SUPPORT LINEWORKERS
After Hurricane Helene, lineworkers from Ohio and across the country put their lives on the line to help restore power where they were needed most.
SHOW YOUR SUPPORT BY ORDERING YOUR CUSTOM LICENSE PLATE TODAY
You can honor that courageous spirit the next time you renew your Ohio license plate by choosing FALLEN LINEWORKER under the customization options. The additional registration fee will help support the families of lineworkers who have fallen or been injured doing this dangerous job.
FEATURES
7 OHIO’S ‘PRESIDENTIAL TIMBER’
Some astounding, insightful, and downright impressive facts about the eight U.S. chief executives from the Buckeye State. 22 WHAT IS THAT STAR?
Whether or not you recognize the service flag for what it is, odds are you don’t know its Ohio roots.
26 2024 GIFT GUIDE
A selection of original, useful, and ingenious made-in-Ohio items that will help you sleigh your holiday shopping list.
A reminder from Mother Nature
Every so often, we are reminded of the raw power of — and our relative helplessness against — the forces of nature. Throughout Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, and South Carolina, communities are still coming to grips with the devastation wrought in late September and early October by the one-two punch of hurricanes Helene and Milton, two of the more powerful and damaging storms of the past few decades.
The utter destruction there is difficult to fathom. Recovery will take months, and even years in some communities.
There’s a lot that needs to be done — not the least of which is to restore basic infrastructure enough to safely return electric delivery systems to service. Electric cooperatives, true to their principles of “Concern for Community” and “Cooperation Among Cooperatives,” have jumped in to help in each of these states, working to rebuild damaged facilities and restore vital electric service to even the most remote areas.
Lineworkers from more than 20 states began arriving the day after Helene blew through, working 16 hours a day, seven days a week to repair the damage done to cooperative systems. Ohio cooperatives alone sent more than 100 lineworkers to help their sister co-ops in some of the hardest-hit areas of North and South Carolina. Ohio cooperatives also organized donations of needed supplies and money to assist some of the most stormravaged communities.
We know that we can be overpowered by natural disasters. It’s why electric cooperatives are in a constant state of preparation — to prevent problems that are preventable but also to be ready to respond to situations that are unavoidable.
It takes coordination, teamwork, and dedication to respond safely and effectively to emergencies like these recent hurricanes. Literally thousands of individuals from hundreds of electric cooperatives have had a hand in the response. It’s yet another example of being able to accomplish together things we simply can’t do alone.
So I’m joining with co-op members everywhere to extend a special thanks to the lineworkers who have gone into these battered communities. We know that their help in bringing back crucial electric service is a first step toward recovery.
Pat O’Loughlin PRESIDENT & CEO OHIO’S ELECTRIC COOPERATIVES
Their help in bringing back crucial electric service is a first step toward recovery.
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: Adobe Stock, Colleen Romick Clark, Getty Images, W.H. “Chip” Gross, Catherine Murray, Margo Palmer, James Proffitt, Damaine Vonada, and Margie Wuebker.
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.
DEPARTMENTS
4 POWER LINES
Disaster response: Ohio coops answer the call as the South digs out from historic storm damage.
8 WOODS, WATERS, AND WILDLIFE
Ditch parrots: Might a comeback be in store for ringnecked pheasants in Ohio?
10 CO-OP PEOPLE
Taking the reins: A lifelong love of horses inspires jockey’s success in the saddle.
13 GOOD EATS
So extra! Can you ever have too much of a good thing? Let’s find out.
17 LOCAL PAGES
News and other important information from your electric cooperative.
33 CALENDAR
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
What’s happening: November/ December events and other things to do around Ohio.
36 MEMBER INTERACTIVE
On horseback: Members share scenes from their equine adventures.
13 8 10 36 33
response Disaster
BY JEFF McCALLISTER
Ohio co-ops answer the call as the South digs out from historic storms.
When electric cooperatives in North Carolina and South Carolina put out the call for help after Hurricane Helene barreled through in late September, Ohio answered.
Less than 36 hours after the storm made landfall late on Sept. 26, an initial force of 40 lineworkers from 11 Ohio co-ops headed south. Twenty-four others who had been ready to leave were rerouted because Helene had unexpectedly pounded areas of southern Ohio, and their help was needed here.
When the Ohio group reached the Carolinas, what they found was shocking. In the western parts of those two states, Helene had left a mutilated landscape in its wake. Roads, bridges, power systems — in some places, even entire villages — had been washed entirely off Appalachian hillsides and into flooded valleys. Damage was widespread, and it was devastating.
It was also grim. In several instances, co-op crews arrived to an area even before first responders, only to find unimaginable tragedy along with the physical destruction. As of mid-October, Helene had been blamed for more than 250 deaths across seven states, and hundreds more were still missing.
All hands on deck
As storm damage in Ohio was repaired over the next several days, a second wave of Ohio workers headed south. In all, more than 100 men from 19 Ohio co-ops — nearly a third of Ohio’s co-op lineworkers — were working to restore power for four of the hardest-hit cooperatives in North Carolina and South Carolina.
The crews worked in rotating 16-hour shifts, cutting away trees, replacing poles, restringing distribution lines, rebuilding circuits, and making repairs. Some stayed in hotels that were themselves without power or hot water.
“It’s maybe our largest and greatest storm response ever,” says Dwight Miller, senior director of safety training and loss prevention at Ohio’s Electric Cooperatives, who coordinated the Ohio response.
“We are honored to be a part of helping these folks out. Their lives have been turned upside down, and many are feeling the grief of losing loved ones as the death toll continues to rise. If we can help get their power back on, that’s a big deal.”
Unprecedented
Overall, Helene knocked out electric service to an estimated 1.25 million co-op members in eight states
Continued on page 6
Troy Stockmeister and Todd White from Logan County Electric Cooperative; Chris Kent and Rob Swiger from Firelands Electric Cooperative; and Bill Russell, Travis Russell, Greg Grieves, and Eric Schaaf from Midwest Electric were part of the mutual aid crew that worked to restore systems and power for Rutherford Electric Membership Cooperative in Forest City, North Carolina.
Lorain-Medina and North Central electric cooperative members donated three semi-trailers full of supplies for relief efforts in the Carolinas and Tennessee.
Max Noll, who works for South Central Power Company in Lancaster, stretches as he works to make repairs on lines near Boone, North Carolina. Noll was one of more than 100 Ohio co-op lineworkers who answered the call for help.
Greg Young from Laurens Electric Cooperative in South Carolina (left) worked with Matt Morris, Mike Rowe, Steve Asbury, Josh Johnson, Sean Stewart, and Bowe Firebaugh from Holmes-Wayne Electric Cooperative in their restoration work.
than 100 lineworkers from 19
Continued from page 5
as it passed from the Florida coast northward, before finally fizzling out near the Kentucky-Indiana state line a little more than two days after it made landfall.
Ohio’s response was part of a national mutual aid effort that brought in more than 7,000 co-op personnel, including lineworkers, support staff, right-of-way contractors, warehouse staff, safety employees, and command center staff, from 14 states.
As the majority of those initial outages were restored over the next two weeks, several of the Ohio crews were able to return home. One group, from Holmes-Wayne Electric Cooperative, moved on to Florida to help repair damage from Hurricane Milton, which came through within two weeks of Helene’s landfall.
“Everyone knows about the principle of ‘Cooperation among Cooperatives,’ and of course we take it seriously,” Miller says. “In reality, it’s just that our guys have this quality to them that makes them want to help whenever and wherever they can.”
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Ohio co-ops worked 16-hour shifts to help restore power in North Carolina, South Carolina, and Florida after two hurricanes caused catastrophic damage.
Splinters from Ohio’s
‘Presidential timber’
Some astounding, insightful, and downright impressive facts about the eight U.S. chief executives from the Buckeye State.
BY DAMAINE VONADA
Of the 46 individuals who served as U.S. president before this month’s election, eight came from Ohio — more than any other state — inspiring the nickname “Mother of
The Whigs picked Harrison and Virginia Sen. John Tyler to top their 1840 ticket. Their campaign slogan — “Tippecanoe and Tyler Too!” — reminded voters that the Ohioan had defeated Tecumseh at the Battle of Tippecanoe. His supporters pushed a giant ball of paper and tin, plastered with pro-Harrison messages, from town to town, generating publicity and ushering a new phrase into America’s lexicon: “Keep the ball rolling.” Harrison, the nation’s ninth president, died of pneumonia a month into his term.
After the abandoned British ship HMS Resolute was discovered adrift by an American whaler in 1855, Congress allotted funds to return her to Queen Victoria as a goodwill gesture. Victoria reciprocated in 1880 by presenting then-President Hayes, the 19th president, with a handsome desk made from Resolute’s timbers. Upon its arrival in the White House, Hayes famously wrote a thankyou note on the Resolute desk, and it has been used by every president since then, with the exceptions of Johnson, Nixon, and Ford.
