May 2015
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[contents]
May 2015
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Illustration of a Frichle electric car by artist Cathy Morrison of Livermore www.cathymorrison.blogspot.com.
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4 Viewpoint
20 Recipes
5 Letters
22 Gardening
Legislature looks at who should oversee EPA’s Clean Power Plan in Colorado
Hot dogs change traditional Memorial Day celebration cookouts
6 Calendar
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24 Outdoors
Co-op News
12 NewsClips 14 Hidden Danger
Countless Colorado creeks are breeding grounds for joy, rejuvenation
25 Energy Tips
Concealed energy has the power to harm
29 Funny Stories
16 Plugged Into the Past
The indispensable rose makes a lovely addition to any Colorado garden
A Colorado inventor manufactures the electric automobile a century ago
30 Discoveries
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Extra content:
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This month’s online extras 4EXPLORE using the Community Events page listings
4WATCH a video of one of Colorado’s first
electric cars
4LEARN how hot dogs are made 4FIND out how to treat blackspot rose disease
4GET the rules for contests and win prizes 4DISCOVER more ways to see and enjoy Colorado
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American consumption of hot dogs per year, source — National Hot Dog and Sausage Council
1890
first successful electric vehicles were invented
$1,551
amount the average Colorado household spends per year in energy costs. source — U.S. Energy Information Administration
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The official publication of the Colorado Rural Electric Association || Volume 46, Number 05 COMMUNICATIONS STAFF: Mona Neeley, CCC, Publisher/Editor@303-455-4111; mneeley@coloradocountrylife.org Donna Wallin, Associate Editor; dwallin@coloradocountrylife.org ADVERTISING: Kris Wendtland@303-902-7276, advertising@coloradocountrylife.org; NCM@800-626-1181 SUBSCRIPTIONS: info@coloradocountrylife.org
EDITORIAL: Denver Corporate Office, 5400 Washington Street, Denver, CO 80216; Phone: 303-455-4111 • Email: mneeley@coloradocountrylife.org • Website: coloradocountrylife.coop • Facebook: facebook.com/COCountryLifw • Twitter: @COCountryLife Colorado Country Life (USPS 469-400/ISSN 1090-2503) is published monthly for $9/$15 per year by Colorado Rural Electric Association, 5400 N. Washington Street, Denver, CO 80216. Periodical postage paid at Denver, Colorado. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Colorado Country Life, 5400 N. Washington Street, Denver, CO 80216 Publication of an advertisement in Colorado Country Life does not imply endorsement by any Colorado rural electric cooperative or the Colorado Rural Electric Association. Editorial opinions published in Colorado Country Life magazine shall pertain to issues affecting rural electric cooperatives, rural communities and citizens. The opinion of CREA is not necessarily that of any particular cooperative or individual.
[viewpoint]
EPA’S CLEAN POWER PLAN
Legislature looks at who should oversee implementation within Colorado
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BY KENT SINGER || CREA EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR || KSINGER@COLORADOREA.ORG
“What do you think we should do about climate change?” Plan. One key question is: what state If you want to break up a fun cocktail party or interrupt a agency should be in charge of this pleasant family get-together, ask that question. Everyone has process? Traditionally the Colorado an opinion on this topic. I bet if we surveyed the readers of Department of Public Health and Colorado Country Life, we would be hard pressed to find a Environment develops state impleconsensus on the right answer. I suspect the responses would mentation plans to regulate power fall generally into three categories: plant emissions like sulfur dioxide t “We don’t need to do anything. The climate has natural and nitrogen oxide. The Clean Power Kent Singer cycle and emissions of carbon dioxide from power plants Plan however, has more far reaching affects on power supply. and automobiles don’t cause climate change.” Further, it would seem logical that the agency that is tasked t “Climate change is an imminent crisis and we need to with keeping electricity reliable and affordable in Colorado, quickly and dramatically reduce our use of fossil fuels to the Colorado Public Utilities Commission, should also have avoid an environmental and public health catastrophe.” an important role. t “Even if climate change is caused by human activity, we To that end, the Colorado General Assembly is considershould not wreck the U.S. economy by imposing costly ing a bill that would provide a framework for development carbon dioxide reduction rules since the developing of a state plan and submission of the plan to the EPA. Senworld will continue to use fossil fuels.” ate Bill 15-258 gives authority to CDPHE to develop a state Regardless of where you stand on this issue, the U.S. plan for carbon dioxide reduction, but it also requires that Environmental Protection Agency the plan be approved by the PUC and the proposed a set of regulations called the state legislature. We at CREA support SB Clean Power Plan that would require a 15-258 because we believe it is appropriate 30 percent reduction of carbon dioxide for the PUC, the agency that has the best emissions in the United States by the understanding of Colorado’s electric grid, year 2030. The Clean Power Plan estabto weigh in on a plan that will impact the lishes specific levels of carbon dioxide reliability and affordability of electricity in reductions in individual states based on Colorado. the EPA’s analysis of each state’s existing Some suggest that SB 15-258 is intended power generation portfolio and access to to slow down or interfere with the develalternative sources of energy. For Coloopment of a state plan for carbon dioxide The U.S. Environmental Protection rado, the EPA has set a carbon reduction reductions, but that is not the objective of Agency proposed a set of goal of 35 percent by the year 2030. the bill. The objective is to create an open regulations called the Clean Power The EPA proposal sets forth four and transparent process and to involve the Plan that would require a 30% “building blocks,” or strategies, for states appropriate experts, as well as our elected reduction of carbon dioxide to use to meet this target: 1) increased representatives. We believe that a thorough emissions in the United States power plant efficiency; 2) switching from process is necessary and appropriate given by the year 2030. coal-fired generation to natural gas; 3) the potentially costly requirements of the increasing the use of more renewable Clean Power Plan. resources, such as wind, solar and biomass; and 4) encouragAs I write this column, SB 12-258 passed through its first ing more energy efficiency by en-use consumers. Senate committee hearing with bipartisan support, and is The Clean Power Plan requires each state (except Vermont) awaiting action by the full Senate. By the time you read this, it to submit plans for achieving the required carbon dioxide is likely the outcome of the bill will have been decided; howemission reductions within one year of the issuance of the ever, even if the bill does not survive the legislative process final rules. Even though it is a certainty that the Clean Power this year, it will have sparked an important discussion on how Plan will be challenged in court (former Harvard law profesbest to regulate carbon dioxide under the Clean Power Plan in sor Laurence Tribe says the EPA has overstepped its legal Colorado. authority), states still face the daunting task of figuring out how to significantly reduce carbon dioxide emissions in the meantime. There are many questions about how states are supposed Kent Singer, Executive Director to regulate carbon dioxide emissions under the Clean Power
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[ letters] Remembering Tough Men Thank you for running the article “Tough Men in Hard Places.” (February ’15). I work for Xcel Energy as a hydropower plant specialist out of Salida. This article was a reminder of the strong minds, bodies and souls that these “tough men” possessed.
Don McPhee, Salida
Adding to the Bookshelves Thank you to Colorado Country Life magazine and K.C. Electric Association for the generous donation of books to the Kit Carson School library. These books are welcome additions to our small school library.
Carmen Kent, Kit Carson School media specialist
In Favor of Hunting, Fishing I personally love all things hunting and fishing and, in my opinion, feel that including these articles enhances your publication immensely. Dennis Smith and the rest of your staff publish a fine magazine with a country feel.
Brad W. Clay, Castle Rock
Keep Mailing the Magazine I was recently asked by my local electric company if I would like to receive Colorado Country Life via email. I am writing to say please do not do this. Colorado Country Life is a family event for us. Our middle and elementary [school-age] children love reading the magazine and it becomes a dinner topic. My husband and I, as well, enjoy having a paper magazine delivered. I feel a lot of information is lost in the paperless world.
Jennifer Hansen, Granby
GOT A COMMENT? Send your letter to the editor by mail to Colorado Country Life, 5400 Washington St., Denver, CO 80216 or email mneeley@coloradocountrylife.org.
