country living april 2010

EnviroWatts support

green energy.

Page 27

April 2010 Vol. 52 No. 7

Official publication of your Electric Cooperative

INSIDE

• Ohio’s glass museums

•Fun and funny festivals

•Runaway train of EPA regulation

2—Country Living/April 2010

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www.buckeyepower.com

Country Living/April 2010—3

Contents

Look for us online at www.buckeyepower.com

Glass 18

Festivals 14

On the coverWho’s working harder, thefrog or his handlers? ValleyCity’s Frog Jump Festival isone of many fun and funnyfestivals in Ohio during thespring and summer. Our cov-erage starts on page 14. Photoby David Schneider.

Lancaster (P. 19)

Cambridge (P. 18)

St. Clairsville (P. 49)

Hocking Hills (P. 17)

Newark(P. 19)

Adams County (P. 24, 26)Cincinnati (P. 14)

Valley City(P. 15)

Avon (P. 16)

Greenville (P. 14)

Port Clinton (P. 16)

Toledo (P. 21)

Tiffin (P. 19)

Fostoria (P. 19)

Anna (P. 45)

Invasive plants 22

Volume 52, No. 7April 2010

Features

44 Editorial 1010 Awards & Honors1111 Energy Highlights1111 Build Smart1212 Consumer Safety3131 Calendar

3434 Outdoors3636 Gardening3838 What’s Cooking?4949 Ohio Icon5151 Ohio Quiz5454 By the Way

88 Runaway train?The EPA regulatory threat was a hot topic at the OREC Trustees Conference.

1414 Fun and funny festivalsWe feature six offbeat festivals of the spring and summer seasons.

1818 Shrines to glassOhio’s glass museums reflect a rich heritage.

2222 Help fight the invaders!A new program will help in the struggle against invasive plant species.

2424 Ohio’s wildernessThe Shawnee State Forest Wilderness area is a window into howOhio looked when the Shawnee nation ruled the land.

2626 All in the familyThe Miller brothers run a shopping center, Amish style, in AdamsCounty.

4242 It’s all fun and gamesTry Ultimate Frisbee, broomball or cornhole for a combination of sports activity and fun.

4444 Shake, rattle and rollOhio has had its share of earthquakes over the decades.

4646 13 small ways to save bigSave an average of $3,000 following our tips.

Departments


Using the right tool

By ANTHONY J. AHERN

“Using the Clean Air Act (CAA) to regulate greenhouse gases would be likeusing a hammer to tighten a screw — it may be theoretically possible to do it,but the hammer is not the right tool for the job. Likewise, the CAA is not theright tool for the job of addressing climate change. Congress and the WhiteHouse must step in to prevent the use of an inappropriate tool to force emis-sion reductions from stationary sources.”– Glenn English, CEO of the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association

From time to time, we’ve all used the wrong tool for a job at hand. Throughpoor organization and planning, impatience or just plain silliness, we haveexpended unnecessary sweat and labor — and maybe a few choice words — inthe frustrating task of trying to make the wrong tool do something anotherwas designed to perform with ease.

So it is with the question of whether the U.S. Environmental ProtectionAgency (EPA) should use the Clean Air Act (CAA) to regulate greenhouse gasemissions, which by and large means regulating carbon-dioxide emissions.The Supreme Court ruled that the EPA has the authority to regulate theseemissions as pollutants. But carbon dioxide is not your typical pollutant, sincelife on Planet Earth would not exist without an adequate level of CO2 in theair.

Congress has been struggling to craft legislation to limit greenhouse gas emis-sions. Why has it been a struggle? CO2 is the byproduct of the combustion of oil,coal and natural gas fuels that power more than 80 percent of the U.S. andworld economies. Changing this massive energy system won’t be easy or cheap.

Rather than wait on Congress, the EPA is ready to contort the CAA, originallyshaped decades ago for a different purpose.

The correct tool to use is common-sense legislation, not ham-handed com-mand and control. Just what electric cooperatives nationwide have feared forthree years will likely occur if the EPA is allowed to go forward with theprocess of regulation: loss of affordable and reliable electricity.

A growing number of U.S. House and Senate members agree. They includeelected officials from both parties and even those who hold contrary opinionsabout climate change. The EPA is simply the wrong tool. In our democracy,Congress, as slow and deliberative — and often partisan — as it sometimesacts, is the tool through which solutions finally will be achieved and a nationalenergy policy formulated that’s best for taxpayers, rate payers and the envi-ronment. Please contact your member of Congress and ask him or her to blockthe EPA’s efforts. We need to use the right tool. ❏

Volume 52, No. 6April 2010

Contact us: www.buckeye power.com

Anthony Ahern President & CEOSteve Oden Dir. of Comm.Rich Warren Managing EditorJohn Howley EditorChris Hall Art & Prod. Manager

Bernice Mattison Publications Coord.Keith Crabtree Comm. ConsultantNikki Heath Graphic Artist

Marc Orr Editor EmeritusMargie Wuebker Food Editor

Chip Gross Outdoors EditorSandy Woolard Advertising

COUNTRY LIVING (ISSN 0747-0592) is the official public ation ofOhio Rural Elec tric Co op eratives,Inc. With a paid circulation of293,824, it is the monthly com mun -ication link be tween the rural elec tric co operativesin Ohio and West Virginia and their mem bers. Sub -scription price: $4.30 to $6.50 per year to co-opmembers; $12 per year to nonmembers. Nothing inthis publication may be reproduced in any mannerwithout specific written permission from Ohio RuralElectric Cooperatives, Inc. All rights reserved.

National advertising representatives:

NATIONAL COUNTRY MARKET,based at 611 S. Congress Ave., Austin, TX

78704 1-800-NCM-1181THE WEISS GROUP, INC.

9414 E. San Salvador Dr., #226Scottsdale, AZ 85258 480-860-5394

The fact that a product is advertised in Coun try Livingshould not be taken as an en dorse ment. If you find anadvertisement mis leading or a product unsatisfactory,please not ify us or the Ohio Attorney General’s Of fice,Consumer Protection Sec tion, 30 E. Broad St., Col um -bus, OH 43215, or call 1-800-282-0515.

Periodicals postage paid at Colum bus, OHand at additional mailing offices.

POSTMASTER: Send address changes toeditorial and advertising offices at:

P.O. Box 26036Columbus, OH 43226-0036Telephone — 614-846-5757

Serving on the Ohio Rural Electric Co op eratives, Inc.Board of Trustees are Edward P. Sanders, chairman; WilliamOedy, vice chairman; Dennis Schindler, secretary/treasurer;Charles Grimes, Marinelle P. Jeffers, Thomas McQuiston,Robert McCort, Donald McCracken, Jack Kitchel, Daniel Mc -Naull, Robert Wise, Shirley J. Stutz, David Corbin, Larry D.Martin, Jack Schmidt Jr., C. Emer son Snapp, James R.McConnell, Eugene Royer, Ned Doering, Larry Zeedyk, HaroldCooper, Lawrence Weirich, Jeff Wilson and Jody Par rish-Polen.Anthony J. Ahern, president; Kurt Helfrich, counsel.

Cooperative members —Please report any change of address to

your local electric cooperative.

As We See It

Country Living/ April 2010—5


This month’s advertisers Advertisers are solely responsible for thecontent of their advertisements. Publicationof an ad does not imply endorsement byCountry Living magazine.

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By STEVE ODEN and JOHN HOWLEY

Electric cooperatives of Ohio will target the threat posedby the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to the

availability and price of electricity in messages to membersof Congress about greenhouse gas emission regulation.More than 200 cooperative leaders who gathered for the

Ohio Rural Electric Cooperatives (OREC) TrusteesConference last month learned how the National RuralElectric Cooperative Association (NRECA) Our Energy, OurFuture campaign has been adapted to counter the latestthreat to reliable and affordable electricity.Cooperative members in Ohio and across the nation are

urged to ask their mem-bers of Congress to pre-vent the EPA from usingthe Clean Air Act (CAA)as a tool for reducinggreenhouse gas emis-sions. The messagefocuses on the belief thatthe CAA was not intend-ed or designed to dealwith climate change, andit is the role of Congressto legislate greenhousegas policy that is fairand affordable for allAmericans.The EPA seeks to

regulate carbon dioxide(CO2) in particular.Congress is still grap-pling with climatechange bills, but thescope of energy andenvironmental legisla-tion has narrowed.Support has waned for

the controversial CO2 cap-and-trade provision due to fearsthat it would cause energy prices to skyrocket, force jobsoverseas and burden households with rising prices.Enter the EPA armed with a 2007 Supreme Court deci-

sion providing the opportunity to regulate greenhousegases (GHGs) as air pollutants under the CAA. The agencyissued an “endangerment finding” last April, claiming thatGHGs are a threat to public health and welfare and openingthe door to regulation.Regulation of GHGs will affect “stationary sources,” such

as fossil fuel-burning power plants that produce the majorityof the nation’s electricity. Without proven technology to cap-ture and store CO2 on a commercial scale, utilities face havingto adopt risky, unproven and expensive alternatives or pay

penalties for noncom-pliance, all of whichwould affect the cost ofproviding electricity toconsumers.But the EPA regula-

tory net might alsocatch smaller sources,such as churches, hos-pitals, businesses andcities.“There are about

six million stationarysources of CO2 emit-ting 100 tons or more,and certainly any facil-ity with a central boilermight be subject toregulation,” explainedDave Berger, OREC’svice president ofAdministration andOperations. He saidthe EPA’s strategy isbased on a “command-and-control approach”

RunawayTrain?EPA regulatory threat hot topic

at OREC Trustees Conference

Legislation & regulation updateGraham: Cap and trade dead

According to a March statement by Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.),cap and trade as a means of controlling greenhouse gas emissions in theU.S. is dead in the U.S. Senate and House. However, he said a newapproach will be pursued but did not provide details. Graham is part ofa trio of senators, including Joseph Lieberman (I-Conn.) and John Kerry(D-Mass.), who are pursuing a bipartisan energy and environmental bill.

Rockefeller moratorium billSen. Jay Rockefeller (D-W.V.) introduced a bill to place the EPA

under a two-year moratorium on the regulation of greenhouse gas emis-sions from power plants and other stationary sources. “We must set thisdelay in stone and give Congress enough time to consider a compre-hensive energy bill to develop the clean coal technologies we need,”Rockefeller said. Three House Democrats, Nick Rahall and AlanMollohan of West Virginia and Virginia’s Rick Boucher, also introducedlegislation putting EPA greenhouse gas regulations for stationary sourceson hold for two years.

Other bipartisan measuresBipartisan measures in the Senate and House against EPA regulation

also include those introduced by Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) andRep. Earl Pomeroy (D-N.D.) and a bill authored by Reps. Ike Skelton (D-Mo.), Collin Peterson (D-Minn.) and Jo Ann Emerson (R-Mo.). Thedetails and scope of the bills differ, but all three measures would pro-hibit the EPA from regulating stationary emission sources, such as powerplants, industries, hospitals and even churches.

OREC VP of Administration and Operations Dave Bergercompares proposed Environmental Protection Agencyregulation of greenhouse gases to a runaway train.


English: Put affordability at heartof energy and environmental debate

NRECA chief blasts excessive partisanship on issuesNational Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA) CEO Glenn English told thousands of electric co-op lead-

ers they must demand that elected officials put affordability at the center of their energy policy discussions.Speaking at the 2010 NRECA Annual Meeting in February, English said a unified and focused co-op position will

help cut through the polarization and political stridency that has stalled efforts to produce constructive national energy legislation.“Electric cooperatives cannot afford scorched earth politics. We cannot afford to participate in that kind of political

debate,” English said.In blunt language, English explained the public policy challenges arising from the energy and environmental

issues under debate by Congress. Foremost among these is proposed regulation of greenhouse gas emissions fromstationary sources by the EnvironmentalProtection Agency (EPA) under the federal CleanAir Act.English said the apparent failure of Congress to

adopt comprehensive climate change legislationmakes it more likely that the EPA will fill the reg-ulatory void. He called on co-op leaders to backrecently introduced bills that would effectivelyblock the agency and give Congress the time itneeds to develop energy and environmental poli-cies that preserve the reliability and affordabilityof electricity.Bipartisan measures in the Senate and House

include those introduced by Sen. Lisa Murkowski(R-Alaska) and Rep. Earl Pomeroy (D-N.D.) and abill authored by Reps. Ike Skelton (D-Mo.), CollinPeterson (D-Minn.) and Jo Ann Emerson (R-Mo.).The details and scope of the bills differ, but all

three measures would prohibit the EPA from reg-ulating stationary emission sources, such as powerplants, industries, hospitals and even churches.Other bills have been introduced that would delayEPA action on emissions for two years.

Glenn English, NRECA CEO, calls on electric co-op membersto demand that Congress put aside partisanship to developenergy policy with affordability and reliability in mind.

using the “big stick of regulation,” which would invite liti-gation at each step in the process.No wonder that John Dingell (D-Mich.), the longest-

serving member in the U.S. Senate and one of the authorsof the CAA decades ago, said the EPA’s attempt to regulateGHG emissions would result in a “glorious mess.”NRECA has warned that the EPA’s regulatory aims are

wrong: “Using the CAA to regulate greenhouse gaseswould be like using a hammer to tighten a screw — it maybe theoretically possible to do it, but the hammer is not theright tool for the job. Likewise, the CAA is not the righttool for the job of addressing climate change. Congress andthe White House must step in to prevent the use of aninappropriate tool to force emission reductions from sta-tionary sources,” said NRECA CEO Glenn English.Gov. Ted Strickland also has weighed in on the issue. He

said in the Feb. 4, 2010, issue of the Columbus Dispatch,“That is the kind of step that would wreak economic dev-astation on a state like Ohio, which relies so heavily oncoal-generated electricity, and should be done only through

legislation that also can offer Ohio financial assistance toease the transition to a cleaner-fuel economy.”Tony Ahern, OREC president and chief executive officer,

said Ohio co-ops and their members must be in the fore-front of the effort to convince members of Congress to sup-port bipartisan efforts to turn back the EPA and allow timeto develop national energy policy that meets environmentalgoals but keeps electricity reliable and affordable. The Our Energy, Our Future campaign was embraced by

tens of thousands of Ohio co-op members and more than450,000 members nationwide last year. Continued grass-roots involvement is crucial in order to send messages toOhio members of the U.S. Senate and House about the EPAthreat, Ahern added.Co-op members will be urged to contact members of the

House and Senate about the EPA regulatory threat and askthat they support bipartisan efforts to rein in the agencyand allow Congress time to develop reasonable nationalenergy and environmental legislation. ❏


Berger, Keylor honored by Touchstone EnergyTwo Ohioans were honored for their work in helping

launch the Touchstone Energy® brand a dozen years ago.Dave Berger, vice president, Administration and

Operations for the Ohio Rural Electric Cooperatives, Inc.(OREC) and Buckeye Power, Inc., and Ken Keylor, vice presi-dent of Statewide Services for OREC, were named winners ofthe Touchstone Energy Distinguished Service Award.“Ken and Dave were actively involved in the initial

development andnurturing of thebrand and duringthe infancy stageswhen TouchstoneEnergy wasshaped,” the letterof nominationstated.Both were

involved innumerous meet-ings that led tothe creation of the

national cooperative image in 1998. Keylor served on theAdvertising and Promotions Advisory Committee from1998 to 2004, becoming the committee’s chair in 2000.Berger chaired the Budget Committee from 1998 to 2003.“With Ken and Dave’s leadership and guidance, brand

management became an innate part of every employee’sjob,” the nomination letter said. “It’s an important part ofwho and what electric cooperatives are in Ohio.”

ACRE membership reapsrewards for OhioOhio was honored during the final session of the 2010

NRECA Annual Meeting in Atlanta for its participation inACRE® (Action Committee for Rural Electric). TomMcQuiston, a trustee at Butler REC and Ohio’s representa-tive to the NRECABoard of Directors,accepted plaques forOut standing Achieve -ment from NRECAPresident F. E.“Wally” Wolski. Theawards recognizedOhio for having themost ACRE membersand the most consis-tent membershipgrowth over a three-year period.

Economic development initiative garners URE national recognitionThe National Rural Electric Cooperative Association

(NRECA) honored Union Rural Electric Cooperative, Inc.(URE) of Marysville with the association’s NationalCommunity Service Award in recognition of the co-op’simpressive economic development initiative to help bringjobs and growth to Union County.In 2000, Union REC joined with municipal govern-

ments andlocal com-panies tocreate anew public-private eco-nomicdevelop-ment organ-ization.There arenow 24

entities in the organization, generating $280,000 annual-ly for economic development.The cooperative made economic development a priority,

incorporating it and quality of life strategies into strategicplans, while investing both time and money — $135,000over six years — in the new organization. This initiative has helped make Union County the

fourth fastest-growing county in Ohio. The total numberof businesses has grown from 764 in 2000 to 1,023 in2007, while the average annual wage increased from$45,042 to $54,293.

Culler represents Ohio on Youth Leadership CouncilOhio Youth Leadership Council representative Toby

Culler didn’t let a rare southern snowfall get in the way ofparticipating in the 2010 NRECA Annual Meeting inAtlanta, Ga. Culler, other Youth Leadership Council (YLC)students and co-op volunteers replaced 1,600 light bulbsat a local school as a community service project. One of

the most vis-ible dutiesCuller hadduring theannual meet-ing was car-rying Ohio’sstate flagduring theParade ofStates at theopening session.

Awards& Honors

Ken Keylor and Dave Berger

Glenn English, Roger Yoder, Wally Wolski

Tom McQuiston and Wally Wolski Toby Culler


Fanfare about an energy device dubbed the Bloom Boxreached a crescendo in February when the CBS news pro-gram 60 Minutes featured the solid-oxide fuel cell and thefounder-CEO of Bloom Energy, K.R. Sridhar.The company believes a block of its fuel cells, small

enough to fit in the palm of your hand, could one daypower an average home in the United States.Systems installed to date are about the size of an

industrial transformer and very expensive.“The cost of a 100-kilowatt power plant using solid-

oxide technology running on natural gas is about$700,000 to $800,000,” said Ed Torrero, executive direc-tor of the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association(NRECA) Cooperative Research Network.Bloom Energy hopes to be able to produce residential-

scale units at a cost of about $3,000 each within 10years. Sounds good, until you do the math: A 5- to 10-kilowatt unit used as a household’s sole power source

could drive the cost of electricity to the equivalent of 45cents per kilowatt-hour, compared with the currentnationwide average rate of 9-10 cents, said Torrero.John Holt, NRECA’s senior principal for generation and

fuels, also questioned the system’s immediate viability forcommercial and industrial usage. “I have been hearingthat fuel cells will be competitive in five years, but I havebeen hearing that for 25 years,” he said. “At $700,000per unit, I don’t see many takers.”Bloom Energy has already racked up $400 million

from investors. Current customers include eBay, Coca-Cola, Walmart, FedEx and Google.But, despite big investments and brand-name clients,

putting the technology in the backyards of consumerscould take at least a decade, if it gets there at all, accord-ing to some industry observers. ❏

– From Electric Cooperative Today

EnergyHighlights

Power bytesTidbits about energy technology in your life:‘Bloom Box’ ready for prime time?

