Ruralite, Orcas Power & Light Cooperative, March 2026

Rock sland has been e panding our fiber optic net ork in Rock Island Fiber: Connect at the Speed of Light.

ith nearly miles of fiber installed, many locations

Ruralite

March 2026 • Volume 73, No. 3

CEO Michael Shepard

SENIOR VP OF CONTENT Leon Espinoza

EDITORIAL DIRECTOR Chasity Anderson, CCC

DEPUTY EDITORIAL DIRECTOR

Noble Sprayberry

SENIOR EDITOR Jennifer Paton, CCC

LEAD CONTENT EDITOR Victoria Hampton, CCC

ASSISTANT EDITORS David Herder, CCC; Sable Riley, CCC; Nina Todea, CCC

ASSOCIATE EDITOR

Valeri Saldanha Rosa

PUBLICATIONS PRODUCTION SR. MANAGER

Elizabeth Beatty

SENIOR PUBLICATIONS COORDINATOR

Alyssa McDougle

Ruralite (USPS 397-460) is published monthly for members for $5.73 per year, plus postage, by Pioneer Utility Resources Inc., 5625 NE Elam Young Parkway, Suite 100, Hillsboro, OR 97124—a not-for-profit Oregon cooperative corporation—to serve the communication needs of 46 consumer-owned electric utilities in Oregon, Washington, Alaska, Idaho, Nevada and California. Preferred periodical postage paid at Hillsboro, Oregon, 97123 and additional mailing offices. © 2026 Pioneer Utility Resources. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission is prohibited.

Postmaster: Send address changes to Ruralite, 5625 NE Elam Young Parkway, Suite 100, Hillsboro, OR 97124-6454

HOW TO CONTACT RURALITE

Subscription services:

Nonmember subscriptions $15 (U.S.) per year; $25 per year (foreign). Prepayment required. Allow 4-8 weeks for first issue. Be sure to identify which local edition you want to receive.

Address Changes:

Utility members, contact your local utility. Subscribers, call us at 503-357-2105, option 3, or email mailingdept@pioneer.coop.

Back issues:

Back issues and extra copies are $3. Prepayment required. Supply is limited. Be sure to identify edition, month and year. Call first if ordering back issues to check availability.

To contact Ruralite: Ruralite magazine is published by Pioneer Utility Resources, P.O. Box 1306, North Plains, OR 97133-1306; 503-357-2105; email: info@pioneer.coop. For more information, visit pioneer.coop.

DISPLAY ADVERTISING INQUIRIES

American MainStreet Publications

611 S. Congress Ave., Suite 504 Austin, TX 78704

800-626-1181 or 512-441-5200

For supplemental and interactive content, search @Ruralite on your favorite social media sites.

Shaped By Other Hands

There’s a moment in every apprenticeship when a student realizes the lesson isn’t just about technique—it’s also about trust.

Rick Pass experienced this when he traveled to North Carolina at 62, newly retired, to study duck decoy carving with master carver Vic Kirkman. Eleven days of intensive work led to Rick’s first world carving championship event in Ocean City, Maryland, and from there to five summers studying in Canada with 14-time world champion Pat Godin.

Rick hadn’t carved before retirement. He simply recognized that mastering something meaningful meant finding the right teachers and being willing to learn.

That same spirit of generous mentorship runs through our Spotlight feature on traditional Western arts.

Blacksmith Darryl Nelson, who forged his career from farrier to resident blacksmith at Oregon’s Timberline Lodge, speaks of feeling an obligation to the master smiths who taught him decades ago. Silversmith Beau Compton learned his trade from a mentor who never charged him a dime and now opens his own home and

workshop to the next generation. Saddlemaker Mario Hanel mastered his art through fellowship training. Rawhide braider Steve Harris learned from his brother at 15 and now teaches his 13-year-old daughter.

In each case, knowledge traveled from one set of hands to another—not through textbooks or online tutorials but through the patient, in-person act of showing someone how it’s done.

Dave LaBelle’s photography column carries this message forward in a different way. His reflection on Eva Schloss, Holocaust survivor and Anne Frank’s stepsister, reminds us that some of the most important lessons are passed through personal testimony. Eva spent decades sharing her story so others might learn from it—a form of mentorship that transcends any single craft.

As we celebrate National Women’s History Month, I’m thinking about the mentors who shaped me and the knowledge I have a responsibility to pass along.

Who taught you something that changed your path? Who might be waiting for you to do the same?

Until next time, Chasity

Anderson Editorial Director

Page

the Kitchen, Page 16

San Juan County students can earn scholarships while becoming better leaders Build Valuable Skills at Youth Rally

Leadership comes in many forms, and no two leaders look the same. For some, leadership might look like being the team captain of a basketball team. For others, it shows up through volunteering at local nonprofits or community events. Leadership can also mean guiding meaningful conversations and inspiring others through strong communication.

No matter your style, leadership grows through exposure—by learning how others lead and gaining understanding and experience across diverse topics.

Students who represent Orcas Power & Light Cooperative at the Idaho ConsumerOwned Utilities Association Youth Rally in July get the chance to deepen their understanding of a range of topics and demonstrate many of the skills that make a good leader.

Students spend one week in Idaho attending classes and presentations; meeting new people; learning about the history of cooperative utilities, electricity, and local and federal government; practicing formal interviews; and

competing in friendly group tournaments. Students chosen to attend the Youth Rally also receive $1,000 for a post high school program, either college or trade school.

Youth Rally is a wonderful way to teach and inspire the next generation of leaders. Students get ample opportunities to apply their leadership skills in practical and hands-on ways. For example, every participating student is required to interview with a panel of chaperones throughout the week. The success of that interview directly correlates to consideration for additional scholarship dollars from ICUA.

Additionally, students compete in a team-building event that is made up of multiple physical challenges, known as the Co-opstacle Course. Activities range from races to puzzle-based games, where all team members work together to successfully complete a task. In the moment, these activities are fun and can even be silly, but the skills needed to complete each station—being able to listen to teammates’ ideas, assign responsibilities among the group and work together to solve any issues that may come up—are invaluable for a good leader.

Interested in the rally?

High school sophomores or juniors in San Juan County whose parents or guardians are OPALCO members and receive electric service from the co-op are eligible to apply. Since the beginning of the scholarship program, recipients have been a mix of students from all the islands. Last year’s group featured students from Orcas and San Juan islands.

Interested students can fill out the application linked on OPALCO’s Youth Rally webpage, which will direct them to the ICUA application form. Be sure to select Orcas Power & Light Cooperative as your sponsoring electric utility. Upon completion of the application form, applicants will be interviewed by the scholarship committee. Students may be

CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT: 2025 Youth Rally student directors brief co-op students about how the week at camp works. Orcas Power & Light Cooperative student Gabe Chapman decorates his tote bag on the first day of Youth Rally. Students can earn extra awards and prizes, such as gift cards, by demonstrating strong leadership throughout the week. PHOTOS COURTESY OF SILENT PICTURES LLC

Youth Rally Benefits

Students who attend the ICUA Youth Rally:

asked to talk about their own interests and goals, as well as answer some questions about OPALCO. n

For more information about the program timeline, application and eligibility details, as well as interview question examples, visit opalco.com/youthrally. Applications are due by 4:30 p.m. March 27.

• Earn a $1,000 scholarship for their post high school program (college or trade school).

• Meet new friends from other high schools throughout the West.

• Gain leadership skills.

• Represent the OPALCO community at the rally.

• Boost their college applications.

• Are eligible to win additional scholarships.

Beyond

The blue star is the standard, but how else can consumers make efficient choices?

By Drew Woolley

If you’re in the market for major appliances, you’ve probably noticed the Energy Star logo. It may appear on the bright yellow EnergyGuide labels that make it easy to compare one

federal rebates, looking for the Energy Star label is still the best way to be sure you’re investing in an efficient appliance that will lower your energy bill without sacrificing performance. But it isn’t the only way to keep track of how much energy your new purchase uses.

Following are ways you can ensure you’re choosing the best new appliances and equipment for your home.

By the Numbers

Many appliances in your home or on the market have efficiency benchmarks you

cooling accounts for nearly half of the energy used in most homes, making it an area where greater efficiency can have the most noticeable impact. Much like cars have a miles-per-gallon rating, air conditioners and heat pumps have a seasonal energy-efficiency ratio. A higher SEER rating means a unit is more efficient and uses less energy over the course of a typical season.

You may also run into energy-efficiency ratios. While similar, SEER ratings measure average efficiency over an entire season, whereas EER ratings judge cooling capacity performance during peak periods of extreme hot temperatures.

