Ohio Cooperative Living – May 2023 - Washington

ALSO INSIDE

What is the grid?

Master gardeners

Marc DeWerth has nominated numerous trees that have attained “state champion” status with the Ohio Division of Forestry. The trunk on this monster of a white oak in Athens County is almost 26 feet in diameter.

This page: Ohio's Master Gardener Volunteer program inspired Lorain-Medina Rural Electric Cooperative member Jackie Driscoll to plant an 8-acre pollinator garden on her property near Wellington.

Time for a change

After working in the electric utility business for nearly 40 years, I still marvel at the working of our interconnected electric power network that we commonly refer to as “the grid.” It has taken equal parts of engineering, ingenuity, and hard work to design, build, and sustain a network that makes electricity available every hour of every day, no matter how hot or how cold the weather outside may be. I hope you have the chance to read more about the basic workings of the power grid in our article on page 4

Unfortunately, as summer approaches this year, we can no longer take that 24/ 7 availability for granted. Over the past several years, we have experienced a tightening of the supply-demand balance that’s critical to the function of our power grid. Since 2020, each time a large area of the country has experienced extreme temperatures for more than a day or two, the supply of electricity has proved inadequate to meet demand and forced regional grid operators to shut off power to consumers for hours or even days at a time to keep the system from crashing.

Across the country, we are facing the disorderly retirement of baseload coal and nuclear power plants because of poorly conceived and harmful energy policies that include:

• Overreaching and unreasonable environmental regulations that result in unnecessarily high costs while providing only minimal environmental benefits.

• Poorly designed electricity market rules that under-compensate reliable baseload power plants that provide a steady and controllable output, while over-compensating less reliable and intermittent sources.

• Unreasonable goals and time frames to achieve greater reductions in carbon emissions from electricity providers, despite the fact that the U.S. electric sector has cut CO2 emissions by 36% since 2005 while producing nearly 5% more electricity.

Organizations charged with ensuring a reliable electric grid such as the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (nerc.com) and the PJM Interconnection (pjm.com) have each, independently, published reports that outline concerning trends that are resulting in increased reliability risks.

While the mission of your electric cooperative has not changed and our commitment to you, our members, has not wavered, the harsh reality is that providing a safe, reliable, affordable, and environmentally responsible supply of electricity is getting more and more challenging. We need changes in the policies that affect our electricity supply.

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

As summer approaches this year, we can no longer take 24/7 availability of electricity for granted.

Ohio Rural Electric Cooperatives

6677 Busch Blvd. Columbus, OH 43229 614-846-5757

www.ohiocoopliving.com

Patrick O’Loughlin President & CEO

Caryn Whitney Director of Communications

Jeff McCallister Managing Editor

Amy Howat Associate Editor

Crystal Pomeroy Graphic Designer

Contributors: Margaret Buranen, Colleen Romick

Clark, Getty Images, W.H. “Chip” Gross, Sarah Jaquay, Catherine Murray, Craig Springer, and Damaine Vonada.

OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING (USPS 134-760; ISSN 2572-049X) is published monthly by Ohio Rural Electric Cooperatives, Inc. It is the official communication link between the electric cooperatives in Ohio and West Virginia and their members. Subscription cost for members ranges from $5.52 to $6.96 per year, paid from equity accruing to the member.

POSTMASTER: Send address changes to editorial and advertising offices at: 6677 Busch Boulevard, Columbus, OH 43229-1101. Periodicals postage paid at Pontiac, IL 61764, and at additional mailing offices. Nothing in this publication may be reproduced in any manner without written permission from Ohio Rural Electric Cooperatives, Inc. All rights reserved. The fact that a product is advertised in Ohio Cooperative Living should not be taken as an endorsement. If you find an advertisement misleading or a product unsatisfactory, please notify us or the Ohio Attorney General’s Office, Consumer Protection Section, 30 E. Broad St., Columbus, OH 43215. Periodicals postage paid at Columbus, OH, and at additional mailing offices.

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DEPARTMENTS

4 POWER LINES

Electric highway: The system of delivering electricity to consumers only gets noticed when it fails. But what exactly is “the grid”?

8 WOODS, WATERS, AND WILDLIFE

Looking good in orange: Outdoors editor Chip Gross offers some surefire ways to lure orioles to your backyard feeder.

10 CO-OP PEOPLE

Masters of the landscape: Extension program aims not to grow gardens, but rather to grow gardeners.

13 GOOD EATS

Location, location, location: This selection of delicious food is from all over the map.

17 LOCAL PAGES

News and other important information from your electric cooperative.

33 CALENDAR

National/regional advertising inquiries, contact Cheryl Solomon

American MainStreet Publications

847-749-4875 | cheryl@amp.coop

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

Alliance for Audited Media Member

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What’s happening: May/June events and other things to do around Ohio

36 MEMBER INTERACTIVE

Junior gardeners: The next generation of green thumbs takes over in members’ backyards.

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Visit Ohio Cooperative Living magazine online at www.ohiocoopliving.com! Read past issues and watch videos about our articles or our recipes. Our site features an expanded Member Interactive area, where you can share your stories, recipes, and photos and find content submitted by other co-op members across the state.

Electric highway

BY JEFF MCCALLISTER

Again in late March and early April, a series of powerful storms swept through Ohio — this time bringing gale-force winds that brought down trees, snapped utility poles, and pulled wide stretches of power line to the ground, causing electricity to stop flowing to homes and businesses around the state.

Line crews from Ohio electric cooperatives, as they do, worked diligently, for long hours and several days, to reconnect those co-op-served portions of the power grid that had gone offline.

Scenes like that, when they happen, are highly visible events; that visibility may even make them seem common, especially during storm season. In reality, however, power is available to electric meters served by Ohio electric

cooperatives more than 99 9% of the time, according to Ben Wilson, director of power delivery engineering at Buckeye Power, which generates and supplies the electricity co-ops distribute to their members. For the vast majority of time, no one really thinks about electricity or where it comes from, or how it gets to that lightbulb. It’s only during that fraction of a percent of the hours in a year when power is not available that the grid comes to public attention.

But what is ‘the grid’?

In the United States, the electricity industry has a generating capacity of 1.1 million megawatts, serving up electricity to nearly every home and business — including over a million Ohioans and 42 million people across the country who are served by electric cooperatives.

“In short, the electricity grid is the system and equipment required to get electric power from where it’s generated to where it’s used,” says Tom Schmidt, principal planning engineer at Buckeye Power. “It’s a vast, sprawling, yet interconnected network that has provided this essential public good for over 100 years.”

The system of delivering electricity to consumers only gets noticed when it fails. But what exactly is ‘the grid’?

A map of the system of transmission lines in the U.S. resembles a roadmap, because, in a way, that’s exactly what it is.

It’s that interconnectedness that makes it a grid.

“You can think of the power grid like our system of roadways,” Schmidt says. “Each individual part of each system is designed and built to handle a certain volume — cars and trucks on the highway system, electricity on the grid.”

In that analogy, the interstate highway system compares to the high-voltage transmission system that carries bulk electricity at a very high voltage from its generation source to individual distribution systems.

Transformers step down voltage along the way, like cars taking exit ramps from the highway onto city streets, then slowing further onto smaller roads until it’s just one single car turning onto a driveway: electricity entering a home at a much lower, safer voltage than what’s carried on the transmission lines.

A system of redundancy

In the same way that there may be several different routes your family could take to drive to, say, Columbus, in case an accident or traffic jam closes one roadway, engineers build redundancy into the system of power lines and substations that provides numerous pathways for electricity to move and eventually arrive at members’ homes and businesses.

Generally, those redundancies are what allow for the grid’s overall high reliability. When an accident happens on the grid’s interstate — the extra-high-voltage transmission system — power is automatically rerouted to prevent interruptions to hundreds of thousands of consumers. Lower-voltage transmission lines provide power to fewer people and can often lack the redundancy of the extra-high-voltage transmission system. This is also true for local distribution lines operated by electric cooperatives. In cases with limited redundancy, electric cooperatives constantly strive to maintain and improve local distribution lines while also supporting investments in transmission line upgrades — all, of course, while responding to every outage as it happens.

Like highway construction projects, transmission power line improvements can be slow, unsightly, and costly. But once completed, these investments strengthen the transmission grid by adding redundancy — increasing reliability and resilience for many decades.

Balance of power

Thomas Edison created the first power grid in 1882 and other than a change from direct current to alternating current, the technology is basically the same because the physics is the same: Power producers must ensure that the amount of electricity generated at power plants and put into the grid precisely matches the amount of electricity used by consumers at any given moment. An

The electric roadway

The electricity grid can be compared with our system of roads.

Extra-high-voltage transmission lines, 300 kV (300,000 volts) to 1,000 kV: compares to an interstate highway (high volume, high capacity); carries enough power for 100,000 to 500,000 homes.

Transmission lines, 100 kV to 300 kV: compares to a U.S. highway (not quite the capacity of an interstate); 10,000 to 100,000 homes.

Sub-transmission lines, 20kV to 100 kV: closer to a state highway (still lots of volume); 1,000 to 10,000 homes.

3-phase distribution, 4 kV to 40 kV: more like a city street in terms of volume; 100 to 1,000 homes.

Single-phase distribution, 2 kV to 15 kV: more like a smaller residential street; 10 to 100 homes.

Distribution service, 120 to 240 volts: the lines that come from the street to your house, compares to your driveway; 1 to 10 homes.

imbalance can cause anything from widespread blackouts to damaged equipment.

The recent retirement of numerous power plants over the last couple of years, coupled with extreme weather events, has resulted in blackouts from supply shortages in Texas, California, Tennessee, North Carolina, and Kentucky. With the removal of significant amounts of baseload generation, such as that provided by coal-fired power plants, from the grid, less-dependable sources of electricity were unable to keep up with consumers’ demand.

Rolling blackouts are currently necessary to avert a largerscale grid catastrophe; notably, in Texas in February 2021, at least 246 people died during Winter Storm Uri and the resulting supply shortage.

New and emerging technologies continue to optimize grid performance, effectiveness, and reliability. Most of Ohio’s electric cooperatives, for example, continually modernize their distribution systems using “smart grid” technology: controls, computers, automation, telecommunication, and smart meters that work together to dynamically respond to quickly changing conditions.

“The grid is greater than 99.9% reliable, and we are always working to put more nines after that decimal,” Wilson says. “All outages hurt, even when they are rare.”

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Family Time

EXPERIENCE PARKERSBURG. DISCOVER THE WORLD.

From exploring history to the science of tomorrow, your family can discover the world right here in the Greater Parkersburg area.

At the new Discovery World on Market (opening Spring 2023), learning is anything but a spectator sport. Get hands-on with three floors of fun, kid-friendly (up to age 10) activities and experiments that spark the senses and ignite the imagination.

Kids and adults will love a visit to Blennerhassett Island. The whole family will enjoy the scenic sternwheel riverboat trip, the horse-drawn covered-wagon ride, and a tour of the beautifully reconstructed mansion. Pair a half-day trip to Blennerhassett Island with a visit to Discovery World and you have a great overnight or weekend experience for families with small children!

Get outside and get active with outdoor fun. Hike, bike or paddle your way through the great outdoors toward unforgettable family memories on miles of scenic trails and byways featuring beautiful forests, valleys, tunnels and historical destinations.

No matter which family adventure you choose, Parkersburg is your family’s gateway to a world of adventure.

STORY AND PHOTOS BY W.H. “CHIP” GROSS

What’s in a name?

The Baltimore oriole, the state bird of Maryland, takes its name from the state’s founder, Cecil, Lord Baltimore, whose family’s coat of arms was a vibrant black and orange. Orchard orioles are so named because they frequent and prefer nesting in orchards. By the way, if you have an older bird ID field guide, you might see a bird listed as a northern oriole. Baltimore and Bullock’s orioles were once lumped together as northern orioles, but recent DNA testing has since proven the birds are indeed separate species.

