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fish Bass bring anglers to Pennsylvania waters

PLUS Summer dipping Postcard from nature Stay comfortable with less AC

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JULY Vol. 50 • No. 7 Peter A. Fitzgerald ED I TO R

Katherine Hackleman S E NI O R E D I TO R / W R I TE R

James Dulley Janette Hess Barbara Martin Marcus Schneck

CO N T R I B U T I N G CO L U MN I S TS

KEEPING CURRENT News items from across the Commonwealth

W. Douglas Shirk

E N E R G Y M AT T E R S

To seal or not to seal

L AY O UT & D ES I G N

Vonnie Kloss A DV E R T I S I NG & C I R CU L AT I O N

Michelle M. Smith

F E AT U R E

Go fish

M E D I A & M A R K E T I N G S PE CI A L I ST

Bass bring anglers to Pennsylvania waters Penn Lines (USPS 929-700), the newsmagazine of Pennsylvania’s electric cooperatives, is published monthly by the Pennsylvania Rural Electric Association, 212 Locust Street, P.O. Box 1266, Harrisburg, PA 17108-1266. Penn Lines helps 166,000 households of co-op consumermembers understand issues that affect the electric cooperative program, their local coops, and their quality of life. Electric co-ops are not-for-profit, consumer-owned, locally directed, and taxpaying electric utilities. Penn Lines is not responsible for unsolicited manuscripts. The opinions expressed in Penn Lines do not necessarily reflect those of the editors, the Pennsylvania Rural Electric Association, or local electric distribution cooperatives. Subscriptions: Electric co-op members, $5.42 per year through their local electric distribution cooperative. Preferred Periodicals postage paid at Harrisburg, PA 17107 and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes with mailing label to Penn Lines, 212 Locust Street, P.O. Box 1266, Harrisburg, PA 17108-1266. Advertising: Display ad deadline is six weeks prior to month of issue. Ad rates upon request. Acceptance of advertising by Penn Lines does not imply endorsement of the product or services by the publisher or any electric cooperative. If you encounter a problem with any product or service advertised in Penn Lines, please contact: Advertising, Penn Lines, P.O. Box 1266, Harrisburg, PA 17108. Penn Lines reserves the right to refuse any advertising.

12A C O O P E R AT I V E

CO N N ECT I O N

Information and advice from your local electric cooperative

TIME LINES Your newsmagazine through the years

COUNTRY KITCHEN

Summer dipping 17

POWER PLANTS

Shareable arrangements 18

OUT D OOR A DV ENT UR ES

Postcard from nature: ‘Wish you were here’ 19

SMART CIRCUITS

Stay comfortable with less AC 20

CLASSIFIEDS

PUNCH LINES

Thoughts from Earl Pitts– Uhmerikun! Gone fishin’: Earl decides writing about fishing more fun than discussing politicians Board officers and staff, Pennsylvania Rural Electric Association: Chairman, Leroy Walls; Vice Chairman, Tim Burkett; Secretary, Barbara Miller; Treasurer, Rick Shope; President & CEO, Frank M. Betley © 2015 Pennsylvania Rural Electric Association. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission is prohibited.

RURAL REFLECTIONS

It’s all about being outdoors

23 O N T H E COV E R

Visit with us at Penn Lines Online, located at: www.prea.com/Content/ pennlines.asp. Penn Lines Online provides an email link to Penn Lines editorial staff, information on advertising rates, and an archive of past issues.

Bass fishing is a popular sport in Pennsylvania. Largemouth bass like this one are often found in Pennsylvania’s lakes and ponds, while smallmouth bass are found in the state’s rivers.

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KEEPINGcurrent Enter the latest Penn Lines anniversary contest Penn Lines will be observing its 50th anniversary in 2016, and we want our readers to be a part of the celebration, so we are looking for your “well-traveled” and “well-aged” copies of Penn Lines. To document where Penn Lines copies have traveled, please send us a photo of you holding a magazine in front of a recognizable landmark or sign. The reader who submits the photo from the longest distance away from Harrisburg, Pa., will receive a $50 gift card. We also want to document the oldest copy still held by a cooperative member. Please send a photo of your oldest magazine with its publication date visible. The reader who submits a photo of the oldest magazine will also receive a $50 gift card. Some of the entries will be published in the 2016 issues of Penn Lines. Please email your entries to editor@prea.com, or mail them to Penn Lines Editor, P.O. Box 1266, Harrisburg, PA 17108-1266. Include your name, address, telephone number, email (if available) and the cooperative that serves your residence or business.

State lakes included in national ‘Top 10’ list Three Pennsylvania lakes are included in the “Top 10 Family-Friendly Places to Boat and Fish in the United States” in a national contest sponsored by the Virginia-based Recreational Boating and Fishing Foundation. Keystone State Park in Westmoreland County came in fifth, while Presque Isle State Park in Erie County was ninth and Lackawanna State Park in Lackawanna County was 10th. The remaining top 10 places are, in order from first place: Everglades National Park, Florida; Bahia Honda State Park, Florida; Blue Springs State Park, Florida; Kissimmee State Park, Florida; Skyway Fishing Pier State Park, Florida; and Galveston Island State Park, Texas. The foundation, along with state fish and wildlife agencies across the nation, identified more than 250 family-friendly places to fish and boat across the country. More than 23,000 outdoor enthusiasts then voted on their top choices on the basis of having the following: accessability to a major city or town; a public body of water known for having plenty of common fish species; amenities such as playgrounds, campgrounds, picnic areas, restrooms and parking spaces; 4

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and plenty of places to fish. Additional Pennsylvania parks nominated include: Moraine State Park (Butler County), Nockamixon State Park (Bucks County), and Pymatuning Lake State Park (Crawford and Mercer counties).

PDA suspends avian activities at agriculture fairs, Farm Show The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture (PDA) has suspended all avian competitions at state-approved agricultural fairs in 2015, as well as the 2016 Pennsylvania Farm Show. Secretary of Agriculture Russell Redding reports the action is an effort to minimize the risk of the highly pathogenic avian influenza, (H5N2) which is intensifying across the country, from spreading in Pennsylvania. In an effort to keep youth engaged in the poultry industry and provide a solu-

tion for completing their poultry projects in the absence of being able to show their birds, the PDA is requesting all fairs to include alternative poultry-based competitions that highlight the accomplishments of youth poultry competitors. Redding said the decision was not made lightly, but across the country, more than 15 million birds have had to be euthanized because of the disease. In 2014, the poultry and egg industry in Pennsylvania was responsible for $13 billion in economic activity. “Across the country, the effects (of H5N2) have been devastating,” Redding said. “We do not want to see the same result in Pennsylvania.” Avian influenza, commonly known as “bird flu,” is caused by a virus that occurs naturally in birds and is very contagious, especially among domesticated birds (including chickens, ducks, quail, pheasants, guinea fowl and turkeys). The PDA is working with the U.S. Department of Agriculture and other government agencies, as well as the state’s poultry industry, to prepare for an outbreak of H5N2. According to PDA officials, the most important prevention technique is for anyone who owns or works with poultry to apply sound biosecurity measures — whether on a commercial farm, in the wild, or at a hobby/backyard farm. PDA officials note that no highly pathogenic avian influenza viruses have been detected in Pennsylvania since an outbreak in 1983-84, when Pennsylvania lost 17 million birds worth $65 million. Information about avian influenza is available at the PDA’s Bureau of Animal Health and Diagnostic Services by calling 717-772-2852.