The 23rd president was born on his grandfather William Henry Harrison’s North Bend farm with a remarkable political pedigree: not only had his grandfather been president, but his great-grandfather signed the Declaration of Independence and his father was a U.S. Congressman. Benjamin was a prominent attorney before being elected to the U.S. Senate in 1880, and during his presidential run in 1888, he cannily revived his grandfather’s publicity stunt by replicating the 1840 “victory ball” and rolling it state to state for some 5,000 miles.
The only person to serve as both U.S. president (the 27th) and chief justice of the Supreme Court, Taft was also a lifelong baseball fan, and started the presidential tradition of throwing out the ceremonial first pitch on Major League Baseball’s opening day. On April 14, 1910, at a game between the Washington Senators and Philadelphia Athletics, he tossed a baseball to Senators pitcher (and future Hall of Famer) Walter Johnson, and then watched from the first row as the home team beat the Athletics, 3–0
Presidents.” This presidential election month is the perfect time to ponder the influence (in matters great and small) of Ohioans who occupied the nation’s highest office.
The U.S. Army’s first four-star general and the 18th U.S. president was born in Point Pleasant and raised in Georgetown. After winning the Civil War and serving two terms as President, he retired to New York City, where an unscrupulous business partner ruined him financially. To provide for his family, he wrote his autobiography, The Personal Memoirs of U.S. Grant, finishing it just days before he died in 1885. Mark Twain, who admired Grant, arranged to have it published, and it is still regarded as a masterpiece of unadorned American prose.
When Garfield was shot on July 2, 1881, only months after he had taken office as the 20th president, telegraph wires and newspapers carried the grim news, instigating a protracted death watch that’s considered the first mass-media event. Physicians’ futile attempts to find the bullet riveted the nation — even Alexander Graham Bell tried to help by developing a rudimentary metal detector. Garfield’s struggle finally ended in September, when he died of an infection likely caused by doctors probing his wound with unwashed and unsterilized hands.
McKinley, who was born in Niles, established a law practice in Canton. In 1876, he ran for Congress against Levi Lamborn, a horticulturist from Alliance who bred carnations, and whenever they debated, Lamborn gave McKinley a red carnation. When he was elected the 25th President in 1896, McKinley considered red carnations his good luck charm, habitually wearing them as boutonnieres. On Sept. 6, 1901, moments after he had removed the red carnation from his lapel and given it to a little girl, an anarchist assassinated him.
Harding, campaigning from his Marion home following World War I, promised a “return to normalcy.” But, because the Senate never ratified the 1919 Treaty of Versailles, the nation was still officially at war when he became the 29th president in 1921. Congress passed a resolution ending U.S.-German hostilities that year, and four months later, Harding symbolically ended the war’s horrors when he dedicated the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington National Cemetery and delivered a poignant speech eulogizing America’s heroic dead.
William Henry Harrison
Rutherford B. Hayes
Benjamin Harrison
William Howard Taft
Ulysses S. Grant
James Garfield
William McKinley
Warren G. Harding
WOODS, WATERS, AND WILDLIFE
Ditch
STORY AND PHOTOS BY W.H. “CHIP” GROSS
I’m old enough to have witnessed the demise of much of the ring-necked pheasant population in Ohio firsthand. In the 1960s, I remember my father taking me on a pheasant hunt to private property in the northwest part of the state. We had a great time, and we returned on opening day the next year anticipating the same.
What we didn’t anticipate were the bulldozed fence rows, burned brush piles, and other forms of habitat destruction we found when we got there. Needless to say, we didn’t see many pheasants that November day and we never returned to that farm.
The birds (also known as “ditch parrots” because of their bright plumage as well as their tendency to lounge along roadsides) found the Ohio landscape, with its patchwork of small farm fields and rural areas, welcoming and homey during the early 20th century. Farming was still largely done with horses, so pastures and hayfields were needed to feed those horses, as well as milk cows. Brushy fencerows provided both cover from predators and travel lanes to and from the crop fields where the pheasants found an ample food supply. In essence, it was ringneck paradise.
Ringneck numbers in Ohio peaked during the 1930s and ’40s, and have been on a steady downhill slide ever since. The reason for the decline is simple, as it is throughout the North American pheasant range: the disappearance of quality grassland habitat.
As goes the habitat, so goes the population of birds.
The Asian ring-necked pheasant is a non-native game bird to Ohio; the first stocking here occurred in 1896
The first law regulating the bird’s hunting soon followed, with no hunting permitted until Nov. 10, 1900. By that time, ringnecks had become well established throughout most of the state, with the population peaking at an astounding 5 million wild pheasants!
“The booming pheasant population began drawing hunters from across the Midwest,” says Jim Abrams, a retired Ohio wildlife officer and a member of HancockWood Electric Cooperative. “Hotels were filled and cash was changing hands in diners, bars, hardware stores, and gas stations. Small towns in northwest Ohio — Van Buren, Liberty Center, Arlington, Kalida, and others — became destinations not only for out-of-town hunters but for out-of-state hunters as well. The economic value of the high pheasant population was palpable.”
Hunting was for cock birds only (hens were protected by law) and some
A lifelong love of horses inspires jockey’s success in the saddle.
BY MARGIE WUEBKER; PHOTOS BY MARGO PALMER
Chelsey Keiser vividly remembers growing up in western Ohio and helping her parents, Darke Rural Electric Cooperative members Mike and Debbie Keiser, raise thoroughbreds at their North Star-area farm.
“My first horse was a pony with a yellowish coat,” she remembers with a chuckle. “I called him ‘Black Beauty.’”
Keiser, now 32, never lost her fascination with horses. A 5-foot, 3-inch bundle of energy, she’s living her dream as a professional jockey, compiling an impressive record that includes more than 400 wins and nearly $10 million in career earnings.
“I’ve loved horses forever,” she says, noting that she learned to ride even before she learned to walk.
As she got a little older, Keiser started helping out by galloping the family’s thoroughbreds as part of their training regimen. “I really enjoyed that aspect of working with horses,” she says.
“The hard part was handing the reins off to a jockey at the track.”
She also took up barrel racing — a fast-paced sport pitting horse and rider against the clock on a cloverleaf-shaped course, where the fastest finisher wins.
“I went through high school dreaming of being a jockey,” Keiser says.
After she graduated from Versailles High School, she headed off to the University of Dayton to study nursing — which might not seem at first like a path to the horseracing profession, but it was strategic. “I had visited nursing homes during high school, and I liked being around older people and loved hearing their stories,” she says. Also, “Most nurses work three 12-hour shifts, and that would give me four days to ride.”
But while her fellow students spent their weekends on campus, she would always go back home to work with the horses. By her sophomore year, she says, she could no longer ignore “the itch.”
After talking at length with her mother, she left school and took a job training horses in Florida. Later assignments took her to Virginia and then Maryland as she pursued the dream that grew stronger with each passing day.
the reins
She began her career as an apprentice jockey, or “bug rider,” in March 2013 at Maryland’s Laurel Park racetrack. Her first win came that same month, aboard a 2-year-old colt named Smileforthecamera. In keeping with tradition, her fellow jockeys saluted the milestone by pelting her with water, baby powder, and eggs. She rode the next heat with bits of shell still clinging to her hair.
“Being a female jockey came with challenges back then,” she says. “I had to prove I was as strong as the boys and not get pushed around. I quickly learned to turn off my emotions and accept things I couldn’t change. Now I ride and win just like them.”
She mounted up in almost 600 races that first year, and finished in the money (first, second, or third place) in more than a third of them.
By 2016, she decided she wanted to be closer to family and moved back to Ohio. She currently rides at Thistledown Racino near Cleveland, Hollywood Gaming near Youngstown, and Belterra Park Racino near Cincinnati.
The job is much more than saddling up for races. Keiser is up by 4:30 a.m. almost every morning and arrives at the stable 60 minutes later for what will likely be a 15-hour day.
Taking care of her four horses means time galloping or breezing each of them on the track, four feeding times, and four cooling baths. She hurriedly walks from one pen to another, waving to other stable personnel or talking on the cell phone along the way; there is no time to sit and rest. Often, she’ll log more than 20,000 steps before noon.
“If you don’t take good care of the horses, you won’t get good results on the track,” she says. “Jockey and horse have to work together as a team. You spend hours working toward those couple of minutes that you fly around the track.”
Horse racing, of course, can be a dangerous sport (as attested by the ambulance stationed at every track), and Keiser’s 114-pound frame has sustained numerous injuries in her career — a broken collarbone, a bruised spleen, and a broken sternum among the most serious — but she has no plans to step away.
“I absolutely love riding,” she says. “Winning gives me the highest of highs; losing, the lowest of lows. I would rather have a bad day doing something I love than a good day at something I hate.”
SoExtra!
Can you ever have too much of a good thing? Let’s find out.
