Issuu

November/December 2023

MICHIGAN

COUNTRY LINES Cherryland Electric Cooperative

Santa Claus Here Comes

Michigan’s Internationally Recognized Santa School

Electric Cooperative Youth Tour: Empowering Tomorrow’s Leaders

For Better or Worse, In Good Times and Bad

WATERFURNACE UNITS QUALIFY FOR A 30% FEDERAL TAX CREDIT 1

Smart homeowners around the world have scrapped their old furnaces and air conditioners and replaced them with a WaterFurnace geothermal comfort system. That’s because WaterFurnace geothermal systems use the clean, renewable energy in your own backyard to provide savings up to 70% on heating, cooling and hot water. You won’t need that old inefficient furnace or that unsightly outdoor air conditioner because a WaterFurnace system provides complete comfort for your home with a single unit. And because the system doesn’t burn fossil fuels, there are no fumes or carbon monoxide concerns. Make the smart switch to geothermal. Contact your local WaterFurnace dealer today to learn more. YOUR LOCAL WATERFURNACE DEALERS

CO-OP REBATE INCENTIVES

Allendale Allendale Htg & Clg (800) 327-1937 allendaleheating.com

Indian River M&M Plmb & Htg (231) 238-7201 mm-plumbing.com

Mt Pleasant Walton Htg & Clg (989) 772-4822 waltonheating.com

Bad Axe/Ubly Cutting Edge Htg & Clg (989) 551-0986

Lansing Candor Mechanical (517) 920-0890 candormechanical.com

Muskegon Adams Htg & Clg (231) 873-2665 adamsheatingcooling.co

Lowell Arctic Inc. Htg. & Clg. (616) 897-4213 heatingcoolingonline.com

Portland ESI Htg & Clg (517) 647-6906 esiheating.com

Mancelona Top Notch Htg, Clg, & Geothermal (231) 350-8052 Topnotchheatandair.com

Sunfield Mark Woodman Plmb & Htg (517) 886-1138 mwphonline.com

Michigan Center Comfort 1/Air Serv of Southern Michigan (517) 764-1500 airserv.com/southernmichigan/

Traverse City D&W Mechanical (231) 941-1251 dwmechanical.com

Berrien Springs Waterfurnace Michiana (269) 473-5667 gogreenmichgeo thermal.com Big Rapids Stratz Htg & Clg, Inc. (231) 796-3717 stratzgeocomfort.com Clifford Orton Refrig & Htg (989) 761-7691 sanduskygeothermal.com Hart Adams Htg & Clg (231) 873-2665 adamsheating cooling.com

Cloverland: up to $4,200 Great Lakes: up to $3,000 Homeworks/Tri-County: up to $3,000 Presque Isle: up to $2,700 Cherryland: up to $2,500 Thumb Electric: up to $2,000 Alger Delta: up to $2,000

Geofurnace Htg & Clg (231) 943-1000 geofurnace.com

visit us at waterfurnace.com/mi

Contents Michigan’s Electric Cooperatives

countrylines.com

November/December 2023 Vol. 43, No. 10

/michigancountrylines

EXECUTIVE EDITOR: Casey Clark EDITOR: Christine Dorr GRAPHIC DESIGNER: Karreen Bird RECIPE EDITOR: Christin Russman COPY EDITOR: Yvette Pecha CONTRIBUTING EDITOR: Emily Haines Lloyd PUBLISHER: Michigan Electric Cooperative Association Michigan Country Lines, USPS-591-710, is published monthly, except August and December, with periodicals postage paid at Lansing, Mich., and additional ofﬁces. It is the ofﬁcial publication of the Michigan Electric Cooperative Association, 201 Townsend St., Suite 900, Lansing, MI 48933. Subscriptions are authorized for members of Alger Delta, Cherryland, Great Lakes, HomeWorks Tri-County, Midwest Energy & Communications, Ontonagon, Presque Isle, and Thumb electric cooperatives by their boards of directors. Postmaster: Send all UAA to CFS.

Association Ofﬁcers: Tom Sobeck, Presque Isle Electric & Gas Co-op, chairman; Gabe Schneider, Cherryland Electric Cooperative, vice chairman; Chris O’Neill, HomeWorks Tri-County Cooperative, secretary-treasurer; Craig Borr, president and CEO.

CONTACT US/LETTERS TO EDITOR: Michigan Country Lines 201 Townsend St., Suite 900 Lansing, MI 48933 248-534-7358 editor@countrylines.com CHANGE OF ADDRESS: Please notify your electric cooperative. See page 4 for contact information. The appearance of advertising does not constitute an endorsement of the products or services advertised.

