Issuu

Adams Electric Cooperative, Inc.

OCTOBER 2015

On board Longtime directors on serving cooperative mission

PLUS For changes of address, please contact your local electric cooperative.

Balancing temps ‘That’s not how this works’ Wild about pie

OCTOBER Vol. 50 • No. 10 Peter A. Fitzgerald ED I TO R

Katherine Hackleman S E NI O R E D I TO R / W R I TE R

James Dulley Janette Hess Barbara Martin Marcus Schneck

Energy-saving apps available

W. Douglas Shirk L AY O UT & D ES I G N

Vonnie Kloss

Your local cooperative is your best source of information about how to cut back on energy use

CO N T R I B U T I N G CO L U MN I S TS

A DV E R T I S I NG & C I R CU L AT I O N

E N E R G Y M AT T E R S

KEEPING CURRENT News items from across the Commonwealth

Michelle M. Smith M E D I A & M A R K E T I N G S PE CI A L I ST

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 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.

F E AT U R E

On board Longtime directors on serving cooperative mission

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

Information and advice from your local electric cooperative

F E AT U R E

Cooperative scholars Winners of statewide electric cooperative scholarships announced

SMART CIRCUITS

Balancing temps in a two-story home 21

OUT D OOR A DV ENT UR ES

‘That’s not how this works’ 22

CLASSIFIEDS

COUNTRY KITCHEN

Wild about pie 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

POWER PLANTS

Why we garden 26

Thoughts from Earl Pitts– Uhmerikun!

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.

City folks’ definition of ‘unplugged’ is country version of daily life

PUNCH LINES

RURAL REFLECTIONS

Final call for 2015 photos

O N T H E COV E R Directors with more than 35 years of service on their local rural electric cooperative boards describe changes they have seen in their decades of service.

OCTOBER 2015 • PENN

LINES

ENERGYmatters Energy-saving apps available Your local cooperative is your best source of information about how to cut back on energy use By Thomas Kirk

INTERESTED IN saving energy? Thereâ€™s an app for that. Home energy use often goes unnoticed because it is largely an intangible good. It isnâ€™t until the monthly electric bill arrives that you get concrete feedback about your energy use. But, because of the delay between energy use and billing, people often canâ€™t accurately account for how specific actions contribute to their overall energy use. This is akin to shopping at a grocery store where customers cannot see the prices of goods and are billed just one time per month in aggregate. However, this is starting to change as more consumers adopt and use home energy monitoring applications. Calculating how much energy devices inside a home use is not a new concept. The first online tool designed specifically to reduce home energy use â€” the

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.

PENN

LINES â€˘ OCTOBER 2015

Home Energy Saver â€” was introduced in 1996 by the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL). The Home Energy Saver and other early web-based tools for energy monitoring lacked automated collection, processing and presentation of energy data, and they were not widely used. Much has changed in todayâ€™s options. Energy-monitoring apps essentially come in two flavors. The easiest and least expensive apps, like Energy Tracker and Wiser Home, ask you to provide an inventory of all electricity-consuming devices within your home. The information needed will include your homeâ€™s size, number of windows and an outlet-by-outlet assessment of everything plugged in. The more detailed and accurate you are, the more accurate the app will be in predicting your energy use and providing practical energy-saving tips. Depending upon the size of your home and the dexterity of your fingers, it may be time consuming to input all of this information into your phone or tablet. But these apps can provide useful insight into your energy use. They also tend to be free or cost less than a couple of dollars. Other apps and software, like TED (The Energy Detective), depend on data from your utility or from sensors installed inside of your home. People should be careful sharing utility account usernames and passwords with apps that are not provided by their utility. Sensors installed in the breaker box or in other areas of the home can provide accurate real-time energy consumption information. These products will range in price and may not be right for someone uncomfortable opening their breaker box. Some apps may provide a remote control capability over some devices, such as thermostats or table lamps. The best source of information on

your energy use actually is your local cooperative. Many offer apps or web services that can help you determine when, where and how energy is being used based on models and your account information. They can also provide energy-saving tips and information specific to your area. Saving energy is not always easy, but the right mix of tools can go a long way when it comes to making educated decisions on how to make an impact. Just be sure to read the fine print. l Thomas Kirk is a technical research analyst specializing in energy efficiency and renewable energy for the Cooperative Research Network (CRN), a service of the Arlington, Va.-based National Rural Electric Cooperative Association.

HARBOR FREIGHT QUALITY TOOLS AT RIDICULOUSLY LOW PRICES

How Does Harbor Freight Sell GREAT QUALITY Tools at the LOWEST Prices?

SUPER COUPON

We have invested millions of dollars in our own state-of-the-art quality test labs and millions more in our factories, so our tools will go toe-to-toe with the top professional brands. And we can sell them for a fraction of the price because we cut out the middle man and pass the savings on to you. It’s just that simple! Come visit one of our 600 Stores Nationwide.

WOW SUPER COUPON SAVE $

REG. PRICE

14999

SAVE

RA ALUMINUM RACING JACK

• 3-1/2 Pumps Lifts

$ $5999 89 REG. PRICE

$119.99

t be used with other discoun s last. calling 800-423-2567. Cannot or HarborFreight.com or bypurchase with original receipt. Offer good while supplie per day. LIMIT 5 - Good at our stores one coupon per customer es after 30 days from original or coupon or prior purchascoupon must be presented. Valid through 2/15/16. Limit Non-transferable. Original

40 PIECE 1/4" AND 3/8" DRIVE SOCKET SET • SAE and Metric LOT 61328/62843 47902 shown

LOT 67847 shown 61454/61693/62803

SAVE 60%

REG. PRICE

$ 99

$219.99

$149.99

REG. PRICE LIMIT 3 - Good at our stores or HarborFreight.com or by calling 800-423-2567. Cannot be used with other discount or coupon or prior purchases after 30 days from original purchase with original receipt. Offer good while supplies last. Non-transferable. Original coupon must be presented. Valid through 2/15/16. Limit one coupon per customer per day.

SAVE $80

TEMPERA HEAT GUN (572°/1112°) 70%

REG. PRICE

LOT 69684 shown 61776/61969/61970

SAVE $165 $

13499

t be used with other discoun s last. calling 800-423-2567. Cannot or HarborFreight.com or bypurchase with original receipt. Offer good while supplie per day. LIMIT 7 - Good at our stores one coupon per customer es after 30 days from original or coupon or prior purchascoupon must be presented. Valid through 2/15/16. Limit l Origina le. nsferab Non-tra

R PE ON U P S U CO

SAVE 50%

TWO TIER COLLAPSIBLE EASY-STORE STEP LADDER LOT 67514 • 225 lb. Capacity

1999

REG. PRICE

$39.99

$39 $3

4999 REG. PRICE

$59.99

t be used with other discoun s last. calling 800-423-2567. Cannot or HarborFreight.com or bypurchase with original receipt. Offer good while supplie per day. LIMIT 5 - Good at our stores one coupon per customer es after 30 days from original or coup3n or prior purchascoupon must be presented. Valid through 2/15/16. Limit Non-transferable. Original

R PE ON SU UP CO

60 LED SOLAR SECURITY LIGHT LOT 62534/69643 shown

SAVE 46%

Includes 6V, 900 mAh NiCd battery pack.

3199

REG. PRICE

$299.99

• 100% Satisfaction Guaranteed • Over 25 Million Satisfied Customers

33%

REG. PRICE

LIMIT 3 - Good at our stores or HarborFreight.com or by calling 800-423-2567. Cannot be used with other discount or coupon or prior purchases after 30 days from original purchase with original receipt. Offer good while supplies last. Non-transferable. Original coupon must be presented. Valid through 2/15/16. Limit one coupon per customer per day.

LOT 60657 shown 38391/62306/62376

SAVE

1499 $29.99

12" SLIDING COMPOUND DOUBLE-BEVEL MITER SAW WITH LASER GUIDE

WITH JUMP STARTER

LOT 62340/62546 96289 shown

$179.99

LIMIT 4 - Good at our stores or HarborFreight.com or by calling 800-423-2567. Cannot be used with other discount or coupon or prior purchases after 30 days from original purchase with original receipt. Offer good while supplies last. Non-transferable. Original coupon must be presented. Valid through 2/15/16. Limit one coupon per customer per day.

