SW OH | May/June 2016 | Issue 32

Salt Flavor for Everyday Life | May/June 2016 Southwest Ohio

SPRING TR AVE L ISSUE

House concerts strike the right note Check out the 25 Ohio Scenic Byways A museum for all the world’s dummies

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Salt Flavor for Everyday Life www.thesaltmagazine.com Southwest Ohio May/June 2016

Publisher Editor Food Editor Layout Design

Pamela Stricker Lora Abernathy Andrea Chaffin Jayla Wallingford

pstricker@civitasmedia.com labernathy@civitasmedia.com achaffin@civitasmedia.com jwallingford@civitasmedia.com

Sales Clinton County (937) 382-2574

Denise Hill dhill@civitasmedia.com

Fayette County (740) 335-3611

Kimberly Penwell kpenwell@civitasmedia.com

Greene County (937) 372-4444

Barb VandeVenter bvandeventer@civitasmedia.com

Highland County (937) 393-3456

Sharon Hughes shughes@civitasmedia.com

Madison County (740) 852-1616

Stephanie Collins scollins@civitasmedia.com

Hide & Shake Find the shaker in this issue and be entered to win a $10 grocery card.

Visit our website, thesaltmagazine.com, and click on the Shaker Contest link at the top to be entered. Please include your name, street number, street name, city and zip code.

Only your name and city will be published. All entries must be received by June 1, 2016. Only online entries will be accepted.

In the March/April issue, the shaker was hidden in the top image on page 18.

Congratulations to our most recent winner, Sharon Gray of Wilmington.

You could be our next winner!

Salt Shakers

I purchased the Coke set from ebay quite a few years back.

The man is a shaker coming from his cap, the cart is also a shaker from the top of the cart. — Pamela Watson of Washington Court House

In each issue of Salt, we try to feature photos of creative salt and pepper shakers from our readers’ collections. Please submit photos and descriptions to editor@ thesaltmagazine. com by June 1, 2016 for consideration for printing in a future issue.

4 | Salt | Southwest January/February Ohio |2016 May/June 2016

Contact SALT: editor@thesaltmagazine.com 761 S. Nelson Ave. Wilmington, OH 45177 (937) 382-2574

SALT is published six times a year by Civitas Media, LLC and is available through the Wilmington News Journal, The (Hillsboro) Times-Gazette, the (Washington Court House) Record-Herald, the Xenia Daily Gazette, the Fairborn Daily Herald and The (London) Madison Press.

All Rights Reserved.

Reproduction of any material from this issue in whole or in part is prohibited. SALT is free to our subscribers and is also available at each of the newspaper offices.

Please Buy Locally and Recycle.

Follow us @thesaltmagazine

On the Cover Photo taken by Sarah Allen at the Brown County Inn.

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Salt CONTENTS

features

10 13 18 24 26 33 34 36

Get going: Travel the Ohio Scenic Byways Painting a tradition An honor to be quiet A ‘magical experience’ Out & About

6 | Salt | Southwest Ohio | May/June 2016

18

Salt Homemakers Show recipes Getting conned A berry good tradition

columns

7 8 32

13

Publisher’s note

By Pamela Stricker

Salt notes

24

By Lora Abernathy

Dinner: It’s all in the details

By Andrea Chaffin

34

A little help from my friends

By Pamela Stricker

Salt Scoop Send us your favorite recipe.

We may feature it in the next issue.

“I get by with a little help from my friends.”

— John Lennon From left, Anita Workman, Dana Cochran and Pamela Stricker.

And it’s so true!

I have another dear friend, Kathy Plummer, who used to come and help me keep my house clean. Every time Kathy visited, she would come bearing the gift of her remarkable banana bread. I loved coming home to a clean house and a slice of banana bread.

Here’s Kathy’s Banana Bread recipe: Ingredients: 1 1/2 cups sugar 1 stick butter, softened 2 dollops sour cream 3 bananas, overly ripe (the blacker the better) 4 tablespoons any type of milk or buttermilk (I use half and half) 2 cups flour 1 teaspoon baking soda 1 teaspoon vanilla extract (almond is also good) 3/4 cup walnuts, chopped (optional) Directions: Preheat oven to 350 F. Using electric mixer, mix together sugar, butter and sour

cream. Set aside.

In a separate bowl, mash bananas and milk. Mix well with sour cream mixture.

Mix flour and baking soda and add to other mixture. Mix well. Add extract. Blend in walnuts, if you want.

Fill either 2 regular size loaf pans or 5 mini loaf pans, after greasing them with oil or baking spray. Foil pans work great, too.

Bake the larger pans 60-75 minutes, bake the smaller pans 40-50 minutes or until knife comes out clean.

Option: Right before putting pans in the oven, sprinkle cinnamon sugar on top of batter.

Now, go call that friend and make some plans together. And in the meantime … please pass the Salt!

Publisher pstricker@civitasmedia.com

Visit our website, thesaltmagazine. com, and click on the Recipe Submission link at the top to be entered. Include a photo of your dish, too, if you’ve got one. All entries must be received by June 1, 2016. Every submitted recipe will be entered in a drawing for a $25 grocery card.

Salt | Southwest Ohio | May/June 2016 | 7

My mother recently connected with a friend of hers. Not just any friend, but one she had lost contact with for decades.

The two of them roomed together in Dayton where they both worked at WrightPatterson Air Force Base. Mom was so excited to discover her long, lost friend. The amazing part of this story to me was how my almost-90-year-old mother found her.

“How did you find her?”

“I Googled her name.” My mother doing searches on the internet. Hmm. She explained the tedious process of the search. She came up empty several times but was tenacious. She came across an obituary that gave her the clue to her friend’s married name.

Then, on to Facebook. She finally found the daughter on Facebook, sent her a message, and asked if she was the daughter of her friend. Nothing. No reply … until nearly a year later.

She got a message from the daughter who confirmed to her that, indeed, it was her mother my mom was seeking. And, yes, she is still living and is now 93 years old. They have been catching up on the phone and having the time of their lives.

Friendships are like that. They come into our lives often for only a season, but remain such precious relationships. There are friends we will cherish for life, even though it may have only been a few years.

I have been blessed with so

many sweet friendships. I have lived in so many different locations in my life, and preserving a good friendship has its challenges when geography separates.

Two very special friends, my BFFs, are Dana Cochran and Anita Workman. For nearly 20 years, we met at least monthly.

Sometimes for breakfast, sometimes lunch, sometimes pedicures, sometimes a weekend at Dana’s lake house. I cannot tell you how important their friendship has been to me. We have wept, laughed, celebrated, prayed and shared life together.

The encouragement and life support is priceless.

Since moving to Lima nearly a year ago, I have been lonely for my familiar friends — my tribe. I am working on new relationships, but it takes a while.

Here are a few necessary ingredients it takes to have a good friendship: • Stay in touch. Don’t wait for someone else to call or write or text. Just do it.

• Be honest. Don’t be afraid to share who you really are. Share your struggles, your challenges, and they will feel free to do the same.

• Be intentional. Plan your “girlfriend” time into your busy schedule. Make it a priority.

• Support each other. Be there for each other when there is despair or when there is an event to celebrate.

Proverbs 27:9 says, “Just as lotions and fragrance give sensual delight, a sweet friendship refreshes the soul.” I love that!

Salt Notes

Putting my foot down 8 | Salt | Southwest Ohio | May/June 2016

By Lora Abernathy I’ll admit it. I rocked them like a super model and didn’t care about the health of my future 40-year-old self. Yes, through pouring rain or blowing snow, on green grass or sandy beaches, covering a trial or a festival, my high heels have always kept me “up” on things.

I started wearing heels early, probably in junior high, and it wasn’t always a growth spurt that made me taller. The older I got, the higher my heels.

High heels made me feel confident and self-assured, maybe because I knew that every step that didn’t lead to me falling down was a victory. (Find daily multiple wins in the little things, lifestyle and mental health experts will tell you. Check.)

