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CooperaN

COOPERATIVE

News

Wisconsin

ENERGY Cooperative

contents March 2016

News

ENLIGHTENED LEGISLATORS

WECA MANAGER

Legislators are honored for their service to co-ops.

15 26 28 30

CONTACTING Contractors

Find the right contractor for energy efficiency work.

Co-op influence present at caucuses.

MY CO-OP

Find out whatâ€™s happening at your local electric cooperative.

PEANUT RECIPES

Celebrate March Peanut Month with these tasty recipes.

NEWS BRIEFS

The electric co-op industry recognizes its best.

On the

COVER

Escape to an era of elegance at the Villa Louis.

CYBER SECURITY

Out of sight, energy providers battle cyber threats.

YOUNG MEMBERS

Cute co-op kids get cozy with their critters

CLASSIFIEDS

Buy, sell, and trade with readers from across Wisconsin.

EVENTS

Add some Wisconsin fun to your March calendar.

March 2016

WECN MarTOC2016.indd 1

2/10/16 10:43 AM

LETTER FROM

THE EDITOR Building relationships

On page 8, Steve Freese discusses a grassroots cooperative program called Rural Power making the rounds of Iowa town halls and Dana Kelroy, Editor diners. Electric cooperative members clad in green shirts made their presence known at campaign stops across the state. Their goal: Talk with whomever becomes our next president about safe, affordable, and reliable electricity, delivered in an environmentally responsible manner. Here in Wisconsin, we advocate with our representatives in Madison in much the same way. We don’t coordinate outﬁts, but electric cooperative leaders do make their voices heard. They engage their elected ofﬁcials to ensure safe, reliable power for Wisconsin. Among rural legislators, the co-op is a respected voice in the district. Annually, Wisconsin’s electric cooperatives recognize legislators who have distinguished themselves with their strong support of electric cooperatives, willingness to listen to our members, help with the legislative process, and work on bills advancing energy-related matters. This award, WECA’s Enlightened Legislator of the Year Award, was presented in February to three recipients: Representatives Robb Kahl (D-Monona), Warren Petryk (R-Eleva), and Keith Ripp (R-Lodi). They were honored for their support on issues like security of utility infrastructure and cutting red tape for out-of-state crews responding to natural disasters. Like the Iowa effort, it’s one way of building relationships for the future.

March 2016 Vol. 76 No. 9 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. Published for the Wisconsin Electric Cooperative Association by Cooperative Network, 1 S. Pinckney St., Suite 810, Madison, WI 53703. Tom Liebe, president & CEO. USPS number: 688-480. Postmaster: please send address changes to Wisconsin Energy Cooperative News, 1 S. Pinckney St., Suite 810, Madison, WI 53703. Periodicals postage paid at Baraboo, Wis. Send correspondence to Wisconsin Energy Cooperative News, 1 S. Pinckney St., Suite 810, Madison, WI 53703. Phone (608) 258-4400. 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.

3 1. Rep. Robb Kahl addresses Education and Lobby Days attendees. 2. Rep Keith Ripp receives his award from Adams-Columbia Electric Cooperative’s Larry Becker. 3. Cooperators from Dunn Energy, Eau Claire Energy, and Pierce Pepin Cooperative Services flank Rep. Warren Petryk.

Steve Freese Dana Kelroy Mary Erickson David Hoopman Ann Bailey Tina Walden Geri Miller

WECA manager editor associate editor contributing writer graphic designer editorial assistant advertising consultant

For advertising opportunities please email ads@cooperativenetwork.coop. The appearance of advertising does not constitute an endorsement of the products or services advertised.

Please recycle

Wisconsin Energy Cooperative News

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NEWS BRIEFS OCONTO’S KANACK WINS ACE AWARD

Dan Kanack’s four decades of service to Oconto Electric Cooperative and the wider electric co-op community were recognized in February, with his selection as this year’s winner of the ACE Award, the Wisconsin Electric Cooperative Association’s (WECA) highest honor. Kanack’s co-op involvement has included service as the Oconto board’s secretary, treasurer, and president; 17 years as a WECA director; and a volunteer stint assisting an electric cooperative in Bolivia through the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association’s International Program, and service on its board of directors representing Wisconsin. The ACE (Ally of Cooperative Electrification) Award is given annually to a living individual credited with effort and achievement beyond the ordinary call of duty, in service to rural electrification at the local, state, or national level. Kanack credited his family’s support in accepting the award, saying, “If it weren’t for my family pitching in when I was gone so much, this never would have happened,” adding, “I’ll treasure this for the rest of my life.”

EAU CLAIRE’S LOCAL PAGES WIN APPLAUSE

SAFETY ACHIEVEMENTS RECOGNIZED

Adams-Columbia Electric Cooperative’s Manager of Transportation and Safety Ken Miller became the 43rd recipient of the Herman C. Potthast Award as electric co-op leaders statewide gathered in Madison last month for two days of educational presentations and legislative visits. The award is given annually to an individual judged to represent the qualities of dedication, leadership, cooperation, and service typified by the premier leader of electric utility job training and safety programming in Wisconsin and nationwide between the 1940s and 1970s. Miller began his career as a summer safety intern while a college student and has been active in safety leadership at the 6

local and state levels and with the National Utility Training and Safety Education Association. At the same February event, Dairyland Power Cooperative’s Safety and Security Director Garry Christopherson acknowledged Wisconsin’s involvement in the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association’s Rural Electric Safety Achievement Program (RESAP). Eight cooperatives (Adams-Columbia, Dunn, Jump River, Oakdale, Oconto, Pierce-Pepin, Price, and Riverland) qualified for awards and 19 Wisconsin co-ops are participating in RESAP, Christopherson noted, encouraging “the engagement of all employees taking ownership of the program.”

