Our family dog, Baylee, out in the snow. Michael Hardin Lorain-Medina Rural Electric Cooperative member

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www.ohioec.org

DEMOCRATIC MEMBER CONTROL Cooperatives are democratic organizations controlled by their consumer-members, who actively participate in setting policies and making decisions by electing fellow members to the board of trustees. These elected representatives are accountable to the entire membership.

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WE ARE OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK; 8 AM – MIDNIGHT EST, SUNDAY 9 AM – MIDNIGHT EST. OFFER ONLY GOOD FOR NEW DISH SUBSCRIBERS. All calls with InfinityDISH are monitored and recorded for quality assurance and training purposes. Offer for new and qualifying former customers only. Qualification: Advertised price requires credit qualification and eAutoPay. Upfront activation and/or receiver upgrade fees may apply based on credit qualification. Offer ends 1/16/17. 2-Year Commitment: Early termination fee of $20/mo. remaining applies if you cancel early. Included in 2-year price guarantee at $39.99 advertised price: Flex Pack plus one add-on Pack, HD service fees, and equipment for 1 TV. Included in 2-year price guarantee at $54.99 advertised price: America’s Top 120 Plus programming package, Local channels and Regional Sports Networks (where available), HD service fees, and equipment for 1 TV. Included in 2-year price guarantee for additional cost: Programming package upgrades ($54.99 for AT120+, 64.99 for AT200, $74.99 for AT250), monthly fees for additional receivers ($7 per additional TV, receivers with additional functionality may be $10-$15) and monthly DVR service fees ($10). NOT included in 2-year price guarantee or advertised price (and subject to change): Taxes & surcharges, add-on programming (including premium channels), Protection Plan, and transactional fees. Premium Channels: Subject to credit qualification. After 3 mos., you will be billed $60/mo. for HBO, Cinemax, Showtime, Starz and DISH Movie Pack unless you call to cancel. Other: All packages, programming, features, and functionality are subject to change without notice. After 6 mos., you will be billed $8/mo. for Protection Plan unless you call to cancel. After 2 years, then-current everyday prices for all services apply. For business customers, additional monthly fees may apply. Free standard professional installation only. HBO®, Cinemax® and related channels and service marks are the property of Home Box Office, Inc. SHOWTIME is a registered trademark of Showtime Networks Inc., a CBS Company. STARZ and related channels and service marks are property of Starz Entertainment, LLC. Visa® gift card must be requested through your DISH Representative at time of purchase. $50 Visa® gift card requires activation. You will receive a claim voucher within 3-4 weeks and the voucher must be returned within 30 days. Your Visa® gift card will arrive in approximately 6-8 weeks. InfinityDISH charges a one-time $49.99 non-refundable processing fee which is subject to change at any time without notice. Indiana C.P.D. Reg. No. T.S. R1903.

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