Roman Mast’s backyard looks like a bird-feeding test kitchen. Mast, a member of The Energy Cooperative in Newark, maintains a dozen or more birdfeeders year-round, offering not only black-oil sunflower seed and beef suet — as most of us bird enthusiasts do — but also raw peanuts that he obtains as floor sweepings from a peanut butter factory.

But come May, he’s all about attracting orioles — of which Ohio sees two species during spring migration: the Baltimore oriole and the orchard oriole.

“I have my oriole feeders out by the last week in April,” Mast says. “Through the years, I’ve tried a lot of different foods to attract orioles, including sliced oranges, but my main food now is simply grape jelly.” Orioles and a few other species, such as rose-breasted grosbeaks, gray catbirds, and some warblers, seem to love the stuff. “A red-bellied woodpecker even comes to my jelly feeders occasionally,” Mast says.

To be successful attracting orioles, Mast says, a person must have a passion for feeding birds in general. “Whatever foods you offer must be present consistently,” he said. “You can’t have feeders empty for days and expect to attract many birds. With orioles that’s especially true; I fill my jelly feeders daily.”

Hang oriole feeders 4 to 5 feet off the ground and close to mature trees in semi-open areas. My property is surrounded by woods, so I place one feeder along the edge of the yard and a second at the edge of my back deck; both are frequented by orioles.

Patience is also required. Mast says that if you have never attempted to attract orioles previously, it may take days, or possibly even weeks, for the birds to find your feeders. To help them locate feeders, make sure they are orange in

color. Mast also believes that older birds remember where they found food in the past, so they will come looking for your feeders during subsequent migrations — success building upon success year after year.

Most of the orioles passing through Ohio during spring are headed to Canada to nest, migrating from northern South America and Central America (the males arrive first). Some orioles nest in the Buckeye State as well, with Baltimore orioles weaving a uniquely shaped hanging nest that looks something like a shaggy softball tethered to a high tree limb. The nests are easier to see once leaves have fallen from the trees in autumn.

Mast takes his oriole feeders down toward the end of June, thoroughly cleans them, then stores them away until next spring. “It’s with a bit of reluctance,” he admits. “Wild birds are a serious hobby of mine, a passion, and when that particular part of the annual migration cycle winds down and eventually ends, it’s always with a touch of sadness.”

Asked about his most memorable oriole experience, Mast recounted a likely once-in-a-lifetime event that occurred in the spring of 2020. “It was during the first week of May, and the weather had turned suddenly cold with a little snow,” he says. “Natural food for orioles, such as insects, was almost nonexistent for a few days, and as a result, birds were mobbing my feeders. I counted more than 30 orioles in the bushes and trees in my backyard simultaneously — an absolutely stunning, colorful sight I’ll never forget.”

Email Chip Gross with outdoors-related questions at whchipgross@gmail.com with “Ask Chip” in the subject of the email. Your question may be answered on www.ohiocoopliving.com.

Baltimore orioles, such as the adult male on the left and the juvenile at right, migrate through Ohio beginning in late April and early May each year.

Masters of the landscape

Extension program aims not to grow gardens, but rather to grow gardeners.

BY MARGARET BURANEN; PHOTOS COURTESY MEDINA COUNTY MASTER GARDENER VOLUNTEERS PROGRAM

Jackie Driscoll paints her landscape with a palette of colors from native plants.

Driscoll, a member of Lorain-Medina Rural Electric Cooperative, is a master gardener volunteer (MGV). She’s turned 8 acres of a former crop field into a stunning pollinator garden, and from spring through fall, bees, birds, and butterflies swoop down to enjoy and benefit from spiderwort, false foxglove, golden Alexandria, asters, coneflowers, sunflowers, ironweed, and more types of native flowering plants (or “forbs”). The prairie also has half a dozen species of native grasses.

Driscoll also has a kitchen garden of herbs and several flower gardens around her house. She tucks a few vegetables here and there into the flower gardens.

Driscoll has been gardening since she was a child. Her mother, who kept gardening until she died at 88, planted the joy of gardening seed in her daughter, and it still flourishes.

Jackie and her husband, Brian, lived in a Cleveland suburb while their children were growing up. Their property was small, but Driscoll kept adding plants to it. “My husband finally said, ‘You have to leave some grass,’” she recalls.

In 2010, the Driscolls bought rural land outside Rochester Township near Wellington — and suddenly they had

plenty of room for Jackie’s gardens. A few years later, with their five children now young adults, she had extra time on her hands.

“I was looking for something to do, to become involved with, once the kids were grown,” she says.

The Master Gardener Volunteer program seemed a good choice. Medina County’s training sessions worked best with Driscoll’s schedule, and in 2016 she began weekly classes there.

“I love taking [gardening] classes. I really do,” Driscoll says. “Master Gardeners has been a great fit for me because there’s always a class or conference I can go to and learn something more.”

Toward the end of the master gardening training, each student gave a presentation to the class. Driscoll and another student teamed up to tell their classmates about the native plant prairies they had planted at their homes.

“That’s a lot of what master gardeners do: give presentations to educate the community,” Driscoll says.

Driscoll particularly enjoys sharing her gardening knowledge with kids. At the Medina Parks Department’s Earth Day celebration, the master gardeners had a big demonstration table. “We talked about good bugs and

continued on page 12

Jackie Driscoll (left) explores her 8-acre pollinator garden in Lorain County. A master gardener volunteer, she’d been gardening since she was 8. Above, the Master Gardener Volunteer program hosts “Adventures in the Garden” to introduce young people to the joys of gardening.

continued from page 11

bad bugs in your garden and how to use integrated pest management [instead of insecticides],” she says.

Driscoll has also answered the master gardeners’ hotline. This free service allows community members to call or email with gardening questions, to which the volunteer on duty provides research-based answers.

She also enjoys the social aspect of the program — learning and volunteering with like-minded people. “I’ve met so many nice people through Master Gardeners,” she says.

Driscoll is one of 53 Master Gardener Volunteers in Medina County. The group’s coordinator is Ashley Kulhanek, Extension Educator, Agriculture and Natural Resources, at Ohio State University. “We focus on education and outreach, not [providing] free garden labor,” Kulhanek says. “We do not just grow gardens. We grow gardeners.”

Earning the MGV certification requires 50 hours of class training and 50 hours of volunteer time. Kulhanek says the volunteers are encouraged to work on whatever type of gardening interests them most. “If you want to be outdoors and enjoy plants and nature, you can find your fit in the MGV program,” she adds.

For more information about the Master Gardener Volunteer program, contact your county extension agent or go to https://mastergardener.osu.edu.

Ohio’s wider MGV program is directed by Pam Bennett, extension educator, horticulture, at Ohio State. According to Bennett, Ohio has more than 3,500 MGVs in 64 counties. In 2020 Driscoll took out some aggressive native grasses to create an entirely forb field. “It should be full of glorious bloom this summer,” she says. “The old adage is that the first year [native] plants sleep [because all of their energy goes into developing deep root systems]. The second year they creep, and the third year they leap.”

For anyone thinking about becoming an MGV, Driscoll says, “If they enjoy learning and sharing their knowledge it’s a great program. You can choose an area of interest — we have several groups — and find like-minded people. It’s made me a better steward of the land we’re on. Our intentions were always good, but now we have the knowledge [to garden well and responsibly].”

Master gardeners often set up informational booths to share tips and help at community events.

LocatLocation, ion, Location

BY CATHERINE MURRAY

BELGIAN WAFFLES

A Belgian waffle is no ordinary waffle. Yeasted dough instead of batter, pearl sugar to add a delightful crunch, and a dedicated Belgian waffle iron create extra-thick waffles with deep pockets.

Prep: 30 minutes | Cook: 20 minutes Proof: 30 to 60 minutes | Servings: 10

¾ cup warm milk

1 packet active dry yeast

1 tablespoon packed brown sugar

2 large eggs, room temperature

¾ cup unsalted butter, melted and cooled

1 teaspoon vanilla

½ teaspoon salt

3½ cups flour

3 to 4 ounces Belgian pearl sugar

Pour warm milk into the bowl of a stand mixer, then sprinkle yeast and brown sugar on top. Let sit for 5 minutes or until the yeast begins to foam. Mix in eggs, melted butter, vanilla, and salt on low with a whisk attachment.

Slowly incorporate 3 cups of the flour while mixing on low with a dough hook until mixture is smooth, then add remaining ½ cup flour and continue mixing for 2 minutes. Gather the dough into a ball and grease the sides of the bowl, placing the dough in the middle. Cover bowl and set somewhere warm to rise for 30 to 60 minutes, until doubled in size.

Heat waffle iron while prepping the dough. (If your iron has an adjustable temperature gauge, start on medium.) Lay dough out onto a floured surface and flatten a bit. Sprinkle pearl sugar on top and fold it into the dough, then divide into 10 balls. Grease waffle iron with cooking spray. Place a piece of dough in the middle of the waffle iron, close, and cook 4 to 6 minutes, until the color turns toasted brown in the center. If sugar begins to burn, turn down the heat. Set on a wire rack to cool. Cooked waffles can be frozen for up to two months.

Per serving: 406 calories, 15 grams fat (9 grams saturated fat), 75 milligrams cholesterol, 238 milligrams sodium, 70 grams total carbohydrates, 0 grams fiber, 2 grams protein.

This selection of delicious food is all over the map.

Prep: 15 minutes | Cook: 50 minutes | Servings: 10

FILLING

4 egg yolks

½ cup sugar

1/3 cup corn starch

2 cups whole milk

2 tablespoons salted butter

2 teaspoons vanilla

VANILLA CAKE

¾ cup unsalted butter, room temperature

1½ cups sugar

3 tablespoons vegetable oil

4 large eggs

2 teaspoons vanilla

2 cups flour

BOSTON CREAM PIE

2 teaspoons baking powder

½ teaspoon salt

1¼ cups whole milk

CHOCOLATE GANACHE

1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

2 tablespoons light corn syrup

½ cup heavy whipping cream

Note: The filling can be made 2 days ahead and the cakes the day before. Make the ganache right before assembling.

FILLING: In a medium bowl, beat egg yolks with sugar for 1 minute, then whisk in cornstarch. Set aside. In a medium saucepan, slowly bring milk to a boil. Remove from heat and slowly drizzle hot milk into the egg yolks, whisking constantly until all milk has been incorporated, then transfer back to the saucepan and bring to a light boil, whisking constantly until thickened. Remove from heat and add butter and vanilla, stirring until smooth. Transfer back to bowl, place plastic wrap directly on top of the filling, and refrigerate.

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

www.ohiocoopliving.com

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

CAKE: Grease two 8-inch cake pans. In a large mixer, beat butter, sugar, and oil until light and flu y, about 4 minutes. Incorporate the eggs and vanilla. In a separate bowl, combine flour, baking powder, and salt. Add half the dry ingredients into the batter and lightly mix. Add the milk and mix fully. (It may look a bit lumpy at this stage.) Finish mixing in the dry ingredients, until just incorporated.

Preheat oven to 350 F. Divide batter evenly between cake pans and bake 22 to 25 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out dry. Allow to cool 5 minutes, then turn over onto cooling racks. When cakes are completely cooled, shave any rounding o the tops. Place first cake layer on a serving platter and with a spatula, spoon and smooth out filling across the top. Place second cake layer on top.

GANACHE: Combine chocolate chips and corn syrup in a medium bowl. Heat heavy cream until just boiling, then pour it over the chocolate. Let sit 1 to 2 minutes, then whisk until smooth. Pour melted chocolate in the center of the cake, then spread out toward the edges, letting some of the chocolate drip down the sides. Refrigerate cake until ready to serve and refrigerate leftovers for 2 to 3 days.

