FEBRUARY 2011
Forecasting
Future Needs
Preparing tomorrow’s energy workforce
PLUS
Clearing the air
Breakfast in bed
Intended land uses
FEBRUARY
Vol. 46 • No. 2
Peter A. Fitzgerald
EDITOR/DIRECTOR OF
COMMUNICATIONS
Katherine Hackleman
SENIOR EDITOR/WRITER
James Dulley
Janette Hess
Barbara Martin
Marcus Schneck
4
KEEPING CURRENT
News items from across the Commonwealth
6
T I M E PA S S A G E S
Remembering when the lights came on
CONTRIBUTING COLUMNISTS
W. Douglas Shirk
LAYOUT & DESIGN
8
Vonnie Kloss
F E AT U R E
Forecasting future needs
ADVERTISING & CIRCULATION
Preparing tomorrow’s energy workforce
Michelle M. Smith
8
MEDIA & MARKETING SPECIALIST
Penn Lines (USPS 929-700), the newsmagazine
of Pennsylvania’s electric cooperatives, is published monthly by the Pennsylvania Rural Electric Association, 212 Locust Street, P.O. Box
1266, Harrisburg, PA 17108-1266. Penn Lines
helps 166,400 households of co-op consumermembers understand issues that affect the
electric cooperative program, their local coops, and their quality of life. Electric co-ops
are not-for-profit, consumer-owned, locally
directed, and taxpaying electric utilities. Penn
Lines is not responsible for unsolicited manuscripts. The opinions expressed in Penn Lines
do not necessarily reflect those of the editors,
the Pennsylvania Rural Electric Association, or
local electric distribution cooperatives.
Subscriptions: Electric co-op members, $5.42
per year through their local electric distribution cooperative. Preferred Periodicals postage
paid at Harrisburg, PA 17105 and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes
with mailing label to Penn Lines, 212 Locust
Street, P.O. Box 1266, Harrisburg, PA 17108-1266.
Advertising: Display ad deadline is six weeks
prior to month of issue. Ad rates upon request.
Acceptance of advertising by Penn Lines does
not imply endorsement of the product or services by the publisher or any electric cooperative. If you encounter a problem with any
product or service advertised in Penn Lines,
please contact: Advertising, Penn Lines, P.O.
Box 1266, Harrisburg, PA 17108. Penn Lines
reserves the right to refuse any advertising.
12
E N E R G Y M AT T E R S
Red tape overload
14A C O O P E R AT I V E
23
CO N N ECT I O N
Information and advice from your local
electric cooperative
18
TIME LINES
Your newsmagazine through the years
20
SMART CIRCUITS
Clearing the air
Clean ducts key to air quality
22
POWER PLANTS
26
Try these winners at home
23
COUNTRY KITCHEN
Breakfast in bed
24
CLASSIFIEDS
26
O U T D O O R A DV E N T U R ES
Smorgasbord of intended
land uses
29
In Pennsylvania, 5.4 million acres dedicated to
conservation, recreation
27
Thoughts from Earl Pitts–
Uhmerikun!
Board officers and staff, Pennsylvania Rural
Electric Association: Chairman, S. Eugene
Herritt; Vice Chairman, Kevin Barrett; Secretary, Lanny Rodgers; Treasurer, Leroy Walls;
President & CEO, Frank M. Betley
© 2011 Pennsylvania Rural Electric Association.
All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in
part without written permission is prohibited.
Visit with us at Penn Lines
Online, located at:
www.prea.com/Content/
pennlines.asp. Penn Lines Online
provides an email link to Penn
Lines editorial staff, information
on advertising rates,
contributor’s guidelines, and an
archive of past issues.
PUNCH LINES
Earl makes some left-handed deals
29
RURAL REFLECTIONS
More ‘best shots’
O N T H E COV E R
FEBRUARY 2011
Colleges and rural electric
utilities across the United
States, along with the
National Rural Electric
Cooperative Association, are
developing programs to
train the energy workforce
of tomorrow as new
technologies emerge.
FEBRUARY 2011 • PENN
LINES
3
KEEPINGcurrent
Going green brings down Farm
Show Complex costs
Secretary of Agriculture Russell Redding, a member of Adams Electric Cooperative, flipped a switch on the opening
day of the 95th Pennsylvania Farm
k Adding aerators to sinks and low-flow
valves to toilets and urinals;
k Installing a rooftop solar system to
provide supplemental hot water to the
existing domestic system; and
k Replacing inefficient motors and heaters
with more energy efficient models.
According to a press release from the
Farm Show, these upgrades will conserve electricity and water and reduce
the facility’s carbon dioxide emissions by
1,650 metric tons annually — roughly
the equivalent of taking 300 cars off
Pennsylvania’s roads each year.
Bald eagles continue comeback
in record numbers
Secretary of Agriculture Russell
Redding describes the Farm Show’s “Going
Green” project at the show’s opening ceremony.
GREEN IS GOOD:
Show on Jan. 8 to demonstrate the new
solar energy system that is designed to
reduce annual operating costs of the
Farm Show Complex and Expo Center
by more than $300,000.
The 120-kilowatt photovoltaic solar
system is a part of a “Going Green” project that includes recycling, energy saving
retrofit projects and the use of a wind
turbine to generate electricity for the
complex that includes more than 1 million square feet (approximately 24
acres). Although the Farm Show is the
best known event held at the complex,
in a typical year there are more than 200
events held there.
“For 95 years, the Pennsylvania Farm
Show has featured the latest advancements in agriculture, and now the complex
is a model for eco-friendly and money-saving investments,” Redding stated.
In addition to the solar array, the
energy saving projects included:
k Replacing more than 8,000 lighting fixtures with energy efficient lightbulbs;
4
PENN
LINES • FEBRUARY 2011
Birdwatchers at Hawk Mountain
Sanctuary this past fall counted a record
number of migrating bald eagles, demonstrating another sign of the eagles’ comeback in eastern Pennsylvania.
Hawk Mountain Sanctuary, located
near Kempton, has kept an annual tally of
migrating eagles, hawks and falcons since
it opened more than 75 years ago. This
year’s tally of migrating bald eagles — 404
— smashed the old record of 245 bald
eagles set two years ago. The 10-year
Hawk Mountain Sanctuary average is 235.
The U.S. population of bald eagles
declined steeply between the late 1800s
and the 1970s due to a combination of
Correction
A sentence in an article about Indiana’s Jimmy Stewart Museum in the
January issue of Penn Lines is incorrect.
The building that housed the hardware
store operated by Stewart’s father is no
longer standing. The article should have
stated, “A photo of the building that
housed the hardware store across the
street from the museum is part of a
memorial located at the original store
location.” Operated as Sutton, Marshall
and Stewart, the business closed following the death of Alex Stewart in 1961.
habitat destruction and hunting, and
later the widespread use of the sincebanned pesticide DDT. By 1963, it is estimated there were only 417 breeding pairs
of bald eagles in the lower 48 states. In
1975, birdwatchers at Hawk Mountain
Sanctuary counted only 13 bald eagles
during the entire fall — the lowest count
recorded in the sanctuary’s history.
The bald eagle has been making a
gradual recovery since it was listed on
the federal Endangered Species list in
1967, followed by the banning of DDT in
the United States in the early 1970s.
Today, it is estimated there are more
than 10,000 pairs, according to the U.S.
Fish and Wildlife Service. In fact, the
bald eagle has made such a comeback
(continues on page 14)
TIMEpassages m e m o r i e s
from our members
(EDITOR’S NOTE: In observance of 75 years of rural electrification in Pennsylvania,
throughout the year Penn Lines will feature personal accounts of “when the lights came on”
from our readers. This is one of those accounts.)
When the lights came on
IN 1937, Southwest Central Rural Electric Cooperative (now
REA Energy Cooperative) had a meeting in Creekside at the
fire hall. The discussion was, “Why should the residents allow
the cooperative to put electricity in the area?”
Many people didn’t understand what it was all about. Others were afraid they couldn’t afford it. One person leading the
discussion spoke to my grandfather, saying, “Norman Spence,
we haven’t heard from you yet.”
My grandfather replied, “I want electricity in my home
whatever it costs.”
By December 1937, the cooperative’s poles were set and the
lines were attached to my grandparents’ house.
My father, Harland Reed Spence, was 11 years old. For that
first Christmas with electricity, my grandparents, Norman and
Jessie, purchased an electric train set for my father. They were
a bit on edge, for although the poles and lines were in place,
the electricity was not on.
On Christmas Eve, the electricity came on. Neighbor boys Lee,
Lowry and Jim Fairman came over to my grandparents’ house to
play with Reed’s new electric train set. (Yes, it still works!)
The cooperative’s electric poles came into my grandparents’
farm, but the line ended there. It was several years before the
neighbors hooked up to electricity.
The contract for an easement right-of-way between Norman
and Jessie Spence and Southwest Central Rural Electric
Cooperative was signed on June 7, 1937. They were the first
(No. 1) customer in Washington Township, Indiana County. l
— Submitted by Norma Spence Martin, Punxsutawney, Pa.
GIFT OF LIGHT: Norman and Jessie Spence, above, were the first customers to
sign a right-of-way easement for electric service with Southwest Central Rural
Electric Cooperative (now REA Energy Cooperative) in Washington Township,
Indiana County, on June 7, 1937. Their son, Harland Reed Spence, shown at left
with his wife, Margaret, received an electric train set as a Christmas present on
Dec. 24, 1937, the day the family’s electricity was turned on. (Submitted by granddaughter, Norma Martin)
6
PENN
LINES • FEBRUARY 2011
PENNlines
Forecasting
Future Needs
Preparing tomorrow’s energy workforce
by Kathy Hackleman
S e n i o r E d i t o r / Wr i t e r
AS EVEN SOME meteorologists might
admit, predicting the future is an uncertain undertaking at best. In weather
reporting, the only certainty seems to be
that the weather always changes. Forecasting the education and training needs
of tomorrow’s energy workforce is no
less tricky. And, like the weather, those
needs are always changing. But in order
to ensure those needs are met, many
higher education and personnel development professionals find themselves
tasked with predicting the future.