Clothes washers. Similarly, the modified energy factor accounts for energy and hot water consumed during each wash cycle.

It also accounts for how much moisture the washer leaves on clothes for a dryer to remove. The higher the MEF, the more efficient it is.

If you’re concerned about water use, the water factor is also worth keeping an eye on. Windows. As one of the largest sources of heat gain and loss in a home, the efficiency of windows can’t be overlooked.

If you’re in the market to upgrade, keep an eye on the U-factor, which measures how well a window insulates, and the solar heat gain coefficient, which tells you how much heat the window lets through. Whether you prioritize U-factor or SHGC largely depends on your area’s climate and which direction the windows are facing.

In the market for something specific? Most major household products and appliances have efficiency ratings just like these. Visit the Department of Energy or Environmental Protection Agency’s websites for more information on which ones to look to as a guide for making your own energy-efficient purchase.

Ways to Save

Rebates through Energy Star may be a thing of the past, but there are still ways to get help with energy-efficient investments. Rebates established under the Inflation Reduction Act on the state level are still options, but availability depends on where you live. Some states have started offering their own point-of-sale or mail-in rebates, so be sure to check what is available in your area.

In addition, your local electric utility may offer rebates of its own. Many have rebate pages on their websites where you can find forms to save on smart thermostats, efficient HVAC units, heat pumps and more.

Even if direct rebates aren’t available, you may still be able to save by including efficient appliance purchases as part of a qualifying home improvement deductionwhen filing taxes.

The Energy Efficient Home Improvement Credit and Residential Clean Energy Credit expired Dec. 31, 2025, but there is still time to apply the credit to purchases made before that deadline. Some states continue to offer their own tax credits for energy-efficient investments, so be sure to check what is available where you live.

While buying an Energy Star-certified appliance may still be the easiest way to make efficient purchases for your home, it isn’t the only option. By paying extra attention to efficiency ratings for specific appliances and staying on top of rebates and tax incentives in your area, you can cut back on your upfront costs and energy bills over time. n

What’s Behind the Star?

Whether it’s a label on your new appliance or a logo on the EnergyGuide label, Energy Star certification gives buyers confidence they’re investing in long-term savings. But what does that blue star actually mean?

Energy Star is a program established by the U.S. Department of Energy and the Environmental Protection Agency to help consumers find energyefficient products and reduce their impact on the environment.

To earn the certification, products must perform more efficiently than the average model while providing the same level of performance. But that isn’t where the process ends.

Each product is tested in EPA-recognized labs using standardized procedures to make sure it meets Energy Star requirements. Once testing is complete, a third-party certification group reviews and verifies it before a product gets the Energy Star label.

Earning that certification still isn’t the end. The EPA conducts random, off-the-shelf testing of Energy Star products to make sure they still meet those high standards. If a product fails one of these verification tests, it may ultimately be disqualified and lose Energy Star certification.

FUN FOR ALL

Friday, May 8, 2026

Lopez Center for Community and the Arts

Join us in celebrating member-owned local power! Come on by for free swag, kids activities, informational booths, EV showcase, a BBQ, bucket truck rides, and a raffle!

And don’t forget to vote in the Board of Directors election! Ballots arrive March 18.

With its innovative design, modern comforts, and guest-focused philosophy, American Encore is not just a riverboat, it’s the finest expression of American river cruising ever built. Designed to host just 180 guests, American Encore features more square feet per guest than any other small cruise ship with the largest staterooms globally.

Ship

Ast ia Artist Masters

By Ginger Meurer

Duck Decoys

Living along the banks of the Columbia River, inspiration is always nearby for Rick Pass. The Astoria, Oregon, artist handcrafts lifelike waterfowl. While much of his work is destined for a place of pride on the mantel, plenty of his creations have a practical purpose as decoys for duck hunters. He tests them from his dock.

“You have to make sure that they’re floating correctly,” Rick says. “If you throw them in the water upside down, they have to flip upright. Plus, you want to make them light, because you don’t want to be packing around a bunch of heavy stuff.”

Astoria has long been known for waterfowl art.

shipbuilder. He carved birds from salvaged scraps of the western red cedar used for watercraft. When he retired in his 70s, Charles began producing about a dozen decoys a week and selling them for just over $1 each. According to the Ward Foundation, administrator of the waterfowl decoy world championship, Charles made roughly 4,000 decoys from the late 1920s to early 1930s.

Now those vintage creations fetch thousands at auction. A rare Charles Bergman swan sold for $36,650 at Sotheby’s. Legend has it there were once a dozen swans, and Charles’ grandson used to play with them. But Charles’ wife got tired of tripping over them on the porch and chopped up all but three for firewood.

A Hobby Hatches

From age 15, Rick could be found fishing, hunting and bird-watching along the Columbia. His other passion was sports. He played basketball in high school, football in college and aspired to be a coach. Back then, coaches also had to be teachers. So, he taught history and served as head coach of the high school basketball team for 14 years. From there, he became a principal and finally superintendent.

“I loved my career,” Rick says. “It didn’t matter whether I was coaching, teaching or an administrator. It was a lot of fun, and I met a lot of people. Hopefully impacted positively a few lives along the way.”

“In fact, if you look at the history of Astoria, there’s a couple of duck decoy carvers whose names come up,” Rick says. “Charles Bergman is the most famous one.”

Born in Finland, Charles sailed the world before settling in Oregon as a

While teaching, Rick noticed the superintendent’s passion for duck carving. But it wasn’t until Rick retired that he jumped into the art.

“I knew as I was getting closer to retirement that I needed something,” he

says. “And whatever it is, if it’s church or your family or carving or a mixture of those, you have to have something to get up every day.”

To learn, Rick sought out the best.

“I was already 62 when I retired,” he says. “I figured, if I’m going to be any good at this, I’ve got to find my people and learn quickly.”

Rick traveled to North Carolina to study with Vic Kirkman.

“I carved with him for 11 days,” Rick says. “While we were there, he took me to my first world carving championship in Ocean City, Maryland. That was the final spark to see, oh my goodness, the quality of work. Everything from a working decoy to these masterful pieces that sold for a lot of money to sit on shelves.”

While in Ocean City, Rick met more masters, including Pat Godin, who won the world championship more than 14 times. Later, Rick flew to Ontario, Canada, to work with Pat. He spent five summers studying with him in Edmonton.

Quality Craftsmanship

Rick saves his stock of old-growth red cedar for special occasions and mostly works with tupelo wood. Tupelo trees grow in Carolina and Louisiana swamps. Rick says

the water-submerged tree bottoms are soft wood that’s light and carves easily.

“That’s the preferred wood of 90% of carvers,” Rick says. “Balsa would work, too, but tupelo and bass wood are the two most popular woods. Of course, in the old days you’d carve what you had available.”

Rick’s shop is packed with wood, carving tools and birds—not just the carved ones.

“When I get to the painting, I always get out a real bird and lay it here and try to match the colors as best as I can,” he says.

Rick’s collection includes taxidermy birds and a freezer packed with frozen fowl. While he bought a few of the specimens, many were acquired as trades for carvings.

Carving Out Community

Rick sells and trades his decoys and takes his best to competitions. He travels to compete, making sure to attend the Canadian nationals and the Ward World Championships.

“The competition is really about showing our artwork,” Rick says. “Yeah, we do compete against each other, and yes, there are some prizes, but really, it’s the camaraderie and getting to know each other. And finding out, ‘How did you do that?’ And, ‘This is how I do it.’”

Rick doesn’t have to travel far to find camaraderie. There’s plenty at home. Regulars drop by his shop to work, watch him work or just chat.

“People stop by, we create problems, we solve world problems,” he says. “It’s just as much about those kinds of things as it is about carving. A lot of problems are solved in this shop. Once we walk out, the problems are still there in the world. But we do hash them over a little bit.”

Rick worries that decoy carving is a dying art. His sons—a riverboat pilot and a pharmacist—haven’t gotten into it yet. His grandchildren have tested the waters a bit and even gone to competitions. But every year Rick sees fewer carvers.

“People just don’t do it anymore,” he says. “If you’re going to go hunting, you buy your decoys. It used to be if you wanted to go hunting, you made your decoys because you didn’t have the money to buy them.”

Rick plans to stick with the art and with Astoria.

“We’ve had a great life,” Rick says. “I love it here. This is where we grew up, and it’s quite a special place. Our boys went sturgeon fishing, salmon fishing right out there. It’s pretty hard not to love this place.” 

Preserving Traditional

WesternArts

By Ginger Meurer

In today’s throwaway culture, traditional Western craftsmanship endures. Area organizations and artisans strive to keep these centuries-old techniques alive.

