country living july 2016

Official publication ofyour electric cooperative

JULY 2016

www.ohioec.org

Local co-op pages 19-22National Park Service turns 100 24Lake Erie islands 30Outhouse races 32

75 years of progress 4

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D E P A R T M E N T S

F E AT U R E S

4 THE POWER OF PEOPLE WORKING TOGETHER

Statewide association celebrates 75 years of service to Ohio’s electric cooperatives — and looks ahead to a bright future.

12 RIDE ’EM COWBOYBuckin’ Ohio offers rodeo-style entertainment —and that’s no bull!

23 AMERICA’S BEST IDEA The National Park Service celebrates 100 years.

26 CUYAHOGA VALLEY NATIONAL PARKCVNP is Ohio’s own natural treasure.

30 OFFSHORE ADVENTURES Explore the natural wonders of the Lake Erie islands.

32 TAKING CARE OF BUSINESS Race with outhouses. No magazines needed.

40 A VISIT TO WALLY (ROAD) WORLD Take a scenic drive along the Mohican River.

2 COOPERAT IVE CONNECT ION

4 POWER STAT ION

8 THE SEVEN COOPERATIVE PRINCIPLES

10 OHIO ICON

12 CO-OP PEOPLE

14 GARDENING LANDSCAPE

16 FOOD SCENE

23 WOODS, WATERS, AND WILDLIFE

28 MEMBER INTERACTIVE

36 JULY CALENDAR

39 OHIO QUIZ

Next month...The work ofLoad Control

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2 COUNTRY LIVING • JULY 2016

We hear about independence all the time in ourdaily lives — independent voters are a hot topic thisyear, and energy independence has been an impor-tant subject of late. Last month’s issue of CountryLiving featured autonomy and independence as pil-lars of the seven principles on which electric cooper-atives are founded. Independence is a powerful ideathat has fueled our country’s growth; that was bornof great intellect; and that has been paid for withblood, sweat, and tears.The path to independence is a study in contrast.

To achieve independence individually, our forefatherscame together cooperatively to achieve this elusivegoal. The last sentence of the Declaration of Inde-pendence states the reality quite clearly: “And for thesupport of this Declaration, with a firm reliance onthe protection of Divine Providence, we mutuallypledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes, and oursacred Honor.” That’s a real commitment to coopera-tion.Independence is not born of ignorance, either. It

requires an understanding of and agreement with the

principles involved. Inits more famous second sentence, the Declaration ofIndependence once again shines a light on the needfor unifying principles:“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all

men are created equal, that they are endowed bytheir Creator with certain unalienable Rights, thatamong these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit ofHappiness.”While the writers of our Declaration proclaim

“these truths to be self-evident,” the record indicatesthat it took a fair amount of discussion to come to aconsensual understanding of these root doctrines.Likewise, Ohio’s electric cooperatives strive to live outtheir own core principles. They formed a unifiedband 75 years ago and built an active, structured,statewide organization so that they might maintaintheir independence and provide you with safe, reli-able, clean, and affordable electric service then, andinto the future. So far, so good.Hope each of you enjoys a splendid Independence

Day. God bless America!

Cooperative Connection

Independence throughcooperation

PAT O’LOUGHLIN, PRESIDENT & CEO • OHIO RURAL ELECTRIC COOPERATIVES & BUCKEYE POWER


JULY 2016 • COUNTRY LIVING 3

July 2016 Volume 58, No. 10

Ohio Rural Electric Cooperatives

6677 Busch Blvd.Columbus, OH 43229

[email protected]

www.ohioec.org

Patrick O’Loughlin President & CEO

Patrick Higgins Dir. of Communications

Rich Warren Managing Editor

Magen Howard Associate Editor

Adam Specht Member Services &

Communications Consultant

Chris Hall Communications Specialist

Nikki Heath Communications Specialist

COUNTRY LIVING (ISSN 0747-0592)is the official public ation of Ohio RuralElec tric Co op eratives, Inc. With a paidcirculation of 294,359, it is the monthlycom mun ication link be tween the elec tricco operatives in Ohio and West Virginiaand their mem bers. Nothing in this pub-lication may be reproduced in any man-ner without specific written permissionfrom Ohio Rural Electric Cooperatives,Inc. All rights reserved.

The fact that a product is advertised in Coun try Liv-ing should not be taken as an en dorse ment. If youfind an advertisement mis leading or a product un-satisfactory, please not ify us or the Ohio AttorneyGeneral’s Of fice, Consumer Protection Sec tion, 30E. 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 to edi-torial and advertising offices at: 6677 BuschBoulevard, Columbus, OH 43229-1101

Cooperative members —Please report any change of

address to your local electric cooperative.

National advertising representatives:

NATIONAL COUNTRY MARKET,800-NCM-1181

State advertising representatives:

Sandy Woolard 614-403-1653Tim Dickes 614-855-5226

Alliance forAudited Media Member

Follow us on :

ohioec.orgCheck out the mobile-friendlywebsite and digital editionof Country Living, as well asother timely information fromOhio’s electric cooperatives.

Focus on pets

We offer a package of pet-related storiesthis month, on subjects ranging from animalsin art, a dog bakery in Massillon, and an ex-hibit of “Divine Felines” in Cincinnati. Underthe “Country Living” button, click on thecover of the current issue and go to page 19.

Ohio travel

Visit the John and Annie Glenn Historic Site,the boyhood home of the astronaut and senatorin New Concord. This story can be found under“Online Exclusives.”

Recipes

Check out the recipes for picnic or potluck fare submitted by CookingEditor Margie Wuebker and Nutrition Editor Diane Yoakam under the“Food Scene” button.

In addition

• Find out: “Is your ductwork delivering?”• Learn more about Greenville’s “Jackpot of July Jubilations.”

In this issue:

Indian Lake (p. 8)

Springfield (p. 10)

Burbank (p. 12)

Marengo (p. 14)Cuyahoga Valley (p. 26)

Lake Erie islands (p. 30)

Wally Road (p. 40)

Online exclusives


mailto:[email protected]


www.ohioec.org


Thepowerofpeople

BY NANCY GRANT

“WHAT CAN WE DO BETTER if we team up?”That simple question, asked by the leaders of ahandful of rural electric cooperatives in 1941, setin motion a commitment to serving Ohio’s ruralcommunities that continues today. Thatstatewide association, now known as Ohio’sElectric Cooperatives, strives to help member co-ops provide safe, reliable, affordable electricity— and a lot more.

Statewide association celebrates 75 years of service toOhio’s electric cooperatives — and looks ahead to a bright future

workingtogether

POWER STATION



In those early days at the end ofthe Great Depression, the men andwomen of the fledgling co-ops set upsimple offices, talked to their friendsand neighbors about the benefits ofrural electrification, then workedlong hours to build the network ofpoles and lines, transformers, andelectric meters.Pat O’Loughlin, president and

CEO of Ohio’s Electric Cooperatives,says, “As I travel around the state, Isee more than poles and wires — Isee the dedication of those earlyco-op leaders to improve the lives ofthe people in their communities. Ithank them for their courage andtheir vision. The association theyformed, based on the seven co-opprinciples, is flexible enough to meetchallenges they never dreamed of.Today, we continue our commitmentto listening to the concerns of ourmembers and working together toachieve new goals.”

Working for all co-op membersKen Keylor, who retired in 2015 as

vice president of statewide services,says, “When the association began, itsbiggest problem was buying whole-sale power. Individual co-ops had to take whatever was of-fered from other utilities. At first, theco-ops sat down to talk about howthey could negotiate better contractsto buy electricity. Then somethingelse happened, something really spe-cial. They began to have a vision forall the other things they could do bet-ter together instead of one by one.” Those early conversations began a

tradition of sharing ideas. Keylorsays, “As a statewide association,we’ve always seen the value of talk-

ing with our co-op managers. To doa good job, you’ve got to know what’sgoing on. So we made the effort tounderstand what’s happening on theground in their systems, find outwhat their boards are talking about,what their members are concernedabout, and listen to their challenges.We have always asked, ‘What can wedo better to help you?’”Over the decades, the statewide

association’s role and the services itprovides have expanded to include:

• Communications services, including digital and multimediaprojects

• Power and technical services• Government affairs• Safety and loss prevention• Scholarship and youth programs • Mutual aid and disaster recovery

Within each area, the focus hasshifted during seven-and-a-halfdecades as circumstances havechanged. The power and technicalservices area is a good example of responding to different needs andconcerns. In the late 1950s, instead ofpurchasing power from outsiders, theco-ops determined that building theirown generation and transmission co-operative, Buckeye Power, wouldmake better sense. In today’s world,as interest in renewable sources ofenergy production increases, BuckeyePower and the statewide group arecarefully studying the technical andfinancial details, monitoring each ad-dition to the mix of power sources todetermine which methods offer themost benefits to co-op members.

(Opposite page) Then and now: The original headquarters of Ohio’s Electric Cooperativeswas a small building in Columbus. Today’s building, constructed in 1974, is shared withBuckeye Power and the Rural Electric Supply Cooperative. (Above) The first pole financedby the Rural Electrification Administration was erected in Piqua in 1935. A historical markercommemorating this milestone stands outside the offices of Pioneer Electric Cooperative.

1955 Howard Cummins becomes executive manager of OREC.It’s a position he’ll hold until 1977.

1941 Ohio Rural Electric Cooperatives, Inc., the statewide trade association, is formed.

(Continued on page 6)



Sharing ideas and best practices

The statewide associationjumped into the communicationsrealm almost immediately, prepar-ing information packets and arti-cles during the 1940s to helpco-ops better serve their localmembers. In 1958, the statewidegroup began publishing CountryLiving magazine to help co-opmembers learn about the industry.Exchanging information and

finding the best ways to use newtechnology is a continuing themewithin the statewide group inevery area of service. Keylor says,“When something good happens,news travels fast. Bad news does,too, and we learn from each

other’s mistakes.” In face-to-facemeetings and online forums, thestatewide group provides manyopportunities for the co-ops to ex-change ideas, always looking forthe best practices. Several years ago, when many

co-ops expressed concern aboutworker accidents, the statewidegroup listened — and took action.Keylor says, “The local co-ops saidthey wanted to focus on safety, soat the statewide level we invested alot of manpower into new trainingprograms.” The statewide groupnow manages the Central OhioLineworker Training (COLT) pro-gram, which provides hands-ontraining and certification to newlineworkers, as well as ongoing

jour-

neyman training and certificationfor veteran lineworkers. Through-out the year, statewide employeesin the safety and loss control pro-gram host special safety sessions inColumbus, and travel throughoutthe state and West Virginia to helpindividual co-ops maintain consis-tently high safety standards.The list of services that the

statewide group provides is long,deep, and varied, including every-thing from coordinating mutual aidduring disaster recovery, managingthe annual Youth Tour, speaking upfor co-op members in Columbusand Washington, exploring newways to use computer technology,offering expert advice about energyefficiency, and member out-

The power of people working together (–continued from page 5)

1968 Cardinal Station Unit 2 becomesthe official property of Buckeye Power.

1963 The Cardinal StationAgreement is signed.

1958 The first issue of Country Living is published in October.



1941 Ohio Rural Electric Cooperatives, Inc., thestatewide trade association, is formed.

1942 The National Rural Electric CooperativeAssociation is formed.

1952 The first permanent OREC offices open inColumbus.

1952 W. E. Stuckey becomes manager andserves until 1955.

1955 Howard Cummins becomes executivemanager of OREC. It’s a position he’ll holduntil 1977.

1958 The first issue of Country Living ispublished in October.

1959 Buckeye Power, Inc., is established.1961 The Rural Electric Supply Cooperative

(RESCO) is formed, allowing Ohio’scooperatives to take advantage of quantitydiscounts for purchasing equipment andmaterials.

1963 Cooperative and Ohio Power officialsannounce the signing of the CardinalStation Agreement.

1968 Cardinal Station Unit 2 becomes the officialproperty of Buckeye Power.

1972 Buckeye Power, Inc., and Ohio Power enteran agreement for construction of CardinalStation Unit 3.

1972 OREC establishes its safety and loss controldepartment.

1973 Buckeye Power, Inc., begins a loadmanagement program.

1975 OREC and BP move to their currentheadquarters.

1977 Cardinal Station Unit 3 is placed in service.1977 Robert Cleveland becomes president of

OREC and Buckeye Power.1981 Buckeye Power, Inc., purchases 2,100 acres

in Ross County for the site of a futuregenerating plant.

