LOCAL PAGES

Board appoints new trustee

Tim Anderson

Jerry Olinger

Farmers and Hunters Feeding the Hungry Coshocton, Ohio 43812 Help Ohio DBA Ohio Dyslexia Center Fresno, Ohio 43824 In August, the Frontier Power Board of Trustees accepted the resignation of 11-year board member Tim Anderson, when he and his family moved to Montana. The board was tasked with filling the vacant position left for District D, Coshocton County, and unanimously decided to appoint Jerry Olinger.

Jerry and his wife, Tracey, reside in Coshocton County and have two children, Marcus (Rose) Olinger and Jay (Tanya) Olinger, and three grandchildren. Jerry is a 1976 graduate of River View High School, a 1978 graduate of Muskingum Area Technical College with an associate degree in environmental science, and a 1985 graduate of Ohio University with a degree in elementary education. His previous work experience includes Peabody Coal Company and Clow Corporation before an extensive career with River View Schools beginning in 1984. Jerry taught math at River View Junior High (RVJH) for 13 years, was the RVJH assistant principal for three years, served 12 years as the principal at Keene Elementary, and was the principal at RVJH for 8 years before retiring in May 2020. Jerry has been a River View elementary basketball coach and attends New Pointe Community Church. He enjoys deer and turkey hunting, camping, and hiking in his spare time.

We wish Tim Anderson and his family the best on their new endeavors and welcome Jerry Olinger to

Frontier Community Connection Fund Board-approved distributions Aug. 27, 2020

the Frontier Power Board of Trustees. $1,000

$4,339.38

IN MEMORIAM Frontier Power says goodbye to board member Wise

Robert E. “Bob” Wise of New Philadelphia passed away Sept. 22, 2020, at the Truman House in New Philadelphia at the age of 78. Bob was elected to the Frontier Power board in 1987, serving as president for several years. He was also a trustee on the Ohio Rural Electric Cooperative (OREC) board in Columbus, Ohio, and served on the executive committee and on the safety and loss control committee.

Bob graduated from Bellaire High School in 1960 and attended the Ohio State University. He was employed by the Reeves Banking and Trust Co., Hunting Bank, and retired as senior vice president of the First National Bank of Dennison in 2004. He married the love of his life, Patricia A. Hammond, on June 20, 1964, who survives. Bob is also survived by two children, Leanne J. (Michael) Helmke and Lynne Wise; three grandchildren, Landon and McKalynne Helmke and Kameron (Clinton) Steel; two great-granddaughters; a sister; and a sister-in-law. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his son and daughter-in-law, Todd and Stacee Wise; grandson Neil Wise; a brother; and a brother-in-law.

Bob was active with the Tuscarawas County 4-H program, serving as treasurer of the Tuscarawas County Market Livestock Sale, and was a member of the Tuscarawas County Agricultural Society (Fair Board). He was a charter member of the Tuscarawas County Cattle Association and was a former member of the Buckeye Polled Hereford Association, Ohio Cattlemen’s Association, and a director of the Baltic State Bank. He was a member of the Ragersville Zion United Church of Christ serving as deacon and elder.

Bob and Pat enjoyed traveling with their family and friends, especially to the island of Aruba. Bob was an avid Pittsburgh Steelers and Ohio State Buckeyes fan.

Memorials in Bob’s name may be made to Community Hospice of Tuscarawas County, 716 Commercial Ave. SW, New Philadelphia, OH 44663 or the Neil Wise Memorial Scholarship Fund at any First National Bank of Dennison branch.

Bob will be greatly missed, and we extend our deepest condolences to his family.

Don’t forget to fall back Nov. 1!

Appliance Rebates for Cooperative Members

$100 REFRIGERATOR & FREEZER REBATE

ENERGY STAR®-certified refrigerators and stand-alone freezers (10-30 cubic feet) can qualify for a $100 rebate* from Frontier Power when purchased and installed at a location served by the cooperative.

