Colorado Country Life February 2017 KC by American MainStreet Publications

[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

FEBRUARY 2017 Volume 48, Number 02

“Winter Sunrise” by Gary Geisick of Weldona.

MORE WAYS TO CONNECT WITH US

coloradocountrylife.coop

FACEBOOK CHATTER

FAVORITE TWEETS

[cover] This reversed photograph of an ice climber was taken by La Plata Electric Association member MaryAnne Nelson of Durango. It won first place in the blue category in the CCL photo contest. 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

Posted on ColoradoREA: Snow — so-o-o much snow — has made keeping the lights on a challenge for some of Colorado’s electric co-ops. This is a crew from Gunnison County Electric.

@ColoradoREA: CREA is ready for the 2017 Colorado General Assembly to begin.

PINTEREST SNEAK PEAK

YOUTUBE PICK

Check out great runner-up photos from our 2017 Photo Contest. Visit youtube.com/ COCountryLife1

Colorado Country Life posted:

Bake a layered dessert for your sweetheart this Valentine’s Day. Check out our favorite recipes at pinterest.com/cocountrylife

MONTHLY CONTEST Enjoy beautiful Colorado photos. Win a copy of the two-volume edition of Colorado Scenic Byways: Taking the Other Road. Find out how to enter at coloradocountrylife.coop under Contests. Deadline to enter is February 15 at noon.

[viewpoint]

COMMITMENT TO COMMUNITY

Dedicated co-op lineworkers fight snow, wind to get the power on for member-owners BY KENT SINGER CREA EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR KSINGER@COLORADOREA.ORG

Even at my age, Christmas day is still my favorite day of the year. I know it’s February and the Christmas holiday was more than a month ago, but these winter days are a good time to pause and look back. My Christmas was great. After all of December’s holiday parties and other activities, it was nice to disconnect from the outside world Kent Singer and spend the holiday celebrating the season. We got out of bed a little later than usual, fixed some hot cocoa, stoked a fire in the fireplace and spent the day with family and friends. This year we also caught a late afternoon movie and then watched some football on television. (I have to admit that the Broncos–Chiefs game did not enhance my holiday spirit.) But while most of us were enjoying the warmth and comfort of our homes, line crews from at least two of Colorado’s electric coops were out in extreme weather conditions, working long hours to restore power from outages caused by high winds. At about 9:30 a.m. on Christmas day, outage reports started to come in to Sangre de Cristo Electric Association in Buena Vista. The entire Arkansas Valley in Chaffee County was without power for about three hours before line crews could restore service. In the Wet Mountain Valley around Westcliffe, 65 mile per hour winds toppled approximately 18 power poles, leaving many families in the dark. Line crews from Sangre de Cristo Electric worked an 18-hour day on Christmas, took a four-hour break and returned to work on December 26 to finish the job and get the power restored. The same windstorm also affected facilities operated by San

Sangre de Cristo Electric Association uses a variety of equipment to service downed lines for local co-op members. 4

FEBRUARY 2017

Isabel Electric Association, headquartered in Pueblo West, and Christmas was interrupted for those line crews, too. The winds not only knocked down utility poles, but also impacted communication facilities, making it extremely difficult for the lineworkers to contact each other by radio or cell phone. And in the weeks since Christmas, the line crews from several co-ops including, but not limited to, San Isabel, La Plata Electric Association, Yampa Valley Electric Association, Gunnison County Electric Association and Holy Cross Energy have dealt with outages as Colorado’s winter weather continues to bring snow, wind and ice to our state. Crews have been called out at night, during the weekend and at all hours to get the lights back on for co-op member-owners. It is part of their job; it is part of the commitment to their communities. Looking back at the holidays, San Isabel Electric Chief Operating Officer Darryl Stewart said, “It was especially important for us to restore power and Christmas festivities to our members. But the wind had other plans and we have to always think about safety for our guys. It seemed as we got one problem fixed, another followed. It was a difficult outage because progress kept coming undone, but we kept at it until every member was back in power.” That’s the dedication of Colorado co-op lineworkers. They will be out there, in the snow and the cold and the ice and the dark, working to get your lights back on. Whether it’s Christmas or the weekend or a regular Tuesday, the goal is always to keep the electricity flowing and the lights on, no matter what the weather brings.

Kent Singer, Executive Director

Gunnison County Electric Association removes large amounts of snow at the Alkali Substation. One substation had snow as deep as a fence. coloradocountrylife.coop

[letters]

Veterans Deserve Support

The “Serve Our Co-ops, Serve Our Veterans” program (November ’16) is touching and necessary. It seems that our military men and women are unappreciated and taken for granted. I’m sure they appreciate this program. Margi Durrum, Walsenburg

Thankful for Lineworkers

It’s easy to take for granted that every time we flip that switch, the light comes on. As a former lineman, I know and appreciate the effort and people behind the scenes that make that happen. It’s easy to overlook a service when it works seamlessly every day. I want to say “thank you” to the crews out there trying to keep their belts high on those ice-covered poles, swaying in the air in a lift bucket and busting knuckles trying to assemble hardware in the cold. It takes a special kind of person to wake up and look forward to the day’s adventure. I always have a hot cup of coffee waiting here if you are out this way. May God bless and keep you all safe this and every season. Jeff Davis, Walsenburg

IT’S HERE & IT’S JUST 99¢

2017

ON YOUR SMARTPHONE OR IPAD

COLORADO

LEGISLATIVE DIRECTORY 2017

APP

COLORADO

LEGISLATIVE DIRECTORY

Presented by

ES ’S ELECTRIC COOPERATIV REPRESENTIN G COLORADO 2017 CREA LEGISLATIVE DIRECTORY

Colorado’s General Assembly Convened January 11

Printed copies of the directory are available for only $1. To get your copy today email crea@coloradocountrylife.org or call 303-455-4111.

Presented by

Morton_CoCountryLife_1.17_Layout 1 12/5/16 1:48 PM Page 1

COLORADO RURAL ELECTRIC ASSOCIATION • 5400 WASHINGTON ST. • DENVER, CO 80216 • CREA.COOP

Pesky Pines, Disruptive Doves

EDITOR’S NOTE: In the December ’16 issue, Outdoor writer Dennis Smith wrote about his love/hate relationship with some pines and doves in his yard. This column triggered several letters. This one is representative of those notes from readers.

join us for building value days, our

biggest sales event

of the year and the best chance for you to get your Morton

for less!

I am not sure where Dennis Smith lives, but the many pines in our windbreak do not produce pollen that coats everything in sight. They are wonderful trees. When the Eurasian collared doves first came to our farm, we were not happy with them. However, over the years, they have mellowed and are not as noisy as they were in the beginning. They also get along with the other birds, including the blue jays. We enjoy feeding and watching all of the birds. Bobbi Jackson, Byers

January 1st–February 28th

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

2017 Sale Dates:

January 1st–February 28th

800-447-7436 • mortonbuildings.com

FEBRUARY 2017

[community events] [February] February 10-11 Evergreen “Epic Winter” Improv Show Evergreen Players 7:30 pm • evergreenplayers.org February 11 Brighton Guided Bird Walk Barr Lake Nature Center 9 am • 303-659-6005 February 11-19 Cripple Creek Cripple Creek Ice Festival Bennett Avenue visitcripplecreek.com February 11 Fort Collins Antiques Appraisal Roadshow Global Village Museum 970-221-4600 • globalvillagemuseum.org February 11-12 Frisco Frisco Gold Rush Nordic Event Frisco Nordic Center 970-668-9133 • townoffrisco.com February 11 Grand Lake Winter Carnival Various Grand Lake Locations 970-627-3402 • grandlakechamber.com February 12 Grand Lake Grand County Pet Pals “Romp and Stomp” Fundraiser Grand Lake Nordic Center 10 am-12 pm • 970-887-2988 February 13 Colorado Springs Pikes Peak Rose Society Meeting Colorado Springs Fire Station 19 6-8:30 pm • 951-834-2330 February 15 Durango “Ben Nighthorse Campbell: Colorado’s Renaissance Man” Exhibit Opening Reception Center of Southwest Studies 4-6 pm • swcenter.fortlewis.edu February 16-19 Johnstown “Forever Plaid” Theater Performance Candlelight Dinner Playhouse 970-744-3747 • coloradocandlelight.com 6

FEBRUARY 2017

February 16-19 Telluride Comedy Festival Sheridan Opera House www.sheridanoperahouse.com February 17-19 Silverthorne Colorado Pond Hockey Tournament North Pond Park coloradopondhockey.com February 18 Colorado Springs Paint Mines Park Photography Workshop Bear Creek Nature Center 9-11 am • 719-520-6972 February 18-19 Estes Park Rails in the Rockies Estes Park Events Complex 970-577-9900 • visitestespark.com February 18 Kremmling Ice Fishing Contest Wolford Reservoir kremmlingchamber.com February 18-19 Lamar and Prowers, Baca, Bent and Kiowa Counties High Plains Snow Goose Festival Various Locations highplainssnowgoose.com February 18 Loveland Antique and Collectible Toy Show and Sale Larimer County Fairgrounds 9 am-3 pm • 970-667-9655 February 18 Pueblo “The Short Hello” Theater Performance Sangre de Cristo Arts and Conference Center 2 and 7:30 pm • 719-295-7200 February 18-19 Silverton Skijoring Blair Street silvertonskijoring.com February 21 Hugo Marshall Frasier Beef Symposium Lincoln County Fairgrounds 970-378-0500 coloradolivestock.org

Loveland Fire & Ice Festival

Photo by Danny Dodge

February 10-12 in Downtown Loveland Plan on plenty of excitement at the Loveland Fire & Ice Festival where you will see award-winning artists create amazing artwork from blocks of ice. Also on the itinerary are a family fair, live music, goods for sale, delicious food and beverages, a showcase of area heroes and nightly fireworks shows. For more information, visit lovelandfireandice.com.