Build SmartEnergy-Efficient Home Construction:To vent or not to vent … attics, roofs and crawlspacesBy ALLEN ZIMMERMANVented attic and roof assemblies and crawlspaces have

long been standard practice and code requirements in res-idential construction. However, recent advances in build-ing science have called into question long-held assump-tions about, and the rationale for, venting these areas.When properly designed and constructed, unvented atticand roof assemblies and crawlspaces have a number ofadvantages and are increasingly being incorporated instate-of-the-art homes.

Reasons for venting attic and roof assembliesDuring the winter, air in the conditioned space of a

house is typically warmer and more humid than air in theattic and roof assembly (the space between the ceilinginsulation and the roof sheathing). Heat and moisture canbe transported into this space via air leakage throughopenings in the ceiling. Heat and moisture also can betransferred through ceiling materials via conduction andvapor diffusion.Potential exists for condensation to occur on the cooler

roof structural components, such as rafters and sheath-ing. Liquid water that results from this condensation canlead to mold and fungus growth and damage to structuralcomponents, insulation and ceiling materials.In cold climates, the potential exists for ice dams, which

occur when snow on the roof melts, the melt water runsdown the roof and the water refreezes as ice at the eave andoverhang. Liquid water that accumulates behind the icedams can result in structural and cosmetic damage to interiorcomponents, and the ice can damage roof components.

Venting attic and roof assemblies helps remove excess heatand moisture and helps prevent these problems.During the summer, sunshine can cause significant

increases in roof temperature. Increased amounts of heatwill be transferred into the attic and roof assembly spaceand eventually into the conditioned space of the house,causing higher indoor temperatures and increased airconditioning costs. High temperatures in the roof sheath-ing can lead to distortion and deterioration of the roofshingles. Venting attic and roof assemblies helps removethis excess heat and helps prevent associated problems.

Re-examinination based on building scienceIn terms of building science, problematic amounts of

heat and moisture will not be encountered in correctlyinsulated and air-sealed attic and roof assemblies. Thepurpose of venting these components is to compensate forpoor design and construction techniques. In fact, the ini-tial work in the 1930s and 1940s that led to recommen-dations for venting was conducted on houses typical ofthe period, in which air sealing was nonexistent and theamount of insulation minimal. Likewise, recent studieshave shown that the effect of venting on the temperatureof roofs is small and ranks far down the list compared tosuch factors as roof color, orientation and type.Next month: Advantages of unvented attic and roof

assemblies. ❏Allen Zimmerman is a professor at The Ohio State Uni -

versity, Wooster campus. E-mail: [email protected].


Story and photos by JOHN HOWLEY

Helping Putnam County kids understand the potentialhazards in rural settings has been the motivation for

bringing thousands of students to Farm Safety Camp dur-ing the last decade. The Putnam County Health Department began the pro-

gram in 2000, and since then more than 5,000 of thecounty’s third-graders have had the opportunity to learnabout avoiding dangerous situations around a farm.When the yellow buses bring students to Farm Safety

Camp April 13 and 14 this year, some of the lessons forstudents will be about tractor and PTO safety, farm chem-icals, ATV safety, water and pond safety and electricalsafety.Helping the students learn more about electrical safety

will be Dee Renollet, safety and compliance coordina-tor for Paulding-Putnam Electric Cooperative. “We’re trying to teach the kids to be safe around

power lines and in the house,” Renollet said. “I goover the dangers from power lines and cords andwhat could happen by sticking things in outlets.”Renollet uses the cooperative’s high-voltage table-

top safety display to show students real-world sce-narios of potential contact with power lines and whatcan happen if contact is made. “It’s a great opportunity for [the cooperative] to

get the word out about safety in the community,” Renolletsaid. And it’s a message well received by the students. “I get comments from the people who host the camp

saying it’s the most popular tent,” Renollet said. Helping Renollet, and other presenters at the camp,

with the third-graders are members of the Future Farmersof America clubs from the county high schools. Other groups helping at the Farm Safety Camp include

local law enforcement, emergency medical services, firedepartments and agricultural-related businesses and organi-zations. Weather permitting, a medical helicopter even fliesin during the re-creation of an accident on the farm. For more information about Farm Safety Camp, contact

the Putnam County Health Department at 419-523-5608. ❏

Consumer Safety

Putman County kids learning about safety


It could be argued that Ohio has a festival for just abouteverything — just take a look at the list we’re providingyou on page 17, which we aren’t even pretending is com-prehensive. Your local community may have one thatpassed under our radar. If so, send it to us and we’ll printit in our monthly calendar.Just for fun, we’re focusing on six of the spring and

summer festivals we thought you might enjoy. Then inSeptember we’ll do it all again with a focus on fall festi-vals. Have fun at the festival, whichever one or ones youdecide to attend!

Annie Oakley Days Festival, GreenvilleOhio’s most famous woman ever was Annie Oakley,

the sharpshooter from Darke County who became aninternational sensation in Buffalo Bill Cody’s Wild Westshows. For Oakley, there truly was no business like show

business, and bothBroadway andHollywood immor-talized her rags-to-riches story in themusical Annie GetYour Gun. BecauseOakley was bornand raised nearGreenville, the cityhas commemoratedits favorite daughterwith an AnnieOakley Days Festivalfor nearly 50 years. The festival takes

place at the DarkeCounty Fairgrounds,and one of its mosttime-honored tradi-tions is the AnnieOakley ShootingContest. In a nod toOakley’s legendarytalent, girls wearingWild West–style cos-tumes compete forthe title of MissAnnie Oakley by fir-ing at balloons withBB guns. “The con-testants are between14 and 19 years old,and they have to befrom Darke County,”

said the festival’spresident, JudieHathaway. Other festival

events include localactors performingan old-time melo-drama, a flea mar-ket, a farmers’market and supersidewalk sales thatbring hordes ofbargain hunters tothe popularKitchenAidExperience Centerand other down-town Greenvillestores. This year, the

festival parade fea-tures Loretta Jones,an Annie Oakleyre-enactor who willbe riding herhorse, Tippy.“Loretta is kind ofa historian,” saidHathaway, “because she likes to tell people about Annie.” History buffs will also want to visit Greenville’s remark-

able Garst Museum, where the Annie Oakley Center has aworld-class collection of memorabilia and artifacts such asguns, clothing and medals that belonged to the shootingstar. Visitors can learn about Oakley’s Darke County rootsand how a shooting match in Cincinnati won her both ahusband and an incredible career. The museum’s storeoffers an excellent selection of books about Annie Oakley,and since August 13 will mark the 150th birthday of “LittleMiss Sure Shot,” the Garst is celebrating the “Year of AnnieOakley” throughout 2010. Annie Oakley Days Festival, Darke CountyFairgrounds, July 23–25, 937-548-2391, www.annieoakleyfestival.org. Garst Museum and Annie Oakley Center, 937-548-5250, www.garstmuseum.org.

— Damaine Vonada

Appalachian Festival, CincinnatiFor the best of foot-stomping and finger-strumming

Appalachia, head to Cincinnati the second weekend inMay, when the Coney Island amusement park is trans-formed into a showcase of performances, handicrafts and

Fun and funnyfestivals

Annie Oakley was born 150 yearsago in Darke County.

The best of mountain crafters cometo the Appalachian Festival inCincinnati.

down-home charm. Every Mother’s Day weekend, theAppalachian Festival on the banks of the Ohio Riverkeeps traditions alive. What started as a small but stellar crafts exhibition in

the basement of the Cincinnati Music Hall back in 1970has grown into a major tribute to the area’s Appalachianheritage. It’s estimated that more than 300,000 people ingreater Cincinnati can claim Appalachian roots.Even though the festival’s first organizers had to con-

vince the region’s best mountain crafters to come, there’sno need for convincing now. An assortment of potters,basket makers, quilters and woodworkers vie for a spotamong the bounty. Some demonstrate how they createwhat they sell. Others, dressed in attire from the 1800s,spend the weekend at the Living History Village to showfestival attendees how people lived in years gone by. The Living History Village gives kids a chance to try old-

time mountain living. Making cornmeal and butter andlearning how to weave a grass mat are part of the offerings.

When the aroma of apple butter simmering in a cast-iron pot or the sound of kettle corn popping stirs uphunger, there’s plenty of food to satisfy. Soup beans,cornbread, burgoo, fried chicken and more are on the fes-tival menu. Eat your fill while taking in top-notch music,storytelling and dancing. Whether it’s a fiddle player, aclogging group or a bluegrass band, there is nonstopentertainment at several locations. Native American tradi-tions round out the mix.Appalachian Festival, Coney Island (Exit 72 off I-275), May 7–9, 513-251-3378, www.appalachian-festival.org.Admission discounts available at participatingKroger stores and on the Web site.

— Jamie Rhein

Frog Jump Festival, Valley City Bring a frog friend or rent one. Either way, you’ll have

a hopping good time at the Frog Jump Festival in ValleyCity (the “Frog Jump Capital of Ohio”) on Sunday, August15. Jockeys (those jumping the frogs) are kids of all ages,from newborn babies to adults.Last year’s festival had close to 700 jockeys, according

to organizers Rod and Barb Knight. In recent years, par-ticipants in the Medina County festival came from aroundthe U.S. (including New York, Pennsylvania, Florida andVirginia) and around the world from as far away asFrance, Japan and Egypt. “We have an event that is so appealing that people go

out of their way to make sure they’re here on that day,”Rod Knight said. “Some of them just watch.”Frogs are jumped one at a time. The jockey places his

or her frog in the center of the ring (in this case, a para-chute serves that purpose), and each frog gets threejumps, Barb Knight said. “He can jump straight out —

hop, hop, hop — or go out once and back.”Each frog’s distance is measured from the center of the

ring to the frog’s location at the end of the third jump. Thelongest jump on record — 19 feet and 1 inch — was set in1988. The Frog Jump Festival was started as an event for chil-

dren by area residents Andy Neff, Duane Naftzger and JayReynolds. According to the festival’s Web site, they haveall “passed to that great Frog Pond in the sky.”The cost to jump a frog is $3. Feel free to bring your own

frog, or rent one for $5. The fun you’ll have? Priceless.Frog Jump Festival, Liverpool Mill Stream Park (seeWeb site for directions), August 15,330-483-1111, www.valleycity.org.

—Elizabeth Seufer

Looks like the jockeys can jump just as well as the frogs at the Frog Jump Festival in Valley City (Photo byDavid Schneider).

(Continued on page 16)



Avon Heritage DuctTape Festival, AvonFor most Americans,

duct tape is a silveryadhesive cloth that iscommonly found in tool-boxes and junk drawers.Duct tape was once usedroutinely to seal duct-work in heating and airconditioning systems,but when people discov-ered how handy it is,duct tape’s popularitysoared to wise (NASAused it to help rescue theApollo 13 astronauts) aswell as weird (securing atoupée) heights.

In Avon, however, thenation’s favorite quick fixis known as duck tape,because it’s the home ofShurTech Brands, LLC, which markets Duck Tape® brandduct tape. The duck tape moniker actually dates back toWorld War II, when the tape was Army green and GIsappreciated its waterproof quality so much that theylikened it to water sliding off a duck’s back. Today,ShurTech Brands’ Duck Tape comes in more than 20 colorsand patterns, and to make their multipurpose product evenhandier, it also is available in different widths andstrengths. When some Avon

residents wanted tostart a festival a fewyears ago, the LorainCounty town’suniquely sticky situ-ation was an obvi-ous reason to cele-brate, and fasterthan you can say“Duct Tape Capital ofthe World,” the AvonHeritage Duct TapeFestival was on aroll. Since manydads are apt to con-sider duct tape anindispensable tool,the three-day festivalfittingly takes placeover Father’s Dayweekend in Avon’sVeteran’s MemorialPark. It showcasesthe myriad andingenious uses ofduct tape in every-thing from arts andcrafts to automotivesand music.

Sponsored by ShurTechBrands, the festival this year willsalute the ’60s, ’70s and ’80swith the theme “Peace, Love and... Duck Tape.” Hippie-era sculp-tures and parade floats willabound with duct tape, and aretro style show will feature out-fits like miniskirts and bell-bot-toms. “The idea,” said duct tapeartist Amanda Richardson, “is toshow how clothing can be madeout of Duck Tape.” And on eachday of the festival, the first 500visitors get free duct tape.Groovy!Avon Heritage Duct TapeFestival, June 18–20, Veteran’sMemorial Park, 866-818-1116,www.avonducttape fest -ival.com.

— Damaine Vonada

Walleye Festival, Port ClintonPair the Lake Erie shoreline with a parade that includes

a 20-foot, 600-pound fiberglass walleye and a costumedmascot named Captain Wylie Walleye, and you’re kickingoff the summer season in true Port Clinton style. The PortClinton Walleye Festival is a nod to the town’s fishing his-tory and is old-fashioned, small-town fun. By the 1830s, Scottish and German fishermen had

turned Port Clinton into a fishing center success storywith walleye as a centerpiece. The result is Port Clinton’swell-deserved fame as the “Walleye Capital of the World.”Native to Lake Erie, walleye is also Ohio‘s state fish. Witheyes that reflect light like a cat’s, this olive and golden-colored species is thought by many to be the tastiest of allfreshwater fish.With April to August being prime walleye-catching

months, a festival that celebrates Lake Erie’s walleyebounty is fitting. Here, though, you don’t have to catch awalleye to try one — various food vendors, some operatedby Port Clinton’s charities and clubs, serve up helpings ofwalleye and walleye sandwiches. If perch is more to yourliking, it too is available.For non-fish lovers, there’s festival food bounty, and

between eating, there’s plenty to do. Carnival rides, edu-cation programs and foot-tapping music performancesdraw crowds with a lighthearted zeal. Last year, 50,000 to60,000 people headed to Port Clinton to join in the fun.Although only open to festivalgoers ages 12 and

under, the fishing derby is a chance for pint-sized anglersto try for prizes. If the biggest one gets away, kids canalso try for the smallest. It starts at 2 p.m. on Sunday.The parade kicks off on Saturday at 1 p.m.Swim into some fun in Port Clinton over Memorial Day

weekend.Port Clinton Walleye Festival, May 27–31,Waterworks Park, Perry Street, 419-732-2864,www.walleyefestival.com.

—Jamie Rhein

Past attendees at the Duct Tape Festival in Avon admitthey’re really stuck on it. (Photo courtesy of LiggettStashower)

This fish is a small fry compared tothe 20-foot, 600-pound fiberglasswalleye at Port Clinton’s WalleyeFestival.


LilyFest, Rockbridge, Hocking HillsDaylilies, water lilies, Asiatic lilies, Oriental lilies and

even blackberry lilies — they’re the lovely focus ofLilyFest, a little gem of a festival that takes place everyJuly at the Bishop Educational Gardens nearRockbridge. Festival chairperson Bobbi Bishop and herlate husband, Bruce, held the first LilyFest on theirwoodsy Hocking Hills property in 1992, but the eventactually took root a few years earlier with a gift from afriend. “He brought us two gorgeous clumps of yellow

daylilies, and we just fell in love with them,” saidBishop. The couple filled about five acres of their landwith lilies, hostas, hydrangeas, shrubs and even bam-boo. Having worked as art teachers in the Columbusarea, they also enhanced the plantings with their ownmetal and clay sculptures. The Bishops initially organized LilyFest with some help

from only a few friends, but it now has blossomed into avery special three-day event. “The minute visitors put theirfeet on the ground, it’s kind of magical,” said Bishop.“Getting back to nature has a calming effect on people.” About 75 artists will be showing and selling their

works at this year’s LilyFest. Mostly based in theHocking Hills area, they include such local favorites asporcelain and terra cotta artist Jean Magdich, glass blowerNick Delmatto and metal sculptor Dave Anders. Musicians playing dulcimers and Native American

flutes also will fill the gardens with the sound ofAppalachian tunes. “We have quality artists, a wonderfulatmosphere and great music,” said Bishop. Professional horticulturists sell annuals and perennials

at very attractive prices during LilyFest, and both MasterGardeners and Ohio Certified Naturalists are available toanswer questions and help plant lovers make their selec-tions. As for Bishop’s beloved lilies, she does sell some to

raise funds for scholarships, but be advised that buyingthem is strictly self-service. “My extra plants get dividedand put into a dig-your-own bed,” said Bishop. “We pro-vide bags and shovels, and people just toss their moneyinto a can.” ❏

LilyFest, Bishop Educational Gardens nearRockbridge, July 9–11, 740-969-2873,www.lilyfest.com.Hocking Hills, 1-800-HOCKING,www.1800hocking.com.

—Damaine Vonada

Other festivalsConsider attending other festivals through thesummer months, but please note this listing is farfrom comprehensive. For other festivals in or nearyour community, visit the Web sites www.ohio-traveler.com or www.ofea.org. We will feature fes-tivals for fall in our September issue.

