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October 09 Magazine Edition ©


OHIO'S #1 MAGAZINE AND #2 TOURISM SOURCE ONLINE

   

OHIO'S ONLY NATIONAL PARK

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Mother nature carved a niche of artistry when the last ice age retreated, leaving us with Ohio’s only national park.

Native American’s pronounced its name Ka-ih-ogh-ha. It’s meaning – crooked river. An aerial view of it looks like God created a 100 mile smile in the landscape. Its headwater or origin is east of Cleveland. Its waters run south and then north emptying its mouth into Lake Erie.

Certainly this pleasant view from above can sometimes seem like heaven on Earth. So it was preserved as Cuyahoga Valley National Park. Although there are national historic sites, national historic parks and memorials in Ohio, this is the only site recognized with the status of national park, according to the National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior.

The park’s valley spans 33,000 acres along a 22 mile section of the Cuyahoga River between Akron and Cleveland. It offers forests, prairies, wetlands, gorges, historic towns, canal way and a scenic railway. Hiking opportunities abound. It is a biking paradise.

The entire park system is so bike friendly you can pedal the distance along the Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath Trail. This path along the river and old canal is flat and has a hard surface making it handicap accessible as well. If you grow tired of walking, running or pedaling, you can hop the train. Pay an additional $2 to transport your bike with you. The Cuyahoga Scenic Railway has eight depots across the park and each depot has six boarding times regularly from Wednesday through Sunday from June through October. An all-day pass to hop on and off trains at will costs $15/adult and $10/child.

The heart of the park bustles around the Peninsula Depot. The historic town of Peninsula offers shops, galleries and restaurants along with historic architecture. The depot itself was originally erected in 1879. Off the beaten path are three nearby waterfalls. Brandywine Falls is the most popular. A boardwalk cuts into the cliff and parts the trees to an overlook that delivers a vista of cascading water. So beautiful is this spot, just about any wedding photographer in the region worth his salt is sure to lure bridal parties there for stunning wedding pictures.

The walkway stretches to the top of the falls where the foundation and wall of an 1814 saw mill still stands. It is one of the few remnants of the old village of Brandywine – one of the first communities to flourish in the Cuyahoga Valley. Another survivor of this lost village is the Inn at Brandywine Falls built in 1848. This luxurious property is renovated offering modern amenities like wireless Internet, but its rooms are decorated with Ohio antiques.

Other areas of the park system are not as easy as accessing trailheads near the Towpath but are gems just the same. One that should not be missed is simply known as the Ledges. The Ledges are just that – ledges of rock. Walk through the woods and you come to a ravine. The lookout point reveals a wooded valley with towering oak and hickory trees as far as the eyes can see. It takes little imagination to walk a mile in someone else’s moccasins at this point. But walk you will. A grand stone staircase descends to the bottom of the ledges where the real fun begins. Hikers will need to navigate boulders, slip between enormous cracks in the stone walls that jut up the cliff straight into the surrounding tree line. Mixed into the peculiar rock outcrops are hemlock and wildflowers. Don’t miss Ice Box Cave. How far can you go into it without a flashlight is the question.

Cuyahoga Valley National Park includes a matrix of hiking trails, including part of the statewide Buckeye Trail. Other highlights include plenty of fishing and picnicking areas, bridle trails and Shady Oaks Farm bed and breakfast where you can stable your horses. Ranger guided tours are available too. If you enjoy golfing, there are four public golf courses to choose from.

In October, there are specialty trains scheduled at the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railway, including Grape Escape, Halloween Express and Ghost Train. For complete rail excursion information, visit www.cvsr.com.  

Other October happenings throughout Cuyahoga Valley National Park include musical events, dance, visual arts and night hiking.

  • Listen to Harry Manx the “Mysticssippi” blues man who creates musical short stories on Friday, October 16 at Happy Days Lodge ($15/adult).
     

  • The Peninsula Jazz Festival is free on Sunday, October 11 at Happy Days Lodge from 2-5pm.
     

  • Become part of a living tradition in Cuyahoga Valley Contra Dance on October 8 and 22 ($6 fee).
     

  • Go on the next scheduled photo walk or see renowned photographer Tony Sweet present his Images of Nature on Sunday, October 25 from 3-5pm at Happy Days Lodge ($9 fee).
     

  • Ledges Shelter hosts Autumn Constellations from 7-9pm on October 24. Bring a reclining lawn chair and blanket.
     

  • Birds of the Cuyahoga Marshland is scheduled from 8:30 – 10:30pm on Saturday, October 31.
     

