June 2022 PIE&G

June 2022

MICHIGAN

COUNTRY LINES Presque Isle Electric & Gas Co-op

READY, SET,

Cheboygan Scrapyard Turns Trash Into Treasure

A Matter of Reliability— Planning Generation to Meet Demand Summer Energy Savings Tips

SOAR

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Contents countrylines.com

June 2022 Vol. 42, No. 6

/michigancountrylines

/michigancountrylines

6 DESIGNING A DIFFERENCE Morley native and WMU student Isabella Waite combined her love of design with her sense of sustainability to capture third place in a nationwide housewares design competition.

Michigan’s Electric Cooperatives

10 MI CO-OP KITCHEN Tomatoes: Make the most of the summer season.

EXECUTIVE EDITOR: Casey Clark EDITOR: Christine Dorr

14 READY, SET, SOAR Annual Boyne City highperformance boating event brings the ‘thunder’ to this normally peaceful town.

GRAPHIC DESIGNER: Karreen Bird

RECIPE EDITOR: Christin McKamey COPY EDITOR: Yvette Pecha CONTRIBUTING EDITOR: Emily Haines Lloyd

18 GUEST COLUMN An Eggceptional Experience I Will Never Forget!

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: Robert Kran, Great Lakes Energy, chairman; Tony Anderson, Cherryland Electric Cooperative, vice chairman; Eric Baker, Wolverine Power 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.

Be featured!

Use #micoopcommunity for a chance to be featured here and on our Instagram account.

#micoopcommunity

Check out all the detail revealed in these Petoskey stones after a good vinegar soak.

Next up, polish. @mgcubba (Mary Grace)

MI CO-OP COMMUNITY To enter contests, submit reader content & more, visit countrylines.com/community

RECIPE CONTEST

GUEST COLUMN

Win a $50 bill credit!

Win $150 for stories published!

Up Next: Pasta Salads, due July 1 Baked Goods, due Aug. 1

Submit your fondest memories and stories at countrylines.com/community.

Submit your recipe at micoopkitchen.com, or send it via email (include your full name and co-op) to recipes@countrylines.com.

MICHIGAN COUNTRY LINES

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pieg.com /PIEGCooperative/

BOARD OF DIRECTORS Charles Arbour 23899 M32 S, Hillman MI 49746 989-657-4358 • Term Expires: 2023 Allan Berg, 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

A Matter Of Reliability

John Brown, Vice-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 2022 Brentt Lucas 15841 Carr Rd., Posen, MI 49776 989-766-3678 • Term Expires 2022 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 2022 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 JUNE 2022

Tom Sobeck, President & CEO

I

t’s not often that I find an article worth reprinting for this column, but the article below is very timely and deserves our attention. I’ve exercised some editorial license, so it may appear that I have written it. I have not, but I feel strongly about the concerns it raises. As mentioned toward the end, this is not intended to be a commentary on clean or green energy vs. coal or nuclear.

We all know that the migration to cleaner, environmentally responsible energy alternatives is inevitable and should take place. The real question is how do we make that transition in a way that does not compromise the reliability and integrity of our electric grid? It is a difficult question to answer but we should not avoid it. There is too much at stake.

On April 14, the regional electric grid operator, MISO, announced the results of its latest generation capacity auction. This annual process is designed to determine if there is sufficient generation supply to meet that summer’s maximum demand. The results are concerning to us at PIE&G, as this auction showed that nine northern states, including Michigan, are 1,200 MW short of the supply

needed to keep the lights on when demand is highest.

While this is certainly concerning, it is not surprising, nor is it the first time that Michigan has found itself in this situation. In fact, just two years ago, the Lower Peninsula of Michigan was short of the needed supply to meet the maximum demand for the summer of 2020. Fortunately, from an electric standpoint, the peak demand for the Lower Peninsula was lower, largely driven by lower commercial load due to COVID. As a result, the most extreme measures of controlled or “rolling” blackouts were not necessary.

What is driving the shortfall in the necessary supply to meet demand?

Simply put, the power grid is changing. Large baseload generating assets, primarily coal and nuclear, are retiring and being replaced mainly by intermittent renewable energy. The challenge placed on the grid is that for every megawatt of coal and nuclear that is retired, 2 megawatts of solar and 10 megawatts of wind are needed to replace that supply. Additionally, it is impossible to permit a new coal plant, new nuclear is extremely

cost prohibitive, and natural gas is becoming more challenging to permit, so our options are limited.

