Ohio Cooperative Living – December 2022 - Firelands

Firelands Electric Cooperative

COOPERATIVES RETURN MONEY TO THEIR MEMBERS!

That’s Right, cooperatives are not-for-profit, so when there’s money left after bills are paid, it is returned to members as “capital credits” or “patronage capital.”

Annually, Ohio electric cooperatives return about $35 million to their members.

Nationally, electric co-ops returned $1.5 billion to members in 2020 and $19 billion since 1988.

HOW CAPITAL CREDITS WORK

Members paying their bills generates operating revenue for the cooperative.

When all the bills are paid, the extra money at the end of each year, called “margins,” is allocated back to each member based on how much electricity they purchased that year.

The cooperative’s board approves a return of that money to members, often called “capital credits” or “patronage capital.”

Season of giving

This past year seems to have gone by in a blur. Families and businesses have been faced with many challenges here in the U.S. — primarily from much higher costs for many of the things we need most in our daily lives but also from the challenges of simply getting what we need, when we need it because of supply chain snarls that stretch around the world.

Conflict has raged on in Ukraine for most of the year, giving us a daily glimpse at the horror that is war. The side effects for the rest of the world are just beginning to show themselves, causing many countries to worry about the availability of food and energy as winter begins to set in.

Here in Ohio, we can consider ourselves rather fortunate. While we have been touched by these broad trends, we also remain relatively insulated from the worst of their effects. Ohio’s electric cooperatives were able to complete the purchase of AEP’s share of the Cardinal generating station in 2022, which promises to provide us a stable source of reliable and affordable electricity for years to come. We have seen increases in the cost to produce and deliver electricity to you this year, but have been able to hold cost increases to about 5%. This contrasts with increases in electricity prices that have averaged 15% for Ohioans that are customers of the large investor-owned utilities — which is similar to what electricity customers have seen in much of the rest of the country.

Your electric cooperative remains committed to serving you every day, and to being a positive force in your community. We remain focused on doing whatever we can to keep your costs down and your service quality second to none.

Electric cooperatives also support the financial needs of the communities we serve, of course through the local taxes we pay but also (in many communities) through “round up” programs as described on page 4. Christmas is at the heart of the season of giving — but of course that doesn’t just mean gifts among family and friends; it also inspires a sense of community obligation to share with those less fortunate, or otherwise in need. We are pleased to be able to be part of the support network every community needs.

Good tidings and blessings on you and your family. We pray for peace on Earth and good will toward all!

Pat O’Loughlin PRESIDENT & CEO OHIO’S ELECTRIC COOPERATIVES

Your electric cooperative remains committed to serving you every day, and to being a positive force in your community.

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 Managing Editor

Crystal Pomeroy Graphic Designer

Contributors: Colleen Romick Clark, Getty Images, W.H. “Chip” Gross, Vicki Reinhart Johnson, Catherine Murray, 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 Pontiac, IL 61764, 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

Neighbor helping neighbor: Electric cooperatives use small change to make a big difference in the communities they serve.

7 CO-OP PEOPLE

The big cheese: Pearl Valley’s presence has grown through four generations of cheesemakers.

10 WOODS, WATERS, AND WILDLIFE

Teddy’s bear: What’s the real story behind that classic Christmas toy?

13 GOOD EATS

Warm and cozy: Who needs fruitcake? Use dried fruit in lots of dishes to add a touch of holiday spirit.

17 LOCAL PAGES

News and information from your electric cooperative.

33 CALENDAR

What’s happening: December/ January events and other things to do around Ohio.

Cooperative members:

Please report changes of address to your electric cooperative. Ohio Cooperative Living staff cannot process address changes.

Alliance for Audited Media Member

Ohio’s Electric Cooperatives is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

36

MEMBER INTERACTIVE

Candy canes: Nothing says “Christmas” quite like an iconic, striped bit of peppermint candy.

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.

Neighbor helping neighbor

Electric cooperatives use small change to make a big difference in their communities.

BY JEFF MCCALLISTER

Jennifer Thornburgh, a member of Bellefontainebased Logan County Electric Cooperative, hadn’t really thought much about the few pennies she added each month to her electric bill.

Like many other co-ops, LCEC offers its members the choice to round their bills to the next full dollar — and then uses that small change to help fund worthy causes within the community.

Co-ops around the state and nation have a variety of names for similar programs — Operation Round Up, Community Connection, People Fund, etc. — but to those individuals and organizations that benefit from them, they could simply be called “Hope.”

As it turns out, Thornburgh’s donation — an average of $6 per year, a few nickels and dimes at a time — helped LCEC boost a program that helped her own family. One of LCEC’s Operation Round Up grants helped RTC Industries in Bellefontaine to provide a transition program for young adults with developmental disabilities.

“My son Eli went through the Healthy Relationships program, through RTC, and it was a huge benefit for us as a family,” she says. “It was really nice because it just helped as a parent to know that they know the things that

I sometimes don’t know how to talk to him about.”

Kylee Purtee, day supervisor at RTC Industries, was at a conference where she heard about the Healthy Relationships curriculum and thought it would fit perfectly into the services RTC provides. “We were trying to figure out how we could find the money to pay for it — we have some funding, but it was a good chunk of money,” she says. “We knew the Logan County co-op is very community-focused, they’re always doing things to help others.” So she applied for and was awarded a grant, and within weeks RTC had added the service for families like the Thornburghs.

“It really means a lot to know that when you see that Operation Round Up on your bill, that it’s impacting people in the community,” Jennifer says. “A lot of people say, ‘oh, your dollars help the community.’ But actually seeing it and experiencing it firsthand means a lot.”

Programs like Operation Round Up are a prime example of how co-ops are different from other utilities: “Concern for Community” is written into every co-op’s basic principles, and they take that mission seriously. Ohio’s co-ops distributed more than $1 8 million in grants, donations, and other funding last year alone — and all of that money stayed in each of those local communities.

Logan County Electric Cooperative members who round up their electric bills help ensure programs like RTC Industries in Bellefontaine have the money they need to do critical work in their community. RTC, for example, used its grant from LCEC’s Operation Round Up to fund a service for young adults with developmental disabilities. Below, RTC supervisor Kylee Purtee and Eli Thornburgh, one of the students who benefited from the program.

There are examples all over of both large and small donations that make a huge impact.

After the double-derecho windstorm devastated wide areas of eastern Ohio in June, Holmes-Wayne Electric Cooperative in Millersburg gathered Operation Round Up funds to make a $25,000 donation to the disaster relief managed by the local United Way — putting all those small donations to work for a major effort so desperately needed.

The Community Connection Board of Butler Rural Electric Cooperative in Oxford made 40 smaller donations at its semiannual meeting in September, granting such needed help as reading materials at several local elementary schools, electrical work at a community food pantry, and mobility projects for children with disabilities.

Members of New London-based Firelands Electric Cooperative donated more than $62,000 through its Operation Round Up program last year alone, including funds for a hospice program to help in keeping patients safe and comfortable, and signage to help travelers navigate the New London-Greenwich Rail Trail.

South Central Power Company, based in Lancaster and covering a wide swath of southern and eastern Ohio,

awarded more than $600,000 in grants and scholarships through its Operation Round Up program — including $3,000 to a program to purchase school supplies for teenagers in foster care.

The Community Connection Fund at St. Marys-based Midwest Electric has provided more than $1.2 million since its inception in 1998, including funds this year to repair the parking lot at the VFW post in Coldwater and to help the Auglaize County Historical Society implement QR code technology to better highlight its museums and sites.

Coshocton-based Frontier Power Company’s Community Connection Fund awards grants nearly every month. Recipients this year have included the Bakersville Union Cemetery Association, the Coshocton County Beagle Club, and 4-H Camp Ohio.

“The simplest act of kindness, which is only a few dollars each year, has been so powerful in our community. It is inspiring to watch our members give as individuals, knowing that when added together, their donations offer hope and help to the community,” says Logan County Electric Cooperative’s Ashley Oakley, who administers her co-op’s donation program. “It’s a true, real-life example of the spirit that sets co-ops apart.”

Ohio electric cooperatives use member donations for a wide array pf programs within their communities. After summer wind storms devastated the area, Holmes-Wayne Electric Cooperatives in Millersburg made a large grant to the local United Way to help those affected by the storm. Other co-ops have used those donations to invest in reading programs or school supplies in their local districts.

Pearl Valley’s presence has grown through four generations of cheesemakers.

STORY AND PHOTOS BY DAMAINE VONADA

For Swiss immigrants Ernest and Gertrude Stalder, 1937 was an important year. Not only was their son John born, but a new rural electric cooperative began powering their business, Pearl Valley Cheese, in eastern Coshocton County. “Getting electricity was a turning point for our family,” says John Stalder, “because my parents could modernize their cheese house and use refrigeration.”

Pearl Valley Cheese still occupies the same country property off St. Rte. 93 where Ernest began making Swiss cheese in a small stone building in 1928. Back then, he heated milk from nearby dairy farms in a single copper kettle that yielded one 200-pound wheel of Swiss cheese a day. Today, Pearl Valley Cheese is a sprawling, technologically up-to-date factory producing 40,000 to 45,000 pounds of Swiss and colby cheeses per day. It still gets electricity from a cooperative — The Frontier Power Company — and continues to be owned and operated by Stalder family members. The general manager, Kurt Ellis, is Ernest’s great-grandson (he also serves on Frontier Power’s board of trustees).

Previous page: The second and third generations of the Stalder family of cheesemakers: John Stalder and Chuck Ellis stand behind Grace Stalder and Sally Ellis. Below, a display inside the shop shows Stalder family photos and Pearl Valley Cheese memorabilia. At left, a selection of cheeses fills the display case.