  • Full Moon Hikes are scheduled for October 3 and November 2 beginning at 7pm from the Hunt Farm Visitor Information Center and Boston Store Visitor Center, respectively.
     

  • Night Orienteering challenges your nighttime navigational skills on Saturday, October 17 at the Kendall Lake Shelter. Registration is 6-7pm. Bring flashlight, extra batteries, whistle and compass. Fee is $8. Call 866-812-8316 for more information.

Complete details about Cuyahoga Valley National Park, including maps and visitor information, are at www.nps.gov/cuva. A complete attractions guide for the park is available at www.dayinthevalley.com. You may also contact the park by calling (800) 445-9667.    

By Frank R. Satullo, the OhioTraveler

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COLOR THE SEASON PINK

Farm Video / Paintball Video

Run with the pink pigs and shoot up the corn maze with pink paintballs for cancer awareness at Niederman Family Farm this fall.

The Harvest Moon Corn Maze, September 18 – October 31, is celebrating life with the most unusual combination of activities. It features pig races and children of the corn paintball battle. It’ll also feature all-time favorites including the 22-acre corn maze with trivia stations and lookout tower, horse-drawn hayrides, pick your own pumpkin at the patch, bon fires, livestock, games and plenty of food.  

“We just want to celebrate life to its fullest for a couple reasons,” Said Bethann Niederman. “My husband Bob is a cancer survivor and together we decided to implement our craziest ideas this year to make our Corn Maze and fall activities like nothing else around.”

Right now Bob is training pigs to race. He built two pig pens and a long track connecting them.

“Pigs are smart,” Said Bob. “They catch on fast. When I open their pen and ring the bell, they know it’s feeding time and go from pen-A to pen-B in no-time flat.”

Although the pigs are separated from the public, anyone can cheer them on. It should make for some hilarious out-takes.

Meanwhile, the farm has humans wandering through a maze of their own. This year’s 22-acre corn field consists of paths cut into it to represent 18 huge cancer awareness ribbons and the words, “Celebrate Life.” Niederman Family Farm has partnered with the American Cancer Society and will make a donation to the American Cancer Research Fund at the end of the fall activities. The Niederman corn maze is known to add extra fun by placing trivia stations throughout the paths. There’s a prize drawing for those who turn in correct answers to all the trivia questions. This year’s theme is consistent with the “celebrate life” mantra.

“Nutrition starts at the farm,” Said Bethann Niederman. “So we thought this year, it would make sense to relate the trivia to health facts and cancer awareness. It’s our way to give back after the support we received during Bob’s bout with cancer.”

A representative from the American Cancer Society will be at the farm providing educational opportunities during the high-traffic hours in late September through October. 

The Fall 2009 Harvest Moon activities on Niederman Family Farm include farm tours, horse and tractor drawn hayrides, picking your own pumpkin from the pumpkin patch, massive playground and newly expanded picnic pavilion. There are also plenty of exciting family activities, farm animals to see, pigs to race, corn maze to explore – by day or by flashlight at night, bonfire pits, barn rentals, paintball courses, and even a cozy bed and breakfast inn. A couple of other new additions to this year’s fun are the bunny houses and a train made from 55-gallon barrels offering rides to all.

“More and more family, corporate, church and kids groups are discovering the farm is as entertaining at night as it is by day,” Said Bob Niederman. “Finding your way through the corn maze in the day is one thing but try it by flashlight at night. It’ll play tricks on the mind.”

Then gather around a bon fire pit and cozy up with family and friends for stories, a weenie roast and s’mores. You can even take home fresh kettle-corn, cotton candy, caramel apples and plenty other fall treats.

Perhaps the biggest treat of the season is for paintball enthusiasts. Niederman Family Farm has built a reputation as one of the premiere paintball destinations around. The 210 acre farm features numerous speed ball courses and dramatic woodland scenes. It even hosts major tournaments and themed events that range from Star Wars to Wizard of Oz.

When the Harvest Moon Corn Maze closes October 31, paintball enthusiasts will swarm the farm the following day on November 1 for a battle in the corn maze.

“This is the first time we’ve offered this opportunity,” Said Bethann Niederman. “From what we can tell, this is going to be big-time fun.”

Everything anyone needs to play paintball is available at Niederman Family Farm: Safety goggles, guns, paintballs and anything else to suit up and join the fun.

