OCTOBER 2014
Political spotlight Supporting cooperative candidates
PLUS Co-op careers Cooperative scholars Treats with a twist
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OCTOBER Vol. 49 • No. 10 Peter A. Fitzgerald EDITOR
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KEEPING CURRENT News items from across the Commonwealth
Katherine Hackleman S E N I OR E D I T O R / W R I T E R
James Dulley Janette Hess Barbara Martin Marcus Schneck
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F E AT U R E
Political spotlight Supporting cooperative candidates
C ON T R I B U T I N G C O L U M N I S TS
W. Douglas Shirk L AYOU T & DESI GN
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Co-op careers: Cooperative employees dedicated to job, community
Vonnie Kloss A D V E R T I S I N G & CI R C U L A T I O N
Michelle M. Smith M E D I A & M A R K E T I N G S P E CI A L I S T
Penn Lines (USPS 929-700), the newsmagazine of Pennsylvania’s electric cooperatives, is published monthly by the Pennsylvania Rural Electric Association, 212 Locust Street, P.O. Box 1266, Harrisburg, PA 17108-1266. Penn Lines helps 165,800 households of co-op consumermembers understand issues that affect the electric cooperative program, their local coops, and their quality of life. Electric co-ops are not-for-profit, consumer-owned, locally directed, and taxpaying electric utilities. Penn Lines is not responsible for unsolicited manuscripts. The opinions expressed in Penn Lines do not necessarily reflect those of the editors, the Pennsylvania Rural Electric Association, or local electric distribution cooperatives. Subscriptions: Electric co-op members, $5.42 per year through their local electric distribution cooperative. Preferred Periodicals postage paid at Harrisburg, PA 17107 and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes with mailing label to Penn Lines, 212 Locust Street, P.O. Box 1266, Harrisburg, PA 17108-1266. Advertising: Display ad deadline is six weeks prior to month of issue. Ad rates upon request. Acceptance of advertising by Penn Lines does not imply endorsement of the product or services by the publisher or any electric cooperative. If you encounter a problem with any product or service advertised in Penn Lines, please contact: Advertising, Penn Lines, P.O. Box 1266, Harrisburg, PA 17108. Penn Lines reserves the right to refuse any advertising.
RURAL PERSPECTIVES
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F E AT U R E
Cooperative scholars Winners of statewide electric cooperative scholarships announced
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TIME LINES Your newsmagazine through the years
14A C O O P E R AT I V E
CO N N ECT I O N
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POWER PLANTS
Frost stops the garden cold 16
Visit with us at Penn Lines Online, located at: www.prea.com/Content/ pennlines.asp. Penn Lines Online provides an email link to Penn Lines editorial staff, information on advertising rates, and an archive of past issues.
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T I M E PA S S A G E S Memories from our members
19
E N E R G Y M AT T E R S
Can energy savings be as easy as painting? 20
COUNTRY KITCHEN
Treats with a twist O U T D O O R A DV E N T U R ES
Flying, but not blind, at night
© 2014 Pennsylvania Rural Electric Association. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission is prohibited.
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Information and advice from your local electric cooperative
21
Board officers and staff, Pennsylvania Rural Electric Association: Chairman, Leroy Walls; Vice Chairman, Tim Burkett; Secretary, Lanny Rodgers; Treasurer, Rick Shope; President & CEO, Frank M. Betley
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CLASSIFIEDS
24
SMART CIRCUITS
27
When do appliance upgrades make sense? 25
PUNCH LINES
Thoughts from Earl Pitts– Uhmerikun! For sale: all the junk we picked up at last year’s yard sales
27
RURAL REFLECTIONS
Final call for 2014 photos
O N T H E COV E R As corporate and community citizens, electric cooperatives take an active role in the political process through endorsements by the Action Committee for Rural Electrification (ACRE). Photo of Pennsylvania State Capitol by Kathy Hackleman
OCTOBER 2014 • PENN
LINES
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KEEPINGcurrent It’s fall foliage time Pennsylvania has a longer and more varied fall foliage season than any other state — or anywhere in the world for that matter. According to the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR), this is no
test by readers of USA Today. The Hershey, Pa., park known as “The Sweetest Place on Earth,” ranked behind Six Flags Magic Mountain in Valencia, Calif.; Six Flags Great Adventure in Jackson, N.J.; Dollywood in Pigeon Forge, Tenn.; and Cedar Point in Sandusky, Ohio. The remaining parks in the Top 10 list were: Legoland California in Carlsbad, Calif.; Kings Island in Mason, Ohio; Magic Kingdom Park in Lake Buena Vista, Fla.; Busch Gardens in Williamsburg, Va.; and Disneyland Park in Anaheim, Calif.
State considers new permit in game lands empty boast. DCNR officials say only three regions of the world support deciduous forests that display fall autumn color: eastern North America; the British Isles and parts of northwestern Europe; northeastern China and northern Japan. Forests in other regions are either tropical or dominated by conifers. Pennsylvania’s location between 40 degrees and 42 degrees North latitude and its varied topography from sea level on the coastal plain to over 3,000 feet in the Laurel Highlands supports 134 species of trees and many more shrubs and vines that contribute to the display of autumn color. This year, residents and visitors have a good shot at seeing one of the best displays in years. Foliage colors are expected to peak for several weeks beginning early in October. Check the DCNR website at www.dcnr.state.pa.us for weekly foliage reports with suggestions of the best spots to view the foliage.
Pennsylvania park rated No. 5 One Pennsylvania theme park — Hersheypark — was recently rated No. 5 in the nation’s “Best Theme Park” con4
PENN
LINES • OCTOBER 2014
The Pennsylvania Board of Game Commissioners is considering the possibility of requiring permits for nonhunters and non-trappers over the age of 16 who use state game lands for horseback riding, bicycling and snowmobiling. Low-impact users — including hikers and birdwatchers — and people who hold hunter or trapper licenses would not be required to have a permit to ride in the game lands.
The goal of the permit program would be to provide funds for the upkeep of game lands. Historically, the state’s hunters and trappers have shouldered those maintenance costs through the purchase of hunting and furtakers’ licenses. Currently, there are about 1,325 miles of designated trails on state game lands that accommodate horseback riding, bicycling and snowmobiling. Damage from these uses can be considerable, especially in areas that have heavy traffic or are used when wet, according to state sources. l
Penn Lines recognized Penn Lines recently received a first-place award in the 2014 National Electric Cooperative Statewide Editors Association (SEA) Willies Awards. The award was in the “Best Treatment of a Technical Subject” category for the October 2013 article about upgrades local cooperatives have made to their outage response management systems. In addition, Penn Lines won an honorable mention in the “Best Entertaining Feature” category for the November 2013 article about the celebration honoring the 200th anniversary of the Battle of Lake Erie. The awards were presented during a national SEA meeting in Arlington, Va., in August. SEA represents the nation’s 32 statewide magazines published by the country’s electric cooperatives. The awards are named after the cooperative mascot, Willie Wiredhand.
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Political spotlight Supporting cooperative candidates The Action Committee for Rural Electrification (ACRE) — the political action arm of electric cooperatives — endorses the following nine U.S. congressional and 50 state legislative candidates to represent electric cooperative service areas in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. The recommendations are based on the candidates’ support for and voting record regarding rural electrification and their stance on various rural and consumer concerns, in accordance with ACRE bylaws.
U.S. Senate (N.J.)
By voting for these men and women on Nov. 4, you will help ensure your local electric cooperative has a voice before Congress and the state legislature. In the following list, incumbents endorsed or actions taken on seats held by incumbents are listed in boldface. Actions taken on open seats are indicated in bold italics. Electric cooperatives represented are noted after each state House, Senate or congressional district.
U.S. House of Rep. (N.J.)
