September 2023 Midwest Energy

You may not realize it, but your home is sitting on a free and renewable supply of energy. A WaterFurnace geothermal comfort system taps into the stored solar energy in your own backyard to provide savings of up to 70% on heating, cooling and hot water. That’s money in the bank and a smart investment in your family’s comfort. Contact your local WaterFurnace dealer today to learn how to tap into your buried treasure.

LOCAL WATERFURNACE DEALERS

Allendale

Allendale Htg & Clg (800)327-1937

allendaleheating.com

Bad Axe/Ubly

Cutting Edge Htg & Clg (989)551-0986

Berrien Springs

Waterfurnace Michiana (269)473-5667 gogreenmichgeo thermal.com

Big Rapids Stratz Htg & Clg, Inc. (231)796-3717 stratzgeocomfort.com

Clifford Orton Refrig & Htg (989)761-7691

sanduskygeothermal.com

Hart Adams Htg & Clg (231)873-2665

adamsheating cooling.com

Indian River

M&M Plmb & Htg (231)238-7201 mm-plumbing.com

Lansing Candor Mechanical (517)920-0890 candormechanical.com

Lowell Arctic Inc. Htg. & Clg. (616)897-4213 heatingcoolingonline.com

Mancelona Top Notch Htg, Clg, & Geothermal (231)350-8052 Topnotchheatandair.com

Michigan Center Comfort 1/Air Serv of Southern Michigan (517)764-1500 airserv.com/southernmichigan/

Mt Pleasant Walton Htg & Clg (989)772-4822 waltonheating.com

Muskegon Adams Htg & Clg (231)873-2665 adamsheatingcooling.co

Portland ESI Htg & Clg (517)647-6906 esiheating.com

Sunfield Mark Woodman Plmb & Htg (517)886-1138 mwphonline.com

Traverse City D&W Mechanical (231)941-1251 dwmechanical.com

Geofurnace Htg & Clg (231)943-1000 geofurnace.com

and it isn’t just corn.

YOUR

Michigan’s Electric Cooperatives

EXECUTIVE EDITOR: Casey Clark

EDITOR: Christine Dorr

GRAPHIC DESIGNER: Karreen Bird

RECIPE EDITOR: Christin McKamey

COPY EDITOR: Yvette Pecha

CONTRIBUTING EDITOR: Emily Haines Lloyd

PUBLISHER: Michigan Electric Cooperative Association

Michigan Country Lines, USPS-591-710, is published monthly, except August and December, with periodicals postage paid at Lansing, Mich., and additional offices. It is the official publication of the Michigan Electric Cooperative Association, 201 Townsend St., Suite 900, Lansing, MI 48933. Subscriptions are authorized for members of Alger Delta, Cherryland, Great Lakes, HomeWorks Tri-County, Midwest Energy & Communications, Ontonagon, Presque Isle, and Thumb electric cooperatives by their boards of directors.

Postmaster: Send all UAA to CFS.

Association Officers: Tom Sobeck, Presque Isle Electric & Gas Co-op, chairman; Gabe Schneider, Cherryland Electric Cooperative, vice chairman; Chris O’Neill, HomeWorks TriCounty Cooperative, secretary-treasurer; Craig Borr, president and CEO.

CONTACT US/LETTERS TO EDITOR: Michigan Country Lines

201 Townsend St., Suite 900 Lansing, MI 48933 248-534-7358 editor@countrylines.com

CHANGE OF ADDRESS: Please notify your electric cooperative. See page 4 for contact information.

The appearance of advertising does not constitute an endorsement of the products or services advertised.

Michigan Country Lines, Your Communications Partner

For more than 40 years, our co-op members have received Michigan Country Lines because it is the most effective and economical way to share information. Michigan Country Lines keeps members up-to-date about everything going on within their electric co-op. Issues contain news about co-op services, director elections, member meetings, and management decisions that members need to know about as owners of the co-op. The magazine also includes legal notices that would otherwise have to be placed in local media at a substantial cost. Sending Michigan Country Lines helps the co-op fulfill one of its essential principles—to educate and communicate openly with its members. The board of directors authorizes the co-op to subscribe to Michigan Country Lines on behalf of each member at an average cost of $4.15 per year, paid as part of members’ electric bills. The current magazine cost is 52 cents per copy. Michigan Country Lines is published, at cost, by the Michigan Electric Cooperative Association in Lansing. As always, we welcome your comments at editor@meca.coop.

#micoopcommunity

Instagram contest winner Capturing Michigan’s beautiful beach treasures @frankfort_moments (Kathy Smith)

6 HARTWICK PINES STATE PARK: EVADING THE AXE Featuring majestic trees over 160 feet tall, the park is both an inspirational sanctuary and a testament to the transformative power of human industry.

10 MI CO-OP KITCHEN

Chocolate Desserts: decadent desserts that will satisfy any sweet tooth.

14 GREAT EDUCATION ON THE GREAT LAKES

The Great Lakes Maritime Academy, one of only six such schools in the country, prepares students for life at sea.

18 GUEST COLUMN Always Do the Right Thing: A GLE member shares his father’s words to live by.

MI Co-op Community

To enter contests, submit reader content & more, visit countrylines.com/community

Instagram Contest

Use #micoopcommunity for a chance to be featured here and on our Instagram account. Win $100 for photos published!