Niederman Family Farm is conveniently located near I-75 between Cincinnati and Dayton at 5110 LeSourdesville-West Chester Road in Liberty Township, Ohio. Call 513-779-6184 or visit www.niedermanfamilyfarm.com for more information.

By Frank R. Satullo, The OhioTraveler

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EXPERIENCES TO WOW THE SENSES 

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Perhaps it may seem a little strange to mention Bluegrass music, ghostly experiences and a Christmas festival all in the same sentence, but it makes perfect sense to the people of Wilmington in southwest Ohio.   Whether it’s the Southern Ohio Indoor Music Festival, jammin’ to the Newsboys, having Dinner With A Ghost, taking a Haunted Hollow Ride or being star struck by thousands of lights at the Hometown Holidazzle Illuminated Parade and Festival, attendees will undoubtedly find themselves awe struck when the red carpet is rolled out at each of these upcoming events. 

Whether a believer or not, good old-fashioned ghosts can be the medium for a whole lot of fun.  October in Clinton County is a ghostly occasion, whether you choose to dine with ghosts or take a haunted ride.  At Snow Hill’s Dinner & A Ghost, dine, tour and hunt for ghosts, camera in one hand and recorder in another.  Don’t be surprised if you catch a spirit floating by.  Dinner & A Ghost takes place on Friday October 23, Saturday October 24, and on Friday, October 30.  Space is limited so call 937-987-2491 today for reservations.  Snow Hill is located at 11093 S.R. 73, New Vienna, Ohio, just 10 minutes from Wilmington. 

Are you into a little less subdued adrenaline rush?  Then it’s the Haunted Hollow Ride for you.  Home to fire breathing semi’s, ride in an open top bus through the haunted woods as unsuspecting victims are chased  by monsters, madness and mayhem.  The Ride is open every Friday and Saturday, September 23 through October 31, dusk to midnight.  For more information call 937-382-6147.  The Ride takes place at 1251 Dalton Rd., Wilmington. 

World renowned Bluegrass music is in store for those at the Southern Ohio Music Festival, where for two days foot tappin’ and hand slappin’ are mandatory.  Accomplished banjo, mandolin, guitar and fiddle playing are an unwritten prerequisite for all the groups featured.  From touching ballads and southern Gospel to boot scootin’ boogie, there’s a tempo for everyone.  For hours upon hours, the crowd is entertained as back-to-back performers never waiver.  After the show, the bands and festival attendees come together at jam sessions until the wee hours of the morning.  The festival takes place at the Roberts Centre, I-71 and S.R. 68 (Exit 50) on November 13 and 14.  For ticket information, call 937-283-3200 or visit www.somusicfest.com.

The following day (November 15), the Newsboys, a contemporary Christian band, will perform at the Roberts Centre as part of their On The Way We Roll Tour With five gold albums, sales exceeding six million units, more than 20 number one radio hits, and a mantle of Dove Awards as well as Grammy nominations, the group has achieved phenomenal success in its two decades together. Known for their amazing live performances and groundbreaking tours, the Newsboys continue to sell out festivals and concerts worldwide, satisfying diehard fans and winning new ones in the process.  For tickets call 937-283-3200.

As the calendar advances from autumn to the Christmas season, another great event awaits visitors to Wilmington on the Saturday after Thanksgiving.  Imagine the ambiance of small town America and a parade of marching bands, festive floats, and horse drawn carriages, decorated with thousands of twinkling lights.  Adding to the fun are street vendors, holiday concerts, hot air balloon glows, and the arrival of Santa Claus. The Hometown Holidazzle Illuminated Parade and Festival is one-of-a-kind festivity. 

You have an open invitation from the folks in Wilmington to join them at these events and more.   For information about the many attractions in Clinton County, visit www.clintoncountyohio.com or call the Convention & Visitors Bureau at 877-428-4748.    

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PLAN NOW TO
ROCK THAT CHRISTMAS LIST

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Rock shops litter the roadside out west but Ohio has one of the best! 

Ohio Caverns has gained a reputation as a premier rock shop in the United States. It is a destination for those seeking to rock their Christmas list with originality as much as it’s a destination for those looking to explore its diverse and unique subterranean tours.  

Those that have been naughty may get a lump of coal but those that were nice may get amethyst, ranging from a dollar to $10,000 per piece. Rock gifts aren’t just for the seasoned geologist. Who doesn’t like cracking open a rough looking geode to reveal the spectacular colors at its core? Who doesn’t have fun sifting through a bag of rough under the hose at home or a genuine sluice at Ohio Caverns to reveal true gemstones and minerals? Ohio Caverns has machines to crack or saw stones like geodes and smooth them to perfection. 