‘FOR THE LOVE OF GARLIC’ GRATIN POTATOES
Prep: 30 minutes | Cook: 1 hour, 20 minutes | Servings: 8
2 pounds Yukon Gold potatoes, ¼-inch slices
1½ teaspoons salt, divided
1 tablespoon salted butter
1½ cups heavy whipping cream
6 cloves roasted garlic*
2 sprigs fresh rosemary, stems removed
¼ teaspoon pepper
¼ cup shredded Asiago cheese
¼ cup crispy fried garlic**
Place potato slices in a large pot; cover with water and 1 teaspoon salt. Bring to a boil over high heat and let boil until potatoes are just fork-tender. Drain and rinse to cool slightly.
Preheat oven to 350 F. Butter a 9x13-inch ovenproof baking dish and layer in potato slices. Blend cream with roasted garlic, rosemary leaves, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and pepper in a blender or food processor. Pour cream mixture over potatoes, then evenly sprinkle Asiago on top. Bake 15 to 20 minutes, until lightly browned and bubbling and potatoes are fully cooked through. Top with crispy garlic and serve.
*Roasted garlic can be made ahead of time. Trim the top of a bulb of garlic until cloves are visible, drizzle with olive oil, wrap in aluminum foil, and roast at 350 F for 45 to 60 minutes, until cloves are mushy soft and light to medium brown. Pull cloves out of husk with the tine of a fork and refrigerate until ready to use. (Leftovers will keep in fridge for 7 days, in freezer for 3 months.)
**To make crispy garlic, gather 8 large garlic cloves, ¼ cup olive oil, and salt for sprinkling. Set a strainer over a small, heat-safe bowl and set aside. Pour oil into a small skillet over medium heat. Test oil temperature by tossing a piece of garlic in — when bubbles immediately form around it, the oil is ready. Carefully slide garlic into the oil. Stir continually with a wooden spoon until pale golden brown, 3 to 5 minutes. Immediately transfer to the strainer, letting oil drain off the garlic. Spread garlic across paper towels to soak up remaining oil and sprinkle with ¼ teaspoon salt. When cool, transfer fried garlic to an airtight container and keep at room temperature. Reserve oil in fridge for future uses.
RECIPES AND PHOTOGRAPHS BY CATHERINE MURRAY
OH-SO-CHEESY CROQUE MONSIEUR DIP
Prep: 25 minutes | Cook: 30 minutes | Servings: 8
½ cup shredded Parmesan*
1 cup shredded Swiss cheese*
1 cup shredded Gruyere cheese*
4 tablespoons unsalted butter, divided
1/3 cup minced onion
1 clove garlic, minced
3 tablespoons flour
2 cups hot milk
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
½ teaspoon black pepper
¼ teaspoon ground thyme
¼ pound thinly sliced deli ham, chopped
2 8-ounce cans crescent roll dough
Toss cheeses together in a medium bowl and put a small handful of cheese aside for sprinkling later. In a medium pot, melt 3 tablespoons of the butter over medium heat. Add onion and sauté until softened; add garlic and sauté another minute. Lower heat a bit, whisk in flour, and continue whisking 3 minutes to form a roux. Slowly pour in the hot milk, whisking constantly. Turn heat back to medium and cook until thickened, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat and whisk in Dijon, pepper, and thyme, then mix in the cheese and ham. Cover with lid and set aside.
Preheat oven to 375 F. Bake one can of crescent rolls according to package directions. Meanwhile, grease a 9-inch oven-safe skillet (cast iron preferred) with cooking spray. Roll the remaining can of crescent rolls and place them along the outer edge of the skillet, then spoon cheese mixture into the middle. Brush the crescents with a tablespoon of melted butter, then sprinkle with reserved cheese. Bake 15 to 17 minutes, until crescents are golden brown. Let cool a few minutes before serving fondue-style straight out of the skillet, tearing off pieces of crescent roll and dipping into cheese.
*For a smooth melted dip, freshly shred the cheeses rather than using pre-shredded.
DEATH BY CHOCOLATE TRIFLE
Prep: 30 minutes | Bake: 30 minutes | Servings: 12 to 16
18.4-ounce package brownie mix and eggs, vegetable oil, and water, according to brownie instructions
6-ounce package instant chocolate pudding mix and cold milk,
amount according to pudding instructions
16 ounces frozen whipped topping, thawed
2 cups chopped-up candy bars or Oreo cookies
This recipe is a great way to use up leftover Halloween candy! Fill a standard-sized trifle bowl or use any glass dish or dishes of your choosing. The brownies and pudding can be made a day or so ahead.
Prepare and bake brownies according to package instructions; let cool completely. Prepare pudding according to package instructions. Chill in fridge until ready to assemble trifle.
Crumble half the brownies into bottom of the bowl(s), then spoon half the pudding on top. A layer of candy can be added here, or it can all be piled on top if preferred. Continue layering with half the whipped topping. Repeat brownie, pudding, and whipped topping layers. Sprinkle candy on the top when ready to serve.
MILE-HIGH APPLE PIE
Prep: 45 minutes | Chill: 30 minutes | Bake: 60 to 70 minutes | Servings: 12 to 16
3 cups + 2 tablespoons flour, plus more for rolling
1¼ teaspoons salt
1¼ cups cold unsalted butter, cut into 1/2-inch dice
¼ cup ice water
1½ cups sugar
½ cup cornstarch
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon nutmeg
¼ teaspoon salt
5 pounds of apples, multiple varieties*
1 egg yolk dash of water
coarse sugar for sprinkling (optional)
To make the crust, combine flour, 1¼ teaspoons salt, and butter in a food processor. Pulse in 1-second bursts until the mixture becomes crumbly. Drizzle in ice water and pulse in 1-second bursts until dough begins to stick together. Gather dough and form two disks, one larger than the other. Cover and place in the fridge for 30 minutes, then let rest on counter for 30 minutes.
In an extra-large bowl, mix sugar, cornstarch, cinnamon, nutmeg, and 1/4 teaspoon salt. Peel, core, and thinly slice apples, tossing slices in sugar mixture as you go. Set aside. On a floured surface, roll out the smaller dough and fit to the bottom of a deep-dish pie plate. Stir the apples once more, then begin arranging slices into the pie pan, tightly stacking in layers and doming inward toward the top. Carefully pour ¼ cup of the excess liquid left by the apples into the pie and discard the rest. Roll out second disk of dough and overlap the top of the pie, pressing down lightly to meet the apples. Fold dough edges under, trimming if needed. Cut 8 slits in the shape of a sunburst on top. Whisk egg yolk and dash of water. Brush over the entire crust and sprinkle with coarse sugar (if desired). Place pie in fridge until oven is preheated.
Preheat oven to 425 F. Place pie on a baking sheet with sides and position on bottom rack of oven. Bake 20 minutes, then reduce temperature to 375 F and bake another 40 to 50 minutes, until bubbling and golden brown. If top crust becomes too brown, cover edges or lightly tent with aluminum foil. Let cool before slicing to produce clean edges.
* Mixing 3 or 4 baking apple varieties in a pie builds a blend of flavors and textures.
URE LOCAL CONNECTIONS
MESSAGE FROM THE CEO/PRESIDENT
An a itude of gratitude
Has this year lived up to all your expectations? If not, you’re not alone. Whether the year has gone smoothly or been filled with challenges, there’s one simple action that can help improve a person’s mental state — practicing gratitude.
Offering thanks to others is obviously a blessing to them, but studies show it can also improve our own mental and physical health. Gratitude has been found to reduce the effects of anxiety and depression. Turns out, being thankful is not just good manners — it’s good for you.
Gratitude can be an emotion, an attitude, or a habit. I’d argue that by practicing the habit of expressing gratitude, you’ll start to feel it as an emotion and ultimately see a shift in your attitude toward one of thankfulness. So, how can you reap the benefits of an attitude of gratitude?
with a chore or volunteer your time and energy for a local community charity. The holidays are an especially busy time for many charitable organizations, so why not lend a hand this month?
Anthony Smith CEO/PRESIDENT
Though it’s easy to lose sight of the many blessings we enjoy in the moment, regularly reminding ourselves of what we’re grateful for can pay off with huge emotional dividends.
1. Keep a gratitude journal. Set aside time regularly to jot down your blessings. This practice helps solidify positive emotions and can lift your spirits during more challenging times.
2. Sincerely thank others. Don’t wait for grand gestures to express gratitude. A warm “thank you” to a neighbor, a handwritten note to a friend or colleague, or even a smile of appreciation at the market can brighten someone’s day. Often, just expressing thanks gives us an emotional boost.
So, moving forward, I’ll try to remind myself of my many blessings. When the grocery store line is long and there aren’t enough cashiers, I can appreciate the fact that I’m able to afford food. When political ads become almost unbearable, I’ll turn my thoughts to the men and women who’ve served in the armed forces to protect our freedoms. When I consider the state of the utility industry, I’ll appreciate our cooperative’s leadership team and partners who are working hard to bring the best service to our members. And of course, when we experience a service interruption, I’ll be thankful that there are people out there working hard to restore power.
3. Make meals a time for reflection. This Thanksgiving season is the perfect opportunity to start a tradition of sharing stories about your blessings with family at mealtime. It’s a great way to teach children the positive impact of gratitude and to share your perspective on life’s blessings with family and friends.