Per serving: 690 calories, 36 grams fat (20 grams saturated fat), 226 milligrams cholesterol, 370 milligrams sodium, 83 grams total carbohydrates, 1 gram fiber, 12 grams protein.

DENVER OMELET

Prep: 10 minutes | Cook: 10 minutes | Servings: 2

4 large eggs

3 teaspoons water

¼ teaspoon salt

¼ teaspoon pepper

1 tablespoon butter

¼ cup diced smoked ham

¼ cup diced white onion

¼ cup diced green bell pepper

1/3 cup shredded white cheddar cheese

In a small bowl, beat eggs with 3 teaspoons water, salt, and pepper. The next paragraph of steps can be done in two skillets simultaneously or in one skillet consecutively.

In a 10-inch skillet, melt butter over medium-high heat. Add ham, onion, and bell pepper. Cook and stir until vegetables soften and lightly brown, about 5 minutes, then remove from heat. Generously coat a clean 10-inch skillet with cooking spray and place over medium-low heat. Carefully pour in eggs and cover with lid. Let cook untouched for 5 minutes until they are a little wet but not runny. Sprinkle cheese across the whole skillet and spoon ham and vegetables over one half. Cover with lid and cook another minute to melt the cheese.

Remove lid and lightly run a spatula around the edges of the eggs to loosen. Carefully fold cheese side over the ham side and slide omelet onto a plate. Serve with potatoes, simple salad, or toast.

Per serving: 308 calories, 23 grams fat (11 grams saturated fat), 417 milligrams cholesterol, 770 milligrams sodium, 4 grams total carbohydrates, 1 gram fiber, 20.5 grams protein.

CALIFORNIA ROLLS

Cook: 25 minutes | Cool: 30 minutes | Prep: 20 minutes | Servings: 5

2 cups uncooked sushi rice (Japanese short grain rice)

½ cup rice vinegar

2 tablespoons sugar

4 cups water

1 teaspoon salt

5 - 8 x 7-inch sheets of nori (dry seaweed)

1 tablespoon toasted sesame seeds

½ an English cucumber, julienned

6 ounces canned crab meat, drained

1 large avocado, sliced thin Optional toppings: soy sauce, wasabi, pickled ginger, or spicy mayo

Tips: A mandolin works great for creating thin, even slices of cucumber. Uncoated wooden or bamboo bowls and utensils are ideal for handling the rice, as they absorb the steam while the rice cools.

In a microwavable bowl, mix together rice vinegar, sugar, and salt. Microwave in 20-second increments, stirring until sugar has dissolved. Set aside. Rinse rice in a mesh strainer until water runs clear. Place rice and water in a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil over high heat, stir once, then reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer 15 to 20 minutes until water has been absorbed. Immediately transfer rice to a large bowl and cut in vinegar mixture using a large, flat spoon. Allow rice to cool to room temperature, about 30 minutes.

Fill a small bowl with water and lay a sushi rolling mat out flat with a layer of plastic wrap on top. Lay one sheet of nori on top, long side closest to you and rough side facing up. Dip fingers in water and spread about a cup of rice in an even layer across the nori and sprinkle with sesame seeds. Cover with another layer of plastic wrap on top, then flip over so nori is facing up. Set aside top layer of plastic wrap.

In a horizontal row 1 inch from the bottom edge, place a thin row of cucumber, then above it a row of crab, then a row of avocado. Holding onto the closest edge, tightly roll away from you, peeling the mat and plastic wrap away along the way, rolling tightly and pressing down when you reach the other end. Transfer roll to a cutting board.

With a thin, sharp knife, make a quick slice in half, then line the two halves up and quickly slice in thirds, rinsing the knife after each slice. Repeat steps above to make 4 more rolls. Serve with your choice of toppings within an hour of making.

Per serving: 445 calories, 10 grams fat (2 grams saturated fat), 18 milligrams cholesterol, 691 milligrams sodium, 70 grams total carbohydrates, 5 grams fiber, 12 grams protein.

Got a monstrously delicious dish you serve during the Halloween season? A ghoulishly clever presentation? We’re looking for SPOOKY recipes — and the stories behind them — for our

Reader Recipe Contest.

2023 Reader Recipe Contest

Three ways to enter:

Submissions may be an original recipe or one adapted from an existing recipe published elsewhere, with at least three distinct changes from the published version. Include your name and address, a phone number and email address where you can be contacted, and the name of your electric cooperative.

Send your recipe, including all ingredients and measurements, directions, and number of servings. Then tell us the basic story behind your recipe — is it a family tradition, passed down through generations? Or did you make it up one day out of thin air?

A good back story can never hurt!

Entrants must be electric cooperative members or residents of an electric cooperative household. Limit of three recipes per entrant. Contest winners will be announced in the October edition of Ohio Cooperative Living.

WASHINGTON

ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE LOCAL

Member Driven

Member Focused

Member Accountable

Official Notice

83rd Annual Meeting of Members

Thursday, May 18, 2023

Marietta Shrine Club • 249 Pennsylvania Ave., Marietta

Registration begins • FREE KFC DINNER

Musical entertainment

Registration ends

Business meeting

Order of business:

Reading of unapproved minutes of previous meeting and action thereon

Reading of meeting notice and proof of publication and mailing thereof

Nominating committee report Board and management reports

Buckeye Power report

Members who attend will receive a $10 credit on their electric bill

Youth recognition

Unfinished business

New business

Election results

Door prize drawings

Grand Prize Drawing: $250 electric bill credit!

Food Drive!

Receive an additional door prize entry for every five non-expired canned or nonperishable food items you bring! Donations will be distributed to our community food pantries.

5 pm 6 pm 5-6 pm 6-7 pm MAY 2023 • OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING  17

Co-op members win agricultural award

Washington Electric Cooperative members Chuck and Diane Hicks of Vincent were named the 2023 winners of the Washington County Council of Cooperatives Agricultural Award. The agricultural award was established in 1971 to recognize long-term farmers or agribusiness people in Washington County who have demonstrated outstanding leadership and commitment to the local agricultural community. It is presented during the Marietta Area Chamber of Commerce Annual Dinner.

The Hickses’ farming operation includes 325 acres of corn and soybeans, plus nearly 100 head of cattle. Over the years, they’ve worked to implement environmental enhancements, including no-till planting practices, drainage tile, grass waterways, nutrient management, crop rotation, and cover crops. They’ve also been active in the Washington County Career Center’s Agribusiness Planning and Analysis Program, learning to fine-tune their farming practices and fiscal management based on annual production records, which led to them winning the 2018 Ohio Conservation Family Award. Diane has served as board member and president of the Washington County Farm Bureau, and Chuck is the president of the Washington County Soil & Water Conservation District.

Congratulations!

Don’t forget to vote!

Don’t forget to cast your vote in the 2023 Washington Electric Cooperative trustee election. We mailed ballots, which also contained candidate information, to our members in mid-April. Completed ballots must be postmarked by May 11. Election results will be announced at our annual meeting on May 18.

Van Fleet takes top scholarship prize

Nathan Van Fleet of Shendandoah High School was the top winner in Washington Electric Cooperative’s Children of Members Scholarship program.

The Children of Members Scholarship recognizes high-achieving students whose parents are Washington Electric Cooperative members. Van Fleet earned a $ 1 , 500 prize and became eligible to compete on the statewide level with students representing Ohio’s 24 electric cooperatives.

Cierra Burkhart, also of Shenandoah High School, was the second-place winner of $1,000. Rounding out third and fourth place were Warren High School’s Kali Wells with $750 and Emma Lowe of Caldwell High School with $500

Schaad to attend Ohio’s Electric Cooperatives Youth Tour to Washington, D.C.

Addison Schaad of Stockport will represent Washington Electric Cooperative on the Ohio’s Electric Cooperatives Youth Tour to Washington, D.C.

The Ohio’s Electric Cooperatives Youth Tour, scheduled for June 17 to 23, is an annual youth leadership program for high school sophomores and juniors from families served by electric cooperatives. On the trip, delegates will visit the nation’s capital and its many famous and historic sites. 1200405010. They will also meet members of Ohio’s congressional delegation and learn about public service and the cooperative business model.

Schaad, a student at Waterford High School, will join approximately 40 delegates from the state of Ohio and 1,800 delegates from across the country on this year’s Youth Tour.

Planned sites on this year’s Youth Tour include the United States Capitol, the Supreme Court, Vietnam and Korean War memorials, the Abraham Lincoln and World War II memorials, the Smithsonian Institution, the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial, and the Gettysburg battlefield.

Addison Schaad

Cierra Burkhart

Kali Wells

Emma Lowe

Nathan Van Fleet

WASHINGTON ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE LOCAL PAGES

On any given weekday afternoon in Washington County, groups of school-aged children are willingly completing homework, studying spelling words, working on art projects, shooting hoops, sharing nutritious snacks and meals, and learning how to be confident, caring, productive, and responsible citizens.

If it sounds like a dream, that’s because it is. A dream come true, in fact, for the Boys and Girls Club of Washington County. The organization has experienced tremendous growth over the past five years, expanding from one facility in Marietta to now serving students in each school district in Washington County plus Noble Local Schools.

Boys and Girls Clubs in Ohio serve nearly 44,000 youth across the state, which is more than any other organization outside of public schools. The organization boasts 66 sites offering programs and resources in 26 cities and towns to kids who need it most. The group’s vision is to provide an experience that assures success is within reach for every young person who enters its doors, with all club members on track to graduate from high school with a plan for the future, demonstrating good character and citizenship, and living a healthy lifestyle.

Locally, the Boys and Girls Club of Washington County offers after-school programming for students in kindergarten through 12th grade in the areas of education, character building, socialization, arts and crafts, and physical recreation. In 2019, the Club opened a second location at the Belpre Church of the Nazarene, and in 2022 began adding school-based

satellite sites, which now exist at Waterford, BeverlyCenter, Lowell, Newport, and Shenandoah elementary schools, with an additional site planned at New Matamoras Elementary.

Rebecca Johnson, the Club’s executive director, says the after-school programming includes homework help, tutoring, academic enrichment activities, and handson activities in the areas of art and STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics).

The satellite sites were made possible largely through the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) program, which the federal government established to help educational services respond to needs arising from or exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. According to the U.S. Department of Education, some uses of these funds can be focused on health and safety, such as improving ventilation and implementing prevention strategies that are consistent with CDC guidance. Other allowable uses may be focused on meeting the social, emotional, mental health, and academic needs of students.

“It’s always been our goal to expand and provide services for all of the school districts in Washington County,” Johnson says. “But our pace in opening the satellite sites was accelerated by the availability of the ESSER funds.”

With the funding program set to expire in 2024, the Boys and Girls Club is now working with local communities on fundraising to ensure the satellite sites remain open. For example, to help support growth in the Belpre, Wolf Creek, and Fort Frye school districts, the club will host seven car shows throughout the course of this year.

Other fundraising initiatives include an annual dinner and auction, chili cook-off, Buckeye Bash event, various bingos, and an annual golf outing. Community members may also sign up for the Kroger Community Rewards program,

which allows shoppers to link their Kroger Shoppers Card to the Boys and Girls Club. A portion of the transactions made using the card is then donated to the Club.

Johnson said community support has been integral to the club’s success. In 2020, the Boys and Girls Club launched a campaign to raise money to renovate the back portion of the Marietta site into a gymnasium to provide the youth with a place to play and feel safe. Through fundraising, grants, and generous donations from local businesses and organizations, the gym vision became a reality in late 2021.

In addition to the gymnasium, the renovation project included additional classrooms, a kitchen, and a laundry facility. A $10,000 donation from Washington Electric helped purchase appliances for the kitchen and laundry facilities, which Johnson said stay busy with meal preparation and helping wash and dry some of the children’s clothing when laundry facilities may not be readily available at home.