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[calendar]
May
May 8 Durango “Pivot Point” Opening Reception Durango Arts Center 5-7 pm • durangoarts.org May 8 Mancos “We Will Rock You” Concert Mancos Methodist Church 7 pm • mancosvalleychorus.org May 8-10 Trinidad “A Hotel on Marvin Gardens” Theater Performance Southern Colorado Repertory Theatre 719-846-4765 • scrtheatre.com May 9 Durango Spring Garden Party/Bulb Sale Durango Botanical Society 1:30-4:30 pm • durango botanicalsociety.com May 9 Loveland Plant Sale and Antique & Artisan Sale All Saints Episcopal Church 9 am-3 pm • 970-342-9341 May 10 Grand Junction Mother’s Day Pancake Breakfast Mesa County Fairgrounds Community Building 7 am • 970-255-7100 May 15-17 Pueblo Wild Wild West Festival Historic Union Avenue District wildwildwestfestival.com May 16-17 Grand Junction Llama & Alpaca Show Mesa County Fairgrounds 8 am-3 pm • cajwdj@aol.com May 16-17 Ignacio Taste of Spring Celebration Fox Fire Farms 1-6 pm • 970-759-1540
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May 16 La Veta Tom Roznowski Concert Francisco Crossing 7 pm • franciscocrossing.org May 16 Pagosa Springs Flea Market PLPOA Clubhouse 8 am-2 pm • 970-731-5635 x 202 May 16 Palisade Palisade Gran Fondo Peach Bowl Park palisadegranfondo.com May 17 Beulah Walk Your Dog Hike Mountain Park Environmental Center 1 pm • 719-485-4444 May 17 Drake Pancake Breakfast Big Thompson Canyon Association Building 8 am-2 pm • bigthompson canyonassociation.org May 23 Creede National Small Print Show Opening Party Creede Repertory Theatre 5 pm • creederep.org May 23 Grand Lake Season Opening Kauffman House Museum 11 am-5 pm • 970-627-8324 May 23 Pagosa Springs Celebrate Chimney Rock Day Chimney Rock National Monument 877-444-6777 • chimney rockco.org May 25 Grand Lake Memorial Day Parade Downtown Grand Lake 10 am • 970-627-3402 May 25 Howard Memorial Day Breakfast Howard Fire Station 7:30-10:30 am • 719-942-4213
Featured Event Mike the Headless Chicken Festival May 14-16 in downtown Fruita In 1945, Lloyd Olsen headed to the chicken coop to gather the evening’s dinner, but after he beheaded Mike, a young rooster, the bird kept going. Impressed by Mike’s will to live, Olsen fed and watered the bird for another 18 months. In celebration of Mike the Headless Chicken, a gaggle of folks will head to Fruita to enjoy music, contests, food and fun. Find out more about Mike and the festival by visiting miketheheadlesschicken.org.
May 25 Monument Memorial Day Ceremony Monument Cemetery 10 am • jhowe@tomgov.org
June 4 Denver Rebel with a Cause Gala Hyatt Regency Denver 5-9 pm • conservationco.org
May 26 Mesa Verde Oak Tree House Hike Mesa Verde National Park 877-444-6777 • recreation.gov
June 5 Dillon Farmers Market Buffalo Street 9 am-2 pm • townofdillon.com
May 28 Colorado Springs Picnic-n-Planes ’n’ Burros Western Museum of Mining and Industry 10:30 am-2:30 pm • 719-488-0880
June 6 Meeker Meekerpalooza Arts & Music Festival Ute Park 12-10 pm • meekerpalooza. com
May 29-31 Aurora Rocky Mountain Airshow Aurora Reservoir cosportaviation.org
June 9-10 Wray Free Care Givers Workshops Encore Life encorelifeinc.org
May 29-June 1 Durango Basic Site Surveying Techniques Course Fort Lewis College 970-269-4099 • sjbas.org May 29 Montrose Summer Concert Black Canyon Golf Course 6 pm • montrosesummer music.com
June
June 3 Denver “Wicked” Musical Buell Theatre 7:30 pm • 800-641-1222
SEND CALENDAR ITEMS TWO MONTHS IN ADVANCE TO: CALENDAR Colorado Country Life 5400 N. Washington St. Denver, CO 80216 Fax to 303.455.2807 or email calendar@coloradocountrylife.org. Items will be printed on a space available basis. For more information on these and other events, visit coloradocountrylife.coop.
coloradocountrylife.coop
YAMPA VALLEY ELECTRIC ASSOCIATION, INC.
[YVEA News] What Are Capital Credits?
BY DIANE JOHNSON || PRESIDENT AND GENERAL MANAGER || DJOHNSON@YVEA.COM
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As a member, you share in in YVEA. If you own property, the financial strength of your you can relate to the idea of havcooperative. If you were a ing equity in that asset. When member of Yampa Valley capital credits are retired, a check Electric Association at any is issued to you and your equity time last year, you will be getin the association is reduced. ting a capital credit allocation notice in the mail. I want to WHO DECIDES WHETHER Diane Johnson explain why you are receivCAPITAL CREDITS ARE RETIRED? ing these notices and what capital credits The decision to distribute (retire) a pormean to you. tion of the association’s capital credits is made by your elected board of directors WHAT ARE CAPITAL CREDITS? each year and is based on the assessment As a not-for-profit electric distribuof the capital funding requirements of tion cooperative, YVEA is owned by the association and the financial position its members and does not earn profits. prior to and following any distribution Instead, any revenues over and above of capital credits. In 2015, you can expect the cost of doing business are considered your distribution to be lower than the “margins.” The margins retained by the most recent years. We are investing in key association provide the operating capital capital projects to improve system relithat is needed to maintain and expand ability and reduce outage response time, the distribution and transmission system along with implementing technology infrastructure to ensure reliable service. solutions that will allow us to keep staffing levels lower, keep safety a priority and improve service to our members. WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ALLOCATED AND RETIRED CAPITAL CAN I USE THE CAPITAL CREDITS I HAVE CREDITS? BEEN ALLOCATED TO PAY MY ELECTRIC Each year, after the net margins are deter- BILL? mined and confirmed through an indeNo, allocated capital credits may not be pendent audit, capital credits are allocated used to pay current bills. Your electric bill to each member on the basis of the dollar is due upon receipt, whereas you may not amount of electricity purchased, and repbe paid your capital credits for many years. resent the member’s equity or ownership WHAT HAPPENS TO THE CAPITAL
CREDITS OF A MEMBER WHO DIES? The capital credits of a deceased member may be paid without waiting for a general retirement. However, these early estate payments will be discounted to the present net worth. The discount will be indexed to the 10-year Treasury bond rate as published on January 1 of each year. WHAT HAPPENS TO MY CAPITAL CREDITS WHEN I LEAVE THE YVEA SERVICE AREA? Your capital credits remain on the books in your name and member number until they are retired. Because payments are made several years after credits are earned, you should ensure that YVEA always has your current mailing address. CAPITAL CREDITS MAKE US DIFFERENT! Returning our members’ investment to them when the time is right is one of the things that makes us different from other types of electric utilities. Not only does YVEA keep our rates low, using your money in the most prudent way we can, we also make sure that any money we don’t utilize toward capital projects comes back to you, not to a shareholder who may not even be a customer. By distributing that money back to our members, that money gets spent in our communities, helping to strengthen our economy.
May 10 is Mother’s Day — Happy Mother’s Day coloradocountrylife.coop
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[YVEA News] GO PAPERLESS AND RECEIVE A FREE LED LIGHTBULB SmartHub is our program that allows you to pay online or through your mobile device. Visit www.yvea.com, click on “Pay Online SmartHub” and you will be prompted at log in to opt out of paper bills. You can also set up recurring payments through SmartHub or download the form at yvea.com/electricservice/ billing-forms. The signed form may be emailed to us at billing@yvea.com. We also have our pay by phone line at 888837-5749. For more information, please visit us online at www.yvea.com. As always, feel free to call us at 970-879-1160 in Steamboat Springs or 970-824-6593 in Craig if you have any questions or need assistance with any of our programs.
Welcome New Employees
YVEA’S NEW EMPLOYEES IAN BRODEN JOURNEYMAN LINEMAN
EMMA SALEEBY ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT
Ian Broden accepted the position of journeyman lineman with YVEA. Ian comes to YVEA from Clay Center, Kansas. He graduated from Clay Center Community High School and attended college at Manhattan Area Technical College in Manhattan, Kansas. Ian enjoys what he does because he likes being outside and the problem solving that goes along with the position of journeyman lineman. He is getting married in June and has three dogs. He and his fiancé enjoy rock climbing, ice climbing, fishing, and hunting. He is looking forward to learning to ski.
Emma Saleeby accepted the position of administrative assistant with YVEA. Emma comes to YVEA with several years of experience as an administrative assistant in the financial sector. Emma enjoys what she does because she is outgoing and enjoys working with and assisting others in multiple capacities. She moved to Steamboat in 2010 from the New York City-New Jersey area to have a better quality of life. In her spare time Emma mountain bikes, hikes, camps, fishes and enjoys gardening.
Energy Efficiency Tip of the Month Keep cool this summer! Energy Star-certified refrigerators are about nine to10 percent more energy efficient than models that meet the federal minimum energy efficiency standard. Source: EnergyStar.gov
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[YVEA News] MEET THE YVEA TEAM LARRY BALL FIELD SERVICES SUPERVISOR Larry Ball is YVEA’s field services supervisor. Larry is a third generation Routt County native and a third generation YVEA employee who has been with YVEA for 23 years. He grew up in Steamboat and graduated from SSHS. He studied CMC trigonometry, calculus and physics. In his role as field service supervisor, Larry oversees and directs requests for new, revised or relocated services. He provides technical resources for system design, construction and maintenance. Larry also oversees and designs overhead and underground facilities including work orders, staking sheets, material pick lists and project cost worksheets to determine best design. Larry ensures that all field service work is completed safely, accurately and efficiently to meet member satisfaction. He enjoys the challenge of helping serve the membership, co-workers and the association by finding the most economical and sound electrical design for new installation or maintaining the existing electric system and increasing the reliability of service. He is married and has two dogs, Jackson and Billie, and two cats. If you know him, you know he loves to golf in his spare time and enjoys spending time with his family, hunting and fishing as well as all the activities the outdoors affords us.
