Jan. 2023 Great Lakes

January 2023

MICHIGAN

COUNTRY LINES Great Lakes Energy Cooperative

M U S IC TO O U R EARS Big Water Creative Arts Bringing Music Education to Northern Michigan Meet Your Director: Dale Farrier

Get Energy Wise In The New Year

GLE Awards Classroom Grants

WATERFURNACE UNITS QUALIFY FOR A 30% FEDERAL TAX CREDIT THROUGH 2032

You don’t have to lower the thermostat to control your heating bills. WaterFurnace geothermal systems use the clean, renewable energy in your own backyard to provide savings of up to 70% on heating, cooling, and hot water. And because WaterFurnace units don’t use any fossil fuels or combustion, the EPA calls it the most environmentally friendly and cost effective way to condition our homes.2 Contact your local WaterFurnace dealer to learn how WaterFurnace is good for the environment, your budget, and the feeling in your toes.

YOUR LOCAL WATERFURNACE DEALERS

Allendale Allendale Htg & Clg (800) 327-1937 allendaleheating.com

Clifford Orton Refrig & Htg (989) 761-7691 sanduskygeothermal.com

Bad Axe/Ubly Cutting Edge Htg & Clg (989) 551-0986

Hart Adams Htg & Clg (231) 873-2665 adamsheating cooling.com

Berrien Springs Waterfurnace Michiana (269) 473-5667 gogreenmichgeo thermal.com Big Rapids Stratz Htg & Clg, Inc. (231) 796-3717 stratzgeocomfort.com

Indian River M&M Plmb & Htg (231) 238-7201 mm-plumbing.com Lansing Candor Mechanical (517) 920-0890 candormechanical.comm

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.com

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

visit us at waterfurnace.com

WaterFurnace is a registered trademark of WaterFurnace International, Inc. 1. 30% through 2032, 26% through 2033 and 22% through 2034 2. EPA study “Space Conditioning, The Next Frontier” (Report 430-R-93-004)

Contents countrylines.com

/michigancountrylines

January 2023 Vol. 43, No. 1 /michigancountrylines

#micoopcommunity Instagram contest winner Upper Peninsula of Michigan @kaushik0805 (Kaushik Sur)

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

6 GET IN, GET OUT, GET

TO WORK Alpena Community College now offers a certificate program for line-clearance arborists.

10 MI CO-OP KITCHEN

Healthy Living: Feel good from the inside out.

14 MUSIC TO OUR EARS

Big Water Creative Arts bringing music education to Northern Michigan.

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.

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 Feb. 1; Breakfast For Dinner due Mar. 1

Win a $100 bill credit!

Guest Column

See details on page 18.

18 GUEST COLUMN

The reluctant Boy Scout— A co-op member reflects on how his experience turned out to be one of the best things he has ever done.

Win $200 for stories published!

Mystery Photo

See details on page 18.

Win a $100 bill credit!

MICHIGAN COUNTRY LINES

3

Community Connects Us All

gtlakes.com /greatlakesenergy /jointruestream

Shaun Lamp, Great Lakes Energy President/CEO BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Howard Bowersox, Chairman, District 8 219-670-0977 hbowersox@glenergy.com Mark Carson, Vice Chairman, District 2 231-675-0561 mcarson@glenergy.com Paul Byl, Secretary, District 7 231-861-5911 pbyl@glenergy.com

Dale Farrier, Treasurer, District 5 231-564-0853 dfarrier@glenergy.com

Janet Andersen, Director, District 6 231-690-4622 jandersen@glenergy.com David Coveyou, Director, District 1 231-347-4056 dcoveyou@glenergy.com Richard Evans, Director, District 3 231-883-3146 revans@glenergy.com John LaForge, Director, District 9 269-623-2284 jlaforge@glenergy.com

Shelly Pinkelman, Director, District 4 989-390-6222 spinkelman@glenergy.com PRESIDENT/CEO: Shaun Lamp 888-485-2537 COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR/EDITOR: Brett Streby 231-487-1389 • bstreby@glenergy.com BOYNE CITY HEADQUARTERS 1323 Boyne Ave. Boyne City, MI 49712

Call center hours:: 7 a.m.–5:30 p.m. M–F Phone: 888-485-2537 Email: glenergy@glenergy.com TO REPORT AN OUTAGE: Call 888-485-2537 or login to your account at gtlakes.com.

