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T H E M AGA Z I N E YO U C O M E H O M E TO

Down the road Historic Route 6 offers scenic journey through co-op country

PLUS

Bringing Mozart to the mountain Wash out energy waste Fire up the grill

Contents

JULY 2016 Vol. 51 • No. 7 Editor Peter A. Fitzgerald Senior Editor/Writer Katherine Hackleman Associate Editor Michael T. Crawford Layout & Design W. Douglas Shirk media & marketing specialist Michelle M. Smith Contributing Columnists Janette Hess Patrick Keegan Marcus Schneck 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 166,000 households of co-op consumer-members understand issues that affect the electric cooperative program, their local co-ops, and their quality of life. Electric co-ops are notfor-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.

4 Keeping Current News from across the Commonwealth

6 Energy Matters

Cyber counter-attack

8 COVER: Down the road Historic Route 6 offers scenic journey through co-op country

14 Time Lines

Your newsmagazine through the years

14a Cooperative Connection Information and advice from your local electric cooperative 16 Smart circuits

Wash energy waste out of laundry

18 FEATURE: Bringing Mozart to the mountain Festival hits high note with classical music

20 spotlight

50th Anniversary Contests

21 TECH TRENDS

Grid will connect us to our energy future

22 Classifieds 24 COUNTRY KITCHEN

Fire up the grill!

25 OUTDOOR ADVENTURES

Vikings in Pennsylvania

26 Punch Lines

Hook, line and sinker: Earl falls for special deal on fishing shoes

27 Rural Reflections Board officers and staff, Pennsylvania Rural Electric Association: Chairman, Leroy Walls; Vice Chairman, Tim Burkett; Secretary, Barbara Miller; Treasurer, Rick Shope; President & CEO, Frank M. Betley © 2016 Pennsylvania Rural Electric Association. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission is prohibited.

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.

Summer fun

ON THE COVER Set in the Pine Creek Gorge in Tioga County, the Grand Canyon of Pennsylvania is 50 miles long. It is bordered by the Leonard Harrison State Park on one side and Colton Point State Park on the other. Photo by Neil C. Jones

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keepingcurrent

News from across the Commonwealth

Poultry returning to Pennsylvania fairs After a year-long suspension of avian activities at Pennsylvania’s county fairs and the 2016 Pennsylvania Farm Show, state officials have lifted the ban designed to protect against the threat of a highly pathogenic avian influenza virus. While avian activities are allowed to resume at the fairs, state officials continue to be alert to the possibility of an outbreak, and if a positive case of the virus is confirmed in Pennsylvania or a contiguous state, the ban would be reinstated immediately. Secretary of Agriculture Russell Redding reported that in conjunction with lifting the ban, the Department of Agriculture is also instituting new testing protocols to protect against the virus. The protocol requires any poultry being exhibited at a Pennsylvania fair to have a negative test for avian influenza within 30 days prior to the opening date of the exhibition. Highly pathogenic avian influenza (sometimes called “bird flu”) is caused by an influenza type-A virus that occurs naturally in birds. Wild bird species carry the virus, but usually do not exhibit symptoms. However, domesticated birds (including chickens, ducks, quail, pheasants, guinea fowl and turkeys) become very sick and often die. Large outbreaks of the H5N2 strain of influenza were reported in 2015 in the Pacific, Central and Mississippi flyways, leading to the 2015 ban on poultry exhibits in Pennsylvania. No cases have been reported in the Atlantic Flyway, which overlies Pennsylvania. For more information about avian influenza, visit www.agriculture.pa.gov and click on the “Avian Influenza” box on the right side of the homepage or call 717-772-2852.

a walking trail within 15 minutes of every Pennsylvanian. More than 10,000 people provided input into the plan’s development. States must update outdoor recreation plans every five years in order to be eligible for federal funding. To view the recreation plan, visit www.paoutdoorrecplan.com.

More cases of CWD found; state gears up for control measures

FEDORNAK PHOTO: In May, Penn Lines published a photo by regular contributor Paul Fedornak of Blairsville, and it touched several readers who asked for more information about the photo (above). Fedornak, a member of Indiana-based REA Energy Cooperative, reports he took the photo in October of his grandson, Dave Henry, and great-grandson, Liam, of Latrobe. Henry served six years with the U.S. Marine Corps, including two tours in Iraq. Liam celebrates his first birthday on July 16.

State’s outdoor recreation plan is No. 1 The Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources has announced Pennsylvania won top national honors for its work to transform outdoor recreation planning and get residents to spend more time outdoors. The state’s five-year Statewide Outdoor Recreation Plan was honored as the best in the nation by the National Park Service and the Society of Outdoor Recreation Professionals. The plan, which was released in June 2015, establishes a goal of having

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The Pennsylvania Game Commission reports that during 2015, 12 additional free-ranging, white-tailed deer were confirmed to be infected with chronic wasting disease (CWD). This brings to 22 the number of free-ranging deer found with CWD since 2012. As a result, the borders of Disease Management Area 2, located in southcentral Pennsylvania, have been increased by more than 437 square miles. The new borders are posted online at www.pgc.pa.gov and will be included in the 2016-17 Pennsylvania Hunting & Trapping Digest that is issued to hunters when they buy a license. Statewide, 5,645 road-killed, hunterharvested and suspected infected deer were tested for CWD in 2015. CWD is a member of the family of diseases that includes mad cow disease in cattle, Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease in humans, and scrapie in sheep and goats. It causes the death of brain cells, leaving holes in the brain tissue. CWD has been diagnosed in whitetailed deer, mule deer, black-tailed deer and hybrids of these deer, as well as elk, red deer and moose. There is no evidence that CWD is transmissible to humans or other livestock, however it is recommended that meat from CWDpositive animals not be consumed. l

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energymatters

Cyber counter-attack

How co-ops keep hackers away from electric grid By Paul Wesslund

bout 3:30 p.m. last Dec. 23, operators at three electric utilities halfway around the world in western Ukraine found themselves not to be solely in control of their computer terminals. Someone from outside the utilities had taken over the controls and started opening circuit breakers at more than 27 substations, cutting power to more than 200,000 customers. Workers switched to manual operations, and it took three hours to restore power.

That’s not a movie plot. And if you missed that news report from last year, people who run electric utilities have not. Attention to cybersecurity at electric utilities has been growing fast in the past few years, and the Ukraine attack pushed that trend into overdrive. “It’s garnered a lot of attention from the federal government and throughout the industry,” says Barry Lawson, associate director of power delivery and reliability for the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA). A big part of Lawson’s job is helping the nearly 1,000 electric cooperatives in the country understand digital-age dangers, and ensuring they know how to protect the power supply, electric grid, and cooperative members from internet mischief. Electric cooperatives are showing they do understand the importance of cybersecurity, says Cynthia Hsu, cybersecurity program manager for business and technology strategies at NRECA. “Electric cooperatives were the first utilities to test and use the U.S. Department of Energy’s cybersecurity self-assessment tool,” says Hsu. “They are often on the cutting edge of implementing best practices to improve their cybersecurity capabilities.” While the Ukraine cyberattack has been studied in-depth by U.S. utilities and the Department of Homeland Secu-

rity, most analysts see a large-scale attack by hackers as unlikely to succeed in the United States. Reports characterize the Ukraine attack as well planned and coordinated, but not technically sophisticated. The Ukraine incident started when utility workers received emails with Microsoft Office documents from the Ukrainian parliament. But the emails were not from the Ukrainian parliament. When workers followed instructions asking them to click on a link to “enable macros,” malicious malware embedded in the documents secretly infected the system. Defenses against that kind of attack are basic — don’t click on any links or attachments unless you were expecting the message to be sent to you. Utilities are increasing their efforts to enhance and formalize their security plans, processes and controls. New cybersecurity standards require upgraded levels of training for utility operators, multiple layers of security to shield operational and control systems from the internet, and strict procedures for visitor access to control rooms. These utilities are regularly audited for cybersecurity compliance, and regulators, such as the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and the North American Electric