Also on the horizon is the Garrett Scott Memorial Teen Center and Music Program. Scott was the club’s teen coordinator, who unexpectedly passed away in 2021 When completed, the center will feature a hangout lounge, kitchenette for after-school snacks, and a music studio. The goal is to create a safe space for teens in the Marietta community. Fundraising for this project is currently underway.

Anyone interested in learning more about the Boys & Girls Club may contact Johnson at 740-373-4123 or visit bgcwcoh.org. Johnson says tours of the Marietta and Belpre sites are available upon request.

Employee Giving Program awards Newport VFD

The Newport Volunteer Fire Department was selected as the winner of a $ 500 donation through Washington Electric Cooperative’s Employee Giving Program. Each quarter, one co-op employee is selected to choose a local charity or notfor-profit organization to receive a $ 500 check to support the work they do in the communities that the co-op serves. Director of Information and Operational Technology Allen Casto worked alongside Newport’s dedicated first responders as a member of the VFD prior to working at Washington Electric. Casto still volunteers his time to support the fire department’s technology efforts. Casto chose the fire department as the donation recipient because “I know them, they do good work, and I think Newport is safer for them being there.”

According to the Ohio Department of Commerce Division of the State Fire Marshal, Ohio has 1 , 180 fire departments with approximately 70 % of the fire services to residents in the state provided by volunteers. One of the biggest challenges affecting volunteer fire service is identifying and securing financial resources at the local level. Newport VFD Chief Bill Cochran said Washington Electric’s donation will be used to help replace the department’s bunker gear.

Our office will be closed as we honor the brave men and women lost in the pursuit of freedom.

Board meeting highlights

Washington Electric Cooperative’s Board of Trustees met in regular session on March 23 at the co-op’s o ce in Marietta. The following actions occurred:

• Board members approved the cooperative’s capital credit estate retirements and new member list.

• Director of Safety Josh Jump provided the March safety report.

• Matt Rakay of BHM CPA Group presented the results of the co-op’s 2022 financial audit.

• Director of Finance and Administration BJ Allen presented the post-audit December 2022 financial report.

• Board members approved changes to the following co-op policies:

o Policy 507: Wage Administration Plan

o Policy 509: Overtime and On Call Duty

o Policy 510: Pay Periods and Advances

o Policy 522: Interview and Relocation Expenses

o Policy 701: Load Management/Energy E ciency Services and Programs

• General Manager/CEO Jeff Triplett presented the final draft of the co-op’s strategic plan, which was approved. He also provided reports on the engineering and operations department, as well as updates on recent co-op events, trainings, and member inquiries.

• Secretary/Treasurer Betty Martin shared information about the Ohio Rural Electric Cooperatives, Inc., March board meeting.

• Director of Marketing and Member Services Jennifer Greene provided a summary of the activities of the member services and marketing departments, including an update on the 2023 trustee election and upcoming annual meeting.

• Director of Information and Operational Technology Allen Casto reported on the activities of the co-op’s IT department.

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

The cooperative’s next board meeting is scheduled for 9 a.m. on May 22 at Washington Electric’s o ce at 440 Highland Ridge Road, Marietta.

Happy Mother’s Day from Washington Electric!

WASHINGTON ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE LOCAL PAGES

NOTES

Capital credits

Washington Electric Cooperative, Inc., refunded capital credits totaling $127,778.67 to the estates of 59 members through March. If you know of a deceased member, please have the executor of the estate call our office for information on the member’s capital credits.

Credit for account number

If you find the number of your account in the local (center) pages of this magazine, call the co-op office by the 16th of the month in which it is published; you will receive at least $10 in credit on your electric bill. In March, a member from Marietta located her account number and received a $10 credit.

Co-op rebate programs

Water heater – Rebates of $150 for qualifying 50-gallon or higher new electric water heaters.

Geothermal – Rebates of $600 for newly installed geothermal systems.

Air conditioners – Rebates of $100 for ENERGY STAR-rated whole-house air conditioning systems.

ENERGY STAR Appliances – $100 rebate for members who replace existing refrigerators and stand-alone freezers with a new ENERGY STAR-labeled appliance purchased after July 1, 2022. Rebates of $25 are available for an ENERGY STAR-labeled electric clothes washer or electric clothes dryer. Rebates available on first-come, first-served basis.

Call or visit our website for details.

Co-op services

Outage reporting – Call 740-373-2141 or use the SmartHub app to report a power outage 24/7.

Outage alerts — Use our SmartHub system to sign up for free outage alerts and other co-op information.

Online bill payment — Visit www.weci.org to use our secure SmartHub online payment system.

Automatic bill payment — Call our office for details on having your electric bill drafted from your checking or savings account each month.

Pay your bill by phone — Call 844-344-4362 to pay your electric bill with a check, credit card, or debit card.

BOARD OF TRUSTEES

Paul Fleeman, CCD, BL Chairman 740-934-2306

OFFICE HOURS CONTACT 740-373-2141 | 877-594-9324 www.weci.org

REPORT OUTAGES 877-544-0279 or via SmartHub

OFFICE 440 Highland Ridge Road P.O. Box 800 Marietta, OH 45750

OFFICE HOURS Mon.–Fri., 8 a.m.–4 p.m.

Brent Smith, CCD, BL Vice Chairman 740-585-2598

Betty Martin, CCD, BL Secretary-Treasurer 740-473-1539

Gale DePuy, CCD, BL Assistant Secretary-Treasurer 740-473-1245

William Bowersock, CCD, BL 740-373-5861

Brian Carter, CCD 740-732-4076

Larry Ullman, CCD, BL 740-934-2561 CCD — Credentialed Cooperative Director BL — Board Leadership

BILL PAY SmartHub www.weci.org

HAVE A STORY SUGGESTION? Email your ideas to: jgreene@weci.org.

Facebook.com/WashingtonElectricCoop

Twitter.com/washelectcoop

2022 Annual Report

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

YOUR electric cooperative

Washington Electric is a Touchstone Energy cooperative serving portions of six counties in southeastern Ohio. Locally owned and operated, the cooperative is governed by a democratically elected seven-member board of directors.

Mission statement

Washington Electric Cooperative’s mission is to improve the quality of life for our members and community by safely and responsibly delivering reliable electric service, innovative energy solutions, and superior member service.

Member driven. Member focused. Member accountable.

Service territory map

Paul Fleeman, CCD, BL CHAIRMAN

Brent Smith, CCD VICE CHAIRMAN

Betty Martin, CCD, BL SECRETARY/TREASURER

Gale DePuy, CCD, BL ASST. SECRETARY/TREASURER

William Bowersock, CCD, BL

Brian Carter, CCD Larry Ullman, CCD, BL

MESSAGE FROM THE GENERAL MANAGER

Iam pleased to report to the membership that Washington Electric Cooperative enjoyed another productive, safe, and financially sound year in 2022. We appreciate the support of our members and the leadership provided by the elected board of trustees in helping us achieve these accomplishments. Despite the continued supply chain issues and rising inflation, your cooperative successfully kept our primary mission of delivering safe, affordable, and reliable electricity to our members moving forward.

I want to speak briefly to the three words I used above that you have probably seen in various Washington Electric articles and messaging: “safe, affordable, and reliable.” These three words are at the core of what we do at Washington Electric.

Safety

In 2022, we celebrated no lost-time accidents and no recordable safety incidents. Safety is more than just a “program;” it is a culture. Safety must be ingrained into the very being of who we are, and that in turn is reflected in how we act and what we do. We are very proud of the safety culture we have at Washington Electric, and our metrics are a good confirmation of our employees’ commitment to safety.

Affordability

Much of our business is capital-intensive, such as the substations, poles, wire, and transformers that are installed to provide service to our members. Maintaining the system can be costly, too, with replacing aging equipment, keeping our rights-of-way clear, and repairing damage caused by weather and trees. So we continue to look for ways to optimize our existing system and resources to get the most value we can, and we do this with just 27 employees. (Industry metrics show that cooperatives our size have an average of 36 employees). Our monthly magazine, website, social media communications, and member service representatives provide education on energy usage, efficiency, and ways to lower your bill.

During 2022, we experienced record inflation increases that made maintaining affordability challenging. Washington Electric was able to absorb a lot of the cost increases experienced by taking steps to control costs and improve efficiency; however, the magnitude of the increases we experienced across so many items made it necessary for us to pass some of this on through a rate increase, or risk deteriorating service.

Reliability

Despite the best efforts of Washington Electric, from time to time, the power goes out. Even though we cannot guarantee our members 100% reliability all the time, we take great steps to find ways we can improve on our track record of keeping your lights on.

And while we know every power outage can be a great inconvenience, when you look at our track record of how

much time the power is on and the terrain we serve, it is very impressive. For 2022, power was available to our members, on average, 99.58% of the time. Trees accounted for about two-thirds of all outages experienced, and usually these trees fell from outside our right-of-way into the lines during weather events such as storms.

Jeff Triplett GENERAL MANAGER

The following two graphs show that we had some reliability challenges in 2022, from extreme storms that occurred in February (ice) and June (wind). The number of outages experienced each year, measured by SAIFI (System Average Interruption Frequency Index), which tracks on average how many outages a member experiences during a year, has remained about the same the past 3 years after dropping significantly from 2018 levels. The duration of outages, measured by SAIDI (System Average Interruption Duration Index), which tracks the average number of hours a member experiences no power over the course of a year, has been dropping steadily since 2018, until this year with the major weather events mentioned. Taking those out of the equation, outage times from other causes in 2022 were similar to 2021.

Rest assured that we will continue to place a high emphasis on delivering safe, affordable, and reliable electricity to our members in 2023 and beyond. Thank you again for the privilege in serving you!

WASHINGTON ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE, INC. BALANCE SHEETS

December 31, 2022 and 2022 ASSETS

WASHINGTON ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE, INC. STATEMENTS OF REVENUES AND EXPENSES

December 31, 2022 and 2021

HOW YOUR POWER DOLLAR WAS SPENT IN 2022

2022 YEAR IN REVIEW

Everything we do at Washington Electric is for our members. Here’s a look back at some of your cooperative’s achievements in 2022.

Right-of-way maintenance

Providing safe and reliable electric service requires yearround planning to keep power lines clear of trees, brush, and other debris. In 2022, we invested almost $1.5 million in our vegetation management programs. More than 100 miles of rights-of-way were cleared using a helicopter and ground crews in the following areas of our system:

• Between Caldwell and Sarahsville along State Routes 285, 215 and 147

• Along Patten Mills Road and State Route 676 near Dale

• Along Patten Mills Road, Plantsville Road, Tick Ridge Road, and State Route 550 near Bartlett

Contracted, licensed applicators applied EPA-approved herbicide to more than 160 miles in areas that were previously cleared around Bear Run, Kinderhook, Reynolds Run, South Olive, Sharon, Hoskinsville, East Union, Carlisle, Harrietsville and Lower Salem. In addition, time and material crews from Asplundh cleared various high-need areas throughout our system.

Engineering and operations

During 2022, our engineers designed and crews constructed 130 new services and upgraded 32 existing services along with addressing the continued maintenance needs of our system. Aging lines in the Germantown area totaling about 8 miles were rebuilt and moved to the road or buried underground where feasible. A special emphasis was continued to be placed on identifying areas where reliability has been a concern and rebuilding/ relocating relatively short sections of line to mitigate future outages. The new Lawrence substation was energized in January 2022 and has improved power supply for more than 1,000 of our member’s services in the Wingett Run, Archers Fork, Fifteenmile Creek, Moss Run, Hills Bridge, County Rd 9, and State Route 26 areas of our system and will serve as the link between our new Highland Ridge and Rouse substations. We replaced more than 500 poles across the system for maintenance and to allow fiber internet to be attached to our poles. This large volume of pole replacements dominated much of our engineering and construction efforts in 2022.

