Author: kdrenten
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Winter is time for Marblehead memories
By Ken Drenten Winter is a great time to think about where you’ve been in your travels, and what you’d like to do when the weather gets warm again. Here’s one example — Marblehead Lighthouse State Park is a great place to relax and enjoy the sights and sounds of Lake Erie. I took the…
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Greenville and Darke County getting ready for total solar eclipse
The Maid-Rite Sandwich Shop is one of Greenville’s most well-known eating establishments. (Credit: Ken Drenten) By Ken Drenten Darke County is looking forward to a big event in April — on Monday, April 8, 2024, much of Ohio and especially Darke County will be in the path of the prime viewing area of a total…
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Winter recreation activities are plentiful in Ohio
Ash Cave at Hocking Hills State Park is a popular place for winter hikes. (Credit: Ken Drenten) Where can you go sledding, hiking, skiing, ice skating, ice fishing and enjoy other winter recreation in Ohio? Now you can find out in a new page in Dusty Tires. A great resource to find lots of information…
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2023 in review . . . we’re just getting started!
Interior of The Homestead Mill in New Hampshire, Ohio. (Credit: Ken Drenten) By Ken Drenten It’s a new year! I began my online journey on March 16, 2023, with my first public post on Dusty Tires. From the start, I’ve tried to make this not about myself, but about all the wonderful and unusual places…
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Coney Island Diner is Mansfield’s oldest operating restaurant
The Coney Island Diner in Mansfield. (Credit: Ken Drenten) By Ken Drenten The Coney Island Diner is Mansfield’s oldest operating restaurant, opening in 1919 and moving to its current location in downtown Mansfield in 1936. A blend of warm, unique atmosphere, friendly staff and great food have made the Coney Island Diner a longtime lunch…
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County courthouses help communities celebrate a happy holiday
The holiday lighting display at the Licking County Courthouse in Newark has been taking place each year since 1928. (Credit: Ken Drenten) By Ken Drenten In many Ohio county seat towns, county courthouses are the focal point of community holiday decorations. This seems to have increased over the past 20 years or so with LED…
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Mishler Mill continues to weave its way into community
By Ken Drenten Mishler Weaving Mill in Smithville, just east of Wooster in Wayne County, is a working textile mill that’s a testament to nearly 140 years of industriousness. The mill, currently owned and operated by the Smithville Historical Society, was established in 1887 by Swiss immigrant John Mishler, a weaver by trade. Mishler produced…
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Ohio maple syrup makes a great last-minute gift
Ohio maple syrup from Bissell Maple Farm (left) and Richards Maple Products (right) makes great gifts. (Credit: Ken Drenten) North America is the only place in the world where maple syrup is made, and Ohio is one of just 12 states in the United States that produce maple syrup. National Maple Syrup Day is Dec.…
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Sweet! Find sugar-free options and online ordering at these Ohio candy shops
Ohio candy stores are great places to find a sweet gift for Christmas. Many offer online ordering and shipping as well as sugar-free varieties. (Credit: Ken Drenten) By Ken Drenten Ohio-made candy makes a wonderful holiday present, and you can get some now, even at the last minute. And yes, you can even put Ohio-made…
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Take a winter ride, the old-fashioned way
This Currier & Ives print of an idyllic winter scene of the 19th century features a horse-drawn sleigh. By Ken Drenten There are not many places nowadays where you can actually live out the lyrics of the seasonal songs “Jingle Bells” and “Sleigh Ride.” So where can you find a winter wonderland ride in Ohio?…
Dusty Tires 