OHIO
JUNE 2019
COOPERATIVE
Living
Official publication of Butler Rural Electric Cooperative | www.butlerrural.coop
Treasure in the trees Unique lodging in Knox County
ALSO INSIDE Managing the Cardinal Plant A ride on The Wilds side Cincinnati’s Lazarus lizards
power future
Electric cooperatives the
We’ve come a long way from milking cows by hand. Now, we can use their waste to generate electricity. What will they think of next? Whatever new technology is on the horizon, cooperatives will be there to power the future.
ohioec.org/purpose
OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING • JUNE 2019
INSIDE FEATURES 24 RIVER CROSSING Ferries traversing the Ohio River are important bonds in the communities they connect.
30 BURR’S LAST STAND Hamilton’s nemesis tried to organize a final grab for power on an island in the middle of the Ohio River.
34 LAZARUS LIZARDS If you’ve been to Cincinnati, you’ve no doubt seen them — but just where did those little critters come from?
Cover image on most issues: With help from area Amish craftsmen and from Discovery Channel’s Treehouse Masters, Kevin Mooney (on the cover in front of “Little Red”) built The Mohicans, where adventurous travelers can sleep in a variety of elevated accommodations. See page 28 for the story. This page: The mansion on Blennerhassett Island, host to Aaron Burr in his post-Hamilton days, is expertly reconstructed for the period.
JUNE 2019 • OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING 1
UP FRONT
CARDINAL
RELIABLE AND AFFORDABLE
O
wning a power plant and being responsible for the day-to-day operations of a power plant are two very different things.
Ohio’s electric cooperatives got together to form Buckeye Power in 1959, built (in partnership with American Electric Power) the Cardinal Power Plant on the banks of the Ohio River near Brilliant, Ohio, and began generating electricity there in 1968. That allowed cooperatives to hold our energy destiny in our own hands in a way we’d never been able to before. Even so, we relied on AEP to run the plant, and while we had a say in all the major decisions, responsibility for daily operations belonged to AEP. That ended a little more than a year ago, when AEP decided to scale back its role in the Ohio power generation business. All those years of observation, gathering knowledge, and acquiring experience at Cardinal were put to use as we assumed responsibility for operational control there, as well as at our other generation facilities. Not surprisingly, as a cooperative, we do things a little differently than the way a large multistate utility like AEP does them. We seek greater involvement from our employees in decision-making and are less tied to “the way we’ve always done things” (see an example of that in our story on page 4). As not-for-profit co-ops, we operate at cost and we have a financial responsibility to our members to be both reliable and cost-competitive. We have a responsibility to the local community to operate in an environmentally responsible manner. Most importantly, we have a responsibility to our employees to operate safely. Meanwhile, we’re committed to an all-of-the-above energy approach, and we continue to explore and investigate economically sustainable sources of renewable power. However, we’ve also made significant investments in people, environmental controls, and technology, to help assure that our traditional power plants continue to provide value. Today, the Cardinal Power Plant simply offers the best combination of reliability and affordability for our members — ready to meet your needs each and every day, during the most blistering heat wave or any bone-chilling polar vortex that comes our way. That’s power generation for the generations.
2 OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING • JUNE 2019
Pat O’Loughlin PRESIDENT & CEO OHIO'S ELECTRIC COOPERATIVES
As not-forprofit co-ops, we operate at cost and we have a financial responsibility to our members to be both reliable and costcompetitive.
MORE INSIDE
June 2019 • Volume 61, No. 9
DEPARTMENTS Ohio Rural Electric Cooperatives 6677 Busch Blvd. Columbus, OH 43229 614-846-5757 memberinteract@ohioec.org www.ohioec.org Patrick O’Loughlin President & CEO Patrick Higgins Director of Communications Jeff McCallister Managing Editor Rebecca Seum Associate Editor Anita Cook Graphic Designer Contributors: Colleen Romick Clark, W.H. “Chip” Gross, Sarah Jaquay, Catherine Murray, James Proffitt, Damaine Vonada, Kris Wetherbee, Rick Wetherbee, and Kevin Williams. OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING (USPS 134-760; ISSN 2572-049X) is published monthly by Ohio Rural Electric Cooperatives, Inc. It is the official commun ication link between the electric cooperatives in Ohio and West Virginia and their members. Subscription cost for members ranges from $5.52 to $6.96 per year, paid from equity accruing to the member. Nothing in this publication may be reproduced in any manner without written permission from Ohio Rural Electric Cooperatives, Inc. All rights reserved.
For all advertising inquiries, contact
Cheryl Solomon American MainStreet Publications 847-749-4875 | cheryl@amp.coop The fact that a product is advertised in Ohio Cooperative Living should not be taken as an endorsement. If you find an advertisement misleading or a product unsatisfactory, please notify us or the Ohio Attorney General’s Offi ce, Consumer Protection Section, 30 E. Broad St., Columbus, OH 43215. 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. Ohio Cooperative Living staff cannot process address changes. Alliance for Audited Media Member Ohio’s Electric Cooperatives is an equal opportunity provider and employer.
4 POWER LINES
Fulfilling our mission: A change in culture has accompanied a change in operators at the Cardinal Plant.
4
8 WOODS, WATERS, AND WILDLIFE
On The Wilds side: Chip Gross gets a behind-the-scenes look at the reclaimed surface mine, now a wildlife sanctuary.
10 OHIO ICON
The Buckeye Trail: Ohio’s longest scenic hiking trail celebrates its 60th anniversary this year.
8
12 IN THE GARDEN
Potted herbs: A good, portable container gives you instant access to all your kitchen favorites.
15 GOOD EATS
Pucker up: When life gives you lemons, there’s way more to do with them than just making lemonade.
12
18 CO-OP SPOTLIGHT
Future leaders: Children of Ohio electric cooperative members take home nearly $37K in scholarships.
19 LOCAL PAGES
15
News and important information from your electric cooperative.
28 CO-OP PEOPLE
Treehouse lodging: Want to feel like a kid again? Spend a luxurious night in a treehouse.
37 CALENDAR
28
What’s happening: June/July events and other things to do.
40 MEMBER INTERACTIVE
Creature comfort: Readers turn their cameras away from their pets and toward animals a bit less domesticated.
40
JUNE 2019 • OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING 3
POWER LINES
FULFILLING
our mission
P
art of the process of removing sulfur dioxide (SO2) from emissions at the Cardinal Power Plant involves the use of limestone. The process is complicated and can be messy, and when heavy deposits build up in the scrubber, the entire generating unit must come offline. An employee at the plant suggested adding a chemical to the process that not only would allow for less limestone to be used, it would reduce those deposits in the scrubber — meaning lower maintenance time and cost. It’s just one example of the kind of employee input that’s encouraged at the plant — even more so now since Cardinal Operating Company, overseen by Buckeye Power leadership, assumed operational control there from American Electric Power just over a year ago. Buckeye Power is the wholesale power provider for all 24 Ohio electric cooperatives, as well as one co-op based in Michigan. “The partnership between AEP and Buckeye Power has been successful for many years, but the way AEP did things isn’t necessarily the way we do things,” says Pat O’Loughlin, CEO of Buckeye Power. “Cardinal was operated as part of their system, and their plants were operated in a common fashion. Today, we are focused on the best way to run this plant, and we are counting on our employees to help us find ways to eliminate waste and be more efficient.” Finding those efficiencies was one of the benefits Buckeye Power hoped for when it began operating the plant. In the last decade, Ohio’s electric cooperatives have invested more than $1.2 billion in environmental safeguards — such as the scrubbers — that make Cardinal one of the cleanest coal-burning plants in the world. Those investments resulted in increased cost to produce power between 2003 and 2013. Since then, however, those rates have remained relatively flat, and O’Loughlin says he expects that trend to continue for at least another year.
Cardinal Operating Company and its employees are working hard to hold rates down. BY JEFF McCALLISTER
4 OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING • JUNE 2019
“When people see those rates stay about the same for that amount of time, they may think that means there’s not much going on to affect the rates, but in fact it’s taken a lot of work by a lot of people to make it happen,” he says. In addition to generating power at Cardinal and at other plants around the state, Buckeye Power is also responsible for delivering it to the distribution substations at the local electric cooperatives.
Because the co-ops own only a small percentage of the high-voltage transmission lines that carry electricity from the plant to the individual co-ops for distribution to their consumermembers, Buckeye Power’s wholesale rates are tied to the transmission rates charged by the investor-owned utilities that own those lines. Transmission owners are now investing heavily in line upgrades, and they’re passing a portion of the costs on to Buckeye Power and its members. Transmission costs represent a smaller portion of the power costs than generation, but still have doubled in the last six years. “We’ve been able to offset the rising transmission costs with reductions in fuel costs and the other costs associated with running the plant,” O’Loughlin says. Cardinal Plant Manager Bethany Schunn and Sustainability Lead Julie Jones (opposite page) say that actively seeking input from plant employees has led to more efficient operations there.
Fuel costs, generally, are fixed; with the closure of so many coal-fired plants in recent years, the price of coal has come down, at least temporarily. Some of the environmental investments at Cardinal have also allowed the company to use coal that’s mined locally, which is both less expensive to purchase and less costly to transport. The new environmental controls have also allowed the company to turn some of the byproducts of the burning and scrubbing, which would otherwise go into a landfill, into sellable commodities, such as wallboard-quality gypsum or bottom ash that can be used to safely treat icy roads in the winter. More savings are being found all the time, especially since company officials have begun enlisting employees for help. The chemical addition in the SO2 scrubbing process is just one example of such employee input. “We actively solicit ideas from the employees — it’s just part of the culture here now,” says Julie Jones, sustainability lead at the plant. “We share a lot more information with them now, and in return, they’re taking an active role in finding places that we might be wasting money. Continued on page 6
JUNE 2019 • OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING 5
Continued from page 5
SCRUBBERS AT WORK Cardinal Plant’s $1.2 billion emission control system
Cooling Water Vapor Plume Flue Gas Water Vapor Plume
Coal-Fired Steam Generator Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) System
SO3 Mitigation System
Catalyst Layers
Electrostatic Precipitator
Low-NOx Burners
Ammonia Gas Injection
Pulverized Coal
80% of SO3 Removed
Flue Gas Desulfurization (FGD) SO3 Mitigation Absorber System Induced Draft Fan
Air Heater
Ammonia Production System
This illustration is conceptual. Relationships — in size and volume — may not be accurately portrayed.
“It just makes sense because they’re on the front lines and see these things every day. They can help change it.” Employee suggestions have led to other changes as well. Coal is handled more efficiently from the time it’s unloaded from barges until it’s loaded into the boiler. Employee input brought about the replacement of a conveyor belt that was constantly spilling coal, which was costly to clean up. That upgrade to a larger-size belt could save as much as $500,000 every year. Another suggestion led to operational changes that may allow the plant to generate less power overnight, when power is needed less and therefore, is less valuable. “We are committed to our mission to deliver competitively priced, reliable power for the benefit of our 25 distribution cooperative members and their communities,” O’Loughlin says. “That, in turn, helps the local communities thrive in this challenging energy environment.”
Upper right, Brad Loy, Rob Webber, and Brian Richardson are part of the coal yard maintenance team at the Cardinal Plant and assisted with changing out a conveyor belt that was causing a series of costly spills. Right, Jeff Gremelspacher, chemist and plant environmental process owner, suggested adding a chemical that improved the sulfur-scrubbing process, saving time and money.
6 OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING • JUNE 2019
CEMS
Limestone Slurry
Gypsum Cooling Tower
Rechargeable Digital Hearing Aid Technology Only $ 229!* (*Each when you buy a pair)
The new more powerful HearClearTM HCR3 rechargeable hearing aid combines advanced technology with a low price to provide you with outstanding value.
A) Microphone B) Program Bu�on C) Volume Control D) USB Charging Port & Rechargeable Ba�ery E) New Digital Processor F) Receiver (Speaker) G) Sound Tube
5 Star Reviews! Outstanding Product! “This product is outstanding. Dad loves it, my mom loves it, and I am grateful! Don’t believe that you have to spend a lot of money to get a quality hearing aid” - Gilmore B.
HCR3 Features! Digital sound processing chip provides clear sound and makes speech easier to understand with less feedback than old analog technology Don’t worry about replacing ba�eries! Full Charge Gives 16 Hours of Use! (Charger Included) Easy On / Off Bu�on Automa�c Noise Reduc�on and Feedback Cancella�on 100% Money Back Guarantee 4 Programs for different listening situa�ons Helps most moderate to significant hearing losses (call us if you need more power)
Even Better In Pairs! Your brain is designed to use both ears working together. In fact, studies show that you may be able to hear up to 3 �mes be�er in noisy situa�ons when using two hearing aids. Buy a pair for the best results and maximum savings!
Simple. Affordable. Rechargeable Digital Hearing Aid - For Only $229!* The new HearClearTM HCR3 Rechargeable Digital Hearing Aids are now available to you for an unbelievably affordable price! The HCR3 is packed with the same key technologies that all high end digital hearing aids share while leaving out the extra bells and whistles that increase cost and require expensive adjustments. This helps you hear better, while saving you a lot of money. NOW ON SALE! Your new HearClear HCR3 hearing aids work at a fraction of the cost of name-brand hearing aids, and you won’t have to keep changing the batteries! You will love the discreet, comfortable, lightweight Open-fit design. The HCR3 is pre-programmed for most moderate to significant hearing losses, so you won’t need professional appointments to make costly adjustments. It is shipped directly to you and will help you hear better right out of the box! You can spend thousands for an expensive hearing aid, or you can spend just $249 for a hearing aid that is great for most hearing losses (only $229 each when you buy a pair – hear up to 3 times better than wearing just one). We are so sure you will love your hearing aids that we offer a 100% Money Back Guarantee - Risk Free if you are not satisfied for any reason.
MONEY SAVING OFFER! Use Coupon Code: CL96
1-888-200-0618
*Only $229 Each When You Buy A Pair! (Coupon Code & Price Valid For A Limited Time Only) TM
Affordable Quality Since 1996!
US Company Owned And Operated
The HCR3
FDA
REGISTERED
Visit and Save: www.AdvancedHearing.com/CL96
JUNE 2019 • OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING 7
WOODS, WATERS, AND WILDLIFE
Wilds
BEHIND THE SCENES AT
The
STORY AND PHOTOS BY W.H. “CHIP” GROSS
O
ne of the three largest wildlife conservation facilities in North America — The Wilds — is located in the Buckeye State, just south of Cambridge. Now encompassing nearly 10,000 acres, The Wilds was incorporated in 1984 to reclaim surfacemined land, with a mission “to lead and inspire by connecting people and wildlife.”