February 24-26 Golden “HIR” Broadway Play Miners Alley Playhouse 303-935-3044 • minersalley.com February 25 Durango LifeGuard Banquet and Auction FLC Ballroom 5:30 pm • 970-385-8451 February 25 Fort Collins Make Your Own Musical Instruments Museum of Discovery 10 am-1 pm • 970-221-6738 February 25 Gunnison Ranger-Led Snowshoe Walk Black Canyon of the Gunnison South Rim Visitors Center 10 am-12 pm • 970-641-2337 x205 February 25 Manitou Springs Mumbo Jumbo Gumbo Cook-Off Soda Springs Park 10:30 am-1 pm • 719-685-5089 February 26 Beulah Winter Wildflower Hike Mountain Park Environmental Center 11 am • 719-485-4444

[March] March 2-5 Boulder Boulder International Film Festival Various Boulder Locations biff1.com

March 3 Denver “Off the Clock: Kilts and Clovers” Early St. Patrick’s Day Celebration Denver Botanic Gardens 6-9:30 pm • botanicgardens.org March 3-5 Leadville Crystal Carnival and Skijoring Harrison Avenue leadvilletwinlakes.com March 5 Copper Special Olympics Winter Games Copper Mountain coppercolorado.com March 5 Lakewood “Hearts for Hearts Sake” Charity Theater Performance Lakewood Cultural Center 3 pm • 303-987-7845

SEND CALENDAR ITEMS

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, email and/or website for more information. coloradocountrylife.coop

The pulse of K.C. happenings

The 2016 Year in Review David Churchwell THERE WERE MANY CHANGES AT K.C. ELECTRIC ASSOCIATION IN THE PAST year, but be assured, one thing that will never change is our goal to provide our members with safe and reliable service at the lowest cost while maintaining a sustainable operation. In 2016 we said goodbye to one long-term employee and welcomed two new employees to our team. Member services specialist Ben Orrell retired in July, apprentice lineman Caleb Brent was hired in February and member services and information technology specialist George Ehlers was hired in June. Both new employees were carefully selected to ensure they have the same values and dedication as the rest of our team. During 2016 we continued to make progress on our four-year construction work plan. K.C. crews completed the replacement of 8 miles of three-phase overhead powerlines east of Kit Carson, which completed a vital tie line between our Kit Carson and Cheyenne Wells substations. K.C. crews also completed the conversion of the town of Stratton from 2,400 volts to 25,000 volts. This voltage conversion will improve voltage levels throughout the town of Stratton and reduce system losses. K.C. utilized contract crews to rebuild 11 miles of three phase overhead powerlines north of Stratton, which is now serving a new compressor station. Major projects scheduled for 2017 include rebuilding 8 miles of three-phase overhead powerlines west of our Bonny Creek substation and working on voltage conversion in Cheyenne Wells. Last year K.C. participated in the Rural Electric Safety Achievement Program, which is administered by our statewide organization, the Colorado Rural Electric Association. As part of this program, a group of safety professionals from around the state conducted an unannounced inspection of K.C.’s equipment, facilities (including substations, powerlines and offices), crews and safety program. This inspection helped us to identify ways to improve and expand our safety program. Safety is a core value for K.C. board members and employees. We continually look for ways to improve our safety program, and we must do everything we can to ensure that we keep our workers, consumers and the public as safe as possible. In June, our 2016 annual meeting was held in Stratton and we had an outstanding turnout. Dave Ritchey of Cheyenne County, Wayne Parrish of Kit Carson County and Marvin Thaller of Lincoln County were re-elected to the board of directors. The 2017 Annual Meeting will be held on June 1 in Flagler. Be sure to put the date on your calendar and plan to attend K.C. Electric’s 71st Annual Meeting.

coloradocountrylife.coop

In July, K.C. Electric was once again recognized for another year of no losttime injuries. This is a great accomplishment for the employees of K.C Electric, considering the dangerous and varying work conditions that our employees must endure throughout the year. In September, our power supplier, Tri-State Generation and Transmission, announced that effective January 1, 2017, it would raise the rate that it charges K.C. for the power we purchase. Upon notification of Tri-State’s 2017 rate increase, we updated our cost-of-service study with our current revenues and expenses to determine if each rate class was performing as expected after the rate design change we initiated in March 2016. The data from our most recent cost-of-service study indicated that we needed to adjust rates for six of our 11 rate classes. Rates for town residential, rural residential, nondomestic, small commercial and street lighting remain the same in 2017. Large commercial and oil well pumping consumers have an increase in their monthly demand charge, but their energy charge will not be changed. Large power and wind consumers will have an increase in their monthly demand and energy charge. The demand charge for irrigators will be unchanged for the months of October through March, and the demand charge will increase for the months of April through September. The energy charge for irrigators will increase slightly as well. Financially, 2016 was another good year for K.C. Electric. We project that we will finish the year with positive margins that are adequate to meet our lenderrequired financial ratios. In November, your K.C. Electric Board of Directors approved to return to our members $999,061 in capital credits. Checks were mailed to members in December. Regulatory and environmental changes continue to keep the electrical industry changing at a rapid pace. With assistance from CREA and our national organization, the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, we continue to monitor legislative activity on the local, state and federal levels to determine how it will affect K.C. Electric and you, our members. The year ahead will continue to bring new challenges both financially and operationally for us, but the board of directors and employees of K.C. Electric will continue to do everything in their control to keep expenses down, and customer service and reliability high. On behalf of everyone at K.C. Electric, I wish all of our members a happy New Year!

FEBRUARY 2017

The Energy Zone

Claim Your Savings — $$!!

by George Ehlers

As your member services specialist, I want to stress energy efficiency. Heating and cooling are responsible for nearly half of an average home’s electric bill. New HVAC (heating, ventilating and air-conditioning) systems are more efficient now than in recent years, but over time, these units need to be replaced. Home and building owners continue to repair their aging units when it may be smarter to replace them. By delaying the purchase of a new unit, you perpetuate inefficient and costly heating and cooling, decrease comfort levels, and leave yourself susceptible to HVAC failures during inconvenient times, such as extreme weather events. The bottom line is you need to plan ahead and be prepared. Learn where there is waste and take advantage of incentives. Let’s get in the zone, the energy zone. Let’s learn how to be more efficient, possibly save some money and have quality in our lives. Please consider your situation, and if a new unit is in your future, give me a call at the Hugo office at 719-743-2431 and we can discuss rebates.

Each month, members have a chance to claim a $10 credit on their next electric bill. All you have to do is find your account number and call the Hugo office at 719-743-2431 and ask for your credit. The account numbers are listed below. How simple is that? You must claim your credit during the month in which your name appears in the magazine. (Check the date on the front cover.) Ivan Stahlecker 507500000 Kroger Utilities 519800000 Wade or Joy Pelton 1105390004 East. Colo. Hist. Society 439400000 In December, we had just one winner: Nick Hevner. Congratulations!

LOOK OUT FOR GALLOPING LINES

High winds and ice can affect power lines in a way that makes them gallop. Strong winter winds can cause ice to build up on one side of a power line. When this disproportionate buildup occurs it changes the flow of air around the line, which can then cause it to bounce, potentially damaging the lines, causing power outages and even making lines fall to the ground. Once galloping starts, there is not much a power company can do to alleviate it until winds die down. This is why many power lines have objects like twisted wire or round or angular pieces of metal attached to the line. These devices are placed on power lines to help reduce the galloping of lines and prevent potential danger. Channel KTXS-12 reported on a winter storm that left 12,000 without power in Texas during December 2015. Outages were reportedly due to wind gusts that caused power lines to gallop and fall to the ground, as well as damage to more than 300 distribution poles and 20 transmission structures. Stay away from galloping lines. If you see galloping or downed lines, contact K.C. Electric Association as soon as possible. It is important to keep your distance from downed power lines, as it is impossible to visually assess if a line is energized.