The last couple of years, though, I’ve had to reconsider my position. With back and knee problems worsening, my doctor instructed me to wear flats or a 1-inch heel — if I absolutely had to wear a heel at all.

Say it ain’t so, doc!

I loathe the way I look and walk in flats.

I don’t feel feminine, which, feminists will probably say, is a product of brainwashing

from a society marketing preconceived notions of femininity. Whatever.

Either way, like any good patient, I listened to half of my doctor’s advice, the half that was most convenient for me, of course. I could not go completely flat, so I bought 3-inch heels instead of 6-inch ones, and easily called my efforts progress.

In the back of my mind, though, I knew he was right, that I had to do better. The trouble is, when you go to the store, there is not much of an in-between point. You either have to buy a super high heel, a high heel or a flat. There are rarely any good barely high heel choices around 1 inch high that aren’t wedges.

With flats coming back in style, I’ve managed to suck it up and buy a few pairs — begrudgingly. I was still in search of the 1-inch heel, however, and I recently ran into some luck. I found a couple pairs in the last few weeks (thank you, Anne Klein, whoever you are), that are about 1 inch high. They give me at least some satisfaction that I’m still in the High Heel Club, while keeping me down to earth in a more healthy position.

I am a big believer in the wonderful power of the free market, in the beauty of sup-

ply and demand. I have limited 1-inch heel choices at the shoe store because women are either buying the high heels or the flats — or clogs, which no one should be doing.

High heels are not good for us, for so many reasons. We know it, but we keep wearing them anyway. (Guilty over here!) If we are going to change the culture of shoe shopping, of the health of our feet, we must stop buying the ridiculously high heels. If we stop demanding them, manufacturers will stop supplying them.

So, join me in standing up for your health today by buying shorter heels and forcing shoe makers to take it down a notch. Consider it a win for good health, if that motivates you, or a small victory for feminism, if that pushes your button.

But for goodness’ sake, please stop buying clogs.

LORA ABERNATHY Lora is the editor of Salt magazine.

She is lives in Hillsboro with her husband, Gary, is mom to a yellow Lab named Boris, and trains and competes in triathlons. Reach her at labernathy@civitasmedia.com.

Profile

Front Porch Profile offers a personal glimpse into the lives of notable people in our communities

By Lora Abernathy

Patrick J. Closser Mayor City of London

Which actor would play you in a TV show about your life?

The obvious answer would be Ryan Gosling, but I think I would have to go with Paul Rudd. He has a sharp sense of humor and seems like a person who could get along with anyone. I have enjoyed a lot of the things he has done and feel he would portray me perfectly.

What is the most unusual item on your bucket list?

I would like to take an RV and travel the U.S. watching a ball game at every ballpark. I would go to the AAA ballparks instead of the MLB ballparks. I really like the feel of smaller ballparks, from the hometown fans to the players laying it all on the line to make it to the show.

What is your favorite line from a movie?

“Are you not entertained? Are you not entertained? Is this not why you are here?” Maximus from the movie, “Gladiator.” (That) is one of my favorite movies and, after I watch it, I always seem to find myself quoting this line for the next couple days. That is, until my wife, Missy, tells me that if she says she is entertained, will I stop quoting the movie.

What do you love most about your community?

The thing I love most about my community is the people. They have a sense of pride for London, and when you need the town to come together — for whatever reason — they step up and come together. I was born and raised in the great city of London and the community we have is unbeatable.

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Front Porch

GET GOING

10 | Salt | Southwest Ohio | May/June 2016

By Adrienne McGee Sterrett

The road less traveled.

That’s the appeal of the Ohio Scenic Byways to Sharon Strouse.

It’s such a strong pull that Strouse has been involved in championing historic roadways for some 20 years. The retiree of OSU Extension is involved closely with the Amish Country Byway in the eastern part of Ohio, as well as being involved with the Ohio and National Scenic Byway programs. She is currently president-elect of the National Scenic Byway Foundation, which provides tools and training for byway leaders. She lives in Millersburg.

And yes, even now, it comes down to the road less traveled.

“Byways are a chance for people to get off that freeway, get off that fast lane, travel the slow lane, and start thinking about enhancing their experiences along the way to their destination,” Strouse said. “I think there’s a rebirth in the idea of traveling and enjoying the experience of the drive.”

There is plenty of culture in Ohio to see. Thomas Barrett is

the byways coordinator for the keting of the area’s history for state, a program run through the quality of life for local residents, Ohio Department of Transporta- tourism and the cultural experition, and he said there are 25 ence. Area residents remember byways in Ohio. their Ohio history courses in To become a byway, there’s school that detailed that the quite a bit of canal system research and was used for documentation commerce beDid you know? involved, with the fore the railroads The byway sign focus on showwere built. has a flower on ing value in these “This is the areas: archaeosecond-longest it. It is a trillium, logical, historical, representing the continuous scenic, cultural, portion of canal state wildflower. in the United recreational and natural.

States,” Brady “The scenic said. “It’s very driving routes really coincide unique to have that.” with the highway beautificaEverywhere you turn in Ohio tion movement from Lady Bird is unique. The Lincoln Highway Johnson,” Barrett said, saying was the first coast-to-coast road the program began about 1962 built squarely for the promoin Ohio. tion of auto travel. Mike Hocker, “If you travel one of these director of the Ohio Lincoln routes, you can kind of take in Highway Historic Byway, is still some of these intrinsic sites, and enamored with that idea. it can be cultural and a learning “A bunch of investors got experience or an escape,” Bartogether and realized they were rett said. “Get out and explore, not going to sell an increasing really.” number of cars because cars Neal Brady, treasurer of the literally could not drive on roads Miami Erie Canal Corridor that existed,” Hocker said. “If Association, has been working they went more than 40 to 50 since 2003 to improve the marmiles, they went by train or they

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Travel the Ohio Scenic Byways went by oxcart, because the road was so bad they couldn’t get through them.”

Sections of the Lincoln are still the original brick.

“I think they need to think in terms that there’s more to do than just getting in the car and going to a destination,” Hocker said. “Think about how they go there and break up the monotony and go a different way or go with the purpose of looking and seeing.”

OHIO’S SCENIC BYWAYS

• For detailed maps, visit www.dot.state.oh.us/OhioByways/.

Amish Country: 160 miles; winding curves and rolling hills; Amish/German history, farms, B&Bs; also America’s Byways designation Big Darby Plains: 27 miles, with spurs of more than 20 miles; Scenic Big Darby Creek views and parks; covered bridges; farms Drivers’ Trail Scenic Byway: 37 miles; scenic vistas connecting two other byways, Historic National Road and Ohio River Scenic Byway; was a route frequented by farmers taking

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“I think there’s a rebirth in the idea of traveling and enjoying the experience of the drive.”

— Sharon Strouse

293

The miles of the Lake Erie Coastal Ohio byway.

25 The number of byways in Ohio.

1962

The year the byway program began in Ohio.

2

museums, Cedar Point, Maumee State Scenic River; follows Erie shoreline from Conneaut to the Michigan border; also America’s Byways designation Land of the Cross-Tipped Churches: 38.4 miles; German culture, Catholic church architecture, farms Lincoln Highway Historic Byway: 241 miles; first coastto-coast road for the car Lower Valley Pike: 11 miles; Mad River, George Rogers Clark Park, historic homes, Estelle Wenrick Wetlands Preserve Maumee Valley: 90 miles; former British Fort Miamis, Maumee River Miami and Erie Canal: 54 miles; views of canal, Johnston Farm & Indian Agency, hiking Morgan County: 39 miles; Burr Oak State Park, foothills of Appalachian Mountains North Ridge: 9 miles; passes by more than 100 historic homes that date to the 1830s

GARY BROCK Gary is the editor of Rural Life Today, a Civitas Media publication, a writer for Salt magazine, and has been in the media business for 39 years.

Reach him at 937-556-5759 or on Twitter @GBrock4.

