Country Living April 2016 by American MainStreet Publications

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APRIL 2016

Official publication of your electric cooperative www.ohioec.org

National

Lineman Appreciation Day

Local co-op pages 19-22 Mail Pouch Tobacco Barnstormers 24 The Mayberry of the Midwest 28 OSUâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Museum of Biological Diversity 30

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6 24 Meet the barnstormers, a group of Mail pouch tobacco barn enthusiasts who work to preserve these weathered relics of yesteryear. our story starts on page 24.

April 2016 Volume 58, No. 7

be sure to tip your (hard) hat on april 11 when cooperatives across the country observe national lineman appreciation day, saluting all the workers who ensure our electricity flows to our homes and businesses 365 days a year — 366 this year! See our story starting on page 6.

F E AT U R E S

24 barn again The Mail Pouch Barnstormers work to preserve a fading iconic art form.

Next month...

Funny road signs

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

Patrick O’Loughlin Patrick Higgins Rich Warren Magen Howard Chris Hall Nikki Heath

President & CEO Dir. of Communications Managing Editor Associate Editor Art & Prod. Manager Graphic Artist

COUNTRY LIVING (ISSN 0747-0592) is the official publication of Ohio Rural Electric Cooperatives, Inc. With a paid circulation of 293,218, it is the monthly communication link between the rural electric cooperatives in Ohio and West Virginia and their members. Subscription price: $4.30 to $6.50 per year to co-op members. Nothing in this publication may be reproduced in any manner without specific written permission from Ohio Rural Electric Cooperatives, Inc. All rights reserved.

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 any change of address to your local electric cooperative.

26 horSing around We present member submissions on this theme as a photo montage.

28 the Mayberry of the MidWeSt Annie Oakley, KitchenAid, a charming downtown: Greenville’s got it all.

30 CoMe out of your Shell Visit the open house at OSU’s Museum of Biological Diversity.

DEPARTMENTS 2 C o o p e r at i v e C o n n e C t i o n 6 p o W e r S tat i o n 12 energy effiCienCy 14 C o - o p p e o p l e 16 f o o d S C e n e 26 M e M b e r i n t e r aC t i v e 32 WoodS, WaterS, and Wildlife

ONLINE Visit the digital version of Country Living for exclusive online content! Just go to www.ohioec.org. Stories this month include: • More lamb recipes • Spring gardening package: The four-season yard Veggies with the best payback Common gardening blunders • The invasion has begun: Invasive species in Ohio • Six shrubs and trees that serve as “living bird feeders” • Automotive firsts

33 o h i o i C o n 34 g a r d e n i n g l a n d S C a p e 36 a p r i l C a l e n da r 39 o h i o q u i z

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Cooperative Connection

Appreciating linemen PAT O’LOUGHLIN, PRESIDENT & CEO • OHIO RURAL ELECTRIC COOPERATIVES & BUCKEYE POWER

CONGRESS SETS ASIDE many days each year to recognize significant contributions that groups or individuals make to the betterment of our society, many of which go unnoticed by most of us. This year, April 11 is National Lineman Appreciation Day. We will honor our nation’s linemen, the many men (and a few women) who keep our lights on every day. Like many things, we appreciate electricity most when we have to do without it. Linemen head out at night, during thunderstorms or ice storms, after car accidents, or when animals get too up close and personal with electric equipment, to make the necessary repairs that get power flowing again when service has been interrupted — oftentimes in the most challenging conditions. Our 24 electric cooperatives employ 328 linemen to serve the nearly 1 million Ohioans who receive electricity from an electric cooperative. In some ways, the job of building and maintaining electric lines has changed tremendously from the work that was done by linemen 50 or 60 years ago. Specialized equipment has made the job safer and less physically demanding, but some of the work is done nearly the same way today as it was in the 1930s. Nearly every day, somewhere in rural Ohio, a line-

man straps himself to a pole and climbs among the electrical equipment — lifting the needed supplies into place using rope and pulleys, the old-fashioned way. As I write this article, 17 of Ohio’s cooperative linemen are in the remote mountain village of La Soledad, Guatemala, about 5 miles from the Mexican border. They volunteered to leave their families and homes for a little more than two weeks to bring electricity for the first time to a village of about 300 people. They’re building electric lines to the village homes the old-fashioned way, without the aid of modern equipment or the comfortable living conditions we all enjoy. By the time you read this, the crew will be back home, and life will be changed forever in a remote corner of the world. The people of La Soledad really understand what Lineman Appreciation Day means. Please join me in thanking the linemen who serve the member-owners of our electric cooperatives. 

Putting themselves on the line, every day.

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Our

POWER STATION

heroes have always been linemen

B Y N A N CY G R A N T

National Lineman Appreciation Day gives us a chance to say ‘thank you’ for keeping our lights on — and so much more!

Climbing poles, connecting wires, checking transformers and insulators, restoring power after storms and accidents, troubleshooting all sorts of problems, teaching us about safety — our co-op linemen do many wonderful things for us. They work yearround, around the clock, to keep the lights on at our homes, schools, farms, offices, factories, hospitals, and everywhere we need electricity. On April 11, we’ll tell them how much we appreciate them — but that’s only one day. This leap year, they keep the power flowing for more than half a million minutes (527,040 minutes to be exact) — and the truth is, we appreciate them year-round.

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Meet Mason Shoemaker 4th-year apprentice lineman at logan County electric Cooperative I grew up in West Liberty, served by Pioneer Electric Cooperative, so I’ve always known how important reliable electric service is for folks in rural Ohio. In order to get my new job — I’d been working out of town a lot, wiring houses when our first son was born — I had to pass an assessment that included eight hours of climbing poles, running hoists, digging holes, running lines, framing poles and crossarms, and lifting transformers. After I got my job as an apprentice, I spent the first six months or so as a groundman, learning how to drive a bucket truck, and helping to set poles, and then the book work started. The first basic apprenticeship class was six consecutive weeks of learning all about safety and climbing, using hooks on wood poles in all kinds of weather. The biggest surprise has been the camaraderie among my fellow linemen. It’s a great group of people, a brotherhood, and we really take care of one another. I will top out as a journeyman lineman on July 1, the day before I turn 30 years old. That’ll be pretty exciting, to say the least!

Meet Kyle hoffman Central ohio lineworker training (Colt) instructor and coordinator for ohio’s electric Cooperatives I’ve been teaching apprentices and have served as a lineman myself, and I can tell you that there’s a lot of pride that goes into this job. Not everybody can do this kind of work — it’s outdoors in all kinds of weather, and the physical rigors of doing it day in and day out, and at night, are rough. When most other people are looking for shelter, linemen go right toward the danger, and they smile because they enjoy the challenge. At the end of the day, the pride is in knowing that you’ve done your job well, and you’ve done something good for others. Being a co-op lineman is all about helping the people you live among.

did you know...? Being a co-op lineman is a skilled trade, requiring a four-year apprenticeship that includes 8,000 to 10,000 hours of on-the-job training, plus about 600 hours of additional instruction. As apprentices, linemen also attend a total of 12 weeks of special activities and classes at the Central Ohio Lineworker Training (COLT) facilities in Marion.

did you know...? Being a lineman requires a commitment to excellence and service, not just for the lineman, but for his family, as well. When emergencies come up due to weather or accidents, linemen get called away from their own familes’ birthday parties, children’s sports events, music recitals, and Scout meetings to get the lights back on for all the other families in the area.

Meet dwight Miller director of Safety and loss Control for ohio’s electric Cooperatives Being a lineman is a hazardous job that can become dangerous if you don’t follow the safety rules. These guys have self-control and willpower, the determination to work amid tremendous hazards and to do everything just right. Safety takes everybody’s commitment and is part of our work culture. That safety mindset includes teaching firemen and EMS and other first responders about what do in case of electrical fires and downed power lines. It extends to looking out for the safety of co-op members and subcontractors. During the past year, co-op linemen intervened to prevent a fire at a co-op member’s home and saved the life of a contractor. I salute them and am proud to be a part of this lifestyle of safety and service.

a tip of the hardhat I extend my heartfelt thanks to all our journeymen and apprentice linemen for another year of excellent service and safety. Thanks, guys — you’re the best! Pat O’Loughlin, president and CEO Ohio Rural Electric Cooperatives and Buckeye Power

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Supreme Court grants

“stay”

Clean Power Plan update THE UNITED STATES SUPREME COURT recently granted a “stay request” on behalf of more than two dozen states, utilities, and coal companies, which means that the EPA will have no authority to enforce the Clean Power Plan until after the rule has been decided by the courts. “We’re pleased that the U.S. Supreme Court has recognized what has been obvious to electric cooperatives — that the EPA has greatly exceeded its authority in its rules to reduce carbon dioxide, and that the EPA’s plan will harm electric co-op consumers,” says Pat O’Loughlin, president and CEO of Ohio’s Electric Cooperatives. The rule itself will continue to be litigated, with a likely decision from the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals in fall 2016. However, the court no longer has the pressure of issuing a ruling before the September deadline for states to submit initial plans to the EPA. Regardless of when the D.C. Circuit issues its ruling, an appeal from the losing side will be made to the U.S. Supreme Court, which will not have the opportunity to issue a ruling until June 2017, at the earliest. The ruling also makes the upcoming presidential election even more important for supporters of a true, all-of-the-above energy policy. Because the current Clean Power Plan rule will not be decided until the current administration leaves office, the incoming president will have a major impact on who defends the plan.

