The Coshocton County Beacon November 27, 2019 | Page 12
Upcoming programs at the OSU Extension Office
David Marrison | Contributed
COSHOCTON - Hello Thanksgiving Coshocton County!
We are a mere 24 hours away from one of my favor-
ite holidays—Thanksgiving! It is my favorite holiday
because I love food! And believe me, tomorrow I will get
my fill of turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing, pumpkin
pie and succotash. My stomach is ready!
Speaking of Thanksgiving dinner, the American Farm
Bureau Federation has released their annual price
survey for the typical items found on the Thanksgiving
Day table. This includes turkey, bread stuffing, sweet
potatoes, rolls with butter, peas, cranberries, veggie tray,
pumpkin pie with whipped cream, coffee, and milk.
This year they have estimated the cost of a Thanksgiving
dinner for 10 people to be $48.91 which is just one cent
higher than last year. Farm Bureau began the Thanks-
giving dinner survey in 1986 as an informal way to
gauge price trends around the nation.
However, Thanksgiving is about more than food. Most
importantly, it gives us time to pause and reflect on
what we are thankful for. I know our entire Coshocton
County Extension staff is humbled and grateful for the
passage of the OSU Extension renewal levy earlier this
month. From the bottom of our hearts, we thank you for
your continued support of our extension programs.
Speaking of programs, we are approaching the time
where farmers start looking to see if any year-end tax ad-
justments need to be made before the end of the year. To
help farmers with these tax adjustments, OSU Extension
will be hosting a Farm Tax Update on Monday, Dec. 2
from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at the Coshocton County Services
Building in Room 145.
During this update, I will be sharing year-end tax
planning strategies and more about taking the new
Section 199A deduction for Qualified Business Income.
I will also discuss changes to equipment depreciation,
like-kind exchanges, and the deferral of crop insurance
payments. This is no registration fee for this program.
However, courtesy reservations are requested so pro-
gram materials can be prepared. Call 740-622-2265 to
make your reservation.
Farmers and landowners will also want to circle Mon-
day evening, Dec. 9 on their calendar as we have invited
Peggy Hall, OSU Agricultural & Resource Law Director,
to come to Coshocton County to provide a “Winter Ag
Law Update.” This meeting will be held from 6:30 to 8:30
p.m. at the Frontier Power Community Room located at
770 South Second St., Coshocton.
Some of the legal topics which will be addressed at
this meeting include farm leases, grain contracts, line
fence law, noxious weeds, nuisance complaints, estate
planning, leasing land for hunting, and the legal aspects
of growing hemp. Don’t miss this chance to learn more
about the legal issues which are impacting agriculture
and our local farms/families. There is no charge for this
program, but reservations are being requested so that
adequate program materials can be printed. Call 740-
622-2265 or email [email protected] to reserve your
spot.
Additionally, we are excited that Hall will stay over-
night and be the featured speaker at the Dec. 10 Farmers
Breakfast beginning at 7:30 a.m. During the breakfast,
Hall will focus on water drainage issues. The breakfast
will be held at the Coshocton Inn & Suites located at 115
N Water Street, Coshocton. The breakfast buffet is $9 per
person and no reservations are needed. The breakfast is
sponsored by the Coshocton Soil & Water Conservation
District, Farm Service Agency and OSU Extension.
In celebration of Thanksgiving, I would like to share a
quote from legendary basketball coach, John Wooden
who stated, “Be true to yourself, help others, make each
day your masterpiece, make friendship a fine art, drink
deeply from good books - especially the Bible, build a
shelter against a rainy day, give thanks for your blessings
and pray for guidance every day.” Have a good and safe
Thanksgiving!
David Marrison is Associate Professor and Extension
Educator, Agriculture & Natural Resources, Ohio State
University Extension. Marrison can be reached at 740-
622-2265 or [email protected]
CFAES provides research and related educational pro-
grams to clients on a nondiscriminatory basis. For more
information: go.osu.edu/cfaesdiversity.
Standing Oaks of East Central Ohio hopes to open temporary shelter
By Beth Scott
[email protected]
COSHOCTON – Standing Oaks of East Central Ohio hopes
to have temporary shelter open in the community in the
next six weeks. The shelter will be in a location downtown
and easily accessible to those who are homeless in our
community. The shelter will be open each night during
the winter months from 8 p.m. to 7 a.m. and hired and
volunteer staff will be on hand throughout the night.
“It’s a good start,” said Kathy Robbins, president of
Standing Oaks. “It gives us a chance to help people and
share Jesus with people.”
The shelter will accommodate about 20 people, and
the organization is looking for items that need to be
purchased to make available for people seeking shelter
at that location. They are also looking for people in the
community who could staff the facility. Staff will work
approximately 32 to 36 hours a week and go through
three levels of training. EMS will train in CPR, first aide,
and Narcan application, and a mental health agency will
provide training as well.
“We will also provide training in how to be a good
listener and have conversations with people, not to make
promises they can’t keep, but to connect them with ser-
vices available in the community,” said Joe Sanders, vice
president of Standing Oaks.
Standing Oaks hopes to have a permanent facility
for homeless in the community and is currently in the
process of a three-year plan to make that a reality in
Coshocton. Both Robbins and Sanders said that when ap-
plying for grants from the state, they are refused funding
because there is no permanent shelter in the county for
people who are homeless.
Donations from the community are also greatly appre-
12 THE BEACON
Beth Scott | Beacon
Joe Sanders and Kathy Robbins stand with donations
for people who are homeless at Coshocton First Baptist
Church.
ciated. The organization has enough funding to provide
the temporary housing but needs more to continue
services. They have already received donations of items
from members of the community that will be used for the
temporary shelter.
“It’s been overwhelming and wonderful because this
can’t be fixed by two people,” said Robbins. “I feel that
the homeless in our community is the responsibility of
those who live here. We are followers of Jesus Christ, and
that is what we are called to do. It means a lot that the
community is willing to pitch in and help because I think
it’s a bigger issue than people realize. When you see how
eager people are who respond, that just takes your breath
away.”
Robbins collects supplies such as hygienic items,
sheets, blankets, and non-perishable food for the home-
less in the community. Last winter, there were believed to
be about 40 people in Coshocton who were homeless.
“It’s just an incredible amount of people,” said Sanders.
The organization is asking for donations specifically
for mats or cots that people can sleep on and for cleaning
supplies needed to clean the facility. Monetary donations
can be dropped off or mailed to Grace United Methodist
Church, 422 Walnut St., Coshocton. Make checks out to
Standing Oaks of East Central Ohio, Inc.
Donated items can be dropped off at NewPointe
Church, Coshocton First Baptist Church, or 1690 Bow
Lane, Coshocton. Items that can be donated include any
non-perishable food items or snacks including drinks
such as hot chocolate or instant coffee; self-care items,
backpacks, tarps, blankets, coats, gloves, scarves; hygien-
ic items such as wipes, deodorant, toothbrushes, hand
sanitizer, shampoo, toilet paper, paper towels, tampons,
pads; and miscellaneous items, first aid kits, small flash-
lights, antibiotic creams, tissues, nail clippers, mints, and
notepads, pencils, and pens.
“We just want to give God all the glory,” said Robbins.
“This project belongs to Him.”
For more information on how you can help, call 740-
622-0300.
www.coshoctonbeacontoday.com
NOVEMBER 27, 2019