Statement of Ownership, Management and Circulation (Required by U.S.C. 3685) 1. Publication: Michigan Country Lines. 2. Publication No.: 591-710. 3. Filing date: 10/1/23. 4. Issue frequency: monthly, except Aug. and Dec. 5. No. of issues published annually: 10. 6. Complete mailing address of ofﬁce of publication: Michigan Electric Cooperative Association, 201 Townsend St., Ste. 900, Lansing, MI 48933. 7. Complete mailing address of headquarters of publisher: 201 Townsend St., Ste. 900, Lansing, MI 48933. 8. Full names and complete mailing address of publisher, editors, and executive editor: Craig Borr, Christine Dorr, Casey Clark, 201 Townsend St., Ste. 900, Lansing, MI 48933. 9. Owner: Michigan Electric Cooperative Assoc., 201 Townsend St., Ste. 900, Lansing, MI 48933. 10. Known bondholders, mortgagees, and other security holders owning or holding 1% or more of total amount of bonds, mortgages, or other securities: None. 11. Tax status: has not been changed. 12. Issue date for circulation data: Sept. 2023. 13. Extent and nature of circulation: Avg # of copies Actual # of copies of single issues each issue during preceding 12 mo. published nearest to ﬁling date A) Total No. of copies................................. 246,919 ...................... 245,458 B) Paid and requested circulation ............ 246,070 ...................... 244,765 C) Total paid and requested circulation ... 246,070 ...................... 244,765 D) 1) Free distribution by mail.......................... 157 .............................. 132 2) Free distribution outside mail ................. 849 .............................. 693 E) Total free distribution ................................1,006 .............................. 825 F) Total distribution................................... 247,925 ...................... 245,590 G) Copies not distributed.......................................0 ...................................0 H) Total ....................................................... 247,925 ...................... 245,590 I) Percent paid and/or requested circ.......... 99.7% .......................... 99.9%

16. Publication of statement of ownership: November 2023 17. Signature and title of editor: Christine Dorr, editor

#micoopcommunity Instagram contest winner

“The most beautiful things are not perfect, they are special.” Bob Marley. @michianaadventures

6 MICHIGAN COUNTRY LINES NOW HAS A COOKBOOK Find out how to order your copy of "Best of Michigan Country Lines Cookbook."

10 MI CO-OP KITCHEN

Family Favorites: easy meals that will please even your pickiest eaters.

14 HERE COMES SANTA CLAUS Michigan's internationally recognized Santa School.

18 ENERGY ASSISTANCE

PROGRAMS FOR 2023–2024

MI Co-op Community

To enter contests, submit reader content & more, visit countrylines.com/community

Instagram Contest

Use #micoopcommunity for a chance to be featured here and on our Instagram account.

Win $100 for photos published!

Recipe Contest

See details on page 10. Best Layered Cakes due Dec. 1; Soups & Stews due Jan. 1; Stir Fries & Curries due Feb. 1

Win a $100 bill credit!

Guest Column

Share your fondest memories and stories. Win $200 for stories published. Visit countrylines.com/community to submit.

Win $200 for stories published!

Where In Michigan Is This? Win a $100 energy bill credit!

Identify the correct location of the photo to the left by Nov. 20 and be entered into a drawing to win a $100 electric bill credit. Enter your guess at countrylines.com/community. Sept. 2023 Winner! Our Mystery Photo winner is David Heidenreich, a Great Lakes Energy Cooperative member, who correctly identiﬁed the University of Michigan Law Library in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Winners are announced in the following issues of Country Lines: January, March, May, July/August, September, and November/December. MICHIGAN COUNTRY LINES

CO-OP NEWS cherrylandelectric.coop /cherrylandelectriccoop @cherrylandec BOARD OF DIRECTORS

David Schweitzer, President 231-883-5860 dschweitzer@cherrylandelectric.coop

Gabe Schneider, Senior Vice President 517-449-6453 gschneider@cherrylandelectric.coop Valarie Handy, Secretary 231-392-4705 vhandy@cherrylandelectric.coop

Tom Van Pelt, Treasurer 231-386-5234 tvanpelt@cherrylandelectric.coop

Melinda Lautner, Director 231-947-2509 mlautner@cherrylandelectric.coop

Cherryland Makes Difficult Decision Not to Retire Capital Credits This Year The cooperative made the difficult decision not to retire capital credits this year. A significant drop in energy sales due to mild weather paired with increasing cost pressures created some financial challenges for the co-op. For more details on the decision, how the co-op is tackling those challenges, and a deeper dive on capital credits—be sure to check out the CEO column on page 5 and a message from Cherryland’s CFO on page 9.

Cherryland Office Closed Over Holidays In observance of the holidays, the Cherryland office will be closed on the following dates: • Thursday, Nov. 23, and Friday, Nov. 24, for Thanksgiving • Monday, Dec. 25 and Tuesday, Dec. 26, for Christmas • Monday, Jan. 1, and Tuesday, Jan. 2, for New Year’s Line crews are on call to respond to any outages or emergencies. You can report an outage by texting OUT to 800-442-8616, logging into SmartHub, or calling us at 231-486-9200. Visit our website’s Outage Center for more details.

Terry Lautner, Director 231-883-6455 tlautner@cherrylandelectric.coop

Members May Dispose Of Christmas Trees At Cherryland

CEO: Rachel Johnson

Cherryland members are reminded that Christmas trees can be discarded at Cherryland’s office in Grawn. Trees can be dropped off on the right side of the Cherryland parking lot as you are driving in, just beyond where the two parking lots meet. This service is offered free to co-op members.