Stones are offered in many shapes and sizes, polished or raw. Some people like buying the raw stone and polishing it at home. Others seek the finished mantle piece or high-dollar Pakistan Onyx stemware.  

“In a down economy, I’m shocked at what’s being purchased here,” Said Eric Evans, owner of Ohio Caverns. “People aren’t interested as much in memorabilia to commemorate a visit here as they are in making the trip to mine our store for that special gift that would be difficult to discover anywhere else.” 

The types of rocks, gems and minerals offered at the massive Ohio Caverns store include quartz, fluorite, jasper, Ohio Flint, agate, gypsum, calcite, onyx, amethyst and various types of geodes. All of which are from places near and far, spanning the globe.  

“We pride ourselves on the unique, hard-to-find gifts and of course Ohio Caverns and State of Ohio souvenirs,” Said Evans.  

Besides the rocks, gems and minerals, Ohio Caverns is also in the fossil business. These include Trilobite, Ohio’s state fossil. In addition, it sells ammonite and orthoceras of all sizes and shapes.  

“One of our low cost big sellers is fossilized sharks teeth,” Said Evans. “What kid doesn’t want that in their stocking on Christmas morning?”  

The store at Ohio Caverns specializes in rocks, minerals and gems but it is equally known for carrying some of the most sought after Ohio-related souvenirs. Some of the top sellers are antique signs, pressed pennies and jewelry by local artisans. Teachers discover, often after a field trip to the caverns, that there is great variety and support at the shop for classroom tools, lessons, books, DVDs, mineral samples and the “fossil digs.” 

Fossil Digs or gemstone digs have fossils embedded in soapstone. Included is an archeologist hammer and magnifying glass among other necessities to carefully remove the soapstone covering as a real archeologist might. After chiseling gently, sweeping and examining, a discovery is made.  

Ohio Caverns has offered tours for more than 100 years since its discovery but its gem mining sluice, sprawling store, and 365 acre park make it relevant today and worth a revisit for those who have visited it before. It even has the original caverns available for touring again, something that was not open to the public for about 70 years until the past decade.  

But make no mistake, Ohio Caverns rocks all year long because of its one-of-a-kind subterranean offerings.  

Perhaps its most renown is the Crystal King – the largest and most perfectly formed pure white crystal stalactite found in any cave. It is nearly five feet long after 200,000 years of growth. Other unique stalactites are called helactites. These resemble straws hanging from the ceiling but somehow defied gravity, bending and twisting in weird directions. One of the more intriguing formations is the “Old Town Pump,” which looks just like it sounds, right down to the dripping water. 

Another rare claim is that Ohio Caverns features the nation’s only caverns where dual or double formations are found. These unique formations consist of iron oxide tipped off with milky white calcium carbonate. It is a mystery as to why the two minerals remain distinctly separate, refusing to blend colors. One of the beauties of these caverns is its wide-array of color. In addition to black and white – stalactites, stalagmites, columns and other formations come in a variety of color that include hues of yellow, orange, red, blue and purple. The climax of the guided tour is the “Palace of The Gods” and its colorful display of translucent crystals.  

Daily tours are offered, spanning 45 minutes, covering one mile, reaching a depth of 103 feet and temperature of 54 degrees. Many primitive forms of sea life are fossilized into the ceiling from the Devonian period and Paleozoic Era. There is also a 1 ½ hour historic tour that can be requested but requires a group of 10 or more people to register in advance. The normal tour costs $12.50/adult and $7 per child 5-12 years-old. The historic tour costs $18.50/adult and $12.50 per child 5-12 years-old. Value passes and special group and school rates are available. Ohio Caverns is located at 2210 East State Route 245 in West Liberty, Ohio. Begin exploring Ohio Caverns at www.ohiocaverns.com or by calling 937-465-4017.

By Frank R. Satullo, the OhioTraveler

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HOOKED ON
OHIO VALLEY CARP FISHING
By Mary Syrett 

Hunting and fishing writers aren’t supposed to be at a loss for words. Yet I cannot explain why many Ohio Valley anglers ignore carp---especially when even novice fishermen can consistently catch trophy-size fish. That’s exactly what happened in October of 2008 when I spent a day on Burr Oak Lake, catching carp that weighed 10 pounds or more every 30 minutes or so---and all the while dozens of anglers in nearby boats passed me by without catching a single fish. When and where was the last time you hooked a dozen or so big, bold, beautiful bruisers---no matter the species---in just one afternoon of fishing? I had to pinch myself to make certain I wasn’t dreaming.