More than two dozen wild species from around the world — most either endangered or threatened — live there to be studied in natural habitats. Critters vary in size from the diminutive American burying beetle, about an inch and a half long, to the southern white rhinoceros, which can grow to as much as 5,100 pounds. A typical tour of The Wilds involves climbing aboard a canopied, open-air bus and viewing the herds of wildlife from a distance as a tour guide slowly drives the miles of gravel roads throughout the complex. But if you’re a bit more adventurous, consider taking the two-and-a-half-hour Wildside Tour. You’ll pile into the open bed of a four-wheel-drive pickup truck — yes, there are padded bench seats — and go off-roading right into the heart of the herds. “No matter which tour you choose, no two are ever alike,” says Brock Gorrell, director of park operations. “The animals change their behaviors from season to
season. We consider the Wildside Tour our premium tour. Your guide will be a member of our animalmanagement staff, and each of those employees has a special connection to and knowledge of the animals.” Gorrell added that highlights of a Wildside Tour may include the chance to hand-feed a giraffe or other wildlife, and each tour makes a visit to the Carnivore Center for close-up views of cheetahs, dholes (Asian wild dogs), and a family of African painted dogs. Limited to just eight people, the Wildside Tour is more pricey than the standard tour ($125 per person as opposed to $30), but well worth the extra money. Heck, it’s as close as most of us will ever get to experiencing the thrill of a safari. A Wildside Tour is also the ultimate exotic wildlife photography opportunity. So whether you take pictures with a cellphone, point-and-shoot, or digital single-lens reflex (DSLR) with interchangeable lenses, don’t forget your camera. The Wilds (www.thewilds.org) is an extension of the Columbus Zoo and a member of Guernsey-Muskingum Electric Cooperative. W.H. “Chip” Gross (whchipgross@gmail.com) is a member of Consolidated Cooperative and is Ohio Cooperative Living’s outdoors editor.
Among the endangered animals residing at The Wilds are (from left) red-crowned cranes, scimitar-horned oryxes, and cheetahs.
8 OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING • JUNE 2019
The Wildside Tour may include feeding giraffes (top); the southern white rhinos are one of the more imposing animals at The Wilds (middle); a family of Sichuan takins takes a rest (bottom).
JUNE 2019 • OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING 9
OHIO ICON
The Buckeye Trail STORY AND PHOTO BY DAMAINE VONADA
Location: Around the state of Ohio in places that encompass forests and fields; riverbanks and lakeshores; public lands and private property; old canal towpaths and new bike paths; and cities, towns, and villages.
Provenance: In a 1958 Columbus Dispatch article, Merrill Gilfillan of the Ohio Department of Natural Resources proposed a public hiking path from Cincinnati to Lake Erie. Gilfillan and other supporters of his idea formed the Buckeye Trail Association (BTA) to develop Ohio’s first long-distance hiking trail, and on Sept. 19, 1959, the Buckeye Trail’s initial 20-mile section was dedicated in Hocking County. BTA founding members who participated in the dedication hike included Gallia County’s Emma “Grandma” Gatewood, who, at age 67, was the first woman to walk the entire Appalachian Trail on her own. The Buckeye Trail’s original termini were Cincinnati’s Eden Park and Headlands Beach State Park in Mentor, and blue streaks — called blazes — were painted on trees and posts to mark its route. Following the blue blazes became so popular that in 1967, state legislators designated the Buckeye Trail as Ohio’s official trail, and it evolved into a circular route that now loops through 49 of the state’s 88 counties. Still managed by the nonprofit BTA, the Buckeye Trail is maintained by volunteers and financed through donations. “BTA takes no state or federal money,” says Executive Director Andrew Bashaw. “It’s a point of pride that we’re self-funded by people who worked to build and preserve a trail they want to hike.”
Significance: Celebrating its 60th anniversary this year, the Buckeye Trail covers 1,452.7 miles and is Ohio’s longest scenic hiking trail. It also ranks among the nation’s largest and most diverse hiking trails and is believed to be the only trail encircling an entire state. of the American Discovery Trail and North Country National Scenic Trail, the Buckeye Trail is considered the backbone of Ohio’s ever-expanding network of trails. With more than 1,200 members, BTA partners with entities ranging from ODNR to “Trail Town” destinations to help protect and promote the Buckeye Trail, and this fall, it will open a new 15-mile-long trail section in Adams County’s Edge of Appalachia nature preserve.
It’s a little-known fact that: The color of the Buckeye Trail’s blue blazes is called “Sweeping Blue,” and Grandma Gatewood herself purchased the first can of “Sweeping Blue” paint and donated it to the BTA. The Buckeye Trail and Buckeye Trail Association, P.O. Box 5, Shawnee, OH 43782. For additional information, call 740-394-2008 or visit www.buckeyetrail.org.
10 OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING • JUNE 2019
PHOTO BY ANDREW BASHAW,
Currently: Overlapping numerous local trails as well as portions
#
Clip this offer to apply for coverage!
Now, from United of Omaha Life Insurance Company and Companion Life Insurance Company...
Whole Life Insurance. Are you between the ages of 45 and 85*? Then this GUARANTEED ACCEPTANCE policy is for YOU! >> Choose from 4 benefit levels - up to $25,000! >> Rates “lock-in” at the age you apply - never go up again! >> Call for your FREE all-by-mail application packet! >> Call TOLL-FREE
1-866-429-4432
Or apply online at
www.MutualGuaranteedLife.com
NO medical exam!
NO health questions!
Plus... Proceeds paid directly to your beneficiary Builds cash value and is renewable up to age 100!**... Then automatically pays YOU full benefit amount!*** Policy cannot be canceled – EVER – because of changes in health!
Why this policy? Why now? Our graded death benefit whole life insurance policy can be used to pay funeral costs, final medical expenses...or other monthly bills. You know how important it can be to help protect your family from unnecessary burdens after you pass away. Maybe your own parents or loved one did the same for you. OR, maybe they DIDN’T and you sure wish they would have! The important thing is that, right now, you can make a decision that could help make a difficult time a little easier for your loved ones. It’s a responsible, caring and affordable decision. And, right now, it’s something you can do with one simple phone call. You may have been putting off purchasing life insurance, but you don’t have to wait another day. This offer is a great opportunity to help start protecting your family today.
Your affordable monthly rate will “lock-in” at your application age* ... $3,000.00 Benefit
Age 45-49 50-54 55-59 60-64 65-69 70-74 75-79 80-85
Male $10.45 $11.50 $14.20 $17.20 $20.50 $27.40 $37.00 $50.50
Female $8.80 $9.70 $11.95 $13.30 $16.00 $21.40 $30.10 $42.55
$5,000.00 Benefit
Male $16.75 $18.50 $23.00 $28.00 $33.50 $45.00 $61.00 $83.50
Female $14.00 $15.50 $19.25 $21.50 $26.00 $35.00 $49.50 $70.25
$10,000.00 $25,000.00 Benefit
Benefit
Male Female Male Female $32.50 $27.00 $79.75 $66.00 $36.00 $30.00 $88.50 $73.50 $45.00 $37.50 $111.00 $92.25 $55.00 $42.00 $136.00 $103.50 $66.00 $51.00 $163.50 $126.00 $89.00 $69.00 $221.00 $171.00 $121.00 $98.00 $301.00 $243.50 $166.00 $139.50 $413.50 $347.25
The rates above include a $12 annual policy fee.
This is a solicitation of individual insurance. A licensed insurance agent/producer may contact you by telephone. These
policies contain benefits, reductions, limitations, and exclusions to include a reduction in death benefits during the first two years of policy ownership. In NY, during the first two years, 110% of premiums will be paid. Whole Life Insurance is underwritten by United of Omaha Life Insurance Company, 3300 Mutual of Omaha Plaza, Omaha, NE 68175 which is licensed nationwide except NY. Life insurance policies issued in NY are underwritten by Companion Life Insurance Company, Hauppauge, NY 11788. Each company is responsible for its own financial and contractual obligations. Not available in all states. Benefit amounts vary by state. Policy Form ICC11L059P or state equivalent (7780L-0505 in FL, 828Y-0505 in NY). *Ages 50 to 75 in NY. **In FL policy is renewable until age 121. ***All benefits paid would be less any outstanding loan. 452747
JUNE 2019 • OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING 11
IN THE GARDEN
Growing HERBS in pots BY KRIS WETHERBEE; PHOTOS BY RICK WETHERBEE
T
he late spring and summer season are great times to fill your outdoor living space with the lively colors, textures, and fragrances of herbs grown in containers. Potted herbs bring instant visual attraction to your outdoors, and their portability allows you to position plants where they grow and look their best. Just about any herb can be grown in a container, as long as the pot is sized right for the plant. Most culinary herbs are prime picks, especially familiar favorites like chives, parsley, mint, oregano, sage, thyme, rosemary, and basil. Tropical and tender herbs like lemon grass, scented geraniums, sweet bay, and lemon verbena can be grown in pots and brought in to overwinter in a sheltered area or even indoors.
Pot pointers Whether you choose a small glazed pot, large stone urn, or even a vintage washbasin or retired wheelbarrow to plant your herbs, keep these two things in mind: • Make sure that the pot or container is deep enough to accommodate growing roots. Bigger pots result in bigger plants. • Your pot or container should have holes in the bottom for adequate drainage — poke or drill additional holes if you need more.
Soil and planting Garden soil is simply too heavy for use in containers and lacks the porosity needed to grow healthy potted herbs. Instead, use a lightweight potting mix that is friable and drains well. Look for a potting mix that includes pumice or perlite, or you can add either ingredient to help loosen and aerate the final mix. When planting your pots, fill the container two-thirds full with potting mix, then plant herbs so that the top of the plant’s root ball sits about 1 to 2 inches below the container’s rim. Fill in with additional potting soil as needed, press plants firmly in place, then water thoroughly.
Water and maintenance Water needs vary according to the plant’s need for moisture, its location, time of year, and the pot’s size and type. Let the potting soil dry slightly between waterings for drought-tolerant and Mediterranean herbs such as rosemary, sage, and thyme; keep the mix slightly moist at all times for basil, chives, and other herbs with moderate to average moisture needs. Always water thoroughly until you see water flowing freely from the pot’s bottom drainage holes. Feed plants during the growing season every three to four weeks with an organic liquid fertilizer such as fish emulsion, kelp, or compost tea, or apply a slow-release organic fertilizer two or three times a year. Removing faded flowers will encourage more blooms. Pinch back leggy stems for bushier, fuller, and more productive plants. Remember, you can always enjoy the trimming and flowering stems of any culinary herbs in the kitchen.
12 OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING • JUNE 2019
insurance and you could save.
geico.com | 1-800-947-AUTO | Local Office
Some discounts, coverages, payment plans and features are not available in all states, in all GEICO companies, or in all situations. Boat and PWC coverages are underwritten by GEICO Marine Insurance Company. Homeowners, renters and condo coverages are written through non-affiliated insurance companies and are secured through the GEICO Insurance Agency, Inc. Motorcycle and ATV coverages are underwritten by GEICO Indemnity Company. GEICO is a registered service mark of Government Employees Insurance Company, Washington, DC 20076; a Berkshire Hathaway Inc. subsidiary. Š 2018 GEICO
NEVER SEAL YOUR WOOD OR CONCRETE AGAIN PERMANENT ONE-TIME SOLUTION
BEFORE
AFTER
BEFORE
25% OFF WITH THIS AD
AFTER • We clean, restore & permanently preserve your product. • Prevents wood from rotting, decaying and further damage from moisture. • Repels mold, mildew & fungus growth. • Prevents concrete from pitting, flaking, dusting and scaling. • Prevents salt & alkali damage. • Backed by technology.
Free Estimates 14 OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING • JUNE 2019
844.481.6862
PermaSealUSA.com
GOOD EATS
When life gives you lemons, there’s way more to do with them than just making lemonade. RECIPES AND PHOTOS BY CATHERINE MURRAY
JUNE 2019 • OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING 15
ZESTY LEMON HUMMUS (page 15) Prep: 10 minutes | Servings: 8 2 15.5-ounce cans chickpeas/ garbanzo beans 1 lemon 2 cloves garlic
1 tablespoon olive oil water, optional salt and pepper to taste lemon-infused olive oil, optional
Drain chickpeas, reserving liquid. Set liquid aside and rinse chickpeas. Wash lemon under water. With a knife, carefully remove the outer peel, keeping as close to the yellow rind as possible (the white pith can taste bitter.) Set peel aside and juice the lemon. Discard the pulp and remains. Place lemon juice, lemon rind, chickpeas, garlic, and olive oil in food processor. Grind, adding small amounts of chickpea liquid a little at a time until mixture begins to loosen. Run food processor for 3 to 5 minutes, alternating fresh water and chickpea liquid until preferred texture is reached. Add salt and pepper to taste. Garnish with lemon-infused olive oil, if desired. Per serving: 381 calories, 8 grams fat (1 gram saturated fat), 61 grams total carbs, 17 grams fiber, 19 grams protein
CHICKEN PICCATA Prep: 10 minutes | Cook: 20 minutes | Servings: 4 4 chicken breasts (approximately 1 pound) 2 tablespoons flour 1/2 cup flour 1 cup chicken broth 1 lemon, zest and juice 1/2 cup white wine 1/4 teaspoon salt 3 tablespoons capers, drained 1/4 teaspoon pepper 2 tablespoons chopped parsley 2 tablespoons olive oil 1 lemon, sliced thin 2 tablespoons unsalted butter Pound the chicken breasts to about 1 inch thick. Cut breasts in half if needed to fit in the skillet. Combine 1/2 cup flour, lemon zest, salt, and pepper. Coat chicken with flour mixture, shaking off excess. In a wide skillet, heat olive oil over medium-high heat and cook chicken 4 to 5 minutes per side, or until cooked through. Set aside, covered. In the same pan, melt butter and add 2 tablespoons flour to create a roux. Whisk until smooth, cooking 1 to 2 minutes. Gradually whisk in chicken broth, lemon juice, white wine, and capers. Simmer 3 minutes to thicken. Add chicken and simmer 3 more minutes to reheat chicken and infuse flavor. Top with parsley and lemon slices. Serve over pasta or with favorite vegetables. Per serving: 351 calories, 16 grams fat (5 grams saturated fat), 17 grams total carbs, 1 gram fiber, 28 grams protein
LEMON BEEF AND BROCCOLI Prep: 5 minutes | Cook: 30 minutes | Servings: 4 1 cup milk 2 tablespoons unsalted butter 2 tablespoons cornstarch 1 pound boneless beef grilling steak, cut into strips 1 lemon, zest and juice 6 cups broccoli, cut in pieces 1/3 cup low-sodium soy sauce 1/4 cup chopped red pepper 1 tablespoon honey 2 tablespoons grated ginger 1/4 teaspoon hot pepper flakes 2 cups cooked rice In a bowl, whisk a little milk into cornstarch to make a paste. Whisk in remaining milk, lemon zest, soy sauce, honey, and hot pepper flakes. Set aside. Melt butter in a large skillet over medium-low heat. Add beef and stir-fry for 3 minutes or until browned. Pour milk mixture over top. Cook 15 to 20 minutes, until beef is tender and sauce has thickened. Add broccoli, red pepper, and ginger to skillet. Cook another 5 to 10 minutes until broccoli has reached desired tenderness. Add lemon juice and serve over rice. Per serving: 769 calories, 19 grams fat (9 grams saturated fat), 99 grams total carbs, 6 grams fiber, 48 grams protein
16 OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING • JUNE 2019
LEMONADE CAKE Prep: 30 minutes | Cook: 20 minutes | Servings: 12 1 cup sugar 2 large eggs 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, 2 large egg whites softened 2 cups all-purpose flour 1 tablespoon lemon zest 1 teaspoon baking powder 3 tablespoons thawed lemonade 1/2 teaspoon baking soda concentrate 1/2 teaspoon salt 2 teaspoons vanilla extract 11/4 cups low-fat buttermilk FROSTING: 8 ounces 1/3-less-fat cream cheese 2 tablespoons thawed lemonade concentrate 4 tablespoons grated lemon rind (about 2 lemons’ worth) 31/2 cups powdered sugar candied lemon slices, optional With a mixer, beat first 5 ingredients until well blended. Add eggs and egg whites; beat well. Combine flour, baking
powder, baking soda, and salt. Add flour mixture and buttermilk alternately to egg/sugar mixture. Beat well after each addition. Preheat oven to 350 F. Pour batter into two 9-inch round cake pans coated with cooking spray. Bake 20 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean. Cool in pans 10 minutes, then remove. Cool completely on wire rack before frosting. For frosting, place cream cheese, grated lemon rind, and lemonade concentrate in a large bowl. Beat on high until fluffy. Add powdered sugar and beat on low until just blended. Place one cake layer on intended serving tray; spread with 1/2 cup frosting. If frosting is too runny, refrigerate for an hour and try again. Top with second cake layer. Spread remaining frosting on top, letting icing run down the sides, if desired. Decorate with candied lemon slices, if desired. Store cake loosely covered in the refrigerator until ready to serve. Per serving: 415 calories, 11 grams fat (7 grams saturated fat), 73 grams total carbs, 1 gram fiber, 7 grams protein JUNE 2019 • OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING 17
Children of Members
scholarship winners O
hio’s electric cooperatives are committed to investing in the youth in their communities. This spring, each cooperative held a scholarship contest for the children of members, to award promising high school seniors funds toward furthering their education. Each co-op’s winner then came to Columbus to compete for additional awards from Ohio’s Electric Cooperatives, the co-ops’ statewide services organization. A panel of independent judges reviewed the applications and interviewed the finalists to determine the winners.
