OHIO COOPERATIVE Trustee
Concern for community
Electric cooperative employees and trustees around the state show their concern for the places they live, work, and serve in many ways.
Their generous support of the Community Foundation of Ohio’s Electric Cooperatives, through payroll deductions and one-time donations, has allowed the foundation to provide more than $173,000 in grants to dozens of organizations that are near and dear to our employees’ hearts in the last six years.
AHA! A Hands-On Adventure
St. Jude’s Childrens Hospital
Association of Louisiana Electric Cooperatives disaster relief e orts
Huckleberry House
Colony Cats Common Ground Free Store
Human Connections Fund JR Memorial Cruise for a Cure
Florida Electric Cooperatives Association - disaster relief e orts
RESCUEDohio
NRECA International
Capital Area Humane Society
Stefanie Spielman Fund for Breast Cancer
Ronald McDonald House Charities
Gracehaven, Inc.
Children’s Hunger Alliance Star House
Ohio Governor’s Imagination Library
Tennessee Electric Cooperative Association disaster relief efforts Leukemia & Lymphoma Societ y Union County 4-H Worthington Resource Pantry
Autistic Self Advocacy Network
Ovarian Cancer Alliance of Ohio
BrAva
American Red Cross
Kentucky Rural Disaster Relief Fund and local relief e orts
Might
Children’s Museum
Project Ohio
Saving Grace Cat rescue Clear Creek Farm
Scioto County Career Technical Center to benefit the Blake Rodgers Memorial Scholarship
Cooperative Development Foundation
Niche Seekers
Cooperative Family Fund Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library of Ohio
Trevor Project
Kentucky Rural Disaster Relief Fund and local relief e orts
LifeCare Alliance’s “Meals on Wheels” program
INSIDE
FEATURES
22 THROWBACKS
In an age of closures and conglomerations, rural media outlets survive by staying local.
27 ‘SUPER’ SUPPLIER
As in each of the previous LVIII Super Bowls, the game balls used on the field will come from the Wilson Sporting Goods football factory in Ada.
Cover image on most editions: “The Duke,” the Wilson Sporting Goods Co.’s nickname for its official NFL game ball, has been used for every play in every game since the creation of the league in 1941 — and every one of those balls has been handcrafted at the company’s factory in Ada.
This page: Charles Barnett, a member of Holmes-Wayne Electric Cooperative, was inspired to submit this photo for this month’s Member Interactive, “Love Language,” after a passerby made a quick turnaround in his snow-covered driveway in West Salem and left some love-ly tire tracks in the freshly fallen snow.
Our core mission
Affordable and reliable electricity strengthens cooperative communities and enhances the lives of members wherever they are — on farms, in homes or schools, at their small businesses or large retail establishments, or even in industrial and manufacturing facilities. While it’s essential to meet our obligations to current cooperative members, we must also work to support economic development activities that help attract new people and enterprises to cooperative territories, with the aim of further benefiting these communities.
The value of service
One area where co-ops typically excel is member service. Members of Ohio’s electric cooperatives can rely on someone answering the phone (or timely calling them back) when they have questions or need assistance, and that responsiveness shows up as part of what goes into co-ops’ consistently high member satisfaction scores. But it’s not just current co-op members who benefit from the high level of service. We also hear from developers who appreciate the willingness of our employees to help them get work done, whether that means assisting in developing new neighborhoods, constructing new businesses, or expanding existing facilities.
Driving economic development
Affordable and reliable electricity and excellent member service are critical factors in attracting new businesses, homes, and neighborhoods to cooperative areas. But it’s also important that Ohio’s electric cooperatives actively engage with economic development agencies across the state and the rest of the country so developers and companies looking to establish operations understand all the benefits co-ops have to offer.
For the good of our communities
Whether it’s providing a grant to help certify a cooperative site to make it more attractive to developers, or meeting with economic development groups to educate them on the cooperative business model and all its advantages, our co-ops play an important role in helping our communities grow stronger. Of course, it starts with our ability to provide affordable and reliable power, but it’s our cooperative work ethic and willingness to engage with interested parties in support of economic development that go even further to attract new members and grow our communities.
It’s important that developers and companies looking to establish operations understand all the benefits cooperatives have to offer.
Craig Grooms PRESIDENT & CEO OHIO’S ELECTRIC COOPERATIVES
Ohio Rural Electric Cooperatives
6677 Busch Blvd. Columbus, OH 43229 614-846-5757 www.ohiocoopliving.com
Craig Grooms President & CEO
Caryn Whitney Director of Communications
Jeff McCallister Senior Managing Editor
Amy Howat Assistant Managing Editor
Neal Kindig Graphic Designer
Contributors: Colleen Romick Clark, Randy Edwards, Getty Images, W.H. “Chip” Gross, Catherine Murray, Karen Sottosanti, and Kevin Williams.
OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING (USPS 134-760; ISSN 2572-049X) is published monthly by Ohio Rural Electric Cooperatives, Inc. It is the official 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.
Cooperative members: Please report changes of address to your electric cooperative. Ohio Cooperative Living staff cannot process address changes. 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. 13 8 10 4 36 33
National/regional advertising inquiries, contact Cheryl Solomon
American MainStreet Publications 847-749-4875 | cheryl@amp.coop
DEPARTMENTS
4 POWER LINES
If you build it... An Ohio co-op works to spur housing development as a way to drive economic growth.
8 WOODS, WATERS, AND WILDLIFE
Crossing the ‘River Jordan’: ODNR’s Heritage of Freedom Trails commemorate Ohio’s part in the Underground Railroad.
10
CO-OP PEOPLE
Stepping out: Co-op member finds fun and acclaim in the world of Irish dancing.
13
GOOD EATS
Snap, crackle, and pop: These yummy but noisy bites are sure to take the sneak out of your snack.
17 LOCAL PAGES
News and other important information from your electric cooperative.
33 CALENDAR
What’s happening: February/ March events and other things to do around Ohio.
36
MEMBER INTERACTIVE
Love language: Members share photos of the people who make them the happiest.
Alliance for Audited Media Member
If you build it…
Ohio co-op works to spur housing development as a way to drive economic growth.
BY JEFF MCCALLISTER
Church & Dwight, a multibillion-dollar manufacturing company, has expanded its Seneca County facility twice in the past five years, adding more than $90 million in machinery and new capacity and creating 140 new jobs in the process.
It might seem curious at first that companies like Church & Dwight continue to make that type of investment there — after all, the area is not exactly a sweet spot in terms of logistical ease, with no four-lane highway and rail accessibility that’s still a bit light.
And yet, that expansion is only a part of more than $800 billion in new business investments that have spurred creation of more than 3,400 new jobs — and retention of countless others — in the Seneca County area in the past decade. Tiffin, in fact, perennially earns recognition as one of the top “micropolitan” areas (populations between 10,000 and 50,000) in the U.S. for economic development.
The Tiffin-Seneca Economic Partnership (TSEP) has been active in finding ways to help the area beat some tilted economic odds — and Attica-based North Central Electric Cooperative has been an important partner in those efforts.
“As a not-for-profit electric cooperative, our role extends beyond supplying electricity; like co-ops everywhere, we aim to enhance the quality of life, work, and service in our communities,” says Ed VanHoose, NCE’s president
and CEO. “We not only keep the lights on, but we power economic growth.”
Co-ops are ideally positioned to be economic drivers within the communities they serve (see related story on page 6). First, they are locally owned and governed, and their employees live there, too, so they have a vested interest in the prosperity of those areas. Second, they often have access to funding through state and federal programs to help pave the way for the kind of investment those areas need.
Part of the stacked odds in Seneca County has been that employers have had difficulty finding employees. A study commissioned by TSEP found that, through all that recent growth there, a large proportion of those new jobs are being filled by employees who live elsewhere and commute to Seneca County to work.
“A lack of workforce housing is holding Seneca County back,” says Audrey Flood, manager of key accounts and economic development at NCE, which helped fund the study. “The community needs every type of housing, from very small rental apartments and condominiums to affordable single-family housing and luxury homes. The private market cannot fix the housing shortage problem without community support.”
So the co-op, which serves nearly 10,000 members — the majority of whom live in the more rural areas of Seneca,
Wyandot, and Crawford counties — is helping tilt the odds back in the community’s favor. After the jobs study came out, NCE joined with real estate agents, lenders, local builders, representatives from county offices, and other business and community members on a task force aiming to spur new residential development.
The group is working to identify large parcels that can accommodate a new subdivision with a variety of housing types and mixed uses — ideally with willing sellers and access to utilities. It will then need to be determined who would buy the land, who would own which type of parcels for development, what the market desires and can afford, and what specific infrastructure costs might be.
Likely enough, such a large, undeveloped parcel would fall within the co-op’s service territory, making it possible for NCE to access low-cost federal financing for the project.
“Seneca County’s workforce and economic development teams are doing really great work,” VanHoose says. “Our region has two private universities, plus Terra State Community College, a career tech center, and a lot of partnerships building pathways that connect students directly to industry and career opportunities right here. We won’t let a lack of workforce housing hold us back.”
Co-ops power economy in communities across the U.S.
The 900 or so electric cooperatives in this country deliver electricity to 42 million Americans in 48 states across 56 percent of the nation’s landmass.