Fortunately, our power supplier, Wolverine Power Cooperative, has invested in generation supply on our behalf, meaning we at PIE&G have sufficient generation supply to meet our demand. In fact, Wolverine has a modest excess of supply that will reduce power costs in 2023.

Unfortunately, if blackouts are required by the grid operator, we will be required to do our part, as we are all interconnected to the same electric grid.

I’d like every co-op member to know that this isn’t a statement on renewable energy versus coal and nuclear power plants. You only have to see PIE&G’s 60% carbon-free portfolio to realize

that your cooperative has been trending toward cleaner resources for the past 20 years. Our concern is about reliability and the risk that continues to grow for the lights to go out.

Michigan was already operating under extremely tight power supply reserve margins. The signal that the market sent is that the rest of the Midwest is too. We are likely to have a reliability issue this summer. Finally, there is the potential for 1,900 MW (nearly 10% of Michigan’s generation fleet) of coal and nuclear plants slated for early retirement in Michigan alone over the next three years. We need to build adequate replacement power because the reliability issue is here to stay. I support all efforts in bringing this issue into the daylight, in hopes of keeping the lights on in the future for all of Michigan.

“ Our concern is about reliability and the risk that continues to grow for the lights to go out.”

Issues like reliability are critical, and we want to keep you informed and engaged. To support these efforts, PIE&G is partnering with other electric cooperatives from around the state and country, utilizing Voices for Cooperative Power (VCP).

I encourage you to sign up for VCP; it’s a great way to stay engaged, stay informed, and have a voice on critical energy policy issues. Sign up at voicesforcooperativepower.com and find out how you can get involved.

JOIN TODAY Looking to make a difference in your community and for your local electric cooperative?

Then join VCP today for free!

Scan to learn more and join!

VCP is a network of electric co-op members working together to influence public policy decisions that impact our co-ops and our way of life.

After you join, you’ll get regular updates on important issues and information on ways to get involved.

VOICESFORCOOPERATIVEPOWER.COM

@VOICES4COOPS

aite, now a junior at WMU, has fallen in love with her program. She is committed to not making what she calls “useless stuff,” but instead finding creative ways to create purposeful products. Waite also loves the way design, engineering, and business all intersect. These kinds of connections are something she has always appreciated.

W

As a member of an electric cooperative, Waite was familiar with the benefits of more sustainable energy sources and the opportunities available to her as a member. Waite was a member of Youth Tour, a group of around 1,800 high school co-op members from around the country who travel to Washington, D.C., to experience the monuments, memorials, museums, and all the history the country’s capital has to offer. It ends with students meeting their state senators and representatives and watching Capitol business unfold in real time.

“It was a life-changing trip for me,” said Waite. “I was super introverted and anxious around strangers in high school, but meeting all these new people from around the country was suddenly exciting and not scary anymore.”

Designing A Difference

By Emily Haines Lloyd

Raised in Morley, Michigan, with a population of just over 500 residents, Isabella Waite grew up with a sense of “sustainability.”

Her parents, HomeWorks Co-op members, made a habit of composting and they also line-dried their laundry outdoors— which they continue to do to this day. When Waite went off to study product design at Western Michigan University (WMU) in Kalamazoo, she took those sensibilities with her.

“I was really involved in fine arts in high school,” said Waite.

“I didn’t know what that could look like in a career for me until I toured Western and the product design program director explained how design could be used to help people, even make a difference in the world.”

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JUNE 2022

Waite took that new confidence and not only applied to WMU, which is in a much larger city than her hometown, but applied for scholarships to help her on her educational journey.

Waite received one of HomeWorks’ educational scholarships, helping her to get started at school.

“It was actually one of the staff members who went with us on Youth Tour that told me about the HomeWorks scholarships,” said Waite.

“It’s amazing how much scholarships helped me as I was beginning college.”

The financial assistance allowed Waite to delve into her degree in product design. One of her courses had, as part of its syllabus, an assignment to develop a houseware product and submit it to the Student Design Competition

To learn more about Isabella Waite’s Pip the Potty Pal, visit theinspiredhomeshow.com/awards/gia-student/. sponsored by the International Housewares Association (IHA). This international competition seeks to “invigorate” the housewares industry with innovative student designs and encourages careers in the industry.

