APRIL 2007
Thinning
Blue Line
Rural police
resources
stretched
fight
PLUS Cat
Cool dips
Coming up roses
APRIL
Vol. 42 • No. 4
William M. Logan
EDITOR/VP OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS
& MEMBER SERVICES
Peter Fitzgerald
SENIOR EDITOR
4
James Dulley
Kitty Halke
Barbara Martin
Marcus Schneck
CONTRIBUTING COLUMNISTS
W. Douglas Shirk
KEEPING CURRENT
New mercury rule for state, new nuclear
construction permit approved, and new
proposals to replace incandescent light bulbs
5
TIME LINES
The month in energy history
LAYOUT & DESIGN
Vonnie Kloss
ADVERTISING & CIRCULATION
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 148,500 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
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Advertising: Display ad deadline is six weeks
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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.
6
Crunching the numbers
Understanding energy tax credits may help
make home improvement decisions
8
Cat fight
Wildlife Service to weigh in on eastern
cougar debate
10
F E AT U R E
Policing rural Pennsylvania
Law enforcement faces challenges as “the city
comes to the country”
12A C O O P E R AT I V E
CO N N ECT I O N
Information and advice from your local
electric co-op
14
14
COUNTRY KITCHEN
Taking a cool dip
Some great snack ideas to tide you over
until dinner
16
POWER PLANTS
Coming up roses
18
CLASSIFIEDS
22
PUNCH LINES
Board officers and staff, Pennsylvania Rural
Electric Association: Chairman, Tim Burkett;
Vice Chairman, S. Eugene Herritt; Secretary,
Lanny Rodgers; Treasurer, David Wright;
President & CEO, Frank M. Betley
Visit with us at Penn Lines
Online, located at
www.prea.com/Pennlines/
plonline.htm. Penn Lines Online
provides an e-mail link to Penn
Lines editorial staff,
information on advertising
rates, contributor’s guidelines,
and an archive of past issues.
10
O U T D O O R A DV E N T U R ES
Spring care for hybrid teas
© 2007 Pennsylvania Rural Electric Association. All rights reserved. Reproduction in
whole or in part without written permission
is prohibited.
8
SMART CIRCUITS
23
Thoughts from Earl Pitts–
Uhmerikun!
Earl looks at getting old — and doesn’t like
what he sees
23
RURAL REFLECTIONS
By the look of things, spring is here!
O N T H E COV E R
Crimes once thought to exist
in urban areas are finding
their way into rural settings
with increasing frequency,
putting an even greater strain
on the state’s understaffed
law enforcement personnel.
Cover art by W. Douglas Shirk,
PREA
APRIL 2007 • PENN
LINES
3
KEEPINGcurrent
New mercury rule
A NEW REGULATION recently went
into effect that will make Pennsylvania
the nation’s largest coal state to approve
tougher mercury emission limits than
those required by the federal government.
Under the rule, the state’s coal-fired
power plants have until 2015 to reduce
their mercury emissions by 90 percent
over 1999’s emission levels, as opposed
to 86 percent by approximately 2026
under the federal rule. Further, the federal program would let power plants put
off reductions indefinitely by buying
“credits” from cleaner power plants that
exceed mercury-reduction benchmarks.
Pennsylvania’s rule does not allow credit-trading between companies or across
state lines.
Gov. Ed Rendell’s pursuit of the
tougher rule drew heavy opposition
from business groups, coal miners’
unions, and power companies, which
warned that the cost of compliance
could force some of the state’s smaller
coal plants to close and cause electricity
bills to rise.
The rule went into effect after the
state Senate Environmental Resources
and Energy Committee ended its review
of the proposed rule. Committee Chairwoman Sen. Mary Jo White (R-Venango), however, plans to push legislation
that would reinforce the 90 percent cut,
but allow a power plant to use the federal credit-trading program.
NRC approves
new site permit
The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) for the first time in more
than 30 years has approved a permit for
a new nuclear plant, the Department of
Energy announced last month.
The NRC approved an early site permit for the partial construction of a
plant adjacent to Exelon Corp.’s 1,017megawatt nuclear plant near Clinton,
Ill., giving the company the option to
4
PENN
LINES • APRIL 2007
build a new reactor on the
site for up to 20 years.
Exelon must obtain additional NRC approvals before
it can go ahead with construction, which the company
has said it will not do until
the government solves the
problem of storing spent
nuclear fuel. A proposed
national repository for
nuclear waste at Yucca
Mountain in Nevada has
been mired in political wrangling for more than 20 years.
President Bush’s Advanced Energy
Initiative supports increasing nuclear
power’s role in meeting growing
demand for electricity.
Lights out for Edison bulb?
After the Australian government
announced a plan to phase out incandescent light bulbs and replace them with
compact fluorescent light (CFL) bulbs, several U.S. states may be looking to do the
same.
In New Jersey, home of the Thomas
Edison-invented incandescent light bulb,
Assemblyman Larry Chatzidakis recently
introduced a bill that calls for the state to
switch to more energy-efficient fluorescent lighting in government buildings
over the next three years. The state
already recommends switching to fluo-
Compiled by Peter Fitzgerald
rescent lighting as part of its Clean Energy Program. More than 1.2 million of the
lamps and fixtures were distributed in
2005 through the program, according to
the state Board of Public Utilities.
In California, Assemblyman Lloyd
Levine announced he would propose a
bill to ban the use of incandescent bulbs
in his state.
Australia plans to complete its transition to CFL bulbs by 2009 or 2010, a
move their government hopes will reduce
the country’s greenhouse gas emissions
by 4 million tons by 2012 and cut household power bills by up to 66 percent.
Fluorescent bulbs are currently more
expensive than incandescent bulbs, but
use only about 20 percent of the power to
produce the same amount of light and
last longer, making them more competitive over time, advocates argue. l
NATURALselections
Agricultural experts remain baffled over a mysterious illness that is killing
thousands of honeybee colonies across the country. Called “colony collapse disorder,” the disease has resulted in colony deaths in more than 20 states, including Pennsylvania. So far no explanation has been
discovered for the troubling number of bee deaths.
The commonwealth has already devoted funds
to look into the matter in hopes of preventing further damage to its bee industry. Pennsylvania
Department of Agriculture Secretary Dennis Wolff
said $200,000 has been set aside for research at
Penn State and Bucknell universities. The state’s
bee industry, which includes honey production and
the use of bees to pollinate fruit and vegetable plants, accounts for $63 million
in annual agricultural production.