In Ohio, the state’s co-ops serve more than 1 million people in 77 of the state’s 88 counties.
But electricity is not co-ops’ only priority. The entire electric co-op movement was born of a desire to improve people’s lives, and since they serve mostly rural and economically challenged counties, the enduring economic benefits they provide their communities is nearly as important.
“Affordable and reliable electricity is a key ingredient for a successful economy,” says Craig Grooms, president and CEO of Ohio’s Electric Cooperatives, the co-ops’ statewide service organization. “Electric co-ops have always been focused on the long-term success of local communities as they keep the lights on and power economic growth.”
According to a report commissioned by the national coop organization, local electric cooperatives supported about 623,000 American jobs and contributed $111 billion annually to gross domestic product from 2018 through 2022. Their activities have far-reaching impacts across the country — even in areas where co-ops do not serve consumers directly.
Economic engines
The report, Economic Powerhouses: The Economic Impacts of America’s Electric Cooperatives, details the economic benefits of a range of activities conducted by cooperatives. The generation, transmission, and distribution of electricity is the primary economic contribution, but that economic activity also includes capital investments, additional operations and maintenance expenses, and the disbursement of excess operating revenue returned to cooperative members as capital credits.
Many also participate in local and statewide economic development organizations and are able to channel state and federal grants and marketing help to attract businesses to their areas. Many also gather charitable donations from members through bill round-up programs and use that to provide business grants, fund local organizations, and offer scholarships.
“Electric cooperatives foster opportunities of all kinds in their communities,” Grooms says. “Since they are owned and governed by the members they serve, they have a powerful drive to keep improving the quality of life in those communities. It’s just who we are.”
The entire electric power sector generates $880 billion in economic impact annually (5 percent of America’s GDP) America’s electric cooperatives...
provide 71,000 jobs own $183 billion in assets
Invest $12 billion annually in local economies
pay $1.3 billion annually in state/local taxes
Crossing the ‘River Jordan’
ODNR’s Heritage of Freedom Trails commemorate the state’s part in the Underground Railroad.
BY W.H. “CHIP” GROSS
Along the eastern edge of Alum Creek State Park in central Ohio runs a thoroughfare called Africa Road. I’ve lived in the general vicinity for years, and the road’s name always seemed a bit odd to me.
As it turns out, there’s a backstory behind it, dating back to the area’s significant role as a stop on the Underground Railroad. “Around 1847, in the community of East Orange — near what is today a crossroads just south of the dam at Alum Creek Lake — a church dispute over the issue of slavery led to the founding of a new antislavery Wesleyan church,” says Phil Hutchison, a spokesperson for the Ohio Department of Natural Resources. “The name ‘Africa,’ as applied to the new church and community, was initially meant as an insult, but abolitionists embraced it proudly.”
Late last fall, just off Africa Road in Alum Creek State Park, the ODNR unveiled the first of four planned “Heritage of Freedom” trails in the state commemorating Ohio’s contribution to the Underground Railroad. “The Underground Railroad is a key part of Ohio’s history,” says Mary Mertz, director of ODNR. “This Heritage of Freedom Trail serves as a visual history lesson and provides an immersive way to see what freedom-seekers faced in Ohio’s natural environment during this time in history.”
It is estimated that by the end of the Civil War (1861–1865), as many as 500,000 or more people had emancipated themselves from slavery via the Underground Railroad. While moving from safe house to safe house, Black men and women, sometimes with children in tow, would travel by night, stopping to rest and hide during daylight hours in deep woods, swamps, caves, abandoned barns, or shacks — anywhere so as not to be seen.
I took in the three-quarter-mile-loop freedom trail at Alum Creek on a bleak winter day shortly after it opened. Helped by seven interpretive signs spaced along the trail, I tried to imagine what enslaved people might have experienced while on the run during that season of the year — scared, cold, tired, hungry, poorly clothed, possibly ill.
“The Underground Railroad in central Ohio had two main branches,” Hutchison says. “The first began in Ripley near the Ohio River, where John Rankin, a guide — known as a ‘conductor’ — helped many enslaved people find their way north. This route went through Columbus, Worthington, Delaware, and the Alum Creek Friends Settlement near Marengo in Morrow County. It then continued north to Canada by way of many other safe
houses. The second branch of the railroad led from Columbus to Westerville, then farther north to the small settlements of Africa, Sunbury, and beyond.”
Secret signs or signals were often used to help freedomseekers and conductors identify one another. For instance, imitations of bird calls, ribbons tied to trees, and lanterns shining from windows helped people safely connect during the long, arduous, and dangerous journey north. The “River Jordan” was code for the Ohio River, as crossing it meant arrival into the free state of Ohio.
Of course, even though Ohio did not allow slavery, freedomseekers still had to rely on the Underground Railroad while traversing the Buckeye State on their way toward
Canada. The Fugitive Slave Act of 1850, a federal law, required that all escaped slaves, upon capture, be returned to their enslavers, and that officials and citizens of free states had to cooperate. The law was so controversial that it was one of the factors leading to the Civil War. It was not until President Abraham Lincoln’s issuing of the Emancipation Proclamation on January 1, 1863, that the era of slavery officially ended in America.
Three additional Heritage of Freedom Trails are being planned by ODNR: one each at East Fork (southwest Ohio) and Portage Lakes (northeast Ohio) state parks. The location of the fourth is still yet to be determined.
The Heritage of Freedom Trail at Alum Creek State Park is located on the north side of the parking lot at the Galena boat ramp on Africa Road.
Stepping out
Co-op member finds acclaim and fun in the world of Irish dancing.
BY KAREN SOTTOSANTI; PHOTOS COURTESY OF SILPA SADHUJAN/WWW.RINCEANDREPEAT.COM
Bella Rogers’ devotion to Irish dance has taken her around the world. It’s propelled her to competitions throughout the United States and Canada and across the pond in England, Ireland, and Scotland. But it all started when a 5-year-old Rogers took her very first Irish dance class at the invitation of a neighbor. “I immediately fell in love with the sport,” she says. “I loved the creativity of it.”
Rogers, 19, lives in Pickerington with her parents, Amber and Todd Rogers, members of Lancaster-based South Central Power Company, and her brothers, Brycen and Bennett. She says her family has always been supportive of her journey in Irish dance, a traditional dance form she describes as “a mix of ballet and tap.”
When a young Rogers realized how much she enjoyed dancing, she began taking lessons with instructor Joseph Moriarty at the ML Dance Academy in Reynoldsburg. She saw a production of the Riverdance Irish dancing
spectacular when she was about 10 years old. (Moriarty is a former principal of the show.) “I loved it,” she says. “It was amazing. I thought, I want to be in that someday.”
In 2017, she began dancing at the Academy in Westerville, where she currently studies with instructors and World Irish Dance champions Byron Tuttle, a former Lord of the Dance and Feet of Flames dancer, and Edward Searle, a former Riverdance dancer. Since the studio moved to Westerville from Birmingham, England, in 2011, dancers who have trained at the Academy have won 25 World Irish Dancing championships in both the solo and team sections. “I’m very lucky to have a school so great so close,” Rogers says.
Irish dancers often take part in layers of competitions; Rogers has been competing solo and in teams for the past 10 years. There are local competitions called feis (in the Irish language), regional competitions called Oireachtas, and larger competitions, including the North
In Irish dance, the focus is on footwork and high kicks; dancers maintain a strict posture and keep their arms at their sides. To perform more rhythmic dances such as the hornpipe and treble jig, dancers wear “heavy” shoes with fiberglass tips and heels, similar to tap shoes. They wear “light” or soft shoes, like ballet slippers, to perform the reel and the slip jig.
American Nationals, called majors. If a dancer scores high enough in a major competition, he or she can qualify to compete in the World Championships, or Oireachtas Rince na Cruinne, which are usually held in Ireland or Scotland.
During competition season, Rogers rehearses every day, including weekends. One of the perks of her intense rehearsal schedule, she says, is the friendships the dancers form. Rogers describes some of her favorite moments as “being with my friends, my dance family, traveling, getting to celebrate together.” Once female dancers reach a certain level of competition, she says, they wear elaborate, custom-made competition dresses with long sleeves and short skirts, often made in Ireland. To save themselves the trouble of repeatedly styling their hair in ringlet curls, female dancers, including Rogers, often wear “bun” wigs or full wigs while competing.
During her years of competition, Rogers has steadily progressed, improving her solo rankings with every contest. In 2024, she won titles at the Mid-America Oireachtas and the North American Nationals — both cherished highlights of her career. But her top stand-out moment, she says, was ranking second in her age group at the 2024 World Championships in Glasgow, Scotland. “I never imagined that I would get something like that,” she says.
Rogers will compete in Dublin, Ireland, at the 2025 World Championships in April, and will also dance in another Dublin — at the annual Dublin (Ohio) Irish Festival from August 1 to 3. “I’ve danced at [the Ohio festival] for seven years now with my dance school,” Rogers says. “We perform show routines choreographed by one of our instructors, Byron Tuttle, as well as routines from the famous Lord of the Dance and Riverdance. It’s always exhilarating getting to dance for such large crowds that really get into the performances.”
