Salt Flavor for Everyday Life | May/June 2017|$3
F
A supplement of The Lima News
Spring TR AV EL ISSUE
loating on air
Celebrate Airstream culture In the kitchen with: Table One in Kenton
Be inspired to make memories as we share the entrepreneurial spirit of the downtown Toledo neighborhoods
On our food tour we welcome you to our city and share stories about the history, art, and architecture of downtown Toledo. We share the entrepreneurial stories of the restaurants and small business owners in the warehouse district neighborhood as we taste and enjoy their creations along the way.
Warehouse District Tour May-September
Take a stroll through Downtown Toledo’s hottest neighborhood. Taste delicious food and drink from the most popular restaurants. Learn about the art, history and architecture of the area. Whether you are a Toledo native or just visiting, this tour has something for you. Join us and experience Toledo thru food!
All Year Upon Request
Perfect for family groups, friends, employee outings, entertaining clients and more! Guests taste food and drinks from some of the area’s hottest restaurants. This customizable experience provides insight on some of Downtown Toledo’s best attractions and small businesses. Contact us for more information.
Toledo Flavors Food Tours partnered with Chef Drew Ruiz to create a unique line of spice blends inspired by what we love about Toledo. Website: ToledoFlavors.com Food Tour Tickets: 866-736-6343 Spice Blends: Etsy.com/Shop/ToledoFlavors
Spice Blends
Chef Drew has hand crafted each of our blends using his years of culinary experience to create well balanced flavors perfect enough for your special occasions and yet simple enough for every day use.
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2 | Salt | Northwest Ohio | May/June 2017
Private Tour Experiences
Salt Flavor for Everyday Life thesaltmagazine.com Northwest Ohio May/June 2017
Publisher Editor in Chief Editor Layout Design Sales
Doug Olsson Lora Abernathy Adrienne McGee Sterrett Jayla Wallingford Barb Staples
dolsson@civitasmedia.com labernathy@civitasmedia.com amcgeesterrett@civitasmedia.com jwallingford@civitasmedia.com bstaples@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 and enter your contact information. Your name, street number, street name, city and zip code are required. Only your name and city will be published. All entries must be received by May 31. Only online entries will be accepted. In the March/April issue, the shaker was hidden on the countertop on page 13. Congratulations to our most recent winner, Robert Hefner, of Lima. You could be our next winner!
on the Cover
Contact Salt: amcgeesterrett@civitasmedia.com 3515 Elida Road, Lima OH 45807 419-223-1010 Salt of Northwest Ohio is published six times a year by Civitas Media LLC and is available through The Lima News. All rights reserved. Reproduction of any material from this issue, in whole or in part, is prohibited. Salt is free to subscribers of The Lima News. It is also available for purchase at the office of The Lima News. Please buy locally and recycle.
Photo by Melanie Speicher taken at the Flag City BalloonFest, Emory Adams Park, Findlay.
Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Instagram @TheSaltMagazine.
Marc Bowker
Front Porch
Front Porch Profile offers a personal glimpse into the lives of notable people in our communities
By Adrienne McGee Sterrett
Which superhero do you relate to most? Why? Daredevil. He’s a lawyer by day and vigilante by night. I like to do things by the book. But sometimes, you have to improvise to get results. E-reader or book? Books and comic books. Favorite ethnic cuisine? Mexican
Would you ever consider a funky hair color? Sure, any suggestions? Cats or dogs — or neither? Neither — don’t hate me. What do you love most about your community? I love the locally owned and operated businesses here in Lima. And when I visit those businesses, I almost always run into people that I know. For some people, that might bother them. But it’s comforting to me. That rarely happens in larger cities.
Salt | Northwest Ohio | May/June 2017 | 3
Profile
Owner Alter Ego Comics, Lima
Salt ContentS
features
4 | Salt | Northwest Ohio | May/June 2017
3 5 8 12 14 16 21
Front Porch Profile: Marc Bowker Floating on air: Flag City BalloonFest Be an explorer: Johnny Appleseed Metropolitan Park District Alumapalooza 8 coming to Jackson Center Instant Expert In the kitchen with...Table One Out & About
Recipe Index
Caramel Apple Cake .......................................................................10 Corn Chowder .................................................................................18 Southern Fried Catfish ....................................................................18 Zucchini Quiche ...............................................................................10
Staff & Contributors lorA ABernAtHy Lora is the editor of Salt magazine and the director of editorial digital strategies for Civitas Media. She lives in Hillsboro with her husband, Gary. Reach her at 937-382-2574 or on Twitter @ AbernathyLora. Adrienne mCgee Sterrett Adrienne is editor of Salt magazine and 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. JAylA wAllingFord Jayla is the designer of Salt magazine and is the manager of the special sections team for Civitas Media. She lives in Harveysburg with two cats, and offers free handouts to a slew of feline drifters. Reach her at jwallingford@ civitasmedia.com. melAnie SPeiCHer Melanie is the editor of the Sidney Daily News. A graduate of Ohio University, she resides in Wapakoneta, and has two adult children and six grandsons. She can be reached at 937-5384822. miCHelle Stein Michelle Stein is a freelance writer for The Lima News. When she’s not training for marathons, writing for various publications or running around her three young children, she’s probably drinking coffee … or sleeping. mAtt ClAyton Matt is a freelance writer who frequently writes feature stories and columns for the Sidney Daily News. Matt is an accomplished photographer and award-winning artist who enjoys capturing and sharing the essence of all life has to offer with pen, paintbrush and camera. Matt and his wife, Darlene, reside in Sidney and have two daughters.