ADRIENNE MCGEE STERRETT Adrienne is the lifestyle/special sections editor for The Lima News. She believes everyone has a life story worth sharing.

Reach her at 567-242-0510 or amcgeesterrett@civitasmedia. com.

SARAH ALLEN Sarah is a writer for Salt magazine. When she’s not writing, she can be found scrapbooking, reading or cooking.

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Salt | Southwest Ohio | May/June 2016 | 11

goods to market Gateway to Amish Country: Kokosing and Mohican rivers; state’s longest covered bridge; trails for hiking, biking and horseback riding Heritage Corridors of Bath: Hale Farm and Village, Bath Nature Preserve, Cuyahoga Valley National Park; early homes, barns, mills Historic National Road: 225 miles; pike towns dot length; left behind by railroad popularity but resurged with modern automobiles; from West Virginia state line at the Ohio River to the Indiana state line; also America’s Byways designation Hocking Hills: 26.4 miles; scenic hills; hiking, camping, outdoor activities Jefferson Township: scenes of older barns and homes amid urbanization Lake Erie Coastal Ohio: 293 miles; beaches, state parks, lighthouses, outdoor activities,

The Miami and Erie Canal is the second-longest continuous portion of canal in the United States.

Salt Contributors

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Ohio & Erie Canalway: canal history, Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad, farms, nature preserves, northern industry, Cuyahoga Valley National Park Ohio River Scenic Byway: 452 miles; entire length of the Ohio River in Ohio; Travel tip scenic Travel from views of the west to east valley and in the small river summer so towns; also you aren’t America’s staring into Byways the sun. designation The Old Mill Stream Scenic Byway: Blanchard River, “Down by the Old Mill Stream” written

by Hancock County native Tell Taylor as he looked at the Blanchard; farms, parks Olentangy Heritage Corridor: 10 1/2 miles; follows Indian trails of the Olentangy River; river, barns, churches, houses Presidential Pathways: 55 miles; Miami University, Hueston Woods State Park; follows lives of Presidents William Henry Harrison and grandson Benjamin Harrison Scioto Heritage Trail: ties into Ohio River Scenic Byway; Ohio River, Shawnee State Forest, Roy Rogers’ home, Branch Rickey history, overlooks valley Tappan-Moravian Trail: 55 miles; Tappan Lake, Clendening Lake, birthplace of George Armstrong Custer Wally Road: Mohican and Walhonding valleys; Toledo, Walhonding Valley and Ohio Railroad (the “Wally”); forests, ravines, wetlands Welsh Scenic Byway: 64 miles; Welsh churches, farms and cemeteries; Bob Evans Homestead; Raccoon Creek and Daniel Boone history

RESOURCES nsbfoundation.org meccainc.org www.dot.state.oh.us/OhioByways

FAVORITE ROUTES Barrett: He grew up in Newark/Licking County, and often used the National Road on drives to Springfield. He currently lives near Worthington and loves the Olentangy byway, especially by motorcycle. “It’s really kind of taking the scenic route right out of your back door,” he said.

Hocker: He enjoys the Lincoln Highway’s stretch east of Mansfield and west of Wooster. It winds through hills and is very easy to imagine how the drive would have been in the 1920s.

Brady: He suggests visiting Johnston Farm, where you can take a canal boat ride, and checking out Fort Loramie/ Minster/New Bremen to see the old structures and the communities.

Strouse: Her favorite summer drives are near water. She enjoys the Maumee Valley Scenic Byway along the Maumee River, because there are lots of towns for tourism activities. The Lake Erie Coastal Trail is also a draw because of its wineries, restaurants and sunset views of the lake. And, of course, the Ohio River byway has lots of eateries with patios overlooking the river.

Painting a tradition Brush and Palette Art Guild shows began in 1959

By Sarah Allen Summer is a time of traditions, from catching fireflies to grilling with family and friends. But in Hillsboro, one tradition has less to do with the outdoors, and more to do with paint strokes and brushes.

Nearing its 60th anniversary, The Brush and Palette Art Guild’s annual show highlights the work of the guild’s professional members — those who make part of their income from their artwork — and non-professional members.

According to Deanna Flinn, a nonprofessional, the professional members are “very giving” and “try to nurture the group.”

“We really are proud of our professionals,” Flinn said, citing artist Connie

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Barrett as one who has found success.

Barrett was recognized last year with a letter of tribute from the 130th General Assembly of Ohio.

The letter honored her performance at the Foothills Art Festival, where she earned first place in the watercolor category for her piece “Leaving the Swamp.”

The Brush and Palette Art Guild’s show includes awards for best of show, reserve best of show and best of division. The awards are divided into professional and non-professional categories.

Other recognitions include: the Violet Linton Award, in honor of the guild’s founder; the Julia Barthel Award, in remembrance of a member who was killed in an accident; and the People’s Choice Award.

Photo by Sarah Allen

14 | Salt | Southwest Ohio | May/June 2016

Elaine Balsley looks through photographs and pamphlets from the Brush and Palette Art Guild’s long history.

The Violet Linton Award recognizes a non-professional artist for a landscape, and the Julia Bartel Award is given to a professional artist for a watercolor floral piece.

The show also includes a silent auction, with pieces donated by artists. Also sold are artist trading cards, which feature samples of the artists’ works.

The show is supported by numerous local sponsors, Flinn said.

At the center of every show are the many and varied talents of the guild’s members, and each year offers a new and unique experience for those who stroll among the numerous pieces.

The Brush and Palette Art Guild began in 1957 with Linton teaching oil painting to eight students. Two years later, the first show was held in the Fairfield High School gymnasium in Leesburg, and since then, the guild “just grew and grew,” Flinn said.

In 1997, the show moved to

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16 | Salt | Southwest Ohio | May/June 2016

Several winning pieces from the 2015 Brush and Palette Art Guild show.

the central campus of Southern State Community College in Hillsboro. The guild now has more than 60 artists, representing much of southwest Ohio, including Highland, Clinton, Fayette, Adams, Brown and Clermont counties.

Carin and Robert Hebenstreit, who both teach art classes, were the judges during last year’s show. Robert Hebenstreit paints landscapes, still life, and the figure, according to 2015 show material. Carin Hebenstreit is a portrait painter.

As they examined each piece submitted in last year’s show, they offered both praise and constructive criticism. They considered composition, color and presence.

“Does it jump out at you?” they asked.

“Some paintings are done very well but don’t have anything to say,” Carin Hebenstreit said.

Cecile Baird, one of the guild’s professional members, and winner

of multiple awards during last year’s show, described the excitement that comes with art.

“It’s constantly a challenge,” she said.

Baird won the professional best in show, a professional best of division award, first place for the 2015 theme of “Reflections,” and the People’s Choice Award for her colored pencil drawing “Nautilus Reflections.”

Baird said that she is “so proud to be a part of (the guild).”

And just as each member of the guild has a different style, so do they also have different stories to share.

This year’s Brush and Palette Art Guild show will be held 1 p.m. Saturday, June 25 and Sunday, June 26, at the central campus of Southern State Community College in Hillsboro.

The theme is “Shadows in Sunlight,” with both professional and non-professional artists being judged in that category. Richard Luschek II, a painter from the Cincinnati area, will judge this year’s show.

Salt | Southwest Ohio | May/June 2016 | 17

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Gary Brock photos

An honor to be quiet

18 | Salt | Southwest Ohio | May/June 2016

By Gary Brock They sit silent, more that 870 of the ventriloquist dummies in the three buildings that make up the Vent Haven Museum.

And silent they will remain.

That is because out of respect for the ventriloquists who owned these hundreds of examples of the art and rich heritage of ventriloquism, the cardinal rule of the museum is that the dummies will never again be given voice. That is just one of many fascinating facts people learn when visiting this one-ofa-kind museum.

Located in Fort Mitchell, Ky., just off I-75 as travelers cross the Ohio River from Cincinnati, the Vent Haven Museum is one of the nation’s more unusual museums.