Later in August, Rogers will head back to Ireland to attend a weeklong session at the Riverdance Summer School, which doubles as an audition process for the iconic stage show. Students will rehearse with Riverdance professional dancers and, at the end of the week, perform in a showcase for family and friends. Students who have excelled during the session will also perform several group numbers with the professional dancers. If they do particularly well, they may be hired to join a professional Riverdance tour — a prospect that makes Rogers grin excitedly. “I would love to tour professionally,” she says. “It would be a dream, doing what I love most.”
mobility scooter with
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Years of work by innovative engineers have resulted in a scooter that’s designed with seniors in mind. They created Electronic Stability Control (ESC) that makes it virtually impossible to tip over. If you try to turn too quickly, the scooter automatically slows down to prevent it from tipping over. The battery provides powerful energy at a fraction of the weight of most batteries. With its rugged yet lightweight aluminum frame, the So Lite ® Scooter is the most portable scooter ever—but it can hold up to 275 pounds—yet weighs only 40.8 pounds without the battery! What’s more, it easily folds up for storage in a car seat, trunk or even on an airplane. It folds in seconds without tools and is safe and reliable. Best of all, it’s designed with your safety in mind, from the newest technology and superior craftsmanship. Why spend another day letting your lack of mobility ruin your quality of life? Call now and find out how you can get a So Lite® Scooter of your very own.
&
RECIPES AND PHOTOGRAPHS BY
CATHERINE MURRAY
Snap, crackle pOp
These yummy but noisy bites are sure to take the sneak out of your snack.
HONEY CRACKLE CORN
Prep: 15 minutes | Bake: 30 minutes | Servings: 12 to 24
10 cups plain popped popcorn
2 cups salted mixed nuts, coarsely chopped ½ cup salted butter
1 cup packed brown sugar ¼ cup honey
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Sort and discard any unpopped kernels from the popcorn. Spread popcorn and nuts across two 9x13-inch baking dishes (or one deep roasting dish). In a small saucepan over medium heat, melt butter, then stir in brown sugar and honey. Cook, stirring occasionally, until mixture comes to a full boil (about 6 to 8 minutes), then simmer without stirring for 5 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in vanilla. Pour hot mixture over popcorn and nuts, tossing to coat.
Bake at 250 F for 30 minutes, stirring every 10 minutes. The baking process will continue to evenly coat popcorn and nuts with caramel, and the caramel will change from gooey to crispy with a visible crackle texture. Remove from oven and spread mixture over a silicone mat or wax paper to cool. Store in airtight container for up to a week.
Per serving: 200 calories, 13 grams fat (4.5 grams saturated fat), 19 grams total carbohydrates, 14 milligrams cholesterol, 121 milligrams sodium, 2 grams fiber, 4 grams protein.
A POP-ROCKIN’ VALENTINE’S COOKIE
Prep: 30 minutes | Chill: 1 hour | Bake: 8 minutes | Servings: 15 to 25
½ cup sugar
2 tablespoons shortening
¼ cup unsalted butter, softened
1 egg
½ teaspoon vanilla
1¼ cups flour
½ teaspoon baking powder
½ teaspoon salt
8 ounces canned vanilla frosting food coloring*
3 packets Pop Rocks candy*
*Use any color(s) to mix and match with Pop Rocks flavors for your occasion. Shown: dark pink, light pink, and white icing with strawberry- and cherry-flavored Pop Rocks.
With an electric mixer, beat together sugar, shortening, and butter until light and fluffy. Beat in egg and vanilla. In a medium bowl, mix flour, baking powder, and salt, then add to electric mixer until dough comes together. Form dough into a disk, cover, and chill for an hour.
Preheat oven to 400 F. On a floured surface, roll dough out 1/8 inch thick. Cut into heart shapes and place on an ungreased baking sheet. Bake 6 to 8 minutes or until just slightly browned on the edges. Immediately transfer to a cooling rack.
Up to 24 hours before serving: Mix food coloring into frosting for desired effect. Frost cooled cookies and store covered at room temperature. Refrigerate leftover icing. Just before serving, liberally sprinkle cookies with Pop Rocks. (Pop Rocks may melt into the icing over time, reducing the popping effect; they’ll still be delicious!)
Per serving: 174 calories, 5.5 grams fat (3 grams saturated fat), 29 grams total carbohydrates, 15 milligrams cholesterol, 96 milligrams sodium, 0.5 gram fiber, 1 gram protein.
SNAP PEA AND APPLE BRUSCHETTA
Prep: 30 minutes | Cook: 10 minutes | Servings: 8 16-ounce Italian loaf or French baguette, in ½-inch-thick slices olive oil for brushing salt and pepper for sprinkling
5 ounces sugar snap peas, diced
1 large Granny Smith apple, cored and diced
2 teaspoons honey
8 ounces herbed goat cheese
Cut bread slices in half diagonally (if desired). Lightly brush both sides of bread slices with olive oil, then place flat on a baking sheet. Sprinkle tops with salt and pepper.
Preheat oven (or grill) to 400 F. Bake until lightly browned, about 5 minutes per side. Toss together snap peas, diced apple, and honey. Transfer goat cheese to a small bowl and microwave in 10-second increments, mixing each time, until soft and pliable. Lightly spread goat cheese onto bread slices, then spoon snap peas and apples on top. Serve immediately. Makes about 16 slices.
Per serving: 260 calories, 9 grams fat (4 grams saturated fat), 19 grams total carbohydrates, 25 milligrams cholesterol, 551 milligrams sodium, 2 grams fiber, 10 grams protein.
EVERYTHING BAGEL SEED CRACKERS
Prep: 5 minutes | Soak: 15 minutes | Bake: 50 minutes | Servings: 20
½ cup whole flax seeds
¼ cup milled (ground) flax seeds
1/3 cup salted pepitas
2 tablespoons sesame seeds (black and/or white)
1 tablespoon poppy seeds
1 tablespoon dried minced onion
1 teaspoon garlic powder
¼ teaspoon salt
1¼ cups boiling water
½ teaspoon flaked or coarse sea salt
In a medium, heat-safe bowl, mix together flax seeds through boiling water. Let soak 15 minutes. Cover a 12x16-inch baking sheet (or larger) with parchment paper. Pour mixture in the middle, then evenly spread to edges with a spoon or spatula. Sprinkle with flaked or coarse sea salt.
Heat oven to 350 F. Place on middle rack for 40 to 50 minutes — cracker edges will curl slightly with browned edges and will be stiff when parchment is lifted off baking sheet. Let cool for a minute or two, then carefully remove parchment and break cracker into pieces. (If some pieces bend, continue baking those pieces in 5-minute increments until stiff.) Store in an airtight container at room temperature up to 2 weeks.
Per serving: 37 calories, 3 grams fat (0 grams saturated fat), 2 grams total carbohydrates, 0 milligrams cholesterol, 115 milligrams sodium, 1.5 grams fiber, 1.5 grams protein.
Consolidated Cooperative is here to serve you. Please contact us if you have any questions.
CONTACT US
24-HOUR EMERGENCY
SERVICE: 800-421-5863 service@consolidated.coop www.consolidated.coop
MAIN OFFICE
5255 St. Rte. 95 Mount Gilead, OH 43338
DISTRICT OFFICE
4993 St. Rte. 521 Delaware, OH 43015
OFFICE HOURS
7:30 a.m.–4 p.m.
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Michael Struck, Chair
Mike Schuster, Vice Chair
Mary Fuller, Secretary
Larry Roof
Kent Kramer, Treasurer
Tim Bachelder
Don Breece
David Erickson, Asst. Secretary
Michael Huston
HAVE A STORY SUGGESTION?
Email your ideas to: editor@consolidated.coop
GRAPHIC DESIGNER
Stephanie Daniel
Call our outage hotline to quickly report an outage and to receive important outage updates: 866-567-2753. You can also sign up to receive outage updates via text. Call 800-421-5863 to speak with a member engagement specialist. WATCH OUTAGE
About our Chairman, Michael Struck:
Michael Struck is a Marengo resident who has been a Consolidated member for 24 years, and a trustee for 10 He is active in our communities, serving on multiple boards and committees, and he has a strong background in the IT field.
A Message from Our Chairman
As your elected representatives, your trustees are responsible for making sure Consolidated continues to put members first. Each trustee is dedicated to representing the best interests of the districts where we live, and our entire membership.
We are all Consolidated members ourselves, and together we represent everything from rural farming communities to booming suburban areas. The diversity of our backgrounds, experience, and expertise helps us determine a well-rounded plan of action to keep our communities and cooperative thriving for years to come.
As trustees, we attend monthly meetings, pursue training from statewide and national cooperative organizations, attend key cooperative political events to speak up for our communities, and guide the cooperative’s goals and overall direction. At each monthly board meeting, we hear from all major departments at Consolidated — from operations to finance and member engagement. We provide input on plans and programs, make strategic and financial decisions, and represent member concerns.
We take our responsibility as your voices on the board very seriously, especially as challenges increase in the electric industry. Between heavy regulations, the fast push to renewable energy, and ever-increasing demand, we must stay current, focused, and active to maintain the reliable, affordable services our communities need to thrive. We work to balance innovative technologies and environmental consciousness with the need for longterm sustainability and growth, both in our communities and in the electric industry across the nation.