First place: Aleah Schrock, Holmes-Wayne Electric Cooperative Planned college course of study: History
Valedictorian of her class, Aleah holds leadership roles in National Honor Society, marching band, and her church, among others. In a letter of recommendation, her math teacher said, “Aleah is one of those rare students that makes it such a blessing to have the job that I do. I love seeing what she is capable of and knowing that she wants to be pushed as a learner.”
Aleah Schrock
Second place: Rachel Partington, Midwest Electric Planned college course of study: Bioengineering or biomedical engineering
In addition to being involved in her church and her community, Rachel is a scholar, an athlete, and a musician. Her math teacher said, “Rachel is one of the best in the graduating class of 2019. She has a bright future at any college she chooses to attend.”
Third place: Carson McCarthy, North Central Electric Cooperative Planned college course of study: Computer science and engineering
Carson has been class president, 4-H president, and committee chair of National Honor Society. His high school principal said of him, “Carson is a distinguished student and is committed to academic excellence.”
Rachel Partington
Other children of members who earned statewide scholarships: Josephina Fornara, The Frontier Power Company; Evan Frankfather, Hancock-Wood Electric Cooperative; Benjamin Schafer, Firelands Electric Cooperative; Caroline Liggett, The Energy Cooperative; Kathryn Meier, Mid-Ohio Energy Cooperative; Hunter Humphreys, Buckeye Rural Electric Cooperative; Christian Nartker, Paulding Putnam Electric Cooperative; Lily Arledge, Union Rural Electric Cooperative; Emma Blankenship, Lorain-Medina Rural Electric Cooperative; Jerilyn Garrett, Adams Rural Electric Cooperative; Rachel Gordon, South Central Power Company; Madelyn Harrison, Butler Rural Electric Cooperative; Harry Harman, Guernsey-Muskingum Electric Cooperative; Kloey Murphey, Darke Rural Electric Cooperative; Erin Spangenberg, Tricounty Rural Electric Cooperative; Caroline Stollar, Washington Electric Cooperative; Payton Taylor, Carroll Electric Cooperative; Grant Tiefenthaler, Pioneer Electric Cooperative; Rachel Webb, North Western Electric Cooperative; and Madeline Weisburn, Consolidated Cooperative.
Carson McCarthy
18 OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING • JUNE 2019
BUTLER RURAL ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE
Summer fun
for cooperative and members Butler Rural Electric Cooperative’s most popular event brings thousands of people to our office for a day filled with games, food, animals, and tons of fun. I can’t forget to mention free Flub’s ice cream, a local favorite.
If you have attended in the past, you know I’m talking about the cooperative’s annual member appreciation event, Family Day, which is Friday, July 12, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. See page 20F for a schedule of Family Day activities. Each year, I am asked why an electric provider would want to have such a large event. The answer is simple: We are owned by our members and abide by the Seven Cooperative Principles. The seventh principle is “Commitment to Community,” which is shown each year during our summer events. We are committed to you, our members, not only to provide you with safe, reliable, and affordable electric service, but also to empower your communities and help them thrive.
Visit with us this summer! Throughout the summer, you will see us at many events. On Thursday, June 6, we will be at the Oxford Summer Music Festival in uptown Oxford. Coastal Club will perform at the event. Butler Rural Electric Cooperative employees are also teaming up to help fight cancer at the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life in Oxford on Saturday, June 22. Join us in uptown Oxford and enjoy food, activities, and live music from 1 to 11 p.m.
College Corner Fireworks on Thursday, July 4, and Hueston Woods’ Annual Fireworks Extravaganza on Friday, July 5. We head to the Butler County Fairgrounds July 21 through 26 for the Butler County Fair, where we will have a tent for the week. At the fair, we’ll have great giveaways and informative brochures, and cooperative employees will be at the tent to answer any questions you have.
Lisa Staggs Herrmann DIRECTOR OF MEMBER AND COMMUNITY RELATIONS
On Friday, July 26, Butler Rural Electric Cooperative and Darke Rural Electric Cooperative will sponsor an exhibitor picnic at the Preble County Fairgrounds. Junior fair exhibitors and their families will enjoy hot dogs, chips, cookies, and drinks. The picnic is a great way for exhibitors to relax after spending the day moving their animals and equipment onto the fairgrounds for the Preble County Fair, which begins the next day. Butler Rural Electric Cooperative employees have a busy summer ahead supporting our communities and working to make the events fun and successful. We look forward to seeing you this summer!
Butler Rural Electric Cooperative and Touchstone Energy Cooperatives, our national brand alliance, will sponsor the
JUNE 2019 • OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING 19
BUTLER RURAL ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE
2019
Annual Meeting More than 800 members, guests, and employees attended the annual meeting on April 25. All enjoyed a delicious meal, a trade show featuring local vendors, giveaways from the cooperative, door prizes, and musical entertainment by the Atlantic City Boys.
position. The cooperative has worked to hold down costs while continuing to provide members with safe, reliable, and affordable electric service. McQuiston was happy to announce that there will be no rate increase in 2019! A rate increase is not forecasted until 2022.
Special welcome
Capital credits
In his welcome address to members, Board President Tom McQuiston extended a special welcome to all elected officials and military veterans in the audience. 2018 Youth Tour delegates Elizabeth Conrad, Joseph Copeland, Levi Grimm, and Will Lee led the crowd in the Pledge of Allegiance.
Thanks to financial planning and holding down costs, the board of trustees approved the retirement of capital credits again in 2018, said McQuiston. Butler Rural Electric Cooperative retired over $2.7 million in capital credits to members. Members receive capital credits because they are more than customers; they’re owners of Butler Rural Electric Cooperative. McQuiston explained that the cooperative was able to retire more capital credits in 2018 thanks to members approving changes to the Code of Regulations during the 2017 annual meeting.
No rate increase in 2019! In his report to members, McQuiston said that Butler Rural Electric Cooperative is in a strong financial
20 OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING • JUNE 2019
BUTLER RURAL ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE
Safety is our priority McQuiston reinforced the cooperative’s committment to the safety of its employees. In 2018, cooperative employees exceeded 3 million miles driven without an accident. “Safety continues to be our priority, and that will never change,” he said.
Reliable electricity Butler Rural Electric Cooperative is committed to the reliability of our electric system, said McQuiston. “There are some things we cannot plan for, such as storms or car accidents, but we can certainly react quickly whenever power outages occur.” In 2018, the cooperative invested over $3 million in system reliability. This investment included pole testing, substation inspections, right-ofway clearing, and automatic switching.
Butler Rural Community Solar Butler Rural Electric Cooperative values clean, renewable energy, McQuiston told attendees. As your electric cooperative, we look for ways to take a balanced approach to energy production. In 2017, the cooperative introduced Butler Rural Community Solar, which allowed members to purchase subscriptions to solar panels at a solar array located across from the cooperative’s office. The community solar array is fully subscribed, and McQuiston explained that Butler Rural Electric Cooperative will support phase two of community solar, but the decision to install another phase will be made by Buckeye Power, the cooperative’s generation and transmission cooperative that oversees the community solar arrays at electric cooperatives across the state.
Making an impact through Community Connection McQuiston said that the Butler Rural Community Connection has continued to make an impact on local organizations in our communities. McQuiston thanked over 8,300 members and employees who are making monthly Community Connection contributions. In 2018, over $74,000 in grants was awarded to local organizations in our communities.
General manager’s report Butler Rural Electric Cooperative General Manager Michael L. Sims began his report to members with a special welcome to representatives from the Butler County Farm Bureau, who attended the annual meeting. Farm Bureau is celebrating 100 years of serving Butler County this year. Farm Bureau was instrumental in bringing electricity to rural Butler County over 80 years ago, Sims said.
Combating the cold weather Many members received high electric bills this winter that were caused by the cold temperatures we experienced in January, said Sims. The cooperative wants to help members use electricity wisely and keep their electric bills as low as possible. One way to use electricity wisely is to track your electric use by using power usage alerts through SmartHub. These alerts allow you to receive a text message or email notification whenever your electric use is higher or lower than normal. Sims explained that this winter, we heard from many members who received their electric bill and were surprised by how high it was. Many of these members later discovered there was a problem with Continued on page 20B
Above, left, Butler Rural Electric Cooperative’s Director of Member and Community Relations Lisa Staggs Herrmann and Zach Bohannon, a representative from Warren Davidson’s office. Right, from left to right, Member Services Representative Cheryl Mathews and Marketing Coordinator Stephanie Lancaster.
JUNE 2019 • OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING 20A
BUTLER RURAL ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE
2019 Annual Meeting Continued from page 20A
their geothermal or HVAC system. Power usage alerts could have notified these members of high electric use and potential problems sooner than waiting until their electric bill arrived.
We want to hear from you During the 2017 annual meeting, we had a question from the crowd about compensation for the board of trustees, said Sims. We are now reporting the annual board compensation to our members each year. We have also received questions about voting for the board of trustees — specifically, why voting only took place at the annual meeting in the past. Because of these questions, the cooperative proposed changes to the Code of Regulations that allowed members to vote online and by mail. This new voting method allows all members to be involved in the governance of their cooperative. Cooperative employees have received questions about the capital credits retirement. Many members were uncertain of the amount of their capital credits retirement check because they would receive a relatively large check one year and a smaller check the next year. Because of this, the cooperative proposed changes to the Code of Regulations that stabilized the amount of capital credits retired each year and eliminated extreme fluctuations in the retirement from year to year. Now members will receive a more consistent capital credits retirement amount.
These changes were made because of ideas and suggestions from cooperative members, Sims said. “Please know that we make changes with the intent to make things better, not just for the sake of making change. Sometimes we are asked questions we cannot answer right away, but we will always work to find an answer to every question we are asked. You can contact us with any questions, concerns, ideas, or suggestions you have. The cooperative is your trusted source, and we’re here to listen and help.”
High-speed fiber internet Sims reminded members that last year at the annual meeting, we announced that the cooperative is researching ways to make high-speed fiber internet available to members. The cooperative is moving forward with this project and is looking into requirements for government grants and funds available for rural high-speed internet projects. Sims introduced representatives from Cincinnati Bell — Mike Wolf, director of fiber and access planning and a Butler Rural Electric Cooperative member, and Chris Schoeny, senior account manager. As more information becomes available about the fiber project, Sims said, it will be available on the cooperative’s website.
Committed to our local youth Butler Rural Electric Cooperative is committed to supporting the youth in our community. The
Above, left, Marketing and Key Accounts Manager Kara Hendrickson and Field Data Technician Frank Young. Right, representatives from Butler County OSU Extension.
20B OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING • JUNE 2019
BUTLER RURAL ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE
cooperative awards scholarships to high school seniors whose parents are cooperative members. In 2018, the cooperative sent seven delegates to represent Butler Rural Electric Cooperative on the Electric Cooperative Youth Tour in Washington, D.C. Youth Tour is an annual leadership program that gives exceptional high school students the opportunity to meet with their congressional leaders, make new friends from across the country, and see many of the famous Washington sights. Sims introduced Levi Grimm, a 2018 Youth Tour delegate who was chosen to represent Ohio on the national level by serving on the Youth Leadership Council. Levi spoke to members about his experience on the Youth Tour trip and explained how the trip impacted him.
Buckeye Power report Bill Roberts, vice president of finance at Buckeye Power, reported on behalf of Buckeye Power and Ohio Rural Electric Cooperatives, Butler Rural Electric Cooperative’s power supplier and service organization. Roberts introduced a video that was shown to members and guests that highlighted the accomplishments at Buckeye Power and Ohio Rural Electric Cooperatives over the past year.
Election results Congratulations to incumbent board members Tom McQuiston, Tammy Mann, and William Foster Jr., who were reelected at the annual meeting. Members also voted by show of hands to approve the proposed Code of Regulations changes. The changes reflect ways the cooperative is improving the voting process for the election of the cooperative’s board of trustees. Voting for trustees will no longer take place at the annual meeting. Voting for trustees will take place online or by mail only. Further explanation of these changes will be in upcoming issues of this magazine.