Dean Adams, Director 231-642-0014 dadams@cherrylandelectric.coop

Co-op Editors: Courtney Doyle: cdoyle@cherrylandelectric.coop OFFICE HOURS Monday–Friday 7:30 a.m.– 4 p.m. TELEPHONE NUMBERS 231-486-9200 or 1-800-442-8616 (Mich.) ADDRESS P.O. Box 298, Grawn, MI 49637 PAY STATION Cherryland Electric Cooperative office 5930 U.S. 31 South, Grawn MI, 49637 Cherryland Electric Cooperative is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

Cherryland Cares Awards $15,280 To Three Local Nonprofits At its third-quarter board meeting, the Cherryland Cares board awarded grants to The Salvation Army Traverse City, Acme Christian Thrift Store & Food Pantry, and Dream Team Northern Michigan. Cherryland Cares has awarded a total of $45,970 in grants to area nonprofit agencies this year. The Cherryland Cares board is comprised of five volunteer Cherryland members. The funds distributed by Cherryland Cares result from members electing to round up their monthly bills to the nearest dollar. If you are an area nonprofit agency seeking financial help, fourth-quarter grant applications are due Friday, Dec. 1. For more information, please call Dawn Garrock at 231-486-9234 or email her at dgarrock@cherrylandelectric.coop. Cherryland Cares grant recipients like ACTS and The Salvation Army Traverse City always express deep gratitude to the members who choose to round up their monthly bills to help them thrive. Your help makes all the difference!

4 NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2023

“ While we won’t be returning capital credits this year, we will look forward to sharing future returns with you in future years.” Instead, we are going to manage this year’s challenges by pausing our capital credit returns and tightening our belts for 2024 while we put together a long-term strategy for future years.

For Better or Worse, In Good Times and Bad By Rachel Johnson, Cherryland CEO

hen my husband and I tied the proverbial knot 16 years ago, people asked me if being married felt different. It did. Our vow to stick together in good times and bad, for better or for worse, profoundly changed our relationship. There were no longer “my” problems or “his” successes, there were only “our problems and successes.”

Being a member of a co-op has a bit of a similar vibe—the financial health and viability of the cooperative is truly a shared endeavor. When times are good, we share in our positive margins by returning capital credits to you. Since 2009, Cherryland has returned $31.5 million in capital credits to our members in the form of a bill credit or a check every December. This year, for the first time in 14 years, we will not be retiring capital credits. That was not an easy decision nor one we made lightly. For more about what goes into this decision, check out the message from our CFO, Mark Wilson, on page 9. We find ourselves in the midst of significant financial challenges and just like when times are good, we must tackle those challenges together.

We are projecting to end 2023 with negative operating margins. This is largely due to mild weather. When it’s really cold or really hot, we sell a lot of electricity. When it’s mild, we don’t. This year, our sales are about 5.5% lower than last year. This is despite the approximately 3% rate increase we implemented in April. We are also facing significant cost pressures. In the last few years, the cost of supplies we use regularly has increased precipitously. Overhead conductor costs 88% more today than it did a few years ago, underground cable costs 49% more, and the cost of transformers is up 32%. The cost of our inventory and system investments has increased with interest rates. In a capital-intensive industry like ours, small changes in interest rates can mean big increases in our cost to do business. If we were a profit-driven business only concerned with making returns to our investors, we would likely respond to these challenges by decreasing our investment in our system. But, we are a member-driven organization and those temporary decisions would mean less reliable electric service for you in the long run.

In 2024, your team will be tackling three things to help us navigate the co-op through this time of incredible cost pressure. First, we will develop a three- to five-year financial forecast that will account for all of the major system upgrade projects we have coming up. Second, our board will be revising our equity management plan to account for the change in our cost of delivering reliable service. And, finally, our team will take a hard look at where we can mitigate costs long-term without sacrificing the service we provide you. All this work will inform our plans for electric rates over the coming years. There is so much more to come on the aforementioned initiatives; for now, I want to ensure you that your cooperative remains fully committed to delivering you best-in-class reliability and affordable electric rates. There are significant headwinds working against us, but we will tackle these challenges like we always do— together, with a focus on doing what’s best for our members. If my 16 years of marriage have taught me anything, it’s that bad times don’t last. Sometimes all you can do is hunker down and weather the, well, bad weather. While we won’t be returning capital credits this year, we will look forward to sharing future returns with you in future years.

To learn more, scan here for the latest episode of Co-op Energy Talk.

MICHIGAN COUNTRY LINES

Discover the Magic of the Michigan Country Lines Cookbook!

Step into a world of culinary wonder with our exclusive cookbook, carefully curated from the ﬁnest recipes generously shared by our state’s electric cooperative members over the past decade. This cookbook isn’t just about food; it’s a celebration of the joys of cooking and community.

$27.98 on Amazon and countrylines.com 6

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2023

COOKING FOR A CAUSE All proceeds from the sales of this cookbook will be donated to two deserving Michigan charities: 1. Feeding America Local Food Banks: Ensuring that those in our community never go without nourishing meals and food security. 2. Cooperative Family Fund: Offering vital support to the children of electric cooperative employees who face the loss of a parent while actively employed at a cooperative.

Make this holiday season delicious and memorable by ordering your copies and spreading the warmth of community.

Order now in time for the holidays! Scan the QR code to embark on your culinary journey. Please allow 7–10 days for shipping.

MICHIGAN COUNTRY LINES

Fuel Mix Report

The fuel mix characteristics of Cherryland Electric Cooperative as required by Public Act 141 of 2000 for the 12-month period ending 6/30/23.