1981 Buckeye Power begins a marketingprogram with Dual Fuel system rebates.

1985 Ohio electric cooperatives observe the 50thanniversary of the Rural ElectrificationAdministration.

1989 Richard K. Byrne becomes president andCEO of OREC and Buckeye Power.

1991 In response to cooperatives’ needs forconsulting engineering services, BuckeyeMember Cooperative, Inc., becomesBuckeye Member Service Company.

1998 Touchstone Energy is introduced, a

national alliance of local cooperatives providing high standards of service tomembers and communities.

2000 Ohio Gov. Bob Taft signs legislation thatwill restructure the state’s electric utilitymarketplace. Ohio’s electric cooperatives announce they will not immediately opt-in to competition.

2001 Customer choice comes to Ohio, but afterthe first six months, few consumers haveopted to change suppliers, and even ewerhave been approached by marketers.

2001 A decade-long construction project beginson new emissions control systemson Buckeye’s Cardinal generating units tomeet stricter EPA requirements.

2002 Tony Ahern becomes CEO of Ohio RuralElectric Cooperatives and Buckeye Power.

2002 Robert P. Mone Station, a 510-megawatt(MW) peaking plant, comes online.

2004 A lineworker training program begins as apartnership between OREC and MarionTechnical College. It is branded as COLT (Central Ohio Lineworker Training) in 2009.

2004 A subsidiary of Buckeye Power purchasesownership and rights at two generatingstations operated by the Ohio ValleyElectric Corporation.

2007 Buckeye Power purchases 30 MW of windgeneration from the Story County WindEnergy Center in Iowa.

2007 Buckeye Power purchases the GreenvillePeaking Plant (200 MW).

2008 Two biogas generation projects come online at Bridgewater Dairy (1.2 MW) and Wenning Poultry (1.8 MW).

2008 Plug-In 1, a plug-in hybrid electric Ford Escapethat’s a research and development project for Ohio’s Electric Cooperatives, hits the road.

2012 Country Living magazine wins the George W. Haggard Memorial Journalism Award, the highest national recognition among electric cooperative statewidepublications.

2013 Ohio’s cooperatives score an all-time high onthe American Customer Satisfaction Index. The score is surpassed the following year.

2015 Pat O’Loughlin becomes president and CEO of Ohio Rural Electric Cooperatives and Buckeye Power.

75 years of progress

s .

reach.O’Loughlin says,

“Everything we do iscentered around better-ing the lives of co-opmembers and the ruralcommunities. The next75 years will be full ofopportunities — andwe’re ready for whatevercomes next.”

NANCY GRANT is amember of the Coopera-tive CommunicatorsAssociation and theAmerican Society ofJournalists and Authors.

2001 A decade-long project beginsof installing new emissions controls at the Cardinal generating units.

2015 Pat O’Loughlin becomes president and CEO of Ohio Rural Electric Cooperatives and Buckeye Power.


IN THIS SEVEN-PART SERIES, you’lllearn how the same principles thatguide cooperatives around theworld also govern your localelectric co-op, keeping you — a valued member-owner — theprimary focus. Principle 5, “Education, Training, and In-

formation,” reads as follows: “Cooperativesprovide education and training for theirmembers, elected representatives, managers,and employees, so that they can contributeeffectively to the development of their coop-eratives. They inform the general public,particularly young people and opinion lead-ers, about the nature and benefits of cooper-ation.”A closer look at a rural school district in

northwest Logan County provides a real-lifeexample of this principle in action.

The Laker motto: Educate, inspire, empowerImagine glass beakers, hand-drawn

graphs, and outdoor field trips where thewind blows away the status quo. For seventhgrade science teacher Erika Eley, her class-room is a portal — the place where studentsuse tangible experiments to break down abstract concepts into “aha” lessons.“I enjoy teaching science because it allows

me to show students that science is allaround them, and it affects their lives on a

daily basis,” the Indian Lake Middle Schoolteacher says. “I try to make them aware thatthey can make a difference for the world,even if it seems small and insignificant.” Eley isn’t alone in her passion for educa-

tion. The Indian Lake School District inLewistown serves nearly 1,800 K-12 stu-dents and proudly maintains high academicstandards with rigorous classes.Whether it’s the “Laker Zone” program

that instills confidence and compassion inelementary kids, the new middle school robotics team, or revamped high schoolwelding and 3-D printer courses, IndianLake Schools constantly examines the needsof its students and works to align with them.In the spring, the district even hosted thefirst-ever Logan County Workforce Expo,bringing in representatives from more than40 local companies seeking job applicants.

Living the principle Just as educating students is Indian Lake

Schools’ main priority, your electric coopera-tive also emphasizes educating its members,employees, and even the general publicabout the nature of co-ops, as well as energyefficiency and electric safety tips.In fact, this summer, Indian Lake High

School and Logan County Electric Co-opcelebrate a decade of partnership through awind turbine on the school’s front lawn forscience classes to study. The turbine is esti-mated to power one classroom for an entireyear and ensures that students learn first-

The SevenCooperative PrinciplesPrinciple 5: Education, Training, and Information

BY SAMANTHA RHODES



hand about renewable energy.Informing and engaging today’s

youth is one of your electric co-op’smain priorities, as demonstratedby programs like the annual YouthTour trip to Washington, D.C.,school safety and high voltagedemonstrations, and the awardingof college scholarships.Information is also spread

through Country Living, co-opwebsite and social media pages, atannual member meetings, andthrough community events. Co-opemployees also receive trainingthrough online learning opportu-nities, conferences, or even contin-ued education funded by thecooperative. Of course, members

can always call or visit theirco-op to ask questions or re-ceive personalized advice forsaving money on their elec-tric bill.“When a cooperative is

involved in education, theyare doing what they shouldbe doing,” says Michael Wil-son, director of communi-cation at Logan CountyElectric Cooperative. “Theyhelp prepare the next gen-eration of leaders in Amer-ica and strive to provideinformation that empowerspeople to improve the quality oftheir lives.”

Be E3 Smart: Saving Ohio homes billions Throughout the past four years, Indian Lake Middle School students

have been bringing home unusual items: LED night lights, door sweeps,and shower heads — just to name a few. These giveaways are part of aprogram called Be E3 Smart, which teaches Ohio students ways toreduce energy demand and use.

“The students really enjoy the lessons,” says ILMS teacher ErikaEley. “The most exciting part was being able to bring the energy biketo the classroom and show students how energy is converted andused in small appliances. They were all able to take turns creatingelectricity, just by pedaling.”

Sponsored by Ohio’s Electric Cooperatives and implemented bynonprofit energy education group the Ohio Energy Project (OEP), theprogram is free to schools and promotes student leadership through its innovative school-to-home model.

In 2015, more than 42,000 energy saving kits were distributed to Ohio homes via students sharing what theylearned with their parents. The result? According to OEP, families saved nearly 103,000 megawatt hours and $9 million on utility bills.

Through the Be E3 Smart program, Ohio electric cooperatives empower students to become informed leadersof tomorrow’s energy-responsible society. To learn more about the program, visit www.ohioenergy.org.



http://www.ohioenergy.org

Location: On the southwest side ofSpringfield.

Provenance: In 1932, at age 48,Harry George “Ben” Hartman waslaid off from his job as a molder at aSpringfield foundry. Rather thanremaining idle during the Great De-pression, Hartman began construct-ing a cement fishing pond in thebackyard of the little country housenear Springfield where he lived withhis wife, Mary, and their children.After completing the pond, Ben keptworking in the yard, constructingnumerous structures from hundredsof thousands of stones he dug out ofa nearby creek bed. He embellishedthe structures with handmade fig-urines, and Mary, who was an avidgardener, beautified his designs withextensive planting and flowerbeds.By the time Ben returned to work

in 1939, his unique and eclectic rockgarden displayed more than 50structures featuring themes from theBible, American history, andDepression-era pop culture. They

included miniature versions ofMount Vernon, Lincoln’s Tomb, theHoover Dam, and Noah’s Ark; a 14-foot-tall cathedral accented by Vir-gin Mary statuettes, and a renderingof Da Vinci’s famous painting TheLast Supper; and a 12-foot-tall cas-tle modeled after one in West Vir-ginia that had been pictured on apostcard Mary got in the mail.After Ben passed away in 1944,

Mary valiantly maintained their“garden of love” until her own deathin 1997. The neglected rock gardenfell into disrepair, but was rescuedand restored by Wisconsin’s KohlerFoundation. An organization calledthe Friends of the Hartman RockGarden acquired the site and re-opened the rock garden to the pub-lic in 2010.

Significance: The Hartman RockGarden is revered as a folk art mas-terpiece and considered an excep-tional example of “outsider” artcreated by a self-taught artist usingfound materials. “Ben had genius in

his hands and imagination in hishead,” says Rod Hatfield, a photog-rapher who is currently the garden’sartist-in-residence and caretaker.

Currently: People from around theworld journey to Springfield to seethe Hartman Rock Garden, whichhas been featured in numerousnewspapers and magazines, as wellas on travel and tourism websites.Throughout the year, visitors marvelat the picket fence that Ben craftedfrom concrete or the 20,000 stoneshe used for his Tree of Life sculp-ture, but the rock garden looks bestduring summer, when it’s chock-fullof colorful blossoms and Ben’s pondis once again alive with goldfish andwater lilies.

The Hartman Rock Garden, 1905 RussellAve., Springfield. Open daily, dawn todusk. Self-guided tours are free (donationsappreciated); guided group tours byappointment only for a fee. For moreinformation, call 937-325-7621 or visitwww.hartmanrockgarden.org.

Hartman Rock GardenSpringfieldBY DAMAINE VONADA


OHIO ICON


http://www.hartmanrockgarden.org


www.bradfordexchange.com/freedom


CO-OP PEOPLE

ACE THORSELL may be only 6yearsold, but he’s already a rodeo showentertainer. Throughout the sum-mer, the first-grader puts on hiscowboy hat and fanciest boots,steps into the arena at CreekBend Ranch, and announces tothe audience, “Howdy, everyone,and welcome to Buckin’ Ohio!”The spectators, of course, heartilyapplaud.Buckin’ Ohio is a professional

bull-riding series that theThorsell family — parents Dennyand Eileen Thorsell, son Shawn,daughter Charis, and grandsonAce — present monthly from Maythrough September. The Lorain-Medina Rural Electric Coopera-tive members live on Creek BendRanch, where they breed andtrain registered bucking bulls thatgo to top-tier rodeos throughoutthe country. “We raise bulls, weshow bulls, and we compete withour bulls,” explains Denny.Located just off I-71 near Lodi,

the working ranch is one of

Ohio’s rare bucking bull opera-tions and provides an authenticvenue for Buckin’ Ohio. “Webring a taste of the West to theMidwest,” says Eileen, “with ourfacilities and events and family’slifestyle.” A traditional rodeosport, bull riding has swelled inpopularity in recent years, andBuckin’ Ohio annually attractsabout 25,000 people, who enjoyboth the ranch’s wholesome at-mosphere and the excitement ofwatching PBR (Professional BullRiders) cowboys trying to stay onrearing and kicking bulls. “Theheart of what we do is creatingmemories around Western-styleevents,” says Eileen. Although the Thorsells have

staged Buckin’ Ohio since 2001,the series actually took root morethan 50 years ago in Denny’shometown of Cleveland. A citykid, Denny developed his affinityfor animals when he got his firstjob — leading ponies at the zoo.His grandmother, who loved

Cleveland’s symphony, also in-sisted that Denny go to concertswith her. “While we waited forthe streetcar to Severance Hall,"he recalls, “I’d sneak into a drug-store and look at Western maga-zines.” One day Denny saw an article

about Pine Johnson, the quarterhorse trainer at the famous Wag-goner Ranch in Texas. He wrote aletter asking Johnson for a job.When Johnson replied with anoffer, Denny gave his parents anultimatum. “I told them,” he says,“that if they didn’t let me go toTexas, I’d run away.” His folks re-lented, and teenage Denny leftCleveland to learn about horses. Returning to northeast Ohio in

the 1960s, Denny married Eileenand built a successful insurancebusiness, but he always kept ahand in breeding quarter horsesand raising cattle. For more than40 years, Denny has been anAmerican Quarter Horse Associa-tion-approved judge and haspresided at equine competitionsin 33 countries. He also is tri-chairman of the American Quar-ter Horse Congress, the world’slargest single-breed horse show,which takes place in Columbusevery October. The Thorsells branched into

bucking bulls when Shawn was inhigh school and started ridingthem in rodeos. They initiallybought practice bulls for Shawn,and over time they’ve methodi-cally enlarged and improved theirherd. “Since bulls are judged onhow high they kick, it’s all abouthow much air they can get,” says

Ride ’emcowboy!Buckin’ Ohio offers rodeo-style entertainment — and that’s no bull!

