N OV E M B E R 20 1 5
Rural airways Local airports connecting cooperative members
PLUS Insulated window shades Green light against the night Irons and griddles
NOVEMBER Vol. 50 • No. 11 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
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E N E R G Y M AT T E R S
Saving energy in the kitchen
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CO N T R I B U T I N G CO L U MN I S TS
W. Douglas Shirk
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KEEPING CURRENT News items from across the Commonwealth
L AY O UT & D ES I G N
Vonnie Kloss A DV E R T I S I NG & C I R CU L AT I O N
Michelle M. Smith
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Rural airways
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 Local airports connecting cooperative members
12A 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
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TIME LINES Your newsmagazine through the years
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SMART CIRCUITS
Insulated window shades save energy, increase comfort 17
OUT D OOR A DV ENT UR ES
Green light against the night 18
COUNTRY KITCHEN
Irons and griddles 19
SPOTLIGHT
Columnist turns attention to art 20
CLASSIFIEDS
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PUNCH LINES
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Thoughts from Earl Pitts– Uhmerikun! 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
Walking may add years to your life, but it will also add ‘life’ to your years
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RURAL REFLECTIONS
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Thank you, photographers
© 2015 Pennsylvania Rural Electric Association. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission is prohibited.
O N T H E COV E R 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.
Ed and Lois Sell, members of New Enterprise Rural Electric Cooperative, are among hundreds of Pennsylvania residents who have their own private-use airstrips. Photo by Kathy Hackleman
NOVEMBER 2015 • PENN
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ENERGYmatters Saving energy in the kitchen By B r i a n S l o b o da
THE HOLIDAYS are upon us, which means most of us will be spending a lot of time in the kitchen. Whether you are considering replacing an appliance or simply looking for small ways to be more efficient, here are some tips to help you save energy — and money. It sits in the kitchen, quietly humming away to keep your food cold. Most people don’t think about their refrigerator that often — as long as it’s working. A refrigerator typically runs for several years without any problems — but that doesn’t mean it’s performing to its optimal capacity. Older refrigerators use more energy. Upgrading this appliance can bring a major return on your investment. According to Energy Star, if your refrigerator is from the 1980s, replacing it with a new model could cut your electric bill by $100 a year. If you bought your refrigerator in the 1970s, the savings could be as much as $200 a year. Cooking can also be a big energy expender — in more ways than one. But there are a few ways to save energy
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.
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while cooking. Placing the lid on a pot of boiling water will trap heat and cause the water to come to a boil faster. And there is no need to preheat the oven when cooking a large piece of meat, like a turkey or ham (you do need to preheat when baking or cooking smaller dishes). And, if you are planning on using the oven for a long period of time — for instance, when you are cooking one of those large pieces of meat — you might be able to turn down your home’s thermostat. The simple act of cooking will add warmth to the home because the heat from the oven can raise the temperature in the kitchen and surrounding rooms. This is especially true if you are hosting a party. Once your home begins to fill with people, the temperature will quickly begin to rise. Even after the meal is over, there are still ways for you to save energy. The first is to make sure that your dishwasher is full before it’s started. Next, make sure you are using the right setting on your dishwasher. Many newer dishwashers have sensors that detect how clean your dishes are. When these auto cycles are used, they will get dishes clean without wasting energy or water. The sanitize setting should rarely be used since it is energy-intensive. It is also a good idea to make sure the filter at the bottom of the wash-tub is cleaned. This will help the washer work at its optimal level. One of the cheapest and easiest ways to save energy in the kitchen is to replace existing lights with LEDs. Not only do they use less energy — you don’t have to replace them nearly as often. Plus, their costs have come down in recent years, making them far more affordable to install. (Note: if you currently have linear fluorescent lamps, converting to LEDs may be too expensive to justify.) As you can see, there are many dif-
ferent ways to practice efficiency in the kitchen, and who knows — you could even save enough money to treat the family to dinner out a couple of times a year. l Brian Sloboda is a senior program manager specializing in energy efficiency for the Cooperative Research Network, a service of the Arlington, Va.-based National Rural Electric Cooperative Association. The Cooperative Research Network monitors, evaluates, and applies technologies that help electric cooperatives control costs, increase productivity, and enhance service to their consumers. Additional content provided by ESource.
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KEEPINGcurrent Remembering Gold Star families In 2016, Penn Lines is planning a special Memorial Day feature about Gold Star families who are consumer-members of a Pennsylvania rural electric cooperative. A Gold Star family is a family who has lost a father, mother, brother, sister, son, daughter or other loved one who died during wartime in service to the nation. The term “Gold Star” refers to banners first flown by families during World War I. Banners were decorated with blue stars — one for each family member serving in any branch of the U.S. armed forces. If that family member died during the war, the blue star was replaced with a gold star — a tradition that continues today. If you are a Gold Star family, or know of a cooperative member who is part of a Gold Star family, please let us know by email at editor@prea.com or by mail to Penn Lines Editor, P.O. Box 1266, Harrisburg, PA 17108-1266.
