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CooperaN
COOPERATIVE
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ENERGY Cooperative
contents December 2017
News
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News BRIEFS
Co-ops honor the best of the best.
4 10 15 28 30
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CEO’s Message
It helps to be trusted.
LETTER FROM THE EDITOR
Santa brings safety this Christmas.
WAIT ’TIL NEXT YEAR
The struggle for stronger infrastructure continues.
24
On the COVER
Nurture your nostalgia. (Photo courtesy of Chippewa
20
Falls Parks, Recreation & Forestry Department.) .
RECIPES
December’s recipes are merry, DAIRY, and bright.
27
KIDS & Critters
Cute co-op kids get cozy with their critters.
13
LEDS LEAVE A JINGLE IN YOUR POCKET.
Go brighter and greener with LED Lights.
MY CO-OP
Find out what’s happening at your local electric cooperative.
LEDs cut costs of
CLASSIFIEDS
Buy, sell, and trade with readers from across Wisconsin.
EVENTS
There’s no bah humbug in these holiday events.
December 2017
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LETTER FROM
THE EDITOR Safety in Santa’s bag
In my December 2015 column, I explained that my family is practical to the point of almost being comical. Christmas leans less towards “festive” and more towards “functional,” with snow shovels, fire extinguishers, and carbon monoxide detectors under the tree. Dana Kelroy, Editor
My parents have six grandchildren, so gift-giving now centers on a demographic under the age of 7. But like most parents of young children can attest, our houses are overflowing with too many toys.
December 2017 Vol. 78 No. 6 The Wisconsin Energy Cooperative News (Formerly Wisconsin R.E.C. News) has been published monthly and distributed since July 1940 to members of Wisconsin’s non-profit, consumer-owned rural electric cooperatives. It is available to non-members for $10 per year or $28 for three years.
This year, when searching for the perfect gift for your children or grandchildren (or their parents), may I suggest the gift of safety? Here are some safety gift ideas for the kids in your life.
Published by the Wisconsin Electric Cooperative Association, 222 W. Washington Ave., Ste. 680, Madison, WI 53703. Steve Freese, president & CEO.
Have a happy, and safe, holiday season!
USPS number: 688-480. Postmaster: please send address changes to Wisconsin Energy Cooperative News, 222 W. Washington Ave., Ste. 680, Madison, WI 53703. Periodicals postage paid at Baraboo, Wis.
1. Life jacket 2. Smoke detector 3. Bike or ski helmet 4. Furniture straps 5. Stove knob covers 6. Hearing protection ear muffs 7. Outlet covers 8. Car or booster seat 9. Drawer latches 10. Second-story fire escape ladder
Send correspondence to Wisconsin Energy Cooperative News, 222 W. Washington Ave., Ste. 680, Madison, WI 53703. Phone (608) 467-4650. Web site: www.wecnmagazine.com. Co-op Members: Please send address changes to your local electric co-op. Contact information can be found on page 18. Steve Freese Dana Kelroy Mary Erickson David Hoopman Ann Bailey Tina Walden Geri Miller
WECA president & CEO editor associate editor contributing writer graphic designer editorial assistant advertising consultant
For advertising opportunities please email ads@weca.coop. The appearance of advertising does not constitute an endorsement of the products or services advertised.
Please recycle
4
Wisconsin Energy Cooperative News
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NEWS BRIEFS ANNUAL MEETING BRINGS BOARD CHANGES
One new director was seated on the Wisconsin Electric Cooperative Association board at the organization’s 81st annual meeting last month. David Hischke, chairman of the Oconto Electric board of directors, succeeds Elaine Eckendorf of Central Wisconsin Electric,
who reached her term limit. Hischke was elected during district meetings this past summer. Board reorganization saw incumbents David Paudler of Riverland Energy (center) and Larry Dokkestul of Pierce Pepin Cooperative Services (right) re-elected chairman and vice chairman, respectively. Derrick Oberle of St. Croix Electric (left) emerged from a field of four nominees to succeed Eckendorf as secretary-treasurer. From a field of five nominees for two executive committee slots, incumbent Diane Zimmerman of East Central Energy won re-election and Barron Electric’s Dallas Sloan was the pick to succeed Bill Fischer of Rock Energy.
RICHLAND MANAGER EARNS ACE AWARD
Shannon Clark, Richland Electric Cooperative’s CEO and general manager since 1999, received the Wisconsin Electric Cooperative Association’s highest honor at the organization’s November annual meeting in Stevens Point. Clark is the newest recipient of the ACE (Ally of Cooperative Electrification) Award, given for the past 50 years to a nominee judged to have made distinguished contri-
butions in a manner beyond routine performance of duty, to advance the electric co-op mission of providing affordable, reliable energy to rural Wisconsin. Clark joined Richland Electric in 1991, still in his 20s, as manager of administrative and member services. He has been a longtime leader of efforts to expand telecommunications and data services to rural Wisconsin and has served on numerous local, state, and national co-op boards. This summer, he received a regional service award from the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, recognizing his successes promoting rural economic development.
EAU CLAIRE CO-OP’S JOURNALISM JUDGED TOPS
Mary Kay Brevig, Eau Claire Energy Cooperative’s communications and public relations manager, was presented with the N.F. Leifer Memorial Journalism Award last month at the Wisconsin Electric Cooperative Association’s annual meeting. Named for a former Vernon Electric Cooperative manager who played a key role in creating what became the Wisconsin En6
ergy Cooperative News, the award is given annually to the cooperative selected by an independent judge as having created the magazine’s best local co-op pages during the prior year. All local-page content is produced by employees at WECA-member cooperatives, and Brevig is responsible for Eau Claire Energy’s pages. She has won the award on three past occasions. Leifer was a founder of the Wisconsin R.E.C. News in 1940. Originally a tabloid newspaper, it was the nation’s first statewide periodical produced for the general membership of rural electric cooperatives.