Extension diabetes program receives national recognition A multistate team of Extension educators, including members from Penn State Extension, has received national recogni-

Cook describes Youth Tour Speaking at the 2015 commencement ceremony at George Washington University, Apple Inc. CEO Tim Cook tells about his first visit to Washington, D.C. in 1977, where he met President Jimmy Carter. Cook was a 16-year-old from Alabama who was selected to participate in the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association Youth Tour on the basis of an essay. Before going to Washington, D.C., Cook and the other Youth Tour participants visited the state capital in Montgomery, Ala. Cook said his experiences on Youth Tour made him believe both a company and an individual can change the world.

tion for a “Dining with Diabetes” educational program. Extension educators from six universities shared the 2015 Jeanne M. Priester Award, recently presented at the National Health Outreach Conference in Atlanta. The award, named for Jeanne M. Priester, who was a leader in advancing health education within the Cooperative Extension System during her tenure at the U.S. Department of Agriculture, honors Extension programs that positively impact the health of people across the United States. The Dining with Diabetes program teaches people with diabetes, or those who are at risk for developing diabetes, and their families how to manage the disease through nutrition, physical activity and behavior modification. Diabetes was the seventh leading cause of death in Pennsylvania in 2010 (the latest data available). State health officials estimate 9 percent of Pennsylvania residents have been diagnosed with diabetes, and another 25 percent have diabetes, but have not been diagnosed. Dining with Diabetes is offered in Extension offices in more than 40 Pennsylvania counties. More information is available online at http://extension.psu.edu/ health/diabetes.

37 counties on drought watch Thirty-seven Pennsylvania counties are on the state’s drought watch list, as of mid-June. Residents of those counties are being asked by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to voluntarily reduce water use.

A drought watch — the first and least-severe of three drought classifications used by the state — calls for a voluntary 5 percent reduction in non-essential water use. Counties listed under the drought watch are Bedford, Berks, Blair, Bradford, Cambria, Carbon, Centre, Clinton, Columbia, Franklin, Fulton, Huntingdon, Indiana, Juniata, Lackawanna, Lawrence, Lehigh, Luzerne, Lycoming, McKean, Mercer, Mifflin, Monroe, Montour, Northampton, Northumberland, Pike, Potter, Schuylkill, Snyder, Sullivan, Susquehanna, Tioga, Union, Wayne, Westmoreland and Wyoming. DEP officials suggest taking the following actions to conserve water: run water only when absolutely necessary; check for household leaks; run dishwashers and washing machines only with full loads; clean driveways and sidewalks with a broom, not a hose; use water in a bucket to wash a vehicle; make sure sprinklers, if used, water only the lawn or garden, not streets and sidewalks; use soaker hoses or trickle irrigation systems for gardens; mulch around shrubs and plants to reduce evaporation; focus on native plants that require less water than ornamental varieties; cover swimming pools to prevent evaporation; and cut grass at a higher setting to promote water retention by the soil.

White House announces plan to promote pollinator health A task force appointed by President Barack Obama has released its strategy

for promoting the health of honey bees and other pollinators. Pollinators are critical to the nation’s economy, food security and environmental health. The best-known of the pollinators — honey bees — add more than $15 billion in value to agricultural crops each year, making sure that fruits, nuts and vegetables continue to grow. The future of pollinators is in jeopardy, however, as in 2014, beekeepers reported losing about 40 percent of their honey bee colonies, while the numbers of another pollinator, monarch butterflies, have declined by more than 90 percent over the past two decades. That’s why the president set up the task force to work with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). The task force reports that increasing the quantity and quality of habitat for pollinators is a major part of the effort, and will include construction of pollinator gardens at federal buildings, as well as restoration of millions of acres of federally managed lands. The EPA and USDA note that people of all ages and in all parts of the United States can assist in the effort to restore

pollinators by planting pollinator gardens and setting aside some natural habitat. They also encourage people to think carefully before applying pesticides and always follow label instructions. More information is available online at www.whitehouse.gov (search for “pollinator health”). l J U LY 2 0 1 5 • P E N N

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ENERGYmatters To seal or not to seal By B r e t C u r ry

TO SEAL or not to seal the crawl space is a recurring dilemma for many homeowners. To begin, why do homes have crawl spaces? Crawl spaces became a byproduct when concrete block foundations were introduced. They cost less than basements to build, and they provide access to plumbing, ductwork and some electrical components. Decades ago, conventional wisdom introduced vents, and it was believed they would keep the crawl space area dry. However, the vents introduced a few laws of unintended consequences. But years of field practice by industry experts, a better understanding of building science, the introduction of diagnostic equipment, relative humidity and dew point monitors, and infrared cameras have unveiled some compelling facts about crawl spaces. In fact, many builders across the country who understand building science are no longer building vented crawl spaces, and some building codes are even changing to accept properly sealed crawl spaces. Experience has taught us that a properly sealed crawl space with a properly installed moisture barrier will dramatically reduce unwanted moisture and thwart heat gain and loss. Proper air and moisture sealing improves comfort and reduces heating and cooling costs. Additional benefits are the elimination of the earthy smell inside a home caused by a damp crawl space and elimination of the environment that promotes the growth of mold and mildew — even the floors will be warmer during the winter. Also, properly sealed crawl spaces can be used for storage. Many existing homes with vented crawl spaces can be retrofitted and sealed 6

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SEALED CRAWL SPACE: This

properly sealed crawl space has a rigid moisture barrier and foam insulated floor.

if they meet some very important criteria. First, let’s address how nature affects the crawl space. Remember, heat moves to cool on our wonderful planet. On a summer day, our nice cool crawl space becomes an attraction for hot and humid air. The hot air moves through the vents to the cooler crawl space causing everything to become warmer — even the ductwork and floors. If the ground is not properly covered with a moisture barrier, water vapor from the ground and air will condense on cooler surfaces. This is why most ductwork located in vented crawl spaces has evidence of condensation with mold and mildew on the outer side of the insulation. Uninsulated ducts may even show signs of rust and corrosion. The opposite happens during the winter. The warmer air under the floor escapes through the foundation vents. This causes the floors to become quite cold, even causing pipes to freeze and break. If you can answer “yes” to the questions below about your crawl space, you could be a candidate for sealing: k Is your crawl space dry year-round without any standing or recurring drainage problems? k Is your home free from any plumbing leaks?