Comparison Of Fuel Sources Used Fuel source

Your co-op’s fuel mix

Regional average fuel mix

Coal

19.884%

33.472%

Oil

0.254%

0.476%

Gas

18.917%

29.441%

Hydroelectric

0.513%

0.873%

Nuclear

41.334%

25.901%

Renewable Fuels

19.098%

9.837%

Biofuel

0.324%

0.662%

Biomass

0.183%

0.417%

Solar

1.067%

0.766%

Solid Waste Incineration

0.084%

0.011%

Wind

17.233%

7.567%

Wood

0.207%

0.414%

NOTE: Biomass excludes wood; solid waste incineration includes landfill gas; and wind includes a long-term renewable purchase power contract in Wolverine’s mix.

Your Co-op’s Fuel Mix

September Board Meeting

Regional Average Fuel Mix

Emissions And Waste Comparison lbs/MWh

Type of emission/waste

Your co-op

Regional average*

Sulfur Dioxide

0.50

0.92

Carbon Dioxide

634.8

1,061.3

Oxides of Nitrogen

0.43

0.84

High-Level Nuclear Waste

0.0094

0.0060

* Regional average information was obtained from the MPSC website and is for the 12-month period ending 12/31/22. Cherryland purchases 100% of its electricity from Wolverine Power Supply Cooperative, Inc., which provided this fuel mix and environmental data.

8 NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2023

Your Board In Action remains committed to retiring capital credits in the future.

• The board approved a request to amend the 2023 budget to accelerate some anticipated 2024 expenses into this year. Co-op lenders evaluate three years of financial data to determine our ability to pay back debt, and of those three years, they drop the lowest one. Accelerating some 2024 expenses into an already challenging year like 2023 allows the co-op to ensure that 2023 is the lowest year while staying on track to meet financial goals in 2024.

• Despite supply chain issues and cost pressures, Cherryland’s operations and engineering manager reported that the cooperative’s reliability statistics remain strong, keeping the lights on 99.991% of the time. He also reported exemplary construction timelines, completing over 90% of our member construction requests within 15 days of final inspections.

• The board made the difficult decision not to retire capital credits this year. Due to mild weather and increasing costs, the cooperative expects to end the year with negative operating margins, meaning there is no excess revenue, or margins, to share this year. However, the cooperative

Members have the opportunity to provide input to the board prior to any regularly scheduled board meeting. To have your comments included in a monthly board packet for review, please submit them to Dawn Garrock at dgarrock@cherrylandelectric.coop a minimum of three business days before the monthly board meeting.

Stay informed with updates from the cooperative’s monthly board meetings. Scan here for the most recent Board Meeting Brief podcast.

A CLOSER LOOK AT CAPITAL CREDITS Mark Wilson, Cherryland CFO

t Cherryland, capital credit retirements are something the co-op and its members have come to expect and enjoy year after year. We’ve been really fortunate to have the opportunity to return millions of dollars to members over the last 14 years. As Rachel mentioned in her CEO column on page 5, this will be the first year in quite some time that the co-op does not retire capital credits. So, I wanted to take this opportunity to talk a little more about how capital credits work and the thought that goes into those decisions here at Cherryland.

As an electric cooperative, we’re a 501(c)12 not-for-profit organization. That means we do things a little differently when it comes to our finances. As the title suggests, the monthly bills you pay don’t exist to generate a profit. We use that money to maintain a reliable electric system and keep the cooperative up and running. Any profit or excess revenue, also known as margins, is eventually returned to the members who own the cooperative—that’s you! There are three parts of that process that often cause some confusion: allocation, retirement, and the timeline of the process. So, let’s dive a little deeper into each of those topics.

Allocation Every year, we crunch the numbers and assess the revenue that came in, how much we needed to maintain operations, and how much is left over. We have our financials audited and the co-op books are finalized. Any margins, or that “leftover” revenue, is then allocated to the membership based on how much energy they used in that particular year. Our member-owned power supplier, Wolverine Power Cooperative, goes through this same process. As a Wolverine member, Cherryland receives an allocation, and the cooperative passes that allocation onto our membership. Members receive a notice with their bill in the spring informing them of their share of the previous year’s margins from both Cherryland and Wolverine. This is often where the confusion starts. While you receive notice of the allocation, you won’t see that money returned right away. That leads me to capital credit retirement.

Retirement Every year, the board of directors takes a hard look at the cooperative’s financial status. They consider their equity management plan, which helps the co-op satisfy our

financial obligations to our lenders, the co-op’s current financial status, and everything in between. They’ll take that information and determine if the co-op is in a good position to retire capital credits. If so, the retirement goes toward paying back previous years’ allocations. The board can choose to retire the total amount allocated from a previous year, a specific dollar amount, or a percentage of the previous years’ margins. That’s when you’ll see that bill credit or check in the mail. If the board decides the cooperative is not in a good position to retire capital credits, they may decide to save that retirement for another year. This year, the board decided not to retire capital credits simply because the co-op isn’t ending the year with positive operating margins to share.