Change of Address: 888-485-2537, ext. 8924 Great Lakes Energy is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

4 JANUARY 2023

grew up watching my parents serve their community through their personal and work lives. My mom was a teacher and my dad worked on a shipping vessel on the Great Lakes just like his father and grandfather.

They were invested in the people surrounding us and worked hard to make our town a better place. In short, they were committed to their community. It is their example that inspires me to explore opportunities for volunteer service and ways to commit my time to both my community and our cooperative.

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I am involved as a volunteer board member for the Petoskey Regional Chamber of Commerce, a member of a Broadband Advisory Committee, and the chair of the zoning board of appeals for my local township. As a registered nurse and an active participant on various boards within our school district, my wife is also very involved in our community. We contribute to our local Habitat for Humanity and our local church, and I also referee high school basketball games across northern Michigan. While there is always more that could be done, this list continues to expand and change as my time allows.

Giving back doesn’t have to be time consuming. In fact, just by being a member of this cooperative, you’re taking part in something bigger than yourself. Great Lakes Energy is involved in our local communities every single day. It’s just one of many reasons I’m proud to be a member and even prouder to work here.

The People Fund supports nonprofit organizations across our service area and, since 1999, has awarded more than $4 million in grants. It’s supported solely by the money collected from members who agree to have their bill rounded up to the next whole dollar. None of the money is used for overhead expenses. I have been participating in the People Fund for as long as I’ve been a member. If you haven’t already, I hope you’ll consider joining us.

In 2022 alone, our Classroom Grants program funded 18 school projects totaling nearly $30,000. This initiative has been in place for 10 years and allows us to provide support to innovative programs and ideas in rural schools. We collaborate with our power supplier to offer these grants and it’s another example of how your co-op supports those we serve.

And finally, our Youth Tour program is back up and running this year after a short hiatus due to the pandemic. In collaboration with other cooperatives across the nation, we provide an educational opportunity for high school sophomores and juniors to learn more about co-ops and our government with a trip to Washington, D.C. Applications for Youth Tour are due Feb. 28. Please encourage youth in your community to apply to this once-in-a-lifetime experience.

Our employees live where they work—they’re your friends and neighbors and, like me, they invest their time and knowledge to help their communities thrive.

From volunteering as soccer coaches, to leading robotic teams, to taking part in their church, to volunteering as board members, they find purpose in giving their time. Connecting to our communities is the cooperative way and we’re glad you’re a part of it.

Reminder

Rate Changes Take Effect With January Bills Great Lakes Energy members will notice changes in their electric bills starting with their January statements.

The changes, which the Great Lakes Energy Board of Directors approved at a meeting in September, include a rate increase of $0.007 per kWh, and a $2 increase in the fixed monthly charge for the residential and seasonal rate classes. For the average residential member using 800 kWh per month, this equates to a $7.90 monthly increase.

With the increases, the residential and seasonal rates are now $0.115 per kWh, and the monthly charge is now $34.21. Based on July 2022 figures from the U.S. Energy Information Administration, the average rate for residential electricity in Michigan is $0.1803 per kWh, while the nationwide average is $0.1546 per kWh. The rate changes were based on an independent cost of service study conducted in mid-2022.

The increase, although small, will raise revenue to provide sufficient funding levels for maintaining reliable electric service, providing adequate margins, and ensuring members receive the service they need to power their homes and businesses. Further detailed information about the recent rate changes is available on GLE’s website at gtlakes.com/faq/.

Historic Farm Honored A family farm served by Great Lakes Energy was recently certified as a “Sesquicentennial Farm.”

The Andrew Neil Farm, which was certified on Sept. 1, 2022, was founded on Aug. 31, 1872, near Scottville in Mason County. The current owners of the farm are Shane and Melissa Ruboyianes.

Great Lakes Energy is a sponsor of the Michigan Centennial Farm Program that honors Great Lakes Energy members and other Michigan residents whose farms have been owned and operated by the same family for 100 years for centennial farms and 150 years for sesquicentennial farms. Once a farm is certified, the owners receive a certificate as well as a display marker for their farm. GLE members can request an application or obtain more information about the program by contacting the Historical Society of Michigan at (517) 324-1828 or by visiting the organization’s website, www.centennialfarms.org.

MICHIGAN COUNTRY LINES

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Get In, Get Out, Get to Work

By Dawn Stone, Amanda Sumerix, Lisa Blumenthal—Alpena Community College

ornados in Michigan are unexpected and rare—but they can, and will, happen.

Proof is the EF-3 class tornado that tore through Gaylord, Michigan, in May of 2022, leaving a swath of destruction and claiming two lives.