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Reliability Corporation, can levy strict penalties for not following standards. NRECA has also worked with the Department of Energy to develop software that constantly monitors a utility’s system for even a microsecond of irregularity that might indicate a hacking attempt or malware interfering with the system. With all that attention to keeping the electricity flowing, Lawson says there’s another major cyberthreat receiving high-priority attention from electric cooperatives — protecting data and critical utility information to avoid identity theft of members’ information. Lawson compares the high-tech threats to risks posed by hurricanes or the everyday need for paying attention to safety at the electric cooperative. Cooperatives regularly use risk assess-

ment and management practices to balance a wide range of threats to their systems. l Paul Wesslund writes on cooperative issues for the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, the Arlington, Va.-based service arm of the nation’s 900-plus consumer-owned, not-for-profit electric cooperatives.

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Down the road

Historic Route 6 offers scenic journey through co-op country By Neil C. Jones

Contributing Writer/Photographer

oute 6 enters eastern Pennsylvania, dances with the Susquehanna River through the Endless Mountains, then turns toward the Alleghenies, stitching together the small towns of 11 northern Pennsylvania counties with asphalt thread. In an age of bigger and louder spectacles and through-way interstates, the age-old road trip is a vacation in the journey, not the destination.

Along the way, it’s the people, the food, the sights, the sounds and the experiences that make that journey across this 400-plus-mile historic highway corridor from New York to Ohio so enjoyable. To help you on your way, here’s an idea of what you might find down the road. Claverack Rural Electric Cooperative (REC) members Russ and Ruth Leichliter started Hidden Creek Vineyard and Winery (www.hiddencreekwines.com) in Laceyville, just a few miles off Route 6 in Wyoming County, 10 years ago. The win-

ery specializes in fruity and sweet wines from native grapes. Russ was raised in the winemaking tradition with his grandparents, and was the only grandchild to continue the tradition, though that was not what the couple had originally planned. “We weren’t thinking about being a winery,” says Ruth. “We made wine as a hobby.” Today, that hobby continues to earn the Leichliters numerous awards, including Best in Show for Dry (Grape) Wine at the 2016 Pennsylvania Farm Show Wine Competition.

From palate to palette A little further west along Route 6, Bradford County offers artistic sights to view along the road. According to the Wyalusing Chamber of Commerce, there are almost 200 “Quilted Corners” in the Wyalusing area on barns, churches, businesses and homes. The self-guided rural public art proj-

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ect features 8-foot square decorative blocks ranging from simple duotone shapes to complex mosaic patterns. Visitors can access information about the quilt squares through an OnCell Audio tour, which tells of the history of Wyalusing and the stories and legends of the surrounding area, or by going online to www.wyalusing.net. For a place to stay, visitors might try the historic Wyalusing Hotel (www.wyalusinghotel.com) on Main Street in Wyalusing. The hotel was built in 1894, and the original building has 11 rooms, while the newly-built annex offers 24 more modern rooms. Flanking the sides of the hotel are both a restaurant and bar offering American cuisine. The restaurant features a stone fireplace and wine selections from the local Grovedale Winery, and the country bar features two pool tables, a dart board, a jukebox and several televisions for sports fans to enjoy the game. Just outside of Wyalusing on Route 6, Wyalusing Rocks is a scenic overlook offering a breathtaking view of the Susquehanna River as it meanders along the edge of Terry Township. A few more miles west is the Marie Antoinette Lookout, where stone gazebos offer views of the French Azilum, a refugee settlement for French royalists fleeing the French Revolution in the late 1700s. The Azilum itself is less than a quarter of a mile down from the lookout, and visitors can tour the French Azilum’s Laporte House and the historic site settlement. To do a little time traveling, step aboard the Red Rose Diner. The Red Rose is a train car diner built in 1927 in New Jersey, and brought to Towanda’s Main Street (Route 6) in 2003. It’s the size of a school bus, built to be run at full capacity by a single person. Above the marble counter and wood-topped swiveling stools is an original (and purely decorative) menu offering 15-cent hamburgers, 20-cent corned beef hash and 30-cent lamb tongues, and right next to it, two flat-screen televisions offering the latest news and entertainment. Built in 1853, the Knapp’s Covered Bridge (known by some as the Luther’s Mill Covered Bridge or the Brown’s Creek Covered Bridge) is a 95-foot-long, burr arch truss covered bridge over Brown’s Creek in Burlington Township just a mile north of Route 6 near Towanda in Bradford County. Though placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1980, it went through a significant restoration in 2000. If you’d like to take some history with you, Country Sampler Antiques, located off Route 6 in Sylvania, offers 6,000 square feet of wares from 16 dealers. The shop has been open seven days a week since 1987. PROUD OF ROUTE 6: Designed to make sure passersby know they are traveling on Pennsylvania’s historic Route 6, this sign was donated by the Galeton Rotary Club.

TASTE THIS: Ruth Leichliter, Claverack Rural Electric Cooperative member and co-owner of Hidden Creek Vineyard and Winery in Wyoming County, pours a sampling of her offerings. The trophy for the Best in Show at the 2016 Pennsylvania Farm Show is in the foreground.

Jim Thuotte, a Tri-County REC member from Columbia Township and son of store owners John and Sheila Thuotte, has been in the antique business for three years. “It’s a big selection of antiques, anything from glass, dishes, furniture, primitives,” says Jim about the offerings. The layout is open and easy to navigate, and once you’re done shopping, it’s handy to catch lunch next door at The Iron Skillet. As a former chef and manager there, Jim assures visitors that “the food is good.”

Moving west Traveling west into Tioga County, the scenic overlooks in Leonard Harrison State Park on the east side of Pine Creek Gorge offer unimpeded views of the Grand Canyon of Pennsylvania. The view from the park’s entrance is spectacular this time of year — lush green trees and vibrant blue skies — and a half-mile hike down a short trail to Otter View follows the water south as it weaves its way through the mountains. The Over Look Tower up the road boasts a 360-degree view of a hundred miles on a clear day. It’s seen little maintenance through the years — it’s rusted and covered in graffiti — but for $3, the view is worth the climb. Further westward to Potter County, where the award-winning Pennsylvania Lumber Museum (www.lumbermuseum.org) provides a detailed look at how the so-called “wood hicks” of northern Pennsylvania literally changed the state’s landscape and fueled an industry. The re-created, steam-powered sawmill, birch still, and lumberyard give viewers an up-close

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ON THE ROAD AGAIN: A sign welcomes visitors to French Azilum, a settlement for fleeing French royalists in the late 1700s, left. The historic postcard, bottom, shows the scenic overlook where travelers along Route 6 near Wyalusing can stop and view what’s left of the settlement.