Timing Every year, the cooperative goes through the allocation process and deciding whether or not to approve a retirement. But it’s often 20 to 25 years between those two actions—allocation and retirement. Cherryland has paid off past allocations operating on a roughly 19-year cycle. However, that timeline may begin to stretch due to current cost pressures and a history of really fruitful allocations. When a capital credit retirement is approved by the board, 75% goes toward the oldest outstanding allocation and 25% goes toward the most recent allocation, making sure even our newest members get to experience the cooperative difference. So, to put all of that into context—the dollar amount on the allocation notice you received earlier this spring is what you can expect to see in the form of a capital credit retirement sometime in the next 20 to 25 years. For our next retirement, 75% will go toward paying off the remainder of the 2004 allocation and 25% will go toward the most recent allocation. When this process starts over again next year, you’ll receive your annual allocation notice in the spring. However, ending this year with negative operating margins means you’ll notice a $0 allocation from Cherryland along with your share of Wolverine’s allocation. We know capital credits can be a little complex, but they’re an important part of who we are as a cooperative and worth taking a little extra time to explain. While the board had to make the difficult decision not to retire capital credits this year, I can assure you it’s all part of the process and you will enjoy this part of the cooperative difference again soon. MICHIGAN COUNTRY LINES

MI CO-OP Recipes

FAMILY FAVORITES Easy meals that will please even your pickiest eaters

WINNING RECIPE! EASY ONE-PAN CHICKEN DINNER

Julie Grulke, Presque Isle Electric 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts 2 (15-ounce) cans green beans, drained (or 2 cups fresh green beans, trimmed) 3–4 potatoes, peeled & cubed 1 (4-ounce) stick butter or margarine 1 package dry Italian dressing

Recipe Contest

Preheat oven to 350 F. Spray a 9x13 pan with oil. Place chicken breasts down center of pan. Spread green beans on side of the chicken. Spread the potatoes on the other side of the chicken. Melt the butter and stir in the Italian dressing. Pour liquid over chicken, beans, and potatoes. Bake for 1 hour or until chicken and potatoes are done. Serve and enjoy.

Win a $100 energy bill credit! Best Layered Cakes due Dec. 1; Soups & Stews due Jan. 1; Stir Fries & Curries due Feb. 1 Submit your favorite recipe for a chance to win a $100 bill credit and have your recipe featured in Country Lines with a photo and a video. Submit your recipe at micoopkitchen.com, or send it via email (include your full name and co-op) to recipes@countrylines.com. 10 NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2023

Watch a video of this month’s winning recipe at micoopkitchen.com/recipe_ type/videos/

MARVELOUS MUSHROOM WHITE PIZZA Deb Finedell, Great Lakes Energy

1 pound store-bought pizza dough, at room temperature 4 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided 1 pound mixed mushrooms (your choice), sliced ¼ cup chopped fresh parsley 1 teaspoon kosher salt, divided ¾ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, divided ½ cup whole-milk ricotta cheese 4 ounces (1 cup) shredded lowmoisture mozzarella 1 clove garlic, ﬁnely chopped

Preheat oven to 450 F with rack in lowest position. On a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, stretch out the dough to a 16x10-inch rectangle. Bake until lightly golden, about 7 minutes. Heat 2 tablespoons of oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add mushrooms and cook, stirring occasionally, until golden, about 12 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in parsley and ½ teaspoon each salt and black pepper. In a medium bowl, stir together the ricotta, mozzarella, garlic, and the remaining 2 tablespoons of oil, ½ teaspoon salt, and ¼ teaspoon black pepper. Spread over prebaked crust, leaving a 1-inch border. Arrange mushroom mixture on top. Bake until golden, about 12 minutes. Cut and serve. Enjoy!

CAULIFLOWER PARMESAN Luise Bolleber, Cherryland

3 eggs + pinch of salt 3 cups breadcrumbs 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning ¼ teaspoon salt ¼ teaspoon black pepper 1 medium head cauliﬂower, trimmed, cut into ½-inch thick pieces ½ cup vegetable oil, for frying 5 cups tomato or marinara sauce, divided 3 cups shredded mozzarella cheese, divided ½ cup shredded Parmesan cheese Heat oven to 400°F. Place eggs and pinch of salt in a small bowl and beat. Place breadcrumbs in another bowl or a pie plate. Mix the Italian seasoning into the

breadcrumbs and add the salt and black pepper. Dip cauliflower pieces in the eggs, then coat with breadcrumbs. Add some of the oil to a heavy skillet over mediumhigh heat. Fry cauliflower in batches, until golden brown on both sides. Add more oil as needed. Drain cauliflower pieces on a paper towel-lined plate. Spoon some of the sauce over the bottom of a 9x13-inch baking pan. Scatter half of the cauliflower pieces over the sauce. Drizzle some sauce over the cauliflower and sprinkle with half of the mozzarella. Layer the rest of the cauliflower pieces over the cheese, spread with remaining sauce, and sprinkle with remaining mozzarella and Parmesan. Bake about 30 minutes until cheese is golden and sauce is bubbling. Let cool 5 minutes before serving.

CABBAGE ROLLS Sandy Preston

1 egg, beaten ½ cup milk ¼ cup onion, ﬁnely chopped 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce ¾ teaspoon salt ¹⁄ 8 teaspoon black pepper 1 pound ground beef or ground venison burger ¾ cup cooked rice 6 large or 12 medium cabbage leaves 2 (10¾-ounce) cans condensed tomato soup 1 tablespoon brown sugar 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice

Preheat oven to 350 F. In a bowl, combine egg, milk, onion, Worcestershire sauce, salt, and black pepper. Mix well. Add meat and cooked rice. Mix well. Remove center vein of cabbage leaves, keeping each leaf in one piece. Immerse leaves in boiling water about 3 minutes or until limp; drain. Place ½ cup meat mixture on each large leaf or ¼ cup mixture on each medium leaf. Fold in sides, making sure folded sides are included in roll. Arrange in a 12x7x2-inch baking dish. Stir together tomato soup with brown sugar and lemon juice. Pour sauce mixture over cabbage rolls. Bake uncovered for 75 minutes, basting once or twice with sauce.

