Colorado Country Life December 2016 White River by American MainStreet Publications

DECEMBER 2016

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[contents] 4

VIEWPOINT

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

COMMUNITY EVENTS

YOUR CO-OP NEWS

NEWS CLIPS

INDUSTRY

COVER STORY

RECIPES

GARDENING

OUTDOORS

ENERGY TIPS

FUNNY STORIES

DISCOVERIES

DECEMBER 2016

Volume 47, Number 12

“Frozen Waves at Great Sand Dunes” by Jerry Clark of Houston, Texas.

MORE WAYS TO CONNECT WITH US

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INSTAGRAM PIC OF THE MONTH

[cover] 2016 Holiday Barbie photo by Dave Neligh.

THE OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE COLORADO RURAL ELECTRIC ASSOCIATION COMMUNICATIONS STAFF: Mona Neeley, CCC, Publisher/Editor; mneeley@coloradocountrylife.org Cassi Gloe, Designer; cgloe@coloradocountrylife.org ADVERTISING: Kris Wendtland, Ad Rep; advertising@coloradocountrylife.org Colorado Country Life (USPS 469-400/ISSN 1090-2503) is published monthly by Colorado Rural Electric Association, 5400 Washington Street, Denver, CO 80216-1731. Individual subscription rate: $9 per year for Colorado residents or $15 per year for out-of-state residents, taxes and postage included. Periodical postage paid at Denver, Colorado. © Copyright 2016, Colorado Rural Electric Association. Call for reprint rights. Subscribers: Report change of address to your local cooperative. Do not send change of address to Colorado Country Life. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Colorado Country Life, 5400 Washington Street, Denver, CO 80216 Advertising Standards: Publication of an advertisement in Colorado Country Life does not imply endorsement by any Colorado rural electric cooperative or the Colorado Rural Electric Association. Editorial opinions published in Colorado Country Life magazine shall pertain to issues affecting rural electric cooperatives, rural communities and citizens. The opinion of CREA is not necessarily that of any particular cooperative or individual. EDITORIAL: Denver Corporate Office, 5400 Washington Street, Denver, CO 80216; Phone: 303-455-4111 | mneeley@coloradocountrylife.org | coloradocountrylife.coop | facebook.com/COCountryLife | Twitter. com/COCountryLife | Pinterest.com/COCountryLife | YouTube.com/ COCountryLife1 Advertising: advertising@coloradocountrylife.org | 303-902-7276 National Advertising Representative: National Country Market | 611 S. Congress Street, Suite 504 | Austin, TX 78704 | 800-626-1181

Colorado Country Life posted:

CREA Youth Tour Director Liz Fiddes spent Veterans Day in Washington, D.C., where she met Colonel Bill Weber at the Korean War Memorial. Colonel Weber served in Korea and his likeness is one of the 19 statues that is part of the memorial.

Linemen find all kinds of challenges on the job!

PINTEREST SNEAK PEAK

Colorado Country Life posted: Holiday Popcorn Party Mix.

FAVORITE TWEETS

CREA posted: It’s all about the training for electric line crews.

MONTHLY CONTEST Win our 2016 Holiday Barbie. To enter, post a photo at Facebook.com/ COCountryLife of you and Barbie and send an email with your name and address to contests@coloradocountrylife.org. We will choose a winner on Thursday, December 15. Find more complete contest information at coloradocountrylife.coop under Contests.

[viewpoint]

Who Powers You?

A look back at influential mentors who made a difference BY KENT SINGER

CREA EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

KSINGER@COLORADOREA.ORG

Colorado’s electric cooperatives have been gathering stories about “Who Powers You” for a national Touchstone Energy Cooperatives contest. It’s a great way to help each of us pause and think about those who helped us along the way. It made me think about all of the people in our Colorado electric co-op family who inspired and “powered” Kent Singer me over the 20 years I have been involved in this program. There are actually hundreds of people whom I learned from and drew inspiration from, but there are a few who stand out. I want to recognize them in the spirit of Touchstone Energy and this contest. Without question, the first person I think of in terms of someone who powered me in this job is my predecessor, Ray Clifton. Ray was the executive director of the Colorado Rural Electric Association for nearly 25 years. Prior to that he worked another 25 years for the Georgia Electric Membership Corporation, the Georgia equivalent of CREA. Ray retired in 2010, and I have been doing my best to follow in his footsteps and provide the same kind of principled leadership that he exemplified during his tenure at the helm of CREA. I could fill pages with stories demonstrating Ray’s dedication to Colorado’s electric co-ops, but I think his finest work probably occurred during the 1997 session of the Colorado legislature. A bill was introduced to allow retail competition among electric utilities in Colorado. The electric co-ops opposed the bill because we were convinced (and I remain convinced) that it would result in higher rates for our members. Ray worked tirelessly to lead a coalition of consumer advocates to defeat the legislation, even though it was sponsored by legislators we usually supported. His efforts were successful, and to this day there is no retail competition in the electric sector in Colorado. Some may argue that the notion of a regulated monopoly is an outdated regulatory structure for electric utilities, but in most states where retail competition is implemented it resulted in higher rates for consumers. In the end, Ray’s success was due largely to the

high level of credibility and respect that he earned during his long career advocating on behalf of rural Colorado electricity consumers. When faced with difficult decisions, I always ask myself: What would Ray do? I also had the pleasure of working with a couple of ranchers named Tom who powered and inspired my work for the co-ops. The first, Tom Turnbull, is a rancher from the Carbondale area who was the board president of Holy Cross Energy for many years. As general counsel for Holy Cross for about five years before taking this job, I had the opportunity to observe Tom as he used his gentle touch and great sense of humor to navigate challenging board discussions. Nobody ever cared more for his community and his co-op than Tom, and his legacy is the vibrant and innovative co-op that continues to thrive in the Roaring Fork Valley. Another Tom, Tom Compton, is the now-retired former board president of La Plata Electric Association. He was board president of CREA when I was hired. If you are familiar with the Code of the West (from the book Cowboy Ethics), you know all you need to know about Tom Compton: Live each day with courage. Take pride in your work. When you make a promise, keep it. Remember that some things aren’t for sale. And my favorite: Ride for the brand. At one of our CREA annual meetings, I remember Tom encouraging all those in attendance to promote the co-op program and advocate for our issues at every opportunity — in other words, to ride for the brand. Tom understood the importance of our cooperative movement and that it would not survive without passionate torchbearers. That spirit lives on in CREA. It’s always dangerous to make lists of who powers you since there isn’t enough space to list everyone who had an impact on me. I could go on about the many co-op CEOs, directors and others who motivate me every day; this is especially true of the incredible staff here at CREA. I hope you, too, have favorite “power-givers” in your life. This is a great time of the year to tell them so. You can read other stories of “Who Powers You” at www.whopowersyou.com and vote for the best stories. The winner will be announced after December 18.

Kent Singer, Executive Director

DECEMBER 2016

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[letters]

Gettysburg Ruling

I read your column on your visit to the battlefield at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. (Viewpoint, July ’16). I thought you might be interested in another [perspective]. There are those who oppose federal land ownership because they claim that the U.S. Constitution does not say national parks, forests, wildlife refuges and public lands can exist. [Gettysburg is a unit of the National Park System.] That argument was rejected in 1896 by a conservative U.S. Supreme Court in the case of the United States v. Gettysburg Electric Railway Company. Congress appropriated money to purchase the Gettysburg battlefield, either from willing sellers or by condemnation. The Gettysburg Electric Railway filed suit alleging that such purchases were unconstitutional since a commemorative park was not a “public use” as described in the Constitution. The court found that the combination of the property clause and the general welfare clause of the Constitution enable federal land ownership. Gettysburg National Military Park is slightly over 5,000 acres of federal lands and it has been found by the Supreme Court to be a valid “public use.” The same holds true for other federal lands managed in Western states such as Colorado. Scot McElveen, Cortez Retired National Park Service employee

DANGEROUS

CHOICES

Dangerous choices. That’s what families and seniors are faced with when they can’t afford to pay their home energy bill.

Nearly one in four Colorado households can’t afford home energy. Give them a safer choice.

heat or food?

electricity or medical care? hot water or diapers?

donate today at energyoutreach.org/choices 95¢ out of every dollar we raise goes directly to needy Coloradans, earning top ratings and recognition from:

HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE

Pets Need Our Care

I enjoyed the stories about the rescued animals (October ’16), but what are we doing to help stop people from throwing away animals that die cruel deaths from having no food or water or being hit by cars? Is there information that can be shared with others to help stop these problems? In over 50 years, we have provided homes for many animals. Only two were animals we were looking for to share our home. All the rest came when they were dumped or when someone was leaving and just going to leave the animal on its own. Gwenda May Burk Black Forest Got something to say? We welcome letters to the editor. Not all may be printed and all will be edited for length. Send your letter to Editor Mona Neeley at 5400 Washington St., Denver, CO 80216 or at mneeley@coloradocountrylife.org. coloradocountrylife.coop

Christmas - Weddings - Birthdays Call for details

970-568-3039

www.RaganCamelbackTrunks.com

Treat everyone on your holiday list with a subscription to Colorado Country Life. Save BIG this holiday season with an annual gift subscription for everyone on your list. At just $9 for in-state or $15 for out-of-state, this is a terrific main gift or stocking stuffer.

To order, call Colorado Country Life at 303-455-4111.