TIMElines
APRIL
The Month In E nergy History
1967
1977
Vice President Hubert Humphrey and NRECA General
Manager Clyde T. Ellis speak to some 9,000 delegates
at the 1967 NRECA Annual Meeting in San Francisco.
Allegheny Electric Cooperative announces the purchase of a 10 percent interest in Susquehanna Steam
Electric Station, a nuclear power facility near Berwick.
1987
1997
This cover story highlights the construction of the
Raystown Hydroelectric Project as part of Allegheny
Electric’s plan to develop a balanced energy supply program for Pennsylvania and New Jersey cooperatives.
Penn Lines discusses the various electric cooperative
energy assistance programs available to consumermembers in need.
(chronological by day)
k April 4, 1972
Union Electric Company in St.
Louis generates the first electric
power using municipal refuse.
k April 7, 1913
The first electrically propelled
ship of the U.S. Navy, the U.S.S.
Jupiter, is commissioned.
k April 19, 1892
Charles Edgar Duryea completes the first automobile
made for regular sale at his
Duryea Motor Wagon Company in Springfield, Mass.
k April 20, 1970
The first Earth Day is celebrated.
k April 25, 1997
Workers complete drilling of
the five-mile long, horseshoeshaped exploratory tunnel
through Yucca Mountain at the
proposed high-level nuclear
waste repository in Nevada.
k April 26, 1986
Chernobyl nuclear reactor meltdown occurs in the Soviet
Union, releasing massive
amounts of radioactive material.
k April 29, 1879
Electric lights are used for public
street lighting for the first time in
Cleveland’s Public Square.
k April 30, 1883
The Edison Electric Illuminating Co. is incorporated in Sunbury, Pa. The simple wooden
structure is the first three-wire
central station for incandescent
lighting.
Sources: U.S. Depart of Energy,
California Energy Commission
APRIL 2007 • PENN
LINES
5
SMARTcircuits
by James Dulley
Crunching
the numbers
Understanding energy tax
credits may help make home
improvement decisions
IF YOU’RE CONSIDERING some
home improvements this spring, you
may want to take advantage of some tax
credits under the Energy Policy Act.
However, it’s important to understand
that the credits may not be large enough
to provide a real incentive for some to
make energy-saving improvements,
unless they were already planned.
One problem is people may not realize these are tax credits and not tax
deductions. A tax credit actually reduces
your tax bill by the total amount of the
credit. A tax deduction reduces just the
taxable base, so the actual savings
depends upon your specific tax bracket.
The tax credit amount is listed on line 52
of federal tax form 1040, and you must
also complete tax form 5695 to calculate
the tax credit. Let’s take a look at how
the credits work.
The Energy Policy Act of 2005 covers
most typical energy conservation
improvements to your home. These
include insulation, replacement windows and improvements, doors, metal
roofing, heating and cooling systems,
water heaters, and solar systems. In
most cases, the improvements must
meet the 2000 IECC (International
Energy Conservation Code) specifications. Most contractors can advise you
as to which products and improvements
meet these specifications.
There are limits on the amount of the
tax credit depending upon the specific
efficiency improvement. Many of the
energy tax credits are for approximately
10 percent of the installed cost, but some
are substantially less. The maximum
total tax credit allowed for the two-year
period is $500, regardless of how many
efficiency improvements you make.
Using alternative fuels and heating
6
PENN
LINES • APRIL 2007
provides the largest tax credit of 30 percent, up to a maximum of $2,000. These
include solar water heating and photovoltaics (solar cells), as well as fuel cells
for producing your own electricity at
home. For many homes, even with a
$2,000 tax credit, the economic payback
for these alternative fuel improvements
is a relatively long period. Solar water
heating is the one exception where it is
economically feasible for most homes.
Tax credits for the alternative fuels
improvements mentioned above were
extended into the 2008 tax year. Most
other residential efficiency improvements
must be installed before the end of 2007
unless the Congress acts to extend them.
Door improvements provide a higher
maximum tax credit than replacement
windows. In general, replacing windows
will save more energy, but is a more
expensive improvement project.
Installing efficient exterior doors and/or
storm doors receives a credit of 10 percent of the costs, up to a $500 maximum
credit. Installing efficient windows, skylights, and storm windows receives a
$200 maximum credit.
If you need a new roof, consider
installing one of the many types of new
residential metal roofing materials. This
is economically and environmentally a
good decision because metal roofs last a
lifetime, and you will receive a $500 tax
credit. Metal roofs get a tax credit
because they block heat from the sun
during the summer, so air-conditioning
energy use is lower. The tax credit for
adding insulation is 10 percent of its cost.
Installing a new heat pump (air-to-air
or geothermal) provides up to a $300 credit
compared to a new gas or oil furnace (efficiency of 95 percent) for only a $150 credit.
Make sure the efficiencies (HSPF and
SEER) of the heat pump you install are
high enough to qualify for the tax credit.
Adding an efficient blower motor to
the new furnace or heat pump qualifies
for a tax credit of $50. The blower motor
must not use more than 2 percent of the
heating system’s total energy use. This
usually means only a variable-speed
blower motor qualifies. These motors
are efficient and improve comfort, but
they cost several hundred dollars more
than a standard blower motor.
Installing an efficient gas, oil or
propane water heater provides a $300
credit. Standard tank-type electric water
heaters are not included because they all
are reasonably efficient. If you have an
electric water heater, you can get a $300
tax credit by installing a heat pump
water heater.
For more information on energy tax
credits, visit the Alliance to Save Energy
Web site at www.ase.org. l
JAMES DULLEY is a nationally syndicated energy management expert. You
can reach him at James Dulley, c/o Penn
Lines, 6906 Royalgreen Drive, Cincinnati,
OH 45244.
OUTDOORadventures
by Marcus Schneck
Cat fight
Wildlife Service to
weigh in on eastern
cougar debate
MOUNTAIN LION. After
“deer” and “coyote,” those
two words have more power
to draw reader reaction than
just about anything else an
outdoor writer in Pennsylvania can write.
Those who have seen
mountain lions in the wild
find themselves frustrated
over having been told repeatedly that they were mistaken
or they misidentified what
they saw. Those with some
sort of vendetta against the
Pennsylvania Game Commission, usually over the deer
management program, want to
portray any big cats out there
as having been introduced into
the wild by the commission as
yet another predator on deer.
Those who have spent considerable time trying to prove that
mountain lions do exist in
Pennsylvania want the animals to be native to the state,
rather than escaped or illegally
released exotic pets.