BY DAMAINE VONADA


Denny. “We aim for that ‘wow!’factor.”A bull riding champion in high

school, Shawn attended college inOklahoma on a rodeo scholarshipand later competed professionally.He now manages Creek BendRanch and produces bull ridingevents for the American QuarterHorse Congress and the MedinaCounty Fair. Buckin’ Ohio wasborn when Shawn brought in rid-ers to test the ranch’s stock. “Peo-ple carrying coolers just startedshowing up to watch the cow-boys,” says Denny, “and Eileen gotthe idea that we maybe could put

on bull riding events.” When 500people attended the first Buckin’Ohio, the Thorsells knew they

were on to something. Today, Buckin’ Ohio is carefully

choreographed, fast-paced, andfun. “We want each and everyevent to be spectacular,” notesShawn, who schedules the ridersand selects the bulls. Pre-eventactivities include ice-cream eatingcontests and stick horse races forkids, and the shows, which fea-ture barrel racing as well as bullriding, always begin with a prayerand the singing of the nationalanthem. Charis, a singer andsongwriter, also performs hercrowd-pleasing “Texas sound”music, and Ace displays his mut-ton bustin’ (sheep riding) skills.When the event is over, Dennyand Eileen personally thankeveryone for coming. “At Buckin’Ohio,” says Denny, “we put ourbest into what we do.”

DAMAINE VONADA is a freelancewriter from Xenia.

Buckin’ Ohio at Creek Bend Ranch,8154 Garman Rd., Burbank. Forinformation about upcoming shows onJuly 16, Aug. 20, and Sept. 17, call 330-624-7205 or visit www.buckinohio.com.

(Above) How long can he hold on? Find out at Buckin’ Ohio’s monthly shows. (Opposite page) The Thorsell family, owners of Creek Bend Ranch.



http://www.buckinohio.com


AS A LITTLE GIRL GROWING UP inMorrow County, Gale Martincould disappear for hours, mak-ing a study of and identifying theplant life that surrounded herparents’ farm. Often, her parentshad to send a hired hand with atractor to find her and bring herhome. These days, Martin haschanneled her childhood passioninto Natives in Harmony, herplant business dedicated to pre-serving Ohio’s native plants —some in danger of disappearingforever.Preserving the future by pre-

serving Ohio’s plant heritage is aperfect fit for Martin, who is alsothe executive director of the Mar-ion County Historical Society andof the Wyandot Popcorn Museumin Marion. Part of her historicalsociety job is to monitor theprairie remnant that’s part of theSandusky Plain. Prairie remnantsare the bits of what was once avast landscape of grass prairiesand burr oak savannahs. The Sandusky Plain, which

used to stretch for 200,000 acresfrom the Olentangy River to theeast and Tymochtee Creek to thewest, is now mostly found alongrailroad tracks, roadsides, and pioneer cemeteries in Marion,Crawford, and Wyandot counties.As Martin traveled from remnantto remnant, the plants capturedher attention. “I would see theselittle plants that were so lovely,”

she says, and she decided to takeaction to save them, thinking thatif something wasn’t done to pre-serve those lovely plants, they’dbe gone.“I collected seeds of the flow-

ers, propagated the plants, anddonated them to park districts.The goal was to try to get stateand county parks to use plantsthat were disappearing.”In addition, Martin now has

an entire section of prairie plantsat Natives in Harmony, which is amember of Consolidated ElectricCooperative.Martin started with the rare

Crawford County prairie sedgeand the delicate Bicknell’s sedge,which is high on the endangeredlist. The park gave her the seeds,and Martin grew the plants, butshe kept back a couple so shecould continue to harvest seeds togrow more plants. Her businessmodel was born. All of Natives inHarmony’s plants are now grownin containers from seeds or fromcuttings.By making sure that the

genetic material is native to Ohio,Martin’s aim is to help people create habitat for Ohio’s native insects and bird species. Theseeds of the endangered Bicknell’ssedge, for example, are food forthe red-legged grasshopper, thehorned lark, the snow bunting,and the Savannah sparrow,among others.

When Martin’s husband, DanGrau, built her the potting shedthat also serves as a showcase ofwhimsical yard ornaments andplanters, Martin didn’t expectthat Natives in Harmony wouldbecome robust so fast. Her firstthought was that she would de-velop a business for retirement,but her customers had a differentidea. Each weekend, from Aprilthrough September, new peoplearrive to load up a child’s wagonwith a bounty of possibility. Whether customers come with

specific plants in mind or haveabsolutely no idea which ones tobring home, Martin is happy tooffer her expertise and sugges-tions. “Why don’t we take a littlewalk, and I’ll give a tutorial?”seems to be a common response

GARDENING LANDSCAPE

Preserving Ohio’s heritage

one plant at a timeBY JAMIE RHEIN

GoldenrodColumbine Fire Pink



to customer inquiries. Martin ques-tions her customers about sunlightand soil quality, and finds out whatthe customer thinks would work inhis or her yard.The gardens that Martin has

cultivated on her property serve asidea generators and are palates ofcolors and textures that changewith the seasons. Browsing the tidyrows of container plants groupedby the ecosystems in which theynaturally grow is like a science andhistory lesson. Each plant is la-beled, and corresponding informa-tion cards explain the details ofeach. There’s the vibrant red of fire

pink that blooms on a woodlandedge in spring, the dusty pinkishcolumbine, and the lavender spi-derwort. In summer, the coneflow-ers, sundrops, and milkweed aremagnets for bees and butterflies,perfect for a prairie environment.Some plants grow in differentamounts of shade, sun, and mois-ture. Martin experiments to seewhat grows where, so she can giveher customers a variety of ideas ofwhat might work for them at theirown homes.For Martin, making customers

happy in their pursuit of growing

native plants is a win. “As long aspeople keep planting them, theplants will always be here,” shesays. The Bicknell’s sedge dependson it.

JAMIE RHEIN is a freelance writerfrom Columbus.

Natives in Harmony is located at 4652Township Rd 179, Marengo. It’s open onSundays from 12 to 6 p.m. and byappointment. Contact Martin [email protected] or call 419-688-9800. Species inventory varies byseason.

Gale Martin



www.killlakeweeds.com

www.drtrimmers.com


Susan Denten, a member of Tri-county Rural Electric Cooperative,decided to enter her “go-to” dish inCountry Living’s latest recipe con-test featuring favorite carry-indishes for picnics and potlucks. Itproved to be a good decision, asjudges selected her Kielbasa Kissesthe grand prize winner.The Swanton-area resident re-

ceives so many requests for therecipe that she keeps it on hercomputer for ready access. Herhusband, Dale, initially receivedthe recipe from a friend (BethHolly) nearly four decades ago.The original recipe specified

smoked kielbasa links, but theDentens prefer the flavor of Eck-rich smoked sausage. They also replaced cooking onions withsweet onions and used yellow orGolden Delicious apples instead of

other varieties. While the originalrecipe calls for 1 pound of brownsugar, Dale Denten prefers using 3pounds for a sweeter outcome. Hiswife prefers the lesser amount.“I do not typically eat processed

meat, but this dish is hard to refuse,” Susan Denten says. “Thesmoked sausage, baked with thesweet onions, apples, and brownsugar, is so flavorful it’s impossibleto pass up. It has a deliciouslysweet flavor that is so unique.”For optimal flavor, the Dentens

generally make the dish severaldays ahead of the scheduled serv-ing. However, it is equally goodmade just prior to a picnic, party,or carry-in.“This is the first time I entered

a recipe contest,” she said. “I knewI had a good recipe, and I reallywanted the KitchenAid® mixer

grandprize.”Runners-up

in the contest wereDiane Kortan of theWooster area, aHolmes-Wayne EC mem-ber, and Dianna Mace ofBainbridge, a member of SouthCentral Power.Kortan’s recipe for Hot German

Potato Salad came from a 1950s-era Betty Crocker Cookbook. How-ever, she made changes to yieldmore sauce. Mace contributed Coconut Crunch, a light dessertsandwiched between layers ofcrumb crust. She first tasted therecipe at a friend’s home.

To see other recipes received for thiscontest, visit www.ohioec.org. They willappear over the course of comingmonths.

Take aprizewinnerto your nextpotluck!Forget deviled eggs. Try one ofthese entries to our recipe contest.BY MARGIE WUEBKER

Our next recipe contest: ApplesCountry Living's October recipe contest featuresapples — the versatile fruit that stars in many dishesother than pie. We want to focus on that versatility,rather than receive dozens of pie recipes. Besure to include all ingredients, completedirections, and the number of servings.Also include your name, address,telephone number, and the name ofyour cooperative. You can sendup to three recipes to foodeditor Margie Wuebker incare of Country Living,6677 Busch Blvd.,Columbus, OH43229. Thedeadline is

August 1.

FOOD SCENE



KIELBASA KISSES

6 smoked kielbasa or Eckrich smokedsausage links, each about 12 incheslong

2 medium sweet onions, sliced into1/2-inch chunks and separated

10 medium Golden Delicious apples,peeled and diced into 1/2-inchchunks

1 lb. brown sugar1/2 cup cornstarch 1/3 cup waterPlace three sausage links each into two13 x 9-inch baking dishes; cover withfoil. Bake grease out of sausage in aslow 275-degree oven for 60 minutes.Drain grease, pat dry with paper toweland cut links into bite-size pieces (1/4-to 1/3-inch thick). Return sausage tobaking dishes. Cover each dish evenlywith onions, apples, and brown sugar,pressing down slightly. Bake uncoveredin a slow oven (250 to 300 degrees) for2 to 3 hours, stirring every 30 minutesuntil apples are done. Dissolve corn-starch in water to thicken accumulatedliquid. Stir well for several minutes untilthickened; serve hot. Serves 25 to 30.

HOT GERMAN POTATOSALAD

6 medium potatoes, scrubbed and boiled in jackets

4 slices bacon3/4 cup chopped onion3 Tbsp. flour2 Tbsp. sugar1-3/4 tsp. salt3/4 tsp. celery seedsDash of pepper1 cup plus 2 Tbsp. water1/2 cup vinegarPeel cooked potatoes and slice thin. Frybacon slowly in skillet until crisp; re-move from skillet and drain on papertowel. Sauté onion in bacon fat untilgolden. Blend in flour, sugar, salt, celeryseeds, and pepper. Cook over low heat,stirring until smooth and bubbly. Remove from heat; stir in water andvinegar. Heat to boiling, stirring con-stantly. Boil 1 minute. Carefully stir inpotatoes and crumbled bacon. Removefrom heat, cover, and let stand untilready to serve. Serves 4 to 5.

COCONUT CRUNCH

1/2 cup butter or margarine, melted1 cup all-purpose flour1-1/4 cups flaked coconut1/4 cup packed brown sugar1 cup sliced almonds1 package (3.4 oz.) instant coconut pudding mix

1 package (3.4 oz.) instant vanilla pudding mix

2-1/3 cups cold milk2 cups Cool Whip®Combine the first five ingredients; presslightly into a greased 9 x 13-inch (or a lit-tle smaller) baking dish. Bake at 350 de-grees for 25 to 30 minutes or untilgolden brown, stirring every 10 minutesto form coarse crumbs. Cool; dividecrumb mixture in half; press half into thesame baking dish and reserve the otherhalf. Mix dry puddings, add milk, and stiruntil thickened. Fold in Cool Whip andspoon mixture over crumb crust. Topwith remaining crumbs. Cover and refrig-erate overnight. Serves 8 to 10.



Nutritious ways to feed a crowdBY DIANE YOAKAM, RD, LD

When presented with the challenge of feeding a crowd, it can be tempting to slide a family-size frozen lasagna in the oven andcall it good enough. Seek a better meal route by searching for dishes that are filled with nutrients. From the appetizers, to the maincourse, clear through to dessert, there’s nothing like sharing fun and memories around a nutritiously delicious meal.

Color is the key to a healthy dish. Choose foods from all spectrums for appeal and for more nutritional bang for your buck. Fruits,vegetables, beans, and grains add texture and color, producing a well-balanced meal that contains an abundance of vitamins,minerals, and phytonutrients.

Give your favorite go-to recipes a makeover. A few simple substitutions transform an ordinary dish into something much morenutritious. Be sneaky with the veggies and add a few finely diced varieties into potato and macaroni salad, for instance. Or, tryblending them into casseroles. Utilize natural sweetness by making fruit-based desserts. Ditch the fake-flavored beverages, opting forfruit-based beverages instead, like infused water.

Nutritious potluck-pleasing recipes, like roasted root vegetable salad, makeover macaroni salad, and watermelon-mint water, arejust a click away at www.ohioec.org.

