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N OV E M B E R 20 1 4

Century of

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Cooperative extension program celebrates 100th anniversary

PLUS A century of food Fireplaces Adventures of the young

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NOVEMBER Vol. 49 • No. 11 Peter A. Fitzgerald EDITOR

Katherine Hackleman S E N I OR E D I T O R / W R I T E R

James Dulley Janette Hess Barbara Martin Marcus Schneck

KEEPING CURRENT News items from across the Commonwealth

C ON T R I B U T I N G C O L U M N I S TS

W. Douglas Shirk L AYOU T & DESI GN

A D V E R T I S I N G & CI R C U L A T I O N

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

Penn Lines (USPS 929-700), the newsmagazine of Pennsylvania’s electric cooperatives, is published monthly by the Pennsylvania Rural Electric Association, 212 Locust Street, P.O. Box 1266, Harrisburg, PA 17108-1266. Penn Lines helps 165,800 households of co-op consumermembers understand issues that affect the electric cooperative program, their local coops, and their quality of life. Electric co-ops are not-for-profit, consumer-owned, locally directed, and taxpaying electric utilities. Penn Lines is not responsible for unsolicited manuscripts. The opinions expressed in Penn Lines do not necessarily reflect those of the editors, the Pennsylvania Rural Electric Association, or local electric distribution cooperatives. Subscriptions: Electric co-op members, $5.42 per year through their local electric distribution cooperative. Preferred Periodicals postage paid at Harrisburg, PA 17107 and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes with mailing label to Penn Lines, 212 Locust Street, P.O. Box 1266, Harrisburg, PA 17108-1266. Advertising: Display ad deadline is six weeks prior to month of issue. Ad rates upon request. Acceptance of advertising by Penn Lines does not imply endorsement of the product or services by the publisher or any electric cooperative. If you encounter a problem with any product or service advertised in Penn Lines, please contact: Advertising, Penn Lines, P.O. Box 1266, Harrisburg, PA 17108. Penn Lines reserves the right to refuse any advertising.

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

Power quality solutions

Vonnie Kloss

F E AT U R E

Century of growth Cooperative extension program celebrates 100th anniversary

TIME LINES

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

T I M E PA S S A G E S Memories from our members

COUNTRY KITCHEN

A century of food 21

POWER PLANTS

A gardener’s Thanksgiving 22

CLASSIFIEDS

SMART CIRCUITS

Using fireplaces efficiently

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.

O U T D O O R A DV E N T U R ES

Reliving the adventures of the young and (mostly) clueless

Your newsmagazine through the years

Board officers and staff, Pennsylvania Rural Electric Association: Chairman, Leroy Walls; Vice Chairman, Tim Burkett; Secretary, Lanny Rodgers; Treasurer, Rick Shope; President & CEO, Frank M. Betley

PUNCH LINES

Thoughts from Earl Pitts– Uhmerikun! Remember the good ol’ days when families ate fast food together in a car in the parking lot?

RURAL REFLECTIONS

Thank you

O N T H E COV E R A marker placed in Schellsburg by the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission highlights the special connection the Bedford County community has to the nation’s Cooperative Extension Service, which is celebrating its 100th anniversary in 2014. Photo by Kathy Hackleman

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KEEPINGcurrent Heroin epidemic growing in rural Pennsylvania The Center for Rural Pennsylvania recently released a report summarizing the findings of four statewide hearings held to examine the growing numbers of heroin- and opioid-related deaths and arrests across Pennsylvania. The center, a bipartisan, bicameral legislative agency that serves as a resource for rural policy within the Pennsylvania General Assembly, said study findings highlight support for legislation currently under consideration in the General Assembly: one bill that would provide immunity to an individual who contacts authorities in the event of a drug overdose, and a second that would expand the types of drugs monitored under the Prescription Drug Monitoring Program. More than 50 presenters, including law enforcement officials, health care providers, and family members of people who have used heroin and other opioids, spoke at the hearings. Their comments focused on education and prevention, law enforcement, and treatment. “This epidemic affects individuals of every age, gender, race and background,” said state Sen. Gene Yaw (R-Lycoming), center board chairman. “The increased use of heroin, which often has roots in the abuse of prescription painkillers like Vicodin and OxyContin, has catapulted Pennsylvania to seventh in the nation for

tors, consisting of members of the state House of Representatives, state Senate, governor appointees and academia, joined legislators from across the state for the hearings. The hearing sites were selected to achieve geographic representation and perspectives reflecting the diversity of Pennsylvania. The report and links to the testimony from the public hearings are available on the Center for Rural Pennsylvania’s website at www.rural.palegislature.us.

Cooperative CEO recognized

drug-related overdose deaths in the latest federal statistics.” He added, “Right now we have a public health crisis facing rural Pennsylvania. Although our focus was specifically on heroin use in rural Pennsylvania, we know addiction has no municipal, county or state boundaries. It is, across the board, a statewide and national epidemic impacting residents of every age, race, gender, and socioeconomic background. Simply locking people behind bars is not the answer. We, as a state, need to do more.” Over a two-month period, the Center for Rural Pennsylvania’s Board of Direc-

Correction The “Political Spotlight” published in the October issue of Penn Lines included the wrong photograph for state Rep. Jesse Topper (R-Bedford). Topper represents District 78, including areas served by Bedford Rural Electric Cooperative (REC), New Enterprise REC and Valley REC. Topper was one of 50 state legislative candidates representing electric cooperative service areas in Pennsylvania who were endorsed by the Action Committee For Rural Electrification (ACRE). In accordance with ACRE bylaws, the candidates endorsed by ACRE were selected based on their support for and voting record Rep. Jesse regarding rural electrification and their stance on various rural Topper and consumer concerns. Penn Lines apologizes for the error and is publishing the correct photo with this notice.

PENN

Brenda Swartzlander, president & CEO of DuBois-based United Electric Cooperative, was recently selected for the Pennsylvania Business Central 2014 “Central Pennsylvania Women Making a Difference List.” This is the fourth year the publication has teamed up with St. Francis University to recognize successful women in the organization’s 22-county coverage area that includes Bedford, Brenda Blair, Bradford, CamSwartzlander bria, Centre, Clearfield, Clinton, Fayette, Green, Huntingdon, Indiana, Juniata, Lycoming, Mifflin, Northumberland, Snyder, Somerset, Susquehanna, Tioga, Union, Washington and Westmoreland counties. Swartzlander began work at the cooperative in 1977 and was named to her current position in 2002.

History of Pennsylvania markers dates back 100 years The history of Pennsylvania is told in more than 2,000 markers placed on the state’s highways and city streets. Since 1946, the Pennsylvania State Historical Marker program has been administered by the Pennsylvania Historical and (continues on page 16)

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ENERGYmatters Power quality solutions By Thomas Kirk

POWER QUALITY issues are a concern for commercial, industrial and agricultural consumers. These issues can have a negative impact on consumers because any interruption of power supply can lower productivity and damage goods. Power quality generally refers to the shape of the electric waveform as it travels down the transmission and distribution lines. The ideal power quality form is a smooth, sinusoidal wave â€” and any disturbance that impacts this shape is generally referred to as a power quality problem or issue. There are a variety of power quality problems, including harmonics, sags, spikes and others. And the possible impacts of power quality issues include line loss, reduced equipment life, outages, short circuits and flicker. Today, voltage sags â€” short duration reductions in voltage, usually caused by short circuit or overload â€” are by far the most common power quality problem. Members who suspect they have a power quality problem should first contact their local cooperative, which will then initiate an investigation to uncover the cause of the power quality issue. By