Cory Booker (D)
Scott Garrett (R)
(Sussex REC)
5th District (Sussex REC)
U.S. House of Representatives (Pa.) Mike Kelly (R)
Glenn “GT” Thompson (R)
3rd District (Central EC, Northwestern REC, REA Energy, United EC, Warren EC)
5th District (Central EC, Northwestern REC, REA Energy, Tri-County REC, United EC, Valley REC, Warren EC)
Scott Perry (R)
Bill Shuster (R)
4th District (Adams EC)
9th District (Adams EC, Bedford REC, New Enterprise REC, REA Energy, Somerset REC, United EC, Valley REC)
Tom Marino (R) 10th District (Claverack REC, Sullivan County REC, Tri-County REC)
Keith Rothfus (R) 12th District (REA Energy, Somerset REC)
Lou Barletta (R) 11th District (Adams EC, Claverack REC)
Pennsylvania State Senate John H. Eichelberger Jr. (R)
Jacob D. Corman III (R)
Michele Brooks (R)
30th District (Adams EC, Bedford REC, New Enterprise REC, REA Energy, Valley REC)
34th District (United EC, Valley REC)
50th District (Central EC, Northwestern REC, Warren EC)
Scott Wagner (R)
No Endorsement
Randy Vulakovich (R)
28th District (Adams EC)
32nd District (Bedford REC, Somerset REC)
38th District (Central EC)
Lisa Baker (R) 20th District (Claverack REC)
Paid for by the Action Committee for Rural Electrification 6
PENN
LINES • OCTOBER 2014
Pennsylvania State House of Representatives Ryan Bizzarro (D)
Frank Dermody (D)
Donna Oberlander (R)
Frank Burns (D)
3rd District (Northwestern REC)
33rd District (Central EC)
63rd District (Central EC, REA Energy, United EC)
72nd District (REA Energy)
Curt Sonney (R)
Keith Gillespie (R)
R. Lee James (R)
Tommy Sankey (R)
4th District (Northwestern REC, Warren EC)
47th District (Adams EC)
64th District (Central EC, Northwestern REC)
73rd District (REA Energy, United EC)
Brad Roae (R)
Tim Mahoney (D)
Kathy L. Rapp (R)
Matt Gabler (R)
51st District (Somerset REC)
65th District (Central EC, Northwestern REC, United EC, Warren EC)
75th District (United EC)
No Endorsement
No Endorsement
Cris Dush (R)
Mike Hanna (D)
8th District (Central EC)
52nd District (Somerset REC)
66th District (REA Energy, United EC)
76th District (Tri-County REC, United EC)
Jaret Gibbons (D)
Joseph A. Petrarca (D)
Martin T. Causer (R)
Jesse Topper (R)
10th District (Central EC)
55th District (REA Energy)
67th District (Tri-County REC)
78th District (Bedford REC, New Enterprise REC, Valley REC)
Brian Ellis (R)
Mike Reese (R)
Matt Baker (R)
11th District (Central EC)
59th District (Somerset REC)
68th District (Claverack REC, Tri-County REC)
John McGinnis (R)
Daryl Metcalfe (R)
Jeff Pyle (R)
Carl Walker Metzgar (R)
6th District (Northwestern REC)
12th District (Central EC)
No Endorsement 17th District (Northwestern REC)
60th District (Central EC, REA Energy)
Dave Reed (R) 62nd District (REA Energy)
69th District (Bedford REC, Somerset REC)
79th District (Valley REC)
Judy Ward (R) 80th District (Valley REC)
Bryan Barbin (D)
No Endorsement
71st District (REA Energy)
81st District (New Enterprise REC, Valley REC)
OCTOBER 2014 • PENN
LINES
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Pennsylvania State House, cont. C. Adam Harris (R) 82nd District (Valley REC)
Garth Everett (R)
Dan Moul (R)
Tina Pickett (R)
91st District (Adams EC)
110th District (Claverack REC, Sullivan County REC, Tri-County REC)
Mike Regan (R)
Sandra J. Major (R)
92nd District (Adams EC)
84th District (Sullivan County REC, Tri-County REC)
111th District (Claverack REC)
Mark K. Keller (R)
Kristin PhillipsHill (R)
Karen Boback (R)
86th District (Adams EC, Valley REC)
93rd District (Adams EC)
117th District (Claverack REC)
Rob Kauffman (R)
Stan Saylor (R)
Kate Klunk (R)
94th District (Adams EC)
169th District (Adams EC)
89th District (Adams EC)
Kerry A. Benninghoff (R) 171st District (Valley REC)
Will Tallman (R) 193rd District (Adams EC)
Seth Grove (R) 196th District (Adams EC)
Stephen Bloom (R) 199th District (Adams EC)
Paid for by the Action Committee for Rural Electrification
Remember to vote on Election Day November 4
8
PENN
LINES • OCTOBER 2014
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Clogged, Backed—up Septic System…Can anything Restore It? Dear Darryl
DEAR DARRYL: My home is about 10 years old, and so is my septic system. I have always taken pride in keeping my home and property in top shape. In fact, my neighbors and I are always kidding each other about who keeps their home and yard nicest. Lately, however, I have had a horrible smell in my yard, and also in one of my bathrooms, coming from the shower drain. My grass is muddy and all the drains in my home are very slow.
My wife is on my back to make the bathroom stop smelling and as you can imagine, my neighbors are having a field day, kidding me about the mud pit and sewage stench in my yard. It’s humiliating. I called a plumber buddy of mine, who recommended pumping (and maybe even replacing) my septic system. But at the potential cost of thousands of dollars, I hate to explore that option. I tried the store bought, so called, Septic treatments out there, and they did Nothing to clear up my problem. Is there anything on the market I can pour or flush into my system that will restore it to normal, and keep it maintained? Clogged and Smelly – Philadelphia, PA
DEAR CLOGGED AND SMELLY: As a reader of my column, I am sure you are aware that I have a great deal of experience in this particular field. You will be glad to know that there IS a septic solution that will solve your back-up and effectively restore your entire system from interior piping throughout the septic system and even unclog the drain field as well. SeptiCleanse® Shock and Maintenance Programs deliver your system the fast active bacteria and enzymes needed to liquefy solid waste and free the clogs causing your back-up. This fast-acting bacteria multiplies within minutes of application and is specifically designed to withstand many of today’s anti-bacterial cleaners, soaps and detergents. It comes in dissolvable plastic packs, that you just flush down your toilets. It’s so cool. Plus, they actually Guarantee that it restores ANY system, no matter how bad the problem is. SeptiCleanse® Shock and Maintenance Programs are designed to work on any septic system regardless of design or age. From modern day systems to sand mounds, and systems installed generations ago, I have personally seen SeptiCleanse unclog and restore these systems in a matter of weeks. I highly recommend that you try it before spending any money on repairs. SeptiCleanse products are available online at www.septicleanse.com or you can order or learn more by calling toll free at 1-888-899-8345. If you use the promo code “PASEP6”, you can get a free shock treatment, added to your order, which normally costs $169. So, make sure you use that code when you call or buy online.
RURALperspectives
Co-op careers: Cooperative employees dedicated to job, community B y M a g e n H o wa r d
OCTOBER IS National Cooperative Month — the time of year when cooperatives of all kinds are celebrated and on display to tell the world about their business model in the 21st century. The men and women who put on their hard hats and climb poles to work on power lines are usually the most visible electric cooperative employees. They’re the ones we wait anxiously to see when our electricity is off. They’re also the ones who put their lives on the line every day, so they undergo the most technical training. “Given the dangers of the profession, the emphasis on training and safety is of utmost importance,” says Frank Betley, president & CEO of the Pennsylvania Rural Electric Association (PREA) and its sister organization, Allegheny Electric Cooperative, Inc. (Allegheny). “The electric cooperatives of Pennsylvania and New Jersey take this role very seriously.” PREA is the statewide organization that represents 14 electric cooperatives, including your local cooperative, in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. Allegheny serves as the wholesale power provider for these 14 member systems.
Training the best One of PREA’s roles is to support electric cooperative training efforts. It does this through its Job Training & Safety (JT&S) program. “The program works with the member 10
PENN
LINES • OCTOBER 2014
STICKING TO IT: Instructors Jeff Balencic, REA Energy, and Shawn Dehoff, Adams Electric Cooperative, left, supervise as Bill Wholaver and Jonathan Illig from REA Energy use hot sticks to practice pulling elbows in order to isolate and test the cable for faults as other participants look on.
electric cooperatives to provide training in specific skills,” explains Steve Brame, PREA/Allegheny vice president — public affairs & member services. “Electric cooperatives attract top-notch employees, so the training has to be top-notch. We work with the best to train the best.” Cooperatives are generally considered to be great places to work, no matter the type of cooperative, because they are member-driven organizations. Electric cooperatives, specifically, are not-for-profit businesses, and are often integral parts of their communities. “That means cooperatives won’t hire just anybody,” observes Brame. “Cooperative employees understand the cooperative business model and the member-first philosophy behind it.” A unique aspect about U.S. electric cooperatives is that, while each one is an independent business, they’re all connected in a vast network that serves 42 million people across 47 states. They serve
19 million businesses, homes, schools, churches, farms and other establishments in 2,500 of America’s 3,141 counties. To accomplish that feat, about 900 electric cooperatives nationwide employ nearly 70,000 workers. Many of those employees are lineworkers who have to keep up with current practices in order to meet the cooperatives’ goal of having every lineworker return home safely after every call. “Because electric cooperatives are such great places to work, all employees, and especially lineworkers, have a tendency to stay at their job for many years, even decades,” Brame notes. “Decades of institutional knowledge can’t easily be replaced when those lineworkers retire, but top-notch training can provide a solid foundation for new employees, as well as keep more seasoned lineworkers up to date on skills.” Training offered through PREA’s JT&S program includes everything from basic
pole climbing for novice employees — no small thing since a lineworker often works high in the air, many times in inclement weather — through very technical training for experienced lineworkers. All training is geared toward hands-on instruction to help ensure lineworkers have the necessary skills and technical expertise to work safely and efficiently in today’s demanding field environment. Classes, which range in length from three days to two weeks, are offered in basic climbing; basic, intermediate and advanced rubber gloving; metering; chain saw safety; key man training; stringing and sagging; substation/voltage regulator; underground residential distribution; and basic, intermediate and advanced hot sticking. On average, the JT&S program offers 14 schools each year. Most are held at training facilities at Gettysburg-based Adams Electric Cooperative, Indianabased REA Energy Cooperative, Somersetbased Somerset Rural Electric Cooperative, Forksville-based Sullivan County Rural Electric Cooperative or DuBoisbased United Electric Cooperative. The classes are taught by experienced professionals whose own electric coopera-
they are also offered to select outside organizations. Bill Succowich, a safety instructor with the JT&S program who began his utility career in 1960 as part of a right-of-way, brush-cutting crew, enjoys spending time with the line crews and imparting his experience to the younger employees. “We stress the safety factor to students throughout every training session,” Succowich says. “Safety is our No. 1 goal. And the instructors are fortunate in that cooperatives have hired employees who step up to the plate and do as we ask during the training because they are eager to learn and they understand the cooperative culture of safety. They have a good work ethic and are dedicated. They know that when the lights go out, they need to drop what they are doing and get to work.”