We hope to see you next year! The 2020 annual meeting is Thursday, April 30, at Millett Hall. We hope to see you there!
Above, from top, representatives from the Preble County Pork Festival; 2018 Youth Tour Delegates Elizabeth Conrad, Joseph Copeland, Levi Grimm, and Will Lee leading the crowd in the Pledge of Allegiance; the Atlantic City Boys performing for members and guests; Butler Rural Electric Cooperative’s 2019 Board of Trustees.
JUNE 2019 • OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING 20C
BUTLER RURAL ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE
Be Notified HOW AND WHEN YOU WANT
Manage your SmartHub Notifications Sign up to receive text or email notifications for Billing, Usage, Service and other related reasons via your SmartHub account.
20D OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING • JUNE 2019
BUTLER RURAL ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE
Receive text or email notifications about your account to your cellphone, tablet or computer.
Just a few of the notifications currently available within SmartHub: Bill Available Payment Confirmation Peak Alert Power Outage High Usage
TO MANAGE YOUR CONTACTS AND NOTIFICATIONS, log in or set up a SmartHub account at butlerrural.coop
JUNE 2019 • OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING 20E
BUTLER RURAL ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE
Family Day Friday, July 12 10 a.m.– 6 p.m. At the cooperative’s office, 3888 Stillwell Beckett Road in Oxford Petting zoo 11 a.m.–6 p.m. Pie-eating contest
11 a.m., 12:30, 3, and 4 p.m.
Watermelon-eating contest
2 and 5 p.m.
Hueston Woods naturalist
11 a.m.–1 p.m.
Cool Critters Outreach
3–6 p.m.
Safety demonstrations
Every hour beginning at 11 a.m.
Caricaturist 10 a.m.–6 p.m. Bookbag bonanza
Winners announced every hour
Must be present to win
Bike raffle 6 p.m. 20F OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING • JUNE 2019
Winners will be contacted by phone if not present
BUTLER RURAL ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE
Help control energy costs during peak alerts What are peak alerts? A peak alert is a way to keep electric use down, which in turn keeps members’ rates lower. Peak alerts are issued when the demand for electricity is at an all-time high and rising toward a new peak. Peak alerts typically occur on hot summer days from about 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. We ask members to reduce their energy consumption during this time to help avoid reaching a new peak. During peak demand times, it costs more for Buckeye Power, our generation and transmission cooperative, to generate the large amount of electricity being consumed. To meet the demand, Buckeye’s large coal-fired baseload power plants are running at full capacity. Additional natural gas peaking plants, which cost more to run, are used to help supply enough electricity during this time. If you have a radio-controlled switch (RCS) on your water heater or a Cool Returns switch on your central air conditioning system, it will be activated during summer peak alerts. RCS and Cool Returns switches are essential tools used to help control power costs. These programs were created to help the cooperative decrease the use of electricity during peak times. Members who have an RCS switch on their water heater receive a $4 monthly bill credit. When the switch is activated during a peak alert, the water heater elements will be turned off to help decrease electric demand.
How do I know when a peak alert is in effect? The cooperative informs our highest energy users through an automated phone call and email. We also post peak alert notices on our Facebook page and on our website, butlerrural.coop.
Peak alert notifications We realize that peak alert notifications have become redundant, so the cooperative will no longer call members when a peak alert is in effect. The cooperative will continue to send an email and post on Facebook and our website when a peak alert is in effect. Make sure the cooperative has the correct email address on file in order to receive these updates. You can update your information by calling the cooperative’s office at 513-867-4400 or 800-255-2732. You can also email the cooperative at butler@butlerrural.coop.
BILL CREDIT WINNERS
Members who have a Cool Returns switch installed on their air conditioning system receive a one-time $100 bill credit and a $2 monthly bill credit. When the switch is activated during a peak alert, the system will cycle on and off for brief periods of time.
Did you attend the cooperative’s 2018 annual meeting? If so, you could be the winner of a $50 bill credit! All attendees who did not win a bill credit at the annual meeting are eligible to win. Congratulations to the April winners!
If you would like to have an RCS switch installed on your electric water heater or a Cool Returns switch installed on your air conditioner, please contact the cooperative by calling 513-867-4400 or 800-255-2732. Thank you to over 5,600 members who have switches on their water heaters and air conditioners!
Colerain Parks Margy Beckner Dennis Conrad John Hunter Frances Reece
JUNE 2019 • OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING 20G
BUTLER RURAL ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE
Butler Rural Electric Cooperative scholarship recipient receives scholarship from Ohio’s Electric Cooperatives In February, Madelyn Harrison of Ross was chosen as the recipient of the $2,500 Children of Members Scholarship from Butler Rural Electric Cooperative. The scholarship is awarded to high school students whose parents or legal guardians are members of the cooperative. In April, Madelyn competed for additional scholarship funds from Ohio’s Electric Cooperatives in Columbus. Twenty-three students representing 23 electric cooperatives in Ohio competed for more than $36,000 in scholarships. Madelyn was awarded a $1,250 scholarship from Ohio’s Electric Cooperatives. Madelyn is the daughter of Tim and Jennifer Harrison. She graduated from Ross High School and is active in Butler County 4-H, FFA, Fairfield Leadslingers, and the National Junior Swine Association. She also plays volleyball and is a member of the National Honor Society. She works at Korb Farms and Accurate Outdoors Services. Madelyn is majoring in biology and plans to go into the pre-veterinary program. Congratulations, Madelyn!
Butler County recycling programs The following services are provided by Butler County Recycling at no charge to Butler County residents. Businesses and contractors with commercial quantities of materials are advised to contact Butler County Recycling at 513-887-3653 or visit recycle.bcohio.us for additional recycling opportunities.
Curbside Freon appliance collection Curbside Freon appliance collection is available June through October. Accepted items include refrigerators, freezers, dehumidifiers, and air conditioning units. To schedule, call 877-562-9947 or visit clients.recleim.com. Non-Freon appliances like washers, dryers, dishwashers, microwaves, stoves, and water heaters can be taken to a scrap metal dealer, such as Cohen, for recycling.
20H OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING • JUNE 2019
Household hazardous waste drop-off Household hazardous waste drop-off is available July through October. The drop-off is every Thursday from 2 to 7 p.m. and is located at 3555 Yankee Road, Middletown, Ohio 45044. Accepted items include oilbased paint, automotive fluids like antifreeze, gasoline, and motor oil, pesticides, solvents, cleaners, paint thinner, fluorescent bulbs, batteries, fire extinguishers, propane tanks, lawn and pool chemicals, and devices containing mercury. Please do not bring latex paint.
Computer and TV recycling drop-off Butler County will provide recycling for all electronic devices throughout the month of September at Cohen locations in Hamilton and Middletown. Look for details at recycle.bcohio.us.
BUTLER RURAL ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE
3-Step HVAC Test As summer temperatures rise, so do electric bills. Follow these steps to test the efficiency of your HVAC unit. The outdoor temperature should be above 80 degrees, and you should set your thermostat well below the room temperature to ensure the system runs long enough for this test.
1. Using a digital probe thermometer (about $12), measure the temperature of the air being pulled into your HVAC filter. 2. Measure the temperature of the air blowing out of your A/C vent. 3. Subtract the A/C vent temperature from the HVAC filter temperature. You should see a difference of about 17 to 20 degrees. If the difference is less than 17 degrees, you may need a licensed technician to check the coolant. If the difference is greater than 20 degrees, your ductwork may need to be inspected for airflow restrictions.
It’s county fair time! Butler Rural Electric Cooperative will have an informational booth at the Butler County Fair July 21 through 26. At the fair, we’ll have great giveaways and informative brochures, and cooperative employees will be at the booth to answer any questions you have. On Friday, July 26, Butler Rural Electric Cooperative and Darke Rural Electric Cooperative will sponsor an exhibitor picnic at the Preble County Fairgrounds for junior fair exhibitors and their families. The picnic is a great way for exhibitors to relax after spending the day moving their animals and equipment onto the fairgrounds for the Preble County Fair, which begins the next day. Butler Rural Electric Cooperative continues to support our local youth with purchases at the livestock fairs and sponsorship of various awards. Best of luck to all area 4-H and FFA members. See you at the fair!
JUNE 2019 • OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING 21
BUTLER RURAL ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE
Summer events calendar Join us this summer at the following events that are sponsored by the cooperative!
WHAT? Oxford Summer Music Festival Featuring Coastal Club
WHEN? Thursday, June 6
WHERE? Oxford Memorial Park
Oxford Relay For Life
Saturday, June 22
Uptown Oxford
College Corner Fireworks
Thursday, July 4
Downtown College Corner
Hueston Woods Fireworks
Friday, July 5
Hueston Woods Lodge
Family Day
Friday, July 12
Butler Rural Electric Cooperative
Butler County Fair
July 21–26
Butler County Fairgrounds
Preble County Junior Fair Exhibitor Picnic
Friday, July 26
Preble County Fairgrounds
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Thomas McQuiston
GENERAL MANAGER
Robert Hoelle
Jade Sturgeon
VICE PRESIDENT
CONTACT
David Evans
513-867-4400 | 800-255-2732 butlerrural.coop
SECRETARY/TREASURER
Thomas Humbach
OFFICE
William Foster Jr. Ronald Kolb Tammy Mann James Meador Robert Spaeth Michael Tilton
3888 Stillwell Beckett Road Oxford, Ohio 45056 OFFICE HOURS
Monday–Friday 8 a.m.–5 p.m.
22 OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING • JUNE 2019
Michael L. Sims
PRESIDENT
ATTORNEY
TRUSTEES
COMMUNICATIONS REPRESENTATIVE
SMARTHUB
Access your electric use and pay your bill 24/7 through SmartHub at butlerrural.coop.
ADVANCED HEARING AID TECHNOLOGY
For Less Than $ 200 “I was amazed! Sounds I hadn’t heard in years came back to me!” — Don W., Sherman, TX
How can a hearing aid that costs less than $200 be every bit as good as one that sells for $2,400 or more?
The answer: Although tremendous strides have been made in Advanced Hearing Aid Technology, those cost reductions have not been passed on to you. Until now...
MDHearingAid uses the same kind of Advanced Hearing Aid Technology incorporated into hearing aids that cost thousands more at a small fraction of the price. ®
Can a Hearing Aid Delay or Prevent Alzheimer’s and Dementia? A study by the National Institute on Aging suggests older individuals with hearing loss are significantly more likely to develop Alzheimer’s and dementia over time than those who retain their hearing. They suggest that an intervention — such as a hearing aid — could delay or prevent this by improving hearing!
Over 350,000 satisfied MDHearingAid TAKE ADVANTAGE OF OUR customers agree: High-quality, 45-DAY RISK-FREE TRIAL! FDA-registered hearing aids don’t Hearing is believing and we invite you to try have to cost a fortune. The fact is, this nearly invisible hearing aid with no you don’t need to spend thousands annoying whistling or background noise for for a hearing aid. MDHearingAid yourself. If you are not completely satisfied is a medical-grade hearing aid Nearly Invisible with your MDHearingAid, return it within 45 offering sophistication and high days for a FULL REFUND. BUY A PAIR performance, and works right out AND SAVE! For the Lowest Price Call of the box with no time-consuming BATTERIES “adjustment” appointments. You INCLUDED! can contact a licensed hearing READY TO USE RIGHT specialist conveniently online or OUT OF THE BOX! www.GetMDHearingAid200.com by phone — even after your purchase at no cost. No other company provides such extensive Use Code support. Now that you know...why pay more? and get FREE Batteries for 1 Year
1-800-332-5395 JM22
Plus FREE Shipping
DOCTOR DESIGNED | AUDIOLOGIST TESTED | FDA REGISTERED
Proudly assembled in America!
River crossing
Ferries traversing the Ohio River are important bonds in the communities they connect. STORY AND PHOTOS BY JAMES PROFFITT
B
efore there were bridges across the mighty, sometimes swift and muddy Ohio River, there were dozens of ferries that carried people, cargo, and the vehicles of the day from Ohio to Kentucky and West Virginia. Today, there are nearly 50 bridges, but only three ferries remain. Each of those that still ply their trade is cherished. The Anderson Ferry, operating a dozen miles west of Cincinnati, is the busiest. Its three vessels and their crew deliver hundreds of passengers every day but Christmas.
24 OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING • JUNE 2019
While the nearby Northern Kentucky International Airport and area businesses rely on the ferry, lots of folks take it just for fun. “We get plenty of people who just enjoy the ride,” says owner Paul Anderson, who may or may not be related to the George Anderson who founded the ferry in 1870. The ferries feature towboats, all named for Daniel Boone, that are attached to flat barges on a large pole, swinging around to reverse direction at each riverbank. The original Anderson Ferry had a rope that captains used to
Opposite, the City of Sistersville II patiently awaits early May — the beginning of her season. Left, a pipe and a calm river make this Anderson Ferry captain happy. Below, deckhand Jerry Mofferd chats it up with a passenger aboard the Jenny Ann.
hand-propelled. Today, the Augusta Ferry’s modern version still performs the same task between Augusta, Kentucky, and Higginsport, Ohio. For walk-on passengers, the trip is free. Audrey Clos and Sheryl Cruse, who live nearby, recently enjoyed lunch with their grandchildren and decided to see the sights in the quaint river town. “It was such a pretty day that after we had pizza, we decided we’d take a little walk down by the river. When we came around the corner, we saw the ferry coming in. So I said, ‘C’mon, kids!’” Cruse says. “The price is a great deal, too,” she adds, laughing. Captain Devin Claypool says the Jenny Ann runs all year long, river and weather permitting. Sometimes, though, they just don’t permit. “I got stuck one year in about 2 or 3 inches of ice. Got halfway across and couldn’t go anymore, so I wriggled around a little bit, got turned around, and headed right back the way I came,” he says. The Augusta Ferry is truly full-service, according to deckhand Jerry Mofferd. “We might get stuck sitting Continued on page 26
propel themselves across the river. That soon evolved into a two-horsepower paddle wheel configuration — literally, that is: Two horses walked on a treadmill to power the paddle wheel. More recently, one of Anderson’s towboats underwent a one-of-a-kind outfitting. “It’s the only ferry I know of with a Mack truck engine,” Anderson says. About 60 river miles upstream is another historic ferry, in operation since 1797, when it, too, was
JUNE 2019 • OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING 25
Continued from page 25
on the other side for a few hours,” he says, “but if we see a car back here, we’ll come get ’em. “I’ve been doing this a long time,” he continues. “There’s people who — I know who they are and I know their entire family history, and to me, they’re just like family.” After taking Taylor Royalty’s five bucks, Mofferd chats it up with the Ohio resident, who drives to visit her boyfriend across the river regularly. When asked if Mofferd is bothering her, she laughs. “No, absolutely not,” she says. “He’s my favorite one on the ferry. I enjoy talking every time.” About 350 river miles upstream, in the middle of what future president George Washington in 1770 called “The Long Reach” — the straightest 20-mile section in the 981-mile river — another historic ferry has in recent years struggled to remain. The Sistersville Ferry, linking Sistersville, West Virginia, and Fly, Ohio, is a beloved one. Barb Gage, president of the ferry’s board, says times have been tough for the little ferry the last decade or so. It’s owned by the city of Sistersville and is required to be self-supporting.