Waite was inspired by her summer job as a nanny and saw the stress and difficulty the family she worked for was having with potty training their son.

Waite herself wasn’t sure how to help, but with her skills in product design and an eagerness for her work to help people, she designed Pip the Potty Pal. Pip assists adults in toilet training toddlers while making the breaks fun for the children. It went from an idea, to a design, to winning third place at the Global Innovation Awards and having her design displayed at the annual Inspired Home Show.

“A big part of product design is studying the behavior of your consumer,” said Waite. “Kids are just so interesting to observe, and figuring out what they need is really fascinating to me.”

As Waite heads into her senior year at WMU, she continues to be passionate about her major and the notion of helping others through her design efforts.

“As a designer, sustainability is really important to me. I don’t want to make things that people simply throw away,” said Waite. “I want to make products that last, that invoke memories, that you can pass down.”

“As a designer, sustainability is really important to me.

I don’t want to make things that people simply throw away,” said Waite. “I want to make products that last, that invoke memories, that you can pass down.”

MICHIGAN COUNTRY LINES

7

Keep It Cool With A Heat Pump I

f you are looking to save on cooling costs in your home this summer, consider a heat pump as an alternative to your furnace and air conditioner. A heat pump provides cool air in the summer, just like standard air conditioners, and provides heat in the winter.

SUMMER-TIME AIR CONDITIONING

How does that work?

Like a refrigerator, heat pumps use electricity to move heat: Heat pumps extract and move heat from the cool outdoors into your warm house during the heating season. They move heat from your cool house into the warm outdoors in the summer.

Because heat pumps move heat rather than generate heat, they can cost up to 75% less to operate than conventional heating or cooling methods.

1. Warm air from inside the home is passed across a cool refrigerant coil and the heat is absorbed by the liquid refrigerant, which evaporates into a low-temperature gas, and the cooled air is ducted back through the home.

2. The low-temperature gas refrigerant goes through a compressor, which raises its temperature and pressure.

8 JUNE 2022

Source: Energystar.gov

3. Hot, high-pressure refrigerant gas is passed through the outdoor coil.

The refrigerant passes heat to the outdoor air and condenses to a high-temperature liquid.

4. Warm liquid refrigerant is passed through an expansion valve, which relieves pressure. As the pressure is reduced, the temperature of the liquid is reduced. The lowtemperature, low-pressure liquid

refrigerant is then piped back into the house.

There are various types of heat pumps available. Presque Isle’s Energy Optimization program can help you find what fits your needs with energysaving opportunities. You may even qualify for additional incentives by purchasing a new efficient ENERGY STAR® system. Visit pieg.com/eo or call 877-296-4319.

PHOTO CONTEST

Hometown Pride 1. Wide open spaces. “A hunting we will go!” Wilma Tulgestka 2. Standing proud—Charlevoix South Pier Lighthouse, est. Sept. 1, 1885. Sheila Sarver 3. God bless Old Glory. Jill Wells 4. Timberfest Outhouse Races in downtown Lewiston! Gloria Zalewski 5. A fun night out at the Cheboygan Opera House! Joelle Majerowicz 6. Workings of the Cheboygan inland waterway. Diane LaHaie 7. Proud of our little town. Judy Stevens

MOST VOTES!

3

1

2

6

4 Enter to win up to a

$50

energy bill credit!

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Submit Your “Farms & Harvest” Photos By June 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 June theme is Farms & Harvest. Photos can be submitted through June 20 to be featured in our September 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 2022, you will be entered into a drawing for a chance to win one of four $50 credits on your January 2023 bill.

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

TOMATOES

Make the most of the summer season.

WINNING RECIPE! BLT BITES

Sharon Libich, Presque Isle Electric & Gas Co-op 2 ¼ ¼ ½ 2 1

RECIPE CONTEST Win a

$50

energy bill credit!

10 JUNE 2022

Pasta Salads due July 1 • Baked Goods due Aug. 1 Submit your favorite recipe for a chance to win a $50 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.

pints cherry/grape tomatoes cup mayonnaise cup sour cream pound bacon, cooked and crumbled tablespoons grated Romano cheese tablespoon dried, chopped chives (or ¹⁄³ cup fresh chives)

Rinse and dry tomatoes. Cut the tops off of the tomatoes just enough so you can scoop out the inner part of the tomatoes. To scoop out the inside pulp, you can use a strawberry huller (recommended).