Open May 1 to Sept. 30 by appointment, the museum offers visitors the chance to see donated dummies dating back to the Civil War, along with thousands of photos of ventriloquists and their acts. Curator Lisa Sweasy says the “Vent” in Vent Haven is short for ventriloquist.

It opened in June 1973, the only museum in the world dedicated to the art of ventrilo-

quism.

It was founded by Cincinnati native William S. Berger, who died about a year before the museum opened. His collection of ventriloquist dummies began when he purchased his first figure in 1910.

At first, he kept the figures in his house, but as his fascination with ventriloquism grew, the collection grew rapidly. In 1947, he renovated his garage to house the dummies and, in 1962, he built a second building.

“We have about 870 dummies,” Sweasy said. “When Mr. Berger died, there were about 500 in the collection. We used to get about five to 10 donated a year since then but, during the last couple of years, there have been considerably more than that.”

There are three buildings at Vent Haven housing collections of dummies.

“When Mr. Berger was alive, he wanted everyone to feel comfortable here, and everyone to be represented here. So the dummies are a broad mix made by professionals and amateurs,” Sweasy said.

In the first building is a striking sight — a wall stacked end to end, four high with more than 100 dummies. “The Bleachers” as it is

VENT HAVEN MUSEUM Address: 33 W. Maple Ave., Fort Mitchell, KY 41011 Phone: 859-341-0461 Email: curator @venthavenmuseum.com Website: venthavenmuseum.com Hours: May 1-Sept. 30 by appointment Scheduling: Small groups need to request tours two days in advance.

Groups larger than 15 need to allow two weeks.

Tickets: Admission is $10 for adults; $5 each for groups of 10 or more, seniors and children under 12.

The tour lasts 45 to 90 minutes, depending on the visitors’ interests and/ or questions. called, is designed to showcase the variety of dummies from all eras. It includes the oldest at the museum, a Civil War-era doll that was changed to be a ventriloquist dummy.

Continued on page 23

Spring on the Road Great places to visit on your weekend Getaways and Day Trips

in CLINTON COUNTY

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Salt | Southwest Ohio | May/June 2016 | 19

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Continued from page 18

Curator Lisa Sweasy demonstrates ventriloquist dummy “Cecil Wifflenose.” She shows how he operates and the mechanics inside the wood and cloth figure. “He can do just about anything: cross his eyes, wiggle his ears, wink, stick his tongue out, sniff … and have ‘fright wig’ action. He’s pretty spiffy. He’s a good guy. Mechanically, he’s much more complex than people would think,” she said, as she demonstrates the dummy’s facial mechanics.

Sweasy, a former teacher, has been with Vent Haven since 2000 and is its only employee. During a tour of the buildings, Sweasy demonstrated the inner workings of one dummy named Cecil Wifflenose, showing how it operates. But that is all she is allowed to do.

When asked if she is a ventriloquist herself, she said no.

“The curator is not allowed to be a ventriloquist,” she said. “(Berger) promised everyone that when the museum got the dummies that they would remain silent, as a sign of respect.

These were all the props of people… they already have a character, a personality and a voice. So if the curator were a ventriloquist then that might not be preserved,” she said.

“Once they are donated, they are never given voice again. I do mechanical demonstrations of some of them to show people how they work, but none of them are ‘performed’ with,” she said.

All of the dummies have a placard on their chests, giving their names, when they were made, who made them and who their ventriloquist was. Sweasy knows every one. For some, there is little information, “but some have incredibly rich histories,” she said.

She said the donated dummies “just keep coming. They come in from all over the world. Sometimes people bring them to the convention and donate them there. Sometimes they are mailed to us,” she said.

People also call her to ask her if the museum is interested in having their dummy.

“The fact that they come in dinged up and with some wear, that is good. That is part of their story. They pretty much stay the way they came in. That is Mr. Berger’s promise.”

— Lisa Sweasy It is usually the child or grandchild of the ventriloquist, and they have had the dummy for a number of years.

“Perhaps they don’t want to care for it anymore or they want to share the story of the relative because they know it will be at Vent Haven permanently,” she said. “Nothing here is ever sold, or traded, or used. A lot of people find comfort in that, knowing that their relative’s performance dummy is preserved.”

Sweasy believes the draw of the museum is that it is unique.

“People are looking for off-the-beatentrack sort of attractions. I think people are fascinated by ventriloquism, no matter what their frame of reference is, there is something about it that is appealing. For some, it is a trip down memory lane, for others, it is this odd little art form where they wonder why people do this and how they do it. … It all depends on the person,” she said.

Salt | Southwest Ohio | May/June 2016 | 23

In the second building, the W.S. Berger Memorial Building, there are tributes to the famous ventriloquists who have become legends in the entertainment industry. These included Edgar Bergan with dummy Charlie McCarthy, who were on the radio from 1937 to 1956.

Bergan, who died in 1978, attended the dedication ceremony for the building in 1973.

“He performed on a flatbed truck with Mortimer Snerd at the dedication, and did the ribbon-cutting with fellow ventriloquist Jimmy Nelson.” Sweasy said.

There are also tributes in the building to Paul Winchell, who brought ventriloquism to television in the 1950s and Nelson, a major supporter of the museum who had his own kids program in the 1960s. It was Nelson’s ventriloquist dog, Farfal, and dummy, Danny O’Day, who did the well-known Nestle chocolate commercials. “(Nelson) still comes to every convention.

He is the most beloved and the patriarch for ventriloquists,” Sweasy said.

There are also sections devoted to current ventriloquists. Jeff Dunham has a large display.

“Vent Haven means a lot to Jeff. He comes here every single year. He has come here every year since he was 15 years old,” Sweasy said.

“He’s probably the hardest-working person I have ever known. He’s extremely supportive of the museum. One of the nicest people I have ever known,” she said.

There is also a display featuring Terry Fator, who won “America’s Got Talent” in 2007.

The puppet/dummy used on the show for the song “At Last” is displayed.

Ventriloquists hold a convention in Cincinnati the third week of July each year.The annual convention was first established to help with the museum as an independent entity, but making a sizable donation to the museum each year.

The museum attracts more than a thousand visitors each season. She said during the convention week, there are at least 500 to 600 visitors to the museum with around a dozen countries represented. Most of the convention-goers are ventriloquists.

And what do these visiting ventriloquists always seem to want to do? The one thing they are not allowed to do — handle the dummies.

Vent Haven does not restore the dummies they receive.

“Every once in a while we might do some work, but they are not performance pieces any longer. We treat them as museum pieces,” she said. “The fact that they come in dinged up and with some wear, that is good. That is part of their story. They pretty much stay the way they came in. That is Mr. Berger’s promise.”

A ‘magical experience’ Historic Brown County Inn hosts folk rock concerts

24 | Salt | Southwest Ohio | May/June 2016

By Sarah Allen Nestled at the intersection of two country roads is a brick house that is a part of history — and that is continuing to make history in its own unique way.

Just off Anderson State Road is the Brown County Inn. The house has stood at 4843 Brown County Inn Road — in St. Martin, outside of Lynchburg — since it was constructed in 1853.

Originally built as an inn, the stately brick home was sold to the Sisters of the Ursulines of Brown County in 1879, according to the Brown County Inn’s website. The Sisters used the inn to house students and visiting relatives. The nearby school eventually became today’s Chatfield College.

The historic building is now home to Julie and James Lynch and their children.

From the property, they operate Commonwealth Book Company Inc., which buys and sells new, used and rare books.

They also publish books on local and regional history.

They are also continually renovating the Brown County Inn — “room by room, brick by brick, board by board,” as stated on the inn’s website.

And, once a month, that dedication to history is coupled with a passion for music during the inn’s regular home concert series. The concerts will be postponed until fall, however, during current renovations, all of which are documented in a blog.

“We’d never heard of people having concerts in their homes before,” Lynch said of the inn’s series. She said the idea first began when she and her husband were trying to find a band for a reunion picnic.