“What really hurt us is when the price of diesel went way up,” she says, going on to describe a newly required maritime insurance policy as extremely expensive. “We just can’t afford to run seven days.” “We only run Thursday through Sunday and May through October,” explains Janet Witten Conn, another board member. “If we extended its operation, we wouldn’t be able to run in the black. It’s been here for better than 200 years, so we don’t want that to go away.” For the small sum of $1 anytime, folks can ride the ferry back and forth across the river as many times as they wish, so long as they don’t disembark. Gage says captains and deckhands aboard the Sistersville II, like those on the Jenny Ann, have never met a stranger. “That’s what happens — they get to know everybody and become like family. So much that we just had a request for our retired captain to return for a day, just so he can captain for a high school graduation party on the ferry for a customer’s son, who’s always loved the ferry.” Each July, the two water-linked communities celebrate their connection with a fundraising event that spans the river. The Ferry Festival has helped keep the Sistersville II afloat, hosting more than 1,200 passengers during the festival. Nowadays it’s just plain too easy to cross by bridge. Instead, try grabbing a map (or a cellphone) and find the ferries. Get right down on the water, and enjoy the modern version of the old ride. Maybe you’ll make a friend on the deck. JAMES PROFFITT is a freelance writer from Marblehead.
Left, the Augusta Ferry’s Jenny Ann heads for Ohio, where drivers pull right off and go about their day. Above, Audrey Clos and Sheryl Cruse enjoy the view from the deck.
26 OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING • JUNE 2019
KILL LAKE WEEDS Before
After
10 lb. bag treats up to 4,000 sq.ft. $91.00. 50 lb. bag treats up to 20,000 sq.ft. $344.00.
FREE SHIPPING! Certified and approved for use by state agencies. State permit may be required. Registered with the Federal E.P.A.
KillLakeWeeds.com Order online today, or request free information.
Our 64th year
COOPERATIVE
CALENDAR
PHOTO CONTEST
AQUACIDE CO.
PO Box 10748, DEPT 615 White Bear Lake, MN 55110-0748
Ohio Cooperative Living magazine is looking for photos from Ohio and West Virginia electric cooperative members to use in its 2020 cooperative calendar. We’re interested in seasonal scenes from each month of the year — images that really “pop” and convey a sense of time and place. Photo subjects must be interesting and the shot well planned and framed. If their images are chosen for publication, amateur co-op photographers could earn $100 or more.
RULES
• One photo entry per member. • High-resolution, color, digital images only. • No prints, slides, or proof sheets — no snail mail! Send submissions by email attachment only to photo@ohioec.org. • Photo format must be horizontal and capable of filling an 8 x 11-inch image area. • Include an explanation of the photo — the where, what, when — as well as who took the shot. • Include your name, address, phone number, and the name of your co-op. • Shots featuring people who can be identified within the photo must be accompanied by a signed publication release.
Deadline for submission: Aug. 16 • photo@ohioec.org
JUNE 2019 • OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING 27
CO-OP PEOPLE
TREEHOUSE
LODGING Want to feel like a kid again? Spend a night in a treehouse — only this time with a lot more luxury. STORY AND PHOTOS BY W.H. “CHIP” GROSS
T
he Mohicans, located near Glenmont in the remote, rugged, wooded hills of extreme northeastern Knox County, offers no Kevin and Laura Mooney less than six treehouses available for a night’s stay. Ranging from rustic to romantic, even their various names invite a visit: Moonlight, Old Pine, White Oak, Little Red, Tin Shed, and a very unique and cozy one-room honeymoon suite: The Nest. A family business begun in 2012, The Mohicans is owned and operated by Kevin and Laura Mooney. “I got the idea of building treehouses for adults from a couple of my friends,” Kevin Mooney says. “At first, I thought they were crazy, but it’s worked out better than our wildest dreams. At the time, no one within hundreds of miles was offering that type of vacation lodging. I also have to credit the Amish builders and carpenters in our area who helped us. We literally couldn’t have done it without them.” Mooney contacted Pete Nelson — star of the Discovery Channel’s hit TV series Treehouse Masters — to design both his White Oak and Little Red treehouses. “Little Red was even featured on the show,” Mooney says. Each of the treehouses has electricity and a modern restroom with a sink and a flush toilet. The showers, however, are outdoors on the surrounding deck. Don’t worry — they’re enclosed, except for overhead. But hey, the birds and squirrels won’t laugh if they see you naked. Two new treehouses are coming online during 2019. The Castle is a two-story octagon. The View will be made mostly of glass, giving visitors a 180-degee panorama of the surrounding woodlands from bed. Never short on ideas, the Mooneys have future plans of putting a full-sized Airstream travel trailer up in a tree. “It will have a customized interior and sleep four,” Kevin says. If you prefer that your overnight stay be on solid ground, four cabins are also available that each sleep from 8 to 10 guests. Like the treehouses, the cabins are Amish-built, but these are named for the Mohican, Walhonding, and Kokosing rivers and Killbuck Creek. Looking for a wedding venue? The Grand Barn Event Center hosts nearly 100 weddings per year, accommodating up to 200 guests. Bridal parties come from all over the country, not just Ohio and surrounding states. “Last year, we had five couples from California married here,” Mooney says. “One of the brides was from San Diego, and I asked her if she had ties to Ohio. She said, ‘No, I just saw a picture of the Grand Barn online, then clicked on the pictures of your treehouses. That’s when I turned off my computer and picked up the phone. I knew I wanted to be married at The Mohicans.’” The Mohicans is a member of The Energy Cooperative. W.H. “Chip” Gross is Ohio Cooperative Living’s outdoors editor. A year ago, he and his wife, Jan, celebrated their 45th wedding anniversary at The Mohicans in The Nest treehouse.
28 OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING • JUNE 2019
The Tin Shed treehouse features a spiral staircase and swinging bridge (left and top); The Nest is a romantic getaway (middle and bottom).
JUNE 2019 2019 • OHIO • OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING 29 LIVING 29
TheIsland WHERE IT HAPPENED
Visitors can see the site of Aaron Burr’s weird, desperate endgame in the middle of the Ohio River. BY SARAH JAQUAY PHOTOS COURTESY OF GREATER PARKERSBURG CVB AND THE STONEWALL GROUP
T
hanks to Lin-Manuel Miranda’s smash hit musical, Hamilton, most Americans know how and where Alexander Hamilton’s story ended: in a duel with Aaron Burr in Weehawken, New Jersey, in July 1804 — Burr killed Hamilton and became persona non grata among the Eastern political elite. Fewer Americans know what became of Burr after that infamous duel. Ohioans and West Virginians, however, are among the fortunate who can take a day trip to
30 OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING • JUNE 2019
Blennerhassett Island Historical State Park (BISP) and explore the place where Burr made his last attempt to become king of something. The park is in a gorgeous sylvan setting in the middle of the Ohio River between Marietta and Parkersburg, part of the West Virginia state park system. Along with a fascinating bit of history, it offers plenty of natural beauty and fun activities for the whole family.
Visitors are transported back in time the minute they step onto the Island Belle, a steam-powered sternwheeler that departs Parkersburg from May through October. Visitors may hike, bike, take wagon rides, and picnic on the island. Docents in periodappropriate clothing take visitors through the accurately rebuilt mansion, decorated according to its time in history, and tell the tale of the island’s part in a strange bit of U.S. history.
Burr and Blennerhassett A few years before the infamous duel, in 1797, an AngloIrish aristocrat named Harman Blennerhassett and his wife, Margaret, bought part of the island. They carved space out of the wilderness to build an imposing Palladian-style mansion and furnished it with the finest goods from England and Ireland: paintings, sculptures, Oriental rugs, alabaster lamps, and marble clocks. The estate included a 2-acre flower garden and was considered the most beautiful home in the country west of the Alleghenies. The island “Eden” drew the attention of travelers plying the Ohio River, and the Blennerhassetts were known to be gracious hosts. Among their visitors was the former vice president, Burr.
Visitors get to the island aboard the Island Belle, a steam-powered sternwheeler that departs Parkersburg from May through October.
Burr visited Harman and Margaret for the first time in 1805, a year after the duel. Having lost his political influence and in search of funds, he’d undoubtedly heard about the Blennerhassetts’ opulent lifestyle. After three visits, the couple had been charmed by the witty and persuasive Burr, and by 1806, Burr was using the island, and the couple’s funds, to stockpile weapons and supplies — and militiamen. Historians are divided on the exact intent of Burr’s scheme, but many think it was a plan to invade the Spanish-owned territory that’s now Texas and create a new, independent nation there. When then-President Thomas Jefferson got wind of the military exercises, he dubbed it a treasonous plot to separate the American West from the Union and had Burr and Harman Blennerhassett arrested. Blennerhassett was released only after Burr was ultimately acquitted of treason in 1807. Both men’s reputations and finances were irreparably damaged by the scandal, and both finished their lives in obscurity. Sadly, Virginia militiamen occupied and plundered the Blennerhassett Mansion shortly after the arrests, and irate locals burned it to the ground in 1811.
Reenactors (above) perform at the annual “Mansion by Candlelight” event, shown from outside the mansion (below).
Today, there are numerous special events at the Blennerhassett Island State Park throughout the summer and fall, but the pinnacle may be “Mansion by Candlelight,” when visitors can experience one of the Blennerhassetts’ legendary parties at the carefully reconstructed mansion. During the annual event (Oct. 11 and 12), visitors time-travel to the year 1805. On this evening, Harman and Margaret greet guests at the entrance, and music and dancing fills the mansion, while elsewhere on the island, the Servants’ Party features a bonfire, cloggers, ghost stories, and fortune-tellers. For more information, visit https://wvstateparks.com/ park/blennerhassett-island-historical-state-park.
JUNE 2019 • OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING 31
Get the Muck
DR® IS PROUD TO INTRODUCE THE WORLD’S FIRST...
Battery-Powered
OUT!
Trimmer Mower! ALL-NEW PULSE 62V Model!
Marble size AquaClearTM Pellets clear your lake or pond bottom.
Beneficial microorganisms. Restore balance in natural and man made surface waters. Increase water clarity. Improve water quality. Eliminate black organic muck. A 10 lb. bag treats .50 to 1.0 acres $94.00 A 50 lb. bag treats 2.5 to 5.0 acres $339.00 Apply weekly for 4 weeks, then monthly to maintain. No water use restrictions!
ENGINEERED FOR YOUR EASE—push-button —push-button electric start, ergonomic handlebars with vibration-dampening grips, PLUS the easiest and fastest cord changing system available! NO GAS, OIL, OR PULL-STARTING thanks to its long-life Lithium-Ion battery.
See the FULL LINE of DR Trimmer Mowers— Including Gas-Powered, Tow-Behind, and PTO models. ®
62 VOLT LITHIUM-ION POWER! Uses the same battery that powers our 62V Lawn Mowers and Yard Tools.
FREE SHIPPING Go Online or Call for FREE DVD and Catalog! 6 MONTH TRIAL SOME LIMITATIONS APPLY Call or go online for details.
DRtrimmers.com TOLL FREE
32 OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING • JUNE 2019
888-213-1271
1A063X © 2019
ALL THE POWER OF GAS in a 62V fuel cell that lets you TRIM and MOW for up to 40 minutes on a single charge.
FREE SHIPPING!
800-328-9350
KillLakeWeeds.com Order online today, or request free information.
Our 64th year
AQUACIDE CO.
PO Box 10748, DEPT 615X White Bear Lake, MN 55110-0748
SUPER COUPON
FREE
1,000+ Stores Nationwide • HarborFreight.com SUPER COUPON
BEATS HONDA*
As rated by a leading consumer product testing publication
NOW
$699
MAX. STARTING WATTS
3000
RUNNING WATTS
2800
WEIGHT
131 LBS.
TANK SIZE
3.4 GAL
4
OUTLETS
4
YES
OVERLOAD PROTECTION
YES
212 cc
ENGINE SIZE
196 cc
YES
LOW OIL ALERT
YES
YES
PARALLEL CAPABLE
YES
YES
769
$
SAVE $ 1,319
POWER SAVER
• Super-Strong, Ultra-Lightweight Composite Plastic • Magnetic Base & 360° Swivel Hook for Hands-Free Operation • 3 - AAA Batteries (included) • 144 Lumens
COMPARE TO
2,019 *20694523 * 20694523
SUPER COUPON
SAVE • Air delivery: 0.6 CFM @ 90 PSI 59% $ 62 COMPARE TO PORTER-CABLE MODEL: PCFP02003
9 $399
98
$
57
99
®
Customer Rating
NOW
SAVE 70%
19
MODEL: 77280
ITEM 69505/62418/66537 shown
9 $599
COMPARE TO
$5 99
COMPARE TO
BLUE HAWK $ 99
NOW
SAVE $ 91 K TOOL $ 42
$
151
8
MODEL: KTI63094
$ 99
*20692329 * 20692329
Limit 1 coupon per customer per day. Save 20% on any 1 item purchased. *Cannot be used with other discount, coupon or any of the following items or brands: Inside Track Club membership, Extended Service Plan, gift card, open box item, 3 day Parking Lot Sale item, compressors, floor jacks, safes, saw mills, storage cabinets, chests or carts, trailers, trencher/backhoe, welders, Admiral, Ames, Bauer, Cobra, CoverPro, Daytona, Diamondback, Earthquake, Fischer, Hercules, Icon, Jupiter, Lynxx, Poulan, Predator, Tailgator, Viking, Vulcan, Zurich. Not valid on prior purchases. Non-transferable. Original coupon must be presented. Valid through 9/24/19.
SUPER COUPON
30", 4 DRAWER TECH CART
Customer Rating
• 12,600 cu. in. of storage • 580 lb. capacity • Heavy duty gas struts hold lid open at 90 degrees NOW
• Weighs 34 lbs.
B. PANCAKE
ITEM 61615/60637 95275 shown
YOUR CHOICE
SUPER Customer Rating COUPON
72" x 80" RAPID PUMP 1.5 TON MOVING LIGHTWEIGHT ALUMINUM BLANKET FLOOR JACK
ITEM 69269/97080 shown
Customer Rating
Cannot be used with other discounts or prior purchases. Original coupon must be presented. Valid through 9/24/19 while supplies last. Limit 1 FREE GIFT per customer per day.