When times seem difficult, I want to be more intentional about appreciating the people in my life that make it all worthwhile.
4. Take action. As you develop an attitude of gratitude, express it through acts of kindness. Help a neighbor
This Thanksgiving season, I sincerely want to thank you for your membership with URE. At URE, you’re not just a customer — you’re a member and owner of the company operated by people right here in your community. You are the most important part of YOUR electric cooperative.
URE IS SEARCHING FOR CANDIDATES
URE is democratically governed by the members it serves. The strength of the cooperative lies in having a qualified and committed board of trustees. Trustees serve as elected representatives and are accountable to our members.
Two board seats are up for election in 2025: District 2 (Jerome Township) and District 7 (Allen Township). If you live in either District 2 or District 7 and are in good standing with the cooperative — you are eligible to run for the board of trustees.
All
members vote!
Cooperative members elect trustees each year to serve a three-year term. Members vote for trustees before the annual meeting, and the election results are announced at the annual meeting. The 2025 annual meeting is Saturday, June 7. Members can vote for one trustee in each district up for election. Members can vote using SmartHub, online, or by mail and will receive voting information in the mail in May.
Board of trustees responsibilities
The board of trustees manages the business and a airs of the cooperative. Trustees represent fellow members and meet each month to set policies and approve budgets. Board members attend a monthly board meeting conducted at the cooperative’s o ce on the last Tuesday of each month. The meetings begin at 9 a.m. and conclude by 1 p.m. Board members are active in their communities, attend many of the cooperative’s events, and are highly encouraged to attend other meetings and training opportunities throughout the year.
The board of trustees represents the members of URE as the governing body for the cooperative. Each trustee is a member of the cooperative. Board members are nominated by district and are elected at-large. The board of trustees makes decisions that a ect the entire membership and represents the interests of all members.
How to become a trustee
As a member of the cooperative, you have the opportunity to run for and be elected to serve on the board of trustees when your district’s seat is up for election. Members who live in one of the districts up for election receive a board trustee interest postcard in the mail, in January. If you are interested in becoming a URE trustee, please fill out the trustee interest postcard and return it to the cooperative’s o ce. Once the cooperative has received your completed card, you will be sent a packet that details board member requirements and responsibilities and an in-depth candidate information form.
QUALIFICATIONS FOR NOMINATION
Seats on the board of trustees are designated by geographic area. To run, a position must be available in your area. To qualify, you must:
1
Be a member of the cooperative and a resident of the district you want to represent;
2Not be employed by or financially interested in a competing enterprise or a business selling electric power and/or energy, electrical supplies, or appliances to the cooperative or its members;
3
Not be employed by the co-op, its subsidiaries, or any other electric cooperative within five years of the date of election.
ELECTION TIMELINE
ELECTION 2025 | BOARD OF TRUSTEES
November Ohio Cooperative Living article on the process for electing trustees, including a timeline
December OCL article on qualifications needed to run for the board
January
February
Jan 6: Mail member interest cards to the districts
March
Jan 8: 150 days from annual meeting; earliest the board can appoint the nominating committee
Jan 24: Member interest cards due; validated for membership; mail member application packet
Jan 28: Regular January board meeting; appoint nominating committee
Feb 12: Member candidate application due by 4 p.m.
Feb. 13: Notice/packet mailed to nominating committee
Feb. 20: Nominating committee meeting (third Thursday in February)
Feb 25: Regular February board meeting
Mar 6: Second nominating committee meeting notice (if necessary)
Mar 25: Regular March board meeting
Mar 28: Last day nominations by committee or petition can be filed with the secretary (70 days prior to annual meeting)
April Apr 29: Regular April board meeting
Official meeting notice in May OCL magazine
May
June
May 16: Latest ballots can be mailed to members (20 days prior to annual meeting)
May 27: Regular May board meeting
Final meeting notice in June OCL magazine
June 5: Ballots due
June 7: Annual meeting, 9 a.m. at URE office
June 24: Reorganization June meeting to elect board officers
BEST SMART HOME TECH ON A
Smart technology can make it easier to save energy by simplifying or automating tasks. It can also optimize energy use to reduce waste and improve efficiency.
When upgrading to smart technology at home, consider the purchase cost as well as long-term savings. For example, you may pay a little more for a product with the latest technology, but it could result in significant savings each year and over the lifetime of the appliance.
Here are some smart devices that will take the work out of saving energy:
Smart thermostats save energy by automatically adjusting your heating or cooling system. For example, you can save as much as 10% a year on heating and cooling costs by adjusting your thermostat 7 to 10 degrees from its normal setting for eight hours a day, according to the Department of Energy.
You can program a smart thermostat to change the temperature when you are asleep or away, or use a smartphone app to adjust your thermostat settings. Some models use artificial intelligence to maximize efficiency by learning your patterns and preferences. Prices range from $80 to $250, depending on features. Smart thermostats do not work with all heating and cooling systems, so check compatibility before you buy.
Your water heater can also be controlled for energy savings. Installing a timer on your electric water heater can save 5% to 12% of the energy it uses by turning it off at night and when you don’t need to use hot water.
If you are already planning to replace your electric storage water heater with a heat pump water heater, consider a model equipped with smart technology features, including Wi-Fi capabilities for controlling it remotely or during peak demand times, viewing the amount of hot water available, and tracking energy use. There are a variety of modes, including vacation,
budget
efficiency, and high demand, which produces more hot water. Some models can notify you or shut off if a leak is detected. Depending on the manufacturer and size of the unit, a smart heat pump water heater may only cost a few hundred dollars more than a standard heat pump water heater.
Smart lighting gives you the power to control lights in your home remotely or set a lighting schedule that fits your lifestyle. This can be beneficial for energy savings and provide home security benefits. Numerous features are available, including dimmable bulbs and colorchanging effects.
Smart light switches are another budget-friendly way to control lighting. They’re priced from about $10 to $50. Smart switches with dimmable options are available and can also control ceiling fans. Some have occupancy sensors that turn lights off when no movement is detected in a room.
A smart plug fits into any outlet to control whatever is plugged into it. Set them to automatically turn off and on or control them using a smartphone app. Prices range from $8 to $25.
A wide variety of smart shades, curtains, and blinds are available, including styles with integrated controls. You can also add smart controls to your existing blinds or curtains. Both options allow you to adjust the tilt of blinds and open or close curtains. This allows you to reduce cooling needs in the summer and heating needs in the winter. Smart controls start at around $70. To save the most energy, prioritize windows with the most incoming light.
Upgrading to smart home technologies can make it easy to use less energy at home. Choose options that make the most sense for your lifestyle to optimize savings.
PHOTO CREDIT: ECOBEE
URE GOLF CLASSIC
BUSINESSES HIT THE LINKS TO BENEFIT LOCAL SCHOOL
The URE Golf Classic, held on August 30 at Darby Creek Golf Course, was more than just a day on the greens — it was a celebration of community, education, and philanthropy. Each year, URE hosts this golf outing as a way to give back to our local community. Thanks to the generosity of golfers representing local businesses, this year’s event raised $2,128.50 to benefit the Marysville Ag Science program. Since 2019, URE has donated over $12,000 to local schools through this event.
This year’s golf classic once again highlighted URE’s commitment to the cooperative principle of Concern for Community, reminding everyone of the impact we can make when we come together for a common cause.
Beau Michael, URE director, development and energy services. Not pictured: Abby Pratt,
Tips for a safe and efficient holiday season
This holiday season, keep energy savings and electrical safety in mind.
SAVE ENERGY
• Use smaller appliances like slow cookers instead of the oven.
• Lower the thermostat when hosting friends and family.
• Decorate with energy-saving LED lights.
PRIORITIZE SAFETY
• Never leave unattended candles burning.
• Ensure all smoke alarms are working.
• When decorating, inspect all light strands and cords for damage.
Pictured above, first row: Anthony Smith, URE CEO; Shawn Williams, assistant principal; Ashley Thompson, advisor; Riley Karcher, president; Austin Bennett, vice president; Natalie Williams, secretary; Abby Thompson, reporter; Brandon Fann, treasurer; Shari Anderson, advisor; Katie Morgan, assistant principal. Back row: Brody Kerns, sentinel; Ken Cha n, principal; Justin Beckner,advisor;
student advisor; Mary Gist, advisor.
BE AN ENERGY EFFICIENCY MVP
Do you have what it takes to be the energy efficiency MVP (most valuable player) in your home? When you take proactive steps to save energy at home, you can help your family save on monthly energy bills and help the environment—that’s a win-win!
Read the sentences below and unscramble the bolded letters to complete the energy efficiency tips. Check your work in the answer key.
1. Turn off glhsit when you leave a room.
2. Unplug smaller electronic devices like phone reahgcsr when you’re not using them.
3. Reduce your nesecr time to save energy and spend more time outdoors.
4. Turn off the reatw while brushing your teeth.
5. Keep doors and swdwnio closed when your home’s heating/cooling system is running.
6. When it’s cold, wear an extra layer of tohgncil inside instead of adjusting the thermostat.
•
•
•
UPDATE YOUR INFORMATION STAY IN THE KNOW
At URE, we’re dedicated to improving our operational efficiency for dependable electric service. To achieve this, we need your help by ensuring your contact information is accurate and complete.