Bucyrus Model Railroad Association Train Show, April 10, BucyrusMaple Sugaring Festival, April 11, SylvaniaBellbrook Sugar Maple Festival, April 16–18,BellbrookBlue Rock Station Earth Day, April 17, PhiloScarlet, Gray and Green Festival, April 20, WoosterMohican Wildlife Weekend, April 23–25, Mohican State ParkNorth Coast Nature Festival, April 23–25, NorthOlmstedArbor Day Festival, May 1, Dawes Arboretum, NewarkDulcimers in the Cornfield, May 7–9, WapakonetaOhioana Book Festival, May 8, ColumbusInternational Street Fair, May 15, AthensChalk Art Festival, May 29, MedinaAsian Festival, May 29–30, Columbus

Native American Powwow, Memorial Day weekend, HilliardFrontier Days, June 3 –6, MilfordGold Wings and Ribs Festival, June 4–5, PomeroyColumbus Arts Festival, June 4–6, ColumbusStrawberry Festival, June 5–6, TroyPork Rind Heritage Festival, June 11–12, HarrodHot Air Balloon Festival, June 11–13, CoshoctonPort Clinton Annual Arts and Crafts Show, June12, Port Clinton

Fort Ancient Celebration, June 12–13, OregoniaDean Martin Festival, June 17–19, SteubenvilleRailroad Festival and Train Meet, June 19,BradfordDulcimer Days Festival, June 19–20, CoshoctonSummer Solstice Lavender Field Day, June 19–20, Martinsville

Appalachian Mountain Music Festival, June 25–27, WaynesvilleGene Autry Days, June 26–27, KentonOhio Valley Frontier Days, June 26–27,SteubenvilleInternational Festival, last weekend in June, LorainFirst Town Days, New Philadelphia, Dates TBAOld-Fashioned July 4th Celebration, July 4, HamiltonFCII Festival, July 8–11, Elyria

LaGrange Street Polish Festival, July 9–11, ToledoGreat Mohican Indian Pow-Wow, July 9–11, LoudonvilleRock’In Punderson, July 10, NewburyGardening and Arts Festival, July 17, DelawareHonoring Our Veterans Pow Wow, July 17–18, WaterfordFestival in the Cornfields, July 21–24, WapakonetaJazz and Rib Fest, July 23–25, ColumbusBig Bend Blues Bash, July 29–31, PomeroySalsa Festival, July 29–Aug. 1, CincinnatiWilmington Art and Pottery Festival, July 30–31,WilmingtonVintage Ohio, Aug. 6–7, KirtlandTwins Day Festival, Aug. 6–8, TwinsburgDublin Irish Festival, Aug. 6–8, DublinLebanon Blues Festival, Aug. 7, LebanonPioneer Days, Aug. 7–8, GnadenhuttenDan Emmett Music and Arts Festival, Aug. 12–15,Mount VernonFeast of the Assumption, Aug. 12–15, ClevelandItalian-American Festival, Aug.-13, DoverFestival Latino, Aug. 14–15, ColumbusDoggie Dash ’N Splash Fest, Aug. 21, XeniaFoothills Blues and Arts Festival, Aug. 27–28, Pomeroy

Rockbridge’s LilyFest has blossomed into a three-day event.(Photo courtesy of 1800Hocking.com)


By BETH RICHARDS

By the time I was 8 years old, the words Heisey,Fostoria, Depression Glass, Cranberry and Carnival

Ware were a regular part of my vocabulary — not a typi-cal preteen vernacular. Many weekend nights during mychildhood in the 1970s were spent in auction houses. If Iwas lucky, Saturday mornings also meant scouring garagesales with my parents, looking for treasures. Our shopping wasn’t for personal items but rather col-

lectibles, including glassware. Most were for my parents’business, but some were for my mom’s private collection.I had learned to recognize the markings of a valuablepiece of glass: The raised “Diamond H” of Heisey, the ele-gant feel of Fostoria, the deep red of Cranberry. AlthoughI had a keen eye and an idea of the worth of the glass, Iwasn’t aware of the local historical significance of manyof the finely crafted pieces.Glass collectibles made here in Ohio are more than just

pretty objects to be displayed — the production of theglassware is an intricate part of our state’s history andeconomy. Today, we have the opportunity to explore ourrich heritage and artistry of glassmaking in numerousglass museums throughout our state. Be prepared to bestunned by the beauty of the pieces in each collection.

CambridgeIn the early 1900s, Guernsey County, and particularly

Cambridge, became known worldwide for its productionof quality glass, mainly from the Cambridge GlassCompany. The company produced thousands of designsand color combinations and was considered one of thefinest-quality glassware lines in the world. Today,Cambridge glass is a much sought-after collectible. For the last 25 years, National Cambridge Collectors,

Inc., has operated a museum in Cambridge, where it holdsa convention each summer. In 2002 the organizationopened its new, premier glass museum in downtownCambridge. That year marked the 100th anniversary ofthe making of the first piece of Cambridge glass. The new museum houses a superb collection of

Cambridge glassware produced from 1902 to 1958. Themuseum features morethan 10,000pieces ofbeautifulhandmadeglasswareand manynewexhibits andinteractivedisplays,such as oneon the historyof glassmaking,which contains amock furnace, tools,molds and other itemsinvolved in the manufactur-ing of fine glassware. A large dining room

display includes period

Shrines to glass:Ohio’s glass

museums reflectrich heritage

Photos courtesy Toledo Museum ofArt. (Top of page) Polychrome castglass. (Above) Roman agate bowl.(Photo by Richard Goodbody)


furniture as examples of a finely set table in the early1900s. There is also an area used to display reproduc-tions, which allows collectors to learn how to distinguishbetween original and reproduction items.

LancasterIn the 1890s, optical, cathedral, window and ornamen-

tal glass was being made at Highland Manufacturing inLancaster. By the early 1900s, a number of glass compa-nies were doing business there, taking advantage of thenatural resources in the region. In 2003 Ohio’s state leg-islature recognized Lancaster as the “Pressed GlassCapital of Ohio,” and the Ohio Glass Museum establishedthere in 2002 showcases the history of glass in FairfieldCounty and beyond.Visitors can take a docent-led tour that tells the history of

glass, from the earliest processes through present-day manu-facturing techniques. Also available is a movie called Born ofFire, about locally produced glass. Pieces on display includeHeisey, Fenton, Imperial, Cambridge, and Fairfield County’sown, Anchor Hocking/Lancaster Glass, LancasterLens/Lancaster Glass, Gay Fad, and Erickson. Recently, a glass studio has been added for glassmak-

ing demonstrations during regular museum hours, andclasses are available. Modern pieces can be purchased inthe museum’s gift shop, which opened in 2005.

NewarkThe large smokestacks with the Diamond H's are gone,

but the factory still stands, a skeletal reminder of the cel-ebrated years when the “Finest in Glassware” was beingmade in Newark. The factory produced fine-quality glasstableware and decorative glass figurines, both pressedand blown, made in a wide variety of patterns and colors.Heisey glassware, which is easily identifiable by its highclarity and brilliance, not to mention its vivid colors, isgreatly prized among collectors.The National Heisey Glass Museum opened in 1974,

featuring 4,500 pieces of Heisey glass in hundreds of pat-terns and colors, showing off workmanship such as cut-

tings, etchings and engravings. A new displayshows the company’s glass manufacturingprocess. Part of the appeal of visiting is thebuilding the museum is housed in, the KingHouse, an 1831 Greek Revival home that’s one ofNewark’s oldest buildings.

The museum is operated by the Heisey GlassCollectors, an organization of 1,700 enthusiastsnationwide. The organization occasionally repro-duces pieces from Heisey’s original molds that aresold in the museum’s gift shop. Keep an eye on themuseum’s Web site, where you soon will be able to

shop online and take a virtual tour of the facility.Currently, you can see hundreds of breathtaking photos ofthe museum’s collection in the Web site’s gallery.

FostoriaThe natural gas boom during the late 19th century was

the catalyst for industrial growth in northwest Ohio.Fostoria, with five major railroads, access to natural gas

and other natural resources, flourished.Investors found the city to be an ideallocation to build glassplants and began toproduce some of themost beautiful glassever made in America.Between 1887 and 1920,

Fostoria became home to13 different glass com-panies. During theboom years,through 1892, upto eight glass man-ufacturers operatedat the same time.

Fostoria developed into oneof the largest producers ofglass products in the nation; everything from glassware tolight bulbs to window panes was shipped out of the smallcity.Many exquisite examples from this time period are at

the Glass Heritage Gallery in Fostoria, which opened in1992. On display are pieces of glass made from 10 of the13 companies that were in operation during the boom. Thetown’s namesake company, Fostoria Glass, only operated inFostoria from 1887 to 1891 before moving to Moundsville,West Virginia, but the quality of its product and nationwidereputation made the name “Fostoria” the company’s mostvalued asset. The gallery is a popular stop for collectors, groups and

tours. In recent years, the National American Glass Clubvisited, as well as the popular PBS program, AntiquesRoadshow.

TiffinIn 1888, the A. J. Beatty & Sons glass factory of

Steubenville relocated to the city of Tiffin. Early produc-tion capacity was reported to be 500,000 pressed tum-blers per week. The company soon merged with UnitedStates Glass Company and became one of 19 factoriesoperated by the large corporation and only one of a fewthat survived the Great Depression. In 1938 the head-quarters of United States Glass Company moved fromPittsburgh to Tiffin. Production continued until the fur-

Venetian glassware on display atthe Toledo Museum of Art



naces shut down on May 1, 1980.That date is considered by collectors to be the end of

the Tiffin Glass Company. Today, though, you can still seemore than 2,000 of the company’s most beautiful cre-ations at the Tiffin Glass Museum, arranged chronologi-cally. On display are stemware, lamps, optics and exam-ples of the company’s mostpopular lines. True aficiona-does of Tiffin Glass will alsoappreciate the museum’scollection of company mem-orabilia and documents. The museum is operated

by the Tiffin Glass CollectorsClub, whose members haveloaned many of the muse-um’s pieces. Plans areunderway to include alibrary where glass studentscan someday research theirfavorite glassware.

ToledoKnown as “The Glass

City,” Toledo is famous forits long history in manyareas of glass manufactur-ing. Libbey Glass, Owens

Corning, Owens Illinois and many offshoots of these com-panies have their roots in Toledo.The Toledo Museum of Art was founded by glassmaker

Edward Libbey in 1901. In 2006 the internationallyacclaimed museum added a Glass Pavilion celebrating allthings glass, both local and worldwide. The new pavilionhouses a vast collection of glass artworks, with a tributeto early American and Ohio industrial production of glass.

Besides more than 5,000works of glass from ancientto contemporary times, visi-tors can see artists’ studiosand glass demonstrations. The building itself is a

work of art, incorporatingcurved, layered glass wallson both the outside andinside walls. It sits in a parkacross the street from thefront entrance of the artmuseum’s main entrance. Ashrine to glass that’s actual-ly made of glass, the pavil-ion is a mecca for lovers ofboth Ohio’s glassmakingheritage and the world’s. ❏

Beth Richards is a free-lance writer from Findlay.

If you goNational Museum of Cambridge Glass, 136 S. Ninth St.,Cambridge 740-432-4245, www.cambridgeglass.org

Ohio Glass Museum, 126 W. Main St., Lancaster

740-687-0101, www.ohioglassmuseum.org

National Heisey Glass Museum, 169 W. Church St.,Newark 740-345-2932, www.heiseymuseum.org

Glass Heritage Gallery, 109 N. Main St., Fostoria

419-435-5077, www.fostoriaglass.com

Tiffin Glass Museum, 25 S. Washington St., Tiffin

419-448-0200, www.tiffinglass.org

Toledo Museum of Art Glass Pavilion, 2445 Monroe St.,Toledo 419-255-8000,

www.toledomuseum.org/glass-pavilionA free “Glass Pass” membership entitles you to specialdiscounts on admission fees to several Ohio glass muse-ums and at museums in other states. Visit www.glass-pass.org for more information.

Glass museums (—continued from page 19)


By JEFF REED

They’re like something out of a scary movie — if theytake root and start multiplying, we’re in trouble.They’re nonnative invasive plants, and they’re all too

real and harmful.In Ohio, as many as 800 known plant species are alien

— nonnative — to the Buckeye State. That means they’vebeen introduced to our neck of the woods from otherstates or countries. Fortunately, most nonnative plants arefriendly flora.Unfortunately, around 60 non-

native plant species have beenidentified as being “invasive” bythe Ohio Division of Forestry(ODF). They’re a serious threat toOhio’s public and private forestsand other native vegetation,including shrubs, bushes andwildflowers. Bush honeysuckleand tree-of-heaven top the list ofOhio’s worst invasive-plantinvaders (see sidebar).“The aggressive nature of non-

native plants is what makes themso threatening,” said AnnemarieSmith, ODF invasive speciesforester. “They usually grow veryfast, reach reproductive maturityvery quickly and produce anexcessive amount of fruit. Nothaving the natural enemies, pred-ators and pathogens that keepthem in check in their native envi-ronment contributes to theiraggressiveness. In short, theyquickly upset the delicate balanceof nature.“This lack of natural control

and their fast growth rate givesinvasive plants the ability tomonopolize growing space, lightand below-ground resources,which has a negative impact onnative plants,” Smith said. “Invasive plants can causeextensive economic damage and do immeasurable harmto our natural resources and our natural heritage.”ODF is waging a two-front war against invasive plants.

First, state service foresters are available to identify andoffer advice to control invasive plants on properties withat least 10 wooded acres. Second, ODF also will help localcommunities address invasive-plant issues.In addition, ODF operates the Woodland Invasive

Species Program in 22 counties in south-central andsoutheastern Ohio. Landowners receiving technical assis-tance through the program might also be eligible toreceive special incentive funds administered by theNational Resources Conservation Service (NCRS). NCRS’sEnvironmental Quality Incentive Program (EQIP) providesfinancial incentive to landowners who complete an inva-sive-plant control project to help offset their projectexpenses. Your electric cooperatives provide electricity tomany of those 22 counties.“The Woodland Invasive Species Program — the only

known program of its kind in thecountry — focuses on five Ohiowatersheds that have a high pro-portion of forest coverage, includ-ing state and federal forest lands,”Smith said. “Private landownerswithin the 22-county project areacan become part of a special stew-ardship program, where we’ll helpthem identify invasive plants intheir woods and offer managementadvice on how to control thembased on their objectives for theirwoodland. The same holds true forlocal communities within the proj-ect area, especially for their publicparks, although public property isineligible for EQIP funding.”Around 75 percent of Ohio’s

more than 3,000 known plantspecies are native to what’s nowthe Buckeye State. They alreadywere growing here long before sig-nificant European settlement beganaround 1750, shortly before theAmerican Revolution.Over the years, some invasive

plants have come to Ohio by acci-dent, while others were planted forgood reasons gone bad — as agri-cultural or garden crops, erosioncontrol, livestock or wildlife food,barriers, or for medicinal purposes.

Still others were planted because they reminded someoneof “home” or because they looked pretty.Invasive plants can “shade” or crowd out the seedlings

and saplings of native trees, jeopardizing the life cycle offorest stands. They can reduce or eliminate native plantspecies from forest stands that provide food, shelter andnesting sites for wildlife. That can disrupt the naturalfood chain and nutrient cycle, as well as put threatened orendangered species in greater peril.Invasive plants also can limit recreational opportunities

Help fight the invaders!New program will help in the

struggle against invasive plant species

The Woodland Invasive Species Programoffers assistance in 22 Ohio counties to helperadicate invasive species such as tree-of-heaven, which can sprout unwanted even inurban areas.


The usual suspectsYou won’t see mug shots of this most-wanted gang

hanging on a post office wall, but you might find its fivemembers trying to take over the wooded lot behind thepost office.

They’re Ohio’s top five worst nonnative invasiveplant invaders, as identified by the Ohio Division ofForestry (ODF) — tree-of-heaven, bush honeysuckle,autumn olive, garlic mustard and privet.

“All nonnative invasive plants are aggressive, butthese five are among the most aggressive and most pro-lific in Ohio’s forests at this time,” said AnnemarieSmith, ODF invasive species forester. “If somethingyou’ve never seen before starts quickly taking over yourwoods — or if you realize something already has — orif something you’ve planted is not staying in the areayou’ve designated for it, it could be one of these five orone of the other 60 or so invasive plants ODF has iden-tified. It even could be something new to Ohio.

“Do some research or contact us,” Smith said, “or gethelp from an arborist or one of Ohio’s master gardeners orsome other expert. We’re all here to help you.”

Tree-of-heaven is a fast-growing tree with smoothbark, stout twigs and a palm-like appearance. It’s alsocalled a “stink tree,” since every part of it gives off afoul odor. It’s often confused with sumac.

Bush honeysuckle grows as three similar species, allwith woody, arched branches and oval leaves. Fragrantflowers pop out in spring, followed by a huge amountof berries in autumn — a mature plant can producethousands of berries. Its fast growth rate and naturalbeauty have made it a popular ornamental plant.

Autumn olive has smooth, brown bark and ovalleaves. Its flowers give off an overpowering sugary,sweet aroma. All parts of the plant, which also cangrow as a shrub, have a silvery sheen. Before ODFidentified its invasive nature, autumn olive was recom-mended for wildlife habitats and erosion control. It usu-

ally thrives on a forest’s edge or in anold field reverting to forest land.

Garlic mustard quickly carpets theunderstory (ground) of a forest duringthe first year of its two-year life cycle,smothering saplings and fellow herbs.During its terrible twos, it says good-bye to its kidney-shaped leaves andbolts up to around three feet tall, withscalloped, heart-shaped leaves andclusters of white flowers. A single plantcan produce as many as 3,000 seeds.

Privet is a semi-evergreen, woodyshrub with small, egg-shaped leaves. Clusters of littlewhite flowers cover it in spring, replaced by blue-blackberries in autumn. Its popularity as an ornamentalhedge causes problems — it escapes from a communitysetting or rural homestead, then flourishes in the wild.

like hiking, hunting, birdwatching, wildflowergazing, mushroomingand camping. They alsocan quickly overwhelman urban park or playarea. Wherever theysprout and spread, youcan say goodbye to nat-ural, native beauty andmany other things.“Invasive plants

adversely affect manythings, from the veryexistence of Ohio’s nativeplants and wild life, to ourpastimes and livelihood,especially Ohio’s $15 bil-lion wood industry,”Smith said. “Knowledge,action and vigilance arethe keys. Some peopledon’t know they have an

invasive-plant problem. That’s where we come in. Getinvolved, learn how to identify the worst invaders, keepyour eyes open and talk to your neighbors, especially ifyou think theymay have inva-sive plants ontheir property.We’re all in thistogether. Thinkof it this way —why grow‘weeds’ whenyou can growtrees and wild-flowers?” ❏

For moreinformation,visit www.ohio dnr.com/for estry, e-mail [email protected] or contact Annemarie Smith at740-589-9914.Jeff Reed is a freelance writer and editor from Grove City.