And, understandably,
some of all three groups
come forward at every mention of mountain lions, also
known as cougars.
So, here we go again. Not
my fault, really.
MARCUS SCHNECK ,
outdoors editor at The
Patriot-News (Harrisburg) and editor of
Destinations traveloutdoor magazine in
Berks County, is the
author of more than
two dozen outdoors books and a contributor to many state and national publications.
You can reach him at [email protected].
8
PENN
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service (USFWS) has finally
gotten around to an overdue,
but legally required, review of
the status of the eastern cougar,
which the service has listed as
endangered since 1973. That
listing led to the publishing of a
recovery plan for the species in
1982, which under the Endangered Species Act required a
review every five years of all
protected species. According to
the USFWS, limited resources
and higher priorities have postponed the review until now.
As part of the review,
USFWS is seeking information
on the cat’s status in 21 states
east of the Mississippi River,
where the Endangered Species
Act protects the species.
Lacking definitive evidence
of the species’ existence,
USFWS has presumed the
eastern cougar to be extinct,
which is different from its
current listing as endangered.
The eastern cougar, once a
top predator throughout the
East in an ecosystem that
included white-tailed deer,
woodland bison, and eastern
elk, was one of the first
wildlife species to fall in the
face of European settlement
in the eastern U.S.
Early settlers quickly ate
their way through the bison,
the elk, and nearly the deer,
which removed the cougars’
prey base. At the same time,
they systematically shot,
trapped, and poisoned cougars.
By 1846, naturalist John
James Audubon wrote, “the
animal, which has excited so
LINES • APRIL 2007
much terror in the minds of
the ignorant and timid, has
been nearly exterminated in
all our Atlantic states.”
Cougar reports had begun
fading by 1891 when naturalist Frederick True wrote that
the big cats had been eradicated from nearly all eastern
states and as far west as Indiana and “it is improbable that
even stragglers could be
found at the present day.”
However, not all reports
have faded away. There have
been thousands of unverified
sightings, and rumors abound
that small populations of
cougars may have persisted in
the Great Smoky Mountains,
the Allegheny Mountains of
West Virginia, the Adirondacks, Maine, or eastern
Canada. And, cougar enthusiasts believe the big cat has
returned in the East or never
was completely eradicated.
Verified cougar reports
include a road-killed kitten in
Kentucky in 1997, a cougar
killed and another captured in
West Virginia in 1976, scat from
NINE LIVES? Listed as endangered
in 1973, the eastern cougar’s existence is still a topic of much interest in many circles.
Massachusetts in 1997, and others. Videos, photos, and other
evidence of cougars exist.
Wildlife biologists believe
the cats sighted could be
cougars once held as pets and
then released, or transient animals from the West or Canada,
but that it is improbable that a
remnant, reproducing population of eastern cougars persisted for the past 100 years.
The USFWS status review
will examine all the possibilities.
“We will compile and evaluate scientific evidence to help
us understand the status of the
eastern cougar and to determine what future actions the
service should take,” said Martin Miller, chief of endangered
species for the USFWS Northeast Region.
So, let the cards and letters and, of course, those emails begin. l
PENNlines
POLICING
Rural
Pennsylvania
Law enforcement faces challenges as ‘the city comes to the country’
By Scott Pruden
C o n t r i b u t i n g Wr i t e r
IN THE EARLY HOURS of Feb. 2, a
man shot three victims in rural Tioga
County before fleeing the scene and
crossing the state line into New York.
Despite the remote location and the hour
of the crime, a coordinated effort among
Pennsylvania State Police, local, and New
York law enforcement officials resulted
in the suspect’s arrest later the same day.
“It showed good interaction among all
the police departments,” says Pennsylvania State Police Trooper Scott Henry, a
member of Mansfield-based Tri-County
Rural Electric Cooperative. “Given our
limited resources and the amount and
types of crime coming into these rural
settings, we need to work well together.”
Lt. Col. Ralph Periandi, deputy commissioner of operations for the Pennsylvania State Police, remembers being
taught in school some 32 years ago that
eventually the dividing lines between
cities and the areas surrounding them
would disappear. Over the past three
decades, he and other Pennsylvania law
enforcement officials have seen that
prophecy come to pass in many of the
worst ways they could imagine.
10
PENN
LINES • APRIL 2007
Drugs once thought to plague only city
streets now pose daily challenges in rural
areas. The gang activity that often accompanies the drug trade has gone up, too.
Tack on shocking spurts of violence, such
as the shootings at the Amish school in
Nickel Mines last year, and it’s easy to see
why many Pennsylvanians couldn’t be
blamed for thinking the days of Mayberry-style law enforcement have gone away
for good. In many rural areas today, it’s
become a matter of trying to keep ahead
of crime — with all too few resources.
“We’re always thinking about staying
out ahead of whatever is the ‘crime du
jour,’ which changes from year to year to
year, so you have to be more predictive
and look for the signs of what’s going to
be the new popular crime,” Periandi says.
In many ways, though, Pennsylvania
is still facing many of these new, “big
city” problems in a decidedly smalltown style.
Consider that in 2002, there were still
91 municipal police departments in
Pennsylvania staffed by just one person,
according to the “2005 Survey of Small
Town Police Departments” conducted
by The Center for Rural Pennsylvania.
On average, their patrol areas had populations of around 1,000 people.
At the same time, the study showed
that nearly half of the state’s municipalities have no police department of their
own, depending instead on the Pennsylvania State Police to handle everything
from traffic incidents to major crimes to
hazardous materials situations.
In the middle are the larger municipalities and townships that fund and
staff full-time, multi-person police
departments, often depending on a
corps of part-time officers to provide
supplementary support.
In all instances, the agencies in
charge of keeping citizens safe are being
challenged from all directions by social
and economic trends over which they
have no control, but of which they often
see the unfortunate results.
The topper is that some smaller
police departments must not only face
increased challenges as part of their
more traditional duties, but also enforce
municipal zoning ordinances and property maintenance codes. With some of
Pennsylvania’s rural counties experiencing tremendous growth, some departments are getting stretched very thin.
“There seems to be a lack of manpower to address these problems,”
admits Adams County Sheriff James
“We’re always thinking
about staying out ahead of
whatever is the ‘crime du
jour,’ which changes from
year to year to year, so you
have to be more predictive
and look for the signs of
what’s going to be the new
popular crime.”
—Lt. Col. Ralph Periandi
Pennsylvania State Police
Now standard in many
patrol cars, computers help rural police officers
access information, monitor trends, and keep up
with investigations. Photo by Scott Pruden
TOOLS OF THE TRADE:
Muller, a former member of Gettysburgbased Adams Electric Cooperative.
