Ohio cooperative living may2017 midwest by Ohio Cooperative Living

Midwest Washington Electric, Electric Inc. Cooperative Official publication of your electric cooperative Official publication | www.midwestrec.com www.weci.org www.ohioec.org

MAY 2017

Helping hooves Cuddle therapy at Seven Oaks Farm ALSO INSIDE Memorial Day poppies Fun & funny festivals Local cooperative pages

Electricity revolutionized the way we connect with the world. WHAT WILL IT DO NEXT? Electricity. Every day it brings us something new. Something to empower or simplify our lives. Clean. Efficient. Stable. You might call it the essential energy. Now, and for the future. Electricity. A world of possibilities.

To learn more about the cooperative difference, visit ohioec.org.

15 27

INSIDE HIGHLIGHT 30 HELPING HOOVES

The miniature horses — and other four-footed friends — of Seven Oaks Farm bring joy and comfort to those who could use some of both.

FEATURES 4 OUT OF THE ELEMENTS The Central Ohio Lineworker Training

IN THIS ISSUE

program’s new facility will allow yearround education.

15 FIESTA TIME! Ohio Cooperative Living’s recipe-contest winners refined their dishes at their families’ dinner tables.

19 LOCAL PAGES News and information from your electric cooperative.

24 PASSION FOR POPPIES Those ubiquitous paper flowers sold

by the American Legion Auxiliary are crafted with care by Ohio veterans.

27 FUN AND FUNNY FESTIVALS What do pythons, lavender, and Bigfoot have in common? All are the focus of celebrations in small-town Ohio.

Mount Gilead (Page 4) Dover (Page 8) Hamilton (Page 10) Sandusky (Page 24) Peninsula (Page 28) Bucyrus (Page 29)

MAY 2017 • OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING

UP FRONT

FIRST ALWAYS

SAFETY AND

afe, clean, affordable, and reliable — that’s what we strive for in delivering electricity to your home. It’s easy to take the “safe” part of this formula for granted, but electric cooperative employees keep electrical safety at the top of our minds every day. May is National Electrical Safety Month, a time for all of us to reexamine our surroundings and determine those steps that we can take to prevent the deaths, injuries, and economic losses that occur each year because of electrical hazards.

According to the National Fire Protection Association, nearly 50,000 fires in U.S. homes annually are caused by electrical failures or malfunctions. Statistics also tell us that vehicle Cooperative accidents hitting leaders are electrical poles have committed to a seen a sharp increase culture of safety in in recent years. Farm our workplaces. equipment coming into contact with electric lines continues to cause serious injuries and damages every year. Your local electric cooperative can help with safety tips and information — folks on staff are always willing and eager to help make your home or workplace safer. We’ve also put an increased emphasis on our own workplace safety. About a decade ago, we recognized that injuries and lost-time accidents

OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING • MAY 2017

among electric cooperative employees were occurring at a stubbornly high rate. Cooperative leaders came together to raise our awareness about safety issues and to commit to creating a culture of safety in our workplaces. The results have been dramatic: The National Rural Electric Cooperative Association reports a 30 Pat O’Loughlin percent decline in the number President & CEO, of co-op workplace accidents Ohio’s Electric Cooperatives over the past nine years. The brand-new Central Ohio Lineman Training (COLT) facility, featured on Page 4, not only is a state-of-the-art jobtraining facility, but also puts a focus on safe job performance at the core of each of its programs. We appreciate your help. As members of your electric co-op, if you see any potentially dangerous situations, please report what you see to your local office as soon as possible. We have seen that when we’re aware of our surroundings and vigilant about our safety, we can improve the safety culture in our organizations. The same is true for our families, our teams, and any groups to which we belong. Thanks for the help, and stay safe!

May 2017 • Volume 59, No. 8

OHIO

COOPERATIVE LIVING

Ohio Rural Electric Cooperatives 6677 Busch Blvd. Columbus, OH 43229 614-846-5757 memberinteract@ohioec.org www.ohioec.org

Patrick O’Loughlin President & CEO Patrick Higgins Director of Communications Jeff McCallister Managing Editor Samantha Rhodes Associate Editor Contributors: Brian Albright, Cheryl Bach, Celeste Baumgartner, Colleen Romick Clark, John Egan, W.H. "Chip" Gross, Patrick Keegan, Toni Leland, Wendy Pramik, Jamie Rhein, Brad Thiessen, Damaine Vonada, Margie Wuebker, and Diane Yoakam. OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING (USPS 134-760; ISSN 2572-049X) is published monthly by Ohio Rural Electric Cooperatives, Inc. With a paid circulation of 294,359, it is the official communication link between the electric cooperatives in Ohio and West Virginia and their members. Nothing in this publication may be reproduced in any manner without written permission from Ohio Rural Electric Cooperatives, Inc. All rights reserved.

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Check out the mobilefriendly website and digital edition of Ohio Cooperative Living, as well as other timely information from Ohio’s electric cooperatives.

Periodicals postage paid at Columbus, OH, and at additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to editorial and advertising offices at: 6677 Busch Boulevard, Columbus, OH 43229-1101

COOPERATIVE MEMBERS: Please report changes of address to your electric cooperative. Ohio Cooperative Living staff cannot process address changes. Alliance for Audited Media Member

Official publication of your electric cooperative www.ohioec.org

MAY 2017

Helping hooves Cuddle therapy at Seven Oaks Farm ALSO INSIDE Memorial Day poppies Fun & funny festivals Local cooperative pages

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Thoughts about the magazine’s new look

“Love it!”

— Heidi McDaniel

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— Mark A. Dyer

“My husband and I knew we had to express our gratitude and happiness in reading the new magazine that we received in March. Not only is it an attractive magazine, but it was lovely to see the lead-off article focusing on solar and alternative energy options.”

“We think it is a nice change and still has all the good articles and recipes.” — Duane Jeanette Frankart

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 Offi ce, Consumer Protection Section, 30 E. Broad St., Columbus, OH 43215, or call 1-800-282-0515.

MAY 2017

Official publication of your electric cooperative

— Theresa and Kevin Clark

DID YOU KNOW? The beauty of poppies in the Buckeye state has not gone unnoticed. Below is an excerpt from Pulitzer Prize-winning writer Carl Sandburg’s (1878-1967) poem, “Crossing Ohio when Poppies Bloom in Ashtabula.” Pick me poppies in Ohio, mother. Pick me poppies in the back yard in Ashtabula. May going, poppies coming, summer humming: make it a poppy summer, mother; the leaves sing in the silk, the leaves sing a tawny red gold; seven sunsets saved themselves to be here now.

MAY 2017 • OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING

BY JOHN EGAN PHOTOS BY DWIGHT MILLER

POWER LINES

OUTSIDE-

INSIDE The Central Ohio Lineworker Training program's new building takes shape in advance of enclosing the structure. The finished building was scheduled to open this month.

Lineworker training comes indoors as COLT's new building to open in Mount Gilead

eing a lineworker is not a particularly easy job; besides the strenuous nature of the work that both keeps the lights on and restores power when there’s an outage, the folks on the poles need to have a knowledge base that ranges from basic knot-tying to electrical engineering. Not surprisingly, there’s a lot of training that goes into becoming (and remaining) a lineworker. Also not surprisingly, Ohio’s electric cooperatives are leaders in the field of lineworker training. Those efforts will get a further boost this month, with the opening of the Central Ohio Lineworker Training (COLT) program’s indoor training facility. The new building was constructed at the same Mount Gilead site where co-op line personnel have, for more than a decade, honed their physical and intellectual skills on a 16-acre outdoor training field. The 7,200-square-foot COLT indoor facility took eight months to build, and includes two classrooms and 10 work stations, where trainees get a hands-on learning experience. The indoor facility has 19 wooden utility poles that are 30-

OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING • MAY 2017

At COLT, lineworkers have the chance to make their mistakes, and learn from them, under controlled conditions.

35 feet high, where apprentice lineworkers can practice their climbing and rescue techniques and learn specifics of the transformers and voltage regulators on those poles. It also includes an area where students can learn underground construction and how to maintain an energized underground system.

It takes years to learn the trade

Lineworker training is a rigorous combination of classroom and field work. Candidates take 12 weeks of training over a four-year period. Between training sessions, apprentice lineworkers work at their electric coop, applying their new skills working alongside experienced journey-level lineworkers. Chris Napier was in the first COLT graduating class in 2007. “The instruction I received at COLT, combined with my on-the-job experience, helped me grow as a lineman and a leader,” says Napier, who now provides safety training for Ohio’s Electric Cooperatives. “I feel the skills I learned and the strong emphasis on performing the work safely allowed me to serve our members in the best way possible.”

Weather in Ohio does not always cooperate when lineworkers need hands-on training in pole safety and electrical connections.

The COLT program has trained and graduated more than 120 lineworkers. Currently, there are 68 students enrolled in the apprentice training program.

Indoor facility expands learning opportunities

Before the facility’s opening, Ohio’s widely varying weather limited hands-on outdoor training to about eight months a year. Now, it can go year-round. “Inclement weather really cut into the effectiveness of training,” says Dwight Miller, director of safety and loss control for Ohio’s Electric Cooperatives. “We only have these guys in training for short periods of time, and Taking it’s important that every weather out hour is maximized.”

of the equation maximizes learning.

Taking weather out of the equation also maximizes learning, according to COLT instructor Kyle Hoffman. “You can work outdoors when it’s 10 degrees, or when it’s raining, but getting students to focus on learning, rather than being in the elements, can be tough,” he says.

Experienced linemen need to 'sharpen their saws' too

Experienced linemen can hone their skills in COLT’s newly established Journeyman Refresher Program. While the basics of line work have remained relatively unchanged through the years, there have been many advancements in how the work is performed. These ever-changing aspects of line work require a continuous learning environment for everyone responsible for keeping the lights on. Most of that learning, along with the technical how-to aspects, involves safety. Safety is not a question of adding another requirement to a job — it’s an integral part of every job, Miller says. “Working safely comes down to knowing what you can do, and what you can’t. As an electrical lineworker, you have very little room for error.” Hoffman, who spent 10 years climbing poles as a lineman for Pioneer Electric Cooperative, takes that even further: “We tell our students, ‘If you’re going to make a mistake, make it here at COLT, where you will have the opportunity to learn from it. Out in the field, you may not get a second chance.’ ” JOHN EGAN is president of Egan Energy Communications (www.EganEnergy.com), a national energy communications firm.

MAY 2017 • OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING

BY CRAIG LOVELACE

Courtesy Dayton VA Center

LEGACY OF H E L P

Dayton’s VA Medical Center was part of the first U.S. effort to care for veterans The hospital ward at the Dayton VA Medical Center in Dayton opened in 1870, to treat Civil War veterans

Yellow Springs resident Dave Neuhardt was surprised to find that his love of history would lead him to the grave marker of his great-great grandfather, who fought for the Union during the Civil War. Among those in the National Cemetery on the grounds of the Dayton VA Medical Center are the remains of Howard Bates, who served Ohio infantry and cavalry regiments. Why he is buried there is part of the historic narrative attached to the place. The center, which today has 356 beds, claims 150 years of history. In its early years, it demonstrated such a progressive approach toward veterans’ care that it became a model the At its peak, federal government used to build the Dayton VA Center a network of similar homes that evolved into the U.S. Veterans housed 7,000 patients. Administration in 1930.

Today it has 356 beds, always full.

Neuhardt says few are aware of its significance. He learned of it as a member of the American Veterans Heritage Center, a local preservation group. “I knew a little about it, but now I know a lot more,” he says. He tracked his ancestor through a genealogy website, which is how he discovered the VA cemetery marker. Bates spent eight years in the home, where he died in 1901. So how did the Dayton VA come to be? Toward the end of the war, Union leaders knew there would be a flood of disabled Union Army veterans without enough

OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING • MAY 2017

charities or hospitals to serve them — and indeed, 83 percent of the 204 hospitals open at the war’s end closed within eight months. In March 1865, a month before his assassination, President Lincoln created the National Military Asylum for the Relief of the Totally Disabled Officers and Men of the Volunteer Force, which became the country’s first foray into large-scale care of its veterans. The Central Branch at Dayton was the largest among the first three opened and at its peak accommodated some 7,000 veterans. The first residents — described as “homeless, penniless, and almost friendless” — sought admission to the site overlooking the lush Miami Valley. By this time, the name was shortened to National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers, but it became known colloquially as the National Soldiers’ Home. Of the original branches, Dayton was the most progressive because of its focus on rehabilitation and training veterans in a trade — more than 100 were offered — so they could re-acclimate to civilian life. A hospital opened in 1870. Tessa Kalman, visiual information specialist at the Dayton VA, says the center’s relevance has never waned. “The enduring legacy of the National Homes, and now the many VA medical centers across the country, is to remind us how we as a nation still believe that to care for those who have ‘borne the battle’ is as important today as it was in the time of President Lincoln,” she says CRAIG LOVELACE is a freelance writer from Groveport.