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. 6

PENN

LINES â€˘ NOVEMBER 2014

using power quality monitors and information gathered from the customer, investigators are able to determine where the power quality problem is originating and what may be causing it. If the problem is on the utility side of the meter, the utility is responsible for correcting the issue and continuing to provide reliable service. If the problem is shown to be on the memberâ€™s side of the meter, the member is responsible for fixing it. Cooperatives do not require members to correct their own power quality issues unless they impact other members. â€œAs much as 90 percent of power quality investigations conclude that the issue in question is originating with the member,â€? says Jeff Schoenecker, power quality detective for Dakota Electric Association in Farmington, Minn. â€œMany times, voltage-flicker complaints occur when members install large heat pumps or introduce large loads on their existing services. The length of wire between the large load and their service panel should always be considered.â€? Variable frequency drives, sudden large loads and improper wiring are all potential causes of power quality issues. Depending on the memberâ€™s needs

and the source of the power quality issue, there are a variety of possible solutions. Filters, regulators and uninterruptable power supply (UPS) systems are all available technologies designed to improve power quality in specific circumstances. Often, your local cooperative can give advice to help relieve the problem. For those members who suffer significant harm â€” such as damaged equipment or lost production (due to power quality events), a premium power product could be a solution. As some members start to generate their own power, other power quality issues can occur. This is because the distribution system is almost always a more robust source, which can help to absorb many power quality issues that otherwise might arise from self-generation. This is why cooperatives work hard to maintain adequate staff and resources to track down power quality problems and make members aware of the potential causes. 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.

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PENNlines

Century of growth Cooperative extension program celebrates 100th anniversary GIVEN THE Commonwealth’s roots in agriculture, Pennsylvania’s rural residents are no strangers to cooperative partnerships. More than 75 years ago, many of these residents banded together to form electric cooperatives to serve their rural communities. Even before then, cooperative extension programs were taking root in rural communities throughout the state, highlighting the unique partnership between the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the nation’s land-grant universities (Penn State University in Pennsylvania) and local government. This year, the U.S. Cooperative Extension movement is celebrating its 100th anniversary, while Pennsylvania’s

own history of disseminating practical, research-based information related to agriculture and home economics dates back more than a century. Bedford County holds a special place in the history of the extension movement. In fact, in the Bedford County community of Schellsburg, there’s a Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission historical marker commemorating the man often credited with being one of the first extension educators in the nation. Titled “The Beginning of the Agricultural Cooperative Extension Service,” the sign states, “One of the nation’s earliest cooperative extension offices was established in 1910 in Schellsburg, Bedford County, with A.B. (Abram Bunn)

Ross as county agent. The innovative program sought to educate farmers about agricultural science to increase their productivity. County extension offices are now found throughout the U.S. Farmers and other citizens continue to benefit from agents’ expertise on agriculture, 4-H programs, and family and consumer science.”

Early networking Joyce Herncane, president of the Schellsburg and Old Log Church Historical Society, reports Bedford County’s connection to extension work actually precedes Ross’s early work, which was funded through the U.S. Department of Agriculture. In remarks she prepared for the dedication of the Ross historic marker, Herncane stated, “The beginning of extension in Pennsylvania can be traced to the formation of the Philadelphia Society for Promoting Agriculture in 1785. As early as 1876, Pennsylvania formalized its farmers’ institutes and was one of the first states to unite its teaching with the School of Agriculture in 1882. Penn State, a land-grant university, began correspondence course work in agriculture and home economics in 1892.” In the early 1900s, communication in rural areas was largely confined to faceto-face talks and letters distributed by the U.S. Postal Service. Realizing the need for an educational network serving Pennsylvania’s rural community, Penn State University (then Pennsylvania State College), established what would become the state’s extension service in TEACHING TOOL: Hannah Riser, daughter of Mike and Josie Riser, Gettysburg, displays a calf from the farm owned by her grandparents, John and Bonnie Hess, as part of the Adams County extension office’s 100th anniversary celebration in June. Hannah is a member of the Adams County 4-H Dairy Club. The Hesses and Risers are all members of Adams Electric Cooperative.

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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

1907. In 1912, the college named agents to serve in Blair, Butler, Mercer, Montgomery and Washington counties. In 1914, the U.S. Congress passed the Smith-Lever Act (named for its sponsors, U.S. Reps. M. Hoke Smith, a Democrat from Georgia, and Asbury Lever, a Democrat from South Carolina), officially establishing and providing a system of funding for the national cooperative extension system that included a combination of federal, state and local funding. Soon after, the extension program was widespread across the Commonwealth, and today, extension services are available in all of the state’s 67 counties. Janice Stoudnour, district director for Penn State Extension in Bedford, Cambria and Somerset counties, believes extension services are needed as much today as they were in the past. “Consumers continue to call our office with insect, plant, agricultural production, food preservation, and home/commercial horticulture questions,” she says. “Our commercial horticulture educator, Tom Ford, is consistently on the road every day meeting with producers to help them identify and manage emerging pest and disease issues that can lead to substantial financial loss.”

Growing technology Consumers today have many resources at their fingertips with the internet, she adds, but those resources are not necessarily “research-based,” so those resources may actually create additional problems if the consumer follows incorrect or incomplete online vendor recommendations. “Our value to the consumer is based on non-biased research and personal follow-up as needed,” she says. “If your livelihood depends on identifying an insect infestation or disease, you need to obtain factual information.” Seth Harbaugh, son of Troy and Angela Harbaugh and a member of the Lovely Valley 4-H Club, maneuvers a remote-controlled tractor through an obstacle course as part of the activities held at the 2014 Bedford County Fair in July to recognize the 100th anniversary of extension services.

4-H’ER HELPS CELEBRATE:

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PENNlines Stoudnour, who has worked with Pennsylvania’s extension program for more than 26 years, says utilization of social media and the internet is providing today’s extension educators the opportunity to reach far beyond the local community, a major difference that is expected only to increase in the coming decades. “The next 100 years will be an exciting time just as it was when A.B. Ross traveled throughout central Pennsylvania communities sharing ‘new technology’ to help farmers become more efficient producers,” Stoudnour notes. “Penn State Extension plays a key role in agriculture production, health and nutrition, community development and youth education. I only see the role becoming more vital in the future.” In celebration of the 100th anniversary of the cooperative extension program, several Bedford County organizations planned a special event at the Bedford County Fair in July. During the day 4-H RABBITS: Anne Copenhaver, leader of the Adams County 4-H Rabbit Club, right, teaches Adams County extension anniversary celebration attendees, from left, Guen Yale, Linda Yale and Corinne Yale, about the care of rabbits.

SOMERSET COUNTY CELEBRATES: Staff members from the Somerset County extension office thank the Somerset County commissioners for their support. Attendees at the 100th anniversary celebration include, front, from left: Commissioner Pam Tokar-Ickes; Janice Stoudnour, District 11 extension director; Kathy Shaffer, Somerset extension office manager; and Echo Kincaid, 4-H summer assistant; and back row, from left: Commissioner Joe Betta; Commissioner John Vatavuk; Joanne Stoltzfus, extension 4-H educator; Karen Serball, expanded food and nutrition educator; Harold Shaulis, extension board president; Debra Cook, master gardener volunteer; and Miguel Saviroff, extension farm management educator.