Accurate details enable us to enhance customer service, streamline outage reporting and repair communication, and inform you about important programs and events. Updated contact info can also speed up power restoration during outages, as your phone number is linked to your service address in our outage management system. This allows for quicker outage location predictions.
For planned outages, we can notify you in advance through automated messages or emails if we have your updated info. Keeping your details current aids us in addressing energy use or billing queries promptly.
Many members haven’t updated their information in a while, especially regarding cell phone numbers. Rest assured, we never share your data with third parties; it’s solely used for essential communication.
Please take a moment to confirm or update your contact information at 937-642-1826 or services@ure.com.
CONTACT
937-642-1826 | ure.com
Email: services@ure.com
OFFICE
15461 U.S. Highway 36
Marysville, Ohio 43040
OFFICE HOURS
Mon. – Fri. 7:30 a.m. – 4 p.m. BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Steve Patton
Chairman
Dan Westlake
Vice Chairman
Dale Scheiderer
Treasurer
Je Wilson
Secretary
Cli ord Collins
Mark Lotycz
Je Reinhard
Trustees URE LOCAL CONNECTIONS
Anthony Smith CEO/President
Mike Aquillo CXO/VP Member Services
Laura Hutchins Director of Communications
What is that star?
Whether or not you recognize the service flag for what it is, odds are you don’t know its Ohio roots.
BY CRAIG SPRINGER
Ohio seems to have a bit of a thing with flags. It’s not just that our state flag is the only one out of the 50 that is not a rectangle (an interesting story in its own right). Or that the current 50-star field on Old Glory was designed by a Boy Scout from the Buckeye State (who later went on to become mayor of Napoleon).
This month in particular, we stop to consider another Ohio-rooted banner — less well-known, perhaps, but one that commands attention, honor, and respect across the country: the service flag, more commonly known as the Blue Star flag.
You might have seen a service flag: a blue star (or stars) on a field of white, surrounded by a red border — hanging in the picture window of a seemingly random home in the neighborhood or in a shop window of a downtown building. But many folks might be unaware, or at least unsure, of its significance.
Authorized by an act of Congress and under specific rules administered by the Secretary of Defense, the
proudly displayed Blue Star flag in a residence means that an immediate family member of someone living there is serving in the military, in any of its branches, in a time of war or conflict. Multiple stars on the display correspond to the number of family members in service.
It’s an indoor-only flag, with the same dimensions as the national flag (when displayed simultaneously, the service flag must never be larger than the American flag).
Organizations and businesses are also permitted to display the banner, under slightly different rules, to honor members or employees currently serving.
The idea for the Blue Star banner came from the wellspring of the mind (or perhaps, more likely, the heart) of Robert Queisser, a captain in the Ohio National Guard, in 1917. It was a time when a good many American men were “Over There” fighting in the trenches of Europe in World War I — including Queisser’s two sons. He devised the banner in 1917 to honor his boys, and even got a patent on it.
On Sept. 24 , 1917 , U.S. Rep. Henry Ivory Emerson read into the Congressional Record, “…the Governor of Ohio has adopted this service flag. The world should know of those who give so much for liberty: The dearest thing in the world to a father and mother — their children.”
By the next month, you could buy a 24-by-36inch Blue Star flag from the United Service Flag Company of Cleveland for two bucks — all sewn, not printed. By law, service flags, just like American flags (at least those purchased by the government) must be manufactured in the U.S. or one of its territories.
After the Blue Star flag was standardized by Congress, its use proliferated during World War II and the conflict in Korea. It fell out of favor during the Vietnam years, when, because of the controversy over the conflict, service members regrettably were not treated as honorably and respectfully as their predecessors had been. It’s only been relatively recently that public sentiment has swung toward honoring the veterans from that era, and the Blue Star banner consequently came back into common use with the military’s involvement in Iraq and Afghanistan.
A somber note: The service flag serves a second purpose. Family members of those who give their last full measure while in service during a conflict are entitled to sew a gold star onto the blue star — slightly smaller such that the gold is rimmed in blue. The gold star signifies the death of the service member. While the Blue Star flag must be taken down at the end of hostilities, a Gold Star family may display the flag in perpetuity. Gold Star family members also are presented with special lapel pins, and in Ohio, are entitled to Gold Star-emblazoned license plates.
So keep your eyes peeled for the stars — blue and gold — and remember what they mean. And certainly don’t hesitate to offer up your gratitude.
Ashland Comfort Control (419) 281-0144 comfortcontrolohio.com
Bowling Green United Home Comfort (419) 352-7092 unitedhomecomfort.com
Chillicothe
Accurate Htg & Clg (740) 775-5005 accurategeothermal.com
Coldwater Ray’s Refrigeration (419) 678-8711 raysrefrigeration.com
Defiance Schlatters Plbg & Htg (419) 393-4690 schlattersgeothermal.com
Dresden Federal Htg & Clg (740) 754-4328 federalheating.com
Findlay Knueve & Sons Inc. (419) 420-7638 knueve.com
Gahanna
Custom A/C & Htg (614) 552-4822 customairco.com/ geothermal
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
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
Springfield Danco Enterprises (937) 969-8440 daytongeothermal.com
Sunbury Westin Air (614) 794-1259 geothermalcentralohio.com
Toledo Overcashier & Horst (419) 841-3333 ohcomfort.com
Wellington
Wellington Indoor Comfort (440) 647-3421
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Gift Guide 2024 Holiday
COMPILED BY DAMAINE VONADA
Wrap up your shopping and sleigh the holidays this year with our gift guide’s selection of original, useful, and ingenious made-in-Ohio items, which will make it the most wonderful time of the year for everyone on your list.
Barb Barbee Jewelry, Delaware
At her home studio in Delaware, Worthington Craft Guild member Barb Barbee fashions jewelry using 14-karat goldfilled wire, sterling silver, freshwater pearls, and precious and semi-precious stones. Her holiday line has Christmas tree-shaped green malachite pendants; mother-of-pearl snowman earrings; and stunning Christmas spiders that channel an East European folktale.
Rubber City Soaps, Akron
Building fun and functionality into everything she makes, Gynnise Gilbert-Mills handcrafts soaps and novelty bath products like Snow Globe Bath Bombs, which feature glitter-filled bouncy balls and skin-softening cocoa butter. Peppermint-scented Miss Christmas is a cold-process soap with jolly red, pink, and white stripes, while her cupcakeshaped bath bombs conjure visions of sugar plums. 614-206-5591; www.barbbarbeejewelry.com; Facebook: Barb Barbee Jewelry
info@rubbercitysoaps.com; 330-800-0235; www.rubbercitysoaps.com
Cleveland Ketchup Co., Westlake
Matt and Lisa McMonagle started their condiment company in their kitchen with the goal of making ketchup that tastes great, has no high-fructose corn syrup, and is naturally glutenfree. Now they’ve expanded to add mustards and mayonnaise, and their products’ distinctive flavor profiles include Bacon and Bourbon Ketchup, Jalapeño Mustard, and Dill Mayo.
orders@clevelandketchup.com; 216-400-5212; www.clevelandketchup.com
Baqette, Cincinnati
Quinn Mcilhargey-Nicholson skillfully upcycles leather into luxurious handbags and accessories with luscious colors and lovely accents. Walnut and cherry handles that she designed give her Crescent Woodie bags a dash of panache, while her Party Bucket sports bespoke style with three mix-and-match options for straps: multicolor rope, leather in different lengths, and vintage glass beads that double as a necklace.
hello@baqette.com; www.baqette.com; instagram.com/baqette
Columbus Washboard Company, Logan
Founded in Columbus in 1895, the nation’s last washboard company is locally owned and operated in Logan, where a downtown building houses its factory, retail space, and antique washboard exhibits. The washboards are handmade from Ohio-grown poplar using tools and equipment dating to the 1800s. Give that person-who-haseverything their own rub-in-a-tub experience with timehonored washboards like the family-size MaidRite and pail-size Dubl Handi.
info@columbuswashboard.com; 740-380-3828; www.columbuswashboard.com
Perkie Prints, Columbus
Jonni Perkins specializes in turning mobile phone pictures of beloved pets into apparel and decorative items that their owners cherish. Hand-created and individually printed, her pet portrait products include coffee mugs, tote bags, throw pillow covers, and exclusive Pet-in-Pocket tees that are available in cropped or classic versions. And of course, Jonni’s holiday ornaments make paws-itively wonderful gifts. hello@perkieprints.com; www.perkieprints.com
Possum Products, Newcomerstown
In his home’s basement workshop, Frontier Power Company member Russ Riggle hand-makes wooden toys that operate on brains rather than batteries. His materials all are sourced in the United States, and most of them come from Ohio. Besides his popular tractors and log trucks, Russ designs airplanes, trains, animals, and Bigfoot on wheels.
