Ohio Cooperative Living – December 2025 - Logan

atsunset

“Todd wanted that car,” Sara says.

He spoke a lot about the Cobra during the ensuing weeks, pointing out that Sara would have to do the driving, or planning which shows he wanted to take it to, or deciding whom he wanted to take around on those sunset drives.

The family spent much of the following months at the Cleveland Clinic, where doctors offered little hope after more tests indicated the cancer had spread to fluid around the brain and to the spinal cord. The disease ultimately claimed his life Oct. 24, 2024, exactly 12 years to the day from his initial diagnosis. He was 42.

Signs, and a decision

The idea of buying the car and fulfilling Todd’s wishes came as the family drove home from the Cleveland Clinic after his death.

Sara says a large truck emblazoned with “Ford” seemed to shadow them during the drive, which she, Colin (then 10), and Corey (6) found comforting because they all knew he was definitely a “Ford man.”

But there was also that sky.

Sara’s parents, Dave and Julie Heuing, members of Piquabased Pioneer Electric Cooperative, were on their way back to their home in Russia (Ohio), and couldn’t help but to be reminded of their son-in-law. “The sunset was unusually beautiful that day and we knew Todd would have loved it,” Julie says. By the time they all got home, she had made a decision.

“I did a lot of praying about buying the car, and I told Sara I wanted to do it for Todd,” Julie says. “I needed to

talk to my husband first, but Dave was in agreement that we should do it for Todd and the boys. My dad had two Mustangs when I was growing up and everything seemed so right.”

The Heuings test drove the Cobra and ended up purchasing it this past summer.

“The first time I took it out I could sense Todd in the passenger seat,” Julie says. “I looked over and told him to fasten his seatbelt because we were going for a ride.”

Sara says she and the boys also feel Todd’s presence when they take a ride in “daddy’s car.” Julie says she may take it to some car shows and might even take a spin along legendary Route 66.

“I am keeping Todd’s dream alive while enjoying the car myself,” she says. “When the time comes, I will pass it on to the boys, just as their dad planned.”

QUICK GRILLED CHEESE AND

TOMATO SOUP

No matter how you cut it, diagonal, crisscross, or tiny bites, grilled cheese and tomato soup are the perfect pairing on a cold, rainy day.

Prep: 10 minutes | Cook: 20 minutes | Servings: 4

1 tablespoon olive oil

1 small onion, finely sliced

2 cloves garlic, minced

2 (28-ounce) cans whole peeled tomatoes in juice

1 cup vegetable or chicken broth

1 tablespoon sugar

1 teaspoon dried basil

1 teaspoon dried oregano cayenne, salt, and pepper to taste

10 slices stale white bread, divided 2 tablespoons spreadable butter

6 ounces sliced cheese of choice

In a large saucepan over medium-high heat, sauté onion in olive oil for 5 minutes; add garlic and sauté another minute. Transfer onion mixture to a blender or food processor, along with tomatoes in juice. Remove crust of 2 pieces of bread and tear in pieces; add to blender and puree until smooth. Transfer soup back to saucepan; add broth, sugar, basil, oregano, and cayenne, salt, and pepper to taste. Bring to a boil over high heat, stirring regularly, then reduce to a simmer; let cook 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Meanwhile, heat a large skillet (or an electric skillet if making all 4 at once) to medium-high. Butter bread on the outer facing sides of each sandwich and place the 4 bottom pieces butterside down in skillet. Top each piece with 2 slices of cheese and place second piece of bread on top, butter-side up. Cover with lid and grill, checking bottom of bread with a spatula after 3 minutes and continuing until bottoms are a medium brown and flip with ease. If cheese isn't fully melted, replace lid while grilling second side. Continue until bread is equally grilled on both sides and cheese is fully melted.

Per serving: 322 calories, 19 grams fat, 8 grams saturated fat, 26 grams total carbohydrates, 37 milligrams cholesterol, 1,131 milligrams sodium, 4 grams fiber, 12 grams protein.

SKILLET CROUTONS

Total: 10 minutes | Servings: 12 3 tablespoons salted butter

3 1/2 cups 1-inch cubed bread* garlic powder and black pepper for sprinkling

Melt butter in a large cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat. When butter is foaming, add cubed bread; stir multiple times to coat. Sprinkle with garlic powder and black pepper, stir, and sprinkle again. Stir once or twice a minute for 5 to 7 minutes, until golden brown on all sides. To keep for up to 2 weeks, cool completely before placing in an air-tight container and store in a cool, dry place.

Per serving: 79 calories, 4 grams fat, 2 grams saturated fat, 8 grams total carbohydrates, 8 milligrams cholesterol, 106 milligrams sodium, 1 gram fiber, 2 grams protein.

When bread loses its freshness over time, it becomes optimal for turning into panko breadcrumbs you can use to create crispy appetizers and fried favorites. It’s a flavorful coating for breaded meats and vegetables, or as a crunchy topping for casseroles. Stale bread becomes a treasure trove of possibilities for your next culinary adventure — such as the eggplant Parmesan pictured below.

AIR FRYER PANKO BREADCRUMBS

Prep: 10 minutes | Fry: 5 minutes | Servings: 6*

4 slices day-old white bread

1 tablespoon olive oil

salt

Cut off bread crusts and discard. Dice bread into evenly sized cubes, approximately 1/2 inch. Discard any crumbs, as they soak up the oil and fall through the fryer basket. Spread oil on the bottom and sides of a large container or bowl with matching lid. Pour in diced bread; cover and toss to coat. Sprinkle lightly with salt; cover and toss once more. Fill fryer basket with a loose single layer of bread cubes.

Cook on air fryer setting (300 F) 3 minutes, rotate tray 180 degrees and continue cooking, keeping a close eye until lightly toasted. Set tray on a heatsafe surface until cooled, then toss cubes into food processor and pulse into small crumbs. Store in an airtight container in pantry for up to a week, in fridge for up to a month, or in freezer for 3 months. Makes approximately 1 cup.

*makes about 3 cups of crumbs

Per serving: 70 calories, 3 grams fat, 0 grams saturated fat, 10 grams total carbohydrates, 0 milligrams cholesterol, 70 milligrams sodium, 0.5 gram fiber, 2 grams protein.

Happy Holidays

GIFT OF GIVING

A gift is defined as something voluntarily or willingly transferred from one person to another without the expectation of compensation or payment.

It’s a simple definition — yet one that’s easy to lose sight of during the holiday rush. As we move from Thanksgiving into the Christmas season and a new year, it’s the perfect time to pause and reflect: What does it really mean to give a gift?

We often find ourselves spending our energy finding the right box, the right paper, and the right bow — but what if the real gift has nothing to do with what’s inside the wrapping?

Our culture teaches us to measure gifts by price tags or reciprocity: “They gave us something, so we should give back.” But when giving becomes routine instead of meaningful, it can lose its purpose.

Keeping that focus can be harder than it sounds. A true gift begins in the heart. It’s not an exchange or a transaction. As the definition reminds us, it’s given voluntarily and willingly — not out of obligation, pressure, or to check a name off a list. A real gift is something we offer freely — with joy, with love, and with no expectation of anything in return.

Once upon a time, there were two friends who gave each other a $20 bill every year on their birthdays. Year after year, the same crisp bill changed hands — always tucked in a card, always with a smile, always with the same polite “thank you.” Eventually, they both realized how predictable it had become. So, with a laugh, they framed the $20 bill.

From then on, the framed money made its way back and forth between them each birthday — a running joke that neither one had to think too hard about. What once started as a thoughtful gesture had become mechanical, expected, and empty

of intention. The “gift” wasn’t a gift at all anymore, just an exchange of habit.

And that’s the quiet truth about giving: When it becomes something we do simply because we’re supposed to, it’s easy to forget the heart behind it. But when we give with true intent — not for recognition, not to even the score — something remarkable happens. The act itself becomes its own reward. We don’t give to get something in return, but somehow, in the giving, our hearts are filled.