For the Stalders, cheese is more than a business — it’s a lifestyle that has endured for four generations. John and his wife, Grace, took over the factory during the 1960s, and though they’re now octogenarians, they lend a hand there practically every day. The couple also raised four daughters — Ruth Ann, Sally, Heidi, and Trudy — who, along with their spouses and offspring, have helped to make cheese and run the plant in various ways over the years.

“Sally and I work at Pearl Valley Cheese every day,” says Chuck Ellis, who is Sally’s husband and the company’s current president. The Ellises have been involved in Pearl Valley Cheese since 1987 and are the third generation of the family to reside in the frame house next to the factory. Since Pearl Valley Cheese is about halfway between Sugarcreek and Coshocton, its on-site retail store is a destination for locals as well as visitors to Ohio’s Amish Country and Historic Roscoe Village. The factory makes 14 varieties of natural cheese, and bestsellers include their signature Mild Swiss, which won a gold medal at the 2014

World Championship Cheese Contest; Lacey Swiss, a reduced-fat and reduced-sodium cheese; and colby, a semi-hard orange cheese.

While Super Hot Jumping Jack with ghost peppers is one of its newest cheeses, Pearl Valley also makes an Emmentaler Old World Swiss. Emmentaler is Switzerland’s definitive cheese, and in the United States, Swiss-born cheesemakers like Ernest produced versions of it that Americans dubbed Swiss cheese. “Our Emmentaler has a bolder flavor profile than Swiss cheese,” says Chuck. “It’s made with a starter culture from Europe, and as far as I know, we’re the only U.S. cheese factory using that culture.”

Because east-central Ohio’s climate and rolling terrain are similar to Switzerland’s Emmental Valley, Sugarcreek — aka Ohio’s “Little Switzerland” — became a center for both Swiss culture and cheese production. In the early 1900s, the Sugarcreek area had about 60 cheese houses operated by immigrants whose skills and hard work made Swiss

cheese synonymous with the Buckeye State. Presently only a dozen or so Ohio plants manufacture Swiss cheese, but they create more of it — some 150 million pounds annually — than any place in the country. “Ohio is the biggest Swiss cheese producer in the U.S.,” notes Chuck. “It makes about 48% of the nation’s Swiss cheese.”

On Wednesdays, Pearl Valley Cheese also offers free factory tours that begin at the store and end in its shipping facility. Customers are welcome to have a snack at the picnic pavilion just outside the store, and there’s also a small playground for children. Store employees gladly slice samples to taste and even provide serving suggestions. “We try to make things nice for customers because they support us year after year,” says Chuck. “We do a customer appreciation event every summer and always have a bounce house to encourage them to bring their kids.”

Pearl Valley Cheese, 54760 Twp. Rd. 90, Fresno, OH 43824. Open 8 a.m.–5 p.m. M–F and 9 a.m.–4 p.m. Saturdays. 740-545-6002; www.pearlvalleycheese.com.

Teddy’s bear

What’s the story behind that classic, iconic Christmas toy?

BY W.H. “CHIP” GROSS

Teddy bears will be purchased in untold numbers this Christmas season as gifts for children, both around the country and around the world. Ever stop and wonder why? There’s a story behind this ubiquitous bear that few people know; it’s a truelife bear-hunting tale with a happy ending for all involved — including the bear.

Theodore Roosevelt (1858 1919), America’s 26th president, was our most naturalresources-minded chief executive — and an avid biggame hunter. It was in December 1902, early in his first term as president, that “Teddy,” as he was sometimes called, happened to be on a bear-hunting trip to Mississippi.

Guiding the president for several days was Holt Collier, the most famous bear hunter in the state. Born a slave, Collier was now a freed man who made much of his living by bear hunting. He and his pack of top-notch hounds were said to have taken more than 3 ,000 black bears.

But even as talented a hunter as Collier was, he was having trouble finding a bear for Roosevelt, and no doubt feeling the pressure to produce. After several days, Collier’s hounds finally cornered a large male bear and the guide blew his hunting horn, an audible signal for Roosevelt to come to Collier’s location as quickly as possible.

Before Roosevelt could arrive, though, the bear killed one of Collier’s hounds. Collier normally would have shot and killed the bear at that point during a hunt, but wanting to keep it alive for the president, he lassoed the bear and secured the rope to a tree. When Roosevelt arrived and discovered that the bear was tied, however, he refused to shoot it, stating that it would be “unsportsmanlike to do so.” He said that such an act would violate his belief in a newly evolving hunting ethic at the time known as Fair Chase.

The press quickly picked up the story, which found its way to the Washington Post and other large Eastern newspapers. Accompanying the story was a blackand-white cartoon sketch titled “Drawing the Line in Mississippi,” picturing Roosevelt refusing to shoot a cub bear being restrained with a rope around its neck.

The account was read by tens of thousands of Americans, likely helping them form a positive opinion of their new president. The story also gave Morris Michtom, a candymaker from Brooklyn, New York, an idea. Michtom asked his wife, a seamstress, to fashion a stuffed toy bear that children might like. His idea was to name the bear in honor of the president — Teddy’s Bear — and sell replicas of the bear in his candy shop. But first, he wanted to get permission from Roosevelt to use his name, so he wrote him a letter.

The president responded that he was flattered and had no objections to the proposal. But he added that he didn’t think associating his name with the bear would make much difference. Roosevelt couldn’t have been more wrong. Sales quickly took off, with Michtom eventually founding the Ideal Toy Company as a result.

Demand has remained strong ever since, and in 2002, a century after the bear’s creation, Mississippi named the teddy bear its official state toy. An interesting side note is that in 2004, a 2,200-acre National Wildlife Refuge within the Theodore Roosevelt National Wildlife Refuge Complex in Mississippi was named for Holt Collier.

So, if you plan on giving a teddy bear to a young person this Christmas, don’t forget to tell the backstory.

Or, on second thought, maybe not. I can remember receiving a teddy bear when I was a young boy, many, many years ago. Had I heard the story then, I probably would have spent the rest of the day stalking Teddy and shooting at him with my new Red Ryder BB gun — an activity my mom would definitely not have approved.

Merry Christmas to you and yours, and all the best in your 2023 outdoor adventures.

W.H. “Chip” Gross is Ohio Cooperative Living’s outdoors editor. Send him an email at whchipgross@gmail.com.

Ch ry hazelnut butt cookies

Prep: 20 minutes | Chill: 1 hour | Bake: 12 minutes | Servings: 24 1 cup raw hazelnuts ½ cup sugar 1½ cups flour + more for dusting ½ teaspoon baking powder ½ teaspoon salt 1 cup cold unsalted butter, sliced 1 large egg 2⁄3 cup dried cherries, minced

Preheat oven to 350 F. Spread hazelnuts on a small baking sheet and toast 8 to 10 minutes, until fragrant. Cool to room temperature, then husk by rubbing a handful of hazelnuts between your hands. Place hazelnuts and sugar into a food processor and pulse until finely ground. Add in flour, baking powder, and salt, pulsing until incorporated. Pulse in butter and egg until dough forms. Toss minced cherries in a bit of flour, then mix into dough. Form into a 12-inch cylinder (using a little extra flour if needed), cover in plastic, and refrigerate 1 hour.

Preheat oven to 325 F. Remove dough from refrigerator. Cut into half-inch slices and place a half-inch apart on parchmentlined baking sheets. Bake, rotating sheets halfway through, until shortbread edges are lightly browned, about 12 to 15 minutes. Let cool, then store in an airtight container for up to 5 days. Makes approximately 24 cookies. Per serving: 281 calories, 20 grams fat (10 grams saturated fat), 56 milligrams cholesterol, 213 milligrams sodium, 24 grams total carbohydrates, 2 grams fiber, 3 grams protein.

Have you tried one of our recipes? Do you have a recipe to share with other Ohio co-op members? Visit the Member Interactive page on www.ohiocoopliving.com to find recipes submitted by our readers and to upload yours.

www.ohiocoopliving.com

While you’re there, check out a video of a few of our recipes being prepared.

Dried fruit sweet rolls

Prep: 15 minutes | Proof: 3 hours | Bake: 20 minutes | Servings: 9

3 medium overripe bananas, peeled 1 large egg 1 teaspoon instant dry yeast

teaspoon salt 1 cup chopped dried fruit (raisins, golden raisins, apricots, cranberries, and/or pineapple)

1⁄3 cup unsalted butter, melted and cooled 2¼ cups all-purpose flour

extra butter for greasing pan and brushing tops (salted or unsalted)

In a large bowl, mash bananas well, add egg, and mix together. Add yeast, salt, dried fruit, and melted butter, mixing well to combine. Add flour in two batches, mixing with a spatula or paddle until all flour has been incorporated and the dough is sticky. Scrape sides of bowl, placing the dough in a round shape in the center. Cover and let rise for 1½ hours, or until doubled in size.

Drop onto a lightly floured surface and work into a cylinder shape. Cut into 9 equal pieces. Tuck the bottom of each piece into the middle and roll into a tight ball. Place rolls into 10 x 10-inch baking dish greased with butter so the rolls are touching. Cover and proof for another 1½ hours, or until doubled in size. Uncover and brush with melted butter.

Preheat oven to 350 F and bake for 20 to 25 minutes. Let cool to the touch, then tear apart and serve. Store in an airtight container for up to 3 days. Eat for breakfast, a snack, or a sweet dinner roll.

Per serving: 275 calories, 11 grams fat (7 grams saturated fat), 48 milligrams cholesterol, 210 milligrams sodium, 40 grams total carbohydrates, 2.5 grams fiber, 5 grams protein.