Since then, the concerts have become a staple of their home, like the curving maple staircase or the surrounding treelined landscape.

The Brown County Inn has been hosting home concerts for almost two years, Lynch said, with a focus on folk rock and singer/songwriters.

“It’s really unusual, (and) a lot of fun,” she added, describing the intimate home concerts as having “more of a sharing dynamic.”

Photos by Sarah Allen

Photo by Ziegelmeyer Photography, courtesy of the Brown County Inn

40867622

Salt | Southwest Ohio | May/June 2016 | 25

The artists, Lynch said, “sing formed at the Brown County Inn right there in front of you in a two years in a row, Lynch said. living room … it’s just so much Paul, she said, has a very fun, and then you dedicated fan get to eat and base “from all “He sang it right over the place.” drink with the to me. It made artist afterward, And, Lynch porch sit, and buy added, one of me cry. It was so their CDs. … You Paul’s perforfabulous.” get to know them mances was — Julie Lynch as people.” especially memoBetween 25 and rable for her.

70 people typiPaul had asked cally attend the concerts, Lynch for requests during a Septemsaid. The event begins with a ber concert, and Lynch had potluck dinner. A suggested promptly asked to hear one of donation of $20 goes directly to her favorites, “Mary, Mary,” a the performing artists. ResChristmas song. ervations are required for the Paul then proceeded to grab concerts due to limited seating. his guitar, pull up a chair in front The “all-volunteer operaof Lynch, and sing her the song. tion,” as described by the inn’s “He sang it right to me,” she website, has hosted a variety said. “It made me cry. It was so of artists, including Grammy fabulous.” award nominees and winners, Another highlight of the inn’s as well as two singers who have concert series, Lynch said, was appeared on NBC’s “The Voice.” one featuring actor/folk musiIn order for artists to perform cian Ronny Cox. That concert at the Brown County Inn, they had the “best turnout,” she said. must have at least two albums of In addition to his music, Cox has original work and must be able also appeared in films such as to play at least two hours of their “Robocop” and “Total Recall.” own music.

During his performance, Cox Lynch said the artists who shared movie experiences “that perform stay overnight at were very funny,” Lynch said. the Brown County Inn free of “He’s a great entertainer.” charge; however, the inn is not But each performance, Lynch a bed and breakfast and does said, is memorable in its own not regularly host other house way. The natural closeness of guests. such an informal concert, she Some of the artists who come said, is like “some magical to the inn, Lynch said, are only experience.” beginning their musical career, “Everyone comes out glowwith the two-album minimum. ing,” she added.

Others are more established, with as many as 20 albums.

One such veteran performer BROWN COUNTY INN was Ellis Paul, whose music has ohiobrowncountyinn.com been featured in the film “Me, 513-377-1805 Myself, and Irene.” He has per-

ut & Abou

Out & About ADAMS COUNTY

June 11 Ice cream social, sponsored by the Mid West Dream Center, 4 p.m., 2556 Moores Road, Seaman. Call Rhonda Burton at 513-218-9759.

June 17-19 Summer Solstice Celebration, Soaring Eagle Retreat, 375 Horner Chapel Road, Peebles. Visit serpentmound.org.

June 18 Feast of the Setting Sun, Serpent Mound, 3850 state Route 73, Peebles. Visit arcofappalachia.org/ events/solstice.html.

June 18 Car show, Red Barn Convention Center, 2223 Russellville Road, Winchester, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. registration, 1-5 p.m. show. Call 800823-9197.

June 18 The Van-Dells, 7 p.m., Red Barn Convention Center, 2223 Russellville Road, Winchester.

Call 800-823-9197 or visit redbarnconventioncenter.com.

26 | Salt | Southwest Ohio | May/June 2016

July 31 A Bloomin’ Prairie! at Chaparral Prairie, Chaparral Road, West Union.

Blazing star showcase and guided tours at Chaparral Prairie Nature Preserve. Visit arcofappalachia.org.

BROWN COUNTY June 10 Brown County Chamber of Commerce’s 23rd Annual Golf Outing, registration 8 a.m., shotgun start 9 a.m. Call 937-378-4784 or email brchcom@gmail.com.

CLINTON COUNTY June 5 Spring Fitness Hike, 2 p.m., Cowan Lake Spillway. Meet at the dead end of Sprague Road off state Route 730.

Call 513-897-2437 or visit facebook. com/caesarcreekstatepark.

June 10-11 Banana Split Festival, J.W. Denver Williams Jr. Memorial Park, Wilmington. Call 877-428-4748.

June 10-11 Spring Nationals Truck and Tractor Pull, 7-11 p.m., Clinton County Fairgrounds, 958 W. Main St., Wilmington. Call 513-403-7155 or visit clintoncountyfair.org.

June 25 Return of the snakes to Serpent Mound, 3850 state Route 73, Peebles. Visit arcofappalachia.org.

June 17 Third Friday, 6-11 p.m., downtown Wilmington.

July 9 Dream Ride Bike Ride fundraiser, sponsored by the Mid West Dream Center, 11 a.m. Call Mike Farrell at 937-368-0535.

July 10-16 Adams County Fair, Adams County Fairgrounds, 836 Boyd Ave., West Union. Call Darlene Anderson at 937-205-7141 or visit adamscountyfairground.org.

July 29-30 Manchester River Days, Manchester.

Includes a fishing tournament, car show, carriage rides and a 5K run/ walk. Call 937-779-0172 or 937892-0182.

July 30 Adams County Genealogy Society Reunion, noon-4 p.m., Heritage Center, 507 N. Cherry St., West

Emily Quallen shares some quiet time with her cow at the 2015 Clinton County Fair.

The 2016 fair is July 9-16.

Union. Call the Adams County Genealogy Society at 937-5448522, Thursdays and Saturdays.

June 25 Mark Chestnutt, 7 p.m., Red Barn Convention Center, 2223 Russellville Road, Winchester.

Call 800-823-9197 or visit redbarnconventioncenter.com.

July 4 Fourth of July Celebration and Lion’s Club Parade, 10 a.m., next to the Olde Wayside Inn, West Union.

Compiled by Lora Abernathy

June 17 Women’s Invitational Art Show, 6-9 p.m., 50 W. Main St., Wilmington.

Proceeds will be split between Murphy Studios and Angels Awaiting Maternity Home. Call 937383-1000.

June 18 Family Fun Day, 9 a.m. to noon, Cowan Lake State Park, Wilmington. Visit facebook.com/ cowanlakestatepark.

June 18 Inaugural Bonnybrook Farms Country Fair, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., 3779 state Route 132, Clarksville.

Call 937-289-2500 or visit bonnybrookfarms.com/countryfair.

June 18-19 The eighth annual Summer Solstice Healing Harvest Lavender Festival, Martinsville. Visit peacefulacreslavenderfarm.com.

June 24-25 Clarksville Heritage Days, 6-11 p.m.

Friday, 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday,

downtown Clarksville. Call 513-4261552.

July 3-4 Red, White and Blanchester Blue Festival, 6-10 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday, downtown Blanchester. Visit redwhiteandblanchesterblue.com.

July 9 Holiday Happenings Dollhouse and Miniature Show and Sale, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., First Christian Church, 120 Columbus St., Wilmington.

Call 937-382-0506 or email hgspromotions3@gmail.com.

July 9-16 Clinton County Fair, Clinton County Fairgrounds, 958 W. Main St., Wilmington. Visit clintoncountyfair. org.

July 16 Christmas in July, Cowan Lake State Park, Wilmington. Visit facebook. com/cowanlakestatepark.

FAYETTE COUNTY June 4 Truck pull, Fayette County Fairgrounds. Call 740-572-3661.

June 17-21 Homecoming 2015, Fayette County Fairgrounds, sponsored by the Gathering Place Church. Call 740335-9641.