“With the influx of people to the county,
the Sheriff’s Office has started to play a
larger role in enforcing the laws.”
More with less
Patrolman Stuart Harrison of the
Southwest Regional Police Department in
York County faces similar challenges in
having to do more with less support. A
former officer with the York City Police
Department, Harrison was well versed in
the techniques and approaches of urban
policing. There, he says, officers could specialize in particular areas and investigative
work was left up to department detectives.
Southwest Regional covers 71 square
miles of territory in the southwestern
corner of York County, much of it in
Adams Electric’s service area. There,
Harrison suddenly found himself not
only with exponentially more territory,
but with significantly more responsibilities and fewer resources at his command.
“Here we have no detectives, so
whatever incident you go to, it’s yours,”
he explains. “You get it from start to finish. You really have to dig down inside
and revert to your training.”
It’s a realm where officers that might
have been specialized must immediately
hone their skills on all areas of policing.
In one shift, a rural officer or trooper
might be faced with a range of calls,
from things as innocuous as traffic accidents to more involved situations like
rapes, murders, or domestic disputes.
Not only is an officer expected to be
the first responder, but also process the
crime scene by taking photographs and
lifting fingerprints, and conduct the follow-up investigation.
“Response time becomes a big issue,”
notes Henry. “We don’t have the population here that can see things and help
out with a crime like in urban areas.”
Another harsh reality of patrolling
wide-open rural areas is the lack of
immediate back-up, Harrison says.
Southwest Regional officers leave the station fully prepared with investigative
equipment, an AR-15 rifle, a non-lethal
shotgun with beanbag rounds, a standard tactical shotgun, a laptop computer,
traffic control paraphernalia, and paperwork. He and most other rural officers
roll on calls with the acute awareness
that they will be very much on their own.
As a result, those in law enforcement
have had to adapt their techniques and
tactics to battle crime in remote areas.
New methods
“It’s not unusual for us in the more
rural section of the state to have to cover
hundreds of square miles,” Periandi
notes. “So you have to have some
method to direct a patrol within a particular zone where you’re going to target
different segments of your shift.”
High technology helps provide that
targeted coverage by letting the state
police compile data on crimes, their
location, frequency, and the times they
were committed, allowing commanders
to allocate manpower accordingly.
APRIL 2007 • PENN
LINES
11
PENNlines
“There’s a lot that goes into where
that trooper is located and their patrol
course over the period of a shift,”
Periandi adds. “That’s just been a
tremendous resource on the tech side to
help us police Pennsylvania smarter.”
involved. The U.S. Drug Enforcement
Administration notes that many of
Pennsylvania’s rural counties have provided perfect locations for those labs.
State police officials have undertaken an
in-depth effort to educate rural residents
REACHING OUT: At left, Pennsylvania State Police Trooper Scott Henry
regularly meets with Tioga County residents like farmer Donald Hunter to
educate them about ways to spot drug activity in the area. At right, a state
police poster raises awareness about methamphetamine labs. Photo by Scott Heatley
Pennsylvania State Police Trooper
Robert Reed of Troop G in Bedford
County agrees, saying that with “the city
coming to the country” in terms of
crime, police officers need every advantage at their disposal.
“We have laptop computers in our
patrol cars,” notes Reed, a member of
New Enterprise Rural Electric Cooperative. “It’s been a key resource for us in
helping keep track of certain trends. Computer crime and identity theft, for example, are new to rural areas, so it’s good to
have something right at your fingertips.”
Another weapon has been education,
especially in combating the drug problem. Labs for the manufacture of the
methamphetamine (meth) almost
require a remote location because of the
volatility of the chemicals and processes
Given the limited resources of
their departments and their distance from the
nearest available backup, rural officers must be
fully prepared, says Patrolman Stuart Harrison of
the Southwestern Regional Police Department in
York County. For him that includes a trunk loaded
with traffic control paraphernalia, investigative
supplies, an AR-15 rifle and a non-lethal shotgun.
ROAD READY:
Photo by Scott Pruden
12
PENN
LINES • APRIL 2007
and law enforcement about how to spot
a potential meth lab.
“We’ve reduced drastically the number of labs that we have to respond to by
doing that,” Periandi says.
Certain measures, like the state
police’s Camp Cadet program, seek to
reach out to the youth in Pennsylvania.
Held at some 30 locations across the
state, the camps offer a weeklong summer law enforcement experience for
youths 12-15. Participants learn discipline, self-esteem, teamwork, drug and
alcohol education, violence prevention,
and other issues facing today’s youth.
“It does a lot of good, especially for
kids from a rural environment,” says
Henry, who runs Troop F’s Camp Cadet
program in Tioga County. “It helps
break the ice and establish a positive
relationship with
law enforcement.
They remember it,
and that helps us
in the long run.”
In the end,
rural police officers understand
the importance of
being able to communicate. That
extends to the
development of
good relationships
with neighboring
police departments
and emergency
service agencies.
“There is a
shortage of law
enforcement personnel, but never a shortage of crime,”
Muller points out. “It’s important we
have that good working relationship
with all the departments.”
For Henry, the mountainous regions
he patrols require cooperation from
everyone available.
“It’s needed because we have a huge
area to cover,” he says. “If there’s a big incident, everybody’s going to roll. I can’t
speak enough for the local police departments. Working together, law enforcement
is forging ahead in a good manner.” l
Additional material by Peter Fitzgerald
COUNTRYkitchen
by Kitty Halke
Taking A Cool Dip
A TASTY PRELUDE to dinner can take the edge off hunger and make the wait for a
delicious meal more bearable. This month’s column features three dips that promise to
calm those rumblings — from tummies as well as from anxious dinner guests. You can
serve these with your favorite vegetables, crackers, or other dippers that are only limited
by your imagination. They are fast, easy, and fun recipes the whole family will love. l
is a cooking professional and freelance writer from rural Pennsylvania. Send recipes and comments to her in
care of: Penn Lines, P.O. Box 1266, Harrisburg, PA 17108-1266.
KITTY HALKE
IP
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d set as d. Crumble coo tomatoes just
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SPINACH D
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pa
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10-o
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1 teaspoon dr
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1/2 teaspo
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Mix together in ice, salt, and pepper. Mix un
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hollowed-out br bread pieces around the of the bread for dipping.