Integrating the local co-op pages of Wisconsin Energy Cooperative News as part of a coordinated communications effort earned Eau Claire Energy Cooperative its second N.F. Leifer Memorial Journalism Award since 2014 at a statewide gathering of electric co-op leaders in Madison last month. The Leifer Award is named for the Vernon Electric Cooperative Manager who helped lead the creation of then-Wisconsin REA News as America’s first statewide rural electric co-op publication in 1940. ECEC’s Communications and Public Relations Manager Mary Kay Brevig received the award, saying of her years with the cooperative that 2015 “was one of the most exciting for me.” She credited the co-op board and management for the “exciting projects,” such as the past year’s development of a community solar project, among events she’d been able to report.

Wisconsin Energy Cooperative News

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CO-OPS L

ast month I talked about how your vote—which always matters—can make an especially big difference in a close election. I’d like to follow that up with the most vivid example so far this year, in the presidential race at the Iowa Caucus. This year’s caucus will go down in history as one of the closest ever. According to the Associated Press, among Iowa’s 1,681 precincts Hillary Clinton received 49.9 percent of the vote and was awarded 23 delegates, while Bernie Sanders received 49.6 percent of the vote and 21 delegates, for a difference of onethird of a percentage point and two delegates. On the Republican Steve Freese side, Ted Cruz received 27.7 WECA Manager percent of the vote and eight delegates: Donald Trump received 24.3 percent of the vote and seven delegates, and Marco Rubio received 23.1 percent and seven delegates. The difference between Cruz in first place and Rubio in third was one delegate, showing just how important each individual vote can be. When all the primaries are finished throughout the states we may well be surprised how important that two-delegate win by former Secretary Clinton, or the one-delegate win by Senator Cruz, might be in securing nomination. The one thing that’s looking clearer is this year Wisconsin’s April 5th primary can still have an effect on the two parties’ nominations. While the race was unfolding at town halls and dinners across Iowa, a cooperative grassroots campaign called Iowa Rural Power was underway. Its goal was to

AND CAUCUSES

establish positive relationships with the candidates before the ultimate winner takes office. Wearing green Rural Power T-shirts, grassroots co-op representatives were informing and educating presidential candidates regarding issues that are important to electric co-ops and their member–owners. In the run-up to Iowa’s unique “first in the nation” presidential caucuses, Iowa Rural Power representatives were able to ask presidential candidates directly about their plans to ensure affordable and reliable electricity in the years ahead with this question: “What is your plan to ensure safe, affordable, reliable, and environmentally responsible electricity?” Though only one candidate will ultimately become the next president, many of those running may move on to cabinet posts or other influential positions in government, and hopefully this grassroots effort will have given them an understanding of electric cooperatives and their unique challenges. At this link, iaruralpower.org/voter-guide, you can find a voter guide to all the presidential candidates and where they stand on issues that affect your electric cooperative. If Wisconsin becomes a battleground state as we have been in the past, you might see a Wisconsin rural power green shirt campaign to remind the candidates about issues that are important to ensure affordable and reliable electricity in rural America. We won’t advocate for any individual candidate; our goal is simply to get the candidates to articulate where they stand on our issues. Stay tuned. We may be asking for your help this fall.

Each candidate was asked

“What is your plan

to ensure safe,

affordable, reliable,

and environmentally responsible electricity?”

Co-op Rural Power is a grassroots campaign of America’s electric cooperatives. Clad in green shirts, they appeared at many Iowa caucus events. Photos courtesy of iaruralpower.org.

Wisconsin Energy Cooperative News

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Invisible Warfare Out of sight, energy providers battle cyber threats

ast December, workers at three Ukrainian electric utilities received an email purportedly sent by the nation’s parliament and prompting them to open an Excel spreadsheet. They did so, and soon 700,000 residents of the former Soviet republic were without electricity. The only factor limiting the outages to a few hours fell under the heading of good news-bad news: The Ukrainian grid is less advanced than those in many Western nations, so personnel were able to restore service by driving around to substations and switching power back on manually. Had the same virus attack been sprung on U.S. power providers, their more heavily automated systems would likely have remained disabled for a significantly longer time. At least that’s the opinion of Robert M. Lee, an international cybersecurity expert helping to investigate the incident and quoted in a January report from CNNMoney. Ukrainian law enforcement pointed the finger at Russia, still battling Ukraine over possession of the Crimean Peninsula, and CNN characterized the blackout as “perhaps the first major act of cyberwar on a civilian population.” As in, actual war? If that seems overwrought, consider the consequences of a prolonged wintertime shutdown of electric service to a populace living mainly north of the latitude of Marinette, Wisconsin. No electricity to control heating systems, pump water or gasoline, or operate medical equipment would soon relegate the loss of electric lighting to the level of minor inconvenience.