www.possumproductsllc.com
Lavender Meadows, Chillicothe
Vicki Wissler grows and hand-harvests 17 varieties of lavender on her century-old family farm. The South Central Power Company member then distills the essential oils to make lavender products ranging from room sprays and candles to body lotion and bath salts. Tip: For Christmas gifting, Vicki adorns her merchandise with little Santa hats and bells.
lavendermeadowsohio@gmail.com; 740-649-6148; www.lavendermeadowsohio.com
R & R Candles, Columbus
Brenda Recife’s small-batch candles are planet- and animal-friendly. She recycles and repurposes discarded beer, water, and soda cans into candle containers and donates a percentage of the candles’ proceeds to animal rescue groups. Tip: Use Brenda’s custom services to create a novel and memorable gift by choosing the candle’s container, label, type of wax, and fragrance.
rrcandles2@gmail.com; 614-600-7729; www.rrcandles.com
The Cat’s Meow Village, Wooster
For decades, Faline Jones has made small wooden replicas of structures and scenes that keep customers’ memories of events and places alive. Always displaying a black cat, her distinctive pieces cover national locales from Alabama’s state barn to Wyoming’s Yellowstone National Park, and they capture Ohio’s Yuletide season with merrily embellished models of landmarks such as the Marblehead Lighthouse and Hale Farm’s Meeting House.
cmv@catsmeow.com; 330-264-1377; www.catsmeow.com
Hooked by Angel, Grove City
A crochet hook, high-quality yarns, and plenty of imagination are the only things Angela Doherty needs as she designs and crafts adorable canine cup and mug cozies. Although her personal favorite is the Schnauzer, Angel’s cozies cover breeds from Australian cattle dogs to Yorkshire terriers with lots of “doodles” — including the Labradoodle, goldendoodle, and Bernedoodle — in between.
hookedbyangel@gmail.com; 614-395-3214; https://hookedbyangel.etsy.com
Sweet Memories Vintage Tees and Candy, Girard
Chock-full of retro sweets, toys, and proprietary T-shirts whose yummy themes include Good Humor bars, Dots, and Tootsie Rolls, Linda Barton’s retail store is a fun destination. Her special “Made in Ohio” box features candies from the state — think Spangler Circus Peanuts, Original Candy Buttons, and Waggoner Buckeye Bars — plus an Ohio “Home Sweet Home” tee.
Farmhouse Stoneware, Chardon
Making durable, practical, and artful pottery is a vocation Jim and Betsy Anderson have pursued for more than 30 years. The Andersons’ combination studio and showroom is in a barn behind their farmhouse, and their individually crafted wares are lead-free and microwave and oven safe. Bestsellers include clever microwave bacon and egg cookers; chicken roasters; apple bakers; and French butter keepers. info@sweetvintagetees.com; 330-759-3500; www.sweetvintagetees.com
That Dam Jam, Milford
Barbie Hahn’s versatile jams contain pineapple plus peppers picked by Ohio farmers. While all four flavors are sweet, they have varying levels of heat. Her Pineapple Yellow Pepper Jam is an “All Sweet, No Heat” product. Pineapple Jalapeño Jam tastes mildly spicy; bestselling Pineapple Habañero Jam delivers a kick; and Pineapple Ghost Pepper Jam packs a fiery punch.
513-310-0399; www.thatdamjam.com farmhousestoneware@windstream.net; 440-286-1100; www.farmhousestoneware.com
The Oak Barrel Company, Berlin
In the heart of Ohio’s Amish Country, Holmes-Wayne Electric Cooperative member Chris Deffenbaugh makes unique household furnishings from used oak barrels. His bestsellers include handsome barrel sinks and leather-topped ottomans, and his serving trays and lazy servers can be personalized with a family name or crest. Tip: His Berlin retail store has gift items starting at $5.
Tickled Sweet, Milford
Chocolatier Bambi Merz loves candy, and thanks to her passion for high-quality sweets, her downtown Milford shop is a delectable destination. Among Bambi’s many fine confections are supersized “Galapagos” turtles; chocolate bark with festive flavors such as pumpkin spice and peppermint; and 40 kinds of fudge that encompass everything from traditional chocolate to trendy orange cream. chris@theoakbarrelcompany.com; 330-466-0636; www.theoakbarrelcompany.com bambi@tickledsweet.net; 513-880-4169; www.tickledsweet.net
2024 CALENDAR
NOV. 6, DEC. 4 – Down on the Farm Story Time, Proving Ground Farm, 5670 E. Twp. Rd. 138, Tiffin, 10 a.m. Stories and activities geared for preschool-age children focus on farming and nature in a picturesque outdoor setting. 419-447-7073, www.conservesenecacounty.com, or find Seneca Conservation District on Facebook.
NOV. 16 – Country Collection Christmas Craft Show, Allen Co. Fgds., 2750 Harding Hwy., Lima, 9 a.m.–4 p.m. $4. Craft vendors from all over Ohio and surrounding states. www.visitgreaterlima.com.
NOV. 22–DEC. 29 – NWORRP North Pole Express, Northwest Ohio Railroad Preservation Inc., 12505 Co. Rd. 99, Findlay. $5; 12 and under, $3. Hop on board our quarter-scale trains for a trip through a winter wonderland of lights and festive decorations. See operating toy trains and hundreds of decorated trees, plus Santa and Mrs. Claus on select nights. 419-423-2995, www.facebook.com/nworrp, or www. nworrp.org.
NOV. 27 – Grand Illumination, downtown Sidney, 6–6:30 p.m. Free. Coordinated lighting of the holiday lights downtown. www.sidneyalive.org.
NOV. 29 – Christmas in the Village Parade and Black Friday, downtown West Liberty. Join us for the annual parade of floats, lit up and ready for the
WEST VIRGINIA
NOV. 7–JAN. 5 – Winter Festival of Lights, Oglebay Resort, Wheeling. Featuring 300 acres of twinkling lights over a 6-mile drive, with more than 100 lighted attractions. Per-car donation requested, valid for the entire festival season. 877-436-1797 or www.oglebay. com/events/festival-of-lights.
NOV. 30–DEC. 1, 7–8 – Spirit of Christmas in the Mountains, Fort New Salem, 81 Settlers Lane, Salem, beginning 12 p.m. Living history, demonstrations, and more. Caroling at 5 p.m., followed by grand processional and tree lighting at 5:30 p.m. 304-6952220, director@fortnewsalemfoundation.org, or www. fortnewsalemfoundation.org.
holidays! Shop Black Friday deals found only in the Village. Santa will be lighting the Christmas tree and spreading smiles. www.mywestliberty.com.
NOV. 29– DEC. 31 – Lake of Lights, Saulisberry Park/France Lake, 13344 St. Rte. 67 W., Kenton, 6–9 p.m. daily. A drive-through lighting event. Special events held on the weekends. 567-674-4567, lakeoflights08@gmail.com, or www.facebook.com/ LakeOfLights.
DEC. 1 – Cowboy Christmas Tack Swap, Christmas Shopping, and Live Auction, The Show Arena (formerly WB Ranch), 1640 Co. Rd. B, Swanton. Free admission/parking. Tack swap 9 a.m.–2 p.m.; live auction at 2 p.m., consign the same day. Call or text for more info: 419-356-1350 or 419-283-5383
DEC. 4–8 – Christmas Tree Festival, Allen County Museum, 620 W. Market St., Lima. Free; donations welcome. See over 100 decorated Christmas trees from community organizations, as well as “Evergreen” the talking Christmas Tree. Also tours of MacDonell House, demos in the Log House, and kids’ activities. www.allencountymuseum.org/events.
DEC. 5, 7 – Lakeview Christmas in the Village, 115 E. Lake St., Lakeview. Santa is coming to town with a grand parade and tree-lighting ceremony Thursday evening. Saturday morning, enjoy breakfast with Santa, photos, petting zoo, and scavenger hunt before our big gift giveaway at the firehouse. Don’t forget to shop at Santa’s Workshop too! www.facebook.com/ downtownlakeviewohio.
DEC. 6 – First Fridays Christmas Parade, downtown Bellefontaine. Winter-themed activities start in the afternoon and culminate in an hour-long parade that will have you feeling the Christmas spirit for weeks to come. www.firstfridaysbellefontaine.com.
DEC. 6–7, 13–15 – Country Christmas, Marmon Valley Farm, 7754 St. Rte. 292 S., Zanesfield. $14/ person. Bundle up to enjoy a heartwarming event that captures the true Christmas spirit: a unique hayride tour that brings you right into the story of our Savior’s birth. www.marmonvalley.com.
DEC. 7 – Christmas at Apollo Craft Show, Apollo Career Center, 3325 Shawnee Rd., Lima, 9 a.m.–3 p.m. $3; 12 and under free. Over 100 crafters selling homemade and handcrafted wares. Food available for purchase. www.facebook.com/apollocareercenter.