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The Principle 2: Democratic Member Control In our seven-part series, you’ll learn how the same seven cooperative principles that guide cooperatives around the world also govern your local electric co-op, keeping you — a valued member-owner — the primary focus. Principle 2, “Democratic Member Control,” reads as follows: “Cooperatives are democratic organizations controlled by their members, who actively participate in setting policies and making decisions.” Making decisions together: one family, 50 years, hundreds of fairs RAINBOW-COLORED LIGHTS wink at you while the oily-sweet smell of funnel cakes and cotton candy waft through your nose. A reminiscent carnival tune stitches the scene together into one we all know well: the bustling midway at the local summertime county fair. Chances are, if you’re an avid fair-goer in Ohio, you’ve already been introduced to Durant Enterprises — that is, through their rides, concessions, attractions, and games. The family-owned and operated business in DuPont has flourished for more than 50 years at the hands of owners Bill and Anissa Prowant, whose extended family had several Paulding Putnam Electric Cooperative (PPEC) 10

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members, including a former member of the board of trustees. “We have strong family values that have been handed down for four generations,” Bill says, referencing the company’s humble origins with his late grandparents, Warren and Aura Myers, who started a side concession business with a popcorn maker in 1932. Since then, the company has passed through the hands of Bill’s late parents, Ray and JoAnne Prowant — who first decided to add rides to their collection — and now rests with Bill, his wife, Anissa, and their children, Jeff and Allison. The work of maintaining a family legacy was far from easy. After Bill and Anissa married in 1990, Bill says he became “the logistics

BY SAMANTHA RHODES

guy,” while Anissa picked up office responsibilities. They were serving nearly 100 locations per summer season. Overwhelmed, they knew that a change was needed. “We collectively decided to buy bigger equipment, which would allow us an opportunity to work county fairs,” Bill says. “We did just that, and our business grew by leaps and bounds.” Today, Durant Enterprises and Prowant Specialty Company (the family’s food service division) contracts with 26 county fairs, including those in Putnam, Defiance, Henry, Logan, Clark, Wood, Hardin, and Sandusky counties. They also serve two state fairs, 14 festivals and six church carnivals in Ohio, Michigan, South Carolina, and Florida. With more than 25 portable rides, amusement-seekers can do everything from testing their climbing skills on the Chinese Rope Ladder to playing lineup trailer games. Those with a hankering for treats can visit the Sweet Shoppe for an elephant ear, or try deep-fried cheese at Hotdog on a Stick. The family’s concessions even caught the eye of the

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— Photo by Katie Schnipke, Schnipke Photography

Food Network’s Roker on the Road, where it was featured in a July 2004 episode. “My father used to say that we put ‘comeback sauce’ on everything we sell,” Bill says. “Whether it’s a hot dog or a ride ticket, we want to do it right so we get invited back the next year.”

the prowant family of dupont operates durant enterprises, which operates rides, concessions, attractions, and games at many county fairs in and outside of ohio, as well as at festivals, church carnivals and two state fairs.

living the principle Like the Prowant family, your electric cooperative is also run democratically — member-owners like you have a voice in making decisions and setting policy through the representatives elected to the board of trustees. The phrase “One member, one vote” stresses that each vote is of equal and utmost importance. In 1938, PPEC members voted to elect Homer Prowant to the board of trustees, where he served his co-op for more than 30 years. Though he passed in 1977, his hardworking attitude still resonates as strong as ever in the Prowant family business.  SAMANTHA RHODES, a freelance writer from Ney, is a member of North Western Electric Cooperative.

using your voting power wisely Paulding Putnam Electric Cooperative has more than 600 people attend its annual meeting. PPEC CEO George Carter finds the turnout impressive — especially since PPEC members vote by mail, a policy changed years ago to better meet member needs. But Carter still believes democratic member control through voting is one of the most important cooperative principles because it directly reflects our co-op roots. “The cooperatives began when a local citizens group got themselves organized and made a commitment to form a cooperative,” Carter says. “They elected their first board members from their friends and neighbors. That’s still how it’s done today.” Board members are not out-of-town stockholders. Rather, they live in the district that they represent. “Since our board members live in the community, it’s easy for members to ask questions,” Carter says. “They’re here to listen and to help.” However, if being a leader draws your interest, don’t stifle your instincts. Any member can run for a spot on his or her electric cooperative’s board. For more information on voting, running, or reaching out to a board member, contact your co-op by phone, or visit its website.

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ENERGY EFFICIENCY

Is your heat going out the door? Try an energy audit to find out A HOME ENERGY AUDIT is a detailed assessment that can give you a roadmap for future energy-related investments. Spending a few hundred dollars on an audit now can save you thousands of dollars over time. An energy audit can identify:

BY PATRIC K K E E GA N

• thermographic imaging: identifying where more insulation is needed is a key component in energy audits — too little insulation will make a member use more energy than needed. adding more can provide a quick return on investment. infrared images show “cold” spots in a home’s envelope. • health and safety testing: energy auditors are also trained to spot safety problems, such as a missing smoke detector or an appliance that could cause carbon monoxide issues. Some auditors can also test your home for radon.

• effective investments for reducing your energy bills. Following the assessment, the infrared imaging can identify where more • heating or cooling problem insulation is needed. auditor will make recommendations areas and solutions. on systems that could be upgraded or • hvaC or alternative energy behavior changes you can make to reduce energy use investments that work most eﬃciently. and improve comfort. If you take action based on •your home’s current level of eﬃciency, to help improve its your auditor’s recommendations, you could lower resale value.

Home energy auditors can provide a thorough report of your home’s challenges and opportunities. A professional energy audit can range from a quick walk-through of the home to a more comprehensive assessment. Energy audits require an examination of the building envelope (attic, floor, and exterior walls) and the energy systems in the home, such as the water heater, air conditioner, and furnace. Follow the auditor during the inspection, and ask questions so you understand problem areas, what you can address yourself, and where you may need further professional help. An auditor may perform some or all of the following: • blower door test: Measures how airtight your home is and locates air leaks. • duct blaster: Measures whether your ducts are leaking.

infrared cameras can be used both inside and out to spot a range of inefficiencies.

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your energy bill 5 to 30 percent —perhaps more! A number of Ohio's electric cooperatives offer energy audits to their members. Call your cooperative to find out. 

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CO-OP PEOPLE

BUSTING clay

Co-op member starts Ohio’s first and only high school trapshooting club

B Y K A R E N H O LC O M B

TRAPSHOOTING RARELY COMES TO MIND as part of the high school competitive sports scene. But Mark Arnold, a certified instructor and member of Butler Rural Electric Cooperative, is convinced that it deserves a shot. Arnold, a resident of Wayne Township in Butler County, is founder and coach of Ohio’s first and only high school trapshooting club. He views shooting as a positive way for students to build confidence, leadership, discipline, and personal responsibility. “Self-confidence is probably the biggest thing the kids learn,” he says. “They also learn a sense of teamwork, individual goal-setting, and to respect firearms and what they do.” Trapshooting, now an Olympic sport, has been practiced around the world since the late 18th century. It originated as bird-hunting practice, with live birds used as targets. Clay targets (also known

as clay pigeons) replaced real fowl around the time of the American Civil War. According to the Amateur Trapshooting Association, the sport requires the split-second timing, skill, and accuracy to repeatedly aim, fire, and break four-and-ahalf-inch discs that are hurled through the air at 42 mph. The discs simulate the path of a bird fleeing a hunter. The sport is practiced by people of all ages and backgrounds.

Chris easily earned his shotgun merit badge in sixth grade, then joined the Butler County Sharp Shooters 4-H club. “He became really interested in shooting shotguns,” Arnold says. About a year later, Arnold took Chris to an open house at Badin High School in Hamilton and noticed trapshooting wasn’t among the extracurricular activities offered. He asked the athletic director for permission to start a club, and she gave her approval on

‘Self-confidence is probably the biggest thing the kids learn.’ Arnold’s son, Chris, sparked his family’s interest in competitive shooting. Arnold was a Boy Scout den leader and scoutmaster when Chris sought merit badges for archery, rifle, and shotgun. Arnold completed firearms training to support Chris, and he never looked back.

the condition that they find at least two interested students. “We knew we had two, so we put out a sign-up sheet. Then we got 30,” Arnold states. The team, called Clay Busters, was born in 2011. “The first year we had nothing,” Arnold says. “I had three old shotguns we used,

and some of the kids used their own.” Parents bit the bullet, so to speak, and paid out of pocket for ammunition and other expenses. The next year, Arnold joined firearm organizations that provided outside funding, so the team was able to supply ammunition for practices. In 2013, it hosted its first tournament, the Queen City Classic. Clay Busters claims more than a dozen members who

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have attained the highest marksman rank of “Distinguished Expert.” The team has won the state championship three times. At the Grand Nationals in Sparta, Illinois, last year, Clay Busters took five national titles and brought home 22 awards. Safety is a priority. Club members take mandatory NRA-certified training every year. After safety certification, they practice at Fairfield Sportsmen’s Association and the Butler County Sportsmen Rifle and Pistol Club before competing at shoots around the nation. Arnold says the team members sharpen their skills during the season, as well as build friendships. “There is a lot of downtime,” he says. “They have a blast.” Parents enjoy themselves as well, firing up grills for a barbecue or bringing in potluck meals and dining alfresco. Families stay in the

same hotel for out-of-town shoots and dine together every night. Chris will graduate from Badin this year, but his brightest shooting days may be ahead of him. He was recruited by Lindenwood University to join the Lindenwood Lions, which has been called “one of the winningest programs in college athletics.” The team has dominated trapshooting for the last two decades, winning an unprecedented number of national titles. Along with the accolades he has won, Chris said he enjoys the therapeutic aspect of shooting. “I just love how it gets your mind off of things,” he says. “You can go out and be with your friends and do what you love.”  KAREN HOLCOMB is a freelance writer from Hamilton.

butler rural electric member Mark arnold at a recent practice for the badin high School trapshooting club, where he serves as coach.