Floating on air
By Melanie Speicher FINDLAY — The city of Findlay is preparing to fly up, up and away during the annual Flag City BalloonFest, which is planned for Aug. 11-13 at Emory Adams Park. Admission is free. Balloons of all shapes and sizes have been included in the past. Some of the shaped balloons included a football, lighthouse, dragon, monkey, parrot, Tweety Bird and Sylvester the Cat. An American Flag has also floated over the city of Findlay. In 2016, 46 balloons filled the skies.
There are events on the ground as well, from children’s activities to car shows to food vendors. Balloon launches — weather permitting — are planned for Friday morning, Aug. 11, which includes a limited number of balloons and paid balloon ride passengers. A mass launch will begin at 6:30 p.m. Friday from Emory Adams. A hot air balloon illumination — “glow” — will be around 9 p.m. Saturday begins at around 7 a.m. with a fly-in at Emory Park. A 5K Up, Up and
Away Run will start at 8 a.m. at the park. Another balloon launch with glow is planned for Saturday night, and a fly-in will be held Sunday morning. No pets are allowed at the park, but service animals are welcome. The area is also a drone-free zone. The first festival was held in Findlay in 1999. It was founded by Findlay businessman Dan Clinger and his son, Phil, who is a hot air balloon pilot. For more about the festival, or to become a volunteer, visit flagcityballoonfest. com.
Salt | Northwest Ohio | May/June 2017 | 5
Photo by Melanie Speicher
We L ive it, You’ll L ove it.
JUNE 2017
June 22 – 24
June 2
Spencerville Summerfest
Rally In The Square Artspace/Lima
Every Friday until August 25th 5:30 – 9:30 pm June 16
Downtown Spencerville Thurs & Fri begins at 5 pm Saturday begins at 12 pm
Festival of Wheels,
June 24
Downtown Bluffton, 2 - 8 pm
Lima Half Mile Motorcycle Races
June 17 Soap Box Derby, Faurot Park, Lima, 8:30 am
Allen County Fairgrounds Gates open 3 pm – Racing 7:30 pm
AUGUST 2017
August 5 Rally Point River Ride Ottawa Metro Park, Lima Ride Times 7 am & 9 am August 11 (Rain Date August 12) Races & Award Celebration Night Limaland Motorsports Park, 7:15 pm August 18 – 26 Allen County Fair! Allen County Fairgrounds 7 am – 11 pm Everyday August 19 Dustin Lynch Concert Allen County Fairgrounds, 8 pm
Celebrating our 5th Anniversary
expires 7-15-17
July 3-4 Kiwanis July 4th Celebration Delphos Stadium Park Monday 5:30 – Midnight Tuesday 8 am – Fireworks 10 pm July 4 Star Spangled Spectacular Faurot Park, Lima 9 am – Fireworks 10 pm July 21 – 22 Loud – N – Lima Allen County Fairgrounds, 4 – 10 pm July 23 Lima Locos Baseball Simmons Field, Lima, 7:05 pm
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Salt | Northwest Ohio | May/June 2017 | 7
Building for Building, Board for Board, We will not be undersold!
Be an explorer Johnny Appleseed Metropolitan Park District has plenty to offer
8 | Salt | Northwest Ohio | May/June 2017
By Adrienne McGee Sterrett Kevin Haver takes a lot of phone calls, often beginning as early as 6:30 a.m. at his house before he even gets to the office. Such is the life of the director of the Johnny Appleseed Metropolitan Park District. But a few years ago, he received a phone call that wasn’t like any other. Carole Hermon, a former Elida resident then living in southern California, called him on a Thursday evening and said she would be on a plane to Ohio shortly — and she wanted to meet him at 10 a.m. Monday. That first meeting was a 2 1/2hour session of Hermon and her sister, Susan, peppering him with questions about the park district. Five days after that original meeting, Hermon called him and put all her cards on the table: She had just been diagnosed with her fourth round of cancer, and it was terminal. She wanted to leave half her estate to the parks foundation, and that money would be used to buy and create a park in rural Elida in honor of her parents. “She was as brave a person as I’ve ever met in my life on her own pending death … which impressed me. A lot,” Haver said. After a Clean Ohio Grant was applied for and earned, gaining $464,000, that gave the district about $1 million. He immediately set to work, concerned with the five-year deadline, the parameters of location and desire for a natural area. Hermon didn’t want tennis courts and recreational activities. She wanted the focus on nature. Haver used Google Earth to scan the landscape and cross referenced the ownership, reaching out to three parties — and they all fell through. The fourth party — Frances and
Anne Guagenti — was thrilled to be involved in the project, and Haver said they sold their wooded acreage at less than market value. Hermon Woodlands Metro Park was dedicated in May 2016 and is special for several reasons, Haver said. “It’s just unusual … there aren’t that many 68-acre woods around anymore,” he said. “It’s just a super serene area.” American Township is the most populated township in the district, and it was not home to a park prior to Hermon. And this location, at only about a half mile from Bresler Reservoir, could allow for trails to be connected. The two shelterhouses are enclosed wood structures, made in a log cabin style to Haver’s specifications by Technicon Design Group of Ottawa. Being enclosed, the shelterhouses can be used year-round if people who reserve them for parties choose to bring in an electric heater during the colder months. The ImagiNature Playscape is a play area for children, but it doesn’t include traditional play equipment. Instead, children may use a pile of sticks from the woods to make a fort, for example. There is also improved access to the creek, which allows kids and families to venture down to see the wildlife. “We’re going to have to retrain parents to allow their kids to get wet and dirty,” he said, with a sparkle in his eye. There are two miles of trail in the new park, and the trails themselves are unique. They are a minimum of 10 feet wide and are compacted limestone — which means no mud to trudge through. One of the trails is called a “storybook trail” for children, and it includes pages of books mounted on pedestals with suggestions for activities.