Dancing in the Dark How the Ukraine incident began isn’t

mysterious, though many of the details surrounding it are. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security, assisting Ukrainian investigators, veriﬁed that power company computers were infected with malware called BlackEnergy 3. The department has noted the use of BlackEnergy by Russian interests, especially a hacker group known as Sandworm. It’s perhaps unnerving that anyone not living as a hermit—truly “off the grid”—has a direct interest in knowing the threats they face and what’s being done to counter them, but will necessarily be able to obtain little information. The paramount interest of those bent on causing destruction and of those responsible for preventing it is the same: Keep each other in the dark about what’s known of the opponent’s activities. But some things can be revealed without compromising the security of vital infrastructure. One is that cyber threats are probably more common than most of us imagine. Another is

that they may arise as easily from simple carelessness as from hostile action. Last September Britain’s Chatham House, an independent policy analysis organization, issued a report titled “Cyber Security at Civil Nuclear Facilities: Understanding the Risks.” Based on an 18-month study including interviews with dozens of industry professionals, the report focused on cyber threats to power plant control systems and potential defenses. A successful cyber attack against a nuclear plant would be complicated and expensive, reducing the number of entities capable of pulling it off, the Chatham House report said, while acknowledging it’s “possible that non-state armed groups with sufficient financial and other resources may turn to cyber attacks.” An attack would need to be tailored to the precise software programs that run the control systems, and attackers would need a customized test-bed, a capability the report says is currently held by “only the most advanced states.” If that seems to implicate Russia, it’s worth considering the opinion of the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA), which calls the Ukraine incident a “low-sophistication attack,” and also the words of a ChathamHouse interviewee: “It’s not like you are having tanks coming over the hill, or you’ve got soldiers in uniforms flying flags; the reality is we’re seeing a real increase in the use of false flag operations. Attacks that appear to be coming from somewhere are actually coming from somewhere else.” The need to keep antagonists in the dark is nowhere more evident than in the Chatham House practice of not naming quoted sources. The words above are attributed to “Source 26,” identified only as vice president and chief technology officer of a British cybersecurity firm. But false-flag operations are no excuse to ignore what might be called “no-flag” incidents, caused by people clumsily polluting industrial control systems with virus-infected software. The Chatham House report describes a 2003 incident when the Slammer worm migrated from an outside consultant’s network into the First Energy corporate network, connected without a firewall to the supervisory control and data acquisition system at Ohio’s Davis-Besse nuclear plant. The plant wasn’t operating at the time, fortunately, because critical data about the reactor core, coolant systems, temperature sensors, and radiation detectors would have been unavailable for

Wisconsin Energy Cooperative News

WECN MarFeature12016.indd 2

2/10/16 3:40 PM

1. Physical access to control rooms at American Transmission Company requires both a personal password and an electronic token that generates a new password every 60 seconds, as shown by Ben Stuart. 2. Researchers took part in the GridEx II national cyber security drill. Photo courtesy of PNNL. 3. Two cyber security specialists conduct research on an electric utility. Photo courtesy of ID National Labs.

several hours. In 2008, a contractor updating a computer on the business network at Georgia’s Hatch nuclear plant caused a two-day shutdown when restarting the computer—tied into one of the plant’s control networks—triggered a false alarm indicating insufﬁcient cooling water. Among recommendations from Chatham House: Create “robust dialogue with engineers and contractors to raise awareness,” ban personal electronic devices from control rooms, and block USB ports on equipment that actually belongs there.

Security Begins at Home

Hundreds of electric cooperative personnel participated last November in a national two-day exercise testing power industry responses to weather disasters or deliberate attacks on utility systems. Trying to make the exercise more demanding than real-world events, the North American Electric Reliability Corporation—with statutory power to enforce reliability standards—conducts the tests every two years. But cybersecurity is a daily concern. A key player in Wisconsin utility operations, Waukesha-based American Transmission Company (ATC) owns and operates the transmission grid in much of Wisconsin and Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. ATC, in turn, is owned by power providers including six electric cooperatives serving parts of Wisconsin, Michigan, and Illinois. Authorized under a 1999 Wisconsin

law as the nation’s first independent transmission company, ATC’s relative youth may be an advantage. Ben Stuart, ATC’s customer relations manager, agreed there’s been no need to overcome the obstacle of “we’ve always done it this way” to keep personnel attentive to cybersecurity. “Very few of our own employees can get into our control rooms,” he noted. “We allow the fewest possible people in.” Physical access requires two-factor identification including both a personal password and an electronic token that generates a new password every 60 seconds. And if control-room access is limited for people, it’s out of the question for things like personal electronic devices. There are no cell phones, smartphones, Internet access, or email in ATC control rooms; no flash disks, no thumb drives. To defend against remote access, ATC’s business and corporate networks have been “totally segregated from the control network for years and years,” predating the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s order requiring utilities to physically separate those networks, Stuart told Wisconsin Energy Cooperative News. And long before the Ukraine incident, Stuart says, ATC moved preemptively by sending its own employees carefully crafted but false “phishing” emails, drilling home the message that opening an attachment could be a costly mistake. The phishing exercises work so well

that ATC sometimes has to persuade employees to open email messages when a response is actually wanted, Stuart said. The NRECA says attacks like the Ukraine incident are “easily preventable” by following best practices widely employed at U.S. electric cooperatives. But avoiding overconﬁdence, the same assessment echoes a ﬁnding of Britain’s Chatham House report. “Many breaches can be traced to simple lapses that occur even in very well-run organizations,” NRECA says. —Dave Hoopman

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Ensuring

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Dear Pat:

I want to make my home more energy efﬁcient, but some of the work needed is more than I can do by myself. When I’m hiring contractors to do these projects, how can I be sure that the work is of good quality? – Jerry C.