Co-op careers
Scott Burns, a second-year apprentice lineworker from Youngsville-based Warren Electric Cooperative, appreciates the training opportunities provided for him through his cooperative and the PREA JT&S program. “The training is very valuable, and it gives you a better outlook on what you are doing,” Burns says. “It also teaches me to be more attentive.” Burns is one of those lineworkers who may make the cooperative world his lifetime career choice, especially since his father, Rob Burns, a field services employee at Cambridge Springs-based Northwestern Rural Electric Cooperative, also has a long history with cooperatives. Rob Burns began his career with cooperaCOVERING UP: During the JT&S Basic Rubber Glove School held tives as a lineworker, a job he June 9-13 at Somerset-based Somerset Rural Electric Cooperative, held more than 20 years before Max Rinehart, Adams Electric Cooperative, left, affixes a rubber changing responsibilities. blanket to a utility pole crossarm while Scott Burns, Warren Working on the line, while Electric Cooperative, and Dylan Thomas, Northwestern Rural the most visible of cooperaElectric Cooperative, observe. tive positions, is only one tive careers span decades. The JT&S proarea of cooperative work. From accountgram also uses the expertise of skilled ing to communications, engineering to employees from PREA’s member coopera- human resources, customer/member tives, as well as specialists from industry services to line work, the job opportunipartners. While they are designed for ties at electric cooperatives are numercooperative and other utility employees, ous and will become more so as Baby
Bill Succowich, JT&S safety instructor, shows Randy Schrenkel from Indiana-based REA Energy how to install an insulated transformer gin, a device used to hoist distribution transformers and apparatus up a pole.
GOING UP:
Boomers retire in waves. Member services employees take care of phone calls, bill payments and offer programs and services, such as home energy audits and scholarships for high school graduates. Staking technicians and engineers plot where new lines will be built, while purchasing employees maintain an inventory of equipment and negotiate contracts. And IT professionals are increasingly part of the operations landscape, in addition to traditional IT work, as more and more digital technologies are integrated into the day-in and day-out of running an electric system. During National Cooperative Month — as in every month — cooperative employees are dedicated to providing safe, reliable and affordable electricity for their members, as well as making the communities where they are located the best they can be. l Sources: National Rural Electric Cooperative Association Magen Howard writes on consumer and cooperative affairs for the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, the Arlington, Va.-based service organization for the nation’s 900-plus consumer-owned, not-forprofit electric cooperatives. OCTOBER 2014 • PENN
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PREA announces scholarship winners Pennsylvania Rural Electric Association Scholarship in Memory of William F. Matson Ten Pennsylvania Rural Electric Association (PREA) Scholarships in Memory of William F. Matson were recently awarded to outstanding students whose homes are served by rural electric cooperatives. PREA Scholarships are awarded each year to students from rural electric cooperative service areas in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. Selection is based on academic excellence, cooperative membership, community involvement and need. The scholarship program is named for William F. Matson, who served for 22 years as president of PREA and Allegheny Electric Cooperative, Inc., until his death in June 1986. This year, 365 applications for scholarships were reviewed. The recipients of the scholarships this year are: Rachel Hawkins, Adams Electric Cooperative (EC); Anna Harkleroad, United EC; Anna-Sophie Poost, Claverack Rural Electric Cooperative (REC); Rachel Hottle, Adams EC; Ellen Kibbe, Tri-County REC; Melissa Furman, Sussex REC; Ethan Kibbe, Tri-County REC; Laura Ritchey, Valley REC; Scott Delaney, United EC; and Amanda Hutchison, Valley REC. Rachel Hawkins, a 2014 graduate of Northern High School in Dillsburg, lives in Wellsville. She is the daughter of Tom and Deb Hawkins. In high school, she was on the cross country and Rachel Hawkins swim teams. She also sang in the York County Honors Choir and with the high school chorus, and was a member of History Club, Caring Team, Synergy, Direct Call, National Honor Society, World Language Honor Society, and church youth group. A student at Arcadia University, she is majoring in biology in the pre-physician assistant program. She would like to someday work with people who do not have access to quality medical care. Anna Harkleroad, valedictorian of the Purchase Line High School Class of 12
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2014, is the daughter of Jean and Shae Harkleroad, Mahaffey. School activities included volleyball, track and field, Future Business Leaders of Anna Harkleroad America, Quiz Bowl, chorus, select vocal ensemble, apPLause and concert band. She also was head drum major of the marching band, captain of the Science Team, chaplain of the National Honor Society, member of the 2014 Homecoming Court and class vice president. She starred in three of the seven musicals she performed in, participated in the Pennsylvania Music Educators Association chorus festivals during her sophomore, junior and senior years, advanced from the District III festival to the Region II festival, and then qualified for the Pennsylvania All-State Chorus for three years. She also qualified to participate in the National Association for Music Educators All-Eastern Honors Treble Voice Chorus in Hartford, Conn. She is attending Penn State University, majoring in chemical engineering. She plans to work for a pharmaceutical company. Anna-Sophie Poost is a recent graduate of Wyalusing Valley High School, where she was a member of the National Honor Society and Friends of Rachel, and participated in yearbook, band, chorus, and Anna-Sophie Poost spring musicals. She held multiple leadership positions, including co-editor of the Ram Examiner, the school newspaper, for two years and class president for two years. This past summer, she attended the Forensics Speech and Debate National Tournament. She graduated as valedictorian of her high school class and now attends Elmira College, where she is majoring in biochemistry. The daughter of Christopher and Elaine Poost, Wyalusing, she represented Claverack REC on the 2013 Rural Electric Youth Tour. Rachel Hottle, Gettysburg, is a stu-
dent at Swarthmore College, majoring in music and political science. She is considering a career as an attorney. The salutatorian of the 2014 graduating class at Rachel Hottle Delone Catholic High School, she was a member of the National Honor Society, National English Honor Society and Rho Kappa National Social Studies Honor Society. A National Merit Scholar Finalist, she also represented her school as an ambassador with the Hugh O’Brien Youth (HOBY) Leadership Program and the People to People World Leadership Forum. A volunteer with the Gettysburg Soup Kitchen, Strawberry Hill Natural Preserve, the Interfaith Center for Peace and Justice’s Peace Camp, and other local organizations, she earned the United Way of Adams County’s “With Heart in Hand” Award in the youth category this spring. She is passionate about music and has lent her voice, as well as her piano and flute talents, to her school and church on numerous occasions. She is the granddaughter of Lois A. Hottle and the late Bob Hottle, her adoptive parents. Ellen Kibbe, a student at St. Bonaventure University, majoring in English and minoring in secondary education, is the daughter of Kathryn and Leonard Kibbe, Harrison Valley. Ellen Kibbe A graduate of Northern Potter Junior/Senior High School, she was a four-year participant in cross country, and track and field. She also participated in art, creative writing, National Honor Society and Varsity Club. As a junior, she represented Tri-County REC on the Rural Electric Youth Tour to Washington, D.C. She hopes to become an English teacher and publish some literary works of her own. Melissa Furman, daughter of Scott and Laurie Furman, Wantage, N.J., graduated from High Point Regional High School as valedictorian in June.
Throughout high school, she participated in soccer, track, National Honor Society, Science National Honor Society, Mu Alpha Theta, Foreign LanMelissa Furman guage National Honor Society, Academic Team, and served as Student Council treasurer. She is attending North Carolina State University, majoring in materials engineering. Ethan Kibbe, son of Leonard and Kathryn Kibbe, Harrison Valley, graduated as valedictorian of his class at Northern Potter Junior/Senior High School. During school, he participated in a Ethan Kibbe number of activities, including cross country, track and field, enrichment, Varsity Club, and National Honor Society. As a junior, he participated in the Rural Electric Youth Tour to Washington, D.C., representing Tri-County REC. He is a student-athlete at St. Bonaventure University, where he is majoring in journalism and running cross country. He hopes to become a radio or television broadcaster. Laura Ritchey, a 2014 graduate of Central High School, is the daughter of Tom and Cindy Ritchey, Martinsburg. She was the president of the National Honor Society, and a letter winner and captain of the volleyball Laura Ritchey and basketball teams in high school. As a member of Central Cove FFA, she competed in local, state and national public speaking contests, as well as state land-judging competitions. She is attending Penn State University College of Communications, where she is majoring in public relations. Scott Delaney, a graduate of North Clarion Junior/Senior High School, is a student at Penn State University, majoring in chemical engineering. A member of the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association’s Youth Leadership
Council in 2013-14, he has been involved in numerous activities in school and in the community. In high school, he served as the leader of four teams, including Scott Delaney the Math Team, and was the captain of the cross country team and the Science Olympiad Team, and received letters in track for three years. He received a firstplace award in botany at the Penn State University Junior Academy of Science. He is a member of several organizations and has an extensive list of hobbies ranging from cycling to serving at community meals to participating in Academic Decathlon. He holds two national Academic Decathlon medals. He is the son of Scott and Patricia Delaney, Clarion. Amanda Hutchison, a 2014 graduate of Juniata Valley High School, is a student at Saint Francis University, where she plans to earn a master’s degree in occupational therapy while minoring in psyAmanda chology. In high school, Hutchison she served as secretary of both her class and the Student Council, was vice president of the marching band, and was a member of the executive board of the National Honor Society. She also played softball and volleyball, and performed with the concert band on the flute and piccolo. She also is active in the Shaver’s Creek Volunteer Fire Company, where she participates in fundraising activities and is the 2014-15 Fire Queen.