SIRLOIN TIPS WITH MUSHROOMS Terry Baxter, Great Lakes Energy

1¼ pounds sirloin steak, cubed 2 tablespoons butter, divided 1 tablespoon vegetable oil 1 clove garlic, minced or pressed ¾ pound fresh mushrooms, sliced ¹⁄³ cup beef broth ¹⁄³ cup dry red wine or water 1 teaspoon soy sauce 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard 1 teaspoon cornstarch ½ cup whipping cream • chopped parsley Preheat oven to 300 F. In a wide skillet, brown the meat in 1 tablespoon of butter and the vegetable oil. Add the garlic. As pieces brown, remove meat to casserole dish with a lid. Add remaining 1 tablespoon

butter to the skillet. Add the mushrooms and sauté for 1–2 minutes, then add to the meat. Cover. Bake for 45–50 minutes, until meat is tender. Meanwhile, add broth, wine or water, and soy sauce to the pan in which the meat was browned. Boil, stirring up the “brownings” (meat remnants left over in the pan) until reduced to about half. In a small bowl, blend the mustard, cornstarch, and cream. Add to the pan and boil until thick. Pour the juice from the meat in the casserole dish into the pan. Boil, while whisking, until smooth and thick. Add the meat to the sauce and stir in. Sprinkle with parsley. This can be served over white rice or wide egg noodles. Makes 4 servings.

MICHIGAN COUNTRY LINES

EMPOWERING TOMORROW’S LEADERS

The Electric Cooperative Youth Tour Experience Each year, Cherryland sponsors a pair of local high school students to represent the co-op on the Electric Cooperative Youth Tour—an all-expenses-paid, once-in-a-lifetime leadership opportunity! Students travel to Washington, D.C. to tour monuments, learn about our local legislators, and get to know other students from co-ops across the country.

12 NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2023

This year, Leah Middaugh from the Cotton Creek Academy Homeschool Co-op was one of two students who represented Cherryland on the Youth Tour. Check out what she has to say about her experience with the program: WHAT MADE YOU WANT TO APPLY FOR YOUTH TOUR? I heard about it from my parents who saw it online and read it in the Country Lines magazine. I did not know exactly what it was at first, but I knew we were going to Washington, D.C., and I was open to a new experience. WHAT WERE YOUR FAVORITE EXPERIENCES FROM YOUTH TOUR? Everything had something I could learn from, but a few of my favorite things were the Arlington National Cemetery, the memorials, especially the Korean War, World War ll, and the Vietnam War memorials, and touring the White House since that is something they have not been able to do for a while. WHAT DID YOU LEARN WHILE ON YOUTH TOUR? I learned a lot while on Youth Tour, especially from Linda, our tour guide. She knows a lot about the area and had so much to share. From the significance of the details at each memorial to historical facts about the White House, I only wish I could have remembered more! WHAT WOULD YOU SAY TO ANY LOCAL HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT THINKING ABOUT APPLYING TO ATTEND THE 2024 YOUTH TOUR? To anyone who wants to apply for next year’s Youth Tour, I would say listen carefully to the stories about the city, and learn as much as you can about our nation’s founding and founding fathers before you take the trip. Through Hillsdale College and homeschooling, I have learned a lot about our history, and it helped me understand much of what I saw and be interested in what I could learn while I was there. Applications for the 2024 Youth Tour are open now! Visit www.cooperativeyouthtour.com to learn more. The deadline to apply is Jan. 12, 2024.

WHAT: Explore monuments, museums, and our nation’s history while making lifelong friends and learning about cooperatives across the country on this once-in-alifetime, all-expenses-paid leadership opportunity!

WHEN: June 18–23, 2024

WHERE: Washington, D.C.

MICHIGAN COUNTRY LINES 13

Santa C laus Here Comes

MICHIGAN’S INTERNATIONALLY RECOGNIZED SANTA SCHOOL

By Emily Haines Lloyd || Photos provided by Midland Daily News; cover photo provided by Steam Railroad Institute

n a cozy cottage nestled in Midland, Michigan, between 25,000-30,000 people come each Christmas season to visit Santa and Mrs. Claus at the— appropriately named—Santa House. The structure, reminiscent of a life-size gingerbread house painted in merry colors with a steep, slanted roof (perfect for reindeer takeoffs), draws ﬁrst-time visitors as well as multi-generational families who want to immerse themselves in the holiday spirit. However, just a couple of months before the doors open to Santa House

14 NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2023

and usher in the Christmas spirit, a different crowd of visitors gathers around for three days to attend something equally magical— Santa School. The original Santa School started in 1937 outside of Albion, New York. It was owned by Charles W. Howard, a farmer who just happened to moonlight as Santa Claus in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade from 1948-1965. He wanted to teach future Santas about bringing the holiday spirit to children and adults alike.