NATE FRENTRESS JOURNEYMAN LINEMAN Nate Frentress is one of YVEA’s journeyman lineman and is from Hayden. He graduated from Hayden High School and moved back to the area in 2005. He has been with YVEA for six years. Nate is part of the team that is responsible for installation, maintenance and repairs of the YVEA transmission and distribution electrical system. He is married and has three sons. coloradocountrylife.coop
He enjoys what he does because it provides a service that people need.
NANCY GRIJALBA MEMBER RELATIONS REPRESENTATIVE Nancy Grijalba is part of YVEA’s member relations team. She is orginally from Deming, New Mexico, and moved to the area in 2000. She has been with YVEA for eight years. In her role as member relations representative, Nancy provides customer service to members in all aspects of member relations including directing phone calls, answering billing questions, processing payments and answering inquiries about any of YVEA’s programs. She enjoys providing members with a well-needed utility: electricity. Nancy is married and has three sons and one daughter. In her spare time, she enjoys working on crafts and party decorating.
DAN DRENNAN MECHANIC Dan Drennan is part of the operations team and is one of YVEA’s mechanics. He is originally from the Steamboat area and attended two years of technical school. He has worked for YVEA since 2006. In his role as mechanic, Dan performs repairs; minor and major maintenance on all of YVEA’s vehicle fleet, including vehicles, poweroperated equipment and other peripheral equipment, to ensure safe operations and extended equipment. Dan enjoys his work because he likes to figure things out and be challenged by the job as it is always changing. He is married and has four boys and one granddaughter.
SCOTT BLOMQUIST WAREHOUSEMAN Scott Blomquist is one of YVEA’s warehousmen. Scott was born and raised in the valley and gradu-
ated from Hayden High School. He has worked for YVEA for eight years. In his role as warehouseman, Scott is responsible for receiving and stocking YVEA’s incoming materials. He works with our purchasing agent to account for discrepancies between the purchase order and material received. Scott also issues materials used in work order flow, gathers material identified on staking sheets and distributes it to crews, including the association’s crews and contractors. He maintains records of all transactions and monitors inventory levels as well as keeping the warehouse in a clean and orderly fashion. Scott has a lot of pride and likes what he does. In his spare time, he likes to hunt and camp and enjoys yard work and gardening.
JAMES LOUGEE JOURNEYMAN LINEMAN James Lougee is one of YVEA’s journeyman linemen and is originally from Orofino, Idaho. He graduated from Orofino High School and attended Northwest Lineman College in Meridian, Idaho, in 2001. James has been with YVEA since April of 2014. James is part of the team that is responsible for installation, maintenance and repairs of the YVEA transmission and distribution electrical system. He says he loves what he does because line work is a cool trade and you never stop learning, seeing new things and meeting interesting people. He worked on the road in his career for years and is glad to be back in a good atmosphere and nice area with good people to work around. James is married and has two boys. In his spare time, he likes to hunt, fish and spend time with his family. They enjoy checking out new places and enjoying the mountains and many national parks. James enjoys traveling and as a kid traveled to many states and always found something interesting. MAY 2015
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[YVEA News] ELECTION PROCESS BEGINS FOR THREE DIRECTOR DISTRICTS
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Yampa Valley Electric Association Board of Directors is composed of nine persons from our membership. Three are elected each year, with the election taking place at the Annual Meeting. This year the annual meeting will be held in Hayden on June 25. Registration begins at 5:30 p.m. In years when there is a contest, a mail-in ballot is sent to each member; you have the opportunity to vote even if you can’t attend the meeting. Ballots are mailed out in late May if there is a contested race. This year, the three districts up for election include: • District 1 — That portion of the area in the state of Wyoming and that portion of Moffat County, Colorado, north of Township 9 north and that portion of Routt County, Colorado, north of Township 10 north. • District 8 — The city of Steamboat Springs and that portion of Township 6 north, Range 84 west of the 6th Principal Meridian; and Township 5 north, Range 84 west; Township 5 north, Range 85 west; Township 5 north, Range 86 west of the 6th Principal Meridian. • District 9 — That portion south of Township 5 north and east of Range 87 west of the 6th Principal Meridian in Routt County, and all of Eagle, Summit and Grand counties of Colorado in the service area and that portion of Township
3 north, Range 86 west in Rio Blanco County. A nomination for director may be made only by written petition signed by at least 15 members of the association. The last day for candidates to submit verified member signatures to qualify for the 2015 ballot is 5 p.m. on Monday, May 11, 2015. Candidates can pick up petition forms at either YVEA office to begin circulating petitions for member signatures to establish candidacy. Nominees for directorship must be a member of YVEA who live within the director district for which they are being nominated. Directors cannot in any way be employed by or financially interested in a competing enterprise or a business selling electric energy or electric supplies to the association. Directors must be able to commit the time required for regular monthly board meetings and special meetings held outside the service area with state and national affiliate organizations. Director training is provided throughout the director’s term of service for acquiring the knowledge necessary to govern, plan and direct the activities of an electric utility. Director training is held outside the service territory and requires travel and time commitment of three to five days per training session, at various times of the year. Finally, directors must be able to act in the best interest of the members of the cooperative.
YVEA’S ANNUAL MEETING JUNE 25.
ELECTRICAL SAFETY USING PRESSURE WASHERS
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Water and electricity are a dangerous mix, but an electric-powered pressure washer does not have to be, as long as you are using it safely. The most important issue is to have a properly working, tested ground fault circuit interrupter receptacle. A GFCI monitors the flow of electricity in a circuit. If there is an irregularity of electrical flow, the power is cut off, preventing an electric shock. GFCIs are recommended anywhere water and electricity may meet, so every outdoor receptacle should be equipped with a GFCI. GFCIs come in several varieties. One type is a circuit breaker with a built-in GFCI that a qualified electrician can install in a home’s panel box. Others come in the form of a receptacle that fits into a standard outlet box. If your outdoor receptacles do not have GFCI protection,
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purchase a portable one. Make sure you are using a power washer that is approved for outdoor use. It must have a grounded cord in good condition without any nicks or cuts and must not missing the ground prong. The Centers for Disease Control notes that electric shock can occur if the pressure washer is not used properly and if safety instructions are not followed. The CDC offers these additional pressure washer safety precautions: Never use a gasoline-powered washer in an enclosed space. A lways test the GFCI before using a pressure washer. A lways plug a properly grounded pressure washer into a properly grounded receptacle. If an extension cord must be used,
keep the pressure washer’s power cord connection out of any standing water, and use a heavy duty extension cord with components rated for outdoor use. Keep both the power and extension cords as far away as possible from the item being washed and away from any water runoff. A lways have a qualified electrician check the pressure washer for electrical problems if it trips a circuit breaker. There are different kinds of pressure washers: some that are powered with electricity and others powered by gas. No matter what kind you plan to use, know how to use it safely. Remember to read and follow all safety instructions in the owner’s manual that comes with the device. coloradocountrylife.coop
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[newsclips]
“Tying” the Electric Grid Together
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Tri-State Generation and Transmission, the power supplier for 18 of Colorado’s 22 electric co-ops, plays an important role in tying together the country’s electric system. The U.S. electric grid consists of a patchwork of electric systems grew, merged and developed over time. Today, that grid settled into three distinct systems, the Western Interconnection, which includes Colorado; the Eastern Interconnection; and the Texas Interconnection. Each of these regions is an interconnection of alternating current, or AC, power systems operating at the same frequency with one another. In 1977, the first-of-its-kind facility connecting two of these areas was built by Colorado’s Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association. The David A. Hamil DC Tie was constructed in western Nebraska near the town of Stegall to connect the Eastern Interconnection to the Western Interconnection. Tri-State is now one of only a few utilities that supply electricity to members in both the eastern and western power grids of the United States. (Highline Electric Association, headquartered in Akron, Colorado, is one of only a few
North American Electric Reliability
Corporation Interconnections distribution co-ops serving Eastern Interconnection in the eastern and western grid.) In order to move bulk power up to 100 megawatts Western between the Interconnection two grids, a direct current Electricity Reliability Council of Texas Interconnection (DC) bridge, or “tie,” was constructed. Power is moved across the DC tie by converting AC to DC and then converting it back to AC again. This conversion keeps the energy in sync with the AC on each side of the grid separation. Since that first DC tie was built, five additional DC ties were added between the east and west. Two ties also link the Eastern Interconnection with the Texas Interconnection.