June 18 Fayette Ladies Adventure Group’s Ladies Day Out, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Fayette County Fish & Game Association, 1236 Robinson Road, Wash. C.H. Call 740-505-1100 or email smeriweather@ameritech.net.

June 19-20 Relay For Life, Washington Court House Senior High School track.

Contact Susan Sever at 740-6369693 or Courtney Ross at 888-2276446, ext. 3007.

June 24-26 Scott Antique Market, 9 a.m. to 6

p.m. Friday and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. Visit scottantiquemarket.com.

June 25 Fayette County’s Toast to Summer, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., Fayette County Airport, 2270 state Route 38, Wash.

C.H. Visit fayettecountyohio.com.

July 3 Fire in the Sky, Wash. C.H., dusk.

Visit fayettecountyohio.com.

July 4 Jeffersonville fireworks, dusk. Visit fayettecountyohio.com.

July 18-23 Fayette County Fair, Wash. C.H. Call 740-335-5856 or visit faycofairoh. com.

GREENE COUNTY June 4 Community Care Hospice English Garden Party, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., 6599 Old U.S. 35 E., Jamestown. Call 937-382-5400.

June 6-12 Young’s Farmstead Cheese Seventh Anniversary Week, Young’s Jersey Dairy, 6880 Springfield-Xenia Road, Yellow Springs. Call 937-325-0629 or visit youngsdairy.com.

June 11 Yellow Springs Street Fair, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., downtown Yellow Springs. Call 937-767-2686 or visit yellowspringsohio.org/street-fair.

June 11 Fourth Annual Cheddar Challenge 5K, Young’s Jersey Dairy, 6880 Springfield-Xenia Road, Yellow Springs. Visit cheddar5k.com.

June 11-12 Relay for Life of Greene County, Beavercreek Main Elementary, 2942 Dayton Xenia Road, Beavercreek.

Visit main.acsevents.org/site/ TR?pg=entry&fr_id=74542.

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Out & About June 26 What’s All That Noise? — Cicada Mania, 1 p.m., Crooked Creek Nature Sanctuary, Spahr Road, Sugarcreek Township. Parts of Ohio will be inundated with the noisy calls of cicadas as brood V emerges. Find out about what all the buzz is. Call 937-562-6440 or visit gcparkstrails.com.

July 9-15 Antioch Writer’s Workshop 31st Annual Summer Program, Antioch University Midwest, 900 Dayton St., Yellow Springs. Visit antiochwritersworkshop.com.

July 14-17 Greene Trails Cycling Classic, Xenia. Call 937-562-6440 or visit gcparkstrails.com/eventCyclingClassic.html.

July 16-17 Young’s Ice Cream Charity Bike Ride, Young’s Jersey Dairy, 6880 Springfield-Xenia Road, Yellow Springs. Call 937-325-0629 or visit youngsbiketour.com.

The 2016 Festival of the Bells includes a 5K run/walk. It is set for June 30-July 2 in uptown Hillsboro.

Friday, Saturday and Sunday

October 7th, 8th, and 9th, 2016

28 | Salt | Southwest Ohio | May/June 2016

10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Enjoy the fall harvest along with 150 artisans, craftspeople, antiques, fall harvest decorations, herbs and herbal products, locally produced and from-scratch foods, and shooting the Pumpkin Cannon.

Located In the Heart of Wheat Ridge Amish Country

817 Tater Ridge Rd. West Union, OH 45693 For more information and booth rental, call Kim Erwin at 937-544-8252

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We will be happy to answer any of your transportation questions.

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116 W. Mulberry St., West Union, Ohio 45693 (937) 779-3212 Mon-Fri: 8:30a.m.-4:00p.m.

• NET/TANF/OWF Transportation Services : We provide non-emergency Medicaid transportation (NET) services for HCDJFS & ACDJFS. We provide educational and employment training transportation through the Temporay Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Program of HCDJFS. We provide Title XX transportation services for ACDJFS. • HARTS Fare Program: program offers affordable transportation for those who are elderly, disabled or considered low income living within the Hillsboro City Limits or within a 5-mile radius of the center of Hillsboro. Purchase a $20/$25 HARTS Fare Card for 10 or 5 one way trips depending upon location and age. **FRS Transportation also provides transportation services through grants with the Federal Transit Authority and Ohio Department of Transportation.

These include our 2016 grants for Job Access & Reverse Commute (JARC), and Ohio Coordination Mobility Management. **Highland County Mobility Manager works to keep our Highland County Locally Developed Transportation Plan updated so that the county’s transportation providers are eligible to apply for FTA grant funding.

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Wheat Ridge Olde Thyme Herb Fair and Harvest Celebration

July 31-Aug. 6 Greene County Fair, Greene County Fairgrounds, 120 Fairground Road, Xenia. Visit greenecountyfairgrounds.com.

HIGHLAND COUNTY June 3 One-Day Indoor Yard Sale, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., Highland County Senior Citizens Center, 185 Muntz St., Hillsboro.

June 3 Hillsboro Uptown Business Association First Friday Cruise-In, around the courthouse square, Hillsboro.

June 4 BBQ Bingo, dine noon-1 p.m., game 1-4 p.m., Highland County Senior Citizens Center, 185 Muntz St., Hillsboro.

June 11 Fayette County Farm Bureau’s annual Canoe Float, noon registration, parking at the state Route 753 bridge where it crosses over Paint Creek, outside of Greenfield. Call 937-382-4407 or email fayette@ofbf.org.

June 16-18 Leesburg Candle-Lite Fest, Leesburg. Visit leesburgcandlelitefest.com

June 18 “Mark Twain” revisits Hillsboro, 6 p.m., Highland County Senior Citizens Center, 185 Muntz St., Hillsboro.

June 24 Barns of Highland County juried art show kick off reception, 7-9 p.m., Highland County Historical Society, 151 E. Main St., Hillsboro. The show will be at the museum until the end of July. The museum is open 1-4 p.m. Saturdays ad Sundays, with extended hours during the Festival of the Bells.

June 25 Johnny Fink & The Intrusions, 8 p.m., The Fling Barn, 8205 West

June 25-26 Brush and Palette Art Guild show, 1 p.m., Southern State Community College, 100 Hobart Drive, Hillsboro.

June 30-July 2 Festival of the Bells, with performances by Jana Kramer, Phil Vassar and Building 429. Visit festivalofthebells.com.

July 15-17 Greene Countrie Towne Festival, downtown Greenfield. Visit rotary1. weebly.com.

July 22-24 “Vania and Sonia and Masha and Spike,” Southern State Community College, 100 Hobart Drive, Hillsboro. Call 937-393-3431 or visit sscctheatre.com.

July 30 Hee Haw Show, doors open at 5:30 p.m., Highland County Senior Citizens Center, 185 Muntz St., Hillsboro.

July 30 B-Caged Band, 8 p.m., The Fling Barn, 8205 West Berrysville Road, Hillsboro. Visit flingbarn.com.

MADISON COUNTY June 9-11 Community Days Festival, Mt. Sterling. Visit mountsterlingcc.org.

June 23-25 The London Strawberry Festival and London Cobra Show, downtown London.

July 9-15 Madison County Fair. Visit madisoncountyfairoh.com.

ROSS COUNTY June 4 Chillicothe Challenge, 9 a.m., Majestic Theatre Courtyard, 45 E. Second St., Chillicothe. Think scavenger hunt mixed with the “Amazing Race.” Call 740-772-2041 or visit rosscounty.younglife.org.

July 2 Red, White and Blue Ice Cream Social, Adena Mansion and Gardens, 847 Adena Road, Chillicothe. Visit adenamansion. com.

July 3 Independence Day Celebration, 2 p.m., Adena Mansion and Gardens, 847 Adena Road, Chillicothe.

Saturday, June 25, 2016 11 a.m. - 11 p.m.

