Ohio Cooperative Living – March 2023 - North Western

AFFORDABLE.

Family is priceless, but the cost of everything seems high these days. As your not-for-profit electric cooperative, we deliver essential electricity at cost so you can spend your hard earned money on what matters most.

INSIDE

FEATURES

24 SQUIRRELS (AND OTHER WILDLIFE) ON FILM

Ohioan Karl Maslowski rose from poverty to become a pioneer in the production of wildlife video footage.

28 A MOVER (BUT NOT A SHAKER)

A Lake Erie-area co-op member specializes in relocating entire structures — very carefully.

32 UNIMAGINABLE

Each organ donation story is one of both heartbreak and hope.

Cover image on most editions: Ellen Crayton’s granddaughter, Brenna, is enthralled with butterflies — and sometimes they’re equally enthralled with her, as shown in the photo Ellen submitted for this month’s Member Interactive feature, “Bug’s Life” (see page 40 for more).

This page: Pulitzer Prize-winning Ohio author Louis Bromfield wrote his many books at a folding card table instead of a desk at his Malabar Farm estate, in the heart of Mohican country in Richland County (photograph by W.H. “Chip” Gross — see Chip’s story about Mohican country on page 8).

OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING • MARCH 2023

Your electric cooperative: Working for you

Electric cooperatives are not-for-profit organizations controlled by local people who are members of the cooperative, elected by the membership to represent the interests of their fellow members. Those interests generally align along the themes of safety, reliability, value, and service.

While each electric cooperative is unique, reflecting the communities it serves, the people it employs, and the history of decisions that have come before, each electric co-op also shares the attributes of democratic local control for the benefit of its members.

Over the years, Ohio’s electric cooperatives have aligned themselves in order to realize the mutual benefits that come from new cooperative organizations — organizations founded, owned, and controlled by the co-ops for the benefit of their members. Some cooperative service organizations are national, providing services such as at-cost financing, insurance, information technology, telecommunications, after-hours call centers, and employee benefits management.

In Ohio, Buckeye Power is the co-ops’ locally based generation and transmission service provider, and Ohio Rural Electric Cooperatives, Inc. (OREC), is their state-based trade association. Both are owned and controlled by Ohio’s electric cooperatives and are run for the benefit of the co-ops and their members. Leaders from your electric cooperative provide oversight to Buckeye Power and OREC, ensuring decisions are made that support the themes of safety, reliability, value, and service.

The co-ops have invested in Buckeye Power to be able to jointly own and control power plants that provide a reliable supply of electricity, at cost, and that investment paid off again this year. While costs have increased over the past several months, the outstanding performance of our power plants has allowed Buckeye Power to produce more power than members required, sell the excess, and earn more revenue.

Co-op representatives who govern Buckeye Power have again determined that these additional revenues be returned in the form of lower power costs to members over the next several months. In total, nearly $40 million will be returned to cooperative members to offset some of the increases in power supply costs this year. That comes out to about $5 per month in savings for the average household.

That’s just one way your cooperative works for you — day in and day out, year in and year out. We appreciate your patronage and support, and we are here for you.

Pat O’Loughlin PRESIDENT & CEO OHIO’S

ELECTRIC COOPERATIVES

Each electric cooperative is unique, reflecting the communities it serves, the people it employs, and the history of decisions that have come before.

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

Amy Howat Associate Editor

Crystal Pomeroy Graphic Designer

Contributors: Margo Bartlett, Jodi Borger, Colleen Romick Clark, Getty Images, W.H. “Chip” Gross, Catherine Murray, and James Proffitt.

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.

4

DEPARTMENTS

4 POWER LINES

Giving feedback: Members’ participation in surveys lets the co-op know when improvements might be needed.

8 Best in the nation: Ohio Cooperative Living earns a prestigious recognition from the national electric co-op organization.

10 WOODS, WATERS, AND WILDLIFE

Mohican country: Full of natural beauty, southeast Richland County offers something for everyone.

12 CO-OP PEOPLE

Man of steel: An Oxford man gains national prominence as he takes his new hobby to the next level.

15 GOOD EATS

Grab and go: With a little advance work, these snacks will be ready to take with you when you head out the door.

19 LOCAL PAGES

News and information from your electric cooperative.

10

National/regional advertising inquiries, contact Cheryl Solomon

American MainStreet Publications

847-749-4875 | cheryl@amp.coop

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

Alliance for Audited Media Member

37 CALENDAR

What’s happening: March/April events and other things to do around Ohio.

40 MEMBER INTERACTIVE

A bug’s life: Butterflies and mantises and bees, oh my! Members have found some unique images of the insect world.

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37

40

Visit

GIVING FEEDBACK

BY JODI BORGER

It’s a situation nearly everyone can relate to: Your phone rings, you glance at the unfamiliar number, and you make the quick decision not to answer the call. You don’t realize it immediately — perhaps you never will — but it turns out that call was someone conducting a survey on behalf of your electric cooperative.

For Jane Sanstead, the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA)’s senior research analyst, that’s been one of the biggest obstacles throughout the past five years of conducting surveys.

“When I first started at NRECA Market Research Services, nearly 18 years ago, 100% of our surveys were being done by phone,” Sanstead says. “In the past five years or so, I feel that members are still more willing to spend time on a survey for their local electric cooperative than they would be for a political survey, but people’s behavior with phones has changed. Many people will not answer their phone if they don’t recognize the number calling them.”

How they work

In most surveys, not all members receive the survey — instead, only a small representative sample makes the list. So, what if by answering that one phone call or responding to an emailed member survey, you could help the co-op recognize areas where they may fall short?

Cooperatives exist for the membership, and surveys are an ideal way to measure their satisfaction. Many co-ops around the state take the time to review surveys and even respond directly to each member’s concerns. In some instances, those survey responses allow co-ops to pinpoint a recurring area of dissatisfaction.

The latter was the case for URE–Union Rural Electric Cooperative in Marysville.

“In past surveys we learned that members felt we didn’t always keep them updated during outages,” says Anthony Smith, URE president/CEO. “That feedback helped us

make the decision to set an estimated time of restoration on outages, begin adding additional information in the phone response system, and increase social media posts during large outages.”

Additionally, for members who signed up for notifications in SmartHub (the smartphone app used by many co-ops), URE began issuing outage status updates in real time. It was simple, consistent feedback received through surveys that led to modifications internally, which, in turn, meant more satisfied members.

“Subsequent surveys have indicated that members appreciate the extra outage communication and give us higher marks in that area now,” Smith says.

Help the co-op help you

For Midwest Electric in St. Marys, low member satisfaction in the area of outage communication fostered one of the co-op’s main focuses for improved communication.

“On the ACSI survey, the question about outage communications has been our biggest improvement over the years,” says Matt Berry, Midwest Electric CEO. “Many years ago, our members rated us poorly when it came to communicating about power outages, so we made that a focal point and now offer a number of outage communications options. It’s no longer our lowest score area.”

The other helpful part about surveys is that they give co-ops an opportunity to confirm member satisfaction

Members’ participation in surveys lets the co-op know when improvements might be needed.

after they make needed changes or adjustments. Midwest Electric, for example, created a four-question survey called the service order (SO) survey that is sent automatically via email or mail whenever an SO is completed.

“We’ve had employee retirements that we either didn’t replace or we updated the new job description to reflect changing technology, different business needs, or to align with employee talent, so sometimes it can be difficult to recognize when that might create a gap in service,” Berry says. “Whether it’s the comment section in the surveys, or the question of whether we resolved your request to your satisfaction, we’re able to learn immediately if we’re having issues.”

Lots of info, lots of uses

The feedback allows an employee to follow up and address any issue right away, instead of allowing potential problems with a certain work process to affect overall member satisfaction. Co-ops may also survey members about their use of appliances in their homes, their opinions about Ohio Cooperative Living, or numerous other topics.

Cooperatives throughout the state find value in reviewing and analyzing survey results because those participating in the surveys are owners in the cooperative. Members’ opinions and feedback are important to the overall health of the cooperative. It’s that constant feedback loop that allows the cooperative to adapt as desires, technology, and needs of the membership evolve.

“The surveys are important because they give us insight into how we are performing for our members, whether or not we’re meeting their expectations,” Berry says. “We are member-owned, which means we only need to focus on our members and the job we’re doing for them.”

Surveys are on their way

Cooperatives have learned that letting members know when they are conducting a survey both increases credibility of the cooperative and confirms legitimacy of the survey. One way cooperatives make their members aware of surveys, particularly the ACSI survey, is by communicating through social media channels, their websites, and Ohio Cooperative Living magazine a couple months leading up to the survey.

Scam and telemarketing calls have increased throughout the years and many people just don’t want to talk to someone unless they know who it is.

Survey callers often spend more time dialing the phone than actually doing the surveys, leading to more surveys being done online. Surveys delivered to members through email can be convenient, allowing members to respond to the survey on their own time. But, as with phone calls, the increase in spam and phishing emails has made that method difficult as well.

“I’m glad people are aware that there are bad actors out there, often masquerading as a company they would otherwise trust, but it has certainly made our job more difficult,” says Jane Sanstead, the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA)’s senior research analyst.

So, as the next round of co-op surveys revs up between March and June, consider answering a call from that unfamiliar number or taking an extra look for the emailed survey, because your cooperative values your feedback.

If you’re ever unsure of the validity of a survey, simply call your electric cooperative to verify its legitimacy.

“In the six or so years that I have been directly working with co-op employees, I have seen firsthand how much they care about their members,” Sanstead says. “A survey is one of just a few ways they can discover their members’ perceptions, needs, and beliefs directly from their members and from the most members possible.”

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OHIO COOPERATIVE

George W. Haggard Memorial

Journalism

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Just over a rise in scenic Richland County, Malabar Farm appears in the distance — a stately, historic (and sprawling) main house, rolling hills and fields, and an inviting white barn with horses grazing nearby. The bucolic setting has an intriguing history as the one-time home of Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist Louis Bromfield and the swanky-yetisolated setting for Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall’s But the impressive compound has darker side, too. It was the site of a Lizzie Borden-like murder scandal 1896, when teenager Ceely Rose murdered her family in a misguided effort to capture the love of a neighbor boy. The rural setting conjures up plenty of other eerie lore, cemented in long-dead legends and myths. As a matter of fact, Malabar Farm — now an Ohio state park — has been called one of the 10 most haunted places in America. That’s why park naturalists are resurrecting the popular Haunted Hikes this month: creepy, outdoor explorations of ghostly tales and whispered legends shared on three autumn Sundays. The free, two-hour walks at dusk take visitors along the lanes by the park’s restaurant, the Big House, the cemetery, and the Ceely Rose House — and reveal tales scary enough that naturalist Lori Morey says they’re geared to adults and older teens. “We get into some supernatural legends and myths from Native Americans and early settlers,” she says, “including tales of Bigfoot and Windigo, and folklore of giants and rolling heads and little beings that live in the woods. On top of that, there are the local tragedies — like the Rose Things that go in the night! Beautiful, bucolic Malabar Farm shows off its eerie side for Halloween. murders. It can all be pretty scary, especially as you’re walking along the dark woods.” Indoor spots around the farm also offer oddities round that might send a chill up your spine. Daily explore the 13,000-square-foot main house, the restaurant, and the tiny cemetery — all of which known to elicit odd occurrences, according to Mark Sommer, who’s been showing folks around for 13 years. BY VICTORIA ELLWOOD; PHOTO COURTESY MALABAR FARM Haunted Hikes will take place Oct. 16, 23, 30 from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. They are free but require registration. Call 419-892-2784 for details and to register. Pearl Valley’s presence has grown

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Magazine honored as best in the nation

hio Cooperative Living has been named the winner of the 2022 George W. Haggard Memorial Journalism Award by the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association.

to pick up and look at, but that they look forward to reading each month.”