Co-ops Join LIHEAP Day
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Electric cooperative representatives were among those who converged on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., earlier this year in support of the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program, or LIHEAP. Their message was that there is a continuing need to provide short-term energy assistance to the working poor in local communities. In Colorado, there were 579,321 eligible households, according to the most recent survey. Only 125,097 of those households received assistance. LIHEAP needs $4.7 billion to provide comprehensive programs that meet traditional needs and those created by extreme weather. Yet, President Barack Obama’s budget only calls for $3.39 billion for 2016. National Rural Electric Cooperative Association CEO Joann Emerson noted, the “… difficult fiscal choices Congress must make. But funding LIHEAP to at least $4.7 billion is the only way to make sure the most vulnerable have their most basic needs met.”
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[newsclips]
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[industry]
Hidden Danger Concealed energy has the power to HARM
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Paige Koeppel is a college student with a bright future. She studies graphic design and loves weaving and photography. She is looking forward to studying abroad next year. However, one accident Paige had when she was 12 years old easily could have prevented her from doing all of this. “Turn the light on; turn the light off. Electricity was just one of those things, but I never thought anything could happen to me,” Paige says. Paige was doing something she did hundreds of times when the accident happened. She drew a bath and then grabbed the metal towel rack to steady herself as she stepped into the tub. “The second I touched the metal towel rack my vision went blurry and I could have sworn my arm was moving up and down,” Paige says. “The next thing I remember was me sitting on the floor. My vision was barely there. The only thoughts that were going through my head were, ‘What just happened? Am I alive? Can I scream? Should I scream?’ I instantly started screaming. The next thing I knew my mom was in the bathroom holding me and I was shaking very violently.” Paige’s parents found her at the end of the bathroom, opposite the tub, holding the metal towel rack. Her father immediately turned off power to the house and they took her to the hospital. Fortunately, Paige was OK. The level of electricity in the house easily could have stopped her heart or caused severe electric burns. Metal and water are some of the best conductors of electricity, making Paige even more fortunate that her accident did not end tragically. Paige’s entire body was
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Paige Koeppel
sore for days, and she experienced weakness in her arm for about a year. How did an accident like this happen? Paige was not using an outlet. She was not in contact with overhead power lines or power poles. When an electrician opened up the wall in the bathroom, he found the cause. A screw in the towel rack was in contact with an electrical wire. Over time, the insulation in the wire wore down and the screw and towel rack were charged with electric energy. When electricity flows out of the path set for it by wires, it is known as an arc fault. This situation can also cause fires and contributes to approximately 26,000 electrical fires in the United States every year.
Fortunately, there is a lot you can do to prevent a fire or an accident like Paige’s. The Energy Education Council’s Safe Electricity program has the following advice to help you protect yourself and your loved ones from arc faults: Check for wiring before nailing anything into the wall. Previous owners may have worked on the wiring without following electrical codes, so wires can be in unexpected places. A stud finder with an AC (alternating current) wire detector is a handy and inexpensive tool to check for live wires behind walls. Install arc fault circuit interrupters (AFCIs). These devices monitor the flow coloradocountrylife.coop
[industry] of electricity in your home. If they detect arcing conditions or an abnormal flow of electricity, they will shut off power before a fire starts or someone gets shocked. Consider an electrical inspection. A qualified electrician can assess the safety of your home’s electrical system and give you advice for improvements. If an electrical fire starts in your home, do not use water to extinguish it. Water conducts electricity and you could get an electric shock. Use an extinguisher that is approved for use on electrical fires. Flickering lights and warm, cracked or sparking outlets all indicate electrical problems. If circuits trip, fuses blow or someone gets a shock, your home has an electrical problem. Get an electrical inspection. Do not overload outlets, use an extension cord as a permanent wiring solution or use lightbulbs that are not rated for the socket. “It’s still scary to this day,” Paige says. Not only is Paige more cautious around electricity, she also encourages her friends to be safe around electricity. If she notices that they have an electronic item that sparks or that they are using electronics around water, she warns them of the dangers and shares her story.
For more information on electrical safety inside and outside the home, visit SafeElectricity.org.
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Denver resident and elec
tric vehicle manufacture
r Oliver Parker Fritchle.
Plugging Into the Past
A Colorado inventor manufactures the electric automobile more than a century ago BY AMY HIGGINS PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE HISTORY COLORADO CENTER Fritchle takes in the surroundings near the Washington Monument.
It seems like an electric vehicle hit the scene only a short time ago. In reality, this modern marvel made its way back to the future from a distant past. In Colorado, it was Oliver Parker Fritchle whose showpiece graced the electric car scene in the early 1900s. Prior to that, the first successful electric vehicles started showing up around 1890.
Scan this page with the Extras App or visit youtube.com/watch?v=C-Z92Nk4Pwo to see the Fritchle at the History Colorado Center. 16
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coloradocountrylife.coop
Fritchle and his team of car builders pose for a picture in front of The Fritchle Automobile and Battery Company in Denver.
Driving the hype
F
Fritchle was born on September 15, 1874, in Mount Hope, Ohio. In 1899 he moved to Colorado to work as a chemist and assayer at Excelsior Mines in Frisco, where he helped install the electrical works in a hydroelectric power plant. Soon he was in charge of the bulk of the electrical duties. But by 1900 he moved on to work as a commercial chemist in Denver. Yet, he didn’t leave his interest in electricity behind. Fritchle was enamored with cars, particularly the electrically-powered vehicles. He began repairing electric cars in the Denver area, all the while developing his own rechargeable battery. In 1906, the first Fritchle vehicles came on to the market, and in 1908, The Fritchle Automobile and Battery Company was established. Fritchle electric cars were distinctive because of their ability to travel 100 miles on one overnight charge. “No other electric cars had batteries like the Fritchles,” reported Clark Secrest, editor of Colorado Heritage magazine in a 1999 article. Fritchle was so confident that his electric vehicles lived up to the hype he touted, that he challenged other car manufacturers to a cross-country excursion. “No one took him up on it,” said Leigh Jeremias, curator of manuscripts and special collections at the History Colorado Center. So, on October 31, 1908, Fritchle set out alone in a Fritchle Victoria on a 28-day tour (20 days of drive time) from Lincoln, Nebraska, to New York City. Fritchle packed tire repair tools, one extra inner tube, a spare tire, an iron jack, a tool kit, a set of tire chains, a hand lamp “for reading sign boards,” a canvas water bucket, extra fuses, sulfuric acid and ammonia to service the batteries, a thermos, two lap robes, maps, a camera, a tripod and two suitcases with personal supplies. He was so secure in his vehicle’s power that
coloradocountrylife.coop
He was so secure in his vehicle’s power that he did not pack a spare motor or any other parts, except for the tire and tube. In all, the car weighed around 2,100 pounds, 800 of which were from the battery alone.
A behind-the-scenes photo of Fritchle electric car builders at work.
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Fritchle drove day and night through the country, jerking over rocks and ruts and sometimes forging his own road when none was available. Here he slogs through dense mud up one of the many country roads he traveled.
he did not pack a spare motor or any other parts, except for the tire and tube. In all, the car weighed around 2,100 pounds, 800 of which were from the battery alone. After his first day on the road, Fritchle wrote in his journal: “It was a damp, cold morning, just about freezing and very hazy. I encountered some very bad roads, and it being my first day out, I was discouraged and doubted very much whether I would ever finish the long tour which I had planned.” Fritchle drove day and night through the country, jerking over rigid rocks, slogging through dense mud and oftentimes carving his own path because none were available. Without a windshield on his car, he had little protection from the elements. About every 100 miles, Fritchle charged his vehicle, mostly at municipal electric plants and privately owned
Heads turn as Fritchle’s car drives through Times Square in New York.
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companies like his factory in Denver. Heads turned when the Fritchle car came to town. “In most of the towns which I passed through, an electric auto was a great curiosity, and very interesting, especially to the men connected with the electric plants, who were always very obliging to me,” Fritchle wrote. Horses were terrified of his peculiar machine. In one instance in Weston, Iowa, he came up on a carriage drawn by a four-horse team. Two of the horses were so spooked that they, “… wheeled suddenly, broke the tongue and ran away. I do not know whether it was on account of it being an electric and running so quietly, or on account of the uncommon Victoria top,” he surmised. Fritchle logged everything about his journey, careful not to leave anything out. “He was a very particular man,” Jeremias said. “He documented everything. Everything.” Not only did he keep track of his whereabouts and findings, he also recorded such items as his daily food intake, the amount of exercise he accomplished and how well he slept. In all, Fritchle traveled 2,140 miles. When the tour ended, Fritchle assembled the promotional book 100-Mile Fritchle Electric. In it he summarized: “The tour was undertaken to test for my own satisfaction the durability of one of my electric automobiles away from the factory on country roads, at a season of the year when the roads could not be in their best condition, and in cold weather when the battery is sluggish and does not give as high capacity as in the warmer period. Knowing that my machines are well constructed, that this was a regular stock car
After completing the promotional tour, Fritchle continued the journey in his electric car to Washington, D.C.