At Logan County Electric Cooperative, we strive to see that kind of giving in action every day. Our employees give their best — not just their labor, but their care — to keep power flowing safely and reliably. Members give through Operation Round Up, helping neighbors they may never meet. Others give through holiday utility gifts or by donating warm winter gear for local children.

These acts aren’t trades or obligations; they’re true gifts — offered from the heart, to brighten another’s life. And through them, our community becomes stronger, kinder, and more connected — a reflection of the very definition of a gift: something given freely, without expectation, yet rich with meaning.

This season, may we all rediscover the joy of giving without keeping score. The act of giving doesn’t have to be grand. It can be found in small, quiet moments — a smile, a thank-you note, a helping hand, a kind word.

Give your time, your patience, your love, your understanding. Give kindness freely. Give with an attitude of benevolence. Because when giving flows from the heart, it becomes more than a single act — it becomes a way of living.

That’s the true gift of giving, and it’s one that keeps on giving, all year long.

Members can give

Co-op members provide acts of kindness to our local community through holiday utility gifts and warm winter clothes.

Logan County Electric Cooperative offers its members two important ways to give back to our local community this season: holiday utility gifts and winter gear for kids.

Holiday utility gifts

Giving a holiday utility gift provides one-time financial assistance to co-op members. When a member gives a holiday utility gift, it pays for a portion of or the entire electric bill of another member.

The holiday utility gift program lets you spread the power of kindness by meeting the financial needs of members. When you give to the holiday utility gift program, your kindness can be given to a specific member you request or can be made to the program’s general fund for the co-op staff to distribute.

To make a holiday utility gift payment for a co-op member, please contact our office at 937-592-4781. We will send a card to each recipient on your behalf or mark the gift as coming from an anonymous member.

Warm in winter

Would you consider giving a donation to our local community as part of your holiday gifts? There is a need for infant snowsuits, toddler coats, and preschool coats, hats, and gloves. These items are needed in the following sizes: infant, birth to 18 months, toddler 2T–4T, and preschool 4–6 and 6–8

All items will be delivered to families in our local communities. There is no eligibility criteria for this program. If a child is in need, help is given.

The co-op is receiving donations at our office, and donations are collected until Dec. 16

Please bring your donation to the co-op office to help the families and children of Logan County.

LIGHTS OF HOPE:

In a small village nestled among the rolling hills of northwest Ohio, Christmas Eve dawned with a magical blanket of snow. Fluffy white flakes danced gracefully from the gray sky, transforming the landscape into a winter wonderland. Children, bundled in bright coats and mittens, tumbled out of their homes, laughter echoing through the crisp air as they built snowmen, tossed snowballs, and gleefully sledded down hills.

As evening approached, families gathered around their fireplaces, sipping hot cocoa and sharing stories while decorating their Christmas trees. The sweet scent of pine mixed with the rich aroma of baked cookies wafted through the air, creating a warm and inviting atmosphere. But just as night fell, the serenity of the evening was shattered by dark clouds. Soon, a fierce winter storm erupted. The wind howled and snow whipped through the streets. Inside homes, the glow of twinkling lights soon flickered and then extinguished, plunging the village into darkness. A collective gasp echoed through the neighborhood as families realized the storm had knocked out power.

Panic set in briefly, but then the spirit of the holiday took over. Candles were lit, and families huddled together, finding comfort in each other’s presence. They began to call for help. The call came in from Logan County Electric Cooperative, jolting the team from their own holiday celebrations. The crew — Daniel, Dave, Mike, Todd, Aric, Mason, Aaron, Troy, Kendall, Eli, and Dan — had to put aside their Christmas plans.

“Listen up, everyone,” Daniel said as they gathered the operations center. “We’ve got a serious storm out there, and it’s Christmas Eve. We need to get out there and restore power for the community. They’re counting on us.” Each lineman felt the weight of the moment. They all had families and friends waiting for them at home, anticipating an evening filled with fun traditions. Some had young children, wide-eyed with excitement about Santa’s imminent arrival. It was a tough decision to leave their loved ones behind, but they understood the importance of their work. Power is essential, especially on a night like this. “I’ll make it up to my family,” Troy said, a

hint of regret in his voice. “We’ll have a big breakfast together tomorrow.” Aric nodded in understanding.

“We’ll be back as soon as we can. They’ll be proud of us for helping our community tonight.” The team climbed into their trucks and drove into the storm, snow whipping around them as the roads became increasingly treacherous.

With each passing moment, the wind howled louder, and the storm grew more ferocious. But they were determined to bring back warmth and light to the village. As they began to work on downed lines, the team shared stories of their own Christmas traditions. Laughter broke through the cold air, creating warmth to contrast the harsh winter night. But in the back of their minds, each lineman carried thoughts of home — of waiting children, warm hugs, and the laughter of family. Hours passed, and slowly but surely, the lights flickered back on in home after home. At one house, an elderly couple had just finished decorating their tree when the power returned. They stood at their window, smiles of

A CHRISTMAS STORY

joy spreading across their faces as they watched the glow of their neighbors’ homes illuminate the snowy road. With each restored connection, the Christmas spirit filled the air. But the storm was relentless, and soon the team faced their toughest challenge yet: The church, the heart of the village, stood dark and silent. It was a beloved gathering place where families would traditionally celebrate Christmas Eve with carols and candlelight services.

The team knew they had to get the power restored there, no matter the cost. The snow piled higher as they trudged through the drifts toward the church. The wind screamed as they approached the large wooden doors, and Aaron gently knocked. Inside, the congregation had gathered for an impromptu service, singing softly by candlelight.

Their voices floated out into the night, a testament to their faith and community spirit. The team set to work. After what felt like an eternity, they heard the satisfying click that signaled that power had been restored. Todd flipped the switch, and the church’s steeple blazed to life against the stormy night sky. The warm glow spilled through the windows, illuminating the faces of those inside.

A wave of applause erupted, and cheers filled the air. The team, exhausted but exhilarated, stepped back to witness the magic unfold. The church, once again alive with light, became a beacon of hope and warmth in the storm. With the church restored, the crew turned to leave, but the congregation invited them inside. “Join us for caroling!” a woman exclaimed, her eyes shining with gratitude.

Though they were tired and their families were waiting at home, the team couldn’t resist the warmth of community and celebration. They stepped inside, and the energy of the room enveloped them. As the group sang familiar songs, their voices harmonized with the crackling of candles and the soft glow of lights. It felt

like a scene from a storybook, and in that moment, all the stress and cold melted away. The storm still raged outside, but inside the church, joy prevailed.

Daniel, Dave, Mike, Todd, Aric, Mason, Aaron, Troy, Kendall, Eli, and Dan basked in the feeling of accomplishment, knowing they had made a difference. When they finally left the church, the storm had eased, leaving behind a tranquil, snowy silence. The moon shone brightly above, casting a silver glow over the peaceful village. As they drove back to Logan County Electric Cooperative, they reflected on the night. “Did you see their faces?” Mike asked, his eyes bright. “It was worth every second out there.” “Absolutely,” Dave replied. “This is what it’s all about.”

We wish you a merry Christmas and a happy New Year!

Our offices will be closed Dec. 24-26 and Jan. 1 for the holidays.

Understanding your bill

One of my goals as your president and CEO is to continue the co-ops history of providing quality and reliable electric service to our members. To achieve my goal, I want to be transparent with you, our membership about your rates.

The rate is broken down into three main components on your electric bill:

1. Generation & Transmission

2. Distribution

3. Basic Service Charge

Let’s look a each of these components so you can understand the rate you are charged.

Generation & Transmission

The generation and transmission (G&T) charge on your electric bill is the cost incurred generating electricity and moving it across transmission lines. This charge is a straight pass through to our members. This wholesale electricity is procured for Ohio’s electric cooperatives by Buckeye Power, Inc.