LIMIT 1 - Coupon valid through 9/24/19*
A. HOT DOG
B
13
*20683098 * 20683098
*HONDA EU3000iS1A stated specs
SUPER COUPON
ITEM*
ITEM 63878/63991 52 PERFORMANCE $ 64005/69567/60566 MODEL: W2364 TOOL 63601/67227shown
HONDA EU3000iS1A
$
20% OFF ANY SINGLE
ALL IN A SINGLE SUPER POWERFUL LIGHT
3 GALLON, 100 PSI OIL-FREE AIR COMPRESSORS
A
ANY PURCHASE
SUPER BRIGHT LED /SMD WORK LIGHT/FLASHLIGHT
YES
99 PRICE
WITH
5 STAR REVIEWS Customer Rating
3000
2.6 GAL
Customer Rating
ITEM 63584
3500 100 LBS.
PREDATOR 3500
99
OVER 5,000
3500 WATT SUPER QUIET INVERTER GENERATOR
BEST BUY WINNER
SUPER COUPON
$
16999 $1 1 999
ITEM 56390 56386/56391/56387/56392/56393 56394/64818/64096 shown
79
99
$
COMPARE TO
ITEM 64545/64552/64832 64980/62160/62516/60569 shown
SNAP-ON
880
MODEL: KRBC10TBPC
SAVE $ 760
Side tray sold separately.
*20702668 * 20702668
*20703516 * 20703516
*20712573 * 20712573
*20714512 * 20714512
LIMIT 2 - Coupon valid through 9/24/19*
LIMIT 5 - Coupon valid through 9/24/19*
LIMIT 1 - Coupon valid through 9/24/19*
LIMIT 1 - Coupon valid through 9/24/19*
SUPER COUPON
18" x 12" MOVER'S DOLLY
Customer Rating
• 1000 lb. capacity
SUPER COUPON
SUPER COUPON
12,000 LB. TRUCK/SUV WINCH
Customer Rating
POWDER-FREE NITRILE GLOVES PACK OF 100
• Weighs 83.65 lbs. • 21" L x 10-1/8" H
SUPER COUPON
100 WATT SOLAR PANEL KIT
Customer Rating
• 5 mil thickness
COMPARE TO
BUFFALO TOOLS $ 99
22
MODEL: HDFDOLLY
$
NOW
99
10
99
SAVE 65%
$7
COMPARE TO
WARN $ 99
720
MODEL: 96820
ITEM 60497/61899/63095/63096/63097/63098 shown
SAVE 59%
SAVE $ 421
$5 99
Customer Rating
$
VENOM $ 97
NOW
39999 $299
99
ITEM 64045/64046/63770 shown
14
NOW
7
$ 99
MODEL: VEN4145
ITEM 97581, 37050, 37051, 37052, 64417, 64418, 61363, 68497, 61360, 61359, 68498, 68496 shown
COMPARE TO
SUNFORCE
$
9 $1 49
292 44 SAVE $ 142 $19999
ITEM 64335/63585 shown
*20720632 * 20720632
*20728060 * 20728060
*20744572 * 20744572
LIMIT 4 - Coupon valid through 9/24/19*
LIMIT 1 - Coupon valid through 9/24/19*
LIMIT 4 - Coupon valid through 9/24/19*
LIMIT 1 - Coupon valid through 9/24/19*
COUPON
4 CHANNEL WIRELESS SURVEILLANCE SYSTEM WITH 2 CAMERAS
SUPER COUPON
$
NOW
99 $229
24999
SAVE $ 30
259
$ 99 ITEM COMPARE TO MODEL: ALC-AWS3266 63842 ALC
2799
$1 9
Customer Rating
BLACK
1 TON CAPACITY FOLDABLE SHOP CRANE
YOUR CHOIRCE OF COLO
WHITE
39
$ 98 ITEM 64486 ITEM 64739 COMPARE TO PORTFOLIO MODEL: SLC12BK 63483 shown
*20757475 * 20757475
LIMIT 1 - Coupon valid through 9/24/19*
LIMIT 4 - Coupon valid through 9/24/19*
SUPER COUPON
COMPARE TO
PORTER-CABLE $ 98
Blade sold separately.
Customer Rating
99 SAVE COMPARE TO $ IRONTON MODEL: 46218 $120
249
99 179 *20760241*
ITEM 61858/69512/69445 shown
$1 999
SAVE 59 66% $ ITEM 65570/61884/62370 shown MODEL: PCE360
2899
$
NOW
290
9 $1 69
SAVE $ 120 $
ITEM 62859/63055/62860 shown
19999
*20772960 * 20772960
*20783695 * 20783695
LIMIT 4 - Coupon valid through 9/24/19*
LIMIT 1 - Coupon valid through 9/24/19*
*Original coupon only. No use on prior purchases after 30 days from original purchase or without original receipt. Valid through 9/24/19.
9
COMPARE TO
HUSKY
$
$
3388
MODEL: S322A-1
LIMIT 4 - Coupon valid through 9/24/19*
SUPER COUPON
1/2" COMPOSITE PRO EXTREME TORQUE AIR IMPACT WRENCH Customer Rating
Item 42305 shown
$ 99 SAVE 66%
7
2999
*20768309 * 20768309
SUPER COUPON
Customer Rating Customer Rating
75 SHELTER $ MODEL: 76377 LOGIC
COMPARE TO
WERNER
ITEM 67514
20760241
10 FT. x 17 FT. 9 PIECE FULLY POLISHED PORTABLE GARAGE COMBINATION WRENCH SETS
COMPARE TO
SAVE $ 40%
LIMIT 1 - Coupon valid through 9/24/19*
$5 99
NOW
$1 999
99 $129
SUPER COUPON
NOW
• 225 lb. capacity
Customer Rating ng
NOW
YOUR CHOICE Customer Rating
TWO TIER EASY-STORE STEP LADDER
• Boom extends from 36-1/4" to 50-1/4" • Crane height adjusts from 82" to 94"
99
SAVE 50%
*20756818 * 20756818
RECIPROCATING SAW WITH ROTATING HANDLE
SUPER COUPON
24 FT., 18 BULB, 12 SOCKET OUTDOOR STRING LIGHTS
• Night vision
9
MODEL: 50180
*20714849 * 20714849 SUPER Customer Rating
$
NOW
COMPARE TO
17 97
MODEL: HCW10PCSAE
NOW
TYPE ITEM SAE 69043/63282/42304 METRIC 69044/63171/42305
$129 SAVE $ 484
99
• Weighs 4.4 lbs.
$
COMPARE TO
SNAP-ON
14999 $
61495
MODEL: PT850
ITEM 62891
*20784113 * 20784113
*20791250 * 20791250
LIMIT 5 - Coupon valid through 9/24/19*
LIMIT 1 - Coupon valid through 9/24/19*
At Harbor Freight Tools, the “Compare to” price means that the specified comparison, which is an item with the same or similar function, was advertised for sale at or above the “Compare to” price by another national retailer in the U.S. within the past 90 days. Prices advertised by others may vary by location. No other meaning of “Compare to” should be implied. For more information, go to HarborFreight.com or see store associate.
JUNE 2019 • OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING 33
LAZARUS LIZARDS I
Why, exactly, are there so many of the little reptiles in Cincinnati? Because of one boy.
n 1951, a young boy was vacationing with his family near Milan, Italy. The boy, George Rau, was a scion of the well-known Lazarus family, which, for generations, ran one of the largest department store chains in Ohio. Rau became enchanted with the docile lizards that sunned themselves on the rocky walls around Milan, and so he tucked 10 of them into a sock and brought them back to Cincinnati, where he released them in his family’s Torrence Court backyard. Lazarus department stores are no more — absorbed by the Macy’s chain in 2005 — but the lizards, who apparently found Cincinnati’s climate and topography to their liking, have spread far and wide. Their connection to Ohio’s famed retailer has earned those common European wall lizards the moniker “Lazarus lizards,” and the area surrounding Torrence Court is now known locally as “Lizard Hill.” Today, the descendants from those 10 — perhaps as few as only three actually procreated — are everywhere in greater Cincinnati; chances are, they’ll be arriving at a rock ledge near you soon. Take a walk on a warm, sunny spring day in Ault Park or Fairview Park in Cincinnati, and you’ll see the lizards basking on the many rock ledges or foraging for food. In some areas, the density of lizards can reach over 1,000 on half a city block, or up to 1,500 an acre, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources. “Their range expansion has been quite far and at high densities,” says Ken Petren, dean of the McMicken College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Cincinnati and an expert on invasive species, who has created a database of the Lazarus lizards’ spread throughout southwestern Ohio. Reports have documented the lizards’ spread up through rural western Butler County to Oxford (the red bricks and stone walls of Miami University are an ideal habitat), the Kings Island area, Middletown, and even as far as Dublin, Ohio. Ohio’s other native lizards have been having a tough time of it with urban and suburban expansion gobbling up habitat, but the Lazarus lizards do just fine in the city (and everywhere else).
34 OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING • JUNE 2019
BY KEVIN WILLIAMS
“The native lizards are at much lower densities and perhaps are even in decline; people don’t see them as often as they have in the past,” Petren says. “The wall lizards, though, have really adapted.” For the most part, the Lazarus lizards occupy areas that don’t compete with Ohio’s native ones, according to Ryan Dumas, head keeper of the Cincinnati Zoo’s reptile team. “They typically only occupy areas that haven’t historically been occupied by other lizards,” Dumas says. “In a few areas, five-lined skinks have been outcompeted, but those areas seem to be few.” The lizards have spread their geographic range in several ways. The rocky beds of railroad tracks prove to be natural corridors for their expansion, so you see them spreading out from Cincinnati along railroad tracks so that coverage maps look like spokes from a wheel. Lizards have been known to hitchhike on floating logs in the Ohio River, which further spreads their population downstream. They also hitch rides in loads of mulch that are then scattered around town and, Petren says, some people have admitted to moving the lizards themselves (which is illegal). Anywhere there are southern-facing limestone rock walls, with nearby flat areas for foraging, is prime habitat for the lizards. While the lizards forage, they also have proven to be tasty snacks for other Ohio critters. “Birds eat them, especially jays, crows, kestrels, and shrike,” Petren says. Ohio’s wildlife department has generally welcomed the non-natives, so much so that the lizards are now considered permanent residents. One thing is certain: The Lazarus lizards all originated from that one boy’s sock. “We have genetic analysis,” Petren says. “We know they are all from the same source.” Equal measures of patience and luck are sometimes required to get an up-close look at one of the swift creatures.
JUNE 2019 • OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING 35
MARKETPLACE the places yo u ’l l OH SPRING SPECIAL! 6x16 open porch
!
FREE if contracted by June 30
Over 40 stops across Ohio!
: L TO AVE
I TR NNAT CINCIELAND CLEV MBUS CAONLDUB E Y O N D YS A
N 7 DA
LES RU
DU SCHE
WEEK,
YS A
365 DA
Post frame building expert
567-209-1109
Siding and metal roof preferred contractor
Owner/ builder onsite
YEAR
Serving OH, WV, PA, KY, IND, MICH Facebook.com/ RideGoBus Twitter: @RideGoBus
RideGoBus.com
888-95-GoBus
RETIREMENT SALE
Pond Chemicals / Management Certified Aquatic Applicators Custom / Pond Aeration Water Features / Fountains De-Icing
% off 4030% instock! stock! offeverything everything in
www.diversifiedpondsupplies.com
419-738-0167
sales@diversifiedpondsupplies.com 15069 Blank Pike Rd. Wapakoneta, OH 45895
A
D
V
E
R
T
I
S
E
M
E
N
T
Clogged, Backed—up Septic System…Can anything Restore It? Dear Darryl DEAR DARRYL: My home is about 10 years old, and so is my septic system. I have always taken pride in keeping my home and property in top shape. In fact, my neighbors and I are always kidding each other about who keeps their home and yard nicest. Lately, however, I have had a horrible smell in my yard, and also in one of my bathrooms, coming from the shower drain. My grass is muddy and all the drains in my home are very slow. My wife is on my back to make the bathroom stop smelling and as you can imagine, my neighbors are having a field day, kidding me about the mud pit and sewage stench in my yard. It’s humiliating. I called a plumber buddy of mine, who recommended pumping (and maybe even replacing) my septic system. But at the potential cost of thousands of dollars, I hate to explore that option. I tried the store bought, so called, Septic treatments out there, and they did Nothing to clear up my problem. Is there anything on the market I can pour or flush into my system that will restore it to normal, and keep it maintained? Clogged and Smelly – Lubbock , TX 36 OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING • JUNE 2019
DEAR CLOGGED AND SMELLY: As a reader of my column, I am sure you are aware that I have a great deal of experience in this particular field. You will be glad to know that there IS a septic solution that will solve your back-up and effectively restore your entire system from interior piping throughout the septic system and even unclog the drain field as well. SeptiCleanse® Shock and Maintenance Programs deliver your system the fast active bacteria and enzymes needed to liquefy solid waste and free the clogs causing your back-up. This fast-acting bacteria multiplies within minutes of application and is specifically designed to withstand many of today’s anti-bacterial cleaners, soaps and detergents. It comes in dissolvable plastic packs, that you just flush down your toilets. It’s so cool. Plus, they actually Guarantee that it restores ANY system, no matter how bad the problem is. SeptiCleanse® Shock and Maintenance Programs are designed to work on any septic system regardless of design or age. From modern day systems to sand mounds, and systems installed generations ago, I have personally seen SeptiCleanse unclog and restore these systems in a matter of weeks. I highly recommend that you try it before spending any money on repairs. SeptiCleanse products are available online at www.septicleanse.com or you can order or learn more by calling toll free at 1-888-899-8345. If you use the promo code “OHS1”, you can get a free shock treatment, added to your order, which normally costs $169. So, make sure you use that code when you call or buy online.
