March 2022 PIEG

March 2022

MICHIGAN

COUNTRY LINES Presque Isle Electric & Gas Co-op

Surge Protection 101

Be Prepared For Spring Storms

Food Network’s Holiday Baking Champion—

Michigan’s Beth Meyer

YOU MAY HAVE UNCLAIME D MONEY! S EE CAPITAL C RED INSERT INS IT IDE.

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Contents countrylines.com

March 2022 Vol. 42, No. 3

/michigancountrylines

/michigancountrylines

6 TAKING THE LONG ROAD Long Road Distillers promises “no shortcuts” ... and the great lengths they go to in securing a gin ingredient reflect that promise.

Michigan’s Electric Cooperatives

10 MI CO-OP KITCHEN Italian: Crowd-pleasing recipes you’ll love.

14 FOOD NETWORK’S HOLIDAY BAKING CHAMPION— MICHIGAN’S BETH MEYER The dazzling cakes baked

by Beth Meyer have done everything from help her make connections in a new community to landing her a television appearance.

EXECUTIVE EDITOR: Casey Clark EDITOR: Christine Dorr

GRAPHIC DESIGNER: Karreen Bird

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

Cover photo courtesy of Food Network

PUBLISHER: Michigan Electric Cooperative Association

18 GUEST COLUMN Sweet Surprises: A day of sap collecting yields not only delicious syrup, but precious memories as well.

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

When it’s so cold that boiling water freezes in mid-air. #mpenbaeffect @christina.b.lee (Christina Lee)

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

RECIPE CONTEST Win a $50 bill credit!

Up Next: Tomatoes, due April 1; Potatoes, due May 1 Submit your recipe at micoopkitchen.com, or send it via email (include your full name and co-op) to recipes@countrylines.com.

GUEST COLUMN Win $150 for stories published!

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

MYSTERY PHOTO Win a $50 bill credit!

Enter a drawing to identify the correct location of the photo.

See page 18.

MICHIGAN COUNTRY LINES

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AMI Update 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 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 State Street (M-211), Onaway, MI 49765

Business Office & Billing: 989-733-8515 Toll-Free: 800-423-6634 Gas Emergency Toll-Free: 800-655-8565

S

ince May of 2021, PIE&G has implemented Advanced Metering Infrastructure (or AMI) upgrades to approximately 13,000 residential electric meters, or about one-third of its total electric services. The Co-op has approximately 22,000 electric AMI meters yet to be deployed, as well as an additional 8,000 AMI modules to be installed on its natural gas meters.

The custom natural gas modules will be mounted onto the existing gas meters to allow for remote meter readings.

Work on advanced metering technology for electric and natural gas infrastructure is expected to continue throughout 2022. Deployment of additional electric AMI meters will resume beginning in March or April.

PIE&G continues to face some of the similar delays that other businesses are experiencing—namely material shortages and lack of product availability in the supply chain. Material shortages are expected to continue in 2022. Weather and other unforeseen issues may also affect the technology deployment schedule.

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 writing them on your billing stub and returning them with your payment, by entering them using our Pay-By-Phone service at 866-999-4571, or by using SmartHub (online at pieg.com or with our free mobile app).

As always, our member service representatives are available to assist you during office hours Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Call 800-423-6634 or visit us at our new headquarters office at 3149 State Street (M-211) in Onaway.

Notice to Members of Presque Isle Electric & Gas Co-op A special board meeting is set for March 29, 2022, 9 a.m., at the cooperative’s Onaway office The board of directors will consider changes to the cooperative’s rates and tariffs at its special meeting on March 29, 2022, to be held at 3149 Main Street, Onaway, Michigan. The meeting will start at 9 a.m. and is open to all Presque Isle Electric & Gas Co-op members.

The session will begin with an opportunity for members to provide direct input to the board of directors. Members are asked to call the cooperative one week prior to the meeting if they wish to attend. Time constraints on each member’s comments will be at the discretion of the board chairman, but members are asked to keep comments to less than five minutes.