Buckeye Power is a generation and transmission cooperative, providing power to the 24 Ohio-based electric cooperatives and one based in Michigan. Formed in 1959, Buckeye Power provides reliable electricity to co-ops, who then distribute it to more than 400,000 homes and businesses — about 1 million co-op members.

Generation

Buckeye Power owns a diverse portfolio of baseload and peaking facilities, outfitted with the best-in-class environmental controls. While we still have fossil fuels as part of our generation, Buckeye has invested more than $1 billion in emissions-control equipment, making the coal-fired Cardinal Power Plant one of the cleanest plants of its kind. The strategy at Buckeye is an all-of-the-above approach,with a commitment to providing a mix of generation resources, including coal, natural gas, solar, hydropower, biomass, and other small-scale renewable energy generation. The majority of our energy is produced and used in the State of Ohio, which also helps create jobs and provides a tax base to our communities.

Transmission

Buckeye Power is responsible for power delivery to approximately 420 member delivery points, including four Logan County Electric substations. Buckeye Power does not own transmission facilities. Instead, it purchases transmission services from other Ohio utilities.

The cost of transmission services varies according to our peak loads and capacity issues on the transmission lines. The G&T charge on you monthly bill shows differing rates due to the fluctuating cost of fuel for generation and transmission costs. We are in the process of conducting a cost-of-service study, and will share those results as they’re available.

Power Cost Adjustment

As a cooperative, we do not mark up G&T costs to our members and therefore we share the savings or extra expense in generation and transmitting energy with our members. We do this with the power cost adjustment, which allows us to adjust the rate from the G&T. This rate is adjusted up or down each month so our members only pay the actual cost of the wholesale power. If the co-op has to pay more for electricity, then the rate will be adjusted up, but if we pay less, the rate will be adjusted down. This ensures members only pay the actual cost of power.

Distribution Charge

The distribution charge allows us to move the electricity to your property. This charge covers our substations, poles, wires, and other equipment used to deliver electricity to your meter. Additionally, state tax is paid in this charge.

It is critical to maintain our system with line maintenance and vegetation management to provide reliable electricity. Whether the job is rebuilding line, replacing poles, trimming trees, or when necessary, restoring power any time of the day or night — our crews are working for you!

To build accountability into our work, each year we compare how our distribution system performed compared to other co-ops in Ohio and nationally. One of the ratios we are proud of is the System Average Interruption Duration Index. The SAIDI ratio is a measure of total service interruptions for any reason. Service reliability is important to our members, making it important to us. Logan County Electric Cooperative was in the top 33 % on a national level (out of 815 co-ops nationally).

Even though we are a small utility, with a small staff, we are very efficient at what we do, and we are able to offer our members exceptional reliability and member service.

Basic Service Charge

The basic service charge is a fixed charge that covers the co-op’s fixed costs of serving members. This charge does not change, regardless of the amount of electricity consumed by the member. This is not a new charge; it is just one that we have broken out on your bill so your can better understand how you are charged.

The costs covered by the BSC include, but are not limited to: administration, meter reading and processing, billing and payments, service lines, and equipment to serve your property.

The co-op only serves seven meters per mile of electric line. We have a small number of consumers to spread the fixed costs of conducting business. But we strive to offer our members exceptional member service. Your co-op has the highest member satisfaction score in Ohio. I believe that is because we listen to our members, provide exceptional electric service, and work hard to resolve conflicts.

We are proud to be part of the local community. And we will continue to provide our community and our members with the exceptional service they expect.

Operation Round Up

This is an opt-out program that “rounds up” your monthly electric bill to the next whole dollar. The accumulated money, averaging about 50 cents per month per member, is deposited to a foundation account and put to work helping organizations and individuals in Logan County.

Capital Credit Refund

Because your co-op is a not-for-profit electric utility that operates at cost, Logan County Electric Cooperative returns money to its members. The co-op collects enough revenue from its members to maintain day-to-day operations and to invest in capital improvements, without the need to generate profits for outside shareholders.

During the September board meeting, the trustees reviewed the co-op’s financial condition and approved returning capital credits. If you were a member 25 years ago, or in the past few years, you may receive a share of this money.

Part of the revenue that the co-op collects is called margins — traditional businesses call this revenue profit. It is necessary to collect for the financial stability of the cooperative. The trustees monitor the co-op’s financial stability and determine when the financial position permits the co-op to return these margins to members in the form of capital credits. Capital credits will appear as a bill credit labeled “Capital Credit Refund” on the bill due in December.

Conclusion

Electric rates are a complicated subject to talk about. But we want to be careful to help our members understand what they are being charged. More information about rates can be found on the back of your electric bill. And you are welcome to call the office if you have questions about the cost of electricity.

Data centers, power supply, and electricity rates

How they affect each other and electric cooperatives

Ohio and America’s appetite for electricity is at an all-time high. Why? Our world is more electrified today with high-tech gadgets, electric cars, and the need to stay warm or cool during extreme weather seasons. When demand is high and supply is low, prices go up in a volatile energy market. Consumers of public utility companies, also called investor-owned utility companies (or IOUs), experienced rate spikes firsthand this summer. Thankfully, rates among Ohio’s electric cooperatives, like Logan County Electric Cooperative have remained stable. Co-op members are shielded from volatile energy markets and rate spikes because they own their power generation plants. The supply of electricity is shrinking because of less power generation in the state. In 2009, Ohio had 21 coal-fired power plants generating electricity. Today there are just four remaining after closures due to overreaching U.S. Environmental Protection Agency regulations. The impending imbalance between supply and demand is the root cause of the high electric bills for public utility consumers. But the increasing price of transmission of electricity is impacting everyone.

More power demand at our doorstep

As supply is shrinking, power demand is growing at a steep rate. Data centers are driving the surge in power demand across the country. In 2020, the big four in data — Amazon, Microsoft, Google, and Meta — were collectively spending $25 billion every quarter for capital investment in data centers. Today, in 2025, they are spending four times that amount — $100 billion a quarter — according to their own websites.

What are data centers?

Data centers are the place where our favorite television shows, movies, photos, websites, and other cloud data are stored. More recently, they are the training ground for artificial intelligence tools like ChatGPT, and they consume a lot of power. A single ChatGPT search for information requires ten times the power of a standard Google internet search. To put it into a power perspective: Historically, one of the largest industrial manufacturing plants in Ohio used 500 megawatts, and most large plants use less than 50 MW. A single hyperscale AI data center can use 1,500 MW — enough to power 1 5 million homes.

Data centers in Ohio

Data centers are increasing power demand in Ohio, too. Central Ohio is currently experiencing massive data center growth, mainly outside electric cooperative territory. But that is changing. Soon, the first Ohio electric cooperative will begin serving a small data center, and several more cooperatives are in discussions with data centers now, and interest continues to grow. The largest investor-owned utility in the state, AEP Ohio, states that electric demand from data centers in Central Ohio today accounts for 4,000 MW of the 9,400 MW it serves across the state. By 2030, AEP Ohio expects electric demand from Central

Ohio data centers to double to 8,000 MW. Another 30,000 MW of proposed data center projects are seeking to connect. That’s more electric demand than the entire state of Ohio. Serving these new loads will require billions of dollars of investment in the transmission system, plus take years to build.

The

generation gap

PJM, the regional transmission organization that manages supply and demand for the grid in Ohio and 12 other states, is indicating there may not be enough power generation resources to serve the projected demand from data centers. Renewable energy sources are coming online, but wind and solar can’t always meet peak demand. To make matters more challenging, more baseload generation is expected to retire because of U.S. EPA rules and business decisions made several years ago.

Again, it’s this impending imbalance between generation supply and power demand that’s causing concern across the state and affecting the price of electricity for customers of investor-owned utilities, or IOUs, like AEP Ohio, AES, and Duke Energy.

