OHIO
MARCH 2024
COOPERATIVE Lorain-Medina Rural Electric Cooperative
Going dark Get ready for the great eclipse
ALSO INSIDE Balancing act
Meat and potatoes
Go fly a kite!
around
BE SAFE LIGHTNING If you hear thunder, you are close enough to get struck by lightning. Seek shelter indoors: • Refrain from using corded electrical devices • Avoid running water, including baths and showers, and stay away from windows • Stay in shelter until 30 minutes after the last thunder
If you can’t get to shelter: • Avoid open fields and hilltops • Stay away from tall, isolated trees and objects • Spread out from others if you’re in a group
ohioec.org/purpose
OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING • MARCH 2024
INSIDE
THE GREAT ECLIPSE
Ohio gears up for its first total solar eclipse since 1908.
22 FROM MOONWALK TO SUN DANCE
The hometown of the first man on the moon prepares for an astronomical weekend.
24 COSMIC CRESCENDO
A celestial symphony debut in Toledo pushes the boundaries of classical music.
ALSO
28 GO FLY A KITE
March weather often inspires folks to get outdoors for some high-flying fun.
Cover image on most editions: Ohio will be the proverbial center of the celestial universe next month, when a total eclipse crosses the state for the first time since 1908 (photograph by Robert Schafer via Getty Images). This page: March, with its warming trends and blustery winds, typically sees the start of kite-flying season (photograph by italianestro via Getty Images).
MARCH 2024 • OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING
1
UP FRONT
Ask the expert Often in life, we need to balance the practical with the possible. This is especially so as we navigate the social and political demands to rapidly reduce the amount of carbon emitted from the energy we use. I have had the opportunity to serve for the past few years on the board of directors of the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI), the international research organization for the electric utility industry. EPRI has been at the forefront of research to determine pathways that may someday lead to achieving dramatically lower carbon emissions that could meet the stated goals of many nations, organizations, and businesses around the world. In my time on the board at EPRI, I’ve gotten a behind-the-scenes look at how our industry has been grappling with the many issues and concerns of rapid carbon emission reductions and identifying pathways that would allow us to meet those social and political demands. Among those concerns: • Addressing the shortcomings of wind and solar energy in meeting our 24/ 7/365 need for electricity. • Finding ways to dramatically increase electricity supply in order to reduce the amount of fossil fuel consumed by transportation, industry, and other domestic uses. • Recognizing — and getting constituents to recognize — the time frame that is required to develop promising new technologies from concept to commercial status to widespread use. • Acknowledging the cost of, and obstacles to developing and deploying, the large-scale infrastructure changes that will be needed to support new and emerging technologies. I’ve often discussed my concerns about the potentially catastrophic results of trying to go too far, too fast in reducing fossil fuel use to supply the electricity we all depend on for our daily health, safety, and economic well-being. So, instead of adding more of my own words to the discussion in this issue of Ohio Cooperative Living, we’ve invited Neva Espinoza, a distinguished research leader at EPRI, to write about what’s possible — as well as what’s practical — as the nation and the world transition to a lower-carbon future. These are difficult and challenging issues. I hope you’ll read the article on page 4 to get an update on these efforts. 2
OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING • MARCH 2024
Pat O’Loughlin
PRESIDENT & CEO OHIO’S ELECTRIC COOPERATIVES
EPRI has been at the forefront of research to determine pathways that may someday lead to achieving dramatically lower carbon emissions.
MARCH 2024 • Volume 66, No. 6
Ohio Rural Electric Cooperatives 6677 Busch Blvd. Columbus, OH 43229 614-846-5757 www.ohiocoopliving.com Patrick O’Loughlin Caryn Whitney Jeff McCallister Amy Howat Crystal Pomeroy
4 DEPARTMENTS
President & CEO Director of Communications Managing Editor Associate Editor Graphic Designer
4 POWER LINES
Balancing act: The transition to a low-carbon economy must take consumers’ needs into account, says an industry expert.
Contributors: Margaret Buranen, Colleen Romick Clark, Getty Images, W.H. “Chip” Gross, Jill Moorhead, Catherine Murray, and Michael Pramik.
8 WOODS, WATERS, AND WILDLIFE
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.
10 CO-OP PEOPLE
POSTMASTER: Send address changes to editorial and advertising offices at: 6677 Busch Boulevard, Columbus, OH 43229-1101. Periodicals postage paid at Berne, IN 46711, and at additional mailing offices. Nothing in this publication may be reproduced in any manner without written permission from Ohio Rural Electric Cooperatives, Inc. All rights reserved. The fact that a product is advertised in Ohio Cooperative Living should not be taken as an endorsement. If you find an advertisement misleading or a product unsatisfactory, please notify us or the Ohio Attorney General’s Office, Consumer Protection Section, 30 E. Broad St., Columbus, OH 43215. Periodicals postage paid at Columbus, OH, and at additional mailing offices.
Spring on the wing: That flash of red is a sure sign of winter’s demise. Good shepherds: Competitions
8
10
showcase the herding skills of co-op member’s beloved border collies.
13 GOOD EATS
Meat and potatoes: Want to get
right down to the basics? Chomp on some of this hearty chow!
17 LOCAL PAGES
13
News and other important information from your electric cooperative.
33 CALENDAR
National/regional advertising inquiries, contact
36 MEMBER INTERACTIVE
Cheryl Solomon American MainStreet Publications 847-749-4875 | cheryl@amp.coop
33
Pi(e) day: The month of March —
Cooperative members:
Please report changes of address to your electric cooperative. Ohio Cooperative Living staff cannot process address changes. Alliance for Audited Media Member
What’s happening: March/April events and other things to do around Ohio.
specifically the 14th day — gives us yet another excuse to enjoy a favorite dessert.
36
Visit Ohio Cooperative Living magazine online at www.ohiocoopliving.com!
Read past issues and watch videos about our articles or our recipes. Our site features an expanded Member Interactive area, where you can share your stories, recipes, and photos and find content submitted by other co-op members across the state. MARCH 2024 • OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING
3
POWER LINES
Balancing act
The transition to a low-carbon economy must take consumers’ needs into account.
T
BY NEVA ESPINOZA
he U.S. electricity system is poised to change more in the next 30 years than it did over the past century. The main reason for such a rapid transformation: goals set by industry and government to lower carbon dioxide (CO2) by mid-century. As leaders aim to reduce CO2 emissions across the economy, electricity is key to bringing those ambitious goals within reach. But that ambition must balance affordability and reliability.
Why electricity? The U.S. electric sector led all other sectors by reducing CO2 emissions by 35 percent between 2005 and 2022, primarily by shifting from coal to natural gas-fired generation and increasing solar and wind generation. The sector’s continued progress will become even more important as electricity grows to account for 40% to 60% of final energy (the electricity or fuel customers use to power homes, businesses, and transportation) in the decades ahead (see Figure 1). Leaders within and beyond the sector are focused on developing the right mix of resources to enable a lowcarbon future. While specific CO2 targets and the resources
available to achieve them can vary by region, the early steps of the carbon reduction journey have shown that: • Using every option at our disposal provides the greatest potential to balance affordability and reliability for customers; • Maximizing the potential of emerging resources rests on industry and government collaboration; and • Today’s decisions will have real impacts on the future energy system, so intentional and risk-informed plans must balance competing priorities.
An all-options approach to CO2 reduction Making a dramatically lower-carbon future into a reality means combining established technologies with new resources. Electricity today is generated by a mix of dispatchable power (nuclear, gas, coal, hydropower, and energy storage) and variable resources (solar and wind). These resources need to complement one another to help keep the lights on every second of every day. Achieving emissions goals reliably and affordably depends on having access to the full portfolio of energy resources, as different resources are viable in different regions. In areas with conditions supporting renewable energy development, the U.S. will continue adding more wind and solar in the decades ahead. However, increased dependence on those variable renewable energy resources means there must be additional generation sources
2050
Electricity could rise to 43–59% of final energy in a net-zero economy.
43–59%
2020
Electricity rose to ~20% of total final energy.
~20%
1950
Electricity was ~3% of total final energy
~3%
1893
EN ERGY CO N SU MPTION IN THE U.S.
Chicago World’s Fair, the first large demonstration of electricity use.
0%
Figure 1. As the U.S. transitions toward a low-carbon economy, electricity is projected to grow from 20% final energy in 2020 to 40% to 60% by 2050.
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OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING • MARCH 2024
E N E RGY S U P P LY T EC H N O LO G I ES F ROM CON CE PT TO COM M E RCI A L I ZAT ION Concept
Development
Hydropower
Demonstration
Market Deployment
1849
Pumped Hydro Long Duration Energy Storage
Commercialization
1940 1880s
1960s
Nuclear Power
1940
1980
Combined Cycle Gas Turbines
~1950
~1995
Wind Power
~1955
~1998
Solar Photovoltaic
~1955
Advanced Long Duration Energy Storage
~1955
Enhanced Geothermal
~2010
1950s
Electric Industrial Heating
Early 1970s
Floating Offshore Wind
1972
Carbon Capture Utilization and Storage
1977
Clean Hydrogen
2003
Advanced Nuclear
2007
Hydrogen Industrial Heating
2017 1850
1875
1900
1925
1950
1975
2000
2025
2050
Figure 2. History has shown that it takes decades for energy supply technologies to evolve from concept to commercialization.
available to meet customers’ needs when the wind is not blowing and the sun is not shining. As higher levels of variable generation capacity grow across the system, emerging technologies like energy storage and advanced controls could combine with demand-side management to help serve customers. But today, proven dispatchable electricity generation remains the primary resource that provides system flexibility and reliability.
Driving progress through collaboration Turning to emerging technologies before they are ready to scale can amplify transition challenges. Industry leaders and decision-makers can help alleviate those challenges by aligning around realistic and practical deployment time frames. Consider the time it takes to develop new technologies. Historically, it has taken multiple decades to bring new generation options to market. Proven approaches to evolving the U.S. energy system have involved developing and testing technologies — including several full-scale demonstrations prior to industry-level deployment. Every time a new technology is deployed at scale, the resulting lessons learned help the industry build and operate the resource better the next time — more affordably, more reliably, more resiliently, and more safely (see Figure 2).
Near-term decisions, long-term effects Through this energy transformation, balancing priorities is paramount. It requires considering decarbonization,
affordability, reliability, resilience, equity, and environmental impacts at each step. Incorporating the right mix of dispatchable generation in a grid that is growing increasingly dependent on variable renewables will be necessary to provide reliable and resilient electricity over time. Creating an affordable and reliable low-carbon future requires not only a clear understanding of the commercial viability of emerging technologies but also of the time it takes to scale them at an economy-wide level. It means determining the right mix of technologies to deliver the best results in a specific region — including new transmission lines, pipelines, and other infrastructure that requires additional time and investment. Today the U.S. electric sector is leading economywide decarbonization by employing a mix of existing resources, such as renewables, existing nuclear, and other technologies. An energy transition designed around customers’ needs rests on answering the tough questions through strategic research and development and making the right forwardlooking decisions to ensure affordability and reliability throughout the journey.