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After the tornado, area residents were left without power. That is when the utility lineworkers and line-clearance arborists rolled in to begin the massive restoration process.

What is the difference between lineworkers and line-clearance arborists? While the lineworker focuses on the equipment related to the electrical conductor, line-clearance arborists focus on the vegetation surrounding energized systems.

Neither can function properly without the other.

Utility companies and line-clearance contractors both constantly scrutinize weather forecasts and right-of-way maintenance in anticipation of events.

When an outage occurs, the power company is dispatched to assess the damage while line-clearance arborists are alerted to clear the trees and vegetation from the damaged power lines after the utility company de-energizes them. It is a true team effort.

The second significant difference between the two job titles is training.

Traditionally, if someone wanted to become a line-clearance arborist, they would apply at a tree service company, go through their orientation, and then complete close to one year’s worth of on-the-job training. Conversely, lineworkers often undergo substantial classroom and field training, over an extended period.

Tree service workers in general face many hazards in the course of their work. Those hazards increase further

for line-clearance arborists whose work involves electrical lines. That’s why proper training is so important.

Alpena Community College (ACC) has taken its mastery of training lineworkers and expanded it to offer a safety-centric certificate program for line-clearance arborists. This new, noncredit, one-semester Utility Arborist Line Clearance Program is designed for those interested in working in this industry, allowing students to complete the required training and have the potential for job offers in just four months. Work in the program is coordinated with the established Utility Technology Certificate Program and allows the Utility Line Clearance students to build skills around de-energized primary wires, which is not offered by similar programs at other institutions.

Making a living as a line-clearance arborist has many of the same draws as a utility lineworker: excellent compensation, opportunities to grow, the freedom to work outside, a team environment, the ability to help people—and the thrill of climbing. The ACC program is built for those who like to work outside, are adventure seekers, are up for a challenge, are able to work in a team, and do not want to sit in an office.

For more information on how to become a line-clearance arborist or to register for the training program, contact Program Director Walter Wiltse at 989-358-7284 or wiltsew@alpenacc.edu, or visit https://discover.alpenacc.edu/ programs/degrees_and_programs/ utility_arborist.php.

WHO

WHAT

• Anyone 18+ who likes to work outside • Thrill/adventure seekers • Up for a challenge • Physically fit • Able to work in a team • Doesn’t want to sit in an office

• All training required to be a utility arborist • Chainsaw safety • OSHA 10 • First Aid/CPR certificate • Knowledge to pass pesticide application test • Preparation for CDL training • Electrical Hazard Awareness Program training • Aerial rescue training • Highly qualified instructors

WHERE • Alpena Community College, Alpena, Michigan • After program completion, job opportunities anywhere in Michigan

WHY • Many career options such as management, equipment operator, right-away operator, and leadership opportunities • First cohort of program— all students were offered a job with at least $40k annual salary plus benefits

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Get Energy Wise In The New Year

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n 2022, Great Lakes Energy transitioned its Energy Optimization programs to a new name— Energy Wise. While some of the programs have been modified, Energy Wise still offers GLE members many ways to cut their energy costs by providing rebates on purchasing qualified energy-efficient appliances and systems. During 2022, many GLE members took advantage of the rebates and are now enjoying the cost savings associated with new, more efficient equipment.

The program also offered members a way to eliminate some old, inefficient appliances they replaced through a recycling drop-off day in August, pictured above.

The good news is that Energy Wise is back for 2023. Here’s a look at some of the program’s highlights:

Appliance rebates • Rebates of $25 are available for new, ENERGY STAR qualified portable room dehumidifiers, room air conditioners, and portable air purifiers.

• Rebates of $50 are available for new, ENERGY STAR qualified refrigerators, freezers, washing machines, dryers, and induction stoves.

• Rebates of $100 are available for qualified electric resistance water heaters.

Pump up the savings Heat pump systems can offer significant savings on energy use compared to many other types of heating and cooling systems. Heat pumps move heat between the inside and outside of your home, depending on the season. These systems pull heat from the air or ground outside of your

8 JANUARY 2023

home to the inside during cold weather and do the reverse during hot weather. Heat pumps can also be used for water heater systems.

What’s new for 2023?

Although much of the Energy Wise program will remain the same for 2023, GLE is currently considering a few changes for some of the rebate offerings related to electric vehicles, heat pump systems, and some commercial system offerings.