We also continued in 2022 to make upgrades to protection schemes across the system to better minimize the number of members who experience an outage, as well as the duration of outages when issues occur on the system. Some of these protection devices are “smart” devices that we have the ability to program, monitor, and control remotely. Deployment of a new Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) system began in 2021. It allows our engineering and operations departments to better monitor and operate these smart devices from our office, and to get the power back on more quickly when we experience outages. This work will continue in 2023.

Capital credits

In 2022, the board of trustees approved the retirement of $612,000 in capital credits. As a not-for-profit cooperative, we return all profits back to our member-consumers based on their electricity purchases. This is a key component of the cooperative business model and one of the many ways cooperatives differ from investor-owned utilities. Capital credits represent the most significant source of equity for Washington Electric Cooperative. To date, we’ve returned $4.8 million in capital credits to our members.

Member services

The cooperative continued its rebate programs for water heaters, geothermal systems, whole-house air conditioners, and Energy Star-rated refrigerators and freezers. More than one-third of Washington Electric member-consumers are enrolled in SmartHub, our online account management system that allows them to pay bills, monitor energy use, report power outages, and receive important alerts and information.

Member engagement

Washington Electric values participation by — and feedback from — its member-consumers. One of the most important ways you can take an active role in your co-op is by voting in the annual trustee election and attending our annual meeting. A total of 1,455 members cast their ballots in the 2022 election. Following two years of virtual annual meetings due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we were back with an in-person meeting, which 245 members attended. We also hosted two member appreciation day events in October.

About 300 member-consumers participated in our annual member satisfaction survey, which lets us know in which areas we’re doing a good job, and which areas need improvement. Reliability, cost, and communication remain among our members’ top concerns, and our board and management team are constantly looking for ways to keep costs down and improve the service we provide.

Community involvement

One of our guiding principles as a cooperative is commitment to community. We are proud to be part of the communities we serve and we carry out that dedication in a variety of ways, including participation with local chambers of commerce and economic development groups. We also provide financial support to organizations such as 4-H, school athletic boosters, fire departments, and local food pantries. We awarded $3,750 in our annual scholarship program. Also in 2021, we launched our Employee Giving Program, which allows one co-op employee per quarter to choose a local charity or nonprofit organization to receive a $500 donation from the co-op. Last year’s recipients were the Humane Society of the Ohio Valley, Ronald McDonald House Charities, the Joyce M. Davis Senior Center, and EVE Inc.

Leadership and staffing

We hired three employees in 2022: Billing Specialist Brandee Nau and linemen Alex Haught and Clayton Bettinger. Member Service Representative Melissa Ronald and Lineman Dakota Hornak graduated from Ohio Electric Cooperative’s Leadership Edge program. Hornak and Lineman Codi Dornak graduated from the Central Ohio Lineworker Training (COLT) program. Staking Engineer Dan Winstanley earned an associate’s degree in electrical engineering from Washington State Community College.

How a Safe Step Walk-In Tub can change your life

Remember when…

Think about the things you loved to do that are dif cult today — going for a walk or just sitting comfortably while reading a book. And remember the last time you got a great night’s sleep?

As we get older, health issues or even everyday aches, pains and stress can prevent us from enjoying life.

So what’s keeping you from having a better quality of life?

Check all the conditions that apply to you.

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Diabetes Mobility Issues

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• Free Shower Package – shower while seated or standing.

Those magnificent men and their flying machines

The National Museum of the U.S. Air Force celebrates its centennial.

AND PHOTOS BY DAMAINE VONADA

Born and raised in Columbus, Air Force General Curtis LeMay studied engineering at Ohio State University and launched his military career in his hometown by learning to fly at old Norton Field. The bombing raids he directed during World War II clinched Lemay’s reputation as a disciplinarian, and in 1948, the cigar-chomping general known as “Old Iron Pants” was tapped to oversee operations for the Berlin Airlift.

Code-named Operation Vittles, the airlift famously foiled a Soviet Union blockade with nonstop cargo flights that delivered life-saving food and fuel to beleaguered West Berliners.

One airlift pilot, Lt. Russ Steber, took along his newly adopted boxer rather than leave the pup alone during the lengthy missions. The dog became such a familiar part of the airlift, Steber even had a parachute made for him. Eventually, LeMay learned of the stowaway, and Steber expected to be in big trouble. Instead, the general told Steber his dog was a great morale booster and promptly named him “Vittles.”

Fortunately, Vittles never needed the parachute, and the National Museum of the United States Air Force now showcases Vittles’ full flight gear in its Berlin Airlift exhibit. “LeMay was a gruff commander,” says museum historian Douglas Lantry, “but our Vittles display gives people insight into his humanitarian impulses in the midst of a difficult and dangerous job.”

The Air Force Museum is located on Wright-Patterson Air Force Base outside of Dayton, where Orville and Wilbur Wright invented the airplane. It’s the world’s largest military aviation museum, boasting more than 350 aerospace vehicles and missiles plus countless artifacts that range from wind tunnel to videos of Bob Hope entertaining airmen in Vietnam to the Distinguished Service Cross that General Dwight Eisenhower personally presented to World War II’s “Ace of Aces” — and Piqua native — Capt. Don Gentile.

a 1918 Eisenhower

The Air Force Museum, which turns 100 this year, is also the world’s oldest military aviation museum, and although it currently consists of four hangar-style buildings containing over 19 acres of exhibit space, the museum’s origin was

STORY

Wright Brothers 1909 military flyer

to beleaguered West Berliners.

considerably more modest. It began in May 1923, when personnel at Dayton’s McCook Field amassed numerous aircraft engines and other equipment in the corner of a hangar and invited the public to have a look. Because of Dayton’s rich tradition of innovation, the Army Air Service (the Air Force’s precursor) had established McCook Field as its aviation research and development center in 1917. A decade later, the burgeoning research facilities and budding museum permanently moved to Wright Field at present-day Wright-Patterson AFB.

Today, the Air Force Museum ranks among Ohio’s most popular attractions, annually drawing about a million visitors from around the globe. While people certainly come for its unrivaled array of aircraft, they also discover that the museum preserves remarkable stories about individuals, technological milestones, and American culture. “The museum’s starting point coincides with the United States emerging as a world power,” notes Lantry, “and its collections illustrate the tremendous changes occurring during the last 100 years.”

For the museum’s centennial, Lantry is helping to curate a special heritage exhibit. “We’ll be displaying many archival materials that people practically never get to see.” Those rare items include the handwritten diary kept by World War I ace and Medal of Honor recipient Eddie Rickenbacker as well as historic B-17 technical manuals that the museum’s restoration staff used to piece together the iconic World War II bomber, Memphis Belle

Memphis Belle

Admission and parking are free at the National Museum of the United States Air Force, and its family-friendly 100th anniversary celebrations will include a centennial exhibit scheduled to open May 20; an ongoing Enlisted Forces exhibit; and a Planes, Trains, and Automobiles model event. Other activities and events will be added throughout 2023. For details and dates, telephone 937-255-3286 or visit www.nationalmuseum.af.mil.

“Every visitor should see the Memphis Belle exhibit, because it represents the lives of 30,000 airmen lost in the air battles over Europe,” says Lantry. “The plane is the equivalent of the Iwo Jima Memorial as an emotional touchstone for service and sacrifice.”

Of course, Memphis Belle is hardly the only storied item in the museum, and in a nod to the museum’s centennial, Lantry has selected 10 other must-see exhibits that embody the history of military aviation and the nation.

Wright 1909 Military Flyer

The Wright brothers built the world’s first military airplane — Signal Corps Airplane No. 1 — for the U.S. Army. Though it’s a reproduction, the exhibit features an engine donated by Orville Wright. “It’s worth seeing,” says Lantry. “Compared to today’s technology, the Military Flyer was on a completely different planet.”

De Haviland DH- 4 (aka the “Liberty Plane”)

A wood and fabric biplane, the DH-4 was World War I’s only American-made combat aircraft, and its Liberty 12 engine was developed at McCook Field. Says Lantry, “Liberty Planes taught lots of Americans how to fly and lots of Americans how to make airplanes.”

B-29 “Bockscar”

The airplane that ended World War II: “After it dropped the second atomic bomb on Nagasaki,” Lantry says, “Japan surrendered.”

Cold War Gallery’s B-36J Peacemaker

A strategic bomber that embodies America’s commitment to air power in the 1950s. “It was called the Peacemaker,” Lantry says, “because of its ability to deliver nuclear weapons anywhere in the world.”

SR-71A “Blackbird”

The futuristic-looking spy plane flew from 1966 to 1990. “It’s world-renowned for being the fastest aircraft ever built,” Lantry says, “an outstanding example of American aircraft design and engineering.”

The F-86A Sabre and MiG-15

The American F-86 and Soviet MiG are displayed side by side because their Korean War dogfights represent the birth of modern air combat. “These jets changed the whole calculus of what airplanes could do and how they should be used in combat.”

The Presidential Gallery’s SAM 26000

Delivered to the Air Force in 1962, it was the first jet aircraft specifically built for U.S. presidents. On November 22, 1963, this Air Force One took John Kennedy to Dallas and later returned the assassinated president’s body to Washington, D.C. “The SAM 26000 transported eight presidents,” notes Lantry, “and was the vehicle for many historical moments like Johnson’s swearing-in and Nixon’s trip to China.”

B-52D Stratofortress

B-52 heavy bombers have been the Air Force’s global workhorse since 1955. “B-52s symbolize American air power, and their shape is unmistakable.”

Apollo 15 Command Module Endeavour

Launched in 1971, Apollo 15 was the first moon landing mission to both emphasize science and use a lunar rover vehicle. Says Lantry, “It was the only Apollo mission with an all-Air Force crew and demonstrates the service’s commitment to human space flight.”

Titan IVB Rocket

Used from 1996 to 2005, Titan IVBs were powerful, singleuse rockets that launched everything from meteorological satellites to the Cassini-Huygens space probe that revealed the wonders of Saturn. “It’s 204 feet long and superimpressive to see or stand under,” says Lantry.

An overview of one of the hangar galleries featuring a variety of aircraft at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force in Dayton

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Hunting Giants

BY CRAIG SPRINGER

Spring comes into full bloom in May. White dogwood sepals spangle the hillsides, and the fronds of deciduous trees everywhere produce those fresh wet-lime tender shoots that will soon become the full, flat leaves that provide welcome cooling shade in the sweltering summer sure to follow.

Ohio has some big trees, and Marc DeWerth of Columbia Station has made it his mission to locate and educate — to find massive old trees and tell others about them. “Big tree education,” he calls it. DeWerth, an amateur naturalist and self-trained forester and arborist, lectures to groups large and small on the matter of forestry, land management, and tree conservation. He consults tree owners on proper care of their trees and lots.

For DeWerth, it’s a moral imperative. “People need to know about nature,” he says. “We need to look up — there is so much to see and learn in nature. I want youth to understand the significance of Ohio’s trees.”

The interest in trees and forestry came by surprise. When he worked in business and finance, DeWerth spent a great deal of time on the road, off the beaten path, throughout Ohio. That first profession taught him to converse with most anyone in any station, making it easy to naturally reach out when he noticed a big red oak here, a shagbark hickory there. What started as a light hobby has blossomed into a major endeavor: documenting the biggest — and by default some of the oldest — trees that persist in Ohio, from Harrison to Hartsgrove, Pioneer to Pomeroy.

An amateur naturalist has made it his mission to seek out the biggest trees in the state.

That trees approaching half a millennium in age exist anywhere in Ohio is remarkable, considering history.