Forging Ahead

Eatonville, Washington, blacksmith Darryl Nelson started at 19 as a farrier.

“I had wanted to be a vet but didn’t want to do another eight years of school,” he says. “So, I decided I’d shoe horses.”

In farrier class, Darryl met a young man fresh from blacksmithing school in New Mexico who told Darryl about the trade.

“I was quite inspired by what you could do with a little piece of steel,” he says.

Darryl shod horses while building skills in architectural ironwork.

“I found that I enjoyed my time at the anvil more than under the horse,” he says. After 13 years as a farrier, he moved into full-time blacksmithing.

In 1979, Darryl and a group of other artists formed the Northwest Blacksmith Association.

As a cooperative nonprofit, they pool funds and bring in blacksmiths from around the country to teach master classes.

Through the association, Darryl met Russell Maugans, second in a line of resident blacksmiths at the iconic Timberline Lodge on Oregon’s Mount Hood. They began working on projects together. Eventually, Darryl became the lodge’s third resident blacksmith. He continues to perform repairs and craft a line of artistic ironwork sold in the gift shop.

Darryl is also involved with the Cascadia Center for the Arts & Crafts in nearby Government Camp. Every summer at CCAC, former U.S. Forest

Service buildings are packed with artists taking classes in a variety of disciplines, including blacksmithing, glass, jewelry arts, textile and fiber arts, visual arts, printmaking, and even writing.

The big draw for Darryl is Blacksmith Week, which features classes for all levels. There are demonstrations from skilled smiths and hands-on experiences, too.

He says the event has grown considerably since its creation 20 years ago. The national Western States Blacksmithing Conference has been held at the camp twice.

“Usually at Blacksmith Week, we have between 50 and 75 people in attendance,” Darryl says. “For the western states conferences, we literally filled the whole town of Government Camp with 400 smiths from around the country and even had some from South Africa and Australia.”

“We also have group projects where everybody from all levels is encouraged to try their hand,” Darryl says.

Blacksmith Week is mostly about passing on the craft.

“I almost feel an obligation to the master smiths who taught me 50 years ago,” Darryl says. “For centuries, blacksmithing was pretty common. At the same time, there were a lot of closely guarded secrets because it was so common that it was highly competitive. So, for a long time, it was hard unless you were an actual apprentice or in most places, it stayed within a family.”

Darryl’s great-grandfather was a blacksmith who came to America in the late 1800s to forge his own path in business. Because he was not the eldest son, he wasn’t expected to inherit the family shop in Denmark, so he began working in North Dakota.

Shops like his adapted as equine-driven economies turned to tractors and cars. Many

blacksmith shops transitioned into auto shops. When Darryl’s father was growing up, there was still a forging station in the corner.

Darryl’s father left the family trade and moved to Washington to work for Boeing. But Darryl had the support of his family when he chose to take up blacksmithing. He even had a chance to do some forging with his grandfather, and he holds precious the few tools he inherited from him.

Darryl loves everything about blacksmithing—the fire and the hot steel and “just being able to shape and manipulate something that is as resistant as steel,” he says. He’s known for crafting expressive animal heads, but his favorite thing to make is tools.

“Really, the key thing with blacksmithing is tool making,” he says. “Most of the tools I have that I use daily, I made myself. I love making a tool and then being able to use it to make other things.”

When asked what advice he has for people considering the trade, Darryl laughs.

“We used to tell people, which is probably still fairly accurate, to make sure your wife has a good job. And there’s a lot of female blacksmiths now, too. But one of you had better have a steady job.”

Darryl’s wife, Suzan, has been extremely understanding, he says, and tolerant of the mess he makes.

“They don’t call us blacksmiths for nothing,” he says.

Smithing in Silver

Silversmith Beau Compton is in his second term as president of the Traditional Cowboy Arts Association. He has been a member of the organization for 10 years, but getting in wasn’t easy. It took the Tombstone, Arizona, artist five years of hard work to finally join the ranks.

The small, elite group of master-level artisans formed more than 25 years ago to preserve and honor cowboy arts.

Divided into four traditional disciplines— silversmithing, bit and spur making, saddlemaking and rawhide braiding— members offer an education program with mentorship training to aspiring artists from around the world. The association awards two scholarships annually to help craftspeople participate in the program.

Beau says the old masters were afraid to teach anyone aside from family or apprentices.

“They were scared of anybody taking their glory away, I guess, or their money,” he says.

The Traditional Cowboy Arts Association thinks differently.

“We’re open to discussing and showing new makers anything,” Beau says. “That’s what’s really cool. We don’t have anything to hide. We all just love teaching and just really support it.”

Beau studied with silversmith Mark Drain in Seattle. Then, he headed to Canada to work with Scott Hardy. In both

fellowships, the master artisans were kind enough to put Beau up in a spare bedroom and teach him the finer points of the trade.

Beau’s family was active in ranching and professional rodeo, so cowboy arts came naturally.

After graduating in 1997 from high school in Colorado, he contemplated bit and spur making. Marlo, his thengirlfriend and now-wife, had a family connection to Vic Vasquez, an Arizona saddlemaker, silversmith, and bit and spur maker.

“He was very kind to me,” Beau says. “He never charged me anything, and I got to learn from him for about four years before he passed away.”

Vic’s widow gave Beau the first shot at buying the shop.

“I got to buy all his equipment and everything right off the bat,” he says. “I was pretty set up.”

Now, Beau passes on that kindness through the Traditional Cowboy Arts Association. He also opens his home and workshop to several fellowship recipients.

“We have some wonderful donors and supporters who give us that money every year to help further that education,” Beau says. “It’s only through our generous supporters that we can do that.”

Silversmithing isn’t without its challenges. Lately, the stress has been the skyrocketing price of metals. Beau says the cost has increased significantly since last summer.

“Silver was at $25 an ounce,” Beau says. “It’s up over $80 right now. And gold was around $2,200, and yesterday it was at $4,600. It’s getting very costly. We’re treading water that we’ve never been in. We’ve seen silver hit $50 before, and it’s always come back down. But this just feels different. I’m not so sure that it’s ever going to come back down.

“We’ll do what we have to and flow with whatever change we need to and adapt,” he says. “We’ll be all right. Silver has always been a fun metal to play in, and now it’s like, ‘Wait, this is getting serious.’ We can’t waste any of this stuff anymore.”

Lining Up for Saddles

Chiloquin, Oregon, saddlemaker Mario Hanel doesn’t advertise his business because he doesn’t need to. He has a threeyear waiting list. Part of the reason that line forms is because Mario is slow but steady.

“This isn’t a factory,” he says. “It’s a one-man shop, and I’m very meticulous. It takes longer than an average saddlemaker for me to build a saddle. The more I learn about making a saddle more functional and aesthetically pleasing to look at, the longer it takes.

“I’ve never focused on production. I was raised around craftsmen, and I was taught that it doesn’t matter how long it takes. The end product is the important thing.”

Mario’s work begins at the core as he hand-carves the tree, which is the wood scaffolding beneath the saddle’s leather. Mario mastered tree-making through a fellowship with the Traditional Cowboy Arts Association and training with master craftsman Troy West in Texas.

“Some people will walk up to a saddle and say, ‘Man, that’s a really pretty saddle,’” Mario says. “It’s not just the curving—it’s the lines and shapes and the flow and things like that. There’s a lot more to it. Building a tree to me is a lot like sculpting. You’re actually carving wood into a shape. If your horn isn’t shaped right, it doesn’t work as well. There’s a whole art to it. And that’s what really interests me.”

LEFT: Blacksmith

Darryl Nelson demonstrates during Blacksmith Week. While Darryl is best known for creating animal heads, he frequently stretches the limits of the medium with creative sculptures in metal. PHOTOS COURTESY

And comfort is key for customers who sit in a saddle every day.

“I have customers that go ride on the weekend every chance they get, but most of my customers are making a living at it,” Mario says. “They use it in the rain, the snow, the sun, all those things that are hard on stuff, especially leather.”

Having a pretty saddle is important, but it’s not enough.

“A guy who sits in a saddle all day if the seat’s not right, they’re not going to keep that saddle very long,” Mario says. “You can carve the prettiest flowers in the world, but if it doesn’t work, a cowboy is just not going to hang onto it, and a lot of cowboys are going to hear about it.”

Mastering the Braid

Roseburg, Oregon, artist Steve Harris is a master of the hackamore, a bitless bridle that uses pressure on a horse’s nose, chin and poll, rather than inside the mouth, to guide and control. He and his family raise cattle to produce the rawhide that he braids into elaborate, artistic and functional pieces.