Dear Jerry:

The good news is there are many contractors performing high-quality energy efficiency work. You’re smart to first figure out what you can do to ensure your contractors deliver the kind of quality you’re paying for. The best quality assurance solution for most homeowners is to start with a home energy audit by a qualified and experienced energy auditor. Ask the auditor to specify the products and the quality standards for each recommended efficiency measure. The auditor can also help you by agreeing to inspect the finished work. Using an auditor throughout your home energy upgrade will cost several hundred dollars, but it can pay off in a number of ways: You will know what work is truly needed, and you can prevent poor quality or incomplete work. Your electric co-op may offer a free or discounted audit by one of its energy advisors, or it may have a list of trusted energy auditors in the area. In some areas, there are home performance contractors experienced in whole home energy efficiency upgrades who can perform the energy audit themselves and then complete the work. Once you have a clear idea and a description of the work that needs to be done, you’ll need to identify contractors. The

energy auditor can help you with questions to ask potential contractors. • Is the contractor licensed and insured in your state? Does he have any additional training? For example, the Building Performance Institute (BPI) certifies contractors who have training in whole home energy efficiency improvements. • For heating and cooling projects, how will the contractor decide what size equipment is needed in your home? Will he inspect duct work and insulation throughout the home? • For insulation and weatherization upgrades, what is your insulation level now? What should it be? Will the contractor find and seal any air leaks before installing the insulation? • For all projects, who will actually be at your home doing the work—the person you are talking to? An installer employed by the same company? Or a sub-contractor? Make sure to do plenty of research before fully engaging a contractor: • Don’t take the first offer: Try to get at least two bids. The lowest quote might not necessarily be the best: Sometimes it’s hard to compare bids unless they are itemized correctly. If one quote is significantly lower than others, inquire closely about the reasons for the difference. • Check their work: Ask for and check references, read online reviews, and ask your local experts about any experience they have with the contractor. Once you have chosen a contractor, make sure you and the contractor agree on the written description of the work to be (Continued page 14)

Wisconsin Energy Cooperative News

WECN MarFeature2 2016.indd 1

2/10/16 10:54 AM

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(Top photo) Fiberglass batts perform better if measured and cut properly. Photo courtesy of Jack Amick. (Middle photo) An energy auditor can help determine what work is really needed in your home. Photo courtesy of Piedmont Electric Membership Corporation. (Bottom photo) Your co-op’s energy advisor can help inspect completed work. Photo courtesy of Piedmont Electric Membership Corporation.

performed, the expected timeframe for completion, and the price. If the contractor insists on providing an estimate rather than a firm bid, you should discuss what might cause the final bill to be higher than quoted. Some common areas of tension between contractors and their customers are also worth discussing: • How often and when will the contractor communicate with you about the status of the project? • How clean does the work area need to be at the end of each day? • What is the daily work schedule? It’s best not to pay the contractor until work is completed and inspected. You and the energy auditor should both inspect the work. Your co-op’s energy advisor may also be able to inspect or give you advice for what to look for. For example, is the window flashing installed correctly? Are the ducts sealed properly? Finally, if you have a good experience with a contractor, pass the information along to friends and neighbors, or write a helpful review—a good home contractor can be hard to find! This column was co-written by Pat Keegan and Amy Wheeless of Collaborative Efficiency. For more information on ensuring quality energy efficiency work, please visit: www.collaborative efficiency.com/energytips or email Pat Keegan at energytips@collaborative efficiency.com.

Wisconsin Energy Cooperative News

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Go NUTS for

Peanuts March is Peanut Month Recipes and photos courtesy of the National Peanut Board.

Peanut Pie Pie Crust (makes two 9-inch pie shells) 2 1/2 cups all-purpose ﬂour 1 cup shortening 1 pinch salt 1 tsp sugar Ice water Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Cut the shortening into sifted ﬂour, salt, and sugar until pea-sized. Sprinkle water over and mix with a spatula until it just comes together. Separate into equal parts, shape into large disks, wrap with plastic wrap, and refrigerate for a minimum of 30 minutes. Roll dough out into a round. Place into pie plate and shape edges. Freeze for 10 minutes. Line with foil and pie beans or pie weights. Place in middle of oven on sheet pan for 20 minutes. Remove foil and pie weights and bake another 10 minutes.

Filling 1 cup sorghum syrup 1 cup packed light brown sugar 5 Tbsp butter 2 Tbsp all-purpose ﬂour 3 eggs 1 Tbsp dark rum 2 tsp pure vanilla extract 2 cups salted peanuts Bring syrup, sugar, and butter to a boil. Boil for 1 minute, stirring frequently. Remove from heat and let cool slightly. Whisk eggs with rum and vanilla, stir into the caramel. Stir in peanuts, add to pie shell while still warm and place in the center of a 350 degree oven. Bake for 40–45 minutes. You may have to cover crust with foil after 30 minutes if it gets too dark. Remove from oven, let cool slightly, and serve warm with vanilla ice cream.

Wisconsin Energy Cooperative News

WECN MarRecipes2016.indd 2

2/8/16 4:52 PM

PB&J Pear Bouquet 1 Bartlett or Anjou pear 8 tsp peanut butter 4 tsp strawberry preserves 8 slices whole grain wheat bread

Use a flower-shaped cookie cutter to cut each slice of bread. If bread sticks to the cutter, gently push the petals out with your fingers. Wash the pear and cut

in half. Remove the core. Cut each pear half into four slices and then cut each slice into five pieces. You will use only the center three pieces of each slice. Spread 1 teaspoon of peanut butter in a circle in the center of each of the flowers. Place 3 pieces of pear on the peanut butter on each flower. Arrange the pears so the skin is facing out and the white centers are touching in the middle. Drizzle a 1/2 teaspoon of strawberry preserves in the center of each flower and over the pears.