Rural electric program leader honored with 150th birthday party Gifford Pinchot, who was elected to two, four-year terms as governor of Pennsylvania (in 1922 and 1931), and was honored for his conservation efforts by having a state park named after him, was recognized on Oct. 11. On the 150th anniversary of Pinchot’s birth, the Gifford PinGov. Gifford chot State Park in York Pinchot County hosted a birthday celebration that included tree planting, tree crafts and birthday cake. Pinchot was appointed by President Theodore Roosevelt as the nation’s first chief forester in the U.S. Division of Forestry in 1898. In Pennsylvania, Pinchot is well known for setting up work camps during the Great Depression that 6
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Reader input still being accepted Randomly selected Penn Lines readers who received a four-page reader survey in October have until Dec. 15, 2015, to return the completed questionnaire to be eligible to win an iPad Mini. This survey is one of the important ways in which Penn Lines magazine and advertising staff gauges readers’ likes and dislikes, which helps determine editorial and advertising content for the publication. The questionnaire takes just minutes to complete and all responses are kept in strict confidence. If you were one of the readers who received a survey in the mail, please complete it and return it in the provided postage-paid reply envelope.
would become the model for the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) work camps. Men at the CCC work camps built more than 20,000 miles of paved roads in rural Pennsylvania. But Pinchot’s most significant contribution to the life of rural Pennsylvanians came in the form of support for what would become the rural electric cooperative system. That support is noted on a state historical marker in Crawford County, home of Cambridge Springs-based Northwestern Rural Electric Cooperative. One of Pinchot’s top priorities after he became governor in 1923 was to bring affordable electricity to the state’s rural areas. Pinchot hired Morris Llewellyn Cooke to develop a plan to distribute power throughout Pennsylvania. Pinchot introduced the plan in the state legislature seven times, but it was never enacted. Cooke would go on to become the first director of the Rural Electrification Administration (REA), created by executive order by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1935. Carrying out Pinchot’s dream for the electrification of rural Pennsylvania, Cooke approved the first REA loan in Pennsylvania for the Steamburg Electric Cooperative Association, which later became Northwestern Rural Electric Cooperative. The first REA pole in Pennsylvania was set on Aug. 5, 1936, on the A.D. Stainbrook farm near Meadville. Pinchot died in 1946. The Gifford Pin-
chot State Forest in Washington state is also named in his honor.
State ups penalty for killing eagles People who kill golden or bald eagles soon will face stiffer penalties under Pennsylvania law. In addition to fines, the penalty will include $2,500 for replacement costs for each dead eagle. Previously, the replacement cost fee was $200 per eagle. The Pennsylvania Board of Game Commissioners said the board’s recent action to increase fees reflects the fact that although golden and bald eagles are recovered in Pennsylvania, they still need further protection.
Hunters asked to report banded pheasants The Pennsylvania Game Commission is conducting a study to assess harvest rates of ring-necked pheasants that were raised on game farms, and then released in the wild to provide hunting opportunities. About 5,500 banded pheasants and more than 200,000 non-banded pheasants will be released over the course of this hunting season. Each leg band is stamped with a tollfree number that hunters can call to provide the date and location of harvest. Hunters who participate in this study will provide important information that is crucial to the success of the study, and state officials are urging all hunters who bag a banded pheasant to report their harvest. In addition, anyone who observes a
Ag department launches farmer veterans program The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture is recognizing farmers who are veterans through a partnership with its PA Preferred program and the Homegrown By Heroes (HBH) initiative. PA Preferred is the official Pennsylvania branding program used to identify locally sourced agricultural products made or Russell Redding grown in Pennsylvania. HBH is the official farmer veteran branding program in the United States. Products with the HBH logo are produced by military veterans from all branches and eras of military service. Pennsylvania Secretary of Agriculture Russell Redding has said that 2 percent of our population feeds us and another 2 percent protects us, and many do both. This partnership is one way to recognize and support them. For more information about the PA Preferred program, go to www.papreferred.com, and for more information about the HBH program, go to www.farmvetco.org/homegrown-by-heroes.
Gettysburg Cyclorama painting to be open ‘after hours’ “An Evening with the Painting,” a special after-hours exclusive program highlighting the Gettysburg Cyclorama painting at the Gettysburg National Military Park Museum and Visitor Center, has been scheduled. Visitors will be able to explore the history of the genre of cycloramas in general, as well as the specific history of the Battle of Gettysburg Cyclorama. The presentation will include a discussion of the multi-
year conservation effort of the large painting, along with time to view the painting in full light and a journey under the diorama to see how the illusion comes to life. The painting, done in the late 1880s by French artist Paul Philippoteaux and a team of assistants, measures 377 feet in circumference and is 42 feet high (longer than a football field and as tall as a four-story building). It focuses on the BEHIND THE SCENES: Attendees at upcoming showings of the fury of Pickett’s Charge during Gettysburg Cyclorama will get a special view of the massive painting. the third day of the Battle of Gettysburg. Conservation hours, is scheduled for 4:30 and 6:30 p.m. work was done on the painting from time Nov. 20 and 5 p.m. Dec. 12. Attendance is to time, and beginning in 2003, the paintlimited. Tickets can be purchased in ing underwent a five-year, $13 million advance at the ticket counter in the rehabilitation/preservation project. It is lobby of the Gettysburg National Milinow located in the Gettysburg National Military Park Museum and Visitor Center tary Park Museum and Visitor Center or by calling the Reservations Department in its own viewing auditorium. at 877-874-2478. l The program, which lasts about two
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banded pheasant that is found dead (for example, if it was hit by a vehicle) is also asked to report to the commission. The Pennsylvania Game Commission will use the results of this study to determine pheasant harvest rates, but also to assess where opportunities exist to maximize the number of hunter-harvested pheasants through changes in stocking strategies.