If you answered “yes,” you may consider a sealed crawl space. Sealing a crawl space is not that difficult, but it does take time to properly complete the job. A rigid moisture barrier is paramount. There are companies that sell quality watertight moisture barriers and special mastics and tapes to assure an airtight and waterproof seal. Foam board can be used for sealing the inner side of the vents. If you live in an area where radon could be an issue, I suggest contracting with an authorized entity to handle your project. Also, if you live in an area where termites exist and insurance is required, I suggest that you contact your policyholder and inquire about their parameters concerning sealed crawl spaces. They may require a gap between the top of the moisture barrier and the band joist for inspection purposes. Many termite companies now offer this service. Be sure to visit www.smartenergytips.org or Facebook www.face book.com/SmartEnergyTips.org for dozens of energy-savings ideas. l Bret Curry is the residential energy manager for Arkansas Electric Cooperative Corporation.

PENNlines

Go fish Bass bring anglers to Pennsylvania waters By K at h y H ac k l e m a n S e n i o r E d i t o r / Wr i t e r

A lone angler fishes on the 1,635-acre Glendale Lake at Prince Gallitzin State Park, which is served by REA Energy Cooperative. Among the fish most commonly caught are bass, pike and muskellunge, along with panfish.

ON THE LAKE:

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lthough its name means “Penn’s Woods,” Pennsylvania could just as easily have been called “Penn’s Waters.” With more than 85,000 miles of rivers and streams, and more than 4,000 lakes and ponds, not to mention access to Lake Erie, Pennsylvania is an ideal spot for fishing.

Many of the state’s anglers focus their sights on bass because they consider them among the most difficult fish to catch. Largemouth bass are commonly found in lakes and ponds from Raystown Lake, the largest lake located completely within the state, to small farm ponds, while smallmouth bass are more likely to be found in rivers. John Tomb, president of the Tioga County Bass Anglers and a member of Mansfield-based TriCounty Rural Electric Cooperative (REC), has been fishing for more than six decades — since he was old enough to walk to the creek adjacent to his rural home. He explains why bass is his fish of choice. “You have to know a lot about the species you are targeting, what kind of bait they bite on, what kind of structure or debris they hang out on, how the temperature affects what they do,” he says. “Humans are the top of the food chain, and you’re pitting your expertise and thousands of dollars’ worth of equipment against an animal with a brain the size of a pea, and getting your butt whipped more often than not. It’s the challenge that makes it so much fun.” And while he describes bass fishing as fun, he admits the sport can get pretty intense. “Some of these guys carry iPads and keep track of the temperature, the wind and the bait they use,” he

explains. “It’s got to the point where guys will go to Google Maps and Google Earth and call up the lake. With the satellite photos, they can see the shallow points in the lake, and get the GPS location of them. Then they get in their boats, punch in the GPS location and go right to that spot.” Tomb used to compete in larger tournaments, but says “an 8-hour day on the water at tournament speed is tough on the old body,” so he limits his tourney fishing these days to smaller events. The Tioga County Bass Anglers organization sponsors two open tournaments each year. One is a one-day event on Cowanesque Lake while the other is a three-day event that requires anglers to fish one day each at Tioga Lake, Hammond Lake and Cowanesque Lake, making each day a new challenge. The organization also sponsors an annual tournament just for young anglers, and works to make a better environment for fish in area lakes through the deployment of man-made structures into the water to be used as fish habitats.

Working together The Outcast Bass Club, headquartered at Lake Marburg at Codorus State Park, has similar goals. Steve Staley, a member of Gettysburg-based Adams EC, serves as president of that volunteer group.

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PENNlines “We have been seeing a reduction in state funds during the past years, so our goal is to maintain some services and programs that would have been cut,” Staley reports. “We maintain a launch and take care of the grounds. The club also works with the Marburg Fish Advisory Committee to provide fishing programs for kids, and provide boats so that when the state stocks fish, we can scatter them throughout the lake to increase the survival rate.” Club members also work with the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources and the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission to provide fish habitats, including manmade structures, brush piles and rock piles. The Outcast Bass Club also holds weekly “lunker” tournaments geared toward the novice-to-average angler from the opening of bass season in June through September. Because Lake Marburg is so deep — up to 98 feet — it’s not unusual for the weekly winner to bring in a 20-inch bass in the 4- to 5-pound range, Staley says. The biggest fish caught during the 2014 lunker tournaments was 6.28 pounds. All fish are released as the club requires use of the CPR (catch, photograph, release) method. “If you catch a big bass and keep it, you take it out of the system, so you are hurting the system down the road,” he says. “We really push putting big fish back so they can spawn again. Even with a trophy catch, you can take a picture, measure it and take the picture to a taxidermist, and he can make an exact reproduction out of fiberglass, which will last forever. A skin mount will last only 20 to 25 years.” Anglers aren’t the only ones hanging out at Lake Marburg during the Thursday evening lunker tournaments. Adams EC

REA Energy Cooperative members Bill and Sharon Hock, and their children, Daniel and Grace, of Patton, participate in Family Fishing Day at Glendale Lake at Prince Gallitzin State Park. The annual event is sponsored by the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission.

FAMILY FUN:

member Danica Bange is one of a number of rangers assigned to the state park. In addition to handling all regular law enforcement duties that arise in the park, the rangers also coordinate with fish and game officials to keep an eye out for any hunting or fishing violations, and lead educational programming at the park. “We are sworn police who have gone through the police academy, but we focus more on education, teaching about the care of the earth and the things that are on it, and awareness in an effort to protect the land, the wildlife, and the people who are in the park,” Bange reports.

Bass fishing is a popular activity on the 8,000-acre Raystown Lake, located in Huntingdon County, which is served by Valley Rural Electric Cooperative. Anglers report catching both smallmouth and largemouth bass at the lake.

8,000 ACRES OF FISHING:

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Concerns raised over health of Susquehanna

the PFBC executive director was present when a friend caught the fish with the cancerous tumor on its jaw. “In my lifetime history of fishing, I had never seen a fish that looked like that,” Arway says. “I have studied environmental issues and contaminated water and what they do to fish for years, but this was dramatic. It was fortuitous that I was there and that I had the tools to get it diagnosed.” Arway doesn’t believe there is a significant number of similarly affected fish in the Susquehanna River or other evidence would have surfaced. “It does concern me, but I have more serious concerns about the lesions we have been finding on young bass since 2005,” he states. The state Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has acknowledged that a “number of issues face the smallmouth bass population,” according to its website, but that a link to Susquehanna’s water quality has not been established. The DEP says it continues to work with the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission, the Susquehanna River Basin Commission, and the United States Geological Survey to ensure a healthy river. For Arway, the recent confirmation of cancer in the bass was enough to push him to take further action. In early June, he announced the PFBC has launched an “S.O.S. — Save Our Susquehanna!” campaign to fund water and soil conservation projects along the Susquehanna River in an effort to protect the river and its fish. To kick off the campaign, PFBC pledged $50,000 in matching funds. Once the first $100,000 is raised, the PFBC will begin working on projects designed to save the river. In addition, a portion of the revenue from state fishing licenses — which anyone can purchase whether they are an angler or not — will go toward the new program, as will all proceeds from a $10 S.O.S. button offered through the PFBC. Contributions to the S.O.S. campaign can be made by writing a check to “S.O.S. — Save Our Susquehanna” and mailing it to the Fish and Boat Commission, P.O. Box 67000, Harrisburg, PA 17106.