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(not built for the occasion), it is still astonishing to me how well it withstood the rough usage.” “Twenty days is pretty impressive considering the elements and stopping to take photographs along the way,” Jeremias said. Fritchle continued his journey in his electric car to Washington, D.C., and then returned home, without any mishaps. Ranging from $2,000 to $3,600, Fritchle electric vehicles were expensive compared to the $440 to $550 it would cost for a Ford gasoline car. However, they roused the “elite and wealthy” population, particularly prominent women, because they were cleaner than gasoline cars and the inside was large enough to accommodate large hats, which were popular accessories in that era. Denver’s “Unsinkable” Molly Brown was also impressed with the stunner, so she purchased a 1910 model and drove it for several years. Denver Gas and Electric Company and Daniels & Fisher department store each owned Fritchle electric trucks. “His is a nature that could never be content with second place and he has therefore always striven for perfection, never stopping short of the successful accomplishment of his purpose,” said Wilbur Fisk Stone of Fritchle in a 1918 transcript titled History of Colorado.
The original Fritchle electric automobile frame was well-constructed.
Holding the charge
Unfortunately, electric vehicles fell victim to the affordable and popular self-starter gasoline cars and, despite his ambition, in 1917 The Fritchle Automobile and Battery Company closed. The national recognition Fritchle garnered fizzled. “The story sort of stops for him, I think in a lot of people’s minds, with the failure of the electric car, but he kept going. He
coloradocountrylife.coop
Each battery weighed a hefty 800 pounds.
was an inventor. He wasn’t just an electric car guy, he was an inventor,” Jeremias said. Nearly 100 years later, an original Fritchle electric automobile, number 283 (out of approximately 500), is sparking curiosity at the History Colorado Center. But getting the vehicle to the center wasn’t a simple endeavor. In 2012, number 283 was gifted to the History Colorado Center. The vehicle was stored in an off-site location where it would stay until its move to the museum. But disaster struck. The location suffered a water main break underneath the building. Water accumulated, damaging the foundation. An exterior wall collapsed, causing the roof to fall on top of the vehicle, compromising the frame. “It was a complete mess,” Jeremias said. The conservator repaired the frame of the car and brought it back up to its original form. The doors and windows were realigned back to their original location as well. “Shockingly, for what happened, it could have been so much worse,” Jeremias said. “I think that says something about the frame of the vehicle and how well made it was.” While the conservator restored number 283 back at the museum, a large cutout of the Fritchle automobile was on display along with its charger and a short narrative. With a lengthy restoration process and insurance dealings, it wasn’t until August 2014 that the vehicle settled into its new home at the “Denver A to Z” exhibit at the History Colorado Center in Denver. “It has always been my ambition to do something extraordinary. While my efforts have been relentless, my accomplishments have not fully gratified my ambitions. However, I am proud of my efforts and feel that no one has any reason to say I did not try to do something worthwhile,” Fritchle wrote in his autobiography. Today, the Fritchle vehicle serves as a reminder of how history tends to repeat itself. Brilliant minds are continually blazing new trails, but sometimes it just takes some time — or maybe a century — for innovation to really catch on. Amy Higgins is a freelance writer from Centennial. She’s fascinated by the things that power our lives, especially if they’re from Colorado. Have a local story idea? Email her at ahiggins@coloradocountrylife.org.
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[recipes]
Hot Diggity Dogs
Recipe book puts a twist on summer’s traditional hot dogs BY AMY HIGGINS || AHIGGINS@COLORADOCOUNTRYLIFE.ORG
Van Kraayenburg’s Suggestion Danger Dogs can be served with practically anything on them. Try chili, fried peppers and onions for a spicy Danger Dog; sauerkraut and mustard for a classic dog; or pickles, tomatoes, onions, relish and sport peppers for a Chicagostyle Danger Dog.
Ecuadorian Street Dog
Photo Credit
Haute Dogs: Recipes for
Delicious Hot Dogs, Buns and Condiments by Russell Van Kraayenburg with permission from Quirk Books
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Smother some ketchup, mustard and relish on a dog and you have a heavenly, classic American meal. Nonetheless, Russell Van Kraayenburg, author of Haute Dogs: Recipes for Delicious Hot Dogs, Buns and Condiments, takes this traditional treat to new heights with recipes from around the globe. With unconventional toppings such as mashed potatoes, cilantro, pepperoni and spicy aji sauce, these recipes are fascinating. You can even learn how to make your own homemade franks. Here’s a taste of what you’ll see in Kraayenburg’s book.
Danger Dogs with Chili 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil 1 large white onion, diced 4 cloves garlic, finely chopped 1 teaspoon salt 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper 1 tablespoon ground chili powder 1 teaspoon ground cumin 1/8 teaspoon ground cayenne pepper 1 pound ground beef 1 cup beef stock 8 ounces tomato paste 8 beef and pork dogs 8 slices uncooked bacon 8 classic buns 1 cup white onion, finely chopped
Enter to Win
Enter to win a copy of Haute Dogs: Recipes for Delicious Hot Dogs, Buns and Condiments. Send your name, address and phone number to contests@coloradocountrylife.org. Be sure to include “Haute Dogs” in the subject line. We will choose a winner on May 20.
Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add onions and cook until soft and translucent, about 8 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add garlic and cook for another 2 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add salt, black pepper, chili powder, cumin, cayenne and beef. Cook until beef is browned and no trace of pink remains. Reduce heat to medium-low. Add beef stock and tomato paste. Stir until evenly combined. Danger Dogs Simmer for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally. Wrap each dog with a slice of bacon, securing it with a wooden toothpick at each end. Deep-fry each bacon-wrapped hot dog for 4 to 6 minutes over medium-high heat. Remove toothpicks and place each dog on a bun and top with a heaping pile of chili and a handful of chopped onions. coloradocountrylife.coop
coloradocountrylife.coop
MARCH 2015
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[gardening]
The Indispensable Rose
The resilient flower is a lovely gardening option BY KRISTEN HANNUM || GARDENING@COLORADOCOUNTRYLIFE.ORG
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How could a gardener have too many roses? In my opinion, it’s a metaphysical impossibility. The rose, our national flower, can be hardy to the point of being invasive, especially if you choose a healthy plant of the right variety and take decent care of it. Actually, in my experience, roses will survive even if you don’t take care of them. Matt Douglas at High Country Roses agrees. “My own garden is a replication of the cobbler’s kid’s shoes,” he says. “It’s as abused as any in town and yet the roses survive.” He and his wife, Jennifer, treat the 15,000 roses in their greenhouses more tenderly, and yet even those roses provide proof of the genus’s toughness. “We’ve had plants lost in the mail for three weeks — that’s in a dark box, in up to 100 degree temperatures — and yet when we get them back, we water them and set them
Harison’s Yellow Rose
in a special spot. We rarely lose any.” Douglas has customers in Leadville, Buena Vista, Ridgway and other high-altitude locations who, like me, find it impossible to have too many roses. “People have a lot of luck with Louise Odier Rose roses at high altitudes,” he says. He advises visiting plantmaps.com and plugging in your ZIP code to make sure of your USDA plant hardiness zone. Douglas recommends pruning your roses in spring. The first half of May is good for most of Colorado. Autumn is for cleaning all the debris, especially rose leaves with black spot, and for cutting back branches that are clearly going to break in the winter weather. Spring is for hard pruning. Once you understand the logic behind pruning, it’s easier to do it right. Pruning will encourage new growth and blooming, so don’t let your roses talk you out of it.
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Aim to cut the plant back by about onethird. Your first cuts will be to remove damage. Next, remove anyPrairie Rose thing that’s dead. Last, shape the plant. There are so many rose varieties that one of the hardest parts of growing them is choosing which to buy. I brought home my share of roses from big box stores, including one scarlet Mr. Lincoln that became a favorite. Even so, you’re safer buying from a nursery like High Country Roses, where you’re sure of the quality, you can talk with the growers and there’s a far wider variety. One of Douglas’s personal favorites is the Harison’s Yellow Rose, sometimes called the Pioneer Rose. “They’re the roses that you see practically exploding with yellow blooms in May,” he says. “It’s an amazing historical plant that I think everyone should grow.” The Harison’s Yellow is also amazingly hardy. Other historic roses close to Douglas’s heart include the Fairmount Cemetery roses, heritage roses that High Country Roses sells in partnership with Denver’s historic Fairmount Cemetery. The Prairie Rose is another great choice, not just because it’s disease resistant and beautiful but also because it’s native, meaning that it’s beneficial to wildlife in ways that exotic species aren’t. In addition, you won’t find black spot on Prairie roses so you won’t be tempted to spray. I was relieved to hear Douglas say he doesn’t advocate spraying for black spot. Black spot is a common fungus that lives on rose leaves and it is nearly impossible to get rid of. I don’t spray for it, and he tells me that’s a good attitude. I’m planting a Louise Odier Rose this month, a fragrant bourbon pink rose developed in France in 1851. It’s hardy through zone 5, so it will be fine on the Front Range. Good luck picking a new rose for your garden, too.