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RURAL AIRWAYS Local airports connecting cooperative members 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
E
d Sell’s childhood memories are filled with tales of flying exploits by neighbor Allen Baker, who flew a B-24 bomber for the U.S. Army Air Force in World War II. “I was born and raised here on this place,” Sell says of his Bedford County home served by New Enterprise Rural Electric Cooperative. “Allen was our closest neighbor and when we were kids, we worked with him, making hay and other chores. He would talk to us about flying and I always knew that’s what I wanted to do. He was a big influence on me.” At first, Sell listened to Baker’s stories about flying. Later, Sell had his own flying stories to share
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with Baker. It is thanks to Baker, who passed away earlier this year in his mid90s, that Sell now has a family airstrip. Sell didn’t own enough level land to build an airstrip, but Baker did. Years ago, they transferred some land between their families, and the Sells built the airstrip between the residences. That means Sell and his wife, Lois, can walk out their door, across their yard, push their four-seat Cessna Skyhawk 172 out of its hangar, taxi down the grass runway, and take off. “Back when gas was 60 cents a gallon, we flew all the time,” Sell says. “We have flown to Florida, Wisconsin, all over. Now we pretty much just fly around in this area.” Sell is one of approximately 19,000 licensed Pennsylvania pilots, his plane is one of more than 8,000 aircraft based in the state, and his airstrip is one of more than 600 private-use and 130 public-use airports in Pennsylvania, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation’s Bureau of Aviation. The airports — or aviation facilities as
they are officially known by the state — range from international airports down to what to the untrained eye looks like a mowed field. Whatever their size, they provide a gateway into and out of Pennsylvania for both people and products.
Economic impact But they are more than that. According to a study prepared for the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation’s Bureau of Aviation by consultant Wilbur Smith Associates, Inc., airports also stimulate economic activity through jobs, contribute to the attraction and retention of businesses, facilitate the emergency transfer of patients to local and area medical centers, and provide assistance in local law enforcement and search-and-rescue operations. Statewide, the industry employs more than 304,000 people and provides more than $23.6 billion in annual revenue impact, according to the Bureau of Aviation. DuBois Regional Airport, which is served by United Electric Cooperative, is one of the state’s small commercial aviation
AIRPLANE LINEUP: Nearly 40 planes from three states participate in the 2015 fly-in at Brokenstraw Airport in Warren County. The airport is served by Warren Electric Cooperative.
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PENNlines facilities, recording between 5,000 and 6,000 commercial passengers annually. The Wilbur Smith Associates Inc. study lists its direct economic impact at $12.8 million for airport output with another $3.1 million for visitor output. It may be on the small side for an airport, but DuBois Regional Airport Manager Bob Shaffer says, “We give anyone access to the world through Silver Airways, which offers daily flights with 34passenger turboprops from DuBois to Dulles International Airport in Washington, D.C.” As for why passengers choose to fly out of DuBois? Shaffer says, “It’s handy. The parking is free, and the TSA lines are short, because the most people you’ll ever have in front of you is 33. It’s also reasonably priced.” The airline has a maintenance facility onsite, along with a restaurant, rental car office, rental space for 20 private planes and a maintenance shop. It is operated by an airport authority, with a nine-member board appointed by
Flying community
BEHIND THE COUNTER: United Electric Cooperative member Patty Benninger, a customer service agent for Silver Airways Corp., is the first face most flyers see when they arrive at the DuBois Regional Airport.
Clearfield County and Jefferson County officials. It operates as its own municipality, with a private water system, fire hydrants, fire department, sewage treatment plant and small industrial park with two additional businesses: Cactus Wellhead and Orien Drilling.
Sky’s the limit GLIDERS SHARE AIRSPACE WITH AIRPLANES By K at h y H ac k l e m a n
Airports aren’t only for airplanes. At some airports — like Brokenstraw Airport in Warren County — small airplanes and gliders share air space. Other facilities — like the Mid-Atlantic Soaring Center in Adams County — cater exclusively to glider pilots. Brokenstraw Airport, which is served by Warren Electric Cooperative, is a well-known spot for “soaring” — what glider pilots call using lift to power their unpowered aircraft. Al Gustafson, a glider pilot from Warren, says the prevalence of thermals, which help provide that lift, makes Brokenstraw Airport ideal for soaring. Gustafson has been fascinated with gliders since the early 1970s. “At my military base in Vietnam, they had a top-secret aircraft,” he recalls. “It was always covered with a shroud. One time I saw it without the shroud and I took a photo. It was a glider. It didn’t work out too well for the military, but it sparked my interest in gliders, and when I got back to the U.S., I looked into it.” Gustafson is one of about 20 members of the Brokenstraw Soaring Club, which has more than a dozen single-seat gliders based at the airport, along with a two-seat club trainer. For those not familiar with soaring — it involves a tow plane (a small plane that attaches to an engine-less glider with a rope), the glider and an upward current of warm air
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Smaller yet, but still critical to its community, is the Brokenstraw Airport near Pittsfield. In fact, it was Brokenstraw Airport owner Bill Holder’s dream to “save” aviation in Warren County that led him to purchase the small airport in 1992 when its owner — John Teconchuk — died and his family had no interest in operating the airport. The airport is served by Warren Electric Cooperative. While he has succeeded to this point, he’s unsure what the distant future holds for small airports. “There are fewer and fewer people flying as the years pass,” Holder says. “It’s probably due to a combination of things — people don’t want to take the time to study to get a license, and the cost of fuel has gone up from around $2 (per gallon) in 1992 to more than $5.40 now.” In the meantime, he’s doing what he loves — flying and working on airplanes. He has completed multiple upgrades since taking over the airport, including adding a fuel farm, regrading and light-
known as a thermal. The plane’s pilot typically tows the glider to about 2,000 feet and disengages the rope. The glider pilot is on his own from there. Besides the obvious goal of landing safely, the glider pilot can either focus on staying aloft for as long as possible or traveling as far as possible. A typical glider’s top speed is around 100 to 150 miles per hour. At Brokenstraw Airport, airplanes and gliders share the air space around Pittsfield, but at the Mid-Atlantic Soaring Center near Fairfield, it’s all about soaring. Located at a privately owned airport served by Adams Electric Cooperative, the center operates a three-runway, 119-acre facility. The Mid-Atlantic Soaring Association has about 90 members, making it one of the largest U.S. soaring clubs. The association has six gliders (including four two-seaters for instruction) and four tow planes, and many members have their own gliders. Rick Fuller, a former president and safety officer, says club activities are scheduled every weekend March through
ing the runway, and constructing a 10unit, T-hangar, office/pilot lounge, and most recently, a new maintenance hangar. (Much of the construction work was done by Turner Enterprises, owned by Dave Turner, chairman of the Warren EC board. A pilot, Turner also keeps two planes at the airport hangar.) “I wouldn’t exactly call this an occupation,” Holder says with an easy laugh. “I work full time for little money, but I enjoy the camaraderie.” The camaraderie he talks about was on full display at the annual fly-in, held in late August at the airport. Nearly 40 planes from three states — Pennsylvania, Ohio and New York — participated, with pilots and passengers flying in for a traditional barbecue with all the fixin’s provided by Holder and Sue Wonderling. Brokenstraw Airport is home to two flying clubs, along with Valair Flying Service, which provides instruction and aircraft rentals. The Warren Aviation Club, founded in 1958, has been at the Brokenstraw Airport since 1972. The club, which has
BUSINESS TRAVEL: Mark Folk, owner of Keystone Lime Company and the Keystone Lime Airport, enjoys flying for fun, but over the years he has taken many trips to industry meetings and to pick up parts for his business, which is served by Somerset Rural Electric Cooperative.