The following items will be discussed:

PIE&G natural gas rates and charges are not regulated by the Michigan Public Service Commission.

1. Reconciliation of the 2021 Power Supply Cost Recovery Factor collections.

2. Review and approval of the 2021 Electric Times Interest Earned Ratio (TIER) analysis.

3. Consideration of adjustments to Electric Rates.

4. Consideration of adjustments to Special Charges 5. Consideration of revisions to the cooperative’s billing rules.

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

Notices of changes or additions to the cooperative’s rates or service rules shall be sent to all members, as required by P.A. 167, by first-class mail or by publication in Michigan Country Lines at least 30 days prior to their effective date.

Participation: Any interested member may attend, and to participate, should contact Presque Isle Electric & Gas Co-op at 800-423-6634 a week in advance. Comments may also be made before the meeting date by calling CEO Thomas Sobeck at 800-423-6634 or emailing at tsobeck@pieg.com.

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Three Interesting Facts About Electricity Tom Sobeck, President & CEO

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lectricity turns dark into light, makes hot foods cold and cold foods hot, washes the dishes, and searches the internet. It is essential to our everyday lives, so much so that we rarely think about it. But behind the scenes, interesting things are happening.

Here are three interesting facts about electricity that cause even some experts to scratch and shake their heads.

1. Electricity must be used or stored after it’s generated.

A rechargeable battery stores electricity—more on that later. But the kind of electricity you use in your home needs to be used after it’s generated.

It’s true. Electricity produced from power plants, solar panels, wind turbines, and hydro dams in the U.S. needs to be perfectly timed for when you decide to cook dinner, wash clothes, or watch TV. The national grid of power generators, wires, and substations is an incredibly complex network that makes electricity flow smoothly.

A vast and intricate system of devices controls that power flow in a precisely balanced way. It’s one reason utility operators must be strategic when adding renewable energy to the nation’s fuel mix—a coal or natural gas plant can ramp generation up or down fairly quickly to meet changing energy demand. But solar energy and wind power depend more on the whims of Mother Nature, which adds an extra degree of difficulty to power management. However, technological advances could be a game changer.

Large-scale battery storage technology is rapidly improving, allowing big batteries to offer another way for electric utilities to better balance the flow and timing of electricity. Wider use of large utility-scale batteries could also make it much easier to add more solar and wind energy to our grid—by storing energy when it’s breezy and sunny, then using it at night and during calm weather.

2. Power out? Blame a squirrel.

While severe weather causes most outages, if it’s nice out and your electricity goes off, it could be caused by a squirrel. They scamper and chew around transformers, substations, and utility poles where they can disrupt highvoltage equipment, shutting down power for you and me.

But it’s not just squirrels. Snakes, birds, and other critters can find their way into dangerous places. There’s no official record keeping of wildlife-caused power outages, but estimates run as high as 20%.

Electric utilities are constantly devising new ways to keep wildlife away from dangerous electrical equipment—the

resulting power disruptions are inconvenient for us energy consumers, and always fatal for the squirrel.

3. Highways could charge electric vehicles in the future.

If researchers have their way, electric vehicles wouldn’t need to plug in—they could charge while they’re being driven.

“Wireless dynamic charging” projects are underway around the world. The idea is similar to wireless chargers you can buy for your home electronics, the kind you can set near a charger rather than actually plugging in the smartphone or other device.

Charging cars while they’re driving along the freeway is, of course, a lot more ambitious. But some developers predict that within five years, in addition to today’s special highoccupancy-vehicle lanes for rush-hour traffic in large cities, there could be stretches of vehicle-charging lanes.

Futurists expect electric trucks would be the most likely users of wireless charging lanes. Most electric cars, after all, can charge overnight in a residential garage. Wireless dynamic truck charging could keep the deliveries rolling rather than having drivers sitting and drinking coffee for the several hours it could take a conventional plug-in to get trucks back to full power.

Electricity is such a basic part of our everyday life, so it’s easy to forget about it. But every now and then, it’s good to think about all its benefits and mysteries. That awareness can help make sure we pay attention to safety precautions, but also, sometimes it’s good just to be amazed.