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MAY 2017 • OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING

STORY AND PHOTOS BY DAMAINE VONADA

OHIO ICON

BROAD RUN

Location: Eastern Amish Country between Sugarcreek and Dover. Provenance: Started in 1933, Broad Run Cheesehouse was a dairy farmers’ cooperative until 1977, when cheesemaker John “Hans” Schindler and his wife, Nancy, purchased the factory. The Schindlers kept the wellestablished Broad Run name, but gradually enlarged and improved their cheesehouse. In the 1980s, Nancy debuted an in-house shop featuring curtains and lace, and in 2003, their son, Chad, who had learned to craft cheese from his father, also became a winemaker when the family launched a new venture, Swiss Heritage Winery. Although Hans has passed away, Chad and Nancy continue to offer award-winning cheeses, a wide variety of wines, and eclectic gift and home décor items in one small, but inviting, chalet-style store. “Being a small operation is part of our charm,” Chad Schindler says. “People like the family atmosphere here.” Significance: With both a cheese factory and winery on site, the Schindlers have created a popular retail and tasting-room destination that

OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING • MAY 2017

Cheesehouse and Swiss Heritage Winery DOVER

uniquely embraces the classic pairing of wine and cheese. “I don’t know of any other place in the country that makes its own wine and its own cheese,” Schindler says. Currently: Specializing in artisan cheeses that range from varieties of Swiss and cheddar to Gruyère and Limburger, Broad Run produces about a million pounds of cheese every year. The milk it uses comes mostly from local Amish farms, and arrives at the factory in 10-gallon cans that have been cooled in spring water. Swiss Heritage Winery uses grape and fruit juices from Ohio, New York, and Canada to make some 10,000 gallons of wine per year. Many of the wines have names inspired by family members, whose photos are featured on the bottles. Coal Miner’s Daughter, for example, is a watermelon wine adorned with a girlhood photo of Nancy. It’s a little-known fact that: Mild Swiss is Broad Run’s best-selling cheese, while Victorian Lace, a Niagara and Catawba blend, is a customer favorite. Broad Run Cheesehouse and Swiss Heritage Winery, 6011 Old Rt. 39 NW, Dover, OH 44622. Open Mon.– Sat., 9 a.m.–6 p.m. For additional information, call 330-343-4108 or visit www.broadruncheese.com.

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MAY 2017 • OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING

STORY AND PHOTO BY W.H. “CHIP” GROSS

WOODS, WATERS, AND WILDLIFE

THE HOUSE THAT

JACK

BUILT

Shooters young and old enjoy some time on the range at Cardinal Shooting center near Marengo.

Formerly a campground, the Cardinal Shooting Center, near Marengo, has built a national reputation among enthusiasts

ver the past decade, it has steadily grown to become the largest privately owned recreational shooting facility in the country. The numbers alone are impressive: Fifty-two trapshooting fields sit side by side, stretching a full mile, alongside 14 skeet fields, 14 pistol and rifle ranges, two sporting clays ranges, and an archery range. Owned by Jack Fishburn and his family, Cardinal Shooting Center — a member of Consolidated Electric Cooperative — is located on some 500 acres near Marengo. As large and successful as the facility has become, it almost didn’t happen. “My wife, Karen, and I first purchased a run-down campground along Interstate 71, thinking we would make it into a nice, family-friendly campground,” Fishburn says. “But no sooner had we started that undertaking, than a few members from the Ohio State Trapshooting Association (OSTA) approached me about putting in trapshooting fields. I told them I wasn’t interested.” But the OSTA folks were persistent, inviting Jack to attend a day at the annual Grand American, the largest competitive trapshoot in the country. “What I saw there really impressed me,” Fishburn says. “There were thousands of shooters, some of them carrying shotguns worth $20,000 or

OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING • MAY 2017

more. These men and women would come off the shooting line, place their expensive guns in a rack, and just walk off and leave them while they went to eat lunch. They knew their guns would not be disturbed. That was the kind of clientele I wanted to attract.” So in 2005, Fishburn went to work installing trapshooting fields and other amenities shooters might need. It was a hectic year, but they finished just in time for the 2006 summer shooting season. Last summer, Cardinal Shooting Center hosted three of the six largest trapshooting events in the country, as well as the Scholastic Clay Target Program (SCTP) and Scholastic Action Shooting Program (SASP) National Championships — with 3,000 young shooters, they’re the largest youth shooting competitions in America. At age 83, Fishburn is planning an additional pistol range, a rifle range, plus three more skeet fields, and an additional sporting clays course. He’s also planning a second lodge. CHIP GROSS is Ohio Cooperative Living’s outdoors editor. He can be reached at whchipgross@gmail.com or through www.chipgross.com.

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IN THE GARDEN

STORY AND PHOTOS BY TONI LELAND

SOMETHING

DIFFERENT

These not-so-familiar perennials will spice up your garden

ardening is definitely habit-forming! Not only do avid gardeners itch to get outside at the first sign of sun and warmer temperatures, we also tend to stay with tried-and-true perennials. After all, if our plants grow well and don’t require blood, sweat, and tears to maintain, why change anything?

Shady character

Yellow Archangel ‘Silver Frost’ — A beautiful ground cover for a shady spot, archangel has heart-shaped green leaves, veined with silver, that brighten a dull shade garden. Spring brings a profusion of bright-yellow blooms that rise several inches above the foliage, and, even after the bloom is finished, bring illumination to the shade.

OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING • MAY 2017

But then again, why not? It’s fun to be adventurous — picture something elegant and unusual among the familiar purple coneflowers, black-eyed Susans, daylilies, and hostas. With a little planning, gardeners can spice up their shade gardens with perennials that offer beautiful foliage year-round, with the out-of-the-ordinary texture and blooms as a beautiful bonus.

Sunny spots Genista ‘Bangle’ — This cheerful small mound of yellow flowers is a dwarf broom that blooms in May and June, reaching a height of just 24 inches. Not only pretty, this one also is low maintenance — it’s deer-resistant, grows in average soil, and tolerates dry conditions.

2 Sea Holly — Gorgeous blue

cone-shaped blooms rise above jagged green leaves and really pop when planted among warmer colors. The flowers begin as gray-white, then turn sapphire by mid-to-late summer. This spectacular perennial grows from 18 to 36 inches tall, prefers sandy soil and will tolerate dry conditions. Once established, it doesn’t need much upkeep. ‘Color Guard’ — This 3 Yucca gorgeous variegated evergreen

shrub is a good choice for a focal point. Easy to grow, tolerant of poor soil and drought, and resistant to deer, rabbits, and air pollution, this one could be the answer to that “problem spot.” Showy white flowers appear on 5-foot stalks in June and July, but the yellow and gold leaves entertain year-round.

Sunny or partial sun

Shade or partial shade

4 Spurge ‘Blackbird’ — This

nonstop performer flaunts gorgeous dark green and purple foliage that contrasts with lime-green flowers that emerge in early-to-late spring. Spurge grows to about 18 inches, is resistant to most diseases and pests, is unappetizing to deer and rabbits, tolerates drought, and is easy to maintain.

5 Dwarf Papyrus Sedge — Del-

icate and texturally interesting, this small plant is perfect for water gardens and ponds, as well as poorly draining areas of a garden. Fast-growing to 2 to 4 feet in height, it tolerates full sun to partial shade. Gooseneck Loosestrife — A

6 garden spot filled with these

adorable white “goose head” flowers, all pointing in the same direction, is always a conversation starter. Easy to grow and tolerant of most conditions, this variety of loosestrife grows fast and spreads quickly — something to consider when starting in your garden.

Rose — When you’ve just 7 Lenten about had it with winter, this

gorgeous performer comes on strong. Named Lenten Rose because of the mid-February bloom time, the delicate flowers will last until May. After that, the leathery dark-green leaves remain crisp and beautiful, right through summer. The plant tends to burn in hot, direct sun, though planting in dense shade inhibits its bloom. It’s deer-, pest-, and disease-resistant. Purchase when the plant is in bloom, to get the color you want.

8 Leopard Plant ‘Britt Marie

Crawford’ — Interesting large purple-black leaves showcase narrow spikes of yellow-to-orange flowers, making this perennial a must-have for the partial-shade garden. The attractive basal foliage mound grows to 24 inches tall, and then the June/July flower stems rise 36 to 40 inches. A good choice for beside shaded ponds, or any location where heavy water requirements can be met.

Shady character

Coral Bells ‘Black Currant’ — Spectacular dark-purple leaves with silver veining make this Coral Bells a smash hit among lighter-colored foliage. Growing to a clump about 16 inches tall, this beauty needs mostly shade, but will tolerate morning sun.

TONI LELAND is a master gardener from Connecticut.

MAY 2017 • OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING

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IT’S A

FIESTA! Readers nearly overwhelmed our judges with entries to our Cinco de Mayo recipe contest, but one rich and zesty — yet not overpowering — dish stood out from the rest.

MAY 2017 • OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING

STORY BY MARGIE WUEBKER PHOTO BY JEFFRY KONCZAL

GOOD EATS

Our contest winner, Susan Muskopf of Wooster, honed her recipe to suit her family’s tastes

et ready to celebrate the Mexican holiday Cinco de Mayo with winning entrees from Ohio Cooperative Living’s Fiesta! recipe contest.

Susan Muskopf of Wooster, a member of Holmes-Wayne Cooperative, grabbed top honor, beating more than 200 other recipes with her Pork Chile Verde Stew. Runners-up were Katie Dippold of Maria Stein, a Midwest Rural Electric member, with Chimichangas, and Amy Zahner of Fresno, a Frontier Rural Electric member, with Quesadilla Casserole. “The contest announcement caught my eye, because the theme was Mexican food,” Muskopf says. “My husband and I go on mission trips to Mexico with our church. The stew is similar to the homecooking we enjoy while working there.” The retired medical laboratory technologist remembers eating a hearty stew years ago while vacationing in Arizona. She finally located a viable recipe in 2006, but set out to make some changes, adding oregano, cumin, black pepper, and potatoes. Contest judges enjoyed the hearty flavor, and noted the blend of spices is not overpowering. Muskopf serves the stew with rice and warmed tortillas.

She says she’ll use her prize — a KitchenAid stand mixer — to prepare special treats for her husband, John, their four children, and five grandchildren. 16

OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING • MAY 2017

WINNING RECIPE Pork Chili Verde Stew 1 3-pound boneless pork sirloin roast, cut into 1-inch cubes 3 Tbsp. oil for sautéing plus more as needed 4 medium carrots, sliced 1 medium onion, thinly sliced ½ cup minced fresh cilantro or 2 tsp. dried cilantro 4 garlic cloves, minced 4 large potatoes, peeled and cut into cubes

2 4-oz. cans diced green chilies 1 28-oz. can green enchilada sauce 1 tsp. oregano ½ tsp. cumin 1 tsp. salt 1 tsp. black pepper 1 Tbsp. cornstarch ¼ cup cold water Hot cooked rice for 8 Flour tortillas, warmed

Add oil to a large skillet and sauté pork in batches until browned. Add carrots, onion, cilantro, and garlic to last batch, sautéing until pork is browned. Add more oil as needed. Transfer to a 5-quart slow cooker. Add potatoes, green chilies, enchilada sauce and seasonings. Mix well. Cover and cook on low for 6 hours or until pork is tender. In a small bowl, combine cornstarch and cold water until smooth. Stir into pork mixture. Cover and cook on high for 30 minutes or until thickened. Serve warm with rice and tortillas. Serves 8.

RUNNER-UP Amy Zahner, an office manager for a veterinary practice, found the casserole recipe on the back of a McCormick’s spice package. She adjusted the amount of spices to satisfy the tastes of her husband and their two children. The result is a Mexican-style lasagna that calls for tortillas, instead of noodles.

Cheryl Bach

“I was attracted because all the ingredients were things I had in my pantry,” she says. “I didn’t have to go out and buy a lot of things.”

Quesadilla Casserole 11/2 pounds lean hamburger ½ cup chopped onion 1 15-oz. can tomato sauce 1 15-oz. can black beans, drained and rinsed 1 (8- to 10-oz.) can whole kernel corn (or Mexican corn blend) 1 10-oz. can diced tomatoes with green chilies 2 tsp. chili powder

1 tsp. ground cumin 1 tsp. minced garlic ¼ to ½ tsp. crushed red pepper (optional) 6 to 8 flour tortillas 2 cups shredded Cheddar or shredded Mexican-blend cheese Salt and pepper to taste

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 9 x 13-inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray. Brown hamburger and

onion in large skillet. Drain and season with salt and pepper to taste. Add tomato sauce, beans, corn, and diced tomatoes; mix well. Stir in all spices except red pepper flakes. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low and simmer for 5 to 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add red pepper flakes, if desired. Spread 1 cup of hamburger mixture on bottom of baking dish. Top with 3 to 4 tortillas, overlapping lengthwise to get even coverage. Then layer half of remaining meat mixture followed by half the cheese. Repeat with remaining tortillas, hamburger mixture and cheese. Bake uncovered 20 minutes or until casserole is heated through and cheese is melted and bubbly. Remove from oven and let stand 10 minutes before serving. Serves 8.

RUNNER-UP Katie Dippold found a basic Chimichanga recipe some years ago and made some revisions, adding beans and spices to the list of ingredients. Fillings feature ground beef or chicken. The tasty pockets are baked in a 475-degree oven and then served on a bed of lettuce along with sour cream and taco sauce.