10 members, owns a Cessna 172, and members pay an initiation fee, monthly dues and plane rental rates.
Hyperlocal If Brokenstraw Airport is considered “small,” then the only word that could
November (weather permitting). Activities include flight training, cross-country flying, task competitions and hosting one of many Soaring Society of America regional sailplane racing contests. “Soaring is all about going up and finding lift, which comes in different forms,” notes Fuller, a retired U.S. Navy pilot. “Think of cross-country competition like a sailboat race,” he says. “You have to go around certain turn points. You HIGH IN THE SKY: This photo by Baude cruise on one thermal, go Litt, taken for the Mid-Atlantic Soaring around one point, pick up Association near Fairfield, Pa., shows the next thermal, round the bird’s-eye view glider pilots have another turn, and finally from the air. The association is housed come back home. Disat the Mid-Atlantic Soaring Center, a tances covered can be up member of Adams Electric Cooperative. to 100 to 200 miles.” What if the glider pilot doesn’t hit the correct thermals to bring him home? “You can always land on a small grass airstrip,” he says. “Or there are farmers’ fields. We get good at two things: analyzing the local weather and looking at fields to see which ones you could land in safely if you can’t make it back.” If that happens, he adds, it’s not a major problem as the
be used to describe the Keystone Lime Airport in southern Somerset County is “tiny.” Mark Folk, owner of Keystone Lime Company, headquartered in Fort Hill, and a member of Somerset Rural Electric Cooperative, says many of his flying
gliders break down easily and can be trailered back to the airstrip. All the pilot needs is a friend willing to drive the trailer to the impromptu landing zone. And the ability to choose a safe landing spot. “You learn all of that in training,” Fuller says. “Students learn how to operate the glider, everything about thermals and how to do a safe spot landing.” Integral to completing a safe landing — whether planned or unplanned — is learning how to operate the controls, including the control stick and rudders, along with “spoilers” — fences atop the wings that change the lift. Speed is controlled by adjusting the glider’s nose down for faster or up for slower. The perfect day for soaring is a sunny, mild day without a lot of wind, Fuller says, noting the National Weather Service and several dedicated soaring prognosticators do a good job of predicting soaring conditions. The Fairfield airport is excellent for gliding, Fuller says, due to its location and types of lift. In addition to the common thermal lift, the area also is known for its “ridge lift,” which allows gliders to fly along the ridges low and fast. A third, more unusual, type of lift in the area is the “wave lift,” Fuller notes. During the right meteorological conditions, the air flows like water over rocks, providing “bounces” at high altitudes. This only occurs occasionally in the late fall, winter or early spring. “Still, the No. 1 rule is always, always stay within glide range of a good field,” he adds.
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PENNlines hours have been for pleasure, but he has also racked up business hours in the air. “There’s a big machinery place in Pittsburgh that has a little airport,” he says. “I have flown there for lots of parts. It only takes me 20 minutes to get there, so I save time and have fun while doing it.” The Cessna Skylane 182 — his fifth plane — is only one of several planes that use the Keystone Lime Airport. It’s not classified as a public-use airport, but it is listed on aviation maps for use in case of emergencies or with permission, and Folk says it’s not unusual to have an aircraft land weekly. That’s because it has a long, paved runway, uncommon for a private facility. “I have always liked to fly, and we had a grass airstrip that was sufficient for what I wanted to do,” he relates. “One of the things we do at Keystone Lime is crush stone and make blacktop, and one day I went to Milwaukee for parts. When I came back, my father had paved the strip. After it was paved, more people began to want to land. One day, the FAA people came and said, ‘Why don’t you just put it on the aviation map?’ That’s when we began to get more traffic.”