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FOOD SCENE

Don’t be

sheepish

S TO R Y B Y M A R G I E W U E B K E R P H OTO S BY C H E R Y L B AC H

about trying lamb Employees at Union Rural Electric can offer pointers

AMY PACK, senior member services representative with Union Rural Electric Cooperative, considers herself a novice when it comes to cooking lamb, even though she has a county fair ribbon that says otherwise. Pack entered the American Lamb Cook-Off last year at the Union County Fair in Marysville and finished second in her category with Lamb Gyro Quinoa Bowls. “Union Rural Electric sponsors the annual contest, and staff members participate in the celebrity category,” she says. “Every division of the cooperative has been represented over the course of the years.” Pack wanted a healthful dish with plenty of flavor, so she logged onto the American Lamb Board (www.americanlamb.com) website. She discovered a wealth of information, ranging from

LAMB GYRO QUINOA BOWLS 3 cups cooked quinoa 16 oz. ground lamb 2 tsp. cumin 1 tsp. dried oregano 1 tsp. crushed red pepper flakes 1/2 tsp. dried rosemary 1 tbsp. lemon juice 1 medium red onion, chopped 1 tomato, chopped 1 cucumber, sliced 4 oz. feta cheese, crumbled 1/4 cup parsley, chopped Tzatziki sauce: 3/4 cup greek yogurt 1 cucumber, seeded and finely chopped 16

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various lamb cuts to proper cooking techniques. The site also yielded hundreds of recipes in categories like easy appetizers, everyday entrées, lean and light, global flavors, quick and easy, and grilling. “I wanted something that did not have 86 ingredients and that was easy to make,” Pack says. The recipe for Lamb Gyro Quinoa Bowls definitely satisfied my requirements.” Preparing ground lamb for the first time proved to be no problem whatsoever; the hardest part was finding it at the local grocery store. She ended up having to special order the meat. The other ingredients were readily available. Liz Sullivan, a member of the Union County Sheep Improvement Committee and coordinator for the lamb cook-

1 tbsp. fresh lemon juice 2 tsp. fresh dill, chopped 3 cloves minced garlic 1/2 tsp. balsamic vinegar 1/2 tsp. sea salt Cook quinoa according to package directions. Heat a large skillet to medium heat. Spray well with cooking spray and add ground lamb, cumin, oregano, red pepper flakes and rosemary. Crumble meat and cook until brown, stirring often. Remove from heat and stir in lemon juice. Meanwhile, make tzatziki sauce by combining yogurt, cucumber, lemon juice, dill, garlic, vinegar and salt. Divide cooked quinoa between 4 bowls. Top with lamb, red onion, tomato, cucumber and feta. Drizzle with tzatziki sauce and garnish with parsley. Yield: 4 servings.

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off, recommends people do their homework before cooking lamb. That includes researching various cuts along with proper cooking methods. The extra time definitely reaps benefits. “Lamb is my favorite food, and I love trying new recipes, as long as they’re easy,” Sullivan’s 13-year-old son, Kaleb Boyd, says. “Usually people tell me they don’t like lamb. I tell them to first try mine and then they can truly decide.” He has earned prizes with his all American burgers and Mexican fiesta tacos. His dad, Chris Sullivan, and 9year-old sister Hannah, have pleased contest judges with their hearty Tailgate Chili incorporating an Ohio State

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Buckeyes theme. The family recommends that people rinse the browned ground lamb three times after cooking to remove oils and to eliminate what some might call a slightly gamey taste. It’s also a good idea to check recommended cooking times for other cuts. Sullivan praises Union Rural Electric for its sponsorship and participation in the cook-off, which began more than a decade

ago and continues with the 170th annual Union County Fair slated this year from July 24 to 30. In addition to Pack, past participants include Marsha Cheney and Sue Gibson with their Moroccan crock-pot tajine made with stewing lamb or lamb shoulder. Gibson, who serves as director of communications for the cooperative, and Joe Love, a Community Energy Resources Cooperative natural gas superintendent, collaborated on a tasty dish called GyrolLove (See page 18). They served slices drizzled with traditional tzatziki sauce. Board member William D’Onofrio intends to enter the 2016 competition after an absence of several years. “I already have a recipe picked out but cannot share it at this point,” he said. “I don’t want to tip off the competition. It’ll use locally sourced lamb and vegetables.”  To see other lamb contest recipes, visit www.ohioec.org. To view the Union County Fair schedule, visit www.ohiounioncountyfair.org.

(Continued on page 18)

MOROCCAN CROCK-POT TAJINE 1 3-lb. package fresh or frozen stewing lamb or 1 3-lb package lamb shoulder 4 cloves garlic, minced 2 onions, thinly sliced 1 tsp. ground cumin 1 tsp. paprika 1/2 tsp. ground ginger 1/2 tsp. cinnamon 1/2 tsp. allspice 1/2 tsp. salt 1/2 tsp. hot red chili pepper ﬂakes or 1/4 tsp. cayenne pepper 2 cups carrots, cut in small chunks 3 cups peeled squash or 3 cups peeled potatoes, cut in large chunks 1 10-oz. can condensed chicken broth or 1 cup chicken bouillon 1/2 cup pitted green olives (optional) 1 19-oz. can chickpeas, drained and rinsed (optional) Thaw lamb if frozen, trim excess fat and cut into bite-size pieces. Mince garlic and thinly slice onions. In Crock-Pot or other slow cooker, stir garlic with onion, cumin, paprika, ginger, cinnamon, allspice, salt, chili flakes or cayenne pepper, carrots, squash or potatoes, broth and olives if using. Add meat. Cover and cook on high for 5 hours or on low for 9 to 10 hours. Stir in chickpeas (if using) during last 15 minutes of cooking time. Serve over couscous or with crusty bread. Covered and refrigerated, tajine will keep for at least two days, or it can be frozen in an airtight container or resealable freezer bag. Serves 6 to 8.

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Don’t be sheepish about trying lamb

( – continued from page 17)

Our next recipe contest: Potlucks and picnics GYROLLOVE 1 tbsp. olive oil 1 lb. ground lamb 6 cloves garlic, minced 1 large onion, ﬁnely chopped 1 tbsp. dried oregano 2/3 tsp. ground cumin 2 tsp. salt 2 tsp. freshly ground black pepper 1 dash hot pepper sauce 2/3 cup chopped fresh parsley 1 lb. pizza crust dough 6 oz. feta cheese 1/2 zucchini, diced 8 oz. chopped black olives 1/2 tsp. garlic powder Tzatziki sauce 2 8-oz. containers plain yogurt 2 cucumbers, peeled, seeded and diced 2 tbsp. olive oil 1/2 lemon, juiced Salt and pepper 1 tbsp. chopped fresh dill 3 garlic cloves, peeled

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Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Brown meat with garlic, onion, oregano, cumin, salt, pepper, and hot sauce. When meat is almost done, add parsley and cook until it wilts. Remove mixture from heat and cool. Roll pizza dough into a rectangle (18 inches by 12 inches) with long side laid out left to right in front of you. Spread feta cheese, zucchini, and black olives evenly over dough, leaving 3 inches from the edge uncovered. Starting with the edge closest to you, roll up dough, making sure seam is sealed. Press both ends to seal. Sprinkle roll with garlic powder and bake 5 minutes in preheated oven. Then reduce heat to 350 degrees and bake for another 30 minutes or until golden brown. Slice to serve and drizzle with tzatziki sauce. For sauce: In a food processor or blender, combine yogurt, cucumber, olive oil, lemon juice, salt, pepper, dill, and garlic until well combined. Transfer to a separate dish, cover, and refrigerate at least 1 hour for best flavor. Serves 6.

The season of potlucks, picnics, and family reunions is quickly approaching. Country Living is seeking favorite recipes you bring to such events. Perhaps your potato salad or baked beans continually earns accolades, or maybe a favorite casserole or dessert always prompt requests for the recipe. Contest winners will be announced in the June edition. The grand prize winner will receive a KitchenAid stand mixer. Cooperative members can submit up to three recipes by the april 23 deadline. Entrants must contribute complete recipes with ingredients and directions clearly written. Tell us where you found the recipes and why you like them. Include your name, address, phone number, and the name of your electric cooperative. An addition for this contest is that we’re asking you also to include the number of servings your recipe will produce. Send your recipes to Margie Wuebker, c/o Country Living, 6677 Busch Blvd., Columbus, Ohio 43229.

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GARDENING LANDSCAPE

Living bird feeders Six shrubs and trees with seeds BY K R I S W E T H E R B E E

Editor’s note: See also page 34 of our April issue for a story on “Living Bird Feeders” that discusses how you can put plants in your garden that add not only natural beauty but also serve as a source of food for birds. These six shrubs and trees are in addition to the plants discussed in that story. Arborvitae — This group includes low-growing mounds and broad upright dwarfs, as well as columnar spires and large trees. Inconspicuous seed-filled cones — which are blue to blue-green, later maturing to brown — attract many birds, including grosbeaks, pine siskins, nuthatches, and chickadees. Grows from 3 to 100 feet tall in full sun to light shade, depending on the species. American Beech and European Beech — Medium- to largesize trees bear flowers followed by prickly fruit (known as masts) containing two small brown nuts that attract a variety of fall and winter birds, including chickadees, titmice, warblers, nuthatches, woodpeckers, and jays. Grows from 40 to 80 feet tall in full sun to light shade.

Birch — Large group of deciduous trees and shrubs, with attractive nectar-rich catkins (flowers) that typically form numerous seeds in late fall for most trees. The winged seeds — which are packed between the catkin bracts — attract many birds, including pine siskins, redpolls, and chickadees. Depending on the variety, grows from 3 to 70 feet tall in sun to light dappled shade. Eastern Redbud — Native to the eastern United States, this is the largest and fasting-growing redbud of the group. It is especially valued for its spectacular rosy pink spring flowers and magenta to reddish-brown beanlike pods that persist into winter. These pods attract chickadees, nuthatches, and other seed-eating birds. Grows 25 to 35 feet tall in full sun or light shade. Horsechestnut and Red Horsechestnut — Handsome deciduous trees feature a spectacular display of nectar-rich spring flowers, followed by fall offerings of leathery fruit capsules containing nutlike seeds. The glossy seeds are enjoyed by a variety of

birds. Horsechestnut grows to 60 feet tall; red horsechestnut grows to 40 feet high. Maple — Ornamental trees and shrubs, mostly deciduous, with summer through fall seeds consisting of two small wingshaped nuts. Robins, vireos, warblers, finches, and wrens are a few of the many birds that relish these seeds. Grows from 15 to 80 feet tall in sun to partial shade, depending on the species. 