Chimichangas

½ tsp. salt 1 pound lean ground beef or 1 28-oz. can chicken, drained 1 clove garlic, crushed ½ tsp. ground cumin ½ tsp. oregano ¼ cup canned green chilies, chopped ¼ cup taco sauce or salsa 1 cup refried or black beans

¼ cup sour cream Sliced green olives (optional) 2 Tbsp. apple cider vinegar ½ cup butter, melted 6 to 8 7-inch flour tortillas 4 oz. shredded Cheddar cheese ½ cup sour cream ½ cup taco sauce 11/2 cups shredded lettuce

For beef filling: Sprinkle salt in skillet. Over medium heat, add meat, garlic, and seasonings. Cook beef, crumbling with a fork until it loses pink color. Stir in chilies, taco sauce or salsa, beans, sour cream, olives if desired and vinegar. Cook until flavors combine, about 2 minutes. Remove from heat and cool.

Cheryl Bach

The retired nurse and her husband, Bob, have four children and 10 grandchildren. The family often requests the special treat at holiday meals.

For chicken filling: Shred chicken with a fork. In microwave, heat chicken with chilies, taco sauce or salsa, beans, sour cream, olives and vinegar. Cook until flavors combine, about 2 minutes. Remove from microwave and cool. To assemble Chimichangas: In an 8-inch skillet, melt butter over medium-low heat. Dip both sides of tortillas in butter; drain off excess. Place 1/3 cup of filling in center of each tortilla; fold envelope style. Place seam side down in a 9 x 14-inch baking dish (may be prepared ahead and refrigerated 24 hours.) Heat oven to 475 degrees and bake chimichangas until crispy, about 15 minutes. Sprinkle with Cheddar cheese and return to oven until cheese melts. Serve on a bed of lettuce and top with sour cream and taco sauce. Leftovers can be frozen and warmed in microwave oven. Serves 4.

MAY 2017 • OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING

BY PAT KEEGAN AND BRAD THIESSEN

THE EFFICIENCY EXPERT

WINDOWS TO THE WORLD

An energy auditor uses an infrared camera to look for areas around the window that are leaky or poorly insulated.

Energy efficiency may not be the most important factor when deciding on replacement windows

omeowners looking to replace older, drafty windows to improve their home's energy efficiency should examine all their options. New windows are often the most costly and least cost-effective energy efficiency investment you can make. There are, of course, sound reasons besides energy efficiency to invest in new windows, such as comfort, resale value, aesthetics, and even need. An energy

audit by a qualified professional is the best way to compare options.

Anyone considering window replacement should first think about end goals. If reducing energy costs is important, the investment in new windows ought to be weighed against other energy efficiency opportunities. An energy audit by a qualified professional is the best way to compare options.

Windows may not be the problem

The auditor can perform a diagnostic test to determine if old windows actually leak air. These tests often show that windows, even old ones, are not as leaky as they might seem, and that more significant air leakage happens elsewhere in the home. Storm windows or drapes can reduce heat loss (or gain) through the windows. But if new windows are necessary, homeowners have a number of choices. Double-pane windows usually meet 18

OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING • MAY 2017

code, but the additional cost for triple-pane windows could be worth the investment in an area with extreme temperatures. Argon or Krypton gas between the panes also adds efficiency.

Take a look at low-E

Low-emissivity coating also can be added to the glass. “Low-e” coating reflects heat back into the interior space, which reduces heating bills and increases comfort. The efficiency of the overall window is measured by its U-factor, which assesses the heat loss of the entire window. Lower U-factors are more efficient. The window framing material, the number of layers of glass, and the special coatings on the glass all contribute to the overall U-factor. Another simple measure is to look for is the ENERGY STAR label. Only windows that are substantially more efficient than standard code requires receive that label.

Pay attention to the installation

Working with a professional is important. A poor installation can result in long-term damage, such as moisture problems that can create mold, mildew, and wall rot, which can prevent the window from operating properly or cause paint to peel. Bids for new windows vary a great deal, so it’s worth requesting more than one and comparing qualifications, as well as price, for something that will change the look and comfort of your home for many years. PAT KEEGAN and BRAD THIESSEN write for Collaborative Efficiency, an energy communications company.

MIDWEST ELECTRIC LOCAL PAGES

MESSAGE FROM THE INTERIM CEO

ELECTRICITY SAFETY

n the spring of 1993, I was just one year into my career at an electric cooperative in Michigan. I was in the member services department and tasked with performing public electrical safety demonstrations despite having minimal electrical knowledge at that point.

Joining me was a lineman who was about one year away from retirement. Quite the odd couple. I assumed he’d be doing all the work and the talking, and that I was to take notes, pay attention, and get ready to do the talking at future programs. We set up the life-size live line trailer at a local school, with poles, conductor, transformer, fuse and more. We connected it to the power source. Then Terry handed me a pair of rubber gloves, a fiberglass extendo hot stick, and said, “I’ll tell you what Hitting zero is great. to do when it’s time.”

But the goal is to encourage reporting and foster ideas that lead to safety improvements.

Then out came about 50 third graders for a show they wouldn’t soon forget...

Such was my introduction to electrical safety. While I survived “playing with” 7,200 volts all those years, I definitely learned a lot about electricity. But thankfully, we don’t do it that way anymore. The electric utility industry as a whole — and electric cooperatives in particular — have elevated electrical safety to a whole new level. It’s a leading item in our strategic plan. It’s respected and sought after by employees. It has a voice in our board room. We take electrical safety very seriously. That’s why I am pleased to report Midwest Electric had 0 injuries in 2016 and 0 “Days Away, Restricted, Transferred.” And that’s in more than 55,000

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MATTERS employee hours worked! Hitting zero is great. But the goal is to encourage reporting and foster ideas that lead to safety improvements and a safer work environment. Employee safety training at Midwest Electric takes place once a month. At the end of each week, crews Matt Berry discuss matters that came Interim CEO up during the week. And daily at the job site, they hold a “tailgate” to go over important safety steps prior to attacking the job. In addition to frequent in-person training, employees also do online safety training. And regular on-site inspections by our line supervisor or our safety director help make sure employees go home safe every day. Every three years, we undergo a rigorous Rural Electric Safety Achievement Program (RESAP), through the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association. This involves a significant amount of documentation and on-site inspections. We’re currently in the midst of RESAP this year. And public electrical safety is important to us, too. Over the past 15 years, our safety demonstrations have reached more than 21,600 area youth and adults. That doesn’t include the hundreds of safety messages we’ve shared in these pages, our web site, bill insert, social media, member meetings, and more. We’ve got a tabletop safety unit, and the live line trailer. You might see me doing the tabletop program once in a while. But, lucky for those around me, safety rules don’t allow me to do the live line demonstrations anymore.

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MIDWEST ELECTRIC LOCAL PAGES

ANNUAL MEETING

2017 Annual Meeting Highlights Saturday, June 3

St. Marys Memorial High School, State Route 66 and U.S. 33 8:15 a.m. — Registration and breakfast • 9:15 a.m. — Meeting

Annual Meeting • $2,500 in cash prizes • Kids’ activities • Free breakfast buffet • Energy industry update • Co-op Owners for Political Action — learn how you can affect legislation that affects your cooperative • Q & A with co-op leaders

RSVP for breakfast! Use the postcard on this month’s back cover!

Health Fair Grand Lake Health System will hold a health fair at the Midwest Electric June 3 Annual Meeting. Several tests will be offered, some for free and some requiring payment, and a drug take-back program will be available. For fee services, please pay Grand Lake Health System at the meeting. Body Mass Index (BMI) FREE Heel Bone Density FREE Blood Pressure/Pulse Ox FREE DermaScan FREE Iron (Anemia Screen) $10 Diabetes Screening (A1C) $25 Comprehensive Metabolic Panel - including glucose (8-hour fast) $25

PSA Screening $35 Thyroid Screening $40 Cardiovascular Risk Assessment $20 (12-hour fast; Lipid Profile) C-Reactive Protein $25 Vitamin D Deficiency $35

Drug take-back program The Auglaize County Sheriff’s Department will be available to take expired, no-longer-used medications as part of the Grand Lake Health/Auglaize County Sheriff’s drug take-back program.

TRUSTEE ELECTIONS

In the Mail

Watch for your trustee election ballot

ne member, one vote. It’s the democratic way and the cooperative way.

Watch your mail around midMay for your ballot for the 2017 Midwest Electric Board of Trustees election. If you’re a member, you’re eligible to vote for all districts. You may vote by mail with the ballot and return envelope that will be sent to you. Alternately, you may vote online at www.midwestrec.

com. The ballot will include instructions for online voting. Your ballot must be received by our voting firm by 8 a.m. Wednesday, May 31, in order to be counted.

Results will be announced at the annual meeting on June 3 at St. Marys Memorial High School. Please contact us if you have any questions at 1-800-962-3830.

Do not send any ballots to our office, and don’t include any payments with your ballot.

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MIDWEST ENERGY COOPERATIVE LOCAL PAGES

ENERGY ADVICE

POWER STRIPS

VERSUS

As the proliferation of electronics impacts our daily lives, we realize there simply are not enough outlets in our homes. This is particularly true for older homes. As a result, we end up with a number of “outlet expanders,” or power strips. Power strips are generic and fulfill a very simple function. They are inexpensive, and the quality is on par with the price. Keeping this in mind, let’s look at factors to consider when purchasing a power strip or a surge protector, the power strip’s more talented cousin. Important tip: Make sure you know the amperage rating of the outlet into which you are connecting the strip and other equipment. A residential circuit can overload if you are not careful.

When purchasing a power strip:

• Look for power strips with a built-in circuit breaker. If you connect too many electronics and devices, the strip will kick out the circuit breaker rather than causing the breaker in your electric panel to trip. • Pay attention to the orientation of the outlets. The typical design is along the length of the strip, facing the bottom or end of the strip. Consider power strips with the outlets perpendicular to the length of the strip. • Get a smart strip. These are becoming more common and less expensive. With smart strips, one outlet serves as a master, receiving power all the time. The other outlets do not receive power until the master device is turned on. This is ideal for home entertainment setups.

SURGE PROTECTORS

When buying a surge protector:

• Go for a significant joule (jewel) rating. This is a measure of how much energy it can withstand. • Cable and internet connection protection. You may want to consider this for your entertainment and computing needs as surges can enter via any wired connection. Be sure the protector is designed to handle a digital television. Otherwise, it can cause pixelation if it’s only designed for analog signals. • Indicator light that shows if protection has burned out. • The same outlet orientation as previously men tioned. • Power conditioning feature (for PCs, this is a niceto-have feature but not a necessity). • A smart capability as mentioned above. Power strips and surge protectors are worth the investment when you follow these simple sugges tions. Don’t get “burned” by purchasing cheap, inefficient strips and protectors. Pun intended.

If you are connecting expensive electronics, you may want to consider a surge protector. Here, price is even more important because a cheap surge protector can be worse than none at all for two reasons. One, they use cheap, small surge fighting components. Two, these components can fail and the strip still will provide power, all without any indication that its protective side is gone.

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MIDWEST ELECTRIC LOCAL PAGES ENERGY EFFICIENCY

Efficiency tips for outdoor shops or barns

here are many benefits to having an energy efficient outdoor shop or barn. Aside from saving energy, an efficient outdoor building can keep the environment around your structure healthy and safe; save money on your water bill; keep your animals happier and healthier; and save you from costly structural repairs. Whether you are looking to build a new structure, or make changes to an existing structure, there are many ways you can make your outdoor shop or barn more energy efficient. Are you planning to build a new structure on your property? Follow these tips to achieve energy efficiency: • Location matters. If possible, carefully consider where you build your shop or barn. Consider drainage, sun exposure and how the building may affect your neighbors. • Start with a sustainable design plan. A sustainable design plan, according to the U.S. General Services Administration, includes the ability to use environ mentally preferable products; protect and conserve water; enhance indoor environmental quality; and optimize operational and maintenance practices. • If you are hiring a contractor to help build your structure, make sure you look for companies who specialize in “green” buildings and energy efficient practices. • Choose efficient building methods. Pole barns offer reliable shelter without costly excavation, concrete foundations, or general site disruption.

Energy Efficiency Tip of the Month

Follow these tips to make energy efficient upgrades to an existing structure: • Replace indoor lighting with energy efficient LED bulbs. • Ensure your existing structure has adequate insulation levels. • Choose outdoor lighting designed to be energy efficient, and install motion detectors to reduce energy consumption when not in use.

Dave Waltermire,

Energy Advisor • Plant trees around your metal shed or barn. In colder climates, trees act as a windbreak, and in warmer climates, trees have a natural cooling effect that can reduce temperatures in your metal building 3 to 6 degrees Fahrenheit.

• Consider adding a ceiling fan to circulate air. Typically, there is a 2-degree Fahrenheit temperature increase for every one-foot increase in ceiling height. A ceiling fan can help keep warm air close to the ground in the winter, and circulate fresher, cooler air in the summer. Not only will this help with energy costs, it will also help keep the air in the building from becoming hot and stagnant, which will keep harmful bacteria from building and will keep insects at bay. To learn more about how to make your outdoor shop or barn more energy efficient, contact the energy experts by calling the office at 1-800-962-3830.