The NRECA each year recognizes the electric cooperative statewide consumer publication that best presents “lucid, forthright contributions to electric cooperative objectives.” The award is named for George W. Haggard, first editor of the Texas statewide publication, who was killed in a plane crash in 1951.“People have information flying at them from everywhere these days about some complicated subjects like solar energy, electric vehicles, even the reliability of the electrical grid, and it’s so hard to know what to trust,” McCallister says. “It’s our responsibility to make sure they have honest answers to their questions. This magazine comes from the co-op, and I think most everyone understands that their co-op is the best, most trusted source for that kind of information.”

“The whole reason our magazine exists is to help Ohio’s electric distribution cooperatives get their messages out to their members,” says Jeff McCallister, the magazine’s managing editor. “We take a lot of pride in making something that co-op members are not only willing

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Mohican country

STORY AND PHOTOS BY W.H. “CHIP” GROSS

In 1896, a baby was born in Mansfield — a boy who would one day grow up to travel the world, become a writer, and win the Pulitzer Prize for Literature in 1927, at just 30 years of age. He would then return to his hometown, purchase three adjacent rundown farms, and transform them into the conservation showplace called Malabar Farm, today known as Malabar Farm State Park. His name was Louis Bromfield.

Fifty-five years later, another baby boy was born in Mansfield who also grew up to be a writer. This one didn’t travel the world, nor did he win the Pulitzer Prize — at least not yet. But what he would do, like Bromfield, is fall in love with the beauty of the natural world, and particularly that area surrounding Malabar. OK, I’m sure you guessed: That second boy is me.

In his 1945 book titled Pleasant Valley, Bromfield wrote of the area:

“It is a pleasant land all about you, valleys where the bottom land is rich, bordered by hills covered with wild and luxuriant forest, the whole filigreed with the silver of the streams called Switzer’s Run, Possum Run, and the Clear Fork; and far down lies the blue shield of Pleasant Hill Lake bordered by the deep red of sandstone bluffs and the blue black of hemlock trees.”

Today, the area is labeled Mohican country by the tourism folks. It still appears much as it did during

Bromfield’s time, and it’s my favorite part of the Buckeye State. It’s a fantastic place for a weekend getaway, relatively easy to access in southeast Richland County. Here are my suggestions for where to stay, where to dine, and what to do to experience a sense of why Bromfield so loved Malabar:

Where to stay: Other than a campground and single cabin — the Maple Syrup Cabin — Malabar Farm State Park has no overnight lodging facilities, so staying at nearby Mohican State Park is convenient. Mohican offers rooms and a restaurant at the lodge overlooking Pleasant Hill Lake, or cabins and campgrounds beside the Clear Fork of the Mohican River, a State Scenic River.

What to see: At Malabar, be sure to take the Big House tour to see Bromfield’s writing office, containing the custom-made desk he seldom used. He complained that the desk was too high for him, so instead he wrote at a small, folding card table. Bromfield was well connected with Hollywood, and you’ll hear the story of film legends Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall marrying at the farm and spending their honeymoon in the second-floor bedroom.

What to eat: Plan to have lunch or supper at Malabar Farm Restaurant just down the road from the entrance to the park. My wife and I consider it our favorite Ohio eatery. Gourmet meals are served on white tablecloths, but the

Full of natural beauty, southeast Richland County offers something for everyone.

atmosphere is casual, so blue jeans and hiking boots are more than acceptable. And no trip to Malabar is complete without making the short drive to the summit of Mount Jeez for a sweeping, panoramic view of the farm and Pleasant Valley. The scene is particularly stunning during the first blush of spring or the peak of autumn color.

What to do: Once back at Mohican, if you’d like to stretch your legs and do some hiking, park your vehicle at the covered bridge and take either of the two trails that parallel the Clear Fork River through the Clear Fork Gorge. Heavily forested, the sandstone gorge measures 1,000 feet across by 300 feet deep, and is recognized by the National Park Service as a Registered National Natural Landmark. Heading northwest, both trails eventually lead

to the top of Pleasant Hill Lake Dam, providing spectacular views of the lake and spillway (as seen in the photo on the opposite page).

During summer, watersports are available on the lake, and several canoe liveries along the Black Fork of the Mohican River are located within a mile of Mohican’s main entrance. Think about scheduling your visit to coincide with Mohican Wildlife Weekend (www.mohicanwildlifeweekend.com), held annually in late April, which offers many free outdoor activities at a number of area venues.

Oh, and one last thing. If you happen to have any influence with anyone serving on this year’s Pulitzer Prize committee, would you mind putting in a good word for me? It seems I’m rapidly running out of time.

Author and conservationist Louis Bromfield named his famous farm Malabar after the beautiful Malabar Coast of India, where he and his family lived for a short time during the early 20th century.

The Gardens at Malabar Farm State Park (below) are a must-see for all visitors. It takes a little more of a specialized interest to do some fly-fishing in the Clear Fork River in the park (above).

BY JODI BORGER

Butler Rural Electric Cooperative member Bill Pyles gave himself a valuable piece of advice after a oncein-a-lifetime opportunity: “Never say never.”

Back in 2016, Bill found himself lying on the couch, recovering from surgery to repair two collapsed vertebrae in his neck, which he believes resulted from years of demolition derbies and bull-riding, plus a few wrecked vehicles in his younger years.

Doing the only thing he could at the time, he surfed TV channels in search of something interesting to keep himself occupied. That’s when he stumbled upon a marathon of the History Channel series Forged in Fire. In each episode of the competition, four bladesmiths compete in a three-round elimination contest to forge bladed weapons.

“After three days of (watching them make blades), I thought, ‘I bet I can do that,’” says Bill, a self-proclaimed tech geek who works for a company in California.

As it turned out, he was right.

Bill has a wife, Judy (who now refers to herself as a forge widow), four kids, four dogs, and two cats. He’s been a volunteer firefighter for Milford Township for 23 years and is also a part-time beekeeper. He seems to excel at anything he sets his mind to.

After he talked to his wife, he purchased his first small forge for $150. He already had everything else he needed.

“I started out using lawn mower blades,” Bill says. “I took any scrap steel I could get my hands on to determine whether or not forging was a hobby that would stick.”

As it turns out, it did. In 2020, Bill named his forging enterprise Overkill Knife Works, a reference to his road name with the Fire & Iron Motorcycle Club, a group of firefighters, first responders, and EMS workers.

Oxford man gains national prominence as he takes his new hobby to the next level.

Forging quickly became his stress relief. After a long day of work, he’d head out to his workshop, turn the music up loud, and create unique blades out of scrap steel. He eventually began creating blades from high-carbon, Damascus steel, which is easily recognizable by its wavy patterned design. “I usually start with 8 to 12 layers, stacked up and welded together on the corners,” says Bill. “I heat it to 2,000 degrees, then slowly squish it down into one solid mass. Then I draw it out and chop it all up, and repeat the process — heat, beat, and repeat.”

I’ve learned it’s that I’ll never use the term ‘never’ when it comes to anything,” Bill laughs. “Because somehow, some way, I always end up doing whatever it is.”

When Forged in Fire put out a casting call in August 2021, “I asked myself, ‘What’s the worst that could happen?’”

He began talking with producers in late October that year. “It was a long process to get to the competition, but in late November they called and said, ‘Can you be here on Dec. 3 for filming?’” Bill says.

Bill flew to Stamford, Connecticut, where he competed against three other contestants in three different challenges, the first of which involved a knife brought from home, the second being the creation of a push dagger, and lastly, creating a replica blade from a past Forged in Fire champion.

Most of Bill’s projects use 128 to 256 layers of steel. “My favorite part is taking a tiny stack of steel and turning it into something everyone calls absolutely beautiful,” Bill says. “Dipping the piece in the oil (quenching), pulling it out, and seeing what the final product looks like, that’s my joy.”

Bill used to do woodworking before he started forging. “It was great because I could use a blank piece of wood and turn it into scroll saw art,” Bill says. “It gives me the capability to be quite creative, and I’m able to do that now with forging.”

Bill never thought he would forge Damascus steel. He never thought he’d make a sword. And he certainly never thought he’d compete on Forged in Fire. But now, he works almost exclusively with Damascus steel. He has a sword that hangs in his workshop, and he not only managed to make it onto Forged in Fire, but he won. “If there’s anything

Bill’s episode — season 9, episode 7 — aired on May 25, 2022. He took home $10,000 as the episode’s champion and was the winner of Forged in Fire’s first-ever Knife Fight.

“I had a blast, even though it was one of the most stressful things I’ve ever done,” he says. “I have made some lifelong friendships with the smiths that I competed against.”

The gloves he wore during the competition included encouraging messages from his family. They were highlighted during a segment of the show and signed by the judges and hosts.

“Immediately after Forged in Fire, I had orders coming in,” says Bill. “Anything from letter openers to skinning and kitchen knives.”

Bill continues to stay connected with those he met during his Forged in Fire experience. However, when Forged in Fire asked if he’d come back, Bill said he chose his words wisely and responded with “maybe.”

Bill Pyles taught himself the art of steel blademaking while he recuperated from surgery, and ended up as a champion on the competition series Forged in Fire, thanks to Damascus steel blades he created such as the one above.

“My favorite part is taking a tiny stack of steel and turning it into something everyone calls absolutely beautiful.”

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2. yogurt / berries / granola / orange slices

3. hummus / veggies / cheddar cheese sticks

Prep: 5 minutes | Cook: 2 minutes | Servings: 2

1 cup quick or old-fashioned rolled oats

1 tablespoon brown sugar

½ teaspoon cinnamon

¼ teaspoon nutmeg

¾ cup (plus a little extra) water, milk, or alternative milk

¼ teaspoon vanilla

T HE R MOS OATMEA L

1 tablespoon maple syrup

¼ cup your choice of chopped nuts, shredded coconut, and/ or chocolate chips

Thermos instructions: In a thermos, mix oats, brown sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Heat water or milk until almost boiling, then mix into oats along with vanilla and maple syrup, and stir. Wait a few minutes for oatmeal to thicken, stir once more, then top with remaining ingredients. Seal thermos until ready to eat.

Make and heat later instructions: In a heat-safe bowl, mix all ingredients except water/milk. Seal with lid, grab a spoon, and pack for later. When ready to eat, pour water/milk into oatmeal and heat in microwave for a minute or two until very hot. Wait a few minutes for oatmeal to thicken; stir and enjoy.

Per serving: 310 calories, 9 grams fat (5 grams saturated fat), 5 milligrams cholesterol, 21 milligrams sodium, 51 grams total carbohydrates, 5 grams fiber, 7 grams protein.

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.