Sometimes, the needs have been evident for a while. It’s no secret that across
the United States, the rural electric
cooperative workforce is aging. That has
been driving the need to prepare a new
generation of men and women who
must be as comfortable operating a
high-tech computer as they are climbing
a low-tech pole.
Other times, those needs come as a
surprise. In 2007, Pennsylvania had
about 40 natural gas wells drilled into
the Marcellus Shale formation underlying much of the state. By the end of 2010,
that number skyrocketed to more than
2,400, leading to an influx of out-of-state
workers because there were not enough
skilled local residents.
In recent years, shale development
has seen dramatic increases across the
country, with states like Louisiana,
Arkansas, Texas, Oklahoma and Pennsylvania leading the way, according to
the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA).
“Shale gas development drove an 11 percent increase in U.S. natural gas proved
reserves [in 2009], to their highest level
since 1971, demonstrating the growing
importance of shale gas in meeting both
current and projected energy needs,”
notes EIA Administrator Richard Newell
in a December 2010 news release.
Meeting emerging needs
CLIMBING BOOTS: Lineworkers wear special boots
when climbing utility poles.
8
PENN
LINES • FEBRUARY 2011
To fill the needs of the exploding Marcellus Shale industry, Pennsylvania College of Technology (Penn College) and
Penn State Cooperative Extension
teamed up in 2008 to form the Marcellus
Shale Education and Training Center
(MSETC) to assess and respond to workforce needs. The center is located on the
Penn College campus in Williamsport.
“The development of the Marcellus
has the potential to have the single
largest economic impact on Pennsylvania of any opportunity in the last century,” observes Larry L. Michael,
MSETC executive director, workforce
and economic development. “The indus-
try not only creates jobs and wealth
from direct operations, but also by purchasing supplies through other existing
enterprises.”
According to the Marcellus Shale
Workforce Needs Study completed in the
summer of 2009 by MSETC, the northern
region of Pennsylvania can expect dramatic increases in drilling (up to 5,468
direct, full-time equivalent positions by
2013) while the central region can expect
smaller, although still significant,
increases (up to 2,245 direct, full-time
equivalent positions by 2013). Using the
Pennsylvania Economy League’s multiplier
showing each direct job in the oil and gas
industry creates an additional 1.52 indirect
and induced jobs, the projected job
increase by 2013 for the northern Pennsylvania region is up to 13,779, while it is
up to 5,657 in the central region.
Because about 75 percent of the natural
gas industry’s direct workforce includes
occupations that require little formal postsecondary education, but do depend heavily on experience-driven skills and unique
industry knowledge, Penn College began
gearing up to offer the training and education that would be required.
Instruction offered through MSETC
includes welding, commercial driver
training, operator training, and safety
and regulatory training, with additional
classes being implemented over time. By
the end of 2010, 126 individuals had participated in MSETC’s “Fit 4 Natural Gas”
training.
Open to the public, the training and
education programs offered through
MSETC range from ones that are 100 percent funded by state or federal sources to
others that are paid in full by the student
or company.
The U.S. Department of Labor provided a $4.9 million grant to be used in
the development of ShaleNET, a network
of training providers being developed to
support workforce needs throughout the
Marcellus Shale region, which includes
Pennsylvania, Ohio, West Virginia and
New York. Penn College is the eastern
hub of the network, while Westmoreland County Community College,
Youngwood, is the western hub.
ShaleNET will develop standardized
training for welders, commercial drivers,
GOING UP: Students at Iowa Lakes Community College
make a final run-through of safety procedures as
they prepare to ascend into the wind turbine’s tower.
(Photo courtesy of Iowa Lakes Community College)
thanks to Art Boyt, a retired construction professor. Boyt’s passion for “green”
building back before it had a color
assigned to it has grown into an alternative energy division with four departments and multiple available degrees.
In the fall of 2010, 57 of Crowder College’s 5,200 students were enrolled in the
alternative energy division, covering
solar, wind, biofuels, and green building
and design, according to Amy Rand,
associate dean of program development.
Rand is proud of Crowder College’s
continuing foray into the world of
energy innovation.
“What we find unusual is that the
type of accomplishments, the milestones
that Crowder College has made in alternative energy, is unheard of at the community college level,” Rand states. “We
have competed in the Solar Decathlon,
an international competition in Washington, D.C., twice and we were the only
community college. We were competing
with universities like the University of
Michigan, the University of Texas and
the University of Virginia.”
Solar houses built on campus were
dismantled, taken to Washington, D.C.,
to be reassembled for the contest, and
then taken down again to be transported
back to Neosho. There, they found permanent homes — one is used for class
lab projects, while the other is set up to
demonstrate solar technology applications in a typical residential setting.
Crowder College recently broke ground
for the MARET Center, which will house
the Missouri Alternative and Renewable
Energy Technology program that provides
training and research statewide.
roustabouts, service rig operators, derrick operators, and rotary drill operators. All of these fields were identified
by the Pennsylvania Department of
Labor and Industry as high-priority
occupations.
While the intensity of the Marcellus
Shale boom took Pennsylvania and surrounding states by surprise, bringing
the need to ramp up education programs
quickly, other technology has been
evolving for decades.
Show-Me spirit
Located in the Ozark Mountains of
southwest Missouri in Neosho, Crowder
College began experimenting with solar
research and classes during the 1970s
Creating opportunities
While Crowder College takes advantage of the abundant supply of sunshine
in the Midwest, wind drives the renewable energy program at an Iowa community college. Iowa Lakes Electric Cooperative, headquartered in Estherville, Iowa,
has been involved in the wind program
at neighboring Iowa Lakes Community
FEBRUARY 2011 • PENN
LINES
9
PENNlines
College since its inception in 2003.
“Iowa Lakes Community College has
a 1.65-megawatt wind turbine as a part
of its program,” explains Rick Olesen,
vice president of operations and engineering for the rural electric cooperative.
“We first got involved when we were
talking to the college about the process
of interconnecting its wind turbine into
the electric distribution system.”
Olesen says that it was immediately
obvious that the budding wind technicians would ultimately be involved in
interconnections to cooperative lines and
at cooperative substations.
“We wanted to make sure that we
could give them some insights from the
electric utility industry perspective
because there was a gap in the awareness of those issues,” Olesen reports.
Since the early days of the program at
Iowa Lakes Community College, the
cooperative has become even more
involved. It donated a transformer to
give the college a working model to teach
interconnection techniques, and it also
brings students to the cooperative for a
look at what they will see in the field.
Started in 2004 with 15 students in
one room, the college now has over 10
times that number of students enrolled
in the program in a new building that
the cooperative supported with access to
zero-percent financing. Because Iowa
Lakes Electric Cooperative qualified for
a Rural Development Grant through the
U.S. Department of Agriculture, it was
able to turn around and loan the
$300,000 from the grant plus an addiLINEMAN TRAINING: Adam Atherton, Valley Rural
Electric Cooperative, practices what he has learned
in training sessions offered by the Pennsylvania
Rural Electric Association.
Students in Pennsylvania College of Technology’s “Fit 4 Natural Gas” training learn how to operate equipment that would be
used in drilling for natural gas in the Marcellus Shale. (Photo courtesy of Pennsylvania College of Technology)
NEW JOBS MEAN MORE TRAINING:
10
PENN
LINES • FEBRUARY 2011
Continuing The Line
WORKFORCE NEEDS DRIVE TRAINING
By Kathy Hackleman
STUDENTS FOCUS ON SUNLIGHT: Two solar houses, including this one, lower left, built by Crowder College
students for competition at Solar Decathlon, an international competition in Washington, D.C., upper left,
are now used on the college campus in Neosho, Mo., to teach students about solar energy. Crowder
College students, right, use a house jack in preparation for moving one of the houses to Washington, D.C.,
for the competition. (Photos courtesy of Crowder College)
tional $60,000 at no interest to the college for its energy program lab and
classrooms.
Cooperative approach
Olesen notes that community colleges
across the country assist each other,
much as rural electric cooperatives do.
“The college has something similar to
the rural electric cooperative network,”
he states. “So because Iowa Lakes Community College was the first and still
maintains the most comprehensive training program of this type in the country,
and they can’t serve all of the prospective
students who want to be involved, they
have helped colleges across the country
get off to a good start on developing their
own wind energy programs. The college’s program is very successful and
through helping other colleges, they have
been a part of something even bigger
than their own program.”
Attendance at a college’s alternative
energy program is far from the only
path to the educational level required to
get — or keep — a job in the energy
industry.
Bob Patton, senior principal for education programs in the education and train-
ing department at National Rural Electric
Cooperative Association (NRECA),
served as the liaison to a 15-manager task
force set up in 2009 by NRECA Chief
Executive Officer Glenn English.
“Glenn asked the task force to take a
look at 10 years out as to what co-ops
need in light of changing knowledge and
regulations,” Patton explains.
That task force convened over the
course of eight months and issued a
report in February 2010 that addressed
nine key issues, two of which focused on
workforce issues (educating current co-op
employees so they can become the “go-to”
source for cooperative members as they
consider new types of energy applications, and recruiting, educating, and
retaining employees for all cooperative
positions).
To address workforce development,
Patton says the NRECA task force took
a look at the electric cooperative workforce nationwide. The analysis revealed
that more than half of the employees in
mid-level management positions are at
the threshold of retirement. That means
cooperatives must either grow and educate management employees through the
(continues on page 16)
Every day, lineworkers face decisions
with life-and-death consequences. That
means their education and training must
be extensive and thorough. These days, it
also means they have to be familiar with
more than the basics of electricity.