FOOD SCENE



www.growwithfb.org

Sacred cats,modern cats, master catsFeline exhibits abound at theCincinnati Art MuseumTHE CINCINNATI ART MUSEUM be-comes a mewseum this summerduring the special exhibition “Divine Felines: Cats of AncientEgypt.”“The early Egyptians venerated

the dual nature of cats, who theyadmired on the one hand fortheir hunting abilities and fierce-ness and on the other for their

protective and maternal instincts,”said Julie Aronson, Cincinnati ArtMuseum curator and a longtimecat shelter volunteer for Save theAnimals Foundation (STAF).“The works of art reflect not onlythe tremendous artistry of theEgyptians but also their love ofthe beauty, complexity, and mys-tery of cats, both wild and domes-tic.” An assembled group of 80 rep-

resentations of cats from theBrooklyn Museum’s world-famousEgyptian collection includes fe-lines in many forms — frommythic symbols of divinity to do-mesticated cats; from majesticlions to cuddly companions. Ref-erences to the pyramids, a time-line, and a map of ancient Egyptenhance the thematic sections fo-cusing on feline-headed god-desses, sphinxes, and other maleprotective deities, as well as thefeline form in amulets and ob-jects of daily life. Complementing the ancient

objects from the Brooklyn Mu-seum are prints and sketches

from the Cincinnati Art Mu-seum’s own collections. On dis-play in a nearby gallery, “ModernCat” highlights 20 prints datingfrom an Art Nouveau color litho-graph by Théophile Steinlen to amid-century Modernist print byCharlie Harper. Another relatedgroup of prints, “Master Cats,”shows cats in renowned prints: acat and mouse in AlbrechtDurer’s famous print Adam andEve; Durer’s Virgin and Childwith a Cat and a Snake; and a se-lection of special Japanese printson loan from the Joel and BerniceWeisman Collection.Dogs will have their day. “Di-

vine Felines” also includes a smallsection related to the canine godsthat often appear in Egyptianmyth, serving as guardians of thedead. Portraits of dogs in “Eliza-beth Nourse: Sketchbooks andArchive” showcase the Cincinnatiartist’s close observations of ani-mal behavior and of pets andtheir special bonds with children.

The “Divine Felines” and “Modern Cat”exhibits run until Sept. 11, while “MasterCats” and the Elizabeth Nourse exhibitsclose in mid-November. For moreinformation, call 513-721-2787 or visitwww.cincinnatiartmuseum.org

BY BECKY L INHARDT


flip pages together.qxp_Layout 1 6/22/16 8:39 AM Page 1

http://www.cincinnatiartmuseum.org

IN 2014, JEANINE IACONO’S LIFE went to thedogs — literally. That’s when the Massillon residentabandoned a lengthy career with the Department ofCorrections and launched Nene’s Barkery. Judgingfrom customer response, Iacono won’t be returningto prison anytime soon. Business is booming, andwhile there’s no shortage of pet “treats” available instores, nothing compares with Iacono’s healthysumptuous offerings.According to the American Pet Product Associa-

tion, we spent about $23 billion just feeding our petslast year, and the fastest-growing segment of the petfood industry is gourmet dog treats. Iacono’s entryinto this market was timely.Always a dog lover, she had long thought about

making treats, but when her dog Max experiencedliver failure and the vet said the likely cause was tox-ins in the commercial food she was feeding, shebegan researching canine nutrition needs and mak-

ing her own food. Today her line of dog (and limitedcat) treats not only exceeds essential nutritional re-quirements, but they are works of art as well.Attention to detail is obvious in Iacono’s displays

at pet fairs and craft shows and at the retail storesthat carry her products. A black, white, and redtheme is consistent and the items are presented as el-egantly as in a fancy patisserie, all cleverly labeledwith names like Woofy Pies, Bow-Wow Biscotti, FidoFortune Cookies, and Barkeyes. (“The Michigan-OhioState game inspired those,” she confesses.) Ginger-bread Mailman Hands, Canine Cannoli, and evenpretzels all look yummy. Humans could eat them, butwe’d miss the sugary sweetness common in humandesserts.Iacono uses only organically grown ingredients

and fresh and local produce. She crafts her goodies atthe Local Roots commercial kitchen in Wooster andthen carefully stores them in BPA-free Rubbermaidcontainers until presentation or shipping. No preserv-atives are used, and the products can be frozen. Her 200+ regular customers can feel good about

doling out the treats, because as tasty as they are,they are good for the animal too. Each ingredient hasa purpose. For instance, we know lemon is good forhumans, but it’s a natural dewormer for dogs andcats. Iacono roasts lemons with olive oil, and thenuses the juice and zest mixed with coconut milk forsome items. The animals love it. They chow down on cooked greens, sweet pota-

toes, squash, herbs, and grass-fed, hormone-freemeats and wild-caught salmon without hesitation.The Tennis Ball Truffles made with peanut butter andcoconut are also favorites. Like children, dogs don’tknow what’s good for them. They just know Nene’streats taste good. While Iacono ultimately hopes to open a brick-

and-mortar shop, for now she’s limited to specialevents and the few retail outlets that represent her.She also regularly donates baskets to certain animalrescue fundraisers. Her dogs are rescues.“The way to my heart was never through my stom-

ach, but through dogs. My own dogs are my kids,” Iacono says, breaking off pieces of Mailman Handsfor her three cocker-mix snackers to share.

Find Nene’s Barkery on Facebook or call 330-617-7737.

Gone to the dogsNene’s Barkery offers gourmet treats for dogsBY KAREN KIRSCH

PET PATROL

20 COUNTRY LIVING •JULY 2016


I COLLECT ORIGINAL ARTWORK of animals, dogsin particular. What appeals to me is not justthe depiction, but the artist’s motivation increating it. Some artists paint animals inci-dentally, while others focus exclusively on theanimal, but there’s usually more to the subjectthan meets the eye.

The paintings on the walls of the prehis-toric Pech Merle cave in France are among theearliest artwork featuring animals. They depictwooly mammoths, horses, and deer, suggestinghumans may have been awestruck by the crea-tures they hunted and ate. Other early artwork givesimportant historic references. A bronze cat from600 B.C. looks much like any modern cat, but mayalso show that cats were considered symbolicguardians of domestic goodness.The 16th-century German Renaissance artist Al-

brecht Durer was fascinated with nature and be-lieved animals were worthy of attention, so he drewand painted them in exquisite detail. His work coin-cided with a growing interest in science and explo-ration, but the vision and control obvious in suchpaintings as The Young Hare enhanced the status ofanimal subjects in art.In the 17th century, animals were often depicted

as companion pets in portraits, but by the 18th cen-tury, George Stubbs had elevated the genre to newlevels of appreciation. He was considered the great-est horse painter in art history. Stubbs literally knewhis subjects inside and out. Horse cadavers sus-pended from rafters were posed and ultimatelypeeled layer by layer down to the skeleton. That im-peccable anatomical detail led to his Anatomy of theHorse (1766), which is still in print. Nineteenth-century animal art was often senti-

mental. Edwin Landseer’s popular dogs were fre-quently depicted as noble creatures devoted tosaving man, and hence the black and white Land-seer Newfoundland dog was named after him.

Animal art evolved significantly during the 20thcentury, and today, while some artists may simply beexploiting a lucrative market, Mark Birone paintsdogs to heighten public awareness of a tragic socialissue. His goal is to cultivate compassion throughhis art. “Education is the bridge to compassion,” he says,

explaining his 5,500 enormous portraits of dogs,which represent the number of dogs euthanizedeach day in American shelters. The heartbreakingbut beautiful collection will ultimately be housed inthe Museum of Compassion, funds for the construc-tion of which are still being collected. The museumwill be built in Santa Fe, New Mexico.“Imagine this art as a powerful bridge to help us

face what is hard, to feel what hurts, and to fix whatwe have collectively created,” Mark says. Find outmore about his work on the PBS documentary AnAct of Dog, scheduled to run later his year (checklocal schedules). It will leave an impression more in-delible than any painting. Compassion recognizes suffering and commits to

alleviating it, so products based on Birone’s paint-ings are offered through An Act of Dog charity togenerate funds, 100 percent of which is distributedto animal welfare groups in all 50 states. Learnmore at www.anactofdog.org.

Animalsin artFrom cave paintings to thepresent day, artists lovedepicting furry friendsBY KAREN KIRSCH


Mark Birone creates enormous portraits of dogs to heighten public aware-ness of the number of dogs euthanized each day


http://www.anactofdog.org

Randy VanDam (pictured at left) holds the current Ohio state record for the largestsmallmouth bass.

22 COUNTRY LIVING •JULY 2016

THREE OF OHIO’S most popularsport fish — largemouth, small-mouth, and spotted bass — aren’treally true bass at all. Surpris-ingly, they’re considered membersof the sunfish family, includingspecies such as bluegills andpumpkinseeds.Largemouth bass prefer the

relatively calm waters of lakes,reservoirs, and farm ponds. Savvyanglers know that some of thebest largemouth fishing in thestate is found in private ponds.The current state-record large-mouth was caught from a farmpond in May 1976, the 13.13-pound whopper landed by RoyLandsberger of Kensington.Smallmouth bass are found in

rivers and streams statewide, butthe species also does extremelywell in Lake Erie. Some of thebest smallmouth bass fishing inAmerica is along the rocky shore-lines of Ohio’s portion of the lake.The fishing is so good, in fact,that the famous Bass Islands(South Bass, Middle Bass, andNorth Bass) are named for thesmallmouth.The Buckeye State’s current

record smallmouth bass wascaught from Lake Erie. RandyVanDam, a bait and tackle storeowner from Kalamazoo, Michi-gan, boated the 9.5-pound lunkeron a jig in 1993. Fishing skillsseem to run in the VanDam fam-ily, as Randy’s younger brother,Kevin, has been at the top of the

national professional bass fishingtournament circuits for years,earning millions of dollars for hisangling abilities.Spotted bass inhabit the waters

of the Ohio River drainage and arefound in far less numbers thanlargemouth and smallmouth.These fish resemble largemouthmore than smallmouth in appear-ance and behavior, but don’t grownearly as large. For example, thecurrent state-record spotted bassweighed just 5.25 pounds. Caughtat Lake White by Roger Trainer ofWaverly, the record spotted waslanded the exact same month andyear as the current record Ohiolargemouth in May 1976. The Outdoor Writers of Ohio

(OWO), a professional organiza-tion of the best outdoor scribes inthe state, is the official keeper ofrecord-fish statistics in the Buck-eye State. To see a list of all 47species of Ohio’s state-record fish,or to download an Ohio RecordFish Official Application Form, goonline to the OWO website(www.outdoorwritersofohio.org)and click on “Programs andEvents.”Largemouth, smallmouth, and

spotted bass can be caught usinga variety of fishing methods, fromartificial lures to live bait. Couldyou be lucky enough to landOhio’s next state-record bass? Re-member, the fish don’t bite tillyou get there.

Ohio’s record bassBY W. H. ‘CHIP’ GROSS


http://www.outdoorwritersofohio.org

On Aug. 25, 2016, our National ParkService will mark its 100thanniversary. I’ve had the privilege oftraveling to more than a dozennational parks, and listed below areseveral of my favorites. Here’s hopingyou can visit at least one, if not more,of our 407 national parks sometimethis summer.

best idea

WOODS, WATERS, AND WILDLIFE

STORY AND PHOTOS BY W. H. ‘CHIP’ GROSS

The National Park Service celebrates 100 years

Acadia National Park (Maine)

Most of this park is located on Mt.Desert Island, but in reality, the parkis anything but desert. Lush, mixedforests of spruce, fir, pine, and hard-woods cover much of the island, ris-ing from the water’s edge of therugged, rocky Maine seacoast. Acadiawas officially designated a U.S. national park in 1916, the first oneeast of the Mississippi.An excellent way to quickly be-

come familiar with the park is todrive the 27-mile Park Loop Road.Pick up a map and pay the park entrance fee at the Hulls Cove VisitorCenter. From there, proceed southalong the oceanfront to view some of

the most spectacular scenery foundanywhere along the Maine coast. Notto be missed are such places as SandBeach, Thunder Hole, and the granitecliffs at Otter Point. For visitors seek-ing a little culture to add to their out-door experience, tea and popovers areserved each afternoon at Jordan PondHouse.To experience Acadia at a slower,

more relaxed pace, 45 miles ofpacked-gravel carriage roads are opento hikers, bikers, equestrians, and,during the winter months, cross-country skiers. The carriage roadswere financed by John D. RockefellerJr. in the early 20th century, as a giftto the park.