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se
a
in
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platter
14
PENN
LINES • APRIL 2007
SH
RIMP D
8-ounce p
IP
ackage cre
am cheese
1 cup may
, softened
onnaise
1/4 cup fin
ely
1/4 cup fin chopped onion
ely chopp
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1/2 cup to
3/4
shrimp or cup diced steamed
1/2 cup to
3/4 cup
whole, sm
all, canned
cocktail
shrimp
Dash of re
d pepper fl
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Mix soften
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Stir in onio cream cheese and
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refrigerate , celery, shrimp, and ayonnaise in medium
re
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p, hearty cr
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ackers or
cracker bre imately 4
ad.
POWERplants
by Barbara Martin
Coming up
roses
Spring care for
hybrid teas
MANY OF US equate spring
with rose pruning and fertilizing. If you are growing the
ever-popular, traditional
hybrid tea roses, this is the
time to get out your pruners
and fertilizer and go to work.
Let’s be clear. Serious rosarians who show roses follow
specialized routines for pruning and feeding and pampering their hybrid tea roses. But
for the rest of us, here are
some simple guidelines.
Newly planted hybrid tea
roses will need little, if any,
pruning. Established hybrid
teas will benefit from regular
attention every spring.
Before you start cutting,
make sure you have a sharp
bypass-style hand pruner that
cuts scissors-style and slices
through the cane (branch or
stem). An anvil-style pruner
crushes the cane so it is not
suitable for this kind of fine
pruning.
Your goal in pruning is to
keep the plant vigorous and
well-shaped. Correct pruning
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.
16
has four steps. First remove
any dead or damaged canes.
Second, remove any canes
that originate below the graft
or bud union. Next, thin out
and remove weak canes and
very old canes so air and sun
can reach the center of the
plant. This helps keep the
plant free of disease. Finally,
shorten the remaining canes
to about half their original
height. Make each cut at a
slight angle just above a bud
that faces the way you want
the branch to grow. The new
growth should be directed
outward.
This overall pruning stimulates new growth. There is
some leeway as to how much
to cut, so don’t stress over it.
The more severely the plant
is cut back, the fewer flowers
you will have. But, due to the
pruning, your flowers will be
bigger and showier than
what you would get otherwise. A lightly pruned bush
will have more, but smaller,
flowers.
Base your soil and fertilizer
program on soil test results.
Your local county extension
should be able to help you
with testing your soil and
interpreting the results.
In a perfect world, the soil
pH should be between about
5.8 and 6.2 for roses. You may
need to adjust the pH upward
PENNLINES • APRIL 2007
using horticultural lime. Ask
your county extension how
much to use and how often to
apply it.
For fertilizer, you can use a
special rose fertilizer, a general
purpose granular fertilizer, or
a slow-release fertilizer. Look
for a complete fertilizer with
nitrogen, phosphorus, and
potassium listed on the label
with an analysis such as 1010-10. Always follow the label
directions for how much to
use. It is better to under-fertilize than to over-fertilize — you
risk burning the plant’s roots
if you overfeed. And, if you
oversupply the nitrogen, the
plant will be overly lush and
weak and more attractive to
pests and diseases. So, don’t
overdo it.
If you prefer organic products, try alfalfa meal and cottonseed meal. Feed 10 cups of
each per bush once every 10
weeks. Water in thoroughly.
Hybrid tea roses are typically fertilized from early
spring through about the middle of August. Fertilizing after
BY ANY OTHER NAME: The hybrid
tea rose is the most commonly
grown class of rose.
August encourages tender late
season growth, delays hardening, and results in increased
winter damage to the canes. It
can sometimes reduce winter
hardiness as well, resulting in
loss of the plant.
Regardless of what fertilizer you use, I recommend regular topdressings of compost
— at least twice a year — combined with an organic mulch
to help keep the soil healthy.
Use organic mulch instead of
plastic or stones. For the
growing season, apply the
mulch in a flat layer over the
root area about two to three
inches deep.
If you’d like to give your
roses a tonic, apply one half
cup of Epsom salts (magnesium sulphate) sprinkled over
the soil surface around the
bush once a month from
spring to late summer.
Enjoy your roses this summer! l
PENNLINESclassified
HERE’S MY AD:
Yes, I want my message to go into more than 148,500
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)
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
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3
7
8
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14
15
20
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21
26
11
27
12
17
18
_______________ _______________ _______________
22
_______________ _______________
25
6
_______________ _______________ _______________
16
_______________ _______________
19
5
_______________ _______________ _______________
10
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24
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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
and Food
Tools and Equipment
Vacations and Campsites
Wanted to Buy.
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 payble to PREA/Penn Lines.
❏
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✉
MONTH
CLASSIFIED AD
DEADLINE
DEADLINE
June 2007 . . . . . . . . . . . April 19
July 2007 . . . . . . . . . . . . May 18
August 2007 . . . . . . . . June 20
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.
AROUND THE HOUSE
CONSULTING FORESTRY SERVICES
ELECTRIC THERMAL STORAGE
“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.
ALLEGHENY FORESTERS & CONSULTANTS. Timber Sales,
Appraisals, Forest Management Services and Plans. FREE
Woodland Evaluations in PA and surrounding states.
Professional foresters working for you. 814/353-0369.
LOWER YOUR ELECTRIC BILL with an ETS heater. We have 2,
3, 4, 5, & 6 kW units and thermostats in stock. Install yours
now for special off-peak electric rates. We also stock
complete wiring supplies for all your electrical needs. Call
for information: 814/226-0900. Clarion Electric Supply
Company, Clarion, PA 16214.
BUY HANDMADE Jewelry and clocks online. Customized
Mother bracelet, Birthstone, Bridal, Sorority, unique
jewelry and more at JewelryMadeU.com. Discount priced
clocks: Grandfather, Cuckoo, Wall, Mantle, Brass,
Anniversary, more at ShopofClocks.com.
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 814/4728560.
BUILDING SUPPLIES
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.
STEEL ROOFING AND SIDING. Discount Prices. Corrugated
sheets (cut to length) 48¢ per square foot. Also 2nds,
heavy gauges, odd lots, etc. Located in northwestern
Pennsylvania. 814/398-4052.
HECEI CONSULTING FORESTRY. Timber Sales, Appraisals,
Custom Logging, Forest and Wildlife Management Plans.
Serving PA, NY, and Ohio. Professional forestry since 1975.
814/337-3638.
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.
ENGLISH FORESTRY SERVICES. Timber Sales, Timber
Appraisals, and Management Plans. Free Consultations.
Professional Forestry Services for Northwest PA and
surrounding OH and NY. 814/827-3276.