Rate increases aren’t the only concern

In addition to higher rates, power reliability has been another concern: Will there be enough power to meet Ohio’s power needs year-round, especially if data centers come online? The reliability of electricity in Ohio and the PJM region is not a new concern. Ohio’s electric cooperatives have been alerting members and the public of the risk to electricity reliability and affordability since December 2022, when Ohio narrowly escaped blackouts on Christmas Eve during a stretch of extreme cold. Power demand was very high as people tried to stay warm, and supply was low due to plant closures and some natural gas plants freezing. Data centers are not causing the price spikes — it’s the supply-demand issue — but as data centers request to come online, the issue will become more challenging.

Thankfully, Buckeye Power Inc. has enough generation to meet all Ohio electric cooperative members’ current demands, even during extreme hot and cold weather However, Buckeye will likely need new generation to meet future demand driven by data centers.

If we build it, will they come?

“We’re not going to build $ billion in new generation on the hope that a data center meets its load forecast,” says Ben Wilson, vice president for power generation at Buckeye Power.

The company believes it is critical to get upfront cost commitment from data centers that come online before any new generation is developed to meet the data center’s load projections.

“Our focus is making sure all additional costs to serve a data center aren’t shifted to electric cooperative members,” says Craig Grooms, president and CEO, for Buckeye Power.

The transmission system is paid for by everyone that uses it through transmission rates. Calculating a transmission rate is relatively straightforward. In simple terms, it’s the value of the transmission system itself divided by the number of megawatts served by the system during peak demand, which is a one-hour point when usage of the transmission system is at its highest. Constructing new transmission lines and stations increases the system’s value and causes transmission rates to rise. Increasing demand on the system (while making little to no investment) can have the opposite effect, and lower transmission rates, but presents a risk to reliability.

How are transmission rates affected by connecting data centers?

It would require billions of dollars of investment in the transmission system to serve these loads, but data centers also increase the number of megawatts served by the transmission system during peak demand. If the data centers increase system demand by as much as they claim, transmission rates could remain unchanged or even decrease. We know transmission owners like AEP Ohio are planning to make billions of dollars of investments in their transmission systems, and those investments will lead to higher transmission rates. If the data centers don’t show up as planned and fail to increase demand on the transmission system, transmission rates would skyrocket.

To prevent huge increases in transmission rates, it is critical for data centers to commit to coming online and meeting their load projections. This will ensure that the transmission system investments are used and useful, and the cost of those investments is not burdening other customers using the transmission system.

It’s like sharing a pizza with a group of friends where everyone pitches in a certain amount to pay for pizza they plan to eat. If someone doesn’t show up to eat or pay for their share of pizza, everyone else is left to pay more. Plans have already surfaced to prevent this from happening with data centers.

Retail level plan

Investor-owned utility AEP Ohio just received approval for a retail tariff for data centers aimed at weeding out speculative data center requests. The plan also incentivizes data centers to accurately forecast their loads and would require them to pay for 85% of the load they forecast, whether the load is reached or not, so the utility isn’t overbuilding transmission and negatively affecting rates. AEP Ohio also included exit requirements to prevent a data center from coming in and leaving a year later, after transmission is built. AEP Ohio’s plan protects their retail customers but does not protect wholesale customers like electric cooperatives.

Wholesale level plan:

AES Ohio came up with a similar plan, but would put aside all monies collected from the data center’s requirement to pay a minimum percentage of its forecasted load and apply it at the wholesale level, so rates for electric cooperatives would not be impacted by stranded costs. Buckeye Power favors this approach.

• Wholesale level plan: Dominion in Virginia took another wholesale level approach, which is supported by Buckeye Power. Instead of basing transmission rates on one hour of peak demand per year, the plan proposes averaging 12 hours of peak demand a year to make it more difficult for a data center to fool the system by shutting off for one hour during peak load to defer the costs to everyone else. In this scenario, the data center would pay for its actual usage on the system.

• Pay-to-play plan: Another plan, supported by the Ohio Consumer Council, proposes making data centers pay for any new transmission built for them, but that is difficult to do in practice if you have many new large loads on the system. Again, it is critical to get commitment from data centers that they will come online and meet their load projections.

Build power generation faster

Data centers are willing to build their own generation, but historically, they’ve only built renewable generation sources, which provide intermittent power. The demand growth has data centers now realizing they need reliable, dispatchable generation resources. They are making investments in small modular nuclear reactors, as well as Bloom Energy fuel cells, which convert natural gas, biogas and hydrogen into electricity, with low to no carbon emissions. Some have even installed thermal resources with plans to isolate those resources, meaning they won’t connect to the grid, so they can avoid transmission costs and the length of time it takes to build transmission.

Some data centers have also sought to locate next to existing generating resources (like nuclear plants) so that the generation from those plants would be dedicated to serve the data center rather than the rest of the grid. These options help data centers to come online faster but do not resolve the overall capacity shortfall Ohio and the PJM region are facing. Ohio legislators support a competitive energy market in the state and are incentivizing generation companies to build new generation in Ohio. Higher market prices may also help encourage generators to construct new plants, but have driven up energy costs for customers whose utilities do not own generation to serve their customers.

Bright ideas for safe lighting

Sparkling lights and dazzling decorations are hallmarks of the season. Make sure your holiday decorating is done with safety in mind. Use only holiday lights that have been safety tested and have the UL label.

Before decorating, check each light strand for broken sockets, frayed cords, or faulty plugs. Always be sure to unplug the lights when replacing a bulb. Don’t string together more light strands than recommended by the manufacturer.

Outdoors, use only lights, cords, animated displays and decorations rated for outdoor use.

Cords should be plugged into outlets equipped with ground fault circuit interrupters. Use a portable GFCI if your outdoor outlets don’t have them.

Take extra care not to throw strings of lights over tree branches that are near power lines and service connections.

Safe Electricity offers these additional tips for safe holiday decorating:

• Place fresh-cut trees away from heat sources — such as heat registers, fireplaces, and radiators — and water the tree frequently.

• Match plugs with outlets. Don’t force a 3-pronged plug into a 2-pronged outlet or extension cord, or remove the third prong.

• Keep electric cords out of high-traffic areas. Do not run them through doorways; hide them under carpets; or staple, nail, or tack them to the wall.

• Always unplug lights before going to bed or leaving your home.

• Make sure extension cords are in good condition and are ULapproved and rated to carry the electrical load you will connect to them.

• Don’t let children or pets play with light strands.

Overloaded circuits are a major cause of fires. Flickering or dimming lights; sparks from appliances or outlets; and wall plates, plugs, or cords that are warm to the touch are warning signs that demand immediate action.

If you spot an electrical danger, make sure to unplug the malfunctioning appliance or device immediately and replace with one that works properly.

The holidays bring plenty of opportunities for holiday cooking and entertaining. Be safe in the kitchen as well, since 49% of home fires and injuries are caused by cooking equipment, according to the National Fire Protection Agency.

Follow these tips to avoid holiday shocks or fires:

• Inspect all small appliances and electric cords to make sure they are in good repair before using. Don’t use appliances with cracked or frayed cords.

• Read the operating instructions of any appliance before use.

• When purchasing new kitchen appliances, look for UL-Listed appliances with automatic shut-off features.

• Never plug more than one high-wattage appliance into a single outlet.

• Keep cooking areas free from items that could catch on fire; also clean up any greasy spills as they happen if you can safely do so.

• Stay focused and attentive to baking, brewing, and simmering foods.

• Make sure outlets near sinks are equipped with properly tested ground fault circuit interrupters (GFCIs) to prevent shocks.

• Always have a working fire extinguisher on hand and know how to use it.

Safe Electricity wishes you and your family a bright, safe holiday season!

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Cracking good time

The world’s largest collection of life-sized nutcrackers transforms Steubenville for the holidays.

BY MARGIE WUEBKER; PHOTOS COURTESY OF MADELINE STUTZMAN

The idea first came to Steubenville business owner Jerry Barilla in 2015 , when he thought that the sight of empty storefront windows deterred folks from coming to the downtown area to do their Christmas shopping. So, he set up a few nutcracker displays in those windows to make the area a bit more festive.