$150 AIR CONDITIONER REBATE

ENERGY STAR®-certified air conditioning units (a maximum of two) with a minimum 16 SEER rating and a cap of six tons can qualify for up to a $150 rebate per unit from Frontier Power when purchased and installed at a location served by the cooperative. Frontier Power is offering rebates to residential cooperative members who replace their existing refrigerators, stand-alone freezers, or central air conditioning units with a new ENERGY STAR®-certified product. This rebate is available only to residential members. Members must purchase and install a new ENERGY STARcertified product between July 1, 2020 and June 30, 2021.

SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS: Members are required to provide documentation, such as a purchase receipt, showing that the product was purchased and installed in a home served by the cooperative. Members must also include proof of ENERGY STAR certification, such as a copy of the yellow Energy Guide label or owner’s manual (must include ENERGY STAR logo or statement of ENERGY STAR certification).

All rebates are issued in the form of a credit to the member’s electric account. A maximum of two rebates per appliance type (two refrigerators, two freezers, or two air conditioning units), totaling $700, may be paid per residential member home during the current program year from July 1, 2020 through June 30, 2021.

*Frontier Power’s appliance rebate on refrigerators, freezers, and air conditioners is limited. The offer expires when funds are depleted on a first-come, first-served basis, or when the program is discontinued.

Rebate offered in partnership with

Co-op Connections Card

Because you are a Frontier Power Company member, your Co-op Connections Card provides you with special to visit this month’s highlighted business and check out offers on the internet by clicking the Co-op Connections Card on our website at www.frontier-power.com.

Coshocton

Receive 6.5% off regular price.

Electricity theft and meter tampering are CRIMES

Stealing electricity or tampering with a meter is serious business. And it’s against the law! The law defines theft of utility service as a first-degree misdemeanor if the value of the stolen electricity, plus any utility equipment discounts online and at participating local retailers. Be sure

repair, is less than $150. It’s a fourth-degree felony if more than $150.

Tampering crimes carry similar penalties. Tampering is defined as “to interfere with, damage, or bypass a utility meter, conduit, or attachment with intent to impede the correct registration of a meter or the proper function of a conduit or attachment.”

Conviction of tampering can mean from six months in jail and a $1,000 fine to up to five years and a $2,500 fine.

Meter tampering costs all of us, and it’s downright dangerous. If you witness someone tampering with an electric meter, please contact The Frontier Power Company at 740-622-6755 or 800-624-8050.

Election Day is Nov. 3. Your vote is your voice!

Veterans Day is Nov. 11. Please join us in honoring our nation’s heroes.

Our office is open on Nov 11.

Frontier Power has much to be thankful for! Our office will be closed for Thanksgiving on Nov. 26 and Nov. 27 so that our employees may celebrate the holiday with their families.

THE FRONTIER POWER COMPANY

CONTACT

800-624-8050 | 740-622-6755 www.frontier-power.com

OFFICE

770 S. Second St. P.O. Box 280 Coshocton, OH 43812

OFFICE HOURS

Monday–Friday 8 a.m.–5 p.m.

BOARD OF TRUSTEES

James Buxton II President Bill Daugherty Vice President David P. Mizer Secretary-Treasurer Tim Dickerson Ann M. Gano Jerry Olinger Trustees

CEO/GENERAL MANAGER

Steven K. Nelson

ATTORNEY

Michael D. Manning

PERSONNEL

Nick Beckett Kimberly Bethel Kyle Cramblett Phil Crowdy Logan Desender Jason Dolick F. Scott Dunn Mark Fabian Michelle Fischer Tyler Frazer Rick Haines Matt Hartley Josh Haumschild Ethan Helmick Joe Hlavaty Ken Hunter Tim Keirns Kelly Kendall Austin Klein Chad Lecraft Francis “J.R.” McCoy Jr. Mike McCoy Taylor McCullough Blake McKee Melvin McVay Chad Miller Corey Miller Bill Mizer Marty Shroyer Bornwell Sianjina Nate Smith James Stewart Shelly Thompson Jonathon Tolliver Robin Totten Andrew Vickers Vickie Warnock Adam Warren

STAYING IN THE GAME

Ohio AgrAbility helps disabled farmers keep doing the work they love.