History. First introduced into the United States from Europe in 1876 as a potentially valuable food source, carp were stocked throughout much of America in the 1880s and 1890s. The species spread rapidly, so much so that by the early 20th century, a fish still highly esteemed throughout much of Europe was considered a pest in the United States, a reputation that, with few exceptions, it retains to this day.

Carp Characteristics. Carp are distributed throughout eastern North America and are found in many lakes, reservoirs, rivers, ponds and streams. The fish thrive in moderately warm, shallow water that contains considerable aquatic vegetation. They adapt to a variety of conditions, tolerating most types of bottoms and water, from clear to murky. Tough and scrappy, carp are capable of great speed, grow large and at times battle ferociously. It’s oftentimes more effective to fish for them from a river or lake bank than from a boat.

Carp Fishing Hotspots. Many of the lakes in central Ohio--Buckeye Lake east of Columbus in particular--have good-size carp populations. In northeastern Ohio, head for the Portage Lakes area south of Akron (North Reservoir especially), as well as Nimisila Lake, which is located just south of the Portage Lakes. Also, Berlin Lake southeast of Akron, Mosquito Lake north of Youngstown, and Pymatuning Lake on the Ohio-Pennsylvania border all have sizable carp populations.

In southeastern Ohio, excellent carp fishing can be found in the Lower Muskingum River, the Ohio River, Burr Oak Lake, Salt Fork Lake and Senecaville Lake. In Southwest Ohio, head for the Ohio and Great Miami Rivers. (Burr Oak Lake is also noted for its populations of largemouth bass, bluegill, channel catfish, white crappie and saugeye.)

Fishing for Carp. Early morning and late evening are prime times for going after carp with a rod and reel. Carp often hang out near an area of a lake or river bottom that’s composed of sand, clay, gravel or mud. Little boat traffic or overhead disturbances should be present, as carp are wary and spook easily.

Occasionally I set up shop in the Ohio Valley along boardwalks where people feed birdseed to ducks or geese and carp pick up feed that waterfowl miss. These brainy fish are smart enough to establish daily feeding patterns; once they find a good thing, they are inclined to keep coming back. Carp possess phenomenal senses of taste and smell, which senses they use to lead them to protein-rich foods.

A 2009 spring fishing trip on the lower Muskingum River illustrates how finicky even an actively feeding carp can be. My friend Ray Authement and I were fishing in running water in a location where the water had overlapped the bank by a few inches and had flowed into thick green weeds. We were anchored crosswise to the current with Ray’s end of the boat within a yard or two of the bank. He had the best shot at finding carp cruising the outer edge of the weeds, but I could also reach the edge by making a long cast.

Ray’s secret was to bait a No. 1 hook with a single river worm doused in anise flavored carp attractant. Meanwhile, I was stuffing as many worms on a No. 1/0 hook as it would hold and dousing the bait with an attractant based on carp pheromones.

Basically there are two ways to fly fish for carp---sight casting and blind casting. Sight casting involves seeing carp in the water and casting a fly to approximately two feet in front of them. While this is not always possible, it sometimes is and provides some of the most exciting carp fishing to be found anywhere.

An analogy is often drawn to fishing for saltwater bonefish. Like bonefish, carp can often be seen tailing in the shallows. Like bonefish, carp devour whatever marine organisms they find or can scare up from the bottom. And like bonefish, when carp take your beautifully-tied fly, expect a long hard run.

Blind casting takes two forms. You can cast to places carp are likely to be and hope you’ve guessed right. This is usually not a high percentage fishing technique. It’s better to cast to where you know carp are likely to be.

Baits used to attract carp include doughballs, large kernel corn, liver paste and breadcrumbs rolled into small balls, boiled potatoes, earthworms and prepared bait called "boillies". You can buy the latter in many baitshops; they come in a variety of flavors.

Use a treble hook to attach a doughball to the line. Place the doughball on the hook and replace whenever it gets soggy. This bait can easily be made at home. Inquire at baitshops for a recipe.

Umm Good! "Don’t ask if carp is good enough for you to eat. Ask instead if you’re good enough to eat carp."----Anonymous

Carp fishing is oftentimes discussed as a legitimate sporting activity in the Ohio Valley. However, in the U.S. generally, people may fish for carp for fun, but it’s considered a trash fish and not edible. Which is odd, because in Europe, where a large proportion of Americans originally came from, the carp is not only considered edible but is a traditional Christmas meal in many countries.