DECEMBER 2016

[community events] [December] Through January 1 Denver Blossoms of Light Denver Botanic Gardens 5:30-9 pm • botanicgardens.org Through January 1 Littleton Trail of Lights Denver Botanic Gardens at Chatfield 5:30-9 pm • botanicgardens.org December 3 Bellvue Winter Festival Stove Prairie Elementary 10 am-4 pm • 970-488-6585 December 3 Fort Collins Holiday Market With a Mission Everyday Joe’s Coffee House 9 am-3 pm marketwithmission@gmail.com December 5-9 Copper U.S. Rev Tour Copper Mountain coppercolorado.com December 8-10 Fort Collins Holiday Tea Gathering Avery Carriage House poudrelandmarks.org December 9-January 1 Colorado Springs Electric Safari Cheyenne Mountain Zoo cmzoo.org December 8-10 Golden “A Christmas Carol” Theater Performance Miners Alley Playhouse 7:30 pm • minersalley.com December 9-10 Buena Vista Bethlehem Marketplace Valley Fellowship Church 6-8 pm • jdavidholt@gmail.com December 9-10 Mancos Mancos Valley Chorus Concert Mancos United Methodist Church 970-564-9727

DECEMBER 2016

December 10 Bayfield Breakfast With Santa Bayfield Early Education Programs 8-11 am • 970-884-7137 December 10 Bayfield FROSTY’S Craft Fair and Farmers Market Bayfield High School 9 am-3 pm • 970-903-4294 December 10 Las Animas Christmas at Boggsville Boggsville Historic Site 2-7 pm • 719-456-6066 December 11 Beulah Snowshoe Hike Mountain Park Environmental Center 10 am • 719-485-4444 December 13 Denver Olin Hotel Christmas Party Olin Hotel 6-8 pm • 303-886-0211 December 13 Lakewood Holidays With the Colorado Jazz Repertory Orchestra Lakewood Cultural Center 7:30 pm • lakewood.showare.com December 16-18 Aspen World Snow Polo Championships Various Aspen Locations 970-710-1663 aspenvalleypoloclub.com December 16-17 Durango Elf the Musical Jr. Durango Arts Center 7 pm • 970-259-2606 x 13 December 16 Grand Lake “Home for the Holidays” Free Community Night Rocky Mountain Repertory Theatre 6 pm • 970-627-3421 December 16-17 Grand Lake Secret Santa Shop Grand Lake Community House 970-627-3510 x 315 grandangels.net

Vi Wickam and Friends Christmas Show December 10, 8-10 pm at Avogadro’s Number, Fort Collins December 18, 6-8:30 pm at Unity Church of Fort Collins, Fort Collins Get out for a festive evening with local Loveland resident and nationally-recognized fiddle player and vocalist Vi Wickam as he joins his band of merry music makers for an evening of Christmas jingles. For more information, visit vithefiddler.com.

December 16-18 Montrose Garden of Lights Montrose Botanic Gardens 5:30-8:30 pm montrosegardens.org December 17 Collbran Cowboy Christmas Ball and Festival Various Collbran Locations 970-487-3751 December 17-18 Dolores Create a Holiday Centerpiece Four Seasons Greenhouse 970-565-8274 fourseasonsgreenhouse.com December 17 Ignacio Holiday Showcase Elhi Community Center 2 and 7 pm • 970-903-4294 December 17 Wiggins Holiday Craft Show Wiggins Elementary Gym 10 am-3 pm • 970-483-7784 December 20-31 Aspen 12 Days of Aspen Various Aspen Locations aspenchamber.org December 24 Manitou Springs Pictures at Town Clock With Santa Downtown Manitou Springs 6-7 pm • 719-685-1444

December 31 Grand Lake New Year’s Eve Fireworks Kauffman House Museum 10 pm-12 am • 970-627-8324

[January] January 1 Evergreen Evergreen Lake Plunge Evergreen Lake 12-1 pm • evergreenchamber.org January 8 Pagosa Springs Local Appreciation Day Wolf Creek Ski Area 800-754-9653 • wolfcreekski.com January 10 Denver “Fun Home” Theater Performance Denver Theatre 7:30 pm • 800-641-1222

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TWO MONTHS IN ADVANCE TO: Calendar, Colorado Country Life, 5400 Washington St., Denver, CO 80216; fax to 303455-2807; or email calendar@ coloradocountrylife.org. Please send name of event, date, time, venue, brief description and phone number and/or website for more information. coloradocountrylife.coop

WHITE RIVER ELECTRIC ASSOCIATION

[White River] Giving Back is the Co-op Way BY ALAN MICHALEWICZ || GENERAL MANAGER || AMICH@WREA.ORG

As some of you might know, cooperatives across the globe adhere to the same Seven Cooperative Principles that guide all of our decisions — from how we run the co-op, to how we engage with our local communities. Concern for community is the seventh principle and it is one that all employees of White River Electric Association value year round. But during the holiday season, concern for community seems especially important. Electric cooperatives have a long history of giving back. White River Electric is a strong supporter of local sports teams and organizations as well as other causes focused on community, economic growth and development. White River Electric awards thousands of dollars in educational scholarships to graduating high school seniors annually and renew those scholarships for students who qualify. WREA members help us give back, too. Through Energy Outreach Colorado, members can choose to make a monetary donation which goes toward helping those in need, right here in our community. Our commitment is also global. Through NRECA’s International Foundation, Colorado’s electric co-ops contribute to fundraising which allows for equipment and lineworkers to be sent overseas so they can help bring power to thousands

of people who never experienced the benefits of electricity or who are struggling to recover from a natural disaster. Closer to home many families go without on a daily basis and struggle to make ends meet. This struggle can be especially hard during the holiday season. There are many ways you can give Alan J. Michalewicz back to the community that go beyond dollar donations. Take some time to go through your closets and find clothes that no longer fit or lost their use. Bag those items up and take them to your local Salvation Army, Goodwill or church clothing drive. Volunteer for a local food or toy drive, deliver meals to the sick and the elderly or simply make a meal for a neighbor in need. No matter how great or small the act, every time we give back, we strengthen our community. So take the time to give back this holiday season. You’ll be glad you did.

WINTER SUPPLY KIT Assembling supplies before a storm arrives is one of the keys to weathering a winter storm emergency. Make sure your supply kit includes: • • • • • • • •

Flashlights with fresh batteries. Matches for lighting gas stoves or clean-burning heaters. Wood for a properly ventilated fireplace. First aid kit, prescription medicines and baby supplies. Food that can be kept in coolers and a manual can opener. A landline telephone and/or fully charged cellular phone. Bottled drinking water. Battery-powered emergency lights and radio.

coloradocountrylife.coop

DECEMBER 2016

[White River] DIGITAL DEVICES IMPACT ENERGY USE BY TOM TATE

Ah, the digital age. We have gadgets galore, the ability to manage our homes in new and innovative ways, brilliant images and captivating sounds of modern entertainment options and, of course, the internet. Clearly, digital devices reign supreme. Yet these cool new capabilities come with a couple of pitfalls: vampire loads and the issue of “technology reincarnation.” Vampire loads Major appliances aside, most digital devices do not use 120-volt power, which is the standard voltage of a home outlet. They actually use a lot less, so trying to plug your brand-new smartphone directly into an outlet is going to lead to a fried device and lots of tears. This is why low-voltage devices come with a power adapter. These “wall warts,” as some term them, take the 120-volt electricity supplied by White River Electric and convert it to say, 5 volts. Unfortunately, most folks leave their adapters plugged in to make recharging easier. The problem with this approach is that the seemingly innocuous wall wart uses power even when it isn’t charging a device. This invisible energy consumption is often called “vampire load.” Studies show that 5 to 10 percent of the average home’s energy use is from vampire loads. The only way to stop this is to unplug the power adapter when it is not in use or employ smart power strips. These look like the typical power strip but with a twist: only one socket gets power all the time. When the device or appliance connected to it turns on and starts using power, the remaining sockets receive power too. This is perfect for entertainment systems, computer setups and a variety of other situations.

Technology reincarnation Technological advances steadily increased energy efficiency and reduced purchase prices. On its face, this seems like a good thing. Unfortunately, when replacing a product at the end of its life, the tendency is to go bigger or continue to use the old tech. For example, as technology evolved, flat screen television prices plummeted and so has the amount of electricity they use. Consumers wander into the big-box store and are dazzled by walls of giant, brilliant televisions. What they used to pay for the paltry 32-inch model now might net them a 50-inch giant. And who doesn’t want to see their favorite show or sports event in near life size? But if you spring for the bigger television, you won’t benefit from the increased energy efficiency of the newer technology. The bigger model uses as much juice as the older, smaller television, which likely ends up in another room (reincarnated in another setting) still using power. Refrigerators are the showpieces of the evolution of smart appliances. Many new models include touch screens and cameras, and they even communicate over the internet, all while keeping food cold and making ice. Yet what often happens is the old refrigerator ends up in the basement or garage, reincarnated as a dedicated beverage or overflow unit. You can avoid or reduce the effects of vampire loads and technology reincarnation. Invest in smart power strips or make a point to use outlets where you can conveniently unplug power adapters when not in use. Don’t oversize your replacement appliances and entertainment gear unless family needs dictate the larger capacities. And recycle the replaced appliances and equipment to stem technology reincarnation. You will enjoy the digital age for a lot less.

Tom Tate writes on cooperative issues for the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association.

Downed Lines Are Dangerous Downed power lines and stray wires, as well as the debris that may be in contact with them, all have the potential to deliver a fatal shock. Stay clear of fallen power lines and damaged areas that could hide a hazard. Be alert during cleanup efforts.