BANANA PB&J W R A P

Prep: 5 minutes | Servings: 2

1 8-inch flour tortilla

1 ounce cream cheese

2 tablespoons chunky peanut butter

1 tablespoon jelly or jam of choice

1 large banana, peeled

Note: Adjust measurements to your liking — you know your preferred PB&J ratio! These can even be refrigerated for up to 3 days ahead.

Warm up flour tortilla in microwave for 10 seconds to make it easier to roll without cracking. Spread cream cheese evenly over half of the tortilla (to the edges). Spread the peanut butter on the other half (to the edges). Spoon and spread jelly down the middle, then place banana on top. Roll up tightly and seal. Cut in half lengthwise to share. Off you go with a tasty and filling snack!

Per serving: 245 calories, 10 grams fat (4 grams saturated fat), 16 milligrams cholesterol, 272 milligrams sodium, 34 grams total carbohydrates, 3 grams fiber, 4.5 grams protein.

SAVORY MUFFINS

Prep: 10 minutes | Cook: 20 minutes | Servings: 12

6 ounces zucchini

6 ounces carrot

3 large eggs

¼ cup skim milk

½ cup shredded cheddar cheese

½ cup bacon bits

1½ cups Bisquick mix

Preheat oven to 350 F. Grate zucchini and carrot by hand or in a food processor. In a large bowl, whisk eggs and milk, then mix in grated vegetables, cheese, and bacon. Fold in Bisquick until incorporated. Spoon batter into a greased or lined cupcake pan. Bake 18 to 22 minutes, or until golden brown and cooked through. Store in fridge or freezer and heat up or eat at room temperature.

Per serving: 124 calories, 6 grams fat (2 grams saturated fat), 55 milligrams cholesterol, 393 milligrams sodium, 12 grams total carbohydrates, 0.5 gram fiber, 6 grams protein.

Annual Meeting

Saturday, April 15, 2023

EDON NORTHWEST SCHOOL

Anytime between

3 P.M. & 5 P.M. 5 P.M.

VISIT THE INFORMATION BOOTHS

CAST YOUR VOTE IN PERSON

ENJOY A SANDWICH & SOME SIDES

(Reservations are required for the meal)

Two options to cast your vote

1. Vote online through your secure SmartHub account between Monday, March 20, and noon on Friday, April 14. Visit nwec.com and click the “My Account” button at the top of the page to create a SmartHub account, or download the free mobile app.

2. OR vote in person at the annual meeting at Edon Northwest School between 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. on Saturday, April 15. Your paper ballot will be given to you when you arrive on that day. If you plan to vote in person, do NOT also vote online. You can only vote once. Paper ballots will only be distributed to the member-owner whose name is on the registration page that is inserted in your billing statement.

Have questions or need assistance? Call us at 800-647-6932.

BUSINESS MEETING

Hear from your cooperative leaders

(Voting and all other activities will end at 5 P.M. and the election results will be announced at the end of the meeting.)

Every member-owner who participates in the annual meeting by casting their vote online via the SmartHub app will receive a $20 bill credit on a future electric bill. Those who vote in person on April 15 will receive a gi t bag at the door. Even if you vote online, you are still welcome to attend the business meeting, which begins at 5 p.m. on that day; however, you will only receive the bill credit, not the gi t at the door.

Watch your mailbox for the special inserts included with the billing statement you receive in March

OFFICIAL NOTICE OF THE ANNUAL MEETING OF MEMBERS

The annual meeting of the member-owners of North Western Electric Cooperative, Inc., (NWEC) will be held on Saturday, April 15, 2023, at Edon Northwest School, Edon, Ohio. Registration and in person voting will be available from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. and a business meeting will follow at 5 p.m.

The meeting agenda will be as follows:

1. Acknowledgement of proper notice requirements for the meeting;

2. Reports from the chairman, auditor and president;

3. Industry update by a representative of Buckeye Power/OEC;

4. Presentation of election results.

In connection with the election of three (3) trustees scheduled for this meeting, the Election Committee determined that the following candidates were eligible to be placed on the ballot:

Chrisotpher Oberlin (incumbent)

14547 Co. Rd. I Bryan, OH 43506

George Strayer 10950 County Road E Bryan, OH 43506

Stephen Rinell 4162 County Road 8 Bryan, OH 43506

Ryan Wehri (incumbent)

7894 Beerbower Rd. Edgerton, OH 43517

Charles (Tom) Case 6738 Behnfeldt Rd. Sherwood, OH 43556

Jordan Ruffer (incumbent)

22886 Co. Rd. C Stryker, OH 43557

* No nominating petitions were received for this district therefore this incumbent will be considered elected by affirmation.

The official ballot will also contain options to accept or reject one proposed change to the Code of Regulations and to accept or reject the 2022 annual meeting minutes as presented.

Member-owners who do not wish to attend the in person meeting on April 15, 2023, may cast their votes using the SmartHub app prior to that date.

Mitchel Headley, Secretary 1/30/23

District #4

District #5 District #6*

Trustee Nominations

In connection with the election of three trustees scheduled for the 2023 annual meeting, the Election Committee determined that the following candidates are eligible to be placed on the ballot.

NWEC member-owners may vote for one candidate from each district in which an election is held. You do not need to reside in those districts to vote.

Information provided by the candidates.

DISTRICT 4 CANDIDATES

Completing his first three-year term on NWEC Board of Trustees

Currently NWEC Board Chairman

Age 58

Wife, Brenda, two children

Resides in Jefferson Township

Self-employed, owner of Bryan Engine Rebuilding

Lions Club board member, member of Automotive Engine Rebuilders Association (AERA)

Bryan High School graduate

Attends Wesley United Methodist Church

STEVE RINELL

Age 62

Wife, Diane, two children, two grandchildren

Resides in Center Township

Business Manager at Hillside Country Living

Earned BA in management and accounting from Minote State, completed NRECA Management Internship Program

Former NWEC Director of Accounting and Finance, former CEO at Otsego Electric Co-op

Attends St. Peter’s Lutheran Church, currently serving as Treasurer

GEORGE STRAYER

Age 70

Wife, Patricia, three children

Resides in Center Township

Retired Food Scientist - Dean Foods/Dairy Farmers of America, where he managed multi-million-dollar production plant and corporate quality control operations

Earned BS in food science and nutrition from the Ohio State University

Attends Bryan Alliance Church

continued on next page →→→→→

CHRIS OBERLIN - Incumbent

Trustee Nominations - cont.

DISTRICT 5 CANDIDATES

RYAN WEHRI - Incumbent

Completing his first three-year term on NWEC Board of Trustees

Age 35

Wife, Jessica, four children

Resides in Farmer Township

Project Coordinator (Project Manager) at Nucor Building Systems

Obtained the rank of Eagle Scout in the Boy Scouts of America

Edgerton High School graduate, attended the University of Toledo (mechanical engineering) and Owens Community College (CAD technology)

Attends Life Changing Church, where he serves as a Head Deacon and a Youth Ministry Leader.

CHARLES (TOM) CASE

Age 73

Wife, Cynthia, two children, six grandchildren

Resides in Farmer Township

Farmer, retired from ConAgra Foods

Senior Vice Commander - VFW Post 5667 Sherwood, AdjutantFarmer American Legion Post 137

Earned an Associate Degree from Northwest State Community College (accounting and agricultural management)

Attends St. John’s Lutheran Church

Served in the U.S. Army

DISTRICT 6

No nomination petitions were received for District 6; therefore, the incumbent has been elected by affirmation and is not required to be on the ballot.

JORDAN RUFFER - Incumbent

Completing his fourth three-year term on NWEC Board of Trustees

Earned his Credential Cooperative Director certification from NRECA

Age 40

Wife, Tracy, three children

Resides in Springfield Township

Employed at Miller Brothers Construction

Earned BS in mechanical engineering from the University of Toledo

Attends St. Peter Lutheran Church

PROPOSED CHANGE TO THE NORTH WESTERN ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE, INC. CODE OF REGULATIONS

On the 2023 official ballot, member-owners are asked to vote on a suggested amendment to the current Code of Regulations. This proposed change has been reviewed and approved by the cooperative’s board of trustees.

Summary of proposed change

To allow for more flexibility in the scheduling and location of future annual meetings to better serve the entire membership.

To view the Code of Regulations in its entirety, visit www.nwec.com/cooperative-documents.

Proposed deletions are shown using strikethrough and proposed additions are underlined

PROPOSED CHANGE: ARTICLE III - MEETING OF MEMBERS

SECTION 1. Annual Meeting.

The annual meeting of the members shall be held during the months of March or April, with preference given to the month of April, in each year, with the date and at such place within the service area of the Cooperative, as selected to be determined by the Board and which shall be designated in the notice of the meeting for the purpose of electing Board members, passing upon reports for the previous fiscal year and transacting such other business as may come before the meeting. It shall be the responsibility of the Board to make adequate preparations for the annual meeting. Failure to hold the annual meeting at the designated time shall not work a forfeiture or dissolution of the Cooperative. In the event that such annual meeting is not held, for any reason, a special meeting in lieu thereof shall be called and held as soon thereafter as convenient, and any business transactions or elections held at such meeting shall be as valid as if transacted or held at the annual meeting.

If accepted the language would read as follows:

The annual meeting of the members shall be held each year, with the date and place within the service area of the Cooperative, to be determined by the Board and which shall be designated in the notice of the meeting for the purpose of electing Board members, passing upon reports for the previous fiscal year and transacting such other business as may come before the meeting. It shall be the responsibility of the Board to make adequate preparations for the annual meeting. Failure to hold the annual meeting at the designated time shall not work a forfeiture or dissolution of the Cooperative. In the event that such annual meeting is not held, for any reason, a special meeting in lieu thereof shall be called and held as soon thereafter as convenient, and any business transactions or elections held at such meeting shall be as valid as if transacted or held at the annual meeting.

If you plan to join us on April 15 at Edon School, please make a reservation by either calling our office at 419-636-5051 or by completing the form at www.nwec.com. This will allow us to adequately prepare for the event.

In March, NWEC will be working with NRECA Market Research Services to complete member satisfaction surveys.

The surveys will be conducted by phone and email, but not everyone will be contacted, If you are contacted, we would greatly appreciate a few minutes of your time to share your opinions of the cooperative.

By participating in the survey, you will help us make decisions that benefit you, your family, and your neighbors. Thank you!

All information is confidential.

WESTERN ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE

PROPOSED DRAFT OF THE NORTH WESTERN ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE, INC.

2022 ANNUAL MEETING OF MEMBERS MINUTES

On the 2023 official ballot, member-owners are asked to vote to accept or reject the minutes from the 2022 Annual Meeting, as presented below:

NORTH WESTERN ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE, INC.

2022 Annual Meeting Minutes (Drive-Thru Voting)

The 2022 Annual Meeting of the Members of the North Western Electric Cooperative, Inc. (NWEC) was held at the Cooperative building in Bryan, Ohio, on the 9th day of April 2022.

Due to COVID-19* concerns and to conform with COVID-19 mandates from government health officials (federal, state and local agencies) at the time of the meeting preparations, the Board voted to conduct the meeting as a drive-thru meeting only. In accordance with the cooperative Code of Regulations, member-owners could also vote online from March 21, 2022, through April 8, 2022, at noon.

Annual Meeting Packet

Each NWEC member-owner was sent an Annual Meeting packet on March 2, 2022. The parcel contained the following documents:

• Official Notice of Meeting

◊ The notice included a member-ownerspecific barcode for registration.

