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In this issue On the cover Sulphur Springs Valley Electric Cooperative lead energy auditor Stephen Lindsey talks to homeowner Erna “Ernie” Meyer about the efficiency of double paned glass. Photo by Mark Levy, Herald/Review
4 CEO’s message
Effective member communication is vital for SSVEC
Main office 350 N. Haskell Willcox, AZ 85643 (520) 384-2221 www.ssvec.org
5 Energy Management Solar Basics
Solar PV is the technology that converts a portion of the sun’s light into electricity.
Chief Executive Officer Creden W. Huber
12 SSVEC to send twelve
Board of directors
students to Washington in June
Kathy Thatcher, President Les Thompson, Vice President Harold L. Hinkley, Secretary Dan Barrera, Treasurer Curtis Nolan Sandra Huntington Pat English Joe Furno Don Kyte David Luna Edward Molina Gene Manring
Local Office phone numbers Benson: (520) 586-2238 Bowie: (520) 847-6000 Cascabel: (520) 212-6001 Elfrida: (520) 642-3475 Patagonia: (520) 394-2051 San Simon: (520) 845-6000 Sierra Vista: (520) 458-4691 Sunsites/Pearce: (520) 826-6000 Sunizona: (520) 824-6000 Wireless Internet help desk 24/7: (877) 877-6861 After-hours, weekend and holiday outage number: (800) 422-3275
Twelve high school juniors will be touring the nation’s capital for one week this next summer as winners of Sulphur Springs Valley Electric Cooperative’s (SSVEC’s) 34th annual Washington Youth Tour competition.
14 - In the Kitchen Local cooks share recipes Surprise Bread, Banana Cake, Cheese Magic
8
15 - Calendar of Events
Events Calendar for SSVEC’s service area
cutting your kilowatt-hours Energy Audits save homes, businesses money inset: Steve Lindsey and homeowner Gary Shafranski, discuss ways to conserve energy, during a home energy audit. Photo by Melissa Marshall, Herald/Review
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Chief Executive Officer’s Message
SSVEC Co-op Effective Member Communication Is Vital for SSVEC Facts
SSVEC’s Board of Directors holds regular meetings the third Wednesday of each month. The meetings are open to the public and a call to members is provided on every agenda. Approved minutes for every board meeting are available at any SSVEC office.
4
• SSVEC pays four kinds of taxes–property, sales, franchise, and payroll taxes. • SSVEC purchases most of its power from the Arizona Electric Power Cooperative, (AEPCO), a non-profit generation and transmission cooperative. AEPCO uses both natural gas and coal as its chief fuels to produce electricity. • SSVEC’s rate schedules and service conditions are regulated by the Arizona Corporation Commission. • SSVEC is unlike a private investor-owned utility. When margins for electric sales exceed expense they are allocated back to members as patronage capital credits. Per our bylaws, the Board of Directors will determine the retirement of these capital credits back to the members. • SSVEC is a member of the Grand Canyon State Electric Cooperative Association, Inc.
We believe it is vital to inform our members about the nature and benefits of cooperation and SSVEC events and programs. Over the years this Creden W. Huber mission has expanded to cover information regarding electrical safety, energy management, and legislative and regulatory issues affecting members’ monthly electric bills. Though SSVEC uses several communication vehicles (including monthly bill inserts, press releases, television and radio advertising, information booths at home and trade shows and public events, a website and a Facebook page), the member newsletter remains a mainstay of all the communications efforts. And that newsletter has evolved over the years.
Brief History of the Member Newsletter/ Magazine
Even before the cooperative was formally incorporated in the late 1930s, a mimeographed newsletter was sent out to the hundreds of individuals who had signed up for co-op electric service. It detailed the progress of the formation of SSVEC (status of loan requests, membership numbers, and geographic areas to be included for service). Later after the cooperative was established and began growing a black and white printed newsletter focused on SSVEC programs, economic development and co-op growth, and a message from the general manager. By the late 1960s and 1970s SSVEC joined with other Arizona electric cooperatives in producing a tabloid newsletter that was mailed to co-op members across the state. It focused heavily on political issues of the state legislature and
SSVEC uses several communication vehicles including press releases, television and radio advertising, information booths at home and trade shows and public events, a website and a Facebook page.