Photos by Kelli Cardinal
Dave Gilles, of Lima, sits on a picnic table with his shepherd-labrador mix Trucker during a walk through Heritage Park in Shawnee Township.
What is the value of a park?
“Quality parks bring value to any community. And when I say value, they increase property values,” Haver said, explaining national studies have shown that properties are worth 15 to 22 percent more if they are adjacent to a park or greenway. The value stays at 13 percent more even if the property is several blocks away from a park. “It definitely brings quality of life parameters. For example, the obesity issues. Virtually everything we do is a healthy activity,” he said. “It’s not just physical, it’s mental health as well,” he said. Haver’s personHe remembers watching a famal favorite park? ily pile out of their car at a park Kendrick Woods. one day. The kids were grousing, “Because I like the parents were stressed — the quiet. I like that typical modern family. They disapescape from the peared down a trail. When they planes, trains and came back, their attitudes were automobiles,” he completely different. said. “By the time they leave, they’re all calmed down,” he said. Haver and the district are also working on Lauer Historical Farm, part of Ottawa Metro Park. The house and barns are from the 1930s-‘40s era. The district bought that property in 2005, but state budget cuts have prevented work since. Haver sees it as a living history museum, complete with a working kitchen that would be ideal for
large events like weddings. And that underscores the long-term plan. There are parks for solitude, there are parks for swimming, there are parks for fishing, there are parks for just enjoying the beauty of the natural scenery. “We’re trying to do something different in each park,” Haver said. “Different by nature.”
AREA PARKS Allen County Farm Park 1582 Slabtown Road, Bath Township, Lima Features: 79.3 acres, barn, accommodates 200, refrigerator, serving counter, banquet tables/chairs, 2.5-mile bridle trail (free, open and accessible to the public every day during daylight hours), 1860s log cabin (may be reserved for 24 people) Fort Amanda State Memorial Auglaize County, just south of Fort Amanda Road Features: 11 acres, one reservable shelter, 1/2-mile hiking trails, War of 1812 Monument, fishing access to Auglaize River Agerter Road River Access 15410 Agerter Road, 3 miles west of Bresler Reservoir Features: 3 acres, access to Auglaize River for fishing and canoeing Heritage Park Reed Road, Shawnee Township Features: 81 acres, three reservable shelters, 2 miles of hiking trails, 1-acre pond (fishing/skating), paved Rotary Riverwalk access Rotary Riverwalk From Heritage Park through Lima to Ottawa Metro Park Features: 14 miles of paved hiking/biking trail Deep Cut Historical Park 22900 state Route 66, just south of Spencerville Features: 8.5 acres, access to 45-plus miles of trail along the Miami Erie Canal, with a grassy towpath appropriate for hiking, horseback riding and mountain biking
Johnny Appleseed Metropolitan Park District
419-221-1232 johnnyappleseedparks.com jampd@jampd.com facebook.com/Johnny-Appleseed-Metropolitan-Park-District The district was created in 1972, and the first park was McLean Teddy Bear Park. The name is a reference to R.A. McLean, who gathered teddy bears to distribute to hospitalized children in the area. The effort was later taken on by the Lima Area Jaycees. The Jaycees had tended the little park that was formerly on the site. Kendrick Woods 971 N. Defiance Trail, west of Lima Features: 475 acres, three reservable shelters, 1 1/4-acre pond (fishing/skating), 5 miles of hiking/cross-country skiing trails, .33-mile All People Trail (boardwalk/ handicapped accessible), Kiracofe Prairie, wetland, Evans Archery Range (three areas, including an elevated platform; daylight only; sign in at platform; field points only) McElroy Environmental Education Center (park office) 2355 Ada Road, east of Lima Features: Classroom, nature library, administration
Motter Metro Park 10740 Columbus Grove-Bluffton Road, Bluffton Features: 105 acres, grassland habitat, Little Riley Creek Ottawa Metro Park 2632 Ada Road, Bath Township Features: 287 acres, 89-acre reservoir with swimming beach, camping, three reservable shelters, sand volleyball courts, 18-hold disc golf course, amphitheater, boating (electric/wind powered), Evan’s Arboretum, fishing (license required), paved perimeter trail, Rotary Riverwalk access, Lauer Historical Farm (development to come)
McLean Teddy Bear Park 2004 N. Dixie Highway, Bath Township Features: 134 acres, two reservable shelters, three ponds (fishing), 3.5 miles of hiking trails
Veterans Freedom Flag Monument 1191 Buckeye Road, Lima Features: Permanent flag monument made of red, white and blue bricks to honor veterans
Lippincott Bird Sanctuary 3093 Bellefontaine Road, east of the Allen County Fairgrounds Features: 37 acres, variety of wildlife habitats, .6-mile hiking trail, 5 acres of wetlands
Hermon Metro Park 485 N. Wapak Road, Elida Features: 71 acres, two reservable enclosed shelterhouses, 2 miles of 10-feet-wide compacted limestone trails, ImagiNature Playscape, improved access to creek
Salt | Northwest Ohio | May/June 2017 | 9
Bill Morris, of McBride Bros. Inc., applies the final clear coat to one of the shelters in the new Hermon Woodlands park on Wapak Road in Lima.