• Official Ballot Form

• Proposed Changes to the Code of Regulations

• NWEC 2021 Annual Meeting Minutes

During the Annual Meeting, member-owners could drive through the cooperative parking lot and warehouse to register and drop off their voting ballots. Member-owners who attended stayed in their vehicles.

Member-owners were able to attend at any time during the hours of 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. A total of 373 people attended (265 members-owners and 108 guests). There were also 536 member-owner online votes collected prior to the meeting through the SmartHub app.

Call to Order

The meeting was called to order by Chairman Andy Farnham at 9:00 a.m.

Election

Trustee Candidates:

District 3 - No petitions were received. Kim Shoup was re-elected by affirmation.

District 7 - No petitions were received. Richard Polter was re-elected by affirmation.

Proposed Changes to the Code of Regulations

Article III, Meeting of Members

• Organized the order of business at NWEC’s Annual Meeting. Allowed for hybrid format versus large in-person meetings when necessary.

Article IV, Board of Trustees

• Expanded the nepotism policy for board members to include close relatives and former employees of less than three years – including employees of NW Ohio Propane. It also added that trustees could not be convicted felons.

• Removed nominations from the floor at the Annual Meeting.

Jeff Woodbury and Keith Stark were member-owner representatives present to oversee the collection of the ballots during the drive-thru meeting and counting the votes following the meeting.

Adjournment

Chairman Farnham adjourned the meeting at 12:01 p.m.

Election Results

Cooperative attorney, Christopher Walker, reported the results of the voting:

2021 Annual Meeting Minutes – Accepted

Article III - Meeting of the Members – Accepted

Article IV - Board of Trustees – Accepted

*COVID-19 is a respiratory disease that can result in severe illness or death caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, which could easily spread from person to person. The virus is spread between individuals in close contact (within six feet) through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs, sneezes, speaks, sings, or breathes.

Monitor energy use, cast your vote, pay bills, get alerts and more ...

All at your fingertips with SmartHub!

North Western Electric Cooperative’s SmartHub app provides you with great tools — you can view your monthly electric usage, check your balance, receive notifications, report outages, and even schedule automatic payments. But now, that list of available features is even better!

Member-owners can use SmartHub to cast their vote for NWEC’s 2023 elections. Don’t miss out on this easy way to vote from the convenience and safety of your home!

DESKTOP OR LAPTOP USERS: Create an account online

Visit www.nwec.com and click the “My account” button at the top. You can also go directly to nwec.com/ smarthub/coop.login.html. Click the “New User” link at the bottom.

Not a SmartHub user yet? It is quick and easy to create your account using a mobile app (for smartphones and tablets) or using your desktop computer or laptop. Have your NWEC billing account number and an email address on hand before you sign up. Have questions? Give our office a call, and we can guide you through the process.

MOBILE USERS: Download the SmartHub app

Open your app store and search for: SmartHub

Electronic voting will begin on Monday, March 20, and will end on Friday, April 14, at noon.

EMPLOYEE NEWS

Newest team member

Join us in welcoming Jaden Valderas as the newest member of our NWEC team.

Jaden has accepted the position of Staking/ Field Technician. We look forward to putting his excellent customer service skills to work for our member-owners.

Valderas is a lifelong Bryan resident and a graduate of Bryan High School. He spends his free time with his fiancee and his Australian shepherd, Theo. He also coaches high school basketball and enjoys working out.

Welcome to the team, Jaden!

in memorium

REMEMBERING FORMER EMPLOYEE JAN SALSBURY

NWEC is saddened to learn of the passing of long-time NWEC employee Jan Salsbury. She was the co-op’s billing supervisor for many years, retiring in 2004.

Jan passed away at age 83 on January 5. She and her husband, Bob, enjoyed camping and square dancing but her greatest joy was cooking for all her family.

NWEC extends our deepest sympathies to her family and is grateful for her many years of service to our cooperative member-owners.

2022 Annual Report

Management Summary

Reliable electric service from your cooperative doesn’t just happen overnight. You see the lights turn on when you flip a switch, but reliability is a process that requires years of strategic financial planning by a knowledgeable board of trustees and hard work by dedicated employees. This past year was a testament to that.

Amidst a struggling economy in 2022, your cooperative was faced with rising costs for materials, fuel for our vehicles, and transmission charges; yet, as a result of our consistent financial stability, we were able to weather those increases with only a minimum rate adjustment for our member-owners, effective in February 2023. The successful long-term financial planning by the NWEC Board of Trustees allowed your cooperative to remain financially sound and able to meet all key financial targets required by our financial partners, the United States Department of Agriculture/Rural Utility Service (USDA/RUS) and the National Rural Utilities Cooperative Finance Corporation (CFC).

Each year, we then share our financial successes with our member-owners, giving you back a return on your investment. In December, the NWEC Board of Trustees approved capital credits refunds totaling $611,200 to current and former memberowners of the cooperative. Your cooperative has refunded these excess margins annually

Chris Oberlin Chairman of the Board

Darin Thorp President/CEO

since 1978, holding a portion to fund capital improvements that keep our service reliable.

In 2022, NWEC invested more than $2 million dollars in capital improvements, which included replacing more than a mile of copper wire and converting more than two miles of single-phase to three-phase wiring. The crews also constructed 43 new services. Annual maintenance was performed on poles, wires, regulators, and breakers.

Most of these projects were scheduled as part of the four-year work plan that is created by the NWEC management and staff, then approved by the board of trustees. This strategic plan provides a realistic “roadmap” that drives material purchases,

job scheduling, finances, and staffing. Some of the projects are accomplished with the help of outside contractors, but most of the work is completed by NWEC’s seven lineworkers. These employees also handle the day-to-day requests and outages as they happen.

All this — and more — was possible despite the current economy and ongoing supply chain shortages, again thanks to the stable financial foundation built by NWEC’s management, our employees and the board of trustees. We understand how important the reliability of our electric system is to each of you, and it’s our job to make sure your power is there when you need it 24/7/365.

We know that this past year was financially hard on some of our member-owners, too. That is why we continued to offer opportunities to help you spend less on your electric bill, such as our free home energy audits and rebates for new appliance purchases. We also offered payment plans and budget billing for those who just needed a little more time to stretch out their paychecks. Our commitment to you does not stop with just keeping the lights on.

No matter how distressed the nation’s economy may seem, all of us here at NWEC believe that opportunities should still be available to the young people in our community. That’s why we’re proud to continue our support of the Ohio’s Electric Cooperatives Youth Tour, a leadership program that provides a weeklong, all-expenses-paid trip to Washington, D.C., for students across the state and nation. NWEC sponsored two local students for this lifechanging experience.

NWEC also awarded $7,000 in scholarships to seven local students. Their determination to continue their education is commendable — and costly — so we are here to ease the burden for a few families in our area.

Education and training are at the core of your cooperative, whether it is helping local students pursue scholastic endeavors or providing educational tools for our employees and board so that they can work safely, make sound decisions, and understand their role in providing service to our membership. Investments like this are essential to the success of the community where we all work, live and play.

NWEC is committed to providing a strong electric system and remaining financially strong, despite economic challenges. We are all dedicated to doing our part to ensure that NWEC’s future is as bright and successful as our past.

Reaching into our COMMUNITY

Performed

Participated in the United Way of Defiance Co Hot Air Balloon Festival to help raise money for the Community Engagement Center

Distributed

These photos show examples of the need to replace aging copper wire throughout our system. The wire is twisted strand and over time the copper becomes brittle. When that happens, any movement, such as high winds or the accumulation of heavy ice, will cause the individual strands to break. This results in a loss of the continuous flow of electrictiy and also increases the chance of downed live wires.

The crews made great progess on this project in 2022 but their work is not done. They are committed to continuing to upgrade the system to ensure that it is safe and reliable for everyone.

Building for RELIABILITY

11,880

construction projects completed in 2022 feet

conversion of overhead single-phase to three-phase

8,093 feet

replacement of aging copper wire with new style conductor

4,484 feet

1,170

construction of overhead three-phase feet

rebuild of overhead three-phase feet 730 construction of overhead single-phase

This project at County Road C and State Route 576 required “all hands on deck” to complete.

Your Board of Trustees

North Western Electric is a democratic organization with a board of trustees. The board has seven trustees, each representing a different district in our service area. The trustees are member-owners of the cooperative who are elected by their fellow member-owners. Their duty is setting policies and making decisions for the continuation of the cooperative and as elected representatives who are accountable to the membership. Trustees serve three-year terms and are elected at the annual meeting.

Keith Stark District 1

M itch Headley District 2

Secretary

K im Shoup District 3

Vice Chairman

C hris Oberlin District 4

Chairman R yan Wehri District 5

J ordan Ruffer District 6 R ichard Polter District 7

Northwest Bridgewater Madison Center St. Joseph

Brady Jefferson Superior

Adams Tiffin Washington Farmer Milford

Ridgeville

Springfield Pulaski

Hicksville Mark Delaware Noble

Carryall Crane

#1 #6 #4 #4

#4 #4 #3 #1

#3 #3 #5 #2

#7 #7 #5 #2

#6 #6 #7 #5 #2

#6

WILLIAMS COUNTY

DEFIANCE COUNTY

PAULDING COUNTY

FULTON COUNTY

HENRY COUNTY

Florence #1

2022 ANNUAL REPORT

Statement of Revenue & Expenses

For the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021

Financial Reporting

Financial statements are reports about NWEC’s financial results and financial condition. They are useful for the following reasons:

1. To determine whether a business has the capability to pay back its debts.

2. To track financial results on a trend line to spot any looming profitability issues.

3. To derive financial ratios that can indicate the condition of the business.

BALANCE SHEET

Presents the financial position of an entity at a given date. This is a two-year comparison. It comprises the following three elements:

Something a business owns or controls (cash, inventory, plant and investments, etc.)

Something a business owes to someone (creditors, bank loans, etc.)

Equity

What the business owes to its member-owners. This represents the amount of capital that remains in the business after its assets are used to pay off its outstanding liabilities.

Equity represents the difference between the assets and liabilities.

INCOME STATEMENT

Also known as the Statement of Revenue and Expense, reports the company’s financial performance in terms of net profit or loss over a specified period. This is a two-year comparison. It is composed of the following two elements:

Income

What the business has earned over a period (sales revenue).

Expense

The cost incurred by the business over a period (salaries and wages, depreciation, cost of power, etc.).

Net profit and loss is calculated by deducting expenses from income.

Balance Sheet

As of December 31, 2022, as compared with December 31, 2021

How your power bill dollar was spent

2022 ANNUAL REPORT

Employees

Andrew Overman, Director of Finance & Accounting

Bob Carter, Director of Operations

Braden Miller, Journeyman Lineman

Brad Plummer, Journeyman Lineman

Chad Livensparger, Journeyman Lineman

Darin Thorp, President/CEO

Doug Dulle, Journeyman Lineman

Doug Hammond, Warehouse Coordinator

Jaden Valderas, Staking/Field Technician

Joe Belcher, System Equipment & Maintenance Specialist

Levi Brandt, Journeyman Lineman

Nikki Mittelstaedt, Account ing Manager

Nolan Swank, Apprentice Lineman

Pearl Rakes, Director of Marketing & Communications

Preston Knecht, Staking Technician/Fleet & Safety Manager

Shane Zulch, Staking/Field Technician

Tom Clark, Crew Chief

Tracey Carter, Director of Human Resources

Dakota Parish, Delivery Driver/Service Representative

Jade Linnemeier, Customer Service Representative

Josh Curry, Delivery Driver/Service Representative

Josh Mansel-Pleydell, Delivery Driver/Service Representative

Lyndsay Villalovos, Customer Service Representative, Seasonal

Peter Coolman, Operations Manager

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Squirrels (and other wildlife) on film

Ohioan Karl Maslowski rose from poverty to become a pioneer in the production of wildlife video footage.