BY MARGARET BURANEN

Nineteen-year-old Kane Lewis’ life changed instantly on Nov. 16, 2019. While he was on a hunting trip, he had a seizure that caused him to fall from his tree stand — breaking his back and leaving him paralyzed.

The fall was devastating for the Wilmington College student, a fifthgeneration farmer. At the hospital, Lewis wondered how he would be able to take over the family farm in West Portsmouth. He has only one

PHOTO BY MATT LEWIS

A fall left Kane Lewis paralyzed, with his ability to take over the family farm in doubt, but Ohio AgrAbility and its rural rehabilitation specialist, Rachel Jarman, helped him obtain accessibility equipment that has allowed him to keep working. sibling, who does not farm, so “it’s definitely on my shoulders,” he says.

Shortly after spinal surgery, doctors and therapists told him about Ohio AgrAbility. Like AgrAbility in other states, Ohio AgrAbility is a partnership between a land grant university (in this case, Ohio State University) and a nonprofit (Easterseals Serving Greater Cincinnati), funded by a grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Working with state agencies, AgrAbility helped Lewis get a lift to put him on farm machinery, an Action Trackchair that will go over any terrain, and an automatic barn door opener.

“AgrAbility has given me so much more freedom than I could have expected,” Lewis says. “I didn’t [have to] slow down.”

Just a month and a week after his accident, Lewis was back in college, where his classmates raised $13,000 to buy him an electric wheelchair to get around campus easily. By spring, he was back planting corn and soybeans.

“Our goal is to help farmers continue to do what they love to do and to live independently,” says Dee Jepsen, Ohio AgrAbility’s program director.

Jeff Austin, a third-generation farmer, grows corn, soybeans, and wheat in Harrod, Ohio. Back in April 2013, he had just gotten a new combine and was eagerly anticipating the fall harvest so he could put it to use.

But that July, a cancerous tumor crushed his spinal cord, leaving him paralyzed below the waist. Austin’s first thought was that he would never drive that combine again. He worried about how he would support his four children.

“The doctors called it a ‘nontraumatic spinal cord injury,’” says his wife, Kristi, “but it was pretty traumatic for us.”

That September, Austin’s dad, Gary, and a family friend, Gene McClure, visited the AgrAbility tent at Farm Science Review. The brochures and information they brought back gave Austin hope.

AgrAbility worked with state agencies to secure funding for the lift that he now uses to get onto several farm Ohio machines. With his Action Trackchair, “I can stand up to repair equipment and go anywhere on the farm.” To Austin, AgrAbility “means getting back my independence, having the freedom to go where I want to go. It’s given me a sense of freedom and purpose.” agrABILITY Continued on page 26

Jeff Austin uses his Standing Action Trackchair to help him perform routine maintenance and light repair and has a custom lift by Life Essentials for easy access to his farm truck.

Continued from page 25 Len Vonderhaar has similar praise for the program. “AgrAbility prolonged my life, because I’m now able to do things that I couldn’t do, and I have a greater outlook on life,” he says.

With his son and grandson, he raises corn, soybeans, and alfalfa hay near Camden, Ohio. One of their farm’s grain bins is powered by Butler Rural Electric Cooperative.

Vonderhaar needed back surgery to fuse five of his vertebrae, and it left him unable to do the farming work he had always done. He could walk only short distances, and climbing aboard his combine was nearly impossible.

His grandson, Adam, an Ohio State graduate, remembered learning about AgrAbility in a farm safety course, and he urged his grandfather to reach out. Ohio AgrAbility worked with Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities (OOD) to get Vonderhaar a lift, a camera, and other attachments to make driving the combine safer and easier. He also has a scooter that helps him go from building to building on the farm. “I can’t say enough about how much OOD and AgrAbility have helped me — not only with physical help, but mentally, to do what I like to do,” Vonderhaar says.