BARRON LINEWORKER CALLED “HEROIC”
Nathan Steines, director of operations at Barron Electric Cooperative, is the 2017 winner of the Herman C. Potthast Award, given annually by the Wisconsin Electric Cooperative Association to honor outstanding performance in electric utility job training and safety. Steines was honored for actions in his previous position as a lineman, when he came upon a highway accident, contacted emergency personnel, assisted the victims in escaping their overturned vehicle which was leaking fuel, and attended to them until medics arrived. A Washburn County sheriff’s department official said Steines’ behavior in the emergency “helped immensely in getting the two victims to safety and should be seen as heroic.” The Potthast Award’s namesake served Wisconsin’s electric cooperatives for 29 years. He chaired the National Safety Council’s utility section and, for more than two decades beginning in the early 1940s, spearheaded development of safety standards and practices for electric utility workers nationwide.
USDA LOANS ANNOUNCED
Two Wisconsin electric cooperatives will share in some $2.5 billion in U.S. Department of Agriculture rural development loans announced in November. Vernon Electric and Chippewa Valley Electric are to receive $23 million and $7 million respectively, to help finance line improvements and smart grid projects in their service areas.
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IT HELPS
These days, trust is a commodity in short supply. Not only trust in government but in many of society’s fundamental institutions: for academia, the financial sector, the media, trust has ebbed, and prospects for improvement seem uncertain at best. Worrisome as that is, it’s also a reason why institutions that retain the public’s trust are valued more highly than ever, and it’s a reason to feel good about electric cooperative membership. Over the years, survey after survey has shown people trust electric co-ops more than other kinds of utility providers to deliver quality service, and that seems to be generally true even when the Steve Freese others are also putting up very President and CEO respectable scores. Obviously that matters in the relationship between co-ops and their member-owners. It also matters in less obvious ways. One place where it especially matters is the Wisconsin Legislature. Maintaining good relations with state lawmakers, the better to represent the interests of co-op member-owners, is a major part of the Wisconsin Electric Cooperative Association’s job. Almost two years ago, several different coop sectors concluded it was time to update some aspects of Wisconsin’s statutory Chapter 185, the law that spells out the requirements for organization and governance of coops in this state. Most importantly, it spells out the duties and obligations of a co-op to its members. A bill containing several provisions was introduced this spring. One provision applying to electric cooperatives simplifies notification of members who have unclaimed assets held by the co-op, while another facilitates existing mechanisms for co-ops providing consumer loans to help their members pay for work improving energy conservation, electrical safety, or to meet emergency backup generation needs. The latter idea was pretty much universally popular. The former one drew some ill-informed opposition that could have complicated matters, were it not for lawmakers’ confidence—borne out through years of experience— that this state’s electric cooperatives play it straight. The day before the state Assembly was scheduled to vote on the proposal (A.B. 353), newspaper readers were greeted by a story that couldn’t have been more false if the author sat up all night trying. Here’s the first paragraph: “Electric cooperatives in Wisconsin would no longer
to be TRUSTED
8
WECA Director of Government Relations Beata Wierzba and Dunn Energy Cooperative CEO Jim Hathaway testify on behalf of electric cooperatives at a Chapter 185 hearing. Wierzba has been the face of electric cooperatives to state lawmakers for 14 years. Hathaway has been the chair of WECA’s Legislative and Regulatory Committee for six years.
need to publish newspaper notices when they want to keep members’ unclaimed assets if a proposed bill passes the state Legislature.” And here is the relevant passage from the nonpartisan Legislative Reference Bureau’s analysis—a plain-language explanation for legislators and anyone else who’s interested—of what A.B. 353 would do: “This bill provides that the notice published in the newspaper [We added the emphasis.] may consist of either the owner’s name and address or an Internet site address where this information is posted, together with a brief description of the reason for the notice.” Seems clear enough. It’s also clear—though not stated either in the newspaper story or the legislative summary—that it is illegal for an electric cooperative to “keep members’ unclaimed assets.” That did not change in any way on November 7 when the Assembly passed A.B. 353 on a bipartisan, 74–18 vote. The Senate soon followed on a voice vote. Three days later, we returned to the newspaper website to verify that we were stating the details correctly and found a message saying “this page does not exist.” Well, neither does East Germany, but… In an atmosphere where trust is badly eroded, that newspaper story, the precise opposite of the truth, might easily have poisoned the discussion of a proposal whose sole purpose was to bring several unrelated provisions of co-op law into the current century. Would it have been the end of the world if that had happened and Wisconsin’s co-ops needed to start over in modernizing parts of their governing language? No, but luckily they won’t have to, thanks to the trust they’ve built over many decades. That’s the problem for institutions that squander their trust: restoring it can take a long time.
Wisconsin Energy Cooperative News
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Predictions are for a colder winter than either of the past two. If the polar vortex returns as the country moves increasingly to natural gas for electric generation, some Americans might have a tough time keeping warm, or at least paying for it. While pipeline projects to accommodate the new consumption are underway or nearing regulatory approval, they won’t be ready this winter. And for many—who’ll be just as cold as anyone else—if they’re ever built it will be too soon. Last time the vortex dipped into the Northern Hemisphere’s populous areas, it wasn’t yet fashionable to generically oppose all pipeline construction anywhere. But now the words “natural gas pipeline” have been made synonymous with “climate change”—a double irony since in 2014 it took old coal-fired plants on the brink of retirement to save the Northeast from punishing cold, and new pipeline capacity would feed generating plants that emit half the carbon dioxide of those that proved indispensable four years ago. Today, it’s impossible to browse energy trade publications without seeing reports of protests, construction site occupations, and lawsuits aimed at preventing expansion of pipeline capacity and—a third irony—staged often as not in regions where memories of the vortex ought to remain fresh. In Minnesota, controversy erupted in 10
October when it was found that $3,300 in state sales tax revenues went toward a grant financing a Michigan State professor’s creation of a video game called “Thunderbird Strike.” Players control an on-screen bird that destroys petroleum infrastructure by aiming lightning strikes at refining facilities, trucks, and pipelines.
Systemwide Shift The Department of Energy (DOE) recently reported that between 2002 and 2016, coal-fired generating capacity totaling 59,000 megawatts was retired, and planned retirement of almost 5 percent of U.S. nuclear capacity was announced, mostly ahead of license expirations. The DOE’s Energy Information Administration (EIA) foresees another 12,700 megawatts of coal, and eight more reactors comprising 7 percent of remaining U.S. nuclear capacity, retiring by 2020.