Peanut Butter Noodles 1/2 cup peanut butter 1/3 cup water 3 Tbsp soy sauce 2 tsp grated fresh ginger 1 small garlic clove, minced Juice of 1 lime 1 Tbsp sesame oil 2 Tbsp honey 8 oz thin spaghetti or angel hair pasta 1 Tbsp olive or peanut oil 1/2 onion, finely sliced 2 carrots, shredded

1 zucchini, cut into matchsticks or shredded 1/2 cup peanuts, chopped (optional garnish for children over three and adults) 1/4 cup chopped cilantro (optional) Add first 8 ingredients to a sauce pan and bring to a simmer. Stir with a whisk until completely smooth and turn off heat and cover to keep warm. Cook pasta according to directions on the box. Meanwhile, sauté onion, carrots, and zucchini in oil over medium high heat. Finally, toss pasta with one cup of sauce and all of the vegetables. Use leftover sauce for dipping vegetables or thin with a little more lime juice and use as a salad dressing. Top with chopped peanuts and cilantro, if desired.

Blueberry Peanut Smoothie 2 cups fresh blueberries 3 Tbsp peanut butter 1/2 cup 1% low-fat milk 2 cups fat-free vanilla yogurt 1/2 cup ice

In a blender, place blueberries, peanut butter, and milk. Cover and blend at high speed for 30 seconds. Add yogurt and ice; continue to blend for 30 seconds or until smooth. Pour into three 8 oz. glasses and serve.

Peanut Powered Breakfast Cookies Cooking spray 1 cup unbleached all-purpose flour 1/4 cup oat bran 1 tsp ground cinnamon 1 tsp baking soda 1/8 tsp salt 1/2 cup creamy peanut butter (at room temperature) 1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce 1/4 cup nonfat plain Greek yogurt 1/4 cup nonfat milk 1 cup packed dark brown sugar 2 eggs, beaten 1 tsp vanilla extract 1/2 cup chopped dry roasted unsalted peanuts 2 cups rolled oats 1/2 cup dried cherries

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Coat two baking sheets with cooking spray and set aside. In a medium bowl sift together flour, oat bran, cinnamon, baking soda, and salt. In a large bowl stir together peanut butter, applesauce, yogurt, and milk until smooth and creamy. Add brown sugar and stir to combine. Add eggs and vanilla extract and stir until incorporated. Add the flour mixture to the peanut butter mixture and begin to combine with a mixing spoon for just a few strokes. Add the oats, peanuts, and cherries. Mix carefully, just until the dry ingredients are moistened, taking care not to over-mix. Cover bowl with plastic wrap and place in the refrigerator for 30 minutes. Drop a 1/4 cup of batter onto the prepared baking sheets, leaving about 2 inches of room all around. Using clean hands, press down on the top of each cookie gently to slightly flatten each. Bake until a toothpick inserted into the center of 1–2 cookies comes out clean, about 16–18 minutes. Remove the baking sheets from the oven and cool for 5 minutes. Then transfer the cookies to a wire rack to cool for 10 minutes more. March 2016

WECN MarRecipes2016.indd 3

2/10/16 4:36 PM

RECIPE EXCHANGE Pineapple Upside Down Cake

Broccoli & Cauliflower Salad

Apple Kuchen

1 cup brown sugar 6 Tbsp butter 1 large can sliced pineapple 1 Tbsp pineapple syrup 1 yellow or white cake mix, prepare batter only

2–3 cups broccoli, cut into bite size pieces 2–3 cups cauliﬂower, cut into bite size pieces 1/2 cup raisins 1 medium red onion, chopped 1 cup cashews 1 pound bacon, cooked and crumbled 1 cup mayonnaise 1/2 cup sugar 2 Tbsp vinegar

1/2 cup butter, softened 1 pkg yellow cake mix 1/2 cup ﬂaked coconut 1 can (20 oz) pie sliced apples, well drained 1/2 cup sugar 1 tsp cinnamon 1 cup sour cream 2 egg yolks or 1 egg

Mary Ann Giemza, Arcadia

Drain pineapple, reserving 1Tbsp of syrup. Melt butter and add brown sugar and 1 Tbsp pineapple syrup. Pour into a greased 9x13-inch cake pan. Arrange pineapple on top of the brown sugar, butter, and pineapple mixture. Prepare the cake mix as directed on the package. Pour over the pineapple. Bake as directed on the box.

Apple Crisp

Shirley DeLange, Rosholt

8 cups sliced apples 1 cup ﬂour 1 cup oatmeal 2 sticks butter 1-1/4 tsp cinnamon 1-1/4 tsp nutmeg Dash of cloves 1-1/4 cup brown sugar Arrange apples in a greased 9x13-inch pan. Combine ﬂour, oatmeal, sugar, and spices; cut in butter. Sprinkle mixture over apples. Bake at 350 degrees for 35–40 minutes. Serve warm with ice cream.

Popcorn Salad

Jane Hanson, Ogema

Combine broccoli, cauliﬂower, raisins, onion, cashews, and bacon in a bowl. In a separate bowl, mix together mayonnaise, sugar, and vinegar. Once all sugar is dissolved, pour over the broccoli mix. Stir together and chill before serving.

Heat oven to 350 degrees. Cut butter into dry cake mix, stir until crumbly. Mix in coconut. Pat mixture lightly into an ungreased 13x9-inch pan building up the edges. Bake for 10 minutes. Arrange apple slices on warm crust. In a separate container mix sugar and cinnamon; sprinkle over apples. In a separate container blend sour cream and egg yolks. Drizzle over sugar and cinnamon. Bake for 25 minutes or until the edges are light brown.

Robertt McKinney is looking for a recipe for black

REQUESTS from our

READERS

Sheila Stark, Mauston

Thin Crisp Cookies

2 cups celery, diced 1/2 cup red onion, diced 2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese 2 cups water chestnuts 1 cup bacon, fried and diced 2 cups Miracle Whip 2/3 cup sugar 2 Tbsp cider vinegar 12 cups popped popcorn

From the June 15, 1941 Edition of Wisconsin REA News

Mix together above ingredients except popcorn. Mix in popcorn prior to serving.

