OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING • JULY 2024
America’s fastest-growing sport is fun, social, and a hit with all ages.
Ohio native Carl Jara uses a beachy medium to reach for the ‘wow’ factor with his art.
Cover image on most editions: When Brad Ryan found his then80-year-old grandmother, Joy, had never seen a mountain, it inspired a record-breaking quest — and healed a family rift.
This page: Pickleball, a sport somewhere between tennis and pingpong, has been America’s fastest-growing sport for three years running (photograph by Olga Nikiforovavia/Getty Images).
Until recently, the demand for electricity in the United States has been mostly steady, growing a little less than 4% over the past 20 years. Constant improvement in the efficiency of home appliances, air conditioning and heating systems, light bulbs, even electronic chargers, combined with an “offshoring” of many industrial facilities, largely offset the increase in demand that came from an influx of new homes and electric-powered innovations.
Today, however, things look dramatically different.
Our population is increasingly turning to electricity to power our homes and businesses. Manufacturing facilities are springing up across the country to shorten supply chains while others are returning from abroad to respond to incentives for domestic production. Electric vehicles are still in their early stages, but typically add 30% or more to a household’s electricity use. Efficiency improvements continue, but there are diminishing returns when improving on already-efficient appliances.
All this means we need to grow and expand our domestic production of electricity. Sounds easy, but it has proven to be slower and more difficult than in the past. The development of large-scale electric infrastructure that will be able to feed the coming growth in demand comes with trade-offs: cost, land use, and environmental impact not least among them.
Wind and solar continue to be the fastest-growing electricity supply sources (see our story on page 4), and those renewable resources will continue to expand. But we all realize they have limitations; neither is available 24/ 7, and both require (or at least impact) vast amounts of land in order to produce power at the scale we need.
Coal- and natural gas-powered generation can easily supply what we need. However, the U.S. EPA’s most recent rule requiring carbon capture and storage from both existing coalfired power plants and new large natural gas plants will not only force premature closure of remaining coal plants, but will severely limit future development of the most efficient new natural gas plants. Nuclear power plants could be a solution, but they continue to be plagued by high costs and long lead times for permitting and siting, making any significant contribution from new nuclear plants decades away.
With the restrictions that are being placed on current reliable, economical sources of power and limits on the development of new infrastructure, we can only expect a less reliable system, higher costs, and negative impacts on people’s personal and economic well-being. It doesn’t need to be that way.
With the restrictions that are being placed on reliable, economical sources of power, we can only expect a less reliable system, higher costs, and negative impacts on people’s wellbeing.
Ohio Rural Electric Cooperatives
6677 Busch Blvd. Columbus, OH 43229 614-846-5757 www.ohiocoopliving.com
Patrick O’Loughlin President & CEO
Caryn Whitney Director of Communications
Jeff McCallister Senior Managing Editor
Amy Howat Assistant Managing Editor
Neal Kindig Graphic Designer
Contributors: Tim Baldwin, Margaret Buranen, Colleen Romick Clark, Getty Images, W.H. “Chip” Gross, Catherine Murray, James Proffitt, and Jamie Rhein.
OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING (USPS 134-760; ISSN 2572-049X) is published monthly by Ohio Rural Electric Cooperatives, Inc. It is the official communication 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.
POSTMASTER: Send address changes to editorial and advertising offices at: 6677 Busch Boulevard, Columbus, OH 43229-1101. Periodicals postage paid at Berne, IN 46711, and at additional mailing offices. Nothing in this publication may be reproduced in any manner without written permission from Ohio Rural Electric Cooperatives, Inc. All rights reserved. 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 Office, Consumer Protection Section, 30 E. Broad St., Columbus, OH 43215. Periodicals postage paid at Columbus, OH, and at additional mailing offices.
Revisiting renewables: What’s so complicated about switching to green energy? 8
Walking-stick work of art: Our outdoors editor goes on a quest for the perfect hiking helper.
10
Destination everywhere: Prolific park explorers now look for new treks to tackle.
13
Straight from the garden: The freshest of garden gems take these recipes to the next level.
17
News and other important information from your electric cooperative.
33
What’s happening: July/August events and other things to do around Ohio.
National/regional advertising inquiries, contact Cheryl Solomon
American MainStreet Publications
847-749-4875 | cheryl@amp.coop
Cooperative members:
Please report changes of address to your electric cooperative. Ohio Cooperative Living staff cannot process address changes.
Alliance for Audited Media Member
36
Sandcastles: Members share their sandy works of art — such as the photo at right, submitted by South Central Power Company member Robin Snyder, who was rightfully proud of “the most, best, never-beenanother-one-like-it” family design!
Visit Ohio Cooperative Living magazine online at www.ohiocoopliving.com!
Read past issues and watch videos about our articles or our recipes. Our site features an expanded Member Interactive area, where you can share your stories, recipes, and photos and find content submitted by other co-op members across the state.
With reliability
and affordability as priorities,
power companies find it’s not easy being green.BY AMY HOWAT
There’s an important debate going on currently about the best way to generate electricity to power America’s homes and businesses, framed something like this: Low- or zero-carbon-emission sources that are both generally expensive and only intermittently available on the one side; reliable and economical but carbon-emitting sources on the other.
Ohio’s electric cooperatives, however, insist that generation shouldn’t be a matter of either/or — either fossil-fuel generation or renewable energy sources. Instead, they execute an all-of-the-above strategy, utilizing the best available mix while also planning for the future with growing use of renewable sources like solar energy — when it’s logical to do so.
“While coal and natural gas provide the bulk of our electricity supply in a reliable and cost-competitive manner, we continue to seek opportunities to develop renewable
energy projects that make sense for our members,” says Pat O’Loughlin, president and CEO of Ohio’s Electric Cooperatives, the trade association that provides services to the 24 electric distribution cooperatives in the state.
“Our hydropower, bio-gas, and solar resources are an important part of the mix. We’re always looking to grow and expand our supply resources in economical, practical, and beneficial ways.”
With that in mind, Ohio’s cooperatives actively oppose new federal regulations that could force the closure of coal-fired power plants in the U.S., because those plants are critical to meeting the needs of cooperative members.
That doesn’t mean co-ops are fighting against renewable energy, but instead are advocating for a realistic timeline for reducing use of fossil fuels. In fact, Ohio’s electric cooperatives and Buckeye Power, the generation and transmission cooperative providing electricity to the state’s
The New York Power Authority’s Niagara Power Project (below) and St. Lawrence-FDR Power Project send 55 megawatts of hydroelectric power to Ohio’s electric cooperative members.
STATUS: Solar power currently provides a little more than 5% of the power from renewable sources in Buckeye Power’s energy mix. Ohio cooperatives have invested in community solar through the OurSolar project, rather than building industrial-scale solar arrays, says Ryan Goolsby, director of engineering at Hancock-Wood Electric Cooperative in New Baltimore.
“OurSolar was sized based on the interest of members,” Goolsby says. “Ohio has seen opposition to very large projects converting thousands of acres of farmland to solar panels to sell electricity into the market. This is a much smaller scale; it’s by co-ops for co-op members.”
OurSolar’s first phase in 2017 saw smaller arrays go up at 23 co-op sites around Ohio. The second phase — a single 14-acre site on Hancock-Wood property with allocations to all Ohio co-ops — doubled the generation capacity for Ohio’s cooperatives, to 4.1 megawatts.
ANALYSIS: Solar energy offers some advantages. First, of course, is the environmental benefit of carbon-free generation from the sun. In addition, the technology for solar panels is readily available and the costs have been coming down, making solar energy less cost-prohibitive than in years past.
Anyone who’s spent a winter in Ohio, however, can attest to one of solar energy’s major shortcomings:
STATUS: Nearly 20% of Buckeye Power’s renewable energy comes from member-owned facilities that produce electricity from methane gas — and two-thirds of that comes from landfills, which produce methane as organic garbage decomposes. The rest comes from anaerobic digesters, which break down animal waste for methane, at co-op member-owned farms.
OUTLOOK: While these are valuable sources of renewable energy, significant growth in this area isn’t expected.
The sun doesn’t always shine. So, while OurSolar has the capacity to produce 4.1 MW, “that’s at midday on a nice, sunny day across Ohio,” says OEC’s Ben Wilson. On average, actual generation from the solar panels is closer to 1 MW because of cloudy days and dark nights, when little to no electricity is produced.
With community solar, members benefit because they can access solar energy without the up-front costs of rooftop panels. “Most members don’t have the roughly $18,000 or more needed for an average home solar installation,” Goolsby says. “Additionally, residential solar typically excludes renters, homeowners in certain HOAs, and homeowners whose property isn’t well-suited for solar production. OurSolar is there for any member.”
OUTLOOK: Because solar production is intermittent, though, it makes sense only when complementing reliable, always-available generation. The outlook is better when solar generation is paired with battery storage, to provide electricity when the sun isn’t shining.
“Battery storage is still new enough that there are concerns about longevity and performance,” Wilson says. “But the signs are good that battery storage will be part of grid operations going forward. Pairing solar with batteries is still pricy, but the technology works and can be part of a diverse resource mix.”
STATUS: An endless supply of energy exists in Earth’s super-hot core, and keeps the ground even a few feet down at nearly constant temperatures year-round. Homeowners and businesses already can tap into that resource for heating and air conditioning through geothermal heat pumps. Similarly, larger-scale facilities can generate electricity in places where geothermal energy is close to the surface (think volcanoes and geysers).
OUTLOOK: Ohio is not one of those places. Advances in drilling technology could make deep geothermal an option in the future, even where the Earth’s heat is more deeply buried. “Techniques for (natural gas) fracking have gotten very good for deep drilling,” OEC’s Ben Wilson says. “The idea is to drill wells so deep that we can capture that heat. That could happen here in the future.”