BUY FACTORY SECONDS of insulation, 4 x 8 sheets, foil
back, 1/2-inch to 4-inch thick, 6.5 R Value per inch of
thickness. 814/267-5723 or 814/442-6032.
DOG TREATS
BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES
MOMS – Work from Home…Make a Difference…Make a lot
of Money. Many of us do it – You can too! Call today
800/403-3381. E-mail: [email protected].
Web site: www.shaklee.net/yournaturalchoices.
18
PENN
LINES • APRIL 2007
FOUR VARIETIES of Dog Treats — Chicken and Rice, Peanut
Butter Honey, Pumpkin Honey made with rice flour, and
Zucchini Honey made with organic chickpea flour and organic
sweet rice flour. Contact us at www.tekistastytreats.com.
EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES
ASSEMBLE CRAFTS, wood items. Materials provided. To
$480+ week. Free info package. 24-hour ? 801/428-4879.
APPRAISAL CAREER Opportunity. Many of our part-time
livestock and farm equipment appraisers earn $20,000 $30,000/year. We have full-time appraisers earning over
$100,000/year. For information about becoming a certified
livestock or farm equipment appraiser call 800/488-7570
or visit www.amagappraisers.com.
ENTERTAINMENT
7TH Kettle Creek Ambulance MUSIC FESTIVAL, August 10-12
at Quiet Oaks Campground, Cross Fork, PA. Live music,
homemade food, crafts, vendors, paint ball, (Classic cars
Saturday), camping available. Visit: www.kcmusicfest.com.
FLAGPOLES AND FLAGS
20' ANODIZED ALUMINUM Sectional Pole, $150; 20'
aluminum one-piece tapered flagpole, $420. Other sizes
available. Easy installation. Prices include shipping.
Mastercard/Visa. Flagpoles & Flags, 419 Lemmon Road,
Markleton, PA 15551. 814/926-3709.
GEOTHERMAL HEATING/COOLING
WHO NEEDS YOUR GAS OR OIL? WE “BURN” WATER for
heating & cooling. 26 years experience with GEOTHERMAL
heating & cooling and CLOSED LOOP systems. J. Karp &
Sons Well Drilling. Serving ONLY Northeast Pennsylvania.
800/344-0587 or www.jkarpandsons.com.
GIFT AND CRAFT IDEAS
“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.
WAX DIPPED scented bears, Grubby electric candles, tarts.
Excellent for yourself, gifts, fundraisers. Many styles, scents,
colors. Lisa at 814/467-8063 or [email protected].
HEALTH
PURE EMU OIL — $9.50, shipping $3.50. All natural!
Arthritis, burn, muscle relief. Pet shampoo, hand & body
cream available. Eppley's Emu, 3117 E. Mud Pike Rd., Berlin,
PA 15530. 814/267-5061. www.singinghillpa.com.
LAWN AND GARDEN EQUIPMENT
MISCELLANEOUS
SALES – SERVICE – PARTS. Reliable repairs on all makes and
models. Compact Skid Steers, Mowers, Chainsaws, Tillers,
etc. We sell Boxer/Kanga, Dixon, Hustler, Grasshopper,
Toro, Shindaiwa, and more. HARRINGTON’S, 5825 Conover
Rd., Taneytown, MD. 410/756-2506.
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.
LIVESTOCK AND PETS
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.
INSURANCE
CAMPS, SEASONAL, FARMS, Dwellings, Businesses, and an
industry-leading investment department. Davis, Gregory
and Kyle Insurance and Investments. T/A DGK Insurance
Inc., P. O. Box 337, Factoryville, PA 18419. 800/242-4337.
JEWELRY
Putting on jewelry make you frustrated? Tiny clasps giving
you trouble? Here’s a solution — MAGNETIC CLASPS! Regain
some lost independence! For about $5 each, we’ll convert
your jewelry. Information: 814/884-0130.
GERMAN SHEPHERD puppies, young adult and adult dogs
from titled imported blood lines. 814/967-2159. E-mail:
[email protected] Web: www.petrusohaus.com.
ACA COLLIE PUPS, sable and white, have shots and vet
checked, parents on premises. Call 814/766-4542 or e-mail
[email protected].
GREAT DANE puppies. Year-round breeder. Most colors
available. Two-year guarantee. AKC registered. 814/8487325.
LONG DISTANCE SERVICE
AMERICA’S FASTEST GROWING Christian long distance
company has lower rates! 3.9¢ a minute, 24/7, no fees, no
gimmicks. Thousands are saving with blessed hope. Call
877/594-6403 or visit www.talkoften.com.
LUMBER
CUSTOM-SAWED LUMBER — Hemlock, pine, oak, etc. Bandsawed and/or kiln-dried. Framing and sheeting lumber in
stock. Delivery available. C. B. Hardwoods, owner, Fred
Cleland. 814/654-7845 or 814/654-7087. Monday through
Friday, 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
MAPLE SYRUP
STEVEN’S PURE Maple Syrup, Liberty, Pa. Plastic from 3.4
ounces to gallons. Glass containers for gifts and collectors.
Maple Sugar, Maple Cream, Maple Candy, Maple Bar-B-Que
Sauce, Maple Salad Dressing, and Gift Baskets for any
occasion made to order. Wholesale or retail prices. Toll-free
866/413-9957 or e-mail: [email protected].
WEAVING LOOMS — Macomber 48-inch, eight harness,
$1,000. 40-inch, six harness, two warp beams, $800. Many
extras. 570/946-4372 or 607/723-1526.
Davis Products introduces a new product! Try a NO TOUCH
FISH STIK. A special tool designed so you don’t have to touch
a fish. Call 814/827-4946. Web site: www.davis-products.com.
Do you enjoy fishing but have poor vision, arthritis, cold
wet hands? Davis Products introduces NO KNOTS! Fish
hooks and grippers. Great for kids! Call 814/827-4946 or
visit www.davis-products.com.
MORTGAGES/REFINANCES
YOU COULD BE SAVING HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS!
REFINANCE OR PURCHASE PROGRAMS! LOWER RATE AND
PAYMENTS! CONSOLIDATE DEBT! ALL CREDIT CONSIDERED!
BANKRUPTCY BUYOUTS & FORECLOSURE BAILOUTS
AVAILABLE! CALL NATIONAL FIDELITY FINANCE NOW AT
877/944-REFI OR 717/359-4966 OR APPLY ONLINE AT
WWW.NFMLENDING.COM/PA139.