PHOTO BY JOHN ARWAY

By K at h y H ac k l e m a n

As the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission’s (PFBC) executive director, it’s John Arway’s job to care about the condition of the state’s waterways. Arway’s also been an avid angler since he was 4, so anything that threatens those waterways directly affects him. A member of Warren Electric Cooperative, Arway describes himself as a “fishing generalist,” saying he will fish for anything that bites. That said, he especially enjoys the challenge of bass fishing and proudly reports he reached one of his lifetime goals in April — at 20.5 inches, the smallmouth bass he caught on the Susquehanna River topped his goal by one-half inch. But his excitement at snagging a “personal best” bass is tempered by the recent verification that a smallmouth bass caught in the Susquehanna River had a malignant tumor on its jaw. “It’s another confirmation that something is not normal with the Susquehanna,” Arway says. “When you add it in with TROUBLE ON THE SUSQUEHANNA: other pieces of information, This smallmouth bass, confirmed to especially that we have been have a cancerous tumor on its jaw, is seeing sores and lesions on a cause for concern about the health young bass reported since of the Susquehanna River, where it 2005, even if we can’t put our was caught. Since it was diagnosed, finger on what it is, we know the state has launched a “S.O.S. — something is wrong.” Save Our Susquehanna!” campaign. In what Arway calls fate,

Those were almost exactly the same words used by Lance Dunham when he caught his first fish more than 55 years ago. Dunham, a member of Wysox-based Claverack REC, was introduced to fishing when he was a preschooler in Bradford County. For Dunham, fishing was a hobby until 1980. He was the owner of a small sporting goods store in Dushore when a customer asked him to take him out fishing on the Susquehanna River as he was well-known for his fishing skills.

Early education REA Energy Cooperative members Sharon and Bill Hock and their children, Daniel, 9, and Grace, 6, of Patton, Pa., participated in the spring Family Fishing Day at Prince Gallitzin State Park, noting, “This is a great family activity where we can all be together doing the same thing.” After learning about “smart” anglers: s – safety first; m – manners are important; a – appreciate clean water; r – return some of your catch; and t – teach others, Daniel and Grace headed out to Pickerel Pond, where Daniel was among the first to catch a fish. His excited response was, “A fish, a fish, I caught a fish.”

PHOTO PROVIDED BY JOHN TOMB

PHOTO PROVIDED BY THE U.S. ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS

Employees of the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources — like Bange — are assigned at state parks around Pennsylvania. Beth Garner, an environmental education specialist at Glendale Lake at Prince Gallitzin State Park in Cambria County, reports one of her favorite assignments is teaching children about nature. Every year, the state Fish and Boat Commission sponsors Family Fishing Days at a number of state parks to introduce families to fishing. Lessons are geared toward elementary-school age children.

FAVORITE FISH: John Tomb, president of the Tioga County Bass Anglers and a member of Tri-County Rural Electric Cooperative, has been fishing for bass for six decades.

J U LY 2 0 1 5 • P E N N

LINES

PHOTO BY UNITED WAY OF WESTERN CRAWFORD COUNTY

PENNlines

FISHING IS FUN AND WORK: Lance Dunham, owner of L.D. Guide Service and a member of Claverack Rural Electric Cooperative, began fishing at an early age and never quit. His business now includes guiding others to the best fishing holes on the Susquehanna River.

“I refused him several times until finally he said, ‘I tell you what, how about if you take me for a boat ride and let me take my rods along,’” Dunham recalls. “He just badgered me until I gave in. Right away, I realized that was fun.” For about five years, Dunham operated L.D. Guide Service, based in New Albany, Pa., as a part-time business. By then, his part-time business had grown to the point he knew he had to choose between it and his sporting goods business. “I decided I would rather go fishing any day than work inside so in 1985, I became a full-time fishing guide,” Dunham recalls. Saying it’s an exciting way to make a living, Dunham explains that he guides on the Susquehanna River seven days a week (weather permitting) from April through mid-November. He has a 21-foot SeaArk with a 250-horsepower jet engine. He covers the river from the New York state line south as far as Tunkhannock. He will take one, two or three anglers on a chartered trip, which can range from 6 to 10 hours during the day or 3 to 4 hours in the evenings. His customers usually tell him to take them where the fish are biting, so he does. “Being out here every day, I know where they were biting yesterday, and where they should be biting today,” he says. “That comes from experience. I have to gauge the temperature of the water, the water speed, the color of the water (fish have to be able to see the bait so a contrasting color is essential) and the light penetration from the sky. All those factors change the fish patterns from day to day.” All of the bass fishing through Dunham’s guide service is catch and release. “They are here just for the sport,” he says. “It’s a game to see how many fish you can catch.” Members of the Outcast Bass Club, including President Steve Staley, a member of Adams Electric Cooperative, are dedicated to maintaining services and programs that have undergone state funding cuts at Codorus State Park.

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L I N E S • J U LY 2 0 1 5

Dunham guarantees his customers will catch fish or they don’t pay for his guide services. He considers he’s had a successful day if he catches 20 fish, but his charter customers vary in their expectations. “Some like to catch one or two and then enjoy the wildlife and being out on the water, while some are tournament fishing to get as many as they can,” he says. He keeps track of his customers, carrying a card file and a pen. He writes down every angler’s name, along with the date, and when someone catches a fish, along with the water temperature, sky conditions and wildlife spotted on the trip. Dunham begins fishing in the spring as soon as the ice breaks and he fishes until the ice closes in. Annual confirmed catches are usually between 8,000 and 10,000. “My personal favorite is the smallmouth bass,” he says. “Pound for pound, they give the best fight all the way to the boat. They never give up.” l

PHOTO PROVIDED BY STEVE STALEY

PHOTO PROVIDED BY LANCE DUNHAM

FISHING FOR A CAUSE: The 30 teams in a bass fishing tournament head out on Conneaut Lake in July 2014. The event, co-sponsored by Channellock Inc. and Bassmasters of Crawford County, raises funds for the United Way of Western Crawford County. Marissa Lines, executive director of the United Way and a member of Northwestern Rural Electric Cooperative, reports the event, now in its 11th year, raises about $20,000 every year.

EVEN THREE IS A CROWD.

NEVER OVERLOAD OUTLETS. Helping members use electricity safely, thatâ€™s the power of your co-op membership. Learn more from the experts themselves at TogetherWeSave.com.