Thank you for attending events like Brews & Views and our annual meetings to share your voice and keep communication open. My fellow trustees and I have had many insightful conversations with members from across our service territory at these events, and we look forward to connecting with you more throughout 2025
Please read through pages 18 and 19 of this magazine to learn about our upcoming trustee elections in districts 1, 2, and 3. Consolidated is looking to you to nominate eligible candidates and vote for your representatives. If you have questions or if you need to reach your trustee, please visit consolidated.coop and search “board of trustees” to learn more and get in touch with us.
RESIDENTIAL REBATES*
Dual-fuel systems — $600
Geothermal heat pump systems — $800
Electric water heater — $125
Heat pump water heater — $200
ENERGY STAR ductless mini-split — $600
Electric vehicle level 2 charger — $250
ENERGY STAR refrigerator — $100
Smart thermostat — up to $150
ENERGY STAR Freezer — $100
ENERGY STAR central air unit — $150
*Rebates are given as credits on your electric bill. Call us for rebate information!
Trustee Elections: Your vote matters!
2025 Elections – Districts 1, 2, and 3
Consolidated members have the right and responsibility to participate in our trustee elections and vote for a representative who will act in your community’s best interests. Democratic Member Control is one of the seven guiding principles of all co-ops — it reminds us that cooperative employees are accountable to our trustees, and our trustees are accountable to our members.
As you read in this month’s column from our chairman, Michael Struck, our trustees set the path for Consolidated’s future. They meet every month to discuss, review, and approve items like co-op goals and strategy, budgets, rates, expansion, and policies, and to provide guidance and input on key initiatives. They are committed to making decisions in the best interests of the members they represent and Consolidated’s membership as a whole, while ensuring that our co-op stays true to our founding principles.
This year, our elections impact districts 1, 2, and 3. Check the Nomination and Election Timeline carefully to ensure that you don’t miss your chance to nominate a candidate and vote in your election!
Not sure what district you are in?
Visit our website and search “board of trustees” or give us a call at 800-421-5863 for help.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
2025 Nomination and Election Timeline Districts 1, 2, and 3
Monday, February 24
Nomination ballots will be mailed to members in districts 1, 2 and 3.
Monday, March 10
Nomination ballots must be postmarked by March 10. Members who submit their forms online must do so by 4 p.m. local time on March 10.
Tuesday, March 18
Nomination ballots will be counted.
Friday, April 25
Election ballots will be mailed to members in districts 1, 2, and 3.
Friday, May 16
Returned election ballots must be postmarked by Friday, May 16. Members who submit their ballots online must do so by 4 p.m. local time on May 16.
Tuesday, June 10
Ballots will be counted.
Tuesday, June 24
Consolidated’s 2025 Annual Meeting. Election results will be announced. **Important note: Our 2025 Annual Meeting will be a sit-down, formal business meeting. We will provide more information about the meeting as the date approaches.
To serve on Consolidated’s board of trustees, you must be able to attend:
• 12 regular monthly meetings
• Special committee meetings, as needed
• The annual meeting in June
• Strategic planning sessions (every other year or more frequently, if needed)
• State and national training and education (minimum one class or seminar per year)
Please read the full list of nomination qualifications on this page.
Qualifications for Trustee Nominations
Seats on Consolidated’s board of trustees are designated by geographic area. To run, a position must be available in your area. This year, districts 1, 2, and 3 are participating in the election process.
According to page 8 of Consolidated’s Code of Regulations, no member shall be eligible to become or remain a member of the board who:
A. Is not a bona fide member; or
B. Has not been a member of the Cooperative for at least three (3) most recent prior years; or
C. Has been convicted of, is pleading, or has pled guilty to a felony; or
D. Is not the designated representative of a firm, association, corporation, partnership, body politic or subdivision thereof which is a bona fide member; or
E. Is not a bona fide resident in the particular district within the service area of the Cooperative which such member is to represent; or
F. Is in any way employed by, has been an employee within the previous five (5) years, or who has a controlling financial interest in a business that sells or provides a material amount of commodities, products, or services to the Cooperative or any subsidiary of the Cooperative.
G. Is not willing or able to carry out the functions of a Board member, including having sound business judgment and the commitment to spend time and effort necessary to become knowledgeable about the utility business.
H. Is not willing to attend training and education seminars toward becoming a Credentialed Cooperative Director designation or similar certification from the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA) within three years of becoming a Board member; as well as
a. Maintain ongoing continuing education by attending at least one NRECA training class per year.
b. Attend training and education seminars toward obtaining Board Leadership Certificate or similar certification from NRECA.
I. Is not willing to permit the Cooperative to install in-home computer and Internet equipment to learn how to operate such equipment for the purpose of transacting Cooperative business.
J. Is not willing to understand and follow fiduciary responsibilities including being loyal to the Cooperative, obeying such duties as maintaining confidential information, and be willing to fully disclose any potential conflicts of interest, and also deal with fellow Board members in good faith and fair play.
K. Is not willing to understand that he/she represents the best interest of the Cooperative program and Consolidated Cooperative and its membership as a whole on an objective and impartial basis, and not just those in his or her district or in a specific rate class.
Mail Delays – Go Paperless!
Over the holidays, our area experienced mail delays that caused our members to receive their bills late in the mail. While this issue was exacerbated by holiday shopping traffic, mail delays are becoming more common, and in 2024, the USPS presented a proposal that would intentionally extend mail delivery time in rural areas to save money.
P APERLESS BILLIN G @
While no official changes were made at the time this edition of Ohio Cooperative Living was produced, these trends make it more important to adjust now and avoid relying solely on paper bills to make payments on time. SmartHub, Paperless Billing, and AutoPay are some of the best ways to help ensure that mail delays do not impact your ability to manage your account.
SmartHub is our free, secure online account management system for Consolidated members. Create an account to access all of your billing information online, make payments, track your energy use, and more. Visit our website and click or tap the “SmartHub” button to learn more and sign up.
With Paperless Billing, your bill is delivered to you via email as soon as it becomes available each month, so you don't have to worry about mail delays. Sign up for Paperless on your Consolidated SmartHub account under “Settings,” or our team can switch your account over for you.
Set up AutoPay to avoid the risk of late payments and ease the stress of remembering to pay your bill each month. Simply choose the account or card that you would like to pay with, and your bill total will be automatically withdrawn and applied to your Consolidated account on your due date each month. You can set up payments through SmartHub or contact us for help.
USE YOUR CO-OP CONNECTIONS CARD TO SAVE AT LOCAL BUSINESSES
Visit connections.coop to see all local and national offers. Thousands of members also save each year on pharmacy discounts! Need a replacement card? You can download one on the connections.coop site or call our office and we will mail one to you.
FROM THE BOARDROOM
• Phil Caskey, CEO, shared results from an internal safety audit (details pending).
• Amanda Pridemore, CFO, presented recommendations for Consolidated Natural Gas commercial rates.
• Tim Applegate, COO, outlined Consolidated's long-range plan including long-term system changes, future loads, and projected costs.
• Jon Todd, Safety Director, discussed safety improvements and strategies for Consolidated.
• Jennifer Barger, CMO, reviewed the year-end report for Community & Government relations, highlighting partnerships with Morrow and Delaware counties to drive growth.
Throwbacks
In an age of closures and conglomeration, rural media survives by staying local.
BY KEVIN WILLIAMS
The phone rang at WVNU radio in Greenfield on a recent morning, and Nelson Hunter, the station’s longtime morning host, picked it up on the first ring. The caller was inquiring about a food pantry that needed volunteers. She had heard him read an announcement on the air a few days earlier.
Nelson Hunter, WVNU’s longtime morning host, provides listeners with hand-picked adult contemporary music, announcements of goings-on in and around Greenfield, and even celebrity interviews.
“People call here thinking that we have the answer to every question,” Hunter says. “WVNU was the internet before the internet; for some around here, it still is the internet.” He reaches for a stack of papers, finds the report, and gives the caller the information. “Thank you — you’re a lifesaver!” the woman gushes.
Greenfield, with a population of just over 4,000, sits nestled among the quiet hills of rural Ross and Highland counties between Hillsboro, Washington Court House, and Chillicothe. A mural downtown celebrates the Patterson family, widely recognized as the first African American auto manufacturers in the United States. High school sports and county fairs are at least as important as anything going on anywhere else in the world.
It’s from here that WVNU, a tiny 2,300-watt radio station known as Lite 97.5, has been broadcasting adult contemporary hits from the second floor of a downtown office building for the last 30 years.
From another era
From 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. each weekday, echoing into the diners and dollar stores within earshot of the 2,300-watt station, crackles the reassuring voice of Nelson Hunter — greeting sleepyheads, harried soccer moms, and coffeesipping executives over the airwaves with a soothing, chatty mix of music and talk. Hunter (most people know him simply as “Nelson”) is indispensable to people’s sunrises here, and just as reliable.
Nelson is a throwback to an earlier era of radio, when disc jockeys spun records, announced school closings, read obituaries and high school sports scores, and visited county fairs. While he no longer physically spins records in this digital age, he does hand-pick the tunes he plays — a rarity in radio today.