Tart and sweet wild rice salad

Prep: 10 minutes | Servings: 6 1 shallot, quartered ¼ cup champagne or white balsamic vinegar 3 to 4 cups cooked and cooled wild rice

tablespoon Dijon mustard

teaspoon salt

teaspoon black pepper

cup red onion, finely chopped

red bell pepper, finely chopped

cup sliced or slivered almonds

cup dried black currants, blueberries, or cranberries

cup olive oil

With a blender or food processor, blend first 6 ingredients (shallot through black pepper) until smooth and creamy. Set aside. In a large bowl, mix remaining ingredients. Pour dressing on top and toss until coated. Serve slightly warmed. Store in airtight container for up to a week.

Per serving: 526 calories, 14 grams fat (2 grams saturated fat), 0 milligrams cholesterol, 427 milligrams sodium, 88 grams total carbohydrates, 9 grams fiber, 18 grams protein.

RISING COSTS CREATE NEED FOR RATE ADJUSTMENT

As your electric cooperative, Firelands Electric is committed to keeping members’ energy rates as low as possible. Our trustees, management, and employees work hard to keep costs in check and delay rate adjustments as long as possible.

Firelands’ last rate change took place nearly three years ago. Following this adjustment, members paid around $5 more on their monthly bills. Unfortunately, the current rate of inflation and rising material costs are now surpassing this modest increase.

We know that all of our members have been impacted by the recent inflation rates. Between June 2021 and June 2022, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported a 9 1% jump in inflation — the largest since November 1981.

McNaull GENERAL MANAGER

Nowhere has this been more evident than at the grocery store and the gas pump. The cost of chicken has gone up by over 15% and butter by 21%. The AAA Gas Prices calculator showed the average Ohio gas price was $3 66 per gallon at the end of October 2022, up from $3 17 just one year ago. That’s an increase of over 15%, or about $10 more per tank.

With a fleet of 22 trucks and other vehicles, Firelands Electric has also been feeling pain at the pump. In 2021, cooperative vehicles drove 161,000 miles, spending $67,097 on fuel. In the first three quarters of 2022, mileage has reached 147,976, while the cost of fuel is already at $69,407. That’s already over 3 4% higher than all 12 months of 2021.

The cooperative is also managing the challenge of rising material costs. The price of equipment for a typical pole assembly has increased anywhere from 21% to 106% since 2021. Cross arm braces, for example, have increased 87% since March 2021, while basic poles have gone from $363 to $489 each (a 34% increase) over the past 12 months. In addition, annual tree-trimming expenses have risen more than 70% in three years. Check out the graphic on the next page for additional statistics regarding Firelands Electric’s rising material costs.

Schloemer, President BOARD OF TRUSTEES

Growing material and construction costs are key factors that must be taken into consideration as we wrap up year two of a four-year, $14 million construction work plan, which includes rebuilding over 45 miles of lines and constructing a new substation. The line replacements are essential for maintaining reliability and meeting the increased energy demand in many areas of Firelands’ system. Plans for the new substation include a larger transformer, which will replace a nearly 60-year-old unit that is very close to its maximum load capacity.

Unfortunately, increased maintenance and construction costs aren’t expected to go away anytime soon, so Firelands Electric’s board and management have had to make some tough decisions to ensure the reliability of our system. We never take rate changes lightly, but the soaring costs for almost everything that our system needs have made it necessary to implement an adjustment plan to cover the cooperative’s expenses.

New rates go into effect this month and will be reflected on your January bill. The monthly distribution charge for residential and small commercial accounts will increase by $2 per month, while the kilowatt-hour (kWh) charge

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will also see a small increase. For the typical residential member using 1,200 kWh per month, this equates to an increase of 5 025%, or $8 94 per month. That’s an investment of less than $0 30 per day.

Firelands Electric Cooperative strives to keep electricity costs as low as possible. But we also have an obligation to maintain our distribution system. Your board has delayed this rate adjustment as long as possible, but changes have now become necessary in order to maintain safe, reliable power to our membership. Rest assured, your cooperative will continue to make every effort to keep rising costs from further affecting our members. We are keeping a strategic and optimistic eye on the future.

For additional information on changes to our rate structures and schedules, please visit the cooperative’s website at www.firelandsec.com/rate-schedules.

Insulator 21% increase Pins/Bolts 81% increase

Transformer 40-85% increase

Conduit 106% increase

Ground Rod 42% increase

Wire 60% increase

Cut Out 16% increase

Cross Arm 68% increase

Cross Arm Brace 87% increase

Service Wire 93% increase

Pole 34% increase

Anchor & Rod 37% increase

accountabilityintegrityinnovationcommunity commitment

ENERGY EFFICIENCY

BUDGET-FRIENDLY

EFFICIENCY

Improving your home’s energy e ciency doesn’t have to involve a huge commitment of time and money. While it is true that cost-saving measures like upgrading your HVAC system or windows can require a sizable upfront investment, there are also plenty of budgetfriendly projects you can complete to reduce your energy consumption. Let’s look at a few that can help you save money on your heating bill — which accounts for nearly half of your home’s overall winter energy use.

Add coziness to your home

It’s actually possible to feel warmer in your home without turning up the thermostat. The way our bodies perceive the temperature of a room is based more on the surfaces in the room than the air temperature. In general, harder surfaces feel colder. For example, your tile floor will feel cooler than your fabric sofa. Cold floors in a room make us feel colder. Adding an area rug to a hard-surface floor can make us feel warmer, even with the same setting on the thermostat. The same goes for windows. Windows are typically the least-insulated surface in a room and can feel cold in winter months. Adding or closing curtains can help make the room feel more comfortable.

Check your windows

Make sure your windows are closed and locked. Locking windows pulls the sashes tighter together, reducing gaps that allow air to flow through and cause drafts. If your sash locks don’t form a tight fit, adjust them or add weatherstripping.

There’s a variety of window weatherstripping products available for less than $20. Most are simple to install and only require tools you most likely already have around the house, such as scissors and a tape measure. Temporary solutions such as caulk strips, putty, pull-and-

peel caulking, or window insulation films can be used if you rent your home and can’t make permanent changes.

Weatherstripping doors is another easy do-it-yourself project. Make sure your doors seal tightly and don’t allow drafts to pass around the edges or under the door. Make sure any doors leading to an unheated space, like outside or into a garage, are sealed tightly. If you can see light around the edges or underneath the door or feel air movement when the door is closed, you are losing energy.

Because doors need to open and close easily, expect to do a bit of adjusting after installing weatherstripping. If weatherstripping isn’t installed correctly, it can make the door hard to close. Making it too loose, however, defeats the purpose.

Close the damper

If you have a fireplace, make sure the damper is closed when you’re not using it. Leaving the damper open is equivalent to leaving a window wide open in the winter. The money you just paid to heat your home will go right out the chimney. The only exception is some gas fireplaces that need to remain open for gas fumes to exit the home. If you have a gas fireplace, check the owner’s manual for more information on the proper damper position.

The next time you consider turning the thermostat up a few degrees, try some of these tips first to stay warm and leave increased energy bills out in the cold. For additional energy-saving tips, visit Firelands Electric Cooperative’s website at www.firelandsec.com/ energy-education.

YOUTH PROGRAMS

• Graduating seniors who live in a home served by Firelands Electric Cooperative are eligible to apply.

• Applicants must have a cumulative grade-point average of 2.5 or above on a 4.0 scale for the Career Scholarship.

• A grade-point average of 3.5 or above is required for all other scholarships.

• Selected finalists will be interviewed at the Firelands Electric Cooperative office on Monday, Feb. 20, 2023.

• Applicants will be judged on scholastic record, school and community activities, cooperative knowledge, and a personal interview.

Complete rules and applications will be available by Dec. 1 at www.firelandsec. com/children-members-scholarship, by contacting Firelands Electric’s member services department at 1-800-533-8658, or by visiting your high school guidance department.

Scholarships will be awarded as follows:

CAREER SCHOLARSHIP

This $750 scholarship (formerly named the Technical-Trade Scholarship) is for students planning to enroll in a career-based education program following graduation. Examples include but are not limited to, dental hygienist, phlebotomy, nurse, vet tech, electrician, HVAC, plumbing, auto mechanic, or welder.

COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIPS

• First place: $1,800

• Second place: $1,600

• Third place: $1,400

• Fourth place: $1,200

• Fifth place: $1,000

• Sixth place: $750

• Two Honorable Mentions: $500 each

• Two Judges’ Choice awards: $500 each

The first-place college scholarship winner will also be eligible to compete at the statewide competition in Columbus on April 12, 2023, where he or she can win up to $4,100 in additional scholarship awards from Ohio’s Electric Cooperatives.

SCHOLARSHIPS

Application deadline is Jan. 20, 2023

Visit www.firelandsec.com/children-members-scholarship for complete rules and applications.

Apply for a life-changing leadership experience in Washington, D.C.

High school sophomores and juniors!

What is Youth Tour?

The Ohio’s Electric Cooperatives Youth Tour is an annual leadership program sponsored by Firelands Electric. A weeklong, all-expensespaid trip to Washington, D.C., Youth Tour gives outstanding high school students the opportunity to meet with their congressional leaders at the U.S. Capitol, make new friends from across the state and country, and see many of the famous Washington, D.C., sights.

During this one-of-a-kind tour, participants also gain a better understanding of American history and their role as a citizen.

Electric cooperatives from 43 states send nearly 2,000 delegates on the tour each year, including approximately 40 students from co-ops throughout Ohio. Firelands Electric Cooperative will choose up to two delegates to attend the 2023 Youth Tour.

June 17–23, 2023

Successful applicants:

• Must be a current high school sophomore or junior.