For more information about Energy Wise, including a complete list of available rebates and updates for 2023, visit gtlakes.com/energy-wise/. The same page also allows members to download rebate claim forms and submit the documents after they are completed.

GLE encourages members to verify the appliance or system they are considering for purchase or installation qualifies for Energy Wise rebates before their purchase. Reviewing rebate claim forms in advance of a purchase is a good way to make sure your intended product purchase qualifies for a rebate. For heating and cooling systems, you should consult with your contractor. To verify that an appliance is ENERGY STAR qualified, visit energystar.gov/productfinder.

Information on the Energy Wise program is available by calling (888) 485-2537, ext. 8957.

GLE PHOTO CONTEST

Outdoor Adventures

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2022 Photo Contest Winner

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Meghan Akers, Montague Feathers: “First impressions”

Enter to win a $200 energy bill credit!

Submit Your “Pets” photos By Jan. 20

Each month, members can submit photos on our website for our photo contest.

The photo with the most votes is published here, along with other selections.

Our January theme is Pets. Photos can be submitted by Jan. 20 to be featured in the March issue.

How To Enter

Enter the contest at gtlakes.com/photocontest/. Make sure to vote and encourage others to vote for you, too. The photo receiving the most votes will be printed in an issue of Michigan Country Lines along with other favorites. All photos printed in the magazine in 2023 will be entered into a drawing to win a $200 bill credit in December 2023.

MOST VOTES! 1. Kayaking at sunset, Diane Seeley, Kalkaska 2. Autumn and starlight, Jessica Rorman, Luther 3. Raising them right, Victoria Eilers, New Era 4. Tranquility, Barbara Mask, White Cloud 5. Fall froggin’ at the lake, Kyle Schneider, Baldwin 6. Grandpa’s gang on Isle Royale, Terry Euper, Morrice

MICHIGAN COUNTRY LINES

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MI CO-OP Recipes

Photos by Robert Bruce Photography || Recipes submitted by MCL readers and tested by recipe editor Christin McKamey

HEALTHY LIVING Feel good from the inside out.

WINNING RECIPE! OVERNIGHT OATS

Kerri Hanson, Great Lakes Energy 2 cups old-fashioned rolled oats (not quick-cooking oats) 2 cups almond milk or milk of choice 1 cup plain Greek or nondairy yogurt ¼ cup chia seeds ¼ cup pure maple syrup or honey Topping Options: • Blueberry: blueberries (fresh, frozen, or dried) and chopped walnuts • Pina Colada: pineapple tidbits, 1 tablespoon coconut, ½ teaspoon vanilla • PB&J: jam on bottom, peanut butter on top • Pear: diced pear, ½ teaspoon cinnamon, and chopped pecans • Caramel Apple: diced apple, caramel sauce, and chopped peanuts • Chocolate Raspberry: raspberries (fresh or frozen), 1–2 teaspoons cocoa powder, mini chocolate chips

Recipe Contest Win a $100 energy bill credit!

Vegetarian due Feb. 1, Breakfast For Dinner due Mar. 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.

10 JANUARY 2023

To make the base, in a medium bowl, mix together the oats, milk, yogurt, chia seeds, and maple syrup/honey. Stir until combined. Portion 1-cup servings into 4 wide-mouth, 16-ounce canning jars (or another airtight container) and top with any additional toppings as desired.

These toppings can be stirred into the base recipe, or customize each jar by putting them separately in the bottom of the jar before filling.

The possibilities are endless. Place lids on and refrigerate overnight. When refrigerated, these overnight oats can last for up to 5 days.

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

GREEK CHICKEN

QUINOA SALAD

Virginia Czarnecki, HomeWorks Tri-County 1 cup quinoa 2 cups low-sodium chicken broth or water 1 can drained medium ripe olives, or 1 cup pitted kalamata olives 1 can garbanzo beans, drained and rinsed 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved ½ cup green bell pepper, diced ½ cup diced celery 1 cup feta cheese, cubed or crumbled ½ cup walnuts, halved

Dressing: ½ cup olive oil ½ cup red wine vinegar 1 shallot, diced 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard 1 teaspoon sugar 1 teaspoon dried oregano Cook quinoa in broth according to package directions. Combine dressing ingredients and add to the cooked quinoa while still warm. Add the rest of the salad ingredients and stir until combined. Enjoy!