DECEMBER 2016

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[White River]

The Consumer-Centric Utility By Jan Ahlen

In recent years, the electric utility industry underwent a shift. At the epicenter of that movement is technology: the emergence of affordable solar panels, high-capacity batteries, electric vehicles, internet-connected devices and other technical innovations. The way we generate, transmit, buy, sell, store, use and think about electricity is changing. Consumers of electricity are changing as well. Now more than ever, they want some measure of control over their energy use and their energy choices. In response to these changes, a new kind of electricity supplier is emerging. This “consumer-centric utility” pursues its traditional mission — providing safe, affordable, reliable and clean electric service — while enabling access to new products and services that satisfy consumers’ evolving expectations. In truth, there was never a better time to be a user of electricity. Consumer-centric utility defined A consumer-centric utility integrates and optimizes a pool of resources on behalf of consumers. Resources can be traditional generational assets or distributed energy resources (demandresponse programs; energy-efficiency programs; distributed generation, including wind and solar; and storage capacity). Unlike traditional utilities, consumer-centric utilities empower consumers with new services, such as community solar programs, designed to meet local conditions and satisfy consumer preferences. As consumers demand new products and services, the flexible consumer-centric utility will be positioned to meet the needs of individuals and the system as a whole. Empowerment To deliver new and better energy service, the consumer-centric utility takes a long-term view. It leverages economies of scale, scope and integration. Investment in a two-way metering system, for example, enables consumers to control energy use and access new services while reducing costs for the system as a whole. A broad understanding of the system allows consumer-centric utilities to appreciate how all the pieces of a complex system fit together. Such a utility might have the insight to invest in sensor technology, for example, in places with a high penetration of solar energy. Consumer-centric utilities also join with third-party providers of distributed energy resources to optimize systems and improve energy service for consumers. Deployment of advanced metering infrastructure systems, smart inverters and electronic sensors provides data that can improve system performance.

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Consumer-focused utilities embrace innovation Let’s take a look at how electric co-ops across the country are empowering consumers. • CoServ Electric, in Texas, created financial incentives that encouraged members to enroll in a Nest smart thermostat program. The initiative reduced overall energy use during peak summer hours when electricity is expensive and saved money for consumers. • Vermont Electric Cooperative made several strategic investments over a 14year period by installing an integrated electronic mapping system, a two-way meter platform, an integrated outage management system and an upgraded control and data acquisition system. The utility cut outages in half and positioned itself to provide new services to consumers. • North Carolina Electric Membership Corporation, a generation and transmission cooperative, collaborated with its distribution co-ops to improve consumers’ experience. Among the advantages of the arrangement, the G&T can more easily pilot new technologies, such as internet-connected thermostats, that benefit consumers. Community solutions Interest in solar energy has grown dramatically, but only a fraction of U.S. households have rooftops that are suitable for installing solar panels. Consumer-centric utilities responded by developing community solar programs that are accessible to all members and are more cost efficient than rooftop solar. White River Electric recently constructed a solar garden which will benefit co-op members and serve as an educational platform for the Meeker School District. All WREA members benefit from the electricity generated by the 396 panel solar garden and members who chose to participate in the 2016 “lease program” receive an additional benefit: a $5/month bill credit for the lease term. In addition, the local school district can use the solar garden’s statistics as an educational tool within its curriculum by analyzing data to predict solar-generation trends. In a world of change, the future is bright for flexible, consumerfocused electric cooperatives. White River Electric is proud to be a consumer-centric utility. Jan Ahlen writes on consumer and cooperative affairs for the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association.

DECEMBER 2016

[White River]

DECEMBER 2016

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[news clips]

Co-op Power Suppliers Named to Co-op 100

Co-op Bike Team Raises More Than $15,000 A total of $15,365 was raised for Energy Outreach Colorado this fall when the Touchstone Energy Powering the Plains bicycle team rode 151 miles in the annual Pedal the Plains bike tour of eastern Colorado. The funds were raised by the 19 bike riders on the team, their supporters, those who donated through Colorado Country Life and CoBank, which donated $10,000 of the fund. Basin Electric, one of the co-op power suppliers, also matched $2,500 of the electric co-ops’ donations to the fund. The bike team rode from Ordway to Fowler to La Junta and back to Ordway September 16-18. Pedal the Plains donated a percentage of the riders’ registration fees, sending an additional $361 to EOC. Energy Outreach Colorado is a nonprofit organization that helps low-income Coloradans throughout the state with heating assistance, emergency furnace repair and energy efficiency improvements. Find out more at www.energyoutreach.org.

“Who Powers You” Celebrates Power of Connections Electric co-op members across the country have been sharing stories of mentors and others who inspired them as part of a contest at whopowersyou.com. These nominations, along with photos of the nominees, were collected on the website as part of an electric co-op campaign to celebrate the power of human connections. Your local co-op is part of a network of electric co-ops across the country under the Touchstone Energy brand that values human energy and appreciates the people who make our co-op communities better. This contest is a way to honor the inspirational people in our co-op communities, the people who power our lives. Now it is time to vote for the best stories. Visit whopowersyou.com and vote for your favorite entry through December 18. Winners will be announced in early 2017 based on the quantity of votes and the quality of the submissions. 12

DECEMBER 2016

Two suppliers of electricity for Colorado electric cooperatives were among the National Cooperative Bank Co-op 100 announced in October during National Cooperative Month. Both Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association, which supplies electricity to 18 of Colorado’s electric co-ops, and Basin Electric Power Cooperative, which supplies a portion of Tri-State’s electric supply, made the list. Basin was ranked number 19 and Tri-State was ranked number 36. The list includes the nation’s top 100 revenue-earning cooperative businesses. Electric co-ops provide 75,000 jobs in the United States. Also making the list was CoBank at number 17. CoBank is a national cooperative bank serving rural industries across America. It is headquartered in Denver and is an associate member of the Colorado Rural Electric Association.

BUYING LIGHTBULBS TODAY

Coal Declines as Energy Source in Mountain West Coal was once the dominant source of electricity generation in the eight mountain states of the western United States. However, coal-fired power generation, while still the dominant source, has dropped from 63 percent of the region’s total generation 10 years ago to only 50 percent, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration.

In Colorado, coal dropped by nearly 5 percent between 2005 and 2015, but still makes up about 59 percent of the total electric generation in the state. Natural gas accounts for about 26 percent and wind accounts for about 8 percent, with hydropower, solar and other miscellaneous sources making up the remainder of the generation. coloradocountrylife.coop

[ news clips]

Co-ops Join Other Utilities to Fight Scammers With scammers taking Americans for untold billions of dollars every year, the nation’s utilities, including electric co-ops, are banding together to participate in Utilities United Against Scams, or UUAS. The joint effort traces its beginning to a utility conference last spring where the subject of customers being scammed was discussed. Jared Lawrence, vice president of revenue services at Duke Energy noted that Duke started tracking attempts to scam its customers in 2015. “What we saw was that scammers would ramp up their activity in one of our regions,” Lawrence said. When Duke would blitz conventional and social media with warnings, he said, “the activity would die down, only to flare up again after a few months. It became apparent that the scammers were targeting one utility’s territory for a period, then moving on to another utility’s territory once the first utility sounded the alarm.”

It became clear that there needed to be coordinated communication and prevention strategies across all utilities. As a way to increase awareness of this problem, a congressional resolution was introduced in November making the third Wednesday of every November Utilities United Against Scammers Day. Following that day, the utilities continue to work together to make customers aware of the scams. They will also be pooling their knowledge of where and how scammers are operating in order to assist law enforcement efforts. Anyone who has a question about the legitimacy of a request for payment of a bill should always contact their local electric co-op directly. Those answering the phone will be happy to answer questions and verify information.

LAST CHANCE

DEADLINE DECEMBER 16 at 5 P.M.

COLORADO IN

COLOR

2017 PHOTO CONTEST

ENTER TO WIN

Enter for the chance to WIN prize money and have your photo featured in the February 2017 issue of Colorado Country Life.

1501 752 503

+ + + coloradocountrylife.coop

Place

nd Place

rd Place

CONTEST Our 2017 photo contest highlights the color scheme of Colorado’s beloved state ﬂag: blue, red, gold and white. Do you have an amazing photo that undeniably focuses on the golden hue of autumn’s wafting leaves? Maybe a shot of wolves frolicking through an expansive, white, snow-ﬁlled meadow? Send us your entries! Just be sure your entry “speaks” blue, red, gold or white.

WINNERS Judges will select 3 winners from each catagory (blue, red, gold and white). Winners will receive prize money and have their photo featured in the February 2017 issue of Colorado Country Life.