Reader Recipes Caramel Apple Cake
This recipe is delicious and easy! — From Joyce Platfoot, of Wapakoneta Cake: 3 eggs 1 1/2 cups vegetable oil 2 cups sugar 3 cups flour 1/4 cup milk 1 tablespoon cinnamon 1 teaspoon baking soda 1 teaspoon salt 2 teaspoons vanilla 3 cups apples, diced 1 cup nuts Topping: 1 stick butter 1/4 cup milk 1 cup brown sugar
Directions: Combine cake ingredients in the order listed. Adjust cinnamon and nuts to suit your taste. Spread in a greased and floured 9-by-13-inch pan and bake at 350 F for 50 minutes. Shortly before the cake is finished baking, prepare the topping. Combine the butter, milk and brown sugar. Bring to a boil and cook 2 1/2 minutes. Pour and lightly spread the topping over the cake as soon as it comes out of the oven.
Salt Shakers
— From Keanna McNamara, of Lima
Zucchini Quiche This dish is easily prepared and delicious! It’s called Zucchini Quiche, but it’s even better with yellow squash. — From Victoria Frohna, Sidney
10 | Salt | Northwest Ohio | May/June 2017
Ingredients: 3 cups squash, diced 1 cup Bisquick 3/4 cup onion, diced 3/4 cup cheese, grated
1/2 cup vegetable oil 1/2 cup sweet red pepper, diced, optional 5 eggs, beaten Directions: Fold everything together and pour into a deep 9-by-9-inch baking pan that has been greased. Bake at 360 F for about 50 minutes or until golden.
Salt Scoop Send us your favorite recipe. We may feature it in an upcoming issue. 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 May 31. Every submitted recipe will be entered in a drawing for a $25 grocery card. Congratulations to Joyce Platfoot, of Wapakoneta, who won for her Caramel Apple Cake recipe submitted for this issue of Salt.
I stopped at a random garage sale one afternoon, years ago. There was a tiny, older woman (90 pounds soaking wet and probably 90 years old), having a sale. I bought a sweet little cake stand and told her I love “old” things. She laughed and said, “Well then you’d love me!” Then she started to tell me her story. Her children felt she needed to give up her home and go into assisted living. She wasn’t opposed to it for health reasons, but said it was difficult seeing most of her belongings walking away. We chatted a while and then she asked if I’d be interested in an “old” salt and pepper shaker set. She said when she and her husband got married, they took a four-day trip to Niagara Falls. She had never been away from home before, and they didn’t have money for souvenirs. Tears rolled down her cheeks, and she smiled as she remembered her honeymoon trip. She said her husband surprised her when they returned home by setting this set of shakers on the table and said he hoped they’d honeymoon every day for the rest of their lives. By this time, tears were rolling down my cheeks. I asked if she didn’t want to take them with her to her new home. She said no, he had died a few years ago and she wouldn’t have her own kitchen in her new place. I told her I’d be happy to buy the “honeymoon shakers” and would cherish them and the story that went along with them. I love old things, but old things with a story — now those are treasures! 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 amcgeesterrett@civitasmedia.com by May 31 for consideration for printing in a future issue.
Readers Write
Together we make YOUR
I want to thank you for the wonderful articles that were featured in the last issue of Salt. I read from cover to cover on the wonderful small businesses that are in the area. I hope that by this their businesses will grow. You did a wonderful job and the picture was awesome. We need more of this in the news today. — From Janet Trentman, of rural Delphos
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Salt | Northwest Ohio | May/June 2017 | 11
Would you like to age successfully and make the most of the coming years?
coming to Jackson Center Celebrating all things Airstream
12 | Salt | Northwest Ohio | May/June 2017
By Matt Clayton JACKSON CENTER — What in the world is an Alumapalooza? When posing this question to the average person, the typical answer is “Aluma-what”? Taking hold of the -palooza suffix that has come to denote festivals, the festival that celebrates aluminum Airstream travel trailers begins May 30 and continues through June 4 in Jackson Center. This aligns with Jackson Center Community Days. This year, 125 travel units with approximately 250 occupants will roll into Jackson Center for the event. Most will arrive in Airstream trailers, but other brand units are encouraged to come. Camping spots are limited and go fast once registration opens; camping is full for the event. The event is produced by Airstream Trailers Inc. and Airstream Life Magazine, a quarterly publication by R&B Events LLC. The periodical is dedicated to Airstream owners and fanciers and the lifestyles they pursue. R&B is owned and operated by Rich Luhr and Brett Greiveldinger who oversee most of the planning and work closely with Airstream to prepare for and oversee the festivities. “Filling up the allotted parking spaces is not a problem,” said Luhr, who also pointed out they’re simply out of space for expansion. “The good news is it makes for a cozy setting, a relaxed atmosphere where the smaller crowd allows the attendees to actually get to know each other as well as mingle
Photos by Luke Gronneberg
Steve Hanson, right, of Rochester, Minnesota, polishes his trailer at a past Alumapalooza as Julie Hansen sits next to him.