Place scooped-out tomatoes upside down on paper towels. While draining, mix the rest of the ingredients together. Place the mixture into a plastic bag and clip off the corner. Squeeze the mixture into the cherry tomatoes. Place the tomatoes onto a tray with plastic wrap surrounding the tomatoes to keep them upright. Chill the tomatoes for 2 hours. Enjoy!

This is a family favorite at a summertime BBQ or anytime. It’s an easy way to share a yummy appetizer!

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

ROASTED TOMATO JAM

TOMATO SOUP WITH ORZO

Lynn Wall, Great Lakes Energy

1 large package heirloom cherry tomatoes 1 tablespoon olive oil 3 cloves garlic, thinly sliced 1 tablespoon chopped, fresh (or 1 teaspoon dried) oregano 2 tablespoons chopped, fresh (or 1 tablespoon dried) basil

Lianne Briggs, Great Lakes Energy Preheat oven to 325 F. Stir all ingredients together, and place in a 9x9 square baking dish. Bake for 2–3 hours, stirring every ½ hour or so. The mixture will get very wet.

When the tomatoes start to pop, they will start to thicken like jam. Serve warm or cool with crackers or bread, with cream cheese, or with any other cheese and/or meat, if desired. This is delicious on a charcuterie tray and smells wonderful when it bakes. I use my toaster oven to bake it.

3 3 1 4 28 • 1 ½

tablespoons olive oil cups finely chopped onions tablespoon minced garlic cups chicken stock ounces tomato purée pinch saffron threads teaspoon salt teaspoon freshly ground black pepper ½ cup orzo, dry ½ cup heavy cream

Heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the onions and cook over medium-low

LUBIYEH

TOMATO TART

Cindy Hodges, Ontonagon County 1 onion, chopped 2 tablespoons olive oil 4 (15-ounce) cans French cut green beans, drained 4 (15-ounce) cans petite diced tomatoes, undrained 2 small cans tomato paste 2 heads garlic cloves, peeled and smashed • salt and pepper, to taste

heat for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until golden. Add the garlic and cook for 1 more minute. Stir in the chicken stock, tomato purée, saffron, salt, and black pepper. Bring the soup to a boil, then lower the heat and simmer for 15 minutes.

Meanwhile, fill a medium pot with water, add 2 teaspoons salt, and bring to a boil.

Add the orzo and cook for 7 minutes.

(Note: The orzo will finish cooking in the soup.) Drain the orzo and add it to the soup. Stir in the cream, return the soup to a simmer, and cook for 10 more minutes, stirring frequently. Serve immediately.

Cathy Nichols, Great Lakes Energy Preheat oven to 250 F. In a Dutch oven or another lidded heavy pan, sauté onion in olive oil until soft. Add all ingredients (except salt and pepper) and cook for 5 hours or until the garlic is soft. Add salt and pepper to taste. This can be served on pita bread as a dip, or over rice for a meal.

1 pie crust, store-bought or homemade 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard 1 cup grated Gruyere cheese 3 medium tomatoes, thinly sliced (any variety) • salt and pepper • thinly sliced basil leaves

Preheat oven to 375 F. Roll out storebought or homemade pie crust into a fluted tart pan or pie pan. Spread Dijon mustard in the bottom of the pie crust. Top with grated Gruyere cheese. Next, place tomatoes in an overlapping concentric circle over the cheese. Sprinkle with salt and pepper and bake for 40 minutes, or until tomatoes look wrinkled. Sprinkle tart with basil and serve.

MICHIGAN COUNTRY LINES

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Cheboygan Scrapyard Turns Trash Into Treasure

By Yvette Pecha

I

n a world of green businesses, the scrap metal industry is one of the OGs. Long before workplaces started cutting back on paper, using LED bulbs, and watching out for vampire power, scrapyard employees were collecting and scrapping metal so that it could be used as raw material for new products. This process cuts down on pollution caused by the mining and manufacturing of metals with virgin raw materials, and it also uses less energy. And perhaps most importantly, it keeps millions of tons of scrap metals out of landfills each year.

But you don’t need to tell any of this to Chris Singer, the owner of Kling’s Automotive Recycling in Cheboygan since 2007. Singer, who’s been recycling metals most of his life, was the owner of an auto shop in Walled Lake, Michigan, when he was told about a junkyard for sale up north. Singer, who was 23 at the time, jumped at the chance. “It seemed like a great opportunity to me because I’ve always enjoyed recycling metals,” Singer said.