(Top of page) People like the flowers of the Eastern Redbud, but birds love the beanlike pods that last into winter. (Above) Tasty nuts can be found inside the prickly fruit of the European Beech. APRIL 2016

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Automotive firsts B Y V I C TO R PA R AC H I N

THE MILLIONS WHO ATTEND annual automotive shows would be quite surprised to learn that the first national automobile show took place in 1900. It was sponsored by the Automobile Club of America and featured 40 automakers exhibiting more than 300 cars. Attendance averaged 6,000 per day, and visitors viewed braking and starting contests. A ramp was built to demonstrate the hill-climbing ability of the cars, and barrels were placed on the floor to show the ease of steering. Admission to the “horseless horse show” was 50 cents. That same year, William McKinley became the first U.S. president to ride in an automobile. Here are other fascinating automotive firsts. First steering wheel — The earliest automobiles were steered by tillers, much like a boat. In 1900, the first steering wheel was used on a Packard Model C, built by the Ohio Automobile Company. Visitors at the National Automobile Show looked skeptically at it, referring to the steering wheel as “that foreign thing.” In defense of the innovation, Packard officials declared “In machines that are designed to travel in excess of 20 miles an hour” a steering wheel was an absolute necessity. First car accident — On May 30, 1896, Henry Wells of Springfield, Massachusetts, was driving his Duryea Motor Wagon in New York City. He collided with Evylyn Thomas, who was riding her bicycle.

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She was taken to the Manhattan Hospital with a fractured leg. Wells spent the night in jail. Three years later, the first auto fatality took place. Henry H. Bliss, a 68-year-old real estate broker, was knocked down and run over as he was departing a streetcar at Central Park West and 74th Street in New York City. He was rushed to Roosevelt Hospital, where he died. The car driver, Arthur Smith, was arrested and held on $1,000 bail. First automobile laws — It quickly became apparent that states would have to establish rules and regulations on drivers and their vehicles. In 1901, Connecticut became the first state to enact uniform, statewide motor vehicle laws. That year, New York issued the first state license plates for automobiles and collected a total of $954 in fees. The first vehicle stop sign was put in Detroit in 1914. Jacob German has the distinction of being the first driver arrested for speeding. That took place in 1899, when German was arrested for driving at a “breakneck speed” of 12 miles per hour on Lexington Avenue in New York City. He was booked and jailed in the East 22nd Street police station. First speedometer and speed limit — The dash of the 1901 Oldsmobile was the first vehicle equipped with a speedometer. England was the first country to establish the speed limit in 1902, setting it at 20 miles per hour. In the U.S., the first national speed limit law was enacted in 1942 and set at 35 miles per hour. The following year, a ban on driving for pleasure was put into place because gasoline was needed for the war effort.

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First car produced for commercial sales — That was the car manufactured by Charles Edgar Duryea, regarded as American’s pioneer automobile manufacturer. Duryea began building his first automobile in 1891 in Springfield, Massachusetts, and was successfully operated on April 19, 1892. By 1895, he organized the Duryea Motor Wagon Company producing cars for commercial sale. The first was sold in 1896.

The earliest automobiles were steered by tillers, much llike a boat. First car factory — In 1899, Ransom Eli Olds of Detroit began manufacturing Oldsmobiles at his factory. In 1901, he produced 433 cars; 2,500 in 1902; and 5,508 in 1904. Although Olds pioneered car manufacturing, it was Henry Ford who would be the first to mass-produce automobiles. In 1908, he introduced the Model T, the first vehicle affordable to the general public. In August 1913, Ford developed a moving assembly line. At his Highland Park, Michigan plant, a two-rope pulley was hooked to a Model T chassis, pulling it past the workers, who added the necessary parts. By the end of that year, his assembly line was motorized. The use of an assembly line increased Model T production from 7-1/2 to 146 cars per hour, making cars even more affordable. Henry Ford’s assembly line effectively removed automobile ownership from the exclusive hands of the wealthy.

First air-conditioned car — What is now standard on virtually all vehicles created a stir when the Packard Motor Car Company in Detroit publicly exhibited an air conditioned auto in 1939 at the 40th Automobile Show in Chicago. Air inside the car was cooled to the temperature desired, filtered, and circulated. The cooling capacity of those first auto air conditioners was equivalent to the use of 1.5 tons of ice in 24 hours when the car was driven at 60 miles per hour, or 2 tons at 80 miles per hour. First businesses catering to drivers — J. G. Kirby’s Pig Stand was the first drive-in restaurant. It opened in Dallas in 1921. The first chain restaurant catering to drivers was created in 1935, when Howard Johnson contracted with a friend to open an identical version of his already-successful restaurant on Cape Cod. Within a year, 39 more Howard Johnson franchises opened. In 1940, the company received an exclusive franchise to provide food service for the newly opened Pennsylvania Turnpike. That turnpike was also the first modern long-distance road in America, opening on October 1, 1940. By 1941, more than 150 Howard Johnson restaurants stretched along the roads from Florida to New England. 

First starter — The early autos could only be started by using a hand crank, which was often difficult and dangerous and almost impossible for women to do. In 1911, Charles Kettering of Dayton Engineering Laboratories Company (Delco) developed and installed the first self-starter in a Cadillac. This, too, helped advance increased use of the automobile, by making it easier for most people, especially women, to drive.

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Outdoor book reviews B Y W. H. ‘CHIP’ GROSS

Understanding Coyotes: The Comprehensive Guide for Hunters, Photographers, and Wildlife Observors BY M I C H A E L H U F F

Coyotes in North America have been shot, trapped, and poisoned for decades, yet still they persist, extending their range into Ohio during the late 20th century. Given their continued persecution, these song dogs now inhabit not only the Buckeye State’s hinterlands, but also its major cities. One of nature’s ultimate survivors, the coyote is not going anywhere anytime soon. Pennsylvania outdoors writer Michael Huff is a coyote expert, of sorts. A licensed, professional coyote hunting guide and photographer, he has spent thousands of hours observing coyotes in the wild throughout the United States. But he did not rely solely on his own knowledge while writing this new book. Huff has spent years reviewing scientific coyote research literature and interviewing prominent coyote researchers. This relatively short treatise (111 pages) includes three main sections: Understanding the Coyote; Coyote Predation of Wild and Domestic Animals; and Understanding and Overcoming the Super Senses. Of particular interest in the third section is a discussion of a coyote’s vision, sense of smell, and hearing. Huff writes, “Smell is the most difficult of the coyote’s senses to overcome and is critical for getting close to this cautious canine. Humans have five million scent receptors in our nose. For comparison, the German Shepherd has 225 million scent receptors, 45 times more than humans, and it is a good bet the coyote has a similar amount.” Available online from Amazon.com or MasterPredatorHunting.com, $19.95.

The History of Fly-Fishing in Fifty Flies BY I A N W H I T E L AW

In 2006, Forbes magazine named the fishhook one of the 20 most important tools in human history. Tie a little fur and feathers to a hook, and you have a fishing fly. According to expert fly-fisherman Ian Whitelaw, anglers have been using artificial flies to catch fish for at least 2,000 years, possibly even longer. He says that a nun, Dame Juliana Berners, wrote extensively of the sport of fly-fishing as early as the 15th century. In this 224-page, hardcover book, the author chooses 50 iconic flies to tell the chronological story of fly-fishing’s evolution worldwide. How and why were the particular flies chosen? “Some are milestones in the history of fly-tying,” writes Whitelaw. “Some are representatives of broad classes of fly, some act as a focal point around which to discuss broader issues within the sport, some are examples of the possibilities opened up by the discovery or invention of particular fly-tying materials, and some allow us to explore the larger-than-life characters who created them. Some are just too effective to leave out.” Included are character profiles of famous fly-tiers and developers, fly-tying tips, photographs, and illustrations of the flies, and detailed explanations of the techniques used to fish them. Also interspersed are four state-of-the-art sections for the years 1500, 1800, 1900, and 2000, describing the rods, reels, fishing lines, and hooks used at the time. Published in 2015 by Stewart, Tabori & Chang, $22.50. 22

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RN AGAIN

S TO R Y A N D P H OTO S BY H A Z E L F R E E M A N

The Mail Pouch Barnstormers work to preserve a fading iconic art form

DRIVE ALONG ANY RURAL HIGHWAY in Ohio or in neighboring states like West Virginia and Pennsylvania, and you’re bound to spot the fading facade of an old barn sporting a Mail Pouch Tobacco sign. Once numbering in the thousands, these weathered relics of an era gone by are disappearing from the landscape. They’re not disappearing without a fight, however. A small group of Mail Pouch memorabilia and art lovers is trying to preserve both the signs and the barns, which represent a unique advertising art form in American history. “As a group, we are not advocates of tobacco use. The Mail Pouch Barnstormers are concerned specifically with the preservation and restoration of an iconic part of American advertising history,” says Bill Vint, executive director of the group. That advertising history began in the early 1900s with the Bloch Brothers Tobacco Co., the Wheeling-based manufacturer of Mail

Pouch Tobacco. The Bloch brothers began making stogies in the late 1800s. As the story goes, workers used the clippings as chewing tobacco, giving the Bloch brothers the idea to market chewing tobacco, as well as stogies.

One of those first Mail Pouch painters was 21-year-old Maurice Zimmerman from Morgan County in southeast Ohio. Zimmerman, one of the last of the original dozen or so painters, died in 1993, after spending some 35

‘Harley was an artist. He could look at a barn and know exactly how he was going to lay out the pattern.’ Thus, Mail Pouch Chewing Tobacco was born, along with an advertising campaign that would last decades. In the early 1900s, the Bloch brothers hired two-man crews to fan out across America’s heartland. The men drove Ford Model T trucks and painted barns and buildings along main highways with the company’s advertising logo, “Chew Mail Pouch Tobacco — Treat Yourself to the Best.”

barnstormer norman zimmerman, son of Maurice zimmerman, one of the original Mail pouch painters, displays some of his memorabilia.