DEC. 7 – West Liberty Christmas Tour of Homes, 129 N. Detroit St., West Liberty, 5–8 p.m. Tour beautifully decorated homes, plus shop ’til you drop with your included Shop Hop pass. www. mywestliberty.com.
DEC. 7 – Winter Wonderland Market and Parade, downtown Sidney. Free. The downtown will be busy with various activities, ending with a wonderful nighttime parade celebration. www.sidneyalive.org.
DEC. 7–8, 14–15 – Christmas at the Logan County History Center, 521 E. Columbus Ave., Bellefontaine. See the History Center decked out in the grandeur of the holiday season, featuring more than two dozen trees and the 1906 Orr Mansion fully decorated. www. loganhistory.org.
DEC. 14 – Lima Symphony Orchestra and Chorus: “Bells, Brass, and Bows,” Lima Civic Center, 7 Town Square, Lima, 7:30 p.m. $35–$45. Our holiday concert features music from cherished Christmas films and sing-alongs of sacred hymns and beloved carols, concluding with Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker Suite 419222-5701 or www.limasymphony.com.
DEC. 14 – Wreaths Across America Day at Shawnee Cemetery, Shawnee and Zurmehly Rds., Lima, 12 p.m. Free. Remember and honor our veterans by laying fresh evergreen remembrance wreaths on the graves of our country’s fallen heroes. Sign up at https://wreathsacrossamerica.org/pages/179674/ Overview/?relatedId=179651
DEC. 15 – NW Ohio Low Brass Collective Winter Concert, Allen East High School Auditeria, 9105 Harding Hwy., Harrod, 4 p.m. Free to the public. Come hear musicians from around northwest Ohio and beyond play familiar tunes! www. facebook.com/people/NW-Ohio-Low-BrassCollective/100085554007401
2024 CALENDAR
NOVEMBER/DECEMBER
Grove City, 10 a.m.–4 p.m. For updates, visit www. columbusminiaturesociety.org, call 740-497-8292, or find us on Facebook.
NOV. 16 – Veterans Day Concert, Epiphany Lutheran Church, 268 Hill Rd. N., Pickerington, 4 p.m. Free admission; freewill offering will be taken. Join the Pickerington Community Chorus for a patriotic concert to honor our veterans. www.pickeringtoncommunitychorus. com or follow us on Facebook.
NOV. 1, DEC. 6 – 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! https://artcoz.org/arts-district-map.
NOV. 15–16 – Christmas in the Country, various businesses in the Amanda, Tarlton, and Stoutsville area. Enjoy a ride in the country to shop for holiday treasures, vintage finds, good food, and much more. Join our scavenger hunt to gather entries into our drawing for Shop Hop Bucks. 740-503-2125 or www.countryshophop. com.
NOV. 16 – Columbus Miniature Society Annual Miniature Dollhouse Show and Sale, St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, 3220 Columbus St.,
NOV. 17 – National Take a Hike Day, YMCA entrance of the Roundtown Trail, Circleville, 1 p.m. To register, email mellis@pickawaycountyohio.gov. Program will be canceled in the case of inclement weather. Please dress to be outside and for a hike. An adult must accompany all children under 12. 740-420-5451 or www. pickawaycountyparks.org.
NOV. 23 – Hopewell School Craft and Vendor Show, 23720 Airport Rd., Coshocton, 9 a.m.–2 p.m. Over 40 vendors, food, 50/50, raffles. Fundraiser for Hopewell School PTO and Coshocton County Special Olympics. 740-575-4809 or tcollins@coshdd.org.
NOV. 24 – Buckeye Comic Con, Courtyard by Marriott Columbus West, 2350 Westbelt Dr., Columbus, 10 a.m.–4 p.m. $5; 6 and under free. Free parking. Comic and toy vendors, comic creators, hourly prizes. 330-462-3985, jeff@harpercomics.com, or www.harpercomics.com.
NOV. 29 – Annual Holiday Bazaar and Craft Show,
THROUGH NOV. 30 – Pumpkin Blow, Neusole Glassworks, 11925 Kemper Springs Dr., Cincinnati, Wed./ Thur. 10 a.m.–6 p.m., Fri.–Sun. 10 a.m.–8 p.m. $55 per 30-min. session. Must be age 5 or older. Blow your own pumpkin from hot molten glass. Reservations required. 513-751-3292 or neusoleglassworks@hotmail.com.
NOV. 9 – Under the Stars with Jim Carr, Garber Nature Center, 9691 OH-503 N., Lewisburg, 8–10 p.m. Free. Join us for an exciting evening stargazing. For all ages. 937-962 5561, pcpdevents@gmail.com, or www. preblecountyparks.org.
Lake Park Pavilion, 23253 OH-83, Coshocton, 9 a.m.–3 p.m. With over 40 talented vendors of handmade crafts, you will be sure to find that special gift or something special for yourself. Come and enter to win one of many door prizes! www.coshoctonlakepark.com.
DEC. 6 – Pickerington Holiday Gathering, around the Olde Village, Columbus and Center St., Pickerington, 5–8 p.m. City Christmas tree lighting at 5:30 p.m. Horsedrawn wagon rides, ice carving, petting zoo, activities for kids, mini train rides, strolling carolers, food trucks, Holiday Gift Market, and more. 614-382-2452 or www. pickeringtonvillage.com.
DEC. 13 – Columbus Symphony Orchestra Holiday Spectacular, Faith Memorial Church, 2610 W. Fair Ave., Lancaster, 7:30 p.m. Adults $30, children $10, under 2 free. Tickets available online or by calling CBUSArts Ticket Office at 614-469-0939 or the church office at 740-654-1711. For more information, visit www. columbussymphony.com or www.faithm.ch.
DEC. 13–14 – Lancaster Camp Ground Christmas Walk, 2151 W. Fair Ave., Lancaster, 4–9 p.m. 740-6532119 or www.lancastercampground.org.
DEC. 14 – Annual Holiday Cookie Walk, Fairfield County Genealogical Research Library, 503 Lenwood Dr. (corner of W. Mulberry and Lenwood), Lancaster, 1–4 p.m. Great variety of holiday treats! 740-653-2573 or www. fairfieldgenealogy.org.
Christmas tree-lighting celebration in downtown Troy. Be sure to get there early to catch the arrival of Santa Claus, get in line for the horse-drawn carriage rides, and more! www.troymainstreet.org
NOV. 30 – Hometown HoliDazzle Illuminated Parade and Festival, downtown Wilmington. Events begin at 3 p.m.; parade at 7 p.m. www.hometownholidazzle.com.
THROUGH DEC. 18 – 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.
NOV. 23 – Hometown Holiday Horse Parade and Christmas Celebration, downtown Greenville. More than 100 lighted horse-drawn carriages, hitches, and riders illuminate the downtown. 937-548-4998 or www. downtowngreenville.org.
NOV. 29 – Grand Illumination, Public Square, Troy, 5–8:30 p.m. Kick off the holiday season with the annual
SCOTT ANTIQUE MARKETS
DEC. 7 – Angel House Christmas Bazaar, Tipp City Global Methodist Church, 8 W. Main St., Tipp City, 9 a.m.–4 p.m. Free admission. 30+ artisan/craft vendors. Quilt show, cookie walk, food. To benefit Angel House Children’s Home in Tanzania, Africa. For more information, email tcgmcbazaar@gmail.com.
DEC. 7 – Annual Lebanon Horse-Drawn Carriage Parade and Festival, downtown Lebanon, 10 a.m.–8 p.m. Parades at 1 and 7 p.m. Beautiful horse-drawn carriages glide through the streets adorned with lights, garlands, and ornaments. Festival features food and craft vendors, live entertainment, Santa, and more! Visit @lebanoncarriageparade on Facebook.
DEC. 7 – Downtown Piqua Holiday Parade, beginning at corner of Main and Greene, Piqua, 2 p.m. This year’s parade celebrates the 20th anniversary of the release of The Polar Express. www.mainstreetpiqua.com.
DEC. 7 – Indoor Christmas Caroling with the Dulcimer Guy (Matthew Dickerson), Garber Nature Center, 9691 OH-503 N., Lewisburg, 3 or 4 p.m. Join us for music, hot chocolate, and sweets. Limited space; RSVP required. 937-962-5561, pcpdevents@ gmail.com, or www.preblecountyparks.org.
DEC. 7–8, 14–15 – “The Bethlehem Experience,” Countryside Church of Christ, 468 Tranquility Pike, Seaman, 6–8:30 p.m. Free. Interactive guided tour representing a walk through the little town of Bethlehem as you celebrate the birth of Christ. 937386-3154, www.countrysidechurchofchrist.com, or find us on Facebook.
SOUTHEAST
NOV. 1–JAN. 1 – Dickens Victorian Village, downtown Cambridge. Stroll the streets to view scenes depicting life in Victorian England, featuring life-sized, handmade mannequins wearing real vintage clothing. 800-933-5480 or www. dickensvictorianvillage.com.