look at the lives and labor of lumber workers at the turn of the century, and in addition to Shay and Brookville locomotives, the museum features what administrator Joshua Roth believes is the last complete Barnhart log loader in the world. The July 4 weekend, during the museum’s Bark Peelers’ Festival, is the only time of the year when the sawmill offers live demonstrations. The Coudersport Ice Mine, a half-mile off Route 6 near Coudersport in Potter County, is a small floor cave that forms natural ice, chilling the area around the 40-foot-deep cavern. What makes this so unique is that the ice forms in the summer and melts in the winter. Geologists have even tried to figure out how it works, surmising that cold air gets trapped in rock openings during the winter months, and then is released in warmer months and freezes the groundwater, so no matter how hot it is outside, as visitors enter the open-roof building around the mine, it feels as though you have walked into a freezer. It’s even where they store the sodas for the gift shop. Some visitors insist the ice mine is a hoax, but owner and Tri-County REC member Gary Buchsen assures visitors it’s real. It has been a fixture in the area since the phenomenon was discovered in 1894, but in the 1980s and for more than

a quarter of a century, the attraction fell into disrepair. When local business owners started talking about getting it going again, Buchsen visited the neglected attraction, saw it for himself, and decided to buy the property three years ago and begin a full restoration. The results are pretty “cool.” Frosty Hollows Bed & Breakfast (www.frostyhollowbandb.com) is a farmhouse and remodeled barn just south of Route 6 at Sweden Valley on Cherry Springs Road. Owners Gail and Joe Ayers have been running the bed and breakfast since 1992, but Gail says that while Joe grew up in the farmhouse, she’s only been there a short 51 years, and it’s there they raised two daughters and four sons (two of whom, Josh and Matt Ayers, are Tri-County REC members). The rooms are like something out of a Country Living spread. Two of the larger rooms in the barn have small TV sitting rooms, and one even features a private entrance and full kitchen for extended stays. Visitors can even rent a small private cottage. Breakfast is specially prepared, and the dining area is so welcoming, it’s like sitting at your grandmother’s kitchen table with family.

Sights and sounds According to the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, since the field in Cherry Springs Park (located just south of the bed and breakfast) is at the top of a mountain, surrounded by undeveloped state forest and shielded by any light, it is an ideal spot for stargazing. With a Gold Level International Dark Sky Park certification from the International Dark Sky Association, the view offers a clear view of meteor showers, constellations and even the Milky Way. For music lovers, Olga’s Café (www.olgaexperience.com) in Coudersport features Thursday Open Mic Nights. Most of the building is dedicated to artist Olga Snyder, and the restaurant and bar occupy the center of the store and gallery. The menu is filled with options, and for the connoisseur of spirits, they even recommend wine and beer pairings for most of their offerings — from hoppy India Pale Ales (IPAs) to Miller Lite.

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Still headed west, the Flying W Ranch in Kelletteville, south of Warren, is a picturesque 600-acre ranch located near the Allegheny National Forest featuring horseback rides, hay rides, camping, hunting and fishing. The ranch’s “cowboy weekend” offers two nights in a LOOK FOR THE QUILTS: There are almost cottage, six meals and 200 “quilts” – 8-foot square, painted blocks six hours of horseback – located throughout the Wyalusing area on barns, churches, businesses and homes. riding. From July 2830, they will host the These are some of the patterns visitors will see on their driving quilt tour. 37th annual Allegheny Mountain Championship Rodeo. Spectators can watch bareback and saddle riding, steer wrestling, barrel racing and bull riding, with a live country band and specialty acts to liven the entertainment. Just a few minutes south of Youngsville, the Simpler Times Museum in Tidioute preserves Warren County’s oil, gas, lumber and agricultural history. Ninety-two-year-old Bruce Ziegler, a former member of the Warren EC board of directors, says he “was just always interested in that stuff” when he began his collection, and though now a non-profit museum that shares the history with visitors, “It’s still kind of our personal collection.” He describes it as a “local interest oil, gas and timber museum” featuring 100 gas pumps, 600 containers and signs, 16 Fords dating from 1913 to 1952, 100 farm tractors, and a working model of a 10-well oil field. Visitors should call 814-484-3483 to make an appointment for a tour. Approaching the western boundary of Pennsylvania, travelers don’t have to stray far off Route 6 to enjoy a sweet treat or two. “My father got me started when I was just a kid, 10 years old or so, making syrup in a small operation in Conneautville, Pa.,” says Northwestern REC member Chris Casbohm. He has been making maple syrup for more than 50 years and can trace the production of maple syrup back to his great-great grandparents in West Virginia during the 1800s. Casbohm and his wife, Cheryl, started Casbohm Maple and Honey (www.mapleandhoney.com) in 2001, and with 640 roadside maple taps and their own bee hives, both the maple syrup and the honey are manufactured on the grounds. He encourages everyone to stop by during the mid-March Maple Taste and Tour, an annual event sponsored by the Northwest Pennsylvania Maple Association that features maple syrup producers from throughout the region. As a small business, Chris asks that visitors call first to make sure they’re open, as he enjoys nothing more than meeting with folks interested in his products. He spoke of a family from Texas who had re-

cently seen the Casbohm name on some syrup left at a local lakeside cabin, and they loved it so much, they sought the makers at their small country “sugar house.” “We’re always looking for visitors,” Chris adds. Since 1892 when it was known as “Exposition Park,” Conneaut Lake Park (www.newconneautlakepark.com) in Pennsylvania’s far western Crawford County represents a real alternative to today’s frenetic and agitated lifestyle. Young and old can enjoy games and rides, from the Bessemer and Lake Erie Miniature Train to the Blue Streak, a 77-foot high and 2,900-foot long wooden roller coaster constructed in 1938. The historic boardwalk gives visitors a place to enjoy the largest natural glacier lake in Pennsylvania, and now with public beach access, sunbathers can relax by the water. For those looking to really experience the outdoors, the park also has camping sites and cabins, recreational boating, swimming, and fishing. From Tunkhannock to Coudersport, Warren to Linesville, there is always something to see when we take the time to stop and look. Paris might be glamorous and Tahiti exotic, but the American landscape and the Pennsylvania countryside offer a window into who we are as a nation and give us a picture of a varied and earnest culture. l

BUCHSEN’S BELIEVE IT OR NOT: Tri-County Rural Electric member Gary Buchsen, owner of the Coudersport Ice Mine in Potter County, assures visitors his ice mine is a natural phenomenon where ice forms in the summer and melts in the winter.

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timelines

Your Newsmagazine Through the Years

1976

For tourists willing to take “the road less traveled” in Pennsylvania, there are a number of rural getaways.

1996

s the nation celebrates its 200th anniversary, Allegheny Electric Cooperative, Inc., celebrates the 40th anniversary of the Rural Electrification Act, which in 1936 established the Rural Electrification Administration (REA) as a lending agency for rural electric cooperatives. This provided cooperatives the funding to begin building electric lines in rural areas. A Penn Lines writer interviewed several people, asking them what they remembered about “the day the lights came on.” Here are some of their comments: k “The day we got our radio, we put it in the kitchen window, aimed it out at the fields and turned it on full blast. During the first week, the men hated to be out of the sound of it.” k “I’ll never forget that day — it was late on a November afternoon, just before dark. Dad turned on the one in the kitchen first, and he just stood there, holding onto the pull chain.” k “The coming of electricity began a new kind of life for most of us. It meant much more than gadgets and appliances. Tenant children used to quit school in the third grade. Now they go through high school, and many finish college. It all happened after the lines came through.”

2006

Allegheny Electric Cooperative, Inc. continues its mission to secure an energy future for cooperative members.