Your Board In Action At its most recent meeting, the PIE&G board of directors: • Approved March 29, 2022, for the next Member Regulation meeting date.

• Approved director appointments for the Wolverine Power Cooperative and MECA boards.

• Approved the director appointment for the Country Lines Magazine Committee.

• Approved the voting delegates for the Wolverine Power Cooperative, Michigan Electric Cooperative Association, Spartan, NRECA, NRUCFC, and NRTC. • Approved the quarterly bad debt write-off in the amount of $19,999.85.

• Accepted team reports.

MICHIGAN COUNTRY LINES

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TAKING THE

LONG ROAD

By Emily Haines Lloyd

f Emerson’s ethos holds true and life really is about the journey and not the destination, then the folks at Long Road Distillers are taking the scenic route for sure.

in Northport, apples from Peach Ridge Farms in Alpine Township, sunflower seeds from Paulson’s Pumpkin Patch in Belding, and perhaps the most elusive ingredient from a location stand point—juniper.

Long Road Distillers, the first distillery in Grand Rapids, has built its brand around its own moniker—No Shortcuts. It’s a nice sentiment and looks good on t-shirts, but it can be harder to commit to with invoices, payroll, and then for good measure—a pandemic staring you in the eye. But that’s what makes Long Road a special breed of business.

Most juniper for U.S.-based gin is sourced from the Pacific Northwest, where the weather and soil are perfect for the piney/woodsy-flavored berries.

So, how do you keep your promise to source locally?

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“Michiganders have a long history as makers,” said Jon O’Connor, co-founder of Long Road. “When Kyle and I started, we knew we wanted to make a product we could be proud of. There’s always a faster, cheaper, or easier way to do things, but that’s not why we started Long Road.”

O’Connor and co-owner Kyle VanStrien took that simple premise into creating their line of spirits. Take, for instance, their MichiGin. It’s a clever name and, again, could be a nice gimmick, but not to this company. This gin is not only 6

MARCH 2022

distilled and bottled in the Great Lakes State, but each and every ingredient is sourced here.

The gin’s base spirit is distilled from red winter wheat from Heffron Farms in Belding, Michigan, that was milled on-site at the distillery on Grand Rapids’ West Side. It has been redistilled with a variety of Michigan botanicals, including sumac, white pine, and goldenrod wild-foraged in Byron Center and Greenville, Galena hops from the Michigan Hop Alliance

“We were camping with family one weekend, and my wife’s cousin told me about the juniper bushes all over Beaver Island,” said VanStrien. “It took no time at all for Jon and me to set up a trip to go see for ourselves.”

In 2015, VanStrien and O’Connor took their first trip to Beaver Island, the 56-square-mile island surrounded by the blue waters of Lake Michigan, to scout for the wild juniper. Locals and owners of Island Airways, Paul and Angel Welke, offered the wide field behind their house for the crew to look at. From there, word spread, and other generous folks offered their land or passed off tips on where they’d seen the juniper bushes on the island.

“We’ve been lucky to forge some great relationships with families here. They know we want to highlight Beaver Island, not take advantage of it.”

longroaddistillers.com Locations in Grand Rapids, Grand Haven, and Cadillac

Kyle VanStrien

“It’s a small, tight-knit community.

It was important to us always to be mindful of how we approached our picks,” said VanStrien. “We’ve been lucky to forge some great relationships with families here.

They know we want to highlight Beaver Island, not take advantage of it.”

In 2019, 27 employees made the trip over on the ferry owned by Bill McDonough, who also owns the local grocery store and often tosses car keys to the Long Road team for them to use on the island. In 2020, just a skeleton crew of six arrived by plane, due to COVID-19. Luckily, in 2021, things rebounded a bit, and the team returned with a group of 24, who

harvested over 150 pounds of wild juniper over three days.

The team stoops, squats, and sits around low, spreading juniper bushes, pulling off ripe berries, with others clinging tightly for next year’s harvest. Conversations between team members vary from cocktail recipes, cooking techniques, sports scores, or gentle ribbing of one another from their individual bushes.