set aside as Ag Business Day, the Bedford County Farm Bureau Cooperative and the Bedford Chamber of Commerce invited area and state dignitaries, including Secretary of Agriculture George Greig, to speak at an afternoon celebration recognizing agri-businesses. The chamber provided cake in honor of the extension program’s 100th anniversary. Bedford County was only one of many extension programs celebrating

the program’s centennial this year. Stoudnour and her staff in Bedford County, Cambria County and Somerset County also attended a county commission meeting of each of the counties in their district to recognize the counties for their support of extension education. Harold Shaulis, president of the Somerset County Extension Board, a dairy farmer and a member of Somerset Rural Electric Cooperative, took part in the

tion that receives funding from tax dollars and fundraising efforts, so I think it is important for the community to come into our environment and see what educational experiences are available to them and what we can offer them.” Activities at the Adams County event included 4-H demonstrations, tours of the Penn State Master Gardener native gardens, rain garden and green roof garden shade. Staff and volunteers also displayed or demonstrated tips on food and

were new to extension programming. “I even had an ex-teacher approach me who had never been involved in the extension program,” Weikert says. “She came down to see what we were doing, and before she left, she volunteered to be a leader in the 4-H program.” That was a pleasant surprise, Weikert says, because even though the event was held in observance of the extension cooperative program’s anniversary, extension staff members across the state

wellness, the Seeing Eye 4-H Club’s puppy project, 4-H animal projects and others. A variety of commodity groups, including the Pennsylvania Dairy ADAMS COUNTY CELEBRATION: Nina Redding, district extension Princess and Promotion director for Adams, Franklin and York counties, left, speaks with 100th anniversary celebration guests, from left: state Rep. Will Services, were also repreTallman (R-Adams), state Rep. Dan Moul (R-Adams), and Adams sented. County Commissioner Jim Martin. Redding, Tallman and Martin are “We wanted to provide members of Adams Electric Cooperative. a group community activity where we could see old friends and meet new ones,” Weikert of local businesses that donated refreshsays. “It also served as a way for us to ments and a tree for the tree-planting show our elected officials and other ceremony. agencies what non-formal educational Community involvement opportunities are available to county residents.” Ben Weikert, a former Penn State Many of the guests at the Adams Extension Adams County-based 4-H County event included people with curclub and adult livestock educator who is rent or former extension contacts, but also a member of Adams Electric Coopthere were a number of people who erative, explains, “We are an organiza-

BEDFORD COUNTY CELEBRATION: Janice Stoudnour, District 11 extension director for Bedford, Somerset and Cambria counties, left, speaks during the 100th anniversary celebration held as part of the Bedford County Fair in July. Guests included, from left: state Rep. Jesse Topper (R-Bedford), state Sen. John Eichelberger (R-Blair) and Secretary of Agriculture George Greig.

recognition ceremony in Somerset County. “The county provides some of our funding and is a very valuable partner in our education efforts,” Shaulis states. “We wanted to show our appreciation during our 100th anniversary celebration. Extension’s primary role is to provide fact-based, unbiased information. Because the needs of residents have changed in the past 100 years, our programming has changed, too. Our goal is to figure out what those needs are, and to provide information to address them.” The Adams County extension office held a public event to mark the centennial. They invited the public to visit the Adams County Agricultural Resource Center one day in June to see what the extension program offers. More than 250 guests attended the event, planned by the staff and volunteer members of the Adams County Extension Board. It was supported financially by a number

are looking ahead to the next 100 years and are always in need of volunteers. The Adams County event concluded with the ceremonial planting of an Eastern Redbud tree. Nina Redding, district extension director and member of Adams Electric Cooperative, states, “Still today, 100 years later, Penn State Extension is ‘cooperative extension’ with the cooperation of the county commissioners, the Pennsylvania Legislature and our elected federal officials through the U.S. Department of Agriculture.” l NOVEMBER 2014 • PENN

LINES

PENNlines

What is Penn State’s connection to extension?

PHOTO PROVIDED COURTESY OF JOYCE HERNCANE

Penn State University observed the 100th anniversary of the national Cooperative Extension Service with a display at the Paterno Library on the campus in State College. The display explained that although extension outreach education was underway earlier, Penn State’s involvement officially began in 1912 when the School of Agriculture established extension offices in five counties: Blair, Butler, Mercer, Montgomery and Washington. Even earlier, Penn State had made non-formal educational programs available through demonstrations, lectures and exhibits. One of those early forays into extension education was the “Agricultural Train,” co-sponsored by ROSS ON TOUR: The first Pennsylvania extension educator, Abram Bunn (A.B.) Ross, is shown driv- Penn State and the Pennsylvania Railing in Bedford County. With him are R.L. Watts, road Company in dean of Pennsylvania State College (later Penn the late 1800s. State University), and Milton S. McDowell, the Educators, travelsecond director of extension in Pennsylvania. ing by rail throughout the state, gave lectures on new agricultural technology and techniques for optimizing crop production. By 1892, Penn State had launched the nation’s first correspondence courses in the core subject of agriculture. But it was the passage in 1914 of the Smith-Lever Act providing a means of funding the national extension program that caused Pennsylvania’s program to quickly grow, with over threefourths of the state’s 67 counties having at least one extension agent by 1918. Seven years later, 65 counties had full-time extension agents. Penn State archives reveal the agents provided technical information and results from experiment stations, supervised experimental plantings, judged at local fairs, organized 4-H youth, and provided practical instruction through workshops, courses and institutes held across the state. Today, all 67 counties have access to university resources in agriculture and home economics research through a system of 20 extension districts and two urban centers that serve all areas. But beyond that, technology has expanded the reach of extension education services around the world. “The core of our program — transferring knowledge and information and helping people put it into context — has not changed over the past 100 years, but the tools have changed dramatically,” says Dr. Dennis Calvin, Penn State University associate dean and director of Penn State Extension. “The early approach of holding meetings across the state and having people drive there to take a class has changed. We now offer online webinars that can be delivered in multiple areas across the state, and really, all over the world. The borders of the state are no longer the boundary of our educational programming.” Penn State Extension has gone from 1.2 million annual

PENN

LINES • NOVEMBER 2014

online visits four years ago to 5 million this year, which shows the continued value of the program, Calvin says. “One of the great values that extension has had is that we have been out there embedded in local communities,” he says. “We are trusted members of the community, and we are the conduit that allows local residents to have access to the latest and greatest technology to help them improve their livelihood, or how they operate their household and feed their families.” As the complexity of the agricultural industry has increased at the same time the number of people who are directly involved in farming has decreased, education has become even more important, Calvin emphasizes. And extension services are evolving to meet those changing needs. “It’s hard to answer what we will look like in the next 100 years,” he says. “I think back even five years ago and we couldn’t have predicted the ways technology has changed. I do think we will continue to get better at using electronic technologies, learning how to develop materials and deliver it to a new audience.” That new audience will be younger, more technologically savvy and include more minorities who may not speak English as their first language, he says. “Our average age and customer base is around 60,” he says. “Our organization is designed to meet the needs of Baby Boomers and beyond. We have a new generation coming along that operates much differently. Instead of spending time at a meeting, they want to access how-to videos on their own time. We have to be able to deliver our message in Spanish as well PHOTO COURTESY OF PENN STATE UNIVERSITY EXTENSION

By K at h y H ac k l e m a n

AGRICULTURAL TRAIN: Before the extension program was initiated nationwide, Penn State University and the Pennsylvania Railroad Company in the late 1800s joined together to operate the “Agricultural Train.” Educators traveled by rail, teaching the latest in agricultural technology and crop production.

as English because a lot of our agricultural workforce is Hispanic, as well as a growing number of farm business owners. It is important that we engage all the individuals working in agriculture because they will be responsible for assuring we have ample quality food, and that it is safe and healthy.” The first 100 years of extension brought slow changes. Today, the world of technology is moving rapidly and extension services must shift with it. “It’s a different world today,” Calvin says. “We are changing to keep up with it.”

