Features

A man rides a horse-drawn carriage.

While Holmes County historians have ascertained that the hamlet of Charm began in the 1840s when a blacksmith shop opened along an old Indian trail near Doughty Creek, no one knows for sure how Charm got its unusual name. Other businesses gradually joined the blacksmith shop, and by the 1860s, a community had evolved that locals called Stevenson, apparently because Stephen Yoder and his son farmed the land there. When Stevenson’s citizens applied for a post office in the 1880s, the postal department asked them to choose an official name. They picked Charm. Why?

A picture of the HandiRack on a car.

Destination known or unknown, there’s an inherent feeling of freedom driving off into the big blue yonder. No long-term parking fees, airport security checks, or missed connecting flights. It’s all about you and your destination.

All too often, though, there’s a bump in the road, whether it’s your safety, comfort, or lack of organization. This year, plan wisely, keep your cool, and conquer the open road. These gadgets just might be a key element to a triumphant road trip.

Marc Armstrong and Spencer Waugh talk on a staircase.

Keeping Ohio’s elected officials up-to-date on the concerns of electric co-op members is a year-round job for Marc Armstrong and Spencer Waugh. As director and manager, respectively, of the government affairs department of Ohio’s Electric Cooperatives, they’re at the center of today’s biggest issues. They play a vital role in helping elected officials and regulators understand the impacts of proposed legislation and regulations on families and businesses in all parts of the state.

A large red barn with a metal roof.

If you have any doubt about how much roofing and siding affect your home’s appearance, ask some kindergartners to draw a house. They always delineate the roof and exterior walls first, then complete the picture with doors, windows, and a big smiling sun. That’s a real lesson in the basics of rejuvenating a house. “Get the right combination of exterior products, and you’ll turn an average-looking house into something stunning,” says CertainTeed Corporation spokesperson Mike Loughery.

The Queen Anne home in Medina.

You only have one chance to make a good first impression. That old saying is true for you and for your home too. All too often, however, homeowners dwell on how a house looks and feels on the inside and neglect the outside. A new granite countertop may add sparkle to your kitchen, but maintaining your home’s exterior appearance — or curb appeal — also is important to your enjoyment of the place where you spend most of your time and have invested much of your money.