SUPER COUPON W3-ION-1WPORTA BLE POWER PACK

SAVE

• No Hassle Return Policy • Lifetime Warranty On All Hand Tools

$9.99

LIMIT 9 - Good at our stores or HarborFreight.com or by calling 800-423-2567. Cannot be used with other discount or coupon or prior purchases after 30 days from original purchase with original receipt. Offer good while supplies last. Non-transferable. Original coupon must be presented. Valid through 2/15/16. Limit one coupon per customer per day.

WOW SUPE150R 0COWAUPTTONDUTUREAL

900 PEAK/ 700 RUNNING WATTS 2 HP (63 CC) 2 CYCLE GAS RECREATIONAL GENERATOR LOT 60338/62472/69381 shown

R PE ON U P S U CO

SUPER COUPON W O W PID PUMP 1.5 TON

R PE ON SU UP CO

2.5 HP, 21 GALLON 125 PSI VERTICAL AIR COMPRESSOR

SAVE $70

LOT 61258 shown 61840/61297/68146

$17.99

LIMIT 8 - Good at our stores or HarborFreight.com or by calling 800-423-2567. Cannot be used with other discount or coupon or prior purchases after 30 days from original purchase with original receipt. Offer good while supplies last. Non-transferable. Original coupon must be presented. Valid through 2/15/16. Limit one coupon per customer per day.

R PE ON U P S U CO

VALUE

LIMIT 1 - Cannot be used with other discount, coupon or prior purchase. Coupon good at our stores, HarborFreight.com or by calling 800-423-2567. Offer good while supplies last. Shipping & Handling charges may apply if not picked up in-store. Non-transferable. Original coupon must be presented. Valid through 2/15/16. Limit one FREE GIFT coupon per customer per day.

LOT 69252/60569 shown Most Vehicles • Weighs 32 lbs. 68053/62160 62496/62516

$ 99

LIMIT 5 - Good at our stores or HarborFreight.com or by calling 800-423-2567. Cannot be used with other discount or coupon or prior purchases after 30 days from original purchase with original receipt. Offer good while supplies last. Non-transferable. Original coupon must be presented. Valid through 2/15/16. Limit one coupon per customer per day.

R PE ON SU UP CO

72" x 80" MOVER'S BLANKET

$649.99

2500 LB. ELECTRIC WINCH WITH WIRELESS REMOTE CONTROL

$ 99

ANY SINGLE ITEM

LIMIT 1 - Save 20% on any one item purchased at our stores or HarborFreight.com or by calling 800-423-2567. *Cannot be used with other discount, coupon, gift cards, Inside Track Club membership, extended service plans or on any of the following: compressors, generators, tool storage or carts, welders, floor jacks, Towable Ride-On Trencher, Saw Mill (Item 61712/62366/67138), Predator Gas Power Items, open box items, in-store event or parking lot sale items. Not valid on prior purchases after 30 days from original purchase date with original receipt. Non-transferable. Original coupon must be presented. Valid through 2/15/16. Limit one coupon per customer per day.

SAVE 66%

SAVE $90

LOT 69052 shown 69111/62522/62573

LOT 66537 shown 69505/62418

t be used with other discoun last. calling 800-423-2567. Cannot or HarborFreight.com or bypurchase with original receipt. Offer good while supplies per day. LIMIT 4 - Good at our stores one coupon per customer es after 30 days from original or coupon or prior purchascoupon must be presented. Valid through 2/15/16. Limit Non-transferable. Original

WITH ANY PURCHASE 3-1/2" SUPER BRIGHT NINE LED ALUMINUM FLASHLIGHT

369

$31999

R PE ON U P S U CO

FREE 20% OFF 6

R PE ON SU UP CO

330 26", 16 DRAWER 9 CABINET LOT 16160 ROLLERCapa 6783 shown city • 1060 lb. ge 99 • 14,600 cu. in. of stora $

SUPER COUPON

$59.99

• 600 Stores Nationwide • HarborFreight.com 800-423-2567

KEEPINGcurrent Penn Lines receives awards Penn Lines, published by the Pennsylvania Rural Electric Association, recently received two first-place awards for feature writing in the 2015 National Electric Cooperative Statewide Editors Association Willies Awards. Awards were presented for “A Family Affair: Bicentennial Program Recognizes Pennsylvania’s Farming Generations,” published in April 2015, and “Hope in Hand: Sowing the Seeds for the Return of the American Chestnut,” published in May 2015. There were over 300 entries from 23 magazines in the contest, named for “Willie Wiredhand,” the mascot of the electric cooperative program.

New ‘elk cam’ offers close-ups

Penn Lines is sending a four-page reader survey to a small sampling of randomly selected Penn Lines readers. In fact, you may have already received a copy of the survey. The questionnaire takes just minutes to complete and all responses are kept in strict confidence. The survey is one of the important ways in which Penn Lines magazine and advertising staff gauges readers’ likes and dislikes and assists them in determining editorial and advertising content for the publication. If you receive a survey in the mail, please complete and return it in the provided postage-paid reply envelope. As an added bonus, all those members who return a completed survey will be entered for a chance to win an iPad Mini. Thank you in advance for your participation.

and HDOnTap to offer the sights and sounds of the state’s wildlife in their native habitat. The live stream, available at the commission’s website at www.pgc.state.pa.us through the end of bugling season in mid-October, is offered through a camera at State Game Lands 311 in Elk County. The camera overlooks a field that is not open to the public where elk often congregate. Elk, once common in Pennsylvania, were virtually gone from the state by the late 1870s. In 1913, state officials began an effort to reintroduce elk, but annual mortality of the animals offset reproductive gains until by 1980, there were only 120 to 150 elk remaining. State officials began another push to reintroduce elk in the 1990s, and today, the population is estimated at around 1,000. The best location to learn about Pennsylvania elk is at Elk Country Visitor Center, 134 Homestead Drive, Benezette, Pa., where the largest wild elk herd in the northeastern United States roams the 245-acre site on Winslow Hill. The site is adjacent to State Game Lands 311 and the Elk State Forest. More information PHOTO BY PAUL STANISZEWSKI

Pennsylvania’s elk are now starring on the “elk cam,” the latest effort by the Pennsylvania Game Commission, Pennsylvania Department of Conservation

Penn Lines reader input needed

PENN

LINES • OCTOBER 2015

about the center is available at www.elkcountryvisitorcenter.com.

Plan in place to safeguard state against bird flu At this writing, no cases of avian influenza (commonly known as bird flu) have been reported in Pennsylvania, but the state has developed a set of guidelines to prevent its spread. To date, the virus has been detected in 21 states. It is spread primarily through migratory birds. It appears to have spread from the Pacific flyway to the Central flyway to the Mississippi flyway. According to the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, the concern is that infected birds migrating south this fall could enter the Atlantic flyway (which overlies Pennsylvania) from the Mississippi flyway. Among the states where the virus has been confirmed is Michigan, 150 miles across from Lake Erie’s Pennsylvania shore. Officials estimate approximately 50 million birds were killed by this virus as of mid-September. Bird flu is caused by an influenza type A virus. Avian influenza viruses occur naturally in birds, and wild bird species (ducks, swans and geese) can carry the viruses, but usually do not get sick from them. However, bird flu does often kill domesticated birds such as chickens, quail, pheasants, guinea fowl and turkeys.

NATIONAL PARK SERVICE/SCHWARTZ

With the recent dedication of the Visitor Center Complex, the Flight 93 National Memorial in Somerset County is nearly complete. All that remains to be built is the Tower of Voices, a 93-foot structure with 40 wind chimes. The new Visitor Center, above, uses photos, video, artifacts and interactive displays to tell the story of Flight 93, one of four airliners hijacked on Sept. 11, 2001, and the only one that did not reach its intended target. Forty passengers and crew members died as they fought to regain control of the plane, which is believed to have been headed for the U.S. Capitol. The center’s stark, 40-foot tall concrete walls are bisected by a black granite walk that mirrors the plane’s flight path. Visitors walk through the exhibits to an outdoor platform where they can view the crash site. Tickets to the center are free, but must be reserved in advance. For ticket information, call 1-877-444-6777 or view the park’s website at www.nps.gov./flni.