That traffic is not always a small plane. Once, crews fighting a nearby forest fire based their tanker trucks at the airstrip and flew in to load their helicopters. Somerset Rural Electric Cooperative has also used the airport to refuel helicopters that are checking and clearing rightsof-way around electric lines. As Folk looks toward retirement, he expects business flying trips to wind down. Of his three daughters who work with him — Beverly Critchfield, Melinda Gibson and Kendra Geigra — only Critchfield has flown regularly with him, and he doesn’t anticipate she’ll ever pick up parts in a plane. Back on their grass runAT YOUR SERVICE: Ed Sell holds the airplane door open for his way the Sells contemplate where their next meal will be. wife, Lois, as she boards their small aircraft in preparation for taking off from their on-farm, private airstrip in Bedford County. The While they don’t fly the longSells are members of New Enterprise Rural Electric Cooperative. distance runs they once did, their love of flying remains — even if it’s flying somewhere just to get a ner,” says Ed Sell. “We pick an airport that has a restaurant or a courtesy car bite to eat. and we’ll go out to eat. We love to fly. It’s “We’ll go to Lancaster, DuBois, fun, it’s relaxing.” l Latrobe, Johnstown for breakfast or din-
DIFFERENT SIZES: DuBois Regional Airport, one of the state’s small commercial aviation facilities, caters to small, private aircraft, as well as 34-passenger turboprops operated by Silver Airways Corp. that fly daily to Dulles International Airport in Washington, D.C. The airport is served by United Electric Cooperative.
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BEHOLD A 40-FOOT STAKE IN THE GROUND.
In 1935, this was more than a pole. It was a symbol of determination. It spurred hope, cooperation and growth. And today, you can keep that spirit alive in your co-op by saving energy. Find out how at TogetherWeSave.com.
TOGE T HERW E S AV E .C OM
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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
2005 FOR AMERICANS surrounded by electrical devices, planet Earth seems like one big “connected” community. But it’s not. Many parts of the world still face conditions similar to those that existed in rural regions of the United States in the 1930s when electricity was available in cities, but not across the countryside. In 2005, 81 percent of Asia’s rural population still lacked electricity, while 96 percent of those living in undeveloped areas in Africa did not have electricity. Since the early 1960s, the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA) — through NRECA International Ltd. and NRECA International Foundation — has helped rural residents get power in places like Bangladesh, Belize, Bolivia, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Haiti, Nicaragua, the Philippines, Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda. The international effort taps the skills and technical know-how of thousands of electric cooperative employees across the United States with electrification plans tailored to best meet the needs of local communities. The outreach relies on the time-tested electric cooperative business model — giving people practical experience in democratic decisionmaking and free enterprise so they can launch locally driven services. In the late 1960s, electric cooperative employees working through NRECA established a distribution cooperative in Santa Cruz, Bolivia, that by 2005 was one of the largest distribution cooperatives in the world, serving 260,000 members. In 2015, the cooperative has more than 300,000 members, and remains one of the largest distribution cooperatives in the world.
1975 The Railroad Museum in Strasburg is one of a network of museums and historic sites operated by the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission. 14
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1985 Roy and Carol Decker, Sussex, N.J., aren’t often visible in the woods, but they are there. Hidden in a blind, he photographs wild animals while she sketches them.
1995 Depending on the viewpoint, Pennsylvania’s deer herd is either a cash cow or a marauding menace, and everyone has an idea on how to manage it.
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SPECIAL OFFER Two cookbooks for the price of $12 “Recipes Remembered� & “Country Cooking� “Recipes Remembered� and “Country Cooking� include favorite recipes from electric co-op men and women in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. “Recipes Remembered� 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.
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SMARTcircuits
by James Dulley
Insulated window shades save energy, increase comfort IF YOU FEEL chilly sitting near a window, you’re likely losing energy, which drives up your utility bills. This is also true during the summer when heat transfers in and forces your air conditioner to run longer. If replacement windows will exceed your budget, window shades are a reasonably priced option that will help. Remember to caulk and weather strip your windows before making any other window efficiency improvements. Move a stick of lighted incense near all gaps and watch the trail of the smoke to find air leaks. Do this during windy weather, or briefly switch on an exhaust fan to draw outdoor air in through the gaps. Installing insulated window shades will provide the most improved comfort and energy savings year-round. Several years ago, I installed window shades with an R-6 insulation value in my home office. This increased the overall R-value from R-2 to R-8 and improved comfort. When selecting insulated window shades, there are important factors to consider, such as the R-value, how well they seal when closed, ease of operation and appearance. Before you make a purchase, try to operate a sample insulated shade that’s similar in size to your needs. If the shade is difficult to open and close, you are less likely to use it as often as you should. Almost all commercially available window shades list the R-value on the packaging. They typically include some type of air barrier film sewn inside the shade to block air flow through it. An aluminized or other type of low-emissive film is best to help block the radiant heat transfer through the shade material. 16
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There should be deep vertical tracks, which mount on the sides of the window opening, for the edges of the shade material. Deeper tracks create a longer path for air leakage to travel, so they provide a better seal. Adhesive-backed vinyl tracks are often included with the shades. Also, look for brush or foam weather stripping on the bottom edge where it rests on the windowsill when closed. If you buy insulated shades that do not have vertical tracks, it is possible to make your own. Buy long pieces of aluminum U-channel. Most home center stores carry them in the hardware aisle. Stick them to the wall with a strong double-sided tape, or drill small holes and mount them with screws. Aluminum is easy to saw to length and easy to drill. Cellular shades are a less expensive option and are best to use where you want some natural light to get through. The double-cell shades create an addi-
tional air gap for better insulation. Since their width grows as they are pulled up and collapsed, side channels are not very effective with this option. The most common type of do-it-yourself window shade is a Roman shade design. The key to efficiency is to make them as thick as possible, while still being able to fold them up when opened. Include a reflective air barrier between the center layers. Reflective Mylar film works well for this and is very flexible. If you do not want to install or make insulated shades, try closing the drapes at night. Some drapes, which are opaque and have a silvery backing, offer more efficiency improvement than plain fabric drapes. 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
Green light against the night
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
SORTING some outdoor gear into various storage containers the other day, I came across our current Coleman lanterns — durable, batterypowered, quad lanterns that can also be separated into four flashlights each. I love those lanterns. In six or seven years of camping, fishing, emergencies and whatever, they’ve never failed me. It wasn’t always that I could say that about a Coleman lantern. I hated my father’s old, metallic, liquidfuel Coleman that went with us on every camping and night fishing trip more than four decades ago. That beast required extra caution in filling it with the white gas in the square metal can. We even had a special, little, metal funnel that traveled with the lantern to allow spillless filling, most of the time. It demanded a certain number of pumps to build up enough pressure before sticking a lit match into the glass globe to light the cloth mantels, which spread a diffused cloud of burning gas into the globe to produce light. And, it seemed that about every 10th time or so, those mantels had exceeded their lifespan and crumbled into non-functioning dust. That meant a dismantling of the globe to carefully tie new mantels onto the gas outlets before the lantern would produce light once again. Camping really was “roughing it” back in the day.