Recipe Contest

See details on page 10. Vegetarian due Nov. 1. Win a $100 bill credit!

Guest Column

Share your fondest memories and stories. Win $200 for stories published. Visit countrylines.com/community to submit. Win $200 for stories published!

Mystery Photo

See details on page 18. Win a $100 bill credit!

teammidwest.com

CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS AND CASSOPOLIS SOLUTIONS CENTER

60590 Decatur Road, Cassopolis, MI 49031

M–F 8 a.m.–5 p.m.

PAW PAW SOLUTIONS CENTER

59825 S. LaGrave Street, Paw Paw, MI 49079

M–F 8 a.m.–5 p.m.

Tecumseh Solutions Center

5050 South Occidental Hwy., Tecumseh, MI 49286

M–F 8 a.m.–5 p.m.

CONTACT US

Midwest Energy & Communications 800-492-5989 teammidwest.com

Email: info@teammidwest.com

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Clarence “Topper” Barth, Chairperson, Three Rivers 269-279-9233

Clarence.Barth@teammidwest.com

Ben Russell, Vice Chairperson, Constantine 269-506-1590

Ben.Russell@teammidwest.com

Ron Armstrong, Secretary, Lawton 269-299-0443

Ron.Armstrong@teammidwest.com

John Green, Treasurer, Dowagiac 269-470-2816

John.Green@teammidwest.com

Dan Bodette, Wauseon 419-337-8007

Dan.Bodette@teammidwest.com

Gerry Bundle, Cassopolis 269-414-0164

Gerry.Bundle@teammidwest.com

Erika Escue-Cadieux, Onsted 419-346-1088

erika.escue-cadieux@teammidwest.com

Fred Turk, Decatur 269-423-7762

Fred.Turk@teammidwest.com

Jim Wiseley, Bloomingdale 269-760-4619

Jim.Wiseley@teammidwest.com

PRESIDENT/CEO: Robert Hance

DIRECTOR, CORPORATE COMMUNICATIONS & MARKETING: Amy Pales

COMMUNICATIONS SPECIALIST: Grant Zamora

Midwest Energy & Communications is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

The Greenest Energy May Surprise You

Robert Hance, President/CEO

Irecently watched Oliver Stone’s new documentary “Nuclear Now,” which posits nuclear energy as a replacement for fossil fuels for the generation of electricity. The timing of this film is perfect given the issues our nation faces with electric reliability resulting from the transition to clean energy. We need adequate, reliable replacements for fossil fuel plants, and nuclear provides a compelling option.

While I don’t embrace everything Stone says, I agree with his remark that the time has come to have serious conversations about this often-overlooked energy source. I’ve long known about the benefits of nuclear power generation, and it’s time I share that with you.

For starters, did you know that nuclear is the greenest form of energy available? It is zero emission. Zero. Fission splits uranium atoms, releasing heat that creates steam to spin turbines. These turbines then generate electricity, all without the by-products that come with fossil fuels. The by-product is steam. That’s all.

In fact, the Nuclear Energy Institute found that nuclear was responsible for avoiding 476 million metric tons of CO2 emissions in 2019, with wind avoiding 187 million metric tons. Nuclear energy currently makes up about 52% of America’s clean energy portfolio, with the next largest source being wind at 22%. Our regional average percentage is around 25-26%.

It is also very reliable and offers something sun and wind currently can’t: 24/7 generation capabilities. Last year, nuclear fuel met 92.6% of its maximum possible energy production. Compare this with 47.8% for coal and 36.1% for wind, according to the Energy Information Administration.

Another significant advantage of nuclear is how dense the fuel is. The Department of Energy says one uranium pellet about one inch tall can produce the same amount of energy as 120 gallons of oil, 17,000 cubic feet of natural gas, or one metric ton of coal. That makes it highly efficient, with very little waste. Spent nuclear fuel is safely stored at designated sites where it cannot cause harm.

Let’s not forget diversity. The old adage, “Don’t put all your eggs in one basket,” applies here. A diverse fuel mix is a dependable fuel mix. When the sun isn’t shining, or the wind isn’t blowing, nuclear can meet the demand.

Last, I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention safety, and of course, that is something to be taken very seriously. However, nuclear energy is a lot safer than most people realize. Research on new advanced reactor technologies shows serious promise for even safer and more efficient operations.

The bottom line is that if our goal is carbon-free power generation, then nuclear energy should be one of the ways in which we get there.

“A diverse fuel mix is a dependable fuel mix. When the sun isn’t shining, or the wind isn’t blowing, nuclear can meet the demand.”

UPCOMING DIRECTOR ELECTIONS

One of the seven guiding principles of cooperatives is democratic member control. We are governed by a ninemember board of directors, and each is elected to serve a three-year term. Directors are elected by and represent those who live in their district, and they make critical decisions on behalf of all co-op members.

Three board seats are up for election next year. If you are a co-op electric customer interested in serving, a candidate application packet will be made available online from Oct. 1 to Dec. 1. Fill out the required forms and secure 30 or more valid co-op customer signatures. Your completed packet must be returned to our Cassopolis office by 5 p.m. EST on Dec. 1 to be vetted. If you meet all director qualifications at teammidwest.com/directorrequirements, you will be placed on the ballot for one of the three terms ending in April 2027. Ballots will be mailed and/or emailed to the district members on Jan. 17, 2024, and must be submitted by Feb. 14. Board members must reside in the district they represent.