Alumapalooza
May 30-June 4 Airstream factory, 419 W. Pike St., Jackson Center www.alumapalooza.com Facebook: facebook.com/alumapalooza Twitter: @Alumaevents
Camping is full, but visitors are still welcome. There are two ways to visit: 1. Admission is free from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Visitors may walk around to see the Airstreams and shop at the vendors’ booths. (Friends of campers are welcome any day throughout the event.) 2. Walk-in tickets are available for $95, which includes credentials for all the workshops, seminars, entertainment and meals for the duration of the event. Walk-in ticket holders are also eligible for door prizes. Children age 15 and younger are included free with an adult.
A variety of flags can be seen on trailers at Alumapalooza.
Steve Etlinger, of Montreal, Canada, prepares to give his French bulldog Abby a quick shower to keep her cool at a past Alumapalooza at Airstream Inc. in Jackson Center.
A brief history 1929: Wally Byam built the first Airstream trailer. It was a tent on a Model T chassis. He improved the structure by adding a teardropshaped permanent shelter along with stove and ice chest. He received enough inquiries while traveling to consider this a business opportunity. 1940s: The Depression and World War II put the business on hold, but Byam learned much while building planes for the war effort. 1950s: Byam’s company had outgrown its California digs, and he set out across the United States to find a suitable second location. A factory was for sale in Jackson Center.
he says Airstream is like a second home. “Airstream is his first home,” she quipped when talking about his loyalty to the company. Bob Wheeler, CEO of Airstream, is also excited about this year’s event. “We look forward to this time of year for a number of reasons, it’s a feel-good event and a great time for our employees to meet those who are so dedicated to living the Airstream lifestyle — they are passionate about what they do. There is also a good energy surrounding this event and it is a great economic boost to our local economy,” said Wheeler. Wheeler enjoys doing talks to update people about company plans and camps out with the attendees. He owns a 1959
(The California plant closed in 1978, and all aspects of the business are now housed in Jackson Center.) 1962: Byam died after battling cancer. 1969: The trailers were redesigned for the first time in 30 years, becoming longer with softer edges. It’s a look that is now classic Airstream. 1994: Another redesign debuted, redoing the interior and adding more width to allow for a bigger, more comfortable trailer while keeping its distinct look. Today: Its newest model, Basecamp, is a redesign of an idea first launched a decade ago. Courtesy of airstream.com
Airstream Pacer but will be staying in a newer version at the event. Wheeler noted one of his favorite activities is the trailerbacking competition. “It is fun to watch and listen to the couples yelling at each other in the timed event. You never know what they’re going to say,” he said. Jackson Center Mayor Scott Klopfenstein and village Administrator Bruce Metz also said the Alumapalooza has a positive impact on the village and local community. “The event gives our citizens an opportunity to meet Airstream customers and interact with them in a festive atmosphere. Those attending contribute to our community in more ways than one,” Klopfenstein said. “Last year, the group
as a whole contributed over $2,000 to our local food pantry. They are a very gracious and generous bunch of people, and we are thankful to know them as part of our community.” Metz agreed, saying, “It’s nice to see so many Airstream owners come back to our town. It acknowledges the kinship we enjoy, and we hate to see it all end so quickly.” Again this year, visitors will be able to sample a taste of the arts with live music on the grounds and visit the customer service lobby where the Airstream Fine Art Invitational is held. Top landscape artists from all over the United States are invited to display their art. Much of the art is Airstreamrelated and will be available for purchase.
Salt | Northwest Ohio | May/June 2017 | 13
with Airstream employees, their families and those living in and around the village.” Luhr also said much of the success is due to the efforts of a dedicated staff of volunteers who travel in to help. “It’s very social and a chance to get away from my desk and enjoy the lifestyle the event offers. It rekindles fond memories of a time when, along with my wife and daughter, I lived in an Airstream for three years. It was a most unique experience, and I have no regrets. Alumapalooza lets me relive some of those special times,” he said. The list of activities is long: numerous cookouts, bike rides, scavenger hunts as well as workshops and seminars to help attendees learn more about their Airstream. There are also lighthearted events like a riveting contest, where people can try some of the tools used to build the trailers. But the highlight is tours of the plant. Veteran tour guide Don Ambos, of Jackson Center, has been with Airstream for 59 years and knows every fact regarding Airstream down to the last pop rivet. (He agreed to help with tours in the early 1990s “but only for a couple of weeks,” and 24 years have passed.) He is passionate about the important role he has played over the years and is thankful to have been a part of the Airstream family for so long. “Alumapalooza is togetherness,” Ambos said. “A chance to meet others and have an allaround great time socializing. When meeting Airstreamers for the first time you never know where they come from, and often times the stories they tell are fascinating.” Ambos said his wife, Eileen, has been very tolerant concerning his zeal for doing tours, but has often corrected him when
Instant Expert
Protect your home Here are some tips to consider to keep your home safe while you’re away on vacation. Put lights on timers. And be strategic about this. Instead of putting one light on a timer, stagger lights in three rooms to go on and off as you would regularly move through your house if you were there. Have one in the kitchen turn on when it’s time for supper, then activate the family room after supper, followed by a light in your bedroom to mimic you settling in for the night.