• Reside in a home receiving power from Firelands Electric Cooperative.

• Submit a completed application, including portion completed by a school official.

• Include a letter of recommendation from a guidance counselor, principal, teacher, or community or organization advisor.

Complete rules and application materials will be available by Dec. 1 at www.firelandsec.com/ youth-tour-experience.

For more information and to apply, visit www.firelandsec.com/youth-tour-experience.

FIRELANDS ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE LOCAL PAGES

SEPARATING FACT FROM FICTION

UNDERSTANDING COMMON SOLAR ENERGY MYTHS AND RENEWABLE BATTERY STORAGE

As residential solar has gained popularity, there has also been an increase in the amount of misinformation out there. Firelands Electric Cooperative strives to be your trusted source of energy information, whether your energy is generated from traditional sources or from renewables such as solar. Installing residential solar on your home is a big investment, so we want to help our members separate fact from fiction and give you the tools you need to make the right decision for your home.

DISPELLING SOLAR MYTHS

MYTH: Electric cooperatives do not support residential solar installations.

FALSE. Firelands Electric has supported residential solar installations for years. In fact, the cooperative has more than three dozen members with solar systems, some of which have been in place for well over a decade. While we do enforce specific safety requirements for solar interconnection, these are in place to protect you, your home, the co-op’s lineworkers, and others in the community who share your distribution lines. Firelands also utilizes a comprehensive net metering system to accurately record

your total electric consumption, separately tracking what portion is generated by your renewable system and how much is used from cooperative sources.

MYTH: Your electric bill will be reduced to zero or near zero as a result of your solar panels.

FALSE. While the national solar generation capacity factor average is 40%, a typical home installation in Ohio has a capacity factor of about 14%. A small-scale solar system in Ohio will annually produce 1,250 kilowatthours (kWh) for every 1 kilowatt (kW) of installed capacity. For example, a 7-kW system will provide approximately 8,750 kWh per year.

Since the average Ohio home consumes 14,400 kWh per year, solar-powered homes still rely on the cooperative for about half of their power needs. The cost of the power purchased from Firelands to supplement solar production and the standard monthly distribution charge (used to cover ongoing operation and maintenance of the co-op’s lines and equipment) make it highly unlikely that your electric bill will ever be zero.

maintenance of the co-op’s lines and equipment) make it

You don’t need to contact your electric provider until you’re ready to interconnect your solar system.

accountabilityintegrityinnovationcommunity commitment

FALSE. Involving Firelands Electric early in the process allows for a contractor-homeowner-cooperative partnership that will help ensure the best possible outcome for you. Firelands can perform an in-depth analysis of your consumption history, provide an estimate of the payback on your investment, and explain the interconnection process and safety requirements.

MYTH: Solar panels are good options for members on low income or who struggle to pay their electric bills.

FALSE. Zero-money-down solar systems may seem enticing on the surface. We urge extra caution when entering this kind of contract, however. If it seems too good to be true, it probably is. These offers often come with inflated costs, high interest rates, extended payment terms, additional insurance premiums, a property lien, or other undesirable terms. Always check the fine print. Firelands has been your trusted energy advisor for more than 85 years, and we’re happy to help review any contracts before you sign on the dotted line.

MYTH: Solar contractors/salespeople are your best source of information for solar power.

MAYBE. No one knows solar installations better than the contractor. Likewise, no one knows electricity (billing, net metering, interconnection, etc.) better than your electric cooperative. If you’re considering solar for your home, the best solution is to establish a contractor-homeowner-cooperative partnership early in the process so there are no surprises.

If you’re interested in installing your own residential solar system, please make Firelands Electric Cooperative one of the first places you look to for information. Check out our website at www. firelandsec.com or call us at 1 800 533 8658. We’re here to help answer any renewable energy questions you may have.

THE BATTERY STORAGE PREDICAMENT

While the number of solar installations continues to grow every year, the issue of battery storage is a major factor preventing renewables from supplying a larger portion of the world’s energy needs.

The intermittent nature of renewables like wind and solar creates reliability concerns. Batteries can store excess energy to be used when the sun’s not shining or the wind isn’t blowing, but the amount of storage needed is huge. According to Robert Bryce, author of A Question of Power: Electricity and the Wealth of Nations, a 2018 analysis showed that in order to reach California’s energy goal of 80% renewables, the state

would need 9.6 terawatt-hours of battery storage. For comparison, the Tesla Powerwall 2 (a battery system for residential renewables) holds about 13 kWh of energy. That’s equal to the installation of 700 million Tesla Powerwalls, with each resident needing roughly 18 Tesla Powerwalls totaling $120,000 Nationwide, Bryce says this cost would be roughly $1 trillion. Even the 20 gigawatt-hour (GWh) annual battery production of Tesla’s Gigafactory near Reno, Nev., is capable of only storing three minutes’ worth of the U.S.’s yearly electricity demand. This lack of adequate storage is a constant challenge for the electric industry. According to Bryce, there is only enough utility-scale battery capacity to back up about 0.5% of the installed renewables in the U.S. — and it only lasts about four hours. As recently reported by the National Rural Utilities Cooperative Finance Corporation (CFC), the addition of battery storage isn’t keeping pace with new wind and solar installations. In 2021, only 3 4 gigawatts (GW) of storage were added, while new renewable systems totaled around 32 GW. Solar and wind generation also made up about 16% of the U.S.’s electric generation in the second quarter of 2022. During peak hours, however, renewables contributed only an estimated 8.5%.

There is hope, however. The Inflation Reduction Act includes an incentive for investing in battery storage systems. Projections from the researchers at Wood Mackenzie indicate this will significantly increase the amount of investment in developing better battery storage in the utility industry, which is an exciting possibility for electric providers and consumers alike. Until utility-scale batteries are more feasible, the best option for an uninterrupted supply of electricity is a diversified portfolio like the one used by Buckeye Power. As the provider for all 25 of Ohio’s electric cooperatives, Buckeye Power practices an all-of-theabove approach, using a combination of coal, natural gas, solar, biomass, and hydro to keep our lights on and businesses running.

While battery storage may help us increase the use and reliability of renewables in the future, unfortunately, the current technology and lack of capacity make it inadequate.

kilowa s CREATING

Thirty-five Firelands Electric Cooperative members and guests visited the Cardinal Power Plant, located along the Ohio River in Brilliant, Ohio, on Sept. 14

Following an introductory presentation, attendees participated in a guided tour of the plant. Highlights of the Cardinal tour included the state-of-the-art control room and electrostatic precipitators that remove 99% of all fly ash particles. Also of interest was the 423-foot-high closed-cycle cooling tower, which keeps evaporation loss below 1 8%. These two features are just a portion of the more than $1.2 billion in environmental measures that make Cardinal one of the cleanest coalfired power plants in the world.

Owned by Ohio’s 25 distribution cooperatives, Buckeye Power’s Cardinal Plant has the capacity to produce 1,800 megawatts of electricity. Power is generated at

23,000 to 25,000 volts, and transformers outside the plant then step up the voltage to 138,000 and 345,000 volts to transmit it e ciently to cooperative members’ homes and businesses. The plant provides electricity for over 1 million Ohioans in 77 of the state’s 88 counties.

To produce electricity, the plant’s pulverizers grind coal into a fine, powder-like consistency. The powdered coal is then burned at high temperatures to turn water into steam. This steam is directed into turbines, which drive the generator that produces electricity.

Further information about Firelands Electric Cooperative’s power supplier, Buckeye Power, is available at www.firelandsec.com/power-supply. View additional photos from the 2022 Cardinal Plant Tour at www.flickr. com/photos/firelandsec/albums.

accountabilityintegrityinnovationcommunity commitment

15th annual STEP UP FOR SOLDIERS DRIVE

For 15 years, Firelands Electric Cooperative has supported U.S. military personnel during the holiday season by serving as a collection location for donated care package items. We are proud to join forces once again with local radio stations WLKR-FM and K96-FM to support USO Ohio’s 2022 Step Up for Soldiers annual drive.

Beginning Veterans Day, Nov. 11, and running through Friday, Dec. 16, members of Firelands Electric and the surrounding communities can deliver donated care package items to the co-op’s office, located at 103 Industrial Drive in New London. Items may be dropped off in the collection boxes located right inside the front entryway during regular business hours, Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Suggested donation items include razors, cotton swabs, tissues, deodorant, toothpaste, sunscreen, ear plugs, playing cards, chewing gum, hard candy, beef jerky, trail mix, and snack packs. Additional information and a complete list of recommended donation items are available on our website at www.firelandsec.com/uso-ohio, as well as on our Facebook page.

The USO of Ohio serves military families throughout Ohio and northern Kentucky. To learn other ways that you can help or to make a tax-deductible monetary donation, visit https://ohio.uso.org.

2022 CHRISTMAS LIGHTING CONTEST

Firelands Electric Cooperative invites members to submit a photo of their indoor or outdoor Christmas lighting display for a chance to win a $50 bill credit.

From Nov. 21 through Dec. 16, members may email a high-quality digital photo of their lighting display to members@firelandsec.com or submit one through the online link at www.firelandsec.com/contests (maximum file size of 10 MB).

Be sure to include “Christmas Lighting Contest” in the subject line and provide your name, address, and phone number. Photos may also be mailed to: Christmas Lighting Contest, Firelands Electric Co-op, P.O. Box 32, New London, OH 44851.

Submitted photos will be posted in an album on Firelands Electric’s Facebook page every Friday throughout the contest.

This year, a total of three winners will be announced on Dec. 21, with each one receiving a $50 bill credit.

A winner will be selected in each of three categories:

1. Biggest Display 2. Best Theme

3. People’s Choice (Awarded to the photo receiving the most likes/votes on Facebook over the course of the entire contest.)