TIMElines

Yo u r N e w s m a g a z i n e T h r o u g h t h e Y e a r s

1985 ALLEGHENY Electric Cooperative, Inc. (Allegheny), the wholesale power supplier for 14 rural electric cooperatives in Pennsylvania and New Jersey, takes a look back at energy projects touted in the 1970s as potential alternatives to America’s dependence on expensive foreign oil. By the mid-1980s, interest in some projects — including alcohol-enhanced gasoline — had declined as the price of imported oil also dropped. Others, like wind and solar, proved impractical for large-scale electricity production in the Northeast. The most-promising alternative energy sources were scrutinized by Allegheny in its search for long-term power supplies for the rural electric cooperatives, as well as new technologies that conserve energy. In the 1980s, Allegheny worked with two member co-ops — Bedford-based Bedford Rural Electric Cooperative (REC) and Huntingdon-based Valley REC — to determine the most effective applications of residential groundwater heat pumps. In addition, ground-coupled heat pump experiments were conducted at Valley REC, with results that indicated heat pump technology could save consumers millions of dollars in future power bills. Energy projects reviewed in depth in the July 1985 issue of Penn Lines include heat pumps, coal gasification (synthetic fuels), heat storage, coal-fired plants and poultry waste (methane).

1975 The 23rd annual Woodmen’s Carnival, held in Potter County at Cherry Springs State Park, features crosscut-sawing, log-rolling, log-chopping, chainsaw and tree-felling contests. 14

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1995 Pennsylvania’s territorial integrity law allows electric cooperatives to retain customers moving into their service territory, helping to lower rates by spreading costs over more sales.

2005 The birthplace of the world’s petroleum industry, Pennsylvania continues to produce oil and natural gas, providing an important economic pipeline for rural communities.

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COUNTRYkitchen

by Janette He ss

Summer dipping SUMMER gatherings call for fresh-tasting dips, so don’t disappoint your guests with cartons of the store-bought stuff. Once you’ve tried and fallen in love with hummus at your favorite Mediterranean restaurant, it’s time to learn how to make it at home. With the aid of a small food processor, this healthful dip comes together in an amazingly short amount of time. Cannellini Bean Dip is a lighter, brighter version of hummus. Lemon and dill give it a summery quality. Guacamole is another restaurant favorite, but it also is quite easy to create at home. In the recipe for “Kitchen Sink” Guacamole Dip, everything but the kitchen sink — salsa verde, Mexican-style corn, black beans, chopped bell pepper, tomatoes and cilantro — takes the dip in a hearty direction. When served with corn chips, this dip is almost a meal in itself. l A trained journalist, JANETTE HESS focuses her writing on interesting people and interesting foods. She is a Master Food Volunteer with her local extension service and enjoys collecting, testing and sharing recipes.

HOMEMADE HUMMUS 1/4 cup tahini (sesame seed paste) 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil, plus additional for drizzling 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder, according to taste d 1 15-ounce can garbanzo beans (chick peas), draine 1/4 cup water Crumbled feta cheese, if desired for garnish until creamy. Add In small food processor, process tahini and lemon juice Add garbanzo h. smoot until ng olive oil, salt and spices; continue blendi time, through a at poon tables 1 water, Add h. smoot until s beans; proces until very sing proces ue Contin opening or chute in top of processor. and sprinkle oil olive of t amoun small with drizzle serve, To creamy. Chill. bread, pita soft ing: follow the of with feta cheese. Offer with any or all or celery sticks, carrot slices, ber cucum strips, r peppe pita chips, bell crackers. Makes about 1 1/2 cups dip.

one may be used, Note: If a small food processor is not available, a larger a spatula sevwith d scrape be to need may bowl sor proces although the . Another blades the with t contac eral times to bring the ingredients in . recipe the option is to double

CLASSICALLY SIMPLE GU ACAMOLE 4 ripe avocados Juice of 1 small lime 3 tablespoons minced red onion 2 to 3 teaspoons fresh, minced jalap eno pepper (seeds and ribs removed) 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

Cut avocados in half and remove pits. Scoop flesh into bowl. Mash with fork or potato mas her. Stir in lime juice, onion and jalapeno pepper. Add salt. Serve imm ediately with corn chips or Mexican food. Makes 3 to 4 cups guacamo le, depending on size of avocados .

“KITCHEN SINK” GUACAMOLE DIP 3 ripe avocados Juice of 1/2 lime 1/2 cup salsa verde 1/2 cup drained Mexican-style canned corn 1/2 cup drained and rinsed black beans 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt Optional fresh additions, if available: 1/2 cup diced green or red bell pepper 1/2 cup chopped tomato 1/4 cup chopped cilantro

Cut avocados in half and remove pits. Scoop flesh into bowl. Mash with fork or potato masher. Carefully stir in lime juice, salsa verde, Mexicanstyle corn, black beans and salt. Add fresh vegetables and cilantro, if desired. Serve immediately with corn chips or Mexican food. Makes approximately 4 cups dip, depending on additions.

CANNELLINI BEAN DIP 1 15 1/2-ounce can cannellini (whi te kidney) beans, drained 2 tablespoons dill pickle juice* 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil 1/2 teaspoon dried dill 1/2 teaspoon salt-free lemon pepp er 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt

In small food processor, process bean s and juice until creamy. Add olive oil and continue blending. Transfer to bowl and stir in dill, lemon pepp er and salt. Serve chilled with pita chip s, corn chips, crackers or fresh vegetables. *If dill pickle juice is not available , substitute fresh lemon juice.

PENN

L I N E S • J U LY 2 0 1 5

POWERplants

Shareable arrangements FOR TOO many years, I assumed flower arrangers had to follow strict rules and use arcane tools to construct handsome bouquets and artful vases of painstakingly placed stems. I was so wrong. To be fair, there are indeed historically established techniques to creating arrangements such as ikebana, and there are incredibly skilled, rule-oriented practitioners who compete at flower shows. And if you study still life paintings, you will be spellbound by countless exquisite floral arrangements. But nobody says we have to be bound by those standards and traditions. We are free to choose how we present our cut flowers. If bee balm or cone-flowers or sunflowers or snapdragons or tall phlox abound in the garden, why not just cut some to enjoy at the breakfast table? Or on your desk. Or on your bedside table? And if the flowers you’ve picked don’t last longer than a day, why worry? There will BARBARA MARTIN , who says she began gardening as a hobby “too many years ago to count,” currently works for the National Gardening Association as a horticulturist. A former member of Gettysburg-based Adams Electric Cooperative, her articles appear in magazines and on the internet.

by Barbara Martin

be more of the same. Once I discovered this sense of freedom, I couldn’t get enough. I filled jam jars and jelly glasses, cone-shaped vases and clay jugs, galvanized buckets, and dainty porcelain cream pitchers. Any container became fair game, as long as it was watertight. Then the concept of cachepot came into my universe: hide a utilitarian waterproof container inside a “fancy” receptacle. Oh my goodness, game on! Roses and Queen Anne’s lace spilling out of a straw hat, anyone? The best cut flower advice I can give you is 1) use sharp pruners and 2) try it out. You can’t go wrong because in practical terms, fresh-cut flowers with their stems promptly plunged into water and kept out of direct sun will look lovely for at least a day. You’ll develop your own rules of thumb, but if you are at a loss where to begin, here are some basic guidelines. A generous handful of small flowers or an armload of big flowers will look good in a container of proportionate shape and size. For example, short-stemmed roses look splendid spilling over the edges of a rounded teapot. Top-heavy gladioli look terrific in a tall, narrow, yet heavy container. Hydrangeas are big and bold so put them in something sturdy — maybe a shiny bucket. Put dainty violets in a shot glass and zinnias in a coffee mug. When it comes to color,

don’t be intimidated. My favorite bouquets are mix and match, a joyous hullabaloo cram-packed into a Mason jar. But if you favor a more formal or more organized look, you can always succeed using this simple technique: select just one color of flower. An allwhite bouquet is smashing, an all-red bouquet is fiery, and an all-yellow bouquet is always a sunny delight. When you cut your flowers, keep in mind you can fill out the bouquet with greenery. Think about hosta or fern or ornamental grass foliage, stems from flowering shrubs or small branches from evergreens. If you admire a flower combination in the garden,