Come December in Hungary, Slovakia and the Czech Republic, in Germany and Poland, street corner vendors offer live carp for sale. They are taken home (the carp, not the vendors) and kept alive, often in the bathtub, until Christmas Eve when they are served up with much the same kind of ceremony that Americans lavish on the turkey. In both Europe and Asia, carp are an important farmed food fish.

Handling Carp. The key to delicious eating is the proper selection and handling of caught carp. If the fish are taken from waters that may have bad tastes or odors, sniff the gills. If they have a musty odor (not every fish taken from the same water will), then the flesh will likely taste bad unless you hold the fish in clean water or off the bottom for about a week. If it smells fine, bleed the carp by cutting the artery near the tail or a large artery between the gills. Gut it immediately and place the fish on ice.

Preparing Carp. After filleting, remove the skin and scales by placing the fillet skin-side down and cutting through the tail meat to the skin. Move the knife-edge so that it is parallel to the skin and cut while you lift the meat away from the skin.

Carp have a series of small, thin bones found about one third of the way beneath the muscle surface. These bones can be broken up by lightly cutting through them using shallow, parallel strokes. Cooking will further soften them so that they are rarely noticed when eating.

Carp can be baked, roasted, broiled, fried, barbecued, poached, smoked, marinated, or used in casseroles, chowders, chili or quiche. Try some of these recipes or substitute carp in your favorite fish-based meals.

Barbecued Carp. Place fillets on an oiled grate 4 to 6 inches from the coals. Allow oils to drip from the fish but keep water handy to douse flare-ups. Turn with a spatula and brush with butter and lemon juice when done.

For Carp Roasted with Onion you need one pound of carp, one cup grated onion, one-fourth cup dried parsley, cooking oil, lemon juice, salt, caraway seeds and cumin.

Cut up cleaned carp into large sections. Then cut out small pockets in the meat. Mix grated onion with parsley and a little oil. Rub this mixture over the carp. Fill the holes with this mixture. Spread caraway seeds over the meat and pour lemon juice on top. Roast in the oven at 350 degrees F. for about 30 minutes or until done. Serve with mashed or fried potatoes.

Carp fried in beer batter. You need 1 cup beer, 1 cup flour, 2 eggs, slightly beaten, 1 teaspoon salt, 1 teaspoon baking powder and 1 teaspoon baking soda. Blend flour, salt, baking powder and baking soda. Add beer and eggs and stir until batter is light and frothy. Dip carp fillets in batter and deep-fry until golden.

Carp is basically one fish, but depending on where you live and your piscatorial point of view, it is regarded as a delicacy to be farmed, fattened and feasted upon, as a sporting quarry to be respected, or as inedible piece of old shoe leather.

Why aren’t carp among the most popular game fish species to be found in North America, as they are many other places in the world? I cannot definitively answer that question.

I suspect that part of the reason is that carp are too common, and familiarity can breed contempt. I also suspect that many American anglers don’t like carp because the species is extremely intelligent compared to many other fish and can be frustratingly hard to dupe into taking a baited hook. What red-blooded American angler wants to admit a carp has outwitted him or her? Believe what you want, but I have found it exciting to fish for carp in the Ohio Valley and do serve it occasionally on the dinner table. Enjoy.

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October Festivals & Events

NEW: Holiday Road Series

Leaf-peepers & Ghostbusters
Fall Frights & Fall Delights

Color The Season Pink

Experiences To Wow Senses

Rock That Christmas List NOW  

Circleville Pumpkin Show

Hooked On Ohio Carp

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LEAF PEEPERS & GHOSTBUSTERS
RIDE THE RAILS

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From spectacular fall foliage to ghost trains, both scary and family-friendly, the Hocking Valley Scenic Railway is the place to be in October.  

If you love spooky ghost stories and are looking to have a perfectly ghastly experience, come to the Hocking Hills and ride the train.  

If you are looking for a family-friendly Halloween activity, come to the Hocking Hills and ride the train. 

If you want to watch the leaves change, come to the Hocking Hills and ride the train. 

The Haunted Hills Ghost Train offers a new way to learn about the spirits who haunt the area. Departing Saturday at 8pm on October 10 and 17, the train travels in the evening through Hocking and Athens Counties. As the old-fashioned train rolls down the track, passengers hear hair-raising tales of more than thirteen local ghosts. From the famed Moonville Tunnel brakeman to the weeping West State angel to the deaf mute whose imprint still remains on the floor of the insane asylum, these are just a few of the supernatural stories that will be told. Learn why ghost hunters have long been attracted to southeast Ohio and what nearby town has received international notice for its paranormal activities. 