I’m not a woodworker, but fortunately I have a buddy who is a master at the craft. Gary Isbell, a member of Consolidated Cooperative, turns out gorgeous cabinets, tables, chairs, and other functional works of art from his basement workshop near Sunbury in central Ohio. I asked him if he could work his magic on my maple sapling and turn it into a hiking staff, and he was eager to take it on: “I thrive on trying new projects that I’ve never tackled before,” he told me.
As you can see by the accompanying photos, the hiking staff turned out great — a work of art that I will enjoy for the rest of my days. No doubt, it will be passed down to my kids and grandkids down the
line. Weighing about 3 pounds, the staff measures just over 5 feet in length, is an inch-and-a-quarter in diameter at the top, and tapers to 1 inch in diameter near the bottom.
You don’t have to be a geezer like me to benefit from a hiking staff. In addition to helping you walk more steadily, a hiking stick has other uses. For instance, it can be used to move briars and other obstructions out of your path, and it will help you cross creeks or other wet areas more securely. Also, a hiking staff could potentially be used as a stout defensive weapon to fend off predators.
Undeterred by torrential downpours and mud, and inspired by their ascension to the top of the miles-long Alum Cave Trail, Brad wondered if she’d like to visit all 63 U.S. national parks. She replied with a phrase remembered from his youth: “Let’s give it a whirl!”
And so they did. Beginning in 2015, they began hitting more national parks. Zion, check. Shenandoah, check. Cuyahoga, Rainier, Denali, Yosemite, Everglades, Yellowstone, Badlands, check-check-check-check-check. You get the idea.
It took eight years to check them all off the list. The final one was also the most distant — they ventured the 7,000 air miles from Muskingum County to the National Park of American Samoa in May 2023.
They chronicled their adventures with plenty of cool photographs via their Instagram account, @grandmajoysroadtrip. Along the way their account attracted more than 107,000 followers.
When Joy travels, she doesn’t simply sit in a seat looking out a window; Brad stresses that she gets involved. “I want people to really know what Grandma Joy is actually made of,” he says. And while Joy won’t come out and say she put her grandson to shame on the hiking trails, Brad isn’t bashful about spilling the beans. “If I stopped on the trail to take a picture of a butterfly, I’d look up and she’d be half a
football field in front of me,” he says, laughing. “That’s true.”
There are more examples. Like the time when Joy, alone, rolled down a towering sand dune at Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve in Colorado. What else? “Well, we went whitewater rafting in Alaska,” Joy says, “and we went zip-lining at New River Gorge National Park in West Virginia, and we walked the New River Gorge Bridge.”
In fact, she set the record by a decade as the oldest person to complete the zip-line course, which includes launching off 10 different platforms. The bridge is the third tallest in the U.S. and the longest steel span in the Western Hemisphere. A small wrinkle: Brad’s not so keen on heights. “I’m telling you, when we had to go underneath that bridge, it took him a lot of courage to do that,” she says. “They said, ‘Who wants to go first?’ and of course my big mouth — I said, ‘I’ll do it!’ and I forgot Brad had to go, too. He’s a pretty good guy.”
The duo’s mission did not go unnoticed. In addition to Insta-fame, the Today show featured them in the Rocky Mountains National Park, and Rachael Ray surprised the pair with trips to national parks in Alaska. They twice appeared on David Muir’s America Strong, and twice on the Tamron Hall Show. They’ve been featured on CNN, on NPR, and in magazines and podcasts too numerous to count.
Continued on page 12
Continued from page 11
Give Grandma Joy a follow @grandmajoysroadtrip on Instagram
But once they finished their list, they realized they didn’t want to quit traveling together, and now they’ve gone international. After jaunts to the African nation of Kenya and to the Galapagos Islands (gifts from Hall and National Geographic), they’ve now set their sights on visiting all seven continents. Recent trips have included Ecuador and Chile — so check Africa and South America off the list, along with North America, of course.
“Right now we’re in the early stages of planning a trip to Australia and a fall trip to Antarctica,” Brad says. “That will be five out of seven continents.”
Joy says that everywhere she’s gone during her adventures, she’s felt at home. “As soon as you say, ‘Hi! How are you?’ strangers become friends for sure. That’s how everybody is all over the world,” she says.
Now 94, Grandma Joy has earnest advice: “If somebody asks you to go somewhere, do not say ‘No,’ because the next day you’ll regret it. If you don’t go when people ask, you can’t complain because you have to sit there in a chair on the porch.”
The freshest of garden gems take these recipes to the next level.
Lots of ingredients can be made into great pesto: basil, of course, as well as arugula, spinach, parsley, carrot greens, and fennel fronds; this one features sorrel and chives, two fast-growing and spreading perennials. Sorrel, while less commonly known, is easy to grow in Ohio and, like chives, is one of the first things to come up in spring and lasts all the way through fall. Sorrel has a tart, lemony flavor, perfect for pesto. Harvest herbs at the end of the season to make a large batch to freeze for quick dinners all winter long. Note: Sorrel comes in many varieties; one is red-veined, which would likely influence the pesto's color.
Prep: 10 minutes | Cook: 7 to 12 minutes | Servings: 6 to 8
1 medium garlic clove
3 ounces unsalted walnuts or pine nuts
3 ounces Parmesan cheese, divided 1 ounce chives
3 ounces sorrel leaves (thick or tough stems removed)
2 to 6 tablespoons lemon juice
2 to 4 tablespoons olive oil
1 pound pasta of your choice
Cook pasta according to package directions and plan for the pesto to be ready before the pasta is done cooking. Place garlic, nuts, and 1 ounce of the Parmesan cheese in a food processor and pulse until finely minced. Tear chives into 3-inch pieces, add them to the food processor, and pulse again. Add sorrel leaves and pulse again — if the processor struggles to break them apart, scrape sides and rearrange them. Once a finely minced paste is formed, pulse in 2 tablespoons lemon juice and 2 tablespoons olive oil. Pulse until smooth, adding more oil to loosen the paste if needed. Taste: If flavor is dull or bitter, adding more lemon juice (or a dash of salt) should do the trick. Transfer cooked, hot pasta to a large bowl and spoon some pesto on top. With a pair of tongs, mix to generously coat pasta with pesto. Just before serving, add a dash of lemon juice and sprinkle with thinly shredded Parmesan cheese. Refrigerate leftover pesto with a thin layer of olive oil on top to prevent oxidation and use within a week, or freeze for up to 3 months.
Per serving: 357 calories, 14 grams fat (3 grams saturated fat), 7 milligrams cholesterol, 129 milligrams sodium, 45 grams total carbohydrates, 3 grams fiber, 13 grams protein.
Prep: 15 minutes | Cook: 2 minutes | Servings: 8
½ jalapeño, seeded and diced
1 medium clove garlic
1 tablespoon honey
2 tablespoons lime juice
¼ cup olive oil
½ teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon pepper
a few sprigs cilantro or chives, coarsely chopped
3 cups trimmed and cut fresh green beans
1 cup fresh corn kernels
1 medium cucumber, diced small
1 cup diced fresh tomatoes (Roma or cherry preferred)
Using an immersion blender, blend the first 8 ingredients (jalapeño through chives) to make dressing. Set aside. Bring a small pot of water and a dash of salt to a boil, throw in green beans, and blanch for 2 minutes. Drain and rinse with cold water until cooled. In a large bowl, toss vegetables together. Let sit 5 minutes, then drain excess liquid from vegetables. Toss vegetables with dressing and serve. Refrigerate leftovers; eat within 4 days.
Per serving: 108 calories, 7.5 grams fat (1 gram saturated fat), 0 milligrams cholesterol, 153 milligrams sodium, 10.5 grams total carbohydrates, 4 grams fiber, 2 grams protein.
Prep: 20 minutes | Bake: 45 minutes | Servings: 16 to 20
1½ teaspoons cinnamon
1½ teaspoons cardamom
1½ teaspoons ground ginger
½ teaspoon allspice
½ teaspoon cloves
½ teaspoon nutmeg
2½ cups flour
1½ teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
½ teaspoon salt
2½ cups grated carrots (or parsnips)
1 cup granulated sugar
1 cup packed brown sugar
1 cup vegetable oil
4 eggs
8 ounces cream cheese, softened
4 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
3 cups powdered sugar
2 tablespoons milk
2 teaspoons chai spice mix
In a small bowl, mix together spices (cinnamon through nutmeg). Reserve 2 teaspoons of this chai spice mix for the frosting. In a medium bowl, thoroughly whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and the bowl of chai spice mix.
Preheat oven to 350 F. In a large bowl with an electric mixer, blend together carrots, granulated sugar, brown sugar, vegetable oil, and eggs. With a spatula, fold dry ingredients into carrot mixture until just combined. Pour into a greased 9x13-inch baking dish. Bake 40 to 45 minutes, or until tester comes out clean. Remove from oven and let cool.
With an electric mixer, blend cream cheese, butter, powdered sugar, milk, and remaining 2 teaspoons chai spice mix. Add milk to desired consistency. Frost cake when both cake and frosting are at room temperature.
Per serving: 388 calories, 18 grams fat (6 grams saturated fat), 50 milligrams cholesterol, 199 milligrams sodium, 54 grams total carbohydrates, 1 gram fiber, 4 grams protein.
While chicken cacciatore is traditionally served over rice, pasta, orpolenta, continue the garden theme with mashed potatoes or spaghetti squashinstead .
Cook: 25 minutes | Bake: 30 minutes | Servings: 6 to 8
3 to 4 pounds bone-in, skin-on chicken (legs, thighs, and/or drumsticks) salt and pepper
3 tablespoons olive oil
1 medium onion, diced
1 large bell pepper, stemmed, seeded, and chopped
5 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
¾ cup dry white wine
3 or 4 large tomatoes
a few sprigs fresh rosemary, sage, and/or thyme
1 tablespoon cornstarch
2 tablespoons water
2 pounds mashed potatoes
Boil water in a small pot. Cut an “X” in the bottom of each tomato and carefully submerge them in the water for 60 seconds. Drain tomatoes and run under cold water to cool them down enough to handle. Peel and discard skin, then chop tomatoes and set aside.