ANYTHING GOES: Any type of container can become a flower holder for you and a friend to enjoy.

you will like it in the vase. If you’ve wondered how a certain combination might work in your garden, why not try it in the vase? And if you discover a new and pleasing combination by happy accident, so much the better. Cut flowers are marvelously portable. Bring them indoors to enjoy, sure, but now you can share them, too. Take some to work, take some to a shut-in, take some to say “thanks” or take some “just because.” Flowers speak a universal language of good cheer and goodwill. l

J U LY 2 0 1 5 • P E N N

LINES

OUTDOORadventures

by Marcus Schneck

Postcard from nature: ‘Wish you were here’ SOMEONE I know argues that viewing photos or videos of a place is equivalent to going there and experiencing the place. I couldn’t disagree more. Case in point: My acquaintance would not know to exaggerate the length of the 7.2-mile Falls Trail at Rickett’s Glen State Park to 17 miles in her retelling of that time we hiked that incredibly challenging trail that descends and ascends steep gorges on rocky, sometimes slippery trails. Without having struggled along that trail, with just looking at photos of the trail, she wouldn’t know that her exaggeration is fully justified. Beyond setting up some great exaggerations, no place I’ve ever been was fully explained or completely understood without experiencing that place firsthand. Looking at photos of the rocky ledges and “Rattlesnake MARCUS SCHNECK is the outdoor writer for The (Harrisburg) PatriotNews and its website, PennLive.com. He also writes for many outdoor publications and is the author of more than two dozen books. Keep abreast of his adventures and writings at www.marcusschneck.com.

PENN

Research Area” signs on the southwestern slope of Blue Mountain at Port Clinton tells me there are timber rattlesnakes there. Being forced to leave a trail on that slope and bushwhack around a rattler that refused to end a sunning session on the trail is the experience beyond the photos, complete with the flicking tongue of the reptile, the worry over encountering another rattler, and much more available only to those of us who have been there. I am firmly in the camp of George Washington Carver, who wrote, “Reading about nature is fine, but if a person walks in the woods and listens carefully, he can learn more than what is in the books, for they speak with voice of God.”

L I N E S • J U LY 2 0 1 5

St. Bernard of Clairvaux made a good point: “… you will find more lessons in the woods than in books. Trees and stones will teach you what you cannot learn from masters.” I wonder if I would be sharing this column with you today if I had not walked in the woods and learned the lessons of the trees and stones so many years ago, as a child allowed to stray miles from home, all on my own, for hours on end. Would I have true tales to tell of the iron taste of the stained water in a stream polluted by acid mine drainage, had I not taken an unsupervised sip in my youth? Would I see into the investigations of a raccoon

ON-SITE LESSONS: The best

way to learn about wild critters and plants is to experience them firsthand.

waddling along a creek from the tracks it leaves in the mud had I not pursued other raccoons on other creeks in earlier days? Would I know the effort involved in lugging wood and nails and tools into the forest to build an elevated deer stand in some tree, or the frustration of placing that deer stand in a spot frequented by deer too early and too late in the day for legal hunting, if I had not “been there, done that?” “Let nature be your teacher,” wrote William Wordsworth. But, can nature teach us if we’re not in the classroom? l

SMARTcircuits

by James Dulley

Stay comfortable with less AC THERE ARE quite a few free or low-cost improvements and simple lifestyle changes you can make to reduce the amount of air-conditioning you are using. However, itâ€™s important to keep in mind that initially your family will likely be a bit less comfortable, but should become accustomed to the changes quickly. The simplest method to run the airconditioner less often is to set your thermostat a few degrees higher. The savings should be from 1 to 3 percent for each degree you raise it. There is a limit to how high you can raise your thermostat without becoming too uncomfortable â€” and instigating a rebellion by your family. Other methods to minimize air-conditioning are to reduce the amount of heat that leaks into your home, reduce the amount of heat generated inside your house, control humidity levels, increase indoor air movement and use natural ventilation when possible. Avoid sitting near a sun-exposed wall or window during sunny afternoons. Wall insulation is effective for blocking conductive heat gain, but not for radiant heat. When the outside wall gets hot in the sun, particularly a brick or masonry wall, the radiant heat comes right through the wall. Window and door awnings can be helpful in blocking direct sunlight. Most energy-efficiency improvements, such as caulking, weather stripping and insulation, are made to reduce heat loss during winter. They also reduce heat gain during summer. Check the insulation in your attic to make sure there are no voids and ensure attic vents are not blocked. A great deal of heat is generated from cooking, bathing and running electric

appliances, causing the air conditioner to work harder. When cooking or bathing, run the range hood or bath exhaust fan to remove the extra heat and moisture. During the summer, use countertopcooking appliances in the garage or outdoors to reduce indoor heat and humidity generation. Wash dishes and clothes at night; avoid washing in the afternoons during peak heat. The heat given off from the hot water and electricity used by the motors will stress your air conditioner less at night. Keeping air moving inside your home increases evaporative cooling from your skin to keep you comfortable at a higher indoor temperature. Running a ceiling paddle fan is very effective for this. Keep in mind the electric motor in the fan actually heats the room air, so turn it off when the room is unoccupied. Set the ceiling fan on medium to high speed and the rotation switch so it blows the air downward. On a breezy, not excessively hot day, try opening some windows. Widely open several windows on the downwind side of your home, and slightly open win-

dows on the windward side. This causes the air to blow in the partially opened windows much faster, creating a breeze in that room using no electricity. Another option for staying cool is building a solar chimney. This is a tall wooden chimney with two clear sides from the ceiling to above the roof. When the sun shines into the clear sides, it heats the air. Since hot air rises, it naturally exhausts air from your house. This works well when using natural ventilation on a still day. Block the ceiling opening with an insulated panel when airconditioning or heating. A whole-house ventilation fan can draw huge amounts of air through your house. For times when the air is not excessively humid, run the fan at night. This can cool down the entire house and delay the time in the morning when the air conditioner has to come back on. l Have a question for Jim? Send inquiries to JAMES DULLEY , Penn Lines, 6906 Royalgreen Drive, Cincinnati, OH 45244 or visit www.dulley.com.