In the 1960s, the school was taken over by Nate Done, who eventually moved to Bay City, Michigan, where the program started with just two students that ﬁrst year. One of those ﬁrst students was Tom Valent. Twenty years later, it would be Tom who passed on the traditions he learned that weekend to entirely new generations of Santas. It was 1986 when Tom and his wife Holly (yes, that’s her given name!) took over Santa School, keeping the tradition alive and passing on those Kris Kringle-esque lessons. Shortly

“ It’s not like any other business I can think of. We are literally fueled by Christmas spirit, and it’s been our privilege to share that with the Santas, as well as the community, for all these years.” afterward, they moved to Midland, where they have continued to host would-be Santas every year since. “We both really believe in the spirit and magic of Christmas,” said Holly. “But for Tom, it has been a calling. He has always understood that the time you spend with a child as Santa will stay with them their whole lives.” It’s this very philosophy the Valents impart to their nearly 300 Santa students in the three-day curriculum. Teachers, doctors, farmers, actors, coal miners, and truck drivers, amongst others, have come from all over, including 46 states and three countries. Their backgrounds may be different, but their mission is the same—to embody the heart of Santa. “Our job is helping our students to be well-rounded Santas. We want them to feel conﬁdent, to feel like Santa,” said Holly. “Graduation can be pretty emotional for everyone. This experience is transformational.” For students, the experience involves everything from studying the history

ta Lessons San The spirit & heart of Santa

of Saint Nicholas and Santa Claus to ﬁnding their own signature suits. They have help from professionals who teach makeup, wig, and beard (for those without real ones) application. There is plenty of attention placed on singing and presentation skills, as well as a Santa Sign Language class to help make every child feel included.

Legends & Facts

“It’s a full weekend ﬁlled with different sessions, including making toys in Santa’s workshop,” said Holly. “But also keeping everyone up to date on the latest toys and gadgets on kids’ wish lists.”

Hair, Makeup, & Suits

Between the lessons, the workshops, the off-site trips, and plenty of cookies and milk, these Santas are not only ﬁnding their own holiday cheer, but storing up enough to bring the magic of the season to anyone who visits with them. “It’s not like any other business I can think of,” said Holly. “We are literally fueled by Christmas spirit, and it’s been our privilege to share that with the Santas, as well as the community, for all these years.”

Charles W. Howard History Singing with Children The North Pole & Elves

Reindeer Dancing Toy Making Sleigh riding

santaclausschool.com CWHSantaClausSchool cwhsantaschool

MICHIGAN COUNTRY LINES

Congrats To The 17 Cherryland Member Chefs Featured In The New

Best Of Michigan Country Lines Cookbook Bacon Wrapped Water Chestnuts

Becky Elliott: Swiss Vegetable Medley Connie Bowman: Bacon Wrapped Water Chestnuts Esther Maginity: Shredded BBQ Beef

Chocolate Devil’s Food Cupcakes (Gluten Free)

Judy Skowronski: Southwest Chicken Salad Laura Harrand: Chocolate Devil’s Food Cupcakes (Gluten Free) Linda Ackerman: Seafood Tostadas

Instant Pot Lasagna Soup

Linda Kindy Hoch: Summer Orzo Salad Luise Bolleber: Orange Cranberry Carrot Muffins Marie Zapf-Taylor: Mock Ice Cream Sandwiches

Mary Ellen SeguinAdomat: All-In One Breakfast Bake Mary Jean Troyer: Rhubarb Butter Crunch Nancy Popa: Philly Tomato Basil Dip Patricia Wyers: Quinoa Cucumber Salad Randy Rippentrop: Grilled Flatbread with Vegetables & Hummus Sarah Hallstedt: Shrimp with Snow Peas Stir-Fry Shelly Ehrenberger: Gazpacho Theresa Pacel: Instant Pot Lasagna Soup

To learn how to make these delicious dishes and many more, check out the details on how to purchase the Best Of Michigan Country Lines Cookbook on pages 6 and 7. 16 NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2023

Celebrations

PHOTO CONTEST

3 1

Enter to win a $200 energy bill credit!

Submit Your “Travel Around The World” Photos By Nov. 20!

MOST VOTES 1. Baby is coming! — Laurie Borysiak

Submit your best photo and encourage your friends to vote! The photo receiving the most votes in our Facebook contest will be printed in an issue of Country Lines, along with some of our other favorites. Our Nov./Dec. theme is the Travel Around The World! Photos can be submitted through Nov. 20 to be featured in our February issue.

2. My uncle’s wedding day. — Karol Grucz

Enter Your Photos And Win A Bill Credit!

5. T hree generations of Christmas fun! — Dawn Centilli

To enter the contest, visit cherrylandelectric.coop/photo-contest or visit facebook.com/cherrylandelectriccoop for a link to the current photo contest. Enter your picture, cast your vote, and encourage others to vote for you as well. If your photo is printed in Country Lines during 2024, you will be entered to win a credit of up to $200 on your December 2024 bill.

3. 4th birthday excitement! — Laurel Riley 4. Celebrating our new soldier! — Lauren Oien

6. Christmas miracle — Brooke Neuman

MICHIGAN COUNTRY LINES 17

Energy Assistance Programs 2023-2024 Season Winter Protection Plan

Low-Income Weatherization Assistance Program

Contact: Local Utility Company

Contact: Local Community Action Agency

Income Guidelines 2023–2024 # in Household

1 2 3 4

150% Poverty Guide Maximum Income

# in Household

$21,870 29,580 37,290 45,000

5 6 7 8

Add $7,710 for each additional household member.