Arizona Corporation Commission that affected the cooperatives. The SSVEC edition devoted a single page to local co-op news, events, and programs. In the 1980s the newsletter reappeared as a statewide publication with less emphasis on political issues and more information on power production, safety, recipes and people features. This newsletter had various editions with four pages devoted to each local participating cooperative. In 1998 SSVEC (along with three other Arizona electric cooperatives and one California electric cooperative) joined Ruralite Services that published a full color bi-monthly magazine. It included six pages of information on each local cooperative in the customized editions as well as “common pages” in all editions on energy management, utility issues, power production, recipes, and feature articles on co-op members. Ruralite regularly mailed a total of 344,000 copies of the magazine to cooperative members in about 50 electric cooperatives across eight western states.
The New Currents
This edition of SSVEC Currents marks another change. This version is more streamlined (16 pages) and focuses solely on SSVEC’s service area. Many of the sections remain: co-op news on events and programs, utility and energy issues, and recipes. We’ve added one page listing community and non-profit events. Previously this listing was included on monthly bill inserts, but now will be found in the bimonthly edition of Currents. The Sierra Vista Herald is printing the new SSVEC Currents and selling advertising in the magazine to local member business. These ad sales
will offset a considerable amount of the publication’s production costs. In short, SSVEC will save money with each edition in the new format. We welcome your comments on the new Currents and suggestions on subjects for articles and ways to improve the magazine.
Social Media
About a year and a half ago SSVEC created a Facebook page to announce co-op programs and events, feature community activities, and show co-op employees at work on projects. We recently found an additional role for Facebook posts in announcing planned power outages. We posted a message to notify the 300 individuals who had “liked” us about an upcoming brief planned outage in Huachuca City. Then through a process known as “promoting” we were able to expand the message to Facebook members on in the Huachuca City zip code area. We also found that several people shared the post and as a result approximately 4,000 individuals viewed the announcement. This is an impressive “reach” of the message for a very modest price, and we see this as another effective communication tool for announcing power outages. We’ll continue to send public service announcements to newspapers, post flyers in public places within the community (post office, schools, and convenience marts) and, in the case of extended planned outages, use direct mail. But this positive experience has reinforced the value of social media to get important messages out to our members. To get regular posts from SSVEC, “like” us at www.facebook.com/ssvec. az.
ENERGY MANAGEMENT
by David Bane ssvec SunWatts Program Manager Recently there has been a lot of news coverage involving renewable energy, especially solar photovoltaic (PV) and hence a lot of information … some accurate and some not. Over the next few editions of Currents, we will be exploring the world of solar PV.
What is solar PV?
Solar PV is the technology that converts a portion of the sun’s light into electricity. It is important to know that the conversion into electrical energy involves light and not heat. In fact, heat is not a friend of your solar PV panel; high temperatures actually lower the energy output of the panels. The panels can produce as much power in the winter with less sunlight as they do in the summer with longer days and higher temperatures. The semi-conducting material in the PV panel produces a low voltage direct current (DC) that must be converted to high voltage alternating current (AC) that you can use in your home. This conversion is accomplished by an inverter, which can be a large unit that converts the output of a large group of solar panels to the 120 volts AC for your home, or at each individual panel by using what is typically called a “micro-inverter.” Both inverter options have strengths and weaknesses and should be carefully considered in relation to your specific installation. Both types of inverters need a “reference” voltage provided by SSVEC to work. So with grid
connected PV you won’t have electricity in the event of a power outage even though you have solar panels. The fuel to operate the PV system (sunlight) is free but you have to buy or lease the equipment to make electricity. If someone is telling you solar PV is free they are not telling you the entire story. Until someone “gives” you the PV system you are “pre-purchasing” the expected output of the PV system over its lifetime.
basics
Where do I start?
Since PV needs sunlight you first have to determine where you can place the solar panels with a good southern exposure. This will maximize your energy production. You can place panels facing east or west, but it lowers your ability to produce energy. That means you have to install more panels or accept a system that isn’t as efficient (more cost to you) to get the same energy as south- facing panels. You should also avoid shading from trees and adjacent buildings when looking at the location for the panels.
How do I size my system?
Next you need to determine how much PV energy you want to produce. Do you want to offset all your energy needs or just a portion? SSVEC has all your energy records at hand so you can get a “net zero” sizing report which will provide you and your contractor with a good starting point for discussion. The definition of “net zero” is your system produces all the kWh you use in a one-year period.
