Milo’s is a strong supporter of our local businesses: Facility design by BDT Architects & Designers (Jim Thomas), general contracting by Mike Myers Construction, plumbing by Thompson Plumbing of Athens, Ohio, electrical by Sun Electric, and HVAC by Airclaws, all located in the Athens, Ohio area.

"Your life won't change until you start changing your life. Life is inherently difficult at times and emotional pain is inevitable. These are things that we don’t often talk about in a culture of toxic positivity. You are not broken, weak, or “crazy” for struggling with difficult things and your mental health. You deserve to reclaim your life from anxiety and depression. Having a new relationship with your thoughts and emotions is not out of your reach."

New ACEnet tenant, Erin Perko, LISW, provides effective therapy for motivated people who are ready to get to work to learn more about themselves and create a meaningful and fulfilling life.

"Many of us are not given the proper tools or knowledge in life to weather difficult times. With deeper exploration into your thoughts, emotions, behaviors and circumstances, and learning new skills, your life can look a lot different."

Before starting therapy, Erin will schedule a free 15 minute consultation with you to ensure a good fit and that she's able to meet your needs. For more information, insurance details, or to schedule an appointment, please contact Erin Perko, LISW.

Email: erin@erinperkotherapy.com

Website: https://www.erinperkotherapy.com/

Owned and operated by Capt. Mark & Emma Brunton, the Burr Oak Getaway's Float Shack offers campers, boaters, hikers and the local general public a place to find snacks, ice cream, fishing bait & tackle, and camping supplies at Burr Oak State Park's Dock Area #2.

The BOG's Float Shack is looking for feedback. They want to expand products & services at Burr Oak Lake, NEED input. Please take this short survey and let us know what you liked, didn't like and want to see more of in 2022!

Take the survey BY JANUARY 15th to be entered in the drawing: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdIP29DqQrZozPdUV9QQI0G7Sqog0_-mzILPnb9_KL41PmB3g/viewform

Communities across the US are being impacted by the substance use disorder epidemic. Appalachia is being hit particularly hard by this epidemic. With so many families and businesses personally impacted by substance use disorder in our region, ACEnet wanted to find a way to support individuals who are investing in their future through recovery-focused initiatives. A collaboration with the STAR Community Justice Center, an accredited male and female community-based correctional facility located in Nelsonville, Ohio with residents from 19 different Ohio counties, and Ohio University is providing us with a great opportunity to make this happen.

ACEnet Food Enterprise Coordinator, Adam Kody, is currently delivering both Restaurant Ready training and ServSafe Food Handler training (curriculums are products of the National Restaurant Association) to a 2nd cohort of STAR residents, virtually and in-person. Adam's first cohort had 9 participants graduate from the training programs in December, and he will have a 3rd cohort before Summer begins.

Upon graduation, the STAR residents are eligible to be placed with ACEnet Food Ventures tenants, giving them an opportunity to demonstrate the new skills and abilities they have cultivated, and to have a current work reference when applying for employment in their home community upon release. Since the beginning of this collaboration, ACEnet has hosted more than 50 STAR residents!

ACEnet Food Ventures tenants participating in hosting STAR residents are Butcher’s Bites, Milo's Whole World Gourmet, Ted’s Pepper Butter, Seli Foods, Farm on The Ridge, To-Go Packs and past tenant Pork & Pickles.

ACEnet would particularly like to thank Chris Quolke (ACEnet), Thom Stevenson and Medea Loibl at Ohio University, all of the staff at STAR Community Justice Center (especially Tisha Springer and Amy Reed), and all of the ACEnet tenants mentioned above.

Madison Donahue, Tourism Specialist at Rural Action, is working with their Social Enterprise team on a new venture called Appalachian Understories. This program takes participants on natural and historical tours throughout the region and connects them with local guides, naturalists and interpreters. 

The idea first came to her while serving as an Americorps member with the Environmental Education team at Rural Action. “I saw the need and had the desire to create a tourism opportunity. I really love biking and thought it would be amazing to host a guided bike tour,” she said.

Rural Action's Joe Brehm connected her to John Winnenberg of Ohio’s Winding Road and the Little Cities of Black Diamonds. With their help and collaboration, she was able to create a series of guided bike tours, hikes and overnight trips that felt authentic to the region, highlighting local stories and traditions and merging them with outdoor recreation.

Donahue, along with fourteen other local entrepreneurs, is currently participating in The Trail Town Business Challenge (TTBC), which she says has helped further enhance her business literacy. This five-part workshop series, which focused on business planning training is funded by the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) through a Partnerships for Opportunity and Workforce and Economic Revitalization (POWER) grant and led by Rural Action and ACEnet.

ACEnet collaborators Angela Blatt, Paul Dorrance, and Rachel Tayse will be presenting at the hybrid Ohio Ecological Food and Farm Association Annual Conference – February 17-19, 2022 on our joint USDA Local Foods Promotion Program (LFPP) project, “Planning to Advance Mobile Meat Slaughter and Processing in Ohio and Central Appalachia.”

Do you know about the Southeast Ohio Fibershed? And what exactly is a Fibershed? The quick answer: it's like a watershed but with textiles and all the parts of that fiber ecosystem that can create a robust local textile economy anchored in sustainable development.

If you are interested in more information or want to become involved, please attend this meeting at Athens County Public Libraries Athens branch on Home Street! The Fibershed vision gives our community a framework in which to explore, discuss, and determine our roles in the identification and development of the Southeast Ohio Fibershed.

See Facebook Event for more info or email hello@seohiofibershed.org

The Athens Farmers Market, along with their partners Community Food Initiatives and Rural Action, announce the second annual call for applications for the Ann Fugate Memorial Fund for Beginner Farms grant.

Winner will be granted a free single stall at the AFM, worth $250. (This does not include the $225 AFM membership fee.)

Email Ronda Clark at blackberrysagefarm@gmail.com to request an application. Applications are due January 31, 2022. 

The Athens Farmers Market takes place year round on Saturday at the Market on State Shopping Mall, both inside and outside. For more information & information on becoming a vendor, see the Athens Farmers Market website.

OEFFA's Annual Conference is Ohio’s largest sustainable food and farm conference offers up to four days of live learning, sharing, and connecting with sustainable farmers, gardeners, and local food supporters. The event will feature dozens of educational workshops, in-depth Food and Farm School classes, powerful keynote speakers, an exhibit hall, networking, community conversations, and an interactive conference app to connect with other participants and access recordings through March 31, so you can participate on your schedule!

The 2022 OEFFA hybrid conference will kick off with a fully virtual day on Saturday that will help you learn and engage from anywhere with an internet connection, and then move to Dayton for more educational sessions, networking, community building, and celebrating together. For more information: https://conference.oeffa.org/

If you're 55+, connect with UpBEAT! https://www.ohiohealth.com/health-and-wellness/upbeat-program-athens You can also call Caitlin Bond, UpBEAT Program Coordinator, at (740) 566-4680 for more info or to receive the UpBEAT newsletter.