At the end of the spooky train ride, all passengers receive a printed ghost guide that enable them to embark on their own spine-tingling, spirit-hunting adventure in the Hocking Hills area. It’s frightful fun. Parental discretion is advised on this train since the Haunted Hills ride features scary ghost stories and may be too intense for children.  

A not-so-scary option is the new Boo Train departing at 6:30 p.m. on Saturday, October 24. Climb aboard this special family-oriented ride for tricks and treats. You'll meet some funny and spooky characters on the train. Fun will be had by all while riding the decorated cars and listening to the spooky sounds of the night. Riders are encouraged to come in costume and participate in the costume contest with prizes for all ages. Everyone will get a bag of treats. 

The beauty of the autumn leaves in the Hocking Hills brings riders to the area like no other time of the year. That’s why the Hocking Valley Scenic Railway adds a 1:30 p.m. Fall Foliage Train every Thursday and Friday in October. This train is in addition to the Fall Foliage rides every Saturday and Sunday departing at noon and 2:30 p.m.  All Fall Foliage Trains include a 30-minute stop at historic Robbins Crossing, a 1840s pioneer log village. The Crossing is open for self-guided tours during the week and filled with students, staff and local volunteers on the weekends. Activities might include a visit to the general store for an old-fashioned treat, watching the blacksmith work at his anvil, weaving on an old loom, making corn husk dolls, singing and even cooking on an old wood stove or even grinding apples for fresh cider. 

For more information about the Hocking Valley Scenic Railway rides or to purchase tickets, visit hockingvalleytrain.com or call 800-967-7834.

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FALL FRIGHTS & FALL DELIGHTS

As we approach Halloween, a visit to the Greater Grand Lake St. Marys Region will be a frightfully wonderful experience.  In keeping with the spirit of the season, your first stop is the Bloody Bridge, located just off SR 66 north of St. Marys.  A historical marker denotes this site along the Miami & Erie Canal.  Legend has it that during the canal years of the 1850s a rivalry grew between Bill Jones and Jack Billings for the love of Minnie Warren. It is said after Minnie chose Jack, Bill’s jealousy drove him crazy. On a fall night in 1854, returning from a party, Minnie and Jack were surprised on the bridge by Bill, armed with an axe. With one swing, Bill severed Jack's head. Seeing this, Minnie screamed and fell into a watery grave. Bill disappeared, and when a skeleton was found years later in a nearby well, people asked was it suicide or justice. Almost immediately after the murder, whispers of ghostly images seen on and around the bridge began to surface. One legend tells of a headless man who can sometimes be seen on the bridge at night. Another says that sometimes when you look off the bridge into the dark water, you can see Minnie Warren’s face looking back. Was the murder the act of a jealous lover or a mad man?

You may question your own sanity after a visit to Dr. DeMento’s Dark Sanitarium.  This haunted hospital psycho ward is a project of the Celina Rotary Club. Located at the Galleria Conference Center, 909 E Wayne Street, Celina, Ohio, it is open to the public, from 7 to 10 pm on Saturdays & Sundays, October 17th thru the 31st.  The cost is $9 per person. Check out celinahauntedhouse.com and see if you have the courage to check in. Just beware that once you enter your padded cell, they may throw away the key and you may never leave.

For a great place to take the whole family for a little less frightening fun, don’t miss the Wapakoneta Halloween Parade. It will light up the night in downtown Wapakoneta on Thursday evening, October 22.  Northwest Ohio’s premier Halloween parade features plenty of scary ghosts and goblins with over 100 entries and thousands of spectators.  The parade features floats, civic groups, animals, car and tractor clubs. Numerous school bands march in Halloween costumes.  School groups, civic clubs and businesses enter colorful floats with animation and lights.  Trophies are presented in six categories.  A children’s costume contest is held at the review stand prior to the parade.  The Wapakoneta Halloween parade has a long tradition that goes back to the 1920’s.  The 2009 parade will begin at 6:30 PM from the fairgrounds, heading east on Auglaize Street, and will travel through the downtown business district.  Fun for boys and ghouls of all ages.