Nearly every aspect of living at a campsite for a weekend or week was work. It wasn’t the work that people did during their normal 9-to-5 lives, so it also was play for that point in the history of leisure-time activities. But that Coleman lantern was state of the art in its day, the best available technology at the time. It also was the latest in a very long line of lantern developments from Coleman, which in 1909 first offered an alternative to the smoky, kerosene-burning lanterns common in the early 20th century. W.C. Coleman introduced an outdoor, “weatherproof” version of the lantern in 1914. His first lanterns burned
TIMES — AND LANTERNS — CHANGE:
Camping has gotten easier with the switch from old fueled lanterns to today’s battery-powered models.
white gas — Coleman fuel — to generate 300 candlepower of light. For those of the digital age, that’s 3,771 lumens. Battery-powered Coleman lanterns would wait until 1986. A common quality among those lanterns is their durability. I still have my father’s lantern. If I wanted, I could tie on some new mantels, pour some fresh Coleman fuel and light her up. IF I wanted, that is. I don’t. I prefer to grab a handful of batteries and get my quadlanterns ready for camping, fishing, emergencies or whatever. l
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COUNTRYkitchen
by Janette He ss
PUMPKIN SPICE WAFFLE BITES
Irons and griddles WAFFLES and pancakes are much appreciated when families gather for the holidays. It’s hard to imagine an easier, more satisfying way to fill those ever-emptying plates. This month’s recipes bring seasonal flavors to waffles and pancakes. Simply mix up some pumpkin- or stuffing-flavored batter, warm up the proper iron or griddle, and start feeding your hungry horde. Pumpkin Pancakes add a hint of autumn to traditional breakfast fare, while savory “Day-After-Thanksgiving” Waffles might just change the way your family views leftovers. Stack these vegetable-studded waffles with sliced turkey, warm gravy and even mashed potatoes to create trendy, open-faced sandwiches. If or when your supply of pumpkin pie runs out, Pumpkin Spice Waffle Bites might just save the day. A cross between a cookie and a cake donut, these tasty nuggets come together quickly and disappear quickly, especially when dunked in cream cheese frosting! 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.
3/4 cup granulated sugar 1/4 cup soft butter 1 egg 1 cup canned pumpkin 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract 1 cup (5 ounces) flour 3/4 teaspoon salt 3/4 teaspoon baking powder 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon 1/4 teaspoon ginger 1/8 teaspoon nutmeg 1 recipe Cream Cheese Frosting OR 1/2 cup powdered sugar
separate Beat together sugar, butter, egg, pumpkin and vanilla extract. In n mixpumpki Whisk spices. and bowl, combine flour, salt, baking powder heatof section each onto oons tablesp by Drop nts. ingredie dry ture into Cook s.) section 4 have irons ed, non-stick Belgian waffle iron. (Most transferaccording to manufacturer’s instructions, carefully removing and is batter all until Repeat done. when ring each waffle bite to cooling rack with coat warm, still while or, Frosting Cheese Cream with used. Serve in powdered sugar. To coat with powdered sugar, place powdered sugar Makes shake. and time, a at 8 or 6 bites, waffle add bag; large zip-lock approximately 30 waffle bites.
CREAM CHEESE FROSTING 2 tablespoons butter, softened 4 ounces cream cheese, softened 2 cups powdered sugar 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Beat together all ingredients and serve with Pumpkin Spice Waffle
Bites.
PUMPKIN PANCAKES 1 egg 1/2 cup canned pumpkin 1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons light cream (half and half) 1/2 cup milk 2 tablespoons packed brown sugar 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 1 cup (5 ounces) flour 2 teaspoons baking powder 1 teaspoon cinnamon 1/2 teaspoon salt Butter, warm maple syrup, and toasted pecans for serving
With electric mixer, beat egg until foamy. Add pumpkin, light cream, milk, brown sugar and vanilla extract. Add all dry ingredients and beat just until smooth. Heat non-stick griddle until hot enough to make a drop of water sizzle. To make pancakes, pour scant 1/4 cup batter on hot griddle and spread out slightly with back of cup. Cook until bubbles appear and edges look dry. Flip. Continue cooking until interior is set. Adjust griddle temperature downward as necessary to keep pancakes from burning. Makes approximately 10 pancakes. Serve hot with butter, warm maple syrup and, if desired, toasted pecans.
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DAY-AFTER-THANKSGIVING WAFFLES 1/2 cup finely diced onion 1/2 cup finely diced celery 4 tablespoons butter, divided 2 teaspoons poultry seasoning 2 cups (10 ounces) flour 3 teaspoons baking powder 3/4 teaspoon salt 1 3/4 cups milk 2 eggs, beaten Leftover Thanksgiving turkey, mas hed potatoes and gravy In non-stick skillet, sauté onion, cele ry and 2 tablespoons butter until vegetables are softened, about 5 minutes. Add poultry seasoning and remaining butter. Set aside to cool . Combine dry ingredients in mixing bowl. Whisk in milk, beaten eggs and sautéed vegetables. Bake waffles in hot, non-stick Belgian waffle iron according to manufacturer’s instructions. Separate waffles into sections . To serve, top with heated, sliced turkey, warm mashed potatoes and hot turkey gravy.