At the beginning of the historic period, the land was heavily forested. Henry Howe, in his 1907 Historical Collections of Ohio, noted that in 1834, “The trees were mostly oak, and of the finest growth. Their noble stems ran up some hundred feet above you and were beautifully feathered with verdant foliage. They ran off in the distance, park like, but grander far, in admirable groupings, forming avenues, galleries and recesses, redolent, with solemn loveliness, and here they stood before you like the thousand pillars of one vast imperishable temple for the worship of the Great Invisible.”

Grand as they were, the forests gradually perished by axe and fire to make way for the plow. Some, however, were spared in the odd farm lot or the ribbon-like bands of woods that mark a stream course, and DeWerth continues to find them. He has successfully nominated 17 species of champion trees (the biggest in the state) with the Ohio Division of Forestry. Four of those are national champions.

Think of it: a green ash in Logan County, nearly 20 feet in circumference and 92 feet tall; a northern red oak in Ashtabula County, 28 feet around and towering into the sky, harkening Howe’s locution — verdant, grand, and solemn.

While not every big tree is a champion, DeWerth collects data from 40 of Ohio’s 243 tree species and shares it with the Ohio Division of Forestry. He has a significant social media presence on Facebook and Instagram, where he shares photographs of the massive trees (though never locations of those on private land). Search “Big Trees Ohio” and prepare to be awestruck.

DeWerth started collecting big-tree data in earnest in 2015 and has met people of all stripes. He found a sycamore that could house a family of four (albeit tightly) in its hollowed bole, and happened upon a substantial American chestnut in Summit County that has fruited — extraordinary because the species is considered functionally extirpated by blight.

He plans to continue his searches. “We have amazing trees waiting to be found,” he says. “I have dreams of finding more champion trees.”

If you know of a tree DeWerth might want to check out, he welcomes email at bigtreesohio@gmail.com.

There’s a whole network of folks around the state who find and send in photos of Ohio’s largest trees to be posted on Marc DeWerth’s Big Trees Facebook and Instagram feeds — such as the national champion northern catalpa tree in Lawrence County (above), or the giant American sycamore that stands by a creek on a farm in Scioto County (left page).

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Wyatt Newman (left) and Sam Bell came up with their idea, for truck-mounted robots that can create custom road markings, while they were biking.

Roadway robots

Sam Bell, a retired auto mechanic, and Wyatt Newman, a retired Case Western Reserve University professor of electrical engineering, have been friends and bicycling buddies for years. “We talk about everything on our rides,” Bell says. “We make bad jokes, we laugh, and we complain.”

On one of their rides, for example, Bell recalls telling Newman how frustrated he was that his suburban hometown city council couldn’t approve funds for bike lane markings. Told by city officials that it would take $30,000, Bell wondered why it cost so much for such a seemingly mundane task. There were several answers, but the main reason was the cost of person-power both to paint the markings and to maintain them, since waterbased paint fades quickly.

Newman’s response, as it often is when Bell complains about human folly: “Can we get a robot to do it?”

Not long after, the pair launched RoadPrintz, LLC.

The common, labor-intensive practice is that all those turn arrows, handicapped space designations, sharrows (shared lane markings), and other specialty markers are stenciled by hand. It’s not only costly, it puts America’s road workers in danger every time they do their jobs. RoadPrintz changes that by producing a truck-mounted robotic arm that can paint even custom markings that are too complicated for striping trucks.

“My favorite part of the process is when the robotic arm is mounted on the truck,” Newman noted. Their first truckmounted robotic arm, called Lester, was a prototype. They worked out some kinks in their second truck, Stella, and the current iteration, Electra, “is a template for manufacturing vehicles for our customers,” Newman says.

Bell and Newman had collaborated before. They worked together on a Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) competition in 2007 to build a vehicle capable of autonomous operation in an

urban environment — Bell working on the automotive aspects while Newman took on the robotics. It was that experience that led them to believe they could make a concept like RoadPrintz actually come together. Why would a municipality, department of transportation, or other potential customer want to buy an Electra or one of its progeny? “Cleveland, Cincinnati, or Columbus would benefit because the person-hours would be cut in half,” says Newman. He explains that when specialty road markings are painted manually, several trucks and a fourperson crew are involved, including flaggers and a couple of painters. With a RoadPrintz robotic arm-mounted truck (that can do the pre-work coning automatically), only two trucks and their drivers are required. The painting is accomplished robotically from inside the truck. “We don’t want the driver to get out. That’s when bad things happen,” notes Newman.

Newman and Bell can rattle off national statistics about how many road workers are injured and killed doing precisely the work these robotic arms can do. Those numbers hit home last August in Stow, Ohio, when a driver careened into a coned-off work zone, critically injuring the two workers who were painting a crosswalk at an intersection. Impaired or careless drivers may always be a threat, but the damage they do will be greatly reduced if they collide with a huge truck versus workers protected only by cones.

RoadPrintz has conducted successful demonstrations of its technology in northeast Ohio, including painting bike lanes on the Payne Avenue Bridge over Cleveland’s Innerbelt with green boxes, white bike symbols, and white arrows. Bell and Newman estimate that a typical long-line road painting truck can sell for about $500,000 “RoadPrintz expects to be about 20 percent cheaper,” notes Newman.

For more information, visit www.roadprintz.com. To see the company’s video of the process, search “Road Printz” on YouTube.

Ohio’s road princes invent a safer way to paint all those sharrows, arrows, lines, and other markings on the street.

STORY AND PHOTO BY SARAH JAQUAY

CALENDAR

MAY 20 – Antique Car Gathering, Sauder Village, 22611 St. Rte. 2, Archbold, 10 a.m.–5 p.m. See cars older than 1942, with some dating back to the early 1900s. 800590-9755 or https://saudervillage.org.

MAY 20 – Family Fun Day: “End of the School Year,” Northwest Ohio Railroad Preservation Inc., 12505 Co. Rd. 99, Findlay, 1–4 p.m. $5. Enjoy games, quarter-scale train rides, bounce house, and other fun activities and events. 419-423-2995, www.nworrp.org, or www. facebook.com/nworrp.

motorcycle show Sunday. 937-596-6812 or www.buckeyefarmantiques.com.

MAY 27 – Memorial Day Service, Perry’s Victory and International Peace Memorial, 93 Delaware Ave., Put-inBay, 10–11 a.m. Free. 419-285-2184 or www.nps.gov/pevi/ index.htm.

THROUGH MAY 28 – Chunky Knit Blanket Workshop, Vandermark Estate and Events Venue, 9095 Spencerville Rd., Spencerville, 2–5 p.m. $40. Learn step by step how to hand knit a beautiful and cozy chunky chenille blanket. www.thevandemarkestate.com/book-online.

THROUGH AUG. 4 – Limaland Motorsports Park Races, 1500 Dutch Hollow Rd., Lima, 7:30–10:30 p.m. Sprints, UMP Modifieds, Thunderstocks, and more! Pit gates open at 4:30 p.m., grandstand gates at 5 p.m., warmup laps begin at 6:30 p.m. See website for updated information. www.limaland.com.

THROUGH SEP. 10 – NWORRP Museum Summer Hours, Northwest Ohio Railroad Preservation Inc., 12505 Co. Rd. 99, Findlay, Sat./Sun. 1–4 p.m. $3; 12 and under, $2. Museum tours, quarter-scale train rides, model train displays, games, play area, and more. 419-423-2995, www.nworrp.org, or www.facebook.com/nworrp.

MAY 12–21 – Four Weddings and an Elvis, Encore Theatre, 991 N. Shore Dr., Lima, Fri./Sat. 8 p.m., Sun. 2 p.m. A romantic comedy set in a Las Vegas wedding chapel that hosts four of the most memorable ceremonies you will ever see. 419-223-8866 or www. amiltellers.org.

MAY 18–21 – Armed Forces Day Celebration, Hancock Co. Fgds., Findlay, Thur.–Sat. 9 a.m.–7 p.m., Sun. 9 a.m.–noon. Adults $10, C. (6–17) $5, under 6 free. This year is the “Mule Muster”! See American Huey 360 and UH-1B Gunship 049, military vehicles and weapons displays, flamethrower demos, living history displays, reenactments, and more. www.findlaymilitaryshow.org.

MAY 19–20 – Hamler Country Fest, St. Rte. 109, Hamler. $30; 16 and under free with paid adult admission. Two days of great country music and fun. Open seating under roof; bring lawn chairs. Primitive on-site camping available. 419-748-7459 or www. hamlercountryfest.com.

WEST VIRGINIA

MAY 20 – “Walk Your Socks Off,” Tawawa Park, Sidney, 10 a.m.–noon. Help raise awareness for our local Down syndrome community with this celebration walk. Scavenger hunt, dance party and DJ, bounce houses, awards ceremony, food, and more. Register, donate, or sponsor at www.mvdsa.org/news-and-events/upcomingevents/walk-your-socks-off.html.

MAY 20–21 – Settlers’ Encampment, AuGlaize Village, 12296 Krouse Rd., Defiance, Sat. 10 a.m.–5 p.m., Sun. 10 a.m.–4 p.m. $5, under 13 free. Step back in time to 1750–1815 and see how settlers survived. Demos and instructions ranging from plant dying and food preparation to the fur trade and weapons of that era. 419-990-0107 or www.auglaizevillage.com.

MAY 20–21, JUN. 10–11 – The Fantastic Tiffin Flea Market, Seneca Co. Fgds., 100 Hopewell Ave., Tiffin, Sat. 9 a.m.–4 p.m., Sun. 9 a.m.–3 p.m., rain or shine. Free; handicapped accessible. 250 to 400 dealers per show. Food available for purchase. 419-447-9613 or www. tiffinfleamarket.com.

MAY 20–OCT. 14 – The Great Sidney Farmers Market, Shelby County Court Square, 100 E. Court St., Sidney, Sat. 8 a.m.–noon. Fresh produce, baked goods, jams and jellies, crafts, plants, and flowers. 937-658-6945 or www. sidneyalive.org.

MAY 21 – Shelby County Coin Club Coin Show, American Legion Post 217, 1265 Fourth Ave., Sidney, 10 a.m.–3 p.m. 937-339-5437

MAY 25–29 – Main Street Port Clinton Walleye Festival, Waterworks Park, Port Clinton. Free live concerts, kids’ fishing derby, grande parade, educational programs/activities, carnival rides, and more than 130 vendors. 419-734-5503 or www.walleyefestival.com.

MAY 26–28 – Buckeye Farm Antiques Annual Show, Shelby Co. Fgds., 655 S. Highland Ave, Sidney, Fri./Sat. 9 a.m.–7 p.m., Sun. 9 a.m.–4 p.m. Featuring Allis Chalmers tractors and engines. Tractor pull, flea market, crafts, kids’ activities, and other entertainment; car, truck, and

MAY 13–21 – West Virginia Strawberry Festival, downtown Buckhannon. Food vendors specializing in strawberry treats of all kinds, arts and crafts show, horse and carriage parade, carnival, exhibits, and much more! 304-472-9036 or www. wvstrawberryfestival.com.

JUN. 3 – Taste of Parkersburg, corner of Market and 3rd Sts., Parkersburg, 5–11 p.m. Savor food, wine, and beer from local restaurants. 304-865-0522 or www.downtownpkb.com.

JUN. 9–11 – Fostoria Glass Society of America’s Glass Show and Sale, Moundsville Center Bldg., 901 Eighth St., Moundsville. Featuring glassware by Fostoria, Imperial, Morgantown, Cambridge, Fenton, and others, including Depression glassware. 304-242-3176 or www.fostoriaglass.org.

MAY 29 – Memorial Day Parade, downtown Lima, 10 a.m. Parade honoring all those who served; includes military flyover. Wreath-laying service at VFW Post 1275 after parade, with food trucks, hog roast, and trophy awards at 311 E. Market St. after ceremony. www. visitgreaterlima.com/calendar.