The net zero report will provide you with a recommended and a maximum sizing. (The maximum size is based on Arizona Corporation Commission regulations.) Using these two sizing numbers your contractor(s) must then determine whether you have enough physical space for the panels. You don’t have to install the recommended or the maximum size system. We suggest you install a system that matches your budget and fits on your home. Panels can be mounted on your roof or “ground” mounted if you have lots of empty space around your home. To get full value of PV you want the maximum amount of light to shine on the system. The cost of PV varies from contractor to contractor, so it is in your best interest to get multiple bids. Ask the contractor for references and don’t hesitate to call the customers and ask how their systems are working. Most PV owners are happy to share their experiences with future PV owners.
SSVEC renewable energy program
When you consider whether to install solar PV, check out SSVEC’s approved incentive solar programs. SSVEC has provided a PV incentive to encourage installations since 2005 and will offer an incentive for the foreseeable future. The incentive (or rebate) available today is $0.25 per DC watt with a maximum incentive of $2,500 for residential systems. If you buy the system you can also take advantage of the tax credits. Application forms are on our website www.ssvec.org in the Renewable Energy section under the Energy Programs tab. In the next issue of Currents I will discuss leasing versus buying a solar PV system and the different types of inverters. The complete series of articles on Solar PV can be found on SSVEC’s website at www.ssvec. org.
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A Voice for Electric Cooperatives and Their Members By Geoff Oldfather Communications, Marketing and Public Relations Manager • Arizona's G&T Cooperatives/AEPCO When it comes to conversations about critical issues that affect our lives, there’s still only one good way to do it: face-to-face, looking at the person on the other side of the table. In the conversations I’m talking about, there’s a lot at stake – nothing less than the future of the electric power SSVEC provides to you and your community. That’s why board members, managers and members of your electric cooperative and Arizona’s Generation and Transmission (G&T) Cooperatives will be at the state capitol in Phoenix this month having face-to-face conversations with state lawmakers about issues that affect how we generate, transmit and distribute the electric power rural Arizonans need for their homes and businesses, their farms and ranches. One of the challenges we have is educating a majority of lawmakers who do not have electric co-op service territories in their district. Unfortunately, the state legislators who do and are familiar with rural electric co-op issues are in a minority and the number is shrinking with each election cycle. This makes it even more important that we sit down and have that personal contact with legislators who don’t know our issues and don’t understand the impact their votes can have on rural Arizona residents. The bottom line is simple: bills are introduced each year that can impact rural electric co-ops and the cost of generating, transmitting and distributing electricity.
Geoff Oldfather
Creden Huber (right), CEO of Sulphur Springs Valley Electric Cooperative, discusses co-op issues with Dwight Whitley, former legal counsel for Arizona’s G&T Cooperatives, as the two men prepare to meet with state legislators during the annual legislative visits at the state capitol in Phoenix.
Without our annual trek to the capitol some of those bills could have negative impacts on you, the people who use that rural electric power. As we prepare for another legislative session, there is always the question of the role state legislators should play in setting energy policy for Arizona. For most utilities in the state it is the Arizona Corporation Commission that determines rates and sets policy, not the legislature. What is the role of state government in our energy future? How much effort and taxpayer dollars – money that comes from you and me – should go toward supporting and
developing renewable sources of energy? What should those sources be – solar, wind, geothermal? What legislation will help ensure a reliable supply of conventional, base load generation from fuels such as coal and natural gas? These are all important questions and issues. Generating, transmitting and distributing electric power to rural Arizona families, businesses, farms, ranches and rural industries is an extremely complex and costly enterprise. Your rural notfor-profit, member-owned rural electric cooperative works every day to deliver reliable, safe and affordable power, and we want to
keep it doing so. After all this discussion about our role with state legislators, there’s one more thing we need. You. Contact your state legislators and let them know you support your rural electric cooperative’s efforts to keep electricity safe, reliable and affordable. On the national level, get involved with one click of the mouse at www. Action.coop. Send a message to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency urging fair and affordable regulation. Take a few moments to get involved. Join us in the conversation.