Pat dry chicken and season with salt and pepper. Heat oil over medium-high in a large Dutch oven (or a tall oven-proof pan). Cook until browned all over, about 5 minutes per side. Remove chicken from pan and sauté onion and peppers until softened, about 7 minutes, then add garlic and stir for 1 minute. Carefully pour in wine and bring to a simmer, loosening any bits from the bottom. Add tomatoes along with herb sprigs and a bit more salt and pepper to taste. In a small bowl, mix cornstarch and water, then stir into the vegetables. Cook until simmering again.
Heat oven to 350 F. Nestle chicken pieces into the vegetables and place uncovered on middle rack in oven. Bake about 30 minutes, until chicken is cooked through and sauce is slightly thickened. Discard herb sprigs. Serve over mashed potatoes.
Per serving: 402 calories, 22 grams fat (6 grams saturated fat), 83 milligrams cholesterol, 185 milligrams sodium, 23 grams total carbohydrates, 3 grams fiber, 24 grams protein.
We’re all familiar with the timeless adage “Life’s a journey,” which acknowledges that each of us must follow our own path, encountering a unique array of experiences along the way. As a cooperative, we share our own journey with all of you — the members who shape our identity. Lorain-Medina Rural Electric Cooperative may be in the business of electricity, but our essence stems from the cooperative principles. These principles have steered us toward success with a focus on exemplary service for more than 85 years.
Our members play a pivotal role in defining the cooperative journey, helping to shape our trajectory for the future. One of the Seven Cooperative Principles, Democratic Member Control, allows our members to take a direct hand in our enduring success. Without your support and voices, LMRE would not exist, and the positive impacts we’ve had on our communities in 2023 and years prior may have never come to pass.
This past year presented new challenges to LMRE. However, we are pleased to announce that your cooperative remains dedicated to providing the same caliber of service to our members. Reliability remained a top priority for co-op leadership in 2023. We tackled never-before-seen issues surrounding material availability, combined with increasing costs head-on, proactively acquiring extra materials to prevent potential delays. Further, we advocated for commonsense energy policies on Capitol Hill to stave off increasing pressure on the electric grid. This commitment to electric reliability is rooted in the principle of Commitment to Community, and will endure for many years, as we continue to champion our members’ needs.
Many high points marked our path along the cooperative journey throughout 2023. LMRE received a score of 85 from our members on the American Customer Satisfaction Index survey, aligning with other Ohio co-ops by surpassing
investor-owned and municipality scores significantly. Additionally, current and former co-op members received more than $2 1 million in capital credits applied to their December bills. Moreover, through our members' generous donations, the coop injected more than $109,903 back into our local communities through donations, scholarships, and People Fund grants.
In 2023, LMRE’s journey extended to breaking ground for the new headquarters project, which will be in the Spencer Industrial Park, an economic development project spearheaded by the cooperative. Originally slated to begin in 2020, lasting impacts from COVID-19, supply chain shortages, and other factors resulted in the delayed start of the project. Along with the necessary space to accommodate a growing workforce and operational needs, plans also include added convenience options for bill pay drop off and a meeting space available for members to utilize. The current LMRE building in Wellington, built in the early 1950s, has long outlived its usefulness to employees and members.
Another facet of our 2023 journey centered around growth through our economic development efforts and relationships with local government. If more businesses settle in our service territory, our communities will benefit from increased job opportunities and additional revenue streams. This helps LMRE spread the cost of providing electricity to our members to more entities, keeping future rates and other charges as minimal as possible. We look forward to sharing our economic development wins with all of you in the future.
Thank you for your membership and for joining us on our cooperative journey. We look forward to another successful year in 2024, made possible by your continuous support and belief in our mission of providing excellent service to you all.
Lorain-Medina Rural Electric Board of Directors, president/CEO, and leadership team
Ed VanHoose President/CEO
Joshua Long Chief Financial Officer
Andrew Ruffing Chief Administrative Officer
Brad Warnement Chief Operating Officer
Clifford Chief Strategy Officer
The second Cooperative Principle: “Democratic Member Control”
Cooperatives are democratic organizations controlled by their members, who actively participate in setting policies and making decisions. The elected representatives are accountable to the membership.
Justis Brenda Wolfe, Secretary District 7 Rodney Eaton, Chair District 4 Gary Rowland, Vice Chair District 1 Joe Swinko District 6 Judy Pickworth District 5 Ken Diedrick District 3 James McConnell District 2 Rick Dumperth District 9At Lorain-Medina Rural Electric Cooperative, we always have the energy to grow in our journey. By planning ahead, we can keep moving forward with purpose and focus.
LMRE places safety, reliability, and affordability of electric service at the top of our list for growing and improving.
Over the years, our members have come to expect a high quality of service, and we are continually growing to exceed that expectation. Through system maintenance, rightof-way clearing, employee training, and continuous safety inspections, our employees are striving to demonstrate the cooperative way to our members and push the bar higher for our quality of service.
The journey of the cooperative way means keeping outages low, welcoming new members, and maintaining over 1,600 miles of electric line in five Ohio counties. Maintaining the cooperative way for our members wouldn’t be possible without our employees. They show up daily, work hard to keep the power on, and provide safe, reliable, and at-cost service to our members.
The fifth Cooperative Principle: “Education, Training, and Information”
Cooperatives provide education and training for their members, elected representatives, managers, and employees so they can contribute effectively to the development of their cooperatives.
Gave $76,012 99 through 21 grants to local community organizations in 2023, thanks to the members rounding up their electric bills each month. Since its inception in 1999, the LMRE People Fund has distributed 709 grants of over $1 9 million to individuals and organizations in our local communities.
13,915 $36,379.50
$33,891
1,900
UTILITY PLANT lN SERVICE, NET 74,647,957 $ 66,417,613 $ INVESTMENTS 20,279,359 19,816,910
CURRENT ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents 2,284,350 1,874,623
Restricted cash 8,496,861 12,817,791
Accounts Receivable (Net) 5,728,410 4,550,302
Materials and supplies and inventories 1,572,118 1,111,810
Current portion of deferred charges - 46,637
Prepaid expenses 215,106 206,255
Other Current and Accrued Assets 26,590 18,559 TOTAL CURRENT ASSETS
EQUITIES AND LIABILITIES LONG-TERM DEBT 32,846,893 $ 34,453,159 $ ACCUMULATED POST RETIREMENT BENEFIT 1,700,630 1,704,033 CUSTOMER DEPOSITS 507,650 543,585 DEFERRED CREDIT 1,347,500 427,511 PATRONAGE CAPITAL/RETAINED EARNINGS 70,210,442 63,963,351 CURRENT LIABILITIES
Accounts payable 3,858,995 3,076,639
Accrued expenses 2,778,641 2,692,222
TOTAL CURRENT LIABILITIES 6,637,636 5,768,861
TOTAL EQUITIES AND LIABILITIES 113,250,752 $ 106,860,501 $
$
*Due to a two-month lead time requirement for information printed in the magazine, these numbers are printed as preliminary until they are reviewed by the board at their regularly scheduled meeting with the auditing firm.
LMRE is proud to be a not-for-profit organization. As a member and part-owner of the cooperative, you're eligible to receive money back through capital credits every year.
$2,199,532
The LMRE board of directors approved to return in 2023 to our members, applied to December bills or provided to former members via check. The cooperative retains annual margins to provide working capital for new construction, equipment, and system improvements throughout our service area. If LMRE's revenues exceed expenses for the year, the excess allocates back to the members in the form of capital credits.
The amount credited to members is determined by how much electricity a member purchases during the year, and the rate at which the member is billed.
$36,480,913 in capital credits has been issued to members since 1980
$1,795,007.13
Total property tax paid in 2023
You've likely heard or read that most automakers are transitioning many of their new vehicles to electric-only models over the next ten years. Regardless of the type of car you drive today, the electrification of the transportation sector is underway.
Although electric vehicles have increased in popularity, there is still a lot of uncertainty out there. LMRE is committed to providing education to our members, employees, and the community. In 2023 we worked on putting together information and case studies on what it is like to drive EVs in rural America. As part of our EV testing, we did a deep dive on the all-electric Ford F-150 Lightning, including Chief Strategy Officer Justis Clifford's long-distance trip to a training session in Madison, Wisconsin. Scan the QR code to watch the video that takes you through the journey.
There are three main types of electric vehicles: Hybrid Electric Vehicle (HEV), Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV), and Fully Electric Vehicle (EV). With the use of grants and rebate programs, the co-op has purchased several EV models of various types, at no additional cost than standard combustion engine vehicles, and is recording data and experiences about each one to report back to our LMRE members.
One popular question we get is about charging EVs. At LMRE, we have several level 2 chargers. But, there are two types of chargers: levels 2 and 3. Level 3 is also known as a DC fast charger. A level 2 charger can charge 10 to 20 miles of range per hour, whereas a level 3 charger can provide an electric vehicle 80% charge in 20 to 30 minutes (depending on vehicle and battery size).
As we continue gathering information about driving EVs in rural America, we will share that with our members on our website, Facebook, and in the Ohio Cooperative Living magazine. If you have any questions about electric vehicles, give us a call at 440-647-2133, and we will be happy to discuss them with you.
Safety is our highest priority. We believe that everyone deserves to live and work in a safe environment, which is why we share safety messages with our members, employees, and the public. Safety tips are included on social media, in our newsletters, and during presentations for schools and community groups. We are also proud that our employees are embracing our safety culture, providing candid input when we have near misses, and providing suggestions to make our jobs safer.
LMRE employs a safety coordinator on-site at our cooperative. The safety coordinator is responsible for conducting safety meetings, putting together a safety committee, performing job site observations, and ensuring everyone stays up-to-date on safety training, CPR certifications, and knowing how to operate an AED.
We saw increased interest in our live-line safety demonstration in 2023. We were invited to many schools, fire departments, and community events. These live-line safety demonstrations are available to any community group in our service territory as schedule and time allows. If you are interested in scheduling a demonstration, call the cooperative at 440-647-2133.