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1994 BY 1994, 25 years after it debuted in Alabama, 911 had become the almost-universal number for distress; however, only 52 of Pennsylvania’s 67 counties had a state-approved 911 system. Two types of service were available back then — basic 911, which requires the caller to provide an address and other information, and enhanced 911, which displays a caller’s name, address and phone number on the screen, along with the appropriate police, fire and ambulance departments responsible for serving that specific area. The problem affecting rural areas 20 years ago was that most did not have street addresses (even if the county had enhanced 911 service, without a street address it was difficult to dispatch an emergency vehicle to the correct location). That’s what brought about the readdressing of much of rural Pennsylvania in the past two decades. Each home and business needed to be identified on a map and given a unique street address. In addition to costs for aerial photos, mapping required the cooperation of all affected municipalities, especially when renaming duplicate streets. In 1990, Pennsylvania took a giant step into the future when Gov. Robert P. Casey signed into law the Public Safety Emergency Telephone Act (Act 78). The law allows counties to add up to $1.50 to monthly phone bills to cover some of the costs of 911 systems. But not even that money was enough to bring 911 to all counties, causing some of the more rural counties such as Potter and Tioga to band together to bring joint 911 systems to their residents.

1974 The Pennsylvania State Police, created by a law signed on May 2, 1905, by Gov. Samuel W. Pennypacker, is the first uniformed police organization of its kind in the U.S. 14

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1984 The healthcare industry nationally faces serious problems, but characteristics unique to rural areas intensify the problems for rural residents.

2004 In a break from its rural roots, 4-H begins shifting its focus to non-agricultural endeavors, while still emphasizing leadership, citizenship and decision-making.

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KEEPINGcurrent

Nobel Prize in Physics awarded for LED breakthrough

(continued from page 4)

The 2014 Nobel Prize in Physics was awarded to Dr. Shuji Nakamura of the University of California, Santa Barbara, Calif., and Dr. Isamu Akasaki and Dr. Hiroshi Amano of Nagoya University, Japan, for “the invention of efficient blue light-emitting diodes (LEDs), which has enabled bright and energy-saving white light sources.” The three scientists will split the $1.1-million prize, to be awarded in Stockholm in December, for their discovery of a way to produce blue light beams from semiconductors — an essential part of the production of white light. In the 20 years since the physicists’ discovery, LED technology has revolutionized lighting as it can produce substantially more light than either a fluorescent or incandescent bulb. LEDs also last longer.

Museum Commission (PHMC). The forerunner of the program, however, dates back 100 years. The Pennsylvania Historical Commission — the predecessor of the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission — installed plaques throughout the state to commemorate individuals, events and sites of historic interest beginning in 1914. The modern style of historical marker was developed by the PHMC soon after the commission was created by the Pennsylvania General Assembly in 1945. The first of the new style of markers was dedicated in September 1946 on US Route 22, 14 miles east of Harrisburg. Titled “Hanover Reserves,” it indicates the location of the earliest decree for

In 1906, a small locomotive plunged off a partially dismantled bridge spanning the Loyalsock Creek near Hillsgrove, Pa. While most of the wreckage was pulled out of the water shortly after

Interactive map geared toward hunters, hikers

This marker outside the Bedford Rural Electric Cooperative office tells the story of the beginning of the cooperative movement in Pennsylvania.

BEDFORD COUNTY MARKER:

independence in the state, according to the PHMC. Through the years, various changes have been made to the guidelines for installation of a historical marker. The PHMC notes that in the late 1970s, new guidelines required “that the person, event or site to be commemorated have had a meaningful impact on its times and be of statewide or national rather than only local significance.” For more information about the historical marker program, contact the PHMC or visit its website at www.phmc.state.pa.us and do a search for “historical markers.” 16

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The Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources has launched a new interactive map of state forest lands across the state. It includes information about roads and forestry office contact numbers, as well as links to weather and prevailing winds. The map shows viewers areas of timber harvests and various habitat types, as well as state forest boundaries and Deer Management Assistance Program areas approved by the Pennsylvania Game Commission. Other map overlays include bear check station locations, elk management zones and normally gated roads that will be opened during hunting season, along with GPS and mapping measurement tools enabling visitors to find the best routes on state forest lands to areas where they want to hunt or visit. The map can be viewed at http://maps. dcnr.pa.gov/bof/huntmap/index.html.

Historic artifact retrieved from Loyalsock Creek The Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission’s Bureau for Historic Preservation recently granted a permit to retrieve and preserve a historic artifact from Commonwealth waters in Sullivan County, Pa.

UP FROM THE DEPTHS: Volunteers carefully maneuver a 108-year-old smokestack pulled from the Loyalsock Creek, Hillsgrove, Pa., into a waterfilled transport tub, top. The smokestack, entombed in the creek when the locomotive plunged off a partially dismantled bridge in 1906, bottom, will be cleaned and preserved.

the mishap, parts of the ill-fated Engine No. 4 were entombed in the murky waters for more than 100 years until avid scuba diver John Smithkors of Dushore, Pa., came upon them in the summer of 2013. Realizing the historical nature of his find — the engine’s smokestack — Smithkors contacted the Laporte-based Sullivan County Historical Society and Museum. After months of coordination with the museum, state officials, local landowners, and volunteers, the smokestack was extracted from the creek in mid-September with the assistance of a digger derrick truck and operator provided by Forksville-based Sullivan County Rural Electric Cooperative. After the smokestack is properly cleaned and preserved, it will be displayed at the Sullivan County Historical Society and Museum. More information is available at http://scpahistory.com/home. l

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(EDITOR’S NOTE: In observance of 50 years of the electric cooperative Youth Tour program in Pennsylvania, throughout the year Penn Lines will feature personal accounts of former Youth Tour participants. To share your Youth Tour memories, write Stephanie Okuniewski at Penn Lines, P.O. Box 1266, Harrisburg, PA 17108 or email Stephanie_Okuniewski@prea.com.)

Youth Tour memories Bob Phillips represented Sullivan County Rural Electric Cooperative on the Youth Tour and was named 2007 Pennsylvania Outstanding Youth Tour Student. A graduate of Sullivan County High School, Phillips earned a bachelor’s degree in secondary English education from Kutztown University in 2011. He is employed at the Williamsport Sun-Gazette as a reporter and photographer. Penn Lines: How did your Youth Tour experience help with your career direction? Bob Phillips: Youth Tour was one of the most influential events in my high school career. It opened my eyes to the world of rural electric cooperatives, as well as our nation’s government. I didn’t realize it at the time, but it influenced my career direction in journalism by giving me my Bob Phillips in 2007 first taste of the world of public relations. Penn Lines: How did your Youth Tour experience influence your educational goals? Bob Phillips: Youth Tour inspired me to continue my dream of being an educator myself. The events and activities that Youth Tour featured included glimpses into our nation’s history and the individuals who helped shape it. The presentations we heard were delivered with such passion that it was hard for it not to be contagious and awake a similar passion to educate. Penn Lines: What advice would you give to someone going on Youth Tour today? Bob Phillips: If I could give a Youth Tour student one piece of advice it would be to encourage them to make it their goal to talk to someone new each day of the tour. The tour is a chance to learn more about our nation’s history and politics, but it’s also a chance to get to know people from your state and others, and develop lasting friendships. Penn Lines: In what ways has your Youth Tour experience helped you as a person? Bob Phillips: It helped me to become a more confident person. The night before Youth Tour, I was terrified because I didn’t know anyone going on the trip. I wasn’t sure if I could handle it. I couldn’t have been more wrong. Not only did I make friends and learn about where they were from, I learned many things about myself. The confidence that I have day-today, assignment-to-assignment working as a journalist can all be traced back to that day in June when I stepped out of my comfort zone and on to the bus to go to Washington, D.C. 18