It’s not only neighborhood news filling those airwaves; celebrities, eager to talk about their latest book or movie, join in from faraway places (a booking agency in New York secures the interviews). Over the years, Nelson has chatted up the likes of Cher, Florence Henderson (“She was so nice,” he recalls), Valerie Harper, President Bill Clinton, and Joan Jett, to name only a few.
Meanwhile, as Hunter keeps the tunes playing, celebrities chatting, and school closings up to date, a robust support system of advertisers including grocery stores, car dealerships, and hospitals help keep WVNU afloat. Indeed, on a recent morning, a collection of commercials was airing for a hardware store, a bank, the local community college, and another bank.
Staying local WVNU was founded 30 years ago by local businessman Pat Hays and his wife, Elaine. After years of resisting overtures from national radio conglomerates, they sold it in 2024 to Jacksonbased Total Media, which operates more than a dozen such stations in nine small towns around southeastern Ohio and just across the river in West Virginia (they both have stayed on with the company). Total Media is owned by Alan Stockmeister, a lifelong Jackson resident and entrepreneur who currently serves on the board of trustees at Ohio State University.
“That local aspect is the most important part of what we are doing,” says Gary Mincer, Total Media’s VP and general manager. “There’s no one even close to us in terms of that local coverage that our stations provide to their communities, while at the same time helping local businesses find marketing solutions that they otherwise wouldn’t have. That’s always been the vision of our founder and owner: to be a part of these local communities and improve people’s lives.”
WVNU (along with all the Total Media stations) has kept up with the times, though, and has
Continued on page 24
Pat Hays and his wife founded radio station WVNU in Greenfield 30 years ago.
Continued from page 23
joined the streaming era. Anyone anywhere in the world can listen to the local shows live on each station’s website. Afterward, most of the programming comes in from satellite, though the stations do longer blocks of local programming for high school sports or during county fair week — when WVNU, for example, broadcasts all day, announcing the names of 4-H and bake-off winners.
Not just radio
Just as local radio hangs on in an age of conglomeration, small-town newspapers also often play a role. While newspapers nationwide continue to shut down, according to Axios, at an average rate of more than two per week over the past few years, that hasn’t stopped the presses at places like Total Media’s Telegram in Jackson and Vinton counties or the Attica Hub in Seneca County.
The larger metro dailies may be a shell of what they once were, but the Hub, for one, continues to go to press each week much as it has for the past 128 years. It has survived by carving out a niche as an “auction newspaper,” publishing scores of auctions each week while maintaining its local news chops.
A recent edition featured advice on keeping backyard bird feeders full, news from the local school board meeting — and dozens of auction announcements.
Publisher Deborah Cook and a staff of three keep the paper going. She says print still has a place, at least in the string of small towns the Hub serves.
“There are still a lot of people that do not have social media or the internet,” Cook says. “People still want to see their kid’s pictures in the paper.”
The role oF local media
And that’s the point of local media, says Kent State University assistant professor of journalism Andrea Lorenz. The local press acts as a “civic glue” that holds small towns together, and when it disappears, communities become fragmented.
“Rural areas sense a loss of community, especially when they don’t have the keystone media that once connected us all,” Lorenz says, adding that when the local newspaper goes away, people go to other sources for their news, and that can cause fragmentation and polarization.
But Lorenz stays optimistic despite the grim environment for newspapers. “There are a lot of great start-ups,” she says. “Many people are putting their brains to how can we fix it — not to bring back what used to be, but how can we make it better.”
A mural in downtown Greenfield celebrates the Patterson family, widely recognized as the first African American auto manufacturers in the U.S.
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‘Super’ supplier
As in each of the previous LVIII Super Bowls, the game balls used on the field will come from the Wilson Sporting Goods football factory in Ada.
BY RANDY EDWARDS
In the small Hardin County village of Ada, the play clock begins ticking about two weeks before the first snap of America’s most-watched sporting event.
The Super Bowl, after all, is a particular point of pride in Ada, because the regulation NFL football used for every kickoff, every pass, every point scored — and yes, even every fumble — is handcrafted at the Wilson Sporting Goods Co.’s football factory there.
The clock starts as soon as the NFC and AFC championship games end, deciding which two teams will face off in the Super Bowl. By tradition, a group of Wilson employees gathers at the plant to watch the conference championship games, which this year were scheduled for Jan. 26. As soon as those games end, partially finished balls are stamped with the winning teams’ names and logos, stitched, inflated, and shipped out to arrive in plenty of time for the kickoff.
“As soon as they know who wins, they are making these balls and they are shipping them out,” says Lindsay Hollar, director of the Ada Area Chamber of Commerce. “The guys just want to get their hands on them.” Hollar doesn’t work for Wilson, but like lots of people in and around town, she speaks with a sort of proprietary pride about the local treasure that is the Wilson football.
Each year, more than 120 employees at the Ada factory make 500,000 footballs, at a pace of about 2,500 each day. “It truly puts Ada on the map,” Hollar says. Ada is probably better known, at least in-state, as the home of Ohio Northern University, and Wilson is certainly not the area’s largest employer, but it’s the Ada-made NFL football that brings nationwide recognition — especially among sports fans, and particularly in February. “They know that since 1955, every football that has been used in the NFL and in a Super Bowl has been handmade by people in our community.”
This year’s Big Game, Super Bowl LIX, is scheduled for Sunday, Feb. 9, at Caesars Superdome in New Orleans. More than 100 million viewers will tune into the game, and all eyes will be on “The Duke,” the name Wilson gives to the game day balls.
That tradition will continue into the future, thanks to a partnership extension announced last year by Wilson and the NFL, a partnership that goes back to 1941. To mark the occasion, Wilson unveiled a brand-new, $15 million factory in Ada, which, at 80,000 square feet, is twice the size of the former plant.
“Renewing and expanding our relationship with a partner so ingrained into our culture is paramount for the league to continue to
grow the game,” says Ryan Samuelson, the NFL’s vice president of consumer products. “And the opening of the new football factory is a testament to Wilson’s commitment to NFL football.”
The Ada community is equally invested in this partnership, Hollar says, and celebrates it each year with the Made in Ada Wilson Football Festival. Organized by the chamber in late August, the festival is timed to coincide with the launch of the professional football season. “We have fun, tailgate style,” she says, with music, food, games, and the ceremonial lowering of a giant replica Wilson football — Times Square style — from a crane.
And with Ohio’s two NFL cities, Cleveland and Cincinnati, about equidistant from Ada, the festival sometimes features visits from team “superfans” like Cleveland’s Gus “Pumpkinhead” Angelone and the “Bengals Captain,” Jeremy Conley.
The multiyear NFL partnership extension and the new factory are significant victories for Ada. Village officials confirm that for a while, Wilson considered other locations for the new factory. The village offered some incentives, including some road improvements, to keep it in Ada, says Jamie Hall, the village administrator. But he credits Wilson’s employees, most of whom are local and have been making footballs for decades, for the company’s decision to stay put.
“The decision for staying in Ada was pretty much the existing workforce they had in Ada and the relationship they had with the community,” Hall says.
With the new football factory, the company resumed tours, which had been interrupted by the pandemic. There is a gift shop in the new space, along with some historic exhibits. Hollar hopes these new features will bring more visitors to the town and trigger additional economic development.
“It’s really kind of brought a new life to downtown Ada,” she says. “Our hope is that if you’re coming to a tour at Wilson, you’ll come visit our downtown, stop at a restaurant, or visit the downtown bars.”
Hall says the connection to Wilson and the NFL is key to the town’s future. “When I am out traveling, it only takes about two or three sentences before I mention I’m from Ada and that’s where they make all the footballs for the NFL. That really helps a lot in terms of opening doors.”
Doctor urges seniors to carry medical alert device
Seniors snap up new medical alert device that comes with no monthly bills
People don’t always do what their doctor says, but when seasoned veteran emergency room physician, Dr. Philip B. Howren, says every senior should have a medical alert device, you better listen up.
“Seniors are just one fall away from being put in a nursing home,” Dr. Howren said. “With a medical alert device, seniors are never alone. So it keeps them living independently in their own home. That’s why seniors and their family members are snapping up a sleek new medical alert device that comes with no monthly bills ever,” he said.
Many seniors refuse to wear old style help buttons because they make them look old. But even worse, those medical alert systems
come with monthly bills.
To solve these problems
Universal Physicians, a U.S. company went to work to develop a new, modern, state-of-the-art medical alert device. It’s called “FastHelp™” and it instantly connects you to free unlimited nationwide help everywhere cell service is available with no contracts, no deposits and no monthly bills ever.
“This slick new little device is designed to look like the pagers doctors wear every day. Seniors love them because it actually makes them look important, not old,” Dr. Howren said.
FastHelp is expected to hit store shelves later this year. But special newspaper promotional giveaways are slated for seniors in select areas. ■
■ NO MONTHLY BILLS: “My wife had an old style help button that came with hefty bills every month and she was embarrassed to wear it because it made her look old,” said Frank McDonald, Canton, Ohio. “Now, we both have FastHelp™, the sleek new medical alert device that our grandkids say makes us look ‘cool’ not old,” he said. With FastHelp, seniors never have to worry about being alone and the best part is there are no monthly bills ever.