At Ohio AgrAbility, “we’re advocates, we’re connectors,” explains Rachel Jarman, rural rehabilitation coordinator. “I can help [vocational rehabilitation] counselors understand why a farmer needs this equipment, help them understand the farmer’s job and what challenges he has.”

She says that a serious disability or accident “is crushing to a farmer. I’m their lifeline to getting back to what they need to be doing. It’s really rewarding to see how happy and grateful they are.”

“This is our 11th year of USDA grant funding,” says Laura Akgerman, Ohio AgrAbility’s disability services coordinator. “Since 2009, we have helped about 400 farmers — and that’s not including the thousands of people we interact with briefly, with a quick phone call or when they stop by our booth at a farming event.”

For additional information, visit agrability.osu.edu or call 614-292-0622.

Your local WaterFurnace dealers

Ashland

Ashland Comfort Control (419) 281-0144

Bowling Green

United Home Comfort (419) 352-7092 unitedhomecomfort.com

Canal Winchester

Kessler Htg & Clg (614) 837-9961 kesslerheating.com

Chillicothe

Accurate Htg & Clg (740) 775-5005 accurategeothermal.com

Coldwater

Ray’s Refrigeration (419) 678-8711 raysrefrigeration.com

Columbus

Geo Source One (614) 873-1140 geosourceone.com

Defiance

Schlatters Plbg & Htg (419) 393-4690 schlattersgeothermal.com

Dresden

Federal Htg & Clg (740) 754-4328 federalheating.com

East Liberty

Reliant Mechanical (937) 666-5800 reliantgeo.com

Findlay

Knueve & Sons Inc. (419) 420-7638 knueve.com

Groveport

Patriot Air (614) 577-1577 patriotair.com

Holgate

Holgate Hardware (419) 264-3012

Kalida

Knueve & Sons Inc. (419) 420-7638 knueve.com Sarka Electric (419) 532-3492 sarkaelectric.com

Lancaster

Fairfield Heating (740) 653-6421 fairfieldgeothermal.com

Mansfield

Eberts Energy Center (419) 589-2000 ebertsheatingandcooling.com

Marion

Wenig’s Inc. (740) 383-5012 wenigsinc.com

Medina

Sisler Heating (330) 722-7101 sislerwaterfurnace.com

Mt. Vernon

Cosby Htg & Clg (740) 393-4328 cosbyhc.com

New Knoxville

New Knoxville Supply (419) 753-2444 newknoxvillesupply.com

Newark

Hottinger Geothermal (740) 323-2330 hottingergeothermal.com

Portsmouth

Accurate Htg & Clg (740) 353-4328 accurategeothermal.com

Sidney

Lochard Inc. (937) 492-8811

Toledo

Overcashier & Horst (419) 841-3333 ohcomfort.com

Waverly

Combs Htg & A/C (740) 947-4061 combsgeopro.com

Wellington

Wellington Indoor Comfort (440) 647-3421

Westerville

Westin Air (614) 794-1259 geothermalcentralohio.com

More than just great products

Best training in the industry GeoPro program for dealer differentiation

24/7 Tech Support Incredible 3-day lead times

Regional and national advertising programs

Free marketing support

Dedicated Territory Manager for you and your needs

Great sales incentive programs Flexible marketing development funds

Up to 10 year parts & labor allowance

Free custom Geothermal Savings Calculator

Geothermal is a rapidly growing market that’s defied the economic downturn. To succeed, you need more than just an equipment supplier. You need a partner who understands geo and is personally committed to your growth. WaterFurnace provides tools, services, training and products that other brands simply can’t match. It’s why we’ve been synonymous with geothermal for over 35 years. Visit waterfurnace.com/reasons to see why you should join our family.

visit us at waterfurnace.com/reasons

700A11 41 EER 5.3 COP

Treasure hunt

Legends of buried booty stoke imagination and curiosity.

BY KEVIN WILLIAMS

We all know that Ohio is full of treasures. From Cincinnati chili to Cedar Point to the hollows of Hocking Hills, the gems gleam. Legends abound, however, of treasure in the more traditional sense — buried or stashed around the Ohio countryside.