Wisconsin Energy Cooperative News
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The shift of generation away from coal and nuclear was already underway four years ago and continues, with many coal retirements clustered in 2015. This increases demands on the same natural gas pipeline system that delivers home heating fuel. January 2014’s extreme cold contributed to more than 19,000 megawatts of generation outages, partly by impeding natural gas transportation. Shortages triggered price spikes for home heating fuel and wholesale electricity, particularly in eastern states, prompting legislative investigations of suspected price-gouging. Possibly some were guilty of exploiting the situation—available to be exploited because of deliberate policy choices and the lengthy lead time for infrastructure upgrades to catch up. Among contributing factors, the only coincidence was weather. In this part of the country the story differed somewhat. The steep hills and valleys of western Wisconsin’s coulee and driftless regions—places not flattened by the glaciers of the last Ice Age—aren’t especially hospitable to pipeline construction. Rural residents are less likely to use natural gas for home heating and more likely to rely on propane. So when deliveries were constrained by the combination of barely adequate capacity and other commodities competing for rail transport, propane became Wisconsin’s crisis fuel of 2013–14. Households that hadn’t locked in lower costs with pre-season contracts endured painful price spikes and iffy supply. But compared with other regions suffering through the same winter, Wisconsin was relatively swift resolving its problem. State government guaranteed loans to help propane retailers obtain supplies and pushed up the application date for energy assistance. In the private sector, CHS, the nation’s largest farmer-owned cooperative, began work on a new propane terminal at Hixton in Jackson County. Operating by fall 2014, the terminal is part of a CHS infrastructure investment that added approximately 15
puppies left behind by the thousands protesting the pipeline’s environmental impact. But most of the activity occurs indoors. In August, a federal appeals court ruled for the Sierra Club, saying federal regulators improperly approved a pipeline to move natural gas to Florida power plants, having failed to assess the global warming impact of burning the gas. This is expected not to halt approvals but to encourage opponents to sue, lengthening regulatory review, delaying construction, and increasing costs. In October, the Ohio Supreme Court If you try to build it, they affirmed the constitutionality of the City of Bowling Green seeking to amend its will come The spirit of protest has charter and outlaw new pipeline conbeen at fever pitch at least since last struction within its boundaries. winter’s occupations along the Dakota New pipelines aren’t the only targets. Access pipeline. In March, the Army This fall, a federal court pondered Corps of Engineers and local officials whether Weymouth, Massachusetts can reported clearing three abandoned override federal approval and deny a camps of more than 8,000 cubic yards 10/24/17 building 3:00 PM permit Page 1 for a pumping station ofMorton_WIEnergy_12.17.qxp_Layout trash and rescuing a dozen dogs 1and
million gallons annually to Wisconsin’s propane supplies. Bigger supplies may be very good news this year because in mid-October the EIA cited projected colder temperatures—not significantly higher gas prices—as the driver of a 2017–18 heating season expected to be costlier than either of the past two. If the projection pans out, opposition to infrastructure projects may be about to collide with heightened demand for the necessities that infrastructure delivers.
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December 2017
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Secretary Charles McConnell argued for preserving baseload generation and stressed the need for a diversified energy supply, a key priority of electric co-ops frequently at odds over that very issue with the administration McConnell served. Two-thirds of Massachusetts’ electricity is generated with natural gas. Now, Massachusetts legislators propose banning all fossil fuels for electric generation, transportation, and Wisconsin was fortunate to see a major addition to its heating; they call for propane-handling capacity in 2014 in Hixton. 100 percent renewable energy by 2050. The proposal overthat would boost capacity on existing pipelines serving looks a word that’s crucial when renewable energy advoMaine. In October the Portland Press Herald reported cates say natural gas “enables” renewables. It acknowlthat “higher prices for heat and electricity” could result edges the necessity of equivalent generating capacity “if the station isn’t finished before the 2019 heating from dispatchable sources—generally gas— available to season.” substitute immediately for intermittent renewables when Let those examples suffice, but with scant effort, clouds hide the sun, night falls, or the wind doesn’t blow. we gathered a list of 14 projects targeted for protest On any regional grid, adding renewable generation will at or blocked by government officials. The urgency was some point necessitate adding dispatchable capacity. underlined when the Northeast got an early taste of Whichever choices prevail, more gas will be needed, winter. The National Weather Service reported a low of with more pipelines to deliver it. 24 degrees recorded November 11 at New York’s Central Park, breaking the previous record low of 28 for that date Broadening Needs, Narrowing Options In and location, set in 1933. Meteorologist Ryan Maue of March 2014, The New York Times, no friend of coalWeather.us attributed the cold snap to the polar vortex based electricity, told readers that “As the end of the pushing arctic air into southern Canada and parts of the harshest winter in recent memory approaches, the bill is United States. coming due for millions of consumers…and there might Separately, policy disagreements abound. not be relief in future winters, as the coal-fired power This fall, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission plants that utilities have relied on to meet the surge in Chairman Neal Chatterjee said gas-fired generation is less demand are shuttered for environmental reasons.” reliable than baseload coal or nuclear because the latter The Times explained that to meet demand amid the two maintain on-site fuel supplies. Fellow Republican vortex, Columbus, Ohio-based American Electric Power, Commissioner Robert Powelson contradicted Chatterjee, a major eastern-market supplier, needed 89 percent of the opposing new market rules to keep economically troubled coal-fired plants it would be compelled to retire in 2015. baseload generation viable and saying it’s untrue that The headline read, “Coal to the Rescue, but Maybe gas plant performance was problematic during the 2014 Not Next Winter.” Given agendas proudly on display, vortex. it might be imprudent to assume that headline won’t In a July Forbes opinion piece titled “America’s Next someday be rewritten, its first word replaced with “Gas.” Energy Crisis,” Obama administration Assistant DOE —Dave Hoopman 12
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LEDs cut costs of
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homas Edison displayed the first strand of electric Christmas lights in 1880 outside his Menlo Park, New Jersey, laboratory. Two years later, his partner, Edward H. Johnson, hand-wired 80 red, white, and blue bulbs together and wrapped them around his Christmas tree, mounted on an a revolving motorized stand. For more than a century, incandescent bulbs dominated holiday lighting, but in less than 20 years after their debut, light-emitting diodes (LEDs) have
caught on with consumers and the way many families decorate for the holidays. “LED lighting products now account for 60 percent of the holiday and seasonal lighting sold in the United States each year,” said Robert S. La Rocca, business development manager from the Melville, New York-based wire and cable/ seasonal lighting division of Underwriters Laboratories. Seasonal decorations are a $12 billion annual market, which now includes consumer lighting, ornaments, inflat-
