Jan. 2023 PIE&G

January 2023

MICHIGAN

COUNTRY LINES Presque Isle Electric & Gas Co-op

M U S IC TO O U R EARS Big Water Creative Arts Bringing Music Education to Northern Michigan PSCR Factor Increase Effective Feb. 1

PIE&G Director Elections

College Scholarships Available For HS Seniors

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

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pieg.com /PIEGCooperative/

New Year— Same Challenges And Same Commitments

BOARD OF DIRECTORS Charles Arbour 23899 M32 S, Hillman MI 49746 989-657-4358 • Term Expires: 2023 Allan Berg, Vice-Chairman 8400 Lost Lake Rd., Hawks, MI 49743 989-734-0044 • Term Expires 2023 Sandy Borowicz, Secretary 5341 Carlson Rd.,Cheboygan, MI 49721 231-627-9220 • Term Expires 2024 John Brown, Chairman 21 W. Devereaux Lake Rd., Indian River, MI 49749 231-625-2099 • Term Expires 2023 Sally Knopf 1849 W. 638 Hwy., Rogers City, MI 49779 989-734-4196 • Term Expires 2024 Kurt Krajniak 7630 Wallace Rd., Alpena, MI 49707 989-884-3037 • Term Expires 2025 Brentt Lucas 15841 Carr Rd., Posen, MI 49776 989-766-3678 • Term Expires 2025 Daryl Peterson, Treasurer P.O. Box 54, Hillman, MI 49746 989-742-3145 • Term Expires 2024 Raymond Wozniak 6737 State St., Posen, MI 49776 989-766-2498 • Term Expires 2025 President & CEO: Thomas J. Sobeck tsobeck@pieg.com Communications Director/Co-op Editor: Mairè Chagnon-Hazelman Presque Isle Electric & Gas Co-op 3149 Main Street (M-211) Onaway, MI 49765

Business Office & Billing: 989-733-8515 Toll-Free: 800-423-6634 Gas Emergency Toll-Free: 800-655-8565 PIE&G natural gas rates and charges are not regulated by the Michigan Public Service Commission.

Presque Isle Electric & Gas Co-op is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

4 JANUARY 2023

Tom Sobeck, President & CEO

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ooking back over the past three years, I’ve written about our challenges and the importance of our commitment to you and our mission. With that in mind, I join several of my co-op peers across the state by dedicating this month’s column to discussing upcoming rate increases.

While the year is new, our challenges haven’t changed much. We live in times when uncertainty seems to be the norm, particularly concerning energy costs. The transition away from carbon-based energy production will continue to pose threats to reliability and affordability, which, in turn, pose the same challenges to us all. The North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) continues to express concern over the availability of electric generating capacity during peak events. This concerns us in Michigan and the Midwest and will continue to do so until the transition away from carbon to other energy sources has either slowed or become more reliable. Of course, during this transition, we will experience increased costs as it becomes more expensive to generate electricity. This year, for example, our cost to secure energy from our supplier has gone up and will result in an increase of 4 mills per kilowatt hour to you. This is approximately $2.80 per month for our average member using 670 kilowatt-hours. The Power Supply Cost Recovery (PSCR) Factor* increase will be effective with bills produced after Jan. 31, 2023. Our cost to procure

natural gas energy is under the same pressure and will also likely increase on April 1, 2023.

In addition to rising energy costs, nearly all materials (poles, wire, meters, transformers, gas pipe, etc.) needed to deliver energy to your homes and businesses continue to increase in price as well. How that will impact our rates, and your wallet, will become clearer once a review of our financial results for 2022 is completed. Likely, I will once again be writing about increased costs for both electric and natural gas delivery in a few months.

And so, while the year is still new, our challenges and commitment remain the same—managing our costs to deliver energy while maintaining the reliability of service so your lights stay on and your furnace keeps running. To help you control your energy costs by managing your energy consumption, we offer various options through our Energy Optimization programs. Please read more about cost-savings measures at pieg.com/energy-optimization.