MOTORCYCLE-SNOWMOBILE INSURANCE
For the best INSURANCE RATES call R & R Insurance
Associates from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 800/442-6832 (PA).
NURSERY AND GARDEN
300 acres of quality Christmas trees, 12 varieties of
evergreen seedlings, 100 varieties of potted trees and
shrubs, fruit and shade trees, B&B trees. ELLIOTT’S
NURSERY, Willow Hill, PA. 717/349-7319 or 717/349-2538.
PENNSYLVANIA HERB FESTIVAL — Friday, April 13 and
Saturday, April 14, 2007. Memorial Hall at York Expo Center,
York, PA. Admission $6, $1 off with ad. Call 717/624-1527 for
details or visit www.paherbfestival.com.
APRIL 2007 • PENN
LINES
19
PENNLINESclassified
PURPLE MARTINS
ALERT! Purple Martins need man-made housing to survive.
Houses and Gourds are now available at Wal-Mart, Lowes,
and TSC. Help the Purple Martins survive, get your martin
house now. 800/764-8688. www.skmfg.com.
REAL ESTATE
TIOGA COUNTY ACREAGE — Hunting tracts, camp sites,
wooded tracts adjoining state land, farmettes, retirement
home sites. From 4 acres to 400 acres. Send for our free
list of top quality properties. Wm. P. Connolly Real Estate
Co., RR 1, Box 24-R, Liberty, PA 16930. 570/324-3000.
RAYSTOWN LAKE — 7-acre pristine building lot on private
mountain with view. Includes underground utilities and
approved for on-lot septic. Close to boat launch. Excellent
hunting close by. $119,000. Smaller and larger parcels also
available. Call for more information. Telephone 814/6417357 or visit www.raystownlake.net.
HUNTINGDON COUNTY — 6 3/4-acre lot, underground
utilities, approved for on-lot septic. Close to boat launches
and State Forest. Great for vacation or hunting camp. Call
814/941-0600 or 814/448-9392.
YOUGH LAKE — Pristine two bedroom, two bath, mobile
home on beautiful 1/3 acre. One mile from lake. Picnic
pavilion, two decks, central air, all appliances. New carpet.
Quiet country setting. $89,900. 412/751-6667.
FARM — 150 mostly flat acres, Ridge Road, Hooversville,
Somerset County. Completely remodeled three-bedroom farm
house. Remodeled 19,000 sq. ft. bank barn. 2-acre wood
fenced orchard/yard. $695,000. 814/754-4099 after 8 p.m.
FOR SALE — 200+ FULLY TIMBERED ACRES, SOMERSET
COUNTY, PA WITHIN MINUTES OF DEEP CREEK LAKE, MD,
NEMACOLIN WOODLANDS, HIDDEN VALLEY RESORT, SEVEN
SPRINGS RESORT, YOUGHIOGHENY LAKE, DEER VALLEY
YMCA CAMP, MD INTERSTATE 68, PA ROUTE 219-PA.
EXCELLENT FOR DEVELOPMENT, HUNTING OR SECLUDED
GET-AWAY. CALL FOR DETAILS 814/662-9811.
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.
SHAKLEE
VACATIONS AND CAMPSITES
Vitamins – Herbal Formulas – Beauty Products –
Safe/Biodegradable Cleaners – Water & Air Purification.
Published Clinical Research/Unconditional Guarantee.
Purchase only OR Build a Business … YOU decide.
800/403-3381 or [email protected] or
www.shaklee.net/yournaturalchoices.
FREEDOM RV RENTALS — Create some great family memories!
Renting late model RV’s and Travel Trailers. 814/695-9408,
toll-free 800/474-8110. www.freedomrentals.com.
TIMBER
STANDING TIMBER or TIMBERLAND in Northwest PA, Eastern
Ohio, or Southern New York. Free appraisals. 25 years
experience. Fred Cleland Lumber and Logging. 814/654-7845
or 814/654-7087 days. Evenings 814/967-4209.
Buying STANDING TIMBER throughout Western Pennsylvania
and Northeastern Ohio. Free Estimates – Professional
Forestry Staff – Impeccable Work – Fully Insured. Call Salem
Hardwood toll-free 888/898-4081 or learn more at
www.salemhardwood.com.
TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT
FOR SALE — 1997 Gravely Professional 16-G Lawn & Garden
Tractor. 50” Deck. Rear PTO with Grass Catcher Assembly.
Fine Condition. Asking $2,740 (Firm). Altoona area. Call
814/329-1439, 814/942-8364 or [email protected].
FOR SALE: Ford Tractor 7610, 4WD with loader, 80 HP, good
condition, $11,900. White tractor 2-105, 100 HP, 2WD, good
condition, $7,500. Call 814/441-4187 or 814/861-6366.
BAND SAW BLADES. All sizes and tooth patterns, custom lengths.
Blade sharpening including planer blades. Router bits and
garden tools sharpened. Clyde 814/684-2383. Fast quality work.
TRACTOR PARTS – REPAIR/RESTORATION
ARTHURS TRACTORS, specializing in vintage Ford tractors,
30-years experience, on-line parts catalog/prices, shipped
via UPS. Contact us at 877/254-FORD (3673) or
www.arthurstractors.com.
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 Web site at www.curleycottage.com.
CABINS FOR RENT in Wharton area within walking distance to
the First Fork Stream, only minutes from the East Fork Stream.
Fifteen minutes from Cherry Springs, star gazing capitol of the
world. Open year round for snowmobiling, fishing, hiking, and
hunting. Do your sportin’ in Wharton. 814/647-8332.
WANTED TO BUY
STANDING TIMBER and/or TIMBERLAND in Northwest PA,
Northeast Ohio, and Southwest NY. Custom logging and
select cut management plans available. Call 814/720-8662
for free appraisal.
DAIRY FARM 300 acres or more. Looking for tie stall or free
stall. Would also purchase with cattle and equipment. Can
afford to put half down and finance balance. 570/553-2692.
BARN BEAMS or dry hand hewn straight dry barn beams.
Call Jan Dupre 814/352-8863 or will buy barn. Wormy
chestnut a plus.
COLLECTOR PAYING CASH for old water rams used to pump
water flowing through a pipe to the ram. I will travel to pick
up. 814/643-1176.
WORK CLOTHES
GOOD CLEAN RENTAL-type work clothes, 6 pants & 6 shirts
to match, $39.95. Lined work jackets, $9.95. Satisfaction
Guaranteed! Send sizes with check or money order plus
$8.95 S&H to: Walt's Wholesale Co., P. O. 208-E, Darlington,
SC 29540. MC/Visa orders 800/233-1853. Visit our Web
site: www.usedworkclothing.com.