Read
previous gardening columns at coloradocountrylife.coop. Search for Gardening. Kristen Hannum is a native Colorado gardener. Email or write her with wisdom or comments at gardening@coloradocountrylife.org.
coloradocountrylife.coop
Decorate Your Garden Your Way
T
There’s garden décor to fit all styles: classic, humorous, antique, exotic, retro and avant-garde, just for starters. When you emphasize one or two of those styles, it makes deciding on décor (and plantings) easier. The pink flamingoes, despite being humorous and retro, just aren’t going to fly (so to speak) in your exotic antique-styled garden, with its wicker and other pieces evoking colonial India. Your environment has probably already played a role in your garden’s style. It’s more difficult to get that dusty, terra-cotta tiled Mediterranean look in Maine than in Texas. Similarly, it’s harder to do English cottage style in Florida. If your garden art is going to fit with the plants in your garden, it’s usually best to coordinate climate and style. Some styles — formal or whimsical, for instance — fit all climates, just in slightly different ways. The trick is to understand your own style preference and then to see the areas around your home as outdoor rooms, needing your touch to make them your own. Do you want a romantic, old-fashioned garden? Or would you prefer one that evokes a 1950s modernist style? Although there are likely to be eclectic elements in your mix, deciding on the style that you’re aiming for is key. It will help your garden feel well planned and pleasing.
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Make your garden fun for you and your family.
MAY 2015
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[outdoors]
Balm for the SOUL
Countless Colorado creeks are breeding grounds for joy BY DENNIS SMITH
WiseSaver
Springtime temperatures fluctuate daily. Hang insulated, thermal-backed curtains over windows for a more consistent temperature in your home.
I
It’s quite a hike, 2-to-3 miles according to the roadside trail marker at the upper end of the Poudre Canyon, and very steep. But if you go back down the canyon and circle in from the north on Deadman Road, a chain of old logging trails, an all-terrain vehicle and a bit of bushwhacking will get you to Elk Creek with far less effort. It’s all right there on the topography map. More brook than creek at this elevation, it emerges from a forest of spruce, fir and poison-green ferns. It cuts its way through tangled thickets of alder and red-osier dogwood and then meanders for a while across broken meadows of waist-high willows, wildflowers and ground squirrel burrows. You’ll see marmots on virtually every decent rock pile. Boulders and beaver dams conspire along the way to slow its course to the big river in the valley below, but gravity pulls the little creek relentlessly past the obstacles, then it ripples over gravel bars, game crossings, miniature waterfalls, fallen trees and anything else that gets in its way. It is the iconic Rocky Mountain high-country trout stream: postcard pretty, persistent, persnickety and chock full of fish — usually brook trout, but sometimes native greenback cutthroats and, surprisingly more often these days, wild brown trout. We fish here as often as we can through the seasons. It’s always different but never disappoints. In early spring, its banks are drab with matted dead grasses and dirty patches of lingering snow. Flows are swollen, gray and cold with snowmelt. With the exception of the early brown stoneflies, few aquatic insects hatch so the fish are difficult — though not impossible — to catch on flies. A large colorful streamer might do the trick. On the other hand, this might be the best of all possible times for a bait fisherman to catch the biggest
fish in the stream by nursing a small worm through the deeper pools or under the shadowed cut banks. It will probably be a brown trout. Fly-fishing begins to pick up around late May and early June. Marsh marigolds and lush, green sedges hug the banks; in the meadows wildflowers are rampant. The air smells of pine and wild basil. A variety of mayflies, caddis flies and terrestrial insects, such as hoppers, beetles and ants, find their way into the food chain and the trout gorge on them. High summer brings superb dry fly-fishing for the brookies and cutthroats, though you
Elk Creek in Roosevelt National Forest tumbles past writer Dennis Smith’s camping spot.
might pay for the thrills with your blood; mosquitoes, biting flies and other winged vampires can be thick through July and August. Go anyway. It’s worth it. Just smear yourself with bug spray. Colorado is blessed with hundreds, if not thousands of these nameless back country creeks and they’re all balm for the soul, whether you hike them, fish them or camp beside them. They offer solitude, birdsong, spiritual rejuvenation and the musical murmuring of mountain brooks all wrapped in the incomparable beauty of the high country. There’s no time like the present to enjoy them.
Miss an issue? Catch up at coloradocountrylife.coop. Search for Outdoors.
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[energy tips]
BACKUP GENERATOR FUNDAMENTALS BY JAMES DULLEY
M
Photo credit - Kohler
Most families depend on electricity for nearly every activity and purchasing a backup generator is becoming more common. If you’re considering purchasing a backup generator you must first decide how much of your home you want to power to determine the size you need. There are common necessities, such as refrigeration and lighting. Airconditioning, washing clothes and vacuuming may not be top priority during a power outage. To get a rough idea of the size of generator you need, list all electric items you want to power and total their wattages. Items and appliances with motors often require more electric current at start-up time, so round up when determining the total wattage. A contractor or installation expert can also advise you on the proper size. It should be noted that installing a whole-house backup generator is not a do-ityourself project. For convenience and safety This shows the typical (for both your electrical connection from family and your a standby generator to the house wiring. electric co-op’s emergency lineworkers), install an automatic transfer switch. This switch senses when the grid electricity goes off or the voltage drops below a critical point, also known as a brownout. It automatically disconnects your home’s wiring from the utility grid and starts the generator. Natural gas is the best fuel to power the backup generator. Natural gas engines run cleanly, require little maintenance and are relatively inexpensive to run. For more information on backup generators, contact your local electric co-op or speak with a qualified contractor.
“Like” us at Facebook.com/COCountryLife We always have lots going on and lots of pictures to see. It’s free to “like” us and like us you will.
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Learn more about backup generators at coloradocountrylife.coop. Look under the Energy tab for Energy Tips.
MAY 2015
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[marketplace]
Sponsored by the Super Power of Colorado’s Touchstone Energy Cooperatives.
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[marketplace]
No Tablet or Smartphone? ENTER NOW
Wishing you could scan the magazine pages and bring them to life?
Then enter to
WIN
***
an iPadMini
A DVE T I E R S In MarketPlace and everyone will know your business. (It's a good thing!) Call Kris for more information 303-902-7276
Contest rules at coloradocountrylife.coop Winner will be drawn
June 15
*** Contest rules at coloradocountrylife.coop
Send your name, address and phone number via the U.S. mail to: iPad Contest Colorado Country Life 5400 Washington St. Denver, CO 80216
One entry per month will be accepted. Drawing will be June 15. coloradocountrylife.coop
MAY 2015
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[classifieds] TO PLACE A CLASSIFIED AD Please type or print your ad on a separate paper. Indicate how many months you would like your ad to run and which month to start. There is a minimum of 12 words at $1.63 per word/ month. Be sure to include your full name and address for our records. Check MUST accompany this order or call to pay by credit card. Send your ad before the 10th of the month to: mail: Colorado Country Life 5400 Washington St., Denver, CO 80216 phone: 303.902.7276 fax: 303.455.2807 email: classifieds@coloradocountrylife.org
ANTIQUES
BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES
LOVE ANTIQUE TRUCKS? Come see. Meet hobbyists. 4th Saturdays, 10:45am, Nevada & Fillmore, Colorado Springs, 719-660-6796. (221-06-15)
(These opportunities have not been investigated by Colorado Country Life.)