Garlic mustard

Autumn olive

Bush honeysuckle (Photos courtesy ofOhio Department of Natural Resources)


Story and photo by TOM CROSS

The Shawnee State ForestWilderness Area is a window

into how Ohio must have lookedwhen the Shawnee nation ruled theland. Situated in Adams and Sciotocounties in southwest Ohio, the8,624-acre tract is the BuckeyeState’s only designated wildernessarea. Man’s impact is still visible insome areas, but regeneration of theforest over the years has slowlyerased most of the footprint left by

industry, logging and forest fires thathave occurred during its storied past.The wilderness area got its start

in 1972 when then governor JohnGilligan asked the Department ofNatural Resources to establish one.The most logical place for a wilder-ness area was in the middle ofOhio’s largest woodland, the vast63,000-acre Shawnee State Forest,first established in 1922, where alarge unbroken tract of timberlandcould be chosen. By designating thesite as a wilderness area, Ohio’s leg-

islature assured that no logging,roads, motor vehicles or ATVs arepermitted and that all maintenancewould be done by hand, allowing theland to revert to its natural state.Located in the southwest corner

of Shawnee State Forest, the wilder-ness area is bordered on the east andwest by Upper Twin Creek and LowerTwin Creek and to the south by U.S.52, the Ohio River Scenic Byway.The area is quite rugged, topping outat 1,100 feet in elevation, with peaksand valleys ranging from 300- to400-foot differences. The dense for-est contains oak, hickory, pine,maple, poplar, buckeye, ash and redelms. In the hollows, beech, walnut,sycamore and birch trees grow. A variety of wildflowers includes

some rarely found anywhere else.One of them, a state-threatenedspecies commonly known as RockSkullcap, has been documented atfive locations on the hillsides of theLower Twin Creek drainage. One of the wilderness’s most

unique features is found at VastineRun, which in 1952 was subject toone of the largest forest fires in thestate. There and also at CabbagePatch Hollow, remains can be foundof the extensive quarry work thatwas done from the 1830s throughthe early 1900s. In Vastine, hikers can easily fol-

low the remains of the old tram roadthat was used to haul giant blocks ofsandstone some four miles to theOhio River at Buena Vista. Theseblocks, some as large as 300 cubicfeet, were used to supply theCincinnati market during the 1800swith building stones and were usedin construction of the RoeblingSuspension Bridge across the OhioRiver in 1866.Today, leftover quarry stones are

still plainly visible along the remainsof the old tram road that can be fol-lowed uphill to what was once themain area of operations. There, alarge well lined with sandstone blocksused to supply water to the steamengines can be found. Huge sand-stone slabs, some as large as 8 feet

Ohio’s wilderness

For more informationShawnee State Forest headquarters,740-858-6685,www.dnr.state.oh.us/dnn/forests/shaw-nee/tabid/5166/default.aspxShawnee State Park, 740-858-6652,www.dnr.state.oh.us/parks/parks/shaw-nee/tabid/788/default.aspx

Hikers can follow the remains of the old tram road in Vastine Run at theShawnee State Forest Wilderness Area.


by 4 feet, are still stacked, ready fortransportation to Cincinnati. “It’s as if there was a beehive of

activity that suddenly stopped,” saidBen Ham il ton, retired Shawnee Forestmanager.The wilderness area is home to a

resurgent population of bobcats andthe endangered timber rattlesnake. Itwas the site of a black bear release20 years ago. Hikers can follow the North Country

Trail or the Buckeye Trail into the inte-rior of the wilderness area. Horsebackriders can follow the Cab bage Patchbridle trail or another seven-mile trailalong Buckhorn Ridge.Hikers must first register at the

trailhead parking area at ShawneeState Park or at state forest head-quarters. Permits for overnightcamping must be applied for inadvance at state forest headquarters.Topographical maps of the wilder-ness area are available from theODNR Division of Geological SurveyWeb site.Hamilton says the best time to

visit the wilderness area is duringthe spring or the fall, but visitorsshould not underestimate theruggedness of the terrain or thearea’s size. “From Lower Twin to Upper Twin

in a straight line, it’s about threemiles,” he said. “But if you were towalk it, it would seem like 10.”But time is not measured in miles,

seasons or hours spent. It is meas-ured by the solitude and history oneseeks and readily finds. ❏Tom Cross is a freelance writer

from Winchester.

Scenic auto toursShawnee State Forest auto tour (thebest route to see the forest by car),www.dnr.state.oh.us/dnn/forests/shawnee/tabid/5166/default.aspx

Ohio Byway — Scenic SciotoHeritage Trail (A driving tour alongthe east border of the WildernessArea on Upper Twin Creek Road),www.dot.state.oh.us/Ohiobyways.Then click on “Scenic SciotoHeritage Trail.”

U.S. 52 — Ohio River Scenic Byway,www.dot.state.oh.us/Ohiobyways.Then click on “Ohio River Scenic.”


All in the familyThe Miller brothers run a shopping center,

Amish style, in Adams CountyBy DAMAINE VONADA

Adams County is Ohio’s quiet Amish corner. While thelarge and much-publicized Amish enclave around

Holmes County has developed into a major tourist attrac-tion in northeast Ohio, savvy travelers seeking a morelow-key Amish experience head for the Appalachian hillsof Adams County. A small but flourishing community ofabout 100 Amish families lives among the wooded ridgetops north of West Union, where many of their shops areclustered near Wheat Ridge Road.Although the Wheat Ridge Amish are located only about

two hours south of Columbus, finding them means goingfar off the beaten path onnarrow country roadsthat bob and weavethrough splendidly scenichillsides. In AdamsCounty, crowing roostersherald the sunrise; deerflit among the shadows;laundry dangles fromclotheslines; and cars aswell as buggies rumblethrough the old Harsha -ville Covered Bridge. The Amish are fairly

new to Adams County.They began settling therein the 1970s, and amongthe first to arrive wereHarry and Lydia Miller.According to their sonLarry, they left Indianabecause they wanted abigger farm, and landwas cheaper in Adams County. The Millers bought 300 acres along Wheat Ridge Road,

but with six children to raise, they needed extra income.In 1977 they opened a bakery in their farmhouse’skitchen. The entire family pitched in, and soon a steadystream of customers was dropping by the farm for home-made pies, bread and cinnamon rolls. Then Harry beganselling some furniture from Holmes County. Before long,the Millers realized that their patrons liked Amish-madetables and chairs as much as Lydia’s custard pies, andthey transitioned from being farmers to storekeepers. When folks drive on rural Wheat Ridge Road today,

they often are amazed at the retail complex that hassprouted on the Miller farmstead. “Lots of people makeMiller’s a day trip,” said Larry Miller, “and the first timethey come, they’re usually surprised that there is so muchhere.” He and two of his brothers — Daniel and Harry Jr.— operate three side-by-side enterprises. Larry runs

Miller’s Bakery & Gifts; Daniel has Miller’s Furniture &Barns; and Harry Jr. is at Miller’s Bulk Foods. Since their stores are different and have separate

buildings, these horse-and-buggy businessmen have cre-ated a shopping center, Amish style. Gravel instead ofpavement covers their shared parking lot, and they use awindmill and solar panels to charge the batteries thatpower lights, fans and cash registers. “When the sun goesdown, we close our doors,” said Larry. The biggest of the Miller brothers’ businesses is

Daniel’s furniture store. Its 40,000 square feet of indoorshopping space is chock-full of Amish oak and cherry

furniture, and the5,000 in-stock itemsrange from rockingchairs to entertainmentcenters. At the bulkfoods store, Harry Jr.sells Holmes Countymeats and cheeses;buckeyes, peanut brit-tle and other home-made candies; andbaking and cookingsupplies. Larry stilluses his mother’srecipes for pies, cakesand other goodies soldat the bakery. Cus -tomers love the fruitfry pies, but Saturdayshoppers get a specialtreat — freshly madeglazed doughnuts.Throughout the

year, the brothers host special promotions like thestorewide furniture sale on Memorial Day weekend andthe Amish School Benefit Cookout on Labor Day week-end. In October, Customer Appreciation Day — a Millertradition for more than 30 years — features barbecuedchicken and pie with homemade ice cream. Of course, the Millers’ events also provide a perfect oppor-

tunity for visitors to savor the slower pace of the AdamsCounty Amish.“If people are under stress,” said Larry,“Wheat Ridge Road is like taking a little vacation.” ❏Damaine Vonada is a freelance writer from Xenia.Miller’s Furniture, Bakery and Bulk Foods, 960

Wheat Ridge Rd., West Union, OH 45693, Mon.–Sat.,9 a.m.–5 p.m. Furniture, 937-544-8524; Bakery &Gifts, 937-544-4520; Bulk Foods, 937-544-8449.For additional information about Adams Countyattractions, telephone the Adams County Travel &Visitors Bureau at 937-544-5454 or visit the Website www.adamscountytravel.org.

A furniture store, bakery and bulk foods store make up theMillers’ complex on scenic Wheat Ridge Road. (Photo courtesyof Adams County Travel and Visitors Bureau)


PLEASE NOTE — Country Living strives for ac -curacy in this listing, but strongly urges readersto confirm dates and admission charges beforetraveling long distances to events. Submit yourlisting AT LEAST 90 DAYS prior to the event bywriting to Country Living, P.O. Box 26036,Columbus, OH 43226-0036, or send e-mail [email protected]. Please note: CountryLiving will not publish event listings that do notinclude a complete address of where the eventtakes place or a telephone number to call formore information.H — Denotes events accessible to the physi-cally challenged.

CO-OP ANNUAL MEETINGSApr. 10 — Guernsey-Muskingum ElectricCooperative, Inc., Larry W. Miller IntermediateSchool, New Concord, 1 p.m.

Apr. 10 — Pioneer Rural Electric Cooperative,Inc., Pioneer Office, Piqua, 9 a.m. Apr. 13 — Mid-Ohio Energy Cooperative, Inc.,Hardin Co. Fgds., Kenton, 7 p.m.

Apr. 15 — Harrison Rural ElectrificationAssociation, Inc., Liberty High School,Clarksburg, WV, 6 p.m.

Apr. 24 — North Western Electric Cooperative,Inc., Edon Northwest High School, 80 W. IndianaSt., Edon, 6 p.m.

APRIL EVENTS

Lima Silver Spurs Square Dancing, WestwoodMiddle School cafeteria, 503 N. Cable Rd., Lima,2nd Sat. of month, 8 p.m. 419-692-1786.

Tiffin T-Squares, Tiffin Developmental Center, 600N. River Rd., Tiffin, 2nd and 4th Sat. of the month,8 p.m. Western square dancing. 419-937-2579.

Bellefontaine Hi-Point See Saws SquareDancing, Masonic Temple, 600 N. Main St.,Bellefontaine, 2nd Sat. of even months and 3rdSat. of odd months, 8-10:30 p.m. 937-592-0571.

Apr. 1-Aug. 1 — “Croquet: A Sport Story,”Hayes Presidential Center, Fremont, Tue.-Sat. 9a.m.-5 p.m. Closed Mon., Sun. and holidays. Anexclusive exhibit examining the history of croquetduring its 19th-century heyday. 419-332-2081 orwww.rbhayes.org.

Apr. 3 — Easter Egg Roll, Hayes PresidentialCenter, Fremont, 2-3:30 p.m. Children ages 3-10are invited to relive a White House tradition start-ed in 1878 by President Hayes. Boil and colorthree eggs as your entry fee to a variety of"rolling" contests. Bring a 4th predecorated egg toenter in the optional egg-decorating contest. 419-332-2081 or 800-998-7737 or www.rbhayes.org.

Apr. 3 — Bluegrass in the Cornfield monthlyconcerts, Famous Old Time Music Company,20322 U.S. 33, Wapakoneta, 4 p.m. $10. 419-568-1220 or 513-607-1874.

Apr. 3 — Anniversary Dance, Lima-Live Singles,Heritage Elementary School, 816 College Ave.,Lima, 8-11 p.m. $8. 419-371-5702 [email protected].

Apr. 3 — Hardin County Easter Egg Hunt, onthe lawn of the Hardin County Courthouse, 1 p.m.For children age 10 and under. Free. Childrenattending need to bring an Easter basket or bag.The Easter Bunny will also make a visit. 419-673-4131 or [email protected].

Apr. 3, 4 — Tri-State Gun Show, Allen Co. Fgds.,Lima, Sat. 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m., Sun. 8:30 a.m.-3p.m. $4. A popular show for collectors of guns,knives, hunting equipment and associated col-lectibles. 419-647-0067.

Apr. 6 — Broadway in Lima – The Wizard ofOz, Veterans' Memorial Civic and ConventionCenter, Lima, 7:30 p.m. 419-224-1552.

Apr. 7 — African Children's Choir, ONU FreedCenter, Biggs Theatre, Lima, 10 a.m. and 8 p.m.$20, C. $10. The choir is made up of orphanedchildren from the Kampala and Luwero areas ofUganda. 419-772-1900.

Apr. 7, 8 — Sesame Street Live, Veterans'Memorial Civic and Convention Center, 7 TownSquare, Lima, Wed. 7 p.m., Thur. 10:30 a.m. and7 p.m. 419-224-1552.

Apr. 8-11 — The Music Man, James F. DickeAuditorium, 901 E. Monroe, New Bremen, Apr.8-10 at 7 p.m., Apr. 10, 11 at 2 p.m. $8-$10.419-733-9783.

Apr. 8–11 — Southern Gospel Expo, TrinityFriends Church, 605 N. Franklin St., Van Wert,Thur. 7 p.m., Fri. 6 p.m., Sat. 5 p.m., Sun. 6:30p.m. More than 30 groups and artists fromaround the country. 419-238-2660 or www.trin-ityfriendschurch.com/GospelExpo.html.

Apr. 10 — Elixir, Pemberville Opera House,Pemberville, 7:30 p.m. $10. American musicfrom the 1800s. 419-287-4848 or www.pem-bervilleoperahouse.org.

Apr. 10 — Flag City Toys That Shoot,Lighthouse Banquet Facility, 10055 St. Rte. 224W., Findlay, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. $2. Buy, sell or tradeair guns, BB guns, cap guns. 419-422-9121 or419-423-0070 or [email protected].

Apr. 10, 11 — Fremont Flea Market, SanduskyCo. Fgds., Fremont, Sat. 9 a.m.-4 p.m., Sun. 9a.m.-3 p.m. Free. 200 vendors. 419-332-5604 orwww.sanduskycountyfair.com.

Apr. 15 — Tea at the Holderman House,Sandusky County Historical Society Museum,514 Birchard Ave., Fremont, 1 p.m. $12. 419-684-9184 or www.sanduskycountyhistory.org.

Apr. 16-18 — McDonald's Youth Theatre –Little Prince, Encore Theatre, 991 North ShoreDr., Lima, Fri., Sat. 8 p.m., Sun. matinee 2 p.m.$7. 419-223-8866 or 800-944-1441.

Apr. 22-24 — Ohio Genealogical SocietyConference, SeaGate Convention Centre, 401Jefferson Ave., Toledo. 37 speakers, 55 lecturesfor all levels of research, 6 workshops, exhibits,free workshop for beginners. Registration: [email protected] or 419-756-7294.

Apr. 23-25 — Women's Weekend, YMCA CampWillson, Bellefontaine. $145. Crafts, relaxingmassages, hiking, horseback trail rides. 800-423-0427 or www.ymcacampwillson.org.

Apr. 24 — Dulcimer Jams, Famous Old TimeMusic Company, 20322 U.S. 33, Wapakoneta, 1-3 p.m. Features mountain and hammered dul-cimers with autoharps; but guitar, banjo, man-dolin, fiddle, bass and other players are welcome.419-568-1220 or 513-607-1874.

Apr. 27 — Daniel Rodriguez, NiswongerPerforming Arts Center, 10700 St. Rte. 118 S.,Van Wert, 7:30 p.m. New York City's Singing Cop.419-238-6722.

Apr. 28-May 2 — 42nd Street, Freed Center forthe Performing Arts, 525 S. Main St., Ada, 8 p.m.;Sun., May 2, 2 p.m. $9-15. 419-772-1900.

Apr. 30 — The Toledo Orchestra plays the musicof John Williams, Clyde Performing Arts Center,1015 Race St., Clyde, 7:30 p.m. $10. 419-547-0588or www.communitiesfortheartsclyde.org.

Apr. 30-May 2 — Nob Hammer-In, AuGlaizeVillage and Farm Museum, Krouse Rd., 3 mileswest of Defiance on U.S. 24. $3, Srs. $2, Std. $1.Open to those learning or improving black-smithing skills. 419-395-1314.

Bluegrass Saturday Nights, HomervilleCommunity Center, St. Rte. 301, Homerville, 2ndand 4th Sat. of each month, 7-11 p.m. All pickerswelcome. 330-416-2222.

Bluegrass Music, A-B-H Bluegrass Hide-Away,850 Fitchville River Rd. S., New London, Fri. andSat. jamming, doors open 6 p.m. Bands scheduled2nd Sat. 440-225-5863 or 419-929-2400.

Bluegrass Jam Session, Lafayette UnitedMethodist Church, 6201 Lafayette Rd., Medina,Fri. nights, doors open 5:30 p.m., music 7-11p.m. $2. 330-725-6176 or www.lafayetteumc.net.

An Evening of Bluegrass Music, CarpentersCafe/Keim Lumber Co., 4465 St. Rte. 557, Charm,3rd Mon. of month, 5-7 p.m. 330-407-8124.

Salt Creek Inc. Bluegrass and Buffet, April’sCountry Kitchen, 640 Heller Dr., Newcomerstown,1st Fri. each month through July. 701-498-4242.

Through Apr. — Live Bluegrass Music, LandonWalker and Southern Grass, Valley Grange Hallon St. Rte. 226 off St. Rte. 3, south of Wooster,north of Shreve, every 3rd Sat., 5:30 p.m. $5.606-483-0416.

Apr. 3 — Easter Egg Hunt, Findley State Park,Wellington, 11 a.m. Children 10 and under areinvited to hunt for eggs. Location for 2010 willbe in the campground area. A special section willbe provided for children under 3 years old. Free.866-644-6727 or visit www.ohiostateparks.org.

Apr. 3 — Modern Gospel, "The PrayerWarriors,” Broadway Hall, 144 N. Broadway,Medina, doors open 7:30 p.m., curtain 8 p.m.330-952-0910 or www.mainstreetmedina.com.

Apr. 5-16 — Spring Quilt Show, Fort Steuben,120 S. 3rd St., Steubenville, Mon.-Fri. 10 a.m.-4p.m. or by reservation. Features local quilters.740-283-1787 or www.oldfortsteuben.com.

Apr. 10 — Apple Tree Pruning School,Mapleside Farms, 294 Pearl Rd., Brunswick. Forbackyard orchardists to learn the care of fruittrees. 330-225-5577 or www.mapleside.com.

Apr. 11 — Medina Model Railroad Train andToy Show, Medina Co. Fgds., Medina, 10 a.m.-4p.m. 330-948-4400, www.conraddowdell.com.

Apr. 16-18, 23-25 — Bag Lady Tour,Wellington, Huntington Twp., Rochester Twp.,Homerville, West Salem, Penfield and Spencer,Fri./Sat. 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Sun. noon to 5 p.m. Pickup a flyer at your first stop and get it stamped ateach location. Complete your stamps to be enteredinto a Grand Prize drawing. 440-647-9424 [email protected].

Apr. 17 — Gardeners Fair, Sailorway MiddleSchool, corner of St. Rte. 60 and Sailorway Dr.,Vermilion, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. $2. 440-967-5299, or440-967-2567 or www.mainstreetvermilion.com.

Apr. 17 — Mohican Valley Eagle Watch,Loudonville. Join a local eagle expert who willteach you proper “eagle etiquette” and help youunderstand the history, ecology and life of thebald eagles in Ohio. Special weekend getawaymay be planned at Mohican River Inn. 800-228-5118 or www.mohicanriverinn.net.

Apr. 17 — Workshop: Go Fly a Kite, GrandPacific Junction, 8112 Columbia Rd., OlmstedFalls. Kite building takes place in the GrandPacific Junction Gazebo from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. oruntil materials run out. $1 donation. 440-427-9773 or www.grandpacificjunction.com.