Be sure to have a storm preparedness kit ready before a storm strikes to help get your family through a power outage. This kit should include bottled water, nonperishable food, blankets, warm clothing, first aid kit and medicine, flashlight, radio, extra batteries and toiletries. Safe Electricity offers additional tips on how to stay warm during a winter power outage: • Stay inside and dress warmly. • Close off unneeded rooms and place draft blocks at the bottom of doors to minimize cold air entering the house.

• Cover windows at night. • Be aware of the temperature in your home. Infants and elderly people are more susceptible to the cold. You may want to stay with friends or relatives or go to a shelter if you cannot keep your home warm. • When the power is restored, there will be a power surge. To protect your circuits and appliances, switch off lights and unplug appliances. Leave one light switched so you will know when power is restored.

For more information on electrical safety, visit SafeElectricity.org.

FEBRUARY 2017

coloradocountrylife.coop

When you plug into Colorado Country Life, we want you to get information that captures your attention, much like a spark when you plug in an appliance. If you learn something new, then we sparked a valuable thing.

Sparks From the Outlet Ground fault circuit interrupters, or GFCIs, should be installed in potentially hazardous areas of your home. Locations where water is present, such as bathrooms and kitchens, or where easy ground contact can be made, such as garages, basements and outdoor areas, need GFCIs to protect you. Check your home to see if GFCIs are located in these areas. If you need GFCIs installed, contact a qualified electrician. Even with GFCIs, exercise extreme caution around water when using electrical appliances. Wet floors, sinks, tubs, showers and toilets are caution areas. An appliance dropped into standing water may energize your home’s entire water system. If you get an appliance wet, unplug it and have it checked by a qualified repair person. In December, we asked why an elephant was electrocuted in the early days of electric service. The correct answer was on purpose to demonstrate the

danger of high-voltage electricity. Upon further research, it appeared that the elephant was deemed a public danger in 1903 and was scheduled to be euthanized. Our two winners were Ted Billinger Jr. and Andrea Mireles, both of Cheyenne Wells. Coal, hydroelectric, wind, nuclear and solar thermal power plants all have this equipment in common: p Photovoltaic cells p Boilers p Turbines p Flues The first two callers with the correct answer will win $10. If you happen to be the third caller with the correct answer, you will win $15.

THE AC/DC POWER STRUGGLE AND WE DON’T MEAN THE BAND By Brian Sloboda

In the late 1880s, a war was waged in the United States. It was not the Civil War, as it had ended in 1865, and hostilities with Spain would wait another decade. This war was between Thomas Edison and Nikola Tesla. Edison and Tesla were both famous inventors and visionaries. Edison developed a system of delivering electricity known as direct current, or DC. DC flows in one direction and was the U.S. standard in the early days of electricity. However, DC did not allow for the increase or decrease of voltage. Tesla believed that alternating current, or AC, was the ideal method to distribute electricity to consumers because the voltage could easily be increased or decreased by using a transformer. The deciding battle took place in Chicago at the 1893 World’s Fair. Edison’s company, General Electric, requested $554,000 to light the fair using DC. Tesla and his ally, George Westinghouse, bid $399,000. Tesla won the bid and AC found its way into our lives. Afterward, the war ended and General Electric adopted AC. The rest is history. However, it can be argued that direct current is making a comeback of sorts. Batteries and solid state devices, such as computers, solar panels and LED lights, all use direct current. And today, scientists are testing the idea of increased use of direct current. Using DC directly could allow power that is generated by solar panels or stored in a

battery to be used more efficiently. There are a small but THOMAS EDISON NIKOLA TESLA growing number of test sites around the country looking into this concept. A home operating completely on DC is most likely not practical today, as most appliances do require AC. However, using a dedicated DC circuit within a home that can effectively use the power generated by solar panels could be something that is useful within the next few years. A circuit powered by solar panels serving LEDs, motors, computers or similar devices could use the power more efficiently. Keys to adoption will be cost, safety and demonstrated efficiency gains. Electric co-ops are monitoring and researching the issue through their national trade association, the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association. It is too early to tell what the long-term impact will be for consumers on a daily basis, but it does show that all ideas worth considering are being explored to deliver safe, reliable and efficient electricity to co-op members. Brian Sloboda is a program manager specializing in energy efficiency for the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association.

Urban legend tells the story of Topsy the elephant that was electrocuted by Thomas Edison during an attempt to show how unsafe Nikola Tesla’s AC was. The truth is, poor Topsy was electrocuted a decade after the AC/DC debate was decided. There is no evidence that Edison was involved. It was a case of animal cruelty, but did not involve the battle over AC and DC. coloradocountrylife.coop

FEBRUARY 2017

Meet the Man Behind the Spreadsheet By Dee Ann Blevins

Bo Randolph came to K.C. Electric in March 2015 and may be the youngest office manager and chief financial officer in K.C.’s history. Born in Hugo and raised in Limon, Bo can appreciate rural life on the high plains of eastern Colorado. He has a bachelor’s degree in accounting, a master’s degree in business, and work experience in the cooperative world. Let’s have a little fun with Bo, using some accounting terms. Let’s say your life is like a balance sheet, Bo. What are your assets and liabilities? Professionally, my assets would include my youth, education and willingness to learn. On the other side, my liabilities would include my youth and inexperience. Personally, my greatest asset is my family. My wife, Heather, and I have three small children: Avery, 6, Alexis, 4, and Max, 2, so we are busy. Understandably, debt needs to be managed in the financial picture. In your position, how do you manage K.C.’s debt? There is a fine line between having an amount of debt that is manageable and too much debt. We have financial ratios that help us stay between the lines of managing our debt. An excessive amount of debt puts a burden on newer consumers because they must pay rates that cover interest and principle on the debt. Having little or no debt means that consumers who have been with K.C. Electric for many years paid more than their share to keep our system running. Right now, I think we have a good balance. From a personal standpoint, who are you indebted to for your net worth? There are two people I am personally indebted to for where I am today. The first is Jesus. “The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it.” Psalms 24:1. He saved me and because of Him, I am here today. The second person I am indebted to is my mom. She worked her tail off as a single mom, raising and providing for three boys. She has had such an impact on my life, showing me what hard work is — when people are looking AND when they are not. She also encouraged us to go after our dreams, and with hard work, opportunities will arise. Tell us a little about your family and how being a father has affected you. Do you spend a lot of time analyzing the profits of parenting and the hard work that must be spent on your investment? Being the father of two boys and one girl certainly has presented its challenges. I do not spend much time thinking about whether

FEBRUARY 2017

parenting is worth it. In my mind, it is absolutely worth it. To be honest, my children may teach me more about me than I teach them. One thing I love about children, especially at their current ages is they don’t really have filters. They have the courage to be brutally honest with you. My 6-year-old does not forget anything. If I break a promise or say something I shouldn’t, he is definitely there to put me back in line. That may seem silly, but I embrace my children’s words and ideas. I have zero doubt that my biggest job on this earth is to be the best father I can be and to teach my children to be assets to society. I think parenting is one of those things that if we all waited until we were “ready” to have children, this earth would be a lot less populated. On the income statement, there is a line for extraordinary items. I’m not sure what that means, but I do know you can make a batch of extraordinary cinnamon rolls. Where did you learn this skill? Extraordinary items are gains or losses from events that are uncommon or infrequent in nature. My grandfather led me on to his extraordinary cinnamon rolls when I was young. It was love at first taste. But it doesn’t matter how many times I follow the exact same recipe he uses, they never compare to his. Recently, I made some changes to my recipe so my cinnamon rolls continue to evolve and get better and better. Working with K.C. financial information, you deal a lot with ratios and comparisons. How does your personality or life measure up to the ratios? Are you balanced most of the time? I like to say, “Not too high, not too low” and that is something I try to live by. I’m more of a consistency guy. I would rather see steady growth than extreme highs and lows. Interest can be earned or paid. But there’s more to life than money. Do you have special interests? What do you like to do in your spare time? Albert Einstein once said, “Compound interest is the eighth wonder of the world. He who understands it, earns it. He who doesn’t, pays it.” Interest is such a powerful tool in life.