LIVE MUSIC SCHEDULE Katy Large & John Yancey............12:00 - 1:00pm Michael Boyle...............................1:30 - 2:30pm Pete Blevins..................................3:00-4:00pm Levi & Tisa Fraley..........................4:30-5:30pm Taking Back Summer....................6:30-9:30pm

Wine • Art Food • Music Beer Garden Hot Air Balloon Glow @ 8:30PM Call 800.479.7797 for more information

Salt | Southwest Ohio | May/June 2016 | 29

June 17 Hillsboro Uptown Business Association fundraiser at Bob Evans, 7 a.m. to 9:30 p.m., 609 Harry Sauner Road, Hillsboro.

Berrysville Road, Hillsboro. Visit flingbarn.com.

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July 27 James Taylor and His All-Star Band, 8 p.m., Wright State University Nutter Center, 3640 Colonel Glenn Highway, Dayton. Visit nuttercenter. com.

Out & About Attendees will be transported back in time to experience the holiday like it was celebrated in the early 1800s. Activities will include readings of portions of the Declaration of Independence, patriotic songs and poems, presentation of the flag, toasts to George Washington and more. Visit adenamansion.com.

July 29-31 Frankfort Sunflower Festival, Frankfort.

July 10 A 19th Century Base Ball Game with Ohio Village Muffins, 2 p.m., Adena Mansion and Gardens, 847 Adena Road, Chillicothe. Visit adenamansion.com.

June 11 Lebanon Country Music Festival, 2 p.m., 47 E. Mulberry St., Lebanon.

Visit lebanoncountrymusicfest. wordpress.com.

July 22-24 Paper City Music Festival, Ross County Fairgrounds, 344 Fairgrounds Road, Chillicothe.

An eclectic blend of musical performances from more than 30 indie artists. Visit pcmf.us.

July 29-31 “Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, Jr.,” Paxton Theatre, 133 E. Main St., Bainbridge. Call 740-634-3333 or visit paxtontheatre.com.

WARREN COUNTY June 5 Morgan’s Little Miami Triathlon, 7:30 a.m., Morgan’s Canoe and Outdoor Adventures, 5701 state Route 350, Oregonia. Visit morganscanoe.com.

June 11 Second Saturday Street Fair, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Main Street, Waynesville.

Call 513-897-0667.

June 18 Youth Fishing Derby, 8 a.m., Caesar Creek State Park, 8570 E. state Route 73, Waynesville. Call 513897-2437 or visit facebook.com/ caesarcreekstatepark.

June 19 Spring Fitness Hike, 2 p.m., Little Miami, Fort Ancient and the

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30 | Salt | Southwest Ohio | May/June 2016

Paint Blinds Cabinets

Big Bridges Hike. Meet at the ODNR parking lot near Morgan’s Canoe Livery. Call 513-8972437 or visit facebook.com/ caesarcreekstatepark.

June 23-26 Warren County Summer Slam baseball tournament. Visit ohioslargestplayground.com.

June 25 Gathering at Glendower, Glendower Historic Mansion, 105 Cincinnati Ave., Lebanon. Traditional American crafts demonstrated for free on the lawn at Glendower with some craftspersons having items for sale. Call 513-932-1817.

June 25 Lebanon Garden Tour, Lebanon Train Station, 198 S. Broadway, Lebanon. Call 513-932-3430.

July 1-4 Fourth of July Campout, Caesar Creek State Park, Waynesville. Call 513-897-3055 or visit facebook. com/caesarcreekstatepark.

July 3 Independence Day Parade,

Want to see your event listed in Out & About?

Visit thesaltmagazine. com and click on the Add Events link at the top to enter your event information.

(The calendar is for organizations’ special events only and excludes listings of regular meetings.)

Broadway Street, downtown Lebanon. Call 513-228-2322.

July 9 Second Saturday Street Fair, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Main Street, Waynesville.

Call 513-897-0667.

July 9 Fort Ancient Nature Hike, Fort Ancient Earthworks and Nature Preserve, 6123 state Route 350, Oregonia. Call 513-932-4421 July 30 Topo Summer Trail Run Series Race #3, Caesar Creek Lake, 4020 Clarksville Road, Waynesville.

Choose a 6-mile or 12-mile course.

Visit topoadventuresports.org.

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Dinner:

It’s all in the details

32 | Salt | Southwest Ohio | May/June 2016

By Andrea Chaffin Having heard enough of our weekly squabble over who got to use the pink plate (representing whether my sister or I would be the Pink Power Ranger, in our minds), my grandmother was smart when she created the rule.

Whoever used the pink plate had to go down into the basement and fetch a jar for dinner. It was enough of a sacrifice to make us take turns on who would settle on being the Yellow Power Ranger that night.

The basement — with its dark-colored carpet, a painting of “The Last Supper” and a loud washer and dryer — was the scariest room in the house. In the room farthest from the stairs was where Grandma stored her treasures: shelf after shelf of home-packed Mason jars filled with tomatoes, grape juice, soup-starters, jellies, green beans, applesauce, corn, wine and potatoes.

But whoever emerged from the basement with the jar — usually in a full sprint — received the coveted pink plate for the evening. Grandma had a set of four plates: one pink, blue, yellow and green. It wasn’t fancy — actually, they may have been plastic — but I remember those plates.

Just like I remember those cardboardcolored brown salad bowls. They were wide and shallow. Dinner typically featured iceberg lettuce salads, dressed casually with onion slices which I was careful to eat around, large tomato wedges, shredded cheddar cheese and imitation bacon bits.

The drinking glasses were nothing fancy, either. Medium-sized with a diamondshaped etching at the bottom. A “bendy straw” was always added to my cup.

The table was often draped in something seasonal. But in between holidays, Grandma used a yellow cloth — not an actual fabric, but something easy to wipe off after her two granddaughters’ departure.

I remember tucking it between my knees as I twisted my cream-colored wheeled chair to the left and right until someone would yell at me to stop.

The crystal-shaped salt and pepper shakers with the stainless steel tips were always there, too, as well as the white butter dish, which, during the day, sat on the counter in case someone needed some soft cream to thickly smear on a crusty slice of white toast for a snack.

There was also the square-shaped, thick, plastic Tupperware container filled

with homemade cookies — usually applesauce or oatmeal raisin, because chocolate chip cookies were made on a pizza pan. They were cool to the touch from being pulled from the freezer.

The small sugar dish with its special sugar spoon. That spoon — technically a tea spoon — belonged to Grandma’s mom, she once told me.

But the dish I remember most was used mostly during summers: the corn dish.

Raised on a farm and a child of the Depression, Grandma didn’t waste anything and she took advantage of the garden surplus during summer.

I recall playing on the swing set in the backyard and hearing the door spring open. Wearing a pair of short shorts and a tube top, Grandma — sometimes with a Klondike Bar in her hand — would walk over to the flower bed around the perimeter of the house. She was just a “young buck” then — about 70 or so — so she would easily bend down and pluck a green onion plant from the soil, wipe the small white bulb on her shorts and take a bite.

CRUNCH. She liked to serve corn, which she picked up from local farmers on the side of the road and brought home in big brown paper bags. I would climb into the glider on the back porch and help her shuck them. My favorite part was using the bristled brush to clean stubborn fibers from between the kernels.

Into the big silver pot they would go.

Then, each ear was placed in its own corn-shaped dish, which was painted like an ear of corn.

Grandma would place a generous pat of butter in each dish, and stab a cornshaped holder on each end of the ear. It was up to me to roll my corn through the butter, shaking on salt and pepper as it turned. It was my own corn rotisserie.

I think of those dishes every time I make corn at home. It makes me nostalgic, and then guilty, when I place the corn on the plate and pick it up with my fingers.

So, I’m on the search for my own antique corn dishes and holders. Every time I browse a thrift store or yard sale I look for a set.

I visited Grandma, now 93, at the nursing home last week. She was picking at her lunch.

“Do you remember the suppers I used to cook?” she asked.

“Yes,” I answered. “I remember every detail.”

Grandma always used plain butter on corn on the cob, but have you ever tried making a compound butter? Make a batch at a time — especially during the summer — and use it on all your favorite grilled meats, vegetables and breads.