Jody Loudenslager Memorial Scholarship Two former Rural Electric Youth Tour participants have been named Jody Loudenslager Memorial Scholarship recipients. They are: Jamie Jackson, Sussex REC, and Karlee Moyer, Claverack REC. Jamie Jackson, a 2010 graduate of Vernon Township High School, attended Duquesne University in the Honors College in Pittsburgh, concentrating in physician assistant studies. She is now in her first clinical externship at Ohio
Valley General Hospital in the geriatric psychiatric unit. In the next year, she will have externships in the areas of surgery, family medicine, internal medical, Jamie Jackson pediatrics and emergency medicine. She will graduate in August 2015 with a Master of Physician Assistant Studies degree. After school, her plan is to enlist in the military to continue her education and gain valuable experience while serving her country. A participant in the 2009 Rural Electric Youth Tour, she was selected as New Jersey’s Outstanding Youth Tour Student and also served as Youth Leadership Council representative from New Jersey. She is the daughter of Brian and Suzanne Jackson, Vernon, N.J. Karlee Jo Moyer, daughter of Miller and Wendy Moyer, Canton, is a 2012 graduate of Canton Junior/Senior High School. She is a junior at Penn State University, where she is majoring in biology, verKarlee Jo Moyer tebrate physiology option — pre-med, with a minor in kinesiology. She has been on the Penn State Dean’s List, is a member of the Honor Society, was hired as a biology teaching assistant, and was selected as an in-class learning assistant for biology courses. She also participates in various community events, including THON, Relay for Life, volunteering at a local Mothers of Preschoolers (MOPS) program, and raising money and awareness for children with diabetes and disabilities. She represented Claverack REC on the 2011 Rural Electric Youth Tour. l
United We Stand OCTOBER 2014 • PENN
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TIMElines
Yo u r N e w s m a g a z i n e T h r o u g h t h e Y e a r s
1984 RURAL ELECTRIC cooperatives were not active participants in the political process for many years. Then we were made aware that you can’t win the ballgame sitting in the stands as a spectator. Ours is a complex society where those who play the game make the rules. That caused us no problem for many years. A Congress with many rural representatives in it saw to it that the rural electric cooperative program remained strong. But when the great migration to the cities began, rural areas were left with few spokesmen. That’s when rural leaders from all over the United States began investing time to bring a better understanding to Congress of the needs of rural residents. It’s not just our voice they need to hear — it’s your voice, too. Political involvement on the part of every American is a right and a duty. Learning what each candidate stands for and keeping each candidate informed of our needs as rural Americans is what makes our program work. We must keep people in office who understand the rural electric cooperative program, and who are willing to support the program when they are in office. Please consider that as you prepare to vote in the upcoming general election in November.
1974 Millions of people from all over the United States celebrate “National Cooperative Month” during the annual observance in October. 14
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1994 Rural electric cooperatives realize the rural electrification program is ultimately linked to politics, so they take an active role in the process.
2004 The Action Committee for Rural Electrification (ACRE), the political action arm of rural electric cooperatives, announces support for candidates.
POWERplants
by Barbara Martin
Frost stops the garden cold OCTOBER is usually when we have a killing frost, one that knocks out the frost-sensitive plants. The “morning after” is so sad and ugly: melted stems and foliage, an entire season’s hard work flattened and mushy. On the other hand, it means we can take a break from weeding, watering, deadheading and fertilizing. Or does it? Cleanup is simple: pull up dead plants, trim back frostdamaged stems and leaves, and compost the debris. Collect any fallen fruit or vegetables and compost them, too. When you rake up fallen leaves, add them to the compost along with grass clippings. Make it a point to collect copious quantities of organic matter to compost and recycle into the garden next summer. Caution: if pests or diseases were a problem, put the affected plant debris in the trash, not the compost. This reduces the chances of reinfection or re-infestation next year. Avoid adding weed seeds as BARBARA MARTIN ,
who says she began gardening as a hobby “too many years ago to count,” currently works for the National Gardening Association as a horticulturist. A former member of Gettysburg-based Adams Electric Cooperative, her articles appear in magazines and on the internet.
they may survive the composting process. Once we’ve had a few more frosts, top up the mulch in the garden and around shrubs. Mulch suppresses cool season weeds and offers some protection to plant roots during freeze-thaw cycles. Marginally hardy and newly planted plants benefit from a generous layer of mulch once the ground has begun to freeze. Organic mulches also help feed the soil. The reason to wait a little longer for this step is to allow time for rodents to find their winter shelters elsewhere first. This is an opportune time to take notes on what worked this year, and what didn’t. Record any plant names you want to remember, whether to avoid them in the future or so you can repeat them because they were so successful. List names — including the cultivar name — of woody plants and perennials you added this year. It’s surprising how difficult it can be to remember specifics like these five years from now when you want to add more of the same tree, or need to replace one shrub out of a matched grouping of five. This is your last chance to save seeds, too. If you collect seeds now, make sure they are dry before you package and store them; otherwise they may rot. Test by placing a few seeds in a sealed jar or plastic bag for a day or two. If moisture appears, dry them more and test again. If you encourage self-seeding volunteers in your garden,
you may want to mark the adjacent seedling area, perhaps with stakes or sturdy plant labels, or define the area with a line of small stones, or draw an outline on a garden plan or simple map. Next spring, you will know precisely where to watch for the tiny seedlings, and you will be less likely to accidentally weed them out or mulch over them. If you are eager to save tender plants, you could rescue your cannas, dahlias, gladiolas and even elephant ears. After frost kills the tops, cut off the stems, gently dig them up and brush the dirt off. Dry, label, pack and store in a cool place indoors until planting time next spring. Your flowering tropicals such as mandevilla, lantana, hibiscus and even scented geraniums can be saved for next year as well, either in a heated greenhouse or on the windowsill, or try storing them. Storage is not a guarantee, but
It’s time to clean up frost-damaged gardens and begin preparations for next year’s growing season.
OCTOBER CHANGES:
I’ve kept pet plants for years. Grow the plants outside as long as possible: bring them indoors on cold nights and set them outside for the day. They acclimate to the cooling weather and handle temperatures down to 45 (if not colder) without damage. Once it is impractical/ too cold, store them indoors at about 45 to 50 degrees using a min-max thermometer to monitor the temps. Water just barely enough to prevent wilting. Don’t feed. In spring, reverse the process and gradually reacclimate them to being outside. As they begin to grow, resume normal care and feeding. Isn’t it amazing how the intrepid and determined among us can continue to find insanely demanding gardening tasks throughout the entire year? Enjoy! l
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TIMEpassages m e m o r i e s
from our members
(EDITOR’S NOTE: In observance of 50 years of the electric cooperative Youth Tour program in Pennsylvania, throughout the year Penn Lines will feature personal accounts of former Youth Tour participants. To share your Youth Tour memories, write Stephanie Okuniewski at Penn Lines, P.O. Box 1266, Harrisburg, PA 17108 or email Stephanie_Okuniewski@prea.com.)
Youth Tour memories
Keith Hay in 1989
Keith Hay represented Somerset Rural Electric Cooperative on the Youth Tour in 1989. A graduate of Berlin Brothersvalley High School, he attended Penn State University before returning home to assist with the family farming operations. He has been employed by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Milk Marketing Board, as an auditor/examiner for the past 16 years. Hay, along with a friend, recently opened a retail livestock and pet supply store in Somerset.