Becoming a journeyman lineworker is
not quick or easy – it typically involves up
to four years of study combined with onthe-job training. And it takes a special
breed of person – someone who can
endure the physical challenges of the job
and is also capable of learning computer
applications. That person must be teamoriented and enjoy working outside in any
type of weather, day or night.
For those who can make the grade as a
lineworker, the employment picture looks
bright. Nationwide, the industry faces the
imminent loss of large numbers of lineworkers who are nearing retirement age.
A team of trainers in the job training &
safety program of the Pennsylvania Rural
Electric Association (PREA) assists the 14
Pennsylvania and New Jersey rural electric cooperatives that have the day-to-day
responsibility of training their lineworkers.
PREA training begins with a two-week
climbing school for new lineworkers
where safety is the overriding theme.
Lineworkers then return to their cooperatives for four years of on-the-job training
interspersed with PREA classes.
In 2010, PREA announced a partnership with Harrisburg Area Community College (HACC) that allows lineworker
apprentices to apply 30 hours of technology credits toward an associate in applied
science degree. Lineworkers must earn
another 31 credits to receive the degree.
“Because there will be so many new
faces in the line personnel ranks in the
next few years, it’s especially critical to
focus on establishing a culture of safety
and an emphasis on education at individual
cooperatives,” emphasizes Steve Brame,
PREA’s manager of job training & safety.
“PREA provides ongoing training
schools for line personnel from cooperatives, which provide the daily on-the-job
training focusing on specific skills and
safety,” Brame notes. “And through our
agreement with HACC, the line personnel
also have the opportunity to gain a wellrounded education. We haven’t shifted the
primary focus away from safety; we have
just added to the education emphasis as
lineworkers’ duties and responsibilities
continue to evolve to meet changing
industry needs.”
FEBRUARY 2011 • PENN
LINES
11
ENERGYmatters
Red tape overload
Government regulations set to
hit electric bills
THE COST of electricity hinges on several things — availability, prices for
power plant fuels and materials, and the
amount of power consumers demand.
Now a slew of volatile federal rules, regulating everything from greenhouse gas
emissions to coal ash, has hit power producers.
With a new Congress in session, a
number of legislators have come forward
to propose bills opposing certain U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
measures, which they contend could
harm the electric utility industry and have
a costly impact on consumer electric bills.
“When Congress didn’t come up with
legislation to address climate change,
that left the door open for the EPA to
step in,” observes Russ Biggica, Pennsylvania Rural Electric Association director
of government & regulatory affairs.
“Fortunately, the direct impact of the
EPA’s actions on Pennsylvania and New
Jersey cooperatives should be relatively
small. Approximately 70 percent of the
cooperatives’ power needs here are met
by carbon-free nuclear and hydroelectric
resources. Still, these regulations will
have an impact on the energy industry
as a whole, so it will be in our best interest to monitor how they are carried out.”
Here’s an overview of the biggest regulations impacting the industry:
Curbing emissions
On Jan. 2, the EPA began restricting
the amount of carbon dioxide and other
greenhouse gases emitted by fossil fuelburning power plants. Fossil fuels like
coal and natural gas fuel 70 percent of
America’s electricity generation, and
electric co-ops are more dependent on
12
PENN
LINES • FEBRUARY 2011
EPA ACTIONS: Officials with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) work out of this building in
Washington, D.C. Their latest action is to restrict the amount of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases
emitted by fossil fuel-burning power plants.
coal than other utilities.
“Clearly, the EPA is wielding the
Clean Air Act as a bludgeon, pressing it
into service because the outgoing Congress was unable to agree on how to
curb greenhouse gas emissions,” notes
Glenn English, CEO of the National
Rural Electric Association (NRECA)
based in Arlington, Va. “Co-ops expect
the EPA’s rulemaking will eventually
have the practical effect — absent breakthrough technology — of eliminating coal
as a power plant option. On top of this,
the cost of switching from coal, which
has traditionally been plentiful and
affordable, to other fuels will be high.”
Only two alternate baseload generation sources can meet America’s
demand for safe, reliable, and affordable
electricity — natural gas, which is priced
on a volatile commodities market (and
has carbon dioxide emissions to contend
with), and nuclear power, requiring a
long lead time for construction.
“Electric co-ops are urging Congress
and the White House to approve a twoyear moratorium on EPA regulation of
carbon dioxide greenhouse gases — a
delay giving lawmakers the opportunity
to fashion climate change legislation that
protects consumers and keeps electric
bills affordable,” English stresses.
Clean Air Transport Rule
Released in 2010, EPA’s Clean Air
Transport Rule aims to cap emissions of
sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides from
power plants across 31 eastern states and
the District of Columbia. The regulation
enables “downwind” areas whose air
quality is compromised by power plants
to their west to meet federal standards.
By 2014, EPA claims the Transport Rule,
when combined with other state and
federal measures, will reduce power
plant sulfur dioxide emissions by 71 percent and nitrogen oxide emissions by
52 percent from 2005 levels — at a cost
to utilities of $2.8 billion per year.
The Transport Rule requires 180 coalfired power plants to install new pollution-control technology, activate existing
pollution controls, or shut down. A second-round version under consideration
could impose even tighter standards.
“We’re expecting a number of existing power plants to simply be retired,”
notes Kirk Johnson, NRECA vice presi-
Cooling water intake requirements
Power plants use water from lakes or
rivers to cool generating equipment. The
federal Clean Water Act Section 316(b)
sets standards for cooling water intake
structures, requiring plant operators to
use “best available technology” to protect the environment.
EPA began reviewing the standards
in 2010, launching a cost-benefit analysis
of imposing stricter regulations. The rule
is expected to be unveiled in February.
The North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC), the nation’s
bulk power grid watchdog, estimates
this EPA rule will have the greatest
potential impact on American energy
reserves. If strictly enforced, NERC contends one-third of U.S. electricity capacity may need to be retired.
Coal ash debate
To ensure the safe disposal of fly ash
and other residues produced by coalfired power plants, the EPA is considering designating the materials — for the
first time — as hazardous waste.
Classifying these “coal combustion
byproducts” (CCBs) as hazardous could
cost billions and force increases in electricity rates. Each year, the U.S. electric
utility industry produces about 130 million tons of CCBs (roughly 8 percent
from power supply cooperatives).
Carrying the hazardous label in any
form will severely hamper beneficial
uses of CCBs. Currently, one-third of fly
ash (used as a cement replacement) and
one-fourth of scrubber sludge (converted
into synthetic gypsum for wallboards)
are recycled. For every ton of cement
replaced by fly ash, a ton of greenhouse
gas emissions is avoided.
More than 10,000 co-op consumers
sent letters to the EPA in 2010 voicing
their concern and asking the EPA not to
brand coal as hazardous.
Sources: U.S. Department of Energy,
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency,
North American Electric Reliability Corporation, National Rural Electric Cooperative
Association, ECT.coop.
Sealing your home from
the elements
By Brian Sloboda
Cooperative Research Network
When a home feels too cold or too
warm, folks often purchase air conditioners or space heaters to improve
comfort. But in many cases these appliances only address the symptoms, not
the actual problem. However, there’s
often a simple and relatively inexpensive solution — seal air leaks and add
insulation.
To find leaks, walk around your
house on a cold day and feel for drafts
around exterior doors and windows,
electric outlets, and entrance points for
TV and telephone cables. In basements,
target dryer vents, gas lines, or any place
with an opening in the wall.
To fix leaks, apply caulk, spray foam
or weather stripping to these areas.
Spray foam should be used on large
openings. But be careful: the foam
expands and could damage weak wood
or loosen brick. When purchasing caulk,
pay careful attention to whether it is
rated for interior or exterior use and if
you can paint over it.
An insulation kit provides a temporary solution for older windows during
winter. Apply a clear plastic sheet to the
interior of the window, then use a hair
dryer to remove wrinkles and make the
sheet almost as clear as the glass.
If you have a forced air heating or
cooling system, consider sealing the duct
work. According to Energy Star, a standard for rating energy-efficient consumer products, about 20 percent of the
air moving through duct work is lost to
leaks and holes. For exposed duct work
in basements or attics, apply a duct
sealant — either tape, aerosol or mastic
— depending on your skill level.
Once leaks are sealed, focus on
adding insulation. Insulation, your
home’s first line of defense in keeping
out heat and cold, comes in fiberglass
(batt or blown), cellulose, rigid foam
board, spray foam or reflective (also
called radiant barrier) forms. Your local
hardware store can help you choose the
one that best fits your area and specific
needs.
TOUCHSTONE ENERGY ® COOPERATIVES
dent of energy & environmental policy.
“The cost to comply with the regulation
will simply be too much.”
A GOOD FIRST STEP: Since attics are generally
easy to access, adding insulation above a home is
a good first step to protect the building from
outside elements.
When buying insulation, consider its
R-value. Typical insulation levels for an
attic range from R-30 to R-60, while floor
requirements vary from R-13 to R-30.
The most difficult area to add insulation will be your walls. Ideally, you
would add wall insulation when replacing the siding on your home. In most
areas of the country, you will need to
add either R-5 or R-6 insulative wall
sheathing and then fill the wall cavity
with blown-in insulation. If you do not
have siding or won’t be replacing it anytime soon, you can cut holes in the wall
and blow the insulation in. But this is
generally a tricky undertaking and can
cause significant damage if not done
properly. l
Brian Sloboda is a program manager
specializing in energy efficiency for the
Cooperative Research Network, a service of
the Arlington, Va.-based National Rural
Electric Cooperative Association.
The Cooperative Research Network monitors, evaluates, and applies technologies
that help electric cooperatives control costs,
increase productivity, and enhance service
to their consumers. Additional research provided by ESource.