HEAVENLY CABBAGE SOUP Deb Finedell, Great Lakes Energy

2 1 3 4 3 3 6 1 1 1 1 ½ ½ ½

tablespoons olive oil medium white onion, chopped stalks celery, chopped large carrots, peeled and chopped medium Yukon gold potatoes, cut into ¼-inch cubes cloves garlic, minced cups chicken or vegetable broth cup tomato juice (14.5-ounce) can diced tomatoes, drained head green cabbage, cored and chopped teaspoon salt teaspoon black pepper teaspoon sugar teaspoon dried thyme

¼ teaspoon celery salt 1 bay leaf Heat the olive oil in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Once simmering, add onion, celery, carrots, and potatoes. Sauté until the vegetables start to soften, about 5–7 minutes. Add the garlic and cook for another minute, until fragrant. Pour in broth and tomato juice and stir. Add the diced tomatoes, cabbage, salt, black pepper, sugar, thyme, celery salt, and bay leaf. Bring contents to a boil and then reduce the heat to a simmer.

Simmer for 30–40 minutes, until the cabbage is wilted and the vegetables are soft. Remove bay leaf. Enjoy!

Joan Bissonette, Great Lakes Energy 6–8 • • 1 2–4 2

boneless, skinless chicken breasts olive oil or butter salt and pepper, to season onion, thinly sliced garlic cloves, minced cans chopped Italian-style tomatoes ½ teaspoon oregano ¼ teaspoon salt ¼ teaspoon black pepper ¼–½ cup feta cheese 1 can black olives 2 cans quartered artichokes

Preheat oven to 350 F. Brown chicken breasts in oil or butter in frying pan.

Season with salt and pepper. Transfer to baking dish. Add more oil or butter to pan; sauté the sliced onions and garlic.

Add the canned tomatoes and blend the spices in with the onions and garlic. Bring the tomato mixture to a simmer, then pour over chicken breasts in baking dish. Bake for 30 minutes. Remove baking dish from oven and sprinkle feta cheese, olives, and artichokes over the top. Put back in oven and bake for another 15 minutes. Serve with orzo, couscous, or rice.

GRILLED CAULIFLOWER Judy Bergeski, Presque Isle

1 tablespoon brown sugar 2 tablespoons seasoned salt (Lawry’s) or homemade seasoning mix (below) 3 tablespoons olive oil 1 head of cauliflower, leaves removed, cut into 1-inch thick slices *cut from top down, so the slices look like cauliflower “trees” • fresh parsley, for garnish Homemade Seasoning Mix: ½ teaspoon onion powder ½ teaspoon garlic powder ½ teaspoon paprika ½ teaspoon salt ½ teaspoon black pepper ½ teaspoon dried dill

Mix together the brown sugar and seasoned salt (or homemade seasoning mix). Preheat grill to medium-high heat (can also use a panini maker) and lightly oil/spray the grill. Brush olive oil on one side of each cauliflower slice. Then sprinkle the sugar/seasoning mix over top. Repeat on other side. Save leftover spices for the next time. Place on grill or in panini maker and close lid. Cook 2–3 minutes per side.

Check for doneness; should be forktender, but not mushy. Transfer to plate and sprinkle with fresh parsley (optional).

Serve with ranch dressing for dipping, or balsamic glaze. Goes well with diced tomatoes and some crusty bread.

MICHIGAN COUNTRY LINES

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Connecting People With The Past

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ften when people look for information about their family history, they hope to make a connection.

They might be looking to connect with a long-lost relative, to answer some long-standing family mystery, or to get a deeper understanding of their personal roots.

Anyone who finds themselves on such a quest involving information tied to the Oceana County area should place the Oceana County Historical & Genealogical Society high on their list of resources to tap.

In 2022, a $2,000 Great Lakes Energy People Fund grant helped the society purchase a new videoconferencing system for its headquarters in Hart that will help the group stay connected with each other and the community.

Society board president Paul Erickson explained that the idea for the system grew out of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The society’s board, like many organizations, moved its meetings to the videoconferencing platform Zoom. As pandemic restrictions began to ease and some meetings started taking place in person, society board meetings became a hybrid of in-person and online.

After seeing some of the benefits, Paul said the board wanted to continue offering an online component for its meetings, but managing such hybrid meetings can be difficult. Board member Sharon Hallack proposed seeking a grant for a videoconferencing system to make for a much better hybrid meeting experience.

“The online system allows people to attend the meetings who might not otherwise attend because of mobility limitations, distance, time of day, weather, or other factors,” Sharon said.

The board hopes the online meeting option will help get more people involved in the organization. Paul noted that, like with many nonprofit organizations, the pandemic had a chilling effect on the society’s membership and volunteer numbers.