(Continued on page 24)



Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks (Wyoming, Mon-tana, Idaho)

Yellowstone not only was Amer-ica’s first national park, designatedin 1872, but it’s also believed to bethe first national park so desig-nated anywhere in the world. Anicon of the National Park Serviceyet today, Yellowstone has it all:magnificent wildlife, stunningmountain scenery, and spectaculargeothermal activity. Half of the world’s geothermal

features are located in Yellowstone,one of the more famous and popu-lar being the geyser Old Faithful.Erupting about every hour, it isone of the most predictable geothermal features on earth,shooting water nearly 200 feetskyward.In addition to offering great

natural beauty, the park is also thelargest and most famous mega -

fauna site within the continentalU.S. — which means that you’ll seelarge wild animals. Grizzly andblack bears, wolf packs, and free-ranging herds of elk and bison livewithin the park, as do moose. Thebison herd is the largest and oldestpublic herd in the country. Just 10 miles south of Yellow-

stone is Grand Teton NationalPark, named for the tallest moun-tain peak in the 40-mile-longTeton Range. Snow-capped andsaw-toothed, Grand Teton juts up-ward some 7,000 feet from thevalley floor known as Jackson Holeand is one of the most photo -graphed vistas in all the AmericanWest. If you visit in winter, don’tmiss the National Elk Refuge,located immediately south ofGrand Teton National Park.

Denali National Park (Alaska)Located in the Alaskan interior,

just a two-hour drive from Fair-

banks, Denali National Park andPreserve is a staggering 6 millionacres in size, larger than the entirestate of New Hampshire. But sur-prisingly, even at that size, it’s notAmerica’s largest national park.That honor goes to Wrangell–St. Elias, also in Alaska, at morethan 13 million acres.Denali is a world-class travel

destination, attracting visitors fromaround the globe to its breath-taking mountain scenery and spec-tacular wildlife, such as grizzlybears, moose, and caribou. Thepark has only one road, but it’s 92miles long. Private vehicles are al-lowed on the first 15 miles, but, atthat point, visitors must ride a parkshuttle or tour bus to go farther.Denali Park Road eventually endsat Kantishna Roadhouse, once thelocation of a gold-rush town.The tallest mountain in North

America (20,320 feet) lies withinthe park. Early Native Americans

(Clockwise, from left) There’s a good reason they’re called the “Smoky” Mountains; bison herd by the hundreds at Yellowstone National Park; a humpback whale takes a dive at Haleakala National Park in Hawaii.

National Parks (–continued from page 23)



named it Denali, meaning “TheGreat One.” Those Americans whocame later called it Mt. McKinley,honoring our 25th president. Themountain’s name was recentlychanged once again to Denali.I suggest visiting this national

park in mid- to late-summer,keeping in mind that snow closesmost of the park’s visitor facilitiesby mid-September.

Great Smoky Mountains NationalPark (Tennessee, North Carolina)The most popular park in the

national park system, Great SmokyMountains hosts some 10 millionvisitors annually. The reason for itspopularity is two-fold: its centrallocation in the eastern U.S. andthe fact that the park does notcharge an entrance fee, as do mostother national parks. It gets itsname from the nearly constantmists that rise from moist valleys,making the mountains appearsmoky much of the time.The mountains are the oldest

on the continent, created beforedinosaurs roamed the earth. In the

hills and valleys are more varietiesof trees — more than 130 species— than are found in all of Europe,some the largest and oldest oftheir kinds. There are also plantsand animals (such as salamanders)that exist nowhere else on earth.In addition to a driving tour,

the best way to experience thepark is by hiking. Some 800 milesof marked trails spiderweb thearea, ranging from easy, levelwalks to strenuous, rocky climbs.The famous Appalachian Trail —70 miles of it — runs nearly theentire length of the park.

Haleakala National Park (Hawaii)The Hawaiian Islands, located

2,400 miles from the nearest con-tinent, are the most isolated majorisland group on earth. But eventhough this national park (pro-nounced Holly-awk-a-la) is in themiddle of the Pacific Ocean, it stillaverages nearly 1.5 million visitorsannually. The park is divided intotwo distinct sections, the SummitArea and the coastal KipahuluArea; more than half of its 33,265

acres are designated wilderness.The main attraction is

Haleakala, a dormant “shield” vol-cano — meaning gradually slopingsides — that last erupted sometimebetween 1480 and 1600 A.D. Thevolcano’s summit is stark, lunar-like,and made up of multicolored cindercones. Sunrise and sunset are popu-lar times to view the volcano’s crater.After dark, stargazing is outstand-ing, thanks to the absence of artifi-cial lights or air pollution.Located on the island of Maui,

the park makes for a good winter-time visit. Not only will such a tripgive you a break from Ohio’s coldand snow, but hundreds, if notthousands, of humpback whalessurround the Hawaiian Islands atthat time of year, their spoutingand aerial breaching nothing lessthan awe-inspiring.

Outdoors editor W. H. “CHIP” GROSS,a member of Consolidated ElectricCooperative, is interested in hearingfrom you about any outdoor storyidea you might like him toinvestigate. He can be reached by e-mail at [email protected];his website is www.chipgross.com.

Denali is now the name for the national park and the highest peak in North America, recently changed from Mt. McKinley.



http://www.chipgross.com

CuyahogaValley NationalPark: Ohio’s ownnatural treasure

IT DOESN’T HAVE snow-capped mountains, rock-strewnseashores, bison herds, or wolf packs, but Ohio’s nationalpark does have a certain uniqueness. Located betweenCleveland and Akron in northeast Ohio, Cuyahoga ValleyNational Park’s 33,000 acres straddle the Cuyahoga Riverand are a mosaic of both wildlife and human habitats.The park is a combination of deep forests, rolling hills,

and open farmlands. A number of “indicator’” wildlifespecies have returned in recent years — peregrine falcons,bald eagles, river otters, beavers, and others — demon-strating that the park is becoming a healthier habitat. Inaddition to natural history, the park also highlights thehuman and cultural history of the area, including industry,farming, and transportation, such as the Ohio and ErieCanal. The park came about when urban sprawl threatened the

grand beauty of the Cuyahoga Valley in the 1960s. Con-cerned citizens and public officials fought the tide of pollu-tion, commercial development, and environmental waste.Their efforts persuaded Congress to create the CuyahogaNational Recreation Area in 1974. The designationchanged to “national park” in October 2000, ensuring thevitality of this unique stretch of northeastern Ohio.A visit to the park offers many options. Take a leisurely

stroll or a bike ride on the Towpath Trail that follows thehistoric route of the Ohio and Erie Canal where mulesonce pulled canal boats laden with passengers and goods.Hike to the vista at Ledges Overlook or the cascadingwater of Brandywine Falls, or view nature’s splendor froma scenic railroad. The craggy gorges, marshes, meadows,and hills high enough for a ski resort embody the spiritand importance of the National Park system.For a park overview, stop in at the Boston Store Visitor

Center. Built around 1836 as a storage building, the centeralso houses a canal boat-building museum. Also, don’tmiss Beaver Marsh. The pristine wetland, once a junkyard,was cleaned up through community efforts that have al-lowed beavers once again to make their home here, whileat the same time creating a bird watching mecca. Morethan 240 species have been documented.On July 17, celebrate the National Park system at Blos-

som Music Center, located inside the national park, whenthe Cleveland Symphony Orchestra pays tribute in a spe-cial centennial concert. Come on Aug. 20 and 21 for theNational Park system’s official birthday celebration. Thanks to the farmers who lease land within Cuyahoga

Valley National Park, the Countryside Farmers Market atHowe Meadow in the town of Peninsula, also within thepark’s boundaries, is a bounty of fresh vegetables, fruit,baked goods, spreads, eggs, and handicrafts on Saturdaymornings through Oct. 29.

Check out the park website (www.nps.gov/cuva/index.htm) for aschedule of ranger-led hikes and other events throughout the year. Callthe Cultural Arts Hotline at 440-546-5998.

BY JAMIE RHEIN AND

W. H. ‘CHIP’ GROSS



http://www.nps.gov/cuva/index.htm


www.mypillow.com

MEMBER INTERACTIVE

Everglades National Park is myfavorite for several reasons. Itwas the first national park I vis-ited. During my freshman year ofcollege, several students and pro-fessors crammed into a van anddrove nonstop, more than 20hours, to Flamingo at the south-ern point of the Everglades. Wecamped under the stars andawoke each morning to the soundof the ocean. At sunset, wewatched the curvature of theearth blend the horizon into thesea. During the day, we exploredevery part of the Everglades,watched alligators and otherwildlife, and even walked with apark ranger out into the swamphammocks. We celebrated NewYear’s Eve at the ButtonwoodLounge, the only watering holefor miles. The adventure en-hanced my love for the outdoorsand gave me a special apprecia-tion for our national parks.

Daniel Caron, BellaireSouth Central Power

My favorite national park is theGreat Sand Dunes. There is oneanimal that lives nowhere else inthe world except there. It is thesandy-colored kangaroo mouse.While on vacation to the duneslast summer, I was luckyenough to see one digging a holeto escape my sight. I also love thispark because it has endless sand,formed into enormous mountains,which are very fun to sled downeven in the middle of the sum-mer! At the base of the mountainsis a wide, shallow creek, where mysister and I sculpted a pool withwet sand. The park is an amazingplace; look one direction andthere are golden sand dunes, in

another there is vast open land,and in yet another direction are the Sangre de CristoMountains. I had a thrilling timethere.Michael Riley (age 10), Ostrander

Consolidated EC

For those familiar with the coastof Maine, Schoodic Point in Aca-dia National Park is a treasure.The surf beats constantly belowits rim, in shades of blues andgreens, systematically rising andfalling, with undulating currentsand swirling white crests of foam.Tumultuous waves crest over therocks’ edges, making thunderoussounds, thrusting high, violentlyfalling, collecting in puddles hewnin granite, for all to contemplate.Gray gulls feed upon the surfaceof the churning waves, while oth-ers swoop down to snatch offer-ings from outstretched hands. Allthat power displayed makes thismy favorite national park.

Daniel Winer, NovaLorain-Medina REC

Our family has visited GreatSmoky Mountains National Parknumerous times, enjoying thescent of pine and campfires. Itsdiversity of Appalachian history,split-rail fences, and dulcimermusic is amazing. The mountainlaurel, rhododendron, and azaleasin the hills along the scenic BlueRidge Parkway in the spring aremagnificent. Beautiful lights,music, and holiday festivities inGatlinburg or at the Biltmore inAsheville get you into the Christ-mas spirit. When they wereyounger, our girls enjoyed camp-ing in the Smokies. One likedhorseback riding, the other swim-

ming. We have often seen blackbear cubs near Cades Cove andalways visit the Apple House inPigeon Forge. My favorite visitwas an autumn trip with my sisterand her husband. We shared acondo, complete with hot tub.The fall vista of maples and oakswas spectacular.

Sheran Cherrington, CirclevilleSouth Central Power

Our 10,000-mile round trip toKenai Fjords National Park inAlaska was an adventure, espe-cially our visit to Exit Glacier in-side the park. Remains of oldsnow, tumbling waterfalls, rushingstreams, and distant snow-cappedmountains greeted us upon ourarrival. Storm clouds and snowsqualls contributed to the spectac-ular view. From the ranger sta-tion, we walked on a woodenramp toward the glacier. Up thehill, we climbed over rocks andlooked down on the breath-tak-ing, crackling blue ice. A MotherNature wonderland surroundedus. The storm clouds parted andsun rays illuminated the area.Every mountain around us wasglowing, creating a panorama ofmajestic scenery.

Jaunita Joyce, AshvilleSouth Central Power

My most memorable visit was tothe Grand Canyon. Twenty-some-thing and hale, my hubby and Idecided to hike a trail on theNorth Rim. We started early, withrefillable water containers andsnacks. It was a perfect fall day.The signs posted warned us howeasy it was to descend into thecanyon. But unlike climbing amountain, the ascent comes last.

My favorite national park




We practically ran down the nar-row trail, stopping several timesto allow mule tours to pass.Nearly four hours later, we ar-rived at the springs, rested, re-plenished our water, and beganthe steep climb back up. It wasslow going. The sun set. A quar-ter moon rose to light our way.Alone with bats and coyotes, weremained undaunted. Thepainted rocks and canyon shad-ows were hauntingly beautiful.We felt a supernatural presence.Like two great explorers, we tri-umphantly crested the rimaround 11 p.m.