Seniors born before 1961 get new medical alert device with no monthly bills ever
It’s just what seniors have been waiting for; a sleek new medical alert device with no contracts, no deposits and no monthly bills that instantly connects you to free unlimited nationwide help with just the push of a button for a one-time $149 price tag that’s a real steal after today’s instant rebate
The phone lines are ringing off the hook.
That’s because for seniors born before 1961, it’s a deal too good to pass up.
Starting at precisely 8:30am this morning the Pre-Store Release begins for the sleek new medical alert device that comes with the exclusive FastHelp™ One-Touch E 911 Button that instantly connects you to unlimited nationwide help everywhere cell service is available with no contracts, no deposits and no monthly bills ever.
“It’s not like old style monitored help buttons that make you talk to a call center and only work when you’re at home and come with hefty bills every month. FastHelp comes with state-of-the-art cellular embedded technology. That means it works at home or anywhere, anytime cell service is available
(Continued on next page)
■ FLYING OUT THE DOOR: Trucks are being loaded with the new medical alert devices called FastHelp. They are now being delivered to lucky seniors who call the National Rebate Center Hotline at 1-800-330-4294 DEPT. HELP8439 today. Everyone is calling to get FastHelp, the sleek new medical alert device because it instantly connects you to unlimited nationwide help everywhere cell service is available with no contracts, no deposits and no monthly bills ever.
whether you’re out watering the garden, driving in a car, at church or even hundreds of miles away on a tour or at a casino. You are never alone. With just a single push of the One-Touch E Button you instantly get connected to free unlimited help nationwide with no monthly bills ever,” said Jack Lawrence, Executive Director of Product Development for U.S. based Universal Physicians.
“We’ve never seen anything like it. Consumers absolutely love the sleek new modern design and most of all, the instant rebate that practically pays for it and no monthly bills ever,” Lawrence said.
FastHelp is the sleek new medical alert device with the best of combinations: a quality, high-tech engineered device that’s also an extremely great value because there are no monthly bills ever.
Better still, it comes with no contracts, no deposits and no monthly bills ever – which makes FastHelp a great choice for seniors, students and professionals because it connects to one of the largest nationwide networks everywhere cell service is available for free.
And here’s the best part. All those who already have an old style monitored medical alert button can immediately eliminate those monthly bills, which is why Universal Physicians is widely advertising this announcement nationwide.
“So if you’ve ever felt a medical alert device was too complicated or expensive, you’ll want to get FastHelp, the sleek new medical alert device with no monthly bills,” said Lawrence.
The medical alert device slugfest was dominated by two main combatants who both offer old style monitored help buttons that come with a hefty bill every month. But now Universal Physicians, the U.S. based heavyweight, just delivered a knockout blow sending the top rated contenders to the mat with the unveiling of FastHelp. It’s the sleek new cellular embedded medical alert device that cuts out the middle-
man by instantly connecting you directly to highly trained 911 operators all across the U.S. There’s absolutely nothing to hookup or install. You don’t need a land line and you don’t need a cell phone. Everything is done for you.
“FastHelp is a state of the art medical alert device designed to make you look important, not old. Old style monitored help buttons you
wear around your neck, or require expensive base station equipment or a landline are the equivalent of a horse and buggy,” Lawrence says. “It’s just outdated.”
Millions of seniors fall every year and spend hours lying on the floor helpless and all alone with no help.
But seniors who fall and get immediate help are much more likely to avoid getting sent to a nursing
HOW TO GET IT:
IF BORN BEFORE 1961:
IF BORN AFTER
home and get to STAY living in their own home independently.
Yet millions of seniors are still risking their safety by not having a medical alert device. That’s because seniors just can’t afford to pay the monthly bills that come with old style medical alert devices.
That’s why seniors born before 1961 are rushing to cash in the whopping $150
instant rebate before the 21 day deadline ends.
So there’s no need to wait for FastHelp to hit store shelves later this year because seniors born before 1961 can get it now just by using the $150 instant rebate coupon printed in today’s newspaper before the 21 day deadline ends. If lines are busy keep trying, all calls will be answered. ■
1-800-330-4294 DEPT. HELP8439
1961: You cannot use the rebate coupon below and must pay $299 Call: 1-800-330-9423 DEPT. HELP8439
THE BOTTOM LINE: You don’t need to shop around. We’ve done all the leg work, this deal is too good to pass up. FastHelp with the instant rebate is a real steal at just $149 and shipping and there are no monthly bills ever.
PROS: It’s the sleek new medical alert device that comes with the exclusive FastHelp One-Touch E 911 Button that instantly connects you to free unlimited nationwide help everywhere cell service is available with no contracts or deposits. It connects you to the vast available network of cellular towers for free and saves seniors a ton of money because there are no monthly bills ever making this deal irresistible. Plus it’s the only medical alert device that makes seniors look important, not old.
CONS: Consumers can’t get FastHelp in stores until later this year. That’s why it’s so important for seniors born before 1961 to call the National Rebate Center Hotline within the next 21 days. For those who miss that deadline, the sleek little medical alert device will set you back over $300 bucks.
2025
CALENDAR
CENTRAL
FEBRUARY/MARCH
dispatchshows.com/home-and-garden-show.
FEB. 16 – Fairfield County Antique Tractor Club Toy Show and Sale, Fairfield Co. Fgds., AAA and Ed Sands Bldgs., 157 E. Fair Ave., Lancaster, 9 a.m.–3 p.m. $2; under 12 free. 740-407-2347 (Doug Shaw) or www.fairfieldcountytractorclub.com.
FEB. 16 – Great Backyard Bird Count: Bird Hike and Citizen Science, Park District Headquarters, 16405 U.S. 23, South Bloomfield, 8–11 a.m. Join the park district naturalist for a winter bird hike in which you will help identify and count the birds. Beginners welcome. To register, email mellis@ pickawaycountyohio.gov. See website for more details: www.pickawaycountyparks.org/events.
throughout history. At the end of the trail, peek inside the log cabin and taste a sample of this all-natural treat! Tours included with Arboretum admission and will be first come, first served, with groups leaving every 15 minutes. 740-323-2355 or www.dawesarb.org.
FEB. 22 – Wild Threads: Led Sewing Craft Workshop, Park District Headquarters, 16405 U.S. 23, South Bloomfield, 10–12 p.m. Registration required; limited spots. Join us for this nature-inspired sewing workshop. Sewists from beginner to experienced welcome. To register, email wcaudill@ pickawaycountyohio.gov. Sewing machines and all supplies will be provided, or bring your own tools if desired. See website for full details: www. pickawaycountyparks.org.
FEB. 7, MAR. 7 – 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.
FEB. 15 – Great Backyard Bird Count: Bird Hike and Citizen Science, Pickaway Trail, 23742–23700 Canal Rd., Circleville, 8–11 a.m. Join the park district naturalist for a winter bird hike in which you will help identify and count the birds. Beginners welcome. To register, email mellis@pickawaycountyohio.gov. See website for more details: www.pickawaycountyparks. org/events.
FEB. 15–23 – Central Ohio Home and Garden Show, Ohio Expo Center, Bricker and Celeste Bldgs., 717 E. 11th St., Columbus, Sat. 11 a.m.–8 p.m., Sun. 11 a.m.–6 p.m., weekdays 11 a.m.–7 p.m. $10–$15; 7 and under free. Exhibitors in remodeling, landscaping, and home improvement, nine indoor gardens, demos and presentations, local experts, and much more! www.
WEST VIRGINIA
FEB. 17 – Cupid’s Bow Archery, Alum Creek Amphitheater, 2911 S. Old State Rd., Delaware, 2–4 p.m. Get an introduction to archery and try it out for yourself, with our special targets for the season of love! First come, first served. Closed-toe shoes and presence of a guardian for children are required. https://ohiodnr.gov/go-and-do/plan-a-visit/ find-a-property/alum-creek-state-park.
FEB. 20 – Winter Group Walk: Thursday Trail Tour, Pickaway Trail, 23742–23700 Canal Rd., Circleville, 9:30–11:30 a.m. To register, email mellis@ pickawaycountyohio.gov. Please dress to be outside and for a walk along various trail surfaces. An adult must accompany all children under 12. Program will be canceled in the case of inclement weather. www. pickawaycountyparks.org.
FEB. 22–23, MAR. 2 – Maple Syrup Tours, Dawes Arboretum, Main Shelter House, 7770 Jacksontown Rd., 1–2:45 p.m. Take a guided walk along the trail to discover the many ways maple syrup has been made
MAR. 1–2 – West Virginia Fishing, Hunting, and Outdoor Sports Show, Hazel and J.W. Ruby Community Center, Mylan Park, Morgantown (I-79 Exit 155). The largest outdoor show in the region, with over 200 vendors. Seminars and demonstrations, celebrities, attractions, and giveaways. www.wvoutdoorsportsshow.com.
FEB. 27–MAR. 2 – Arnold Sports Festival and Arnold Expo, Columbus Convention Center, 400 N. High St., Columbus. Hundreds of booths with the latest in sports equipment, apparel, and nutrition, plus three stages hosting unique, non-stop competitions and entertainment. See website for schedules and ticket prices. www.arnoldsports.com.