Please note that exact dates are subject to change.

Seats in Districts 3, 4, and 8 will be up for election. District 3 is currently represented by Ron Armstrong of Lawton. The district includes Antwerp, Oshtemo, Portage, Prairie Ronde, and Texas townships.

District 4 is currently represented by Clarence “Topper” Barth of Three Rivers. The district includes Brady, Fabius, Flowerfield, Leonidas, Lockport, Mendon, Newberg, Park, Schoolcraft, and Wakeshma Townships.

District 8 is currently represented by Erika Escue-Cadieux of Onsted. The district includes Cambridge, Clinton, Franklin, Raisin, Ridgeway, Tecumseh, and Woodstock townships.

All three current directors plan to run for re-election.

For more information about serving on the board of directors, please call the cooperative at 800-492-5989 or send an email to board.inquiries@teammidwest.com.

Vote for Your Director Electronically

You will have the opportunity to vote electronically if you choose. You will receive an email from the MEC election coordinator with instructions on the voting process on or around Jan. 17. Please verify that we have the correct email address on file by logging into SmartHub and going to My Profile> My Information. You can also call us at 800-4925989. Please verify your information by Dec. 8.

In the meantime, please add noreply@directvote.net as an approved sender in your email account. Since every email provider is unique, we recommend that you refer to the support section of your email account for instructions on how to do this.

Board Assigns 2022 Patronage Capital

As an electric cooperative, we are different from our investor-owned counterparts in that our consumers, through their patronage, provide capital for the co-op. We allocate our excess operating margin to customers in a patronage account that is determined by how much electricity you use.

Capital credits do not represent “cash in the bank” and are not disbursed annually. They are disbursed when approved by the board of directors. Most often though, the money is disbursed upon the death of the customer. When that occurs, a legal representative can request the retirement of the account on a discounted basis.

The board has authorized the allocation of the 2022 net margin totaling $15,422,166.54. Your portion of this allocation is not payable at this time. It does not represent a reduction of your electric bill but rather indicates your equity share in our cooperative’s 2022 margin.

Please notify us of any address changes so we can forward payments when patronage capital is retired. If a current or former customer fails to claim cash retirement of patronage capital or other payment from the cooperative within five years after payment has been made available at the last known address, that payment will be added to the cooperative’s general fund.

Clarence “Topper” Barth Erika Escue-Cadieux Ron Armstrong

Hartwick Pines State Park

Evading the Axe

By Yvette Pecha

Featuring majestic trees over 160 feet tall, the park is both an inspirational sanctuary and a testament to the transformative power of human industry.

Before being known for automobiles, Michigan was a primary hub in the logging industry. In fact, it was the nation’s leading lumber-producing state from 1860 until 1910. Logging—particularly that of pine trees—played a vital role in developing the country, but it devastated the landscape. It is estimated that less than 1% of the old growth forests that were here when European settlers arrived remain in the eastern U.S. However, there are still places where you can go and see the forest as those settlers did—majestic, towering, and seemingly infinite—and one of them happens to be in Grayling.

Hartwick Pines State Park features roughly 49 acres of old growth forest, which is the largest stand in the Lower Peninsula. Hillary Pine, the park’s historian, says it consists primarily of white/red pine and eastern hemlock trees that are anywhere from 350 to 425 years old. With heights of over 160 feet, the trees are a historic spectacle that have been drawing sightseers for almost 100 years. “We have a lot of generational visitors,” Pine said. “People who used to come here with their grandparents are now bringing grandkids of their own.” A question Pine hears a lot is “Where’s the big tree?”—a reference to the once tallest tree in the forest, the Monarch, which was a 155-foottall white pine that people earnestly hugged for photo ops. Sadly, the Monarch perished after a windstorm, but there are plenty of other old, giant trees waiting to have their pictures taken—and they have Karen Hartwick to thank for it.

Hartwick bought 8,000 acres of property that included the grove of old growth in 1927. She then donated the land to the state with the stipulation that it be a memorial to her late husband, Edward Hartwick, a lumberman who died of illness in World War I. The contract also dictated that no more trees would be cut, there would be a road to the park, a structure would be built in Edward’s memory, and a logging museum would be established. The park opened in

1928 and, with time, met all of Karen’s wishes. There is a museum that depicts life in a late 1800s logging camp, and the Hartwick Pines Memorial Building, a rustic, lodge-style building, pays tribute to Edward.

Other buildings on the property include a chapel that can be rented out for weddings and the Visitor’s Center— which is where you’ll find longtime park interpreter Craig Kasmer, who leads presentations and trail tours. Kasmer, who—like his parents before him— once hugged the Monarch, echoes Pine’s statement that the park is about family connection. He says one of his favorite things is meeting visitors who tell him they remember him from a tour they took when they were kids—many of them particularly remember him saying that not everything is a pine cone. “All conifers have cones, but pine cones are only on pine trees. There are also hemlock cones, spruce cones, fir cones, etc.,” he said. Kasmer says it’s important to make this distinction and for people to know the proper names of things. “If you know the name of something, you care for it more. You learn the name of that flower, the name of that bird, and you like it more and want to know more about it.” he said.