FEBRUARY 2011 • PENN
LINES
13
KEEPINGcurrent
(continued from page 4)
that it was removed from the Endangered Species list in 2007.
The sanctuary is located along Kittatinny Ridge, a major Appalachian flyway for migratory birds.
Cashless turnpike tolls studied
The Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission is considering a proposal to turn
the 545-mile Pennsylvania Turnpike into
a “cashless” toll collection system. A
study of the proposal is expected to take
about a year, after which officials would
review the study’s conclusions and
make a final determination as to the feasibility of the proposal.
All-electronic tolling typically allows
drivers to pay their tolls without stopping. Regular users would have E-ZPass
transponders (or a similar device)
installed in their vehicles. Under this
type of system, occasional users are
billed after a camera captures the vehicle’s license plate and bills the plate’s
registered owner.
States that are in the planning stages
for similar programs include California,
Colorado, Florida, New Jersey, North
Carolina and Texas.
Fate of Pennsylvania Avenue
unclear
In an attempt to have a constant
reminder of the quest by residents of the
nation’s capital to have the District of
Columbia declared a state, members of
the D.C. Council are considering a plan
to rename a portion of the famous Pennsylvania Avenue.
In early January, D.C. Councilman
Michael Brown held a public hearing to
gather suggestions for a new name for
the 1300 and 1400 blocks of Pennsylvania Avenue NW (near the White House
and directly in front of the District of
Columbia’s city hall, the John A. Wilson
Building).
Among the suggestions for the new
name are: Give D.C. Statehood Avenue,
Statehood for D.C. Avenue, D.C.
Demands Statehood Avenue, D.C. State14
PENN
LINES • FEBRUARY 2011
hood Now Avenue, D.C. Demands Full
Democracy Avenue and Give D.C. Full
Democracy Avenue.
Appointed by President George
Washington in 1791 to lay out a plan for
the growing city, Pierre Charles L’Enfant
developed a grid system of streets centered on the U.S. Capitol. The street
named Pennsylvania Avenue was
designed to connect the “Congress
House” (the Capitol) with the “President’s House” (the White House), which
has the most recognized address in the
country: 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.
Pennsylvania Farm Bureau joins
Chesapeake Bay lawsuit
Two farm organizations have joined
in a lawsuit in federal court against the
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
for its implementation of a Total Maxi-
mum Daily Load (TMDL) of nutrient
and sediment loads in the Chesapeake
Bay Watershed, which includes much of
Pennsylvania.
The Pennsylvania Farm Bureau
(PFB) and the American Farm Bureau
are asserting that the EPA exceeded its
authority under the Clean Water Act in
establishing the TMDL, and that the science used by EPA to create the model
used to develop the TMDL is flawed.
The lawsuit claims that states, not the
EPA, has the authority to implement
Clean Water standards.
According to PFB President Carl T.
Shaffer, the EPA has failed to take into
account many best management practices, including no-till farming and cover
crops that significantly reduce runoff
into Pennsylvania streams and ultimately the Chesapeake Bay.
In addition to farming, other sources of
nutrients and sediments include wastewater treatment plants, municipal stormwater systems and small septic systems.
Shaffer noted the agriculture industry’s commitment to helping to restore
the bay, adding, “Farmers have already
played a major role in helping to improve
water in Pennsylvania that flows into the
bay and will continue to do so regardless
of the outcome of the lawsuit.” l
YOU’D BE SURPRISED HOW
MUCH MONEY CAN SQUEEZE
THROUGH A CRAWLSPACE.
I k n o w I was. But once I in su la t e d t h e cra w lspac e under my hous e,
m y b u d g et becam e mu ch more comf ort a b le . A bout $ 1 5 5 a year mor e
c o m f o r t able. Wha t c an yo u d o? Fin d ou t h o w t he lit t le c hanges add
u p a t To getherWeSa ve . com.
TOG E T HERW E S AV E .C OM
PENNlines
(continued from page 11)
ranks or bring new people into the
cooperative family.
Also, when the employees who take
those new positions are in place, they
must be trained — both in management
skills and in competency levels so they
can apply smart grid technologies, along
with emerging computer technology,
including social media.
Patton anticipates that the national
network already set up through NRECA
and the Cooperative Research Network
will be a portal to help cooperatives
decide which applications will work
effectively for them. Cooperative
employees would then receive training
regarding how best to apply the new
technologies in their workplace and
service areas.
“Everyone is going to have to be in a
continuing education mode as new technology continues to come into play, both
in the workplace and how we interact
with our members,” Patton adds. “Our
employees must learn the latest technologies so they can provide the best
service. And our co-ops need to take a
greater role in being a resource for
members who ask us for help in terms
of managing energy use. Our job
includes helping those consumers
understand what technology is out there
that might suit them, and what technology might not do what the advertisement is saying it will do for them.”
Technology, like the weather, will
always be changing, as will the needs of
tomorrow’s energy workforce. Success for
educators and industry analysts depends
on anticipating those needs. Already,
many organizations and institutions are
making the accurate forecasts that help us
keep up with those needs and, in some
cases, stay ahead of them. l
Efficiency by design
ENERGY INNOVATION HUB TO SPUR ADVANCES IN BUILDING
CONSTRUCTION, TECHNOLOGY
By Kathy Hackleman
From gas-guzzlers to the electric car, the search for greater
efficiency has helped transform the transportation sector. While
innovations have improved our commute, such advances have not
moved at the same speed for the places where we live and work.
With some 5 million commercial buildings and 70 million residential buildings in the United States, that’s a lot of square footage to
heat and cool. Given that those buildings consume 40 percent of
the energy in this country, energy officials are making a priority
of getting greater efficiency out of our buildings.
A consortium made up of more than 90 entities led by Penn
State University recently won a national competition for a U.S.
Department of Energy (DOE) grant by addressing this issue.
The Greater Philadelphia Innovation Cluster (GPIC) is the recipient of a five-year, $129 million grant to set up an Energy Innovation Hub in Philadelphia. GPIC’s goal is to provide the solution to
the nationwide problem of the lack of energy efficiency in buildings, and ultimately, contribute to national energy independence.
GROUP EFFORT
The consortium plans to develop technologies and facilitate a
regulatory policy environment where business owners (and ultimately homeowners) can achieve a three-year payback on
energy-efficiency improvements. On the way to achieving that
goal, they expect to create thousands of jobs in the construction
industry and reduce the amount of energy used to heat and cool
those 75 million structures.
“This award represents an enormous opportunity for the
region to be a national and international headquarters for
energy-efficient buildings, research, development and education,” says Dr. Paul Hallacher, director for research program
management at Penn State. “This is a very significant achievement for both energy efficiency and job creation.”
The initial focus of the plan will be on the retrofit of existing
average-sized commercial buildings and multi-family residential
buildings.
Although Hallacher reports that technology already exists to
make most buildings 30 percent more energy efficient, consortium members plan to develop technologies that will increase that
16
PENN
LINES • FEBRUARY 2011
Thanks to recent federal grants of $129 million, the
Greater Philadelphia Innovation Cluster is establishing a center at the Navy
Yard in Philadelphia, a 1,200-acre ‘city within a city.’ (Photo courtesy of the
Greater Philadelphia Innovation Cluster)
LEADING THE WAY:
to the 50 to 80 percent improvement level.
“Really, a fundamental goal is to transform the way the building industry operates,” Hallacher notes. “Technology is part of
this, but changing the policy environment, developing workforce
skills, and changing the way the construction industry operates
are equally important, if not more important.”
The GPIC will be headquartered at the Navy Yard in Philadelphia, an ideal location due to its unique characteristics. The region
has four distinct seasons with a daily average temperature that
fluctuates significantly. But beyond the weather that provides the
heating and cooling seasons needed to research energy-efficient
buildings, the Navy Yard itself is unique.
Closed in 1996 by the U.S. Government, the site is a 1,200acre “city within a city” that has its own independent, unregulated power grid, a mix of older buildings that can be retrofitted
and space for new construction.
INCENTIVIZING EFFICIENCY
And the work at the Energy Innovation Hub won’t solely focus
on technology, according to Hallacher.
“The aim is also to create a policy environment and a business model that incentivize private sector behavior,” he states.
“If you could do those things, which we intend to do, you would
have near-term significant reductions in energy use in the
United States and worldwide. Energy efficiency in buildings is the
low-hanging fruit that we need to pick to solve the nation’s
energy problems. We have not made much improvement in this
area since the 1970s, and this is where we stand to make some
significant gains.”
TIMElines
Yo u r N e w s m a g a z i n e T h r o u g h t h e Y e a r s
1991
BACK IN 1991, “distance learning” was a new concept that was beginning to put rural school districts across Pennsylvania in touch with the
world.
Distance learning, 20 years ago, used live, two-way television or telephone connections to link teachers and students at different locations.
Thanks to the technology, students at rural schools were able to take
the same courses as their counterparts in suburban schools.
The first distance learning technologies were instructional television
using satellite dishes, microwave and video equipment, and cable systems to deliver courses from distant sites. The second involved a simpler tele-teaching approach using telephone lines and computers in
schoolrooms.
Among the early school districts using this technology was the
Crawford Central School District in Meadville, according to an article
in Penn Lines. With help from Northwestern Rural Electric Cooperative
and federal funding, Crawford Central in February 1991 was gearing up
to use a satellite dish, fax and phone line to provide staff development
and student enrichment at their soon-to-be-completed administration
center.
The number and types of distance learning possibilities have skyrocketed in the past 20 years, and schools across Pennsylvania continue
to upgrade their distance learning class offerings.
F E B RUA RY 2 0 0 1
VO L . 3 6 N O. 2
Penn
Lines
Yo u r C o o p e r a t i v e N e w s m a g a z i n e
Lumber
Production
on the
Cutting Edge
1971 Penn Lines takes on some of the myths of
pollution, and also suggests simple things that
everyone can do to help save our environment.