There is a limit of one entry/ photo and one prize per member address. Prizes will be applied as a bill credit. Visit www.firelandsec.com/ contests for complete rules and to submit your entry. Contest questions may be directed to the member services department by emailing members@ firelandsec.com or calling 1-800-533-8658.

Academic excellence

The A Team recognizes students in grades 6 8 for their hard work and dedication in the classroom. Students who live in a home receiving its power from Firelands Electric Cooperative and who have a minimum of three A’s on their most recent report card are eligible to enter.

A drawing will take place at the end of each grading period, and three students will be chosen to receive an Amazon gift card. Winners will also have their photo published in an upcoming issue of Ohio Cooperative Living magazine and be featured on the co-op’s website and social media outlets.

The next drawing is Dec. 10. Visit www.firelandsec.com/team for complete details.

Stealing electricity and meter tampering are crimes!

Stealing electricity or tampering with a meter is serious business — and it’s against the law! This includes anyone other than the co-op removing the electric meter tampering tag or pulling the meter. Theft of utility electricity is a first-degree misdemeanor if the value of the stolen electricity plus any utility equipment repairs is less than $150. It’s a fourth-degree felony if more than $150.

Tampering crimes carry similar penalties. Tampering is defined as “to interfere with, damage, or bypass a utility meter, conduit, or attachment with intent to impede the correct registration of a meter or the proper function of a conduit or attachment.” Conviction of tampering can mean from six months in jail and a $1,000 fine to up to five years and a $2,500 fine.

Meter tampering costs all of us. And it’s downright dangerous. If you witness someone tampering with an electric meter, please contact Firelands Electric Cooperative at 1-800-533-8658.

STATEMENT OF NONDISCRIMINATION

Firelands Electric Cooperative is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

If you wish to file a Civil Rights program complaint of discrimination, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, found online at http://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint_filing_cust.html, at any USDA office, or call 1-866-632-9992 to request the form. You may also write a letter containing all of the information requested in the form. Send your completed complaint form or letter by mail to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Director, Office of Adjudication, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; by fax to 202-690-7442; or email to program.intake@usda.gov.

Firelands Electric Cooperative’s board of trustees met Sept. 27 and covered the following items:

• Board President Dan Schloemer reported that the cooperative received 48 membership applications for approval by the board.

• General Manager Dan McNaull reviewed the report for a recent safety and training event.

• In the absence of Director of Operations Don Englet, Line Superintendent Zach Collins reported on recent activities and projects in the operations department, including recent challenges with utility pole orders and training attended by two operations employees.

• McNaull provided a recap of the ACRE Co-op Owners recognition breakfast held earlier in the month.

• The board discussed appointments to the People Fund Board. Schloemer appointed Mary Rees for another term.

• McNaull advised the board of a public meeting scheduled for Oct. 5 at 5 p.m. at South Central Elementary regarding AEP’s New London 69-kV line project.

highlights

• Director of Finance and Accounting Tabi Shepherd reviewed the August financials and reported on recent accounting and billing department activities.

• McNaull reviewed the monthly tree-trimming and outage reports, noting that employee shortages were affecting some contractors’ availability to bid on vegetation maintenance projects.

• Schloemer reported on an Ohio’s Electric Cooperatives meeting held at the COLT training facility that he recently attended.

• Director of Communications and Technology Andrea Gravenhorst reviewed recent activities involving the member services and IT department.

Firelands Electric Co-op is democratically controlled and governed by local people committed to policies that result in a safe and reliable electric system, fair rates, financial responsibility, and superior member service.

The cooperative’s next board meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, Dec 27. If you would like to attend the next scheduled meeting, please contact the Firelands Electric o ce at 1 800 533 8658.

When 1982 rolled around, the U.S. Mint hadn’t produced a commemorative half dollar for nearly three decades. So, to celebrate George Washington’s 250th birthday, the tradition was revived. The Mint struck 90% silver half dollars in both Brilliant Uncirculated (BU) and Proof condition. These milestone Washington coins represented the first-ever modern U.S. commemoratives, and today are still the only modern commemorative half dollars struck in 90% silver!

Iconic Designs of the Father of Our Country

These spectacular coins feature our first President and the Father of Our Country regally astride a horse on the front, while the back design shows Washington’s home at Mount Vernon. Here’s your chance to get both versions of the coin in one remarkable, 40-year-old, 2-Pc. Set—a gleaming Proof version with frosted details rising over mirrored fields struck at the San Francisco Mint, and a dazzling Brilliant Uncirculated coin with crisp details struck at the Denver Mint. Or you can get either coin individually.

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Santa’s elves come to Ansonia Lumber each December bearing wooden toys they fashioned for underprivileged children throughout Darke County.

The 29th annual wooden toy contest will be Dec. 10, according to organizer Mitch McCabe, sales and marketing manager for the lumber company.

In 2021, woodworkers entered 27 projects for judging in adult and youth divisions. Scott Phillips, host of the popular PBS program American Woodshop, looks

s Toy

forward to judging the annual competition. Top entries are judged on precision, detail, craftsmanship, and “overall fun” of the toy.

“This is like Christmas to me,” Phillips says. “People get so carried away with presents as the holiday season approaches. Those in need do not have the luxury of buying or receiving lots of gifts. These woodworkers — old and young alike — give of their time and talent to make sure some youngsters don’t go without a gift under the tree.”

tor

story

Ansonia Lumber’s annual wooden toy contest promotes craftsmanship for a cause.

BY MARGIE WUEBKER

According to McCabe, the lumber company started sponsoring the wooden toy contest in 1993 as a means of making sure underprivileged children received holiday gifts while giving area woodworkers an opportunity to showcase their handiwork.

Winners receive tools or gift certificates, but no one goes home empty-handed. Frank Miller Lumber of Union City, Ind., sends home hardwood with each participant for the next contest.

Arcanum resident Harry Niswonger has been entering handcrafted toys since the early 1990s — earning numerous awards in the process. The 97-year-old finished third last year with an Abrams tank that featured

Far left, 97-year-old Harry Niswonger shows off his Abrams tank (shown in detail below), while judge Scott Phillips examines a wooden truck made by Neal Pleiman of Osgood.

workable tread, a moving turret, and machine guns that swivel.

Niswonger, like other contestants, says he doesn’t track the time he spends on contest entries. “If I knew the time involved, I might not start in the first place,” he says.

Cathy Liening of Osgood, a member of Darke Rural Electric and a teacher by trade, swept top honors in the adult division with her unique American folk art entry last year. She created blocks depicting a circus Big Top, ringmaster, and exotic animals, and used woodburning for detail.

“There is no pattern,” she says. “It’s educational with numbers and words on the back of each piece.”

Her husband, Roger, also enjoys woodworking, and talent apparently runs in the family; grandsons Owen and Gavin Frey of Defiance took second-place honors in the youth division with their Plinko board.

Brad Lentz, a teacher from Rossburg, submitted a Connect Four gameboard. The Darke County Rural Electric member has been entering the past four years. His son, 11-year-old Max Lentz, seems to have inherited dad’s penchant for woodworking. He started three years ago using discarded

wood for practice, and his colorful safari animals earned fourth place this time. “I look forward to the contest each year,” McCabe says. “It is so much fun seeing what these people come up with, and it’s all for a good cause.”

For more information about Ansonia Lumber or the wood toy contest, visit www.ansonialumber.com or call McCabe at 937-337-3111. Phillips also posts contest details and photos online at www.facebook.com/theamericanwoodshop.

Cathy Liening (right, with her husband, Roger) took top honors in the contest’s adult division last year.

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First responders for the soul

International chaplain group, founded by an Ohio co-op member, provides ‘spiritual first aid’ in times of need.

BY VICKI REINHART JOHNSON

When people are dealing with natural disasters, loss of loved ones, addiction, or any of a number of traumatic life events, they often find themselves in need of spiritual guidance.

Enter the International Alliance of Community Chaplains. “We’re trained in chaplaincy, how to do counsel with people in trauma and at critical incidents,” says Tracy Elder, chairman of the board and former president of the group. ”We’re helping people to recover from any type of trauma, no matter what it is.”

Elder (pictured at right) lives in Knox County, where she’s a member of The Energy Cooperative of Newark. She leads a worldwide team of nearly 1,000 board-certified volunteer chaplains trained to provide mental, emotional, and spiritual support, counseling, addiction and recovery services, and critical incident support wherever they’re

needed. They might once have been victims themselves, or they could be first responders — law enforcement, fire, and emergency services personnel. Chaplains work with community service, courts, schools, hospitals, hospice, and veterans.

The organization started in 2004, after a series of tornadoes moved through South Carolina, leaving devastation behind. “There were all these people standing in front of these broken homes,” Elder says. “It was like a scene out of Twister, the movie.”

That scene was the incentive to form the corps. First, it was a small local group in Seneca County, where Elder worked as chaplain for the Seneca County Sheriff ’s Office. But it grew, and now 18 years later, the organization reaches across the United States and to Europe, Africa, Barbados, the Caribbean, and Polynesia

— the most recent additions this year in Hawaii and the Samoan Islands.

Even before she formed the organization, Elder was at Ground Zero during 9/11 in New York. Members have been in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina and at countless similar disasters. “Those are the things where you realize people really need spiritual care, when their whole world has been rocked,” she says.

But natural disasters aren’t the only devastating events in people’s lives. “It can be a divorce, domestic violence, or losing a child or another family member,” she says. “These things happen every single day, and not everyone is equipped to deal with the traumas of life.”

Working with a former student with tribal connections, Elder said the organization has extended its services west.