MAY 30–JUL. 21 – “All Together Now”: Summer Library Program, Shelby County Libraries, in Anna, Botkins, Ft. Loramie, Jackson Center, Russia, and Sidney. Join us for a variety of themed programs, special guests, crafts, snacks, and more, plus prizes once you complete your program goals. Sign up at any of our six locations. www.shelbycountylibraries.org.

JUN. 3 – Fiberpalooza Festival, AuGlaize Village 12296 Krouse Rd., Defiance, 10 a.m.–5 p.m. Demonstrations of spinning, weaving, sewing, and quilting on fiber equipment of various time periods. 419-990-0107, villageauglaize@gmail.com, or www.auglaizevillage.com.

JUN. 3–4 – Power of Yesteryear Club Annual Spring Show, Wood County Historical Museum, 13660 County Home Rd., Bowling Green. Featuring Minneapolis Moline tractors and equipment. poycmail@yahoo.com or www. powerofyesteryear.org.

JUN. 7 – Down on the Farm Story Time, Proving Ground Farm, 5670 E. Twp. Rd. 138, Tiffin, 10 a.m. Stories and activities are geared for preschool-age children and focus on farming and nature in a picturesque outdoor setting. Families always welcome! 419-447-7073, www.conservesenecacounty.com, or follow Seneca Conservation District on Facebook.

JUN. 10 – Antique Tractor Show, Sauder Village, 22611 St. Rte. 2, Archbold, 10 a.m.–5 p.m. Historic tractors from the 1920s to the 1960s. 800-590-9755 or www. saudervillage.org.

JUN. 10–11 – Antique Tractor Show/Pulls and Flea Market, AuGlaize Village, 12296 Krouse Rd., Defiance, Sat. 9 a.m.–7 p.m., Sun. 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Antique tractors and hit-miss engines. Antique tractor pulls Sat. 10 a.m.–3 p.m. with a small connect fee. Trophies and prize money awarded. 419-990-0107, villageauglaize@gmail.com, or www.auglaizevillage.com.

Get listed in our calendar

Submit listings AT LEAST 90 DAYS prior to the event to Ohio Cooperative Living, 6677 Busch Blvd., Columbus, OH 43229 or email events@ohioec.org. Ohio Cooperative Living will not publish listings that don’t include a complete address or a number/website for more information.

2023 CALENDAR

recommended. In the event of rain, the concert will be held at Fisher Auditorium, 1680 Madison Ave., Wooster 44691 419-853-6016 or www.ormaco.org.

MAY 26–JUL. 29 – “Susan Cook’s Award-Winning Quilts,” McCook House Museum, Carrollton, Fri./Sat. 10 a.m.–5 p.m. $3. Susan has completed more than 200 quilts and has given away machine-made quilts to veterans, cancer patients, and many others. This exhibit features hand-sewn projects only. 330-437-9715 or kathorn4120@gmail.com.

chairs, blankets, and picnic food. In event of rain, the concert will be held at the United Church of Christ, 217 East Liberty St., Medina 44256 419-853-6016 or www. ormaco.org.

JUN. 3 – Lorain County Beekeepers Association HandsOn Field Day, Queen Right Colonies, 43655 St. Rte. 162, Spencer, 10 a.m. www.loraincountybeekeepers.org.

MAY 20 – The Homestead Rendezvous, 724 Monroe St., Bergholz, 9 a.m.–3 p.m. Free homesteading event featuring a farmers market, natural resources educational displays and demonstrations, homestead and small farm equipment, workshops, and much more. Family friendly; no pets, please. 740-768-2483 or www.facebook.com/ homesteadrendezvous.

MAY 20 – Model Train Days, Painesville Railroad Museum (Painesville Depot), 475 Railroad St., Painesville, 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Adult $5, child (3–12) $3, family $12. Twelve different operating modular layouts in N scale, HO scale, S gauge, O gauge, and G gauge; model train flea market. 216-470-5780 (Tom) or www. painesvillerailroadmuseum.org.

MAY 20 – Vintage Tea, Chatham Township Community Center, 6306 Avon Lake Rd., Spencer, 11:30 a.m.–2 p.m. $25 presale. Features wedding dresses through the years. Special luncheon and raffle baskets. Contact Sarah Bistline at 330-606-6609.

MAY 26 – Music at the Arboretum: NEO5 Brass Quintet, John Streeter Garden Amphitheater, 2122 Williams Rd., Wooster, 6:30–8:30 p.m. Free, but registration is

MAY 27–28 – Great Lakes Fiber Show, Wayne Co. Fgds., 199 Vancouver St., Wooster. Free. Workshops, competitions, wool fleece show and sale, craft activities, vendors, Angora rabbit show, and special presentation on livestock guardian dogs. 740-686-2172 or www. greatlakesfibershow.com.

MAY 31 – Bike Week Dice Run, Kelleys Island, 10 a.m.–5 p.m. Participants will experience an exciting tour of the island while completing a scavenger hunt and collecting dice rolls at a variety of local businesses. 419-746-2360 or www.kelleysislandchamber.com.

JUN. 1–AUG. 3 – Fort Steuben Summer Concert Series, Fort Steuben Park, 120 S. 3rd St., Steubenville, Thur. 7–9 p.m. Free. Bring a blanket and picnic basket and enjoy a variety of live musical performances. 740-283-1787 or www.oldfortsteuben.com.

JUN. 2 – First Fridays on Fourth, 155 N. 4th St., Steubenville, 6–10 p.m. Free. Monthly themed celebration featuring art, crafts, games, food trucks, live entertainment, and activities to stimulate the imagination. www.theharmoniumproject.org/first-Fridays.

JUN. 3 – Jazz under the Stars: Groove Tonic, Uptown Park, Medina, 7–9 p.m. Free. Enjoy a night of eclectic music from this high-energy ensemble. Bring your lawn

Park, 1000 Carillon Blvd., Dayton, noon–7 p.m. $10–$14 Celebrates Dayton’s unparalleled history through special activities, costumed interpreters, and more, concluding with a concert by the Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra. 937-293-2841 or www.daytonhistory.org/events/specialevents.

MAY 28 – White Water Shaker Village Open House, 11813 Oxford Rd., Harrison, 2–5 p.m. Free. Tour the Village, learn about the daily life of a Shaker and the styles of businesses Shakers conducted, and see our collection of Shaker goods. friendsofwwsv@gmail.com or www.whitewatervillage.org.

JUN. 3–4 – Ohio Valley Frontier Days, Historic Fort Steuben, 120 S. 3rd St., Steubenville. $6, child (6–12) $3, under 6 free. Annual festival featuring soldier, settler, surveyor, and Native American reenactors re-creating life on the Ohio frontier; includes crafts, games, food, and entertainment. 740-283-1787 or www.oldfortsteuben.com.

JUN. 4 – Kelleys Island 5 & 10K Run/Walk, begins at Memorial Park, 112 Division St., Kelleys Island. Registration begins at 8 a.m., race at 10:45 a.m., followed by awards ceremony. Registration fee $20 online, $25 day of race. 419-746-2360 or www.kelleysislandchamber.com.

JUN. 4 – Pulp Fiction and Comic Book Convention, Doubletree by Hilton Cleveland/ Westlake, 1100 Crocker Rd., Westlake, 10 a.m.–4 p.m. $5; 6 and under free. Collectible book and comic vendors, guest writers, hourly prizes. 330-462-3985 or www.harpercomics.com.

JUN. 10 – Secrest Garden Fair, Secrest Arboretum, 2122 Williams Rd., Wooster, 9 a.m.–4 p.m. Free. Handmade arts and crafts with a garden theme, guided tours of the arboretum, activities for kids, plant sale, workshops, and food trucks. http://friendsofsecrest.com/garden-fair.

JUN. 11 – “Jeff Klemm: Evoking Emotion Through Music,” Wadsworth Public Library, 132 Broad St., Wadsworth, 2–3 p.m. Free, but reservations recommended. Register at www.ormaco.org or by calling 419-853-6016

JUN. 3–4 – Troy Strawberry Festival, Great Miami River Levee and downtown Troy. Fun, family-friendly weekend celebrating everything strawberry! Food, arts and crafts, games, pageants, cruise-in, and entertainment. 937-3397714 or www.gostrawberries.com.

JUN. 10 – “Storytelling and Native American Flute,” Garber Nature Center, 9691 OH-503 N., Lewisburg, 6:30–8:30 p.m. Free. Presented by John DeBoer. 937-962-5561, pcpdevents@gmail.com, or www. preblecountyparks.org.

THROUGH JUN. 28 – Bluegrass Wednesdays, Vinoklet Winery, 11069 Colerain Ave., Cincinnati, Wed. 6:30–8:30 p.m. Enjoy dinner, wine, and an evening of free entertainment by Vernon McIntyre’s Appalachian Grass. Reservations recommended. 513-385-9309, vinokletwinery@fuse.net, or www.vinokletwines.com.

MAY 19 – Bluegrass Night, Fibonacci Brewing Company, 1445 Compton Rd., Cincinnati, 7–9 p.m. Free. Enjoy lively bluegrass music by Vernon McIntyre’s Appalachian Grass, a wide variety of craft beers, and food truck eats. 513-832-1422 or http://fibbrew.com.

MAY 20 – MetroParks Spring Arts Festival, 7850 Voice of America Park Dr., West Chester, noon–5 p.m. Free. Local artisans and craftspeople will showcase their work at this inaugural arts festival. Live music and food trucks. 513-867-5835 or www.travelbutlercounty.com/events/ metroparks-spring-arts-festival.

MAY 28 – Dayton Heritage Day, Carillon Historical

JUN. 1–3 – Milford Frontier Days, Riverside Park, 450 Victor Stier Dr., Milford. Kickoff parade, bands, car show, food and drink, Makers’ Market, rides, and more. www. frontierdaysmilford.com.

JUN. 2 – Vernon McIntyre’s Appalachian Grass, Butler County Bluegrass Association, Collinsville Community Center, 5113 Huston Rd., Collinsville, 7–9 p.m. Free. Lively bluegrass music. Food available on-site. 937-417-8488.

JUN. 3 – “Getting Ready: Solar Eclipse, Part 1,” Garber Nature Center, 9691 OH-503 N., Lewisburg, 1–3 p.m. Free. Presented by astronomer Terry Mann. 937-962-5561, pcpdevents@gmail.com, or www. preblecountyparks.org.

JUN. 3 – Sawyer Point Summer Concert, 705 E. Pete Rose Way, Cincinnati, 4–10 p.m. Free. Featuring Appalachian Grass at 4 p.m., Jake Speed and the Freddies at 6 p.m., and Henhouse Prowlers at 8:30 p.m. Food trucks and beer/cooler vendors on-site. Consider bringing a lawn chair. 513-357-2604 or www.cincinnatioh.gov/cincyparks/visit-a-park/parks-events-calendar.

JUN. 10 – Kids’ Program: “Chalk Art,” Garber Nature Center, 9691 OH-503 N., Lewisburg, 1–3 p.m. Free. Led by naturalist and teacher Bev Holland. Materials provided; bring play clothes. 937-962-5561, pcpdevents@gmail.com, or www.preblecountyparks.org.

JUN. 10 – Shandon Strawberry Festival, Community House, 4782 Cincinnati Brookville Rd., Shandon, 10 a.m.–5 p.m. Free. Enjoy strawberry shortcake and homemade ice cream, hot pressed chicken sandwiches, homemade pies, and much more. 513-738-4127 or www. shandonchurch.com/strawberry-festival.

JUN. 10 – Vernon McIntyre’s Appalachian Grass, Clifton Opry House, 5 S. Clay St., Clifton, 7:30–10:30 p.m. $10. Enjoy an evening of lively bluegrass music with lightning-fast instrumentals, close harmonies, and entertaining novelty songs. 937-342-2175, schasnov@ netzero.net, or www.villageofclifton.com/clifton-operahouse.