ables, artificial trees, and table or mantle displays. LEDs are enticing consumers to buy more and to go bigger and brighter, even as they use far less energy. “A typical 50-lamp incandescent light set can operate up to 0.170 amps or 20.4 watts. Based on this, and the requirements of the previous version of the Standard for Safety of Seasonal and Holiday Decorative Products, known in the industry as UL 588, you could only connect three strings end-to-end.” “This was incredibly limiting,” said December 2017
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La Rocca. “Now, however, with the current version of UL 588, allowing connection of up to 216 watts end-toend, and a 50-lamp LED light set that typically operates at approximately 0.020 amps or 2.4 watts, you can technically connect more than 50 strings together.” La Rocca added that consumers should always check the caution markings attached to the strings and follow the provided instruction manual, which advises the user how many strings to connect together. That means a 1,000-bulb string of incandescent miniatures consumes about 408 watts of energy compared to an equal LED string’s 48 watts. Since most residential circuits operate at a maximum load of 15 to 20 amps, up to three outlets might be needed for the incandescent strings to prevent overload, while the LEDs would use a single outlet. “A consumer can connect up to 25 strings of LED mini-lights together on a single circuit,” said Dennis Krize, senior vice president of Nicolas Holiday, Inc. The Taiwan-based firm has manufactured seasonal lighting products for more than 50 years, and has been a licensee for GE brand holiday lighting since 2000. Incandescent miniatures made their first appearances in the late 1960s, and dominated the market for decades, as costs declined. “LED light strings may be more expensive initially, but the energy savings on some light strings will more than offset the added costs in two or three seasons,” said Krize. “Because they consume a lot less power, and the technology is constantly improving, consumers have a lot more flexibility in how they’re used and how often they decorate.” Twinkling icicles, lighted shrubbery netting, pre-lighted trees and wreaths, and LED projection systems are among a growing list of favorites. Unitized fabricating, substitution of plastic for glass, and solid-state control boxes have also improved durability. Some designs feature programmable display patterns and color selections too. “Incandescent bulbs were rated to perform for up to 2,000 hours while LEDs have been designed and tested to last 20,000 hours or more,” said Krize. While UL has not specifically tested lamps for longevity, products marked with the UL Holographic labels have undergone a series of testing related to mechanical, physical, and electrical criteria. Product tests replicating the types of stresses caused by wind, moisture, and rough handling are also conducted on samples. “These products are designed to last a lot longer,” said UL’s La Rocca. He added that white or multicolored lights used during the holiday season might reappear in green around St. Patrick’s Day, or be moved to the patio
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for summer entertaining. Decorative lighting is not for just Christmas anymore! “I cannot say that an LED lighting string will last longer than an incandescent lighting string, but I can tell you that a lighting string provided with the ENERGY STAR® logo must come with a specified warranty backed by the manufacturer. Those marked with ENERGY STAR® labels are replaceable within a designated period,” said La Rocca. He added that because LEDs produce little or no heat, the temperature concerns may be reduced; however, the consumer should always look for the UL logo on seasonal and holiday lighting to be sure that the products were tested by UL. Although UL 588 is a voluntary standard, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission requires that manufacturers of seasonal lighting products meet the specific sections described in UL 588, the Standard for Safety of Seasonal and Holiday Decorative Products. “Even though the majority of the products covered by UL 588 are considered to be for temporary use, in many cases the requirements are more stringent than other products that are for use all year,” La Rocca added. Derrill Holly writes on cooperative issues for the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, the Arlington, Va.-based service arm of the nation’s 900-plus consumer-owned, not-for-profit electric cooperatives.
Go Brighter and Greener with LED Lights LED lighting products account for 60 percent of the holiday and seasonal lighting sold in the U.S. each year. A 1,000-bulb strand of miniature, incandescent lights uses 408 watts of energy, while a 1,000-bulb strand of LED mini lights consumes 48 watts of energy.
Source: Underwriters Laboratories
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TOUCHSTONEENERGY.COM
TRUST. ANOTHER PRECIOUS RESOURCE WE’RE COMMITTED TO PRESERVING. Helping you keep the lights on. Helping you keep informed. To your local Touchstone Energy cooperative, that’s trust. Learn more at TouchstonEnergy.com. YOUR SOURCE OF POWER. AND INFORMATION.
December 2017
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AND BRIGHT
Photos and recipes courtesy of the Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board.
MERRY
Holiday Wreath Cheese Board 8–10 sprigs fresh rosemary 1 container marinated fresh mozzarella cheese 8 oz aged provolone cheese 10 oz cherry tomatoes 6–8 oz olives (black, green, or mixed)
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3 oz sweety drop minature peppers (roasted red peppers or peppadews will also work) Arrange rosemary in circular wreath shape on serving board. Top with cheeses, tomatoes, olives, and peppers. Serve immediately.
Wisconsin Energy Cooperative News
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Photos and recipes courtesy of the Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board.
Holiday Star Cheese Board 1 large wheel (16 oz) brie cheese 1 small wheel (8 oz) brie cheese 1/4 cup honey 1/4 cup pomegranate seeds 1/4 cup marcona almonds
With paring knife, cut large wheel of brie into large star shape. Cut small wheel into several small star shapes. Arrange on serving board. Drizzle with honey and top with pomegranate seeds and marcona almonds.
Holiday Everything Bars
1 cup unsalted butter, softened 2 cups light brown sugar, packed 2 eggs 2 tsp vanilla extract 2 cups all-purpose flour, divided 1 tsp baking powder 1 tsp salt 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips 1 cup mascarpone cheese 1 egg 1 cup powdered sugar 1-1/2 cups pretzel twists 1 cup red and green M&M candy 8 oz white chocolate 1/4 cup candy canes, crushed into small pieces Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Buttery Caramels
1/2 cup pecans 2 cups granulated sugar 1/2 cup butter
FOR BLONDIE BARS: In bowl of electric mixer, cream butter and brown sugar. Add eggs and vanilla; mix well. In separate bowl, whisk flour, baking powder, and salt. Add to butter mixture and mix until just combined. Fold in chocolate chips. Spread 2/3 of the mixture over bottom of 9x13-inch pan. FOR CHEESECAKE FILLING: In separate bowl, whisk mascarpone, eggs, and powdered sugar. Spread over blondie dough in pan. Top by spoonful with remaining blondie dough. (Dough will not fully cover mascarpone layer.) FOR TOPPING: Press pretzels into dough. Bake 35 minutes, or until center is set. Immediately press M&Ms into top of bars. Cool completely. In microwave-safe bowl, heat white chocolate 30 seconds to melt. Continue to heat in 10-second increments if necessary. Using a piping bag or the back of a spoon, drizzle white chocolate over cooled bars. Immediately top with candy cane pieces. Allow white chocolate to set before cutting into bars and serving.