TO ENTER Go to ColoradoCountryLife.coop for the entry form, official rules and entry samples. DECEMBER 2016

[industry]

MORE THAN MEETS THE EYE

How an electric utility’s transformers work By Tom Tate If you were asked to describe your electric cooperative’s system, you might say, “Poles, wires and those round gray things.” Round gray things? That is often the description given for transformers, the pieces of equipment crucial in converting electricity to a voltage that is safe for use in homes and businesses. So, how do they work? First, transformers are nothing like those creations of the silver screen. They don’t transform from vehicles to incredible combat robots. Instead, they transform the voltage of the electricity that passes through them. Here’s how they work: Electricity loses voltage as it is transmitted due to the resistance in wires and other components. As a result, higher voltages are used to offset these “line losses,” as electric utilities call them. It all starts at the power plant. There,

generators produce electricity at high voltages and use transformers to step up this voltage. For example, in Colorado, Tri-State Generation and Transmission — the power supplier for 43 not-for-profit electric cooperatives and public power districts in Colorado, Nebraska, New Mexico and Wyoming — sometimes steps electricity it generates up to 345,000 volts. Since the power plants are far away, these voltages are necessary to survive the trip over the system to where it is needed. Transmission lines connect to substations full of transformers and other control gear. Here is where the transformers step down the voltage to safer, more manageable levels. Depending upon the 14

DECEMBER 2016

distance involved to the farthest member and the amount of load served, distribution voltages can range from 7,200 to 24,900 volts. A couple more step-downs and the electricity arrives at your home at 120/240 volts. This is quite different from the original voltage. Regardless of the shape and size of the transformer, they all work in the same manner. Transformers have two sides, a highvoltage side and a low-voltage side. In normal operation, electricity flows into the transformer on the high-voltage side where it goes into a coil of wire, usually wound around an iron core. As the electricity flows through this coil, it creates a magnetic field that “induces” a voltage in the other coil. Here is where the magic (aka physics) of transformation takes place. Each coil has a different number of turns. The greater the number of turns, the higher the voltage. The coil on the high side will have more turns than the one on the low side. As a result, the voltage induced on the low side is less. Then transformation occurs. Transformers aren’t just limited to utility use. They can be found everywhere in our daily lives, even if not so obvious as those on your electric cooperative’s system. The best example is the charger that all cell phones and many other electrical devices come with. These small cousins of utility transformers basically perform the same function. Charging your cell phone with 120 volts will fry it instantly. So, the charger converts the voltage to a more tolerable direct current. Take a moment to look around your home and see just how many of these miniature transformers you have. You might be surprised. It is important to note that transformers work in both directions. Electricity flowing in on the low side is stepped up to the voltage of the high side. This is why electric co-ops educate members on proper connection of home generators. A generator feeding 240 volts into a residential transformer will produce whatever voltage the transformer is rated for on the other side, creating a deadly risk for line crews and your neighbors, which is why your co-op asks you to connect your generators according to the manufacturer’s recommendations. It’s always best to be safe. Tom Tate writes on cooperative issues for the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association. coloradocountrylife.coop

[ industry] Nebraska Eye Doctor Helps Visually Impaired To See Advanced Technology Allows Many To See Better or Drive Again

Grandchildren as viewed by a person with Macular Degeneration

Same scene of Grandchildren as viewed through telescope glasses.

For many patients with macular degeneration or other eye diseases, the loss of vision can signal the end of independence and the joy of life. Nebraska optometrist, Robert Stamm, prescribes miniature telescope glasses to help people who have reduced vision see better. “Some of my patients consider me their last chance for vision improvement” said Dr. Stamm, one of few doctors specially trained by

the International Academy of Low Vision Specialists. Imagine special glasses that can improve your vision enough to change your life. Custom designed telescope glasses are an optical technology that can give you back your independence. “My job is to figure out everything and anything possible to allow a person to see better” says Dr. Stamm.

Call For a Free Telephone Consultation with Dr. Stamm and to schedule an appointment.

Dr. Robert Stamm Low Vision Optometrist

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DECEMBER 2016

e i b Bar

us doll o m a f t s o m 's world e h t o t s ie t 's o Colorad ed her t a e r c o h w n a andNDYtTHhOeMASwKLoEPm INGER BY CY

We are all familiar with the fashion icon known as Barbie and her bright smile and killer figure. In fact, she has been part of girls’ lives since the late 1950s. It’s claimed that 92 percent of American girls ages 3 to 12 have owned a Barbie. But few know about Barbie’s background; specifically, who was Barbie’s mom? She was Denver native Ruth Mosko, who was born November 4, 1916, to Jacob Joseph Mosko (née Moskowicz), a blacksmith, and Ida Rubinstein, a housewife. Ruth was the youngest of 10 children. Her father arrived at Ellis Island in 1907. After telling immigration officials that he was a blacksmith, he was sent to Denver, the center of the railroad industry. In 1908, his wife, Ida, arrived in America with their six children and joined her husband in Colorado. When Ruth was 6 months old, her mother became ill and Ruth was sent to live with her older sister, Sarah, and Sarah’s husband. It was in Sarah’s drugstore and soda fountain that Ruth first developed her enthusiasm for business. Ruth preferred work to play and grew up in a family where the idea of women working outside of the home was not unusual, although it was not a common belief of that era. Ruth attended public school in Denver and graduated from East High School. At age 16, she fell in love with a poor art student named Izzy Handler after meeting him at a high school dance.

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During her sophomore year at the University of Denver, Ruth vacationed in Los Angeles and landed a job at Paramount Studios. Izzy soon joined Ruth in California, and in 1938 the two returned to Denver and got married. The Handlers went back to California, where Izzy, (now going by Elliot after Ruth convinced him to use his middle name), studied at the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena. In 1941 Ruth left her secretarial job at Paramount to work with her husband, who was designing and making furniture and household accessories out of the new acrylic materials, Lucite and Plexiglas. Her husband produced the pieces and she did the selling. After a few years, the Handlers tired of the business and sold their share of it. In 1945, they started another, making picture frames with the scraps of plastic and wood left from their earlier business. They and Harold “Matt” Matson started Mattel Creations, joining elements of Matt’s and Elliot’s names. Under the Mattel moniker, the two partners began fabricating dollhouse furniture. Ruth continued to run the marketing department. Due to his poor health, Matt soon sold his share to Elliot. The company had its first hit toy in 1947 with a ukulele called Uke-ADoodle. That proved such a success that Mattel switched to making nothing but toys. Ruth drove Mattel’s business decisions, while her husband nurtured new toys. These facts are only part of her story. What may be more important is the impact Ruth made on the toy industry through her vision and creativity. In fact,

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photo courtesy of Mattel

Ruth and Elliot Handler (left photo), both raised in Colorado, pose with an early version of Barbie.

she changed the face of the toy industry.

The birth of Barbie

After watching her daughter, Barbara, ignore her baby dolls to play make-believe with paper dolls representing adult women, Ruth realized there may be a niche for a three-dimensional doll that encouraged girls to imagine the future. When visiting Germany in 1956, Ruth saw a doll that looked like a teenager, and this doll inspired her to follow her dream. Mattel’s designers spent several years creating Ruth’s doll using the German doll as an inspiration. Barbie Millicent Roberts debuted at the American Toy Fair in New York City in 1959. Ruth named the blond 11-and-a-half-inch doll for her daughter, who was a 17-year-old attending a local Los Angeles high school. Dressed in a black and white striped swimsuit with the necessary accessories of sunglasses, high-heeled shoes and gold-colored hoop earrings, Barbie’s body was not only shapely but also had a movable head, arms and legs. Barbie had a chic wardrobe that had to be purchased separately and updated regularly. Barbie was a marketing sensation. Within a year of her introduction in 1959, Barbie became the biggest selling fashion doll of all

1971

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time. Sales increased with the introduction of different Barbie dolls and accessories. Barbie became a staple in the toy chests of little girls everywhere. It was Ruth’s marketing genius that changed toy marketing when she acquired the rights to produce the popular “Mickey Mouse Club” products in 1955. The cross-marketing promotion became common practice for future companies. Barbie made her first television appearance on the “The Mickey Mouse Club.” This marketing technique helped sell 351,000 Barbie dolls in the first year at $3 each. Barbie quickly became an icon, with her ever-changing wardrobe and career options that mirrored women’s changing aspirations. It is admirable that Ruth foresaw a modern world where a girl could grow up to be whatever she wanted. Over the years, Barbie changed jobs more than 75 times, becoming a dentist, a paleontologist, an Air Force fighter pilot, a World Cup soccer competitor, a firefighter and a candidate for president. Even in demanding positions, though, Barbie retained her fashion sense. She was joined by friends and family over the years, including Ken, Midge, Skipper and Christie. Barbie kept up with current trends in hairstyles, makeup and clothing. She is a reflection of the history of fashion since her introduction to the toy market.

Life after Barbie’s debut

Due her marketing and business success, Ruth became president of Mattel, Inc., in 1967. Barbie and later Ken, introduced in 1961 and named for Ruth’s son, became the best-selling toys in the world. In the early 1970s, Ruth was diagnosed with breast cancer and underwent a mastectomy. Because of her illness, she spent less time at Mattel and resigned as president of Mattel in 1973. Not surprisingly, she then used her business acumen and started working on a new product: a comfortable breast prosthesis. The result was the Nearly Me line, which still produces and distributes breast replacements and post mastectomy swimwear. However, in 1975 the Handlers were forced out of the company they started due to a conflict with the board over perceived mismanagement. Over the years, Ruth received numerous awards for her accomplishments. Some of her honors include Woman of the Year in Business (Los Angeles Times), Toy Industry Hall of Fame inductee, Volunteer Achievement Award from the American Cancer Society, one of 75 Outstanding Women in America (Ladies' Home Journal) and the first Woman of Distinction from the United Jewish Appeal.

1977

DECEMBER 2016

Gabby Douglas with the 2016 Gabby Douglas doll. Photo courtesy of barbiemedia.com.

Ruth was known as an entrepreneur, inventor and businesswoman. She died April 27, 2002, in Los Angeles.

Barbie today

Barbie’s world is more than a doll and accessories. Kids today can use their high-tech gadgets and interactive smartphones and apps to personalize their Barbie doll experience. Other licensed products include books, apparel, home furnishings and home electronics. She even has a YouTube site and a Facebook page.