The park also features a 21-mile network of all-season trails perfect for walking, biking, cross-country skiing, and snowshoeing. Pine says the 1.25mile Old Growth Forest Trail, which is paved and fully accessible, is the most popular, as visitors get to see the old growth trees up close. Other popular activities include birding (the evening grosbeak is one rare bird that can be seen); viewing other wildlife such as bobcats, deer, turkeys, otters, minks, foxes, and the occasional bear; and fishing, canoeing, or kayaking in the four lakes onsite. The two biggest of which—Bright and Glory—are named after Karen Hartwick’s father’s loghauling oxen team. The grounds also house a 100-site seasonal campground.

Whatever you come to the park for, prepare to be awed. Pine, who has been employed at Hartwick Pines for seven years, says she’s still amazed. “As a historian—knowing the effect that the logging era had on Michigan’s forest and the widespread devastation from cutting and fire—the fact that this small section of old growth remained is truly remarkable,” she said. “It’s a wonderful pocket where you can go see what most of northern Michigan used to look like.”

Visitor Center hours: Memorial Day–Labor Day: open daily, 9 a.m.–5 p.m.

Sept.–Oct.: open daily, 9 a.m.–4 p.m.

Nov.–April: weekends only, 9 a.m.–4 p.m.

Logging Museum hours: Memorial Day–Labor Day: open daily, 9 a.m.–5 p.m.

May, Sept.–Oct.: open daily, 9 a.m.–4 p.m.

Nov.–April: CLOSED

For more information: /HartwickPinesStatePark/

michigan.gov/dnr/places/ v-centers/hartwick

“It’s a wonderful pocket where you can go see what most of northern Michigan used to look like.”

A Guide to Generators & Battery Backups

Backup power supplies can help you combat outages and interruptions and keep your most important equipment functional. Which type is right for you?

Before You Get Started: Read This First

If a generator isn’t installed properly, it can “backfeed”— this is when electricity flows in the reverse direction from its normal flow. It’s a dangerous, and potentially deadly, situation for our crews restoring power.

To prevent dangerous backfeeding, purchase a GenerLink and we will install it for you. Visit generlink.com to get started. Otherwise, a qualified electrician must install a transfer switch.

As with any equipment, read and adhere to the manufacturer’s instructions for safe operation.

Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) systems can briefly protect against surges or interruptions. A UPS will stop important machines like oxygen tanks or computers from resetting when the power blinks or when voltage drops below an acceptable level. However, they aren't intended to provide extended backup for running equipment.

Portable power stations are like giant rechargeable batteries. They don’t use gas or propane, and you can charge them when they’re not in use, but they’re also not as powerful as other options, and there’s no way to recharge them without another source of power. Portable power stations can typically be used for a few small items like your phone or laptop or for a couple of your most crucial appliances, like your refrigerator.

Inverter generators generate their own power from fuel. Inverters are quieter than most generators and produce fewer emissions, but they usually cost more because of their engine, which is more complex and more efficient. A small inverter has an output similar to a portable power station, while midsize to large inverters can power your air conditioning or space heater in addition to your fridge and smaller items.

Portable generators are usually both less expensive and less efficient than inverters, with a similar output to a large

inverter. With a portable generator, you can usually expect to keep your fridge and A/C on, potentially with a few other necessities like your well pump, sump pump, some of your lights, or even an electric stovetop range.

Home standby generators are the big guns. At their most powerful, they more than double the output of portable generators and can keep everything in your home running. The main tradeoff is cost—not only will you normally pay a few thousand dollars for the generator, but you’ll also have to pay for installation, which can double the base price.

Which One Is Right for You?

First, determine what you want to keep using when the power goes out. Then, check the wattages for each of those devices or appliances. Adding these up will give you an idea of what kind of output to look for.

Don’t forget that some appliances use more power as they’re turning back on, which can potentially overpower your generator.

Where To Shop

Talk to an electrician for recommendations on wholehome generators. Search online retailers for other backup power sources.

Please Let Us Know You Have a Generator

If you recently installed a generator or if you’ve had one for a while and haven’t notified us, please call us at 800.492.5989. We will add a note to your account that will make our crews aware of your equipment prior to making repairs.

Imagination Library Mails Free Books to Kids

Did you know Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library mails free age-appropriate books to kids every month until they’re 5 years old? The singer/ songwriter started the program in 1995 in her home county in east Tennessee, inspired by her own father’s inability to read or write. Since then, community affiliates in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Australia, and the Republic of Ireland have worked with the program to enroll more than 2.5 million kids of all income levels, with more than 211 million books gifted.

A Huge Benefit for Local Kids

In southern Michigan, we have two such affiliates: United Way of Southwest Michigan and the Lenawee Community Foundation (LCF). They’ve been working since 2009 and 2010 respectively to enroll local kids and ship them their books at no cost to the family. Both groups say the program is a crucial part of setting local kids up for success.

“Literacy is one of the most important skills necessary for a bright future,” says Bronna Kahle, president and CEO of Lenawee Community Foundation. “The ability to read and write is imperative for success in school and all of life.”

Literacy is one of the most important skills for children to develop, and studies show the most important development in a human’s life happens between 0 and 3 years of age, according to the United Way of Southwest Michigan. Children who have books at home are much more likely to have a wider vocabulary and better attention span, and they’re more proficient readers by third grade— which is when students transition from learning to read to reading to learn. According to the United Way of Southwest Michigan, 60% of students they serve through Imagination Library (Berrien, Cass, and Van Buren counties) are not meeting third-grade reading standards.