“Right now, we’re doing a lot of work in Montana with (Native American) tribes,” she says. “I was more surprised than anyone to find they really welcomed us in. We put together a class there, and next thing you know, we have all the tribes in Montana signed on.”

An offshoot of the parent organization, the Alliance represents more than 40 nations, including all the tribes in Montana as well as several in Washington state, Oklahoma, New Mexico, and Arizona.

Elder says the corps is one of the only chaplaincy organizations working with Native American tribes at the tribal council level.

“If you look at the tribal nations, there’s a lot of trauma historically, and right now they’re losing their children to suicide,” Elder says. “They seem to have a disproportionate number of their people suffering from different traumas,”

she says. “This gives them something now where they’re able to heal their people.”

No matter their age, gender, or race, chaplains are trained to help people face their addictions and move past trauma to regain their lives. “What we’re teaching them is a new way to communicate, and doesn’t everybody need that?” she says. “We’re having the hard conversations.”

When someone is addicted to a substance, there are physical, mental, and emotional aspects.

“There’s a level of shame that goes in there with the people who are addicted, but they’re not able to communicate

well,” she says. “How do you tell someone what you left behind and were willing to do to continue the addiction? Most of them can’t get past the misunderstandings other people have about it.”

Chaplains help people look within themselves.

“The first step is telling God and another person you’re wrong,” she says. “That’s the conversation that has to happen. They must face it within themselves. There’s something in there. It doesn’t have to make sense to anybody else. It makes sense to them.”

It’s a similar process when helping people through domestic violence and relationship issues. ”That’s the first step in getting people to heal, because of the way trauma works on the way we think and the way that we see the world,” she says.

This fall, the organization launched a new program that goes beyond an immediate need for chaplaincy to longterm care.

“We now have board-certified coaching chaplains,” Elder says. “One of the things we find as chaplains is that people are in need not only of spiritual care, but after-care. They’re not sure how to put their lives back together.”

After significant life changes, coaching chaplains help them find a path back to a new life.

“It’s a new normal,” she says. “Life is not the same as it was.”

She says coaches don’t do mental health counseling and diagnosis of mental illness, but help people get moving toward their new lives.

“To go and help. That’s what it’s all about.”

Tracy Elder (left) poses with chaplains Debra Homegun (center) and Jenn Buckley and Buckley’s daughter, Hayley, of the Native Nations Chaplaincy Alliance during a recent visit.

This response vehicle was formerly available to the International Alliance of Community Chaplains when it was based in Seneca County. Due to mechanical issues, the vehicle is no longer in service, and Elder is looking to replace it.

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CALENDAR

NORTHWEST

the Big Tree, and hundreds of illuminated animal images. 419 385 5721 or www.toledozoo.org.

THROUGH JAN. 1 – North Pole Express, 12505 Co. Rd. 99, Findlay, Fri./Sat. 5:30 9 p.m., Sun. 5:30 8:30 p.m. $4; 12 and under, $3. Hop on board our quarterscale locomotive for a trip through a magical winter wonderland. Visit with Santa and Mrs. Claus on select days. 419 423 2995 or www.nworrp.org.

discover the holiday traditions of President Rutherford and First Lady Lucy Hayes. 419 332 2081 or www.rbhayes.org.

DEC. 26–27, 29–31 – Horse-Drawn Sleigh Rides at Spiegel Grove, 1337 Hayes Ave., Fremont, 1 4 p.m. $4.50–$5.50; 2 and under free. Ride through the wooded grounds in a sleigh or trolley drawn by South Creek Clydesdales. 419 332 2081 or www.rbhayes.org.

THROUGH DEC. 17 – Irving Berlin’s White Christmas, Fort Findlay Playhouse, 300 W. Sandusky St., Findlay, Thur.–Sat. 8 p.m., Sun. 5 p.m. Heartwarming stage adaptation of the beloved holiday film. 567 525 3636 or www.fortfindlayplayhouse.org.

THROUGH DEC. 24 – Bright Nights, Allen Co. Fgds., 2750 Harding Hwy., Lima, 6 9 p.m. $10/vehicle, $30/ bus. Cash only accepted at the gate. A drive-through Christmas tradition, with over 80 LED light displays, a light tunnel, and illuminated trees and buildings throughout the fairgrounds. www.allencofair.com.

THROUGH DEC. 25 – 4-H Exchange Club Holiday Light Show, Van Wert Co. Fgds., 1055 S. Washington St., Van Wert, Thur.–Sun. 6 9:30 p.m. $5/vehicle, $25/ bus. Drive-through light display. 419 238 9270 or www.vanwertcountyfair.com.

THROUGH DEC. 30 – Upper’s Winter Fantasy of Lights, Harrison Smith Park, 525 E. Wyandot Ave., Upper Sandusky, Mon.–Thur. 6 9:30 p.m. ($5/car), Fri.–Sun. 6 10 p.m. ($10/car). The 33 acres of the park will be ablaze with millions of lights and a myriad of unique light displays. 419 294 3556 or www.uppersfantasyoflights.org.

THROUGH DEC. 31 – Lake of Lights, Saulisberry Park/ France Lake, 13344 St. Rte. 67 W., Kenton, 6 9 p.m. daily. Drive-through lighting event; special events held on the weekends. 419 675 2547 or lakeoflights08@ gmail.com.

THROUGH DEC. 31 – Lights Before Christmas, Toledo Zoo, 2 Hippo Way, Toledo. Over 1 million lights,

THROUGH JAN. 8 – “Hayes Train Special” Model Train Display, Hayes Library and Museums, Spiegel Grove, 1337 Hayes Ave., Fremont. Free; donations accepted. Operating model train display runs through an intricate Victorian holiday scene. Interactive buttons, multi-tier layout. 419 332 2081 or www.rbhayes.org.

DEC. 3–4, 10–11 – Holiday Train, Mad River and NKP Railroad Museum, 253 Southwest St., Bellevue, 12 5 p.m. $6 per rider; no reservations required. Take a short ride on one of our restored cabooses, which are heated, comfortable, and fully operational. Refreshments served after the ride. 419 483 2222 or www.madrivermuseum.org.

DEC. 10 – ”Train Town” Train Show and Swap, Allen Co. Fgds., 2750 Harding Hwy., Lima, 10 a.m.–3 p.m. $7; 12 and under free. www.allencofair.com.

DEC. 11–22 – Winter Wonderland, Sandusky Co. Fgds., 901 Rawson Ave., Fremont, Sun.–Thur. 6 8 p.m. drive-through, Fri./Sat. 6 8 p.m. walk-through. 419 332 5604 or www.sanduskycountyfair.com/ scfwinterwonderland.

DEC. 16, 18 – Silver Screen Classics: It’s a Wonderful Life, Valentine Theatre, 400 N. Superior St., Toledo, Fri. 7:30 p.m., Sun. 2 p.m. $5. See Frank Capra’s classic Christmas tale on the big screen. 419 242 2787 or www.valentinetheatre.com.

DEC. 17–18, 21–22 – A Presidential Christmas: Hayes Home Holidays, Hayes Library and Museums, Spiegel Grove, 1337 Hayes Ave., Fremont, 5 9 p.m. $8–$18; 5 and under free. Tour the Hayes home and

DEC. 31 – New Year’s Eve Celebration, downtown Fremont, 7 p.m.–1 a.m. 419 332 8696 or www.downtownfremontohio.org.

DEC. 31 – “Walleye Madness at Midnight” Walleye Drop, North Madison Street, Port Clinton, 4 p.m.–midnight. 419 635 7470 or www.wyliewalleyefoundation.com.

JAN. 7 – Model Train Clinic, Spiegel Grove, 1337 Hayes Ave., Fremont, 1 4 p.m. $5; under 6 free. Veteran model train hobbyists will assist you with advice related to model train maintenance and repair, as well as estimating the value of older model trains. 419 332 2081 or www.rbhayes.org.

JAN. 7, 14, 21, 28 – Ice Skating Lessons, The Cube, 3430 N. Main St., Findlay, noon. $44/session. Group skating lessons for ages 5 and up. Sessions are once a week for four weeks. 419 424 7176 or www.visitfindlay. com/event/ice-skating-lessons/2023 01 07

to Ohio Cooperative Living , 6677 Busch Blvd., Columbus, OH 43229

events@ohioec.org. Ohio Cooperative Living will not publish listings that don’t include a complete address or a number/ website for more information.

CALENDAR

NORTHEAST

THROUGH DEC. 25 – Medina County Fair Drive-Thru Holiday Lights, Medina Co. Fgds., Medina, Fri./Sat. 6 10 p.m., Sun. and weeknights 6 9 p.m. $10 per car; $20 per 15-passenger van; $50 per bus. www.medinaohiofair.com.

THROUGH DEC. 30 – Deck the Hall: “Gracious Gathering,” Stan Hywet Hall and Gardens, 714 N. Portage Path, Akron, 3 8 p.m. $9–$24, under 3 free; tickets must be purchased in advance. The estate is decked out with 1 million lights, while inside the Manor House are traditional and whimsical decorations, with 30 decorated Christmas trees in 19 spaces. 330 315 3287 or www. stanhywet.org.

THROUGH DEC. 31 – Ashtabula County’s Lights on the Lake, Lakeshore Park, 1700 E. 1st St., Ashtabula, 6 9 p.m.; Dec. 24, 25, 31: 6 8 p.m. $5/car or van, $1/person on bus, $20/mini-bus. Largest holiday light display on Lake Erie. 440 993 1051 or www.aclotl.com.