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years on the road painting signs. His son, Norman, who was born in 1927 and currently lives in Cambridge, fondly remembers life on the road with his father. “The family traveled with Dad until the kids started school, then we traveled with him when school was out. We’d sleep in a tent and take baths in a washtub. Dad loved the traveling and meeting so many nice people along the way.” The painters worked year-round, with just a week off at Christmas. The Barnstormers collect photographs, paintings, and memorabilia that showcase the unique history of the Mail Pouch era, hoping to preserve artifacts and

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barnstormers drew and Kelly Matta’s barn was painted by harley Warrick in 1988. drew Matta has since repainted the barn twice.

memories. That shared desire brought the group together, but it’s evolved into much more. “Most of the club’s focus now is to preserve as many barns and signs as we can,” says Roger Warrick, president of the Barnstormers organization. Warrick’s father, Harley, is considered the last of the great Mail Pouch sign painters. At age 21, Harley Warrick returned from service in World War II to find the family dairy barn in Londonderry being painted by a Mail Pouch crew. The painters offered him a job, and he took it — the only job he would ever have. He continued to paint signs for the company for more than half a century. Even after his official retirement in 1993, Warrick continued to repaint existing signs and garnered notoriety as the last Mail Pouch sign painter. Warrick passed away in 2000, just a few

months after helping to repaint the sign on the schoolhouse at the Algonquin Mill Complex near Carrollton. “Harley was an artist. He could look at a barn and know exactly how he was going to lay out the pattern,” says Drew Matta of Carroll County. Drew and his wife, Kelly, members of both Carroll Electric Cooperative and the Barnstormers, live on what was Matta’s grandfather’s farm. “My grandfather always wished he’d had his barn painted by the Mail Pouch painters. After he died in 1988, I restored the barn and Harley painted it.” The Mattas would strike up an enduring friendship with Warrick and his family. “After Harley retired, he came back in 1994 to touch up the barn,” Drew says. “He wouldn’t take any money, so I offered to help him when he needed it. He took me up on that offer. I helped him on several

painting jobs over the years, including the one at Algonquin Mills, just before he passed away.” Along with tobacco falling out of favor, the Highway Beautification Act, signed into law in 1965 by President Johnson, was the beginning of the end of the Mail Pouch sign campaign. The act set out to control outdoor advertising along the nation’s growing Interstate Highway System. An amendment to the act in 1974 protected existing signs as having historical significance. “We’d like to see these historic signs preserved,” says Roger Warrick.  HAZEL FREEMAN is a freelance writer from Woodsfield. For more information on the history of Mail Pouch signs and barns, or to learn how to get sign restoration assistance or to join the organization, visit the Barnstormers website at www.mailpouchbarnstormers.org.

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MEMBER INTERACTIVE

Horsing around

hands-free driving Kristy Rettig, Tiffin North Central EC

Wild-eyed and wild-haired Sharon Coleman, Blue Creek Adams REC

Cheek to cheek Dennis Kreais, Dublin Union REC best friends forever Jeff and Sherry Hopkins, Sullivan Lorain-Medina REC 26

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that’s using your head Julie Wilhelm, Hamler Tricounty REC

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lazarus, the flying mare Jennifer Smith, Baltimore South Central Power

you can never start too young Brittany Auman, Carroll South Central Power

Member interactive: Send us your photos and stories! take me with you Jill Huntley, Columbus South Central Power

If we use your photo, you’ll get a Country Living tumbler: If we use your essay, you’ll get:

For May, send us by Apr. 1 photos of “Funny signs.” (See our story on page 39 of our January issue) For June, send us by Apr. 15 essays on “When I ‘grow up,’ I want to....”, Guidelines: 1. Stories no longer than 150 words 2. Digital photos should be a minimum of 300 dpi 3. One entry per household per month 4. Send a self-addressed stamped envelope if you want anything returned 5. Include your name, mailing address, and the name of your electric co-op 6. E-mail: fromourmembers@ohioruralelectric.coop By U.S. mail: Editor, Country Living, 6677 Busch Blvd., Columbus, OH 43229

We could also do this with no hands Janice Thomas, Pickerington South Central Power

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The Mayberry of the Midwest

S TO R Y A N D P H OTO S B Y DA M A I N E V O N A DA

Annie Oakley, KitchenAid, a charming downtown: Greenville’s got it all WITH ONLY 13,000 PEOPLE, Greenville certainly fits the definition of a small town, but the Darke County seat has blossomed into a great destination because of its many singular attractions, not the least of which is its old-fashioned charm. Greenville sits like a giant jigsaw puzzle piece amid the square, flat farm fields of western central Ohio. Neither overshadowed by a city nor overpowered by a mall, its downtown hums with the commerce of independent retailers, and its Victorian streetscape is crowned by a stalwart stone courthouse and anchored by a statue of Annie Oakley, the international shooting star from Darke County. Downtown Greenville is one of those rare places where merchants still prop open their shop doors and where you can slip into a parking spot, then walk to boutiques or restaurants. It looks neat and clean and feels welcoming and neighborly. “When I’m downtown, I’m always saying ‘Hi’ to four or five people I know on every block,” says Gloria KellerBrinley, who manages the KitchenAid Experience® Retail Center. A showcase store for the brand’s renowned stand mixer and other countertop appliances, the KitchenAid Experience brings customers from far and wide. Whenever first-timers marvel at the town’s vitality and friendliness, Keller-Brinley explains Greenville by saying, “It’s the Mayberry of the Midwest.” Residents proudly tell you that virtually the entire downtown is on the National Register of Historic Places; that the Great Darke County Fair turns 160 this August and routinely draws 200,000 people; and that Eldora Speedway is nationally known. They’re proud that Annie Oakley remained a Darke County girl at heart; that the Garst Museum is a “Little Smithsonian;” and that a 1795 treaty negotiated at long-gone Fort Greene Ville was crucial to the nation’s westward expansion. In truth, Greenville has had a special identity since its inception as a fort built by “Mad” Anthony Wayne, the relentless general sent by President Washington to quell the bloody conflicts between white settlers and American Indians. Wayne laid out the fort in blocks, like a town, and with a 55-acre footprint, it 28

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was the Northwest Territory’s largest log fortification. He chose a name that distinguished it from other forts he’d erected — “Green” for his patriot friend Nathanael Greene, and “ville,” meaning “city.” The secret of Greenville’s Mayberry-esque appeal may be that it’s big enough to hold many compelling stories but small enough to have townspeople genuinely eager to share them.

darke County visitors bureau Welcome Center Stop by this helpful downtown venue for tips about attractions and events such as First Fridays, which are festive open houses with fun themes — like Chocolate Walk and Artisan Stroll. To pre-plan your adventures, call or go to the Visitors Bureau’s information-packed website. 800-504-2995 or www.visitdarkecounty.org

Kitchenaid experience retail Center This inimitable store wows visitors with rainbowcolored arrays of mixers, blenders, and cookware; free culinary classes; and demonstrations of new

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and nifty countertop products from spiralizer attachments to multi-cookers. Plan on spending a few hours to see all it offers, and be sure to check out the basement’s refurbished appliance outlet and mini-museum of vintage mixers. 888-886-8318 or www.kitchenaid.com/experience-retail-center

Kitchenaid factory tours This factory is the only place in the world that assembles KitchenAid Stand Mixers, and the free tours reveal the care and craftsmanship that go into each and every one. 800-961-0959 or www.kitchenaid.com/experience-retail-center

longed to the petite and proper Victorian lady who starred in Buffalo Bill’s Wild West show. Other collections salute Lowell Thomas, the Darke Countyborn broadcaster who made Lawrence of Arabia famous, and highlight the Fort Greene Ville peace treaty. “The people present for its signing,” says museum director Clay Johnson, “were like a who’s who of American history.” 937-548-5250 or www.garstmuseum.org  To learn more about other attractions in and near Greenville, go to www.ohioec.org

downtown greenville eateries For the definitive taste of Greenville, try the signature loose-meat sandwich at the Maid-Rite Sandwich Shoppe. In business since 1934, the retro diner also makes a mean milkshake and is the guardian of a Greenville tradition — leaving a wad of chewed gum outside, on the Maid-Rite’s walls. Elsewhere downtown, The Bistro Off Broadway’s jazzy specialties include its bistro burger and Caesar salad; Montage Café serves wonderful wines and imaginative salads; and the burritos at Danny’s Place are a local favorite.

garst Museum One of Ohio’s best history museums, the Garst houses the National Annie Oakley Center and displays extraordinary artifacts — including clothing and custom-made guns — that beAPRIL 2016

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Come out of your shell S TO R Y A N D P H OTO S BY W. H . ‘ C H I P ’ G R O S S

Visit the open house at OSU’s Museum of Biological Diversity

IF YOU ENJOY natural history, you’ve got to see this place! Located on the edge of The Ohio State University (OSU) Columbus campus, the Museum of Biological Diversity houses seven extensive collections of animal and plant specimens — some nine million total — gathered from around the world. Included are acarology (ticks and mites); Borror Lab of Bioaccoustics (animal sounds); C. A. Triplehorn Insect Collection; fishes; herbarium; molluscs (mussels and snails); and tetrapods (amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals). The museum is open to the public only once annually. This year’s open house is scheduled for Saturday, April 23. Admission is free, and children are welcome. “Biological research museums, such as ours, have a mission similar to libraries,” says OSU Professor Norman Johnson. “But instead of preserving books, biological collections preserve individual organisms.” This year’s open-house theme is “In Living Color.” For instance, live fishes on display will likely include darters — small fish living in Ohio streams that take on brilliant (top of page) the curators at oSu’s Museum of biological diversity had some fun with a giant clam that really is big enough to eat a human. (right) the prickly spikes on the puffer fish would make you regret sidling up to it too quickly. 30

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spring breeding colors, rivaling any saltwater species. In addition, other live species will include insects, spiders (including tarantulas), giant millipedes, scorpions, snakes, and lizards. The size of the museum’s individual specimens range from a full manatee skeleton down to diatoms, one-celled algae capable of being viewed only through a microscope. Somewhere in between are giant moths, rhinoceros beetles, foot-long walking sticks, and giant clams. There is even fossilized dung. One small species of insect, previously unknown to science, was discovered living in a field just across the street from the museum. This year marks the museum’s 12th annual open house. “Our first year, we had about 350 people attend. Last year, more than 2,700 toured the museum,” says Luciana Musetti, a Ph.D. working in the entomology lab. “As word spreads about what is housed behind our walls, more people want to see what’s here, and we’re glad to show them. Some families even come back year after year — their kids insist on it.”  The OSU Museum of Biological Diversity is located at 1315 Kinnear Road, Columbus. For information, call 614-292-7773, or visit https://mbd.osu.edu/open-house. This year’s open house falls on April 23, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is free.