If you prefer the light of day to the fright of night, come enjoy the fall colors, fresh air, music and good food at the Walk with Nature, 40th Anniversary Festival.  On Sunday, October 18th from noon until 4pm, hike the Miami & Erie Canal towpath from Memorial Park in St. Marys, Ohio, 3 miles to the 40 acre pond.  Enjoy the beautiful colors of the season, the fresh air and camaraderie as you walk along this historic waterway. Shuttle buses will transport hikers back to the park where a chili cook-off, beer tasting, farmers market, plein air art demonstrations and music by the Muleskinner band will greet you. What a lovely way to spend an autumn afternoon. For more information on these events, great autumn color and fall fun check out www.SeeMore.org.

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Circleville
PUMPKIN SHOW
 

It’s the “Greatest Free Show on Earth.” That’s what the promoters of Circleville’s festivities contend, and no one argues the point. Furthermore it’s the sixth largest festival of any kind in the whole country with attendance over four days soaring to 400,000 fun-loving people.  

If Charley Brown is still looking for the “Great Pumpkin” this fall, he need only to extricate himself from the comic strip and come to the Pickaway county seat, because that’s what all the clamor is about—pumpkins—really great pumpkins.  

Since this event was started in 1903 by the city mayor with a single display of corn stalks and pumpkins, it has grown to a street fair that covers eight city blocks filled with twenty-five or more amusement rides and over three hundred food booths, games and craft vendors. There are daily parades, the obligatory beauty contest, and constant entertainment performed on three different stages from early morning until threatened by the midnight hour. 

Regardless of the many activities vying for your attention, the main theme of pumpkins never wanders far from awareness.  The emphasis begins early the first day with the Giant Pumpkin Weigh In on Main Street. If you’re thinking of bringing that nicely matured 80 lb. orange globe from your garden to enter in the competition, forget about it. These pumpkins are trucked in, usually one at a time, and off-loaded with heavy equipment. Behemoths weighing 400 to 500 pounds are as common as Thanksgiving pies, and Dr. Robert Liggett, who has won several times, set the record in 2004 with a prodigious contribution from his special patch tipping the scales at 1353 pounds. Holy jumpin Jehoshaphat!  

In 1946, seeing that their fair was growing by leaps and bounds, the citizens of Circleville formed a non-profit corporation exclusively for the operation of the pumpkin show. The show is self-supporting, with all profits turned over to the city for community projects. Their mission statement—pointing proudly to the “no gate, no ticket” policy—can be summed up with intent to promote goodwill among Pickaway county residents and all who visit—of which the perennial success seems self evident.  

Every year the fair starts on the third Wednesday of October and runs through Saturday night. (21st thru 24th) There are both afternoon and evening parades with more than forty floats, and fifty bands participating. Stage performing music groups range from country pop to gospel, jazz, rock and youth bands.  There are cooking demos, dance extravaganzas, an egg toss, a pumpkin toss, and a demonstration by a gentleman who bills himself as Gus the Squashcarver who has elevated pumpkin sculpture to an art form. 

Adding to the colossal feats of nature, consider the effort taken by Lindsey’s Bakery each year in throwing together and displaying their gigantic 6-foot diameter, 400-pound pumpkin pie. Supplemental to the 100 pounds of pumpkin are ingredients of 26 gallons of milk, 15 dozen eggs and 42 pounds of dough baked for six hours. 

Events fill every hour of every day—far too many to mention here—but among them, annual favorites are the pumpkin pie eating contest, and hog calling.  As you may surmise, the Circleville Pumpkin Show is all about old-fashioned, unpretentious fun. 

There will be more than 20,000 pumpkin pies for sale and in excess of 100,000 pounds of pumpkins on display.  By the time you leave you’ll be fed up with pumpkins—that doesn’t mean melancholy—it’s just that everything you’re fed is pumpkin flavored—donuts, pancakes, cookies, ice cream, cake, fudge, cream puffs, even burgers. If you want to burn off some of those calories, bring your running shoes. There is a five-mile run usually scheduled for Saturday morning—you may need it. 

To schedule your visit to the day or days of favorite activities call 740-474-7000 or check the website www.pumpkinshow.com for a full calendar of events. 

Getting to Circleville is easy. It’s just off of Route 23 about twenty miles south of Columbus. Before you see the signs you’ll recognize the water tower painted like a pumpkin—stem and all. Don’t want to drive? There are more than thirty bus tours that stop at the show. Information on the tours is also available through the above phone listing. 

Oh, and if your thinking of waiting around for a piece of that 400-pound pie, forget about that too.  They feed that to the hogs they call in.

By Robert Carpenter
Robert Carpenter was born and raised in the New Philadelphia, Ohio area.

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