As we look forward to the year ahead, we recognize and embrace our commitment to familiar challenges.

Your electric cooperative will continue to work to keep costs down, employ innovative ideas in work processes, and support policies that result in keeping a reliable supply of energy available to our member homes and businesses. * Read more about the PSCR Factor on page 16 of this issue.

Director Election Results

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IE&G held its 85th annual membership meeting on Friday, Oct. 28, at Onaway High School. Elections are held annually for three (3) positions on the PIE&G Board of Directors. After all ballots were counted, the successful candidates winning election to a three-year term (2023-2025) are: Kurt Krajniak (incumbent, Alpena District), Brentt Lucas (incumbent, Alpena District), and Raymond Wozniak, (incumbent, Presque Isle District). The number of votes that each candidate received are to the right.

Immediately following the meeting, the board of directors also held elections of officers for the new 3-year term as follows: Chair – John Brown; Vice Chair – Allan Berg; Secretary – Sandy Borowicz; and Treasurer – Daryl Peterson.

Donald D. from Rogers City won the $100 bill credit for voting by mail. In other business, members heard reports from the cooperative’s auditor and the chief executive officer, Thomas Sobeck.

Alpena District: (Two Vacancies) Kurt Krajniak. . . 1,047 Brentt Lucas . . . . 814 Eric Smith . . . . . . . 558 Warren Spragg. . . 523

Presque Isle District: (One Vacancy) Raymond Wozniak. . . . . . . . . . . . 927 Linda Dymond. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 291 Mary Hentkowski . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 506

Your Board In Action: At its most recent meetings, the PIE&G Board of Directors:

• Reviewed and approved the 2023 Utility Plant Construction Plan totaling $4,889,201 in electric and natural gas plant construction and rehabilitation.

• Reviewed and approved the 2023 Business Plan/ Operating Budget as a reasonable forecast for the 2023 fiscal year and as a useful business planning tool.

• Set the 2023 annual meeting date, time, and location for Friday, Oct. 27, 2023, to begin at 10 a.m. and to be held at Onaway High School.

• Authorized CEO Sobeck to sign an amended letter of credit with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).

• Accepted Team Reports.

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

MICHIGAN COUNTRY LINES

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2022

PHOTO CONTEST

WINNERS

Straits of Mackinac blue ice. Sally Dizon (Jan.)

“Hey Tuck, I think you took a wrong turn.”

John May (Mar.)

Harvesting the “new” old-fashioned way.

Diane LaHaie (Sept.)

Four brothers working together to trim the tree. Melissa Cumper (Nov./Dec.)

PIE&G awarded four members with a $50 bill credit for being selected in a drawing of all contest entries that appeared in Michigan Country Lines in 2022.

Thank you to the many members who participated. Members are welcome to send in photos for our 2023 contest.

Outdoor Adventures

PHOTO CONTEST

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6 Enter to win up to a $50 energy bill credit!

Submit Your “Pets” Photos By Jan. 20!

Submit your best photo and encourage others to vote! The photo receiving the most votes in our photo contest will be printed in an issue of Country Lines, along with some of our other favorites. Our January theme is Pets. Photos can be submitted through Jan. 20 to be featured in our March issue.

To enter the contest, visit pieg.com/photocontest. Enter your picture, cast your vote, and encourage others to vote for you as well. If your photo is printed in Country Lines during 2023, you will be entered into a drawing for a chance to win one of four $50 credits on your January 2024 bill.

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8 MOST VOTES ON FACEBOOK 1. I’m just a wildflower. Maria Fenech 2. Archie’s Adventure. Ishpeming, MI. Victoria Frailing 3. Three-year-old Ryker catching air on his dirt bike.

Debbi Glossop 4. Mirror fishing. Makisha Shrader 5. Enjoying the fall colors at the lower Tahquamenon Falls. Danielle Zalewski 6. Dipping into the northern lights. Kathleen Berger 7. Thunder Bay River Rascal. Todd Agee 8. Fishing days in northern Michigan. Brittany Sage 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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New year.