The national rural electric cooperative international program celebrates 24 years of helping to light the world.

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1986

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smartcircuits

Wash energy waste out of laundry By Pat Keegan and Amy Wheeless

ear Pat: We have two kids, which means we do a lot of laundry. How can we reduce our energy use in the laundry room? — Gary Dear Gary: The average American family washes about 300 loads of laundry per year, and all that laundry uses a lot of energy. However, there are some easy ways to cut back. Consider purchasing more efficient appliances: One of the biggest changes you can make is to purchase a new Energy Star-certified washer and dryer. Washers with this certification use about 40 percent less water and 25 percent less energy than standard washers. Front-loading machines are generally more water- and energy-efficient, helping offset any additional upfront costs. Energy Star dryers use 20 percent less energy than standard dryers. Visit www. energystar.gov for more information about estimated water and energy use. Get out of hot water: The easiest source of energy efficiency in the laundry room is to stop using hot water. Almost 90 percent of the energy consumed by your washing machine is used to heat water — but most loads of laundry can be just as easily cleaned with cold water. Using cooler water is also easier on your clothes. Do fewer loads: When possible, wash a full load of clothes. However, when you must do a smaller load of laundry, remember to adjust the water level settings on your machine. Help your dryer out: One of the best ways to reduce the amount of drying time is to get as much water out of the clothes as possible in the washing machine — use a higher spin setting

to wring the extra water out of your laundry. When you are ready to dry, remember not to overfill the dryer. Use your dryer’s features: If your dryer has a moisture sensor, use it rather than guessing how long each load of laundry will need to dry. Dry like with like: Heavy fabrics, like towels and blankets, should be dried separately from lighter fabrics. When using a dryer’s moisture sensor, the dryer will keep running until the wettest item is dry. Rather than one towel extending the drying time for each of your loads of laundry, dry the towels together. Live lint free: Clean the lint trap on your dryer regularly to help air circulation. Periodically use a vacuum nozzle to clean the area under or behind the lint filter. If you use dryer sheets, scrub the filter clean about once a month — dryer sheets can leave a film on the filter. Remember safety: Your laundry room extends from the back of the dryer, down the dryer duct and all the way to

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the end of your dryer vent. Inspect your outside dryer vent regularly to make sure it is not blocked, and periodically work with a professional to clean your dryer ducts. Making sure the duct and vent are clear not only helps your dryer work more efficiently, but can also prevent a fire. If possible, move the dryer closer to an exterior wall to shorten the length of the dryer duct. Use your solar-powered dryer: Going “old-fashioned” and air drying your clothes will definitely reduce your energy use. You can also tumble dry clothes until damp, then line dry them until fully dry. There are many ways you can wash the energy waste out of your laundry routine. Try a few of these simple tips, and “load up” on the savings! l This column was co-written by Pat Keegan and Amy Wheeless of Collaborative Efficiency. For more information on how to make your laundry room efficient, please visit: www.collaborativeefficiency. com/energytips.

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Get the Muck

Bringing Mozart to the mountain Festival hits high note with classical music By Kathy Hackleman Senior Editor/Writer

he hills are alive with the sound of music — classical music, that is. The Endless Mountain Music Festival (EMMF) dispels the widely held notion that “mountain music” is synonymous with bluegrass, country, folk or even gospel music. In the Endless Mountains of northern Pennsylvania, it’s an interest in classical music that is growing by leaps and bounds.

Thanks to the willingness of internationally acclaimed guest musicians to perform in rural venues and the dedication of a small staff, EMMF is celebrating its 11th season this summer. Its 2006 opening season featured 24 musicians in six performances, with free tickets distributed to anyone and everyone who would take them. The classical music festival has grown so much that this summer’s lineup includes 62 professional musicians from around the world who will perform 16 concerts in 16 days, plus five free outreach programs, reaching more than 6,000 people. This year’s festival, scheduled from July 22 through Aug. 6, includes multiple 62-piece orchestra productions, as well as smaller groups presenting chamber performances featur-

ing jazz, piano and even Celtic music. The venues include theaters, parks, hotels, and churches in communities ranging from Mansfield (where Tri-County Rural Electric Cooperative is based), Wellsboro, Troy, Knoxville, and Towanda (in Claverack Rural Electric Cooperative’s service territory) to Corning, N.Y., and Elmira, N.Y.

‘All about the experience’ “The quality of music is grand, equal to what you would hear in New York, London or San Francisco, right here in rural Pennsylvania,” says Cindy Long, EMMF executive director and a member of Tri-County Rural Electric Cooperative. “Our reach is continuing to grow. Our audience is from the entire area, where many of the people have never had the chance to hear a world-class orchestra before, as well as from all over the United States. We are able to expose children to a new view of music. Music is one of those things that tickles the mathematical side of the brain, too. It makes an impact when people get to meet the musicians, touch their instruments, hear the music. It’s all about the experience.” The EMMF can trace its roots to 2003, when American

Photo by Heather Mee

CHAMBER CONCERTS: In addition to a full orchestra performance, musicians affiliated with the Endless Mountain Music Festival perform smaller chamber concerts throughout northern Pennsylvania and southern New York during the annual event, scheduled for July 22-Aug. 6.

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Community support The festival has become so well-known many of the musi-

cians want to come back year after year. “They love the area,” Long notes. “But we couldn’t do this without the support of the community. People open their homes and house the musicians. Once someone houses them, they become like family, and they return to the same families year after year. They don’t come for free — these are real professionals and we have to pay them, but we can’t afford to pay them much. It’s not only the local families, but local businesses help, too. For example, Susquehanna Health (System at Wellsboro) feeds the musicians at the hospital, and businesses, including Tri-County Rural Electric Cooperative and Citizens and Northern Bank, provide significant grant funds.” Long adds, “The musicians want to come to the country, swim in the creeks, climb the mountains, go on the rail trail. They love the beautiful mountains, scenery, lakes and the small-town charm. They even help us raise funds. We have a golf tournament, and if you want to get a team together and play with a musician, you can. None of them are professional golfers, but they are fun to be around.” Season passes (for all 16 performances), flex passes (for any six performances) and individual performance tickets are available. For additional information and performance schedules, check online at www.endlessmountain.net or call 570-787-7800. The site also includes information about special festival pricing at area bed and breakfasts. l

Photo by Heather Mee

conductor Maestro Stephen Gunzenhauser, now the artistic director of the music festival, and his wife, Rochelle, were visiting for the first time in Wellsboro. The couple was captivated by the quaint charm of the region, and he stopped by the local Chamber of Commerce to pitch the idea of organizing a classical music festival. LONG AT WORK: Tri-County Rural Electric Cooperative member Cindy Chamber staff referred him Long, festival director, focuses on to a local couple, Dr. Kenbringing the best in classical music neth Sarch, music professor to rural Pennsylvanians. at Mansfield College, and his wife, Margarita, conductor of the Wellsboro Community Symphony Orchestra. The Sarches were easily convinced, and Margarita soon approached her next-door neighbor — Cindy Long — to ask if she wanted to assist in the effort. Long, who had retired a couple of years earlier from teaching junior high school English and coordinating the gifted student program, was ready for a new challenge. She immediately saw the value of a classical music festival, especially for the student population. She served in a volunteer capacity as president of the organization for four years, and then took on the role of executive director with primary responsibilities of fundraising for the 501(c)(3) organization. “My love is children,” Long says. “I was a retired teacher and I missed my students. I knew there wasn’t an orchestra program in all of Tioga County and all I could think of was, ‘How wonderful to expose our rural youth to music of this caliber.’” All three of the Pennsylvania counties that now make up the bulk of the EMMF territory — Potter, Tioga and Bradford — historically have ranked in the lowest one-third of state counties in terms of income, but Long was determined money would not be a barrier when it came to enjoying the riches offered through classical music. “We don’t just have summer concerts,” Long says. “We provide musical outreach experiences year-round. We want people, and kids especially, to see all different types of music. Last year, we brought in a musician from Kansas City who is a famous jazz pianist to present at the Williamson K-12 schools and Cowanesque Valley junior and senior high. They loved him so much that this winter he is coming back and will work with the kids to present their own jazz program, where he will also perform. We are also doing a pilot project this year — ‘STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) Makes Music’ — where the children will learn the science behind the music, create their own music and perform their piece. If it works, we will take the program into more schools.”