Sandra Fritz, Owen

walnut pie. 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? 1 S. Pinckney St., Suite 810, Madison, WI 53703-2869 or contact us via our website, www.wecnmagazine.com. Thanks!

{

2 cups granulated sugar 1 cup shortening 1 tsp baking powder 1 cup brown sugar 4 cups ﬂour, sifted 1 cup ﬁnely chopped nut meats 1 Tbsp vanilla 2 eggs, well beaten 1/4 tsp salt

THROWBACK RECIPE

from our first year (1940-1941) Each month through next June, we’ll highlight a retro recipe. Cream shortening thoroughly. Add sugar gradually and cream together. Add eggs, nuts, and vanilla. Sift ﬂour, baking powder, and salt together three times. Gradually add to wet mixture. Shape into rolls and let stand in refrigerator overnight. Slice thin and bake at 350 degrees for 10–15 minutes.

Our February Throwback Recipe for Baked Honey Custard instructs to bake at 180 degrees Celsius. The Fahrenheit equivalent would be roughly 350 degrees. Thanks to Beth Holmes for bringing it to our attention.

Wisconsin Energy Cooperative News

WECN MarReaderRecipes2016.indd 1

2/10/16 9:27 AM

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Escape to an era of to an era of

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f you’re one of the many fans of Masterpiece Theater’s Downton Abbey who are feeling a little lost now that the acclaimed television series has wrapped up its final season, don’t despair. You can still find a fitting escape to the era of grand country estates and the lives of those who inhabited them—both upstairs and downstairs—with a visit to the Villa Louis in Prairie du Chien.

Built on the banks of the Mississippi River, this stately Victorian mansion is the former country home of the onceprominent Dousman family that made its fortune in, among other business ventures, railroad expansion. The house has been restored to its 1890s splendor and offers visitors a glimpse into upper-class Victorian life. At the end of April the mansion will open for its 81st season of public tours, but visitors can get a jump start on the season by reserving a spot in the exclusive Behind the Scenes Tour scheduled for March 11 and again April 15–16. These tours are longer than those given Monday through Sunday during the regular season. And thanks to the limited registration, a Behind the Scenes tour is smaller and more intimate, 24

allowing for more questions from guests. “The Behind the Scenes tour takes people into the attic and also down into the basement, and neither of these areas are included in our regular tours,” Villa Louis employee Sue Witters explained, noting that the attic is especially interesting because of the ballroom located there, where the Dousmans once held lively dances. “Also, these tours focus on one item of the collection or one particular area of the collection, and that changes from tour to tour,” she added. For example, Witters said one Behind the Scenes tour featured one of the Dousman family’s ﬁrst-edition Audubon books. Another focused on the family’s silver collection and the historic manner in which it’s cleaned to retain its patina. Like the rest of the staff, Witters can rattle off a detailed answer to virtually any question a guest could have about the Villa Louis and the family that lived there. So can the many volunteers, including Scenic Rivers Energy Cooperative members Bob and Luba Welsh, pictured above and on the cover of this magazine. Bob Welsh served on the Friends of the Villa Louis board for many years, and Luba did seamstress work for the mansion, including creating a replica of a Victorian wedding dress worn by one of the Dousman daughters. Luba also made the gowns she wears when she and Bob volunteer as greeters

Wisconsin Energy Cooperative News

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2/16/16 10:31 AM

WISCONSIN FAVORITES

A tour of the Villa Louis in Prairie du Chien includes stops in the elegant rooms the family inhabited as well as the domains of the servants, such as the spacious kitchen. Photos on this page courtesy of the Villa Louis.

during some of the mansion’s special events. A history buff, Bob said the Villa Louis has a special place in his heart. “It’s just a trip back in time,” he said. “I love history and what history can teach us if we’re willing to listen, and there’s a great deal to learn from this place, the Villa Louis.” Luba agreed. “When you come here it’s just like another moment in time,” she said. The carefully preserved rooms are furnished with elegant period pieces, many of them from the Dousman family’s own collection. In areas like the kitchen, butler’s pantry, and laundry room, visitors get a feel for what kind of work it took from the full fleet of servants to keep such a household running. Witters said probably the most common question she hears from guests has to do with how the Dousmans accumulated their significant wealth. “Hercules Dousman, patriarch of the family, came in 1830 to work in the fur trade,” she explained. “He was a very astute entrepreneurial businessman. He started out in the fur trade, but very quickly he diversified. He invested in

steam transportation on the river. He had farms he maintained, fairly locally. Probably it could be said that the main part of his fortune came from investing in land. He was also very instrumental in bringing the railroad as far as Prairie, which at that time was the West.” In 1844, Hercules built a red brick house along the Mississippi River and began developing an estate that would evolve into the Villa Louis. The original brick home was later torn down to make way for the Italian Villa-style mansion that stands today. This grand home was completed in 1871 and named for Hercules’ son, Louis. Stables, barns, and other buildings were added during an extensive expansion in 1885. Hercules’ granddaughters turned the property over to the city of Prairie du Chien to be operated as a museum in 1935. Guided tours began shortly after and have continued ever since. Included in the guided tours of the Villa Louis are some of the outbuildings, including the estate ofﬁce and billiard room. The estate also has a spacious ice house for cold storage of meats, cheeses, and produce, as well as a preserve house located near the kitchen, where the ser-

vants worked daily at cooking, laundry, and other household chores. Outside, guests can look over the heirloom kitchen garden and wander through the estate’s park-like grounds, with many carefully restored Victorian landscape features. While it may not quite rival the estate of the ﬁctional Crawleys (“You could probably ﬁt several of these houses into Downton Abbey,” Witters acknowledged), the Villa Louis offers a similar experience with its very different views into Victorian life in a luxurious country home. You will indeed feel like you stepped back in time.—Mary Erickson The Villa Louis is located at 521 N Villa Louis Rd., Prairie du Chien. Reservations are required for Behind the Scenes tours; call 608-326-2721 to reserve a spot. To learn more about Villa Louis, including upcoming events, visit villalouis.wisconsinhistory.org.