BY W.H. “CHIP” GROSS; PHOTOS COURTESY MASLOWSKI FAMILY ARCHIVES

Like most wildlife photographers of the early 20th century — though there were only a handful — Karl Maslowski was a hunter before he became a photographer. “The things I’d learned about hunting wild animals with a gun stood me in good stead as I began hunting them with a camera,” he said.

The son of immigrant parents who’d arrived in America from Europe in 1911, Maslowski was born in Atlanta,

Georgia, in 1913. Two years later, the family of three moved to Cincinnati, and he would call the Queen City home for the rest of his long life.

It was in 1935, during the middle of the Great Depression, when 22-year-old Maslowski scraped together enough money to buy his first camera. A used, bulky Graflex, it cost $8 and shot black-and-white still photos. But it was a start, and with that camera, Maslowski taught himself the

basics of photography. He also soon learned that the short lenses and slow shutter speeds of such cameras were no match for quick-moving wildlife.

The answer to his problem, he believed, was acquiring one of those newfangled 16mm movie cameras he had been hearing so much about. “But they were just too expensive, and our family was dirt poor,” Maslowski remembered. Fate, however, sometimes has a way of intervening in such situations.

Unsung benefactor

Maslowski had begun visiting the Cincinnati Museum of Natural History at age 15, fascinated by its collections of mounted wild animals. It was at the museum that Maslowski met Christian J. Goetz, head of the Christian Moerlein Brewery in Cincinnati and a major financial supporter of the museum. Goetz’s hobby was banding birds, mainly waterfowl, and Maslowski began tagging along with him on banding trips.

One day, Goetz casually asked Maslowski what type of 16mm movie camera would be best for photographing their banding activities. The young shutterbug knew exactly what Goetz needed: a Cine-Kodak Special. As a result, Goetz soon purchased one of the new movie

cameras, handed it to Maslowski, and told him to “check it out for me, just to make sure everything’s working okay.” Goetz never asked for the camera to be returned. “Sadly, I didn’t realize what that kind, generous man had done for me until years later,” Maslowski admitted.

With the proper equipment now in hand, Maslowski threw himself into what he hoped would be his new career. Always energetic, he let no obstacle stand in the way of getting the wildlife photos he envisioned. For instance, along the shoreline of Lake Erie, he once constructed an 85-foot tower with a blind on top to film nesting bald eagles at eye level. At Reelfoot Lake in Tennessee, he built an even higher tower, 100 feet tall, to photograph nesting cranes, herons, and cormorants. The resulting unprecedented film footage was sold to high-end clients such as Walt Disney’s True-Life Adventure Series, which turned the footage into wildlife profile stories.

New ways to spread the word

Maslowski also eventually joined the professional lecture circuit, taking his wildlife films on the road nationwide. A gifted speaker with a strong, commanding voice, Maslowski mesmerized his audiences — always leaving them wanting more.

Continued on page 26

Karl Maslowski served as a combat cameraman for the U.S. Army Air Forces during World War II (left page). He filmed aircraft and camp life at an airbase in Corsica under famed director Capt. William Wyler. Some of Maslowski’s footage was later used in the 1947 film Thunderbolt! Maslowski later focused much of his attention on wildlife found in our backyards. The vivid color photograph on this page, taken by Maslowski in the late 1980s, captures a gray squirrel yawning.

Continued from page 25

For the Audubon Screen Tour lecture series, Maslowski joined several other notable naturalhistory speakers — one of the more famous being Roger Tory Peterson, creator of the well-known field guide series. For the National Geographic Society, Maslowski regularly presented his film lectures in Washington, D.C.

There seemed to be no limit to his communication skills. In addition to his films, Maslowski wrote thousands of outdoors- and nature-related newspaper and magazine articles during his lifetime. The Cincinnati Enquirer ran his weekly “Naturalist Afield” column for half a century, from 1937 to 1988

Well-earned recognition

Not surprisingly, Maslowski received many awards during his lifetime. Said one presenter:

Karl Maslowski and his wife, Edna (left), made a formidable team during their early days as wildlife filmmakers. Karl taught Edna about cameras, and she edited his articles. While Karl was in the Army, Edna continued to present their films in a series of lectures. Maslowski used immense patience and stealth to capture wildlife in the field. Below, Maslowski photographs a bittern nest with his Graflex camera near Cincinnati in 1935.

“He interprets to millions the learning of scientists in layperson’s language. All aspects of nature have received the scrutiny of his lenses.”

Near the end of his life, while reflecting on his fulfilling career, Maslowski said, “If I had to come back and live my life over as an animal, I’d want to come back as a red fox. They have outsmarted me so many times. If I had my wish, I’d come back and do the same thing to them.”

Karl Maslowski died in 2006 at the age of 92 His son, Steve, carries on his father’s legacy as an acclaimed wildlife filmmaker yet today. And, yes, the Maslowski film studio is still headquartered in Cincinnati.

To view Wildlife Photographer: The Life of Karl Maslowski, Steve Maslowski’s film tribute to his father, go to www.vimeo. com/668320599.

Karl Maslowski traveled near and far to capture wildlife. Below, he’s seen filming in the Yukon Territory in the 1970s. The photo to the right shows Maslowski hiking through the cypress swamp at Reelfoot Lake in Tennessee, carrying materials for a blind he built 100 feet up in the canopy to film a nesting colony of great egrets. His wildlife writing, photos, and films became part of an environmental movement in America.

A mover (but not a shaker)

STORY AND PHOTOS BY JAMES PROFFITT

Jim Klier has been a mover for 39 years. Admittedly, the Wellington resident and Lorain-Medina Rural Electric Cooperative member isn’t real good at carefully packing all your possessions, loading them into a big rig, and driving them somewhere else. Instead, he just moves everything at once. Like your entire house. And very carefully.

Jim and the rest of the folks at Klier Structural Movers have made hundreds of such moves over the years. They have transported buildings both commercial and residential, though most are houses. The longest trip was a home that went down the road about 25 miles. The

shortest? About 4 feet (see sidebar story).

Klier has moved plenty of homes for lots of different reasons — some legal, like for zoning issues; others more sentimental. Klier’s moved a lot of older homes. Much timber frame home on Lake Erie.

This co-op member specializes in relocating structures — very carefully.

“Oh, heavens yes,” he says. “A home that’s been in the family for generations, for example. You really have to love the house to do something like that, to go through that process.”

Not all the structures he’s moved are historic or sentimental — or even old. In fact, just the opposite. Some haven’t even been lived in yet or are still under construction. “We’ve done new houses, never occupied. Sometimes they’re not even finished,” he says.

Sometimes builders make mistakes, like putting up a house on the wrong spot, perhaps straddling a property line or facing the wrong direction. Other times, issues arise with a new foundation, or groundwater wells up suddenly, indicating a likely future of constant pumping. Other jobs have included moving a structure out of an existing flood zone or adding a basement where none was.

Occasionally, it’s a combination of sentimentality

of and business.

When Mike Bassett’s investment group purchased waterfront property in Port Clinton, their plan was to build 14 homes on the site, which features a 125-foot sandy Lake Erie beach. But a two-story, 3,300-square-foot home sat directly where the main driveway would be. In Ottawa County, tearing down vintage homes on the water and replacing them with new homes and condominiums has been in vogue for years. But he questioned razing what seemed like such a great old house.

“It’s got high ceilings, very large wood molding, just a lot of charm,” he says. “I just know someone will fall in love with it because it’s very large and well-built. To me it just seemed like it would be a terrible waste to tear it down.”

So Bassett contacted Klier and had the home moved — about 100 feet over the course of a couple months, and in the process, rotated about 90 degrees. Bassett estimated the cost of the raw lumber and materials in the home, circa 1934, would run about $100,000 today. He said after some remodeling and updating, it will be a beautiful nearly century-old home that’s just like a new home.

So just how do you move a structure? According to Klier, the answer is, “Very carefully.” But at its simplest: Jack it up and drag it out. Klier has a yard full of equipment — several hundred tons of steel beams, a fleet of specialized hydraulic dollies, and hundreds of fat, heavy timbers. With these items, experienced Klier crew members place long steel beams beneath a structure, then slowly raise it.

Just a slight twist

When Sally DePerro bought what had originally been an 1880 vacation cottage for a member of the Gamble family (as in Procter & Gamble), it was a beautiful home in a quaint spot overlooking the LaFarge shipping dock, where lake freighters come and go in Marblehead.

“When we bought it, it needed some TLC,” DePerro says. “And also we wanted a garage.”

As it happened, the home sat at a slight angling opposition to neighboring structures so that additions were off-limits, zoning wise. “They were going to add onto the front and the rear of the home,” Klier says. “It wasn’t sitting in line with the property boundaries.”

And so for a pretty penny, which in DePerro’s view was worth a pound of gold, Klier and his crew cocked the nowmassive 4,700 square-foot structure just enough to come into line with zoning rules and leave room for the desired additions. The total distance was about 4 feet — still the

“We push everything up evenly,” Klier says. “The structure rises on a completely level, even plane.”

But first there’s plenty of measuring, planning, contemplating.

“We definitely spend a lot of time figuring out what we’re going to do before we do it,” he says. While they’ve had a few minor mishaps over the years, he says they’ve never dropped a structure or suffered any catastrophic disasters. Moving a structure is not inexpensive, relatively speaking. At the minimum, a shorter, simpler move is likely to run between $30,000 and $40,000, and the price goes up from there, depending on several factors. “It’s very viable in the right situation,” Klier says, “but a terrible waste of money in the wrong one.”

shortest move his company has undertaken. “The move made everything line up,” he says.

“And while all that was happening we dug a deeper basement because it wasn’t a full basement,” DePerro says. “It sounds crazy, but we got a lot out of that. In the end, moving the house just a few feet gave me everything I wanted.”

Unimaginable

BY MARGO BARTLETT; PHOTOS COURTESY LIFELINE OF OHIO

Each organ donation story is one of both heartbreak and hope.

Shawana Mitchell and her fiancé, Joe Hedges, were regulars at Circleville’s VFW lodge poker nights, and, as they often did, joined the card-playing crowd one Friday evening in March 2021 with their friend Troy Fletcher.

They were having fun, joking and trash-talking, when suddenly Joe stood up, telling Troy that his chest hurt.

Joe went to Shawana and told her. Thinking “heart attack,” Shawana urged Joe to sit down and headed to the bar for aspirin. Joe started to follow her through the doors that led to the bar, and Troy, seeing Joe begin to fall, caught him in his arms.

Joe said something Troy couldn’t understand. His lips were blue.