Steve grew up on horseback, riding bareback as long as he can remember.

“I actually am the fourth born in my family, but the third born was a horse,” he says. “He was born to a mare that belonged to my mother out of a stallion that was owned by my grandfather. I always had to

take a backseat to him. He grew up before I did, so he raised me.”

Steve learned to braid from his brother when he was 15.

“He and I got to braiding together, and it was just a treat,” Steve says. “I really loved it.”

He loved it so much he kept at it.

Steve makes and repairs saddles and more, but it’s hackamores he loves.

“I really love making hackamore best because when you’re riding hackamore, it really cleans up all your signals,” he says. “Because you’re just riding the horse. Your signal can be really nuanced or really simple, but it’s the horse you’re riding, not the gear.

“When I was a kid and riding bareback, there was that. I was just riding the horse. I think philosophically that’s influenced me as a saddlemaker and as a teacher and as a horseman. It influences me as a parent and in everything I do.”

The whole Harris family is involved in the craft, from Steve’s wife, Rebekah, to his 13-year-old daughter and apprentice Caitriona, and his younger children, who make everything from earrings to braided keychains.

Although seemingly simple to the eye, hackamores are intricately designed and crafted for communication between the rider and horse.

“A strand of rawhide is a strand of rawhide, but if you and I put 16 strands of rawhide together, braid them around a core and get the nose button in the right shape, suddenly we’ve got something that talks to a horse in a real nuanced way,” Steve says. “That same volume of rawhide in just one single strip is pretty useless as anything but a dog chew. But if you put the effort it takes into refining all those strands and putting them together just right, you get results that look like magic.” n

Meals From the Heart

INSPIRE LOVE WITH PROPOSAL-WORTHY DISHES

Marry Me Slow-Cooker Chicken

4 chicken breasts, boneless and skinless, about 2 pounds

1 teaspoon kosher salt

½ teaspoon ground black pepper

1 tablespoon olive oil

1 tablespoon salted butter

1 cup chicken stock

1 tablespoon cornstarch

4 cloves garlic, minced

¾ teaspoon crushed red pepper, optional

½ teaspoon dried oregano

¼ teaspoon dried thyme

½ cup sundried tomatoes packed in oil, chopped

1 cup heavy cream, warmed slightly

¾ cup Parmesan cheese, grated

1 tablespoon fresh basil leaves, chopped

Season chicken with salt and pepper. Heat olive oil and butter in a skillet over medium heat, then sear chicken for 2-3 minutes per side until lightly golden. Transfer to slow cooker along with any leftover butter and juices from the skillet.

In a bowl, whisk chicken stock with cornstarch, garlic, crushed red pepper, oregano and thyme. Pour the mixture over the chicken in the slow cooker.

Top each chicken breast with chopped sundried tomatoes. Cover. Cook on low for 3-4 hours or on high for 1½-2 hours, until chicken reaches 165 degrees. Remove chicken to a plate, and keep warm. Stir heavy cream and Parmesan into the hot liquid in the slow cooker until smooth. Return chicken to sauce. Spoon sauce over the top, and let rest for 5-10 minutes on warm. Garnish with basil before serving.

Marry Me Chocolate Cake

18.25-ounce package devil’s

food cake mix

3.9-ounce package instant chocolate pudding mix

2 cups sour cream

1 cup melted butter, cooled 5 eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

2 cups semisweet chocolate chips

Strawberries, optional

Powdered sugar, optional

Heat oven to 350 F. Coat a 10-inch tube pan with nonstick cooking spray.

In a large mixing bowl, combine cake and pudding mixes. Make a well in the center, and add sour cream, butter, eggs and vanilla extract.

Beat on low speed until blended. Scrape bowl, then beat for 4 minutes on medium speed. Mix in chocolate chips by hand.

Pour batter into greased pan, and bake for 50-55 minutes. Let cool in pan for 10 minutes, then turn onto a plate and cool completely. Garnish with strawberries and sprinkle with powdered sugar, if desired.

Marry Me Shrimp Pasta

1 cup drained sundried tomatoes packed in oil, sliced, plus 4 tablespoons tomato oil, divided

1 pound large shrimp, peeled, deveined, tails removed

Kosher salt

Freshly ground black pepper

16 ounces rigatoni or penne pasta

4 garlic cloves, finely chopped

2 tablespoons tomato paste

¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes

2 cups chicken broth

1 cup heavy cream

1 teaspoon Italian seasoning

5 ounces baby spinach

1 ounce Parmesan, finely grated, plus more for serving

Torn fresh basil leaves, for serving

In a large heavy skillet over medium-high heat, heat 2 tablespoons tomato oil. Season shrimp with salt and pepper, to taste. Cook in oil, stirring occasionally, until pink and opaque, about 3 minutes. Transfer shrimp to a plate.

Meanwhile, cook pasta in a large pot of boiling salted water. Stir occasionally, until al dente, according to package directions. Drain.

In the same skillet over medium heat, cook garlic, tomato paste, red pepper flakes and remaining tomato oil. Stir until tomato paste deepens in color, about 1 minute. Add sundried tomatoes, broth, cream and Italian seasoning. Bring to a simmer, scraping up any browned bits. Cook, stirring occasionally, until sauce slightly reduces, about 5 minutes. Add spinach. Cook until wilted, 1-2 minutes.

Add pasta, shrimp and Parmesan. Cook, stirring, until pasta is coated and sauce is glossy. Season with salt and black pepper. Remove skillet from heat. Cover, and let sit 2 to 3 minutes. Stir pasta again to coat.

Divide the mixture among bowls. Top with basil and more Parmesan.

Marry Me Chicken Soup

1 tablespoon olive oil

½ cup yellow onion, diced

2¼ teaspoons salt, divided Pepper, to taste

1 teaspoon garlic powder

1 teaspoon dried thyme

3 tablespoons tomato paste

6 cups chicken stock

1⁄ 3 cup sundried tomatoes in oil, chopped

3 cups shredded cooked chicken

2 cups small-shape pasta, such as orecchiette

½ cup heavy cream

½ cup grated Parmesan cheese

2 cups baby spinach

1 teaspoon red wine vinegar

Heat a large pot or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add olive oil, onion, ¼ teaspoon salt and black pepper. Cook for 3-5 minutes, stirring frequently, until the onion begins to soften.

Sprinkle in garlic powder and thyme. Cook for about 1 minute, stirring constantly, until fragrant. Add tomato paste and cook for 30 seconds, stirring constantly.

Pour in chicken stock, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pot. Stir in 2 teaspoons salt and sundried tomatoes. Add chicken, and stir to combine. Cover, and bring to a boil. Once boiling, add pasta. Stir. Cover, and reduce heat to a strong simmer. Cook for 8-15 minutes depending on the pasta type. Stir occasionally, until pasta is just cooked through.

Turn off heat. Add cream, Parmesan cheese, spinach and vinegar. Stir to combine and melt the cheese.

Marry Me Meatballs

18 ounces ground chicken

2 teaspoons dried oregano, divided

2 teaspoons paprika, divided

½ cup grated Parmesan, divided

Pinch of sea salt

Pinch of freshly ground black pepper

1 tablespoon olive oil

3 garlic cloves, peeled and crushed

5 ounces sundried tomatoes, roughly chopped

¾ cup heavy cream

1 cup chicken stock

½ lemon

Basil leaves, for garnish

Place the ground chicken, 1 teaspoon oregano, 1 teaspoon paprika and ¼ cup Parmesan in a bowl. Add a pinch of salt and pepper. Use clean hands to mix everything together, then roll mixture into 16 meatballs.

In a large, deep frying pan, heat oil over medium heat. Fry meatballs, stirring occasionally, for 10 minutes until golden all over. Remove them to a plate.

Add garlic, sundried tomatoes and remaining dried oregano and paprika. Cook for a few minutes until garlic has softened. Add cream, stock, remaining Parmesan, and additional salt and pepper, to taste. Stir well. Add meatballs, and cook for 5 minutes. Make sure meatballs are cooked through, then remove the pan from the heat.

Squeeze lemon juice and sprinkle basil over the top.

READER EXCHANGE

Crafts/Hobbies

I am in need of yarn to make hats for homeless people and people who are receiving cancer treatments. Leftover yarn is used to make hats for newborn babies. The person who makes these hats is a homebound person on oxygen. This not only gives him an activity, but it also helps those in need. From 2019 to the present, he has made over 2,000 hats. I distribute these hats to the people who need them.