Apr. 17 — Earth Day Extravaganza, CarlisleVisitor Center, 12882 Diagonal Rd., LaGrange,noon-4 p.m. Crafts, games, hikes, music andhands-on activities geared toward the earth’senvironment and natural resources. Free. 440-458-5121 or www.metroparks.cc.

Apr. 17, 18 — Medina Gun Show, CommunityCenter, Medina Co. Fgds., 735 W. Lafayette Rd.,Medina, Sat. 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Sun. 9 a.m.-3 p.m.330-948-4400, www.conraddowdell.com.

Northwest

Northeast

Where the action is



Where the action is

Apr. 23, 24 — Ohio Barn Conference and BarnTour in Wayne County, Shisler ConferenceCenter, 1625 Wilson Ave., Wooster. Learn aboutOhio's historic barns: their maintenance, uses andhow they were built. Preregistration and fee forboth days. 330-624-3230 orwww.ohiobarns.osu.edu.

Apr. 23-25 — Steel Guitar Show, Atwood LakeResort, 2650 Lodge Rd., Sherrodsville. 888-819-8042, 330-735-2211 or www.atwood lake -resort.com.

Apr. 23-25 — Mohican Wildlife Weekend,Loudonville, A celebration of wildlife, habitat, her-itage and natural history. www.mohicanwildlife-weekend.com or 877-642-8282 and 877-266-4422.

Apr. 24 — Native Plant Sale and GardeningSeminar, The Wilderness Center, 9877 AlabamaAve. SW, Wilmot, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. 330-359-5235 orwww.wildernesscenter.com.

Apr. 24, 25 — Mill Hollow's Herb Fair, MillHollow, Vermilion River Reservation, 51211North Ridge Rd., Vermilion, Sat. 10 a.m.-4 p.m.,Sun. noon-4 p.m. Free. 440-967-7310.

Apr. 25 — Medina Flea Market, CommunityCenter, Medina Co. Fgds., 735 W. Lafayette Rd.,Medina, 6 a.m.-3 p.m. Admission, 330-948-4300, www.conraddowdell.com.

Muskingum Valley Jubilee, music show, 205 N.Fifth St., Zanesville, 2nd Sat. each month, doorsopen 6 p.m., show at 7 p.m. $8, Srs. $7. H. 740-438-7232 or 740-452-2376.

Band and Dancing, Linton Community Center, St.Rte. 93 and College Ave., Plainfield, 1st Sat. everymonth, 8-11 p.m. 740-545-6425 or 740-502-2901.

Marion Hicks and Chicks Square Dancing,Sunny Acres Barn, 4600 St. Rte. 309, Caledonia,1st and 3rd Sat., 8 p.m. 419-947-6081.

Pickerington – Friendly Ties Western SquareDance, Pickerington Senior Center, 150 HerefordDr., Pickerington, 1st and 3rd Sun., 7-10 p.m.614-834-8701.

Water Song TaiJi Quan and QiGong, Tai Chiclasses Tue. and Thur. 6–7:30 p.m., Saint Paul’sLutheran Church, 930 Harding Memorial Pkwy.,Marion, and on Sat. 10–11:30 a.m. at Marion CityRecreation Center, 240 W. Center St., Marion.740-360-6931.

Bluegrass Show, Three Rivers Fire Dept., U.S. 36and St. Rte. 621 (2 mi. e. of Coshocton), CanalLewisville, every 4th Sat., show 7-9 p.m., jam to11 p.m. $5 cover charge at door. 740-498-8456.

Apr. 1-Dec. 2 — Paws in the Plaza, CreeksidePlaza, 123 Mill St., Gahanna, Thurs. 4:30 p.m.until dark. Free. Join other dogs as they bringtheir owners to stroll through the paths, riverwalks and pet-friendly shops throughout down-town. Enjoy special treats, free nail trimmings.614-342-4041, www.visitgahanna.com.

Apr. 1-30 — Statehouse Student ArtExhibition, Ohio Statehouse, Columbus, Mon.-Sun. Free. Special exhibition featuring students ingrades K-12 in Ohio's public schools. 888-OHIO-123, www.ohiostatehouse.org.

Apr. 2 — Dino Egg Dig, William Kraner NatureCenter, 10380 Fairview Rd., Newark. Hunt fordinosaur eggs in the archaeological dig.Reservations required. 740-323-0520 orwww.lickingparkdistrict.com.

Apr. 2-30 — Wings and Wilderness, MonarchArt Gallery, Lancaster, Tues.-Sat. 1 a.m.-4 p.m.and by appointment. 740-681-4513.

Apr. 3 — Easter Egg-stravaganza, Mound Park,William Kraner Nature Center, 10380 FairviewRd., Newark, 1:30 p.m. at Infirmary MoundPark's shelter house #5, with events beginning at2 p.m. Egg hunting starts at 3 p.m. Reservations740-323-0520 or www.lickingparkdistrict.com.

Apr. 3 — Pruning in the Landscape, DawesArboretum, 7770 Jacksontown Rd. SE, Newark,9 a.m.–noon. $20/$15 members. Reservationrequired. 800-443-2937 or www.dawesarb.org.

Apr. 3 — Lancaster Eagle-Gazette Spring CraftShow, Fairfield Co. Fgds., Lancaster, 8 a.m.-3p.m. 740-681-4513.

Apr. 6 — Pendulum Percussion Duo, OhioWesleyan University, Gray Chapel, 61 S.Sandusky St., Delaware, 8-10 p.m. 740-203-6908, www.owu.edu.

Apr. 7 — U.S. Army Field Band Concert, PalaceTheatre, 276 W. Center St., Marion. Call for time.740-389-9960.

Apr. 8 — Five Nights On Campus, OSU Marion,1465 Mt. Vernon Ave., Marion, 7:30 p.m. Dr. John"Chuck" Chalberg portrays Branch Rickey. 740-389-6786, www.marion.ohio-state.edu.

Apr. 8-11 — Equine Affaire, Ohio Expo Center,717 E. 17th Ave., Columbus, Thur.-Sat. 9 a.m.-7:30 p.m., Sun. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. $14 or a 4-day pass$48; C. $8 or a 4-day pass $28. A world-classeducational program and extensive trade show.740-845-0085, www.equineaffaire.com.

Apr. 9-10 — Broadway Jr., Annie, PalaceTheatre, 276 W. Center St., Marion. 740-383-2101 or www.marionpalace.org.

Apr. 9-11 — Marion Spring Home and GardenShow, 288 America Blvd., Fri. 1-8 p.m., Sat. 10a.m.-8 p.m., Sun. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. 740-397-7788or www.homeshowsrus.com.

Apr. 10 — Bucyrus Model Railroad AssociationTrain Show, Crawford Co. Fgds. youth building,Bucyrus, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. $4. 866-562-0720.

Apr. 10 — Moscow Festival Ballet, SleepingBeauty, Midland Theatre, 36 North Park Place,Newark, 8 p.m. $15-$65. 740-345-5483, 740-345-5483 or www.midlandtheatre.org.

Apr. 10, 11 — Baby Bonanza and Kid's Expo,Veterans Memorial, 300 W. Broad St., Columbus.Ohio's largest maternity, baby and kid's expo!740-972-1471, www.babybonanza.net.

Apr. 10, 17 — Beginning Bonsai, DawesArboretum, 7770 Jacksontown Rd. SE, Newark,Apr. 10, 9 a.m.–noon; Apr. 17, 9–11 a.m.$55/$40 members. Reservation required by Apr.7. A two–session course will introduce partici-pants to the art of bonsai. 800-443-2937 orwww.dawesarb.org.

Apr. 11 — Eddie Carroll as Jack Benny, PalaceTheatre, 276 W. Center St., Marion. 3 p.m. $20.740-383-2101 or www.marionpalace.org.

Apr. 11 — Lancaster Community Concerts,Nearly Neil and the Solitary Band, OhioUniversity, 1570 Granville Pike, Lancaster, 3 p.m.740-654-1003 or www.lancastercommunitycon-certs.com.

Apr. 13 — Women's Expo, Coliseum, Marion Co.Fgds., 220 E. Fairground St., Marion, 4-8 p.m. Aworking women's night out to enjoy. 740-383-1131 or www.marioncountyfairgrounds.com.

Apr. 15 — And All That Jazz, Palace Theatre,276 W. Center St., Marion. Featuring high schoolswing and jazz ensembles. 740-383-2101 orwww.marionpalace.org.

Apr. 15-17 — National Robotics Competition,Coliseum, Marion Co. Fgds., 220 E. FairgroundsSt., Marion. Competition by middle schools, highschools, vocational schools, community collegesand universities all over the U.S. 740-382-2558or www.nationalroboticschallenge.org.

Apr. 16-17 — Steel Magnolias, Dinner Theatre,Palace Theatre, 276 W. Center St., Marion. Dinnerat 6 p.m., show at 7:30 p.m. $20 just for show;dinner and show $30. 740-383-2101 orwww.marionpalace.org.

Apr. 16-18 — UKC Beagle Nationals, CoshoctonCo. Fgds., 707 Kenilworth Ave., Coshocton.Spectators welcome. Camping available on-site,$20 per night with full hook-up. Contact theFairboard Office, 740-622-2385; Beagle FieldOperations, United Kennel Club, 269-343-9020,[email protected] or 740-545-0984; 800-338-4724 or www.visitcoshocton.com.

Apr. 16-25 — The Love of Nightingale, OhioWesleyan University, Chappelear Drama Center,45 Rowland Ave., Delaware, Fri.-Sat. 8-11 p.m.,Sun. 2-5 p.m. $5-$10. 740-203-6908,www.owu.edu.

Apr. 17, 18 — Daffodil Show, Granville GardenClub, 334 E. Broadway, Granville. Over 300 daf-

fodil specimens on display, many of which can beordered. 740-522-6914, www.granvilleoh.com.

Apr. 23, 24 — Dinner Theater, Bremen AreaHistorical Society, 161 Carter St., Bremen. Steakdinner followed by homegrown entertainment.$12. Presale tickets: 740-569-7313. H.

Apr. 23-25 — The Encampment, Century Village,Fryer Park, 4185 Orders Rd., Grove City.Experience the American Revolution, early fron-tier life on the Midwest Plains and the Civil Warera. 800-539-0405 or www.visitgrovecityoh.com.

Apr. 24— World Tai Chi Day, Busby Park indowntown Marion. 740-244-9567.

Apr. 24 — Bluegrass Music, Black Diamondand Northwest Territory, Jerome Township Hall(New California), 9777 Industrial Pkwy., PlainCity. Doors open at 5 p.m., music 6-10 p.m. 937-707-5574.

Apr. 24 — Fairfield County Spring Llama Show,Fairfield Co. Fgds., Lancaster, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.740-536-9385.

Apr. 24 — Write-On Writers Annual WritersConference, Coshocton Senior Center, 201Brown's Lane, Coshocton, 9 a.m.-4:30 [email protected].

Apr. 24 — Little Muskingum VFD Fish Fry,15150 St. Rte. 26, 15 miles north of Marietta onSt. Rte. 26, 5 p.m. 740-473-2633.

Apr. 24, 25 — Ashville Viking Festival, AshvilleVillage Park, 200 Walnut St., Ashville, 10 a.m.-5p.m. A living history event featuring a 40-ft.replica of a Viking longship. Music, dance andswordplay, crafts demonstrations, period mer-chandise. 740-983-9390 or www.ashville-vikingfest.com.

Apr. 24-Jun.19 — Art Quilts and Textiles bySusan Nash, Zanesville Museum of Art, 620Military Rd., Zanesville; Tue., Wed. 10 a.m.-5p.m.; Thur. 10 a.m.-8:30 p.m.; Fri., Sat. 9 a.m.-5p.m. $6, Srs./Std. $4. 740-452-0741.

Apr. 25 — Coshocton Community Choir SpringConcert "At the River," McKinley Auditorium,Coshocton High School, 1205 Cambridge Rd.,Coshocton, 3 p.m. $8, C. $5. 200 singers andmusicians from central Ohio participate in thisspring concert. 740-622-3960 or 740-623-0554,www.coshoctoncommunitychoir.org.

Apr. 25 — Beethoven’s 9th, Newark GranvilleSymphony Orchestra, Swasey Chapel, Granville, 7p.m. The orchestra is joined by the DenisonConcert Choir, featuring students, staff, facultyand community members. 740-345-5483 orwww.ngsymphony.org.

Apr. 25 — Having a Ball, Buckingham MeetingHouse, 6 N. Sixth St., Newark, 1 p.m. A tour ofsome local Ball-designed homes with a lectureand exhibit. Members $5, nonmembers $10. 740-345-4898, www.lchsohio.org.

Apr. 29-30 — Putnam County Spelling Bee,Morrill Hall Auditorium on the OSU MarionCampus, 1465 Mt. Vernon Ave., performancebegins at 7:30 p.m. 740-389-6786.

Apr. 29-May 8 — Otterbein College Theatre:Dead Man's Cell Phone, Campus Center Theatre,100 W. Home St., Westerville, Thur.-Sat. 8-10:30p.m., Sun. 2-4:40 p.m. $15. 614-823-1109 orwww.otterbein.edu/theatre.

Apr. 30-May 8 — Dogwood Festival, PomereneCenter for the Arts, 317 Mulberry St., Coshocton.Numerous activities throughout its 8-day run inmany diverse locations. 740-622-0326 orwww.pomerenearts.org or www.visitcoshocton.com.

Bluegrass Music Jam, River’s Edge ActivitiesCenter, St. Rte. 7, 4-1/2 miles s. of Sardis and 1-1/2miles n. of Fly, 1st Sat. of the month, 6 p.m. All blue-grass, old-time country music bands and public wel-come. 740-213-3285 or 740-865-2288.

Classic Country Music Show, Liberty BellRestaurant, 102 N. Broad St., Bremen, Sat. 4-8p.m. $5. 740-569-4883 or 740-743-3018.

Ohio Valley Opry, Twin City Opera House, 15 W.Main St., McConnelsville, 3rd Sat. of the month.740-962-3030 or www.operahouseinc.com.

(—continued from page 31)

Southeast

Central


Where the action isPaint Valley Jamboree, Paxton Theatre, 125 E.Main St., Bainbridge, every Sat. 7 p.m. $9, Srs.$8. 740-634-3333.

Boomtown Flea Market, 301 W. Market St., St.Rte. 668, Somerset, Fri.-Sat. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. allyear round. Spinning wheel and pottery demon-strations. 740-743-9202.

Apr. 10 — Byesville Scenic Railway, 2nd St.Depot, Byesville, 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. $12,C. $9. All aboard for a trip back in history as pas-sengers are transported in time to the days whencoal mining was king in Guernsey County. 800-933-5480, 740-432-2022 or www.bsrw.org.

Apr. 10, 11 — Southern Ohio Home andGarden Show, Ross Co. Fgds., Chillicothe, Sat.10 a.m.-6 p.m., Sun. noon-4 p.m. Free admis-sion, parking is $2. 800-413-4118 orwww.southernohiohomegarden.com.

Apr. 10, 11 — French 500 Flea Market, GalliaCo. Jr. Fgds., 189 Jackson Pike, Gallipolis, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. 740-446-4120 or www.gallia -countyfair.org.

Apr. 16-18 — The Princess Plays, Ariel-AnnCarson Dater Performing Arts Centre, 426 SecondAve., Gallipolis, Fri.-Sat. 8 p.m., Sun. 3 p.m.Three one-act plays presented in one production.740-446-2787 or www.arieltheatre.org.

Apr. 17 — Sangmele (Walt Michael, LeaGilmore, Ralph Gordon) Concert, WashingtonState Main Campus, Arts and Science Building, 8p.m. Free. 740-374-8716.

Apr. 22 — Bluegrass Concert Series, Ariel-AnnCarson Dater Performing Arts Centre, 426 SecondAve., Gallipolis, 7 p.m. 740-446-2787 orwww.arieltheatre.org.

Apr. 23-25, Jun. 25-27 — Muskingum ValleyTrade Days, Woodsfield Fgds., 46760 St. Rte. 26,Woodsfield. 740-558-2740 or www.mvtraders-day.com.

Apr. 24 — EcoThon, the Wilds. 10K and 5K TrailWalk on the Wilds' highly regarded cross-countrycourse benefits important conservation scienceprograms. Arrive by 9 a.m., race begins at 10a.m. 740-638-5030, ext. 2286, or www.thewil-ds.org or [email protected].

Apr. 24 — National Park Day, Hopewell CultureNational Historical Park, 16062 St. Rte. 104,Chillicothe, 1–4 p.m. An afternoon of activitieshighlighting the natural and cultural resourcesmaking up National Park Service sites. Activitiesinclude Junior Ranger programs, arts and craftsprojects, and guided earthwork and nature tours.740-774-1126 or www.nps.gov/hocu.

Apr. 30-May 1 — Hopalong Cassidy Reunionand Western Toy Show and Sale. ThroughoutCambridge and at Pritchard Laughlin Civic Center.Fri. dinner and entertainment at Cambridge CityPark. Sat. dinner with Hollywood stars atPritchard Laughlin Civic Center. Special guestsinclude Bobby Copeland, author of dozens ofwestern books, and Jeff Hildebrandt from EncoreWesterns channel, also a poet and author. 740-826-4850.

Apr. 1-May 4 — How Children Learn AboutOther Cultures, Meriam R. Hare Quaker HeritageCenter, Wilmington College, 1870 Quaker Way,Wilmington, weekdays 9 a.m.-4 p.m. or byappointment. 937-382-6661, ext. 719.

Apr. 3 — Scottish Terrier Specialty Show,Dayton Airport Expo Center, 3900 McCaultey Dr.,Vandalia. 513-367-7927 or 937-833-5191.

Apr. 7-9 — Hunter Safety Course, Cowan LakeAssociation of Sportsmen, 331 Beechwood Rd.,Wilmington. 800-945-3543.

Apr. 9 — Fitton Family Fridays! Rikki-Tikki-Tavi, Fitton Center for Creative Arts, 101 S.Monument Ave., Hamilton, 7:30 p.m. $15-$17,C. $7. For families with children ages 4-6. 513-863-8873 or www.fittoncenter.org.

Apr. 10 — Ohio Country Antiques Show,Roberts Centre, 123 Gano Rd., U.S. 68 and I-71,Wilmington, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. $6. Features over 60dealers plus a display of Midwestern quilts invarious log cabin "settings." 513-738-7256.

Apr. 10 — Primarily Satin, Clinton County HistoryCenter, 149 E. Locust St., Wilmington, weekly Wed.-Fri. 1-4 p.m. and 2nd Sat. of each month. $5. Thisexhibit features cocktail dresses from the 1930s tothe early 1960s. 937-382-4684.