J U LY 2 0 1 5 â€˘ P E N N

LINES

PENNLINESclassified ISSUE MONTH:

AD DEADLINE: Penn Lines classified advertisements reach nearly 166,000 rural Pennsylvania households! Please note ads must be received by the due date to be included in the requested issue month. Ads received beyond the due date will run in the next available issue. Written notice of changes and cancellations must be received 30 days prior to the issue month. Classified ads will not be accepted by phone, fax or email. For more information please contact Vonnie Kloss at 717$233-5704.

September 2015 . . . . . . July 20 October 2015 . . . . . . . August 19 November 2015. . . . . . . Sept. 18

CLASSIFIED AD SUBMISSION/RATES: Please use the form below or submit a separate sheet with required information. Electric co-op members: $20 per month for 30 words or less, plus 50¢ for each additional word. Non-members: $70 per month for 30 words or less, plus $1.50 for each additional word. Ad in all CAPITAL letters: Add 20 percent to total cost. Please print my ad in all CAPITAL letters. PLACE AD IN THE MONTHS OF: . WORD COUNT: I am an electric co-op member. Attached is my Penn Lines mailing label. Name/Address or Mailing Label Here: Enclosed is payment in the amount of $ . I am a non-member. Address is noted or attached at right. Enclosed is payment in the amount of $ . 1

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FREE Headings (Select One): Around the House Business Opportunities Employment Opportunities Gift and Craft Ideas Livestock and Pets Miscellaneous Motor Vehicles and Boats Nursery and Garden Real Estate Recipes and Food Tools and Equipment Vacations and Campsites Wanted to Buy SPECIAL HEADING: . SPECIAL HEADING FEE: $5 for co-op members, $10 for non-members. Applies even if heading is already appearing in Penn Lines. Insertion of classified ad serves as proof of publication; no proofs supplied. SEND FORM TO: Penn Lines Classifieds, P.O. Box 1266, Harrisburg, PA 17108. Please make CHECK/MONEY ORDER payable to: PREA/Penn Lines.

AROUND THE HOUSE

CONSULTING FORESTRY SERVICES

GIFT AND CRAFT IDEAS

SPECIAL OFFER — BOTH COOKBOOKS FOR $12. “Country Cooking” — $5, including postage. “Recipes Remembered” — $7, including postage. Both of these cookbooks are a collection of recipes from men and women of the electric co-ops of Pennsylvania and New Jersey. Payable to: Pennsylvania Rural Electric Association, P. O. Box 1266, Harrisburg, PA 17108. Write Attention: Cookbooks.

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HEALTH AND NUTRITION Tired of all those medicines — Still not feeling better? Do you want to feel better, have more energy, better digestion, less joint stiffness, healthier heart/circulation and cholesterol levels? Find out how to empower your own immune system — start 1-26 today! It’s safe, affordable, and it works. Call 800557-8477: ID#528390. 90-day money back on first time orders or call me 724-454-5586. www.mylegacyforlife.net/believeit. HEALTH INSURANCE DO YOU HAVE THE BLUES regarding your Health Insurance? We cater to rural America's health insurance needs. For more information, call 800-628-7804 (PA). Call us regarding Medicare supplements, too. HUNTING CUSTOM HAND MADE to order or in-stock wooden turkey calls of various woods and sizes. 814-267-5489 leave message for Precision Unlimited Inc., Berlin, PA. VERGONA OUTDOORS: Gear up for hunting season! We sell game cameras, crossbows, binoculars, scopes, rangefinders, blinds, archery targets, packs and many other items. 814-9674844. www.vergonaoutdoors.com.

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LAWN AND GARDEN EQUIPMENT

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SOLAR GENERATOR LIVESTOCK AND PETS PEMBROKE WELSH CORGI Puppies — AKC, adorable, intelligent, highly trainable. Excellent family choice. Reputable licensed breeder guaranteed “Last breed you’ll ever own.” 814-587-3449.

PEPPERMINT ENERGY SOLAR GENERATOR 500-2000 watt portable power source, emergency electricity backup; can be used indoors; no noise, smell, or fuel source. 800-927-6848. info@tallpinesfarm.com, www.tallpinesfarm.com. TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT

LOG CABIN RESTORATIONS VILLAGE RESTORATIONS & CONSULTING specializes in 17th and 18th century log, stone and timber structures. We dismantle, move, re-erect, restore, construct and consult all over the country. Period building materials available. Chestnut boards, hardware, etc. Thirty years experience, fully insured. Call 814696-1379. www.villagerestorations.com. MISCELLANEOUS BECOME AN ORDAINED MINISTER — Correspondence Study. The harvest truly is great, the laborers are few, Luke 10:2. Free information. Ministers for Christ Outreach, 7558 West Thunderbird Rd., Ste. 1 — #114, Peoria, Arizona 85381. www.ordination.org. MOTOR VEHICLES AND BOATS 1956 FORD T-BIRD — Red with white convertible top, 312 motor, V-8 engine. Fordomatic drive. Runs great. New Castle, PA. Serious inquires only. To make offer call 724-658-4287. MOTORCYCLE-SNOWMOBILE INSURANCE For the best INSURANCE RATES call R & R Insurance Associates from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 800-442-6832 (PA). PENNSYLVANIA HUNTING LAND WANTED Earn thousands on your land by leasing the hunting rights. Free evaluation and info packet. Liability coverage included. The experts at Base Camp Leasing have been bringing landowners and hunters together since 1999. Call: 866-309-1507. Email: info@basecampleasing.com. www.BaseCampLeasing.com. REAL ESTATE NORTH CENTRAL POTTER COUNTY. 32.5 acres. All wooded land — level ground. Deeded R/W to property. Allegheny River begins on property. Excellent 4-wheeler, snowmobile and hunting. Surveyed boundary. Electric available. On lot sewage approved. $81,250. 814-274-0644. SOUTH MOUNTAIN LOVELY WOODLAND HOME on 22 acres bordering Michaux Forest. Four miles from Shippensburg. 3bedroom, 2.5 baths with office. In-law suite with bedroom, bath, kitchen & separate entry. Wood stove heats house. $389,000. Email: garyanddeni@gmail.com.

USED OUTSIDE WOODMASTER 3300 stove. Heat and hot water. All equipment included. Don’t be cold! Call Denny. 570-9232171. TRACTOR PARTS – REPAIR/RESTORATION ARTHURS TRACTORS, specializing in vintage Ford tractors, 30-years experience, online parts catalog/prices, Indiana, PA 15701. Contact us at 877-254-FORD (3673) or www.arthurstractors.com. VACATIONS AND CAMPSITES NEW SMYRNA BEACH, Florida condo rental. Two bedrooms, two baths, pool. 200 yards from beach. NA February. No pets. $500 weekly, $1,800 monthly. Call 814-635-4020. RAYSTOWN VACATION HOUSE RENTAL. Sleeps 11, 4 bedrooms, large dining table, central A/C, 2 flbaths, 2 hfbaths, linens/towels provided, large parking area, near boat launch. Call 814-931-6562. Visit www.laurelwoodsretreat.com. WANTED TO BUY CARBIDE – Paying cash/lb. – Some examples of items that have carbide pieces at their tips for cutting or drilling are: coal mining machinery — roof bits — road bits — gas/oil/water well drill bits — machining inserts as well as many others. We will pick up your materials containing carbide pieces. We will extract the carbide item from the part in which it is held in most cases. 814-395-0415. Pre-Assembled - Installs in Minutes!