MAR. 9 – New Albany Symphony Orchestra: Choral Fantasy, McCoy Center for the Arts, 100 W. Dublin-Granville Rd., New Albany. $10–$25 614-469-0939 or www.newalbanysymphony.com.
MAR. 14 – Rhonda Vincent and The Rage, Cornerstone Global Methodist Church, 207 S. Court St., Marysville, doors open 6 p.m., concert at 7 p.m. $30. Part of the Marysville Winter Bluegrass Series. Entertainment, food, homemade pies on-site. 937-642-4712 or www.marysvillewinterbluegrass.com.
AT LEAST 90 DAYS prior to the event, send an email to events@ohioec.org, or mail your information* to:
Ohio Cooperative Living 6677 Busch Blvd. Columbus, OH 43229
* Make sure to include all contact information!
Ohio Cooperative Living will not publish listings that don’t include a complete address, phone number, or website for more information.
MAR. 21–22 – West Virginia Comedy Festival, Robinson Grand Performing Arts Center, Clarksburg. 7–9 p.m. Celebrating its 10th anniversary, this is the state’s largest annual celebration of Appalachian comedy and comedians, and it’s bigger and better than ever. https://tickets.therobinsongrand.com.
2025 CALENDAR
NORTHEAST
FEBRUARY/MARCH
Concept, pre-production, and production vehicles, plus indoor test drives, vehicle giveaway, classic car show, and more. www.clevelandautoshow.com.
FEB. 22 – Brite Winter, West Bank of the Flats, 1051 Old River Rd., Cleveland, Sat. 1–11 p.m. $12–$17; under 12 free. Community festival featuring music, art, games, food, and more. www.britewinter.com.
FEB. 14–17 – Medina Ice Festival, downtown Medina. Speed carving contests, individual and team ice-carving competitions, Fire & Ice display, ice sculpture garden. www.mainstreetmedina.com/ medina-ice-festival.html.
FEB. 15 – Cleveland’s Valentine Love Jam, KeyBank State Theatre, Playhouse Square, Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, 8 p.m. $59.50+. Featuring The Whispers, Con Funk Shun, and Lenny Williams. 216-241-6000 or www.playhousesquare.org.
FEB. 16 – Flea Market of Collectables, Medina County Fgds. Community Center, 735 Lafayette Rd. (St. Rte. 42), Medina, 9 a.m.–3 p.m. $3. Early-bird special admission, 6–9 a.m., $4. Browse a treasure trove of vintage items and collectibles. 330-948-4300 or www.conraddowdell.com.
FEB. 21 – Ernie Haase and Signature Sound: Decades of Love Tour, Ohio Star Theater, 1387 Old Rte 39, Sugarcreek, 7 p.m. $55–$75 plus fees. Purchase tickets at 855-344-7547 or www. ohiostartheater.com.
FEB. 21–MAR. 2 – Cleveland Auto Show, IX Center, One I-X Dr., Cleveland. $12–$15; 6 and under free.
SOUTHWEST
THROUGH MAR. 26 – 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. FEB. 9–11, 16–18, MAR. 2–4 – Artist-in-Residence Vicki Murphy: “Mosaics,” Hueston Woods State Park Lodge, 6301 Park Office Rd., College Corner. Free;
FEB. 27 – “Catalyst for Change,” McKinley Presidential Library and Museum, 800 McKinley Monument Dr. NW, Canton, 6 p.m. $25; includes soup, bread, and dessert. Education Director Ally Carlson will explore how the assassination of William McKinley changed the Secret Service forever, from a primary role of combating counterfeiting to protecting the president. Preregistration required; deadline Feb. 20 330-455-7043 or www.mckinleymuseum.org/events.
MAR. 1–2, 8–9 – Maple Syrup Festival, Malabar Farm State Park, 4050 Bromfield Rd., Lucas, 12–4 p.m. Free. Historic and modern syrup-making demonstrations, horse-drawn wagon rides, food and maple products for sale, and self-guided tours of the historic Big House. 419-892-2784 or www. malabarfarm.org.
MAR. 1–23 – Chatham’s Annual Sausage and Pancake Breakfast, presented by the Chatham Fireman’s Association, Chatham Memorial Hall (former VFW Hall), 6299 Avon Lake Rd., Chatham, Sat./Sun. 9 a.m.–3 p.m. Adults $12, Srs. $11, Children $8. Contact Steve Arters at 330-635-0958 or Frank Keeling at 330-410-6237 for additional information.
MAR. 1–31 – Ice Wine Festival, Wineries of the Grand River Valley, Sat. 11 a.m.–5 p.m., Sun. 12–5 p.m. Each of the seven participating wineries will provide samples of their ice wines along with a complimentary appetizer. www.grandrivercellars. com/events/22nd-annual-ice-wine-festival-monthof-march.
MAR. 2 – Jazz Brunch Fundraiser and Mardi Gras, Our Lady of the Cedars, 507 S. Cleveland Massillon Rd., Fairlawn, 12–2:30 p.m. $60/person. Featuring vocalist Carol Leslie and a jazz trio. Brunch includes a cocktail and a hearty Southern buffet. Bid on auction items and enjoy a Mardi Gras celebration. Attendance limited, so book now: www.ormaco.org or 419-853-6016
MAR. 8 – Yakov Smirnoff, Ohio Star Theater, 1387 Old Rte 39, Sugarcreek, 7 p.m. $53–$73 plus fees. Purchase tickets at 855-344-7547 or www. ohiostartheater.com.
MAR. 8–9 – Antlers and Anglers Sportsman’s Event, Ashland Co. Fgds., 2042 Claremont Ave., Ashland, Sat. 10 a.m.–4 p.m., Sun. 11 a.m.–4 p.m. Annual event celebrating the great outdoors, from hunting and fishing to biking and water sports. www. armstrongonewire.com.
MAR. 9 – Live at the Library: Jen Maurer, Wadsworth Public Library, 132 Broad St., Wadsworth, 2–3 p.m. Free. Maurer will be playing guitar and singing a variety of covers of blues, swing, jazz, and country standards as well as original tunes. Seating is on a first-come, first-served basis. 419-853-6016 or www.ormaco.org.
MAR. 11 – Pat Masalko and Jamieson Bowman: An Evening of Irish Music, Canal Fulton Public Library, 154 Market St. NE, Canal Fulton, 6:30–7:30 p.m. Free. Seating is on a first-come, first-served basis. 419-853-6016 or www.ormaco.org.
MAR. 14 – Jim Brickman, Ohio Star Theater, 1387 Old Rte 39, Sugarcreek, 7 p.m. $48–$68 plus fees. Purchase tickets at 855-344-7547 or www. ohiostartheater.com.
register online or at the lodge. Receive instruction on mosaic making and precision tool use to create small mosaic murals that will be installed throughout the lodge. 614-265-6845 or https://ohiodnr.gov/ go-and-do/plan-a-visit/find-a-property/huestonwoods-state-park.
FEB. 14–16 – Miami County Home and Outdoor Living Show, Hobart Arena, 255 Adams St., Troy, Fri. 2–6 p.m., Sat. 10 a.m.–6 p.m., Sun. 10 a.m.–4 p.m. $6; 12 and under free with paid adult. 937-339-7963, donna@westernohiohba.com, or www. miamicountyhomeshow.com.
FEB. 22 – Winter Hike, Caesar Creek State Park, 8570 E. St. Rte. 73, Waynesville, 10 a.m.–3 p.m. Moderate 3-mile guided hike; all ages welcome. Wear sturdy shoes, bring water, dress for the weather. Take an optional route to the Nature Center for bean soup, cornbread, and snacks, available as a fundraiser. https://ohiodnr.gov/go-and-do/plan-a-visit/ find-a-property/caesar-creek-state-park.
FEB. 22–23 – Mid-America Offroad Expo (formerly Dayton Off Road and Outdoor Expo), Roberts
Centre, 123 Gano Rd., Wilmington, Sat. 9 a.m.–6 p.m., Sun. 10 a.m.–4 p.m. $10; 12 and under free. Vendors, rig competition, raffles. Fun for the whole family! 513-217-7345 or www.daytonoffroadexpo.com.
FEB. 22–23 – 20th Century Cincinnati Vintage Modern Expo, Sharonville Convention Center., 11355 Chester Rd., Cincinnati, Sat. 12–5 p.m., Sun. 10 a.m.–4 p.m. $10–$15; tickets good both days; under 18 free. Preview 9–11 a.m., $30–$40; includes weekend pass. Vintage modern furniture, lighting, decorative objects, housewares, pop culture gems, and fashion. 513-951-6626 or www.20thcenturycincinnati.com.
MAR. 6–8 – Cincinnati International Wine Festival, Freestore Foodbank Distribution Center, Rosenthal Way, Cincinnati. Must be 21+; picture ID required. www.winefestival.com.
MAR. 8 – Butler Philharmonic Orchestra: “Viennese Nights,” Sorg Opera House, 63 S. Main St., Middletown, 7:30 p.m. $25 513-895-5151 or www.butlerphil.org.