Penn Lines: How did your Youth Tour experience help with your career direction? Keith Hay: In a word, people! The Youth Tour was so much about people, meeting them, learning about them, working with them, and understanding and appreciating their needs. I work with people each and every day in nearly everything I do, and I enjoy meeting and learning about each of them. Penn Lines: How did your Youth Tour experience influence your educational goals? Keith Hay: Working in the agricultural industry, there are hundreds of cooperatives. The Youth Tour opened my eyes to the vastness of cooperatives and their importance in the world marketplace. Understanding how cooperatives work and appreciating how they are run influenced me into the direction of an industry that has many cooperatives working together. Penn Lines: What advice would you give to someone going on Youth Tour today? Keith Hay: Meet as many people as you can. Every student there has a story that you might learn from. Penn Lines: In what ways has your Youth Tour experience helped you as a person? Keith Hay: It allowed me to be more outgoing and at ease, both around people my own age, as well as adults. Having the chance to meet and interact with elected officials was a humbling experience and one I have used many times through my adult life. Penn Lines: What did it mean to you to have the 16
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opportunity to meet with your congressional representative? Keith Hay: I felt honored! Very few young people are able to meet congressional representatives, especially in their venue of work in Washington, D.C. Penn Lines: How has the opportunity to meet people from all over the country influenced you? Keith Hay: It’s given me an appreciation for people of all walks of life and backgrounds. The Youth Tour experience has allowed me to be more open and receptive to others’ beliefs and cultures. Penn Lines: What did you learn on Youth Tour that surprised you? Keith Hay: Simply, just how many cooperatives are out there and how the products we use each day are influenced by these cooperatives. Penn Lines: How would your life be different today had you not gone on Youth Tour? Keith Hay: I feel certain I would not have the appreciation for the Keith Hay today cooperative way of doing business. I may not have developed my love for people, my love for travel, and my love for history and my country. Penn Lines: What would you change about Youth Tour if you could? Keith Hay: I wish the ways of communication of today’s students had been available to me when I participated in the tour. Penn Lines: What is your favorite memory from Youth Tour and why? Keith Hay: The night cruise of the Potomac. It was just an awesome view of the city and an experience of a lifetime, even to this day. Another memory would have to be the bus ride there and home. The feeling of getting on a bus knowing only those from Somerset and being so quiet. Within hours of getting on the bus, the conversations got going and it was lively. On the return home, nobody wanted to get off. l
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Portable Generator Safety Tips Take precautions for your safety and the safety of those working to restore your power Always k Read and follow all manufacturer’s operating instructions k Use your generator outdoors, away from open windows, vents or doors k Allow the generator engine to cool at least 2 minutes before refueling k Store the recommended type of fuel for the generator in an approved, properly
labeled safety can k Maintain your generator according to the manufacturer’s schedule k Have a battery-operated carbon monoxide alarm to check for deadly buildup k Start or stop the generator ONLY when no electrical loads are connected k Allow at least 4 feet of clearance on all sides of the generator when it is operating k Keep children away from generator at all times
Never k Never use a generator inside your home, garage, basement, crawl space or other
enclosed area, even with ventilation, as carbon monoxide buildup can kill k Never operate the generator near combustible materials k Never plug your generator directly into your home outlet as this presents an
electrocution risk to utility workers and neighbors served by the same utility transformer – have a qualified electrician install a power transfer switch instead k Never operate a generator under wet conditions or touch it with wet hands (put it
on a level, dry surface under an open, canopy-like structure) k Never overload the generator or connected appliances and components can be
damaged k Never cut corners when it comes to safety
ENERGYmatters Can energy savings be as easy as painting? By B r i a n S l o b o da ,
Cooperative Research Network
WITH OUR hectic schedules in today’s fast-paced world, the easiest option often times seems to be the best option. A new series of insulating paints promises energy savings by simply painting the exterior of a building. But do they really work? Some insulating paints promise up to 40 percent energy savings when applied to exterior walls. Typically, insulating paints (also called “nanocoatings� by some vendors) are designed to be applied to a building’s exterior with the goal of reflecting radiant heat energy. These types of radiant barriers have been shown to provide benefits when properly applied to roofs (particularly in sunny areas with large cooling loads), and there are a number of Energy Starqualified products that can be used for this purpose. However, radiant coatings for roofs are different than paints that are to be applied to exterior walls. To date, there has not been any definitive research showing that adding such coatings to
As the research and development arm of the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, CRN pursues innovative solutions that helQ 1FOOTZM WBOJB electric cooperatives deliver safe, reliable, and affordable power to their consumer-members.
exterior walls is a cost-effective way to reduce building energy use. Instead, there has been a good deal of material from coating vendors that confuses radiative heat transfer with conductive heat transfer. For example, numerous coating manufacturers advertise an “equivalent Rvalue� of their coatings. R-value represents the amount of insulation needed to reduce conductive heat transfer across a surface. In an example of the confusion that arises from heat transfer equivalence, one manufacturer claims that test results show that adding its 100-micronthick coating to a 4-inch concrete and plaster wall decreased the thermal conductivity across that wall by nearly 30 percent. In other words, the manufacturer claims that the coating reduced conductive heat transfer by a significant percentage. Simply considering the scale difference between 4 inches of concrete and 100 microns of paint should illustrate why claims like this should be met with extreme suspicion. Actually, the R-value of coatings is typically quite low. If a coating were
applied to a depth of 1 inch, it might be able to achieve the insulating properties of, say, 1 inch of fiberglass-batt insulation or rigid foam. But even that’s unlikely given that a coating doesn’t contain the gas voids that give insulators their insulating properties. Because coatings are applied in a thickness measured in microns, not inches, they simply cannot affect conductive heat loss from a building in any appreciable way and are not directly comparable to traditional insulators on an R-value basis. The best energy-efficiency improvements are often the simplest and most common. Turning lights off when leaving a room, sealing windows and doors and cleaning refrigerator coils aren’t as much fun as buying a shiny new appliance or product. But these simple, lowcost actions are proven ways to save energy and increase comfort. l Brian Sloboda is a program manager specializing in energy efficiency for the Cooperative Research Network, a service of the Arlington, Va.-based National Rural Electric Cooperative Association. Additional content provided by ESource. OCTOBER 2014 • PENN
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COUNTRYkitchen
by Janette He ss
Treats with a twist FALL PARTIES call for fall treats or, to be more specific, treats featuring pumpkin and apples. This October, pay homage to these seasonal favorites while adding a twist in the form of either traditional or Italian cream cheese. Two of this month’s recipes feature mascarpone cheese, a mild Italian cream cheese usually sold in 8-ounce cartons. Slightly sweet and very spreadable, it blends nicely with a variety of ingredients. In Chilled Pumpkin Pie, the mascarpone cheese adds needed structure to the canned pumpkin puree and the whipped cream. Sweet Pumpkin Dip spotlights mascarpone cheese as an excellent alternative to regular cream cheese or even sour cream. In Cream Cheese Apple Pie, regular cream cheese adds depth and richness to traditional apple pie ingredients. Serve warm or chilled with a dollop of topping, and see who can guess the new ingredient! l A trained journalist, JANETTE HESS focuses her writing on interesting people and interesting foods. She is a Master Food Volunteer with her local extension service and enjoys collecting, testing and sharing recipes.
FROZEN PUMPKIN PIE 1 9-inch baked pie crust OR 1 9-in ch graham cracker crust 2 8-ounce cartons (16 ounces tota l) mascarpone cheese 1 cup powdered sugar 1 15-ounce can pumpkin 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon 1/4 teaspoon ginger 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg Dash of salt 8 ounces sweetened whipped crea m (see note) OR 8 ounces whipped topping In large bowl, combine mascarpone cheese, powdered sugar, pumpkin and vanilla extract. Add spices and salt. Fold whipped cream or whipped topping into pumpkin mixture. Spoon into crust of choice and freeze seve ral hours or overnight. Makes 8 servings . For ease of slicing, remove from freezer approximately 1/2 hour befo re serving. Use small dollop of whipped cream as garnish if desired.
NOTE: Prepare sweetened whipped cream by whipping cream in chilled glass or metal bowl. After peaks have formed, add 1 tablespoon powdere d sugar and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract. Blend well. Use as directed in reci pe.
SWEET PUMPKIN DIP 1 8-ounce package mascarpone cheese 1/2 cup canned pumpkin 1/4 cup brown sugar
Blend well and store in refrigerator. Makes approximately 1 1/2 cups dip. Serve with any or all of the following: Pretzels Sliced apples Cubes of pound cake Graham crackers Small vanilla cookies
CREAM CHEESE APPLE PIE 1 unbaked 9-inch pie crust 1 egg, beaten 4 ounces cream cheese, softened 3/4 cup sugar 4 tablespoons flour, divided 3/4 teaspoon cinnamon Dash of salt (1/8 teaspoon) 5 cups peeled, cored, thinly sliced apples 3 tablespoons brown sugar 1 tablespoon butter
ed cream cheese and In large bowl, thoroughly combine beaten egg, soften on and dash of cinnam on teaspo sugar. Blend in 2 tablespoons flour, 3/4 small bowl, In crust. d unbake into Spoon coat. to stir ; salt. Add apples flour. Using fork poons tables 2 ing combine brown sugar, butter and remain Bake at 375 pie. over le sprink and ly crumb until mix r, or pastry blende Serve warm or . tender are apples degrees for at least 35 minutes, or until gs. servin 8 Makes rator. refrige in rs leftove chilled, but store
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OUTDOORadventures
by Marcus Schneck
Flying, but not blind, at night Full moon provides backdrop for beautiful sight
is is outdoor and nature writer at PennLive.com, the website of The Harrisburg, Pa., PatriotNews. He also writes for a range of magazines and websites, and has written more than two dozen books. For more of his writing, visit www.marcusschneck.com. MARCUS SCHNECK
A COYOTE barked, off to the west. Another answered, from the north. Both were uncomfortably close to our position, near enough to stand a few of our short hairs on end. The thousands of birds passing through the night sky overhead paid no attention to the ground-based, alpha predators. The steady chorus of assorted flight calls continued to descend from the unseen heavens, uninterrupted. Returning to the 80x spotting scope and readjusting slightly to keep the full moon — the Hunter’s Moon or Harvest Moon of October — fully centered, the songbird migration revealed itself once again. A single bird, a handful of birds, an uncountable flock of birds slipped in front of the reflected light of the
moon, all now visible under the magnification of the lens. Many species of songbirds — millions upon millions of birds — migrate at night. Avoiding predators and navigating by the stars are two hypotheses about their motivation. Being able to forage for food by sight in the light of day, while taking a break from the long-distance flight — is another possibility. A coordinated study in the 1950s saw nearly 1,400 birders across North America watching the full moon for five nights in early October. They tallied more than 35,000 migrating birds, including blackbirds, bobolinks, buntings, catbirds, creepers, gnatcatchers, kinglets, nuthatches, sparrows, swifts, thrushes, thrashers, vireos, warblers,
BY THE LIGHT OF THE MOON: Get
a different perspective on fall migration by birdwatching at night.