The emergency squad arrived, and Joe was taken to Circleville’s Berger Hospital, then flown to Riverside Methodist in Columbus for emergency surgery.

Joe, 52, had suffered an aortic dissection, a tear in the inner layer of the body’s main artery. When Shawana saw him after surgery, his color had improved and she dared to hope. But brain swelling ensued, and Sunday morning, Joe’s family was called to the hospital.

As they got the devastating news, they were introduced to a representative from Lifeline of Ohio, an independent nonprofit organization that promotes and coordinates organ donations in the state. After hearing about the widespread need, Shawana and the family decided Joe would become an organ donor.

That need, it turned out, was closer than they knew. Unbeknownst to them, Troy was on a waiting list for

a kidney transplant. When they found out, the family decided immediately to donate Joe’s kidney to Troy.

Of course, it’s not that simple, says Jessica Peterson, supervisor of media and public relations at Lifeline of Ohio. Donors and recipients must have compatible blood and tissue, just for starters, and for a selected organ recipient to match the donor is extremely rare. In Peterson’s nine years at Lifeline, she says she knew of only one successful directed donation.

But Joe and Troy were a perfect match. Four days after Joe collapsed, Troy was at the Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center to receive his friend’s kidney.

This month, March 2023, is the anniversary of Joe’s sudden death and Troy’s gift of life. Troy, now 40, remains on a waiting list for a pancreas, but he’s feeling healthy and well. “I’ve not had a lick of trouble,” he says. Before receiving Joe’s kidney, Troy says, “I was ready to die. It’s changed my life drastically. I knew God had a plan, and now I really know.”

Troy acknowledges some survivor’s guilt. His friend died, while he’s enjoying better health. In gratitude, Troy said, he and Shawana, 42, are registered organ donors, though Troy laughs about his donation prospects. “If someone wants these terrible eyes, they can have them,” he says.

And there’s a happier end to the story as well. The shared grief over Joe’s death, the several interviews Shawana and Troy have given together, and Troy’s determination to take care of Shawana pulled them together and resulted in another gift: Shawana and Troy are a couple now. “My goal,” he says, “was to make sure she was laughing every day.”

Troy Fletcher, right, acknowledges a sense of survivor’s guilt after he received his friend Joe Hedges’ kidney when Joe (inset photo, with his then-fiancée, Shawana Mitchell) died in March 2021.

Unimaginable

Chris Wasielewski of Delaware County, Ohio, was driving his son, Adam, 6, to school on May 4, 2010, when their car collided with a dump truck. Both were hospitalized; Adam died of his injuries a month later.

The family was struggling with the unimaginable when a Lifeline of Ohio family service coordinator approached the Wasielewskis about donating Adam’s organs.

“Chris and I were registered organ donors at the time of the accident,” Marcia Wasielewski wrote in an email. “We never discussed what that would look like for our children in this situation.”

Jessica Peterson, Lifeline’s spokesperson, said the initial contact with a potential donor family is undertaken with all the sensitivity and care it deserves.

“It’s literally the worst time,” Peterson says. “That’s how donation happens. It happens in the most tragic of circumstances.”

Because the Wasielewskis agreed, Adam’s corneas and heart valves now are giving their recipients better lives.

Marcia Wasielewski said she and her husband do not know who received Adam’s donations, but they have “adopted” other organ recipients as their own.

Adam’s is among the many names engraved on Lifeline’s Donor Memorial at Lifeline of Ohio’s building in Columbus. Nearby is a photograph of Adam as a kindergartner, grinning next to his elementary school sign. The sign’s message reads, “Class of 2022.”

Lifeline’s memorial is unique in Ohio, Peterson says. The state has three other organ donation centers: Life Connection of Ohio, in Dayton and Toledo, serving northwest and west-central Ohio; Lifebanc in Cleveland, serving northeast Ohio; and LifeCenter in Cincinnati, serving southwestern Ohio and parts of Indiana and

Kentucky. The building at 770 Kinnear Road serves central and southeast Ohio. It is the only one with land that accommodates a memorial.

The Wasielewskis remain active Lifeline volunteers.

“I am very passionate about speaking on behalf of Lifeline,” Marcia Wasielewski wrote. “I am always happy to talk about Adam.”

Peterson says the dedication that Lifeline’s many loyal volunteers bring to the organization enhances its mission to save and heal lives through the gift of donation.

“Once they’re with us, they’re with us,” she says. The memorial, designed by Rogers Krajnak Architects, suggests the “ripple effect” that one donor can have on dozens of lives.

Lifeline’s many volunteer-driven programs honor donors and recipients, including the annual 5K Dash for Donation; Shawls of Support, knitted by Lifeline donors, recipients, and community members and given to donor families; and commemorative quilts, whose squares are provided by donor families and pieced by volunteers.

Every Monday, Lifeline staff members gather in the lobby, near a wall on which a tree is painted. As the names of that week’s donors are read aloud, an associate places a leaf on the tree. The leaf’s size indicates the type of donation: organ, eye, or tissue. Smaller leaves represent children.

“We say their names,” Peterson says. “I work with the most compassionate people around.”

In Lifeline’s atrium, shadowboxes honor both organ donors and recipients. Families provide the photographs, mementos, and other keepsakes. The boxes are displayed for a year, and photographs remain on Lifeline’s website after the boxes are returned to their families.

“These are cherished, cherished things,” Peterson says.

Sixty percent of Ohio residents are registered organ donors, more than the national percentage of 50. Peterson credits the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles, whose employees ask drivers about organ donation, with helping to spread the message.

However, the vast majority of Ohio’s residents never end up donating organs. A person must die in a hospital, on a ventilator, to be eligible. Only 1% of registered donors meets this requirement.

According to Lifeline, a single person may donate a total of eight organs: the heart, two kidneys, two lungs, the liver, the pancreas, and the small intestine. Eyes and tissue also may be donated.

Donors rarely give all eight. Every donated organ must be viable and healthy, Peterson says. The occasions when it happens, she says, are “very, very special.”

When an unregistered adult or a child dies in the hospital on a ventilator, a Lifeline family services coordinator asks the family about donation. Lifeline associates never look away from the naked pain these families are facing.

“We wrap our arms around them as tightly as we can,” Peterson says.

Jessica Peterson of Lifeline of Ohio (above) says initial contact with potential donor families must be handled with every bit of sensitivity possible. Lifeline of Ohio’s memorial wall is a chance for the organization to honor the unimaginable decisions families have made under devastating circumstances (below).

2023 CALENDAR

more! www.themodernvintagemarket.com or www.facebook.com/themvmarketohio.

MAR. 18 – Mansfield Symphony Orchestra and Chorus: Carmina Burana, Renaissance Theatre, 138 Park Ave. W., Mansfield, 8 p.m. The orchestra and chorus join forces with local choirs to present Carl Orff’s choral masterpiece. https://rentickets.org/events.

MAR. 18 – Pat Campbell Fighting Cancer 5K Fun Run and Walk, 207 N. River Ave., Toronto. $20–$35 entry fee. Proceeds benefit cancer patients with unmet needs throughout the Ohio Valley. 740317-3947 or https://secure.getmeregistered.com/ get_information.php?event_id=137690

presents the best in big band swing. https:// rentickets.org/events.

APR. 1 – April Showers Craft and Vendor Show, Ehrnfelt Recreation and Senior Center, 18100 Royalton Rd., Strongsville, 9 a.m.–2 p.m. Free. Crafters, artists, authors, bakers, photographers, wood turners, vendors, and small business owners. www.facebook.com/events/1078708169684469

APR. 1 – Stark Vintage Market, Stark Co. Fgds., 305 Wertz Ave. NW, Canton, 9 a.m.–4 p.m. $3, under 5 free. Wide variety of antiques, collectibles, artisan wares, and repurposed household goods. 330-495-3044 or www.starkvintagemarket.com.

MAR. 3, 10, 17, 24 – Beginner Beekeeping Class, Life Church, 1033 Elm St., Grafton, 7–9 p.m. $50 class fee also includes one-year LCBA membership and monthly email newsletter for you and your family; books available for additional $25 fee. Registration form available at www.loraincountybeekeepers.org.

MAR. 4–26 – Chatham Fireman’s Pancake Breakfast, Chatham Memorial Hall, 6299 Avon Lake Rd., Chatham, Sat./Sun. 9 a.m.–3 p.m. Adults $12; Srs. $11; under 10, $8. Enjoy special-recipe sausage and all-you-can-eat pancakes with local maple syrup. Contact Steve Arters at 330-635-0958 for additional information.

MAR. 4, 11, 18, 25 – Grand River Valley Ice Wine Festival, noon–5 p.m. $8 per person at each stop. Each of the seven participating establishments will provide samples of their wines along with a delicious appetizer. Area maps will be provided to help patrons plan their trail. www.grandrivercellars.com/ upcoming-events/festivals/ice-wine-festival.

MAR. 4–25 – SAA Art Show, Historic Fort Steuben, 120 S. 3rd St., Steubenville, Mon.–Sat. 10 a.m.–4 p.m., or by appointment. Free. Original works by members of the Steubenville Art Association on display, some for sale. 740-283-1787 or www.oldfortsteuben.com.

MAR. 17–19 – “Hello Spring” by The Modern Vintage Market, Stark Co. Fgds., 305 Wertz Ave. NW, Canton, Sat./Sun. 10 a.m.–4 p.m., special VIP shopping Fri. 3–8 p.m. Vintage, antiques, architectural salvage, home/garden décor, boutique clothing/jewelry, handmades, live music, and much

WEST VIRGINIA

MAR. 18–19 – Railfest 2023, Lakeland Community College, Athletic and Fitness Center, 7700 Clocktower Dr., Kirtland, 10 a.m.–4 p.m. $8–$15. Model railroad dealers and exhibitors, operating layouts and displays, flea market, and more. Food available for purchase. 440-357-8890, 216-470-5780, or www.railfest.org.

MAR. 18–19 – Vintage Decoy and Wildlife Art Show and Sale, Holiday Inn Cleveland South, 6001 Rockside Rd., Independence. Largest venue in the Midwest for decoy collectors, competitive carvers, and wildlife/waterfowl artists, featuring 24 carving contests, hands-on demos, Saturday night auction, and more. www.odcca.net.

MAR. 19 – Flea Market of Collectables, Medina Co. Fgds., Community Center, 735 Lafayette Rd., Medina, 9 a.m.–3 p.m. $2. Early-bird special admission 6–9 a.m., $3. Vintage items and collectibles. 330-948-4300 (Amanda Whitacre) or www.conraddowdell.com.

MAR. 24–25 – Militaria Collectors Show, Lakeland Community College, Athletic and Fitness Center, 7700 Clocktower Dr., Kirtland, Fri. 4–8 p.m., Sat. 9 a.m.–2 p.m. $5 adults; $3 students, veterans, and active military (with ID). Buy, sell, swap. Specializing in WWII and Korean memorabilia. 440-525-7529, lakelandmilitariashow@gmail.com, or www.facebook. com/lakeland.militaria.show.

MAR. 25 – Artistic Jazz Orchestra: “Kings of Swing,” Renaissance Theatre, 138 Park Ave. W., Mansfield, 8 p.m. Mansfield’s premier jazz ensemble

APR. 1–2 – Ohio Spring Button Show: “Heavenly Buttons,” Hilton Akron/Fairlawn, 3180 W. Market St., Akron. Showroom open to the public Sat. 9 a.m.–5 p.m., Sun. 9:30 a.m.–2 p.m. For button collectors and those who use buttons for quilting, crafts, and sewing. hlrichwine@neo.rr.com or www.ohiobuttons. org/SpringShow.html.