7
Energy Audits
Cutting Your Kilowatt-Hours energy audits save homes, businesses money By Derek jordan herald/review
I
t may not make sense for a company to have a goal of encouraging its customers to consume as little of its service as possible, but that is exactly what Sulphur Springs Valley Electric Cooperative (SSVEC) has in mind by offering its free home and business energy audits. “Being that we’re member owned, and not for profit, my salary and the salary of the executives are not based on sales goals. In an invester-run utility, the more energy they sell, the more money they make, the more money they can give their stockholders. We don’t have that mindset,” said David Bane, key accounts manager for SSVEC. Keeping co-op members in business is good for the health of the co-op and the community. Melissa Marshall • Herald/Review Technician Steve Lindsey shares tips on lowering a monthly electric bill with Gary Shafranski. “If I can cut a business’s electricity expense by $100 a month, then that’s $100 that goes Cooperative (AEPCO) and the All of this serves to explain why conditioning and cooling, things back into the member-owned remaining 20 percent, if needed, SSVEC started offering home like that.” community, and it’s good for on the open market. energy audits to its members about Different considerations are everybody,” Bane said. “It’s much “AEPCO acts as an agent for two decades ago. taken in depending on whether easier to keep a business in us. If for some reason we don’t In that time, energy use audits the audit is for a residence or a business, than to actively recruit a need all of our electricity in that for businesses have also been business. business to replace one that’s gone particular moment, they throw it instituted help some of the co-ops “Business are a different animal. out of business.” on the market and sell it for us. We biggest energy users find ways The thermal envelope isn’t The cooperative never may make money, or we just may to minimize the impact that nearly as important, because in purchases more electricity than not lose as much money.” electricity use has on their bottom a restaurant, you’ve got people the demand from its members Either option is better than not line. coming and going all the time.” requires. Therefore, if demand using the electricity at all due to a “When you’re talking about For most restaurants, heating at the member level drops due lack of demand, and saves the coan audit, you’re really looking and cooling are not their driving to increased efficiencies, that op money. at the thermal characteristics of cost factors. Instead, Bane said, translates to less power that needs “If I can get one person to a building. So, where’s the heat “What’s driving their cost is their to be purchased, and less cost to conserve a little bit, I can use those going or coming in?” he said. walk-in refrigerator, their cooking. SSVEC. kilowatt hours for somebody else, “Once you stop the heat from That’s the energy cost that’s Currently, SSVEC purchases and I don’t have to go to that 20 moving, then you can look at how driving them.” 80 percent of its electricity from percent on the open market to fill to control it. So then you look Lighting can also have a the Arizona Electric Power in the gaps,” Bane said. at high efficiency heating, air substantial impact. Residential 8
Energy Audits
“If I can cut a business’s electricity expense by $100 a month, then that’s $100 that goes back into the member-owned community, and it’s good for everybody.” David Bane, key accounts manager for SSVEC. lights are used rarely compared to that of a business, which are typically on 24-hours a day. That was illustrated at a recent business energy audit at Haymore Plaza, where co-owners Steven and Gary Haymore met with Bane to learn what steps they could take to make their energy use more efficient. “Nowadays with tenants, some are working around the world, so they’re in here in the middle of the night, any time of day,” Steven Haymore said. Some of those same tenants equipment that needs to remain in temperaturecontrolled environments, which also place unique demands on heating and cooling systems. “We have a number of tenants that have worldwide servers right here in the building, so those things have to be manned. They can’t get over certain temperatures at any time,” Gary Haymore said. With approximately 45,000 square-feet of leasable space, and an estimated 900 light fixtures, Haymore Plaza — and other businesses like it — would benefit from a room-by-room lighting audit by a performance contractor, Bane said. Typically, these contractors offer finance packages that match the savings from proposed lighting upgrades, which, while having an upfront cost to the client, will also generate savings in
ongoing energy costs. “We’re interested in anything that can save us money,” Gary Haymore said. That, Bane said, is the point. “That’s our goal. The reason we advertise these audits is to help you save money,” he said. Steven Haymore saw similarities in SSVEC’s goals and his own, as a CPA. “It doesn’t do me any good to put my clients out of business. I have an investment in them to make them productive so that I can be as well,” he said. “We’re trying to gather facts and information so that we can try to be more productive as a business,” Steve Haymore said. The next day saw SSVEC Head Energy Auditor Steve Lindsey head out to Hereford for the residential version of the energy audit. Homeowner Gary Shafranski said he was interested in finding ways to reduce his energy consumption by targeting things like his appliances and insulation in the walls. “I was thinking about hiring a company to come in and maybe check my windows, check my doors and see whatever they could do to help me reduce energy use. I also realized, because of the number of appliances I have, that maybe I should sell some of them and buy one larger one, instead of having, for example, the small refrigerator in my game room. So I was See CUTTING Page 10
Melissa Marshall • Herald/Review
SSVEC Technician, Steve Lindsey and homeowner Gary Shafranski, discuss ways to conserve energy, during a home energy audit.