In accordance with the regulations of Lorain-Medina Rural Electric Cooperative, the board of directors hereby gives notice that the cooperative will hold its 88th Annual Meeting of Members on July 9, 2024, at 6 p.m. by way of Zoom.
Members are encouraged to participate in this year’s annual meeting through one of two options: 1) viewing the annual meeting livestream through their computer, tablet, or smartphone using the link provided after registration; or 2) calling a specially designated phone number to listen in via the audio-only option.
Registration for the annual meeting is available now on the cooperative’s website, and all registered members who attend the meeting will receive a $25 bill credit. Only one credit will be given per member account. It’s important to remember that if your registration does not match your login information, there could be a delay in receiving your bill credit after the annual meeting.
Along with receiving updates on the current happenings at the cooperative, LMRE will announce the winner
of the District 2 election and welcome a new director onto the board. The District 2 seat is currently held by longtime director James McConnell, who will retire at the end of his term.
The annual meeting, and our members’ participation in it, is part of what makes the cooperative different. We hope to see another large turnout at this year’s meeting and encourage questions for the co-op president/CEO and board chair either prior to or during the meeting.
All registered members who attend the annual meeting on July 9 will receive a $25 bill credit.
If you have any questions about the annual meeting or its process, please contact the LMRE office at 440-647-2133 for additional information and assistance.
Haven’t registered for this year’s annual meeting yet?
There’s still time! Visit the co-op’s website at www.lmre.org/annual-meeting to register online or call us at 440-647-2133 if you need additional assistance.
Registration for the meeting will close 15 minutes before the scheduled start time of 6 p.m. on July 9. Please be aware that if your registration doesn’t match the information you log in with, there could be a delay in receiving your $25 bill credit.
After registering, you will receive an email confirming your registration with a link to view the annual meeting. You will use this link to join the video broadcast of the annual meeting. We’d suggest making sure your Zoom application is up to date the day before the meeting, and joining on the night of the meeting about 15 minutes prior to the 6 p.m. start time.
If you do not have access to a computer to register, please call the office at 440-647-2133 and someone will assist you with the registration process and provide you with a phone number and passcode to listen in to the annual meeting. You do not need to call in any sooner than 5 minutes prior to the 6 p.m. start time.
• Presentation of colors and call to order - Vice Chair Gary Rowland, District 1
• Invocation - Chief Strategy Officer Justis Clifford
• Proof of mailing - Secretary Brenda Wolfe, District 7
• Approval of minutes and board introductionsGary Rowland
• Election and voting results - Attorney Heather Niedermeier Heyman
• President’s report - Gary Rowland
• Buckeye Power update
• President/CEO’s report - President/CEO Ed VanHoose
• Questions and answers - Gary Rowland
• Unfinished business - Gary Rowland
• New business - Gary Rowland
• Adjournment - Gary Rowland
The regular annual meeting of the members of Lorain-Medina Rural Electric Cooperative, Inc., was held virtually using the livestream platform on the cooperative website at 6:00 p.m. on the 11th day of July 2023 in accordance with the provisions of Section 1 of Articles III of the Code of Regulations of the Cooperative.
The invocation was given by Director of Communications Justis Clifford.
The meeting was called to order by John Eaton, president of the cooperative, who presided. Michelle Semer, assistant secretary, kept the minutes thereof.
President Eaton reported that members registered for the meeting, with 496 members being present virtually, and that a list of those members present shall be annexed to these minutes. He then advised the members that in accordance with the provisions of Section 3 of Articles III of the Code of Regulations of Lorain-Medina Rural Electric Cooperative, Inc., those members present constitute a quorum of the members of the cooperative and that the meeting was ready to proceed with business. The President directed Secretary Wolfe to annex the Certificate of Members to the minutes of this meeting.
A true copy of the notice of the meeting, together with the proof of the due mailing thereof to all members of the Cooperative, was directed by the President to be annexed to the minutes of the meeting.
The minutes of the 2022 Annual Meeting of the members of Lorain-Medina Rural Electric Cooperative, Inc., were approved without being read upon motion made by Erica Koontz of Huntington Township and seconded by Heather McCann of Pittsfield Township, and the motion carried.
President Eaton introduced the current board of trustees.
The meeting was then turned over to the Cooperative’s legal counsel, Attorney Heather Niedermeier Heyman of Harwood & Niedermeier, to report on the election; petitions for trustees were
filed this year by Gary Rowland in District 1, John Eaton in District 4, and Brenda Wolfe in District 7. A provision in the Code of Regulations eliminates the requirement for a ballot in an uncontested election and deemed any unopposed candidate elected by the membership; therefore, Gary Rowland, John Eaton, and Brenda Wolfe have been deemed elected as trustees and will serve three-year terms on the board.
President Eaton updated members on the LMRE headquarters building project and Spencer Industrial Park site, stating that the Board continues to monitor progress at the site and is eager to continue to push the project forward. President Eaton thanked members for contributing to the People Fund and introduced its board members. He encouraged all members to join America’s Electric Cooperatives PAC, formally known as ACRE, and reported on the new member advisory committee meeting that took place in May 2023, which included updates from the general manager and reports from the energy advisor. The code of regulation changes are to be presented to the members during the 2023 annual meeting, and there was a presentation from Buckeye Power with their updates.
President Eaton introduced General Manager Ed VanHoose. General Manager VanHoose recognized the 2023 scholarship winners and reviewed the youth programs available. He reported on the current state of the economy and its impact, fuel costs, supply chain issues, labor shortages, reliability, and Broadband’s Tech road map.
Subsequently, there was a question-and-answer session between the membership and the president and general manager.
There being no further business to come before the meeting, President Eaton declared the meeting adjourned at 6:49 p.m.
To provide additional transparency to the membership, highlights of the board meetings each month are published in the monthly Ohio Cooperative Living (OCL) magazine. Due to the expansive number of topics and discussions, these are only the highlights. In accordance with the Code of Regulations, full meeting minutes are available to all members in-person at the co-op during regular business hours.
• Meeting was called to order at 6:05 p.m.
• All directors were present except for Brenda Wolfe; also present were legal counsel, president/CEO, and senior staff (or representative).
Approval of the consent agenda
• Consent agenda consisting of prior meeting minutes, new membership applications, collections report, delinquent graphs, deceased estates, and outage reports was approved.
Action items
• Safety reports, a financial policy, and personnel policy for holidays were discussed and approved as presented.
• CAO Ruffing gave the LMRE Building Updates dated April 12, 2024, from PVC.
Departmental reports
• Monthly Financial, Operations, Key Accounts/ Economic Development, Communications, IT, Weekly report, and Billing department reports reviewed.
• CFO Long reported on financial analysis, the cash flow statement, CFC Annual Benefits and Integrity Fund Contributions, 990 questionnaire, and the PowerBill tracking and analysis.
• President/CEO VanHoose reviewed the monthly management and weekly reports and gave an overview of the REMDC Annual Meeting, where he retired as the committee chair. He also discussed the EPA’s new rules, which will significantly impact reliability and costs should they go into effect as written, the co-op’s participation in the 2024 OEC Legislative Day.
• COO Warnement provided operations reports.
• CSO Clifford provided a strategy update report, including the energy services report, which now falls under the strategy department.
• CAO Ruffing gave the administration update report and reviewed several organizational policies.
• NRECA Legal Reporting Service Bulletin reviewed by the board.
• Reviewed Buckeye Power President’s report, Cooperative Finance Corporation news bulletins, and the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association 2023 Annual Report and board update without comment.
• The meeting adjourned at 8:44 p.m.
BYMARGARET BURANEN
ThepopularityofpickleballinOhio,like seeminglyeverywhereelse,isincreasing poppingrapidly,withmoreandmorecourts upallthetime.
Clevelandhasanactivepickleballscene,where websitesdevotedtosteeringprospective pickleballersincluderatingsofcourtsand constantlyupdatednews.InCincinnati,26 newcourtswereaddedjustthisspringat SawyerPointPark,whichisnowastoponthe ProfessionalPickleballPlayersnationaltour. ButtheclaimtobeingOhio’spickleball capitalmaywellbelongtoMiddletown,and thecreditforthatacclaimgoestoresident StanleyVolkens.“He’sthereasonwehave pickleballhere,”saysMichellCook,board memberofthe Middletown Pickleball Association.Volkensdiscoveredpickleballwhenhebegan tospendwintersinArizona.Hefellinlove withthesportandplayeddaily.Butwhenhe returnedtoMiddletownhewasdismayedto findnaryacourt—notasingleone.AfterdrivingaroundMiddletownandfinding 17emptytenniscourts,Volkenssawhis opportunity;hegatheredsomefriendsand madeacasetoMiddletown’sParksDepartment, whichagreedtodedicatespacetotheactivity, andVolkensstartedrecruitingMiddletown
TheRecreationandParksDepartmentin Columbus,forexample,nowoversees118 indoorandoutdoorcourtsin35 locations.
suburban backyard.
There are pickleball venues in every U.S. state and Canadian province — likely spots include senior residence communities, YMCAs, community recreation centers, schools, and parks. USA Pickleball maintains a comprehensive list at www.places2play.org.
drawing players from schools in several states.
“We have former professional football, basketball, hockey, and baseball players playing on our courts,” Cook says. But because pickleball is played at different levels, a person doesn’t have to be a good athlete to enjoy playing it. Cook describes herself as proof of that.
According to USA Pickleball, there were 4.8 million players in 2021; as of February 2024, that number had
“I am the most unathletic person,” she admits. “When I was a child, my mom signed me up for every team that you didn’t have to try out for, just to get me out of the house.”
When Cook moved from Mason to Middletown, she had no idea what pickleball was. A friend who is an avid pickleball player got her interested in the sport.
“I started playing and fell in love with it,” she says.
“It’s easy to learn and it’s addictive.”
Her demanding job as a special education paraprofessional with the Middletown Public Schools limits her to playing pickup games during summers. She serves as director for two other pickleball tournaments.