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Consider how the yard will look. Your landscaping can get out of hand quicker than you realize. Pay someone to mow the grass while you’re away, as an overgrown yard is a sure sign you’re not there. But don’t forget about the flowerbeds, either. Bushes may not grow so quickly, but weeds definitely do. Consider asking the yard helper to pull any big weeds that might crop up. It doesn’t have to be perfect, of course, but a foot-high thistle definitely signals no one has noticed it for a while.
14 | Salt | Northwest Ohio | May/June 2017
2
Ask a neighbor to park in your driveway sometimes. That can show to passersby that someone is home, even if that’s not the case. Be careful about giving permission for full
3
use of your yard to the neighborhood kids, though, as accidents could be your responsibility. Invite a trusted friend to check in every once in a while, bringing in your mail if you haven’t had it stopped and otherwise moving around in the house for a bit to show activity. If the weather is nice, ask that friend to open the windows while she is there, being careful to secure them before leaving. It’s an obvious sign of occupancy that can be seen from the street.
4
Research security systems. These can range from the very high-end — those that shoot a video to your phone of whoever is at the front door — to the very basic — like alarms that emit noise if a window is opened. Just mounting a camera, even if it’s not working, can be a deterrent.
5
Source: Dawn Arheit, broker/owner, Busy B Realty
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Salt | Northwest Ohio | May/June 2017 | 15
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In the kitchen with …
Table One
16 | Salt | Northwest Ohio | May/June 2017
By Michelle Stein KENTON — Imagine a place that serves wholesome, restaurant-quality food and welcomes all guests — regardless of their ability to pay. If you can afford the listed price, you simply pay it; but those who can’t won’t go to bed hungry. Table One is a non-profit community cafe in Kenton, and it officially opened its doors this past June. Its motto? “Table One: One table, everyone eats.” “Most people can afford to pay here what that would be at a normal restaurant — similar to Bob Evans, Applebee’s, that type of place,” said the Rev. Loran Miracle, president of Table One Ministries and director of Table One. “We ask them to pay what they would normally pay at any sit-down restaurant that they would go to of similar quality. And then, all the people that are noncooks at the restaurant are all volunteers. Everybody that’s
waiting on your table, they’re all volunteers, which means there’s no tipping.” Instead of leaving a tip, patrons are asked to “pay it forward” for someone else, Miracle explained. “People who can’t afford to eat at a restaurant at all, what we ask from them is that they volunteer at least one hour of their time in exchange for a meal,” he said. “That way, I don’t have to hire people to do things. I have volunteers that can do things — like wait tables, if that’s what they can do, wash dishes, fold silverware, those kinds of things. In exchange for their help in the restaurant, they get to eat.” Miracle is actually a Lima Senior High School graduate. He attended The Ohio State University and lived in Columbus for 25 years and then in Toledo for 15. In 2012, he became the pastor at First United Methodist Church in Kenton until his retirement in 2015.
Photos by Amanda Wilson
The Rev. Loran Miracle opened Table One as a ministry to those in the community who are in need.
tABle one
1 N. Detroit St., Kenton 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Monday and Tuesday; 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Wednesday-Friday; 9 a.m.-8 p.m. Saturday; 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Sunday Catering, delivery and take-out available. For details, call 419674-3400.
Salt | Northwest Ohio | May/June 2017 | 17
“This is a Christian-based, faith-based mission and ministry that we do,” Miracle said, noting it’s also referred to as a biznistry. “So it’s a combination business and ministry, and it has to work as both. I didn’t retire to go into the restaurant business. I retired to start a new kind of ministry.” No-cost meals for those who can’t afford them isn’t the only way Table One embodies social responsibility. Recently, for example, there were 30 hydroponic strawberry plants in the restaurant’s front window. If it all works out, they’ll have 90 pounds of strawberries this spring, he said. “We also take all of our table scraps that people leave on their plates, and we save those in buckets,” Miracle said. “We give them to a local farmer, who feeds them to his chickens. And he gives us 15 dozen eggs every week in exchange for that.” And just because some of the meals offered at Table One come at no monetary cost doesn’t mean the restaurant skimps out on quality. Or taste. Salad dressings and sauces for sandwiches are all made in house. All of the bread is baked by an artisan baker in Findlay called Bread Kneads. The bread has no preservatives, no GMO flours. Here’s a sampling of what’s on the menu: Sandwiches include the Table One Burger, reuben, double BLT, turkey club. There are specialty salads and soups. Breakfast items are available. And dinner entrees like ribs, broasted chicken, steak, sweet potato fries, parmesan crusted pork chops, chicken cordon bleu, southern fried catfish and baked potatoes round it out. Children’s meals are available, too. Crowds swarm for the all-you-can-eat broasted chicken on Friday nights. Don’t be fooled by what might seem at first glance like a simple menu, though. The double BLT, for example, isn’t your run-of-themill toasted bread with bacon, lettuce, tomato and mayo. “What we do, is we start with ciabatta bread, which is a wide loaf of kind of a white bread. We slice that off and we cut that in half and grill it. That’s the bread that we use,” Miracle said. “Then we make a double bacon aioli — and what we do is we take bacon and brown sugar and oil and
18 | Salt | Northwest Ohio | May/June 2017
some spices, and that’s what we put on the sandwich. Not mayonnaise. And then we put romaine lettuce, tomato and bacon on the sandwich. So it’s a very different kind of BLT than you would ever expect to find.” According to Miracle, 28 percent of Hardin County suffers from what is called food insufficiency. That means by the end of the month, food stamps are gone, money is gone and people are going to bed hungry until the first of the month rolls around. “People that don’t have much to eat typically don’t eat very well,” Miracle said. “They eat way down on the food chain. I jokingly say they eat like a college student — they eat ramen noodles, they eat canned pastas. They eat whatever’s cheap and filling. So what they get is a lot of processed foods, they get a lot of salt, that sort of thing. So we kind
of feel like if we can offer a higher quality food for everybody, including those people who don’t typically get it, it’s a much healthier way for everybody to eat. And we want to do that as much as we possibly can.” Not only does Table One serve its community by helping those who face food insufficiency, the restaurant is also a great opportunity for residents to give back. Families come in to volunteer together on a regular basis, and many of them have children who help out as well. Individuals are also able carry out community service hours at the restaurant, Miracle said. “Table One is about giving hope to people who often have no hope,” he said. “They can become part of who we are, part of our community. And it encourages them to get past whatever it is that’s caused them to be in this situation.”