2019
JUNE/JULY COMPILED BY COLLEEN ROMICK CLARK
CALENDAR CENTRAL
JUN. 14–16 – Coshocton Dulcimer Days Festival, Roscoe Village, 600 N. Whitewoman St., Coshocton. Free admission and parking; workshop fee $15. Hear Appalachian and traditional music played on mountain dulcimers, hammered dulcimers, bowed psalteries, fiddles, guitars, banjos, and other instruments. 740-5456265 or www.coshoctondulcimerdays.com. JUN. 16, 30 – Zanesville Memorial Concert Band Performances, Zane’s Landing Park, west end of Market Street (along river), Zanesville, 7 p.m. Free. www.zmcb.org. JUN. 20–SEPT. 7 – Ohio Annual Art Exhibition, Zanesville Museum of Art, 620 Military Rd., Zanesville, Wed./Fri./Sat. 10 a.m.–5 p.m., Thur. 10 a.m.–7:30 p.m. www.zanesvilleart.org. THROUGH AUG. 3 – “Luminous: Encaustic Works by JUN. 22 – Dublin Kiwanis Frog Jump, Coffman Park, Barbara Vogel,” Zanesville Museum of Art, 620 Military 5600 Park Rd., Dublin, 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Multiple playoff Rd., Zanesville, Wed./Fri./Sat. 10 a.m.–5 p.m., Thur. 10 rounds followed by a championship. Prizes, inflatables, a.m.–7:30 p.m. www.zanesvilleart.org. food, and fun for the whole family. 800-245-8387 or www. THROUGH AUG. 11 – CAPA Summer Movie Series, Ohio visitdublinohio.com. Theatre, 55 E. State St., Columbus, Wed.–Sun. 7:30 p.m., Sun. matinee 2 p.m. America’s longest-running classic film JUN. 22 – Uptown Food Crawl, Marysville, 11 a.m.–2 p.m. Enjoy a tasty walking tour of restaurants and series. 614-469-0939 or www.capa.com. confectionaries in uptown Marysville. Proceeds benefit THROUGH OCT. 26 – Delaware Farmers Market, N. Union County Guardianship Services. Advance ticket Sandusky St. (between William and Winter), Delaware, required; contact Linda Fisher at 937-209-2275 ext. 1 or Wed. 3–6 p.m., Sat. 9–12 p.m. Accepts SNAP, Produce ucvgp1@gmail.com. Perks, SourcePoint, and Ohio Health Vouchers. 740JUN. 28–29 – Scott Antique Market, Fayette Co. 362-6050 or www.mainstreetdelaware.com/event/ Fgds., 213 Fairview Ave., Washington Court House, farmers-market. 9 a.m.–5 p.m. $1 admission, good all weekend. Free THROUGH OCT. 26 – Zanesville Farmers Market, parking. America’s favorite treasure hunt! 740Muskingum Co. Fgds., 1300 Pershing Rd., Zanesville, 569-4112, info@scottantiquemarket.com, or www. every Sat., 9 a.m.–12 p.m. June through September, the scottantiquemarket.com. market is also open every Wed. 4–7 p.m. at North 3rd JUL. 1–6 – Marion County Fair, 220 E. Fairground St., Street. www.zanesvillefarmersmarket.org. Marion. Rides, livestock shows, tractor and truck pulls, THROUGH OCT. 27 – Rock Mill Weekends, Stebelton rodeos, live music, and much more. Enjoy spectacular Park at Rock Mill, 1429 Rockmill Place NW, Lancaster, fireworks at 10 p.m. on the 4th. 740-382-2558 or www. every Sat. and Sun., 12–4 p.m. Free. Tour the restored marioncountyfairgrounds.com. 1824 gristmill, walk on the iconic Rock Mill Covered JUL. 3 – Red, White & BOOM!, downtown riverfront Bridge, and enjoy Hocking River Falls. 740-681-7249 or and the Arena District, Columbus, noon–midnight. www.fairfieldcountyparks.org. Kids’ activities, live music, parade, and much more, JUN. 13 – Pizza Challenge, Circleville, 5–9 p.m. Sample ending with Ohio’s largest fireworks display. www. pizza from across Pickaway County and enjoy a free redwhiteandboom.org. concert by McGuffey Lane. 740-474-3636 or www. JUL. 4 – Stars and Stripes on the River, Zane’s Landing pickaway.com. Park, west end of Market Street (along river), Zanesville.
WEST VIRGINIA
THROUGH OCT. 27 – Blennerhassett Voyage Package, North Bend State Park, 202 North Bend Park Rd., Cairo. $130 package includes one night of lodging for two at North Bend, plus two tickets for a sternwheeler ride to and from Blennerhassett Island, a wagon ride tour of the island, a tour of Blennerhassett Mansion, and passes for the Blennerhassett Regional History Museum. 304-643-2931, www.northbendsp.com, or www. blennerhassettislandstatepark.com. JUL. 5–7 – Wild and Wonderful Craft Festival, Jackson Co. Jr. Fgds., Cottageville, Fri. 10 a.m.–8 p.m., Sat. 10 a.m.–6 p.m., Sun. 10 a.m.–5 p.m. A festival like no other, featuring an impressive range of crafts and tunes by some of the country’s most talented artisans. 304-531-2009 or www.wildandwonderfulcrafts.com.
Live music, great food, and activities for all ages. All proceeds benefit the community. www.zanesvillejaycees. org/Events/Stars-Stripes-On-The-River-Zanesville-Ohio. JUL. 5 – First Friday Art Walk, downtown Zanesville, 5–8 p.m. Stroll through downtown as you tour over 35 participating art galleries, studios, and local businesses, many of which offer demos, make-and-take activities, and complimentary refreshments. Free shuttle service also available. www.artcoz.org. JUL. 9–13 – Pottery Lovers Reunion Week, Holiday Inn Express, Zanesville. Join fellow pottery lovers from across the nation at the largest and oldest gathering of pottery collectors and dealers. 609-407-9997, potteryloversinfo@ gmail.com, or www.potterylovers.org. JUL. 11 – Roundtown Blues and BBQ, Pumpkin Show Park, Circleville, 5–9 p.m. Free community event featuring barbecue food as well as blues music by Mike Milligan and Steam Shovel. 740-474-3636 or www.pickaway.com. JUL. 11–13 – Hull Pottery Association National Show, Crooksville High School, 4075 Ceramic Way, Crooksville, Fri. 10 a.m.–4 p.m., Sat. 10 a.m.–3 p.m. for general public; members admitted at 9 a.m. both days. The largest Hull Pottery show in the world. Hundreds of authentic, rare, and one-of-a-kind pieces of Hull Pottery and other favorite pottery on display. Drawings and giveaways. HPA Annual Social held Jul. 11, 6–8 p.m., at the Roseville Community Center. 800-743-2303 or www.visitzanesville.com. JUL. 11–13 – Picktown Palooza, 89 N. Center St., Pickerington. Fun and family-oriented event featuring live entertainment each night, food vendors, beer garden, and games. 614-379-2099 or www.picktownpalooza.org. JUL. 12–13 – Coshocton Canal Quilters Quilt Show, Coshocton County Career Ctr., 23640 Airport Rd., Coshocton, 10 a.m.–5 p.m. $5, under 13 free. Free parking. Handicap accessible. Theme of this year’s show is “Quilting Through the Seasons.” www.facebook.com/ CCQQuiltShow. JUL. 13–14 – A Palace Production of The Music Man, Marion Palace Theatre, 276 W. Center St., Marion. Adults $19–$40, children $12. Meredith Willson’s six-time, Tony Award–winning musical comedy follows fast-talking traveling salesman Harold Hill as he cons the people of River City, Iowa. 740-383-2101 or www.marionpalace.org.
PLEASE NOTE: Ohio Cooperative Living strives for accuracy but urges readers to confirm dates and times before traveling long distances to events. Submit listings AT LEAST 90 DAYS prior to the event to Ohio Cooperative Living, 6677 Busch Blvd., Columbus, OH 43229 or events@ohioec. org. Ohio Cooperative Living will not publish listings that don’t include a complete address or a number/website for more information.
Continued on page 38
JUNE 2019 • OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING 37
2019 CALENDAR
JUNE/JULY
Continued from page 37
p.m., Sat. noon–11 p.m., Sun. noon–6 p.m. Parade Sat. 11:30 a.m. $3 daily. www.loraininternational.com. JUN. 29–30 – Mad River Bike Tour, Mad River Harley Davidson, 5316 Milan Rd., Sandusky. Registration Sat. 10 a.m.–2 p.m. Ride to the Kelleys Island Ferry in Marblehead, tour the island for a chance to win a vacation. $10 for the tour, $20 per bike for the round-trip ferry ride. 419-746-2360 or www.kelleysislandchamber. com. JUL. 3–6 – Rib, White, and Blue, Lock 3, 200 S. Main St., Akron, 11 a.m.–11 p.m. Free admission. Rib vendors from all over the state and other concessions. Concerts at 7 and 8:30 p.m. 330-375-2877 or www.lock3live.com. JUN. 13, 20, 27, JUL. 4, 11 – Fort Steuben Summer Concert Series, Berkman Amphitheater, Fort Steuben JUL. 4 – Fort Laurens Fourth of July Ceremony, 11067 Park, 120 S. 3rd St., Steubenville, 7 p.m. Bring a blanket Fort Laurens Rd. NW, Bolivar, 11 a.m.–noon. Free. Wreathand picnic basket and enjoy a free concert at this site laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Patriot overlooking the Ohio River. 740-283-1787 or www. honors the soldiers who lost their lives at Fort Laurens. oldfortsteuben.com. Includes guest speaker, color guard, and Revolutionary War honor guard. 330-874-2059 or www.fortlaurens.org. JUN. 15–JUL. 14 – Ohio Light Opera, Freedlander Theatre, 329 E. University St., Wooster, 2 and 7:30 p.m. JUL. 6 – Loudonville Car Show and Fireworks, 131 W. Shows include South Pacific, Girl Crazy, Into the Woods, Main St., Loudonville, 9 a.m.–4 p.m. Free. Over 500 cars and Pirates of Penzance. 330-263-2345 or www. on display! Enjoy music, food, a raffle, and downtown ohiolightopera.org. shopping. Fireworks at 9:30 p.m. or dusk. http:// JUN. 21–23 – Cy Young Days Festival, Newcomerstown. loudonvillechamber.com/events. Food, entertainment, contests and competitions, car JUL. 6–7 – Loudonville Antique Festival, Central Park, show, old-fashioned baseball games, and parade with Loudonville. Buy, sell, and trade antiques and collectibles. former Cy Young Award winner Randy Jones. Check 419-994-4789 or www.discovermohican.com. website for updates. www.cyyoungdaysfestival.com. JUL. 6–7 – Ashland County Yesteryear Machinery Club JUN. 22 – Ohio Scottish Games, Lorain Co. Fgds., Show, Ashland County–West Holmes Career Ctr., 1783 23000 Fairgrounds Rd., Wellington. $12–$20, under St. Rte. 60 S., Ashland. Free. Featuring Avery and B.F. 11 free. Animal shows, kids’ games, pipes and drums Avery tractors and engines, all makes garden tractors, competitions, Highland dance competitions, and other fun and Hercules and Jeager engines; car show on Sunday. activities. www.ohioscottishgames.com. Wagon rides, threshing, and corn husking. 419-651-4109 JUN. 28–30 – Lorain International Festival and Bazaar, or www.yesteryearmachinery.org. Black River Landing, Black River Lane, Lorain, Fri. 5–11
NORTHEAST
SOUTHWEST
THROUGH SEPT. 13 – Sculptures on the Square, Prouty Plaza, downtown Troy. Twenty life-sized Seward Johnson sculptures along with other works of art by regional artists. 937-339-5455. THROUGH SEPT. 26 – Uptown Music Concert Series, Uptown Park, Oxford, every Thur. 7–9:30 p.m. Free. 513523-8687 or www.enjoyoxford.org. JUN. 8 – Return of the Snakes, Serpent Mound, 3850 OH-73, Peebles, 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Free with $8/vehicle parking fee. Live reptile displays and presentations on Ohio’s native reptiles and amphibians. 937-365-1935 or http://arcofappalachia.org/return-of-the-snakes. JUN. 14–16 – Versailles Poultry Days, 459 S. Center St., Versailles. Free admission and parking. World-famous barbecue chicken dinners and many fun events. 937-5269773 or www.versaillespoultrydays.com. JUN. 15 – West Milton Triathlon, West Milton Municipal Park. 3.5 miles canoeing, 5 miles running, and 17 miles biking. Compete solo or in teams of two. Registration fee. 937-698-0287 or www.speedy-feet.com.
38 OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING • JUNE 2019
JUN. 22 – Music at the Mound with Steve Free, Serpent Mound, 3850 OH-73, Peebles, 2 p.m. Free with $8/vehicle parking fee. http://arcofappalachia.org/steve-free. JUN. 22 – Summer Solstice Dinner and Celebration, Serpent Mound, 3850 OH-73, Peebles, 2–10 p.m. Afternoon archaeological lecture. Guided tour of mound followed by quiet hour preceding sunset. Optional BBQ dinner is $15/plate. Preregister at 937-365-1935 or http:// arcofappalachia.org/solstice. JUN. 22 – Spectacular Summer Cruise-In and Concert, Miami Valley Centre Mall, 987 E. Ash St., Piqua. Free. Country music star Neal McCoy headlines. www. facebook.com/2019-Spectacular-Summer-Cruise-inConcert-292810964722576. JUN. 22–23 – Brush and Palette Art Guild’s Annual Art Show, Southern State Community College, 100 Hobart Dr., Hillsboro, 1–5 p.m. Free admission and parking. Works from professional and nonprofessional artists are judged and offered for sale. Light refreshments. 937-393-4193. JUN. 22–23 – Vectren Dayton Air Show, Dayton International Airport, 3800 Wright Dr., Vandalia, 9 a.m.–6 p.m. $13–$25. One of America’s leading air shows. See the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds as well as performers and aircraft displays. www.daytonairshow.com. JUL. 3–4 – Americana Festival, Franklin and Main streets, Centerville. Free. Concert and fireworks on the 3rd at Centerville High School, 500 E. Franklin St.; doors open at 6 p.m. Festival on the 4th, 10 a.m.–7 p.m., features parade, 5K run, and street fair with craft and food booths. 937-433-5898 or www.americanafestival.org. JUL. 4 – Piqua 4th Fest, Lock Nine Park, downtown Piqua, noon–9:30 p.m., fireworks at 10 p.m. Activities for
JUL. 7–14 – Trumbull County Fair, 899 Everett Hull Rd., Cortland. An array of grandstand entertainment, daily shows, local bands, exhibits, and rides. 330-637-6010 or www.trumbullcountyfair.com. JUL. 11–13 – Olde Canal Days Festival, 123 Tuscarawas St., Canal Fulton, Thur./Fri. 5–11 p.m., Sat. 11 a.m.–11 p.m. Free admission. Rides $1 each, or $15 for all-day wristband. Saturday events include Grande Parade at 11 a.m., Trucks-N-Tykes at 12–2 p.m., and fireworks at 10 p.m. Also enjoy games and other entertainment, arts and crafts, concessions, and St. Helena III canal boat rides. 330-854-9095 or www.discovercanalfulton.com. JUL. 12–13 – “Wine on Rails,” Lorain & West Virginia Railway, 46485 St. Rte. 18, Wellington, Fri. 7 p.m., Sat. 6 p.m. Taste wines from Matus Winery during a 90-minute train ride. Tickets available on our website. 440-647-6660 or www.lwvry.org. JUL. 12–14 – Great Mohican Indian Pow-Wow, 23270 Wally Rd., Loudonville, Fri./Sun. 10 a.m.–6 p.m., Sat. 10 a.m.–7 p.m. $8, C. (6–12) $4, under 6 free. Native American live music, dancing, drum competitions, storytelling, tomahawk throwing, and fire starting demos. 800-766-2267 or www.mohicanpowwow.com. JUL. 13–14 – Revolution on the Tuscarawas, Fort Laurens, 11067 Fort Laurens Rd. NW, Bolivar, Sat. 10 a.m.–5 p.m., Sun. 10 a.m.–4 p.m. $10; age 12 and under, $5. Revolutionary War reenactment and encampment. Colonial history, musket drills, mock battle, early American games, and crafts. 330-874-2059 or www.fortlaurens.org. JUL. 14 – Ohio Daylily Society Annual Show, Kingwood Center Gardens, 50 Trimble Rd., Mansfield, noon–4 p.m. See hundreds of beautiful daylilies by some of Ohio’s top cultivars; get information on growing daylilies and becoming a member of this group. www. ohiodaylilysociety.org. all ages at this hometown celebration of Independence Day. www.piquaoh.org/piqua-4th-fest. JUL. 4 – Red, White and Blue Ash, Summit Park, Blue Ash, 4–10:30 p.m. Music, rides, games, food and drink, and family fun. Biggest and best fireworks in the tri-state area at 10 p.m. http://blueashevents.com. JUL. 9 – Neal and Coleen Walters: Old-Time and Appalachian Tunes, Germantown Church of God, 760 Farmersville Pike, Germantown, 7–9 p.m. $12. Sponsored by the Germantown Dulcimer Society. Appalachian dulcimer, autoharp, bass, banjo, guitar. Contact Debbie Simpkins at 513-594-7855. JUL. 11–14 – Greenville Farm Power of the Past, Darke Co. Fgds., 800 Sweitzer St., Greenville. $5. Case and Oliver tractors and equipment, oil field engines, and Michigan-built engines. 937-547-1845 or www. greenvillefarmpower.org. JUL. 11–14 – Kathy Slack Troy Summer Skating Competition, Hobart Arena, 255 Adams St., Troy. This figure and freestyle competition is part of the 2019 National Solo Dance Series and 2020 Non-Qualifying Series, with over 300 participants from the Midwest and beyond. www.troyskatingclub.org. JUL. 13–14 – History Alive at the Johnston Farm, 9845 N. Hardin Rd., Piqua, 12–5 p.m. Reenactors present a historical timeline of the years 1748 to 1862, bringing to life people and events that had a great impact on the course of both American and Ohio history. Visit the Johnston home, tour the Indian and Canal Museum, and ride on the canal boat General Harrison of Piqua. 800752-2619 or www.johnstonfarmohio.com.
