Page 6 - Dresden Buzz 10/17/2025

PAGE 6 | LOCAL NEWS HEALTH & WELLNESS
OCTOBER 17 - 30, 2025
The Rustic Route celebrated their re-opening Harvesting

with a ribbon cutting Community:

BY LYNETTE DOTSON | DRESDEN BUZZ How Fall Brings
Us Together

BY ALEXUS MASTERSON, MPH,
FAMILY & CONSUMER SCIENCES EDUCATOR
OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY EXTENSION,
MUSKINGUM COUNTY

Fall is more than just pumpkin spice
and changing leaves—it’s a season of
gathering, gratitude, and growth. In
Family and Consumer Sciences (FCS),
we recognize the power of seasonal tra-
ditions to strengthen families, build life
skills, and foster community connec-
tions. Harvest season offers countless
opportunities to bring people together
in meaningful ways. Fall naturally invites
reflection and togetherness. From shar-
ing meals to volunteering at local events,
the season encourages us to slow down
and reconnect—with nature, with others,
and with ourselves.
Let’s look at a few ideas that you and
your family can do to increase connec-
tions in your community. Host a Fall
Food Drive and donate it to a local food
bank or food pantry such as Christs Ta-
Owners of The Rustic Route, Danielle Dahmen and Julie Abbott cut the ribbon during the ribbon cutting celebrating their move to their new Maple Avenue ble, this is a great way to give back to
location. Lynette Dotson those in need. Volunteering with local or-
ganizations help unlock new experienc-
The Rustic Route LLC, a custom home Christmas season is over, we convert to done several weddings. So pretty much es in a community, one example would
decor store previously located in down- everyday home decor and dabble in ev- anything you can think of in the design be volunteering to set up or help with
town Zanesville, recently relocated to ery season that we’re currently in.” realm, we hit it,” Dahmen stated. a community meal. This time of year,
Buchanan Square. They celebrated their Speaking of the Christmas season, “Seeing the people’s faces when they many festivals and fairs are still happen-
re-opening with a Zanesville-Muskingum The Rustic Route LLC will be hosting a get that item they love and take to their ing. Celebrating local agriculture and
County Chamber of Commerce led rib- Holiday Open House on November 1st own home, it’s pretty special, said Dah- buying produce locally grown can help
bon cutting on October 14. from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. Look for de- men. kids and adults alike learn where their
The business is owned by Danielle tails to be shared soon on their Face- The Rustic Route is open Tuesday food comes from. What are some ways
Dahmen and Julie Abbott. The duo first book page. through Friday from 10 to 4 and Satur- that you and your family can try new ac-
opened the shop almost three years “And we custom-design pieces, ar- days 10 to 2 at 1405 Maple Ave., Zanes- tivities this fall? For example, take a sea-
ago, but the need to be more visible to rangements, wreaths. We go in people’s ville. You can also follow The Rustic sonal cooking class, learn how to budget
potential customers led to the decision homes, offices and do decorating there, Route LLC on Facebook. for the holidays, or do family building
to move to a new location. whether it be just a centerpiece or a activities
“We are a custom home decor store. whole room,” added Abbott.
We also do interior design,” explained “We work a lot with businesses for the
Dahmen. “This time of year, … we do Festival of Trees, decorating their busi- HAVE A POSITIVE NEWS TIP? McDonald’s
a full-blown Christmas season. When nesses for the holidays as well. We’ve CALL OR TEXT 740-270-2408.
Greenhouse
included in Ohio
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 4
‘Carrie the Musical’ Corn Maze Trail
BY LYNETTE DOTSON | DRESDEN BUZZ
Scott Koenig as George, Hayden Weck ing, like, that effect, and dumping that genre.” McDonald’s Greenhouse and Corn
as Stokes, Ashton Skoutelas as Freddy, [artificial blood] during the prom scene,” “We also have included in the bro- Maze is listed as one of the 46 stops that
Michelle Robinson and Scott Robinson Cunningham shared. chures a lot of information on, like, anti- make up the Ohio Corn Maze Trail.
as Voices, and Ash Dalton, Bailey Rice, Musical Direction for the production bullying, and, like, suicide prevention, Also on the list is McPeek’s Mighty
Hugh Snyder, Sara Waggle, and Autumn is provided by Nathan Kearns, and Addy and hotlines, and things like that. So we Maze in Coshocton, Van Buren Acres
Wheeler as Ensemble. Weck is the producer and stage man- do have a lot of that information avail- and Pigeon Roost Farm in Hebron, Du-
Even though the cast is portraying ager. Many other crew members are able to people, you know, if they know pler’s Pumpkin Land in Newark, and
characters that don’t get along in real involved, including Trinity Milliken (cho- someone, or are someone who’s experi- Hidden View Farmstead in Lancaster.
life, they are friends who enjoy spend- reography), Hannah Fasilis (property encing that,” Cunningham said. There is still time to enjoy the chal-
ing time together outside of their time manager & stagehand), Sara Newell Tickets are $15 for adults, $12 for se- lenge of a corn maze this fall, but don’t
at the Renner. and Sean Starcher (stagehands), Dako- niors (55+), and $12 for students (please wait too long. McDonald’s Greenhouse
“They’re hanging out after, like, re- ta McConaha (lighting designer), Waylon keep in mind that the play does include closes for the season on October 31.
hearsal will be over, and they want to Mauller (lighting board operator), Bruce adult content). Purchase tickets ahead A map that lists all the stops can be
stay another half hour to an hour, and Revennaugh (sound and set designer), of time at zanetraceplayers.ludus.com found at ohio.org. To help plan your trip
they’re just hanging out, talking. They’re and Jessica Cunningham, Rich Tolliver, or at the box office the days of the show. to McDonald’s Greenhouse, visit their
meeting outside of rehearsals, hanging and Reid Mudgett (set designers) just to The Renner Theatre is located at 148 website at mcdonaldsgreenhouse.com.
out, and going to karaoke, going to mov- name a few. North 7th Street in Zanesville. You can McDonald’s Greenhouse is located at
ies, going out to eat, things like that,” Parental discretion is advised when follow them on Facebook at facebook. 3220 Adamsville Rd., Zanesville.
explained Cunningham. “So they’ve had thinking about bringing younger audi- com/www.zanetraceplayers.org or visit
this, like, really close bond, which is real- ence members or those sensitive to them online at therenner.org to stay up-
ly nice, because of the heavy-hitting top- the play’s strong themes, which include to-date on future shows and upcoming
ics that we are dealing with on stage.” violence, isolation, bullying, adult lan- auditions.
Lighting effects and, of course, blood guage, and mature situations. FOLLOW THE BUZZ
are being used to help bring the story to “Approach it [coming to the show]
life on the Renner stage. with the knowledge that it is not some- @DRESDENBUZZ
“The big climax of the scene, which thing that you would have probably ever
most people know when you know the seen before at the Renner,” explained ADVERTISE IN THE DRESDEN BUZZ.
story of Carrie, is the pig’s blood that’s Cunningham. “If you’ve seen shows in 740-270-2408
dumped on her at prom, and that causes the past, this is the very first time that
her to spiral out of control. So we are us- this theater is stepping into that horror