Keep warm summer air outside where it belongs! Add caulk and weatherstripping to seal air leaks around leaky doors and windows. Source: U.S. Dept. of Energy

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MIDWEST ENERGY COOPERATIVE LOCAL PAGES

ANNUAL MEETING

THE

VALUE

BE PREPARED BEFORE A STORM STRIKES

OF YOUR

ANNUAL MEETING

every cooperative is required to conduct an annual meeting of the membership? The purpose is to share important financial information, discuss local and industry updates affecting your cooperative, provide ample opportunity for your questions and feedback, and, of course, the delicious breakfast and great door prizes! Since member voting for the board of trustee elections is held by mail and online, we also announce the election results at the annual meeting. id you know

Join us for breakfast, fellowship, and prizes at our Annual Meeting June 3 at St. Marys Memorial High School!

Midwest Electric’s annual meeting is a community gathering where neighbors can meet new neighbors — or catch up with old acquaintances. As our lives get busier with the “errands of life,” and more of our interactions with others are online via social media, we must renew the value of face-to-face human connections. Few organizations are uniquely positioned like Midwest Electric to bring together all members of our local communities.

Our annual meeting is designed to take care of the important business of your co-op and the equally important business of building a real sense of community. While safe, reliable, and affordable electric power is crucial to our mission, improving members’ quality of life is at the core of what we do every day.

We get out of life what we put into it. Midwest Electric is connected to you through more than just power lines. We are your neighbors, and we look forward to seeing you at your annual meeting on June 3 at St. Marys Memorial High School.

We’re doing more communications through e-mail to save time and money. This is for tree trimming notices, pole testing notifications, credit card expiration notices, and more. You can help by making sure our domain (@midwestrec.com) is allowed through your spam filters. And contact us to make sure your e-mail address is up-to-date in our files. Contact us at info@midwestrec.com or 800-962-3830. Thank you!

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WATER

Three-day supply, one gallon per person per day.

TOOLS

Flashlight, extra batteries, manual can opener, battery-powered or hand-crank radio, NOAA Weather Radio with tone alert.

FIRST AID KIT AND PRESCRITIONS

If you have not attended the annual meeting recently, we urge you to take just a few hours to join your fellow co-op members.

E-mail communications help us save

In the event of a power outage, be prepared by keepkeeping ing the following the following items in anitems in an easy-to-find easy-to-find emeremergency gency supply supply kit. kit.

First aid supplies, hand sanitizer and at least one week’s supply of prescriptions and medications for the family.

Lear www

Learn more at www.ready.gov Source: American Red Cross, Federal Emergency Management Agency.

Sou Cro Man

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MIDWEST ELECTRIC LOCAL PAGES

YOUTH PROGRAMS

Midwest Electric awards $11,000

in scholarships to seven local students

apakoneta High School’s Cassidy Hughes and Coldwater High School’s Caleb Luthman captured top honors in the 2017 Midwest Electric scholarship competition, featuring judges from Wright State University-Lake Campus and Midwest Electric. The two seniors each received a $2,000 scholarship and will represent Midwest Elec tric in the Ohio Electric Cooperatives statewide scholarship competition in Columbus. Second place $1,500 scholarships were awarded to Carrie Grieshop, St. Henry High School, and Phillip Tatarkov, Bluffton High School. Receiving third place $1,000 scholarship awards were Kenzie Schroer, New Knoxville High School, and Nate Vore, Bath High School. The six general scholarship winners were selected from a field of 46 area high school seniors, with a 3.5 or higher grade point average, whose parents are Midwest Electric members. Hughes has a 4.0 grade point average and is first in her class. She is planning to study medical sciences. Cassidy is the daughter of Lowell and Wendy Hughes, Wapakoneta.

Luthman is the son of Thomas and Michelle Luthman, Coldwater. He has a 3. 9 grade point average, is ninth in his class and is planning to study mechanical engineering and business at the University of Toledo. Grieshop will attend The Ohio State University and is considering a speech pathology major. She has a 3.974 grade point average and is sixth in her class. Her parents are Shannon and Judith Grieshop, St. Henry. Tatarkov will study civil engineering at Ohio Northern University. He has a 4.0 grade point average, is ranked first in his class and is the son of Andrey and Svetlana Tatarkov, Bluffton. Schroer will study business at Wheeling Jesuit University. She has a 4.0 grade point average and is ranked first in her class. She is the daughter of Kyle and Krista Schroer, New Knoxville. Vore will study biomedical engineering/pre-med at Wright State University. He has a 4.0 grade point average, is first in his class, and is the son of Eric and Kristy Vore, Elida.

Touchstone Energy scholarship winner Additionally, Megan Fisher of Wapakoneta High School won the $2,000 Touchstone Energy® Achievement Scholarship, which is awarded to a student who has overcome a significant challenge in pursuit of their goals. Megan, the daughter of Daniel and Kristin Fisher, is considering exercise science or statistics for a college major.

Megan Fisher

How are scholarship winners chosen? Pictured top to bottom: Hughes, Luthman, Grieshop, Tatarkov, Schroer, and Vore.

For the first round, all 46 students came to our office for a 15-minute interview with judges from Wright State University–Lake Campus.

That score is combined with the student’s GPA, ACT score, and level of community involvement, thus producing the top candidates.

The judges score the students based on poise, appearance, personality, and intelligence, as well as their knowledge of electric cooperative issues.

The top six candidates go to the second round of judging, where they are placed first, second, and third.

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MIDWEST ENERGY COOPERATIVE LOCAL PAGES

OUTAGE RESTORATION

Our priorities during outages seriously ill person to a safe place in the event of an extended outage. We cannot guarantee uninterrupted electric service to homes where serious medical conditions exist.

My neighbor has power

hen a major storm causes widespread damage to our electric system, our top goal is to restore service to the greatest number of members in the shortest amount of time. So we have priorities for making repairs, determined by the number of members affected. Those priorities, in order, are: 1. Transmission lines. These lines supply power to one or more substations. A problem with these lines could interrupt power to several thousand members and must be repaired before other parts of the system can operate. 2. Substations. A problem with a substation can affect several hundred members. When a major outage occurs, line crews inspect substations to discover if problems stem from transmission lines feeding into the substation or from the substation itself, or if problems exist down the line. 3. Main distribution feeders. These lines carry power from the substation. Each feeder serves a large portion of members from the substation. 4. Tap lines, or line sections. These branch lines serve a smaller group of members from the main feeder. The tap line will remain without power until the main feeder line is repaired. 5. Individual service. These serve a single residence, business, or farm. It may not do you any good for us to repair your service line if one of our main lines is still out. We also give priority to emergency situations such as fallen lines. We advise you to have a backup plan to move a

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Have you ever lost power only to see the lights still shining from your neighbor’s window? When this happens, it could mean the service line between your home and the transformer is damaged. Or, it could mean that a three-phase power line serves your neighborhood and you are served by a different line than your neighbor.

Stay in the know

During outages impacting a distribution feeder, substation, or transmission lines, we use our Facebook and Twitter pages and our website to provide the latest updates on the outage and restoration estimates. We typically do not provide updates on smaller outages affecting tap lines or individuals.

Report an outage from your smartphone or tablet On your smartphone or tablet, search for SmartHub in the Apple or Android store. After downloading (it’s free), search for Midwest Electric Ohio. Register and log in. Tap the “Report Outage” icon, then “Report an Outage.” Verify your contact address. Add comments that will assist in the outage restoration. An example is if you heard a loud “bang” from your transformer, let us know. Then click “Submit.” This will report it directly to our mapping and dispatch systems. With our meters, we typically know already when your power is out. However, we still recommend that you report the outage. You can also call to report the outage at 1-800-962-3830.

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MIDWEST ELECTRIC LOCAL PAGES

FYI

Why does the power blink? Blinks are created when a breaker, or switch, opens along any portion of the power system. The breaker usually opens because of a large, quick rise of electrical current. This large rise, called a fault condition, can occur when a tree branch touches a line, lightning strikes, or a wire breaks. When this happens, a relay senses the fault and tells the breaker to open, preventing the flow of power to the problem site. After opening, the breaker quickly closes. The brief delay, which allows the fault to clear, usually lasts less than two seconds. If the fault clears, every home or business that receives electricity off that power line has just experienced a

Go Paperless and Save! • $5 one-time bill credit • Receive e-mail notice each month with link to safe, secure, convenient e-bill site • View payment and use history • Pay automatically each month with bank or credit card account • No more postage to mail payment • No gas to drive to paystation • No more late fees Midwest Electric, Inc.

blink but not a prolonged outage. This could include thousands of accounts if the breaker protects a transmission line or a substation. There are things we do to reduce blink frequency. Tree trimming is probably the easiest and most common way, and one area where you can help. Make sure we know of any trees or limbs located close to a power line. Blinks affect all electrical equipment. An uninterruptible power supply (UPS) on your computer can help prevent information loss. UPS incorporates surge suppression technology with a battery backup and provides you some time to save whatever you were working on and exit your computer properly.

Get electric-use alerts via text, e-mail E-bill also provides outage alerts

Just like bank alerts that tell you when your bank balance hits a certain amount, you can get electric-use alerts from Midwest Electric. Go to midwestrec.com and then to our e-bill page. After registering, click on the Notifications tab, then Manage Contacts to set up your e-mail address or text number. Then click Manage Notifications to set your own electric use thresholds. You can also sign up to receive an alert when your power is out and when it’s restored.

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ay,

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INDEPENDENT AUDITOR’S REPORT Report on the Financial Statements We have audited the accompanying financial statements of Midwest Electric, Inc., which comprise the balance sheets as of December 31, 2016 and 2015, and the related statements of operations, comprehensive operations, equities and cash flows for the years then ended, and the related notes to the financial statements.

BALANCE SHEETS December 31, 2016 and 2015

In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Midwest Electric, Inc. as of December 31, 2016 and 2015, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for the years then ended in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

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2016

2015

UTILITY PLANT Electric plant in service $55,927,586 $55,415,412 Construction work in progress 1,388,402 480,989 57,315,988 55,896,401 Less: Accumulated provision for depreciation and amortization (17,242,895) (17,012,374) NET UTILITY PLANT 40,073,093 38,884,027 NONCURRENT ASSETS Investments in associated organizations 13,813,807 13,882,681 Notes receivable 385,952 343,875 Deferred charges 811,109 942,164 TOTAL NONCURRENT ASSETS 15,010,868 15,168,720 CURRENT ASSETS Cash and cash equivalents 2,938,822 2,971,652 Accounts receivable, net of provision for doubtful accounts of $108,713 ($147,077 for 2015) 2,106,175 1,699,454 Notes receivable 117,791 100,241 Materials and supplies 452,390 462,411 Other current assets 4,608,570 4,506,463 TOTAL CURRENT ASSETS 10,223,748 9,740,221 TOTAL ASSETS $65,307,709 $63,792,968

Opinion

Circleville, Ohio February 27, 2017

ASSETS

2016 2015 LIABILITIES AND EQUITIES EQUITIES Patronage capital $30,378,423 $29,321,633 Accumulated other comprehensive income 278,100 828,400 Other equities 454,269 399,319 TOTAL EQUITIES 31,110,792 30,549,352 LONG-TERM LIABILITIES Mortgage notes less current maturities 27,058,377 26,755,486 Provision for pensions and benefits 2,257,893 2,304,817 TOTAL LONG-TERM LIABILITIES 29,316,270 29,060,303 CURRENT LIABILITIES Current maturities of long-term debt 1,215,404 1,178,734 Accounts payable - purchased power 1,662,094 1,537,111 Accounts payable - other 566,607 65,494 Consumers’ deposits 177,549 174,789 Accrued taxes 795,915 772,618 Other current liabilities 463,078 454,567 TOTAL CURRENT LIABILITIES 4,880,647 4,183,313 TOTAL LIABILITIES AND EQUITIES $65,307,709 $63,792,968

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NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS ORGANIZATION Midwest Electric, Inc. (the Cooperative) is a non profit corporation operating on a cooperative basis. Its primary purpose is to provide electric power and energy to its membership, which includes residential consumers, as well as, agricultural, commercial and industrial businesses. Midwest Electric Community Connection Fund, Inc. (the Fund) is an Ohio not-for-profit corporation formed by the Cooperative and its members, for the purpose of accumulating, and disbursing funds for religious, charitable, benevolent, scientific, literary, and educational purposes within the service area of Midwest Electric Inc. and surrounding communities. The Fund is not included in these financial statements and is exempt from federal income taxation under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Total assets of the Foundation at December 31, 2016 and 2015 were $13,325 and $14,999, respectively. Total public support and revenue was $61,317 and $61,656 for 2016 and 2015, respectively, while expenditures were $62,992 and $56,790, for 2016 and 2015, respectively.

SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES The Cooperative’s accounting policies conform to generally accepted accounting principles, as applied to rural electric cooperatives, substantially in accordance with the Uniform System of Accounts of the Rural Utilities Service (RUS). Following is a description of the more significant accounting policies used by the Cooperative in the preparation of its financial statements: Utility Plant and Depreciation - The Cooperative records improvements and additions to the distribution plant at cost using continuing property records. Retirements are removed from the cost and accumulated depreciation accounts at average costs. The actual cost of removing retirements is charged to accumulated depreciation during the year the retirement is completed. The general plant and equipment are recorded at cost based on the unit method. Any retirements or disposals of general plant and equipment are removed from the cost and accumulated depreciation accounts. Any salvage received is credited to accumulated depreciation. Depreciation is provided for by the straight line method over the estimated useful lives of the property. The provisions are determined by the use of functional composite rates as follows:

Distribution plant: Station equipment 2.7% Poles, towers and 3.0% equipment Overhead lines 2.3% Underground lines 2.9% Transformers 2.6% Services 3.1% Meter equipment 2.9% Sentinel lights 4.4% AMI meter system 5-20%

General plant: Structure and improvements 2-12.5% Office equipment 6-33% Transportation equipment 5-20% Shop equipment 3-20% Laboratory equipment 5-20% Tools and large equipment 7-20% Communications equipment 6 -20% Miscellaneous equipment 6-20%

Transmission plant: Poles and fixtures 2.70% Overhead conductors and devices 2.70% Transmission taps 2.75%

Accounts Receivable – Accounts receivable primarily represent amounts due from customers resulting from the sale of electricity on an unsecured basis. The Cooperative uses the reserve method for valuing potentially uncollectable accounts receivable and establishing an allowance for doubtful accounts receivable. In establishing and evaluating the allowance, management considers their knowledge of customers, historical losses and current economic conditions and provides for the allowance through a charge to operations. Balances that are still outstanding after reasonable collection efforts have been exhausted are written off through a charge to the allowance. Past charges to the allowance have not been significant.

Notes Receivable – Notes receivable represent amounts due from local businesses participating in the Rural Economic STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS Development Loan and Grant Program. The For the Years Ended December 31, 2016 and 2015 Cooperative records interest income on these loans when it is earned and they consider all 2016 2015 loan amounts to be collectable. The notes OPERATING REVENUES $29,231,230 $28,816,050 are for a term of 5 to 10 years at interest rates from 0 to 2% and mature from 2017 to OPERATING EXPENSES 2023. Cost of power 18,312,062 18,473,028

Distribution expense - operations 1,932,024 1,765,018 Materials and Supplies - Inventory of Distribution expense - maintenance 1,270,425 1,331,360 materials and supplies not allocated to Consumer accounts 457,577 430,103 construction work in progress is recorded at Customer service and information 312,066 311,325 the lower of cost or market using the moving Sales 100,616 89,309 average cost method. Administrative and general 1,386,994 1,285,718 Depreciation and amortization 1,545,582 1,520,043 Investments - Investments in associated Taxes 1,099,990 1,087,486 organizations are recorded at cost, which is Other deductions 53,723 28,881 the same as par value. The investments have TOTAL OPERATING EXPENSES 26,471,059 26,322,271 no established market making it impractical and costly to estimate their fair value. They OPERATING MARGINS BEFORE INTEREST 2,760,171 2,493,779 are included in the financial statements as long term assets. These investments Interest on long-term debt (1,097,976) (1,116,709) represent equity contributions in other cooperatives and are adjusted annually to OPERATING MARGINS AFTER INTEREST 1,662,195 1,377,070 reflect patronage allocations received, net of cash. Capital credits 667,815 1,548,128 Financial instruments – The Cooperative believes that the carrying amount of its OPERATING MARGINS 2,330,010 2,925,198 financial instruments, which include cash and cash equivalents, evidence of ownership in NON-OPERATING MARGINS (EXPENSE) other entities and obligations to receive or Interest income 169,887 227,535 deliver cash or financial instruments included Other (8,230) (1,776) in current assets and liabilities, approximates TOTAL NON-OPERATING MARGINS 161,657 225,759 fair value based on their short-term duration. The Cooperative has determined that it is not NET MARGINS FOR PERIOD $2,491,667 $3,150,957 practical to calculate the fair value of its debt and investments in other cooperatives due to

20H OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING • MAY 2017

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the excessive cost involved. Income Taxes - The Cooperative is a rural electric cooperative exempt from federal income taxes under Section 501(c)(12) of the Internal Revenue Code. Accordingly, no provision for federal income taxes has been recorded. The Cooperative complies with ASC 740-10 related to uncertain tax positions. ASC 740-10 prescribes a recognition threshold and measurement attribute for financial statement recognition and measurement of a tax position taken or expected to be taken on a tax return. Management is not aware of any tax positions taken by the Cooperative on its tax returns that they consider to be uncertain or that would jeopardize its tax exempt status. Tax returns for the years ended 2013, 2014 and 2015 are still open and subject to examination by the Internal Revenue Service. Patronage Capital and Margins - Midwest Electric, Inc., operates under the Cooperative form of organization. As provided in the code of regulations, any excess of revenues over expenses from operations is treated as advances of capital by the patrons and credited to each of them on an individual basis. Generally, it is the Cooperative’s policy to retire capital contributed by patrons periodically as deemed appropriate by management and the Board of Trustees. Capital credits due to patrons who become deceased are paid to the estates of such patrons at amounts discounted to their present value in accordance with the policies and procedures of the Cooperative. Revenues and Cost of Purchased Power – Revenues are recorded during the month the energy is consumed by members, using established rates. The cost of power purchased is recorded during the period the energy is consumed. Comprehensive Income - Accumulated other comprehensive income represents the cumulative net changes related to recording the funded status of the nonpension postretirement benefit plan. Statement of Cash Flows - For purposes of the statement of cash flows, the Cooperative considers all highly liquid debt instruments purchased with a maturity of three months or less to be cash equivalents. Net cash flows from operating activities includes cash payments for interest of $1,097,976 and $1,116,709 for the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively. There were no payments for federal income taxes. Concentration of Credit Risk - The Cooperative’s accounts receivable result primarily from the sale of electricity to its members, located in west central Ohio. The Cooperative, from time to time, may have cash balances in financial institutions that exceed the federally insured limit. In such situations, the Cooperative generally

Midwest0517.indd 11

obtains collateral agreements to protect the uninsured balance from potential loss. Use of Estimates - The preparation of the financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and accompanying notes. Although these estimates are based on management’s knowledge of current events and actions it may undertake in the future, they may ultimately differ from actual results. UTILITY PLANT AND DEPRECIATION The following schedule presents the major classes of the electric plant at December 31: 2016 2015 Distribution plant $ 50,490,995 $ 49,232,474 General plant 5,436,591 6,182,939 Electric plant in service 55,927,586 55,415,412 Construction work in progress 1,388,402 480,989 Total utility plant, at cost $ 57,315,988 $ 55,896,401 The depreciation and amortization expense for the periods presented amounted to $1,652,381 and $1,625,323 for 2016 and

2015, respectively. Of the 2016 amount, $1,545,582 was charged to depreciation expense and $106,799 to transportation expense ($1,520,043 and $105,280, respectively for 2015). PATRONAGE CAPITAL Patronage capital is the retained net margins arising from operations of the Cooperative which have been or are expected to be allocated to its members in the form of capital credits, determined by each member’s billings during the year the margins were generated. No portion of any current allocation is paid in cash. At December 31, patronage capital consisted of:

2016 Assignable $ 2,491,667 Assigned to date 56,392,292 58,883,959 Less: Retirements to date (28,505,536) Total $ 30,378,423

2015 $ 3,150,957 53,241,335 56,392,292 (27,070,659) $ 29,321,633

Total equities of the Cooperative represents 48% of the total assets at December 31, 2016 and 2015. Capital credits of $1,434,877 and $1,817,302 were retired in 2016 and 2015, respectively.

STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOW For the Years Ended December 31, 2016 and 2015

2016 2015 CASH FLOW FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES Net margins $2,491,667 $3,150,957 Adjustments to reconcile net margins to net cash provided (used) by operating activities: Depreciation and amortization 1,652,381 1,625,323 Noncash capital credits (656,448) (1,526,864) Salvage and retirement adjustments for utility plant (343,512) (361,689) Benefit plan expense in excess of contributions (contributions in excess of expense) (597,224) (577,313) Changes in assets and liabilities: Accounts and notes receivable (466,348) 612,033 Materials and supplies 10,021 (60,265) Other current assets (102,107) (3,390,622) Deferred charges 131,055 141,656 Accounts payable and accrued expenses 660,664 (15,460) Total adjustments 288,482 (3,553,201) Net cash provided (used) by operating activities 2,780,149 (402,244) CASH FLOW FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES Construction and acquisition of utility plant (2,842,935) (1,618,625) Proceeds from disposal of utility plant and aid to construction 345,000 362,560 Proceeds from redemption of investments 737,423 494,812 Purchase of investments (12,101) (11,080) Net cash used by investing activities (1,772,613) (772,333) CASH FLOW FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES Proceeds from long-term debt - 4,000,000 Payments on long-term debt (1,176,626) (1,109,492) Changes in cushion of credit 1,516,187 1,370,176 Patronage capital credits retired (1,379,927) (1,749,360) Net cash provided (used) by financing activities (1,040,366) 2,511,324 Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents (32,830) 1,336,747 Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year 2,971,652 1,634,905 Cash and cash equivalents at end of year $2,938,822 $2,971,652

MAY 2017 • OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING

4/19/17 3:27 PM

INVESTMENTS IN ASSOCIATED ORGANIZATIONS Investments in associated organizations consisted of the following at December 31:

2016

2015

Equity Capital: Capital term certiﬁcates, National Rural Utilities Cooperative Finance Corporation (NRUCFC) $ 585,197 $ 590,880 Equity contribution — Buckeye Power, Inc. 1,204,749 1,204,749 National Information Solutions Cooperative 68,170 59,995 Patronage Capital Credits: NRUCFC 202,069 193,080 Buckeye Power, Inc. 11,351,929 11,454,020 Rural Electric Supply Cooperative, Inc. 136,696 135,497 National Rural Telecommunications Cooperative 252 252 Cooperative Response Center 7,743 6,978

Other: Federated Rural Electric Insurance Corporation 110,487 94,468 NRUCFC membership 1,000 1,000 CoBank membership 1,000 — Buckeye Power, Inc. membership 50 50 Rural Electric Supply Cooperative, Inc. membership 50 50 National Information Solutions Cooperative, membership 25 25 Cooperative Response Center, membership 2,500 2,500 Heartland Emergency, LLC 141,890 139,137 Total investments in associated organizations $13,813,807 $13,882,681

LITIGATION Currently, there is no known significant litigation pending against or pertaining to the Cooperative.

STATEMENTS OF EQUITIES For the Years Ended December 31, 2016 and 2015 Accumulated Other Total Total Other Comprehensive Patronage EquitiesEquities Equities Income (Loss) Capital Balance at January 1, 2015 $331,377 $1,379,400 $27,987,978 $29,698,755 Net margins - - 3,150,957 3,150,957 Unrecognized gains and losses related to the defined benefit postretirement plan - (551,000) - (551,000) Retirement of capital credits (1,817,302) (1,817,302) Discounted capital credits 67,942 - - 67,942 30,549,352 Balance at December 31, 2015 399,319 828,400 29,321,633 Net margins - - 2,491,667 2,491,667 Unrecognized gains and losses related to the defined benefit postretirement plan - (550,300) - (550,300) Retirement of capital credits (1,434,877) (1,434,877) Discounted capital credits 54,950 - - 54,950 Balance at December 31, 2016 $454,269 $278,100 $30,378,423 $31,110,792

BOARD OF TRUSTEES

OFFICE

06029 County Rd. 33A P.O. Box 10 St. Marys, OH 45885 CONTACT

1-800-962-3830

ACCESS YOUR ACCOUNT ONLINE www.midwestrec.com Report an outage and pay your bill through our free mobile SmartHub app.

Larry Vandemark, president James Wiechart, vice pres. Randy Heinl, secy./treas. Steve Bauer Bob Barnt Kathy Brake Gary R. Knapke Gary Profit Roger W. Rank

A copy of Midwest Electric, Inc.’s Articles of Incorporation and Code of Regulations is available from the co-op office and online at midwestrec.com. Call us to receive your copy.

Courtney Burton Attorney

OFFICE HOURS

Monday – Friday 7:30 a.m. – 4 p.m.

@midwestrec

facebook.com/ midwestelectric

OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING • MAY 2017

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Co-op students earn college

even Ohio teens have been awarded scholarships to attend college next year in separate competitions affiliated with Ohio electric cooperatives. Four of the seniors earned Louise Freeland Scholarships, and another

scholarships

four won awards in the Ohio Line Supervisors Association (OLSA) Scholarship competition. A panel of independent judges reviewed the applications and interviewed the finalists before determining the winners.

OLSA winners

The Ohio Line Supervisors Association is an association of the line supervisors of 25 electric cooperatives in Ohio and West Virginia, affiliated with Ohio’s Electric Cooperatives.