March 2016

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YOUNG MEMBERS

Kids and Critters March 2016

1. Brunettes have more fun. Photo submitted by Forrest and Nicole Johnson, members of Dunn Energy.

2. Portia visits great-great grandpaâ€™s farm. Photo submitted by Michael Crowell, member of Price Electric. 3. Raeghan with her guinea pig, Gilbert. Photo submitted by Ray and Kathy Kremsreiter, members of both Taylor Electric and Price Electric. 4. Ahrianna puts Trisha Sue to bed at great grandmaâ€™s. Photo submitted by Barbara Leal, member of Oakdale Electric.

Send photos of kids with animals, along with a brief description, to WECN Magazine, 1 S. Pinckney Street, Suite 810, Madison, WI 53703. Please include the name of your electric co-op. Photos will be returned. If in good-resolution, electronic format, photos may also be submitted via email to tina.walden@cooperativenetwork.coop. 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.

KIDS & CRITTERS

DRAWING Send in your favorite photo of kids with animals, along with a brief description, for a chance to win a $25 VISA gift card. One entry will be randomly chosen on March 15, 2016. Photos will be published throughout 2016.

Wisconsin Energy Cooperative News

WECN MarKidsCrits2016.indd 1

2/10/16 8:52 AM

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COLLECTOR BUYING WAR SOUVENIRS: German, Japanese, U.S. weapons, medals, helmets, daggers, swords, military items. 715-344-5031. PROPANE STOVE. Used, no pilot light system. Also looking for old camper sitting idle in your backyard or field. Must be in fair shape, relatively repairable, under $300. 414-217-2146, 7 a.m.–7 p.m. WANTED: PAYING CASH FOR WW-2 GERMAN, JAPANESE FLAGS, DAGGERS, SWORDS, GUNS, ETC. 715-340-1974. USED PORTABLE SAWMILLS! Buy/Sell. Call Sawmill Exchange 800-459-2148, 205-969-0007, USA & Canada. www.sawmillexchange.com. TARPS—HEAVY DUTY, 16’ x 50’, hemmed. Expired billboard faces. $50 each or 12’ x 38’ – $35 each. Shipping not included. Tarps can also be picked up at Jones Sign, 1711 Scheuring Road, De Pere, WI 54115. 800-536-7446. DOG/CAT BEDS. Durable comfort—made of marine grade mesh and PVC. Washable. Money back guarantee. Small-X-large 715-559-4439. 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. TORNADO/STORM SHELTERS. 4 person-30 person. TimberLake Homes; corner of Hwys. 13 and 21. Friendship, WI. 608-339-4663. TAKE YOUR PICK. Oil Change intervals from manufacturer’s recommended to one year. New Amsoil factory direct wholesale pricing or free shipping option available. Visit wanikassociates.shopamsoil.com for a free catalog. BUTCHER AND SAUSAGE MAKING SUPPLIES AND SHARPENING. Casings, spices, vacuum sealer bags, cutlery grinder plates & knives, etc. Call for catalog: 715-654-6363. 906 Sunrise Ave, Dorchester, WI 54425.

REAL ESTATE MANUFACTURED, MODULAR HOMES, SINGLEWIDES USED HOMES. TimberLake Homes; corner of Hwys. 13 & 21. Friendship, WI. 608-339-4663. 7 ACRES WITH 1200 FT FRONTAGE ON GRANT RIVER. Hard top road, electric, phone, 1/2 wooded, spring water and beautiful views. 8 miles to Cassville and 5 miles to Lancaster on Hwy 81. $54,900. Mike, 414-482-1744.

PLANTS & SHRUBS SPRUCE TREES 7-8 FOOT TALL AND THICK. They are balled and burlaped and ready to plant for $79.99. Delivery and planting may be available depending on distance. Call Peter Stellas Farm at 608-981-2169, or go to peterstellasfarm.com. HARDWOOD AND CONIFER SEEDLINGS AND TRANSPLANTS. Thousands available, Oak, Maple, Cherry, Highbred Poplar, Dogwoods, Hazelnut, Balsam Fir, Fraser Fir, Spruce, Pine, Cedar, Fruit treews, Jumbo transplants, Large bareroot shade trees. Hundreds of 3-5 foot conifers of all species at wholesale prices. Check us out on the web at www.paintcreeknursery.com, Facebook and YouTube also. Paint Creek Nursery, Cadott, WI. 715-723-2072. CHRISTMAS WREATH FUNDRAISER. E-mail: Birchwreath@gmail.com, Wisconsin Wreath, 34019 185th Ave, Stanley, WI 54768.

WOLF RIVER APPLE TREES. 30 other varieties along with Cherry, Pear, Plum, & Apricot trees. Also Blueberry, Grape, Strawberry, Raspberry, Rhubarb, Asparagus plants & more. Many deciduous & evergreen seedlings & transplants as well. For info write: Woodstock Nursery, N1831 State Hwy 95, Neillsville, WI 54456 or call toll-free 1-888-803-8733.