I played baseball from 4 years of age through college and that is something I still enjoy. I often play in the town recreation softball league. I have played some golf and enjoy it, but I can’t find much time to do it anymore with my family obligations. Most of my extra time is spent throwing a ball around with my children and spending time with my wife and kids. Accountants are definitely left-brained people. Do you find time to slip over to the right brain and get creative without any checks or balances? This is actually one of the most difficult things for me to do. I don’t have a musical gene in my body, I don’t draw well and precision is how I think. I have to be intentional about being creative. I greatly admire creative and artistic people, but I am definitely left-brain dominant. Bo may have what some people think is a boring job. Yes, he has to budget, plan, project, report and manage. He has to be accountable to the general manager, the board of directors, his co-workers and the members of K.C. Electric Association. His efforts are scrutinized by auditors and lenders. His job duties have become increasingly complex, both legally and professionally. Bo loves his job in spite of all the regulations and constraints. He has great stuff within his mental toolbox to be accurate, efficient and trustworthy. Bo is far from the stereotype of a financial person. He works with numbers, but he works from his heart as well. The end result “balances to a T” and makes for a happy workplace. coloradocountrylife.coop

Drug Companies Fear Release of the New AloeCure Big Pharma stands to lose billions as doctors’ recommend drug-free “health cocktail” that adjusts and corrects your body’s health conditions. 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”! 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 recommends AloeCure before she decides to prescribe any digestion drug. Especially after the FDA’s stern 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. Analysts expect the AloeCure to put a huge crimp in “Big Pharma” profits.

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 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 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 THE IMMUNE SYSTEM TO CALM INFLAMMATION According to a leading aloe research, when correctly processed for digesting, the Aloe plant has a powerful component for regulating your immune system called Acemannan. So whether it’s damage that is physical, bacterial, chemical or autoimmune; the natural plant helps the body stay healthy. RAPID ACID AND HEARTBURN NEUTRALIZER 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. UNLEASH YOUR MEMORY Studies show that your brain needs the healthy bacteria from your gut in order function at its best. Both low and high dosages of digestion drugs are proven to destroy that healthy bacteria and get in the way of brain function. So you’re left with a sluggish, slowto-react brain without a lot of room to store information. The acemannan used in AloeCure actually makes your gut healthier, so healthy bacteria flows freely to your brain so you think better, faster and with a larger capacity for memory. Doctors call it “The greatest health discovery in decades!”

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, balance body fluids, form urine, and aid 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. GUARANTEED RESULTS OR DOUBLE YOUR MONEY BACK Due to the incredible results people are reporting, AloeCure is being sold with an equally incredible guarantee. “We can only offer this incredible guarantee because we are 100% certain this product will work for those who use it,” Says Dr. Leal. Here’s how it works: Take the pill exactly as directed. You must see and feel remarkable improvements in your digestive health, your mental health, in your physical appearance, the amount inflammation you have throughout your body – even in your ability to fall asleep at night! Otherwise, simply return the empty bottles with a short note about how you took the pills and followed the simple instructions and the company will send you...Double your money back!

HOW TO GET ALOECURE This is the official nationwide release of the new AloeCure pill in the United States. And SLEEP LIKE A BABY A night without sleep really damages your so, the company is offering our readers up to 3 body. And continued lost sleep can lead to all FREE bottles with their order. sorts of health problems. But what you may not This special give-away is available for readers realize is the reason why you’re not sleeping. of this publication only. All you have to do is Some call it “Ghost Reflux”. A low-intensity call TOLL-FREE 1-800-748-3311 and provide form of acid reflux discomfort that quietly keeps the operator with the Free Bottle Approval you awake in the background. AloeCure helps Code: JC025. The company will do the rest. digestion so you may find yourself sleeping Important: Due to AloeCure’s recent media through the night. exposure, phone lines are often busy. If you CELEBRITY HAIR, SKIN & NAILS call and do not immediately get through, Certain antacids may greatly reduce your please be patient and call back.

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.

[news clips]

Educating Teachers About Electricity Schoolteachers interested in the electric industry have an opportunity to learn more about it this summer. Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association, the power supplier to 18 of Colorado’s 22 electric co-ops, will bring together educators (teaching grades 4-12) who are electric cooperative members, teach at schools that are members or teach students whose parents are co-op members in TriState’s service area. Those attending the three-day conference in Westminster July 26-29 receive the most up-to-date information on all aspects of energy including the science of energy, sources of energy, transportation, consumption, electricity, efficiency and environmental and economic impacts. Participants leave with the training and materials to implement innovative, handson energy units for their classrooms, teams and after-school programs. Thanks to the support of Tri-State’s member cooperatives, there is no cost to educators in the Tri-State service area who participate. Educators outside of the Tri-State service area are welcome to apply and funding will be sought on their behalf. Lodging, meals, transportation and conference materials are provided. The program is sponsored in cooperation with the National Energy Education Development Project, which works with the education community to promote an energy conscious and educated society by helping deliver multisided energy education programs. This conference will help teachers integrate energy curriculum materials into classrooms at any grade level, with any group of students and with all learning styles. It will also focus on the successful achievement of state education goals in math and language. Attending teachers receive a NEED Science of Energy Kit, a class set of NEED Energy Infobooks (at grade level), access to all NEED Curriculum Guides and supplemental resources. Teachers may register at http://bit. ly/2jIWix8 or contact your local electric co-op for more information. 12

FEBRUARY 2017

Emissions Drop as Electricity Use Trends Upward While the population grew and the economy expanded between 2005 and 2015, the amount of electricity generated in the United States dropped slightly, and the amount of carbon dioxide generated by that electricity trended down significantly. According to the January 2017 U.S. Department of Energy’s Quadrennial Energy Review, changes in fuel sources and energy efficiency programs are having an effect on carbon dioxide emissions in the United States. More people were added to the population in the past 10 years, but those people are using electricity more efficiently and conserving electricity,

thanks to programs and services that were implemented. Also, more of that electricity is coming from natural gas rather than coal and from fuel sources that do not emit carbon dioxide. That meant a strong downward trend in the amount of CO2 being produced by the country’s electric utilities. In a news release, National Rural Electric Cooperative Association CEO Jim Matheson expressed appreciation for DOE’s “willingness to listen to stakeholders and take a fresh, open-minded and comprehensive look at the nation’s energy landscape.” The nearly 500-page document is available at http://bit.ly/2iowgKc.

Matchwits Tourney Continues on PBS The Touchstone Energy “Matchwits” weekly, statewide, high school academic quiz program continues through February on PBS television stations throughout Colorado. This month, competitions between teams from Denver, Alamosa, Windsor, Lake County, Joes, Lafayette and Boulder will be broadcast Sunday evenings at 5 p.m. and repeated the following Sunday at 9:30 a.m. All Colorado high schools are invited to participate in the single elimination tournament made up of four rounds of competition, including the championship game. Broadcasts will continue through April 23, when the final competition will be broadcast and the winner announced. More information is posted at rmpbs.org/ matchwits.

Contact Legislators Using CREA’s App CREA’s 2017 Legislative Directory is now available in print, on crea.coop or through an app. You can download the 2017 app for 99 cents at the App Store or Google Play. Search for CREA 2017 Colorado Legislature. coloradocountrylife.coop

[ news clips] GET QUESTIONS ANSWERED ABOUT ENERGY A new resource for those taking their energy usage seriously is now available at yourenergy.colostate.edu. Launched in late 2016 by Colorado State University Extension, the site is dedicated to helping Colorado consumers make informed energy decisions. The site brings together unbiased, research-based information from Colorado’s land grant university. With practical, down-to-earth advice, you don’t have to try to sort energy fact from fiction. A prominent feature of the site is CSU Extension’s fact sheets, which are broken into a manageable, frequently-askedquestions format, making the information easy to find and relatable. The site also has 10 energy calculators to help visitors to the site figure out whether new insulation, lighting, solar panels and other energy investments make sense financially. In addition, the website has videos and other media showing how to find air leaks, measure insulation levels and more. “We made the switch from the typical CSU Extension-oriented website to ‘Your Energy’ after careful analysis of consumer need,” says CSU Energy Specialist Cary Weiner. “We are proud of the energy programming and other resources offered by Extension, but we didn’t want to use the site for self-promotion. It is a dedicated resource for the Colorado consumer — no strings attached.”

coloradocountrylife.coop

Ag Nominees Needed for Leopold Conservation Award Applications are being accepted through February 27 for the prestigious Leopold Conservation Award® honoring Colorado agricultural landowners who demonstrate outstanding stewardship and management of natural resources. Given in honor of renowned conservationist Aldo Leopold, the $10,000 award recognizes private landowner achievement in voluntary conservation. It is presented annually by several ag groups and Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association, the power supplier to 18 of Colorado’s 22 electric co-ops. Finalists and the recipient will be announced by April. For application information, visit leopoldconservationaward.org.