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WOODS, WATERS, AND WILDLIFE

‘Start ’em young’ and ‘make it fun’ is Cincinnati writer Jeff alt’s advice for getting kids to love hiking. the alt family is poised here to undertake an outdoors adventure, complete with trekking poles. one of alt’s books is entitled Get Your Kids Hiking. find out more information about his books at www.ohioec.org

Take a hike! Author Jeff Alt knows how you can get your family started hiking S TO R Y A N D P H OTO B Y W. H . ‘ C H I P ’ G R O S S

THERE ARE NO COUCH POTATOES in Jeff Alt’s household. He and his wife, Beth, live in a Cincinnati suburb but are seldom home during the summer. Instead, they and their two kids — Madison, 11, and William, 8 — can usually be found hiking or backpacking. Alt became interested in the outdoors at an early age. “I camped with my family as an infant,” he said. “When I was a young child, we camped, hiked, and fished every summer. As a 14year-old, while camping with my parents in the Great Smoky Mountains, I went on an overnight hike with my brothers along the Appalachian Trail (AT). At that time in my life, it was the hardest thing I had ever done, but the seed was planted.” The “seed” Alt refers to was his dream of someday hiking the entire Appalachian Trail, all 2,160 32

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miles, from Springer Mountain in northern Georgia to Mount Katahdin in northern Maine. He accomplished that dream in 1998, covering the distance in just five months of backpacking. Alt then wrote about his adventure in his first book, A Walk for Sunshine, which won six national awards.

older brother, Mike, had recently taken his own life, and Jeff suggested that an extended backpacking trip would do wonders for both of them in overcoming their grief. “We made that hike to raise awareness for clinical depression, the affliction that took Mike’s life,” says Alt. “In America, someone dies by suicide every 17 minutes. We named it the ‘Hike for Mike,’ and completed the distance in three weeks of backpacking.” Alt turned that story into his second book, Four Boots, One Journey. Since then, Jeff, Beth, and some of their extended family

‘The key is to stop often and let your little one explore. Make hiking something kids look forward to.’ A year after hiking the AT, Jeff married Beth, a colleague he had become friends with while working on his master’s degree at Miami University. The pair decided to hike the 218-mile John Muir Trail high in California’s Sierra Nevada Mountains. But it was to be more of a healing experience than recreation. Beth’s

members have hiked the Burren Way along Ireland’s coast. During that trip, Jeff carried his then 21month-old daughter on his back. As might be imagined, the Alts have many tales to tell from their various hiking/backpacking trips. “I was asleep in my sleeping bag, when I felt something crawling on top of me,” he remembers. “I

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OHIO ICON

pushed it off, then grabbed my flashlight to see what it was — a skunk! I was afraid it was going to return and possibly spray me, so I lit a candle, thinking the flame would keep the animal away. Instead, the skunk came back, curled up on the foot of my sleeping bag, and spent the rest of the night there.” Alt recommends getting kids interested in hiking and playing outdoors early. “Start ’em young,” he says. “Ergonomically designed baby carriers make it possible to take along an infant/toddler wherever you hike. The key is to stop often and let your little one explore. Make hiking something kids look forward to.” Alt suggests beginning by taking a daily walk around your neighborhood or a local park. “Kids like routine, and this will help them become conditioned for that special trip to a state park, national park, or other distant destination. It will also help you get in shape and make certain that all your hiking gear fits and works well before taking a vacation away from home.” As kids grow and develop into walkers, Alt says to let them lead. “Hike at your child’s pace and distance. Whatever the child takes an interest in — a bug, leaf, or rock — stop and explore it with them. The goal of these first few trips should not necessarily be arriving at a specific destination. Rather, it should be making the trips so much fun that kids want to go hiking again and again.” Alt’s last bit of hiking advice looks to the future. “Guide your kids during their first few steps along the trail, and you will give them skills and a healthy lifestyle that will last a lifetime. In the process, you’ll also make some great family memories.” Each summer, Jeff Alt presents family hiking programs in both Shenandoah and Great Smoky Mountains national parks, as well as other venues. His two latest books are Get Your Kids Hiking and The Adventures of Bubba Jones: Time Traveling Through the Great Smoky Mountains. All of Alt’s hiking/backpacking books can be found online at www.jeffalt.com. 

Jolly Roger Seafood House Port Clinton B Y DA M A I N E VO N A DA

Location: Near the Lake Erie shoreline along St. Rte. 163 on the east side of Port Clinton Provenance: Started in 1980, the Jolly Roger Seafood House specializes in Lake Erie yellow perch and walleye. Significance: The Jolly Roger’s best-selling fried perch sandwiches and perch dinners have made the casual eatery a favorite destination for locals and Lake Erie vacationers alike. For many families, eating at Jolly Roger’s is as much a summertime tradition as a ferry ride to the islands. “From May through September, it’s like a Friday night here every day,” says owner Edmond Hoty. Customers stand in line to place their orders at a counter, where they can watch employees preparing fish in the breading pit. Jolly Rogers use a specially formulated breading, and its cocktail sauce, tartar sauce, and enormously popular onion rings are all homemade. “The onion rings,” says Hoty, “are made fresh every single day, and they’re to die for. We use a very light batter, so you can really taste the onions.” Currently: In addition to customer favorites such as peel-n-eat shrimp, deep-fried oysters, and hush puppies, Hoty has added lobster rolls, fried calamari, and perch and walleye tacos to the menu. This year, he also plans to offer two new sides — a fresh green salad and an apple-walnut salad. Hoty never intends, however, to change the Jolly Roger T-shirts-and-shorts atmosphere. “Jolly Roger’s a dive, but that’s what the place is supposed to be,” says Hoty. “It’s simple and a lot of fun.” Jolly Roger Seafood House, 1737 E. Perry St., Port Clinton; 419-732-3382

For more hiking tips, photos, and a list of Jeff Alt’s favorite hikes, go to www.ohioec.org

APRIL 2016

• COUNTRY LIVING

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GARDENING LANDSCAPE

Living bird feeders S TO R Y BY K R I S W E T H E R B E E ; P H OTO S BY R I C K W E T H E R B E E

OFFERING A TASTY MIX of seedbearing annual and perennial flowers will entice a variety of birds into your yard with an appetizing food source they love to eat. As a bonus, these plants often serve up tasty insects that wrens, nuthatches, warblers, and other birds find appealing. Seed-eating birds like finches, cardinals, sparrows, and chickadees continually seek out seedheads from an assortment of flowering plants. Any daisy-like flower is first-rate and includes beauties like asters, coneflowers, rudbeckia, sunflowers, and zinnias. (Goldfinches are especially fond of coneflowers and sunflowers.) Other prolific seed producers worthy of a spot in any garden are marigolds, cosmos, coreopsis, elecampane, goldenrod, phlox, and salvias.

annual attractions With an extended bloom period that surpasses most perennials and shrubs, the goal of annuals is to grow fast and bloom for a longer period of time, offering an instant attraction of food for wildlife.

COUNTRY LIVING

• APRIL 2016

Attract birds with flowering plants that produce a buffet of tasty seeds Sunflowers and zinnias attract a variety of bird species, and amaranths are especially appealing to finches and sparrows that relish the grain-type seeds. Many annuals, like cosmos, cornflower, and zinnias, extend their appeal with offerings of both nectar and seeds that also bring in hummingbirds and butterflies.

perennials that please Perennial plants offer a broad range of food options that help attract birds with both insects and seeds, while creating an attractive garden. Asters, chrysanthemums, blackeyed susan, and other rudbeckia species are a few of the sun worshipers that produce copious seeds. Though many flowering perennials prefer full sun, some seed producers, such as columbine, bee balm, and cranesbill — otherwise known as hardy geranium — can also be grown in partial shade. These pleasing perennials not

only bring in the birds, but they also attract hummingbirds and butterflies with their nectar-rich blooms. Then there are power perennials that offer the added advantage of being drought-tolerant, once they become established. Water-thrifty, bird-attracting plants, such as coneflower, coreopsis, milkweed, penstemon, stonecrop, sedum, and verbena, can be counted on as fall food sources, as they can often get by with monthly supplemental waterings during a dry summer.

bird-enticing tips Choose plants that will thrive in your area, taking into account your soil conditions and light levels. Featuring a variety of annuals and perennials will ensure that you have an ongoing source of seeds from spring through fall. So will changing up when and how often you deadhead spent blooms. Removing spent flowers during the growing season will help keep

Sunflowers and elecampane (opposite page) are both sources of seeds that birds love to eat.

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plants blooming longer. So go ahead and keep deadheading some of the plants until they are near the end of their flowering cycle. At that time, it’s best to let the flowers mature so that they can produce seeds. Do, however, earmark some of your flowering plants as a “no-deadhead zone” so they’ll produce seed heads sooner than the first group, thereby extending the seed offerings. Keep in mind that different birds favor different food offerings at different heights of the vertical space within your yard. You’ll attract the greatest number of bird species by offering a variety of seed-bearing flowers that mature at different heights. This will create a multi-layered feeding frenzy of attraction for the birds in your area, as well as migrants passing through later in the season. Tempt feathered friends with living bird feeders that will also enliven your

garden with the beauty of colors and a multitude of interest.  To read about six shrubs and trees that serve as “living bird feeders,” visit www.ohioec.org.