TELLING THE STORY:

Avian influenza viruses do not usually infect humans, although certain strains have the potential to infect people. Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding, noting the state’s poultry business is a $13 billion industry, said the state is taking measures to prevent the disease’s spread. Two interstate quarantine orders have been established to protect the state’s poultry industry from accidental introduction of the virus through movement of poultry and poultry products. The first, established in June, involves a 72-hour testing and reporting requirement before moving poultry and poultry products from states with infected flocks to certify the shipment has tested negative for avian influenza. The second order, issued in August, sets strict standards for cleaning vehicles, containers and materials that transport poultry and related products to, in and from Pennsylvania. In addition, Gov. Tom Wolf has approved $3.5 million to support the state Department of Agriculture’s ongoing planning efforts and response needs. If avian flu is confirmed in Pennsylvania, the funds would go toward depopulating infected flocks, disposing of

infected birds and disinfecting houses, as well as support for field staff. Redding also noted poultry producers should have a producer plan and a flock plan in place in case bird flu is confirmed in Pennsylvania. “Producers need to anticipate what steps they will need to take should an infection be confirmed in their flock,” Redding said. “In addition to biosecurity standard operating procedures, every farm needs a (bird flu) flock plan. Flock plans address specifics of depopulation, disposal, and cleaning and disinfection methods. Since variables including weather and other environmental conditions at the time infection is confirmed may affect the plan, alternative procedures should be considered.” For more information about avian influenza, visit the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture’s website at www.agriculture.pa.gov or the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s website at www.usda.gov.

Cold and snowy winter? If you like to ice fish, you will be happy with the 2016 Old Farmer’s

Almanac, as it is predicting an unusually harsh winter for most of the nation. The annual publication, which claims it is 80 percent accurate, has been in use since 1792. One of the most popular weather reference guides in the United States, the almanac says the Northeast and Midwest should prepare for belownormal temperatures, while the South and Pacific Northwest will have aboveaverage snowfall. The almanac’s founder, Robert B. Thomas, had a secret forecasting formula involving his belief that the weather was influenced by magnetic storms on the surface of the sun. The formula, which has been updated through the years, is said to be locked away in a simple black box somewhere in New Hampshire.

Western parks looking for artwork The Western Pennsylvania National Parks (WEPA) is preparing for the National Park Service’s 100th anniversary in 2016. In preparation for the centennial, the WEPA is inviting fourthgraders to share their park experience in art. The winning entry will be used on the annual five-park pass for the 2016 season, and the winner will receive a $50 gift card to be used in the WEPA park bookstores. The contest is open to all 2015-16 fourth-grade students who live in one of the four counties where the WEPA parks are found: Blair, Cambria, Fayette and Somerset. Artwork must display the student’s visit and experience in one of the WEPA’s parks: Allegheny Portage Railroad National Historic Site, Flight 93 National Memorial, Friendship Hill National Historic Site, Fort Necessity National Battlefield or Johnstown Flood National Memorial. Only original flat art (sketch/drawing), size 8 1/2 by 11 inches will be accepted. It must list the student’s name, school address, and phone number or email on the back. Entries, which will not be returned, should be mailed to WEPA Art Contest, Fort Necessity NB, One Washington Parkway, Farmington, PA 15437. Only one entry per student; all entries must be postmarked by Oct. 31. l OCTOBER 2015 • PENN

LINES

PENNlines

ON BOARD Longtime directors on serving cooperative mission 8

PENN

LINES â€˘ OCTOBER 2015

By K at h y H ac k l e m a n S e n i o r E d i t o r / Wr i t e r

lectricity does more than flow through the lines at Bob Guyer’s house. It has been an integral part of his life for as long as he can remember. Guyer, who will celebrate 60 years of service on the New Enterprise Rural Electric Cooperative (REC) Board of Directors in 2016, recalls doing his schoolwork by the light of a kerosene lamp. He remembers just how hard his mother worked, cooking, washing clothes and cleaning without electricity, and how the farmers in his Pennsylvania community labored to dig the holes where the rural electric cooperative would place the poles that would eventually bring them light.

Early spark

LISTEN UP: Lowell Friedline, secretary/treasurer of the Somerset Rural Electric Cooperative Board of Directors and a member of the Allegheny Electric Cooperative, Inc., Board of Directors, left, and other Pennsylvania directors listen to an instructor at a director training session. Friedline joined the Somerset board in 1975.

Guyer was 8 years old when his family’s home was electrified in 1936. Motivated by how much electricity changed his family’s life, Guyer became an electrician, wiring homes for contractors. It was a suggestion from a line foreman that led Guyer to seek a position on the cooperative’s board in 1956. He won that election, and has remained both a dedicated electrician and an enthusiastic cooperative board member ever since, earning a Credentialed Cooperative Director (CCD) designation, one of two educational certificates offered through the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA – see information on cooperative training and education on page 12). In addition to serving his local cooperative, Guyer has also held a number of positions with the Pennsylvania Rural Electric Association (PREA), the statewide organization representing the 14 Pennsylvania and New Jersey cooperatives, and Allegheny OCTOBER 2015 • PENN

LINES

PENNlines sive business,” he states. “We focus on providing reliable electricity at the best possible price, but along with everything else, the cost of electricity has trended upward over time. We always keep our emphasis on the members, who, as the years go by, have become a lot less tolerant of service interruptions. So we have gotten a lot more serious about aggressive right-of-way clearing, which is very expensive for our 900 miles of line, almost all of which goes through forests.”

Commitment to learning

YEARS OF SERVICE: Leroy Walls, president of the New Enterprise Rural Electric Cooperative Board of Directors and chairman of the PREA Board of Directors, left, presents a plaque to Bob Guyer, New Enterprise REC board treasurer, in 2006 in recognition of Guyer’s 50 years of service. Guyer will celebrate his 60th year on the board in 2016.

Electric Cooperative, Inc. (Allegheny), the cooperatives’ power supplier. Guyer’s term at New Enterprise REC is the longest of any Pennsylvania director, but there are several directors with extensive experience serving their local cooperatives. This October, as electric cooperatives observe National Cooperative Month, some of these individuals offer a unique look at how the industry has changed through the years. In addition to the obvious differences (the number of New Enterprise REC members has nearly tripled from 1,165 in 1956 to 2,896 in 2015, and the primary line mileage has increased from 230 to 373), Guyer notes some changes are not so apparent, especially as they relate to regulations and finances. “At one time, we had to only talk to our members and figure out how to solve their problems,” Guyer says. “Then, as the years went by, the industry became much more regulated. Also, we were an all-cash business and everything was hand-written in ledger books. Now, everyone is moving toward a paperless environment and everything is computerized.” Guyer isn’t the only veteran cooperative director who can recall life “before 10

PENN

LINES • OCTOBER 2015

the lights came on.” Wayne Gavitt, chairman of the Forksville-based Sullivan County REC board and a member of the PREA board who will celebrate 40 years of board service in 2016, says his memories of life before electricity are vivid. “My mother and I lived with my grandparents while my father was in the military, and we didn’t have electricity,” Gavitt says. “Every Saturday, my grandmother would clean all the globes on the kerosene lamps. We pretty much got up at daylight and went to bed at dark.” Little did he know back then that he would grow up to lead the local cooperative board, as well as serve at the statewide level. With a smile, Gavitt, a retired banker, explains that he was “volunteered” to serve on the cooperative board after working with several cooperative employees during the construction of his new home in 1975. His first impression was that his major responsibility would involve attending a few monthly meetings. Those few meetings would turn into decades of commitment as Gavitt’s background in finance dovetailed well with the cooperative’s needs. “Cooperatives are a very capital-inten-

Gavitt, who also holds the CCD designation, enjoys his board service, but he advises potential candidates to become more familiar with the cooperative than he was before he agreed to serve. “There is great satisfaction in being involved in a program that is serving people, but you need to know that if you are going to take it seriously, you have to be prepared to read everything you can put your hands on about the energy world, including natural gas, coal, nuclear, and renewables,” Gavitt says. “These are all things we need to be familiar with, and much of that education can be obtained through the NRECA training, but you have to be willing to commit to learning all you can.” Dave Turner, a member of the Youngsville-based Warren EC Board of Directors since 1980, agrees there is a steep learning curve to becoming an informed cooperative board member, but that curve

Wayne Gavitt, chairman of the Sullivan County Rural Electric Cooperative Board of Directors and a member of the PREA Board of Directors, presides at a cooperative annual meeting. Gavitt has been a member of the local board since 1976. ANNUAL MEETING:

Steve Sliwinski, who was elected to the Wysox-based Claverack REC board in 1980, the same year as Turner, echoes Turner’s thoughts about changes.