FEBRUARY 2017

[industry]

Identifying possible savings for a school building can come with valuable lessons for students.

Free Energy Resources for Colorado’s Rural Schools

Outdated lighting, heating and cooling can cost rural schools, on average, 30 percent more on their energy bills, according to a recent study by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. To combat this problem, the Colorado Energy Office’s Energy Savings for Schools program is under way and able to support up to 12 more schools this year. “The ESS program builds off many years of the CEO’s programmatic work in the K-12 area,” Michael Turner, CEO’s energy efficiency programs manager, explains. Schools across Colorado saved energy and money through a variety of offerings, and now they are part of this program to bring all available resources to bear on those schools with the greatest needs.” It’s a great opportunity for schools looking to improve their learning environment through more efficient operations.” Through the program, schools receive: • On-site energy and water audits from an energy engineer • Evaluation of renewable energy opportunities • Technical support and energy coaching • Implementation support and help identifying existing fund14

FEBRUARY 2017

• •

ing and financing options for completing projects Recognition for a school’s efforts and opportunities to engage students Connections with peer schools and a platform for sharing ideas and knowledge

When a new school joins the program, the ESS team works with the school to collect and review building utility data (electricity, natural gas and water) before the site visit. “Reviewing utility data before a site visit gives us insight into how a building is performing and highlights potential areas of concern,” ESS energy efficiency engineer John Butler says. “Concerns expressed by school staff are used along with insights gained from the historic utility data to help focus the site visit and assessment on problem areas and to customize our approach for each unique facility.” After the site visit, the energy engineer prepares a customized report with recommendations for the school. “We understand how limited resources — especially staff and financial resources — can be for these rural schools, so we prepare our reports with the aim to help each school prioritize strategies and next steps,” Butler says. coloradocountrylife.coop

[ industry]

“And the report is only the first step. We work closely with school staff to identify what projects make the most sense and help navigate the process of getting projects done. Many times, this means helping schools identify funding or soliciting and reviewing bids from contractors.” To help fund recommended projects, ESS staff identify other applicable CEO programs, local utility rebates and other state and local programs for schools to leverage. “There are no direct monetary costs for a school to participate in the ESS program. The only costs are associated with staff time to interact with the ESS team and any costs to implement after all external funding sources have been exhausted,” Turner says. “The ESS program supports, and, in turn, is supported by a number of CEO and other related programs, including the Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency for Schools loan program, Supplemental Environmental Projects, High Performing School Program, Energy Performance Contracting and the Renew Our Schools Program.”

coloradocountrylife.coop

To date, 23 schools received their energy reports and began implementing projects. The graphic to the left outlines the collective potential savings identified for these schools. Legacy Academy, a tuition free, K-8 charter school in Elizabeth, is one of these schools. “As an administrator who is not an expert in energy savings projects, it was incredibly valuable to have the support from this team when receiving project bids,” explains Legacy Academy’s principal Kurt Naber. “The comprehensive energy audit, combined with guidance and input from the ESS team, helped me to feel confident and well-informed when presenting options to Legacy’s board of directors.” Legacy Academy is poised to save $13,420 annually as a result of lighting upgrades, ceiling fans and water fixture upgrades installed this year. “We have been pleased and impressed with the knowledge and assistance that the ESS program has brought to our school,” Naber says. “The representatives from ESS have been a great resource for us as we have evaluated bids and moved forward with several energy-saving projects. Their input gave us assurance that we are making well-informed decisions.” In addition, with support from the ESS program, Legacy Academy applied for and was awarded Energy Star building certification in November as a result of its efforts to improve efficiency. Energy Star certified buildings outperform 75 percent of similar facilities across the country. Don’t let your local school miss out on ESS resources to optimize energy performance and save money. CEO is actively recruiting schools from Colorado’s rural and low-income areas to participate in the program’s second year. If you know a school that might benefit from the program, share this information with a school representative or contact the program manager, Susan Blythe, at SBlythe@BrendleGroup. com or 970-207-0058 ext. 310. More information is available at bit.ly/CEOenergysavings.

FEBRUARY 2017

A GALLERY OF COLORADO IN

COLOR 2017 PHOTO CONTEST WINNERS

BY MONA NEELEY, PUBLISHER/EDITOR

The four colors of Coloradoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s iconic state flag were wellrepresented among the 503 entries in Colorado Country Lifeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s annual photo contest, which only asked that each photo include one of the colors of the flag. Gold led the entries with beautiful photos of aspens, black-eyed Susans and wheat fields. Photos in the white category included snow scenes, wildflowers and moonlit skies. Blue added more

snow and moon photos, as well as mountain vistas. Red entries offered the most variety including abandoned skis, rich red sunsets, bright birds, sparkling fireworks and more. The winners are printed here. See the runners-up on our website at www.coloradocountrylife.coop and enjoy more of the amazing entries year round on our Facebook and Instagram pages (@COCountryLife).

Place

FEBRUARY 2017

coloradocountrylife.coop

Place

BLUE CATEGORY 1st – MaryAnne Nelson, Ice Climber, Durango, La Plata Electric 2nd – W illiam Helms, Morning Reflections, Buena Vista, Sangre de Cristo Electric 3rd – David Dahms, Mountain Bluebird, Windsor, Poudre Valley REA

Place

coloradocountrylife.coop

FEBRUARY 2017

RED CATEGORY 1st – Rod Martinez, Remembrance, Grand Junction, Grand Valley Power

Place

2nd – Linda Cates, Ski House, Pueblo West, San Isabel Electric 3rd – Benjamin Schneider, Independence Pass, Colorado Springs

Place

FEBRUARY 2017

coloradocountrylife.coop

Place Place Place

Place

WHITE CATEGORY 1st – William Helm, Buena Vista Wonderland, Buena Vista, Sangre de Cristo Electric 2nd – K en Bates, Prairie Crocus, Colorado Springs, Mountain View Electric 3rd – Emily Grenier, Beauty in the Storm, Larkspur, La Plata Electric

GOLD CATEGORY 1st – Craig Harbaugh, Golden Flight, Cotopaxi, Sangre de Cristo Electric 2nd – K eith Campbell, Colorful Colorado, Cortez, Empire Electric 3rd – Tamitha Pommenville, Fall Mountain Barn, Fountain, Mountain View Electric Place coloradocountrylife.coop

FEBRUARY 2017

[recipes]

Luscious Layers of Love

Surprise your sweetheart with lovely, layered desserts BY AMY HIGGINS RECIPES@COLORADOCOUNTRYLIFE.ORG

Delight your one and only with a toothsome treat, made with a lot of love and a little labor. The predictability of a heart-shaped box of candy can come off as a commonplace offering on Valentine’s Day. These recipes take time, on the other hand, and the payoff is downright delectable. This year, try making one of these recipes and show your dearest your sweet side with layers of seductive flavors.

TIPS S’mores Pie

Nix a Meringue Mishap A handheld torch can add a pretty touch to a meringue, but be careful not to scald it. Keep the torch about 8 inches from the dessert and continuously move your hand in a circular motion until you get the browned highlights you desire.

Give it a Trim Cakes don’t come out of the oven with a flat top, but the bottoms do. To give cake an even appearance, the bottoms of the two cakes should be at the top and bottom of your layered cake. To make the center more uniform, wait until the cake cools completely and carefully slice off the domed top.