MEC Supports Childhood Literacy

At MEC, we’re passionate about making sure our kids have the tools they need to succeed in life—that’s why we’re supporting our local Imagination Library affiliates, United Way of Southwest Michigan and the Lenawee Community Foundation. In southwest Michigan, we awarded United Way with a BVC grant, as well as a CoBank Sharing Success grant (CoBank’s Sharing Success program matches charitable donations made by their customers, of which MEC is one). In southeast Michigan, we used partnership dollars from our power supplier, Wolverine Power Cooperative, to donate to the Lenawee Community Foundation, as well as another CoBank Sharing Success grant.

Sign Your Kids Up—It's Free!

Want to sign your little one up for free books? Visit uwsm.org/dpil for southwest Michigan. For southeast Michigan, contact the Lenawee Community Foundation at 517-263-4696 or ForLenawee@LenaweeCF.com, or stop into their office at 1440 W. Maumee Street in Adrian. Because the program is entirely funded by donations like those from MEC, there is no cost to the family and eligibility is not based on income level.

If you don’t have kids but would still like to donate to a great cause, both United Way and LCF allow you to “sponsor” a child that’s not related to you. Contact United Way or LCF using the methods above to get started—for United Way, the cost per child is $25 per year, while LCF’s cost is a little higher at $30 per year.

Learn more about the Imagination Library at imaginationlibrary.com.

A recent selection of books mailed to kids by Imagination Library.

CHOCOLATE DESSERTS

Decadent desserts that will satisfy any sweet tooth.

Recipe Contest

Win a $100 energy bill credit!

Vegetarian due Nov. 1

Submit your favorite recipe for a chance to win a $100 bill credit and have your recipe featured in Country Lines with a photo and a video. Submit your recipe at micoopkitchen.com , or send it via email (include your full name and co-op) to recipes@countrylines.com

WINNING RECIPE!

MARSHMALLOW BROWNIES

Pamela Balcom, Great Lakes Energy

½ cup butter, melted

2 tablespoons cocoa powder

2 eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 cup sugar

¾ cup flour

¼ teaspoon salt

½ bag mini marshmallows

1 cup nuts, optional

Frosting:

¼–¹/³ cup condensed or evaporated milk (can also use whole milk)

2 tablespoons butter

2 cups powdered sugar

¼ cup cocoa powder

¹/8 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon vanilla or mint extract (mint is our fave)

Preheat oven to 350 F. In a medium bowl, add ½ cup melted butter and blend in 2 tablespoons cocoa powder. In a small bowl, beat the eggs, vanilla, and sugar together. Add to the butter/cocoa mixture. Add the flour, salt, and nuts (if using) and mix together (do not add marshmallows).

Bake in greased (or lined with parchment paper)

8x8-inch pan for 30 minutes. Remove from oven and pour marshmallows on top and push down to melt them. To make the frosting, heat evaporated/ condensed milk and butter until melted. Remove from heat and add the powdered sugar, cocoa powder, salt, and vanilla/mint extract. Mix well. Pour over baked brownies and marshmallows. Allow to cool in the fridge for 30 minutes. Serve and watch them disappear!

Watch a video of this month’s winning recipe at micoopkitchen.com/recipe_ type/videos/

CHOCOLATE-PEANUT BUTTER CHIP FUDGE COOKIES

Leslie Brasure, Alger Delta

¾ cup chopped walnuts

½ cup, plus 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour

½ cup sweetened flaked coconut, lightly toasted

½ teaspoon baking powder

½ teaspoon salt

½ cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, room temperature

6 ounces unsweetened chocolate, chopped

12 ounces semisweet chocolate chips, divided

4 teaspoons instant coffee crystals

1 tablespoon vanilla extract

1½ cups sugar

4 large eggs

½ cup peanut butter chips (or butterscotch chips)

Preheat oven to 350 F. Line 2 largerimmed baking sheets with aluminum foil or parchment paper. Combine chopped walnuts, flour, toasted coconut,

baking powder, and salt in a medium bowl and stir until well blended. Combine butter, unsweetened chocolate, and half of the chocolate chips in a heavy medium saucepan. Stir over low heat until butter and chocolate are melted and smooth. Remove saucepan from heat. Whisk coffee crystals and vanilla extract in medium bowl until crystals dissolve. Add sugar and eggs. Using electric mixer, beat until mixture thickens, about 2 minutes. Beat in melted chocolate mixture, then chopped walnut mixture. Stir in remaining chocolate chips and peanut butter chips. Mound 2 tablespoons dough for each cookie onto prepared baking sheets, spacing 2 inches apart. Bake cookies until puffed and cracked but still soft in center, about 15 minutes. Let cool on sheets for 10 minutes. Using spatula, transfer cookies to rack and cool. Can be made 2 days ahead. Store in airtight container at room temperature. Makes 28 cookies.