TRAVEL & CAMPING MISSISSIPPI RIVER—CHECK IT OFF YOUR BUCKET LIST! Multi-day, assisted cruises. You rent the houseboat; as your guest, I pilot the vessel. Prefer Retirees. 414-731-8241. Ferryville, WI. NORTHERN WISCONSIN LAKE CABIN FOR RENT. One bedroom, sleeps 4, grill, picnic table, row boat, canoe, and great ﬁshing. $550 per week. www. camp-echo.com, camp-echo@charter.net or 715-829-5688. THUNDERBIRD LODGE VACATION RENTAL. Located on Beautiful Lake Arbutus in Hatﬁeld, WI 54754. Five bedroom, two bath, new log home. Best vacation value in Black River recreational area. 608-989-2275.

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Classified ads reach more than 163,000 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: Cooperative Network. Mail to: WECN, Attn. Tina Walden, 1 S. Pinckney St., Suite 810, Madison, WI 53703. Ph: 608-258-4400. Email tina.walden@cooperativenetwork.coop.

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March 2016

WISCONSIN EVENTS 2 Save Our Precious Pollinator with Matt Miller—Darlington. Bluebird Nest Nature Center, 7 p.m. 608-778-1844. 4, 11, 18 All-You-Can-Eat Fish Fry–– Onalaska. St. Patrick Parish, 5–7:30 p.m. The cost is $10 or $11 with salad bar. Salad bar only option is $6. Ages 6–10, ﬁsh or grilled cheese with fries, $6; ages 5 and under, free. Carryouts are available. 4, 5 Thrift Sale––Chippewa Falls. First Presbyterian, Fri. 9 a.m.–4 p.m.; Sat. 9–11 a.m. 6 Pancake Supper—Loyal. Trinity Lutheran Church, 4–8 p.m. Potato and regular pancakes plus all the trimmings. 715-255-8880. 6 Spaghetti Dinner––Medford. Klossner-Dietzler Post, VFW Post 5729, 11 a.m.–4 p.m. 6 Pancake Sausage Breakfast–– Richland Center. American Legion #13, 7 a.m.–12:30 p.m. $6 per person. 5 Ice Fishing Rumble—Philips. RollIn Point Bar & Grill, register at Roll-In Point any time prior to 10 a.m. the day of the tournament. Breakfast special 6 a.m.; ﬁshing 7 a.m.–5 p.m.; prizes and drawings to follow. 5 Pie Shoot––Rib Lake. Cattail Tap, 12–6 p.m. 715-748-4937 or 715-427-5220. 11–13 “Alice in Wonderland”— Phillips. High School Auditorium, Fri. & Sat. 7 p.m.; Sun. 2 p.m. Purchase tickets or 715-339-2057. 30

12 Spaghetti Supper—Platteville. Elks Club, 5–7:30 p.m. 13 Wauzeka First Responder Benefit Country Jam––Wauzeka. Century Hall, 5 Bands will be playing. 608-875-5857. 13 St. Patrick’s Day Carnival–– Tomah. Queen of the Apostles, 10:30 a.m.–2 p.m. Games, prizes, silent auction baskets, food, fun! Admission is free. 13 Smelt Feed––Thorp. American Legion Post 118, 10 a.m.–2 p.m. Rafﬂe & ‘Herring Wheel’. 715-669-5578. 13 St. Patrick’s Day Dinner & Raffle–– Eau Claire. St. Pat’s Cafeteria, 11:30 a.m.–2 p.m. Corned beef dinner, music, entertainment. $10 adults, $9 seniors, $4 kids 5–12. 715-834-4920. 16 Bluebird Day—Darlington. Bluebird Nest Nature Center, 1–5 p.m. Best nest box mounting methods with Carol McDaniel. 608-778-1844. 19 Sport, Home, and Craft Show–– Phillips. High School, Sat. 9 a.m.–5 p.m.; Sun. 10 a.m.–3 p.m. Free admission, vendors and crafters, informative seminars, good food, drawings, giveaways. 19 Wild Game Feed––Phillips. Birch Island Resort Bar & Grill on Wilson Lake, 2–7 p.m. 19 St. Urho / St. Patrick’s Day Celebration—Brantwood. Community Center, 4:30–6:30 p.m. The celebration will include a soup buffet, plus ham, homemade breads, and all the trimmings including dessert.

19 Murder Mystery Mingle–– Janesville. Fermenting Cellars Winery, 6:30 p.m. Catered dinner, mystery game, beverages. $60 per person with limited seating. 608-295-8972 for reservations. 19 Dazzling Drama Vendor and Craft Fair—Beloit. Head Start Theatre, 10 a.m.–3 p.m. 608-774-4140. 19 Garden Expo––Richland Center. UW-Richland Wallace Student Center. richland.uwc.edu/ce or 608-647-6186 Ext. 227. 20 Classy Chassis Car Club Flea Market &Vendor Sale––Lancaster. Grant County Fairgrounds, 8 a.m.–1 p.m. 608-723-8016 or 608-723-7817. 26 National Wild Turkey Federation— Adams-Friendship. Cedar Shack, 5:30 p.m. doors open and 7 p.m. dinner. 608-548-2814. 26 Pancake Supper–– Ogema. Elementary School, 4–7 p.m.

Send us your April events by March 7 Wisconsin Events is a public service for our readers. Submissions should be received by the first of the month prior to the month in which the event will occur. Due to space limits, we may need to eliminate details, so be sure to include a phone number (with area code) where callers may obtain more info. If we receive more listings than space allows us to print, we reserve the right to select those we believe will be of interest to the greatest number of readers. Send listings to: Events, WECN, 1 S. Pinckney St., Suite 810, Madison, WI 53703 or to

tina.walden@cooperativenetwork.coop

Wisconsin Energy Cooperative News

Events Mar 2016.indd 1

2/9/16 4:26 PM

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