PLAYING THE BLUES: American musician, singer-songwriter and composer Mark Paul “Corky” Siegel plays a harmonica with the Endless Mountain Music Festival orchestra in 2015. He is returning this summer to perform a world premier he wrote for the festival orchestra.

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spotlight

50th Anniversary Contests Penn Lines staff

enn Lines is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. As part of the newsmagazine’s anniversary celebration, we asked readers to participate in a number of contests, including photo contests for the “Oldest Penn Lines” and the “Most Well-Traveled Penn Lines.” There were also three essay contests, where readers were asked to answer one of the following questions: “What does Penn Lines mean to rural Pennsylvania?” How does Penn Lines help me as a cooperative member?” and “What is your earliest memory of Penn Lines?”

The winning entries have all been printed and a $50 gift certificate has been presented to each of the five winners, but we plan to continue publishing other entries throughout the remaining months of the anniversary celebration year.

nn Lines Pe

years

19 6 6-2016

Here are some of those entries: How does Penn Lines help me as a cooperative member? “I’m old enough to remember the profound effect in the 1930s and 1940s that electric cooperatives had on my relatives who farmed in Minnesota and were finally able to access electric power from their local cooperative. It forever changed their lives in such positive and enriching ways. If only they had had a magazine like Penn Lines to enjoy and profit from as I have had. “It’s difficult for me to realize that Penn Lines has been in existence for 50 years, although I have been an avid reader for the past 20 years as a member of Adams Electric. “While I take my electricity for granted, when I read CEO/General Manager Steve Rasmussen’s article in your January 2014 issue wherein he wrote of the burial of the oil lamp, which was a symbol of life without electricity, in 1941, the same year that my husband was born, I am even more grateful for the incorporation of Adams Electric and the publication of Penn Lines. “Your magazine’s features keep me involved in the cooperative. From Community Connections to Newsworthy Notes, from an emphasis on student scholarships to tips on saving energy, from photography submissions in Rural Reflections to recipes I’ve tried from the County Kitchen, and offerings of opportunities to run for seats on the cooperative’s board of directors, the magazine has kept me abreast of all that Adams Electric means to people like me that it serves. “More than anything, your magazine has made me especially proud to live in Pennsylvania: from Farm Show news to the Adams Electric Community Development Loan Fund grant awarded to the local SPCA, your magazine features news on Pennsylvania’s happenings, people, and current news. “Admittedly, my all-time favorite feature was your story on the Pennsylvania Turnpike that eased travel for so many and changed the state’s landscape forever. And, as a result of your April 2014 story on the Lincoln Highway (Route 30), my husband boarded his Harley Davidson and rode that scenic and 20

historic road. His experience was even featured in a 2014 issue of the Harley Davidson magazine. “Thus, we thank you for giving us years of reading pleasure and please continue to keep Penn Lines so relevant to our daily lives. May we enjoy 50 more years of quality reading, timely news, and interesting features that educate and entertain us about Adams Electric in our beloved state of Pennsylvania because your magazine does the cooperative proud.” — Kathy and Les Megyeri, Adams Electric Cooperative

FOUR CORNERS: Tom McMath, a member of Huntingdon-based Valley Rural Electric Cooperative, stands at the “Four Corners,” a region of the United States where the borders of Utah, Arizona, Colorado and New Mexico meet. This photo was submitted as part of the Penn Lines 50th anniversary contest calling for photos of the “Most Well-Traveled Penn Lines.” This is the only location in the United States where four states meet.

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techtrends

Grid will connect us to our energy future By Justin LaBerge

t’s often said that we live in an information age. There are hundreds of channels on satellite and cable TV. Consumers who have high-speed internet can use services like Netflix, Amazon Prime and Hulu to access many more entertainment options. Satellite radio, podcasts and music streaming services fill our ears with everything from favorite tunes to dating advice. Anybody with a computer or smartphone can create content and distribute it through social media. Even in rural areas without broadband service or 4G mobile data, it’s still a far cry from the days when consumers had to pick from three TV networks, a handful of radio stations, and one local newspaper. There are many factors that came together to spur this digital revolution, but two of the most important are advances in technology and growth of the nation’s data transmission network. It is faster, easier and cheaper than ever to create all kinds of content, but just like any product, content is useless without an efficient distribution system. Fortunately, we’ve built a vast network of fiber-optic cables and wireless towers that allows us to send and receive content almost anywhere. Our nation’s power system is in the early stages of a similar revolution. Historically, the electric grid has operated much like the old broadcasting system with three major networks. In this system, called central station power, electricity flows in one direction from a big plant to consumers. It starts at power plants that can generate enough electricity to power thousands of homes and businesses.

The power plant sends its energy out over high-voltage transmission lines to cooperatives and other utilities. The utilities reduce the voltage and deliver electricity to individual consumers. This is a time-tested system that has proven itself safe, reliable and efficient, and it continues to be the best solution for the vast majority of American energy consumers. But advances in renewable power generation, energy storage and energy management technology are likely to change that model. Solar panels are becoming cheaper to produce. Batteries are lasting longer, charging faster and costing less. Smart home devices can make instantaneous calculations to optimize energy use. With these advances in technology, it might seem like our energy future will be a world where homes and businesses could unplug from the grid. In theory, it’s possible. But for us to realize the potential of renewable generation, energy storage and smart home technology, the electric grid and utilities will continue to play critical roles. Just as our information age was made possible by digital devices talking to each other over a communication network, our modern energy system will rely on new technologies working together through an interconnected power grid. Roughly 250 electric cooperatives in 35 states offer efficiency programs using water heaters to heat water when demand for electricity is low, but advances in renewable energy and grid control technologies are revealing new ways to maximize the benefits of this proven concept. In the future, electric cars charging in garages overnight could be used in a

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similar way when demand is low. The key to making the system work is a smart electric grid that enables the two-way flow of energy from a decentralized network of generation resources. While many of these new generation and storage technologies aren’t quite ready for prime time, electric cooperatives are already working to make the grid smarter and more adaptable. Since its discovery and taming, electric energy has been steadily improving our lives. Through the digital revolution, the pace of that innovation has accelerated. In the not-too-distant future, electricity will power an even larger share of our daily lives, from cars to super-efficient appliances, to home automation systems. These technologies have the potential to make our lives easier, reduce pollution and save us money, and a smart electric grid is the network that will make it all possible. l Justin LaBerge writes on consumer and cooperative affairs for the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, the Arlington, Va.-based service arm of the nation’s 900-plus consumer-owned, notfor-profit electric cooperatives. 21

Classified Advertisements

ISSUE MONTH AD DEADLINE September 2016 July 19 October 2016 August 18 November 2016 September 19

Penn Lines classiﬁed advertisements reach nearly 166,000 rural Pennsylvania households! Please note ads must be received by the due date to be included in the requested issue month. Ads 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 by phone, fax or email. For more information please contact Michelle M. Smith at 717-233-5704.