Beyond facilitating meeting participation, Sharon said the board is hoping to put the videoconferencing system to use in other ways. Recently, it was used to honor and celebrate with a longtime volunteer who has since moved away from the area. Other potential uses include having regular online sessions with volunteers or hosting speaker presentations.

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A Treasure Trove Of Information The society has a huge collection of information about people, places, and events tied to Oceana County. The collection includes copies of all county newspapers, cemetery and census records, school records and yearbooks, family histories for many past and present area residents, marriage records, obituary records, and much more.

In fact, the collection is so extensive that it hasn’t been feasible to make it available online. Paul said digitizing records is a very labor-intensive and costly process, making it unrealistic for an organization staffed completely by volunteers and funded entirely through donations and grants. So, for now, people looking for information must do it the old-school way: poring through actual documents in person. However, the organization has created, and regularly updates, an index of the collection to help people in their searches. The index is available online so people planning a visit can get a head start on their search before they arrive.

If it isn’t practical for you to visit the organization’s headquarters, known as the Chadwick Munger House, the society can still offer help. People may send their inquiries via U.S. mail or email, and staff members will do their best to find the information. The fee for this service is $10 per hour for society members and $12 per hour for nonmembers.

Paul noted that the Chadwick Munger House has an entire room dedicated to area Native American history. The society also has a great deal of information related to many adoptions that took place in the area in the early 1900s.

He pointed to one recent case in which a woman in her 80s discovered a connection to her Native American ancestry through adoption records found in the society’s collection.

The society’s collection also includes many historical images and memorabilia related to area schools, churches, the county fair, fire departments, and more.

History On Display The society also operates the Oceana Historical Park Museum Complex, located in Mears. The complex includes the Swift Lathers home, the Swedish Mission Church, a transportation museum, Boynton Cottage, a tool museum, and the Robinson Museum, all of which are open from 1-4 p.m. on weekends in June, July, and August. Also, the Old Town Hall, which houses a country school room display, is located one block east of the park.

Admission is free, and some of the facilities, such as the church, are available for rental for events. The society also recently added a “guide by cell” service for the complex that allows visitors to call a special number and hear recordings about some of the exhibits.

Paul said the Mears complex includes much history about Swift Lathers, a notable historical figure whose family has donated property, buildings, artifacts, and funding to the society.

The Oceana County Historical & Genealogical Society’s headquarters is at 114 Dryden St. in Hart. The center is open from 10 a.m.–5 p.m. on Wednesdays year-round. To learn more about the society’s exhibits, events, and genealogical and historical research offerings, or how to become a member or otherwise support the organization, visit oceanahistory.org.

Direct inquiries may also be made at 231-873-2600 or via email at info@oceanahistory.org. The society also has a Facebook page.

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M U S I C

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Big Water Creative Arts Bringing Music Education To Northern Michigan

By Emily Haines Lloyd

14 JANUARY 2023

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E A R S

So many of us have fond memories of art and music classes in our school days.

So often, it was a chance to decompress from math, science, English, or history, but the arts in learning have always been about a bit more. Studies have shown improvements in math, reading, and critical thinking can all be linked to engagement in artistic or creative endeavors.* So, it is not just a sense of melancholy that makes it upsetting that so many school systems have had to decrease funding for art programs and sometimes eliminate them altogether.

It’s this reality that spurred Michelle Chenard and Pete Kehoe of Big Water Creative Arts to turn their passion for music into a bigger purpose.

“Music has always given Michelle and me so much,” said Kehoe, director of the board at Big Water Creative Arts. “It felt like time for us to return the favor.”

Chenard and Kehoe are longtime friends and sometimes creative partners who have enjoyed their own lives as musicians.

Chenard, originally from the Upper Peninsula, took her talent on the road working the music circuit in the southern United States and finally back to Michigan. Kehoe, from Gladwin, has been in Petoskey since 1999.

While they’ve worked on songs together and played in Michigan for decades, it was a songwriting workshop they were holding on Mackinac Island that was the first step in creating Big Water Creative Arts.

“Music is a right for everyone. It makes for more engaged, confident, and happy people.

And that just makes the world better.”

“We had been doing this threeday songwriting workshop for a few years, but never quite got in the black,” said Kehoe. “Then we started talking and realizing we wanted to also do something that had a more far-reaching impact.”

The two were keenly aware that school music programs had been losing funding year after year, with many rural communities in their own backyard with no programming at all.