Neva Espinoza is vice president for energy supply and low-carbon resources at EPRI, the Electric Power Research Institute. MARCH 2024 • OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING
5
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7
WOODS, WATERS, AND WILDLIFE
Male red-winged blackbirds usually make their first appearance in Ohio in early March, while females arrive a couple of weeks later.
p ring S on the
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OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING • MARCH 2024
wing
That flash of red is a sure sign of winter’s demise. STORY AND PHOTOGRAPH BY W.H. “CHIP” GROSS
T
his time of year, when most Ohioans can’t stand much more of winter, a certain songbird begins arriving in the Buckeye State with a promise that yet another spring is on its way. Red-winged blackbirds are a common migrant through the state; the males arrive first, typically in March (though appearing as early as mid-to-late February some years), and females follow a few weeks later. Ubiquitous, conspicuous, and easy to identify, male red-winged blackbirds are a stunning glossy black, their wing epaulets — lesser wing coverts — flashing a vibrant red, highlighted by a yellow bottom-edge stripe. The sight of males bobbing on cattail stalks and sound of their familiar, gurgling “kon-ka-reee” song are sure signs that spring weather is not far off. Even though that song is welcoming to our ears, it’s actually a shouted warning to other male redwings — in essence saying, “This is my turf, pal, back off!” The males jockey for breeding territories that they aggressively defend when challenged by other males. Male redwings will even chase away much larger birds of other species. For instance, you may have seen a redwing harassing a red-tailed hawk or vulture, and both of those raptors are many times the blackbird’s size. Highly polygamous, a male redwing may entice as many as a dozen or more females to nest within his territory. But the mottled-brown, nondescript females are not always faithful to the harem master, either. Recent DNA studies have shown that not all females within a breeding territory bear offspring fathered by the resident male. Famed ornithologist John Eastman wrote of redwings, “Males often stray when seeking food or vacant territories, frequently trespassing onto occupied territories. When they do, they cover their red ‘badges’ with black scapular feathers of the wing so that only the lower yellow margins of the epaulet show, thus reducing chances of being attacked by the territory holder.”
Ask
CHIP!
The atlas of Breeding Birds in Ohio estimates the Buckeye State’s population of red-winged blackbirds at more than 1.5 million. Eastman added, “Casual observation might indicate large amounts of variation in size of red patches among male redwings. The fact is that all males have epaulets of about the same size but, unless displaying, the birds often cover them to a greater or lesser degree.” Red-winged blackbirds are considered by ornithologists to be one of the most abundant birds in North America, with their continental numbers estimated at well over 100 million. The second and most recent atlas of Breeding Birds in Ohio, published in 2016, estimates the Buckeye State’s population at more than 1.5 million. Like many songbirds, female redwings may nest more than once per season — two or possibly even three times is not uncommon. Egg incubation takes only 11 to 13 days, with the young birds fledging in about two weeks. During late summer and early autumn, immediately after the breeding season, adults and young gather into migratory flocks in anticipation of their trip south for the winter. Often joined by other species of blackbirds, huge flocks can build throughout the fall. In November 1989, a single, mixed flock of blackbirds in Ottawa County along Lake Erie was estimated at an astonishing 140,000 birds. When feeding along the ground, such mega-flocks often appear to “roll” across harvested crop fields. It’s an impressive sight, as the birds in the rear of the flock continually fly up and leapfrog over those birds in the lead. So, take heart, winter-weary Buckeyes: If redwings haven’t arrived in your area just yet, they’re well on their way … guaranteed!
W.H. “Chip” Gross is Ohio Cooperative Living’s outdoors editor. Email him with your outdoors questions at whchipgross@gmail. com. Be sure to include “Ask Chip” in the subject of the email. Your question may be answered on www.ohiocoopliving.com!
www.ohiocoopliving.com
MARCH 2024 • OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING
9
CO-OP PEOPLE
G ood shepherds Competitions showcase the herding skills of co-op member’s beloved border collies. BY MARGARET BURANEN
B
eth Murray didn’t quite know what she was getting into when she adopted her first border collie, a rescue, from the Parkersburg (W.Va.) Humane Society. “At the time, I had a horse, and since (the dog) was young and wanted to herd something, she herded the horse,” says Murray, a retired veterinarian and a member of Lancasterbased South Central Power Company. “The first time she was kicked, I thought she would smarten up.” After a couple more incidents, however, Murray decided she’d better divert the dog’s attention, or else. While border collies are even-tempered and eager to please, Murray says that they don’t always make good household pets, because if they don’t have another outlet, they will herd household pets or children (or horses). So Murray soon had a small flock of sheep on her farm near Lynchburg, and after watching their interaction, she decided to get into competitive sheepdog trials, a sport in which handlers direct their dogs to move sheep around a field and into enclosures. The breed’s natural herding instincts are sharpened by training and practice in herding sheep or cattle. Murray says that “some people send their dogs to trainers, but I really enjoy training them myself.” She now has five smooth-coated border collies — and a bevy of awards and recognitions. Three of the dogs — Rena (the youngest,
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OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING • MARCH 2024
Working sheepdogs are nearly always border collies, and border collies are nearly always black and white, though Beth Murray (left page, with Petra) says she has seen some that were red and white, blue merle, or almost entirely white with just a few black markings (photographs courtesy of Beth Murray).
named for Murray’s sister because “they share the same temperament”) and littermates Audrey and Petra — participate in trials with Murray, and all three qualified to participate in the national championships last year. Her two oldest dogs have retired from top-level competition, but since Pi, now 12, can still do the easier novice-level classes, the dog has a special role: giving Murray’s handler student an experienced dog with which to learn the skills. For a beginning competitor, Murray says, “training is hard with a puppy. You know nothing and the dog knows nothing.” She says it takes about four years for a dog and handler team to be good enough to compete in open classes, the most challenging. There are five commands a sheepdog must learn: basically, go left, go right, stop, go to the sheep, and a recall signal meaning “That will do.” While handlers are permitted to use voice commands, they typically use whistles or hand signals to direct the dogs. “If the dog is far away, he can’t hear your voice unless you yell, and yelling sounds to him like anger,” she says. “He thinks he has done something wrong and gets anxious or confused.” So five different whistle sounds convey the commands without causing stress. Murray says that the dogs “learn your style, read your body language, predict what you want them to do.” But she also notes that
some sheep are smart enough that “they can size up dogs. They learn what they can get away with.” In each round of competition, the dog must, within a certain time frame, move a herd of sheep from one pen to another, driving the sheep around a post or two on the way. In the more advanced classes, the dog must also separate one sheep, marked by a ribbon or a spray of paint across its fleece, from the rest of the herd and get it into a different pen. Murray says there are lots of variables that can make a difference during competition; sometimes a competitor’s turn comes in the afternoon when the sheep are hot and tired and therefore less cooperative, or other times you just have bad luck. Usually, though, when a team makes a mistake, “99% of the time it’s the handler’s fault, not the dog’s,” she says. Murray says competing in sheepdog trials requires a lot of learning for both handler and dog. The process involves training, watching successful handlers, and, through persistence, finally being able to compete with top handlers and their dogs. “There’s nothing like that moment when your dog gets it, when they’re really partnering with you,” she says. “Dogs have such a desire to do what you want them to, and on a day when you and your dog work well together, get a good group of sheep, and the stars are aligned just so, you can actually beat that top handler that day. But the big prize is always going home with your wonderful dogs.” MARCH 2024 • OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING
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OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING • MARCH 2024
Meat & potatoes Get right down to the basics and chomp on some of this hearty chow!
GOOD EATS
SHEET PAN STEAK AND FRIES Prep: 15 minutes | Cook: 30 minutes | Servings: 4 1½ pounds medium russet potatoes 2 tablespoons olive oil, plus more for greasing 4 cloves garlic, minced 1½ teaspoons Italian seasoning ¼ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
1 to 1½ teaspoons salt 1 teaspoon fresh black pepper 1 pound 1-inch-thick top sirloin steaks, patted dry ½ teaspoon garlic powder
Preheat oven to 375 F. Slice potatoes in half lengthwise; lay flat side up, then slice in half lengthwise, then in half again, making wedges. In a large bowl, toss potato wedges with olive oil, minced garlic, Italian seasoning, Parmesan cheese, and a sprinkling of salt and pepper. Coat a 12 x 18-inch baking sheet with olive oil and spread seasoned potatoes in a single layer. Bake 20 minutes, tossing halfway through, until golden brown. Switch oven to broil. With a spatula or tongs, move potatoes to one side of the baking sheet and lay steaks on the other. Sprinkle both sides of steaks with salt, pepper, and a small amount of garlic powder. Broil approximately 4 minutes per side for medium-rare. Remove from oven and serve. Per serving: 413 calories, 23 grams fat (8 grams saturated fat), 1,012 milligrams sodium, 88 milligrams cholesterol, 24 grams total carbohydrates, 4 grams fiber, 27 grams protein.
MARCH 2024 • OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING
13
SAMOSA MEAT AND POTATO PIE
ITALIAN SAUSAGE AND POTATO SOUP Prep: 10 minutes | Cook: 25 minutes | Servings: 6 6 cups chicken or 1 tablespoon olive oil 14 ounces bulk Italian sausage vegetable stock 15.5-ounce can of cannellini 1 large onion, diced small beans, drained and rinsed 2 teaspoons dried oregano 1 large bunch kale, torn 2 teaspoons fennel seeds into medium pieces 1 teaspoon garlic powder 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar 1 pound Yukon gold potatoes, cut into 1-inch cubes Heat oil in a large stockpot over medium-high. Brown sausage in oil, breaking it up into small pieces until cooked through. Set aside sausage in a covered bowl. Reduce heat to medium and sauté onions in the same stockpot, stirring regularly for 7 minutes until soft and translucent. Add oregano, fennel, and garlic powder, stirring another minute. Add potatoes and stock. Cover, turn heat to high, and bring to a boil; reduce to a simmer and cook until potatoes are fork-tender — start checking after about 7 minutes. Stir in beans, kale, and reserved sausage, cooking until kale wilts and soup is heated through. Stir in vinegar and serve. Per serving: 336 calories, 12 grams fat (3 grams saturated fat), 761 milligrams sodium, 27 milligrams cholesterol, 34 grams total carbohydrates, 8 grams fiber, 24 grams protein.