2 cups whipping cream 3/4 cup light corn syrup
Toast pecans on cookie sheet in a 350 degree oven for about 8 minutes or until fragrant. Cool; chop fine with sharp knife. Butter the inside of an 8-inch square glass baking dish. Sprinkle pecans evenly over bottom of dish; set aside. In a heavy 3-quart saucepan, combine sugar, butter, whipping cream, and syrup. Bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring constantly. Place candy thermometer in pan. Cook, stirring frequently, until temperature reaches 245 degrees or a tablespoon of mixture dropped into very cold water forms a firm ball when handled. (It is important to stir mixture after it reaches a soft ball stage to prevent sticking.) Pour caramel over pecans. Cool at room temperature for about 1 hour. Run knife around dish edges; invert over cutting surface using edge of knife to help release caramel. Cut into small squares with a wet, sharp knife using a sawing motion. Wrap individually in plastic wrap when cooled completely.
Cardamom Spiced Cashews 4 cups raw, unsalted cashews 1/2 cup butter 1-1/2 cups sugar, packed 1 tsp ground cardamom 1/2 tsp black pepper 1 tsp salt
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Place cashews on rimmed cookie sheet and bake 10 minutes or until fragrant. Transfer toasted cashews to bowl; set aside. In large skillet, melt butter over medium heat. Add toasted cashews and stir to coat. Add sugar, cardamom, and salt; continue to cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, about 8–10 minutes. Remove skillet from the heat and pour cashews onto rimmed cookie sheet lined with parchment paper. Spread cashews into thin layer and let cool 20 minutes. Store cashews in airtight container at room temperature for up to 1 week. December 2017
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RECIPE EXCHANGE Submit your favorite recipes to be featured on our reader recipe page. Email to tina@weca.coop Winter-Time Brats
Carolyn Creighton, Hazel Green
Onion, sliced into rings 1/4 cup soy sauce Handful of brown sugar 3 cups beer 1/4 cup Dijon mustard 1/2 tsp caraway seeds 1 cup sauerkraut 10 brats 10 buns In a crock pot, combine onion rings, soy sauce, and brown sugar. Wisk beer, mustard, and caraway seeds together. Mix into onion rings in crock pot. Place brats in crockpot and mix all well. Cover and cook brats 6 hours on low or 3 hours on high. Take brats out of crock pot and keep warm. Stir sauerkraut into crockpot and let sit about 5 minutes, until warm. Strain onion/ sauerkraut mixture from the crock pot to use as brat topping.
Peppermint Meringues Carol Jean Luebeck, Pound
2 egg whites 1/4 tsp salt 3/4 cup sugar 1/2 tsp vanilla 1/2 cup chocolate chips 2 Tbsp crushed peppermint sticks Beat egg whites and salt on high speed until stiff. Gradually add sugar on low speed and beat for 5 minutes. Fold in vanilla, chocolate chips, and crushed peppermint sticks. Drop by the teaspoon onto a greased cookie sheet. Bake for 45 minutes at 250 degrees. Cool completely before storing or serving.
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Butter Pecan Cookies
Chocolate Pudding Cake
1 cup butter 1/4 cup sugar 3/4 cup brown sugar 2 eggs 1 tsp vanilla 1-3/4 oz pkg instant vanilla pudding 2-1/4 cups flour 1 tsp baking soda 1/3 cup butterscotch chips 1/3 cup white chips 1/3 cup pecan pieces
1-1/2 cups flour, sifted 1-1/4 cups granulated sugar, divided 6 Tbsp cocoa, divided 1 Tbsp baking powder 3/4 tsp salt 3/4 cup milk 1-1/2 Tbsp butter 2 tsp vanilla 3/4 cup chopped walnuts 1/2 cup brown sugar, packed 1-3/4 cups boiling water
Blend together butter, sugars, eggs, vanilla, and vanilla pudding. Add flour and baking soda; blend well. Stir in butterscotch chips, white chips, and pecan pieces. Roll into walnut-size balls and place on ungreased cookie sheet. Bake for 9–10 minutes at 375 degrees.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a large bowl, sift together flour, 1 cup granulated sugar, 3 tablespoons cocoa, baking powder, and salt. Beat in milk, butter, and vanilla. Stir in chopped walnuts. Pour into a greased 9x13-inch pan. Mix together brown sugar, remaining granulated sugar, and remaining cocoa. Sprinkle over the cake batter. Pour boiling water over the top. Bake for 40 minutes.
Mary Zachow, Neillsville
Date Pudding
Christine Shirk, Lublin
1 tsp baking soda 1 cup chopped dates 1 cup hot water 1 cup sugar 1 Tbsp butter 1 egg, beaten 1 cup flour 1/2 tsp salt 1 tsp vanilla 1 cup chopped nuts Sprinkle baking soda over dates. Pour hot water over dates and let stand until cool. Cream sugar and butter. Stir in dates. Add beaten egg, flour, salt, vanilla, and chopped nuts; mix well. Pour into a 9-inch cake pan. Bake for 35 minutes at 350 degrees.
Katherine Bongel, Green Bay
REQUESTS from our
READERS An online reader is looking for corned beef or other Irish recipes. If you can help, have a request of your own, or would like to submit a recipe for publication, please write to
Wisconsin Energy Cooperative News, What’s Cooking? 222 West Washington Ave., Suite 680, Madison, WI 53703-2719 or contact us via our website, www.wecnmagazine.com. Thanks!