APR. 2 – Medina Model Train and Toy Show, 735 Lafayette Rd. (St. Rte. 42), Medina, 9 a.m.–3 p.m. $7. Over 250 tables of model trains, planes, cars, and more! 330-948-4400 (Vikki Conrad) or www.conraddowdell.com.

APR. 2 – Steven Jay Miracle: “The Music of Bob Dylan,” Wadsworth Public Library, 132 Broad St., Wadsworth, 2–3 p.m. Free, but reservations recommended. Register at www.ormaco.org or by calling 419-853-6016

APR. 4–18 – Annual Spring Quilt Show, Historic Fort Steuben, 120 S. 3rd St., Steubenville, Mon.–Sat. 10 a.m.–4 p.m., or by appointment. Free. 740-2831787 or www.oldfortsteuben.com.

APR. 13–15 – Ohio PinBrew Fest, Metroplex Expo Center, 1620 Motor Inn Dr., Girard, Thur. 4–11 p.m., Fri./Sat. 10 a.m.–midnight. $20–$25, 3-day pass $60, under 12 free. Play over 100 pinball machines, new and old, and other arcade games as you enjoy competitions, food trucks, and the area’s finest craft beer. www.pinbrewfest.com.

MAR. 17–19 – Gathering of the Clans, Oglebay Resort, 465 Lodge Dr., Wheeling. A grand event featuring Celtic food, music, contests, Irish road bowling, and the return of Highland Games. 304-243-4015 (Wendy Hodorowski) or www.oglebay.com/events.

2023 CALENDAR

MARCH/APRIL

MAR. 18–19 – Maple Syrup Festival, Indian Lake State Park, 13156 St. Rte. 235 N., Lakeview, 8 a.m.–2 p.m. Learn how maple syrup is extracted from trees and watch a demonstration of how sap is transformed into true maple syrup. Pancake and sausage breakfast, craft vendors, and pure maple syrup for purchase. 937843-2717 or www.ohiodnr.gov.

MAR. 23 – The Simon and Garfunkle Story, Veterans Memorial Civic and Convention Center, #7 Town Square, Lima, 7:30 p.m. $24–$70. The immersive concert-style theater show chronicles the amazing journey shared by the folk-rock duo. Features a full live band. 419-224-1552 or www.limaciviccenter.com.

MAR. 3, APR. 7 – Star Gazing at Schoonover Observatory, 670 N. Jefferson, Lima, 9 p.m. Free. Come see the stars with us! If you have a telescope, bring it along; members will show you how to use it and will answer any questions. Weather permitting. https://limaastro.com.

MAR. 10–12 – Lima Noon Optimist Community Expo, Allen Co. Fgds., 2750 Harding Hwy., Lima, Fri. 4–9 p.m., Sat. 10 a.m.–8 p.m., Sun. 12–5 p.m. $2 donation. A wide variety of community businesses and organization will be displaying information. Proceeds help fund Lima-area youth activities and Safety City. 419-230-9361 or https://limaoptimist.com.

MAR. 11 – Lima Irish Parade, downtown Lima, noon–1 p.m. Free. www.facebook.com/LimaIrishParade.

MAR. 11 – Spring for the STARS Vendor and Craft Fair, Elida Elementary School, 300 Pioneer Rd., Elida, 9 a.m.–3 p.m. $2 donation; kids admitted free. Over 40 vendors offering handcrafted items. Concessions available. For information, email Nicole Oen at noen@ elida.k12.oh.us.

MAR. 18 – Lima Symphony Concert: “Mozart and Salieri,” Veterans Memorial Civic and Convention Center, #7 Town Square, Lima, 7:30 p.m. The first half highlights Salieri’s music, and the evening ends with Mozart’s Requiem mass. 419-224-1552 or www. limaciviccenter.com.

SOUTHWEST

MAR. 24 – Amy Grant, Veterans Memorial Civic and Convention Center, #7 Town Square, Lima, 7:30 p.m. $35–$100 419-224-1552 or www.limaciviccenter.com.

MAR. 24–25 – Max’s Mini Swap Meet, Allen Co. Fgds., 2750 Harding Hwy., Lima, noon–7 p.m. $5. Three buildings of crafts, tools, clothing, antiques, animals, guns, and more. www.facebook.com/ maxstraderdaysandwaterdograces.

MAR. 25 – Maple Syrup Festival, Williams Co. Fgds., 619 E. Main St., Montpelier, 8 a.m.–noon. Contact the Williams SWCD at 419-636-9395 for more information or email amichaels@williamsswcd.org.

MAR. 25 – Spring Craft and Vendor Show, Upper Scioto Valley High School, 510 S. Courtright St., McGuffey, 9 a.m.–4 p.m. $2 adults; $1 K–12; 4 and under free. Presented by the Upper Scioto Valley Performing Arts Boosters. Top crafters and vendors. Concessions available. 419-302-6528, 567-204-1083, or usvpab@usvschools.org.

MAR. 26 – Flag City Spring Model Train Show, Northwest Ohio Railroad Preservation Inc. 12505 Co. Rd. 99, Findlay, 10 a.m.–3 p.m. $5; free for kids 12 and under if accompanied by adult. Vendors will be displaying and selling model trains, toy trains, and railroad memorabilia. Quarter-scale train rides available (adults $3, kids $2). 419-423-2995, www.

Rd., Loveland, 10 a.m.–4 p.m. $3, under 12 free. Artists and crafters selling their original handmade items. Full concession stand on-site. 440-227-8794 or www.avantgardeshows.com.

MAR. 19 – Cincinnati’s Premier Wedding Show, Manor House Event Center, 7440 Mason Montgomery Rd., Mason. Meet wedding professionals, taste cake and catering samples, see fashion shows, and register for door prizes. https://ohioweddingshows.com.

nworrp.org, or www.facebook.com/nworrp.

APR. 1 – BluesFest 2023, Veterans Memorial Civic and Convention Center, #7 Town Square, Lima, 7–11 p.m., doors open at 6 p.m. $15. Hosted by the Greater Allen County Blues Society. www.facebook.com/ events/520955333311533

APR. 1–2 – Tri-State Gun Show, Allen Co. Fgds., 2750 Harding Hwy., Lima, Sat. 8:30 a.m.–4 p.m., Sun. 8:30 a.m.–2 p.m. Over 400 tables of modern and antique guns, edged weapons, and sportsmen equipment. 419-647-0067 or www.tristategunshow.org.

APR. 8 – NWORRP Easter Egg Hunt, Northwest Ohio Railroad Preservation Inc., 12505 Co. Rd. 99, Findlay, 10 a.m.–2 p.m. $3; 12 and under, $2 (includes a train ride). Continuous scavenger egg hunt for all ages, with a chance to win a “Golden Ticket” good for the 2023 season. Quarter-scale train rides continue until 4 p.m. 419-423-2995, www.nworrp.org, or www.facebook. com/nworrp.

APR. 13–16 – Holy Toledo Polka Days, Holiday Inn and Suites Ballroom, 27355 Carronade Dr., Perrysburg. Featuring some of the best polka bands in the industry. See website for schedule of events and locations, beginning with the Opening Night Polka Party and ending with the Sunday Dance. 419-351-5031 or https:// holytoledopolkadays.com.

APR. 14–16 – Madagascar: A Musical Adventure Jr., Encore Theater, 991 N. Shore Dr., Lima, Fri./ Sat. 7:30 p.m., Sun. 2 p.m. $10; ages 10 and under, $5. Presented by McDonald’s Youth Theatre. www. amiltellers.org.

APR. 15 – Lima Symphony Concert: “The Music of John Williams,” Veterans Memorial Civic and Convention Center, #7 Town Square, Lima, 7:30 p.m. Experience the magic of the movies through the scores of John Williams, including E.T., Harry Potter, Schindler’s List, and many more. 419-224-1552 or www.limaciviccenter.com.

music throughout the day. cabinfeverartsfestival@ gmail.com or www.appartguild.com.

APR. 7 – Vernon McIntyre’s Appalachian Grass, Butler County Bluegrass Association, Collinsville Community Center, 5113 Huston Rd., Collinsville, 7 p.m. Free. Enjoy an evening of lively bluegrass music. Home-style food available on-site. 937-417-8488

THROUGH APR. 27 – 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.

MAR. 17 – Bluegrass Night, Fibonacci Brewing Company, 1445 Compton Rd., Cincinnati, 7–9 p.m. Free. Enjoy lively bluegrass music by Vernon McIntyre’s Appalachian Grass, a wide variety of craft beers at the Beer Garden, and food truck eats. 513832-1422 or http://fibbrew.com.

MAR. 19 – Cincinnati Spring Avant-Garde Art and Craft Show, R.S.V.P. Event Center, 453 Wards Corner

MAR. 22 – “1805–2023: Our Shaker Legacy,” Harmon Museum, 105 S. Broadway, Lebanon, doors open at 6:30 p.m., lecture at 7 p.m. $5. Shaker experts and authors Christian Goodwillie and Carol Medlicott lecture on the Shaker legacy in Warren County. Reception and book signing to follow. 513932-1817 or www.wchsmuseum.org.

MAR. 30–APR. 2 – Cincinnati Auto Expo, Duke Energy Convention Center, 525 Elm St., Cincinnati. Showcasing new technology and performance features in new crossovers, EVs, hybrids, sedans, sports cars, SUVs, trucks, and more from your favorite manufacturers. Fun for the whole family! 513-3267100 or www.cincinnatiautoexpo.com.

APR. 1 – Cabin Fever Arts Festival, Patriot Center Hillsboro Campus, Southern State Community College, 100 Hobart Dr., Hillsboro, 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Free. Hosted by the Appalachian Artisans Guild. Over 60 vendors selling handmade art and crafts. Food and

APR. 13 – Lawrence Pitzer: Lute, Armstrong Concert Center, 121 S. Broadway, Lebanon, 7 p.m. $5–$15. Part of the Music at the Museum concert series focusing on southwestern Ohio artists. www.wchsmuseum.org/ music.html.

APR. 15 – Spring Fashion Doll Show and Sale, EnterTRAINment Junction Expo Room, 7379 Squire Ct., West Chester, 10 a.m.–3 p.m. $5, under 12 free. Featuring Barbie, Tonner, Fashion Royalty, Madame Alexander, Monster High, action figures, and other fashion and collectible dolls. One day only! https:// entertrainmentjunction.com/calendar.

APR. 15 – Vernon McIntyre’s Appalachian Grass, China Garden Buffet, 1108 W. Kemper Rd., Cincinnati, 7:30 p.m. Doors open at 6 p.m., Great Miami Bluegrass Band plays at 7 p.m. Enjoy bluegrass music and a buffet dinner. Early-bird ticket holders get choice of seating. 513-607-1874, fotmc@iglou.com, or www.eventbrite.com/e/chinese-breakdown-dinnertickets-472324273617

THROUGH AUG. 31 – Exhibit: “Earth, Hand, and Fire,” Ohio Glass Museum, 124 W. Main St., Lancaster. Winter hours: Tues.–Sat., noon–4 p.m. $3–$6, under 6 free. Selections from the museum archives and private collections, including a 104-piece gift of Fenton glass. 740-687-0101 or www.ohioglassmuseum.org.