“I love the atmosphere around pickleball and how it brings people together,” she says. “It’s the most social sport.”
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Ohio native Carl Jara uses a beachy medium to reach for the ‘wow’ factor with his art.BY JAMIE RHEIN; PHOTOGRAPHS COURTESY OF
CARL JARA
When a rig filled with 20 tons of sand arrives and dumps it on a beach, Carl Jara digs right in. Armed with shovels, buckets, imagination, and technical ingenuity, Jara turns massive amounts of sand into art.
Swimming pool liners, tiered like a wedding cake and stacked five to six tiers high, become packed with sand and compressed with water. Jara nimbly moves up and down the tiers, working from top to bottom — pulling away, adding to, carefully carving each tier until he’s skillfully turned those billions of glacial till particles into masterpieces.
Jara is a professional sand sculptor, and he’s been at this experiential public art form for 33 years. It’s a career that has taken him to 38 states and 13 countries, as far away as Australia. He’s won 14 world championships and earned medals at countless other contests along the way.
So how does a kid from Akron rise to the top of the sand-sculpting profession? It started back at Firestone High School. When he ran out of art classes to take, his teacher connected him to Tom Morrison, president of
the International Association of Sand Castle Builders. Jara had found his fit. Under Morrison’s tutelage, he learned how to work sand and envision a business. In the early days, his only pay was a trip with free food and a free hotel room. But paired with his day job as exhibits fabrication specialist at the Cleveland Natural History Museum, Jara’s sand sculpting has become a lucrative career.
He’s been featured in the Travel Channel’s Sand Blasters and Sand Wars, and he’s even made a sculpture on billionaire Richard Branson’s private island in the British Virgin Isles. “I sunk up to my knees in sand,” Jara laughs, recalling the challenge.
Meeting challenges is Jara’s forte.
“Sand sculpture is a muscle. The more you do it, the more you know what to do,” he says. Earlier in his career, when he did as many as eight contests per year, Jara improvised his designs, making them up as he went. These days, he has a plan in mind before he tackles a sand mountain.
Although he uses sculpting tools, Jara relies the most on his hands. “I like smooth and clean work,” he says. “My
hand is more sensitive to imperfections. We respond to the beauty of the material, and the beauty of the sand is that I can take it away and I can add. It allows me to adjust the piece. Light is the biggest issue. It can throw you off. When the sun comes out, mistakes are glaring. I work the entire piece and go back at different times of the day to see what’s there and make adjustments.”
To win a contest, Jara explains, a sculpture needs to have three things: “The number one factor is the ‘wow’ factor. Does it take your breath away? Does it have a concept? How well is the concept explained?” Then there is a technical component. “Are people playing it safe?”
Jara’s strength is not playing it safe, even if it means figuring out how to have a 700-pound head hang over nothing. Or creating a sculpture of a man holding himself in the palm of his own hand and repeating that four times with each identical man smaller than the last — Infinity won him a world title.
He gets much of his inspiration from his own memory. “I’m translating pieces of my life like pages of a diary,” he says.
Entropy, for example, was a sculpture of the head of a man seemingly buried to his nose, with pain etched across his face and vacant eyes, looking as if it might sink further and disappear into the sandy beach. Inside the head were family photographs. The sculpture, which won third place at the Hampton Beach Masters in 2022, was inspired by his father’s longtime dementia.
“I want you to have your own ideas about what a sculpture means. I don’t have to make it obvious.” Whether Jara is creating a work-for-hire sculpture or getting inspiration from his own life, he sees the importance of the moment. “Sand sculpting is like a symphony experience. You do it for the experience. When it’s done, it’s done.”
• Headlands Beach State Park, July 10–12 (the Headlands BeachFest has been canceled, but Jara will be creating a sculpture on-site).
• Cleveland Octoberfest, Berea, Aug. 30–Sept. 2 and Sept. 6–7.
From exploring historic neighborhoods to famous stories of intrigue, you can discover the past right here in Greater Parkersburg.
Ride the Island Belle sternwheeler down the Ohio River to explore the dramatic past and scandalous backstory of Blennerhassett Island and tour the reconstructed mansion.
Take a walking tour of ornately detailed Victorian-era homes within the Julia-Ann Square Historic District, the state’s largest and oldest residential historic district.
Visit one of America’s finest and most complete historic mansions, filled with heirlooms collected by the five generations who called Henderson Hall their home. Learn how oil and gas fueled the industrial revolution at the nationally recognized Oil & Gas Museum
People don’t always do what their doctor says, but when seasoned veteran emergency room physician, Dr. Philip B. Howren, says every senior should have a medical alert device, you better listen up.
“Seniors are just one fall away from being put in a nursing home,” Dr. Howren said. “With a medical alert device, seniors are never alone. So it keeps them living independently in their own home. That’s why seniors and their family members are snapping up a sleek new medical alert device that comes with no monthly bills ever,” he said.
Many seniors refuse to wear old style help buttons because they make them look old. But even worse, those medical alert systems
come with monthly bills.
To solve these problems Universal Physicians, a U.S. company went to work to develop a new, modern, state-of-the-art medical alert device. It’s called “FastHelp™” and it instantly connects you to free unlimited nationwide help everywhere cell service is available with no contracts, no deposits and no monthly bills ever.
“This slick new little device is designed to look like the pagers doctors wear every day. Seniors love them because it actually makes them look important, not old,” Dr. Howren said.
FastHelp is expected to hit store shelves later this year. But special newspaper promotional giveaways are slated for seniors in select areas. ■
■ NO MONTHLY BILLS: “My wife had an old style help button that came with hefty bills every month and she was embarrassed to wear it because it made her look old,” said Frank McDonald, Canton, Ohio. “Now, we both have FastHelp™, the sleek new medical alert device that our grandkids say makes us look ‘cool’ not old,” he said. With FastHelp, seniors never have to worry about being alone and the best part is there are no monthly bills ever.
It’s just what seniors have been waiting for; a sleek new medical alert device with no contracts, no deposits and no monthly bills that instantly connects you to free unlimited nationwide help with just the push of a button for a one-time $149 price tag that’s a real steal after today’s instant rebate
The phone lines are ringing off the hook.
That’s because for seniors born before 1956, it’s a deal too good to pass up.
Starting at precisely 8:30am this morning the Pre-Store Release begins for the sleek new medical alert device that comes with the exclusive FastHelp™ One-Touch E 911 Button that instantly connects you to unlimited nationwide help everywhere cell service is available with no contracts, no deposits and no monthly bills ever.
“It’s not like old style monitored help buttons that make you talk to a call center and only work when you’re at home and come with hefty bills every month. FastHelp comes with state-of-the-art cellular embedded technology. That means it works at home or anywhere, any-
(Continued on next page)
because it instantly connects you to unlimited nationwide help everywhere cell service is available with no contracts, no deposits and no monthly bills ever.
(Continued from previous page)
time cell service is available whether you’re out watering the garden, driving in a car, at church or even hundreds of miles away on a tour or at a casino. You are never alone. With just a single push of the One-Touch E Button you instantly get connected to free unlimited help nationwide with no monthly bills ever,” said Jack Lawrence, Executive Director of Product Development for U.S. based Universal Physicians.
“We’ve never seen anything like it. Consumers absolutely love the sleek new modern design and most of all, the instant rebate that practically pays for it and no monthly bills ever,” Lawrence said.
FastHelp is the sleek new medical alert device with the best of combinations: a quality, high-tech engineered device that’s also an extremely great value because there are no monthly bills ever.
Better still, it comes with no contracts, no deposits and no monthly bills ever – which makes FastHelp a great choice for seniors, students and professionals because it connects to one of the largest nationwide networks everywhere cell service is available for free.
And here’s the best part. All those who already have an old style monitored medical alert button can immediately eliminate those monthly bills, which is why Universal Physicians is widely advertising this announcement nationwide.
“So if you’ve ever felt a medical alert device was too complicated or expensive, you’ll want to get FastHelp, the sleek new medical alert device with no monthly bills,” said Lawrence.
The medical alert device slugfest was dominated by two main combatants who both offer old style monitored help buttons that come with a hefty bill every month. But now Universal Physicians, the U.S. based heavyweight, just delivered a knockout blow sending the top rated contenders to the mat with the unveiling of FastHelp. It’s the sleek new cellular embedded medical alert device
that cuts out the middleman by instantly connecting you directly to highly trained 911 operators all across the U.S. There’s absolutely nothing to hookup or install. You don’t need a land line and you don’t need a cell phone. Everything is done for you.
“FastHelp is a state of the art medical alert device designed to make you look important, not old. Old style
monitored help buttons you wear around your neck, or require expensive base station equipment or a landline are the equivalent of a horse and buggy,” Lawrence says. “It’s just outdated.”
Millions of seniors fall every year and spend hours lying on the floor helpless and all alone with no help.
But seniors who fall and get immediate help are much more likely to avoid
getting sent to a nursing home and get to STAY living in their own home independently.
Yet millions of seniors are still risking their safety by not having a medical alert device. That’s because seniors just can’t afford to pay the monthly bills that come with old style medical alert devices.
That’s why seniors born before 1956 are rushing to
cash in the whopping $150 instant rebate before the 21 day deadline ends.
So there’s no need to wait for FastHelp to hit store shelves later this year because seniors born before 1956 can get it now just by using the $150 instant rebate coupon printed in today’s newspaper before the 21 day deadline ends. If lines are busy keep trying, all calls will be answered. ■
Use the rebate coupon below and call this Toll-Free Hotline: 1-800-330-4294 DEPT. HELP8234
1956: You cannot use the rebate coupon below and must pay $299 Call: 1-800-330-9423 DEPT. HELP8234
THE BOTTOM LINE: You don’t need to shop around. We’ve done all the leg work, this deal is too good to pass up. FastHelp with the instant rebate is a real steal at just $149 and shipping and there are no monthly bills ever.