Bradlee Warnement First place — $2,000 North Central Electric Cooperative

Mia Moore Second place — $1,500 Carroll Electric Cooperative

McKenzie Ortiz Third place — $1,000 South Central Power Company

Freeland winners

Named in honor of a long-time employee of Ohio Rural Electric Cooperatives, the $2,800 Louise Freeland Scholarships are awarded annually to the children of electric cooperative employees and trustees.

Olivia Tilton Butler Rural Electric Cooperative

MacKenzie Smith Adams Rural Electric Cooperative

Joshua Leach South Central Power Company

Tiffany Hatcher Pioneer Electric Cooperative

OEC seeks applicants for new technical scholarship

Ohio’s Electric Cooperatives is seeking applicants for its inaugural Technical Scholarship, available to students pursuing career training at a technical school. OEC will award two scholarships: One $2,000 award to a student in a four-year program, and another of $1,000 to a student in a two-year program. Applicants must be currently

attending or planning to attend an accredited technical school or program. Winners will be required to submit proof of enrollment in order to receive the funds. Visit www.ohioec.org/technicalscholarship for full scholarship rules and applications. The application deadline is June 30.

MAY 2017 • OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING

OHIO HISTORY

STORY BY MARGIE WUEBKER PHOTOS BY JILLY BUTLER

L A OF BOR

LO V E R

udy Dalrymple leaves his room at the Ohio Veterans Home in Sandusky between 5 and 5:30 a.m. most days, and settles into a comfortable padded chair behind his sturdy worktable. Using crepe paper, wire, cloth tape, and his trusty wooden crimping tool, he forms delicate poppy blossoms, one after another, again and again, until he’s surrounded by a mound of flowers, which are destined for American Legion auxiliaries across Ohio to use in their major fundraising efforts aroundaround Memorial Day. efforts Memorial Day. 24

OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING • MAY 2017

STORY BY MARGIE WUEBKER

May means poppy time for the auxiliaries, when members work the local churches, banks, supermarkets, and shopping centers to solicit donations, in exchange for the ubiquitous flowers — every one of which is handmade by veterans such as Dalrymple, a Vietnam War veteran originally from Defiance, who has been making the flowers since 1988.

Where it all happens

The Auxiliary maintains its Poppy Shop on the 99-acre grounds of the Veterans Home in Sandusky, the only place in the state where that work goes on year-round. According to Patricia Taylor, the auxiliary’s poppy chairman, the 2017 goal is nearly 400,000 poppies. Dalrymple certainly does his part. He “cuts out” periodically for coffee breaks, and usually takes a lunch around 10 a.m., but his workday seldom ends before 6 p.m. He works slowly and steadily these days — unlike years past, when he says he once completed 800 poppies in a single day — but still manages quite the pocketful of posies by the time the day’s done. He crimps the edges of each petal before adding a commemorative label — the final step in the process. He occasionally looks down to check the progress, candidly admitting that years of practice prevent the need for constant vigilance. Dalrymple has a five-person team of helpers, all Veterans Home residents. Most of the others work in the comfort of their apartments, but Dalrymple prefers his rectangular alcove, just a short walk from the main building. “I’ve taught a lot of veterans how to make poppies through the years,” he says. “They come and go over time. I expect someone will pick up and take my place in years to come, but until then, this gives me a reason to get up in the morning and a way to help others.”

Pride in their work

The Auxiliary hosts an annual open house each April, affording representatives from various

units the opportunity to check out the operation. “The guys here in Sandusky really take pride in their work,” says American Legion Auxiliary Department of Ohio President Denise Conrad. “They know that each and every donation realized through their efforts benefits other veterans in need of assistance.” The Auxiliary pays each poppy maker $100 for every 1,000 memorial flowers made. Money from sales is used to aid hospitalized veterans and those residing in veterans homes.

Symbolism

The poppy became the memorial flower for the American dead in the years after World War I. Veterans returning to their homeland remembered wild poppies covering devastated battlefields in France, and shortly after the armistice, patriotic organizations in different countries began selling the flowers to raise money for injured veterans and their families. The Auxiliary’s poppy program started in June 1919, with the homecoming of the 32nd Division in Milwaukee. Members decorated a coffee and doughnut booth with paper poppies. People pulled off flowers and left behind donations on the counter. A booth worker proposed distributing poppies on streets around Memorial Day as a way to raise money for the rehabilitation of veterans. The American Legion Auxiliary assumed responsibility for the national program in 1924. Each component of the veteran-made poppies holds special significance, according to Taylor. The red petals represent the blood shed by men and women of the armed forces, while the yellow/black center calls to mind the mud and desolation of the battlefield. The green stem is symbolic of the forests, meadows, and fields where generations of Americans perished in the defense of freedom, and attests to the courage and determination of those fallen warriors. MARGIE WUEBKER is food editor for Ohio Cooperative Living.

MAY 2017 • OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING

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TRAVEL OHIO

Young and old alike honor a local legend about a snake in July in Peninsula (above), while bratwurst (left) rules the day in August in Bucyrus.

FUN AND FUNNY

F E S T I VA L S Springtime can only mean one thing: It’s the beginning of festival season in Ohio, a time when there’s a celebration to honor just about any hobby, haute cuisine, and historical happening in hamlets across the state. Here’s a look at some of the more interesting festivals happening this spring and summer.

MAY2017 • 2017 • OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING LIVING MAY OHIO COOPERATIVE

27 27

Peninsula Python Days

or laugh-out-loud, small-town unusual, head to Peninsula on July 15, when a python leads the parade at Peninsula Python Days. A 100-foot-long, people-powered creation of a fabric covered frame, leads a parade celebrating that June day in 1944, when farmer Clarence Mitchell saw a python slither through his corn field. The snake, rumored to be up to 22 feet long, had escaped from a circus wagon passing through town — or maybe not. Even though several people throughout the Cuyahoga Valley claimed to see the python throughout the summer — one woman said it swallowed her chicken whole — the reptile was never

caught. Regardless of legend or truth, Peninsula residents have turned that bit of small-town folklore into a festival of family fun. Along with the parade, Peninsula celebrates its lore with python-themed handmade lawn decorations and a variety of python-themed activities. Head to the library to play Peninsula Python Pandemonium, color pages of Peninsula Python ABC, and check out the mural that depicts the python’s legend. There are more Peninsula Python lore and activities at the Cuyahoga Valley Historical Museum and various businesses. — JAMIE RHEIN

Peninsula Python Days: 8 a.m.-dusk, July 15, Peninsula. Parade starts at noon at the corner of Riverview Road and Route 303. For more information, visit www. explorepeninsula.com for more information.

Ohio Bigfoot Conference and Festival Bigfoot (or Sasquatch) is closely associated with the Pacific Northwest, but there have been thousands of sightings reported in Ohio and nearby states. If you’re a Bigfoot believer, or even just curious about the subject, the annual Ohio Bigfoot Conference is the place to be.

Ohio Bigfoot Conference and Festival: May 1921, 2017, Salt Fork State Park Lodge and Conference Center, 14755 Cadiz Rd., Lore City. Visit www. ohiobigfootconference. org for information. 28 28

The event, which began in 2012, features lectures and appearances by a number of nationally known Bigfoot experts and researchers, including this year’s master of ceremonies, Cliff Barackman, co-host of Animal Planet’s “Finding Bigfoot” series. Also on hand will be Canton native Robert W. Morgan, a Bigfoot expert who gained notoriety in the 1970s and 1980s through his appearances in documentaries and the TV program “In Search Of.” The conference also celebrates the 50th anniversary of the renowned Patterson-Gimlin film, taken along Bluff Creek in California.

OHIOCOOPERATIVE COOPERATIVELIVING • MAY LIVING • MAY2017 2017 OHIO

There will be a number of fun events, including hikes and a vendor fair offering a variety of Sasquatch swag, including books, T-shirts, artwork, and even Bigfoot chainsaw sculptures. The formal conference is followed by the Ohio Bigfoot Festival on Sunday in the picnic area at Salt Fork State Park. The festival includes hands-on demonstrations and clinics on everything from how to cast a footprint in plaster to the proper use of audio/video recording devices and other gear used for Bigfoot spotting. — BRIAN ALBRIGHT

Summer Solstice Lavender Festival Lavender is one of the most beloved herbs for its natural healing qualities, its delicate flavor in cooking, and its prettiness in gardens and floral arrangements.

The versatile herb will be celebrated in June at the ninthannual Summer Solstice Lavender Festival at Peaceful Acres Lavender Farm in Martinsville. Activities include food demonstrations, wreath-making, and medication exercises, coupled with the inhalation of the scent of essential oils. “The festival presents the best time to step into a field of blooming lavender for instant relaxation and amazing photo opportunities,” says Kym Prell, owner of Peaceful Acres Lavender Farm, and a certified reflexologist. Peaceful Acres offers a 2-acre lavender field and walking trails on a 10-acre plot. There’s also an onsite gift shop, where folks can find plenty of lavender-related merchandise. Visitors may pay to pick blooming lavender at the farm from May through September. Prime blooming season is in June, during the festival. “Our farm was created to offer a healing, relaxing space for anyone who wants to visit,” Prell says. “We created the festival to share the amazing feeling you get while standing in a fully blooming field.”

Summer Solstice Lavender Festival: 10 a.m.-6 p.m., June 17; and 11 a.m.-4 p.m., June 18, Peaceful Acres Lavender Farm, 2387 Martinsville Road, Martinsville. Learn more at www.peacefulacreslavenderfarm.com.

— WENDY PRAMIK

Bucyrus Bratwurst Festival No town loves brats more than Bucyrus, a.k.a. “The Bratwurst Capital of America.” The Crawford County seat not only has a strong German heritage, but it also serves as the hub for a county-wide cluster of sausagemakers. Every August, Bucyrus celebrates its signature food with a three-day festival on the streets surrounding the town square. The family-friendly fun includes parades, rides, entertainment ranging from tribute bands to polka tunes, and, of course, plenty of tasty, locally made bratwurst links sizzling on grills. “Our bratwurst producers use family recipes for authentic German bratwurst that have been handed down through the generations,” says Assistant Festival Director Kevin Myers. The Bratwurst Festival started in 1968, and now

ranks among Ohio’s bestattended community events, routinely attracting 100,000 people. In addition to its time-honored beer-stein auction, this year’s 50th Bucyrus Bratwurst Festival features four food-eating contests: bratwurst, ice cream, pizza, and German-style jumbo cream puffs. “The festival is a deep-rooted tradition and a great way to enjoy friends and family while experiencing the sounds of German music and the wonderful smell of bratwurst,” Myers says. —DAMAINE VONADA

The Bucyrus Bratwurst Festival, Aug. 17-19, 2017. Call 419-562-BRAT (2728) or visit www. bucyrusbratwurstfestival.com for information.

MAY 2017 • OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING 29 LIVING 29

STORY BY CELESTE BAUMGARTNER PHOTOS COURTESY SEVEN OAKS FARM

CO-OP PEOPLE

HELPING

HOOVES

The miniature horses of Seven Oaks Farm bring joy and comfort to those who could use some of both Miniature horses make good therapy animals for the very reason that they’re small, and so not as intimidating to kids (or adults) as regular-sized versions.

he 30 or so therapy horses of Seven Oaks Farm may be little, but they have a big impact. Owner Lisa Moad brings the horses around to more than 50 care facilities and numerous Ronald McDonald houses to bring comfort to the residents and guests, and joins with several police departments to help with community and anti-bullying efforts. “The kids come out, and they see little horses, and that’s exciting for them,” Moad says. “They just spend time brushing their hair and putting bows on the animals, talking, and then they get to giggling. For them, it’s

30 30

OHIO OHIOCOOPERATIVE COOPERATIVELIVING • MAY LIVING • MAY2017 2017

a short break of time when they can just be kids again.” Moad’s venture started when she saw an online video of a woman in hospice care. The woman had been a horse owner and, in her final days, wanted to see a horse again. Moad already owned some minis at the time, and figured — correctly, as it turns out — there probably were others in similar situations. She contacted a nursing home, and they invited Moad to bring her miniature horses to visit the residents, and the family has been at it ever since. At Covenant Village, a physical therapy rehabilitation center in Green Township,

Karen Seimer, director of activities, appreciates that the little equines are so even-tempered. “I have a lot of residents who can get out in their wheelchairs to see the horses. We gather in a group and pet the the animals and spend time with them,” Seimer says. “But if there is somebody who loves animals and is The animals of Seven Oaks Farm visit children and adults in schools, care facilities, nursing bed-bound, Lisa will homes and hospitals, often making several trips per week. go with me and take the horses right to the bedside, and they’ll can identify with a one-eyed horse,” Moad says. nuzzle up to someone’s face. The residents love Another of the horses, Denver, is coated with it — they’re so excited and joyful.” glitter and sports a unicorn horn for visits to Adds Moad: “The seniors are the people we see the most, and when we go into the senior homes or the Alzheimer’s units, the reception we get and the brightness in their lives is significant.” Moad also takes the miniature animals to a variety of community events with the Cincinnati ‘Kids Police Department, one of several police with issues departments with which can identify with she works.

a one-eyed horse.’