Apr. 11 — Collectors Toy Show, Champaign Co.Fgds., Park Ave., Urbana, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. $2. Buy,sell or trade. 937-826-4201.

Apr. 11 — Look Out Galileo!, OxfordCommunity Arts Center, 10 S. College Ave.,Oxford, 3 p.m. Free. Madcap Productions PuppetTheatre. 513-524-8506 or www.oxarts.com.

Apr. 16-18 — Bellbrook Sugar Maple Festival,downtown Bellbrook (St. Rte. 725 between I-675and U.S. 42), Fri. 6 p.m.-8 p.m., Sat. 10 a.m.-8p.m., Sun. 11 a.m.-6 p.m. 937-862-9305.

Apr. 17-Jun. 20 — Butterfly Show, Eden Park,Krohn Conservatory, 1501 Eden Park Dr.,Cincinnati, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. $6, Srs. $5, C. $4.513-421-5707 or TTY 513-352-3380.

Apr. 17-25 — Cincinnati Flower Show, SymmesPark, Cincinnati. America's most acclaimedflower show featuring world-class exhibits, socialevents, gardeners’ and plant markets, a lectureseries and tours. Apr. 17-24, 10 a.m.-7:30 p.m.’Apr. 25, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. 513-872-9555.

Apr. 18-25 — Ohio Mozart Festival, Hamilton-Fairfield Symphony Orchestra, various locationsin Butler County. 513-895-5151.

Apr. 22 — History Presentation – QuakerFriendship Dolls, Quaker Heritage Center,Wilmington College, 1870 Quaker Way,Wilmington, 7:30 p.m. 937-382-6661, ext. 719.

Apr. 23 — Fitton Family Fridays! DoktorKaboom, Fitton Center for Creative Arts, 101 S.Monument Ave., Hamilton, 7:30 p.m. A one-manvariety show blending theater arts with scientificexploration. For families and children ages 4 to 6.513-863-8873 or www.fittoncenter.org.

Apr. 23-25 — Grassy Run HeritageRendezvous, Williamsburg Community Park,Williamsburg, Fri. 9 a.m.-3 p.m., Sat. 10 a.m.-6p.m., Sun. 11 a.m.-5 p.m. $3, Srs./C. $2. Livinghistory encampment. 513-734-1119 orwww.grassyrun.org.

Apr. 24 — McCarty Gardens Spring Fling,McCarty Gardens, 10623 St. Rte. 3, Sabina, 9a.m.-4 p.m. 937-584-5441.

Apr. 24 — Barry Campbell and His Big Band,Murphy Theatre, 50 W. Main St., Wilmington,7:30 p.m. A tribute to the big band era withfavorites from the ’30s and ’40s. 800-274-3848.

Apr. 24 — U.S. Grant Birthday Celebration,Grant’s Birthplace, 1551 St. Rte. 232, PointPleasant, 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Period music, read-ings of Civil War letters to home, a Civil War re-enactment, cannon firing and crafters’ demon-strating their skill. 513-553-4800.

Apr. 24, 25 — Asian Culture Fest, CincinnatiMuseum Center, Union Terminal, 1301 WesternAve., Cincinnati, noon-5 p.m. Activities insidemuseums carry an admission charge. 800-733-2077, 513-287-7000.

Apr. 24, 25 — Flea Market and Poultry SwapMeet, Miami County Fgds., 650 N. County Rd.(25A), Troy. 937-372-1332 or www.troyswap.com.

Apr. 9-11 — Oglebay Institute's AntiquesShow and Sale, Wilson Lodge, 465 Lodge Dr.,Wheeling, WV, Sat. 10 a.m.-6 p.m., Sun. 11a.m.–4 p.m. 304-242-7272 or go to www.oion-line.com.

Apr. 10, 11 — Lawn, Garden and ForestryExpo and Fair, West Virginia Interstate Fgds.,Mineral Wells, WV, Sat. 9 a.m.-6 p.m., Sun.noon-6 p.m. $3. Chain saw sculpting, new andantique equipment displays, music, food,lawn/garden attractions. 304-679-3639.

Apr. 17-23 — Spring Fling, Exit 115 off I-79,Rte. 20 S., 3 doors down from Stonewood BulkFoods, Harrison County, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.Traditional and contemporary crafts demonstra-tions and sales. 304-622-3304.

Southwest

West Virginia

Ohio’s spring wildflowers:A photo essay

Take a walk through a late-winter Ohio woodland and you’ll likely be underwhelmed. Bare, naked branchesclaw at a gray sky, and the trunks of trees are various shades of muted browns and grays. Even the millions

of brilliant-colored leaves of last fall are now just moldering lumps on the forest floor. But return to that same woodland only a few months later — in April — and you’ll find it transformed, a

world of unbelievable, complex, intricate beauty. It’s one of Nature’s and North America’s greatest shows, and itonly happens once each year: Spring wildflowers!Following are descriptions of 10 of the Buckeye State’s most common spring wildflowers. There are many more,

but regardless the number, their blooms don’t last long, only a few brief weeks. As leaf-out occurs on hardwoodtrees and the forest canopy gradually closes in late May, sunlight is blocked to the forest floor and the show isover, the curtain coming down for another year. So don’t put it off — now is the time to take that leisurely hikethrough an Ohio woodland. The show is free, and flowery cast members are changing almost daily.

Woods, Waters and Wildlife Story and photosby W. H. “Chip” Gross

Large-flowered trillium

Marsh marigold


Marsh marigold As its name implies, thisearly-spring wildflower grows in wet areas. It’sa member of the buttercup family.

Large-flowered trillium Ohio’s official statewildflower and a favorite food of white-taileddeer, this plant has seeds that are dispersed byants.

Indian Pipes Not just a spring plant, haunt-ing, mysterious Indian Pipes can be found dur-ing any season of the year except winter.

Wild geranium Also called wild crane’s bill,this plant has rhizomes that are about the sizeof your thumb, are high in tannic acid and wereused externally by woodland Indians for healingcuts and sores.

Yellow trout lily This plant gets its namefrom its mottled leaves, similar to the colorationpattern of a trout. Although a true lily, anothercommon name is dog-tooth violet.

Jack-in-the pulpit Did you know this well-known plant has internal flowers and changesits sex from male to female as it matures? Whendried, that part of the plant below ground was awinter food of woodland Indians.

Wild blue phlox Also known as wild SweetWilliam, these flowers are darker or lighter bluedepending upon where in Ohio they grow, pos-sibly due to soil conditions.

Spring Beauty Not only handsome, this tinyspring wildflower has edible tubers, about thesize of a pea, that can be gathered and preparedas you would a potato.

Mayapple The small, apple-like fruit of thisplant is deadly poisonous to humans wheneaten green but can safely be eaten when thefruit turns yellow — a major medicinal plantboth past and present.

Dame’s Rocket A member of the mustardfamily, this plant is pollinated mainly at nightby moths because its flowers become more fra-grant after dark.

(With special thanks to Guy Denny — one ofOhio’s top field naturalists — for his help inpreparing the descriptions of these spring wild-flowers.)

Indian pipes

Wild geranium



Story by KRIS WETHERBEE;Photos by RICK WETHERBEE

Every year, most gardeners cultivate ordinary veggiefavorites such as green zucchini, red tomatoes and

salad cucumbers. That’s all well and good. But why stopat the ordinary when you can add purple cauliflower,striped green tomatoes and yellow carrots to the list?If the vegetables you grow seem a bit too common,

then dig up some excitement with fascinating vegetablevarieties that are as appetizing to look at as they are toeat. These out-of-the-ordinary offerings come in excitingshapes, sizes and colors that may even entice picky eatersto happily partake of vegetables. So be bold, be brave andgive some a try.

‘Tempo’ Purple Artichoke: Want to bring moreexcitement to the table? How about a purple-red arti-choke? This vigorous annual variety produces earlier andmore consistently than the popular Concerto, with 3 to 4

primary heads followed by 10 to 15 secondary heads. Thecolor and shape is best when picked young. Matures in100 days.

‘Red Noodle’ Yard-long Bean: If you’re look-ing for the unusual, this spectacular yard-long bean issure to catch your attention. The robust and heat-tolerantplant produces 18-inch-long, garnet-colored bean podsthat are stringless and slightly sweet. Best enjoyedsteamed, in stir-fries or in soup. Matures in 90 days.

‘Chioggia’ Beets: This slightly flattened, globe-shaped Italian heirloom is distinguished from other vari-eties by its alternating concentric rings of scarlet pink andwhite inside. The candy-stripe appearance offers a feastfor the eyes as well as a tasty, colorful addition to dinnerplates. Matures in 65 days.

‘Romanesco’ Broccoli: Spiraling conical clustersascending into apple-green heads make this broccoli oneof the most beautiful plants in the garden. Its buttery-smooth, cashew-like flavor ensures it is one of the mosttempting on the table as well. These colossal cauliflower-shaped plants produce single heads that remain a brightshade of light green without blanching, even when fullydeveloped. Harvest in 80 to 95 days, when heads are fulland firm but before the flowerets begin to separate.

‘Solar Yellow’ Carrots: This carrot is a “mustgrow” for its crunchy texture and sweet juicy flavor alone.But the completely butter-yellow roots make this sunnytreasure a unique find to unearth. And the broad-shoul-dered, 6- to 7-inch roots are quite tasty. Ready in 65 to 75 days.

‘Graffiti’ Cauliflower: When you’re seeking ataste sensation, cauliflower is often one of the lastvegetables that come to mind. However, these flamboy-ant heads of radiant purple will certainly stir things up.Simply delicious served raw with dip, or cook as youwould other cauliflower and watch the color change tobluish-purple. Heads are ready to harvest in 80 days.

‘Country Gentleman’ Corn: This heirloom vari-ety is noted for its great texture and sweet flavor. Butwhat really stands out is that the creamy white and slen-der kernels are arranged randomly rather than in the typi-cal row-like fashion. This variety is also known asshoepeg corn in the South, which should give you an ideaas to its appearance. Stalks grow 8 to 10 feet tall and bearup to three ears per stalk in fertile soil. And the cornholds its peak quality much longer than most heirloomcorns. Ready in 90 days.

‘Romanesco’ broccoli has spiraling conical clusters.

Gardening

15 fascinatingveggies to grow

Add interest to yourgarden and table by

growing vegetables withunique characteristics


‘Lemon’ Cucumber: This curious cuke is the colorof a lemon, shaped like an apple and best harvested whenat the size of a lime. The only similarity it bears to acucumber is its mildly sweet, nonbitter flavor. A favoriteof kids and a connoisseur’s delight, the cucumber isequally outstanding whether pickled, tossed in salads oreaten right off the vine. Matures in 58 to 68 days.

‘Neon’ Eggplant: The iridescent “glow in the dark”lavender skin color may be shocking, but the reliably mildand nonbitter fruit is a bit more subdued. Like any egg-plant, semi-cylindrical fruits are at their best when pickedyoung (at about 5 to 6 inches long). Upright bushy plantsproduce first fruits that are ready in 65 to 70 days.

‘Tigger’ Melon: This unique heirloom variety willcapture your gaze as well as your palate. The baseball-sized fruits are golden yellow with brilliant orange to fireengine red zigzag striping. The fragrant flesh is white,with a deeply rich melon fla-vor that’s oh-so-delicious.Ready in 80 to 85 days.

'Lion’s Mane’Gourmet Mushroom:Okay, so this is technically afungus rather than a veg-etable, but it’s fascinatingnonetheless in both appear-ance and flavor. About the size of abaseball or larger, the mushroomsare covered in icicle-like spines.What’s more, the uniquely-flavoredmushroom tastes a bit like lobsterwhen cooked with butter andonions. And with the indoor kit,you can anticipate your first harvestwithin a few weeks.

‘Rattail’ Radish SeedPods: Radish and non-radishlovers alike seem to enjoy the crispytexture and mildly spicy flavor ofthis podding radish, which yougrow not for the roots but for itsedible pods above the ground.Green or purple pods growing up to12 inches long are tasty right offthe plant, tossed fresh into salads orlightly sautéed in stir-fry dishes.You can usually start harvestingpods in about 50 days.

‘Starship’ SummerSquash: Here’s a real eye-catcher— a classic scallop, flying saucershape with uncommon glossy, darkgreen skin. This color may be

unusual for a scallop summer squash, but as with mostvarieties, the taste is consistently mild and tender.Harvest when the fruit is just 2 inches across for babyvegetable dishes, or at its usual size of 4 inches diameter.Ready in 40 days.

‘Green Zebra’ Tomato: Strikingly beautiful inboth appearance and taste, the indeterminate plants pro-duce glowing, bright green fruits overlaid with amber togold stripes and olive mottled streaks. Fruits have asweet, zingy flavor that makes you take notice and isalways first-rate. Vigorous and productive plants bear 2-to 4-ounce fruits in about 75 to 80 days.

‘Japanese Trifele Black’ Tomato:Incomparable in shape, color and flavor with a meatyinterior., this pear-shaped Russian heirloom transcendscommon tomatoes with its opulent green-streaked shoul-ders and burnished mahogany body graduating to amahogany black base. The flavor is incredibly complex

and rich. Indeterminate, potato-leafedplants produce crack-resistant fruits thatreach 2-1/2 to 3 inches in size. Ready in80 to 85 days. ❏

Seed sourcesEd Hume Seeds: 800-383-HUME;www.humeseeds.comJohnny’s Selected Seeds: 877-564-6697;www.johnnyseeds.comTerritorial Seed Company: 800-626-0866;www.territorialseed.com

Try ‘neon’ eggplants with their iridescent, “glow in the dark” lavender skin color.


BY MARGIE WUEBKER

Here comes Peter Cottontailhopping down the bunny

trail with dozens of attractivelycolored Easter eggs.Growing up as the oldest of

seven children in the MercerCounty community of Maria Stein,I found those eggs certainlyseemed to multiply in the wake ofcoloring sessions around the din-ing room table covered with pro-tective layers of newspaper.My sisters’ efforts yielded pas-

tel eggs that made a hen proud

while my brothers mixed colors anddrew designs for their creations. Theend result landed somewhere in therealm of drab and different.

Mom quickly hid the eggsin the vegetable drawer of therefrigerator — one place theyounger Easter Bunny believ-ers in the family would avoidwith absolute certainty.Preholiday festivities

included at least one localEaster egg hunt like the eventsponsored by Maria SteinAmerican Legion Post 571.My brothers had a habit ofrunning ahead of the crowdto the far end of the fieldwhere the Legionnaires pep-pered the grass with colorfultreasure.We generally ended up

with far too many eggs, but Momnever seemed to mind. From theprettiest to the ugliest, they ended upas prime ingredients in egg salad,deviled eggs, potato salad andnumerous breakfast dishes duringthe ensuing week.The Ohio Poultry Association

assures decorators and hunters therewill be more than enough eggs to goaround this Easter, as the BuckeyeState ranks second in the nationwhen it comes to production. Ohio

Putting all your egg recipes in one basketWhat’s to be done with all those leftover Easter eggs?

What’sCooking?

AFTER EASTER CASSEROLE8 hard-boiled eggs, chopped or sliced

4 slices cooked ham, chopped or sliced into strips

2 cups wide egg noodles, cooked to package directions, drained and tossed with butter or margarine

Cheese sauce:4 Tbsp. butter or margarine4 Tbsp. flour2 cups milkPinch of onion powderPinch of mustard powder or 1 tsp.prepared mustard

1 cup shredded cheddar or Swisscheese

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Melt but-ter in a saucepan over medium-lowheat. Whisk in the flour and let bubblea few minutes, but do not brown.Slowly stir in milk and stir occasionallyas it thickens. Then stir in onion pow-der, mustard and cheese. Spread thebuttered noodles in a deep casseroledish or pie plate. Sprinkle the ham andegg pieces on top. Pour cheese sauceover and sprinkle with bread crumbs ifyou like. Bake until heated through,approximately 30 to 40 minutes.

EGG SALAD BRUSCHETTA1 baguette, cut into 1/2-inch slices4 hard-boiled eggs4 Tbsp. mayonnaise2 tsp. sweet pickle relish2 Tbsp. green onion, finely chopped

Salt and finely ground pepper,to taste

Optional garnish: parsley or sliced olives

For bruschetta: Preheat oven to 400degrees. Brush both sides of eachslice with olive oil. Place the sliceson an ungreased baking sheet andbake 5 minutes; turn and bake anadditional 5 minutes or until bothsides are golden brown. Allow slicesto cool.For egg salad: Peel the eggs andfinely chop. Add the mayonnaise,pickle relish, chopped onion, saltand pepper; mix well. Place a heap-ing tablespoon of the egg mixtureonto each toast slice. Garnish withparsley and/or olives.

MY FAVORITE POTATO SALAD6 cups cooked potatoes, diced6 hard-boiled eggs, cut fine1/2 medium onion, chopped3/4 cup celery, chopped1-1/2 cups Miracle Whip3 Tbsp. mustard1/4 cup vinegar1 tsp. salt3/4 cup white sugar

Mix diced potatoes, hard-boiledeggs, onion and celery. Mix MiracleWhip, mustard, vinegar, salt andsugar; add to potato mixture andmix gently. Salad is best if refriger-ated several hours or overnight.


has 30 million laying chickens and10 million pullets (hens less thanone year of age). That translates intoeight billion eggs each year.The American Egg Board recom-

mends this method for boiling theperfect Easter egg: Place eggs in asingle layer in a saucepan. Addenough tap water to come at least 1inch above the eggs. A tablespoon ofvinegar can be added to the water toallow better dye coverage after cook-ing. Cover the pan and quickly bringto boiling. Turn off the heat. If nec-essary, remove pan from burner toprevent further boiling. Let eggsstand, covered, in hot water for 15minutes. Immediately run cold waterover the eggs or place them in icewater until completely cooled. Refrigerate all hard-cooked eggs

promptly. Even those beautifully coloredEaster eggs should not remain outsidethe refrigerator for more than twohours, and that includes time for dye-ing, hiding, hunting and displaying.The green coloration sometimes

seen around the yolk of a hard-boiledegg typically occurs when the eggs areovercooked or cooked at too high atemperature or when there is a highamount of iron in the cooking water.Plan ahead for Easter. The Poultry

Association warns that fresh eggsmay be difficult to peel, while eggsthat have been refrigerated for aweek to 10 days before cooking sur-render their shells more easily.Eggs kept in their cartons in the

refrigerator will keep at least four

weeks from the date of purchase.Hard-boiled eggs refrigerated in theirshells should be used within a week,according to the association.Our cooking contest winners have

some excellent ideas of how to useleftover Easter eggs — or regularhard-boiled eggs for that matter. Seeour story on page 40.

No more walking oneggshells about eggsBy DIANE YOAKAM, RD, LD

Rarely thought of as a protein food and mistakenly classified as part ofthe dairy group, eggs are one of the most misunderstood foods around. Yes,eggs are found in the dairy section of most supermarkets, but I have yet tofind a cow able to lay an egg! So let’s set the record straight on this versatileprotein food.