JUN. 10 – Village Music Festival, Caesar’s Creek Pioneer Village, 3999 Pioneer Village Rd., Waynesville, 10 a.m.–6 p.m. $6 per person; under 16 free. www. caesarscreekpioneervillage.org.

MAY 6–SEP. 30 – Sunbury Farmers Market, Sunbury Town Square, 9 E. Granville St., Sunbury, Sat. 9 a.m.–noon. Offering local handmade, homemade, and homegrown products. 740-513-9192 or sunburyohiofarmersmarket@gmail.com.

MAY 6–OCT. 28 – Coshocton County Farmers Market, 22375 Co. Rd. 1A, Coshocton, Sat. 8:30 a.m.–noon. Local fresh produce, baked goods, and artisan crafts at our new location by the Walhonding River. market. manager@coshfarmmarket.org or www.facebook.com/ coshoctonfarmersmarket.

MAY 6–OCT. 28 – Spring Farmers Market, Adornetto’s, 2224 Maple Ave., Zanesville, Sat. 9 a.m.–noon. Locally grown produce, homemade food, locally raised/ processed meat, farm eggs, Ohio cheese, and more. www.zanesvillefarmersmarket.org.

MAY 9, 23, JUN. 6 – Farmers Market, Roseville Branch Library, 41 N. Main St., Roseville, 4–6:30 p.m. Sponsored by the Roseville Branch Library Friends Group. Book sale planned for May 30. 740-697-0237or juanita@ muskingumlibrary.org.

MAY 11, JUN. 8 – Inventors Network Meeting, The Point at Otterbein University, 60 Collegeview Rd., Westerville 43081, 7 p.m. Educational presentations and discussion about the invention process. Zoom meetings on May 18 and Jun. 15 at 7 p.m. 614-470-0144 or www. inventorscolumbus.com.

MAY 19–20 – Spring in the Country, Amanda, Tarlton, and Stoutsville area, 8 a.m.–5 p.m. (times may vary for

SOUTHEAST

individual businesses). Enjoy a ride in the country for a “shop hop” at participating area businesses, ranging from home cottage to retail sales. Special offers and maps available at each location. 740-503-2125 or www. countryshophop.com.

MAY 20 – “Art on the Canal” Art Stroll, downtown Canal Winchester, noon–6 p.m. Live music, dancing, and performances, along with arts and crafts from central Ohio artists. Enjoy local food, drinks, and shopping, and don’t miss the one-room Prentiss School Building and the Hocking Valley “Queen of the Line” railroad depot. 614270-5053 or www.destinationcw.org/artStroll.

MAY 20 – Ki’Wanna Go for a Run 5K/10K, Hunter Park, Lancaster, 9 a.m. Join us for a 5K walk, run, roll or 10K run. Proceeds benefit the Kiwanis Club of Lancaster’s youth/community service programs benefiting children in Fairfield County. Race day registration at 7:30 a.m. or register at https://raceroster.com/events/2023/73331/ kiwanna-go-for-a-run.

MAY 26–28 – Flint Ridge Knap-In, Coshocton Co. Fgds., 724 S. 7th St., Coshocton, Fri./Sat. 9 a.m.–5 p.m., Sun. 9 a.m.–3 p.m. $7 per vehicle, $3 walk-ins, under 12 free. New location! Flint-knapping demos, fire starting, cordage making, artifact identification, and more. Rain or shine. 419-632-4274 or 330-440-3625

MAY 27 – Ohio Authors Book Fair, 8000 Factory Shops Boulevard, Jeffersonville, 10 a.m.–3 p.m. At locations around the mall. www.destinationoutlets. com/post/2023-events-calendar or www.social-ally.biz/ ohioauthorsbookfair.

MAY 27–28 – Asian Festival, Franklin Park, 1755 E. Broad St., Columbus, Sat. 10 a.m.–8 p.m., Sun. 10 a.m.–6 p.m. Free. A celebration of Asian culture, including dance, music, martial arts, food, and much more. http://asianfestival.org.

MAY 27–28, JUN. 2–4 – Once Upon a Mattress, Zanesville Community Theatre, 940 Findley Ave., Zanesville, 2:30 and 7 p.m. 740-455-6487 or www.zct.org.

MAY 27–29 – Utica Sertoma Ice Cream Festival, Ye Olde Mill and Velvet Ice Cream Co., 11324 Mt. Vernon Rd., Utica, Sat./Sun. 9 a.m.–7 p.m., Mon. 10 a.m.–6 p.m. $5 per car. Parade, live music, car show, kiddie

Celebrate the 40th anniversary of the festival featuring Native American music and dancing, crafters, exhibits, and plenty of family-friendly entertainment. www. feastofthefloweringmoon.org.

MAY 27–28 – Historic Marietta Tour of Homes, Marietta, 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Tour a variety of homes that make up the first established settlement of the Northwest Territory. Homes on Saturday will be different from homes on Sunday. https://mariettaohio.org/events/historicmarietta-tour-of-homes.

tractor pulls, ice cream-eating contests, arts and crafts, games, and ice cream, of course! 740-892-3161 or www. sertomaicecreamfestival.com.

MAY 29 – Lithopolis Memorial Day Celebration, Lithopolis Cemetery and The Wagnalls Memorial, 150 E. Columbus St., Lithopolis, 10 a.m.–5 p.m. Parade, memorial service, car show, live music, food, crafts, used book sale, and fire department open house. 614-837-4765 or www. wagnalls.org.

MAY 29 – Memorial Day Parade and Commemoration, Lockbourne’s Veterans Park, 95 Landis St., Lockbourne. Parade at noon, followed by a service featuring our military ties to the Columbus Air Show at Rickenbacker International Airport. 614-491-3161 or www. lockbourneohio.us.

MAY 31–JUN. 4 – Deercreek Dam Days Festival, Williamsport, Wed./Thur. 4–10 p.m., Fri. 4–11 p.m., Sat. 11 a.m.–11 p.m. Free. Fun for the whole family, with music, food, games, and rides for all ages. www. deercreekdamdays.com.

JUN. 2– Zanesville Memorial Concert Band, Zane’s Landing Park, west end of Market Street (along river), Zanesville, 7 p.m. Free. Performing with the High School Honors Band. Rain site: Zanesville High School. 740-8914098 or www.zmcb.org.

JUN. 8 – Classical Guitar and Mandolin Concert, Zanesville Museum of Art, 620 Military Rd., Zanesville, 6–7 p.m. Free; reservations required. Featuring guitar and mandolin duo Gruviera Armonico. 740-452-0741 or www. zanesvilleart.org.

JUN. 8–10 – Hot Air Balloon Festival, Coshocton Co. Fgds., 707 Kenilworth Ave., Coshocton. Free. Balloon launches at dawn and dusk, balloon “night glow,” balloon race, musical entertainment, carnival rides, food, crafts, and more. www.coshoctonhotairballoonfestival.com.

JUN. 9–11 – Columbus Arts Festival, downtown riverfront, Columbus, Fri. 11 a.m.–10:30 p.m., Sat. 10 a.m.–10:30 p.m., Sun. 10 a.m.–5 p.m. Free. Artists and craftspeople from around the nation, live music, theater, dance, hands-on art activities, and gourmet food. 614-2242606 or www.columbusartsfestival.org.

miss engines, working sawmill, flea market/craft items, food, and kids’ activities. Truck and tractor pulls Saturday 7 p.m., car show Sunday. Parts vendors wanted. Contact Steve Dean at 740-289-4124

JUN. 8–10 – Southern Ohio Forest Rally, Chillicothe, Shawnee Forest, McArthur, and Zaleski Forest. Fan Festival on the 8th in Chillicothe’s Yoctangee Park; meet the drivers and see the action up close! www. southernohioforestrally.com.

THROUGH DECEMBER – Athens Farmers Market, Athens Community Center, 701 E. State St., Athens, Sat. 9 a.m.–noon; Apr. 20–Nov. 23, Wed./Sat. 9 a.m.–noon. Voted Ohio’s #1 favorite farmers market! 740-593-6763 or www.athensfarmersmarket.org.

MAY 6–28 – Heirloom Plant Sale, Adena Mansion and Gardens, 847 Adena Rd., Chillicothe, Wed.–Sat. 9 a.m.–5 p.m., Sun. 12 p.m.–5 p.m. Featuring heirloom varieties of flowers and vegetables. www.adenamansion.com.

MAY 26–28 – Feast of the Flowering Moon, Yoctangee Park, 1 Enderlin Circle, Chillicothe, 10 a.m.–10 p.m.

MAY 29 – Ironton Lawrence County Memorial Day Parade, starting at 4th and Center Sts., Ironton, 10 a.m. The oldest continuous Memorial Day parade in the nation. Contact Lou Pyles at 740-533-7140 or lpyles54@ roadrunner.com.

JUN. 1 – Chillicothe Paints 2023 Home Opener, VA Memorial Stadium, 17273 St. Rte. 104, Chillicothe, 7:05 p.m. $5–$7. See the Paints in their first at-home game of their 30th season as they go up against the Champion City Kings. www.chillicothepaints.com.

JUN. 2–4 – Southern Ohio Farm Power of the Past Antique Tractor and Machinery Show, Pike Co. Fgds., Piketon. Featuring Oliver tractors and equipment. Vintage tractors/farm equipment and demos, hit and

JUN. 9–10 – Black Diamond Music and Arts Festival, Hocking College, 3301 Hocking Parkway, Nelsonville. A celebration of the country and bluegrass traditions of southeast Ohio. Local craft vendors, food vendors, an early 19th-century replica village, and more. www. blackdiamondmusicfestival.com.

JUN. 10 –Bethel Township VFD Annual Carnival, Bethel Twp. Community Center, 33877 St. Rte. 260, Lewisville, 4 p.m. Food, live music, and games. Parade at 6:30 p.m.; country store at 7:30 p.m. For more information, contact Jason at 740-934-2412

JUN. 10–11 – Lucasville Trade Days, Scioto Co. Fgds., 1193 Fairground Rd., Lucasville, Sat. 7 a.m.–7 p.m., Sun. 7 a.m.–4 p.m. $7; 12 and under free. 937-728-6643 or www.lucasvilletradedays.com.

Our grandson, Eli Messer, inspecting his Papaw’s popcorn patch. Kathy and Jerry Banks, Butler Rural Electric Cooperative member

Ron Knippen being helped by grandson Fisher Jones, 2 years old, picking peas. Ronald Knippen, Paulding Putnam Electric Cooperative member

Our grandchildren, Jade and Mason Solak, in our four-generation garden they worked with my dad, me, and my daughter. Ladonna Miller, North Central Electric Cooperative member

My granddaughter, Hailee Ramey, loves helping transplant beautiful flowers. Sally Arledge, South Central Power Company member

Celia Schnipke, my daughter, 3 years old. Adam Schnipke, Paulding Putnam Electric Cooperative member

Our son, Josiah, age 4, was so pleased to special deliver his fresh garden finds. Keith Beitzel, The Frontier Power Company member

My son Ryan grew this from a plant he got in the fifth grade. LoriLea Beard, South Central Power Company member

Hi! I’m Jackson and I’m picking the first crop with my Great-Aunt Kay. Kay Fosnaugh, South Central Power Company member

My granddaughter, Rory Foster, planting green beans. She had to wear my garden hat. Angela Schoonover, South Central Power Company member

Call before you dig!

Know what’s below—dial 811 before any project that requires digging.

Underground utilities, such as gas, water, and electric lines, can be a shovel thrust away from turning a spring project into a disaster. Play it safe by dialing 811 three days before digging to find out where utility lines run on your property. It’s free, fast—and may save a life!