woodcocks and wrens. More recent research, using radar, determined that the birds generally migrate in coordinated flocks at night, just as we see them traveling in daylight hours, but in much more widely dispersed flocks with greater distances between the birds. Most of all that nocturnal passage overhead goes largely unnoticed by us humans on the ground. We might hear the occasional call, or even spot a passing bird or two. Weather radar can pick up the flocks. But, to really observe the migration, the light of the full moon under magnification is the prime backdrop. l
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PENNLINESclassified ISSUE MONTH: AD DEADLINE: Penn Lines classified advertisements reach more than 165,800 rural Pennsylvania households! December 2014 . . . . October 17 Please note ads must be received by the due date to be included in the requested issue month. Ads January 2015 . . . November 18 received beyond the due date will run in the next available issue. Written notice of changes and cancellations must be received 30 days prior to the issue month. Classified ads will not be accepted February 2015 . . . December 17 by phone, fax or email. For more information please contact Vonnie Kloss at 717$233-5704. CLASSIFIED AD SUBMISSION/RATES: Please use the form below or submit a separate sheet with required information. Electric co-op members: $20 per month for 30 words or less, plus 50¢ for each additional word. Non-members: $70 per month for 30 words or less, plus $1.50 for each additional word. Ad in all CAPITAL letters: Add 20 percent to total cost. Please print my ad in all CAPITAL letters. PLACE AD IN THE MONTHS OF: . WORD COUNT: I am an electric co-op member. Attached is my Penn Lines mailing label. Name/Address or Mailing Label Here: Enclosed is payment in the amount of $ . I am a non-member. Address is noted or attached at right. Enclosed is payment in the amount of $ . 1
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FREE Headings (Select One): Around the House Business Opportunities Employment Opportunities Gift and Craft Ideas Livestock and Pets Miscellaneous Motor Vehicles and Boats Nursery and Garden Real Estate Recipes and Food Tools and Equipment Vacations and Campsites Wanted to Buy SPECIAL HEADING: . SPECIAL HEADING FEE: $5 for co-op members, $10 for non-members. Applies even if heading is already appearing in Penn Lines. Insertion of classified ad serves as proof of publication; no proofs supplied. SEND FORM TO: Penn Lines Classifieds, P.O. Box 1266, Harrisburg, PA 17108. Please make CHECK/MONEY ORDER payable to: PREA/Penn Lines. AROUND THE HOUSE
CONSULTING FORESTRY SERVICES
FENCING
SPECIAL OFFER — BOTH COOKBOOKS FOR $12. “Country Cooking,” Volume 2 — $5, including postage. “Recipes Remembered,” Volume 3 — $7, including postage. Both of these cookbooks are a collection of recipes from men and women of the electric co-ops of Pennsylvania and New Jersey. Payable to: Pennsylvania Rural Electric Association, P. O. Box 1266, Harrisburg, PA 17108. Write Attention: Cookbooks. Volume 1 of “Country Cooking” is SOLD OUT.
NOLL’S FORESTRY SERVICES, INC. performs Timber Marketing, Timber Appraisals, Forest Management Planning, and Forest Improvement Work. FREE Timber Land Recommendations. 30 years experience. Call 814-472-8560.
HYDRAULIC POST DRIVER FOR RENT. Easy hookup and transportation. Safe, simple operation. Convenient, costeffective alternative for setting wood posts by hand. $200 for first day, $175/additional day. 1-800-KENCOVE.
BUILDING SUPPLIES
CRANE SERVICE
STEEL ROOFING AND SIDING. Over 25 years in business. Several profiles - cut to length. 29 and 26 gauge best quality residential roofing – 40-year warranty. Also, seconds, heavy gauges, accessories, etc. Installation available. Located northwestern Pennsylvania. 814-398-4052.
NEED A LIFT? Crane service for all your lifting needs. Experienced, fully insured, Owner-Operated and OSHA Certified. Precision Crane, Linesville, PA 814-282-9133.
FACTORY SECONDS of insulation, 4 x 8 sheets, foil back. RValue 6.5 per inch. Great for pole buildings, garages, etc. Also prime grade A foil bubble wrap insulation. 814-4426032.
No More GROUND WATER WOES, pure water at last! Home, office machines, residential, commercial, industrial. KGM Distributors Drinkable Air. 570-869-3040.
BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES PIANO TUNING PAYS — Learn at home with American School of Piano Tuning home-study course in piano tuning and repair. Tools included. Diploma granted. Call for free brochure 800-497-9793. TIRED of the Rat Race? Want to own your business? Low cost, high-end leadership company has open positions! 814603-0231. CHURCH LIFT SYSTEMS Make your church, business or home wheelchair accessible. We offer platform lifting systems, stair lifts, porch lifts and ramps. References. Free estimates. Get Up & Go Mobility Inc. 724-746-0992 or 814-926-3622.
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CENTRE FOREST RESOURCES. Forest Management Services, Wildlife Habitat Management, Timber Sales, Appraisals. College educated, professional, ethical foresters working for you. FREE Timber Consultation. 814-571-7130.
DRINKABLE AIR
ESSENTIAL OILS TRANSFORM YOURSELF into a healthier more vibrant you with 100% therapeutic grade essential oil. 570-220-3817. Email me for your FREE kit with sample oils. angelofhealthrn@gmail.com. Website www.angelofhealth. vibrantscents.com. EQUIPMENT RENTAL AVAILABLE FOR RENT: Daily, weekly, monthly – refrigerated trailer, 7’ x 12’, 10 to 50 degrees digital control. Runs on 115 volts, available with generator. 814-329-0408 or chilled@iceboxtogo.com.
FINANCIAL FREEDOM Would an extra $3,500 per month make a difference in your life? I will show you an honest/ethical way that will make that happen. Jim 314-614-6039. Go to WWW.BLESSEDARETHERICH.COM. GIFT AND CRAFT IDEAS SPECIAL OFFER — BOTH COOKBOOKS FOR $12. “Country Cooking,” Volume 2 — $5, including postage. “Recipes Remembered,” Volume 3 — $7, including postage. Both of these cookbooks are a collection of recipes from men and women of the electric co-ops of Pennsylvania and New Jersey. Payable to: Pennsylvania Rural Electric Association, P. O. Box 1266, Harrisburg, PA 17108. Write Attention: Cookbooks. Volume 1 of “Country Cooking” is SOLD OUT. Call Nancy at 717-953-2461 if you need: Vinyl Lettering for walls and a variety of signs; favorite verses or sayings are painted on finished boards. Different colors and sizes. HEALTH AND NUTRITION Tired of all those medicines — Still not feeling better? Do you want to feel better, have more energy, better digestion, less joint stiffness, healthier heart/circulation and cholesterol levels? Find out how to empower your own immune system — start I-26 today! It’s safe, affordable, and it works. Call 800-557-8477: ID#528390. 90-day money back on first time orders or call me 724-454-5586. www.mylegacyforlife.net/believeit.
PENNLINESclassified HEALTH INSURANCE
MOTORCYCLE-SNOWMOBILE INSURANCE
DO YOU HAVE THE BLUES regarding your Health Insurance? We cater to rural America's health insurance needs. For more information, call 800-628-7804 (PA). Call us regarding Medicare supplements, too.
For the best INSURANCE RATES call R & R Insurance Associates from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 800-442-6832 (PA).
HUNTING
SEED GARLIC organically grown in Bradford County, PA. Varieties include: Romanian Red, Music, and Metechi. $17.50 per pound plus postage. 570-364-5509. Please leave message.
CUSTOM HAND MADE to order or in-stock wooden turkey calls of various woods and sizes. 814-267-5489 leave message for Precision Unlimited Inc., Berlin, PA.
NURSERY AND GARDEN
PROBLEM WATER INFRARED SAUNAS Removes toxins, burns calories, relieves joint pain, relaxes muscles, increases flexibility, strengthens immune system. Many more HEALTH BENEFITS with infrared radiant heat saunas. Economical to operate. Barron’s Furniture, Somerset, PA. 814-443-3115. LANDOWNER INCOME OPPORTUNITY OUR SPORTSMEN will Pay top $$$ to hunt your land. Call for a Free Base Camp Leasing info packet & Quote. 866-3091507. www.BaseCampLeasing.com. LAWN AND GARDEN EQUIPMENT HARRINGTONS EQUIPMENT COMPANY, 475 Orchard Rd., Fairfield, PA 17320. 717-642-6001 or 410-756-2506. Lawn & Garden equipment, Sales – Service - Parts. www.HarringtonsEquipment.com LIVESTOCK AND PETS PEMBROKE WELSH CORGI Puppies — AKC, adorable, intelligent, highly trainable. Excellent family choice. Reputable licensed breeder guaranteed “Last breed you’ll ever own.” 814-587-3449.