Deb Darr

3550 Sample Road Falls City, OR 97344

I am looking for unwanted stamped post cards, stamp albums, world stamps, old stamped envelopes or any stamps you don’t know what to do with. I’m filling in unfinished stamp albums I inherited from my dad. I would love any you can send. Thank you.

Lori Arola

82162 Red Bluff Road Seaside, OR 97138-5037

Milestones

Our incredible mother, Elizabeth Gwiazdon (aka Betty), celebrates her 100th birthday in March. She was born in Hawaii and traveled the world with her Army dad and mom. She married a Lt. Colonel in the Air Force and raised 6 amazing children. She has 13 grands, 19 great-grands, and 2 great-great-grands. She started as a secretary for a property management company in the mid ’70s and rose to the ranks of executive director of the Sacramento Apartment Association. She then worked for another tenant/landlord group, taught classes at our local college and then started a consulting business to continue to help educate and mediate tenant/landlord issues. She just retired at 98. She’s been an incredible role model and positively influenced countless people her entire life and career. She is full of life, love and laughter. She’s a fashionista. She dresses every day as if she was greeting the president or the queen of England. We would love to share cards and wishes with her and the family. Please send to: C/O Michele Skupic, P.O. Box 207, Graeagle, CA 96103-0207. My sincerest gratitude.

Michele Skupic Graeagle, California

Odds

Looking for screws for long genealogy books. I need 6 or 8 metal extension screws to hold more pages for each book. Thank you.

Lucile Stecklein

P.O. Box 116 Blackfoot, ID 83221

Camp Elkanah is celebrating its 70th anniversary, and we would love to hear from you. If you were a camper, staff member, dream team member or volunteer, we would appreciate your memories or photos. What were your favorite activities, food or games? You can write a sentence or a book. All will be appreciated. Contact us at the address or email below.

Camp Elkanah

P.O. Box 150

La Grande, Oregon 97850

Email: elkanah@campelkanah.com

Website: campelkanah.com (click on “Share your story”)

Thanks

I want to thank everyone for all the cards, letters, gifts and flowers. Everything was amazing. Mom received over 320 handmade cards, and kindness and prayers. I cannot express how much it meant. It also was good for residents seeing her get mail.

Susan Mascall

North Powder, Oregon

Thanks to everyone who sent recipes. Reading comments was fun. I started looking forward to getting mail again. I received lots of good-looking cornbread recipes; even the one I had asked for.

Elena Nightingale

LaGrande, Oregon

Submitting Requests Is Free

Send your request (no attachments) to readerexchange@ruralite.org or mail to Reader Exchange, 5625 NE Elam Young Parkway, Suite 100, Hillsboro, OR 97124. Fill in the subject line with Reader Exchange.

Acceptance, scheduling and editing are at the editor’s discretion. Single requests only, please. No duplicates. If replying to a reader submission, please only send what is requested.

Submissions are handled first-come, first-served as space allows. We cannot honor every request.

Please affirm you have authorization from all appropriate parties before submitting. By submitting, you indemnify Reader Exchange, Pioneer Utility Resources Inc., its officers, directors, employees, utility clients and insurers from all legal liability incurred by the publication of information.

We no longer accept pen pal requests. You may submit a pen pal request as a Marketplace ad (pricing applies).

When submitting a milestone request, please send it at least two months before the milestone.

Phone numbers are not published. Email addresses are if they are part of the ad, but you must include a postal address. Requests must include the name and address of the electric utility that provides your magazine.

Seniors get new medical alert device

Instantly connects to free unlimited nationwide help with just the push of a button with no contracts, no deposits, and no monthly bills

■ NO MONTHLY BILLS: “My wife had an old style help button that came with hefty bills every month and she was embarrassed to wear it because it made her look old,” said Frank McDonald, Canton, Ohio. “Now, we both have FastHelp™, the sleek new medical alert device that our grandkids say makes us look ‘cool’ not old,” he said. With FastHelp, seniors never have to worry about being alone and the best part is there are no monthly bills ever.

Seniors born before 1964 get new medical alert device

Nationwide: Demand for new Medical Alert Device soars

The phone lines are ringing off the hook.

That’s because for seniors born before 1964, it’s a deal too good to pass up.

Starting at precisely 8:30am today the PreStore Release begins for the sleek new medical alert device that comes with the exclusive FastHelp™ One-Touch 911 Button that instantly connects you to unlimited nationwide help everywhere with no contracts, no deposits and no monthly bills ever.

“It’s not like old style help buttons that make you talk to a call center, only work when you’re at home and come with hefty bills every month. FastHelp comes with state-ofthe-art cellular embedded technology. That means it works at home or anywhere and everywhere cell service is available whether you’re out watering the garden, driving in a car, at church or even hundreds of miles away on a tour or at a casino. You are never alone. With just a single push of the One-Touch E Button you instantly get connected to free unlimited help nationwide with no monthly bills ever,” said Jack Lawrence, Executive Director of Product Development for U.S. based Universal Physicians.

“We’ve never seen anything like it. Consumers absolutely love the sleek new modern design and most of all, today’s instant rebate practically pays for it and no monthly bills ever,” Lawrence said.

FastHelp is the sleek new medical alert device with the best of combinations: a quality, high-tech engineered device that’s also an extremely great value because there are no monthly bills ever. ■

■ FLYING OUT THE DOOR: Trucks are being loaded with the new medical alert devices called FastHelp. They are now being delivered to lucky seniors who call the National Rebate Center Hotline at 1-800-209-4926 DEPT. FSTH138 today. Everyone is calling to get FastHelp, the sleek new medical alert device because it instantly connects you to unlimited nationwide help everywhere cell service is available.

HOW TO GET IT

BORN BEFORE 1964:

Use the rebate coupon below and call this Toll-Free Hotline: 1-800-209-4926

EXT. FSTH138

BORN AFTER 1964:

You cannot use the rebate coupon below and must pay $299 Call: 1-800-209-6405

EXT. FSTH138

■ SENIORS SNAP UP NEW MEDICAL ALERT DEVICE : Instantly connects you to free unlimited nationwide help with no contracts, no deposits and no monthly bills ever. Nothing to hook up. You don’t need a land line or cell phone. It’s ready to use right out of the box. Comes with new cellular embedded technology that works at home or anywhere you go so you are never alone.

BOTTOM LINE: You don’t need to shop around. We’ve done all the leg work, this deal is too good to pass up. With the instant FastHelp rebate, it is a real steal at just $149 and shipping. There are no monthly bills ever.

PROS: It’s the sleek new medical alert device that comes with the exclusive FastHelp One-Touch 911 Button that instantly connects you to free unlimited nationwide help with no contracts or deposits. It connects you to the vast available network of cellular towers for free and saves seniors a ton of money because there are no monthly bills ever making this deal a must have. Plus it’s the only medical alert device that makes seniors look important, not old.

CONS: Consumers can’t get FastHelp in stores until later this year. That’s why it’s so important for seniors born before 1964 to call the National Rebate Center Hotline within the next 21 days. For those who miss that deadline, the sleek little medical alert device will set you back over $300 bucks.

Hurricane Help

“We had two hurricanes recently. I had no electricity for 6 days. I fell, so I pushed the button, and they came right out and picked me up off the floor. I tell many of my friends they need to get FastHelp!” - Virginia, FL

LIFESAVER

“When I got my FastHelp I never thought I’d have to use it, but when I fell and broke my hip it saved my life.” - Harold, OH

Very appreciative of having FastHelp

“I did have an emergency. Help RESPONDED quickly and came in a few minutes.” - Irving, PA

WE LOVE THE PRODUCT

“We bought it outright with no bills ever.” - Rosemary, NY Safe anywhere

“This little FastHelp device is my guardian angel. I’m so glad my daughter-in-law got it for me.” - Pete, FL

A+ Rating: These are unsolicited consumer feedback from satisfied customers as reported to Universal Physicians.

Watch Wildlife Wander Through Pristine Nature in Northern Nevada at ADVENTURE AWAITS

Sheldon National Wildlife Refuge

What Is It?

Thousands of pronghorn, deer, bighorn sheep and more roam on hundreds of thousands of acres of wilderness in Northern Nevada at Sheldon National Wildlife Refuge. The refuge—which also has beautiful mountains, dark skies and geological features—was originally established to benefit pronghorn populations.

History

Pronghorn populations in Nevada rapidly shrunk in the early 1900s. Nonnative animals, such as horses, sheep and cattle, were overtaking the habitat. The Audubon Society and Boone and Crockett Club bought the more than 30,000-acre Last Chance Ranch to create an antelope refuge. In 1936, President Franklin D. Roosevelt enlarged the refuge to nearly 540,000 acres.