Tech trends

LEGISLATIVE CONCERNS: Dave Turner, chairman of the Warren Electric Cooperative Board of Directors and a member of the Allegheny Board of Directors, left, visits with state Rep. Kathy Rapp (R-Warren) at the annual PREA Legislative Event in Harrisburg about cooperative concerns. Turner was first elected to the local board in 1980.

can be flattened through participation in director training. Turner, who has served as chairman of the local cooperative board since 1982 and has also served and held offices on the PREA and Allegheny boards, holds the CCD designation. “You have to be willing to spend the time and learn the basics,” Turner says. “The CCD is set up to help board members learn those fundamentals. (The Warren EC) board asks new directors to take enough classes to get their CCD within the first five years of their election.” Pennsylvania’s cooperative directors take their education seriously, with the great majority having achieved CCD status and more than half going on to earn the Board Leadership Certificate (BLC) – numbers that far outpace national director training results. Tracey Steiner, NRECA senior vice president, education and training, notes that the state’s member cooperatives are consistently among the top in director training numbers. “When you see 84 percent of directors from Pennsylvania cooperatives have the CCD designation, compared to 64 percent nationwide, and 54 percent hold the BLC, compared to 31 percent nationwide,

those are very impressive numbers,” Steiner says. While the training does take a personal commitment, Turner says he wouldn’t trade his board experience. “I became very interested in the industry, and soon our board members sent me to Harrisburg to be on the PREA board and then the Allegheny board,” Turner reports. “Once I got into learning about power supply, I was really hooked.” Through his years on the Warren EC, PREA and Allegheny boards, Turner has seen a lot of changes. “The boards have become a lot more diversified with members who have wider ranges of backgrounds,” he says. “That diversity is really helpful in the decision-making process and in doing what’s right for the members.” Then there is the technology. Turner describes himself as computer-illiterate up until a few years ago. Today, he gets all of his Allegheny board information on an iPad as the organization has moved toward a more paperless environment. “The changes to technology since I joined the Warren EC board are phenomenal,” Turner says. “When I started on the board, the co-op was still doing bills by hand, and our linemen were still taking trouble calls at their homes. Then we went to an answering machine. Now, our answering service is in Erie 50 miles away; they then turn around and make the callouts for crews. Our first computer took up most of a room and we had to add an extra air-conditioner just to cool it.”

“Technology is the main driver of changes since I joined the board,” Sliwinski notes. “GIS (geographic information system) systems made paper mapping obsolete. Automated meters, cellular communications and cloud servers were far removed from the minds of engineers. No one took seriously the idea of wind sources for generation, and solar always was thought of as expensive, maintenance-laden, roof-mounted panels for heating water. Certainly, they were not thought of as reasonable alternatives for generating electricity for home use.” Looking to the future, Sliwinski predicts it won’t be long before remotely piloted drones are widely used for line inspections. Sliwinski, who holds the CCD and BLC designations, views the NRECA training courses as one way to keep abreast of changes. “A director without industry-related education is akin to someone attempting to fly a commercial jet and thinking all he needs to know is autopilot,” Sliwinski says. “Directors have a responsibility to keep abreast of technology, management, legal, financial and legislative impacts to name a few. Whether viewed as a positive or negative, these areas are in constant change. Change is the only constant in the industry.” That experience with change, honed over decades of board leadership roles, is helpful to new board members. Without a background in the energy industry, Angela Joines, a three-year Claverack REC board member, appreciates the assistance from experienced directors such as Sliwinski, as well as the NRECA training. “I feel it is very important to have a diversified team,” Joines says. “It has helped make my transition into a better, more-informed decision-maker a little less stressful. There are so many seasoned, helpful board members who are willing to educate and guide new members to make this the best board that it can be. They really do have the memberships’ best interests at heart.”

OCTOBER 2015 • PENN

LINES

PENNlines In addition to the mentoring from experienced board members, Joines is working toward the BLC designation (she already holds her CCD) — training, she says, that has made her a more effective board member.

Principles in practice Lowell Friedline, a 40-year board member of Somerset REC who has served in numerous cooperative leadership roles at the local and statewide levels, has even more accolades for NRECA’s training program. “It is the gold standard for director education,” says Friedline, who holds both the CCD and BLC designations. “Over the years, I have served on a number of other boards and while those directors were intelligent, well-meaning people, they don’t hold a candle to the acumen of electric cooperative directors. Cooperative directors are well-versed in parliamentary procedure that permits a board meeting to run along smoothly. But where they really shine is being wellinformed on industry issues.” From the outside, Friedline says, it would seem that running an electric

WORKING TOGETHER: Steve Sliwinski, secretary-treasurer of the Claverack Rural Electric Cooperative Board of Directors, left, visits with Angela Joines, also a Claverack board member. Sliwinski, who was first elected to the board in 1980, is a mentor to newer board members, including Joines, who was elected in 2012.

cooperative would involve setting up some poles and stringing some wire between them. “However, poles and wires are probably the things that an electric cooperative director needs to know the least about,” he adds. “The cooperative business model brings into play concepts that are often counterintuitive to conventional, profitdriven business enterprises, and director

Cooperative curriculum LEADERSHIP TRAINING KEEPS DIRECTORS INFORMED ON ISSUES

The National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA) offers a number of training courses for elected directors to help them effectively contribute to the development of their cooperatives. Directors who successfully complete those professional development courses receive one of two designations. Credentialed Cooperative Director (CCD) training is designed for new directors or more experienced directors who want to keep up with the latest industry information. The training involves five core courses offered over a two-year period. Board Leadership Certificate (BLC) courses are designed to challenge veteran directors. There are 16 courses, of which 10 credits must be completed to earn the leadership certificate. Courses focus on a number of business and industry topics, including parliamentary procedure, power supply, cooperative business model, governance, finance, communications, technology, risk management, and grassroots efforts as they pertain to electric cooperatives. Beginning in 2016, directors who have completed both the CCD and BLC will be able to work toward a third designation: Director Gold. Anita Leitzel, member services & education coordinator for the Pennsylvania Rural Electric Association (PREA) and Allegheny Electric Cooperative, Inc. (Allegheny), reports that 84 percent of the directors from PREA member cooperatives have the CCD designation, compared to 64 percent nationwide, and 54 percent of directors from PREA member cooperatives hold the BLC distinction, compared to 31 percent nationwide. “We take Cooperative Principle No. 5 — Education, Training and Information — very seriously,” Leitzel notes. “It’s important that the directors learn as much about the industry as possible, and also that they are able to communicate with the general public and opinion leaders about the nature and benefits of cooperatives.”

PENN

LINES • OCTOBER 2015

education enables directors to redirect their thinking with the seven cooperative principles in mind (see principles listed on page 13).” Friedline had limited knowledge of the industry when he was elected in 1975. “I knew that we read the meter at the farm and that there was an annual member meeting,” he recalls with a smile. Over the years, though, Friedline has been in on major decisions affecting the statewide operations of PREA and Allegheny, including the completion of the Susquehanna Steam Electric Station, a nuclear plant that Allegheny owns a 10 percent share in, as well as construction of Allegheny’s hydroelectric plant at Raystown Lake. Today, those resources provide approximately 60 percent of the power needs of cooperative members.

Members first With each passing decade, Friedline says he learns more. “Today, we take it for granted, but the ability to access information in milliseconds would have been beyond our wildest imagination as little as 15 years ago,” he adds. “Member data, system maps and performance, pole locations and any other information desired are available in the cooperative office, cooperative vehicles or boardroom instantly in real time. But the directors never forget that the members we represent are real people and not the subjects of a robotic manipulation. It is for that reason that Somerset REC shuns

The Seven Cooperative Principles

1 2

VOLUNTARY AND OPEN MEMBERSHIP DEMOCRATIC MEMBER CONTROL

3 4

MEMBERS’ ECONOMIC PARTICIPATION

EDUCATION, TRAINING AND INFORMATION

6 7

AUTONOMY AND INDEPENDENCE

COOPERATION AMONG COOPERATIVES

CONCERN FOR COMMUNITY

Perfect for Homeowners! Plow your own driveway and save! Pays for itself quickly if you currently hire a plow. Don’t struggle snowblowing your entire driveway… give yourself a break with the DR® Redi-Plow™!

For trucks, SUVs, ATVs, UTVs. Attaches to a front receiver hitch (included). Automatically engages when you drive forward and releases when you reverse. Works on gravel or pavement. Can be locked in travel position.