Fellow businessman Mark Nelson, however, put the concept in overdrive when he and his son-inlaw, Brodie Stutzman, built and erected a life-sized

nutcracker named Junior nearby. “He spent an entire year outside so we could see how he weathered heat, cold, rain, and snow,” Stutzman says. “He was such a hit that we created 150 more over the next few years.”

And so now, a decade after those first displays brought the area to life, more than 200 life-sized nutcrackers — the world’s largest such collection — transform downtown Steubenville each holiday season into the Nutcracker Village. This year’s event will continue through Jan. 9

Visitors to the Nutcracker Village encounter just about any character they could imagine in nutcracker form — from whimsical storybook heroes and cartoon characters to real-life movie and television stars; from historical legends and religious leaders to first responders and service members from the various branches of the military.

Rosie the Riveter is there, along with Charlie Brown, Captain Nemo, Shirley Temple, Pope John Paul II, Scarlett O’Hara, and John Glenn. Notable Steubenville

native Dean Martin has come home in nutcracker form, along with fellow “Rat Pack” members Joey Bishop, Sammy Davis Jr., and Ol’ Blue Eyes himself. New nutcrackers are added every year. (Famed soldier-turnedmovie-star Audie Murphy used to be here, but though most of the creations remain in the community, an outof-town visitor purchased Murphy’s figure to place in a Texas museum honoring the American hero.)

Stutzman says most of the nutcrackers he makes stand around 6 feet tall — with a notable exception. “I made

Continued on page 24

Cracking good time

continued from page 23

the Mouse King is 9 feet tall because I wanted him to look big and impressive,” he says.

The nutcrackers are carved from Styrofoam, which obviously makes the finished product easier to handle than wooden forms. The foam comes in 200-pound blocks — enough material for 14 figures. It takes roughly 400 hours to design, carve, and paint each one, and at the end of the process, they all get a fiberglass outer skin to afford some protection from the elements. Stutzman

estimates an additional 400 hours are spent each year on upkeep and repairs.

All that upkeep couldn’t happen without a legion of volunteers helping with everything from base-layer spray painting to making a twinkle in a Styrofoam eye and updating or repairing wardrobes.

“All the added detail brings each nutcracker to life and gives it personality,” says volunteer Gretchen Nelson, while working on one of the figures with her husband,

Mark. “Painting faces is the hardest part, but doing the hair can be tricky, too. Sometimes you have to take wigs apart and then glue the hair back on in layers, a few strands at a time.”

The wardrobes can also be complicated, depending on the specific character. Nelson recalls having trouble finding just the right fabric, for example, to make a skirt for Glinda the Good Witch. Even finding wands and other accessories is not as easy as it may sound.

It takes two full days to set up the elaborate display along the street and in front of sponsoring businesses. Other events taking place during the Nutcracker Village include a lantern parade led by jolly old St. Nicholas and the Children’s Corner, which offers free face painting, Christmas crafts, and photos with Santa Claus. There’s also a display of 400 Nativity scenes; a German Gluhwein Garden, where vendors set up shop to sell food and an assortment of wares; and several

productions of Woodenheart Follies, a family musical bringing to life nine nutcrackers. All the events are made possible through the Steubenville Cultural Trust, created to bring magic and hope to a city ready for its next great story.

“This all began as a way to revitalize downtown and help businesses,” Mark Nelson says. “We draw more and more people each year, so I think we’re accomplishing our goal.”

For more information, along with a full list of events, visit www.steubenvillenutcrackervillage.com.

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My husband, Tim, and our granddaughters, Kayla and Shelby Ross,

for

Cathy

Upload your photos at www.ohiocoopliving.com/memberinteractive. Your photo may be featured in our magazine or on our website! Send us YOUR picture!

For March, send “Tea party” by Dec. 15. For April, send “Photo bombs” by Jan. 15.

In the meantime, however, the order moved its motherhouse operations to Dayton, and the number of sisters residing at Maria Stein had declined to a point where the order needed help to oversee and maintain property and holdings. In December 2017, the convent transferred the deed to the shrine’s board of directors.

Travis is often amazed to see license plates from throughout the country in the parking lot. Visitors also come from places like New Zealand, Germany, and Switzerland, drawn there mostly by word of mouth.

Most visitors linger in the two chapels, viewing the relics and colorful stained glass windows imported from Germany.

In the main building, the first floor includes a reception area and a large gift shop. The Heritage Museum on the second floor offers a detailed history of the shrine, with displays showing how early nuns supported the congregation. In addition to creating and selling religious statues made from papier-mâché, they also fashioned vestments with intricate hand-sewn detail, tatted lace, and crocheted altar cloths. The order was mostly self-sufficient, growing vegetables and raising livestock.

The nuns also baked bread and pastries both for their own needs and to serve visitors. Today volunteers bake goods to be served at the Brunner Bake Shop on the third floor.

The adjacent Gathering Place is often used for meetings, programs, meals, and social events.

The building’s fourth floor has not been remodeled and is not currently in use, according to Travis — getting there would be a problem anyway, as the elevator only serves three floors.

Numerous events are held on the grounds every year. The largest of those — the three-day Maria Stein Countryfest each June — is a collaboration with the local Knights of St. John and American Legion Post 571, and features a tractor pull, amusement rides, concessions, and live music, as well as a pilgrimage that is a decades-old tradition.

Travis calls the Shrine’s 180 volunteers the “heartbeat” of the organization, since it employs a small staff. Proceeds from the ongoing heritage fundraising campaign, seasonal events, shop sales, and rental fees from the Gathering Place help maintain the facility.

“The Precious Blood sisters entrusted us with their legacy, and we are committed to preserving it for generations to come,” Travis says. “This is a place for all faiths, offering an atmosphere of peace, prayer, and hospitality.”

Maria Stein Shrine of the Holy Relics, 2291 St. Johns Rd., Maria Stein. www.mariasteinshrine.org.

JUST RELEASED!

No coin embodies the spirit of America more than the Morgan Silver Dollar. From the Comstock Lode discovery that provided millions of ounces of silver to make them, to outlaws robbing stagecoaches in the Wild West to pay for their bar tabs and brothel visits, the hefty Morgan Silver Dollar holds a special place in American history.

It’s no wonder collectors and history buffs alike clamor to get their hands on them. That is, if they can get their hands on them.

Prized Last-Year Coins

Collectors love “lasts” as no collection is complete without the last coin struck. Last year coins are often hard to fi nd and always in demand. Little did master engraver George T. Morgan know the legacy he was creating when he designed what has become known as “The King of Silver Dollars” but it came to an end 104 years ago with the last-year 1921 Morgan Silver Dollar, the most beloved coin in American history.

Public Release - Only 832 Coins Available

Rarcoa®, America’s Oldest Coin Company, is announcing the public release of 832 of the very last year 1921 Morgan Silver Dollars, struck at the iconic Philadelphia Mint. Each coin today comes in Brilliant Uncirculated condition, pristine as the day they were struck!

Hold 104 Years of American History

Struck in 1921, each coin is one hundred and four years old. Could Charles Lindbergh have carried your coin in his pocket during his fl ight across the Atlantic? Or maybe your greatgrandfather carried it while storming the beaches of Normandy during World War II before ending up in a small coin shop in Tuscaloosa, Oklahoma. Each coin has its own unique history and you can hold 104 years of American history when you buy yours today!

A Miracle of Survival

Coin experts estimate that only 15%-20% of Morgans are still surviving today due to multiple mass-meltings over the years. The Pittman Act of 1918 melted over 270,000,000 coins, that’s almost 50% of all coins produced at the time. Untold quantities were melted in the 1980s and 2000s when silver prices rose up to $50 per ounce.

Sold Nationally for as much as $141

This same 1921 Morgan Silver Dollar sells elsewhere for as much as $141. But thanks to Rarcoa’s buying power and numismatic expertise, you can own one for as little as $69, in quantity while supplies last. That’s a difference of up to $72!