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Before hanging holiday lights outside, look out for overhead power lines. Never throw light strands into trees near power lines. Inspect all the lights you plan on using. Make sure the wires are in good condition—not cracked, brittle, or frayed. The sockets should not be damaged, and no light bulbs should be missing. Check that all light strands are certified and rated for the conditions in which they’ll be used. Dec 17_adsPasted.indd 23
Never string more than three strands of lights together unless the packaging says it is safe to do so. Overloaded cords or outlets could start a fire.
Turn holiday lights off before going to sleep or leaving the house. A timer can help you do this. Get more safety tips at
Never tack or nail through a strand of lights. Do not place cords under rugs or in high traffic areas. Lighted and electrical outdoor decorations should be plugged into ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) protected outlets. December 2017
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NURTURE YOUR
Nostalgia AT CHRISTMAS VILLAGE
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Irvine Park’s annual holiday display marks its 30th year
f the holidays tend to put you in a nostalgic mood, you’ll enjoy a visit to Christmas Village in Chippewa Falls’ Irvine Park. From Thanksgiving to New Year’s Day each year, this 318-acre park is transformed into a winter wonderland filled with life-size displays of Victorian-era scenes and more than 100,000 twinkling lights. A stroll or drive through this spectacular show on a frosty December evening is sure to send your holiday spirit soaring and make you feel like…well…like a kid on Christmas morning. “Everyone’s a kid when they walk through that arch,” said Mary Brunstad, who’s been an active volunteer with the project for more than 20 years. “It is magical.” This year, the annual holiday light dis-
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play promises to be more dazzling than ever as the event celebrates its 30th year. Two new displays will be introduced to mark the occasion, including a 12-piece set paying tribute to the 12 Days of Christmas. The other new display—a replica of Chippewa Falls’ historic Hotel Northern—is in keeping with the Christmas Village’s tradition of showcasing Chippewa Falls landmarks. “When we started out, we wanted to make a little village kind of reminiscent of Chippewa Falls as it might have looked back in the Victorian era,” said Jean Arneson, who’s been a Christmas Village volunteer since the inaugural event in 1987. Arneson provides the artistic vision for the village; she conceived, designed, drew, and in many cases painted each of the 200-plus displays.
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WISCONSIN FAVORITES
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1. Many displays are replicas of historic or iconic sites of the Chippewa Falls area, including this representation of the Cook-Rutledge Mansion. 2. This display has Victorian-era townsfolk ice skating around the house of William Irvine, namesake of the park that hosts Christmas Village each December. 3. Tickets for the popular horse-drawn wagon rides through Christmas Village are available at Gordy’s Market Service Center in downtown Chippewa Falls, but they go quickly! 4. The park’s Band Shell holds a special tribute to the area’s Armed Service members and their families. 5. Names of the area’s active Armed Service members are also on display.
“We have replicas of some of the historic buildings and more notable places that you see around Chippewa Falls,” Arneson said. “One of the displays is the Cook-Rutledge Mansion, and we have the Rutledge home, which is just up the hill from the park. We also have the Leinenkugel Brewery and the Sheeley House. Two years ago we added the William Irvine House, who the park is named after.” Initially, Christmas Village was just that—a miniature community offering a step back in time to holidays past in the Chippewa Falls area. By the second year, the event was expanded to include more traditional Christmas elements, including a North Pole scene complete with Santa and his reindeer. This section of the park also has a nutcracker display and Christmas storybook area, where the newest 12 Days of Christmas scene can be found. The Irvine Park Drive Bridge serves
as the separation point between the Christmas Village’s two main sections; guests enter at the front into the Victorian Village and once they cross the bridge, they enter Santa Land. Although Arneson conceived and created most of the holiday displays, Brunstad was the driving force behind Christmas Village’s third main focus—a tribute to Chippewa County’s Armed Service members and their families. A visit to this display, located in the park’s 1924 Band Shell, has become a meaningful event in itself for many visitors. “I’m a Navy mom,” Brunstad explained. “Our son went into the Navy in 2000, and there just wasn’t a lot of understanding about the military at the time. The men and women serving were in a different place. So one of the programs I’ve started here is to rec-
Military Tribute
ognize active-duty service members in Chippewa County. I just wanted to have a place for the community to connect with them.” Brunstad noted the historic Band Shell is a memorial to “Our Soldiers and Sailors,” and therefore serves as an appropriate backdrop for this display. A 12-foot tree standing center of the Band Shell is dedicated to Armed Service members and their friends and families. Plywood cut-outs of servicemen and women—inspired by pictures of real servicemen and women from the area— stand at each side. Also on display are names of activeduty servicemen and women in Chippewa County. The list has grown from 19 names the first year to about 140 today. Brunstad said some people come back night after night to read through the names on the display and take a quiet moment to connect with their loved ones. December 2017
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Christmas Village also features more traditional holiday displays of twinkling lights and Santa scenes.
Lighting with LEDs The Christmas Village started as an outgrowth of the Chippewa Falls Chamber of Commerce Retail Committee, but it grew into an independent project involving individuals, businesses, volunteer organizations, and local government entities. Its growth each year in new exhibits and added lights has outpaced its growth in budget, thanks in part to a wealth of volunteer labor, but also to the switch to LED lights, which Brunstad said began in about 2005. “The crew has transitioned to as many LED light bulbs as possible,” she said. “With that there’s been a great savings, but that savings in energy has also allowed us to have extra money in the budget to buy more lights, so we’ve been able to expand without adding to the budget.” Brunstad added the switch to LEDs has also reduced some labor time, since the LED bulbs last longer and are much more durable. “If you drop an LED bulb from 14 feet it won’t break,” she pointed out. “So we have less breakage because of the LEDs, plus they don’t have to be changed as often.” Not that labor is a problem. Christmas Village is a big community event, and it seems that just about everyone in the community has played a role of some kind at some time. The project is made possible by volunteers, who serve on the board of directors to help with planning, show up in the fall to begin setting up (this year’s set-up began in mid-September), maintain the displays and staff the event when needed during December, and break it all down again after the holidays. In addition, art students at Chippewa Falls Senior High School and McDonell Central High School have assisted with painting the majority of the displays. This year, by season’s end, about 300 volunteers are expected to have lent a hand, whether for one day or weeks at a time. Also, Brunstad noted that as the light show became a bigger part of the community, donations increased. The annual 26
Collector’s Christmas Village Ornaments, sold each year since 1989 as a fundraiser for the event, have become coveted items. Each year’s ornament features a different scene from the Christmas Village, usually the newest display. This year’s ornament, commemorating the event’s 30th year, will pay tribute to Arneson, the originator of all the displays. The bulbs are sold at various places in Chippewa Falls for $5 each.