NOV. 1–JAN. 1 – Guernsey County Courthouse Holiday Light Show, Cambridge, 5:30–9 p.m. nightly. (Nov. 1–4 begins at 6:30 p.m.) Four different light and music shows performed each evening. Extended hours on selected dates. 800-933-5480 or www.dickensvictorianvillage.com.
NOV. 22 – Turn to Stone: A Tribute to ELO, Majestic Theatre, 45 E. Second St., Chillicothe, 7 p.m. $39–$59. Turn to Stone captures the magic of a 1970s ELO performance with a live string section, light show, and 70s clothing. www.majesticchillicothe.net.
NORTHEAST
NOV. 16–DEC. 16 – “Elegance of Christmas Past,” Victorian House Museum, 484 Wooster Rd., Millersburg, Sun.–Thur. 1–4 p.m., Fri./Sat. 1–8 p.m. $10; seniors and veterans/active military, $9. Grand opening Nov. 16, 4–8 p.m. 330-674-0022 or https:// www.holmeshistory.com/museum.
NOV. 20 – Ricardo Morales Vivero and Grace Blackford: An Evening of Hispanic Music, Medina County District Library, 210 S. Broadway St., Medina, 6:30–7:30 p.m. Free. Seating is on a first-come, firstserved basis. 419-853-6016 or www.ormaco.org.
NOV. 22 – Window Wonderland, downtown Wooster, 3 p.m. Free. Decorated storefront windows, Santa descending from the rooftop of the Briggs & Starr Building, hot chocolate, treats, live reindeer, horse-drawn carriage rides, lighting of the Christmas tree in the square, and much more. 330-262-6222 or www.mainstreetwooster.org.
NOV. 22–24 – Downtown Holiday Open House, downtown Chillicothe, Fri. 6–8 p.m., Sat. 10 a.m.–8 p.m., Sun. 12–5 p.m. Free. Ring in the holiday with the annual tree lighting, Shine On Chillicothe display lights, carriage rides, shopping, dining, caroling, trolley rides, and more! www. downtownchillicothe.com.
NOV. 23–DEC. 14 – The Hay Loft Christmas, 5027 Co. Rd. 6, Kitts Hill, Sat. 3–7 p.m. Pictures with Santa, his elves, and the Grinch. Hot chocolate, cookies, popcorn, and other snacks. Decorate Christmas cookies and other activities. There is a charge for pictures with Santa and for food. 740-534-2926 or www.facebook.com/thehayloftvenue.
NOV. 30 – Christmas Parade, downtown Cambridge, 5 p.m. This year’s theme is “Christmas in the Wild West,” honoring our legendary cowboy, Hopalong Cassidy. 740-439-2238 or www. downtowncambridge.com.
NOV. 30–DEC. 22 – Santa Train, Hocking Valley Scenic Railway, Nelsonville Depot, 33 W. Canal St., Nelsonville, every Sat. and Sun., 11 a.m. and 2 p.m., and at 6 p.m. on select dates (see website). $19–$24; under 3 free. www.hvsry.org/trainlist/#santa.
DEC. 4 – Rudolf Run 5K and Glow Walk, Elks Lodge, 42 W. Second St., Chillicothe, 6 p.m. $20–$30. A glow nose and necklace will accompany your registration (register by 11/24). www. downtownchillicothe.com.
DEC. 7 – Chillicothe Christmas Church Walk, downtown Chillicothe, 5 p.m. $10–$15. This walk features four churches and a variety of entertainment at each stop that will put you in the holiday spirit! www.downtownchillicothe.com.
DEC. 7 – Cookies with Santa, Deerassic Park Education Center, 14250 Cadiz Rd., Cambridge, 10 a.m.–1 p.m. Make a $5 donation or bring a toy in exchange for a dozen sugar cookies! Cookie decorating, craft making, hot cocoa, and more. 740435-3335 or www.deerassic.com.
DEC. 7 – Phil Dirt and the Dozers, Majestic Theatre, 45 E. Second St., Chillicothe, 7:30 p.m. $25–$40 Fans of all ages will enjoy hearing the oldies but goodies along with some of the band’s Christmas favorites. www.majesticchillicothe.net.
DEC. 7–8, 14–15 – Holidays at Adena, Adena Mansion and Gardens, 847 Adena Rd., Chillicothe, 10 a.m.–4 p.m. $6–$12. Tour the beautifully decorated mansion and see how the holiday season was celebrated in the 19th century. Visit the Tenant House to learn how German tenants celebrated with traditions they brought to Adena. www. adenamansion.com.
DEC. 15 – Columbus Symphony Holiday Pops Spectacular, Ohio University Chillicothe, 101 University Dr., Chillicothe, 4–7 p.m. $5–$25. www. downtownchillicothe.com.
NOV. 29–DEC. 1, 6–8, 13–15, 20–29 – Medina County Fair Drive Thru Holiday Lights, Medina Co. Fgds., 720 W. Smith Rd., Medina, Sun.–Thur. 6–9 p.m., Fri./Sat. 6–10 p.m. Cars $10, small bus/15passenger van $20, large bus $50 330-723-9633 or www.medinaohiofair.com.
NOV. 29–JAN. 10 – Christmas in the Ville with Steubenville Nutcracker Village and Christmas at the Fort, Steubenville Visitor Center, 120 S. 3rd St., Steubenville. Free. Over 200 large-as-life, unique nutcrackers are stationed under a canopy of lights and holiday decorations throughout the downtown and Fort Steuben Park 24/7; Advent Market, hayrides, the Holly Trolley, children’s activities, music, crafts, and much more. 740-283-4935 or www. steubenvillenutcrackervillage.com.
NOV. 30 – The Handmade Market, Painesville Railroad Museum (NYC Painesville Depot), 475 Railroad St., Painesville, 9 a.m.–3 p.m. Handmade arts and crafts, bake sale, raffle. 440-655-4455, prrmevent@att.net, or www. painesvillerailroadmuseum.org.
NOV. 30 – One Stop Christmas Shop, Church of the Saviour Gymnasium, 480 Fry Rd., Wooster, 9 a.m.–2 p.m. Free admission. Over 30 vendors; cash-and-carry specials; food trucks. Wheelchair accessible. Email theonestopshopvendors@gmail.com or follow us on Facebook: bit.ly/4blfeY9
NOV. 30–DEC. 1 – Christmas in the Alpaca Barn, 16800 Cowley Rd., Grafton, 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Come and enjoy an up-close and personal look at these
wonderful peaceful creatures. Shop for unique gifts at the Farm Store. 440-724-7070 or www. ourlittleworldalpacas.com.
DEC. 2 – Christmas in Zoar, 198 Main St., Zoar. $10; 12 and under free. Learn about early American and German holiday traditions. Visits from Kristkind, the German Belsnickel, and Santa. Self-guided tours and extended shopping opportunities at the Zoar Store available. 800-262-6195 or www.historiczoarvillage. com.
DEC. 7 – Handbell Christmas Concert, Lincoln Way Vineyards, 9050 W. Old Lincoln Way, Wooster, 1 p.m. Presented by the Grace Ringers and Friends. Honoring veterans. Food truck on-site. Call 330-8049463, 330-464-0792, or 330-345-6472 for more information.
DEC. 15 – Cleveland Trombone Collective: Holiday Tunes, Wadsworth Public Library, 132 Broad St., Wadsworth, 2–3 p.m. Free. Enjoy lively brass arrangements of holiday music and more. Seating is on a first-come, first-served basis. 419-853-6016 or www.ormaco.org.
DEC. 15 – Massillon Train and Toy Show, Massillon Knights of Columbus Hall, 988 Cherry Rd. NW, Massillon, 10 a.m.–3 p.m. $5; 12 and under free. Free parking. All gauges and parts, running layouts, farm and vintage toys, diecast models, NASCAR items, and more. Food and drink available. 330-262-7488 or http://cjtrains.com/shows.
On horseback
A love of horses is passed down in this three-generation picture of me, our granddaughter Susie, and daughter Kim, when we visited them in Louisiana.
My
Our great-granddaughter, Evelyn Grace Dougherty, age 3½, loves her riding lesson. Lawson and Peggy Widman, Hancock-Wood Electric Cooperative members
Liam
My
For February, send “Love language” by Nov. 15.
For March, send “Hoops hysteria” by Dec. 15. Upload your photos at www.ohiocoopliving.com/memberinteractive. Your photo may be featured in our magazine or on our website. Send us YOUR picture!
my
daughter, Keisha Towns, with my granddaughters Kamari, Karisah, and London, riding horseback at The Wilds. Sally Trivanovich, South Central Power Company member
friends, Beth and Angie, and I celebrated
birthday by going horseback riding in Hocking Hills. Delona Joiner, South Central Power Company member
and Taylor Schumann riding at horseman’s camp at Dew Downs in Sidney. Charles Vondenhuevel
Logan County Electric Cooperative member
My daughter, Aryiah, on Bubbles during riding lessons. Brittney Schumacher, North Central Electric Cooperative member
Beth Howard, Mid-Ohio Energy Cooperative member
SERVING YOU
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