18
PENN
LINES • FEBRUARY 2011
1981 Penn Lines encourages cooperative members
to communicate with elected officials as the
strength of the democratic process depends on
this interchange of ideas.
2001 From sawmills to finished furniture, Keystone
State forest-products firms are deploying modern
tools to give them a “cutting edge” in the global
marketplace.
SMARTcircuits
by James Dulley
Clearing the air
Clean ducts key to air quality
HEALTHY indoor air should be a goal for
any family. This is particularly true in
today’s more energy efficient, airtight
houses where the air quality is often worse
than outdoor air. In addition to some dust
from the ducts, there are many sources of
indoor pollutants, including cleaning, cooking and outgassing synthetic materials.
Many of these can be removed from indoor
air with a combination of whole-house, furnace-mounted air cleaners and smaller
individual room air cleaners.
According to the U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA), much of the
dust in heating and air-conditioning ducts
tends to adhere to the duct surface, and it
never gets into the indoor air circulating
throughout the house. Just because you
see some dust collecting on the grill over
air registers does not necessarily mean the
ducts are very dirty and need to be
cleaned.
Other than just a benign, fine layer of
household dust inside of the ducts, there
can be some potentially harmful particles
inside them. Especially in humid areas,
mold spores inside the ducts can cause
serious allergic reactions in some people.
Bacteria can also live in some ducts
under certain conditions. Very fine particles from cigarettes or wood-burning fireplaces can become airborne and cause respiratory problems. Test kits are available to
take a sample of the dust from inside the
ducts and have the sample tested for mold
and other potentially harmful contaminants.
Although it is commonly referred to as
“duct cleaning,” if you choose to have it
done, it is important to have the entire
HVAC (heating, ventilation, air-conditioning) system cleaned.
If the contractor who services your
HVAC system also does duct cleaning, you
20
PENN
LINES • FEBRUARY 2011
may get a discount by having the service
and cleaning done at the same time. The
typical cost for a complete cleaning ranges
from $500 to $1,000, depending on the size
and complexity of the duct system.
You might want to have the duct system
inspected before going to the expense of a
cleaning. Look for a company that will
deduct the inspection cost from the total
project cost should you choose to have it
cleaned. Technicians conduct the inspection by looking into ducts and the furnace
blower unit and using mirrors at bends.
When selecting a duct-cleaning company, there are several factors to consider.
As with any project, the reputation of the
company is highly important. Although the
ducts can be inspected afterward to see
how well they have been cleaned, your best
assurance is to start with a reliable contractor. Always check references.
The National Air Duct Cleaning Association (NADCA) is the trade group that certifies HVAC system cleaning contractors.
The certification is legitimate and requires
extensive training. Find a national listing of
certified companies, along with its number
of specialists, at www.nadca.com.
Also, when selecting a contractor, ask
about the type of equipment each uses. If
an indoor vacuum unit is used, it must
have a high efficiency particulate
arrestance filter on the exhaust to trap
particles. Some of the particles they dislodge from the duct walls can be very
fine, and a lesser quality filter will not
remove them from the exhaust air.
Another option is an outdoor truck
with a built-in vacuum unit and a long
hose. Because it is located outdoors, the
exhaust filter is not critical. The only problem is during winter they suck quite a bit of
the heated air out of your house during the
cleaning process.
Some duct-cleaning companies may
suggest spraying a chemical biocide inside
the ducts to kill mold and bacteria and to
keep them from growing in the future. If
you do have this procedure done, make
sure they use EPA-approved chemicals
designated for sheet metal ducts. l
is a nationally syndicated energy management expert. You
can reach him at James Dulley, c/o Penn
Lines, 6906 Royalgreen Drive, Cincinnati,
OH 45244.
JAMES DULLEY
Try these
winners at
home
THE Pennsylvania Horticultural Society (PHS) selected
four gold medal winners for
2011. This year, they all seem
well adapted for landscapes
across the state.
First up is a cultivar of the
native American Sweetgum
tree aptly named “Slender Silhouette” thanks to its very
narrow form. Although its 35to 50-foot height is somewhat
shorter than the typical “gumball” tree, its width is severely
limited at 4 feet. This tall and
extremely narrow shape is a
real standout. I can envision it
grown in formal rows lining a
drive, in pairs to mark transitional spots in the landscape,
or alone as a dramatic spirestyle punctuation mark. The
temptation may be to nestle it
into a flower border because it
is so narrow, but remember
that its ultimate height is quite
tall and also that, like the basic
sweetgum, it has a thirsty and
competitive root system. Also
notable is that the fall color is
yellow. Finally, this cultivar
produces relatively few hard,
BARBARA MARTIN ,
who says she began
gardening as a hobby
“too many years ago to
count,” currently works
for the National Gardening Association as a horticulturist. A former
member of Gettysburg-based Adams Electric Cooperative, her articles appear in magazines and on the internet.
22
PENN
by Barbara Martin
spiky gumballs. (Zones 5 to 9,
best in full sun and moist soil.)
The second tree taking a
gold medal this year is the
Debonair® “Morris” cultivar
of Pond Baldcypress. This
remarkable tree looks like a
typical needled evergreen
until fall when the foliage
turns a gorgeous bronze color
and drops to the ground. To
the uninitiated, this might be a
distressing sight, but when
you know what to expect, it is
a dramatic event to behold.
This deciduous conifer grows
to about 50 feet in height with
a 20-foot spread in a symmetrically shaped, pyramidal outline. Although it will grow in
average conditions, this tree
prefers moist to wet soil — as
you might guess from the
word “pond” in its common
name. (Zones 5 to 9.)
The remaining two medal
winners are both shrubs. The
first, the “Midwinter Fire” cultivar of Bloodtwig Dogwood is
a lovely “winter interest”
shrub. It is one of the most
versatile and unfussy shrubs
around, tolerating a wide
range of growing conditions
and performing reliably year
in and year out. The main
attraction to this plant is the
fiery red, orange and yellow
coloring on its bark. Since the
bark color is best on younger
branches and twigs, you may
wish to prune it back quite
hard each year to stimulate
the development of plenty of
new growth. If you prune
during the dormant season,
the brightly colored cut
branches can be used to fill
LINES • FEBRUARY 2011
THE PENNSYLVANIA HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY
POWERplants
GOLD MEDAL: The Southern Bush-Honeysuckle is one of the four gold medal winners named in 2011 by the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society.
windowboxes to continue the
winter display. Speaking of
containers, this is a shrub that
will tolerate being grown in a
large container year round.
Fall color is not exceptional as
it is basically green/dark purple-ish. It will grow approximately 8 to 10 feet tall and
wide. (Zones 4 to 7.)
The final medal winner is
the Cool Splash™ cultivar of
the oh-so-confusingly-named
shrub commonly called Southern Bush-Honeysuckle, a
native in the southeastern
United States. Technically
speaking, it’s not a honeysuckle at all. Now that we have
that out of the way, this adaptable and winter-hardy deciduous shrub has really pretty,
eye-catching variegated foliage
with a creamy white pattern on
green leaves. The dense stems
arch gracefully, and since the
shrub spreads by underground
runners or stolons, it is well
suited to mass planting. It can
grow in height up to 4 feet. It
might be useful in a woodland
setting, perhaps as an informal
substitute for variegated hostas
in partial shade, or where a
native plant is desired and the
variegation would brighten
things up. This plant resulted
from the non-profit Landscape
Plant Development Center
breeding program, which is
focused on “durable” plants, so
I have high hopes for it to do
well. (Sun to partial shade,
moist to average soil in Zones
4 to 7.)
It’s always interesting to see
what the PHS selects each year.
This year, I think we definitely
have some fine plants for
across the state. If you have
the right growing conditions
and enough space, consider
trying one (or more) of these
winners. l
COUNTRYkitchen
by Janette He ss
Breakfast in bed
FEBRUARY is the perfect month to pamper loved ones, and
surely we all know someone who deserves breakfast in bed!
This month’s recipe for Ham Scramble makes a special
breakfast possible even on a hectic workday. Assembled
the evening before, this savory casserole has the power to
awaken the taste buds of any lovable sleepyhead as it fills
the house with the unmistakable aroma of a traditional
breakfast.
Individual quiches are another tasty breakfast or
brunch option. Simply pull out a muffin pan and fill the
cups with the customary ingredients of Quiche Lorraine —
Swiss cheese, bacon and onion. Buttery cracker crumbs
double as a rich crust and a delicate topping. Bake these
quiches in advance and then lightly reheat them in a
microwave oven just before serving.
For a special Valentine’s Day treat, mix up a recipe of
Overnight French Toast with Blueberries. Only your love
could be sweeter than these jam-filled slices. And honestly,
who deserves to eat cold cereal on Feb. 14? l
A trained journalist, JANETTE HESS focuses her writing on interesting people and interesting
foods. She is a Master Food Volunteer with her local extension service and enjoys collecting,
testing and sharing recipes.
HAM SCRAM
BLE
5 tablespoons butte
r, divided
2 tablespoons flour
1 1/2 cups milk, div
ided
1 cup Cheddar chee
se, grated
1/4 teaspoon dried
mustard
12 eggs
Salt and pepper to
taste
1 cup diced ham
2 English muffins,
processed into coars
e crumbs
Over medium heat,
melt 2 tablespoons
of bu
flour. Blend in 1 cup
milk. Cook and stir un tter in saucepan and stir in
til thickened. Add ch
to blend. Add dried
eese
musta
beat eggs and remain rd; set mixture aside. In separate bowl and stir
, lig
ing milk. Season with
non-stick skillet, me
salt and pepper, if de htly
lt 1 tablespoon of bu
tter; add egg mixture. sired. In
eggs by gently stirri
Scramble
ng an
set. Combine eggs, sau d scraping over medium heat until eg
gs are just
ce and ham. Spoon mi
baking dish. Bake at
xture into greased 9350 degrees for 15
minutes. While casse by 13-inch
melt 2 tablespoons
role
butter and toss with
English muffin crumb is baking,
casserole from oven
s. Remove
, top with crumbs an
d return to oven for
15 minutes of baking.
an additional
This casserole may
be
serving. Simply cove
r with foil and refrig assembled the night before
erate until baking tim
e.