Nearly 200 pounds of juniper berries are harvested each trip that eventually yield just under 1,000 bottles of MichiGin. The berries have a woodsy, earthy flavor that is distinct to the terroir of Beaver Island. Unique flavors for a truly unique product.

“It just wouldn’t be reasonable for a large distillery to go out and handpick juniper. It’s costprohibitive,” said VanStrien, “But for us, it’s personal. As we grow as a company, it’s this great reminder of our mission and doing things the right way. We’re proud to be able to produce something that features the farmers and families we are able to partner with around the state.”

If the most epic journeys include taking the road less traveled, then it’s clear the folks at Long Road are okay taking an uncharted course. But they know, as all good travelers do, that the company you keep and the friends you make along the way end up being the real reward.

MICHIGAN COUNTRY LINES

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PHOTO

MOST VOTES!

CONTEST

Pet Showcase 1. Look at me, I’m so handsome. Meloney Grossman 2. A howling good time on Burt! Melissa Brown 3. Gentle giant. Jessica Boman 4. A hug from your calf is always welcomed. Michelle Cockey 5. S easonal change with Zelda along a Douglas Lake two-track.

Linda Orlow

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6. Baby, it’s cold outside. Sandy Adair 7. “ Hey Tuck, I think you made the wrong turn!” John May 8. Who, me?? Suzanne Fisk 9. M an and dog, best friends on beautiful Hubbard Lake. Diane Smith 10. Sleeping beauties. Marma Beatty 11. Augie watching “his” birds. Ellen Putman 12. Renley girl. Jennie Lewandowski

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

Submit Your “Antique Rides” Photos By March 20!

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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 March theme is Antique Rides. Photos can be submitted through March 20 to be featured in our May 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.

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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

ITALIAN

Crowd-pleasing recipes you’ll love.

WINNING RECIPE!

SWEET POTATO TURKEY SAUSAGE MINESTRONE SOUP Janet Cather, Midwest Energy

• 1 2 2 4 1 2 1 3 4 1 • 1 • •

RECIPE CONTEST Win a

$50

energy bill credit!

10 MARCH 2022

Tomatoes due April 1 • Potatoes due May 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.

butter or olive oil, for sautéing large onion, chopped cups chopped celery pounds fresh or frozen sweet potatoes, cubed (around 1 inch) large carrots, sliced package Polish turkey sausage, sliced (I use Eckridge Farm Smoked) (14-ounce) cans diced tomatoes, undrained (15-ounce) can Great Northern beans or butter beans, rinsed tablespoons Italian spices cups chicken or vegetable broth cup water salt and pepper, to taste bunch fresh kale (stripped from stem), chopped, or 1 package frozen or fresh spinach Parmesan/Asiago shredded cheese for serving hot sauce, for serving, optional

Sauté onion, celery, sweet potatoes, and carrots in a large saucepan with butter or olive oil. When veggies start to brown, add sausage and stir every few minutes.

Transfer into a slow cooker (adding a liner makes cleanup a breeze). Add all remaining ingredients (note: depending on how large your slow cooker is, you may want to add the kale first, so the other ingredients weigh it down). Turn slow cooker on “Low” and cook for 6 hours. Serve with Parmesan/Asiago (or your favorite shredded cheese) or hot sauce, if desired, on top.

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

GRANDMA’S MEATBALLS Sharon Libich, Presque Isle • 1 ½ ½ 4 4 4 6

olive oil cooking spray pound ground chuck pound ground pork pound ground veal ounces dried breadcrumbs large eggs ounces whole milk ounces grated Romano cheese

3 ounces grated Spanish onion 2 ounces finely diced fresh garlic 2 ounces finely chopped fresh Italian parsley leaves 2 ounces finely chopped fresh basil leaves • salt and pepper

Preheat oven to 350 F. Spray a baking sheet with the cooking spray. Mix all ingredients thoroughly in a large bowl. Add more breadcrumbs if the mixture feels a little loose. Using a small scoop, roll each meatball to the size of a golf ball and place on the prepared baking sheet. Cook for approximately 35–40 minutes. These meatballs can be used in sauce for a spaghetti dinner or part of a meatball sandwich. Enjoy!