150% Poverty Guide Maximum Income

$52,710 60,420 68,130 75,840

The Winter Protection Plan (WPP) protects enrolled seniors and low-income customers from service shut-offs and high utility bill payments during the winter months. If you are eligible, your utility service will remain on (or restored with the WPP) from Nov. 1 through March 31, if you: • pay at least 7% of your estimated annual bill each month, and • make equal monthly payments between the date you apply and the start of the next heating season on any past-due bills. When the protection period ends (March 31), you must begin to pay the full monthly bill, plus part of the amount you owe from the winter months when you did not pay the full bill. Participation does not relieve customers from the responsibility of paying for electricity and natural gas usage, but does prevent shut-off during winter months. You qualify for the plan if you meet at least one of the following requirements: • are age 65 or older, • receive Dept. of Health and Human Services cash assistance, including SSI, • receive Food Assistance, • receive Medicaid, or • household income is at or below the 150% of poverty level shown in the Income Guidelines chart above. Senior citizen customers who participate in the WPP are not required to make speciﬁc payments to ensure that their service will not be shut off between Nov. 1 and March 31. Service for seniors can be restored without any payments. Note: All customers 65+ are eligible regardless of income. Customers are responsible for all electricity and natural gas used. At the end of the protection period, participants must make arrangements with their utility company to pay off any money owed before the next heating season.

Home Heating Credit

0–1 2 3 4

Max. Income

$16,038 21,692 27,346 33,000

United Way Contact: Call 2-1-1 or UWmich.org/2-1-1 2-1-1 is a free phone service operating 24 hours daily to provide information about help that may be available in a particular area with utilities and other needs. Dial 2-1-1 or visit mi211.org to ﬁnd available services.

Medical Emergency Protection Contact: Local Utility Company You are protected from service shut-off for nonpayment of your natural gas and/or electric bill for up to 21 days, possibly extending to 63 days, if you have a proven medical emergency. You must provide written proof from a doctor or a public health or social services ofﬁcial that a medical condition exists. Contact your gas or electric utility for details.

Shut-off Protection For Military Active Duty Contact: Local Utility Company If you or your spouse has been called into active military duty, you may apply for shut-off protection from your electric or natural gas service for up to 90 days. You may request extensions. You must still pay, but contact your utility company and they will help you set up a payment plan.

Michigan Veterans Trust Fund Emergency Grant Program Contact: MI Veterans Trust Fund

Contact: Michigan Dept. of Treasury # Exemp.

You may be able to receive help with weatherizing your home to reduce energy use if you meet low-income eligibility guidelines (200% of poverty guidelines) or if you participate in the Dept. of Health and Human Services Family Independence Program or receive SSI. Weatherization may include caulking, weather-stripping, and insulation. Contact your local Community Action Agency for details. Visit mcaaa.org to ﬁnd one in your area.

# Exemp.

5 6 7 8

Add $5,654 for each exemption over 8.

Max. Income

$38,654 44,308 49,962 55,616

You can apply for a Home Heating Credit for the 2023 tax year if you meet the income guidelines listed above (110% of poverty level) or you qualify based on alternate guidelines including household income, exemptions, and heating costs. Additional exemptions are available for seniors, disabled claimants, or claimants with 5% or more of their income from unemployment compensation. If you qualify, you may receive assistance to help pay for your winter heating bills. Forms are available mid-to-late January, wherever tax forms are provided or from the Michigan Dept. of Treasury (517-636-4486 or michigan.gov/treasury). The Home Heating Credit claim form must be ﬁled with the Michigan Dept. of Treasury no later than Sept. 30 each year.

State Emergency Relief Program (SER) Contact: Local Michigan Dept. of Health and Human Services (DHHS), michigan.gov/mdhhs You do not have to be a DHHS client to apply for help with a past-due bill, shut-off notice, or the need for deliverable fuel through the SER. This program, available Nov. 1–May 31, provides most of its utility assistance during this crisis season. However, limited assistance is available outside the crisis season. If you receive a DHHS cash grant, you may use part of it toward heat and electric bills. Apply online at the MI Bridges website: Michigan.gov/mibridges.

The Trust Fund provides temporary assistance to veterans and their families facing a ﬁnancial emergency or hardship, including the need for energy assistance. Contact the Michigan Veterans Trust Fund at 800-642-4838 or michiganveterans.com.

Michigan Homeowner Assistance Fund (MIHAF) Administering Agency: Michigan State Housing Development Authority Contact: Michigan State Housing Development Authority, www.michigan.gov/mshda or 844-756-4423 The MIHAF provides funds to customers with assistance preventing homeowner mortgage delinquencies, defaults, foreclosure, loss of utilities or home energy services, and displacement. Applicants must demonstrate ﬁnancial hardship directly related to COVID-19 on or after Jan. 21, 2020.

MI Energy Assistance Program Contact: Utility or 2-1-1 in late November: https://mihaf.michigan.gov/p/home or 844-756-4423. The Michigan Energy Assistance Program (MEAP) includes services that will enable participants to become self-sufﬁcient, including assisting participants in paying their energy bills on time, budgeting for and contributing to their ability to provide for energy expenses, and being energy efﬁcient. Shut-off protection is provided Nov. 1–April 15 for all residential customers. The MEAP is supported by the state’s Low-Income Energy Assistance Fund (LIEAF). An electric utility that chooses not to collect for the LIEAF shall not shut off service to customers for nonpayment between Nov. 1 and April 15. For a list of electric providers that opt out of collecting the LIEAF, go to michigan.gov/energygrants.

Dial 2-1-1 for more information on heating and other human services programs.

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