Wildlife

Thousands of pronghorn live in the greater Hart-Sheldon area, straddling the Oregon-Nevada border. Pronghorn can run sustained sprints of about 50 mph, making it the fastest North American land mammal. The refuge is also home to bighorn sheep, mule deer and sage grouse. Visitors may even see an American pika, a small herbivorous mammal that looks like a mix of a mouse and rabbit.

A Gorge Trip

The refuge has a rugged landscape ready for those willing to explore it. One popular site is Thousand Creek Gorge, a slot canyon with 500-foot-tall walls. Visitors will likely need to take a moderate hike or have a higher clearance vehicle to get there. Many make their way to Virgin Valley Warm Spring to camp, while others head out to watch the wildlife at Catnip Reservoir.

More Information

Sheldon National Wildlife Refuge is very remote. While that can be great for getting away from it all and diving into nature, be sure to have a full tank of gas and carry extra fuel—visitors will be more than 100 miles from a gas station. To learn more, call 775-941-0199 or visitfws.gov/refuge/ sheldon.

Shining a Light

By Dave LaBelle

Every calendar month is dedicated to bringing awareness to its own cause or observance, some lighthearted and others profoundly meaningful. October, for instance, is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, yet it also shares space with National Pizza Month. In the United Kingdom, 30 days across May and June are recognized as National Smile Month. And while we might celebrate whimsical Mustache March, the month is also designated as National Women’s History Month, a time to celebrate women’s contributions to history, culture and society.

Throughout my career, I have photographed many famous women—movie stars, civil rights figures and humanitarians from all walks of life. In 2011, I photographed Eva Schloss, a survivor of Hitler’s death camps and Anne Frank’s stepsister. Eva died Jan. 3 in London at the age of 96.

Approachable and generous with her time, Eva told her story to audiences for two days. Like Anne, Eva and her family went into hiding from the Nazis, and after two years, they were tracked down, arrested and deported to concentration camps. Eva barely survived Auschwitz, and her brother and father died in captivity.

“The horrors that she endured as a young woman are impossible to comprehend and yet she devoted the rest of her life to overcoming hatred and prejudice, promoting kindness, courage, understanding and resilience through her tireless work for the Anne Frank Trust UK and for Holocaust education across the world,”

Reader Challenge

While I advocate photographing famous people whenever and wherever you can, don’t limit documenting only those society or fate has shined a light on. Ask yourself, “Is there is a person I admire in my world, a giving soul in my community I can honor?” Try to make a portrait that celebrates their character.

Email your best image—just one—with caption information, including an explanation of how it affects you, to gph@pioneer.coop. We may share submissions on our website and social media channels.

King Charles says in a piece written by Thomas Mackintosh and published by the BBC on Jan. 4, 2026.

Beneath Eva’s positive public face, she shared with me after a lecture that waves of pain linger. I watched for images that might reveal that pain and often shot as tight as possible, usually with a telephoto lens to compress the face, hoping to capture subtle expressions that reveal the pain in her heart. n

To learn more of Eva’s story, check out bit.ly/4qYVuC4 or pick up one of her books, “Eva’s Story: A Survivor’s Tale by the Stepsister of Anne Frank” and “The Promise: The Moving Story of a Family in the Holocaust.”

Photographer, author and lecturer Dave LaBelle has captured special moments for more than half a century, sharing photo tips and life perspectives with readers. For more of his writings, visit davidlabelle.com and his blog at bridgesandangels.wordpress.com.

survey results are in

Orcas Power & Light Cooperative engages the co-op membership in the realities facing the energy world. Things are changing due to climate impacts, carbon reduction legislation and the transition to renewable energy. As our regional energy supply reaches capacity, utilities throughout the country are pursuing carbon-free power sources.

OPALCO has been exploring local renewable energy options in San Juan County, balancing the cost of these projects, aesthetic trade-offs and limited land for siting against the need to provide reliable power.

This winter, OPALCO conducted a member survey to gather information on the direction the membership wants the cooperative to take for our energy future.

OPALCO worked with a third-party vendor to conduct the survey. The first part of the survey was a representative sample to have a statistically relevant data set. The survey questions assessed general perceptions of OPALCO, tested awareness and reception of local renewable

project development, and gauged member priorities for projects.

Key takeaways from the representative portion of the survey were:

• Overall, 94% have a high satisfaction rate with OPALCO.

• Maintaining and improving service and reducing dependence on mainland energy are top priorities.

• Survey respondents want OPALCO to prioritize renewable energy, but only about half are willing to pay more for it.

• Survey respondents emphasized protecting the environment, improving reliability and keeping costs down.

• 82% of respondents indicated it’s very or somewhat important to build local resources to minimize power disruptions.

• 74% said San Juan County should adjust policies for more local energy generation, with most emphasizing all environmental, conservation and safeguards should be met.

• Impacts on scenic views and wildlife were top concerns, followed closely by a cost increase.

• 80% support local renewable energy projects.

After the representative portion of the survey was complete, OPALCO opened the survey up to the entire membership. Because this portion of the data does not rely on random sampling and cannot be treated as a representative sample, the two data sets should not be compared.

The results from the open portion of the survey include high satisfaction rate, high awareness of the energy issues in San Juan County, and prioritizing microgrids and rooftop solar projects.

The OPALCO Board of Directors has reviewed the material closely and will use the data as it balances the competing priorities of having low cost, carbon-free, reliable power. These three criteria are almost impossible to meet in tandem, so the team is looking at ways to balance all three priorities. n

Find the full survey report and comments at tinyurl.com/OPALCO-survey-material. Email communications@opalco.com for more information.

MARKETPLACE

Agriculture

Reinforced custom-sized pond liners (39 cents/sqft). Hay covers, greenhouse covers, any width and length. Truck tarps and more. High puncture and tear strength. Best price guaranteed. Celebrating 43 years in business. btlliners.com. 541-447-0712. 0426

Seeking summer pasture for 20-80 cow-calf pairs. Call 541-519-7068 or 208-880-2518. IDEastern, OR. 0326

Antiques and Collectibles

Buying antiques and collectibles: advertising signs, porcelain signs, gas pumps, beer signs, antique toys, cast-iron coin banks, neon signs and more. Jason, 503-310-3321 or tjabaughman@yahoo.com. 0326

Buying American Indian collectibles, Navajo jewelry, blankets, rugs. CA/AZ baskets and beadwork. Quality paintings of the early Southwest and Americas. Call 760-409-3117 or send photos to amer.ind.baskets@gmail.com.

Automotive

1978 Jeep CJ5. 6 cyl. 4 sp. Good condition. New seats and top. $10K. 208-435-4798. 0326

Books, Magazines, Videos

Book restoration. Bibles, cookbooks, cherished family heirlooms. Beautiful work. We give renewed life, more durable than original, to last for generations. 775-537-7066; salacanstudio@gmail.com.

Community Events

Beekeeping Class by Dick Turanski from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, March 28, at the Eugene Mission, 1470 W. 1st Ave., Eugene, OR. Advance registration and payment required. Class limit is 70 people. $50 cash or check only. Checks payable to RPT & Associates, P.O. Box 41294, Eugene, OR 97404. Two teachers will answers your questions: Richard T. Turanski, 55 years of beekeeping, first taught at Lane Community College in 1975; and Mike France, former president of Lane County Beekeepers Association, teacher at Lane County Beekeepers Association. Includes coffee, banana bread and lunch served noon-1 p.m. Park in lot or on the street. Contact for registration by email only, Dick.Turanski@GloryBee.com. 0326

Long Creek, Oregon, Emergency Services Appreciation Dinner. April 25. Live auction items are fire engine, flat utility trailer, Hamley saddle, firewood and more. For dinner reservations, call 541-421-3601. For more information, visit cityoflongcreek.org. 0426

Quick, Affordable: How to Place an Ad

„ Ads 25 words or fewer are $35 a month. An extended ad of up to 35 words is $50 a month. Contact information is included in the word count. Phone numbers and emails count as one word.

„ Longer ads may be placed. Contact 503-357-2105 or info@pioneer.coop for pricing information.

„ Ads are for customers of member co-ops, public utility districts and municipals only. Subscribers and nonmembers may inquire about pricing at 503-357-2105 or info@pioneer.coop.

„ Ads must be direct and in first person, and are subject to approval and editing.

„ Closing deadlines (in our office): May issue—March 31

„ If submitting ad by mail, send appropriate payment with your name, address, email, phone number and the name of the electric utility that provides your magazine to: Marketplace, P.O. Box 1306, North Plains, OR 97133. Make check or money order payable to Ruralite.