TOMATOES AND LINGUINE Lois Korpalski, Great Lakes 8 2 1 1 ½

ounces linguine noodles cups chopped tomatoes tablespoon dried basil teaspoon salt teaspoon black pepper

3 2 ½ 4

green onions, sliced garlic cloves, minced cup grated Parmesan cheese tablespoons butter

Cook linguine according to package directions, to al dente. Meanwhile, in a medium bowl, combine tomatoes, basil, salt and pepper, green onions, garlic, and Parmesan cheese.

Drain linguine and add butter to it while hot. When melted, add tomato mixture and enjoy.

ITALIAN SALAMI AND CHEESE STUFFED BREAD Valerie Donn, Great Lakes Energy

ITALIAN TORTELLINI SOUP Theresa Mandeville, Cherryland

1 pound Italian sausage, browned and drained 1 bag frozen cheese-filled tortellini 2–4 cloves garlic, chopped 1 sweet onion, chopped 4 cups beef broth 1 cup red wine 2 cups chopped carrots

1 teaspoon basil 1 teaspoon oregano 2 (28-ounce) can diced tomatoes, undrained 1 (8-ounce) can tomato sauce 1 (6-ounce) can tomato paste 2 cups quartered zucchini

Brown the sausage and set aside. Prepare the tortellini according to package directions; cool and set aside. Sauté the garlic and onion until onion begins to tenderize. Combine the broth and wine; bring to a boil. Add the carrots and simmer until desired tenderness. Add the basil, oregano, diced tomatoes, sauce, and paste; continue to simmer. Add the zucchini and simmer until just tender. Add the browned sausage, onions/garlic, and tortellini. Serve.

1 tablespoon butter, melted 1 teaspoon finely chopped fresh garlic 1 (1-pound) loaf frozen bread dough, thawed ¼ pound thinly sliced deli Genoa salami

6 (1-ounce) slices mozzarella cheese, cut into strips ½ cup ricotta cheese 2 green onion stalks, diced 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning 1 large egg, beaten with 1 teaspoon water

Stir together butter and garlic in a bowl. Roll out bread dough on a lightly floured surface into a 12-inch square. Place on lightly greased baking sheet; brush with butter mixture. Layer salami and cheese, spread ricotta, and add onions down a 3-inch strip of center of dough to within ½ inch of top and bottom, leaving 4½ inches of dough on each side of filling. Sprinkle Italian seasoning over the top of the salami and cheeses mixture. Cut twelve 3-inch-long strips, 1 inch apart, along both sides of filling. Fold strips across filling at an angle, alternating sides to give a braided effect. Pinch dough at bottom and top to seal. Cover; let rise in warm place 30–45 minutes or until almost double in size. Preheat oven to 350 F. Combine egg and water in a bowl; brush over braid. Sprinkle top of bread lightly with Italian seasoning. Bake for 25–35 minutes or until golden brown. Remove from oven, cool slightly, and cut into slices.

MICHIGAN COUNTRY LINES

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Surge Protection 101

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power surge is an unexpected increase in voltage, and it can occur from a variety of sources. Regardless of the cause, power surges can majorly damage electronic devices and equipment in your home.

Let’s take a look at common causes of power surges and how you can protect your sensitive electronics.

One of the most common causes of a power surge is lightning. Most of us have experienced this during a severe thunderstorm. When lightning strikes an electrical system, the excess current must be channeled somewhere— unfortunately, in many cases, it’s sent through a home. Your best bet is to unplug all unused devices and electronics during severe thunderstorms.

Another common cause of power surges is electrical overload. This happens when devices

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or appliances are plugged into an outlet that can’t handle the required amount of voltage, or if multiple devices are plugged into one outlet through an extension cord. If you’re experiencing power surges due to electrical overload, it’s time to call a qualified electrician to evaluate your home’s circuits and electrical needs.