One pass and you’re free to go! Never be trapped waiting for a snow plow again. The DR® Redi-Plow™ is light enough for one person to handle. Clear your parking area, and a path to the barn with ease!

Tough Enough For Any Snowstorm! • No Hydraulics or Electric Components • Heavy-Duty Rubber Blade Edge • Receiver Hitch Included

FREE SHIPPING EASY FINANCING SOME LIMITATIONS APPLY Call or go online for details.

Call today for FREE Buyers Guide! TOLL FREE

888-212-1302 DRrediplow.com

some technology so that when the members want to contact the cooperative, they get to talk to real people.” At 15 years of service, Leroy Walls, president of the New Enterprise REC board, is not among the most veteran of directors, but his position as chairman of the PREA board provides a unique perspective on Pennsylvania’s local cooperative boards, as well as the statewide board. “Electric cooperative board members have an important position with lots of responsibility, but we get to work with some of the best people in our communities,” says Walls, who holds the CCD designation. “Participating fully in available director training is essential to being able to keep up with the current industry environment that is always in a state of change.” But he adds that all the training in the world can’t instill what the directors know intuitively. “It’s all about the members,” Walls says. “Being a director involves a lot of time, a lot of work, a lot of education, but I can’t emphasize enough that the board members always have the best interests of the membership and cooperative uppermost in their minds.” l

Easy-On, Easy-Off Snow Plow

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

1975 THE RURAL electric cooperative program traces its roots to the mid1930s, when fewer than 10 percent of America’s rural areas were electrified. Investor-owned power companies, which served most of the nation’s cities, looked upon rural areas as unprofitable and set prohibitively high electric rates that largely precluded service to farmers and ranchers. Then, in 1935, President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed the Emergency Relief Appropriation Act of 1935; one of the projects funded by the act was rural electrification. The next year, the president signed the Rural Electrification Act, designating the Rural Electrification Administration (REA) as an independent government agency that could grant low-cost loans to newly established cooperatives. A period of rapid growth followed during the next 12 years as the cooperative way of providing electricity spread across the nation. Rural electrification was to become one of America’s greatest grassroots success stories as the consumer-members of the cooperatives proved they could provide themselves with adequate, low-cost electricity. The road to success would not be easy, however, as rural electric cooperative leaders have had to fight many battles over the years dealing with territorial rights, funding, alterations to the Rural Electrification Act and other issues. One major advance in the program came in September 1975, when Pennsylvania Gov. Milton J. Shapp signed legislation fixing boundary lines, assuring service areas were created for the state’s cooperatives. This allowed the Pennsylvania cooperatives to project future service loads and revenues. For the first time, the cooperatives could be secure in their areas of service.

1985 October is the month set aside nationally to recognize and celebrate cooperatives in the United States. 14

PENN

LINES • OCTOBER 2015

1995 Pennsylvania’s rural electric cooperatives lend a helping hand to rural families who are hungry.

2005 Following a tough fight to craft a sound energy policy, rural electric cooperatives are in a strong position.

TOG E T HERW E S AV E .C OM

When you save energy, it helps our entire

co-op lower its costs. Find out what you can

do at TogetherWeSave.com, and spread

the word throughout your co-op.

SOMETIMES KEEPING UP WITH THE JONESES IS ABOUT KEEPING YOUR ELECTRIC BILLS DOWN.

PREA announces scholarship winners Pennsylvania Rural Electric Association Scholarship in Memory of William F. Matson EIGHT 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, 431 applications for scholarships were reviewed. The recipients of the scholarships this year are: Neel Daugherty-Shrivastava, United Electric Cooperative (EC); Skyler Hinchberger, Central EC; Rachel Nye, Northwestern REC; Nicole Clark, Bedford REC; Dillon Davis, United EC; Noah Orner, United EC; Douglas Smith, Northwestern REC; and Bethany Lambert, Sullivan County REC. Neel Daugherty-Shrivastava, a 2015 graduate of ClarionLimestone High School, is a resident of Strattanville. He is the son of Mittch Shrivastava and Brenda Daugherty-Shrivastava. The valedictoNeel Daugherty- rian of his graduating class, he is attending the Shrivastava University of Pennsylvania with plans to major in computational biology or biochemistry with a minor in health management while fulfilling premed requirements. His goal is to become a physician/surgeon and someday open a research biotech/pharmaceutical corporation. In school, he was involved in a number of activities and clubs, including Academic Decathlon, Science Olympiad, Student Council, class officer, yearbook staff, Math Club, Foreign Language Club, National Honor Society, Envirothon, choir and musicals. He also played varsity golf, varsity baseball and junior var16

PENN

LINES • OCTOBER 2015

sity basketball. Skyler Hinchberger, daughter of Troy and Joann Hinchberger, Prospect, graduated as salutatorian of the Slippery Rock Area High School Class of 2015. At school, she was involved in soccer, Skyler track, forensics, StuHinchberger dent Council and National Honor Society. In addition, she has over 80 hours of volunteer service with a number of organizations. She is attending Robert Morris University, majoring in nursing. Rachel Nye, a student at Gannon University, majoring in physician assistant studies, is the daughter of Harold and Susan Nye, Union City. A graduate of Seneca High School where she Rachel Nye was the valedictorian of the Class of 2015, she ran on the cross country and track teams, and was the captain of both teams as a senior. She also was involved in Science Olympiad and National Honor Society. Her career goal is to provide medical care in areas of need and also travel to developing nations to deliver medical aid. Nicole Clark, the valedictorian of the 2015 Everett Area High School graduating class, is the daughter of James and Carol Clark, Everett. Her school activities included being a class officer and Nicole Clark a member of Student Council, National Honor Society, Drama Club, and the Scholastic Quiz Team. She was also the manager for the boys’ soccer team. She is attending Saint Francis University, majoring in the physician assistant sciences. Her career goal is to work in a children’s hospital specializing in trauma or cardiology. Dillon Davis, son of Brian and Judy Davis, Curwensville, Pa., is a 2015 honor graduate of Curwensville Area High School. He participated in soccer,

basketball, football, Student Council, Envirothon, National Honor Society, marching band and concert band while in school. He is a student at Wilkes UniverDillon Davis sity, majoring in biochemistry. He plans to focus on a career in pharmaceutical research. Noah Orner, a student at Northwestern University, majoring in chemistry, represented United EC on the 2014 Youth Tour. A 2015 graduate of DuBois Area High School, he is the son of Frank and Karen Noah Orner Orner, Rockton. In high school, he was a member of the varsity tennis team for four years and co-captain his senior year. He participated in marching, concert and jazz bands, and performed in school musicals. He also participated in Scholastic Challenge and National Honor Society. He plans to go into research. Douglas Smith, Cooperstown, who graduated as valedictorian of the Maplewood High School Class of 2015, is the son of Douglas Smith and Claire Smith. He was involved in his high school’s Douglas Smith band program, Science Olympiad and Hi-Q. He is attending the University of Notre Dame, majoring in computer science, with a career goal of focusing on software. Bethany Lambert, a 2015 graduate of Sullivan County High School, is the daughter of James and Melanie Lambert, Forksville. In high school, she was active in student government and served as her class secreBethany Lambert tary for four years. She was co-captain of the cross-country team and was a state crosscountry qualifier her senior year, and also participated in band and chorus, qualifying for district chorus as a senior. She par-

ticipated in school plays, was co-editor of the school yearbook, and a member of Future Business Leaders of America, History Club, and National Honor Society, and was captain of Sullivan County’s reading competition team. She is attending Penn State University in the Division of Undergraduate Studies Program.

Jody Loudenslager Memorial Scholarship

SIMPLER STRONGER FASTER

NEW

Models Now at Our

LOWEST PRICES EVER!

...than any Hydraulic Log Splitter! DR® RAPIDFIRE™ FLYWHEEL LOG SPLITTER 6X FASTER than hydraulic splitters!

SO SIMPLE it’s practically maintenance free. There are no hydraulic pumps, valves, pistons, hoses or fluids to leak or replace — EVER. SO STRONG its cast iron flywheel and hardened steel components show almost no wear after splitting hundreds of cords.

1-SECOND!

SO FAST it is the world’s fastest splitter. Splits anything a hydraulic splitter will — but in one-sixth the time!

