Peck's Farm

11/10/2026

I don't think he trusts my driving… because the minute I grab the lead, he takes over and marches himself right back to his stall.

11/09/2026

Sometimes you just need to chill in a jungle of your own making. ❤️

Ohio Plant Pushers Plant Your Happiness Palmstreet App Etsy

11/07/2026

A Letter to Waterford Leadership

Dear Waterford Leaders,

Waterford has certainly been put on the map over the last couple of years. I understand that this places you in a delicate position, with people pulling you in every direction, each with their own motives, opinions, and expectations. I am sorry you have had to navigate that. If you are anything like the residents you represent, you chose this community because of its peace, culture, and sense of community.

This week's meetings brought a time-sensitive issue to the forefront, and you are now in the hot seat. The community benefit agreements are making progress, and you will soon be sitting at the table representing this community. I hope you fully understand the magnitude of the role you are about to play.

This project has been promoted as the best thing to happen to Washington County in a decade. Whether you believe that or remain skeptical, the hard truth is that our community is going to bear the burden of multiple projects on a scale this county has never experienced and as we seen Thursday, we don’t know when the next one will be dropped on a desk for us to adjust yet again.

We need to be realistic about what is coming. Property values for those on the outskirts of the immediate project will be affected. Our population could nearly double with the arrival of blue-collar workers. We will experience increased traffic, wear and tear on roads, greater demands on our deputies and emergency services, and additional pressure on an already changing housing market. When construction workers arrive, rental demand will likely increase, making it more difficult for local families to remain in the area.

These are not concerns we can afford to dismiss. They are potential realities we need to prepare for now. It may not be fair, but it is our reality, and we must start thinking long-term.

When it comes to the community benefit agreement, I want you to remember one important thing: It is a piece of paper. Agreements and contracts can fall apart at any time, for any number of reasons, and when they do, it is often the people on the ground who are left dealing with the consequences.

That is why I am asking you to actively reach out to the community you represent. Listen to residents. Understand what they need. Then advocate to maximize the funding and resources that remain with our trustees, Wolf Creek Local School District, and our emergency services.

Waterford needs to build a financial cushion because we simply do not know what the future holds. Project expansions, stock market fluctuations, political policies, and global partnerships are all influencing what happens in these hills. The outcome could be tremendous, and we certainly hope it is. But if it isn't, and the money, investors, and opportunities eventually move on to greener pastures, we will still be here. Our families, our schools, our emergency services, and our community will still be here, left to manage whatever lasting impacts these projects bring.

Asking for a financial safety net may be considered selfish and they may believe these funds should be distributed more broadly throughout the county. But I believe we need to look at this differently.

Advocating for more funding to remain in Waterford is not about punishing other townships or county agencies. Other areas will also experience economic benefits, including increased sales at surrounding businesses, greater rental demand, and additional sales tax revenue for the county. Those benefits matter, too. But they do not eliminate the responsibility to prepare the community carrying the greatest local burden.

I am not asking for Waterford to be swimming in gold coins like Scrooge McDuck. I am asking that we prepare for the worst-case scenario, for what we are going to carry. We need to be safe rather than sorry.

These hills are agricultural. We understand the importance of putting money away when the crops and prices are good because we never know if the weather, markets, or equipment will be as gracious in the years ahead. We know that a good season is not a guarantee of a good season to come. The same principle should apply here, and we have only one chance to get the agreement right.

Right now, this community doesn't need the humble, kind, and generous leaders we have always known you to be. We need you to be momma bears.
We need you to be momma bears for the residents who are choosing to stay.

We need you to be momma bears for the residents who may have no choice but to leave.

We need you to be momma bears for the neighbors who will be coming into this area.

We need you to be momma bears for the students walking across the stage at this year's graduation, and for the little ones just beginning their journey in kindergarten.

Every one of these people deserves leaders who are willing to stand up and advocate for their future.

This is a pivotal moment. The decisions made now could determine whether Waterford has the resources to take care of its own people for years to come or whether we will eventually be left holding the bill for the entire county.
This is your moment. Please open the conversation with the community you serve. Listen, ask questions, and fight to ensure that the people who will carry the greatest burden have the resources to meet it.

And to any other area interested in data center money, if you need help making the right connections, as my son always said with a smirk, "I know a guy." We can hook you up! ✌️

Sincerely,
A concerned Waterford resident

*This is my opinion and doesn't reflect any organization.

WTAP Television The Herald The Marietta Times Ohio Farm Bureau The Columbus Dispatch MASH Focus - Publication & Network Farm and Dairy American Farm Bureau Federation Erin Brockovich

11/06/2026

Sometimes you just have to kick and scream 🤷 It'll make ya feel better 😉

11/06/2026

A little peak at the booth today! We all need a little plant shopping ❤️

11/04/2026

As we wake up this morning, there’s an odd feeling in the air. Knowing change is coming, knowing it's not coming, expecting relief from ads and nastiness and knowing that our neighboring township may soon get a firsthand experience of the heartbreak and drama we’ve experienced.

You see, it seems the Palmer Square area is currently being approached by developers. A new project, the same one, that doesn't matter, I just Hope they have learned from the mistakes made by Waterford leadership. Even if private landowners choose to sell, or they choose to refuse deals, stick together. It's our biggest mistake.

As for the election results, I want to say thank you to everyone who threw their hat in the ring. To those waking up this morning and figuring out how to return to everyday life, I hope you know your efforts mattered. Sometimes, when you take on these missions, you're so focused on the goal that you forget what you're up against. The MOV has a pattern when it comes to voting, and changing that many hearts in one summer is no easy task.