Traditions With three decades of Christmas Village light shows in the books, the event has become a family tradition for many visitors, some of whom were brought to the park by their parents and are now bringing their own children. And while some of the favorite displays are by now quite familiar to those who come every year, the village itself is never the same. Arneson said the pieces are set up a little differently each year, and the light displays change each year as well. What doesn’t change is the magic. It awaits beyond the arch at Irvine Park, each December.—Mary Erickson (photos courtesy of Chippewa Falls Parks, Recreation & Forestry Department; Jean Arneson; and Mary Brunstad) Irvine Park is located at 125 Bridgewater Ave., Chippewa Falls, WI 54729. To learn more about Irvine Park and/or Christmas Village, visit www.chippewafalls-wi.gov or call 715-723-0051.
Wisconsin Energy Cooperative News
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YOUNG MEMBERS
Kids and Critters December 2017
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1. Johnathon chills with his peeps. Johnathon is the son of Dale and Sara Bruss. Photo submitted by grandparents David and Mary Homier, members of Adams-Columbia Electric.
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2. Have you herd? Baby James has a new bovine friend. Grandma Grace Nordahl, a member of Jackson Electric, submitted the photo. 3. Logan says “cheese.” Photo submitted by grandparents Bill and Deb Kochevar, members of Jump River Electric. 4. My, what a big head you have. Wyatt is introduced to Titan. Photo sent by grandparents Dan and Renee Barden, members of Adams-Columbia Electric. 5. Bo and his beef calf are beautiful babies. Photo sent in by Bo’s parents, Nick and Nikki Sadoski, members of Adams-Columbia Electric.
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6. Presley meets Rio for the first time. Photo sent in by Presley’s grandparents, Brad and Barb Evjen, members of Jump River Electric. 7. Julia is determined not to lose her friend Rhino, so she carries him everywhere. Jessica Ellis, member of Riverland Energy, sent in the photo. 8. Isabella brings a meal to her feathered friends. Photo submitted by Rachel Pockat, a member of Central Wisconsin Electric.
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to the new wecnmagazine.com through the “Submit a photo” tab. Send photos of kids with animals, along with a brief description, to WECN Magazine, 222 W. Washington Ave., Suite 680, Madison, WI 53703-2719. Please include the name of your electric co-op. Photos will be returned. If in good-resolution, electronic format, photos may also be uploaded via wecnmagazine. com through the “Submit a photo” tab. By submitting, sender implies that he/she has rights to and owns the image, and grants WECN permission to use the image. By submitting, the parent or legal guardian also authorizes us the right to publish the image.
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TRAVEL & CAMPING
CLASSIFIEDS MISCELLANEOUS
REAL ESTATE
COLLECTOR BUYING WAR SOUVENIRS: German, Japanese, U.S. weapons, medals, helmets, daggers, swords, military items. 715-344-5031.
WOODED 72 ACRES SW OF COLOMA. Some MFL & mature pines. Hiking trails. Big bucks. Quiet. $2600 an acre. 920-210-0664.
WANTED: PAYING CASH FOR WW-2 GERMAN, JAPANESE FLAGS, DAGGERS, SWORDS, GUNS, ETC. 715-340-1974. WANTED: DEER TAGS, back tags. Trapping, bear, hunting, and fishing licenses. Otter, bobcat, fisher tags. Any old traps. David Schober, W4234 Rock Creek Rd., Loyal, WI 54446. 715-255-9284.
VACATION RENTAL ON SCENIC FLAMBEAU RIVER. Beautiful fully furnished 3+ bedrooms, one bath that sleeps 8+. Cottage sits within 30 level feet off the shoreline. 4 Kayaks and 2 Canoes supplied for renters to use. Rates depend upon number of guests and number of nights booked. Email: paultroy@centurytel.net or Call: 715-288-6802.
TARPS–HEAVY DUTY, 14’ x 48,’ hemmed. Expired billboard faces. $50 each or 10’x 30’ – $24 each. Shipping not included. Tarps can also be picked up at Jones Sign, 1711 Scheuring Road, De Pere, WI 54115. 800-536-7446.
13.3 WOODED ACRES, 10 minutes from downtown Wisconsin Dells. New well and electric. Beautiful campsites, 1/2 mile of ATV trails, deer stands, flower garden, and stonework. Older mobile home. $125,000. 262-496-6510.
TORNADO/STORM SHELTERS. 4 person-30 person. TimberLake Homes; corner of Hwys. 13 and 21. Friendship, WI. 608-339-4663.
FOR SALE: Mobile Home on 1 acre with living room addition. Fully furnished. Located on Reshel Road in the Town of City Point, Jackson County. 608-577-6140.
GOT WOOD! NEW PORTABLE SAWMILLS. We sell Forestry Equipment for the hobbyist to the professional. Band Sawmills, Firewood Processors, Skidding Winches & more. A-F County Market an authorized Hudson Forest Equipment Dealer. Adams, WI 53910. Phone Joe or Rich 608-339-6703. SEPTIC PROBLEMS: Do you have standing water on your drain field? Have you been told you need a new expensive septic system? I have an alternative that works, also comes with a warranty (no digging). Call toll free 855-7976072 or email mmtagm@yahoo.com. LAKE OR POND? Aeration is your 1st step toward improved water quality. 1hp floating fountain aerator with lite just $698.95. Air diffusion bubbler systems: $289-$399 ultra hi-efficiency waterfall pumps up to 11,000gph, just 3.6 amps, solar powered aerators too. 608-254-2735 or www.fishpondaerator.com.
PEACEFUL COUNTRY LIVING IN A GORGEOUS VALLEY JUST MINUTES FROM HOLMEN, WI. Spacious 3 bedroom,1.5 bath house on 7+ acres! Bonus feature is this property has 4 car garage, 2 large steel insulated sheds, excellent hunting & income generating property from your back door, or plenty of room for big boy toys. Many amenities, property will not disappoint. Must see! Private sale, $498,000. For details call Barb 608-526-4373.