Faulty wiring in a home can also cause power surges. Damaged or exposed wires can cause spikes in voltage, creating a potentially dangerous situation. If you notice signs of faulty wiring, like visible burns on outlets, buzzing sounds from outlets, or frequently tripped circuit breakers, your home may be due for electrical wiring repairs and updates.

Surges can also occur after a power outage.

Sometimes, when electricity is being restored and reconnected, it’s common to experience a quick surge in current. Similar to advice for a surge caused by lightning, it’s best to unplug

sensitive electronics during the outage— then wait to plug them back in after power is fully restored.

Aside from unplugging devices when you suspect a power surge, there are two ways you can take additional precautions to protect electronics in your home.

Point-of-use surge protection devices, like power strips, can protect electronics during most surges. But remember, not all power strips include surge protection, so read the packaging label carefully before you buy, and don’t overload the power strip with too many devices.

You can also install specialized electrical outlets that offer additional surge protection. Talk to a trusted electrician to learn more.

Another option is a whole-home surge protector, which can help protect your home from larger, more powerful surges. In most cases, wholehome suppressors are connected to your home’s service panel and include features like thermal fuses and notification capabilities that indicate when a device has been impacted by a surge.

Whole-home surge protection prices vary based on the size of the home and suppressor. Wholehome suppressors should always be connected by a licensed electrician, so consider the cost of installation as well.

Occasional power surges are inevitable, but by unplugging devices when you think a surge may occur and using additional levels of protection like power strips or whole-home suppressors, you can better safeguard your sensitive electronics and devices.

Contact PIE&G if you have questions about ways to protect your home from power surges.

SURGE PROTECTION Keep your electronic equipment safe.

A power surge is typically caused by lightning, changes in electrical loads, faulty wiring, or damaged power lines.

Install power strips with surge protection to protect sensitive equipment.

• Easy to use (just plug them in) • Protect electronics plugged into the device • Must be replaced over time or after a major surge event REMEMBER: Not all power strips offer surge protection.

Carefully read the packaging labels when purchasing.

MICHIGAN COUNTRY LINES 13

Photo courtesy of Food Network

Food Network’s Holiday Baking Champion—

Michigan’s Beth Meyer

By Emily Haines Lloyd

T

here is a scientific precision that goes into baking, with a combination of chemistry, biology, and physics at play. For those who decorate cakes, there’s another equally important part, which is the creativity, whimsy, and joy. Baker Beth Meyer shows there is a vital third ingredient to a successful creation, and that is the love and care she puts into each cake she bakes that truly turns each one into a work of heart.

Meyer, who recently found herself on the Food Network’s Holiday Baking Championship: Gingerbread Showdown, began her love of baking on a much smaller stage—her mother’s kitchen. While she would dutifully crack eggs or fry doughnuts, she marveled at how her mother would take sheet cakes and cut them into shapes to create delightful showstoppers for birthdays and special occasions.

“They weren’t exactly masterpieces,” said Meyer. “But the care my mother

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took to make these cakes the centerpiece of an event made them feel extra special.”

Following her mother’s lead, Meyer would lovingly make cakes for her own children’s parties. As she grew in her skill and creativity, her cakes quickly became the talk of the party.

While living in Texas, Meyer threw her son’s birthday party with a Southwest theme, including both Texas Longhorn and cactus cakes covered in fondant, as well as specialty cookies decorated as snakes and other animals as party favors. Soon, Meyer was flooded with requests from other parents asking if she could make a cake for their upcoming celebrations. Even in the Texas heat, things snowballed.

“Then one day, my husband told me his company was sending us on an overseas assignment,” said Meyer. “In some ways, it made it difficult to even dream about baking for a living, but the cakes actually helped us connect with our new communities.”

“Cakes have always been about helping people celebrate their big moments in their lives, to make memories. That day reminded me life is worth celebrating. Every moment of it.”