It started with a songwriting workshop for Mancelona Public Schools. Music programming spread to Petoskey, Pellston, Gaylord, Cheboygan, and so on.

Today, Big Water Creative Arts offers multiple programs for arts education for elementary and middle school students, as well as senior and adult special education programs.

While BWCA offers these music classes free to all students, they depend on grants, donations, and fundraising from their

annual event in September. As interest grows amongst students and school administrators, the strain on the nonprofit’s budget increases.

“We are always looking for community partners who want to help bring music education to Northern Michigan,” said Kehoe.

“We want to take the cost barrier out of the equation so it can be available to all.”

This is what the folks at Big Water Creative Arts do. They see a need, look at their resources, and make musical magic happen in their community.

“It’s our dream that every kid who wants to play, sing, or express themselves musically can do that without worrying about economics or funding,” said Kehoe. “Music is a right for everyone. It makes for more engaged, confident, and happy people. And that just makes the world better.”

If you’d like to help support Big Water Creative Arts, here’s how: To donate: bigwatercreativearts.org smile.amazon.com (BWCA) bigwatercreativearts@gmail.com Big Water Creative Arts, Inc. P.O. Box 124, Petoskey, MI 49770

For more information: bigwatercreativearts.org /bigwatercreativearts /bigwatercreativeartsinc

*Source: President’s Committee on Arts and the Humanities, 2011 Photos by: Jessica Wynder Photography (top of page 14), Johnny Ulibarri (left), and Alex Childress (cover and top right)

MICHIGAN COUNTRY LINES

15

GLE Awards More Than $29,000 In Classroom Grants

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n November, Great Lakes Energy awarded $29,823.95 in grants to support 18 classroom programs in schools that educate students of the cooperative’s members.

The grants are intended to help implement innovative projects and those that typically fall beyond the scope of school budgets. Grants are awarded up to a maximum of $2,000 per school district.

For the 2022 grant cycle, a total of 63 applications arrived this year. They were evaluated according to published standards by a panel of volunteer employee judges from various departments at GLE. School names and districts were hidden during the evaluation process to allow for judging based on project merit and quality of the application submitted.

With the 2022–23 school year grants, the classroom grant program has awarded more than $272,800 to 186 school projects since GLE launched the program in 2012.

One high school teacher whose project was selected for a grant in a previous year said, “I have been doing my best to stay afloat this year in terms of managing fundraising for my classroom, and at times the pressure has weighed on me.

I am so thankful for organizations like yours that can help make the dreams I have for my classroom come true.”

Online applications for the 2023–2024 school year will be accepted starting in September.

To learn more, visit gtlakes.com.

16 JANUARY 2023

These schools received classroom grants for the 2022–2023 school year: $2,000

$1,927.13

Allendale Christian School, Allendale, for a weather station Delton Kellogg High School, Delton, for Canon cameras

$1,450 East Jordan Elementary School, East Jordan, for project-based solar energy lessons

$2,000 Ellsworth Community School, Ellsworth, for a dynamic cart and track system $1,889.83 Forest Area Middle/High School, Fife Lake, for a sound system $1,699 Harbor Springs High School, Harbor Springs, for underwater remote-operated vehicles $2,000

Lincoln Elementary, Cadillac, for STEM kits

$1,800 Ludington Elementary School, Ludington, for Sphero Indi robots $1,738.99 Mason County Central School District, Scottville, for a drone and 360 camera $1,986

Oakridge Middle School, Muskegon, for robotics equipment

$1,335 Patricia St. Clair Elementary, Hesperia, for an iPad, stand, and hands-on material

$2,000 Riverview Elementary School, Big Rapids, Little Bits STEAM sets $2,000 Shelby Middle School, Shelby, for an exploratory class in manufacturing technology and careers $1,103

South Maple Elementary, Gaylord, for light tables

$400

Steeby Elementary, Wayland, for Cricut Maker machine

$896.27

South Maple Elementary, Gaylord, for circuit boards

$1,598.73 Thornapple Kellogg High School, Middleville, for photography enhancement equipment $2,000

Wolverine Elementary, Wolverine, for a Smartboard

GLE Board Member Dale Farrier stands outside his family’s sugar shack, where he plans to spend more time following his upcoming retirement from the Antrim County Road Commission.

The Change Is Constant Some of the changes Dale has seen since he joined the board include the cooperative’s name and size, its employees and board members, technology advancements, and the addition of the Truestream fiber internet service. He said he’s excited about expanding GLE’s Truestream service as quickly as possible, but noted the effort is no small task.