Maryanne Moore, New RiegelNorth Central EC

The summer of 2012 that I spentworking in Yellowstone NationalPark was one of the single great-est experiences of my life. InJune 2012, I headed west as ashy kid who just needed a job.Fifteen unforgettable weeks ofwork and fun followed as Ishared a backyard with bisonand elk, ascended the peak of a10,500-foot mountain, andplayed games of Frisbee withnew friends from all over theworld. By September, this shykid was molded into a strongand hearty individual, with a de-termination to live life to thefullest and a deep love for theAmerican West. Even four yearslater, I can still smell the sage-brush and sometimes expect tosee the Rocky Mountains loom-ing on the horizon. That’s whyYellowstone isn’t only my favoritenational park — it’s home.

Haley Bourne, LeesburgSouth Central Power

An editorial endorsementYellowstone and beyondBY RICH WARREN

Editor’s note: I made my own first trip to Yellowstone last year and canheartily endorse the accolades everyone else bestows on it. We saw hundreds ofbison walking down the highway, as if they owned it. At Old Faithful, we weresurprised to see several other not-as-predictable geysers erupting nearby, whilewe waited to see Old Faithful do its thing a second time. Of course, we stoppedand had a “God Bless America” moment at Yellowstone Falls.

We stayed at the completely renovated Lake Yellowstone Hotel, built in1891 and so incredibly romantic that its dining room with sweeping views is apopular place for marriage proposals. We also toured the Old Faithful Inn, builtwith gnarled and twisted logs. The 76-foot-high lobby has a huge roughstonefireplace and overhanging balconies. We also saw two brand-new lodges thatopened in 2015 to replace 300 aging cabins built in the 1950s and ’60s.

But here’s another tip: The entire area surrounding Yellowstone in bothWyoming and Montana is almost as beautiful as the park itself. Considerstaying in the hyper-Western town of Cody, Montana, only 54 miles from thepark and filled with many attractions of its own. A full day is warranted in thehuge, world-class Buffalo Bill Center of the West — actually five museums inone, covering Plains Indians, Western art, firearms, natural history, and BuffaloBill himself. There’s a popular nightly rodeo in Cody and Old Trail Town, acollection of historic cabins gathered from all over Wyoming. Near Cody, you’llfind dude ranches, whitewater rafting, wild mustang tours, and the soberingbut fascinating Heart Mountain World War II Japanese-American Relocation site.

If you use Cody as your base to explore Yellowstone, consider taking aloop into the park via the Buffalo Bill Highway, and its spectacular rockformations with colorful names like Laughing Pig, Snoopy the Dog, 4 Men on aToboggan, and (my favorite) Henry Ford in an Edsel Chased by a Grizzly Bear.Come back to Cody on the also-beautiful Chief Joseph Highway with vistas ofcanyons and mountains.

Yellowstone and the Wild West. It’s a complete vacation!

The vistas don’t end at Yellowstone’s borders. The photo at the top of the pagewas taken on the nearby Chief Joseph Highway. Great blue herons make theirhomes nearby.

— Woody Woodson

— Chip Gross


NOBODY WOULD SUGGEST that you ignore Valravn,Cedar Point amusement park’s newest, wickedly fastroller coaster. Or that you shouldn’t soak up theAfrican ambiance at Kalahari Waterpark Resort. Norwould they suggest you skip the venerable Marble-head Lighthouse. Those mainland places certainly are popular ele-

ments of any visit to Lake Erie. Yet just a ferry rideaway on Ohio’s archipelago of islands, you’ll find at-tractions that offer eco-friendly alternatives to typicaltourist activities. “Many people are surprised by howmuch green space we have on the islands and by howbeautiful their nature preserves are,” says Lake ErieIslands Conservancy Chairperson Lisa Brohl. “Theyjust don’t know about them.” Indeed, the islands’ green destinations afford a

respite from the lake’s summertime bustle and deliverenjoyable experiences that help everyone appreciatewhy Lake Erie truly is a Great Lake. Want to spendsome down-to-earth time on the islands? Check outand enjoy these natural wonders.

Kelleys IslandNot only is Kelleys Ohio’s largest island, but the en-

tire island — where quarries and vineyards once flour-ished — is on the National Register of Historic Places.The island is served by Hancock-Wood Electric Coop-erative, and on West Lakeshore Road, Hancock-Wood’sscenic overlook includes an observationdeck and “welcome” sign that’s a prime spotfor selfies. While the south-facing overlookhas stunning water views, you’ll want to goto the island’s north side to see GlacialGrooves Geological Pre-serve, a National NaturalLandmark that reveals howglaciers shaped the islandsand lake. Formed by mas-sive ice sheets that gashedKelley’s limestone bedrock,the 400-foot-long groovesare a world-class example ofglacial striations.

Nearby Kelleys Island State Park possesses one ofLake Erie’s loveliest beaches and multi-use trailswhere you might encounter the remarkable Lake Eriewater snake, which lives only on the islands. The parkalso includes North Pond Nature Preserve, a water-fowl-rich wetland with a boardwalk trail and observa-tion deck, and North Shore Alvar Nature Preserve,where rock formations foster rare plants such as thenorthern bog violet. Elsewhere on Kelleys Island, Scheele Preserve is a

Cleveland Museum of Natural History site wheremeadow and forest habitats harbor bluebirds, butter-flies, and state-threatened rock elms.

North Bass IslandRemote and rustic, this island is accessible only by

airplane or personal watercraft. The state of Ohiopermits only primitive camping at North Bass StatePark, which has meager visitor amenities but abun-dant woods and marshlands for sighting waterfowl,shorebirds, and snakes.

Middle Bass IslandAlthoughMiddle Bass Island State Park is a

boaters’ haven, birders flock to the island’s side-by-sidepreserves — Petersen Woods, where bald eagles roost,andKuehnle Wildlife Area, a wetland at whichCarolina wrens, dragonflies, and water lilies delight visi-

tors. On the island’s tip, EastPoint Preserve is a birding hotspot with an osprey nestingplatform.

OffshoreadventuresExplore the natural wonders of the Lake Erie islandsSTORY AND PHOTOS BY DAMAINE VONADA



South Bass Island

Though South Bass is a lively summer play-ground, many families time their vacations totake advantage of natural science opportunities atits two unique facilities — the Lake Erie IslandsNature and Wildlife Center, which boasts sur-prisingly diverse exhibits of North American ani-mals, and the Aquatic Visitors Center, whichlends kids bait and tackle so that they can fishfrom its pier. The Nature and Wildlife Center’s butterfly gar-

den doubles as a monarch waystation, and insidethe center, you can examine monarch wingsunder a microscope. Besides supporting “WildTuesday!” events featuring wildlife activities, thecenter sponsors nature camps. This summer’stheme is “Birds and Trees,” during which, says ed-ucation coordinator Jackie Taylor, “We take kidsoutside, where they’ll experience things they’renot normally exposed to.” A joint Ohio Sea Grant and Ohio Department

of Natural Resources wildlife project, the AquaticVisitors Center has live fish displays highlightingLake Erie species. Saturday children’s programsfocus on ecosystem topics, such as plankton,bugs, birds, and water snakes. “The center,” noteseducation and outreach coordinator Kristin Stan-ford, “is one of the few free things on the islands,and a place where you’ll learn about the lakeyou’re visiting and how to protect this wonderfulnatural resource.”

DAMAINE VONADA is a freelance writerfrom Xenia.




OUTHOUSE RACES have been held inOhio at least as far back as 1981,when the Good Old Days OuthouseRace was first held in Avon. An out-of-control careening outhouse almosthit a police cruiser and eventuallybrought the races there to an end,

but the idea spread toother parts of the state,where it has seemed togain in popularity over recent years.Participants like to joke that you

don’t want to be number two in theouthouse races. It’s all in good fun,with the races typically helping tosupport the 4-H junior fair or localtourism. Some races are for youthsonly, but others have added adultcompetitions.

Usually two to four pushers pro-pel the outhouse and a single passen-ger a relatively short distance, from100 to 300 feet. In addition to hon-oring the fastest team, many of theevents also judge teams on their out-house artwork and team name cre-ativity. At the Ross County Fair, therehave been 150 participants in thepreliminary races, and 18 teams at fi-nals. They’ve been hosting the out-house races there for more than 20years.

Outhouse races in OhioHere’s a sampling of where you can see

outhouse races this summer and fall.Tues., Aug. 9 — Ross County Fair

(Junior Fair Night festivities, starting at 7p.m.). http://rosscountyfair.com/fair/daily-schedule.htm

Sat., Sept. 5 — Millersport Sweet CornFestival, 3 p.m. Two age categories, teamsof 3 persons. http://sweetcornfest.com/SCFFestivalSchedule.html

Sat., Oct. 1 — Van Wert OuthouseRaces, 9 a.m. Adult outhouse racing, kids’games, chili cookoff. www.mainstreet -vanwert.org

Additionally, the Jackson County Fair(July 15-23) and the Noble County Fair (Aug.30-Sept. 4) are also likely to have racesagain this year, but dates weren’t confirmedas of press time. Check their websites formore information: www.jacksoncofair.comand www.noblecountyfair.net/fair/schedule.

Taking care ofbusiness

Outhouse trivia• Historically, an outhouse with acrescent moon on the door meant itwas reserved for women, while onewith a sun was for men.

• Thomas Jefferson personally designedtwo octagonal brick outhouses for hisvacation home.

• In Delaware Water Gap, Pennsylvania,the National Park Service once spenta third of a million dollars on a two-seater outhouse.

• As a student at Whittier College,Richard Nixon procured a multi-seatouthouse to burn atop a huge campusbonfire.

• During the last week of February, theworld’s largest outhouse race is heldat Trenary, Michigan, with more than3,000 folks converging on the town inthe dead of winter.

Race with outhouses. No magazines needed.

BY DANIEL WOODARD

— Photos courtesy of Ross

County Extension


http://rosscountyfair.com/fair/daily-schedule.htm

http://rosscountyfair.com/fair/dailyschedule.htm

http://sweetcornfest.com/SCFFestivalSchedule.html

http://www.mainstreetvanwert.org

http://www.jacksoncofair.com

http://www.noblecountyfair.net/fair/schedule


www.harborfreight.com


ANY BUG with big, bulging eyes, alarge body, and clear wings withorange veins looks scary, but infact, the 17-year cicada, whichemerged this spring and infestedeastern and southern Ohio, isharmless. After spending 17 yearsunderground drinking the juicesof plant roots, it’s the point in thecicadas’ life cycle for them tocome above ground to spend afew weeks looking for a mate.They’re generally just a nuisanceto humans, especially given theirsheer numbers, but cicadas willstrip new or weak trees of theirleaves if given a chance, and theirclumsiness with flying can makefor awkward encounters. What most people will remem-

ber after a cicada infestation is thenoise. It’s the males making thehigh-pitched sound most com-

monly associated with cicadas, butfemale cicadas flick their wings,making a softer sound, to respondto the males. In places where they’ve emerged

in the tens of thousands, the soundcan be almost deafening. In 2004,when a brood of cicadas emergedin central Ohio during the annual Memorial Tournament, their“songs” were so loud they drownedout the cheers for Tiger Woods.But they’ll be gone two to fourweeks after they emerge, and thequiet will last for another 17 years.Ohio has broods of cicadas that

emerge in different years in otherparts of the state, so their turn iscoming. There’s also a 13-year ci-cada. Every 221 years, they emergeat the same time as the 17-year ci-cadas. Now, that’s something toworry about!

The invasion has started!BY MAURA GALLAGHER

Photo by John Halleyof the Athens Messenger


www.newrivertrain.com


Member interactive:Send us yourphotos and stories!

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By U.S. mail: Editor, Country Living, 6677 BuschBlvd., Columbus, OH 43229



www.liveatbristol.org

www.mqsstructures.com

NORTHWESTTHROUGH NOV. 23 – “Fighting for

Freedom: WWII in Fulton County,”

Fulton Co. Museum, 229 Monroe St.,

Wauseon, Tues.–Sat. 12–5 p.m. Exhibit

shows how everyday life was affected

by the war. 419-337-7922 or

www.fultoncountyoh.com.

JUL. 4 – Star Spangled Spectacular,Faurot Park, Lima, 3–11 p.m. Kids’ activities, car show, food, music, fire-works, and a restored 1944 M4-A3Sherman Tank on display. 419-879-3502 or http://lima4th.com.

JUL. 8-10 – Lagrange Street PolishFestival, 3106 Lagrange St., Toledo,Fri. 5–11 p.m., Sat. noon–11 p.m., Sun.noon–7 p.m. $5. Polish food, drinks,and entertainment. 419-255-8406 orwww.polishfestival.org.