9
energy audits
energy audits
Melissa Marshall • Herald/Review
Steven L. Haymore, co-owner of Haymore Plaza, sits with SSVEC Key Accounts Manager, David Bane during an energy audit in November. CUTTING from Page 9
looking for anything, and when this opportunity came to me, I said ‘This is great’,” Shafranski said. With a business in property rentals, Shafranski said he often ends up with additional appliances, such as refrigerators, which he’ll make use of in his own home. These appliances will certainly add up when it comes time to pay the electricity bill, Lindsey said. “I have seen older model refrigerators use $50 of electricity a month,” he said.
10
While the number of fixtures and appliances may be more than the typical amount, the questions Shafranski had were similar to many audits. “I’ve been trying to figure out how I’m going to lower the bill, but like you said, I’ve got a lot of stuff, so which way am I going to go?” he asked. One easy and free method for homeowners like Shafranski to determine which appliances are using the most energy is to go to their local library and ask to rent a device called a Kill A Watt.
The devices plug into a wall outlet along with an appliance and can provide residents with a reading of how much electricity that particular appliance is using. SSVEC provided these devices to most local libraries in Cochise County, Lindsey said. “You can get them from the library. You can check them out like a book,” he said. For more information on free energy audits for the home or business offered by Sulphur Springs Valley Electric Cooperative, visit www.ssvec.org.
SSVEC has hired and trained experienced energy auditors. These energy auditors will visit your home or business and conduct an in-depth energy audit and make specific recommendations on what the home or business owner can do to decrease electric consumption. In addition, our energy auditors will, where possible, match the recommendations to existing or planned SSVEC programs. Some of the existing programs include zero interest loans for doors, windows, and insulation and rebates for various products. Also included are projects that can be done for little or no cost. If you are interested in additional information, please call (520) 515-3497 or email Energyaudits@ssvec.com and you will receive a call to schedule an appointment.
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SSVEC to Send Twelve Students to Washington, D.C., in June 2014 students to develop a marketing Faglie, Paul Houston, Alayna Twelve high school juniors will campaign on renewable energy washington be touring the nation’s capital Roberts, Amanda Tran, and “Going Green.” Eighteen stuSavannah Foster, Grace for one week this next summer youth tour as winners of Sulphur Springs McGuire, NaRayah Runyon dents whose essays scored highest were invited to the final stage and Caylin Tibbetts. Valley Electric Cooperawinners of competition on the afternoon The cooperative’s tive’s (SSVEC’s) 34th • Christen Bowen Benson High School • Devin Calley Benson High School • Casandra Bowler Tombstone High School • Diana Cisneros Buena High School • Anika Faglie Buena High School • Paul Houston Buena High School • Alayna Roberts Buena High School • Amanda Tran Buena High School • Savannah Foster Patagonia High School • Grace McGuire Patagonia High School • NaRayah Runyon Valley Union High School • Caylin Tibbetts San Simon High School 12
annual Washington Youth Tour competition. The students were recognized on Thursday evening, November 20 following a dinner honoring them and their parents at Benson High School in Benson, Arizona. The students who earned allexpense-paid trips next June to Washington, D.C., are Christen Bowen, Devin Calley, Casandra Bowler, Diana Cisneros, Anika
Washington Youth Tour program is open to all high school juniors in SSVEC’s service area. SSVEC personnel visited the nine high schools served by the cooperative in September, explained the program and left study materials for a preliminary test. Those who scored highest on this test at each high school moved to the next level of competition—an essay. This year’s essay topic asked
Student finalist Grace McGuire with the interview judges Geoff Oldfather, Robin Fenn, Les Boegemann and Tom Larimer.