Please submit a clearly written or typed sheet with the following required information: o Cooperative members should please submit the mailing label from Penn Lines as proof of membership. o Non-members should submit name, address, phone number, and email address, if applicable. o Month(s) in which the ad is to run. o Ad copy as it is to appear in the publication. o Heading ad should appear under, or name of special heading (additional fee). See below for FREE heading options. FREE Headings: • Around the House • Business Opportunities • Employment Opportunities • Gift & Craft Ideas • Livestock & Pets • Miscellaneous

• Motor Vehicles & Boats • Nursery & Garden • Real Estate • Recipes & Food • Tools & Equipment • Vacations & Campsites • Wanted to Buy

“AA” ROOFING

EXPERTS IN HARD-TO-FIND LEAKS! Roof repairs – all types. House-barn roofs painted. Slate work-chimney repairs. Southwestern PA for over 40 years. Speedy service! 814-4454400. AROUND THE HOUSE

SPECIAL OFFER – BOTH COOKBOOKS FOR $12. “Country Cooking” – $5, including postage. “Recipes Remembered” – $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.

CLOCK REPAIR: If you have an antique grandfather clock, mantel clock or old pocket watch that needs restored, we can fix any timepiece. Macks Clock Repair: 814-421-7992. BUILDING SUPPLIES

STEEL ROOFING AND SIDING. Over 25 years in business. Several profiles cut to length. 29and 26-gauge best quality residential roofing – 40-year warranty. Also, seconds, heavy gauges, accessories, etc. Installation available. Located northwestern Pennsylvania. 814-398-4052.

FACTORY SECONDS of insulation, 4 x 8 sheets, foil back. R-Value 6.5 per inch. Great for pole buildings, garages, etc. Many thicknesses available. Also blue board insulation sheets. 814-442-6032. 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. 724746-0992 or 814-926-3622.

CLASSIFIED AD SUBMISSION/RATES 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. SPECIAL Headings: $5 for co-op members, $10 for non-members. Fee applies to any heading not listed under “FREE Headings”, even if the heading is already appearing in Penn Lines. For ads running a special heading in consecutive months, the fee is a onetime fee of either $5 or $10 for all consecutive insertions. PAYMENT: Please make CHECK/MONEY ORDER payable to: PREA/Penn Lines. Insertion of classiﬁed ad serves as proof of publication; no proofs supplied. SEND COMPLETED AD COPY AND PAYMENT TO: Penn Lines Classiﬁeds • P.O. Box 1266 • Harrisburg, PA 17108

CONSULTING FORESTRY SERVICES

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.

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. CRAFT SHOWS

WILD WIND FOLK ART & CRAFT FESTIVAL. SEPTEMBER 10-11, 10 A.M. TO 5 P.M., WARREN COUNTY FAIRGROUNDS, ROUTE 6, PITTSFIELD, PA. 150 JURIED CRAFTSMEN, FOOD, MUSIC, DEMONSTRATIONS. WWW. WILDWINDFESTIVAL.COM. CRANE SERVICE

NEED A LIFT? Crane service for all your lifting needs. Experienced, fully insured, OwnerOperated and OSHA-certified. Precision Crane LLC, Linesville, PA 814-282-9133. ELECTRIC MOTORS

FARM, COMMERCIAL, INDUSTRIAL, NEW AND USED MOTOR SALES. Complete repair facility with over 30 years experience. Most sizes in stock. Emergency repair available. Ludwig Electric LLC. 814-948-4471. GIFT AND CRAFT IDEAS

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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 1-26 today! It’s safe, affordable, and it works. Call 800-5578477: ID#528390. 90-day money back on first-time orders or call me 724-454-5586. www.mylegacyforlife.net/believeit. HEALTH INSURANCE

DO YOU HAVE THE BLUES regarding your health insurance? We cater to rural America’s health insurance needs. For more information, call 844-591-2797 (PA). Call us regarding Medicare supplements, too. 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.” 814587-3449. BEAUTIFUL ALPACA and also agora goat yarn. Some wool added. Various weights and colors. All from our own animals. No synthetics. Call Sue Graver at 717-487-0785.

SAWDUST DELIVERED IN NORTHWESTERN PENNSYLVANIA: Dry sawdust available in 32-yard walking floor. Call Charlie at 814-7200288. Green sawdust 100-yard walking floor. Call David at 814-425-2500, ext. 221.

Classified Advertisements KUNEKUNE PASTURE PIGLETS – Gentle & friendly! Love human interaction. Great with pets and livestock. Mature less than half the size of typical farm pig. Boars $500. Gilts $700. 814515-4251. LOG CABIN RESTORATIONS

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. Thirty years experience, fully insured. Call 814696-1379. www.villagerestorations.com. MISCELLANEOUS

FOR SALE: Buckets, forks, thumbs, grapple buckets and pallet forks for skid loaders, backhoes and excavators. Tires for backhoes, rubber tire loaders and excavators also. Call 814329-0118. FOR SALE – One companion crypt. Building ONE, Parklawn Gardens, Chambersburg, PA 17201. I will pay title fees. $7,000 or best offer. Ask for Art. Call 717-860-3900.

3-TON HOIST FOR SALE with Wallace wheeled gantry. Garage-kept. Will help construct. Hoist $3,600. 2004 Ford Ranger, 150,000 miles. $4,500. 814-765-4201. MOTOR VEHICLES & BOATS

2009 Lund 1725 Explorer SS, 17.5 ft. Mercury 90-hp Optimax. Motor Guide 75W trolling motor. Lund trailer (new tires & rims). $15,000 obo. Call 717-665-9288 or 717-314-3024.

1954 430 Case tractor; 1984 Smoker Craft boat with 20-hp Mercury and Tee Nee trailer; MEC Jr. 12-gauge Reloader; 6 feet of 33.3 LP records. Phone 814-658-0074. MOTORCYCLE-SNOWMOBILE INSURANCE

For the best INSURANCE RATES call R & R Insurance Associates from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 800-442-6832 (PA). PENNSYLVANIA HUNTING LAND WANTED

OUR HUNTERS WILL PAY TOP $$$ to hunt your land. Call for a free base camp leasing info packet and quote. 866-309-1507. www. BaseCampLeasing.com. REAL ESTATE

INDIAN LAKE WATERFRONT: Carefree brick ranch style, 3 bedroom/2 bath, full basement, attached and two-car detached garage. 1.1 acres, level to lake, double-slip boathouse with private drive and boat ramp. $475,000. Email: val. mcclatchey@outlook.com or call: 814-442-1315. SOMERSET COUNTY FARM FOR SALE. 218 acres. 10 acres pasture, 14 acres woodland, 190 acres tillable. Plenty of water. Coal rights included. House, barn, outbuildings. Nice farm. 814-443-1728.

SW WARREN COUNTY Tidioute area – 37 acres with timber. OGM negotiable. Completely remodeled house with large garage, other outbuildings. Access to PA game lands. Allegheny River nearby. Call 814-484-3941.