JUL. 8–10 – Huron River Fest, HuronBoat Basin, 330 N. Main St., Huron.Free. Competitions, parades, entertain-ment, games, car show, fireworks. 419-433-4848 or www.huronriverfest.com.

JUL. 9, 10 – Toledo LighthouseWaterfront Festival, Maumee BayState Park, Sat. 10 a.m.–7 p.m., Sun. 11a.m.–5 p.m. Lighthouse boat rides,weather permitting. Live entertain-ment, kids’ activities, and food. 419-691-3788 or www.toledolight house - festival.com.

JUL. 10 – Paddle Palooza, MaumeeBay Inland Lake, Maumee Bay StatePark, 11 a.m.–5 p.m. Free. Great opportunity for the whole family totest drive canoes and kayaks andlearn how to stand-up paddleboard.419-836-6003.

JUL. 15 – 1940s WWII-Era Big BandHangar Dance, Liberty AviationMuseum, 3515 E. State Rd., PortClinton. $40 advance, $45 at the door,$75/couple. 419-732-0234 or www.libertyaviationmuseum.org.

JUL. 15–17 – Kite Flyers Weekend,Maumee Bay State Park, 1400 StatePark Rd., Oregon. http://parks.ohio -dnr.gov/maumeebay.

JUL. 15–17 – Flag City Daylily Tour.Fri–Sat. 10 a.m.-6 p.m.; Sun. noon–6p.m. Tour six daylily gardens in andaround Findlay. Free. 419-889-8827 [email protected].

JUL. 16 – Malinta Festival, MonroeTwp. Fire Station, Road K-2, Malinta.Flea market, BBQ, entertainment, kids’area, auction. 419-966-2392 or 419-966-0880.

JUL. 17 – Lakeside Wooden Boat Showand Plein Air Art Festival, HotelLakeside Grounds and Lakeside Dock,Lakeside, 12-4 p.m. More than 50wooden boats will be featured. Also, 30plein air artists from across the Midwest.Artwork sold on Sunday. 866-952-5374or www.lakesideohio.com.

JUL. 22, 23 – Pizza Palooza, Cen te nnial Terrace, 5773 CentennialRd., Sylvania, 5 p.m.–midnight. $5, C.$3. 419-885-7106 or www.sylvani-achamber.org.

NORTHEASTTHROUGH AUG. 11 – Chagrin FallsSummer Concert Series, downtownChagrin Falls, every Thur. 7–9 p.m.Free. 440-247-6607.

JUL. 1-4 – Rib, White, and Blue, Lock3, 200 S. Main St., Akron, 11 a.m.–11p.m. Rib vendors from all over thestate, music, and fireworks. 330-375-2877 or http://lock3live.com.

JUL. 2 – Car Show, downtownLoudonville, 131 W. Main St.,Loudonville, 9 a.m.–4 p.m. More than500 cars from all decades and eras.419-994-4789 or www.discovermohi-can.com.

JUL. 8, 9 – Ashland Co. Yester yearMachinery Clubs Annual Show,Ashland Co.-West Holmes Career Ctr.,1783 St. Rte. 60 S., Ashland. Free. Livemusic 4 p.m. 419-651-4109.

JUL. 8-10 – Great Mohican IndianPow-Wow, 23270 Wally Rd.,Loudonville, 10 a.m.–6 p.m. $8, C. $4.Two- and three-day passes $14/$6,$21/$9. Native American live music,dancing, and drum competitions; storytelling. 800-766-2267 orwww.mohicanpowwow.com.

JUL. 9 – Beginning Blacksmithing,Zoar Village, 198 Main St., Zoar, 8 a.m.–5 p.m. $100. Advance registra-tion required. 800-262-6195 orhttp://historiczoarvillage.com.

JUL. 9 – Love Fest, Chardon Square,Short Court St., Chardon, 2–10 p.m.Local, up-and-coming stars of the nextgeneration of music. 724-259-2066 orhttp://chardonlovefest.weebly.com.

JUL. 9, 10 – Summer Festival of theArts, Youngstown University, 1University Plaza, Youngstown, Sat. 10a.m.–6 p.m., Sun. 11 a.m.–5 p.m. 330-941-2307 or http://web.ysu.edu/sfa.

JUL. 14–16 – Olde Canal DaysFestival, 123 Tuscarawas St., CanalFulton, Thur./Fri. 5–11 p.m., Sat. 11a.m.–11 p.m. Ride a canal boat, tourhistorical sites. 330-854-9095 orwww.discovercanalfulton.com.

JUL. 15-17 – IslandFest, MemorialPark, 112 Division St., Kelleys Island,Fri. 5–11 p.m., Sat. 11 a.m.–9 p.m.,Sun. 11 a.m.–5 p.m. A variety of familyentertainment. 419-746-2360 orwww.kelleysislandchamber.com.

JUL. 16, 17 – F.A.R.M.® TractorShow, New London Rec. Park, NewLondon. Donation. FeaturingCockshutts and CO-OP tractors andequipment. 419-929-0502.

JUL. 21-23 –Doughty Valley SteamDays, 5025 St. Rte. 557, Millersburg.Antique farm machinery, tractors, andsteam engines. Horse pull Thur., antique tractor pull Fri. 330-763-0303.

JUL. 29, 30 – The Summer Market,Veterans Memorial Park, 32756 LakeRd., Avon Lake, Fri. 3–9 p.m., Sat. 9a.m.–6 p.m. Vendors, food from localrestaurants, live music.www.thesummer market.com.

JUL. 29, 30 –Wild West Fest,Pleasant Hill State Park, Perrysville.Wild West–themed events and con-tests, Outlaw Cowboy shooting show,horseshoe pitching. 419-938-7884 orwww.mwcd.org.

CENTRALTHROUGH SEPT. – “Blooms andButterflies,” Franklin ParkConservatory, 1777 E. Broad St.,Columbus, 10 a.m.–5 p.m. $13. 614-715-8000 or www.fpconserv atory.org.

THROUGH OCT. – “CelebratingVictoria, the First Woman to Run forPresident,” Victoria Woodhull exhibit,Robbins Hunter Museum, 221 E.Broadway, Granville, Wed.–Sat. 1–4p.m. 740-587-0430 or www.robbins-hunter.org.

JUL. 1 – Red, White and BOOM!,downtown riverfront and the ArenaDistrict, Columbus, 11 a.m.–midnight.Ohio’s largest fireworks display. 614-299-9221 or www.redwhiteand-boom.org.

JUL. 1, 5, 7, 9, 11, 14–16, 19, 21, 25,26, 30 – Trumpet in the Land,Schoenbrunn Amphitheatre, 1600Trumpet Dr. NE, New Philadelphia,8:30 p.m. $18/$20, Srs./Stds.$18, C.(3–12) $8/$10. Ohio's longest-runningoutdoor theater production. 330-339-1132 or www.trumpetintheland.com.

JUL. 2 – Barn Dance, Malabar FarmState Park, 4050 Bromfield Rd., Lucas,7–10 p.m. $1, free for kids under 12.Round and square dancing with callerand live music. 419-892-2784 orwww.malabarfarm.org.

JUL. 3, 10, 17, 24, 31 – “OralHistories: Life on the Ohio River,”Ohio History Ctr., 800 E. 17th Ave.,Columbus, open noon–5 p.m. 614-297-2300, 800-686-6124, orwww.ohiohistory.org.

JUL. 4 – Central Ohio SymphonyJuly 4th Concert, Philips Glen, 61 S.Sandusky St. Includes 1812 Overturewith cannon and fireworks. Free. 740-362-1799 or www.centralohiosym-phony.org.

JUL. 4 – Civil War Memorial, OldMethodist cemetery, corner of WalnutSt. and Anderson Ave., Frankfort, 9 a.m. The oldest Civil War Memorialin Ross Co. 740-998-4315.

JUL. 8-10 – North Market Ohio WineFestival, North Market, 59 Spruce St.,Columbus, Fri. 7 –10 p.m., Sat. noon–9 p.m., Sun. noon–5 p.m. 614-463-9664 or www.northmarket.com.

JUL. 9 – Car Show, Lancaster CountryClub, 3100 Country Club Rd. SW, regis-tration 10 a.m., trophies 4 p.m. 740-407-1532.

JUL. 14-17 – Miami Valley SteamThreshers Assn. Annual Show andReunion, Pastime Park, Plain City,horse pulls Thur. 7 p.m., grand parade Fri. 6 p.m., tractor pulls Sat.and Sun. 614-270-0007 or www.miamivalleysteamshow.org.

JUL. 15, 16 – Harding Symposium:“The American PresidentialCandidate: Reality vs. Illusion,” OSUMarion, 1465 Mt. Vernon Ave., Marion.Registration deadline Jul. 8. 740-725-6253 or www.osumarion.osu.edu/ini-tiatives/outreach/harding-symposium.

JUL. 16 – Catfish Tournament, A. W. Marion State Park, 7317 WarnerHuffer Rd., Circleville. 740-869-3124 orhttp://parks.ohio dnr.gov/awmarion.

JUL. 20-30 – Lancaster Festival, various venues in Lancaster. Music,art, and more. 740-687-4808 orwww.lancasterfestival.org.

JULY 2016 CALENDAR


PLEASENOTE• Country Living strives for ac -curacy but strongly urges readers to confirmdates and times before traveling long dis-tances to events. Submit listings AT LEAST90 DAYS prior to the event bywriting toCountry Living, 6677 Busch Blvd.,Columbus, OH 43229 [email protected]. Country Livingwill notpublish listings that don’t include a completeaddress of where the event takes place or anumber to call formore information.


http://www.fultoncountyoh.com

http://lima4th.com

http://www.polishfestival.org

http://www.huronriverfest.com

http://www.toledolighthousefestival.com

http://www.libertyaviationmuseum.org

http://parks.ohiodnr.gov/maumeebay

http://[email protected]

http://www.lakesideohio.com

http://www.sylvaniachamber.org

http://lock3live.com

http://www.discovermohican.com

http://www.mohicanpowwow.com

http://historiczoarvillage.com

http://chardonlovefest.weebly.com

http://web.ysu.edu/sfa

http://www.discovercanalfulton.com

http://www.kelleysislandchamber.com

http://www.thesummermarket.com

http://www.mwcd.org

http://www.fpconservatory.org

http://www.robbinshunter.org

http://www.redwhiteand-boom.org



http://www.trumpetintheland.com

http://www.malabarfarm.org

http://www.ohiohistory.org

http://www.centralohiosym-phony.org



http://www.northmarket.com

http://www.miamivalleysteamshow.org

http://www.osumarion.osu.edu/ini-tiatives/outreach/harding-symposium



http://parks.ohio

http://www.lancasterfestival.org


JULY 2016 CALENDAR


JUL. 22, 23 – Whispering Sun Musicand Arts Festival, Frontier Ranch,8836 York Rd. SW, Pataskala. $70–$85. A variety of music genres at thisoutdoor site. 937-407-9522 orwww.whisperingsunsummerjam.com.

JUL. 22–24 – Jazz and Ribs Fest,downtown Columbus riverfront,Fri./Sat. 11 a.m.–11 p.m., Sun. 11 a.m.–8:30 p.m. Free. 614-645-7995 orwww.hotribscooljazz.org.

JUL. 23 – Blast from the Past Cruise-in,downtown Delaware, sunrise to sunset.740-815-8328 or 740-816-1178.

JUL. 27–AUG. 7 – Ohio State Fair,Ohio State Fgds., 717 E. 17th Ave.,Columbus, daily 9 a.m.–10 p.m. $10,Srs./C. (5–12) $8, free for kids under5. $5 parking. “Ride-All-Day” wrist-band vouchers available. 888-646-3976 or www.ohio state fair.com.

JUL. 29, 30 – Lorena SternwheelerCivil War Re-enactment andEncampment, Zane’s Landing Parkand Riverside Park, Zanesville. Onecruise Fri. night, four on Saturday.Reservations required. 800-743-2303or www.visit zanesville.com.

JUL. 31 – “Sunday Drive” Car Show,Malabar Farm State Park, 4050Bromfield Rd., Lucas, 12–4 p.m. Freeadmission; entrance fee for those en-tering a car. Take a Sunday drive to abygone era to enjoy the cars, music,and old-fashioned foods. 419-892-2784 or www.malabarfarm.org.

SOUTHEASTJUL. 1 – Marietta’s Red, White, andBrews Festival, Lafayette Hotel, 101Front St., Marietta, doors open at 5p.m. $10. 740-885-8194 or www.mari-ettamainstreet.org/red-white-and-brews-festival.