of November 20. The students took a second test covering more complex materials about SSVEC, cooperatives, energy, and electricity terminology, and each student was interviewed by a panel of four judges. The six students who advanced to the final competition but did not win the trip, earned $200 each for their efforts. These students are Michael Clark, Rebecca Jarvis, Ashleigh Dahlstrom, Cody Smith, Dalaney Desmarais and Wesley Myers. Following the dinner and prior to the announcement of the winners, Washington Youth Tour Coordinator Marcus Harston explained details of the Washington Youth Tour program and the upcoming trip. He also introduced SSVEC Board President Kathy Thatcher and Directors Dan Barrera, Sandra Huntington, David Luna, Gene Manring and Leslie Thompson. Harston recognized Buena High School Teacher Barbara Williams for her years of cooperation in promoting the program. Through her coordination of the Youth Tour presentations in the school, dozens of students from Buena High School have attended the tour. Harston presented her a plaque in appreciation of her efforts. Harston also explained that the Youth Tour program is funded by the SSVEC Foundation. He explained that as a cooperative, SSVEC periodically returns money to its members. When those members move out of the
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Six of the 2014 Washington Youth Tour Finalists. Back row, left to right: Cody Smith (Willcox), Wesley Myers (Bowie), and Michael Clark (San Simon); front row, left to right: Rebecca Jarvis (San Simon), Ashleigh Dahlstrom (Willcox) and Dalaney Desmarais (Benson)
area and leave no forwarding address, SSVEC transfers the money to the SSVEC Foundation. He stated, “This is money that was previously forfeited to the state of Arizona. With the establishment of the Foundation in 1984, the cooperative sponsors not only the Washington Youth Tour, but the annual Youth Engineering and Science Fair and the SSVEC Foundation Scholarship program.” Roxanne Williams, member services assistant, announced the results of the competition, and SSVEC Board President Thatcher presented the students with plaques recognizing their efforts. Interview judges were Les Boegemann, Benson attorney (and a former Youth Tour participant); Robin Fenn,
teacher at Pomerene Elementary School who had previously taught at St. David High School and supported the Washington Youth Tour program for several years; Tom Larimer owner-operator of Chiricahua Stage Lines; and Geoff Oldfather, Communications and Public Relations for Sierra Southwest Cooperative Services. Chaperones for this year’s tour are Pat Eversole, SSVEC journeyman lineman, and his wife Dana Eversole, SSVEC accounting specialist. Students and chaperones will tour Washington, D.C., June 12-19, 2014.
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In the Kitchen
LOCAL COOKS SHARE RECIPES Surprise Bread and/or Muffins
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Cheryl Sauter, Sierra Vista (This is very tasty!) 1 cup boiling water 1 cup raisins 3 eggs 2 cups sugar 1 cup vegetable oil 1 can (15 or 16 oz.) pork and beans, undrained 3 cups flour (we prefer 2 cups unbleached flour plus 1 cup whole wheat flour) ½ tsp baking powder 1 tsp baking soda 1 tsp cinnamon 1 tsp salt 1 tsp vanilla 1 cup chopped nuts (optional) drained raisins Pour boiling water over raisins and let stand. Using an electric mixer and a very large mixing bowl, beat eggs and sugar until light colored. Add oil and pork and beans, mixing until beans are well mashed. Stir next five ingredients together and add to bean mixture. Add vanilla, nuts, and drained raisins to mixture, mixing well. Divide among three large or six small well-greased loaf pans or paper-lined muffin cups. (If I make a combination of breads and muffins, I bake the muffins first; then turn down the oven temperature and bake the bread.) Bake as follows: Thirty to 36 muffins 400°F for 15 minutes Up to three large pans 350°F for 45 to 50 minutes. Up to six small pans 350°F for about 30 minutes. Muffins do not need to be cooled before removing from the pans. Cool breads in pan about 10 minutes; then, invert on cake racks to finish cooling. Flavor seems better when thoroughly cooled loaves are wrapped in plastic wrap and then in foil. Either store overnight on a countertop or in the refrigerator. If keeping longer, store in the freezer. Adapted from RoVer’s Roost Cookbook
Best Ever!!! Banana Cake
Betty Haling, Sierra Vista Banana Cake 9x12 greased and floured pan Pre-heat oven to 270°F 3/4 cup soft butter 2 cups sugar 3 large eggs 2 tsps vanilla 1 1/2 cups ripe bananas (can be up to 2 cups) 2 tsps lemon juice 3 cups flour 1 1/2 tsps baking soda 1/4 tsp salt 1 1/2 cups buttermilk Frosting Whip together the following: 1/2 cup soft butter 8 oz. soft cream cheese 1 tsp vanilla ( I like to use almond flavoring) 3 1/2 cups powdered sugar With electric mixer, mix together butter, sugar, eggs and vanilla until nice and creamy.