Because the precious metals market is always active and dynamic, prices may adjust to reflect the latest market opportunities.

Act now and you can SAVE BIG when you buy more! But don’t wait, our inventory won’t last long.

1921 Morgan Silver Dollar Brilliant Uncirculated 1-4 coins - $79 each

5-9 coins - $74 each, Save up to $45 + FREE SHIPPING 10+ coins - $69 each, Save $100 or more + FREE SHIPPING

2025-26 DECEMBER/JANUARY

CALENDAR

NORTHWEST

THROUGH DEC. 30 – Upper’s Winter Fantasy of Lights, Harrison Smith Park, 525 E. Wyandot Ave., Upper Sandusky, Fri.–Sun. 6–10 p.m., Mon.–Thur. 6–9:30 p.m. $10/car, $15/van, $50/tour bus. The park’s 33 acres will be ablaze with millions of lights and a myriad of unique light displays. 419294-2351 or www.uppersfantasyoflights.org.

THROUGH DEC. 31 – Lake of Lights, Saulisberry Park/France Lake, 13344 St. Rte. 67 W., Kenton, 6–9 p.m. daily. $5 per car. Drive-through lighting event. Special events held on the weekends. 567674-4567, lakeoflights08@gmail.com, or www. facebook.com/LakeOfLights.

THROUGH JAN. 3 – NWORRP North Pole Express, Northwest Ohio Railroad Preservation Inc., 12505 Co. Rd. 99, Findlay. $5; 12 and under, $3. Hop on board our quarter-scale trains for a trip through a winter wonderland of lights and festive decorations. See operating toy trains, hundreds of decorated trees, and Santa and Mrs. Claus on select nights. 419-423-2995, www. facebook.com/nworrp, or www.nworrp.org.

THROUGH JAN. 4 – “Hayes Train Special” Model Train Display, Hayes Library and Museums, Spiegel Grove, 1337 Hayes Ave., Fremont. Free; donations accepted. Operating

SOUTHWEST

THROUGH DEC. 31 – Light Up Middletown, Smith Park, 500 Tytus Ave., Middletown, 6–10 p.m. nightly. Drive-through fantasy light display, open in all weather. Admission by cash donation — you set the price! www.lightupmiddletown. org.

THROUGH DEC. 23 – North Pole Express, LM&M Railroad, 16 E. South St., Lebanon. $35–$50; under 2, $10. Visit with Santa and his elves as you take a ride on a vintage train! Children

model train display runs through an intricate Victorian holiday scene. Interactive buttons, multitiered layout. 419-332-2081 or www.rbhayes.org.

DEC. 6 – Christmas at Apollo Craft Show, Apollo Career Center, 3325 Shawnee Rd., Lima, 9 a.m.–2 p.m. $5; 12 and under free. Over 100 crafters selling homemade and handcrafted wares. Food available for purchase. www.facebook.com/apollocareercenter.

DEC. 6 – Donuts with Santa, Koenig Equipment, 306 N. Main St., Botkins, 10-11:30 a.m. Festive fun, sweet treats, and a visit from the jolly elf, plus holiday savings on John Deere toys and merchandise. www.koenigequipment.com/ resources/events.

DEC. 8–22 – Winter Wonderland Light Display, Sandusky Co. Fgds., 901 Rawson Ave., Fremont. Drive-through, Dec. 8–18 and 21–22, 6–8 p.m., $5 per car. Walk-through, Dec. 19–20, 6–9 p.m., $2, under 12 free. 419-332-5604 or www. sanduskycountyfair.com.

DEC. 19 – Classic Movie Night: It’s a Wonderful Life, Hancock Historical Museum, 422 W. Sandusky St., Findlay, 7 p.m. Free; donations accepted. Historical information presented before and discussion after the movie. Popcorn and refreshments provided; feel free to BYOB. 419423-4433 or www.hancockhistoricalmuseum.org/ special-events.

DEC. 19–20 – Hayes Home Holidays: “Spirits of Christmas,” Spiegel Grove, 1337 Hayes Ave., Fremont, 5–9 p.m., final tour starting at 8 p.m. Tour the Hayes home and hear beloved Christmas stories by Charles Dickens. Before your tour, enjoy the “Hayes Train Special” model train display in the auditorium. 419-332-2081 or www. rbhayes.org.

DEC. 19–20 – Silver Screen Classics: It’s a Wonderful Life, Valentine Theatre, 400 N. Superior St., Toledo, 7:30 p.m. $8. See Frank Capra’s perennial holiday classic on the big screen. 419-

will receive a souvenir bell and a holiday cookie. Hot chocolate available for purchase. www. lebanonrr.com/holiday-special-events.

THROUGH DEC. 28 – Ornament Blow, Neusole Glassworks, 11925 Kemper Springs Dr., Cincinnati, Wed./Thur. 10 a.m.–6 p.m., Fri.–Sun. 10 a.m.–8 p.m. (closed 24th and 25th). $45 per 15-minute session. Must be 5 years and older. With help from our professional glassblowers, you can make your own Christmas ornament from hot molten glass! Reservations required. 513-751-3292 or neusoleglassworks@hotmail.com.

THROUGH JAN. 4 – Holiday Lights on the Hill, Pyramid Hill Sculpture Park and Museum, 1763 Hamilton-Cleves Rd., Hamilton. Tues.–Thur., Sun.: 6–9 p.m.; Fri./Sat.: 6–10 p.m.; closed Mondays. $25 per carload. Drive-through tour featuring over 1 million lights and illuminated installations by local artists. www.pyramidhill. org/events/lights.

THROUGH JAN. 28 – Bluegrass Wednesdays, Vinoklet Winery, 11069 Colerain Ave., Cincinnati, Wed. 6:30–8:30 p.m. Enjoy dinner, wine, and

242-2787 or www.valentinetheatre.com.

DEC. 26–31 – Horse-Drawn Sleigh and Trolley Rides at Spiegel Grove, 1337 Hayes Ave., Fremont, 1–4 p.m. $6 trolley, $7 sleigh; 2 and under free. Rides are drawn by South Creek Clydesdales. 419-332-2081 or www.rbhayes.org.

DEC. 31 – Lima Symphony NYE Pops: Queen in Concert, Veterans Memorial Civic and Convention Center, #7 Town Square, Lima, 7:30 p.m. $40–$50. Ring in the new year with this rock spectacular that brings the iconic music of Queen to life. 419-222-5701 or www.limasymphony.com.

JAN. 3 – Model Train Clinic, Hayes Presidential Library and Museums, Spiegel Grove, 1337 Hayes Ave., Fremont, 11 a.m.–4 p.m. $5; 5 and under free. Veteran model train hobbyists will examine your model train and help you with issues. You can also run your trains on the “Hayes Train Special” track. 419-332-2081 or www.rbhayes.org.

JAN. 3–4 – Tri-State Gun Show, Allen Co. Fgds., 2750 Harding Hwy., Lima, Sat. 8:30 a.m.–4 p.m., Sun. 8:30 a.m.–2 p.m. $8; 18 and under free. Cash only. Over 400 tables of modern and antique guns, edged weapons, and sportsmen equipment. 419-647-0067 (Manetta Obringer) or www. allencofair.com/events-calendar.

JAN. 6–MAY 12 – Line Dancing, Delphos Eagles Aerie #471, 1600 E. Fifth St., Tues. 6–7:30 p.m. $5 Step-by-step instructions given at the beginning of each class. Everyone can learn! Private lessons also available. Taught by Kelly Jackson Kroeger (see her Facebook page). www.visitgreaterlima. com/calendar.

JAN. 8 – Alter Ego: The World of Rock n’ Roll, Crouse Performance Hall, Veterans Memorial Civic and Convention Center, #7 Town Square, Lima, 7:30 p.m. $25–$76. Tribute show catapulting you through a time warp where ’70s disco fever clashes with ’80s rock rebellion and ’90s pop anthems. 419-224-1552 or www.limaciviccenter.com.

an evening of free entertainment by Vernon McIntyre’s Appalachian Grass. Reservations recommended. 513-385-9309, vinokletwinery@ fuse.net, or www.vinokletwines.com.