Eggs are a cost-effective, low-calorie complete protein. As a completeprotein, eggs contain all of the essential amino acids. Foods containingincomplete proteins, such as beans and rice, must be combined to providethe amino acids found in a single egg. The 6 grams of protein in each eggare split equally between the white and the yolk, while the 5 grams of totalfat are found almost exclusively in the yolk. The yolk isn’t all bad, though. Itcontains a considerable amount of iron and vitamin A, as well as lutein, anantioxidant capable of delaying macular degeneration and improvingvision.

Of course, we can’t talk about eggs without touching on the subject ofcholesterol. Each egg yolk contains about 215 milligrams of cholesterol.People with high cholesterol should limit whole eggs to no more than threeper week. For those wishing to further limit cholesterol intake without giv-ing up their favorite breakfast cuisine, discarding the yolk can easily remedythe problem.

We have also learned over the years that saturated fat plays a strongerrole in increasing the body’s cholesterol level than the actual cholesterolcontent of the diet, so maintaining a healthy heart requires a diet low in fat.Therefore, if you are concerned with high cholesterol, consider replacingfried foods, processed meats and cheese with skinless poultry, lean beef andlow-fat dairy products, rather than focusing entirely on your intake of wholeeggs.

Few other items in the kitchen offer the versatility of eggs. For scrambledeggs and omelets, low heat will eliminate the all-too-often rubbery texture.Poaching eggs works best when the water is heated almost to a boil and thecracked egg is gently directed toward the side of the pan to retain thedesired shape. The cooking is complete after the egg has been held at asimmer. The white coagulates into a solid mass, and the yolk has a honey-like consistency. Experiment with custards, quiches, soufflés, and soft andhard meringues for other exciting uses. An egg adventure awaits!

Our next cooking contestThe winners of our next cooking contest will be announced in July, the peak

of summer berry season, so for that reason we’re asking readers to submitrecipes that use berries of any variety as the main ingredient. As usual, we willjudge the recipes for originality, for ease in preparation and — of course — forhow scrumptious the final product is. A winner and two runners-up will be cho-sen, with the winner receiving a KitchenAid Stand Mixer and the runners-upawarded cookbooks. Please send your recipes postmarked by April 23 toCooking Contest, P.O. Box 26036, Columbus, OH 43226. Please send all con-tact information, including a phone number, in case we have any questions.

DEVILED EGGS12 hard-boiled eggs, peeled and cut in half lengthwise

1/4 cup mayonnaiseSalt and pepper, to taste1/4 tsp. prepared yellow mustard2-3 tsp. sweet pickle juicePaprika, for garnish

Remove yolks from eggs. In a medi-um bowl, mash yolks with a fork.Add mayonnaise, salt, pepper, mus-tard and pickle juice. Mix thoroughly.Spoon into egg halves or place mix-ture into sandwich bag; snip off cor-ner of bag and pipe into egg whites.Sprinkle with paprika.


Country Living readers are in fora treat when they try the winningentries in the “Eggs as a PrimeIngredient” recipe contest.

Joan Grilliot of Versailles earnedgrand prize honors for her AwesomeBreakfast Eggs, a versatile dish idealfor everyday breakfasts or special-

occasion brunches.Chosen as run-

ners-up from thefield of 60 entrieswere Lou Ellen Reefof Lancaster, withAfter Easter Egg andSausage Pie, andKaren Mullenhour ofWapakoneta, withher Pizza Omelette.Grilliot, a mother

of five and grand-mother of 12, enjoyscooking and bakingat her rural DarkeCounty home. Inaddition to cookingfor weddings, she isin the process oflaunching a homebusiness catering tothose who have notime to bake pies,cakes and cookies.Her prize — aKitchenAid standmixer — is sure to

see plenty of use in that regard.

She credits her niece JodiChapman with bringing the dish to afamily brunch last March, explainingthat relatives gather each March tocelebrate the memory of her father,the late Ed Sherman of Russia.“I figured it would be gone by the

No rotten eggs among Country Living contest entries

Winner Joan Grilliot from Versailles

AWESOME BREAKFAST EGGS12 slices bacon1/2 cup onions1 cup mushrooms1 can cream of chicken soup1/2 cup milk1 Tbsp. salsa (hot)1 cup extra-sharp cheddar cheese8 large eggs4 English muffins, split and toasted

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Frybacon and drain on paper towel.Pour off all but 1-1/2 teaspoons ofthe drippings and sauté onions andmushrooms in skillet until soft. Stirtogether soup, milk and salsa andpour in with the mushrooms andonions; heat until the mixture beginsto bubble. Stir in cheese. Spray 9 x13-inch pan and pour mixture intopan. Break 8 eggs over top of sauce.Crumble and sprinkle bacon on top.Bake for 20 minutes. Spoon one eggand sauce onto each toasted muffinhalf.

AFTER EASTER EGG ANDSAUSAGE PIE

1 lb. bulk breakfast sausage1/4 cup all-purpose flour2 cups milk1 tsp. Worcestershire sauce4 green onions, thinly sliced (including green tops)

1 10-1/2 oz. can whole kernel corn, drained

8 hard-cooked eggs, coarsely diced6 slices lean, smoked bacon,fried crisp and crumbled

8 oz. shredded sharp cheddarcheese

1 box refrigerated pie dough (oryour own pastry for a two-crust 10-inch pie)

1/2 cup fine, dry bread crumbs1 raw egg, beaten

In a large skillet, brown sausage, stir-ring frequently to crumble. Drain offall but 2 tablespoons of fat. Sprinkleflour over sausage, stir and continuecooking over medium heat for 2 min-utes. Gradually add milk, stirring con-stantly until mixture thickens andcomes to a boil. Reduce heat and con-tinue to simmer for an additional 5minutes, stirring occasionally. Removefrom heat and allow to cool whilepreparing crust. Line a 10-inch pie

pan with one sheet of the pas-try dough. Sprinkle the breadcrumbs evenly over the bot-tom. To the sausage mixture,add the Worcestershire sauce,onions and corn. Stir to blend.Spread half of the diced eggsover the bread crumbs. Spreadhalf of the sausage mixtureover top. Top with half of theshredded cheese and bacon.Repeat layers. Brush a littlewater around top edge of bot-tom crust. Top with secondsheet of pastry dough. Sealedges and crimp. Brush topwith beaten egg. Cut slits in

top and bake at 425 degrees for 15minutes. Reduce heat to 350 and con-tinue baking for an additional 30minutes until golden brown and thefilling is bubbling. Remove from ovenand let sit for 15 minutes before cut-ting. Makes 6 to 8 servings.


time I went through the line,” shesays. “But there was one egg left; Iguess I was destined to try it.”The flavor as well as a list of

common ingredients immediatelydrew her attention. Although therecipe lists bacon and cream ofchicken soup, Grilliot plans to substi-tute ham and cream of mushroomsoup for variety.The homemade sauce goes into a

sprayed 9 x 13-inch pan beforeGrilliot cracks eight eggs over thetop. The eggs emerge sunny side upand ready for a liberal sprinkling ofcrumbled bacon. Toasted Englishmuffins provide a tasty place onwhich to spoon one egg and accom-panying sauce.Leftovers can be easily reheated

in the microwave oven the followingday without any appreciable changein flavor.“I love to read cookbooks and try

new recipes,” she says. “Somehow Ialways find myself returning to oldfavorites. My kids certainly lovetheir meat, mashed potatoes, dress-ing and noodles.”This marks the first time she has

entered a recipe contest, and shesent just one entry, making her suc-cess an unexpected accomplishment.Lou Ellen Reef found a casserole

recipe years ago in Better Homes &Gardens and “played around” withdifferent ingredients and presenta-tions before creating After EasterEgg and Sausage Pie.“This is a great way to use up

some of the Easter eggs that seem tomultiply,” she says. “It is certainly dif-ferent from the usual round of deviledeggs, potato salad and egg salad.”Reef, a retired caterer with three

children, seven grandchildren andfour great-grandchildren, addedWorcestershire sauce, eggs, baconand cheese to the original ingredi-ents before sandwiching everythingbetween two pastry crusts. Anyexcess dough quickly becomes deco-rative leaves for the top.“I enjoy trying new recipes,” she

says. “However, I seldom make themas directed because I prefer to addmy own touches.”Karen Mullenhour never hears

complaints when Pizza Omelette ison the menu for brunch or dinner. It

is a definite family pleaser with plen-ty of room for experimentation.“My mother (89-year-old Martha

Hengstler of Wapakoneta) made itwhen we kids were at home,” shesays. “I asked Mom where she got therecipe, but she doesn’t remember.”Everybody has favorite toppings

at Mullenhour’s home. Her teenagedaughter prefers pepperoni andsliced green olives. Dad likes ham-

burger, sausage, green peppers andjust about anything else with theexception of anchovies. She and heryounger son have no personalfavorites; whatever strikes theirfancy pretty well goes.“People are so busy these days

and this recipe does not take long toprepare,” Mullenhour says. “I’vemade it for family and I’ve made itfor guests; no one complains.”As an added plus, leftovers can be

reheated in the microwave in a mat-ter of seconds. Sometimes the flavoris even better the second timearound.Mullenhour has appeared several

times on televised WBGS cookingshows, earning recognition for con-coctions ranging from main dishes todelectable desserts.“I really don’t go looking for new

recipes,” she says with a laugh. “Butsomehow they always find me.” ❏

PIZZA OMELETTE2 Tbsp. oil4 eggs3/4 tsp. salt1/2 tsp. paprika1/4 tsp. pepper2 cups milk3/4 cup flour6 slices bacon1 cup onion, chopped1/2 cup tomato sauce (or tomato paste)

1/4 tsp. oregano1/4 tsp. basil1 cup shredded cheese

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.Heat oil in heavy skillet in oven 5 to10 minutes. (I use a 12-inch cast-iron skillet.) Mix eggs, salt, paprika,pepper, milk and flour. Pour mixtureinto hot skillet and bake 15 min-utes. Brown bacon, crumble and setaside. Sauté chopped onion in 2Tbsp. bacon grease. Add tomatosauce or paste, oregano and basil;stir together.Pour over hot eggs. Top with

shredded cheese and crumbledbacon. Return to oven till bubblyand center is set. You may also useprepared pizza sauce and your pre-ferred toppings.


By LORI MURRAY

On a Sunday afternoon in mid-September, a group of about 25

individuals gathered on a large,grassy sports field in the Park ofRoses, a Columbus metro park. Inspite of the occasional drizzle andthe bigger threat of rain that loomedin the graying skies, everyone wasthere to participate in the UltimateFrisbee Fall Hat Tournaments. In2008, Ultimate Frisbee experiencedthe biggest increase in participationin a team sport — up 20.8 percent.Known to enthusiasts simply as“Ultimate,” it breeds a unique typeof camaraderie rarely seen in sports,unless you’re talking about twoother up-and-com-ing activities —cornhole andbroomball.Together, thesethree sports are agrowing source offun for peoplethroughout thestate. On this particu-

lar day, theColumbus UltimateDisc Association(CUDA) was kick-ing off its fall sea-son with a series ofSunday afternoonhat tournaments, sonamed becauseteams are chosenby picking playernames from a hat.In what seemed likeonly seconds aftersomeone flipped thegame disc to deter-mine which teamgot the initialthrow, the playerswere barrelingdown the field. One thing was

immediately obvi-ous even to a

novice player: This game was allabout an informal atmosphere cou-pled with some serious fun. In otherwords, the level of play was prettysophisticated, but that did notexclude newcomers from the sport.They simply had to keep the pace.As the game progressed, more

players arrived. Paul Helm has beenplaying Ultimate since 1979. “It com-bines aspects of football, basketballand soccer together, and since Iplayed all three of those, it’s like asynthesis,” he explained. “You run

hard on offense and try to score. Ifyou make a turnover, then you areon defense.” Unlike Helm, Amber Hanna never

played an organized field sport untilshe was 20 years old. Then she wasrecruited to play Ultimate for thewomen’s college team at Ohio StateUniversity. “This sport is very accept-ing of new people,” she said. “In soc-cer, it would be difficult to adjust, butpeople are out here for the fun, frombeginner to expert.” Hannah now plays Ultimate at

least twice a week,down from herfour-day commit-ment during thesummer months.She plays in aleague, and she ispart of a team thatcompetes regional-ly. She also met herboyfriend whileplaying Ultimate.At this point,

Hanna jumped intothe game, andother players left

the field. Panting andin need of a brief rest,they headed for theirwater bottles. At thatmoment, a rookieplayer made two leap-ing catches and some-one shouted the fol-lowing bit of encour-agement for her bene-fit: “Now you gottabuy the beer!” On the sidelines,

handshakes and con-versation continued. Butback on the field, grace-ful leaping and divingcatches dominated.

Ultimate FrisbeeDeveloped in 1968

by a group of studentsat Columbia High

It’s all fun and gamesTry Ultimate Frisbee, broomball or cornholefor a combination of sports activity and fun

(Above) Ultimate Frisbee is a fast-paced running game with frequentturnovers. (Below) Cornhole has become an international phenome-non, enjoyed even by our troops overseas. (Photo courtesy of AmericanCornhole Assn.)


School in Maplewood, New Jersey,Ultimate is a fast-paced runninggame with seven players on a teamwho pass a plastic disc down thefield. Much like in football, theobjective is to score by catching apass in the opponent’s end zone.

A player must stop running whenin possession of the disc, pausing nomore than 10 seconds to pivot andpass it to a teammate. Turnovers occur somewhat fre-

quently, creating a basketball-likecompetition of running up and downthe field. The first team to score 15points wins the game, a feat thattypically takes an hour or more toaccomplish. What’s especially unique about

Ultimate is that it is self-officiated.Even at high-level competitions, noreferees are present. Instead, what’scommonly referred to as the “Spiritof the Game” prevails, and playersstrive for fair play, even resolvingtheir own disputes. This philosophy of superior

sportsmanship is clearly one of thereasons why more and more peopleare enjoying the sport. If you’relooking for an ultimate playingopportunity in your area, visit theUltimate Players Association Website at www.upa.org or www.colum -bus ultimate.com for the ColumbusUltimate Disc Association.

CornholeCornhole is quickly becoming

everyone’s favorite tailgate partyactivity. But whether it’s played in theparking lot or your own backyard, it’sa fun sport for any age, and one thatrequires little or no skill. Also known as corn toss, bean

toss or soft horseshoes, the game issimilar to horseshoes in that beanbags are pitched a distance of 30feet, aimed at cornhole boards orplatforms, much like horseshoes aretossed at metal stakes. A corn bagthat makes it into the hole scoresthree points, while one that lands onthe platform scores a single point. The first player or team to reach

21 points wins the game. Short,spontaneous and sometimes surpris-ing, cornhole is instantly appealingto just about anyone.According to the American

Cornhole Association, the game mayhave started in Germany in the 14thcentury, but it was resurrected in the

hills of Kentucky about 100 yearsago. To learn more, visit www.play-cornhole.org.

BroomballConjure up some winter activity

on the ice with a rousing game ofbroomball. A combination of icehockey and indoor soccer, the gamehas six-player teams who run on theice, rather than skate, while using abroom to control the ball and score.

The game originated in Canadamore than a century ago whenstreetcar workers played on frozensurfaces during their lunch breaks.Although play remained strictlyrecreational until the mid-1960s,broomball today is played both recre-ationally and at the competitive level. Broomball is a unique sport, not

because of the way the game isplayed, but because of the equipmentused. While beginner players oftenjust wear tennis shoes on the ice,broomball shoes with a rubberysponge bottom are available. At the same time, regular brooms

are no longer used to play the game.Instead, today’s brooms have solid-rubber heads attached to a shaft ofwood, graphite or aluminum. Theball, which is just slightly larger thana softball, is hollow plastic. In Ohio, broomball is most popu-

lar during the winter months whereit is played on college campuses andat indoor ice rinks. To organize abroomball competition or to find outmore about the game, visitwww.usa broomball.com or contactan ice rink in your area. ❏

Lori Murray is a freelance writerfrom Columbus.

Broomball is like a combination of icehockey and indoor soccer. (Photo cour-tesy of Cincinnati Broomball Assn.)

Running for office?Attend ORECCampaignAcademyThe Ohio Rural Electric Coop -

eratives and the Ohio Credit UnionLeague will be holding a CampaignAcademy on April 23 from 8:30a.m. to 4 p.m. at OREC headquar-ters located at 6677 BuschBoulevard in Columbus. The Academy was created by

OREC and the National RuralElectric Cooperatives Associationto help individuals seeking publicoffice prepare for the challenges ofrunning a successful campaign.The Campaign Academy is ideal

for anyone interested in runningfor local, state or federal office,and for campaign managers andtreasurers. The program is open to candi-

dates of any political party and willfeature seasoned campaign veter-ans and professionals focusing onthe following core areas:

• Fundraising • Campaign strategy • Get out the vote• Media and message communication• Election and finance law

The fee for the Academy is $25,which includes lunch.Those interested in attending

are asked to contact MarcArmstrong at 614-430-7864 orsend e-mail to [email protected].


By CRAIG SPRINGER

Planet Earth is a work inprogress. Every now and

then, her crust rises and fallsfrom a few inches to a few feet,splitting apart anything lyingover where she moves. Whenthe earth quakes even a little, itcan be disastrous, as the recentcatastophes in Haiti and Chiledemonstrate. Other cases in point: The San

Francisco quake of 1906 thatcaused fires and calamity. OrAnchorage in 1964, when out-lying villages were washedaway and downtown Anchorage itself was destroyed.Today, few buildings there are more than 40 years old.Then there’s southern California, slowly sliding north onthe San Andreas Fault, where everyone is waiting for“The Big One.” Ohio, too, has had some memorable quakes, some real

newsmakers, says Ohio Geological Survey seismologist

Dr. Michael Hansen.Hansen leads theOhio SeismologicalNetwork, monitoringquakes around thestate. Fortunately,none of them hasbeen on the cata-clysmic side. Some of thesequakes date backmany years.Delaware Indianlegend speaks of acatastrophic quakesent by the GreatSpirit to reawakentheir native reli-gion and tribalcustoms. The ear-liest documented

quake in Ohio happened in 1776 when Ohio was still nomore than a frontier wilderness. The Moravian mission-ary David Zeisberger was there in southeast Ohio to feelit and write about it. Though not centered in Ohio, the New Madrid quakes

centered in Missouri in 1811 and 1812 were felt as fareast as the Buckeye State. John James Audubon had justpassed through Cincinnati on horseback when one of thequakes came. His horse acted oddly, and Audubon wasabout to dismount. He wrote about what happened next: “He all of the

sudden fell agroaning piteously, hung his head, spreadout his four legs as if to save himself from falling andstood stock still, continuing to groan ... but at that instantall the shrubs and trees began to move from their veryroots, they rose and fell in successive furrows like theruffled waters of a lake ... this awful commotion in naturewas the result of an earthquake.”Several earthquakes have emanated from the New

Madrid Fault. The 1811–12 quakes reached an estimated9.0 on the modern Richter scale. That’s about as bad as itgets. Ohio has its faults, too. Northeast Ohio and west-cen-tral Ohio have had some significant tremors. Geauga,Mercer, Auglaize and Shelby counties are Ohio’s epicenters.Here are some noteworthy Ohio quakes: • Urbana, 1875. Walls cracked and chimneys tumbled.