PROS: It’s the sleek new medical alert device that comes with the exclusive FastHelp One-Touch E 911 Button that instantly connects you to free unlimited nationwide help everywhere cell service is available with no contracts or deposits. It connects you to the vast available network of cellular towers for free and saves seniors a ton of money because there are no monthly bills ever making this deal irresistible. Plus it’s the only medical alert device that makes seniors look important, not old.
CONS: Consumers can’t get FastHelp in stores until later this year. That’s why it’s so important for seniors born before 1956 to call the National Rebate Center Hotline within the next 21 days. For those who miss that deadline, the sleek little medical alert device will set you back over $300 bucks.
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July 18-20th, 2024
Guernsey County Fairgrounds Old Washington, OH
Marshall Tucker Band Travis Tritt Hunter Hayes Craig Morgan LANCO and more!
Ohio Cooperative Living’s outdoors editor, W.H. “Chip” Gross, has been a freelance outdoors and nature writer/photographer for more than 40 years, and is the author of six previous books and well over 1,000 magazine articles.
In this his latest book, How to Become a Freelance Outdoors & Nature Writer, he humorously reveals the many publishing secrets he’s learned from both sides of the desk — as a writer and as an editor:
Ն What’s a saleable story idea?
Ն Approaching magazine and book editors
Ն Researching, writing, and submitting the magazine story
Ն Writing the outdoor book
Ն Outdoor photography: Illustrating your writing
— “This is more than a writing book. It shows both beginning and experienced writers the basic and advanced techniques of how to get published — taking an outdoor magazine/book idea from concept, to writing, to publication, to payment.”
— “It’s not necessarily the best writers and photographers who regularly get their stories and photographs published. It’s the best writers and photographers who are also the best marketers that regularly get their stories and photographs published. I’ll show you how.”
Copies of Chip’s new book — both softcover and digital versions — may be purchased at Amazon.com.
and more. Vendors welcome! Contact Christine at 419-619-0041 or findlayfleamarket@gmail.com for more information.
JUL. 25 – Fourth Thursdays S’more Walk, downtown Lakeview. Collect an ingredient at each participating downtown business to build your own sweet s’more treat, then roast it over our live fire while enjoying food trucks and live music. Get your shopping passport stamped for a chance to win a camping gift basket! www. facebook.com/downtownlakeviewohio.
JUL. 25–28 – Wetzelland 2024 Annual Biker Bash, Grover Hill. Great weekend full of great music! Bike show and bike rodeo games, contests, and more. www. wetzelmc.com or follow Wetzelland on Facebook.
a.m.–3 p.m. $6; Scouts in uniform and ages 12 and under free; 2-day admission $8. Handicap accessible. Over 200 tables. All gauges and scales. Railroad memorabilia and railfan items; model railroad layouts and displays; play area. Food available. 260-760-1666, railcarman@ frontier.com (Chuck White), www.vwrrhw.com, or find us on Facebook.
THROUGH SEP. 15 – NWORRP Museum Summer Hours, Northwest Ohio Railroad Preservation Inc., 12505 Co. Rd. 99, Findlay, Sat./Sun. 1–4 p.m. $3; 12 and under, $2 (includes 1 train ride ticket per admission). Museum tours, quarter-scale train rides, model train displays, games, play area, and more. 419-423-2995, www. nworrp.org, or www.facebook.com/nworrp.
THROUGH OCT. 12 – The Great Sidney Farmer’s Market, 109 S. Ohio Ave., every Sat. 8 a.m.–noon. Vendors from all around the area provide great food, crafts, and more! 937-658-6945 or www.sidneyalive.org.
JUL. 3, AUG. 7 – Down on the Farm Story Time, Proving Ground Farm, 5670 E. Twp. Rd. 138, Tiffin, 10 a.m. Stories and activities are geared for preschoolage children and focus on farming and nature in a picturesque outdoor setting. Families welcome! 419447-7073, www.conservesenecacounty.com, or follow Seneca Conservation District on Facebook.
JUL. 19–20 – July Downtown Sidewalk Sales, Sidney. Various downtown shops will offer deals and discounts. 937-658-6945 or www.sidneyalive.org.
JUL. 20–21, AUG. 10–11 – Findlay Flea Market, Hancock Co. Fgds., 1017 E. Sandusky St., Findlay, Sat. 9 a.m.–4 p.m., Sun. 9 a.m.–3 p.m. Free admission. Variety of merchandise: new, used, vintage items, crafts,
JUL. 26–28 – Hamler Summer Fest, Hamler Community Park, 100 S. 1st St., Hamler. $5–$7, under 16 admitted free with parent. Polka bands, German food, cornhole tournament. Sunday is Kids’ Day. www. hamlersf.com.
JUL. 27 – Flair on the Square, 1 Courthouse Square, Bryan, 10 a.m.–9 p.m. Free. Juried art fair, emerging artists’ exhibit, food trucks, live music, hands-on art projects, performing arts, and more. See the complete schedule at www.flaironthesquare.com.
JUL. 27 – Made in Ohio at Hurley Farm, 9249 St. Rte. 117, Huntsville. Find unique crafts and vendors, check out fresh local produce, eat at the food trucks, and have a fun summer day at the farm! www.facebook.com/ hurleyfarmsllc.
JUL. 27–28 – Family Fun Weekend: “Mid-Summer Celebration,” Northwest Ohio Railroad Preservation Inc., 12505 Co. Rd. 99, Findlay, 1–4 p.m. $5. Games, quarterscale train rides, bounce house, and other family-friendly activities and events. 419-423-2995, www.nworrp.org, or www.facebook.com/nworrp.
JUL. 27–28 – Railroad Heritage Weekend Model Railroad Show and Swap, Van Wert Co. Fgds., 1055 S. Washington St., Van Wert, Sat. 10 a.m.–4 p.m., Sun. 10
JUL. 13, 27 – Myths of the Mountains, Fort New Salem, 81 Settlers Lane, Salem. Lamplight guided tour (approx. 1 hour) led by period-dressed guides, with each cabin housing a storyteller who spins tales of Appalachia. Gates open at 8 p.m.; groups begin tours every 10 minutes. 304-695-2220, director@fortnewsalemfoundation.org, or www. fortnewsalemfoundation.org.
Submit listings AT LEAST 90 DAYS prior to the event to: Ohio Cooperative Living 6677 Busch Blvd., Columbus, OH 43229 or send an email to events@ohioec.org.
Ohio Cooperative Living will not publish listings that don’t include a complete address or a number/website for more information.
JUL. 28 – “The Art and Science of Nature,” Piatt Castle Mac-A-Cheek, 10051 Township Rd. 47, West Liberty, 11 a.m.–4 p.m. Nature educators will lead tours, discussions, and demonstrations on varieties and species that live in the surrounding area. Discover how artists in the past incorporated elements of the natural world into the construction and decoration of the Castle, and enjoy activities focusing on visual and performing arts exploring nature. www.piattcastle.org.
AUG. 2 – First Fridays Taste of Bellefontaine, 100 S. Main St., Bellefontaine. Use your tasting passport to sample food from many of our downtown restaurants and vote for your favorite. www.firstfridaysbellefontaine. com.
AUG. 6 – National Night Out Tuesday, downtown Sidney, 5:30–8:30 p.m. Free. Activities and more promoting a positive relationship with police, first responders, and community. 937-658-6945 or www. sidneyalive.org.
AUG. 10 – Harborfest Indian Lake, Lakeview Harbor, intersection of OH-235 and OH-366, Lakeview. Back by popular demand are the Wacky Boat Races! Grab your team and build a “boat” that floats using non-marine materials. www.facebook.com/downtownlakeviewohio.
AUG. 10 – Paddles, Pedals, and Pints, Sidney. Free admission; activities/tastings additional charge. A day on the Great Miami River and Tawawa Park featuring kayaking, cycling, kids’ triathlon, craft beer, and soda tastings. After-party on the Square. 937-658-6945 or www.sidneyalive.org.
AUG. 2–3 – West Virginia’s Largest Yard Sale, Upshur and Lewis counties, 8 a.m.–4 p.m. Shop hundreds of yard sales to find hidden treasures, score amazing deals, and support local communities. https://visitbuckhannon. org/events/wvs-largest-yard-sale-2
THROUGH SEP. 28 – Sunbury Farmers Market, 36 Cherry St., on the Square of Sunbury, 9 a.m.–1 p.m. Offering local products — handmade, homemade, or homegrown. Vendors welcome. 740-513-9192 or sunburyohiofarmersmarket@gmail.com.
THROUGH OCT. 26 – Coshocton Farmers Market, 22442 Co. Rd. 1A, Coshocton, Sat. 8:30 a.m.–noon. Fresh, locally grown, in-season produce; baked goods; and handmade crafts. For the most up-to-date information about vendors who will be attending the market, visit www.facebook.com/coshoctonfarmersmarket or email market.manager@coshfarmmarket.org.
THROUGH OCT. 27 – Rock Mill Days, Stebelton Park at Rock Mill, 1429 Rockmill Place NW, Lancaster, Wed./ Sat. 11 a.m.–2 p.m., Sun. 1–4 p.m. Tour the restored 1824 gristmill, walk the covered bridge, and view the waterfall near the headwaters of the Hocking River. On the last Sunday of each month, see how corn was ground 200 years ago. 614-321-4833 ext. 103 or www. fairfieldcountyparks.org/events.
JUL. 5, AUG. 2 – First Friday Art Walk, downtown Zanesville, 5–8 p.m. Come downtown on the first Friday of each month, when all our participating galleries, studios, and small businesses are open at the same time! Visit the Artist Colony of Zanesville’s website for a map of current participants: https://artcoz.org/arts-district-map.
THROUGH SEP. 1 – Tecumseh! Outdoor Drama, Sugarloaf Mountain Amphitheatre, 5968 Marietta Rd., Chillicothe, 8 p.m. $30–$50. Witness the epic life story of the legendary Shawnee leader as he defends his sacred homelands in the Ohio country during the late 1700s. www.tecumsehdrama.com.