Add bananas and vanilla and continue mixing until bananas are completely mixed in. Mix together the flour, soda and salt. Alternate adding dry ingredients and buttermilk until thoroughly mixed.
Bake 1 hour (longer if needed to done). Place in freezer from oven for 45 minutes.
Cheese Magic
Submitted by Joan Strom, Hereford 8 slices white bread with crusts removed (feed the crusts to the chickens, they love it) 1 and 1/2 lbs of cheddar cheese, grated (get a grandchild to do this it’s rather boring) 1 large pinch of onion powder (OK, so I’m not sure how big your fingers are ... it probably doesn’t matter) 1/2 tsp dry mustard beau monde (you can leave this out, I do) Salt Worcestershire sauce 1/4 tsp paprika 1/8 tsp cracked black pepper 1 rounded tsp brown sugar 1/4 cup dry vermouth (use sparingly I don’t want the martinis to suffer) 2 1/2 cups Half & Half (you could probably use milk, but it’s your problem if it doesn’t work out) 6 eggs beaten Butter — spread on bread and grease pan ( I shouldn’t have had to tell you that). Generously grease a 9x13 inch pan. Butter bread and cut into quarters. Arrange bread in bottom of dish. Put cheese on top. Mix eggs, liquids and seasonings. Pour over bread and cheese and let stand in refrigerator overnight or 24 hours. Two hours before baking, take out and let stand at room temperature. Bake at 300°F for 1 hour or a little more, until bubbling and nicely browned. This is delicious for a brunch with a spinach salad. (If you don’t like spinach, you’ll just have to figure out another salad). It can be left warming in the oven for a couple of hours if it is covered with foil after the original baking. Want to share a favorite recipe with our readers? Email your favorite recipes to recipes@svherald.com
calendar of events February 1, 2014
February 7-9
The deadline for the March issue of Currents featuring events for the months of April and May is February 2. Email information to wcrane@ssvec.com.
February 8
February 15
Cochise Cowboy Poetry and Music Gathering Journey Stories Celebration Sierra Vista, Arizona Sonoita, Ariz. A Smithsonian Museum on Main Street The 22nd Annual Gathering will be held in the Buena Performing Arts Center. More Event with live music, homemade than 50 artists from all over the U.S., foods, interactive displays, timeline Canada and Australia will perform in three exhibits and guest speakers celebrates westward and northward migration by major stage performances. In addition, there early pioneers. The event will be held at will be mini-concerts at the Arts Center the Bowman/Stradling History Center at throughout the day on Saturday. Pioneer Hall (Sonoita Fairgrounds) from Stage performances are on Friday and Saturday evenings at 7:00 p.m. and a Sunday 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Free admission, matinee at 1:00 p.m. The mini-concerts run free entertainment, free food. all day Saturday from 10:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. For more information, please go to Visit the website www.cowboypoets.com for updates on the event. Phone for www.patagoniapubliclibrary.org. information: (520) 266-0558 or (520) 249-3545.
Annual Nickel Sale and Raffle Pearce/Sunsites, Ariz. The fundraising event will be held at 5:00 p.m. at the Sunsites Community Center (on Treasure Road west of Highway 191). The event benefits the Stronghold Area Recreational Park adjacent to the community center. Hundreds of items for all ages are included in the sale. Food will be available for purchase.
Annual CANTER Dinner Dance Sierra Vista, Ariz. CANTER (Cochise Area Network of Therapeutic Equestrian Resources) is holding a fundraising dinner dance, “Hearts and Horses,” at the Elks Lodge in Sierra Vista. The night out will include dinner, dancing and a silent auction. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. Music is by Clayton, Sallee, and Company. To buy your $40 ticket to support therapeutic riding for those with disabilities or to donate to the Silent Auction, please call Sherry at (520) 378-2201 or Todd at (520) 678-1304.
February 22-23
March 1
A Celebration of Patchwork · Sierra Vista, Ariz. The Hummingbird Stitchers Quilt Show will be held at Buena High School (5225 E. Buena School Blvd.) from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Saturday and from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. on Sunday. Contact Sue Lee (800) 439-0098 for more information.