RECIPES AND FOOD

CAMPSITE FOR RENT – Bedford County. Dunning’s Creek (private). RVs and trailers. No tents. $100 weekly. Electric, water and sewage. 814-276-3355.

CHAMBERSBURG, PA – Spacious ranch vacation house rental. Sleeps 9. Four bedrooms, 2 full baths, linens, towels provided. Seating for 18. Dish TV, internet. Situated on a working farm. Email: pappysgetaway@gmail.com or call 717-263-3328.

SAWMILLS

USED PORTABLE Sawmills and COMMERCIAL Sawmill Equipment! Buy/Sell. Call Sawmill Exchange 800-459-2148. USA and Canada. www.sawmillexchange.com. 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. TOOLS & EQUIPMENT

PALLET RACKS – Have 300 lineal feet of pallet racks. Each measures 10 ft. high, 8 ft. wide and 42 in. deep. Would consider offer on all or $150 a unit. 814-282-8661.

MACHINE SHOP EQUIPMENT – Enco Mill, digital read with rotator table, Voyar-Schultz auto hydraulic surface grinder, industrial wet sander, heavy-duty industrial drill press, heavyduty knee mill. 330-527-4384. 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. TROUT FISHING

TROUT FISHERMAN. Large selection of professionally tied flies; 300+ patterns available. Reasonably priced, outstanding service; all flies personally tied, no imports. For catalog, email emerickflies@centurylink.net or call 814-8423571. VACATIONS AND CAMPSITES

NEW SMYRNA BEACH, Florida condo rental. Two bedrooms, two baths, pool. 200 yards from beach. NA February. No pets. $500 weekly, $1,800 monthly. Call 814-635-4020.

I DON’T LEAVE THE TV ON FOR THE COFFEE TABLE. WHY COOL AN EMPTY HOUSE? I’ m s a v in g m on ey b y ad ju s tin g m y th er m os ta t b efor e I g o on v ac a tion . W h a t c an y ou d o? Fin d out h o w th e little c h an g es a dd u p a t Tog eth er WeSa v e. co m.

RAYSTOWN VACATION HOUSE RENTAL – Sleeps 11, 4 bedrooms, large dining table, central A/C, 2 full baths, 2 half baths, linens/ towels provided, boat parking, near boat launch. $230/night. Visit www.laurelwoodsretreat.com or call 814-931-6562.

RAYSTOWN CAMPSITE, Yearly lease, 1 mile from Weaver Fall launch. Cottage with kitchen, 2 beds and loft, shower house, $400 weekly. Linen/towels option. Four Leaf Clover Campground. Call 814-356-3314.

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T O G E T H E R W E S AV E .C O M

countrykitchen

Fire up the grill! By Janette Hess

he grilling season is upon us, so head outside with all the makings of an excelA trained journalist, Janette Hess lent summer meal. focuses her writing on interestStart your side dish by roasting a batch of marinated zucchini. Combine it with ing people and interesting foods. She is a Master Food Volunteer hot, fluffy couscous to create the perfect accompaniment to your grilled meat of with her local extension service choice â€” either Pork Kabobs or Savory Skewered Beef. and enjoys collecting, testing and sharing recipes. Savory Skewered Beef gets its salty-sweet vibe from an Asian-influenced marinade. Pork Kabobs gain their depth of flavor from an intense combination of Spanish smoked paprika and minced garlic. Both recipes rely on metal skewers, which speed the grilling process by transferring heat into the cubes of meat. The skewers, of course, must be removed before serving. If metal skewers are not available, wooden skewers may be substituted, but they must be soaked in water for at least an hour to prevent burning. So choose a meat, round up some skewers, fire up the grill and enjoy some great seasonal eating! l Parslied Couscous with Grilled Zucchini 2 to 3 small, tender zucchini (about 1 pound) 3/4 teaspoon salt Marinade* 2 cups chicken or vegetable broth 1 cup couscous

2 teaspoons olive oil 1/4 cup fresh, finely chopped parsley Freshly ground pepper to taste 1/4 cup feta cheese for garnish

*In 1-gallon zip-top bag, combine 3 tablespoons olive oil, 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard, 1 teaspoon garlic salt, 1/4 teaspoon black pepper, 1/8 teaspoon paprika and juice of 1 lemon (approximately 2 tablespoons).

Savory Skewered Beef 1 1/2 pounds sirloin steak tips or other thick, grill-friendly steak 1/3 cup hoisin sauce 1/3 cup bourbon OR beef broth

2 tablespoons soy sauce 1/4 cup peanut oil 2 teaspoons crushed red pepper 1 teaspoon garlic powder Canola or vegetable oil for preparing grate

Pork and Red Pepper Kabobs 1 1/2 pounds pork loin 2 large cloves garlic, minced 1/4 cup canola, grapeseed or other vegetable oil

3 tablespoons Spanish smoked paprika 1 teaspoon kosher salt 1 red bell pepper

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Cut unpeeled zucchini into 1/2-inch slices and toss with 3/4 teaspoon salt. Place on paper towels. Set aside for 30 minutes to allow salt to draw out excess moisture. Mix marinade in bag. After 30 minutes, pat zucchini slices dry and place in marinade. Shake to coat. Heat grill. Place grill tray (or grill basket) on hot grill. Using slotted spoon, transfer zucchini onto tray. Grill over medium heat until tender and lightly browned, approximately 10 minutes. Remove from grill and chop into small cubes. Set aside. In medium saucepan, bring broth to boil. Stir in couscous and olive oil. Cover and remove from heat. After 5 minutes, add chopped zucchini and parsley. Fluff with fork to combine ingredients. Add pepper to taste. Sprinkle with feta cheese before serving. Makes 6 to 8 servings. Trim steak and cut into 1 1/4- to 1 1/2 -inch cubes. To make marinade, combine hoisin sauce, bourbon, soy sauce, peanut oil, crushed red pepper and garlic powder in 1-gallon zip-top bag. Add steak. Working through plastic, massage marinade into steak. Refrigerate for 2 to 3 hours, massaging and turning steak at least once. Pre-heat grill. Drain steak and thread onto 3 or 4 metal skewers; discard marinade. Using paper towel, pat off excess marinade. Wipe hot grill grate with oil-soaked paper towel. Place skewers on grill. Turn after 4 to 5 minutes. Continue grilling and turning until internal temperature of beef registers 125 to 135 degrees (depending on desired doneness), and steak is nicely browned. Transfer skewers to rimmed baking sheet or platter. Cover with foil. Allow to rest for at least 5 minutes before using fork to pull steak from skewers. Drizzle any drippings back over steak. Makes 5 to 6 servings. Trim pork and cut into 1 1/4- to 1 1/2-inch cubes. Place in 1-gallon zip-top bag. Add garlic, oil, paprika and salt. Working through plastic, massage seasonings into pork. Refrigerate 2 to 3 hours. Cut pepper into 1-inch square pieces. Pre-heat grill. Thread pork and pepper pieces alternately onto 3 or 4 metal skewers. Using paper towel, pat off excess marinade. Wipe hot grill grate with oilsoaked paper towel. Place skewers on grill. Turn after 5 minutes. Continue turning and grilling until pork is just cooked through (about 15 minutes depending on grill). Transfer kabobs to rimmed baking sheet or platter. Cover with foil. Allow to rest for at least 5 minutes before using fork to pull pork and peppers from skewers. Drizzle any drippings back over pork. Makes 6 servings.