table one recipes SoutHern Fried CAtFiSH ingredients: 6 catfish fillets 1/2 cup buttermilk 1/2 cup flour 1/2 cup cornmeal 1 tablespoon garlic powder 1 teaspoon salt 3/4 teaspoon black pepper 1/8 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes Oil for deep frying Thermometer
Corn CHowder ingredients: 1/4 pound bacon, diced 1/4 cup butter 1/2 cup onion, chopped 1/3 cup flour 8 cups milk 2 medium potatoes, diced 2 cups frozen corn 1 1/2 tablespoons garlic powder 1 tablespoons oregano 1 1/2 tablespoons salt 1 tablespoon black pepper Shredded cheese, to taste Sliced green onions, to taste
directions: Soak catfish in buttermilk for at least 30 minutes before preparing. Mix dry ingredients; Dredge drained catfish. Deep fry in oil that is 350 degrees F for 4 minutes and 45 seconds. (If pan frying, fry on both sides until golden brown and fish flakes easily with a fork.)
directions: Cook bacon over medium heat in a large pot. Add butter and onions. Saute until onions are tender. Add flour. Let cook 2 minutes. Add milk; whisk until smooth. Bring to a simmer. Add potatoes; let cook 10 minutes. Add corn, salt and pepper, garlic and oregano. Let cook 10 more minutes. Garnish with cheese and green onions, if desired.
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Out & About Allen County may 20 & 21 St. Rose Festival, 5-12 p.m. Saturday and 12-8 p.m. Sunday, St. Rose Catholic Church/School, 523 N. West St., Lima. may 26 Wake Rattle & Roll, 7 a.m., Veterans Memorial Civic Center, 7 Town Square, Lima. Contact Annette Hoeffel at 419-222-6045 or ahoeffel@ limachamber.com. may 26 Rally in the Square, 5:30-9:30 p.m., ArtSpace/Lima, 65-67 Town Square, Lima. may 29 Memorial Day Parade, 10 a.m., downtown Lima. may 29 Memorial Day Parade, 9:30 a.m., downtown Lafayette. may 29 Harrod Memorial Day Community Garage Sales, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Downtown Harrod. June 2 Rally in the Square, 5:30-9:30 p.m., ArtSpace/Lima, 65-67 Town Square, Lima. June 2-4 St. Gerard Festival, 5-12 p.m. Friday; 12 p.m. to 12 a.m. Saturday and 12-10 p.m. Sunday, St. Gerard Church/School, 240 W. Robb Ave., Lima. June 9 & 10 Pork Rind Heritage Festival, 6-9 p.m. Friday and 9 a.m. to midnight Saturday, downtown Harrod. June 9 Rally in the Square, 5:30-9:30 p.m., ArtSpace/Lima, 65-67 Town Square, Lima. June 10 Harrod Summer Spectacular, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Allen East Community Center, 9520 Harrod Road, Harrod. June 11 Delphos Music in the Park featuring Red Ball Jets, 6 p.m., Stadium Park, N. Jefferson and North St., Delphos.
June 16 Bluffton Festival of Wheels, 2-8 p.m., Main and College Ave., Bluffton. June 16 Rally in the Square, 5:30-9:30 p.m., ArtSpace/Lima, 65-67 Town Square, Lima. June 17 Lima Area Concert Band - A Sousa Salute, 7:30 p.m., Veterans Memorial Civic Center, 7 Town Square, Lima. June 17 Limaland Bicycle Tour 2017, 8:30 a.m., Ottawa Metro Park, 2632 Ada Road, Lima. June 17 Soap Box Derby, 8:30 a.m., Faurot Park, Lima. June 22-24 Spencerville Summerfest, 5 p.m. Thursday and Friday, 12 p.m. Saturday, Main Street, Spencerville.