SPOTlight
Columnist turns attention from writing to art EDITOR’S NOTE: Longtime Power Plants columnist Barbara Martin is retiring from writing in order to focus on another creative endeavor: art. She recently sat down to discuss her lifelong interest in gardening and what she will be doing next. Here are her answers to our questions: Q — What sparked your interest in gardening? A — I vividly remember seeing the koi pond at Longwood Gardens near Philadelphia and visiting the Children's Garden in New York’s Central Park when I was about 4. By the time I was a teen, my father worked for the United Nations and we lived overseas. We visited some famous European gardens and I fell in love with tropical plants. By my late 20s, I had become a seriously obsessed hobby gardener and studied after work and on weekends for a U.S. Department of Agriculture certificate in horticulture.
many zone 8 plants I envied for decades living in colder winter areas. We also have “food” plants: Oregon
wandering in the cold and peering at the buds to see if they are still healthy, hoping for glorious winter color pops like hellebores or Chinese paperbush. Or summer, when the lavender is wafting, the roses are blooming and the daylilies are out. Or fall, when the colors change and we really see the twig and bark textures and the fruits and nuts and notice the distinct patterns of the evergreens. I like it all.
Q — How did you begin writing about gardening? A — First, I wrote a piece for a small nature reserve newsletter, then a short column for the local paper, followed by a weekly internet column, a regional column for the National Gardening Association website, a reguFAVORITE ART: This encaustic painting (using paint made from pigment mixed lar contribution for the with hot beeswax and resin) is one of artist/writer/gardener Barbara Martin’s National Home Gardening favorite pieces of artwork she has created. Club’s magazine, and finally, my monthly column here in grape, hardy banana tree, a palm, fig Penn Lines. I have also had pieces pubtrees, ginger, rhubarb, taro, plus one lished as far away as Canada, Australia tomato, some roses for hips, and a few and Texas. Penn Lines was my last writQ — Tell us about your gardening culinary herbs. ing assignment. experiences. A — Over the years, I’ve done market Q — What is your favorite part of Q — What are you focusing on gardening with vegetables and cut flowgardening? now that you have retired from writers, worked for a small retail nursery, A — All of it! Even weeding, except ing gardening columns? and designed gardens for myself and for battling oxalis, English ivy, and poiA — Although I have always enjoyed others coast to coast. I was a Penn State writing and gardening, I have also dabMaster Gardener in Adams County for a son oak or poison ivy. Maybe the planting. I love trees and bled in art since childhood. During the time, and from there began teaching garshrubs and flowers. The excitement of past 10 years or so, I have developed my dening. I had a sprawling country garlaying out a new planting area and interest in art, and I am now making den and I also worked as a designer selecting plants at the nursery and setmy name as an artist working in paint, through a nursery. Then I worked as a ting them out. I love imagining how it encaustic and collage. My work is in coltelecommuting horticulturist for the will all look. Or maybe the vegetable lections from Los Angeles to Brooklyn National Gardening Association. garden when the new plantlets are in to Miami and I have shown in Norway. During the 10 years I wrote gardentidy rows and the seeds are beginning I also teach art workshops from time to ing columns for Penn Lines, we moved to come up. time. I have a website, BarbaraMartin to Oregon, then Los Angeles and finally Maybe watching the landscape in the Art.com, and am on Facebook at Barto Oregon again. I now have a yard spring — coming back to life so full of baraMartinArt. Sometimes, I share phowith several “inherited” mature trees tos from my garden. l surging vitality. Or maybe in winter, and shrubs. I am learning to grow NOVEMBER 2015 • PENN
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PENNLINESclassified ISSUE MONTH:
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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. 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. 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.
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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. 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
FINANCIAL FREEDOM DO YOU NEED CASH NOW? No buying — No selling — No boss. Computer needed. Jim Vargo 314-614-6039. www.smileyougotcash.com.
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HEALTH AND NUTRITION
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.
PENNLINESclassified LIVESTOCK AND PETS
TRACTOR PARTS — REPAIR/RESTORATION
PEMBROKE WELSH CORGI Puppies — AKC, adorable, intelligent, highly trainable. Excellent family choice. Reputable licensed breeder guaranteed “Last breed you’ll ever own.” 814-5873449.
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.
FOR SALE: New pony saddle, excellent shape, brown with 14inch seat. Lots of silver. Great for pleasure or show. $325. 570744-2675 or 570-250-1513.
VACATIONS AND CAMPSITES
FOR SALE: Pony driving cart. Rubber tires, immaculate condition. Easily holds 3 people. Use for pleasure or show. $450. 570-744-2675 or 570-250-1513. COLLIE — JUST IN TIME FOR CHRISTMAS — 11.1. AKC registered sable/white and tri color puppies. Full white collars from parents with great temperament and personality. Very intelligent pets. Call 814-793-3938.
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. RAYSTOWN VACATION HOUSE RENTAL. Sleeps 11, fireplace, four bedrooms, table for 12, 2 flat screen satellite TVs, 2 flbaths, 2 hfbaths, linens/towels provided. Minimum two nights. Call 814931-6562. www.laurelwoodsretreat.com. RAYSTOWN — $1,600 to stay all summer. Within .3 of a mile of Seven Points Bait and Grocery. Call 301-593-1817.