outdooradventures

Vikings in Pennsylvania By Marcus Schneck

’m not trying to get into the whole Christopher Columbus issue. (I’ve been to his family chapel, which was dismantled in Spain, moved across the Atlantic and reconstructed in Boalsburg, and I really enjoyed it.) But I really like the idea that Vikings were visiting North America — maybe even Pennsylvania — hundreds of years before 1492. I’ve visited several of the carving-covered boulders that seem to bear geologic witness to the long-ago passing of the Norse. I’ve read books and cruised the interweb (judiciously) about Vikings in America. I’ve seen many of the television “In Search Of”-type shows on the subject. And when I get on or along the lower Susquehanna River, where there are actual Native American petroglyphs on ridges in the river, I often consider what it might have been like — blonde, fair-skinned Norsemen beaching their boat in some cove of the Susquehanna, maybe encountering some representatives of the Susquehannock nation. I’ve looked closely at more than one boulder that seemed to carry unusual carvings. (No luck, so far.) The only evidence that Vikings visiting North America to trade for furs and timber and made it as far south as the coast of the Chesapeake Bay and the lower reaches of the Susquehanna I’ve seen is the “Vinland Map,” a widely debated parchment that currently seems to be considered a hoax by most scholars. The “Vinland Map,” so named because of the Vinland designation for North America, purportedly because of the wonderful grapes the Vikings encountered along the New England

coastline, is said to have been compiled from various Norse voyages around 1000 A.D. The map is said to depict the Atlantic Coast from Canada to just south of the Chesapeake Bay. Admittedly the cartographer portrayed North America as a relatively small and narrow island, but it’s likely that’s all of the continent the Vikings were aware of back then. The map was first revealed to the world in the 1950s, and it’s been controversial even since, but I really like the idea. Just think of the ancient forests of Pennsylvania with Vikings trudging through them. It may have happened, but probably not very often. Viking activity in North America appears to have been concentrated far to the north of Pennsylvania. Viking settlements in North America were primarily trade missions, looking to exploit the natural resources and move them to Greenland, where more permanent settlements of hundreds of people persisted for centuries. But there also is evidence like the “Maine Penny” that indicates ongoing trips of North America across a span of as much as 400 years. The Maine Penny is a Norse coin minted during the reign of King Olaf Kyrre (1067-1093) that was found in

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WHO SAILED THE RIVER?: It’s fun to consider whether Vikings sailed the Susquehanna long before 1492.

an archaeological Native American site in Maine, suggesting contact between the Vikings and Native Americans, which they referred to as “Skraelings.” The Icelandic Annals, which are manuscripts written in Iceland in the 13th and 14th centuries, also include references to North America, such as the report of a ship from Greenland that arrived in Iceland in 1347 with a cargo of timber from Markland, which was the Norse designation for a heavily forested region of North America. Vikings in North America, how far inland and south they may have ventured, and purported evidence of their passing, such as various runestones, has become a focus of the parasciences of ancient civilizations and that has limited serious scientific inquiry. But we can dream, can’t we? l Marcus Schneck is a Pennsylvania nature writer with thousands of newspaper and magazine articles, and more than two dozen books, to his credit. You can find more of his writing at www.marcusschneck.com.

punchlines

Hook, line and sinker: Earl falls for special deal on fishing shoes By Earl Pitts, American

y ol’ buddy Dub Meeker come in the Duck Inn last night like his rearend was caught on fire and he goes, “Earl, Earl, there’s a big sale at the outdoor store.”

And I’m thinkin’, “What in the Sam Hill can they be selling that we need?” I mean, you’re lookin’ right there at two of the better-equipped outdoors rednecks in these parts. He looks at me and he goes, “They got 20 percent off all fishin’ shoes this week only.” Now, I got to admit to you that I got campin’ gear, I got huntin’ gear and I got fishin’ gear. In my fishin’ gear, I got fishin’ poles and reels. I got tackle. I got a fishin’ chair. I got a minnow bucket. I got a lucky fishin’ hat and shirt. But I do NOT have fishin’ shoes. On account of, I don’t know what the heck fishin’ shoes are. But apparently they’re 20 percent off — this week only. So last night, me and Dub drove over there to the store. And this guy — he said he was a professional outdoor consultant — asked if he could help. And I said, “We want to see them fishin’ shoes you got on sale.” And he goes, “I can help. Do you do mostly boat fishin’ or bank fishin’?” and I go, “My buddy’s brother here got a boat, but he ain’t with us all the time so I’d say maybe 60 percent bank fishin’.” He writes that down on the back of a little card. Then he goes, “The bank, is it mostly grass or dirt?” and I answer, “Well, our secret spot is mostly muddy, but if we fish the spillway, we usually set up in a little patch a’ gravel.” And he writes that down, too, and then he goes, “That secret spot, is that

north facin’ or does it face a different direction.” I look at Dub, and he goes, “Earl, I think it’s south facin’.” And the guy smiles and goes, “Gentlemen, I think I have just what you need,” and he showed us this boot with action-flex leather uppers, a cushioned tongue and inland fishin’ insoles. And they were only $125 a pair. They were a steal. I can’t believe I ever fished without ‘em. Wake up, America! Yeah, summer might be just gettin’ here, but the fish at Mudd Lake, their days are already numbered. I got fishin’ shoes.

ver the weekend, my better half, Pearl, went nuts on me. I got up Sunday morning, and she got the kitchen set up like it was an Iron Chef contest. I look in there and I go, “What the heck you doin’, woman?” She goes, “Earl, get ready. I seen on my cookin’ and crafts website how to make eggs Benedict. And you are gonna be my guinea pig today.” I think of this as a learnin’ opportunity for all women. And here’s your lesson. Women, you can mess with our looks, you can mess with our heads, but don’t mess with our eggs. In my experience, a man only eats eggs two different ways. First egg of choice is the scrambled egg. Or — for variety — you can fry them. I realize there is

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also omelets, deviled eggs, hard-boiled eggs and egg-salad samiches. But those are for special occasions. Most men can get through life pretty well, thank you, with his eggs scrambled or fried. I remember one time Pearl was on that there website and announced she was making me a quiche. I said, “Well, just quiche my behind, and make my eggs scrambled.” That ended that argument, though as I recall she didn’t talk to me for a while. Don’t get me wrong. I do admire and appreciate an omelet every now and then. But only if we’re goin’ out for a fancy breakfast, and they got an omelet special featurin’ at least two of the four major pig meats inside. Anyways, you can guess what happened, right? She made me an egg Benedict. Have you ever had one of these things? Basically, you’re talking an open-face Egg McMuffin covered with holiday sauce. I don’t know what holiday this sauce was held over from, but it was past its prime. It had even yellowed a little bit. l Social commentary from Earl Pitts — a.k.a. Gary Burbank, 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 BurnhamLewistown. You can also find him at earlpittsamerican.com.

ruralreflections

Summer fun

s you enjoy your summer, remember to take some photos to share with Penn Lines readers. Amateur photographers are encouraged to send photos 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. 2016 winners in each of five categories — artistic, landscape, human, animal, and editor’s choice — will receive $75 and runners-up will receive $25. Please send fall photos by mid-July and winter photos by mid-September (hint: save your spring and summer photos for next year). We will return photos in early 2017 if you include a self-addressed, stamped envelope. l

in Laura Corw R EC rn e st e w h Nort

Saidy Walke r Somerset R E C

er Karen Well C E R y Valle

Chip and Helen M iller Tri-County REC | J U LY 2 0 1 6