While on an assignment in Africa, Meyer was definitely feeling disconnected. She brought one of her cakes to a party where the United States ambassador and his wife were in attendance. The ambassador’s wife reached out later and asked Meyer if she would create one for their upcoming anniversary. She ended up making several more in her time there.

The whirlwind of meeting television producers over Zoom, being selected, and flying out to Tennessee to shoot the show on a soundstage would be enough to spin a person’s head.

However, there was still baking left to do. Meyer and Dowling created a gorgeous holiday window vignette that impressed judges and eventually won them the $10,000 grand prize.

“There’s nothing quite like the Secret Service coming to your door to pick up a cake,” said Meyer. “It also drove me to keep wanting to get better.”

Meyer knew exactly what she wanted to do with her winnings—make her dream of a brick and mortar bakery come true. Meyer located a perfect spot in her hometown of Mattawan to open The Cake Boutique by Beth Meyer and got back to the work she loves—creating cakes that dazzle and elevate any celebration. One look at her gallery of cakes on her website and you see how special her gift is and how much care she puts into each one.

So, when asked if she could possibly pick a favorite, it was surprising that she knew right away which one held the most meaning.

Once the family returned stateside— first Texas and then Michigan, Meyer went back to her profession of teaching while remaining a student, as she would take cake decorating, sugar flower, or isomalt classes on weekends. It was at a cake show in Arkansas that she met MaryJo Dowling from Pittsburgh. MaryJo, or MJ, was equally enthusiastic about baking and decorating, and while the two lived nearly 400 miles apart, they maintained their friendship.

Just a couple years later, Dowling reached out to Meyer with an interesting proposition. Dowling had been selected to interview for a Food Network competition show. While COVID-19 had initially put it on hold, they were now moving forward— quickly. And Dowling needed a partner.

“When MJ called, I didn’t even need to think about it,” said Meyer. “I simply told her ‘I’m in.’”

“Without a doubt, the heart cake,” said Meyer.

The cake, an anatomically accurate heart, was commissioned in October, and without asking many questions about the event, Meyer assumed it was for Halloween and asked how gory of a cake the client was looking for. The client said that just a plain heart would be fine.

So, when Meyer went to deliver the cake the day of the event, she was

If you’re looking to commission Meyer for one of her masterpieces, make sure to give yourself at least two weeks to order, and more if you’re smart.

Meyer’s cakes are in high demand and just the thing to bring special occasions to the next level.

both surprised and touched to find out her cake was the centerpiece of a party to celebrate a young man’s one-year anniversary of his heart transplant. The young man hugged Meyer and left an impression that seems unlikely to fade.

“Cakes have always been about helping people celebrate their big moments in their lives, to make memories,” said Meyer. “That day reminded me life is worth celebrating.

Every moment of it.”

56300 City Center Circle, Mattawan 281-387-0640 bethscakeboutique.com

MICHIGAN COUNTRY LINES

15

Downed and Dangerous If you see a downed power line, always assume it is energized and dangerous.

Avoid going near it or anything in contact with the power line.

35 ft.

Downed power lines can energize the ground up to 35 ft. away—so keep your distance.

Never drive over a downed line or through water that is touching the line.

!!!!

If you see a downed line, notify the local authorities immediately.

Never try to move a downed power line, even if you think the line is deenergized or if you’re using a nonconductive item—this will not prevent injury or death!

Source: ESFI.org 16 MARCH 2022

SPRING STORMS As spring arrives, make sure you’re prepared to handle storms that come with the changing season. Follow these tips from the Red Cross to stay safe.

STAY AWAY FROM DOWNED POWER LINES. Assume that all downed lines are energized. Electricity could still be flowing through them. Report them immediately to PIE&G at 1-800-423-6634.

HEAR THUNDER? HEAD INSIDE. If you can hear it, you could be in danger from lightning. The National Weather Service recommends you stay indoors at least 30 minutes after the last clap of thunder. If you’re outside and can’t seek shelter indoors, avoid high ground, water, tall isolated trees, and metal objects like bleachers or fences.