LOG CABIN RESTORATIONS WANTED TO BUY 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. 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 BEAUTIFUL LODGE WITH 78 ACRES next to Blue Knob State Park. Two bedroom, great hunting, near ski area. Five miles from interstate 99. Call 814-404-4662 or email: bknisel@comcast.net. CLEARFIELD COUNTY, LUMBER CITY. 35 acres mostly wooded, secluded yet accessible, timber, natural gas, large metal commercial building, spring water. $175,000. Call George. 814237-1000. RECIPES AND FOOD 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. 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.
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.
See what a difference it makes…
CLASSIFIEDS
Statement of Ownership, Management and Circulation required by 39 USC 3685 TITLE OF PUBLICATION: Penn Lines PUBLICATION NUMBER: 929-700 FILING DATE: September 3, 2015 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, 166,334. Actual number of copies of single issue (September 2015) published nearest to filing date, (September 166,204). PAID CIRCULATION: Average Mailed Outside-County Paid Subscriptions, 165,004 (September 164,916). 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, 669 (September 645). Average Paid Distribution by other Classes of Mail through the USPS, 42 (September 37). TOTAL PAID DISTRIBUTION: Average, 165,715 (September 165,598). FREE OR NOMINAL RATE DISTRIBUTION: Average Outside-County Copies, 277 (September 293). 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, 146 (September 112). TOTAL FREE OR NOMINAL RATE DISTRIBUTION: Average, 423 (September 405). TOTAL DISTRIBUTION: Average, 166,138 (September 166,003). COPIES NOT DISTRIBUTED: Average, 196 (September 201). TOTAL: Average number of copies each issue during preceding 12 months, 166,334 (September 166,204). PERCENT PAID CIRCULATION: Average percentage during preceding 12 months, 99.74 percent (September 99.80 percent). PUBLICATION OF STATEMENT OF OWNERSHIP: Publication required. Will be printed in the November 2015 issue of this publication. SIGNATURE AND TITLE OF EDITOR, PUBLISHER, BUSINESS MANAGER, OR OWNER: DATE: 9-3-15 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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PUNCHlines
Thoughts from Earl Pitts, UHMERIKUN! Walking may add years to your life, but it will also add ‘life’ to your years
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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Pearl, my better half, has talked me into walkin’. For fun. I hate walkin’. To my way of thinkin’, the only reason you go walkin’ is to get somewhere that’s too close to get the pickup out for. But she heard this story on the radio the other day that some four-eyed science dweebs somewhere discovered that walkin’ 25 minutes a day can add seven years to your life. Seven years that you will spend walkin’. Thank you, science. Anyways, just so y’all understand — walkin’ is a city activity. That’s where you got them nice little neighborhoods with them nice little sidewalks. Stop signs and traffic lights. Y’all got street lights that come on at night and “Caution — Children at Play” signs. Out where we live, we ain’t got no dang sidewalks. Or street lights. Heck, we’re lucky to have pavement. No sir, we got to get out on the road to walk. And out where we live, if you go a quarter mile, you’ve gotta pass five dead animals in the ditch that got hit by a car. And you’re on that same road because your better half tells you you’re gonna live seven years longer if you go walkin’. It didn’t work out so well for those two raccoons, the deer and two rabbits! Also, out where we live, people like to free-range their dogs. So you’re gonna get chased. It’s just a matter of time. If you’re walkin’ down the road in my neighborhood, you’re playin’ “dog roulette.” On account of you don’t know which one is gonna come up on the road after you. Last week, we had us a crazed, evil wiener dog chasing us. Only the dog was in the ditch in the high grass and we was up on the road runnin’. And somebody told the boys down at the Duck Inn that they seen Pearl chasin’ me down the road. I says, “No, y’all got that story wrong. It was a crazed, evil wiener dog chasing me.” And Runt Wilson says, “If that’s the way you talk about your sweet Pearl, I can see why she’s chasing you.” So then I had to explain the whole story. That took one of the seven years that walkin’ had added to my life.
Wake up, America! Yeah, out where we live, there’s only one good reason you see people walkin’ on the road. They run outta gas. I think it’s best to keep it that way.
I heard a story on the radio the other day that the country was sufferin’ from a shortage of psychiatrists. That’s right — our number of shrinks has shrunk. These medical experts say nobody wants to be a psychiatrist anymore on account of they don’t make as much money as regular doctors. Well, I’m thinkin’ it’s that, plus they got to work with crazy people all the time. Can you imagine your job involves workin’ with certified nut-jobs for eight hours a day? Every person you see is loonier than the last. Well, come to think of it, most of us do have jobs where we are workin’ with crazies at least some of the time. Now me personally, I have never been to the shrink. I have never needed their services. On account of I’m married. And every man alive that’s got a wife knows they provide all the psychiatric services you’ll ever need. Like monitoring your mental stability. Your wife is all the time askin’ you if you’re crazy. She’ll regularly say things like, “Are you nuts?” “What the heck are you thinkin’?” So, you can go to some four-eyed, pipesmokin’ Sigmund Floyd head-doctor who will show you an ink blot on a piece of paper and ask you what you think that is. Or, for about $100 less, your better half will point to a stain on the arm of your recliner and ask you what you think that is. Some Dr. Phil wannabe will lay you back on a couch and make you remember all the stuff you ever did. But if your better half catches you layin’ on the couch, she’ll make you remember all the stuff you said you would do the next time you had a free minute. Wake up, America. Basically, your better half provides the same mental health services as a psychiatrist — only for free. I’m Earl Pitts, Uhmerikun. l
RURALreflections Thank you, photographers IN THIS traditional season of giving thanks, we want to acknowledge all of the amateur photographers who submitted photos for our 2015 “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. Photographers can now begin submitting photos for the 2016 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. Runners-up will receive a $25 prize. 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. 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
Debra Neil Tri-County REC
Stephanie Leverknight Somerset REC
Christine Lantz Claverack REC
Carolyn Bledsoe Adams EC
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