HARD WATER, High Iron, Bacteria or Slow Producing Wells? We have fixed water problems since 1974. Daniel J. Carney Inc. Water Treatment. Call 800-498-0777. REAL ESTATE CABIN FOR SALE in Sullivan County on Route 154 between Lincoln Falls and Shunk. Two plus acres, completely furnished. Living room, dining room and kitchen. Three bedrooms, bath room, electric heat. Call Tina at 570-525-3929. REAL ESTATE for Sale — 4.8 acres North Central Pennsylvania near game land 90. Country setting, three miles from Clearfield. Can be house or camp. 814-765-6138 or 814-345-5549. RECIPES AND FOOD SPECIAL OFFER — BOTH COOKBOOKS FOR $12. “Country Cooking,” Volume 2 — $5, including postage. “Recipes Remembered,” Volume 3 — $7, including postage. Both of these cookbooks are a collection of recipes from men and women of the electric co-ops of Pennsylvania and New Jersey. Payable to: Pennsylvania Rural Electric Association, P. O. Box 1266, Harrisburg, PA 17108. Write Attention: Cookbooks. Volume 1 of “Country Cooking” is SOLD OUT.
LOG CABIN RESTORATIONS
SAWMILLS
VILLAGE RESTORATIONS & CONSULTING specializes in 17th and 18th century log, stone and timber structures. We dismantle, move, re-erect, restore, construct and consult all over the country. Period building materials available. Chestnut boards, hardware, etc. Thirty years experience, fully insured. Call 814-696-1379. www.villagerestorations.com.
USED PORTABLE Sawmills and COMMERCIAL Sawmill Equipment! Buy/Sell. Call Sawmill Exchange 800-459-2148. USA and Canada. www.sawmillexchange.com.
MEDICARE INSURANCE Medicare insurance does not have to be confusing! And one plan does not fit all! Going on Medicare soon? Already on Medicare and confused? We have the answers. CATHERINE BURNS INSURANCE SERVICES offering Medicare Supplements, Medicare Advantage and Prescription Drug Plans, Pre-Paid Burial, Life and Final Expense Insurance, Annuities, assistance qualifying for Pace/Pacenet. No charge, no obligation, no pressure! Call 877-327-1598 or email: ceburnsins@verizon.net. MISCELLANEOUS BECOME AN ORDAINED MINISTER — Correspondence Study. The harvest truly is great, the laborers are few, Luke 10:2. Free information. Ministers for Christ Outreach, 7558 West Thunderbird Rd., Ste. 1 - #114, Peoria, Arizona 85381. www.ordination.org. VERGONA OUTDOORS LLC — Gear up for hunting season. We sell game cameras, crossbows, binoculars, scopes and many other items. Visit our website at www.vergonaoutdoors.com. AVON — Provides quality skin and hair care products, makeup, SSS, jewelry, clothing and much more. Start your own business for just $15. 717-451-9749. Visit my website to see for yourself www.youravon.com/tlewis2013. PA HUNTING LICENSE Collection. First 50 years complete. Mounted on large keystone shape plexiglas covered wood framed wall hanging display case. Excellent condition. Will not separate. 570-478-2341 after 6 p.m. Antique Farm Tractors: 1947 Case SC; 1948 Case VAC; 1947 Moline Z; and 1941 Shaw Grain Separator. Phone 814-695-6920.
SHAKLEE FREE SAMPLE Shaklee’s Energy Tea. Combination red, green and white teas that are natural, delicious, refreshing, safe. For sample or more information on tea or other Shaklee Nutrition/Weight Loss Products: 800-4033381 or www.sbarton.myshaklee.com. TRACTOR PARTS – REPAIR/RESTORATION ARTHURS TRACTORS, specializing in vintage Ford tractors, 30-years experience, online parts catalog/prices, Indiana, PA 15701. Contact us at 877-254-FORD (3673) or www.arthurstractors.com.
You might not think about it, but it takes miles of cable from your electric co-op to keep us connected and fully charged. Learn more about the power of your co-op membership at TogetherWeSave.com.
MOBILE PHONES NEED WIRES, TOO.
VACATIONS AND CAMPSITES NEW SMYRNA BEACH, Florida condo rental. Two bedrooms, two baths, pool. 200 yards from beach. $500 weekly, $1,800 monthly. NA January – February. Call 814-635-4020. NEW LOG CABIN on PA Allegheny Front. Audubon important bird area. Bald Eagles, Golden Eagles, Raptor migration from the front deck. Hunting, hiking, skiing, fishing. Rental six people maximum. 814-754-4512. HUNTING CAMP — .9 acres, electric service, Clarion, PA area — 12’x18’ aluminum awning, $600 — coal/wood burning pot belly type stove, $80 — 412-469-1224. WANTED TO BUY CARBIDE – Paying cash/lb. – Some examples of items that have carbide pieces at their tips for cutting or drilling are: coal mining machinery – roof bits – road bits – gas/oil/water well drill bits – machining inserts as well as many others. We will pick up your materials containing carbide pieces. We will extract the carbide item from the part in which it is held in most cases. 814-395-0415.
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SMARTcircuits
by James Dulley
When do appliance upgrades make sense? WHEN purchasing major appliances, comparing the EnergyGuide label is the best method to determine the cost to use each new one. Based upon the purchase price, you can then calculate which appliance provides the best return. The most efficient appliance is not always the best buy from a payback standpoint. Some people are very concerned about the environmental impact of using appliances, so they are willing to spend extra for the most efficient models. Selecting an Energy Star-qualified model is a good choice. Visit TogetherWeSave.com and take the “Home Tour” to learn about potential energy savings on Energy Star appliances. To do a proper payback analysis of the decision to replace your existing appliances, you have to determine the cost to operate your existing appliance. You may have kept the old EnergyGuide label with your paperwork from the old appliance, or you may be able to do an internet search to find it. Keep in mind that even if you have the EnergyGuide labels showing annual operating costs, these figures are only averages. There are a couple of ways to calculate the cost to use an electric appliance. The simplest and quickest way is to download the “Save Energy, Save Money” app from TogetherWeSave.com. Another way to calculate the cost of appliance use is to use an actual formula. First, find the wattage rating on the nameplate. Divide this by 1,000 and multiply the result by your $/kilowatt-hour electric rate to get the operating cost per hour. If the nameplate lists amperage, multiply it by 120 to get watts. For appliances with a thermostat, reduce the 24
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operating cost by about 50 percent. In general, it makes economic sense to keep your older, major appliances about 10 years or until they need expensive repairs. If you have a large family and do much laundry, the cost to use the clothes washer also includes the cost of the water and the cost to heat the water. Upgrading your water heater will also reduce your dishwashing and bathing costs. New front-loading clothes washers are typically more energy efficient than toploading ones because front-loaders require less heated water. The electricity use by the motor is about the same for both types. A secondary, but significant, savings with a front-loader is its faster spin cycle. The horizontal axis tub design can spin very fast. By spinning faster, more water is extracted from the rinsed clothes. This greatly reduces the drying time. When selecting a new dishwasher, make sure it has a built-in water preheater. This allows you to set your water heater temperature lower without sacrificing the cleaning effectiveness of hotter water. Spend a little extra and select a model with many cycles. Just like a house, a smaller refrigerator has less interior space to keep cool and uses less electricity.
Don’t go to extremes on the small size though. Adequate space inside the refrigerator for convenient access to items is important. If you have to keep the door open while you move things around to find what you want, more energy will be wasted than the amount you saved with a small one. Modern refrigerators, such as Energy Star models, use about half of the energy that a 10-year old model uses. The “Save Energy, Save Money” app includes a calculator to help you compare the cost of different sizes, styles, and ages of refrigerators and freezers. There is not a major difference in the energy efficiency of the various types of new ranges. Convection ovens bake faster, so they use less electricity for some foods. Induction elements lose less heat to the room air, so overall electricity use is somewhat less. The best way to save when cooking is to use the microwave or other smaller countertop appliances whenever possible. l Have a question for Jim? Send inquiries to JAMES DULLEY , Penn Lines, 6906 Royalgreen Drive, Cincinnati, OH 45244 or visit www.dulley.com.
PUNCHlines
Thoughts from Earl Pitts, UHMERIKUN! For sale: all the junk we picked up at last year’s yard sales
Social commentary from Earl Pitts —— a.k.a. GARY BUR BANK , a nationally syndicated radio personality —— can be heard on the following radio stations that cover electric cooperative service territories in Pennsylvania: WANB-FM 103.1 Pittsburgh; WARM-AM 590 Wilkes-Barre/Scranton; WIOO-AM 1000 Carlisle; WEEO-AM 1480 Shippensburg; WMTZ-FM 96.5 Johnstown; WQBR-FM 99.9/92.7 McElhattan; WLMI-FM 103.9 Kane; and WVNW-FM 96.7 Burnham-Lewistown. You can also find him at Earlpittsamerican.com.