FEBRUARY 2017

8 ounces milk chocolate, coarsely chopped, divided 2 1/4 teaspoons canola oil 30 chocolate wafer cookies salt 5 graham cracker sheets, broken into bite-size pieces 6 cups vanilla ice cream, softened 4 large egg whites 1/2 cup sugar Lightly spray 9-inch springform pan with 3-inch high sides with cooking spray. In small bowl over at pot of simmering water, stir 3 ounces chocolate and oil until melted and blended. In food processor, grind chocolate wafer cookies into fine crumbs (about 1 1/3 cups). Add chocolate mixture and pinch of salt and pulse until moistened. Press crumb mixture evenly onto bottom and 1 1/2 inches up sides of pan. Freeze for about 10 minutes, or until crust hardens. In a large chilled bowl, fold graham cracker pieces and remaining chocolate into ice cream. Pour mixture into frozen crust and smooth the top. Freeze for about 8 hours, or until ice cream hardens. Remove pie from pan and transfer to platter. Return pie to freezer. In a large bowl, using electric hand mixer on mediumhigh speed, beat egg whites until foamy. Gradually add sugar and beat for about 5 minutes or until firm glossy peaks form. Using a large spoon, dollop meringue onto pie and spread decoratively, making sure no ice cream is exposed. Using kitchen blowtorch, toast meringue until browned all over. Freeze pie for about 30 minutes, or until meringue stiffens. Slice and serve. courtesy of Breyers

Chocolate Mandarin Orange Cake 2 cans (15 ounces) mandarin oranges, divided 1 box (2 layer) devil’s food cake mix 3 eggs 1/2 cup vegetable oil grated peel from 1 orange (optional) 1 package (4-serving size) vanilla flavor instant pudding 2 cups frozen whipped topping, thawed 1 cup heavy whipping cream 1 cup semisweet chocolate Heat oven to 350 degrees. Spray two 9-inch cake pans with cooking spray. Drain mandarin oranges, keeping fruit and syrup reserved separately. In large bowl, combine cake mix, juice from one can of mandarin oranges, eggs, oil and orange peel; beat 2 minutes. Pour cake mix into prepared pans. Layer mandarin oranges from one can over each cake and gently submerge them into cake batter. Bake 2530 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pan 10 minutes. Remove from pan onto wire rack; cool completely. Pour 1/2 cup reserved juice from second can of oranges in bowl with pudding mix; whisk 2 minutes or until pudding mix is completely dissolved. Remove 12 orange slices from second can and dry with paper towel; set aside. Fold whipped topping and remaining mandarin oranges into pudding mixture. Spread mandarin frosting on top of first layer of cake and out to edges. Place second layer on top of first layer. In small saucepan, heat cream until just beginning to steam, but do not boil. Remove from stove and stir in chocolate. Stir until well-blended. Pour chocolate mixture over cake and garnish with reserved mandarin oranges. Refrigerate 30 minutes before serving. courtesy of Dole

For more sweetheart desserts, visit coloradocountrylife.coop. Click on Recipes. coloradocountrylife.coop

o ct N tra e n Fe Co N o l y th on

Breakthrough technology converts phone calls to captions.

New amplified phone lets you hear AND see the conversation. The Hamilton® CapTel® Captioned Telephone converts phone conversations to easy-to-read captions for individuals with hearing loss.

A simple idea… made possible with sophisticated technology. If you have trouble understanding a call, captioned telephone can change your life. During a phone call the words spoken to you appear on the phone’s screen – similar to closed captioning on TV. So when you make or receive a call, the words spoken to you are not only amplified by the phone, but scroll across the phone so you can listen while reading everything that’s said to you. Each call is routed through a call center, where computer technology – aided by a live representative – generates voice-to-text translations. The captioning is real-time, accurate and readable. Your conversation is private and the captioning service doesn’t cost you a penny. Internet Protocol Captioned Telephone Service (IP CTS) is regulated and funded by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and is designed exclusively for individuals with hearing loss. To learn more, visit www.fcc.gov. The Hamilton CapTel phone requires telephone service and high-speed Internet access. coloradocountrylife.coop

WiFi Capable. Callers do not need special equipment or a captioned telephone in order to speak with you. Finally… a phone you can use again. The Hamilton CapTel phone is also packed with features to help make phone calls easier. The keypad has large, easy to use buttons.

SEE what you’ve been missing!

“For years I avoided phone calls because I couldn’t understand the caller… now I don’t miss a thing!” See for yourself with our exclusive home trial. Try a captioned telephone in your own home and if you are not completely amazed, simply return it within 60-days for a refund of the product purchase price. It even comes with a 5-year warranty.

Captioned Telephone You get adjustable volume amplification along with the ability to save captions for review later. It even has an answering machine that provides you with the captions of each message.

Call now for our special introductory price! Call now Toll-Free

1-877-630-4771 Please mention promotion code 104945.

The Captioning Telephone is intended for use by people with hearing loss. In purchasing a Captioning Telephone, you acknowledge that it will be used by someone who cannot hear well over a traditional phone. Hamilton is a registered trademark of Nedelco, Inc. d/b/a Hamilton Telecommunications. CapTel is a registered trademark of Ultratec, Inc. FEBRUARY 2017

81135

Do you get discouraged when you hear your telephone ring? Do you avoid using your phone because hearing difficulties make it hard to understand the person on the other end of the line? For many Americans the telephone conversation – once an important part of everyday life – has become a thing of the past. Because they can’t understand what is said to them on the phone, they’re often cut off from friends, family, doctors and caregivers. Now, thanks to innovative technology there is finally a better way.

[gardening]

SUPERB HERBS IN YOUR KITCHEN

Grow your herbs indoors using pots when its cold outside BY VICKI SPENCER MASTER GARDENER GARDENING@COLORADOCOUNTRYLIFE.ORG

Healthy cooking calls for reduced salt and fat, but this doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice flavor. There are many herbs that can be added to recipes, and grocery stores offer a much broader selection than when I started cooking. But I usually can’t use all of the package, and the fresh

herbs spoil unless I take the time to dry what I don’t need right away. Since fresh herbs have more flavor, I enjoy growing them indoors and harvesting just what I need for each recipe. When growing herbs in containers, mix several different ones in one pot or grow them separately. If you combine herbs, it is important to select plants that are good companions. Be sure they have the same moisture and sunlight requirements. For example, you would not plant oregano and thyme, which can rot if overwatered, with sage, which needs constant moisture. Basil, rosemary and thyme are a good combination if you enjoy Mediterranean dishes, and cilantro, parsley and thyme grow well together if Middle Eastern cuisine is more to your liking. One of the benefits of planting herbs separately is that they will have plenty of room to grow and when it warms up outside, you can move them to your patio or garden. If you discover one plant is not thriving, it can be easily moved to different locations until you find just the right spot. Starting indoor plants from seed is not as difficult as it seems; herbs are actually pretty hearty plants. Since seeds contain most of the nutrients needed to germinate, plant them in starting mix, which is different from potting soil. After the plants develop two sets of true leaves, transplant them to pots with potting soil, which contains nutrients that more mature plants need. Some good choices to get your herb garden started are basil, chives, mint, parsley, rosemary, sage, sweet marjoram and thyme. Basil is a popular annual that is easy to grow from seed. It likes full sun and moderate amounts of water, but doesn’t do well in drafty areas. Don’t let it dry out. Varieties range from the fine leaves of Spicy Globe to huge leaves of Lettuce Leaf and dark burgundy of Red Rubin. Greek Miniature basil is a good choice for small pots as it only grows 6 inches tall. To stay bushy, it needs constant pruning (cutting just above the leaf node) and sets seed in the fall; pinch off

flower heads to keep it growing. Chives are also easy to grow from seeds and are easily transplanted. Chives are a perennial from the onion family, and they grow in clumps with hollow stems. They prefer full sun or partial shade. To keep your plant looking good, cut the tubular leaves about 2 inches above the base, instead of cutting the tops. Continuous trimming will weaken the bulb and result in spindly foliage. Plant several chive plants in one pot if you use them often. Mint spreads by underground runners and will choke out nearby plants in the garden, but this is not a problem when mint is grown in a pot by itself. The smaller, noninvasive Corsican mint is a good choice for container gardening. It has attractive foliage with small, pale purple or white flowers. Mint likes bright light and does well in a south window. Cut back straggly stems to promote fresh leaves. Parsley is a biennial and can be grown from seed each year, but is also widely available at garden shops in the spring. Flat leaf parsley has the best flavor and is used in most recipes. Curly parsley has a milder flavor and is popular as a garnish and in Italian dishes. Clip from the outside of the plant when harvesting. Blue Boy is a compact variety of rosemary that is good for growing indoors. It prefers full sun but doesn’t like too much heat and should not dry out completely between watering. Sage is a good companion plant to rosemary as it also prefers full sun and moist soil. Although there are hundreds of species of sage, only a few are used in cooking. Dwarf Garden sage is a good choice as it is compact and grows about 10 inches high. There are also hundreds of species of thyme, but English and lemon thyme grow well indoors and are most common for cooking. There are many more herbs that you can grow for your favorite recipes. The ones discussed here are some of the most common and are good choices if you are just beginning to grow herbs indoors.

More Online

Read previous gardening columns at coloradocountrylife.coop. Click on Gardening. 22

FEBRUARY 2017

coloradocountrylife.coop

Tired of struggling on the stairs? Introducing the Affordable Easy Climber® Elevator

Can be placed virtually anywhere in your home.