But Barbie’s popularity doesn’t stop there. The Musée des Arts Décoratifs, which is affiliated with the Louvre in Paris, held a Barbie exhibit in 2016. The exhibit featured 700 Barbie dolls displayed on two floors, as well as works by contemporary artists and documents (newspapers, photos, video) representing Barbie. Barbie has become a popular collectible among adults. Collectors prize early numbered Barbie dolls from 1969 and the 1990s, as well as a range of rare and special editions of the iconic toy. Over the past few years, Mattel transformed Barbie, and she now may look a bit more like those who play with her, curves and all. The new 2016 Barbie Fashionistas doll line includes four body types (the original and three new bodies), seven skin tones, 22 eye colors, 24 hairstyles and countless on-trend fashions and accessories. With these changes, Barbie added diversity and more variety in styles, fashions, shoes and accessories. Mattel claims girls everywhere will now have infinitely more ways to spark their imagination and play out their stories. “For more than 55 years, Barbie has been a global, cultural icon and a source of inspiration and imagination to millions of girls around the world,” Richard Dickson, president and chief operating officer of Mattel stated in a recent press release. “Barbie reflects the world girls see around them. Her ability to evolve and grow with the times, while staying true to her spirit, is central to why Barbie is the number one fashion doll in the world.” Cyndy Thomas Klepinger is a freelance writer in the Denver area who remembers spending hours playing dolls as a youngster. Photos of Barbie from 1962, 1971, 1977, 1980 and 2016 courtesy of barbiemedia.com

1980

1990s

DECEMBER 2016

coloradocountrylife.coop

e i b Bar th Growing up wi

BY CYNDY THOMAS KLEPINGER

When I was a little girl, all my friends had Barbie dolls. However, I had to be different, and I had a Tressy, an American fashion teenaged 11-and-a-half-inch doll with a feature that allowed me to adjust the length of her hair. I just had to push a button on Tressy’s tummy and I could “grow” the hair out. If I wanted my doll to have short hair, I used a key that went into her back that, when turned, wound the hair back in. I could style her hair. I remember many happy hours playing with my doll and imagining adventures for her. However, I was curious what other women thought about Barbie herself, so on the recent Pedal the Plains (a three-day bike event in eastern Colorado), I chatted with others about Barbie. When asked if she played with the fashion doll, Comanche National Grassland Park Ranger Barbara Timoch smiled widely and said, “Absolutely my name is Barbara. I had a Barbie, Ken and Midge (Barbie's best friend).” She shared that she also had one of the first Dreamhouses, as well as the iconic pink Corvette. Since Barbie wore glamorous evening wear as well as casual outfits, athletic wear and swimsuits, usually accompanied by her trademark high heels, Barbara and her girlfriends regularly exchanged clothes and gave new outfits as gifts.

2016

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Donna Huff, a 4-H leader who lives south of Swink in southeastern Colorado, emphatically said no. “I didn’t play with Barbie, she added.” I’m a farm girl. We played with trucks and tractors and made mud pies.” She added that her grown daughter hated dolls, too. Ordway Town Clerk Cindee Crough grew up playing with Barbies. But she said her 9-year-old and 12-year-old daughters prefer playing with today’s electronics. Cindee shared that she had more than 20 dolls, including Ken and Midge. A favorite one was the Barbie that was sculpted in the likeness of Marilyn Monroe and wore a long evening gown and white faux fur stole. Littleton resident Betsey Major, who’s a baby boomer, said she didn’t like dolls, so she didn’t have a Barbie. She explained she stimulated her imagination by being outside. She grew up in cities from the Canadian border to the Gulf Coast as her father was in the oil and gas business. Jayne Thompson, a millennial who grew up on a ranch in the Pinedale, Wyoming, area, played with the Barbie dolls that she got from her aunt. She shared that she liked to play with Barbie because it allowed her to be creative and reinforced that she could do whatever she wanted to do as Barbie held so many diverse jobs, including architect, astronaut, McDonald's cashier, NASCAR driver and veterinarian. However, two “tween” cowgirls, Solie and Shayla, both said that there has never been a Rodeo Queen Barbie nor a farmer or rancher one. Solie shared that she got rid of her Barbie after a month or so as she decided she was a tomboy. Shayla said her Barbie didn’t have a long life because she lost it shortly after getting it (she thinks she lost it in the horse corral). Read about the Barbies pictured on these pages and owned by Colorado Country Life staff members and their family members at coloradocountrylife.coop

DECEMBER 2016

[recipes]

A Kernel of Joy

Festive, flavorful holiday recipes that pop BY AMY HIGGINS RECIPES@COLORADOCOUNTRYLIFE.ORG A Pop of Piquancy

Coconut Popcorn Snowballs 2 cups shredded or flaked sweetened coconut 3 quarts popped, unflavored white popcorn 4 tablespoons butter or margarine 3 cups miniature marshmallows 1 teaspoon coconut or vanilla extract 8 candy canes or candy cane sticks, about 3-4 inches long

photo courtesy of The Popcorn Board

Popcorn is a baker’s delight. It mixes well with brownie and cookie recipes, and tastes great topped on soups and salads.

Popcorn pops up everywhere during the holidays. From crafting festive garlands to receiving giant gift tins, people love getting their hands on the savory kernels. Whether you’re entertaining, looking for a practical gift idea or wanting a tasty snack while watching your favorite holiday classic, you can easily find creative, delicious popcorn recipes, many that have a punch of holiday pizazz. The Popcorn Board, for one, has a slew of ideas on how to get creative with these bite-sized bits of joy. This holiday season, get popping and try one of these festive recipes.

Grab a Handful When snack cravings kick in, pop some popcorn. With only 30 calories per cup, popcorn is a healthy snack choice.

Festive Popcorn Trees

10 cups air-popped, unflavored white popcorn 1 10-ounce bag miniature marshmallows 2 tablespoons butter 1 teaspoon vanilla extract Decorating sugar, holiday colors 1 tube of white frosting (with decorating tip) Assorted small colorful candies, such as sprinkles and miniature silver dragées Spray a large mixing bowl lightly with nonstick cooking spray. Place popcorn in bowl. Place marshmallows and butter in medium saucepan over medium-low heat. Stir until marshmallows are melted and mixture is smooth. Remove from heat. Stir in vanilla extract. Pour mixture over popcorn. Toss well to coat popcorn evenly. Line a baking sheet with foil. Spray hands with nonstick cooking spray, then scoop up about 1 cup of popcorn mixture. Shape mixture into a cone shape, keeping the base flat. This forms the tree. Sprinkle tree with decorating sugar; place tree on baking sheet. Repeat to make the rest of the trees. Pipe frosting on trees to make a garland, then decorate them with colorful candies. Serving suggestion: Place each tree on a sugar or gingersnap cookie and decorate your serving tray with shredded coconut to resemble snow.

photo courtesy of The Popcorn Board

TIP

Place a large sheet of parchment paper over a work surface. Spread coconut onto paper. Spray a large mixing bowl lightly with nonstick cooking spray and place popcorn inside. In a medium saucepan, melt butter over low heat. Stir in marshmallows and extract, then stir until marshmallows are melted and mixture is smooth. Pour over popcorn and mix well until coated. Spray hands with nonstick cooking spray, scoop up a handful of popcorn mixture and press firmly to form into a ball. Place ball on coconut and roll and press coconut to coat. While holding popcorn ball, gently press a candy cane into the ball. Repeat to make the rest of the snowballs. Serve immediately or wrap individually in plastic wrap for storage.

For more popcorn recipes, visit coloradocountrylife.coop. Click on Recipes. 20

DECEMBER 2016

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DECEMBER 2016

[gardening]

can keep cutting off roots and replanting throughout the year.

Ginger root and garlic Ginger root and garlic are also easy to grow. Once you get started, you can keep a full supply of each throughout the year. Place a spare piece of ginger root in potting soil with the buds facing up. New shoots and roots will appear in about a week. When this happens, you can pull it up and use it. Just remember to save a piece of the rhizome to replant. Similarly, you can place the garlic root down in a pot of soil and place the pot in a warm spot with lots of direct sunlight. It roots easily and will produce new shoots. Once the new plant is well-established, cut back the shoots so that the plant focuses on growing large garlic bulbs. Just remember for both ginger and garlic, you need to keep a BY VICKI SPENCER MASTER GARDENER GARDENING@COLORADOCOUNTRYLIFE.ORG small piece to replant each time you harvest. Lettuce, bok choy and cabbage During the holidays when the kids were home Potatoes Surprisingly, lettuce, bok choy and cabbage Most of us have had a potato that we kept from school, I always looked for projects to are also relatively easy to grow from scraps. keep them busy. One of their favorite projects around so long it began to sprout. If you Instead of throwing leftover leaves out, simcatch it in time, it can also be used to grow a ply place them in a bowl with a little water was to grow plants from kitchen scraps. new potato. Just cut the potato into secAlmost 40 years later, we still have an in the bottom. Set the bowl in a place that tions, making sure each one has one to two avocado tree that grew from a seed that gets good sunlight and spray the leaves with eyes. Then, let the pieces sit on the counter they planted with my father. When I sold water a couple times a week. After three or at room temperature to dry for a few days. my house in Gunnison, I was worried that four days, you will notice roots beginning to Once they are dry to the touch, you can I couldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t care for the tree in my new small appear along with new leaves. You can plant plant them, but make sure you use a large, apartment. So I drove it cross-country for these leaves in soil to grow. deep pot that will hold enough soil for the my daughter to plant sit. Although it had Carrots potatoes to grow. to adapt to a new climate in Arkansas, my You can grow sweet potatoes the same way, Growing carrot tops is fun because they daughter is keeping it alive with tender loving care. In fact, it looks much healthier than but you might have more success starting the grow so quickly. They also make pretty houseplants with their fern-like foliage. To roots in water. Cut the sweet potato in half, it did in my mountain home. Although my grow the carrot tops, you will need about 1 put toothpicks in the sides and suspend the daughterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s children never got to meet their great-grandfather, they are now living with a potato above a container of shallow water. The inch of carrot attached to the tops. Stick a toothpick into either side of the carrot stump roots will appear in a few days, and sprouts tree that he planted. and balance it on top of a small glass with will show up on top of the potato as well. To grow avocado plants, you should first water that barely touches the bottom of the Once the sprouts are about 4 inches long, wash the seed, then gently poke toothpicks stump. Place the glass in a window, but not twist them off and place them in a container into alternate sides to suspend it over a in direct sunlight. Monitor the glass daily of water. When the roots from this container bowl of water. The water should cover the to be sure it has enough water. Eventually, bottom inch of the seed. Keep the container are about an inch long, you can plant the white lacy flowers will bloom. sprouts and the rooted sections in soil. in a warm place, but not in direct sunlight. Remember to check the water every day and Celery and onions Some plants grow more easily from scraps add more as needed. It can take up to six Celery and onions are two of the easiest foods than others, but it is fun to try different ones. weeks for the stem and roots to appear. Once to grow from leftover scraps. Cut off the botIn the process, you might create a living the stem reaches about 6 inches, cut it to 3 tom of your celery and lay it in a bowl with a legacy like my father did when he showed inches. When leaves begin to appear, you can little warm water. Place the bowl in a spot that his grandkids how to grow an avocado tree plant the seed in soil, remembering to leave gets as much direct sunlight as possible. After from a seed. about half of it exposed. a week, you should begin to see the leaves When we planted the avocado seed, I nev- thickening and growing along the base. Then er imagined it would take this journey, but I you can transplant this new celery in soil and did believe I could grow avocados. While it wait for it to grow to full length. has not produced fruit, it succeeded in getOnions can be grown in the same way as More Online ting me interested in gardening. Since then, I celery, except you can plant them directly Read previous gardening columns learned there are many more plants you can in a pot of soil. Cut the end of the onion off at coloradocountrylife.coop. grow indoors from scraps and transplant to about one-half inch above the root line. The Click on Gardening. your outdoor garden come springtime. onion roots will grow new onions, and you