THROUGH NOV. 2 – Athens Farmers Market, Athens Community Center, 701 E. State St., Athens, Wed. 9 a.m.–noon. Open year-round Sat. 9 a.m.–noon. Voted Ohio’s #1 favorite farmers market! 740-593-6763 or www. athensfarmersmarket.org.
JUL. 7, 21 – Sunday Sampling, Darby Creek Fields and Flowers, 11500 Darby Creek Rd., Orient. $10; 10 and under free. Families welcome. Stroll through 14 fields of flowers while enjoying some of our favorite locally made foods and beverages. Weather permitting. 614-809-8538 or www.darbyflowerfields.com.
JUL. 11, AUG. 8 – Inventors Network Meetings, Rusty Bucket, 3901 Britton Parkway, Hilliard, 43026, 7 p.m. Informal meetings for networking and invention-related talk. 614-470-0144 or www.inventorscolumbus.com.
JUL. 12–AUG. 25 – CAPA Summer Movie Series, Ohio Theatre, 55 E. State St., Columbus, Wed.–Sun. 7:30 p.m., Sun. matinee 2 p.m., “Cartoon Capers” Sat. 10 a.m. Series showcasing classic films and cult movies. 614-469-0939 or www.capa.com.
JUL. 18–21 – Miami Valley Steam Threshers Association 75th Annual Reunion, Pastime Park, Plain City. Gates open at 8 a.m. $10. Exhibition of a large variety of older equipment in operation as well as several steam engines. John Deere will be our feature tractor. Truck and tractor pulls Sat. 6 p.m.; vintage truck/car show Sun. 10 a.m. Flea market vendors every day. 614-273-5625 or www.mvsteamshow.com.
JUL. 19–20 – Pieceable Quilters 2024 Quilt Show, Zanesville High School, 171 Blue Ave., Zanesville, Fri. 9 a.m.–5 p.m., Sat. 9 a.m.–4 p.m. $6; 12 and under free with an accompanying adult. The show includes a vast display of guild-made quilts as well as food, a quilt raffle, vendors, and a silent auction. https://pieceablequilters. weebly.com.
JUL. 20 – Boogie on the Blacktop featuring Rockhouse, Circleville Eagles, 135 E. Main St., Circleville, 7–11 p.m. $5. Outdoor concert with food vendors and drinks. www.pickaway.com.
JUL. 24–AUG. 4 – Ohio State Fair, Ohio State Fgds., 717 E. 17th Ave., Columbus, Mon.–Fri. 10 a.m.–9 p.m., Sun. 9 a.m.–9 p.m. General admission $10–$12; 5 and under free. Free parking. 888-OHO-EXPO (888-646-3976) or www.ohiostatefair.com.
JUL. 27–28 – Frankfort Sunflower Festival, downtown Frankfort, Sat. 10 a.m.–10 p.m., Sun. 10 a.m.–5 p.m. Family fun for all ages with concessions, car show, kiddy tractor pull, games, live music, baby contest, sunflower contest, craft tent, and much more. www. sunflowerfestival.net.
AUG. 2–3 – Deerassic Classic Giveaway and Expo, Deerassic Park Education Center, 14250 Cadiz Rd., Cambridge. Outdoor exhibitors, stage shows, raffles, prizes, food, and entertainment. Call or go online to purchase tickets. 740-435-9500 or https:// deerassicclassic.com.
AUG. 3 – Kings Inn Car Show, 7 N. Main St., Kingston, 12:30 p.m. Annual car show with trophy and gas cards awarded for the Top 3. Voting is by public input. No entry fee; donation requested for the Ross County Humane Society. www.visitchillicotheohio.com.
AUG. 3–10 – Ross County Fair, 344 Fairgrounds Rd., Chillicothe, 10 a.m.–11 p.m. General admission $5. Enjoy the number and quality of exhibits and displays that are products of hard-working, creative individuals from the Ross County area. Food, games, live entertainment, rides, and much more for the whole family. www. rosscountyfair.com.
JUL. 25–27 – Goodtime Quilters Guild Quilt Show, Ohio Christian University, Maxwell Center, 1476 Lancaster Pike, Circleville, 9 a.m.–4 p.m. $8; 3-day admission $12; cash only. 150+ quilt displays, raffles, door prizes. 740332-6344 (Barb Harwood) or www.goodtimequilters.org.
JUL. 27 – Down on the Farm, Historical Mt. Oval, U.S. 23 and 3601 Emerson Rd., Circleville, 10 a.m.–3 p.m. Free admission. Antique tractors, animals, farmers market, food, and more. Historical house tours, $5. www. facebook.com/mtovalhistorichouseandfarm.
JUL. 27 – Black Wing Summer Blast Car Show, 3722 Marysville Rd., Delaware. Family-friendly, fun-filled day, all to support youth shooting sports. Car show 10 a.m.–1 p.m., huge raffle, manufacturer rep expo, food trucks onsite, Machine Gun Challenge event, and more. Proceeds to benefit Ohio Clay Target League – 6th–12th grade youth shooters. https://blackwingsc.com/summer-blast.
AUG. 2–5 – 35th Annual Farm Days, Morrow Co. Fgds., 195 S. Main St. (U.S. 42), Mount Gilead. $5; under 12 free. Featuring Ford tractors and equipment. List of events available at www.morrowcountytractor.com.
AUG. 8–10 – All Ohio Balloon Fest, Union Co. Airport, 15000 Weaver Rd., Marysville. Hot air balloons, aerial rides and entertainment, live music, face painting, food vendors, and more. New for 2024: T-6 Texan rides! Bring your own lawn chairs. 937-243-1091 or www. allohioballoonfest.com.
AUG. 10 – Books in the Barn, 5530 Radnor Rd., Radnor, 10 a.m.–3 p.m. Free. Book signings by Christian and family-friendly authors. Shop arts and crafts and directsales vendors. Enjoy homemade food and baked goods. 614-381-8191 or www.maryrodman.com.
AUG. 10 – Union County Master Gardeners Plant Sale, Union Co. Fgds., 845 N. Main St., Marysville, 8 a.m.–noon. Sun and shade perennials, native plants, shrubs and trees, grasses, bulbs, and daylilies. Plants are grown by Master Gardeners and sold at reasonable prices. 937644-8117, https://union.osu.edu, or on Facebook at http:// bit.ly/UCMGFB.
AUG. 4 – An Evening with Ricky Skaggs and Kentucky Thunder, Sugarloaf Mountain Amphitheater, 5968 Marietta Rd., Chillicothe, 7–9 p.m. $10–$55. www. tecumsehdrama.com.
AUG. 8–11 – Rivers, Trails, and Ales Festival, East Muskingum Park, 310 Front St., Marietta. A down-home celebration of paddling, road and mountain biking, and fine local ales in Ohio’s No. 1 destination for outdoor adventure: Marietta! Also enjoy live music, kids’ activities, and the RTA Adventure Expo (Sat. 3–7 p.m.). www.rtafest. com or www.facebook.com/RTAfest.
AUG. 9–11 – Salt Fork Arts and Crafts Festival, Cambridge City Park, Cambridge, Fri. 12–6 p.m., Sat. 10 a.m.–6 p.m., Sun. 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Free. A juried festival that showcases high-quality art in a variety of mediums by artists from around the country. Also features student art, Appalachian heritage displays and demos, live entertainment, concessions, and kids’ activities. 740-5840652 or www.saltforkfestival.org.
AUG. 11 – “The Story of Ohio’s Canals: An Engineering Endeavor That Can Still Be Traced in Ohio’s Landscape,” Adena Mansion and Gardens, 847 Adena Rd., Chillicothe, 2 p.m. Free. Tom O’Grady will discuss the construction of the canals and how they opened up Ohio to world commerce. www.adenamansion.com.
THROUGH AUG. 1 – Fort Steuben Summer Concert Series, Fort Steuben Park, 120 S. 3rd St., Steubenville, Thur. 7–9 p.m. Bring a blanket and picnic basket and enjoy a free concert at this site overlooking the Ohio River. 740-283-1787 or www.oldfortsteuben.com.
THROUGH AUG. 3 – Woodcarver’s Exhibit, McCook House Museum, 15 S. Lisbon St., Carrollton, Fri./Sat. 10 a.m.–5 p.m. Exhibit included in museum admission: $3; ages 5–12, $2. Co-organizers of the event are master carvers Ken Grigsby and Keith Shumaker. For further information, call 330-437-9715 or 330-627-3345
JUL. 1–SEP. 1 – Steubenville Catfish Crawl, downtown Steubenville. Ten 5-foot-long, intricately painted fiberglass catfish will be on display around the downtown. Grab a map and find them all! Maps available at Leonardo’s Coffeehouse, 159 N. 4th St. www.steubenvillenutcrackervillage.com/catfish.html.
JUL. 19 – Rachel Brown and The Beatnik Playboys, John Streeter Garden Amphitheater, 2122 Williams Rd., Wooster, 6:30–9:30 p.m. The band will perform various country, oldies, rock, and blues covers. In the event of rain, the concert will be held at Fisher Auditorium, 1680 Madison Ave. Free, but registration recommended: 419853-6016 or www.ormaco.org.
THROUGH AUG. 28 – Bluegrass Wednesdays, Vinoklet Winery, 11069 Colerain Ave., Cincinnati, Wed. 6:30–8:30 p.m. Enjoy dinner, wine, and an evening of free entertainment by Vernon McIntyre’s Appalachian Grass. Reservations recommended. 513-385-9309, vinokletwinery@fuse.net, or www.vinokletwines.com.
JUL. 5–AUG. 30 – Night Hikes, Hueston Woods State Park, 6301 Park Office Rd., College Corner, Fri. 9:30 p.m. Meet at the Indian Mound in the Campground for a nighttime adventure. Please wear appropriate footwear. Leave your flashlights in the car; we will hike by moonlight. www.ohiodnr.gov/go-and-do/plan-a-visit/ find-a-property/hueston-woods-state-park.