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OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING • MARCH 2024
Prep: 1 hour | Bake: 1½ hours | Servings: 8 2 tablespoons olive oil 1 medium yellow onion, diced small 1 teaspoon garam masala 1 teaspoon ground ginger 1 teaspoon coriander 1 teaspoon turmeric
1 teaspoon cumin 1 teaspoon salt ½ teaspoon garlic powder ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper 1 pound lean ground beef 1 cup water
1 pound gold or red potatoes, peeled and cut into 1-inch cubes 1 tablespoon cornstarch 1 tablespoon water 1 cup frozen peas
3 cups all-purpose flour 1 teaspoon salt 1⁄3 cup water 1 cup lard or unsalted butter 1 large egg, beaten
Heat oil in a large skillet over medium. Sauté onion until soft and translucent, about 5 minutes. Stir in spices (garam masala through cayenne) and cook an additional 2 minutes. Add beef and cook, breaking into small pieces until no longer pink, 6 to 8 minutes. Stir in 1 cup water and potatoes; cover and let steam until potatoes are just soft, about 20 minutes, stirring every 5 minutes. Mix cornstarch and a tablespoon of water with a fork until smooth. Stir cornstarch and peas into potato mixture for 3 minutes; remove from heat and keep covered while making the crust. Whisk flour and salt in a large heatproof bowl. Make a well in the center. In a small pot, melt lard or butter into 1⁄3 cup water. Immediately pour into the well of the flour. Quickly stir the wet into the dry with a large spoon or spatula. Once cool enough to handle, knead dough until it comes together in a smooth ball. Keep a third of the dough covered. On a piece of parchment paper, roll out the rest of the dough into a 1⁄8-inch-thick circle. Transfer into an 8-inch springform pan, pressing it into the bottom and against the sides, patching any holes and allowing some to overlap the pan’s edges. Add the filling and smooth out the top. Roll the reserved dough into a 1⁄8-inch-thick circle and press tightly against the top of the filling and into the corners. Fold, pinch, and seal the two overlapping edges into the pan. Move rack to lowest position in oven and preheat to 400 F. Cut a small hole in center of pie crust to allow steam to escape, then brush top with beaten egg. Place pan on baking sheet and bake 1 to 1½ hours, until the top is firm and a deep golden brown. Let cool for an hour before removing from pan, then slice and serve. Per serving: 599 calories, 36 grams fat (13 grams saturated fat), 365 milligrams sodium, 84 milligrams cholesterol, 48 grams total carbohydrates, 4 grams fiber, 19 grams protein.
LOW-PREP SLOW COOKER BREAKFAST CASSEROLE Prep: 10 minutes | Cook: 4 or 8 hours | Servings: 8 30-ounce bag frozen shredded hash browns 1 pound diced ham 8 ounces shredded cheddar cheese
4-ounce can chopped green chiles 12 eggs 1 cup milk 1 teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon pepper
Liberally grease the pot of a 4-quart slow cooker. Break up hash browns while they're still in the bag, then layer half of the hash browns, ham, then cheese into the bottom of the slow cooker. Spread green chiles across the top, then repeat with the second half of the potatoes, ham, and cheddar. In a large bowl, whisk eggs, milk, salt, and pepper. Pour egg mixture over the layers. Cook covered on low for 7 to 8 hours or high for 3 to 4 hours. Toward the end of the cook time, see if water has collected on the top of the casserole (from the frozen hash browns). If so, remove lid to let excess liquid steam off for the remainder of the cook time. Per serving: 378 calories, 19 grams fat (8.5 grams saturated fat), 1,453 milligrams sodium, 303 milligrams cholesterol, 24 grams total carbohydrates, 2 grams fiber, 26 grams protein.
Check it out! See videos of some of our mouth-watering recipes being prepared at
www.ohiocoopliving.com MARCH 2024 • OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING
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d u Foun Have yo Value t the Bes l? in Trave
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2024 Reader Recip e
Email your recipes to memberinteract @ ohioec.org memberinteract@ or send by U.S. Mail to Catherine Murray c/o Ohio Cooperative Living 6677 Busch Blvd. Columbus, OH 43229 Include your name and address, contact info, and the name of your electric cooperative.
Entry deadline: March 15 Winning recipes will be published in our June 2024 issue.
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OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING • MARCH 2024
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KEY CO-OP TOPICS WITH ED
RELIABILITY VS. RESILIENCY
Understanding the foundations of electric grid stability Over the last several months, you’ve heard me speak quite a bit about the reliability of our electric grid and the current challenges facing electric suppliers like your cooperative across the nation. Unfortunately, this conversation will likely continue as the debate about the accelerated retirement of dispatchable energy resources like coal, nuclear, and natural gas continues.
is a cost to having that extra line in place, both in installation and maintenance. So, it’s important that we weigh all factors when considering how to improve the resilience of the power system overall.
However, something that often becomes confused in reliability conversations is the resilience of that same electric grid. While the two concepts are closely connected, as one cannot truly happen without the other, we need to understand the differences to effectively enact measures to protect the grid.
Locally, Lorain-Medina Rural Electric takes the resiliency of our portion of the grid very Ed VanHoose seriously. Every year, money PRESIDENT/CEO is budgeted for system repairs and upgrades to make sure our substations and distribution lines are ready and capable of providing power to you. We conduct pole testing that routinely covers sections of our service territory on a rotating basis, ensuring that the poles holding up our lines are strong. Where possible, we utilize underground wire versus overhead line to cut down on interruptions and outages that can occur from trees, wind, and other weather- or animal-related issues.
So, what’s the difference? Reliability is our ability to provide power to you. It’s meeting the expectation that the lights will turn on in your home with the flip of a switch. Resiliency, on the other hand, is our system’s ability to recover quickly and efficiently from significant disruptions, regardless of the cause. These two concepts are inherently interrelated. After all, you cannot be resilient without first being reliable. On a regional level, organizations like PJM help shape both reliability and resilience. They determine how best to invest in resiliency by balancing the costs with the risk of extended outages. Extending lines to feed electricity from multiple locations can provide great resiliency when a transmission outage occurs. But, there
Our operations department also utilizes a supervisory control and data acquisition system, referred to as a SCADA system, to reroute power from other substations in the case of outages. Our ability to backfeed power from one substation to another helps LMRE minimize the impact outages can have on our members and their communities, especially during transmission outages, when the co-op is often not at fault. As both LMRE and co-ops across the nation continue to fight for the continued reliability of our electric grid, we also remain dedicated to ensuring the resiliency of our grid stays a top priority. We understand the importance of delivering the same service you have expected of us for more than 85 years, and we will continue to do everything within our power to meet these expectations moving into the future.
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MAINTAINING RELIABILITY With a national focus turning to the growing concern for electric reliability, it’s more important now than ever that distribution co-ops like Lorain-Medina Rural Electric focus on doing our part to protect and maintain our portion of the electric grid. One of the largest investments LMRE makes every year is in system maintenance. Our operations and engineering divisions work hard to come up with a plan that enhances the reliability and resiliency of our system. And the best and most cost-effective way to achieve this result is through preventive maintenance. “There are some things you just can’t predict, like weather, accidents, or transmission issues,” says LMRE Operations Manager Jim Brasee. “But the steps we take before these issues happen help ensure we’re in the best possible position to recover quickly and provide the highest level of service for our members.” So, what are some of the best ways to help keep our electric system strong and operating smoothly?
Pole testing A vital part of maintaining the reliability and resilience of LMRE’s electric system is pole testing. Each year, the cooperative invests thousands of dollars into this process to determine the condition of poles in our service territory. Have you ever noticed a red ribbon wrapped around one of our electric poles? If a pole is considered unsafe — rotten, broken, or in any other condition that may cause issues for the cooperative — it is reported and designated
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for replacement and marked with a red ribbon to make it easy for co-op personnel to spot. Once a pole is marked, it is put into the schedule for LMRE crews to replace, and a member of the operations department will evaluate how soon the pole needs attention. Depending on the severity of the issues found, some poles may be replaced within months, while others could wait up to a year. Throughout the year, LMRE has thousands of poles tested. This proactive approach to replacing “danger” poles is taken by the cooperative both for safety and economic reasons. It’s easier and more cost-effective to replace a pole prior to it falling over or breaking in an emergency.
Tree trimming With a little more than 35,000 poles supporting LMRE’s 1,573 miles of line, a strong rightof-way program is critical to maintaining the service reliability for all of our co-op members. Trees must be trimmed and other vegetation removed regularly to reduce the likelihood of branches interfering with lines and causing outages and other damage to co-op equipment. A strong tree-trimming effort helps protect not just the LMRE system, but also our members from potential safety hazards, as well. Vegetation that interferes with electric equipment can cause major visibility problems, making it much easier to unintentionally touch live lines or other conductors. Both pole testing and tree trimming are done throughout the territory on a rotational basis, with each being assigned specific areas of focus each year.
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Technology Staying up to date with technology and new resources plays a large part in building and maintaining a resilient electric system. One of the greatest assets utilized by LMRE is our supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) system. Through fiber-optic line, the cooperative is able to use the SCADA system to remotely monitor all 15 substations owned by LMRE from one central location. This gives our operations department the ability to isolate outages and reroute power where necessary, reducing both outage times and the number of members affected. This system particularly comes in handy during transmission outages, which can affect many members at once through no fault of the cooperative. Additionally, in 2018 LMRE began using digital maps that focus on any information associated with the cooperative’s system, marking the location of every substation, pole, wire, meter, and switch that the cooperative utilizes. Additional details, such as proper phasing, flow direction, and telephone and cable attachments to the poles, are also marked on these maps. Before implementing the digital maps, crews would carry large, heavy map books printed annually, which could easily become outdated. Now, crews access all of the same information via tablets kept in the line trucks or their phones, providing a more convenient way to confirm details on a job site. The maps are also searchable for content, which can be found by looking up member name, address, transformer number, or account number. “Mapping system updates are sent to the crew tablets every week to make sure the system stays as accurate as possible while in the field,” says GIS Mapping Technician A.J. Kolbeck. “These updates can include daily work orders, any membership changes that may occur, and new transformer or pole numbers that make their way onto our system.” LMRE remains dedicated to protecting our system, both locally and nationally. It’s all part of the cooperative difference that serves you.
2023 LMRE Annual Outage Report An increase in both major events and transmission-related issues brought about a slight rise in outages experienced by co-op members in 2023 compared to 2022 numbers, according to the annual outage summary. Each year, LMRE’s board of directors reviews the summary, alongside maintenance efforts and technology enhancements, all of which play a significant role in providing reliable service to our members. LMRE experienced 466 outages in 2023, slightly above the 10year average; however, the average amount of time members were without power decreased by nearly an hour overall. This year, nearly a quarter of the outages were caused by major events (severe storms, transmission outages, etc.), followed very closely by equipment. The percentage of outages caused by trees also saw another significant drop from 2022 to 2023, a further indicator that our right-of-way and vegetation management program continues to be successful across our service territory. Within the major event category, which is any outage that requires multiple crews to be called out at once, things get broken down further into “major outages.” A major outage is classified as any outage lasting more than 1,000 consumer hours. In 2023, the number of major outages decreased from 20 to 15 compared to the previous year. Eight of those instances were caused by FirstEnergy transmission outages to LMRE substations. In these situations, the cooperative and our members are at the mercy of FirstEnergy to correct the problem, though the co-op can utilize options like the SCADA system to lessen the impact on our membership. LMRE and its line crews remain dedicated to maintaining and upgrading equipment and processes to continually improve service reliability for our members.