CHOCOLATE GUINNESS CAKE

Linda Heintz, Great Lakes Energy

1 cup Guinness (dark beer)

½ cup butter, cubed

2 cups sugar

¾ cup baking cocoa

2 eggs, beaten

²/³ cup sour cream

3 teaspoons vanilla extract

2 cups all-purpose flour

1½ teaspoons baking soda

Frosting:

1 (8-ounce) package cream

cheese, softened

1½ cups confectioner's (powdered)

sugar

½ cup heavy whipping cream

Preheat oven to 350 F. Grease a 9-inch springform pan and line the bottom with parchment paper; set aside. In a small saucepan, heat beer and butter until melted. Remove from heat; whisk

in sugar and cocoa until blended. In a separate bowl, combine the eggs, sour cream, and vanilla; whisk into beer mixture. In a medium bowl, combine the flour and baking soda; whisk into beer mixture until smooth. Pour batter into prepared 9-inch pan. Bake for 45–50 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Cool completely in pan on a wire rack, then remove sides of springform pan. To make the frosting, in a large bowl, beat the cream cheese until fluffy. Add confectioner’s sugar and cream; beat until smooth (do not overbeat). Remove cake from pan and place on a platter or cake stand. Add frosting to the top of cake so that it resembles a frothy pint of beer (frosting dripping over sides). Makes 12 servings. This is a beautiful cake that stays moist for several days. Refrigerate leftovers.

DOUBLE CHOCOLATE PIE

Kristine Brenner, Presque Isle Electric & Gas Co-op

2 (3.4-ounce) packages chocolate pudding (NOT instant)

3½ cups milk

½ cup chocolate chips

2 tablespoons butter

1 baked pie shell

8 ounces Cool Whip

• grated chocolate, for garnish

In a medium bowl, combine the pudding mixture, milk, and chocolate chips. Stir over medium heat until mixture comes to a full boil. Stir in butter. Cool 5 minutes, stirring twice. Pour into baked pie shell. Chill in refrigerator for 3 hours or more. Top with Cool Whip and garnish with grated chocolate before serving.

PERFECT FUDGE

Linda Roe, Alger Delta

1 (12-ounce) bag semisweet chocolate chips

1 (12-ounce) bag milk chocolate chips

1 (12-ounce) bag white chocolate chips

2 (14-ounce) cans sweetened condensed milk

2–3 cups coarsely chopped walnuts or pecans, optional

1 (10-ounce) bag miniature marshmallows

Pour all chips and sweetened condensed milk in a large, heavy pot. Melt on low heat. Add nuts (if using) and mix until evenly coated. Cool slightly. Add marshmallows and mix well. Pour into a 9x13-inch pan lined with parchment paper. Smooth out, then cool completely.

Supporting Cass Kickstart to

Careers

We proudly sponsor Cass Kickstart to Careers thanks to partnership dollars through our power supplier, Wolverine Power Cooperative. The program gives incoming kindergarten students their own savings account with an initial deposit of $25. Students and families make regular deposits to the account throughout the student’s school career, letting Cassopolis students save for their post-secondary education.

Businesses that support Cass Kickstart have decals in their establishments to identify them as community supporters and champions of financial literacy.

Learn more about the Cass Kickstart program at casskickstart.com

Congrats, Nick!

Apprentice lineman Nick has completed the Joint Michigan Apprentice Program (JMAP) to become a journeyman lineman for MEC. He completed 7,000 hours of on-the-job training along with schooling at the Wolverine Training Center in Lake City, Michigan.

MEC partners with JMAP, which was created by Wolverine, IBEW 876, and Northwest Lineman College, to train and educate our next generation of linemen. JMAP is a Department of Labor-certified program.

Interested in becoming an MEC lineman apprentice?

Visit teammidwest.com/careers to sign up for job alerts. You will receive notifications about all available MEC positions, including apprenticeship opportunities.

A REMINDER FOR HUNTERS

Safety Ace Evan has some special reminders for hunters as the season gets underway!

• Be mindful of any and all electrical equipment or overhead powerlines, especially when setting up your tree stand.

• Look for any “Danger” or “Warning” signs in the area.

• Do not place decoys on any electrical equipment or near poles.

• Avoid shooting toward electrical equipment or powerlines.

Happy hunting and stay safe!

Strengthening Schools

Aquatic Garden Teaches

First Graders About Ecosystems

Alisha Blume, first-grade teacher at Edwardsburg Elementary, is teaching her students about ecosystems with a unique tool: an AquaSprouts Garden, purchased in part thanks to an MEC Strengthening Schools Grant, which is funded by partnership dollars through our power supplier Wolverine Power Cooperative.

The AquaSprouts Garden utilizes a concept known as aquaponics, or growing food in water where aquatic creatures (in this case, fish) are being raised. Waste from the fish is rich in nutrients that the plants feed on, eliminating the need for a traditional soil bed. Blume says the garden is a fun, hands-on way to teach her students about the relationship between various species and the environment.

Before purchasing the AquaSprouts Garden, Blume created a simple aquaponics ecosystem in a water jug. It didn’t last long, however, and she began looking for something more

sustainable. After learning of the AquaSprouts system, she reached out to MEC for a Strengthening Schools Grant.

Blume says she’ll be able to use her new system for many years to come, and recommends similar hands-on tools for other classrooms. She says the students are more engaged when they can see what they’re studying in action. And it’s not just Blume— a 2015 study by the Canadian Center of Science and Education (“The Impact of Hands-On-Approach on Student Academic Performance in Basic Science and Mathematics”) found that students tested better on math and science concepts after participating in hands-on learning activities.

The aquaponics garden isn’t just fun for the kids. Blume loves teaching in new ways and watching her students get excited for school.

“Watching the kids learning is amazing,” Blume says. “They’ve loved watching the fish and plants grow.”

Are you looking for funding for your next project or classroom initiative? Apply for a Strengthening Schools Grant by Oct. 16, 2023!