NORTHWEST
THROUGH OCT. 12 – The Great Sidney Farmer’s Market, 109 S. Ohio Ave., 8 a.m.–noon. Farmers bring their freshest produce, and crafters offer a large variety of homemade items. Fresh baked goods, jams and jellies, plants, and flowers. 937-658-6945 or www. sidneyalive.org. JUN. 15–16, JUL. 6–7 – The Fantastic Tiffin Flea Market, Seneca Co. Fgds., 100 Hopewell Ave., Tiffin, Sat. 9 a.m.–4 p.m., Sun. 9 a.m.–3 p.m. Free admission and parking; handicap accessible. 250 to 400 dealers per show. 419-447- 9613, tiffinfleamarket@gmail.com, or www.tiffinfleamarket.com. JUN. 21–22 – Perrysville Homestead Festival, Bridge St., Perrysville, Fri. 5–11 p.m., Sat. 10 a.m.–11 p.m. Music and comedy entertainment; food vendors; arts, crafts, and hobbies; merchant tent; bingo. Parade Sat. 10 a.m.; garden tractor pull Fri. 6 p.m. 330-465-9230 or www. perrysvilleecodev.com. JUN. 22 – Findlay Country Fest: Tunes and Trains, Northwest Ohio Railroad Preservation Inc., 12505 Co. Rd. 99, Findlay. Gates open at 4 p.m.; show starts at 5 p.m. Quarter-scale train rides will be offered before the show and during intermissions. 419-423-2995, www.nworrp. org, or www.facebook.com/nworrp. JUN. 29 – The Great Downtown BBQfest, downtown Sidney, 11 a.m.–10 p.m. Sample pork ribs, pulled pork, and BBQ chicken legs. Farmers market opens at 8 a.m. We partner with United Way agencies, nonprofit organizations, and local businesses and churches to
SOUTHEAST
THROUGH SEPT. 27 – Rise and Shine Farmers Market, 2135 Southgate Pkwy., Cambridge, Fridays, 8 a.m.–noon. 740-680-1866. THROUGH DEC. – Athens Farmers Market, 1000 E. State St., Athens, Wed. 9 a.m.–1 p.m., Sat., 9 a.m.–noon. Organic and conventionally grown fresh produce, meats, eggs, cheeses, honey, maple syrup, flowers and nursery plants, baked goods, breads, herbs, teas, jarred products, and much more. 740-593-6763 or www. athensfarmersmarket.org. JUN. 14–15 – Firefly Workshop: Field ID and Firefly Ecology, Highlands Nature Sanctuary, 7660 Cave Rd., Bainbridge. In addition to learning to recognize the distinct flash patterns of each species during this peak week of firefly activity, you will also learn about firefly conservation, ecology, and natural history. Space
provide a free FUN Kids Zone for ages 12 and under. 937658-6945 or www.sidneyalive.org. JUN. 29–30 – Northwest Ohio’s Picker’s Paradise, Henry Co. Fgds., 821 S. Perry St., Napoleon, 9 a.m.–5 p.m. Huge flea market, with inside and outside spaces. Antiques, car parts, handcrafted arts and crafts, and food vendors. ksgeil@yahoo.com or 419-235-3264. JUL. 4 – Independence Day Concert, Rutherford B. Hayes Presidential Library and Museum, Spiegel Grove, Fremont, 2–3:30 p.m. Free. Bring your own chair or blanket for this patriotic concert, performed by the Toledo Symphony Concert Band on the verandah of the historic Hayes Home. Civil War reenactors will punctuate the performance of the “1812 Overture” with cannon fire. 419-332-2081 or www.rbhayes.org. JUL. 4–6 – Old-Fashioned Fourth of July Weekend, Sauder Village, 22611 St. Rte. 2, Archbold, 10 a.m.–5 p.m. $18, Srs. $16, C. (6–16) $12, under 6 free. Veterans and active-duty military admitted free. Enjoy hand-cranked ice cream, old-fashioned games, and patriotic songs played on the reed organ. Witness a U.S. District Court naturalization ceremony on July 4 at 11 a.m. 800-5909755 or www.saudervillage.org. JUL. 5 – First Fridays Downtown, Sidney. Participating downtown shops and restaurants stay open later and offer a First Friday discount. 937-6586945 or www.sidneyalive.org. JUL. 6 – Beach Spectacular and Fireworks, Indian Lake State Park, Old Field Beach, Russells Point. Pageants, food, swimming, games, and other fun activities. Classic car show registration 10 a.m.–3 p.m.; fee $10, with dash plaques to first 50 participants; awards at 3 p.m. Fireworks at 10 p.m. 937-843-5392 or www. indianlakechamber.org. JUL. 6–7 – Toledo Lighthouse Waterfront Festival, Maumee Bay State Park, 1750 State Park Rd. #2, Oregon, Sat. 10 a.m.–7 p.m., Sun. 11 a.m.–5 p.m. $5 donation requested; free parking. Live music, kids’ activities, Nautical Art and Craft Village, lighthouse story telling, food, and silent auction. Concert Sat. at 7 p.m. Boat rides to lighthouse, weather permitting ($30); for reservations,
email sandylakeerie@aol.com. 419-691-3788 or www. toledolighthousefestival.com. JUL. 7 – Presentation: “Walk in Their Shoes, Die in Their Shoes,” Fort Recovery State Museum, Community Room, 1 Fort Site St., Fort Recovery, 3 p.m. Free. Speaker Joe Beatty is a fifth-generation descendant of two officers who served in St. Clair’s army at the Battle of the Wabash in 1791. The presentation includes original letters, documents, and pictures. 419-375-4384 or www. facebook.com/FortRecoveryMuseum. JUL. 12–14 – Flag City Daylily Tour, locations throughout Findlay and Hancock counties. Fri./Sat. 10 a.m.–6 p.m., Sun. 12–6 p.m. Free. The fourth annual tour features seven daylily gardens, each with its own special personality. Tour at your leisure and see more than 3,000 different registered daylilies. Some sites will have plants for sale. 419-889-8827, www.pplantpeddler.com, on Facebook, or email anders@findlay.edu. JUL. 12–14 – Huron River Fest, Huron Boat Basin, 330 N. Main St., Huron. Free. Pageants and contests, parades, live entertainment, games and rides, 5K and Fun Run, Road Show, and other fun activities. Fireworks Friday at 10:15 p.m. over the river. www.huronriverfest.com. JUL. 13 – Family Fun Day, Northwest Ohio Railroad Preservation Inc., 12505 Co. Rd. 99, Findlay, 11 a.m.– 4 p.m. $10 per person for all-day access. Enjoy games, quarter-scale train rides, bounce houses, and other family-friendly activities and events all day long for one price. Watch our website and Facebook page for additional information. 419-423-2995, www.nworrp. org, or www.facebook.com/nworrp. JUL. 13 – Malinta Festival, 8931-Co. Rd. K-2, Malinta, 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Flea market, car show, BBQ chicken, bounce house, wagon rides, live auction, entertainment. 419-9669909 or find us on Facebook. JUL. 13 – Summer on the Farm, Sauder Village, 22611 St. Rte. 2, Archbold, 10 a.m.–5 p.m. $18, Srs. $16, C. (6–16) $12, under 6 free. Experience life on the farm with handson activities, games, special demonstrations, and fiddle music! 800-590-9755 or www.saudervillage.org.
is limited. Register at 937-365-1937 or http:// arcofappalachia.org/wonder_workshop. JUN. 15 – Ice Cream Social, Little Muskingum Volunteer Fire Department, 15015 St. Rte. 26, Marietta. Serving will begin at 4 p.m., Bingo at 5 p.m., and Country Store drawing at 8 p.m. Please join us for food, fun, and entertainment for the whole family. Find us on Facebook. JUN. 21–22 – Kicking Bear One-on-One, Deerassic Park Education Ctr., 14250 Cadiz Rd., Cambridge. Free event, but pre-registration is required. 740-435-3335 or www.deerassic.com. JUN. 22 – Youth Bluegill Derby, Ross Lake, 501 Musselman Mill Rd., Chillicothe, 8 a.m. Free. Open to kids ages 1 to 15. Participants must provide their own fishing tackle and bait and can fish anywhere at Ross Lake. Plaques will be awarded to three age groups for biggest and most fish. www.visitchillicotheohio.com. JUN. 27–29 – The Butterfly Course, Highlands Nature Sanctuary, 7660 Cave Rd., Bainbridge. Learn field identification and the natural history of the captivating butterfly species that call the Eastern prairies and forests home. This course is led by John Howard, accomplished naturalist, teacher, and lepidoptera enthusiast. Registration is required. 937-365-1935 or http:// arcofappalachia.org/butterfly-course-home. JUN. 28–29 – National Cambridge Glass Collectors Show and Sale, Pritchard Laughlin Civic Ctr., 7033 Glenn
Hwy., Cambridge, Fri. 1–5 p.m., Sat. 10:30 a.m.–4 p.m. $5 admission good for both days. 740-432-4245 or www. cambridgeglass.org. JUL. 3–4 – Gallipolis River Recreation Festival, Gallipolis City Park, 300 block of Second Ave., Gallipolis. Contests and races, food, musical entertainment, arts and crafts, parade, and fireworks. 740-446-0596 or www.gallipolisriverrec.com. JUL. 5–7 – Ohio Jeep Fest, Ross Co. Fgds., 344 Fairgrounds Rd., Chillicothe, Fri. noon–8 p.m., Sat. 9 a.m.–7 p.m., Sun. 9 a.m.–4 p.m. $10–$25. Drivers test their wheeling skills and participate in trail-rated challenges. Daily kids’ zone, vendors, obstacle course, mud pits, and much more. www.ohiojeepfest.com. JUL. 10–13 – Ohio Hills Folk Festival, Quaker City. Celebrate the festival’s 115th year! Parades, car show, country store, entertainment, rides, and activities for kids. 740-670-2070. JUL. 11–14 – Chillicothe Civic Theatre presents Beauty and the Beast, Chillicothe High School Auditorium, 425 Yoctangee Parkway, Chillicothe, 3 and 7 p.m. $12–$15. www.cctchillicothe.com. JUL. 14 – Barton Polkafest, 52176 Center St., Barton. Polish foods, crafts, CD sales, cash bar, and raffles. Music by “The Boys” from Maryland, and the reunion of “The Jolly J’s” polka band. 740-695-3029.
JUNE 2019 • OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING 39
MEMBER INTERACTIVE
1
2
Creature comfort 3
5
6
4 7
8
1. O ne of our LaMancha goat does with her newborn kids. Elaine Beekman Lorain-Medina Rural Electric Cooperative member 2. One of five baby raccoons born in the buckeye tree in our front yard. We called this one“Monkey.” Debra Durning Firelands Electric Cooperative member 3. A bullfrog popped up right in between the cattails in our pond in Ada, Ohio. Rebecca Hazelton Mid-Ohio Energy Cooperative member
9
10
4. A robin feeding her young on our back porch! Patty and Larry Quaglia South Central Power Company members
8. My nephew’s 4-H pig enjoying the grass. Penny Rauch Midwest Electric member
5. My husband found this beautiful barred owl resting in a tree near our house. Patricia Lambert Buckeye Rural Electric Cooperative member
9. I got a camera for my 12th birthday 52 years ago and snapped this picture at the zoo. Debra Malusky Carroll Electric Cooperative member
6. W e have 18 nest boxes, and many are home to beautiful bluebirds! Leslie Swonguer Logan County Electric Cooperative member
10. My friendly deer in my woods. Sharon Coleman Adams Rural Electric Cooperative member
7. Horse whisperers on an Amish farm in Knox County. Rachel Blevins Consolidated Cooperative member
Send us your picture! For September, send “Back to school” by June 15; for October, send “Picking pumpkins” by July 15. Upload your photos at www.ohioec.org/memberinteractive — and remember to include your co-op name and to identify everyone in the photos. 40 OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING • JUNE 2019
A COMMUNITY’S
Success
is our success
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
GRANTS
SEVEN RIC ELECT IVES RAT years E P O CO past two in the TEN D E D AWAR ,000 for $15 grants
ment ctive p o l e v e pe site-d eir res s. h t n i use e area servic
ohioec.org/purpose