ANTIQUE RESTORATION ANTIQUE RESTORATION STUDIO – Antique conservation. Quality craftsmanship since 1974. Bayfield, CO, www.antiqueresdurango.com 970-884-1937. (988-08-15) CHAIR CANING Hand caning, machine caning, fiber rush caning. Pueblo West, 719-547-0723. chaanita@q.com (858-10-15)
ANTLERS ANTLER CHANDELIERS made only from REAL antlers. We are the manufacturer and we sell all of our products at wholesale prices; save as much as 60% from store prices. Many other antler products and mounts, including 56” elk mount, giant moose paddles, and elk antlers. Showroom now open year ’round in Granby, CO. 17 years at this location, over 900 satisfied customers! Designers: We can provide you a single item or a whole houseful. Call ! (970) 6273053. (085-09-15)
BOOKS/CDs/DVDs CHANT OF A CHAMPION: Auctioneering DVD from World and International Champion Auctioneer John Korrey. Let John show you how to improve all aspects of your auctioneering chant. Order online at www.chantofachampion.com (210-07-15) THE MINER’S CAP: the vivid story of the 1914 Ludlow Massacre. A novel for young people and adults. Available at bookstores, museums, and online. (199-08-15)
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$ SIMPLE SYSTEM TO CREATE WEALTH $ Visit http://www. morningstar3777.com. Dial 719-4177000. Listen. (224-08-15) BEST ANTIQUE SHOP in downtown Prescott, Arizona. Over 20 dealers and total sales set-up, lease intact. Call for details. 928-445-2804. (225-05-15)
CARS/TRUCKS/BOATS 1974 CHEVY 350 4x4: EXCELLENT TIRES, small rust on cab, runs good, starts best warm, 350 crate motor with 23k, bench seat, windshield cracked. $3500 OBO, Colorado Springs, csvern@comcast.net or leave message 719-231-9252 (23708-15)
CLOCK REPAIR & RESTORATION www.clockrepairandrestoration. com DURANGO AREA. CLOCKS of all kinds repaired. Antique and modern. Clocks bought and sold. bob.scott@usa.net Call Robert 970-247-7729. (109-08-15)
EVENTS BREW LALA! Fremont Center for the Arts Beerfest Fundraiser. May 9, 3-9pm, Veteran’s Park, Hwy 50 at 3rd, Canon City, www.fremontarts. org/brewlala.html (235-05-15) Ignacio FFA holding ROCKY MOUNTAIN OYSTER/CATFISH FRY & Dance, Saturday, May 9, Spring Creek Hall, Ignacio, Colorado. All you can eat Rocky Mountain Oysters or Catfish, 5:30pm. Pie auction!!! Dance to Tyller Gummersall, 8pm. Adults $15, 10 & under $10. Dance only, $5/person. (231-05-15)
FOR SALE
REAL ESTATE
TICKETS
COOKSTOVE – wood, iron and steel enamel finish; working; used but good. Cook and heat your cabin. 303-887-6753 (236-05-15)
2 ACRES, BEAUTIFUL VIEW, lots in southeast Arizona. Water, gas, electricity available. 928-359-2251 (203-05-15)
NFR & PBR RODEO TICKETS – Las Vegas. Call 1-888-NFR-Rodeo (1888-637-7633). www.NFR-rodeo. com A+ rated BBB Member. (91201-16)
OXYGEN CONCENTRATORS - $380 with warranty. Also sell portable concentrators and oxygen supplies. Repair and service of equipment. Aspen Concentrator Repair Service 719-471-9895 (040-08-15)
35 ACRES, Huerfano County. Great views of Spanish Peaks. Will sell or trade for land in Weld County. OWC. 303-883-4835 (209-06-15)
RUSTIC COLORADO WOODS – Sawmill, logs, woodcrafts. Black Forest – Westcliffe. www. greenleafforestry.com. 719-2357876, 719-429-4404 (219-07-15)
FREE FREE BOOKS/DVDS. Soon the “Mark of the Beast” will be enforced as Church and State unite! Let the Bible reveal. The Bible Says, POB 99, Lenoir City, TN 37771. thebiblesaystruth@yahoo.com 888-211-1715. (814-08-15)
HELP WANTED
40 ACRES, 15 miles west of Walsenburg, CO on CR520. Fenced. Prime grazing. Small 2bd recently upgraded trailer on property with tenant. 8-10 gal./min. domestic well. $89,500 OBO. Owner may carry. 719-251-1131, 719-989-0850, 719-738-3500. (207-05-15) BAYFIELD / VALLECITO – Beautiful mountain retreat, 4bd, 3ba, approximately 3436sf on 1.2 acres, well water, septic, 5 minutes from Vallecito Lake. $467,900. 970-884-9324. Can be seen at HouseForSaleByOwner.com ID# 23024900 (163-08-15)
LEGITIMATE WORK AT HOME opportunity. No sales, investment, risk. Training/website provided. Monthly income plus bonuses, benefits. Call Carrie 303-579-4207, www.workathomeunited.com/ ourabundance (932-05+15)
CORTEZ, CO. 40.3 ACRES. Back side of Mesa Verde. Electricity, water tap reserved, surrounded by BLM land. Beautiful. No HOA. See at www.forsalebyowner.com. Listing ID: 23972652. 970-764-5886. (238-05-15)
MACHINERY & PARTS
YOU FOUND THE TREASURE. Send an email with the number of classified ads on pages 28-29 to classifieds@coloradocountrylife. org. Subject line MUST say “Classified Contest.” Include name, mailing address and phone number in email. We’ll draw one name on May 15 from those who enter. Winner gets a $25 gift card.
www.sawmillexchange.com SAWMILL EXCHANGE: North America’s largest source of used portable sawmills and commercial equipment for woodlot owners and sawmill operations. Over 800 listings. THE place to sell equipment. 800-459-2148. (26709-15)
MISCELLANEOUS COFFINS: Individually handcrafted of solid wood. Designed to return to earth naturally. Call 505-2869410 for brochure or visit www. theoldpinebox.com (220-07-15) DEBT RELIEF for Seniors – Nonprofit 888-779-4272 www. careconnectusa.org. (213-05-15)
POULTRY & GAMEBIRDS FREE COLOR CATALOG. 193 varieties, Cornish Cross, standard breeds, fancy chicks, ducks, geese, turkeys, bantams, guineas, pheasants, quail, supplies, video. 417-532-4581. PO Box 529, Lebanon, MO 65536. www.CackleHatchery. com. (876-08-15)
OWN PROPERTY? NEED INCOME? We’ll rent exclusive hunting rights from you. Looking for antelope, goose, duck, coyote, & prairie dog habitat. Encourage young sportsmen by providing safe, private access. You make the rules. 303-460-0273 (069-08-15)
RELIGION BECOME AN ORDAINED Minister by correspondence study. Founded in 1988. Free info. Ministers for Christ Outreach, 7558 West Thunderbird Rd, Ste 1 - #114, Peoria, AZ 85381. http://www.ordination.org (44112-15)
VACATIONS 2015 RIVER CRUISES: US *** Europe. Call for information. Booking now. Bon Voyage, 719-596-7447, joleneowens@hotmail.com (22605-15)
VACATIONS
CELEBRATE RMNP 100th Birthday, experience Wilderness, Wildlife & Wonder, in Grand Lake, Colorado’s authentic mountain town! Our unique lodging properties are central to lakes, marinas, hiking, horses… and on site: roasting marshmallows, picking herbs & berries, fishing, paddle boating, canoeing. Make memories at Mountain Lakes Lodge and North Shore Resort ! Kitchenettes, private baths, views, fireplaces, WiFi. Pet-friendly! 970-627-8448 www.grandlakelodging.net www. grandlakerentals.net (232-07-15) EUROPE * ALASKA * HAWAII tours and cruises. Book now for best selection. Bon Voyage 719-5967447, joleneowens@hotmail.com (226-05-15)
VACATION RENTAL KAUAI VACATION RENTAL, 2bdr, full kitchen. Minutes from beaches. $600/wk. 808-245-6500; makanacrest.com; kauaiweddings. com. (756-05-15)
WANTED TO BUY NAVAJO RUGS, old and recent, native baskets, pottery. Tribal Rugs, Salida. 719-539-5363, b_inaz@ hotmail.com (817-06-15) OLD COLORADO LIVESTOCK brand books prior to 1975. Call Wes 303-757-8553. (889-08-15) OLD COWBOY STUFF – hats, boots, spurs, chaps, Indian rugs, baskets, etc. ANYTHING OLD! Mining & railroad memorabilia, ore carts! We buy whole estates. We’ll come to you! Call 970-759-3455 or 970-5651256. (871-07-15) OLD GAS AND OIL items: Gas pumps, advertising signs, globes, etc. Pieces, parts, etc. considered. Also 1932-34 Ford cars and trucks, parts and pieces, too. Any condition. Brandon, 719-250-5721. (519-11-15) coloradocountrylife.coop
[funny stories] WANTED TO BUY
WANTED TO BUY
OLD MODEL AIRPLANE ENGINES, unbuilt airplane kits. Cash. Will pick up or pay shipping. Don, 970-6693418. (233-07-15)
WANT TO PURCHASE minerals and other oil/gas interests. Send details to: PO Box 13557, Denver, CO 80201. (402-03-16)
OLD POCKET WATCHES – working or non-working and old repair material. Bob 719-859-4209 watchdoctor@hotmail.com. (87006-15)
WANTED: JEEP CJ OR WRANGLER. Reasonably priced. No rust buckets. 888-735-5337 (099-04-16)
VINTAGE FISHING TACKLE. I buy rods, reels, lures, creels, etc. Gary, 970-222-2181 (170-10-15)
We took our 4- and 6-year-old grandsons
WE PAY CASH for minerals and oil/gas interests, producing and nonproducing. 800-733-8122 (09902-16)
FIND HIDDEN TREASURES IN THE CLASSIFIEDS?
Read through the ads and FIND the CCL classified explaining how to win a $25 gift card.
It’s easy. You could WIN.
The classified ads April winner was Pauline Miyauchi of Grand Lake. She correctly counted 43 ads.