New resolutions.

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ooking for a New Year’s resolution that’s easy to keep but pays off big? Resolve to save energy and money with PIE&G’s Energy Optimization program!

We’re here to make saving simple in the new year. The Energy Optimization program rewards customers for energy-saving efforts at home, at their business, or on the farm. Take advantage of immediate savings by earning cash incentives for energy-efficient upgrades now, and save on energy costs for years to come.

Unlike other resolutions, you don’t have to sacrifice comfort, quality, or convenience with the Energy Optimization program. There are a variety of energy efficiency rebates offered in 2023 that make it easy to save:

• Income-qualified opportunities • Electric vehicles and home charging

• Efficient appliances

• Commercial and industrial incentives

• Efficient heating and cooling equipment − NEW! Complete system bonus—$200

• Agriculture opportunities

• Electric Lawn Equipment − NEW! Electric string trimmer, electric leaf blower, and electric chainsaw—$40 each

Not sure where to begin? PIE&G offers consultations with Energy Advisors for both residential and commercial customers. To learn more, call 877-296-4319 or visit pieg.com/eo.

Resolve to save energy and money in the new year with PIE&G’s Energy Optimization program!

New year.

New resolutions.

Take advantage of a variety of 2023 energy efficiency rebates to save big without sacrificing comfort, quality, or convenience. u Efficient appliances u Efficient heating and cooling equipment NEW! Complete system bonus: $200 u Electric Lawn Equipment • NEW! Electric string trimmer, electric leaf blower, electric chainsaw: $40 each u Income-qualified opportunities u Electric vehicles and home charging u Commercial and industrial incentives u Agriculture opportunities V I S I T pieg.com/eo • C A L L 877-296-4319

Presque Isle Energy Optimization programs and incentives are applicable to Presque Isle Electric & Gas Co-op electric service locations only. Incentive applies to qualified items purchased and installed between Jan. 1, 2023 and Dec. 31, 2023.

Other restrictions may apply. For complete program details, visit pieg.com.

M U S I C

T O

Big Water Creative Arts Bringing Music Education To Northern Michigan

By Emily Haines Lloyd

14 JANUARY 2023

O U R

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

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PSCR Factor to Increase Feb. 1, 2023 s published in the Nov./Dec. issue of Country Lines, at a Special Open Meeting held Sept. 27, 2022, the Presque Isle Electric & Gas Co-op Board of Directors approved the 2023 Power Supply Cost Recovery (PSCR) factor at a maximum of $0.01169/kWh for bills rendered on or after Feb. 1, 2023. This is up from $0.00762/ kWh in 2022 and represents an increase of around $2.80 per month for the average monthly residential member using 661 kilowatt-hours per month.

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For the last six of seven years, the PSCR factor was a negative number, which effectively reduced members’ bills during those years. The increase is primarily due to the increased costs of natural gas used for cleaner generation of electricity.

What is the PSCR factor?

As an electric distribution cooperative, PIE&G purchases electricity from its wholesale supplier, Wolverine Power Cooperative. Wolverine, a generation and transmission cooperative, sells power to PIE&G, delivering it via transmission lines to PIE&G’s substations. From the substations, PIE&G distributes electricity directly to its members.

Each year, electric utilities compare projected costs of electricity for the next 12 months with long-term projected energy costs to determine the adjustment charged to customers on the monthly bill. This adjustment to the base energy charge is called the Power Supply Cost

Recovery (PSCR) factor. At the end of the year, utilities must reconcile the monies collected from members throughout the year for energy, with the actual cost of energy paid to the supplier. That difference and the following year’s forecasted costs are incorporated into the projected PSCR factor calculation for the upcoming year.

The purpose of the PSCR process is to ensure that a utility only collects the costs that it incurred to purchase wholesale energy on behalf of its members or customers.

This mechanism is a legal requirement for all electric utilities in Michigan.

Power supply or energy costs are a pass-through cost and do not contain any margins for PIE&G. For specific details of any Presque Isle Electric & Gas Co-op tariffs or fees, please call 1-800-423-6634 or visit our website at pieg.com.