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Penn Lines: What did it mean to you to have the opportunity to meet with your congressional representative? Bob Phillips: It was a chance to see the man behind the name. We always read about this politician or that politician. We see them speak on the television about a wide variety of issues. To get a chance to have a question-and-answer session with the men who help guide our nation was an enlightening experience. Penn Lines: How has the opportunity to meet people from all over the country influenced you? Bob Phillips: I come from a very small town in rural northeast Pennsylvania, so the opportunity to meet someone from California, or Hawaii, or Kansas was eye-opening. I was so used to my little corner of Pennsylvania that I lost sight of the fact that there was a whole, wide world out there waiting to be explored and learned about. Meeting those people influenced me to want to travel more and see more of the places they talked about. Penn Lines: What did you learn on Youth Tour that surprised you? Bob Phillips: Many things surprised me, but none so much as how powerful a group of people can be when they work together to accomplish a common goal. From developing a nation to starting electric cooperatives so rural families could have electricity, it’s truly humbling to think about what we can accomplish when we work together. Penn Lines: How would your life be different today had you not gone on Youth Tour? Bob Phillips: I can comfortably say that I wouldn’t be as confident and outgoing as I am today if I had never gone on Youth Tour. Penn Lines: What would you change about Youth Tour if you could? Bob Phillips: I wouldn’t change anything about Youth Tour except to make it longer. What a great experience for high school students to take part in. Penn Lines: What is your favorite memory from Youth Tour and why? Bob Phillips: My favorite memory was when I was introduced as the Pennsylvania representative on the Youth Leadership Council. I remember standing up on stage and saying my name and state. The entire Pennsylvania section exploded in cheers. We certainly weren’t the largest state there or the biggest group, but I’m proud to say my fellow Pennsylvanians shook the ceiling with their cheers. It was awesome! l

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Issued monthly, 12 times annually. Subscription price is $5.42 for members of electric distribution cooperatives in Pennsylvania. Mailing address of office is 212 Locust Street, P.O. Box 1266, Harrisburg, Dauphin County, PA 17108-1266. Publisher is Pennsylvania Rural Electric Association, P.O. Box 1266, Harrisburg, Dauphin County, PA 17108-1266. Editor/Director of Communications & Member Services is Peter A. Fitzgerald, P.O. Box 1266, Harrisburg, Dauphin County, PA 17108-1266. Owner is Pennsylvania Rural Electric Association, P.O. Box 1266, Harrisburg, PA 17108-1266. There are no other owners or bondholders. The purpose, function, and non-profit status of this organization and the exempt status for federal income tax purposes have not changed during the preceding 12 months. TOTAL NUMBER OF COPIES:: Average number of copies each issue during the preceding 12 months, 166,343. Actual number of copies of single issue (September 2014) published nearest to filing date, (September 166,320). PAID CIRCULATION: Average Mailed Outside-County Paid Subscriptions, 164,944 (September 165,007). Average Mailed In-County Paid Subscriptions, 0 (September 0). Average Paid Distribution Outside the Mails including Sales through Dealers and Carriers, Street Vendors, Counter Sales, and other Paid Distribution Outside USPS, 696 (September 650). Average Paid Distribution by other Classes of Mail through the USPS, 45 (September 43). TOTAL PAID DISTRIBUTION: Average, 165,685 (September 165,700). FREE OR NOMINAL RATE DISTRIBUTION: Average Outside-County Copies, 271 (September 263). Average In-County, 0 (September 0). Average Copies mailed at Other Classes through the USPS, 0 (September 0). Average Distribution Outside the Mail by carriers or other means, 162 (September 162). TOTAL FREE OR NOMINAL RATE DISTRIBUTION: Average, 433 (September 425). TOTAL DISTRIBUTION: Average, 166,118 (September 166,125). COPIES NOT DISTRIBUTED: Average, 225 (September 195). TOTAL: Average number of copies each issue during preceding 12 months, 166,343 (September 166,320). PERCENT PAID CIRCULATION: Average percentage during preceding 12 months, 99.74 percent (September 99.74 percent). PUBLICATION OF STATEMENT OF OWNERSHIP: Publication required. Will be printed in the November 2014 issue of this publication. SIGNATURE AND TITLE OF EDITOR, PUBLISHER, BUSINESS MANAGER, OR OWNER: DATE: 9-9-14 Editor and Director of Communications and Member Services I certify that all information furnished on this form is true and complete. I understand that anyone who furnishes false or misleading information on this form or who omits material or information requested on the form may be subject to criminal sanctions (including fines and imprisonment) and/or civil sanctions (including civil penalties).

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COUNTRYkitchen

by Janette He ss

A century of food A CENTURY ago, many households in Pennsylvania looked no further than the barn, the chicken coop, the garden and the orchard for their food. Now most look no further than the local supermarket. Has cooking, too, changed in the past 100 years? Recipes gleaned from vintage cookbooks and family recipe boxes still have appeal, although some instructions and ingredients seem dated. We find ourselves amused when a recipe calls for “butter the size of an egg.” We’re thankful that we’re not required to “remove the oil bag and every bit of the windpipe” every time we cook a chicken. And where would we buy some old-style salt pork, if we were of the mind to use some in a recipe? The times are indeed different. This month, try some old-fashioned recipes with some new-fangled instructions. Note the simple, fresh ingredients. Also, ponder the influence that the national cooperative extension system has had on all links of the food chain. Created by an Act of Congress in 1914, the system connects citizens with the research and educational resources of the nation’s land grant universities. Locally, Penn State Extension offers courses, publications, and resources on food safety and nutrition. Take advantage! 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.

BRAISED BEEF AND VEGE TABLES 1 2 1/2- to 3-pound pot roast or round roast 2 tablespoons flour 1 tablespoon bacon grease OR vege table oil 2 bay leaves 8 peppercorns 1 cup carrot chunks 1 cup turnip chunks OR potato chun ks 1 cup chopped onion 1 cup thick-sliced celery 1/2 teaspoon salt, plus additional to taste 3 cups beef stock Pepper to taste

Pat roast dry. Dredge in flour. In heav y, lidded, oven-safe stew pot or Dutch oven, heat grease or oil over medium to medium-high heat. Care fully brown entire surface of roast. Add bay leaves, peppercorns and vege tables. Sprinkle with 1/2 teaspoon salt. (More may be needed later, depending on saltiness of beef stock.) In separate pan or microwaveable container, heat stock to boiling. Pour over meat and vegetables. Cover tightly and bake at 325 degrees for 3 hours, or until roast and vegetabl es are tender. Transfer meat and vege tables to platter for serving. Discard bay leaves. Strain broth and skim fat, if needed. Add salt and pepper to taste. Serve with roast. NOTE: The original recipe called for browning the roast in rendered salt pork. The roast was then doused with boiling water and simmered on the stovetop for up to 4 hours. Stovetop cooking still may be used, but it requires a more watchful eye on the part of the cook.

POTATO PUFF 2 eggs 2 cups plain, freshly mashed potatoes 2 tablespoons melted butter 1/2 cup whole milk, heated 1/2 teaspoon salt

Beat eggs until very light. Add mashed potat oes, followed by all remaining ingredients. Beat until light and fluffy. Carefully spoon into buttered, round casserole dish or 8- by 8-inch baking dish. Bake at 375 degrees for 15 to 20 minutes, or until potatoes are lightly brown ed. Makes 6 to 8 servings.

PENN

LINES • NOVEMBER 2014

CUSTARD RICE PUDDING 1/2 cup sugar 2 tablespoons flour 3 eggs 3 cups whole milk 2 cups cold, boiled rice 2 teaspoons vanilla extract Pinch of salt (1/16 teaspoon)

milk and stir to comMix sugar and flour. Beat in eggs, one at a time. Add until all rice grains stir to ue Contin bine. Add rice, vanilla extract and salt. Bake 60 mindish. baking 8-inch by 8ed butter into are separated. Pour chill. Serve then and Cool ed. utes, or until center is firm and top is brown if desired. g, nutme of le sprink a and cream d whippe of cold with a dollop Makes 9 servings.