From legends of James Dillinger stashing away money to Civil War gold, Ohio is crawling with tales of buried treasure. After sifting through scores of Ohio tales, we found five we think are the most compelling.

Stark treasure

It was 1755, and the French had been trying desperately to repel attacks by the British on Fort Duquesne, France’s outpost in Pittsburgh. Fearing the fort’s imminent fall (it actually held out until 1758), some French soldiers started

Jared Shank, a member of the Dayton Diggers, still ventures out occasionally to check out a new tip on the location of the lost Shawnee silver.

to evacuate valuables from Fort Duquesne — including a hoard of gold and silver used for military payroll.

The British pursued, and about halfway to Fort Detroit, with the Redcoats gaining on them, the French reportedly buried everything right there on the spot — around the present-day site of Minerva, in Stark County — with a plan to return later to retrieve the riches. Unfortunately, the terrain makes their directions difficult to follow and, despite numerous attempts, no treasure has ever been found.

Roger Bartley, a Minerva historian who has sought the treasure, thinks it’s still out there somewhere. “Treasure hunters come through a couple of times a year,” he says. “They all have their own theories.”

Shawnee silver

According to Shawnee and frontiersmen lore, there’s a stash of priceless silver somewhere near the Little Miami River in Greene County. Or it could be farther north. Or east. That’s the problem: The history of the silver stash is a little hazy.

While there are variations on the tale, Ohio resident and treasure hunter Jared Shank, a member of the Dayton Diggers treasure-hunting club, says that when the Shawnee were preparing to flee after the Battle of Pickaway near present-day Springfield, they gathered all their silver — they used it in trading, and some estimates say they had more than a ton — and buried it near the Little Miami River to keep it out of the hands of Gen. George Rogers Clark, who was in pursuit. “The first portion they buried in a small pit; they just threw everything into a hole, covered it with brush, and burned it,” he says. “Warriors buried the other part of it near the river.”

Shank says as time has passed, many people have speculated about where all the silver is buried, and the Shawnee, who no longer have a presence in Ohio, have expressed interest in it if it’s ever found.

The Bridge family pot of gold

In 1995, Popular Mechanics caused a stir in Preble County by including a well-known local treasure tale in a list of Top 5 stories of hidden riches. As legend has it, sometime in the 1790s, the Bridge family buried an iron cooking pot filled with at least $100,000 in gold coins on their farm southwest of Eaton. Local historian Stephen Pope told the Dayton Daily News in 1995 that the story of the hidden treasure crops up every 15 years or so, but the treasure remains elusive.

Gallia County river treasure

The pre-Civil War Ohio River was often lawless, yet laden with valuable commerce, which made the rural stretches in southeast Ohio, with its hidden coves and bluffs, irresistible to pirates who are rumored to have stashed treasures in caches along the river. They are also known to have scuttled a riverboat or two. Treasure hunters to this day report finding gold and silver coins washing up near the town of Cheshire from a sunken riverboat, but the source has never been located.

Dillinger’s money

Outlaw James Dillinger and his gang crisscrossed Ohio in the 1930s, robbing banks and generally sowing terror. One of Dillinger’s associates, James Pierpont, used his family farm outside of Leipsic as a base from which to launch dozens of bank robberies across northwest Ohio, and the gang used the farm as a stash house. There’s also rumored to be $825,000 of Dillinger money buried on a farm near Jackson, where a former associate lived.

If you dig

Searching for treasure with a metal detector isn’t as easy as just powering up the device and digging; there’s a lot to consider:

Many park systems — like Montgomery’s Five Rivers MetroParks — don’t allow metal detectors in parks. Others, such as Cuyahoga County’s park system, require a permit. Franklin County MetroParks does allow metal-detecting. Bottom line: check the rules.

If you go on private land, get permission from the landowner or else you are trespassing.