VACATION RENTAL. Cape Coral, Fl. Beautiful 3 bedroom home on gulf access canal. 10,000lb boat lift. Weekly rental or more. Call Al 608-295-7433. UPPER MICHIGAN. 1800’ Lakeshore, 35 acres, Pristine Lake. Near trout Streams, golf, casino, ski, snowmobile trails. Surrounded by Ottowa Forest. Very Private. $297,000. 715-495-2081.
PLANTS & SHRUBS HARDWOOD AND CONIFER SEEDLINGS AND TRANSPLANTS. Thousands available, Oaks, Maples, Highbred Poplar, Hickory, Cherry, Dogwoods, Hazelnut, Ninebark, Cranberry, Balsam Fir, Fraser Fir, Spruce, Pine, Cedar, Food plot and grafted apple trees too, Large bareroot shade trees including Autumn Blaze. Check us out on the web at www.paintcreeknursery.com , Facebook and Youtube as well. Paint Creek Nursery, Cadott, WI 715-723-2072. FRUIT, NUT, SHADE, & ORNAMETAL TREES AVAILABLE FOR SPRING PLANTING. Also evergreens & deciduous seedling and transplants, strawberries, blueberries, asparagus, rhubarb, and many others. For additional info write to: Woodstock Nursery, N1831 State Hwy 95, Neillsville, WI 54456. Also check us out at Wallace-Woodstock.com, or call toll free 888-803-8733.
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WANTED: Ruger or Smith and Wesson revolvers. 920-284-4728. KEY IMPERIAL BIB OVERALLS. Blue denim, rinsed, washed, hickory stripe. Co-op members get FREE SHIPPING with coupon code: FREEWEC. Call 800-922-3533 or check out our website www.bohlings.com.
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Classified ads reach more than 171,000 mailboxes. RATES: For non-members of Wisconsin rural electric co-ops: one insertion, $25 minimum (up to 20 words); additional words, $1.25 each. For members of Wisconsin rural electric co-ops: one insertion, $14 minimum (up to 20 words); additional words, $.70 each. Count name, address, and phone number as part of ad. Please include zip code. FOR PROOF OF MEMBERSHIP, please include your address label from your copy of the magazine. FREQUENCY DISCOUNTS: 2% discount for 3 months; 5% for 6 months; 10% for 12 months. DEADLINE: 1st of the month prior to the month in which the ad is to appear. All classified ads must be paid in advance. There is no agency discount on classifieds. Make check or money order payable to: WECA. Mail to: WECN, Attn. Tina Walden, 222 W. Washington Ave., Ste. 680, Madison, WI 53703. Ph: 608-467-4599. Email tina@weca.coop
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WISCONSIN EVENTS 1, 2 Katie’s Garden Winter Wonderland–– Platteville. Regional Chamber, 5–7 p.m. Santa & Mrs. Claus arrive via Fire Truck. Enjoy cocoa and cookies, holiday carolers, children’s activities, search for reindeer, and enjoy luminaries. 2 Bazaar––Plainfield. St. Paul Catholic Church, 8 a.m.–1 p.m. Homemade baked goods and Christmas cookies, crafts, trim a tree, in-house raffles, delicious lunch, Christmas cards, and treasure hunt room. 2 Cookie Walk––Milton. United Methodist Church, 8 a.m.–12 p.m. 2 Christmas Cookie Walk––Wisconsin Rapids. St. Lawrence Catholic Church, 8:30–11 a.m. 2 Christmas Bazaar––Muscoda. St. John’s Church Gymnasium, 9 a.m.–2 p.m. For more information call, 608-739-2271. 2 Christmas Fair––Fall Creek. Fire Hall, 9 a.m.–2 p.m. Baked goods, lefse, crafts, Christmas decorations, door prizes, quilt drawing. 2 Cookie Walk and Craft Sale––Eleva. Town of Pleasant Valley Community Center, 10 a.m.–1 p.m. Holiday cookies by the pound, local vendors, hot lunch, kids’ craft, Mr. and Mrs. Claus.
2 Holiday Happening––Adams. St. Joseph Center, 10 a.m.–2 p.m. $15/person. Alice In Dairyland, Christmas music, lunch, door prizes and raffles. 608-339-7733 to reserve your seat.
6 Woman’s Relief Corps Fundraiser–– Richland Center. Culver’s, 4–8 p.m.
2 Santa Visit and Bake Sale––Rio. Community Library, 10 a.m.–12 p.m. Santa photos, goody bags, bake sale, and crafts for kids.
9 Creative Christmas Cookie, Baked Goods, & Crafts Sale––Redgranite. First Congressional UCC, 10 a.m.–1 p.m.
2 Cookie Walk––Abbotsford. Christ Lutheran Church, 11 a.m.–2 p.m. 2 The Main Event-Winter Gala––Nekoosa. Community Center, 5–10 p.m. Dinner, music, dancing, live auction, raffle. 715-459-2551 for ticket information. 2, 3 Christmas Open House––Mauston. Boorman House, 12–7 p.m. 3 Cable Care (Cable Area Resources In Emergencies) Christmas––Cable. Garmisch Resort, 4:30–6:30 p.m. Raffle items, silent auction, gift baskets. 3–31 Christmas Show––Brule. Oulu Glass, 9 a.m.–5 p.m. Call 715-372-4160. 4 Lites Of Love Tree Lighting Ceremony–– Medford. Aspirus Medford Hospital, 5–7 p.m.
9 Holiday Bazaar––Holcombe. Lake Holcombe High School, 9 a.m.–2 p.m. 715-595-4241.
9 Harvest Of Talents Christmas Open House––Holcombe. Home of Vito and Linda Sblendorio, 27930 250th Street Holcombe, WI 54745, 10 a.m.–3 p.m. 13 VA Fundraiser––Richland Center. County Bank, 9 a.m.–3 p.m. In need of shampoos, combs, brushes, toothbrushes, toothpaste, non-slip socks, gloves, nail clippers, lip balm, lotions. Cash donations welcomed. 16 Cookie Walk/Bake Sale––Bowler. Grace Bible Church, 9 a.m.–12 p.m. 17 Christmas for the Family––Fairchild. Church of Hope, 10 a.m. Hairy & Company, children’s program, homemade Christmas meal, and horse-drawn wagon rides. Pastor Don Conklin at 715-533-5650.
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