Sprouting Bits and Pieces Plants can keep on giving year round

DECEMBER 2016

coloradocountrylife.coop

Drug Companies Nervous as Doctors and Patients Demand the AloeCure

Big Pharma execs stand to lose billions as doctors and their patients abandon drugs like Nexium® and Prilosec®. Drug free remedy could put Big Pharma out of the digestion business. By David Waxman Seattle Washington: Drug company execs are nervous. That’s because the greatest health advance in decades has hit the streets. And analysts expect it to put a huge crimp in “Big Pharma” profits. So what’s all the fuss about? It’s about a new ingredient that’s changing the lives of people who use it. Some call it “the greatest discovery since penicillin”! And others call it “a miracle!” The name of the product is the AloeCure. It’s not a drug. It’s something completely different. And the product is available to anyone who wants it, at a reasonable price. But demands may force future prices to rise.

Top Doc Warns: Digestion Drugs Can Cripple You!

Company spokesperson, Dr. Liza Leal, a leading integrative health specialist out of Texas recommends Aloecure before she decides to prescribe any digestion drug. Especially after the FDA’s stem warning about long-term use of drugs classified as proton pump inhibitors like Prilosec®, Nexium®, and Prevacid®. In a nutshell, the FDA statement warned people should avoid taking these digestion drugs for longer than three 14-day treatment periods because there is an increased risk of bone fractures. Many people take them daily and for decades. Dr. Leal should know. Many patients come to her with bone and joint complaints and she does everything she can to help them. One way for digestion sufferers to help avoid possible risk of tragic joint and bone problems caused by overuse of digestion drugs is to take the AloeCure. The secret to AloeCure’s “health adjusting” formula is scientifically tested Acemannan, a polysaccharide extracted from Aloe Vera. But not the same aloe vera that mom used to apply to your cuts, scrapes and burns. This is a perfect strain of aloe that is organically grown in special Asian soil under very strict conditions. AloeCure is so powerful it begins to benefit your health the instant you take it. It soothes intestinal discomfort and you can

Drug companies are understandably upset since the AloeCure® delivers quicker and better health beneﬁts.

avoid the possibility of bone and health damage caused by overuse of digestion drugs. We all know how well aloe works externally on cuts, scrapes and burns. But did you know Acemannan has many of other health benefits? ...

Helps Calm Down Painful Inflammation

According to a leading aloe research scientist, the amazing Aloe plant has a powerful antiinflammatory effect. Aloe Vera calms the fire in your belly like it does the sunburn on your skin and in many ways helps heal damaged cells. Inflammation is your body’s first reaction to damage. So whether it’s damage that is physical, bacterial, chemical or autoimmune, the natural plant helps soothe inflammation - rapidly reducing redness, heat and swelling.

Rapid Acid and Heartburn Fix

Aloe has proved to have an astonishing effect on users who suffer with digestion problems like bouts of acid reflux, heartburn, cramping, gas and constipation because it acts as a natural acid buffer and soothes the digestive system. But new studies prove it does a whole lot more.

Side-Step Heart Concerns

So you’ve been taking proton pump inhibitors (PPI’s) for years and you feel just fine. In June of 2015, a major study shows that chronic PPI use increases the risk of heart attack in general population. Debilitating brain disorders are on the rise. New studies show PPI’s are linked to an increased risk of dementia. Cutting edge research shows that the health of your brain is closely linked by the state of healthy bacteria that comes from your gut. The things happening in your belly today might be deciding your risk for any number of brain conditions. Studies have been ongoing since the 1990’s. New studies suggest that taking PPI’s at both low and high dosage also disrupts a healthy human gut!

Sleep Like A Baby

A night without sleep really damages

your body and continued lost sleep can lead to all sorts of health problems. But what you may not realize is the reason why you’re not sleeping. I sometimes call it “Ghost Reflux”. A low intensity form of acid discomfort that quietly keeps you awake in the background. AloeCure helps digestion so you may find yourself sleeping through the night.

Celebrity Hair, Skin & Nails

One of the Best-Kept Secrets in Hollywood. Certain antacids may greatly reduce your body’s ability to break down and absorb calcium. Aloe delivers calcium as it aids in balancing your stomach acidity. The result? Thicker, healthier looking hair ... more youthful looking skin ... And nails so strong they may never break again.

Save Your Kidney

National and local news outlets are reporting Kidney Failure linked to PPI’s. Your Kidney extracts waste from blood, balances body fluids, forms urine, and aids in other important functions of the body. Without it your body would be overrun by deadly toxins. Aloe helps your kidney function properly. Studies suggest if you started taking aloe today you’d see a big difference in the way you feel.

Special Opportunity For Readers of this Magazine

With this introductory offer the makers of the AloeCure are excited to offer you a risk-free supply. Readers of this magazine are pre-qualified for up to 3 FREE months of product with their order. Take advantage of this special opportunity to try AloeCure in your own home and find out how to test AloeCure for a full 90 days. But that’s not all. ... If you don’t see remarkable changes in your digestion, your body, and your overall health ... Simply return it for a full refund less shipping and handling (when applicable). Just call 1-800-330-5324 to take advantage of this risk free offer before it’s too late. This offer is limited, call now.

THESE STATEMENTS HAVE NOT BEEN EVALUATED BY THE FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION. THIS PRODUCT IS NOT INTENDED TO DIAGNOSE, TREAT, CURE OR PREVENT ANY DISEASE. INDIVIDUAL RESULTS MAY VARY ALOECURE IS NOT A DRUG. IFYOU ARE CURRENLTY TAKING A PRESCRIPTION DRUG YOU SHOULD CONSULT YOUR DOCTOR BEFORE USE. FOR THE FULL FDA PUBLISHED WARN LNG ON PROTON PUMP LNHLBITORS PLEASE VISIT HT TP://WWW.FDA.GOV/D0WNL0ADS/F0RCONSUMERS/CONSUMERUPDATES/UCM213307

coloradocountrylife.coop

DECEMBER 2016

[outdoors]

Pesky Pines and Disruptive Doves

The needle-filled evergreen attracts beauty and bullies BY DENNIS SMITH OUTDOORS@COLORADOCOUNTRYLIFE.ORG

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Kris Wendtland 303-902-7276 advertising@coloradocountrylife.org

DECEMBER 2016

We have a love/hate relationship with the pine trees in our backyard. There are only three of them, but they’re nearly 40 feet tall and over the years have grown together so tightly you can’t tell where the branches of one end and the others begin. Every spring, they release obnoxious clouds of sulphur-colored pollen that make our eyes water and our noses run and it coats everything in sight with a film of sticky, yellow dust for weeks on end. Yuck. The pines bury the yard, deck and patio under an ugly brown blanket of dead needles. They clog the gutters with their never-ending barrage of pine cones, needles and worm-like flower pods that decompose into clots of fetid unless I physically remove them every few weeks. It’s a horribly messy job at best and potentially dangerous. Running up and down the ladder with a hose in my hand at my age is no joy, that’s for sure. I despise cleaning the gutters and, consequently, curse those trees several times a year. On the other hand, their tightly woven branches make an effective shelter belt. They block snow in the winter, provide much appreciated shade in summer and attract a variety of wildlife throughout the year. The critters love them. Nuthatches, northern flickers and downy woodpeckers flit and feed through them all year long. Chickadees nest in them. So do mourning doves and robins. Blue jays, juncos, sparrows and finches glean the forest duff beneath their branches for insects, seeds and other bird groceries. Great horned owls nest in them occasionally. A red fox bedded under them for a couple of winters. Squirrels, of course, are daily visitors all year long. In recent years, though, increasing numbers of Eurasian collared doves began to hang out

in our pines. Not good. About half as large as mourning doves, Eurasians have a pinkish buff-colored body, white underwings, banded fan tails and that namesake black collar across the back of their necks. They’re not unattractive looking birds, but they have arrogantly aggressive dispositions and a harsh, offensive call that sounds more like a growling raccoon than any bird you ever heard. They drove off our mourning doves, bully all the other birds at our feeders and festoon our lawn furniture with their nasty droppings. We’re not the only ones who don’t like them. Accidently introduced to the continental United States in 1980, their numbers exploded to the point where they threaten our native populations of mourning doves and white-winged doves. Wildlife agencies across the country declared them an invasive species and moved to reduce their numbers by any means available. Colorado Parks and Wildlife encourages hunting them all year long with no restrictions on bag limits. If Eurasian doves have any redeeming value, it’s that they taste pretty good stuffed with jalapeno cream cheese, wrapped in bacon and grilled over mesquite coals. Oh, and they might just drive me to replace those blasted pine trees with some nice shrubs.