TREE TRIMMING/REMOVAL
TOM’S TREE SERVICE – Tree Trimming/Removal – Storm
Clean-up – Stump Grinding – Land Clearing – Bucket Truck
and Chipper – Fully Insured – Free Estimates – Call 24/7 –
814/448-3052 – 814/627-0550 – 26 Years Experience.
See what a difference
it makes…
SAWMILLS
TROUT FISHERMEN
SAWMILL EXCHANGE — North America’s largest source of
used portable sawmills and equipment for woodlot owners
and sawmill operations. Over 700 listings. THE place to sell
equipment. 800/459-2148. www.sawmillexchange.com.
TROUT FLIES. Personally hand-tied and reasonably priced.
Large number of patterns available. Send self-addressed
stamped envelope for list to: J. Emerick, P. O. Box 94,
Buffalo Mills, PA 15534.
Advertise in
Penn Lines Classifieds
20
PENN
LINES • APRIL 2007
}
PUNCHlines
Thoughts from
Earl Pitts,
UHMERIKUN!
Earl looks at
getting old — and
doesn’t like what
he sees
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.
22
PENNLINES • APRIL 2007
Lemme tell you somethin’
— middle age is like underpants that
don’t fit right. It creeps up on you.
You see, I get me a new ache or a
pain every day. For every hair that falls
outta my head, a new one sprouts outta
my ears. I couldn’t sleep past 5 a.m. if
my life depended on it. An’ I’m beginnin’
to look a lot like my daddy — when he
was old.
While some people say you can’t fight
the calendar, I realized last week I
couldn’t SEE the calendar. I mean, it
was right up there on the garage wall,
but I couldn’t make out the numbers
unless I backed up an’ squinted. Needless to say, there was no point even
tryin’ to figger out what phase a’ the
moon it was or which dead President
was bein’ honored.
At first, I figgered maybe my failin’
eyesight stemmed from paint thinner
fumes. So I got out a’ the garage fast an’
went into the kitchen to pop a Hot Pocket in the microwave. But then I “saw” I
could barely read the back a’ the box. I
began thinkin,’ “I’m goin’ blind. I need
to get me a smart dog fast.”
But my wife, Pearl, said, “You ain’t
goin’ blind, you dope. You’re just
growin’ old!” An’ then she set me up for
an eyeball appointment.
An’ here’s how that went. The eye
doc looked at me an’ said, “Earl, you got
very healthy eyes for a man your age.”
Needless to say, I didn’t like the sound a’
that. The healthy eyes part was OK, but
when a doctor says “a man a’ your age,”
they mean somewhere ‘tween over the
hill an’ a nursin’ home.
My optometrist then stressed that I
needed to get some readin’ glasses. I
stammered, “Couldn’t I just stop
readin’?” The doc commented that if I
was embarrassed, I could get contact
lenses instead. To that I replied, “There
ain’t no way in creation I’m stickin’
glass in my eyeball on purpose. I’ll
wait for an industrial accident for that,
thank you.”
Wake up, America! An’ that’s how
come I’m now wearin’ readin’ glasses.
Bought a pair at the drug store, right
next to the canes, the Geritol, an’ the
adult diapers. I ain’t gettin’ old — I’m
just shoppin’ in a different aisle.
Now, I know science is
’sposed to be our friend. ’Em propellerheaded geeks are ’sposed to find ways
to make life easier. But the sad truth is
science remains the sworn enemy a’
Earl Pitts.
That’s right. Science has already condemned four a’ my earthly pleasures —
smokin’,’ drinkin,’ fried food, an’ ridin’ a
motorcycle without a helmet. It’s like
science is tryin’ to make my life better by
makin’ it miserable.
But now these beaker-brains have
really done it. In case you missed it,
some research nitwits in Canada say
how you talk can affect your health.
That’s right! An’ just when I was
thinkin’ the U.S. could begin annexin’
the right-thinkin’ provinces a’ our good
neighbor to the north — Manitoba,
Saskatchewan, Alberta, British Columbia, an’ the Yukon Territory.
Anyway, these frostbitten, socialized
medicine-lovin’ science dweebs figgered
out that the more languages you know,
the longer you live. That’s right. If
you’re bilingual, you’ll keep kickin’ four
extra years.
Now, how in the Sam Hill am I
’sposed to get bilingual? Lord knows I
got enough trouble with English. To me,
the credibility a’ this study is droppin’
faster than the Canadian dollar durin’ a
Quebec election.
An’ then I set down an’ I really
thought about this. You know what I
discovered — I really am bilingual. In
fact, I’m like my own personal United
Nations. Sometimes I need a translator
just to figger out what I’m thinkin.’
A’ course, my bilingual learnin’ comes
from eatin.’ Can I speak Mexican? I
sure can. Or should I say, “Si.” I know
“taco,” “chalupa,” “gordita,” an’ “e coli.”
Chinese? Not a problem. I can fit “won
ton,” “kung pao,” an’ “eggroll” into any
sentence. I can even speak Italian —
“fettuccini,” “ring-a-tony,” an’ “Olive
Garden endless soup an’ salad.”
Wake up, America! If knowin’ two
languages really does help you live
longer, it might be worth the effort. I
might even learn Canadian. Eh?
I’m Earl Pitts, American. l
RURALreflections
Promise of spring
RURAL WRITER Hal Borland reminds us that, “No
winter lasts forever, no spring skips its turn. April is a
promise that May is bound to keep, and we know it.”
While trying at times, this past winter definitely put
us all in the mood for some spring weather. Now that
it’s finally here, it’s time to capture some of the season’s beauty for our 2007 “Rural Reflections” contest.
Winners in each of our five contest categories — most
artistic, best landscape, best human subject, best animal, and editor’s choice — will capture a $75 prize.
To be eligible for this year’s “Rural Reflections”
contest, send your snapshots (no digital files, please)
to: Penn Lines Photos, P.O. Box 1266, Harrisburg, PA
17108-1266. On the back of each photo, please include
your name, address, phone number, and the name of
the electric cooperative that serves your home, business, or seasonal residence.
Over the next few issues, we will be looking to publish pictures featuring late-spring and summer
themes. l
Dennis Curley
Northwestern REC
Jessie Mitchell
Bedford REC
Roxanne Jenner
Somerset REC
Colton Nagg
REA Energy
APRIL 2007 • PENN
LINES
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