DEC. 1–31 – ParkLights at Caesar Ford Park, 520 S. Stringtown Rd., Xenia, 6–9 p.m. Drivethrough dazzling light display. 937-562-6440 or www.gcpkstrails.com/events/parklights.

DEC. 10–11 – “Jingle Jazz: The Nutcracker Remix,” The Redmoor, 3187 Linwood Ave., Cincinnati, 7 p.m. $10–$35. This swinging holiday tradition features jazzy takes on classic carols and soulful seasonal surprises. We also will be celebrating the release of CCJO’s brandnew Nutcracker Remix album. 513-227-1039 or www.cincinnatijazz.org.

DEC. 19 – A Madcap Christmas Carol, Oxford Community Arts Center, 10 S. College Ave., Oxford, 7–8 p.m. Featuring Madcap Puppets. A brand-new, family-friendly twist on a classic tale. Recommended ages: 4–10 513-524-8506 or www.oxarts.org.

NORTHEAST

THROUGH DEC. 28 – Ashtabula County’s Lights on the Lake, Lakeshore Park, 1700 E. 1st St., Ashtabula, Fri.–Sun. 6–9 p.m.; Dec. 24–25, 6–9 p.m. Car/van $5, bus $1/person, mini bus $20 Largest holiday light display on Lake Erie, with over 70 displays on 54 acres of rolling hills and the majestic backdrop of Lake Erie. 440-993-1051 or www.aclotl.com.

THROUGH DEC. 28 – Elegant Illusions DriveThrough Park, Portage County Randolph Fgds., 4215 Fairground Rd., Atwater. $20 car; $40–$50 limo/tour bus. All-new LED displays, the latest in animatronics, and over 50 holiday scenes, plus visits with Santa and Mr. Grinch. 330-947-2974 or www.elegantchristmaslighting.com.

THROUGH DEC. 31 – “Brightman Family Christmas: Holidays at the Mansion,” Victorian House Museum, 484 Wooster Rd., Millersburg, Sun.–Thur. 1–4 p.m., Fri./Sat. 1–8 p.m. $10; seniors and veterans/active military, $9. Step back in time and celebrate the holidays in

WEST VIRGINIA

Victorian splendor! 330-674-0022 or https://www. holmeshistory.com/museum.

THROUGH JAN. 3 – Christmas at the Fort, Historic Fort Steuben, 120 S. 3rd St., Steubenville. Holiday Market, colorful lights and decorations, puppet shows, photo opportunities, music, Christmas Shoppe, Holly Trolley rides, and tours of Fort Steuben. www.oldfortsteuben.com.

THROUGH JAN. 9 – Steubenville Nutcracker Village, downtown Steubenville. Free. See 200 large-as-life, unique nutcrackers stationed amid lights and holiday decorations throughout the downtown 24/7. Also enjoy hayrides, children’s activities, music, crafts, and much more! 740-2834935 or www.steubenvillenutcrackervillage.com.

DEC. 4–23, 26–30 – Stan Hywet’s Deck the Hall, Stan Hywet Hall and Gardens, 714 N. Portage Path, Akron, 3–8 p.m. $13–$28; 2 and under free. Over 1 million holiday lights across the estate, dazzling winter-themed décor inside the Manor House, shopping, refreshments, and visits with Santa. 330-315-3287 or https://stanhywet.org/ events/deck-hall.

DEC. 5–7, 12–14 – Candlelight Holiday Tours of the Big House, Malabar Farm, 4050 Bromfield Rd., Lucas, Fri./Sat. 5–8 p.m., Sun. 1–4 p.m. $6 adults, $4 children. Self-guided tours of Louis Bromfield’s historic home, all decked out for the holidays. Enjoy cookies and warm drinks after the tour. 419-892-2784 or www.facebook.com/ MalabarFarm/events.

DEC. 5–7, 12–14, 20–28 – Medina County Fair Drive Thru Holiday Lights, Medina Co. Fgds., 720 W. Smith Rd., Medina, Sun.–Thur. 6–9 p.m., Fri./Sat. 6–10 p.m. Cars $10, small bus/15-

passenger van $20, large bus $70 330-723-9633 or www.medinaohiofair.com.

DEC. 13–14 – Jingle Mingle Craft and Vendor Show, Ehrnfelt Recreation Center, 18100 Royalton Rd., Strongsville, Sat. 9 a.m.–2 p.m., Sun. 10 a.m.–3 p.m. Free admission. Over 70 vendors selling handmade crafts, wood items, home decor, seasonal items, handmade cards, and much more. www.hometownvendors.org.

DEC. 14 – Willoughby Winter Pop-Up Shop, Willoughby Senior Center, 36939 Ridge Rd., Willoughby, 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Free admission/ parking. Join us for our last show of the season, where artists and crafters will be selling their original handmade items. www.avantgardeshows. com.

DEC. 21 – Flea Market of Collectables, Medina County Community Center, 735 Lafayette Rd., Medina, 9 a.m.–3 p.m. $3. Early bird special admission 6–9 a.m., $4. A treasure trove of vintage items and collectibles. 330-948-4300 or https://conraddowdell.com/event.

JAN. 3 – Snow Dogs Train Show, Emidio and Sons Expo Center, 48 E. Bath Rd., Cuyahoga Falls, 10 a.m.–3 p.m. $6; under 12 free. Free parking. Operating layout of several gauges, many dealers, good food at reasonable prices. www.cvsga.com.

JAN. 7–11 – Ohio RV Supershow, I-X Center, Cleveland, Wed.–Fri. 12–9 p.m., Sat./Sun. 10 a.m.–9 p.m. $15–$18; 12 and under free. Discover the latest RV models, meet industry experts, and find everything you need for your next adventure. Demos, fun activities, and entertainment. www. ohiorvshow.com.

THROUGH DEC. 29 – Celebration of Lights, Morris Park, Fairmont. $10/car, $40/bus. See over 540 Christmas light displays in this 1 3-mile drivethrough tour. Wednesdays are walker nights and are closed to traffic: $5/person; under 12 free. Closed 24th and 25th. 304-366-4550 or www. celebrationoflightswv.com.

THROUGH JAN. 4 – Winter Festival of Lights, Oglebay Resort, Wheeling, nightly from dusk to midnight. Featuring 300 acres of twinkling lights over a 6-mile drive, with more than 100 lighted attractions. Suggested donation of $30 per car; pass good for the entire festival season. 877-4361797 or www.oglebay.com.

2025-26 DECEMBER/JANUARY

CALENDAR

SOUTHEAST

THROUGH DEC. 20 – The Christmas Cave, White Gravel Mines, 4007 White Gravel McDaniel Rd., Minford, Fri./Sat. 4–10 p.m. Free admission; donations appreciated. See the story of Christ’s birth unfold around you in lighted displays throughout the cave. 740-820-6161 or www. whitegravelmines.com/the-christmas-cave.

THROUGH DEC. 20 – Santa Train, Hocking Valley Scenic Railway, Nelsonville Depot, 33 W. Canal St., Nelsonville. $19–$24; under 3 free. Santa boards the train and visits with each child as the train traverses the historic Hocking River Valley. See website for dates and times. www. hvsry.org/train-rides/santa.

CENTRAL

THROUGH JAN. 4 – Butch Bando’s Fantasy of Lights, Alum Creek State Park Campgrounds, 3311 S. Old State Rd., Delaware, Sun.–Thur. 5:30–9 p.m., Fri./Sat. 5:30–10 p.m. Locally owned and family-operated drive-through holiday light show. See website for ticket information. 614-412-3499 or https://butchbandosfantasyoflights.com.