Miss an issue? Catch up at coloradocountrylife.coop. Click on Outdoors. coloradocountrylife.coop

[ energy tips] SEAL TIGHT, VENTILATE RIGHT

gift guide Thermal Leak Detector

Smart LED Light Bulb This light can be controlled from the palm of your hand with your smartphone device. Control features often include brightness, scheduling, and more.

6 1

1. Thermal Leak Detector

Identify air leaks in your home with this point-and-shoot, hand-held device that measures surface temperatures.

2. 3. 4. 5.

Smart LED Light Bulb Portable Solar Battery Bank Smart Power Strip with Motion Sensor Whole House Energy Monitor

Portable Solar Battery Bank The device is able to charge a cell phone on the go, whether a person is traveling in the car or camping in the wilderness. Device size varies on intended use.

Smart Power Strip with Motion Sensor It automatically turns the power on when you enter the room and can also automatically turn off peripheral devices after a set amount of time once you leave the area. Tip: For something a little less pricy, try a single outlet motion sensor for similar results.

Whole House Energy Monitor You can monitor your entire home’s energy usage in real time! Information can be sent directly to your computer or smartphone and is stored so you can see long-term usage data.

Wishing you and yours a safe and happy holiday season.

BY PAT KEEGAN AND AMY WHEELESS

Sealing air leaks is one of the best energy efficiency investments a home owner can make. However, it is possible to seal so tightly that the home has little ventilation, which can contribute to indoor air quality problems. The challenge is to achieve the best home performance and energy savings while maintaining air quality. Mechanical ventilation systems allow for controlled air movement and a proper rate of ventilation in your home while helping to ensure good indoor air quality. There are two primary categories of mechanical ventilation: spot ventilation and whole-house ventilation. Spot ventilation systems are the fans you find above your oven range, in your laundry room and in your bathroom. They focus on removing moist air and indoor air pollutants at the source. Whole-house ventilation circulates air throughout the home and introduces the right amount of outside air. There are four categories of whole-house ventilation systems: • Exhaust ventilation systems: Fans pull air out of your home, which increases infiltration from the outside, either through air leaks or vents. • Supply ventilation systems: Fans bring outside air into your home. • Balanced ventilation systems: Both supply and exhaust fans circulate air in and out of the home. Spot ventilation, like bathroom fans, • Energy recovery on removing ventilation systems: focuses moisture and indoor Fans, combined with air pollutants at their source. heat exchangers, modulate the temperature and humidity of incoming air into your home. Talk with your energy auditor or electric cooperative about whether you need additional mechanical ventilation and, if so, which system will work best for your living space. This column was co-written by Pat Keegan and Amy Wheeless of Collaborative Efficiency.

Visit coloradocountrylife.coop to learn more energy-saving tips. Look under the Energy tab. coloradocountrylife.coop

DECEMBER 2016

TOUCHSTONEENERGY.COM

FOCUSED ON YOUR STREET. NOT WALL STREET. Think of your not-for-profit Touchstone Energy cooperative as your very own local energy advisor. After all, we’re owned by you and the other members in our community, which means you’ll always have a say in how your co-op runs. To learn more, visit TouchstoneEnergy.com.

YOUR SOURCE OF POWER. AND INFORMATION.

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DECEMBER 2016

[classifieds] TO PLACE A CLASSIFIED AD

Please type or print your ad on a separate paper. Indicate how many months you would like your ad to run and which month to start. There is a minimum of 12 words at $1.63 per word/month. Be sure to include your full name and address for our records. Check MUST accompany this order or call to pay by credit card. Send your ad to: mail: Colorado Country Life 5400 Washington St., Denver, CO 80216 phone: 303-902-7276 fax: 303-455-2807 email: classifieds@coloradocountrylife.org

CARS/TRUCKS/BOATS/ MOTORCYCLES 2014 TRI-GLIDE ULTRA-CLASSIC - Black in color, 4,000 miles, loaded with extras, $26,500 719-390-0527 (327-12-16)

CLOCK REPAIR & RESTORATION

www.clockrepairandrestoration. com DURANGO AREA. CLOCKS of all kinds repaired. Antique and modern. Clocks bought and sold. bob.scott@usa.net Call Robert 970-247-7729. (109-02-17)

ENERGY ANTIQUE RESTORATION CHAIR CANING Hand caning, machine caning, fiber rush caning. Pueblo West, 719-547-0723. chaanita@q.com (858-10-17)

ANTLERS

ANTLER CHANDELIERS made only from REAL antlers. We are the manufacturer and we sell all of our products at wholesale prices; save as much as 60% from store prices. Many other antler products and mounts, including 56” elk mount, giant moose paddles, and elk antlers. Showroom now open year ’round in Granby, CO. 18 years at this location, over 900 satisfied customers! Designers: We can provide you a single item or a whole houseful. Call ! (970) 627-3053. (085-09-17)

BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES

(These opportunities have not been investigated by Colorado Country Life.)

BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES

TRI-COUNTY ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE (TCEC) of Hooker, Oklahoma, is updating its list of Engineering and Construction Contractors for construction and maintenance of distribution electric lines and facilities. TCEC promotes equal opportunity and encourages all contractors including MinorityOwned, Women–Owned, and Small Business Enterprises to provide contact information for TCEC to solicit participation in Requests for Proposals. Please send information regarding your business via email to info@tcec.coop attention Chris Giles or via mail to TCEC, PO Box 880, Hooker, Oklahoma 73945. (324-12-16) WEIGHT LOSS COFFEE. Awesome Income Opportunity. Great tasting Italian Arabica Roast with a weight loss component! Proven and guaranteed! Taste a Healthy Life! www.valentusmovie.com/ weeks 970-690-3503 (321-02-17)

HEALTH FOOD STORE & DELI: 2 turnkey businesses in one. Strong income/customer base. Colorado mountains (970-641-5175), leave name & number. (252-12-16)

Find hidden treasure in the CLASSIFIEDS Read through the ads and FIND the CCL classified explaining how to WIN a $25 gift card. It’s easy. You could WIN. The classified ads November contest winner is Mary Moore of Simla.

SOLAR WATER SYSTEMS – livestock or any remote location. 3-10 gpm. Variable speed. Call Peterson High Reach for free quote. 719-688-0081 (316-01-17)

FOR SALE

LARGE SELECTION Jim Beam, Wild Turkey, McCormick, Ezra Brooks Collector Decanters. Ft Collins 970-472-4107 (320-12-16) OXYGEN CONCENTRATORS - $380 with warranty. Also sell portable concentrators and oxygen supplies. Repair and service of equipment. Aspen Concentrator Repair Service 719-471-9895 (040-12-16)

FREE

FREE BOOKS/DVDS. Soon the “Mark of the Beast” will be enforced as church and state unite! Let the Bible reveal. The Bible Says, POB99, Lenoir City, TN 37771. thebiblesaystruth@ yahoo.com 888-211-1715. (814-12-16)

HELP WANTED

LEGITIMATE WORK AT HOME opportunity. No sales, investment, risk. Training/website provided. Monthly income plus bonuses, benefits. Call Carrie 303-579-4207, www.livetotalwellness.com/ livehealthy (932-02-17)

PETS

I PAINT PETS, capturing the essence of your treasured pals & creating family keepsakes. Julie 719-539-4260 www.julie-maas. fineartamerica.com (300-01-17)

REAL ESTATE

FSBO: OAK CREEK / STEAMBOAT SPRINGS – 3 lots with house. Scrape off & build. Centrally located above town park. Great views. $75k 719-890-4488 (323-02-17) READY TO RETIRE? +-13 acres near Mancos, CO. Trout-stocked canyon lake, commercial greenhouse, gardens, lots of water, passive solar timber frame home. $499,999. Jim, 970-769-1391, for pictures. (282-02-17) WE BUY LAND and/or mineral rights. CO TX NM KS. 1-800-316-5337 (099-03-17)

TICKETS

NFR & PBR RODEO TICKETS – Las Vegas. Call 1-888-NFR-Rodeo (1-888637-7633). www.NFR-rodeo.com A+ rated BBB Member. (912-04-17)

GIFTS

VACATION RENTAL

ANTIQUES, BUILDING SUPPLIES, HARDWARE, variety galore – amazing store! See Manzanola Trading Company on Facebook 719-462-5540 (326-12-16)

BRECKENRIDGE, COLORADO, condominium – Beautiful. Prime location! See at VRBO.com enter 891478 (317-02-17)

VACATION RENTAL

KAUAI VACATION RENTAL, 2bdr, full kitchen. Minutes from beaches. $600/wk. 808-8220191; mokihana@hawaiian.net; kauaiweddings.com. (756-05-17)