POWERplants

by Barbara Martin

A gardener’s Thanksgiving LET’S HONOR tradition and give a little thanks for some of our favorite gardening things. Let’s get started. Glass bottle tree. Felder Rushing’s book, “Bottle Trees and Other Whimsical Glass Art for the Garden,” inspired me to “plant” a real dazzler consisting of blue seltzer bottles slipped over firmly planted tomato stakes clustered together. It gleams in the sun, twinkles under the security light on a rainy evening and sparkles when frosted. Tree wrap. Low-tech, highly effective in preventing frost crack damage to the bark of tender, young trees, particularly maples. The new “Bloodgood” Japanese maple is sporting one in high style. Rose cones. Admittedly, I plant my own-root roses so I don’t need to install rose cones — my roses simply receive a bit of well-rotted manure and some bark mulch this month. But, I love the gorgeous grafted hybrid tea roses and thank the dedicated rosarians who do grow them, complete 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.

with the insulating cones and other extreme measures these plants sometimes require. Toads! My favorite, all-natural and organic weapon against slugs. The toads also do a good job catching moths who linger too long under the porch light. Sleep well, little toads. See you next spring. Year-round birds. Cardinals are my favorite, but I like the little chickadees, too. And the nuthatches. And, well, all of them. They bring movement, flash and delight all winter long. I have tried to landscape in a way that encourages their visits: many native plants replete with berries and seeds left in-situ, as well as sheltering thickets and evergreens for the coldest times this winter. Pond heater. Besides shimmering in the summer sunshine and splashing merrily when the fountain is running, the pond offers year-round water to the birds — as long as there is a gap in the ice. That gap allows for air exchange and helps keep the overwintering fish healthy, too. A small electric heater maintains a constant opening when the temperatures drop. Otherwise, they rely on me to melt a hole in the ice on super cold days. Slow down. It’s kind of nice to take a break from weeding, trimming, watering, grooming and otherwise finding constant chores outside. I’ll be missing it soon enough, but for now it’s good to relax and enjoy the view. Harvest. There’s something

to be said about serving homegrown produce. Especially after the end of the growing season. For some, it is a measure of economy or frugality, for others it is a matter of gourmet enjoyment, for some it is longstanding tradition and a taste of home, for others a newfound joy. Violas and pansies. I am a huge fan. The most cold-tolerant may bloom off and on during warm spells all winter long. I keep some at my southfacing doorstep and delight in saying hello to their sweet little faces whenever they appear. Metal wire. Hardware cloth, chicken wire and all manner of fence stand guard protecting tender plants from marauding critters. A pain to install, and an expense, but the peace of mind is, as they say, priceless. And best of all, it usually works.

TOADS MAKE THE LIST: Toads are an all-natural way to control garden pests so they make the “Thanksgiving” list.

Mulch by nature. That generous blanket of fallen leaves, now painstakingly raked off the lawn and chopped up with the lawn mower and returned to the growing beds. Leaf mould, like the natural fallen leaves in the forest, provides some insulation and temperature moderation. The leaves will recycle themselves with the help of countless micro-organisms to “feed” and replenish the soil. Anticipation. I am always thankful for the wonders and bounties (and lessons) of the growing season just past, and I always eagerly anticipate the one to come. So at the same time as we give thanks, I’m raising a happy toast. Here’s to the next one! What’s on your list? l

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PENNLINESclassified ISSUE MONTH: AD DEADLINE: Penn Lines classified advertisements reach more than 165,800 rural Pennsylvania households! January 2015 . . . November 18 Please note ads must be received by the due date to be included in the requested issue month. Ads February 2015 . . . December 17 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 March 2015 . . . . . . . January 19 by phone, fax or email. For more information please contact Vonnie Kloss at 717$233-5704. CLASSIFIED AD SUBMISSION/RATES: Please use the form below or submit a separate sheet with required information. Electric co-op members: $20 per month for 30 words or less, plus 50¢ for each additional word. Non-members: $70 per month for 30 words or less, plus $1.50 for each additional word. Ad in all CAPITAL letters: Add 20 percent to total cost. Please print my ad in all CAPITAL letters. PLACE AD IN THE MONTHS OF: . WORD COUNT: I am an electric co-op member. Attached is my Penn Lines mailing label. Name/Address or Mailing Label Here: Enclosed is payment in the amount of $ . I am a non-member. Address is noted or attached at right. Enclosed is payment in the amount of $ . 1

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. AROUND THE HOUSE

CONSULTING FORESTRY SERVICES

FINANCIAL FREEDOM

SPECIAL OFFER — BOTH COOKBOOKS FOR $12. “Country Cooking,” Volume 2 — $5, including postage. “Recipes Remembered,” Volume 3 — $7, including postage. Both of these cookbooks are a collection of recipes from men and women of the electric co-ops of Pennsylvania and New Jersey. Payable to: Pennsylvania Rural Electric Association, P. O. Box 1266, Harrisburg, PA 17108. Write Attention: Cookbooks. Volume 1 of “Country Cooking” is SOLD OUT.

NOLL’S FORESTRY SERVICES, INC. performs Timber Marketing, Timber Appraisals, Forest Management Planning, and Forest Improvement Work. FREE Timber Land Recommendations. 30 years experience. Call 814-472-8560.

Would an extra $3,500 per month make a difference in your life? I will show you an honest/ethical way that will make that happen. Jim 314-614-6039. Go to WWW.BLESSEDARETHERICH.COM. GIFT AND CRAFT IDEAS

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.

BUILDING SUPPLIES

CRANE SERVICE

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

NEED A LIFT? Crane service for all your lifting needs. Experienced, fully insured, Owner-Operated and OSHA Certified. Precision Crane LLC, Linesville, PA 814-282-9133. DRINKABLE AIR

HEALTH AND NUTRITION

FACTORY SECONDS of insulation, 4 x 8 sheets, foil back. RValue 6.5 per inch. Great for pole buildings, garages, etc. Also prime grade A foil bubble wrap insulation. 814-4426032.

No More GROUND WATER WOES, pure water at last! Home, office machines, residential, commercial, industrial. KGM Distributors Drinkable Air. 570-869-3040.

Tired of all those medicines — Still not feeling better? Do you want to feel better, have more energy, better digestion, less joint stiffness, healthier heart/circulation and cholesterol levels? Find out how to empower your own immune system — start I-26 today! It’s safe, affordable, and it works. Call 800-557-8477: ID#528390. 90-day money back on first time orders or call me 724-454-5586. www.mylegacyforlife.net/believeit.

BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES PIANO TUNING PAYS — Learn at home with American School of Piano Tuning home-study course in piano tuning and repair. Tools included. Diploma granted. Call for free brochure 800-497-9793. TIRED of the Rat Race? Want to own your business? Low cost, high-end leadership company has open positions! 814603-0231. CHURCH LIFT SYSTEMS Make your church, business or home wheelchair accessible. We offer platform lifting systems, stair lifts, porch lifts and ramps. References. Free estimates. Get Up & Go Mobility Inc. 724-746-0992 or 814-926-3622.

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EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES RETIRED NURSE of 40 years available home care. Good reference, Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Light housekeeping, meals. Call Louise 717-292-2669. Near my home.

HEALTH INSURANCE ESSENTIAL OILS TRANSFORM YOURSELF into a healthier more vibrant you with 100% therapeutic grade essential oil. 570-220-3817. Email me for your FREE kit with sample oils. angelofhealthrn@gmail.com. Website www.angelofhealth.vibrantscents.com.

DO YOU HAVE THE BLUES regarding your Health Insurance? We cater to rural America's health insurance needs. For more information, call 800-628-7804 (PA). Call us regarding Medicare supplements, too. HUNTING

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.