THROUGH JAN. 6 – Nativity at Cathedral Square, St. Joseph Cathedral, 212 E. Broad St., Columbus. Free. Historic outdoor life-sized Nativity display (formerly at State Auto). Lighting times: daily 6–8 a.m., 5–11:30 p.m.; until 12:30 a.m. Fri./Sat.; Christmas Eve 3 p.m. until 8 a.m. Christmas Day. Choir schedule available at www. facebook.com/catholicmuseumcolumbus.

DEC. 7 – Coshocton Community

Choir: Christmas Festival Concert, River View High School Auditorium, 26496 St. Rte. 60, Warsaw, 3–4:30 p.m. Free-will donations only. The 80-voice adult choir, the Coshocton Youth Chorale,

THROUGH DEC. 21 – The Magic of Christmas Mansion Tours, Belmont County Victorian Mansion Museum, 532 N. Chestnut St., Barnesville, Fri. 5–8 p.m., Sat./Sun. 1–4 p.m. Join us for some Christmas cheer and see our mansion museum decorated for the season. www.belmontcountymuseum.com.

THROUGH DEC. 31 – Dickens Victorian Village, downtown Cambridge. Stroll the downtown streets to view more than 100 lifelike scenes that capture the spirit of Victorian England. 800-9335480 or www.dickensvictorianvillage.com.

THROUGH JAN. 1 – Guernsey County Courthouse Holiday Light Show, Cambridge. Synchronized light and music shows nightly. More than 85,000 lights, two amazing 23-foot Christmas trees, and 60 animated displays. 800933-5480 or www.dickensvictorianvillage.com.

THROUGH JAN. 4 – Winterfest, Market Square Park, Portsmouth. Get ready to step into a winter wonderland where the festive spirit comes alive, with an ice skating rink, craft vendors, food trucks, live music, carriage rides, and even visits with Santa Claus himself! www. friendsofportsmouth.com/Winterfest.

DEC. 10 – A Christmas Carol, Peoples Bank Theatre, 222 Putnam St., Marietta, 7 p.m. $29–$54. A dazzling new adaptation of Dickens’

beloved classic Christmas story, with more than two dozen timeless Christmas carols woven throughout the production. 740-371-5152 or www.peoplesbanktheatre.com/event.

DEC. 11, 18, 20 – Victorian Christmas Tours: The Davis Family Christmas, The Castle Museum, 418 4th St., Marietta, 7–8 p.m. $14 50; 7 and under free. Reservations recommended. Step back into 1888 and discover how the Davis family celebrated the holiday season. Enjoy engaging stories, immersive displays, and interactive moments. 740-373-1480 or www. mariettacastle.org.

DEC. 16 – Christmas with John Berry, Majestic Theatre, 45 E. Second St., Chillicothe, Time: 7:30 p.m. $32–$57. The Grammy-winning singer/ songwriter is back for his 29th annual Christmas tour, featuring classic carols, fan favorites like “O Holy Night,” and heartwarming stories. VIP packages available. www.majesticchillicothe.net.

DEC. 31 – New Year’s Eve Train and Fireworks, Hocking Valley Scenic Railway, Nelsonville Depot, 33 W. Canal St., Nelsonville, 10:30 p.m.–12:30 a.m. $25–$38. The train will travel to East Logan and return, stopping near the stroke of midnight to ring in the new year with a fireworks display! Refreshments served. www. hvsry.org/train-rides.

the Coshocton Singers, the Roscoe Brass, and additional instrumentalists will perform sacred choral music, familiar Christmas tunes, hymns, classical and popular works, and more. 740-6230554 or www.coshoctoncommunitychoir.org.

DEC. 12 – Columbus Symphony Orchestra Holiday Spectacular, Faith Memorial Church, 2610 W. Fair Ave., Lancaster, 7:30 p.m. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Adults $30, children $10 Tickets available online or by calling the CBUSArts Ticket Office at 614-469-0939 or the church office at 740-654-1711. For more information, visit www. columbussymphony.com or www.faithm.ch.

DEC. 13 – Holiday Cookie Walk, Fairfield County Genealogical Research Library, 503 Lenwood Dr., Lancaster (corner of West Mulberry and Lenwood), 1–4 p.m. Homemade cookies $6 per pound. 740653-2573 or www.fairfieldgenealogy.org.

DEC. 14 – Columbus Winter Avant-Garde Art and Craft Show, Makoy Event Center, 5462 Center St., Hilliard, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. $3; under 12 free. Artists and crafters will be selling their original handmade items. Full concessions stand on-site. A portion of proceeds will benefit a local nonprofit, Hope Hollow. www.avantgardeshows.com.

DEC. 20–21 – Scott Antique Market, Ohio Expo Center, 717 E. 17th Ave., Columbus, Sat. 9 a.m.–6 p.m., Sun. 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Free admission. Parking $7. America’s favorite treasure hunt! info@scottantiquemarket.com or www. scottantiquemarkets.com.

DEC. 21 – Last Chance Holiday Market, Historic Granville Inn, 314 E. Broadway, Granville, 11 a.m.–

4 p.m. Free admission and parking. A Made Local event in Ohio’s very own Hallmark Christmas village! 30 vendors. 614-937-7177 or www. facebook.com/madelocalevents/events.

JAN. 2 – First Friday Art Walk, downtown Zanesville, 5–8 p.m. Come downtown on the first Friday of the month, when all our participating galleries, studios, and small businesses are open at the same time! For a map of current participants, visit https://artcoz.org/arts-districtmap.

JAN. 2–4 – Columbus Building and Renovation Expo, Ohio Expo Center, Kasich Hall, 717 E. 17th Ave., Columbus, Fri. 12–6 p.m., Sat. 10 a.m.–6 p.m., Sun. 11 a.m.–5 p.m. $5; under 18 free. Parking $7. From top-quality exhibits to insightful demos and more, you’ll discover thousands of ways to design or renovate your home. www. homeshowcenter.com.

JAN. 9–18 – Ohio RV and Boat Show, Ohio Expo Center, 717 E. 17th St., Columbus. $13–$15; 12 and under free. Parking $7. See the new year’s RVs, campers, boats, pontoon/tritoons, PWC, golf cars, and motorcycles. www.ohiorvandboatshow.com.

JAN. 11 – Buckeye Valley FFA Alumni Annual Farm Toy Show, Buckeye Valley High School, 901 Coover Rd., Delaware (3 miles north of Delaware off Rte. 23), 9 a.m.–2 p.m. $2; 12 and under free. Vintage and new farm toys, toy trucks, farm collectibles, NASCAR items, and much more! Baked goods, food, raffle, door prizes, kiddie tractor pull (9 a.m.–noon). Breakfast $7, 8–10 a.m. (includes show admission). 740-272-1782

WINTER ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND SAFETY TIPS

Energy strategies to keep your holidays merry, bright, affordable and safe!

Energy strategies to keep your holidays merry, bright, affordable and safe!

ohioec.org/energy

 Seal air leaks to prevent heat from escaping and cold air from entering your home.

 Seal air leaks to prevent heat from escaping and cold air from entering your home.

 Use timers indoors and out to give your decorations — and your electric bill — a break.

 Use timers indoors and out to give your decorations—and your electric bill—a break.

 Switch to a smart thermostat and save up to 15% on energy costs.

 Switch to a smart thermostat and save up to 15% on energy costs.

 Open blinds and curtains during the day to allow sunlight in to warm your home. Close blinds and curtains at night to keep out cold, drafty air.

 Open blinds and curtains during the day to allow sunlight in to warm your home. Close blinds and curtains at night to keep out cold, drafty air.

 Switch to LED lights. They stay cool, use up to 80% less energy than traditional bulbs, and reduce the risk of fire.

 Switch to LED lights. They stay cool, use up to 80% less energy than traditional bulbs, and reduce the risk of fire.

 Lower your water heater temperature to 120 degrees to prevent scalding and save energy.

 Lower your water heater temperature to 120 degrees to prevent scalding and save energy.

 Avoid running cords under rugs or in places where pets might be tempted to chew.

 Avoid running cords under rugs or in places where pets might be tempted to chew.