Theft of artifacts from private property and transporting them across state lines may also be a violation of the Archeological Resources Protection Act, a federal law.

Watch out for utilities. PUCO has a pretty robust enforcement, so be alert for buried pipes and utility lines.

OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING’S Holiday Gift Guide BY DAMAINE VONADA You’ve been earning and learning in your pajamas, so why not do your holiday shopping in them, too? Artisans, craftspeople, and 2020 entrepreneurs throughout Ohio produce a wide range of exceptional items that you can buy online or by telephone. No mask is needed, and you’ll be giving twice — once to family and friends and again to Ohio’s economy.

Antiquation, Medina

Designer Eric Schultz creates rustic and highly original home décor from reclaimed wood and metal. His Ohio-shaped cutouts cleverly showcase both materials and can be made to your specifications. If you like his style but don’t know what to choose, Antiquation offers gift cards that come in a string-drawn burlap sack. 330-722-4339.

www.shoptheant.com

7Thirty8 Apparel, Zanesfield

Designer and screen printer Matt Overholt makes every T-shirt, hoodie, and sweatshirt that he sells. People love the softness and quality of his garments, and Matt’s Ohio Adventure Club line combines state-themed graphics with his love of the outdoors. He also takes custom orders, and for special events, his food truck-inspired mobile print shop serves up made-to-order tees and tote bags. apparelby7thirty8@gmail.com.

www.7thirty8apparel.com

Blue Jacket Dairy, Bellefontaine

Angel and Jim King not only turn local cow and goat milk into artisan cheeses but also give their products names — like Hull’s Trace, a semi-hard cheddar — that reference Ohio history. Their fresh cheese curds come in several yummy flavors; Gretna Grillin’ tastes like a toasted cheese sandwich without the bread, and spreadable Cranberry Quark glides onto crackers for an easy appetizer. 937-292-7327.

www.bluejacketdairy.com

Copper Moon Studio, Holland

Led by Stacy and Dan Owen, the artists at Copper Moon Studio excel at creating fun and functional items — including clocks, coasters, and suncatchers — from metal and fused glass. Their “Family Is Forever Tree” is a customer favorite that features a plasmacut steel tree with multicolored glass leaf magnets that you can personalize with names and dates. 419-867-0683.

Dietsch Brothers, Findlay

Making fine chocolates and ice cream for generations, the Dietsch family operates two landmark sweet shops in Findlay, where their famous chocolate-covered pretzels and exclusive Snowballs — vanilla cream dipped in dark chocolate and hand-rolled in coconut — are sold year-round. Dietsch’s Candy Cane Bark is ideal for stuffing stocking, but be advised: Its scrumptious brittles — peanut, coconut, and sea salt caramel — are available only from mid-October to Christmas. 419-422-4474; 419-423-3221. www.coppermstudio.com

www.dietschs.com

Just Pizzelles, Cortland

Pizzelles are a beloved Christmas cookie in Italy, but Christina Benton offers more than the traditional flavors of anise, vanilla, amaretto, and lemon. She bakes the world’s largest selection of pizzelles — more than 90 different kinds ranging from Apple Butter to White Chocolate Raspberry. Her holiday assortments include handwritten gift cards and festive flavor options such as Candy Cane, Gingerbread, and Sugar Plum. 330-638-8707.

Lisa Inglert Jewelry, Cincinnati

Customers call Lisa Inglert’s necklaces, bracelets, and earrings “happy jewelry,” because her vibrant colors and whimsical designs brighten their day whenever they wear them. Joking that she plays with fire in her studio, Lisa handcrafts dazzling glass beads that she envelops in sterling silver and goldfilled metal. Her bestselling collection — Secret Garden — features enchanting butterflies, bees, and blossoms. 513-252-3453.

www.justpizzelles.com

www.lisainglertjewelry.com

Lucky Levi’s Leather, Logan

At his workshop in the Hocking Hills, leatherworker and South Central Power Company member Jerry Swank expertly crafts Old West holsters and gun belts year-round. At Christmas, he makes splendidlooking stockings from suede and vegetable-tanned leather. Available in various colors, the stockings can be personalized and are sturdy enough to hold plenty of goodies ... or lumps of coal. 740-380-6190. www.luckylevisleather.com