“My dad’s side of the family had a long history of it.

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When I was growing up, we recycled copper, steel, batteries … all that good stuff.”

Kling’s had been in business for 50 years when Singer purchased it, so he decided to keep the name, which was well-known in the community.

The previous owners had concentrated primarily on selling used cars and auto parts, but the demand for used vehicles was low, and as Singer said, “There was money in metal.” Switching gears proved to be an arduous task. “At first, we had very limited resources and equipment because of the move and the purchase of the business,” Singer said. “But we started buying scrap metal, we weighed everything by hand and slowly built it up.”

Weighing everything by hand is obviously not the most efficient way of recycling, so building the business for Singer meant saving every dime and reinvesting it in new equipment, including drive-on scales, an excavator, a semi truck, a tow truck, another excavator, and a crane. In the last couple of years, Singer was able to purchase three machines

that have exponentially increased his output: a shear/ logger/bailer, a pre-shredder, and a hammer mill.

This is where PIE&G came in. Running the hammer mill required more electricity than was then available to Kling’s. So Singer contacted PIE&G, and they approved him for the 3-phase power necessary to power up all of his equipment. “PIE&G really enabled us to grow our business,” Singer said. “If it wasn’t for them and the ability to do this, it would have been very difficult to do otherwise, and I don’t think we’d be where we are.”

Singer has a hardworking crew of six other employees, including his son Bryce and his wife Brandy. Brandy began working in the shop when the pandemic hit, she left her dental hygienist position due to the unknown risks at the time.

Singer says she’s been an asset to the business.

“She’s personable and she loves to help people out,” he said. Though Singer says 99% of the business is recycling, Brandy sells some of the used car parts, helping community members by allowing them to fix their cars less expensively.

“It’s like a family,” Singer said. “Brandy knows 80% of our customers’ names by heart, and we love our customers and community here.”

The community appears to love the Kling’s crew back. Singer said someone from the DNR stopped by the yard one day and thanked them for collecting the scrap metal that people had been throwing away on state land over the years. They also work alongside Emmet County, purchasing many recyclable materials that sanitation workers recover from the trash. In the beginning days of the business, he estimates they moved about 200,000 pounds of metal a month. With his increased electricity and additional equipment, he says the yard now recycles about 4 million pounds a month.

Bryce, Chris and Brandy Singer

What can you recycle at Kling’s Auto Recycling?

They recycle anything and everything metal—from household appliances (washer/dryer, ovens, toasters, microwaves, water heaters), to farming equipment, automobiles, lawn mowers, bicycles, and fencing.

Kling's Auto Recycling LLC 879 Court St. Cheboygan, MI 49721 231-627-7953 klingsrecycling@yahoo.com

MICHIGAN COUNTRY LINES 13

READY, SET,

By Emily Haines Lloyd || Photo courtesy of Boyne City Main Street

I

ROAR

t’s hard to visit the small town of Boyne City, making five stops to pick up cards for a poker Michigan, and not conjure up words like hand. With each stop—in Elk Rapids, Northport, “quaint” and “charming.” A town of around Charlevoix, Bay Harbor, and Harbor Springs— 3,700 residents on the shore of Lake Charlevoix, participants get closer to the opportunity to it’s what you imagine when you think of a get the winning hand, with the added benefit peaceful place to live or visit. But every year, the of delighting boat enthusiasts, residents, and weekend after the Fourth of July, this little town vacationers in those cities. While the competition opens up to over 120 high-performance boats is fairly tame and offers prizes for first, second, from around the country and Canada for the third, and—generously—last place, it’s the boats annual Boyne Thunder Poker Run charity event themselves that bring all the excitement. that brings all the energy, buzz, and, yes, noise of a big city.

The boats range in size from 22 to 55 feet in length and feature horsepower ranging from “You can’t quite describe the awe and genuine 425–3,600. If you’re not a boat geek—that excitement you feel when these magnificent means some of these boats are capable of boats roar by,” said Ingrid Day, Boyne Thunder speeding up to 150 mph. event coordinator. “For a few days, we not only get to show off these powerhouse boats, but What started about 20 years ago as a also get to show off our city.” fundraising event for a charity has developed into an effort to revitalize the downtown area.