REDUCED-FAT VERSION
:
eggs, and use reduc Use 1 1/2 cups egg substitute in place
of 6 of the
ed-fat cheddar chee
se in the sauce.
OVERNIGHT FRENCH TOAST WIT
H BLUEBERRIES
1 loaf day-old French bread
5 tablespoons blueberry preserves
(approximate)
3/4 cup fresh or frozen blueberries
2 1/2 tablespoons butter, divided
8 eggs
1 cup light cream (“half and half”)
2 cups milk
2 tablespoons sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
Maple syrup
Slice bread into 1-inch thick slices. (App
roximately 10 slices will fill a 9- by
13-inch baking dish. Set aside leftover
bread for another use.) Cut small
pockets into each slice and insert a gene
rous teaspoon of jam. Grease 9- by
13-inch baking dish with 1/2 tablespoo
n of butter. Sprinkle blueberries in
dish. Whisk together eggs, light cream,
milk, sugar, vanilla extract and salt.
Pour 1 cup of egg mixture into pan. Place
bread slices in pan and slowly
pour remaining egg mixture over brea
d, allowing time for bread to absorb
as much as possible. Sprinkle with cinna
mon and dot with remaining 2 tablespoons of butter. Cover with foil and
refrigerate overnight. In the morning,
bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes.
Serve hot with plenty of maple syrup.
QUICHES
e
INDIVIDUAL
processed into fin
(36 crackers),
y round crackers
1 “tube” butter
crumbs
tter
2 tablespoons bu crisp and crumbled
ed
4 slices bacon, fri
, diced
ps
to
n
io
on
n
3 gree
grated
) Swiss cheese,
ps
cu
6 ounces (1 1/2
aten
4 eggs, lightly be
)
(“half-and-half”
1 cup light cream
3/4 cup milk
lt
1/4 teaspoon sa
er sauce
pp
pe
t
ho
s
3 drop
t aside 1/4 cup
n-stick spray. Se
no
th
wi
n
into
pa
fin
muf
maining crumbs
Spray 12-serving
ing) and press re n and onion tops
pp
to
r
(fo
bs
um
of cracker cr
cheese, baco
-pan cups. Divide
eam, milk and
bottoms of muffin whisk eggs and mix with light cr degrees for
0
ly
ht
40
Lig
at
covered
among cups.
ong cups. Bake un
crumbs on
am
e
ing
vid
ain
Di
m
s.
re
ing
kle
season
oven and sprin
m
fro
ees and
e
gr
ov
de
m
0
Re
rature to 30
10 minutes.
duce oven tempe 15 minutes, or until knife
Re
.
es
ich
qu
of
tops
ional
en. Bake an addit out clean. After removing pan
return pan to ov
es
m
co
e
ich
qu
er
nt
t stand 10 mininserted into a ce p knife around each quiche. Le
ar
sh
a
n
ru
from oven,
pan.
ing quiches from
utes before remov
FEBRUARY 2011 • PENN
LINES
23
PENNLINESclassified
HERE’S MY AD:
Yes, I want my message to go into more than 166,400
households in rural Pennsylvania. I have counted
_________ words in this ad. (FOR ADS IN ALL CAPITAL
LETTERS, ADD 20 PERCENT TO TOTAL COST.)
ATTACH ADDRESS LABEL HERE
(OR WRITE IN COMPLETE LABEL INFORMATION)
MONTH
am an electric co-op member. Attached is my Penn Lines mailing label from the front of this magazine.
❏ II enclose
$20 per month for 30 words or less, plus 50¢ for each additional word. The total payment
enclosed is $_________________________.
Please run my ad during the months of ______________________________________________________.
NOT a member of an electric cooperative. I enclose $70 per month for 30 words or less, plus $1.50
❏ Iforameach
additional word.
The total payment enclosed is $_____________________.
Please run my ad during the months of ______________________________________________________.
_______________ _______________ _______________ _______________ _______________ _______________
1
2
_______________
3
7
8
_______________
9
14
15
20
21
25
26
11
27
12
17
18
_______________ _______________ _______________
22
_______________ _______________
6
_______________ _______________ _______________
16
_______________ _______________
19
_______________
5
_______________ _______________ _______________
10
_______________ _______________
13
_______________
4
_______________ _______________
23
24
_______________ _______________ _______________
28
29
30
Additional words: _____________________________________________________ (use separate sheet if needed)
NOTE: You must pay for special heading requests, even if the heading is currently appearing in Penn Lines.
Only the following qualify as free headings. Please check your selection:
Around the House
Business
Opportunities
Employment Opportunities
Gift and Craft Ideas
Livestock and Pets
Miscellaneous
Motor Vehicles and Boats
Nursery and Garden
Real Estate
Recipes
Tools and Equipment
Vacations and Campsites
Wanted to Buy.
and Food
FOR SPECIAL HEADINGS NOT LISTED: Indicate special heading you would like, and add $5 for co-op members, $10 for non-members. Insertion of classified ad in Penn Lines serves as proof of publication; no proofs
are furnished.
SEND THIS FORM (or a sheet containing the above information) to Penn Lines Classifieds, P.O. Box 1266,
Harrisburg, PA 17108.
FOR INFORMATION ONLY Telephone: 717/233-5704. NO classified ads will be accepted by phone.
ATTN: Checks/money orders should be made payable to PREA/Penn Lines.
❏
❏
❏
❏
❏
❏
❏
✉
CLASSIFIED AD
DEADLINE
❏
❏
❏
❏
❏
❏
DEADLINE
April 2011. . . . . . . . . February 15
May 2011 . . . . . . . . . . . . March 18
June 2011 . . . . . . . . . . . . April 18
All ads must be received by the
specified dates to be included in the
corresponding month’s issue. Ads
received beyond the deadline dates
will automatically be included in the
next available issue. Written notice
of changes or cancellations must be
received prior to the first of the
month preceding the month of issue.
For information about display rates,
continuous ads, or specialized
headings, contact Vonnie Kloss
at 717/233-5704, the Pennsylvania
Rural Electric Association.
HANDCRAFTED FURNITURE
COUNTRY CRAFTED bentwood oak/hickory rockers. Swings,
gliders, double rockers, coffee/end tables, bar stools, kitchen
sets, cedar log outdoor furniture, log bedrooms, SPECIAL queen
log bed, $599. 814-733-9116. www.zimmermanenterprise.com.
HARDWARE/LUMBER RETAIL
AROUND THE HOUSE
CHURCH LIFT SYSTEMS
“COUNTRY COOKING,” Volume 2 — $8, including postage.
“RECIPES REMEMBERED,” Volume 3 — $12, including postage.
Both of these cookbooks are a collection of recipes from men
and women of the electric co-ops of Pennsylvania and New
Jersey. Payable to: Pennsylvania Rural Electric Association, P.
O. Box 1266, Harrisburg, PA 17108. Write Attention: Cookbooks.
Volume 1 of “Country Cooking” is SOLD OUT.
Make your church, business or home wheelchair accessible.
We offer platform lifting systems, stair lifts, porch lifts and
ramps. References. Free estimates. Get Up & Go Mobility Inc.
724-746-0992 or 814-926-3622.
OUTSIDE WOOD HEATER — $1,595. Forced air system. Rated
100K BTU. Heats up to 2,400 square feet. Houses, mobiles or
shops. Low-cost shipping. Easy install. 417-581-7755 Missouri.
www.heatbywood.com.
CLOCK REPAIR: If you have an antique grandfather clock,
mantel clock or old pocket watch that needs restored, we can
fix any timepiece. Macks Clock Repair: 814-421-7992.
CONSULTING FORESTRY SERVICES
NOLL’S FORESTRY SERVICES, INC. performs Timber Marketing,
Timber Appraisals, Forest Management Planning, and Forest
Improvement Work. FREE Timber Land Recommendations. 30
years experience. Call 814-472-8560.
CENTRE FOREST RESOURCES. Maximizing present and future
timber values, Forest Management Services, Managing Timber
Taxation, Timber Sales, Quality Deer Management. FREE
Timber Consultation. College educated, professional, ethical.
814-867-7052.
BUILDING SUPPLIES
EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES
STEEL ROOFING AND SIDING. Discount Prices. Corrugated
sheets (cut to length) 52¢ per square foot. Also seconds,
heavy gauges, odd lots, etc. Located in northwestern
Pennsylvania. 814-398-4052.
METAL BUILDINGS — 24 x 40 x 8, $9,900 installed. 30 x 40
x 8, $11,900 installed. Includes one walk door and one
garage door. All sizes available. 800-464-3333.
www.factorysteelbuildings.com.
EARN $60,000/yr Part Time in the livestock or equipment
appraisal business. Agricultural background required.
Classroom or home study courses available. 800-488-7570.
www.amagappraisers.com.
FENCING
FACTORY SECONDS of insulation, 4 x 8 sheets, foil back. Also
reflective foil bubble wrap. 814-442-6032.
FREE Fence Guide/Catalog – High-tensile fence, horse fence,
rotational grazing, twine, wire, electric netting – cattle, deer,
garden, poultry. Kencove Farm Fence Supplies: 800-536-2683.
www.kencove.com.
BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES
GIFT AND CRAFT IDEAS
PIANO TUNING PAYS — Learn at home with American School
of Piano Tuning home-study course in piano tuning and repair.
Tools included. Diploma granted. Call for free brochure 800497-9793.
“COUNTRY COOKING,” Volume 2 — $8, including postage.
“RECIPES REMEMBERED,” Volume 3 — $12, including postage.
Both of these cookbooks are a collection of recipes from men
and women of the electric co-ops of Pennsylvania and New
Jersey. Payable to: Pennsylvania Rural Electric Association, P.
O. Box 1266, Harrisburg, PA 17108. Write Attention: Cookbooks.
Volume 1 of “Country Cooking” is SOLD OUT.
LEE’S Hardware — CRESSON 814-886-2377. Plumbing,
electrical, hardware, paint, tools, wood pellets. PATTON 814674-5122. Lumber, roofing, plywood, windows, doors, shale,
sand, blocks, delivery, boom lift trucks, estimates. Full service
hometown stores.
HEALTH AND NUTRITION
Tired of all those medicines — Still not feeling better? Do you
want to feel better, have more energy, better digestion, less
joint stiffness, healthier heart/circulation and cholesterol
levels? Find out how to empower your own immune system
— start IMMUNE-26 today! It’s safe, affordable, and it works.
Call 800-557-8477: ID#528390. 90-day money back on first
time orders. When ordering from Web, use Option #3.
www.mylegacyforlife.net/believeit.
HEALTH INSURANCE
DO YOU HAVE THE BLUES regarding your Health Insurance?
We cater to rural America's health insurance needs. For more
information, call 800-628-7804 (PA). Call us regarding
Medicare supplements, too.
INFRARED SAUNAS
Removes toxins, burns calories, relieves joint pain, relaxes
muscles, increases flexibility, strengthens immune system.
Many more HEALTH BENEFITS with infrared radiant heat
saunas. Economical to operate. Barron’s Furniture, Somerset,
PA. 814-443-3115.
LAWN AND GARDEN EQUIPMENT
KARL’S Small Engine Repair FOR SALE. Stihl Dixon franchise,
all inventory, no building. 814-736-9502. Cell 814-599-0508.
24
PENN
LINES • FEBRUARY 2011
RESIDENTIAL & COMMERCIAL – SALES – SERVICE – PARTS.
Compact Loaders & Attachments, Mowers, Chainsaws, Tillers,
etc. We sell BCS, Boxer, Dixon, Ferris, Hustler, Grasshopper,
Shindaiwa and more. HARRINGTON’S, Taneytown, MD. 410-7562506. www.harringtonsservicecenter.com.
PENNLINESclassified
LEGAL SERVICES
SEA HAG SOAPS & ART MERCANTILE
WORKERS COMPENSATION: Think you know your rights? Call
877-291-9675 for free advice or for your free book visit
www.workinjuryinpa.com.
Three-story restored HAY BARN. Local, regional artwork and
fine craft. Gifts of all price ranges. Open year-round. Hot
coffee and warm cider is waiting for you. 570-663-2297.
www.seahagsoaps.com.
LIVESTOCK AND PETS
GERMAN SHEPHERD puppies $900-$1,500. Young Adult $800
and Adult dogs $500 from imported blood lines. 814-967-2159.
Email:[email protected] Web: www.petrusohaus.com.
PEMBROKE WELSH CORGI Puppies — AKC, adorable, intelligent,
highly trainable. Excellent family choice. Reputable licensed
breeder guaranteed “Last breed you’ll ever own.” 814-5873449.
NATURAL HOOF TRIMMING. Achieve real impact balance.
Experienced in hoof problems (founder, navicular). Boot
fitting. Over 20 years as Farrier, 814-662-4296. Healthy hoof
— healthy horse.
LOG CABIN RESTORATIONS
VILLAGE RESTORATIONS & CONSULTING specializes in 17th and
18th century log, stone and timber structures. We dismantle,
move, re-erect, restore, construct and consult all over the
country. Period building materials available. Chestnut boards,
hardware, etc. Thirty years experience, fully insured. Call 814696-1379. www.villagerestorations.com.
MISCELLANEOUS
BECOME AN ORDAINED MINISTER, Correspondence study. The
harvest truly is great, the laborers are few, Luke 10:2. Free
info. Ministers for Christ Outreach, 7549 West Cactus Road,
#104-207, Peoria, AZ 85381. www.ordination.org.
SHAKLEE
FREE SAMPLE Shaklee’s Energy Tea. Combination red, green and
white teas that are natural, delicious, refreshing, safe. For sample
or more information on tea or other Shaklee Nutrition/Weight
Loss Products: 800-403-3381 or www.shaklee.net/sbarton.
TIMBER FRAME HOMES
SETTLEMENT POST & BEAM BUILDING COMPANY uses timehonored mortise, tenon and peg construction paired with
modern engineering standards. Master Craftsman and owner,
Greg Sickler, brings over two decades of timber-framing
experience to helping you create your dream. We use highquality timbers harvested from sustainable forests for all of our
projects. Visit our model home, located on Historic Route 6,
Sylvania, in North Central Pennsylvania. For more information
phone 570-297-0164 or go to www.settlementpostbeam.com or
contact us at [email protected].
TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT
PROFESSIONAL SHARPENING. Clipper blades. Scissors for
fabric, groomers and stylists. Knives, chisels and small tools.
Aires Eickert factory trained to sharpen beauty shears. Scissor
sales and service. 814-267-5061 or www.theScissorGuy.net.
TRACTOR PARTS – REPAIR/RESTORATION
MOTORCYCLE-SNOWMOBILE INSURANCE
ARTHURS TRACTORS, specializing in vintage Ford tractors, 30years experience, on-line parts catalog/prices, shipped via UPS.
Contact us at 877-254-FORD (3673) or www.arthurstractors.com.
For the best INSURANCE RATES call R & R Insurance
Associates from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 800-442-6832 (PA).
TREE TRIMMING/REMOVAL
NURSERY AND GARDEN
TREE-SHRUB SEEDLINGS. Wholesale Prices. Beautify Property.
Make Money Growing Christmas Trees, Ornamentals, Nut
Trees, Timber. Plants for Landscaping, Windbreaks, Noise
Barriers, Wildlife Food-Cover. Easy Instructions Guaranteed.
FREE Color Catalog. Carino Nurseries, P. O. Box 538PL,
Indiana, PA 15701. 800-223-7075. www.carinonurseries.com.
REAL ESTATE
RAYSTOWN LAKE — $275,000, 35 acres, build-ready,
mountaintop vista, close to boat launch. Call 814-599-0790.
BRADFORD COUNTY — $87,500, 3.25 acres, deep well, Aframe, two bedroom and loft, new roof, approximate 920’
meadow, septic system designed/approved. 910-322-1856.
CURWENSVILLE, PA — 17.6 Acres, Charming Ranch, woodland
setting. Three bedroom, three bath, full basement. Gas
fireplace, large family room. Ten minutes/Curwensville Lake.
Great hunting. Five minutes school. 814-236-3162.
RECIPES AND FOOD
“COUNTRY COOKING,” Volume 2 — $8, including postage.
“RECIPES REMEMBERED,” Volume 3 — $12, including postage.
Both of these cookbooks are a collection of recipes from men
and women of the electric co-ops of Pennsylvania and New
Jersey. Payable to: Pennsylvania Rural Electric Association, P.
O. Box 1266, Harrisburg, PA 17108. Write Attention: Cookbooks.
Volume 1 of “Country Cooking” is SOLD OUT.
SAWMILLS
USED PORTABLE Sawmills and COMMERCIAL Sawmill
Equipment! Buy/Sell. Call Sawmill Exchange 800-459-2148.
USA and Canada. www.sawmillexchange.com.
TOM’S TREE SERVICE – Tree Trimming/Removal – Storm Cleanup – Stump Grinding – Land Clearing – Bucket Truck and
Chipper – Fully Insured – Free Estimates – Call 24/7 – 814-4483052 – 814-627-0550 – 26 Years Experience.
VACATIONS AND CAMPSITES
VACATION PROPERTY — For rent ocean front condo, Myrtle
Beach, SC. Excellent condition. Close to major attractions.
Booking for 2011. Please call 814-425-2425 or visit
www.oceanfrontmyrtlebcondo.com.
FLORIDA VILLAGES — Two bedroom, two bath, two bikes. Fully
furnished. One hour from Disney World. Rent two week
minimum or monthly, $2,300 (January to March). Call 716536-0104. Great entertainment. Dancing nightly.
BEAUTIFUL LAKE ERIE COTTAGE — Enjoy swimming. Fishing
and sunsets at their finest. Sleeps eight, 20 miles west of Erie.
Available May to November. Call 814-333-9669. Visit our
website at www.curleycottage.com.
CHRISTIAN CRUISE to Canada and New England. Sails from
New York. September 28 thru October 8, 2011. Bus from
western PA. For flyer call 814-444-8800 or email:
[email protected].
COOK FOREST AREA — At The Woods Cabin & Campground —
Sigel, PA. Large cabin rental, sleeps 10, fully equipped. Small
Campground – Restrooms & Showers – Seasonal Sites
Available. Call 330-385-2404. www.atthewoodscabin.com.
WATERLESS COOKWARE
VAPO-SEAL Waterless Cookware — most important lifetime
investment you will ever make for your family’s health. Free
Brochure call 800-852-3765. 7-ply surgical stainless steel. 18
pieces, new in box. Small fraction of Dinner Party price or $295.
FEBRUARY 2011 • PENN
LINES
25
OUTDOORadventures
Smorgasbord
of intended
land uses
In Pennsylvania,
millions of acres
dedicated to public use
THE WOMAN appeared truly
shaken. “You can’t hunt here!
This is a game preserve!” she
stammered.