Our readers will be a-buzz
camping last summer and our Maltese dog, Skittle, came with us. Our 6 year old was so excited because he was learning to read and he read everything he saw. As we went up into the camper, our 6 year old recited the words on our doormat that read “Wipe Your Paws.” Our 4 year old looked up at me with a surprised look and said, “Meme, does Skittle know how to read?” Echo Williams, Monticello, UT
with ideas when they see your product in the classified section of Colorado Country Life. Call Kris for advertising information 303-902-7276
My mom was talking about a women’s retreat she attended. She told everyone that the women were grumpy one of the mornings because a pregnant woman was sawing logs all night. With an incredulous look on her face, my younger sister asked, “What was a pregnant woman doing up in the middle of the night sawing logs?” Nehemiah Hein, Cotopaxi
APRIL WINNER
Send us photos of you with Colorado Country Life
One Saturday morning when our son and his family were visiting, I took my 6-year-old granddaughter to several yard and garage sales in our area. I found some old record albums of the Eagles and The Beach Boys in good condition, so I purchased them. When we got back to the house, my husband inquired about our outing, and our granddaughter proudly announced, “Grandma bought some really, really big CDs!” Lois Stoffle, Craig CO
My son was talking to
Loreta Dressel of Nathrop is a fan of Colorado Country Life. Notice the collection in the background of past issues from 2000 to present.
We’re Looking for photos of readers and their copy of Colorado Country Life. Got a great picture of you or your family member with the magazine at some fun place? Send it and your name and address to info@coloradocountrylife.org. We’ll post it on our Facebook page and on May 15 we’ll draw a winner from the submissions and send that winner a $25 gift card. coloradocountrylife.coop
his 9-year-old daughter, Erin, about enforcing stricter rules. “Why?” she asked. “Because your older sister is getting away with murder,” he said. Shocked, Erin replied, “What? Krissy murdered somebody?” Ursula Hill, Colorado Springs
We pay $15 to each person who submits a funny story that’s printed in the magazine. At the end of the year we will draw one name from those submitting funny stories and that person will receive $200. Send your 2015 stories to Colorado Country Life, 5400 Washington St., Denver, CO 80216 or email funnystories@coloradocountrylife.org. Don’t forget to include your mailing address, so we can send you a check.
$15 MAY 2015
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Create Cañon City Balloon Classic –
May 23-25 at The Winery at the Abbey and on neighboring fields in Cañon City The Create Cañon City Balloon Classic is launching its second year of spectacular festivities. This year the agenda includes a vast selection of exciting events, including a 24-mile mountain bike ride, a fun run, a kite flying demonstration, rocket launches, skydiving demonstrations, wine tastings, arts and crafts, live music, a variety of food vendors and more. But the highlight of the Create Cañon City Balloon Classic is the hot air balloons, of course. Balloon Meister Barbara Hann will coordinate this portion of the festival with 15 hot air balloons ascending in the daytime and again with an evening balloon glow with the Abbey illuminated in the background. For more information, call 855-946-4222, write ccinfo@ createcanoncity.org or visit facebook.com/pages/ create-canon-city-balloon-classic.
Amaze’n Mazes All Summer Long Amaze’n Mazes wants you to get lost in the fun. Amaze’n Mazes aren’t your ordinary mazes. This Colorado company makes getting lost competitive and challenging. Before you run the course, you are given a passport with your start time. Once you set foot in the maze, your challenge is to locate four checkpoints where your passport gets punched. Once you spell the word “MAZE,” you exit as quickly as you can. The fastest times win prizes. This summer, be sure to visit one or more of Amaze’n Mazes’ seven mazes in Colorado: • Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park, Glenwood Springs • Funputter Park, Pueblo • Summer Fun Park, Breckenridge • Winter Park Ski Resort, Winter Park • Heritage Square, Golden • Gateway Park Fun Center, Boulder • Amaze’n Steamboat Family Fun Park, Steamboat Springs For more information, call 888-909-6293 or visit amazen mazes.com.
Dolores River Festival June 6 At Joe Rowell Park, Dolores
The Dolores River Festival is an annual party with purpose. Guests of the festival attend this event not only to partake in the fun, but also to connect to the river and the environment. A portion of the proceeds goes toward enhancement projects and new initiatives in the Dolores area. This festival draws a huge crowd with its numerous elements, including a river parade where rafters and boaters dress up in costumes and float down the river. Attendees also enjoy live music by national and local bands, a dog fetch contest, food and product vendors, educational opportunities and a Kids Zone filled with acrobats, music lessons, a playground, face painting and more. Grab your boat, raft or tube — or take a guided tour — and get wet at the Dolores River Festival. Or stay dry and enjoy the exceptional entertainment with an amazing community. For more information, visit doloresriverfestival.com.
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Scan this page or visit coloradocountrylife.coop to learn about these events.
Don’t Miss These Colorado Events May-August – Dino Digs Museum of Western Colorado Dinosaur Journey, Fruita Prices vary and include transportation, lunch, guide, instruction and tools. For more information, visit museumofwesternco.com. May 10 – Mother’s Day Grand Buffet Brunch 9 am-3 pm at Devil’s Thumb Ranch, Tabernash For more information, call 970-726-7013 or visit devilsthumbranch.com.
May 23-24 – Taste of Creede Downtown Creede Live music, children’s activities, artist demonstrations, National Small Print Show opening, bake-off, silver chef competition, quick draw competition, art auction. For more information, call 719-658-2374 or visit creede.com.
May 29-31 – Bluegrass at the Fair Colorado State Fairgrounds, Pueblo Bluegrass music and camping. For more information, visit bluegrassatthefair.com.
July 12 – Celebration of 130 Years of The Herald Times Newspaper 1 pm at the Old West Heritage Culture Center, Meeker Celebrate the 130th anniversary of the Herald Times newspaper, the oldest, continuous newspaper in Colorado. For more info, visit rioblancocounty.org.
August 1 – Art Auction and Community Picnic Anderson Ranch, Snowmass Village More than 200 items to bid on in live and silent auctions, gourmet picnic lunch, live music and children’s art activities. For more information, call 970923-3181 or visit andersonranch.org.
August 10 – Digital Artistic Photo Workshop 9 am-1:30 pm at South Park City and nearby mountains, Fairplay Flower and scenic landscape photography and artistic photography shoots. For all skill levels. For more information, visit highcountryartworks.com.
coloradocountrylife.coop
The Smartphone Road Trip Mobile technology transforms travel. BY RUSSELL A. GRAVES
I love road trips. In fact, I travel for a living.
For the past two decades, I’ve made a living as a professional writer and photographer, traveling back roads in search of great stories to tell. Planning each trip demands time and effort, so I’m always searching for the latest technology that will make me more productive and efficient. Smartphones make road trips much easier and more spontaneous. The paradigm has shifted: Instead of simply carrying a phone, I — like all “road trippers” — now carry a powerful handheld computer that just happens to make phone calls. Before the smartphone, I used a dedicated global postitioning system unit that I switched from vehicle to vehicle when I traveled. With my iPhone, I have a built-in GPS mapping program that I use to plan trips. Once on the road, the same device gives me turn-by-turn directions until I reach my destination. It not only provides the quickest route to my destination, it also recommends other routes that take me off the beaten path — perfect for the times I want to take the road less traveled. In addition to mapping, I also prepare for my trip by storing an automobile insurance card on my phone, along with a gas-tracking app (GasBuddy) that helps me identify the cheapest fuel stops and a playlist customized to play my favorite traveling songs while I’m on the open road. Along the way (while I’m stopped, of course), I check out Wikipedia on my phone’s browser. The Wikipedia mobile site is GPS enabled and will suggest articles about nearby points of interest. You can immerse yourself in local culture by learning more about the people and places nearby. For the traveler, one of the greatest tricks with a smartphone is to use it as a GPS tracker. Remember, the camera embeds GPS information in each picture. Now, instead of guessing where pictures were taken once you’re back home, you can rely on any one of several low-cost photo management software solutions to extract the GPS location from the photo and pinpoint the location on a software-generated map. These maps save the key points of a trip and help you relive and share the memories later. In addition to shooting still photos, smartphones also are equipped with high-definition video cameras. The smartphone offers the ability to shoot slow motion, use apps to record video with a vintage 8 mm look and do on-the-fly editing along with seamless posting to social sites like YouTube or Facebook. The bottom line is that the technology in your hand lets you focus less on planning and more on traveling. Smartphones are an indispensable tool for road trippers. The best tip? When you get to that cool destination, be sure to turn off your phone for a while and enjoy the trip.
coloradocountrylife.coop
Travel Colorado
Are We There Yet? Some folks travel at their children’s bedtime — they put the pajama-clad kids in their car seats and go. This works if you’re not too tired to drive late at night and if you’re reasonably sure your children will stay asleep once you arrive. This tactic really depends on your child — if it backfires, you can end up with a wide-awake toddler at midnight.
MAY 2015
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coloradocountrylife.coop
OCTOBER 2014
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