“What’s nice about these therapy horses is that they’re small,” says Roberta Utrecht, a patrol officer with the department. “They are the perfect size, so they’re not intimidating, even though there’s a police officer standing next to them.” Most of Moad’s minis are rescue horses. Some have pedigrees and have won national honors, but come to Seven Oaks Farm when their owners can no longer care for them. They’re an interesting mix of characters. A pair of mini mules graze in the pasture along with Patches, who has one eye — “kids with issues

Ronald McDonald houses. Then there’s Wendy, who’s everyone’s favorite, since she’s teeny, even by miniature horse standards. Training and caring for all those little animals takes work. Moad and her husband, John, who are members of Butler Rural Electric Cooperative in Oxford, have five adult sons, each with significant-others, and all 10 help. Work starts in the wee hours of the morning, to care for the horses and do all of the things that living on a farm requires. Moad also supervises the farm’s many volunteers, including groups of students from nearby Miami University, who earn service-learning hours. It’s also good work for groups of developmentally disabled people, and for high school students looking for community-service hours. “A lot of people just want to work with horses,” Moad said. “Some people have a fear of horses, and this is their gateway into being with a big animal. For a lot of people, it’s their time to be out and enjoy being with the horses. We always need help; we need people just to pet the horses and love on them.” CELESTE BAUMGARTNER is a freelance writer from Hamilton.

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MAY 2017 CALENDAR NORTHWEST

MAY 4–14 – Last Round-Up of the Guacamole Queens, Van Wert Civic Theatre, 118 S. Race St., Van Wert, Thur.–Sat. 8 p.m., Sun. 2 p.m. $13. A southern-fried high school reunion comedy. 419-238-9689 or www.vwct.org. MAY 5–14 – Biggest Week in American Birding, headquarters at Maumee Bay Lodge and Conference Ctr., 1750 State Park Rd., Oregon, daily 7 a.m.–8 p.m. Free. Guided tours, bird ID workshops, birding by canoe, field trips, keynote presentations, Birder’s Marketplace, and evening socials with free food and music. 800-243-4667 or www. biggestweekinamericanbirding.com.

NORTHEAST

THROUGH MAY 18 – 35th Annual National Whiskey Painting Exhibition and Art Sale, Cuyahoga Valley Art Ctr., 2131 Front St., Cuyahoga Falls, Mon.–Thur. 9 a.m.–8 p.m., Fri. 9 a.m.–9 p.m., Sat. 10 a.m.–2 p.m. A Whiskey Painting is done in watercolor by dipping the brush in alcoholic spirits. Sale prices generally starting at $75. 330-928-8092, e-mail cvartcenter@ sbcglobal.net, or http://cvartcenter.org/exhibits/. MAY 4–6 – Village-Wide Garage Sales, 209 N. Market St., Minerva, 9 a.m.–5 p.m. 330-868-7705, ext. 106, or 330-8683783. MAY 5–7, 12–14 – The Little Mermaid, Geauga Lyric Theater Guild, 101 Water St., Chardon, Fri./Sat. 8 p.m., Sun. 2 p.m. $18, Stds./Srs. $15, $10 C. (12 and under). 440-286-2255 or www.geaugatheater.org. MAY 5–6 – Dandelion May Fest, Breitenbach Wine Cellars, 5934 Old Rte. 39 NW, Dover, Fri. noon–7 p.m., Sat. 9 a.m.–7 p.m. Dandelion food tastings, cooking demos, dandelion picking contest and jelly-making, vendor fair, 5K run. 330-343-3603 or

SOUTHEAST

MAY 6–7 – 29th annual “Springtime in Ohio” Art and Craft Show, Hancock Co. Fgds., 017 E Sandusky St., Findlay, 10 a.m.–5 p.m. $5, under 12 free. More than 280 exhibitors. Crafts and art displays, food, entertainment, kids’ activities, and demos. 419-436-1457 or http://cloudshows.biz/event-calendar.

MAY 20–21 – Settlers Reenactment, Auglaize Vlllage and Farm Museum, 12296 Krouse Rd., Defiance, Sat. 10 a.m.–5 p.m., Sun. 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Living history demonstrations for the period 1750–1812. Hands-on activities include churning butter, carding wool, and candle dipping. Train rides $2. 419-636-2560.

MAY 13 – Lilac Festival, downtown Defiance. Celebrate the official flower of Defiance at this arts and crafts fair. Free lilacs to the first 500 attendees. 5K race, Power of Purple parade, arts and craft vendors, food, and kids' activities. 419-782-0739 or http://visitdefianceohio.com/event/downtown.

MAY 22–23 – Auditions for Summer Youth Theatre: Lion King, Jr., Van Wert Civic Theatre, 118 S. Race St., Van Wert, 6:30 p.m. Open to school-age students K–12. Show dates are June 22–25. www.vwct.org.

MAY 13 – Bluffton Arts and Crafts Show, Main St., Bluffton, 9 a.m.–3 p.m. Street fair featuring crafts, antiques, gardening items, concessions, family/kids’ activities, and live entertainment. 419-369-2985 or www.explorebluffton.com.

MAY 25–29 – Main Street Port Clinton Walleye Festival, Waterworks Park, Port Clinton. Features free live concerts, Kids’ Fishing Derby, Grande Parade, educational programs and activities, Walleye 5K Run & Walk, carnival rides, and more than 130 vendors. 419-734-5503 or www.walleyefestival.com.

MAY 13–14 – Spring on the Farm, Sauder Village, 22611 St. Rte. 2, Archbold, 10 a.m.–5 p.m. Experience what life in rural Ohio was like more than 100 years ago. 800-590-9755 or https://saudervillage.org.

MAY 26-28 – Buckeye Farm Antiques, 28th annual Tractor and Engine Show, Shelby County Fairgrounds, Sidney, free kids activities, tractor and truck pulls, and working primitive machines, 937-596-6812 or www.buckeyefarmantiques.com.

MAY 14 – VanWert Area Boychoir Spring Concert, St. Mark's Lutheran Church, corner of West Sycamore and 127, Van Wert. 3 p.m. 419-238-1962.

MAY 29 – Memorial Day Horsemanship Clinic, Wyandot Co. Equine Rescue, 4658 St. Rte. 199, Carey. A unique opportunity to have a professional trainer help you with your horse. $30 to observe, $50 to participate. 419-294-4477.

MAY 19–20 – Hamler Country Fest, St. Rte. 109, Hamler. Gates open Fri. 5:30 p.m., Sat. 2:30 p.m. $15. Rodney Atkins, Nashville Crush, Brent Lowry and the Drifters, and more. Open seating under roof; bring lawn chairs. 419-748-7459, e-mail hamlercountryfest@gmail.com, or www.hamlercountryfest.com. MAY 20 – Antique Car Gathering, Sauder Village, 22611 St. Rte. 2, Archbold, 10 a.m.–5 p.m. More than 100 antique cars dating back to the early 1900s. 800-590-9755 or https:// saudervillage.org. www.breitenbachwine.com/events/dandelion-festival. MAY 6 – PSA Train Collectors Association, Lake Erie Chapter, Spring Train Show, UAW Hall, 5615 Chevrolet Blvd., Parma, 10 a.m.–3 p.m. $6, under 12 free. All-gauge show including ‘O,’ ‘S,’ ‘HO,’ ‘N,’ ‘Z,’ and large scale with over 150 tables. Watch trains run on operating layouts. New and old trains to buy, sell, or trade, plus parts, repair manuals, price guides, and more. 440-845-2700 or e-mail tcalakeerie@gmail. com. MAY 6–7 – PSA Model Train Days, Painesville Railroad Museum (a.k.a. NYC Painesville Depot), 475 Railroad St., Painesville, 10 a.m.–4 p.m. $5, Family $7. Modular displays, operating layouts in ‘N’ scale, ‘HO’ and ‘S’ scale, ‘O’ and ‘G’ gauge. Model train flea market on grounds. Food and drinks will be available. 440-417-6746, e-mail prrm@att.net, or www. painesvillerailroadmuseum.org. MAY 6–7 – Ohio Civil War Show, Richland Co. Fgds., 750 N Home Rd., Mansfield, Sat. 9 a.m.–5 p.m., Sun. 9 a.m.– 3 p.m. $7. Buildings with 750 tables, military items, relics, and memorabilia from 1775 to 1945 to buy, sell, or trade. 6-gun battery firing demos, Civil War hospital scenario and battleground encampments, and fife and drum corp presentation. www.ohiocivilwarshow.com. MAY 7 – 2nd Annual Harrison Career Ctr. FFA Truck and Tractor Show, Harrison Career Ctr., 82500 Cadiz-Jewett Rd. (Ohio Rte. 9), Cadiz, 1-6 p.m. Trucks, tractors, cars, and more — all makes, models, and years. Food, music, and family fun. 330-440-5578. MAY 12–13 – Our Town, NewPointe Community Church, 8882 OH-39, Millersburg, Fri. 7 p.m., Sat. 2 and 7 p.m. $10. Thornton Wilder’s Pulitzer Prize–winning play focuses on the lives of its citizens and their experiences with love and loss. 330473-2879 or www.holmescenterforthearts.org.

MAY 5–SEPT. 29 – Cambridge Main Street Farmers Market, Courthouse Square, Cambridge, Fri. 9 a.m.–1 p.m. 740-439-2238 or www.downtowncambridge.com.

MAY 6 – Pickaway-Ross Central Ohio Expo, 895 Crouse Chapel Rd., Chillicothe, 10 a.m.–2 p.m. Craft show, car show, kids tractor pull, flower sale, book sale and food. 740-642-1301. MAY 6 – Spring Fest, Deerassic Park Education Ctr., 14250 Cadiz Rd., Cambridge, 10 a.m.–6 p.m. 740-435-3335 or www. deerassic.com. MAY 13 – 15th annual Battle from the Saddle Trail Ride, Scioto Trails State Park and Forest, Chillicothe, ride out at noon. 740-703-8176 or jeweyoates@gmail.com.

MAY 4–7 – Wild Turkey Festival, downtown McArthur. Rides and games, car show, quilt show, parade, live music, and contests. 740-591-1118 or www.vintoncountytravel.com/ events/wild-turkey-festival-2017.

MAY 13 – Kids’ Fishing Rodeo, Bob Evans Farm Pond, Rio Grande, 8–11 a.m. Bring your favorite fishing pole. For kids age 12 and under. Win one of six scholarships. 740-709-1256 or www.kingkatusa.com. MAY 13 – Cabela’s King Kat Tournament, 321 Upper River Rd., Gallipolis, 6:30 a.m.–3 p.m. 740-446-8080 or www. kingkatusa.com.

OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING • MAY 2017

MAY 29 – Salute the Troops, Perry’s Victory and International Peace Memorial, 93 Delaware Ave., Putin-Bay, 11 a.m. Free. Pay tribute to all servicemen and women who have lost their lives in conflicts throughout U.S. history. 419-285-2184 or www.nps.gov/pevi/index.htm.

MAY 13 – Fairlawn Spring Avant-Garde Art and Craft Show, St. George’s Fellowship Ctr., 3204 Ridgewood Rd., Fairlawn, 10 a.m.–5 p.m. $3, under 12 free. Large show features artists and crafters selling their original handmade items. 440227-8794 or www.avantgardeshows.com. MAY 20 – German Maifest at Historic Zoar Village, 198 Main St., Zoar, Ohio, 10 a.m.–5 p.m. Free. German food and drink, games, make-and-take art projects, and spring tours of the village. Grand opening of the Bimeler Art Gallery featuring Zoar works by the Cleveland School of Artists. 800-262-6195 or www. historiczoarvillage.com. MAY 20 – Two for Tea, Elizabeth House Tea Room, 438 Union St., Mount Pleasant, 1–3:30 p.m. $9.50, C. (under 12) $5. Exhibit of antique clothing and tea sets, including an afternoon tea. 740-633-1809. MAY 21 – 2nd Annual “Almost Summer” Car and Bike Show, Madison Comprehensive High, 600 Esley Lane, Mansfield. $10 entry fee. Registration 9 a.m.–1 p.m. Card Shark Ride for Education registration begins at 9 a.m., additional $5. Awards presented at 3 p.m. Proceeds benefit Madison Career Tech Programs. 419-589-2112, ext. 8490 or 8624, or www.mlsd. net/highschool.html. MAY 25 – Fort Steuben Summer Concert Series, Berkman Amphitheater, Fort Steuben Park, 120 S. 3rd St., Steubenville, 6:30–9 p.m. Bring a blanket and picnic basket and enjoy a free concert at this site overlooking the Ohio River. 740283-1787 or www.oldfortsteuben.com. MAY 25 – Richland Co. Chapter, Ohio Genealogical Society Meeting, OGS Library, 611 St. Rte. 97 W., Bellville, 7 p.m. Free and open to the public. Andrew Richmond presents “Ohio Furniture 101: An Introduction to Styles and Cultural Groups.” 419-566-4560, e-mail sunda1960@ yahoo.com, or www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~ohrichgs.