JUL. 12–13 – Quilts of Highland County Quilt Show, Hillsboro High School, Hillsboro, Fri. 10 a.m.–4 p.m., Sat. 10 a.m.–2:30 p.m. $5. Quilts, vendors, demonstrations, silent auction. “Underground Blues” raffle quilt; tickets $1 each or 6 for $5. For more information, call Connie Storer at 937-763-7650
JUL. 27 – A.C. Gilbert Heritage Society Annual Convention with Wayne County Maker Faire, Wayne Co. Fgds. Event Center, Wooster, 9 a.m.–3 p.m. Free and open to the public. See vintage Erector sets and running models made by the A.C. Gilbert Company. The Maker Faire showcases local “makers” with 3D printing and CNC, and numerous other talented makers of unique items. https://waynecounty.makerfaire.com.
JUL. 27 – Hobo Day and Model Trains Flea Market, Painesville Railroad Museum, 475 Railroad St., Painesville, 10 a.m.–3 p.m. Railfanning, costume contest, and live music 1–3 p.m. by Young and Blue. Food and beverages available for small donation: hamburgers and hot dogs, 12–2:30 p.m.; hobo beans and corn roast. 216470-5780 (Tom) or www.painesvillerailroadmuseum.org.
JUL. 27–28 – Zoar Antiques Show and Artisan Tent, 198 Main St., Zoar, 10 a.m. –4 p.m. $12; 12 and under free. Shop from high-quality artisans, antique dealers, and folk artists; enjoy the juried craft and art show; and tour historic buildings. 800-262-6195 or www. historiczoarvillage.com.
JUL. 29–AUG. 4 – Columbiana County Fair, 225 Lee Ave., Libson. 330-424-5531 or www. columbianacountyfair.com.
JUL. 29–AUG. 4 – Medina County Fair, 720 W. Smith Rd., Medina. $8; 5 and under free. Tyler Hubbard in concert Jul. 31 330-723-9633 or www.medinaohiofair.com.
AUG. 2 – First Fridays on Fourth, 155 N. 4th St., Steubenville, 6–10 p.m. Free. Patriotic-themed celebration featuring art, crafts, games, food trucks, live entertainment, and activities to stimulate the imagination. www.theharmoniumproject.org/first-Fridays.
AUG. 2–4 – Twins Day Festival, 9825 Ravenna Rd., Twinsburg. The world’s largest annual gathering of twins. Open to the public! 330-425-7280 or www.twinsdays.org.
AUG. 3 – Jazz under the Stars: Grant Heineman, Uptown Park, 79–89 Public Square, Medina, 7 p.m. The Cleveland-based musician will present an evening of energetic and melodic jazz fusion arrangements and compositions. In the event of rain, the concert will be held at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 317 E. Liberty St. Free, but registration recommended: 419-853-6016 or www. ormaco.org.
AUG. 4 – Chardon Arts Festival, Chardon Square (intersection of Rtes. 4 and 66), 10 a.m.–5 p.m. Free admission. Juried art show hosting over 100 artists, both local and out of state, and featuring works in a variety of mediums. http://chardonsquareassociation.org.
AUG. 4–11 – Annual Pleasant Home Camp Meeting, 9682 Camp Rd., West Salem. Come enjoy an oldfashioned revival camp service in the exact location it was held more than 100 years ago. Each night we offer dinner by donation (5:30 p.m.) and different singing groups (6 p.m.), with revival services at 7 p.m. Youth night is Aug. 10, with services, food, games, and a bonfire. 330590-9682 or find us on Facebook.
AUG. 9–OCT. 12 – Plant and Animal Fiber Exhibit, McCook House Museum, 15 S. Lisbon St., Carrollton, Fri./Sat. 10 a.m.–5 p.m. $3. See a variety of handmade items from local crafters including baskets, rush, reed, caned bottom chairs, woven rugs, wall hangings, knitted and crocheted items, and much more. 330-437-9715 or kathorn4120@gmail.com.
AUG. 11 – Bob Mollard: Keyboards, Wadsworth Public Library, 132 Broad St., Wadsworth, 2–3 p.m. Mollard, the principal keyboardist for the Akron Symphony Orchestra, will take us on a performing tour of keyboard instruments (piano, harpsichord, celesta). Registered piano technician Stewart Freedman will be on hand to address their technical differences. Free, but registration recommended: 419-853-6016 or www.ormaco.org.
JUL. 19, AUG. 16 – Bluegrass Night, Fibonacci Brewing Company, 1445 Compton Rd., Cincinnati, 7–9 p.m. Free. Enjoy lively bluegrass music by Vernon McIntyre’s Appalachian Grass, a wide variety of craft beers at the Beer Garden, and food truck eats. 513-832-1422 or http://fibbrew.com.
JUL. 20 – Miami County in Bloom Garden Tour, locations in Troy and Piqua, 10 a.m.–4 p.m. $15 presale, $20 day of tour; under 10 free. Enjoy the day touring six beautiful gardens. See a variety of gardening styles, including a whimsical outdoor gardening “farm,” formal gardens, and fun, casual spaces. Tickets will be available at seven convenient locations throughout Miami County. For more information, visit http://go.osu/ MiamiGardenTour or call 937-440-3945
JUL. 26–28 – Christmas in July Campout, Hueston Woods State Park, 6301 Park Office Rd., College Corner. Free. Decorate your campsite, take part in activities, and have fun at our naturalist programs. 513-523-6347 or www.ohiodnr.gov/go-and-do/plan-a-visit/find-a-property/ hueston-woods-state-park. To reserve a campsite, please visit www.reserveohio.com.
JUL. 26–28 – Annie Oakley Festival, Darke Co. Fgds., Gate 5, Greenville. A family-friendly festival honoring Darke County’s most famous daughter. Shooting contests, fast draw competitions, cowboy mounted shooting, kiddie tractor pull, car show, and much more. www.annieoakleyfestival.org.
JUL. 27 – Biergarten Band Night, Liberty Home German Society, 2361 Hamilton Cleves Rd., Hamilton, 5–10 p.m. Vereins Musikanten, 6–10 p.m. https:// libertyhome.net or follow Liberty Home Association on Facebook.
JUL. 27–28 – Gathering at Garst, 205 N. Broadway, Greenville, Sat. 10 a.m.–8 p.m., Sun. 11 a.m.–5 p.m. Free. Living history encampment set up in a timeline manner dating from 1785 to 1865, with reenactors demonstrating what life was like for our ancestors. Live music and entertainment, arts and crafts, food vendors, and more. www.darkecountyparks.org/gathering.
JUL. 28 – Family Program: The Dulcimer Guy, Garber Nature Center, 9691 OH-503 N., Lewisburg, 4 p.m. Enjoy a free concert by Matthew Dickerson, National Champion on the hammered dulcimer. Registration required. 937-962-5561, pcpdevents@gmail.com, or www.preblecountyparks.org.
AUG. 1–4 – World’s Longest Yard Sale, locations along U.S. 127 through Greenville. www.127yardsale.com.
AUG. 3 – Biergarten Band Night, Liberty Home German Society, 2361 Hamilton Cleves Rd., Hamilton, 5–10 p.m. M*A*M*B (Middle Aged Man Band), 6–10 p.m. https://libertyhome.net or follow Liberty Home Association on Facebook.
AUG. 3 – Vernon Fest, Famous Old Time Music Co., 1196 Ross Millville Rd., Hamilton, 2–9 p.m. $10. Features music by Vernon McIntyre’s Appalachian Grass plus other fine regional bands. Raffles, “Split the Pot,” and door prizes. Food and drink for sale on-site. No overnight camping facilities. Bring a lawn chair. 419-5681220 or vernon@iglou.com.
AUG. 9–15 – Miami County Fair, Miami Co. Fgds., 650 N. County Rd. 25A, Troy. $6 daily; under 9 free. Competitions, entertainment, harness racing, tractor pulls, art exhibits, games and rides, and great food. 937335-7492 or www.miamicountyohiofair.com.
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1. The Yetter and Willis families love making memories together at the beach — this is at Myrtle Beach in 2019
Samantha Willis, Firelands Electric Cooperative member
2. My grandsons, James Pycraft and Ryan Wissel, look like they want sand garages.
Thomas Seman, Lorain-Medina Rural Electric Cooperative member
3. Kendall and Tessa Hall and Steve and Ben Kopp, building sandcastles on the beach at the Outer Banks in North Carolina.
Lisa Kopp, Firelands Electric Cooperative member
4. My nephew Robbie gave up on his sandcastle and tried to become one instead.
Katie Grubba, South Central Power Company member
5. My grandsons’ mega-sandcastle in Florida.
Kay Jackson, Butler Rural Electric Cooperative member
6. A sandcastle that we built in South Padre Island.
Kurt Martin, North Central Electric Cooperative member
7. Our granddaughter Susie had tons of fun on Galveston Island.
Beth Howard, Mid-Ohio Energy Cooperative member
For October, send “Oh my gourd!” by July 15; for November, send “On horseback” by Aug. 15. Send us YOUR picture!
Upload your photos at www.ohiocoopliving.com/memberinteractive. Your photo may be featured in our magazine or on our website.
As a member of an Ohio electric cooperative, you can help keep the rates stable and affordable by reducing energy use during peak hours on hot summer days. The hottest times of day — usually between 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. — create the highest demand for electricity and when demand is high, so is the price. If we can reduce electric use during peak hours, we can reduce power costs for all the members.
Here are a few simple ways you can help your cooperative “beat the peak” this summer by shifting your energy use to off-peak hours:
R R R R
Turn off unnecessary lights and electronics when they aren’t being used
Run your dishwasher and do laundry early in the morning or later in the evening
Shut blinds and curtains during the day to keep the sun from warming your home
Schedule your pool pump to run during off-peak hours
By adjusting the times you use electricity this summer, you can help us keep stable despite the heat! If we all work together, we all will benefit. That’s the power of cooperation and your electric cooperative membership.