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I DON’T LEAVE THE TV ON FOR THE COFFEE TABLE. WHY COOL AN EMPTY HOUSE?

Floating POND FOUNTAIN! WateImprovnce r Q ed ua Aerator ilit y Now Available Factory Direct! MSRP ($1100) You Pay $698.95! Complete with light & timer, 100 ft power cord, 1yr warranty!

Call 7days/week! FAST UPS shipping right to your door! www.fishpondaerator.com (608) 254-2735

I’m saving money by adjusting my thermostat before I go on vacation. W h a t c a n y o u d o ? Fi n d o u t how the little changes add u p a t To g e t h e r We S a v e . c o m .

RECIPES AND FOOD SPECIAL OFFER — BOTH COOKBOOKS FOR $12. “Country Cooking” — $5, including postage. “Recipes Remembered” — $7, including postage. Both of these cookbooks are a collection of recipes from men and women of the electric co-ops of Pennsylvania and New Jersey. Payable to: Pennsylvania Rural Electric Association, P. O. Box 1266, Harrisburg, PA 17108. Write Attention: Cookbooks.

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Thoughts from Earl Pitts, UHMERIKUN! Gone fishin’: Earl decides writing about fishing more fun than discussing politicians Today, I had a choice of commentaries: No. 1, I was seriously considering talking about the slow decay and rot of American culture, about the criminal behavior of your elected officials, and the hopelessness of the American dream. Or, No. 2, I could talk about fishin’. And ‘tween you and me, all the bad news going on in this country right now is kind of depressin’. I think your Penn Lines has

Social commentary from Earl Pitts —— a.k.a. GARY BUR BANK , a nationally syndicated radio personality —— can be heard on the following radio stations that cover electric cooperative service territories in Pennsylvania: WANB-FM 103.1 Pittsburgh; WARM-AM 590 Wilkes-Barre/Scranton; WIOO-AM 1000 Carlisle; WEEO-AM 1480 Shippensburg; WMTZ-FM 96.5 Johnstown; WQBR-FM 99.9/92.7 McElhattan; WLMI-FM 103.9 Kane; and WVNW-FM 96.7 Burnham-Lewistown. You can also find him at Earlpittsamerican.com.

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got the right idea, so let’s go with fishin’. If you’re sittin’ in a bass boat or on the bank of your favorite fishin’ hole, all that other mind-numbin’, senseless garbage fades away. Let’s face it, a largemouth bass don’t care one bit about how you feel about Bruce or Caitlyn or any of them Kardashians. Fish are just fish. Then, you got to figger that an American politician can pretty much screw up anythin’. Because that’s what they do. If you gave Washington a hammer and a nail, you would have three months of Congressional hammer-and-nail testimony. The White House would appoint a hammer-and-nail czar. And one year later, you would have the Environmental Protection Agency shoving 72,000 pages of hammer-and-nail regulations down our throats. On the other hand, fishin’ is just fishin’. I mean, there are fishin’ regulations for every state, but they ain’t that complex. Don’t fish below the spillway. Don’t take certain fish below a specified length. And you have to get a license. The whole world is gettin’ in our faces right now, telling us what to do, what to think, how to act, what’s right and what’s wrong. Who’s good and who’s evil. What’s socially acceptable and who’s politically incorrect. On the other hand, fishin’ is just fishin’. Wake up, America! Sometimes I go fishin’ because I want to fish. Other times, I go fishin’ because I don’t want to do any of that other stuff. And when you go fishin’, you don’t have to. I’m Earl Angler Pitts, Uhmerikun.

I have decided there is nothing more disruptive and more contentious in the life of a family than buying a new couch. First of all, there’s only one person in the family who even wants a new couch. That would be what you call the wife and mother. And she loves to list the reasons she thinks you need a new couch. The old

one is ripped and stained, and it’s got a couple springs stickin’ out of it, plus it’s got a weird smell to it. Pearl says last time she vacuumed under the cushions, she found a TV Guide from 2005. And she says it’s just old, and it’s time for it to go. And I’m thinkin’ that I had that couch about the same length of time I had my wife. How come I got to get rid of the couch? Now, I could try to reason with her. I could tell her I remember her sittin’ on that couch, nursing our two little kids. I could tell how I remember snugglin’ together on that couch on cold winter nights watchin’ late night television together. But she would just tell me I was cheap. And of course, she’d be right. I don’t remember ever snugglin’ with her on that couch. Now, the worst thing about buyin’ a new couch is the actual act of buyin’ a new couch. You got to go to the furniture store. And what you find out real quick is there are couches I like and there are couches Pearl likes. They got couches in there with built-in recliners, pop-out cup holders, vibratin’ and heatin’ cushions, with memory foam technology for the perfect keester comfort and fit. And forward-glide mechanics. They even got remote control TV-wired panels. It is like sittin’ in the space shuttle in your house. Life was lookin’ up — I was finally gonna be able to relate to a piece of furniture in my house. But, there was one small problem. I just knew Pearl was gonna like something with flowers on it. Wake up, America. So here’s what happened. We ended up gettin’ rid of something I didn’t want to get rid of to buy somethin’ I didn’t want to buy. In other words, it was business as usual at the Pitts house. I’m Earl Pitts, Uhmerikun. Check out my YouTube channel Earl Pitts — by Earl Pitts. Like me on Facebook. Read my blog at earlpittsamerican.com. l

RURALreflections It’s all about being outdoors WHILE YOU might be tempted to stay indoors on these hot, humid summer days and evenings, that choice would mean you might miss out on great photographs like these. As you venture outdoors, make the effort to carry a camera with you to record your summer fun. This year, five amateur photographers will be named winners of our $75 prize in the categories of: most artistic, best landscape, best human subject, best animal subject and editor’s choice. Runners-up in each category will receive a $25 prize. To be eligible for the 2015 contest prizes, send your photos (no digital files, please) to: Penn Lines Photos, P.O. Box 1266, Harrisburg PA 17108-1266. On the back of each photo, include your name, address, phone number and the name of your electric cooperative. (The best way to include this information is by affixing an address label to the back of the photo as ink can bleed onto the photos.) Remember, our publication deadlines require that we work ahead, so send your seasonal photos in early. We need fall photos before mid-July and winter photos before mid-September. (Hint: keep your spring and summer photos to enter in the 2016 contest). Photos that don’t reflect a season may be sent at any time. Please note: photos will be returned if you include a selfaddressed, self-stamped envelope. l

Cyndi Pittsenbarger Warren EC

Robin Benito Claverack REC

Janet Capper Northwestern REC

Mary Ellen Bard REA Energy

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