Home Improvement that actually improves your LIFE! SAFE

 Equipped with weight, balance and obstruction sensors  Works even in a power outage

VERSATILE

 Can be placed almost anywhere in your home  Quick professional installation

CONVENIENT

 Footprint is slightly larger than a washing machine  Compact and Quiet

Stan W. US war veteran and retired professor coloradocountrylife.coop

•

team. Its small “footprint” and self-contained lift mechanism adds convenience and value to your home and quality to your life. It’s called the Easy Climber® Elevator. Call us now and we can tell you just how simple it is to own. For many people, particularly seniors, climbing stairs can be a struggle and a health threat. Some have installed motorized stair lifts, but they block access to the stairs and are hardly an enhancement

No more climbing up stairs No more falling down stairs Plenty of room for groceries or laundry Perfect for people with older pets Ideal for Ranch houses with basements

to your home’s décor. By contrast, the Easy Climber® Elevator can be installed almost anywhere in your home. That way you can move easily and safely from floor to floor without struggling or worse yet… falling. Why spend another day without this remarkable convenience. Knowledgeable product experts are standing by to answer any questions you may have. Call Now!

Call now to find out how you can get your own Easy Climber Elevator. Please mention promotional code 104944. For fastest service, call toll-free.

1-888-568-1613

Not available in all areas. Call to see if you qualify.

82807

“We are tickled about our new elevator. This is the first time I’ve seen the second floor of my home! It’s like an early Christmas present.”

• • • •

Revolutionary elevator can give you– and your home’s value– a lift Elevators have been around since the mid 19th century, and you can find them in almost every multi-story structure around… except homes. That’s because installing an elevator in a home has always been a complicated and expensive home renovation project… until now. Innovative designers have created a home elevator that can be easily installed almost anywhere in your home by our professional

Imagine the possibilities

[outdoors] WiseSavers

Keep your furnace running efficiently by replacing its filter every month. You’ll stay warmer and reduce your energy costs.

GIVE YOUR MARKET A

BOOST Together let’s grow your business to new heights.

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

FEBRUARY 2017

Nutty Wildlife Behavior

The silly actions of animals keep us entertained, stupefied BY DENNIS SMITH OUTDOORS@COLORADOCOUNTRYLIFE.ORG

The antics of wild critters never cease to amaze me. I recently watched a video of a sparrow trying to revive another one that flew into a window pane and knocked itself senseless. Anyone watching would have assumed the unconscious bird to be deader than yesterday’s news. But its little buddy seemed to know otherwise and kept prodding, pushing and pecking the stunned bird until it finally stood erect, wobbled around, shook itself and flew off with its partner as if nothing ever happened. I’m sure by now that half the state of Colorado (maybe the country) saw that viral YouTube video of a mule deer fawn and a cottontail rabbit bouncing and chasing each other around a yard in Estes Park, playing what could only be a mutually delightful game of tag. Not only is it hilarious, it’s fascinating. A couple years ago, we had a pair of foxes hanging around the neighborhood. They were regular year-round yard visitors for about three years. One brutally cold winter day following a weather front that dumped well over 2 feet of snow, we watched them race up and down the street in front of our house, diving into snow banks, playing a kind of peekaboo game and jumping over each other with obvious joy. When they tired of the game, they ran up our driveway and laid down on the front porch directly in front of the exhaust vent from the clothes dryer, apparently basking in the warm air from the dryer vent. How they knew to do that was beyond me.

This winter, the backyard blue jays are particularly entertaining. We usually put a handful of whole peanuts out for them every morning on a ground platform feeder under a pine tree next to the back door. I don’t know where they come from, but they appear as if by magic almost before I can get my coat off and hung up. First one, then two, then half a dozen of them, all quickly snatching peanuts and flying off with them. Not long after the peanuts are gone, they’re back, hopping around, screeching that high-pitched jeering call and generally stirring up a fuss until I put more peanuts out. I swear it’s as if they were scolding me because as soon as I replenish the nuts, they quiet right down until they eat their fill. For the longest time, I marveled that such a small bird could swallow a whole peanut shell without choking to death. Then I learned they have an expandable cheek pouch in their throats, much like chipmunks, where they can temporarily store acorns or peanuts, carry them off to a convenient limb, cough them up, place them between their feet and hammer the shell to extract the nut inside. Smart little buggers.

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

[ energy tips] Never worry about power outages again WILL SMARTPHONE ENERGY APPS SAVE ✔ Expert Sizing and Assistance YOU MONEY? ✔ Colorado Company since 1999 BY PAT KEEGAN AND AMY WHEELESS ✔ 20kW Generators from $3999 Several smartphone apps can help you ✔ Warranty and Service available in determine how energy is used in your home ALL areas of Colorado

Emergency Backup Generators

FREE

Delivery to your home

Call today!

We’ll make sure you have the right generator for your situation, plus: ♦ Proper transfer switch selection ♦ Proper and safe site location ♦ Proper fuel type

4750 N. Chestnut St., Colorado Springs, CO 80907 ® 866.888.6111 | coloradostandby.com

SunnyTherm®

Looks like a window Works like a furnace

Made in Colorado by Central Solar

Solar Heating Systems

and provide information that helps you choose efficiency upgrades that make the most sense for your home. Consider these smartphone apps:

• Your electric co-op’s app: Many electric co-ops offer smartphone apps that allow you to view recent bills, set high use alerts, pay your bill, read about co-op efficiency programs or incentives, compare energy use with others with similar homes and learn how the weather may have impacted your energy bill. Visit your co-op’s website to find out if it offers a smartphone app. • Smart thermostat apps: Smart thermostats like Alarm.com, ecobee, Honeywell and Nest can optimize your home’s Touchstone Energy’s heating and cooling “Together We Save” based on your family’s app provides energy habits and the weather. tips and energy use calculators. If you have one of these smart thermostats, take advantage of the corresponding smartphone app. • Energy disaggregation device apps: Devices and corresponding smartphone apps from companies, such as Bidgely and PlotWatt, analyze electric signals to determine how much electricity appliances are using in your home. You can also see the energy use of a particular appliance over time. An unexplained jump in energy use could pinpoint a problem.

Efficient, economical heat for your home, cabin, garage or shop.

Call a dealer today NORTH OF I-70 CALL: 970-310-1775

SOUTH OF I-70 CALL: 720-410-5942

www.SunCatcher.Systems

www.NetZeroHeating.com

Are you finding the winter months boring?

ENTER OUR MONTHLY CONTEST Win a copy of Unbored: The Essential Field Guide to Serious Fun. Find out how to enter at coloradocountrylife.coop under Contests. Deadline to enter is February 15 at noon. coloradocountrylife.coop

• Apps with energy-savings tips: Some apps provide personalized energy tips based on your location, home characteristics and other information you provide. One example is Touchstone Energy’s “Together We Save” app, which provides energy savings tips for the home, as well as energy use calculators. This column was co-written by Pat Keegan and Amy Wheeless of Collaborative Efficiency.

Visit coloradocountrylife.coop to learn more about smartphone apps. Look under the Energy tab. FEBRUARY 2017

[ marketplace]

25 Year Warranty • Easy Bolt-Together Design Engineered Stamp Blueprints

Farm • Industrial • Commercial

RHINOBLDG.COM

888-875-8233

info@rhinobldg.com

New Year, New House! Who? Who will know your business? Everyone! Advertise in MarketPlace and everyone will know your BUSINESS. Call Kris for information at 303-902-7276

This Ponderosa design features an open floor concept in the main living area, as well as a huge master suite which includes a spacious tiled shower and walk-in closet! Don’t forget the lockers in the utility room for instant organization.

800.759.2782

www.heritagehomesofne.com

GIVE A SUBSCRIPTION TODAY 12-months for

* ONLY $9 Give us a call to order 303.455.4111

*Colorado residents; $15 for out-of-state residents

Water + Electricity = DANGER

Wherever they might meet, be sure to use GFCIs.

coloradocountrylife.coop

FEBRUARY 2017

[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

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.) HEALTH FOOD STORE & DELI: 2 turnkey businesses in one. Strong income/customer base. Colorado mountains (970-641-5175), leave name & number. (252-04-17)

BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES

WEIGHT LOSS COFFEE. Awesome Income Opportunity. Great tasting Italian Arabica Roast with a weight loss component! Proven & guaranteed! Taste a Healthy Life! www.valentusmovie.com/ weeks 970-690-3503 (321-02-17) WHOLESALE BUSINESS, sales grow each year, established 2007, great annual income, work 6 months/year. Repeat sales. Includes equipment, customer list, contacts, training. Can be based anywhere in Colorado or Wyoming. 303-588-5021 (329-02-17)

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

SOLAR WATER SYSTEMS – livestock or any remote location. 3-10 gpm. Variable speed. Call Peterson High Reach for free quote. 719-688-0081 (316-05-17)

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 January contest winner is Melissa Dairymple of Fort Collins. She correctly counted 28 ads. 28