Scholarships For Graduating High School Seniors Applications due March 1 The PIE&G Communities First Fund has awarded scholarships to graduating high school seniors since 1999. The scholarship program includes all accredited colleges or universities located in Michigan. The award is $1,000 and payable upon successful completion of the first semester. The A. Barkley Travis Memorial Scholarship ($500) and the Peterson Vocational School Scholarship ($500) are also available.

Eligibility requirements and applications are available online at pieg.com or by contacting PIE&G at (800) 423-6634 and selecting extension 1011. Completed applications with all supporting documentation must be received at PIE&G by the close of business on Wednesday, March 1, 2023. Scholarships will be awarded by June 1.

16 JANUARY 2023

Fiber Update During 2022, eight zones, Onaway 1, Onaway 4, Canada Creek 3, Canada Creek 4, Black Lake 3, Black Lake 4, Tower 2 and Tower 6, were opened for internet service.

An easy way to determine your zone and to understand which zone will be opening next can be found on the piegconnect.com website. Once you are on piegconnect.com, click on the “About” tab at the top navigation bar, and from the drop-down menu, choose “Fiber Construction Status Map”. The open zone map is shown at the top of the webpage, and the way to find your zone information using your electric bill is shown at the bottom of the page.

In December, we made good progress and connected our 500th subscriber, with over 3,000 other members indicating that they are interested in receiving service when it is available. Feedback from members who are using the internet service has been extremely positive.

In-home installations will continue throughout the winter, except for homes that require underground or buried fiber cables due to frozen ground conditions. For these members, PIE&G Connect will hold their service orders for installation until spring, when the ground thaws. Crews are currently working in the Fingerboard and Mullett Lake areas. We appreciate everyone’s patience with our fiber crews!

AMI Update Work continues with the installation of AMI equipment on our 100-foot poles in Presque Isle, Cheboygan, and Montmorency counties. We are proceeding with agreements to install AMI equipment on several local radio towers early this year.

We are collaborating with Bois Blanc Township to find a mutually beneficial solution to ensure that AMI service is available on the island.

As of December, we have deployed 32,303 AMI meters, or 89%, of the 36,202 active electric meters.

We are evaluating and testing our Encoder Receiver Transmitter (ERT) gas modules. The ERT module for natural gas meters is comparable to advanced metering technology for electric service.

This a friendly reminder to members to please continue to read and report your meter readings until the meter reading boxes on your billing stub have been removed. You may submit meter readings several ways: by returning your billing stub to us with your payment (by mail or in our Drop Box), using Pay-By-Phone service (1-866-999-4571), or using SmartHub (online at pieg.com or with our free mobile app).

MICHIGAN COUNTRY LINES 17

MI CO-OP Guest Column

The Reluctant Boy Scout

By James Coash, Midwest Energy & Communications Member

I

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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2023 Energy Efficiency Calendar There are so many ways you can save energy! Saving energy helps reduce your family’s monthly bills—and it helps our environment. Change your energy use habits by following the monthly tips below. Keep this calendar on your refrigerator to remind family members to be energy efficient throughout the year.

JANUARY Turn off ceiling fans when you leave a room.

MAY Decorate your backyard or porch with solarpowered lights.

FEBRUARY Instead of turning up the heat, put on an extra layer of clothing or stay cozy under a blanket.

JUNE Take short showers instead of baths.

SEPTEMBER

OCTOBER

Turn off running water while brushing your teeth.

Unplug energy vampires, like chargers, gaming consoles, and cable/ satellite boxes.

MARCH Turn off lights when you leave a room.

JULY Dry heavy linens outside on a clothesline instead of using the dryer.

NOVEMBER Remind family members to use cold water when washing clothes.

APRIL Plant a tree away from power lines to help shade your home in the summer.

AUGUST Schedule a reminder to change the A/C filter every 60-90 days.

DECEMBER Decorate your home with energy-saving LED holiday lights.