„ We accept credit card payments for ads submitted by email. Send ad to info@pioneer.coop. Call 503-357-2105 to pay by credit card.

Advertisements are accepted in good faith. Pioneer Utility Resources is not liable for interactions between buyers and sellers.

Art Center East’s 49th birthday March Membership Drive. Spring Makers Week, March 23-27: art classes for all ages in La Grande, OR. artcentereast.org. 0326

Farm Equipment

1940s Caterpillar D2, hydraulic blade up/ down, full canopy, many photos. Belonged to my late father. Diesel engine stuck so asking only $3.5K, OBO. Near Dayton, WA. 208-284-5073.

Water trailer. About 400 gallons, Homelite pump, on heavy-duty ex-military trailer. Photos, no title. Pump not started since before COVID-19. Near Dayton, WA. 208-284-5073.

Free Items

Free materials—church/government unite. National Sunday Law. TBSM, P.O. Box 374, Ellijay, GA 30540. tbsmads@yahoo.com; 1-888-211-1715. 0426AR

Help Wanted

Camp hosts/caretakers wanted for the Tucannon River RV Park, a small (33 sites), modern RV park in rural SE WA on the Lower Tucannon River. Prefer active retired couple able to meet and greet, take reservations, pull hoses, mow, general maintenance. RV required, FHU provided, plus stipend. Call 509-382-2759.

Livestock, Supplies

Live bees by Dick Turanski. New large supplier of 5 frame nucs in nuc box. Available 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, May 9. Nucs with your choice of queens as follows: Italians, Carniolans or Buckfast (Buckfast is NEW, starting with a limit of 2 nucs per customer). Introductory low price of $200 per nuc or more than 10 at $195 per nuc. Order via email, dick.turanski@glorybee.com. Mail checks to RPT & Associates, P.O. Box 41294, Eugene, OR 97404. Deadline for checks must be postdated April 30, 2026. Pick up location in the gravel yard next to GloryBee’s Distribution Center 29548 B Airport Road, Eugene (directly off Highway 99). Stop by the pop-up tent to check in. 0426

Miscellaneous

Granite cemetery markers at affordable prices. Will ship to most places. For more info: highdesertmemorials.com; Joe, 541-815-8906 or highdesertmemorials@gmail.com. 0326

Attention landowners. Grants available now. Wildland fire fuel reduction service. Steep ground, remote, rocky, small lot, big acreage are no problem. Blue Mountain Defensible Space LLC. Bluemountainbrush@gmail.com; bluemountainbrush.com; 509-399-3473. 1126

Animal and human wilderness tracking school materials. Writings, slides, physical displays, teaching materials and books. Enormous collection for anyone interested in tracking. Dave, fairbanksaircraft@comcast.net. 0326

Tulsa 3-stage planetary gear reduction, bought surplus from Link Belt Crane, used as final drive for P&H and LB 100-ton crawler cranes. Best use, 4-ft. tunnel drill using ROTEK turntable bearing, $5K. 6 truck tires, 50% tread, Patagonia mud and snow. LT215/R8516, 60% tread. $600. Ted, 458-910-3727. 0326

Local commercial fisherman sells summer catch of preserved freshness by blast freezing at sea, gourmet canned tuna on internet. Sept.June. 100% guaranteed the best canned tuna you ever tasted. Original, jalapeno and garlic flavors available. To order: twofisherstuna.com or 206-799-1082. 0526

Pets, Supplies

Havanese puppies in Rainier, OR. Hypoallergenic, great for all ages. Raised by our family as quality pets for you. Visit www.happeninhavanese.com or call Rebecca at 503-728-6241. 0426

Pools/Spas

2010 Artesian Swim Spa for sale. 7x14’ Been inside all the time; excellent condition. $5K. 541-954-3884. 0326

Real Estate

320 acres east of Adel, OR. Borders Hart Mountain views, Steens Mountain and Beaty Butte. Landowner tags, very rural. Reduced price: $145K. For maps: 541-659-1573; thejugglingman3@gmail.com. 0326

Let me help you buy or sell ranch, farm and recreation property in OR. Fourthgeneration Oregonian, prior ranch owner. For sale; Deschutes Canyon Mountain views 118 acres riverfront. $14.9M. John Gill, johngill@landandwildlife.com; 541-480-916. Land And Wildlife brokerage. 0326

Private 10-acre wild tree farm near Sandpoint, ID, with older 3-bd. mobile home, countymaintained road, good building sites. $395K. Steve, 208-290-6505. 0326

Mobiles to mansions. Cabins to castles. Brookings, OR area Principal Broker Pat Piper, Century 21 Agate Realty. Helpful. Educated. Caring. 28 years of area experience. patpiperbroker@gmail.com; 541-251-2152. 0526

For sale/rent: 20-acre developed land, 3,600sqft. shop with “barndominium” potential. Weddings/events, horse property, RV hookups, creek, views. $575K. Seller financing. Goldendale, WA. 509-378-5886. 0326

Boyers Cash Store & Keylock. Monument, OR. Thriving turn-key business. $500K. Duke Warner Realty, ddwr@ortelco.net; 541-987-2363.

10 undeveloped rural acres situated on the Rio Grande River, 28 miles south of Taos, NM. Ideal location for off-the-grid homestead, vacation retreat or permanent residence. Asking $75K. Serious inquiries only: rima.sanders@frontier.com. 0326

For sale by owner in Baker City, OR. 2- to 3-bd. home, move-in ready with many new upgrades. Well on the property. Fruit trees. Mountain view of Elkhorns. Call 307-321-1232 for appointment. 0426

Recreational Rentals

Sunshine and sand—Book your summer dreams at WaveCatcher for 2026. Oceanfront cottage with direct beach access, on the spectacular Central OR Coast. Sleeps 6. All house amenities. Winter closure NovemberMarch. Reservations, information email: relax@wavecatcherbeachrentals.com, or text 541-740-2846 or 541-740-9953. 0326

Oceanview Maui vacation rental. Spring break for the month of March. Was $210, now $185. One-time cleaning: $150, 2 TVs, king-size bed, queen-size sofa bed. Beach chairs and umbrellas. Great view. 503-812-6689.

Enjoy your ideal Maui getaway. This updated 2-bd., 2-ba. condo sleeps 4 and features a charming “surf shack” design. Just half a block from a beautiful beach, it’s perfect for morning strolls and sunsets. Plus, you’re steps away from shops and restaurants at Azeka Plaza. tinyurl.com/MauiGetaway. 0526

Recreational Vehicles

2010 Northern Lite 8-11QSE Classic Series Slide-In-Truck Camper for short-bed trucks. Queen bed, skylight, wet bath, full kitchen, premium wood paneling. Original owner. Needs new Happijacs. $10.5K. Text, 208-301-3732 for photos. 0326

Coleman 17-R trailer. 1 axel, 8 months old, used once, 2K miles. Aljo Starlink post-hitch 27 ft. long, hitch to rear. Old. Good condition and tires. 35-ft. Wildcat Maxx. 8-ft. slide out, 25 years old. Lived in, one owner. 500 miles on tires. Make offers. Ted, 458-910-3727. 0426

2015 Artic Fox 29L Travel Trailer. Stored under awning from 2015-24. Double slide, loads of storage and in very good condition. Clean and ready to go. Can send photos. $28.5K. jeff.bartunek@gmail.com. 0326

Services

Dawn Till Dusk Masonry. Brick, block, stone and pavers. Small jobs and repairs welcome. dawntillduskconstructionmasonry.com; 541-388-7605; 541-410-6945. License #245760 bonded and insured. La Pine, OR.

Blue Mountain Defensible Space LLC

Wildfire Fuel Reduction: clearing brush, thinning trees, animal habitat enhancement. Expert service. Grant money available OR, WA, ID. Bluemountainbrush@gmail.com; bluemountainbrush.com; 509-399-3473. 1126

Situations Wanted

Looking for woman 25-50 years old. Honest, likes cats, average looking, pleasant. Widow in ID or MT preferred. Would like to meet and see if we are compatible. I’m a retired widower. Christian, firefighter. Bob, P.O. Box 69, Noxon, MT 59853. 0326

Want to Buy

Gold, silver, coins/currency, buy, sell. Collections wanted. Fair prices paid. 45 years in retail store. Baker City, OR. 800-556-2133; garrymclin@aol.com. 1026

Buying American Indian collectibles, Navajo jewelry, blankets, rugs. CA/AZ baskets and beadwork. Quality paintings of the early Southwest and Americas. Call 760-409-3117; send photos to amer.ind.baskets@gmail.com. 0526

Old carpenter tools, planes (wood/metal), levels, chisels, slicks, adzes, axes, hatchets, handsaws, old rulers, spoke shaves, wrenches, shipwright tools, old tool chests. 503-659-0009; 971-666-0659. 0326

Wanted: older Corvette 1953-63 any condition, cash. Call or text 702-296-2289 or email a62vette@yahoo.com. Even if you’re thinking about selling. 0326

Celebrate the Women of OPALCO

March is Women’s History Month. It’s an opportunity to carve out time to recognize, remember and appreciate all the women in our lives: mothers, daughters, sisters, partners, friends and co-workers.