FEBRUARY 2017

FARM & RANCH SUPPLIES POULTRY & GAMEBIRDS REGISTERED CATTLE BRAND for sale. LR , reverse L quarter circle slash, $3500. 970-564-0764 (332-02-17)

FOR SALE

BUILDING LEAKS WIPEOUT INSTANTLY – new renovation products – buy factory direct 573-489-9346 azteccollc@socket.net (330-05-17) OXYGEN CONCENTRATORS - $380 with warranty. Also sell portable concentrators and oxygen supplies. Repair and service of equipment. Aspen Concentrator Repair Service 719-471-9895 (040-04-17)

FREE

SOON CHURCH AND GOVERNMENT UNITING will suppress “Religious Liberty,” enforcing a “National Sunday Law,” leading to the “Mark of the Beast.” Be informed / Be forewarned! Need mailing address for FREE materials. TBSM, Box 99, Lenoir City, TN 37771. thebiblesaystruth@ yahoo.com 1-888-211-1715. (814-04-17)

GRASS

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 (069-04-17)

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.livetotal wellness.com/livehealthy (932-02-17)

PETS

I PAINT BEST FRIENDS--your pets--felines with flair, joyful canines, elegant equines, 4-H ribbon-winners, and more. Julie 719-539-4260 (300-05-17)

FREE COLOR CATALOG. 193 varieties, Cornish Cross, standard breeds, fancy chicks, ducks, geese, turkeys, bantams, guineas, pheasants, quail, supplies, video. 417-532-4581. PO Box 529, Lebanon, MO 65536. www. CackleHatchery.com. (876-08-17)

REAL ESTATE

FSBO: BRIGHT, PRIVATE, 1600sf, 3/2, .5 acre, fenced, landscaped, gardens. Central HVAC, underground power, septic, storage/deck, Gisela, AZ (near Payson) 928-474-9374 (331-04-17) 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. $525,000. 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)

VACATION RENTAL

BRECKENRIDGE, COLORADO, condominium – Beautiful. Prime location! See at VRBO. com enter 891478 (317-02-17) 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) LOOKING FOR A WINNER. WIN $25 by emailing the number of classified ads to classifieds@ coloradocountrylife.org with WIN $25 as the subject. Include name/ address. Deadline 2/15/16. NAVAJO RUGS, old and recent, native baskets, pottery. Tribal Rugs, Salida. 719-539-5363, b_inaz@ hotmail.com (817-06-17) 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. (870-06-18) 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)

JANUARY CONTEST WINNERS Patricia Busa of Peyton, Linda Welker of Wiggins, Guy Fernandez of Berthoud and Joseph Konzier of Grand Junction are the winners of the January contests. Patricia, Linda and Guy each won a Headsweats’ hat. Joseph is the winner of the book Clutter Free Revolution. Congratulations to all January contest winners!

coloradocountrylife.coop

[ funny stories]

READERS PHOTOS

Rowana, Ryan, Reid and Rockie Ernst of Wiggins enjoy a family Christmas cruise in the western Caribbean.

Our 4-year-old granddaughter, Emily, was spending the day with Papa and me. A friend and I were sitting at the kitchen table looking at some cosmetics she was selling, and Emily was running in and out of the house. After my friend left, Emily came in the house and wanted to know what my friend was doing here. I told her she was selling me some cream for my wrinkles. Off she went. Several weeks later I was riding in the back of her mother’s van sitting between Emily and her 2-year-old sister, Whitney. Emily was staring at me and shortly announced, “Grandma, I don’t think that cream is working!” Sallie McQueen, Cañon City While a woman was out to lunch, her coworker answered her phone and told the caller that she would be back in 20 minutes. The caller asked, “Is that 20 minutes Central Standard Time?” Anonymous

John Weninger of Granby poses in Miami with his magazine getting ready for a cruise to Panama.

Jayson and Tracy Shaffer from Cortez take CCL with them on their Petersburg, Alaska trip.

Several years ago I lived in Minneapolis, employed by Northwest Airlines. One miserable winter morning, I was slaving away trying to clear my driveway from a hard-packed coating of ice and snow. My next-door neighbor was across the yard doing the same thing. In a moment of frustration, knowing where I worked, he called over and asked, “Can I fly Northwest to Florida?” I replied, “Yes, you probably can, but you would get there faster if you went southeast.” Don Brooks, Monument We were driving through town when a glorious display of sunlight beams shot through the partly cloudy skies. Our young daughter noticed them and then exclaimed to her four younger brothers, “Look! That’s God sucking up the dead people!” Corinne Sandner, Cortez

WINNER: Vaughn and Karen Johnson from Durango finally go to honeymoon at Niagara Falls. They celebrated 54 years of marriage.

Kate O’Kami visits Queenstown, New Zealand. Here she is at the foot of Lake Wakatipu.

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 Wednesday, February 15. This month’s winners are Vaughn and Karen Johnson, La Plata Electric members from Durango. coloradocountrylife.coop

We pay $15 to each person who submits a funny story that’s printed in the magazine. At the end of the year we will draw one name from those submitting funny stories 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. Don’t forget to include your mailing address, so we can send you a check.

$15 FEBRUARY 2017

[discoveries]

SMOKING RIVER STUDIO ARTS 627 Main St., Meeker

Driving home from a Colorado Rural Electric Association meeting in 2015, Dale Dunbar, manager of finance and chief financial officer at Meeker-based White River Electric Association, and his wife, Jill, passed through Fairplay, where they spotted Coyote Creek Studio Arts. When they went inside, the women who were running the store explained that the studio is an art cooperative. “Jill and I lit up,” Dale says. “We talked about it all the way home.” Dale and Jill bounced around the idea of opening an art cooperative in Meeker with friends. They ultimately pitched the idea to the townspeople in the local newspaper, and in June 2016, Smoking River Studio Arts opened its doors. “We wanted to provide an outlet for the many creative local talents,” Dale says. “The members own it. The members work it. Not only do they paint and take pictures, but they take care of the bookwork, too.” Today, the cooperative has a board of directors and 24 artists who are member-owners. Smoking River’s selection of artwork includes paintings, photography, ceramics, fiber arts, jewelry, woodwork, metal art and more, all created by local artists. The studio also offers classes to the general public. “It doesn’t matter your skill level,” Dale says. “You are welcome.” For more information, call 970-221-0051 or visit facebook.com/smokingriverstudioarts/ app/537971032959294/.

Trimble Court Artisans 118 Trimble Court, Fort Collins A group of women opened Trimble Court Artisans in 1971 in Old Town Fort Collins after the building owner, Martha Trimble, graciously offered them the storefront. “She wanted to promote artists in the area, which is a big reason why we opened,” says General Manager Jill Popplewell. Forty years later, the art and craft cooperative continues to feature creations from local artists. “We pride ourselves on having all

pARTiculars Art Gallery and Teaching Studio 401 S. Public Road, Lafayette In 2008, pARTiculars Art Gallery and Teaching Studio opened its doors with the mission of supporting and promoting artistic passion in artists, students and the community. Today, 10 local artists run the art cooperative, where patrons can shop for a variety of artwork created by more than 40 Colorado artists or take a class where they can do the creating themselves. In addition, the co-op accepts submittals for review from artists who hope to become a consigning artist at the store. Find out more about pARTiculars classes, crafts and consigning opportunities by calling 720-890-7888 or visiting particularsart.com.

local artwork,” Popplewell says. In fact, the co-op will only feature artwork from Colorado residents. At Trimble Court Artisans, expect to find terrific treasures in a variety of mediums, including jewelry, pottery, paintings, mixed media, glass, fiber arts and more. For more information, call 970-221-0051 or visit trimblecourt.com.

Looking for a show or class to attend? Visit the Discoveries page at coloradocountrylife.coop.

MORE ART COOPERATIVES

Arts Alive Gallery 500 S. Main St. Breckenridge 970-453-0450 summitarts.org

Boulder Arts & Crafts Gallery 1421 Pearl St. Boulder 303-443-3683 boulderartsandcrafts.com

Gunnison Gallery 124 N. Main Street Gunnison 970-641-6111 gunnisongallery.net

ImpressionZ Inc. 105 W. Main St. Cedaredge 970-778-9663 tinyurl.com/Grand-MesaImpressionz-Inc

FEBRUARY 2017

Commonwheel Artists Co-op 102 Canon Ave. Manitou Springs 719-685-1008 commonwheel.com

Coyote Creek Studio Arts 419 Front St. Fairplay 719-836-2040 coyotecreekarts.com

Don’t see your art cooperative in this list? Send the name, address, phone number and website to info@coloradocountrylife.org and we’ll post it on the Colorado Country Life website. coloradocountrylife.coop