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• COUNTRY LIVING

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APRIL 2016 CALENDAR

NORTHWEST Southern gospel expo, Trinity Friends Church, 605 N. Franklin St., Van Wert, Thur. 7 p.m., Fri. 5 p.m., Sat. 4 p.m., Sun. 6:30 p.m. Free. 25 groups and artists from around the country. 419-238-2660 or www.trinityvw.com.

MAR. 31-APR. 3 —

Little Shop of Horrors, Hardin Northern High School, 11589 St. Rte. 81, Dola, Fri./Sat. 7:30 p.m., Sun. 2:30 p.m. $8 Std./Srs. $5. 419759-2331.

APR. 1-3 —

Christian Comedian, Kenton Middle School, 300 Oriental St., Kenton, 7 p.m. $10. Will McDaniel performing. 567-674-4137.

APR. 2 —

APR. 9 — Mom-to-Mom Spring Sale, YMCA, Lima, 8 a.m.-noon. 90 tables with new to gently used infant to toddler merchandise. 419-223-6045. APR. 9 — bucyrus Model railroad association train Show, Crawford Co. Fgds., Bucyrus, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. $5. 866-562-0720 or 419-462-5035. APR. 9, 10 — Maumee valley gun Collector Show, Lucas Co. Rec. Ctr., Maumee, Sat. 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m., Sun. 8:30 a.m.-3 p.m. $5. 419-536-0054.

I Love Lucy – live on Stage, Veterans Memorial Civic and Convention Ctr., Lima, 7 p.m. 419-2241552 or www.limaciviccenter.com.

APR. 10 —

NORTHEAST Mid-ohio Cat fanciers Show, Richland Co. Fgds, Mansfield, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. $6, C. $4. 200 cats and kittens of all breeds. 800-642-8282 or 419-525-1300. APR. 2, 3 —

Medina Model railroad and toy Show, Medina Co. Fgds., Medina, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., admission. 330-948-4400.

APR. 3 —

Spring quilt Show, Fort Steuben Visitor Ctr., 120 S. 3rd St., Steubenville, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. 740-2831787 or www.oldfortsteuben.com.

APR. 4-16 –

APR. 7-10 — holy Mackerel fishing tackle flea Market, New Russia Twp. Hall, 46268 Butternut Ridge Rd., Oberlin, Thur.-Fri. 9 a.m.-7 p.m., Sat. 8 a.m.-6 p.m., Sun. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. 440988-9264.

pop, rock and doo Wopp live!, Palace Theater, 617 Broadway Ave., Lorain, 7:30 p.m. $35-$65. 440245-2323 or http://lorainpalace.org.

APR. 8 —

geauga Co. Maple festival, Chardon Square (U.S. 6 and St. Rte. 44), Chardon. www.maplefestival.com. APR. 21-24 —

COUNTRY LIVING

pleaSe note• Country Living strives for accuracy in this listing, but strongly urges readers to confirm dates and admission charges before traveling long distances to events. Submit your listing at leaSt 90 dayS prior to the event by writing to Country living, 6677 busch blvd., Columbus, oh 43229 or events@ohioec.org. please note: Country Living will not publish event listings that do not include a complete address of where the event takes place or a telephone number to call for more information. APR. 22-24 — Mohican Wildlife Weekend, Mohican State Park, Malabar Farm State Park, and the Loudonville Public Library. Experience the habitats of birds and bats, learn about fly-fishing, and more in the great outdoors. 800-642-8282 or http://discovermohican.com.

“dedini: the art of humor,” Billy Ireland Cartoon Library and Museum, Sullivant Hall, Ohio State University, 1813 N. High St., Columbus, Tue-Sun. 1-5 p.m. Free. Work of a master gag cartoonist on display. 614-292-0538 or http://cartoons.osu.edu

Moon Over Buffalo, Olde Towne Hall Theater, 36119 Center Ridge Rd., North Ridgeville, Fri.-Sat. 7:30 p.m., Sun. 3 p.m. $12, C./Srs. $10. 440-3272909.

MAR. 30-APR. 3 — The 39 Steps, Ohio University-Lancaster, 1570 Granville Pike, Lancaster, Fri.-Sat. 7:30 p.m., Sun. 2 p.m. 740-654-6711, ext. 650, or www.ohio.edu/lancaster/ events/index.cfm.

APR. 23 – ohio lily Society Spring bulb Sale, Kingwood Center Gardens, 900 Park Ave. W., Mansfield, noon–3 p.m. $5. 440-779-7643 or www.ohiolilysociety.org.

MAR. 31-APR. 2 —

APR. 22, 29, 30, MAY 1, 6, 7 —

vermilion herb fair, Vermilion River Reservation, 51211 North Ridge Rd., Vermilion, 10 a.m.4 p.m. and noon-4 p.m. Local vendors selling potted herbs and herbal products. 440-967-7310.

APR. 23, 24 —

ohio Civil War Show, Richland Co. Fgds., Mansfield, Sat. 9 a.m.-5 p.m, Sun. 9 a.m.-3 p.m. $7. Seven buildings with 750 tables of military items, relics, and memorabilia. Buy, sell, or trade. 800-642-8282 or 419-525-1300.

APR. 30, MAY 1 —

Wayne Co. home and garden Show, Wayne Co. Fgds., Wooster, Sat. 10 a.m.-6 p.m., Sun. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. 330-262-5735.

APR. 30, MAY 1 —

oddmall emporium of the Weird, John S. Knight Ctr., 77 E. Mill St., Akron, noon10 p.m. Free. Artists, crafters, and likeminded sorts gather to offer their creations to the public. 330-374-7560 or http://oddmall.info/ohio.

APR. 30, MAY 1 —

CENTRAL THROUGH MAY 8 — lego travel adventure, COSI Columbus, 333 W. Broad St., Columbus, Mon.-Sun. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. $14-$19. Be inspired by LEGO models of famous vehicles and build your dream machine. 614-2282674 or www.cosi.org.

• APRIL 2016

THROUGH MAY 22 —

Spring dairy expo, Ohio Expo Ctr., 717 E. 17th Ave., Columbus, Thur. 8 a.m.-9 p.m., Fri. 7:30 a.m.-9 p.m., Sat. 7:30 a.m.-4 p.m. Free. All seven breeds of dairy cattle. Live auction sales and some of the nation’s top breeders of show and high milk producing animals. www.springdairyexpo.com.

APR. 1-24 — exhibit: “blue Walk: – the art of William Kortlander,” Decorative Arts Ctr., 145 E. Main St., Lancaster, Tue.-Sat. 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Sun. 1-4 p.m. Figurative and landscape paintings that evoke the youth-oriented culture of the 1960s. 740-6811423 or www.decartsohio.org. APR. 5 — Sherman house Museum and georgian Museum opening day, downtown Lancaster, 1-4 p.m. 740-654-9923 or www.fairfieldheritage.org.

Chicago and earth, Wind & fire — heart and Soul tour 2.0, Nationwide Arena, 200 W. Nationwide Blvd., Columbus, 7:30 p.m. $39.50$125. 614-246-2000.

APR. 5 —

APR. 7-9 — national robotics Competition, Marion Co. Fgds., Marion. $5. Students from various states compete. 740-725-5723 or www.thenrc.org.

equine affair, Ohio Expo Ctr., 717 E. 17th Ave. Columbus. $15, four-day pass $50., C. $8. More than 200 clinics, seminars, and demonstrations on a wide variety of equestrian sports and horse training, management, health, and business. 740-8450085 or http://equineaffair.com.

APR. 7-10 —

APR. 9 — Weaving Workshops, Roscoe Village, Visitor Ctr., 600 N. Whitewoman St., Coshocton, 10 a.m.-noon. $25. Shares the history of weaving and allows participants to create a mug rug on a portable loom. 10 years of age or older. Reservations required one week prior. 740-622-7644, ext. 20, or www.roscoevillage.com. APR. 9 — twig Spring garden Show, Tri-Rivers Career Ctr., 2222 Marion-Mt. Gilead Rd., Marion, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. New this year is Shary Williamson, author of The Woodland Elves, to entertain the kids. 740-383-8682.

ag days, antique tractor and power Show,. Hocking Co. Fgds., Logan. 740-385-5306.

APR. 9, 10 —

APR. 14 — TR! The Man in the Arena,

five nights on Campus – teddy roosevelt, OSU Marion, 1465 Mt. Vernon Ave., Marion, 7:30 p.m. $10, Srs. $9, Std. $4. 740-725-6340 or www.osumarion.osu.edu. genealogy Workshop: learn More about your family photographs, Ohio History Ctr., 800 E. 17th Ave,. Columbus, 10:30 a.m.12:30 p.m. $15-$20. 800-686-6124.

APR. 16 —

Spring tea, Georgian Museum, 105 E. Wheeling St., Lancaster, 4 p.m. Three courses of sweets and savories and endless tea, served in this 1832 mansion. Reservations required. 740-654-9923 or www.fairfieldheritage.org.

APR. 16 —

dinner at the doctor's house, Roscoe Village, 600 N. Whitewoman St., Coshocton, 6:308:30 p.m. $50. Learn about dining etiquette and cooking practices of the 1800s along with humorous tales of the Ohio-Erie Canal. Dinner should be pre-ordered two weeks in advance. 800-877-1830, 740-622-7644 or www.roscoevillage.com.

APR. 22 —

Wildflowers and Waterfalls hike, Hocking Hills State Park, 19852 St. Rte. 664 S., Logan, 10 a.m.-noon. Meet at the parking lot at Ash Cave. 740-385-6842.

APR. 23 —

APR. 23 — Marion Co. historical Society rummage Sale, Heritage Hall, 169 E. Church St., Marion, 9 a.m. 740-3874255 or www.marionhistory.com.

ohioana book festival, Sheraton Columbus Hotel, 75 E. State St., Columbus, 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m. “Celebrating Ohio’s Authors.” 614-4663831 or www.ohioanabookfestival.org.

APR. 23 —

APR. 23, 24 — viking festival, Village Park, Ashville, Sat. 10 a.m.-7p.m., Sun. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. 740-983-9390 or www.ashvillevikingfest.com.