Melody Elizabeth, Hamilton

Melody Elizabeth Doyel has been sewing since age 7. She loves antique textiles and is a fashion aficionado. Doyel employs those traits to transform vintage needlepoints and tapestries into handbags and totes. Add leather backings and feminine details like bejeweled ribbons, tassel fringe, and rhinestone closures, and — voila! — her items are durable, beautiful, and unique. 513-907-1752.

www.melodyelizabeth.com

Michael’s Artisan Chocolates, Bexley

Since chocolatier Michael Gillam specializes in little works of edible art, it’s no surprise that customers often say his Belgian chocolates look almost too pretty to eat. Michael’s vividly colored pecan turtles truly are eye candy, and his spicy caramel collection — handmade soft caramel infused with ghost chili and other peppers — delivers a sweet-spicy flavor combination like no other chocolate. 614-558-1190.

Packer Creek Pottery, Genoa and Perrysburg

Holiday cheer takes on a whole new meaning with Packer Creek Pottery’s bright and boldly colored majolica. Founder Jan Pugh and owner/artist Julie Harbal produce imaginatively patterned pieces — including realistic cabbage leaf platters and bowls in red and green — at their Genoa studio and display their gorgeous wares at galleries in Genoa and Perrysburg. 419-855-3858; 419-806-1355.

www.michaelsartisanchocolates.com www.packercreekpottery.com

Prospect Jam Co., Cincinnati

Owner Emily Hutton crafts jam and marmalade from locally grown fruits and organic cane sugar and takes pride in using the traditional French method of small batches cooked in copper pots. Her repertoire of innovative flavors includes Black Currant Preserves with Bergamot and Dark Chocolate, Strawberry Jam with Rosemary and Terroir Gin, Blood Orange Marmalade with Rye Whiskey and Vanilla Bean, and Yuletide favorite Red Pear with Gingerbread Spice and Molasses.

STEM Handmade Soap, Lakewood and Shaker Heights

Using natural ingredients and formulations developed in-house, owners Dave Willet and Steve Meka make wonderfully aromatic artisan soaps, body butters, and bath bombs. Holiday scents include Sugar Plum and Frankincense and Myrrh, but for a one-of-a-kind gift, get their six-pack of beer soap. It’s made from local microbrews and includes an IPA, lager, pilsner, stout, hefeweizen, and lambic. 216-505-553.

www.stemsoaps.com www.prospectjamco.com

The Fat Cat Factory, Parma

Forget about trite and tiresome tomato-shaped pincushions. Kathleen Schmid sews pincushions with personality. Based on her fat cat, Spooky, Kathleen’s original patterns include animals, occupations, hobbies, and holidays, and with their weighted bottoms and large bellies, her pincushions are practical as well as playful. Tip: Her new Plague Doctor pincushion makes a perfect 2020 memento. thefatcatfactory @gmail.com. www.etsy.com/shop/thefatcatfactory

The Happy Groundhog Studio, Cincinnati

Groundhogs and narwhals and owls, oh my! Art Academy of Cincinnati graduate Melissa Bracken hand-stitches cute and cuddly stuffed creatures and pillows made from eco-friendly felts and upcycled sweaters. Everything Melissa creates — even her three-eyed monsters — has a small red heart that signifies the love she puts into her work.

www.TheHappyGroundhogStudio.com

White Collar Woodsmen, Monroe

In 2015, Patrick Gorden made his first scented beard oil for the groomsmen at his wedding. Today, he and his wife, Sarah, hand-make an entire line of affordable beard oils and waxes that smell great and feel luxurious. White Collar Woodsmen’s signature gift set features five popular scents — including After the Storm, a refreshing blend of jasmine, lemon, and rosemary — handsomely packaged in a charred wine box or crate. 937-514-1295.

www.whitecollarwoodsmen.com