FREE SHIPPING 1 YEAR TRIAL SOME LIMITATIONS APPLY Call or go online for details.

Two former Rural Electric Youth Tour participants have been named Jody Loudenslager Memorial Scholarship recipients. They are: Tyler Dolchan, Somerset REC, and Anthony Iannuzzi, Adams EC. Tyler Dolchan, a 2015 graduate of Northern Garrett High School, represented Somerset REC on the Youth Tour in 2014. In high school, he was assistant drum major and then drum major for the Tyler Dolchan marching band, senior representative in the student government, participated in the Northern Garrett Mock Trial Team, performed in the honor band and concert band, and was on the cross country team. He also delivered the salutatorian’s address for the Class of 2015. The son of William and Katherine Dolchan, Frostburg, he is a student at the University of Maryland, majoring in chemical engineering, with a career goal of working in the clean energy field. Anthony Iannuzzi, son of Michael and Christine Iannuzzi, Shrewsbury, is a student at Rochester Institute of Technology, majoring in mechanical engineering. A graduate of Susquehannock High Anthony Iannuzzi School, he represented Adams EC on the Youth Tour in 2014. The valedictorian of the Class of 2015, he was also a National AP Scholar, the president of National Honor Society, treasurer of the Class Council, captain of the varsity tennis and cross country teams, president and founder of the Badminton Club and Board Game Club, and a member of the Quiz Bowl Team. l

Call for FREE DVD and Catalog! TOLL FREE

888-212-1302 DRLogsplitters.com OCTOBER 2015 • PENN

LINES

SMARTcircuits

by James Dulley

Balancing temps in a two-story home MANY PEOPLE with heat pumps report they have a problem keeping all of the rooms in their home comfortable. This issue is common, particularly in a twostory home — even for the newest heat pump systems. Unless you install an expensive zone-control system with multiple thermostats, your heat pump can only respond to the temperature of the room where the wall thermostat is located. Numerous factors determine how much heating or cooling is used, and therefore the temperature is affected. These factors can include the number and orientation of the windows, whether the room is located on the first or second floor, the activity level in the room, and the length of the duct leading to it. There also may be differences in the energy efficiency of various rooms. Leaky windows are a particular problem. When using an air-conditioning system, place an air deflector over the register to help distribute cool air throughout the room. Check your home’s attic insulation, especially if it is the blown-in type. The insulation can shift during storms. This can have a major effect on the room temperature. Even out the insulation as much as possible. The standard, builder-installed sheet metal ductwork often has many leaky spots, so some of the heated or cooled air leaving the heat pump never makes it to the rooms. The joints between the duct segments are the most common areas that leak. Use a high-quality duct tape to wrap all of the joints. Each room should have a return air register. Return ducts usually run down between the wall studs inside interior 18

PENN

LINES • OCTOBER 2015

walls, so adding them in problem rooms is not difficult for a contractor to do. There are many innovative ways to install an additional return duct. For example, in my parent’s older two-story home, the contractor was able to run a return duct down through a never-used laundry chute to the basement. Check the ducts near the heat pump. If you see short handles on each one, they are for control dampers inside the ducts. When the handle is parallel to the duct, the damper is fully open. Partially close the dampers in the duct leading to the rooms that are getting too much heating or cooling to force more to the problem rooms. Don’t try closing the damper in the room’s floor or wall registers. They typically are leaky, so the air flow will not be reduced by much. If these methods do not provide adequate temperature balancing, consider installing duct booster fans. These small fans mount in the ducts and force more conditioned air to the problem rooms. These fans are sized to fit standard round and rectangular residential ducts and can be controlled in different ways. The simplest fans sense when the main

blower turns on, and they automatically run at the same time. Others have built-in thermostats to determine when they run. It is best to hire an experienced contractor to handle the installation for you. A simple do-it-yourself option is to install a register booster fan. This small rectangular fan mounts over the register cover in the room and is plugged into a standard electrical wall outlet. The small fan uses only about 30 watts of electricity, and some models are adjustable to turn on only when more cooling or heating is needed in that particular room. Setting the thermostat to continuous fan may also help, but, it will increase your electric bill. The fan setting is most helpful if your new heat pump has a variablespeed blower, which allows the blower to continuously run on a low speed. Variablespeed blower motors are also more efficient than a standard blower motor. l Have a question for Jim? Send inquiries to JAMES DULLEY , Penn Lines, 6906 Royalgreen Drive, Cincinnati, OH 45244 or visit www.dulley.com.

NEW PRODUCT

Arm Protectionfor Home and Work Helps prevent Bruising, Cuts, Scratches, and Burns. Ideal for those who Bruise Easily or have Thin Skin. Perfect for working with thorny/needled plants & trees. Easily worn under regular gloves or over sleeves. Comes in various Sizes and Colors. Website shows nearly 100 uses for this product.

Reach nearly 166,000 rural Pennsylvania households! Advertise in Penn Lines. For more information, please visit our website at www.prea.com/Content/ pennlines.asp or call 717.233.5704

â€œRecipes Rememberedâ€? and â€œCountry Cookingâ€? include favorite recipes from electric co-op men and women in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. â€œRecipes Rememberedâ€? features anecdotes about the recipes, cooking tips and favorite quotes. It also includes a section of dishes from co-op friends in other states and 15 different sections arranged by cooperatives. Both books are great for collectors. Only $12, including postage, for both cookbooks payable to: Pennsylvania Rural Electric Association P.O. Box 1266, Harrisburg, Pa. 17108 Write: Attention Cookbooks

ORDER NOW FOR THE HOLIDAYS

LOWEST PRICE EVER on DRÂŽ Leaf Vacuums!

Rated #1 in Vacuum Power Easy, 1-Hand Dumping Stores Flat in Minutes Converts to a Utility Trailer The NEW DRÂŽ Leaf Vacuum NEW is designed from the top Models down to make yard clean up easier, faster, and more Starting at thorough than ever before. $ 99 , And for a limited time we are offering them at incredible low introductory prices!

1 299

FREE SHIPPING

Name

1 YEAR TRIAL

SOME LIMITATIONS APPLY

Call for FREE DVD and Catalog!

Address

TOLL-FREE

Number of books

89005X ÂŠ 2015

SPECIAL OFFER Two cookbooks for the price of $12 â€œRecipes Rememberedâ€? & â€œCountry Cookingâ€?

Amount enclosed $

888-212-1302 DRleafvac.com

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 the 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

PENN

LINES • OCTOBER 2015

OUTDOORadventures

‘That’s not how this works’

MARCUS SCHNECK is the outdoor writer for The (Harrisburg) PatriotNews and its website, PennLive.com. He also writes for many outdoor publications and is the author of more than two dozen books. Keep abreast of his adventures and writings at www.marcusschneck.com.

by Marcus Schneck

MORE THAN 1.5 million people jumped on the livestreaming camera feed from a bald eagle nest near Codorus State Park in York County earlier this year. They checked back feverously again and again, day after day, week after week, watching for the adult female to lay her eggs and then for those eggs to hatch. They assumed ownership of the birds they were watching on that video feed through the Pennsylvania Game Commission’s website. They anthropomorphized the heck out of the birds, giving them human names and trying to spot human behaviors, attitudes, emotions and motivations in birds that possess none of those things, at least none shared with humans. They screen-grabbed images and videos from the feed, attempting again and again to press the keys on their computers at just the right time to record the exact image or video they wanted. They shared those images and videos on their Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, blog and website feeds. And, some seemed to fancy themselves wildlife photographers because of their actions at the keyboard. To borrow a television advertising phrase that was popular about a year ago: “That’s not how this works. That’s not how any of this works.” That is not how wildlife photography works.

Wildlife photographers spend time in the field, putting in that time to get to know the habits and haunts of their wild subjects, to get close enough to those subjects to produce tack-sharp images worthy of magazine covers. They lug around heavy equipment, like supertelephoto lens and ultrasturdy tripods, through rain and snow, hot and cold, up the sides of mountains and out into swamps. Heck, that online stuff isn’t really even wildlife watching. Real wildlife watching is a multi-dimensional experience that offers something for all the senses, taxes the muscles a bit and builds a thirst. A wildlife watcher can tell you about the environment occupied by the wildlife they watch. More recently, the Penn-

“Real” wildlife photographers are outdoors with their subjects, but wildlife cams bring animals to many who are not familiar with them. WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHY:

sylvania Game Commission unveiled a live-streaming elk cam from the heart of the Pennsylvania elk range in the northcentral part of the state. To be fair, hundreds of wildlife agencies worldwide are doing this same thing. Their claims that the live cams attract additional audience, additional constituency for wildlife, are probably valid. However, how strong can that constituency be expected to be in advocating for wildlife and conservation when their experience with wildlife is on par with the latest episode of “Dancing with the Stars” or “Real Housewives of Wherever?” l

OCTOBER 2015 • PENN

LINES

PENNLINESclassified ISSUE MONTH:

AD DEADLINE: 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 Vonnie Kloss at 717$233-5704.