MAR. 11 – St. Patrick’s Day Celebration and Parade, downtown Dublin, 7:30 a.m.–12:15 p.m. Free. Events take place throughout the city, starting with a pancake breakfast, followed by the parade at 11 a.m. www. dublinohiousa.gov/community-events.

MAR. 12, Lancaster Community Band Spring Concert, Faith Memorial Church, 2610 W. Fair Ave, Lancaster, 2 p.m., free. 740-756-4430

MAR. 16–19 – Columbus International Auto Show, Greater Columbus Convention Center, 400 N. High St., Columbus, Thur./Fri. noon–9 p.m., Sat. 10 a.m.–9 p.m., Sun. 10 a.m.–6 p.m. $6–$12; 12 and under free if accompanied by adult. See the latest models and features from more than 30 manufacturers. www. columbusautoshow.com.

MAR. 17–19 – Open Season Sportsman’s Expo, Ohio Expo Center, 717 E. 17th Ave., Columbus. $4–$10, 12 and under free; weekend passes, $8–$18. Hundreds of exhibitors, demos and displays, trophy contests, free

SOUTHEAST

seminars, gear/equipment, shooting and archery ranges, and more. www.openseasonsportsmansexpo.com/ohio.

MAR. 18 – Sewing Smorgasbord, Sheridan Middle School, 8660 Sheridan Rd., Thornville, 9:15 a.m.–3:05 p.m.; doors open at 8:30 a.m. $10. The clothing and textile update of the year! Over 30 classes and 15 exhibitors, a fabric fair, sewing machine raffle, fat quarter raffle, and new this year, a quilt raffle! Attend classes of your choice. No preregistration required; pay fee at door on day of event. 740-405-7891, crshuster1@ gmail.com, or https://perry.osu.edu.

MAR. 19 – Columbus Toy and Collectible Show, Ohio Expo Center, Lausche Bldg., 717 E. 17th Ave., Columbus, 9 a.m.–4 p.m. $12; 10 and under free; early buyer (8–9 a.m.) $16. Buy, sell, and trade new and used toys, retro toys, video games, and collectibles. Door prizes every hour; get photos/autographs from celebrity guests. www.ctspromotions.com.

MAR. 24 – Hotel California, Marion Palace Theatre, 276 W. Center St., Marion, 7:30 p.m. $22–$32. Hear the music of the Eagles performed by the tribute band that has thrilled fans since 1986, with their incredible lead vocal similarity, spot-on instrumental work and harmonies, and exciting live performances. 740-3832101 or www.marionpalace.org.

MAR. 25 – Central Ohio Symphony: “Go for Baroque 2,” Marion Palace Theatre, 276 W. Center St., Marion, 3–5 p.m. Adults $20, students $5. Back by popular demand — the symphony will delight you with an afternoon of music by composers from the Baroque period. 740-383-2101 or www.marionpalace.org.

MAR. 25–26 – Quilt Spectacular 2022: “Where the Heart Is,” Franklin Co. Fgds., 4200 Columbia St., Hilliard, Fri. 10 a.m.–6 p.m., Sat. 10 a.m.–4 p.m. $6 per day or $9 for both days. Over 100 quilts. Silent auction, quilting-related demos and vendors, Quilter’s Boutique garage sale, and door prizes. Refreshments available. www.cmquilters.org.

MAR. 17–19, 24, 26 – Jekyll and Hyde, Cambridge Performing Arts Center, 642 Wheeling Ave., Cambridge, Fri./Sat. 7 p.m., Sun. 3 p.m. $13 50. www. cambridgetheater.org.

MAR. 18 – National Cambridge Glass Collectors

“All Cambridge Benefit Auction,” Pritchard Laughlin Center, 7033 John Glenn Hwy., Cambridge, preview at 8:30 a.m., auction at 9:30 a.m. $2. All glass in auction guaranteed to be Cambridge. Links to auction catalog and pictures on www.cambridgeglass.org.

MAR. 26 – Central Ohio Hot Jazz Society Concert, Clintonville Woman’s Club, 3951 N. High St., Columbus. $10–$20. www.cohjs.org.

MAR. 26 – Columbus Spring Avant-Garde Art and Craft Show, Makoy Event Center, 5462 Center St., Hilliard, 10 a.m.–4 p.m. $3, under 12 free. Artists and crafters selling their original handmade items. Full concession stand on-site. 440-227-8794 or www. avantgardeshows.com.

MAR. 30 – “The Communal Garden: Seed Starting,” Franklin Park Conservatory, 1777 E. Broad St., Columbus, 6–7:30 p.m. Free. Learn everything you need to know to have a successful garden started from seed. Part of the Conservatory’s “Growing to Green” program, which supports and develops community gardens across central Ohio. Register at www. fpconservatory.org/events.

MAR. 31–APR. 2 – Columbus Home Improvement Show, 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. Innovations and design trends from hundreds of exhibitors. Remodeling and building experts from the Columbus area will be on hand to answer your questions. www.homeshowcenter. com/overview/columbushome2

APR. 1–30 – “Best of Pickaway County” Art Contest, ArtsAround Gallery, 135 W. Main St., Circleville. Art from Pickaway County high school students will be on display throughout the month, with prizes being awarded at the end of April. For more information, contact Steve Sawyer at Ssawyer43113@gmail.com.

APR. 13–16 – Equine Affaire, Ohio Expo Center, 717 E. 17th Ave., Columbus. $10–$16; 6 and under free. North America’s premier equine expo and equestrian gathering, featuring training clinics, seminars, and demos as well as horse and farm exhibits, trade show, top equine entertainment and competition, and more. 740-845-0085 or www.equineaffaire.com.

APR. 1 – McGuffey Lane, Majestic Theatre, 45 E. Second St., Chillicothe, 7:30 p.m. $18–$25. Country rock band from central Ohio. 740-772-2041 or www. majesticchillicothe.net.

APR. 1–30 – Monroe Artists 26th Annual April Arts Show, Monroe County Library, 96 Home Ave., Woodsfield, Mon./Wed./Fri. 10 a.m.–5 p.m., Tues./Thur. 10 a.m.–6 p.m., Sat. 10 a.m.–2 p.m. $3 members, $5 nonmembers. Three art pieces each may be entered. Contact 740-472-4848 with any questions.

MAR. 11 – Motown Sounds of Touch, Majestic Theatre, 45 E. Second St., Chillicothe, 7:30 p.m. $18–$25. The Midwest’s #1 Motown sound vocal group. 740-772-2041 or www.majesticchillicothe.net.

MAR. 12 – Miller’s Automotive Racers Swap Meet and Car Show, Ross Co. Fgds., 344 Fairgrounds Rd., Chillicothe. $8, under 15 free. Race cars, tools, hot rods, apparel, collectibles, and much more! www. millersswapmeet.com.

MAR. 17 – Edgar Loudermilk Band, Pennyroyal Opera House, off I-70 at exit 198, Fairview, 7 p.m. $15 (cash only); 12 and under free. Kitchen and doors open at 5 p.m. Come early for best seating. 740-827-0957 or www.pennyroyalbluegrass.com.

MAR. 17–18 – River City Blues Festival, Lafayette Hotel, 101 Front St., Marietta. $35–$40; weekend pass, $100. Thirtieth anniversary of the festival that brings together some of the most talented blues performers from around the country. 740-376-0222 or http://bjfm. org/blues-festival.

MAR. 18 – Leprechaun Chase, Yoctangee Park, Chillicothe, 9 a.m. (packet pickup 8–9 a.m.). Join us for a shamrock’n good time in support of our charity partner, the Hope Clinic! 740-253-2779 or nancy.jones@hopeclinicfree.org. Sign up at https:// speedysneakers.com/events/the-leprechaun-chase-5k.

MAR. 19 – Southeastern Ohio Symphony Orchestra Children’s Concert, Pritchard Laughlin Civic Ctr., 7033 Glenn Hwy., Cambridge, 3:30 p.m. 740-826-8197 or www.seoso.org.

MAR. 25 – Southeast Ohio Poultry Breeders Association Show, Washington Co. Fgds., 922 Front St., Marietta. www.poultryshowcentral.com/Ohio.html.

MAR. 31 – Waverly Run, Pennyroyal Opera House, off I-70 at exit 198, Fairview, 7 p.m. $15 (cash only); 12 and under free. Kitchen and doors open at 5 p.m. Come early for best seating. 740-827-0957 or https://www. pennyroyalbluegrass.com.

APR. 1 – “Croce Plays Croce,” Peoples Bank Theatre, 222 Putnam St., Marietta, 8 p.m. $39–$110. A.J. Croce presents a special night of music featuring a complete set of classics by his late father, folk and rock singersongwriter Jim Croce. www.peoplestheatre.com.

APR. 8 – Ricky Skaggs and Kentucky Thunder, Peoples Bank Theatre, 222 Putnam St., Marietta, 8 p.m. $55–$145. www.peoplestheatre.com.

APR. 14 – The Tennessee Bluegrass Band, Pennyroyal Opera House, off I-70 at exit 198, Fairview, 7 p.m. $15 (cash only); 12 and under free. Kitchen and doors open at 5 p.m. Come early for best seating. 740827-0957 or www.pennyroyalbluegrass.com.

APR. 14–16 – Wildflower Pilgrimage, Highlands Nature Sanctuary, 7660 Cave Rd., Bainbridge (Ross County). $175. Includes two days of field trips, three meals (pack your own light lunches), and two evening presentations. Registration required. 937-365-1935 or https://arcofappalachia.org/wildflower-pilgrimage.

APR. 15 – “The Amazing World of Bats: Their Diversity, Values, and Needs,” Paxton Theater, 133 E. Main St., Bainbridge (Ross County), 1–2 p.m. Keynote presentation by Dr. Merlin Tuttle; book signing. https:// arcofappalachia.org/arc_education_events.

APR. 15 – Earth Gathering Festival, Pump House Center for the Arts, 1 Enderlin Circle, Chillicothe, 11 a.m.–6 p.m. Earth-friendly art, music, food, products, and ideas. 740-772-5783 or www.visitchillicothe.com.

A large, docile European hornet landed on a book that I had left on an outdoor table and just sat there. Diane Kulazenka, South Central Power Company member

Swallowtail butterfly on a Marcella Louise dahlia. Richard Kuhn, Union Rural Electric Cooperative member What

Rob Turk, Firelands Electric Cooperative member

Red-spotted purple taking care of a Sedum plant in the morning sun. Brent Grieves, Pioneer Electric Cooperative member

I

Lynd’s Fruit Farm in their sunflower fields. The colors were so vibrant against a blue sky. Jill Ann Ladrick, South Central Power Company member My son with

of

many stick bugs we have around

home. Heather Stritenberger, Pioneer Electric Cooperative member

Found this little guy in my garden. Amanda Mahle, Consolidated Cooperative member Looking

handrail. Amelia Headings, Logan County Electric Cooperative member

This is a photo of a Monarch butterfly I had raised and released into our backyard on August 2016 Nancy Powell, Lorain-Medina Rural Electric Cooperative member