A Driving Force For The Community

“We know many members are eager to get Truestream, but it’s a complex process. It takes a lot of time and resources,” he said. “We need to be smart about how we do it so we don’t burden our members with undue expenses.” He said one thing that hasn’t changed in his time on the board is GLE’s commitment to its members and its primary goal of providing safe, reliable electricity.

or more than three decades, Dale Farrier has been helping maintain some of the community’s most critical services. He has been the office manager for the Antrim County Road Commission for nearly 39 years. For 33 of those years, he has also served as the District 5 representative on the Great Lakes Energy (GLE) Board of Directors.

District 5 includes Grand Traverse, Kalkaska, Manistee, Missaukee, and Wexford counties.

There is one more big change on the horizon for Dale: He plans to retire from the road commission in January.

In addition to seeking another threeyear term on GLE’s board later this year, Dale plans to keep busy with projects around the house, church activities, hunting, and spending time with family. When early spring rolls around, he’s looking forward to spending more time in the family sugar shack, making maple syrup. But long-held habits are hard to break.

So, in the winter, he plans to still be up early enough to have snow cleared from his driveway by 6 a.m.

F

training course the National Rural Electric Cooperative offers for board members. He’s served as the board’s chairman and secretary, and served many years on the board of directors for Wolverine Power Cooperative, GLE’s sole electric supplier.

He’s also learned a great respect for lineworkers and plow truck drivers.

“Those are two jobs I’d never want to do,” he said.

Not only do both of Dale’s roles involve critical infrastructure, but often weather has an impact on both.

Dale said it’s very common for GLE lineworkers and road commission crews to work together during storm responses. Sometimes downed lines must be addressed before roads can be cleared, and sometimes it’s the other way around.

When he joined the GLE board, Dale knew a little something about working with a board thanks to his job with the road commission, but he knew much less about electric cooperatives, he said. However, over the years, Dale has taken every

MICHIGAN COUNTRY LINES 17

MI CO-OP Guest Column

The Reluctant Boy Scout

By James Coash, Midwest Energy & Communications Member

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never considered Scouting until my father told me I was going to become one. My younger brother decided he wanted to be a Cub Scout and my dad figured I could be very useful keeping tabs on him. I really didn’t think it was for me, but I dutifully joined Troop 57 at the local school. This turned out to be one of the best things I have ever done.

Mystery Photo

Win a $100 energy bill credit!

Where In Michigan Is This?

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

I was a year older than most of the “Tenderfoot” Scouts, but I quickly qualified for 2nd and then 1st class scout and eventually became den chief for my brother’s pack. Our family was already into camping, and the Scouts camped several times a year at Rota-Kiwan in Texas Corners. There were canoe trips, jamborees, the Klondike Derby, and plenty of other events that I loved.

My best friend, Rod, was my assistant when I became the leader of Hawk Patrol. Eventually, my brother joined us, along with several other boys. Our Scoutmaster, Mr. Brown, was an outstanding leader, and several other parents were great mentors and teachers for all of us. In less than three years, I was a Life Scout working on Eagle when I was chosen to join The Order of the Arrow.

Scouting opened so many doors for my brother and me. Our record score and time in the 1964 Klondike Derby still stands! I was big for my age, and soon the other boys began to call me “Hoss” after the Bonanza character played by Dan Blocker. To this day, some of them still greet me that way when I see them. The camping, boating, swimming, crafting, first aid, and other skills I learned during those years still serve me well. I am so grateful that my parents decided to help me on my way to an experience I will never forget.

Nov./Dec. 2022 Winner! Our Mystery Photo winner is Leslie Miller, a Thumb Electric Cooperative member, who correctly identified the photo as Hartwick Pines Chapel in Grayling.

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

18 JANUARY 2023

About The Author: James is retired from a career in the audio/video business. He was also a DJ for more than 40 years. He and his wife enjoy gardening, reading, listening to music, and spending time with their children and grandchildren. They have performed recorded music at nearly 500 wedding receptions and parties, beginning in 1973.

Guest Column

Win $200 for stories published!

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

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Tour Dates: June

Travel to Washington, D.C., to explore monuments and museums, meet with a member of Congress, and make lifelong friends with other students from across the country. You'll discover leadership lessons from our nation's history and be immersed in the cooperative spirit that built our nation, with all expenses paid by your local electric cooperative. Yeah, that's pretty amazing. Are you up for it?

14-18, 2023