February 22-April 6
Smithsonian “Museum on Main Street” · Sierra Vista, Ariz. The Smithsonian is coming to Sierra Vista at the Henry Hauser Museum (2950 E. Tacoma Street). “Journey Stories” is a compelling Smithsonian “Museum on Main Street” exhibit in Golden K Kiwanis Club Used Book Sale · Sierra Vista, Ariz. collaboration with Arizona Humanities The Golden K Kiwanis Club is holding a used book sale fundraiser at the Mall of Sierra Council that demonstrates how evolvVista. (The hours will be regular Mall hours.) Proceeds will be used to provide support ing mobility has changed a young for local youth and community services for children. nation. For more information contact If you have any books for donation prior to the sale, a special box for donations will be Nancy.Krieski@sierravistaaz.gov or located at the Mall. phone (520) 439-2306.
March 1
March 1-2
11th Annual 1880s Historic Military Ball St. David, Arizona The popular 1880s Historic Military Ball is set to be better than ever this year with live music provided by the 4th Cavalry Regimental Band of Ft. Lowell, Arizona Territory, and will be held Saturday, March 1, 6:30 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. at St. David School, Hwy 80. Admission (adults $10 and youth $5) includes period refreshments. St. David Heritage Society members will be admitted free, and memberships are available at the door. Proceeds benefit St. David Schools’ Historic School and Auditorium Rehabilitation Project. For information, call Sue, (520) 720-4407; Judith, (520) 2553217; email saintdavidheritage@gmail.com; or see website www.saintdavidheritage.org.
March 8
Marty Robbins Parade and Tribute Concert · Willcox, Ariz. The Friends of Marty Robbins will hold a parade beginning at 10:00 a.m. on Railroad Avenue. The 23rd Annual Tribute Concert will begin at 5:00 p.m. at the Willcox High School Auditorium (240 N. Bisbee Avenue). Reserved front row seats are $20 per ticket; general admission is $15 per ticket on a first-come, first-seated basis. For more information, call (520) 766-1404.
Sierra Vista Community Chorus Concert · Sierra Vista, Ariz. Members of the Sierra Vista Community Chorus, under the direction of Sharon Keene, will present their 11th annual Sweet Treats and Swingin’ Sounds variety show. “Color Our World” will bring you great songs with names the colors of the rainbow. Tickets are only $8.00 per person and include entertainment, home made desserts and a beverage. Three shows will be presented at the Ethel Berger Center (2950 E. Tacoma Street). On Saturday there will be two shows: 2:00 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. On Sunday only one show will be presented at 2:00 p.m. Tickets may be purchased from chorus members beginning February 3 and will be available at the Oscar Yrun Center beginning February 17.
March 15
Willcox Cowbelles Annual Dinner All Dessert Night Fundraiser Dance · Willcox, Ariz. Willcox, Ariz. The annual dinner dance (Willcox Elks The fourth annual All Dessert Lodge at 247 E. Stewart Street) is a fundNight, sponsored by the Sulphur raiser for the Willcox Cowbelles MargueSprings Valley Historical Society, rite Cook Scholarship Fund. The social will be held from 6:00 p.m. to hour and silent auction begin at 5:30 8:00 p.m. at the Willcox p.m., the prime rib dinner is served at Community Center at 312 W. 6:30 p.m. followed by a live auction and Stewart Street. Tickets are $6.00 dancing to the music of “The Yarbrough for Historical Society members Band” from 8:00 p.m. until midnight. or $8.00 for the general public. Tickets for the dinner/dance are $40 per Tickets can be purchased from person and must be purchased by March any Historical Society member 1. Tickets for the dance only are $10 per or at the door. All proceeds will be used to continue our rewiring, lighting and reperson and are available at the door. modeling project for the Toggery building and the Chiricahua Regional Museum. For information call (520) 384-3123, (520) 384-3102 or (520) 384-3105.
March 21-22 SACA Home and Garden Show Sierra Vista, Ariz. You’ll find the latest in home improvement trends, remodeling ideas and outdoor living at Cochise County’s largest home show. Free admission to the public. Show hours are 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Friday and 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Saturday. Daily prize drawings every two hours. For more information please visit our website at www.sacahomeshow.com.
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