JUL. 2 –Mound Cemetery Tour:Patriot Edition, beginning at Fifth andScammel Sts., Marietta, 10 a.m. $5. Astroll through Marietta’s historic ceme-tery to learn the stories ofRevolutionary War soldiers. 740-373-5178 or www.mariettaohio.org.

JUL. 2, 3 – Monroe IndependenceDay Pow Wow, River’s Edge ActivityCtr. and Campgrounds, 34396 St. Rte.7, Sardis. 740-472-4800.

JUL. 6–9 – Ohio Hills Folk Festival,Fair and South Sts., Quaker City, 10a.m.–11 p.m. Parades, car show, coun-try store, pageant, flea market. 740-679-2704.

JUL. 8–10 – Lilyfest, BishopEducational Gardens, 13200 LittleCola Road, Rockbridge, Fri. 10 a.m.–6 p.m., Sat. 10 a.m.–5 p.m., Sun. 10a.m.–4 p.m. A celebration of arts,crafts, music, and gardens in theHocking Hills. 740-969-2873 orwww.lilyfest.com.

JUL. 9–12 – Cowgirl Boot Camp,Smoke Rise Ranch, 6751 HunterdonRd., Glouster. $20 (to camp) to $175(for a cabin). 740-767-2624 orwww.smokeriseranch.com.

JUL. 14–17 – Jamboree in the Hills,43510 National Rd., Belmont. Single-day ticket $75, multi-day passes$150–$235. The nation’s longest-run-ning country music festival. 800-594-8499 or www.jamboreeinthehills.com.

JUL. 15, 16 – Sweet Corn Festival,300 block of Front St., downtownMarietta, Fri. 5–9 p.m., Sat. 11 a.m.–8p.m. See antique tractors and gas engines or take part in the pedal trac-tor pull, corn hole tournament, andcorn eating contest. www.mariet-tasweetcorn.com.

JUL. 15–23 – Ohio Brew Week,Athens. Sample more than 176 craftbrews in 33 venues. www.ohio-brewweek.com.

JUL. 16 – Romantic MoonlightCanoe Trip, 7–10:30 p.m. 31251Chieftain Dr., Logan. $45 per canoe.800-686-0386 or www.hockinghills-canoeing.com.

JUL. 16 – Railroad DaysRendezvous, Pike Lake State Park,1847 Pike Lake Rd., Bainbridge (RossCo.), 10 a.m.–3 p.m. Free. Displays ofmodel railroads, collectibles, memora-bilia, exhibits, and model train dis-plays. 740-947-5409 or www.pike -travel.com.

JUL. 29-31 – International SunflowerFestival, Frankfort, Fri. 5–9 p.m., Sat.8 a.m.–8:30 p.m., Sun. 8 a.m.–2:30p.m. Free. www.sunflowerfestival.net.

JUL. 30 – Adams Co. Prairie Tour,Shawnee State Park, 9 a.m.–3 p.m.Tour four separate preserves. 740-858-6652 or http://stateparks.com/shawnee_state_park_in_ohio.html.

JUL. 30 – Ohio River FerryboatFestival, Fly, OH, and Sisterville, WV, 9a.m.–9 p.m. Come celebrate the nearly200-year ferryboat connection be-tween the states. Festival takes placeon both sides of the river. 304-771-8835 or www.facebook.com/events/1034876283214645.

JUL. 30 – Gateway to the HockingHills Trade Faire, Tarlton Town Hall,105 S. Harrison St., Tarlton, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Local artisans, crafts, produceand community yard sale. 740-477-8696.

JUL. 30, 31 – Harmar Days Festival,Harmar Village, Marietta. Celebratethe historic Harmar Bridge, our coun-try's oldest operating railroad swingbridge, circa 1880. Food, music, andentertainment. 740-373-5178 or [email protected]

SOUTHWESTJUL. 4 – Americana Festival, down-town Centerville, East Franklin St.,Centerville, 7:30 a.m.–11 p.m. Parade,fireworks, concert, and 300 craft andfood booths. 937-433-5898 orwww.americanafestival.org.

JUL. 4 – Red, White and Blue Ash,Summit Park, Blue Ash, 4–10:35 p.m.Fireworks, entertainment, music, foodand drink, and family fun. Featuredband is Styx. http://blueash -events.com.

JUL. 7–10 – Greenville Farm Powerof the Past, Darke Co. Fgds.,Greenville. $5, free for kids under 12.Annual tractor, gas engine, and hot airengine show. Car show on Sunday.937-547-1845 or www.greenvillefarm-power.org.

JUL. 7–10 – Summer SkatingCompetition, Hobart Arena, 255Adams St., Troy. Figure and freestylecompetitions with 300 participantsfrom across the country. 937-339-8521or www.troyskatingclub.org.

JUL. 8 – Quilts of Highland County,,Hillsboro High School, 550 U.S. 62,Hillsboro. 10 a.m.-2:30 p.m. $5. 937-393-3031.

JUL. 8, 9 – Ohio Challenge Hot AirBalloon Festival, MiddletownRegional Airport, Smith Park,Middletown. $4, free for kids under13. Parking fee. Balloon rides (includ-ing tethered rides), biplane rides, carshow. 513-435-6361 or www.ohiochal-lenge.com.

JUL. 9 – Fire in Your Mouth, Fire inthe Sky, Hannon’s Camp, 8501Camden College Corner Rd., CollegeCorner, 4 p.m.–midnight. $5 parking.Spicy food, music, fireworks. 513-798-2794 or www.hannonscamp -america.com.

JUL. 13-16 – Hamilton County 4-HCommunity Fair, Stricker’s Grove,11490 Hamilton-Cleves Rd., Hamilton.513-305-9445 or www.hc4hcommuni-tyfair.org.

JUL. 13–17 – USRowing ClubNational Championship Regatta,East Fork State Park, Harsha Lake,Bethel. www.usrowing.org.

JUL. 15, 16 – Sock Hop ’50s, ’60s,and ’70s, Hueston Woods State Park,College Corner. Prizes for bestdressed and an ice cream social. 513-523-1060.

JUL. 16 – Buckeye Bourbon and BBQFestival, Miami Valley Gaming, 6000St. Rte. 63, Lebanon, 1–11 p.m. Morethan 60 bourbons for tasting, plus craftbeers, BBQ, and food booths. Livemusic. 513-932-1817 or www.wchs -museum.org/events/events-10.

JUL. 22, 23 – Cincinnati MusicFestival, Paul Brown Stadium. Jazz,soul, and R&B performers. Ticketsstarting at $55. 800-452-3132 orwww.cincymusicfestival.com.

JUL. 23 – Rock ‘n’ Green TomatoFestival, Riverfront Park, 3 NorthMiami Ave., Miamisburg, noon–11 p.m.Food, vendors, contests, corn holetournaments, live music. 937-847-2442 or www.rockngreentomato.com.

JUL. 26–30 – Annie Oakley Festival,York Woods, 6129 Reed Rd.,Versailles. Shooting contests, bullwhipexhibitions. Parade Sat. 10 a.m. indowntown Greenville. www.annieoak-leyfestival.org.

JUL. 28–30 – Annie OakleySidewalk Sales, S. Broadway, down-town Greenville. 937-548-4998 orwww.mainstreet greenville.org.

JUL. 29, 30 – Miami Valley MusicFest, Eagles Campground, 2252 Troy-Urbana Rd., Troy. 937-371-7228 orwww.miamivalleymusicfest.com.

JUL. 30, 31 – Gathering at Garst,205 N. Broadway, Greenville, Sat. 10a.m.–9 p.m., Sun. 11 a.m.–4 p.m.Living history encampment with re-en-actors representing eras ranging fromthe French and Indian War to theAmerican Civil War. 937-548-5250 orwww.gatheringatgarst.com.

WEST VIRGINIAJUL. 2–4 – 4th of July Celebration atOglebay, Wheeling, Sat. 8 a.m.–Mon.5 p.m. Live music, crafts, and food.Fireworks at Schenk Lake on Jul. 3.800-624-6988.

U

1. Canoe2. Kokosing River3. Great Miami River Watershed River

Trail4. The Great Miami, Mad, and Stillwater

water trails5. Mad River Water Trail6. East Sandusky Bay Water Trail7. Mahoning River Water Trail8. Mohican River Water Trail9. Vermilion-Lorain Water Trail10. Mohican River Water Trail11. Lake Erie Islands12. Kokosing, Mohican, and Stillwater

rivers

Ohio Quiz(Answers from page 39)


http://www.whisperingsunsummerjam.com

http://www.hotribscooljazz.org

http://www.ohio

http://www.visit

http://www.malabarfarm.org

http://www.mari-ettamainstreet.org/red-white-and-brews-festival





http://www.mariettaohio.org

http://www.lilyfest.com

http://www.smokeriseranch.com

http://www.jamboreeinthehills.com

http://www.mariet-tasweetcorn.com



http://www.ohio-brewweek.com



http://www.hockinghills-canoeing.com



http://www.pike

http://www.sunflowerfestival.net

http://stateparks.com/

http://www.facebook.com/


http://www.americanafestival.org

http://blueash

http://www.greenvillefarm-power.org



http://www.troyskatingclub.org

http://www.ohiochal-lenge.com



http://www.hannonscamp

http://www.hc4hcommuni-tyfair.org



http://www.usrowing.org

http://www.wchs

http://www.cincymusicfestival.com

http://www.rockngreentomato.com

http://www.annieoak-leyfestival.org



http://www.mainstreet

http://www.miamivalleymusicfest.com

http://www.gatheringatgarst.com

OHIO MARKETPLACE

***ADVERTISE HERE***ONLY $310 FOR 3 MONTHS!

Largest circulation of any Ohio rural magazine.COUNTRY LIVING

Rich Warren 614-846-5757 [email protected]




OHIO QUIZ

Buckeye ‘blueways’

This month’s quiz features Ohio’s water trails, recreational routesalong or across bodies of water where the public can usenonmotorized watercraft to enjoy natural and cultural resources.We’ll provide clues about these “blueways,” and you provide theanswers. For example, if the clue is “Although Ohio communitiestypically initiate them, what agency officially designates the state’swater trails?,” the answer would be “Ohio Department of NaturalResources.”

CLUES1. What kind of boat is featured on Ohio’s water trails logo?2. What stream was named Ohio’s first water trail in 2005?3. Totaling 265 miles, what is Ohio’s largest water trail system?

4. What three blueways comprise Ohio’s largest water trailsystem?

5. Which water trail has one of the state’s best trout streams? 6. What was the first Ohio blueway on a Lake Erie bay? 7. Which water trail includes the Newton Falls Covered Bridgeand vestiges of the Pennsylvania and Ohio Canal?

8. Traversing heavily wooded valleys, which water trail has awilderness-like landscape?

9. Which blueway follows both a river and Lake Erie’s shoreline?

10. Which water trail encompasses the longest navigable riverlocated entirely within Ohio?

11. What proposed Ohio water trail will be located largelyoffshore?

12. Which three blueway streams also boast the state’s “scenic”designation?

ANSWERS ON PAGE 37


OHIO MARKETPLACE



FANS OF THE 1983 FILM NationalLampoon’s Vacation will recall howthe bumbling Griswold family droveacross the country to visit WalleyWorld, a fictional amusement park,that ended up being closed whenthe Griswolds arrived. Ohio has asimilarly named vacation mecca,one that’s never closed. The 10-mile-long Wally Road traversesalongside the Mohican Riverthrough segments of Ashland,Holmes, and Knox counties. Be-cause of its natural beauty, it’s anofficial Ohio Scenic Byway. Plus, it’sgot a lot to offer vacationers!

Several liveries along the Mohican Riveroffer rentals of canoes or kayaks for timeperiods as short as half an hour or as longas several days. Alternately, you can justleisurely float down this peaceful river on aninner tube.

The Great Mohican Pow-Wow is one of thelargest gatherings in the state and featuresNative American dance and drum competi-tions, craftspeople and artisans, and music.Held twice a year in July and September, thepow-wow this month will be July 8–10.

Zip lining can be found throughout Ohio, butTree Frog Canopy Tours is one of the mostscenic, with its longest 1,100-foot line offer-ing a breathtaking view of the Mohican Val-ley. You might just hit a speed of 50 mph!

Sleep in a treehouse! Alternately, stay in oneof the Amish-built rustic cabins at The Mohi-cans, a quiet forest-surrounded venue that’salso popular as a location for weddings andother events. Both The Mohicans and thenearby Tree Frog Canopy Tours are mem-bers of Licking Rural Electrification.

A visit toWally (Road) WorldTake a scenic drive along the Mohican RiverBY RICH WARREN


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country living july 2016

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