CUSTOM HAND MADE to order or in-stock wooden turkey calls of various woods and sizes. 814-267-5489 leave message for Precision Unlimited Inc., Berlin, PA.

PENNLINESclassified INFRARED SAUNAS Removes toxins, burns calories, relieves joint pain, relaxes muscles, increases flexibility, strengthens immune system. Many more HEALTH BENEFITS with infrared radiant heat saunas. Economical to operate. Barron’s Furniture, Somerset, PA. 814-443-3115. LANDOWNER INCOME OPPORTUNITY OUR SPORTSMEN will Pay top $$$ to hunt your land. Call for a Free Base Camp Leasing info packet & Quote. 866-3091507. www.BaseCampLeasing.com. LAWN AND GARDEN EQUIPMENT HARRINGTONS EQUIPMENT COMPANY, 475 Orchard Rd., Fairfield, PA 17320. 717-642-6001 or 410-756-2506. Lawn & Garden equipment, Sales – Service - Parts. www.HarringtonsEquipment.com LIVESTOCK AND PETS PEMBROKE WELSH CORGI Puppies — AKC, adorable, intelligent, highly trainable. Excellent family choice. Reputable licensed breeder guaranteed “Last breed you’ll ever own.” 814-587-3449. 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. Chestnut boards, hardware, etc. Thirty years experience, fully insured. Call 814-696-1379. www.villagerestorations.com.

Beautifully finished RAISED RANCH CUSTOM HOME on a magnificent secluded SW facing 12-acre country lot with wonderful eye catching views of Tamarack Valley. The home consists of a large kitchen, dining room, living room, family room, personal offices, large master bedroom with triple closets and private bath, two additional bedrooms, 3 1/2 baths, den, exercise room and a large 3-stall garage with work bench and double sink. Incredible sunsets and wildlife have to be seen to be believed from a SunSetter® retractable awning covered deck on this 12-acre lot. The setting is perfect. 814-332-0910. RECIPES AND FOOD SPECIAL OFFER — BOTH COOKBOOKS FOR $12. “Country Cooking,” Volume 2 — $5, including postage. “Recipes Remembered,” Volume 3 — $7, including postage. Both of these cookbooks are a collection of recipes from men and women of the electric co-ops of Pennsylvania and New Jersey. Payable to: Pennsylvania Rural Electric Association, P. O. Box 1266, Harrisburg, PA 17108. Write Attention: Cookbooks. Volume 1 of “Country Cooking” is SOLD OUT.

I CHANGED MY AIR FILTER. AND MY WARDROBE.

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.

MEDICARE INSURANCE TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT Medicare insurance does not have to be confusing! And one plan does not fit all! Going on Medicare soon? Already on Medicare and confused? We have the answers. CATHERINE BURNS INSURANCE SERVICES offering Medicare Supplements, Medicare Advantage and Prescription Drug Plans, Pre-Paid Burial, Life and Final Expense Insurance, Annuities, assistance qualifying for Pace/Pacenet. No charge, no obligation, no pressure! Call 877-327-1598 or email: ceburnsins@verizon.net. MISCELLANEOUS

FOR SALE: Vintage wind charger, good condition. 5 foot wood prop, good condition on 5 foot original metal stand has brackets to mount on higher stand. $450, OBO. Phone 814-634-5197 or 814-701-5756. 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.

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.

NEW SMYRNA BEACH, Florida condo rental. Two bedrooms, two baths, pool. 200 yards from beach. $500 weekly, $1,800 monthly. NA January – February. Call 814-635-4020.

PA HUNTING LICENSE Collection. First 50 years complete. Mounted on large keystone shape plexiglas covered wood framed wall hanging display case. Excellent condition. Will not separate. 570-478-2341 after 6 p.m.

NEW LOG CABIN on PA Allegheny Front. Audubon important bird area. Bald Eagles, Golden Eagles, Raptor migration from the front deck. Hunting, hiking, skiing, fishing. Rental six people maximum. 814-754-4512.

VACATIONS AND CAMPSITES

MOTORCYCLE-SNOWMOBILE INSURANCE

WANTED TO BUY

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

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.

PROBLEM WATER HARD WATER, High Iron, Bacteria or Slow Producing Wells? We have fixed water problems since 1974. Daniel J. Carney Inc. Water Treatment. Call 800-498-0777.

Saving money on my electric bill seemed like a good enough reason to update my closet. Find out what you can do at TogetherWeSave.com.

REAL ESTATE FROSTY HOLLOW, Bedford County, 5 acres wooded. Borders State Game lands. Small cabin in need of repair, $150,000. 814-224-4238. 60 ACRE FARM with home and 33,000 square feet of green houses, presently in bedding plant production. Excellent location and facility for hydroponic vegetable production. Expansion up to 12 acres of agricultural buildings is permissible. Located close to the Maryland/Pennsylvania line, south of York, PA. 717-235-2421.

United We Stand

T OG E T H E RW E S AV E .C OM

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SMARTcircuits

by James Dulley

Using fireplaces efficiently DURING the winter, a warm fire can be quite comfortable. Radiant heat from the flames and coals keeps you warm when you are sitting directly in front of an open fireplace. But unfortunately, most fireplaces lose more heat than they produce. That warm, relaxing open fire is actually costing you a lot of money. First, firewood must be purchased, which is not cheap. Second, the radiant heat feels nice in front of the fire, but already-heated air is being sucked up the chimney. This makes your heat pump or furnace run longer. Third, if there is no damper on the fireplace or the fireplace is not fitted with its own outdoor air source, indoor air is escaping up the chimney when the fireplace is not in use. Adding a source of combustion air that ducts into the fireplace can help a great deal — and this works well in combination with glass doors. The best tip is to avoid using the fireplace in extremely cold weather. All of the indoor air lost up the chimney is being drawn outdoors through leaks in the house exterior. During milder weather, the air leaking indoors is not as cold so less energy is needed to warm it up. It also helps to crack open a window in the room by the fireplace and close doors leading to the room. Much of the excess air being drawn up the chimney will be cold air from the open window. When sitting right in front of the hot fire, you probably will not notice the chilly breeze. Do not place wood into the fire several hours before bedtime so the fire is totally out by the time you go to sleep. It is not safe to leave a smoldering fire. Also, if the fire is completely out, you can close the chimney damper to block room air loss without filling the room with smoke. If you make just one investment to improve the efficiency of your fireplace, it 24

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should be to install high-quality glass doors. High-quality fireplace doors are not cheap, but they are worth the expense. The best doors are relatively airtight when closed. By adjusting combustion air vents in the bottom of the glass door frame, you can still have a raging fire without major indoor air loss. Keep in mind, the fire does need an adequate supply of combustion air for an efficient, clean burn. If the air flow is reduced too much, creosote buildup occurs, leaving the potential for a chimney fire. I recommend having the chimney inspected regularly and using a creosote control spray during each fire. Burn only well-seasoned wood or no more than one unseasoned log to three seasoned ones. There are several designs of heat-circulating grates that increase the heat output from a fireplace. Many efficient grates are designed to fit snugly under the bottom edge of the fireplace doors and contain an electric blower that circulates indoor air through the grate, keeping the air warm. If you decide to purchase a heat-circulating grate, select a model with a blower that has several speeds and a thermostat with an on/off switch. This switch shuts

off the blower when the fire burns down. If you prefer to use the fireplace with the doors open, tubular heat-circulating grates are available to blow the heat directly out the front. Other models have no blower and rely on natural convection. A circulating heat exchanger with built-in glass doors is also available for a more airtight combination. Also, an optional upper oven section is available for cooking and baking, which can help reduce energy use. When your fireplace is not in use, insert an inflatable chimney pillow or balloon in the fireplace flue. This seals much better than the chimney damper. Chimney top dampers, which operate from indoors with a chain, also help reduce air leakage and keep critters and debris out of the chimney. For additional tips and information about fireplace efficiency, check out TogetherWeSave.com’s Home Efficiency Analysis Tool at http://homeefficiency. togetherwesave.com. l Have a question for Jim? Send inquiries to JAMES DULLEY , Penn Lines, 6906 Royalgreen Drive, Cincinnati, OH 45244 or visit www.dulley.com.