Women have been a key part of Orcas Power & Light Cooperative’s history since the beginning, and without them there would be no power in the San Juan Islands like there is today.

The following women had a profound impact on OPALCO and the San Juan Islands.

Dr. Agnes Barlow Harrison—one of the founding members of OPALCO— was born in 1860 in Rockton, Ontario. She graduated in 1882 from the University of Michigan Medical School, where she was one of the only women in the school’s medical program.

In the late 1880s, Agnes moved with her husband, Isaac, to Washington to practice medicine. The couple practiced in Coupeville, Whidbey Island, Port Townsend and the San Juan Islands. Agnes helped deliver more than 2,000 babies and provided essential care to islanders.

In 1913, Agnes and Isaac founded and operated Madrona Inn. Their involvement in founding the co-op as part of Roosevelt’s Rural Electrification Act ensured future generations in the San Juan Islands could access safe and reliable power in remote areas that were undesirable to investor-owned utilities.

Ruby Cross Langell was an involved member of the Orcas Island community and played a significant and historic role in the cooperative.

In August 1939, Ruby made OPALCO history as the first woman to occupy a seat on the OPALCO Board of Directors. She filled a vacancy created by the resignation of J.E. Harrison.

In addition to her time serving on the OPALCO board, Ruby was active in the community, including as a teacher for the Orcas Island schools circa 1948; service in social and fraternal groups, such as the Orcas Rebekah Lodge, circa 1949; and her role as alternate secretary for the Orcas Island Garden Club in 1961.

Ellen Marie Bruns Madan was a lifelong islander and dedicated community member. Born in 1927 on Shaw Island, she later moved to Orcas Island with her family and was a student at the West Sound schoolhouse. Her father, Eber, began his OPALCO career in 1939 as the first-ever power plant operator and chief engineer.

Ellen grew up in the cooperative environment and even lived with her parents and brother in the small main office next to the original generating plant on Mount Baker Road in Eastsound—the building where Rock Island’s Eastsound headquarters are now. In 1945, Ellen married Buyral Madan, who had an OPALCO career of his own.

Ellen was an instrumental member of the OPALCO team and provided essential support for the whole cooperative. While her husband was employed with the cooperative, Ellen took all after-hours outage calls at home. No matter the time, if the power was out, Ellen helped respond. She relayed all outage information to Buyral to pass to crews, who were dispatched to restore power.

Ellen’s family’s legacy at OPALCO is tremendous, and she played a vital role in keeping the co-op functioning at the level of efficiency and reliability that members expect to this day.

Today, women are involved in all facets of the work at OPALCO, including management, communications, member services, accounting, energy savings, engineering and information technology. Outside of staff, women have played and continue to play a vital role of managing the co-op’s mission on the board of directors. The women of OPALCO—past and present—ensure our cooperative continues to successfully deliver reliable power to our members year-round. n

All Wildlife Welcome

While living in Alsea, Oregon, Michelle Flamez frequently had elk visitors in her yard. On this rare occasion, a few turkeys joined the party.

To submit your photo, email a JPEG to photos@pioneer.coop. Include “Before You Go” in the subject line and share a bit about what inspired you to make your photo.

Seafood Cookbook

Barbecue Halibut Oriental, Crab Enchiladas, Easy Salmon Quiche, Dilled Salmon Fettuccine, Clam Chowder and Salmon Oyster Dip are among the recipes featured in this book from our 1993 contest. The 8½-by-11-inch indexed book is $8 (includes postage).

TO ORDER BY MAIL: Submit payment with cookbook title, your name, address and number of cookbooks wanted to: Ruralite Cookbooks

P.O. Box 1306

North Plains, OR 97133

TO PAY BY PHONE: Call 503-357-2105 for credit card payments with Visa, MasterCard, Discover or American Express.

TO ORDER ONLINE: Visit www.ruralite.com.

Please allow two to three weeks for delivery.

Our Bone-ified Best Blade

“It’s a beautiful knife with a great blade and a sure grip”

— William B. Wilmington, NC

My friend Sergio is a mixed martial arts fighter. His shoulders are broad. His muscles have muscles. He’s not the kind of person you want to be on the wrong side of.

This manly man has a saying about being tough: You should either know how to fight or look like you do.

The message is simple enough. People spoiling for a fight usually don’t pick the biggest guy in the bar. If you look like someone who shouldn’t be messed with, you likely won’t be. With our Blue Bone Bowie Knife on your hip, that’s exactly the message you’ll send.

As beautiful as it is functional, this knife is 10" overall and features a high-quality 420 surgical stainless steel blade with a serrated spine. The handle is constructed of genuine natural bone with redwood spacers. On the handle you’ll find design work that’s carved by hand, a testament to its craftsmanship.

This knife is stick tang, meaning it won’t wimp out when you need it. This knife also features brass hand guards and brass spacers with file work, so you won’t lose your grip. For easy carrying, it comes with a genuine tooled leather sheath. CALL NOW! If you’re one of the rst 700 587 callers for this ad, we’ll throw in a pair of Stauer HD Pocket Binoculars — a $99 value — ABSOLUTELY FREE!

Walk around with the Blue Bone Bowie Knife and you’ll feel a lot safer. I know I do.

Knife Speci cations:

• 10" overall length

•420 surgical stainless steel and stick tang construction

• Genuine natural bone and redwood hand-carved handle

• Genuine leather sheath included

Blue Bone Bowie Knife

Stauer Pocket Binoculars a $99 value with your purchase of the Blue Bone Bowie Knife

$299 $79*+ S&P Save $220

*Special price only for customers using the offer code.

Your Insider Offer Code: BBK162-02 California

Your member-owned, not-for-profit cooperative utility. Providing energy services to San Juan County since 1937.

Eastsound Office

183 Mount Baker Road

Eastsound, WA 98245-9413

8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Monday through Thursday

Friday Harbor Office

1034 Guard St.

Friday Harbor, WA 98250-9240

8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Monday through Thursday

Lopez Crew Station 4232 Center Road

Lopez Island, WA 98261-8098

No regular office hours

360-376-3500

General Manager

Foster Hildreth

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

President

Vince Dauciunas, District 1

Vice President

Jerry Whitfield, District 4

Secretary/Treasurer

Tom Osterman, District 3

Mark Madsen, District 1

Chuks Onwuneme, District 2

Wendy Hiester, District 2

Brian Silverstein, District 3

Board meetings are the third Thursday of each month, unless otherwise indicated on our website. Board materials are posted on the website the Monday before the meeting.

opalco.com

Spring Forward With OPALCO's Board Elections

Happy March, co-op members!

Spring is making its way to us. Flowers and plants are beginning to bloom again, and the light is returning to push away the darkness of the winter season. The winters always feel a little ‘ruff’, but it is good to remember spring is always on the other side.

As we welcome spring, we also welcome the co-op election season. This year, there are two seats on the Orcas Power & Light Cooperative Board of Directors up for election: one in District 1 (San Juan, et. al) and one in District 2 (Orcas, et. al). The current list of candidates is available on our website. The full and final slate of candidates will be available online March 13. To view the candidates, visit opalco.com/election.

The OPALCO election officially opens for voting March 18. The same day, we are hosting a virtual candidate forum for members to learn more about each candidate. This virtual event begins at 5 p.m. on Zoom. Steve Bowman of the League of Women Voters is the moderator.

The forum is a great opportunity to hear from the candidates about their opinions, priorities and goals for the co-op and to ask your questions. Be sure to tune in! Register for the candidate forum by visiting opalco.com/events and using the registration link, or email us at communications@opalco.com.

As a member-owned electric utility, Democratic Member Control is one of our seven guiding principles. OPALCO members vote to elect the board of directors, who represent them and are responsible for setting policies and rates and guiding the mission of the co-op. Get involved and vote! All members vote for every open position, regardless of home island.

As always, thank you for being involved and engaged co-op members. Your participation is vital to keep the co-op running and ensure we can continue delivering reliable power to the San Juan Islands.

Enjoy the beginning of spring!

Pepper