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APRIL 2016 CALENDAR

arbor day festival, Dawes Arboretum, 7770 Jacksontown Rd. SE, Newark, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. An array of activities and educational displays go on all day, including tree climbing and kids’ crafts. 740-3232355 or 800-443-2937.

APR. 30 —

SOUTHEAST APR. 1-3, 8-10 — Snoopy, Cambridge Performing Arts Ctr., 642 Wheeling Ave., Cambridge, Fri./Sat. 7 p.m., Sun. 3 p.m. $10, Std./Srs. $8. 740-261-4304 or http://cambridgeperformingartscenter.org.

Southern fried Chicks, Pritchard Laughlin Civic Ctr., Cambridge, 7:30 p.m. Join the Chicks for a night of free-range comedy. 740439-7009 or http://pritchardlaughlin.com.

APR. 2 —

Welcome back Carp!, Ohio River Museum, 601 Front St., Marietta, 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m. A Carp Egg Hunt will be held, with each egg filled with candy and trinkets. Also carnival games. 740-373-5178 or info@mariettaohio.org.

APR. 2 —

blue rock Station earth day, 1190 Virginia Ridge Rd., Philo, 1 p.m. $10 includes high tea. Learn about living a greener life or building a house out of tires, cans, or bottles. Tour of the house and some of the other buildings also available. Tour begins 1 p.m. Reservations required. 740-674-4300 or www.bluerockstation.com.

APR. 2, 30 —

adena Mansion and gardens Spring awakening, 847 Adena Rd., Chillicothe. The 19th-century mansion will be open for tours during this event. $10, C. $5. 740-7721500 or http://adenamansion.com.

APR. 9 —

gospel bluegrass friday night, 3267 Centerpoint Rd., Patriot. 740-418-0914 or 740-577-8492.

APR. 9 —

the ultimate tribute to Wings, the beatles and Sir paul McCartney, Majestic Theatre, 5 E. 2nd St., Chillicothe, 7:30 p.m. 740772-2041.

APR. 16 —

dogwood festival, Piketon. 614-937-5940 or www.pikecountyfestival.com.

APR. 22-24 –

Soup Supper, Graysville and Community VFD, 38851 St. Rte. 26, Graysville, 4 p.m. 740-934-2311 or 740-934-2174. APR. 23 –

APR. 23 — Wildflower hike, Lake Hope State Park, 27331 St. Rte. 278, McArthur, 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Meet at the Lake Hope Nature Ctr. and caravan to a variety of wildflower hot spots throughout the park. 740-596-5253. APR. 24 — Southeastern ohio

Symphony orchestra, Brown Chapel, New Concord, 7 p.m. Featuring the Muskingum University Choirs with the symphony. 740-826-8197 or http://seoso.org. Life Goes On, Players Theater, 229 Putnam St., Marietta, 8 p.m. 740-374-9434 or midohiovalleyplayers.org.

APR. 29, 30 —

Morel Mushroom Mania, Shawnee State Park, 14755 Cadiz Rd., Lore City. Learn how to find and cook these mysterious mushrooms. 740-858-6652.

APR. 29-MAY 1 —

SOUTHWEST international butterfly Show: butterflies of the Caribbean, Krohn Conservatory, 1501 Eden Park Dr., Cincinnati. $7, C. $4. More than 10,000 colorful butterflies are let loose in the greenhouse. 513421-5707 or www.cincinnatiparks.com/krohn-conservatory.

THROUGH JUN. 19 —

APR. 6-10 — american quarter horse association Madness Show, Roberts Arena, 4095 St. Rte. 730, Wilmington. Free. 937-382-1965, 877428-4748 or www.robertsarena.com.

Collectors toy Show, Champaign Co. Fgds., Urbana. 9 a.m.3 p.m. $2. 937-826-4201.

APR. 10 —

ohio Country antique Show, Roberts Ctr., 123 Gano Rd., Wilmington, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. $6. 513738-7256.

APR. 16 —

hadden Sayers band, Murphy Theatre, 50 W. Main St., Wilmington, 7:30 p.m. $12-$29. 877274-3848 or www.themurphytheatre.org.

APR. 16 —

APR. 16 — nutter Center Sports Card

Show, Wright State University, Nutter Ctr., 3640 Colonel Glenn Hwy., Dayton, 10 a.m.-3:30 p.m. 937-602-3278. oxford Kinetics festival, Millett Hall, 500 E. Sycamore St., Oxford, noon-5 p.m. Free. Events include the Scramble, a race/parade/ obstacle course of kinetic sculptures for kids 16 and younger and “The Dog’s Breakfast,” an outlandish alleycat-style bike race/scavenger hunt. 513-523-8687, 513-461-3096 or http://oxfordkineticsfestival.org.

APR. 17 —

Country heir horse Show, Roberts Arena, 4095 St. Rte. 730, Wilmington. 937-382-1965 or www.robertsarena.com.

APR. 20-24 —

APR. 21 – downton abbey luncheon and tea, Nathaneal Green Lodge, 6394 Wesselman Rd., Cincinnati, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. $45 to benefit scholarship fund. Reservations by Apr. 1. 513-8454607 or www.herbsociety.net. APR. 21, 22 — Cakes for a Cause, Miami Valley Ctr. Mall, 987 E. Ash St., Piqua, 10 a.m.-9 p.m. From confetti and red velvet to marble and peanut butter, there’s a cake for everyone. 937-615-9080 or www.piquacommunityfoundation.org.

bellbrook Sugar Maple festival, downtown Bellbrook, (St. Rte. 725 between I-675 and U.S. 42), Fri. 6-8 p.m., Sat. 10 a.m.-7 p.m., Sun. 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Free. 877-5225995 or 937-862-9305. APR. 22-24 —

APR. 23 – the rend Collective Concert, Hobart Arena, 255 Adams St., Troy. The Family We Go Tour with special guests, Urban Rescue. 937339-2911 or http://rendcollective.com.

Kite tales, National Museum of the U.S. Air Force, 1100 Spaatz St., Dayton, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Celebrate spring with fascinating demonstrations of the incredible art of indoor kite flying. Build and fly your own kite. 937-255-3286.

APR. 23 —

Wine, Women & Song – rachel brown and the beatnik playboys, Fairfield Community Arts Ctr., 411 Wessel Dr., Fairfield, 8 p.m. 513-867-5348.

APR. 29 —

Spring ice Show, Goggin Ice Ctr., 610 South Oak St., Miami University. 513-529-9800.

APR. 29, 30 —

american quarter horse assoc. youth Show, Roberts Arena, 4095 St. Rte. 730, Wilmington. Free. 937-382-1965 or www.robertsarena.com.

APR. 30-MAY 1 —

bears Mill Spring open house, 6450 Arcanum-Bear’s Mill Rd., Greenville, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Tour the four-story working antique mill with a Mill Store and Gallery. 937-5485112 or www.bearsmill.com.

APR. 30-MAY 1 —

WEST VIRGINIA Spring international film festival, Keith Albee Performing Arts Ctr., 925 Fourth Ave., Huntington, 304-696-6656 or www.marshall.edu/muartistseries.

THROUGH-APR. 2 —

dinner theater, North Bend State Park, Cairo. Dinner and a show! Reservations required. 304-634-2931.

APR. 9 —

Scrapbooking getaway, North Bend State Park, Cairo. Instructors on hand for advice and demonstrations. Bring your unfinished projects or new projects to share. 304-634-2931.

APR. 15-17 —

Ohio Quiz

(Answers from page 39) U

1. John Hay 2. Coates Kinney 3. Lois Lenski 4. Paul Laurence Dunbar 5. Alice Cary and Phoebe Cary 6. Helen Steiner Rice 7. Rita Dove 8. James Wright 9. Jessie Brown Pounds 10. Hart Crane 11. Stephen Gyllenhaal 12. David Citino

APRIL 2016

• COUNTRY LIVING

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OHIO MARKETPLACE

***ADVERTISE HERE*** ONLY $310 FOR 3 MONTHS!

Largest circulation of any Ohio rural magazine.

COUNTRY LIVING

Rich Warren 614-846-5757 rwarren@ohioec.org

B O m B s w

C 1 o R 2 e t 3 N C 4 d 5 v

COUNTRY LIVING

• APRIL 2016

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OHIO QUIZ

Buckeye Poets’ Corner Ohio hardly shows it, yet the state’s a place of poets. This month’s quiz takes license with poets past and present from the Buckeye State. For example, if the clue is “Raised in Cincinnati, she is a world-renowned African-American poet,” the answer would be “Nikki Giovanni.”

CLUES 1. A diplomat and poet, this Clevelander was the U.S. Secretary of State for President William McKinley and President Theodore Roosevelt. 2. His best-loved poem was “The Rain on the Roof,” but he also edited Xenia’s newspaper and wrote “Ohio Centennial Ode” for the state’s 100th birthday celebration. 3. Born in Springfield and an Ohio State grad, she won a Newberry Medal for Strawberry Girl and published The Life I Live, Collected Poems in 1964. 4. He was a Daytonian who famously wrote poems in black dialect as well as standard English. 5. These poetic sisters from the Cincinnati area published their verses individually and jointly in the 1800s.

6. Thanks to her popular greeting card rhymes, this Lorain native was called the nation’s inspirational poet laureate. 7. She’s an Akron native and Miami University alumna who was awarded the 1987 Pulitzer Prize for Poetry for Thomas and Beulah, an ode to her grandparents. 8. He received the 1972 Pulitzer Prize for his Collected Poems and titled his free verse tribute to his hometown “Autumn Begins in Martins Ferry, Ohio.” 9. A Hiram resident, she penned poems that became the lyrics for scores of gospel songs. 10. He was born in Garrettsville; worked in Cleveland as a reporter for the Plain Dealer; and became an influential modernist poet whose epic work The Bridge employs the Brooklyn Bridge as a metaphor for America. 11. A Cleveland native, he is a film director and poet who published his first collection, Claptrap: Notes from Hollywood, in 2006. 12. Also a Cleveland native, he was Ohio State’s poet laureate and often penned poems about baseball.

ANSWERS ON PAGE 37

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