2023 OUTAGE CAUSES POWER SUPPLIER TREES & OTHER
19%
VEHICLE ACCIDENTS
7%
MAJOR EVENTS
24%
WEATHER
4%
5%
EQUIPMENT
23%
BIRDS & ANIMALS
18%
MARCH 2024 • OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING
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People Fund board members begin new terms at January meeting The Lorain-Medina Rural Electric People Fund welcomed two new board members, representing districts 1 and 4, at the January meeting, following the term completions of former board members Pam Mencl and Jackie Johnson. Currently residing in Lorain County, Laura Brady serves as the Rochester Township fiscal officer and is an owner of Brady Vineyards. She will represent members and organizations in District 1. When asked about joining the People Fund board, she noted that having friends and neighbors affiliated with the People Fund in the past has allowed her to see the good that the program has done for the local communities. Being a part of the process is something Brady is excited to do. District 4 sees Thomas Seman Jr. taking over as its new representative. A retired machinist and former member of the Penfield Rec Board and Penfield Hot Stove, he currently resides in Lorain County and in his free time, he enjoys watching his grandsons play sports. For Seman, joining the People Fund felt like a great opportunity to give back and help the organizations and people that reside in the local communities.
Other People Fund News The People Fund board also held officer elections at the January meeting. Lonnie Montgomery (District 9) will serve as chairman of the board for 2024, with Rachel Woodrum (District 2) serving as vice chair. Pat Hamker and Patrick Pesata will continue to serve as secretary and treasurer, respectively. The People Fund meets quarterly in January, April, July, and October. The deadline for applications is the 31st of each previous quarter (March, June, September, and December). Grant applications are available by calling the cooperative at 440-647-2133, or emailing lmre@fesco-oh.org. Individual and organizational grants are limited to LMRE members and families or organizations that serve the LMRE territory.
Starting her second and final term on the People Fund board is District 7 representative Christina Jordan, a resident of Sullivan. Jordan joined the People Fund board in 2021.
Lonnie Montgomery, Chairman Laura Brady District 9
District 1
District 2
District 3
District 5
District 4
District 6
District 7
People Fund Administrator
District 8
Rachel Woodrum, Vice Chair Pat Hamker, Secretary Patrick Pesata, Treasurer Holly Storrow
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Patty Feakins Tom Seman Christina Jordan Tim White
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Nomination petitions available now PETITIONS DUE TO THE COOPERATIVE BY MARCH 11 Districts 2, 5, and 8 on LMRE’s board are up for election in 2024. District 2 is an open seat and does not have an incumbent running. Nominating petitions are currently available at the cooperative’s office in Wellington. Any member who wishes to run for a board position must submit 25 signatures from within their district and an election application by 4:30 p.m., Monday, March 11. The candidate must be a member in good standing with the electric cooperative, be at least 18 years old, and have received electric service from LMRE for at least one year before being elected to the board. Directors are elected to serve three-year terms, and should expect to commit no less than 26 days per calendar year to normal cooperative business operations, including attendance at regular monthly board meetings, educational seminars, special events, and meetings where overnight travel may be involved. Elected board members will be announced at the cooperative’s annual meeting in July. For more information on how to run for the board and the election process, contact the LMRE office at 440-647-2133 or visit www.lmre.org.
LMRE statement of nondiscrimination Lorain-Medina Rural Electric Cooperative is an equal opportunity provider and employer.
In accordance with federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its agencies, offices, employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity (including gender expression), sexual orientation, disability, age, marital status, family/parental status, income derived from a public assistance program, political beliefs, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity, in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA (not all bases apply to all programs). Remedies and complaint filing deadlines vary by program or incident. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.)
should contact the responsible Agency or USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 8778339. Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English. To file a program discrimination complaint, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, AD-3027, found online at http://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint_filing_cust.html and any USDA office or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint form, call (866) 632-9992. Submit your complaint form or letter to USDA by: Mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights 1400 Independence Avenue, SW Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; Fax: (202) 690-7442; or Email: program.intake@usda.gov.
MARCH 2024 • OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING
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Smart Program Empowering tomorrow’s leaders through early energy education
In the dynamic landscape of energy education, the E3 Smart Program, run by the Ohio Energy Project (OEP), stands as a beacon of inspiration, leading the charge to empower students and teachers across Ohio. The E3 Smart Program’s mission is clear: to inspire leadership and energy innovation. OEP’s vision is to be the premier energy education organization ensuring a sustainable tomorrow. In the academic year 2021-22, the E3 Smart Program made significant strides, engaging more than 800 teachers, impacting 50,000 students, and reaching 45,000 community members. OEP’s suite of six programs, designed with STEM principles, sparks curiosity about energy and empowers learners in science. From STEM Design Challenges focused on the engineering design process and renewable energy to the E3: Energy • Efficiency • Environment pilot program, OEP played a crucial role in inspiring environmental conservation among the youngest scientists. The E3 Smart Program takes center stage, breaking barriers and fostering energy literacy. Since the program is provided to teachers at no charge, thanks to cooperatives like Lorain-Medina Rural Electric, it is more accessible to rural schools. By removing budget barriers, teachers can bring critical energy science content to their classrooms and communities. LMRE is a dedicated supporter of the E3 Smart Program, as two of our seven cooperative principles play directly into the E3 Smart Program — Education, Training, and Information, and Concern for Community. We are happy to support our rural schools. LMRE sponsors two teachers within our territory, and we play a pivotal role in bringing the E3 Smart Program to life for rural students. “Investing in energy education like the E3 Smart Program is a valuable asset for LMRE,” says Chief Strategy Officer Justis Clifford. “These students will one day be national leaders making energy policy decisions, and helping to introduce energy innovation to them at a young age is a win for the cooperative.”
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The success stories from previous years serve as a testament to the transformative impact of the E3 Smart Program. By empowering students and teachers with knowledge about energy efficiency, environmental sustainability, and conservation, the E3 Smart Program is laying the foundation for a brighter and more sustainable future. As we reflect on the achievements of the E3 Smart Program, it becomes evident that these efforts are not merely about today’s education but about building a legacy of informed, empowered, and environmentally conscious leaders for tomorrow. Through the E3 Smart Program and its supporters, including LMRE, we are collectively brightening our shared future — one classroom at a time.
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p p i i T T y y g g r r e e n n EESEE THE DIFFERENCE WHEN YOU SEAL IN SAVINGS AND COMFORT AT HOME Receiving a high electric bill is always a bit of a shock, especially if you’re being vigilant about how and when you turn on the lights. But did you know switching on that LED is often the least of your worries? Chances are you’re losing precious heating and cooling, as well as dollars, through air leaks. Air leaks occur when outside air enters and conditioned air leaves your home through cracks and openings, and can be a major contributor to energy waste and increasing the cost of your electricity bill, especially in an electrically heated home. “Something so small doesn’t seem like a big deal until you get that high bill,” says Energy Advisor Andrew Finton. “But your furnace and air conditioner are working harder than necessary to make up for that lost air, and it all adds up in the end.” Doors, windows, and any other locations where two materials meet are potential problem areas in your home. Think about holes around where plumbing, wiring, or ductwork penetrate exterior walls, or gaps around ceiling fans, recessed lights, and electrical outlets. The EPA estimates that homeowners can save an average of 15% on heating and cooling costs (or an average of 11% on total energy costs) by air sealing their homes and adding appropriate insulation where necessary. Outside of helping save money on your monthly bill, there are added comfort benefits to properly air sealing and insulating your home, such as noise reduction, fewer irritants like pollen and dust entering your home, and better humidity control throughout the year.
TIPS FOR SEALING AIR LEAKS •
Caulk and weatherstrip doors and windows that leak air.
•
Caulk and seal air leaks where plumbing, ductwork, or electrical wiring comes through walls, floors, ceilings, and soffits over cabinets.
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Install foam gaskets behind outlet and switch plates on walls.
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Inspect dirty spots on any visible insulation for air leaks and mold. Seal leaks with low-expansion spray foam made for this purpose and install house flashing if needed.
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Look for dirty spots on your ceiling paint and carpet, which may indicate air leaks at interior wall/ ceiling joints and wall/floor joists, and caulk them.
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Use foam sealant on larger gaps around windows, baseboards, and other places where air may leak out.
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Replace exterior door bottoms and thresholds with ones that have pliable sealing gaskets.
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Keep the fireplace flue damper tightly closed when not in use.
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Seal air leaks around fireplace chimneys, furnaces, and gas-fired water heater vents with fire-resistant materials such as sheet metal or Sheetrock and furnace cement caulk.
As your electricity provider, LMRE offers rebates for insulation and air sealing. Visit www.lmre.org/rebatesprograms for full details and program requirements.
Have more energy efficiency questions? Give Andrew a call at 440-647-2133 for additional assistance. MARCH 2024 • OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING
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January board meeting highlights
To provide additional transparency to the membership, highlights of the board meetings each month are published in the monthly Ohio Cooperative Living (OCL) magazine. Due to the expansive number of topics and discussions, these are only the highlights. In accordance with the Code of Regulations, full meeting minutes are available to all members in-person at the co-op during regular business hours.
Call to order • Meeting was called to order at 6:03 p.m.
Attendance • All directors were present, as well as legal counsel, president/CEO, and senior staff (or representative).
Approval of the consent agenda • Consent agenda consisting of prior meeting minutes, new membership applications, collections report, delinquent graphs, deceased estates, and outage reports was approved.
Action items Safety reports, Service Policy Disconnection for Nonpayment, personnel policies for alcohol and controlled substances, income protection insurance, sick leave, and medical and accidental insurance were discussed and approved as presented.
• A motion was made and seconded to rescind moving the Economic Development funds to LMRD, retain funds in 2023 margins, and perform the allocation in 2024. • CSO Clifford provided a report on the most recent Member Advisory Committee meeting, including feedback from participants, and reviewed the People Fund grant recommendations with the board of directors. • CAO Ruffing gave the Administration Update report and reviewed the LMRE personnel policy regarding professional development. The policy was approved as amended.
Legal • NRECA Legal Reporting Service Bulletin reviewed by the board.
Association/committee reports • Reviewed CFC Solutions news bulletin and CFC District 4 board report. • Reviewed Buckeye Power President’s report. • Reviewed OREC report.
Departmental reports • Monthly Financial, Operations, Key Accounts/ Economic Development, Communications, IT, Weekly report, and Billing department reports were reviewed.
LORAIN-MEDINA RURAL ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE, INC.
• President/CEO VanHoose reported on Form 7 Operating Statement, Balance Sheet, Cash Flow, Operating Graph, and Financial Analysis.