NORTHWEST
FEB. 5, MAR. 5 – Down on the Farm Story Time, Proving Ground Farm, 5670 E. Twp. Rd. 138, Tiffin, 10 a.m. Stories and activities geared for preschoolage children that focus on farming and nature. Families welcome! 419-447-7073, www. conservesenecacounty.com, or Seneca Conservation District on Facebook.
FEB. 7–9, 14–16 – Live Theatre: Ordinary People, Van Wert Civic Theatre, 118 S. Race St., Van Wert, Fri./ Sat. 7:30 p.m., Sun. 2 p.m. $14–$16. The play delves into the aftermath of tragedy within a family, exploring themes of grief, communication breakdown, and the resilience of the human spirit in the face of extraordinary loss. 419-238-9689 or www.vwct.org.
FEB. 13 – Soap Making, Carter Historic Farm, Loomis Community Room, 18331 Carter Rd., Bowling Green, 5:30–7:30 p.m. Free. Lard is often considered a byproduct of the butchering and cooking process; it can, however, be used to make soap for your family and friends. Join us to learn this process and its history. To register, go to https://reservations. woodcountyparkdistrict.org/programs.
SOUTHEAST
THROUGH APR. 13 – “St. Clair’s Defeat Revisited: A New View of the Conflict,” Mound City Group Visitor Center, 16062 St. Rte. 104, Chillicothe, 9 a.m.–4 p.m. Free. This exhibit introduces you to the complex history of St. Clair’s Defeat on November 4, 1791, and its context and aftermath with respect to the nine Tribal Nations who orchestrated this great defeat of the U.S. military. www.nps.gov/hocu.
FEB. 14 – Winter Hike, Salt Fork State Park, 14755 Cadiz Rd., Lore City, 1–3 p.m. Join the park naturalist on a 1 8-mile Valentine’s Day hike. Meet at the Stonehouse Trail parking lot (NOT the museum). Weather-appropriate clothing and sturdy footwear
FEB. 15 – Magic in the Greenhouse, J.C. Reuthinger Memorial Preserve, 30730 Oregon Rd., Perrysburg, 10–11 a.m. Free. Learn about plant conservation efforts, the benefits of native plants, and how you can incorporate what you learn into your gardening. Zoom participation is an option. To register, go to https:// reservations.woodcountyparkdistrict.org/programs.
FEB. 17 – Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner, Ritz Theatre, 30 S Washington St., Tiffin, 7 p.m. $5. Enjoy the classic movie on the big screen. 419-448-8544 or www.ritztheatre.org.
FEB. 17 – Presidents’ Day Celebration, Spiegel Grove, Hayes Presidential Library and Museums, Fremont, 9 a.m.–5 p.m. Free. There will be a variety of events and activities throughout the day, including self-guided tours of the museum. You may also sign up for a tour of the first floor of the Hayes Home. 419-332-2081 or www.rbhayes.org.
FEB. 18 – Intro to Beekeeping, J.C. Reuthinger Memorial Preserve, 30730 Oregon Rd., Perrysburg, 6–8 p.m. Free. We will explain what is involved with becoming a beekeeper, including the sticky parts and the sweet rewards. To register, go to https:// reservations.woodcountyparkdistrict.org/programs.
FEB. 22 – Burning Snowman Fest, Dock’s Beach House, 252 W. Lakeshore Dr., Port Clinton, 12–10 p.m. $25 + fee. For 21 and older. Say goodbye to winter as we burn down our giant snowman! Live entertainment, brews, cocktails, fire dancers, vendors. All proceeds go to charity. 419-357-6247 or www.facebook.com/ BurningSnowman.
FEB. 22 – Craft Circle, Carter Historic Farm, 18331 Carter Rd., Bowling Green, 1–4 p.m. Whether you have decades of experience or just started last week, crafters of all ages can stop by for an afternoon of
craftin’. Please bring your own materials, projects, and questions! To register, go to https://reservations. woodcountyparkdistrict.org/programs.
FEB. 22 – Wild Game Feed, 7575 Twp. Rd. 131, Tiffin, 44883, 6 p.m.–? Food to include deer, rabbit, bear, turtle, elk. Raffles. Gun raffle drawing that night. See Facebook page for Sandusky River Coon Hunters.
FEB. 28 – Josh Turner, Ritz Theatre, 30 S. Washington St., Tiffin, 7:30 p.m. $60–$90. 419-448-8544 or www.ritztheatre.org.
MAR. 1 – Glass City Wine Festival, Glass City Center, 401 Jefferson Ave., Toledo. $30–$40. Toledo’s premier wine, food, and shopping festival. www. glasscitywinefestival.com.
MAR. 2 – “Acoustics for Autism” Music Festival, 300 block of Conant and surrounding area, Maumee, Sun. 11:45 a.m.–Mon. 2 a.m. Free for all ages. 100 bands on nine stages. Proceeds go to provide support, information, resources, and financial assistance to families affected by autism. www. acousticsforautism.com.
MAR. 7–9 – Lima Noon Optimist Home Show, Allen Co. Fgds., 2750 Harding Hwy., Lima, Fri. 4–9 p.m., Sat. 10 a.m.–8 p.m., Sun. 12–5 p.m. Over 160 booths featuring more than 100 vendors. Various home improvement products and services are showcased. Proceeds help fund youth activities in the Lima area. 419-230-9361 or www.limaoptimist.com/home-show.
MAR. 8 – Lima Symphony: “Carmen and Bolero,” Veterans Memorial Civic and Convention Center, #7 Town Square, Lima, 7:30 p.m. $10–$45. Delight in the seductive melodies from Bizet’s Carmen Suites, revisiting your favorite selections from this cherished opera, then return to the world of ballet as we conclude with Ravel’s Bolero. www.limasymphony.com.
recommended. Weather dependent. https://ohiodnr. gov/go-and-do/plan-a-visit/find-a-property/salt-forkstate-park.
FEB. 16 – Ross County Bridal Show, Unioto Middle School Auditorium, 1565 Egypt Pike, Chillicothe, 1–4:30 p.m. Come plan your special day with us. Vendors, games, door prizes, mini massages, and makeovers. For more information, contact T&T Advertising at 740-649-6177
FEB. 22 – Comedian Jon Reep: The Carolina Reeper, Majestic Theatre, 45 E. Second St., Chillicothe, 7:30–9 p.m. $35–$50
FEB. 27 – Josh Turner: This Country Music Thing Tour, Peoples Bank Theatre, 222 Putnam St., Marietta, 8 p.m. $68+. www.peoplesbanktheatre.com.
MAR. 1 – Dailey & Vincent, Peoples Bank Theatre, 222 Putnam St., Marietta, 8 p.m. $32+. www. peoplesbanktheatre.com.
MAR. 1 – Winter Hike, Scioto Trail State Park, 144 Lake Rd., Chillicothe, 10 a.m.–12 p.m. Follow the changes of the winter season into early spring along the 1 6-mile Church Hollow Trail. Difficult terrain, so dress for the weather and wear good hiking shoes. Pack drinking water and binoculars if you have them. https://ohiodnr.gov/go-and-do/plan-a-visit/ find-a-property/scioto-trail-state-park.
MAR. 1 – The McCartney Project: Beatles, Wings, and McCartney Tribute, Majestic Theatre, 45 E. Second St., Chillicothe, 7:30 p.m. $25–$37. America’s #1 live-concert tribute to Sir Paul, performing the best of the Beatles and the epic hits of Wings! www. majesticchillicothe.net.
MAR. 1 – Statehood Day Celebration, various historical sites, 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Free. Enjoy special programming at the Ross County Heritage Center, Adena Mansion and Gardens, Lucy Hayes Heritage Center, and the Ross County Genealogical Society. www.visitchillicotheohio.com.
MAR. 7–8 – Home, Garden, Business, and Travel Expo, Pritchard Laughlin Civic Ctr., 7033 Glenn Hwy., Cambridge. 740-439-6688 or www. cambridgeohiochamber.com.
MAR. 8–9 – Maple Sugaring in the Hills, Hocking Hills State Park, 19852 St. Rte. 664, Logan, 12–4 p.m. Meet at the historic cabin behind the Old Man’s Cave Visitor Center. Take a step back in time to see how maple sugar has been processed over the years. A local producer will be on-site selling delicious goods. https://ohiodnr.gov/go-and-do/plan-a-visit/ find-a-property/hocking-hills-state-park.
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1 Kendall and Aubrey Hibbard, ready for Valentine’s Day! Becca Hibbard, Mid-Ohio Energy Cooperative member.
2 Our grandson, Cyrus, receiving kisses from his mommy! Bonnie & Dwayne Holleron, Pioneer Electric Cooperative members.
3 My husband, Ray Ladrick, made me laugh during our first dance at our wedding. We have been dancing and laughing for 29 years. Jill Ann Ladrick, South Central Power Company member
4 My husband and me, at the Stan Hywet Gardens. Nancy Powell, Lorain-Medina Rural Electric Cooperative member
5 My grandson, Ayden, was giving his little sister, Lyndi, a kiss through the window. Marge Weitzel, Midwest Electric member.
6 Some of my great-grandchildren: Reese, Jensen, and Ellie. Barbara Wells, Washington Electric Cooperative member. 1 2 3 4 5 6
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