This one was felt most intensely in Jeffersonville, Indiana,but also through Illinois and Missouri.• Lima, 1884. The earth rocked, and buildings

cracked. In Columbus, pendant lights swung like pendu-lums for minutes. This one was big, from Pennsylvania toMichigan, south to Washington, D.C., where workers atop

Earthquakes in OhioOhio’s native son Charles Richter brought us a modern

way to measure how Planet Earth convulses and contortsand changes shape, a few, but noisy, inches at a time.Richter was born north of Hamilton in Overpeck, Ohio, in1900. He moved in his youth to California — a placedecidedly better known for earthquakes — where he stud-ied physics at Stanford. In 1932, the Richter scale was born.According to Ohio Geological Survey seismologist MikeHansen, Richter developed the original way to measure thesize of an earthquake so that meaningful comparisonscould be made worldwide.Richter’s knowledge affect-ed building codes in earth-quake-prone areas. He diedin 1985.


the Washington Monument felt the shake.• Keno, 1926. Buildings cracked and chimneys top-

pled. In nearby Pomeroy, a stove flipped over.• Anna, 1930. A schoolhouse sustained the greatest

damage. Its chimney toppled, and the library took a hitwhen the ceiling crumpled. Residents detected an audiblerumble during the brief but intense shock. Anna resi-dents got a repeat performance a year later. In nearbyHouston and Sidney, plaster fell off walls, as did cornicesfrom churches. This quake registered in Indiana andKentucky, too. • In 1937, the Anna schoolhouse got hammered again

in a tremor felt significantly in Wapokoneta, Lima andBellefontaine. This is widely regarded as Ohio’s greatestearthquake, with an estimated measurement on theRichter scale of 5.4.The Anna school was declared unsafe. The schoolboard

was in the know, given a history of quakes in west-centralOhio dating back to the mid-1800s, and had taken outinsurance for earthquakes. Their school was rebuilt, whilethe kids attended class in trailers brought in by theCivilian Conservation Corps. Organ pipes in a church twisted, and graveyard head-

stones rotated in location. Some dry wells were renewed,and average wells became artesian. A Logan Countyspring near Huntsville, dry eight years in a row, “sproutedwater,” says a U.S. Geological Survey report. This bigquake ranged from Ontario to Missouri, but fortunately noone was killed.

“The Anna earthquakes of 1937 rank as the most sig-nificant and damaging earthquakes to strike Ohio in his-toric times, and are two among 15 damaging earthquakesin the state since 1776,” noted Hansen. The Anna areahas such a history of tremors, the region is known byearth scientists as the “Anna Seismic Zone.”“The Anna earthquakes of 1937 serve to remind

Ohioans that damagingearthquakes, although infre-quent, can occur in thestate,” said Hansen. Why Anna, you may

wonder? SeismologistHansen says that west-cen-tral Ohio is juxtaposed overbillion-year-old rock withfaults. It’s cracked, so tospeak. What’s more, Annaitself sits 400 feet above thepre-glacial Teays River bot-tom. Glaciers filled theancient river bottom withtill, and Hansen says thosesediments tend to intensifythe Earth’s tremors.In 1980, southwest Ohio

shook for a couple of min-utes. In 2006, Ohio had 16earthquakes. Two of them were in Lima and 14 more wereeast of Cleveland in Lake and Ashtabula counties. Thelargest, on June 20, had a magnitude of 3.8.In 1986, a 5.0 earthquake struck northeast Ohio with an

epicenter in Lake County east of Cleveland. Although dam-age was minor, this was the first earthquake in the statewhere minor injuries were reported. Witnesses saw (andfelt) the skyscrapers in downtown Cleveland swaying.While earthquakes cannot be prevented, the Ohio

Seismological Network can measure what happened andlocate it to the nearest half-mile. Hansen leads this network,which, with highly sophisticated instruments set all overOhio, measures how much and how often the earth moves.And they do it with great economy to you, the taxpayer. The

network is all volunteer run,and some seismographs werepurchased by the volunteers.Hansen does all the technicalwork.Data from the network

have consequences for theeconomy and your way oflife. As more data are collect-ed from tremors, scientistslike Hansen learn where thehot spots exist. That’s ofinterest to insurance compa-nies, architects and engi-neers, planners and govern-ment agencies, says Hansen.Planet Earth is indeed a

work in progress, and tremorsare the proof. And just incase you are wondering, sofar no one has died from an

earthquake in Ohio. ❏Craig Springer, formerly of Butler County, now writes

from New Mexico.

Anna’s school was declared unsafe. Organ pipes in achurch were twisted, and graveyard headstones rotatedin location. (Photos courtesy of Ohio Dept. of NaturalResources)

The 1937 earthquake in Anna in Shelby County meas-ured 5.4 on the Richter scale and ranks as Ohio’s great-est earthquake.

$ $

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By DAN WOODARD

Many people think of 13 as anunlucky number — there were

traditionally 13 steps leading up to agallows, for example, and many sky-scrapers still don’t have a labeled13th floor. However, the number 13can be a positive thing as well:Consider the baker’s dozen — bakerstraditionally gave out an extra dough -nut when a dozen were ordered.Along those more optimistic lines,here are 13 tips families can use tosave an average of $3,000 a year.While that may not seem like a hugesum, it can be enough to establish anemergency fund that will pull youthrough when tough times strike.

1) Minimize property taxes(Savings: ~$300–$1,600 annually)Last year, even while house val-

ues were dropping, homeowners inour area were notified that propertytaxes would be going up about 20percent. I noticed that the houses thecity compared to ours were not near-by, and had sold up to a year earlier.I found several properties like oursthat had sold for much less than thecity’s examples, and which werecloser to us. Armed with thesespecifics, we received a favorableruling from the independent auditor,and our taxes actually went down abit instead.

2) Check credit reports (Savings: ~$300+)Claim potentially big savings on

loans by contacting the three creditreporting agencies for an annual freecopy of your credit report. Don’t justassume everything is accurate — wewere shown as having a contestedcredit card, and my mother’s reportwas mixed up with another woman’sof the same name in another state!An increased credit score can resultin lower interest rates when buying ahouse or refinancing — up to half apercentage point or more.

3) Install an exhaust fan(Savings: $80–$150)By mounting an efficient centrifu-

gal or squirrel cage blower in an atticor wall, you can cause a draft thatwill pull in cool air through the win-dows at night. In a matter of just afew hours, it can pull out any built-up heat from hot summer after-noons. The resulting artificial breezecoming through the windows cansave one-third or more off a summercooling bill.

4) Drop cable TV/satellite(Savings: $400–600+)This may be one of the toughest

changes for people to make, but it isalso one of the easiest ways to savea bundle long term. Most programsthat become popular on cable areeventually released on commercial-free DVD, typically when the nextseason starts airing. You should beable to find a copy at your locallibrary. If they don’t have it, you canrequest that they get a copy, andoften be the first on the waiting list.You can also request the itemthrough MORE — Ohio’s librarysharing system. For current TV view-ing, put up an antenna with at least14 db gain, and use an amplifier. Wehave one that is only 10 feet off theground, and we’re currently getting33 channels for free, including amovie channel.

5) Update appliances(Savings: ~$300+)Older appliances can use a lot of

power. Refrigerators, freezers or airconditioners, for example, all haveenergy-intensive compressors. Ifthey are older than 10 years,chances are that savings can begleaned by upgrading to an EnergyStar® rated unit. Pinpoint energyusage over time by using a $25 KillA WattTM electric meter. Hook some-thing up for a month, and it willshow exactly how much electricitythat device used. A PC, for example,

can leech 40 watts even when pow-ered down. Try using a power strip,and turn it off at night. Also, consid-er a new-model gas stove for thekitchen. These electric/gas hybridsuse an electric starter to do awaywith the wasteful pilot light on oldermodels, increasing efficiency evenfurther.

6) Stop battery waste(Savings: $100–$300)Ohioans throw away more than

14,000 used batteries every singlehour — roughly 700 pounds’ worth.That number is also growing as folksuse more portable devices. Stopthrowing away your hard-earnedmoney, and start using rechargeablebatteries. Until recently, rechargeablebatteries would lose 3 percent oftheir charge every day, making themunsuitable in many devices. However, a few years back, LSD

(or low self-discharge batteries) weredeveloped. These rechargeables stillhold 75 percent of their full chargeafter a year in storage. They wererelatively expensive, at roughly $3+per battery. More recently, priceshave begun dropping to only 2-3times the cost of a standard alkalinebattery. You won’t likely see these atyour local market — they want tokeep selling you alkaline batteriesregularly. Instead, do a search onlineor at Amazon.com for precharged,ready to use, LSD batteries, orRayovac 4.0. If you have children, doa lot of digital photography or simplyhave numerous portable devices, youmight save as much as $300 a year.

7) Ditch unneeded phones(Savings: $240–$500)Staying in touch is nice, but not

everyone truly needs multiple phonelines or cell phones. Since each dupli-cate adds to the outflow from yourwallet, try to scale back to just one.Some folks are even dropping tradi-tional telephone service altogether.Those with at least a DSL Internet con-

13 small ways to save big


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nection can use hardware devices suchas Ooma or MagicJack, which candecrease monthly fees down to as littleas zero for the most basic telephoneservice.

8) Turn a hobby into income(Generate $500–$1,500+)Most people have at least one

hobby they really enjoy and have atalent for. Whether it is a knack forfinding the best fishing spots ormaking designer handbags, thepotential is there to become morethan just a hobby. You may havehelped out several friends with yourexpertise already, but the next steprequires a bit of low-key advertising.Take advantage of local bulletinboards and word of mouth, and getsome business cards made up for$25. Set up a separate e-mailaddress just for business, to make iteasy for people with questions tomake contact.

9) Do it yourself and save (Savings: ~$500+)Changing your own oil is a small

way to save on labor costs. Having itdone at a shop typically costs $25 ormore. Doing it yourself knocks offabout 70 percent of the cost. You canobtain similar savings doing basicplumbing and even replacing win-dows. If the job seems too intimidat-ing, find a way to watch someoneelse do it once, and then you willhave the knowledge to tackle thetask yourself in the future.

10) Buy used/refurbished(Savings: ~40%+ off new prices)Like a new car, many items lose

value as soon as they become used.Visiting estate sales and thrift storesand browsing Craigslist are ways toavoid overpaying. Another option isto buy refurbished merchandise.Typically, these items worked fine,but someone had buyer’s remorseand made a return. They arechecked, repackaged and sold at adiscount. If lack of a warranty both-ers you, a two-year warranty can bepurchased through SquareTrade.com.

11) Recaulk around house(Savings: 15% off heating & cooling)

Unless your house is caulkedwith 100 percent silicone caulk, youshould probably expect to recaulkyour home every 15-20 years. Thisis a labor-intensive job, but onlytakes a day or two, and it pays foritself in the first season.

12) Do your homework. Save trips.A friend once observed that I often

drove around to find items in stock,or to find a better deal when I felt aprice was high. He pointed out that Iwas already paying for my telephone— why not use it to save time andgas? On a notecard, I made a list ofthe stores I frequented, making it eas-ier to call around quickly before leav-ing. We also started a needed shop-ping list on the fridge. That way,whoever was making a trip anywaycould drop by the grocery store orpick up other items on the way thereor back, saving further on time andgas. Making fewer trips alsodecreased impulse spending.

13) Prepare food ahead(Savings: $400–$1,500)For most folks, the cost of eating

out is probably somewhere around$6-$8 per meal, per person. If a cou-ple were able to cut back from eatingout four times per week to just oncea week, they could potentially save$168 a month, or $2,016 annually.Those expensive restaurant mealscan be replaced with meals made athome for around one-third of thecost. The key is to fix favorite recipesthat will actually be eaten. Also,when cooking or preparing food any-way, fix more than is immediatelyneeded, and refrigerate or freeze therest. Your involvement can rangefrom fixing five sandwiches insteadof two, all the way to cooking forhalf a day on the weekend so thatyou have things prepared for thenext couple of weeks. ❏

Dan Woodard is a freelance writerfrom Dayton.



Central Italian Biscotti CompanySt. Clairsville

Story and photo by DAMAINE VONADA

When Luciano Nardone was growing up near Naples, Italy, no one couldhave guessed that someday he would be baking biscotti in Ohio. As a

young man, Nardone studied philosophy and languages in Italy, eventuallybecoming a translator specializing in his native Italian as well as both classicaland medieval Latin. But Nardone’s work leaped from Caesar’s Gallic Wars to St. Clairsville after he

moved to the United States. His sister, Carmela Massa, had married an Americanand was living in St. Clairsville. She asked Nardone to go into the biscotti busi-ness with her, and in 1996 they formed the Central Italian Biscotti Company.Why Central Italian? “A lady who helped us start the company was from north-ern Italy, and we’re from southernItaly,” explained Nardone. “So wemet in the middle.”According to Nardone, biscotti orig-

inated from the dried bread that forcenturies was a staple for sailorsaboard ships and soldiers on themarch. Inexpensive, portable andpractically nonperishable, it was idealfood for long journeys like MarcoPolo’s trip to China and ChristopherColumbus’s voyage to America. When wealthy Tuscan families who

could afford sugar began sweeteningthe rock-hard bread during theRenaissance, the crisp, dry cookiescalled biscotti were born. “Italy popu-larized biscotti, just like it didspaghetti, which actually was inventedin China,” said Nardone. In Italian, biscotti is the plural of

biscotto, which means “twice baked”and refers to the secret of the cookies’enduring success. Slabs of biscottidough are baked in an oven, slicedinto finger-shaped pieces and thenbaked again at a lower temperature.“If you do it just right with the low heat, biscotti acquires a better flavor,”explained Nardone. “Toasting is the most delicate part of making biscotti.” After his sister passed away, Nardone continued the home-based biscotti

business. In between translations of projects ranging from diplomas written inLatin to Italian technical papers, Nardone handmakes about 250 biscotti everyweek. Ingredients include unbleached flour, eggs, sugar and natural flavorings,but Nardone never uses artificial colorings. Although almond is the best-selling flavor, Nardone also offers anise, choco-

late almond, cranberry, Kahlua, orange and vanilla biscotti. The individuallywrapped cookies cost one dollar each, and Nardone ships them to devotees wholike dipping biscotti Italian-style into coffee, tea or wine. Some of his best cus-tomers live in Washington and Oregon, states famous for their coffee connois-seurs. “If people don’t know good coffee,” said Nardone, “they won’t know whatto do with biscotti.” ❏Central Italian Biscotti Company, 115-A Hanson Dr., St. Clairsville, OH43950. To obtain additional information about buying biscotti, call 888-566-5584 or visit the Web site www.italatin.com/biscotti.html.

Ohio Icon


By DAMAINE VONADA

Courthouse conundrumOhio’s courthouses are the topic ofthis month’s quiz. Our clues willpresent evidence about these impor-tant edifices; you judge the correctanswer. For example, if the clue is:How many of Ohio’s 88 countieshave erected at least one court-house? the answer would be: 88.

CLUES1. Dating back to the 1830s andgraced by a portico with Ioniccolumns, it’s Ohio’s oldest continu-ally used courthouse. 2. Artist Archibald Willard paintedthree murals — the Spirit of the U.S.Mail, the Spirit of Electricity, and theSpirit of the Telegraph— inside whatsouthwest Ohio courthouse?3. Troy and Piqua waged a notorious“courthouse war” to become the siteof Miami County’s ornate 1880scourthouse. Who won? 4. Built in 1850, the old Mont -gomery County Courthouse isknown for its Greek temple designand the presidents — includingLincoln and Kennedy — who cam-paigned on its steps. Where is it? 5. Frescoes inside the OttawaCounty Courthouse in Port Clintonportray Perry’s victory in what cru-cial War of 1812 battle? 6. Atop the courthouse in Findlay isa statue of the county’s name sake,an American patriot whose famoussignature declared independencewith a flourish. Who was he? 7. This red brick, Italianate-stylecourthouse is situated within a cityand county that have the samename. What is it? 8. Its stunning stonework and raisedside porches make Ross County’scourthouse one of the loveliest inOhio. Where is it located? 9. What feature of the elaborateWood County Courthouse in BowlingGreen measures 185 feet tall? 10. After almost being destroyed bya fire, what county’s courthouse wasreconstructed during the 1980s inits original Greek Revival architec-tural style?ANSWERS ON PAGE 53

Ohio Quiz


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By GLENN BROWN

Several years ago, my wife and I retired from the city.We moved to the country about an hour away from

our previous home. Our new home was a log cabin on 13acres with a big red barn out back, and a large pond outfront between our cabin and the highway.April 15 was moving-in day. I noticed the back sliding

door of the barn was open, even though the widow wholived here had kept no animals. We soon learned it wasfor the swallows.The barn swallows return here mid-April every year.

They leave about the third week of August. Between Apriland August, the barn door stays open. That old barnbelongs to the swallows.On the other side of the barn is a large shed addition

that holds tractors and other equipment. During the sum-mer, I open that side and allow air to flow through while Iwork around the yard. I talk to the swallows, and theyanswer in excited chirps. They follow me while I mow,picking up bugs. I whistle, talk and sometimes sing to theswallows. In return they keep the property free of mos-quitoes. More importantly, they constantly entertain me.

Each morning about the time the sun rises, I step outthe back door and my swallows gather overhead on theold TV tower to greet me and the new day. We talk, singand whistle while they listen. A few minutes of this andthey fly away to begin their day’s work.Over the summer, their numbers increase. Over time,

the morning gatherings get larger, last a little longer andseem to become more important to them (and to me).Today was the day they were gone. No excited chirping

on the tower today. The nights grow cooler, and soon Iwill shut the back of the barn. I am now in my 70s, andthe chores are a little harder. They made the work a littleeasier with their friendly chatter.Life will go on, but perhaps just a bit more somber. I

wonder if they miss me. Perhaps next April I will openthe barn door a little early? Maybe it’s best to let it airout. Yes, of course it needs to air out. I will definitelyopen the barn early. ❏Glenn Brown writes from Mount Victory.

The friendly barn swallows

By the Way

Photo courtesy of Tim Daniel, Ohio Departmentof Natural Resources


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