THROUGH JAN. 1 – Elegant Illusions Drive-Through Park, Canfield Fgds., 7265 Columbiana-Canfield Rd., Canfield. $25 per car, truck, SUV, van; $50–$75 for party bus and tour bus. All-new LED displays, the latest in animatronics, and over 50 holiday scenes. 330 947 2974 or www.elegantchristmaslighting.com.

THROUGH JAN. 7 – Steubenville Nutcracker Village

and Christmas at the Fort, Steubenville Visitor Center, 120 S. 3rd St., Steubenville. Free. Over 180 life-size, handcrafted nutcrackers are on display downtown, while Fairytale Friends welcome visitors at Fort Steuben Park 24/7. Enjoy the Advent Market, hayrides, the Holly Trolley, kids’ activities, and much more. 740 283 4935 or www. steubenvillenutcrackervillage.com.

DEC. 10 – Christmas Craft and Art Show, GTCPS Community Center, 148 S. Milton St., Smithville, 9 a.m.–2 p.m. Handmade items only. 330 845 0921 or www.gtcps.org/2022/10/christmas-craft-and-art-showdecember.html.

DEC. 10 – Jingle Mingle Craft and Vendor Show, Strongsville Recreation Center, 18100 Royalton Rd., Strongsville, 9 a.m.–2 p.m. Free. www.facebook.com/ events/491348575860865

DEC. 10 – Solon Hometown Holiday Market, Solon Recreation Center, 35000 Portz Pkwy., Solon, 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Free. Celebrate the holiday season while shopping local! This handmade market features artists and crafters selling their original items. www.avantgardeshows.com.

DEC. 10 – Stark Vintage Market, Stark Co. Fgds., 305 Wertz Ave. NW, Canton, 9 a.m.–4 p.m. $3, under 5 free. Antique, vintage, and artisan marketplace. 330 495 3044 or www.starkvintagemarket.com.

DEC. 11 – 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. All gauges, parts, running layouts, farm and vintage toys, die-cast models, NASCAR items. 150+ tables. Food and drink available. www.cjtrains.com/shows.

DEC. 16–18 – Holiday Market at the Screw Factory, 13000 Athens Ave., Lakewood, Fri. 6 10 p.m., Sat. 10 a.m.–6 p.m., Sun. 10 a.m.–3 p.m. View and purchase pottery, photography, leatherwork, perfumes, paintings, and much more from resident and guest artists. www.screwfactoryartists.org.

DEC. 18 – Flea Market of Collectables, Medina County Fgds. Community Center, 735 Lafayette Rd., Medina, 9 a.m.–3 p.m. $2. Early bird special admission: 6 9 a.m., $3. A treasure trove of vintage items and collectables. 330 948 4300 or www.conraddowdell.com.

DEC. 21 – Winter Solstice Celebration, The West Woods, Oak Room A, Novelty, 7:30 9:30 p.m. Free; registration required. Celebrate the longest night of the year as we explore the roots of our modern holiday celebrations, indoors and out, including a candlelit walk through the woods. Dress for the weather. 440 286 9516 or www.geaugaparkdistrict.org.

DEC. 31 – Boar’s Head and Yule Log Festival, Trinity Cathedral, 2230 Euclid Ave., Cleveland, 2 p.m. Freewill offering. An Elizabethan Christmas experience with pageantry and music that celebrates the light of Christ coming into the world. Features historical figures in period costumes, live animals, a choir, and more. www.boarsheadcleveland.org.

JAN. 4–8 – Ohio RV Supershow, I-X Center, One I-X Center Dr., Cleveland, Wed.–Fri. noon–9 p.m., Sat. 10 a.m.–9 p.m., Sun. 10 a.m.–6 p.m. See the newest RVs including tent campers, travel trailers, fifth wheels, and motor homes. 330 678 4489 or www.ohiorvshow.com.

JAN. 7 – Snow Dogs Train Show, UAW Hall, 5615 Chevrolet Blvd., Parma, 10 a.m.–3 p.m. $6, under 12 free. All-gauge show with over 150 tables of trains and toys, operating layouts, and good food. 330 633 9097, jfutules@neo.rr.com, or www.cvsga.com. Contact: Jim Futules, P.O. 291, Tallmadge, OH 44278

JAN. 12–15 – Cleveland Boat Show, I-X Ctr., 1 I-X Center Dr., Cleveland, Thur./Fri. noon–9 p.m., Sat. 10 a.m.–9 p.m., Sun. 10 a.m.–5 p.m. See all the newest boats and watercraft as well as sailing simulators, the 5,000-gallon aquarium, live fishing clinics and seminars, and a skiing partner for Twiggy the water-skiing squirrel! www.clevelandboatshow.com.

Mon. and Tues. through Dec. 13; open nightly Dec. 14 30, including Christmas Eve and Christmas Day! Check website for hours. Don’t forget to buy your special effects glasses at the gate! No cash accepted. www.holidayinlights.com.

THROUGH DEC. 31 – Light Up Middletown, Smith Park, 500 Tytus Ave., Middletown, 6 10 p.m. daily. Admission by cash donation — you set the price! A drive-through fantasy light display, open in all weather. www.lightupmiddletown.org.

DEC. 11 – Jim and Dan Comic and Toy Show, Wright State University, Student Union, 3640 Colonel Glenn Hwy., Dayton, 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Vintage and new comics, toys, collectibles, and more. Special guests, cosplay, and door prizes! 937 839 7068 or https://jimanddancomics.com/shows.

THROUGH DEC. 17 – Yuletide Village: Season of Lights, Ohio Renaissance Festival, 10542 E. St. Rte. 73, Waynesville, Fri. 5 9 p.m., Sat. 3 9 p.m. $15, under 12 free. Light shows, hot food and drinks, Yuletide Market, Santa and Krampus, and much more. 513 897 7000 or www.yuletidevillage.com.

THROUGH DEC. 23 – North Pole Express, LM&M Railroad, 16 E. South St., Lebanon. $22–$50; under 2, $5. Take a ride on a vintage train with Santa and his elves! See website for days and times. Reservations recommended. 513 933 8022 or www.lebanonrr.com/ northpole.

THROUGH DEC. 30 – Holiday in Lights, Warren County Armco Park, 1223 OH-741, Lebanon. Closed

THROUGH JAN. 1 – Christmas at the Junction, EnterTRAINment Junction, 7379 Squire Court, West Chester. $12 95–$16 95; under 2 free. See the magic of Christmas at the home of the world’s largest indoor train display. Take the family on a “Journey to the North Pole” where you’ll meet Santa and Mrs. Claus! 513 898 8000 or www.entertrainmentjunction.com.

THROUGH JAN. 25 – Bluegrass Wednesdays, Vinoklet Winery, 11069 Colerain Ave., Cincinnati, Wed. 6:30 8:30 p.m. Free entertainment by Vernon McIntyre’s Appalachian Grass. Reservations recommended. 513 385 9309, vinokletwinery@fuse. net, or www.vinokletwines.com.

DEC. 10 11 – Dayton Christkindlmarkt, 1400 E. Fifth St., Dayton, Sat. 10 a.m.–5 p.m., Sun. noon–3 p.m. Celebrate the centuries-old Christmas market tradition that originated in Germany. 937 223 9013 or www.daytongermanclub.org.

DEC. 15 – Big Band Series: “Jingle Jazz,” The Redmoor (Mt. Lookout), 3187 Linwood Ave., Cincinnati, 7:30 p.m. $10–$15. Enjoy a variety of Christmas classics from some of CCJO’s most popular programs as well as new takes on your favorite holiday classics, many of which were written by members of the orchestra. www.cincinnatijazz.org.

DEC. 17 – Christmas in Loveland, Historic Downtown Loveland, 4 8 p.m. Free. Carriage rides, complimentary tastings from area restaurants, crafts, holiday beverages, live Christmas entertainment, live Nativity scene, and more. https://lovinlifeloveland.com/events/ christmas-in-loveland.

JAN. 13 14 – “Grieg: Peer Gynt in Concert,” Music Hall, 1241 Elm St., Cincinnati, 7:30 p.m. Starting at $15. A Norwegian fairy tale comes to life with a concert staging of Grieg’s enchanting score to Ibsen’s play. 513 381 3300 or www.cincinnatisymphony.org.

JAN. 14 – “Chocolate Meltdown and More!,” Oxford Arts Center, 10 S. College Ave., Oxford, 1 5 p.m. Free. Chocolate vendors, art exhibition, games, and other fun events. 513 524 8506 or www.oxarts.org.

THROUGH DEC. 31 – A Storybook Christmas, Zanesville and Muskingum County. Explore Dresden, New Concord, and Zanesville as each town and business is decorated in a storybook theme. Concerts, parades, carriage rides, shopping, and more. Nightly light and music show at the Muskingum County Courthouse Sun.–Thur. 5 9 p.m. and Fri./Sat. 5 10 p.m. 740 455 8282 or www.visitzanesville.com.

THROUGH JAN. 1 – Butch Bando’s Fantasy of Lights, Alum Creek State Park Campgrounds, 3311 S. Old State Rd., Delaware, Sun.–Thur. 5:30 9:30 p.m., Fri./Sat. 5:30 10 p.m. $20 per car on weekdays, $30 on weekends. Season pass $80. 3-mile drive-through light show. 614 412 3499 or https://butchbandosfantasyoflights.com.

THROUGH JAN. 1 – WonderLight’s Christmas, Hartford Fgds., 14028 Fairgrounds Rd., Hartford, 5:30 10 p.m. nightly (including holidays). $30/car (up to 7 passengers); kids 3 and under free. Reservations strongly recommended. Over 1 million LED lights synchronized to traditional and newer, rocking Christmas music played through your own car stereo. www.wonderlightschristmas.com/ohio.