UNPLUG YOUR ELECTRONICS. Avoid using electrical items and telephones, which can carry power surges. Keep a batterypowered TV or radio on hand for weather updates.

DELAY OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES. If conditions are right for a thunderstorm, postpone the baseball game and stay inside— it doesn’t have to be raining for lightning to strike.

Assemble an emergency preparedness kit with: • • • • • • • • • •

Water: one gallon per person, per day Nonperishable food Flashlight & fresh batteries Battery-powered or hand-crank radio (preferably NOAA weather radio) & extra batteries First-aid kit Seven-day supply of prescription medicine Copies of personal documents Cell phone with charger Emergency contact information Cash

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pieg.com 877.296.4319

MICHIGAN COUNTRY LINES 17

Guest Column

Sweet Surprises

By Paige Hutter, Great Lakes Energy Cooperative member

I

t’s 7 a.m. and I sit up in bed, dreading the bitter cold waiting outside. I rub my eyes, get out of bed, and fumble my way downstairs. In the kitchen, my Grandma is busy cooking waffles. I perk up at the smell wafting from the waffle iron. After I eat, I get my snow clothes on. It is officially sap season, and we are busy collecting sap to make maple syrup.

Since my sister, Lexi, is the only one ready, she is the only one that comes along for morning sap collection.

When we get out into the woods, I start hauling sap that dripped from the trees overnight. I look into several buckets, hanging from the maple trees, but they are empty. The sap is barely running this morning. We pour the sap we did collect into the giant bin that’s on the trailer, which is hooked to the quad. Then, we all climb on the trailer and drive to the next cluster of maple trees.

I hop off the trailer and race to the best tree. JACKPOT! A sap icicle hangs down from the tree. I snap it off and start sucking on the slightly sweet ice. Just then, Lexi runs over to me, waving an even bigger sapscicle! I laugh and return to my work. I pour the slushy sap into the big bin and return the bucket to the tree, hoping the tree will give us even more sap at the next collection.

Finally, we get to the last cluster of trees. There’s just a little sap in the bucket beneath each of these trees. I sigh and once again pour the sweet sap into the big bin on the trailer. Just then, Grandma comes up behind me. She points to the top of the trees, and I gasp. A huge barred owl is sitting in the branches of an oak tree. Usually, the syrup is my sweet treat for helping with sap, but this was even sweeter!

Paige is a homeschool student in the sixth grade. She loves reading, drawing, and horseback riding. Paige enjoys being outdoors in nature. Sap collecting is one of her favorite times of the year because she gets to make memories with her family.

Win a

$50

energy bill credit!

WIN $150!

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

Visit countrylines.com/community to submit.

Where In Michigan Is This?

Identify the correct location of the photo to the left by March 20 and be entered into a drawing to win a $50 electric bill credit.

Enter your guess at countrylines.com/community.

January 2022 Winner! Our Mystery Photo winner is Dallas Bond, an Ontonagon County REA Cooperative member, who correctly identified the photo as the 45th parallel marker on U.S. 31 in Kewadin, Michigan, just north of Elk Rapids. It is constructed in honor of Hugh Gray, the former Michigan Dean of Tourism. The crypt contains information from each of Michigan’s 83 counties and engraved stone from each county. Photo courtesy of Judy Gasco.

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

18 MARCH 2022

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NATURAL GAS

SAFETY Natural gas is odorless and colorless, so a harmless substance is added to make it smell like rotten eggs.

Why? So you can easily detect a gas leak.

If you smell gas or suspect a gas leak: DO:

DON’T:

• Leave the area at once.

• Light matches or smoke. Avoid use of all open flames.

• Go to a location outside of the house or building where you no longer smell gas.

• Call 1-800-655-8565 immediately to report the situation.

• Get immediate medical attention for victims of burns or carbon monoxide poisoning.

• Use any electrical device, including appliances, doorbells, and garage door openers.

• Turn light switches on and off.

• Use any phones, including cellular phones.

• Try to locate the source of the gas leak.

• Re-enter the building or return to the area until a PIE&G representative tells you it’s safe to do so.