Adjournment • The meeting adjourned at 7:56 p.m.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Rodney L. Eaton Chair, District 4
Ken J. Diedrick Director, District 3
800-222-5673 | 440-647-2133 www.lmre.org
Gary L. Rowland Vice Chair, District 1
Judy A. Pickworth Director, District 5
OFFICE
Brenda J. Wolfe Secretary, District 7
Joe Swinko Director, District 6
22898 West Road Wellington, Ohio 44090
Keith E. Lowe Treasurer, District 8
Rick Dumperth Director, District 9
OFFICE HOURS
James R. McConnell Director, District 2
CONTACT
8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m. 20
OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING • MARCH 2024
PRESIDENT/CEO
Edward VanHoose LOCAL PAGES EDITORS
Justis A. Clifford, Chief Strategy Officer Holly M. Storrow, Communications Manager Addie M. Martin, Communications Specialist I HAVE A STORY SUGGESTION?
Email your ideas to: LMRE@fesco-oh.org
On April 8, the moon’s orbit will place it directly between Earth and the sun, casting nightlike darkness on a path starting in the South Pacific at about 11:42 a.m. Eastern time and ending about five hours later somewhere over the North Atlantic. The 100-mile-wide path of totality (where the event will be seen as a total eclipse) goes directly across Ohio — darkening Dayton, blacking out Bowling Green, enshadowing Chardon. In the center of that path, the total eclipse will last for nearly four minutes. The first bits of the partial eclipse will be seen — weather permitting, it should be stressed — in the town of Harrison, in Hamilton County, seconds before 1:52 p.m., and be last visible in Conneaut at the extreme northeastern tip just past 4:31 p.m. Following are a few ideas for some spectacular viewing around the state. Don’t miss out; the next total eclipse visible in Ohio won’t happen until 2099. MARCH 2024 • OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING
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From moonwalk to sun dance The hometown of the first man on the moon prepares for an astronomical weekend.
BY MICHAEL PRAMIK
O
n July 20, 1969, every eye in Wapakoneta (and, of course, around the world) was fixed on the sky. The tiny city’s native son, Neil Armstrong, was up there, making his “one small step for a man, one giant leap for mankind.”
Next month, on April 8, 2024, to be exact, all eyes again will be gazing moonward — albeit this time with safety shades in place — for another astronomical event of historic significance, and Wapakoneta, like cities and towns across Ohio and all over North America, is over the moon with excitement. For the first time since Ohio’s infancy, the Buckeye State is in the path of a total eclipse of the sun, and Wapakoneta is almost directly in the center of that path. Viewers there will see the beginning of the eclipse shortly before 2 p.m., experience totality for nearly four minutes a little after 3 p.m. (with the maximum at 3:11 p.m.), and then watch it as partial again until about 4:25 p.m. Those two and a half hours will be the climax of a weekend full of celebration as Wapak, along with cities,
“Who’s going to come and watch the sun for four minutes? Probably a million people will.” towns, parks, businesses, and private citizens across the state, is preparing for an onslaught of visitors. “The last one in this area was in 1806,” says Logan Rex, curator of the Armstrong Air and Space Museum in Wapakoneta. “Who’s going to come and watch the sun for four minutes? Probably a million people will.” April 8 is a Monday, and while Ohio is just one of the 13 U.S. states where people can see it in totality, Wapakoneta — being the hometown of the moon’s most famous visitor — takes special pride in planning a busy weekend full of events to mark the occasion. “Wapakoneta is not only a prime location to witness this cosmic phenomenon but also an ideal destination to celebrate the celestial spectacle,” says Jackie Martel, executive director of the Wapakoneta Area Chamber of Commerce. Armstrong museum officials began preparing for the event nearly eight years ago, when officials traveled to Missouri to witness the August 2017 solar eclipse there and see how towns and other entities reacted. “The No. 1 consistent thing we learned was: Do not run out of solar eclipse glasses,” Rex says. “There were a couple of places that did, and it was borderline mutiny.” Rex expects up to 35,000 people to descend upon Wapakoneta over the eclipse weekend, and the Armstrong museum is a natural landing spot for visitors. Plans there include multiple tours, educational events, and outdoor concession vendors, as well as an extensive selection of eclipse-related merchandise — including an ample supply of eclipse-viewing safety glasses — in the museum gift shop.
Chas Fagan’s bronze statue of 15-year-old Neil Armstrong — ready for the eclipse (photo courtesy of the Armstrong Air and Space Museum).
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“It’s a great blessing,” Rex says, “that this great, astronomical event is going over our museum dedicated to the moon.”
If you go to Wapakoneta While the Neil Armstrong museum may be the epicenter of Wapakoneta’s eclipse celebration, it’s not just the museum that’s abuzz with the event. Businesses around the city and Auglaize County and others are planning a cluster of special events, including: • A four-day Eclipse Festival at the Auglaize County Fairgrounds with live music, food trucks, a vendor market, and special family activities. • Live music parties at local businesses and event centers. • Guided bus tours of “Wapakoneta as Neil Armstrong Knew It.” • A celestial psychic fair. • A space-themed film festival at the historic Wapa Theatre. • A special “eclipse sermon” at St. Paul United Church of Christ, Armstrong’s church, on the Sunday before the eclipse. • Riverside Art Center in downtown Wapakoneta is selling a collection of T-shirts and other eclipse memorabilia. • The Neil Armstrong Airport in New Knoxville plans to roll out the red carpet to flyers and their passengers to hang out and watch the eclipse. Manager Tom Bergstrom says there will be onpavement parking spaces for about 70 aircraft, with a food truck, DJ, and other activities, although the airport will be closed to vehicular traffic. More events can be found at www.wapaksolareclipse. com, an eclipse information website maintained by the chamber, which lists event schedules, accommodations, and even a local restaurant “Moon Menu Trail,” offering eclipse-themed specials.
How to safely watch a solar eclipse • Carefully look at your solar filter or eclipse glasses before using them. If you see any scratches or damage, do not use them. • Always read and follow all directions that come with the solar filter or eclipse glasses. Help children to be sure they use handheld solar viewers and eclipse glasses correctly. • Before looking up at the bright sun, stand still and cover your eyes with your eclipse glasses or solar viewer. After glancing at the sun, turn away and remove your filter — do not remove it while looking at the sun. • The only time that you can look at the sun without a solar viewer is during a total eclipse. When the moon completely covers the sun’s bright face and it suddenly gets dark, you can remove your solar filter to watch this unique experience. Then, as soon as the bright sun begins to reappear very slightly, immediately use your solar viewer again to watch the remaining partial phase of the eclipse. • Never look at the uneclipsed or partially eclipsed sun through an unfiltered camera, telescope, binoculars, or other similar devices. This is important even if you are wearing eclipse glasses or holding a solar viewer at the same time. The intense solar rays coming through these devices will damage the solar filter and your eyes. • Talk with an expert astronomer if you want to use a special solar filter with a camera, a telescope, binoculars, or any other optical device.
MARCH 2024 • OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING
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ALONG THE PATH OF TOTALITY: A SELECTION OF OUT-OF-THIS-WORLD EVENTS
Cosmic crescendo A s anticipation for the upcoming solar eclipse builds, the Toledo Symphony Orchestra and the publishing and distribution company ADJ•ective New Music will unveil a celestial symphony that pushes the boundaries of classical music. The collaboration aims to redefine Gustav Holst’s iconic suite The Planets. The symphony will perform the works March 22 and 23 at the Toledo Museum of Art.
Departing from Holst’s mythological inspiration, however, the new work delves into the scientific facets of the planets. “Holst was thinking about the Roman gods, but we are delving into the science behind the planets,” says ADJ•ective co-owner Jamie Leigh Sampson. “We wanted to create something that went beyond the traditional boundaries of classical music.” The concert, which also includes Holst’s original works, will be a multimedia experience. Recent images of space, carefully choreographed to the music, will be projected by art and science group KV 265. Two years ago, Merwin Siu, artistic administrator for the Toledo Alliance for the Performing Arts, brought up the idea of working with ADJ•ective for this performance. The Planets brings together nine composers from the collective, each contributing a movement inspired by a specific planet. The composers engaged in detailed discussions with the University of Toledo’s Department of Astronomy to infuse authenticity into their compositions by understanding the scientific nuances of each planet. “Planets actually vibrate at frequencies, though too low to be heard by the human ear,” Sampson says. “We discussed orbital frequencies, the speed of planetary travel, and even the potential to hear these vibrations.” For example, Sampson is taking on Jupiter, the final movement. Her brass-heavy five-minute piece partially focuses on the mathematical relationships between two of the planet’s moons, which Sampson replicates with harmonies moving at different rates that come together at the end. —JILL MOORHEAD
For more details and ticket information, see www.artstoledo.com/ events/2024/03/22/toledo-symphony/the-planets.
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OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING • MARCH 2024
Total Eclipse Fest 2024,
April 6–8. Cleveland’s Great Lakes Science Center and NASA Glenn Research host a three-day celebration at North Coast Harbor in downtown Cleveland. The outdoor, family-friendly event will feature hands-on science activities, food vendors, entertainment, and free eclipse viewing glasses (while supplies last). The Cleveland Orchestra will perform a family concert at 1:30 p.m. on Sunday, with an out-of-this-world program of galactic proportions featuring Richard Strauss’s Also sprach Zarathustra (well-known to fans of 2001: A Space Odyssey), music from Star Wars, and more, paired with stunning images from the Hubble Telescope, the International Space Station, and NASA’s photo archives. NASA experts will be on-site throughout the fest to engage with the public and share ways NASA studies the sun and uses that information to understand its impact on Earth and our solar system, and NASA-TV will be broadcasting live from the event.
See www.greatscience.com for more details.
Cleveland Monsters vs. Rochester Americans,
March 30. The Cleveland Monsters of the American Hockey League look to eclipse the Rochester Americans in a 3:15 p.m. faceoff at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse. All fans in attendance will receive a Total Solar Eclipse Survival Pack, which includes a pair of Monsters eclipse glasses and a commemorative T-shirt. www.clevelandmonsters.com.
Ohio State Parks viewing/camping, April 6–8. At least 17 of Ohio’s state parks are located within or very close to the path of totality, and most feature expansive vistas that will provide amazing views of the eclipse. Anticipating large crowds, most parks have organized plenty of eclipserelated programming. As of mid-February, limited electric and non-electric campsites were still available within the totality zone. Reservations (www.reserveohio.com) are required for camping, and no reservations will be taken that include April 8 arrivals or departures. Visit www.ohiodnr.gov/go-and-do/see-the-sights/solareclipse-2024/solar-eclipse-2024 for details.
Elope at the Eclipse, April 8. The signature event of
Seneca County’s Solar Eclipse of the Heart event occurs at the Kalnow Amphitheater, 155 E. Market St. in Tiffin, at the climax of the eclipse, when couples can exchange or renew their vows at the peak of totality. Event organizers offer a free, all-inclusive experience including a dedicated officiant, complimentary first toast, live music, photographer, and a specially crafted wedding cake. The only caveat is that couples must have a valid marriage license in order to get married
at the event — licenses will not be available that day, so some advance research and planning is crucial. Other Seneca County events include a bingo game that takes visitors to various Seneca County locations throughout the weekend for a chance to win gift cards and the Out of the Dark Glow 5K at dusk on Saturday. Visit www.destinationsenecacounty.org/2024-solareclipse-in-seneca-county for details.