OUTDOORadventures

Reliving the adventures of the young and (mostly) clueless A HIGH SCHOOL friend, Leo Bettinger, and I spent some time reliving old memories at our class reunion the other night. It’s been a while. He’s lived in Alaska for nearly 30 years. The third member of our group, Randy Hoffman, who lives much closer than Alaska, could not make it to the reunion. But as Leo and I recalled the misadventures I led us through in our teen years, I wondered how they have lived anywhere over the past 30 years. It’s a marvel any of us survived those teen years at all. Our first death-defying outing found us heading into the wilds of a spot in northern Lebanon County known as Small Valley. It was one of the most remote spots within an easy drive for drop-off on Friday evening and pick-up Sunday by my father. is is outdoor and nature writer at PennLive.com, the website of The Harrisburg, Pa., PatriotNews. He also writes for a range of magazines and websites, and has written more than two dozen books. For more of his writing, visit www.marcusschneck.com. MARCUS SCHNECK

by Marcus Schneck

We could camp next to a native trout stream, which I emphasized in outlining the weekend along with the probability of us eating just fine while bringing very little of our own food along. The weather forecast was for clear skies and warm temperatures, so we could sleep under the stars. My parents, both more experienced campers than me, insisted that my pack should include some backup, just-in-case items, like some canned foods, freeze-dried meals, candy and an emergency tent that looked a lot like a gigantic garbage bag without a bottom. Leo and Randy were not lucky enough to see such intercession by their parents and came on the trip relying on my prognostications about food and shelter. They embarked with sleeping bags, jackets, knives and little more in their packs. The intermittent, but occasionally heavy, rains started just after sunset on Friday. We huddled in the garbage bag, grateful for the shelter it provided. Our fishing skills were not up to the challenge of the trout. We shared the food my parents had sent along — at bit grudgingly on my part at first. And, about 48 hours later, my father picked up three wet, cold and hungry teens. It wasn’t our lack of fishing skills, but a lack of fish, that thwarted us on a camping trip to Locust Lake State

Park in Schuylkill County soon after the park was opened around a man-made lake. We took plenty of food along and did not plan on eating fish for any of our meals. However, that didn’t keep us from wasting days on the lake, casting lures and bait for fish that had not yet been stocked into the newly created lake. Leo and Randy had yet to learn from past experiences and joined me on yet another outing to a campsite along the Juniata River, where activities on the water would be the focus for the entire trip. That turned out to be less than an optimal plan for someone as fair-skinned as Leo, whose upper body soon was covered in massive, liquid blisters. A day out of the sun with careful treatment and Leo was ready for action, as long as he exposed as little

FISHING MEMORIES: Some

fishing trips remain in a lifetime memory bank due to great success; others remain for different reasons.

skin as possible. That freed us for some messing around with the rowboat in the river. And that eventually led to a mishap with the boat floating over Leo, pressing him almost to the river bottom, where he grabbed onto something that sliced his hand fiercely. If we had taken him to a doctor, he probably would have received at least a few stitches. We’ve dispersed into our adult lives and haven’t found the opportunity for any recent outings. I wonder, if I asked, how eager would they be to make the trip. And, if we did, would everyone be coming back, given my track record? l

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PUNCHlines

Thoughts from Earl Pitts, UHMERIKUN! Remember the good ol’ days when families ate fast food together in a car in the parking lot?

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.

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Sometimes I get a little misty-eyed when I think about the good ol’ days. I mean, there was lots of things we used to do back in the day that we don’t do no more. And that’s sad. The world’s getting faster, and we’re losing some of our humanity. I thought about this drivin’ through the McDonald’s last night. You know what you don’t see no more? You don’t see a family settin’ in their car eating no more. No sir. You eat while you’re driving. Or you take it home and eat it. There used to be a time when a family saw the value of settin’ in a parking lot and eatin’ in a car. I mean, that’s your quality family time right there. Kids in the back seat throwin’ French fries at each other. Mom’s got a milkshake up on the dashboard. Dad’s got his nugget-dipping sauce balanced between his knees. You don’t see families today takin’ the time to eat together like that no more. And that is a shame. I remember my daddy used to take us out on Friday night to the Red Barn. And we’d set there in the car, eating Barnbusters and thinkin’ that was how the Rockefellers must’a lived. And then the whole rest of the weekend, that car used to smell like onion rings and secret sauce. You know, they got fast food and they got casual food. And now they come up with something called fast casual. What I miss is fast, redneck, casual food. Wake up, America. So bring back American values. Throw your kids in the car tonight and eat in the Wendy’s parking lot. And tell ‘em Earl sent you.

I was working at the Duck Inn last night — twistin’ long-necks and mindin’ my own business — when Buddy Carson come in there. You all know Buddy, right? Our local independent insurance agent. Now don’t get me wrong. I appreciate

your insurance agents. Their job is to sell you something you don’t want to use. That would be like selling you a car, and you don’t want the keys. So these got to be the best salespeople ever. And I appreciate anybody that’s good at their job. Anyways, Buddy has been after me all these years to increase my life insurance. He says $20,000 will not see to the welfare and comfort of my survivors. I figure that I’m just trying to help them get by. I don’t want my death to be like them hitting the lottery. Because then they might start buying more tickets, if you know what I mean. I says, “Here’s my problem, Buddy. Last night, I paid my car insurance. So I added up my car insurance, my life insurance, my house insurance, my health insurance, dental insurance, eyecare insurance, mortgage insurance, and that major appliance insurance we bought when we got the new washer and dryer. You add all that up, and I figure I’m shelling out about a third of my income hopin’ nothing happens.” And Buddy says, “Yeah, Earl, but the insurance is there when you need it.” And I says, “Yeah, but you know what — I figured out the only way this insurance stuff is gonna break my way. I have to total my car, running into my own house, and spend five weeks in a coma before I die.” He says, “Crazier things have happened, Earl. …” And then I remember, “And one more thing. I got to hit the new washer.” Wake up, America! I already told my better half, Pearl, if the doctors ever come to you and want to pull the plug, see what the bill is up to first. They can wait until we at least break even. I’m Earl Pitts, Uhmerikun. Buy my book at earlpittsamerican.com. Like me on Facebook. And you can catch my new blog at Earlpittsamerican.com. l

RURALreflections Thank you IT’S THE traditional season to give thanks, so we want to join in by thanking all of the amateur photographers who submitted photos for our 2014 “Rural Reflections” contest, which is now closed. Winning photos, chosen by an independent panel of judges, will be printed in the January and February issues of Penn Lines. You can now begin submitting your photos for the 2015 contest. If your photo wins top honors, you could receive a $75 prize in one of our five contest categories: most artistic, best landscape, best human subject, best animal and editor’s choice. Send photos (no digital files, please) to: Penn Lines Photos, P.O. Box 1266, Harrisburg, PA 17108-1266. On the back of each photo, include your name, address, phone number and the name of the electric cooperative that serves your home, business or seasonal residence. The best way to include that information is by affixing an address label to the back of the photo. 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 specific season may be sent at any time. Please note: photos will be returned at the end of each contest year if a self-addressed, stamped envelope is included. l

Karen Doersom Adams EC

Gail Rolls Adams EC

Michael & Jessica Neese REA Energy

Gary Martin Somerset REC

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