SOUTHEAST

THROUGH DECEMBER – Athens Art Market, 1000 E. State St., Athens, Sat. 9 a.m.–noon. Handcrafted local artisan-made works. Variety of artists changes weekly. www.facebook.com/athensartguild or https:// athensartguild.org.

THROUGH DECEMBER – Athens Farmers Market, 1000 E. State St., Athens, Sat. 9 a.m.–noon. 740 593 6763 or www.athensfarmersmarket.org.

THROUGH DEC. 17 – National Museum of Cambridge Glass Holiday Hours, 136 S. 9th St., Cambridge, Fri./Sat. 12 4 p.m. $6, Srs. $5, under 12 free. 740 432 4245 or www.cambridgeglass.org.

THROUGH DEC. 18 – Santa Train, Hocking Valley Scenic Railway, Nelsonville Depot, 33 W. Canal St., Nelsonville, daytime departures Sat./Sun. 11 a.m. and 2 p.m., evening rides Fri./Sat. 6 p.m. $16–$21, under 3 free. Santa boards the train and visits with each child

DEC. 10 – Holiday Craft Show and Bake Sale, Franklin Co. Fgds., Edwards Bldg., 5035 Northwest Pkwy., Hilliard, 9 a.m.–3 p.m. Handmade, home-crafted items only. Great chance to get those last-minute gifts! franklincountyjuniorfair@gmail.com or www.facebook. com/events/614311123521019

DEC. 10–11, 17–18 – Zanesville & Western Scenic Railroad Santa Rides, 5700 St. Rte. 204, Mt. Perry, 2 7 p.m. $5–$9, under 3 free. Trains depart hourly. Bring unwrapped new children’s toy in the original packaging or a donation to the local food pantry for a discounted ride. 674 595 9701 or www.zwsr.org.

DEC. 11 – Winter Avant-Garde Art and Craft Show, Makoy Event Center, 5462 Center St., Hilliard, 10 a.m.–4 p.m. $3, under 12 free. Featuring artists and crafters selling their original handmade items. Full concession stand on-site. www.avantgardeshows.com.

DEC. 13, JAN. 10 – Inventors Network Meeting, virtual, 7 p.m. Educational presentations and discussion about the invention process. 614 470 0144 or www. inventorscolumbus.com.

DEC. 17–18 – Carpe Diem String Quartet, First Community South, 1320 Cambridge Blvd., Columbus, Sat. 4 6 p.m., Sun. 2 4 p.m. $10–$35. Boundary-breaking ensemble that has earned widespread critical acclaim, with programs that include classical, Gypsy, tango, folk, pop, rock, and jazz-inspired music. www.cdsq.org/events.

DEC. 17 – Ernie Haase and Signature Sounds: “A Jazzy Little Christmas,” Marion Palace Theatre, 276 W. Center St., Marion, 7:30 p.m. $22–$32. Gaither-style music with four-part harmony and a three-piece jazz band. 740 383 2101 or www.marionpalace.org.

DEC. 17–18 – Polaris Makers Market Christmas Shows, Polaris Fashion Place, 1500 Polaris Pkwy.,

Columbus. Features dozens of artists and crafters. www.polarismakersmarket.com.

DEC. 20–29 – Forever Plaid: “Plaid Tidings,” Weathervane Playhouse, 100 Price Rd., Newark, 7:30 p.m. $15–$37 740 366 4616 or www.weathervaneplayhouse.com.

JAN. 6–8 – Columbus Building and Renovation Expo, Ohio Expo Center, Kasich Hall, 717 E. 17th Ave., Columbus, Fri. noon–7 p.m., Sat. 10 a.m.–7 p.m., Sun. 10 a.m.–5 p.m. $6, under 18 free. Top-quality exhibits, informative seminars, insightful demonstrations, and more. Discover thousands of smart, stylish, and costeffective ways to design or renovate your home. www.homeshowcenter.com.

JAN. 6–15 – Ohio RV and Boat Show, Ohio Expo Center, 717 E. 17th St., Columbus, Wed.–Fri. noon–8 p.m., Sat. 10 a.m.–8 p.m., Sun. 11 a.m.–5 p.m. $3–$15; 5 and under free. Hundreds of RVs, campers, boats, motorcycles, and more from over 21 dealers, plus camping gear, equipment, and related products. 614 370 4399 or www.ohiorvandboatshow.com.

JAN. 8 – Columbus Paper, Postcard, and Book Show, Ohio Expo Center, Rhodes Bldg., 717 E. 17th St., Columbus, 9 a.m.–4 p.m. $6. Vintage paper collectibles including postcards, books, paper ads, trade cards, photographs, magazines, documents, and much more. 614 206 9103 or www.facebook.com/Columbus-PaperShow-134469001768

JAN. 8 – Ohio Guitar Show, Makoy Center, 5462 Center St., Hilliard, 11:30 a.m.–5 p.m. $10 (cash only). Buy, sell, and trade. Over 100 dealers! Guitars, amps, effects, parts, catalogs. 740 797 3351 or www.ohioguitarshow.com.

as the train traverses the historic Hocking River Valley. www.hvsry.org/trainlist/#santa.

THROUGH DEC. 31 – “Savage Ancient Seas,” Bossard Library, 7 Spruce St., Gallipolis. Free. Traveling exhibition featuring the marine fossil world of the Late Cretaceous Period. www.bossardlibrary.org.

THROUGH JAN. 2 – Dickens Victorian Village, Wheeling Avenue, Cambridge. Stroll downtown to view scenes depicting life in 1850s England, featuring life-sized, handmade mannequins wearing real vintage clothing. 800 933 5480 or www. dickensvictorianvillage.com.

THROUGH JAN. 2 – Guernsey County Courthouse Holiday Light Show, Cambridge, 5:30 9 p.m. nightly. Four different light and music shows each evening. 800 933 5480 or www.dickensvictorianvillage.com.

DEC. 10 – Columbus Symphony: Holiday Pops Spectacular, Stuart’s Opera House, 52 Public Square, Nelsonville, 7:30 9:30 p.m. $30–$55. Enjoy spectacular performances of classic carols and seasonal favorites. 740 753 1924 or www.stuartsoperahouse.org.

DEC. 17 – Christmas Candle Walk, Dickens Welcome Center, 647 Wheeling Ave., Cambridge, 6 p.m. Free. Join us as we tour the Victorian village by candlelight. Bring your own candle or lantern. Dress warmly and wear comfortable walking shoes. www. dickensvictorianvillage.com/seasonalevents.php.

DEC. 17 – KAVAN: Elvis Christmas Show, Majestic Theatre, 45 E. Second St., Chillicothe, 7:30 p.m. $18–$25. KAVAN will present the Christmas edition of

“4 Shades of Elvis,” covering Elvis’ hit songs from the 50s, the movie years, and the ’68 comeback special, then closing with “Aloha from Hawaii.” www.majesticchillicothe.net.

DEC. 17 – Trolley Tour, Dickens Welcome Center, 647 Wheeling Ave., Cambridge, departing every hour from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. $10. Tour covers historical downtown Cambridge with its Victorian scenes and several outlying historical areas. Trolleys are covered and heated; wheelchair accessible. 740 421 4956 or www.dickensvictorianvillage.com.

DEC. 31 – New Year’s Eve Train and Fireworks, Hocking Valley Scenic Railway, Nelsonville Depot, 33 W. Canal St., Nelsonville, 10:30 p.m.–12:30 a.m. $22–$35 The train travels to East Logan and then returns. On the trip back, it stops near the stroke of midnight so everyone can watch the great fireworks display to help ring in the new year! 740 249 1452 or www.hvsry.org.

JAN. 12 – Josh Turner, Peoples Bank Theatre, 222 Putnam St., Marietta, 8 p.m. Tickets start at $68 www.peoplesbanktheatre.com/event.

JAN. 13 – The Commodores, Peoples Bank Theatre, 222 Putnam St., Marietta, 8 p.m. Tickets start at $75 www.peoplesbanktheatre.com/event.

JAN. 15 – Rhonda Vincent and The Rage, Stuart’s Opera House, 52 Public Square, Nelsonville, 3 p.m. A special matinee performance from “The New Queen of Bluegrass” and her award-winning band. 740 753 1924 or www.stuartsoperahouse.org.

Candy canes

Our daughter, Karlena, during her 9-month milestone photos. Kayla and Michael Forry, Mid-Ohio Energy Cooperative members

With a nick nack paddy whack, give a dog a … merry Christmas! Amanda Stingley South Central Power Company member

My daughters, Noelle and Scarlett, enjoying Kings Island WinterFest. Renee Taylor-Johnson, Butler Rural Electric Cooperative member

My two oldest kiddos, Carson and Laney: “Big brothers — ugh!”

Jessica Cawley, South Central Power Company member

My granddaughter, Gwen, dances the role of Candy Cane for Ballet Wooster’s performance of The Nutcracker

Rebecca Franck, Holmes-Wayne Electric Cooperative member

Hand-crocheted candy cane received in 1976 June Niederman, Butler Rural Electric Cooperative member

WINTER ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND SAFETY TIPS

Energy strategies to

keep your holidays merry, bright, affordable and safe!

Seal air leaks to prevent heat from escaping and cold air from entering your home.  Use timers indoors and out to give your decorations—and your electric bill—a break.  Switch to a smart thermostat and save up to 15% on energy costs.  Open blinds and curtains during the day to allow sunlight in to warm your home. Close blinds and curtains at night to keep out cold, drafty air. 

Switch to LED lights. They stay cool, use up to 80% less energy than traditional bulbs, and reduce the risk of fire. 

Lower your water heater temperature to 120 degrees to prevent scalding and save energy.  Avoid running cords under rugs or in places where pets might be tempted to chew.