Total Solar Eclipse at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force, April 8. Bring a chair or a blanket and
enjoy the wide-open views of the sky from the museum grounds, 1100 Spaatz St., Dayton. Dayton will experience 2 minutes and 43 seconds of totality, beginning at 3:09 p.m. Museum is open 9 a.m.– 5 p.m. 937-255-3286.
Solar Eclipse Fly-in, April 8. The Union County Airport,
760 Clymer Road in Marysville, will host a Fly-In from 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Pilots are encouraged to fly in early and enjoy a BBQ lunch featuring Triple P Barbeque Co. before the eclipse. Once the airport parking ramp is full, the airport will be closed until after the eclipse. Admission is free. www.unioncountyohio.gov/Airport-Authority.
The Solar Eclipse at the Top of Ohio, April 8.
Experience the total eclipse from the highest point in the state. Campbell Hill, within the city of Bellefontaine, is home to the Ohio Hi-Point Career Center, on the path of totality. Students and staff will host a viewing event, with family activities and games throughout the day (viewing glasses will not be provided, so guests should bring their own). Tickets are available at www.eventbrite.com/e/thesolar-eclipse-at-the-top-ofohio-tickets-522551685157. Bellefontaine and Logan County also have numerous other events planned for the weekend. Visit www.locoeclipse.com for more details.
MARCH 2024 • OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING
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MARCH 2024 • OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING
27
BY MARGARET BURANEN
W
Go fly a kite!
hen spring’s first warm breezes blow over Ohio’s landscapes, there are plenty of folks — children and adults alike — who think, “It’s a great day to fly a kite!” And it’s not always just a daydream — groups across the state gather to send their kites skyward at the first opportunity. Among them are members of P.I.G.S. Aloft in West Chester. Weather permitting, group members fly their kites every other Sunday afternoon on the lawn of the Voice of America Museum of Broadcasting. The group’s name is a clever allusion to Cincinnati’s history as well as the group’s reason for existence. “Cincinnati used to be the pork-processing capital of the U.S.,” says longtime member John Graves of Fairfield, a
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OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING • MARCH 2024
retired registered nurse, who also explains that “P.I.G.S. Aloft” stands for “People Interested in Getting Stuff Aloft.” “We don’t collect dues or elect officers,” Graves says. “We just get together to fly our kites and have fun. Anyone is welcome to join us.” Graves began flying kites more than 20 years ago. He was then working a stressful job in psychiatric nursing. A kite festival was being held nearby, so his wife, Bridget, suggested that they go see it, as a diversion for him. “I saw so many people walking around, looking up, with smiles on their faces,” Graves recalls. “I bought myself an $11 sled kite and started flying it with help from some people there. It’s been downhill ever since.” Sled kites, he explains, are the simple, roughly rectangleshaped kites held together with crossed spars running
Kites come in all shapes and sizes — as evidenced by John Graves’ 16-foot pig kite.
March weather often inspires folks to get outdoors for some high-flying fun. top to bottom. “It’s the kind we make to fly with kids,” he says. “You can buy kites for kids that are pirate ships or airplanes, but they’re really hard to put together. These are easy.” From that first small sled kite, Graves’ collection of kites has grown in both number and size. With a laugh, he admits that he doesn’t know the exact number in his collection, but it’s “lots!” “I’ve got a pig, teddy bears, cats, kittens, fish — I have another pig kite that is 16 and a half feet in diameter,” he says. “My largest kite is 100 square feet, and the others are about 20 square feet. They are a challenge to fly; one person can get them aloft, but you can’t fly them by hand. You have to stake them to the ground (with highstrength line).”
Jim Gibson of Cuyahoga Falls serves as vice president of the Cleveland-based Ohio Society for the Elevation of Kites (pun intended). Gibson’s then 3-year-old son got him started in kite flying nearly 40 years ago. While visiting his grandparents on their farm near Galion, the young boy saw a kite in a store and asked his dad to buy it. That enjoyable experience led to more kites and more kite flying. The family even got into the habit of taking kites along on their camping trips. Gibson, a retired restaurant manager and owner, has become particularly interested in the challenge of train kites — individual kites tied together, like a train of railroad cars. Continued on page 30
MARCH 2024 • OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING
29
Kite safety Fly kites in open areas away from traffic, trees, and power lines. Never try to retrieve a kite caught in a power line. Never fly kites during a storm.
Continued from page 29
He once spent three weeks making 100 individual kites and connecting them to each other, and after Thanksgiving dinner that year at his in-laws’ farm, he tied the string of kites to his van and drove the van into a field to get the kites aloft. “Every nearby farmer drove over to see what was going on,” he recalls. He especially likes to make and fly single-line fighter kites. In fighter kite competition, the kite flier tries to score points by making their kite touch their competitor’s kite. A fighter kite’s direction and angle are controlled by pulling on strings. A kite can be flown from a single line, two lines, or four lines, depending on the kite’s shape and size and/or the flier’s preference. Beginners are advised to stick to single lines, because keeping multiple lines from tangling together can be challenging. Over the years, Gibson has bought or been given numerous types of kites. Like Graves, he hasn’t counted the total number of kites he owns, but “it’s quite a few.” He prefers medium-sized kites over the larger ones, though he does have a trilobite-shaped kite that measures 55 feet and an octopus kite with a 75-foot tail. The Gibsons generally fly their kites at Edgewater Park, just beyond downtown Cleveland, with other members of the Ohio
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OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING • MARCH 2024
Society for the Elevation of Kites. Weather permitting, OSEK fliers are there the second Sunday afternoon of each month. Anyone interested in kites is welcome to stop by. They also still like to incorporate kite flying into their camping trips, such as at an informal annual kite fliers weekend each July at Maumee Bay State Park in Oregon. OSEK also hosts a kite festival each August. “I’ll put a train kite in the air or go fly my fighter kites and practice moves with them,” he says. “My wife stays with it and enjoys just talking to people who are nearby.”
The Cleveland International Kite Festival will take place from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Aug. 11 at Edgewater Park in Cleveland. See www.osekcleveland.org for details.
MARCH 2024 • OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING
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2024 CALENDAR
MARCH/APRIL
COMPILED BY COLLEEN ROMICK CLARK
MAR. 23 – Lauer Farms 1944 Militaria Show, City Club, 144 S. Main St., 3rd floor, Lima, 9 a.m.–5 p.m. $5. Buy, sell, or trade militaria items from all eras. Advertise or recruit for your living history or reenactment event. www.visitgreaterlima.com/calendar. MAR. 23 – Maple Syrup Festival, Williams Co. Fgds., Montpelier, 8 a.m.–noon. Contact the Williams SWCD at 419-636-9395 for more information or email amichaels@ williamsswcd.org. MAR. 23 – Market Day and Fiber Festival, Wood Co. Fgds., Junior Fair Bldg., 13800 W. Poe Rd., Bowling Green, 9 a.m.–4 p.m. $1. Demonstrations, roving, fleeces, exotic fibers, handcrafted items, homespun yarns, dyes, books, spinning and weaving equipment and supplies. Lunch MAR. 6, APR. 3 – Down on the Farm Story Time, available. https://blackswampspinnersguild.godaddysites. Proving Ground Farm, 5670 E. Twp. Rd. 138, Tiffin, 10 com or find us on Facebook. a.m. Stories and activities are geared for preschool-age MAR. 24 – Findlay Spring Model Train Show, Northwest children and focus on farming and nature in a picturesque Ohio Railroad Preservation Inc., 12505 Co. Rd. 99, Findlay, outdoor setting. Families welcome! 419-447-7073, 10 a.m.–3 p.m. $5; free for 12 and under if accompanied www.conservesenecacounty.com, or follow Seneca by adult. Vendors will be displaying and selling model Conservation District on Facebook. trains, toy trains, and railroad memorabilia. Quarter-scale MAR. 15–16 – West Liberty Hello Spring Shop Hop, train rides available (adults $3, kids $2). 419-423-2995, downtown West Liberty. Discover great spring specials at www.nworrp.org, or www.facebook.com/nworrp. our downtown shops! Explore a wide selection of unique MAR. 30 – NWORRP Easter Egg Hunt, Northwest Ohio items and enjoy exclusive sales and discounts. www. Railroad Preservation Inc., 12505 Co. Rd. 99, Findlay, 10 mywestliberty.com. a.m.–2 p.m. $3; 12 and under, $2 (includes a train ride). MAR. 16 – Lima Irish Parade, downtown Lima, noon–1 Continuous scavenger egg hunt for all ages, with a chance p.m. Free. www.facebook.com/LimaIrishParade. to win a “Golden Ticket” good for the 2024 season. Fun and treats for all! Quarter-scale train rides continue until 4 MAR. 16 – “Spring for the STARS” Vendor and Craft p.m. 419-423-2995, www.nworrp.org, or www.facebook. Fair, Elida Elementary School Gymnasium, 300 Pioneer Rd., Elida, 9 a.m.–3 p.m. $2; children admitted free. Over com/nworrp. 40 vendors with handcrafted items and great gift ideas. APR. 5–7 – Disney Descendants: The Musical, Encore Concessions available. For information, email Nicole Oen Theater, 991 N. Shore Dr., Lima, Fri./Sat. 7:30 p.m., Sun. at noen@elida.k12.oh.us. 2 p.m. $10; 10 and under, $5. Brand-new musical jamMAR. 22 – Here Come the Mummies, The Ritz Theatre, packed with comedy, adventure, Disney characters, and hit songs from the films. Presented by McDonald’s Youth 30 S. Washington St., Tiffin, 7:30 p.m. $25–$40. For Theatre. www.amiltellers.org. mature audiences only. 419-448-8544, info@ritztheatre. org, or www.ritztheatre.org. APR. 5–7 – First Fridays Spring Shop Hop, downtown Bellefontaine. Say goodbye to winter and hello to fresh MAR. 23 – BluesFest 2024, Veterans Memorial Civic and Convention Center, #7 Town Square, Lima, 7–11 p.m., new merchandise throughout downtown! Exclusive doors open at 6 p.m. $15 advance, $20 at door. Hosted by discounts available at each store when you use your Shop the Greater Allen County Blues Society. Headliner is Sonny Hop passport. www.firstfridaysbellefontaine.com. Moorman. www.facebook.com/events/678681214092662. APR. 5–8 – Solar Eclipse of the Heart in Seneca County, various locations countywide, Fri. 8 a.m.–Mon. 7
NORTHWEST
WEST VIRGINIA
MAR. 22–24 – Wheeling Polka Festival, Oglebay Park, Wilson Lodge, 465 Lodge Dr., Wheeling. $19–$24; 3-day package $52. Enjoy the area’s most acclaimed polka performers, dancing, and delicious Polish food! 740-310-7023 or www.oglebay.com/polka.