To the two victors, I hope you find the strength to speak up, even when it's difficult. I hope you have the courage to stand up for your constituents even when it's better for your career to go with the flow. Remember, for most of us, this isn't a salaried job. This is our life work, our children's inheritance, and our future. Decisions that may make you look good to some can have devastating consequences for others. Choose wisely because Waterford never deserved to be treated this way, even if it is in the best interest of the county.

I genuinely hope you're ready to be the leaders this county needs, not simply the leaders a political party expects you to be.

I'll see you in the front row!

With so many state and federal seats changing hands, I'm sure we're going to see change regardless.

Have a great week, folks!

*This is my personal opinion and doesn't reflect any organization

Justin Harris for Washington County Commissioner Stephanie Lang for Washington County Commissioner MASH Focus - Publication & Network WTAP Television The Marietta Times Wolf Creek Animal Care Greg Nohe Washington County Commissioner

11/03/2026

11/01/2026

Some days you just need to have a little fun. Not with the expensive, purchased toys, but with a little piece of plastic. 😂 Sometimes it's the simplest things that bring the biggest smiles.

Never underestimate the entertainment value of being a little ridiculous. 🤣✌️

10/31/2026

We are not at fault, but we are all responsible.

From out here in these hills, things look a little different, with the rose colored glasses removed. There is a looming change that we feel every single day, and I'm not talking about the falling leaves.

We know what's coming. Many of us are battening down the hatches, preparing to weather a storm and adjusting our plans. But this wasn't an act of nature. This was something people leaned into.

There are some who say no one could have stopped it, that no one was really at fault. But I would argue that we are all responsible for the paths that brought us here, from those that didn't say anything to the community, to the political culture we allowed in our county.

There are entire genres of books dedicated to manifesting, influencing, building connections, and following dreams. And I'm not talking about our dreams. I'm talking about the dreams of those who were planning from a map. Those who have been focused on a long-term goal, that believe this will be the best thing to ever happen to Washington County, those that have taken the liberty of creating a master plan that overlaps our lives.

Just because something wasn't formally ordered and delivered doesn't mean it wasn't influenced. Relationships, connections with lobbyists and development companies, meetings, emails, conversations, and carefully built partnerships all play a role in making something happen. Many times it isn't the one big thing but the little repeated decisions that make the largest change.

Locally, I've been saying for a while that it feels like everyone is trying to play political chess. Make one move to silence, another to discredit, withhold information, then release what is needed to maximize the benefits. Listen, we're all tired of the game.

When strategically timed press releases seem to line up with campaign slogans, I get frustrated. Not necessarily because of the information being released, but because of when it's being released.

This is important information for the general public. It was important last year. It will be important next year. It shouldn't suddenly become a priority a week before an election.

pages that could be used every day to educate the public sit stagnant until there's a particular message that needs delivered. Then, suddenly, information appears in carefully timed doses that seem designed to influence public opinion.

And people notice and were tired.

But here's what I think is being overlooked: I noticed the tool long before I noticed the message. I noticed when the opportunity to educate the public was there, and it wasn't being used. I noticed when transparency seemed to become important only when it served a purpose.

There is a difference between being at fault for what happened and being responsible for the choices, relationships, and decisions that helped make it happen.

And the people who have to live with the consequences deserve more than carefully packaged explanations. They deserve the truth, transparency, and the respect ALL the time, not during certain times of the year.

Because we are tired of being a pon in someone else's chess game. Funny thing about me, if someone stopped playing, if someone tried to set the course right, tried to help this community my entire view would be different but all we get is doubling down. All we get is No one is at fault and no one is responsible.

PS.....

If you recognize a theme from this post, then you're a fellow nerd. HI! 🤓

Over the last three years, I've become a bit of an audiobook ju**ie. One of my favorite listens on the hard days is *The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck* by Mark Manson.

I'd recommend it to just about anyone: those struggling to find their footing, those navigating the world of public office, or anyone who could use a chuckle while trying to make sense of the world.

A little perspective, a little humor, and a reminder that we don't have to give our energy to everything or everyone, only what is IMPORTANT

Happy listening, fellow nerds. ✌️🤓

*This is my opinion and doesn’t reflect any organization

MASH Focus - Publication & Network The subtle art of not giving a fk Audible The Marietta Times WTAP Television Ohio Farm Bureau Erin Brockovich

10/30/2026

Life has felt a little like the walls are closing in lately. Like other people's decisions have a direct impact on our lives, yet somehow they forget that we, and our community, actually exist. Everyone is so focused on the long-term vision that they can't seem to look you in the eye and remember that you're here today, living with the short-term consequences.

It's overwhelming. And for people who aren't particularly good at feeling helpless, we've certainly had more than our fair share of practice since 2023.

So, I think it's time to bring a little whimsy back into our lives. We redid the dining room! Maybe I wanted to remodel, mybe I just needed more planty places, shhhh! Thats somethingwe dont discuss 😉. There are still a few spots that could use some character, or more plants. Next up is the living room, although Gary is currently traumatized by the sheer number of nails that have to be pulled out of carpet. 😂 So I'll give him a little break until after the first of the year.

In the meantime, do something whimsical this weekend. Paint something, rearrange a room, buy the ridiculous thing, plant something, make something, or just do something that makes you smile.

Because there are far too many people around us who take themselves way too seriously, and honestly, the world is exhausting enough already.

A little whimsy never hurt anybody. ❤️

Ohio Plant Pushers Dawn Pritchett Debbie Pritchett Smith & Company Vintage Market River City Farmers Market