Her two, unleashed, barely
controlled, golden retrievers
were more excited to meet me,
or, more precisely, the freshshot ruffed grouse in my game
bag. They danced around me,
snorting in the scent of the
bird, generally ignoring the
woman’s commands to heel
and get down.
It wasn’t a situation I
wanted to prolong. So, I
offered a quick explanation to
the woman that she was
walking her dogs across state
game lands — not even one of
the closed propagation areas
of nearby Middle Creek
Wildlife Management Area —
and she might expect to
encounter more hunters on
this land that hunters bought
and paid to maintain.
It also wasn’t the first time
that a non-hunter at or near
Middle Creek, a Pennsylvania
MARCUS SCHNECK is
outdoor editor for The
(Harrisburg, Pa.) Patriot-News, a contributor
to many outdoor publications and websites,
and author of more
than two dozen books.
26
PENN
by Marcus Schneck
Game Commission-owned and
operated site on the LancasterLebanon county line, had chastised me for hunting on public
hunting grounds they were
using to walk their dogs, hike,
ride horseback or the like.
While most state game
lands are clearly marked at
their parking areas and other
major access points as to their
primary uses for hunting and
trapping, there also are many
trails leading onto the tracts
that are not so clearly labeled.
So, it’s understandable that we
hunters occasionally
encounter non-hunters on the
lands that we paid for and
continue to pay to maintain
for our sports, as well as
wildlife habitat. It’s also
understandable that they
often don’t know the true
nature of state game lands, or
other public lands they use.
In Pennsylvania, we have a
real smorgasbord of ownership, designations and
intended uses in our wild
spaces, which more accurately
are labeled as the lands dedicated to conservation and
recreation through various systems. According to the Pennsylvania Land Trust Association (PLTA), about 18 percent
of our state — nearly 5.4 million acres — is thus preserved.
The Pennsylvania Game
Commission, through the state
game lands system, is the second largest holder of these
lands, nearly 27 percent of all
lands set aside for conservation
and recreation. The system
includes more than 1.4 million
acres.
The Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and
Natural Resources is the
LINES • FEBRUARY 2011
largest holder, with 2.1 million
acres (39 percent of the total)
in state forests and nearly
300,000 acres (5.4 percent of
the total) in state parks.
While some are questioning how well preserved and
protected these lands really
might be, given the growing
impact of the Marcellus Shale
natural gas boom, they
remain the best and the bulk
that the state has to offer in
the conservation and recreation category.
Other major holders,
according to the PLTA, are the
U.S. Forest Service through
the Allegheny National Forest,
513,297 acres, 9.6 percent; state
agricultural conservation easements, 395,636 acres, 7.4 percent; land trust organizations,
229,105 acres, 4.3 percent; U.S.
Army Corps of Engineers, in
sites like Raystown Dam,
Crooked Creek Lake and Blue
Marsh Lake, 110,786 acres, 2.1
percent; local municipalities,
104,701 acres, 1.9 percent;
counties, 76,713 acres, 1.4 percent; National Park Services,
in acreage along the
Raystown Lake is an
example of publicly owned land in
Pennsylvania.
PUBLIC LAND:
Appalachian Trail and sites
like the Delaware Water Gap
National Recreation Area,
65,679 acres, 1.2 percent; Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission, 33,500 acres, 0.6 percent; U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Services, in fish hatcheries and
national wildlife refuges,
10,071, 0.2 percent; and the
Pennsylvania Historical and
Museum Commission, 2,921
acres, 0.1 percent.
My family’s 4.5 acres, which
is mostly managed as wildlife
habitat and was the focus of a
land-use dispute when a
neighbor asked us not to hunt
on it, not even in the area
beyond her legal safety zone,
didn’t make the list. But, like
thousands of similar small
tracts and larger private tracts
across the state, it is providing
conservation and recreation,
carrying the portion of the
state aimed at those purposes
well above the PLTA’s tally of
5.4 million acres. l
PUNCHlines
Thoughts from
Earl Pitts,
UHMERIKUN!
Earl makes some
left-handed deals
Social commentary from Earl Pitts —— a.k.a.
GARY BURBANK , a nationally syndicated
radio personality —— can be heard on the
following radio stations that cover electric
cooperative service territories in Pennsylvania:
WANB-FM 103.1 Pittsburgh; WARM-AM 590
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton; WIOO-AM 1000 Carlisle;
WEEO-AM 1480 Shippensburg; WMTZ-FM 96.5
Johnstown; WQBR-FM 99.9/92.7 McElhattan;
WLMI-FM 103.9 Kane; and WVNW-FM 96.7
Burnham-Lewistown.
You know, I promised myself for this
new year that I was gonna find some way
to better myself. I know that you’re
thinkin’, “Earl, you’re perfect.” But let’s be
honest, folks — that’s far from the truth.
First I thought I’d go on a diet, give up
smokin’ an’ join one a’ them gymnasiums
for exercisin’. The only problems with
that are — I like to eat, I like to smoke, an’
exercisin’ is too much like work.
Then I thought that I could learn me a
new language. Get that Rosetta Stone
thing on the TV. But heck, I can barely
speak English. I’ll admit that.
Then I got me a’ idea of somethin’ I
could work at, an’ make myself a better
person! I’m gonna teach my left hand
how to do stuff.
For most a’ my life, my left hand’s got
a free ride. It goes everyplace my right
hand goes, but it don’t hafta do any of the
work. I mean, if you’re not playin’ baseball, your left hand is useless. Which is
weird ‘cause it looks just like your right
hand an’ its nerve endin’s are attached to
the same brain. It’s just the stupid hand.
It’s like havin’ twins, if one of ’em was not
as smart as the other.
So anyways, that’s what I started
doin’. I am trainin’ my left hand. Fact is
— I started this mornin’. I brushed my
teeth with my left hand. An’ poked
myself in the eyeball with the toothbrush.
This might take longer than I first
thought. I finally got my toothbrush in
my mouth but it was weird. An’ I think
my left hand was just waitin’ for my right
hand to bail it out.
Then I shaved with my left hand. The
bathroom sink looked like a crime scene.
I couldn’t even put on my dang belt lefthanded. What in the Sam Hill has my left
hand been doin’ all these years? He’s
been right there, watchin’ my right hand
do all the work. You’d a thunk he’d a’
picked up a little bit.
Maybe he’s just playin’ stupid so he
can go back an’ live in my pocket.
Those days are over, son. I ain’t lookin’
to be ambi-bidextros. But you ain’t getting’ no free ride no more neither.
Obviously you people are devious.
Yeah, y’all got some secrets out there. I
just heard a story that says 86 percent a’
people have kept a purchase secret from
their spouse in the last year. Y’all ain’t
comin’ clean with your mates.
The story goes that women more’n
likely ain’t told their husbands about
buyin’ clothes. Men sometimes forget to
tell their better halves about money they
spent on booze an’ gamblin.’
Well, shame on you devious an’ deceitful people. That is no way to build a relationship a’ love an’ trust. Even if it does
save you from chasin’ each other around
the house with various kitchen utensils.
An’ no, I am not holdin’ myself up as
better an’ holier than y’all. I just learned
my lesson, that’s all. I mean — one time I
bought me a used bass boat, an’ I put it in
the driveway. I told my wife it was my
buddy Dub Meeker’s boat, but he was
keepin’ it in our yard ‘cause he was afraid
to tell his better half.
About three months later I come home
an’ the boat was gone. I asked my wife
where it went. She said Dub Meeker had
to sell it on account of his better half was
mad when she found out he bought it.
Hmmm. This was a awkward situation. I go, “Well, Dub said if he sold the
boat he was gonna give me the money on
account a’ me storin’ in our yard.”
She goes, “Well, you better take that
up with Dub.”
Two days later, she’s got a new washer
an’ dryer. I go, “Pearl, where’d you get the
money for them?” She goes, “Oh them ain’t
ours, Earl. Charlene Meeker bought them
with Dub’s boat money but she don’t want
him to know so she’s gonna bring her wash
over here.” She’s very good at this.
I come home the next day and there’s
a new shovel by the door. I says, “What’s
that for?” She goes, “Dub Meeker bought
it for you.” I go, “Why’d he do that?” an’
she goes, “He says in case you wanna dig
yourself another hole.”
Wake up, America! I ain’t lied about my
money since then. As far as she knows.
I’m Earl Pitts, Uhmerikun. l
FEBRUARY 2011 • PENN
LINES
27
RURALreflections
More ‘best shots’
WE FEATURED the winning photos from the 2010 “Rural
Reflections” photography contest in the January issue of Penn
Lines. This month, we have a few more of our favorites from
last year to share with you.
In March, we are kicking off the 2011 contest, so it’s time for
all of you amateur photographers to get out your photos and
send us your best shots. Or plan now to get out your camera
and have some fun taking new photos. Again this year, $75
winners will be named in each of five categories: most artistic,
best landscape, best human subject, best animal and editor’s
choice.
To be eligible for the 2011 contest prizes, send your photos
(no digital files, please) to: Penn Lines Photos, P.O. Box 1266,
Harrisburg PA 17108-1266. On the back of each photo, include
your name, address, phone number and the name of the electric cooperative that serves your home, business or seasonal
residence. (The best way to include this information is by
affixing an address label to the back of the photo. Please do
not use ink gel or roller pens to write on the photo as they
bleed onto other photos.)
Remember, our publication deadlines require that we work
ahead, so send your seasonal photos in early. We need summer
photos before mid-April; fall photos before mid-July and winter
photos before mid-September. Please note: photos will not be
returned unless a self-addressed, self-stamped envelope is
included with the photo. l
Dawn Cornett
Somerset REC
Stuart & Connie Potter
Tri-County REC
Carrie Dinger
Tri-County REC
John Hetzel
Claverack REC
FEBRUARY 2011 • PENN
LINES
29