It’s fall now, a season that apparently should be renamed “Yard-Sale Season” around here, judgin’ from the number of folks puttin’ their junk outside these days. An’ that reminds me of one of the biggest differences between men and women. Women like yard sales. Now, your average, red-blooded, Godfearin’ American man, he would rather get stuck between two elephants who are mad at each other than go pawin’ around some other person’s junk. You do know what a yard sale is, don’t you? It’s when people that are going to throw stuff out think, “Wait, maybe I can find a sucker to buy this.” This time of year out in our neck of the woods, you can’t drive a half mile without passing 15 yard sales. And most of the stuff people are sellin’ is the stuff they picked up at yard sales last year. It’s like our town is playing “hot potato” with everybody’s junk. Now, there’s different yard sale shopping strategies. Like my better half, Pearl, she likes to hit them early in the morning when the best stuff is still available. We stopped at this one sale last Saturday when the yard was still wet with dew. The Mr. and Mrs. there under the tree was still on their first cups of coffee. Pearl says, “Earl, they’ll be anxious to make their first sale.” She picked up a Captain and Tennille cassette and a Kerplunk! game that was missing all its marbles. Which I thought was oddly appropriate for her. Now me, I got a different strategy. I go the last hour of the last day of the yard sale. I don’t even look at what’s left; I just go up to the owner and offer 10 bucks for everything they got left. And then I see if I scored. Wake up, America! The guy says, “I hate to see it go at that price,” so I say, “You can buy it back at our yard sale next week.” He looked happier. Today I want to pay tribute to a dyin’ species. The noble and majestic American handyman. I am an American handyman — one
of the last of my breed. Now let me take you back and see if this don’t sound familiar. Back when we were kids, everybody’s Daddy was a handyman. That is a do-it-yourself dad. One weekend, he’d be in the garage dropping the tranny on the family station wagon. The next weekend, he’d be installing a new hot water heater. Our daddies were the jack of all trades. They could fix it, repair it, install it or rebuild it. And that knowledge was there for the taking. But my generation, apparently only half of us were paying attention. Lucky for me, I soaked up the knowledge. And I thank my daddy for making me the handyman I am today. I can lay linoleum, seam drywall an’ wire up a breaker box. I’m a plumber an’ an auto mechanic. I can mix cement, hang a door an’ replace a winder. I can trench, wire, paint, putty, spackle and shingle. You name it an’ I can do it. Even if I can’t do it, I’ll give it a shot. An’ chances are I CAN do it. So here is my problem with all of this. Let’s say a true American original handyman like myself was to need something for a job I was doing. That means I got to go to the giant name-brand hardware store. People, them stores today, those ain’t hardware stores. Those are giant, decorating anthills for yuppies. You can stand right there in the parking lot and watch them yuppies streaming in and out of there carryin’ stuff. And none of it fixes nothin’. It just “remodels” stuff. You go in there carryin’ a chunk a metal you tore off the back end of your furnace, an’ some clueless genius in a colorful vest will look at it, hold it up, stare at it for a few minutes, and go, “Are you sure you don’t want to see our winder coverings?” Wake up, America. The bad news is, you can’t find nobody to help you fix nothin’ in these stores. The good news is, you can pick up a decorative border for your kitchen counter. True, you won’t have heat, but the place will look better. I’m Earl Pitts, Uhmerikun. Like me on Facebook. And you can catch my new blog at Earlpittsamerican.com. l OCTOBER 2014 • PENN
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Advertisement
Old Cookbook Reveals
“Amazing Details of Washington’s Dining Habits”
by Guy Coalter, Special Features Writer
Canton OH, Special - With hundreds of servants at her command... a person would think our first First Lady was a woman of leisure. Not so... according to a new historical discovery. A long out-of-print volume entitled, “The Martha Washington Cook Book” shows Mrs. Washington personally supervised her entire household staff... and especially the kitchen and dining room servants. Martha made sure every dish served at Mount Vernon... as well as in the first Presidential “White Houses” in New York and Philadelphia... was prepared exactly as called for in her personal cookbook. The family cookbook was given to Martha at the time of her first marriage. In 1749, beautiful seventeen-year-old Martha Dandridge married Daniel Parke Custis. As a wedding gift, the Custis family presented Martha with a family cookbook entitled Booke of Cookery and Booke of Sweetmeats. Handwritten by an unknown hand, there is evidence the recipe book had been in the Custis family for generations. It is quite likely this was a family heirloom dating back to the early 1600s. In all, there were over five hundred classic recipes, dating largely from Elizabethan and Jacobean times, the golden age of English cookery. Later, Martha Custis became a widow and in 1759 she married Col. George Washington. Washington was to become the Father of our country and its first President. Martha, of course, became our very first, “First Lady.” Martha kept and used her family cookbook for over fifty years. In 1799, she presented the book to her granddaughter, Eleanor Parke Custis as a wedding gift when she married Lawrence Lewis. The cookbook was handed down from mother to daughter until 1892 when the Lewis family presented it to The Historical Society of Pennsylvania where it still resides today. In 1940, the Society gave permission to historian Marie Kimball to study the manuscript and prepare a cookbook entitled, “The Martha Washington Cook Book.” Although now long out-of-print, an Ohio publisher was
recently commissioned to reprint a limited edition of this rare and amusing piece of Americana. Accordingly, a limited number of copies are being made available to the public at this time. Each volume is numbered and when the present printing is exhausted, there is no contract to print more. These cookbooks could very easily become valuable collectors items.
Martha Washington “The Martha Washington Cook Book” includes facsimile copies of several actual pages from the one-of-a-kind original manuscript. Then, Mrs. Kimball chose over 200 delicious unique recipes from Martha Washington’s personal cookbook and completely modernized them so you can easily prepare them in your own kitchen! The original recipes were written for a huge household including numerous servants. Many called for dozens of eggs and gallons of one thing or another. Marie Kimball “trimmed” each recipe to quantities of ingredients for a family of six. You’ll get dozens of delicious recipes for Soups, Fish, Meats, Meat Pies, Poultry and Game, Sauces, Eggs - Mushrooms and Cheese, Fritters and Pancakes, Pastry Pies and Tarts, Cakes, Creams and Jellies, Puddings, Preserves, and Beverages.
Perhaps more interesting for us history buffs is the detailed description of the kitchen and dining habits in the George Washington household. Martha sat at the head of the table with her husband at her side to the right. Despite dozens of servants around the table, either Martha or George always carved the meats to be served! You’ll absolutely love dozens of other interesting details of this historical dining room. “The Martha Washington Cook Book” is a beautiful perfect bound book you will be proud to display on your coffee table, bookshelf, or where ever you keep your very best books. Your friends and neighbors are guaranteed to be envious... and you are guaranteed to be completely satisfied with your cookbook. You may examine and use it for a full three months and return it for a full no-questionsasked refund if you desire. Although not available in bookstores, you may order your cookbook directly from the publisher. There is a strict limit however, of only two copies per customer. To get your copy, simply write your name and address on a plain piece of paper. Mail it along with your remittance of only 19.95 plus $3.98 postage and handling (total of $23.93, OH residents please add 6.5% sales tax) payable to: James Direct Inc, Special Offer M828, 500 S. Prospect Ave., Box 980, Hartville, Ohio 44632. You may charge to VISA, MasterCard, Discover or American Express by including your card number, expiration date and signature. For even faster service, have your credit card handy and telephone toll-free 1-800-310-7610 and ask for Special Offer M828. Act within the next 15 days and the publisher will include a free bonus... a selection of delightful recipes from the personal cookbook of President Thomas Jefferson! “The Martha Washington Cookbook” makes an appreciated gift for any gift-giving occasion. Readers of this publication may request a second copy for only $6.07 postpaid. ©2014 JDI M0139S10 (Total of $30 for both.) http://www.jamesdirect.com
RURALreflections Final call for 2014 photos IT’S FALL NOW, and that means our 2014 Rural Reflections contest is winding down. Entries must be postmarked by Oct. 31 in order to be placed in competition for the 2014 prizes. Amateur photographers who are members of a rural electric cooperative in Pennsylvania have a chance to win a $75 prize in one of our contest categories: artistic, landscape, human subject, animal and editor’s choice. Entries received after Oct. 31 will be entered in the 2015 contest. Winning 2014 photos, chosen by an independent panel of judges, will be printed in the January and February issues of Penn Lines. Amateur photographers may send photos (no digital files, please) to Penn Lines Photos, P.O. Box 1266, Harrisburg PA 17108-1266. Include your name, address, phone number and the name of your electric cooperative that serves your home, business or seasonal residence. (The best way to include this information is by affixing an address label to the back of the photo.) Please do not use ink gel or roller pens to write on the photo. Include a self-addressed, selfstamped envelope if you want your photo to be returned. Remember, our publication deadlines require that we work ahead, so send your seasonal photos in early. We need spring photos before mid-January, summer photos before mid-April, fall photos before mid-July and winter photos before mid-September. Photos that do not reflect any season may be sent at any time. Please note: we will return photos if you include a self-addressed, stamped envelope. l
John & Betty Lynn Valley REC
Natalie Ling REA Energy
Coral Evans Northwestern REC
Robert Boyer Tri-County REC
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