MAY 19–21 – Cambridge Singers Spring Show: “Come Rain or Come Shine,” Scottish Rite Auditorium, 941 Wheeling Ave., Cambridge, Fri./Sat. 8 p.m., Sun. 3 p.m. 740-432-3956. MAY 20 – Rendezvous at the Rock, Leo Petroglyphs Historic Site, Park Rd., Leo (Jackson Co.), 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Free. Native American displays, flint knapping, atlatl, music, food, and a wildflower walk. 740-384-3537 or www.leopetroglyph.com. MAY 25–28 – Feast of the Flowering Moon, Water St., Chillicothe, 10 a.m.–10 p.m. Free. Native American music, dancing, traders, exhibits, arts and crafts, and demos. 800-4134118 or www.feastofthefloweringmoon.org. MAY 26–29 – Muskingum Valley Trade Days, 6602 St. Rte. 78, Reinersville. Large flea market. 740-558-2740 before show or 740-558-2402. MAY 31–JUN. 4 – National Road Yard Sale, throughout Guernsey Co. www.oldstorefrontantiques.com.

SOUTHWEST CENTRAL

MAY 6 – Gardens at Gantz Farm Herb and Perennial Sale, Gantz Park, 2255 Home Rd., Grove City, 8:30 a.m.–2:30 p.m. A wide variety of culinary and landscape herbs and perennials for sale, featuring rain-garden, pollinator-friendly, and native plants. 614-871-6323. MAY 6 – Model Train Show Family Fun Day, Marion Co. Fgds., Veterans Memorial Coliseum, 220 E. Fairground St., Marion, 10 a.m.–3 p.m. $5, under 12 free. Features several operating layouts running American Flyer and other 1/64th model trains. Trains, accessories, and other merchandise for sale. First 50 kids attending receive a free train whistle. 614766-9033 or www.sspree.info/FFunday.html.

THROUGH AUG. 27 – “Totally Tiffin . . . Ever Erickson,” Ohio Glass Museum's Gallery, 124 W. Main St., Lancaster, Tues.–Sun. 1–4 p.m. Fantastic displays of unique pieces of handcrafted artistic Ohio-made glass. 740-687-0101 or www.ohioglassmuseum.org. MAY 4–6 – Central Ohio S Gaugers Model Train Show: Spring S Spree, Marion Co. Fgds., Veterans Memorial Coliseum, 220 E. Fairground St., Marion. Over 135 dealer tables, several operating layouts, daily door prizes, how-to clinics, a pizza party Friday night, and flying pancake breakfast Saturday morning. Visit the historic Marion Union Train Station just minutes away. Don't miss the tour of the unique Age of Steam Roundhouse tour. 740-382-2558, www. cosg.org, or www.sspree.info/info.html. MAY 6 – Time Travellers’ Faire, Tri-Rivers Career Ctr., 2222 Marion-Mount Gilead Rd., Marion, 7 p.m. $15 in advance, $20 at door. “Travel” to your favorite time in history while dressing in period clothing from the past, present, alternative past, or future if desired. Historic fashion show, Victorian tea, and appetizers and desserts. 740-387-4255 or www.marionhistory.com.

SOUTHWEST

MAY 6 – Pickaway-Ross Central Ohio Expo, 895 Crouse Chapel Road, Chillicothe, 10 a.m.–2 p.m. Visit program labs and enjoy the many activities scheduled, including a craft show, car show, kiddy tractor pull, flower sale, book sale, and auction. Food vendors on site. 740-642-1301. MAY 6–7 – Central Ohio Folk Festival, Battelle Darby Creek Metro Park, 1775 Darby Creek Dr., Galloway. Continuous concerts and over 45 musicians’ workshops. 614-470-3963 or www.cfms-inc.org. MAY 7 – Mommy and Me Princess Tea, Marion Palace Theatre, 276 West Center St., Marion, 12:30 p.m. $22 (1 adult and 1 child), additional tickets $10 adult, $8 child. For children 4–12. Participants are treated to a kid-friendly luncheon with finger sandwiches, sides, and drinks while enjoying live music performed by a youth string quartet. Other activities include games and storytime. 740-383-2101 or www marionpalace.org. MAY 11 – Five Nights On Campus: Lora Ellis in Cinema Sweethearts, Morrill Hall Auditorium, 1465 Mount Vernon Ave., Marion, 7:30 p.m. A celebration of the Golden Age of Hollywood’s iconic leading ladies — and the songs that made us fall in love with them. 740-725-6340 or https:// osumarion.osu.edu/initiatives/cultural-arts/five-nights.html. MAY 11–13 – Chadwick Arboretum & Learning Gardens Spring Plant Sale and Auction Fundraiser, 2201 Fred Taylor Dr., Columbus, Thur. 5:30–8:30 p.m., members only (buy a membership at the sale site); Fri. 8 a.m.–7 p.m.; Sat. 8 a.m.–3 p.m. Perennials, annuals,

and carriages are welcome. Decorate carriage with flowers to celebrate spring. 513-523-8687 or http://butlercountyoh.us/ event-calendar/. MAY 6–7 – Glassblowing Workshop: Mother’s Day Vase with Flower, Neusole Glassworks, 11925 Kemper Springs Dr., Cincinnati. $50. 30-minute slots scheduled between 10 a.m. and 8 p.m. Reservations required. With the help of professional glassblowers, you can blow one vase, then sculpt one flower from hot molten glass. Must be age 5–6 or older. 513-751-3292, e-mail neusoleglassworks@hotmail.com, or http://neusoleglassworks.com.

MAY 1 – Down Home, Downtown: Vernon McIntyre’s Appalachian Grass, Miami University Hamilton Downtown, 221 High St., Hamilton, 7–9 p.m. Free. Enjoy the bluegrass band’s lightning-fast instrumentals, close harmonies, and entertaining novelty songs. E-mail vaughnjh@gmail.com.

MAY 10 – Vernon McIntyre’s Appalachian Grass, Christ Church Glendale, 965 Forest Ave. Glendale, 12 p.m. Enjoy live music with your lunch. Bring your own lunch or purchase a box lunch on-site. 513-771-1544 or e-mail bryan.mock@ christchurchglendale.org. MAY 12 - Moth Night, Cedar Bog Nature Preserve, 980 Woodburn Rd., Urbana, at dusk. Free. Led by volunteer naturalist Jim Lemon. Weather permitting. 937-484-3744 or e-mail cedarbog@ctcn.net.

MAY 3, 10, 17, 24, 31 – Bluegrass Night at Pit to Plate BBQ, 8021 Hamilton Ave., Mt. Healthy, 7–9 p.m. Free. An evening of lively music with Cincinnati’s finest bluegrass band, Vernon McIntyre's Appalachian Grass. Everyone is invited to bring a musical instrument and join the band to pick a good bluegrass number. 513-931-9100.

MAY 12–14 – Appalachian Festival, Coney Island, 6201 Kellogg Ave., Cincinnati, Fri. 9 a.m.–9 p.m., Sat. 10 a.m.–9 p.m., Sun. 10 a.m.–6 p.m. $10, Srs. $5, C. (2–12), $2, under 2 free. Handmade crafts, down-home food, Living History Village and educational exhibits, old-time dance, storytelling, and music. www.appalachianfestivalcincinnati.org.

MAY 6 – Red Bricks and Roses Horse-Drawn Carriage Parade, Millett Hall, Miami University, 500 E. Sycamore St., Oxford, noon–1 p.m. Parade through historic Oxford and enjoy the university’s beautiful campus. All types of horses

MAY 13 – “Embracing Nature in Your Backyard,” with Donna Schwab, Cedar Bog Nature Preserve, 980 Woodburn Rd., Urbana, 10 a.m. $10, $5 CBA/OHC members. 937-4843744 or e-mail cedarbog@ctcn.net.

WEST VIRGINIA

MAY 6–7 – Antique Gas and Engine Show, WV State Farm Museum, 458 Fairgrounds Rd., Point Pleasant. Exhibits of a working sawmill, displays of small engines and antique tractors, over 30 historic buildings, and numerous other exhibits. 304-675-5737. MAY 12–13 – 23rd Annual Bluegrass Festival, North Bend State Park, Cairo, Fri. 6–10 p.m., Sat. 1–10 p.m. $10 Fri., $30 Sat., $35 weekend pass (advance). Bluegrass musicians from around the state and the region, plus local artisans. 304-643-2931, 1-800-CALL-WVA, or www.northbendsp.com.

vegetables, herbs, trees, shrubs, and more for sale, plus local artwork. http://chadwickarboretum.osu.edu. MAY 12 – Phil Vassar, Marion Palace Theatre, 276 West Center St., Marion, 8 p.m. $30–$47. Billboard’s Country Songwriter of the Year. 740-383-2101 or www.marionpalace. org. MAY 12–14 – Community Days Festival, Fairfield Co. Fgds., Lancaster, Fri. 4–10 p.m., Sat. noon–10:30 p.m., Sun. noon–6 p.m. Free. Rides, food, games, craft show, car show, and entertainment. New this year: Fast Traxx Moto Cross racing, Sat. night concert. www.communitydaysfestival.org. MAY 13 – Harding Home Kickoff Breakfast, Tri-Rivers Career Ctr., 2222 Marion-Mount Gilead Rd., Marion, 7:30–10 a.m. $5 in advance, $6 at door. Celebrate the Harding Home visitor season with a hearty breakfast of Florence Harding’s waffles and your choice of toppings, bacon, juice, and beverage. 740-387-9630 or www.hardinghome.org. MAY 13 – Pickerington Community Chorus: “Say It with a Song: Celebrating 10 Years,” with special guests Pickerington High School Central’s Chorale, Peace United Methodist Church, 235 Diley Rd., Pickerington, 7 p.m. $10, Srs./C. $8 in advance; $12/$10 at the door. www. pickeringtoncommunitychorus.com. MAY 27–29 – Utica Sertoma Ice Cream Festival, Ye Olde Mill and Velvet Ice Cream Co., 11339 Mt. Vernon Rd., Utica. $5 per car. Fun-filled weekend for the entire family. Rides, games, antique gas engines, car show, motorcycle show, eating contests, arts and crafts, and ice cream, of course! E-mail uticaohiosertoma@gmail.com or www. sertomaicecreamfestival.com. MAY 28–29 – Asian Festival, Franklin Park, 1755 E. Broad St., Columbus, 10 a.m.–8 p.m. Free. A celebration of Asian culture, including dance, music, martial arts, food, and much more. A unique opportunity to see performers from Asia and all over the U.S. http://asian-festival.org. MAY 29 – Memorial Day Celebration, Veterans Memorial Park, 154 Commerce St., Lockbourne. Parade starts at noon, followed by a service honoring Lockbourne Air Force Base, WASPS, and all veterans. 614-491-3161.

MAY 19 – Taste of the Arts: A Feast for the Senses, Ash and Main Sts., Piqua. A delightful evening of fun, live music, and food in downtown Piqua. Be sure to stop in and see the various demos in the storefronts. Huge selection of food options from various local restaurants and caterers. Items range from $1 to $4. 937-773-9355 or www.mainstreetpiqua.com. MAY 19–21 – Maifest, Germania Park, 3529 W. Kemper Rd., Cincinnati, Fri. 6 p.m.–midnight, Sat. noon-midnight, Sun. noon–8 p.m. $3, under 12 free. Raise a stein to spring’s blooming flowers and warming weather with our own Maifest celebration — the most authentic in Cincinnati. Enjoy traditional German food, drink, and entertainment. www. germaniasociety.com/maifest/. MAY 20 – 3rd Annual Food Truck Competition and Rally, Miami Co. Fgds., North Co. Rd. 25A, Troy, 11 a.m.–9 p.m. Free. Teams of food trucks will gather to show off their best dishes and desserts. 937-335-7492. MAY 20 – Upper Valley Fiber Fest, Miami Co. Fgds., North Co. Rd. 25A, Troy, 10 a.m.–5 p.m. A fiber enthusiast haven! A celebration of all things fiber related: spinning, knitting, weaving, quilting, crochet, felting, and more. Hands-on demos and plenty of vendors. www.uppervalleyfiberfest.org. MAY 26 – ArtsConnect Café Lunchtime Concert: McIntyre Bluegrass Duet, Springfield Township Senior and Community Arts Ctr., 9150 Winton Rd., Cincinnati, 11:30 a.m.–1 p.m. Free. Bring your own lunch or purchase one from on-site food truck. Bring lawn chair in case seating is limited. 513-522-1410 or www.theartsconnect.us.

PLEASE NOTE: Ohio Cooperative Living strives for accuracy but strongly urges readers to confirm dates and times before traveling long distances to events. Submit listings AT LEAST 90 DAYS prior to the event by writing to Ohio Cooperative Living, 6677 Busch Blvd., Columbus, OH 43229 or events@ohioec. org. Ohio Cooperative Living will not publish listings that don’t include a complete address of where the event takes place or a number/website for more information.

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330-758-2114 740-245-5193 513-756-9700 330-859-2581 330-627-8089 740-753-9242 937-484-3406 937-927-5363 419-446-2460 740-569-7351 740-392-4117 740-374-3245 614-877-4244 419-264-2031 567-204-8257 740-498-6613 937-604-0036 937-269-6247 419-784-1806 740-927-8874 419-938-3981

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COOPERATION AMONG COOPERATIVES Cooperatives serve their members most effectively by sharing resources and collaborating with co-op organizations at the state, national, and international levels. Overall, cooperation strengthens the cooperative network.

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