p.m. Explore everything there is to love in Seneca County while witnessing a once-in-a-lifetime event, the 2024 total solar eclipse. Special offerings and events throughout the county. www.senecaregionalchamber.com. APR. 6 – Lima Symphony: Fauré and Dvořák with Tower Duo, Veterans Memorial Civic and Convention Center, #7 Town Square, Lima, 7:30 p.m. $10–$35. 419222-5701 or www.limasymphony.com. APR. 6–8 – Moon Glow Over Main Street, downtown Bellefontaine. Experience the absolute wonder of a total solar eclipse in the highest point of Ohio! Bellefontaine is in the path of totality, meaning a complete eclipse. Beat the rush and arrive early! For event details, visit www. firstfridaysbellefontaine.com. APR. 8 – Solar Perspectives, Piatt Castle Mac-A-Cheek, 10051 Township Rd. 47, West Liberty. Free. Experience the total solar eclipse at this location south of the centerline of the path through Ohio. Attend a watch party on an open lawn or view the eclipse from a select spot for photographers. A Cincinnati Observatory Center representative will be on hand to answer questions. www. piattcastle.org. APR. 8 – Total Eclipse Viewing Party, Northwest Ohio Railroad Preservation Inc., 12505 Co. Rd. 99, Findlay, gates open at 10 a.m. $5 per car. Join us to watch the total solar eclipse from our museum grounds. Quarter-scale train rides available (adults $3; 12 and under, $2). Live entertainment by local artist Chris Salyer. Food truck onsite. 419-423-2995, www.nworrp.org, or www.facebook. com/nworrp. APR. 8 – Total Solar Eclipse Logan County, locations throughout the county. Visit www.locoeclipse.com for details on events planned for this once-in-a-lifetime experience. APR. 10 – Celtic Woman, Veterans Memorial Civic and Convention Center, #7 Town Square, Lima, 7:30 p.m. $40–$80. Dynamic show blending traditional and contemporary Irish music and culture, with Irish dancers, bagpipers, and an array of traditional instruments. 419224-1552 or www.limaciviccenter.com/celticwoman. APR. 13 – Night Ranger, The Ritz Theatre, 30 S. Washington St., Tiffin, 7:30 p.m. $55–$85. 419-448-8544 or info@ritztheatre.org, or www.ritztheatre.org.
Submit your event!
Submit listings AT LEAST 90 DAYS prior to the event to: Ohio Cooperative Living 6677 Busch Blvd. Columbus, OH 43229 or send an email to events@ohioec.org. Ohio Cooperative Living will not publish listings that don’t include a complete address or a number/website for more information. MARCH 2024 • OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING
33
2024 CALENDAR
MARCH/APRIL
NORTHEAST
River, 9 a.m.–2 p.m. Handmade crafts, baked goods, health and wellness products, wood items, knitted and crocheted goods, and much more. www.facebook.com/ events/947832112977659. MAR. 16–17 – Railfest 2024, Lakeland Community College, Athletic and Fitness Center, 7700 Clocktower Dr., Kirtland (St. Rte. 306 at I-90, exit 193), 10 a.m.–4 p.m. $9–$16. Model railroad dealers and exhibitors, layouts and displays, flea market, and more. Food available. 440-357- 8890, 216-470-5780, or www.railfest.org. MAR. 16–17 – Vintage Decoys and Wildlife Art Show and Sale, Holiday Inn Cleveland South, 6001 Rockside Rd., Independence. Carving contests, hands-on demos, Saturday night auction, and more. www.odcca.net. MAR. 1, 8, 15, 22 – Beginner Beekeeping Class, Life MAR. 18–19 – Rhythm of the Dance, Ohio Star Theater, Church, 1033 Elm St., Grafton, 7–9 p.m. Offered by Lorain County Beekeepers Association to those new to the hobby 1387 Old Rte. 39, Sugarcreek, Mon. 7 p.m., Tues. 1 p.m. $39–$58. Combining Irish dance and Celtic music or who have struggled in the past with beekeeping. $50 with the most up-to-date stage technology, this two-hour class fee includes 1-year LCBA membership and monthly extravaganza takes audiences on an exhilarating, energynewsletter. www.loraincountybeekeepers.org. packed time trip through the ages. Purchase tickets at MAR. 2–24 – Chatham Annual Sugarbush Pancake 855-344-7547 or www.ohiostartheater.com. Breakfasts, Chatham Memorial Hall, 6299 Avon Lake MAR. 18–APR. 14 – The Great Steubenville Eggsibition, Rd., Chatham, Sat./Sun. 9 a.m.–3 p.m. $12; Srs. $11; under downtown Steubenville, 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Free. Forty 10, $8. Credit cards accepted. Sponsored by Chatham giant Easter eggs, designed and painted by more than Volunteer Fireman’s Assoc. For information, call 330-41020 different local artists, will be strategically hidden in 6237 or 330-635-0958. downtown businesses for an all-city, all-ages Easter egg MAR. 2, 9, 16, 23, 30 – Grand River Valley Ice Wine hunt! For details, visit www.steubenvillenutcrackervillage. Festival, noon–5 p.m. $10 per person at each stop. Each com/spring-eggsibition.html. of the seven participating wineries will provide samples MAR. 21 – Jimmy Fortune, Ohio Star Theater, 1387 Old of their ice wines along with a delicious appetizer and a commemorative glass. www.grandrivercellars.com/events/ Rte. 39, Sugarcreek, 7 p.m. Purchase tickets at 855-3447547 or www.ohiostartheater.com. ice-wine-trail. MAR. 10 – Ms. Honey Bee’s High Tea, Wellington Eagles, APR. 4–6 – Ohio PinBrew Fest, Metroplex Expo Center, 631 S. Main St., Wellington, doors open 12:30 p.m. You are 1620 Motor Inn Dr., Girard. Over 100 pinball machines, new cordially invited to bring a friend and join the Lorain County and old, plus arcade games, craft beers, local food, and more. www.pinbrewfest.com. Beekeepers Association for an afternoon of music, food, raffles, door prizes, costume prizes, and of course, tea. APR. 6 – Spring Fling, Brunswick Auto Mall Arena, $28/individual or $156/table of 6. Advance ticket purchase 15381 Royalton Rd., Brunswick, 10 a.m.–4 p.m. 100 required. www.loraincountybeekeepers.org. vendors and crafters, food, bar, raffles, and 50/50. All MAR. 16–17 – Hometown Vendors LLC Craft and Vendor proceeds will benefit A Special Wish. www.facebook.com/ Show, Rocky River Civic Center, 21016 Hilliard Blvd., Rocky events/292679166870205.
APR. 6–7 – Hello Spring Craft and Vendor Show, Brook Park Recreation Center, 17400 Holland Rd., Brook Park, 10 a.m.–3 p.m. Free. www.facebook.com/ events/676356581105607. APR. 6–8 – Total Eclipse Fest, North Coast Harbor, downtown Cleveland. Free, outdoor, family-friendly science and arts festival hosted by the Great Lakes Science Center and NASA’s Glenn Research Center. Food vendors, entertainment, free eclipse viewing glasses (while supplies last), and more, including free concert by the Cleveland Orchestra, Sun. 1:30 p.m. www.greatscience.com/explore/ events-programs. APR. 7 – Canton-Akron Comic, Toy, and Nostalgia Convention, St. George Event Center, 4667 Applegrove St., North Canton, 10 a.m.–4 p.m. $5; 6 and under free. Free parking. Comic and toy vendors, guest comic creators, hourly prizes. 330-462-3985, jeff@harpercomics.com, or www.harpercomics.com. APR. 7 – Erin Nicole Neal: “Vietnam War Protest Songs,” Wadsworth Public Library, 132 Broad St., Wadsworth, 2–3 p.m. Free, but reservations recommended. The Mentor-based musician will perform numerous Vietnam War protest songs as well as discuss influential singersongwriters and what inspired them to write these songs. Register at www.ormaco.org or by calling 419-853-6016. APR. 7 – Medina Model Train and Toy Show, Medina Co. Fgds. Community Center, 735 Lafayette Rd., Medina, 9 a.m.–3 p.m. $7. Model trains, planes, cars, and more. 330948-4400 (Vikki Conrad) or www.conraddowdell.com. APR. 8 – Streetsboro Total Solar Eclipse, Streetsboro City Park, 8970 Kirby Lane, Streetsboro, 11 a.m.–4 p.m. Entertainment, food trucks, education, free viewing glasses, and more! www.facebook.com/ events/2389220367933900. APR. 13 – Stark Vintage Market, St. George Event Center, 4667 Applegrove St., North Canton, 9 a.m.–3 p.m. $5, under 12 free. Wide variety of antiques, collectibles, artisan wares, and repurposed household goods. 330-495-3044 or www.starkvintagemarket.com.
SOUTHEAST
$20–$27.50. www.majesticchillicothe.net. MAR. 24 – Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Peoples Bank Theatre, 222 Putnam St., Marietta, 8 p.m. $49–$144. www.peoplesbanktheatre.com. MAR. 29 – Edgar Loudermilk Band, Pennyroyal Opera House, off I-70 at exit 198, Fairview, 7 p.m. $20 (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. APR. 6 – “Nature’s Bounty: Cultivating a Sustainable Lifestyle,” Washington State Community College, 710 Colegate Dr., Marietta, 9:30 a.m.–3:30 p.m. $40. Learn how to transform a traditional landscape into a productive, biodiverse garden. Fee includes continental breakfast and lunch. Call OSU Extension at 740-376-7431 or visit https://washington.osu.edu/events. APR. 6 – Spring Craft Show, Scioto Township Hall, 164 S. Watt St., Chillicothe, 12–5 p.m. Free. Handcrafted items by local crafters. www.visitchillicothe.com. APR. 13 – McGuffey Lane, Majestic Theatre, 45 E. Second St., Chillicothe, 7:30 p.m. Doors open 6:30 p.m. $20–$25. 740-772-2041 or www.majesticchillicothe.net.