Boyne Thunder is a 150-mile treasure hunt of The event has grown to more than 120 boats sorts, with large power boats roaring through with full crews from California to Florida to the waters of Lake Charlevoix and Lake Michigan, Canada, bringing thousands of people to Boyne

14 JUNE 2022

“The nonprofits that Boyne Thunder supports are as big a part of the event as the boats themselves. They are part of our community and are part of who we are.”

City each summer for the two-day event. Friday night hosts a welcoming of the boats to town with strolls along the marina to get early peeks at this year’s participants—and the popular Stroll the Streets, which brings 10,000–15,000 people to the downtown area for dining, shopping, entertainment, and the car show.

Saturday can include a stop at the farmer’s market before the boats power up and roar out from Lake Charlevoix into Lake Michigan, and then parade through the five town stops along the way. People line the harbor and bridges to get a good look and, with good reason, gawk.

“There’s really nothing like it,” said Day. “People lined up along the end of the lake, on the bridge—smiles just everywhere.”

While one crew will triumph in the Poker Run, the real winners are the two charities at the heart of the event, Camp Quality and Challenge Mountain, and the sponsoring organization, Boyne City Main Street. Camp Quality provides experiences and year-round support for children with cancer and their families. Many people in the community have volunteered and worked at the very first camps held by Camp Quality. Challenge Mountain provides experiences for individuals with mental and physical challenges through outdoor recreation like skiing, which is such a huge part of Northern Michigan life. There are Boyne City residents who work at the local resale shop that also raises money for the nonprofit.

And finally, Boyne City Main Street, which seeks to make the downtown a more vibrant place while preserving its historic character.

“The nonprofits that Boyne Thunder supports are as big a part of the event as the boats themselves,” said Day. “They are part of our community and are part of who we are.”

It’s clear that the only thing bigger on the water than the boats each summer in Boyne City are the hearts of the people who live there.

boynethunder.com facebook.com/BoyneThunder instagram.com/boynethunder MICHIGAN COUNTRY LINES

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Your Board In Action The following actions were taken by the PIE&G board of directors at its most recent meetings: Special Member Regulation Board Meeting • Accepted the 2021 Power Supply Cost Recovery (PSCR) Factor reconciliation.

• Accepted the 2021 Electric TIER Analysis and approved an overall revenue increase of $2,031,825.

• Approved the rate increase per rate class as presented

by PIE&G staff.

• Approved revisions to the cooperative’s renewable energy tariffs.

Regular Board Meeting • Approved revisions to the Estate Retirement Discount Factor decrease from 5.18% to 5.16%.

• Approved the overall budget for the Fiber to the Home project in the amount of $134,411,815, with a potential contingency of 10% or $13,441,182.

• Approved a request from staff that there be no aid to construction charges during the initial construction phases of the Fiber to the Home project.

• Approved three organizations for participation in the CoBank Sharing Success program.

• Recognized Naomi Deo, Diane Lewis, Daryl Barton, and Peter Redmond for their service on the Communities First Fund Board of Trustees.

• Appointed Fran Brink, Kim Pappas, and Tammy Bates, with each to serve a three-year term on the Communities First Fund Board of Trustees.

• Reviewed and accepted the 2021 Audit Report as presented by the auditing firm Eide-Bailly.

• Approved capital credit retirements in the approximate amount of $1,457,000.

• Designated CEO Sobeck as an assigned representative to facilitate the USDA grant application process.

• Approved a $2,000 contribution to the National Rural Utilities Cooperative Finance Corporation’s Cooperative Integrity Fund.

• Accepted team reports.

BE AWARE AND STAY SAFE THIS SUMMER HEAT EXHAUSTION Faint or dizzy

OR

HEAT STROKE Throbbing headache, confusion

Excessive sweating

No sweating

Cool, pale, clammy skin

Body temperature above 103° Red, hot, dry skin

Nausea or vomiting

Nausea or vomiting

Rapid, weak pulse

Rapid, strong pulse

Muscle cramps

•G et to a cooler, air-conditioned place •D rink water if fully conscious •T ake cool shower or use cold compresses Source: weather.gov

16 JUNE 2022

May lose consciousness

CALL 911 • Move person to cooler place • Cool using cloths or bath • Do not give anything to drink

Summer Energy Savings Help keep your cooling costs in check this summer with these tips from energy.gov.