Any teacher, administrator, or school official in a public elementary, middle, or high school serving students in our electric service territory may apply for a grant of up to $2,500 to support classroom needs, technology, or academic projects/clubs/organizations.

Applications are evaluated and funding decisions are made by a committee of MEC customers without knowledge of the applying school, district, or educator. An application is not a guarantee of funding. Funds will be awarded in January 2024.

Visit teammidwest.com/ strengthening-schools to learn more.

Alisha Blume’s AquaSprouts Garden hydroponics ecosystem.

Alisha Blume’s first-grade class.

The Great Lakes provide vital fresh water, a place to enjoy watersports or days lounging on the beach, gorgeous views, and a beautiful backdrop to family photos and selfies alike. However, the Great Lakes have an additional utility— as a classroom.

GREAT EDUCATION on the GREAT LAKES

By Emily Haines Lloyd

The Great Lakes Maritime Academy (GLMA), a part of Northwestern Michigan College (NMC) that is located on its Grand Traverse campus in Traverse City, is one of only six maritime academies in the country. The other five, located in California, Maine, Massachusetts, New York, and Texas, are all part of educational programming that prepares individuals for careers as mariners, who are needed to operate large ships that carry steel, stone, agricultural products, sand, salt, oil, and other cargo. Other types of boats they can operate include military ships, research vessels, municipal ferries, tugboats, and dinner cruise ships.

The Great Lakes Maritime Academy began in 1969. It currently enrolls just 60 new cadets each year into its fouryear bachelor’s degree program—36 in the deck program and 24 in the engineering program. The program requires the standard 120 credits to

graduate with a bachelor’s degree— the GLMA coursework includes 80 maritime-related credits and 40 in general education.

Cadets in the deck program take classes in cargo, navigation, and ship business to learn skills like navigating the waters via the stars, calculating the stability of the ship, properly loading a ship, and handling ballast. In the engineer program, cadets take classes in electricity, steam, and diesel power so they can maintain the engines powering the vessels.

“The GLMA program is unique in that our program is about half the size of the other academies, ensuring students get personalized training,” said Admiral Jerry Achenbach, superintendent of GLMA. “Plus the bonus of a cohort system at a community college that has an ethos of working with firstgeneration college students, which means there is a lot of support for our nontraditional students.”

With the benefit of smaller class sizes and less expensive credit hours, the four full-time faculty and two staff members who teach are able to facilitate coursework that prepares students for life at sea. GLMA is also unique because, in conjunction with NMC’s culinary school, it is able to offer a dedicated track that prepares culinary students for galley work on commercial vessels or trade ships. They also earn their Coast Guard credentials alongside the full-time maritime students.

“NMC’s culinary program makes it possible for us to educate a truly unique demographic and prepare them for culinary careers at sea,” said Achenbach. “We’ve gotten feedback from HR departments who say that the food is better, the galley is cleaner, and food costs go down when they hire our graduates. That’s something we’re very proud of.”

Additionally, Achenbach notes they are proud that many veterans join their program after their service. In part, this is a big reason behind recent legislation that was introduced by Sen. Gary Peters, along with senators from the other states that host

maritime academies. The legislation would extend the current age limit on the Student Incentive Payment (SIP) Program, which provides up to $32,000 in funding over four years to help offset the cost of tuition, uniforms, books, and living costs in exchange for enlistment in the U.S. Navy Reserve after students graduate.

“The SIP Program not only allows these great Americans to also serve as commissioned officers in the Navy's Strategic Sealift Officer Program upon graduation, but provides much-needed financial support. Senator Peters' initiative will allow nontraditional students from Michigan, as well as any state, to be eligible for this financial support,” Achenbach said. This legislation, known as the CADETS Act, was signed into law by President Biden earlier this summer.

Achenbach adds that sailing for a living does offer well-paying jobs and allows people a chance to see the world, but it’s not like other careers.

“It does have an element of adventure and is the furthest thing from a desk job,” said Achenbach. “But this is a lifestyle choice. It’s not for everyone.”

Achenbach acknowledges that many people don’t know about the academy’s existence and its impact on the maritime industry. That’s why he is always willing to speak with colleges or service organizations about both the program and the opportunities. Your organization can reach out to him at gachenbach@nmc.edu to learn more.

Testing Your Internet Speed

Want to see for yourself how fast your internet is?

When we talk about internet speeds, there are two metrics to consider: the speed of your network connection and the speed of your devices. Thankfully, it's easy to test for both.

How Fast Is My Network?

Your network speed refers to the connection of your router to the greater internet. It's the speed that comes into your home before the signal is pushed to your devices. When we say the MEC fiber internet Gig package gives you 1 Gbps download and upload speed, this is what we're referring to.

To test your network speed, open up your free CommandIQ app. From the main dashboard, tap "My Network" and select "Bandwidth Test." Then choose "Run Test" and wait for the process to finish. CommandIQ will display your network's download and upload speeds.

How Fast Are My Devices?

Device speed refers to the connection of your devices to your router and is what most people think of when they

talk about internet speeds. If you want to know how fast the internet is on your laptop while it's connected to your home Wi-Fi network, you're looking for the device speed.

The easiest way to test your device speed is by downloading the Speedtest by Ookla app, a trusted speed test tool, on the device you wish to test. You can also visit speedtest.net online. The app or website will take a few seconds to run its test and then show you the upload and download speeds your device is getting.