GARLIC BUTTER Ingredients: 1 cup butter, softened 1 tablespoon garlic, minced 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese 1 teaspoon garlic salt 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper Directions: In a small bowl, combine softened butter, minced garlic and parmesan cheese.

Season with garlic salt, Italian seasoning and pepper. Mix until smooth. Place in plastic wrap and form into a tube. Place back in refrigerator to cool. Slice off as needed.

HERB BUTTER Ingredients: Big pinch steak seasoning 1 stick (1/2 cup) salted butter, softened to room temperature 1 tablespoon fresh rosemary, finely minced 1 tablespoon fresh thyme, finely minced 2 tablespoons parsley, chopped 1 garlic clove, pressed or minced Directions: Combine ingredients in a bowl, then stir with a fork to combine. Scoop herb butter onto a sheet of plastic wrap, then shape into a thick log and refrigerate until firm (if time is of the essence, you can freeze for 20-30 minutes.) Can be done ahead of time.

Recipe from iowagirlseats.com.

ANDREA CHAFFIN

Andrea is the food editor of Salt magazine and the editor of The Madison Press. She can be reached at 740-8521616, ext. 1619 or via Twitter @AndeeWrites.

Salt Homemakers Show recipes

CAMPBELL’S COBBLER Servings: 8 Ingredients: 2 cups blackberries 2 cups raspberries 1 1/2 cups sugar 1/2 cup butter 3/4 cup flour 2 teaspoons baking powder Pinch of salt 3/4 cup milk

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Salt | Southwest Ohio | May/June 2016 | 33

Directions: Preheat oven to 350 F. Combine berries and 1 cup of sugar. Set aside.

Melt butter in 2-quart baking

dish. Set aside.

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The three candidates vying for the open Highland County Commission seat demonstrated their culinary skills during the The Times-Gazette’s annual Salt Homemakers Show held April 28 at Southern State Community College in Hillsboro.

Democratic candidate Tara Campbell paired up with cousin Ryan Matthews to make “Campbell’s Cobbler.” Independent candidate Alex Butler and his mom, Andrea Holt, created a “Patriotic Surprise.”

Republican candidate Terry Britton and his wife, Bonnie, made their famous “Britton Bars.”

At the 2015 Cincinnati Comic Expo held last September, a row of stormtroopers “guard” a display promoting the new “Star Wars” film.

Gary Brock photo

Getting conned Your guide to science fiction, horror, comic book and anime conventions

34 | Salt | Southwest Ohio | May/June 2016

By Gary Brock They are growing both in popularity and numbers, and their numbers in Ohio could reach an all-time high this year.

We are talking about science fiction, horror, comic book and anime conventions, collectively known as “fan expos” and “cons.”

Thousands of Ohioans who are devoted fans of these conventions used to have to travel hundreds or even thousands of miles to attend a gathering of like-minded followers. But not anymore.

Now the conventions are coming to the fans.

Already this year, the Wizard World Comic Con in Cleveland was held in February. In March, the HorrorHound Weekend was held in Cincinnati.

Early in April, the Cinema Wasteland movie festival was held in Strongsville, near Cleveland.

But not to worry. If you missed these conventions, there are plenty more in Ohio and neighboring states all spring and summer. Also, if you enjoy “dressing up” as your favorite action heroes or heroines, conventions will love to see you, and there are often costume contests with cash prizes.

UPCOMING CONVENTIONS June 4 West Virginia Comic Con. Big Sandy Superstore Arena, One Civic Center Plaza, Huntington, WV 25701.

Visit bigsandyarena.com.

June 5 Lake Effect Comic Book Convention. Holiday Inn, 7850 Mentor Ave., Mentor, OH 44060. Visit comicsandfriends.org/lakeeffectcomiccon.

June 10-12 Midwest Haunters Convention.

Greater Columbus Convention Center, 400 N. High St., Columbus, OH 43215. Haunted house-related seminars, trade show, haunted house tours, costume ball, contests and 100-plus vendors. Visit midwesthauntersconvention.com.

June 24-26 Days of the Dead horror convention.

Wyndham Indianapolis-West, 2544 Executive Drive, Indianapolis, IN 46241.

Visit daysofthedead.net/indianapolis.

July 29-31 FanDom Fest. Kentucky Fair and Expo Center, 937 Phillips Lane, Louisville, KY 40209. Visit fandomfest.com.

Wizard World Comic Con. Greater Columbus Convention Center, 500 N. High St., Columbus, OH 43215. Visit wizardworld.com.

Aug. 14 NEO Comic Con. Holiday Inn, 15271 Royalton Road, Strongsville, OH 44136.

Visit neocomiccon.com.

Sept. 2-4 Days of the Dead horror convention.

Crown Plaza Louisville Airport, 830 Phillips Lane, Louisville, KY 40209.

Visit daysofthedead.net/louisville.

Sept. 9-11 Horrorhound Weekend. Indianapolis Marriott East, 7202 East 21st St., Indianapolis. Visit horrorhoundweekend.com.

Sept. 23-25 Cincinnati Comic Expo. Duke Energy Convention Center, 525 Elm St., Cincinnati, OH 45202. Visit cincinnaticomicexpo.com.

Sept. 30-Oct.2 Scarefest horror and paranormal convention. Lexington Convention Center, 430 W. Vine St., Lexington, KY 40507.

Come visit scenic Clinton County *photo taken at Cowan Lake State Park

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A berry good tradition Barrett’s Strawberry Farm a community staple for nearly 3 decades

By Sarah Allen While small towns are known for many things, perhaps their greatest hallmarks are close families, long-standing traditions and good food. And in Highland County, Leesburg is no exception — especially at Barrett’s Strawberry Farm.

This year marks the farm’s 27th year. In that time, the strawberries — and memories — grown there have become a staple of the Leesburg community.

A total of three generations of Barretts are involved in the farm: Sonny and Sue Barrett, their children and their grandchildren.

“It’s fun,” Sue Barrett said, adding that, along with planting, tending and picking strawberries, the family also eats together

at the farm. “(We have) a lot of crock pots.”

Sonny Barrett said “about every year,” strawberry season is followed with a family vacation.

Granddaughter Diana Barrett, who drove home from college in April to help with this year’s strawberries, also described the memories at the farm. Working with family, she said, was “such a unique opportunity. … We really got to know each other a lot.”

She said that helping with the strawberries also taught her a lot of practical skills, such as customer service.

“It’s really fun working with your family, especially something that’s so peopleoriented,” she said. “Having a family work here also creates a family environment” for others when they come to the farm.

In addition to local families, the Barretts said each strawberry season, people also “come a long ways,” such as from Cincinnati and Dayton.

“It’s a treat when you live in the city to come to the country,” Sonny Barrett said.

But, according to the Barretts, the biggest

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treat for them is “the people.”

“We enjoy the people,” Sue Barrett said, adding that they’ve begun to see people coming to the farm who came with their parents as children and who are now coming with their own kids.

“Lots of pictures” are taken each year, Sue Barrett added, especially in front of a giant wooden strawberry, which is hung on the barn each year.

BARRETT’S STRAWBERRY FARM Address: 11434 Fairfield Road, Leesburg Phone: 937-780-4961 Facebook: Search “Barrett’s Strawberry Farm” on Facebook Hours: Opens between Memorial Day and the first of June, depending on the weather. It stays open for about three to four weeks, every day, from 8 a.m. until dusk.

Containers are provided.

Photo courtesy of Barrett’s Strawberry Farm

Photo by Sarah Allen

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Salt | Southwest Ohio | May/June 2016 | 37

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38 | Salt | Southwest Ohio | May/June 2016

— Leonardo da Vinci

Butterflies are attracted to the perennial plant echinacea that has hearty blooms throughout summer. They are commonly known as the purple coneflowers and add much beauty to flower beds.

Photo by Jeff Hollon

Salt | Southwest Ohio | May/June 2016 | 39

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