June 23 Rally in the Square, 5:30-9:30 p.m., ArtSpace/Lima, 65-67 Town Square, Lima. June 25 Delphos Music in the Park featuring Geeze Cats, 6 p.m., Stadium Park, N. Jefferson and North St., Delphos. June 25 Lima Area Concert Band - Children’s Garden Concert, 3 p.m., Allen County Museum Children’s Garden, 620 W. Market St., Lima. June 25 Westgate Charity Car Show, 12-5 p.m., Lima Chevrolet Cadillac, 2200 N. Cable Road, Lima. June 30 Rally in the Square, 5:30-9:30 p.m., ArtSpace/Lima, 65-67 Town Square, Lima. June 30-July 2 Western Ohio Cluster All Breed Dog Show, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Lima Kennel Club, 1050 Thayer Road, Lima.
AuglAiZe County June 17 Buckland Fireman’s Festival, 1:30 p.m., Buckland Fire Dept., Buckland. June 21 Carnival at the Waterpark, 1-4 p.m., Wapakoneta Waterpark, 106 Hamilton Road, Wapakoneta.
HAnCoCk County June 1 “The Kent State Shootings of 1970” Brown Bag Lecture by Dr. Dwayne Beggs, 11:45 a.m., Hancock Historical Museum, 422 W. Sandusky St., Findlay. Call 419-423-4433. June 6-19 Horseback riding program for beginners, University of Findlay’s James L. Child Jr. Equestrian Complex, 11178 Twp. Road 201, Findlay. Call 419425-7275 or visit hpdparks@hancockparks.com. June 16 Classic Movie Night “The Thin Man” starring William Powell and Myrna Loy, 7 p.m., Hancock Historical Museum, 422 W. Sandusky St., Findlay. Call 419-423-4433. June 17 Victorian Front Porch Tea, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Hancock Historical Museum, 422 W. Sandusky St., Findlay. Call 419-423-4433.
HArdin County June 23 & 24 Hardin County Players’ Children’s Summer Workshop performance, 7 p.m., Kenton Middle School Auditorium, 300 Oriental Ave., Kenton. For more information email info@hcplayers.org.
merCer County may 26 Memorial Day Parade and Program, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., Fort Recovery Monument Park, at the corner of Ohio-49 and OH-119, Fort Recovery.
June 2-4 Get the Carp Outta Here Fishing Tournament, 12-4 p.m., East Bank Grand Lake St. Marys. Email: grandlakecarp@gmail.com for more information. June 3 Mercer County Relay for Life, 12 p.m. to 12 a.m., Lakeshore Park, 308 Portland St., Celina June 6 Taste of the Town Coldwater, 5-10 p.m., Memorial Park, 600 W. Vine St., Coldwater June 15-18 Harvest Jubilee, 9 a.m., Ambassador Park, state Route 49, Fort Recovery. Call 419-394-1294. June 15-18 Big Catfish Tournament, 12 p.m. to 12 p.m., Grand Lake Celina Eagles, 1400 E. Market St., Celina. June 23 Branson on the Road, 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., at the Overdrive, 3769 SR 127, Celina. Call 567-5100096. June 23-25 Maria Stein Country Fest, 5 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m. Saturday, 9 a.m. Sunday, on the grounds of the Shrine of the Holy Relics, 2291 St. Johns Road, Maria Stein. Call 419-202-6255 or email mscf@ mscountryfest.com. June 30-July 2 Freedom Days Picnic, 9 a.m. Friday and Saturday; 12 p.m. Sunday, Lakeshore Park, 308 Portland St., Celina. Visit: http://www.freedomdayspicnic.com/
PutnAm County June 10 Challenged Champions Obstacle River Run, June 10, 2:30 youth; 4 p.m. adult, 11913 Road 6, Ottawa. Call Amanda Sizemore at 419-456-3449 or email challengedchampions@yahoo.com. Register by May 30 to be guaranteed a shirt. June 19-24 Putnam County Fair, 10 a.m., 1490 E. Second St., Ottawa. Call 419-523-4628 or visit www.putnamcountyfair.com.
vAn wert County may 26 Van Wert Area Concert Band, 7 p.m., Fountain Park, 200 W. Main St., Van Wert. June 2-4 Van Wert Peony Festival, 11 a.m., Fountain Park, 200 W. Main St., Van Wert. June 15-18 Willy Russell’s Blood Brothers The Musical (Youth Theater), Van Wert Civic Theater, 118 S. Race St., Van Wert. Visit http://www.vwct.org June 23 51st Annual Willshire Days, 8 a.m., Willshire Park, Hogan St., Willshire. June 29 & 30 42nd Annual Old Fashioned Farmers Days, 9 a.m., Van Wert County Fairgrounds, 1055 S. Washington St., Van Wert. Visit: http://oldfashionedfarmersdays.com. June 30 Lima Symphony Pops Orchestra, 7 p.m., Fountain Park, 200 W. Main St., Van Wert.
Salt | Northwest Ohio | May/June 2017 | 21
June 13-18 Flying Legends of Victory Tour, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Allen County Airport, 700 Airport Drive, Lima.
Compiled by Merri Hanjora
And one more thought...
“A lake is a landscape’s most
beautiful & expressive feature. it is earth’s eye; looking into which the beholder measures the depth of his own nature.”
22 | Salt | Northwest Ohio | May/June 2017
— Henry david thoreau, walden
By Adrienne McGee Sterrett Taken at Indian Lake
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