December 2015 . . . . October 19 January 2016 . . . November 18 February 2016 . . . December 16

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

Additional words; attach separate sheet if needed.

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.

ALPACA PRODUCTS GOT COLD FEET? Alpaca socks are 5-6X’s warmer than wool, hypoallergenic, antimicrobial with natural wicking properties. We carry men’s and women’s heavy boot, medium weight and a light weight therapeutic that is also good for diabetes and circulatory issues. To order call 814-694-3519. www.annadelealpacas.com. 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. ART TOUR 19TH ANNUAL ARTISTS’ OPEN HOUSE weekend on Columbus Day weekend. October 10, 11, 12. 10-6 daily. Visit 27 artists at 21 locations throughout Susquehanna County. Free. Download map and brochure at www.artiststour.com. AUCTIONS BRINDLE AUCTIONEERING now accepting quality consignments for fall and winter sales. Competitive rates. FFC license. We can legally sell your firearms. $25.00 each sale. 3rd Saturday each month and New Years Day. 717-360-9493. BUILDING SUPPLIES 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.

PENN

LINES • OCTOBER 2015

FACTORY SECONDS of insulation, 4 x 8 sheets, foil back. RValue 6.5 per inch. Great for pole buildings, garages, etc. Many thicknesses available. Also blue board insulation sheets. 814442-6032. BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES TIRED of the Rat Race? Want to own your business? Low cost, high-end leadership company has open positions! 814-6030231. 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. 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. CRANE SERVICE NEED A LIFT? Crane service for all your lifting needs. Experienced, fully insured, Owner-Operated and OSHA Certified. Precision Crane LLC, Linesville, PA 814-282-9133. ELECTRIC MOTORS FARM, COMMERICAL, 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.

FENCING 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. FINANCIAL FREEDOM AWESOME OPPORTUNITY TO GENERATE CASH! No buying — No selling — No boss. View 7-step video. Jim 314-614-6039. www.smileyougotcash.com. GIFT AND CRAFT IDEAS 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. 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 800557-8477: 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.

PENNLINESclassified HUNTING

RECIPES AND FOOD

WANTED TO BUY

VERGONA OUTDOORS: Gear up for hunting season! We sell game cameras, crossbows, binoculars, scopes, rangefinders, blinds, archery targets, packs and many other items. 814-9674844. www.vergonaoutdoors.com.

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.

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.

HUNTING CAMP ELK COUNTY, MEDIX RUN — 3 miles from Benzett. Two bedrooms with third added on back. Outbuilding for storage. Washer and dryer. Well and septic. Call 717-677-8601 or email intheholler220@embarqmail.com. (CORRECTION) 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. 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.

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: 800-403-3381 or www.sbarton.myshaklee.com. TRACTOR PARTS – REPAIR/RESTORATION ARTHURS TRACTORS, specializing in vintage Ford tractors, 30years experience, online parts catalog/prices, Indiana, PA 15701. Contact us at 877-254-FORD (3673) or www.arthurstractors.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.” 814-5873449. REGISTERED ANGUS BULLS — D. of B. 2-28-15, 3-07-15. AAA18142735, AAA18131537 - $2.50/lb. Pick-up 10-15-15, 11-1515. Delivery available. Rotational grass based. Dams sent earlier bulls to Penn State test sale. Good flesh cattle. Docile. 724-349-3652.

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. ALLEGHENY FRONT LOG CABIN RENTAL. New, fully furnished, linens, kitchenware provided. Three bedrooms, one and 1/2 bath. Great room, million dollar view. Bedford Co. 814-7544512. www.alleghenyfrontexperience.com.

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 814-696-1379. www.villagerestorations.com.

IF IT’S NOT INSULATED, NEITHER ARE YOU.

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. 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 HOUSING LOTS — Near Cook Forest and Allegheny National Forest. All utilities, township maintained cul-de-sac road, surrounded by 100 acres of woods. Internet and cable installed. 15 min. from Clarion. www.deerrunlots.com. 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. For more information, call 814-484-3941.

REPLACE, NEVER REPAIR DAMAGED EXTENSION CORDS. Helping members use electricity safely, that’s the power of your co-op membership. Learn more from the experts themselves at TogetherWeSave.com.

OCTOBER 2015 • PENN

LINES

COUNTRYkitchen

by Janette He ss

PRALINE APPLE PIE

Wild about pie IN RECENT news from the western United States, a marauding black bear broke into a bake shop and helped himself to multiple pies. When he had eaten his fill, he took off into the woods, leaving a trail of pie filling and granulated sugar. Apparently, all living creatures — especially humans and bears — are wild about pie! This October, test autumn-friendly pies on your own ravenous eaters. Praline Apple Pie is a sweet treat that marries traditional apple pie with a praline filling. Walnut Fudge Pie is a nutty, chocolaty treat that is best served with a dollop of whipped cream. Free-form Apple Pie is a trick as well as a treat, because it features a no-hassle crust. In an interesting footnote to the bear-in-the-pie-shop story, investigators discovered that the beast had scrupulously avoided all pies containing rhubarb. We can only assume that he would have found this month’s apple- and nut-themed pies completely irresistible. 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.

or homemade) Unbaked pastry for 9-inch, 2-crust pie (purchased 1/2 cup chopped pecans 1/3 cup brown sugar 3 tablespoons butter, melted 1/2 cup flour, divided 6 cups peeled, thinly sliced tart apples (approximately 6 medium apples) 2/3 cup granulated sugar 1 teaspoon lemon juice 1 teaspoon cinnamon 1/8 teaspoon salt Sugar and cinnamon mixture, for garnish ne pecans, Line 9-inch pie plate with 1 sheet of pastry. Set aside. Combi mixing bowl, large In aside. Set flour. brown sugar, melted butter and 1/4 cup on cinnam juice, lemon flour, cup 1/4 ing remain sugar, ated combine granul lined into e mixtur apple of half Spoon and salt. Add apples and toss to coat. mixpecan of half with Top flat. lie they that so apples ing pie plate, arrang e. Position ture. Add remaining apples. Top with remaining pecan mixtur knife, cut sharp With flute. and trim seal, top; on sheet remaining pastry um foil; lay alumin of piece square a in steam vents. Cut a 7- or 8-inch hole 375 degrees at Bake d. covere are pastry of edges sure making on top of pie, s, or minute 30 to 25 nal additio an for 25 minutes. Remove foil and bake spriniately immed and oven from pie e Remov ed. brown nicely until crust is s. serving 8 Makes e. kle with sugar and cinnamon mixtur

FREE-FORM APPLE PIE

WALNUT FUDGE PIE Unbaked pastry for 9-inch, single-crust pie (purchased or homemade) 1/2 cup butter 3 ounces unsweetened chocolate 4 eggs 3 tablespoons light corn syrup 1 1/3 cups sugar 2 tablespoons flour 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 1/4 teaspoon salt 3/4 cup chopped walnuts Whipped cream or whipped topping for garnish

Place butter and chocolate in covered, microwavable dish. Heat in microwave oven until butter is melted and chocolate begins to soften, 60 to 70 seconds. Remove and whisk until smooth. Set aside to cool. In separate mixing bowl, beat eggs until light in color. Add corn syrup, sugar, flour, vanilla extract, salt and walnuts. Fold in chocolate mixture. Transfer to unbaked pie crust that has been formed with high, fluted sides. Bake at 350 degrees for 35 to 40 minutes, or until filling is set on top. (Center may still be a bit soft.) Cool and then refrigerate until serving time. To serve, cut into small slices and garnish with whipped cream or whipped topping. Makes 12 to 16 servings.