MAR. 9 – Leprechaun Chase 5K, Yoctangee Park, 1 Enderlin Circle, Chillicothe, 9 a.m. (packet pickup 8–9 a.m.). $30. Bring the entire family and celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with a great run in the park. Register at www.speedysneakers.com. MAR. 9 – Miller’s Automotive Swap Meet and Car Show, Ross Co. Fgds., 344 Fairgrounds Rd., Chillicothe, opens at 9 a.m. $8, under 14 free. Open to all motorsports from restoration to racing, including race
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cars, tools, hot rods, apparel, collectibles, rat rods, gokarts, and more. www.millersswapmeet.com. MAR. 9 – Winter Concert Series: Jimmy Mowery, Majestic Theatre, 45 E. Second St., Chillicothe, 7:30 p.m. $10–$20. www.majesticchillicothe.net. MAR. 15–16 – River City Blues Festival, Lafayette Hotel, 101 Front St., Marietta. $35–$40; weekend pass, $100. Thirty-first anniversary of the festival that brings together some of the most talented blues performers from around the country. 740-376-0222 or https://bjfm. org/blues-festival. MAR. 16 – National 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. 21 – Roots and Boots: Collin Raye, Sammy Kershaw, and Aaron Tippin, Peoples Bank Theatre, 222 Putnam St., Marietta, 8 p.m. $68–$168. www. peoplesbanktheatre.com. MAR. 23 – Brass Metropolis: Chicago Tribute, Majestic Theatre, 45 E. Second St., Chillicothe, 7:30 p.m.
OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING • MARCH 2024
CENTRAL
MAR. 1, APR. 5 – First Friday Art Walk, downtown Zanesville, 5–8 p.m. Come downtown on the first Friday of each month, when all of our participating galleries, studios, and small businesses are open at the same time! Visit the Artist Colony of Zanesville’s website for a map of current participants: https://artcoz.org/artsdistrict-map. MAR. 14, APR. 11 – Inventors Network Meetings, Rusty Bucket, 3901 Britton Parkway, Hilliard, 43026 (614-777-5868, MyRustyBucket.com), 7 p.m. Informal meetings for networking and invention-related discussion. 614-470-0144 or www.inventorscolumbus. com. MAR. 15 – Rhonda Vincent and The Rage, Cornerstone Global Methodist Church, 207 S. Court St., Marysville, doors open 6 p.m., concert at 7 p.m. Part of the Marysville Winter Bluegrass Series. Entertainment, food, homemade pies on-site. 937-642-4712 or www. marysvillewinterbluegrass.com. MAR. 15–17 – Open Season Sportsman’s Expo, Ohio Expo Center, Bricker Bldg., 717 E. 17th Ave., Columbus. $10 advance, $15 at door; 12 and under free. Hundreds
SOUTHWEST
THROUGH APR. 24 – Bluegrass Wednesdays, Vinoklet Winery, 11069 Colerain Ave., Cincinnati, Wed. 6:30–8:30 p.m. Enjoy dinner, wine, and an evening of free entertainment by Vernon McIntyre’s Appalachian Grass. Reservations recommended. 513-385-9309, vinokletwinery@fuse.net, or www.vinokletwines.com MAR. 2–3, 9–10 – Annual Maple Syrup Festival, Hueston Woods State Park, 6301 Park Office Rd., College Corner, 12–4 p.m. Free. Take a hayride from the beach to the top of the trail, hike with a guide through Big Woods State Nature Preserve, and learn the art of maple syrup production. Enjoy pancakes at our lodge 8 am.–1 p.m. ($7–$9). Food, drinks, and maple syrup will be sold throughout the day. 513-5236347 or www.ohiodnr.gov/go-and-do/plan-a-visit/ find-a-property/hueston-woods-state-park.
of exhibitors, demos and displays, trophy contests, seminars, shooting and archery ranges, and more. www. openseasonsportsmansexpo.com/ohio. MAR. 16 – Sewing Smorgasbord, Sheridan Middle School, 8660 Sheridan Rd., Thornville, 9 a.m.–3:30 p.m.; doors open 8:15 a.m. $10 fee. The clothing and textile update of the year, featuring 40 classes, 18 exhibitors, fabric fair, sewing machine raffle, two fat-quarter raffles, and new this year, three “themed” basket raffles! Attend classes of your choice; no preregistration required. 740-405-7891, crshuster1@gmail.com, or https://perry. osu.edu. MAR. 17 – Columbus Toy and Game Show, Ohio Expo Center, Lausche Bldg., 717 E. 17th Ave., Columbus, 9 a.m.–4 p.m. $15; 10 and under free; early buyer (8–9 a.m.) $20. Buy, sell, and trade new and retro toys, video games, and collectibles. Door prizes every hour, Pokémon tournament, celebrity guests. www. ctspromotions.com. MAR. 20 – “Andrea Doria: A Famous Sea Disaster and a Survivor’s Story,” Marion Palace Theatre, 276 W. Center St., Marion, 7:30 p.m. Donation cover charge. Julia Hansen shares her personal story of being rescued at sea as a young girl and provides insight into the bygone era of Atlantic passenger travel. 740-383-2101 or www.marionpalace.org. MAR. 23 – Grace Blackford, Marion Palace Theatre, 276 W. Center St., Marion, 7:30 p.m. $22. 740-383-2101 or www.marionpalace.org. MAR. 24 – 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. APR. 5–7 – Columbus Home Improvement Show, Ohio Expo Center, Kasich Hall, 717 E. 17th Ave., Columbus, Fri. 12–6 p.m., Sat. 10 a.m.–6 p.m., Sun. 11 a.m.–5 p.m. $5, under 18 free. See the latest innovations and design trends from hundreds of exhibitors. Local remodeling and building experts will be on hand to answer your questions. www.homeshowcenter.com/ overview/columbushome2. APR. 6–7 – The Little Mermaid Jr., Logan High School Theatre, 14470 OH-328, Logan. Adult $10, child (2–11) $5. Presented by the Hocking County Children’s Chorus. Tickets available online or at the door. https:// hockingcochildrenschorus.org or find us on Facebook. APR. 8 – Solar Eclipse Fly-In, Union County Airport (KMRT), 760 Clymer Rd., Marysville, 11 a.m.–3:30 p.m. Free. The airport is in the zone of totality for almost 3 minutes! Fly in early and have a great BBQ lunch before watching the eclipse. Once the parking ramp is full, the airport will be closed until after the eclipse. www.unioncountyohio.gov/Airport-Authority or www. facebook.com/UCAAKMRT. APR. 11–14 – Equine Affaire, Ohio Expo Center, 717 E. 17th Ave., Columbus. $10–$16 advance; 6 and under free. The nation’s premier equine expo and equestrian gathering, featuring training clinics, seminars, demos, exhibits, equine entertainment and competition, and much more. 740-845-0085 or www.equineaffaire.com. APR. 13–14 – Daffodil Show and Sale, Bryn Du Mansion, 537 Jones Rd. NE, Granville, 12–6 p.m. Free. Hosted by the Granville Garden Club. www. granvillegardenclub.org.
MAR. 15, APR. 19 – 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. APR. 6 – Cabin Fever Arts Festival, Southern State Community College, Patriot Center Gymnasium, 100 Hobart Dr., Hillsboro, 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Free. A showcase of handcrafted quality arts and crafts. Live music; food trucks. cabinfeverartsfestival@gmail.com or www.appartguild.com. APR. 6–8 – Total Solar Eclipse at Hueston Woods State Park, 6301 Park Office Rd., College Corner. Visit the Nature Center for special presentations and activities. Join us at the park to view the eclipse Mon. 3:08–3:19 p.m. For details, call 513-524-4250 or visit www.ohiodnr.gov/go-and-do/plan-a-visit/find-aproperty/hueston-woods-state-park. APR. 6–8 –Total Solar Eclipse at Sycamore State Park, 10561 Providence Pike, Dayton. Free. Visit the Overlook Picnic Area throughout the weekend for special presentations and activities and view the eclipse Mon. 3:08–3:19 p.m. For details, call 513-5244250 or visit https://ohiodnr.gov/go-and-do/plan-avisit/find-a-property/sycamore-state-park. APR. 7 – The Butler Philharmonic Chorus: “Broadway Meets Blockbuster,” SORG Opera House, 63 S. Main St., Middletown, 3 p.m. $20. Facebook: @officialbutlerphil or www.butlerphil.org.
APR. 8 – Solar Eclipse Experience, Garber Nature Center, 9691 OH-503 N., Lewisburg, 1:30–4:30 p.m. Free family program. Free CE/ISO solar safety sunglasses and children’s activities (limited space). Registration required. 937-962-5561, pcpdevents@ gmail.com, or www.preblecountyparks.org. APR. 8–13 – A Fine Art Exhibit and Contest, Tipp Center, 855 N. 3rd St., Tipp City. Area artists are invited and encouraged to participate. Please read the entry information and submission rules and guidelines prior to registering on our website (deadline Mar. 24): www.tippcityartscouncil.com/ exhibit. APR. 13 – An Art Affair: A Fine Arts and Crafts Vendor Show, Tipp Center, 855 N. 3rd St., Tipp City, 10 a.m.–5 p.m. Free. Browse the exhibition entries and vendor booths to find amazing art created by over 60 local artists. Local musicians and dancers will provide the entertainment. Food trucks will be on-site. 937-543-5115 or www.tippcityartscouncil.com/ an-art-affair.html. APR. 13 – Vernon McIntyre’s Appalachian Grass, China Garden Buffet, 1108 W. Kemper Rd., Cincinnati, doors open at 6 p.m., music starts 7 p.m. $25. Enjoy lively bluegrass entertainment and a fine buffet dinner. Early-bird ticket holders get priority choice of seating. 513-607-1874, fotmc@iglou.com, or www.eventbrite.com/e/chinese-breakdown-dinnertickets-472324273617.
MARCH 2024 • OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING
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Pi(e) Day
MEMBER INTERACTIVE
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1 My grandson, Camden, making his own apple pie from scratch. Katie Grubba, South Central Power Company member. 2 My mother, Jan Broering, is my favorite pie maker! The last couple of years, she has provided the pies on “Pi Day” at Marion Local High School (my favorite is her raspberry cherry pie). Dale Broering, Midwest Electric member. 3 My daughters, Emma (6) and Claire (3), getting ready to eat a cherry pie. Amy Sims, South Central Power Company member. 4 My mother, Alma Benson, baked three kinds of pies: good, better, and best. Beth Grim, Lorain-Medina Rural Electric Cooperative member. 5 Thomas Weaver making pie crusts with Great-Aunt Julie. Thomas Weaver, North Central Electric Cooperative member. 6 I love looking for unique wonders in the sky; one day, there it was — pi in the sky! Judy Ugie, The Frontier Power Company member.
Send us YOUR picture! For June, send “Scenic inland shores” by March 15; for July, send “Sand castles” by April 15. 36
OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING • MARCH 2024
Scan the QR code or upload your photos at www.ohiocoopliving.com/memberinteractive. Your photo may be featured in our magazine or on our website.
Interested in electrical line work? Youth in grades 9 to 12 can join their local co-ops and the Ohio Farm Bureau for a free hands-on look at line work and other careers within the electric industry at
Friday, May 31, 2024
at the Central Ohio Lineworker Training Facility ● 5265 State Route 95, Mount Gilead, OH 43338
Deadline to Apply:
April 15, 2024 For information and to register, scan the QR code or email info@exploreag.org.
All ExploreAg programming is offered FREE to students, thanks to the generosity of sponsors through the Ohio Farm Bureau Foundation who believe strongly in cultivating the next generation of curious and inquisitive agriculturalists.