WANTED TO BUY

CAST-IRON COOKWARE (Wagner & Griswold). Pyrex. Old toys in good condition. Vintage signs. Anything cowboy and Indian – hats, boots, spurs, rugs, etc. After family gets what they want, we’ll buy the rest. Antiques, collectibles, furniture, glassware, etc. We come to you! 970759-3455 or 970-565-1256. (871-02-17) NAVAJO RUGS, old and recent, native baskets, pottery. Tribal Rugs, Salida. 719-539-5363, b_inaz@ hotmail.com (817-12-16) OLD COLORADO LIVESTOCK brand books prior to 1975. Call Wes 303-757-8553. (889-02-17) OLD GAS AND OIL items: Gas pumps, advertising signs, globes, etc. Pieces, parts, etc. considered. Also 1932-34 Ford cars and trucks, parts and pieces, too. Any condition. Brandon, 719-250-5721. (519-11-17) OLD POCKET WATCHES – working or non-working and old repair material. Bob 719-859-4209. (870-12-16) WANT MONEY? WIN $25 by mailing the number of classified ads to classifieds@coloradocountrylife.org with WIN $25 as the subject. Include name/address. Deadline December 15. WANT TO PURCHASE mineral and other oil/gas interests. Send details to: PO Box 13557, Denver, CO 80201. (402-03-17) WANTED: JEEP CJ OR WRANGLER. Reasonably priced. No rust buckets. 888-735-5337 (099-04-17) WE PAY CASH for minerals and oil/gas interests, producing and nonproducing. 800-733-8122 (099-02-17)

NOVEMBER BOOK GIVEAWAY CONTEST WINNERS Colorado’s Rock Chronicles Brenda Mross

Breaking Wild Farabe Smith

Red Rocks: The Concert Years Polly Pope

Dark Waters, Gina Biolchini

Jane and the Waterloo Map Darryl Hess Anchor in the Wind Danielle Pelton Shotgun Marriage Nancy Shaw

What We Find Ann Coontz Fat Chance Vickie Hoffman DECEMBER 2016

STOP FEEDING PRAIRIE DOGS. We’ll rent hunting rights from you. Looking for antelope, goose, duck, coyote, & prairie dog habitat. Encourage young sportsmen by providing safe, private access. You make the rules. 303-460-0273 (069-12-16)

FREE OLD UPRIGHT PIANO - excellent condition not used anymore. Good tone. 970-283-5468 (325-12-16)

Murder on the Horizon Linda P. Sency

GRASS

My Triple Mastectomy Ninja, Ninja, Never Stop The Life of Ty Gulliver’s Babies Diane Dea And the Wind Whispered Jo Shane The Comfort of Black Monika Cary Three Rivers Ann Stivers Killing Trail Bonnie Stafford

Speed Kings The FBI Wife The Lightning Queen Ungifted Mystery at the Christmas Market Karin Rieger Amazing Paper Airplanes Pat Farrenkopf Over on the Farm Ramona Phipps Do Princesses Make Happy Campers? Judith Reeve Mix and Match Mama Eats Debie Schmitt

coloradocountrylife.coop

[ funny stories]

READERS PHOTOS

I wrote a letter to my friend in New York City telling her about the marvelous rustic cabin dinner my husband and I were invited to on New Year’s Eve. To get to the cabin, we rode up the snow-covered mountain in Kelli Nothem visits her parents and sister in beautiful Alaska. a sleigh pulled by four Clydesdale horses. I told my friend about the wonderful dinner and how elegant it all was and that the only ones that probably didn’t enjoy it were the Clydesdales. She wrote back and said, “Oh! I wouldn’t invite them again!” Norma Harman, Pagosa Springs

Christine Rachlin with a reindeer in Fairbanks, Alaska.

Sue Wilson and Tim Mahony visit Matera, Italy.

A young family with three children got a late start putting up their holiday decorations. The parents discussed the option of not putting up a Christmas tree, which the children vetoed. The parents suggested buying just a small tree. The 6-year-old child burst into tears. Daddy asked, “What’s the matter? We are putting up a tree.” The child wailed and replied, “But if it’s only a small tree, we will only get small presents!” Carol Stark, Loveland Recently, while I babysat my 4-year-old granddaughter Julie, we sat at the table to eat our dinner. My husband and I were enjoying her cute conversation. After Julie finished eating, she started to get off of her chair so she could go play with some toys. I asked, “Could you please stay at the table while we finish our dinner because we are enjoying your presence.” She sat there silently, thinking, with a puzzled look on her face and then sheepishly explained, “But Grandma, I didn’t bring you any presents.” Kelly O’Donnell, Masonville

WINNER: Terri and Garry Pautler, Gay and Jeff Uhland and Chris and Pat Bledsoe visit the Hotel Del in San Diego, California, with their copies of Colorado Country Life.

TAKE YOUR PHOTO WITH YOUR MAGAZINE AND WIN! It’s easy to win with Colorado Country Life. Simply take a photo of someone (or a selfie!) with the magazine and email the photo and your name and address to info@coloradocountrylife.org. We’ll draw one photo to win a $25 gift card each month. The next deadline is Thursday, December 15. This month’s winner is K.C. Electric member Gary Pautler. He and friends visited the Hotel Del in San Diego, California. coloradocountrylife.coop

We pay $15 to each person who submits a funny story that’s printed in the magazine. The 2016 year-end funny stories winner is Carol Shalberg of Sheridan Lake. Next year we will draw one name from those submitting funny stories throughout the year and that person will receive $200. Send your 2017 stories to Colorado Country Life, 5400 Washington St., Denver, CO 80216 or email funnystories@coloradocountrylife.org. Include your mailing address, so we can send you a check.

$15 DECEMBER 2016

[discoveries] OH, CHRISTMAS TREE CONVENIENCE Some Colorado resort areas will bring your Christmas tree and all the trimmings to you. That’s right, you don’t have to strap your Christmas tree atop your vehicle and squeeze boxes of decorations between you and the family dog. Imagine this: after a long road trip on a Rocky Mountain highway, you arrive at your destination and are welcomed by a twinkling tree, totally decorated to the nines. Summit Home Services offers such a service in the Breckenridge area. After you leave, Summit returns to the property to collect and recycle the tree. See for yourself at summit-home-services.com.

A CHRISTMAS TRADITION Gathering up the family and heading to a forest or tree farm to cut down a Christmas tree is a tradition for many Colorado households. The process can be a fun challenge that not only provides that fragrant holiday scent to homes, but helps manage certain areas of our national forests. The Rocky Mountain Region Forest Service’s primary Christmas tree cutting dates are December 3-11. You can obtain a tree cutting permit from most Forest Services offices in Colorado. For more information, call the Public Lands Information Center at 303-239-3838 or visit fs.usds.gov.

CHRISTMAS TREE TRAIN

December 3-4 and 10-11 at the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad The Cascade Wye area of the San Juan National Forest needs hazardous fuels reduction through thinning, according to the D&SNGR. So bundle up and head to Durango where you can take a train trip through the forest on a steam train to cut down your own Christmas tree. A San Juan Mountains Association representative will be on board to sell guests National Forest Christmas tree

DECEMBER 2016

permits. The D&SNGR will provide handsaws and guidance in choosing and cutting the proper tree, with the help of Firewise of Southwest Colorado, SJMA and other volunteers. Arrange your trip by calling 888872-4607. For more information, visit durangotrain.com. See how it works at vimeo.com/185723979.

Recycle Your Tree Your Christmas tree provided weeks of fragrant bliss and holiday cheer, so don’t just toss it on the curb with the trash. Recycle it. Several organizations throughout Colorado will recycle your tree through curbside pickup or at drop-off recycling centers. If your areas does not provide such services, there are still ways to make use of your Christmas tree. If you have the means and equipment, grind up your tree and use the shreds as mulch in your garden. The National Christmas Tree Association says the trees can create soil erosion barriers and walking path boundaries, and are great refuge for fish when sunk into a private pond. The NCTA also suggests placing your tree somewhere out of the way on your property to provide birds sanctuary, shelter and a feeding ground. Just remove all decorations and occasionally sprinkle the tree with fruit slices and other bird-friendly foods. When the tree becomes brittle, put it in a chipper for mulch or break it apart and dispose in your yard waste container. Visit realchristmastrees.org for more ideas. coloradocountrylife.coop

How Does Harbor Freight Sell GREAT QUALITY Tools at the LOWEST Prices? We have invested millions of dollars in our own state-of-the-art quality test labs and millions more in our factories, so our tools will go toe-to-toe with the top professional brands. And we can sell them for a fraction of the price because we cut out the middle man and pass the savings on to you. It’s just that simple! Come visit one of our 700+ Stores Nationwide. R 8750 PEAK/ PE ON 7000 RUNNING WATTS SU UP CO 13 HP (420 CC) GAS GENERATORS ITEM 68530/63086 69671/63085 shown ITEM 68525/69677 63087/63088 CALIFORNIA ONLY

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EMERGENCY 39 LED TRIANGLE WORKLIGHT

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comp at

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RIP

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or by calling stores or HarborFreight.com LIMIT 6 - Good at our used with other discount or coupon or prior 800-423-2567. Cannot be from original purchase with original receipt. purchases after 30 days last. Non-transferable. Original coupon must be Offer good while supplies 4/1/17. Limit one coupon per customer per day. presented. Valid through

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800-423-2567. Cannot or HarborFreight.com or by calling LIMIT 3 - Good at our stores or coupon or prior purchases after 30 days from original be used with other discount Offer good while supplies last. Non-transferable. Original purchase with original receipt. through 4/1/17. Limit one coupon per customer per day. coupon must be presented. Valid

• HarborFreight.com • 800-423-2567

ITEM 95659 shown 61634/61952

26", 4 DRAWER TOOL CART

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R RAPID PUMP® 1.5 TON PE ON SU UP ALUMINUM RACING JACK CO ITEM 69252 62160/62496 62516/68053

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DECEMBER 2016

coloradocountrylife.coop

MAY YOUR SEASON BE BRIGHT

As a power supplier to Coloradoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s cooperatives, Tri-State generates electricity for your everyday life and your celebrations. May you and your loved ones have a wonderful holiday season.