1

Prevent Heat Gain From The Sun

• Sun shining in through windows and doors literally warms your home like an oven. Use window coverings to keep the sun out and your home’s temperature cooler.

3

Maintain Your A/C Unit

• For central air, have a professional check the unit annually. He or she will perform a proper tune-up and can spot some potential problems before they become emergencies.

• Change the filter on your HVAC unit regularly all year long.

Explore pieg.com/eo, or call our EO team at 877-296-4319 (M–F 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.)

2 Run Ceiling Fans • Run ceiling fans at a fast speed in a counterclockwise direction to create a wind chill effect. Turn the fan off when you leave the room; fans cool people, not rooms.

4

5

Use Your Thermostat Wisely

• Try to keep your thermostat as close to the outdoor temperature as possible. The Department of Energy recommends at least 78 degrees when you are home. Turn up the thermostat even higher when you are away to prevent your A/C unit from running unnecessarily. A programmable or smart thermostat automatically adjusts the temperature to ensure you are cooling your home when you need to and not when you don’t.

• When first turning on the air conditioner, don’t turn the temperature way down to jumpstart the cooling effect. Your A/C unit doesn’t work faster because the temperature is lower, but it could cause it to run longer than necessary.

6 Be Smart About Appliances • Only run full loads in your washer and dishwasher.

Seal Leaks • Cracks and leaks around windows, doors, and utility cutouts allow warm air to enter the home and cause your A/C unit to work harder. Seal or caulk leaks and holes.

• Let your dishes air-dry instead of using the heat setting. Prop the door open once the final rinse is complete for faster drying.

• Cook or grill outside when you can to avoid running your stove or oven.

• Buy Energy-Star certified appliances; these appliances are guaranteed to run more efficiently than noncertified ones.

PIE&G members: Learn about ways to save money and apply for rebates on energy-efficient appliances. You can also participate in free programs to help you assess and improve your home’s overall efficiency. Business and farm programs are available as well.

MICHIGAN COUNTRY LINES 17

Guest Column

An Eggceptional Experience I Will Never Forget!

By Cindy Zavadil, HomeWorks Tri-County Cooperative member

I

will never forget my visit to an ethnic art fair outside of Detroit’s Cobo Hall at the age of 12.

It is one of my fondest memories. Why? It was there that I was introduced to the art of Ukrainian egg decorating, or Pysanky. This art form is rich in cultural heritage, symbolism, and pure beauty. The intricacy, vibrant colors, and skill involved had me hooked right away.

From quail eggs to ostrich eggs, it’s a joy! My parents took me to this event.

They had no idea that I would become a high school art teacher and one day share this art form with my students. I remember watching the elderly artist, a woman, writing on her egg. This art process involves writing/drawing on the egg with beeswax, using a tool called a kistka. The egg is then dipped in various colored dyes after each new design has been written, and it culminates with melting the wax off the egg over a candle flame. I call it the unveiling. Here you see all your hours of work before your eyes.

Watching the experienced Pysanky artist that day, with her grey hair, steady hands, and patience, melting the wax off her creation is something I will never forget. I asked my parents if I could buy a kit, including all the tools, to begin my journey. The elderly woman handed my mom my first yellow box. From there, I practiced and

18 JUNE 2022

learned from my mistakes. I kept at it. Like anything else, art is a process, and we learn as we go. Since that day, I have created hundreds of eggs and enjoy sharing the tradition of Ukrainian Pysanky. The world is a better place with art showing its face around every corner. I owe this opportunity of learned joy to that one day at the art fair. If I hadn’t had the opportunity to meet the lovely lady sharing her skills, I would never have begun my journey. That day is a fond memory, and it is because of this memory that I am able to share my art with you.

Cindy is a retired art/humanities teacher. She enjoys all kinds of art, reading, and gardening.

WIN $150!

Share your fondest memories and stories. Win $150 for stories published.

Visit countrylines.com/community to submit.

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AVOID UTILITY SCAMS Scammers will threaten you with everything from shutting off power to your home to legal action. Don't fall victim to these types of scams.

• Our employees will never show up at your door to demand payment.

• Never give personal information to an unknown caller or visitor.

Our representatives have access to the details they need to service your account.

• Demands for immediate payment by wire transfer, cryptocurrency, gift cards, or cash reload cards should immediately raise red flags.

• If you think you’ve been contacted by a scammer falsely representing the co-op, please let us know as soon as possible.