PENN

LINES • OCTOBER 2015

Unbaked pastry for 9-inch, single-c rust pie (purchased or homemade) 3 tablespoons flour 1/4 cup white sugar 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon 1/8 teaspoon salt 1/2 cup apricot preserves 2 teaspoons lemon juice 5 cups peeled, thinly sliced tart apples (approximately 5 medium apples) 1 tablespoon butter

Place pastry (approximately 11 inch es in diameter) into seasoned, cast -iron skillet.* Set aside. In large bowl, com bine flour, sugar, cinnamon, salt, preserves and lemon juice. Add apples and carefully toss to coat. Spoon appl e mixture onto center of pastry, arra nging apples so that they lie flat. Dot with small pieces of butter. Fold edge s of pastry evenly up and over apples, leaving center apples expo sed and taking care not to stretch or tear pastry. Allow pastry edges to drape naturally over apples. Bake at 400 degrees for 40 minutes, or unti l crust is brown and apples are cook ed through. If crust or apples begin to brown too quickly, lay a piece of aluminum foil over top of “pie.” To serv e, cut into wedges. Makes 8 servings . *Recipe was tested in a 10-inch skill et.

POWERplants

by Barbara Martin

Why we garden I RECENTLY met up with an avid hobby gardener who is studying for a career as a professional HT-R, meaning horticultural therapist as recognized by the American Horticultural Therapy Association or AHTA. Intrigued, I did a little digging. According to the AHTA, horticultural therapy is widely used in rehabilitation, vocational and community settings. Therapeutic gardens can be designed for a variety of special purposes ranging from healing gardens, enabling gardens and rehabilitative gardens to restorative gardens. If you enjoy gardening, you won’t be too surprised to hear these kinds of beneficial aspects of the activity being formally recognized. I have yet to meet a hobby gardener who didn’t consider it in some way to be some type of casual and enjoyable form of “therapy” — a way to unwind after work, an escape from the kids, a welcome excuse to spend time outdoors, a prescribed healthy workout, a place to express an artistic side 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.

or work with our hands, a personal “happy place,” a way to connect with kindred souls, as well as being fun. All of these motivations explain gardening’s enduring popularity in today’s timepressed and preoccupied dayto-day life, despite the convenience of commercial florists and grocery store produce departments. Some gardeners prefer to quietly nurture their plants solo, while some consider yard work a family activity, and some volunteer their skill in public gardens. Gardening can be fun whether pursued alone or as part of a group: consider the time-honored garden club, the Master Gardeners, the assorted plant societies. It can be purely for pleasure or competitive for ribbons and awards, or even patents. Gardening can be selftaught or learned in formal classrooms, or perhaps gleaned working alongside an accommodating relative or neighbor. Gardening can be economical or extravagant. For the budget-conscious and impassioned do-it-yourselfers, passalong plants and heirloom seed saving allow for inexpensive starts and delicious homegrown food for the cost of elbow grease. In contrast, convenient “done for me” services will design and install everything from a custom gazebo to the last gazania. Our gardens reflect our preferences for plain or fancy, elegant or kitschy, multicol-

ored or monochrome, decorative or edible. There are increments along the gardening hobby scale all the way to “happy obsession.” One could easily remain an armchair gardener and read voraciously, vicariously follow gardening blogs and television shows, and perhaps eventually be enticed to venture out to visit a public garden. Or one might prefer a small space garden: a few windowsill plants, or a counterheight tabletop planter, or tidy geometric raised beds measured in scant square feet. Your approach to gardening might be playful and silly, or daring and experimental, or utterly serious. No matter. At any size or stage, a real deal garden is a living, growing, transpiring mass of ever-changing greenery and good earth. Gardens have few manmade rules. It’s up to you

The word “garden” offers a unique experience to each of us, hence the appeal.

WIDE DEFINITION:

whether to conform to the usual expectations for your property’s type, or let loose and indulge yourself. I’m not a horticultural therapist, but I do know that over the years, I and countless others have at different times found great joy and great solace in the garden, working with our hands to tend the plants and watching them respond. Gardening is an optimistic activity, by its very nature. And a forgiving one, for whatever remains undone this year can be attempted next year. Gardens evolve over time, and so, too, do the gardeners. l EDITOR’S NOTE: This is Barbara Martin’s final column for Penn Lines as she has decided to retire from writing her monthly “Power Plants” column. We appreciate her contributions over the past 10 years.

OCTOBER 2015 • PENN

LINES

PUNCHlines

Thoughts from Earl Pitts, UHMERIKUN! City folks’ definition of ‘unplugged’ is country version of daily life

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.

PENN

LINES • OCTOBER 2015

I seen this show on the TV called “America Unplugged.” Well, I got pretty excited, on account of I figured it was a doit-yourself show on cordless power tools. It wasn’t. It was a show about Americans going “unplugged.” You know what unplugged means? That’s when your people want to escape the rat race. They want to unplug from the hectic lifestyle of the city. They want to turn off all their electronic gizmos, drink well water, run solar power, get a wood stove, grow their own food and get closer to nature. Yeah, they think that’s going to be fun and excitin’. OK, first off, that ain’t being “unplugged.” Out where we live — that’s called “bein’ a redneck.” Or another way to look at it is that out where we live, we was unplugged before unplugged was cool. For example, you come out to the Duck Inn or the bowling alley or the Sunshine Cafe for breakfast, and you won’t see us country folk sitting there staring at a little cellphone screen. We’re usually looking at the people we’re sittin’ there with. That right there tends to confuse city people right from the get go. Now, we’re plugged in if that means plugged in to what the heck is going on around us. Yeah, a general awareness of our surroundings — that’s just crazy country livin’ right there. As far as drinking well water, heatin’ with a wood stove and growin’ your own food — out where we live, that ain’t trendy. That’s survival! Have you ever tasted well water? Half the times it tastes like the sweet nectar of the earth. And the rest of the times, it tastes like the devil took a bath in it. Are you sure you people wanna do this? Wake up, America! The last thing us country people need is a bunch of you Yuppie-types comin’ out here and wantin’ to be like us. The next thing you know we’re gonna be livin’ next to a vegan community — with pottery classes. I’m Earl Pitts, Uhmerikun.

My buddy, Runt Wilson, come in the Duck Inn last night, and he was all excited. He said him and his brother, Woody, got their plans all put together — next summer they are goin’ backwoods hiking in Montana. “I wish I was going with you boys — that sounds like a hoot,” I says. Then I added, “Make sure you take plenty of firepower on account of they got grizzly bears up there that will chew you up and spit you out before you know what hit you.” And he goes, “Earl, you don’t shoot no bears up in Montana. You take bear repellent.” Uh huh. I have watched my share of survival shows. You know what bear repellent is, right? That is mosquito spray for grizzly bears. All I’m saying is, if you got 2,000 pounds of teeth and claws coming at you at a surprisingly nimble speed, I’m not sure pullin’ out a spray can and starting to shake it is your best option. Dub goes, “Earl, you don’t want to kill a grizzly. You just want to scare them away.” And I says, “That would be fine if the grizzly bear was operatin’ under the same rules of engagement. That bear don’t drop outta no tree goin, ‘I think I’ll scare these campers away.’ No sir, he’s thinking, ‘I’m gonna eat today.’” Plus, you squeeze off a couple shots of bear repellent and every grizzly bear within five miles is goin’, (sniff sniff) “Hikers!” Dub goes, “Earl, if you shoot a grizzly bear in Montana, you could be dragged off to jail.” And I go, “Dub, if you don’t shoot a grizzly bear, you could dragged off to a shallow depression and covered with sticks and twigs — for later.” Wake up, America. Dub says if worse comes to worse, you just drop in the fetal position and protect your vital organs. I says, “Or, pull out a gun and watch Yogi scramblin’ to protect HIS vital organs. Makes more sense to me.” I’m Earl Pitts, Uhmerikun. l

RURALreflections Final call for 2015 photos IT’S THAT time of year — time to wind down the 2015 Rural Reflections contest. Entries must be postmarked by Oct. 31 in order to be placed in competition for the 2015 prizes. Amateur photographers who are members of a rural electric cooperative have a chance to win a $75 prize in one of our contest categories: artistic, landscape, human subject, animal and editor’s choice. Runners-up will receive a $25 prize. Entries received after Oct. 31 will be entered in the 2016 contest. Winning entries and the runners-up, all selected 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, self-stamped 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

Paul Nealen REA Energy

Barney & Lise Miller Adams EC

Pat Field Northwestern REC

Krista Leister Tri-County REC

OCTOBER 2015 • PENN

LINES