Know the Difference

Knowing how to test both your network and device speeds is important for determining the capabilities of your equipment, as well as narrowing down the source of any potential troubleshooting issue.

Getting slow internet on one of your devices doesn't necessarily mean there's a problem with your network. The CommandIQ app will help you verify the strength of the connection your router is pushing to your devices.

Additionally, not every device gets the same internet speeds. For example, a newer smartphone may support faster Wi-Fi technology than an older one. You may experience slower internet on your old phone compared to your new one, even though CommandIQ shows a very fast connection on both. A trusted tool like Speedtest by Ookla will help you determine your devices' capabilities.

You must have a GigaSpire router to access the full features of CommandIQ. If you don't have one, we'll ship it to you for free. Visit teammidwest.com/whichrouter to see which router type you have.

Fresh Water for Our Wooly Friends

Each summer, we host a flock of sheep at the solar array at our Cassopolis headquarters. The sheep eat the grass, giving it a nice trim, in exchange for a good meal. This year, Mark Dussel (whose son Ethan supplies the sheep) built a special solar-powered well so they could enjoy a steady supply of fresh, clean water while they were here. Mark and the Dussel family own and operate Dussel's Farm Market & Greenhouses in Cassopolis, just down the road from MEC's headquarters.

Sunlight powers the pump to bring the water up from the well and into a trough for the sheep to drink. Once they’re done, the trough is emptied so the water doesn’t get stagnant. It takes about six hours of sunlight to run the well for a day. On days when the sun isn’t out for that long, a battery backup makes up the difference in energy.

Mark says he wanted to build the well to show that it’s a viable solution for farmers who are looking for a way to incorporate renewable energy into their operations. Plus, it saves them from making regular trips to replenish water like they had to do in the past. The sheep are checked on daily for their wellbeing.

See you next summer, sheep!

Mystery Photo

Win a $100 energy bill credit!

Where In Michigan Is This?

Identify the correct location of the photo above by Sept. 20 and be entered into a drawing to win a $100 electric bill credit. Enter your guess at countrylines.com/community

July/Aug. 2023

in Frankenmuth, Michigan.

Winners are announced in the following issues of Country Lines: January, March, May, July/ August, September, and November/December.

By David Van Horn, a Great Lakes Energy Cooperative member

M Always Do the Right Thing

y father, James Van Horn, was a very quiet man. I have no memory of ever having that one-on-one talk between father and son, as you see being depicted in the Hallmark-type movies. I do, however, have many memories of him setting the perfect example of what your fellow man should be doing on a daily basis.

On May 12, 1970, my grandfather, William Van Horn, died of a heart attack. I was 12 years old, the third in line of seven grandchildren. Dad was devastated at the loss of his father.

Two days later, May 14, Mom, Dad, and seven kids loaded up the station wagon and we were on the way to the funeral home when, two blocks away from our home, dad suddenly stopped the car. He got out of the car, walked to a newspaper box, put in a shiny dime, and took out one paper. He closed the box and repeated the process. We asked Mom what he was doing. She responded with, “I'm not sure, but whatever it is, it is important to him.” He did this seven more times, dropping a dime in the box each time. He came back to the car with nine newspapers.

Mom asked, “What are you going to do with all those newspapers?” He responded with, “I wanted you and each of the kids to have a copy of Dad’s obituary listed in the Indianapolis Star.“

I remember saying, “Why didn't you just drop one dime and take nine papers?” He responded with, “That box is part of a man's business. If I did that, I would be stealing from a man. Always do the right thing, because it's the right thing to do. If you live by this rule, the walk on the road of life will always be a much smoother one.”

I remember it like it was yesterday. Yes, I was only 12 years old, but it stuck, and it made a terrific impact on my life. Today, I am 65 years old and have always done my best to do the right thing, because it's the right thing to do.

I just finished my 28th year of teaching, 23 in Indianapolis and five in Walkerville, Michigan. For 28 years, my classroom motto has been those prophetic words that were spoken to me by my father 53 years ago, “Do the right thing, because it's the right thing to do.”

My father was a quiet man, but his actions always spoke louder than any words he could ever have spoken. James Van Horn was a great example to anyone who may have been watching.

Still today, students reach out to me, and make mention of the words I taught them years ago and say thank you for making the walk on the road of life a much more enjoyable one. I remind them to thank James Van Horn, my father.

About the author: David is an elementary teacher at Walkerville Public Schools. He taught for 23 years in Indianapolis, retired and moved to Bitely, Michigan. He got bored and went back to the classroom. He enjoys the outdoors——fishing, hunting, canoeing, kayaking, boating, riding his side by side, and much more. Spending time with his grandkids is the best.

Winner! Our Mystery Photo winner is Gloria Zalewski, a Presque Isle Electric & Gas Co-op member, who correctly identified the photo as the Holz-Brucke covered wooded bridge

HOW DOES THE SYSTEM WORK?

•Attaches to your home’s existing heating system, it does not replace it.

•Delivers 90% on average of your home’s heating needs and 100% of your home’s cooling needs.

• If you have a well and are heating with propane, fuel oil, electric, or wood, your current heating and cooling cost is likely greater than it would be to fully finance and heat & cool with a Well-Connect.

•Installs in one day, any time of year. No drilling or excavation is required.